We are in the midst of a pretty grueling news cycle. And I dont know about you, but Im exhausted. So instead of devoting this newsletter to a full consideration of the ways in which COVID-19 is throwing the wine world into disarray (I do have a story out about one aspect of that, if youre curious, but will refrain from discussing it here), I thought Id share some of the non-virus-related things Ive been reading  and drinking  this week. I hope that it can provide a brief escape from the sense of impending doom.

 First up, I am very excited to see Uncorked, a new Netflix film whose trailer was released this week. What Ive gleaned from the trailer: Elijah, the heir to a Memphis barbecue stand, has to choose between following his fathers pitmaster path and pursuing his dream of becoming a master sommelier. The trailer features soundbites like medium-minus acidity and Olivier Leflaive Les Setilles. It comes out on March 27.

 Some happy news out of Italy, for a change: While Cantina Settecani winery in Castelvetro was bottling its Lambrusco, a glitch caused the wine to leak into the pipes, which fed into the towns water supply, CNN reports. For a few hours, magenta-hued Lambrusco wine poured from faucets in peoples homes. I wish I could have been there to capture some of it.

 On Tuesday, back when public gatherings were still being held in San Francisco, I attended a concert at the Fillmore Auditorium and posted on Instagram about my concert-venue wine of choice: Sauvignon Blanc, which I believe is the most reliably not bad cheap wine. In response, my friend Kelli White shared with me a blog post she wrote in 2018 for Winespeed about her strategy for drinking bad wine. I cant believe I hadnt read it before. Its brilliant advice, and I endorse it all.

 I always love Robert Simonsons writing about bars and cocktails, and his recent piece about the resurrections of dive bars on the brink of failure is no exception. His focus is on New York (New York is not kind to the old), though the themes apply equally to San Francisco.

 This is about cheese, not wine, but I believe cheese counts as a sub-topic of wine journalism: What is with all these excessively extravagant, medieval-banquet-style cheese boards? In Taste, Ruby Tandoh has a very entertaining examination of the phenomenon of the maximalist cheese and charcuterie spread, which apparently is being touted as a mode of self-care in some corners of the Internet.

 Finally, just a reminder: While youre freaking out about the pandemic, the Napa County Board of Supervisors is still grappling with how to define an earth tone color palette because, in case you forgot, Napa wineries are allowed to be painted only in earth tones.

What Im drinking

Esther Mobley / The Chronicle

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

If youre not going to be drinking cheap Sauvignon Blanc while stuck in your self-quarantine, you might as well open something really good. Recently I discovered the wines of Samuel Louis Smith, who produces Central Coast wines under an eponymous label. (In his day job, Smith is the winemaker for Morgan Winery in Monterey County.) I admired the Samuel Louis Smith Syrah Sandstone Terrace Santa Cruz Mountains 2018 (12.9%, $34), a sinewy, savory, floral example of cool-climate Syrah that smells like violets and tastes like salami. And the Samuel Louis Smith Pinot Noir Montanita de Oro Monterey County 2018 (13%, $38), sourced from two high-elevation vineyards, is a great example of what elegant Central Coast Pinot can be: insistently red-fruited, with saline and cherry pit qualities, all wrapped up in a gratifyingly silky mouthfeel.

Depending on how the current situation develops, Im not sure Ill have enough of it, or of any wine, to get me through. But its a start.

Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob
By Simon Lewis and Michael Martina

DETROIT, March 11 (Reuters) - Michigan voter Monique Dooley believed in Bernie Sanders forceful message of support for Americas working class.

So she cast a ballot Tuesday in Detroit for the Democratic candidate she believes can win back the White House: Joe Biden.

If we are going to be unified, I think we should go with him, said Dooley, an African-American fifth-grade teacher.

Millions of Democrats across the country agreed with Dooley during Tuesday's nominating contests, adding to the momentum and delegate count that has resurrected the former vice president's campaign. Biden won at least four of the six states that voted, including the biggest prize of Michigan, dealing another blow to the "political revolution" promised by 78-year-old Sanders.

Many voters said they admired the Vermont senator's authenticity and consistent message, and like his policies, but had cast ballots strategically for Biden, the candidate they think can beat President Donald Trump in the November general election.

This isnt the time for extreme, said Kurt Nortin, a 55-year-old substitute teacher who saw Biden speak in St. Louis on Saturday.

Sanders fell short of his primary performances against Hillary Clinton in 2016, when he pulled off an upset in Michigan and lost by a whisker in Missouri. On Tuesday he lost handily in both those states, places where he hoped to demonstrate his strength among Midwestern voters. Sanders only pulled off a win in North Dakota, a small state with few delegates. In Washington state, Biden and Sanders were in a virtual tie with more than two-thirds of the votes counted.

Sanders had promised his platform of ambitious social programs and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy would expand the electorate. Instead Americans of all stripes turned out for Biden: women and men, white and black voters, those with or without college degrees, and self-described liberals and moderates. Sanders only dominated among young voters and Latinos.

Story continues

State after state, voters by roughly 2 to 1 said they would rather pick a candidate who can beat Trump than one they agree with on major issues, according to Edison Research exit polls in the states that voted on Tuesday as well as last week's Super Tuesday contests.

The overwhelming majority of these voters who cited beating Trump as the top priority - 61% in Michigan, 67% in Missouri, and 82% in Mississippi - voted for Biden, the polls show.

It was a stinging setback for Sanders, who just two weeks ago was riding high with back-to-back strong showings in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Wall Street investors fearful of a government takeover of healthcare dumped shares in health insurers, while Democratic Party insiders sounded the alarm that the self-described democratic socialist would not only lose to Trump in November but would also hurt the party's chances down ballot.

Biden, the moderate former vice president under Barack Obama, was helped in part by a wave of endorsements from moderate Democrats and former rivals, including Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar who ended their own presidential bids and rallied behind him. On the eve of the pivotal Michigan primary, former rivals Kamala Harris and Cory Booker stumped for Biden at a Detroit rally.

But progressives, whose loyalties had been split between Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who dropped out of the race on Thursday, have yet to close ranks around Sanders.

While nearly all of Biden's moderate rivals endorsed Biden after ending their own presidential bids, Warren has yet to throw her support behind her longtime progressive ally.

Some Warren supporters said they were unable to overcome concerns about Sanders electability or the perceived divisiveness of his supporters, despite agreeing with much of his policy platform.

Dooley, the Michigan teacher who voted for Biden, said she liked the platforms of both Sanders and Warren. But when Warren dropped out, Dooley said her personal admiration for Sanders could not bring her to vote for him. She said she was thinking about November.

For the general population, I feel that (Sanders) might be a little too liberal, Dooley said.

On Tuesday, even voters describing themselves as liberal broke for Biden in Missouri and Mississippi, and were evenly split between Biden and Sanders in Michigan, according to exit polls.

At the same time, many of the ideas Sanders has been taking around the country for the better part of the last five years appear popular among voters. Even in Mississippi, where Sanders was routed by a 66-point margin, 60% of voters said they favored the idea behind Sanders' Medicare for All bill, replacing private healthcare with a single government plan for everyone.

Democrats right now arent necessarily voting on policies, said Andrew Feldman, a Democratic political consultant in Washington.

The reality is they're prioritizing electability because of the unique threat of Trump, and they're saying that Biden is across the board more electable," he said.

TAKING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT

After losing the Democratic nomination to Clinton in 2016, Sanders built a formidable campaign apparatus for his 2020 run, bolstered by an army of devoted supporters who contributed small donations to his campaign in unprecedented numbers.

It all seemed to be paying off when he emerged out of Nevada's Feb. 22 caucuses as the clear delegate leader after three states had voted.

But exuberant crowds of 10,000 people or more at Sanders' rallies masked his narrow coalition of voters. His mostly young supporters did not turn out to the polls in large numbers, while Biden dominated among the older voters who did show up.

In Michigan, even as turnout surged from 1.2 million in 2016 to an estimated 1.7 million in 2020, Sanders' core base - voters between the ages of 18 and 29 - made up just 15% of the Democratic primary electorate, down at least 4 percentage points from four years ago.

Sanders showed little interest in reaching out to the Democratic Party's moderate wing, fueling criticism that he, and his fiercest supporters are sowing intra-party division ahead of a bruising general election battle against Trump.

When Sanders campaign on Monday held a call with former Warren supporters to get their input on how to court those who have yet to back him, it did not go well, according to a person familiar with the call.

The Warren supporters suggested adopting some of her policies and addressing abusive language of some Sanders backers online, but found the campaign unwilling to take responsibility for the behavior, the person said.

The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the call.

When Sanders emerged as a front-runner, Republicans began casting November's vote as "America vs. Socialism." Sanders' Democratic rivals warned that his history of positive comments about left-wing governments like Cuba and Venezuela would damage the party and play into some Americans' fears of a socialist takeover.

Gary Williams, a 64-year-old physical therapy assistant from Detroit, said he did not see Sanders as a socialist, but that he had a "message for the people."

Still, Williams said he feared that with what he called the establishment of the Democratic Party against Sanders, Biden was a better bet to beat Trump.

If you were to ask what Bidens message is, I dont even know, said Williams. He said he voted for Biden anyway.

That kind of singular focus among Democratic voters was on display at Biden's St. Louis rally.

Nortin, the substitute teacher, showed up wearing an t-shirt emblazoned with AOC, the acronym for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive lightning rod who has challenged the partys Old Guard and supports Sanders.

But 55-year-old Nortin said he's casting his lot with Biden with one thing in mind: We gotta get (Trump) out."

(Michael Martina reported from Detroit; Simon Lewis reported from Washington; Additional reporting by Amanda Becker and Joseph Ax and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Soyoung Kim and Marla Dickerson)
SAN CARLOS (BCN)

Some passengers who were aboard the quarantined Grand Princess cruise ship that docked this week in Oakland are being relocated starting Wednesday to a hotel in San Carlos, according to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

The ship arrived at the Port of Oakland on Monday carrying more than 3,500 passengers and crewmembers, including 21 who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

More than 1,000 of the passengers had been taken off the Grand Princess as of Wednesday morning, with more than 650 taken to Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego for 14-day quarantines.

The passengers being taken to the hotel in San Carlos are Americans who have been screened by medical professionals and have mild or no symptoms, so do not require hospitalization and cannot stay at Travis Air Force Base during the quarantine period, the state agency said.

The hotel, owned by the private company GRM Properties, can house up to 120 people and is currently unoccupied. None of the people taken there are known to have contracted COVID-19, but they will be tested and monitored, according to Cal OES.

The state is working with federal agencies as well as San Mateo County and the city of San Carlos to coordinate the transfer and handling of the passengers.

"First and foremost, we want to ensure that these Americans, who have faced a great deal of adversity, are in good hands until they can return to their homes," state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in a news release.

"Just as important is protecting the public health of our state and the communities that welcome these passengers, including San Carlos and San Mateo County," Ghaly said.

Authorities had previously said on Tuesday that some passengers will also be taken to facilities at Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove in Monterey County.

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The annual spring bird migration is one of the most highly anticipated natural phenomenons this time of year -- and Michiganders are uniquely positioned to witness it, given our states abundance of water and location along bird flight paths.

To celebrate and help people engage with this natural wonder, MI Birds -- founded by the Michigan DNR and Audubon Great Lakes -- has a slew of events in the coming weeks, ranging from bird talks and bird walks to volunteer stewardship days.

Read on for a list of events. Check online or call for registration, updated information and possible cancellations. More about MI Birds can be found on the MI Birds Facebook page, Twitter, and on the MI Birds webpage.

Saturday, March 14 in Detroit -- Elmwood Cemetery Bird History Walk: One in a series of walks to explore the birds, unique landmarks, and history of Elmwood Cemetery, an 86-acre cemetery considered one of the top must-see historic sites in Detroit. Event info here

Saturday, March 14 in Detroit -- Owl Prowl: Begin the evening with a short presentation about owls, then take an evening walk while playing owl calls to see if any local owls respond by calling back or flying over. Held at the Detroit Exploration and Nature Center. Event info here

Monday, March 16 in Grosse Pointe -- Presentation on Preventing Bird Window Collisions: Nick Liadis, a research fellow at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, shares why birds strike windows and how people can design buildings to help birds safely navigate through cities. Event info here

Thursday, March 26 in Charlotte -- Wildlife Habitat Workshop: Come to this workshop to learn from MI Birds Program Associate Erin Rowan on what you can do to provide ideal habitat and food sources for songbirds and game birds on your property. Free dinner will be provided. Hosted by the Eaton Conservation District and MI Birds. Event info here

Saturday, March 28 in Ashley, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: Maple River State Game Area: Celebrate spring and explore Michigans wetlands with a birding tour at Maple River State Game Area. Highlights of the birding tours may include diving and dabbling ducks in full breeding plumage, trumpeter and tundra swans, osprey, bald eagles, sandhill cranes and more. Tours may include a sneak peek driving tour into refuge areas that are normally closed. For questions, please contact the Maple River State Game Area office: (616) 446-0555. Event info here

Saturday, March 28 in Fennville, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: Fennville Farm Unit: Celebrate spring and explore Michigans wetlands with a birding tour at Allegan State Game Area, which doubles as an Audubon Important Bird Area. For questions, please contact the Allegan State Game Area office: (269) 673-2430. Event info here

Saturday, March 28 in Unionville, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: Fish Point State Wildlife Area: Celebrate spring and explore Michigans wetlands with a birding tour at Fish Point State Game Area. Tours may include a sneak peek driving tour into refuge areas that are normally closed. For more, please contact Fish Point State Game Area at (989) 674-2511. Event info here

April 3-5 in Mackinaw City -- Mackinaw Raptor Fest 2020: Every spring and fall, Mackinaw Citys location at the junction of two peninsulas and two Great Lakes creates a unique confluence of migrating birds -- especially raptors like hawks, eagles, falcons and owls. Kick off the birding season with a full weekend of raptor watching, waterbird migration, owl research, speakers, live birds of prey, birding field trips, a banquet dinner and more. More info and registration at mackinawraptorfest.org. Find event info here

Saturday, April 4 in Rockwood, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: Pte. Mouillee State Game Area: Celebrate spring and explore Michigans wetlands with a birding tour at Pte. Mouillee State Game Area, which doubles as an Audubon Important Bird Area. For more, contact the Pte. Mouillee State Game Area office: (734) 379-9692. Event info here

Saturday, April 4 in Harsens Island, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area: Celebrate spring at St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area, which doubles as an Audubon Important Bird Area. For questions, contact the St. Clair Flats State Wildilfe Area office: (810) 748-9504. Event info here

Saturday, April 4 in Pinconning, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area: Celebrate spring at Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, which doubles as an Audubon Important Bird Area. If you have questions, please contact the Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area office: (989) 697-5101. Event info here

Sunday, April 5 in Saint Charles, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: Shiawassee River State Game Area: Celebrate spring and explore Michigans wetlands with a birding tour at Shiawassee River State Game Area, which doubles as an Audubon Important Bird Area. If you have questions, please contact the Shiawassee River State Game Area office: (989) 865-6211. Event info here

Saturday, April 11 in Twin Lake, Mich. -- DNR Spring Birding Tour: Muskegon County Wastewater System: Celebrate spring and explore Michigans wetlands with a birding tour at Muskegon State Game Area and Musekgon County Wastewater Systems, which double as an Audubon Important Bird Area. If you have questions, please contact the Musekgon State Game Area office: (231) 788-5055. Event info here

Tuesday, April 14 in Birmingham: Black Tern Monitoring Presentation -- Join Audubon Great Lakes MI Birds Program Associate, Erin Rowan, for a presentation on the latest from the Black Tern monitoring project in Michigan. The Black Tern is a common species in steep decline, a listed species of special concern, and a focal species within the Michigan DNR State Wildlife Action Plan. Hosted by the Oakland Audubon Society. Event info here

Saturday, April 18 in Detroit: Palmer Park Bird Walk: Hosted by MI Birds and the Detroit Exploration & Nature Center, this walk will explore the world of birds. Binoculars will be provided for those who need them. Families and beginners are welcome. Event info here

Saturday, April 18 in Grosse Pointe Woods: 7 Simple Actions to Help Birds: A study released in 2019 found that there has been a 29 percent decline in bird populations over the last 48 years, totaling nearly 3 billion birds gone. Find out what small things you can do to help, during an in-store presentation at the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Grosse Pointe Woods. Event info here

Wednesday, April 22 in Alger, Mich. -- Woodcock Walk: Join the DNR, Ruffed Grouse Society and MI Birds on a guided hike to find male woodcock displaying at dusk. Witness their call and dance as they seek their female companion. All ages welcome; bring binoculars and a headlamp or flashlight. Extra binoculars will be provided if needed. Event info here

Saturday, April 25 in Detroit -- Ring-necked Pheasant: A Game Bird in the City: Join Outdoor Adventure Center staff, Detroit Audubon, and Pheasants Forever for a morning hike to look and listen for ring-necked pheasants around the OAC and Riverfront. Discuss the history of this game bird and why it has found a home in Detroit. A limited number of binoculars will be available for loan. Event info here

Saturday, April 25 in Harrison Charter Twp. -- Black Tern Program and Nest Platform Building Workshop: Join MI Birds, Detroit Audubon, and friends at Lake St. Clair Metropark Nature Center to construct nesting platforms to install at St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area. A program on Black Terns will be given prior to platform construction and light refreshments will be served. Event info here

Saturday, May 2 in Woodhaven, Mich. -- Important Bird Areas and Birding Trails of MI: Join MI Birds and friends at Wild Birds Unlimited to explore Michigans important bird areas and birding trails, and the birds that call them home. Event info here

Saturday, May 16 in Britton, Mich. -- Ives Rd. Fen Preserve Bird Walk and Work Day: Explore and improve the Ives Rd. Fen Preserve. After a bird walk, help remove invasive plant species and enjoy some snacks. Event info here

Saturday, May 23 in Algonac, Mich. -- Black Tern Program and Nest Platform Building Workshop: Join Detroit Audubon at the Algonac-Clay Library to construct nesting platforms to support Black Terns at the St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area. A program on Black Terns will be given prior to platform construction and light refreshments will be served. Event info here

RELATED:

Think you know about Great Lakes birds? This new short film will amaze you

24 maple syrup festivals and tours around Michigan this spring

Sleeping Bear Dunes to host Spring Break Escape film festival this month

DNR asks people to help with statewide frog, toad survey this spring
Individuals who have visited certain countries, New Yorks New Rochelle community, and any other location that has been under coronavirus-related quarantine in the past 14 days, are barred from entering the federal courts in Connecticut.

U.S. District Judge Stefan Underhill issued the order Thursday, effective immediately. The countries specifically listed are China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran.

The federal courts are in New Haven, Bridgeport and Hartford. The order, which is in response to precautions against COVID-19, was reported by the Connecticut Law Tribune.

Underhill is the chief judge for the U.S. District of Connecticut.

The Tribune reported that the countries chosen have had mounting coronavirus infections recently, while Westchester county in New Rochelle has had 120 cases.

Underhill said Thursday that enforcement of the order is likely to be uneven. He said security officers will ask visitors if theyve traveled to any of the locations cited in the order.

Everyone should be encouraged to be observant, the chief judge was quoted as saying. If you observe someone with apparent symptoms, you should report it, so that the person can be queried as to whether they were in any of the places listed on the order, and whether they need to be tested.

Underhill continued: This is a common-sense approach to limit exposure to the extent we are able to. We want the courts to be open and functioning. We dont want the courts to be the environment for spreading the virus.

Underhill said the order was modeled on ones in the Southern District of New York, which covers New York City, and in the Western District of Washington, which includes Seattle. CNN reports Washington state has had the highest number of infections.

In state courts, according to a statement from Judge Patrick L. Carroll III, Chief Court Administrator, the courts of the State of Connecticut are open and will remain open.

Under the terms and provisions of the Judicial Branchs Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), commencing Monday, March 16, 2020, and continuing through March 27, 2020, the courts will schedule and hear only those matters identified as Priority 1 Business Functions.

The following matters are Priority 1 Business Functions: Criminal arraignments and domestic violence arraignments; Juvenile detention hearings; Family orders of relief from abuse; Civil orders of relief from abuse; Civil protection orders; Ex parte motions; Orders of temporary custody; Orders to appear; Emergency ex parte order of temporary custody; Juvenile detention operations for detainees held for juvenile court; Termination of parental rights; Domestic violence victim notification; Civil and family capias mittimus execution and bond reviews

With the exception of jury trials already in progress and criminal jury trials necessitated by the filing and granting of a speedy trial motion, all jury trials, civil and criminal, are suspended for the next 30 days.

Consistent with guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, these measures are being taken to reduce the number of people entering our courthouses in an effort to mitigate the potential for spreading of the virus.
By Laman Ismayilova

Young musician Osman Mustafazade has won the "Golden Classical Music Award" at the Carnegie Hall in New York.

The first-year student of the Baku Music Academy (BMA) took part in the competition that brought together 37 musicians from around the world.

Supported by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, Osman Mustafazade delighted the audience with magnificent performance.

Osman Mustafazade, who studied in the violin class of the People's Artist, Professor Zahra Guliyeva at the BMA, has already won the prizes in several international competitions: Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition in Vienna (2015) the 12th Republican Competition "Rodniki Dushi" (2016), the 5th Future Stars International contest (2016) and others. The musician thrills music lovers with complex and interesting repertoire.

"Golden Classical Music Awards" International Competition is open to all nationalities and ages in strings, piano, wind and vocal.

Each discipline is divided into different age categories: Young Musician (8 years old and under), Junior (9 to 12 years old), Intermediate (13 to 15 years old), Advanced (16 to 18 years old) and Senior (no age limit).

The main goal of the contest is to discover artists of outstanding personality and provide awards which can help to launch international careers.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed.

So, the natural question for Metal Bank (ASX:MBK) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. Let's start with an examination of the business's cash, relative to its cash burn.

See our latest analysis for Metal Bank

When Might Metal Bank Run Out Of Money?

A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. In June 2019, Metal Bank had AU$1.8m in cash, and was debt-free. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$1.2m over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from June 2019 it had roughly 17 months of cash runway. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

ASX:MBK Historical Debt, March 12th 2020

How Is Metal Bank's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

In our view, Metal Bank doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just AU$42k in the last twelve months. As a result, we think it's a bit early to focus on the revenue growth, so we'll limit ourselves to looking at how the cash burn is changing over time. The 61% reduction in its cash burn over the last twelve months may be good for protecting the balance sheet but it hardly points to imminent growth. Admittedly, we're a bit cautious of Metal Bank due to its lack of significant operating revenues. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow.

Story continues

How Easily Can Metal Bank Raise Cash?

There's no doubt Metal Bank's rapidly reducing cash burn brings comfort, but even if it's only hypothetical, it's always worth asking how easily it could raise more money to fund further growth. 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. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Metal Bank's cash burn of AU$1.2m is about 23% of its AU$5.3m market capitalisation. That's not insignificant, and if the company had to sell enough shares to fund another year's growth at the current share price, you'd likely witness fairly costly dilution.

How Risky Is Metal Bank's Cash Burn Situation?

Even though its cash burn relative to its market cap makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Metal Bank's cash burn reduction 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. Taking a deeper dive, we've spotted 6 warning signs for Metal Bank you should be aware of, and 3 of them are significant.

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.
Jennifer Kay Atkin

April 25, 1962 to March 7, 2020

The Earthly portion of Jennifer's Amazing Adventure came to a conclusion on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the young age of 57. Jennifer was a loving wife and devoted, skilled, and independent mother of 10 incredible children, currently ranging in age from 8 to 38. She was also the perfect grandmother to 8 perfect grandchildren, as well as best friend and mentor to countless mothers, women, and others who needed another mother.

Jennifer was born in 1962 in Alhambra, California to Ralph William Higgins and Lila Angle Higgins, the granddaughter of Gila Valley, Arizona pioneers. She grew up in Southern California and Bullhead City, Arizona prior to arriving in Flagstaff in August of 1980 to attend Northern Arizona University. She married Michael James Atkin on Valentine's Day, 1981 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and began active pursuit of her real dream and calling, motherhood.

Jennifer gave birth to five children in Flagstaff: Benjamin Michael Atkin, born in 1982; Sarah Danielle Atkin, born in 1983; Christopher James Atkin, born in 1984; Mikaela Beth Atkin, born in 1991; and Isaac Noble Atkin, born in 1998. Michael and Jennifer traveled in 2006 to the far Northwest corner of Russia to add three siblings to their Forever Family from an orphanage: Jacob Oleg Atkin, formerly Oleg, age 6 (born on Russian New Years' Day in 2000; Anna Julia Atkin, formerly Yulia, age 4, born in 2001; and Samuel Joseph Atkin, formerly Artiom, age 3, born in 2003. They then completed their Forever Family with two domestic adoptions: Lucas William Atkin, born in 2009 to a birthmother from Louisiana; and Eliza Marie Atkin, born in 2011 to a birthmother from Georgia. Both Lucas and Eliza were adopted at birth.

Jennifer's adventures included five natural births including two home births, trips of 10 and 30 days to Russia, travels by motor home through the South and up the Pacific Coast Highway, dozens of trips to the beach and Disneyland with a carload of children, both with and without her husband; hundreds of kayak adventures at local lakes, hundreds more hiking adventures on the trails and along the creeks of Northern Arizona and thousands of mountain bike rides in the forest near their home in Fort Valley, often taking other mothers along to increase their spirit of adventure and confidence. She delighted in teaching her children and their classmates about science and reading to them. She loved living near the mountains and forest. Her final adventure was a wild 3 1/2 month battle with an extremely aggressive cancer.

In anticipation of her passing, she was able to pass on her love and instructions to her family, then cementing her legacy by never, never, never, NEVER giving up. Her last Facebook entry was a graphic from the movie "Up", overlaid by the following quote: "Life is not a journey to the grave with the anticipation of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow what a ride!'" She left us reluctantly, but on her own terms.

She served in numerous callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not surprisingly all related to mothering in some way.

She is survived by Michael Atkin, her enabler, biggest fan and husband of 39 years so far and working on forever; son Benjamin Atkin of Miami, Florida; daughter Sarah and her husband Ryan Nielson and their children Evelyn, Daniela, and Adam of St. Louis, Missouri; son Chris Atkin and his wife Kisha and their sons James and Wesley of Waco, Texas; daughter Mikaela and her husband Dallin Durfee and their children Eli, Emily, and Zion of Payson, Arizona; son Isaac Atkin of San Diego, California; son Elder Jacob Atkin, currently serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania mission; daughter Anna Atkin of Flagstaff; son Samuel Atkin of Flagstaff; son Lucas Atkin of Flagstaff; daughter Eliza Atkin of Flagstaff; father Ralph Higgins of Chino Valley, AZ; brother Robert Higgins of Chiba, Japan; and sister Paula Leiker of Chino Valley, AZ. She was preceded in death by her mother, Lila Angle Higgins.

Visitation already occurred as approximately 150 people came by Room 2010 at Flagstaff Medical Center over her last three days to pay their respects, express their love, and tell Anna (she's 18) and Michael stories of how Jennifer inspired them or transformed their lives. Additional visitations will be Friday March 13 from 6:00-8:00 at Norvel Owens Mortuary, then again at 9:00-9:45 at the Flagstaff LDS Stake Center at 625 East Cherry followed by a family prayer and funeral at 10:00. Following the service, burial will be in Flagstaff Citizens' Cemetery.

Memories and condolences can be shared online at www.norvelowensmortuary.com
A passenger wearing a mask stands on the deck of the cruise ship Diamond Princess, as the vessel's passengers continue to be tested for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Cruise Lines Suspend Operations Over New Coronavirus

Two cruise lines are suspending all cruises over the new coronavirus, including the company that operates the Diamond Princess.

Princess Cruises said it was pausing global operations of its 18 ships for two months starting March 12. The company operates the Diamond Princess, where hundreds were infected, and the Grand Princess, where about two dozen infections forced passengers to disembark into two-week quarantines.

By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world, Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.

People currently on a cruise that will end in the next five days can expect their journey to end as scheduled and other cruises will be ended at the most convenient location for guests, factoring in operating requirements, the company said.

People who paid for cruises that will be canceled are able to transfer the money to a future cruise of their choice, available for any voyage departing through May 1, 2022. Passengers who decline the offer can fill out a form to request a cash refund.

A medical worker helps a passenger from the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise ship before the boarding of a charter plane at Oakland International Airport in California on March 10, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Cruises are planned to start back up on May 11, Princess Cruises said.

The Carnival Corp.-owned company operated the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined in Yokohama, Japan, for two weeks after a passenger who left the ship in Hong Kong tested positive for COVID-19, the disease the new virus causes. Nearly 700 people on board ended up testing positive. Seven died.

The Grand Princess, another ship operated by the company, was held off the coast of California after a person onboard its previous voyage died from COVID-19. Nineteen crew members and two passengers tested positive for the illness. Authorities directed the ship to Oakland. After disembarking, passengers were flown to military bases or other countries, depending on their nationalities, for quarantine.

Viking Cruises on Wednesday announced it was suspending operations for both river and ocean cruises because of the situation.

A Viking Cruises ship in a file photograph. (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

I am writing today because the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning, Viking chairman Torstein Hagen wrote in a letter to passengers.

As a private company with strong finances, we do not have to worry about quarterly profit expectationsand that flexibility allows us the ability to do what is best for our guests and our employees, as we have always done.

The spread of COVID-19 has made travel exceedingly complicated, Hagen wrote, citing cities and countries blocking ships from docking, as well as major museums and other attractions on cruise passenger itineraries closing.

Passengers who already booked cruises falling between March 12 and April 30 will get a voucher for a future cruise valued at 125 percent of the money paid or a refund equal to the amount paid.

A top U.S. official told older Americans over the weekend not to get on cruise ships. The State Department said in an advisory: U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship.
WILMINGTON, Del., March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that it has filed a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on behalf of holders of Cincinnati Bell Inc. (Cincinnati Bell or the Company) (NYSE: CBB) common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition of Cincinnati Bell by Charlie AcquireCo Inc. (Charlie) and Charlie Merger Sub Inc. (Merger Sub) announced on December 23, 2019 (the Complaint). The Complaint, which alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against Cincinnati Bell and its Board of Directors (the Board), Charlie, and Merger Sub is captioned Palkon v. Cincinnati Bell Inc., Case No. 1:20-cv-002244 (D. Del.).



If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiffs counsel, Seth D. Rigrodsky or Gina M. Serra at Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1220, Wilmington, DE 19801, by telephone at (888) 969-4242, by e-mail at info@rl-legal.com, or at https://www.rigrodskylong.com/cases-cincinnati-bell-inc,join.

On December 21, 2019, Cincinnati Bell entered into an agreement and plan of merger (as amended, the Merger Agreement) with Charlie and Merger Sub. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, shareholders of Cincinnati Bell will receive $13.50 in cash for each share of Cincinnati Bell common stock they own (the Proposed Transaction).

Among other things, the Complaint alleges that, in an attempt to secure shareholder support for the Proposed Transaction, defendants issued materially incomplete disclosures in a proxy statement (the Proxy Statement) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Complaint alleges that the Proxy Statement omits material information with respect to, among other things, the Companys financial projections and the analyses performed by Cincinnati Bells financial advisors. The Complaint seeks injunctive and equitable relief and damages on behalf of holders of Cincinnati Bell common stock.

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 11, 2020. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Any member of the proposed class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member.

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., with offices in Delaware and New York, has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of investors and achieved substantial corporate governance reforms in securities fraud and corporate class actions nationwide.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
A passenger bound for the United States shows a quarantine certificate that he received after submitting a health questionnaire at the quarantine office of Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. / Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



Diplomats stationed in Korea have shown positive reactions to the country's fight against the COVID-19 outbreak here.



Although Korea has been plagued by the novel coronavirus, with the number of infections surpassing 7,800  the fourth-highest in the world behind China, Italy and Iran  its quarantine efforts are drawing international praise.



"We positively estimate Korea's efforts in fighting COVID-19 and have implemented measures in that direction," Vasif Aliyev, counsellor and deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Azerbaijan, told The Korea Times.



"First, conducting the world's largest-scaled (to population ratio), accurate and immediate diagnosis of the virus to detect patients even with mild symptoms in order to prevent further spread of the virus and lower the possible mortality rate; second, a thorough examination process over several rounds at the airports from the very entrance to the departure hall; third, the creation of the first-ever drive-thru system in the world; and classification of patients with severe and mild symptoms to implement designated treatment for them in separate facilities.



"And most importantly, wide and efficient use of information and communication technologies to fight the spread of the virus such as a real-time notification system about newly infected patients, various apps and maps on the spread of the virus, just-closed facilities, mask purchasing, etc."



Zokir Saidov, deputy head of mission at the Uzbekistan Embassy, echoed Aliyev's view.



"We appreciate the efforts that the Korean government is doing right now. (There is) some new technology which is called drive-thru diagnostics, which was developed for the first time in Korea. This is very important and helpful," he told The Korea Times, adding the number of tests was much larger in comparison with other developed states.



Their reactions were similar to that of U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, who also praised Seoul's anti-virus measures.



"I appreciate the hard work that airport staff are doing for all of us, really, not just Americans, but everyone, as Korea works to limit the spread of COVID worldwide," Harris was quoted as saying by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday, after visiting health checkpoints at Incheon International Airport.



"The Korean model is held up as the exemplar around the world."



The ambassador also wrote on Twitter that he was impressed by Korea's "robust and comprehensive response efforts to limit the virus' spread."



Amid the positive views from the diplomatic corps here, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to invite foreign envoys for an inspection tour of the airport similar to Harris' visit, Friday, as part of its efforts to convince countries to ease their entry bans or restrictions for people traveling from Korea.



The measure comes as still more than 120 countries are closing their doors or toughening entry restrictions on visitors from Korea despite a slowdown in the number of new infections.



"We have sent an invitation to each embassy in Korea for tomorrow's on-site tour with diplomats," a foreign ministry official said, Thursday.



According to the ministry, they will get to see the quarantine process for outbound passengers and the special entry procedures.



Friday's inspection will be the third event the ministry has held for foreign envoys in Seoul since the COVID-19 outbreak.



On Feb. 25, Kim Gunn, the deputy minister for political affairs, held a closed-door briefing session with officials from diplomatic missions in Korea. Last week, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha herself presided over another, reassuring participants of the nation's thorough response to COVID-19 and asking them to refrain from "excessive measures" against people traveling from Korea.



The government has introduced a three-step airport fever check since March 9, under which departing passengers have to go through temperature checks at the terminal, departure lobby and boarding gate.



While trying to get entry restrictions eased on travelers from Korea, the administration is also in talks with 20 countries, asking them to allow businessmen from Korea to enter as a quarantine exception. Those countries include China, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, which have many Korean companies based there that are involved in various large-scale projects.


Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant



met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to discuss issues including the ban on iron ore mining and Mahadayi water dispute.

Chief Minister's office issued a statement that Sawant called on Modi in New Delhi to discuss various issues concerning the coastal state.

"The Chief Minister had fruitful discussion on issues including the ban on iron ore mining, Mahadayi dispute, Mopa airport, the upcoming Zilla Panchayat elections as well as developmental projects," it stated.

The Prime Minister has assured his continued support and cooperation for Goa's cause, the CMO said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SACRAMENTO  California ramped up its efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus this week, urging the cancellation of large gatherings, suspending most prison visits and waiving requirements that government meetings be held in public.

It was a significant escalation of the state response to a crisis in which Gov. Gavin Newsom had been largely deferential to local public health officials. But the state stopped short of taking more extreme measures, including closing schools or shutting the Capitol to visitors.

It is in the sum total of our individual decisions that we will determine the fate of this virus, Newsom said Thursday at a Capitol news conference.

The governor signed an executive order Thursday that aimed to ease some impacts of the outbreak by waiving a requirement that applicants for unemployment wait a week before receiving benefits and giving people up to 60 additional days to file their state tax returns if the virus prevents them from doing so in a timely manner. It readied the state to potentially commandeer hotels or medical facilities to quarantine patients and allowed city councils and other local and state government bodies to move their public meetings to teleconferencing.

The order also directed Californians to follow new guidelines issued late Wednesday night by state public health officials recommending that all events of more than 250 people be canceled or postponed until at least the end of the month.

Newsom said Thursday the new guidance would likely be extended into April. It does not carry the force of law, but the governor said he expected enforcement to be unnecessary because local officials had expressed their willingness to comply.

Theyll do the right thing. I see people doing the right thing. We are hard-wired, I believe, to do the right thing, he said. Many times you dont have to penalize people or even threaten to penalize them.

The guidance stops short of shutting down theme parks, casinos, movie theaters and other businesses that bring together large numbers of people. Newsom said his administration was working overtime with those industries to address their unique needs.

Widespread closures may be coming anyway: On Thursday, Disneyland announced that it would close its Anaheim park Saturday morning and remain closed for the rest of March in light of the governors recommendation.

State officials already had engaged in discussions with Disney, Newsom said.

Using that policy, Disney made the right call in the interest of public health and agreed to shut down their California parks, the governor said in a statement. Expect more announcements like this shortly.

The state also hasnt moved to close schools, though it has recommended they consider suspending classes if one student, teacher or staff member tests positive for coronavirus. Newsom said Thursday while campuses remain open, they should stagger classes, cancel assemblies and provide meals in isolated settings.

We do deem that schools are essential, he said.

As recently as Tuesday, the governor was resisting taking steps at the state level. Newsom defended his approach as many parts, one body, arguing that California was too large and diverse for a single strategy to handle the spread of the virus and that local officials were better equipped to respond to the circumstances in their own communities.

But the situation has been changing rapidly. On Wednesday evening, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation suspended visits to state prisons indefinitely, though it will continue to allow overnight conjugal stays. Hours later, Newsom issued the statewide recommendation against mass gatherings, following the lead of Santa Clara County, San Francisco and Oakland, which had already banned large public events.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said Thursday the legislative session would continue for now as leaders explore alternatives to meet critical deadlines, including the constitutionally mandated requirement to pass a state budget by June 15.

Unlike the U.S. Capitol, which closed this week to tourists and other members of the public, the Legislature has kept the state Capitol open to the tours, school groups and advocacy groups that visit daily.

We dont want to cause what would be inappropriate anxiety, Atkins said. But we do want to follow public health. And we may end up having to look at those issues.

With the stock market slumping over widespread businesses impacts from coronavirus, Newsom said his team is constantly running scenarios on potential impacts to the forthcoming state budget. But with strong revenues in the first months of the year, he said he was confident California would be able to meet the moment.

The wonderful thing about standing here in March, and not in June and July, or worse August, is that we have a revise coming up that was going to happen on the natural and now will happen with all this benefit of new information, he said.

Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff
Cobra Gold 20: US, Royal Thai Marine Corps breach, clear obstacles showcasing combined arms firepower during final exercise

US Marine Corps News

11 Mar 2020 | 1st Lt. Demond Glover 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

BAN CHEN KHREM, Thailand -- Explosions and bullets rain past obstacles as the Royal Thai Marine Corps and U.S. Marines clear ground in a bilateral assault March 5, 2020, as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2020. Over the course of an hour, a force of over 100 Marines and Thais demonstrated combat breaching of obstacles and indirect fire support for combined arms rehearsals.

Participating units from the Royal Thai military executed a ground assault with Royal Thai Marine Corps BTR-60s, artillery, and 60 mm mortars with support by Marine Corps 81 mm mortars, artillery, and M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun fire. Culminating from days of bilateral drills and rehearsals, the combined force fully integrated into a fires and maneuver team capable of coordinating artillery, missile fire and sniper support in order to break barriers to progress in an assault mission.

After the initial assault, U.S. Marine combat engineers used the M-58 Mine Clearing Line Charge, or MICLIC, to clear mines and improvised explosive devices. The MICLIC clears mine fields by firing a line charge that, when detonated, can clear ground for troops and vehicles to safely navigate contested areas. With the combined effects of indirect fire, ground troop assault, and integrated maneuver, the demonstration revealed just how effective a bilateral force can be.

Fire support and infantry integration drives realistic and challenging U.S.-Royal Thai Marine Corps combat decision-making. Protecting and empowering the infantry Marine on the front line for mission completion is everything the Royal Thai and U.S. Marine Corps train for. Combining indirect fire to suppress the enemy while simultaneously maneuvering to assault exemplifies how the Corps enables the ground troops to win in battle.

Indirect Fire typically involves utilization of artillery or mortars, but can also include varied and heavier weapon systems such as cannon fire from Navy surface ships. Using IDF is important in a ground assault because it allows infantry to move closer to the enemy on foot, while the enemy is simultaneously suppressed from the indirect fire. Enemy forces choosing to not take cover from this fire, find themselves quickly decimated.

Exercise Cobra Gold demonstrates the commitment of the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States to our long- standing alliance, promotes regional partnerships and advances security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Beaumont NAACP chapter president Michael Cooper, who was eliminated from the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate last week, on Thursday endorsed state Sen. Royce West of Dallas for the party nomination.

Cooper, who who won the second-highest number of votes among Democrats in Jefferson County, cited Wests experience when announcing his endorsement at a joint appearance at the Provost Umphrey Law Firm.

West, who has represented a portion of Dallas County in the Texas Senate since 1993, will face MJ Hegar in Mays Democratic runoff.

Hegar, a Leander native, served 12 years in the Air Force. In 2018, she lost a bid for U.S. House District 31 by just 3 percentage points to Republican incumbent John Carter.

The winner of their runoff will face incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.

While Cooper and West devoted much of their speeches to Wests qualifications for the position, Cooper first took time to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

We need to make certain we take it seriously, and every opportunity I get Im going to make certain I say something about it, he said, adding that people need to make sure others are aware of who is most susceptible to the virus and what precautions should be taken.

He also noted that hes not yet sure how the virus could impact the runoff election.

Theresa Goodness, Jefferson County chief deputy clerk, said because the runoff election is so far off, its hard to say how it could be affected. Any timeline changes would have to be called for by Gov. Greg Abbott.

However, hand sanitizer and wipes for voting machines are standard supplies given to poll workers before any election.

Were at a place we havent been before and I dont know what impact its going to have on the election, West said. The first priority, though, is to make certain we do everything we can to help our fellow man through this particular virus. Then weve got to also make certain to do whats necessary to turn out the vote.

Cooper said he developed a relationship with West during his bid for lieutenant governor more than three years ago. He cited that camaraderie as a big part of the reason hes endorsing him now.

The two men share similar beliefs on education, immigration, bail reform and health care, and Cooper said having West as a representative in Washington, D.C., could specifically help Southeast Texas.

Imagine, if we partner with a senator at this level, we have a seat at the table, Cooper said in an interview with The Enterprise after the event. What I cant get done as a U.S. senator, I can get done as a friend of a U.S. senator.

At the end of the event, West spoke specifically on issues Southeast Texas has been battling such as getting money for storm recovery and regulating the operations of the oil and gas industry in light of the November explosions and fires at TPC Groups Port Neches plant.

He said federal disaster relief dollars should be distributed to recovery, resiliency and mitigation in whatever way works best for a geographic area  and the government needs to work to provide aid packages as quickly as possible.

The federal government also should find ways to use an annual survey to log chemicals stored at oil and gas plants so officials have enough information to make decisions during emergency situations.

He specifically called out a seeming lack of action by Cornyn in regard to a lack of funding being given to the Chemical Safety Board, which investigates major explosions like the one in Port Neches, among other issues.

At a get-out-the-vote event in Jefferson County early this month, Cornyn told members of the media that the response to explosions like these should be to fix whats broken, instead of enacting blanket legislation that he said may or may not fix the issue.

I want Jefferson County voters to know this: I have readied myself to be a United States senator, he said. Im very familiar with the issues, from health care to womens rights to education, to immigration. When you talk about environmental issues, Ive done a lot of work in that particular area. And Ive been able to work across party lines considering the majority of my legislative career Ive been in a minority party, but Ive been able to get things done.

The runoff is May 26.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/KaitlinBain
A remote desert in northern Australia could have become a haven for Jewish people fleeing from Nazi Germany.

In 1933, Melekh Ravitsh, a Yiddish poet, set out on a quest to find a suitable place where Jewish people could relocate - and discovered the rugged outback of the Northern Territory.

Three months before, Mr Ravitsh had visited Germany where the Nazi regime led by Adolf Hitler had risen to power and the increasing wave of anti-semitism he witnessed prompted him to take action.

Ravitsh traveled from Poland to Australia and managed to organise a ride in a rickety mail truck to the remote area, accompanied by an Italian mailman and a young Aboriginal boy serving as a guide.

'It was a wild, mad, crazy journey. But he had this terrifying sense of doom that he wanted to save his people from,' author Anna Epstein told ABC Radio about Mr Ravitsh's efforts this week.

A map of 27,000 square kilometres of leasehold land in Western Australia offered to the Jews by a well known pastoralist family

As World War II broke out in Europe, the Nazi regime began to round up Jews who sought safety in other countries

He had arrived in Australia with a letter of introduction from Albert Einstein and was tasked with finding money for Yiddish Schools.

'I think that the mission was the more important thing in his mind and the fundraising for the Yiddish schools was a pretext. It's what paid for his passage to Australia,' Ms Epstein said.

He had visited Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide raising money while also writing articles for a Yiddish newspaper in Poland.

He then headed north through the outback on his own mission - a four day train trip to Alice Springs and then five days on a dusty mail truck along sand-covered tracks to the isolated community of Birdum.

'In a place where 5,000 people have settled of their own free will and have a life that on average isn't bad, a hundred thousand could settle, especially when material circumstances compel them to do so,' Mr Ravitsh wrote.

He wrote that the first generation of Jews to travel to the area would suffer in the extremely hot and dry conditions, but the second generation would be acclimatised and could use desert wells to sustain agriculture.

In Darwin he met with the Northern Territory administrator who was open to the idea of resettling Jews in the outback.

Ravitsh continued to campaign for the relocation in lectures in Sydney and Melbourne before he returned to Poland.

Later, in 1939, just before World War II broke out in Europe, the Freeland League for Jewish Territorial Colonisation returned to Ravitsh's idea.

Under their plan, however, they identified the Kimberley in Western Australia as suitable to resettle 75,000 European Jews.

A representative for the organisation, Dr Isaac Steinberg, traveled to Western Australia and pitched his vision of 'Jewish people writing poetry about laughing kookaburras' and 'transforming the region into an agricultural hub' to the public.

A pastoralist family, The Duracks, offered the Jews 27,000 square kilomatres of leasehold land but the scheme did not go ahead.

Eventually Malekh Ravitsh returned to Melbourne with his family to teach at a Jewish Yiddish school were he lived for many years before traveling again.

He eventually settled in Israel after the country was established in the 1940s.
Two people allegedly murdered a man and had unnatural sex with the body following an altercation in South Delhi's Neb Sarai area, police said on Thursday.

The accused, natives of Jharkhand and Bihar, had fled to Patna after the crime from where they were arrested, they said.

According to police, the body was found on Wednesday from the victim's house.

His sister told police she had seen two people trying to remove the body and when she questioned them, they fled the spot.

She suspected the duo of killing her brother, police said.

"The accused left the national capital and were headed to Bihar. Police rushed to Patna and apprehended the accused from Patna Railway station on Wednesday," Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur said.

The accused said they, along with the victim, were drinking on Tuesday evening when a heated argument broke out after he used abusive language against them, a senior police officer said.

They strangled him and had an unnatural sex with the body. The accused left the place only to come back the next morning to remove the body from the house. When the victim's sister caught them in the act, they fled the spot, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India reported its first death due to coronavirus on Thursday as the number of positive cases soared to 74, with authorities taking emergency measures to contain its spread like shutting down schools, colleges and cinema halls in the national capital and some other places.

The Union health ministry confirmed that a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi in Karnataka, who died on Tuesday, was infected with coronavirus.

Samples of the man, who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, "has been confirmed for #COVID19", Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said.

"The necessary contact tracing, isolation & other measures as per protocol are being carried out," he tweeted.

Fourteen fresh cases have been reported from several states, including nine from Maharashtra, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

As the Centre and the states ramped up their efforts to tackle novel coronavirus, which has claimed at least 4,600 lives globally and affected nearly 125,293, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the countrymen not to panic and asserted that the government was fully vigilant.

Apart from directing the Union ministers not to travel abroad in the upcoming days, Modi also urged people to avoid non-essential travel, saying,"we can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings."



A day after it suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15, the government also announced that three planes will be sent in the next three days to bring back Indians stranded in Iran, one of the worst coronavirus-hit country.

Asking people not to panic, the Union health ministry said no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there has only been cases of local transmission so far.

With the novel coronavirus being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, Raman R Gangakhedkar, the head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases-I, a division of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said even though the virus is difficult to isolate, scientists at the National Institute of Virology in Pune have been successful in finding about 11 isolates, but developing a vaccine will take at least one-and-a-half to two years.

The total number of 74 patients in India includes 16 Italians and one Canadian. The figure is inclusive of three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month following recovery.

Giving a state-wise breakup, the ministry said Delhi reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10. Karnataka has four cases, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month.

Lav Aggarwal, the Joint Secretary in the ministry, said 1,500 people who came in contact with these 74 infected people were under rigorous observation while over 30,000 people across the country were under community surveillance.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government declared coronavirus an epidemic and said all those schools and colleges where exams are over should be shut down as also cinema halls till March 31.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal and top government officials.

Disinfecting all public places, including government and private offices and shopping malls has been made compulsory, Kejriwal said.

Uttarakhand and Manipur governments also announced closure of schools till March 31.

On its part, defence ministry has set up seven more quarantine facilities, especially for Indian citizens being brought to back from the coronavirus-hit countries, an official said. The facilities have been set up at Jaisalmer, Suratgadh, Jhansi, Jodhpur, Deolali, Kolkata and Chennai.

The Army is already operating a quarantine facility in Manesar while the one in Hindon, near Ghaziabad, is being operated by the air force.

Asserting that the focus is on preventive approach, and adequate testing facilities have been made available, Aggarwal said India presently has around 1 lakh testing kits and more testing kits have been ordered.

About evacuation measures undertaken so far, Aggarwal said till now, India has evacuated 948 people from the coronavirus-affected countries.

Of these, 900 were Indians and 48 belonged to different nationalities including from the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, the USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, he said.

Aggarwal said the government has made 52 laboratories functional for testing samples while 57 labs have been designated for helping in sample collection to enhance diagnosis and detection capacity of the disease.

The health officials also said that India's efforts to deal with coronavirus are in consonance with WHO and the focus is on preventive approach.

The government has stepped up vigil and following a strong contact tracing system to ensure anyone who has come in touch with the infected are not missed out, they said, adding till now, 11,14,025 people have been screened at 30 designated airports in India.

Asked whether high temperature kills the coronavirus, officials said there was no study or evidence till now to suggest that.

As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spread across the globe, the cabinet secretary on Wednesday said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.

Meanwhile, the External Affairs Ministry has advised against holding this year's IPL edition in wake of the coronavirus scare, but left it to the organisers to take a final call on it.

This was stated by MEA Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi who has been appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate efforts to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

India has suspended all visas, except for a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of respiratory virus, according to a revised travel advisory. Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15, according to the advisory issued on Wednesday.

It said, any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission and 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 14 days.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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

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The board of Chicago United, the citys leading advocacy organization for multiracial leadership in business, today announced that Tiffany Hamel Johnson will become the new president and chief executive officer of the 52-year-old organization. Hamel-Johnson joins the organization from World Business Chicago, where she is the organizations second-in-command as executive vice president of strategy and administration.

Hamel Johnson will take the helm on April 13. She will be the first African-American woman to fill the role. As president and CEO, she will direct programs and facilitate connections that support Chicago Uniteds corporate members as they advance diversity and inclusion across their enterprises. She succeeds Gloria Castillo, who announced her retirement in May 2019.

Previously, Hamel Johnson has served as the City of Chicagos deputy chief neighborhood development officer under former Mayor Rahm Emanuel; chief of staff at the Chicago Urban League; and, the chief executive officer of Windy City Harvest.

Among her accomplishments, Hamel Johnson helped direct the launch of the IMPACT Leadership Development Program at the Chicago Urban League; she directed sales and marketing of a $200 million, mixed-income residential development on Chicagos South Side for Granite Development Company, and; she was the project manager for the efforts to bring The Boeing Companys corporate headquarters to Chicago during her tenure at World Business Chicago.

It is an understatement to say that Im excited to step into this role, said Hamel Johnson. Im thrilled about this opportunity. I have worked across a variety of sectors, and I have seen the impact that diversity and inclusion strategies can have on Chicago. Chicago United has long stood for opening access and opportunity and elevating business leaders who are committed to making Chicago a city that works for everyone. Im eager to build on this legacy and do my part to help our city move forward.

Hamel Johnson was the unanimous choice of a search committee comprised of members of Chicago United's board of directors. The committee conducted a national search in partnership with Koya Leadership Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in placing CEOs in mission-driven roles and is a leader in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are excited to announce Tiffany as the new leader of this special organization, said Kip Kelley, chief executive officer of Aon Affinity USA and chairman of the Chicago United board. The entire board believes Tiffanys experience in Chicagos corporate, civic, non-profit and government realms makes her uniquely qualified for this role. I thank our search committee for conducting a robust search. Lastly, I give my deep thanks to Gloria Castillo for her standard-setting leadership for more than 15 years and her assistance in the leadership transition in the next few months.

John C. Robak, chief executive officer of global engineering firm Greeley and Hansen and vice chairman of the Chicago United board of directors, led the boards executive search committee. He said the process yielded a number of strong candidates from the city and beyond. Hamel Johnson, he said, presented a vision for Chicago United informed by her familiarity with the business and non-profit landscape and her accomplishments as a strategist for inclusive economic growth in the region.

Tiffany is a lifelong Chicagoan who has assumed progressively demanding responsibilities throughout her career, Robak said. The search committee recognized her as someone with a calling to advocate for inclusive opportunity for all Chicagoans. Chicago United will benefit from her unique view of the city, and the board looks forward to supporting her plans to drive corporate diversity and inclusion.

About Chicago United

Chicago United is a corporate membership and advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve parity in economic opportunity for people of color by advancing multiracial leadership in corporate governance, executive-level management, and business partnerships. Founded in 1968, the organization is focused on transforming the Chicago region into the nations most inclusive business ecosystem by engaging the top publicly and privately held corporations in leading talent management and inclusive diversity practices. Chicago Uniteds signature programs include its Business Leaders of Color publication, which showcases a diverse pool of corporate director candidates; the Five Forward Initiative, designed to invigorate job creation in communities of color by increasing the scale of large Minority Business Enterprises in the Chicago region; Inside Inclusion featuring the Corporate Diversity Profile, the regions only longitudinal study of inclusion on the boards of directors and executive ranks of the top 50 publicly held corporations in Chicago; and the Corporate Inclusion Institute, the first-ever citywide business talent development program. http://www.chicago-united.org
President Donald Trump leads a meeting with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and pharmaceutical executives in Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, on March 2, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Trump Cancels Events in Colorado, Nevada, Wisconsin Over New Coronavirus

President Donald Trump wont be holding planned events in three states because of the new coronavirus.

Trump decided to cancel upcoming events in Colorado and Nevada out of an abundance of caution from the coronavirus outbreak, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.

A Trump campaign event slated to take place next week in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was being postponed, Tim Murtaugh, director of communications for the campaign, said late Wednesday.

Out of an abundance of caution because of the coronavirus outbreak, the presidents campaign is postponing the Catholics for Trump event, he said in a statement.

Trump was no longer attending the Republican Jewish Coalitions annual meeting after the group said in a statement it was postponing the meeting, which was slated to take place this week in Las Vegas. He was scheduled to attend a fundraiser with Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who is up for reelection this year in Denver.

Trump gave an address to the nation on Wednesday night, warning older Americans against certain actions.

President Donald Trump listens to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan during a meeting with bankers with to discuss the coronavirus response in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington on March 11, 2020. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The vast majority of Americans: The risk is very, very low. Young and healthy people can expect to recover fully and quickly if they should get the virus. The highest risk is for elderly population with underlying health conditions. The elderly population must be very, very careful, he said.

In particular, we are strongly advising that nursing homes for the elderly suspend all medically unnecessary visits. In general, older Americans should also avoid nonessential travel in crowded areas.

Trump is 73.

Democratic presidential contenders Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 78, and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, canceled planned rallies on Tuesday in Ohio. Biden also canceled three events in Chicago slated to take place on Friday.

The health and safety of the public is our number one priority, Bidens campaign said in a statement. 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 Democratic National Committee said a debate featuring Sanders and Biden on Sunday in Arizona would no longer have a live audience because of the virus.
LAX to Resume Allowing Taxis to Pick Up Passengers Curbside

Taxi drivers will once again be able to pick up arriving passengers at the curb inside the Central Terminal Area at Los Angeles International Airport, starting at 8 a.m. today.

Two taxi stands will be in the terminal area during a 90-day pilot program.

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The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners was notified on Thursday that the airport would modify its LAX-it program to give the taxis more room.

This step will certainly help restore the taxi industry to its rightful and historic place at LAX, Bill Rouse, the general manager of Yellow Cab, said in a statement last week.

Additional signage will be placed overnight to help guests arriving at Tom Bradley International Terminal and Terminals 3, 7 and 8 find the new taxi pickup locations, LAX officials said. Signage that helps guests find their way to the LAX-it shuttle or to reach LAX-it by foot will remain unchanged.

In October, LAXI-it pushed taxis, ride-hail services and shuttles to a specific lot outside the CTA to pick up passengers, which taxi drivers said crippled their business. All services were still allowed to drop off passengers inside.

LAX permitted taxis to park outside the baggage claim areas at a half- dozen terminals for decades, but recent increases in traffic and long wait times to exit the airport prompted the new pick-up station while construction takes place on the airports multibillion-dollar improvement projects.

Airport officials said LAX-it decreased the number of vehicles in the CTA an average of 12-13% each day.

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Two taxi stands inside the central terminal is better than none, Rouse said. It will mean better, more convenient service for travelers. (Thursdays) decision demonstrates that LAX staff recognize the vital role the taxi industry plays in serving travelers arriving at LAX. It also recognizes that the industry can only play that vital role if it is financially viable.

During the three-month trial period, airport officials will closely monitor the effects the taxi stand operations have on traffic congestion.
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The Jyotiraditya Scindia saga is still playing out in Madhya Pradesh, putting at risk the Congress partys Kamal Nath government. Scindia has already left the party after serving it for 18 years in various capacities and if the tottering Nath government also falls, it will be a double blow for the grand old party. There are already voices in the Congress about the drift that now characterises the party and it will not be a surprise if more leaders pick up the courage to exit the 134-year-old party.

The weakening of the Congress began at the turn of the last decade, ironically when the party was ruling India for the second consecutive term. The Congress-led UPA was at the helm but the government was besieged by one crisis after another. The biggest challenge before the Manmohan Singh government was the myriad corruption charges. From 2G and CWG to AgustaWestland and the coal scam, the Congress-led government was beset by charges of bribery and nepotism. These allegations were followed by policy paralysis as the government, instead of concentrating on governance, was busy battling the crises. All these combined to hurt the party politically, from which it is still struggling to emerge.

But even the most trenchant critics of the Congress will be saddened at the Humty Dumpty-like fall of the party. In a multi-party, multi-regional and multi-cultural democracy such as Indias, a strong national opposition party is as important as a strong Central government. A weak opposition will be able to do little against the arrogant tendencies of a government that has unbridled strength.

In fact, the pitfalls of a virtual single-party rule are best exemplified by the Congress itself under Indira Gandhi, who had no inhibitions to declare the detested Emergency when her political survival was at stake. In the current political set-up, there are strong regional players in many states. But the saffron party has few challengers at the Centre. This void can only be filled by the Congress with its pan-India following, but there doesnt seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel.
Nearly 1.5million first generation smart meters (SMETS1) were installed in households across the country last year  despite the fact installations of the older devices do not count towards energy suppliers official target figures.

Some 4.5million smart meters were installed in 2019, according to a new report from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - this is down by 600,000 compared to 2018.

Of the 4.5million, 1.5million - or one in three - were still SMETS1 devices. These were supposedly due to be replaced by the superior second generation meters, SMETS2, in 2018.

Smart meter installations have fallen - but the rate of SMETS1 gadgets fitted is still high

SMETS1 devices caused problems for thousands of households as the gadgets 'went dumb'  lost all functionality  after the user switched suppliers.

Although BEIS claim the SMETS1 meters are being moved into the national smart metering communications infrastructure so they regain and can retain smart services upon switching, it has not been advised exactly when this will take place.

The introduction of the SMETS2 devices was set to rectify the problem of dumb SMETS1 meters as households wouldn't have to worry about the newer models going dumb but the roll out was far from effective.

Suppliers that don't hit their target installation figures can be fined by Ofgem, the energy watchdog.

Peter Earl, head of energy at Compare the Market, said: '4.5million smart meter installations in 2019 may sound impressive, but in reality it's lower than the 5.1million installed the year before.

'It is remarkable that nearly 1.5million lower-tech first generation smart meters were installed in domestic homes last year in spite of the vast majority of these meters not remaining in 'smart mode' if you change energy supplier, a problem fixed by the second generation SMETS2 meters which are already widely available.

'Energy customers across the UK could be forgiven for being sceptical that the current 2024 deadline will be met, with an extension further into the horizon entirely possible.'

Figure revealing how many households across the UK currently have a smart meter fitted

The Government originally had a target of all households and small businesses having a smart meter by 2020.

However, due to slow uptake and various issues with the roll out, including first generation meters going dumb, this was pushed back to 2024 in September 2019.

The BEIS report claims that 30 per cent of all UK households now have a working smart meter, however, this still includes the SMETS1 devices.

The figure of SMETS2 installations is rising rapidly, however, with 67 per cent of smart meters installed in 2019 being the second generation meter, increasing from just 4.5 per cent in 2018.

The report also revealed that just under 4million of the 16.5million meters installed were operating in traditional mode  essentially, the same as a normal meter, with none of the smart features.

One problem with the roll out is that, although many customers have asked for a SMETS2 meter to be fitted, they were instead given a SMETS1.

This is despite companies being told that the older models will no longer count towards their smart meter installation targets as of 15 March 2019.

However, suppliers continued to install the devices supposedly to get rid of 'old stock' with many also claiming that the SMETS2 meters were not able to be installed in some homes across the country, due to the infrastructure.

This applied to those living in high rise buildings as well as those in the north of the country, who were advised the signal might not be able to stretch to these areas.

Robert Cheesewright, Director of Corporate Affairs at Smart Energy GB said: 'The vast majority of installs are now SMETS2 meters, but in certain circumstances, a first-generation meter may need to be installed.

'First-generation meters will be enrolled into the secure national communications network in due course enabling them to retain all smart functions no matter who you choose as your energy supplier.'

A BEIS spokesperson added: 'The replacement of outdated gas and electricity meters with smart meters is a vital energy infrastructure upgrade that will help make the UK's energy system cheaper, greener and more efficient.

'With nearly 16.5 million smart meters now operating across Great Britain, millions of consumers are already taking control of their energy use and cutting their bills. Smart meters are future-proofing our energy system and reducing our contribution to climate change.
The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) has said the Governments establishment of a board to review the Rescue 116 helicopter crash draft final report is in conflict with international safety standards.

The pilots union was responding to Wednesdays announcement by Transport Minister Shane Ross that he was appointing senior counsel Patrick McCann to chair the review of the draft final report.

The draft has been completed and was circulated to interested parties, including the families of the four crew members who died  Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, and winch crew Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith.

A 60-day period was given for submissions. The report has not yet been published by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU), due to an application in January for a review of certain findings.

The four air/sea rescue helicopter crew were providing top cover communication for the medical evacuation of a crewman from a British-registered fishing vessel 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 in spite of extensive searches supported by the fishing fleet.

IALPA president Evan Cullen has expressed concern over the ongoing delay in publishing the final report.

The Rescue 116 crew.

Ireland has an obligation to publish the final version of an accident investigation report as quickly as possible to ensure that safety recommendations, potentially applicable to search and rescue operations worldwide, are implemented at the earliest possible opportunity, said Capt Cullen.

He said that, in IALPAs view, the review does not comply with the standards and recommended practices laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation [ICAO].

Annex 13 of ICAO sets out how states should investigate or delegate the investigation of accidents which have occurred in their territory, he said. For a country to take the unusual step of deviating from ICAO practice, it must file a difference to the ICAO standards and we do not believe Ireland has taken this step.

It is fundamental that adherence to international obligations regarding aviation safety recommendations should transcend stakeholder concerns over reputation. Prevention of any future accidents demands no less.

The Department of Transport said it wholly rejects the IALPA claim and said there is nothing in Annexe 13 of the ICAO regulations  that obliges it to file a difference. A spokeswoman for the department said the AAIU chief inspector also concurred with its position.

Under Irelands 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, which employed the four air crew, has declined to say whether it sought the review.
Air strikes in eastern Syria have killed 26 fighters from an Iran-backed Iraqi paramilitary group following a deadly attack on U.S.-led coalition forces in neighboring Iraq.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the March 12 strikes near the Syrian border town of Albu Kamal were probably carried out by the coalition.

But a spokesman for the coalition said in an statement to AFP that it "did not conduct any strikes in Syria or Iraq last night."

Later in the day, U.S. Defense Secretary Mike Esper blamed Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia groups for the attack on the coalition at the Camp Taji military base, located less than 30 kilometers north of Baghdad.

But he did not confirm whether the U.S. or its allies had carried out the eastern Syria attack.

However, Esper said that "all options are on the table" as Washington and its allies try to bring those responsible for the attack, which killed two U.S. troops and one British soldier and wounded a dozen others when a barrage of Katyusha rockets were launched from a truck later discovered several kilometers from Camp Taji.

Syrian state media reported that in the attack in eastern Syria, unidentified jets hit targets southeast of Albu Kamal with only material damage.

However, the Observatory said camps of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella grouping of Iran-backed Shi'ite militias, were hit in the strikes, which came after a rocket attack on the Camp Taji military base, located less than 30 kilometers north of Baghdad.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab "underscored that those responsible for the [Camp Taji] attacks must be held accountable," the State Department said of a phone call between the two.

Iraq's military said caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered an investigation into what he called a very serious security challenge and hostile act."

No-one claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, but the United States has accused Iran-backed militias of previous attacks on Iraqi bases hosting coalition forces.

U.S. Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of Central Command, told a Senate hearing that the attack was being investigated.

But he noted that Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah "the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against U.S. civilian and coalition forces in such an incident Iraq."

U.S. President Donald Trump on March 12 said it had not been fully determined whether Iran, which has backed a number of anti-U.S. militia groups in neighboring Iraq, was responsible for the Katyusha attack.

Washington blamed that militia for a strike in December that killed a U.S. contractor and triggered a round of violence that led U.S. President Donald Trump to order the killing of a top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, in a drone strike in Baghdad the following month.

In retaliation, an Iranian ballistic missile strike on an Iraqi air base left some 110 U.S. troops suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and the BBC
Its gravy day at Courvilles Catering.

Owner Rich Courville uses the F-150 of can openers to pop the lids on No. 10 cans of tomato paste while Carly Oubre measures chopped garlic by the cup.

Stephan Oubre takes the emptied cans to a sink where he fills them with water and then pours the tomato-y liquid into a large clear container. Hell repeat that task dozens of times before the day is over.

Its gravy day. And when the trio is done, theyll refrigerate 150 gallons of fresh and fragrant tomato sauce.

Dont go calling it sauce,  Courville warns a visitor. Theyll jump on you if you call it sauce.

They are the organizers of the St. Joseph Day celebration at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica. On March 19, the tomato gravy will top generous plates of spaghetti served alongside freshly fried fish. The money raised  $12 a plate  will go to provide food, meals and assistance to people in Southeast Texas in need.

This is the sixth year that Courville and the Oubres have volunteered their time and expertise in making the gravy.

Carly, Stephan and I feed thousands of people, as many as 5,000 at time, Courville says, popping another lid. Were used to this kind of thing.

Courville pushes another can in place and pulls the openers long handle. Dont be impressed by the opener, Courville says, adding that there are more expensive pneumatic versions.

We got a machine that does it with air, Stephan Oubre shouts from the sink. Hot air.

Courville chuckles.

He has been catering large events for 25 years. Sitting in his ever-expanding business is a Southern Pride Smoker that can cook 1,400 pounds of meat at a time. Carly Oubre owns her own catering business, Chic Chef.

Carly Oubre said it took a couple of years to perfect the secret recipe so that they can produce tomato gravy in 25 gallon batches. Before they began making the gravy, it was cooked in small batches by volunteer home cooks.

Shes a trained chef  Im a cook, Courville says, as Carly Oubre, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Austin, checks the recipe.

Theres a short discussion of fennel, a key ingredient to the St. Joseph Day tomato gravy. In the secret recipe, the bulbs and the fronds go into the gravy separately.

I thought fronds were a fancy shrimp, Courville teases.

After prep for the first batch is complete, the team moves to the cooker.

While the ingredients have been scaled for more efficiency, the recipe still is followed almost exactly.

That means the garlic, fennel bulb and onion are cooked until soft and caramel colored. The trio stays busy, pushing metal paddles through the concoction to assure it cooks evenly.

Linda Domino, St. Josephs Day event coordinator, arrives just in time to inspect the cook on the tomato paste.

Its a step that cannot be rushed, she says, pointing out the instructions on the original recipe.

It needs to cook until it is brick red, she says, peering into the cooker as Stephan Oubre pushes the paste from the corners of the cooker. It needs a couple of more minutes.

Olive oil hits a second cooker before the first batch of gravy is done.

Domino expresses her gratefulness for the trio as more volunteers arrive after church. They dive into prep as the aromatics go into the second cooker.

Shes astounded by her army of volunteers that includes many from other churches.

Last year volunteers made 60,000 cookies to sell on St. Josephs Day, a day that commemorates the saint delivering the island of Sicily from famine.

They sold all 60,000, as well as more than 1,000 plate lunches.

Now, thats a gravy day.
Australia Extends Virus Travel Ban to Italy

By Phil Mercer March 11, 2020

Australia has expanded its coronavirus travel ban to include Italy. Restrictions are already in place for foreign nationals arriving from China, Iran and South Korea.

Australian officials say travel from four countries into Australia is now restricted because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Foreign nationals who have been in Italy, mainland China, Iran and South Korea will not be allowed into Australia for 14 days from the time they left those countries.

Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to return home, but will need to isolate themselves for two weeks.

With more than 10,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, Italy's outbreak is now the largest outside mainland China. The entire country has been placed under quarantine restrictions.

"The situation in Italy is now commensurate with the other countries where we have previously had travel bans put in place, and so we will be extending that travel ban to Italy now," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. "Effectively though I think it is important not to overstate this. I mean, Italy itself has effectively put itself into lockdown."

The new directive comes as the government announces a $1.5 billion government health package aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Specialist fever clinics will be set up and people worried about the virus will be able to consult doctors over video calls.

A public health campaign will soon be launched to better inform Australians about the disease. It will explain how to limit the spread of COVID-19 through hygiene measures, what to do if symptoms develop and where to seek help. It follows complaints from some doctors about a lack of consistent official information around how to handle people with symptoms of the disease.

There are now more than 130 cases of coronavirus across Australia. So far, three people have died.

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Nigerias ex-head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar has said that Muhammadu Sanusi II got dethroned as the Emir of Kano because Satan got involved.

Speaking with Voice of America Hausa Service, the former Head of State said a committee was actually inaugurated to mediate between Sanusi and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, but that things hit the rock as Satan got involved.

According to him, the committee, which he was a part, met with the Emir and the governor separately, and then with them together.

We tried to mediate. All I can say is that there was a misunderstanding and Satan got involved, he stated.



Abubakar said Ganduje had the yam and the knife in this matter because the emir was under him and that he did what he should do.

He added that he could not say whether or not President Muhammadu Buhari intervened in the matter as he was away from the country, saying that before he left, he and the team went to him with the report of the matter and that they discussed with the president.

He was optimistic that if Buhari had gotten himself involved in the matter, the dethronement might have been nipped in the board.

He, however, said if Allah said a thing would happen, there was nothing anybody could do about it.

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He was bombarded with a stream of criticism after getting the word 'misunderstood' tattooed on his face last month.

Presley Gerber returned to defending the prominent ink Wednesday in a message posted to his Instagram Stories.

The 20-year-old model complained that people 'hate me,' and seemed to compare his situation to the discrimination faced by transgender people.

Feeling unloved: Presley Gerber defended the 'misunderstood' face tattoo he got last month in a bizarre Instagram rant in which he complained that 'people love to hate me'

Unlike earlier defenses of the tattoo on Instagram Live, Presley shared his latest mini rant in text form to his Insta Stories.

'Most and a lot of people can get a face lifts, change genders, lip injections, etc and it's offensive to say anything in today's day in age but I get a little face tattoo and now people to love hate me.. Hmmmm? [sic]' he wrote.

The bizarre statement seemed to compare the negative reactions he got to the tattoo to the discrimination that transgender people receive.

It also appeared to conflate gender reconfirmation surgery with purely cosmetic procedures including 'face lifts' and 'lip injections.'

Defensive: The bizarre statement seemed to compare the negative reactions his tattoo got to the discrimination that transgender people receive, as well as purely cosmetic procedures

'Beautiful moments': Presley also shared a short video of himself seemingly watching a movie with a friend

Very serious: He had a dramatic face and captioned it 'Beautiful moments,' before panning over to his friends face, which she turned into a pout

Presley also shared a short video of himself seemingly watching a movie with a friend.

He had a dramatic face and captioned it 'Beautiful moments,' before panning over to his friends face, which she turned into a pout.

Recently, Presley's antics have caused concern among his parents, supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber.

Last month, an insider told Us Weekly: 'Presley is obviously going through a super rebellious phase right now'

'He is trying to get out of the shadow of his family and find his own way and create his own identity. He also likes the attention hes been getting, even if negative, from his tattoo and recent posts.'

Rebel boy: Last month, an insider told Us Weekly : 'Presley is obviously going through a super rebellious phase right now'

Apparently, being the older brother to rising model Kaia Gerber doesn't help the journey to self discovery either.

The source added: 'Presley feels like theres a lot of pressure on him because his parents and Kaia are so successful, and Kaia is thought of as a "sweetheart."

'And Cindy and Rande have such respected reputations in everything they do. He wants to do his own thing and find his own place in the world.'

Identity crisis: An insider recently told Us Weekly: 'He is trying to get out of the shadow of his family and find his own way and create his own identity'

Sibling rivalry: The source added: 'Presley feels like theres a lot of pressure on him because his parents and Kaia are so successful, and Kaia is thought of as a "sweetheart"'

Getting help: Another source close to the family recently told E! News that mom and dad have been trying to get him help since his DUI last March

Another source close to the family recently told E! News that mom and dad have been trying to get him help since his DUI last March.

They said: 'Cindy and Rande are definitely concerned about their son. They truly want to make sure he is okay.'

Presley showed off the ink earlier this month, which sits under his right eye and reads: 'misunderstood.'

He said in an Instagram Live shortly after: 'If I thought this was going to ruin my face or I didn't want this, I wouldn't have done it.'
Thousands of people travel to Birmingham every year to climb the steps to the top of the citys iconic iron man, the Vulcan, which is the largest cast-iron statue in the world. But few people realize that about 45 minutes north, in the quaint city of Hartselle, a second iron man greets residents. What is this strange flat, life-sized figure along Alabama Highway 36?

This is its story.

Most everyone in Hartselle knows about the local Iron Man but few people outside the region have seen it. It is located at the intersection of Alabama Highway 36 West and Iron Man Road, which was renamed for the figure.

The male figure has a flattened body with a three-dimensional head. Its attire, including a hat, makes it look something like a scout or ranger. One of its flat sides is etched with the words: VegaCal For the Liver. The other side says: VegaCal Gets the Bile.

So what is this strange roadside man and how did he get there? According to the Hartselle Historical Society, the figure was erected at another site at the turn of the century and later moved to its present location. It was created to advertise VegaCal, which was one of the many elixirs produced at the time that promised to cure a variety of ailments.

Birmingham author and historian Tim Hollis wrote on the Birmingham Rewound website: What is obvious is that the VegaCal men were meant to serve as road signs of sorts, probably with a sign on each arm indicating which town lay in each of the two directions.

Hollis believes one or more of the signs were once located in the Birmingham area.

What was VegaCal?

Where did the elixir come from an what was in it? According the website BhamWiki.com, VegaCal was produced by the W.D. Taylor Company of Birmingham: VegaCal was a liver tonic concocted and sold by W.D. Taylor, a Bessemer pharmacist in the early 20th century. The tonic was marketed as containing a vegetable-based alternative to the mineral calomel (mercury chloride), which, though toxic, was popularly used as a medication through the 19th century. By contrast, VegaCal contained extracts of cascara (chitticum), senna, peppermint and cassia in a sugar syrup, bottled with 12% alcohol by volume.

According to The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture: Volume 23, Folk Art, it was rumored the signs were meant to be scarecrows but it is unlikely that was the case.

The W.D. Taylor Chemical Company clearly commissioned the VegaCal men as roadside signs, wrote authors Carol Crown, Cheryl Rivers and Charles R. Wilson. With three-dimensional two-faced heads that share a single brimmed hat, the otherwise flat figures with arms held at almost right angles to the torso offer messages for travelers both coming and going  Although it is possible that farmers may have given new purpose to some iron figures, no documentation supports this theory. Removing the figures from the roadside and covering them with clothing would certainly have obscured the advertising.

In Hartselle

Encyclopedia of Southern Culture author Cheryl Rivers told Hollis the makers of VegaCal had commissioned at least four or five life-size iron figures that were cast at one of Birminghams busy foundries, and subsequently installed at various crossroads in the greater metro area, Hollis said. The year, or even decade, in which this took place is still unknown at this time.

It is now listed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The listing in the Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture says: Reportedly, the Ironman stood in a pasture on property owned by Howard James. It stood on the old Neel Road, now Ironman road, about 200 feet from its current site. It is believed to date to about 1900 and may have been cast in Birmingham.

The listing also states that the statue is regularly repainted by members of the Hopewell Homemakers Club.

After more than a century standing on the corner, the Iron Man is now a Hartselle landmark. He now serves as an informal trade sign for the Ironman Grocery and has given his name to a major thoroughfare, Ironman Road, and to the Ironman Baptist Church, the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture says. Locals report the Ironman has become a landmark, frequently cited when giving directions.
Demeaned and no dollars: Lebanese choked by bank controls A woman uses an automated teller machine (ATM) of Bankmed in Beirut

By Ellen Francis

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Outside a bank in Lebanon's capital, dozens of people line up every morning long before the doors open, hoping to extricate whatever little cash the limits allow this week.

An employee announces only 15 people can get $100, everybody else must leave. Another morning, he says the branch has no dollars today.

"How can this be? A bank that has no money," said Pauline Sawma, 28, bursting into laughter after she tried withdrawing a sliver of her money.

"I've been here since 7 a.m. Can you imagine? Standing outside and waiting, so that maybe they give me $200 and maybe not," she said. "You can't buy anything, you can't travel. My microwave is broken, I can't even get it fixed."

Lebanon's financial crisis has made dollars scarce, hiked prices, slashed jobs and fuelled unrest. Cash-strapped banks have come under fire for imposing controls after years of funneling deposits to a dysfunctional state drowning in debt.

The controls, which kicked in four months ago without legislation, vary from one bank to another, giving some discretion to branches to decide who gets what. Banks have curbed withdrawals to as little as $100 a week, blocked transfers abroad and cut card spending online or abroad.

At least a dozen depositors told Reuters the curbs got stricter every few weeks and often did not apply to everyone in the same way. Some said their branches did not always have cash to meet even the measly limits.

Others said bankers had threatened to close accounts of customers who tried complaining. Bank workers say they, too, have faced growing pressure from irate depositors.

PATIENCE RUNNING THIN

The banking association could not be reached for comment. Its chairman has said the rules seek to preserve Lebanon's wealth inside the country and that banks have sustained big losses to secure hard currency.

With patience running thin, the government has vowed to draft a law standarizing the controls, and on Tuesday, a public prosecutor met bankers to agree a set of rules.

Story continues

At two of Lebanon's biggest banks, at least a dozen customers said they could no longer withdraw U.S. dollars that had gone into their accounts as of January. They must take out the funds in Lebanese pounds at the official peg, wiping more than 40% off the value relative to the market.

"They think it's okay to humiliate people and we don't have the right to complain. It's as if we're garbage," said Sawma, who works at a beauty parlor where she took a pay cut.

When she objected about queues, she says the manager berated her. "It's not their fault, the bank employees. God help them," she added. "But at least respect us. Now they're being demeaned, we're being demeaned, and the politicians live in la-la-land."

Abdelhassan Husseini, a college professor in his 60s, spent 20 years saving for his kids. Now his architect son needs the funds to move abroad -- like many young Lebanese graduates -- the bank won't issue the U.S. dollars, not even in a cheque. The bank had offered him a Lebanese pound cheque instead, he said.

"It's utter humiliation. This is our money," he added, stalking out of his branch. "One day they give you $100, another day $50. Next they're going to start taking cash from you."

In his speech declaring Lebanon could not repay its debts, Prime Minister Hassan Diab pledged at the weekend to protect deposits. Still, such reassurances in recent months have done little to stop Lebanese from stashing cash at home.

After witnessing the 1975-1990 civil war and moving abroad with her husband to make a living, Hiyam al-Shami returned to spend her 60s in Lebanon. Now their savings are trapped in the bank and their kids have emigrated.

"It's a shame, at my age, to be demeaned like this," she said. "I wanted to live a bit here in Beirut, to see my siblings, to go out...God help us with these rulers. I hope none of them remain, not a single one."

(Writing by Ellen Francis, Editing by William Maclean)
China will work to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and encourage financial institutions to increase foreign trade loans to cope with the impact of the epidemic and keep steady progress in foreign trade and investment. Sound preparations will be made for the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) this spring. These were decided at the State Council's executive meeting on Tuesday presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.





"Keeping foreign trade and foreign investment stable is vitally important as the Chinese economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy. Given the severe impact of the epidemic on foreign trade, we must implement targeted policies to arrest the slide in foreign trade and foreign investment, to forestall damage to the wider economy," Li said.





It was decided at the Tuesday meeting that all export tax rebates must be made in full without delay except for energy intensive, polluting, and resource products.





Financial institutions will be encouraged to increase foreign trade loans, fully deliver the policy of loan deferment in both principal and interest, and consider further rolling over, through consultations, the loans made to smaller firms deeply affected by the outbreak yet hold promising prospects.





Commercial insurance companies will be supported in offering short-term export credit insurance services and lowering premium rates.





The meeting called for sound preparation for the China Import and Export Fair this spring to bolster cooperation on foreign trade.





Efforts must be intensified to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and expand the catalog of industries where foreign investment is encouraged, so that foreign investors in more sectors get to benefit from the tax and other incentives.





Recent tax and fee relief policies designed to help companies in difficulty should equally apply to both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises.





"All companies, regardless of size or type of ownership, should get to benefit from the recent policies designed to ease their difficulties. We must swiftly work out a further shortened negative list on the access of foreign investment to more clearly demonstrate our firm resolve on opening-up," Li said.




Had assisted suicide been legal where we lived at that time, he said, he would have been tempted by it, and we all would have lost out on so much, including the birth of our second son. It turned out his doctors were wrong, and his prognosis was off by years.
TDT | Manama

Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) announced installing indigenously developed new self-service kiosks with advanced technology. The kiosks were developed by the banks employees at its Innovation Lab, a creative space at the Banks Headquarters dedicated to brainstorming.

Empowered by advanced technology, the lab, BisB said, enables it to test-pilot and develop innovative products and solutions for the financial sector.

The new kiosks, installed across all of the banks branches and Financial Malls and available 24/7, enable customers to open an account without the need for human intervention, issue prepaid and debit cards, update their personal information, as well as issue bank statements.

Chief Executive Officer of BisB, Hassan Amin Jarrar, said, We are delighted to introduce the self-service kiosks, developed by the Banks inhouse team of local Bahraini talent from their extensive experience in Information Technology (IT). Our ultimate goal at BisB is to simplify customers daily banking experience by providing them with the ability to perform a multitude of transactions independently so that they will no longer be forced to stand in a long queue simply to execute a routine transaction such as the issue of prepaid cards.
When it comes to influencing our clothes-buying habits, few hold such influence over UK shoppers as the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge.

When Meghan Markle became engaged to Prince Harry in 2017 and joined the royal family in 2018, excitement was such that The Meghan Effect quickly exceeded The Kate Effect.

In fact, fashion search platform Lysts 2019 Year in Fashion Report named 38-year-old Markle the Internet's most searched-for influencer of 2019.

However, as Harry and Meghan decide to relinquish their royal duties in favour of a family life in Canada, it seems that all that has begun to change.

Discount clothing website LovetheSales.com has analysed every outfit publicly worn by the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2019 and 2020, and today released a report confirming that Meghans influence on our wardrobes has taken a tumble, while Kates influencer status is once again on the ascent.

The analysis (which is based on the combined Google search queries and the search queries, page views and sales metrics of 4 million British shoppers searching 6 million fashion items on LovetheSales.com) reveals that from when she first became engaged to Harry in November 2017, right up until the end of 2019, Meghan would, on average, drive 216 per cent increase in online demand for each item she wore. In the same period meanwhile, Kate inspired a more modest 119 per cent average increase in searches for specific items.

In 2020, this has all changed. Kates outfits now, on average, drive a 159 per cent increase in demand for specific products (a significant jump from last years 119 per cent), while conversely the increase in searches for Meghans looks have dropped to an average of just 31 per cent.

As Meghan has spent much of the first quarter of the year in Canada, we have definitely seen less of her than Kate, who has already been photographed on 20 royal engagements so far this year. And while the figures are based on average increases not quantity of sales, its worth noting that the regularity with which we have seen Kate, may well have given her an advantage in terms of gaining loyal fashion followers.

But is the media storm surrounding 'Megxit' solely to blame for the changing of the royal fashion influencer guard?

Read on for some of their 2020 fashion choices decoded

Is the 'Meghan Effect' coming to an end?

The Duchess of Sussexs signature gowns and dresses havent had the same impact on shoppers in 2020, compared to the last two years.

The red caped Safiyaa gown Meghan wore to the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday was very similar to the blue Safiyaa gown she wore on her visit to Fiji in 2018.

While Meghans red gown may have had a hidden message of defiance, it didnt have as big an impact on shoppers as 2018s blue version, with searches for Safiyaa gowns increasing just 30 per cent this week, compared to 223 per cent in the days following the state dinner in Fiji.

Kate's coat game has been more popular

Kate wore a camel Massimo Dutti coat when visiting her Early Years patronage charity event on January 22. On the same day, Meghan released pictures of a secret visit to her Mayhews charity earlier in the month, the coat she was wearing was also by Massimo Dutti. In the weeks after both pictures of the Duchesses were released, Brits searched for Kates coat eight times more than Meghans.

Kate and Meghan's most popular looks of 2020

The Duchess of Cambridge's most searched-for look of 2020:

Kate served her most influential 2020 look on day three of the royal tour of Galway, Ireland. The Duchess looked elegant in an Alexander McQueen trench coat (the second time she had worn it that month) and Suzannah London vintage polka dress. She matched this with a Jimmy Choo clutch and black Ralph Lauren suede boots.

The outfit was a huge hit with Brits, but it was the Alexander McQueen coat that had shoppers in a fashion frenzy, demand for Alexander McQueen shot up by 233 per cent online, and searches for trench coats were up 93 per cent in the past week.

The Duchess of Sussex's most searched-for look of 2020:

Getty Images

Meghans most popular look in 2020 came from one of her last engagements as a senior royal in the UK, when she delivered a powerful speech on International Womens Day at a school in Dagenham.

The Duchess wore a cream boucle jacket by ME and EM, black Alexander McQueen trousers, Jennifer Chamandi nude pumps and a Rejina Pyo weave bag.
Gap Inc. March 5 announced that its Board of Directors has named Indian American Sonia Syngal, an accomplished retail leader and chief executive of the portfolios Old Navy business since 2016, as the companys next CEO. (LinkedIn photo)
James Beavis, 33, uses hand sanitizer that the polling place provided after casting his ballot at Warren Woods Baptist Church on March 10, 2020 in Warren, Michigan.

Ohio is asking volunteers to sign up to "defend democracy" and work at voting sites during Tuesday's primary election amid the coronavirus outbreak, which is disproportionately targeting older people.

"We are talking about it as a patriotic duty," Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said in an interview. "Part of the reason for this is that the demographic that tends to be our poll workers tends to be older."

LaRose noted that with colleges closing down and businesses sending people home, "a lot of people have a lot of free time on their hands."

LaRose said the measures are proactive, though there have been scattered reports from county officials about older poll worker volunteers dropping out. The state has created a web page, located at ohiosos.gov/defenddemocracy, for those looking to become precinct officials.

"I'd rather have too many poll workers than not enough," LaRose said. "People don't realize sometimes the massive undertaking that it is to run an election."

The state expects more than 35,000 workers across nearly 4,000 voting locations, he said.

The call for volunteers is just one sign of local resilience to emerge from states hosting elections in the midst of a pandemic that has threatened to bring economic and cultural activity to a halt around the globe.

The primary contests scheduled for Tuesday in Ohio, Florida, Illinois and Arizona are the first in places where the pandemic has shaped the major Democratic presidential primary campaigns.

There are five confirmed cases in Ohio, 29 in Florida, 25 in Illinois and nine in Arizona, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In Florida there have been at least two confirmed deaths.

The coronavirus is rapidly shifting the contours of the Democratic presidential primary race.

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders both canceled events this week in Ohio on Tuesday, citing the virus. CNN said on Tuesday that there will be no live audience at the Democratic debate on Sunday in Phoenix. On Thursday, the Democratic National Committee said the debate will take place instead in Washington, D.C., because of the virus.

The effect of the disease on older people is just one consideration for state election officials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said older people and those with chronic health conditions are more at risk from COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,300 people in the U.S. and killed at least 38.

In addition to asking for volunteers to work at poll sites, Ohio has also moved polling sites out of senior facilities, encouraged more early voting and provided $50 stipends to cover the cost of sanitizing supplies at voting locations, LaRose said. The state is also providing for voting via curbside drop-off at county boards of elections on Election Day.

Other states are also taking precautions.

Arizona said on Wednesday that it will be taking extra steps at 20 voting sites it has identified that may be frequented by seniors. The state is advising those facilities to "get the message out to vulnerable populations" that they should avoid crowds on Election Day unless they're voting, according to the statement.

Arizona has also taken steps to mitigate a potential volunteer shortage on Election Day via a recruitment network run by the state Department of Health Services.

In Florida, elections officials have sent out instructions from election equipment vendors explaining how to properly clean voting machines and other devices, according to the emails provided to CNBC by the Florida Secretary of State's office.

Maria Matthews, the director of Florida's Division of Elections, also suggested that elections staff vet poll workers for possible signs of infection, including "if they have traveled overseas or been on a cruise ship recently or if they are showing active symptoms."

In Chicago there was talk of postponing the elections entirely, according to Crain's Chicago Business. Illinois state law does not provide for deferring an election, but according to the outlet such a measure was considered after dozens of landlords canceled plans to host voting sites and senior facilities threatened to close their doors.

The Chicago Board of Elections said on Wednesday that it is moving "full speed ahead" with its Tuesday elections, Crain's reported. The board and other Illinois officials did not respond to multiple inquiries from CNBC.

"We're getting cooperation from the city and the state, and we're going to do everything in our collective parties to make certain that voting moves forward as scheduled on Election Day," Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Jim Allen said in an email, according to the outlet.

LaRose, the Ohio Secretary of State, noted that elections officials tended to be flexible in the face of unforeseen difficulties.

"I will say this: Elections officials in general, down at the local level and in the secretary of state's office, are good at being adaptable," he said.

LaRose noted that he had never run an election during a pandemic before. But, by way of example, he said there was an instance during state elections in 2019 where a polling site's carbon monoxide alarm went off, threatening to derail voting.

"They ran the election out of the parking lot," he said. "They know they have a fixed period of time to run a fair and free election. There is an unusual sense of patriotism and dedication."
The United Arab Emirates followed Saudi Arabia yesterday in promising to raise oil output to a record high in April, as the two OPEC producers raised the stakes in a stand-off with Russia that has hammered global crude prices.

The extra oil the two Gulf allies plan to add is equivalent to 3.6pc of global supplies and will pour into a market at a time when global fuel demand in 2020 is forecast to contract for the first time in almost a decade due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Oil prices have almost halved since the start of the year on fears OPEC states would flood the market in their battle with Russia. Moscow rejected OPEC's call last week for deep output cuts, and a pact on cutting output that has propped up prices since 2016 collapsed.

Saudi Arabia, which had already announced it would hike supplies to a record 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, said yesterday it would boost production capacity for the first time in more than a decade.

UAE national oil company ADNOC said in its announcement that it would raise crude supply to more than four million bpd in April and would accelerate plans to boost its capacity to five million bpd.

By raising supplies, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi will add a combined 3.6 million bpd of extra oil in April to a market already awash with crude.

In addition, Moscow has said Russian oil firms might boost output by up to 300,000 bpd and possibly as much as 500,000 bpd.

Russian energy minister Alexander Novak said yesterday raising output was "not the best option" and Moscow was still open to dialogue with the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

OPEC member Algeria said intense discussions were under way and UAE energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei called for a new pact on supplies.

But Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday talks were pointless unless they were going to lead to a deal.

State-run Saudi Aramco plans to raise capacity to 13 million bpd from 12 million bpd, CEO Amin Nasser said, adding that the move was ordered by the energy ministry. "The company is exerting its maximum efforts to implement this directive as soon as possible," Mr Nasser said.

No timeframe was given for the plans, which will require billions of dollars of investment.

Saudi Arabia had said OPEC, Russia and other producers, all members of an informal alliance known as OPEC+, needed to cut supplies from the market to cope with the impact of coronavirus. When Moscow refused, OPEC said all limits would be scrapped.

Moscow argued it was too soon to cut more deeply and that producers should wait to see the full impact of the virus, which has prompted lockdowns in major economies such as China and Italy, disrupting businesses and sending shares into a tailspin.

Moscow said supporting prices simply helped boost costlier production in the United States, whose output has surged above that of Saudi Arabia and Russia.

American producers, by law, are barred from participating in any supply pacts.

The US government slashed its forecast for US oil output in 2020, saying it would rise by 760,000 bpd, not the 960,000 bpd it previously forecast, and would drop by 330,000 bpd in 2021 to 12.66 million bpd.

Even as Abu Dhabi and Riyadh promised more supplies, OPEC slashed its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and said further reductions might follow.

Reuters
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:47:48|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Thursday stressed the crucial importance of fostering a continent-wide collective response in containing the spread of COVID-19 across the African continent.

The urgent call was made by the Peace and Security Council of the 55-member pan-African bloc in a statement issued on Thursday, which followed the Council's latest meeting that dwelt upon the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Africa.

The council "stressed the importance of a continent-wide collective response to the COVID-19, and underlines the importance of emulating the best practices and lessons learnt from the successful fight against the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola virus disease outbreak, including the need to mobilize private sector resources," an AU statement issued on Thursday read.

The council further encouraged "all AU member states, with the support of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), to take necessary measures to prevent and to contain the spread of COVID-19, including ensuring appropriate measure in public gathering places, such as schools and churches."

It also advised all African countries to strengthen local and national level capacity to test COVID-19, as well as to further enhance the general capacity of national health infrastructure.

Noting the urgent need to put in place an effective communication strategy concerning the coronavirus outbreak, the council further requested the Africa CDC "to effectively engage all media platforms, with a view to ensuring real time transmission of information relating to COVID-19, as well as to fight misinformation, which is exacerbating misconceptions and generating panic."

As part of the continent-wide response against the spread of COVID-19 in Africa, the AU also called on the private sector and international partners for financial and material support.

It also underscored the importance of redoubling efforts in mobilizing the required financial, material and human resources in order to enable the Africa CDC to sustain its current operations and to be more effective in responding to COVID-19.

The council also commended the Africa CDC for "the relentless efforts being deployed in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, and emphasizes the importance of constant adjustments and adaptation in response to the evolution of the coronavirus situation on the ground."

The council, which described the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in Africa and beyond as an "existential threat to human life," also stressed the outbreak's "potentially devastating consequence on macro-economic fabric throughout the African continent as the situation continues to evolve."

It also welcomed the recent communique adopted during African health ministers' emergency meeting on the coronavirus disease outbreak, which was held on February 22 at the headquarters of the AU in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The ministerial emergency meeting had developed a guidance document for assessment, monitoring, and movement restrictions for people at risk for COVID-19 by member countries.

The council also requested the AU Commission Chairperson "to champion adequate responses to the COVID-19 outbreak, including through playing a lead role in mobilizing the resources required to effectively combat the COVID-19 scourge and to engage private sectors for their necessary support in responding to COVID-19."

It also called on the Africa CDC "to immediately submit a supplementary budget to the relevant AU policy organs for approval so as to allow the Africa CDC to continue with its activities in responding to COVID-19 outbreak in the continent."

The council further underscored the "urgent need" for the Africa CDC to brief the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) of the AU on the evolution of the situation as well as on the ongoing measures being deployed to effectively prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 throughout the African continent.

The AU Peace and Security Council's call came a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday categorized the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic" as the virus spreads increasingly worldwide.

The Africa CDC, a specialized healthcare agency of the AU, had disclosed that more than 100 COVID-19 cases were reported in 12 African countries, including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, and Tunisia.

The Africa CDC, which announced the shift from preparedness to response, also noted that the Africa Taskforce for Coronavirus Preparedness and Response (AFTCOR) is presently actively supporting African countries' response, in which some 43 African countries now have the capacity to test for the virus and with support from the Africa CDC and the World Health Organization.
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E xposure to Londons toxic air in early pregnancy has been linked to heightened risk of premature delivery and stillbirth, according to research.

A public health study into the impact of pollution and noise on mothers inside the M25 by Imperial College London and Kings College London suggests ground-level pollution and microscopic particles thrown up by vehicle tyres are placing added risk on foetuses in the first and second trimesters.

Scientists examined impacts of ground-level ozone  known as O3  along with inhalable PM2.5 particulates from traffic and urban noise levels. Ozone develops when sunlight and stagnant air react with nitrogen oxide gases from exhausts, building sites and burning fossil fuels that in severe cases can cause smog.

Now this study, published in the Environment International journal, has suggested a relationship between pregnancy risk and long-term pollution exposure. Scientists examined Office for National Statistics data from more than 580,000 live and still births across Greater London between 2006 and 2010, including birth weight or cause of death.

The team cross-referenced these details with ozone concentrations, exhaust emissions and levels of PM2.5 particles from vehicle brakes and tyres where the mothers lived. They found that higher exposure to ground-level ozone in early pregnancy was associated with an elevated risk of stillbirth and premature delivery, which was possibly worsened by long-term traffic-related noise.

Exposure to PM2.5 particles from road debris in the first trimester was linked with three per cent increased odds of premature birth and seven per cent increased odds of stillbirth. No associations were found between stillbirth and pollution exposure during the last three months of pregnancy.

Study leader Dr Rachel Smith, research associate in statistical epidemiology at Imperial College, said the findings strengthen the body of evidence for impacts of ozone and particulate matter and noise on pregnancy.

She said: Pregnant women shouldnt panic. The increased risk is relatively small compared with smoking, which we know raises the risk of preterm birth and stillbirth. But even if it is a small increased risk, all Londoners are exposed to air pollution and its difficult for individuals to make an impact on their exposure.
Loneliness is not a one-size fits all feeling. (Getty Images)

Loneliness doesnt discriminate based on age, but it does differ in its reason for presenting itself dependent on what generation youre from.

New research by the University of Edinburgh has found that the causes of loneliness differ generationally, with some reasons more prevalent in people of certain ages.

One of the main causes of loneliness in the elderly is living alone.

Comparatively, loneliness in middle aged people is more linked to personality traits.

Read more: A pop up mental wellbeing restaurant comes to London

There are also some traits which transcend generations.

People who are outgoing or emotionally-resilient in stressful situations are less likely to feel lonely no matter what age they are.

People over 70 struggled with the associated loneliness that comes with living alone, but this problem is especially prevalent in men.

This study isnt the first to conclude that men suffer more acutely with loneliness.

A recent YouGov poll found that one in five men admit to having no close friends. Further research in this area also found that 44% of men felt lonely sometimes, often or all the time.

Read more: Happiness declines in our 30s, research finds

Psychologists 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 with their personality traits and living situations also noted.

For research purposes, it counted people in mid-life as being aged between 45 and 69-years-old.

People aged 70 and above slotted into the elderly age bracket.

Despite loneliness in elderly people being widely reported, the research found the rates of loneliness to be remarkably similar amongst both age groups.

Regardless of age, people who were more emotionally balanced were 60% less likely to feel the impact of loneliness.

Read more: This is the age youre most ambitious

Social isolation wasnt one of the primary drivers of loneliness for people aged between 45 and 69.

Story continues

At aged 70 and above, though, people were four times more likely to feel lonely because of social isolation.

Dr. Drew Altschul, 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.

Read more: Womans happiness jar goes viral

The research concluded that while there are some similarities between all age groups in relation to loneliness - having an outgoing personality trait, for example - there are also some differences to note.

The main difference is that the middle-aged group were less likely to be impacted by living alone in the same way that people over 70 were.

This research makes it all the more important to reach out to elderly relatives and neighbours who are living alone and check in to see how theyre getting on.
Karen Dallimore calls herself a horse lifer, but after some five decades of loving and working with horses, the Ontario-based writer and photographer is proud to call herself a first-time owner of standardbred racehorses  an experience that recently convinced her to jump on a plane to Australia.

This will be my 50th year into horses. Its mostly riding horses, but I did spend (about eight years) working with Standardbreds on the broodmare end, Dallimore said.

Dallimore said she worked at famed Standardbred nursery Armstrong Bros. for about five years starting in 1985, and then spent another two years as assistant manager of Cantario Farms. She then moved Down Under for a couple of seasons to work at Alabar Farms in Australia and John Curtins breeding farm in New Zealand.

I love the horses, I like the people, but I just never got involved with the racing end of it, she said. Unless we had a special trip for a big race  like Armbro used to take all the employees for a big race sometimes  I really didn't get into it, I felt kind of on the edge of it if I went to the track by myself. I didn't know how to how to break into (ownership). You go to the trackside and have dinner or something, but I just didnt feel like I belonged there.

That was until she heard the charismatic Anthony MacDonalds speak about his fractional ownership group TheStable.ca at a tack shop in Fergus, Ont.

He was talking a good line. I kind of put it in the back of my mind, she said.

When TheStable.ca bought its first weanling in 2018, Dallimore thought the time was right to buy a one per cent share in the Thinking Out LoudWhiteglance colt.

I like the babies and the rest were just bay horses. I had been out of the industry for so long that I didnt recognize any of the bloodlines anymore. I had Armbro Flight and Fan Hanover in my time. It was a long time ago. They were not familiar names anymore. So, I thought, Hes cute, hes grey, hes young. It sounds like fun. That was the first of it, Dallimore said.

When MacDonald went on a speaking tour of Australia in 2019 and purchased two horses at a sale there, Dallimore bought a one per cent share in one of them  Girl From Oz  because of her previous connection to working Down Under and the fact the fillys nickname is Gwennie.

I looked at her and said, Shes kind of cute. She looked like a workhorse, she looks like shes all business. I just saw photos on Facebook, Dallimore said. They said her name was Gwennie. My mon passed away in 2005 and her name was Gwennie. The hair just went up on my arm. So, I had to go meet Gwennie. Thats what I did in February. I made a trip down to Sydney.

Dallimore jumped on a plane on a Saturday to get there before Gwennie  who is trained in Australia by former Ontario-based horseman Darren McCall  was scheduled to race on a Tuesday at Club Menangle near Sydney. Dallimore arrived in time and met Gwennie, but McCall decided not to race her.

They were looking for some horses to fill and they opened up the race to colts as well and (Darren) said, I wont do that to her at this point, Dallimore said. I went from there to New Zealand and she did race (in Australia) while I was still in New Zealand and I did get a bet in on her. I think she was third in that race.

On Feb. 29, Gwennie broke her maiden and provided TheStable.ca with its first international victory when she won the $50,000 Pink Bonnet Stakes at Club Menangle. Dallimore was still in New Zealand at that point, and was able to see the victory via simulcast.

It was a great trip. Its one of those things you say, I should do that, but then you never do. Well, this was an excuse to just do it, Dallimore said. (TheStable.ca was) all over that. They sent me down with swag  t-shirts and hats. They were just thrilled that I was that enthusiastic. Theyre fully supportive. (Marketing director) Kelly (Spencer) and Anthony have that energy that makes you feel like anything is possible. If you want to do something, just do it. Dont make an excuse.

While Down Under, Dallimore, also took time to pursue another equine passion  extreme cowboy racing.

I wanted to do this trip so I said, I need a little more excuse so I called up the extreme cowboy racing association in New Zealand and they invited me to do a clinic and judge a race for them. It was a total 15-day horse trip which is nice, she said.

Even nicer has been Dallimores experience with TheStable.ca.

I have friends who are partners in racehorses and there's maybe four them that go in and there's thousands of dollars invested and youve got to know the other people. It's a big leap of faith to put a group together, Dallimore said. Anthony has done all that so it's so easy for me to sit back and just enjoy this.... He and Kelly are amazing. The way they keep you on top of whats going on and, yet, they will still answer a personal message right away. You really feel special and they know I've only got one per cent, but I really feel like a special part and you're always welcome, which is wonderful. You can invest as much time as you like. You can go down and watch them train or just sit back and watch the drone or whatever. I'm kind of looking forward to the racing, which I tried to hit with Gwennie, but that didnt quite work out.

I can't wait for First Glance to see if he gets racing. Hes racing at home and that is going to be a whole different level of excitement for me If hes racing, Ill be there.

Dallimore said she thinks back to her experience working at breeding farms and wondering how the heck a person made the jump into ownership.

You walk into the track and its this huge place and theres a few guys looking at their programs, but really there's no way to could make that connection and thats what Anthony has done. He has made that connection. Hes opened that door, Dallimore said.

Anything with a horse in it is just fine by me, but Im really enjoying the Standardbreds. Its fascinating to see that side of it.

And even better when that exposure leads one to fly to the other side of the world to see your horse in person.

(Ontario Racing)
A Punjab youth has been arrested by the Himachal Pradesh Police for issuing threats to a scrap dealer of industrial town Baddi in a bid to extort money, police said.

Jaswinder Singh, alias Kala (21), a resident of Mansuha Kala village in Punjab's Roopnagar district, was arrested on Wednesday, Baddi SP Rohit Malpani said.

Kala is a member of a gang who issued threats to the scrap dealer for extortion, he added.

A bike was also seized, he said, adding that more arrests were likely in the case.

A case was registered under Sections 34, 451 and 506 of the IPC at the Nalagarh police station, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Craig Zobel Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage/Getty Images

After a six-month delay from the date of its original release, the sick and hateful Blumhouse movie The Hunt finally arrives in theaters this weekend. The Most Dangerous Gameesque story of humans hunting humans polarized America last summer, becoming the target of right-wing commentators who accused the movie of epitomizing everything thats wrong with liberal Hollywood and its view of deplorables  even though those commentators hadnt yet seen the film. No one was more surprised by the preemptive hand-wringing than The Hunts director, Craig Zobel, who recently lamented to Vulture that the wave of outrage turned his movie into steamed cauliflower when it was meant to be cake.

The Hunt is about a handful of unsympathetic rich people who gather up a group of unsuspecting American citizens and ship them out to a forest in Europe where the wealthy can hunt the poor for sport. But no one in the movie, save for its explosive central character Crystal (played by Betty Gilpin), is meant to look good. In a fictional polarized universe, almost everyone is the bad guy, even if they dont realize it. That was an intentional move by co-writers Damon Lindelof and Nick Cuse, and one supported by Zobel: Take aim at both sides with no demonstrable bias. Now that The Hunt is finally on the threshold of its big debut, and being marketed as a hot commodity thanks to its scandal, Vulture sat down with the director to talk about his experiences with controversial film debuts, the privilege of being the one who gets to make the jokes, and how he hopes people engage with his movie.

You started working with Nick and Damon very early on after they had this script idea, so did you discuss the possibility of controversy when the story was coming together?

You know, I have to say I thought that the whole intention of the movie was to kind of not to make any one side look good, but to make every side look bad, and in that way I thought that we would be fine. What I certainly wasnt prepared for was that there might become an idea about what the movie was, which wasnt what the movie was, which then made people feel like it was more scandalous than it was. You know? You can only make the movie that you want to make. You cant plan for people to assume the wrong thing about it. You wouldnt get anything done. So, no is the answer. I didnt think that it was going to do this.

Do you remember the point when you realized your movie might be in some real trouble in terms of actually coming out?

My answer to this might be different than other peoples in that I, possibly naively, was always like, Hmm, but the movie talks about all of this stuff! I constantly was like, This is what its actually about. This is amazing! [Laughs.] The things happening in the movie are what the movie was trying to talk about, and I thought for sure that there would be a point at which it would simmer down enough for everybody to be like, Wow, thats crazy. And there wasnt. So, I was a little behind the curve on kind of understanding when we had crossed some threshold.

I hesitate to say the word amusing because it wasnt very fun. It was just a unique experience to be like, Wow, no one actually even knows what this movie is. No one had seen it. You know, we had done a couple of test screenings, but genuinely like none of my friends had seen it.

Were you frustrated that you couldnt really speak up about it? You answered some questions via email for Variety shortly after the release was pulled, but that was it.

Look, you make a movie, you want people to see it. Thats the point of making a movie. I will say, the other point is  at least for me  I need to kind of know what the movie Im making is about. At one point Hilary [Swank]s character says, You wanted it to be true, so you decided it was. That was happening to the movie and it was a line inside of the movie. So, as a person that wants people to see their movies its frustrating for that to go on, but as for what I wanted the movie to say, it continues to have a reason to say that specific thing because of all of the things that happen to the movie  which is very meta.

How were you hoping people would engage with this movie?

I made the movie just to be fun. The main thing was, when Nick and Damon first approached me with the idea my instinct was always, As long as it can be a fun action movie, because I need a bit of escapism right now. If youve seen [Zobels 2012 movie] Compliance, you know Im not opposed to making movies that are strong on theme, but the type of movie I most want to watch right now would be something that would be humorous and fun and have cool action in it and be a genre movie. I actually felt like this is a balance of that. So what was hard in all the events that surrounded the movie was that it really took all the fun out of it. It made the movie into, like, steamed cauliflower  something that it wasnt. The movie was cake!

It is cake. But since it is cake thats also making fun of people, was it your intention to offend?

No, not at all. I thought that  well, I was seeking to equal-opportunity offend. Everyone.

Thats something I wanted to ask you about specifically because there are these cauliflower aspects to The Hunt. It is not without its social commentary, so I wanted to ask how you engage with something that is going to be making judgments of people when the key people involved with creating it all sit in pretty high positions of privilege compared to most people who will be watching it. Theres a luxury to saying you want to skewer both sides knowing you arent a stakeholder in some of the concepts youre satirizing.

For sure. I remember conversations between me and Nick and Damon kind of about exactly what you just said. You know, the best answer that I can give is, youve got to just do your best, you know? And the question becomes, Do you still want to tell that story? Do you still feel like theres enough value in you being the person that can tell that story? And look, this movie is mostly absurd and fun. Im not shirking the responsibility, and Im not avoiding the acknowledgment of sort of any privilege that I might have or POV that I might be bringing to it, but its also not my job to be without POV in making something, you know?

No, I agree with that. I dont think art is  for me personally  that it should be neutral, and I want to know where a filmmaker is coming from. But I do think people have a responsibility to interrogate their own perspective while making something that satirizes someone elses.

Exactly. Thats right, and I think the short answer to all of that was that it became important to make sure that we were laughing at ourselves first, and those seem to be the jokes that we all found funniest, the stuff that kind of was us making fun of ourselves.

So, as you and Damon and Nick are developing this together, who are you talking with to do that kind of interrogation?

Ourselves. I will say, after living in New York for a very long time I moved back down to where Im from in Athens, Georgia, and I started to realize that I was making assumptions about people. I was all of a sudden around groups of people that didnt maybe always have the same belief systems that I did, but that actually we shared a lot more beliefs than it seemed like we did. That it was a lot easier to talk to people on the other side of the aisle, so to speak, than you would think. I sound like some unity candidate or something, and Im not trying to be, but thats truly what I started to kind of have perspective on. So, making a film like this was in some ways an attempt to kind of reflect on how we do make assumptions about other people based on what group we think that theyre in without necessarily being correct.

The Hunt was not your first experience with having a movie greeted by controversy. I attended Sundance in 2015 and an organizer introduced a whole other movie by referencing the infamous Q&A that followed the premiere of your movie Compliance in 2012 as an example of how rowdy things could get at the festival. [At the Q&A session, Zobel was accused of being a misogynist who got off on his main characters nudity and humiliation.] That was eight years ago now, and we have a lot more ways of communicating our thoughts to the public. So, how has being at the center of a film controversy evolved in the past decade?

Well, I think that the controversy that surrounded Compliance largely involved people wanting clarity on the intention of why the movie was made.

With this film, no one had seen the movie. No one had even talked about the movie. They had just decided they knew what it was about, and that they knew what our point of view was. That was what caused the controversy, and with Compliance I was going to, like, Omaha and doing a screening for like 46 people at the local art-house theater, and then standing there and raising my hand being like, Im the guy who made this. If youre mad, let me answer your questions. And people wanted to hear that, you know?

I didnt feel like during the course of what was happening with The Hunt, me getting on Twitter and being like, Let me dust off this soapbox and tell you guys of all of the things that I think. In a way it actually felt kind of antithetical to what I was trying to say with the movie. It just makes me very happy that were able to have these discussions now, and that in a few weeks after the movies been out, therell be a whole other level of conversation about it. Im not 100 percent sure what that will be, but I am willing to engage in it. I was not willing to engage with it when nobody had seen it. I think the best thing to do if youre going to talk about a movie is watch it first.
When she was 12 years old, Anaya Cheyenne decided to move from her hometown of Norwalk, Conn. to her godmother's house in Atlanta so she could attend a performing arts program full-time. Now, at just 16-years-old, her training in singing brought her through the first round of auditions on NBC's "The Voice."

Back when she was living in Norwalk, Cheyenne attended Fox Run Elementary School and West Rocks Middle School where she was active in the drama club and school plays.

"I've always known I wanted to pursue singing. but I started really getting into it at age of 12," she said. Her godmother has been a source of support and encouragement as she pursues her singing career, and she was also the one who got Cheyenne connected with "The Voice."

Cheyenne has a YouTube and Instagram account where she shares her solo music and music with her singing group "Pink Heart," and some of her fans had started suggesting she audition for "The Voice." Serendipitously, someone from "The Voice" team took notice and called Cheyenne's godmother to ask if Cheyenne would want to audition, so they sent a tape and made the cut.

On the March 9 episode of the show, Cheyenne sang "I'll Never Love Again" by Lady Gaga from the movie "A Star is Born" for her blind audition. Her godmother was on hand to cheer her on as were her mother and sister who traveled to Los Angeles from Connecticut.

"That's been a song that I fell in love with since the movie came out, and I've just been singing that song. When someone goes 'sing a song,' that would always be my go to," she said. "I feel like I have a deep connection to it. I think about my dreams and what it would be to not have that anymore. When I sing that song I'm fighting for what I believe in. I really wanted to show not only range, but I wanted them to feel who I am."

That passion paid off. Her rendition of the power ballad promoted both Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton to turn their chairs. But John Legend had kind words for Cheyenne despite not turning his chair.

"At the beginning it sounded like you were maybe a little bit young, a little bit shaky, a little bit nervous. But by the end, 'Oh my God' some of those runs you were doing were just stunning," said Legend.

"I didn't have your range at 16. I had to work very hard for that," added Clarkson. "I feel like technique is my jam, and I can do that with you."

Cheyenne chose Clarkson. "I chose Kelly because not only is she a powerhouse, but I just really felt that she was going to help me get to the next level," she said.

As far as being starstruck by the judges, though, Cheyenne said it was Nick Jonas that made her the most giddy.

"I feel like every teenage girl would be so star struck by Nick Jonas. Ever since I was younger I was so obsessed with him and brothers and 'Camp Rock,'" she said. "He was my favorite (Jonas Brother) so it's crazy to just stand right in front of him."

Despite singing in front of one of her favorite artists, Cheyenne said she was not nervous being up on stage.

"At first I felt a little nervous, and when I get on the stage and start singing all the nerves go away and I'm in my own world. I don't know how to explain it, but I'm just into it, and I just start singing from my heart," she said. "It's freeing for me up there. I feel like I'm speaking to the people."

Being comfortable on stage and a love for the city of Los Angeles have solidified Cheyenne's dreams of pursuing singing as a career. "First of all, I'm absolutely in love with LA. I love the trees, the vibe of LA," she said.

Her music style is a mix of pop, ballads and R&B she said, citing H.E.R and Ariana Grande as two of her most inspirational artists.

Cheyenne will now go on to compete in the battle round to secure her spot on "The Voice." If she wins, it will be validation that the hard work is all worth it, she said.

"Winning the whole thing would mean so much.," she said. "It would be clarification that 'Hey, you know you made it. You're ready for the next level.' All the time I spent away from my family and sacrificed  I'm not the average teen girl that gets to go to the movies and hang out with friends all the time. I'm training and working all the time.  it would be clarification."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  Two patients with COVID-19 are residents of a Makati condominium, its developer said Thursday.

Rockwell Land Corporation said in a statement that the two live in Joya North Tower in Rockwell Center, Makati.

One of the residents is now under the care of a hospital. The other two members of the family are now on self-quarantine, it said.

Rockwell Land said it is contacting people who have come in close contact with the two patients to inform them of the necessary precautionary measures.

It added that it has implemented measures to prevent infections, including the closure of some public areas for disinfection.

In a separate announcement, Francis Zamora, the mayor of San Juan City which currently has the most number of people who acquired COVID-19, disclosed that another person in his city has tested positive for the viral disease, bringing the city-wide total of patients to eight.

It is not clear whether the three are new patients or among the 49 earlier confirmed by the Health Department.

Two others, a Chinese man and a Filipino woman, have died because of the disease. Two have recovered, while 45 are admitted at various hospitals in the country.

Globally, the virus has killed 4,607 and infected 124,519.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, but is not as deadly, with the fatality rate standing at around three percent.

According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of patients only experience mild illness and eventually recover. It added that some 14 percent experience severe illness while five percent were critically ill.

The disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze.

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.

Commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with severe and critical symptoms should call the Health Department at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150.

The WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic, but stressed that this should not cause alarm as it can still be controlled since 90 percent of infections are being reported in only four countries, while outbreaks in China and South Korea are slowing down.
The year 2020 is one of the most crucial years for the Indian automotive industry solely because of the new BS-VI emission norms that will be implemented in a few weeks on April 1. And at the moment when the Coronavirus hovers like a dark cloud, manufacturers are trying their best to tackle the situation and launch their products as per schedule. Here are a few upcoming cars that will enter the Indian market this year.

Hyundai Creta

After its unveiling at this year's Auto Expo, the Hyundai Creta is set to be launched soon this month. The new-generation model comes with a radical new design that speaks Hyundai's latest design language. In terms of mechanicals, the car will most likely debut with the same engine that powers the largely popular Kia Seltos. This means that on offer would be 1.5-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The car will also feature Seltos GT line powertrain that includes the 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine.

Honda City

Honda will be launching the new City soon and the car comes to compete with the like of Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and Hyundai Verna. The car gets three engine options in Thailand that include a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 122hp and 173Nm of torque, a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine with a mild hybrid. The car will be built in India with maximum localization to ensure a competitive price tag.

Hyundai Verna

The facelifted Verna is closer to the launch as the company recently revealed pictures of the model that will make its way to our shores. The new Verna is based on Hyundai's Superstructure monocoque chassis that is capable of supporting 7 more Vernas on top of it.The new Verna also comes with several First-in-Segment features such as the Digital Cluster, Front Ventilated Seats, Twin Tip Muffler design, Smart Trunk, Emergency Stop Signal, Wireless Charger, ECO coating, Luggage Net & Hooks, Rear USB Charger and Arkamys Premium Sound. On the inside, the new Hyundai Verna is expected to get a new infotainment system featuring the companys latest Blue Link feature that has already made its way into the Venue and Elantra facelift. It will ship with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Blue Link will come with 33 accessibility functions out of which 10 are India-specific.

The new VERNA will offer BS6 Diesel and Petrol engines promising energetic and youthful performance with 1.0 Litre Turbo GDI engine with 7 Dual Clutch Transmission, 1.5 Litre BS6 Petrol with 6 Manual Transmission & Intelligent Variable Transmission and 1.5L BS6 Diesel with 6 Manual Transmission & 6 Automatic Transmission, offering Superior Power, Performance and Fuel Efficiency.

Honda WR-V

Honda has already commenced bookings for the new WR-V in India. The car will come with an updated exterior as well as BS6-compliant petrol and diesel powertrains. The facelifted WR-V can be booked at authorized dealerships for an amount of Rs 21,000. The car is expected to arrive with BS6-compliant versions of the same 1.2-litre petrol engine and 1.5-litre diesel engine and will most likely be mated to a five-speed manual transmission and six-speed manual transmission respectively.

Altroz EV

Tata Motors took the spotlight with a wide range of electric vehicle at the 2020 Auto Expo this year. The company resurrected the Sierra badge in an electric avatar and the HBX concept that sits below the Nexon. In addition to this, the company also dropped wraps on the electric version of the recently-launched Altroz premium hatchback.

The model was showcased without any word on its powertrain but we can expect the brands Ziptron powertrains comprising of a permanent magnet AC motor that powers the front wheels via a single-speed gearbox. The lithium-ion battery in the car is aimed to provide a range of 250-300km on a single charge with a capability to be charged up to 80 per cent in 60 minutes with DC charging.
On Thursday, laboratory reports confirmed that the 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi who passed away on Tuesday night had contracted the novel coronavirus. This marks Indias first COVID-19 death since the outbreak of the pandemic. As per the protocol, contact tracing, isolation, and other measures are being carried out. According to the Karnataka Health Department, the Telangana government has been informed about this as he was admitted to a hospital there. Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu also confirmed this development.

The 76 year old man from Kalburgi who passed away & was a suspected #COVID19 patient has been Confirmed for #COVID19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation & other measures as per protocol are being carried out.  B Sriramulu (@sriramulubjp) March 12, 2020

Read: Will Ticketmaster Refund Cancelled Tickets Due To The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak?

Admitted in hospital on March 5

Earlier, the Karnataka Health Department revealed that the man returned from Saudi Arabia to Hyderabad on February 29. Initially, he was admitted to the outpatient department of a private hospital in Kalaburagi on March 5. After 4 days, he was shifted to a private hospital in Hyderabad. However, the hospital informed the patients family to shift him back to Kalaburagi and he, unfortunately, passed away in the ambulance on the way to the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences on Tuesday.

Read: Coronavirus Scare Affects Jaipur's Tourism Industry, Businesses Hope Normalcy Returns Soon

The Coronavirus crisis

First detected in Wuhan in December 2019, COVID-19- the novel coronavirus has affected nearly 118 countries in the world. Presently, there are over 1,24,518 confirmed cases of COVID-19 which has led to the death of 4,607 people. As there is no vaccine or specific antiviral medicine to deal to treat COVID-19, countries have been grappling with all possible mechanisms to contain its scope. So far, China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran have witnessed the most number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, India has suspended all visas, barring for a few categories such as diplomatic and employment apart from keeping in abeyance the visa-free travel facility to OCI cardholders till April 15. Moreover, the Centre has strongly advised Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. As per the latest figures, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India stands at 78.

Read: Coronavirus Cases In Maharashtra Rise To 14; Mumbai, Thane Report One New Case Each

Read: Coronavirus: Programmes To Mark 3 Years Of Adityanath Govt Likely To Be Cancelled
Stick around for a hefty helping of seconds, folks.

No, I'm not dishing anyone an extra scoop of mashed potatoes or another spoonful of Brussels sprouts. This is all about the second grade and the Second Amendment. These are "seconds" that, unlike those green veggies, get people excited.

That's the diversity of my week, sometimes: little kids learning and gun rights.

If you think being a jack-of-all-trades is easy, think again. Although, one "second" was definitely simpler than the second "second" when it came to making sure you, gentle readers, understood what was going on.

Second To None

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My first "second" came from Winona, where Luke Merchlewitz shows up bright and happy each day to teach a bunch of second-graders.

When I walked into Merchlewitz's classroom, I was amazed at how this man seems to connect with his students and bring fun to learning.

Need to stretch and burn off a little energy? There's a rhyme and dance for that. Need to hold an audience captive during story time? Dramatic reading, complete with questions to keep kids paying attention, is the way.

Through it all, Merchlewitz and I talked about how he has been honored through the years  he'd rather give credit to colleagues and friends, not to mention the kids, for his success  and traveled the world to learn more about teaching. It made me think that the Winona Area Public Schools is pretty lucky to have a guy like him.

Teachers Are Awesome

That said, I don't think I've walked into a classroom in Southeast Minnesota and not thought, "Boy, I'd have loved to have him/her as a teacher."

A couple of years ago, I wrote a story about a pair of students who won Gold Key awards in the annual Scholastic Art & Writing Competition. While the focus on those stories was the kids, I still think back to those teachers.

Sherry El-Nashaar, who was the art teacher at Wabasha-Kellogg at the time, talked effusively about her student's accomplishments, making sure I got the whole story when her 17-year-old student was reluctant to toot her own horn. In Pine Island, art teacher Krista Flaig and English teacher Kim Jones worked together to nudge their student to enter the competition.

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I still remember the absolute pride in their students all those teachers had. And that's something neat to see, and probably a universal trait of good teachers, whether they're getting recognized or their students are.

A Second 'Second'

Passion is a great thing. I saw that again this week working on a story (check the front page, folks) on the Second Amendment.

I'm a little ambivalent about gun ownership. I don't own a gun. I think most (like the vast majority) of gun owners are responsible, careful people. And, yes, I think anyone who dies from a gunshot, especially people who have done nothing wrong except be in the wrong place at the wrong time, is a tragedy.

That said, my passion on the subject is low.

That wasn't the case of the folks I interviewed. People who have feelings on the issue have strong feelings. And that's where it gets tough for good ol' Brian.

Not A Constitutional Scholar

Reading the actual Second Amendment isn't hard. It's 27 words long.

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Understanding the nuances of the Second Amendment takes work. Here's a little history I learned. There are two versions of the Second Amendment. One has random capital letters and a couple of commas, the other does not.

What do the commas  or lack thereof  mean? What about the capitalizations? I don't know.

Worse, though, is I read a couple of Minnesota House bills that aim to control gun ownership.

Those were not 27 words long, and there's a lot of "See blah blah, which is it's own mess of language no one can understand." I'm not blaming the authors of those laws. Read any bill in the Legislature and you'll find a lot of confusing language.

In the end, I spent a couple of days tracking down people for, against or confused as I am about Second Amendment sanctuaries. This included a bunch of people much smarter than me who basically said they had no idea how this is supposed to work, which makes me wonder why I read so much about gun laws.

Fortunately, all this gun-rights learning I did won't be lost. I'm sure, somewhere down the line, I'll have a second crack at writing about this topic.
Barry Sheelan, in Sardinia

Today (Thursday) is the third day of the national lockdown here in Italy due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus, and things have taken an even more serious turn. Last night all TV channels were interrupted in order for the Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, to again address the population.

During his previous address on Monday evening, he declared that the majority of places where people gather, including but not limited to schools, gyms, swimming pools, museums, night clubs, and social clubs, would be forced to close until April 3rd. He also declared that bars and restaurants would observe limited opening times from 6am to 6pm in order to facilitate those continuing to work.

As of last night, Mr. Conte expanded the restrictions to close all commercial activities across Italy. This means that every non-essential workplace must be closed by law until further notice. The only places that can stay open from this morning are pharmacies, supermarkets and banks.

Factories manufacturing medical equipment, or materials necessary for hospitals, will be granted extra funds, and all other factories will remain open as long as they can demonstrate that they are taking the necessary health precautions for their workforce to avoid possible transmission of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

As of today, there are 38 confirmed cases of the virus on the island of Sardinia. Coupled with yesterday's announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the spread of the virus is now being declared a pandemic, and the Italian governments new national restrictions, there is definitely a sense of paranoia striking Sardinia.

We are being told not to leave the house unless absolutely necessary, not only to avoid catching the virus ourselves, but to avoid potentially spreading it in the community to the elderly, and to others with compromised immune systems. We are also told that for certain people, catching the virus could be a death sentence.

On the news, medical professionals are begging people to follow the restrictions and precautions as hospitals, particularly in the north of the country, are being stretched to breaking point. In comparison to the richer northern Italian regions, Sardinia lags slightly behind on the quality of healthcare that they are able to provide, and the fear is that if the virus takes a hold here, the hospitals will be overwhelmed and wont be able to keep up.

Today, our town of Decimomannu has essentially become a ghost town. The only people seen on our usually busy main street are Police officers with face masks, and a few stragglers carrying grocery shopping. Churches are closed for mass, weddings, funerals, and christenings, and the main square in the centre of the town is deserted. Measures are being stepped up by the Police across Sardinia to restrict unnecessary movement - reports are already emerging of people being charged and fined for travelling without a valid reason.

A small amount of people are still attempting to flaunt the restrictions, but the majority of people here are taking the national lockdown seriously, and are being as flexible as possible for the sake of the community as a whole.

The hashtag #DistantiMaUniti is gaining more momentum online  Distant but united. As Italian Prime Minister Conte said last night We all need to be responsible  lets keep our distance today, so we can embrace each other again tomorrow.

Remember, panicking wont help anyone - stay calm, avoid crowded places, cover sneezes and coughs, wash your hands regularly, and be safe. The sooner we take this pandemic seriously, the faster it will pass.
Thirteen years ago, The Carter Center opened the Human Rights House in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.



It is home to a small team of staffers who perform a large amount of work  providing training and assistance to more than 100 local civil society organizations working on issues related to human rights, supporting a protection network that helps keep human rights defenders safe, and overseeing a variety of projects designed to spark youth engagement in democracy and human rights.



The manager of the house, Halidou Ngapna, left the position earlier this month, but before his departure, we sat down with him to talk about the good work that took place during his time there and the important jobs still to do.

Q. The Carter Center works with civil society organizations, the government, the general public, the U.N. and other international NGOs. How do you balance priorities and build trust among different groups?



Ngapna: We build our message on the fact that human rights contribute to the common good. They benefit the state by bolstering security and economic growth. They benefit the public because if people know their rights and they are involved in their protection, that builds a good relationship between the state and the people. In the middle, you have civil society organizations. Peoples confidence in civil society organizations is based on their results. If the organizations are assisting human rights victims, providing access to justice for the public, and supporting the government in their laws and training government officials, people will have confidence in them, and this will build good relationships.



Q. Can you give us a little bit of the context of the DRC? Why are network-building and trust-building important?



Ngapna: The Congo has a history of violence, of oppression  a history of distrust between communities, between the state and the citizens, and between groups.



People don't trust the state because the state has either been nonexistent, or its existence has been problematic. There are also other groups, armed groups, who have been the main spoilers in the east. This context has also been marked by a troubled electoral process, where you have political parties and groups of people that were excluded from the process. And the process was not transparent, in their opinion.



In that social environment, trust is key. Civil society organizations were often labeled by the state as agents for foreign intervention. They have to prove that they are there for the good of the people. And the state also has to build a relationship with citizens, because people are talking about government corruption and government oppression.



Q. The DRC has been scarred by conflict. Ebola is now a threat. But the Congo is also very rich in natural resources. How does all this play out in human rights work?



Ngapna: Congo is a melting pot of issues and opportunities. The mines, the soil  which is fertile  are opportunities for the country. But unfortunately, the recent history of the Congo has proven that its wealth is a problem for the people. We have this image that the closer you go to the mines, the poorer people are. It is striking when you visit regions of the DRC that are actually rich and see children with signs of malnutrition.



But at the same time, you have the youth; you have this energy in people. There are good examples of people fighting every day to promote the rights of the people. And people understand that human rights in the DRC is the entry point for prosperity for all. But people need to have ownership of human rights on the ground.



The discourse  how the human rights story is told to the people  needs to be integrated into their languages, needs to be told through some creative tools, like music. There are very creative people in the DRC; art, music  even religion  can be used to channel human rights values into the society. People know there is a need. There is a demand for human rights in the country. Everybody talks now about rule of law. People like it. People want it. Now, it's our duty to give our expertise so that human rights can be embedded into the governance.



Q. How specifically does The Carter Center work to address women's issues within the context of human rights violations in the Congo?



Ngapna: The Carter Center is currently implementing a project called Women's Voice and Leadership, funded by the Canadian government, and it's one of the most important programs right now that has given a voice to women. We believe that if women are empowered, if they have economic autonomy and then access to political and public life, womens rights will advance.



The new government appointed many women to government positions. It's not enough, but the numbers are higher than before, and the speaker of the National Assembly for the first time is a woman. These are signs that womens rights are on a good path.



Congo used to be labeled as the world capital of sexual violence, but the narrative is changing. There is still a long way to go. Women and girls, they face insecurities when they are going to fetch water, and even at school, which is supposed to be a safe environment. Sexual violence remains an issue. Sexual exploitation remains an issue.



People are working to combat this. You have women from the grassroots that need to be supported. Their voices need to be heard. That's why The Carter Center has agreed to implement this program and has selected core partners that will be able to carry out the project and reach out to women whose voices youve never heard. I'm thinking about indigenous women, women living with handicaps. We believe that if they have more voice, there will be less violence against them.



Q. Tell us about an opportunity for advancing human rights in the DRC.



Ngapna: We have very conscious youth in the DRC. They are the ones at the forefront of every battle for democracy. The youth are in the streets. The youth are thinking about their country, and that's the biggest opportunity we have.



I've learned that you have to invest in the people, because they are the ones who are feeling their country. They are the ones who will be the future of their country, and they will take their country in their hands. If you do human rights education, that's investing in the people. That's how human rights will be embedded into the DRC as well.

Learn more about the Center's Human Rights Program 

Learn more about the Center's Democracy Program 

Learn more about the Centers work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
Morocco has suspended all flights from and to Spain as well as maritime passenger connections between the two countries as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread.

Moroccan authorities also decided to suspend flights to and from Algeria until further notice, as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Morocco has decided, in consultation with the Spanish authorities to suspend, until further notice, air flights and maritime passenger traffic, from and to Spain, states an official press release relayed Thursday by MAP news agency.

King Mohammed VI and King Felipe VI agreed on the matter, following exchanges that took place between the Heads of Government and the Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs of the two countries, the press release added.

The measures come as the coronavirus continues to spread in Europe, where Spain is one of the most affected countries along with Italy, France and Germany.

Spain has recorded 3,059 cases and the number of deaths has almost doubled to reach 86, according to worldometers.info website.

Announcing the suspension of flights between Morocco and Algeria, Moroccan authorities said that as part of a concerted approach, they had notified the decision to the Algerian authorities.

A statement by the Algerian presidency said the suspension of flights was decided on Thursday evening in mutual agreement between the two countries governments.

Algeria recorded 24 cases and one death.

Morocco applied the same measure to Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe and the second most badly affected country in the world after China with 15,113 confirmed cases of the virus and 1,016 deaths.

RAM initially suspended flights to the cities of Venice and Milan but later, on March 10, extended the suspension to the entire country. The same day, the merchant navy decided the suspension of maritime links between Morocco and Italy.

In a note addressed to the shipping companies, the directorate of the merchant marine underlined that the transport of passengers between Moroccan and Italian ports was temporarily suspended, as of March 10.

In Morocco, the Ministry of Health has confirmed six cases of COVID-19. All patients were infected by the virus abroad, including two Moroccans who came from Italy. One of them, an 89-year-old woman, who was suffering from chronic diseases, died last Tuesday in Casablanca. The other Moroccan, a 39-year old man, is continuing treatment in Casablanca.

A French couple and their daughter are hospitalized in Marrakech, while a French-Senegalese patient is hospitalized in Fez.

The Moroccan Ministry of Health announced that more than 35,000 travelers at all land, maritime, and air crossing points have been medically checked between March 8 and March 11.
A scuffle broke out between Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jitu Patwari and a policeman when the minister was trying to meet the rebel MLAs at Embassy Boulevard here.

In the video released by the Congress, Patwari is seen in a scuffle with the policeman. The Congress leader was taken into preventive custody by the police.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Congress said that two of its ministers, who had gone to Bengaluru were assaulted.

"Two of our minister Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh had gone to Bengaluru. They were assaulted. We have info that our ministers have been arrested. If the police don't take action and release our ministers and MLAs, we will have to take it to the court," an MP Congress leader had said during a press conference.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
By Aziz El Yaakoubi

DUBAI, March 12 (Reuters) - The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi movement in Yemen blocked southern separatist leaders from returning to Aden city, Yemeni officials said on Thursday, as a deal to end a power struggle in the south with the Saudi-backed government faltered.

The separatists are part of a Sunni Muslim coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to try to restore the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which was ousted from the capital Sanaa in 2014 by the Iran-aligned Houthis.

However last year, the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is backed by the United Arab Emirates and seeks self-determination in the south, turned on Hadi's government and seized its interim capital in Aden, sparking wider clashes that opened a new front in the war.

As part of a Saudi-brokered peace deal reached last year in Riyadh to end the stand-off between the Yemeni government and southern separatists, Saudi forces have taken control of most of south Yemen, following a withdrawal of the UAE military.

But the deal's implementation, including the formation of a new government, has stalled and tensions have been rising between Saudi-backed forces and STC fighters.

"Your southern resistance has been following closely the news about banning several southern leaders from returning to Aden," the STC said in a statement on Thursday.

"This sets a dangerous precedent that could trigger a popular uprising in the south which would be devastating," the statement added.

At least five STC leaders, including Aden's security chief Shalal Ali Shayea, were about to board a flight from Amman to Aden, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

The airplane could not take off after the Saudi-led coalition denied it clearance to enter Yemeni airspace, they said.

Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said no in-air flight was prevented from landing in Aden.

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The kingdom's foreign ministry said it was committed to the implementation of the Riyadh agreement and called on both sides to work together and avoid escalation.

The move followed weeks of tensions between the two sides competing for control and influence.

Hadi's government had asked the UAE to stop arming and training separatist forces, while Abu Dhabi has said Hadi's government is ineffective and that it distrusts Islamists with whom the president is allied.

Riyadh began informal talks with the Houthis in late September on decreasing hostilities.

But fierce battles resumed last month and culminated with the Houthi group taking control of its capital al-Hazem.

The recent escalation has shattered more than three months of calm in the five-year-old conflict. (Additional reporting by Yemen staff and Lisa Barrington; Editing by Giles Elgood)
An Idaho woman has been charged for insurance fraud over damage to her vehicle from a deer.

Callene Zink, of Jefferson County, was charged and pled guilty to insurance fraud in violation of Idaho code 41-293(1)(c).

Zink reportedly purchased an auto policy online with Esurance for her two vehicles on Dec. 28, 2017, and the following day she called Esurance confirming both of her vehicles were covered.

Then on Jan. 7, 2018, Zink submitted an online claim stating that one of her vehicles, a 2012 Dodge Ram, was hit by a deer when her husband was driving on Jan. 5, 2018. The claim was for damage done to the front of the vehicle.

Esurance, however, noticed inconsistencies in Zinks outline of events, and she finally admitted to investigators with the Idaho Department of Insurance that the damage done to her 2012 Dodge Ram occurred before she purchased the insurance.

Zinks sentencing date is April 20 at the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Topics Auto
Air India on Thursday decided to cancel all flights to Kuwait till April 30 and curtail services to various countries, including Spain, France and Sri Lanka.

The move comes a day after the national carrier announced temporary suspension of its services to Rome, Milan and Seoul, amid the coronavirus pandemic that has triggered imposition of travel restrictions by various countries.

An airline official said all flights operating to/ from Kuwait have been cancelled till April 30. Besides, the existing curtailment of services to Seoul (South Korea), Rome and Milan (Italy) has been extended till April 30.

As per the revised flight schedule, Air India would operate only two flights on the Delhi-Madrid route up to April 30, in place of three now.

The third flight would remain cancelled between March 17 and April 28, the official said.

On Wednesday, the government decided to suspend all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, from March 13 to April 15.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The federal government has described the two-week warning strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over disagreements on the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) as illegal and shocking.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said this when he spoke with State House correspondents, on Wednesday, after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ngige said there is nothing like warning strike when services are withdrawn, adding that the union failed to give the mandatory notice of their strike action to the federal government as stipulated by the International Labour laws.

Read Also: UNILORIN Joins ASUU Strike; Suspends First Semester Exams

The minister stressed that labour laws do not allow the employee to dictate to the employer.

So I was shocked on Monday, I read and saw some people coming out of the universities that lecturers have gone on strike.

I have my children in a Nigerian university and I saw them and it is not very cherry news. They didnt give us the mandatory notice before going on strike. So for a start, this strike is illegal, he said.
After weeks of frustration, the researchers started testing the samples anyway in late February  and one swiftly came back positive. That case  a local teenager with no recent travel history  showed that the virus had already established itself on American soil without anybody knowing it.

It must have been here this entire time, Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle, recalled thinking. Its just everywhere already.

Federal officials had said no because the researchers lab was not certified for clinical work and the test subjects had not given permission, among other reasons. On Monday night, they ordered the researchers to stop testing their samples.

Hear more: Ms. Fink, who covers global public health for The Times, discusses the story, and the wider consequences of lags and lapses in testing in the U.S., on todays episode of The Daily podcast.

A scramble for action in Washington, D.C.

We have got to assume it is going to get worse and worse and worse.

That was Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warning Congress that the coronavirus would keep spreading rapidly in the United States, which crossed the 1,000-case threshold overnight.

President Trump said he would address the nation on the coronavirus crisis at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Senate and House leaders were racing on Wednesday to put together a bipartisan short-term bill that could be sent to Mr. Trump this week. It would most likely focus on paid leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, food assistance and help for small businesses affected by the outbreak.

Worried about your taxes? The Internal Revenue Service said it was thinking about extending the April 15 deadline for most people to pay their 2019 income tax. (Filing extensions are easy to get, but you usually still have to pay on time, even if you file late.)
A Malian jihadist group affiliated with al-Qaeda says it is willing to engage in dialogue with the government  but only if French troops and the United Nations mission leave the country.

The statement by GSIM, or Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, follows a decision taken this year by Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to open talks with jihadist groups in the country.

Ketias move breaks away from the official line taken by the government since 2012, when the crisis erupted, not to engage with terrorists and jihadists.

The statement by GSIM, issued on 8 March, has been verified by SITE intelligence group, a counter-terrorism NGO.

The al-Qaeda affiliated organisation, which regroups several jihadist groups in Mali, wrote that a precondition for talks was "an end to the arrogant, racist, crusader French occupation".

GSIM or JNIM (Jamat Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen) is asking for the departure of all French forces and their followers from Mali.

It wants the Malian government to openly declare an end to the presence of Barkhane and MINUSMA troops on their territories.

MINUSMA, the United Nations mission in Mali with some 12,000 troops, has been established since April 2013. Operation Barkhane is the French anti-jihadist operation with 5,100 soldiers deployed in Mali and across the Sahel. It took over in August 2014 from Operation Serval, set up in January 2013.

'We don't negotiate with terrorists'

Keita has been adamant for the past 7 years that he will not engage with terrorists. But in February this year, in an interview with RFI, he said he had sent Dioncounda Traore, his high representative in central Mali, on a mission to listen to everybody, including jihadists Iyad Ag Ghaly, who leads the GSIM, and Amadou Koufa who heads the Katiba Macina militia group.

Keita also did not rule out talking to the Islamic State's group leader in the region, Adnane Abou Walid al-Sharaoui.

Story continues

It is my duty to explore all possible avenues to reach some kind of peace as the death rate in the Sahel is increasing continuously, Keita told RFI a month ago. We are ready to build bridges. At some point, we have to sit around a table and talk.

There has been no official response to the conditions imposed by GSIM from either Mali, France or the UN.

Mali without foreign troops

Despite regular anti-French demonstrations in the capital Bamako and various other towns, the Malian government has repeatedly said that the withdrawal of foreign forces is not at all in the interest of Mali.

Mali needs the help of foreign troops to fight terrorism, Keita said in January during his new year wishes.

The president later told RFI that those who keep demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops are playing into the hands of terrorists and are confused about who the real enemy is.

Last November, Malis Foreign Affairs minister, Tiebile Drame, told RFI that the French troops came to Mali in January 2013 following an official demand made by the Malian authorities.

Operation Serval freed Mali, lets not forget that, he said.

Referring to the anti-French protests, Drame also said that the terrorists are attempting to create confusion among the population and feed on a sense of despair.

Malians have their say

Listeners who called in from Mali on RFI's flagship programme, Appels sur l'actualite, to voice their opinion on the matter do not seem to agree with the jihadists.

Lassana from Bamako says it will be total chaos if Barkhane leaves Mali as the foreign troops are the only forces the jihadists really fear.

Cherif says the demonstrators in Bamako demanding the withdrawal of French forces are completely out of touch with the reality on the ground in the north, in towns like Tessalit or Aguelhoc.

Ag Ghali pretends he wants to dialogue when he knows that Keita will never accept his conditions, he told RFI.

Who will safeguard this accord?" asked Adama. "This is a trap the terrorists are laying out for the government. If the foreign forces do withdraw, we will be like Somalia, without a proper government."
A US federal judge has ordered that Chelsea Manning be immediately released from jail in Virginia.

The former US army analyst, who leaked hundreds of thousands of documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, had been held since May.

She was taken back into custody for contempt of court after refusing to testify to a grand jury probing the pro-transparency organisation.

A detention hearing for Manning was scheduled for Friday but has now been cancelled.

On Wednesday, Manning's representatives said she had attempted suicide.

Manning was found guilty in 2013 of charges including espionage for leaking secret military files to Wikileaks.

US President Barack Obama commuted the rest of her 35-year sentence in 2017.

The 32-year-old has refused to answer further questions about Wikileaks from investigators because she says she has already given her testimony during the 2013 trial.

US prosecutors have been investigating Wikileaks for several years. They are currently seeking the extradition of the enterprise's co-founder Julian Assange from the UK over his alleged role in the release of classified military and diplomatic material in 2010.
Under rising pressure to take action against the coronavirus outbreak, US President Donald Trump suspended travel from Europe to the United States, except for the UK, for 30 days starting on March 13.

"We are marshalling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people," Trump said.

"This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," he said.

The US President, who faces re-election in November, took the dramatic step in a somber Oval Office speech as he battles to address the health and economic shocks to Americans from the sometimes fatal virus and responds to criticism that he has not taken the coronavirus threat seriously enough.

Trump, whose re-election bid on November 3 could hinge on how well he responds to the crisis, stopped short of declaring a national emergency.

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

But he pulled no punches in saying Europe was partly to blame for the virus' spread in the US, where it has killed at least 37 people and infected 1,281. His travel restrictions on Europe were similar to what he declared on travel from China when the illness was spreading wildly there.

"The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe," he said.

As the US stock market took another hit from the virus on Wednesday, Trump said he would take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to the illness.

He said he was instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain businesses and individuals affected.

Trump added he was also instructing the Small Business Administration to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the virus.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11)  The Department of Health has repeatedly advised the public to avoid crowded places among other measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease but questions arise on whether this is reasonable to ask of our third-world country.

Dr. Joshua San Pedro from the Coalition of People's Right to Health said the poor especially seem vulnerable to the spread of the virus given their need to use public facilities such as mass transportation, which is often overloaded with passengers.

"We really have to look at the bigger context that inequality is existing," San Pedro told CNN Philippines' special presentation on the coronavirus outbreak.

He also raised that there is an apparent lack of access to healthy resources or even clean water for poor families.

"How can you think about handwashing when you don't have running water? How are you able to think about eating properly when nutritious food is very expensive and junk food is really cheaper? So with regards to social distancing and self-quarantine, sometimes it's a privilege for individuals," said San Pedro.

However, the Department of Transportation maintained that the public can be safe with the proper measures in place. DOTr Undersecretary Reinier Yebra said the Philippines' modes of transport such as buses and trains are no different than those in first-world nations.

"People of all walks of life use this transportation system...and you cannot observe the one-meter social distancing rule without such difficulty, even in the US, dikitan talaga [they are really crammed together]," argued Yebra.

This is why the government urges the public to practice safety habits before using shared resources, he added.

World Health Organization Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said flexible work hours can also help ease human congestion during commuting.

A few senators have already urged employers to provide work-from-home arrangements to protect workers from the outbreak.

President Rodrigo Duterte also ordered to suspend classes in Metro Manila, where the confirmed cases are concentrated from March 9 to March 14.

On the matter of resources, Interior Department Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the problem of malnutrition and access can be remedied through the Universal Healthcare Law.

The law which was signed last year, ensures that all Filipinos are covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and that each will be assigned to primary healthcare providers with free services.

As for the COVID-19 tests, the DOH said testing for the infection is free and medical costs will be covered by the state health insurer.

The problem remains on whether people from either middle or upper classes, are actually willing to be tested to confirm if they have the infection, San Pedro said. He added that some families would likely use their money for only buying basic goods than visiting a private hospital for medical checks.

"Hopefully we don't reach a situation in which the reason why we're not detecting cases is because these people are not seeking medical attention," said San Pedro.

Duterte ordered a state of public health emergency following a confirmed local transmission of COVID-19. There are at least 49 people who have the infection.
BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar on Thursday came to the Vidhan Bhawan wearing a mask as a precautionary measure against novel coronavirus.

"Two new cases of coronavirus have been found in Mumbai. As the Assembly session is on, many people come to the Vidhan Bhawan including media personnel. So, people are at high risk. Therefore, I would advise them also to wear a mask. I request the government to distribute masks to people," Sagar said while speaking to reporters.

In the wake of rising coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, the ongoing Assembly session has been curtailed by six days. The budget session of Assembly will now conclude on March 14 instead of its scheduled date of March 20.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
A little perspective goes a long way, too. Yes, there have been 3,000 deaths across the globe, but the bulk of them have been in China where the outbreak first occurred. Yes, the death toll will probably rise, but to put it in perspective, the common flu virus caused 16,000 flu-related deaths last year and 61,000 deaths the year before right here in the United States.

If you want a pandemic, we give you the Spanish flu. No, you dont remember it, nor do we. It swept across the world 102 years ago in 1918 and at first it was largely hushed up because there was a war on, the First World War. Britain, France, Germany, the U.S. and other European governments largely censored reports of the outbreak for military reasons. Spain, however, was neutral and the government and newspapers reported on it  so when it spread elsewhere it was misnamed the Spanish flu.

And it was a killer. Before it was done, the Spanish flu had infected 500 million people around the world  more than a quarter of the world population at the time  and killed an estimated 50 million. Unlike other flus, it attacked healthy young people and that made the soldiers in crowded trenches and staging areas particularly susceptible and contagious.
US drone kills six civilians in Somalia

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 6:58 PM

In Somalia, six civilians have been killed in an airstrike by a US drone, says a lawmaker and relative of one of the victims.

"A drone killed six people in a mini bus yesterday, including a 13-year-old boy named Abdifatah Farhan Mohamud," Mahad Dhore, a lawmaker from Somalia's South West state, told Reuters, providing the news agency with the names and clans of the six victims.

"Six of them were civilians and they were buried near the area where they were bombed by the drone, because they could not be carried as they were burnt into pieces."

The US Africa Command claimed the strike near the town of Janaale had killed "five terrorists," an apparent reference to al-Shabab. It added that reports of civilian casualties would be investigated.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Aden Bare told Reuters he was the brother of the minibus driver, and that his brother was a civilian and the others aboard were farmers and local residents.

"The drone hit the front part of the mini bus which my brother was driving. We found no trace of him save a small piece of flesh that was found stuck on the destroyed seat," he said.

Al-Shabab was forced out of Mogadishu in 2011, but it continues to wage deadly attacks around the city and in other parts of the country.

The Pentagon stepped up its airstrikes in the country after getting President Donald Trump's approval in 2017 for expanded military operations there.

There have been many ambiguities surrounding such airstrikes and bombardments in the rural regions of Somalia, with human rights groups regularly complaining about civilian causalities.

Last March, Amnesty International said the US military may be guilty of war crimes for killing large numbers of civilians in the sharply-intensified campaign of airstrikes in Somalia over the previous two years.

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Influenza (along with pneumonia) is one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States, killing tens of thousands of people every year and sickening far more. The effectiveness of the flu shot varies year to year, as the virus mutates and makes it harder to predict which strain will be circulating. Many just dont take the flu seriously.
Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals form the bulk of over 21,211 foreigners from 70 countries who acquired Indian citizenship in the last 10 years, according to official statistics.

Bangladeshis top the list with 15,176 followed by 4,085 Pakistanis, who became Indians between 2011 and 6 March 2020.

Pakistan nationals would have topped the list but for India granting citizenship to 14,864 Bangladeshi nationals in 2015 after the country signed the Indo-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement.

The agreement signed in June 2015 facilitated the transfer of 111 enclaves, around 17,160.63 acres, from India to Bangladesh while New Delhi got 51 enclaves, around 7,110.02 acres, which were under the control of Dhaka.

If one removes the Bangladeshi nationals those who got Indian citizenship after the signing of the agreement, their number would reduce to just 312.

Afghanistan nationals came third with 1,107 becoming India nationals during this period, Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai responded to a question raised by Samajwadi Party MP Ravi Prakash Verma in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

The religion-wise data was not provided by the MHA. On February 11 on a question raised by Trinamool Congress MP Mala Roy, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed Lok Sabha that records of persons granted citizenship are maintained as per the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and rules made thereunder and these records are "not maintained religion-wise".

However, in 'Agenda Aaj Tak' programme in December last year, Home Minister Amit Shah has said, "600 Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have been given citizenship by the Modi government in the last five years". On December 11 last year when Rajya Sabha passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill, Shah was quoted by PTI as saying that as 566 Muslims have been given citizenship in recent years.

According to the data generated from the online citizenship module, more than 50% of the 4,085 Pakistani nationals or 2,859 got citizenship after 2015 with last year topping the table with 809. This year so far, 191 Pakistani nationals have got citizenship while only one each Bangladeshi and Afghan nationals became Indians.

The numbers for 2011-15 were in the range of 263 to 356 for Pakistani nationals, it rose in the second half of the decade as it oscillated between 450 to 809. The numbers for Afghan nationals getting citizenship was in the range of 117 to 244 between 2013 and 2017, its number has substantially dwindled thereafter.

It was in 2011 that Bangladeshis got the highest number of citizenship at 54 if one excludes 2015. Only eight Chinese and six Myanmar nationals have got Indian citizenship between 2011 and March 2020 while 165 Sri Lankans and 64 Nepal nationals too were accorded rights of being a citizen here.

The statistics also showed that 149 Americans and 66 Britishers too found India their home as citizens. While several Indians prefer to migrate to Canada and Australia, 27 Canadians and 11 Australians chose to take Indian citizenship during this period.

Thirty-four each Tanzanians, Kenyans and Malaysians, 25 Iranians and 19 Germans also find their names in the list.

Indian has also given citizenship to a few people from Moldova, Mozambique, Yugoslavia, Eritrea, Jamaica, Lebanon, Croatia, Ireland, Algeria, Uganda, Japan, Belize, Russia and Venezuela among others.
The rate of needy households in Vietnam has been declining significantly in the wake of constantly improving state social wellbeing policies that drew many organisations, businesses, and individuals on board to promote this noble cause.

To help Vietnamese people who face adversity in life to manage a better life, for the past seven years Hanwha Life Vietnam has been carrying out a community-oriented programme through which the company has donated free health insurance cards to people in need.

Nguyen Nha Ngoc Tram Anh, chief management officer of Hanwha Life Vietnam, hands over a gift of 3,257 health cards to Nguyen Thanh Long, chairman of the Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients in Ho Chi Minh City

This year, the company has donated 3,257 healthcare insurance cards to the poor in four cities and provinces including Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, and Ben Tre with a total budget reaching VND974 million ($42,350).

The project was officially kicked off by the recent sponsorship ceremony between Hanwha Life Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients. This is the seventh consecutive year that Hanwha implements this project and this year the project gains more meaning with the backdrop of the serious health impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Hanwha Life Vietnam hopes that the health insurance cards will support the poor community to more conveniently access medical checkup and treatment.

Hanwha Life Vietnam has funded more than VND30 billion ($1.3 million) for many community projects in the past 11 years. Along with this, the company has handed over 53,570 health insurance cards for the poor, built more than 160 charity houses, and opened five healthcare centres across the country.

In addition, the company has built two nurseries and primary schools, awarded many scholarships, bicycles, and organised several other volunteer activities to help disadvantaged children in many localities.

Nguyen Nha Ngoc Tram Anh, chief management officer of Hanwha Life Vietnam, delivering a speech at the heath insurance card donation ceremony

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Nguyen Nha Ngoc Tram Anh, Hanwha Life Vietnams chief management officer, said that as a life insurance company, Hanwha Life Vietnam highly appreciates the importannt role of public healthcare, especially for poor people. Working in tandem with the Ho Chi Minh City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients, they are strongly committed to make great contributions to improving the quality of life and creating long-lasting values for Vietnamese people.

We hope that with the efforts of Hanwha Life Vietnam, the health conditions and the living quality of people in many localities will improve day by day. Not only in Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, and Ben Tre, in the near future, we will continue carrying out many community activities to go along with the Vietnamese people and our country," Anh noted.

Hanwha Life Vietnam currently has 400 employees, over 44,000 financial advisors, and more than 150 customer service points nationwide.

Established in Vietnam in 2009, Hanwha Life Vietnam currently has 400 employees, over 44,000 financial advisors and more than 150 customer service points nationwide. The company has protected 600,000 customers and their families.

With great contributions to the community, in December 2015, Hanwha Life Vietnam was honoured with the CSR Award by the Korean Consulate, Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, and Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy.

In 2017, Hanwha Life Vietnam was listed as one of the Top 10 Sustainable Development Enterprises in Vietnam by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in collaboration with the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) and releveant ministries and agencies.

Hanwha Life is a member of Hanwha Group  one of the 10 largest corporations in Korea and one of the Top 500 largest economic groups in the world. Hanwha currently has a diversified business portfolio in manufacturing and construction, finance, services and leisure, aerospace and mechatronics, advanced chemicals and materials, and solar energy with a network of 351 members worldwide.
The Australian government's top health advisers have told the national security committee they do not recommend putting a travel ban on Europe at this stage, after the United States banned much of the travel from the continent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked federal and state chief health officers to review all travel from Europe on Thursday as the national security committee considers putting up more walls around Australia to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Health Minister Greg Hunt: "Each and every day, all of our chief health medical officers review travel bans as this develops. They have been frank and fearless." Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Surging cases across Italy, France, Germany and Spain and the decision by US President Donald Trump to ban non-residents travelling from 26 European countries to America on Thursday forced the escalation. Australia's existing travel bans on China, Iran, South Korea and Italy were also extended for another week.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee advised on Thursday night that with increasing outbreaks in many countries, further travel restrictions are unlikely to be of significant benefit in limiting community transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
The 3,200-points crash in Sensex today has cast dark clouds on the prospects of SBI Cards' stock market debut on March 16. SBI Cards IPO, which was held from March 2 to March 5, was subscribed 26.54 times on its last day despite weak market conditions.

The IPO hit the market when Nifty was down 8% and Sensex had lost over 7% since the beginning of this year. Since the end of IPO (March 5), Sensex has lost 5,978 points to 32,492 (intra day) today. On March 5, Sensex stood at 38,470.

The massive crash in market is a result of panic selling amid mounting fears of coronavirus which has threatened to lock down global economy and left US economy staring at a recession after 12 years.

This will affect the prospects of the most awaited stock market listing of this year: SBI Cards. The stock will be listed on BSE and NSE.

SBI Cards stock is not expected to list with gains, considering the current weak market conditions, say experts.

SBI Cards IPO: Finalisation of allotment today, here's how to check status

"In case, the stock lists with gains, they are expected to be sold off," said Abhijeet Ramachandran, co-owner, Tips2trade, a financial education and training firm.

"This is because, in current circumstances, retail investors would rather prefer liquidity than holding the stock with an attempt to buy it at much lower levels later," said Ramachandran.

SBI Cards IPO: Check share allotment status, stock listing date, expectations

Equity shares were offered in SBI Cards IPO in a lot of 19 and in multiples of 19 equity shares thereafter. Eligible employees were offered SBI Cards shares at a discount of Rs 75 per share.

Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit said, "Since the opening of IPO, the benchmark indices have gone down by around 6.7% on fears of the Coronavirus spread, collapse of oil prices and the issues around the domestic banking sector. It was also not expected that government will ask SBI to bail out YES Bank which may need cash requirement in the future. Considering the current market scenario and dampened investor sentiment, the company is expected to list with lesser gains than what was forecasted earlier."

Earlier, analysts had predicted SBI Cards shares would list at 40-50% premium at the upper end of issue price at Rs 1,000 per share. Price band for the IPO was fixed at Rs 750 to Rs 755 per share.

S Ranganathan, head of Research at LKP Securities said, "The grey market premium for the IPO of SBI Cards has seen a sharp drop from 350 levels to 35 levels which clearly points towards a muted listing in the range of Rs 800-850."

Coronavirus has dampened the prospects of new listings on the stock market. In India, coronavirus positive cases have risen to 73, with states such as Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh recording maximum number of cases. This has weakened market sentiment at home.

SBI Cards IPO oversubscribed 15.49 times on day 3 despite weak market

Jaikishan Parmar, senior equity research analyst at Angel Broking said, "Current precipitate drop in global as well as in the Indian market is driven by the virus outbreak. And YES Bank issue has also dented sentiment. Considering the above backdrop, SBI Cards could list at a much lesser premium than expected."

SBI Cards IPO may click for only long-term investors, here's why
A scientist who believes coronavirus came from space by meteor now says prevailing winds are spreading the disease to the hardest-hit countries.

Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe of the Buckingham Centre for Astrobiology has alleged that the meteor that exploded over China in October released viral particles.

Once in the upper stratosphere, the virus either fell to Earth or got caught up in the stratospheric air currents that circle the Earth, he told MailOnline.

From here, the virus has spread along 'a global band of between 4060 latitude north', with all the 'main strong cases' appearing 'exactly along that range', he said.

Infectious disease experts have debunked Professor Wickramasinghe's claim, however, noting that COVID-19 is similar to other known coronaviruses.

This, they explained, would suggest that it was also transmitted to humans from animals  not from a recent meteorite fall.



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The scientist who claimed that coronavirus came from space by meteor has said that prevailing winds are spreading the disease to the hardest-hit countries. Pictured, the fireball caused by a meteor burning up in the Earth's atmosphere above China on October 11, 2019

The virus has spread by the prevailing winds along 'a global band of between 4060 latitude north', with all the 'main strong cases' appearing 'exactly along that range', Professor Wickramasinghe said. Experts have dismissed the claim that the virus could be spread by the air  noting that, even if it did, it would thin out travelling international distances

'The sudden outbreak of a new coronavirus is very likely to have a space connection,' Professor Wickramasinghe told The Express in February.

The astrobiologist is a proponent of 'panspermia'  the theory that life is seeded across the universe by travelling on meteors, comets and space dust.

A meteor was seen as a blazing, bright fireball flying across the sky in the north-east of the country at around 12:16 am on October 11, 2019.

The space rock  which reportedly shone so brightly that it made the night sky look light day  is thought to have disintegrated in the atmosphere.

'We consider the seemingly outrageous possibility that hundreds of trillions of infective viral particles were then released embedded in the form of fine carbonaceous dust,' he added.

In support of the theory, he highlighted the 'remarkable aspect' that the coronavirus outbreak occurred in the same region of China as where the fireball was seen.

He added that he thinks that the meteor 'contained, embedded within it, a monoculture of infective 2019-nCoV virus particles that survived in the interior of the incandescent meteor.'

'We believe infectious agents are prevalent in space, carried on comets, and can fall towards Earth through the troposphere. These, we think, can and have in the past gone on to bring about human disease epidemics.'

The MailOnline asked Professor Wickramasinghe whether the correlation of a single meteor sighting with a virus outbreak proved that the former caused the latter.

'It's an interesting connection to take note of, I suppose, but it certainly doesn't prove that that's the way that it took place necessarily,' Professor Wickramasinghe admitted.

The scientific community, however, has largely dismissed Professor Wickramasinghe's claims.

'The most compelling evidence that SARS-CoV-2 didnt come from a meteorite is that it is so closely related to other known coronaviruses,' infectious disease specialist Dominic Sparkes of University College London told IFLScience.

'Its closely related to the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus that caused an outbreak in the early 2000s and the MERS (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome) virus which still causes disease currently,' he added.

'SARS was found to be the result of bats transferring virus to civet cats which transferred on to humans, while MERS is known to be passed on to humans from camels.'

'It therefore is far less of a leap to assume the closely-related SARS-CoV-2 virus has been passed on to humans in the same way.'

The meteor, pictured, was seen as a blazing, bright fireball flying across the sky in the north-east of the country at around 12:16 am on October 11, 2019

Professor Wickramasinghe, however, has dismissed these arguments, suggesting that the similarity of the coronavirus sequences in humans and animals like bat is 'highly questionable' and is 'being re-analysed'  and that even if they were similar, this would not disprove the suggestion that the virus came from space.

Experts have also previously noted that coronavirus is not being spread by the wind.

'Even if the virus could be spread by air, it would be thinned largely to the extent that people could ignore it after it had travelled a few kilometres,' meteorologist Lam Chiu-ying said last month.

'Dont believe it, preventing the local spread of the virus is the most important thing.'

COVID-19 only survives for 72 hours on surfaces and the US Centre for Disease Control has said that six feet is a safe distance to avoid person-to-person infection.

The space rock  which reportedly shone so brightly that it made the night sky look light day  is thought to have disintegrated in the atmosphere

'Viruses from space is an old chestnut that deserves to be roasted immediately,' said virologist Ian Jones of the University of Reading.

'The sequence of the Wuhan virus is very close to those previously observed in bats.'

'In contrast to the authors statement transmission among people is clear, as in the recent Brighton cases, and the epidemiology modelling clearly tracks back to the Wuhan seafood market in December last year.'

'The trouble with this sort of nonsense is that it detracts from the really detailed work that is currently ongoing to track, cope with and prevent infection.'

What the virus really demonstrates is the troublesome side of evolution, everything jostling to gain a toehold somewhere. Getting ahead of it needs a range of dedicated programs, not this sort of guff.'

'We consider the seemingly outrageous possibility that hundreds of trillions of infective viral particles were then released embedded in the form of fine carbonaceous dust,' Professor Wickramasinghe said. His theory has been rebutted by infectious disease experts

Professor Wickramasinghe  along with his colleague Sir Fred Hoyle of the University of Cambridge  has been a leading proponent of the panspermia hypothesis since the mid 1970s.

'The earth is not a disconnected entity in the biosphere  we are connected to the external universe,' Professor Wickramasinghe said.

In the eighties, he proved that some of the dust found in interstellar space contained organic material, most of which was carbon.

Together with Sir Hoyle, he further contended that lifeforms and genetic material continue to enter the Earth's atmosphere to account for new diseases, epidemic outbreaks and the creation of the genetic novelty needed for major-scale evolution.

Professor Wickramasinghe has previously suggested that other deadly diseases came from an extraterrestrial source  including the 1918 flu pandemic, certain strains of mad cow disease and polio, and SARS, which he connected to a 2002 meteorite that exploded over the border of China and Russia.

'There is growing evidence that says this DNA comes from space and it is carried into our atmosphere on micro-meteorites before dissipating,' he told The Express.
NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Nikhil Gupta was recognized by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society for work on super-strong, super-lightweight materials

BROOKLYN, New York, Monday, March 9, 2020 - Nikhil Gupta, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, received the prestigious Brimacombe Medalist Award, presented each year to an elite group of researchers by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), a professional organization with nearly 14,000 members worldwide.

The society, one of the largest in the field of materials sciences, presented the award to Gupta and five others at the group's annual meeting in San Diego on February 26, 2020, which was attended by over 5,000 members.

The mid-career award recognizes individuals with sustained excellence and achievement in business, technology, education, public policy, or science related to materials science and engineering and with a record of continuing service to the profession. Gupta was honored for innovations in the development of lightweight porous materials and for commitment to educating the public about the impact of materials research on society.

Highlights of Gupta's work over the past decade on lightweight syntactic foams -- an eco-friendly material that finds a useful home for fly ash, a toxic by-product of coal combustion -- in collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and others, includes:

A partnership with researchers in India that led to the first process to 3D print parts made of strong, lightweight syntactic foam composites that will enable manufacturers to print complex components capable of surviving stresses at greater depths, a boon for submarine manufacturers.

He also demonstrated that syntactic foams can be produced with economies of scale by smaller companies for automotive and consumer products sectors. The lightest metal based syntactic foam produced in collaboration with industry was finalist for R&D 100 Awards.

To make that process easier for smaller operators, he collaborated with chemical manufacturers to develop an online tool that simplifies, accelerates, and improves syntactic foam material design.

"I am deeply humbled to receive the Brimacombe Medalist Award," said Gupta. "The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society has been a big part of my professional life since I became a student member in 1997. I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the professional development opportunities, connecting with my peers in the Composite Materials Committee, and developing programming and content for the conferences and journals over the past several years."

"This award, from one of the largest, most prestigious societies in materials engineering is a fitting tribute to a researcher whose efforts have propagated a dazzling array of innovative materials and processes for marine, automotive and aerospace applications," said Jelena Kovacevi?, Dean of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. "Additionally, his focus on renewable feedstocks is just one example of how researchers at NYU Tandon are making industrial chemistry more sustainable."

Nikhil Gupta's research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

###

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly). A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within NYU, one of the country's foremost private research universities, and is closely connected to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates Future Labs focused on start-up businesses in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A woman reportedly was arrested Tuesday at JFK Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle 10 pounds of marijuana to the Caribbean.

Shakira Millar, 33, was arraigned Wednesday morning for charges of criminal possession of marijuana and released with a future court date, according to a New York Post report.

Authorities said Millar was heading to Bridgetown, Barbados, on an 11 p.m. JetBlue flight.

A black suitcase was first deemed suspicious during an X-ray scan by a US Custom and Border Protection officer, according to the report.
NORMAL  Saturday's St. Patrick's Day parade in uptown Normal is canceled amid growing concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus.

"We just thought it would be prudent," said Mayor Chris Koos. "It's a candy parade where kids get candy and there's a lot of handling going on and we didn't think that was an appropriate path to take."

The local parade is among many across the country canceled because of coronavirus.

In a statement, sponsor McLean County Irish Heritage Society said, "Due to health and safety concerns we regretfully will be canceling this years Saint Patricks day parade scheduled for Saturday, March 14."

The parade will not be rescheduled, said Maggie Bratcher, president of the McLean County Irish Heritage Society. The society is looking into hosting a different event that would coincide a summer music festival in Uptown Normal, said Parade Chairman Neil Finlen.

The parade is a fundraiser for the Children's Home and Aid Central Region and generates around $5,000 in donations yearly.

Its a shame, but its just kind of the situation that were in right now, said Finlen. "It was just always one of those feel good things to get people out after a long winter and kind of enjoy each others company and celebrate the irish traditions. It was also a nice gathering for the uptown area to enjoy that setting. It certainly makes us sad."

Each year the parade attracts between 60 and 70 entries, as well as a crowd of onlookers. This year would have been its 10th annual celebration.

"They are the ones that will be impacted and we would really encourage anyone that would consider any contributions to the childrens home and aid society," Finley said. "They would be appreciative to make up some of the funds that they will not see now.

People can make a donation to Children's Home and Aid at www.childrenshomeandaid.org.

At this time Koos said he expects more event cancellations, but could not say which events or when they would be canceled.

Normal City Council will continue to meet as planned on Monday at 7 p.m. in Uptown Station. The meetings are live-streamed on the town's Facebook page if people are concerned about attending, Koos said.

Koos encourages people to continue following developments and warning regarding the virus and to stay informed.

"I think people are trying to be cautious," Koos said. "It's really still unknown how much that virus is going to hit this community. It's going to hit this community, I think. It's just when and how hard."
MANILA, Philippines  Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will undergo a voluntary home quarantine as a precaution against the spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) even if she has not manifested any symptom, her office said on Thursday, March 12.

In a statement, the Office of the Mayor said Duterte has signed up as a person under monitoring (PUM) under the Davao City Health Office after one of her employees at their residence became unwell. The said employee is also listed as a PUM.

Her office also said that the presidential daughter also had a lunch meeting with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday. She also visited the Senate on the same day for the confirmation hearing on her promotion as a reservist military colonel.

Gatchalian himself announced on Wednesday night he is under a self-quarantine after contact with a virus-infected guest at the Senate.

While Mayor Sara has not suffered from flu-like symptoms, she chose to undergo self-quarantine to protect others if she may be found to be sick in the next few days, the statement read.

She is now confined in an isolated bedroom at her residence and will continue to work through emails, messaging, and videotelecon, it added.

Her office also said that the mayor may also be reached by those who need her attention through her mobile number.

The post Sara Duterte under home quarantine after meeting with Gatchalian appeared first on UNTV News.
Chattanooga State is extending its Spring Break and will resume classes online on March 23.

Officials said, "Chattanooga State continues to closely monitor developments and updates from federal and state public health officials regarding the rapidly evolving novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. As of today, Chattanooga State has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus."

Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State president, said, In an effort to do our part to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the community, Chattanooga State has implemented several contingency options that the we feel are necessary to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. The plan outlined below applies to all Chattanooga State instructional sites.

"Chattanooga State will extend spring break for its students by one week, through Sunday, March 22. Faculty and staff should report to campus as usual during the extended break, and the campus will be open.

"Classes will resume Monday, March 23; and all classes will be held online. This change applies to classes that were normally held in person and to classes that were already online. The extended spring break for students will allow faculty time to prepare remote instructional delivery. Remote delivery of classes will continue through Tuesday, March 31.

"For students without access to internet or a digital device, Chattanooga State will have options available.

"Plans are being finalized related to online learning and the College will be communicating those options within the coming days. Please regularly check the coronavirus information page on the College website for updates."

On-Campus Events Canceled Through March 31

As measures are taken to reduce the risk of exposure, the College is canceling or postponing all scheduled on-campus events through March 31. A list of cancellations will be added to the Colleges coronavirus information page.

College Offices Remain Open

College offices will remain open. Faculty and staff should report to work as usual. If there are further changes in the Colleges operating status based on COVID-19, our campus community will be notified via the Chattanooga State website, email, and other communication channels.

Chattanooga States Crisis Management Team will meet daily and will continue to work closely with local and state public health officials to review all guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Tennessee Department of Health.
The Homeland Security Committee, which is looking into Hunter Biden and Ukraine's role in the 2016 election, was told a former Ukrainian official could be spreading Russian disinformation.

A Republican Senate committee chairman abruptly called off a subpoena vote on Wednesday after federal authorities shared concerns that a former Ukrainian official cooperating with Republican investigators could be spreading Russian disinformation.

Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was under pressure from Democrats and members of his own party after a pair of briefings from federal officials on Tuesday. The briefings raised questions about the Ukrainian's reliability as a source for two politically sensitive investigations before the committee, including one into the family of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., according to The New York Times.

Mr. Johnson told lawmakers Wednesday afternoon he would delay his pursuit of additional documents from the former Ukrainian official, Andrii Telizhenko, until intelligence officials could provide more information to lawmakers.

Read alsoTrump says Biden Ukraine dealings to be "major" campaign issue  media

In a letter to fellow lawmakers Wednesday afternoon just before the scheduled vote, Mr. Johnson told his colleagues he was postponing the vote "out of an abundance of caution, and to allow time for you to receive additional briefings."

Instead, Mr. Johnson said he would move to issue a subpoena to Blue Star Strategies, a Washington lobbying firm for which Mr. Telizhenko worked on behalf of clients, including a Ukrainian energy company that paid Mr. Biden's son, Hunter Biden, as a board member.

"There was a suggestion made by both Democrat and Republican senators: Why don't you just go straight to the source, Blue Star Strategies, which is what I decided to do," Mr. Johnson said in an interview.

Staff members for the committee have been working with Mr. Telizhenko for months, interviewing him and collecting documents to bolster two separate investigations into subjects that could help President Trump as he heads into a re-election campaign in which Mr. Biden has emerged as his leading Democratic challenger. The White House is closely monitoring Mr. Johnson's efforts on the investigations, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Read alsoBloomberg: Ukraine seeks to move on with U.S. now that impeachment is over

One of the investigations deals with the overlap between Hunter Biden's work for Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company widely accused of corruption, and his father's diplomacy in Ukraine. The other relates to claims that Ukrainian officials tried to undermine Mr. Trump during his 2016 campaign.

Mr. Telizhenko has firsthand experience in both subjects. Before his work with Blue Star on behalf of Burisma, he worked for Ukraine's top prosecutor and then in Ukraine's Embassy in Washington, where, he claims, he was instructed by a superior to work with a Democratic operative to collect and disseminate damaging information about Mr. Trump's 2016 campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. Republicans seized on those claims to justify Mr. Trump's push for investigations and, at times, to answer concerns about Russia's interference to help Mr. Trump in 2016.

American intelligence agencies have concerns about Mr. Telizhenko's role in spreading disinformation about Ukraine's involvement in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the matter.

Intelligence agencies have contended for months that Russian intelligence has worked to amplify, spread and distort stories relating to the involvement of Ukrainian officials in trying to influence the outcome of the last presidential election, as part of a campaign to minimize or obscure Moscow's own efforts.

Read alsoCNN: U.S. Justice Department puts Brooklyn prosecutor atop Ukraine probes

Mr. Telizhenko, 29, was raised partly in Canada, attended the University of the District of Columbia and speaks fluent English. During the 2014 uprising that ousted Ukraine's Russia-aligned president, Mr. Telizhenko helped the protesters connect with Western politicians including Senator John McCain, whose funeral he attended in 2018.

Mr. Telizhenko says he is a political conservative and has been hanging out at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, appearing on the conservative One America News Network and forging a bond with Mr. Trump's personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, whose efforts to uncover politically useful information have been assisted by Mr. Telizhenko.

Mr. Telizhenko, who has been a private consultant since leaving his role with the embassy in 2016, declined to identify his clients. But someone familiar with his work said that he had until recently represented the Ukrainian-Russian developer Pavel Fuks.
President Trump suggested Thursday that he could veto a reauthorization of FISAs expiring surveillance powers, tweeting that many Republican Senators want me to veto the FISA Bill.

Many Republican Senators want me to Veto the FISA Bill until we find out what led to, and happened with, the illegal attempted coup of the duly elected President of the United States, and others!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2020

Trumps comments come after the House reached a deal on reforms and passed a bill Wednesday with a bipartisan vote of 278-to-136 and the support of attorney general William Barr.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.) and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), who authored the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020, said the law included significant reforms.

Along with the House Leadership, we have engaged in bipartisan negotiations with input from many members to get to a deal on reforming FISA while reauthorizing important national security provisions set to expire this weekend. Through those negotiations, we have been able to incorporate significant reforms to increase civil liberty and privacy protections to the base bill, and additional provisions that should garner bipartisan support, Nadler and Schiff said in a joint statement.

But the bill has drawn criticism from FISA hawks on both sides of the aisle, with House Republicans who support more stringent reforms telling National Review that their coalition of conservatives and progressives who wanted to substantively change FISA were rebuffed by leadership.

Senators Mike Lee (R., Utah) and Rand Paul (R., Ky.) share critical views of FISAs civil liberties abuses, and both publicly condemned the Houses bill.

Im going to use every option at my disposal to stop the House bill and to offer up amendments, Lee told Politico. I have given no one any reason to believe that I would be unwilling to let the clock run out. He added that he had told Trump publicly and privately To veto the bill.

Story continues

Paul told reporters that the current bill with no amendments is completely unacceptable and an affront to any of those who were ever concerned about FISA abuse.

Following Trumps Thursday tweet, both Lee and Paul expressed their support of the sentiment.

Yes!  Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 12, 2020

Senate Republican leaders are trying to ram through fake FISA amendments without any real changes. I will object. I continue to stand with @realDonaldTrump in his reservations to this bill.  Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 12, 2020

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Two visitor attractions in Belfast stepped up their cleaning regimes on Wednesday in an effort to protect customers from the coronavirus.

At the We Are Vertigo activity centre in Newtownbreda, professional cleaners used protective masks and a device known as a sanitiser cannon to make the site as safe as possible.

The cleaning regime at HMS Caroline at Belfast docks has also been stepped up considerably as a pre-emptive measure.

We Are Vertigo's chief executive, Gareth Murphy, said the normal cleaning measures had been increased to reassure staff and customers.

"The support unit look at all touch services, door handles, the apparatus, the seats and have a very unique approach to how they introduce the cleaning to each site," he said.

"It is peace of mind for customers, but it's also very important to have a sterile environment, as clean as you can make it."

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With many local families cancelling travel plans, he said there had actually been an increase in bookings over the Easter period.

Paul Fitz is manager with Forensic Cleaning NI, which specialises in decontamination work. The team avoid shaking hands and use protective clothing as they meticulously set about their work.

Using brushes and sprays on the inflatable obstacles inside, the dramatically titled sanitiser cannon resembles a vacuum cleaner and emits an almond-scented spray for hard to reach areas like high-up mounted TV screens.

"This is part of the regular cleaning we do for Vertigo, but the frequency is increasing because of the threat of coronavirus and to reduce the risk," he said.

"Touch tablets, door handles, sanitisers, bathrooms, the children's soft play area and ski masks are all getting regularly sprayed.

"To customers, I would say it does no harm keeping a bit of space between each other, you don't need to be beside each other all the time."

Mr Fitz said he believed Northern Ireland was currently managing the coronavirus crisis better than other parts of the UK, but called for more drastic measures.

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"I believe we have a chance to contain it and I firmly believe we should be on shutdown immediately whenever we're healthy, rather than isolate the population when they're sick."

He added: "It's two weeks, that's all it's going to be. If everybody isolates with non-essential transport, that will work."

Mr Fitz also called on airports to relax rules on bringing liquid on to planes and said passengers were having to bin bottles of hand sanitiser.

At HMS Caroline, Andrew Crawford, director of the Belfast-based Cleanwell company, said there had been "a significant spike" in business.

"I don't think the coronavirus has come to full fruition, but I think a lot of businesses here in Belfast are taking some precautionary steps to make sure they're protected," he said.

"What we've seen in the industry is a change in demand from an aesthetic clean to a hygienic clean. So people are more interested in getting cleaners to focus on door handles, fridge handles, your microwave, keyboards and lift buttons.

"I think it's also important that staff members in these offices are vigilant to these things as well by using hand sanitisers, following regulations on washing your hands as often as possible and generally steering clear of your eyes, nose and mouth."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:27:37|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member reminds foreigners to fill in an arrival card at Qingdao Liuting International Airport in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A leading group of China's COVID-19 called for efforts to further promote international joint prevention and control, stressing better data sharing, border quarantine and other virus prevention work.

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A leading group of China's COVID-19 response Thursday called for more targeted prevention measures to stem the cross-border spread of the novel coronavirus and promised help for overseas fight against the pandemic.

The group, led by Premier Li Keqiang, called for efforts to closely follow the overseas situation of the pandemic, and to take into consideration the latest assessment made by the World Health Organization and international practice, according to a meeting of the group held Thursday.

More precise and targeted measures should be taken to guard against import and export of cases of infection, according to the meeting, which was presided over by Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The group called for efforts to further promote international joint prevention and control, stressing better data sharing, border quarantine and other virus prevention work.

Arriving passengers wait in line at Qingdao Liuting International Airport in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

The group also stressed helping relevant countries and international organizations in fighting the virus to the best of China's capabilities.

Domestic enterprises with adequate capacity were urged to produce more materials and goods for the virus control. After fulfilling domestic needs, enterprises should work to meet the demands of overseas commercial procurement based on market-oriented principles, according to the meeting.

After having made major progress in the current stage, Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan should give priority to medical treatment and strengthen the treatment of severely ill patients, according to the meeting.

The group urged more supportive measures to people in need amid the outbreak, stressing help for poor people, disabled people, children without guardians due to the outbreak and other vulnerable groups.

After taking effective measures to prevent a rebound of the epidemic, various regions, especially those with low virus risks, should quicken their pace to restore normal business, production and life, according to the meeting.

Wang Huning, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting. 
A Derry solicitor has said he will strongly oppose a legal bid by the British Ministry of Defence to quash a verdict which found that the killing of IRA member Seamus Bradley was unjustified.

Last August a coroner ruled that the British Army's killing of Seamus Bradley in 1972 was unjustified, seemingly bringing a decades long campaign to clear his name to a conclusion.

However, in November 2019 it emerged that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) intended to appeal the inquest findings into the killing of the 19-year-old IRA member shot dead by a British soldier during Operation Motorman in the Creggan area of Derry.

The MoD lodged a request for a judicial review of the inquest findings in a bid to quash the conclusions in the case presided over by Judge Patrick Kinney.

It also sought to force another inquest into the case, which if approved, will be the third inquest into the killing since the original one held in 1973.

The hearing will take place today, March 12, in the Royal Courts of Justice Judicial Review Court at 10am.

Mr Bradleys brother, Danny, said the family is disappointed with what is going on and it is causing a lot of stress.

Speaking to the Derry News yesterday, solicitor for the Bradley family, Mr Seamus Quigley of Quigley, Grant & Kyle said: There is a hearing tomorrow in Belfast where the MoD are seeking to set aside this coroners findings.

Our argument is going to be that there challenge is grounded on a dissatisfaction with the coroners factual conclusions. We will be saying the coroner heard witnesses giving evidence and read all relevant material and he was best placed to evaluate evidence and material to reach the conclusion that he did.

We will be saying that there is no arguable basis for the court to review or intervene and we will be opposing the application very strongly.

It is a fairly unique case, I wouldnt say it hasnt happened before, but certainly, I have never seen it.

The circumstances in which Seamus Bradleys life was taken were disputed for decades.

The British Army contended that the Provisional IRA man had been perched in a tree and holding a sub-machine gun when he was shot at least four times by Soldier 1 of the Royal Scots Regiment between 5.15am and 6.15am on the morning in question.

Mr Bradleys family however continually maintained that the victim had been removed from the scene, physically tortured and then denied medical assistance which contributed to his death.

Both these versions of events were rejected by the coroner who determined that the victim had been shot by a soldier who got out of a Saracen, fell to one knee and shot Seamus Bradley several times.

The coroner found that the soldier who shot Seamus Bradley was not justified in opening fire and that the investigation into his death was flawed and inadequate.

No first aid or medical assistance was provided by the soldiers, the coroner said, and if it had been there was a reasonable prospect that he would have survived. He did however say that Mr Bradley was not mistreated by military personnel in the Saracen in the form of physical assault, torture or shooting

In delivering his findings last August the judge concluded that Seamus Bradley was running across Bishops Field away from a British Army Saracen and did not have a weapon; he could not reasonably have been perceived as posing a threat of death or serious injury; the use of force by the soldier was entirely disproportionate to any threat that could have been perceived and the soldier who shot Seamus Bradley did not adhere to the terms of the Yellow Card rules of engagement.
International travelers to the United States may soon face more restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, David Pekoske, the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said while speaking before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees homeland security panel, according to Bloomberg.

Restrictions are already in place for travelers who have visited China or Iran in the last 14 days. Passengers arriving from these countries can only arrive at one of 11 U.S. airports for a health checkup.

State Department advisories of the highest level have been issued for Italy and South Korea, according to CNN.

New measures may be announced that include exit screening for passengers from South Korea, Italy and other European countries.

Trump: Travel Between US, Japan Could Be Restricted

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said his administration was considering adding Japan to the list of countries that face travel restrictions.

We're watching Italy very closely, South Korea very closely, even Japan very closely," he said.

And we'll make the right determination at the right time. We've cut it off, as you know, with numerous other countries.

Other countries have been announcing travel restrictions as well, according to the Nikkei Asian Review.

India has suspended all visas issued on or before Tuesday to travelers from Japan, Italy, Iran and South Korea, the publication said. Thailand has asked travelers from 11 high-risk countries to self-quarantine for 14 days after they arrive in the kingdom.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Researchers from the University of Texas have determined the procoagulant activity of clinical cellular therapeutics (CCTs). CCTs include human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and mononuclear cells (MNC).

Image Credits: Vitalii Vitleo / Shutterstock.com

The team determined that the acceleration of blood coagulation in trauma patients relative to healthy subjects is due to the MSC/MNC expression of tissue factor (TF). This effect was reversible with the anticoagulation drug heparin.

The study's findings build on the group's previous study in which blood samples from healthy donors received in vitro treatment with 33 CCT donors. In this current study samples from 36 trauma patients and 10 healthy controls were subject to in vitro treatment with 4 CCTs.

The principal aim of the present study was to illustrate CCT procoagulant effects in trauma patients; this is clinically relevant, as they represent a population which can clinically benefit from CCT.

Investigating the effect of CCT in trauma patients

Traumatic injury is associated with high levels of mobility as a result of associated conditions such as hemorrhaging. A potential solution for these morbid conditions is chemical cellular therapeutics which include MCS and MNCs; the application is limited due to the expression of tissue factor, a potent stimulant of coagulation.

TF expression is known to cause blood coagulation in non-trauma patients; the causal link between TF and coagulations has been demonstrated by using thromboelastography (TEG). TEG refers to the methodology of testing blood coagulation through the measurement of viscoelastic properties of whole blood clot formation under stress.

Despite this, the effects of MSCs or MNCs expressing TF in a population of patients with traumatic injury is uncertain. As such, the purpose of the group study was to determine the procoagulation activity of these CCTs in traumatic injury patient populations and its reversal.

The TEG methodology was used to measure blood clotting effects of CCT on the anticoagulant heparin was added to reverse this effect.

CCTs accelerate clot formation in trauma patients

A cohort of 36 trauma patients and healthy controls were selected to investigate the procoagulant effect of CCTs. The most prominent finding was a decrease in clotting time, referred to as R time, in response to an increasing TF load as the CCT treatment was increased. Notably, the R time was significantly faster in the trauma patient samples relative to healthy controls.

The addition of heparin resulted in the restoration of TEG clotting time to the control values for each tissue source of CCT.

The acceleration of TEG R time is associated with deep vein thrombosis, with trauma patients admitted with hypercoagulable TEG experiencing higher rates of DVT relative to those who do not. A study by Selby et al. found that soluble fibrin specifically relates to the initial formation of the fibrin clot.

Clinical considerations of CCT-associated TF

Consequently, the group demonstrated that CCTs increase the rate of clot formation in vitro. The procoagulant effects of these cells are an important consideration in the clinical setting and already suggested safety release criterion for clinical application. The team noted that cell sources with lower tissue factor or cell expansion methods that reduce the expression of TF are preferable alternatives.

Typically, traumatic injury results in a property of hypercoagulation relative to uninjured subjects. The hypercoagulable state experienced by trauma patients is thought to explain the greater procoagulant effect of CCT in healthy subjects.

The team noted that healthy subjects possess a greater time over which response to CCT treatment is possible because that baseline clotting time is longer. in comparison, trauma patients demonstrate accelerated clotting as a result of a natural reaction to trauma and so have a reduced capacity for additional procoagulant response.

Reversing the CCT procoagulant effect using heparin

Heparin exerts its effect by inactivating activated factor X. This limits, factor VII, the TF activation factor. TEG R time is restored to normal values for four different CCTs. The amount required was approximately double the amount to normalize the R time.

Compared to a previous study by Silachev et al, the group found that bolus administration used in this study is a more effective means of R time normalization relative to the systemic rate of heparin administration used by Silachev.

Issues of the procoagulant effect in severely injured trauma patient

Although the coadministration of heparin could mitigate the hypercoagulant properties of CCTs, in patients with traumatic brain injury heparin is contraindicated as bleeding can be exacerbated.

In addition, patients experiencing organ damage are susceptible to both bleeding and prophylactic anticoagulation. These instances represent cases in which Microthrombi deposition is likely and hence the procoagulant effect of CCTs fails to be an advantage.

Limitations of CCT-mediated TF in vitro

The team explored the procoagulant response to CCT in vitro; this limits the scope of the investigation as the TF exerts a systemic effect in vivo.

TF produces an envelope around blood vessels; under normal conditions, TF is not present in circulating blood cells and restricted to the adventitia. When CCTS are injected into the intravascular space, the TF released by these cells causes a rapid coagulation reaction or a blood-mediated inflammatory reaction.

The mechanism underpinning the consumption of coagulation factors mediated by TF released by the introduced CCTs, followed by the formation of fibrin monomers. This encourages what is known as consumptive coagulopathy, which accelerates the clotting process.

Once this consumptive coagulopathy is complete, the team hypothesizes that the TEG would indicate is slowing down of cutting, reduction in cloud formation and strength. The potential for this discrepancy to arise indicates the need to explore the in vivo effect of CCT-associated TF over time.

Source George, J et al. (2020) Procoagulant in vitro effects of clinical cellular therapeutics in a severely injured trauma population. Stem cells Transl. Med. doi: 10.1002/sctm.19-0206. Silachev, DN et al. (2019) Effect of MSCs and MSCderived extracellular vesicles on human blood coagulation. Cells. doi: 10.3390/cells8030258

Further Reading
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 16:33:44|Editor: huaxia

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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (C, Rear) attends a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 11, 2020. WHO said on Wednesday that the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a "pandemic" as the virus spreads increasingly worldwide. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

As the rest of the global economy is increasingly gripped by fears of the outbreak, China's getting back to economic normality offers much-needed comfort.

Noting that the country has been trying to manage a balancing act between containing the epidemic and reviving the economy, analysts and business insiders of many countries have expressed their cautious optimism that the Chinese economy will be left unscathed in the long run.

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- After securing an upper hand in its all-out confrontation with the novel coronavirus on home turf, China is warily repositioning itself to fight the economic fallouts of the outbreak already declared as a pandemic.

In stark contrast to the rapid spread elsewhere in the world, the virus spread has been basically contained in China, with new risks largely coming from imported cases. The National Health Commission said it received reports of 15 new confirmed cases on the mainland on Wednesday, among which six were imported cases.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, China has prioritized the health of people from home and abroad and taken stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus at the expense of short-term economic gains.

Flexibility and agility are what China has learned from its tough fight with the ferocious virus. Shortly before the World Health Organization declared the outbreak as a pandemic, China's State Council unveiled new measures to support foreign trade and investment in case the increasingly severe situations overseas might further weigh down global industrial chains.

The measures in the pipeline include a shorter negative list of foreign investment and more foreign trade loans from financial institutions.





DECISIVE COMMAND

During his Tuesday inspection of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that the epidemic will not undermine the fundamentals of China's steady and long-term sound economic development despite short-term economic repercussions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping learns about the hospital's operations, treatment of patients, protection for medical workers and scientific research at the Huoshenshan Hospital 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)

In a speech at a teleconference on Feb. 23, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed the importance of coordinating the prevention and control of the epidemic and economic and social development.

While ensuring sufficient epidemic prevention and control, resumption of work and production in certain regions has a bearing on solid material supply to contain the epidemic, completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, China's opening up and global economic stability, among others, said Xi.

Xi demanded detailed steps to keep the economy stable, including category-based and region-specific work and production resumption, enhanced macro policy adjustment, doubled-down efforts on poverty alleviation and boosting employment, stepping up agriculture production, ensuring people's livelihood, as well as stabilizing foreign trade and investment.

Technicians work on the manufacturing line of China's ARJ21 aircraft at a factory in Shanghai, east China, March 6, 2020. The factory of Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China Ltd. in Shanghai has resumed production amid epidemic prevention and control efforts. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

POLICY TOOLKIT

As the world's second-largest economy, China has much leeway in sustaining steady economic growth. The ample maneuver room comes from the government's rich policy toolkit.

Xi has demanded the right pace and capacity of macro policies to cushion the epidemic's impact and prevent economic growth from slipping out of an appropriate range.

The epidemic has become one of the busiest occasions for China's government agencies, which are in full swing to keep an eye on the economy's well-being amid the epidemic fight and develop support steps.

Liquidity is boosted via open market operations and targeted credit ease. Tax, fee and social security payment cuts are offered to impacted firms. Daily necessity supplies are ensured through national reserve allocation. Logistics is facilitated via fast-track channels and free tolls. Food production is guaranteed by supporting spring farming.

Governments at all levels are responding swiftly to calls for help. Some local authorities arranged chartered buses, trains and flights to bring employees back to work to ease labor shortages.

After reports of some 300 million chickens starving over impeded feed supply in epidemic-stricken Hubei, the government prompted state-owned grain suppliers to send feed and later ordered local governments to refrain from blocking ways key to transport of livestock feed and products.

A staff member disinfects the delivery robot after a delivery in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Feb. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)

MARKET FORCES

Besides government aid, the country's businesses have been biting the bullet with grit and wit to survive and thrive. Companies and factories see the hard times as a chance to discover opportunities in the midst of a crisis.

Industrial giants are taking the lead in business adjustments, such as the rollout of non-contact delivery services and promotion of virtual reality salesrooms and online scenic spot tours. Many also lend a hand to prop up smaller players in their business ecosystem, including scraping rent and commission and offering microloans for vulnerable partners.

In one of the hardest-hit sectors, many restaurants take to food delivery to keep business going. Some even put their chefs on livestreaming platforms to pitch dishes or offer cooking tips.

The country's vibrant digital sector further adds to the economy's resilience by enabling millions of people to work, entertain and study from home via telecommuting and livestreaming.

As of the end of February, over 95 percent of companies in petrochemical, telecommunications, electricity and transport industries have resumed operation, while staff in over 80 percent of foreign-funded enterprises have returned to work.

As the rest of the global economy is increasingly gripped by fears of the outbreak, China's getting back to economic normality offers much-needed comfort.

Photo taken on March 5, 2020 shows containers at a logistic station of Shenyang East Railway Station in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. The resumption of regular operation of China-Europe freight trains provided strong support for the resumption of production for trade enterprises in the province amid the novel coronavirus epidemic. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

UPHILL BATTLE

Xi said the COVID-19 epidemic will inevitably deal a relatively big blow to China's economic and social development, but its impact is temporary and generally manageable. He pointed out that at such a time it is even more important to view China's development in a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective and to strengthen and firm up confidence.

China's major economic growth targets for 2020 are yet to be announced as the annual session of the national legislature was postponed due to the epidemic, but Xi has reiterated that the country has confidence and capabilities to achieve the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and the eradication of poverty.

Noting that the country has been trying to manage a balancing act between containing the epidemic and reviving the economy, analysts and business insiders of many countries have expressed their cautious optimism that the Chinese economy will be left unscathed in the long run.

Photo taken on Feb. 3, 2020 shows International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in Washington D.C., the United States. IMF supports China's efforts to tackle the novel coronavirus outbreak, and is confident that China's economy "remains resilient," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said. (IMF/Handout via Xinhua)

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in February that she believes the Chinese economy "remains resilient" and will "return to normal in the second quarter" of 2020.

"We believe the coronavirus is a one-off negative shock, which should not alter the long-term growth trajectory of China's economy," UBS economists said in a research note in February. "As the virus outbreak is contained and economic activities normalize, we see pent-up demand being released and businesses recover."

However, experts said worldwide disruptions by the pandemic would pose new challenges to the Chinese economy.

The prevention focus should be shifted to the monitoring of inbound travelers to minimize the impact on business resumption, said Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. 
Australians with dependent children, pensioners and the unemployed are the big winners under Scott Morrison's $23billion emergency stimulus package.

The Prime Minister and his Liberal deputy, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, announced that from March 31, $750 payments would deposited straight into the bank accounts of 6.5million Australians - or quarter of the population.

The lump-sum payments will cost $4.8billion and are expected to be delivered by Easter, as part of an overall $17.6billion spending package.

The government is hoping it will generate $23billion in economic activity as part of an emergency measure to ward off a potential coronavirus recession.

Despite the spending spree, the Australian share market plunged by 7.3 per cent on Thursday, suffering the biggest one-day fall since November 2008, with $113billion wiped from the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index.

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The Prime Minister and his Liberal deputy, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured), announced that from March 31, $750 payments would be going to 6.5million Australians

Investors overlooked how more than a third of the Australians receiving the payments are elderly, with 2.4million aged pensioners to benefit as part of the biggest economic stimulus since the global financial crisis a decade ago.

Who gets $750? Recipients on Newstart, the disability support pension, carers' allowance, youth allowance, veterans support payments, family tax benefits and Commonwealth senior health card-holders. Australia's 2.4million aged pensioners are also getting the payment. The payments will be begin on 31 March and will be automatically deposited into bank accounts. The government has promised 90 per cent of the funds would be delivered by mid-April. Advertisement

Overall, 3.6million pensioners who are either elderly or have a disability are receiving a payment.

Parents with dependent children, where the main breadwinner earns less than $100,000 a year, are also getting the payments by virtue of being eligible for Family Tax Benefit B.

Another 1.1million Youth Allowance recipients, either studying at university or completing an apprenticeship, are eligible, along with the unemployed on Newstart, war veterans and baby boomers with a health-care card.

'Australians will spend that money and that money will encourage economic activity,' Mr Frydenberg announced in Canberra on Thursday.

Despite the stimulus announcement this morning, the Australian share market plunged by more than 7 per cent, for its worst day since the GFC in 2008, as the United States banned flights from Europe, apart from the UK.

The lump-sum payments will cost $4.8billion, as part of an overall $23billion emergency stimulus program to ward off the economic contagion of coronavirus. Pictured is Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (left)

More than a third of the Australians receiving the payments are elderly, with 2.4million aged pensioners to benefit

Hours earlier, the World Health Organisation had declared a coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Morrison refused to guarantee his stimulus package would avert a recession.

'The government will always engage in responsible financial and economic management,' he said.

With casual workers facing home quarantine as a result of coronavirus, the Prime Minister vowed to make sure they would have instant access to the Newstart sickness payment.

There is also a $1billion fund to help tourism businesses affected by the downturn, similar to a disaster recovery fund.

The government will hand out tax-free cash grants of up to $25,000 to 7,000 small businesses who turn over less than $50million and employ people.

There will also be a 50 per cent wage subsidy for 117,000 apprentices worth $21,000 for each apprentice.

The cash will be paid to companies so they can afford to keep their young staff in work.

Instant asset write offs will be expanded so tradies can buy trucks and other equipment worth $150,000 on the taxman until 30 June. The previous limit was $30,000.

The Australian Taxation Office is also allowing affected businesses to delay their tax obligations for four months.

The bulk of the $17.6billion stimulus is being spent during the next four to six months, with Treasury hoping it will give the economy a boost of $22.9 billion or 1.2 per cent of gross domestic product.

'This plan is about keeping Australians in jobs. This plan is about keeping a business in business, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, and this plan is about ensuring the Australian economy bounces back stronger on the other side of this and, with that, the Budget bounces back with it,' Mr Morrison said.

Amid the turmoil, the Australian government announced the payments would be distributed from March 31, with more than 90 per cent of payments expected to be made by mid-April.

'The government will also deliver a one-off stimulus payment to households with six-and-a-half million Australians receiving a payment of $750,' Mr Frydenberg said.

'This includes recipients on Newstart, the Disability Support Pension, Carer's Allowance, Youth Allowance, Veteran's Support Payment, Family Tax Benefits, Commonwealth Senior Health Card holders and 2.4million Aged Pensioners.

'This one-off payment, which cost $4.8billion, will flow automatically from the 31st of March and provide additional income to millions of Australians that will be spent across the economy.'

Mr Morrison is taking a more targeted approach to handouts than Labor did in February 2009 at the height of the GFC.

Under Kevin Rudd, $900 cheques went to 8.7million Australians as part of a broader $42billion stimulus package.

Without a stimulus program this year, Westpac chief economist Bill Evans forecast the Australian economy would sink into recession in 2020, as gross domestic product contracted in both the March and June quarters.

EY chief economist Jo Masters said the stimulus package may be insufficient to prevent a recession.

'The answer is, we don't know, developments are moving quickly and confidence remains under significant pressure,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

Newstart recipients are also receiving the $750 payments along with those on the Disability Support Pension, Carer's Allowance, Youth Allowance, Veteran's Support Payment, Family Tax Benefits, Commonwealth Senior Health Card

The $4.8billion welfare component of the stimulus package makes up 0.25 per cent of Australia's gross domestic product.

With the World Health Organisation now declaring coronavirus to be a pandemic, Ms Masters said consumers would be reluctant to go out and spend money.

'Consumers were already cautious heading into this year, and fear of job loss has a significant impact of spending patterns, particularly for those carrying debt,' she said.

'Some of those households may choose to pay down debt instead of spend.'

The stimulus package means the government has broken an election promise to deliver a budget surplus in 2020, which would have been the first in 13 years.

Mr Frydenberg's first budget as treasurer promised a $7.1billion surplus for 2019-20 in April 2019.

This shrank to $5billion in Treasurys December Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook as the bushfires reduced government revenue.

It has echoes of 2008 when Labor promised a budget surplus only to renege less than a year later when the GFC worsened.
The agricultural industry will retain the red diesel tax relief, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced in today's Budget.

Rishi Sunak said the agricultural industry will retain the red diesel exemption amid significant concerns the government was going to scrap it.

The Chancellor did, however, announce that the tax break will be abolished for 'most sectors' as it 'funds pollution'.

The move is part of wider measures to ensure the United Kingdom reaches its net zero ambitions by 2050.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday (11 March), he said the change will not take effect for another two years.

"This is a tax relief on nearly 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year," he told MPs.

"Its been a 2.4bn tax break for pollution thats also hindered the development of cleaner alternatives. So I will abolish the tax relief for most sectors."

But Mr Sunak added: "I've heard the concerns about agriculture, particularly from the NFU and rural colleagues, so I've decided that agriculture will retain the relief."

Responding to the announcement, the NFU applauded the Chancellor for recognising the importance of the red diesel rate for British farmers.

Good to see no change to red diesel rates for agriculture and hear Chancellor @RishiSunak recognise the NFU raising the importance of red diesel rate for British farmers. #Budget2020  National Farmers' Union (@NFUtweets) March 11, 2020

The agricultural industry highlighted its fears that any changes to red diesel duty would see farmers face increases of nearly 50p per litre.

Red diesel currently has a duty of 11.1p per litre compared with 57.7p for standard diesel.

NFU President Minette Batters said: "This is absolutely crucial and we are pleased to see the Chancellor has acknowledged our concerns.

Changes to this duty could have virtually doubled fuel costs for farmers and with no current alternative fuel for agricultural vehicles, this would have left farms immediately uncompetitive with many other countries who continue to provide lower fuel duty for their agricultural industries.

This lower fuel duty on red diesel recognises its importance to farm businesses, their ability to produce food for the nation and the fact this machinery is mainly used off-road on farms."
Wild horses corralled at a public viewing area in Rock Springs, managed by the Bureau of Land Management stand around as they await adoption or transportation to a future home. A proposal by the BLM would remove up to 1,500 horses from BLM lands within the checkerboard.

PINEDALE - The High Desert District's wild horse draft environmental impact statement and proposed Bureau of Land Management revisions for its management are open for public comment through April 30. The BLM's "preferred alternative" would remove about 74 percent or 1,529 of the wild horses from four herd management areas or HMAs, where populations are well above its current appropriate management levels or AMLs. HMA acreage where BLM actively manages wild horses would be reduced by about 87 percent to "herd areas." The BLM denes herd areas as public lands where horses were found in 1971 w...
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday did not stay the Allahabad High Court judgment of March 9 ordering removal of hoardings containing photos and other personal details of anti-CAA protesters.

A vacation bench of Justices UU Lalit and Aniruddha Bose heard the petition at length but referred to the question of law to a larger judge bench and said,"Matter requires further elaboration and consideration." The case will now be sent to Chief Justice of India to be sent to a three judge bench.

During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh government, pointed out 57 indicted for destruction of public properties include rioters of both communities. Mehta said that the Allahabad HC order is based on alleged violation of right to privacy but privacy will have a different dimension when a person chooses to commit certain acts in public.

On this, the bench asked, "But the question is whether state has a right to put posters of those involved in public places. We agree there shouldn't be vandalism and those involved must be brought to book but the question here is can a State go two steps ahead and publicly ridicule them. Is there any law to back the State's action?"

Mehta told the bench that the extraordinary step of putting up hoardings was required for a stronger deterrent.

Senior advocate AM Singhvi appears for one retired IPS officer who also found his photo in one of the hoardings and says since when this country has legitimised 'name and shame' policy and said, "What if people start getting lynched? Posters were to incite violence, invite people to spit on them, take law in their own hands & lynch them."

Senior advocates Colin Gonsalves, CU Singh, Vrinda Grover also appear for some of the persons whose photos were put up in the hoardings across Lucknow but the bench said that they have accepted the contentions regarding importance of the matter and hence a three-judge bench should hear it.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Okada Manila received a prestigious five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide 2020 Star Awards.

We cannot be more proud of that team achievement. It was a very long journey. The Forbes five-star rating is like the Oscar award for hospitality. It takes a great team effort to accomplish something like this, said Ivaylo Ivanov, Okada Manila Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations.

The Forbes Travel Guide created the original five-star rating system on hotels and resorts in 1958. Anonymous inspectors check into the properties and rate them based on the over 900 objective criteria.

Ivanov said that they dont mind any inspectors coming as they treat all their guests with the best experience.

The best way to approach any type of inspection is not to know. Our team members are required to treat every guest the same way and provide an exceptional guest experience.

He added that the exceptional guest experience they provide is the result of training and care for their employees.

It took us of thousands and thousands of training hours in all areas in order to get here, said Ivanov. We will continue what we have done best and that is to take care of our team members, motivate and empower them.

With the aim to keep its momentum of providing the best guest experience, the three-year-old luxury hotel will open soon a Philippine-inspired buffet, a luxury bar, and a new ballroom.
Harvey Weinstein, the once powerful film producer, had a mild heart attack on Wednesday, hours after a New York judge sentenced him to 23 years in state prison for sexual attacks on two women, his spokesman said.

Before his sentencing, Weinstein had been housed at an infirmary on the Rikers Island jail complex because of his health problems. Last week, doctors at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan performed a heart procedure, inserting a stent to alleviate a blockage.

Weinstein, 67, appeared in a Manhattan court on Wednesday in a wheelchair and gave a rambling speech, expressing remorse, but never apologizing to his victims. He compared himself to Hollywood figures blacklisted in the 1950s during a national scare over communism.

But Justice James Burke rejected his pleas for leniency, issuing the relatively long sentence. The judge said evidence had been presented at trial of other sexual assaults in the past. While it was Weinsteins first conviction, he said, it was not a first offence.

As his victims broke into tears in the gallery, Weinstein was then handcuffed to his wheelchair and transported back to jail. Within hours, however, he complained of chest pains and corrections officers sent him to a jail ward at Bellevue, his spokesman, Juda Englemayer, said.

In court, Weinsteins lawyers had made an impassioned plea for the producer to receive a minimum sentence of five years in prison, arguing that even that would likely be a de facto life sentence.

Judge, Mr. Weinstein is a sick man, his lawyer, Donna Rotunno, said at the sentencing. Mr. Weinstein has a multitude of medical issues. There are a list of things that are physically wrong with him and things that are serious.

Rotunno said in court that Weinstein has a history of heart disease in his family. Without going into detail, she said that one of Weinsteins diagnosed health problems required close monitoring and could be deadly.

She added that a five-year sentence might mean Weinstein would never return to freedom. It is very possible that Mr. Weinstein, given his health, doesnt live to see the end of that sentence, Rotunno said. Thats a very sad set of circumstances, but it is a potential fact.

In December, Weinstein underwent back surgery to repair an injury he received in a car accident four months earlier. Since then, he has used a walker to get around.

His health declined rapidly after a jury of seven men and five women convicted him on Feb. 24 on charges of third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sexual act.

Six women testified against Weinstein at his trial, but the five-count indictment mostly relied on the accusations made by two of them: Miriam Haley, 42, and Jessica Mann, 34.

The jury determined that Weinstein raped Mann in a Midtown Manhattan hotel room in 2013, and that he forcibly performed oral sex on Haley inside his Lower Manhattan loft in 2006.

The jury declined to convict him of the three most serious charges, including the first-degree rape of Mann, concluding that Weinstein did not use force or threaten her. Jurors also did not convict him on two counts of predatory sexual assault.

After the verdict, Weinstein was taken by ambulance from the State Supreme Court in Manhattan to Bellevue Hospital Center with high blood pressure and heart palpitations.

He remained at the hospital for 10 days, underwent the heart procedure to install a stent and was then transferred to the North Infirmary Command, part of Rikers Island that houses inmates whose safety may be at risk if they are placed in the general population.
By Anthony Esposito

MEXICO CITY, March 11 (Reuters) - Some of Mexico's auto factories may have to suspend production in the coming weeks as the coronavirus disrupts shipments of key parts from China, according to local officials, in what would be another blow to the stagnant Mexican economy.

Manuel Gonzalez, economic development minister of Aguascalientes, one of a dozen Mexican states that have car factories, said some manufacturers had already told him they were running low on parts.

"I've been in contact with some important companies: They tell me that they have inventory through the second or third week of March," Gonzalez told Reuters. "If that supply is not normalized, we will probably see firms suspending production."

The fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak has rippled through the global economy and upended supply chains. More than 119,100 people have been infected by disease and 4,298 have died, the vast majority in China, according to a Reuters tally.

If Mexican automakers were forced to suspend production, that would not bode well for President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's plans to lift Latin America's second-largest economy out of a mild recession.

Carmaking is a pillar of Mexican manufacturing and accounts for nearly 3% of gross domestic product. According to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Mexico is the world's seventh biggest car producer.

Nearly 80% of Mexican-made vehicles are shipped to its top trade partner, the United States.

Aguascalientes, a hub of Mexican car manufacturing in the central part of the country, is home to two plants owned by Nissan Motor Co, one by Mercedes-Benz, and a Daimler and Renault-Nissan Alliance joint-venture complex.

Operations in Aguascalientes are running normally, said a spokeswoman for Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz's parent company.

Nissan has started sending parts by plane to its Mexican plants instead of by ship, despite an increase in cost, to avoid any setbacks to production, said Nissan Mexico corporate communications director Luciana Herrmann.

Story continues

"We're monitoring the situation and we have not confirmed any significant impact," said Herrmann, adding there was no information of an impending production stoppage.

Cuitlahuac Perez, head of Aguascalientes' automotive cluster, which promotes the industry, said Nissan executives have said their plants only have inventory for the next three weeks due to problems with supplies from China.

"If the shipment of components is not normalized in the next three weeks, then in more or less a month they're going to begin suspending production here in Aguascalientes," said Perez.

He added that he had also heard of similar supply problems in other car manufacturing hubs such as Guanajuato and Chihuahua in northern Mexico.

Mauricio Usabiaga, the economic Development minister of Guanajuato state, said he had not received news of any impact on carmakers in his state.

Officials in Chihuahua state did not respond to a request for comment.

Asked about possible impacts on production, a spokesman for General Motors Co, which has a plant in Silao, Guanajuato, said the company was operating normally.

A spokeswoman for Ford Motor Co, which has plants in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, could not immediately comment on the matter.

The problems with parts supply from China is already having an impact elsewhere in Latin America. Brazilian automakers' association Anfavea on Friday warned that carmakers there might have to suspend production in April due to a lack of parts from China. (Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Additional reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Jonathan Oatis)
This year's season of Bachelor in Paradise will see The Bachelorette's Timm Hanly, and Ciarran Stott and The Bachelor's Brittany Hockley return to the franchise.

BIP's official Instagram page announced the first five contestants who would be featured in season three on Thursday night.

The Bachelorette's 'stage-five clinger' Jamie Doran, who also appeared in Angie Kent's season, will also make a comeback.

They're back! BIP's official Instagram page announced the first five contestants who would be featuring in season three on Thursday night. Pictured, left to right: Ciarran Stott, Abbie Chatfield, Timm Hanly, Brittany Hockley, Jamie Doran

Leading the returning cast is fan favourite Timm Hanly, 27, who was the runner-up on Angie Kent's season of The Bachelorette last year.

In the end, Angie chose Carlin Sterritt as the winner of her heart instead of Timm.

Now with almost 150,000 Instagram followers, the long-haired hunk is returning to the Bachelor franchise for a second chance at love.

A Bachelorette legend: Leading the returning cast is fan favourite Timm Hanly, 27, who was the runner-up on Angie Kent's (pictured) season of The Bachelorette last year

The 'fabulously British' Ciarran Stott, 25, is also returning from the most recent Bachelorette season.

Ciarran provided some of the raunchier moments last season, stripping down naked at one point so Angie, Yvie Jones and other contestants could paint him.

Not afraid of the limelight, the tatted-up former stripper was recently pictured partying with Married At First Sight's Jessika Power in February.

Remember this? He stripped naked in front of Bachelorette Angie Kent, Angie's best friend Yvie Jones and his fellow contestants

Brunette beauty Brittany Hockley, 30, will also return for BIP later this year.

She failed to find love with Nick Cummins on The Bachelor in 2018, after he infamously dumped both women in the tense finale episode.

The actress revealed why she's still single after eight years on the market, in a candid interview with Sydney Confidential last month.

'It's Sydney men!' Britanny, who hails from Port Macquarie, claimed. 'They're all Peter Pans - young forever and don't want to settle down.'

A second shot at love: Brunette beauty Brittany Hockley, 30, will also return for BIP later this year. She failed to find love with Nick Cummins on The Bachelor in 2018

Also returning is The Bachelorette's Jamie Doran, who was dubbed a 'stage-five clinger' by fans last season.

Speaking to 10 Daily after his elimination episode aired, he admitted he could have been 'a little bit less intense' but backed his decisions on the show.

'Crack open your coconuts, because Bachelor In Paradise is coming soon,' Jamie wrote on Instagram, heralding his return.

A release date for season three of Bachelor in Paradise is yet to be confirmed.
Several support initiatives have been started by private citizens in Luxembourg following growing concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak.

As the number of cases has grown  from seven confirmed cases on Tuesday to 19 as of Thursday morning, following the confirmation of 12 new cases including the first two to be locally transmitted  private individuals have begun responding to the situation and offering to provide support.

Among the first to pop up is a Facebook group called "Luxembourg Coronavirus Support Group," which was started by the admins of the big "Luxembourg Expats" group/page. The purported aim of the group is for people to share useful information on the outbreak in Luxembourg without promoting panic, and for people to reach out to each other and discuss the situation.

There is also a change.org petition calling for all schools in Luxembourg to be shut down during the outbreak, which states that "Luxembourg needs to take preventive measures now, to slow the spread of the virus, and not wait for things to get worse" following the WHO's pronouncing the Coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic on Wednesday evening and warning of inaction. At the time of writing the petition has reached 218 signatures.

Finally, Mark Kitchell has started organising information on how people can help each other during the outbreak. In a Facebook post, he says "this could include delivering food, medicine, and vital goods to those in quarantine, to offer to walk the dogs of those in quarantine (will have to be careful here and suggest that dog walkers bring their own leash), and to host the pets of those who are hospitalized and have no one to care for their pets. Open to other ideas on how we can support one another." You can find more information on this via his post in the aforementioned Coronavirus Support Group on Facebook, or get involved via this thread on Reddit.

Remember that it's important not to panic or spread fear. You can find answers to common questions from Luxembourg's Chief Medical officer here.

Also remember to follow Sante.lu's advice on preventing spread.

Do you know of any other initiatives? We'd love to hear about them if so - please drop a comment below, or send us an e-mail via audience (at) rtltoday (dot) lu.
(Natural News) Now we know the anti-Trump liberals in America are literally trying to spread the virus and make the outbreak worse. Three days ago, Sacramento County announced it was ending all 14-day quarantines of high-risk people who had come into direct contact with coronavirus patients. This is being described by the county as a shift from containment to mitigation, meaning they are declaring theres no longer any point in trying to contain the outbreak (even though they have only 10 confirmed cases in the entire county).

The policy is criminally insane. It flies in the face of every principle of infectious disease containment known to the modern world. This tactic from Sacramento County is ripped right out of the 17th century and smacks of deliberate sabotage to try to spread the virus and worsen the outbreak.

From the Sacramenty County press release:

Sacramento County announced today that it will shift its effort to community mitigation measures that will slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community, protect those who are most vulnerable to severe illness, and allow our health care system to prepare resources to take care of severely ill patients. These new measures will include cessation of 14-day quarantines.

With the shift from containment to mitigation, it is no longer necessary for someone who has been in contact with someone with COVID-19 to quarantine for 14 days. This applies to the general public, as well as health care workers and first responders.

This announcement by Sacramento County flies in the face of every principle of infectious disease containment known and practiced around the world. Note, too, that none of the people being released are going to be tested. So theres zero testing, zero containment and zero medical sanity Sacramento County.

The people who decided this should be arrested, prosecuted and immediately removed from power, as they are placing potentially millions of public lives at risk with their obviously malicious, deliberate attempt to spread this epidemic more rapidly.

It is time for Trump to declare a national emergency and deploy the military to take control of Sacramento County and reestablish modern medical practices

Today we are calling on President Trump to order the military to take control of Sacramento County in order to reestablish commonsense quarantine / isolation measures for high-risk individuals. If the anti-Trump, anti-American liberals in Sacramento are too stupid to understand how to contain a deadly biological weapons epidemic that threatens millions of lives, its time to remove those lunatics from power and reestablish basic medical containment protocols under emergency orders to protect the public.

Currently, laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Sacramento County stand at 10 people with one recovered, says the Sacramento County press release, admitting they only have 10 confirmed cases in the entire county. So why stop all containment efforts then? Its obviously far from endemic in the Sacramento County area. This action on the part of Sacramento County is criminal, not just negligent. Way beyond mere stupidity, it is a deliberate attempt to see millions of people infected as a way to create a larger national emergency that Leftists hope can hurt Trump in the November elections.

Its time for Trump to declare a national emergency and, as Stewart Rhodes demanded yesterday in an interview on the Alex Jones Show, deploy the military in a health care infrastructure role to increase coronavirus testing and erect the necessary structures for medical response teams and quarantine centers so that infected individuals can be isolated from the general population.

Californias local leaders, it seems, are deliberately trying to spread the infection as a way to politically hurt Trump. They are playing with millions of lives in order to carry out their twisted anti-Trump political agendas. That action must be immediately halted, even if it means dispatching the United States military to achieve containment and medical sanity to Sacramento County.

The Sacramento County Public Information Office can be reached at 916-874-5001. If you live in the county, you may want to call Kim Nava in that office and ask why the criminally negligent lunatics who run that county are now deliberately and maliciously releasing all high-risk, potentially-infected people into the population at large. They are putting your life at risk, and they are doing it on purpose.

Its not an accident. Its malicious intent. Nobody in a public health office is so stupid that they would accidentally begin releasing all the high-risk people right in the middle of an exploding epidemic. This is a deliberate, criminal act of biological warfare being waged by anti-Trump lunatics to try to harm America and spread a deadly infectious disease. It must be stopped.

President Trump, declare a national emergency and deploy the military to California. Stop the left-wing lunatics from plunging America into chaos and collapse. Arrest the traitors and contain this epidemic before it infects or kills millions.

Read Pandemic.news to stay informed. Or move to Sacramento County if you prefer to die while living as an obedient slave under the rule of authoritarian morons.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:00:32|Editor: Lu Hui

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TAIPEI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The total number of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in Taiwan has increased by one to 49, according to the island's epidemic monitoring agency Thursday.

The new patient, a woman in her 40s, was suspected to have contracted the virus during her trip to Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Turkey from Feb. 21 to March 8, the agency said in a press release.

She developed symptoms of a headache and throat irritation after returning to Taiwan and went to hospital Tuesday, the statement said.

The family members who lived with her have not reported suspected symptoms so far, it said.

Among the confirmed cases, 23 were imported, 20 have recovered and one died of the disease. The rest are in stable condition.
Europe remains a highly relevant technology market for U.S. companies, knowing they can rely on a quality patent system that helps them build strong IP portfolios.

The European Patent Office (EPO) today announced that U.S. companies and inventors filed over 46,200 European patent applications in 2019, 5.5% more than in the previous year, according to its Patent Index 2019 (Graph: Growth of patent applications at the EPO from the U.S.). With a share of 25% of all patent applications, the U.S. remained the most active country of origin for patent applications filed with the EPO (Graph: Origin of applications).

The growth in patent applications from the U.S. was largely driven by the rise of 5G and artificial intelligence (AI): there were strong increases in computer technology, where many of the patent applications in AI are filed (+13.6%, following a decrease of 2.2% in the previous year), and in digital communication, which includes the technologies that are central to implementing 5G networks (+14.6%, following a decrease of 7.5% in the previous year).

Patent applications from the U.S. grew strongly at the EPO in 2019, with the U.S. being one of the main drivers in making digital communication and computer technology the fastest rising technology fields, said EPO President Antonio Campinos. This shows that Europe remains a highly relevant technology market for U.S. companies, knowing they can rely on a quality patent system that helps them build strong IP portfolios.

Overall, the European Patent Office received 181,000 patent applications in 2019, an increase of 4% compared to 2018 (Graph: Growth of European patent applications). The growth was mainly fueled by significantly more applications coming from China (+29.2% over 2018), the U.S. and South Korea (+14.1%). (Graph: Top 50 countries for applications). In the past decade, patent filings from China with the EPO have increased nearly six-fold (12,247 applications in 2019 vs. 2,061 in 2010.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES ON THE RISE

Digital communication and computer technology were the dominant fields of technology at the EPO overall. These sectors posted the highest growth of all technology fields, with digital communication overtaking medical technology, which had been the most patent-active segment since 2006. With an increase of 65%, Chinese companies contributed most to the growth in digital communication patent applications, with U.S. (+15%) and South Korean firms (+36%) following suit. In terms of share, China, the U.S. and Europe each accounted for roughly a quarter of all patent applications filed with the EPO in 2019 in this field, with China pulling slightly ahead of the U.S. and Europe for the first time. The top applicants in the field in 2019 were Huawei, Ericsson and Qualcomm (Graph: Leading applicants, digital communication).

In computer technology, U.S. companies accounted for 38% of all patent application in that field and saw 14% growth over 2018. Applications from China (+19%) made up nearly 11%. The leading applicants in 2019 were Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, Samsung, Huawei and Intel (Graph: Leading applicants, computer technology).

U.S. COMPANIES STRONGEST IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, PHARMACEUTICALS, COMPUTING

U.S. companies were particularly strong in medical technology, which remained the largest field for patent applications at the EPO from U.S. companies with a growth of 6.3%. U.S. firms accounted for 40% of all patent applications in this sector at the EPO in 2019. Other U.S. strongholds included pharmaceuticals with a 39% share, computer technology with a 38% share, and biotechnology with 32% of all patent applications at the EPO in that field.

The strongest growth among the 15 most important U.S. technology fields was recorded in transport, which includes the automotive and aeronautics sectors, where patent applications from U.S. companies at the EPO grew by 17%.

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES NO. 1 U.S. PATENT APPLICANT

For the second year in a row, United Technologies was the most active U.S. patent applicant at the EPO with 2,813 patent applications, again followed by Qualcomm (1,668 applications) and General Electric (1,247). Rounding out the top five were Alphabet (1,196) and Microsoft (1,112), which moved up to fourth and fifth position (Graph: Top U.S. applicants at the EPO in 2019).

HUAWEI HEADS THE LIST OF APPLICANTS

Huawei topped the table of patent applicants at the EPO in 2019 with 3,524 applications, almost two thirds of which were filed in digital communication. Samsung moved up to second place and LG gained a position to take third. The two South Korean firms were followed by United Technologies and the top applicant of 2018, Siemens, which dropped to fifth place. Qualcomm ranked as the sixth-largest patent applicant (Graph: Top ten applicants at the EPO in 2019).

For detailed statistics, see the EPO Patent Index 2019 at http://www.epo.org/patent-index2019

ABOUT THE EPO

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The news cycle is heavy right now. We get that.

The spread of coronavirus in the United States and around the world has affected many of the things once seen as an escape from the anxieties of everyday life. Concerts have been canceled, sporting events postponed, and spring break plans vastly altered as Americans exercise caution amid the deadly outbreak.

But one thing that's still available to enjoy without fear of infection: These adorable photos of baby sea turtles, bears and other wildlife. They won't stop a pandemic, but maybe they can help you unwind a bit.

Here's some of our favorite baby animals, all found in the Sunshine state.

Sea turtles, which begin nesting in the spring, have existed for 110 million years and yet the species living today face an uncertain future, reports the FWC. Habitat encroachment and degradation, pollution are only some of the hazards that sea turtles must face as they struggle to survive.

In the spring, Florida's black bear mothers are active, teaching their cubs what to eat and the skills necessary to survive.

Spring has sprung in the Sunshine State and many species of wildlife are beginning to migrate, mate, feed, nest and give birth. In this photo, taken April 2, 2014, a sandhill crane tends to its newborn at the nest it shares with its mate in Jensen Beach.

Wading birds, such as herons, egrets, and pelicans also are nesting now on mangroves and tree islands. This photo, taken March 4, 2020, shows great blue heron chicks interacting with each other in a nest at Lakes Park in Fort Myers.

Keep your distance from nesting birds. Here, an osprey family, parented by two adult osprey nicknamed Ricky and Lucy, and their two chicks, spend the morning searching for fish and resting in their nest on March 3, 2020.

Baby alligators rest on a dead log at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on Feb. 28, 2019. (Submitted photo via Florida Today)

Two species of rabbits are in Florida, the Eastern cottontail, which is pictured here, and the marsh rabbit.

Floridas only native tortoise, the gopher tortoise, becomes more active, foraging for food and searching for a mate in the spring. A baby gopher tortoise is shown in this photo taken Nov. 13, 2018.

Manatees are considered one of Floridas keystone species whose behavior can alert researchers to the environmental and habitat changes that may otherwise go unnoticed in Floridas waterways for extended periods of time, according to the FWC.

Adult male deer in Florida averages 115 pounds, but can reach 190 pounds or more in North Florida. The smaller females average 90 pounds with larger females weighing 120 pounds or more.

Throughout most of the year it's easy to tell males from females. The bucks, the males, have antlers. Antler growth generally begins in the spring and by the summer the antlers are covered with a velvet. Antlers are shed in late winter or early spring after the breeding season ends.

A snowy plover chick surveys its surroundings on the south end of Fort Myers Beach on Tuesday 5/29/2018. Image was published in June.

Follow USA TODAY's Jay Cannon on Twitter: @JayTCannon

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Too much coronavirus news? Here are the baby animal pictures you need
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How the UK's coronavirus 'battle plan' could unfold CONTAIN Testing individuals reporting symptoms or returning from infected areas, isolating those who have coronavirus. Tracing how they contracted the virus, and everyone they might have come into contact with while infectious. Powers have been taken to force people into quarantine if they refuse to comply voluntarily. DELAY Ministers have ordered wider testing to assess prevalence in the community. People could be advised to work from home if possible, anyone with a cold will be asked to self-isolate, and vulnerable people urged to stay indoors. Sick pay provision has been bolstered to make the self-employed and low-paid workers more likely to comply. Further up the so-called 'ladder' of response options, schools could be closed, and sports and public gatherings banned. Ministers say the scientific advice advice does not yet support that - although Ireland is closing schools, and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she wants a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people. The government has also rejected the US approach of banning travellers from mainland Europe for the moment. MITIGATE If the outbreak runs out of control, the NHS could cancel all non-urgent activity to focus on treating those affected. In an extreme situation, troops could be deployed to shore up the police and essential public services. Recently-retired doctors and nurses would be brought back to help plug gaps in the NHS, with many health workers expected to be infected along with regular members of the public. Advertisement

Boris Johnson was accused of coronavirus 'complacency' today after Scotland joined Ireland in banning mass gatherings - but the UK is still holding off drastic measures.

The PM has chaired the emergency Cobra committee with the UK's tactics shifting from 'containing' the killer disease to merely 'delaying' its inevitable spread.

The number of UK cases has risen by 130 and the death toll hit 10 in the last 24 hours, with experts increasingly bracing for turmoil as the overwhelming majority of the population becomes infected and the country develops 'herd immunity'.

The FTSE plunged by more than 9 per cent in response to the dramatic US announcement of a travel ban from Europe overnight, and growing global chaos.

Slowing the progress through the population will be crucial to avoid the NHS being overwhelmed, as has happened in Italy.

However, the UK's tactics look increasingly out of step with other countries, after Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that schools will not be closed yet.

Revealing the results of the discussions ahead of a press conference by Mr Johnson later, the Scottish First Minister said Cobra had decided there would be too much impact on key public service workers if children had to be kept at home.

The approach contrast sharply with countries such as Ireland, which announced this morning that it will close all schools and colleges and ban mass gatherings.

In the first sign of splits within the UK, Ms Sturgeon declared that Scotland is also cancelling events with more than 500 people from the start of next week, saying that they took up too much time for emergency services.

But she made clear she did not expect the Westminster government to follow suit.

At her own press conference in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said those with potential coronavirus symptoms would be advised to self-isolate, but that they should not call their GPs or seek a test unless their condition deteriorates.

Ms Sturgeon said: 'The advice that we will be giving now is that from tomorrow if you have symptoms indicative of coronavirus you should stay at home, self-isolate, for a period of seven days.'

She added: 'These are not easy judgements. They are difficult and complicated.'

The government has also made clear it will not follow Donald Trump's dramatic overnight move of closing the borders to travellers from mainland Europe.

Instead Mr Johnson seems determined to take a limited response, asking those with a cold to self-quarantine, and urge vulnerable elderly people to stay indoors.

Former Cabinet minister Rory Stewart this afternoon accused the PM of 'smug insular complacency, warning that without quick action there could be 100,000 cases in the UK within the next 24 days.

'This is at risk of becoming an example of smug insular complacency - refusing to pay any attention to what any other country is doing or the successful public health approach in Asia,' the London Mayor hopeful said. 'We should show some humility, learn from others and act now.'

On another day of frantic activity by politicians and health experts around the globe:

Irish PM Leo Varadkar has declared that schools, colleges and childcare facilities are to close for two weeks;

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today declared that she is 'minded' to cancel mass gatherings of over 500 people from the start of next week to avoid them sucking up resources for police and health workers;

The US Congress is shutting the Capitol, House and Senate office buildings to public until April 1 in reaction to coronavirus;

The FTSE 100 fell by more than 9 per cent today as investors were rattled by US travel restrictions imposed by in an attempt to halt the pandemic;

The Czech Republic is closing its borders to travellers crossing from Germany and Austria and also banning the entry of foreigners coming from other risky countries to contain the coronavirus outbreak;

Norway and Lithuania are shutting down nurseries, schools and universities for at least two weeks, and Oslo has told workers to stay at least one metre apart in offices;

Labour has cancelled a conference to announce the results of its leadership contest, saying the replacement for Jeremy Corbyn will now be declared at a 'scaled back' event on April 4;

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has self-isolated while his wife awaits the results of a coronavirus test;

The WHO warned that the travel ban announced by Mr Trump will do little to help combat coronavirus in the UK and could backfire by making people complacent;

Mr Sunak said he made 'no apology' for turning on the spending taps to counter the effects of the virus on the UK economy and society;

A Cabinet minister is awaiting the results of a coronavirus test today, with four other MPs in quarantine after health minister Nadine Dorries became the first politician to be diagnosed with the disease;

Tube and transport systems were quieter than usual as the public preempted the expected advice from government on restricting social contact;

There are claims every football game in England could be held behind closed doors with live streams for ticket-holders;

Sittings in Parliament could be scaled back and the authorities are considering closing to visitors amid fears of spread on the estate.

Face masks have been increasingly in evidence on the streets of London (pictured) as fears over coronavirus spread

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured giving a press conference today) said she would be banning public gatherings of more than 500 people

Oval Office address: Donald Trump finally addressed the nation about the coronavirus crisis from the White House on Wednesday and banned all travel to Europe

Leo Varadkar (pictured in Washington today) has declared schools, colleges and childcare facilities are to close for two weeks

Trump bans travellers from Europe to the US Donald Trump has ordered an immediate shut-down of all travel from Europe. Speaking hours after world health officials declared the coronavirus a pandemic, Trump repeatedly defended his own actions and vowed the nation would prevail in countering the virus and getting treatment on the market. 'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced, in a speech from the Oval Office to the nation. 'The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight,' he said. The move was so sudden the acting Homeland Security secretary said he would issue full guidance on how to carry it out within 48 hours. The White House said the travel restrictions would apply to foreign nationals who have visited 26 European countries - but excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days. It will not apply to US citizens, their 'immediate' family members or legal permanent residents. But confusion remained over how exactly the rules would apply and in what time zone the deadline would be introduced. Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon said this evening that Scotland was shutting down public events 'that have the potential to have an impact on our frontline emergency services'.

'This is not a move that we are making because the science has told us it will have a significant impact on the spread of the virus: on the contrary, the scientists tell us it will not have a significant impact on the spread of the virus - although no significant impact does not equate to no impact at all,' she said.

'But there are wider reasons that I consider and have judged that are important in reaching this decision.'

'Certain events, whether or not they need dedicated ambulance cover, we know that certain events have an impact on our policing and our front-line health services, accident and emergency and ambulance services.

'At a time when pressure on those services is going to be considerable ... it is incumbent on government to do what we can to remove unnecessary burdens on our public services.'

The decision is set to come into force the day after Rangers host Celtic in one of this weekend's Ladbrokes Premiership fixtures, with the champions currently 13 points clear of their rivals.

The move comes after Mr Johnson hinted that the UK will not impose heavy restrictions yet, and swiped at political leaders who do not 'follow the science'.

In comments made before Mr Trump's announcement, he said many leaders were 'under a lot of pressure to be seen to act'.

Asked whether the PM knew of Mr Trump's escalation in advance, Downing Street said today: 'UK and US officials are in regular contact.'

To fight what is now officially a global pandemic, the Budget handed hospitals a 5billion fighting fund while thousands of firms will be given a business rates holiday to help avert the risk of bankruptcy.

Sick pay will be reformed to ensure that employees are not penalised for going into quarantine.

In a round of interviews today, Mr Sunak told the BBC: 'I make absolutely no apology for responding in the short term in scale to the immediate threat that we face from coronavirus.

'I think that's the right thing to do for the economy, we need to help businesses have a bridge to get to the other side.'

His package came as the Bank of England's base rate was slashed to an historic low of just 0.25 per cent.

Mr Johnson will confirm today that the UK is switching from a strategy of trying to contain the outbreak to one of trying to delay its worst effects in order to give the NHS more time to cope.

The Prime Minister  one of whose Cabinet ministers went into self-isolation last night along with five other MPs  is also likely to announce a range of social-distancing measures.

However, the government is not expected to go as far as Donald Trump, who yesterday told Americans he was ordering an immediate shut-down of all travel from Europe.

Irish PM Leo Varadkar has declared that schools, colleges and childcare facilities are to close for two weeks.

He made a live statement to the nation from Washington DC, where he is due to meet Mr Trump later as part of the annual St Patrick's Day programme of events.

'Unfortunately we must face the tragic reality that some people will die,' he said.

Mr Varadkar said he was acting on fresh advice from the country's National Public Health Emergency Team.

'The virus is all over the world, it will continue to spread but it can be slowed,' he said.

Dr David Halpern, head of the UK's Behavioural Insights Team dubbed Britain's 'Nudge Unit' who reports directly to Mr Johnson, has suggested the 500,000 people in UK care homes or with respiratory conditions could be the only people protected.

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance (left) and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (right) were at the Cobra meeting

Trade Secretary Liz Truss (left) and Health Secretary Matt Hancock (right) were among ministers at the Cobra meeting today

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (right) was at Cobra after testing negative for coronavirus himself, despite having a cold

Former Cabinet minister Rory Stewart this afternoon accused the PM of 'smug insular complacency, warning that without quick action there could be 100,000 cases in the UK within the next 24 days.

He has suggested the virus can be beaten by letting it spread through healthy people to kill it off rather than a nationwide lockdown that could allow coronavirus to rise again later in the year.

Dr Halpern has revealed ministers are considering a policy of keeping high-risk groups such as the elderly or those with underlying health conditions isolated in care homes or in their own homes over the coming months.

He said: 'There's going to be a point, assuming the epidemic flows and grows as it will do, where you want to cocoon, to protect those at-risk groups so they don't catch the disease.

'By the time they come out of their cocooning, herd immunity has been achieved in the rest of the population'.

Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries was asked on the BBC if 'pretty much everyone will get it eventually'.

'The thing about a new virus is, of course, nobody has antibodies ready-made to it. This virus is having a field day, the desire will be to infect as many people as it can,' she said.

Dr Harries said it was possible that 'up to 80 per cent of the population' could contract the virus, but added that it was a 'very high estimate'.

FTSE tumbles again on fears of economic chaos The London Stock Exchange's leading index of companies has plummeted as much as 9.7%, wiping almost 143 billion off the value of its constituents. Early in the day investors reacted to the World Health Organisation's upgrade of the Covid-19 outbreak to a global pandemic. However the index fell further still in the afternoon, hitting an eight-year low after markets opened down in the US and the European Central Bank unveiled a coronavirus stimulus package, but kept interest rates steady. Within moments of the FTSE 100 opening, it sank more than 300 points, to levels not seen for eight years. More than 520 billion has been wiped since February 21 - a fall of 28%. It means the index is technically in a 'bear market' where the value of shares has fallen by more than 20%. Advertisement

Scottish First minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was not possible to make the virus 'go away'.

'This is a serious situation. We cannot make this virus go away. It is highly likely now that significant numbers of us are going to get this virus,' she said.

'The vast majority will have very mild illness and the clear focus right now is on doing everything we can to protect those who are more susceptible to serious illness, but we cannot make this go away, we need to focus on how we manage this outbreak, delay the spread and reduce the numbers infected at any one time.'

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme there is 'no doubt we are not going to be able to contain it for very much longer' and that efforts will now focus on delaying the spread of the virus to 'put less pressure on the NHS'.

Speaking hours after world health officials declared the coronavirus a pandemic, Trump repeatedly defended his own actions and vowed the nation would prevail in countering the virus and getting treatment on the market.

'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced, in a speech from the Oval Office to the nation.

'The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight,' he said.

The move was so sudden the acting Homeland Security secretary said he would issue full guidance on how to carry it out within 48 hours.

The White House said the travel restrictions would apply to foreign nationals who have visited 26 European countries - but excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days.

It will not apply to US citizens, their 'immediate' family members or legal permanent residents. But confusion remained over how exactly the rules would apply and in what time zone the deadline would be introduced.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak today said the UK was not following the US example.

'The advice we are getting is that there is not evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infections,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'That is why we have taken the decisions that we have.'

A video posted on the No10 Twitter feed yesterday shows Mr Johnson chatting with Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries.

Mr Johnson said: 'It's noticeable that there are some countries where they have banned big sporting events and stopped mass gatherings of one kind or another. Tell us why so far the medical advice in this country is not to do that?'

Dr Harries replied that 'expert modellers' had looked at what would happen with the virus.

'In general those sorts of events and big gatherings are not seen as something that is going to have a big effect. So we don't want to disrupt people's lives,' she said.

The FTSE index of Britain's leading companies fell 365 points or 6.22 per cent to 5,511 shortly after opening today - its lowest level since February 2016.

The falls were in reaction to Mr Trump's intervention, and came despite the Bank of England slashing interest rates from 0.75 per cent to 0.25 per cent and the Budget plan.

Tube and transport systems seemed quieter than usual today as the public preempted the expected advice from government on restricting social contact

Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured on a visit to Leeds General Infirmary today) said he made 'no apology' for turning on the spending taps to counter the effects of the virus on the UK economy and society

Speaking before Mr Trump's speech last night, Mr Johnson said: 'There's obviously people under a lot pf pressure - politicians government around the world under a lot of pressure to be seen to act. So they may do things that are not necessarily dictated by the science.'

Boris Johnson swipes at leaders who don't 'follow science' on coronavirus Boris Johnson has swiped at political leaders who don't 'follow the science' on coronavirus. The PM said many leaders were 'under a lot of pressure to be seen to act', as he suggested the UK will not impose dramatic restrictions yet. The comments - which pre-date Donald Trump's ban on travellers from mainland Europe last night - came in a video posted on the No10 Twitter feed yesterday shows Mr Johnson chatting with Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries. Mr Johnson said: 'It's noticeable that there are some countries where they have banned big sporting events and stopped mass gatherings of one kind or another. Tell us why so far the medical advice in this country is not to do that?' Dr Harries replied that 'expert modellers' had looked at what would happen with the virus. 'In general those sorts of events and big gatherings are not seen as something that is going to have a big effect. So we don't want to disrupt people's lives,' she said. Mr Johnson said: 'There's obviously people under a lot pf pressure - politicians government around the world under a lot of pressure to be seen to act. So they may do things that are not necessarily dictated by the science.' Dr Harries said: 'I am absolutely delighted that we are following the science and the evidence.' She added: 'We have got very clear advice about when we should intervene and that is exactly what I think we should do.' Advertisement

Dr Harries said: 'I am absolutely delighted that we are following the science and the evidence.'

She added: 'We have got very clear advice about when we should intervene and that is exactly what I think we should do.'

Mr Sunak admitted yesterday that the epidemic was now likely to cause 'temporary disruption to the economy', with millions of workers having to take time off sick, firms struggling with supply problems and shops and restaurants hit by a dramatic fall in trade.

'The combination of those effects will have a significant impact on the UK economy,' he said. 'But it will be temporary. People will return to work.

'Supply chains will return to normal. Life will return to normal. For a period, it's going to be tough. But I'm confident that our economic performance will recover.'

The emergency package, which was only finalised in the early hours of yesterday, overshadowed a series of massive spending decisions that set the Government's economic course for the next four years.

Mr Sunak pledged to increase total spending by 22 per cent by 2024, taking the size of the state to more than 1trillion for the first time.

Much of the spending will be fuelled by borrowing, with the national debt now on track to top 2trillion by the time of the next election.

There will be a rise in the threshold for paying national insurance that delivers an immediate 100 tax cut for 31million workers.

The OBR yesterday warned that the coronavirus could lead to a prolonged slowdown, adding: 'Recession this year is quite possible if the spread of coronavirus causes widespread economic disruption.'

Mr Sunak said he was ready to make further interventions to ensure that good businesses were not driven to the wall.

He said yesterday's 30billion package comprised 12billion of direct spending and 18billion of broader stimulus to the economy.

'While the world may slow down, we will act here with a response that is brave and bold, taking decisions now for our future prosperity,' the Chancellor added. 'We are investing in world class infrastructure, and to lead the world in the industries and technologies of the future.'

Mr Sunak said the 'central decision' was to increase spending over existing plans by 175billion.

The overall tax burden will not rise, mainly because of a decision to abandon a cut in corporation tax. The Treasury admitted the spending might not meet earlier fiscal rules.

Some senior Tories voiced reservations. Theresa May said the Conservatives must never fall into Labour's trap of believing that all problems could be fixed by unconstrained spending.

The former prime minister added: 'While spending a lot of money may be popular and may seem the natural thing to do, there is of course that necessity of having a realistic assessment of the longer-term impact.

'[There is] a necessity to ensure that we have that restraint and caution that enables us to make sure the public finances continue to be strong into the future.'

Revealed: How phase two of the UK's coronavirus battle plan to delay the outbreak could affect YOU

Daily life could be about to change for millions of Britons as Prime Minister Boris Johnson gets set to declare war on the coronavirus today and move to the second phase of the Government's coronavirus action plan  'Delay'.

Declaring this move will effectively admit efforts to prevent an outbreak have failed and that people must now work to slow down its spread across the UK.

At least 460 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Britain already and eight people have died.

Moving to the Delay phase of the battle means the start of social distancing measures  efforts to keep people apart and stop the virus spreading inside the country.

Here's what the dramatic escalation, which may begin as soon as today, could mean:

WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity is a situation in which a population of people is protected from a disease because so many of them are unaffected by it that it cannot spread. To cause an outbreak a disease-causing bacteria or virus must have a continuous supply of potential victims who are not immune to it. Immunity is when your body knows exactly how to fight off a certain type of infection because it has encountered it before, either by having the illness in the past or through a vaccine. When a virus or bacteria enters the body the immune system creates substances called antibodies, which are designed to destroy one specific type of bug. When these have been created once, some of them remain in the body and the body also remembers how to make them again. This provides long-term protection, or immunity, against an illness. If nobody is immune to an illness  as was the case at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak  it can spread like wildfire. However, if, for example, half of people have developed immunity  from a past infection or a vaccine  there are only half as many people the illness can spread to. As more and more people become immune the bug finds it harder and harder to spread until its pool of victims becomes so small it can no longer spread at all. The threshold for herd immunity is different for various illnesses, depending on how contagious they are  for measles, around 95 per cent of people must be vaccinated to it spreading. For polio, which is less contagious, the threshold is about 80-85 per cent, according to the Oxford Vaccine Group. Advertisement

Anyone who gets sick should stay at home

Self-isolation, which has become a buzzword since the outbreak began, could be extended to anybody who falls ill, even if they don't think they have coronavirus.

The Government's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said earlier this week: 'We are now very close to the time, probably within the next 10 to 14 days... where we should move to a situation where we say ''everybody who has even minor respiratory tract infections or a fever, should be self-isolating for seven days afterwards''.'

The advice could apply to people who have colds, flu or chest infections, regardless of whether they have travelled to coronavirus-hit areas.

Worst-case scenario predictions suggested up to one in five people could be off work at the peak of the epidemic.

Staff will be told to work from home

People with office jobs will increasingly be asked to work from home to stop them catching the coronavirus at the office.

The Government is keen for companies to help their employees work remotely, to reduce the amount of people who are out in public and travelling around. Firms may also be urged to stagger shift patterns to reduce crowds in rush hour.

Companies which cannot operate remotely  such as construction sites, maintenance workers, supermarkets and drivers  will have to continue to work as normal, but workforces may end up being reduced or projects put on hold.

No more football matches shown in pubs

Pubs could be banned from showing football matches or other big sporting events on TV, to stop crowds gathering in their bars.

All matches are expected to be played behind closed doors under new plans to combat the spread of the virus.

According to The Times, the current season will not be postponed but games will be contested with no supporters present. All Premier League ticket holders for individual clashes will be able to stream coverage of matches in their homes instead.

With the response to the pandemic moving imminently, no games will be shown in pubs to avoid congestion of people, and Premier League fixtures will not be shown live in the Saturday 3pm slot.

Broadcasters are believed to be permitted to screen more than one top flight game during the lunchtime and tea-time slots - and this would apply across the weekend and on Mondays.

Social distancing measures  attempting to keep people between three and six feet apart from one another  have already been brought in in Italy (pictured, a queue outside a supermarket in Palermo) and could soon be on the streets of Britain

Walk or cycle to work to avoid cramped public transport

Public Health England said people should cycle or walk to work if they can.

It said public transport services will continue to run but there may be fewer services and routes could be cut or cancelled in specific areas if there are bad local outbreaks.

Close proximity of passengers on trains and buses makes them likely places for the virus to spread from commuters who don't know they're ill, especially in cities.

The coronavirus can spread from person-to-person if people are within six feet (1.8m) of one another, according to the US Centers of Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), so people

It can also live on hard surfaces like buttons and handrails for up to 72 hours, during which time it remains infectious if someone touches it then touches their face.

One economist from the University of Warwick, Roger Farmer, told MailOnline he had already stopped using the London Underground and that he expects other people will do the same to avoid getting ill.

'I would expect potentially fewer trains and bus services and suspect people will stop using them,' he said.

Schools and universities could close and students be told to work at home (Pictured, Bonnygate Primary School in Essex closed last week because of a coronavirus case)

Schools and universities could close

The Government's coronavirus action plan admits that it could close schools and universities if the outbreak in the UK gets bad.

Officials have so far been reluctant to admit they will do this and appear to be very against the idea. Public Health England wrote in a blog: 'Closing schools can be disruptive for both children and parents so this is something we would need to consider very carefully.'

The coronavirus does not seem to be infecting children anywhere near as much as it affects adults, for reasons that scientists don't yet understand.

If schools were to be closed, pupils may be set work to do at home or given online lessons through video tutorials or special school networks. Children in other countries such as Italy are still taking part in hours of school lessons even from isolation.

Concerts, cinemas and football matches could be off-limits

If outbreaks get bad in particular areas people might be stopped from holding any events which would draw large crowds  this has happened across the whole of China and Italy.

Concerts, theatre shows, cinemas, sports games and museums could be off limits.

Football matches are expected to be played with no crowds present and fans will have to watch the games on television at home.

Watching them in pubs could also be banned because it would attract large crowds of people.

Events which attract large crowds like concerts (left) and football matches (right) could be cancelled to stop people spreading the virus

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 'DELAY' AND 'CONTAIN' PHASES OF THE ACTION PLAN? The Government will today consider upgrading its efforts to stop the coronavirus. It is using a four-point scale taken from an official 'coronavirus action plan' which was launched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street last week. Efforts are currently in the first phase, named 'contain', but could escalate to 'delay'. Future efforts in the Delay phase could include school closures, encouraging people to work from home and cancelling large public gatherings such as the London Marathon. The efforts would be added on to a public information campaign which launched last week and is urging people to wash their hands more often  increasing engagement with the public is an element of the Delay phase which was started early. And efforts from the Contain phase, such as isolating people confirmed to have the virus and updating travel and health advice, will be continued. Advertisement

Bars and restaurants could be forced to space out customers

Although not in British Government guidance, Italian authorities have required that bars, restaurants and cafes slash their opening hours and make sure customers can be kept far apart.

Establishments are only allowed to open between 8am and 6pm, a government decree said, and only if a distance of at least three feet (1m) could be kept between each customer.

Similar rules could apply to other busy places such as supermarkets, gyms, spas, community centres and hotels.

Old people could be 'cocooned' in care home lockdowns

Hundreds of thousands of old people  who are most at risk of dying if they catch the coronavirus  could be shut in the care homes they live in, with visitors not allowed in case they bring the coronavirus in.

The 'cocoon' strategy was confirmed by Government officials and would rely on an army of volunteers to help care for the vulnerable population.

Scientific adviser to Number 10, Dr David Halpern, told the BBC the idea was that 'by the time they come out of their cocooning, herd immunity has been achieved in the rest of the population.'

Herd immunity is when so many people in a population have already had a virus  and become immune to it as a result  that the illness stops spreading because there are not enough potential victims for it to infect and move through.

Plans in motion to bring in retired doctors and the military to help

Retired doctors and nurses are expected to be drafted back in to help overloaded hospitals if the outbreak becomes too big to handles.

Plans could start to be drawn up soon to legally allow these qualified medical workers to return to the frontline and treat patients. If an outbreak like Italy's happens in the UK, or if huge numbers of people start to be diagnosed in relatively small areas, already-stretched hospitals could come under immense strain.

Extra medical staff will be needed to pick up the work left by staff who will inevitably be off ill or in quarantine themselves, and to cope with surging patient numbers.

The military could also be drafted in later in the outbreak to help enforce movement restrictions or quarantines if the situation gets that bad.
File Photo: Kingdom Tower, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: AP)

CAIRO, March 12 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended travel of citizens and residents and halted flights with several states due to coronavirus fears, state news agency SPA said on Thursday citing an official source at Interior Ministry.

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.

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 coronavirus cases.

(Reporting by Samar Hassan; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Members of the U.S. House representing Michigan are closing their offices and limiting personal interactions with the public to slow the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency Tuesday after two Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for coronavirus, the states first cases of the infectious respiratory disease. Several members of Congress are also taking steps to prevent person-to-person spread of the virus as the number of cases rise across the country.

Read more: What you can do to protect yourself from coronavirus

The U.S. Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings, and the Capitol Visitors Center will be closed to the public, including tours and meetings, until at least April 1.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, is canceling town halls and other in-person events. Dingell asked constituents to call her offices in Washington D.C., and Michigan to see if their issues can be dealt with over the phone, as her staff will be avoiding in-person meetings.

I am available, Dingell said in a statement. We are here to answer questions, handle problems, and address casework. Im exploring the option for virtual coffee and office hours, so you can talk to me on any issue you have. I am following the experts advice and canceling in-person town halls, roundtables, reading to students, and many other activities that the professionals recommend.

Dingell has a telephone town hall scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday. People interested in participating can call (855) 920-0560.

Watch this video to learn how you can help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like the novel #coronavirus (#COVID19). To learn more, visit https://t.co/4OjZj2JLBS. pic.twitter.com/vlDXaXKu94  HHS.gov (@HHSGov) March 5, 2020

Dingell also advised schools and other organizations should consider whether trips to DC or other heavily populated areas right now are necessary.

Dingells Dearborn office can be reached at (313) 278-2936, and her D.C. office can be reached at (202) 225-4071.

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, is taking similar precautions.

After reports of Capitol Hill staff testing positive for the coronavirus, my Washington, D.C. staff will be working from home until further notice," Kildee said in a statement. Staff working in my Flint district office will have the option to voluntary tele-work and are following additional guidance from state health officials.

Constituents can contact Kildees Washington, D.C. office by telephone at (202) 225-3611 or his district office by telephone at (810) 238-8627. Constituents can also contact the congressman online at www.dankildee.house.gov.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, is also ordering staff at her Washington, D.C. office to telework from home starting Friday. Slotkin is allowing staff at her Lansing and Rochester offices to voluntarily telework.

Slotkins Michigan offices will close on Friday and again on Monday, March 16. They will reopen Tuesday, March 17 with reduced staff.

Its important for us, as federal leaders, to act decisively to protect public health and to demonstrate our resilience and ability to continue doing the peoples business, Slotkin said in a statement.

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Constituents can call Slotkins district offices in Lansing at (517) 993-0510 and Rochester Hills at (517) 993-0510. Her Washington, D.C. office can be reached at (202) 225-4872.

U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township, also closed his office and encouraged staff to telework until March 20. Constituents are urged to call (202) 225-4961.

Levins Warren office is operating normally but can be reached by phone at (586) 498-7122.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, is temporarily closing in his offices in Washington, D.C., St. Joseph, and Kalamazoo requiring all staff members to work by phone. Upton also encouraged employers to follow his lead and require employees to telework.

Protecting the health and safety of all Americans must remain our top priority, Upton said. The fact is that the only way to break this cycle is to limit person-to-person contact.

Upton emphasized that his staff will be available for constituents. Staff members will continue to respond to messages in their staff email accounts and constituents can still share their views or request assistance via phone or online at upton.house.gov/contact.

Uptons Kalamazoo office can be reached at (269-385-0039). His St. Joseph/Benton Harbor office can be reached (269-982-1986).

The governor unveiled a set of best practices from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday, advising the public on ways they can slow the spread of coronavirus and reduce their risk of exposure.

Recommendations include 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.

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.

Read more on MLive:

Exploitive price-gouging unacceptable during coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says

As coronavirus measures spread, MLB spring training plays on -- for now

Grand Rapids Drive sidelined as NBA G League season suspended due to coronavirus

Flint Firebirds, Saginaw Spirit follow new OHL coronavirus policies

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Ex-Detroit Lions receiver Kris Durham quarantined in Italian apartment because of coronavirus

Ford Rouge Factory tours halted by The Henry Ford amid coronavirus pandemic

For Michigan State students, unknowns abound after coronavirus threat prompts suspension of in-person classes

Classes canceled at Dearborn school because of coronavirus; Rochester teachers train to move online

Heres a list of specific recommendations from state health officials
President Akufo-Addo has announced that the Ministry of Information will in the coming days provide Ghanaians weekly updates on the state of the countrys preparedness regarding the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.

He says other major updates will be provided should need be as a measure of safeguarding the country from a possible outbreak of the disease.

Addressing the nation on Wednesday, 11th March 2020, President Akufo-Addo indicated that the Ministry is also at the fore of nationwide public sensitization to reduce the risk of spread of the virus which has claimed well over 4,500 lives around the world.

The Ministry of Information is leading a nationwide public education campaign on preventive measures. But we must all observe and ensure that we are able to control the spread of the infection should we record any infection in the country which mercifully so far we have not but which by the law of averages, we shall. But for the time being, a weekly update of the situation will be provided by the Ministry of Information. There will be more frequent updates when the need arises.

Financial support

During the address, President Akufo-Addo also said he has directed the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghana's Coronavirus preparedness and response plan.

This amount, according to the President is to fund the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education.

It is important that Ghana steps up her preparedness to ensure that, beyond the initial measures that have been put in place, a 'whole of Ghana' approach is adopted in preparation for a possible hit within the country's borders, Nana Addo said.

All three of Ghana's direct neighbours have now reported cases of the deadly disease.

Eastern neighbour, Togo registered its first case of the virus on Friday, March 6, 2020, while a man and his wife have been confirmed as the first patients of coronavirus in Ghana's northern neighbour, Burkina Faso.

Ivory Coast also recorded a case on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

The other affected countries in Africa are Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, Cameroon, Nigeria, DR Congo and Tunisia.

In Africa, a total of 114 cases have been recorded as of Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

Other measures

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, citizens must desist from foreign travels where possible as the novel coronavirus assumes pandemic status.

This advise comes after the President temporarily suspended foreign travels for all government officials as part of the government's measures to prevent an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Ghana.

He said: all of us as much as possible, [must] desist from all foreign travels, except the most critical ones, until there is a grip on the virus.

Akufo-Addo urged officials to make use of technology during the travel ban.

I have, as at yesterday, ordered a suspension of all international travels by public officials. Except for critical assignments, which will have to be authorized by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, all public officials are to remain within the jurisdiction, until further notice. Video conferencing facilities and other technological tools are to be utilized, whenever possible, for international engagements.

The President had said non-essential travels to Ghana are being strongly discouraged from high-risk countries.

---citinewsroom
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:59:58|Editor: yan

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VIENNA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A 69-year-old became the first person to die of coronavirus in Austria on Thursday.

The man, who had returned from Italy with pre-existing conditions, died last night in the Kaiser-Franz-Josef Hospital in the capital, according to the medical crisis team of the City of Vienna.

In order to curb the spread of the coronavirus, there will be restrictions in Vienna's hospitals. Visits by the public to the sick are prohibited until further notice, said City Councilor Peter Hacker.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Austria rose to 361 as of Thursday morning, with four people recovered from the illness, according to health authorities.

Chancellor Sebastian Kurz urged the population not to "trivialize the situation" at a press conference here on Wednesday.

He pointed out that although situation in Austria is different from that in Italy, the development of cases and the daily increase in the number of infected people showed a similar trend across Europe.

"It makes sense and is right to reduce social contact in the private sphere in order to protect the public and especially older relatives and people with previous illnesses," emphasised the chancellor.

Schools across Austria will be partially closed as of next Monday to contain the coronavirus, announced the federal government on Wednesday.

Initially, only high school students would be affected by the closures. Later the government decided that school for all other pupils up to 14 years of age would also be discontinued from next Wednesday.
[March 12, 2020] netsapiens and Grandstream Partner to Offer A Complete VoIP Solution

Grandstream, connecting the world since 2002 with award-winning SIP unified communication solutions, and netsapiens, a leading unified communications provider, today announced that Grandstream's GRP series of Carrier-Grade IP Phones are now fully interoperable with the netsapiens platform. As a result, netsapiens' service provider partners, and their resellers, can seamlessly deploy Grandstream's state-of-the-art GRP series and take advantage of the full breadth of netsapiens award-winning service platform. Grandstream and netsapiens also announced today that Grandstream will be a sponsor of the netsapiens' upcoming User Group Meeting, being held April 21-24 in San Diego. The User Group Meeting is an annual event that brings the netsapiens team, clients and partners together to discuss topics that matter to the entire netsapiens community. "We are excited to join forces with netsapiens to offer a powerful end-to-end VoIP solution to their partners throughout the world," said David Li (News - Alert), CEO of Grandstream. "Our GRP series was designed specifically for service providers. They are the perfect endpoints for netsapiens partners to take on large projects as these sleek, next-generation devices are fully customizable and easily mass-deployed. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with netsapiens and their service provider community." "netsapiens and Grandstream are facilitating better technical, marketing and sales engagement by working and collaborating together," said Dave George, SVP of Revenue and CX, netsapiens, "thus making it easier for our Service Providers to enhance their endpoints offerings, and, greatly improving the end-user customer experience. Wih more and more of our Service Providers utilizing Grandstream phones, and the latest GRP series having such a strong demand, we felt it time to formalize the relationship and further collaboration with Grandstream. It's exciting and mutually beneficial having Grandstream participate in our upcoming User Group Meeting in San Diego next month, and to collaborate in future joint customer opportunities."



Founded in Boston, MA, USA in 2002 as one of the first VoIP manufacturers, Grandstream's award-winning solutions are now relied on in over 150 countries across the world. Their GRP2600 series are state-of-the-art, carrier-grade IP phones that were designed for mass deployment. This series of next-generation IP phones features a sleek design, a reimagined user experience, unified firmware and powerful feature options including Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth, a dual LCD screen and support for up to 10 lines. Designed for enterprises, service providers and other high-volume markets, the GRP series offers a powerful, easy-to-use and easy-to-deploy voice platform with next-gen features for high-end users. About netsapiens

At netsapiens, we are your Smart Network Application People specializing in B2B unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) solutions and feature-sets. We support service providers of all sizes who want to improve their operational efficiency and grow their customer base. Our award-winning signature UC&C offering - SNAPsolution is custom-built to offer our partners a "sessions-based, not seat based" customizable, easy-to-use platform that can be quickly deployed for maximum ROI. Take advantage of our expertise in VoIP, Hosted PBX (News - Alert) (UCaaS), SIP trunking, mobility, contact centers, collaboration, B/OSS with device provisioning, multi-tenant (white label) user portals and our recently released fast deployment "in a SNAP" managed infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS). Visit www.netsapiens.com for more information on our offerings.

About Grandstream

Grandstream Networks (News - Alert), Inc. has been connecting the world since 2002 with SIP Unified Communications products and solutions that allow businesses to be more productive than ever before. Our award-winning solutions serve the small-to-medium business and enterprises markets and have been recognized throughout the world for their quality, reliability and innovation. Grandstream solutions lower communication costs, increase security protection and enhance productivity. Their open standard SIP-based products offer broad interoperability throughout the industry, along with unrivaled features and flexibility. Visit www.grandstream.com for more information or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005526/en/

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T he Duchess of Sussex met with bright minds from across the Commonwealth to hear about the innovative ways they are tackling climate change, ahead of her final official public duty as a senior royal.

Meghan, 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 show Meghan, who was wearing a fitted navy cap-sleeve dress with neck scarf detail, listening to one scholar, and in the centre of a group photo in the 1844 Room of the Queen's London home.

The images were taken by her 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."

Scholars from 11 different nations spoke to the Duchess about their innovative work / The Duke and Duchess of Sussex / Chris Allerton

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 the 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 the ACU as patron.

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 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.

Meghan's has brought her own experience of receiving a scholarship to the role as patron / The Duke and Duchess of Sussex / Chris Allerton

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.

"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.

For over a year, the Duchess has visited students and academics in a number of countries around the world to support them in their ventures.

During Prince Harry and Meghan's visit to Fiji in October 2018, the Duchess announced new gender grants for ACU member universities in the Pacific to fund new learning initiatives aimed at empowering female university staff and promoting gender equality.

She also announced the gender grants in South Africa in September 2019.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Vice President Mike Pence will no longer appear at a scheduled March 23 Lincoln Day Dinner for the Summit County Republican Party as the Ohio Republican Party is suspending public facing campaign events for one month because of coronavirus.

The sweeping suspension of operations does not mean candidates cannot continue to campaign in the run-up to the March 17 presidential primary election. Rather, the state party will not provide its support in several key areas that could put staffers at risk of either contracting or spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus.

On the heels of Governor DeWines executive order today banning large public gatherings, we feel that it is prudent to postpone our participation in any upcoming campaign or party related events," said Evan Machan, Ohio GOP spokesman. It is paramount that our local parties, candidates and voters take precautions in the coming weeks and months. We urge Ohioans to visit the Ohio Department of Healths website to stay up to date on best practices when dealing with COVID-19.

Machan said the stoppage includes the partys involvement in door-knocking, get-out-the-vote efforts, fundraising or any other activities of the like. That extends to preventing staffers from assisting with county party Lincoln Dinners, often the biggest fundraisers of the year for county parties.

The partys move is the latest episode in a week of turbulence leading to the election following Gov. Mike DeWines announcement of three confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state. Confirmed cases have since climbed to five, including two by community spread.

Since then, the governor, a Republican, has taken multiple steps to curb the spread of the disease, canceling classes for K-12 schools for three weeks and barring most public gathering of 100 or more people.

The week started off with some primary upheaval as both former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, both Democrats running for president, canceled planned Cleveland rallies after DeWine recommended doing so at a press conference.

Since then, major campaign gatherings have essentially stopped across the state, an anomaly in primary politics.

The Ohio Democratic Party postponed its annual state dinner, one of its largest fundraisers of the year.

GOP Rep. Dave Joyce canceled two planned rallies for this weekend. Bidens campaign canceled a planned get-out-the-vote event.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper, who has experience running for statewide office, said the coronavirus scare does complicate planning for the campaigns.

The hard part is this is literally your home stretch if youre in a primary, Pepper said. Weve got some pretty heavily contested primaries, and not just presidential. This is when you have your closing rally or your late fundraiser. This goes counter to every instinct you have about how to close your race.

More cancellations are almost guaranteed to follow, with watch parties being at the top of the list.

Government functions have also been interrupted, with both Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez closing their Washington, D.C. offices.

Despite the slew of cancellations, DeWine and other state officials said the primary election will continue as planned, though they urged voters to take advantage of either absentee or early voting if they are afraid of going to their polling places on Tuesday.

We are holding this election, DeWine said during a Thursday press conference. It is right that we do so. It is important for our country to move forward.

Read more cleveland.com politics coverage:

Joe Biden replaces Ohio native Greg Schultz as campaign manager

Major retailers have frozen prices during coronavirus threat, AG Dave Yost says

Census 2020 starts today; what about coronavirus?

Bernie Sanders says hell stay in the race, setting up Ohio as his last stand in the Midwest
In West and Central Africa, ports are the main entry and exit points for the flow of goods and, to a lesser extent, people. Their importance is strategic for the African economy. In this context, port security is obviously part of maritime security, understood in a global manner, and therefore of national and regional security.

Since the 2000s, the Gulf of Guinea has experienced exponential growth in containerisation accompanied by a modernisation of the infrastructure; in addition to the legal trade in goods, this vector is also used by fraud organisations to set up all types of illicit trafficking such as narcotics, fake medicines, protected species, weapons, etc.

For the second consecutive year, the Interregional Maritime Security Institute (ISMI) in Abidjan is offering training for officials of administrations in charge of targeting and controlling containers.

This year, the focus will be on the fight against trafficking in fake medicines. In the wake of the Lome Summit held on 18 January 2020 in Togo, as part of the fight against fake medicines, there is a real political awareness of this scourge which particularly affects Africa. Indeed, trafficking in falsified or substandard medicines is responsible for more than 100,000 deaths a year in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is estimated that in Africa, between 30% and 60% of the medicines placed on the market are fake.

About 20 auditors which include customs officers, police officers, maritime affairs administrators, naval officers - from 10 countries in the Gulf of Guinea are expected to attend.

This training, which will take place from 10 to 13 March 2020, is supported by the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire and organized by the French Cooperation (DCSD), in partnership with the French Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Rights (DGDDI) and the post of regional customs Attache.

The course will take place on the campus of the Regional Academy of Marine Science and Technology (ARSTM) in Yopougon, Abidjan.
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Update: 12-03-2020 | 12:31:15

People in rural areas in the Cambodian northwestern provinces of Pursat and Battambang have been suffering from water shortage for more than four months, reported the Cambodias Khmer Times.

The article said agriculture is a driving factor for Cambodias economy, but despite having land and natural water sources, irrigation system development is lacking.

In 2016, the Japan International Cooperation Agency granted concessional loans worth 60 million USD to rehabilitate and restore West Tonle Sap irrigation system.

The restoration project targets six areas in the provinces of Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang, where about 8,500 families and more than 13,000ha will benefit.

The project is currently 90 percent completed.

Deputy Director of the Battambang Agriculture Department In Sovanmony said some of the 360,000ha of land used to cultivate rice in the province are affected by drought.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a directive in November 2019 calling on farmers to limit production due to the lack of water./.

VNA
COLUMBUS, OhioWith ex-Vice President Joe Biden surging ahead in Democratic presidential delegates, its becoming increasingly important for Bernie Sanders to do well in Ohios March 17 primary.

Cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer and Spectrum News 1s Curtis Jackson discussed how Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, might do in Ohio next Tuesday as part of a new segment previewing cleveland.coms Thursday edition of Capitol Letter -- our weekday newsletter on Ohio government news and politics.

Following a string of Super Tuesday defeats, Sanders has vowed to stay in the race, setting up Ohio as his last stand in the Midwest.

One key part of the state for Sanders is Cuyahoga County, which has the most Democrats of any county in the state. In 2016, Hillary Clinton trounced Sanders in Cuyahoga County.

In addition, Pelzer and Jackson talk about the wild GOP primary for Ohio Senate District 26, where state Rep. Bill Reineke and 2018 U.S. Senate candidate Melissa Ackison are squaring off. Its a race that has featured lawsuits, a tangle with President Donald Trumps campaign, and calling out U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan over the Ohio State abuse scandal.

Subscribe today to Capitol Letter here.

Read more Ohio politics stories:

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Delegate count: Joe Biden leads Bernie Sanders by 154 delegates; heres the map

Joe Biden announces backing from Emilia Sykes, more than half of Cleveland City Council

Ohio gets more than $15 million in federal money to fight coronavirus
In the wake of coronavirus threat, the government has ordered the closure of all academic institutions, including schools, colleges and universities across Jammu and Kashmir till 31st March 2020.

The student's fraternity has welcomed this decision taken by the UT administration as it will help them to secure students for getting affected by this deadly virus.

The government of Jammu and Kashmir has also ordered all darbars and public meetings to be put in abeyance till 31 March.

"It's a good decision that the government has taken, it would prevent further spread of coronavirus disease. By staying at home we can protect ourselves from the deadly virus and study at the same time. Since the government is thinking about us, we support the decision made by them. Apart from that, I think that the schools should be sanitized to contain the spread of infection," said Irfan Ahmad, a college student.

In a press conference in Jammu, yesterday, the Director of Health Mission (NHM), Bhupinder Kumar said that so far coronavirus suspected cases in UT of J-K (till date) is 1,211. Travellers and persons who came in contact with suspected cases have been put under active surveillance; 150 of them have completed a surveillance period of 28 days while 12 are still undergoing hospital quarantine. Kumar said that 64 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far; 28 people have tested negative while one was tested positive and the report of 35 still awaited.

The government has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

People can avoid catching the virus by taking simple precautions such as washing hands with soap, using hand sanitizers, maintaining good respiratory hygiene and maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from anyone who is coughing and sneezing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Days after Jyotiraditya Scindia



quit the Congress amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, the Shiv Sena said the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra is "strong and impregnable".

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Thursday also criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders.

It also said the BJP in Maharashtra should stop "daydreaming", and remember that just like the unexpected political drama in the western state a few months ago, a "shock experiment" can take place in Madhya Pradesh.

Former Union minister Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday along with 22 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, putting the 14- month-old Kamal Nath-led government in deep crisis.

He joined the BJP on Wednesday and slammed the Congress for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership. He has also been named as BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.

Commenting on these political developments, the Shiv Sena criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders, saying even though Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh are at the "helm" of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, it was not necessary to completely sideline a leader like Scindia.

Hitting out at the BJP, it said during the Lok Sabha elections last year, the saffron party used its full mightto defeat Scindia, but now it has welcomed him into its fold with "open arms".

"Kamal Nath is also a shrewd and daring politician and will not give up easily. Just like the unexpected political drama in Maharashtra, a shock experiment can take place in Madhya Pradesh," the Marathi daily said.

It further said the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government is "stong and impregnable". "There is no room for even a rogue ant to go out or come in," it said.

The Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, respectively, the Sena pointed out.

"When seniors fail, the young leadership should be encouraged. This is not happening and that is why (Rajasthan deputy chief minister) Sachin Pilot and Gehlot are at loggerheads. If the matter is not resolved, it is believed that Rajasthan may go the Madhya Pradesh way," it claimed.

It noted that eight months ago, Scindia criticised the BJP, calling it a "murderer of democracy" after the Congress- JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka was toppled.

"Fifteen days ago, he criticised BJP leaders for making hate speeches and now after joining the BJP, he says Congress is not the party it used to be earlier," it said.

"What were Scindia's demands - the state (Madhya Pradesh) unit president's post or the Rajya sabha ticket? Both were denied to him. If at least one demand was accepted, this situation wouldn't have arisen," the Shiv Sena said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 14:43 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a1b09b 1 Business Indonesia,pharmaceutical-holding-company,kimia-farma,HerbalMedicine,supplements,red-ginger,coronavirus,raw-materials,imports Free

Demand for red ginger supplements has increased sharply lately, amid growing fears about the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, as people believe the plant can boost the immune system, a senior executive of a pharmaceutical company has said.

Publicly listed Kalbe Farma has increased production of the herbal supplement made from red ginger extract by about 50 percent to meet the increase in demand for such supplements, the companys president director Vidjongtius said.

Read also: Panic hoarding of herbs, medicinal plants amid virus scare takes toll on 'jamu' vendors

We have been developing herbal-based products and mostly use red ginger extract as the main ingredient. And it is such a coincidence that red ginger is in high demand at the moment, Vidjongtius told a press briefing on Wednesday.

Red ginger is a plant that can be easily found in Indonesia. People believe it can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus as it can strengthen the bodys immune system. People also use it as a remedy for a cough or headache. Kalbe Farma already sold a liquid herbal product made from red ginger long before the coronavirus outbreak.

Vidjongtius said that at the moment Kalbe Farma had between 400 and 500 tons of red ginger in its warehouses, enough to meet the surge in demand. The red ginger was obtained from about 9,000 farmers across Indonesia who had joined the farmer communities established by Kalbe, he said. The stocks, he said, were enough not only for Kalbe Farma, but also for other producers.

Vidjongtius said Kalbe Farmas stocks for most of its pharmaceutical products were large enough to meet the demand for the next several months.

We have enough stocks for pharmaceutical products to last 10 to 11 months. The stocks comprise raw materials, half-made products and even stock in outlets, he said.

Vidjongtius admitted that he initially worried that the COVID-19 outbreak would disrupt the supply of raw materials, as China is the main source of Kalbe Farmas raw materials. In early February, producers of raw materials in China temporarily closed their production, but he said the disruption did not affect his company because of the large raw material stocks in its warehouses.

"We are now less worried, since according to the latest update they [suppliers in China] have started to resume their production, although not at full capacity. They also started to resume the [raw material] shipments, so we are less worried now, he said.

However, although the shipment of raw materials from China would soon return to normal, Kalbe Farma is seeking other sources of raw materials to reduce its dependence on China such as India, Europe and the US.

Indonesias pharmaceutical industry still greatly relies on imported raw materials. According to the national pharmaceutical industrys estimate, about 95 percent of its raw materials are imported, with a total value of US$2.5 billion a year. About 60 percent of the imported raw materials are shipped from China.
NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands company and the leader in health information services for consumers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, today announced that it has acquired The StayWell Company, a subsidiary of Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada.

The StayWell brandsincluding the core StayWell employee well-being platform and the Krames clinical patient education platformdeliver employee and patient engagement and empowerment solutions for more than 4 million employees, more than 1,500 health systems and hospitals, and eight of the 10 largest health payers in the U.S. The transaction enables WebMD and StayWell to leverage their combined scale to drive well-being and engagement solutions to even more employees and patients.

"StayWell and WebMD have more than 60 years of combined experience driving positive evidence-based health behavior change for patients and employees," said Bob Brisco, WebMD CEO. "This transaction will enable our organizations to deliver even more powerful customer solutions that can improve health, lower health risks, and reduce healthcare costs."

"StayWell and WebMD both focus on developing health education and employee well-being programs that engage and empower individuals wherever they may be in their personal health journey. We are confident that the combination will bring even greater value to the businesses, governments, healthcare providers, payers, and associations that we serve," said Nicole Latimer, StayWell CEO.

Based in Yardley, Pa., The StayWell Company will operate as an independent subsidiary of WebMD, as the companies build on and integrate products, platforms, and services. Terms were not disclosed.

About StayWell

StayWell is a health empowerment company that enables populations to improve health outcomes through the science of behavior change. For more than 40 years, the company has been a pioneer in employer well-being and patient education solutions that lower risks and reduce costs. StayWell has earned numerous top industry honors for its population health programs, including the C. Everett Koop National Health Award and the Web Health Award. The company has also received Utilization Review Accreditation Committee (URAC) and National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accreditation for several of its programs. StayWell is majority-owned by Healthcare Services & Solutions, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. The company is headquartered in Yardley, Pa., with additional locations including St. Paul, Minn. and Portland, Ore. To learn more, visit www.staywell.com .

About WebMD

WebMD Health Corp., an Internet Brands Company, is the leading provider of health information services, serving patients, physicians, health care professionals, employers, and health plans through public and private online portals, mobile platforms, and health-focused publications. The WebMD Health Network includes WebMD Health, Medscape, Jobson Healthcare Information, prIME Oncology, MediQuality, Frontline, Vitals Consumer Services, Aptus Health, MedicineNet, eMedicineHealth, RxList, OnHealth, Medscape Education, and other owned WebMD sites.

WebMD, Medscape, CME Circle, Medpulse, eMedicine, MedicineNet, theheart.org, and RxList are among the trademarks of WebMD Health Corp. or its subsidiaries.

About Internet Brands

Headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., Internet Brands is a fully integrated online media and software services organization focused on four high-value vertical categories: Health, Automotive, Legal, and Home/Travel. The company's award-winning consumer websites lead their categories and serve more than 250 million monthly visitors, while a full range of web presence offerings has established deep, long-term relationships with SMB and enterprise clients. Internet Brands' powerful, proprietary operating platform provides the flexibility and scalability to fuel the company's continued growth. Internet Brands is a portfolio company of KKR and Temasek. For more information, please visit www.internetbrands.com .

SOURCE WebMD Health Corp.

Related Links

http://www.webmd.com


SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / A leading remodeling company in San Diego has launched an important campaign to help people avoid being scammed. After recent news that a Chula Vista man who cheated at least five San Diego County residents - three of them elderly - out of thousands of dollars in a remodeling scam, GBC Remodeling Inc. has warned that residents in San Diego should only employ licensed contractors.

The San Diego remodeling company was shocked but not surprised at the news that people in San Diego were conned out of thousands of dollars by a scam artist. GBC Remodeling, who believes the sentence of a year in jail and five years-probation does not send a clear message wants residents in San Diego to understand what to look out for.

The company that is licensed and who offer free quotations and guarantee their work has put together some tips to spot a scam unlicensed contractor.

1. Unlicensed contractors go door to door and claim "they have just finished a job down the street."

2. They may try and convince you to use their service by claiming they can offer a big discount if you have the work done now.

3. Unlicensed contractors don't display construction permits or they will ask you to do it for them. If a resident in San Diego does, then they are assuming liability for the project and their mistakes.

4. Always check the contractor's license number to make sure it is not a fake number.

5. If a person claiming to be a licensed contractor cannot offer a work address then don't use their service.

6. A lot of Unlicensed contractors ask for a lot of money upfront.

7. Unlicensed contractors will not provide you with a legal contract

"When looking to have work done on the home it is important to research the company you wish to use. Make sure that they are licensed. When the contractors come to your property then ask to see their paper license," explained a spokesman for GBC Remodeling Inc.

GBC Remodeling Inc. who has become one of the most recommended in their field hopes these tips will help residents in San Diego avoid being scammed by unlicensed contractors.

To learn more about GBC Remodeling and the professional services they provide, please visit https://www.gbcremodel.com.

About GBC Remodeling

GBC Remodeling is a San Diego Roof Repair and Emergency Roof Repair Expert, we can provide San Diego Window and Door Replacement, and a go-to source for any of your San Diego Exterior Coating needs.

SOURCE: GBC Remodeling Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580281/San-Diego-Remodeling-Company-Warns-Against-Being-Scammed-by-Unlicensed-Contractors--GBC-Remodeling-Inc
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTC Pink: LMTCF) ("Sona") is pleased to provide a corporate update on recent activities. In the past several weeks, Sona has been focused on work related to the development of a rapid response COVID-19 lateral flow test. This update will outline progress and advancements on Sona's COVID-19 test and other corporate developments.

The Sona Advantage

Sona is a research and development company that owns proprietary gold nanorod technology that can be used in a variety of lateral flow applications, specifically rapid diagnostic testing devices. In a lateral flow tests, particles such as Sona's gold nanorods (GNR) are used to bind to biological materials and carry them along a test strip, producing a positive or negative result. Sona holds a global patent (pending) on the manufacture of GNRs that offers several functional performance advantages over other particles currently in the market, such as:

Sona GNRs are designed to maximize the ability to detect bio markers in low concentration levels, essentially meaning Sona tests often detect a condition earlier than many other particles.





Sona GNRs typically move though lateral flow test membranes at a faster pace than other particles types, meaning the Sona test can produce results faster than many other lateral flow tests.





Sona GNRs can be manufactured in various sizes which allow multiple colour test lines to be generated, providing a simple differentiation between test and control results, whereas competitive spherical gold nanoparticles can only present as a red line.

Over the past year, Sona has identified a number of test applications in the marketplace that would benefit from the introduction of Sona GNR technology. Specifically, Sona believes its technology would produce a more rapid and accurate response than the tests currently used in the marketplace. Sona expects to announce progress on 2-3 of its new tests during 2020.

Sona's COVID-19 lateral flow test update

Development work on Sona's new test to measure the COVID-19 virus is underway in 3 separate labs in Canada, the UK and Germany. The company has an ongoing, open dialogue with regulators to ensure the Sona's test is being developed within the parameters regulators have outlined. This approach will allow Sona to be eligible for FDA review through their Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) pathway and a fast-track to market.

Sona is currently in discussion with contract manufactures, OEM manufactures, field testing partners, as well as sales and distribution partners and expects to provide more detail on its path to market in the near future. From a test development perspective, Sona expects to have a working prototype for the COVID-19 rapid response test within the next few weeks.

The spread of COVID-19 appears to be accelerating on a global basis. Sona's COVID-19 rapid response test is designed for use as an on-site screening tool for front line tests to:

stream-line efforts of the medical community.





avoid unnecessary quarantine.





to screen individuals entering closed environments such as cruise ships, planes, tradeshows, factories, schools, universities or large gathering events such as concerts and sporting events.

The right partners

In support of Sona's commitment to develop a proprietary rapid-response screening test for COVID-19, the company has chosen the following partners;

GE Healthcare Life Sciences - the latest membrane technology, offering sensitive and timely test results





Bond Digital - the ability to ensure test data is captured and interpreted correctly and can also be collated and analysed by health care providers and government organisations to help track the spread of the virus.





Advisors - who have the experience and skill set to ensure Sona has the fastest and most direct path to regulatory approval and test production is conducted under ISO 13485 quality assurance standards, assuring every test performs as intended.

How lateral flow test work

All lateral flow tests are designed to identify the presence of a biological marker. These markers are either direct or indirect markers for a condition, such as a viral infection. An example of an indirect test would be a pregnancy test which doesn't test for biological material from a fetus, but rather detects a hormone (hCG) released by a mother when she is pregnant. An example of a direct test would be testing for HIV infection that detects the presence of the HIV virus itself.

The Sona COVID-19 test currently in development will directly detect the COVID-19 virus, confirming active infection which we believe will result in the most accurate rapid response test available. Some competitors are developing alternative COVID-19 rapid response tests (serological assays) that detect increased levels of IgM and IgG antibodies (immune markers) in a patient sample. Patients infected with Covid-19 may produce increased levels of these markers, however, tests that are NOT specific to a COVID-19 infection will likely cross-react if a person is suffering from a recent infection (e.g. food poisoning, ear infection) or has an underlying health condition, leading to an incorrect result (false positive and false negatives). Patients most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus include the elderly or those with underlying health conditions. The use of serological tests on this patient group is risky due to their susceptibility to common infections. A false negative may produce unintended outcomes that could result in a delayed patient intervention and treatment. Further, the use of alcohol, recreational drugs and certain medications can also interfere with test results, increasing the likelihood of false negatives.

Sona's proprietary test is intended to address the shortcomings and issues present with other testing methodologies. Sona expects to provide near-terms updates on the development of its rapid-response COVID-19 test.

For More Information

For more information about Sona, please contact:

Darren Rowles

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (902) 442-0653

Email: Darren Rowles, darren@sonanano.com

About Sona Nanotech Inc.

Sona Nanotech Inc. is a nanotechnology life sciences firm that has developed two proprietary methods for the manufacture of rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. The principal business carried out and intended to be continued by Sona is the development and application of its proprietary technology for use in multiplex diagnostic testing platforms that will improve performance over existing tests in the market.

Sona's gold nanorod particles are CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium) free, eliminating the toxicity risks associated with the use of other gold nanorod technologies in medical applications. It is expected that Sona's gold nanotechnologies may be adapted for use in applications, as a safe and effective delivery system for multiple medical treatments, pending the approval of various regulatory boards including Health Canada and the FDA.

Sona is a publicly listed company on the Canadian Securities Exchange existing under the laws of Nova Scotia, with its operations in Nova Scotia.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information.

This corporate update reflects management's outlook on current business plans and is based on management's best information, plans and market factors at the time of writing. No assurances can be provided to the reader that any forward-looking statements will be realized. The reader is cautioned to consider risk factors such as competition, continued spread of the COVID-19 virus and factors such as cures, vaccines, treatments or if the COVID-19 virus will continue to present as a health threat.



There are several important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to Sona's proposed business, such as failure of the business strategy and government regulation; risks related to Sona's operations, such as additional financing requirements and access to capital, reliance on key and qualified personnel, insurance, competition, intellectual property and reliable supply chains; risks related to Sona and its business generally, such as infringement of intellectual property rights and conflicts of interest. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any time.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53388
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.
SEATTLE (AP)  Amid all the fears, quarantines and stockpiling of food, it has been easy to ignore the fact that more than 60,000 people have recovered from the coronavirus spreading around the globe.

The disease can cause varying degrees of illness and is especially troublesome for older adults and people with existing health problems, who are at risk of severe effects, including pneumonia. But for most of those affected, coronavirus creates only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, with the vast majority recovering from the virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe ailments may take three to six weeks to rebound. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed, but more than 60,000 already have recovered.

Because the difference in impact can be so great, global health authorities have the difficult task of alerting the public to the virus' dangers without creating panic.

Already, the widespread consequences of the virus have been staggering, sending shock waves through the world's financial markets. Global oil prices sustained their worst percentage losses since the the Gulf War in 1991, and new restrictions were imposed in Italy and in Israel as the Holy Week approached.

But even some of the most vulnerable patients can fight their way through the disease.

This March 12, 2020 photo provided by Tan Shiyun shows her in her home in Yichang city in central China's Hubei province. (Courtesy of Tan Shiyun via AP)AP

Charlie Campbells father, 89-year-old Eugene Campbell, has been diagnosed with the coronavirus and is hospitalized in Edmonds, Washington. Charlie Campbell said his father's doctor is cautiously optimistic, adding, Under normal circumstances, he would discharge my dad, but these arent normal circumstances.

Eugene Campbell came to the hospital from Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland that has been linked to a large share of the states coronavirus deaths.

We went and saw him yesterday and he looked pretty good, Campbell said, noting that his father is breathing normally and his vital signs and heart rate are good. He may be the oldest person to recover from coronavirus.

In China, Tan Shiyun, a postgraduate student at a university in Wuhan, had traveled to her family home in Yichang over 180 miles away when she began to experience minor symptoms from the virus.

She went to the hospital, where she was given common cold medicine and sent home. It was only after her symptoms persisted and she visited the hospital a second time for an outpatient CT scan and received a call asking her to come back did she understand her symptoms came from something other than the common flu.

After many days and a number of tests, doctors eventually told her that the infection had spread to both of her lungs.

After that, I felt a heavy head while walking, unable to breathe, and nauseous, Tan said in a video blog post. But after over two weeks in the hospital, a CT scan showed her infection was disappearing and she was discharged.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PENNSYLVANIA: Click to see where cases of the coronavirus are in Pennsylvania are located.



For some whove been quarantined, anxiety and dread that they will become stigmatized by friends, neighbors and co-workers have made them reluctant to acknowledge even the most modest health impact. A few patients with the virus who were interviewed by The Associated Press  all of them passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that ended up quarantined off Japan  described symptoms that were no stronger than a regular cold or flu.

Its been a 2 on a scale of 10, said Carl Goldman, hospitalized in Omaha, Nebraska, since Feb. 17, after developing a 103-degree fever on a chartered flight from Japan to the U.S.

Goldman is staying hydrated with Gatorade. He said he continued coughing more than two weeks after he first got sick, but would probably only have missed one day of work if he had been diagnosed with the cold or flu. He stays active by pacing in his room, trying to match his pre-sickness routine of 10,000 daily steps on the pedometer.

I totally get this is where I need to be and I need to be cleared of this before Im released, he said.

American Greg Yerex, who was diagnosed along with his wife, Rose Yerex, on the Diamond Princess, said he had no symptoms and felt as healthy as he did on any other normal day.

If I was home, I would be out doing everything I normally do, he said in an interview conducted via Facebook calls when the couple were still hospitalized in Nagoya, Japan. Rose Yerex tested negative when she got to the hospital.

For Greg Yerex, it was the couple's mental health that faced the biggest threat as they they spent days in quarantine, isolated from friends and family and deprived of any direct human contact.

Its like being a prisoner," he said. You pace, you worry, you fret, you imagine all sorts of things. You have no control.

Greg Yerex said that he and his wife, who have since been released from the hospital, plan to go to counseling to work through the mental stress they experienced.

Fellow cruise passenger Rebecca Frasure knows how they feel.

I dont get to speak with anyone," she said in a Facebook call while still hospitalized in Nagoya. "I have a little window in my room, but cannot leave. The only contact I have is through Facebook messenger. I would never wish this on anyone.

Frasure said one of the things she found most frustrating was waiting for her test results to come back. Patients who have been diagnosed with the virus must have two consecutive negative tests before they can be released.

Frasure is now out of the hospital, but is worried about being stigmatized by her home community.

Are they going to be afraid?" she wondered. Are they going to criticize me for being home, thinking I brought virus back with me?"
[March 12, 2020] Social Media Security Market 2020-2024 | Increase in Hacks and Data Thefts to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the social media security market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.12 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 18% 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 latest free sample report of 2020-2024 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005640/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Social Media Security Market 2020-2024 The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. The increase in hacks and data thefts will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Increase in hacks and data thefts has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Social Media Security Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Social Media Security Market is segmented as below: Type Endpoint

Web

Network

Cloud

Application Security (News - Alert) Geographic segmentation Americas

APAC

EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30044 Social Media Security Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market bythe way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our social media security market report covers the following areas:



Social Media Security Market Size

Social Media Security Market Trends

Social Media Security Market Industry Analysis This study identifies emergence of BYOD as one of the prime reasons driving the social media security market growth during the next few years. Social Media Security Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the social media security market, including some of the vendors such as CA Technologies, Centrify, Micro Focus, Proofpoint (News - Alert) and Symantec. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the social media security 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 Social Media Security Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist social media security market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the social media security market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour

The growth of the social media security market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of social media security market vendors 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 2020-2024 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 SECURITY TYPE Market segmentation by security type

Comparison by security type

Endpoint security - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Web security - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Network security - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Cloud security - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Application security - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Market opportunity by security type PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Americas - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

EMEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers

Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Emergence of BYOD

Use of analytics in social media security

Need for MFA (News - Alert) in social media security PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview

Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

CA Technologies

Centrify

Micro Focus

Proofpoint

Symantec (News - Alert) 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/20200312005640/en/

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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.
By PTI

HYDERABAD: India is witnessing a 25 per cent to 30 per cent drop in inbound international visitors to the country in recent months in the backdrop of novel coronavirus fears, Civil Aviation Joint Secretary Usha Padhee said on Thursday.

There has been a drastic reduction in numbers (visitors to India) of international travellers, I was told that it has come down by 25 to 30 per cent. Because of the quarantine in every country, both (inbound and outbound) have got severe impact, she told reporters here. She was speaking on the sidelines of civil aviation show 'Wings India 2020' which began here on Thursday.

The official said there has been a reduction in the number of domestic travellers also as people with business purpose or emergency requirements were only travelling.

ALSO READ: Visa suspension may cost Rs 8,500 crore for travel, tourism, aviation sectors

India has on Wednesday announced suspension of all tourist visas till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

All incoming travellers, including Indians, 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 Centre has said.

Replying to a query, Padhee said the situation was purely temporary in nature and there had been a turn around in China, the genesis of the viral fever that killed over 3,000, "which is a good sign".

On the impact on the 'Wings India 2020', the official said the event was expected to be attended by only one third of the anticipated 1,500 delegates.

According to her, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puriwill participate with the industry leaders in session wherein the current situation of the sector will be discussed.

The flagship biennial event is being jointly organised by the civil aviation ministry and industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Begumpet Airport here from March 12 to 15.
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.
With 10 cargo flights per day, EAL has maintained a sound momentum in its cargo transportation. EAL achieved a steady increase in capacity input and cargo volume for four consecutive weeks in February. By the end of February, the outbound cargo volume increased by 30% year-on-year, and the return cargo volume increased by more than 50% year-on-year. Such performance has provided a firm foundation for the world to combat the COVID-19 and stabilize global supply chain logistic-wise.

Affected by the COVID-19, a large number of international and domestic flights have been suspended since late January, placing a huge impact on air logistics, which further led to tremendous damage of the supply and marketing chains of enterprises, especially multinationals.

With the resumption of work in China's domestic enterprises after Feb. 10, the freight transportation sector was the first to see a rising demand as passenger and maritime transportation was still in the low.

To meet the market demand, China Cargo Airlines, a subsidiary of EAL, has put an unrented Boeing 747 all-cargo aircraft back into operation since Feb. 15. From Jan. 24 to Mar. 1, EAL's all-cargo aircraft and the luggage compartment of the China Eastern Airlines' passenger jets have carried more than 3,000 tons of epidemic prevention materials and 138,000 tons of equipment needed to restart the global supply chain.

At present, with the gradual resumption of work and production, global manufacturers have also resumed their shipments, while EAL's all-cargo airlines have covered 40 international and regional logistics sites, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Singapore, Bangkok, Osaka, Tokyo, and Seoul. Earlier this month, the daily outward cargo volume by EAL's all-cargo aircraft has reached 946 tons, an increase of 60 percent before the work resumption, as well as an annual increase of 30 percent compared to the previous year. The return cargo volume stands at 816 tons per day, a year-on-year increase of 54.5 percent.

Parts of the cargos were emergency materials needed for the prevention and control of the COVID-19, while most of them were spare parts to ensure work resumption of Chinese and foreign enterprises, as well as commodities and daily necessities people purchased online.

By combining road and air transportation and cooperating with global suppliers, the EAL is providing global door-to-door services.

Lately, some U.S. carmakers were facing a breakdown and losing millions of U.S. dollars each day as their transportation connection with a world-renowned auto parts supplier was cut off. Learning this message, the EAL tailored a specific logistics solution for the supplier within just a few days, becoming the only Chinese airline whose plan has been selected.

At this critical moment for work resumption, the manufacturer handed over 600 tons of auto parts to EAL for transportation in the first quarter, planning to ship them to the U.S. by 6 charter flights.

It is noteworthy that with the effective control of the epidemic domestically, China is sending more flights to transport aid materials to foreign companies, and the all-cargo aircraft transportation is playing an active role in responding to the epidemic and natural disasters in the global context.

On March 9, local time, 70 tons of materials aided by China arrived at an airport in Karachi, via a widebody B747 of EAL to help Pakistan better respond to the COVID-19 and locust plague.

China Eastern Air Logistics Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shanghai is a company offering comprehensive logistics services under the CEAH. Its capacity includes bellyholds of over 700 passenger aircraft of China Eastern Airlines and nine all-cargo aircraft.

The company is a pilot for the mixed ownership reform in the civil aviation sector of China, and its shareholders, apart from the CEAH, also include Legend Holdings, Global Logistic Properties, Debang Logistics, and Greenland Group.

Image Attachments Links: Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=359718

SOURCE EAL
Government formation talks have been suspended but parties will resume efforts to form a new coalition next week while leaders cooperate in the battle to stop coronavirus from spreading.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the different party leaders are working collectively and that talks may resume next week with Fianna Fail.

People are dying... that should be our real focus, to get the politics of that right is the immediate priority, but not to ignore the other thing. But just in these days, in this moment, I think most politicians are recognising that the health crisis comes first.

The remarks come after both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael gave a lukewarm reception to Green Party calls for a temporary national emergency government on Wednesday night and for government formation negotiations to be halted.

The two big parties were scheduled to open formal negotiations on working together in a coalition today, but this was abandoned as it emerged the country was going into shutdown over the virus.

Instead, Fianna Fail sources say the talks will be picked up next week and will continue.

It is also expected that a scheduled vote for Taoiseach in the Dail on Thursday may be postponed or cancelled. Health authorities have advised that indoor public gatherings of 100 people should not go ahead to help stop the virus spreading.

A full Dail vote would require 160 TDs in the chamber. Fianna Fail and Green Party figures suggested this might not happen now.

Leinster House authorities are also looking at how to minimise the number of TDs coming to the parliament complex, in conjunction with party whips.

Mr Ryan said his party is advocating mutual cooperation across parties rather than adversarial politics, to jointly meet the challenge of stopping the spread of the virus.

During this immediate crisis, could we get a form of a political cooperation which gives confidence to our people that thats our real focus? Because everything is changed, everything. Nothing is normal at the moment or wont be for the coming number of weeks.

Green Party health spokesman Ossian Smyth said the last thing politicians should be doing is negotiating. He disagreed with putting in new ministers while the coronavirus crisis is in full scale.

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

Its unimaginable that you would take out the health minister and find a new health minister now and then sort of show them where their new offices are. That couldnt happen at the moment because day to day this is changing, hour by hour. That would be unconscionable to me. The government is the government at the moment.

Meanwhile, rural Independent TDs met Fianna Fail government formation negotiators today over policy issues.

TDs Michael McNamara, Michael Fitzmaurice and Marian Harkin highlighted the regional concerns they want addressed if they are to be part of any government involving Fianna Fail. Balanced aviation supports for the west including Shannon Airport was raised by Mr McNamara while the other two TDs spoke about supports for low and medium income farmers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, the Kremlin said in a statement, saying both men agreed with satisfaction that tensions in Syria's Idlib were now significantly lower.

Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides in Syria's war, last week agreed on a ceasefire to halt an escalation of violence in Idlib that displaced nearly a million people and brought the two countries close to direct confrontation.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday that Turkish and Russian officials had largely agreed details of the ceasefire deal.

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Microsoft has informed its Office subscribers that its planned price increase, which was set to kick in on 19 February 2020, has been postponed until 26 March 2020.

The annual subscription fee for Office 365 Personal will be increased from R899 to R999. It will also be available at a monthly rate of R99.

Additionally, the annual subscription fee for Office 365 Home will increase from R1,199 to R1,399, or R139 per month.

Users will be charged the new subscription prices unless they choose to cancel their subscription before the next scheduled payment after 26 March 2020.

Microsoft explained that the Office price increases in South Africa are needed to address changing market conditions.

The Microsoft Office 365 price changes are detailed in the table below.

Package Old Price New Price Office 365 Home R1,199 R1,399 Office 365 Personal R899 R999

Free Microsoft Office

The good news is that any South African between the age of 8 and 24 can get the Microsoft Office 365 suite and 5TB OneDrive cloud-based storage free of charge through the Mahala.ms portal.

The Mahala.ms portal is a partnership between Microsoft South Africa, Penquin, Lava Lamp Lab, and NBConsult that was first launched in May 2017.

The objective of the service is to enable learners from grade R to 12 to become more productive and better prepared for the next phase of their academic careers or the workplace.

Through the Mahala.ms service, users can activate free Microsoft licenses for all their devices, including their PC, Mac, mobile phone, or tablet.

The free Microsoft Office 365 suite includes Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and Excel as well as free OneDrive online storage.

Microsoft South Africas Lionel Moyal said the Mahala.ms portal holds the potential to change the fortunes of millions of young South Africans by giving them access to Office 365.

Now read: Big Microsoft Office price increases in South Africa
Although Narendra Modi dominated the Indian political scene from 2014 to 2019, but the BJP could never engineer a defection of the stature of Jyotiraditya Scindia, a top gen-next Congress leader, perceived to be in the Gandhi familys inner circle until recently.

While Jyotiradityas defection is a severe blow to the Congress, what is more significant perhaps is that the tremors of his exit will be felt by all Opposition parties, not just his former party.

By allowing Scindia to join the BJP, with a Rajya Sabha ticket from Madhya Pradesh, Modi has proved that he is ready to be magnanimous towards young and efficient regional leaders from outside the Sangh family. If in the near future Scindia is given an important Cabinet berth in the Commerce or Civil Aviation ministries, as is being speculated, it will prove that finally, Modi has also gained the confidence to look beyond a few old, loyal hands. That in itself will be an invitation to aspiring leaders from across the political spectrum.

Earlier, such rewards were not offered to those joining the saffron party. For instance, Mukul Roy, a close advisor to Mamata Banerjee, was not accorded such a welcome. Nor was Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also dumped the Congress for the BJP (though he was tasked with looking after the entire North-East), offered such incentives.

Its not surprising, therefore, that Scindias entry into the BJPs Madhya Pradesh pantheon has stirred up anticipation among leaders as far away as Bengal. The rumour mills have it that a regional satrap may be offered the post of deputy chief minister if he defects at least six months before the Bengal Assembly elections to be held in April 2021. It would be an attractive offer to any non-BJP leader, because the sub-text reads clear: In case the BJP fails to capture power in the state, it can compensate for it by offering posts at the Centre.

Such an open-door policy was followed by the BJP during Atal Bihari Vajpayee days, when an outright outsider like Yashwant Sinha could become finance minister within a couple of years of joining the party. By reintroducing the same tradition, Modi has started a new talent hunt that could enrich the BJP while also attracting different non-BJP leaders and their supporters towards it. In his second term, Modi inducted S Jaishankar into the Cabinet. Though not a politician, Jaishankars induction was the first indication of the adoption of an open-door policy. Jyotiradityas induction will be a confirmation of this trend.

Regional parties will find it hard to fend off this threat because most of them, like the Congress, are family-based closed parties (except for Nitish Kumars JD(U)). These parties do not offer aspiring leaders a chance to climb to the top. BJP has signalled that, in contrast to them, those with ambition can do well in its fold. In fact, one may even think of Prime Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia twenty years later, where it is really Scindias own ability to thrive in the party in the face of tough competitors like Yogi Adityanath that will determine his growth trajectory. Of course, he will also have to be in the good books of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, but that is a different matter.

There is also another reason for the Opposition to be in despair. Jyotiraditya Scindias defection points to a growing weakness of the Opposition as far as building on the anti-CAA/NRC/Kashmir narrative. Congress and other opposition parties such as TMC have been trying to build on this line, but Scindias move shows that second-rung leaders of these parties are not in the least deterred by ideological compunctions in their decision to join the BJP goes. In other words, anti-Hindutva posturing is not paying dividends for Opposition parties.

If Jyotiraditya can join the Hindutva forces, anyone else from the Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Nationalist Congress Party, or Rashtriya Janata Dal can do so too. Scindia has not only crossed over to a new camp with a sizable number of MLAs, he has also delivered a hard blow to the Opposition by refusing to play along with the line that their ideological position is worth staying back for.

An enraged Ashok Gehlot of the Congress reacted to Scindias decision by tweeting: "Scindia has betrayed the trust of the people as well as the ideology." In fact, this rejection of their ideology, is the biggest threat for the Congress and all other Opposition parties going forward. Perhaps, this is a sign that in case they fail to reinvent them, they may exist as alternatives only in case people are unhappy with the BJP. That is not a coveted future for these parties.

(Diptendra Raychaudhuri is a Kolkata-based journalist and author of books including, A Naxal Story. He is a deputy editor at the Bengali daily, Aajkal)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the authors own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.
People crowded on the subway to get to the parade or on Metro-North for example, people going to a bar afterward, Mr. de Blasio said. Thats what we are assessing right now.

Neil Cosgrove, an official with the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish diaspora group, who was not involved in discussions over the parade, said that the organizers had been looking to the city for guidance.

My understanding is there is a bit of a tango going on between the parade committee and the city, said Mr. Cosgrove on Wednesday before the cancellation was announced. I think the city doesnt want to pull the trigger, they want the parade committee to pull the trigger.

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he had spoken to Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose strong recommendation was to reduce large gatherings like the parade.

Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing this is a virus that is easily communicable? Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference. St. Patricks Day is one of the great convenings of a large number of people.

If you listen to the experts, they are saying you should not have a St. Patricks Day convening at this time, which I believe makes sense, the governor said.

St. Patrick is the patron saint of both Ireland and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the second-largest diocese in the United States, which has traditionally played a role in the parade. Each year, the parade is reviewed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York from the steps of St. Patricks Cathedral as it marches past.
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.

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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.'
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/20200311005751/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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Some disasters, like hurricanes and earthquakes, can bring people together, but if history is any judge, pandemics generally drive them apart. These are crises in which social distancing is a virtue. Dread overwhelms the normal bonds of human affection.

In The Decameron, Giovanni Boccaccio writes about what happened during the plague that hit Florence in 1348: Tedious were it to recount how citizen avoided citizen, how among neighbors was scarce found any that shewed fellow-feeling for another, how kinfolk held aloof, and never met  nay, what is more, and scarcely to be believed, fathers and mothers were found to abandon their own children, untended, unvisited, to their fate.

In his book on the 1665 London epidemic, A Journal of the Plague Year, Daniel Defoe reports, This was a time when every ones private safety lay so near them they had no room to pity the distresses of others.  The danger of immediate death to ourselves, took away all bonds of love, all concern for one another.

Fear drives people in these moments, but so does shame, caused by the brutal things that have to be done to slow the spread of the disease. In all pandemics people are forced to make the decisions that doctors in Italy are now forced to make  withholding care from some of those who are suffering and leaving them to their fate.
Investor loans grew steadily in January, serving as one of the indicators of a strengthening market, according to experts.

Over the month, the overall value of investor loans, excluding refinancing, increased by 3.6% to $5.70bn on a seasonally adjusted basis. This is equivalent to yearly growth of 14.7%.

This strong showing from the investor segment contributed to the 4.6% increase in the overall value of lending for housing, which ended the month at $20.73bn.

While owner-occupiers continue to lead the improvement, investors are starting to keep up. The latest increase in financing for houses has been the most robust monthly growth in the cycle thus far, said Tim Reardon, chief economist at the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

"Overall housing market conditions continued to strengthen in January. Conditions reached their weakest in May 2019, but the subsequent improvement has been healthy," he said.

On a trend basis, investor loans grew 2.1% monthly and 11.3% annually. However, the segment is still 40% below its market peak.

"This house price rebound is not investor driven right now," Callam Pickering, economist at Indeed, said in a tweet.

Still, investors are starting to recapture their share of the market.

"Investors accounted for 27.6% of new mortgage lending in January, down from 29.6% a year ago," Pickering said.

Investors accounted for 27.6% of new mortgage lending in January, down from 29.6% a year ago. FHBs accounted for 20.2%, up from 17.5% a year ago, highest in 10-years #ausproperty pic.twitter.com/cVVGOiUgyN  Callam Pickering (@CallamPickering) March 11, 2020

Maree Kilroy, economist for BIS Oxford Economics, said the COVID-19 outbreak has yet to show any material impact on the market.

"Almost all lead indicators remain positive, including auction clearance rates and property prices," she said.

In fact, the strong participation from the first-home buyers is expected to persist, given the effect of the federal government's deposit scheme.

Kilroy said the Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to cut rates further in response to the uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak.

"While stimulatory, it is expected that the boost from these rate cuts will be fully neutralised by elevated household anxiety over 2020," she said.
The response fund put together by the federal government to fight the spread of the coronavirus contains some smart and timely measures. But it is, if anything, too little and too cautious.

A billion dollars sounds like a lot of money, and it is. But if the number of people with COVID-19 starts to spiral in this country that amount will pale beside the economic losses that would be sure to follow.

The federal government, along with the provinces, cities and the private sector, have to decide now: is it better to risk over-reacting with stronger action to halt a virus that so far has affected only about 100 Canadians, or to risk under-reacting and have to play catch-up with all the attendant costs and social harms?

Its a genuine dilemma, without an easy answer. But all the signs are that the disease is still spreading.

On Wednesday, even as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was laying out Ottawas response, the World Health Organization for the first time officially labelled COVID-19 a pandemic and its director-general cautioned that we are deeply concerned by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.

A leading U.S. expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned starkly that its going to get worse. Another top WHO official noted that Iran and Italy, which has locked down its entire population, are on the front lines of the battle against the virus now, and I guarantee you other countries will be in that situation soon.

In light of all that, the measures announced by Trudeau are, to put it mildly, very moderate.

Ottawa will support the provinces and territories with $500 million in extra funding for the fight against COVID-19. It will put another $275 million into medical research to develop a vaccine and support clinical trials.

It will put $50 million toward ensuring an adequate supply of protective equipment like masks, face shields and gowns. And $50 million more to assist more vulnerable countries in fighting the coronavirus.

Importantly, Ottawa will make it easier for workers to stay away from work if they are affected by the virus, or fear they might be, by relaxing rules around Employment Insurance sickness benefits.

Thats a positive step, but it will do nothing for the many workers who dont qualify for EI. Thats fundamentally unfair; all workers should be compensated if they miss work because of this pandemic, and so far at least the federal plan wont help those not covered by EI.

Other governments must also do more. In Ontario, for example, the Ford government last year actually rolled back the two sick days contained in a series of new workplace protections put in place by the previous Liberal government.

As the coronavirus crisis struck in January, health care experts renewed their calls for the government to reinstate those guaranteed sick days for all workers in the province. But it has refused to take this obvious step.

Does it really want ailing workers dragging themselves into work because they cant afford to miss a paycheque, possibly infecting those around them? That goes against every bit of advice from public health officials across the country.

We should be doing the opposite  making it possible for anyone who must miss work to do so without undue hardship, and compensating those who find themselves laid off as the economy slows.

All this will cost money, but surely its better to take effective action now to halt the spread of COVID-19 than to find ourselves in the situation of Italy, with more than 10,000 cases. It has been forced to impose drastic restrictions on travel and public gatherings as a way to defeat the coronavirus.

Even with that example before us, its striking how little our public authorities are asking of us at this point. The advice continues to be simply to wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, dont go to work sick and, oh yes, dont go on cruise ships.

Theres a lot more that can and should be done, even now. Even without official advice, companies and organizations can encourage so-called social distancing by postponing or cancelling large events and discouraging discretionary travel.

Provincial health authorities can set up coronavirus screening centres outside hospitals so people who fear they may be sick dont infect others. Ontario is planning such measures, including drive-thru options, and other provinces should follow suit.

Theres no reason to delay implementing stronger measures than those contemplated in Ottawas response fund. Even the federal government says it is just a first step, with more to come as conditions require.

Given the warnings coming at us from all directions, those conditions will likely be here sooner than we think, if they arent here now. The government would be well advised to heed those warnings and act with greater urgency.

Its still possible that may turn out to be an over-reaction. The alternative, though, would be a lot worse.
Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has reported about preparations for the second wave of evacuation of the citizens of Ukraine from Wuhan, which is on quarantine amid coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading, and said that as for now ten Ukrainians said about their desire to be evacuated.

"Foreign Ministry of Ukraine together with the Infrastructure Ministry starts preparation for the second evacuation of our citizens from China. Now the embassy of Ukraine knows about 41 citizens, who now are in Wuhan. Ten of them said they wish to be evacuated," Kuleba said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

He addressed to the media representatives to inform about the start of preparation for evacuation and urged all citizens of Ukraine, who now in Wuhan, to report about the evacuation of those, who may long for it.

"If someone else apart from these ten needs to be evacuated, I ask you to contact the Ukrainian Embassy in China, which will compile the final list," the minister said.

According to him, information on further details of the evacuation will be provided later. "Now we are starting the process of preparing for this step," he said.
LONGMEADOW  Bay Path University will not hold its annual Womens Leadership Conference later this month, the university said Thursday.

The event, which for 24 years has brought hundreds of women together for a day of professional development and personal exploration," had been scheduled for March 27 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The 2021 conference will be held on April 9.

Although we are deeply disappointed to make this decision, the health, wellness, and safety of our over 2,000 attendees are our number one priority, said a statement from the university.

Speakers scheduled for this years Womens Leadership Conference included Tyra Banks, Suzy Batiz and Patrice Banks.

Full refunds will be processed in 30 business days.

The conference is one of a number of major regional events called off as COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has blossomed into a pandemic.

In Holyoke this week, Mayor Alex B. Morse announced the cancellation of the St. Patricks Parade and Road Race, which draw hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Other cities, including Boston, Worcester, Lawrence and New York City have also canceled St. Patricks Day festivities.

In declaring the disease a pandemic, the World Health Organization said this week that COVID-19 has been reported in 114 countries. It has sickened more than 118,000 people and killed more than 4,000.

In Massachusetts, nearly 80 of the states 95 cases have been traced to a single business conference in Boston.
EU disapproves of travel ban as observers question efficacy of order which excludes some infection-hit countries.

Travel to the US from most of Europe will be suspended for 30 days beginning on Friday, President Donald Trump announced, citing a need to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Trumps move on Wednesday came amid rising global panic after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the spread and severity of the illness, now considered a pandemic, was due to alarming levels of inaction.

The ban applies to the 26-country Schengen Area. Among the countries excluded from the ban as they are not in that zone are infection-hit countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus.

The restriction applies to foreign nationals who have been in the Schengen Area, 26 countries in Europe with open borders agreements, in the last 14 days, a White House statement said. Those who are exempt from these restrictions, such as American citizens, will be directed to a limited number of airports where screening can take place.

There is extensive travel back and forth between Europe that heightens the risk here in the United States.

The response to Trumps move in Europe ranged from anger to confusion.

The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to improve a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the respective presidents of the European Commission and European Council, said in a joint statement.

The European Union is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus.

The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.

Trump said on Thursday that he did not notify EU leaders because it takes time and he had to move quickly. He added that he excluded the United Kingdom because the country was doing a good job at controlling the spread of the coroanvirus.

Many had concerns over the economic impact of travel bans.

The news hit financial markets hard, with stocks diving and oil slumping, as investors were disappointed by the lack of broad measures to offset a likely fall in consumption.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak played down the prospect of the UK imposing similar travel restrictions, but acknowledged the US decision could have a knock-on effect on the British economy.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: With regard to flight bans, we are always guided by the science as we make our decisions here, and the advice we are getting is that there isnt the evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infection.

Meanwhile, many observers said the ban lacked clarity and could be interpreted as a political move.

Non-Schengen and UK excepted: this is not about containment, this is about sending a political message. In a time where the EU is challenged to its core, the US is closing its borders and turning its back on allies, tweeted Benjamin Haddad, director of the Future Europe Initiative at Atlantic Council.

Al Jazeeras Laurence Lee, reporting from London, said: The EU is absolutely furious about this, bewildered, and trying to work out what the ramifications are. They werent consulted apparently before Trump said this in the middle of the night, European time.

They are trying to understand what it means. There are enormous concerns about trade between the EU and US.

Trump seems to be making a cynical but political point out of this, by blaming Europe but not the UK. But it is a problem for the UK too, because European travellers who want to go to the US will think maybe I should stop off in London and travel from there.

If that happened, Lee said, it would be extra strain on Britains National Health Service.

Trump said it was possible that he could extend or shorten the Europe travel ban depending how the situation plays out.

There have been more than 126,000 cases of the virus worldwide since its outbreak late last year in China, and over 68,000 people have recovered.

China is the epicentre of the crisis, with most infections and deaths, followed by Italy, Iran and South Korea.
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Pashinyan appoints Hayk Mkrtchyan as Deputy Governor of Kotayk province

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A play at a theater in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, has been performed without a live audience after indoor cultural events were temporarily banned because of the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands watched Chekhov's Uncle Vanya via a Facebook livestream.
Wednesday Night Nigerianpart of Epi's Wednesday Nights in America seriesstarts with this curated list of weeknight recipes, and continues with a visit to a home kitchen, where we witness Nigerian-American cooking in action.

In his memoir, Notes From a Young Black Chef, Kwame Onwuachi recounts the morning he woke up in his Bronx apartment at the age of 10, shuffled into the kitchen, greeted his mother, and was unceremoniously told that he would be spending the summer with his paternal grandfather in Nigeriaand that he would be leaving that afternoon.

Onwuachi had been to Nigeria once before (when he was around five or six years old) to visit his grandfather Patrick, an Igbo elder who lived in Nigeria's southern, coastal Delta State. Patrick was born in northern Nigeria and moved to the United States to earn a doctorate in sociology and anthropology. As a professor at Howard University in the '50s and '60s, he played a role in the Pan-African movement and, Kwame writes, "advocated for reembracing the richness of African culture" lost due to European colonization.

Kwame Onwuachi Photo by Scott Suchman

In 1973, Patrick returned to Nigeria, eventually settling in his ancestral home of Ibusa, which is where Kwame would spend that fateful summerand it turns out, even longer. As September approached, Onwuachi called his mother from an Internet cafe and was told that he would be staying in Nigeria indefinitely, until she felt it was time for him to come home. It ended up being a two-year sojourn.

In those two years, Onwuachi watched his grandfather's wiveswomen he called Mother and Auntie Mias they stirred together spicy red jollof rice and even redder banga stew, made with fresh palm fruit that Auntie Mi would chop straight from the tree in their yard. For Onwuachi, these mealsand a host of otherstook on new meaning and deeper flavors in the place where theyd originated.

Story continues

I talked to Onwuachi recently to discuss our new series, Wednesday Night in America, and to find out how some of these dishesthe Nigerian recipes he still makes for himself and the ones he makes at his Washington, DC, restaurant Kith/Kinmight fit into a modern cooks weeknight repertoire.

He was quick to respond that Nigerians eat a lot of stews (some of them fast, others not so much)a sentiment echoed by the home cook I spoke to for this project. That means that a few of these recipes take a little bit longer to prepare than you might be willing to commit to on a weeknight, but thats what Sunday prep-days are for. Plus, they reheat like a dream.

Here are five Nigerian meals Onwuachi would happily cook on a Wednesdayor, for that matter, any night of the week:

1. Egusi Stew

Nigerian Egusi Stew - IG Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones

Onwuachi calls egusi stew "Nigeria's most popular dish," though he might be conflating its popularity with his own adoration, since he also notes that it's the definitive favorite of everyone in his family. It's a dish his mother (a Texas-born caterer with roots in Louisiana and Jamaica) learned to make from her then-husband's cousin because it was a favorite of Onwuachi's father's; she continued to make it after their divorce because she liked the taste just as much as he did.

The stew is made with the large seeds of the egusi, a melon that looks like a watermelon on the outside and a giant cucumber on the inside. The flesh of the melon is bitter and inedible, but the seeds are toasted and ground, and they help thicken the stew, which is seasoned with pungent crayfish powder, bright ginger, spicy Scotch bonnet chiles, and iru (fermented locust beans that can be purchased fresh, dried, or ground into a powder). Onwuachi's recipe contains goat, but other versions call for beef or seafood.

The overall taste of the stew is earthy (from the fermented beans) and nutty from the egusi seedswhich have a flavor reminiscent of pumpkin seedswith those bright spots mentioned above. Traditionally its eaten with swallow (also known as fufu), a category of foods made from starchy ingredients like African yams, taro root, cassava, plantains, and cornmeal. The starch is cooked and then pounded into a stiff paste in a mortar and pestle. Eventually, the paste can be formed into a ball and treated like a utensil (pieces of the paste are pinched off and used to sandwich a piece of stew meat, eliminating the need for a fork or spoon).

Egusi Stew

Kwame Onwuachi

2. Jollof Rice

Nigerian Jollof Rice - IG Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell

You'll find as many versions of jollof ricethe national dish of Nigeriaacross West Africa as youll find households making it. Onwuachi says "there is a battle between countries about whose version is best, but most start with red stew, or obe ata, which Onwuachi calls a mother sauce.

Like the sofrito of Spain, the mirepoix of France, and the holy trinity of Louisiana, obe ata is a mix of aromatics that forms the base flavor of many dishes. Obe ata starts with onions, tomatoes, and garlic, which can be pureed or chopped, and gets a boost of sweetness from red bell peppers, a pop of heat from Scotch bonnet chiles, and various other additions depending on who's making it.

While this jollof rice recipe from the cookbook Foods From Across Africa calls for basmati (and fewer chiles than the average Nigerian might use), Onwuachi prefers short-grain rice for his own jollof, which he likes to serve with fried goat or stewed chicken and plantains.

Jollof Rice

Duval Timothy

Jacob Fodio Todd

Folayemi Brown

HarperCollins

3. Obe Ata Dindin

Nigerian Red Stew (Obe Ata Din Din) - IG Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell

As you might have deduced by the name of this dish, the red stew used to make jollof rice is also the base for Obe Ata Dindin. This braise could be made with "chicken, mackerel, goat, and even snails," says Onwuachi. He says its typically enjoyed over white rice or with pounded yam.

This version from our friends at Bon Appetit comes from Yemisi Awosan, founder of Egunsi Foods, a line of West African grab-and-go soups. The bright red sauce is fiery from habanero chiles (though Scotch bonnets work too) and tempered by the addition of sliced Japanese sweet potatoes. The potatoes arent strictly traditional, but theyre a welcome addition, especially for palates unaccustomed to the bold chile heat used in much of West African cooking.

4. Suya

Market Suya - IG Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones

When made with beef, these skewers are the go-to street food in Nigeria, where theyre served simply with shaved onions and sliced tomatoes. The same method can be applied to shrimp, chicken, eggplant, or anything else you like to grill. The secret is in the spice mix, which includes ground peanuts, powdered ginger, cayenne, and bouillon cubes. The mix is used twice: first as a rub applied before grilling (feel free to leave it overnight), then again after grilling, when it is dusted over the skewers as a condiment.

Onwuachi offers his version with a tomato soubise for dippingthe French-inspired sauce, made with cooked tomatoes blended with sauteed onions and cream, mellows the heat of the fiery skewers. At Brooklyn Suya, a fast-casual restaurant in Brooklyn, the skewers are served over jollof rice with plantains and assorted toppings like avocado and kale. You do you, but seriously: Make these skewers as soon as you get your grill going this spring.

Market Suya (Nigerian Skewers)

Kwame Onwuachi

5. Peppersoup

Nigerian Chicken Pepper Soup - IG Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones

This soup is "known to clear your sinuses," says Onwuachi. In his ideal version, "the spicy broth gets its flavor from calabash nutmeg, a warm, floral spice indigenous to West Africa." But different African ethnic groupsand different individual home cookshave a vast array of spices to pull from, and not all recipes are exactly alike.

In her seminal work The Africa Cookbook, Jessica B. Harris notes six other spices that distinguish peppersoup: atariko, uda, gbafilo, ginger, uyayak, and rigije. The point is, peppersoup is loaded with fragrant, floral, and hot spices, whatever they may be. Sadly, many of these native spices are hard to find online, though you can usually spot them in African markets. You can also buy peppersoup seasoning all mixed up and ready to power through your nasal passages.

Harris also offers an alternative spice mix in The Africa Cookbook which weve reprinted here. She writes that this version was invented by homesick Nigerians to mimic the flavors found in more traditional Nigerian recipes.

Chicken Peppersoup

Jessica B. Harris

A Note on an Essential Nigerian Ingredient:

Red palm oil, a staple cooking fat and flavoring in West Africa, is extracted from the fruit of a type of palm tree indigenous to West Africa. It should not be confused with palm kernel oil, which is extracted from the seed of the same (or similar) plants. While it's important to source sustainable, fair-trade, unrefined red palm oil (Onwuachi's preferred brand is Nutiva), its the farming of palm kernel oil, seen in many packaged foods, thats largely responsible for deforestation, habitat destruction, and human rights violations.

Originally Appeared on Epicurious
Norbert Dickman, the longtime general manager of Fasken Oil and Ranch, died Wednesday after a battle with leukemia.

The Chicago native was known for his community involvement and received numerous awards for his philanthropy, both in Midland, where he arrived in 1988, and in Laredo, where Fasken owns the La Posada Hotel.

Dickman was recognized by a number of nonprofit organizations he supported, including being named a Person of Vision by the Permian Basin branch of Prevent Blindness Texas and as Distinguished Citizen by the Buffalo Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

"The whole Permian Basin and the whole of Texas will feel his loss," David Chapman, scout executive and chief executive officer of the Buffalo Trail Council said in a phone interview.

Tom and Nadine Craddick issued a statement saying, "Norbert was a great friend and a man of faith. He was a man of his word and was tenacious and persistent. This is a major loss for the community for all of his involvement and community activities."
President Donald Trump is greeted by Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union, as the president arrives to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2020, at National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Md., Saturday Feb. 29, 2020.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

A Fox News guest who visited CPAC downplayed the coronavirus's efficacy by referring to his own symptoms.

Matt Schlapp, the husband of former White House strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp and the chairman of a pro-Trump group, said he personally "never had a symptom."

"People become near hysterical when they feel like they could get this virus very easily," Schlapp said. "And what the CPAC experience has taught the whole country ... is that it's actually hard to get it."

The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified the COVID-19 disease as a global pandemic, after over 110,000 people were infected and 4,200 died, the majority of cases in China.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A Fox News guest who visited the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where an attendee tested positive for the coronavirus, downplayed the virus's efficacy by referring to his own nonexistent symptoms.

Matt Schlapp, the husband of former White House strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp and the chairman of the pro-Trump American Conservative Union, said he personally "never had a symptom" from the coronavirus, and brushed aside worries after at least one attendee tested positive.

"One thing we've learned is, even when there's an infected person amongst thousands ... it's very, very difficult to contract this virus," Schlapp said on Fox News on Wednesday morning.

"People become near hysterical when they feel like they could get this virus very easily," Schlapp added. "And what the CPAC experience has taught the whole country ... is that it's actually hard to get it."

At least five Republican congressional lawmakers have self-quarantined themselves after attending CPAC, which was held between February 26-29 in Maryland. One of the Republicans, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, said he would still undergo a 14-day self-quarantine, despite testing negative for the coronavirus, "under doctor's usual precautionary recommendations."

Story continues

President Donald Trump, left, standing with Vice President Mike Pence and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, right, talks to reporters about the coronavirus outbreak, March 10, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Associated Press

Schlapp downplayed the warnings raised by scientists on the coronavirus's propensity to spread through human hosts, and contradicted their advice.

"What we can't do is get people thinking that the test is what matters," Schlapp said on Fox News. "What matters is your symptoms. I don't have any. The president doesn't have any."

Although US-based scientists from the Johns Hopkins University reportedly warned that most people who contract the virus show symptoms by the fifth day, they added that the virus can still be transferred through a carrier up to 27 days after their infection.

Schlapp's portrayal of the virus mimicked that of other Fox News opinion hosts in recent weeks. Several of these hosts, including Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, have portrayed concerns over the virus as one that was overhyped by news organizations.

His comments also come as the White House ordered health officials to secretly classify top-level meetings on the coronavirus, according to four Trump administration officials in a Reuters report.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday classified the COVID-19 disease as a global pandemic, after over 110,000 people were infected and 4,200 died, the majority of cases in China. So far, around 30 people in the US have died and over 1,000 people were infected.

President Donald Trump and other senior officials have been criticized after similarly downplaying the coronavirus's spread in the US.

"A lot people will have this and it's very mild," Trump said last week. "They'll get better very rapidly. They don't even see a doctor. They don't even call a doctor."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Famous for his classic bad-boy persona and a self-confessed real-life casanova, Russell Brand has found himself in the middle of the controversy because of the coronavirus scare.

The British comedian was accused of making a scene in a Qantas flight in Australia as he walked out the plane before it took off.

Russell Brand Threw Temper Tantrum

Jordan Trevis, a fellow passenger from Flight QF573, claims that Brand was rude to the flight attendants and was constantly complaining about his seat.

"He gets on and he's being a bit rude. He was complaining about the plane and how close he had to sit to someone else," Trevis told The West Australian.

The passenger also added: "He started complaining about the seat and the quality, it wasn't what he was expecting."

Trevis detailed that Brand grabbed his belongings, went to the bathroom and stormed off the aircraft before take-off.

"He was causing a bit of a scene. They [the flight attendants] weren't too happy with him, he was clearly being a bit rude," the passenger recalled.

Three flight attendants spoke to Brand and tried to appease the situation.

Cancelled Show Due to Coronavirus Scare

Brand's outrage has been linked to his canceled sold-out gig in Perth last March 9.

It was reported that a woman who attended the West Australian Symphony Orchestra at the Perth Concert Hall was tested positive for coronavirus.

The flamboyant comedian was set to perform in the same location for his Recovery Live tour.

Following this, the 44-year-old author and host have decided to cancel the show amid the virus outbreak. He posted a message through his Twitter and apologized to his fans.

"We have to SADLY CANCEL TONIGHT'S SHOW IN #PERTH because there has been a CONFIRMED CASE OF CORONAVIRUS in someone who attended a recent show and I am not happy with risk for me or for any of you. My apologies, I hope I see you soon."

Both Qantas and Brand's representative have not yet released any statement regarding the issue.

2020 Recovery Live Tour

In December of 2019, the British comedian announced that he will return to Australia to hold a series of shows for his Recovery Live tour.

In his 90-minute show, Brand discussed how he managed to cope up with sex and drug addiction. Also, the host turned activist shared how wellness and finding spiritual balance has saved his life.

"This is a program for living for those aspiring to be saints who have lived too long among demons. This is an alternative vision for life at a time devoid of real values and connection," Brand shared. "This could be the thing you have been looking for and it's weird that this is the way you're going to find it."

Brand's tour has kicked off last February 27th in Brisbane, followed by his show in Canberra on February 29th, Newcastle on March 2nd, State Theatre on March 3rd, Hamer Hall on March 6th and Perth on March 9th. His last location for this leg was in Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide on March 10th.
Pennsylvania officials on Thursday insisted they havent been hampered by any shortage of coronavirus tests, and that all likely cases have been tested.

We are not triaging samples because of a shortage of tests, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday reported that a state health department spokeswoman confirmed the department had continued to use federal testing guidelines after they had been revised and relaxed. That raises the possibility the state may have denied tests to people whose doctor felt they should be tested.

In the first weeks of the outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said tests should be restricted to people who had coronavirus symptoms and who had traveled in an area of known coronavirus outbreaks. Recently, the CDC revised the guidelines to allow testing for people whose doctor concluded a test was warranted.

Nationally, the CDC has been slow to provide an adequate supply of kits. That created concern about people carrying coronavirus but not being tested because of a shortage.

The availability of tests in Pennsylvania and the criteria for testing people were a major topic during a news conference Thursday as reporters questioned state officials including Levine and Gov. Tom Wolf.

Levine acknowledged at least the potential for a shortage of tests, saying the state regularly discusses the test kit supply with federal agencies, and were trying to make sure testing is as available as possible.

So far, most if not all coronavirus testing has been done by the state health department. When a doctor believes a patient should be tested, the doctor must get an OK from the health department.

On Thursday, state officials were asked if there have been instances where a doctor wanted a test and the state denied the test, but still directed the person to isolate themselves out of fear the person might have the coronavirus and spread it.

Officials, including Wolf, said that has not happened.

Dr. Sharon Watkins, the director of the states bureau of epidemiology, said there have been instances of tests being denied and the person being advised to stay home. But it involved people with illnesses other than a possible case of coronavirus, she said.

I can assure you we are testing people as needed, she said.

Watkins said the health department has been doing dozens and dozens and dozens of consultations with doctors wanting to know if a patient should be tested.

As of late Thursday afternoon, the state had tested 219 people, with 22 testing positive and 116 testing negative. The state was awaiting results on another 81 tests.
Indian market have reversed sharply after hitting their fresh record highs in January. The S&P BSE Sensex hit a record high of 42,273, while Nifty50 hit a life high of 12430 on January 20, 2020. Sensex and Nifty50 are now down by about 16 percent and 19 percent, respectively, from their record highs in a just a matter of 2 months. This has opened doors for long-term investors to buy into quality stocks which are available at attractive valuations, suggest experts. More than 50 percent of the stocks in the S&P BSE Sensex and Nifty50 have recorded double-digit losses during the January 14-March 9 period, data from AceEquity showed. Close Related stories Taking Stock | Sensex up 221 points, Nifty stays above 18,000; IT, power gain, metals hit

Bajar Gupshup | Volatile session ends on a positive note; IT index gains most

Seven steps to make 2022 a financially prosperous year As many as 19 companies in the S&P BSE Sensex have fallen 10-40 percent since January 14. The list includes TCS, Sun Pharma, ICICI Bank, M&M, Hero MotoCorp, SBI, IndusInd Bank and ONGC. Among Nifty, 37 companies fell 10-40 percent, including Tata Motors, Yes Bank, Tata Steel, GAIL India, SBI, Hero MotoCorp, JSW Steel, Axis Bank and Bharti Infratel.

There are more than 300 stocks in the S&P BSE 500 index which have fallen 10-80 percent since January, including Bliss GVS Pharma, Andhra Bank, Indian Bank, Dilip Buildcon, Motherson Sumi, PNB, Delta Corp, Allahabad Bank, Parag Milk, Reliance Capital and Gayatri Projects. From record high in January to 52-week low on March 9, has turned tables for the bulls. There is a fear of recession which is looming over financial markets across the globe. The rising Coronavirus cases across the world is threatening to disrupt the supply chain and slow down economic activity. It seems that global markets are in a firm downturn and the trigger point has been coronavirus which has impacted global growth and supply chain. As for India, crude collapsing, M-cap to GDP being at low levels, anemic growth in corporate profits in the last couple of years and low leverage in the system will save us from the hard-hitting our markets beyond a point, Paras Bothra, President of Equity Research, Ashika Stock Broking told Moneycontrol. Though levels are hard to predict rather we would be more willing to focus on corporate fundamentals and its earning cycles and the market expectation of valuations for these companies, thereby the value price mismatch which the market offers, he said. Stay away from catching a falling knife:
Do you really want to learn how to change a tire in the middle of the snowstorm at midnight, or would you rather practice that ahead of time?" said Emad Isaac, vice president of engineering at Arity. "If we practice  we can see if there are shortcomings and take action.
The 75-year-old man had returned from Saudi Arabia last month

Hyderabad/ Kalaburagi: A suspected Covid-19 patient, who sought treatment in a private hospital in Hyderabad, died in an ambulance on the way back to his residence in Kalaburagi in Karnataka.

The 76-year-old, who had returned from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia last month, suffered from acute breathlessness and was referred to Hyderabad by doctors in Bidar.

The patient had undergone treatment at a hospital in Bidar for three days but there was no improvement in his condition. After sending throat swabs and blood samples for Covid-19 testing, the doctors in Bidar referred him to Hyderabad.

The patient, however, failed to get emergency care in two private hospitals in Hyderabad as he was suffering from acute breathlessness and lung dysfunction, the symptoms that were similar to that of Covid-19.

The patient was referred to Gandhi Hospital but the family was not ready to go there. Another private hospital examined the patient in the emergency section but again advised them to go to Gandhi Hospital.

The family was given an option of hospitalisation in the isolation unit. But if the patient was found to have been infected by coronavirus, the doctors told the family that he must be shifted to Gandhi Hospital.

But the family rejected the option and decided to take the patient back to Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) in a private ambulance. During their journey, the patient passed away.

Senior district medical and health officials in Hyderabad have asked medical professionals who treated them to be alert for any symptoms.

Hospital staff stated that they had worn full protection gear while treating the patient and protocols laid down for treating these patients have been adhered to. The health officials, however, have asked them to report if any symptoms are noted in a weeks time.

Final rites were carried out in Kalaburagi under the supervision of medical and health officials of the district.

District health officer of Kalaburagi M.A. Jabbar said, The final rites were not done with bare hands and protective measures were completely taken. Our officers have supervised the process.
There will be even less Irish cheer this St. Patricks Day in Greater Springfield

In addition to cancellation of the Holyoke St. Patricks Parade and Road Race, two other events will not be taking place this month.

The Aqua Sting Band mummers have decided to postpone their annual visit to The Student Prince and downtown Springfield pub crawl previously scheduled for Thursday, March 19, and Friday, March 20.

Likewise, the Hibernians of Hampden Hampshire Counties have postponed the annual Communion Breakfast, which was scheduled for March 15 at the Wherehouse? in Holyoke.

Organizers hope to reschedule both events.
A room-temperature bonding technique for integrating wide bandgap materials such as gallium nitride (GaN) with thermally-conducting materials such as diamond could boost the cooling effect on GaN devices and facilitate better performance through higher power levels, longer device lifetime, improved reliability and reduced manufacturing costs. The technique could have applications for wireless transmitters, radars, satellite equipment and other high-power and high-frequency electronic devices.

The technique, called surface-activated bonding, uses an ion source in a high vacuum environment to first clean the surfaces of the GaN and diamond, which activates the surfaces by creating dangling bonds. Introducing small amounts of silicon into the ion beams facilitates forming strong atomic bonds at room temperature, allowing the direct bonding of the GaN and single-crystal diamond that allows the fabrication of high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs).

The resulting interface layer from GaN to single-crystal diamond is just four nanometers thick, allowing heat dissipation up to two times more efficient than in the state-of-the-art GaN-on-diamond HEMTs by eliminating the low-quality diamond left over from nanocrystalline diamond growth. Diamond is currently integrated with GaN using crystalline growth techniques that produce a thicker interface layer and low-quality nanocrystalline diamond near the interface. Additionally, the new process can be done at room temperature using surface-activated bonding techniques, reducing the thermal stress applied to the devices.

"This technique allows us to place high thermal conductivity materials much closer to the active device regions in gallium nitride," said Samuel Graham, the Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair and Professor in Georgia Tech's George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. "The performance allows us to maximize the performance for gallium nitride on diamond systems. This will allow engineers to custom design future semiconductors for better multifunctional operation."

The research, conducted in collaboration with scientists from Meisei University and Waseda University in Japan, was reported February 19 in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. The work was supported by a multidisciplinary university research initiative (MURI) project from the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR).

For high-power electronic applications using materials such as GaN in miniaturized devices, heat dissipation can be a limiting factor in power densities imposed on the devices. By adding a layer of diamond, which conducts heat five times better than copper, engineers have tried to spread and dissipate the thermal energy.

However, when diamond films are grown on GaN, they must be seeded with nanocrystalline particles around 30 nanometers in diameter, and this layer of nanocrystalline diamond has low thermal conductivity - which adds resistance to the flow of heat into the bulk diamond film. In addition, the growth takes place at high temperatures, which can create stress-producing cracks in the resulting transistors.

"In the currently used growth technique, you don't really reach the high thermal conductivity properties of the microcrystalline diamond layer until you are a few microns away from the interface," Graham said. "The materials near the interface just don't have good thermal properties. This bonding technique allows us to start with ultra-high thermal conductivity diamond right at the interface."

By creating a thinner interface, the surface-activated bonding technique moves the thermal dissipation closer to the GaN heat source.

"Our bonding technique brings high thermal conductivity single crystal diamond closer to the hot spots in the GaN devices, which has the potential to reshape the way these devices are cooled," said Zhe Cheng, a recent Georgia Tech Ph.D. graduate who is the paper's first author. "And because the bonding takes place near room temperature, we can avoid thermal stresses that can damage the devices."

That reduction in thermal stress can be significant, going from as much as 900 megapascals (MPa) to less than 100 MPa with the room temperature technique. "This low stress bonding allows for thick layers of diamond to be integrated with the GaN and provides a method for diamond integration with other semiconductor materials," Graham said.

Beyond the GaN and diamond, the technique can be used with other semiconductors, such as gallium oxide, and other thermal conductors, such as silicon carbide. Graham said the technique has broad applications to bond electronic materials where thin interfacial layers are advantageous.

"This new pathway gives us the ability to mix and match materials," he said. "This can provide us with great electrical properties, but the clear advantage is a vastly superior thermal interface. We believe this will prove to be the best technology available so far for integrating wide bandgap materials with thermally-conducting substrates."

In future work, the researchers plan to study other ion sources and evaluate other materials that could be integrated using the technique.

"We have the ability to choose processing conditions as well as the substrate and semiconductor material to engineer heterogenous substrates for wide bandgap devices," Graham said. "That allows us to choose the materials and integrate them to maximize electrical, thermal and mechanical properties."

###

In addition to the researchers already mentioned, the paper included co-corresponding author Fengwen Mu from Meisei University and Waseda University in Japan, Luke Yates from Georgia Tech, and Tadatomo Suga from Meisei University.

This research was supported by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) through MURI Grant No. N00014-18-1-2429. Any findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and not necessarily of the Office of Naval Research.

CITATION: Zhe Cheng, Fengwen Mu, Luke Yates, Tadatomo Suga and Samuel Graham, "Interfacial Thermal Conductance across Room-Temperature-Bonded GaN/Diamond Interfaces for GaN-on-Diamond Devices," (ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2020, 12, 8376?8384). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b16959
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The state Senate approved last week legislation filed by Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, designed to make it easier for schools to recruit teachers by helping ease the transition for teachers making the jump from private to public schools.

Right now, for a teacher to switch from a private school to a public school, they fear their years of private teaching are lost, at least in terms of their retirement credit, McClure said. This creates another challenge for our public schools who are already struggling to recruit good teachers in the midst of a statewide teacher shortage.
The first modern hotel in Birmingham (The Magic City) was built in 1914 by two prominent businessmen, Robert Jemison, Jr. and George Crawford Major Tutwiler, who was the main financial supporter through his Tutwiler Coal and Coke Company.

The hotel was originally built in order to convince the American Iron and Steel Institute to have its annual convention in Birmingham. At the time it was erected there were no other luxury hotel accommodations and the Tutwiler would be considered one of the finest hotels in the country. Today a portion of it remains but at a different location. Originally the hotel was built on the corner of 20th Street and 5th Avenue North in downtown Birmingham.

Like all luxury hotels of the time it had a spectacular era of galas, famous guests and historical events. Several high-profile events were held there such as Tallulah Bankheads post wedding party.

Another was a press conference held by Charles Lindbergh on his nationwide tour with the Spirit of St. Louis. He was promoting aviation after his Atlantic crossing from New Jersey to Paris in 1927.

Unfortunately, like many other grand hotels of the era that have been razed, the Tutwiler also slowly deteriorated to the point where it was closed and faced demolition. In 1974 it finally reached the point where the original hotel was imploded.

After a 12-year absence the name Hotel Tutwiler rose like a phoenix out of its ashes and took over the Ridgely Apartments a few blocks away on Park Place, thus reinstating the absence of the name Hotel Tutwiler from its downtown landscape after an absence of 12 years.

In 1985 the City of Birmingham was awarded an Urban Development Act grant and with some private financing the old hotel was re-opened. The original marble floors, exterior and vaulted railings were maintained in its renovation. Many modern amenities such as a fitness center, business center, signature restaurant and suites have been added. Only a swimming pool is missing but the hotels history of offering rooms with a view was included as all of the 149 rooms feature expansive windows that show off the city scape of the modern Birmingham.

Like all grand luxury hotels of the past the Tutwiler has its stories of its resident ghost. The hotels story is that Major Tutwiler, who formerly lived at the Ridgely Apartments, decided to stay at the new Hotel Tutwiler and that his spirit has the bad habit of knocking on doors at late hours and is known as The Knocker. Other tales claim he sometimes causes havoc in the bar and restaurant.

One story goes that a bartender got in trouble because he allegedly left the lights and stoves on after closing hours for several nights. The manager came in early one morning to discover that someone had prepared a large meal and drank a bottle of wine. Thus, developed its tradition of the staff addressing the ghost of Major Tutwiler with the words Goodnight Major and asking him not to mess up the kitchen.

The hotel is now officially the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Tutwiler Birmingham, Alabama. It is located at 2021 Park Place, Birmingham, Alabama 35203.

Centrally located and reasonably priced, a stay at the Tutwiler gives a visitor an enjoyable historical trip to the past era if you dont meet the ghost of Major Tutwiler or hear from The Knocker.

------

Jerry Summers

(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com


OTTAWA - Canada's largest labour organization and the group that bills itself as the voice of business in this country have set aside their differences to jointly confront the economic fallout from the rampaging novel coronavirus  and they're hoping premiers can do the same when they meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball, and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil arrive for a press conference following the Atlantic Premiers Conference at the Emera Innovation Centre in St. John's on Monday. January 13, 2020. Canada's largest labour organization and the group that bills itself as the voice of business in this country have set aside their differences to jointly confront the economic fallout from the rampaging novel coronavirus ? and they're hoping premiers can do the same when they meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

OTTAWA - Canada's largest labour organization and the group that bills itself as the voice of business in this country have set aside their differences to jointly confront the economic fallout from the rampaging novel coronavirus  and they're hoping premiers can do the same when they meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The heads of the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce are trying to arrange a conference call with premiers ahead of Friday's first ministers' meeting to discuss the potentially devastating effect of the pandemic on workers and businesses as the global economy teeters on the brink of recession.

Both organizations have applauded Trudeau's initial $1-billion response plan to the rapidly spreading virus, announced Wednesday, and CLC president Hassan Yussuff says they're not far apart on what more needs to be done.

Yussuff concedes "it may seem unusual" for him to be collaborating with chamber president Perrin Beatty but, he says, "we also recognize it's a moment for the country to come together." And, he hopes, it's an example for premiers, who'll be arriving Thursday in Ottawa for a two-hour meeting with Trudeau and Indigenous leaders before closeting themselves for a daylong first ministers' meeting Friday.

"I hope when the premiers meet on Friday that it's more of a collaborative front as to how we're going to deal with it," Yussuff said in an interview.

"Nobody's going to get (everything) they want, but if we can do something to help the whole country get back on its feet as quickly as possible, I think that would be the best solution. I think for me and Perrin, I'm hoping that our collaboration can show some example of how people need to work with each other at this moment in the history of the country."

Privately, federal officials are hoping the same or, at the very least, that premiers will tone down the bellicose rhetoric, finger-pointing and complaining that often attend first ministers' meetings.

That may prove impossible for some premiers, particularly Alberta's Jason Kenney, who has been at war with Trudeau over federal energy and climate policies that he maintains have destroyed his province's oil and gas industry. He couldn't resist a jab at the prime minister Wednesday just before boarding a flight to Ottawa at the Calgary International Airport.

"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 said. "We are facing an economic crisis in Canada and we need the national government to act accordingly with total focus on that issue."

The official agenda for Friday's meeting includes a laundry list of issues, including clean growth, competitiveness, health care transfer payments, pharmacare, climate change, gun control, infrastructure, equalization and fiscal stabilization payments to the provinces.

But the ever-widening ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic top the agenda and are expected to wind up monopolizing much of the day.

Yukon's Sandy Silver has announced he won't be attending the meeting at all, out of "an abundance of caution" about the virus. And as of Wednesday evening, New Brunswick's Blaine Higgs' attendance was uncertain.

"I haven't officially cancelled my trip there yet but we are in communications right now with the federal government and with my colleagues basically suggesting that we should be doing this by tele-conference," said Higgs.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister will miss at least the Thursday meeting with Indigenous leaders, after opposition parties blocked tabling of his government's budget on Wednesday.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil will be coming, looking for some direction from the federal government about the impact of the pandemic on the cruise ship season, which would normally get underway at ports in Halifax and Sydney next month.

"The government made a declaration that Canadians should stay off cruise ships and we have to deal with the issue that cruise ships are coming to us," McNeil said Wednesday, pointing out that potentially thousands of passengers from each ship could be visiting Canadian ports.

"We need Health Canada to be part of that conversation and it may be such a thing as we don't receive (passengers) or, if we do, what are the protocols."

Trudeau was clear that the federal government is already preparing to do more than the initial $1-billion response to COVID-19 announced Wednesday. That includes $500 million to the provinces and territories to bolster their health-care systems, waiving the one-week wait period for workers to claim Employment Insurance if they're quarantined or forced to self-isolate, and more funding for testing, research and personal protective equipment.

More measures are expected in the federal budget, to be unveiled March 30, and more could follow if necessary as the government assesses the reffect of the pandemic on the economy and on specific industries, particularly energy, tourism and aviation.

The energy industry has been hit by a double whammy  plunging oil prices due to both the abrupt reduction in travel around the globe and an oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Kenney intends to keep up the pressure for a more generous fiscal stabilization program, which was designed to help provinces that face sudden decreases in revenues, as happened in Alberta when oil prices crashed several years ago. He wants the $60 per capita cap lifted and the change to be applied retroactively, resulting in a $2.4-billion federal payment to his hard-hit province.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has signalled his willingness to reform the program, but Kenney is unlikely to see anything concrete until the budget in several weeks.

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Some premiers still have their own agendas for the meeting, beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

Ontario's Doug Ford, who has moderated his criticism since Trudeau won re-election last fall, is coming to Ottawa with a team of ministers to press for more federal funding for the Greater Toronto Area subway plan, critical infrastructure projects and health-care transfers. He also wants Ottawa to allow Ontario to nominate more economic immigrants to address a skilled labour shortage.

Newfoundland and Labrador's Dwight Ball, meanwhile, wants to talk about federal help to mitigate increases in power rates as a result of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project's cost overruns.

"I will not be taking my foot off the gas at all at on areas that impact Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. I'm committed to rate mitigation," he said earlier this week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on March 12, 2020

 With files from Keith Doucette in Halifax, Kevin Bissett in Fredericton and Holly McKenzie-Sutter in St. John's.
MARCH 11, 2020  Editors note: The following message was sent via email today from Vice President for Business Affairs Veronica Mendez to all faculty and staff:

Today, President Eighmy announced new preventative measures related to coronavirus. Read the full announcement on UTSA Today. I am writing to let you know how these actions will impact you, our faculty and staff.

First, it is important to note that there are no reported cases of coronavirus in the UTSA community at this time. These measures are being taken out of an abundance of caution to help protect our campus community. By putting these policies into place now, we provide our community with the best chance to remain safe.

Campuses Remain Open

We have a responsibility to provide services that support academic continuity and student success. As such, it is imperative that we continue to provide services to our students. UTSA campuses will remain open and business operations will continue as usual. Services, offices, dining and retail locations will remain open and available to the campus community.

At this time, employees should continue to report to work as usual at your designated locations.

Spring break hours will continue through next week with all classes cancelled. Students will begin virtual course instruction on Monday, March 23. While many students will not be on campus during this time, we will ensure services are available to them in support of their academic success.

Travel Guidelines

All university-sponsored international travel must be approved by the Office of Global Initiatives. This requirement applies to all trips currently scheduled, as well as any new trips in the planning stages.

At this time, there are no restrictions regarding domestic business travel. Please carefully evaluate any planned trips to areas in the United States with a high number of coronavirus cases. IOC will monitor domestic business travel to high impacted areas.

Although UT System and UTSA cannot restrict personal travel, all Roadrunners are strongly discouraged from personal international travel to areas with active community COVID-19 transmission. Your decision to travel to these areas for personal reasons may impact your ability to return to campus and to your regular professional or educational activities. In the coming days, we will provide a process to self-report personal travel.

Travelers showing symptoms or feeling sick after returning from these areas will be required to self-isolate and self-monitor symptoms for 14 days.

Read the full travel guidelines online. These guidelines may be updated if circumstances change.

Good Hygiene and Social Distancing

Its critical that we all practice good hygiene and social distancing. Most importantly, stay home if you are sick.

Avoid large gatherings. Consider if large events can be moved to a virtual delivery. Refer to FAQs.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Use hand sanitizer and surface wipes liberally, taking advantage of stations placed around UTSAs campuses.

Learn more about social distancing practices on the coronavirus webpage.

The University of Texas System's Office of Employee Benefits is closely monitoring activity around the coronavirus. Special arrangements have been made regarding health benefits. More information on coronavirus and your employee benefits is available online.

Student Employees

Many of you employ students in your offices. We encourage you to talk to your student employees to determine if they plan to continue coming to work once virtual course instruction begins. Begin reviewing available tasks and assignments to determine if your students may be able to work remotely. More guidance on how to proceed with student workers will be provided in the coming days.

For full information on the coronavirus, please refer to the universitys coronavirus webpage. UTSA continues to carefully monitor the outbreak, with the health and well-being of the campus community as our highest priority.
United ISD has released a letter to parents informing them a child at a local elementary school has a family member experiencing flu-like symptoms after traveling to Europe.

Gloria Rendon, the UISD Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Operations, said on Thursday that a family self-reported that they recently traveled to a European country on the Level 3 Travel Health Notice issued by the Centers for Disease Control.

The district was advised by the family that there was a sick member in the house. The letter was sent to parents of children at Colonel Santos Benavides because the UISD student had a sibling who attends United Day and was feeling sick after the trip, Rendon said.

READ MORE: Laredo hospital issues response after patients tested for coronavirus

UISD contacted the Laredo Health Department and sent the student home after they self-reported the trip and sick family member. Rendon stressed the student was not showing any signs of sickness.

We are going in tonight to clean the school and the building, Rendon said.

The letter states that the school district has notified the City of Laredo Health Department and the household is currently being monitored by the city.

For any questions, the UISD call centers number is 473-8000 and students, staff and faculty are asked to complete and submit their travel questionnaires.

Christian Ocampo may be reached at cocampo@lmtonline.com
The rapid onslaught of the coronavirus, financial market panic and the crash of global energy prices is setting up Donald Trump for one of the biggest challenges of his presidency, say analysts and former US government officials.

Unlike other tests he has faced since he took office in January 2017  including the trade war with China, his aggressive immigration policies and the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani  the latest events are external shocks that he did not engineer. That, they say, could challenge his usual ability to shape the narrative.

The current blows are also hitting Americans where they live, they add, and could test the limits of Trumps unique governing style as he works to stave off a possible US and global recession in an election year.

The outlook for a recession is very, very high, said Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. And US presidents tend not be re-elected in recession years or when unemployment declines significantly, even from a high level.

US stocks entered bear-market territory on Wednesday, with losses accelerating after the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Photo: AFP

That said, experts acknowledge that any assessment depends heavily on how hard and fast the pandemic hits and how quickly economic and political confidence is restored.

Clearly, the administrations challenges are rising. The US stock market suffered its largest drop since the 2008 financial crisis on Monday and has yo-yoed since then, and officially entered bear-market territory with a drop of nearly 6 per cent on Wednesday. Russia and Saudi Arabia started an oil price war that threatens to bankrupt US energy companies and hammer American banks. US consumer spending, the largest driver of the US economy, is highly vulnerable to a lengthy corona outbreak. And also on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.

This week, former Treasury secretary Lawrence Summers predicted an 80 per cent probability of a US recession and, in an interview with Bloomberg, called for a US$500 billion stimulus package by summers end. This comes amid economic downturns in China, Japan, Germany, Italy and Britain, among other nations.

Story continues

And surveys by Quartz and Moodys Analytics rated the probability of a recession within a year double what it was a month ago, although it remained below 50 per cent.

Trumps political fortunes could depend on how he is seen as leader in a time of crisis as the world looks for reassurance and steady hands. The early reviews have not been good.

Instead of relying on experts to help make informed policy choices, Trump has tended to play down health risks, talk up markets and tout cheaper gasoline.

We're prepared. We're doing a great job with it, Trump said on Tuesday. Stay calm and it will go away.

But as Andrew Yang, former Democratic presidential candidate and now a CNN commentator, observed on Tuesday night: Nothing makes you appreciate a functioning government like a global pandemic.

Traditionally during global crises, US presidents have stepped up to help build consensus and craft a coordinated approach. But that could be difficult given Trumps many trade wars, America First policies and distrust of multilateral groupings, analysts say.

This is the time we should be working with other countries. Its not just a national issue, this screams out for a global response, said one former administration official. And vis-a-vis China, I understand theres a lot of tension in the relationship. But I always thought there were issues where we should cooperate. And this is a prime candidate.

Its unfortunate that both sides seem to be throwing barbs at each other rather than working to address the health crisis, the official added.

As the political stakes have risen, Trump appears to be taking the threat more seriously, floating plans this week to stimulate the economy and try to stem the panic. Among the proposals under consideration are expanding loans to small businesses, increasing paid sick leave and extending tax relief for the hospitality industry. His administration also said it planned to delay the April 15 deadline for paying income taxes.

On Wednesday, congressional Democrats and the White House worked to put together the first batch of emergency stimulus measures. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, speaking to lawmakers, said he hoped to reach agreement on a relief package within 48 hours and get it to Trump for his signature.

But many of the economic stimulus measures under consideration could be difficult to implement quickly, analysts said.

While Trump has relied heavily on executive orders in order to bypass the legislative branch  as did President Barack Obama before him  most of the fiscal stimulus measures under consideration require congressional approval.

Any rapid passage of legislation could be frustrated by the open distrust Trump has expressed toward opposition Democrats, whose cooperation he needs. This is their new hoax, he said at a recent rally, blaming Democrats for focusing on the coronavirus.

Trumps focus on stocks, and tendency to see rising markets as a measure of his performance, also presents political challenges.

The virus can only hurt President Trump if he makes false claims about it or is thought not to be taking it seriously enough, said Sean King, senior vice-president at Park Strategies and a former Commerce Department official. A stock market that doesnt recover can really hurt him, however, as hes so far used the market as a way to keep score throughout his presidency.

While markets, and the Trump administration, want a rapid policy response to help calm investors, even emergency measures in Congress can take weeks. Congress also has scheduled breaks coming up, significant differences over spending priorities and growing virus-related fear among members about remaining in Washington.

US Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (left), a Democrat from New Jersey, and Cheri Bustos, a Democrat from Illinois, use hand sanitiser during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg

When Congress does act, it almost guarantees it will be insufficient from the markets standpoint, said Henrietta Treyz, economic policy director with consultancy Veda Partners and a former congressional staffer. Everyones very frustrated. Expectations are out of alignment.

Governments around the world have been sorely tested by the pandemic and the enormous challenges it presents. But Trumps impatience with process, experts and what he calls the deep state has hobbled the governments ability to respond rapidly, critics say.

The US has squandered the time that China bought us in part because the policy apparatus in charge of a response has been completely hollowed out under the current administration, said Megan Greene, a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.

There does seem to be some insularity that isnt unique to the US  a feeling that this is striking places far away but couldnt interfere in our lives the same way, she added.

In 2018, the Trump administration dismantled a global health security team under the National Security Council responsible for coordinating the US response in the event of a deadly pandemic. That same year, it cut by 80 per cent funding to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention earmarked for preventing global disease outbreaks, scaling back coordination with China. And it has eliminated a US$30 million Complex Crises emergency response fund used for deploying disease experts in an outbreak.

Trumps continued belief that the health threat and related economic fallout will be limited, combined with his focus on loyalty and deference, has left cabinet members reluctant to take preventive measures, analysts say. And it has led to a muddled crisis management response as senior health officials relay contradictory messages or avoid speaking out.

The lack of unity or clear messaging from the White House is keeping the odds of a stimulus deal passing this week lower than the market is anticipating, said Treyz. The White Houses message that the economy is strong and resilient is at sharp odds with the signals coming from the market.

That said, pundits have frequently underestimated Trumps ability to disarm political opponents, exploit divisions and coalesce pockets of support around himself.

Thomas J. Duesterberg, senior fellow with the conservative Hudson Institute, discounts the idea that voters or companies will blame Trump for the virus or his managing the crisis. Its hard for me to see how public at this point can blame anyone for coronavirus outbreak, he said. A lot depends on how serious the spread of this is.

American presidents tend to lead by example, but some say Trumps personal response has sent the wrong message. Even as conventions, festivals, sporting events and Democratic candidates speeches are cancelled to discourage mass gatherings, Trump has continued holding large rallies and shaking hands with supporters.

He has also opted not to get tested despite having spoken at a conservative conference late last month attended by confirmed carriers of the coronavirus.

I spoke to the White House doctor, a terrific guy, a talented guy, and he sees no reason to do it, Trump told reporters on Tuesday. Theres no symptoms.

The loyalty Trump commands from his base and Americas deeply divided electorate has seen even disease become a partisan issue. Recent surveys, including one by Quinnipiac University, suggest that Republicans are significantly less likely than Democrats to take the virus seriously, or take personal health precautions, believing the risks are exaggerated. But pollsters add that this gap could narrow as the disease spreads.

Hes continued to hold political rallies, said Kirkegaard. Hes more concerned with fake news rather than convincing his own supporters they should protect themselves.

Trumps inaction is going to cost lives, he added. The silence from the White House has been deafening.

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A brave doctor who got infected with coronavirus while treating patients in Madrid has taken to Twitter for posting daily updates of how the disease is taking a toll over his body.

IMAGE: A man takes pictures of a monument displayed with a protective mask, after regional authorities postponed the Fallas Festival amidst coronavirus concerns in Valencia, Spain. Photograph: Susana Vera/Reuters

According to the New York Post, Dr Yale Chen (@yaletung) (pictured below) tweets lung ultrasounds and accounts of his symptoms each day to raise awareness and garner well-wishes from his followers.

In the tweet from March 9, the first day he got diagnosed, Chen said that he developed a sore throat, severe headache, but no abnormalities in his lungs.

The caption of the post read: "Day 1 after #COVID diagnosis. Sore throat, headache (strong!), Dry cough but not shortness of breath. No lung US abnormalities. Will keep a #POCUS track of my lungs".

On the second day, Chen updated: "Day 2 after #COVID diagnosis. Less sore throat, cough & headache (thank God!), still no shortness of breath or pleuritic chest pain. #POCUS update: small bilateral pleural effusion, thickened pleural line & basal b-lines (plaps)".

In common terms, it means that there is fluid buildup in the lungs, New York Post cited WebMD.

Even though there is phlegm accumulation, things still sound fine on the stethoscope, Chen commented on this tweet.

On Day 3, Chen reported having overcome headache and sore throat. However, he developed diarrhoea. Also, fluids were still found to be present in his lungs, New York Post reported further.

The tweet for this day read: "Day 3 after #COVID diagnosis. No sore throat/headache. Yesterday was cough day, still no shortness of breath/chest pain. Diarrhoea started, lucky cough got better. #POCUS update: similar effusion, seems less thickened pleural line + no b-lines".

In the latest tweet on day 4, the doctor intimated his followers that his cough has got worse and he feels extremely tired, though he hasn't experienced any chest pain till now.

"Day 4 after #COVID diagnosis. More cough & tiredness (very badly), still no dyspnea/chest pain. #POCUS update: Right side on resolution, Left side a more thickened pleural line + 2 subpleural consolidations" the tweet read.
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- As universities from across the state switch to online-only learning, no K-12 schools have in Genesee County have followed suit.

Other precautions, however, have been and continue to be in the works.

In addition to continuing to teach children to sing The ABCs for 20 seconds while washing their hands, many Genesee County School districts have postponed or canceled events, limited the audience members allowed at sporting events and increased cleaning in buildings amid coronavirus concerns.

Districts have been in touch with the health department to determine how to move the school year forward amid coronavirus concerns, according to district officials.

Thursday, March 12: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

The Genesee Intermediate School District has been in regular communication with local district superintendents, public school academy directors and private school leaders in Genesee County, the GISD said in a Wednesday, March 11 media statement.

We continue to urge parents and our entire community to follow the recommendations of county, state, and national health organizations in terms of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Families are encouraged to visit our website for the most updated information regarding this evolving situation, the GISD statement reads.

Further updates would be available Thursday afternoon, GISD Associate Superintendent Steven Tunnicliff said in an email.

I am asking for your understanding that this is a rapidly evolving situation. The GISD has been in communication with local superintendents and other school leaders throughout the day, the email reads.

A plan for Flint Community Schools would be made available Friday, March 13, Superintendent Derrick Lopez said during a Wednesday board meeting. Before the state of emergency was announced, the district distributed brochures from the Center for Disease control and Michigan Health Department to its schools, according to Lopez.

School districts for K-12 students operate differently than universities, Lopez said. In person communication is far more important in younger years and, for some students, having breakfast and lunch available through the school during the day is sometimes their main meal. These factors are all under consideration, he said.

Teachers have also been pressing best hand washing and other health practices like avoiding touching their faces.

We began that process when it became clear this would become a challenge for every state of the union so we began those communications last week," Lopez said.

When it comes to speaking to children about the coronavirus, Lopez said the district is mentoring adults on how to communicate about the situation.

Kids are kids. Kids adapt probably better than adults in these situation because theyre like, OK, what do I need to do to be safe?' I think whats really important for us is to make sure were putting plans in place that, whatever the contingency may be, we have a response to it because kids dont do what you say, they do what they see. If the adults are responding in a responsible manner that keeps that keeps them safe, (kids) will do the exact same thing," he said.

Other Genesee County district superintendents could not be reached for comment throughout Thursday because they were in a meeting with the GISD and other local and state officials.

Grand Blanc Community Schools Superintendent Clarence Garner told parents in a March 12 districtwide letter that they should prepare for extended school closings of two weeks or more.

The letter also says that there are remote learning options available for students who cannot be sent to school due to a pre-existing condition or compromised immune system.

The Grand Blanc district is also canceling all attendance-based incentive programs, field trips, school-sponsored travel, performances and assemblies including the high schools production of Legally Blonde.

Grand Blanc Schools warn parents about extended, coronavirus-related closings

Fenton Area Public Schools is taking a half-day for all students Friday, March 13 to give teachers a professional development day to work on virtual learning programs in case online learning only becomes necessary, according to a district Facebook post.

It has also canceled Kindergarten Round Up night and all other events and field trips until spring break the week of March 30 and will be reassessing the situation after break.

Fenton schools cancels Kindergarten Round Up due to coronavirus

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In Puerto Rico, can disaster relief build resiliency?

by Ellen Anderson

March 12,2020 | Source: University of Minnesota

Puerto Rico seems to be in the news only after a natural or economic disaster. I had the opportunity to visit the island in February, and it was an eye-opening experience.



It shocked me to see a part of the United States where families live in tents because its not safe to return to their homes, and where dozens of school buildings are abandoned and empty of children. A perfect storm of natural disasters  often exacerbated by climate change  along with economic stress, a failing electricity grid and political troubles, have prevented this beautiful island from fulfilling its promise. Still recovering from Hurricane Maria, millions of dollars of aid have failed to provide a truly resilient home for its residents.



My most important takeaway is that effective disaster response should send solar and batteries.



As University of Minnesota Professor Gabe Chan recently told MPR News, Hurricane Maria had between 3,000 and 5,000 deaths, and the majority of those deaths were attributed to a lack of energy.



This is a new reality we must be prepared to face. As temperatures rise globally, we can expect more climate change-fueled disasters, and not just on islands and coastal areas. Increasing temperatures bring more intense storms and droughts; more water vapor is evaporated into the atmosphere, fueling more powerful storms; and rising ocean temperatures and rising sea levels can increase tropical storm winds and waves.



Given this reality, our disaster relief strategies should anticipate the need for resilient power. Instead, what I learned in Puerto Rico is that conventional disaster assistance actually makes things worse when it comes to sustainable energy solutions.



After Hurricane Maria, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) installed 1667 generators across the island, many the size of trucks, using 10,000 gallons of diesel a day. Not only does this mean climate-disaster relief, in fact, has a very dirty climate footprint; we also were reminded by Bahamian leaders at the Clinton Global Initiatives Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery that diesel to fuel generators cost hundreds of dollars to operate, beyond the means of most hurricane-affected residents.



While well-intentioned, this pattern of short-term disaster solutions can have a paperweight effect sending equipment that communities dont have money or capacity to support over time. Heegaard, who built his first emergency electricity system as a Burning Man medical station, said during our tour of their mobile trailers that disaster relief efforts generally send the wrong stuff. Instead of diesel generators, plastic water bottles, and blue tarps, we should be sending solar plus batteries, water filters, and resilient, sustainable shelters. Instead, disaster relief is mostly powered by fossil fuels: flights, shipping, and on-site auxiliary power.

 2020 The Energy News Network

Theme(s): Others.
JUNEAU, Alaska - Gov. Mike Dunleavys pick to lead the Department of Revenue told lawmakers Thursday she is passionate about working to identify alternative revenue sources for the state.

Lucinda Mahoney, in testimony before the Senate Finance Committee, said the state needs a long-term fiscal plan that evaluates all sources of revenues and pushes down on spending. Additionally, she said debt and opportunities to refinance it should be looked at.

She testified by phone for her confirmation hearing Thursday, saying she was dealing with a bad cold.

Mahoney is a former chief financial officer for the city of Anchorage. More recently, she has worked as a business consultant, according to her resume. Her appointment as Revenue commissioner is subject to legislative approval.

She said measures have been put in place to avoid potential conflicts of interest in her role as Revenue commissioner with work done by her husband, Steve Mahoney, an attorney who has represented oil and gas interests. Mahoney said that includes delegating settlement and litigation issues her husband would be involved in to Deputy Commissioner Mike Barnhill.

Questioned on that issue by Anchorage Democratic Sen. Bill Wielechowski, Mahoney said she did not intend to be involved in anything historical associated with any of the issues or any of the matters that my husband has been involved with. But she said if there were forward-looking proposals, such as a bill to change oil taxes, she would be involved in that.

Im very passionate about working hard to identify alternative revenue sources, and if that includes changes to the tax formulas, my goal is to do whats best for the state of Alaska, she said later.

Dunleavy, a Republican, has not introduced any tax bills this session. Barnhill previously told House lawmakers the Department of Revenue is interested in future discussions with lawmakers on sales taxes.

The state, which has been struggling with a long-running deficit, relies on oil revenue and earnings from its oil-wealth fund, the Alaska Permanent Fund, to help pay for government expenses. North Slope oil prices this week have been below $40 a barrel.
The Mayor of London was today branded 'totally irresponsible' after he pressed on with Question Time despite health officials warning against large public gatherings.

Sadiq Khan last night hosted a People's Question Time at the Battersea Arts Centre in Wandsworth, southwest London, which has a capacity for some 640 people.

But Mayoral candidate Rory Stewart slammed the decision, warning large public gatherings should be cancelled and schools closed in a bid to prevent coronavirus spreading further.

Sadiq Khan last night hosted People's Question Time in the Grand Hall of the Battersea Arts Centre in Wandsworth - which has a capacity for some 640 people

In a video posted on social media, the Mayor (pictured last night), said: 'We should be carrying on doing what we've been doing'

Mayoral candidate Rory Stewart slammed the decision, warning large public gatherings should be cancelled and schools closed in a bid to prevent coronavirus spreading further

Stewart told Nick Ferrari on LBC this morning that he deems it necessary to shut down schools and public gatherings as the impact of the virus gains pace.

He warned the impact this would have on Britain's economy would be 'severe' but a necessary precaution.

He told the show: 't's very important to understand that dealing with a virus like this is very costly, but you have to take that impact because if you don't... this virus currently doubles every 3-6 days.

'If it doubles every three days, we'd go from the current caseload we have now to potentially over 100,000 cases within 24 days.

'You have to get on top of this. That's why it was totally irresponsible to gather all those MPs together for the Budget.

'It was completely irresponsible of the Mayor yesterday to hold a Mayor's Question Time where he filled the room full of people. Responsible leaders should not be doing this.'

Hundreds of Londoners came together for the packed meeting in southwest London

People at the sold-out event were given the opportunity to put their questions to the Mayor

But Khan appeared unfazed in the face of COVID-19, telling his one million Twitter followers he was following the advice of Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty.

In a video posted on social media, Khan said: 'We should be carrying on doing what we've been doing.

'Go to work as normal. Use the bus and the tube.'

In a statement, the London Assembly said: 'The UK Chief Medical Officer has assessed the risk to the public as moderate.

'We are aware that this is a fast-moving situation and we are in regular contact with Public Health England to ensure we are ready to take any action required. At present the current advice is for people to go about their daily lives and there are no plans to cancel this event.

'We will be monitoring the situation closely and will notify Londoners if there are any changes.'
Authorities have charged a South Jersey man in the 2016 killing of a Gloucester County resident whose remains were recently located in a wooded area in Deptford Township.

Michael A. Zappley, 63, of Westville, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Miguel Martinez III, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office.

Zappley has admitted to the crime and to burning the victims body, investigators said, though he claims the killing followed a fight.

Martinez, 30, was reported missing to Deptford police on June 15, 2016. Police believed the disappearance was suspicious and launched an investigation that ultimately led to a discovery of his remains last month.

Investigators spent several days inspecting a remote location off Fox Run Road in early February, saying the case involved a missing person. Police remained tight-lipped at the time and a resident termed the site an active crime scene.

On Tuesday, Zappley disclosed his direct involvement in Martinezs killing at a business called A&J Auto Body, which was located about three miles away from where the remains were found, authorities said. Zappley managed the business, according to a criminal complaint.

Zappley also admitted his participation in the removal, desecration and concealment of the victims body.

He told investigators he had an altercation with Martinez at the body shop on June 10 or 11 of 2016 and grabbed the victim from behind and squeezed him until he could not breathe, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case.

Miguel Martinez III

When Zappley placed him on the ground outside, Martinez tried to get up and Zappley struck him in the head with a steel door. He apparently died as a result of these injuries.

Zappley left the victim outside overnight and returned the next day, wrapped the body in a tarp and took it to a wooded area off Fox Run Road. He doused the body in a flammable liquid and lit it on fire.

After burning the body, he placed some of the remains in the woods and put others in a bag which he placed in a trash can on Hannold Boulevard in Deptford, according to the affidavit.

Investigators recovered 106 human bones from the wooded area in February, authorities noted.

Zappley was also charged with desecration of remains and tampering with evidence and placed in Salem County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.

Evidence tying Zappley to the killing included data from the victims cellphone and a tip from a federal prison inmate who told investigators in late 2016 that he had overheard someone named Mike talking on the phone at the body shop. Mike told the person on the other end of the call that he had killed Miguel and burned his body.

Authorities have not said if other arrests are expected in the case, but prosecutors office Chief of Detectives Tom Gilbert noted that the case isnt closed.

Were going to keep working the investigation, because there may be some other persons of interest out there who know something, he said.

Acting Gloucester County Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman praised the cooperation of several agencies in cracking the case.

Zappleys arrest was a direct result of exemplary police work, professionalism and never giving up, providing a sense of clarity and justice for members of the Martinez family, she said in a statement.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Royal Bank of Canada said an employee in New York tested positive for the coronavirus, adding to a growing list of financial firms reporting cases as the pandemic spreads.

The employee works in the investment banking division of RBC Capital Markets at the Brookfield Place complex in lower Manhattan, said RBC spokeswoman Sanam Heidary. The worker, who tested positive on Monday, and colleagues in close contact with the person are in self-quarantine.

Upon learning of the case, we took a number of immediate steps to protect the health and safety of our employees, Heidary said in an emailed statement. As a precautionary measure, we immediately advised employees who work on the same floor to work from home while we undertook a deep clean of the impacted floor and all common areas.

Its the third known coronavirus case for Royal Bank, after two employees at a suburban office west of Toronto were confirmed as having the virus. Those workers have been self-quarantined, and the company told their colleagues on the same floor to stay home until further notice. The Toronto-based bank also disinfected the affected floor and all common areas, including elevators, the cafeteria and washrooms.

Companies around the world are working to keep their businesses running as the highly contagious virus spreads. Financial firms including BlackRock Inc., Wells Fargo & Co., Morgan Stanley and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. have reported having employees who tested positive for the virus.

Coronavirus cases have surpassed 127,000 globally, with deaths exceeding 4,700. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic and urged governments to step up containment efforts.

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Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara, Fadli, Asip Hasani, Markus Makur, Jon Afrizal and Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Batam/Blitar, East Java/Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara/Jambi, Medan  Thu, March 12, 2020 08:07 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069f304d 2 Business regional-economy,SMEs,coronavirus,COVID-19,Batam,North-Sumatra,labuan-bajo,Blitar,Jambi,rubber,manufacturing-industry,tourism Free

From empty malls to factories disruption, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is dealing a hard blow to Indonesia's regional economy and small and medium enterprises around the archipelago.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Association (Akumindo) chairman Ikhsan Ingratubun estimates that MSME sales dropped 30 to 35 percent across Indonesia from February until March 9. He predicted that the sector would continue to feel the virus impact for the next three months.

"There needs to be concrete action from the government, he said, so that the economy can recover as fast as possible.

Indonesia announced a Rp 10.3 trillion (US$742 million) incentive package on Feb. 26 to boost consumer spending and prevent a steep drop in the tourism industry through tax incentives and fund transfers to the most-affected regions. A second stimulus package is for the manufacturing industry, importers and exporters faced with severe supply chain disruption.

Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Tenten Masduki downplayed the concerns on Monday, claiming that the coronavirus presented an "opportunity" for MSME to supply domestic industries and consumers amid scarcity of some imported products, citing local fruits and vegetables as potential substitutions.

"We actually already have the market inside the country. Now is the time [for MSME to perform]," Teten told reporters after a press conference on Monday.

Small businesses are defined as those that have annual sales between Rp 300 million and Rp 2.5 billion, while medium businesses have sales of up to Rp 50 billion, according to Law No. 20/2008 on micro, small and medium businesses.

With COVID-19 expected to shave 0.6 percentage points off this years economic growth rate in Indonesia, according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyanis Feb. 19 statement, The Jakarta Post spoke with workers and industry players in various regions, whose businesses are affected by the virus. Here are their stories:

Vacant malls, few boats in Singapore neighbor Batam

Within walking distance from the Batam Center ferry port, which connects Indonesia and Singapore through a one-hour boat ride, the Mega Mall Batam Center looks a lot quieter than usual.

Shipowner business representative Asmadi said four ferry operators serving the Batam-Singapore route had reduced the number of trips in response to low demand. The same is apparent on the route to Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Read also: In Singapores neighbor Batam, malls empty, ferry trips reduced as virus fears lurk

Unless conditions improve within a month or two, the ferry operators are likely to lay off some of their roughly 1,000 workers, including ferry crews and onshore staff.

Normally, a ferryboat carries at least 50 people per trip; now its only 20 people, Asmadi, chairman of the Indonesian National Shipowners Associations (INSA) Batam chapter, told The Jakarta Post. All ferry operators are reducing their trips. Operational costs are high while passenger numbers have dropped drastically.

In Batam, a spa, massage and reflexology center that would serve 30 to 50 Singaporean and other foreign customers a day is now lucky to serve one a day, a Batam local. Industrial parks are complaining about disrupted supplies of imported goods.

Singapore has so far detected 160 cases of COVID-19 infection. Ninety-three people have been discharged after recovering from the disease, and no deaths have been reported to date. The city-state is intensifying efforts in prevention, testing and treatment to step the further spread of the virus, including by barring people from China, South Korea, Iran and Italy to enter the country.

Harbor Bay shopping center and international ferry port looks a lot quieter than usual on March 7 as visitors from Singapore are dwindling because the COVID-19 coronavirus makes them afraid of travel. The shopping center is within walking distance of the Harbor Bay International Ferry Port Batam, which takes passengers on a one-hour trip to Singapore. (JP/Fadli)

Quietness in super-priority tourist destination Labuan Bajo

Tourism practitioner Maria Oktaviani Simonita Budjen said the COVID-19 impact on tourism was palpable in Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, especially since the regent issued a circular banning Chinese visitors from entering the town.

I dont have the data, but I can see it through conditions in Labuan Bajo. Usually, there are many tourists going back and forth, but now I can count them on my fingers, Maria said. Labuan Bajo is among the governments top five destinations prioritized to jack up tourisms contribution to the economy.

The head of the West Manggarai chapter of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agency (ASITA), Donatus Matur, said tourists from all over the world had canceled travel plans to Indonesia as a result of the outbreak.

However, the head of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) in West Manggarai, Silvester Wangge, attributed the decline in tourist arrivals to the usual low season, adding that several hotels were still able to ensure occupancy with domestic visitors.

Read also: Labuan Bajo ramps up screening of tourists after Indonesia confirms COVID-19 cases

Blitar knocking on wood

Woodcarver Burdi, 41, has seen his income drop by more than half since January as the drum workshop he works for struggles to survive the COVID-19 outbreak.

He used to earn at least Rp 900,000 (US$63.09) a week for carving djembe drums in Blitar City, Central Java, but barely makes Rp 400,000 a week since mid-January.

With Chinese buyers normally accounting for more than 90 percent of their sales, the regions djembe drum workshops are operating at 10 percent of their production capacity to meet local demand. Four of six woodcarvers who also work for Burdi's employer went back to their hometown of Jepara in Central Java in late January because the workshop was unable to provide enough work for all of them.

"Now there are only two of us with that small income. There is not much money we can save for our families because we still have to spend some of it for our living expenses," Burdi said.

COVID-19 has affected thousands of people like Burdi who work for hundreds of traditional djembe drum makers in at least five districts of Blitar regency, East Java.

Djembe drums (Shutterstock/File)

Jambi farmers woes

Oil palm growers in Jambi were struggling to turn a profit from fresh fruit bunches (TBS) exports as pegged prices dropped from 1,754 per kilogram to Rp 1,658 per kg between March 6 and March 12, the lowest this year, Jambi Plantation Agency head Agusrizal said.

Farmer Yuk Ning has experienced this firsthand. She now gets only Rp 3 million in profit from each oil palm fruit harvest, a sharp decline from the usual Rp 10 million. Prices had dropped all the way to Rp 1,525 per kg during the last two harvests after hovering around Rp 1,930 last month, she said.

Yet she needs to spend about Rp 10 million every four months on plant nutrients and fertilizer and much more to pay workers for cultivation and harvests. On top of that, half of her plantation has failed to bear fruit in the last six months.

The TBS price drop is forcing us to think twice about continuing the oil palm plantation, but we dont have any other commodity that could be worth selling in the market, said Yuk.

Rubber factories close in North Sumatra

Already battered by extremely low market prices, rubber businesses in North Sumatra are closing down as their business environment has turned yet more hostile because of falling demand from Japan and China, the regions top export destinations for the commodity.

Several rubber factories in Tebing Tinggi and Labuhan Batu are closing down because of the impact of the coronavirus. As a consequence, many workers in the factories are losing their jobs, said Setiawan Khoe, chairman of the Indonesian Rubber Producers Associations (Gapkindo) North Sumatra chapter.

North Sumatra exported 410,000 tons of rubber in 2019, 20 percent of which went to Japan, followed by 18 percent to the US, 11 percent to China and 7 percent to India.
From: Ad Council For Immediate Release: Dateline: New York , NY Wednesday, March 11, 2020







And the winners of our Sweet Sixteen Round 1 are Ending Hunger and Texting and Driving Prevention! Congratulations to these two amazing campaigns and thank you to everyone who has voted in March Adness so far.

Up next, its the Sweet Sixteen Round 2 showdown between Buzzed Driving Prevention & Wildfire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness & Shelter Pet Adoption. Check out the campaigns below. Voting for this round begins on 3/12 so be sure youre signed up to vote  its as simple as giving us your email in the box to the right of this post!

You can expect to see Ending Hunger and Texting and Driving Prevention in the Excellent Eight starting on 3/24 , which of this rounds campaigns will join them?

Buzzed Driving Prevention vs. Wildfire Prevention



Emergency Preparedness vs. Shelter Pet Adoption



The post

And the winners of our Sweet Sixteen Round 1 are Ending Hunger and Texting and Driving Prevention! Congratulations to these two amazing campaigns and thank you to everyone who has voted in March Adness so far.Up next, its the Sweet Sixteen Round 2 showdown between Buzzed Driving Prevention & Wildfire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness & Shelter Pet Adoption. Check out the campaigns below. Voting for this round begins on 3/12 so be sure youre signed up to vote  its as simple as giving us your email in the box to the right of this post!You can expect to see Ending Hunger and Texting and Driving Prevention in the Excellent Eight starting on 3/24 , which of this rounds campaigns will join them?According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, in 2018 there were over 10,511 people killed in alcohol-impaired driving accidents. The Buzzed Driving Prevention campaign aims to help reduce that number by inspiring young men 21-34 to examine their behavior and take responsibility for their decisions to get behind the wheel after having a few drinks. PSAs emphasize that if you see a buzzed warning sign, you should call a cab, car or friend when its time to go home. Just dont drive. Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.For 75 years, Smokey Bear has been protecting our forests and getting the word out about wildfire prevention. His powerful message, Only you can prevent wildfires, is at the heart of one of Americas longest running PSA campaigns. In honor of Smokey Bears 75th birthday, celebrities like Stephen Colbert have joined the historic campaign, lending their voices to help expand on Smokeys iconic catchphrase using animated emoji technology. These PSAs encourage viewers to protect what they love by preventing wildfires. Visit SmokeyBear.com to learn more wildfire prevention tips.When you look at the number of disasters in the U.S., chances are every area will deal with some kind of emergency in the next decade. And getting everyone involved in preparedness efforts can help youth, families and communities be prepared and able to respond when faced with disasters. This PSA encourages parents, teachers and caregivers to be Prepared, Not Scared by visiting Ready.gov/kids so they can teach our youth how to take preparedness actions together and know what to do when a crisis occurs.Each year, millions of dogs and cats will enter shelters and rescue groups, yet only half will be adopted. This leaves millions of healthy and treatable dogs and cats who still need our help to find a home. While every shelter pet is unique, theres one thing they have in common: theyre all pure love. The #AdoptPureLove PSA campaign celebrates the unique traits of shelter pets and shows how these qualities add up to an incredible bond between every shelter pet and parent.The post March Adness 2020: Round 1 Winners are here & Round 2 is about to commence appeared first on AdLibbing.org


Platinex Inc. and Treasury Metals Inc. to Consolidate Adjoining Projects to Advance Shining Tree Gold Property, Ontario

Posted by Publisher Internet

Treasury Metals Inc. (TSX: TML -? https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/treasury-metals-new-c-zone-will-increase-production-and-resource-profile/ ) 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.

Contact:

Greg Ferron

CEO and Director

T: 1.416.214.4654

greg@treasurymetals.com

Mark Wheeler

Director Projects, Goliath Gold Project

T: 1.416.214.4654

mark@treasurymetals.com

Follow us on Twitter @TreasuryMetals

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

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.
Students work on changing policy to allow alcohol sales at home games

Students say selling alcohol at the home games could decrease binge drinking, improve attendance and create a more vibrant atmosphere.
For a while the Bronx Democrats seemed to have it all planned out. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. would be elected mayor in 2021, and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, who has loyally served as the Bronx Democratic Party leader, would waltz into the borough presidents office without much of a challenge. After all, this is a borough where political secession is usually orderly  just look at Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, who was essentially appointed to her position in 2015, or Diaz, who was handpicked as the BP by County in 2009.

But that all changed in a few weeks. Diaz suspended his campaign for mayor in January, saying he would leave public life when he was term-limited out in 2021. Soon after, Crespo announced hed be leaving government too, and not running for borough president.

Its a rare opening. And now New York City Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson wants to fill it, telling City & State that shes officially planning to run for borough president in 2021. Itll probably be a busy race. Her City Council colleague Fernando Cabrera said hell be running, and another councilman, Andrew Cohen, has been eyeing the race for a while. Additionally, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez and New York City Councilman Rafael Salamanca are known to be considering campaigns.

Gibson, 40, is a Democrat who represents much of the South Bronx. She chairs the Capital Budget Subcommittee and was just elected co-chairwoman of the Womens Caucus. In a conversation thats been edited for length and clarity, she talked to City & State about what brought her to the Bronx, her mistake that led to a $5,000 fine and why shes taking Spanish classes.

Youre going to be term-limited out of the City Council at the end of 2021. Why are you interested in running for Bronx borough president?

Being in the City Council since 2013, and the work I did as an Assembly member for four years prior to that, and living in the Bronx for probably about 15 years now, I've seen the Bronx go through so much of a transformation.

I represent a district that has a lot of challenges. One of the things it forces you to do is work hard, work smart and learn quickly. Because you have to be on your feet. So I feel like the office of the Bronx borough president is a great catalyst to change the Bronx. To continue a lot of the great work that Ruben Diaz Jr. has done, but to make sure that great initiatives continue, great partnerships continue, more investments happen. And we continue to change the dynamic of the Bronx  the stigma, the stereotypes that we continuously live with have to change.

You say youve been in the Bronx for 15 years. Were you in New York before that?

I was born and raised in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. That was no choice of my own! My mother raised me as a single parent. I went to local public schools in Bed-Stuy. Two years of middle school, I went to a Catholic school that has since closed. I went to Murry Bergtraum High School for Business Careers, right near the Brooklyn Bridge in Lower Manhattan. My senior year at SUNY Albany, I learned about an internship with the New York state Assembly. I was assigned to work for (former Bronx Assemblywoman) Aurelia Greene, and I said, wow, this is amazing. She was an African-American legislator. She had a lot of years under her belt. She was a senior member. At the time she chaired the banking committee. When I graduated, Mrs. Greene offered me a job to work as a legislative aide at her Albany office. I ended up working for her for a couple of years, and then a position became available in the district office in the Bronx. My transition was great. I started becoming her representative at the community boards, the precinct council. Since that time I had moved to the Bronx because Id, number one, wanted to reduce my commute. It was my first apartment in New York City. I lived in Soundview on Underhill. And honestly, I had no inkling that I would run for office.

Fast-forward to 2009, I was at (Greenes) house one day and we were going over appointments and meeting requests and she said Ruben (Diaz Jr.) wants me to serve as his deputy borough president should he win the election. Shes like, I want you to run for the seat. And Im like, Me?! You threw me out of left field with that one. I kind of felt like, if she was so confident of my ability to succeed her then I should really consider it instead of outright telling her, Hell no, you crazy, or, No, I can't do that. But I felt like she had so much confidence and hope in me. I ended up graduating with my masters May 27. And then was able to win the election on June 2, 2009.

The Bronx has never had an African-American borough president, and never a woman. What does that mean for you? And the last few have been of Puerto Rican descent. Do you speak Spanish?

Yes, by the time the election arrives, I will be fluent in Spanish. Im very mindful that traditionally, this has always been a large borough known for Latino residents.

What making history would mean for me is that it gives hope to so many young girls out there that dare to dream, that dare to hope, that dare to say that they can look at me and see themselves. I never envisioned I would ever be a role model to anyone. But that was what God planned for me by putting me in these different positions where I can influence public policy, I can change people's lives and I can really have a direct impact on their future.

But I also say to my Latino brothers and sisters, I can be your representative, too. If you look at my district and the population that I've represented for the past 10-plus years, the majority of the residents in my district are Latino. When I first got elected, I used to have a lot of doubts that I was worthy of being an Assembly member, because I felt that I wasn't worthy to represent them because I didn't look like them, and I didn't talk their language. But then I slowly started to get over that, because I said, well, if even if I don't speak Spanish  I mean a little bit, I do know. My accents are very good. I can say, Que dios te bendiga. Bochinche. I do pretty well with what I know, and Ive started to take classes already. And they are excited that I'm learning their language and I'm good at it. They appreciate that. It's a sign of respect to the elders, and they say that to me. But I've always made sure that my staff speaks more than one language. The staff is reflective of the overall district, because I don't want to forget about my West African brothers and sisters as well, from Ghana and Nigeria. Its huge! I've always made sure that literature, communications, brochures are always in more than one language. And also I've tried to make sure that when we appoint residents to the community board, its obviously a racial- and ethnic-, gender-diverse background.

The Bronx is the fastest-growing borough.Does the Bronx need to build more housing to keep up with that demand?

Yes. But it has to be affordable housing. It has to be housing that provides opportunities for families living at or below the federal poverty level. We have to have set-asides for formerly homeless families living in shelters. We have to provide a significant amount of housing for seniors, because seniors are living now in housing thats either too big or its not conducive to their living. We have to take care of veterans. We have to do more for foster youth aging out of the system. And we have to always take care of our domestic violence victims and survivors.

When you look at the Bronx and how it's changing rapidly in terms of population growth, you should also look at where the growth is happening, in the West Bronx. Parts of Highbridge, Morris Heights, University Heights, Fordham Heights along the Harlem River, because many of the residents are being pushed out of Washington Heights and northern Manhattan. And the only place they can go is to the Bronx. But what happens when we get pushed out of the Bronx? Where do we go? We have nowhere to go. So yes, we should always provide more housing, but it has to be affordable housing that meets families where they are today at the federal poverty level.

You supported the Jerome Avenue rezoning. Are you happy with the results so far? Have you seen any residents or businesses being pushed out as a result?

Weve been working a lot as the Jerome rezoning implementation is still underway. It's been three years since we passed it. I tried to put in a lot of provisions. There were 65 different points of agreement in the overall final agreement. And I've absolutely seen the affordable housing.

The small businesses have been a little more challenging, because we don't have enough safeguards in terms of regulations for commercial tenants. That's why we've been looking at commercial rent regulation. That's why I led the bill and we passed  the commercial tenant harassment bill  so that we can raise the penalties for landlords that are harassing commercial tenants. Weve been helping a lot of them because we know that many of them are victims to landlords. That's a big issue. We dont own property. We need to own property. We are renters for the rest of our lives, and we shouldn't be. So the auto worker that sits on Jerome (Avenue), Inwood (Avenue), Cromwell (Avenue) today should be the owner tomorrow, but we have to provide programs that help tenants with purchasing their buildings.

You voted in favor of closing Rikers and building the new jails, including the one at the NYPD tow pound in the South Bronx. If you were to be elected, would you try and change anything about the plan, like try to move the jail?

The reality is, the borough of the Bronx needs to have a borough-based facility. I am not one of those elected officials that was out there saying no new jails, because I recognize that, unfortunately, we have a population that does get arrested, that does need to be in a location.

My plan is to make sure that community residents and stakeholders are engaged. My fear is because there was so much opposition to the plan from the Bronx, that this plan is going to move forward, theyre going to build housing, the jail, jobs, and our Bronx residents won't get access to anything. And I don't think any elected official should let that happen. Whether you were on board or not, we have to make sure this is done properly and done right.

You were just fined $5,000 by the Conflicts of Interest Board for using your position to try to get out a traffic ticket in 2014. Should voters trust that you wouldnt abuse your power as borough president?

Yes. That was one of the worst days of my life to have to deal with that. And unfortunately, because I went through a process, it's been hanging over my head for years now. And at the end of the day, I admitted my guilt and the role I played. And I accepted the fine, the fine was paid. But I do think that Bronx voters should look at the total picture, and all the great things I've done. And also the fact that elected officials make mistakes, too. I mean, we're not perfect. We're human just like everyone else is, and we make mistakes. As elected officials, we dont know everything. We don't know all of the rules, and sometimes we do make decisions that are not what we should be doing.

I tried to argue that I had a relationship with this particular commanding officer (that she called about the traffic stop) well before I got to the City Council. But the reality is, it was a title that I had at the time. And so I had to just accept the reality that it was violation of the Conflicts of Interest Law. I feel like it's something that I admitted, I accepted my guilt. It is definitely something that I will never forget, and people wont forget it. But I do want to obviously move on and continue doing my work and really focus on a lot of the good things that need to happen in the Bronx.

Are there groups that you wouldnt take donations from in your run for borough president?

Its still a conversation that I would love to have. So before I make any of these particular decisions and make these pledges, I honestly want to understand what people stand for. Many elected officials have said theyre not taking money from developers, from landlords. I have landlords in my district that are actually really good landlords, and I think it's unfair that they're lumped in with all the others. So before I make blanket commitments, Im going to take time to meet with everyone that wants to meet with me, whether you are a lobbyist, whether you represent a PAC, you represent a landlord, real estate, tenants. I mean, everybody, I feel like I should give them the respect of meeting with them before I make that decision. And so that's exactly what I'm going to do before I make any public declarations of not accepting money from anyone.

Who are you supporting in the South Bronx congressional race to replace the retiring Rep. Jose Serrano?

Oh my God! Would you believe I have not publicly endorsed anyone yet. Its hard! Its a challenge when you have all of these races and you have lots of people and friends you work with. It wasnt easy for me in the public advocate race last year, I took a chance and I supported Jumaane Williams when most of my borough didnt. And I did that because hes my colleague. So obviously it is a race of people I currently serve with, I have served with. At the end of the day, I will make a decision, because I really do want to endorse.
OTTAWALeaders of Canadas three national Indigenous organizations will speak with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by telephone Friday to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Canadas Indigenous communities.

Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed and Metis National Council vice-president David Chartrand were to meet with Trudeau and with Canadas premiers Thursday in Ottawa, but the meetings were cancelled after Trudeau placed himself in isolation due to COVID-19 concerns.

The three Indigenous leaders were told Thursday their in-person meeting with the prime minister would be postponed indefinitely, but were told a call with all three and Trudeau would be organized for Friday.

The call will deal only with COVID-19.

A spokesperson for Bellegarde said the national chief is conscious of additional precautions being taken across Canada to prevent the spread of the virus, and that this has now become a primary focus for him as leader of the AFN.

(Bellegarde) will be reaching out to federal, provincial and territorial leaders and officials with the immediate and primary objective being to ensure all levels of government have prevention and response plans in place for the COVID-19 that address the unique situation of First Nations, AFN spokesman Don Kelly said.

The Indigenous leaders had planned to raise the unique needs of remote Indigenous communities when it comes to COVID-19 during their meetings with Trudeau and the premiers, noting that long-term boil-water advisories and overcrowded housing places them at higher risk.

In an interview Wednesday, Bellegarde said he wants Ottawa and the provinces to ensure they have a very specific prevention strategy for First Nations communities to stop the spread of the virus, including additional people and money.

It does require a different approach. A lot of (First Nations) are just fly-in communities and what happens if you have to evacuate the whole community? he said.

I think a greater focus (is needed) to realize there are 96 First Nations communities in Canada that are remote, where they only have nursing stations in place, and that they require a very focused, detailed approach to meet their needs if and when this COVID-19 hits them.

In Canadas 51 Inuit communities, known collectively as Inuit Nunangat, isolation would be a particular challenge given the high rates of overcrowded housing, Obed said.

The concerns that we have is just the reality that we have 54 per cent overcrowding within our homeland and we have high rates of food insecurity and poverty, so we have challenges in relation to keeping people healthy, Obed said.

This is, in part, why the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami is calling for Canadas Inuit to be considered a special, high-risk group in federal response planning.

Inuit are a high-risk group in general for respiratory infections, including tuberculosis. Long-standing social and economic inequities mean that Inuit communities could be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and should be a priority for resources, the ITK said in a statement Thursday.

Being designated as a high-risk group would ensure the vulnerabilities of Inuit and potential severe negative outcomes from both illness and services disruption in Inuit communities are addressed, the statement said.

Obed did say Wednesday the federal government has said part of the $1-billion package announced that day for COVID-19 will be dedicated to an Inuit-specific response.

The Metis National Council issued a statement Thursday expressing concern that funds allocated to the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch as part of the federal governments COVID-19 response will not be available to Metis Nation citizens.

A conference call was held among the MNCs board of governors to discuss a strategy to protect Metis citizens, ensure they are not neglected by public health authorities and communicate the needs of our communities to other jurisdictions and the public at large, the statement said.

NDP MPs Niki Ashton and Charlie Angus both raised alarm about whether the federal governments coronavirus response is properly taking into account the needs of Indigenous communities.

Ashton said First Nations in Northern Manitoba are scared, especially those with no running water, overcrowded housing, no hospital and nowhere to self-isolate.

The government needs to get real about what First Nations are facing on the ground. These communities need urgent infrastructure now and before the winter road season shuts down.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said the government is exploring all options to address these challenges, including temporary isolation facilities and additional health staff for communities as needed.

These supports for Indigenous communities are absolutely not limited by financial capacity. We continue to work closely with communities to co-ordinate resources.
US President defended his decision to announce a suspension on arrivals from the EU without informing European governments, telling reporters on Thursday there wasn't enough time.

His remarks came after the presidents of the European Commission and European Council reacted with anger to the suspension Trump announced "unilaterally and without consultation" on Wednesday.

"I didn't want to take time," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the criticism. "It takes time... We had to move quickly."

"When they raise taxes on us... they haven't consulted with us," he added.

The president conceded that the 30-day suspension targeting European countries in the EU Schengen visa-free area would have "a big impact" on the economy.




Television presenter David Campbell has decided to self-isolate after interviewing Tom Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson, on Today Extra on Monday.

Tom and Rita tested positive for coronovirus on Thursday (AEST) while the Oscar-winning actor was filming a movie on the Gold Coast.

Shortly after the announcement, David said on 2GB's Afternoons with Deborah Knight: 'I interviewed her on Monday, Deb. She came into the Today Extra studios on Monday and she was delightful and really nice and she didn't have any symptoms of anything.'

David Campbell has decided to self-isolate after interviewing Tom Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson, on Today Extra on Monday. Tom and Rita have since tested positive for coronavirus

He added: 'She was cautious. She actually made a joke coming into the studios, saying we shouldn't shake hands, we should bump elbows. So we bumped elbows.'

David and his Today Extra co-host Belinda Russell, who was also on the panel when they interviewed Rita, are both taking precautionary measures.

In the meantime, he is taking his three children, Leo, Billy and Betty, out of school and is self-isolating with his family.

He added that he feels 'perfectly fine' and isn't too concerned about the risk because he only spent 'seven or eight minutes' with Rita.

Daily Mail Australia understands Tom was also present on set when his wife was being interviewed.

During her visit to Channel Nine's Sydney studios, Rita used the dressing room of A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw.

As a precaution, Tracy will not host ACA tonight and Karl Stefanovic will stand in.

Daily Mail Australia understands Tom was also present on set when Rita was being interviewed

A Nine spokesperson said: 'Nine today has taken action in line with our crisis response plan around a visit to our studio by Ms Rita Wilson on Monday this week, for an appearance on Today Extra with David Campbell and Belinda Russell.

'Our actions are in line with the guidelines set out by the Government and Health Authorities. Those who were in prolonged contact with Ms Wilson have been tested and are self-isolating for 14 days. Our premises is currently being thoroughly cleaned in all areas she visited and we are encouraging our employees to monitor their health and practice good hygiene.

'Tracy Grimshaw is not hosting ACA [A Current Affair] tonight as a precautionary measure since she had minor surgery last week. Karl Stefanovic will host in her place. Arrangements for hosts for Today Extra are still being confirmed.'

Tom and Rita (pictured on 13 November 2015) tested positive for coronovirus on Thursday while the Oscar-winning actor was filming a movie on the Gold Coast

Tom revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he and his wife experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.

He wrote: 'Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

'Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

'We'll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!'

Tom also shared a picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket and a latex glove in a hospital.

David and his Today Extra co-host Belinda Russell (right), who was also on the panel when they interviewed Rita (centre) on Monday, are both taking precautionary measures

After chatting to Rita on Today Extra, David thanked her for the interview and performance

Tom had arrived in Australia on January 26 to begin pre-production on a Baz Luhrmann-directed film about Elvis Presley in which he plays Presley's longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

He was rumoured to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach - the very same hotel building where a 44-year-old Chinese national, who later became one of Australia's first cases of coronavirus, was staying.

Warner Bros., which is producing the as-yet-untitled film, said in a statement: 'We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production on the Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).

'We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.

'The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment.'

Tom revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he and Rita experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested

Tom also shared this picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket in a hospital

Tom was rumoured to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach - the very same hotel building where a 44-year-old Chinese national, who later became one of Australia's first cases of coronavirus, was staying

Australia has more than 120 cases confirmed cases of coronavirus.

In Queensland, where Gold Coast is located, there are currently 20 other confirmed cases of coronavirus and almost 3,000 people in self-isolation at home.

The news of Tom's diagnosis broke as President Donald Trump announced a 30-day suspension on travel from Europe to the U.S. due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Also on Wednesday, the World Health Organization deemed the COVID-19 a global pandemic.

Tom and Rita have visited several cities in Australia this month, making stops in Sydney, Brisbane, and Bondi Beach, while being based primarily on the Gold Coast.

Tom and Rita have visited several cities in Australia this month, making stops in Sydney and Brisbane, while being based primarily on the Gold Coast. Pictured: Rita outside the Sydney Opera House on Saturday
Jordan Strauss

In this Feb. 9, 2020 file photo, Tom Hanks, left, and Rita Wilson arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The couple have tested positive for the coronavirus, the actor said in a statement Wednesday, March 11. The 63-year-old actor said they will be "tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires." (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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Actor Tom Hanks shocked the world Wednesday night when he announced that he and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus. Hanks' shocking revelation was announce via his Twitter page while he and Wilson are in Australia.

Hanks, a two-time Academy Award winner said he and his wife will remain in Australia for the time being as they will be observed and quarantined until health officials say they're able to leave.

As the news broke around the world, fans expressed a wide range of emotions from anger, to sadness, to heartbreak, to outright shock. Here are some of the reactions we saw on social media.

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Sending my best to @tomhanks and his wife Rita Wilson as they fight off the coronavirus. Wishing them both well!#coronavirus  Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) March 12, 2020

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Tom Hanks is gonna be alright. Right?!?



Can I get a hug from someone or something?? pic.twitter.com/c2SDzsu7K4  Tramp (@TheGreatCalvero) March 12, 2020

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And it got Tom Hanks. For the love of all thats sacred. pic.twitter.com/osiAvHK1tM  Natalie Egenolf (@NatalieEgenolf) March 12, 2020

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*No NBA and Tom Hanks has the Coronavirus* #CoronavirusPandemic



The world:pic.twitter.com/mV0bi2q0sl  Joel Schoenbach (@Joelenbach) March 12, 2020

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THE CORONAVIRUS NEEDS TO MOVE ITS BUSINESS AWAY FROM TOM HANKS NOOOWWWW pic.twitter.com/Yv1ACIsn6G  ms thang (@l_nddaa) March 12, 2020

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Coronavirus, if you take my Tom Hanks away, I will personally come after you and your entire family.  Julie Wernau (@littlewern) March 12, 2020

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Anyone but Tom Hanks, man. pic.twitter.com/qnE7CG0tor  Ben Hall (@MrBenLHall) March 12, 2020

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So I just found out Tom Hanks and his wife have the coronavirus so.. pic.twitter.com/n0CU834Ovx   (@sickjuulbud) March 12, 2020

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I send out my prayers and thoughts to #TomHanks and wife Rita. God looks down and will guide you with strength and a fast recovery of the #COVD19 #CoronaVirus  God Bless  pic.twitter.com/Nj2gEg6YZz  Katherine Childs (@kathrn_childs) March 12, 2020

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WE MUST PROTECT @tomhanks AND @RitaWilson AT ALL COSTS   Keltie Knight (@KeltieKnight) March 12, 2020

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Me: The coronavirus isn't as dangerous as people are saying



Tom Hanks: gets coronavirus



Me: pic.twitter.com/KoNCLLbrup  Schaffrillas (@Schaffrillas) March 12, 2020

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Me going into social isolation after hearing #TomHanks and #Ritawilsonhas have tested positive for Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/T4w14Iiw2A  Chico Mendez (@ChicoMendez20) March 12, 2020

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.@tomhanks and @RitaWilson... am thinking and praying for you both! Hope you get through this and back home quickly!! Love  https://t.co/uVf1XoPdVz  Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) March 12, 2020

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Why did Americas father have to get corona virus #TomHanks  Cole (@colekugz) March 12, 2020

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When you mess with Tom Hanks, you mess with all of us.  Toure (@Toure) March 12, 2020

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No no no. Sending every bit of my love and healing to @tomhanks and @RitaWilson.   Ally Maki (@allymaki) March 12, 2020
SELBYVILLE, Del., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest report "Earphones and Headphones Market by Technology (Wired, Wireless), Application (Consumer, Call Center, Industrial, Aviation, Construction, Public Safety), Regional Outlook, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast 2024", by Global Market Insights, Inc., the market valuation of earphones & headphones will cross $25 billion by 2024.

Asia Pacific earphones and headphones market is anticipated to witness exponential growth during the forecast period owing to the rising usage of smart devices and the expanding smartphone industry in densely populated countries such as India and China.

It is prudent to mention that wireless technology has indeed enhanced the growth of the earphones and headphones market drastically, given that it mainly uses Bluetooth as a connection medium. Wireless headsets require a Li-ion rechargeable battery for powering their circuits. The deployment of wireless technology thus offers immense growth opportunities to the battery manufacturing sector and by extension, the earphones and headphones industry.

Request a sample of this research report @

https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/482

Asia Pacific earphones and headphones market is anticipated to witness exponential growth during the forecast period owing to the rising usage of smart devices and the expanding smartphone industry in densely populated countries such as India and China. The surging demand for these devices is rather vivid from the robust number of outsourced businesses, mainly in the Philippines and India. The increasing consumer disposable incomes and demand for new high-end technologies will also augment the regional market.

The Latin America earphones and headphones market will expand at substantial CAGR through 2024 due to the increasing proliferation of handheld music player devices such as MP3 players and smartphones. The growing trend of using headphones while exercising and driving is anticipated to drive industry growth. Customers are increasingly inclined toward spending on products such as music devices. Furthermore, the leading market players in the region are collaborating with public figures to gain consumer attention.

Some of the most iconic brands in the earphones & headphones market include Apple, Inc., Samsung, Bose Corp., David Clark Inc., Harman International, Inc., JBL, JVC, Sony Corp., Philips N.V., Sennheiser Electronic, Skullcandy, Inc., etc. Players are increasingly focusing on developments in wireless technologies, enhanced noise-canceling functionalities and sound quality with a major focus on feature-oriented systems.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report @

https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/482

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 3 Earphones and Headphones Market Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Industry size and forecast, 2012- 2024

3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.3.1 Distribution channel overview

3.3.2 End-use landscape

3.4 Industry impact forces

3.4.1 Growth drivers

3.4.1.1 Technological advancements

3.4.1.2 Growing demand across several application areas

3.4.1.3 Rising purchasing power

3.4.2 Industry pitfalls and challenges

3.4.2.1 Unorganized sector

3.5 Growth potential analysis

3.6 Porter's analysis

3.7 Average selling price trend, 2012  2024

3.7.1 Earphones ASP trends, by technology, 2012  2024

3.7.2 Headphones ASP trends, by technology, 2012  2024

3.8 Competitive landscape, 2016

3.9 PESTEL analysis

Browse complete Table of Contents (ToC) @

https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/earphone-and-headphone-market

Browse related report:

Bluetooth Headphones Market Study 2020-2026

A research study conducted by Global Market Insights, Inc., suggests that the wireless Bluetooth headphones market will cross a valuation of around $120 billion by 2026.

Wireless earphones and headphones are increasingly gaining prominence as health and fitness trackers owing to greater accuracy. The new breed of wireless headphones with smart sensors are more suitable for tracking different aspects of users' workout activities including heart rate, calories burned, steps, and distance traveled on the go. Leading manufacturers including Apple, Sennheiser, Beats Electronics, and Sony Corporation are incorporating these advanced biometric features into wireless headphones.

The Latin America Bluetooth headphones market size is projected to register a CAGR of more than 15% through 2026. This can be attributed to the growing popularity of handheld music players among consumers in the region. https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/bluetooth-headphones-market

About Global Market Insights, Inc.

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making.

GMIPulse, our business analytics platform offers an online, interactive option of exploring our proprietary industry research data in an easy-to-use and dynamic manner. Clients get to explore market intelligence across 11 top-level categories and hundreds of industry segments within them, covering regional, company level and cross-sectional statistics that make our offering a stand-out for decision-makers. https://www.gminsights.com/gmipulse

Contact us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

global-earphones-and-headphones.jpg

Global Earphones and Headphones Market valuation to cross USD 25 Bn by 2024: GMI

Asia Pacific earphones and headphones market is anticipated to witness exponential growth during the forecast period owing to the rising usage of smart devices and the expanding smartphone industry in densely populated countries such as India and China.

Related Links

Consumer Electronics Market Study

Home Audio Equipment Market Study

SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.gminsights.com


A Derry professor who is advising the British government on the coronavirus outbreak says we all have a moral duty to protect those who would be worst effected.

Ian Goodfellow, 47, is a Professor of Virology at the University of Cambridge and headed up a team which established the first diagnostic laboratories in Sierra Leone following the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

The Galliagh-born virologist said we can all help to curb its spread.

"My advice would be to get people have to understand how serious this is, but not be alarmist.

"All of us have to play a role.

"There are people that are saying they won't be effected, but I would see that as negligent towards the people in our society who are most vulnerable.

"We need to get everybody on board and make them think about not going to work if they are sick and proper hand hygiene and doing more meetings virtually.

"All those small measures can have an impact.

"It's about making people see we all have a role to play."

Professor Goodfellow, who attended Greenhaw Primary School, said the government is 'considering all options' to limit the spread of the virus.

"Cancelling large events is clearly on the cards and there are many companies and academic institutions that are already taking that stance."

For the full interview with Professor Goodfellow see today's Derry News.
A bipartisan U.S. Congressional commission has introduced legislation to ban imports from the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang, where lawmakers say mostly Muslim indigenous people are being forced to work against their will in detention centers and factories.

"These practices in Xinjiang are one of the world's largest human tragedies. It remains unimaginable, frankly, that this is happening in 2020," Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican sponsor of the proposed ban, told reporters on March 12.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the move on March 13, saying the United States should "stop using the human rights issue to interfere in China's internal affairs."

The United Nations estimated in 2019 that 1 million ethnic Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic-speaking indigenous people in Xinjiang were being held in what Beijing describes as "counterextremism centers" in the province.

The UN also has said millions more people have been forced into internment camps in China.

China describes the camps as "vocational education centers" aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism and allowing their reintegration into society.

The newly introduced Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act would ban the importing of any goods from Xinjiang unless U.S. Customs and Border Protection has "clear and convincing evidence" that no forced labor was involved.

The bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China released a report saying it had seen "credible reports" that goods involving forced labor have come into the United States, including textiles, cell phones, shoes, and tea.

It said major brands such as Coca-Cola, Patagonia, and Nike are suspected of directly or indirectly relying on forced labor.

It is not clear when Congress would take up the newly introduced bill.

Legislation aimed at addressing China's policies in Xinjiang passed without opposition last year, but the House of Representatives and Senate must still reconcile different versions and send it to President Donald Trump.

The United States already bans products made through slavery.

With reporting by AP and AFP
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 of assaulting a production assistant at his apartment in 2006, and third-degree rape of another woman in 2013.

Weinstein was sentenced at the Manhattan Supreme Court in New York yesterday.

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.

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"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.

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 Time's Up UK, part of the global movement against sexual harassment.

Time's Up UK's chairwoman, Heather Rabbatts, said in a statement: "What this trial shows us is that there is no greater power than a group of women who know their rights."

Actress Jameela Jamil tweeted her congratulations to "the incredible women who took this monster on, in spite of how maliciously he retaliated".

Fieldfisher's Jill Greenfield, who is running the UK civil litigation against Weinstein, said his sentencing is a "hugely positive step for UK victims".

Abhorrent

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 continue."

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:36:36|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday urged the United States to stop undermining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability under the pretext of human rights.

The call came after the U.S. State Department released the so-called 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices including a section on Hong Kong.

A spokesperson for the commissioner's office expressed strong disapproval and firm opposition against the reports, saying that although the United States ranks lower than Hong Kong in terms of both freedom and the rule of law, the country has nevertheless proclaimed itself as a judge of global human rights.

The reports, for instance, have distorted the truth by glorifying extremist vandalism and violence that would be unacceptable to any law-governed society, and heaping abuse upon the HKSAR government and police who have worked strenuously to stop violence and end the chaos in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said.

"The reports are an insult to human rights and freedom and a flagrant interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs as a whole," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the United States has trampled international law and basic norms governing international relations, and made unwarranted accusations against the conditions of human rights and freedom in Hong Kong, in total disregard of the extensive rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents since Hong Kong's return to China, as well as the successful practice of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" with a high degree of autonomy.

"It has only again laid bare U.S. hegemonic mindset and its notorious double standards," the spokesperson said.

Stressing that Hong Kong is part of China and is governed by the rule of law, the spokesperson said that no one is above the law, and there is no place for "Hong Kong independence" within the framework of "one country, two systems."

"We urge the U.S. to stop condoning and endorsing the violent extremists, stop undermining Hong Kong's prosperity and stability under the pretext of protecting human rights, and stop meddling with Hong Kong affairs, which are purely China's internal affairs," said the spokesperson.
Former Vice President Joe Biden released his plan to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday during an address aimed at demonstrating a contrast with President Donald Trump's efforts.

"Unfortunately this virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration," Biden said in front of American flags at an event in Wilmington, Delaware. "Public fears are being compounded by pervasive lack of trust in this president."

Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, said the Trump administration "has left us woefully unprepared for the exact crisis we now face."

Biden's plan combines a series of public health measures, including free public testing and rapid deployment of supplies, as well as economic measures such as emergency paid leave and the creation of a state and local emergency fund. The full details were posted to his campaign website as he spoke.

"We need bigger and broader measures to shore up the economic demand, protect jobs, keep credit flowing to our job creators and make sure we have the economic fire power we need to weather the storm and get the people and this economy back to full strength as soon as possible," Biden said during a 15-minute address.

Biden, who did not take questions, said the "core principle" of his plan was that "public health professionals must be the ones making our public health decisions and communicating with the American people."

"Downplaying it, being overly dismissive, or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease," Biden said. "But neither should we panic or fall back on xenophobia. Labeling COVID-19 a 'foreign virus' does not displace accountability for the misjudgments that have been taken thus far by the Trump administration."

In his Oval Office address Wednesday night, Trump referred to the coronavirus as "a foreign virus."

Biden's speech came a day after the campaign announced the formation of a coronavirus advisory committee that counts Obama administration veterans including former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and former homeland security advisor Lisa Monaco.

Biden's rival for the nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders, also outlined his vision for curbing damage from the coronavirus. In remarks from Vermont, he pushed for his signature "Medicare for All" proposal as a means to reduce costs for people who contract the virus.

He said "everyone in our country regardless of income or where they live must be able to get all of the health care that they need without cost." He called for free coronavirus tests, emergency funds for paid family and medical leave, unemployment assistance to people who lose their jobs due to the crisis and a moratorium on evictions and utility shutoffs for people unable to cover their bills.

The senator plans to stay in Washington after Sunday's Democratic debate with Biden, according to NBC News. The outbreak has hampered his ability to hold campaign events, and the Senate could vote next week on a package to respond to the economic effects of the pandemic

The Trump campaign responded to Biden's remarks in a statement that accused him of showing "terrible judgment and incompetence in the face of public health issues."

"The Obama White House had to publicly apologize for and clean up after Biden when his irresponsible remarks caused panic during the swine flu outbreak in 2009," the campaign said.

In his address Wednesday night, Trump announced a ban on travel to the U.S. from most of Europe for 30 days. He also said he would seek legislation from Congress on payroll tax relief among other economic measures for groups that are particularly affected by the virus.

"This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," Trump said.

Biden said Thursday that "banning all travel from Europe or any other place in the world may slow it but, as we've seen it will not stop it."

"This disease could impact every nation and any person on the planet, and we need a plan for how we are going to aggressively manage it here at home," he said.

The rapidly spreading pandemic has infected about 125,000 people globally and killed at least 38 in the United States, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Fears that the virus and efforts to contain it will halt global economic activity have sent financial markets plummeting around the world.
In October 2019, AXIS Capital Holdings Limited announced a new policy addressing underwriting and investments related to thermal coal and oil sands. With the new policy, as of January 01, AXIS is not providing new insurance or facultative reinsurance for the construction of new thermal coal plants or mines, oil-sands extraction and pipeline projects, and their dedicated infrastructure. AXIS will also not provide new insurance or facultative reinsurance to companies that generate 30% or more of their revenue from thermal coal mining, generate 30% or more of their power from thermal coal, or hold more than 20% of their reserves in oil sands.

Other insurance giants that have earned top marks for their environmentally-charged policies have included AXA, Allianz, Swiss Re, and SCOR, which all recently earned spots on the list of top 10 most praised companies by activist organisations for their fossil fuel divestment policies, according to global research and strategy consultancy SIGWATCH. On the other hand, brands with ties to fossil fuel exploration and extraction landed on the list of most criticised corporations.

Read more: Insurers make top brand listing for cutting fossil fuel ties

However, not all companies are jumping onboard this train. Insurance broking giants, including Marsh, Aon, and Arthur J. Gallagher, have refused to rule out support for Adani Groups Carmichael coal mine in Australia, despite growing opposition to the US$1.5 billion project among insurers and financial institutions, according to the Unfriend Coal campaign. The struggle recently resulted in reports that Marsh executives will now be discussing ending support for the Adani coal mine.

In this vein, the number of insurance companies that dont move ahead with introducing some policies to divest from fossil fuel, coal, and oil sands businesses could soon be dwindling. The Unfriend Coal campaign reported that, as of July 2019, 17 insurers had adopted a policy restricting their coverage of the coal industry and at least 25 insurers, with combined assets of more than $6 trillion, divested from coal.

With many companies already focusing on sustainability in their broader strategic planning, it seems that not putting their money where their mouth is will become more challenging, especially as fears around global warming and its impacts on our planet continue to grow. In the case of the Adani project, Stop Adani reported that coal burned from the Carmichael mine would produce 4.6 billion tonnes of CO2, which is more than eight times Australias annual emissions. Peter Bosshard, coordinator of the Unfriend Coal campaign, said, Only the most reckless companies will touch the Adani coal mine at this point, and climate campaigners will relentlessly target Marshs reputation and mobilise shareholders at its upcoming AGM if the broker gives the project a new lease of life.

When looking at the insurance industry more broadly, that reputation is already a cause for concern. In 2018, the Reputation Institute reported that the US insurance sector saw a reputational decline of 4.3 points, which was more than the average company decline for the year. One expert told Insurance Business that the bad reputation the industry has globally bothers him and hes likely not the only one in the sector who feels this way.

But what matters most is the bottom line and even in this way, moving away from companies whose activities have negative impacts on the environment seems to be a logical step. Data and analytics company GlobalData has found that the insurance industrys anti-coal stance will deliver significant long-term benefits despite potential short-term losses.

On the surface, distancing itself from coal may have a significantly negative impact on the insurance industry, given the loss of business, said Daniel Pearce, insurance analyst at GlobalData. However, in addition to the possible progress in consumer perception, the industry may in fact enjoy a considerable financial benefit in the longer term as a result of any anti-coal stance.

If the threat of remaining on the wrong side of history isnt enough for insurance companies, perhaps the promise of a financial boost in the long run will convince them to change their approach to this issue.
Stocks in the news today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Thursday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting official numbers of Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Index of Industrial Production (IIP), to be released later in the day.

KPIT Technologies: The compay announced that it has entered into an agreement with Vayavya Labs Private Limited and its shareholders for acquiring majority stake in the company. As per the filing, the company plans to buy 78.5% stake in Vayavya Labs for Rs 24.56 crore.

Cadila Healthcare: Company's board of directors will hold a meet on Monday, March 16,2020, to consider, interim dividend, if any, for the financial year 2019-2020.

Canara Bank: The lender has allotted Basel-III compliant tier-II bonds worth Rs 3,000 crore.

Cyient: Reliance Mutual Fund has purchased 1 lakh shares of Cyient through open market, taking its total shareholding to 5.045% in the company.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals: Company board has approved an interim dividend of Rs 32 per equity share of Rs 5 per fully paid up(includes a special dividend of Rs 15 per equity share). The dividend is expected to be paid on or around March 26, 2020.

Biocon: The pharma major announced it has won patent litigation asserted by Sanofi for insulin Glargine Device Patent in US, which was co-developed with Mylan in the US.
Sule and his team left Sanusis residence to the palace of the emir of Awe, where they were for about 10 minutes before returning to Lafia.
If someone presents to a health care facility and they are really sick, they get hospitalized, theyve tested for flu, it wasnt flu," she explained. "Theyve tested for many other bacterias, viruses, fungi and cannot find an etiology, that would also be a criteria to say, 'Look, we cant find etiology for this illness, theyre critically ill, this also qualifies to be a person under investigation, so that sample would also qualify to be sent to the public health lab.
MISSAUKEE COUNTY, MI  A 58-year-old White Cloud man and his dog used a truck to survive two days in the Michigan wilderness before they were rescued.

Both the man and the dog are doing well after the ordeal, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

Jeremy Cantrell, a DNR conservation officer led a 30-person search for the man and dog which began around 2:30 p.m. Sunday and ended when they were found around 12:55 p.m. on Monday.

The man was last seen at the Stittsville & Cherryland Beagle Club in Springfield Township around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 7 when he told others he was going rabbit hunting in an area located near Oil Well Road in Norwich Township.

Aware that the man had a history of cardiac complications, friends attempted to search for him on their own before contacting 911 Sunday afternoon.

Cantrell used the last known coordinates from the mans cellphone, which identified an area east of U.S. 131 and north of Inman Road. Volunteers and officers with the Missaukee County Sheriffs Office, the Kalkaska County Sheriffs Office and Michigan State Police assisted Cantrell for more than six hours Sunday, splitting into different groups to search surrounding areas.

Around 9 p.m., Cantrell paused the search due to poor visibility. Additional volunteers, including family and friends of the missing man, joined law enforcement agencies when the search resumed at sunrise Monday morning.

Nate Deavenaue and Dean Piper, deputies with the Kalkaska County Sheriffs Office, were searching on their side-by-side off-road vehicle along Naples Road in Garfield Township when they located the man and dog in his truck, about 10 miles south of where the search began Sunday.

The man told Cantrell that he wanted to check out a different hunting spot while on his way to the Oil Well Road location, but his vehicle became stuck. His cellphone battery died and he didnt have a charger.

Due to a history of cardiac health issues, the man said he didnt want to risk walking for help. Luckily, the mans sleeping bag was still in his vehicle from a previous camping trip, so he could preserve the gas in his vehicle and still stay warm.

Cantrell is a conservation officer in Missaukee County and has been with the DNR Law Enforcement Division since 2017.
A young Birmingham mother is mourning the loss of her only child after authorities say the young boy suffered fatal abuse at the hands of the moms boyfriend.

Natasha McGee, 23, had only been at work for several hours Saturday morning when she got a terrifying phone call from 35-year-old Christopher Eugene Knight. McGees son, Jayden, who just turned 1 on Feb. 28, was having trouble breathing.

He called me saying hes barely breathing, McGee said. I told him to call 911 but he wouldnt. He said you need to come home and see about him.

It was about 7:30 a.m. and McGee left her job at UAB and rushed to the home at 1100 Huffman Road. When I saw my son, I knew something was wrong. I could tell by the way he was acting.

McGee grabbed Jayden and put him in the car to take him to the hospital, but realized she needed to call paramedics instead. He was alive, but he wasnt saying anything, she said. He was fighting to breathe. I knew he was still alive, but he wasnt alert.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service took the boy to Childrens of Alabama, with McGee not far behind. She called family to take her to her son. I really wasnt able to drive, she said.

Once at the hospital, doctors told McGee that Jayden had suffered a fractured skull and had a blood clot. He immediately was taken into surgery. They took a piece of his skull so his brain would have room to swell, she said.

Doctors told her the outlook was grim and brain activity tests confirmed the prognosis. They said the damage was done before they did surgery. I knew my baby was gone right then and there, she said. But they kept doing tests and I let them keep trying and I kept praying that he would get better.

For the next 72 hours, McGee held vigil at Jaydens bedside. I was telling him, Hang in baby boy. Be strong, she said. I was telling him I was sorry.

Early afternoon on Tuesday, Jayden was taken off life support and pronounced dead a short time later. The Jefferson County Coroners Office said an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.

Its just been a nightmare, McGee said. Waking up today knowing that I cant see him again, Im just sad.

McGee said this was something she never saw coming. Knight, who has children of his own, has watched Jayden before and she trusted him, she said. She had left for work shortly before 5 a.m. and got the call about her ailing son less than three hours later.

Jayden was playful and full of life. He touched so many peoples hearts, she said. He just loved to play. He would smile and just brighten up your day.

McGee said she still doesnt know what led to Jaydens injuries. Im trying to figure out how long, he had been injured before Knight called her.

Christopher Knight (Jefferson County Jail)

Knight was arrested at an east Birmingham motel. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 3:13 p.m. Tuesday and is being held without bond. The charge on the jail log is aggravated child abuse with a $50,000 bond but authorities said they will now seek a capital murder warrant following Jaydens death.

He is also being held on no bond for unrelated previous charges. Knight was arrested in September 2017 by Birmingham police on a charge of breaking and entering a vehicle. He eventually pleaded guilty to the crime and, in January 2019, was sentenced to two years of supervised probation, court records show.

A probation review was set for May 2019, but Knight failed to show up for court. A failure to appear warrant was issued for his arrest accompanied by a no-bond order. It wasnt immediately clear why he was not arrested.

On Jan. 7, 2020, a warrant was issued against Knight for theft of property in connection with an incident that happened in November 2019 at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Center Point. The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office on that day filed a motion asking that his probation be revoked, citing the failure to appear charge and the new theft warrant.

McGee said she has not seen or spoken to Knight since Jayden was taken to the hospital.

I didnt think he would do something like this because he has children of his own, she said. I just want justice for my baby.

She is now planning her sons funeral, which is scheduled for March 18 at Living Faith Baptist Cathedral on Old River Road in Bessemer. The Rev. Raymond A. Lightfoot Jr. is officiating. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with Jaydens service. Donations can be made here.

Jayden is Birminghams 22nd homicide victim so far this year, and the second child to die by violence in Jefferson County. Kaiden Ford, 2, died in February, nearly one week ago after he was found unresponsive. His mothers boyfriend, 31-year-old Sylvester Corderyl Taylor, is charged with capital murder in his death. According to court records made public Tuesday, Taylor intentionally caused Kaidens death by striking him with his hands, and/or a belt, and/or a cord.

In all of Jefferson County, there have been 33 homicides in 2020, including the 22 in Birmingham. Of the Birmingham slayings, four have been ruled justifiable and therefore are not deemed criminal.

Asked what she wanted people to remember about her son, McGee said, Jayden was a high-spirited baby. He was loving, and caring, and just a precious little baby boy whose innocent life was taken.
Thanks to dialysis, more people with chronic kidney disease are living longer today. It is estimated that despite the increased risk of mortality, patients with chronic kidney disease can have an extended life expectancy with dialysis care and treatment.

Recently, the President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology (NAN), Ifeoma Ulasi, said that 25 million Nigerians have kidney disease. As a result of this new finding, the NANs president also called for more attention to this life-threatening condition and the effective treatment in health systems.

These calls are timely and important as the world celebrates World Kidney Day on March 12.

The Annual World Kidney Day is an initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. Commemorating the day each year is intended to emphasise kidney health and raise awareness on kidney disease worldwide. The theme for 2020 is  Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere.

Why are 20 million Nigerians at risk?

Kidney disease refers to the injury or damage to the kidneys that has usually been on for a long time.

Chronic kidney disease or CKD is a progressive condition that reduces kidney function (basically its ability to filter waste from the blood). Chronic kidney disease often has no symptoms in its early stages and can easily go undetected in most people until it is in its advanced stages.

In this late or advanced stage of CKD, an individual can develop kidney failure and require dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life. At this stage, a CKD patient is said to lose 85-90 per cent of their kidney function; not enough to keep the person alive, without medical intervention.

This is also known as end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Without the kidneys playing their vital role, substances that should otherwise be filtered, build up in the body. This makes the person severely ill. This is also when symptoms become glaring.

People notice symptoms such as frequent or infrequent urination; shortness of breath, swelling in feet and ankles, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting. Once any of the symptoms have been observed, there is a need for dialysis or kidney transplant to live. A doctor will usually decide which is necessary, depending on the disease stage.

The idea behind dialysis is that the process of filtering waste and extra fluid in the blood would replace the functions of the kidney. A typical dialysis session will be required at least two or three times a week for 3-5 hours at a designated dialysis centre.

Dialysis is, simply put, a medical procedure instituted by a Nephrologist as a treatment to temporarily or sometimes permanently take over the function of the kidney by removing waste products, toxins, or excess electrolytes from the blood, as well as removing excess water. There are two types: Haemodialysis (more commonly done) and Peritoneal dialysis.

Dialysis centres

In Nigeria, the leading causes of kidney disease are  high blood pressure, diabetes and glomerulonephritis (kidney inflammation from a variety of causes). In 2019s World Kidney Day celebrations in Nigeria, an alarm about two new leading causes of kidney diseases for Nigerians was raised. These were identified as toxicity caused by long term drinking of traditional herbal concoctions and exposure to harmful chemicals due to long term use of skin whitening creams.

In Nigeria, other causes of kidney disease include high cholesterol, kidney infections, kidney stones, polycystic kidney disease. In addition, environmental pollution, unsafe drinking water, abuse of analgesics and use of pesticides have also been linked to the development of kidney disease. It is also worth noting that there are certain high-risk groups. Older people, individuals who smoke and are obese have a greater likelihood of developing CKD.

A Nephrologists viewpoint

Moses Tari, a Nephrologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, said kidney disease makes up a large part of daily hospital admissions in Nigeria.

It affects all ages and genders and commonly complicates diabetes, and hypertension. Most patients present late, requiring life saving interventions and procedures.

He noted further that chronic kidney disease constitutes about 40 per cent of referrals to tertiary hospitals. It is an almost constant scenario after reviewing the daily admissions of most tertiary hospitals.

For Mr Tari, most cases of CKD present when the kidney function cannot sustain normal life and the patients require emergency dialysis to stay alive.

Dying for Dialysis

With the cost of dialysis sessions ranging from N20,000.00 to N50,000.00 per session. It is worth noting that the global standard recommendation for dialysis is a number of 3 sessions a week for an average of 3-5 hours.

However, a study labelled the rate of adherence a fry cry from the recommended standard in Nigeria.

On account of the cost, a person suffering from kidney failure reportedly opts for fewer dialysis sessions; sometimes even once a week. Another study in Nigeria noted that none of the 101 participants in the Ekiti University Teaching Hospitals dialysis centre could maintain three sessions per week for three months.

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The discontinuation of dialysis is frequently reported in Nigeria and has serious health implications on those suffering from Kidney failure.

Also, with few Nigerian tertiary health facilities having functional dialysis treatment centres, the prognosis for CKD patients in Nigeria seems all too bleak. Not surprisingly, most CKD patients in Nigeria travel long distances from state to state, searching for cheaper dialysis centres with functioning units. In some states, tertiary facilities often have no dialysis machines.

All of this is further exacerbated by the fact that the alternative to dialysis which is transplantation is not one many can turn too either. The cost of a kidney transplant is indeed over N6,500,000.00.

Call to action

Despite years of advocacy actions by the Nephrology Association of Nigeria and other pressure groups, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria currently only provides limited coverage for CKD patients.

There is increased and coordinated advocacy from nephrologists, cardiologists, haematologists to the government at national and state level to expand coverage for CKD patients as part of new efforts to bring the National Health Insurance under one roof.

Moreover, the government must do more to educate the public on kidney disease prevention. There is little information to educate the general public on how to protect their health and prevent disease. More must be done in this important area of health promotion.

Most young ladies striving for a beautiful complexion are not aware that bleaching creams can cost them their kidneys and most patients managing diabetes type 2 are unaware that kidney disease can be a complication. Health promotion is thus central to address this gap in knowledge.

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Nigeria also needs more dialysis nurses and more specialised technicians to repair machines that are prone to breakdowns due to frequent power fluctuations and interruptions.

Infection prevention training and protocol supportive supervision is imperative as HIV and Hepatitis patients are also affected by CKD and also access dialysis treatment in Nigerian facilities.

So, as we celebrate World Kidney Day 2020, we must also take action.
Social Policy Officer (Inclusion), Asuncion, Paraguay

Organization: Unicef

Country: Paraguay

City: Asuncion, Paraguay

Office: UNICEF Asuncion

Closing date: Monday, 23 March 2020

Social Policy Officer (Inclusion), (NO-2), Asuncion, Paraguay #00112558

Job no: 530446

Position type: Fixed Term Appointment

Location: Paraguay Division/Equivalent: Latin America and Caribbean Regional Off

School/Unit: Paraguay

Department/Office: Asuncion, Paraguay

Categories: Social and Economic Policy, NO-2

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) has a new cooperation program in Paraguay for the period 2020-2024, which will focus on the most vulnerable children and adolescents, such as those living in poverty, in rural areas, indigenous and disabled populations, promoting the guarantee of the fulfillment of their rights.

UNICEFs cooperation, which has a 5-year cycle, will provide technical assistance, knowledge and international experience, as well as non-reimbursable financing with own and donor resources for four programmatic axes: a) First years, which prioritizes integral development of girls and boys from 0 to 10 years old; b) Adolescents, which addresses the factors that determine the full development of people aged 11 to 17; c) Generation of evidence for the strengthening of public policies, plans and programs, which accompanies the actions; and d) Program effectiveness, which deals with coordination, management, monitoring and evaluation.

The country programme will rely on strategies such as evidence-based advocacy to influence public policy and decision-making that favor children, strengthening the capacities of government and civil society institutions, promotion of protective and healthy social practices and norms, promotion and application of innovation, evidence-based management and the promotion of a social dialogue on childrens rights with the participation of adolescents and key actors.

In line with the above, UNICEFs new cooperation program in Paraguay will guide its actions during the period 2020-2024 with a view to contribute to improving the situation of children and adolescents in the country.

For every child, rights

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, the Social Policy officer is accountable for providing technical support and assistance in all stages of social policy programming and related advocacy from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of concrete and sustainable results. This includes programmes aimed at improving (a) public policies to reduce child poverty; (b) social protection coverage and impact on children; (c) the transparency, adequacy, equity and efficiency of child-focused public investments and financial management; and (d) governance, decentralization and accountability measures to increase public participation and the quality, equity and coverage of social services. This encompasses both direct programme work with government and civil society partners as well as linkages and support to teams working on education, health, child protection, water and sanitation, and HIV.

Key Accountability and Duties & Tasks

Improving data on child poverty & vulnerability for increased use for policy and programme action

Supports the collection, analysis and user-friendly presentation of data on multidimensional and monetary child poverty, including strengthening national capacity to collect routinely, report and use data for policy decision-making.

Provides timely, regular data-driven analysis for effective prioritization, planning, and development; facilitates results-based management for planning, adjusting, and scaling-up specific social policy initiatives to reduce child poverty.

Analyzes the macroeconomic context and its impact on social development, emerging issues and social policy concerns, as well as implications for children, and proposes and promotes appropriate responses in respect of such issues and concerns, including government resource allocation policies and the effect of social welfare policies on the rights of children

Strengthening social protection coverage and impact for children

Supports the development of social protection policies, legislation and programmes with attention to increasing coverage of and impact on children, with special attention the most marginalized. Identifies, generates and presents evidence to support this goal in collaboration with partners.

Supports strengthening of integrated social protection systems, providing technical support to partners to improve the design of cash transfers and child grants and improve linkages with other social protection interventions such as health insurance, public works and social care services as well as complementary services and intervention related to nutrition, health, education, water and sanitation, child protection.

Supports improved monitoring and research around social protection impact on child outcomes and use of data and research findings for strengthening programme results.

Substantial experience in the field of social assistance, social insurance (including maternity insurance), social services and/or labor market analysis and employment policies;

Demonstrated understanding of child-sensitive social protection, disability sensitive and/or gender sensitive social protection a plus;

Analytical thinking and strategic planning skills, ability to facilitate, consult and negotiate with a broad range of government and non-government partners;

Demonstrated ability to communicate complex topics on social protection;

Proven track record in all / some of the following areas: research and evaluation (Poverty analysis, risk and vulnerability assessments, Cost-benefit and benefit incidence analyses, Social protection systems mapping and functional reviews, Programmes and systems evaluations, Qualitative research methods, Meta-analysis/synthesis); systems and programmes (Design of protocols and tools for outreach, targeting, referrals, coordination, etc., Design and management of beneficiary ID and administrative data systems/ management information systems/ social registries, Assessment, design and/or piloting of shock responsive social protection, Analysis and development of legal, regulatory and/or policy frameworks); information dissemination and communication (knowledge sharing and advocacy); high level policy analysis and advice (development of national strategies, policies and plans, development of regulations and by-laws, development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for national social protection policies);

Improving use of public financial resources for children

Undertakes budget analysis to inform UNICEFs advocacy and technical assistance to Ministries of Finance, planning commissions and social sector ministries to improve equitable allocations for essential services for children. Works with sector colleagues to build capacity to undertake costing and cost effectiveness analysis on priority interventions to help inform policy decisions on child-focused investments.

Supports the identification of policy options for improved domestic financing of child-sensitive social protection interventions.

Undertakes and builds capacity of partners for improved monitoring and tracking of public expenditure to support transparency, accountability and effective financial flows for essential service delivery, including through support to district level planning, budgeting and public financial management as well as facilitating community participation.

Hands-on experience with PFM issues, including experience with public finance in decentralized contexts; budget analysis, costing and developing investment cases in key sectors for children such as health, education, and social protection; designing and implementing Public Expenditure Review, Pubic Expenditure Tracking Survey, and poverty and social impact analysis tools; value for money analysis; child budgets, or results-based budgeting tools; high level policy analysis and advice; and other public finance tools;

Strengthening capacity of local governments to plan, budget, consult on and monitor child-focused social services.

Where national decentralization processes are taking place, collaborates with central and local authorities to improve policies, planning, budgeting, consultation and accountability processes so that decisions and child-focused service delivery more closely respond to the needs of local communities. Work with partners to build evidence on community-level services available to children with disabilities

Collaborates with the central and local authorities to strengthen capacity on quality data collection, analysis for policy development, planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring of essential social services, with emphasis on community participation and accountability.

Hands-on experience with local governance issues, including support to improving local governments routine administrative data systems, generate data on local service delivery performance, strengthen local child/adolescent and community-based needs assessments, and generate evidence on local government performance; support to strengthen local government capacity in evidence-based planning, integration of emergency preparedness or disaster response into planning and budgeting systems, development and execution of efficient, effective, and equitable local budgets, assistance to facilitate child engagement in local decision-making, support civil society and community monitoring and oversight through social accountability mechanisms; and support to the design, coordination of service delivery stakeholders, and design, implementation, and enforcement of child-sensitive regulation and standards.

5. Strengthened advocacy and partnerships for child-sensitive social policy

Tags capacity development caribbean region cash transfer child poverty child protection community participation cost effectiveness data collection decentralization disaster response economic policy emergency preparedness financial flows financial management financial resources information dissemination information systems international relations latin america local communities local governance local government management information systems market analysis monitoring and evaluation multidimensional needs assessment political science programme management public finance public investment public works qualitative research results based budgeting results based management risk analysis rural areas social accountability social development social inclusion social planning social policy social sciences social services social welfare sustainable development sustainable development goals transparency water and sanitation

Supports correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child focused services - in support of the social policy programme and the country programme overall.

Establishes effective partnerships with the Government, bilateral and multilateral donors, NGOs, civil society and local leaders, the private sector, and other UN agencies to support sustained and proactive commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child and to achieve global UN agendas such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

Proven experience with capacity development of partners is a strong advantage.

Supports correct and compelling use of data and evidence on the situation of children and coverage and impact of child focused services and social protection - in support of the social inclusion programme and the country programme overall.

Identifies other critical partners, promotes awareness and builds capacity of partners, and actively facilitates effective collaboration within the UN family, particularly on social protection strengthening.

6. UNICEF Programme Management

Helps manage and coordinate technical support around child poverty, social protection, public finance and governance ensuring it is well planned, monitored, and implemented in a timely fashion so as to adequately support scale-up and delivery. Ensures risk analysis and risk mitigation are embedded into overall management of the support, in close consultation with UNICEF programme sections, Cooperating Partners, and governments.

Supports and contributes to effective and efficient planning, management, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the country programme. Ensures that the social planning project enhances policy dialogue, planning, supervision, technical advice, management, training, research and support; and that the monitoring and evaluation component strengthens monitoring and evaluation of the social sectors and provides support to sectoral and decentralized information systems.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Education: A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, or another relevant technical field.

Experience: A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience is required. Experience working in a developing country is considered as a strong asset. Background and/or familiarity with emergency is considered as a strong asset.

Language: Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of Guarani is a plus

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

Care

Respect

Integrity

Trust

Accountability

Core competencies

Communication

Working with people

Drive for results

Functional Competencies

Formulating strategies/concepts

Analyzing

Relating and networking

Deciding and initiating action

Persuading and influencing

Leading and supervising

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Availability to undertake field missions/trips on a regular basis and as required by the country programme is a condition of national officer professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

**This post is for a National Officer; therefore it is available only for Paraguayan candidates**

Advertised: Mar 09 2020 Paraguay Daylight Time Application close: Mar 22 2020 Paraguay Standard Time
Northwestern University and BGN Technologies, the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), announced today the initiation of a US-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 US Department of Energy and Israels Ministry of Energy together with the Israel Innovation Authority. CoWERC is part of the US-Israel Energy Center program administered by the US-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 US. 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 the McCormick School of Engineering and director of Northwesterns 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 US 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.
While the Harrisburg regions schools have remained open amid nationwide closures and cancelations over the coronavirus, some are sending out notices to parents to keep them informed.

Central Dauphin, Cumberland Valley, Camp Hill, Middletown and Harrisburg are among the school districts to send out similar notes on Wednesday.

While the districts currently plan to remain open, Cumberland Valley is considering using March 20 as a student day with no classes.

The schools noted there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their districts.

In an email sent to parents, Central Dauphin Superintendent Norman Miller said school officials have met with state and local public health and safety experts in determining their best course of action.

We will continue to monitor the guidance provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Miller said in the notice. At this time, we do not plan to cancel events or gatherings unless directed to by state officials or if the district deems it necessary to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

He reminded parents the best defense is good hygiene, proper hand washing and staying home when sick. Symptoms often include a fever, cough or shortness of breath.

The district is also asking employees to report any international travel they take in the coming weeks.

Cumberland Valley Superintendent David Christopher posted a notice on the districts website, sharing similar information.

Many of us are parents ourselves and we take our responsibility to care for the safety and well-being of nearly 10,000 children very seriously, Christopher said. Please know that we understand and respect the concerns of our families and we will continue to base our decisions on facts, while working in consultation with our local and state experts.

The district is considering using March 20 as a student day, he said, but if it appears the districts schools will be closed for any length of time after that, they will hold classes that day. Word on whether or not students will go to school on March 20 will be sent to parents Friday.

The challenges associated with COVID-19 are likely to continue for some time, he said in the statement. We are grateful for the strength that comes from a community that cares about our schools and for the excellent work of our administration, faculty, and staff.

Harrisburg School District acting Superintendent Chris Celmer said in an update Wednesday on the districts website that school officials are actively monitoring the latest information.

The district is following the current CDC and state recommendations of not implementing special measures at schools, he said, other than the usual suggestions for limiting the spread of illness.

He said the district will continue to update parents as additional information develops.

The Camp Hill School District also told parents Wednesday they will keep the community up to date and are taking ongoing measures to ensure the safety of students.

The district does not have any presumed or confirmed COVID-19 cases, Superintendent Patricia Craig said in the statement. While we are hopeful the situation remains this way, we are in the planning phase regarding additional measures in order to support the effort to minimize the spread of the virus.

The district is reviewing all field trips, extra-curricular trips and athletic and arts events and is reevaluating the situation on a daily basis.

Middletown also announced it is monitoring the recommendations of health officials, who are currently not recommending that schools cancel classes.

The district will keep parents posted through its website.

The staff there has been directed to review hand-washing techniques with students, provide anti-bacterial soap in classrooms and bathrooms, have hand sanitizer available and monitoring by the school nurse of those with symptoms.

This story has been updated to include more schools.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation on Thursday assured it is ready to shoulder local hospitals testing and other medical costs associated with the coronavirus disease.

Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo Morales said the agency has enough funds to cover the governments drive against the viral diseaseincluding rolling out health packages for quarantined and coronavirus-positive patients.

Yes, right now, PhilHealth is liquid. We are ready to cover the cost of this testing at the present rate and even 'pag nag-expand pa ito (even if this expands), (it is) ready, Morales said.

Siyempre kapag epidemic na ito, siguro (if this escalates to an epidemic, perhaps) we're going to review then our regime to see if we can extend our resources. But at present, that's not a concern. PhilHealth is liquid enough, he added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier revealed that suspected COVID patients wont need to worry about paying for tests, as the state health insurer is ready to assist.

A 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.

A cheaper test kit developed by scientists from the University of the Philippines has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the rapid test kits, which cost over 1,000 have yet to be rolled out in local hospitals pending clearance and approval from the World Health Organization.

READ: Limited test kits led to possible underreporting of coronavirus cases in PH  DOH

Apart from the testing fee, PhilHealth said Filipinos can also avail of a 14,000 health package should they get quarantined for the disease. The amount will provide 1,000 for each day of the isolation.

Meanwhile, coronavirus-positive patients can also seek a beneficiary package of up to 32,000 the amount usually provided for severe pneumonia cases.

The COVID-19, now considered by the WHO as a pandemic, has infected more than 126,000 people in 114 different countries including China, the epicenter of the diseases outbreak. More than 4,600 persons were killed by the disease as of Thursday, according to the Johns Hopkins University's global tracker.

The Philippines has meanwhile recorded 49 confirmed cases, with several government officials going on self-quarantine amid the diseases outbreak.
Antananarivo [Madagascar], Mar 12 (ANI): Ambassador Abhay Kumar handed over 600 tonnes of rice on behalf of India to Madagascar Foreign Minister Tehindrazanarivelo Djacoba Liva to deliver quick relief to the flood victims of the island country.



INS Shardul brought the relief material and arrived at Port Antsiranana in Madagascar on March 10. This is the second delivery of relief materials for Madagascar flood victims and the largest humanitarian aid so far from India to Madagascar. This is also the biggest relief load ever carried by any Indian warship, loaded, transported and unloaded in record time, for quick relief assistance.

"Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shardul arrived in Madagascar at Port Antsiranana on 10th March 2020 carrying 600 tons of rice for the people of Madagascar. The rice will be distributed to the people affected by cyclone Diane that hit Madagascar coast in January," the Embassy of India in Madagascar said.

On arrival at the port, the Commanding Officer of the ship along with Indian Embassy officials called on the Mayor of Antsiranana and Military and Navy authorities.

At a function held at the Port Antsiranana on Thursday, the Madagascar Foreign Minister officially received the consignment of rice from Ambassador Abhay Kumar in presence of Commander Abhishek Pathak, Commanding Officer of INS Shardul.

"Speaking on the occasion Ambassador Abhay Kumar stated that the rice brought to Madagascar in a warship, the fastest way the relief could be delivered by us for our brothers and sisters in the Indian ocean," the statement read.

The Foreign Minister of Madagascar stated that the assistance is historic and proves the excellent relationship between Madagascar and India and that a friend in need is a friend indeed.

"In his remarks in the visitors' book, the Foreign Minister wrote, "Very happy to visit INS Shardul and meet its crew. Grateful to the Government and the people of India for their generous donation."

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet," the statement added.

Earlier, on January 30, INS Airavat brought immediate relief material. India was the first country to respond during devastation caused by Cyclone Diane in January this year. (ANI)


KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2020 - 21:41 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would allow Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency to deal with the coronavirus outbreak in Japan if needed.

Following its passage through the more powerful of Japan's two chambers of parliament, the bill is set to clear the House of Councillors on Friday. Opposition lawmakers are supporting the bill to ramp up efforts to contain the virus, although criticizing Abe for his slow response to the outbreak.

COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, has been spreading globally from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, leading the World Health Organization to describe the situation as a "pandemic."

Japan will go ahead with the plan to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer, Yoshihide Suga, the top Japanese government spokesman, reiterated.

The bill to revise the law on new types of influenza and infectious diseases will temporarily give the prime minister the authority to declare a state of emergency when coronavirus infections spread rapidly across the country and raise fears of a grave impact on people's lives and the economy.

(Children watch a picture-card show at an after-school club in Tokyo on March 3, 2020. Amid the spread of the new coronavirus, they are unable to attend school until after the spring break, but activities such as this are permitted.)

Once a declaration is made for specific areas for a limited period of time, prefectural governors can demand that residents stay indoors and ask for school closures as well as event cancelations.

Local governments can also demand that essential supplies such as medicine and food be sold to them. They can also temporarily take over private land and facilities to provide medical care.

Both ruling and opposition party lawmakers say the government should be cautious about declaring an emergency that would suppress people's rights.

Abe has already requested that all schools shut temporarily until a spring break ends and big events be canceled, postponed or scaled down, but he did so without the legal basis to enforce them.

Many local education boards and event organizers have so far voluntarily followed Abe's requests.

The government has unveiled a series of support measures for parents who need to take time off to care for their children and businesses hit by the viral outbreak.

Abe has said the envisaged legal change, effective for two years, is designed to prepare for a worst-case scenario. Earlier this week, he told parliament he will carefully decide on whether to declare a state of emergency, considering its potential impact on society.

Abe said Japan is in an "extremely important" time to prevent the virus from spreading further in the country.

On Tuesday, he requested that organizers cancel or postpone big events to reduce group transmission risks for an additional 10 days through late March, raising concern among economists that the economy will take a hit from slowing activity.

Two weeks after Abe's school closure request, meanwhile, some education boards are planning to reopen schools.

A Kyodo News tally showed that seven out of the 18 education boards are going ahead with their initial plans to resume classes next Monday.

The reopening comes amid growing concern that students have been deprived of the opportunity to learn and parents are shouldering the extra burden placed by school closures.

But some local officials say the spreading virus is forcing them to reconsider their earlier plans.

"We believe it's better for the benefit of children to review our plan if the first infection is confirmed in our prefecture," Saga Gov. Yoshinori Yamaguchi said. All public schools in the southwestern prefecture will reopen while private school operators can decide what to do.

The education board in the central Japanese city of Toyama will also enable children to go to school. It cited a recent assessment by a government panel of experts that Japan has not seen infections exploding, adding that no cases have been confirmed in the city.

The total number of domestic cases has surpassed 1,300, including around 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was under a 14-day quarantine near Tokyo in February.
Its not as dramatic as the stock market drop, but the coronavirus has also knocked out this weeks big sales of Asian art as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (though its Asian art shows will remain on view when the museum reopens). With the exception of the South Asian modern and contemporary sales at Sothebys and Christies, the cluster of major auctions that usually form the centerpiece of Asia Week New York, an annual festival dedicated to Asian arts and antiquities, have all been postponed to the end of June.

But since most of the art is already here, selections will still be on public view  and nearly all of the museum shows, lectures, gallery walks and open houses that fill out this engaging week, which runs through March 19, are going on as planned. Dozens of dealers, mostly on the Upper East Side, will be open to the public all weekend, as will Bonhams, Christies, Sothebys and others. Tied-in museum shows are up and running, not just in New York but as far away as New Haven, Conn., Princeton, N.J., and Philadelphia. Here are several highlights worth traveling for  but double-check opening hours (and before heading out, visit the websites of cultural institutions for the latest updates).

Museums
Photo: The Canadian Press Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen speaks to the media in Winnipeg on January 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Lambert

Manitoba announced its first presumptive cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, and officials are warning people to stop shaking hands, rethink travel plans and reconsider attending large public events.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen said a woman who recently travelled to the Philippines tested positive for the novel coronavirus through the provincial lab. The test will now be sent to the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg.

The woman, who is in her 40s, self-isolated after returning to Winnipeg and went to a health-care facility wearing a mask a few days later. She continues to be isolated at home, Friesen said, adding that public health officials are connecting with people she may have contacted since her return.

Later Thursday, the province announced two additional cases, both involving men in their 30s from the Winnipeg region. It also appears they were exposed to the virus through travel.

Friesen encouraged people to take precautionary measures, especially those who are over 65, have underlying medical conditions or compromised immune systems. People should frequently wash their hands, avoid handshakes and stay at home if they are sick and experiencing symptoms.

"While COVID-19 is on the move and rapidly progressing  Manitobans should know that the vast majority of people who contract COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms and they will recover," Friesen said.

Two Manitoba cabinet ministers were also absent from the legislature Thursday, after attending a Toronto mining conference where an Ontario attendee later tested positive.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 19:17:44|Editor: huaxia

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A medical worker is seen at a makeshift medical test center in Hawalli Governorate, Kuwait, March 12, 2020. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Kuwait, the life of the country's residents has been flipped upside down as the Ministry of Health has taken a series of precautions against the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Kuwait has suspended all commercial flights starting Wednesday and all those who had arrived from the affected countries were required to go through medical tests.

According to the ministry's rules, any violator will be punished by an maximum of one-month imprisonment and a fine of up to 50 Kuwaiti dinars (163 U.S. dollars), or at least one of the two penalties.

Waiting in a long queue at Salmiya Clinic in Hawalli Governorate, Rana Naser, an Egyptian woman who came back from her holiday last week, told Xinhua that having a test for the virus would make her feel better about being around her family.

"I have a one-year-old child. I would feel much safer if I had the coronavirus test," she said, adding the airline gave her the health card for a check at one of the nearest clinics.

Naser later tested negative for COVID-19 and went back home happily.

For Freya Anna, an Indian mother of two children, the epidemic has caused some trouble to her.

"I have to remain at home for 14 days in a self-quarantine, but my manager does not accept my absence that long," she complained.

The authorities "should coordinate with the private sectors to allow us to stay healthy and get our rights," Anna added.

Emy Mamdoh who came from Egypt said the ministry checked her upon arrival with thermal cameras at the airport.

"Inside the clinic, they told me that if I had the symptoms, I should be back for a check," she said.

"The nurse told me that there will be inspectors who make random visits to my house to check if I'm home for 14 days or not," Mamdoh noted.

According to a new decision of the Kuwaiti government on Wednesday, work in all government departments are suspended until March 26, and people are banned from going to restaurants and cafes.

Kuwait has so far reported 80 coronavirus cases, with an increase of eight over the past 24 hours.
BLOOMINGTON  Visitors to long-term care facilities are being limited as the spread of the new strain of coronavirus grows.

Bloomington-based Heritage Operations Group is allowing no visitors.

Following IDPH guidance, long-term care facilities are not allowing visitors who are younger than 18 or have respiratory symptoms or have traveled to countries where COVID-19 is prevalent.

But Heritage on Thursday went a step further, allowing no visitors at all at any of its facilities, with the exception of employees and delivery personnel, said Melissa Beaver, vice president of community relations and marketing. The change was made in response to the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 as a global pandemic, she said.

All staff members and delivery personnel are being screened for illness before being allowed to enter the building, Beaver said. If they display any symptoms, they will be asked to return when they are well.

At Westminster Village in Bloomington and Evenglow, the retirement community in Pontiac, visitors are being screened, said Matt Riehle, Westminster chief operating officer and registered nurse, and Evenglow CEO Mark Hovren. Anyone who says they have recently traveled to countries where COVID-19 is spreading, has been in close contact with someone who has traveled to those countries, is sick, or has been around sick people, will be asked to postpone their visit for at least 14 days.

Beginning Thursday, Evenglow was limiting visiting hours to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hovren said.

"We are asking visitors and families to abide by those restrictions to safeguard our residents," said Becky Smith, Heritage senior vice president of nursing and clinical services. "We understand that it's difficult to not have face-to-face interaction with your loved one but we can help to facilitate virtual visits" such as Skype or Facetime, she said.

As with Heritage, employees of Westminster and Evenglow are being pre-screened before their shift for temperature or onset of respiratory illness, Riehle and Hovren said. Employees with a fever or illness will be asked to return to work when they are symptom-free.

"These are significant steps," Riehle said. "The community and staff and residents and families have been receptive."

The restrictions explain why some long-term care facilities  such as Heritage's Evergreen Place, Westminster and the McLean County Nursing Home  will no longer be used as polling places on Tuesday, with those polling places moving elsewhere.

Evenglow Inn and Evenglow Lodge are each used as polling places but modifications will be made.

"At the Lodge, we will ask voters to enter at a different door and walk directly into the room where voting takes place," Hovren said. "At the Inn, voters will be restricted to a path from the door to the room where voting takes place."

"We are taking what we think are reasonable steps at this time...to protect our vulnerable residents and staff," Hovren said.

Liberty Village in Clinton, Apostolic Christian Home of Roanoke and Apostolic Christian Home of Eureka also imposed visitor restrictions.

Contact Paul Swiech at 309-820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech. Kevin Barlow contributed to this report.

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D onald Trump has ordered an immediate shutdown of all travel from mainland Europe to the US in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The US Presidents sweeping new restrictions are set to last for 30 days but will not apply to the UK, where 460 cases of the virus have now been confirmed.

Speaking just hours after world health officials declared Covid-19 a pandemic, Mr Trump addressed the nation from the Oval office to announce the new measures.

He blamed the EU for not acting quickly enough to address the novel coronavirus, saying US clusters were "seeded" by European travellers.

A traveller wears a mask in John F Kennedy International Airport in New York / REUTERS

"We made a lifesaving move with early action on China," Mr Trump said in his address on Wednesday night. "Now we must take the same action with Europe."

The 30-day ban will come into force on Friday, the US leader said.

His announcement came as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was preparing to escalate the UK's response to the deadly virus at an emergency Cobra meeting.

Ministers will, at the meeting on Thursday, assess whether the Governments action should move out of the containment phase.

Whatever it takes: Matt Hancock gives coronavirus update in Commons

It comes after eight people with Covid-19 were confirmed to have died in the UK, while the total number of positive cases rose to 460.

There are 1,135 confirmed cases of the virus in the US, and some 38 deaths.

Mr Trump said the US would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.

The president said he was "marshalling the full power" of the government and private sector to protect the American people.

Mr Trump said he was also directing agencies to provide unspecified financial relief for "for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus." The US leader said he asked Congress to take action to extend the aid.

He said the US will will defer tax payments for some individual and business filers for three months to lessen the impacts of the virus outbreak.

The Small Business Administration will also make low-interest loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm, Mr Trump said.

Donald Trump talks coronavirus at Q&A session

Mr Trump's travel order, which applies to 26 European countries, capped a day of mounting upheavals on the domestic front from the highly contagious coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

In the hard-hit Seattle area, the largest public school district in Washington state announced an unprecedented two-week suspension of all classes.

The greater Seattle area is the epicentre of the deadliest, and one of the largest, clusters of coronavirus infections in the US, accounting for the bulk of at least 38 fatalities from the disease.

There were 1,311 cases in total in the United States, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.

The city of San Francisco banned non-essential social events of 1,000 people or more, and major sports competitions were affected.

The National Basketball Association said it was suspending the season until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus while the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) said its wildly popular "March Madness" basketball tournament games would be played in arenas without fans.

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks announced on Twitter that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, had tested positive for coronavirus in Australia, where he was on a film shoot.
One unit had perhaps the oddest assignment in the U.S. Army: create a fake force, but make it look and sound real.

BATTLEFIELD DECEPTIONthe act of misleading enemy forceshas been used for centuries to gain advantage in combat. During World War II the U.S. 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, a carefully selected group of artists, engineers, professional soldiers, and draftees, elevated that deception to an art form. Known as the Ghost Army, the top-secret unit waged war using inflatable tanks and weapons, fake radio traffic, sound effects, even phony generalsall to fool the enemy into thinking that the army was bigger, better-armed, or in a different place than it was.

Activated on January 20, 1944, the 23rd was the first mobile, multimedia tactical deception unit in U.S. Army history. Beginning in Normandy two weeks after D-Day, the 23rd conducted 22 deception operations over a nine-month period. The largest came near the end of the war, when, on March 18-24, 1945, the 1,100-man unit mimicked two divisionsmore than 30,000 troopsto deceive the Germans about the site and timing of the U.S. Ninth Armys Rhine River crossing that would take Allied forces deeper into Germany. The deception was a success: when the two actual Ninth Army divisions crossed the river on the night of March 23, they met little resistance.

Soldiers of the Ghost Army were sworn to secrecy. After the war, records were classified and equipment packed away. A smattering of newspaper articles appeared in August 1945, but the Pentagon otherwise succeeded in keeping the story quiet until 1985, when a Ghost Army veteranartist Arthur Shilstone (creator of the header image above)illustrated his story for Smithsonian magazine. The units records remained officially classified until 1996.

The story of the mysterious unit that fooled Hitlers armies, saved thousands of lives, and played an important part in Allied victory in World War II is now the subject of a new exhibit at The National WWII Museumthe source of the images on these pages. Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II will be on display at the museum in New Orleans from March 5 through September 13, 2020, and goes on tour after that; dates and locations to be announced. 

James M. Linn IV, curator, The National WWII Museum



Up close, one of the Ghost Armys inflatable tanksa framework of inflatable tubes supporting a rubberized canvas overlaywould fool no one. But from about a quarter-mile away it looked every bit the M4 Sherman. It and other visual deceptions were the work of the 603rd Camouflage Engineering Battalion, consisting of individuals recruited for artistic talent and high IQ. Up close, one of the Ghost Armys inflatable tanksa framework of inflatable tubes supporting a rubberized canvas overlaywould fool no one. But from about a quarter-mile away it looked every bit the M4 Sherman. It and other visual deceptions were the work of the 603rd Camouflage Engineering Battalion, consisting of individuals recruited for artistic talent and high IQ.



In the pen-and-ink sketch above, by Ghost Army artist George Vander Sluis, two men ready a paint container while another spray paints fabric for an upcoming deception. In the pen-and-ink sketch above, by Ghost Army artist George Vander Sluis, two men ready a paint container while another spray paints fabric for an upcoming deception.



This pair of trucks exemplifies effective work from the artist duo in the previous sketch: the truck on the far left is a standard M35 cargo truck; that on the right, an inflatable fake. This pair of trucks exemplifies effective work from the artist duo in the previous sketch: the truck on the far left is a standard M35 cargo truck; that on the right, an inflatable fake.



Likewise, these supposed heavy artillery pieces are anything but heavy.



The deceptions werent all visual: sound was an important aspect. The Ghost Armys sonic unitthe 3132 Signal Service Companyprerecorded soundtracks of armored and infantry units in action, which it played through speakers that could project sound as far as 15 miles away. Another unit performed radio deceptions. The deceptions werent all visual: sound was an important aspect. The Ghost Armys sonic unitthe 3132 Signal Service Companyprerecorded soundtracks of armored and infantry units in action, which it played through speakers that could project sound as far as 15 miles away. Another unit performed radio deceptions.



Soldiers and sailors were forbidden from carrying diaries during the war; the Ghost Armys Robert R. Tomkins, an artist and jeep driver, opted to keep one anyway, gambling that its small size2 by 3 and 56 pageswould make it easier to conceal. An entry from September 16, 1944, when Bob was in Luxembourg near the German border, describes one deception setup: Last night moved up about 1 1/2 miles and pulled into heavy woods about 3 ocl. Tanks moving all around us. Woke early. Sewed on patches. Set up tanks. Built fires simulating armored infantry battalion. Truck goes out every hour into village on atmosphere. Soldiers and sailors were forbidden from carrying diaries during the war; the Ghost Armys Robert R. Tomkins, an artist and jeep driver, opted to keep one anyway, gambling that its small size2 by 3 and 56 pageswould make it easier to conceal. An entry from September 16, 1944, when Bob was in Luxembourg near the German border, describes one deception setup: Last night moved up about 1 1/2 miles and pulled into heavy woods about 3 ocl. Tanks moving all around us. Woke early. Sewed on patches. Set up tanks. Built fires simulating armored infantry battalion. Truck goes out every hour into village on atmosphere.



Some of the Ghost Armys artists went on to worldwide fameamong them photographer Art Kane, abstractionist Ellsworth Kelly, and fashion designer Bill Blass (who re-tailored his uniform so it would fit better), second from right, above. At far left above is Bob Tomkins, author of the pocket-sized diary (previous picture). Some of the Ghost Armys artists went on to worldwide fameamong them photographer Art Kane, abstractionist Ellsworth Kelly, and fashion designer Bill Blass (who re-tailored his uniform so it would fit better), second from right, above. At far left above is Bob Tomkins, author of the pocket-sized diary (previous picture).



Ghost Army artist Jack Masey created the caricature of Blass abovepart of a book, "You on K.P.!," Masey had printed during the war for the others in his company. I learned a lot fooling people, and deceiving people, Masey joked to author Rick Beyer in 2006. And it stood me in good stead my whole life. Ghost Army artist Jack Masey created the caricature of Blass abovepart of a book, "You on K.P.!," Masey had printed during the war for the others in his company. I learned a lot fooling people, and deceiving people, Masey joked to author Rick Beyer in 2006. And it stood me in good stead my whole life.



When not staging deceptions near the front, the Ghost Army would take their act into towns, wearing insignia of actual fighting units and sometimes impersonating generals, faking command posts, and spreading misinformation. When not staging deceptions near the front, the Ghost Army would take their act into towns, wearing insignia of actual fighting units and sometimes impersonating generals, faking command posts, and spreading misinformation.



When Ghost Army members needed unit patches, theyd make their own by using stencils and painting the fabric. When Ghost Army members needed unit patches, theyd make their own by using stencils and painting the fabric.



Although the Ghost Army's work didnt involve combat, attracting the enemys attention was inherently dangerous; three men lost their lives.  Although the Ghost Army's work didnt involve combat, attracting the enemys attention was inherently dangerous; three men lost their lives. 

All images in article body courtesy of: The Ghost Army Collection/The National WWII Museum

This article was published in the April 2020 issue of World War II.
Police have arrested a 22-year-old man for historic assault offences at a Young Liberal meet-and-greet at the University of Melbourne as the function descended into a rowdy dispute.

Police and University of Melbourne campus security were called to the Parkville barbecue organised by the Victorian Liberal Students Association on Thursday morning after members of the rival Melbourne University Liberal Club arrived and started loudly protesting about the event.

University of Melbourne. Credit:Simon Schluter

The Templestowe man, who was released without charge after speaking to police, was accused of recklessly causing injury in August last year.

The Melbourne University Liberal Club has been plagued by conflict in recent years as factional battles threatens to engulf the university's conservative movement. It is not officially a branch of the Liberal Party, although it does include Liberal members.
Donald Trumps announcement of unprecedented new measures to tackle the coronavirus prompted shock and criticism from former officials and commentators on Wednesday evening.

In an address to the nation from the Oval Office that was marked by missteps, Mr Trump declared severe restrictions on travel between the US and Europe for 30 days  with the exception of the UK and Ireland.

The president, who has faced criticism for not moving fast enough to contain the public health crisis, described the measures as "the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.

Susan Rice, who played a key role in the Obama administration's response to the Ebola crisis in her role as national security advisor, was among the first to tweet her reaction, saying only: OMG.

One of Obamas top foreign policy advisers, Ben Rhodes, described the presidents speech and his handling of the crisis as a dystopian nightmare.

Republican leaders knew better. They knew this man was not at all up to this job, and yet they've supported him, defended him, literally voted to keep him in office despite that knowledge. And now here we are in this dystopian nightmare, without a mature adult to run the country, he said.

The Democratic Partys top leaders, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticised the president for not taking action to stop the spread of the virus within US borders.

We have a public health crisis in this country and the best way to keep the American people safe and ensure their economic security is for the president to focus on fighting the spread of the coronavirus itself. Alarmingly, the president did not say how the administration will address the lack of coronavirus testing kits throughout the United States, they said in a joint statement.

Anthony Scaramucci, who briefly served as White House director of communications in the Trump administration, said that the president looked like a scared, sedated puppy who just got neutered.

Several parts of the speech and the measures announced prompted more questions than answers. The White House was forced to walk back a number of announcements in the address  including a part in which Mr Trump said that cargo would be included in the ban.

Amanda Sloat, senior fellow at Brookings, questioned why Britain was exempted from the travel ban.

Trumps Europe but not Britain ban is illogical. UK has more coronavirus cases than some EU states  British Health Minister just tested positive. UK still has open borders with EU. Viruses dont respect borders.

Recommended Trump just made the biggest move of his presidency

Mr Trump did find support from his own party, however.

South Carolina Republican and key ally of the president, Lindsey Graham, said Mr Trump laid out a very good roadmap to achieve economic stability and contain the spread of coronavirus. I hope Congress will work with him in a constructive fashion to achieve these goals.

His son, Donald Trump Jr, also praised the speech.

Important and aggressive actions by @RealDonaldTrump to protect the American people. Compassionate relief for those who need it here with a commonsense approach to preventing further and unnecessary spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. Well done, he wrote on Twitter.
On Tuesday night, dozens of police from multiple districts dressed in riot gear launched pepper balls at nearly 1,000 University of Dayton students in Dayton, Ohio who were gathered in a student neighborhood near the campus.

The large student gathering began after the school announced it was canceling classes and evicting students from student housing because of concerns over the spread of the coronavirus. The action of the university was triggered when the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced three cases of the coronavirus in Ohio. Ohio is currently testing 15 people who have shown symptoms of respiratory distress.

Students were informed on Tuesday by email and social media posts from the university that in-person classes would be suspended as of Wednesday morning. Students were also told they would be required to evacuate university housing by 6PM Wednesday, leaving students just over 24 hours to pack their things, make travel arrangements and secure a place to stay.

The University of Dayton

The character of the gathering of students remains unclear. Some students and news outlets have reported that the gathering was an impromptu party of students who were unsure of when they would see their classmates next, due to the pandemic. Other reports have indicated that the event had more of a character of a protest against the schools handling of the situation presented by the outbreak of coronavirus, particularly the demand for immediate evacuation with no apparent plans for international students, low-income students who will not be able to afford travel or students who might be suddenly made homeless.

It is clear from the swift and forceful response by the police department, coordinated across multiple districts, that the police and the university were in communication prior to the announcement and anticipated some form of unrest.

Dozens of videos are circulating on Twitter and other social media platforms showing riot police firing pepper balls at the unarmed students and releasing tear gas which caused many students to get sick on the street and retreat into neighbors homes to recover.

One video shows dozens of cop cars patrolling the mostly empty streets after the tear gas had been deployed. In the video, an officer makes a chilling warning to students over a loudspeaker: I command all students to immediately disperse. If you do not do so you may be arrested or subject to other police action. Other police actions could include the use of chemical agents or [inaudible] munitions which may inflict significant pain or result in serious injury.

The vast majority of the students speaking out online, and some who spoke to WSWS reporters on the condition of anonymity, reject the claim made by the university and other news outlets that students were engaged in a riot, which has been used to justify the violently aggressive actions of the police.

Students have taken to social media to voice their outrage over the police crackdown and the actions of the university. One Twitter user, Matt Deitsch wrote, Following the closure of campus housing in Dayton (with no thought of how to accommodate students) students took to the streets. The university responded by calling in riot squads. This is how our government and institutions respond to the needs of American Students.

Dozens of student posts also called for the universities to pay for the cost of housing students who have nowhere to go, and to reimburse students who paid for campus housing that they are longer able to use. One UD Twitter user wrote that universities should split the cost of unused housing, not charge students the full cost as if the students were responsible for #COVID19 on campus.

A mother wrote about her situation in a post on Twitter: I have three kids in college and yesterday two of them were told they'll need to move off campus and begin online classes. No suggested living arrangements, possible timelines or travel support were provided by the universities. Families across the US will be grappling with this.

There is no doubt that school closures are a necessary and prudent measure from an epidemiological standpoint. However, schools also play a critical role in providing many services upon which students and their families rely, including meals, housing, mental health and others. 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 improvise.

The rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic internationally has exposed the complete unpreparedness of even the most developed economies for large-scale health emergencies.

The brutal police crackdown in Dayton, Ohio, against students should be taken as a serious warning to the working class. Such social problems like the pandemic, homelessness or mental health issues, are viewed by the ruling class as a military-police problem.

There are already many indications that such measures are being prepared, including the deployment of the National Guard to New Rochelle, the suburb of New York City which now has the largest concentration of coronavirus cases in the United States, to enforce a containment area.

Any protest against the mishandling of this crisis is likely to be met with a forceful police or even military response under the cover of maintaining law and order.
G oogle has announced a temporary ban on adverts for medical face masks, in a bid to help stop the spread of misinformation amid the coronavirus outbreak.

A Google spokesperson told the Evening Standard in a statement: Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily ban all medical face mask ads,

The statement continued Were actively monitoring the situation and will continue to take action as needed to protect users.

Medical experts are worried that healthy people buying these medical masks could lead to a shortage of them for medical workers or people who need them more.

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

The Centers for Disease Control has officially said the masks are not effective in preventing catching coronavirus, but they are needed by those caring for sick patients:

You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask), the CDC said on their website.

Since January, Google has reportedly been blocking 'hundreds of thousands' of ads for misleading coronavirus-related products or services.

Several YouTube videos which claimed to offer alternative treatments for the virus have also been taken down by Google.

Facebook also announced it was temporarily banning advertisements for medical face masks earlier this month.

Google's advert ban currently only applies to face masks and doesn't include other products like hazmat suits or hand sanitiser.

The ban is the latest policy change by Google as they try to address misinformation in the wake of the Covid-19 virus, which has killed eight people in the UK as of Wednesday.

This is Google's statement in full on the ban:

Were committed to protecting users and surfacing helpful, authoritative information as the coronavirus situation continues to evolve. Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily ban all medical face mask ads. Were actively monitoring the situation and will continue to take action as needed to protect users. Since January, we have blocked hundreds of thousands of ads for misleading coronavirus-related products or services.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday sought cooperation from Lok Sabha members to deal with the coronavirus outbreak and asked them to increase awareness about it in their respective constituencies.

The minister said some members have expressed apprehensions about screening lapses at airports.

He said it was not the case that people screened at airports have not got affected by this virus as symptoms may appear after some days.

He said steps are being taken to track people who are affected.

About 35,000 people are engaged in community surveillance, he said, adding the ministry is constantly in touch with states on the matter and also holding meetings.

He said detailed tracing system is in place for people who are found positive.

"There should be no misconception that there is a lapse in screening," he said, adding initially on January 17, screening was started at seven airports but now it is happening at 30 airports.

Passengers of all flights are being screened properly and there should be no doubt in screening, he added.

Replying to questions about testing labs in the country, he said these tests can not be done at any labs.

"Currently 51 labs and 56 collections centres are working...so there are about 100 coordination centres," the minister said, adding India has sent a team including scientist and lab equipment to Iran.

Customs clearance is going on as these equipments weigh in tonnes, he informed.

Iran has stated that they do not have adequate testing facilities, he said adding, the lab which was sent to Iran will be established there itself.

On bringing back Indians, the minister said the government brought back people from Wuhan, Japan and now from Iran.

Seeking cooperation from members, the minister said it is the responsibility of the government to bring back all Indians safely.

He also asked members to discourage gatherings at their respective constituencies.

The minister said helplines are set up they are getting international calls as well.

States too are setting helplines, he said.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said opposition members too are ready to participate and asked the government to include them in the effort.

On this, Harsh Vardhan said, "Please disseminate the message in your area and please educate people".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Infosys Ltd is quoting at Rs 645.35, down 5.93% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 8.91% in last one year as compared to a 13.97% slide in NIFTY and a 10.73% fall in the Nifty IT index.

Infosys Ltd is down for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 645.35, down 5.93% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 6.7% on the day, quoting at 9757.8. The Sensex is at 33357.1, down 6.56%.Infosys Ltd has lost around 18.54% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty IT index of which Infosys Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 17.85% in last one month and is currently quoting at 14681.4, down 6.71% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 82.14 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 77.84 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark March futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 645.5, down 5.86% on the day. Infosys Ltd tumbled 8.91% in last one year as compared to a 13.97% slide in NIFTY and a 10.73% fall in the Nifty IT index.

The PE of the stock is 19.08 based on TTM earnings ending December 19.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to discuss the coordinated international efforts required to tackle the spread of deadly coronavirus.

The deadly virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,600 lives and infected more than 124,330 people across 118 countries and territories.

"The Prime Minister spoke to Indian Prime Minister Modi today.

They discussed the coronavirus outbreak and emphasised the importance of coordinated international efforts to tackle the spread of the virus," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

While India has cancelled most travel visas until April 15 to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, the UK has stepped up its preparations to move from the containment phase of the fightback to delaying its spread.

The delay phase, aimed at delaying the peak of the virus to warmer months of the year, could involve "social distancing" measures such as school and public facility closures.

Downing Street said that besides measures to address the pandemic, the two leaders also spoke about strengthening India-UK cooperation across all areas, including trade.

"More generally, the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the UK and India in a range of areas including trade, cultural relations, defence and technology, the spokesperson said.

The challenge posed by climate change was among the topics covered during the phone call, as Johnson welcomed India's efforts towards increasing its energy generation through renewable sources.

"The Prime Minister raised climate change, welcoming the steps taken by India to increase generation of renewable energy and urging the need for ambitious action to deliver on the Paris Agreement," Downing Street said.
An American soldier, a British soldier and one US contractor were killed Wednesday, a US official said, in the deadliest rocket attack in years on an Iraqi military base hosting foreign troops.

The attack threatens a dangerous escalation, with suspected US-led coalition air strikes promptly targeting Iran-aligned Iraqi fighters in neighbouring Syria, a war monitor said.

On Wednesday evening, a volley of rockets hit the Taji air base north of Baghdad, which hosts troops from the US-led coalition helping local forces battle jihadists.

A coalition official first told AFP the force had sustained several injuries on Wednesday ranging from light to critical, but a US military official later confirmed three deaths.

The Iraqi military said the rockets were fired from the back of a truck, but it did not comment on any casualties.

There was no initial comment from Washington or London on those killed, nor was there an immediate claim of responsibility.

Washington has blamed Iran-backed factions from Iraqs Hashed al-Shaabi military network, which is incorporated into the Iraqi state, for similar violence in the recent past.

Within hours of Wednesdays attack, three warplanes likely belonging to the US-led coalition bombed Hashed factions stationed on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

Ten explosions shook the area near Albukamal, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, citing a Syrian border town with a heavy Hashed presence.

Hardline Hashed factions have fought alongside Syrian government forces for several years and have been targeted by both coalition and Israeli air strikes in Syria.

Wednesdays attack on the Taji air base was the 22nd on US installations in Iraq, including the American embassy, since late October.

One of the earlier attacks killed an Iraqi soldier and in late December, a spree of rockets killed a US contractor working at a base in northern Iraq.

That killing sent tensions spiralling.

Two days later, the US responded by bombing Kataeb Hezbollah, a faction within the Hashed that is heavily backed by Iran and which Washington has blamed for several rocket attacks.

At least 25 Kataeb Hezbollah fighters were killed and their supporters on 31 December besieged the US embassy in Baghdad.

A US drone strike outside the Baghdad airport on January 3 killed powerful Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and the Hasheds deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Iran then retaliated by launching a volley of missiles at the western Iraqi base of Ain Al-Asad. While no personnel were killed in that attack, dozens of US soldiers suffered from brain trauma.

The tit-for-tat attacks on Iraqi soil left Baghdad furious, and in January its parliament voted to expel all foreign soldiers from Iraq in reaction to the killing of Soleimani.

Among them are some 5,200 US forces stationed across Iraq as part of the international coalition -- comprised of dozens of countries -- formed in 2014 to confront the Islamic State jihadist group, which took swathes of territory that year.

While IS has lost its territory, sleeper cells remain capable of carrying out attacks.

On Sunday, two US soldiers were killed while helping Iraqi forces battle IS remnants north of Baghdad.

Parliaments vote on the ouster must be implemented by the government, but the current caretaker cabinet has yet to make progress on the decision.

US officials previously told AFP they considered the Hashed as a bigger threat to them than IS, given the frequency and accuracy of rocket attacks on American troops that could be traced back to the Shiite-majority network.
It's an image of the sun like nothing anyone has ever seen: glowing, golden kernels divided by dark latticework, like a stained-glass window forged by astrophysics.

But that image, the "first light" data taken by a massive new solar telescope, is only a preview of how the observatory will change the way we see the star that shapes every day of our lives . That "caramel corn" image was stunning to many people, even solar scientists.

The new image was "crystal clear, sharp," said Valentin Martinez Pillet, director of the National Solar Observatory. That institution operates the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope , which was funded by the National Science Foundation and which captured the new data. Martinez Pillet said that, in decades of viewing solar images, he's never seen anything like the new one. "That's as good as it gets," he told Space.com.

Related: Our sun will never look the same again thanks to two solar probes and one giant telescope

"It was always the case where you would look at the solar image and you knew, yeah, we need to do better," Martinez Pillet said. Not anymore.

But although he was awed just like everyone else, he saw the image a little differently than others may have. Many people fixated on the large, pale "kernels," each about the size of Texas. But for Martinez Pillet, the most compelling features in the first-light image were the crackles of granulated brightness nestled between the kernels.

Scientists have never been able to see those granules clearly before, yet they believe the bright dots are key to understanding solar phenomena and how we experience those events way out here in Earth's neighborhood. "As scientists, our eyes went to the brightest tiny, little features," Martinez Pillet said. "The reason for that is we know these are the roots of the solar magnetic field."

The sun's magnetic field dictates precisely how the plasma, or soup of charged particles that make up our star, roils in the sun and blasts out across the solar system. The blasts take different forms, from the slow, steady flow called the solar wind to the massive outbursts called coronal mass ejections. But around Earth, the plasma can cause a host of phenomena called space weather, which can harm astronauts, damage communications and navigation satellites, and cause other disruptions. Scientists want to make better predictions of these events, and to do so, they need to understand how the sun and its magnetic field really work.

Of course, the crackly "first light" image is only one step toward reaching that goal. And the instrument that produced the image is just one of three instruments the solar telescope will use once the facility, located on the Hawaiian island of Maui, is fully operational.

The Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii. (Image credit: NSO/NSF/AURA)

The other two instruments, which should be installed by this summer, will tell scientists much more about the dynamics of the magnetic field than any image could, thanks to two other key techniques. "Everything we do in astronomy is either imaging, spectroscopy or polarimetry," Martinez Pillet said. "We solar astronomers need to do all of them."

Spectroscopy is a standard astronomical technique that analyzes the specific wavelengths of light that a source emits  a technique that can reveal the locations of different elements. Spectroscopy can also tell scientists where plasma is moving  higher or lower in the sun  by using Doppler shifts, the phenomenon that tweaks all light depending on whether its source is moving toward or away from the instrument.

Polarimetry is a less common astronomical technique, because for polarimetry to be successful, scientists need to be able to capture a lot of photons, or light, which is tricky for more distant stars. But the sun is, of course, much closer than any other star, and the Inouye Solar Telescope's polarimeter will be the largest such instrument ever built, making polarimetry a powerful approach for studying the sun's magnetic field, Martinez Pillet said.

In general, Earth's magnetic field is reasonably steady over time and space. North is north is north. The sun's magnetic field, by contrast, is dynamic. "The sun has billions of compasses and magnets moving around, and we need to know the directions of these compasses," Martinez Pillet said. That's what the tiny, bright spots in the new image represent: individual, dynamic magnetic fields.

And although most sunlight doesn't have any sense of direction, the light from these spots does because the magnetic field gives that light direction. Polarimetry measures that direction, and those measurements can give scientists a better understanding of activity in the magnetic field.

A detail from the "first light" image of the Inouye Solar Telescope. (Image credit: NSO/NSF/AURA)

With that knowledge, scientists hope to begin tracing space weather phenomena back to their very beginnings on the sun. "We are magnetically connected to the sun," Martinez Pillet said. "There are so many physical processes that we don't know what their origins really are on the sun."

Scientists hope the new solar telescope will give them enough detailed data to begin evaluating the potential origins of different phenomena. "We have theories," Martinez Pillet said. "We need to start saying, 'OK, these are the good theories; these are the ones that are not working.'"

The Inouye Solar Telescope won't be alone in that effort. In particular, it has two crucial partners that are taking instruments directly to the sun: NASA's Parker Solar Probe and the Solar Orbiter , which NASA and the European Space Agency jointly operate. The Parker Solar Probe is flying closer to the surface of the sun than any spacecraft has before, and the Solar Orbiter, which launched last month, will give scientists their first look at the sun's poles.

The Inouye Solar Telescope has company here on Earth as well, Martinez Pillet said. In particular, he pointed to the National Solar Observatory's network of six smaller solar telescopes stationed around the world. Those telescopes, working two at a time as Earth's spin carries each in view of our star, offer a constant look at the whole Earth-facing side of the sun.

With these four projects, scientists hope to understand space weather well enough to predict it reliably. "We're going to need a decade; it's going to be a long process," Martinez Pillet said. "It's exciting times to be a solar astronomer."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
Former US military intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning tried to commit suicide on Wednesday, two days before a court hearing on her refusal to appear before a grand jury, a support group said.

She was taken to a hospital and is currently recovering, the Sparrow Project said on its website.

Manning is still scheduled to appear on Friday before a judge in Virginia, who is to consider whether punishment against her will continue, the group said.

She was ordered back to jail in May last year for refusing to testify before a grand jury targeting anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.

Her leak years earlier of classified documents related to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan made her a hero to anti-war and anti-secrecy activists, and her actions helped make WikiLeaks a force in the global anti-secrecy movement.

She remains unwavering in her refusal to participate in a secret grand jury process that she sees as highly susceptible to abuse, the Sparrow Project said.

Ms Manning has previously indicated that she will not betray her principles, even at risk of grave harm to herself.

A judge in March last year ruled Manning in contempt of court and ordered her held not as punishment but to force her testimony in the secret case, a spokesman for the US attorney in the Alexandria, Virginia federal court, just outside Washington, said at the time.

She was freed in May but sent back to jail about two weeks later for still refusing to testify.

I object to this grand jury as an effort to frighten journalists and publishers, who serve a crucial public good, she said in a letter to the court last year, according to the Sparrow Project.

She also has said she answered all questions about her involvement with WikiLeaks years ago.

Manning was ordered to testify earlier last year for an investigation examining actions by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2010, according to her own description, inadvertent court revelations and media reports.

At the time Manning, a transgender woman then known as Bradley Manning, was a military intelligence analyst.

She delivered more than 700,000 classified documents into WikiLeakss hands. The documents exposed cover-ups of possible war crimes and revealed internal US communications about other countries.

Sentenced in 2013 to 35 years in prison, she was released in May 2017 after the commutation of her sentence by president Barack Obama.
: csmdude (csmdude), : SanFrancisco

 : 120San Carlos

: BBS  (Wed Mar 11 21:47:17 2020, )



SAN CARLOS (CBS SF)  San Mateo County officials are urging compassion

toward the passengers from the coronavirus-stricken Grand Princess cruise

ship who are being transported to a private hotel in San Carlos for

quarantine.



The countys Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was notified by state and

federal health officials Wednesday of the intention to house some American

passengers at the hotel, owned by the private company GRM properties. The

hotel can house up to 120 people and has no guests. The people being moved

there will not interact with the general public, the California Office of

Emergency Services.



The people being moved to San Carlos have not contracted the coronavirus but

they have mild symptoms that dont require hospitalization. They will

still be screened by medical officials upon arrival at the hotel.



Federal and state officials assured San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy

that the individuals pose no health or safety risks to residents or visitors

of the county.



They are now in a controlled environment managed and protected by the

federal government, Callagy said in a statement.

--

 :WWW  mitbbs.com [FROM: 172.]


By PTI

MUMBAI: National carrier Air India on Wednesday night announced the 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.

Airlines asked to consider free flight cancellation amid COVID-19 scare

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.

IndiGo says fall in bookings to hit earnings

IndiGo's parent InterGlobe Aviation on Wednesday said its quarterly earnings are expected to be hit due to decline in daily bookings, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

"Over the past few days however, week-on-week, we have seen a 15-20 per cent decline in our daily bookings," it said in a release.

According to the release, the numbers could change from here based on how the situation evolves.

"We expect our quarterly earnings to be materially impacted because of the above."

"In addition, the rupee has also depreciated sharply which will have an adverse impact on our dollar-denominated liabilities primarily on account of capitalised operating leases," it said.

IndiGo is the country's largest airline.

SpiceJet takes steps to deal with coronavirus situation

The airline has issued a special advisory on dos and don'ts for all ground personnel, all staff at check-in counters, those handling boarding cards and having direct contact with passengers.

They have been advised to regularly use sanitisers.

Also, all staff entering an aircraft are provided with Personal Protective Equipment (masks and gloves) to ensure their own personal protective measure against COVID-19 while all international flights are treated with disinfectants post disembarkation of passengers, it said in a statement.

During night halt of aircraft, extensive deep cleaning is done.

At the dispatch offices, the airline said, placement of hand sanitisers for in-flight crew and other staff have been provided for.

At the same time, spraying of disinfectant before boarding is also done while the crew have been encouraged to wear mask (available on the aircraft) in case they come across a suspect case, the airline said in the statement.
China on Wednesday accused the United States of violating the disputed territorial waters in the South China Sea by sending in their warship. According to reports, the United States' USS McCampbell missile destroyer on Mrach 10 sailed near the Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands), a group of islands in the South China Sea which are currently disputed and claimed by Beijing, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Read: Coronavirus: Public Gatherings Restricted In Srinagar; Schools, Coaching Centres Shut

As per the statement released by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, the Southern Theater Command (STC) of the PLA organised naval and air forces to track, verify, identify, and warn the ship away in response to the trespassing by the USS McCampbell. Snr. Col. Li in the statement pointed out that the US has kept flexing muscles and stirring up troubles in the South China Sea under the pretext of freedom of navigation.

Read: Arunachal, J-K, Ladakh Integral Parts Of India, Fact Conveyed To China On Several Occasions: MEA

Snr. Col. Li in the statement further added that China owns indisputable sovereignty over the Xisha Islands and their adjacent waters and said that the Chinese military will stay on high alert and take necessary measures to protect the national sovereignty and security and to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Read: Bengal BJP Chief Makes Bizarre Comment, Says 'Coronavirus Is God's Way Of Punishing China'

South China Sea dispute

As per reports, the South China Sea involve both islands and maritime dispute between sovereign countries within the region that includes, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Experts believe that the dispute is due to the trillions of dollar worth of goods that pass through the South China Sea every year. The South China Sea is full of unexplored crude oil and natural gas that is also one of the primary reasons for the dispute. China has stepped up its game by building artificial islands and a heavy military presence, making it the flashpoint for geopolitical tensions.

Read: Coronavirus: Govt Asks Indians To Refrain From Travelling To China, Italy, 6 Other Countries
By Trend





European Union (EU) welcomes political agreement on new electoral system in Georgia, Trend reports via the EU.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, Ambassador Carl Hartzell, congratulated Georgias main political parties on reaching an agreement on a new electoral system.

The agreement is the outcome of more than three months of intense negotiations, facilitated by representatives of the European Union, Germany, the Council of Europe and the United States.

We congratulate all the signatories as they have put the interests of the Georgian citizens and the consolidation of Georgia's democracy first, added Hartzell.

According to him, the agreement represents a crucial step towards alleviating the tension in Georgias political environment in the run-up to the parliamentary elections later this year.

The 2020 election system of Georgia is based on 120 proportional mandates and 30 majoritarian mandates. The new system will have a fair composition of election districts, a 1 percent threshold, and a cap that prevents single parties with less than 40 percent of the votes from getting a majority in parliament.

The wave of rallies in Tbilisi began after the failure of the parliamentary vote on November 14, 2019 regarding the holding of parliamentary elections in the country in 2020.

The parliament failed to approve the transition from a mixed to proportional parliamentary election system since 2020. It was necessary to amend the Georgian constitution, which required the support of 113 out of 150 deputies; however, during the vote, only 101 deputies supported the changes. Most of the MPs who abstained from the voting represented the ruling party, "Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia."

Demonstrators demanded early parliamentary elections on a proportional system; the resignation of the current government and its replacement by the interim government; and renewal of the composition of Central Election Commission.
Dancers Carol-Ann Bohrn and Alexandra Garrido are dressed in white. They twist away from each other, they embrace. One gets the sense they are the same woman, different sides of the same coin. Agony and ecstasy, pleasure and pain. Behind them, eight musicians provide a live score  a rich tapestry of woven from piano, voice, percussion, horns and strings.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dancers Carol-Ann Bohrn and Alexandra Garrido are dressed in white. They twist away from each other, they embrace. One gets the sense they are the same woman, different sides of the same coin. Agony and ecstasy, pleasure and pain. Behind them, eight musicians provide a live score  a rich tapestry of woven from piano, voice, percussion, horns and strings.

THEATRE PREVIEW Click to Expand By Grand Central Station A Heavy Bell Production Directed by Thomas Morgan Jones Prairie Theatre Exchange March 12 to March 15 Tickets $35-$54 at www.pte.mb.ca or 204-942-5483

Its a Wednesday afternoon at Prairie Theatre Exchange, and the artists are doing a full run-through of By Grand Central Station, a new theatrical production based on the debut album from Winnipeg chamber pop duo Heavy Bell (Matt Peters and Tom Keenan) of the same name.

Inspired by Elizabeth Smarts revered 1945 prose-poetry novel By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept, Peters and Keenan transformed Smarts emotional story of love and passion  so often confused for each other  into songs, which are being transformed into movement.

Dancers, musicians and director Thomas Morgan Jones worked together to transform Heavy Bells songs into movement. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

"Much as the songs are little snapshots from the book, the dance is taking those snapshots and doing watercolours on them," Keenan says afterward.

Indeed, the show is a convergence of artistic disciplines and, therefore, artistic processes. Director Thomas Morgan Jones, who is also PTEs artistic director, has the performers gather in a circle for two-way feedback after the run-through.

Jones cautions the musicians, in particular, against taking silence or stillness from the audience as disinterest. Its a good note; the dancers are spellbinding.

Heavy Bell performed and toured By Grand Central Station in 2018, but this is different from a concert.

"Its a completely different sort of stage consciousness," Keenan says, adding that having a dance element has forced them to be really specific about their presence onstage.

Alexandra Garrido (front) and Carol-Ann Bohrn worked without a choreographer on the collaborative piece. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

"We had a group realization the other day that we were so tensed up about supporting the dancers and not being distracting that we were all really rigid; we werent having fun and communing as a band," says Keenan, who, in addition to Peters, is joined onstage by Derek Allard (percussion), Natalie Bohrn (double bass), Natalie Dawe (cello), Andrea Dicks (horn), Aja McMillan (trumpet) and Julie Penner (violin). "So we took a day off and then we came back and the difference was so extreme."

The project began 10 years ago over a plate of jerk chicken. Peters was in Toronto on his first tour with his other band, Royal Canoe, and Keenan had him and his bandmates over for dinner.

"I gave him the book and said, We gotta do something with this, " Keenan recalls. "I was so taken aback by the unbridled emotional narrative. Its not a literal narrative; she doesnt tell a story in terms of action so much as internal action. I had to read a lot of paragraphs three times. Its poetry in prose form."

"Shes also someone who has a connection to her emotional voice, more than any other human being Ive read before," Peters adds. "This book is uniquely set up to have songs come from it. And the songwriting process... I dont want to use the word easy, but..."

"... it gushed out of us like an arterial wound, as Elizabeth Smart says," Keenan interjects.

Tom Keenan (left) and Matt Peters of Heavy Bell. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Just as the book was uniquely set up to inspire songs, those songs are uniquely set up to inspire movement, adding a layer of emotional storytelling. Dont stress out too much about "getting" it; this show is about big, messy, complicated feelings.

In the rehearsal hall, Bohrn and Garrido are back in their warm-up clothes. The process, shepherded by Jones, has been unlike anything either of them has ever done as dancers.

"There actually is no choreographer listed in the program for the show, which I wonder if people will notice and be like, What? because theres obviously lots of choreography," Bohrn says. "But the way it worked, we had Thom, Matt and Tom at all of our rehearsals, which was really unique. You think it would be too many cooks, but it was a really nice collaboration between all of these voices."

"Its been quite an emotional process," Garrido adds. "We really started from there as opposed to, heres a set of moves you learn as a dancer and then you find the emotion within that; it was kind of the reverse of that.

"Thom would offer a context or an idea, and then he would leave it up to us to riff on or feel out. Its a different way in."

Dancers Alexandra Garrido (left) and Carol-Ann Bohrn share the stage with eight musicians. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press)

Both read Smarts book, which was inspired by her affair with British poet George Barker, for the first time to prepare for the show.

"Its definitely intense," Garrido says. "It was interesting to notice that my response to the book felt very different from the musicians response. The material is gorgeous and heart-wrenching, and I feel like there were some triggers for me. There were some judgments on my part, or anger or fear. It wasnt this beautiful, amazing love story for me. It felt like there was a lot of darkness in there."

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.

"I feel very much the same, actually," Bohrn adds. "There were things I read in the book that arent present in the show where I was like, Holy hell. So much of her text, the stuff that is present in the show, its just so delicious to have this avenue to share something about yourself. Thats the greatest pleasure of being an artist, that an audience finds value in your gross, messy, personal experience."

For Garrido, the show theyve created is about personal strength. "And that journey of finding it and losing it and finding it again and the torture that that is, and the joy that it is," she says.

"The image that comes to mind is the multifaceted surfaces we have of our own self," Bohrn says. "We are one way when were with our families, and one way with our friends and on the street.

"There are things we dont want to look at about ourselves until they come knocking so hard that youre forced to confront them."

jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @JenZoratti

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Clean-up crews from Servpro gear up and go inside the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, in Kirkland, Washington, on March 11, 2020. (Karen Ducey/Reuters)

Disneyland to Close, NCAA Cancels March Madness: Coronavirus Updates From March 12

The novel coronavirus that originated in 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 12. Below are updates from March 12.

Disneyland to Close

The Walt Disney Co. on Thursday announced it would close Disneyland over concerns of coronavirus.

The closure will go into effect starting on Saturday, March 14, and last until the end of the month, the company confirmed. It will work with visitors who want to change or cancel their plans and provide refunds on hotel bookings.

While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of Californias executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month, the company said in a statement.

Disney added, The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.

Read more here.

Some Cities in Chinas Coronavirus Epicenter Partially Lift Lockdown Measures

Five local governments within Hubei province, where the novel coronavirus outbreak in China is most severe, announced that lockdown measures would be partially lifted.

Coinciding with Chinese leader Xi Jinpings visit to coronavirus ground zero Wuhan on March 10, his first since the outbreak began, authorities began to ease restrictions.

In recent days, the Chinese regime has aggressively pushed the narrative that the epidemic has been successfully contained.

Chinese authorities ramped up publishing media articles that portray their containment efforts in a positive light.

The goal is to promote government policies, monitor public opinion online, discover exemplary models among the frontlines of epidemic control work, and create a strong atmosphere of people united in working together, according to an internal document from Shanghai authorities that was obtained by The Epoch Times.

But locals in Wuhan say that many are still sick.

Read the full story here.

Broadway Goes Dark

New Yorks governor ordered all Broadway theaters to shut their doors in the face of ongoing coronavirus concerns, plunging into darkness one of the citys most popular tourist attractions and causing turmoil in the run-up to the Tony Awards.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday banned gatherings of 500 or more in the city, effectively forcing the hand of Broadway producers who had previously said that Broadway would be open for business unless advised not to by the government.

Shows will resume the week of April 13, only 10 days before the official cut-off for eligibility for the Tony Awards. Cuomo said venues of under 500 can only be filled to half their capacity.

NCAA Cancels March Madness

The NCAA canceled its mens and womens basketball tournaments on Thursday in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus, putting an abrupt end to the season less than a month before champions were to be crowned.

The unprecedented move comes a day after the NCAA announced the games that were scheduled to start next week would go on, but played in mostly empty arenas. That plan was scrapped as every major American sports league from the NBA to MLB put the brakes on its season due to concerns about the pandemic.

This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during the academic year given the ongoing decisions by other entities, the NCAA said in statement.

The NCAA canceled championships in every spring sport, which include hockey, baseball, and lacrosse.

France Closing All Schools and Universities Over Pandemic, Macron Says

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that all schools and universities in the country will be shut down on March 16 in response to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

During a televised address, the French president said the measure will be implemented on Monday, March 16, after a spike in confirmed cases in the past several days.

It is one of the most serious health crises France has ever faced, he said, according to The Independent. In spite of our efforts to stop it, the virus is still spreading.

NHL Suspends Season

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday the league will pause its season, effective immediately, because of the coronavirus pandemic. The move came one day after the NBA suspended its season after a player tested positive for COVID-19.

Bettman said the hope is to resume play later and still award the Stanley Cup.

Following last nights news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirusand given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some pointit is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time, Bettman said.

New York Bans Gatherings of 500

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is banning public gatherings of 500 people or more over the coronavirus outbreak.

The governor stated in a March 12 Twitter post that his office is taking new actions to reduce the density of people across the state. So starting at 5 p.m. on March 13, gatherings with more than 500 people will not be permitted.

Additionally, for facilities with an occupancy of 500 or fewer, we are reducing the legal capacity by 50 percent, Cuomo wrote.

Cuomo declared a state of emergency on March 7 to contain the spread of the virus.

Read more here

Trump Met With Brazilian Official Who Tested Positive

A Brazilian official who met with President Donald Trump at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago tested positive for the new coronavirus, which causes a disease called COVID-19.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, as well as Bolsonaro himself, met with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence last week.

Photos on Wajngartens Instagram showed him standing next to Trump and Pence at Mar-a-Lago with the caption: Make Brazil Great Again.

In a statement, the Brazilian government confirmed Wajngartens positive COVID-19 test.

Read more here.

UK Likely Has Up to 10,000 Infected: Scientist

Britain likely has between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected with coronavirus, the governments chief scientific adviser said on Thursday, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson stepped up the response to the outbreak.

There are currently about 590 cases identified in the UK and there are more than 20 patients on intensive care units, chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said.

If you calculate what that really means in terms of the total number, it is much more likely that you have somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected at the moment, he added.

The British plan for dealing with the outbreak has three main phasescontainment, delay and mitigation.

In the delay phase, so called social distancing measures such as school closures, more home working and reducing large scale gathering will be considered, though will not necessarily be approved immediately.

At a meeting of Britains COBR emergency committee, Johnson decided to move up to the so called delay phase from the contain phase.

This is now not just an attempt to contain the disease as far as possible but to delay its spread, he said at a news conference with the governments top scientific and medical advisers.

Johnson said those showing symptoms of having the virus should self-isolate for at least a week.

Its going to spread further, Johnson said. I must level with you, level with the British public  more families, many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus across the United Kingdom rose 29 percent to 590 over the past 24 hours. Ten people with coronavirus have died in the UK since the outbreak.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chief Medical Officer for England, Chris Whitty and Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance attend a news conference addressing the governments response to the coronavirus outbreak, at Downing Street in London, Britain March 12, 2020. (Simon Dawson/Pool/Reuters)

Italian Actor Pleads for Help

Luca Franzese, an Italian actor, posted a video on social media claiming that he needs help after his sister died of the novel coronavirus, apparently showing footage of her body inside a home.

Franzese, a mixed martial arts trainer who appeared in Gomorrah, said in a video he is trapped in his Naples home with his sister, Teresa Franzese, who died of the virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, over the weekend.

I have my sister in bed, dead, I dont know what to do, he said in the video, according to a translation provided by news outlets. I cannot give her the honor she deserves because the institutions have abandoned me. I contacted everyone, but nobody was able to give me an answer.

Read more here.

US Agency Cant do Most Effective Form of Contact Tracing: Senator

Efforts to track the spread of coronavirus in the United States are hampered because Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials cant use the most advanced form of location contact tracing, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said March 12.

Meanwhile, Cassidy and other senators are changing how they work in response to the virus.

Weve been advocating the use of location data, coupled with lab-test results, so that public health officials can better track those who are infected, where they may have been infected from, where you should go back and clean if you need to disinfect, and to warn those folks with whom they have routine contact in the future, Cassidy told reporters.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is now advising contact tracing and the reports are from South Korea and Taiwan are that they used aggressive contact tracing, with aggressive testing, in order to get ahead of the outbreak, Cassidy said.

Read more here.

Cruise Lines Suspend Operations

Two cruise lines are suspending all cruises over the new coronavirus, including the company that operates the Diamond Princess.

Princess Cruises said it was pausing global operations of its 18 ships for two months starting March 12. The company operates the Diamond Princess, where hundreds were infected, and the Grand Princess, where about two dozen infections forced passengers to disembark into two-week quarantines.

By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world, Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.

Read more here.

A Viking Cruises ship in a file photograph. (Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

Canadian Prime Minister Self-Isolating Over Wifes Symptoms

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is quarantining himself at home after his wife exhibited flu-like symptoms.

Trudeaus office said Thursday that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau returned from a speaking engagement in Britain and had mild flu-like symptoms, including a low fever late, Wednesday night.

She is being tested for the COVID-19 disease and is awaiting results. Her symptoms have since subsided.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophies results, the statement said.

His office said the doctors advice to the prime minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given that he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. He is spending the day in briefings, phone calls, and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining a special cabinet committee discussion on the new coronavirus.

Trudeau has also cancelled an in-person meeting with Canadas provincial premiers.

Opposition NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is also working from home after feeling unwell. Singh said hes been in contact with a doctor and they do not believe he has the virus but was advised to limit contact with the public until he feels better.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, meanwhile, is asking all people returning from travel abroad to self-isolate for 14 days. The measure will be mandatory for all government employees.

He is also asking organizers to cancel all indoor events attracting crowds of more than 250 people and all other large gatherings that are not considered essential.

Confirmed Dutch Infections Rise 22 Percent

The number of new coronavirus infections in the Netherlands rose 22 percent to 614 on Thursday, health officials said.

The bulk of the infections, 273, are in the southern province of Noord-Brabant, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in a statement.

Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz in a file photograph. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Second NBA Player Tests Positive

Professional basketball player Donovan Mitchell tested positive for the new coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, China last year, according to reports.

The Utah Jazz confirmed in a statement that a second player tested positive for COVID-19, the disease the virus causes.

As a follow-up to yesterdays positive COVID-19 test, Oklahoma health officials tested all members of the Utah Jazz traveling party, confirming one additional positive outcome for a Jazz player, the statement said. We are working closely with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials, and the NBA to monitor their health and determine the best path moving forward.

The statement did not name the player, nor did a Wednesday statement that announced a different player tested positive.

That player tested negative for the flu, strep throat, and an upper respiratory infection before testing positive for COVID-19, the Jazz said. After the test came back, the NBA was informed and subsequently suspended its season for now.

Read more here.

Fast & Furious 9 Release Date Delayed by a Year

Universal Pictures said on Thursday that the release of Fast & Furious 9 is being pushed back a year to 2021.

Universal did not say why but the decision follows delays in the releases of several other Hollywood movies due to the disruption in the global entertainment industry caused by the coronavirus.

The virus has closed movie theaters in China, Italy, and many other nations, while a ban on travel from Europe to the United States announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday is seen likely to curtail red carpets and other promotional events for movies and stars.

Known as F9, the action movie starring Vin Diesel was due to roll out internationally in May 2020, but Universal said the new date would be April 2, 2021.

Paramount Pictures on Thursday indefinitely delayed the release of thriller A Quiet Place Part II, which was due to start its international rollout in movie theaters on March 18, because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Due to the ever-changing circumstances of whats going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that, Quiet Place director John Krasinski said in a posting on his Instagram account.

The decisions followed the postponement last week of James Bond movie No Time to Die from April to November, and a move for Peter Rabbit 2 from March to August.

Workers in protective suits prepare to disinfect a tram due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) concerns in Prague, Czech Republic, March 12, 2020. (David W Cerny/Reuters)

Czech Shuts Borders to Travelers From 15 Countries

The Czech Republic will close its borders to travelers crossing from Germany and Austria and also ban the entry of foreigners coming from other risky countries to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Thursday.

Czechs will also be barred from traveling to those countries, and to and from and other countries deemed risky, effective from Saturday (2300 GMT on Friday).

The full list includes other European Union members Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Denmark, and also Britain, Switzerland, China, Korea, and Iran.

International public transport vehicles with more than nine seats will also be banned from crossing borders.

Under a state of emergency declared for 30 days, the Prague government also banned international passenger transport, but kept freight business open.

Babis told a news conference the government would also ban public events of more than 30 people and impose closures of places such as sport centers, spa services, and galleries.

Restaurants must close by 8 p.m. and refreshments at shopping malls will be banned altogether.

It is clear there will be economic impacts. But now we have to do everything for the virus not to spread, to avoid having it here without control, Babis said. If we see the measures do not have sufficient effect, we will take more.

Some border crossings were to be shut while others would be manned by police. Exceptions will be given to foreigners with residency in the Czech Republic and to cross-border workers.

The Czech Republic reported 96 cases of the coronavirus on Thursday. There have been no known deaths from the disease in the central European country.

Iran Reports 75 Coronavirus Deaths in 24 Hours

Iran on Thursday said another 75 people had died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 429, according to state-run media outlets.

Kianoush Jahanpour, a spokesman for Irans health agency, said that 10,075 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in the country, with 3,276 recoveries overall, according to the state-run IRNA. The 75 deaths represent the highest daily death toll in three weeks since Iran announced its first deaths from the outbreak in February.

In the past 24 hours, 1,075 people have been infected with COVID-19 bringing the total number of infected people to 10,075 cases, Jahanpour said in a news conference, according to AFP news agency. Seventy-five people hospitalized in the past few days have lost their lives and today a total of 429 infected people are no longer with us, he added.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran is among the deadliest and most widespread outside of mainland China, where the virus originated. Iran announced its first deaths in the city of Qom on Feb. 19, prompting Tehran to close down schools, universities, and sporting events and tell people to stop traveling.

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press conference Wednesday that the virus is now a pandemic. He made a remark about Tehran, saying, We are trying to mobilize more support for Iran and will attempt to obtain more supplies.

A member of a medical team wears a protective face mask, following the coronavirus outbreak, as he prepares disinfectant liquid to sanitise public places in Tehran, Iran in a March 5, 2020, file photograph. (WANA/Nazanin Tabatabaee via Reuters)

Inovio Gets Grant to Speed Up Vaccine Delivery Device

Inovio Pharmaceuticals announced it received a new $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate the testing and scale up of a device thats aimed to delivery a COVID-19 vaccine.

The smart device is planned for the delivery of INO-4800, a DNA vaccine for the disease thats slated to advance into Phase 1 clinical trials in the United States next month.

The delivery device is designed specifically for a COVID-19 type pandemic scenario, Inovio said in a statement, describing it as a small, portable, hand-held, user-friendly device that runs on readily available AA batteries.

Companies around the world are working to produce vaccines for COVID-19, which has no vaccine or proven treatment at this time.

Norway, Lithuania Shut Down Schools

Norway and Lithuania are shutting down kindergartens, schools and universities for at least two weeks and the Norwegian government says employees at work must be at least one meter apart.

In Oslo, the Norwegian capital, gatherings of more than 50 people were banned. Norways royal palace said all official arrangements till early April will either be cancelled or postponed. King Harald V said its crucial that everyone avoid exposing ourselves or others to infection.

Lithuania suspended gatherings of more than 100 people and closed museums, cinemas and sports clubs. In the capital of Vilnius, the lockdown was for five weeks.

In Finland, the government recommended banning all events with more than 500 people until end of May.

Denmarks royal palace said Crown Prince Frederik and his wife will return from Switzerland to be with the Danes at this time.

Ireland also announced it was shutting down schools over the new virus.

Irelands chief medical officer said the government had turned to measures to try to delay the spread, rather than simply contain it, following fresh case information late on Wednesday.

This general view shows the construction site for the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo on March 12, 2020, to be used for the 2020 Olympic Games. (Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images)

Japan Must Plan for Olympics Being Postponed: Official

Japan must brainstorm plans for dealing with a canceled or postponed Tokyo Olympic Games, even if that is unlikely, said Shigeru Ishiba, a ruling party heavyweight seen as a leading candidate to be the next prime minister.

Ishiba, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said on Wednesday the fate of the Tokyo Olympics was a decision best left to the International Olympic Committee. He declined to comment on what the best move might be.

Whatever the decision, Japan must be prepared, he said.

Not thinking about worst-case scenarios wont eliminate the risk of them materializing, Ishiba told Reuters.

The government must start thinking now about what to do in case the Olympics Games is canceled or postponed, he added.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday there has been no change to plans for Japan to hold the Games starting July 24.

Registered Nurses and Healthcare workers participate in a day of action rally over the new coronavirus at the USC Keck Hospital in Los Angeles, California, on March 11, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

California Advises Against Mass Gatherings

Officials in the largest state in America said that gatherings of 250 or more people shouldnt be held amid the coronavirus outbreak until at least the end of March.

Smaller events can be held if organizers make sure attendees stay six feet apart.

The new virus spreads in part through close personal contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines close contact as being within six feet.

Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effectssaving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now.

California has reported over 170 cases of COVID-19, along with four deaths.

Washington state made a similar move on Wednesday.

Unfortunately we know that the rest of the nation will be where we are, perhaps in a couple or three weeks, Gov. Jay Inslee said. And we hope that the things were doing aggressively here can set a template for the rest of the country.

Senate Staffer on Capitol Hill Tests Positive

In the first known case on Capitol Hill, a staff member from the Washington, D.C. office of Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

In a statement, the senators office said it was closing the D.C. office on the advice of the attending physician for the week. The office will be deep-cleaned and staff teleworking during the closure.

The statement also explained, The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 has had no known contact with the senator or other members of Congress, adding that, The senator is requesting that testing be done on any other staffers who have been in contact with the individual and show symptoms.

Greece Reports First Death

Greece reported its first fatality from a coronavirus infection on Thursday, a 66-year-old man who had returned from a religious pilgrimage to Israel and Egypt at the end of February.

The deceased man had underlying health issues, the health ministry said in a statement. There were 99 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Greece by late Wednesday.

Separately, passengers on board a ferry were quarantined as a precaution after a crew member said he felt unwell, a health ministry spokesman said. The crew member disembarked for further health checks.

The Athens News Agency reported there were 341 passengers and 77 crew on board the ferry which was docked at port on the island of Limnos.

Chinese investors monitor stock prices at a brokerage house in Beijing on Oct. 31, 2018. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Australian Stock Market Closes Down 7 Percent

Australian shares have plunged yet again, sinking to their lowest level since November 2016 in their second-worst day ever, after the WHO officially announced a pandemic and the Trump administration announced a travel ban to the United States for all Schengen countries in Europe.

In percentage terms it was the worst losses for the ASX200 since Oct. 10, 2008, surpassing Mondays 7.33 percent selloff.

The Australian dollar meanwhile was buying 64.55 U.S. cents, down from 65.05 U.S. cents from the market close on Wednesday.

Residents and hospital visitors wearing protective masks walk outside the Government Medical College in Thrissur, India, on Jan. 30, 2020, where the first confirmed case of the coronavirus was kept in isolation. (AFP via Getty Images)

India Suspends Tourist Visas

India will suspend all tourist visas to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.

All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, U.N./international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till April 15, 2020, it said in the statement.

Millions of foreign nationals of Indian origin, who are traditionally granted visa-free access, will now also need to apply, the order read.

The advisory said anyone with a compelling reason to travel to the country could contact their nearest Indian mission. It also urged Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

Mississippi Reports First Case

The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported the states first presumptive case of COVID-19 in the state, awaiting CDC confirmation.

According to a statement released Wednesday night, the man from Forrest County had recently returned from Florida.

He does not require hospitalization and is now at home for 14 days of self-quarantine.

First Known Patient in Pacific Islands Infected

French Polynesia has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the Pacific islands.

The patient is French Polynesias representative in the French National Assembly, Maina Sage, who returned to the countrys largest island, Tahiti, from Paris on March 7, President Edouard Fritch told local media.

Sage is now quarantining at home in Papeete.

While in Paris, Sage spent time working alongside Frances culture minister Franck Riester. Riester tested positive for the virus on March 9.

Following the announcement, Fritch said that his government is working on actions for monitoring, testing, and isolation. He added, I invite the population to avoid travel outside the country.

US Issues Worldwide Travel Warning

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday night issued a Level 3 travel advisory for worldwide travel, shortly after President Trumps address to the nation.

A Level 3 warning from the State Department is to reconsider travel.

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19, the statement said.

Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions.

Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice.

A man receives assistance in the a pre-triage medical tent in front of the Cremona hospital, Italy, on March 4, 2020. (Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images)

Italian Medical Chief Dies

The head of the medical association in Italys northern Varese region has died from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, local media reported Wednesday.

Roberto Stella, president of the Medical Guild of Varese, died on Tuesday night in a hospital in Como, according to the state-run ANSA.

Colleague Alessandro Colombo, Director of the Academy of Training for the Lombard Social and Health Service, said that few days ago, Stella told him: We have run out of masks. But we dont stop. We are careful and we go on.

Now, the 67-year-old is being remembered by the medical community as an example of the capability and hard work of family doctors, according to Silvestro Scotti, who is head of the countrys National Federation of Doctors and General Practitioners.

His death represents the outcry of all colleagues who still today are not equipped with the proper individual protection needed, he said in a statement.

The NBA logo is displayed as people pass by the NBA Store in New York on Oct. 7, 2019. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

NBA Suspends Season After Jazz Player Contracts Coronavirus

The NBA announced it is suspending the 2019-2020 season after a Utah Jazz player contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus, becoming the biggest sports league to make such an announcement in light of the pandemic.

The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19, the league said.

The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonights game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Read more here.

Trump Cancels Campaign-Related Events

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Wednesday night that President Donald Trump was canceling campaign-related events.

Out of an abundance of caution from the coronavirus outbreak, the president has decided to cancel his upcoming events in Colorado and Nevada, Grisham said in a statement.

Trump also canceled an event scheduled for Wisconsin.

Tom Hanks and wife, actress Rita Wilson, in a file photo. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Tom Hanks and Wife Test Positive

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, said they have tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the highest-profile celebrities to contract the mysterious new virus.

In a statement on Wednesday night, the 63-year-old actor said: Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

Read the full story here.

Trump Suspends All Travel From Europe

President Donald Trump said he is now suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days as of midnight on Friday.

Exceptions are in place for Americans who have undergone the appropriate health screenings. The temporary travel ban allies to countries in Europes Schengen Area, meaning that the United Kingdom and Ireland are exempt from the suspension.

We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now, we must take the same action with Europe, Trump said.

He also announced that low-interest loans are available to small businesses to help them overcome temporary economic disruptions caused by the virus.

This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation, and as a world, Trump said.

We will provide extra support for American workers, families, and businesses, Trump said.

Trump also said that he would soon be asking Congress to take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus.

Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before, the president said.

Read more here.

All Australian States, Territories Have Detected SARS-CoV-2

The Australian Capital Territory has reported its first case of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, meaning that all states and territories across the country have now detected at least one infection.

The man in his 30s tested positive to COVID-19 on Wednesday at the Weston Creek Walk-in Center in Canberras southern suburbs.

Health authorities say the person is being cared for and precautions are being taken to ensure the ongoing safety of staff and the broader community.

Australia Announces AU$17.6 Billion Economic Package

Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the government is doing all it can to support jobs, injecting AU$17.6 billion ($11.4 billion), as the coronavirus impacts the Australian economy.

Morrison said the gross impact of the stimulus in this financial year and the next two financial years would be AU$22.9 billion ($14.6 billion) or 1.2 per cent of Australias GDP.

This is a significant investment, Morrison said in the capital, Canberra, on Thursday, as he unveiled business and demand stimulus measures.

Melanie Sun, Mimi Nguyen-Ly, Zachary Stieber, Jack Phillips, Mark Tapscott, Reuters, the Associated Press, and AAP contributed to this article.

For updates from March 11, click here.
The most recent moves in gold have been unusual to say the least. When US equities originally began its steep decline during the week of February 24, gold traded lower that week. Gold prices opened at $1653 and by the end of the week gold closed at $1566. Although equities (risk on asset class) and gold (safe haven asset class) typically have a inverse correlation meaning they do not run in tandem very often.

However, at the beginning of a steep decline in global equities the fear factor prompts many investors to simply liquidate all of their investments into something like treasury bonds that offer very little interest, but have a guaranteed safety factor in that you will not lose any money. The other reason market participants liquidate gold during mass selloffs in equities is to raise capital to cover margin calls if theyre planning on holding onto their current position. We have seen this situation unfold on multiple occasions.

We have seen that scenario play out on multiple occasions when equities come under harsh pressure and market participants liquidate many investments including gold Typically, if US equities continue to drop for an extended period of time the mass liquidation of gold holdings ends, as traders move their assets from risk-on to safe haven. That is exactly what we saw last week.

The interesting part is this week equities continue to trade under pressure, well into an official corrective stage with the Dow losing 13% during the first week of the selloff. According to CNBC the Dow dropped another 1400 points today and is certainly now deeply in bearish territory with a market Decline of approximately 20%.

Viewing the list of stock market meltdowns in the past this last occurrence of a deep correction occurred during the financial crisis of 2008. During the initial selloff like we saw during the week of February 24 both gold and equities sold off harshly in tandem.

Simply put, it is very unusual for equities and gold to both trade dramatically lower for extended periods of time. As reported by MarketWatch today, analysts at Zaner metals wrote a note which said, We were less than impressed with golds move [higher] on Monday when the bottom fell out of the stock market, as gold barely poked above the $1,700 level and failed to meet upside technical targets,. However, one of the most interesting parts of their analysis was one possible explanation as to why this is occurring now.

Perhaps central banks were selling gold to fund their governments efforts to deal with the coronavirus.

This would explain why gold has traded to its lowest finish in over a week as central banks around the world may have had to liquidate gold reserves in order to fund a stimulus plan or raise capital to get them through the epidemic that may bring GDP to a halt.

Gold traded to a low today of $1633, currently gold is trading at $1641.30 at the open of trading in Australia.

What is clear is that the current epidemic in China concerning the coronavirus is moving closer towards a pandemic week by week, and without a vaccine which could take up to a year to produce, and the long period that individuals are able to transmit the disease and at the same time have no symptoms. For that reason that it is almost certain that there will be many more cases globally. If that is how this crisis unfolds, we can expect the global economy to continue to contract and thereby put further downside pressure on global equities.

For those who would like more information simply use this link.

Wishing you as always good trading,
The Cities and Infrastructure Adviser for United Kingdoms Department for International Development (DFID) West Africa/ DFID Ghana, Liberia & Sierra Leone, Rubbina Karruna, paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Dr Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya, at his office on Friday 5th March 2020 to discuss the impending Urban Development and Industrialization programme of the DFID.

The DFID Advisor indicated that this is a scoping visit, to familiarize with northern Ghana, and discuss with key strategic stakeholders like the NDA on potential cities for consideration in the 'Cities for Industrialisation Growth Programme'. She also indicated that the visit is following after similar visits to the Northern Regional Coordinating Council and the Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies of Tamale and Sagnarigu respectively.

The Cities and Infrastructure for Growth programme is a new, 5-year, multi-country DFID programme designed to support inclusive economic growth and job creation, thus creating productive cities through urban development, improving access to reliable and affordable power and increasing investment into infrastructure services.

According to the World Bank, globally, 840 million people live more than 2 kilometres from all-weather roads, 1 billion people lack electricity, and 4 billion people lack Internet access. Access to basic infrastructure services is critical for creating economic opportunities for the poor.

Dr Anamzoya, on his part, pledged the NDA's support to facilitate and housing the programme for entire northern Ghana. He indicated that the programme fits into his vision for the authority, of ensuring all-year-round agriculture and agro-processing for industrialization and job creation through value addition and enhanced entrepreneurship.

The CEO of the authority also stated that the NDA's masterplan, city plans, would become the base document for the DFID programme. He promised to work with the Chiefs to make land available for this programme, indicating that, NDA is working with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on a land bank project which he believes can become a cornerstone for access to land for investment.
Immigrants held in U.S. detention centers have been particularly vulnerable to the spread of communicable diseases - including thousands who were put under quarantine last spring for mumps, measles, flu and other illnesses - and it is unclear whether the coronavirus could pose a serious concern for U.S. authorities and the tens of thousands of foreigners in their custody.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently detains nearly 38,000 people in more than 130 private and state-run jails and prisons across the country, many of which sit in rural areas and operate with minimal public oversight.

Jenny Burke, an ICE spokeswoman, said Thursday that aspects of the agency's pandemic workforce protection plan, first developed in 2014, have been in effect since January to prevent and mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus among the detainee population and staff.

She said that since the onset of reports of covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, ICE epidemiologists "have been tracking the outbreak, regularly updating infection prevention and control protocols, and issuing guidance to ICE Health Service Corps staff for the screening and management of potential exposure among detainees."

ICE officials said that as of March 3, four detainees had met the criteria for coronavirus testing, but none have tested positive. The number of confirmed cases across the United States has jumped from a few dozen to more than a thousand since then, but the agency declined to provide more recent figures for its impact on the detainee population.

Immigration advocates say they are concerned about the potentially devastating impact a coronavirus outbreak could have inside the U.S. government's crowded immigration jails.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and Human Rights Watch this week called on the Trump administration to develop a strategy to prevent and mitigate such an outbreak at facilities that have long been plagued by allegations of detainee abuse and inadequate medical care.

"People in detention are highly vulnerable to outbreaks of contagious illnesses. They are housed in close quarters and are often in poor health," the groups wrote in a letter to ICE officials overseeing an ICE processing center in Adelanto, California. "Without the active engagement of the detention center's administration, they have little ability to inform themselves about preventive measures, or to take such measures if they do manage to learn of them. We are particularly concerned about the health and safety of the people detained at Adelanto, given the facility's demonstrated failure to provide adequate medical care in the past."

 READ MORE: What do coronavirus court closures mean for the right to a speedy trial?

The groups sent similar letters to other ICE detention facilities, calling on ICE to educate detainees and staff about proper hygiene measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus in ICE facilities; provide sufficient supplies for handwashing and cleaning; develop plans to screen and test for the virus, as well as, contain and treat the infected; and develop staffing contingency plans for the possibility that significant numbers of ICE detention staff will fall ill from the virus.

ICE officials said the agency has 20 detention facilities run by its Health Service Corps, including 16 that are equipped with airborne infection isolation rooms, where officials said they plan to house detainees deemed at risk for covid-19 or displaying symptoms. Officials said ICE detention staff also have received guidance on the use of protective equipment.

During a surge of border apprehensions last spring, ICE placed between 4,000 and 6,000 detainees in quarantine as a result of mumps, measles, flu and other communicable disease outbreaks, ICE's acting director, Matthew Albence, told lawmakers during a congressional hearing Wednesday.

"We have extensive experience with regard to keeping them isolated so that doesn't spread, and we also have extensive medical experience," Albence said, citing the agency's medical staff and Public Health Service Corps personnel.

 READ MORE: Amid coronavirus fears, Philadelphia City Council considers pressuring for an end to evictions, foreclosures, utility shutoffs

Government investigators, along with immigration advocates and attorneys, have repeatedly voiced concerns about inadequate medical care in ICE detention facilities, including the alleged mishandling of infectious disease outbreaks.

Investigators and attorneys have previously reported serious patterns of neglect at several ICE facilities across the country, including denied or ignored requests for medical care, limited dissemination of vaccinations for the flu and other infectious diseases, poorly enforced or mismanaged quarantines, and overcrowding.

ICE has reported at least 21 deaths in its facilities over the past two years - eight of which occurred in the past six months alone - including, most recently, a 22-year-old female Guatemalan asylum seeker who died of hepatitis, septic shock and liver failure, after being detained at a Texas facility for more than six months; and a 63-year-old man held in Florida, who died in January after weeks of respiratory distress and other serious symptoms of illness. In December, a 40-year-old, also held in Florida, died of septic shock.

Advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers have urged ICE to reduce the number of people in its custody by releasing particularly vulnerable people - many of ICE's detainees are asylum seekers with no previous criminal record - to minimize the crowded conditions that facilitate the spread of the disease, and ensure that people with underlying conditions get access to care.

 READ MORE: Shut down Berks!: Philly allies of detained migrant families say its time for Pa. center to close.

Albence told lawmakers Wednesday that his agency would not release vulnerable detainees as a preventive measure against coronavirus: "The people that we have in detention are there because they are public safety threats or flight risks."

On Thursday, the union that represents immigration judges across the country called on the Justice Department to suspend hearings in a wide swath of cases out of fear that such proceedings could help spread the coronavirus.

In a letter to the director of the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review, immigration judge Ashley Tabaddor said that all of the "non-detained master calendar dockets" - essentially hearings for people not in federal custody - "must be completely suspended because they present a continuing and unacceptable risk in the current environment."

Tabbador, the head of the National Association of Immigration Judges, said the dockets typically bring 50 or more respondents into each courtroom, many of whom have recently traveled internationally, plus attorneys and other family members. She said that the union had been informed Wednesday that one attorney in a March 10 hearing reported having flu-like symptoms and was concerned about a coronavirus infection.

"This is exactly the type of situation the White House, CDC and other public health authorities urge us to avoid, and we trust that you will agree that it is untenable and irresponsible in light of the current spread of COVID-19 infections across the country," Tabbador wrote.

Immigration judges in the U.S. are not independent, instead reporting to the Justice Department, and like any union, the one representing the judges is often critical of management. Most recently, the association highlighted publicly that judges were directed to take down signage about how to prevent the spread of covid-19, prompting the department to reverse course and allow the signs to be put up. The association also has called repeatedly on the Executive Office for Immigration Review to provide its judges more clarity on how they can manage their courtrooms to prevent the spread of covid-19, and as of Thursday, said they had received no response.

"They have provided absolutely no useful guidance to us," said Samuel Cole, an immigration judge and the association's communications director. "It is unique because we have very large hearings, where a lot of people from all over the world who have been traveling internationally come together and wait for their time to be called in front of a judge. And so just the size of the crowds that have to congregate together makes us unique and particularly problematic."

Immigration attorney Matthew Archambeault said that on Thursday, immigration judges in Newark, New Jersey, allowed attorneys to come into court while their clients waited outside to try to prevent people from having close contact. But that, he said, left the waiting room outside packed with dozens of people.

"I'm worried about myself; I'm worried about my family," Archambeault said. "I have my mother in law at home, who is elderly, and she's not in the best of health."

A Justice Department spokesman did not immediately comment on the union's latest letter.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which includes Border Patrol authorities, also grappled with allegations of harsh conditions, and inadequate sanitation and medical care for migrants detained in CBP facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border, particularly during last year's surge in border crossings, when border infrastructure was overwhelmed.

A CBP spokesperson said border agents are working to identify "individuals who have traveled from or transited through countries affected by COVID-19."

Individuals apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol between the ports of entry with symptoms of illness are referred to the CDC or local health officials for additional health screening, the spokesperson said. U.S. Border Patrol takes all necessary precautions to ensure that no communicable diseases are spread across populations in custody.
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New Delhi, March 12 : Domestic smartphone manufacturer Lava on Thursday introduced LAVA Pay app - an innovative digital payment solution that does not require internet connectivity.

"We are hopeful that this non-internet payment solution will be well-accepted in the market and change the way feature phones users conduct transactions in future. Lava Pay is our contribution to help boost Digital India initiative of the Government as well as bringing financial inclusivity for a large population of the county," Tejinder Singh, Head-Product, Lava International said in a statement.

The app will come pre-installed in company's all upcoming feature phones. Existing Lava customers can get this application installed in their current phones by visiting any of the 800+ service centres in the country.

According to the company, the app comes with a simple user- interface that has been designed keeping in mind the profile of the users. In order to send or pay money from the app, the users have to simply enter the phone number of the receiver, payment amount and the transaction Pass Code.

Once the transaction is complete, both the sender and the receiver will receive an alert immediately.

Furthermore, the app enables users to check their account balance with a single step. The users can also visit their nearest bank to configure application and start transacting.

Once registered, the users will experience the convenience of having a mobile bank, enabling them to make swift and secure transactions.
The response of India's Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to the Hindu communalist violence that convulsed much of northeast Delhi for three days late last month (February 24-26) underscores its fascistic and criminal character.

At least 53 people were killed and some 300 injured in what was the worst outbreak of communal violence in Indias capital and largest city in almost four decades.

The Delhi violence was the outcome of a campaign of incitement led by Modi and his chief henchman, Home Minister Amit Shah, against opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)a discriminatory anti-Muslim law the BJP pushed through parliament last December and the latest in a series of provocative government actions aimed at asserting that India is a Hindu Rashtra or Hindu state.

Faced with mounting social opposition amid a deepening economic crisis, Modi and his BJP are stoking Hindu communalism with the aim of mobilizing their right-wing base and confusing and dividing the working class.

They were pushed on to the back-foot by the sudden eruption of mass opposition to the CAA across India last December. Delhi is a centre of the opposition movement which has united students, workers and professionals across religious, ethnic and caste lines.

In response the BJP unleashed lethal state violencemore than 20 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh in Decemberand mounted a counter-campaign that depicts the anti-CAA agitation as violent, anti-national and even treasonous.

The anti-Muslim violence that erupted in northeast Delhi was triggered by a speech from BJP leader Kapil Mishra threatening violence against anti-CAA protesters. Subsequently Hindu communalist mobs took the offensive, attacking Muslims and torching and looting Muslim homes and businesses. Meanwhile, the police, in the region of India where there is the densest concentration of security forces outside of disputed Jammu and Kashmir, conspicuously stood down.

With their culpability so evident, Modi and the BJP have taken refuge in the Big Lie. In a speech to parliament yesterday, Home Minister Shah regurgitated the BJP's claims, charging that the opposition parties were responsible for the violence because they had criticized the CAA and been compelled to associate with the mass anti-CAA movement, and that the violence in northeast Delhi was the outcome of an opposition conspiracy.

He also lavished praise on the police, commending them for controlling the Delhi riots within 36 hours.

The Delhi police, which is under the direct control of the BJP-led central governments Home Ministry, stood by while Hindu communalist thugs mounted brutal attacks on Muslims, and in some cases even joined in the violence.

Harjit Singh Bhatti, the ex-president of the Resident Doctors Association of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences and part of the first team of volunteer doctors to reach riot-hit northeast Delhi, explained to the Hindu how police deliberately obstructed their efforts to tend to the wounded.

Speaking about a patient with a deep gunshot wound in the stomach who was carried in an ambulance to GTB Hospital, Dr. Bhatti said, They were stopped four times by the police. They [police] inspected the patient by opening his bandages. That was the level of inhumanness on display.

An investigation by the Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) found the violence was one-sided and well planned with maximum damage inflicted on Muslim houses and shops with local support.

A government agency set up under the 1999 Delhi Minorities Commission Act, the DMC reported that thousands of Muslims have fled to remote villages in Utter Pradesh and Haryana or have found refuge living with relatives elsewhere in Delhi. Others are living in relief camps, some run by Muslim charities and others by the Delhi government.

Conditions for the more than five thousand people now living in the makeshift relief camps are miserable. Residents lack proper shelter, regular meals, clean clothes and toilets among other essentials.

The Hindustan Times described the horrific conditions at a flood-hit relief camp in northeast Delhis Mustafabad neighbourhood after thundershowers lashed Delhi for 24 hours on March 6.

Under conditions where the coronavirus is rapidly spreading across India, including in Delhi, the Times reported, The wet mattresses, moist clothes and the damp surroundings are conductive to flu, infections and other health hazardsespecially [as the camp is housed] in an 800-odd square meter prayer ground, fenced with brick walls on all four sides.

People in the relief camps are also confronting police harassment and repression. At the Mustafabad relief camp, police have arrested a number of Muslim men and youth on phoney charges of rioting.

A woman named Fathima told online newsite ThePrint that her 17-year old son and husband were picked up by police on false charges of engaging in violence. My husband and son put up a fruit stall at the Shiv Vihar puliya every day, said Fathima. They had put one up on 25th February as well. But police caught hold of them saying they saw my son rioting in video footage.

According to the BJP government, Delhi police have arrested more than 2,600 people, including four dozen for Arms Act violations. However, everything suggests that the Delhi police, in line with their actions during last months riots and the ruling BJPs communal policies, are mostly targeting Muslims, the riots principal victims, rather than the true perpetrators and instigators.

Among those the police have arrested for rioting is 45 year-old Usman Saifi. He was part of a group of Muslims who had organized to guard a Hindu temple in a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in Mustafabad because they feared an attack on the temple would be used as a pretext for a Hindu communal attack on their neighbourhood.

While Muslims are being persecuted, the BJP government and the police are shielding thuggish BJP leaders like Kapil Mishra who openly instigated violence against Muslims.

The communal violence in northeast Delhi was triggered by Mishras declaration before hundreds of his supporters that they would clear the citys streets of anti-CAA protesters if police did not do so forthwith. Yet no legal action has been taken against him or other BJP leaders who in the weeks prior to the eruption of communal violence in northeast Delhi led crowds of BJP supporters in chanting for lethal violence (shoot them down) against anti-CAA protesters.

Within hours of a Delhi High Court judge admonishing the police and government on February 27 for failing to initiate investigations (First Information Reports) of BJP leaders who had made anti-Muslim hate speeches, he was transferred out of Delhi.

Delhi police have arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and three of his aides, accusing them of rioting and murdering Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the Delhi violence.

Hussain has vehemently denied the charges and said that he and his family were themselves the targets of a Hindu communalist mob. BJP leaders, aided and abetted by much of the corporate media, are trumpeting Hussains alleged involvement in violence to cover up their own crimes.

In a transparent provocation manifestly aimed at inciting communal violence, Utter Pradeshs BJP state government has put up giant posters at all the major intersections of the state capital, Lucknow, bearing the photos, names and addresses of 57 people it claims were involved in violence during anti-CAA protests last December.

The 57, who include well-known BJP opponents, have not been found guilty of any crime. Yet the government has arbitrarily demanded that they pay compensation for property destroyed when state security forces ran amok while suppressing anti-CAA protests, and has vowed that if they fail to do so it will seize their property.

In a rare Sunday sitting, the Allahabad High Court ordered March 8 that the name and shame posters be taken down by next Monday, declaring that they constituted an unwarranted interference in peoples privacy.

However, BJP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is himself under criminal indictment for inciting communal violence, has refused to heed the court order. Yesterday, the UP government went before Indias Supreme Court to challenge that High Court order.
A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to 54 years in prison after being found guilty of killing three Girl Scouts and one of their mothers in a hit-and-run in November 2018.

Colten Treu, 23, delivered an emotional statement before his sentencing in which he claimed that families 'have every right to hate me' and that he could not 'give back what has been taken'.

He was sentenced to a total of 99 years by Judge James Isaacson, at least 54 years of which will be spent behind bars.

Treu will be kept under electronic surveillance for the remainder of the sentence but it's unlikely he will be released from prison until he's in his 70s.

Colten Treu speaks on Wednesday to the victim's families, his own family and the judge before he was sentenced to 54 years in prison for causing the November 2018 crash that killed three Girl Scouts and a mother as they picked up trash along a rural road in Wisconsin

Prosecutors said Treu had been huffing from an aerosol canister before he plowed into the group of Girl Scouts as they picked up trash along a rural road outside Lake Hallie in November 2018. The driver then fled the scene (pictured) and was arrested hours later

Nine-year-old Jayna Kelley (left) and 10-year-old Autum Helgeson (right), both of Lake Hallie, were killed in the November 2018 crash

Ten-year-old Haylee Hickle (left) and her mother, 32-year-old Sara Jo Schneider (right), from the Town of Lafayette, were also killed

Prosecutors said Treu had been huffing from an aerosol canister before he plowed into the group of Girl Scouts as they picked up trash along a rural road outside Lake Hallie in November 2018.

The driver then fled the scene and was arrested hours later.

Nine-year-old Jayna Kelley and 10-year-old Autumn Helgeson, both of Lake Hallie, were killed, along with 10-year-old Haylee Hickle and her mother, 32-year-old Sara Jo Schneider, from the Town of Lafayette.

Another 10-year-old struck in the crash, Madalyn Zwiefelhofer, spent three weeks recovering in the hospital.

The young victims were all fourth graders and members of Girl Scout Troop 3055 in Chippewa Falls.

Treu addressed the victims' families before the judge sentenced him.

'The community has every right to hate me. All of you have every right to hate me,' he said.

'I cannot give back what has been taken, and I know that. I will never understand the pain and suffering and grieving these losses have caused.'

Colten Treu enters Chippewa County Court in Wisconsin before his sentencing Wednesday

The victims' families also delivered victim impact statements before the sentencing in which they spoke of their loss and what several of them had witnessed.

'I set up this Girl Scout event. It was my idea to have my troop commit to cleaning a highway. I thought we did everything right. I never knew a monster was going to be driving on County P highway that morning,' said Robin Kelley, Jayne's mother.

'Next thing I know, I hear the sound of a truck, plowing at what feels like impossibly high speeds through our people. The truck hit her so hard. She didn't have a chance.'

'I can't envision myself ever forgiving the defendant for what he did that day. My wish is that he goes away, and we never have to hear about him again,' added Jayne's father Brian Kelley.

'I hope the world forgets his name. And I hope they remember our girls.'

In December 2019, Treu pleaded no contest to four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and one count of hit and run causing great bodily harm on Monday in Chippewa County court.

Treu initially pleaded not guilty to 11 charges in the case but ultimately agreed to the no contest plea on five charges in exchange for having the other six dismissed.

Under Wisconsin law, a plea of 'no contest' means a defendant neither admits or denies guilt but will not dispute the facts of the charges.

Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said he offered the plea deal in order to avoid putting the victims' families through the trauma of a trial while still holding Treu accountable for the deaths.

Each of the homicide convictions carried a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

Treu admitted to police that he and his roommate had been 'huffing' computer keyboard cleaner before the then-21-year-old got behind the wheel of his Ford F-150 pickup truck. Treu is pictured left in his mugshot and right in a Facebook photo

Girl Scouts sing as hundreds of community members turn out in November 2018, for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of three fourth grade Girl Scouts and a parent who died

After the crash Treu admitted to police that he and his roommate, John Stender Jr, had been 'huffing' computer keyboard cleaner before the then-21-year-old got behind the wheel of his Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Treu said he 'lost control of the vehicle and fishtailed after Mr Stender grabbed the steering wheel from him' on the rural highway, according to a criminal complaint.

Stender told authorities he took the steering wheel to correct Treu's driving, which prompted his roommate to yell and violently grab the wheel back.

As he did so, the truck swerved into the ditch and struck the five victims, killing four and seriously injuring another.

Treu sped off after the collision, and Stender told police 'the next thing he recalled is waking up down the road', the complaint says.

Authorities tracked a Treu's truck by following a 'fresh fluid trail' that led them nearly two miles from the scene of the crash to the apartment he shares with Stender.

The vehicle had 'significant front-end damage, with weeds observed stuck in the front bumper', according to the criminal complaint.

Both men turned themselves in to police hours later and admitted they had intentionally inhaled chemicals to get high 'just prior' to the crash.

'I saw what Colten Treu did. I never saw brake lights. What I heard was acceleration. Acceleration through body by body,' Kim Helgeson, Autumn's mother said in her statement.

'My child's life was sacrificed for an air-duster high that he couldn't wait seven minutes for.'
Gandhinagar, March 12 : Following the Centre's guidelines, the Gujarat government here on Thursday said all incoming passengers from Italy and South Korea must carry COVID-19 negative certificate.

Also, from Friday all incoming passengers from coronavirus affected countries will be quarantined for 14 days.

The Gujarat health and family welfare department said till coronavirus cases subsided globally, passengers travelling from or having visited Italy or South Korea to India would need a certificate of having tested negative for the disease from the designated laboratories, authorised by those countries' health authorities.

Also, all incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15, shall be quarantined for 14 days.

From Friday, all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment and project visas will remain suspended till April 15. The visa-free travel facility granted to OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders will also be kept in abeyance till April 15.

Since January 15, the state government has screened 2,611 passengers for coronavirus. Of this, 65 people were suspected to be coronavirus carriers and quarantined. However, reports of 63 have been negative. Two reports are awaited.

A total of 1,217 passengers have completed 28-day observation period and they were certified to be healthy.

The rapid response teams (RRT) from six zones received special coronavirus training in Delhi, recently. Now the district RRTs will receive similar training through video link on Friday.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Abdullah Abdullah, the loser in the September presidential election insists he is the legitimate president and is issuing orders to government officials who are caught in the middle of a power struggle between the election winner, the Taliban and the United States. The Americans are trying to get an Afghan government to cooperate with negotiating a peace deal with the Taliban, This would enable the U.S. troops to be withdrawn. This situation is complicated by the fact that the elected Afghan government, in general, does not trust the Taliban and refuses to do what the Americans want because the U.S. has gone along with the Taliban demands that negotiations between the Taliban and the U.S. exclude the Afghan government.

Most Afghans see the Taliban offer to negotiate as a scam because the Afghan Taliban are doing whatever Pakistan wants. The Pakistani Taliban, who have no Pakistani support, are basically at war with the Pakistan government and are much smaller than their Afghan counterparts. The Afghan Taliban has always enjoyed a sanctuary in Pakistan, across the border from Helmand province, where Afghans produce most of the world's heroin supply. Pakistan, or at least the Pakistani military, support the Afghan drug gangs as well by allowing, for a large fee, raw materials for turning opium plan sap into Heroin to go from Pakistan to Helmand and for most of the heroin to be smuggled through Pakistan to the port of Karachi where the illegal drug can be smuggled to markets worldwide. The Afghan drug gangs pay the Afghan Taliban to protect the drug operations from foreign or Afghan interference. This is how most Afghans see the situation, as well as the millions of Afghan addicts made possible by the availability of so much opium and heroin in the country. While most of this stuff is exported some of it is sold locally, at much lower price than for foreign users. There are equally large numbers of addicts in Pakistan and Iran and the people in all those countries agree that the drug problem exists because of unofficial Pakistani support. That Pakistani support is justified by the Pakistani obsession with controlling Afghanistan even if it means supporting an Islamic form of government that would not be tolerated in Pakistan and the heroin production that is condemned by the people and governments of Afghanistan and all its neighbors.

Despite this, the Americans are determined to go through the motions of obtaining a peace deal with the Afghan Taliban, who also have internal problems. The Afghan Taliban, at least those in Afghanistan, consist of many factions, usually based on geography and or tribal affiliation. These factions never agreed completely with each other and those differences have grown since the 1990s.

Like everything else in Afghanistan, the Taliban began because of important tribal links. The original Taliban were Pushtuns from tribes in Helmand and Kandahar provinces. The original Taliban combat force was recruited in the mid-1990s from among Pushtun Afghan refugees from war-torn Afghanistan who were still in Pakistan. Even though the Russians were gone by 1988, and the pro-Russian government that was left behind had also disappeared after 1991 because the Soviet Union that created it had dissolved and the economic and military aid that kept that Afghan government going, in only a small part of Afghanistan, disappeared.

The Pakistan backed Taliban entered Afghanistan and declared they were largely Afghans who had been studying in Pakistan-based, Saudi-financed religious schools and they were pure and not partisan like the other factions in the civil war raging in Afghanistan. The Taliban took control of Kabul and most of southern (Pushtun majority) Afghanistan. By the late 1990s, the victorious Taliban were still fighting the non-Pushtun northerners in an effort to control the entire country.

At this point, even a lot of Pushtuns could see that the Taliban were another Pakistani effort to control Afghanistan or at least parts of it. There were reasons for that. Pakistan has twice as many Pushtuns as Afghanistan although with a much larger population the Pakistani Pushtun are a small minority in Pakistan versus a major (40 percent) minority in Afghanistan. That is one reason why Pakistan is so keen on have a large degree of control over Afghanistan because that makes it more difficult for the Pushtun in both countries to unite. For thousands of years that has never happened but the potential was always there and late in the 20th century the idea of a separate Pushtunstan was gaining more supporters among Pushtun in both countries. The interference in Afghanistan has been going on since Pakistan was created in 1948 and is illegal according to international law and opposed by every other nation in the region. Yet this interference has ancient origins. For over a thousand years, before the ancient silk road from China to India and the Middle East was replaced by more effective European trading ships in the 16th century, the empires in what is now Iran and greater India (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) controlled portions of the silk road that went through Afghanistan. In effect, there is ancient Iranian influence in western Afghanistan while the influence in the east is Indian.

The factionalism that has developed in the Afghan Taliban since 2001 is largely the result of more and more Taliban rejecting the Pakistani influence. That is something Pakistan has violently sought to suppress, and Iran supports, because the anti-Pakistan Taliban groups endanger the Pakistan-backed Afghan drug trade. A final complication is that in Pakistan it is the largely autonomous (from government control) military and the ISI intelligence branch that need the Afghan Taliban to justify their power and autonomy in Pakistan. This has caused a major rift in Pakistan where most Pakistanis back an elected government that, as the constitution stipulates, controls the military and not the other way around.

The American attitude is that it will trust the Afghan Taliban and their Pakistani patrons only so far as the terms of any deal are observed. The Pakistani generals think they can play all this to their advantage. That would change if there were a change of government in Iran. The religious dictatorship there is losing control because of decades of misrule, corruption and bad-behavior towards its own people. A new Iran government would probably be less anti-American and more willing to work with the Americans and Indians to reduce or eliminate Pakistani influence in Afghanistan along with the Afghan drug production. That would be very bad news for the Pakistani generals.

The U.S. believes that the Islamic terrorist threat to Pakistan would encourage Pakistan to prevent the Afghan Taliban from again, as they did in the late 1990s, providing sanctuary for international Islamic terrorist organizations. The Pakistani government has always supported some of those inside Pakistan, but only as long as these groups only attacked targets that Pakistan military approved of. These usually included India and Afghan government forces and their foreign allies.

March 11, 2020: The U.S. announced that several thousand American troops would leave Afghanistan by mid-year, at which point there would be about 8,600 left. The U.S. withdrawal will be halted and reversed if the Taliban do not abide by the deal and reduce their violence. The Taliban say they can handle this but so far they have not been able to. This is complicated by the Taliban intolerance towards the Afghan government.

March 10, 2020: In the east (Nangarhar Province), an army raid on a town near the main crossing from Pakistan found and seized a recently arrived (from Pakistan) truck that was carrying ten tons of explosives. The two men on the truck said they were paid to deliver half the load to someone in Nangarhar and the rest to someone in Kabul. Meanwhile, Pakistan has closed most of its Afghan border crossings to prevent the spread of the Chinese covid19 virus. The crossings are expected to remain closed for at least another week.

In the west (Iran border), over 80,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Iran since March 1st, most of them because of the spread of the covid19 virus inside Iran. This exodus is believed to be the source of the few covid19 cases found so far in Afghanistan.

In the south (Kandahar province), police shot dead a suicide bomber before the terrorist could detonate his explosives.

March 9, 2020: President Ghani is sworn in for a second term. The election is still contested by the loser, Abdullah Abdullah, who held his own swearing-in ceremony and seeks to run a parallel government. Thus could get ugly and the U.S. is trying to negotiate a settlement.

During the September 2019 election, the leading candidates were incumbent Ashraf Ghani and his long-time rival Abdullah Abdullah. Both declared victory right after the voting but the final results were a long time in coming. It took a lot longer (five months) for the Election Commission to do recounts and investigations of vote fraud from both sides. In late September 2019, the first recount gave Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai 55 percent. The two candidates worked out a power-sharing agreement but things like this tend to be unstable in Afghanistan. Abdullah Abdullah was a long-time foe of Hamid Karzai, the corrupt first president. Abdullah was widely believed to have lost the 2009 election because of fraud. Abdullah Abdullah is part Tajik and backed the Northern Alliance against the Taliban during the 1990s. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is a Pushtun from a powerful tribe. He was attending college in the U.S. when the civil wars and subsequent Russian invasion occurred in the late 1970s. He was in exile until 2001. His family suffered many losses during this period, both because of the Russians and the civil wars. To Puhstuns Ghani is the more acceptable candidate because he is all Pushtun and the Pushtuns have traditionally been the kings or leaders of Afghanistan, even though they are a minority, although the largest one at 40 percent of the population. Ghani and many of his supporters insisted that a lot more Pushtuns turned out to vote in the runoff in order to keep a Pushtun in the top job. On the other hand, Abdullah Abdullah was the victim of Pushtun voting fraud in 2009 and claimed that it was happening again. The recount did not even get started officially until July 17th and was delayed several more times by disagreements. In mid-June, both candidates agreed to an American arranged full vote recount and agreed to abide by the result of the recount, which was overseen by foreign observers. The result of the June 14 runoff was in doubt because of fraud allegations. This was a major political crisis until the recount was complete. There were a lot of foreign observers who reported that there was some fraud but not a lot more than the first election in April. There were nearly 600 formal complaints of fraud and there was an effort by Pushtun leaders to get out more votes for Ghani.

March 6, 2020: In Kabul, a memorial for an Afghan Shia leader killed by the Taliban in 1995 was attacked by two ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) gunmen who killed 32 civilians and wounded 81 others before being killed themselves by police. During the 1990s the Taliban were very anti-Shia but say they have changed now. Afghan Shia dont believe it. ISIL is still rabidly anti-Shia. There are similar anti-Shia groups in Pakistan. Among the casualties was a local reporter and a news cameraman who were both wounded.

March 4, 2020: In the south (Helmand province), the U.S. carried out an airstrike against Taliban gunmen believed responsible for a recent attack on an Afghan checkpoint. The Afghan attack was a violation of the Taliban agreement to reduce violence.

March 2, 2020: The Taliban declared the peace agreement ceasefire was over because the Afghan government would not carry out its part of the deal. That decision was later sort of withdrawn by the Taliban.

March 1, 2020: In the east (Kunar province), a series of American airstrikes against ISIL targets is believed to have killed at least six key ISIL personnel.

February 29, 2020: In Qatar, the U.S. and Taliban signed a peace deal which, if the Taliban can abide by the ceasefire and other conditions, will lead to the withdrawal of American forces within 14 months. Many believed this agreement was doomed to fail and it promptly did. Within days Taliban forces were violating the ceasefire with multiple attacks. The agreement had a lot of flaws. For example, it called for the Afghan government to release 5,000 imprisoned Taliban within three days. That was a problem because the Afghan government was not involved in the negotiations because the Taliban refused to allow it. The Afghans pointed out that the logistics of identifying the 5,000 prisoners and releasing them would take longer than three days. That amounts to about half the Taliban held in government prisons. Another issue that has been ignored is that many of those Taliban prisoners are jailed because they have killed civilians or security force personnel who surrendered. The kin of these victims want revenge. In Afghanistan that is the way. The number of Afghans who want revenge against Taliban violence is very long and the Taliban want that to just disappear. These blood debts go back to the late 1990s when the Taliban ran most of Afghanistan and were still fighting the Northern Alliance (of Afghan tribes and ethnic groups that comprise the majority of Afghans). The Northern Alliance got some help from Russia and the Americans but was faced with a Taliban that had the enthusiastic backing of Pakistan and many wealthy Sunni Arabs, especially in the Persian Gulf oil countries. Those backers still exist although the number of Arab donors has diminished. Pakistan created the Taliban in the mid-1990s and wants the Taliban to run Afghanistan because that gives Pakistan enormous influence over that goes on in Afghanistan.

The peace deal was full of vague terms and assurances of who would do what. The negotiations seemed to ignore the fact that the elected Afghan government is largely controlled by the old Northern Alliance coalition of anti-Taliban Afghans who consider the Taliban an instrument of Pakistan influence in Afghanistan.

February 24, 2020: In the north (Balkh Province), Taliban gunmen attacked a checkpoint killing six people (civilians and security personnel) and wounded five. This was another violation Taliban reduction in violence agreement.

February 18, 2020: In the south and east (Uruzgan, Kunar, Helmand, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Ghazni provinces), Afghan security forces carried out numerous raids and attacks (usually with airstrikes or artillery) that left 54 Taliban dead and 29 wounded. All of this was in retaliation for a recent increase in Taliban violence.

February 11, 2020: In Kabul, a suicide bomber attempting to reach the nearby military academy was halted at a checkpoint where he detonated his explosives. Two of the six dead were civilians the rest were police. There were twelve wounded, five of them civilians. The Taliban denied responsibility and the ISIL was the most likely cause.

February 8, 2020: In the east (Nangarhar Province), someone in an Afghan army uniform opened fire with an automatic weapon on a group of American and Afghan soldiers. Two Americans and one Afghan were killed while six Americans and three Afghans were wounded. The shooter was killed by return fire. So far this year six American troops have been killed in Afghanistan compared with 22 for all of 2019. While some attacks of this nature are the work of Taliban infiltrators, this one was not. Acts of violence like this by Afghan soldiers are not unusual and most of those killed are fellow Afghans. There are lots of people with anger management problems in Afghanistan, always have been.
It can be challenging to find a good deal when looking for an apartment. So what does a cheap rent on a rental in Shenandoah look like these days  and what might you get for your money?

Per Walk Score ratings, the neighborhood is very walkable, is relatively bikeable and offers many nearby public transportation options. It also features median rents for a one-bedroom that hover around $1,525, compared to a $1,850 one-bedroom median for Miami as a whole.

A look at local listings in Shenandoah via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide offers an overview of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Miami neighborhood.

Read on for the cheapest listings available right now. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.)

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

1914 S.W. 17th Ave.

Listed at $1,750/month, this two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom condo is located at 1914 S.W. 17th Ave.

When it comes to building amenities, expect additional storage space; the condo also features air conditioning, granite countertops and large windows. Neither cats nor dogs are welcome. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee.

(See the complete listing here.)

1642 S.W. 19th Terrace

Here's a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom dwelling at 1642 S.W. 19th Terrace, which is going for $2,300/month.

The building features outdoor space and on-site laundry. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee.

(See the full listing here.)

1119 S.W. 12th Court

Then there's this apartment with three bedrooms and two bathrooms at 1119 S.W. 12th Court, listed at $2,375/month.

Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: This spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. When it comes to building amenities, expect outdoor space and additional storage space. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee.

(See the listing here.)

This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, get free local real estate marketing ideas and tools for agents, brokers and more.

Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada Carbon Inc. (the Company) (TSX-V: CCB) announces that on Monday, March 9th, 2020, the Appeal Court of Quebec abandoned its deliberations to review the judgment rendered by Madam Justice Danielle Turcotte of the Superior Court of Quebec. In November 2018, Justice Turcotte concluded that the action for damages by Canada Carbon against the municipality of Grenville-sur-la-Rouge was not a SLAPP action. In explaining her decision, she stated that:



 The Company's claim for damages did not meet the characteristics of a SLAPP action;

 The claim was not intended to silence, but to eventually obtain compensation for damage caused by the municipality; and

 There was a lack of proof of abuse.

Executive Chairman and CEO, R. Bruce Duncan, said: We are pleased that all of the legal proceedings have been concluded and that we will now be able to concentrate on establishing a constructive dialogue on the Miller project with the elected officials of Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, the population of GSLR and other stakeholders."

CANADA CARBON INC.

 R. Bruce Duncan

CEO and Director

Contact Information

E-mail inquiries: info@canadacarbon.com

P: 905 813-8408

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Theres been carnage this morning on stock markets, with shares in airlines and hotels plunging after President Trump last night announced that the United States is closing its borders to visitors from most European countries until next month.

Shares in Aer Lingus owner IAG collapsed almost 12pc in early trading, while Ryanair had sank 6.6pc.

Dalata, Irelands biggest hotel operator that also has operations in the UK, tumbled almost 9pc. Shares in French hotel operator Accor were 9pc lower. In the US, Intercontinental Hotel shares were 7pc lower ahead of the opening of markets there today.

The unprecedented move by the United States to seal its borders amid the coronavirus outbreak is another hammer blow to the world economy as it grapples to contain the pandemic.

The move is even more drastic than that seen immediately after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. US airspace reopened to civilian traffic just three days after those events.

Read More

Even the 2010 eruption of Icelands Eyjafjallajokull volcano, while vast swathes of European airspace were closed, it was largely open again within eight days bar one or two hiccups.

IAG also owns British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Level. The groups shares likely would have declined more sharply except for the fact that the UK and Ireland have not been hit by the US travel ban.

Shares in Lufthansa, which this week said its likely to slash its schedules by about 50pc, were 9pc lower in early trading. Norwegian Air  already trying to get into financial shape even before the crisis  saw its shares plummet 24pc.

The US move will place enormous financial pressure on both European and American carriers.

Before the market opens in New York today, shares in American Airlines are already showing that theyll open 12pc lower, as are shares in United.

The shake-out in the industry as a result of the virus that was predicted by the likes of Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary now looks like it will be rout that will leave the airline industry bruised and battered for years to come.

Goodbody Stockbrokers chief economist Dermot OLeary pointed out this morning that tourism accounts for 10pc of total employment in Ireland. He said that while Ireland and the UK are not yet part of the travel ban, one has to think that they may soon be.

That will have a devastating impact on the tourism sector.

Mr OLeary pointed out that while the UK is the most important source of tourists into Ireland, with 4.7m visitors from there, the number from the US has been increasing in recent years. Those US tourists also spend much more.

In 2019, US and Canadian tourists to Ireland spent an average of 701 each here, excluding airfares. That compared to the 549 spent by German tourists and the 258 by those from the UK.

While Gus Kelly, the chief executive of the one of the worlds largest aircraft lessors, Dublin-based Aercap, said this week that he did not see the coronavirus negatively impacting the long-term global air passenger growth trajectory, its hard to see how Covid-19 will not have some sort of lasting legacy on the rapid rate of expansion thats been seen in the past decade.

Shares in Aercap sank 11.6pc yesterday in New York.
[March 12, 2020] U.S. Tech Firms Bullish on Global Expansion in Spite of Growing Uncertainty, According to Velocity Global Research

U.S. and UK technology businesses remain determined in their plans for international expansion, according to findings in the 2020 State of Global Expansion Report: Tech Industry, which is based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. and UK decision-makers from companies in the IT, software, hardware, and technology industries. The company also released findings from its annual Global Expansion Tech Index, which identifies the most promising markets for international expansion. According to the report, tech businesses on both sides of the Atlantic say they primarily pursue international expansion to grow their customer base (62%), develop greater scale and efficiencies (56%) and access a talented workforce (41%). "During the past year, technology companies maintained ambitious growth plans while managing through growing uncertainty on a number of fronts," said Ben Wright, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Global. "Challenges to global expansion included increasing protectionism from some of the most significant economic powers such as the U.S. and China, political instability in the Middle East, Brexit-which dominated the agenda in Europe, and most recently global health pandemic fears." In spite of these challenges, more than four in five tech companies said they plan to open operations in at least one new country over the next 12 months. However, according to the report, companies still face significant challenges hen it comes to establishing a presence in a new country.



"Businesses entering new markets need to recruit, manage, and retain the right people, comply with ever-changing local labor laws and regulations, manage tariffs or export fees or VAT/GST (News - Alert), navigate immigration processes, and stay current on tax updates," added Wright. "A significant proportion of organizations admit to pulling out of an international market at least once due to one or more of these factors." Top markets for international growth

The report found that both U.S. and UK businesses still consider Europe the most promising market for growth (41%, up from 38% in 2019). Asia and North America are in relatively distant second and third places at 23% and 19%, respectively, despite Asia increasing in popularity by six percentage points year-on-year (17% in 2019).

U.S. firms consider the UK as the most promising European market for growth (48%), level with Germany, despite the Brexit uncertainty.

In Asia, U.S. and UK tech businesses have their sights set on China (56%), Japan (43%), India (35%), Hong Kong (28%), and Singapore (23%) to take advantage of their growing digital economies. Top geographies for tech talent Asia is the top destination for tech talent. One-third of U.S. and UK tech firms (33%) say the region offers the best access to skills-up from 29% last year-compared to Europe (30%) and North America (22%). U.S. firms targeting Asia for new talent favor China (63%) over Japan (47%). In contrast, a greater proportion of UK businesses believe Japan (55%) to be a more critical source of skills than its larger regional competitor (54%). Brexit impacted how U.S. businesses view the UK. The country topped the list of European targets for new skills last year but has since fallen behind Germany (47%) and France (46%). Just over one-third (39%) now see Britain as a promising market for accessing tech talent, suggesting American firms still want access to free movement, which could be threatened by Brexit. Top barriers and challenges to global expansion The main issues highlighted by businesses across the board are recruiting internationally (30%), incurring tariffs and export fees (29%), and managing employee immigration (28%). Other commonly-cited issues include: Communicating long distances with clients (28%), managing different payroll processes (27%), and finding expert consultancy in international markets (26%); Regulatory compliance in the U.S. and UK as only a quarter (25%) of the businesses surveyed highlighted compliance as an issue, representing a significant increase in the past 12 months, up from just 14% last year. Methodology Velocity Global surveyed 500 U.S. and 500 UK decision-makers from companies with 50-1,000 employees, focused on the IT, software, hardware, and technology industries. Respondents are director level and above, including C-suite, in the following job functions: business development, legal and business management, finance, operations, and HR. Independent survey consultant, Censuswide, conducted the research. The Global Expansion Tech Index evaluates countries on five factors, which are weighted as follows: GDP growth and inward investment (30%), the availability of skills (25%), the complexity of the regulatory landscape (20%), connectivity (15%), and the quality of infrastructure (10%). ABOUT VELOCITY GLOBAL Velocity Global is the leading provider of global employment solutions that has reinvented the way companies expand overseas. With unrivaled expertise in over 185 countries, Velocity Global delivers end-to-end services and best-in-class support to help companies confidently navigate the entire lifecycle of international business. To ensure a compliant, efficient, and flexible international expansion, Velocity Global provides a comprehensive suite of global services that includes International PEO, Entity Setup and Support, Global Talent Acquisition, Immigration, and Consulting. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005331/en/

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The idea of influence is so broad, so ubiquitous and so often misused that it may be the most misleading concept with which we try to make sense of art and art history. Artists may be influenced by things they love, and by things they hate; they may be deeply influenced by precursors with whom they share no identifiable affinities of content or style; and they may produce work that seems superficially identical to that of another artist even when there was no contact, no intent to imitate, and no similarity of purpose or message.
in are expected to announce in the coming days that they have completed development of a for the new COVID-19, according to a media report here.

Israeli daily Ha'aretz, quoting medical sources, reported on Thursday that at the Israel's Institute for Biological Research, supervised by the Prime Minister's office, have recently had a significant breakthrough in understanding the biological mechanism and qualities of the virus, including better diagnostic capability, production of antibodies for those who already have the virus and development of a

The development process, however, requires a series of tests and experiments that may last many months before the vaccination is deemed effective or safe to use, the report said.

The Defence Ministry, however, did not confirm the same in its response to the daily.

"There has been no breakthrough in the efforts of the biological institute to find a for the or to develop testing kits. The institute's work is conducted according to an orderly work plan and it will take time. If and when there will be something to report, it will be done in an orderly fashion", the Defence Ministry told Ha'aretz.

"The biological institute is a world-renowned research and development agency, which relies on experienced researchers and with great knowledge and quality infrastructures. There are now more than 50 experienced scientists working at the institute on researching and developing a medical remedy for the virus," it added.

The Institute for Biological Research, located in the central Israeli town of Nes Tziona, was established in 1952 as part of the Defence Forces' Science Corps, and later became a civilian organisation.

It is technically under the supervision of the Prime Minister's Office, but is in close communication with the Defence Ministry, as per the report.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have ordered the institute to devote resources to develop a vaccine for Covid-19 on February 1.

The normal process of development of such a vaccine requires a long process of pre-clinical trials on animals, followed by clinical trials. This period allows for a full characterization of side effects and a better understanding of how different populations are affected, the daily said.

The global emergency over the pandemic however may accelerate this process in order to vaccinate as many people who are most at risk from the virus, it said.

Israel's most popular news portal, Ynet, reported about three weeks ago that five shipments of virus samples arrived here from Japan, Italy and other countries.

They were brought by a specially secured Defence Ministry courier to the Institute for Biological Research and had been frozen at -80 degrees Celsius, it said.

There has been intensive work, including by leading experts, to develop the vaccine since then.

Experts believe that the length of time needed to develop a vaccine runs from a few months to a year and a half.

Numerous research teams all over the world are participating in the race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Many of them at this point are focusing on the way the virus presents itself in animals, with the biggest hurdle being the way it morphs when it moves from animals to human beings.

China released the genetic sequence of the virus on open scientific databases shortly after its outbreak in January so that research institutes and commercial companies could try to develop treatments and vaccines without requiring to obtain samples.

Around a month and a half after the genetic sequence was published, biotechnology company Moderna, Inc., based in Boston, Massachussets, announced it had completed the development of a possible coronavirus vaccine, Ha'aretz reported.

The vaccine was sent to the US Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, with clinical trials, which will include up to 25 health participants to start in April, the report said.

Any vaccine developed in will presumably also need to go through a similar or even stricter process before it will be approved for use, the daily said.
Freeman Dyson may be gone, but his famous alien-hunting idea will likely persist far into the future.

Dyson, a quantum physicist who died at age 96 on Feb. 28, recalled in a 2003 interview just how he first advanced his concept of a "Dyson sphere," which could betray the existence of an advanced alien civilization. It was via a 1960 article in the journal Science called " Search for Artificial Stellar Sources of Infrared Radiation ."

Dyson wrote the article just as scientists were beginning to search for signs of alien intelligence using radio telescopes. The 1960 piece noted, Dyson said, that radio is a great medium for searching  but only if aliens are willing to communicate. If the aliens remained silent, you would need to look for their heat waste from space, using infrared sensors.

Related: What is a Dyson sphere?

"Unfortunately, I added to the end of that remark that what we're looking for is an artificial biosphere," Dyson said in the 45-minute interview from 2003, which is on YouTube's MeaningofLife.tv channel .

He was imagining a swarm of objects that could masquerade as dust from a distance, he added, but his choice of words sparked an accidental legacy.

"The science fiction writers then got hold of it and imagined the biosphere means a sphere  it has to be some big, round ball. And so, out of that, there came these weird notions, which ended up on ' Star Trek .'"

Physicist Freeman J. Dyson at The Church Center for the United Nations in New York on March 22, 2000. (Image credit: Jon Naso/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

One of Dyson's daughters sent the physicist a videotape of a 1987 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" called "Relics," Dyson said. The plot follows a distress call heard by the famous USS Enterprise starship; fans of the series may recall this as a crossover episode with "Star Trek: The Original Series" star Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (played by James Doohan).

The crew warps in space to the source of the call and discovers an immense Dyson sphere  which is indeed portrayed as a solid spherical object  surrounding a star. If we were to place this sphere in our own solar system, it would be so large that it would extend almost as far as the orbit of Venus, according to "Star Trek" fan site Memory Alpha . (In the episode, the Dyson sphere is explained as being as large as two-thirds of Earth's orbital diameter, and Venus' orbit is a little beyond that point.)

"I watched it [the episode], and oh yes, it's very clearly labeled [as a Dyson sphere]; it was sort of fun to watch it, but it was all nonsense," Dyson said in the interview. He added that the name "Dyson sphere" is a misnomer, as he originally got the inspiration from 1930s science fiction writer Olaf Stapledon, who first wrote about the concept in the novel "Star Maker."

Related: The evolution of 'Star Trek' (infographic)

By surrounding their star with swarms of energy-collecting satellites, advanced civilizations could create Dyson spheres. (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

Depictions such as the one in "Relics" have given us the current popular understanding of a Dyson sphere, which envisions a mammoth structure surrounding a star to capture as much of its energy as possible.

So imagine everyone's surprise when in 2015 scientists announced a star that was exhibiting strange behavior , fluctuating with no apparent pattern. Many ideas were put forth by the discovery team, including the idea that perhaps this was a real-life Dyson sphere in action.

This star (called KIC 8462852) is otherwise an unremarkable object. It is a bit hotter and larger than Earth's sun and is no great distance from us in cosmic terms, sitting about 1,480 light-years away from our planet in the constellation Cygnus.

The researchers picked up on the star's weird light fluctuations using a mission designed to stare at stars for years at a time to hunt exoplanets. The star showed up in data from NASA's Kepler space telescope , displaying sudden dimmings of up to 22% for a few days or a week at a time. In fact, it wasn't astronomers who first saw the pattern; it was citizen scientists examining Kepler's work through the crowdsourced Planet Hunters project on Zooniverse.org.

The 2015 research team, led by astrophysicist Tabetha "Tabby" Boyajian (then at Yale University, and now at Louisiana State University), initially could not explain the dimmings and brightenings through natural phenomena such as dust.

Their discovery paper in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society went viral. The star was nicknamed Tabby's star (and, later, Boyajian's star) after the discoverer; Boyajian credits the Dyson sphere idea to one of her colleagues and not herself, she told Space.com.

One of the best results of the paper was that it promoted more collaboration between astronomers and those who search for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence, she said in an interview. "We're all looking at the same sky, at the same targets, but we don't mix that well. We don't go to the same conferences, and we don't read the same papers," she added.

Another happy side effect of the publicity was that Boyajian's team got time on the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), a network of 42 radio dishes in Northern California operated by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute. Most telescopes have limited time available for observations and, as such, teams need to write proposals for how they plan to use the time. These proposals are then peer reviewed by other astronomers to determine who will get the telescope for a predetermined period of time.

Related: 13 ways to hunt intelligent aliens

Boyajian and colleagues wrote a one-page proposal that was initially turned down, but then they received an invitation to use the ATA anyway "because it was good publicity," she said. The bonus telescope time helped Boyajian's team catch a break. In 2017, the star dimmed and brightened several times while the telescope was aimed at it, as her team discussed in a paper published in 2018 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters .

"This was really exciting, because we were able to watch this in real time and trigger a bunch of other observations to really study what was going on in front of the star," Boyajian recalled. This resulted, she added, in a "whole boatload of data" as the team examined the star's luminosity in different colors of light.

That's when the team discovered that more blue light was blocked than red light, which suggests the blockage cannot be a solid object like a perfect sci-fi Dyson sphere, Boyajian said. "You would imagine if you had some solid object go in front of a light source, it would block all of it equally," she explained.

By 2019, some astronomers favored explanations such as swarms of comets or clumped clouds of dust for the star's weird behavior, but Boyajian maintains the star merits more study. (In fact, she is working on a few new papers about KIC 8462852.)

"We still have yet to pin a natural explanation on it," she said. "Typically, when you have dust surrounding a star, you also have an infrared excess, [meaning] it glows in the infrared, in longer wavelengths. We don't see that at all.

"On top of these observations," she continued, "we have another very peculiar issue with the star, in that it not only has these short-term drops in its brightness, but it also has this very long-term variability going back over a century. [Before,] this star was over 20% brighter than it is today. It just threw a wrench in everything."

Some people are sticking to the Dyson sphere hypothesis, Boyajian said, invoking the idea that perhaps construction is changing the patterns of light over time. She added that until the team can find another star like this one to do comparison studies, KIC 8462852 may remain a mystery.

"Nature is a lot more creative than we are," she said, suggesting that perhaps NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) could pick up a signal in one of the zones of the sky it studies, as long as the signal happens within a period of 300 days. Kepler, for comparison, stared at the same patch of sky for four years, including a two-year period when KIC 8462852 was dormant in between its sudden dimmings.

TESS rotates between different areas of the sky every 27 days and switches hemisphere views from south to north (or vice versa) roughly once a year. Part of its field of view overlaps between the rotation sequence, allowing for a small zone that can be studied for several months at a time.

A smaller possibility of an "aha" signal could come from Europe's Gaia mission , which is monitoring a billion stars for properties including movement and luminosity changes, Boyajian said. Since Gaia constantly moves between different portions of the sky, it cannot do constant monitoring  meaning that if it spots something interesting, any observations would be brief and another mission would be needed for follow-up.

Amid the international excitement about her find, Boyajian received an offer from an acquaintance of Dyson to put her in touch with the famed physicist, when Dyson was about 91 years old. She wrote Dyson an email briefly explaining her work, and how the scientists were struggling to explain the behavior of KIC 8462852. To her delight, Dyson responded only 15 minutes later with congratulations.

"This is a new kind of creature in the celestial zoo, and it will turn out to be important," read part of Dyson's email to Boyajian. He compared her team's find to the discovery of gamma-ray bursts in the 1960s by the United States' Vela satellites, which were designed primarily to detect nuclear tests.

Dyson wrote in that email that one of the team members behind the gamma-ray burst discovery confided in him about the find and said the researchers "hesitated to publish the discovery" because "the bursts seemed to defy the laws of physics." (In just a few seconds, gamma-ray bursts can produce as much energy as the sun will produce in its 10-billion-year lifespan.)

Dyson encouraged the researchers to show what they had so far, with faith that, over time, some explanation would come forth. So the publication went ahead, sparking various competing explanations for decades. A generation later, in 1991, NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory launched and discovered an average of one burst a day, emanating from all over the sky.

Compton discovered that the bursts come in two flavors  longer lived and shorter lived  and it wasn't until 2005 that the sources of both were pinned down. Long-lived bursts come from very powerful supernova explosions known as hypernovas. Short-lived bursts occur when two remnant star corpses (called neutron stars) crash into each other and form a black hole, or a black hole swallows a neutron star.

"It was just a lovely email," Boyajian said of Dyson's words. His theories remain relevant to astronomy, she added, as scientists grapple with the ongoing question of why we have not found intelligent aliens yet , given the size of our universe and the decades of dedicated searching by Earthlings.

"Even though we found dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of planets that are everywhere, there is no sign of intelligent life out there with a megaphone screaming at us, 'We're here,'" Boyajian said.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A 29-year-old man was driving around in a smoky car with a stash of weapons and weed on the North Shore, authorities allege.

Officers in the 120th Precinct gained citywide recognition when NYPD Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo lauded those members of The Finest on social media and posted a photo of the alleged contraband.

Anthony Rivera, of the 400 block of Cary Avenue, West Brighton, was driving alone in a 2005 Toyota eastbound on Victory Boulevard at Westervelt Avenue in Tompkinsville at about 9:14 p.m. on Friday when he was stopped by officers, according to the criminal complaint and police.

Officers became suspicious when they noticed smoke emanating from the roof of the vehicle, according to police.

The criminal complaint alleges that officers recovered a .380-caliber, semi-automatic pistol with two rounds in the magazine and more than 16 ounces of marijuana from the car.

On the suspects person, police found a switchblade, metal knuckles and an imitation pistol, according to the criminal complaint.

Rivera has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of marijuana.

He is due in Criminal Court on Thursday and his bail has been set at $30,000, according to public records.

Mr. Rivera intends to have his day in court, said his attorney, Kelvin Richards. "This is his first contact with the criminal justice system and as the facts unfold, we will all have a better understanding of what actually happened. "
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 06:19:30|Editor: yan

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ALGIERS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Morocco agreed on Thursday to suspend bilateral flights as a precautionary measure against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

According to a statement, "Algiers and Rabat on Thursday jointly agreed to suspend flights between the two countries as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the corona epidemic."

Algeria has already suspended flights to several destinations worldwide, including Italy, China, Saudi Arabia.

Algerian Health Ministry on Thursday announced the second death case from the COVID-19.

The latest figures show that the number of confirmed infected patients with COVID-19 increased to 26, including two death cases.
A Queensland disease expert is urging health authorities to expand their testing regime for coronavirus, as authorities insist they have the virus contained for the time being.

Queenslands coronavirus response made international headlines on Thursday after Tom Hanks revealed he and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the virus and have been put in isolation in Gold Coast University Hospital.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks photographed in Sydney on the weekend. Credit:KHAPGG/Backgrid

The pair were among seven fresh cases announced by Queensland Health, which also included a 19-year-old man from Brisbane who had not travelled overseas, but instead had been in "close contact" with a 22-year-old UQ student who has previously tested positive.

Authorities on Thursday revealed that the 22-year-old had visited Fridays Riverside in Brisbanes CBD not once as previously thought, but multiple times from Friday, March 6, to Sunday, March 8.
An official reception has been hosted on behalf of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in honor of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:40:28|Editor: xuxin

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People work at a bread manufacturing factory in Windhoek, Namibia, March 12, 2020. Namibia's Minister of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development Tjekero Tweya on Thursday inaugurated the country's first-ever state-of-the-art bread manufacturing factory valued at around 135 million Namibia dollars (about 8.4 million U.S. dollars). The factory system runs like a conveyor belt through the entire process of mixing, fermenting, baking and packaging. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)

WINDHOEK, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development Tjekero Tweya on Thursday inaugurated the country's first-ever state-of-the-art bread manufacturing factory valued at around 135 million Namibia dollars (about 8.4 million U.S. dollars)

The factory located about 30 km north of Windhoek, which is owned by Namib Mills Investment Group (NMI), under the Bakpro brand, started operations in September 2019. The factory system runs like a conveyor belt through the entire process of mixing, fermenting, baking and packaging.

In his keynote address, Tweya encouraged local production of goods in order to cut down on the dependency of imports as well as support Namibia's "growth at home strategy," which reinforces the importance of accelerating economic growth, reducing income inequality and increasing employment.

"While the government is committed to supporting local industries to grow, the expectation is also that Namibian companies, especially the big ones must develop corporate social investment programs to inject some of their profits into the economy to grow other SMEs," he added.

Furthermore, Tweya urged producers and farmers to join the opportunity to feed the local industry and support value addition.

NMI Group of Companies CEO, Ian Collard said the new facility has since created 120 new jobs along the entire production line and the factory is also in line with the "growth at home strategy."

Established 37 years ago, the company has emerged as one of the biggest manufacturers in the country, specializing in producing high-quality wheat and maize meal products.
Account holders gather outside a Yes Bank branch in Chennai to try to withdraw money on March 6, 2020. The Reserve Bank of India imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account and superseded the board of the private sector lender. (PTI)

The year 2020 has been tumultuous to say the least: a bank scam, riots all over the country, policemen deaths, government insecurity and the spread of the dreaded coronavirus! Astrologers believe this is because the planetary positions have changed. Apparently, Shani or Saturn, moved out of his house to Capricorn (Makar raashi) on January 24. Saturn is a discipliner, which rules judgement and rewards honesty and hard work, but creates hurdles for those who act without thinking.

Vedic astrologer Prem Kumar Sharma believes Shani shows its malefic nature 40 days before the actual crisis. Saturn is the farthest planet and it will now stay there in this house for two-and-a half years as it takes a long time to make its journey. It tends to cause an atmosphere of fear and insecurity as it is the lord of darkness. This unrest will continue till September 2020. However, coronavirus will die away by April, he says.

Dr Prem says many people seek his for advice regarding the safety of their money in banks. His consistent response is that they be patient. That solves multiple problems. When Shani gets active, it is best to take all decisions thoughtfully, with restraint and never jump to conclusions. And never insult subordinates. Also, read emails thrice before sending, dont act insolent, and dont deny anyone their rights, especially the poor, he adds.

To tide over the momentary unrest in your mind, Sharma also suggests that you close your eyes, meditate, keep away from distractions and let the tough times pass. Prayers, keeping calm, not losing your temper, and not stressing about unsolvable problems are some things that may work, he adds.

Logic of the stars

Even as non-believers mock astrologers, probably because of the number of cases of self-acclaimed godmen and spiritual healers misleading people to make money, astrologer Mayank Sharma, who has been reading charts for 14 years, believes astrology is a science. Claiming it to be a basis of research in many universities in America now, he asserts that astrologers can be wrong, not astrology.

Mayank believes that June will be better as currently Mangal (Mars) is sitting with Ketu . China suffered as its Rahu is in the sixth house, which is not astrologically beneficial and leads to vicious viral infections. I predict, however, that these virulent allergies may increase in European countries in the future, adds Mayank, saying that the period till at least March 14 will see unrest although it will all slowly fade away.

Fear has indeed caused a lot of unrest and cancellation of events in India too, for instance, the Lotus Make Up India Fashion Week, which was postponed a week before its scheduled date.

That being said, not everyone is still buying into the astrological perspective of things. For instance, as regards the fashion week, Chairman FDCI, Sunil Sethi says, I do not know about the astrological aspects, but we postponed the event so that people dont suffer as safety comes first. The industry has supported us in this last minute decision and they thought it was prudent.
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President Trump raised fresh questions surrounding his response to the coronavirus on Thursday by saying that Americans in Europe will be tested for before they are allowed to board flights and that they will not be allowed to come home if they test positive - a direct contradiction of Mike Pence's claim hours earlier that all Americans can come home 'regardless' of their condition.

The shocking announcement came after Trump's decision to halt all travel from Europe to the US for 30 days starting from Friday at midnight apart from the UK because, he said, 'it doesn't have much infection'. There are 596 cases of the virus in the UK.

During a press conference with the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office, Trump said: 'We are not putting them on planes if they test positive. It is going to be a pretty strong enforcement of quarantine.'

He did not explain which tests would be used or where the diagnosed cases would then be treated overseas.

It was a direct contradiction to what Pence said on Thursday morning - that 'everyone' can 'come home regardless of their symptoms or what their condition is' and that they would be asked to go under 'voluntary' quarantine after landing back in the US at one of 13 airports designed to handle the outbreak.

Foreign nationals or visa holders without permanent residency will not be allowed back in the US from Friday at midnight, aside from people in the UK and Ireland which have been exempt from the ban.

White House coronavirus expert Dr. Anthony Fauci suggested on Thursday that it was because 70 percent of the cases seen in the US could be traced back to continental Europe and not the isles of the UK and Ireland, a fact that is yet to be proven. Many of the known cases in the US have had no travel nexus to any of the known coronvirus hot-spots in Europe - a fact that is worrying local and state officials as efforts to contain the spread in the US ramp up.

Pence offered no context or information about the 'funnel' airports on Thursday as he revealed that that was where returning US citizens would be sent, but they are thought to be the 11 bases that were set up to cope with returning passengers from China in February plus two more.

There has also been no answer to questions over the type of planes the returning passengers will travel on; when the US brought citizens home from Wuhan in February at the onset of the outbreak, they were put on charter flights but there are no doubt countless more US citizens currently in the whole of continental Europe than there were in Wuhan when the virus erupted and airlines are pulling their flights to the US by the second as a result of the looming ban.

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President Trump said on Thursday that Americans in Europe would be tested for coronavirus before they get on flights home and that they would not be allowed back into the US if they test positive

Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday morning that Americans returning to the US from Europe would be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days but that they would be allowed to come home 'regardless of their condition'

THE CONFLICTING STATEMENTS ON BRINGING AMERICANS HOME Mike Pence, 7.20am 'Every American that is returning from Europe will be screened as they return through 13 separate airports and will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. 'It's a part of the president's strategy...and I've had kids that have studied abroad as well. 'Every one of those families should know that their children can come home. 'They will be -- they will be funneled, as we say, through a series of 13 different airports. 'And then well ask them to self-quarantine regardless of their symptoms or what their condition is' Trump, 12.10pm 'We are not putting them on planes if they test positive. 'It is going to be a pretty strong enforcement of quarantine.' Advertisement

The 13 airports were set up to be able to house hundreds, if not thousands, in quarantine conditions after the outbreak in China.

They are in Honolulu, Chicago, Dallas, L.A.X, San Francisco, Atlanta, JFK, Seattle, Washington DC, Newark and Detroit. The two new ones have not been announced.

Pence repeated previous claims that the government had asked private labs including Lab Corp and Quest Diagnostics to speed up the production of their tests, after a wave of criticism over how long the CDC was taking to get theirs off the ground.

But he failed to address some key specifics including how or if the ban will impact trade and imports from Europe, or how many people will likely become infected in America despite the drastic new measures.

World health officials have already undermined Trump's plan.

They say it will not stop the virus from spreading and that the administration should be focusing its efforts on the healthcare system, which will likely buckle under the strain of the pandemic if it reaches the proportions seen in China and Italy.

To date, 1,364 people in America have been infected with the virus and 39 have died from it.

Pence's revelation that Americans coming back from Europe would be funneled through one of 13 airports came during his appearance on Fox and Friends.

He had already appeared on Good Morning America, Today and CNN by the time he spoke, but had failed to answer many of the resounding questions which surround yesterday's announcement.

'Every American that is returning from Europe will be screened as they return through 13 separate airports and will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. It's a part of the president's strategy,' he said.

Asked specifically about families with kids overseas, he went on: 'I've had kids that have studied abroad as well.

In February, the military set up quarantine camps at 11 airbases next to airports around the country in anticipation of people coming back from China. Those are believed to be among the ones Pence was referring to where US passengers will be 'screened' and 'funneled' back into the country after returning from Europe

The number of coronavirus cases in the US have soared in the last 10 days and are continuing to rise

Graphs chart the spread of the virus in the US, Europe and the world since November last year when the first cases were reported in China

In an earlier appearance on Good Morning America, he said there had been some 'irresponsible rhetoric' around the topic but insisted Trump was taking it seriously.

'The American people should know that President Trump has no higher priority than the health and safety and well being of the people of this country,' he said.

'We have all have known from the beginning that the coronavirus would continue to spread across this country, it's one of the reasons president trump took decisive action to put the health of the American people first not only declaring a public health emergency in January but that same month, suspending all travel from China and quarantining everyone returning from the region.

'Since then, we've issued travel advisories to Italy, South Korea but frankly as we watched the epicenter of the coronavirus shift from China and South Korea to Europe, the president thought it was proper for us to impose a 30 day suspension on all travel from continental Europe,' he said.

Trump's plan also includes;

Tax deferments without interest or penalties for businesses and individuals affected by the coronavirus;

A demand for $50billion in low-interest loans to small businesses to help them overcome the crisis;

A call for Congress to enact 'immediate payroll tax relief';

Financial 'relief' for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others.

UK AND IRELAND EXEMPT FROM BAN BECAUSE OF THEIR 'STRONG BORDERS' Donald Trump said he exempted the UK and Ireland from his Europe-wide coronavirus travel ban because they are 'doing a good job' fighting the disease. Trump said his decision was largely based on the strength of the UK and Ireland's borders, because they are outside the EU's borderless Schengen Area. In fact, the UK has one of the highest coronavirus infection rates in Europe - with cases rising by roughly a third each day. The country has also seen ten deaths from the virus, far higher than most countries covered by the ban. Justin Trudeau's wife Sophie has also self-isolated after returning from the UK with a suspected case of coronavirus, and is being tested. Speaking during an Oval Office meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varakar, he said: 'It [the UK] has got very strong borders and they are doing a very good job. 'They don't have very much infection at this point and hopefully they will keep it that way.' There are 596 cases of the virus in the UK and 10 people have died. Advertisement

Many have asked what stopping travel from Europe will do to help the problem because the virus is already on US soil and spreading fast.

WHO Dr. Margaret Harris has already said the plan will not work.

'We are not keen on travel bans generally because it makes the country concerned focus on managing their borders rather than focusing on what we'd like to see.

'[We need to] focus on the spread within the community and stopping the spread within the community and really supporting the health system to be able to look after the people that are and do get severely ill,' she said during an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Thursday.

The move also drew immediate criticism from senior Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer who urged Trump to back their move to offer free testing kits, and to focus on fighting the spread of the virus within the US.

'We have a public health crisis in this country and the best way to help keep the American people stay safe and ensure their economic security is for the president to focus on fighting the spread of the coronavirus itself,' they said in a joint statement.

The Association of Flight Attendants was also quick to criticize Trump, branding his travel ban 'irresponsible' and saying it is 'about politics, not public safety'.

'There is no explanation for how this will help fight the spread of the virus,' a statement said. 'It makes little sense when the virus is already in the United States.

What we know and what we DON'T about Donald Trump closing borders to Europeans President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a drastic ban on foreigners traveling to the United States from Europe in an effort to curb the deadly coronavirus from spreading, but his vague plan seemed to only heighten fears. Americans in Europe rushed to airports late on Wednesday and early on Thursday morning in a desperate bid to get home, before confusion over who would be affected by the ban was cleared up. While U.S. citizens and lawful residents will be allowed to return home, most foreigners from the 26 banned countries will be denied entry beginning on Friday. Here, DailyMail.com details what we know - and more crucially what we don't know. WHO IS COVERED BY THE BAN? Foreigners who are traveling directly from any of the 26 countries on Trump's European ban list will not be admitted into the United States. Foreigner means anyone coming from outside the U.S. and is not a U.S. citizen or doesn't have a valid green card. The countries include EU members France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. See right for the full list. It is unclear if passengers flying from a non-European destination will be asked when they were last in Europe. Foreigners who are in the U.S. on a work visa or a tourist visa are likely going to barred from entering the U.S. if they visit a European country and try to re-enter the country. WHO IS NOT COVERED BY THE BAN? The restrictions don't apply to U.S. citizens, legal U.S. permanent residents, meaning those with green cards, immediate family members of U.S. citizens or others 'identified in the proclamation' that was signed by Trump on Wednesday night. It also doesn't apply to foreigners with diplomatic, NATO, military or government visas. And for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have a foreign child or are adopting a foreign child, according to NAFSA. Americans who are currently in Europe will be allowed back in  though they will be subject to an 'enhanced' health screening and asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. Trump did not mention any restrictions on Americans traveling to Europe and the ban will last for 30 days. WHAT ABOUT FOREIGNERS COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES? WILL THEY BE ASKED IF THEY WENT TO BANNED DESTINATIONS? It is unclear how airports will be screening for foreigners who have visited an European country and later traveled to another country that isn't on the ban list. For example, London's Heathrow airport is a major travel hub for Europe and is exempt from the ban, meaning Europeans could possibly travel to London to fly out to the U.S. Heathrow's most popular destination is JFK in New York City. Heathrow has a daily average total of 219,458 passengers, with 49.5 percent of those passengers classified as departures. Around 94 percent of passengers who travel out of Heathrow are coming or going to international destinations. Several international airlines also have designated layovers in cities worldwide, meaning passengers might be able to travel to Asia or other North American countries and bypass the ban if screening officials aren't being thorough. WHAT HAPPENS TO AMERICANS WHEN THEY TRAVEL FROM EUROPE? Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday that Americans returning from Europe 'will be screened as they return through 13 separate airports.' Currently, there are 11 airports that are designated to receive passengers who recently visited China or Iran, which had previous travel restrictions placed on them. The airports in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Hawaii and Detroit could possibly be utilized to accept travelers from the European countries. It was not mentioned if screening included testing for every passenger. It is unclear how passengers are expected to self-quarantine when they still need to travel home from the airport, particularly if the airport they are routed through is not close to their final destination. Trump on Thursday encouraged travelers to self-isolate after returning from Europe. HOW EXACTLY ARE PEOPLE SCREENED FOR CORONAVIRUS? In addition to the passenger being asked if they have visited any of the banned European countries, officials look for symptoms of the virus. The most common symptoms include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and fatigue. To confirm if a passenger has coronavirus, a sample is collected for a diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, which is the strain of virus that leads to the respiratory disease. Medical officials often take a sample by putting a swab up the nose. A swab can also be taken through the mouth if the person has a wet cough. The samples are sent off to be tested by various health departments and clinical diagnostic laboratories. Results usually come back within 2-7 days. In Cleveland, a clinic said a new in-house coronavirus test it developed would deliver results within eight hours. WHO WILL ENFORCE THE BAN? It is unclear who will be responsible for enforcing the ban. International airlines could be tasked with denying boarding for European passport holders at the gate or at check-in. Another option could see European passengers being turned away at the U.S. border if they somehow made it on a U.S-bound flight. Additionally, it is unclear if the government will use federal resources to send additional officials to check passports and enforce the ban at airports. CAN AIRPORTS EVEN TEST FOR CORONAVIRUS? One of the main concerns over the spread of the virus has been over a shortage of testing kits available, as Vice President Mike Pence said passengers will be tested at one of the 13 airports upon arrival. Airports and local clinics have repeatedly said they did not have supplies to test people who are concerned they have the virus. It has been reported that fewer than 10,000 people have been tested in the U.S. compared to 20,000 per day in South Korea. The CDC revealed on Tuesday that only 8,554 Americans had been tested for coronavirus, with the agency's director saying state and local health labs are understaffed and ill-equipped to keep up with the crisis. Health officials and Democrats have slammed the limited supply of tests, while some government officials claimed there was a surplus of testing kits, citing figures of 1.1 million tests at labs across the country and a million more on the way. However during the coronavirus task force briefing, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, confessed that Americans will only be able to find out whether they have contracted COVID-19 if a doctor gives the go-ahead. Despite a claimed 4 million more tests due to be delivered by the end of the week, Azar said: 'There's a false premise. Just because I as a person say I'd like to be tested for coronavirus, I can walk into a Minute Clinic and say ''give me my test please''  that's not how diagnostic testing works in the United States or frankly anywhere else.' Why wasn't the United Kingdom included in the ban? Despite the UK having 373 cases and Ireland having 43 cases, in addition to the UK imposing far fewer restrictions in response to the virus than many EU countries, Trump's travel ban excluded the two. Trump has properties in both nations. Trump said on Thursday: 'One of the reasons UK basically has been (excluded from the restrictions is) its got the border. 'Its got very strong borders and theyre doing a very good job.' The exemption will raise questions about the coherence of his policy. Trump had accused Europe of not acting quickly enough to address the 'foreign virus' and claimed that U.S. clusters were 'seeded' by European travelers. But the UK has no screening of people coming from France - to which it is connected directly by the Channel Tunnel - or other European countries, as Nancy Pelosi quickly pointed out. On Thursday, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of America's top scientists, explained the ban on European countries. He said: 'When we were looking at the pure public health aspect of it we found that 70 percent of the new infections in the world were coming from Europe, that cluster of countries, and of the 35 states - 30 out of 35 of them who were more recently getting infections were getting them from them - that was predominantly from Italy and from France and from Germany.' How many people does this affect? Europe is the most popular international destination for Americans and according to flight tracker FlightAware, there are around 400 flights across the Atlantic from Europe to the United States each day, converting to around 72 million passengers a year. Although Americans aren't outright barred from traveling to Europe, many have already cancelled bookings to European cities. The time of year the ban falls under is when several grade schools and universities have spring break. What do health officials say about the Europe ban? Some evidence has suggested travel restrictions  such as the ones imposed in China early on in the pandemic  can contain the virus by stopping cases being imported to the rest of the world. Margaret Harris, of the World Health Organisation, admitted that travel bans are useful in the early stages of an outbreak but said they are of little use when the disease starts spreading freely within communities  as it has done in the U.S. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease specialist at the University of East Anglia, said: 'It is uncertain what the US intends to achieve with the recently announced travel ban to the Schengen area of Europe. Hunter continued: 'Many of us have been pointing out since the COVID-19 epidemic began that travel bans have a poor record on preventing the spread of epidemic diseases. At best travel bans only delay the spread of an epidemic by a short while. 'Introducing an international travel ban at a time when the US is now one of the countries with the most rapidly accelerating internal transmission rates will do little if anything to reduce the burden of infection within the US.' What does this mean for the tourism and airline industry? The global travel industry is already reeling from declining bookings and canceled reservations as people try to avoid contracting and spreading coronavirus. With Europe being the most popular travel destination for Americans, the move will hit tourist reliant-heavy countries hard. Airlines scrambled to adjust to the new restrictions, with many telling customers they were still assessing options and asking for patience from those trying to contact them. Even before Trump's announcement, the International Airline Travelers Association was forecasting a 24 percent fall in Europe's passenger traffic this year and $37 billion in lost potential ticket sales. Italy, which is all but closed off as authorities try to control the spread of the virus there, has been particularly hard hit. An industry trade group warned that airlines worldwide could lose up to $113 billion in revenue from the virus  several times the damage caused by the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S. Since mid-February, shares of American Airlines have dropped by nearly half, United Airlines by more than one-third, and Delta Air Lines more than one-fourth. Advertisement

'The President expressly stated the United Kingdom is not included in the travel ban and yet the UK health minister herself has the virus.'

But Pence said that stopping the flow of people from Europe, combined with boosting efforts on the ground here to contain the virus, would set the country on the right path.

COUNTRIES WHOSE PEOPLE ARE BANNED WHO THE BAN APPLIES TO M ost foreign nationals who have been in these countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States* AND WHO IT DOESN'T 'Legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.'* * according to Department of Homeland Security Advertisement

'The reality is just two weeks ago in Italy there were less than 500 now there's 12,000.

'We have tens of thousands of people who travel to the US from Europe every day.

'Seventy percent new cases were in Europe. When we looked yesterday, 30 of the 35 states could be traced to contact to Europe.

'We want to stop the flow of people bringing the coronavirus here but also surge resources in California, Washington and New York where we've seen the spread - it's a combination of efforts.

'The president showed again yesterday a willingness to take decisive action,' he said.

In a different interview, on Today, he resisted criticism of how slow the US had been in ramping up its testing and claimed the delay was because standards here for FDA-approved tests are higher than overseas.

'From early on in this effort we've been addressing the testing issue.

'We made changes through the FDA that allowed for state labs and university hospitals and hospitals to engage in testing and I'm pleased to report every state lab in America can do testing now.

'Many university laboratories are doing it. Washington State, the University of Washington is doing extraordinary work.

'But we are literally working hour by hour do expand the testing and we think the key, is going to be what we call commercial laboratories like Lab Corp and Quest, who are already spinning up production at the president's direction last week on tests that can be available on a broad basis in the days ahead for the American people.

There was a mad dash for tickets back to the US from Europe on Thursday morning. Above, a line at the Delta desk in Charles de Gaulle airport

A line of people at the Air France ticket desk at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris on Thursday

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France: People wearing protective face masks line up at the Air France ticketing desk inside Terminal 2E at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy on Thursday

Andrew Cuomo tells Americans to expect 'major' coronavirus disruptions New York Governor Andrew Cuomo warned the country was 'beyond' just advising people to wash their hands and revealed he was looking at public venues that could be turned into makeshift coronavirus hospitals. Cuomo went on his younger brother Chris Cuomo's CNN show on Wednesday night, minutes after President Trump's bombshell address to the nation where he announced he was halting travel from Europe to the US for 30 days starting Friday. In the state of New York, there are now more than 200 cases of the virus. Cuomo has implemented a one-mile quarantine radius in New Rochelle, which has seen one of the worst outbreaks. He was bleak in his forecast of what will happen in the coming days, weeks and months, telling his brother: 'We are going we're going to start to have to close schools. 'We're going to be closing venues. Let the American people know that is coming.... 'It's not just wash your hands. We're beyond wash your hands, my brother. 'There is going to have to be major shifts in society short-term. 'Long-term we'll be okay. But short-term there is going to be major shifts that government is going to have to enact,' he said. On Thursday, Cuomo shut down the famous Broadway theater district in New York. In his Wednesday night interview with his brother, Cuomo said that he was looking at the possibility of turning New York public venues into makeshift hospitals. 'I did the New Rochelle containment area. Nobody was ready for it. Closing down schools, we thought this was only 10, 15 people, this is all an overreaction. No. The numbers go sky high. There will be disruption. The density has to come down. 'We have to scramble now to make sure we don't have a health care crisis where we don't have hospitals to handle the capacity. 'We have no surge hospital capacity here. 'We may very well, we're looking in New York at secondary structures that we can start to prepare for temporary hospital situations,' he said. Advertisement

'We're making real progress, but rest assured we're going to continue to drive forward. But anyone that feels that they may have contracted the coronavirus should call their doctor.

'Their doctor can contact the state lab and determine where testing can take place today in all 50 states,' he said.

Pence finally conceded that the virus was far deadlier than the flu for vulnerable people, which contradicts the president's old advice for people not to panic because thousands end up in the hospital every year with influenza.

'According to all of our health experts on the White House coronavirus task force, it does not, as we look at global data, present as much a threat to younger Americans, particularly children under the age of 15.

'But for senior citizens with serious underlying health conditions, it represents a threat of very serious consequences.

'It's one of the reasons why the president took the unprecedented step yesterday of suspending all travel from Europe, just as he has done so in January with China, and we're going to be screening and asking every American who returns from Europe over the next 30 days to self-quarantine for 14 days.

'We want to focus on those that are most vulnerable but we also want to work on ensuring that the coronavirus is not further brought into our country from Europe.

'And we're obviously continuing to focus in areas of California, Washington state and New York where we've seen what the experts call community spread,' he said.

Pence resisted giving a specific number when asked how many Americans would become infected.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House's expert on coronavirus, has warned that it will infect millions of people.

'I'll leave it to the experts to make the estimates of how many people may be infected,' he said.

In his address on Wednesday night, Trump did not announce any ban on public gatherings, or declare any travel restrictions within the U.S., although he did urge older Americans to avoid crowded places if possible.

He also caused confusion after appearing to announce that trade from Europe was also banned, only to clarify later on Twitter that 'the restriction stops people not goods'.

Trump urged elderly Americans to take great caution, urged cutting off visitors to nursing homes, and told Americans to wash their hands diligently.

'The virus will not have a chance against us - no nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States,' he said.

NBA SUSPENDS ITS SEASON OVER CORONAVIRUS FEARS AS MAJOR WORLD EVENTS ARE CANCELED The NBA suspended its season indefinitely on Wednesday night in light of the president's announcement, postponing all games and setting a match to millions of dollars in deals, ad revenue and ticket sales. The decision - the first of its kind - came after the president's address amid the revelation that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the virus. NBA postponed all games 'until further notice' and will use hiatus to determine' next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic' Mass gatherings have not yet been banned in the US but in Europe, football games have all been scrapped until further notice. In Italy, group gatherings like weddings and funerals are not allowed and even stores are closing to try to contain the virus. In its announcement, the NBA said: 'The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice. 'The NBA will use this hiatus to determine the next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.' In addition to Gobert and his Jazz teammates, five other NBA teams are currently being quarantined, sources told ESPN's Briand Windhorst. Those teams include the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and the Toronto Raptors -- all of which have played Utah in the last 10 days. The NBA postponed the season Wednesday night, shortly after the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz game was called off. Pictured, fans leave before tip off at Chesapeake Energy Arena Advertisement

He explained the new measure as a matter of protecting the nation from the rapidly spreading virus - which he called 'foreign.'

'This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history,' he said. 'I will always put the well-being of America first.

'We are mobilizing the full power of the federal government and private sector to protect the American people,' he said.

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.

Trump's travel ban will do NOTHING to stop coronavirus spreading person-to-person in the US and could make it worse by giving people a false sense of security, top WHO doctor warns

Dr. Margaret Harris, with the World Health Organisation, said that while travel bans are useful in the early stages of an outbreak, they are of little use when the disease starts spreading freely within communities - as it has in the US.

Rather than focus efforts on closing borders, she urged countries including the US to stop the spread within their own borders by rapidly testing people for the virus and ensuring they get appropriate treatment.

Meanwhile the EU Commission said it 'disapproved' of Trump's decision, which was taken without consultation leading to confusion over how it would be implemented.

European leaders stressed that cooperation rather than unilateral action is needed to combat a global pandemic.

The UK, which was given an exemption from the ban alongside Ireland, said that there is little evidence to support the theory that travel bans are effective against pandemics.

EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted that the coronavirus pandemic is a 'global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.'

'The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to improve a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation,' they said.

Given Italy's nationwide travel lockdown and other measures taken by all the bloc's 27 members, Von der Leyen and Michel dismissed Trump's suggestion that the EU has not done enough in fighting the disease.

They say the EU 'is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus.'

Their sentiment was echoed by Dr Harris, who said the WHO disapproves of travel bans because it causes countries to focus their efforts on the wrong things.

'[The focus should be on] stopping the spread within the community and really supporting the health system to be able to look after the people that are and do get severely ill,' she said.

'Early on... when you've got a big outbreak in one place and you've got no transfer within your community [a travel ban] can make a difference, but it's something you need to keep on reassessing.

'[Now] it gives a false sense of security because you think 'ah yes, we're doing something' but if [the virus] is already in your community your focus needs to be on stopping it there.

'Just because people are from a particular country doesn't mean they may have it, your own nationals who have been visiting that country are just as likely to have it.'

Trading is halted for a record SECOND time this week as Dow drops 2,000 points, S&P 500 plunges into bear territory and panic builds over Trump's coronavirus travel ban on Europe

Wall Street has again triggered a critical circuit breaker that halted all trades, after President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on most of Europe but offered little in the way of new measures to contain the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Trading halted just five minutes into the session on Thursday, when a 7 percent plunge in the S&P 500 triggered an automatic 15-minute pause on all trades.

All stock trades were halted at 9.35am, and trading resumed at 9.50am. If the S&P 500 extends its losses to 15 percent in the same session, another 'Level 2' 15-minute halt will be triggered. At losses of 20 percent, a 'Level 3' halt would stop all trades for remainder of the day.

It was the second time the circuit breaker was tripped this week, after a 15-minute pause early in Monday's session. Before Monday, there was only one other instance when marketwide circuit breakers were triggered: October 27, 1997, which traders recall as 'Bloody Monday'.

A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Trading on Wall Street automatically halted just five minutes into the session on Thursday, after a 7% decline

Since modern circuit-breaker guidelines went into effect in 2013, the market has never triggered the Level 2 and 3 trading halts tied to 13 percent and 20 percent declines.

On Thursday, the Dow sank as much as 2,000 points in early trading, after ending its historic 11-year bull run on Wednesday and plunging into bear market territory, defined as a 20 percent drop from recent highs.

Biggest losers on the Dow on Thursday The following Dow components saw shares down the most for the day as of 10.55am: Dow Inc: -14.6% Boeing: -12.8% Caterpillar: -10.5% American Express: -10.1% IBM: -9.5% Advertisement

The S&P 500, which professional investors watch more closely, and the Nasdaq Composite also plunged deep in bear territory early in Thursday's session as it became clear that measures to contain coronavirus would likely impact businesses deeply.

The recent decline has been one of Wall Street's swiftest retreats of this magnitude. The fastest the S&P 500 has ever fallen from a record into a bear market was over 55 days in 1987.

On Wednesday night, global markets plunged again after Trump's address to the nation, in which he announced vast travel restrictions on Europe that aim to limit the virus from spreading but will further hurt the travel industry.

His move also raises the specter of more drastic containment measures that could hurt business from international trade down to local businesses.

Trump hinted at plans for tax cuts and other economic relief, but has yet to unveil details. Lawmakers have so far resisted his proposal for a payroll tax holiday, a measure that would be popular with markets.

'The market judgement on that announcement is that its too little too late. And while travel restrictions on people coming from Europe are good from a health point of view, from the point of view of the economy, its very, very bad news,' said Michael McCarthy of CMC Markets.
New cars lined up at a parking lot on Sept. 6, 2017 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province of China.

Auto sales in China plunged 79% in February, marking their biggest ever monthly decline, with demand pummelled by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sales in the world's biggest auto market tumbled to 310,000 vehicles from the same month a year earlier, falling for a 20th straight month, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said.

"China's auto sales for February returned levels not seen since 2005," said Chen Shihua, a senior association official.

Sales of new energy vehicles, which include battery-electric cars, contracted for an eighth month in a row.

A CAAM official told Reuters last month that sales are likley to drop by more than 10% in the first half of this year.

If the outbreak is effectively contained in China before April, the decline could be around 5% for the whole year, he added.

In Hubei province where the outbreak began and which is a major car manufacturing hub responsible for nearly 10% of China's output, Dongfeng Motor Group and its partners Honda Motor, Renault and Peugeot have all said they are delaying the restart of production.

Tesla's production and delivery plans in Shanghai, have also been disrupted.

However, after authorities in Wuhan on Wednesday lifted restrictions on a limited number of key industries in the city and allowed some people to return to work, Honda resumed limited output at a car plant in the city.

Nissan Motor has also said it plans to partially resume production in Xiangyang, another city in Hubei, as well as its plant in Zhengzhou, Henan.

Industry-wide auto sales fell 8.2% last year, pressured by new emission standards in a shrinking economy and trade tensions with the United States.
On the steep rise of the epidemic curve, especially when testing capacity is lacking, there is a tremendous burden on health care providers  many of whom will fall ill themselves and be forced to self-isolate, becoming unable to provide care for those in need. At the same time, there is immense pressure placed on health care facilities where demand for patient care will outpace capacity  things like the number of hospital beds, ventilators and so on  for a significant amount of time.
Absa Group Ltd., Absa Bank Ghana parent company, today reported improving revenue growth for the 2019 financial year, with headline earnings growing slightly.



We delivered a resilient performance against a challenging macroeconomic backdrop. We maintained balance sheet momentum and growth was broad-based across most businesses, said Daniel Mminele, Absa Group Chief Executive Officer.



Absa Group revenue increased 6% while headline earnings, the measure most analysts use to gauge profit, rose 1% as impairments increased.



Our revenue growth is showing an improving trend, with strong deposit growth of 12% and customer loan growth of 9% for the Group, said Absa Group Financial Director Jason Quinn.



Overall, Absas balance sheet, revenue and earnings growth were in line with peers after lagging for a number of years.



The Absa Regional Operations (ARO) business, comprising Absa Groups African operations excluding South Africa, delivered strong financial performance in 2019 with earnings growth of 16% (12% in constant currency), enhancing the overall Groups position.



We are pleased with the results of our Absa Regional Operations and their contribution to Absa Groups overall performance, having maintained double-digit growth and growing our headline earnings. We look forward to continuing to grow our revenue market share on the continent over the coming years, said Peter Matlare, Chief Executive Absa Regional Operations.



He adds As Absa Group, we are optimistic about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead united under one Absa across our African markets. Our objective is to develop strong, digital first financial systems in a sustainable manner and to contribute positively to the development of our communities in which we operate.



The publication of Absa Groups results comes just barely after the completion of Absa Bank Ghana brand transition. The bank has begun a new journey which is one of striving to be customer obsessed, acknowledging the strength of its people and delivering results sustainably.



Absa Group launched its growth strategy in March 2018 after Barclays PLC ceased to be the controlling shareholder in the Pan African banking group. Absa Group is on track to complete its separation programme, one of the largest in the banking sector in terms of size and complexity, on time and within budget by the middle of 2020.



Performance highlights from Absas three core businesses:



Retail and Business Banking South Africa



RBB South Africa continues to show signs of turnaround as the unit gained ground in key areas, recording increases in customer loans and deposits. Revenue momentum increased and costs were well contained. However, an increase in impairments impacted on earnings.



Highlights include:







 Gross loans and advances grew by 7% to R530bn



 Deposits grew by 10% to R373bn



 Non-interest income grew by 6%



 Cost-to-income ratio improved to 57.7% from 58.4% in 2018.



 Customer growth of 1% to 9.7m



 Market share growth in retail deposits and retail loans and advances, including personal loans, new home loans and vehicle finance.



Corporate and Investment Banking



CIBs earnings growth was driven by strong performances in countries outside South Africa, which partially offset a decline in earnings in South Africa.



Highlights include:



 Continued growth momentum in ARO with total income growing 15% (12% in constant currency) to R7.4bn



 Solid income growth from Corporate Bank franchise up 9% (8% in constant currency) to R10.6bn



 Strong growth momentum in the trade finance business in SA, with a CAGR of 19% in the last four years.



Absa Regional Operations (ARO)



Highlights include:







 Revenue grew by 14% (11% in constant currency)



 Pre-provision profits increased by 17% (14% in constant currency)



 Cost-to-income ratio improved to 57.8%



 While separating, ARO has grown its retail primary customer base in 2019 to 1.5 million customers







Outlook



South Africas macro environment has consistently disappointed for the past five years. Together with our Absa Regional Operations, the outlook remains muted, compounded by the recent outbreak of coronavirus which will have an impact on the global macro outlook, and which will also have implications for the economic prospects in our other operating regions.



We will continue to drive the execution of our strategic objectives with agility, and take advantage of emerging opportunities, while managing risks more effectively in response to changes in the operating environment, said Mminele.





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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Puro Politics is a weekly podcast hosted by columnist Gilbert Garcia, covering the drama and nuance of local government issues.

Produced by Joy-Marie Scott.

Listen and subscribe on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher TuneIn & RSS All Episodes

Last Friday, the city of Austin canceled the annual SXSW music confab over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Once the shock of that news wore off, San Antonians begin to seriously contemplate the possibility that Fiesta might face the same fate.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg issued a statement on Friday that offered a wait-and-see stance on this citys biggest annual cultural event, which is due to begin on April 16 and run for 11 days. Fiesta draws about 3 million people to its 100 events and delivers an economic impact to this city of about $340 million

San Antonio remains open for business because we have been proactive and prepared, Nirenberg said. To date, we have no community transmissions.

On ExpressNews.com: Lackland quarantine site empty ahead of arrival of Grand Princess evacuees

Nonetheless, the mayor seemed to acknowledge that circumstances are unpredictable when it comes to the spread of the virus.

I will ensure that our decision is informed by the latest guidance from our health professionals on how we best keep our community safe, he said.

The impact of the coronavirus and the uncertainty surrounding Fiesta was a topic of conversation on this weeks edition of the Express-News Puro Politics podcast. This weeks guest, San Antonio attorney T.J. Mayes, has served as chief of staff to both Nirenberg and County Judge Nelson Wolff.

Its a fluid situation, Mayes said about the virus impact.

I think what differentiates SXSW from Fiesta is that SXSW has a lot of sponsors who are from other communities, so you have big Silicon Valley companies saying, Were canceling our participation in SXSW, Mayes added.

Fiesta is a little bit more community driven than that, to say the least. I know they (Nirenberg and Wolff) will make the right decision about Fiesta. But we dont know what the worlds going to look like in a month.

Hear this and other topics discussed on this weeks edition of the Puro Politics podcast.

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
Controversial journalist, Kemi Olunloyo has taken to her Instagram page to warn reality star, Tboss about the dangers involved with exposing her child on the internet.

The investigative journalists motherly instinct kicked in as she shared a photo of the reality star breastfeeding her baby girl with the caption;

If you know this young lady who Im tagging @officialtboss pls tell her trolls or no trolls, you aint got nothing to prove to trolls with no identity. You are THEIR BOSS! Keep your baby off social media.

First Facebook who owns instagram censors breasts and breastfeeding Pictures, next after several incidents online like Daddy Freeze busting a pedophile, I generally dont like faces of infants online because of their safety.

Read Also: Fear Grips Toyin Abraham After She Is Told To Paddle Canoe Alone (Video)

Before social media I even have a picture breastfeeding @richkjtmusic and it didnt even end up in the hard photo album for guests to see. It was PRIVATE. Why post breastfeeding pictures online now? Protect your children.

Nigeria is a wicked place full of child abductors, pedophiles and more.

#drkemiolunloyo

See the post below:
[March 12, 2020] Waddell & Reed Financial Expands Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives and Partnerships

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (NYSE: WDR) continues to actively build and enhance diversity & inclusion initiatives across the organization, recently announcing several new partnership and program initiatives: In conjunction with its celebration of International Women's Day, the Company launched a corporate sponsorship and partnership with Forte Foundation, a non-profit organization connecting female MBA students and recent graduates with job opportunities in the financial services industry. Forte's alliance network links talented women, influential companies, leading universities and business schools, and pioneering donors. The partnership with Waddell & Reed Financial helps introduce students to careers in the financial industry, while allowing the Company to participate in campus programs or Forte-led events. It was announced as part of Waddell & Reed Financial's celebration of International Women's Day, which included an employee panel discussion on mentorship, leadership, opportunities and challenges faced by women in the workforce, in support of this year's Women's Day theme of #eachforequal.



"An important part of our shared Culture of Belonging is the ability to enhance our diversity of perspective, sharing knowledge and experiences, which leads to a stronger culture and better results for our clients," said Philip J. Sanders, CEO of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. "This also aligns with our ongoing growth strategy as we continue advancing our position as a values-based and purpose-driven organization." The Company also announced it has committed to expanding its partnership with Rock The Street Wall Street (RTSWS) by partnering with a to-be-announced high school in Kansas City, Missouri. Last year, Waddell & Reed Financial became the first organization in the Kansas City area to partner with RTSWS, a national, non-profit organization offering a financial and investment literacy program designed to spark the interest of female high school students in careers in finance. Partnership engagement includes financial literacy sessions, mentoring programs and a field trip to Waddell & Reed Financial headquarters. Surveys conducted after the initial program year with Shawnee Mission North High School showed a 65% increase in financial literacy among students who participated, and a 100% increase in those who said they are likely to pursue a major/minor in finance or economics. "This is a dynamic, growing program that data shows is very successful in raising financial literacy levels and encouraging young students to pursue their dreams of a career in finance," said Sanders. "We're pleased to expand our partnership to a second school this year." Waddell & Reed Financial also is pleased to become a sponsor of Kansas City Women in Technology, a non-profit organization whose vision is to grow the number of women in technology careers within the Company's headquarters area, Kansas City. The goal is to inspire girls toward an interest in technology careers early, through educational wrkshops and mentoring for high school and college students considering technology career paths. The sponsorship, which aligns with one of the Company's key strategic enablers of advancing technology and data analytics, includes networking events and volunteer opportunities for professionals to retain women currently working in technology. A new employee mentoring program has been introduced, enabling all employees to either connect with a mentor or act as a mentor to colleagues. The program facilitates interaction and learning opportunities across differing ranges of experience, skills and departments. The goal is to actively support employees as they pursue personal and professional goals. Mentees choose their own mentors based on their areas of expertise through a new online mentoring platform. The Company provides the tools, resources and education to support the partnership, while letting the mentee drive the experience. Mentors and mentees can be anyone in the organization, regardless of tenure or title, supporting the desire for diversity in thought and experiences and creating unique pathways to success.



CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, signed in early 2019 by Sanders, acknowledging that the organization will act to cultivate trust, diversity, flexibility and understanding. By signing the pledge, Waddell & Reed Financial has acknowledged it will take specific actions to advance an open and empowering environment. The Company launched an initiative in 2019 called Culture Connections, centered on core components of Diversity & Inclusion, Employee Appreciation, Philanthropy, Strategy & Values and Well-Being. Culture Connections is a purposeful and planned strategy to directly and authentically illustrate the company's commitment to advance its position as a values-based and purpose-driven organization. As one of the core components, Diversity & Inclusion facilitates a range of internal education programs and events to advance knowledge and understanding, such as Black History Month, International Women's Day and Pride Awareness, among many others. The Company over the last year also has continued to broaden the diversity of the composition of its Board of Directors -- incorporating important, new perspectives into the group - by appointing to the Board three women with expertise across multiple industries and professions. According to executives, having a strong, diverse Board of Directors working in a collaborative partnership with the executive leadership team will better position the Company to build upon the transformational progress to date and achieve long-term growth strategies, all while advancing its position as a values-based and purpose-driven organization. "It's exciting to see the change and cultural growth around the Company," said Brent Bloss, President of Waddell & Reed Financial. "These steps are actionable, they drive progress and enthusiasm across our workforce and illustrate our commitment to our purpose, vision, mission and our core values."

About Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Through its subsidiaries, Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. has provided investment management and financial planning services to clients throughout the United States since 1937. Its subsidiaries include Ivy Investments, an asset manager and distributor of investment products to retail and institutional clients; and Waddell & Reed, Inc., a broker-dealer with nationally based independent financial advisors. For more information, visit ir.waddell.com. IVY INVESTMENTSSM refers to the investment management and investment advisory services offered by Ivy Investment Management Company, the financial services offered by Ivy Distributors, Inc., a FINRA member broker dealer and the distributor of IVY FUNDS mutual funds and IVY VARIABLE INSURANCE PORTFOLIOS, and the financial services offered by their affiliates. About Forte Foundation Forte Foundation is a non-profit consortium of leading multinational corporations and top universities and business schools. It was called to action by a landmark research study, Women and the MBA: Gateway (News - Alert) to Opportunity, that looked at why women are underrepresented in top business schools compared with medical or law schools. Forte Foundation was launched in 2001 to address this inequity and its impact on the business landscape and grew to 25 member schools in 2005 in the US. Today it includes 54 member schools: 39 in the US, four in Canada and 11 in Europe. About Rock The Street, Wall Street Rock The Street, Wall Street, founded in 2013, inspires and equips girls with skills to succeed financially throughout their lives and potentially pursue careers in finance. Girls learn about savings and investment, budgeting, the capital markets and their role in maintaining the welfare of their families and the economy, while simultaneously helping them see the real world application of the math content they learn in the classroom. Visit rockthestreetwallstreet.com. About Kansas City Women in Technology Kansas City Women in Technology is an organization unique to Kansas City and was created to serve the needs of the Kansas City community. Kansas City Women in Technology is not a chapter of a larger organization and is not affiliated with any other organizations like Girls Who Code, Girl Develop It!, Women in Tech, Women Who Code - though we do promote their efforts. Kansas City Women in Technology has launched several programs that reside under the umbrella of Kansas City Women in Technology as a larger organization. Those programs include CoderDojoKC, Tech sHeroes, TechTalks, Coding & Cupcakes, and Coding & Cocktails. Visit kcwomenintech.org. About CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. This commitment is driven by a realization that addressing diversity and inclusion is not a competitive issue, but a societal issue. Recognizing that change starts at the executive level, more than 600 CEOs of the world's leading companies and business organizations, are leveraging their individual and collective voices to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion aims to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace by working collectively across organizations and sectors. It outlines a specific set of actions the undersigned companies will take to cultivate a trusting environment where all ideas are welcomed and employees feel comfortable and empowered to discuss diversity and inclusion. Visit ceoaction.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005740/en/

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Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs exit from the British royal family has been awkward for everyone involved. Though many of the senior royals, including Queen Elizabeth II, are sympathetic to the Sussexes feelings, that hasnt made things easy.

The Sussexes just finished their final royal engagements as senior working members of the royal family. Commonwealth Day reunited them with Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. Though everyone was calm and cordial  the tension between the foursome cut like a knife.

Thankfully, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex were present to defuse the tension, but the royal brothers barely said a word to one another while the Duchess of Sussex and the Duchess of Cambridge avoided one another altogether. While Prince William obviously has some unresolved issues with his younger brother, the Duchess of Cambridge is also still taking Megxit badly.

Kate Middletons workload has become overwhelming since Megxit

Since Prince William is being groomed to become the future Crowned King, he and the Duchess of Cambridges workload has already grown exponentially in the past few years. Though they are relieved Megxit is over, it has only made things more hectic for them.

Kates in a panic and has been having bouts of anxiety, an alleged insider told US Weekly. She barely has time to rest, and when she does try to sleep, her mind is constantly racing. Apparently, the duchess schedule includes 18-hour workdays.

Thankfully, it looks like the queen has asked the Wessexes to step in and take off some of the burden.

Kate Middleton misses her close bond with Prince Harry

Prior to his 2016 fallout with Prince William due to the older princes reservations about the Duchess of Sussex, Kate and Prince Harry were very close. Prince Harry thought of the duchess as the sister hed never had.

Though shes obviously standing with her husband on this, the Duchess of Cambridge misses Prince Harry terribly. She wishes she could speak to Harry. She misses him and fears shell never be close to him again, an insider told US Weekly. Unfortunately, she hasnt been able to connect with Meghan either. They couldnt be further apart, the source explained.

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

Kate Middleton is still very upset by Megxit

Though Prince William seems resolved in moving forward without his brother by his side, the Duchess of Cambridge is still quite upset.

Vanity Fairs royal correspondent Katie Nicholl explained that Kates body language during Commonwealth Day revealed everything we need to know about how she is feeling. Possibly she was tired but she didnt look overjoyed, Nicholl explained. 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.

Unfortunately, with the Sussexes in Canada focused on their private life, and the Cambridges as the center of the riyal family in the U.K.  fences wont be mended anytime soon. Harry misses his brother and Kate, but theres too much mud under the bridge at this point for any meaningful communication. Theyre cordial, but thats about as far as it goes, an alleged source told US Weekly.




Tourists walk in front of the U.S. Capitol dome down the steps to the Capitol Visitor Center on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

Congress will bar public access to the U.S. Capitol for the rest of the month, and the White House will temporarily cancel tours as officials try to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

Capitol tours will stop, while access to the building along with House and Senate office facilities will be limited to members, staff, press and business visitors starting Thursday at 5 p.m. ET, the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms Paul Irving and Michael Stenger said in a statement.

White House spokesman Judd Deere told NBC News the administration will stop tours of the president's residence "until further notice."

The moves come as fears grow about the spread of the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19. More than 1,300 cases have been reported in the U.S., and at least 38 people have died.

Lawmakers and the White House are scrambling to agree to a relief package for workers affected by coronavirus. Republicans have criticized a proposal House Democrats hoped to vote on Thursday, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi negotiates with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Both chambers of Congress are scheduled to go on recess next week.

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Oregons top transportation decision makers were scheduled to meet in Portland next week to decide the fate of a more than $715 million project on Interstate 5 through the Rose Quarter, but that meeting apparently wont happen.

Thomas Fuller, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Transportation, said the state has decided to cancel the meeting following Gov. Kate Browns direction to ban large gatherings.

The meeting was scheduled to occur in a Northeast Portland conference room where the volunteer state transportation commissioners, who are appointed by the governor, were to decide whether to proceed with the freeway project as planned or delay in favor of a more extensive environmental review process.

The Rose Quarter project aims to add merging lanes and freeway shoulders on a congested stretch of the freeway between the I-84 and I-405 interchanges, a less-than-two-mile section of freeway the state claims is one of the most accident-prone in Oregon. On surface streets, the plans call for adding a new bike and pedestrian bridge, replacing or removing overpasses and capping the highway to create two park-like open spaces.

Fuller said the commission will now hold a telephonic meeting sometime in early April, potentially on April 2nd, he said. The commission is expected to decide the fate of the freeway project at that meeting, Fuller said.

According to a state report released in January, transportation officials said expanding the freeway caps would add as much as $500 million to the projects price tag. But those estimates were based on preliminary figures from the transportation agency.

In January, Commission Chair Bob Van Brocklin proposed a series of amendments to tap the brakes on the project and set up committees of Portland stakeholders to help advise the project. He called for an independent review of the states past environmental work and a decision no later than March 20 on whether the state should conduct a more extensive Environmental Impact Statement or proceed with project design. State transportation officials have said an EIS would delay the project by three years.

Its not clear whether the state transportation agency will offer its own recommendation on how to proceed with the project, which has garnered opposition from Portland politicians and neighborhood groups who have called for additional study and a more expansive plan to cap the freeway to allow for additional buildings.

"I do not know if there is a staff recommendation at this time, Fuller said.

The state decided to scrap the public meeting, he said, because it is discouraging the public from gathering in large numbers.

Fuller said the state still wants to hear from people about what theyd like to have happen with the project. He said the state will release more details about how people can provide comment, including a plan to invite people to visit the states Northwest Portland offices to record video messages for the commission, given the states new ban on large gatherings.

All of those details were still working on, he said.

This story will continue to be updated.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
New Jersey now has 29 coronavirus cases, including one death, spread across 11 of the states 21 counties, according to the latest test results.

Six new cases of coronavirus were announced Thursday by New Jersey health officials. On Wednesday, health officials identified cases that are the first considered possibly community-spread," meaning the origin of how the person became infected has not been determined.

"Simply put, community spread is defined as person-to-person transmission without exposure to a confirmed case, state Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. The state has another 37 cases considered under investigation with 20 tests underway and 17 potential cases awaiting specimens for testing Wednesday afternoon, Persichelli said. Another update on the pending tests

New Jersey declared a state of emergency on Monday to help coordinate the response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Bergen County has the most cases with 13 and is considered a moderate risk" for exposure. Bergen County, which also declared a state of emergency, had the states first coronavirus death - a 69-year-old Little Ferry man, later identified as horse trainer John Brennan who died Tuesday at Hackensack University Medical Center.

While Mercer County does not have any residents that have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Wednesday, a resident of Burlington County works at a cardiac care center in Robbinsville that has been closed for cleaning. In addition, two Boston residents attended a private party in Princeton before returning home and testing positive for coronavirus. Three Pennsylvania residents who attended that party have tested positive and 14 Princeton residents are under self-quarantine.

Heres the full list of the 23 coronavirus cases in New Jersey with details available for those cases, according to the department of health and local officials:

BERGEN COUNTY (13 cases)

 A 69-year-old man from Bergen County who died Tuesday morning. His health history included diabetes, hypertension, gastro-intestinal bleeding and emphysema. 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.

 A 16-year-old girl from Englewood. This positive test was performed through Labcorp, rather than at the state lab. She is being treated at Englewood hospital.

 A woman, age unknown, from Teaneck. She was exposed to a confirmed case at a synagogue carnival on March 1.

 A 33-year-old man from Teaneck.

 A 30-year-old man from Teaneck.

 A 30-year-old from Teaneck began showing symptoms on March 3 and was hospitalized at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck.

 A 44-year-old Teaneck man tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus Tuesday.

 A 70-year-old Teaneck man, who is a healthcare worker had an onset of symptoms Feb. 28, officials said.

 An Englewood woman in her 30s who got treatment at Englewood Health Hospital. Officials said she was released from the hospital and is self-quarantined at her home.

 A 55-year-old Englewood man who was admitted to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center on March 4 in stable condition, according to state officials. The Englewood man attended services at Temple Young Israel in New Rochelle, New York  which a number of of New York coronavirus cases has been tied to  on Feb. 23. The Englewood man attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland, a spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Murphy told NJ Advance Media.

 A 29-year-old man from Bergenfield.

 A 35-year-old man from Bergenfield.

 A 32-year-old man who lives in an apartment in Fort Lee and works in New York City, where he maintains another residence, and was being treated for the coronavirus in Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack.

BURLINGTON COUNTY (2 cases)

 A 62-year-old man and 60-year-old woman from Riverton are a married couple who recently returned from a trip to Italy. The man works at a cardiac care center in Robbinsville, which was closed for cleaning.

CAMDEN COUNTY (1 case)

 A 61-year-old man from Cherry Hill, who was admitted to Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital on March 3 and is in stable condition, according to state officials.

ESSEX COUNTY (1 case)

 A 66-year-old woman from Montclair. She is hospitalized at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center.

HUDSON COUNTY (1 case)

 A 32-year-old man from West New York, who was being treated at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY (2 cases)

 A 58-year-old woman from East Brunswick

 A 74-year-old man from Edison Township

MONMOUTH COUNTY (5 cases)

 A 53-year-old man from Manalapan. He is being treated at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold and had exposure to a confirmed case.

 A 66-year-old woman from Hazlet Township

 A 17-year-old girl from Little Silver. The teen is a student at Red Bank Regional High School, which was closed for cleaning and classes have been moved to online instruction.

 A 27-year-old Little Silver man who attended the attended the Biogen conference in Boston from Feb. 24-28 showed an onset of symptoms on Feb. 29.

 An 83-year-old Hazlet woman fell ill on March 3 and was hospitalized at Hackensack Meridians Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel.

MORRIS COUNTY (1 case)

 A 51-year-old man from Bulter Borough. He is being treated at Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains.

PASSAIC COUNTY (1 case)

 An 18-year-old from Clifton was exposed to coronavirus after having close contact on March 2 with a person in New York who was a known positive case.

SOMERSET COUNTY (1 case)

 A 23-year-old man from Bridgewater. He may have been exposed through close contact with a Pennsylvania resident who has coronavirus.

UNION COUNTY (1 case)

 A 48-year-old Berkeley Heights resident was exposed to coronavirus after having contact with friends who traveled from Milan, Italy. The Union County resident showed an onset of symptoms March 1 and was hospitalized at Overlook Medical Center in Summit.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

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The New York subway system continues to ramp up its cleaning using bleach throughout subway stations in attempts to fight the spread of the coronavirus but leaving commuters to battle with the handrails and seating within trains and subways cars which are being cleaned only at least once every three days.

Cases of coronavirus in New York State New York City 53 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 evening Advertisement

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transit Authority announced that it would double coronavirus-related cleanings of the subways stations as the number of confirmed cases in the city jumped from 19 on Monday to 36 Tuesday.

The cases in NYC jumped further again to 53 by Wednesday despite the efforts to use bleach and chemicals twice a day to wipe down all of the surfaces, turnstiles and railings at each of the city's 472 subway stations.

The twice daily efforts in stations are a marked increase on the promise given when the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in New York last week but still see every subway car and bus scrubbed down only at least every 72 hours.

All Metro North and Long Island Rail Road cars were also to be cleaned ever three days.

The increase in cleaning comes as a one-mile containment area is established in New Rochelle linked to a lawyer who traveled into Manhattan for work via the Metro North.

An MTA cleaner is seen using bleach and a rag to clean a rail on a stairwell at the Fulton Center subway on Wednesday

Cleaning on 'touchpoints' such as ticket machines and turnstiles has been jumped up to twice daily on the subway

Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers disinfect the Fulton Street subway station on Wednesday

Bleach is now being used on subway stations twice daily but the number of coronavirus cases in the city continues to rise

The number of coronavirus cases in New York City jumped to 53 Wednesday despite the subway cleaning plan

As of midnight on Wednesday, the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose to 1,315

Crews of cleaners were deployed Wednesday to spray down subway platforms, wipe down turnstiles and ticket machines and to clean any large surfaces that a commuter may come into contact with inside a subway station using bleach and disinfectant.

Holding bottles labeled with 'bleach' the cleaners were provided with masks but some were shown not to be wearing them as they cleaned handrails up subway stairs and cleaned windows on doors.

Pictures showed teams of up to four people working on one subway turnstile as they swept through the station cleaning with white rags.

The cleaners are not being asked to use bleach on subway trains themselves with the same intensity leaving handrails and seating with the cars at greater risk.

The procedure was criticized by a top epidemiology professor who said that cleaning with bleach will only keep commuters safe for a short time.

'Even if you clean it twice a day, if someone happens just by chance to come on who's infected and their hands may be contaminated  they just sneezed into their hands and they put their hand on some surface  the cleaning only works for a short time,' Stephen Morse, 68, an epidemiology professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health told CNN.

'It's really up to all of us to take the precautions to protect ourselves.'

Workers are cleaning the 400-plus subway stations twice daily and cars and trains are still being cleaned every 72 hours

Workers are armed with masks and bottles of bleach as they clean down Fulton Center subway station on Wednesday

Teams of cleaners have been deployed to clean subways twice a day with bleach but cars are not being cleaned as often

Subways stations are feeling the effects of the increased cleaning while subway trains and cars are cleaned every 72 hours

There are currently 217 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in New York state, the majority of which are in Westchester County and linked to a lawyer who became the second confirmed case last week. He commuted from New Rochelle into Grand Central Station on the Metro North.

Schools, houses of worship and large gathering places in New Rochelle, whioch has the 'largest cluster' of coronavirus cases in the country, will be shut down for 14 days from Thursday to help stop the spread of the disease, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced.

The area is the epicenter of the state's coronavirus outbreak and accounts for 121 of New York's 217 confirmed cases.

The radius centers around the Temple Young Israel of New Rochelle synagogue that was attended by Manhattan attorney Laurence Garbuz.

The Metro-North Railroad station in New Rochelle falls outside this one-mile zone and will not be contained leaving commuters in the area able to travel into the city.

Subway riders were quick to notice the change, as the use of bleach in stations dramatically increased on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A subway worker is seen using a bottle marked with water as they clean down a turnstile as part of coronavirus prevention

A large team of cleaners was deployed to Fulton Center on Wednesday as bleach was used to clean down subway stations

Commuters were forced to wait as cleaners wiped down ticket machines with bleach while wearing masks

'I am on the cleanest NYC subway train I've ever been on. Ever. It's so clean I can smell the bleach and I'm at the end of the line,' said CNN writer Paul Murphy.

'I love the scent of industrial bleach in a freshly mopped subway car. Thank you MTA.' added another Twitter user.

WIRED reporter Paris Martineau noted that pouring bleach in subway stations may not be the safest way to secure commuters against the coronavirus.

'MTA employees are literally just pouring bottles bleach all around the subway.... a place that is regularly covered in urine... and when urine and bleach mix it makes chlorine gas,' she wrote.

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 Wednesday.

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 has also forced Mayor Bill De Blasio to cancel the St Patrick's Day parade for the first time since 1782, following in Boston's footsteps.

A commuter wearing a mask exits the 59th street station on Wednesday. There are 43 cases of coronavirus in New York City

Commuters (pictured on a train in Manhattan on Monday) have been seen wearing protective gloves and adding extra casings to their phones during their New York City commutes as subways cars are still only being cleaned at least every three days

One woman doubled up on protection with gloves and a mask as she traveled on a train in the Bronx on Monday

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

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 and the figure jumped to 217.

The MTA is the nation's largest transit system and operates the city's subways and buses in addition to the Long Island Rail Road and MetroNorth rail systems stretching to the tip of Long Island and north to New Haven, Connecticut.

The agency has accelerated its cleaning operations to disinfect several hundred subway and rail stations and thousands of buses, subway and train cars.

MTA chairman and CEO Pat Foye said Monday that over the weekend more than 4,000 subway cars, 2,500 trains and 5,300 buses were cleaned.

'I want to assure the public that the subways remain safe, ' he said.

New York Gov Andrew Cuomo joked last week that riders shouldn't be alarmed if they smell a strange chemical odor on the subways in the weeks ahead.

'It's not bad cologne or perfume; it is bleach,' Cuomo said.

Similar train cleaning measures have been put in place in other major cities hit by the outbreak.

Japan, like New York, has urged flexible working hours to reduce overcrowding on trains.

Italy added dispensers of hand disinfectant to trains run by state railways before restricting residents from traveling in parts of the country where the infection rate is highest.

In Seoul, South Korea, legions of workers in protective suits and goggles have been spraying down subway stations with disinfectant.

At some train stations, officials have also been using heat-detecting cameras to look for people who might have a fever.

Spokesmen for the Washington, DC, Metro and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, serving Philadelphia and its suburbs, said ridership levels didn't appear to have been affected yet by virus-related concerns.

Uncertainty remains about what level of contact could be dangerous.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and the droplets are inhaled by someone nearby.

It also can be picked up by touching an infected surface or object and then touching the mouth or nose, though the CDC says that isn't the main way the virus can spread.
Two ministers of the Madhya Pradesh cabinet, who are in Bengaluru to meet Congress MLAs staying at a private resort in the Karnataka capital, were on Thursday taken in to police custody.

Jitu Patwari and Narayan Chaudhary were taken into preventive custody by police from outside the Embassy Boulevard in Bengaluru where they had gone to meet MP's rebel MLAs. They were later released by the police and then met Karnataka Congress unit chief DK Sivakumar.

Addressing a press briefing at the Pradesh Congress Committee office here, Congress leaders alleged that the police prevented the two ministers from meeting the party MLAs present at the resort; it also released videos supporting its allegations that the duo was manhandled while being taken into custody. The leaders also said that another minister, Lakhan Singh, was also present with Patwari.

Veteran leader Digvijaya Singh accused the Bengaluru police of behaving like goons. He claimed that no one was allowed to enter the resort  "our MLAs have been abducted and their mobile phones snatched," he said.

The videos of the incident released by the party show Patwari inside the resort having heated arguments and a scuffle with the police personnel. Patwari and his associates are later taken into a police van.

Describing it as a serious incident, Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha called it an attack on democracy.

Narayan Chaudhary is the father of MLA Manoj, who is also currently in the Bengaluru resort.

All these 22 MLAs have forwarded their resignations to MP Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati.
dr. fabiano di marco

Can you see me? No, I think.

michael barbaro

I cannot see you, but I can hear you. And I think I can hear you  ah, now I can see you.

dr. fabiano di marco

OK. Sorry for my English. I dont know if my English will be adequate for a podcast. But then you will decide, OK?

michael barbaro

Its exceptional. And Im really grateful that youre making time for us.

dr. fabiano di marco

Thank you. Thank you.

michael barbaro

So, where are you right now?

dr. fabiano di marco

Now, Im at home. After three weeks, today, in the afternoon, I am at home, because I have a big family with three children. And I decide to come back at home one day.

michael barbaro

So you have not been home in three weeks?

dr. fabiano di marco

Three weeks, yes. I have been in my hospital every day, start of the crisis, Friday the 21st of February. And since then, it was a total mess. Its like a war, to be honest.

michael barbaro

From the New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily.

[music]

archived recording This is how Italys cases have grown now for the last month  slowly at first, but now more rapidly. Its a textbook epidemic curve.

michael barbaro

Italy has quickly become the new epicenter of the pandemic, with nearly 30,000 infections and more than 2,000 deaths, numbers that are soaring by the day, even after the government there took extreme measures to lock down much of the country.

archived recording (dr. jerome adams) We are at a critical inflection point in this country.

michael barbaro

On Monday, the U.S. surgeon general warned that the United States is now on a strikingly similar path.

archived recording (dr. jerome adams) People, we are where Italy was two weeks ago in terms of our numbers. And we have a choice to make as a nation. Do we want to go the direction of South Korea and really be aggressive and lower our mortality rates? Or do we want to go the direction of Italy?

michael barbaro

Today, a conversation with a doctor in Bergamo, north of Milan, one of Italys hardest hit areas.

[music]

Its Tuesday, March 17.

michael barbaro

Could I just ask you to just say your full name for me?

dr. fabiano di marco

OK. My name is Fabiano Di Marco. Im a professor of the University of Milan and the head of the respiratory unit of the Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII of Bergamo, which is a town close to Milan.

michael barbaro

Can you give me a sense, and maybe paint the picture, of what its like in the hospital right now, what youre dealing with?

dr. fabiano di marco

I have now  my ward has been totally transformed. Nothing is as before. Ive been in my hospital every single day for 14 hours or 15 hours a day 

michael barbaro

Wow.

dr. fabiano di marco

 to try to deal with the outbreak of coronavirus infection.

michael barbaro

What has been the story of what has happened in your hospital these past few weeks? Because I think people in the United States are desperate to understand what you have seen, and what people have said to you, and what it has looked like. You described it as a war. So we want to understand what you mean.

dr. fabiano di marco

OK. Every day we receive, on average, between 50 to 70 patients with severe respiratory failure due to coronavirus infection. Every single day. And to describe my reality, my hospital is, at least in Europe, a huge hospital with 1,000 beds. But to receive every day between 50 and 70 patients with severe pneumonia due to coronavirus, its impossible. You have to change your organization day by day.

michael barbaro

And tell me what you mean. How do you have to change your organization to deal with people who are in such severe respiratory condition?

dr. fabiano di marco

So we change it, the normal ward, mainly surgery wards, because the activity of surgery has been reduced off at least 80 percent. And we transform it, so far five wards of surgery for patients with coronavirus. Now we have, between the five wards and the emergency room, at least 350 patients with respiratory failure due to coronavirus infection.

michael barbaro

Wow.

dr. fabiano di marco

Today is the first day in which we have more than 50 percent of the hospital dedicated to coronavirus patients. To organize these, we had to teach cardiologists, dermatologists, rheumatologists  specialists of something very different from respiratory failure  how to treat this patient. You try to find a solution. But day by day, its no longer enough. So I can tell you that my colleagues, both physicians and nurses, they cry every day.

michael barbaro

Wow.

dr. fabiano di marco

Im 47. Im not so, so old to be the head of a ward, at least in Italy. But I have with me 20 colleagues who are respiratory physician, with many fellow. They are 27, 30. So for me, its a huge responsibility. And I was scared they can be sick. OK? But we cry every day. And now, we have today, 460 nurse at home because they are sick. And I think we have 

michael barbaro

Wow.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yes. Its a very huge number.

michael barbaro

You have 460 nurses who are in a hospital in the middle of this crisis who are home because theyre sick?

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah, today. This is the outcome of today.

michael barbaro

And is that because they are sick with the coronavirus?

dr. fabiano di marco

There are some who are sick, some with a total burnout for the situation, and other who are contact of patients, so they stay in quarantine at home.

michael barbaro

Doctor, you said you are upset, that you maybe even cry every day. And I wonder if there is an experience, maybe one story or one patient, that made you upset?

dr. fabiano di marco

The main problem for us is to treat our colleagues. As doctor, we are used to treat patients. And for us its normal. There is not so emotional, luckily, because we are used to treat other people. But this is difficult when the patient is your colleague. And we have now admitted tens of colleagues or nurse, people who you will meet every day in your life.

michael barbaro

Your colleagues are now your patients because they have contracted the virus.

dr. fabiano di marco

Absolutely. For example, yesterday, the chief of my department come to the emergency room to be with a low level of oxygenation. He has a bilateral pneumonia due to coronavirus.

michael barbaro

Wow. Im sorry.

dr. fabiano di marco

Not very severe. But he was someone who tried to organize the hospital to deal with this infection three days ago. And we went to have a dinner with my wife and his wife one week ago.

michael barbaro

Wow.

dr. fabiano di marco

I dont know. We are scared because on Friday, only in my hospital, we had 20 deaths.

michael barbaro

20 deaths.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah. For coronavirus. In one day.

michael barbaro

Thats extraordinary.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah. So another important thing, we have not had the opportunity to allow the relative to come to the hospital for two reasons. First, its a danger for them and for other people, evidently, because in 80 percent of the cases, they are infected. The second reason, which is not easy to understand if you are not in this situation, is that we do not have enough personal protective equipment  the mask in case of infection, something to cover the shoes, and the gown. Its impossible to find these now Europe, not only in Italy.

michael barbaro

So youre running out of those and you cant get them anywhere, in the region or anywhere in Europe. You just cant get them.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah. Impossible to find.

michael barbaro

Wow.

dr. fabiano di marco

If I allow one or two relative to come to the hospital, I have to give them these. But we do not have this for us.

michael barbaro

Right. You need them for doctors.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah. They cannot receive the relative in hospital. So the patients are alone. And they die alone. We  this is difficult for us. We try to call, every day, the relative. But I have to tell you that sometimes, in the confusion of this new organization with a dermatologist who is trying to treat a patient with severe respiratory failure, and probably the doctors cry, and the  no one remember to call the relative. So its happened that the relative call the hospital 

michael barbaro

And the persons already dead.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Doctor, youve mentioned a lot of the choices that you and your staff have to make now that this is such a terrible situation. And I wonder how you make decisions about who gets which treatment, and who has the best chance to survive. How do you make those decisions?

dr. fabiano di marco

This is, for us, a crucial point, because we have hundreds of very sick patients. But we have tens of I.C.U. beds.

michael barbaro

Right.

dr. fabiano di marco

The problem is that you can find many scores of gravity. But these scores of gravity have been thought for another reason. OK?

michael barbaro

And when you say score of gravity, you mean, basically, kind of a calculation of who is in greatest need?

dr. fabiano di marco

Absolutely. So for instance, if you are 80, you have a severe respiratory failure, and I dont know, you have also renal failure, I have to admit you in the I.C.U. because you are very severe. And you have a probability to die very high. OK. I have to admit you in the I.C.U.. But now we need another score, which is a score which help us to understand your probability to benefit of the I.C.U. bed. And we do not have this score. OK?

michael barbaro

Because it has not been created.

dr. fabiano di marco

Absolutely. We are trying to do this now, because for example, the age, for all of the stage of severity, higher is the age, higher is the score. But when you have few beds for many people, the age is absolutely the opposite. If you are 85, I give the bed to another one who is 45.

michael barbaro

Because 45-year-old is more likely to benefit from the I.C.U. bed than the 80-year-old. So youre saying all the normal rules have to be thrown out the window.

dr. fabiano di marco

Absolutely. We need a new tool we do not have, because so far, the difference between the number of patients, number or bed, is something totally new for us. OK? And not only for us, all the country will have to deal with this. But its difficult to tell people that if you are 80, you will never have the I.C.U. bed.

michael barbaro

Of course.

dr. fabiano di marco

But so far, if you have not the opportunity to build a new hospital with 1,000 bed, such as in China, we need this terrible tool, because this is a tool of selection.

michael barbaro

Right  of who lives and who dies.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah. And this is why its important. If you do not reduce the number of patients who are sick, its impossible to deal with this disease. Impossible. You have to reduce the rate of infection. And the only way to reduce the rate of infection is to change totally the life of people. Now, in Italy, everyone is at home. This is a tragedy for economy. No one is working. No one is working. But its the only way. There is not something in between.

michael barbaro

It sounds like youre saying that once you are in a hospital as a doctor, looking at a room full of people with this virus, overwhelmed, its too late. That the role of countries who are not yet at the place Italy is in is to make sure they dont ever get to that place, dont ever get to the point that your hospital is at. And to do whatever it takes to not get there.

dr. fabiano di marco

Absolutely. You have two choices. You decide to not close all the activities, close the people in their home, and you will accept thousand of beds. Or, you have to close all the activity. There is not a choice in between. I know this is difficult to have this approach, because also in Italy, if you speak with my colleague in another town, its quite difficult to understand this. Because many people, including many physicians, have not this perception of this. Because in your reality, all is normal. Its difficult to be scared for something you have not the perception. OK? So I can understand that in other countries, its the same. But trust us, or, such as in Bergamo, each family will have a relative or a friend who dies. This is the situation in Bergamo. This is not a disease that you can discuss on TV, or you will have the perception of this in your family, in your relative, in your town. Its something very aggressive, very aggressive.

michael barbaro

I wonder, as a doctor, what advice you would give to doctors in the United States who may have to do what you have to do and make the kind of difficult decisions that you have to make now.

dr. fabiano di marco

I think that the best is to speak with us to analyze the situation of Italy. It could be something important. Because you have to be prepared for this. This is the only thing I would suggest to my colleague. Because also in Italy, I have some colleague in the other part of Italy who are not prepared. And I speak with them. They are doing the same thing we did three weeks ago. This is incredible. This new reality we are living started the 23rd of February, not three years ago. OK? Three weeks ago. After three weeks, we are living in another dimension. For me, its difficult to think to my life before this. No one can be prepared for this  impossible.

michael barbaro

I wonder, just a final question here. At the beginning of our conversation, you said you were finally home after three weeks. And I wonder what it was like to come home to your family. What are you telling them? And how are you feeling?

dr. fabiano di marco

My children are at home now for three weeks. The schools are closed. Luckily there are three, so they can stay together. But we try to create a normal situation at home. For me, its difficult, because evidently, I have a risk of infection which is higher than compared to other people. So I had to decide what to do at home. If stay with a mask  sorry. And I decide to stay normal, without the mask.

michael barbaro

It sounds like this was a tough decision.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah, because I have to find the solution between to protect the best, uh, my wife and do not scare my children. OK? The only good news is that children and young boys or girls are not affected. This is the only consolation for us. And I decide that I changed my approach to my children. OK? I pay attention to my hands. I pay attention to my towel. OK? But I decide to not wear a mask because it will be difficult for them to see the father who is a respiratory physician in Bergamo with those kind of cases, hundreds of that. So also for these, its really difficult to decide what is the best. And then I spoke with my wife. And we decided to do this.

michael barbaro

It sounds like on top of all the difficult decisions youve had to make, you had to go home and make one more difficult decision, which was this mask.

dr. fabiano di marco

Yeah. Absolutely.

[music]

michael barbaro

Doctor, I really want to thank you so much for giving us your time. And I want to wish you the best of luck, you and all your colleagues, doctors and nurses at the hospital. Were going to be thinking about you a lot in the coming days.

dr. fabiano di marco

Thank you. Thank you. It has been a privilege. I hope, indeed, to be useful for some of my colleagues and for you.

[music]

michael barbaro

Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today.

archived recording (donald trump) This afternoon, were announcing new guidelines for every American to follow over the next 15 days. As we combat the virus, each and every one of us has a critical role to play in stopping 

michael barbaro

On Monday, President Trump issued sweeping new health guidelines for Americans, encouraging them to work from home, avoid restaurants, bars, and food courts, and discretionary travel, and limit gatherings to 10 people or fewer.

archived recording (donald trump) If everyone makes this change or these critical changes and sacrifices now, we will rally together as one nation. And we will defeat the virus. And were going to have a big celebration all together.

michael barbaro

But the guidelines are not mandatory. And the president stopped short of explicitly ordering Americans to stay home, as several countries in Europe and a handful of U.S. counties are now doing. On Monday, health officials in the Bay Area of California instructed nearly 7 million people to remain in their homes, with few exceptions, to slow the viruss spread.

archived recording These new orders direct all individuals to shelter at their place of residence and maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet from any other person when outside their residence. We know we need to do this. And we know we need a regional approach.

michael barbaro
LANSING, MI -- Michigan residents with jury summons may be off the hook -- for now, at least.

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget Mary McCormack on Wednesday, March 11, issued a memo to all state trial courts recommending they adjourn jury trials, civil and criminal, unless (the) defendant is in custody or there have been other long delays.

The recommendations were to apply as long as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmers State of Emergency, which she issued Tuesday, remains in place.

Royal Oaks 44th District Court canceled upcoming jury selection and has taken further precautions by canceling in-person reporting for probationers.

All jury trials scheduled for March 23, 2020 will be handled as final pretrials. No jurors will be required to appear for jury service, the court said in a release. "All individuals currently on reporting probation can contact their probation officer to arrange for alternate reporting arrangements.

At this time there are no plans to close the courthouse, however we are actively monitoring this situation.

Royal Oak Chief District Judge Derek Meinecke said his court is doing all it can to combat this health crisis.

Similarly, Washtenaw County Trial Court adjourned its civil and criminal jury trials for the remainder of March, in cases that dont involve a detained defendant.

John Nevin, a spokesman for the Michigan Supreme Court, said courts across the state on Thursday were meeting to determine how and if they might implement changes to reduce the spread of the virus."

Justice McCormacks memo to state trial courts suggests they hold hearings, such as arraignments, mental health and incapacitated adult proceedings, remotely by video whenever possible.

Adjourn hearings with vulnerable persons and do not default or (issue bench warrants against) individuals for failing to appear during period of emergency, Justice McCormack said.

Nevin said Justice McCormacks memo was simply a recommendation and ultimate control resides with each courts chief judge.

Every court is different, Nevin said. "Every local community is different and what might work in a smaller community might not work in a larger busier place.

Decisions, especially regarding need for a jury trial, may also be case specific.

Nevin said, for instance, if parties in a civil case knew a trial adjournment was inevitable, it might impact settlement negotiations.

It might not necessarily be in the best interest of justice to have the court two weeks ahead of time say your jury has been postponed, he said.

Nevin said some courts, such as Royal Oaks 44th District, are issuing clear adjournment guidelines while others are sort of playing it by ear.

Federal Courts in Michigan are taking coronavirus-related precautions and implementing a visitor screening process but havent announced any blanket adjournments or jury-selection delays.

There were 150 cases of possible coronavirus under active monitoring in Michigan as of Thursday, March 12, according to the states coronavirus information website. That figure was 124 on Tuesday and 520 more possible cases have been referred for assessment.

Ninety-one suspected cases were tested and found not to be coronavirus.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared coronavirus a global pandemic.

Michigan health officials have been preparing for weeks for a possible outbreak of coronavirus.

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PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

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Poland has recorded its first death from the novel coronavirus outbreak in the western city of Poznan, its deputy mayor said on Thursday.

The 57-year-old female teacher, who had recently been hospitalised in critical condition with pneumonia, was put into an artificial coma and on a ventilator but "unfortunately she died not long ago," Poznan deputy mayor Jedrzej Solarski told reporters.

Poland currently has 46 other confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the health ministry.

The woman's husband and daughter are among those hospitalised with coronavirus but their conditions are not critical. Other family members, including the woman's two sons, have not been infected.

"What we feared over the last few days has come about. We have our first death from the coronavirus," Polish President Andrzej Duda told reporters. "I offer my condolences to her close ones.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Biden released a detailed plan, which he said Trump is welcome to adopt, to deal with the unfolding crisis.

Both United States Democratic presidential candidates on Thursday lashed out at US President Donald Trumps response to the coronavirus outbreak as woefully insufficient to date, and put forth their own plans for dealing with the pandemic.

In a speech delivered from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, frontrunner Joe Biden said the Trump administration has so far shown itself unable to cope with the unfolding crisis.

No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks, but I can promise you this, when Im president we will be better prepared, respond better and recover better, Biden said. We will lead with science, listen to the experts, [we] will heed their advice. Well build American leadership and rebuild it to rally the world to meet the global threats that we are likely to face again.

Biden cautioned that the virus, which some Trump allies have dismissed as overblown fodder for the presidents critics, does not have a political affiliation. And in a direct dig at Trump, he added another pledge: Ill always tell you the truth. This is the responsibility of a president. Thats what is owed the American people.

Biden released a detailed plan, which he said Trump is welcome to adopt, that called for wide availability of free testing, free preventive care and treatment of the disease associated with the virus, COVID-19. The plan also called for rapid development of a vaccine, and full deployment of the necessary supplies, personnel and facilities to stem the outbreak.

The former vice president also pressed for economic measures to mitigate the impact of the outbreak, including offering emergency paid leave for all those impacted by the coronavirus, assistance for small businesses and employees who have been affected, and debt relief for homeowners and students with loans they may not be able to pay in the short term.

Federal resources, he said, should be mobilised to ensure at least 10 testing sites in every state, and federal aid  including from the Pentagon  should be provided to put a stand-up hospital in any US city where an outbreak exceeds the capacity of existing healthcare infrastructure.

Biden also pledged that his administration would hold daily briefings in any such crisis, with top public health professionals in front of cameras to address the nation directly.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to reporters about coronavirus Thursday in Burlington, Vermont [Charles Krupa/AP Photo]

Speaking just a couple hours later, Sanders said Trump should declare a national emergency and said a hotline should be established for people seeking information about the virus. He also said the US was at a major disadvantage compared with other countries since many people have no medical insurance.

Sanders has advocated for fully government-financed healthcare under a Medicare for All system that is the centrepiece of his campaign. But he said Thursday that in the meantime during the outbreak, the government must ensure that, Everyone must be able to get all of the healthcare that they need without cost. He added that if a vaccine for the virus is developed, it should be free.

We need an emergency response to the emergency, Sanders said, and we need it immediately.

Biden and Sanders have both cancelled public events in advance of next Tuesdays primaries, yielding to public health officers and elected officials who are discouraging large campaign rallies. The pair will meet in a debate Sunday night on CNN, without a live audience, which organisers on Thursday said they were moving from Arizona to Washington, DC to minimise travel for the candidates and their staff.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 11:31:40|Editor: mingmei

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Photo taken on March 10, 2020 shows a stop sign and a plane approaching to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night the country will suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days in a bid to fight the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States will suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days in a new measure faced with further spread of the COVID-19.

These restrictions will go into effect Friday at midnight and "will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground," President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night in his 11-minute address.

The president urged Americans to take proper precautions and called on Congress to take further action on payroll tax relief.

"We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus," Trump said.

The virus has infected more than 1,000 Americans and at least 38 people have died of the virus nationwide.

The Trump administration has earlier restricted travel from China and Iran.
A Woolworths shop assistant has been videoed confronting customers who stacked their trolley with paper rolls and tinned food.

With toilet paper in short supply as a result of coronavirus pandemic, two men at the Marrickville Metro, in Sydney's inner west, instead resorted to stocking up on paper towels and non-perishable items.

The Woolworths employee became frustrated and told them so shortly after 10pm on Wednesday night as they attempted to buy more goods than usual at the supermarket self-serve checkout.

'Are you going to listen or should I call security?,' she said. 'We're not letting anyone bulk buy.'

One of the men disregarded her directive and told her to 'call security' and 'do what you like' as the younger man argued he had already paid for two boxes, only to annoy the woman working at Woolworths.

'There's no point of arguing with me,' she said.

'Are you understanding now there's a situation where everybody's bulk buying?

A Woolworths shop assistant has been videoed confronting customers who stacked their trolley with paper rolls and tinned food. With toilet paper in short supply as a result of coronavirus panic, two men at the Marrickville Metro, in Sydney's inner west, instead resorted to stocking up on paper towels and non-perishable items

'We can't let it happen.'

A Sydney woman, who witnessed the encounter, told Daily Mail Australia the men swore at her and the Woolworths employee as she also reprimanded 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

'I had to stop the video as I actually spoke to the men myself and said the elderly and disabled need it,' she said.

The men left the Woolworths after their transaction was refused.

The altercation occurred three days after a 60-year-old woman and her daughter, 23, were charged with affray after they were videoed brawling over toilet paper at a Woolworths at Chullora, in Sydney's south-west, on Saturday.

Woolworths has this week restricted customers to one packet of toilet paper per transaction with supermarket shelves across Australia cleared of the essential sanitary item.

This brought it into line with its chief rival, Coles.

'Woolworths is working with suppliers to prioritise the production of smaller packs of toilet paper, it said in a statement.

The altercation occurred three days after a 60-year-old woman and her daughter, 23, were charged with affray after they were videoed brawling over toilet paper at a Woolworths at Chullora, in Sydney's south-west, on Saturday

'This means more toilet paper packs will be available to more customers online and in stores from next week.'

Woolworths grocery limits Tissues - two pack limit per shop;  Paper towel, serviettes and wipes - one pack limit per shop;  Toilet paper - one pack limit per shop;  Hand sanitiser - two unit limit per shop; and  Bulk rice (2kg+) - one pack limit per shop. Source: Woolworths, March 12, 2020 Advertisement

Woolworths, Australia's biggest supermarket chain, has a one-pack limit on paper towels, serviettes, tissues and wipes for every visit.

'The move will help Woolworths meet the needs of as many of its customers as possible in the face of unprecedented demand for certain products,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

A two-unit limit for every transaction applies to hand sanitiser.

Customers are only allowed to buy one bulk packet of rice or 2kg or more.

The supermarket yesterday announced it would stop refunds on toilet paper, tissues, rice and pasta unless the items were faulty.

'Woolworths encourages customers to continue purchasing only what they need,' it said.
Coreas-Salamanca, 20, was a student at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring at the time of his arrest last month. He was indicted Thursday on eight counts, including second-degree rape and third-degree sex offense. He is an unlawfully present Salvadoran national, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, who have lodged a detainer against him at the Montgomery County jail.
All Sanders wants now is for Biden to adopt more of his political positions. And for the most part, the two men are on the same wavelength. Its just that Sanders wavelength is more ... intense. For instance, he said hes planning to ask Biden: Are you really going to veto a Medicare-for-All bill if it is passed in Congress? A perfectly fair answer would be to say: Bernie, if I win, the chances that Congress is going to send me a Medicare-for-All bill when I want something less sweeping are approximately the size of an anthill. An anthill constructed for an ant-chihuahua. Dont be a dope.
The death of a school principal in the outskirts of Panama City and the infection of at least another teacher at the same school has raised questions about Panama's reaction to the new virus outbreak.

On Monday, Francisco Beckman school students attended as normal, but classes were later cancelled after the death of principal Norato Gonzalez.

The announcement was perceived as a late measure by some of Gonzalez's colleagues.

According to Jorge Nunez, a teacher at the Francisco Beckman school, more than 4,000 students and more than 200 staff were put at risk.

Nunez said most of Francisco Beckman's teachers were not contacted by the authorities and expressed worry about how much time the virus outbreaks had been present in Panama if the first case was not Gonzalez, who had not travelled recently.

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.

Panama's Health Ministry has reported a total of 66 people were under observation after coming into contact with at least one of the country's eight confirmed cases.
ABINGDON, Va., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 17, Virginia high school seniors will spend the day shadowing bankers at First Bank & Trust Company as part of Bank Day, a statewide effort sponsored by the Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) Education Foundation and the VBA Emerging Bank Leaders. The purpose of the day is to expose students to the banking industry and provide an opportunity for the students to learn about banking, financial services and the vital role First Bank & Trust Company plays in its community.

The third Tuesday in March was declared Bank Day by the Virginia General Assembly in 1991 and First Bank & Trust Company is proud to host students for this important program. From their experience, participating students will write an essay for the chance to win a scholarship. Six regional scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded by the VBA, and from those six winners an overall statewide winner will be chosen. The statewide winner will receive an additional $5,000 scholarship - $7,500 in total. There will also be six honorable mention scholarships of $1,000 each. In all, twelve students statewide will receive scholarships totaling $26,000.

During their visit, the students will observe various bank departments, learn about the loan process, the importance of good credit, the profile of a qualified borrower, appropriate etiquette during a job interview and how First Bank & Trust Company is involved in the community. First Bank & Trust Company will host students from Riverheads High School in Staunton and JI Burton High School in Norton. They will visit First Bank & Trust Company offices located on 1030 Richmond Road in Staunton and 303 West Main Street in Norton, Virginia.

"Bank Day is one of the best short-term, hands-on experiences for studentsthe opportunity to go inside the bank vault, to watch customer/bank officer interaction, to learn about the many services that banks offer, and to start the networking that often leads to part-time and summer jobs, scholarships, and a start on a career path in the financial world," said Bruce Whitehurst, President & CEO of the Virginia Bankers Association.

About First Bank & Trust Company

First Bank & Trust Company, one of the top community banks in the United States, is a diversified financial services firm with office locations in southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and New River and Shenandoah Valleys. Financial objectives are addressed by offering free checking products for personal and business accounts, and assessing lending solutions managed by mortgage, agricultural and commercial lending divisions. Comprehensive financial solutions are available through trust and brokerage service representatives.

About the VBA Education Foundation

The Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation was formed in 2007 with the objective of recognizing the importance of economic education and financial literacy in Virginia and supporting the banking industry as a key participant in these areas. Their mission is to advance personal financial literacy to students in all public and private schools across the Commonwealth. Learn more about the VBA Education Foundation here.

For More Information:

Nicole R. Franks

Corporate Communications

First Bank & Trust Company

276-623-2323 ext. 207 [email protected]

SOURCE First Bank & Trust Company
London, United Kingdom, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Poly Global have enlisted Jones Lang LaSalle to sell 5 Fleet Place, London, freeing capital to reinvest back into the United Kingdom property market.

The decision to sell the commercial building follows a renewed strategic focus on expanding the diversity of investments and developments within the UK. The company continues to seek further acquisitions in and around London.

Poly is an international property developer with offices already established in Australia, US, UK, China and Hong Kong. The company is looking to expand further, with possible opportunities in New Zealand and elsewhere around the globe.

May Zhao, Poly Global's Executive Director for London said the group has a long term acquisition plan for the UK given the strong market fundamentals.

"Our focus is to seek out new investment opportunities. We believe the time is right for us to review our strategy for 5 Fleet Place and recycle capital into fresh acquisitions."

"We are looking for both residential and commercial assets to cement our growth over the medium to long term."

The main tenant at 5 Fleet place is law firm, Charles Russel Speechlys. Last year they opted to renew their lease for a further 15 years at an increased rent, enhancing the value of the property.

Poly Global entered the UK market in January 2016 when it bought the 130,000 sq ft 5 Fleet Place from sovereign wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. ADIA origianlly paid 112M to purchase the freehold building from developer British Land in April 2008, and construction was completed in 2007.

Poly is also developing a residential development in the UK at Millbrook Park north of London, named as Plaza Collection by Poly. The vision for their residential project is to create a thriving and sustainable community comprising a comprehensive range of imaginative new homes. Poly will deliver 727 apartments over 4 phases.

For more information on Poly Global see our website https://polyglobal.com/

Attachment
A day after joining the BJP, Jyotiraditya Scindia arrived at the party office wherein former MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar were present among other leaders.

Earlier in the day, Scindia had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Post the meeting, Shah had tweeted saying that Scindia's induction into the party will further strengthen BJP's resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh.

"I am sure his induction into the party will further strengthen BJP's resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh had tweeted: "Met with Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia today. I welcome him to the BJP. His joining will help in further strengthening the party. I extend my best wishes to him in all his endeavours."

On Wednesday, Scindia joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party President JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scindia will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr is wondering where IMANI Ghana got their facts from since its totally different from what he has gathered.



Policy think-tank IMANI Africa, suspects a corrupt procurement gig in the Electoral Commission's decision to compile a new voters' register.



At the press conference in Accra on Tuesday, March 10, Vice-President (in Charge of Research) at IMANI Africa, Bright Simons argued that the ECs claim that it will cost just about US$56 million to procure a new system is deceitful.



Turns out it would cost US$15 million to refresh the 30 percent of the existing system that needs refreshing and that it will cost us US$72 million to replace just the hardware plus more for software. Add this to the cost of fresh mass registration, and the total of loss to Ghana of the ECs actions amount to US$150 million... he said.



But economic cost is not the only thing to be worried about.



Acording to IMANI Ghana, the EC also bungled the procurement process, leaving a trail of evidence suggesting tender-rigging. This has opened the process to litigation and delay.



The EC used one day to disqualify well-qualified bidders, claiming that they had reputational problems.



According to Imani Ghana boss, Franklin Cudjoe, EC's recent procurement process for the selection of vendors for the Biometric Voter Management Solution (BVMS) is fraught with irregularities, claiming that Commission was going to pay for more contrary to earlier position that money would be saved.



"They say they are blacklisted by World Bank . . . honestly, I have not seen any of those reports but I am aware such reports are on the internet," Kweku Baako said.



"I would really love to have access to established findings coming out from investigative processes by credible organisations that this particular entity is so bad that it has been blacklisted and that sanctions have been imposed on them by appropriate authorities indicating that you don't even have to give them a chance when you are considering procurement. I would want to see that . . . " he argued on Peace FM's 'kokrokoo' programme.



"My records point to a different direction," Kweku Baako insisted.



According to him if there is such a thing and we allowed them to partake in the competitive bidding, then we check our own procurement laws to correct them.



The Electoral Commission (EC) has ruled out any unfair practices in the award of contracts for the procurement of electoral materials for the upcoming elections.



Listen to his submission in video below





Policy think-tank IMANI Africa, suspects a corrupt procurement gig in the Electoral Commission's decision to compile a new voters' register.At the press conference in Accra on Tuesday, March 10, Vice-President (in Charge of Research) at IMANI Africa, Bright Simons argued that the ECs claim that it will cost just about US$56 million to procure a new system is deceitful.Turns out it would cost US$15 million to refresh the 30 percent of the existing system that needs refreshing and that it will cost us US$72 million to replace just the hardware plus more for software. Add this to the cost of fresh mass registration, and the total of loss to Ghana of the ECs actions amount to US$150 million... he said.This is not necessarily about this administration. This has been going on for years and it turns out that we are spending too much. You all have an idea of how much a laptop, camera and scanner costs, and you put it together and add a printer. When someone tells you that its US$3,500 to US$4,000, you dont have to be a genius to know. You have to start wondering whether we are getting value for money. And it is not therefore surprising that countries like Zimbabwe and the like, get it far cheaper than we do. We are spending at most three times more than what Zimbabwe does, he said.When we add all that up, it comes to one simple conclusion that since 2011, it is a lie that we have not bought any new equipment and weve spent millions of dollars. From the parliamentary records, weve seen almost US$80 million since then buying new things. So if we have to do anything, we just have to do a little more repairs, do a little maintenance, buy a few things, and that will not get you to the US$74 million that they said you need to improve the current system. . . If you add all of that, you add contingency and the unnecessary registration of 17 million people all over again, you are getting close to US$150 million of our money being blown for reasons that nobody can explain in this country.

Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/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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A medical staff disinfects an area at Binh Thuan General Hospital in Binh Thuan Province, south central Vietnam, which is treating nine Covid-19 patients, March 12, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Viet Quoc.

Five people who'd had direct contact with an infected woman in Binh Thuan were confirmed Covid-19 positive Thursday, making it nine infected in the province and 44 in the country.

Four of new cases are: the 59-year-old husband, 28-year-old son, two-year-old granddaughter and an in-law of the businesswoman who tested positive after a trip back from Washington D.C. The fifth is a 12-year-old boy, her neighbor.

On Wednesday, her house-help, an employee and daughter-in-law were confirmed infected.

All nine patients are being treated in quarantine at the Binh Thuan General Hospital.

The businesswoman, 51, 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 the south central 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.

Vietnam has recorded 28 infection cases over the past six days, after going 22 clean days with no infections. Sixteen of the previous Covid-19 patients had been discharged from hospitals by February 26.

The Thursday additions made Binh Thuan the worst hit locality in Vietnam, followed by Hanoi with five cases. Other active cases have been reported in Lao Cai, Ninh Binh and Quang Ninh Provinces in northern Vietnam; Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam in central Vietnam, and HCMC.

On Thursday morning, the health ministry confirmed that a male tour guide in Hanoi whod been in contact with an infected British tourist on flight VN54 from London to Hanoi on March 2 has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

A Da Nang saleswoman who served two other infected British tourists on the same flight was confirmed infected on Wednesday.

Thus far, 14 passengers on the Vietnam Airlines flight have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 13 being treated in Vietnam while a British woman had left for Cambodia before she was confirmed positive.

26-year-old Hanoian Nguyen Hong Nhung, one of the passengers, spread the virus to a personal chauffeur and an aunt.

A 24-year-old Vietnamese woman who had met Nhung at a party in London last month before falling sick and being put on a private plane to Saigon on Monday tested positive the same day.

The other infection case is a Vietnamese man who returned from Daegu, South Korea.

Covid-19, which WHO has declared a pandemic, has spread to 125 countries and territories, killing more than 4,700 people.
As they drove to a police interview, Sydney solicitor Michael Croke tutored a witness on what story he needed to tell police in order to have a bag of $702,000 in cash returned to a criminal group, a District Court jury has heard.

Mr Croke, 69, has pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice over his role in lies that were told to police in an attempt to recover the cash that had been seized at the Hilton Hotel in August 2011.

Solicitor Michael Croke is facing trial at the District Court in Sydney. Credit:AAP

On the night of the seizure personal trainer Sean Carolan, who was wheeling the bag through the foyer, claimed the cash belonged to his new business partner, Owen Hanson, who has since been jailed in the United States for 21 years over unrelated matters.

In phone intercepts played to the jury Mr Croke is heard discussing with Sydney crime figure Craig Haeusler what explanations they could come up with to explain how Hanson, an American, happened to have $700,000 in cash while he was visiting Australia.
New York's top late-night talk shows will stop incorporating live audiences into their broadcasts over the next few days, amid rising fears about the spread of coronavirus in the region.

The decision affects shows with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah, John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Greg Gutfeld. All said Wednesday that they would tape their broadcasts in theaters and studios without audience members.

In the US Wednesday night more than 1,300 people were confirmed to have coronavirus and 38 people had died. There were 220 cases in New York state.

Globally there were 125,743 confirmed cases and 4,610 deaths.

New York's top late-night talk shows won't live audiences over the next few days amid rising fears about the spread of coronavirus. Pictured, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during Tuesday's February 4, 2020 live show

'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,' the NBC statement read. Jimmy Fallon is pictured with an audience of servicemen and servicewomen on May 23, 2019

In the US Wednesday night 1,135 people were confirmed to have coronavirus and 38 people had died. There were 220 cases in New York

The announcement from New York networks came as Donald Trump enforced a European travel ban due to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from abroad. Shortly afterward House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the president for failing to do enough to prevent community spread.

NBC, which broadcasts the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers, cited the safety of guests and employees as the 'top priority'.

'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,' the NBC statement read. 'Our shows will continue filming on their regular schedule, and currently, there will be no impact on air dates.'

CBS is home to the Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

'There have not been any specific developments at The Ed Sullivan Theater to cause concern for audiences with plans to attend the show tonight, tomorrow, or who have attended in recent weeks,' CBS said in a statement.

'For several weeks, the team at the theater has been taking all necessary precautions to protect everyone who enters and works in the theater with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures.

'For the past several weeks, The Late Show producers have consulted daily to share information with other New York-based late night shows, who will also be moving forward without an audience.'

In statements, the shows indicated their staffers were well, but that producers felt performing with live crowds would not be safe or smart.

Trevor Noah (pictured), John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Greg Gutfeld are all hosts affected

'There have not been any specific developments at The Ed Sullivan Theater to cause concern for audiences with plans to attend the show tonight, tomorrow, or who have attended in recent weeks,' CBS said in a statement about Colbert (pictured)

NBC, which broadcasts the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (pictured right) and Late Night With Seth Meyers (left), cited the safety of guests and employees as the 'top priority'

TBS' Full Frontal with Samantha Bee started the policy Wednesday evening.

'Bee says she will instead "do the show in front of a mirror, which I actually prefer",' the statement joked. 'Despite the efforts being taken, we still have heard from Sean Spicer that tonight's taping "was the largest audience ever to witness an [taping of Full Frontal], period, both in person and around the globe." Wow!'

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

Fox News Channel's The Greg Gutfeld Show will implement the change Saturday and HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver show will commence with a new plan on Monday.

'We are taking this precaution in accordance with best practices as outlined by New York City officials,' HBO said in a statement to the Daily Beast. 'We will continue to monitor the situation.'

The weeknight programs will all stop using audiences as of Monday, March 16. Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah is included.

There was no immediate information provided on whether NBC's Saturday Night Live would use a live audience for its coming rehearsals or broadcasts. The show's next original episode is not scheduled until March 28.

Live audiences are a key element of the late-night format.

Their reactions often spur the hosts to make unscripted remarks and the shows usually feed off of a live crowd's energy.

All the shows have staffers in place whose job it is to raise the audience's energy in advance of a taping.

At NBC, Late Night and Tonight often test Fallon's and Meyer's opening monologues in front of a smaller audience group in advance of a taping and producers at Saturday Night Live use audience reaction during rehearsals to help them determine which sketches will work for the show's official broadcast.

At CBS the pandemic spread beyond live audience shows. Also Wednesday, the network said production on the 41st edition of Survivor has been postponed in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

Filming was scheduled to begin later this month in Fiji, but CBS now says production will start on May 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.

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.

Shows like that of John Oliver (pictured) see live audiences as a key element of the late-night format. Their reactions often spur the hosts to make unscripted remarks and the shows usually feed off of a live crowd's energy

CDC: HOW TO SLOW THE CORONAVIRUS SPREAD Advertisement
UN Member States agree to fully implement the Beijing Declaration on gender equality, addressing gaps that hold women back

March 12,2020 | Source: UN Women

In a Political Declaration adopted today by Member States of the United Nations commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, leaders pledged to ramp up efforts to fully implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, still considered the most visionary blueprint on womens rights.



The Political Declaration is the main outcome of the 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the largest annual gathering on gender equality and the empowerment of women at the UN. This year the Commission decided to scale back the session to a one-day procedural meeting with delegations and civil society representatives based in New York, in light of the COVID-19 situation.



This years session focused entirely on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The review took stock of the status of women, including in-depth assessment of current challenges that affect the implementation of the Platform for Action and the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women.



UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said: 25 years after Beijing, we all recognize that progress on womens rights has not gone far or fast enough. Its 2020, yet no country has achieved gender equality and women continue to be squeezed into just one quarter of the space at the tables of power. Today, Member States have reaffirmed the Beijing Platform for Action, the progress and the gaps. Women and girls will hold them accountable as we work together for true and lasting equality and the full enjoyment of our human rights.



In the Political Declaration, Member States welcomed the progress made towards the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, but expressed concern that overall, progress has not been fast or deep enough. In some areas progress has been uneven, and that structural barriers, discriminatory practices and the feminization of poverty persist.



As leaders reaffirm their political will for action, they also recognize that new challenges have emerged that require concerted and intensified efforts, including in regard to:



-- Realizing the right to education for all women and girls, with attention to areas where they are underrepresented such as STEM;



-- Ensuring full, equal and meaningful participation, representation and leadership of women at all levels and in all spheres of society;



-- Ensuring womens economic empowerment, for instance, access to decent work, equal pay, provision of social security and access to finance;



-- Tackling the disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work of women and girls;



-- Addressing the disproportionate effect of climate change and natural disasters on women and girls;



-- Ending all forms of violence and harmful practices against all women and girls;



-- Protecting women and girls in armed conflict and ensuring womens participation in peace processes and mediation;



-- Realizing the right to health for women and girls, with emphasis on universal health coverage; and



-- Addressing hunger and malnutrition among women and girls.



Leaders also identified specific means for tackling these gaps and challenges. Some of these include eliminating all discriminatory laws; breaking down structural barriers, discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes including in the media; matching commitments to gender equality with adequate financing; strengthening institutions to promote gender equality; harnessing the potential of technology and innovation to improve womens and girls lives; regularly collecting, analyzing and using gender statistics; and strengthening international cooperation to implement commitments to gender equality.



The Declaration also reaffirms that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls will make a crucial contribution to progress across all the Sustainable Development Goals, as we begin the UN Decade of Action.



For the 64th session, the UN Secretary-General presented a comprehensive report (E/CN.6/2020/3) that is based on an extensive, participatory stock-taking exercise on womens rights, combined with global data and analysis. 171 Governments submitted national reports, and hundreds of civil society activists contributed to the national and regional reviews. Building on the UN Secretary-Generals report, UN Women published the Womens rights in Review 25 Years After Beijing Report, examining progress and obstacles in womens rights since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995.

 UN Women

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Itasca Farmer Wins First Place In National Corn Yield Contest Itasca farmer Todd Kimbrell Jr. earned a first-place state award in the 2019 National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) National Corn Yield Contest.



Kimbrell was honored as one of the highest corn yield producers in the nation with DEKALB DK67-99 Brand corn, yielding an outstanding 233.27 bushels per acre in the Conventional Non-Irrigated category.



Its truly an honor Todd chooses to partner with the DEKALB brand in the quest for high yields, said Pete Uitenbroek, DEKALB Asgrow Deltapine Brand Marketing Lead.



It was a tough year, but farmers can choose to have the best foundation possible by planting products with exclusive genetics and consistent performance.



The NCGA contest, currently in its 55th year, challenges farmers to achieve record-setting yields as part of its search for management practices that can help farmers everywhere. Its NCGAs most popular program with this years event producing 7,454 entries.



Kimbrell was among DEKALB winners recently recognized at the 2020 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, February 27-29 with an awards banquet and private concert featuring Drake White.



In the 2019 NCGA yield contest, DEKALB farmers captured eight of the 27 national awards and 182 first through third place awards at the state level, 31 of which yielded 300 bushels per acre or higher.



To learn more about maximizing yield performance and see a full list of winners, visit DEKALB.com/YieldWinner.


A Gold Coast man has revealed the extreme measures frightened passengers took on his flight from the coronavirus from Italy back to Australia.

Umberto Cardamone boarded a connecting flight out of Milan on Sunday just 24 hours before the local government placed the entire country into lockdown.

Mr Cardamone said all passengers on the flight to Dubai wore masks and some even covered themselves in plastic bags to reduce their chances of catching coronavirus.

Umberto Cardamone boarded a flight from Milan to Dubai on Sunday and said some passengers covered themselves with plastic bags during meal times when masks had to be removed

Mr Cardamone said all of the people on the Airbus 380 were wearing masks to protect themselves from the Coronavirus

'Lots of people were very scared,' he told Daily Mail Australia

'The plane was very full it was an Airbus 380 so there was two floors with many Chinese people going back to China.'

Mr Cardamone said three Chinese women headed for Beijing left nothing to chance and donned plastic bags during eating times.

'They were wearing masks but when the flight attendants served food they had to take off the masks to eat so they put the plastic bag over their head, it was crazy,' he said.

'There were people looking like they were going to Mars in Milan, obviously everyone was very scared.'

Mr Cardamone said authorities in Dubai also took the situation very seriously and checked each passenger for the virus before allowing them off the plane.

But when he boarded his next plane back to Australia the tension noticeably eased.

'I was wearing a mask from Milan to Dubai but once I jumped on the flight to Brisbane I ripped it off as I was the only one left wearing the mask,' he said.

Mr Cardamone said authorities in Dubai also took the situation very seriously and checked each passenger for the coronavirus before allowing them off the plane

The Australian government has since placed a ban on travellers arriving from Italy with only permanent residents and citizens allowed to return home.

Mr Cardamone now fears for his family back in Italy, and particularly his 85-year-old grandmother, who have all confined themselves to their homes.

'The older people get infected very easily so we are just a bit concerned about her, my mum is trying to look after her but she has to stay home as well,' he said.
Colleges and schools across the United States are closing their doors to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. As a result, many are forced to grapple with some of the secondary consequences students and employees might face, raising questions about money, class credits, and food and housing resources.

In South Carolina, many major public colleges are extending spring break and advising students to avoid campuses if possible. Many others are ramping up efforts to switch to online learning in case a campus is closed long-term.

The University of South Carolina shocked students when it announced earlier this week that spring break would be extended by a week and that classes would be held online through April 3. While USC's Beaufort and Aiken satellite campuses will extend spring break, no schedule changes had been made at USC Upstate location as of Thursday afternoon.

The university is evaluating what steps it will take to address its several hundred students studying abroad in Europe, said spokesman Jeff Stensland.

"This is unprecedented," Stensland said. "We've never dealt with anything like this before."

The university has been in touch with all students in Europe, now under a Level 3 travel warning by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and has given them options for returning home.

Winthrop University announced on Thursday it would extend spring break and switch to online instruction through early April.

Josh LeClerg, a junior at Winthrop, said the college's messaging raised more questions than answers for him, such as whether students who planned to stay on campus over the break will be allowed to do so.

"I recognize the importance of these steps; however, there are a lot of variables left unaccounted for and loose ends that could prove problematic. Better, more timely communication was key here and Winthrop administration failed on that early on," LeClerg said.

The university said on its website that "international students and other populations with specific needs will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis" but "in general, there will limited access during this two-week period."

The College of Charleston and Clemson University made similar announcements Thursday afternoon after advising students to take home their textbooks, laptops and other supplies necessary to continue academic instruction over spring break.

CofC has suspended all in-person classes for a week following spring break, but the college said eLearning could continue beyond that.

Wofford College has no confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, but campus officials decided on Thursday to extend spring break. Classes will continue through March 20. The break will last until classes resume April 6.

Bob Jones University, a private, evangelical college in Greenville, said on Thursday all of its students would complete classes online for the remainder of the semester.

After President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night a 30-day ban on travel to the United States from most of Europe, many colleges that had not already recalled students studying abroad decided to do so.

Winthrop's interim president, George Hynd, said in an email to students on Thursday that "there remains too much uncertainty in international travel for us to allow them to continue their experiences."

Alden Parker, a senior at Clemson, was planning to go to India for a school-sponsored research project that was also canceled because of COVID-19 travel fears.

She was disappointed about not being able to go, but said she understood the college's reasoning.

She knows some students that are capitalizing on the virus by booking cheap flights and cruises. She worried that if the university switches to online instruction it could negatively impact students.

"For students who live on campus and have meal plans, for some of them, that's their food source. For some students, this is where they live. And if you switch to online school, some students don't have Wi-Fi," Parker said.

These concerns have been echoed from parents with students in South Carolina's K-12 public school system.

District officials have repeatedly reminded parents that they remain in close communication with state health officials and the S.C. Department of Education, who will issue guidance in determining whether or not schools should close. Districts have been instructed to not make these type of decisions without consulting state officials.

Education Department spokesman Ryan Brown said the department has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for schools to serve meals over the summer in the event of an extended school closure.

The department is also asking all school districts to submit a 10-day plan for continued instruction in case of prolonged school closure. It's also recommending schools excuse student absences related to school closure.

While no public schools in South Carolina have closed so far, some parents fear that not enough is being done to manage the spread of the virus proactively.

As of Thursday afternoon, there were 12 cases of the disease caused by the virus, COVID-19, reported in South Carolina. Six have been confirmed by the federal CDC.

In order to address the virus, schools have increased their cleaning procedures and have advised teachers to emphasize proper hand-washing techniques. Many have also suspended class visits to nursing homes and hospitals as an extra precaution.

Kat Martin, who has a first-grader in the Charleston County School District, said she has decided to keep her son home from school, starting Friday. This decision was not made out of fear for her or her family, Martin said, but it was a measure to limit the spread between young people and the older adults who work in the school system.

Martin said a lot of her friends have said they've wanted to do the same but are worried about unexcused absences.

District spokesman Andy Pruitt said any student not at school will be marked absent, per state law. He said if students are feeling sick they should stay home.

"My biggest concern is mostly for the elderly and immunocompromised people in the community," Martin said. "Our kids are going to be the fastest way to transmit this virus from person to person."

Francis Beylotte, another CCSD parent, shared these concerns.

"My daughter sneezes in my face and she's 10 years old. Younger kids are even worse. The consequences of starting this too late are way higher than acting too early," he said.

CCSD said Thursday that all international field trips are canceled and that schools will no longer be able to schedule new field trips of any kind, regardless of location. Existing field trips, both in-state and out-of-state are being evaluated.
Travel from Europe to Australia may soon be banned to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked health officials to look at whether flights should be stopped.

No time frame was given for when a decision would be made.

Meanwhile, the federal government extended bans for China, Italy, South Korea and Iran.

The bans mean any foreigner has to spend 14 days outside those countries before entering Australia.

So far there are 141 cases of the virus in the country, causing three deaths.

A traveller wears a mask at Sydney International Airport on Thursday

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 after US President Donald Trump told America he was ordering an immediate shut-down of all travel from Europe to the United States as he addressed the nation on the coronavirus.

'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced, in a speech from the Oval Office to the nation.

Speaking hours after world health officials declared the coronavirus a pandemic, Trump repeatedly defended his own actions and vowed the nation would prevail in countering the virus and getting treatment on the market.

'The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight,' he said. The move was so sudden the acting Homeland Security secretary said he would issue full guidance on how to carry it out within 48 hours.

He urged elderly Americans to take great caution, urged cutting off visitors to nursing homes, and told Americans to wash their hands diligently.

'The virus will not have a chance against us - no nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States,' he said.

Shadow cabinet minister Bill Shorten demanded Australia introduce social distancing 'not in weeks and months but in days'.

'The only way to make sure this pandemic is not worse than it otherwise could be is to have more drastic social distancing measures,' he told Sky News.

'Singapore and Japan and parts of China, they are putting in more draconian reactions. As a result it would appear that some of their pandemic numbers are not going to be as bad as other countries who are doing too little too late.'

Earlier on Thursday Scott Morrison announced that a quarter of Australians will be given $750 as part of a $23billion bid to prevent a recession as coronavirus rocks the economy.

The cash will be handed out to 6.5million people including 3.6million pensioners, 1.1million students and working-age welfare recipients and 1.5million others including veterans and parents who receive family tax breaks.

The payments totalling $4.8billion will be begin on 31 March and will be transferred automatically through the tax system.

Scott Morrison (pictured today) has unveiled his $23billion stimulus package to prevent a recession as coronavirus rocks the economy

'Australians will spend that money and that money will encourage economic activity,' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

The measure is part of a huge stimulus plan - the first of its kind since the 2008 financial crash - to save thousands of jobs and companies as coronavirus pushes Australia towards recession.

Despite the announcement this morning, the Australian stock market continued to plunge as the World Health Organisation said the outbreak was a global pandemic and the US banned flights from Europe, excluding the UK.

Who gets $750? Recipients on Newstart, the disability support pension, carers' allowance, youth allowance, veterans support payments, family tax benefits and Commonwealth senior health card-holders. Australia's 2.4million aged pensioners are also getting the payment. The payments will be begin on 31 March and will be automatically deposited into bank accounts. The government has promised 90 per cent of the funds would be delivered by mid-April. Advertisement

Other measures in the package focus on helping small businesses and companies in the tourism industry that has been pushed to the brink by the virus.

The government will hand out tax-free cash grants of up to $25,000 to 7,000 small businesses who turn over less than $50million and employ people.

There will also be a 50 per cent wage subsidy for 117,000 apprentices worth $21,000 per apprentice. The cash will be paid to companies so they can afford to keep their young employees in work.

Instant asset write offs will be expanded so tradies can buy trucks and other equipment worth $150,000 on the taxman until 30 June. The previous limit was $30,000.

Mr Morrison also vowed to make sure casual workers who can't find work due to the virus will not have to wait to access Newstart's sickness payment.

There is also a $1billion fund to help tourism businesses affected by the downturn, similar to a disaster recovery fund. The ATO is also allowing affected businesses to delay their tax obligations for four months.

The Prime Minister said the package is worth $17.629 billion over the next four to six months, giving the economy a boost worth $22.9 billion or 1.2 per cent of GDP.

'This plan is about keeping Australians in jobs. This plan is about keeping a business in business, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, and this plan is about ensuring the Australian economy bounces back stronger on the other side of this and, with that, the Budget bounces back with it,' Mr Morrison said.

Travellers at Sydney Airport wear masks and gloves in a bid to avoid getting coronavirus
Defense Minister Naftali Bennetts announcement March 11 that the total closure of the Gaza Strip will be extended until the night of March 14 shows how deeply concerned Israels political and defense leadership is about an outbreak of the novel coronavirus there. The threat of COVID-19 reaching Gaza and sparking an extreme humanitarian health crisis is real. So far, there have been no reports of people in Gaza being infected by the coronavirus. This can be attributed to the territorys isolation, which offers Gaza relative safety from the virus. The problem is that according to every assessment, it is only a matter of time before the first cases are identified there. Given current circumstances, it is doubtful that the flimsy infrastructure in the most densely populated region in the world would be able to contend with a dramatic crisis of such serious proportions.

The sensitive nature of the defense ministers decision and its political and security volatility required coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before it could be released. On one hand, this decision was intended to keep developments in Gaza under control. On the other hand, it was not intended to result in a total, long-term closure of the border crossings. Israel is worried that an economic catastrophe in Gaza would result in sheer chaos. After all, Gaza already suffers from widespread poverty and unemployment. It has teetered on the verge of economic collapse for years.

All of this is happening with Israel caught in the middle of the worst political crisis in its history, with no end in sight. After a third election that left the country in limbo, Netanyahu finds himself facing what may be the most severe economic, social and health crisis in its history. And all of this is happening with Netanyahus trial for corruption scheduled to begin in the Jerusalem District Court next week, leaving his political future uncertain. Despite that, the chance of a fourth round of elections anytime soon gets smaller by the day. It is obvious by now that if the coronavirus continues to spread, it will be impossible to hold another election in Israel. Meanwhile, Netanyahu took the step of announcing that all events with over 100 participants are banned until further notice.

A senior political source told Al-Monitor that a pandemic in Gaza is Israels greatest nightmare. In fact, worries that some sort of health emergency might take place have been raised over the years in regular assessment meetings. Before this, the concern was of some kind of plague erupting in Gaza, killing thousands of people and more because of poor sanitation. But this is different. Gaza is isolated, and as a result, is protected, but if we seal it off hermetically, we would cause civil unrest. Images of tens of thousands of Gazans along the border fence with Israel could send us into a downward tailspin. It is a short path from that to an outbreak of violence and maybe even a third intifada. People will have nothing to lose. At this stage, hundreds of thousands of Gazans still go to work in the morning, and hundreds of thousands of children go to school. As soon as all that falls apart, we will be facing a whole new situation, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Indeed, the political leadership echelon heard and internalized these assessments. That is why the final decision of Bennett only limited the total closure of Gaza until March 14. As of now, about 7,000 Palestinians from Gaza hold permits allowing them to work in Israel. Before the coronavirus outbreak, it was decided to increase this number as part of a larger effort to reach an arrangement with Hamas. Now, however, it is no longer clear that Israel can continue along this trajectory. Workers from Gaza arriving in Israel could be exposed to the coronavirus here. Then, when they return to Gaza, they would infect their families and friends there. (On March 12, Israel said it has 109 COVID-19 cases.)

One minister who is in direct contact with senior officials in the Palestinian government told Al-Monitor that the situation in the West Bank is different, because it is so difficult to isolate the entire region. Furthermore, there are about 120,000 West Bank Palestinians working in Israel, so that even in this case, Bennett has adopted a moderate policy. While he is allowing these workers into the country, he has imposed a total closure on certain areas, such as the town of Bethlehem. Here, too, the goal is to maintain a balance between protecting the Palestinian economy and Israels security interests. According to the minister, this is why an initiative to ban all Palestinian workers from entering Israel was dropped, along with the idea of allowing those workers to sleep in Israel. He said, on condition of anonymity, That could be problematic, because the brunt of the burden would then fall on the Shin Bet, and it will be difficult to provide a hermetic response to terrorist attacks.

As of now, everyone realizes that Gaza will only be protected for a limited amount of time. It is actually quite reasonable to assume that we will learn over the next few days that the coronavirus is already there. Israels political leadership worries that responsibility for a severe outbreak in Gaza costing lives will fall squarely on Israels shoulders too and refocus world attention on the harsh conditions under which the local Palestinians are living.

Meanwhile, security collaboration between Israel and the Palestinian Authority has gotten closer as a result of the coronavirus, while Hamas doesnt seem to have any interest in attacking Israel right now. It would rather focus its energies on the challenges posed by COVID-19. In the eleven years since he returned to power in 2009, Netanyahu has preferred to manage the conflict with the Palestinians, instead of trying to resolve it. He may soon discover that he no longer controls the situation. Usually, Netanyahus default choice is to limit immediate risks. That is how he is managing the coronavirus, and how he manages policy in general, when dealing with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. On the one hand, he is able to keep the flames in check and postpone another violent clash with Hamas, using Qatari money and following a policy of divide and rule in dealing with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. On the other hand, he never considered a scenario in which a force majeure would reshuffle the deck in every imaginable way, and force him to handle a plague of biblical proportions spreading across the Gaza Strip.
(Newser)  A body found in Tennessee is that of a toddler who was reported missing last month, authorities have confirmed. "We have a sad update to pass along in our ongoing search for answers in the death of 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell," the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday. "Remains found on Friday evening have been confirmed to be those of the little girl." Authorities say the body was found in an outbuilding on the Blountville property of the Boswell family. The girl was wearing the exact same clothes mother Megan Boswell said she was wearing when she went missing, authorities say.

story continues below

Megan Boswell, 18, was arrested last month and charged with making a false report. "Every time we talk to her, her story changes," Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said last month, per NBC. "I'm serious when I say that. Every single time." Evelyn's maternal grandmother, Angela Boswell, and her boyfriend were arrested for allegedly fleeing the state in a stolen vehicle two days after an Amber Alert was issued. Nobody has been charged yet in the death of the toddler, who was reported missing by her grandfather after he hadn't seen her for months. Authorities have not disclosed how or when Evelyn died. Sullivan County Criminal Court Judge Jim Goodwin agreed this week to seal the autopsy record while the investigation is ongoing, reports the Knoxville News Sentinel. (Read more Tennessee stories.)
Not only is working from home about to get a lot more popular over the next few months, advances in technology have made the fabled home-office a more attractive option for a lot of modern workers. So whether you have a freelance side-hustle, indulge in occasional telecommuting, or work from your home-office full time, there are a lot of ways you can make that experience more efficient and (most importantly) significantly more pleasant. Let's tackle this section by section.

Working from home doesn't mean you should be on the couch, laptop on your PJs, with Netflix streaming in the corner. Never underestimate the value of a dedicated work space, which may mean extra purchases that pay off in productivity.

For example, if you dont have a desk, youre going to need one. Amazon has several that are reasonably priced, and some that are more elaborate. Thats a personal choice; we wouldnt dare get involved, but weve picked out a few options and sorted them by price:

More specifically, youre going to want to make that desk feel like a place where productivity happens. Stacking files might be fine for your normal, day-to-day existence, but if youre trying to pay the bills, youre going to need a file organizer, a desk protector (depending on how nice the desk is), a shredder (to quickly erase the evidence of your crimes and/or mistakes), and a printer (to create stuff that can be shredded). Youre also going to want a cord organizer (you probably need one, regardless). These are some of the best deals on those we could find:

Personally (I know this isn't for everyone) I'd also add a home device, like an Amazon Echo ($59.99 at Amazon) or Google Nest Mini ($49 at Target). They play music, set timers, and can give you news and weather updates  all with voice activation, which can make being alone for hours a little more tolerable, and provides a nice break from just letting "The Office" reruns play in the background all day.

Of course, there's another aspect of this that's just as important (if not more so).

The perfect chair

You wouldnt know it from how good it feels, but sitting wreaks diabolical havoc on your entire body. The best way to mitigate this is to get a standing desk, but those things are also exhausting or an impractical option for many people. In that case, the best you can do is make your chair as ergonomic as possible, either by buying a specially designed chair, or getting inserts to make your chair more comfortable and ergonomic. Or you can just get a desk-ball, like some kind of ultra-healthy office worker from the future.

I'd also add an appropriate floor protector. If you have hardwood floors, your chair's wheels can cause permanent damage; if your floors are carpeted, it's annoying to roll around without a solid plastic surface beneath you.

That takes care of the basics. Now were going to get into the advanced stuff. This isnt for the faint of heart; if youre easily frightened by new technology, turn back now. Youve been warned.

Connectivity

The key to successfully working outside the office is to be as present in the office as possible, and that means mitigating dropped calls, bad connections, or misheard phrases. For all the marvel of modern cell phone cameras, their phones are still just electrical signals transferred through the air. Luckily, if you pick up a VTech DS6671-3 DECT 6.0 ($73.50 at Amazon), you can use bluetooth to sync your phone with your landline, eliminating cell phone deadspots.

If you need to type while you talk on the phone, you can grab the B350-XT 203475 BlueParrott Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headset ($97.00 at Walmart), which comes with the added bonus of drowning out the screaming children that run around your neighborhood (or possibly home) all day. And to solve the Wi-Fi issues, you can grab a NETGEAR Universal Wi-Fi Range Extender with Ethernet Port -- ($32.99 at Best Buy, normally $54.99)

Finally, the comfort section. I put this last, right after the connectivity section, because I wanted to scare away the wimpy work-from-homers. They dont deserve this stuff. You, on the other hand, have earned it, because you spent all this time reading about connectivity.

Comfort

Lets admit it: Working from home is going to be a lot more fun than working in the office. For one thing, youre skipping your daily commute, and for another, you can wear your favorite comfy pants or, oh gee I dont know, listen to At The Drive Ins album Relationship of Command at full volume on repeat all day. Im just spit-balling here.

Odds are, you already have a few of these, but I still consider it of vital importance that you pick yourself up:

Those Sonys are the best headphones I've ever owned. For coffee, I recommend the Aeropress Coffee Maker ($29.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond). Not only does it make a delicious cup of coffee, but it makes exactly one serving, and has far easier clean-up than any other coffee machine Ive ever used. Its as close as youll ever get to using the fancy coffee machine they have at work, but at home.

And if you feel like treating yourself to cozy work-socks, check out Darn Tough Socks from Vermont. Theyre expensive, but theyre renowned for being super comfortable and lasting forever -- in fact, theyre guaranteed for life, making them the best-possible sock investment you can make (provided you don't lose them).

Quips, japes, and one-liners aside, perhaps the most important thing is something that nobody can sell you: Remember to actually get up and get dressed every morning, even if people arent going to see you. Walk around, go outside, talk to people. The real danger of working from home isnt being lazy; its messing up your health by never moving or breathing fresh hair. Make sure you're too smart for that.

Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Joshua Sargent is an editor for Hearst Newspapers. Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com.
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Marketing communications agency selected for reputation, credibility, experience, engagement and professionalism; trademarked Shaping Influence process connects brands with target audiences via traditional PR and multichannel digital engagementBALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / JMRConnect today announced that it has been named Baltimore's top public relations (PR) agency by Expertise."We are honored to be named Baltimore Top Public Relations Agency," said Mostafa Razzak, CEO, JMRConnect.JMRConnect brings decades of experience and an exceptional track record of strategic, tactical execution. What distinguishes this firm from other agencies is its understanding that for advocacy to be effective, messages must not only reach your target audience, but also resonate across multiple channels to impact opinions, build brand trust and solidify reputations."We looked 168 PR firms serving Baltimore and scored them on more than 25 variables across five categories, analyzed the results to provide an objective ranking of the area's best agencies," said David Franklin, General Manager for Expertise. "For businesses in competitive markets that need visibility in media, online, in the news and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, JMRConnect is a public relations digital and influencer marketing agency that consistently connect brands with their target audiences." The breadth and depth of JMRConnect's worldwide network delivers quantifiable results that impact a client's bottom line. Consistent media coverage in tier-1 business, trade and vertical media, high-profile speaking engagements, analyst relations and social media influencer engagement drive revenue growth and increased market penetration."For our clients, the close, personal relationships we maintain with analysts, media, conference organizers, associations, NGOs, and other influencers across the globe adds tremendous value and quantifiable benefits."We are relentless, and our hands-on approach is a catalyst for clients' success," added Razzak.Expertise Selection ProcessWe start by identifying a broad pool of active professionals within a given business category and geographical area. Using our custom tools and resources, we analyze only publicly available data. Next, we verify contact and license information to assure selection candidates are actively doing business and are in good standing in their communities. Then, we use our in-house software to grade each business across the following selection criteria: Reputation: A history of satisfied customers giving excellent recommendations Credibility: Established in their industry with licensing, accreditations, and awards Experience: Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education Engagement: Approachable and responsive to clients and available for new business Professionalism: Dedicated to providing consistently quality work and impeccable customer service"Finally, we hand-pick the best. Our team conducts a manual review to verify that each company on our list is truly one of the best. We then write unique and detailed business descriptions for each company," added Franklin.Check out our latest article on Data Storytelling with Augmented Analytics in the Tabb ForumKeep in touch with our Alexa skill from Amazon: Shaping Influence - the voice of JMRConnect, an award-winning Influencer Communications, Digital Marketing and Public Relations firm.ABOUT EXPERTISEAt Expertise, we make it easy to find the best local experts, every time.Finding the right highly skilled professional takes significant time and effort, including in-depth research, detailed comparisons, and deciphering which online reviews are reliable and authentic. Expertise features only objectively quantified and qualified professionals hand-picked by our selection process. We do the research to understand what's important when searching for experienced professionals so our readers trust that when we say a company is one of the best, it is.Our proprietary research and selection process identifies the top service professionals in over 200 different industries across the top cities in the United States. Every month we help over 10M customers find the best qualified service professional for their needs. To date, we've analyzed over 10M companies and have generated $200M in revenue for the local businesses we feature on our site.ABOUT JMRConnectJMRConnect is an award-winning public relations, strategic communications and influencer marketing agency. The JMRConnect team is well-versed in myriad disciplines, including corporate communications; employee advocacy, influencer marketing; public affairs; investor relations; community building; journalism; and industry analysis. Our senior-level personnel bring a diversity of skills and decades of expertise from multinational agencies; privately held and publicly traded companies; private equity and venture capital; political consulting; media; and analyst firms. JMRConnect CEI, the company's brand ambassador platform, was awarded the 2017 InSabre award for Best Marketing Technology. www.jmrconnect.net CONTACT:Mostafa RazzakJMRConnect410.989.6300m.razzak@ jmrconnect.net SOURCE: JMRConnect
Ready for more Spider-Man action? According to star Tom Holland, the new Marvel film featuring the webslinger is set to start production in summer 2020. But with everything thats going on right now, not everyone thinks that will happen. Heres what Holland has said about the upcoming movie, and how fans reacted.

Tom Holland plays Spider-Man in the MCU

Tom Holland attends the premiere of Spider-Man Far From Home on June 26, 2019. | Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Holland first entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a small role in Captain America: Civil War. The film introduced Peter Parker, a teenager from Queens with a remarkable suit who aids Tony Stark in a battle against Captain America. He then got his own film, Spider-Man: Homecoming, in which more about the character is revealed.

The actor reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. His second standalone film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, depicted Peter, now a full-fledged Avenger, taking on a new kind of foe in the wake of Tonys death and the aftermath of the Blip. The film closed out Phase 3 of the MCU.

He almost didnt return to the character

Like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor before him, Spider-Man was expected to get a trilogy. However, there was a hiccup in this plan. The rights to the character still belong to Sony, meaning Homecoming and Far From Home are distributed by the studio, which works in conjunction with Marvel.

The two companies couldnt come to an agreement for a third Spider-Man film. During the summer of 2019, there was a time where it looked like Holland was out of the MCU. Fortunately, a deal was made, and a third movie commissioned. Additionally, hell make an appearance in another upcoming Marvel film.

Holland reveals when the next Spider-Man film enters production

Holland now has some news in regards to the as-yet-untitled third Spider-Man movie. While doing press for his new animated movie, Onward, he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that shooting is set to begin in July 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. He also confirmed that his co-star, Zendaya, will return as MJ.

And thats not all he had to say. Holland knows at least a little about the story, calling it absolutely insane. However, he doesnt know about any future appearances. As for me showing up in other Marvel movies, Im not sure as to what they want me to do, he said.

Fans believe coronavirus may delay shooting

Hope it doesnt get postponed because of the coronavirus  SiopaoShino (@shinotweets) March 12, 2020

Holland is probably excited to get started and share what little he can about the anticipated flick. But when the news hit the internet, some were quick to doubt that this was a sure thing. Hope it doesnt get postponed because of the coronavirus, wrote one Twitter user.

Right now, its a bit strange to be talking about whats to come. With the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutting down productions and delaying premieres, fans are skeptical to take Hollands word. After all, projects are delayed for a lot less every day. Were going to have to wait and see what happens.
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Linkedin Markus Makur (The Jakarta Post) Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara  Thu, March 12, 2020 13:56 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a19083 1 Business coronavirus,COVID-19,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,tourism,labuan-bajo,Komodo-National-Park Free

The spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has continued to hit Indonesias tourism sector as more tourists with months-long travel plans canceled their trips to major destinations, including Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.

To date, around 45,000 tourists have aborted their plans to visit the world-renowned destination from January to May, Indonesia Tour Guide Association (HPI) regional head for East Nusa Tenggara Agustinus Bataona said.

The tourists, who had bought tourism packages last year in advance for vacations, had given cancellation notifications through travel agents across the province, he said.

Head of the Indonesia Tour and Travel Agency Association's (Asita) West Manggarai chapter Donatus Matur told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that trip cancellations had become the new norm since the impact of the coronavirus had started to be felt in Labuan Bajo.

Especially since global travel warnings have been put in place as the virus has spread globally. We do hope this coronavirus can be contained soon, so the tourism sector doesnt remain sluggish, said Donatus.

Read also: Battered by virus: Businesses across Indonesia feel the pinch

West Manggarais tourism practitioner Maria Oktaviani Simonita Budjen echoed the same sentiment, saying that locations across Labuan Bajo had become quiet as tourist visits continued to drop.

Its unlike normal days, when tourists stroll around the city of Labuan Bajo, she said.

Labuan Bajo  which is among the governments top five destinations prioritized to boost tourism  is not the only tourist magnet being given a wide berth as a result of COVID-19.

Indonesias popular tourist destination Bali has also been hit hard due to the outbreak, which on Wednesday was formally declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Bali Immigration Office recorded 392,824 tourists arriving in February, a 33 percent drop from January after the government imposed travel bans to and from mainland China on Feb. 5 to curb the spread of the outbreak. Australia replaced China as the biggest source of foreign tourists last month, followed by India and Japan.

Meanwhile, travel and hospitality-related industries also continue to suffer from low occupancy rates and cancellations.

The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) reported that the country's overall occupancy rate had fallen below the regular low season average of 50 to 60 percent to 30 to 40 percent since the outbreak of the coronavirus in China in early January. Bali, Jakarta, Manado in North Sulawesi and Batam and Bintan in Riau Islands were currently the worst-hit areas.

Moreover, state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I reported that as many as 12,703 flights with about 1.67 million passengers had been canceled from January to February at its 15 airports across Indonesia.

Read also: COVID-19 impact far more complex than 2008 crisis: Sri Mulyani

Of the flights, 11,680 are domestic and 1,023 are international flights departing from its airports, including I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airports in Denpasar, Bali, and Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, East Java.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealed on Monday that tourist arrivals amounted to 1.27 million in January, around 5.85 percent higher than the 1.2 million recorded in the same month in 2019.

However, the growth is much lower than the around 9.5 percent increase in arrivals during January 2019 compared with the same period in 2018

Indonesia has set a target of welcoming 17 million tourists this year. Last year, a total of 16.1 million tourists visited the country, a far cry from the 2019 target of 18 million. (roi)
President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 11, 2020. Doug Mills | Reuters

Small business owners on Main Street now have an economic lifeline that can help them weather the coronavirus outbreak. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that companies affected by the coronavirus will be given $50 billion more in low-interest loans federally guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. That would double the lending authority the government agency had in fiscal year 2019. The move is an attempt to keep businesses afloat during a time when consumer spending is slowing and supply chains are tightening due to travel and cargo restrictions. In another move that uses his emergency authority, the president said he will be instructing the Treasury Department to allow some businesses to defer paying their federal income taxes, normally due on April 15, for three months with no penalties. This would inject another $200 billion into the U.S. economy. "While this is a great step to boost credit to small business, it will take three to four weeks before the impact is seen on the ground," says Rohit Arora, president of Biz2Credit, a lending platform for small business that processes $1 billion in financing annually. Of the total, about $200 million are SBA loans. "That's because it takes that long for these loans to be processed and money to get in the hands of business owners," he explains. More from Invest in You:

How to protect your small business in the midst of coronavirus outbreak

In this volatile market, it's key to keep it simple

Coronavirus quarantine: For some, missing work could be financially 'crushing' The announcement was well timed. "Widespread panic is setting in among small business owners nationwide across all industries," Arora says. "I have seen a 25% increase in loan demand this week alone." "There is fear in the market that liquidity might dry up, so business owners want more cash in hand to weather a host of uncertainties," he says. This could include a severe drop in customer demand, delays in payments and shortages of supplies they need to run their business. "I see this across all sectors, not just restaurant, travel, tourism, hotels and logistics. I see this even in the health-care sector. It's scary, and it's changing by the hour." The New York metro area and Washington state are the most impacted now, although this is affecting small businesses across the U.S., says Arora. For business owners worried about how to sustain their businesses at a time when they are dealing with frightened employees, skittish customers, disrupted supply chains and a falling stock market, experts offer management tips on how to handle disruption. Actions taken now could make or break a business.

Not too late to plan

Every business owner needs to develop a business continuity plan and figure out how to handle all this disruption. This wouldn't have been an issue a decade ago, when American businesses mostly conducted business closer to home, but now many companies are global. "We encouraged small businesses to be more global and to export more, and now they're more vulnerable to things like the coronavirus," says Andrew Sherman, a Washington, D.C.-based partner with Seyfarth, a global law firm. Despite cases continuing to rise and markets sending people and companies in a panic, it's not too late for businesses to set up remote workforces, communicate with staff and prepare for a worsening outbreak. Here are a few things you can do now.

1. Communicate with staff

One of the most important things you can do is communicate with your employees. Many are likely concerned about their health and how they can continue working as more things get shut down. About 807 miles north in Seattle, Henry Albrecht, CEO of Limeade, an employee engagement software company, is utilizing technology to keep employees abreast of developments. His own Limeaid ONE platform comes with an internal communications feature where people can instant message each other. As soon as the outbreak's seriousness became clear, Albrecht set up what he calls a "care and crisis" channel that automatically sends push notifications to staff whenever he posts. "There's an intentional importance attached because the messages are coming from me," he says. It's in that channel where he provides updates on the virus itself  he's posted a number of CDC videos on COVID-19 and how to monitor oneself for the disease; on recommended hand-washing and social-distancing procedures; on travel plans  most are canceled  and on ideas on how to work effectively from home. Employees can also post their own messages in that channel, which he says is key. "It's powerful," he says about the two-way communication. "We want to hear from our people as well. We also have the ability to ask people to take a quiz so they can tell us if they need more information on something."

2. Invest in work-from-home technology

While most people likely have a phone, a computer and an Internet connection, some may not have enough bandwidth to do the kind of work they do at the office at home. Some companies may also not be set up with the right collaboration tools to allow for remote work. Ever since the coronavirus started infecting people in China, Eric Plam, president of Skyroam, a San Francisco-based company that creates and sells Wi-Fi-enabled hotspots to businesses, has been busy figuring out how to keep his staff safe and his business operating. The business has about 120 staff in Shenzhen, China, all of which were told not to come into work by the Chinese government soon after the virus started spreading. At the time, Plam didn't understand what was happening. "I first thought it was the flu," he says. "I was wondering why they weren't going into work."

With coronavirus cases surging, Eric Plam, president of Skyroam in San Francisco, told his employees to work from home. Skyroam Inc.

He's since called off several in-person meetings, told employees they can work from home and turned a board meeting, which was supposed to take place in Beijing, into a videoconference call using Amazon Chime, an online videoconferencing program. "It went really well," he says. "Everyone was able to join without having to travel, and the program can translate live so people were able to speak in Chinese and English as they usually do." While Plam has only 20 employees in San Francisco, anyone who is feeling a bit under the weather is encouraged to stay home. At the moment, though, most are at work. If anyone does decide to stay home, whether in the U.S., China or in his other offices, in France and Germany, they can use Skyroam's own technology, which creates Wi-Fi signals by tapping in local data networks. This gives them office-grade internet without having to pay for it themselves. His phone has been ringing off the hook over the last couple of weeks with more companies than ever wanting to find ways to help their staff work remotely. For Albrecht, Microsoft Teams is coming in handy. It's a collaboration program that allows people to video chat and work on word files together from wherever they may be. Google's G Suite, which comes with collaborative software like Google docs, sheets and hangouts, is another alternative.

3. Create a disaster-preparedness policy
Asserting that the team of Cannes Film Festival was "not oblivious" to the coronavirus pandemic, the president of the film festival said the 2020 edition will be cancelled if the outbreak worsens.

The 73rd annual festival is scheduled to take place from May 12-23.

Festival president Pierre Lescure said he is "reasonably optimistic" about going ahead with the movie gala at present, according to The Guardian, which quoted French publication Le Figaro.

"We remain reasonably optimistic in the hope that the peak of the epidemic will be reached at the end of March and that we will breathe a little better in April," Lescure said.

"But we are not oblivious. If not, we will cancel," he added.

On Sunday, the French government banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

The festival is expected to attract about 40,000 attendees, including delegates to the film market that operates alongside the screening schedule.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the prestigious film festival said the edition would go ahead as planned.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee is set as the jury head of the festival, becoming the first African-American to lead the distinguished panel at the annual film extravaganza.

If the festival is cancelled, it will be for the third time that it is called off. The movie gala did not take place in 1948 and 1950 due to budgetary constraints.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reality star Keira Maguire stole the show at Melbourne Fashion Festival On Thursday.

The Bachelor In Paradise star, 33, looked sensational in a one-shouldered gown with a multi-coloured graffiti print.

Keira showed off her trim pins as she threw the train of her gown in the air, which also featured a short skirt at the front.

Baby you're a firework! Bachelor in Paradise star Keira Maguire (pictured) stole the spotlight as she arrived at Melbourne Fashion Festival in a spectacular colourful gown with a long train

Graphic: The stunning gown featured a fun graffiti style print

The blonde beauty allowed her luscious locks to fall naturally on her shoulders after getting hair extensions earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Lindy Klim looked effortlessly chic in a zipped-up white dress with a sexy front split that showed off her endless legs.

Down below, the Balinese princess kept things comfortable in a pair of chunky, black leather sandals.

Flirty: The spectacular gown featured a short skirt at the front with a long train at the back which the 33-year-old playfully threw in the air to flirt with photographers

Elegant: Lindy Klim (pictured) looked effortlessly elegant and chic in a long cream dress which zipped up the front and featured a sexy split which showed off her endless legs

Bringing sexy back! Lindy's gown featured a cut-out back

The 43-year-old stuck to a natural makeup look with a touch of bronzer and a nude lip and wore her raven locks in a classic bun.

Christian Wilkins took the night off from practicing for Dancing With The Stars to attend the fashion show in his own super stylish get-up.

The 24-year-old wore a tartan kilt with a contrasting sheer tartan top that showed off his toned abs and chest.

He accessorised with a three-strand pearl choker, a red beret and green and pink socks from Loverboy that he wore pulled up to his knees.

Clashing prints: Christian Wilkins (pictured) wore a tartan kilt with a contrasting tartan see-through top

It's all in the accessories: He accessorised with a three-strand pearl choker and a fabulous red beret and green and socks from Loverboy that he wore pulled up to his knees

Transformers star Isabel Lucas looked boho chic in a cream kimono-style dress with splashes of blue, green and black.

The 35-year-old kept her accessories simple, opting for black open toe ankle boots with a chunky heel and sparkly drop earrings.

The former Home and Away actress wore dewy looking foundation with plenty of pink blush on her cheeks and a hot red lip.

Boho chic: Transformers star Isabel Lucas (pictured) looked boho chic in a cream kimono style dress with splashes of blue, green and black and matching tie at the waist

Pout: The actress who got her start on Home and Away wore dewy looking foundation with plenty of pink blush on her cheeks and a hot red lip

Instagram comedian Celeste Barber showed off her legs in a pink tuxedo jacket and black camisole ahead of walking her first fashion runway.

The 37-year-old accessorised with a low heeled pair of snakeskin print shoes and wore her brunette bob straight with a brown makeup palette.

Always the joker, Celeste made several of her signature silly poses as she arrived.

Big night: Celeste Barber (pictured) arrived in a long-sleeved pink tuxedo jacket and black camisole ahead of walking her first fashion runway

Strike a pose: Celeste took the opportunity to do several silly poses on the arrivals carpet

Fresh from her celebrity stint in the jungle, Tanya Hennessy scrubbed up well in a black dress with a Victorian neckline and frilled hem.

The 34-year-old brought the glamour to her outfit with a towering pair of black and gold striped stilettos and a pearl hair clip.

She looked fresh-faced with dewy foundation with plenty of bronzer and a pink lip while wearing her brunette locks in an on-trend messy ponytail.

It's fash-fun! Fresh from her celebrity stint in the jungle Tanya Hennessy (pictured) scrubbed up well in a black dress with a victorian neckline and frilled hem

Bold: The 34-year-old brought the glamour to her outfit through her bold accessories including a towering pair of black and gold striped stilettos and a pearl hair clip

The couple that plays together, stays together! Georgia Love attended with her fiance Lee Elliott (both pictured)

Former Bachelorette Georgia Love attended with her fiance Lee Elliott.

The 31-year-old oozed glamour in a green and white shirt dress and accessorised with a pair of white leather ankle boots and a pearl headband.

Georgia gave her golden brown locks a bouncy blow dry with lots of soft curls and wore smoky eyes with a pink lip.

Meanwhile, Lee looked dapper in a grey suit but kept things casual with a white T-shirt and matching leather sneakers.
The demonstrators vowed to shut down three state residences last week in a bid to force the president to ratify bills.

A Malawi court on Thursday granted bail to three anti-government activists arrested for planning protests against President Peter Mutharikas attempts to quash upcoming elections.

The leaders of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) were accused of contravening the countrys police act by mobilising people to close down the homes of top government officials.

HRDC spearheaded nationwide protests since last Mays disputed elections.

Charles Kajoloweka, a leader of the Youth and Society group and HRDC member, described the arrests as unlawful and orchestrated by partisan politics.

We condemn it in the strongest terms possible and would like to call for their unconditional release, Kajoloweka told Al Jazeera.

Malawis constitutional court last month annulled election results showing Mutharika was the winner with 35.8 percent, and called for a new vote because of irregularities.

Timothy Mtambo, Gift Trapence and Macdonald Sembereka had promised to shut down three presidential state residences last week in a bid to force Mutharika to ratify electoral bills that were recently passed in Parliament.

The trio was arrested between Sunday and Tuesday and all pleaded not guilty. On Thursday, they were granted bail by a magistrate court.





Mutharikas re-election was nullified last month because of widespread irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on tally sheets.

The constitutional court ordered officials to hold a new presidential election within 150 days. But for those elections to be organised, the president has to agree to the new bills.

It was the first time a presidential election had been challenged on legal grounds in Malawi since independence from the United Kingdom in 1964, and only the second poll result to be cancelled in Africa after the 2017 Kenya presidential vote.
Mayor Tim Keller late Wednesday appointed Thanh-Lan Lan Sena to fill the District 1 City Council seat held for 14 years by Ken Sanchez, who died in January.

No one will be able to fill Kens shoes, and his record for his district is legendary and his legacy will be with us for decades, Keller said in a news release. Lan Sena especially stood out to our vetting committee because she represents the growing future of the West Side, while respecting its heritage and deep roots.

Sena, who is Vietnamese, will be the first Asian American to serve on the council and the first woman to represent District 1. The district includes most of the area west of the Rio Grande between Central and Montano. The mayors office called Sena a West Side neighborhood leader, health care advocate and three-time cancer survivor.

Senas mother arrived in Albuquerque as a refugee from a war-torn nation. She was four months pregnant and didnt know anyone in the city. She said Albuquerque embraced her mother.

In her application letter, Sena said she has advocated for earned paid leave, democracy reform and language accessibility.

I have advocated for refugees and immigrants, cancer patients, and families suffering from chronic illness at City Council, County Commission, the State Legislature, and Congress, Sena wrote in a letter to Keller seeking the appointment. I have been privileged and fortunate enough to be able to advocate for those that cannot share their voice to those in office who shape policies that affect them the most.

Sena earned a bachelors degree from the University of New Mexico and a masters in health administration. She is the chair and founder of the Asian Pacific American Caucus, and serves as a board member for the West Bluff Neighborhood Association and New Mexico Health Care Executives.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 06:56:15|Editor: yan

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UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday convened, under China's council presidency, a debate on "Peace and Security of Africa: Countering Terrorism and Extremism," and unanimously adopted a presidential statement.

The participants highly commended China for convening the meeting as president of the council for the month of March, and welcomed the adoption of the presidential statement.

They expressed the view that terrorism and extremism have become a serious threat to peace and security in Africa, and agreed to take a holistic approach to combat terrorism and extremism and help African countries strengthen capacity building, eradicate poverty and achieve socio-economic development.

African countries placed high importance on fighting terrorism and extremism and saw the meeting as a highly important and timely one fitting the needs of African countries.

The presidential statement put forth comprehensive, actionable and specific measures to help African countries combat terrorism and extremism, and emphasized that the international community will help African countries strengthen capacity building, step up information sharing, border control and judicial systems, combat foreign terrorist fighters and terrorist financing, and achieve socio-economic development through promoting employment, education and health programs to remove the breeding ground for terrorism in a bid to realize lasting peace and security in Africa.

Firmly committed to and supportive of Africa, China initiated the meeting to provide a platform of dialogue for UN member states to find ways to address the inadequate capacity of African countries in combating terrorism and extremism, and push for international efforts to help African countries fight terrorism and extremism through a holistic approach.

UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the council on behalf of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The permanent observer of the African Union to the United Nations, Fatima Kyari Mohammed, and UN Assistant Secretary-General Abdoulaye Mar Dieye also briefed the council.

More than a dozen UN member states and the European Union made statements at the meeting.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson warned customers that some cafes may offer limited seating or only receive orders via mobile or drive-thru due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Locations in the U.S. and Canada are preparing to modify operations if needed.

"This means that as we navigate this dynamic situation community-by-community and store-by-store, we may adapt the store experience by limiting seating to improve social distancing, enable mobile order-only scenarios for pickup via the Starbucks app or delivery via Uber Eats, or in some cases only the Drive Thru will be open," Johnson wrote in a letter to customers on Thursday.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: After donning the Congress partys colours for 18 long years, the former Union Minister arrived in the new avatar of a BJP leader in Bhopal on Thursday evening. Jyotiraditya Scindia reached the BJP state headquarters after a show of strength through a 20-kilometers long road-show which started from the Bhopal Airport at around 4.30 pm and ended at around 6.30 pm.

After being welcomed by BJP workers at frequent intervals during the road-show, Scindia flanked by senior BJP leaders arrived at the state BJP HQ, where he garlanded the statue of his grandmother and BJP founder member Late Vijaya Raje Scindia and the portrait of his father Late Madhav Rao Scindia.

At the crowded BJP office, former CM and national BJP vice president Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while praising Scindia likened him to mythological character Vibhishan (demon King Ravanas brother) by saying Ravana ki lanka agar poori tarah jalani hai, toh vibhishan ki jaroorat padti hai, aur Scindiaji hamare saath hain (for setting Ravanas Lanka ablaze, Vibhishan is needed and Scindia is now with us).

According to Hindu mythology, Vibhishan is the brother of Ravana, who betrayed the demon king.

Interestingly, Chouhan had also dubbed the BJP candidate from Guna seat KP Yadav (former Scindia loyalist) as Vibhishan during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. It was Yadav who had defeated Scindia from his pocket borough in Guna in 2019 LS polls.

In his maiden address to the BJP workers, Scindia said, in 2018 assembly polls we had (me and Chouhan) had fought as rivals, but now were together. Now lets work together for making One and One into 11. Youll question why I didnt laud Chouhan in the past, but its not true, even while being in the other party, Ive always admired Shivraj Singh Chouhan as one of the most committed political workers in the state.

Aiming to further streamline the bonding with Chouhan, the former union minister said, There are only two political leaders in MP, who dont use air-conditioners in their cars, one is Shivraj Singh Chouhan and the other is Jyotiraditya Scindia.

The organisation and family with which I have spent 20 years, the organization where I have put my hard work and efforts into, I am leaving all that behind and handing myself over to you," said Scindia

Ink thrown on BJP poster welcoming Scindia

On Thursday morning, ink was found thrown by unidentified elements on a BJP poster welcoming Jyotiraditya Scindia near Polytechnic Crossing in Bhopal.

Also, some Congress workers standing near Roshanpura Crossing who showed black flags to Scindia, were detained by police an hour before the newly joined BJP leader arrived in Bhopal.

A report from Indore said, some Congress workers put up an anti-Jyotiraditya Scindia poster dubbing the ex-union minister as gaddar (traitor) near his father Madhav Rao Scindias statue at Bengali Square (Indore).
British travellers facing delays and cancellations to their travel plans amid amid the coronavirus crisis were today thrown an additional headache as some of the UK's big insurers started to withdraw the sale of new travel cover policies.

Insurance giant LV stopped selling travel insurance last night in a move described by one expert as 'alarming'. Aviva, the Post Office and Admiral have also started to withdraw or reduce cover relating to travel disruption or cancellations - particularly relating to coronavirus.

In a message on its website, LV said it was 'unable to give' new customers travel insurance 'at the moment', and said it had 'made the difficult decision to pause the sale of travel insurance to new customers.'

It added it had considered 'excluding cover or increasing prices for new customers', but described prioritising customers who had already bought insurance as 'the right decision'.

LV has stopped selling travel insurance to new customers due to coronavirus

It said in a follow up statement: 'In the last couple of weeks, we've seen the number of policies sold double.

'Whilst LV is a major motor and home insurer, we are a small travel insurance provider and it's important for the long-term benefit of all our customers that our exposure to this market remains at a sustainable level for the overall business.'

Existing policyholders will see no change, but it gave no indication as to when it would begin selling travel insurance again, despite describing the move as 'temporary'.

WHAT ARE INSURERS DOING? Aviva: The insurer has also stopped selling travel disruption cover, an add-on which would covers some delayed flights, as well as 'airspace closure' which covers people if the airspace they were due to fly from is then closed for 24 hours or more. Existing Aviva travel insurance customers who have already purchased travel disruption and airspace closure add-ons are not affected by this decision. However, it has also paused its single-trip direct travel insurance for new customers travelling to Italy, due to the current outbreak of Coronavirus. These decisions do not affect Avivas existing travel insurance customers who have already purchased cover. Post Office Travel Insurance: The Post Office is continuing to sell Travel Insurance policies to new customers. However, with regards to its Extended Travel Disruption (ERGO Policies), or Natural Catastrophe and Terrorism, Enhanced Trip Disruption (Collinson Policies) it is now advising customers that there is no cover provided for any claims related to COVID-19 for policies purchased after 11 March 2020. This was the date when it was confirmed that Covid-19 is a Pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Customers can still purchase the additional cover, but if they purchase it after 11 March, they are not able to make a claim related to Covid-19. Post Office confirmed it is monitoring the situation very closely and will update its Travel Alerts page with the latest information for policy holders. Admiral: It said: 'Like other insurers weve made the difficult decision to pause the sale of new travel insurance policies in light of the global impact of coronavirus. 'We considered different options, such as excluding cover, for new customers before introducing this temporary measure. 'We strongly believe that pausing the sale of new policies to focus on our existing customers is the right decision and will keep monitoring the situation. Our existing customers are not affected and annual multi-trip policies can still be renewed.' Zurich: The insurer said it has not made any changes to the cover available under Zurich travel policies. It is, however, continuing to closely monitor the situation and will keep the decision to adjust cover and pricing under constant review. Direct Line: A spokesperson said: 'New situations are occurring all of the time and we are addressing them as they arise.' Allianz said it was currently having meetings to determine what their stance will be.

Some insurers are changing their policies in response to the worldwide coronavirus ourbreak

Gareth Shaw, head of money at consumer group Which?, said: 'It's very alarming that LV have withdrawn the sale of travel insurance and that other providers have also started restricting the policies they offer customers.'

'Anyone planning a holiday should get insurance as soon as they book. If you haven't already booked insurance and are travelling soon we urge you to get cover immediately from a reputable insurer.

'The Government, insurers and the travel industry must immediately tackle the huge challenge provided by coronavirus, as the industry depends on people having the confidence that they can travel with the knowledge that they will be covered'.

Earlier in the week, comparison website Go Compare said policy sales had risen 170 per cent since the coronavirus outbreak.

Brian Brown, Consumer Finance Expert at Defaqto, said: 'This week alone we have seen Aviva remove their optional cover for cancellation due to Coronavirus, LV= have pulled out of the market, and today Insurance & Go has updated its policy to not pay ANY claims related to Coronavirus.

'This is a fast moving issue, and its very likely that over the next few days or weeks we will see other insurers follow suit.

'Our advice for people travelling this spring/summer is to check their policy NOW to make it covers them for cancellation due to FCO advice, and if they are not covered they should buy insurance from another insurer while they still can.'

Some flights to Italy and parts of China have already been cancelled in the fallout from coronavirus

What do people booking travel insurance need?

Earlier this week This is Money looked into what travellers should look for when buying insurance which will cover them if their holiday is hit by coronavirus.

Insurance will likely only cover you if the Foreign Office has described the country you are going on holiday to as somewhere you should only travel to in an emergency.

If you booked a holiday to somewhere and at the time it was booked the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was not advising against all travel to that country, you should be covered under the insurance you have purchased.

Customers are advised to look at the policy section labelled 'Cancellation/Curtailment Cover' or similar.

Brown added: 'They should look to see if one of the perils insured against is the FCO advising against all, or all but essential, travel to a region.

'If that isn't mentioned they should look at the exclusions to cancellation cover to see if the policy won't pay out in the event the FCO advises against travel.

'If the policy section makes no mention of the FCO advice either way, it is likely that it will not cover the customer if the FCO advice changes.

'Sometimes though, insurers, especially those with a brand to protect, will pay claims in these circumstances even if the policy doesn't strictly cater for this eventuality, for example, this happened a lot with the Icelandic volcanic ash.

'If they decide to buy a new policy now, they must make sure that it will cover them if the FCO changes its advice and tells people not to travel.'

Sally Jaques, of GoCompare travel insurance, said: 'The situation is developing all the time and travellers are advised to compare cover closely to meet the specific challenges presented by the coronavirus outbreak.

'Buying travel cover shouldn't just be a box-ticking exercise where the cheapest policy will do.

'The potential risks are very specific, and you should check you have the relevant cover and that you understand how your policy will work.

'We are advising people to check their cover levels for Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance in light of the Flybe collapse, as we may see more airlines struggling with the knock-on effect of coronavirus.

'SAFI provides cover for your flights if your airline goes into administration and ceases trading, so if your travel insurance includes SAFI, you'll get your money back for the cost of your flights.'

But it is unlikely anyone who bought travel insurance for a trip to somewhere where coronavirus was a known problem will be covered by that insurance.

You can read more answers to some common questions here.
We also found that the statistics stalkers believed they were more likely to get the coronavirus. Fourteen percent of them said they were at least somewhat likely to get the coronavirus, compared with only 5 percent of non-stalkers.

Of course, we dont know whether the stalkers were wrong to think that they were so likely to get infected, given the small amount of available data about infections in the United States at the time of our survey. However, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, Hubei, the Chinese province where the virus emerged, has reported 67,760 infected people out of a population of about 59 million, an incidence rate of 0.11 percent. This means that 99.89 percent were not infected, suggesting that the American stalkers are probably overestimating their level of risk.

Stalkers also agreed more than non-stalkers did with the statement that it was important to stock up on water, food and toilet paper to prepare for a virus outbreak. While amassing supplies can be warranted in some situations, stalkers also reported that they were more likely to purchase a surgical mask to protect themselves from infection from others, giving the impression that they were less informed. (Wearing a surgical mask does little to protect you against virus spread unless youre caring for someone with the virus.)

Our findings suggest that people who look frequently at coronavirus statistics may focus too much on the scary stuff  the numbers of infected people and deaths  and not enough on the numbers of people not infected and of those infected who survived. The stalkers become unduly afraid, and their fear distorts their sense of how dangerous the situation is.

To be sure, we do not know for sure that looking more at the statistics caused increased fear. It may be that fearful people were driven to look more at the statistics. (Well continue to study these people over time to see what more we can learn.)
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is likely to be delayed as the coordination committee meeting for this years pilgrimage has been delayed amidst Coronavirus sacre.

The meeting which was scheduled to be organised in the last week of February has not taken place yet.

Ashok Joshi, general manager of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency that manages the yatra from Lipulekh Pass every year since 1981 said, "We are yet to receive a word on meeting of the committee in Delhi. If the meeting is delayed, so will the decision making on the yatra and subsequently, further delaying the pilgrimage."

Preparations have started and the yatra routes and treks should be ready before three months of the first batch adding in Kathgodam of Nainital district.

Apart from the KMVN, Indo-Tibetan Border Police is another government body which plays a key role in the yatra.An official from the force told The New Indian Express on the condition of anonymity that meeting about preparations related to the yatra which was scheduled with ministry of external affairs along with the nodal agency KMVN, has not yet taken place this year.

Another factor pointing towards apprehensions on the yatra is that every year the Pithoragarh district administration sends a team of engineers from public works department (PWD) to find out the conditions of the trek route in the first week of February, but due to uncertainty this year, no team has been sent yet.

The officials from the state government agency also added that heavy snowfall this year might be another reason for delay in the yatra.

Snow deposits are still in a path from Chiyalekh to Nabhidang which will take some time to clean, added the officials.

The route of the pilgrims through Uttarakhand goes like this- Delhi-Kathgodam-Almora-Seraghat-Mirthi-Jauljibi-Dharchula-Tawaghat-Najang-Bundi-Gunji-Kalapani-Nabhidang. Afterwards, the Lipulekh pass starts.

From Delhi to Najang pilgrims are provided luxury buses while from Najang to Nabhidang and further travel is on foot till date.
Ireland will remain outside the American coronavirus travel ban, President Trump has confirmed.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday during a visit with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Trump said: It was made very clear last night who is and who isnt (included in the travel ban).

Mr Varadkar went on to confirm: The President has excluded Ireland from the travel ban.

Mr Trump addressed the nation on Wednesday night announcing travel would halt between America and certain European countries.

Donald Trump said they had to move quickly regarding European travel ban (which he confirmed excludes Ireland) hence little notice to European leaders: When they raise taxes on us they dont consult us, he adds. #iestaff via @aoifegracemoore pic.twitter.com/Y5uNRZmZM6  Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) March 12, 2020

Part of Mr Varadkars annual St Patricks Day trip, the two leaders said their discussions will centre around the pandemic and immigration issues between the two countries.

"We have a lot to discuss, we'll be talking about the obvious and the virus that has hit the world, this is a big world problem, President Trump said.

"We took the ultimate bold step, we closed very early with China, saving thousands of lives, and we went very early with Europe and I think that'll likewise be very good, and hopefully we can get it back very quickly reestablishing with China, they've made a lot of progress in 3 or 4 weeks, and with Europe we can go hopefully go back very quickly.

"It's just a question of time.

When asked if he had discussed the ban with European leaders who are said to have been taken by surprise by the announcement, Mr Trump said that they had to act quickly.

We spoke to some of the majors but when they raise taxes on us they dont consult us.

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Update, March 13, 2020: Stanford University has announced that due to Santa Clara Countys new restrictions on smaller gatherings, the university will now only be able to provide on-campus undergraduate housing and dining for a very limited number of students  those who have no other option than to be here for spring break and spring quarter. International students who cannot go home, students who have known severe health or safety risks, and students who are homeless will be prioritized. All other students must leave campus by March 18 at 5 p.m. Final exams for winter quarter will also be made optional for undergraduate students.

On Wednesday, Stanford University asked all students who live in undergraduate housing to leave campus at the end of the quarter, if possible. In addition, the university announced that online-only classes would continue for the spring quarter until further notice.

Because undergraduates live on our campus in highly communal dormitories and Row houses, with shared bathrooms and dining facilities, we have concluded that reducing the concentration of people in these spaces is essential to helping reduce the risk of virus spread during this next critical phase of COVID-19s evolution, read the announcement emailed to the Stanford community from president Marc Tessier-Lavigne.

For some students, this decision creates uncertainty. Francesco Insulla, an international student from Italy, which currently has over 15,000 confirmed cases of the virus and is on nationwide lockdown, does not have the option to go home right now.

I have parts of my family being quarantined  not because they have [the coronavirus], but because they traveled from north to south, said Insulla. Theres a lot of worry because people dont really know what to do. Cases are reaching really high numbers, and everyone is scared and panicking.

However, unlike Harvard Universitys recent mandate for all of its students to move out by March 15, Stanford is giving some students the option to stay.

Those who feel they need to remain here through the spring break and the spring quarter, you are welcome to do so, read the announcement.

Those who wish to stay can submit a request through an online web form by 5 p.m. Thursday. The university is also offering some financial assistance to travel home for students receiving financial aid.

Insulla is planning on staying on campus if his request is approved.

RELATED: Bay Area coronavirus updates: 4 new cases in San Francisco, 50 SJFD firefighters quarantined

I haven't received any information on the procedure for whether they approve you, but I think they're going to be reasonable, said Insulla. Im not too worried.

Other students who cant move home, according to Insulla, are taking different approaches. Some are scrambling to find off-campus housing in Palo Alto, while others are traveling to other parts of the U.S. to stay with friends.

A day before the announcement, over 500 students signed a petition urging the university not to force students out of housing. They cited reasons including students not being able to afford travel costs, having to return to unstable homes, or having to go back to countries with more serious COVID-19 situations than the United States.

The petition also expressed concern over the risk of going home and infecting loved ones  Stanford has had three confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the Stanford Daily.

While the official date for undergraduate housing move-out at the end of winter quarter isnt until March 21, campus is already clearing out.

Its emptying out pretty fast, said Insulla. Where I live, theres about 50 people. Some have left already, and only 17 are guaranteed to stay. By that, he means only 17 are submitting requests to remain on campus.

Despite the atmosphere of high stress and uncertainty, take-home final exams are still scheduled for Stanford students next week. For some international students like Insulla, studying for exams is especially difficult right now.

"The hard thing is the family and stuff back home," explained Insulla. "Having to think about that and checking in, that's taking a lot out of my study time."

Madeline Wells is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.
12.03.2020 LISTEN

The TESCO coordinator and member of NPP Eastern Regional communications team, Charles Opoku has descended heavily on the Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi.

The NPP communicator, in a post he made on social media referred to Sammy Gyamfi as the most discredited politician ever in the history of Ghana.

This came after Sammy Gyamfi responded to the response of the Ministry of Development and Special Initiatives on the 1V1D projects allegedly drying up in the Northern regions.

Below is the full statement:

Sammy Gyamfi is always quick to label people as liars when in actual fact, he is no less a perfect definition of who a pathological liar is. The nauseating aspect is that he does so without providing even a shred of evidence or even a feeble basis for such unfortunate name-calling.

After being exposed by the Ministry of Special Initiatives relative to his propaganda-driven Press Conference deceptively labeled Moment of Truth, he is back with yet another empty statement full of insults, name-calling, false fabrications and useless queries.

In paragraph 6 of Sammy Gyamfis statement, he subtly concedes that he has no evidence or whatsoever that contradicts the assertion by the ministry that the two dams he (Sammy Gyamfi) and the NDC visited are uncompleted ones yet he preceded this shameful concession with categorical statements that denigrate the image of the Ministry.

To want to get away with the many lies, deceptions and character assassinations inherent in the press statement, he is stressing to hoodwink Ghanaians with his usual line in the coming days, I will provide evidence for Ghanaians to know that what Im saying is true, knowing very well that his coming days will never come.

The underlying elements of responsible, reliable and educative political communication are truth, fact, accuracy and sincerity but unfortunately, the communication style of Sammy Gyamfi lacks these. Therefore, it comes as no surprise for him to always put the cart before the horse - make wild claims and allegations before he go about in search of evidence to substantiate them.

This conduct of Sammy Gyamfi smacks of sickening incompetence and amateur PR gimmick.

It does appear that Sammy Gyamfi is emboldened to make such false claims and unsubstantiated allegations against distinguished individuals in public life by dint of the inability of many journalists to confront him with facts and also hold him to strict proof. Isnt it ironic that Sammy Gyamfi becomes a hero when interviewed by some journalists but same person tend to look very Ignorant, uncollected and frustrated when interviewed by the likes of Bernard Avle?

In conclusion, Sammy Gyamfi is not just an ignorant-literate, hes a very rude young chap who never accepts his mistakes but rather, in crass arrogance, forces his confused and false narratives down the throats of unsuspecting Ghanaians.

#4More4Nana

#Ofeetso

#Presidoo

Source: WestAfrica24.com
By PTI

MUMBAI: Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted over 2,000 points and the broader Nifty gave up the 10,000 level in opening session on Thursday as worsening rout in world markets, after WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic, flared up fears of a global economic recession.

The rupee too plunged 82 paise to 74.50 against US dollar in morning session. The selloff picked pace after the World Health Organization (WHO), late Wednesday night, termed the the new coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, and expressed deep concern over the "alarming levels of inaction".

Following the announcement, US President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for the next 30 days to stop the spread of the virus. Brent crude oil futures plunged over 5 per cent to USD 34 per barrel, after the travel ban.

Continuing its downward spiral, domestic BSE Sensex sank 2454.01 points at open. The 30-share index was trading 1,652.54 points, or 4.63 per cent, lower at 34,044.86 in morning session. Similarly, the NSE Nifty cracked 486.75 points, or 4.65 per cent, to 9,971.65.

In the previous session, the 30-share BSE barometer settled 62.45 points or 0.18 per cent higher at 5,697.40, and the Nifty closed 6.95 points or 0.07 per cent up at 10,458.40.

On a net basis, foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 3,515.38 crore, while domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 2,835.46 crore on Wednesday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

All Sensex components were trading in the red. Tata Steel was the top loser, tanking up to 9 per cent, followed by ONGC, SBI, Titan, Axis Bank, M&M, UltraTech Cement, L&T and Reliance Industries.

According to traders, volatility peaked in global markets after WHO's announcement describing the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. Besides selloff in global equities, massive plunge in international oil prices and depreciating rupee added to investor concerns, they added.

Traders said that incessant foreign fund outflow also spooked market participants. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai dropped over 1.34 per cent, Hong Kong 3.66 per cent, Seoul 4.29 per cent and Tokyo cracked up to 5.32 per cent.

In overnight trade, US equity benckmarks also plunged nearly 5 per cent, intensifying the global rout. The new 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 over 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.
A senior Brazilian official photographed with President Trump and Vice President Pence on Saturday has tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus.

FAbio Wajngarten, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros chief of communications, tested positive for the illness after returning to Brazil. Bolsonaro is now being monitored and tested for the coronavirus.

Wajngarten was photographed standing next to President Trump at a Saturday gathering at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Canadian Tire Corp. Limited (CTC.TO) said Thursday it has appointed Greg Hicks as President and Chief Executive Officer, and to the Board of Directors of the company, effective immediately. Hicks succeeds Stephen Wetmore as CEO. Hicks most recently served as President of Canadian Tire Retail or CTR, the company's largest business representing over $9 billion in revenue. 'The appointment of Greg Hicks follows a rigorous global search process that considered a number of high quality internal and external candidates. The lens that the Search Committee adopted in evaluating the candidates focused on the strategic priorities of the Company and the key characteristics required to address them,' said Maureen Sabia, Chairman of Canadian Tire Corp. Hicks has more than 20 years of retail experience in senior leadership positions, including seven years at CTC. As President of CTR, Greg oversaw all aspects of the business, including building a multi-billion-dollar Owned Brands portfolio. Previously, he was Canadian Tire's Group Senior Vice-President, Consumer Products & Retail Experience. Canadian Tire also said that Stephen Wetmore is stepping down as a member of the Board, having first been elected in 2003. Wetmore will act as an advisor to the company as Honourary Director until the end of 2020, supporting Hicks to help ensure a smooth transition. 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.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (TSXV: VO) ("ValOre") today announced initial rhodium (Rh) assay results for 51 historical, pulverized drill core samples (pulps) from the Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements and Gold (PGE+Au) project in northeastern Brazil. This is the first-time rhodium has been assayed in drill core at Pedra Branca.



Key Point Summary:

Rhodium is a rare and valuable platinum group metal. The spot price of which has risen dramatically over the past 18 months from below US$4,000 per ounce in mid-2019 to the current price of US$11,500;

Rhodium mineralization has not been previously documented in drill core assays from Pedra Branca;

A strong correlation was noted between 2PGE+Au grade (palladium + platinum + gold) and rhodium grade, with the 5 highest-grade 2PGE+Au pulps exhibiting 4 of the highest Rh assay values;

The Esbarro deposit returned the best results, with 6 of 8 pulps over the detection limit, including the highest-grade assay of 1.44 grams Rh/tonne , and the highest average grade (0.35 g Rh/t);

, and the highest average grade (0.35 g Rh/t); 21 of the 51 pulps (41%) collected from five deposit areas making up the global NI 43-101 2PGE+Au inferred resource returned rhodium values over detection limit (0.01 g Rh/t).

ValOres Chairman and CEO, Jim Paterson stated: Rhodium was previously undocumented in drilling related data at Pedra Branca; however, with these results we can see the correlation between the higher grades of palladium, platinum and rhodium in drill core and our team is excited to utilize this knowledge to help us in the exploration and discovery process on a regional scale.

Fifty-one (51) historical Pedra Branca drill core pulp samples were submitted for rhodium assay at SGS Geosol, Minas Gerais. Batches of approximately 10 pulps from each of the existing five NI 43-101 PGE+Au deposits were selected on the following basis: a range of 2PGE+Au grades (from >2 to >44 g/t) and intercept depths (from near surface to >86m) to assess trends in rhodium distribution. A strong positive correlation of Rh grade to 2PGE+Au grade was evident, with the 5 highest-grade 2PGE+Au samples returning 4 of the highest Rh values. There was no observable trend in Rh grade distribution based on drill intercept depth.

The Esbarro deposit (394,000oz at a grade of 1.23 g 2PGE+Au/t) returned the best results, with 6 of 8 pulps assaying greater than detection limits, the highest-grade Rh assay (1.44 g Rh/t), and the highest average grade (0.35 g Rh/t). The Cedro deposit (151,000oz at a grade of 1.10 g 2PGE+Au/t) performed second-best, with 6 of 11 pulps assaying over detection, and the Curiu (100,000 oz @ 1.93 g 2PGE+Au/t) and Trapia (219,000 oz @ 1.11 g 2PGE+Au/t) deposits returned 4 of 8 and 4 of 12 pulps over detection, respectively. The Santo Amaro deposit (203,000oz at a grade of 1.19 g 2PGE+Au/t) returned no assays over Rh detection limit.

Rhodium assay results (SGS Geosol, Minas Gerais) from historical Pedra Branca drill core pulps are summarized in the following table:

Deposit Drill Hole Sample Depth From (m) Depth To (m) Historical Pd+Pt+Au (g/t) Rh (g/t) Esbarro DD04ES35 90643 5.60 6.10 44.24 1.44 DD03ES15 89715 33.00 34.00 6.01 0.39 DD03ES31 90544 46.60 48.07 7.68 0.34 DD99ES05 89210 49.46 50.30 10.39 0.31 DD03ES11 89486 29.24 30.11 2.78 0.24 DD04ES35 90644 6.10 8.10 10.16 0.04 DD03ES21 90071 2.30 4.00 3.34 <0.01 DD03ES31 90541 43.00 44.90 2.16 <0.01 Cedro DD10CD86 87290 42.41 43.38 15.75 1.27 DD10CD89 87354 25.30 26.00 20.12 0.87 DD04CD18 91595 24.21 25.09 2.64 0.07 DD01CD04 90996 22.14 23.00 11.16 0.05 DD01CD03 90971 54.00 56.00 2.67 0.01 DD01CD05 91071 83.40 83.90 9.32 <0.01 DD10CD89 87345 14.30 16.00 5.39 <0.01 DD10CD79 87203 21.60 23.60 4.87 <0.01 DD01CD05 91082 95.41 96.64 3.29 <0.01 DD01CD05 91073 84.90 86.28 2.31 <0.01 Trapia DD09TU09 86012 42.81 43.53 5.76 0.27 DD04TU04 92565 85.57 86.50 3.25 0.16 DD01TW10 92891 42.46 43.46 3.17 0.04 DD09TW16 86054 36.29 36.79 7.69 0.01 DD99TW03 92779 19.81 20.39 5.56 <0.01 DD01TU03 92631 116.45 117.23 4.41 <0.01 DD99TW01 92678 11.45 12.42 3.30 <0.01 DD99TW07 92832 35.35 37.00 3.11 <0.01 DD07TW12 82405 14.65 15.31 2.81 <0.01 DD01TU02 92482 84.23 85.57 2.71 <0.01 DD01TU02 92481 82.79 84.23 2.25 <0.01 DD99TW04 92734 51.43 52.73 2.06 <0.01 Curiu DD04CU16 93313 1.74 3.00 7.89 0.17 DD03CU13 93207 7.79 9.19 20.45 0.08 DD03CU10 93122 67.40 68.00 3.35 0.03 DD04CU15 93283 1.25 3.11 3.63 0.02 DD03CU12 93180 38.33 39.33 6.90 <0.01 DD03CU10 93124 69.53 70.24 4.14 <0.01 DD03CU12 93186 44.88 45.81 3.80 <0.01 DD03CU11 93134 19.00 21.00 2.54 <0.01 Santo Amaro DD02SA02 93385 26.70 27.86 18.02 <0.01 DD04SA08 93532 109.75 110.25 8.66 <0.01 DD02SA02 93386 27.86 29.70 6.64 <0.01 DD02SA02 93393 39.00 40.40 3.80 <0.01 DD04SA08 93544 132.00 133.20 3.66 <0.01 DD02SA06 93601 55.00 55.58 2.18 <0.01 DD02SA02 93387 29.70 31.00 2.13 <0.01 DD02SA02 93433 87.65 89.15 2.05 <0.01

Further supporting ValOres initial review of Rh at Pedra Branca is an independent petrographic and x-ray diffraction (XRD) study conducted by Pathor Geological Consulting Ltd. at the University of Western Ontario in September, 2019. Pathors research identified As-Rh-bearing mineral inclusions and Bi-Pd tellurides occurring as anhedral or stringy inclusions within rims and cores of chromite, pyrite, and pentlandite (Banerjee and Botor, 2019).

While Rh in drill core or in soils has not been previously analyzed at Pedra Branca, there are some historical rock assay datasets that reported rhodium values. The historical Rh-in-rock data exhibits the positive correlation to high-grade 2PGE+Au rock samples, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Rhodium-in-Rock Sampling Data in the Central Pedra Branca PGE+Au District

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/759d572f-1eca-435e-8ea4-83838c68bee5

About Rhodium

Rhodium is the rarest of the platinum group metals, only occurring up to one part per 200 million in the Earth's crust. The main use for rhodium is in catalytic converters designed to clean vehicle emissions. Due to its brilliance and resistance to oxidation, it is also used as a finish for jewelry, LCD monitors, and mirrors. In the chemical industry it is used in the production of nitric acid, acetic acid and hydrogenation reactions. Rhodium is found in platinum and nickel ores together with the other PGEs. South Africa is the worlds largest producer of rhodium (~80%) followed by Russia (~10%), Zimbabwe (~4%), Canada and the U.S.A.

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Colin Smith, P.Geo., New Project Review, ValOre Metals Corp.

Historical Pedra Branca drill core pulps were collected from the secured core logging and storage facility located in Capitao Mor, Ceara, Brazil. Selected pulp samples were sent with an ensured chain of custody to SGS Geosol, Vespasiano, Minas Gerais (Brazil) for analysis, which is accredited mineral analysis laboratory. All pulp samples were analyzed for Rh content using standard 50g Fire Assay Atomic Absorption ICP-MS. Certified PGE ore reference standards, blanks and field duplicates were inserted as a part of ValOres quality control/quality assurance program (QA/QC). No QA/QC issues were noted with the results reported herein.

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.

Please visit ValOres website to view an updated corporate presentation and Pedra Branca project summary: http://www.valoremetals.com/investors/presentations-downloads/

About ValOre Metals Corp.

ValOre Metals Corp. (TSXV: VO) is a Canadian company with a portfolio of highquality exploration projects. ValOres team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration, process improvement, and innovation.

In May 2019, ValOre announced the acquisition of the Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) property, in Brazil, to bolster its existing Angilak uranium, Genesis/Hatchet uranium and Baffin gold projects in Canada.

The Pedra Branca PGE Project comprises 38 exploration licenses covering a total area of 38,940 hectares (96,223 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 5 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a NI 43-101 Inferred Resource of 1,067,000 ounces 2PGE+Gold (Palladium, Platinum and Gold; Pd, Pt+Au) contained in 27.2 million tonnes (Mt) grading 1.22 grams 2PGE+Gold per tonne (g 2PGE+Au/t) (see ValOres July 23, 2019 news release). PGE mineralization outcrops at surface and all of the inferred resources are potentially open pittable.

Comprehensive exploration programs have demonstrated the "District Scale" potential of ValOres 89,852-hectare Angilak Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada that hosts the Lac 50 Trend having a NI 43101 Inferred Resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading 0.69% U 3 O 8 , totaling 43.3 million pounds U 3 O 8 . For disclosure related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium deposits, please refer to ValOre's news release of March 1, 2013.

ValOres team has forged strong relationships with sophisticated resource sector investors and partner Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) on both the Angilak and Baffin Gold Properties. ValOre was the first company to sign a comprehensive agreement to explore for uranium on Inuit Owned Lands in Nunavut Territory and is committed to building shareholder value while adhering to high levels of environmental and safety standards and proactive local community engagement.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Jim Paterson"

James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO

ValOre Metals Corp.

For further information about, ValOre Metals Corp. or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations toll free at 1.888.331.2269, at 604.646.4527, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com .

ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the future operations of the Company and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities.
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[March 12, 2020] Morocco's mobile market is one of the more mature in the region, with a penetration rate of about 125%

Sydney, March 13, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Morocco outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Morocco-Mobile-Infrastructure-Operators-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

Synopsis Moroccos mobile market is one of the more mature in the region, with a penetration rate of about 125%. All three mobile network operators offer fixed-line or fixed-wireless services and have developed mobile data services based on the extensive reach of LTE infrastructure. Growth in mobile data traffic is supported by the popular use of smartphones, which account for about 80% of all mobile phones in use. The mobile operators are the main providers of internet services, accounting for the great majority of all internet connections. The issuing of LTE licences in 2015 included conditions to ensure that services covered at least 65% of the population by 2020, while the promotion of broadband accessibility nationally is also supported by the National Broadband Plan through to 2022 and by the Maroc Digital 2020 strategy. The extensive deployment of mobile broadband infrastructure will further consolidate the dominance of mobile players in the broadband sector in coming years. The incumbent telco Maroc Telecom has undergone a strategic review following its acquisition of Etisalats mobile businesses in several markets in the region. These additional international markets, including Chad in mid-2019, are providing a welcome boost to the companys overall revenue. This report analyses Moroccos mobile telephony sector, including statistics, assessments of recent regulatory measures, details on licensing regimes and spectrum auctions, and profiles of the major players. Key developments: MNP process amended to make number portings automated;

Inwi launches Moroccos first m-payment service;

Orange Maroc launches Orange Money;

Inwi and Maroc Telecom trial 5G technologies;

Report updates include the regulator's market data to December 2019, telcos' financial and operating data to Q4 2019, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Maroc Telecom, Orange Morocco (Medi Telecom), Inwi (Wana) Table of Contents Market analysis

Mobile statistics General statistics Mobile voice Mobile data SMS MMS Mobile broadband

Regulatory issues SIM card registration Licensing GSM 3G 4G (LTE) Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs)

Mobile infrastructure Analogue networks Digital networks 5G 4G (LTE) 3G 2G

Major mobile operators Itissalatt Al-Maghrib (IAM, Maroc Telecom) Orange Morocco (Meditel) Inwi (Wana)

Mobile content and applications Mobile payments, m-banking Satellite mobile

Appendix  Historic data

Related reports





List of Tables

Table 1  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2009  2024

Table 2  Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers  2012  2019

Table 3  Change in the proportion of prepaid and contract subscribers  2012  2019

Table 4  Mobile market share of subscribers by operator  2011  2019

Table 5  Fall in the average price per minute for mobile services  2012  2019

Table 6  Average mobile traffic per subscriber  2012  2019

Table 7  Change in mobile network voice traffic  2005  2019

Table 8  Fall in the number of SMS sent  2005  2019

Table 9  Growth in the number of mobile internet connections, by type  2011  2019

Table 10  Change in market share of mobile internet subscribers by provider  2015  2019

Table 11  Growth in the number of active mobile internet connections, and penetration  2008  2019

Table 12  Growth in the number of mobile number portings  2011  2019

Table 13  MTRs by operator  2011  2019

Table 14  Maroc Telecoms mobile subscriber base and market share  2011  2019

Table 15  Change in the number of Maroc Telecoms mobile subscribers by platform  2012 - 2019

Table 16  Decline in Maroc Telecoms ARPU  2009  2019

Table 17  Change in Maroc Telecoms domestic mobile revenue  2005  2019

Table 18  Change in Orange Moroccos mobile subscriber base and market share  2009  2019

Table 19  Orange Morocco revenue  2015  2019

Table 20  Change in Inwis mobile subscriber base and market share  2011  2019

Table 21  Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2000  2009

Table 22  Historic - Average SMS cost  2010  2015

Table 23  Historic - Multiple SIM card use among mobile subscribers  2012  2016

Table 24  Historic - Smartphone penetration  2012  2016 List of Charts Chart 1  Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration rate  2009  2024

Chart 2  Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers  2012  2019

Chart 3  Change in the proportion of prepaid and contract subscribers  2012  2019

Chart 4  Mobile market share of subscribers by operator  2011  2019

Chart 5  Fall in the average price per minute for mobile services  2012  2019

Chart 6  Average mobile traffic per subscriber  2012  2019

Chart 7  Change in mobile network voice traffic  2005  2019

Chart 8  Fall in the number of SMS sent  2005  2019

Chart 9  Growth in the number of mobile internet connections, by type  2011  2019

Chart 10  Change in market share of mobile internet subscribers by provider  2015  2019

Chart 11  Growth in the number of active mobile internet connections, and penetration  2008  2019

Chart 12  Growth in the number of mobile number portings  2011  2019

Chart 13  Maroc Telecoms mobile subscriber base and market share  2011  2019

Chart 14  Change in the number of Maroc Telecoms mobile subscribers by platform  2012  2019

Chart 15  Decline in Maroc Telecoms ARPU  2009  2019

Chart 16  Change in Maroc Telecoms domestic mobile revenue  2005  2019

Chart 17  Change in Orange Moroccos mobile subscriber base and market share  2009  2019

Chart 18  Orange Morocco revenue  2015  2019

Chart 19  Change in Inwis mobile subscriber base and market share  2011  2019 Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Within Australia (02) 8076 7665 Outside Australia +44 207 097 1241

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As part of his official visit to Azerbaijan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov paid tribute to the late national leader of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. The head of state laid a wreath of flowers at the mausoleum - the resting place of the first president and outstanding political figure of Azerbaijan.

Then, the head of Turkmenistan paid tribute to the late mother of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, laying flowers at her resting place.

The Turkmen leader also visited the Martyrs Memorial. Paying tribute to the national heroes who defended freedom and independence of Azerbaijan, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov laid a wreath of flowers at the memorial.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022
The main event for the sixth International Day of Yoga (IDY) will be held on June 21 this year at Leh in Ladakh and the event will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Shripad Naik said on Wednesday.

"The main event for the sixth International Day of Yoga, 2020 will be held on June 21 at Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The event will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Naik said at a press conference here.

He added that 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.

A 45-minute yoga drill based on Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) is the highlight of observation of IDY. The Prime Minister is expected to carry out 'yogasanas' based on CYP along with an anticipated gathering of 15,000 to 20,000 people on the Yoga Day at Leh.

"Industrial bodies like CII and FICCI, educational bodies like CBSE, UGC and NCERT and various other stakeholders have already prepared plans and programmes for the IDY-2020. The preparatory activities normally start three to four months prior to IDY, through thousands of CYP training programmes across the country, Naik said.

Last year, the Yoga Day event was held in Ranchi and the Prime Minister had participated in the programme.

The first International Day of Yoga was observed all over the world on June 21, 2015, when over 30,000 people including Modi performed yoga at Rajpath in New Delhi.

The idea of International Day of Yoga was first proposed by the Prime Minister during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The implications of Hanks testing positive are potentially huge. It is possible, indeed likely, that the entire production will be forced into shutdown for up to two weeks. That could add significantly to the movie's already massive cost. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told Parliament last May the film was expected to employ 900 people from the state in set construction, catering and costume design roles, while injecting $105 million into the state economy. Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Australia, after experiencing colds, fevers, muscle aches and chills. Credit:AP The film  in which Hanks will play Colonel Tom Parker, manager of Elvis Presley (Austin Butler, who played Tex in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood, will play the rock'n'roll pioneer)  is still in pre-production but was due to begin principal photography next Monday. It is the only production currently underway at the Gold Coast facility. On Thursday, a number of crew members confirmed that all production personnel had been sent home and were awaiting further instructions.

Typically at this stage of pre-production, a film of this scale might be expected to have a couple of hundred people on set, including heads of department (costume, hair, make-up, cinematography, production design and so on) and especially set construction workers. Key cast will almost certainly have been in frequent contact with the heads of department as they udnertake fittings, screen tests and the like. Shooting on the film, which is scheduled for release in October 2021, was expected to continue into the second half of the year, according to a well-placed industry source, suggesting at least four months of production. While a delay at this stage will be less costly than it would be during actual production, it could still add many millions of dollars to the bottom line. Speaking in Sydney on Thursday afternoon, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk said health authorities were now working with Hanks and Wilson, and with director Baz Luhrmann and "all the cast and crew" of the production.

She said "those people who have been in ... close proximity" with Hanks or Wilson would be expected to self-isolate. Ms Palaszczuk said she had not met with Hanks and could not confirm if the pair had been isolated together due to "privacy issues", but assured they would be "getting the best treatment in our hospitals, just as we provide to everybody else." "Eight people with the coronavirus were admitted to this hospital and were released," she said. "We wish them all the very best for a speedy recovery." Meanwhile, Wilson's diagnosis has created its own set of ripple effects in a different sector of the entertainment industry. In support of her recently released fourth album, Halfway to Home, Wilson performed concerts at the Emporium Hotel in Brisbane on March 5 and at the Sydney Opera House on March 7.

The Emporium is in the process of contacting ticket buyers for the Brisbane show, which was attended by around 220 people. Tom Hanks, who was present, reportedly sat alone at a table at the rear of the room and did not engage widely with guests. In Sydney, Wilson performed in the Utzon Room to "an audience of 207 people, including her husband Tom Hanks", according to a statement released late Thursday by Opera House management. "Anyone, including patrons and staff, who may have been in contact with the couple while at the Opera House" would be contacted, the statement continued. That will presumably include Richard Wilkins, veteran entertainment reporter for Nine (publisher of this masthead), who greeted Wilson before the Opera House show and visited her backstage after it. On Monday, Wilson appeared on Nine's Today Extra, where she sat at a desk with hosts David Campbell and Belinda Russell and posed afterwards for a photo with the pair. Wilkins also dropped in to say hello.

Campbell on Thursday called in to Deborah Knight's afternoon radio program on Sydney station 2GB to reveal that in the wake of the contact with Wilson he and Russell would be tested for the virus. "I interviewed her on Monday she actually made a joke coming into the studio saying we shouldn't shake hands, we should bump elbows  so we bumped elbows," he said. The meeting took place a few days before Wilson and Hanks returned their positive test results. "So, now Belinda Russell and I will get tested, we will make sure we're clear," said Campbell, who added that he felt "perfectly fine, I feel 100 percent at the moment". Nine management, however, is taking no risks, with both Campbell and Russell being sent into self-isolation for at least 14 days.
Theme parks around the world have shuttered in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, Disney and Universal announced that U.S.-based parks in California and Florida would shuttered in March out of an abundance of caution.

Six Flags parks in Maryland, California and Georgia have also temporarily shuttered and SeaWorld is closing all of its parks  SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Adventure Island  for the rest of the month, as well.

The move comes as state and local officials begin to put restrictions on large gatherings in order to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Earlier this week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom advised residents of the Golden State to cancel or postpone events involving more than 250 people. This prompted Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure to close starting Saturday, March 14.

Initially, Newsom had said that large parks like Disneyland would not be included in the ban on large gatherings. Talks with the companies resulted in the announcements.

Previously, Disney parks in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai have shuttered temporarily. Disney also shuttered Disneyland Paris on Thursday and suspends it's cruise line.

The hotels at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris will remain open, the company said. Retail and dining complexes, Disney Springs at Walt Disney World and Disney Village at Disneyland Paris, will also stay open.

The hotels at Disneyland Resort will close after Monday, March 16. Downtown Disney, a local shopping area, will remain open, the company said.

Disney will continue to pay cast members while the park is closed. It anticipates keeping the parks closed until April.

Universal Studios expects to reopen on March 28.

The entire Disney Parks, Resorts and Consumer Products segment has around 177,000 cast members, this includes people who work in its theme parks and at retail locations like the Disney Store.

It is currently unclear how many employees are being affected at Universal, SeaWorld and Six Flags.
An independent city councillor in Cork has called for an urgent meeting of the local authority this evening to plan for an immediate shutdown of the city to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

Cllr Paudie Dineen has written to the Lord Mayor and to the chief executive of the city council requesting an emergency council meeting be held at 7pm tonight to discuss the matter.

In his letter, Mr Dineen stressed the outbreak is now a global pandemic, he said Ireland has recorded its first coronavirus death and there are several people with coronavirus being treated in Cork hospitals.

He said it is his firm belief that the people of the city are looking for leadership and guidance.

I also firmly believe that we as elected members of Cork City Council and Executive at City Hall need to step up and take action on behalf of Cork City, he said.

We are Cork and we should now take steps to protect our city and our people.

The reaction from Government is too slow and in my view hap hazard.

He said an example of this is the Government's refusal to:

(1) Stop flights in and out of Ireland to/from Italy.

(2) To allow Italian supporters visit Ireland last weekend.

(3) Call for Cheltenham to be postponed.

(4) Allow the GAA to play a full list of fixtures next weekend.

Flights have now been curtailed by the airlines themselves.

The Tanaiste himself has said that there are no experts to consult with as there are no experts when it comes to the Covid-19 virus.

It is all new ground for everyone, he said.

As it's new ground I believe that it requires a new approach, this is way bigger than anything we have experienced in the past and it requires forward planning, direction and leadership.

Because of this we need to act and we need to act quickly to protect Cork City and those who live here.

We have a duty of care to deliver leadership during this time of uncertainty and prepare for drastic measures if deemed necessary to be implemented.

There are many concerns across all areas, concerns regarding our schools, hospitality, public transport, access to medical care, general supplies, caring for the elderly, getting to and from places of employment and many more.

People are looking for answers. They are looking for leadership and guidance to help them through this and we as their elected representatives and members of the Local Authority have a mandate to deliver and we must deliver.

I ask that a special meeting of Council in committee to be called for this evening at 7pm following the Six One News with all members of Council, Senior Management and Director of Services so as to enable the setting up of a Rapid Emergency Management Implementation Team (REMIT).

The role of REMIT should be to implement local guidelines, provide advice & information, prepare City wide action plans and organise community support with local resident groups, he added.

If the possibility of a city-wide lockdown is deemed necessary we need to oversee, organise and prepare for this in advance while at the same time liaising with other agencies to ensure supply of goods and distribution of same via supermarkets, pharmacies, health centres etc.

We already have a template for red weather events and we now need to create a similar team to deal with the current emergency facing our City.

It is imperative that we act and act quickly because to do nothing is not an option.
While there are no reported cases of coronavirus at Monroe, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution. Undergraduate and graduate classes are impacted, as are those offered through Jumpstart, Monroe's credit-bearing early college program held on Saturdays for local high school students.

Monroe College, a national leader in educating urban and international students, today announced that on-campus classes have been transitioned to the online learning format for at least the next two weeks.

While there are no reported cases of coronavirus at Monroe, the decision was made out of an abundance of caution. It impacts all undergraduate and graduate classes held on the Colleges Bronx and New Rochelle campuses, as well as those offered through Jumpstart, its credit-bearing early college program held on Saturdays for local high school juniors and seniors.

President Marc Jerome explained the decision in an email to the College community early this afternoon, which is shared below:

Dear College Community:

Over the last few days, senior administrators have talked with countless students, their parents, faculty, and staff regarding coronavirus. Although there are no reported cases on campus, there remains considerable anxiety and concern among all of us, which is completely understandable.

In light of this, and in keeping with increased calls for social distancing, we are suspending on-campus classes as of 2:30 pm today, March 11th. Classes scheduled for this evening, tomorrow, and Friday are canceled.

On-campus classes will resume in the online format starting this Saturday morning, March 14th.

Classes transitioning to the online format will meet at the same day and time as they are scheduled on campus. That means students in Monday/Wednesday classes that meet at 10:20 am, for example, must be logged in and ready for their online class at that time.

We will continue online academic instruction at least through classes on Saturday, March 28th.

The College will continue to monitor the situation closely. Please continue to check your College email and our website for updates and other important announcements.

We will share more detailed information later today on how this temporary change in operations impacts other College activities and events.

Separate communications with specific instructions will be sent to all students and housing students.

Additional information of interest to the College community:



The College retained an outside company last week to provide heightened cleaning and sanitization services on our Bronx and New Rochelle campuses. This work will continue in the weeks ahead out of an abundance of caution.

While the College is encouraging housing students to vacate the dormitories, they are not required to do so. Dining services will be available for students who remain on campus.

On-campus academic support centers, such as tutoring spaces, computer labs and libraries, will remain open.

Administrative and staff offices will remain open.

ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE

Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a recognized leader in urban and international education. The College is proud of its innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, especially among first-generation students. The strength of its warm, supportive culture is reflected in the personal connections fostered among students, faculty, and staff.

Monroe educates close to 8,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelors, and Masters degree programs from campuses in the Bronx, New Rochelle, and St. Lucia. Many of the Colleges degree programs may also be pursued online.

Programs are offered through seven academic schools, including the Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business and Accounting, Criminal Justice, Education, Hospitality Management and the Culinary Institute of New York (CINY), Information Technology, and Nursing, as well as through King Graduate School. Liberal arts and continuing education programs are also available. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu.
The wife of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been tested for coronavirus.

According to an official statement released Thursday morning, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, 44, recently returned from the United Kingdom and began displaying mild flu-like symptoms, including a low fever, on Wednesday night.

Mrs Trudeau is currently self-isolating at the Prime Minister's residence in Ottawa and is awaiting the return of her test results. Her symptoms have reportedly subsided.

Prime Minister Trudeau is not displaying any symptoms of the virus himself, but is also self-isolating and spending the day working from home 'out of an abundance of caution'.

An in-person First Ministers Meeting, which was scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed.

Prime Minister Trudeau will instead spend the day taking phone calls and conducting 'virtual meetings'.

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau has been tested for coronavirus. She is pictured with her husband, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, last October

Trudeau, 44, recently returned from the United Kingdom. She is pictured in London last Tuesday March 3

The Prime Minister's Office released this statement on Thursday morning, detailing Mrs Trudeau's situation

Mrs Trudeau was in the United Kingdom to attend the WE Day UK Charity event and concert, which was held in London last Tuesday, March 3.

Idris Elba, Jamie Oliver, race car driver Lewis Hamilton and former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard were also present at the event.

Security are seen outside the Trudeau's Prime Ministerial residence in Ottawa on Thursday

Thursday's statement from the Canadian Prime Minister's office says the Trudeaus are following all protocol.

'We continue to base all our decision on the best evidence, science, and advice from our highly trained medical professionals and public health officials to protect the well-being of Canadians and reduce the risks of COVID-19 to our country,' the statement read.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was working from home 'out of an abundance of caution'

Mrs Trudeau's symptoms have now subsided, and she is awaiting news from her doctor

Mrs Trudeau is pictured on stage last week with former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and singer Leona Lewis

Trudeau, is pictured during a news conference on the coronavirus in Ottawa on Wednesday,

On Wednesday, Trudeau announced $800 million USD in new financial measures to help mitigate the effects of the widening coronavirus outbreak in Canada.

Trudeau told a news conference that the money would help buy surgical equipment and fund research for a new vaccine. He also promised to make it easier for sick workers to claim employment insurance.

So far, 116 people in Canada have tested positive to coronavirus.

Quebec premier Francois Legault, meanwhile, is asking all people returning from travel abroad to self-isolate for 14 days.

The measure will be mandatory for all government employees.

He is also asking organisers to cancel all indoor events attracting crowds of more than 250 people and all other large gatherings that are not considered essential.

Earlier this week, the country recorded it's first death from COVID-19.

On Sunday night, an elderly man from a North Vancouver nursing home died in relation to the disease.

Two workers and at least one other resident are also infected.

Justin and Sophie Trudeau have been married since 2005, and share three children

More than 125,000 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 across the globe

Meanwhile, Mrs Trudeau isn't the only high-profile figure to be tested for the virus in recent days.

Fabio Wajngarten, the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's communications secretary, has reportedly tested positive to COVID-19.

Wajngarten attended an official meeting at Donald Trump's resort in Florida on Saturday and posted a photo of himself standing next to the president. It's unclear whether the Commander-in-chief will now undergo testing for the virus.

President Trump on Thursday told reporters that he wasn't concerned about contracting the coronavirus after he was asked about the report on Wajngarten.

'Let's put it this way, I'm not concerned,' Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson revealed Wednesday that they have tested positive to the disease while working in Australia. The pair are currently isolated in hospital.

Also on Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic', with more than 125,000 people diagnosed with the disease in the three months since it originated in Wuhan, China in December.

Cases are drastically rising in the United States, with President Trump announcing bold new measures in a bid to stop the spread.

In a televised address Wednesday evening, the Commander -in-chief announced that flights from all countries in Europe - with the exception of the UK - would be prohibited from landing from Friday.
Representative image

As India is scrambling to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, its two union territories  Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh  are struggling to have enough facility to test samples for the disease in the hospitals and are also short of supply of face masks, Firstpost has reported.

As preventive measures, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the closure of primary schools and Anganwadi centres. It is shutting down cinema halls across the region till March 31.

The Ladakh administration has also banned large public gatherings and has ordered the closure of all educational institutes, said the report.

There have been at least 1,000 people who are believed to be at risk of coronavirus infection as they have returned to India from foreign countries, said the report, adding that they have been asked not to venture out of their houses.

As many as 942 people have been kept under home quarantine, SM Kadri - J&K's nodal officer for coronavirus - told the publication.

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

Read: How to self-quarantine at home

Meanwhile, several doctors have blamed the government for delaying the test of samples and not making masks and sanitisers available in hospitals, the report said.

There is only one operational testing facility at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura. Another facility is reportedly expected to be operational at Government Medical College (GMC) in Srinagar in the next two to three days.

Before the facility in Soura was set up, swab samples of suspects were sent to AIIMS in Delhi and NIV in Pune, delaying the results, officials told the publication.

Coronavirus outbreak LIVE updates

Balvinder Singh, the president of the Doctors Association Jammu, was reportedly transferred Udhampur to Batote in Ramban district after he had flagged the issue of inadequate supply of masks and sanitisers, said the report. In talks with the publication, he termed the government's response to the disease as 'pathetic.

Confirmed cases of novel coronavirus have reached 60 in India, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has said. However, as per state health officials, the number of confirmed cases may be up to 65.

(With inputs from PTI)
Houston police are trying to determine why someone shot and killed a man as he walked to convenience store Wednesday night in Magnolia Park.

The victim was in the 7800 block of Avenue E, near 74th Street, when someone in a black four-door sedan passed by around 9 p.m., according to Houston Police Department homicide detective Kenneth Daignault. The car, possibly a Mercedes, then drove back toward the man, who started talking with someone inside the vehicle, Daignault said.
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A SERVICE of Welcome was held for the Reverend Olive Elizabeth Henderson in St Paul's Church, Banagher on Friday evening, during which the local community was told that their new Priest in Charge is known for her energy and enthusiasm, her kindness and her sense of fun.

Reverend Henderson was warmly welcomed by her new community. Her job title is Priest in Charge of the Clonfert Group of Parishes, a position which she will hold for at least the next four years.

The Service was conducted by the Right Reverend Dr Kenneth Kearon, Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe, who said he was certain that Rev Henderson will prove to be a popular Priest in Charge.

A native of Ballickmoyler, County Laois, Olive is from a farming background. She was a nurse in the national children's hospital in Dublin. Her husband ran a carpet and floor covering business in Athy, while her seven children were growing up.

In the late 1980s she began training as a lay reader and undertook the Archbishop's course in Theology. She was ordained a priest in the grouped parishes of Rathdrum with Glenealy and Laragh in 1997, and a priest the following year.

Reverend Olive Mary Rose Donohue, Rector of the Athy Union of Parishes, gave the Sermon on Friday evening in a lighthearted, humorous style, telling the parishioners that she knew Rev Henderson very well and she could assure them that she's a good egg.

She quoted a bit of wisdom from the Book of Micah which said that what God wants from us is that we act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly. And that's really it, commented Rev Donohue, that is the essence of being a Christian. I have written those words on a card and I look at it from time to time and it gives me inspiration.

Rev Olive knows what it is to act justly and love tenderly. I can assure you that she will be there for you whenever you need her, in the bad times as well as during the good times. She will walk side by side with you, trying to help you as much as she can. She lives for her faith. It means everything to her. Those who know her admire her great reserves of energy and enthusiasm, her unerring kindness and her lovely sense of fun. But be warned  she will expect you to work just as hard. In fact the sweetest words any priest can hear is, Is there anything I can do to help you? As a priest it is bliss to hear that from one's community. If you bring that sort of attitude to the moment then I promise you Olive will be absolutely delighted and will go the extra mile for you.

Olive is a realist and an empath. She gets where you are coming from. She gets it that we can sometimes draw up unrealistic lists of things to do, that we can sometimes overextend ourselves. She can see through our unrealistic expectations, in an empathetic way.

Olive has had a long, rich and fulfilling life. She has several children and she is a grandmother. And yet she has the youthful outlook and energy of a woman many years younger. And she is a great preacher. You won't be bored during her Sunday sermons.

Rev Donohue recalled giving a Sermon when she was a young and green priest. I thought my congregation were spellbound and I was doing a great job. Then a lady put up her hand and matter of factly told me that the organ behind me was on fire! I turned around and was horrified to see smoke billowing from the organ. I asked Mr Hendy to bring forward the fire extinguisher beside him. His wife shook him and said, 'Wake up Jack. She needs you'!

She concluded by asking everyone to never forget the wise words from Micah: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.
With global economic activities and supply of essential goods hit due to the outbreak, Prime Minister said is dependent on "supply lines" from various countries and he has spoken to his Indian counterpart

The deadly novel 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, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) describing the outbreak a pandemic.

"I also spoke to the prime minister of India, my friend We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu told a press conference on Wednesday.

His remarks came during joint statements with the finance minister, the economy and industry minister, the Bank of Israel's governor and the finance ministry director general on dealing with the economic implications of the

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office, however, did not clearly spell out the subject of Netanyahu's discussions with Modi in its press release.

The Israeli prime minister has announced a package of 10 billion NIS ($2.86 billion) to facilitate economic activity in the midst of challenges posed by the spread of the virus.

"The Israeli economy is in a better situation than most economies in the world: Unemployment is low, growth is high and the debt to GDP ratio is good," Netanyahu said.

"However, we have a great challenge here that we all are feeling and which we are all aware of. In our view, we can also deal with it in a way that will allow us to get through it successfully in peace," he said.

"Not without difficulty, and not without sacrifice, but in the end, in peace, and I think that we can do this together in an optimal manner," Netanyahu asserted.

The package lays special stress on the health sector and other businesses impacted by the coronavirus such as tourism and the aviation sector. It outlines financial assistance provisions for businesses affected by the global menace.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island bishop was arrested on Thursday in the cold-case murder of a woman nearly 40 years ago in Brooklyn, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

James Burrus, 63, of Staten Island, has been charged by police with murder in the second degree, according to a spokesman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

He stands accused in the death of Lorraine Snell, 19, in Sept. 1980 in Brooklyn, according to the source and the Daily News.

The Daily News is among the media outlets that identify Burrus as a bishop.

Snell, an employee of the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office, was found strangled dead in a car in that borough, according to the Daily News.

Burrus was taken into custody around 8 a.m. at the 67th Precinct stationhouse in Brooklyn, according to a police spokesman.
Medical staff at work at one of the emergency structures that were set up to ease procedures at the Brescia hospital, northern Italy, on March 12, 2020. (Luca Bruno/AP Photo)

US Health Officials Back Trumps Europe Travel Ban

Top U.S. health officials backed President Donald Trumps ban of travelers from most European countries, noting that the majority of new coronavirus cases are in the region.

Over 70 percent of the new cases are linked to the Europe, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield told lawmakers in Washington.

And in the United States, I think it was now 30 states in our country or more were linked actually to cases in Europe. Europe is the new China.

Asked if the ban would have a significant impact on reducing the community spread of the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said yes.

The answer is a firm yes, he told the lawmakers during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at National Institutes of Health, left, speaks as Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looks on during a House Oversight And Reform Committee hearing concerning government preparedness and response to the coronavirus, in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 11, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

That was the reason, the rationale, the public health rationale why that recommendation was made, he added.

Patients from Europe are seeding other countries, Fauci added, restating that dozens of U.S. states have infections from European countries. So it was pretty compelling that we needed to turn off the source from that region, he said.

Trump on Wednesday night said that travelers from Europes Schengen Area wouldnt be allowed into the United States for a month starting on Friday at midnight.

While the United States restricted travel from China, where the virus started last year, on Jan. 31, many European countries failed to do so, he said.

As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe, he said. The ban was announced to keep new cases from entering our shores.

A German police officer wearing a protective mask speaks to a driver at the French and German border between the cities of Strasbourg and Kehl as part of measures taken due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe on March 12, 2020. (Patrick Hertzog/AFP via Getty Images)

The 26 countries in the area include France, Germany, and Italy. The European countries not in the zone, which allows unrestricted movement within it, include Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus.

Italy has one of the highest case counts in the world and is nearing 1,000 deaths from the illness, while other European countries have seen a rapid increase in cases. France, Germany, and Spain, for instance, all have over 2,000 confirmed cases.

European leaders condemned the ban, saying they werent consulted before it was announced.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that American officials had to make a decision.

It takes a long time to make the individual calls, he said, adding that some European officials were told prior to the announcement. We had to move quickly.

When they raise taxes on us, they dont consult us. I think thats probably one and the same, he said.
Three USAF B-2 stealth bombers landed in Britain today as they continued to conduct military drills in NATO airspace amid heightened tensions with Russia.

A Bomber Task Force deployment left the US base in Lajes Field, Portugal and performed bombing runs over Garvi Island before landing at RAF Fairford.

The first plane arrived at around 11.15am in the Cotswolds, with two arriving at the RAF station late in the afternoon, Gloucestershire Live reports.

According to a USAF press release, the B-2 Spirit aircraft - which are capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads - conducted military drills with US NATO partners in Europe to 'deter adversaries' and reassure 'allies'.

Pictured: US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber lands at RAF Fairford in Goucestershire

A Bomber Task Force deployment left the US base in Lajes Field, Portugal and performed bombing runs over Garvi Island before landing at RAF Fairford

The first plane arrived at around 11.15am in the Cotswolds, with two arriving at the RAF station late in the afternoon, Gloucestershire Live reports

It was also claimed the exercises helped 'enhance global stability and security'.

Lt. Gen Steven Basham, Deputy Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, said: 'Operating bombers from forward locations enables collective defense capabilities and provides the U.S. and NATO the strategic and operational capacity needed to deter adversaries while assuring our allies and partners'.

Previously the B-2 stealth bombers - developed under the Advanced Technology Bomber during Jimmy Carter's administration - were based in Portugal.

A USAF spokesman at the time said the 65th Air Base Group at Lajes Field is 'strategically located to provide support in combat operations'.

They added that conducting NATO drills enabled the USAF to build 'enduring and strategic relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges'.

The B-2 Spirit aircraft - capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads - conducted military drills with US NATO partners in Europe to 'deter adversaries'

Pictured: US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber lands at RAF Fairford in Goucestershire

They added that conducting NATO drills enabled the USAF to build 'enduring and strategic relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges'

NATO, founded in 1949 to deter the expansionist USSR, has come under strain in recent years as member-states are accused of reneging treaty duties.

President Donald Trump, who famously designated the alliance 'obsolete', put European allies under pressure to spend 2 percent of their GDP on defence.

Military drills in NATO airspace come amid heightened tensions with Russia, which is accused by Western powers of bullying and aggressive behaviour.

Relations between Moscow and Western powers first soured after the former's war with Georgia in 2008, backing separatists in the tiny Caucasian state.

They collapsed after Russia annexed Crimea and helped fuel Ukraine's bloody civil war, which began after the toppling of the pro-Moscow regime in 2014.

Russia has also found itself at loggerheads with the US, Britain, and France in Syria, where it has backed Bashar al-Assad and Iran to the hilt since 2015.

President Vladimir Putin has lamented the collapse of the USSR, and accused NATO of provoking Russia by expanding the alliance after the Cold War.
Will Forsman spent two weeks in Africa in January to see where the coffee he serves at Cafe Steam comes from.

He did not return with otherworldly wisdom.

The few days he spent touring coffee-growing and coffee-processing operations did not teach him everything about the rich cultures of the places he visited.

"Im no coffee guru," said Forsman, co-owner of Cafe Steam.

Forsman is almost reluctant to talk too much about the trip.

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"I dont want people to misinterpret my reasons for going," he said.

He joined other coffee shop owners and distributors for a tour of 16 washing stations and coffee farms in Ethiopia and Kenya.

The reasons include seeing firsthand where the coffee he serves comes from and learning what he can do to better support those producers and suppliers.

It was also a chance for him to meet someone he has long admired  Tesfaye Bekele, owner of Suke Quto, a sustainable coffee producer in Ethiopia.

"Hes someone Ive idolized," Forsman said.

Suke Quto growers use environmentally friendly growing practices, including offsetting their harvests by planting grasses and trees in the region where the coffee is grown.

"These are people making something you enjoy every day of your life and taking care of the habitat and their environment while they do it," Forsman said. "And, theyre doing so in an area thats resource deficient."

That deficiency was apparent, Forsman said.

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"Its very eye-opening," he said.

Tools and materials we take for granted are often scarce in some areas. In Ethiopia, improving economic conditions havent filtered to some of the regions he visited.

"When you cant allocate those resources, you see poverty," Forsman said.

However, Forsman noticed another pattern.

"You found the less people had, the more theyre willing to give," he said.

"It made me realize how guarded we are here  with our resources and our emotions," he added.

Forsman watched the production process, toured farms and enjoyed traditionally prepared coffee.

Traditional Ethiopian coffee is triple brewed in urns and served with either butter, sugar or salt.

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"The flavors are really intense," Forsman said.

What Forsman wanted to learn is what he can do to help provide suppliers with the resources they need and to help them offset the carbon footprint of coffee production.

"The simplest answer is: Pay more for coffee," he said.

Buying organic, fair-trade coffee is a start. It can cost more, but it helps the environment and the people growing the coffee.

"We receive the benefits of what they do," Forsman said.

He said supporting sustainable practices will take time.

"You have to make the conversation itself kind of organic," he said. "Nobody wants to go into a coffee shop and have a lecture thrown at them."

Forsman is working to continue that conversation and share some of the traditions he learned.

After returning, he restarted a monthly series of coffee education classes at Steam. At the classes, participants learn about different types of coffees, how theyre prepared and how to compare their flavors. They also try their hand at making espresso latte art and learn their role in helping producers.

The class mixes education with tasting and fun, he said.

Classes are capped at about 12 people.

"We want it to be more tactile and intimate," he said.

The next class is March 28. Information on upcoming classes can be found on Cafe Steams Facebook page or at the four downtown Rochester Cafe Steam locations.

What:Coffee Class: Origin, Brewing, Tasting

When: 2 to 5 p.m. March 28

Where:Cafe Steam, One Discovery Square, 201 4th St. SW

How much:$35
Manoj Bajpayee is touted to be one of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema and is a recepient of various awards. But, the actor have had his own share of struggles to make his mark in the film industry.

Recently, while speaking with Mid-day about his days as a struggling actor, he revealed that he landed in Mumbai on filmmaker Anubhav Sinha's insistence. The director had even sent him flight tickets to audition for a TV series but ended up not getting selected for the same.

The Family Man actor told the tabloid, "I have never had such a difficult time from the time I left my village at the age of 17 and a half. This four years was like 40 years. Everything was falling apart, once I got three projects: a series, a corporate film, one docudrama and another series. In one day I was chucked out from all."

Talking about how he dealt with the rejection, he shared, "What was fantastic was that the world was falling apart for me but I was not falling apart. I still feel how it was the make of me. After many years I realized the only thing that can break me is my personal loss. The professional side never used to bother me, even now it doesn't now."

In the same interview, Manoj also revealed some secrets about Thappad director Anubhav Sinha. He spilled the beans about how the filmmaker used to serve a different, more affordable drink to his friends while enjoying an expensive drink himself.

"Anubhav Sinha used to tell me, 'Do you know how much this drink costs?' He used to rub it very hard. 'This is scotch, do you know what is the difference between scotch and whisky?' he used to say. I used to hate him. But this is how Anubhav Sinha is. He used to keep scotch for himself and serve Old Monk to his poor friends, no matter how social he is on Twitter," the actor candidly confessed in the interview.

With respect to work, Manoj Bajpayee will be next seen in the second season of web-series The Family Man. Apart from the original cast from the first season, the show will also feature Samantha Akkineni.

Raj & DK Wrap Up Shooting For Season 2 Of Manoj Bajpayee's The Family Man

Manoj Bajpayee Recounts His Initial Days As An Actor: 'Saw My Photos Being Thrown In Garbage Bin'
This is not how I envisioned the distributed work revolution taking hold.

MATT MULLENWEG, chief executive of Automattic, which owns the WordPress blogging platform, on how recent events have led many companies to encourage employees to work remotely.
ALTON  Concern over the coronavirus pandemic has now forced Saturdays St. Patricks Day festivities in downtown Alton to be called off.

Brett Stawar, President/CEO of the Great River and Routes Tourism Bureau issued the following statement Thursday afternoon:

After careful deliberation, the decision was made to cancel the Alton St. Patricks Day Festival. Participating bars and restaurants will be open for regular business hours and may offer St. Pats specials.

Please go to AltonStPats.com for information about individual restaurants specials and activities.

All restaurants that were planning to participate in the St. Patricks Day celebration will be open as otherwise scheduled, according to the events website.

We received a call this morning and with a heavy heart we have to announce that Alton St. Pats is cancelled due to the corona virus outbreak, Morrisons Irish Pub posted on its Facebook page Thursday. We are all disappointed. Morrisons will still be open if you would like to celebrate with corned beef, Guinness, Jameson, and Irish music and dont forget we still have Tuesday. Slainte!

Alton Mayor Brant Walker said the decision to cancel the celebration came with much regret and sadness.

Walker said he especially feels bad for local businesses involved in the event. Many, he noted, weathered poor economic news during the historic flooding in Alton last year.

My heart goes out to all of the businesses, he said. Its horrible and gut-wrenching. We must err on the side of caution in these times.

Businesses that were listed as celebration participants are Bluff City Grill, Bossanova Restaurant & Lounge, Bottle & Barrel, Bubby & Sissys, Catdaddys, Chez Marilyn, Don & Pennys, Firehouse Tavern, Germania Brew Haus, Hops House at Argosy Casino, Johnsons Corner Restaurant, Morrisons Irish Pub, State Street Market and Tonys Restaurant.

The City of Alton will no longer provide a free shuttle downtown, since downtown patronage would not be part of a sanctioned by the city or the tourism bureau.

Third Street will be open to traffic, instead of being closed as previously planned.

 

On Wednesday, Stawar told The Telegraph that everything, at that time, remained all systems go. But concerns over the risks of community spread of the virus in crowds of people has escalated among health officials, despite the absence of confirmed cases in Madison County.

Stawar on Wednesday said the COVID-19 virus is something we are watching.

He said he personally no longer shakes peoples hands when they are greeted by the bureau. He also encouraged people to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: wash your hand, dont touch your face, practice social distancing and report any illnesses to your medical care provider.

 

Telegraph reporter Dylan Suttles contributed to this report.
VALENCIA, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bioness, Inc., the leading provider of advanced, clinically supported neuromodulation devices for the treatment of chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin, today announced the first StimRouter Neuromodulation System implantation in the United Kingdom at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The procedure was performed by Dr. Sheila Black, a Consultant in Chronic Pain and Anesthesia, and received NHS reimbursement coverage. The StimRouter received a CE Mark in February 2014 for the treatment of chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin as an adjunct to other non-drug therapeutic options and has been successfully implanted in hundreds of patients across Europe at well-known institutions, including Radboud University Medical Center (Netherlands), South Victoria University (Ireland), and Kliniek Park Leopold Chirec (Belgium).

An estimated 100 million Europeans are suffering from chronic pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) technology is rapidly growing amongst clinicians and patients due to its proven effectiveness at reducing chronic pain and dependence on opioids. Over the past year, the StimRouter has seen continued adoption, with nearly 30% more interventional pain doctors using the device on three continents.

"I found the kit easy to use, intuitive in the step-wise approach, and we obtained good paraesthesia coverage of the entire painful area," said Dr. Sheila Black.

The StimRouter was the first FDA-cleared, minimally-invasive, long-term neuromodulation medical device indicated to treat chronic pain of a peripheral nerve origin. When patients undergo the StimRouter implant procedure, it requires one small incision and is often completed in just 30 minutes using local anesthesia. A hand-held remote allows patients to control their pain by delivering gentle stimulating pulses to disrupt signals before they reach the brain. In the UK, the StimRouter is distributed by Platform-14 and can be contacted at 0845 257 1014.

"We're continuing to see impressive clinical results in multiple centers all over the world, and we are excited to further our support of clinicians looking to improve the lives of patients with chronic pain in the United Kingdom," said Todd Cushman, President and CEO of Bioness. "Patients and clinicians alike are seeing the exceptional benefits that StimRouter can have for the treatment of chronic pain, especially with increased awareness of the challenges with more invasive therapies and the dangers of opioids. We are thrilled to deliver alternative pain management treatment options to those who care for patients suffering from chronic pain."

For more information on the StimRouter and how patients are benefiting from this technology, visit www.stimrouter.com .

About StimRouter Neuromodulation System

StimRouter is approved by the FDA to treat chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin, excluding pain in the craniofacial region. StimRouter is a minimally invasive neuromodulation medical device consisting of a thin, implanted lead with conductive electrode, external pulse transmitter (EPT), and hand-held wireless patient programmer. Electrical signals are transmitted transdermally from the EPT through the electrode, down the lead to the target nerve. StimRouter is programmed at the direction of the physician to meet patient requirements but is controlled by the patient to address the patients' specific, changing pain management needs.

About Bioness, Inc.

Bioness is the leading provider of innovative technologies helping people regain mobility and independence. Bioness solutions include implantable and external neuromodulation systems, robotic systems, and software-based therapy programs providing functional and therapeutic benefits for individuals affected by pain, central nervous system disorders, and orthopedic injuries. Currently, Bioness offers six medical devices within its commercial portfolio which are distributed and sold on five continents and in over 25 countries worldwide. Our technologies have been implemented in the most prestigious and well-respected institutions around the globe with approximately 90% of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the United States currently using one or more Bioness solutions. Bioness has a singular focus on aiding large, underserved customer groups with innovative, evidence-based solutions and we will continue to develop and make commercially available new products that address the growing and changing needs of our customers. Individual results vary. Consult with a qualified physician to determine if this product is right for you. Contraindications, adverse reactions and precautions are available online at www.bioness.com .

Contact

Next Step Communications

[email protected]

781.326.1741

SOURCE Bioness, Inc.

Related Links

www.bioness.com


Sydney's infamous light rail project has faced yet another delay as the project suffers a $1.3billion budget blowout.

The NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance appeared before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday where he revealed the opening of the Moore Park to Kingsford line would be delayed until the start of May.

Stage two of the project was last promised to be open to the public by March - a year after the initial predicted finish - but Mr Constance argued the delay was minor.

The NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance appeared before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday where he revealed the opening of the Moore Park to Kingsford line would be delayed until the start of May

'We are still yet to finalise the exact day,' he said according to 7 News.

'It is not going to be months and months and months, it is going to be a matter of weeks.'

Shadow transport minister Chris Minns said there was no way to know when the project would really be completed.

'God knows when the thing will finally be completed, it's a billion dollars over budget and one year late.'

Stage two of the project between Moore Park and Kingsford was last promised to be open to the public by March but has now been pushed back

The main line from Circular Quay to Randwick opened in December with the final bill totalling $2.9 billion after the government initially quoted the project at $1.6 billion.

On the first day of opening, one of the light rail trams broke down at Randwick due to a power failure.

Construction of the light rail has been plagued with a number of setbacks since work began in 2015.

The main line from Circular Quay to Randwick opened in December with the final bill totalling $2.9 billion after the government initially quoted the project at $1.6 billion

Under the original time frame, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was meant to cut the ribbon on the completed project ahead of the state election on Saturday, March 23, 2019.

Safety concerns were also raised by the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union in November after it discovered design flaws in the new network.

Union Divisional Secretary David Babineau said there are at least 11 flaws and safety issues, particularly around the Anzac Parade and Moore Park segment, that are hazardous to pedestrians and cyclists.
An officer responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle driving on Bonny Oaks Drive going approximately 10 mph headed to Ridgecrest Drive. The officer made contact with a woman who said she was not able to find her defrosters for the windows, making it hard to see. She was able to find the defrosters when she was close to home. She said she arrived home without any issues.

* * *

A woman was interviewed on Brainerd Road who said someone had cashed some money orders that she had attempted to send to someone out in California. She said she noticed that after they had been sent by FedEx, that five money orders had been cashed here in Chattanooga. She contacted Western Union and they provided her with details on where they had been cashed. They had been cashed at Easy Money. She went to the location and spoke with employees there and they told her that a Mr. Hughes had supposedly cashed the money orders. An officer initially was unable to view video footage to confirm that Mr. Hughes was indeed the one who cashed the orders.





* * *



An anonymous caller wanted to report a black Nissan Rogue parked on the side of the road on Parker Lane. The caller stated to dispatch they thought the car might be stolen. Upon arrival, the officer ran the tag and found it was not stolen. He found a note on the dash stating "my car won't start I will be back for it." The note included a phone number. The officer attempted to contact the owner but to no avail.



* * *



Police spotted a tent at 6400 Lee Highway in an area surrounded by no trespassing signs. An officer approached the tent and made contact with Mr. Cruikshank and Ms. Braget who both stated they were traveling from Alaska to the West Coast and were just sleeping in a tent where they believed it was OK. Police informed them of the no trespassing signs. Both said they arrived at dark and did not see the signs. Police informed both had an hour to collect their items and leave the area or they would be arrested for trespassing.



* * *



Police checked out a report of a theft from a vehicle at 5505 Brainerd Road. A woman said her wife's car was broken into at Bud's Sports Bar and that there was video footage. The officer watched the video footage and it showed a person breaking into the car and getting in the trunk. There were miscellaneous Army supplies stolen out of the back and a rose gold wedding band taken. The front left window was busted and the battery cable was cut. There is no suspect information now, but it appeared that the suspect left on a motorcycle.



* * *



The audio visual director at the Westin Hotel at 801 Pine St. said sometime between 7 p.m. and 6:45 a.m. the next morning, a projector was taken out of the Junior Ball Room. She said that security escorted a homeless person from the hotel that night sometime, but she does not know if the person had the projector or not. She said there are no cameras in that area either. She said

the projector is actually owned by a company called PFAZ and the Westin is just a third party.



* * *



A woman who lives on 15th Avenue said she received a disconnect notice from Verizon for her account with a balance of $1,096. She said she has never had an account with Verizon. She said Verizon gave her an account. She was told that the account was opened online in November 2019 from an unknown location.



* * *



A man said he went inside Conga at 26 E. Main St. to eat and, when he returned to his car, the window had been shattered. He said he had a money bag in the car with $500 in it. He went inside the restaurant at around 1 p.m. and returned around 3 p.m. The vehicle was parked in the parking lot south of Conga. There are no suspects at this time.



* * *



Police responded to an auto theft at 271 Northgate Mall Dr. Ashley Hickman said she thought her vehicle was stolen. On scene no glass was observed on the ground. Upon further investigation it was determined Ms. Hickman's vehicle had been towed by Carter Towing and was located at their towing yard on Highway 58.



* * *



A couple on Mitchell Avenue said they were unloading things from their white Acura MDX into their rental house. While inside the house, an unknown suspect stole their vehicle. The keys were left inside the car. The vehicle has a bike rack on the back was well as Florida tags. The man was able to ping the vehicle through Acura. Police checked the first area where it was pinged, but could not locate it. The second ping was at 3100 Wilcox Blvd. The vehicle was not located there either. Police observed the vehicle on Alton Park Boulevard and initiated a traffic stop. However the vehicle did not stop and police did not pursue. The vehicle was entered into NCIC as stolen.



* * *



Police initiated a traffic stop at 1200 Market St. because the vehicle's registration expired in April of 2019. The driver said his vehicle had failed emissions multiple times which is why the tag has not been renewed. He also stated that he was going to get it fixed tomorrow. The passenger stated that he had just got off work at Pilgrims and that the driver was driving him to the bank. The driver had a valid license and current insurance. Police gave the driver a warning.
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.
T he UK has escalated its coronavirus response from contain to delay, according to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

She said the decision had been made after today's Cobra meeting.

Ms Sturgeon, speaking in Edinburgh, said: The decision has been taken that we have now moved from a contain phase into the delay phase where the objective is to seek to slow down the spread of the virus, to reduce the numbers who will be infected at the peak, the number infected at any one time.

Representatives of the Scottish Government attended as did Cabinet members including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Home Secretary Priti Patel joined the discussions, as did Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson later confirmed the action.

Earlier it was confirmed two coronavirus patients in London died, taking the number of people in the UK to die after contracting Covid-19 to 10.

The number of cases in the UK since the beginning of the outbreak also rose to 590. More than 27,000 people have been tested across the UK.

The update comes after chief medical officers for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland wrote to doctors warning that coronavirus will put healthcare under extreme pressure which will inevitably be exacerbated by staff shortage due to sickness or caring responsibilities.

Whatever it takes: Matt Hancock gives coronavirus update in Commons

Furthering discussing the UK government response, Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg earlier indicated that emergency legislation to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak could be brought in in the week starting March 23.

This is subject to talks between Labour and the Tories.

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He said: It is something where the whole nation is coming together as one and Im grateful for the support so far being received from the official Opposition.

The Government will do everything it can to ensure that co-operation continues to be given willingly and is why I was not more specific about the specific second readings we will be having because that will obviously be dependent on these talks.

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Earlier it was announced schools and childcare facilities in Ireland will close from 6pm today - not reopen until March 29 to help contain the spread of Covid-19, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said.

Teaching will be done online or remotely while state-run cultural institutions will also close.

Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people as well as outdoor meetings of more than 500 will be cancelled there.

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has topped 118,000 since the outbreak began. The majority have been in mainland China.
Amid cases of the new coronavirus across the region, Lake Houston area residents, businesses and organizations are preparing to prevent the spread of the disease.

The Greater Houston area has at least 14 cases of COVID-19. A positive COVID-19 case was identified in a Montgomery County resident who has no reported out-of-state travel and has not identified a contact with another person with COVID-19, indicating a community spread according to a press release from the city of Houston.

Mayor Sylvester Turner signed a proclamation on March 11 to declare a Local State of Disaster Due to a Public Health Emergency in an effort to contain and mitigate COVID-19 from spreading.

Related: Coronavirus live updates

Memorial Hermann Health system released an online statement disclosing that a small number of patients that were tested for COVID-19 were found to have positive test results for the infection. These patients are being treated under the systems infection control and are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. A spokesperson for the health system said the information provided on their website applies to all locations, including Memorial Hermann Northeast in Humble.

Schools prepare to lower risk

As of March 12, Humble ISD has not canceled any events. After Spring Break, classes will resume on Monday, March 16 for middle and high school students. The 2019-2020 calendar had already designated March 16 as a professional development day for elementary school staff, so elementary classes are scheduled to resume on March 17. The Houston Health Department has not recommended closing schools, but if a case of COVID-19 is found at a school, the department will work with the school to determine the next steps.

Although classes will continue after Spring Break, the district will not count absences from March 16-27 for perfect attendance awards and exam exemptions. The district will be monitoring information related to COVID-19 coming from health and other officials and are following the recommendations of the CDC and Harris County Public Health Department. With the week-long break, the district is deep cleaning and sanitizing every school building and bus, including the use of fogging machines. Deep cleaning will continue after Spring Break, a spokesperson said.

Students will not be penalized for missing class after Spring Break concludes.

Humble ISD understands that each family has unique concerns, related to health or other circumstances, about Coronavirus COVID-19, Jamie Mount, chief communications officer for Humble ISD, wrote in an email. We want parents to know that the district will support parents who believe their children need to stay home. We are committed to doing what we can to support the unique needs of students in the best interest of each child.

Related: Montgomery ISD to close early for spring break with new coronavirus case in county

The Lone Star College system has canceled all study abroad trips, which included travel to Italy, Greece, Spain and Portugal, for the remaining semester and is exploring different options for Lone Star College students, according to LSC chancellor Stephen C. Head. To prevent a spread to thousands of people on campus, employees who travel to China, Iran, South Korea, or Italy will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return, as is recommended by the CDC for those traveling the countries designated as Level 3 for COVID-19. These employees will be placed on administrative leave and will be paid a full salary during their self-quarantine. Students who travel to a Level 3 country during the Spring Break will also be required to self-quarantine.

Non-profits, businesses following guidelines

It is still uncertain what events with Humble Area Assistant Ministries will be canceled as a precaution, according to executive director Millie Garrison. Upcoming scheduled events included Cardboard City on March 21, which Humble ISD hosts and has not canceled at the time, and Pillars of the Community on March 27.

In addition to preparing to possibly cancel events that would draw large crowds, HAAM has antibacterial soap, the wall-mounted machines for hand cleaning and anti-bacterial hand gel on site. The Humble-based nonprofit has implemented a cleaning procedure for the opening, middle and end of the work day. The organization has also listed recommendations in their lobby that only one person from each household represent their family and get their needs met to limit the volume of people in the offices.

What weve done is weve had to cancel a couple of our food fairs in the community, because thats where 300 people come for a food fair, Garrison said. So we have canceled those until the end of the month and then we can re-evaluate that.

HAAM is handing out double the amount of food they provide to families so that if they do have to self-quarantine they wont have to worry about feeding themselves, Garrison said. The local non-profit also manages Meals On Wheels and will be handing out two weeks worth of frozen food to participating seniors in addition to the warm meals as a precautionary supply of food. At this time, no volunteers have canceled their service due to COVID-19.

Related: As coronavirus concerns increase, Houston nonprofits need help

The Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association (BPCCA) has canceled their 21st annual Heritage Day event that was scheduled for March 14 at the Humble Civic Center, according to a statement from BPCCA President Dwight Judge. Scholarships through the BPCCA are funded through sponsorships from the event and will still be awarded during the BPCCA honors banquet in June. Dena Hawkins, vice president of marketing for BPCCA, said they could not make this happen without their sponsors who are important to their overall success and they appreciate their support.

In the interest of public health, the Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association has canceled The Heritage Day experience orginally scheduled for March 14, 2020, the statement read. We will issue refunds for any tickets purchased online. We appreciate you understanding that the health and safety of our fans and participants are top priority. We look forward to Heritage Day 2021 and continuing to promote Black Cowboys and Cowgirls and supporting youth and education. Thanks for your continued support of BPCCA.

The Houston Airport System published a press release on March 10, which said that the system understands the impacts COVID-19 has to airports and travel and are following cleaning protocols created by the CDC in addition to maintaining close contact with the CDC, the City of Houston Health Department and other relevant entities.

John Royalty, IAH center operations supervisor for United Service Organizations (USO) Houston, an organization that has served the members and families of the U.S. Military for over 77 years, said they are increasing their cleaning operations, using sanitized wipes on surfaces every four-hour shift at least once and have hand sanitizer bottles throughout the center.

I would like to say that my volunteers are very courageous and dedicated to their mission to continue to volunteer to come in through this tough time, Royalty said. Theyre really pressing forward and staying strong, and I really appreciate that.

Related: Expert explains why Houston mayor was right to declare disaster

Seniors facilities take proactive steps

Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, lung disease or diabetes are at a higher risk of contracting the virus according to the CDC. The Houston Health Department more specifically notes in a city of Houston press release that people 60 and older, people with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, people who have weakened immune systems [or] people who are pregnant are at a higher risk.

Atria Senior Living in Kingwood is following CDC guidelines and taking additional precautions to ensure the safety of their residents and employees, according to a statement from Mike Gentry, Senior Vice President of Atria Senior Living. If anyone has traveled abroad in the last 14 days, been diagnosed with or directly exposed to anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, or share a household with someone who falls into either of those two categories, will not be permitted to enter any Atria communities according to the statement.

The health and well-being of Atria residents and employees is our first priority, Gentry said in a statement. ...We have postponed or canceled all events where three or more visitors might enter an Atria community and cancelled all excursions to public gathering places, such as grocery stores, religious services, shopping malls and theaters We continue to monitor for any new developments and evaluate our precautions daily.

Breaking News: Get email alerts from Chron.com sent directly to your inbox

Allie Danziger, President and founder of Integrate Agency located in The Heights neighborhood in Houston, said the company will be offering Houston businesses free consultation through March 30. She said they did the same program offering during Hurricane Harvey and were able to help over 50 businesses. In terms of responding the COVID-19, Danziger recommends communicating authentically and honestly, as well as sharing the CDC recommendations in a way that is specific to a business's messaging tone.

We just feel its our duty as a business to give back however we can as we see businesses not sure of how to react or what type of message they should be sending, Danziger said. ...I just felt like it was kind of our duty to contribute to the greater good and provide positive social impact during this time.

For more information and to stay up to date on COVID-19, visit HoustonEmergency.org.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
(Alliance News) - Argentina-focused President Energy PLC has put its capital expenditure plans under review following the collapse in the oil price.

Over the past week there has been a slump in the price of oil, amid the worldwide spread of Covid-19 and a failure by major oil producers to agree on output cuts to arrest the slide.

Brent was quoted at USD33.42 a barrel on Thursday morning, having been at USD70 early in 2019.

"Given recent market developments and in line with most energy companies, President's capex budget for 2020 is under review. Whilst awaiting greater visibility for domestic prices going forwards in Argentina, President is nevertheless continuing the planning for drilling wells in its value-added areas," said President.

President has a number of concessions in Rio Negro province in Argentina, on the Neuquen basin. It also owns a concession in Salta province, as well as producing sites in Louisiana and some exploration blocks in Paraguay.

It noted Thursday gas production from Rio Negro is now over 1,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and growing, and the firm is on target for 2,000 barrels a day by the end of the first half of 2020.

President said there is "quite understandably" focus on the firm's debt levels in the current circumstances, and it noted debt has fallen significantly recently. Bank debt is USD3.7 million, down from above USD10 million over the last 18 months.

The rest of President's debt is owed to major shareholders. They include Chair Peter Levine, who owns 30% of the company, and commodity trader and offtake partner Trafigura, which holds "in excess" of 6% of shares.

President said it is "pleased" with recent restrictions announced on Tuesday by the Argentinian government on the import of crude and petroleum products. These, it said, have been introduced to promote investment in the Argentinian hydrocarbon industry.

"The company further notes market speculation that pressure is building from provinces, producers and unions alike to introduce a fixed price for oil sales going forward, in similar manner to that which existed under the presidency of Christina Kirchner, the current vice-president and continued under the subsequent administration of President [Mauricio] Macri for certain periods until 2018, where in order to provide a solid and less volatile platform for the industry and the economy as a whole, the domestic oil price benchmark was fixed," the company said.

"During that period there were times when the fixed price was higher than the Brent price."

Chair Levine said the recent government initiative is "well-timed, appropriate, and welcomed".

Shares were 5.7% lower on Thursday morning in London at 2.31 pence each. A year ago, they were worth nearly 8p.

By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A Miami firefighter was hospitalized Wednesday after he fell sick following a trip to California. A mistrial was declared later in the afternoon after someone began to feel ill with flu-like symptoms in a Miami courtroom. A day earlier, any Miami-Dade prosecutors who had traveled abroad in recent weeks were ordered home to self-quarantine.

The coronavirus hasnt been discovered in any of Miami-Dade Countys courts, jails or police and fire stations  but those in the public-safety and justice system already are starting to feel the strain of global public-health fears.

At the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, postal worker James Morris still dutifully showed up there for jury duty but his appearance also captured the mood at Miamis criminal courthouse. He wore a white mask over his nose and mouth while waiting in the jury pool room.

Its one thing to be afraid and another thing to be cautious, Morris said during a break. Especially in a place like this, with so many people coming in and out.

As the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, spreads across the world  on Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic  the criminal courthouse felt like a ghost town, with few trials underway.

Some lawyers already were beginning to reschedule hearings to avoid the routine crowds. Other lawyers and defendants trudged up the stairs  few wanting to risk the close confinement of the elevators, and the first-floor escalators were out of service yet again. Meanwhile, cleaning crews roamed the halls, wiping down door handles, trays at the X-ray security checkpoints and bathroom doors.

In a letter posted to the courts website, Miami-Dade Chief Judge Bertila Soto said judges may soon begin to reschedule hearings and trials farther out in the calendar year for people not currently in jail, while limiting how often inmates are brought to court from jail.

The justice building is like the bar in Star Wars, said Miami lawyer Jonathan Blecher, who rescheduled one routine case to avoid going in on Wednesday. Its a crazy place where anything can incubate and people are coming from all over the place. I would rather not be there as much as possible.

Story continues

In Broward County, where at least four coronavirus cases have been confirmed, Chief Judge Jack Tuter earlier this week also said we are working on plans to have the parties set teleconferences on regularly scheduled hearings.

On the streets of South Florida, first responders were also dealing with virus concerns.

A Miami firefighter was hospitalized Wednesday after he returned from a personal trip to California. He was being tested for the coronavirus, and a Miami fire-rescue facility was disinfected Wednesday just in case.

Not much has changed for patrol officers and street detectives  who cant exactly avoid dealing with the public. Were just doing our jobs trying to keep our hands clean and trying to stay a little bit of a distance away from everybody we communicate with, said one veteran South Florida street detective.

Coronavirus concerns arent just in the courtroom. Emergency room RN Erika Juvier, 24, gets fitted with a particulate respirator and surgical mask using a hood and fit test solution to make sure the mask fits properly during the novel coronavirus preparation at Nicklaus Childrens Hospitals employee headquarters on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Miami, Florida.

On Wednesday morning Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Freddy Ramirez sent a memo to his staff outlining precautionary steps that included suspending non-essential trips, training classes and student internship programs.

Ramirez told his staff hes taking these steps out of an abundance of caution to minimize any unnecessary exposure risk to our employees.

At the Miami Police Department, officials have been crafting a plan to continue patrols and responding to emergencies, even if 40 percent of its patrol staff were to be quarantined. Detectives and administrative officers  even from the chiefs office  would need to hit the road, not unlike during other emergencies such as hurricanes.

Everybody is somebody we can potentially use, Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina said. People in investigations and administration are patrol ready. They understand that tomorrow they could get a call for service.

The Miami-Dade jail system has also stepped up vigilance.

Intake officers are grilling new inmates about their recent travel. Late last week, several inmates were isolated after they exhibited flu-like symptoms. One tested positive for the flu. None were suffering from the coronavirus, according to jail spokesman Juan Diasgranados.

Still, the Miami-Dade Public Defenders Office is cautioning lawyers to speak with their jailed clients via the officers secure video system. We have not limited jail interviews yet. But, we may do that soon, Public Defender Carlos Martinez said. Some attorneys prefer face to face. But preferences may have to take a back seat to employee and client safety.

At Miami-Dades courthouses, theres been an uptick in jurors requesting postponement of their civic duty because of fears of corona virus, said Clerk of Court Harvey Ruvin. Precise numbers on jury absences were not immediately available on Wednesday.

Some lawyers werent taking any chances.

One person who had recently worked in the courtrooms of Judge Miguel de la O, and Gina Beovides, both of the criminal division, decided to self-quarantine after reporting flu-like symptoms, a courts spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The Herald confirmed that because of the sick person, lawyers in an aggravated battery case agreed to a mistrial on Wednesday afternoon. The trial was in its second day.

Debra K. Cohen, 60, who suffers from emphysema, also said she is staying home and will try to reschedule her hearings.

Its deadly and Im afraid some judges might not appreciate it, said Cohen, who runs a solo practice. Im prepared to go broke and get on disability. Im doing my best to stay alive.

Others didnt have a choice.

The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office on Tuesday sent home several prosecutors who had traveled abroad recently.

The decision was made after the Florida Department of Health, in a bulletin, warned anyone who had traveled to a foreign country to self-quarantine for 14 days. DOH rescinded the warning two hours later, saying the self-quarantine was meant for anyone who had visited hot spots such as Italy, China and South Korea.

Still, in an abundance of caution, the State Attorneys Office asked prosecutors whod gone overseas to stay home. Those staffers werent being forced to take sick or vacation days, but would have to be available to take work calls.

Assistant State Attorney Lorna Salomon, who oversees human resources with the state, wrote in a memo: These employees will be allowed to be required to be available by phone for consultation during their regular working hours.

Miami Herald staff writer Joey Flechas contributed to this report.
President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who is on an official visit in Azerbaijan, has today visited the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum.

The Turkmen President was informed of the museum. In 2010, Azerbaijan's traditional art of carpet weaving was included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The carpet museum, where unique samples of applied arts are exhibited, has been located in different places throughout its history. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation and UNESCO provided assistance in the construction of the new building.

The building design is reminiscent of a rolled up carpet. The museum now houses exhibits and items, including carpets, thread-work samples, metalwork, fabrics, clothing, ceramic, glass, wooden and paper items, jewelry, books, and a unique collection of photographs. The exhibits are conserved on the basis of recommendations and instructions of Louis Sguirer, a renowned specialist in fabric conservation at the Victoria and Albert Museum who was invited to Baku in 2013.

Designed by acclaimed Austrian architect Franz Janz, the museum highlights all areas of the Azerbaijani carpet making school and features a wide assortment of centuries-old carpets and thread-work samples.

The Turkmen President viewed the museums Jewelry Fund which includes womens and mens jewelry belonging to the late 19th - early 20th century, as well as some created in the Bronze Age.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov donated Turkmen carpet to the museum.

The Turkmen President was presented with a keepsake.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Benjamins publishing company received awards from the NYC Big Book Awards in four categories. In addition to Black Dragon, he received a Distinguished Favorite in Crime Fiction for Threes a Crowd, Best Romantic Comedy for A Sunday Kind of Love. His novel, Summer of 68, was also a Distinguished Favorite in Historical Fiction.

From the Independent Press Awards, he was honored as a Distinguished Favorite in Mystery for Skulduggery in the Latin Quarter and won Best Essay Collection for Almost Killed by a Train of Thought.

Applause for Black Dragon

Benjamin, who knows Japan first-hand from working as an editor and columnist for several Tokyo newspapers and magazines, describes his thriller this way. Reporter Steve Knight has stumbled into a terrorist plot to destroy Japans imperial family and turn Asias model democracy into a gangster state. Japans fate comes down at last to a wild race through Tokyo, amidst a hail of bombs and bullets, in a disintegrating Volkswagen Beetle!

James Fallows, of The Atlantic magazine calls the thriller, A genuine page-turner, full of enough action, suspense, sly humor, and sharp, cultural insights.an enjoyable and provocative book.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 16:42:55|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 12, 2020 shows an entrance to the arrival hall of Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait. Kuwait has decided on Wednesday to suspend the commercial flights to and from the country starting from March 13. Kuwait reported eight new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 80, the Ministry of Health said Thursday. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)

KUWAIT CITY, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait reported eight new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 80, the Ministry of Health said Thursday.

At a daily press briefing, the ministry's spokesman Abdullah Al-Sanad said five of the new cases were Egyptian nationals who tested positive after being in close contact with a person from Azerbaijan.

The three others were Kuwaiti citizens who travelled back from Iran, he added.

Among the newly confirmed cases are four at the intensive care unity, one in critical condition and the rest in stable condition.

Kuwait decided on Wednesday to suspend all commercial flights starting Friday to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Li Minggang, Chinese ambassador to Kuwait, said on Tuesday that Kuwati health officials had expressed willingness to send medical teams to learn from China's experience in fighting the epidemic after it ends.
Update: Since coronavirus has closed the theaters, Universal has made "The Hunt" available for rent at all the most popular home video services. A $19.99 rental gives you unlimited viewing for 48 hours.

"The Hunt" is a "satirical thriller" that should give equal opportunity offense to fans of both Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow, a movie that could bring the quarreling extremes in America together in a way that no politician ever could.

It's also a movie that generated controversy last summer when members of the news media (none of whom had seen the film) decided that "The Hunt" was set to cash in on a series of mass shootings in the United States. Its release was canceled, but now Universal is trying again in the shadow of the coronavirus panic.

"The Hunt" is a wickedly nasty exploitation movie that clocks in at under 90 minutes (including credits). It's ruthlessly efficient in its storytelling and packs a rather elaborate plot and ace action sequences into less time than it takes for a Marvel movie to clear its throat.

Part of what you've heard is true. Hillary Swank leads a group of NPR-listening liberals who've declared open season on "deplorables" via a private hunt along the lines of "The Most Dangerous Game." Both the hunters and their prey are equally deplorable, and the script by "Watchmen" producers Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelhof turns its firehose with equal force on the clueless elites and the internet conspiracy trolls they're hunting.

Standing apart from the crowd is Afghanistan combat veteran Crystal (Betty Gilpin), who learned some wicked survival skills during her Army service. How she finds herself dumped into the sewer with the rest of the movie's loathsome crew is one of the movie's greatest reveals, and it's worth getting yourself to the theater before someone insists on ruining all the plot twists.

Characters don't die in the order that you'd expect (based on their movie-star billing), and the writers and director Craig Zobel never fail to deliver on the gruesome surprises that await almost all of the characters.

The trailers have already revealed that the movie builds up to a showdown between Swank and Gilpin. By the time they square off in epic hand-to-hand combat, you'd think the movie has entirely abandoned its satire and just embraced its glorious exploitation action roots. And then comes the stinger, just as the battle ends.

Without giving anything away, it's hard not to mention here that "The Hunt" features one of the best military adviser jokes you're ever going to hear, one that should bring joy to the hearts of every combat grunt. You might think you see it coming, but you really won't.

Navy veteran Sturgill Simpson offers an outstanding turn as one of the hunted deplorables, and his character is credited as "Vanilla Nice." Just like his other roles in "Queen & Slim" and "The Dead Don't Die," Simpson takes a smaller role and makes it memorable.

Ultimately, "The Hunt" celebrates an Army veteran who doesn't have time for any of the noise and nonsense generated by the honking geese of modern social media.

Gilpin is dynamite in this movie, and anyone who's enjoys a shoot 'em up exploitation movie (and isn't an active follower of QAnon) should have a blast watching "The Hunt."
People with low immunity including children, those with pre-existing health problems, elderly and pregnant women must take more care

According to recent updates issued by the WHO, the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) can infect people of all ages. The elderly and those with certain pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease seem to be more vulnerable to its severity. While there is no treatment available for the condition, there is a need to raise awareness on taking precautions. People across all age groups must follow good hand and respiratory hygiene to avoid a possible infection.

The number of people affected by the new coronavirus currently stands at over a lakh around the world. About 3000 people have lost their lives due to the infection and over 5000 are critical. The outbreak began in a province of China and was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020.

Speaking about this, Dr K K Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania (CMAAO), said, To tackle any disease or infection, it is imperative to dispel myths associated with it. There are certain misconceptions surrounding the new coronavirus as well. I urge people to only get their information from reliable sources and not rely on forwarded messages or any remedies propagated via social media channels. They must stay informed and undertake hygienic practices including washing their hands with soap and water regularly; avoiding touching face, nose, eyes, etc., with unclean hands; avoiding contact with people who are sick; and staying on self-quarantine in case they experience even mild symptoms.

Adding further, Dr Vishal Sehgal, Medical Director, Portea Medical, said, Indias massive population of senior citizens with waning immunity is highly vulnerable to viral infections like the new coronavirus. They should thus be constantly monitored and any variations in their health condition or appearance of symptoms of flu or pneumonia should be taken very seriously. As a leading healthcare company catering to the elderly, we recommend immediate expert medical attention in such cases. Timely administration of expert medication greatly improves the survival chances of the patients. Sanitation and hygiene at home must be doubly ensured and frequency of home cleaning/handwashing is highly recommended. The elderly should avoid going outdoors specially to crowded places or commuting in public transport for the time being.

Few case reports from China indicate that the coronavirus may have adverse effects on newborns, and cause issues such as preterm labor, fetal distress, etc. Although significant risk has not be reported, it is important for pregnant women to avoid travel or coming into contact with an infected person.

Dheeraj Jain, Founder, Redcliffe Life Sciences said, Pregnant women must be extra attentive towards preventing coronavirus infection since the chances of complications are more if they get infected. Expectant mothers must follow all the WHO recommendations such as frequent washing of hands, maintaining utmost sanitation, using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, keeping distance from anyone showing signs of flu or other such infections etc. They should avoid visiting public places and choose to work from home if they experience any sickness or fevers. These standard precautions and an enhanced focus on hygiene can help reduce their risk.

Since the new coronavirus is a respiratory infection, it puts people with heart diseases also at greater risk. Make sure to notice any unusual signs and symptoms and get checked immediately in case they prolong. Those with heart diseases must constantly monitor themselves at home using pocket-sized devices that are available today. Apart from this, basic preventive measures must be taken including washing hands frequently and avoiding touching possibly contaminated surfaces, etc. Maintain a safe distance from anyone with symptoms of flu or other viral infections especially if you have a heart disease, added, Neha Rastogi, Founder and COO, Agatsa.

So far, conventional medicine has not been able to find a solution to the virus. Viral infections unlike bacterial infections cant be cured with a simple dose of antibiotics. According to Sarvesh Shashi, Founder, SARVA Yoga, The best thing to do right now is to prevent the infection by using masks, sanitizers and being fit and healthy. Research shows that the coronavirus poses a bigger threat to people with a low immune system. In such a scenario yoga can certainly come to the rescue. While it cant prevent you from being infected nor is it a cure, some Asanas, if practiced correctly and regularly can aid in building a robust immune system. These include Matyasana, Utkatasana, Uttanasana, Vrikshasanaand, Halasana and others.

General precautionary measures everyone should follow
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday informed that there is no proposal to adjourn Parliament sine die in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The number of coronavirus cases in India has gone up to 69. The virus has infected over 1,10,000 people worldwide spreading over to 90 countries.

The government has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

People can avoid catching the virus by taking simple precautions such as washing hands with soap, using hand sanitisers, maintaining good respiratory hygiene and maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from anyone who is coughing and sneezing.
RTHK: Duterte orders Manila lockdown, undergoes virus test

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced plans on Thursday for a halt to all transport in and out of the capital Manila and a quarantine to contain the spread of the deadly new coronavirus.

In a nationally televised address, Duterte also approved a month of school closures, ban on mass gatherings and a prohibition on the entry of foreigners from places where the contagion is spreading. It came hours after officials said Duterte underwent "precautionary" tests himself.

It was not immediately clear when all the measures would take effect but Duterte said the temporary block on land, sea and air traffic into and out of the capital would start on Sunday.

"It's a lockdown," Duterte said.

The Philippines has a relatively small number of confirmed cases compared to hotspots such as China and Italy, but its tally has risen from 24 to 52 since Monday.

It has recorded five deaths, one of which was a Chinese tourist from Wuhan, the disease's epicentre.

Duterte, who at 74 is in a vulnerable age group for the virus, underwent testing because he has been in regular contact with officials who announced they would isolate themselves as a precaution.

"It is just prudent for us to take precautionary measures in compliance with the advice of our health officials," said Duterte ally and Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, adding results were due in 48 hours.

Shortly after the announcement Duterte would be checked, trading in Manila's stock market was halted for only the second time ever as it plunged 10 per cent in the latest rout to hit global equities over the virus. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Up to 1.6 million people in Australias most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) could be hit by the first wave of a statewide coronavirus outbreak, health authorities warn, with up to 80,000 people likely to require intensive care simultaneously.

Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant says preparations are underway for 20 percent of the states eight million residents to catch COVID-19.

Chant expects every person who becomes ill will pass it on to 2.68 others on averagealthough this could be reduced through self-isolation, social distancing and handwashing.

Were anticipating 20 percent of the population in the first wave to be affected, Chant told a NSW budget estimates hearing on Thursday.

She said forecasts showed five percent of residents affected by coronavirusor up to 80,000 peoplewould require intensive care.

The World Health Organisation overnight declared the global crisis a pandemic, sounding the alarm about mounting infection rates and slow government responses.

Chant said NSW Health was planning to double the states intensive care unit capacity and double the availability of ventilators.

The response is in relation to both COVID-19 and the start of the flu season.

We think doubling is prudent in the first stage, Chant said.

But if we have to do more, thats fine.

Authorities have not yet finalised plans for so-called drive-through coronavirus testing sites.

The number of NSW cases has reached 77, the origin of four of them unclear.

Chant implored anyone flying into NSW from overseasnot solely from banned countries China, South Korea, Iran and Italy  to distance themselves.

Practically, you should attempt to keep  1.5 metres between yourself and others, avoid crowds, mass gatherings, she said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday will meet with state and territory counterparts at COAG to discuss the possibility of mass closures of schools, universities and large events.

She encouraged residents to stay home if they felt ill.

Theres no need to panic, to massively change what youre doing, but its not business as usual, Berejiklian told reporters.

The Lismore campus of Southern Cross University reopened on Thursday after an overseas-based staff member attended a series of workshops before returning to the Philippines.

Vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker said 45 people were believed to have come into contact with the man.

NSW Health on Wednesday said COVID-19 clinics will be opened in all local health districts to diagnose patients with symptoms.

Royal North Shore, Royal Prince Alfred, John Hunter and Nepean hospitals will soon have the capacity to test for COVID-19.

Currently, only Prince of Wales, Westmead and Liverpool hospitals are able to.

Authorities are investigating a virus cluster in Sydneys northwest centred on Ryde Hospital and the Dorothy Henderson Lodge nursing home.

The Transport Workers Union, meanwhile, has demanded NSW bus drivers be given more information and resources to protect themselves.
ROME  This city has changed more in the past few days than it did during the past two decades I've lived here.

Everyone knows Rome is a beautiful place. It has great food and unmatched cultural riches. What I like most about it is that it feels like one big, friendly neighborhood. You run into someone you know, kiss-kiss. A friendly hand on the shoulder. An arm around the back.

Ciao bello, someone says. Un caffe? Come va?

The city went under coronavirus lockdown Monday night, and rules were tightened Wednesday to a degree never seen in Europe during peacetime.

Soon after, piazzas that echoed laughter and the barking of dogs went silent. Tourists disappeared. Museums, restaurants, churches, archaeological sites, schools, cinemas, coffee bars  all closed.

Sporting events canceled. Weddings and funerals outlawed. Nobody can leave their homes without a signed document saying they know the risks they are taking by being out. People who pass in the streets look down and give each other a wide berth. Rome is no longer Rome.

For me, a transformation started a few days earlier. When the news of the first lockdown hit, I was already under self-quarantine on fears that I might have been infected by coronavirus.

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Coronavirus updates: NCAA tournaments canceled; NHL, MLS halt seasons; MLB on hold; Disneyland, Broadway going dark

That story started 300 miles to the north in Milan:

Wednesday, March 4

I was on my way back to Rome from Milan by train.

Milan is Italys vibrant economic capital, but when I was there, the city was suffering. I spoke to business leaders about the impact the outbreak was going to have on their economy.

This will pass, shopkeeper Pietro Cerullo told me. Its tough now. People are scared. We just need to hunker down and get through it. Come back at the end of the month.

The previous day, Italys Ministry of Health announced that 2,263 people in Italy had been infected with the coronavirus, an increase of nearly 500 from the day before. A total of 79 were dead. The majority of the infected cases were in or near Lombardy, the region that includes Milan, though Milan itself was largely spared.

Story continues

A man rides a scooter through the empty streets of Milan, Italy.

Thursday, March 5

Back in Rome, I attended an informal diplomatic function. For the first time, I met someone  a ranking official with the Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization  who refused to shake anyones hand as a way to avoid infection. He tapped elbows instead, though after a few drinks, he shook everyones hand before leaving.

Here are the facts: The facts on coronavirus aren't all scary. Why so much fear?

Rome had been gearing up for a world-class exhibit marking the 500th anniversary of the death of Renaissance master painter Raphael set to open on this day. It would show off the largest single collection of his works ever collected. The opening was postponed.

Friday, March 6

This was the first day that all 20 of Italys regions had at least a few cases of coronavirus. There were 3,916 infected people nationally. Lazio, the region that includes Rome, had just 54 cases. The problems in Milan seemed far away.

I hadnt slept much the previous few days, and that morning I woke up with a bit of a sore throat and a slight fever. I took a couple of ibuprofen and went to my home office.

The Duomo in Milan is closed to tourists.

Saturday, March 7

Nicola Zingaretti, 54, president of the Lazio region and leader of one of the countrys two largest political parties, reported he had been infected by coronavirus. Well, its come to me, Zingaretti said in a video posted to social media. He said he felt fine and would work from home.

That afternoon, I had a phone interview with Massimo Galli, one of Italys top virologists. At the end of the interview, I asked whether Zingaretti was being overly cautious. Absolutely not, he said. Anyone showing symptoms should be tested. This is serious.

My sore throat had developed into a slight cough, and my fever was a little more than a degree above normal. I mentioned it to Galli, and he easily persuaded me to get tested.

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The test itself is easy: a swab inside the mouth, a test of my blood pressure and temperature. I was out in 10 minutes. The doctors advice: Stay at home for two or three days until I could receive the results. The waiting is harder.

I had to debate whether or not to tell my mother, Nieves, back in Florida. Shes approaching 80 and originally from the Dominican Republic. I worried she might overreact. But I complain to my family when they dont tell me about their medical issues.

When I told her, she began to cry, as if Id received a death sentence. When I was an infant in the 1960s, my older brother died at the age of 3. My mother gathered her strength and declared that God wouldnt take two children from her. She decided to ask her church to pray for me the next day.

Sunday, March 8

Very early that morning, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte issued strict lockdown orders for a huge swath of northern Italy representing 16 million people  more than a quarter of the countrys population and nearly half of its economic output.

A few hours before the decree went into effect, word leaked, and thousands of locals loaded up their cars or boarded trains to head south. One woman in Milan paid a taxi driver nearly $1,500 to be driven to Rome. Without a doubt, many of those who left the north carried the coronavirus with them.

After church, my mother called and said people were praying for me in Florida and in the Dominican Republic. Her voice clearly trembled when she spoke, but she said her heart told her Id be OK.

That evening, riots broke out at 27 different prisons across Italy after officials halted visitation rights and delayed furloughs and parole hearings. By the time they concluded, 10 people were killed, buildings were burned, and guards were taken hostage. It was the most widespread prison unrest on record in Italy.

Monday, March 9

This was the first day I might have received my test results, but there was no word. My mother called me around 11 a.m. my time  6 a.m. for her  and breathed out a frustrated sigh when I told her I wouldnt know until at least the following day.

That morning, I did an on-air interview from my home office with Your Morning, a television program in Canada. The host was more interested in what it felt like to be under quarantine than on the latest developments in the country.

The big news hit that night around 10 p.m. local time when Conte, the prime minister, announced a nationwide lockdown, effective the following morning. Restaurants and coffee bars would have to close by 6 p.m. local time.

Exclusive poll:Americans are more worried about finances than their health amid coronavirus outbreak

Overall, the rules were vague: Would people be allowed to leave their houses at all? Would supermarkets be open? How would the rules be enforced?

I weighed my options and decided to leave the house and go to a 24-hour supermarket a few miles away to load up on supplies, despite my quarantine. There was a line when I got there. One worker played the role of a bouncer; we could enter only as others left. I stayed far from people in line, and after an hour, I was in.

St. Peter's Square in Rome is nearly empty on March 10, 2020.

Tuesday, March 10

Around 30 minutes before I was scheduled to go back on the air with Your Morning, I called the hospital again. Just a minute, the nurse said. I could hear paper shuffling. Letto, Livorno, Lupo, Luzzi. Ecco  here it is  Lyman. Do you want me to open it up?" I did. Youre OK, she said after a moment. You just have a cold.

I had been calm since I took the test and could be relied on to tell my friends to be calm, but the good news hit me like a wave. I began to cry. It was the middle of the night in Florida, but after a minute, I wanted my mother to see the good news as soon as she woke up. I wrote to her in Spanish: Im fine. They sent the results. I only have a cold.

A moment later, I got the call from Your Morning and went on air. Everyone I spoke to from the show  people I had never even talked to a day earlier  was relieved at the news of my test results. The interview went by in a flash.

While on air, I got a text message, but I couldnt look to read it. It was from my mother. My message arrived at 5:34 a.m. for her, but she was awake, waiting to hear from me. Thank God everything turned out fine, she wrote back, also in Spanish. My heart wasnt wrong. Keep taking care of yourself to get rid of that cold. I feel like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Speak later. I love you.

Oh, mom  get to sleep, I wrote back. I love you too.

Thursday, March 12

The night before, Conte upped the ante, announcing an even stricter lockdown. Everything would be closed except for grocery stores, pharmacies and, curiously, tobacco shops. Police would check the documents of anyone in the streets.

By this day, the death toll from the virus in Italy reached four digits for the first time  1,016. Total infections were 12,839, and the number of cured was 1,258.

Your questions answered: You asked us tons of questions about the coronavirus. We're answering them.

This was the first morning I couldnt go to my neighborhood coffee bar. I took my dog for a walk, staying close to home. A woman Id seen and said hello to for years waited for me to descend a wide staircase before she started her way up so as to avoid being near each other. When I got to the bottom, I said hello, but she looked away.

By then, I was already mourning the disappearance of the city I knew for more than 20 years.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus, Milan, Rome, Italy: What quarantine and lockdown are like




12 March 2020

ArcelorMittal today calls for member states and MEPs to support the introduction of a carbon border adjustment (CBA), as part of the European Commission's 1 trillion Green Deal, aimed at making the bloc carbon neutral by 2050.

In a manifesto published today , 'Creating a low carbon world, the case for a Carbon Border Adjustment', ArcelorMittal sets out its firm belief that a CBA should be one of the first Green Deal measures adopted by the new European Commission, as it will help to create the market conditions and protections needed for companies to make investments and transition to carbon neutrality without disruption.

Currently within the EU, energy-intensive industries including steel producers, pay a carbon cost under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). But this does not apply to steel producers from markets outside the EU who can sell steel with comparable or often significantly higher, carbon emissions, at a lower price. The result is that steel production is moving to non-EU countries where carbon emissions legislation is often less strict, undermining efforts to combat climate change.

However, with a CBA, when steel comes into the EU, the carbon costs that European producers pay would be added to the imported steel, equalising the cost of carbon for every producer to create a fair market and, crucially, encouraging investment in lower-emissions steel production.

Geert Van Poelvoorde, CEO ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products says: "The EU's commitment to reduce its carbon emissions to net-zero should be applauded and we hope that decision makers across Europe will back the proposals as they really could hold the key to unlocking solutions that could put a stop to carbon emissions. The climate challenge is unprecedented, and bold action is needed."

ArcelorMittal believes that a CBA can be applied in various ways, as long as it neutralizes the disparities in carbon costs between domestic products and imports, and incentivizes the transition to low carbon steel production. In the manifesto, ArcelorMittal highlights how the best-designed carbon border adjustment could work effectively:

Producers exporting to the EU should be charged the same marginal carbon emissions cost as European producers pay under the ETS. This should serve as a catalyst to other countries to introduce their own carbon schemes and invest in technologies to decarbonise.

The CBA should initially be applied to primary goods, rather than end products like household appliances and everyday tools. This is the most practical way to introduce the CBA.

To be effective, free allocation of ETS allowances, which are gradually being phased out by the European Commission, should be maintained in the first stage of the CBA, alongside compensation for high energy costs as an indirect result of the ETS. This is crucial to enabling European steel to stay competitive and ensure a smooth transition without disruption.

He says: "There are of course challenges that will need to be overcome. For example, some have argued that there is the risk of contravening international trade rules. However, the establishment of a border adjustment is compatible with international trade rules, allowing members to adopt measures necessary for the protection of the environment or relating to the conservation of natural resources providing that such measures do not constitute arbitrary discrimination between countries where the same conditions prevail. But this will only work if the policies are well-designed and drafted in the right way."

He also says: "We know we need to invest more to decarbonise our industry and we truly believe we can be a world leader in low carbon steel. But in order to do so, we need to have a CBA to create a landscape where others also contribute equally to a carbon-neutral world. The time to do this is now, with the proceeds allowing further investment in large-scale green technologies that lead to a new era of low carbon emissions."

For more information, to read the manifesto and view our short animation on the CBA, see here:

https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/sustainability/climate-action-in-europe

ENDS

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 18 countries. In 2019, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $70.6 billion and crude steel production of 89.8 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 57.1 million metric tonnes. Our goal is to help build a better world with smarter steels. Steels made using innovative processes which use less energy, emit significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they transform through this century. With steel at our core, our inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future. ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS). For more information about ArcelorMittal please visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com/
ORANGE, Ohio

Disturbance, disorderly conduct, ambulance transport: Orange Place

Police responded to the Extended Stay South around 10:30 p.m. March 5 after the front desk received several calls for help from a woman in a room where a man could be heard yelling and throwing things around.

Police found found the Brunswick couple heavily intoxicated, and recognized them from a Nov. 23 incident under similar circumstances at the Bahama Breeze restaurant.

One difference this time around was a black eye on the woman, 50, who said she could not recall how shed gotten it, although it was believed to have occurred three days earlier and may have been self-inflicted. She and her boyfriend, 55, agreed that their preceding argument had been verbal.

When she threatened to further harm to herself, police had her taken to Ahuja Medical Center for evaluation.

The man, who said he had just moved back after a few months in South Carolina, still had an active warrant with North Olmsted police, but was outside of their pickup radius. He was asked to leave the hotel, where staff was advised of a cat left unattended in their room.

Warrant: Harvard Road

Responding to concerns from management at Coopers Hawk Winery about an employee having possibly brought a gun to work in violation of the no-firearms policy in effect at the establishment on March 7, officers found no weapons in her book bag, jacket or pockets.

They did find an active warrant from Cleveland Heights police, and turned the Shaker Heights woman, 32, over to them.

Departmental information: Brainard Road

Police were dispatched to a residence on March 9 after concerned neighbors reported seeing through the windows a number of cats inside. Police counted about 10 of them, noting that they did not appear to be in poor health, with remnants of food items piled up in paper bowls near a side door.

With the amount of varying items amassed in other rooms, police worried about quick access for first responders, and eventually made contact with the owner listed on the Cuyahoga County auditors website, who was not home at the time.

Disturbance, warrant served: Park Avenue

Police responded to the West Elm furniture store in Pinecrest regarding a couple having an argument on the afternoon of March 4 and found two Orange Village warrants on the man, 30, from Garfield Heights. The previous charges on which he'd failed to appear were for driving under suspension and assault, with a total $4,000 cash or surety bond posted and a new court date set.

Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun.
Refresh this page for the latest updates on coronavirus from Washington.

WASHINGTON  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled details Thursday of a bipartisan deal she has been negotiating with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Republican lawmakers.

The package would provide free testing, paid emergency leave and increased unemployment coverage, she said. She's expected to bring it to the House floor Friday.

The latest legislation would come on top of an $8.3 billion package of emergency funding that Congress has already passed to fund research for vaccines and provide money for preparedness and response. Pelosi said lawmakers and the Trump administration will also be negotiating further steps.

Time is of the essence, and this bill must be passed and sent to the Senate, Pelosi said. The House will then get to work on a third emergency response package that will take further effective action that protects the health, economic security and well-being of the American people.

The measure the House is expected to take up Friday would:

Provide free testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured." One caveat: Theres been a tremendous shortage of test kits available so access could still be a big issue.

Set aside up to 14 days of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave for workers affected by the coronavirus contamination.

Expand unemployment benefits to workers sent home due to the crisis.

Ensure availability of food assistance such as SNAP, student meals, seniors nutrition and food banks. Democrats were able to place a temporary hold on work requirements under SNAP during the public health crisis.

Provide federal Medicaid funds to help states defray costs associated with the crisis.

Some Republicans on Capitol Hill have raised concerns about Democratic proposals to expand government programs and require paid leave, saying that could put new burdens on businesses.

 Ledyard King

Story continues

Deal could reassure reeling markets

A deal is close on an economic stimulus bill aimed at helping workers across the U.S. and countering the impact of the coronavirus on the markets, which on Thursday saw its worst day since 1987.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters outside her office Thursday evening that after all-day talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, no deal had been reached but one was close, adding that we hope to have an announcement tomorrow.

Pelosi, standing alongside House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, said the deal was subject to paper and that both sides have resolved most of our differences and the remaining issues can be settled in future bills to counter the effects of the virus on everyday life for Americans.

The legislation could serve as a reassuring message to the markets, which saw steep losses on Thursday that deepened worries about a possible recession due to the rapidly spreading virus.

That was very shocking, Pelosi said of the markets. I'm not going to go into that because what we're trying to do is be a positive force.

Neal and Pelosi said the package will help be a stimuli to the economy and offer some confidence. We all acknowledge that we have an economic downturn thats going to increase spending, and we've made that public investment as it relates to public health is issue No. 1, Neal said.

 Christal Hayes

Pelosi, Trump aides work into the night on coronavirus rescue plan

After talks that spanned a day when schools closed in several states, sporting events were canceled and financial markets saw their worst day since 1987, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin were working into the night Thursday to find common ground on a measure to stem the economic damage from the coronavirus.

Democrats want to vote on legislation to offer paid sick leave for workers, additional food assistance, free coronavirus testing and bolstered unemployment insurance among the provisions. But the proposal has been met with skepticism from President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans who raised concerns about some of the provisions and the costs incurred by businesses to implement some of the policies.

After at least seven phone calls between Pelosi and Mnuchin, a deal appeared closer. One hurdle that appears to have been crossed was Republican opposition to sick leave because of the costs to businesses that implement a mandatory leave due to the coronavirus. A aide familiar with the discussions said Democrats were able to keep in paid sick leave by offering additional tax credits that will help small and medium-sized businesses pay for the policy. If a deal is struck, the House could vote to approve the bill as early as Thursday night.

Getting the deal across the finish line remains a top priority for Congress as the virus continues to deepen its impact on every way of life across the globe. Amid pressure on lawmakers to act, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell canceled the Senate's planned recess break next week and will instead work on getting this legislation passed into law.

 Christal Hayes

AOC makes Fox News debut to confront 'misinformation' on coronavirus response

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., made her Fox News debut to discuss the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday.

I usually dont go on FOX on principle, but misinformation about coronavirus has made me concerned about risk, she tweeted. As a result I decided to go on Bret Baier to discuss coronavirus response + make the case for paid leave, Medicaid, etc

Hey all, wanted to drop a for accountability.



I usually dont go on FOX on principle, but misinformation about coronavirus has made me concerned about risk.



As a result I decided to go on @BretBaier to discuss coronavirus response + make the case for paid leave, Medicaid, etc  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 12, 2020

While discussing the outbreak, the freshman congresswoman blasted the Trump administration for its handling of the outbreak, especially for the lack of tests available, comparing the United States to countries like South Korea ().

Here, people are scrambling. It almost seems like the more wealthy and powerful you are, the more able you are to access a test, Ocasio-Cortez said. The rougher road youve got here, its going to be a lot more difficult for you to access health care. Thats exactly the recipe for disaster.

She seemed to be referencing some officials who have been able to access tests even though they have said they were not showing any symptoms.

One Democratic congressman who has been self-quarantined pushed back on the Trump administration's claim that "Frankly, the testing has been going very smooth."

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., tweeted in response, I can assure you that this is not true.

 Savannah Behrmann

Bernie Sanders urges national emergency for coronavirus

Sen. Bernie Sanders laid out a plan Thursday to combat the coronavirus pandemic, saying that the Trump Administration has been largely incompetent.

In this time of international crisis, it is clear to me at least, that we have an administration that is largely incompetent and whose incompetence and recklessness have threatened the lives of many, many people in our country, Sanders said during remarks at Hotel Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.

Sanders outlined that as president he would declare a national emergency for coronavirus, work with health care officials to give updates, make treatments or vaccines free when they are developed, give economic relief to workers who have are sick and must stay home or workers who have been fired, as well as set up relief for service workers whose pay might be affected due to lack of tips.

It is an absolute moral imperative that our response as a government, as a society, as a business community, and as individual citizens, meet the enormity of this crisis, he said.

Sanders' remarks come a couple of hours after former Vice President Joe Biden, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination, announced his plan to combat the crisis.

Trump's campaign criticized Sanders' remarks, saying that he "is the wrong prescription for fighting an outbreak like the coronavirus."

"Hes just another Democrat candidate for president trying to score political points by recklessly provoking anxiety and fear," Trump 2020 communications director Tim Murtaugh said in a statement.

 Rebecca Morin

Senate cancels recess amid coronavirus negotiations

In a tweet, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the Senate will stay in session through next week, canceling its recess.

"I am glad talks are ongoing between the Administration and (House) Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi. I hope Congress can pass bipartisan legislation to continue combating the coronavirus and keep our economy strong," McConnell wrote.

Senators had urged each other to keep the chamber in session to address the coronavirus pandemic and reauthorize surveillance authority for counterterrorism investigations.

Our nations leaders must cast aside partisan politics and put the health of our country first. Congress needs to cancel its recess and stay in session so we can work together in a bipartisan fashion to address the coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said.

Democrats also were open to halting the recess to get the coronavirus bill over the finish line.

The bottom line is the sooner we can get something done the better, said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

 Nicholas Wu and Christal Hayes

Biden releases coronavirus plan, says Trump is 'welcome to adopt all of it'

Former Vice President Joe Biden introduced a plan Thursday to combat the coronavirus pandemic, one day after President Donald Trump announced a travel ban from Europe for the next 30 days to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

This disease could impact every nation under any person on the planet, Biden said during his remarks at Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, Delaware. We need a plan about how were going to aggressively manage it at home.

Some aspects of Bidens plan include making the coronavirus test more easily accessible, frequent updates about the pandemic from health care officials and economic relief for families who have been hit by coronavirus.

President Trump is welcome to adopt all of it today, Biden said of his plan. He also criticized Trumps travel suspension from Europe, adding that although it may slow, spread of the virus, it will not stop it.

Trumps campaign slammed Bidens remarks, saying the presidents every move has been aimed at keeping Americans safe, while Joe Biden has sought to capitalize politically and stoke citizens fears.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is giving remarks later Thursday on the health and economic crisis in the United States.

 Rebecca Morin

Redfield agrees CDC will pay for costs of testing uninsured

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield said he was willing use his existing authority to have the CDC pay for all Americans to be tested for the coronavirus, including the uninsured, after persistent questioning from Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing Thursday.

Porter asserted that Redfield has such authority under federal law. Redfield initially told Porter said he was discussing the matter with HHS, but after further questions, Redfield agreed he would commit to using his authority to authorize payment for the tests.

I think youre an excellent questioner, so my answer is yes, Redfield told Porter.

 William Cummings

Trump: Markets will be 'just fine' despite plunge

President Donald Trump downplayed the latest plunge in stocks, saying Thursday that "the markets are going to be just fine."

During a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, Trump said he is considering declaring a national emergency on coronavirus and what steps he might take under it.

Trump said he has "memorized practically" the Stafford Act, which governs federal emergencies. If coronavirus is declared an emergency, it would make it easier for the federal government to send money and other help to state and local governments to deal with it.

"We have very strong emergency powers under the Stafford Act," Trump said. "I have it memorized practically as to the powers in that act. And if I need to do something I'll do it. I have the right to do a lot of things that people don't even know about."

Coronavirus: Pelosi pushes for swift passage of coronavirus bill despite Republican concerns

The New York Stock Exchange halted trading temporarily Thursday after a 7% decline. The loss came a day after Trump announced travel restrictions to Europe and a package of economic proposals to cope with the virus in the USA.

Trump opened the Oval Office meeting, which began without the customary ceremonial handshake, saying France and Germany are having difficulties, and Italy has "probably record-setting" problems.

Wednesday, Trump and Varadkar each gave speeches to their own countries about dealing with the pandemic of coronavirus.

Trump announced a 30-day suspension in travel from Europe  other than the United Kingdom  to the USA. Travel groups said 850,000 people traveled from those countries to the USA in March 2019 and spent $3.4 billion.

European travel ban: EU leaders slam Trump's sweeping coronavirus travel ban

Trump said he had to move "quickly" on the travel restrictions, which he said prevented consultations with European leaders. He said the United Kingdom was excluded because it's doing a good job of containing the virus.

"We had to make a decision, and we didn't want to take time," Trump said.

Contributing: Deirdre Shesgreen and Ledyard King

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Pelosi, Trump aides work on rescue plan after market dive
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.

_____

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Rights groups are urging Zimbabwe's government to investigate the case of an activist who went missing five years ago. Itai Dzamara was a fierce critic of the late president Robert Mugabe and his former deputy, now president, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On Tuesday, the Russian Duma (parliament) ratified proposed changes to the constitution and voted to annul the presidential terms of Vladimir Putin, which would make it possible for him to run for president again in 2024. The Federal Council approved of these changes on Wednesday. A national referendum on these changes is scheduled for April 22.

The constitutional changes were first proposed by Putin in his state of the nation address on January 15. Hours later, the entire Russian government resigned and Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev was replaced by Mikhail Mishustin.

The constitutional amendments are of a thoroughly reactionary character. Beyond formally expanding the powers of the parliament and the Constitutional Courtsteps whose actual implications remain unclearthe amendments undermine the separation of church and state, and promote ethnic chauvinism and nationalism. A reference to God will be added to the Constitution, the role of Russian as the language of a state-forming ethnic group will be enshrined, and officials are barred from holding foreign passports and residence permits.

Article 67.1 of the Constitution will now state: The Russian Federation, united by a many thousand-year-long history, is preserving the memory of its ancestors, the ideals and the faith in God transmitted to us, as well as the continuity of the development of the Russian state; it recognizes the unity of the state as historically formed. Another amendment will lead to an article emphasizing that education of children in patriotism is a priority task for the state. Moreover, the defense of the family and the defense of the institution of marriage as a union between man and woman will be enshrined in the Constitution.

The speaker of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin called the changes necessary given todays challenges and societys demands.

In addition to approving these changes to the Constitution, the Duma also voted to annual the four presidential terms that Vladimir Putin has served since 2000. Despite a formal two-term limitation on future presidents, the motion states that someone who has served or is serving as president can participate as a candidate in the [next] presidential election."

The motion was introduced by Valentina Tereshkova, the former cosmonaut and an MP for the ruling United Russia party, who pointed to unpredictable risks to the country which necessitated reliable insurance. The Duma passed her proposal with 382 votes, with 42 MPs abstaining but no one against. A proposal by the leader of the far-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), Vladimir Zhirinovsky, to dissolve parliament and call snap elections for September 2020, was voted down.

In a speech before parliament, Putin endorsed the motion. Underlying the sense of panic and doom in the Russian ruling class behind these moves, he emphasized that a strong presidency was absolutely necessary for Russia to maintain stability and prevent a division of society. He stated, Incidentally, there are precedents for elections for more than two terms, including in the United States. And why? Look: the Great Depression, huge economic problems, unemployment and poverty in the US at that time, and later on, World War II. When a country is going through such upheavals and such difficulties (in our case we have not yet overcome all the problems since the USSR, this is also clear), stability may be more important and must be given priority. All the more so, let me repeat, when a country still has many problems.

Valentina Matviyenko, a long-time ally of Putin and former mayor of St. Petersburg, stated on national television: This proposal will calm everyone down. All this discussion of who would be the successor, what would happen to national security, these are all alarming processes.

The moves toward strengthening authoritarian rule in Russia come amid a staggering escalation of the social and political crisis of the capitalist system, which is now being massively exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Internationally, Russia is engulfed in an escalating conflict with US imperialism and NATO. In recent weeks, escalating military clashes in Syria have brought Russia and Turkey, a NATO-member, to the brink of open war.

On Monday, following the failure of Russia and Saudi Arabia to reach an agreement on world oil prices, along with the coronavirus spread, stock markets experienced the most significant crash since 9/11, with oil prices plunging faster than at any time since the beginning of the First Gulf War in 1990. Black Monday led to an immediate devaluation of the ruble, which it hit a four-year low on Monday.

The Russian economy is highly dependent on the price of oil and vulnerable to fluctuations of the world economy. About 60 percent of exports and 30 percent of GDP depend upon oil and gas. While Russian officials, including the minister of the economy Anton Siluanov, have tried to assure the population that Russia can sustain its economy and budget even with a price of $30 per barrel, it is clear that the emerging world economic crisis will dramatically accelerate what has already been a prolonged crisis of the Russian economy.

In the past five years, there has been a persistent decline of real wages as the Russian economy was in a recession from 2014 to 2016. The number of those officially classified as extremely poor has risen to 20 million, out of a total population of 140 million.

The crisis will be further accelerated by the social and health impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which has reached Russia officially in early March. As of Wednesday evening, there were 20 confirmed cases in 9 different cities and regions in Russia. However, as in many other countries this number is likely an understatement, given that testing has been extremely limited. In neighboring Ukraine, where only one coronavirus patient has been officially confirmed so far, a three-week full quarantine of the entire country was announced on Thursday. In Armenia, a near neighbor of Russia in the south Caucasus, all schools have been closed.

However, Russian officials continue to downplay the developing crisis. The vice-prime minister Tatyana Golikova, speaking on state television last weekend, called the possible spread of the coronavirus to Russia an absolutely overblown story.

So far, Russia has implemented very limited measures to contain the spread of the virus. In Moscow, where over 1,000 people are quarantined, events with more than 5,000 people are banned. Flights to and from four European countries with the most serious outbreaks (France, Italy, Germany and Spain) have been banned.

The attempts by Russian officials to downplay the crisis are the result of a combination of irrationality and complacency, and the very real fear of the massive social and political consequences of a broad coronavirus outbreak.

Hospital beds per 100,000 people

The restoration of capitalism in the USSR and decades of further cuts have devastated the health care system Russia and throughout the region. Medical facilities have been depleted of funds, meaning they have outdated and insufficient equipment. The number of hospital beds has been cut dramatically, even though Russia still has more beds per 1,000 than countries like Italy or the US.

In addition, the Russian population is overall in poor health. Since the 1990s, previously eradicated diseases such as tuberculosis and diphtheria have again seen outbreaks on an epidemic level. Russia has also been the site of the most dramatic HIV epidemic outside of sub-Saharan Africa, with estimates putting the number of those infected at 2 million or more. The average life expectancy is 71.6 years, 5 years less than in the US or EU. For men, it is only a little above 65 years.

The coronavirus pandemic, combined with the world economic crisis, is thus set to take a massive toll in the population, triggering mass social and political unrest. This is why the Russian oligarchy is trying to prepare by strengthening its authoritarian rule.
DES MOINES  Secretary of State Paul Pate is asking Iowa county auditors to do a walk-through of their systems to make sure they are secure ahead of the 2020 elections.

Pate is telling auditors that his office will provide $1 million to assist them with cybersecurity resources ahead of the elections.

It like we are asking them to walk through their house to see if any windows or doors have been left open, Pate said Thursday before meeting with the auditors who were in Des Moines.

During the next few weeks, the United States Department of Homeland Security and the state Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) will conduct scans of all 99 counties websites and internal systems to look for vulnerabilities. That could be outdated equipment and software, for example, said Jeff Franklin, Pates chief cybersecurity officer.

Solutions may include replacing equipment and software, and separating critical infrastructure from non-critical systems, he said.

Following the scans, the SOS will make an initial investment of $1 million to help cover the expenses of the recommended upgrades. Almost every county already receives at least three cyber services from the OCIO, including training, intrusion detection and malware prevention, to monitor for the bad guys, Pate said.

Theyve figured out that they cant kick in the front door, so now they are sneaking around looking for another way to get inside election systems, Pate said.

Some counties have their own information technology staffs, some contract with third party vendors. Pates goal is to have all counties signed up for the full range of services available from his office.

We built a very strong foundation to secure Iowas elections, Pate said. It is now time to take out cybersecurity to the next level. We need to bolster our cyber maturity.

Franklin described the scans as a pro-active way of seeing if you have issues and to prioritize whats vulnerable.

The SOS also is helping counties transition their websites to .gov domains to help ensure they all have top-level security. Pates office will cover the cost of the transition. Homeland Security recommends the .gov domain and the National Association of Secretaries of State adopted a similar resolution in February.

The Iowa election community has done a tremendous job of adapting to the changing world of election cybersecurity, Pate said. This is a team effort and we all need to be on the same page.

The fund to assist counties with cybersecurity comes from a federal grant to Iowa through the Help America Votes Act.

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Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon, flanked by DEA and DOJ officials, speaks to media about an operation against a Mexican cartel at the Justice Department in Washington on March 11, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

DEA Arrests 700 US-Based Mexican Drug Cartel Members

WASHINGTONIn a synchronized nationwide raid on the early morning of March 11, more than 250 members of Mexicos Cartel de Jalisco Nuevo Generacion (CJNG) were swept up by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

A further 450 had already been arrested over the past six months, in what the DEA has dubbed Project Python. Most are charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.

During the March 11 arrests, agents also seized almost 600 kilograms (1,322 pounds) of drugs and more than $1.7 million in money and assets. The DEA has seized more than $20 million in cash from the cartel during the operation.

The cartel kingpin, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, is still at large; the State Department has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

In the last decade, CJNG has rapidly emerged as one of the worlds most dangerous drug trafficking organizations, acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon said at a press conference on March 11.

The DEA considers CJNG to be second only to the Sinaloa cartel for its expansive footprint in the United States.

While CJNG traffics in multiple types of illegal drugs, it is especially active in manufacturing and distributing cheap, pure, and deadly methamphetamine, Dhillon said.

He said CJNG operates at least 100 major methamphetamine labs in Mexico, as well as manufacturing and distributing heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

In addition to drug trafficking, CJNG engages in a wide range of other criminal activity, including money laundering, bribery, weapons trafficking, and corruption, he said. Theyre heavily armed and routinely engage in acts of violence.

In 2015, the cartel used rocket-propelled grenades to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter, killing nine people.

Dhillon said the cartel operates in major cities throughout the United States, particularly in its distribution hubs of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.

El Menchos son, Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, is facing trial in federal court in Washington, while his daughter, who has been central in the money-laundering side of the enterprise, was arrested in the United States two weeks ago.

Dhillon said the 700 arrests are just the first phase of the operation.
After the urgent session that the Civil Contract Party held today, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said the political party will issue a statement in half an hour.

According to Armenian News-NEWS.am, the main item on the agenda was the coronavirus.

Over the past couple of hours, there have been several calls made to stop the campaign for the constitutional referendum. During a meeting with residents of Vayots Dzor Province today, the Prime Minister declared that the campaign would be stopped, if it was necessary.

Yesterday, 3 citizens were diagnosed with coronavirus, and 57 people having had direct contact with those citizens have been isolated. Overall, there are 4 cases of coronavirus in Armenia, and 88 people have been isolated.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs



365 crore for constructing a new Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sabroom, the southernmost town in South Tripura district, about 130 km from here.

This will be the second ICP along the Indo-Bangla border in the state after Akhaura ICP here, which was set up in 2013.

Addressing an event here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said, he had requested Union Home minister Amit Shah for sanctioning funds for the ICP, when he met him three days back.

"I am very happy that he approved it so quickly," the chief minister said.

The state government had sent the Sabroom ICP proposal to the MHA in 2016 for linking the bridge on river Feni with Chittagong division of the neighbouring country.

After the BJP came to power in Tripura in 2018, the state government received Rs 2,500 crore from the Centre, which he claimed was a "record".

The BJP-IPFT government came to power two years ago in the northeastern state by ending 25-years of Left rule.

Tripuras first Special Economic Zone (SEZ), with an estimated investment of Rs 1,550 crore which will generate 12,000 skilled jobs, will also come up at Paschim Jalefa, Sabroom, officials said.

The SEZ will open new avenues to attract private investment considering the proximity of the Chittagong Port and construction of a bridge across river Feni in South Tripura that is underway, they said.

On several occasions, Deb had said that a SEZ will be set up at Sabroom town to attract investments from Bangladesh.

He said the BJP had made a poll promise to set up a SEZ at Sabroom before 2018 Tripura assembly elections.

"Sabroom has been identified for setting up the SEZ as the Indian Railways has built a goods dumping yard there. The bridge over the river Feni will be completed by this year and an International Check Post will also be built soon," Deb had said.

Bulk of the trade between the two countries is carried out through Benapole-Petrapole border in West Bengal whereas Tripura is more accessible to Bangladesh, the chief minister said.

Bangladesh authorities had been requested to enlist Tripura as one of their export routes, Deb said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coming down heavily on the Centre over failure to contain violence in Delhi, the opposition in Lok Sabha demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, but the BJP alleged a conspiracy behind the riots

New Delhi: 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 AM Ariff and NK 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 23 February. 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.

TR 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 AM 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. KRK Raju (YSRCP) said it should be probed why the violence happened, especially when US President Donald Trump was visiting the country.
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

Amid the ballooning coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending that residents of Santa Clara County have their temperatures checked before going to work every day.

As Thursday, Santa Clara County had 48 cases of COVID-19 and one death, the most of any county in California.

The same recommendation was issued for the nations other coronavirus hotspot, Seattle.

The CDC is also advising people to cancel gatherings of more than 250 people, which is the same guidance suggested by Gov. Gavin Newson. Gatherings of individuals at higher risk for the disease should be limited to 10 individuals or fewer.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, its not legal for employers to measure their workers temperatures unless the CDC or a state or local health authority proclaims a pandemic has spread in the area. But once a pandemic has reached a community, employers may record their employees temperatures without violating the American Disabilities Act.

Infrared forehead thermometers  thermometer guns  would presumably be used to check employee temperatures because they are the least invasive method. Unfortunately they are also the least reliable, according to the New York Times.

When used outside a controlled health care setting, the device is likely to register inaccurate readings because the person operating it often holds it too close or too far from a subjects forehead.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate
President Donald Trump rolled out a vaguely worded "travel ban" in his address to the nation last night that has lit a firestorm in the travel industry. Shortly after giving the speech, administration officials took to Twitter and other outlets to clarify and correct what the president really meant.

First off, I think it's fair to say that this is not really a "travel ban" after all. The president has not grounded flights. Instead, he is prohibiting entry to the U.S. for "most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States...This does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation," according to DHS head Chad Wolf who issued a statement shortly after the speech. It also does not apply to those who have recently traveled to the UK or Ireland.

At this point it sounds like Americans can still get home from Europe beyond the March 13 deadline if they want or need to, but the question now is how long will airlines continue to fly transatlantic routes with planes that are nearly empty. That uncertainty has many travelers in Europe dashing to the airport, or waiting hours on the phone to try and get out. "The ban will affect passengers arriving on nearly 7,000 flights over the next four weeks. If those flights were cancelled due to lack of demand that would remove close to 2 million seats each way from the market," according to OAG, a firm that tracks airline data.

The travel industry is reeling  in the last 24 hours big cruise lines like Princess and Viking have suspended operations. U.S. airlines have capped transatlantic fares to avoid accusations of price gouging. The launch of Virgin Voyages new Scarlet Lady ship has been scuttled. Norwegian Air is suspending most of its flights to the U.S. Denmark is in lockdown. India has closed its borders to non-citizens. The U.S. State Department is now advising Americans to avoid all travel abroad. Delta just announced it will suspend seven European routes starting this Saturday. Lufthansa will suspend "from March 14 until further notice" most of its transatlantic flying, including all flights from SFO and LAX-- along with SWISS and Austrian Airlines flights. Hotel chains such a Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott, as well as Airbnb and are adopting less stringent cancellation policies (check websites for details as they vary slightly).

The International Air Transport Association warned that moves such as Trump's proclamation will have far reaching effects on airlines, which could require governmental assistance. The group's CEO Alexandre de Juniac said, "Extending lines of credit, reducing infrastructure costs, lightening the tax burden are all measures that governments will need to explore. Air transport is vital, but without a lifeline from governments we will have a sectoral financial crisis piled on top of the public health emergency.

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Reaction to the president's muddled announcement has been fast and swift among travelers. A clarifying tweet from DHS head Chad Wolf, linking to his statement saying, "I applaud the president for making this tough but necessary decision," drew the most ire.

Here's a sampling:

"This makes little sense. The virus is here. Stopping infected Americans spreading the virus further over spring break would make more sense," wrote Zuzana Paulikova.

"Epidemiologically, how is this helping? The virus is in Montana," asked Glenn Kohler.

Gina Marie said, "Whos going to tell him that we are already living in a coronavirus-infected area, its called the United States. Barn door is open on this one, fool."

In a statement issued shortly after the president's proclamation, the European Council of the European Union rebuked Trump's move, saying, "The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action. The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation. The European Union is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus."

The US Travel Association, a travel industry lobbying group, said in a statement: Temporarily shutting off travel from Europe is going to exacerbate the already-heavy impact of coronavirus on the travel industry and the 15.7 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel."

What is it like to be an American stuck in Europe right now? Reporter Mike McIntire explained what he went through when Trump's announcement got him out of bed at 2 a.m. in Paris, and how the president's misstatements cost him:

How do you feel about traveling in this uncertain world? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Read all recent TravelSkills posts here

Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates!

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DLF has an unrivalled attention to detail, customer understanding, and a reputation that pushes retailers to bring the best versions of themselves. However they do more than that, they dont just build malls. Throughout their history, they've built communities, from the original colonies in Delhi to the metropolis that is Gurgaon, which is why their latest offering, DLF Avenue, will be much more than a place to shop.

Its primary purpose is to serve South Delhi with cultural experiences and provide the neighbourhood with a space to be inspired, shop and dine. By starting with a purpose of filling a cultural void, DLF Avenue will be much more than a mall.

DLF Avenue will be unique thanks to its revamped F&B village (Commons), a curated and focused shopping experience with a mantra of quality over quantity, from a stellar mix of local and international brands. Pushpa Bector, Executive Director, DLF Shopping Malls said, We are delighted to launch DLF Avenue Saket, a place with taste and discernment which has been carefully curated, like no other in India. We will offer culinary experiences from some of the best restaurateurs in the country, and well host fresh, cultural experiences that will make Avenue the place to be, and be seen.

Gautham Narayanan, Managing Director, W+K Delhi, commented, In our early strategic conversations, we wanted DLF Avenue to be the cultural place, and we knew if we did this well, commercial success would follow.

Pushpa Bector, added, With the help of W+K Delhi we have a clear role for DLF Avenue. They have partnered us in every aspect - strategy, positioning and even the nomenclature. They then created our logo, developed our design system and voice, which is ever-present in the mall. They brought on cultural collaborators, manage our social and our advertising. They feel like an extension to my marketing department.

Dean Wei, Executive Creative Director, W+K Delhi, concludes, We have a partner who let us impact every part of the brand and Im proud to see that everywhere in this fantastic property. DLFs knowledge of the retail sector and their business, combined with our ability to market a brand from the ground up, allowed us to approach this differently. The work weve launched feels fresh and surprising, doesnt feel like retail advertising and were very excited to propel DLF Avenue into South Delhi culture and serve the needs of the community.
University of Miami professor Bruce Bagley, recognized as an international scholar on drug cartels and money laundering, plans to plead guilty next week to a criminal conspiracy of hiding money in U.S. bank accounts for a Colombian businessman accused of stealing millions of dollars from the Venezuelan government

Bagley, who was indicted on a money laundering conspiracy count and two related charges, initially pleaded not guilty in the New York case linked to South Florida. But a notice filed this week in the Manhattan federal court indicates that the 73-year-old UM professor is going to change his plea at a hearing on March 20.

It is not clear whether Bagley will plead guilty to the three charges in the indictment or only to the main conspiracy count in the proposed plea agreement. Each of the three offenses carries up to 20 years in prison. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in New York declined to comment Thursday. Bagleys defense attorney, Peter Quijano, did not respond to a request for comment.

Federal prosecutors say Bagley, who was often quoted by the news media on subjects ranging from violent drug traffickers in Mexico to guerrilla politics in Colombia, parlayed his mastery of Latin American crime into a secret side job  laundering at least $3 million in dirty Venezuelan money through his own U.S. bank accounts and keeping about $300,000 as a fee for himself.

An FBI investigation culminated in mid-November when South Florida agents arrested Bagley, shocking the University of Miami and fellow academics across Latin America. UM officials said he was placed on administrative leave and declined further comment. Faculty members who know him said Bagley, despite a seemingly fruitful career in academia, was having personal and financial problems.

According to the New York indictment, the illicit funds were diverted from a food company controlled by a Colombian individual into Bagleys South Florida bank accounts as a consultant, according to the indictment. While that individual is not identified, the Miami Herald has learned from several law enforcement and legal sources that he is Colombian businessman Alex Saab.

Story continues

Last year, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Saab for allegedly profiting from a no-bid contract to import food to Venezuela for President Nicolas Maduros socialist government  the very deal in which Bagley consulted Saab, sources told the Herald. In July, Saab also was indicted in Miami federal court on charges of money laundering tied to a public housing program run by Maduro. However, Bagley was not implicated in that case.

Saab, who is a fugitive, could not be reached for comment. His defense attorney, Maria Dominguez, did not respond to a request for comment.

In November, federal prosecutors in New York City announced Bagleys indictment on charges of money laundering and conspiracy after he opened bank accounts for the express purpose of laundering money for corrupt foreign nationals.

Todays charges of money laundering and conspiracy should serve as an object lesson for Bruce Bagley, who now faces a potential tenure in federal prison, Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement.

He was charged in New York because some of the money allegedly passed through accounts in that state before it was deposited into Bagleys company bank accounts.

According to the indictment, Bagley was raking in tens of thousands of dollars by helping wash corrupt cash. State records show he had operated Bagley Consultants, along with his wife, Annette Bagley.

Bagley, who after his arrest was released on a $300,000 bond, initially told local news media that he had done nothing wrong.

Not guilty  thats how Im feeling, Bagley told a reporter with CBS4, the Heralds news partner. Theyve got it all wrong.

Bagley is a longtime UM international relations professor who wrote the book Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime, and Violence in the Americas Today.

Over the years, he became a high-profile figure among the universitys cadre of experts. Bagley had appeared in newspapers such as the Miami Herald, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.

He was quoted as recently as early November in Australias Daily Telegraph for a story about the drug violence wracking Mexico. This was an unmitigated debacle, Bagley told the newspaper about a battle between cartel members and police that killed 13 people.

Bagley even served as an expert witness in court. The pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, being sued over the opioid crisis, hired him to testify about illegal fentanyl arriving in the United States from China and Mexico.

In October, Bagley took the stand as an expert witness for the defense at a major drug-trafficking trial in Miami federal court. The trial featured a Colombian syndicate accused of conspiring to ship 20 tons of cocaine into the United States.

Three years ago, Bagley also organized a three-day conference at UM on climate change and energy security, an event that drew government leaders from across the world. Bagley was photographed, laughing, alongside UM President Julio Frenk.
As coronavirus spreads, employers and workers are evaluating paid sick time policies.

Until late Wednesday, many of Amazons thousands of warehouse workers, including in N.J., would have gone without pay if they had to stay home because of the virus.

But with a new policy change, fulfillment center employees  such as those who pack boxes and manage deliveries  will get some paid sick time off.

The company said effective immediately, all Amazon employees diagnosed with coronavirus or placed into quarantine will receive up to two weeks of pay.

This additional pay while away from work is to ensure employees have the time they need to return to good health without the worry of lost pay, an Amazon blog post said. This is in addition to unlimited unpaid time off for all hourly employees through the end of March, which we shared with employees last week.

The company is also establishing a $25 million relief fund focused on supporting our independent delivery service partners and their drivers, Amazon Flex participants, and seasonal employees under financial distress.

These workers will be able to apply for grants approximately equal to up to two weeks of pay if the worker is diagnosed with coronavirus or is placed into quarantine by the government or Amazon, the company said.

Amazon said it will soon establish a website where employees and contractors can apply for the grants.

Before Wednesdays announcement, Amazon said full-time employees get four weeks a year that accrue each quarter. But thats not all paid time. Two of the weeks are unpaid. Once a worker is employed for a year, they get an extra week for a total of five weeks, but again, its not all paid time.

The company earlier this week told employees who work in offices in New Jersey to work from home through the end of March.

Our top priority is protecting peoples health and we are actively supporting employees and contractors on an individual, case-by-case basis, a spokesperson said. We will continue evaluating next steps should we see a much broader impact.

The company also said its working with public and private medical experts to take preventative health measures at its facilities.

This includes increased frequency and intensity of cleaning at all sites and requiring employees to sanitize and clean their work stations and vehicles with disinfectant/cleaning wipes at the start and end of every shift.

It has also advised employees to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water is not available.

Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
Chef Marc Vetri of Vetri Cucina and Fiorella checking the progress of one of his pastas. Read more

Updated: Announcement of nominees has been delayed, as well.

This years James Beard Awards, regarded as the Oscars of the food world, will be delayed until summer 2020 because of coronavirus fears.

The postponement includes the James Beard Media Awards (originally scheduled for April 24, in New York City), the Leadership Awards (May 3, in Chicago), and the Restaurant & Chef Awards (May 4, in Chicago). The James Beard Foundation said the nominee announcement would not be made from the Barnes museum in Philadelphia on March 25, as scheduled.

The foundation cited health and safety concerns, and said new dates for all three awards would be announced.

The Philadelphia-area finalists for the Restaurant & Chef awards are:

Marc Vetri (Vetri Cucina and the new Fiorella) for outstanding chef. In this category, he was a nominee in 2014, 2015, and 2019, and made the semifinals in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2016. His book Mastering Pasta was a nominee in 2016. He also won the award for best chef, Mid-Atlantic in 2005 after two years as a nominee.

Bolete Chef Lee Chizmar and wife Erin Sheas Fork-ish American restaurant in Bethlehem  for outstanding restaurant. It was a nominee in 2019, and Chizmar was a semifinalist in the best chef, Mid-Atlantic category in 2015.

Cookie Till (Steve & Cookies of Margate) for outstanding restaurateur. This is her first brush with the Beards. (Also on the restaurateur list are Mike and Jeff Mastro from Steak 48, opening at Broad and Spruce Streets this spring.)

Jesse Ito (Royal Sushi) for rising star chef. He was a finalist in 2019, after being a semifinalist in 2017 and 2018.

Kalaya Chef Chutatip Nok Suntaranons Thai BYOB in South Philadelphia, and Craig LaBans 2019 restaurant of the year, for best new restaurant.

Tova du Plessis (Essen Bakery) for outstanding baker. She made the semifinalist cut in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Jean Broillet IV (Tired Hands) for outstanding wine, beer, spirits producer. This is his first Beard experience as a soloist. Tired Hands was a semifinalist in 2016 for outstanding bar program.

Le Caveau The French bar upstairs from Good King Tavern in Bella Vista, opened in October 2019, for outstanding wine program.

The Horse Inn The Lancaster restaurant is up for outstanding bar program.

Rich Landau (Vedge, V Street), Nicholas Elmi (Laurel, ITV, Royal Boucherie), Joey Baldino (Zeppoli), and Cristina Martinez (South Philly Barbacoa) for best chef, Mid-Atlantic. Landau and Elmi have been in the hunt since 2014, Baldino since 2012, and Martinez since 2017. Also: Taylor Mason of Luca in Lancaster.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 09:33:57|Editor: Liu

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WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night the country will suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days in a bid to fight the ongoing coronavirus break.

The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.
A vulnerable homeless couple with significant health problems have won their High Court action against South Dublin County Council aimed at compelling it to decide their application for social housing support made more than a year ago.

Mr Justice Michael McGrath found the Council breached its obligations under the applicable law in not dealing with the couples January 14 2019 application within the specified 12-week period.

The appropriate relief is to grant a declaration in favour of the couple and he will hear submissions about the precise wording of that on a later date, he said.

The couple, aged in their sixties from Romania, are illiterate, do not speak English and have not worked here since they came in 2006.

Both have suffered cancer conditions in the past and have a range of ongoing health issues.

They were assisted by the Free Legal Advice centres in applying to the council for housing supports after they became homeless in 2018.

A notice of termination issued for their private rented accommodation, where they had lived from 2011 with their extended family, after the house was possessed by a bank.

They were offered emergency accommodation on a night-to-night basis but left after three nights because of regularly being subject to anti-social behaviour.

They also found it unsuitable to their needs, particularly their health needs, and went to stay with a relative in cramped conditions where they sleep on a couch.

Represented by Siobhan Phelan, with Lewis J. Mooney BL, instructed by FLAC, they initiated proceedings in July 2019 seeking orders compelling the council to decide their January 2019 application for housing supports.

Ms Phelan disputed that the couples work record had any relevance to their application, noting they are EU nationals in receipt of Disability Benefit.

The Council maintained it could not deal with the January 2019 application because it had decided in January 2018, and so informed the couple, it could not fully assess an earlier housing application by them "at this time" until they had shown evidence of 52 weeks employment here.

In his judgment on Thursday, Mr Justice McGrath said the issue at the heart of the debate was whether the January 2019 application was a valid application for the purposes of the statutory regime.

Regulation 12.1 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 provides, subject to proper completion of the application form and the provisions of 12.2, the housing authority "shall" deal with the application within 12 weeks and either accept or refuse it, he said.

He rejected the council's arguments this challenge involved a "collateral attack" on the Council's decision of January 2018 on their earlier application.

That January 2018 decision was to seek further information and it amounted to a decision "to defer a decision" until the couple's circumstances changed or the criteria in a 2012 Department of Housing Circular concerning social housing supports for non-Irish nationals were re-assessed.

There was nothing in the Housing Act 2009 or the 2011 regulations that precluded consideration of a fresh application, particularly where circumstances have changed, he said.

He was satisfied the regulations provide for assessment of housing need of persons at a particular time in their lives.

In this case, there was a stated change in circumstances because, in 2017, the applicants were living in rented accommodation while in 2019 they were described as homeless and their health situation had also changed.

Therefore, the January 2019 application had to be addressed by the Council in accordance with its statutory obligations to make a determination, he held.

The primary purpose and intent of the 2009 Act under which the 2011 regulations were made is to ensure an assessment is carried out and a determination is made whether a household qualifies for support.

To leave the period of assessment "open indefinitely" would appear "to run contrary to this purpose".

He was satisfied the Council failed to comply with its obligation to deal with the January 8 2019 application within the specified 12 weeks.
Ukraine International Airlines of Ukraine (UIA, Kyiv) intends to cancel about 2,000 flights (including those already canceled) due to the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

"Like all other airlines in the world, UIA will continue to provide air traffic between countries and continents and at the same time balance the needs of passengers with operational problems that arose due to restrictions on entry introduced by several countries. That is why about 2,000 flights will be canceled in the spring of 2020," the company said on its Facebook page.

UIA recommends that passengers check the status of their flights several days before departure, as well as monitor the rules of entry for the countries they are heading to.

The airline agrees to inform about further changes in the schedule on the website or in social networks.
Shares of IRCTC hit a lower circuit of 5% at Rs 1220.95, extending its losing streak to sixth consecutive session.

The stock has slumped 29.79% in last six trading session from its previous closing high of Rs 1739.10 posted on 3 March 2020.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has made travelers reconsider going on vacation in this middle of a global pandemic, putting pressure on travel and tourism industry.

The Indian Government suspended all visas, except those issued for diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment and projects till April 15. The decisions were announced after a group of ministers headed by health minister Harsh Vardhan met to review and take stock of the Covid-19 situation domestically and abroad.

According to a data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 stands at 73. The figure includes 17 foreign nationals.

Although coronavirus started in central China, it is spreading faster in the rest of the world. The epidemic has grown to infect over 126,000 people with over 4,600 fatalities.

Shares of IRCTC have tumbled 38.8% from its record high level of Rs 1995 registered on 25 February 2020. The stock was listed on stock exchanges on 14 October 2019 at Rs 644, a premium of 101.25% to the IPO price.

IRCTC, a Mini Ratna public sector enterprise under the administrative control of Ministry of Railways, is the sole entity authorized by Indian Railways (IR) to provide catering services to railways, online railway tickets and packaged drinking water at railway stations and trains in India. IRCTC operates in four business segments, namely, internet ticketing, catering, packaged drinking water and travel & tourism. The Government of India holds 87.40% stake in the company as on 31 December 2019.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
on Thursday unveiled a massive $11 billion spending plan designed to curb the economic impact of the pandemic and avert the country's first in 29 years.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the nearly Aus$18 billion package -- equivalent to just under one percent of -- which will primarily be targeted at businesses.

"This plan is about keeping Australians in jobs. This plan is about keeping a business in business," said Morrison. "This plan is about ensuring the Australian bounces back stronger on the other side of this." Much of the money is expected to be distributed by the end of June, the country's treasurer said.

has seen 136 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and three deaths. Morrison acknowledged the stimulus would mean he will not meet an election pledge to balance the country's budget -- a key plank of the party's pitch to voters last year.

Australia's had already been limping before the hit -- with raging bushfires and drought slowing growth to a stall.

The central bank has repeatedly cut rates to historic lows while warning that the outbreak could have "large and long-lasting" effects.

Morrison had on Wednesday announced a separate $1.6 billion war chest to bolster medical services that are likely to come under intense strain as the virus spreads in the coming months.

He is expected to make a rare televised address to the country later on Thursday to speak about the broader challenges faced by the COVID-19 outbreak.
SYDNEY  Tom Hanks had a cold, or so he thought: slight fever, body aches, chills, the usual.

In the United States, those symptoms may not be enough to get tested for the new coronavirus. But he and his wife, Rita Wilson, who also felt sick, werent at home  they were in Australia.

Here, testing is free and widely available, thanks to early and coordinated planning for a pandemic. On Thursday, Hanks said he and his wife had seen the efforts firsthand, as they tested positive for the virus.

The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed, Hanks wrote in an announcement he posted on Twitter, choosing capital letters for his new acquaintances. We Hanks will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.

Hanks, who had been in Australia shooting an untitled Elvis Presley biopic, is now the public face of a pandemics widening reach. What was once a national problem for China, where the virus originated and soon killed thousands, has become an international stress test for public health performance.

Some countries, like the United States, are looking increasingly ill prepared, or, in the case of Italy, fighting to avoid being overwhelmed. Others, like South Korea, moved quickly to test and isolate huge numbers of people and appear to be bringing their outbreaks under control.

Rather than play down the risks or promise that the problem would fade in a month or two  as President Trump did  Prime Minister Scott Morrison was one of the first world leaders to declare that the virus would span the planet.

Under the protocols Hanks referred to on Twitter, doctors and health officials will regularly check on them, whether or not they stay in the hospital after they are cleared for release.

Theyre going through the necessary health precautions, obviously, their son Chet Hanks said in a message on Instagram. I dont think its anything to worry about.

Damien Cave is a New York Times writer.
As coronavirus cases surge in India, the hotel industry has taken a hit with tourists scrapping plans and several hotels in the national capital cancelling bookings for conferences and group events, adopting a "better safe than sorry" approach.

Business is dry in Paharganj area in Old Delhi, one of the popular destinations among foreigners for budget hotels.

"Usually backpacker tourists come to our hotel and spring is the time for us to do business as its neither too hot nor cold, but due to (corona) panic and visas being cancelled, there is hardly any business since last week," said a representative at Hotel Hans Raj Delux in Paharganj.

Hotel Uddhav Palace, in the same area, is also waiting for tourists while it is sanitising the hotel area regularly for domestic guests.

"There are no leisure travellers, only people who are in transit due to some work. We are sanitising the hotel area to ensure that the staff as well as guests are not exposed to any infection. There are no foreigner guests since the beginning of this month," said manager of the hotel.

Mahipalpur in South Delhi which is a popular destination for tourists especially those in transit due to its proximity for airport, is also recording low business.

"The business is down by over 60 per cent. We had groups of tourists coming in, but they have cancelled their tours due to the virus scare. The cancellations happened within the last week," said Arvind Sharma, General Manager, The Lohmod Hotel.

Bobby Lohia, Head, Mahipalpur Hotels Association said, "Tourists are anyway adopting a cautious approach. We have advised hotels to send advisories for bookings already made for conferences and events with big gatherings, and suggest postponing such events. Better to be safe than sorry. We are also sensitising staff at various hotels on how to keep the virus at bay."



The Union health ministry said the number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharahtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national.

India has suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the coronavirus spread, according to a revised travel advisory.

The suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump said Thursday that travel restrictions to California and Washington, two states hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, were possible if an area gets too hot.

One day after announcing a 30-day suspension of travel from the European Union to the United States, Trump was asked by a reporter in the Oval Office whether domestic restrictions were also possible.

Is it a possibility? Trump responded. Yes, if somebody gets a little bit out of control, if an area gets too hot.

Trump canceled his own trip to Nevada and Colorado minutes after announcing the EU travel restrictions.

Of the more than 1,400 cases of coronavirus confirmed in the United States, the largest number, 341, are in Washington state. New York has reported 327 cases, the second-highest, and California currently has 201.

Trumps use of international travel bans has been criticized by public health officials who say the virus is already in the United States and spreading rapidly.

President Trump at the White House on Thursday. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Connecticuts chief epidemiologist said Thursday that 10 to 20 percent of the states population could contract coronavirus over the next month. Given Connecticuts population of 3.75 million, that translates to between 357,300 and 714,600 infected residents. To date, only three people in Connecticut have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Amy Acton, Ohios health department director, made an equally dire assessment about her state, saying data indicate that 1 percent of the states population is likely already infected with the coronavirus. That means 117,000 people could be walking around with the virus at the present time. Just six cases have been reported in Ohio so far.

This is huge: Ohio Health Dept. Director Amy Acton is saying that evidence of community spread indicates that 1% of Ohioans are currently carrying coronavirus. That's *117,000* people.



Only 5 in Ohio have actually tested positive to this point. pic.twitter.com/lae7T6W5jN  Tyler Buchanan (@Tylerjoelb) March 12, 2020

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As a lethal virus sweeps the globe, U.S. national security officials are closely monitoring how the disease is affecting closed societies like China, Iran and North Korea, trying to gauge to what extent officials in those countries have been covering up the extent of the outbreak.

Theyre also wrestling with a complex question closer to home: how to prevent the virus from spreading inside the nations intelligence and defense agencies themselves.

The novel coronavirus, which has now popped up in at least 100 countries and killed more than 4,000 people worldwide, poses a vexing problem for the governments national security apparatus, which has to protect its own workforce even as it races to analyze the threat, combat misinformation promoted by hostile governments, and inform a president not known for his command of facts and figures.

Many of these efforts have been coordinated through the National Security Council, which has been holding regular meetings on the response strategy since mid-January, according to an administration official.

But former officials who worked on the Ebola and H1N1 responses worry that the steady downsizing of the NSC and the elimination of a unit charged with global health and security has further hindered a government response that was bungled early on by confusion and mismanagement.

Ive been briefed on every contingency you could possibly imagine, the president said on Tuesday when asked whether hed been briefed on the possibility that 100 million Americans could ultimately be exposed to the virus. Many contingencies. A lot of positive. Different numbers, all different numbers, very large numbers, and some small numbers too.

In January 2019, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence ranked a major disease outbreak among the top global threats to watch, warning: We assess that the United States and the world will remain vulnerable to the next flu pandemic or large-scale outbreak of a contagious disease that could lead to massive rates of death and disability, severely affect the world economy, strain international resources, and increase calls on the United States for support. The administration also released a whole 30-page National Biodefense Strategy in 2018.

Story continues

But the Trump administration never devoted resources commensurate with the perceived danger, critics have charged, and President Trump has acknowledged he was caught off guard. Who would have thought? he asked during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. Who would have thought we would even be having the subject?

NSC officials have been coordinating behind the scenes with the intelligence and defense communities to gauge the threat and prepare for the possibility that the U.S. government will have to respond to much bigger numbersand soon. Veterans of the Trump administration, notably former White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert, have been warning in increasingly dire terms that officials at every level need to be taking more aggressive measures to combat the virus.

Biosecurity is national security, said a former Trump White House official. And it clearly is an enormous threat to the American people and the economy.

Other former officials, notably Bosserts predecessor in the Obama White House Lisa Monaco, have forcefully argued for elevating pandemics as a national security threat on par with terrorism and transnational organized crime.

NSC officials have been working to coordinate information and create graphs and models so that the president can be briefed on every possible scenario, the current official said. But one of the biggest ongoing concerns is that authoritarian countries like China, Iran, and North Korea are not truthfully reporting the number of cases inside their borders, leading to potentially inaccurate data that could skew the overall threat picture and dramatically affect worldwide preparedness.

This outbreak in Wuhan was covered up. Theres lots of open source reporting from China, Trumps national security adviser Robert OBrien said Wednesday at the Heritage Foundation. Doctors involved were either silenced or put in isolation so the word of this virus couldnt get out. It probably cost the world community two months.

That is where the intelligence community comes in. The CIA and ODNI have been providing daily coronavirus updates and briefings to the Senate and House Intelligence Committees, according to the panels respective spokespeople, also focused primarily on whether other countries are truthfully reporting the number of cases to the World Health Organization.

Operationally, were going to task our sources to ask whether the data coming out of China, North Korea, and Iran is accurate because that is really important, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a veteran CIA operations officer who retired in 2019. So much of what the government does in response to this kind of pandemic depends on the data coming out of these closed societies.

Preventing a coronavirus outbreak within the intelligence community is particularly important given the key role it plays during a pandemic, experts said.

In this Jan. 8, 2020, photo, national security adviser Robert O'Brien, listens as President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the White House on the ballistic missile strike that Iran launched against Iraqi air bases housing U.S. troops in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

An ODNI official said the intelligence community is taking appropriate steps to ensure the safety, security and health of our workforce, and encouraging employees to observe and follow information provided by the CDC. Additionally, given the ICs global workforce presence, agencies are developing relevant preparation and response plans to ensure the mission remains uninterrupted, the official said.

The ICs role is arguably more urgent now, with the epicenters of coronavirus in high-priority counterintelligence targets like China and Iran, than it was during the Ebola outbreak.

Whereas African countries were pretty transparent with the scale of their outbreak and were welcoming of foreign assistance, particularly from the British and French, a former intelligence official official noted, the official coronavirus statistics released by Iran in recent weeks seem at odds with the number of Iranian government officials who have been infected -- with several top officials even dying from the virus.

Another urgent question for agencies trying to get a handle on the outbreak: Determining whether a botched response in certain countries has created popular discontent. Government stability issues are really critical for us, Polymeropoulos said.

Social upheaval has proven destabilizing in other crises, such as the 2011 uprising in Syria, which soon led to a civil war that fueled the rise of terrorist groups and sent thousands of refugees streaming outside the collapsing country. The exodus has fueled a political backlash in Europe and put Turkey, a NATO country, in a dangerous standoff with Russia. Iran has seen waves of protests even before the coronavirus outbreak, which is deepening the popular mistrust of the Iranian regime as the number of cases and deaths ratchets upwards.

Americas spy agencies almost certainly see an opportunity to exploit the crisis to recruit new human sources in China and Iran in particular, intelligence veterans said, particularly given the bubbling anger in those societies over their governments' mishandling of the epidemic.

Douglas London, a former CIA Clandestine Service senior operations officer who retired in 2019, said that the process would begin with collection management officers on the receiving end of requests for intel on the virus.

They would then work to identify those sources most likely to have access to information that could address the gaps. The ultimate goal, London said, would be determining how the outbreak is affecting other countries from a political, security and economic standpoint. Officials would want to know whether more accurate data is being hidden from the public and how the disease is affecting internal power dynamics, particularly in closed societies.

During other recent outbreaks--the MERS infection that began spreading in 2012, SARS in the early 2000s, and the AIDS epidemic in the 70s and 80s--London recalled, case officers generally leaned on both existing sources who normally reported on other topics, or non-registered sources who werent necessarily properly vetted but had greater access to relevant information.

Proliferation and counterterrorism officials, meanwhile, will also be trying to determine whether hostile states or terrorist groups are seeking to use the virus as a bioweapon, London said.

Much of the intelligence communitys tasking on the issue of global health and pandemics comes from the National Security Council, which will ask the agencies questions it needs answered. That has led former officials to express concern about the departure of national security staffers with relevant expertiseincluding Adm. Tim Ziemer, the NSCs former senior director for global health security and biodefense who left in 2018 and is now a senior official at USAID.

The staff shakeups have had a profound ripple effect, the consequences of which we are seeing play out now, I think, said Ned Price, who served in the CIA and on the National Security Council under President Obama during the Ebola outbreak.

The NSCs director for medical and biodefense preparedness, Dr. Luciana Borio, left in 2018, as did Bossert, whose job included coordinating a response to global pandemics. Part of Bosserts role was later given to Hillary Carter, the former global health security director who was moved into Bosserts old office and is now senior adviser to Homeland Security and Resilience Adviser Julia Nesheiwat.

Additionally, the NSCs Global Health Security directorate, initiated under Obama to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats, was folded into the counter-proliferation and biodefense directorate by former national security adviser John Bolton, according to an NSC spokesman and a former U.S. government official. The bureaucratic change caught some in the White House by surprise at the time, according to a former Trump White House official.

Asked why Bolton made the move, the former official said he likely did not view global health as a national security concern and viewed it more as a Department of Health and Human Services responsibility.

His view of national security is kind of a one-trick pony and is military-to-military confrontations, the former official said of Bolton.

Price said the global health security directorate was valuable because it focused exclusively on public health threats abroad that had the potential to affect us at home. Now there are directorates that can pick up the slack, but you dont have the same level of expertise of people who have lived through Ebola, H1N1, and other disease responses.

Current and former officials maintain that the structural change has not resulted in a loss of expertise. A spokesman for the NSC said that officials responding to the pandemic within that unit have extensive experience and expertise in virology, infectious disease epidemiology, global health security, public health, and emergency response, and a former official said that the WMD directorate, which absorbed the global health security office, had the same people, the same expertise, with no loss of efficiency as our response to the Ebola virus in Congo showed.

But other current and former officials have lamented the changes. Fauci, asked about the disbanding of the global health security directorate during a hearing on Capitol Hill Wednesday, responded cautiously.

I wouldnt characterize it as a mistake, I would say we worked very well with that office, Fauci said. It would be nice if that office was still there.

Of the roughly 115 policy specialists at the NSC, there are currently just two people who specialize in pandemics, although both have doctorates, with at least one in virology. Both are housed within the WMD directorate.

One official said that the NSCs senior director for counter-proliferation and biodefense, Anthony Ruggiero, led the initial response and relied heavily on the expertise of biodefense experts and epidemiologists. Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, formerly the councils senior director for East Asia policy, has since taken charge under OBrien.

But neither Ruggiero, a nuclear arms specialist, or Pottinger, a former journalist turned soldier, has experience responding to a global disease outbreak.

Another major national security question: how to keep the military healthy, as thousands of U.S. troops are stationed abroad in countries that have experienced outbreaks. During the 1918 Spanish flu, the virus spread rapidly among soldiers mobilized for World War I, and officials are cognizant of the dangers inherent in large groups of men and women living and working in close proximity.

The Pentagon has been forward leaning on the issue, holding daily press briefingswith chairs for reporters spread far aparton the steps being taken to mitigate the spread and implementing social distancing measures. Those include breaking up large gatherings and chatting via teleconference instead of face-to-face.

At Central Command, meanwhile, all leave and liberty travel has been suspended, and senior leaders are cancelling trips to the region. The U.S. Navys 6th Fleet, which oversees Europe and Africa, has also imposed a 14-day quarantine on Navy ships between port calls. On Monday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy announced that Lt. Gen. Christopher Cavoil, the commander of U.S. Army Europe, as well as several staff members, are working remotely after possibly coming in contact with the virus during a recent conference. Cavoli is the most senior military member so far to possibly be exposed to the virus.

On Tuesday, U.S. Africa Command announced that military leaders from the U.S., Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal would be modifying the size and scope of a military exercise, African Lion, to minimize exposure of U.S. and partner nation service members to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Other U.S. military exercises have already been cancelled, including two joint exercises with Israel and one with South Korea. Last week, 23 U.S. soldiers in Norway for a large-scale exercise were quarantined after possibly encountering a Norwegian service member who tested positive for the virus.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Tuesday announced the decision to postpone an upcoming trip to India, Uzbekistan and Pakistan in order to remain in the United States to help manage the response to the virus. A Navy ceremony set for next week honoring more than three dozen personnel following the Pensacola terrorist attack has also been postponed.

Externally, the Pentagon has begun providing facilities to support quarantined civilians, including passengers from a recently-docked cruise ship exposed to the virus who will be quarantined on military bases in California, Georgia and Texas.

The U.S. military is also investing resources in developing measures to combat the virus, including a vaccine, medical countermeasures and additional testing tools that can be deployed on ships or remote locations. In addition, the administration is considering using special authorities through the Defense Production Act to ramp up domestic manufacturing of protective masks and clothing, DoD spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman confirmed on Tuesday.

But despite all these efforts, Fauci warned lawmakers on Wednesday that the severity of the public health threat posed by coronavirus will require a far more aggressive response than U.S. officials have mustered thus far.

Is the worst yet to come, Dr. Fauci? Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) asked. Yes. Yes it is, Fauci replied.
By AFP

GENEVA: The top UN rights body decided Thursday to suspend its main annual session at the end of this week over the new coronavirus pandemic.

"With the agreement of the council, we will suspend the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council on the 13th of March until further notice," council president Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger told country representatives.

There were no objections to the proposal, which came a day after the World Health Organization said COVID-19 could now be classed as a pandemic.

The Human Rights Council, which kicked off its main annual session on February 24 and had been scheduled to continue through to March 20, would wrap up some work, including a debate on racial discrimination, before closing up shop on Friday.

On Friday afternoon, she said, the council would appoint 19 mandate-holders whose appointments had been planned for next week.

At the same time, all resolutions during the session would still need to be tabled by Friday, but they would only be acted upon once the session resumes, Tichy-Fisslberger said.

The UN's top rights body had until now put off a total shutdown, but had halted some activities and moved its sessions to a larger chamber to avoid crowding.

Thursday's news came after Geneva, which is home to the UN's European headquarters and the rights council, decided to ban all events counting more than 100 people.

Already in late February, the Swiss government banned all events with more than 1,000 participants, sparking a flurry of cancellations of large events like the Geneva Motor Show.

Earlier this week, the World Trade Organization said it would suspend all meetings until March 20 after a staff member contracted the disease.

Europe's science lab CERN said Wednesday it was closing its doors to tourists after a case surfaced there.
[March 12, 2020] Yext Offers Answers Product for Free to Help Brands Deliver Accurate and Timely Information about COVID-19

NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, today announced that it is offering for free its new site search product, Yext Answers, to help brands in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. For a 90-day period, eligible businesses across industries will be able to transform their own website into a powerful search engine capable of answering consumers' COVID-19 specific queries in real-time. "Wrong answers can cost a company real business any day of the week, but in a time like this  the COVID-19 pandemic  wrong answers can actually cost lives," said Howard Lerman, Founder and CEO of Yext. "Whether it's a question to a healthcare provider about the efficacy of hand sanitizer, an airline about their cancellation policies, or a grocery store about the availability of bottled water, it's imperative we help businesses across all industries deliver these coronavirus-related answers immediately and accurately." Businesses can register and learn more about this offer at www.nowronganswers.com and start the process of getting Yext Answers implemented on their own website. Additionally, participating companies can implement Yext's free COVID-19 Knowledge Graph plug-in to add Frequently Asked Questions about coronavirus  sourced directly from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  to their own website's search experience.



Click here to learn more about the free Yext Answers offer. About Yext

The customer journey starts with a question, and every day consumers search for answers about brands. However, they are increasingly served false or misleading information from sources other than the brand. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, exists to help brands regain and maintain a direct relationship with their customers. With a mission to provide perfect answers everywhere, Yext puts businesses in control of their facts online by delivering brand verified answers straight from the source  wherever their customers are searching. Companies like Taco Bell, Marriott, Jaguar-Land Rover, and businesses around the world use Yext to take back control of the customer journey, starting on their own website.

Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yext-offers-answers-product-for-free-to-help-brands-deliver-accurate-and-timely-information-about-covid-19-301022465.html SOURCE Yext, Inc.

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The state of Kerala is one step away from declaring a lockdown after a sudden spike in the number of Coronavirus cases reported there. Till last week Kerala was relieved and the 'Kerala Model' which effectively contained the initial outbreak was getting widely praised.

AFP

But on Sunday, Kerala was in for a shock after health minister KK Shailaja confirmed that five more people have been tested positive for Covid-19. Since then the number of cases in the state has gone up to 14. And the worst part is that most of the infections were passed on from a three-member family in Pathanamthitta who had recently returned from Italy, the worst affected country outside China.



AFP

The couple and their son had returned to Kochi on February 29 via Doha and did not inform the authorities at the airport about their travel history and was not screened for the infection. Since they came to their hometown after a long gap, they visited several relatives and visited many places in the following days.

A few days later two people went to the Government Hospital in Ranni with a complaint of fever. After assessing the symptoms, Dr. Shambu of the Ranni Government Hospital asked the patient if they had recently visited any foreign countries. The answer was no.

He further asked if they had been in contact with anyone who had recently travelled abroad. On this, the duo said their neighbours had recently returned from Italy had visited them at home.

Dr. Shambhu was quick to realize the danger and asked them to get admitted to an isolation ward. The information was also passed on to the Health Ministry and District Administration, which soon dispatched a medical team and an ambulance to the Italy-returns house.

But what happened there was shocking! The family initially refused to admit that they had any symptoms, but later admitted that one of them had visited a local hospital with fever and took medicines without mentioning their travel history. The family even refused to board the ambulance and insisted that they will come to the hospital in their car.

AFP

Even after they tested positive for the deadly infection, the family refused to disclose their travel details and the names of people whom they had contacted. After much pressure 'interrogation' based on CCTV visuals, they revealed the places they had visited. Even while they were in isolation, one of them in a video statement had claimed that they were not informed about the screening at the airport. This has since been rejected by another passenger who had taken the same flight.



Since getting the details of all the place and people they met, 12 teams of the Kerala Health Department was on a massive manhunt, across two districts. In the past six days, the teams have identified some 3000 people whom the family has come into contact with directly or indirectly and have been monitoring them for any symptoms of infections. They had even prepared a route map of all the places where the couple had travelled.

Explaining the chain of events in the Assembly, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said that the family's actions were irresponsible, however, insisted that the government's priority is to get them recover. The condition of the trio is said to be stable, but two relatives they had visited in Kottayam are critical.
Of the 40 people admitted to



civic-run Kasturba Hospital here for suspected coronavirus infection, 20 have tested negative, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Thursday.

Of the 190 people quarantined at Kasturba Hospital since January 18, 168 have tested negative so far, said Daksha Shah, deputy director, BMC health department.

"Test reports of another 20 are awaited," she said.

At present there are only two confirmed patients of the coronavirus in the city, both being treated at an isolation ward at Kasturba Hospital.

Those who had come in contact with these two patients tested negative, but doctors will keep watch on their health for the next 14 days, Shah said.

"The people close to two positive people have been contacted. They have been advised to stay in home isolation," she said.

Three "close contacts" of the coronavirus patients were admitted to Kasturba Hospital, but their test results showed they had no infection themselves. Still, they will be kept under observation, Shah said.

The number of beds at the isolation ward of Kasturba Hospital has been increased to 50 from 28, and another 50 beds will be added soon, she said.

Isolation wards have been kept ready at four hospitals in the suburbs. Another isolation facility with 300 beds is ready at the private Seven Hills hospital too, she informed.

People should not believe rumors, Shah appealed.

"Please remain cool and calm," she said, adding that people should take general precautions while coughing.

A team of 46 doctors and some 20 para-medical staff has been deployed at the Mumbai airport for screening of passengers in three shifts, along with medical teams of the state government and the airport, she said.

"Till now 1.96 lakh passengers have been screened at the Mumbai airport," said Shah.

All those who had traveled by the cab of the driver who tested positive for the virus earlier this week have been tracked down and kept under observation, she added.

Across Maharashtra, 12 persons have tested positive for the coronavirus so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Panaji, March 12 : The city police on Thursday arrested one person for allegedly raping a minor girl in South Goa's Quepem sub district, a spokesperson said.

The accused, whose name has not been disclosed by the police, was arrested hours after the 14-year-old girl was found by a passersby in a deserted area in Quepem, located just a km away from the her school.

"The victim claimed that she was lured by the accused before being raped. Later, the girl has been sent for medical examination," the spokespeson said.

The South District police are expected to address a media briefing in connection with the incident soon.
As confirmed cases of the coronavirus continue to rise globally and countries take extreme measures to prevent its spread, churches in Midland must decide if staff and congregation members should carry on traveling for missionary work.

Neil Rogers, minister of missions at Stonegate Fellowship, said theyve already postponed a planned trip to Indonesia because the flights would have taken them through Southeast Asia. He said it was not an urgent trip, so they opted to go at a later date for the safety of those participating.

Were just taking it a day at a time and paying attention to if there are any concerns, he said.

They have upcoming mission work scheduled in Nicaragua, Brazil and Uganda, Rogers said. The U.S. State Department has not issued travel advisories related to the coronavirus for those countries, but Uganda recently denied entry to 22 foreign delegates, citing coronavirus concerns.

Rogers said its possible Uganda and other countries will close their borders to missionaries and tourists.

To prepare for that possibility, he said theyve begun exploring how they could conduct missionary work virtually.

One of the things were asking ourselves is, are we doing this (traveling) because its the best thing or because its what were used to? he said.

Their mission partners have begun using online outlets like Zoom and Skype to train church members in other areas rather than travel to those places, Rogers said.

First Baptist Church is still figuring out if they will reschedule any upcoming trips, said Pastor Darin Wood. He said they currently have groups in Costa Rica and Zambia. However, he emphasized that traveling to other countries might not pose a greater risk than traveling domestically.

Six cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as of Wednesday. Wood spoke to the Reporter-Telegram in a phone interview Tuesday from Dallas.

I dont know if anywhere is really safe, he said.

He said First Baptist is planning to send a team to Arlington soon, but might reconsider that trip if the coronavirus continues to spread in Texas.

If theyre not able to travel for mission work, Wood said it would have more of an effect on the church than the people they would be helping.

It would be disappointing  but every trip Ive gone on, Ive gotten the most out of it, he said. The loss would be to us, not them. Their needs will still be met.

He added that First Baptist was also focusing on what needs to be done at the local level. He said theyve set up hand sanitizer stations within the church and are encouraging members with the flu to stay home.

Rogers said Stonegate is preparing for the possibility Midland or the state of Texas will ban gatherings of large groups of people. Some countries and cities have banned events with more than 1,000 people, and Washington state on Wednesday banned gatherings of more than 250 people.

Stonegate has about 2,000 attendees at their 10:30 a.m. service on Sundays, Rogers said.

He said the church livestreams their services and is exploring adding a chatroom feature to mimic a virtual congregation, if need be.

In no way is there a sense of panic, Rogers said. Were not scared or making decisions based on fear, but we want to make wise decisions.

Wood echoed that sentiment, encouraging church members and the public to not let fear be the deciding factor.

I think some of this is an overreaction, but an understandable one, he said. Fear is a terrible compass and if you operate in that way, youre going to be in a bind.

He added, You can do all these precautions and still get run over by a bus.

An employee at First Methodist said their mission trips havent been affected by the coronavirus.

Employees at Christ Church Anglican and First Presbyterian said their mission staff were currently away on trips and unable to comment.
The merged will ensure that there is no disruption to credit flow and customer experience is enhanced, the said on Thursday.

Ten are to be merged into four from April 1. The finance minister is holding meetings with the lenders to review their preparedness.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday held meetings with chief executives of these banks, including Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank and Union Bank of India.

"Amalgamating PSBs made a presentation to Hon. FM @nsitharaman on their preparedness. Amalgamated PSBs to ensure no disruption to Credit & enhanced customer experience," the Department of Financial Services said in a tweet.

The Union Cabinet had last week approved the mega bank consolidation plan under which Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will merge into Punjab National Bank; Syndicate Bank into Canara Bank; Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank into Union Bank of India; and Allahabad Bank into Indian Bank.

In August, the government had announced a merger plan for public sector banks, which will bring the number of PSU banks in the country to 12 from 27 in 2017.

The merger would result in creation of seven large PSBs with scale and national reach, with each amalgamated entity having business of over Rs 8 trillion.

This will be the third round of PSU bank consolidation. Earlier, the government had merged five associate banks and Bharatiya Mahila Bank into State Bank of India, followed by a three-way merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.

The bank consolidation programme is aimed at creating banks with scale comparable to global banks. Also, greater scale and synergy through consolidation would lead to cost benefits which should enable them to enhance their competitiveness.

Further, with the adoption of technologies across the amalgamating banks, access to a wider talent pool and a larger database, PSBs would be in a position to gain competitive advantage by leveraging analytics in a rapidly digitalising banking landscape.

Following the merger, Punjab National Bank will become the country's second largest bank, with business size of Rs 17.94 trillion, after SBI which has business of over Rs 52 trillion. Bank of Baroda will become the third largest bank, followed by Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, and Indian Bank.

The other PSBs are Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, and Punjab and Sind Bank.
Wear Scriptures: Christian Clothing Company Encourages Christians to Speak Faith to the Culture

Wear Scriptures is a Christian clothing brand that is dedicated to spreading the gospel with clothing and accessories. Each design encourages Christians to be a voice for the gospel.

Jesus Lives

There is a worship song with the lyrics, Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives. In Matthew 28:6, the angel said to the women who were at the tomb, He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay, (NIV).

These words changed the future of mankind forever. Jesus resurrection proved that he is God and that He can be trusted. In John 2:19, Jesus had told the Jews, Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days, (NIV). Jesus was referring to himself. Numbers 23:19 says, God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried through? (NLT).

Because Jesus lives, we can encourage others to put their faith in him for their salvation and protection. Acts 16:31 promises, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping) and you will be saved, (and this applies both to) you and your household as well, (AMPC). Be a voice for the gospel. Wear Scriptures.

Wear Scriptures, LLC is a Kingdom business consecrated to God, to bring honor and glory to His name. The business is dedicated to spreading the gospel of our LORD Jesus Christ with Christian clothing and accessories.
The Attorney General was in contempt of a congressional subpoena but faced no consequences, Manning wrote to Trenga. The President has been instructing his associates not to comply with grand jury subpoenas and witness subpoenas for at least two years, and has even fired people for their compliance with subpoenas. It is clear that the rules are different for different people.
The US Congress on Wednesday gave its final approval to a resolution to restrain President Donald Trump from attacking Iran after months of soaring tensions.

The House of Representatives voted 227-186 to join the Senate in support of the resolution, which bars any military action against Iran without an explicit vote from Congress.

But the resolution is virtually certain to be vetoed by Trump, and the coalition of most Democrats and a handful of war-skeptic Republicans lacks the votes to override him.

The House voted moments after a rocket fired on a military base north of Baghdad killed an American soldier, a British soldier and a US contractor, in the deadliest attack on foreign forces in Iraq in several years.

A previous attack in December that killed a US contractor set off a chain of escalation after the United States blamed Iranian-aligned Iraqi Shiite militias.

On January 3, Trump ordered a drone strike that killed Iran's most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, at the Baghdad airport.

Supporters of the resolution said they wanted to ensure that Congress has the unique power to declare war, as outlined in the US Constitution.

"There are a lot of countries in the world where one person makes the decision. They're called dictators," said Representative Steny Hoyer, the second highest-ranking Democrat in the House.

"Our Founding Fathers did not want dictators running America," he said. The Soleimani strike angered Iraqi leaders, who called for the departure of US forces, with some questioning whether Shiite militias carried out the attack in a country that still has virulently anti-Western Islamic State fighters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Threats: The Cliffs of Moher are among Irelands top tourist hotspots

The spread of Covid-19 poses an "unprecedented and extremely serious" threat to Irish tourism, with firms reporting "very few new bookings", Tourism Ireland chief Niall Gibbons says.

Hotels, restaurants and pubs have reported falls in trade ranging from 15pc to 40pc as arrivals slump ahead of cancelled St Patrick's Day festival events.

Mr Gibbons 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.

"Our tourism industry partners ... are reporting significant cancellations and very few new bookings."
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.
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. The Court of Appeal, presided by Judge Harutyun Yenokyan, published the decision made as the result of the examination of the appeal filed by IDBank against the decision of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan concerning the case BML Arzni'' versus Anelik Bank, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Communications Department of IDBank.

Reminder: On 20.09.2019, the court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan, published the decision concerning the case "B.M.L. ARZNI LLC and Bankruptcy Manager of the same LLC vs. Anelik Bank, to satisfy the claim for confiscation of an amount equivalent to 22 million USD from the Bank. Holding four court hearings, comprehensively examining the case materials and examining the parties' arguments, the Court of Appeal found that the claim of B.M.L. Arzni company is groundless and overturned the decision of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan.

Chairman of the Management Board of the Bank, Mher Abrahamyan expressed satisfaction with the result of the Court of Appeal's comprehensive investigation, adding that they continue to have doubts about the existence of criminal elements in the noted bargain and are preparing materials for the submission of relevant reports.

"We will take consistent steps aimed at preventing such practices and are ready to assist relevant bodies in the field of expertise as well," said Mher Abrahamyan.

Referring to the Bank's development prospects, the Chairman of the Management Board of the Bank noted that the Bank has recently announced the opening of a new conceptual branch, as well as the issuance of the new Visa Signature Card in Armenia, stressing that the Bank, regardless of everything, overcomes its digitalization path of development by taking great, steady steps.
Laura Whitmore has recounted how now-boyfriend Iain Stirling procrastinated for so long in asking her for a date that she had to do it herself.

The Love Island presenter, 34, and the show narrator, 32, have been in a relationship since 2017, but the Scottish comedian 'was intimidated by her' - so she was forced to 'make the first move'.

Appearing on JD's In The Duffle Bag podcast, Laura recalled: 'When we first met he didnt even hit on me, he was too nervous to hit on me! I think he was intimidated by me. I remember Iain was too scared to ask me out so in the end I had to ask him out.

Taking matters into her own hands: Laura Whitmore has recounted how now-boyfriend Iain Stirling procrastinated for so long in asking her for a date that she had to do it herself

'He used to send me random messages, DM me and ask me about my dog.

'It took nine months but we got there! I was like "lets just go for a drink". I think I had to make the moves on him.'

The Irish presenter also revealed that she has often felt self-conscious about her accent.

'Im already really aware and self-conscious of my accent. People are always going to be mean and rude, so I just choose not to look at that,' she said. 'People want to rile you up, they say something just to get a reaction but Im too busy living my life to reply to that.

'Theres a lot of insecurities and I think thats being human. Theres highs and lows and its about navigating through that.. You know what, being in my 30s is so much better than my 20s.'

Laura, 34, recalled: 'When we first met he didnt even hit on me, he was too nervous to hit on me! I think he was intimidated by me'

Guest appearance: She was appearing on JDs In The Duffle Bag podcast series

Speaking about using her social platform for change, she said: 'I like to use social media for positives but sometimes you do need to call people out but its taken me until now to do that and to feel confident calling people out.'

Laura has recently returned from South Africa, where she hosted the first winter season of Love Island - which was blighted mid-way through by the tragic news of former-host Caroline Flack's suicide.

Of Love Island, Laura said: 'I love the show but I did have to think "do I want to go back here?" because as much as I love it, I know its a big show and it throws you in the centre of all this media attention that I didnt necessarily want.

'So you have to weigh up the good and the bad and it all came down to the fact that I love this show, so of course I wanted to do it!'

She went on: 'I remember Iain was too scared to ask me out so in the end I had to ask him out'

Speaking about using her social platform for change, she said: 'I like to use social media for positives but sometimes you do need to call people out but its taken me until now to do that and to feel confident calling people out'

Back to work: Laura put on a brave face as she returned to work on Wednesday - the day after her late friend Caroline Flack's funeral

Laura put on a brave face as she returned to work on Wednesday - the day after her late friend Caroline's funeral.

She performed a DJ set at The Park for day two of the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire.

Earlier in the day, Laura and her boyfriend Iain, 32, honoured their late friend with moving messages, after the 40-year-old presenter was laid to rest following her tragic suicide on 15 February.

DJ: The Love Island host performed a DJ set at The Park for day two of the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire

Remembered: Earlier in the day, Laura and her boyfriend Iain, 32, honoured their late friend with moving messages on Wednesday

Laura proved she was the ultimate professional as she entertained the thousands who had gathered to watch the horse racing unfold.

The Irish presenter enthusiastically talked to the crowd and threw her hand in the air during her scheduled DJ set.

Laura took to the stage after sharing details of Caroline's funeral on Instagram. She wrote: 'Beautiful send off yesterday for a life that ended too soon. See you on the other side Flack, have the pina coladas waiting x.'

Laura's beautiful words were accompanied by a picture of her posing with Caroline at a party, laughing together.

Brave face: Laura proved she was the ultimate professional as she entertained the thousands who had gathered to watch the horse racing unfold

Born entertainer: The Irish presenter enthusiastically talked to the crowd and threw her hand in the air during her scheduled DJ set

Iain also posted a message of his own, which the Love Island voiceover artist accompanied with a behind-the-scenes picture of him eating pizza with Caroline.

He wrote: 'Yesterday we said goodbye to Caroline. It was a small service filled with her friends and family.

'The day was spent sharing stories, singing songs and of course some tears were shed.

'See you on the other side Flack': Laura shared a moving tribute to her late friend Caroline the day after her funeral

'You were so loved Caz': Love Island voiceover artist Iain also posted a tribute to the beloved presenter

'As someone who had the worst FOMO in the world I know Carrie would have hated missing it. And her infectious laugh was painfully absent.

'You were so loved Caz, by so many - I hope you knew that. And I hope youre now at peace. X.'

Laura Whitmore launches season 2 of JDs In The Duffle Bag podcast series with a live International Womens Day episode. Download from Apple, iTunes, Spotify and A-cast and leave a review to win a holiday for two to Majorca.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to www.samaritans.org.
[March 12, 2020] Two Six Labs Announces Third Anniversary as Independent Company and Record Results in 2019

ARLINGTON, Va., March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two Six Labs, a cybersecurity and advanced technology development company, announced three consecutive years of business growth, record results in 2019, expansion to seven locations in five U.S. states, staff growth to over 170 employees and the launch of a new company web site.

February 2020 marked the third anniversary for Two Six Labs as an independent company. 2019 was a record year for the company with revenue growth of over 30% and record results for new contract awards, new bookings, backlog, proposal win rates and profit margins. Two Six Labs has expanded company offices in Arlington VA, as well as Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio Texas, Mt. Laurel New Jersey, Tacoma Washington, and Augusta Georgia in the Georgia Cyber Center. The pioneering work by our staff supports our Customers top mission requirements driving increased demand for our products and services and leading to our strong growth, said Chris Greamo, President and CEO of Two Six Labs, We continue to expand our portfolio of innovative R&D projects and work closely with operational partners to deliver break-through technology solutions for national security. Two Six Labs has grown their customer base, providing leading technology solutions to the U.S. Government and commercialsector, including DARPA, Department of Defense, U.S. Cyber Command, Department of Homeland Security, the Intelligence Community and commercial companies.



Two Six Labs mission is creating and deploying innovative technologies that empower critical missions of national security. The company provides customers with R&D expertise, innovative fielded systems for warfighters and end users, and productized solutions for partners and clients. To reflect the companys growth and expanded capabilities and technology solutions, Two Six Labs has launched their new website at www.twosixlabs.com . Prospective employees interested in working with world class experts on the leading edge of technological development are welcomed.

About Two Six Labs Two Six Labs is an advanced technology research and development company, serving customers across the government sector and private industry. Our teams research, design and deploy revolutionary technology solutions to complex challenges in big data, cybersecurity, data science, electronic systems, mobile devices and user experience design.



www.twosixlabs.com , @ twosixlabs on Twitter, Two Six Labs on LinkedIn . Media Contact David Leach

Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development

[email protected]

703-782-9473

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The aim of the Pharmacy Career Fair was to bring together students looking for exciting career opportunities and companies searching for the best talent

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Apeejay Stya University, recently organised the Pharmacy Career Fair 2020 in Gurugram.

The event was attended by many students from ASU as well as Delhi NCR. In all, 21 companies visited the campus for selection of students pursuing D. Pharma, B. Pharma, and M. Pharma programmes. The event proved to be a roaring success wherein more than 50 students bagged offers from leading Pharmaceutical companies.

The aim of the Pharmacy Career Fair was to bring together students looking for exciting career opportunities and companies searching for the best talent under one roof. Apart from Apeejay Stya University, students from other colleges like B.S. Anangpuria Institute of Technology & Management, MVN University, Ramgopal College of Pharmacy and Jamia Hamdard also attended the event.

Some of the key recruiters that were present at the event were Apollo Hospital, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India - Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), Systopic Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Psychotropic India, ASG Biochem Pvt. Ltd., Bioinnovat Research, Adips Laboratories Ltd., Martin & Harris Pvt. Ltd., Nextgen Invitro Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Walter Bushnell Pvt. Ltd., Protech Biosystems Pvt. Ltd., Apollo Pharmacy, Lark Laboratories, etc.

Among the visiting companies, Apollo Pharmacy was the top recruiter, having recruited 35 students who were offered attractive pay packages.
CDC Unable to Do Most Effective Form of Coronavirus Contact Tracing, Sen. Cassidy Says

WASHINGTONEfforts to track the spread of coronavirus in the United States are hampered because Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials cant use the most advanced form of location contact tracing, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said March 12.

Meanwhile, Cassidy and other senators are changing how they work in response to the virus.

Weve been advocating the use of location data, coupled with lab-test results, so that public health officials can better track those who are infected, where they may have been infected from, where you should go back and clean if you need to disinfect, and to warn those folks with whom they have routine contact in the future, Cassidy told reporters.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is now advising contact tracing, and the reports are from South Korea and Taiwan are that they used aggressive contact tracing, with aggressive testing, in order to get ahead of the outbreak, Cassidy said.

But I heard today that CDC will not have the ability to integrate the testing with the contact tracing, the big data, if you will, from AT&T, Verizon, and Google or whomever, he said.

Im hoping that it can still be done, but CDC still feels that it cannot. That is frustrating and I will leave it at that, he said.

Public health says if were going to get on top of this  we need to be able to trace about 70 percent of the contacts, but traditional methods of tracing only get about 40 percent of contacts.

Cassidy said having the more advanced approach would be less manpower consuming for health officials. He also said it will be at least two more weeks before officials will be able to administer the level of widespread testing thats needed.

Developing such a capability should have been started years ago, Cassidy said, adding that he doesnt think President Donald Trump should be blamed for something that CDC officials should have been doing beforehand.

A Cassidy spokesman told The Epoch Times after the teleconference that the senator believes that we should be manufacturing more medical supplies at home rather than in China, and that he thinks Trump deserves credit for highlighting this issue, and for the initial response that prevented the virus entering the United States for as long as it did.

Working Remotely

Cassidys comments came during a hastily arranged teleconference with reporters instead of his usual practice of hosting journalists in his office for regular pen and pad sessions.

Cassidy did so after deciding that his office staff in Washington will begin working remotely on March 13, rather than from their normal working quarters in the Hart Senate Office Building.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) also announced that his staff is now working remotely due to concerns about the coronavirus. An unidentified Senate aide tested positive earlier this week for the virus.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) closed his D.C. office as well, saying it will remain closed until further notice but open to serve Ohioans by phone, and will be in consistent contact with the Senates Attending Physician and medical authorities to determine when it is appropriate to reopen the office.

Congressional officials announced March 12 that the Capitol complex is closed to the public through the end of March. A decision will then be made on whether to reopen for tours.

In the meantime, only senators, representatives, and congressional staff on official business are allowed access. Both the Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to be on recess throughout the next week.

Asked by The Epoch Times if he believes the entire Congress should shift to a teleworking status, Cassidy said, If you can do it. Which my staff can. I told my staff I want to create the ability that people can upload documents, that somebody who is a constituent can send us something, we can review that in real-time, and have an online conversation as we look at the document.

Cassidy pointed out that the coronavirus to date affects older individuals much more so than younger ones and that most members of his staff are in the latter category.

I have a bunch of people who are millennials, God bless em. If people say bad things about millennials, I love my millennials, they are top-notch people. But they are less likely to get symptoms, he said.

The problem is that his staff members can have the virus but be asymptomatic, which could be dangerous for older visitors who have underlying health conditions that make them especially vulnerable.

Many of the individuals visiting his Washington office are older, especially those who are military veterans, Cassidy said, so going to teleworking status is the right decision for my office, and I say that as a physician because as I look at the demographics of people visiting and the demographics of people working for me.

The Louisiana senator said he still sees value in small group meetings among members of Congress and visitors because then you can actually practice what CDC is recommending as social distancing, you dont have to be right on top of each other.

Federal departments and agencies are also moving to make it easier for government workers to telework instead of coming to their regular duty stations.

Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, both Maryland Democrats who represent substantial federal worker populations, have introduced legislation to encourage agencies to make it easier for employees to work from home.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
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Linkedin Gabriel Stargardter (Reuters) Santos, Brazil  Thu, March 12, 2020 17:47 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a26715 2 World Brazil,Drugs-trafficking,drugs,cocaine,Latin-America,war-on-drugs Free

Years of rooting out drugs at the Brazilian seaport of Santos had given customs inspector Oswaldo Dias a good nose for suspicious cargo. A shipment of second-hand backhoes, bound for Europe late last year, seemed fishy.

So on the morning of Nov. 18, Dias sent the machinery through a scanner, which revealed a strange mass lodged inside one of the excavator's yellow arms. He hopped up for a look and saw cracks in the metal and a dodgy paint job. Dias called for a blowtorch.

Inside, he found 158 kilograms of cocaine - almost 350 pounds of white powder - destined for the Belgian port of Antwerp.

The use of decoy construction equipment, Dias said, was just the latest ruse employed by Brazil's drug gangs. In less than a decade, he had watched them rise from domestic street sellers to major international players, using Santos and other ports to ship narcotics offshore.

"Europe is the destination par excellence," said Dias, who retired late last year from Brazil's Federal Revenue Service.

Brazil has become one of the top suppliers of cocaine to Europe, transforming the country's role in the trans-Atlantic drug trade at a speed that has stunned anti-narcotics authorities.

A Brazilian custom agent inspects the cargo inside a container going to Europe for smuggled drugs at the Port of Santos in Santos, Brazil September 23, 2019. (REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli)

Long regarded as a cocaine-consuming nation, a market for the product manufactured in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia, Brazil has turned into a critical launch pad to get it across the ocean. Local syndicates have infiltrated Brazil's ports, authorities said, sending record amounts of coke on container ships bound for Europe, where it fetches premium prices.

Brazilian gangs are now integral players feeding Europe's cocaine market, valued at more than 9 billion euros ($10.15 billion), according to a Reuters analysis of customs data on cocaine seizures, confidential intelligence reports and research studies on illegal drugs; and interviews with more than two dozen people, including law enforcement agents, public officials, diplomats, anti-narcotics experts and people involved in the illicit trade.

"For coke, Brazil has emerged as a major exporter nation," said Laurent Laniel, a senior analyst at the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the Lisbon-based EU drugs agency. "This is definitely something that is new."

The Brazilian cocaine trade spans vast distances across South America's largest nation. Reuters accompanied Brazilian and Peruvian police battling gangsters near the countries' shared border in the remote Amazon, where there has been an explosion of cultivation and processing of coca, the plant used to produce cocaine.

"It's out of control," Brazilian Federal Police Officer Antonio Salgado said after joining his Peruvian counterparts to take out coca processing labs. "You go up in the helicopter and within two minutes you start seeing plantations here, there, everywhere."

Reuters also reported from Paraguay, whose law enforcement has proven to be no match for Brazilian gangs using the country as a way station to move Andean product into Brazil; and from Santos, Latin America's largest port, where drug seizures keep breaking records.

Every link of this vast supply chain underscored Brazil's new status as a leading transshipment hub for coke to Europe, the world's second-largest economic bloc.

The shift can be seen in Belgium, the top gateway for South American cocaine entering Europe, almost entirely via the port of Antwerp, according to the EMCDDA. In 2019, authorities apprehended a record of nearly 62 tonnes of cocaine at Antwerp, Europe's second-largest port. The single-largest share of that - 15.9 tonnes, about a quarter of the total - came from ships arriving from Brazil, official Belgian data show. In 2015, Belgian customs seized just 293 kilograms (646 pounds) hailing from Brazil, less than 2% of that year's haul.

It's a similar story in Spain, Europe's second most important portal. Five years ago, Brazil did not rank among the major embarkation points for cargo ships caught bringing cocaine into Spain. The top five slots belonged to Colombia, Venezuela, Portugal, Ecuador, and Chile, according to data provided to Reuters last year by Spanish customs. Brazil vaulted to the No. 1 spot in 2016 and again in 2018 when law enforcement seized a record 4.3 tonnes from ships arriving from Brazilian ports, the figures show.

Brazil was also the top point of origin for cocaine apprehended entering Germany in 2018, with a historic capture of nearly 2.1 tonnes, according to the most recent German customs data.

Experts cautioned that apprehension figures don't tell the whole story; bigger seizures can reflect better policing rather than increased flows.

But two things are certain: Europe is "swimming in drugs," and Brazil plays an increasingly crucial role in getting them there, said Andrew Cunningham, another expert at EMCDDA, the EU drugs agency. "There's absolutely no doubt about it," he said.

Part of the 158 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the arm of a second-hand backhoe that was bound for the Belgian port of Antwerp and found by the Brazilian anti-narcotics authorities is pictured at the port of Santos, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, November 18, 2019. (REUTERS/Handout/RECEITA FEDERAL DO BRASIL)

BRAZIL TAKES OFF

Brazil has always had the potential to become a major cocaine exporter, according to Elvis Secco, who leads a specialized anti-narcotics unit of Brazil's federal police. The country sits between coke-producing powerhouses to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

Brazil's three most important gangs - First Capital Command, Red Command and the Family of the North - have proven adept at moving drugs enormous distances to supply Brazilian consumers. With thousands of cargo ships leaving Brazil annually for Europe, Africa and beyond, there was no reason to stop at the water's edge, Secco told Reuters.

But other recent trends have helped Brazilian traffickers expand. Global cocaine production - almost exclusively from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia - more than doubled between 2013 and 2017, to reach an estimated 1,976 tonnes, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). South America has been awash with high-purity powder in need of buyers.

Burgeoning supplies have resulted in falling prices that have attracted new users worldwide, according to the UNODC's World Drug Report 2019.

With distribution into the lucrative U.S. market cornered by Mexican cartels, Brazil's gangs trained their sights on Europe. Prices there are higher than in the United States, due to the longer distances it must travel, authorities said. Europe is also a convenient pit stop for cocaine bound for growing markets in the Middle East and Asia, they added.

Like Europe, Brazil is also flooded with coke. In 2019, the federal police nabbed a record 105 tonnes, up 32% from 2018. Brazil's law-and-order President Jair Bolsonaro says it's proof the country is winning its war on drugs. "We're suffocating organized crime," he tweeted in October.

Secco, the Brazilian federal police drug czar, was more circumspect. He said apprehensions are up because Andean production has risen sharply and more cocaine is entering Brazil, "not because of any new investments" in law enforcement.

Peruvian anti-narcotics police officers patrol the Amazon river in Caballococha, Peru October 29, 2019. (REUTERS/Gabriel Stargardter)

DRUGS ON THE DOCKS

Much of the cocaine flowing through Brazil to Europe is trafficked by Brazil's largest and most powerful criminal organization, First Capital Command, known by its Portuguese acronym PCC, according to authorities.

They say the gang dominates a prime smuggling route that starts in Bolivia, then heads southeast to Brazil via Paraguay, where the syndicate is overwhelming that nation's weak institutions. In January, 75 PCC members escaped from a Paraguayan prison in a brazen jailbreak that top security officials knew was coming, but were powerless to stop, because the gang had so many prison guards under its sway.

Based in Sao Paulo, the PCC dominates the nearby port of Santos, which handles some 7,000 containers a day. Police say the gang bribes or threatens port workers to place cocaine in outbound shipping containers. Some drugs come aboard cargo ships at sea, with smugglers pulling alongside in smaller craft, said Cunningham of the EU drugs agency.

After reaching Europe, the merchandise is distributed across the continent by Eastern European, Moroccan and Italian mobsters partnered with the PCC, officials said.

In July 2019, Brazilian police arrested Nicola Assisi, reputedly a senior player in Italy's 'Ndrangheta mob, along with his son Patrick, near Santos. They are "accused of being some of the biggest suppliers of cocaine to Europe," according to a Brazilian federal court document. Currently jailed in Brasilia, they await extradition to Italy. Their lawyer, Eugenio Malavasi, declined to comment.

With Santos swamped with cocaine, port officials have tightened security. Since 2016, every Europe-bound container has been X-ray scanned, according to Dias, the retired customs inspector. In 2019, customs agents nabbed a record 27 tonnes of cocaine at Santos, a 154% increase from three years earlier.

Ciro Moraes, the federal police commander in charge of Santos, reckons authorities only catch a fraction. The only good news, he said, is that cargo theft at the port has declined precipitously. "The guys who were stealing cargo are now in drug logistics," he said.

Federal Police officer, Ciro Tadeu Moraes, is seen at his office in Santos, Brazil September 23, 2019. (REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli)

COCAINE SURGE IN THE AMAZON

Brazil's gangs also import cocaine into the remote, northern Amazon region of the country along the so-called triple frontier with Colombia and Peru, according to federal police.

They say much of the product enters Brazil by boat along the Amazon River, bound for Manaus, a city of roughly 2 million people. From there, it moves downriver until it reaches northeastern seaports like Suape and Natal in preparation for the Atlantic crossing.

The Family of the North, known as the FDN, is the biggest player in the Amazon, authorities said. But booming European exports have lured challengers, with the PCC, Rio de Janeiro's Red Command and others looking to wrest control.

Much of the ensuing violence has played out in the region's jails where gangs recruit unaffiliated prisoners into their crews. Brazilian authorities blamed warring cartels for two prison riots that killed more than 100 people last year. Shootouts are common in Manaus and along the Amazon River. Police say they are increasingly outgunned.

Gangs are "less scared and more powerful" than they used to be, said Brazilian Federal Police Officer Charles Nascimento, a veteran of the Amazon drugs beat.

Bolsonaro's government has taken aim at the gangs by targeting their finances and moving jailed leaders to maximum-security federal lockups.

Brazil is also cooperating with other affected countries. Belgian and Brazilian authorities in 2019 pledged to deepen information sharing, tighten port security and tackle money laundering. And Bolsonaro's administration is stepping up anti-narcotics efforts with its Andean neighbors.

Peruvian anti-narcotics police officers are seen at a coca leaf plantations in Caballococha, Peru November 2, 2019. (REUTERS/Gabriel Stargardter)

GANG PACT

Late last year, Reuters joined a joint mission between Brazil and Peru, spending a week with four Brazilian federal police officers and a few dozen Peruvian anti-narcotics cops in Caballococha, a Peruvian town of about 24,000 people. Accessible only by air or boat, Caballococha sits on the banks of the Amazon, just south of Colombia and about 100 kilometers upriver from the Brazilian border.

This region of Peru, classified as the Bajo Amazonas, accounts for just 4% of the nation's 50,000-hectare coca crop, according to the UNODC. But cultivation is growing, up 41% in 2017 from the previous year, the most recent data show.

Colonel Miguel Angel Peric, the local head of Peru's anti-narcotics police, said those figures don't begin to capture the scale of the problem. He estimated almost all of Caballococha's residents had some direct or indirect link to the cocaine trade. Peruvian cops told Reuters they suspected some colleagues were in league with traffickers, although they presented no evidence.

Shifting gang alliances have added to the complexity. A partnership has emerged between Brazil's FDN and Los Caquetenos, a Colombian gang that supplies it with coke produced at home and in Peru, according to two classified intelligence reports seen by Reuters, one from Brazilian police and the other from Colombian cops.

Los Caquetenos was founded in 2010 by former members of a local paramilitary force and is based in the Colombian border town of Leticia. It is "the most belligerent organization in the triple frontier region," according to the Colombian report.

The bi-lateral anti-narcotics force hoped to disrupt some of Los Caquetenos' operations around Caballococha. But out in the jungle, the police always appeared to be one step behind the traffickers.

An ariel view of cocaine plantation in Caballococha, Peru November 2, 2019. Picture taken November 2, 2019. (REUTERS/Gabriel Stargardter)

DISAPPEARING ACT

The mission relied on two aging Russian Mi-17 helicopters provided by the Peruvians. One broke down immediately, causing a delay of a few days while a new part was flown in.

Once the chopper was repaired, the mission netted just three arrests. Suspects vanished into the jungle at the sound of approaching aircraft.

The team also torched five so-called paste labs, which perform the first stage of processing on coca plantations. These facilities are typically crude shacks where workers fill plastic barrels with coca leaves, gasoline, and other chemicals to form coca paste. This green-hued sludge is then transported to more sophisticated labs to be processed into white, powdery cocaine.

But as the days passed, the paste seizures didn't amount to much. Then came a potential break. An informant said a small plane carrying 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds) of coca paste had crashed during takeoff from a clandestine landing strip. There were another 700 kilograms (1,543.2 pounds) by the side of the runway, guarded by as many as 10 heavily armed men, according to the informant.

Around noon the following day, a few dozen Peruvian police set off in the choppers. As the runway came into view, helicopter gunmen strafed it with machine-gun fire.

But upon landing they found no armed guards, no drugs and no plane. They located the charred wreckage of a Beechcraft Baron 58, a Brazilian-owned aircraft, hacked up and left in the river. It, too, was empty.
Kate Beckinsale arrives at the Costume Designers Guild Awards at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills in 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Kate Beckinsale has said Harvey Weinstein once screamed at her over a movie premiere outfit, telling her: If I am throwing a red carpet you get in a tight dress, you shake your a**.

The actress opened up about the row over the Serendipity premiere after the disgraced movie producer was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Sharing pictures on Instagram from the 2001 screening in New York, Beckinsale said she had not felt right about attending the event because it was just a few weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks, but that Weinstein had insisted.

Read more: Kate Beckinsale shares touching poem by late dad

She said the next day he berated her for her choice of outfit - a white trouser suit - in a foul-mouthed rant, saying he didnt want her going down the red carpet looking like a f****** lesbian.

Screengrab from Kate Beckinsale's Instagram

The British star, 46, said: These photos were taken at the premiere of Serendipity on October 5, 2001.

We all refused to go because holding a premiere mere weeks after 9/11 with the city still smoking felt like the most insensitive, tone deaf, disrespectful idea possible.

But Harvey insisted.

Kate Beckinsale attends the Serendipity New York City premiere in 2001 (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Beckinsale claimed that Weinstein called her the next day and suggested she take her daughter to his house for a playdate with his own child, and that she agreed.

However, when she arrived, she said Weinstein got his nanny to take the babies to another room.

She said: The minute the door closed he started screaming, You stupid f****** C***, you C*** you ruined my premiere.

I had no idea what he was talking about and started to shake.

He said, If I am throwing a red carpet you get in a tight dress, you shake your a** you shake your t*** you do not go down it looking like a f****** lesbian you stupid f****** c***.

Read more: Kate Beckinsale talks body shaming

The shock made me burst into tears. I tried to say Harvey, the city is on fire, people are still looking for their relatives none of us even felt the premiere was appropriate much less coming out dressed like its a bachelor party.

Story continues

He said, I dont care - its my f****** premiere and if I want p**** on the red carpet thats what I get.

Screaming. Livid.

The Underworld star said it was one of many experiences I had that there was no recourse for, and falls under no felony.

She went on: But I WAS punished for it, and for other instances where I said no to him for years, insidiously and seeming irreversibly.

Harvey Weinstein leaves court during his trial (John Lamparski / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

Beckinsale also celebrated the fact that Weinstein has been sentenced to a jail term.

Hearing that he has gone to prison for 23 years is a huge relief to me on behalf of all the women he sexually assaulted or raped, and I hope will be a deterrent to that sort of behavior in this and any other industry, she said.

Having said that, the crimes that are not crimes, the inhumane bullying and sick covert abuse for which there is STILL no recourse no matter who you tell (and I did tell), these too need to go.

I hope and pray that we as an industry can start to actually outlaw all abuses of power and expose them and eliminate them, for all genders, forever.

And Rose, brava, she added, in an apparent nod to actress Rose McGowan, who was one of the earliest people to speak up against Weinstein.
President Donald Trump made an unprecedented move on Wednesday night  suspending travel between the United States and Europe for 30 days in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

In his televised address, Mr Trump blamed the European Union for failing to quickly shut down the pandemic which he said came to the US in clusters seeded by European travellers.

Mr Trump said we are marshalling the full power of the government to protect the American people.

Moments after Mr Trump made his sweeping statement the Department of Homeland Security sent out a release clarifying his remarks

Heres what we know so far:

Who does the ban apply to?

The ban applies to foreign nationals travelling from the prohibited area unless they are considered exempt. After Trumps Oval Office address the DHS clarified the ruling didnt apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of US citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.

The proclamation lists as exempt: spouses of US citizens or permanent residents, parents of US citizens or permanent residents under the age of 21, unmarried siblings of US citizens or permanent residents under the age of 21 and any children, foster children or ward of a US citizen or permanent resident or a prospective adoptee. Members of the armed forces, their spouses and children are also excluded.

It also excludes anyone travelling to the US on certain specialised visas aka crewmembers, foreign government officials, NATO and UN visas.

The proclamation also adds that the Secretary of Health can sanction someones entry if they do not pose significant risk and the Attorney General can waive the restriction if the foreign nationals entry would benefit law enforcement.

The rule will, for example, apply to European nationals working in the US  who would effectively be barred from returning to the US after visiting Europe.

Presumably such workers who are currently in Europe and intending to travel back to the US would also be banned.

Which countries in Europe does the ban cover?

The ban will not apply to the UK or Ireland, but it will apply to all 26 countries in Europe that have abolished passport controls, known as the Schengen Area.

It includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. This does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of US citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.

How long will the ban last for?

The ban will be in effect from Friday, March 13 from 11.59pm eastern daylight time. It will last for 30 days and then be reassessed.
She's just been in Australia with The Pussycat Dolls.

And Nicole Scherzinger was taking no chances on her flight back to Los Angeles, arriving at LAX on Wednesday wearing a black face mask.

The 41-year-old was clearly concerned about the coronavirus outbreak and worried about being exposed during her long-haul journey home.

Safety first: Nicole Scherzinger was taking no chances about the coronavirus on her flight back to Los Angeles from Australia, arriving at LAX on Wednesday wearing a black face mask

Pairing the mask with large black-framed sunglasses ensured most of her face was covered.

She wore her long dark hair loose with a black wide-brimmed hat pulled down over it.

The Hawaiian-born entertainer and TV personality showcased her curves in a low-cut black tank top and skinny black shoes.

She added chunky black boots with white laces and a white zip up jacket.

Who's that girl? The Pussycat Doll, 41, paired the mask with large sunglasses, ensuring most of her face was covered. She wore a black wide-brimmed hat pulled down over her long hair

Back in the USA: The Hawaiian-born entertainer and TV personality showcased her curves in a low-cut black tank top and skinny black shoes

Scherzinger joined her Pussycat Dolls co-stars Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt and Jessica Sutta for a publicity tour promoting their April series of concerts Down Under.

They will headline Australia's So Pop Festival 2020 after reuniting for their first tour this year since calling it quits back in 2009.

The group disbanded 11 years ago amid rumors of a rift.

Australia trip: Scherzinger had joined her fellow Pussycat Dolls Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt and Jessica Sutta promoting their April series of concerts Down Under

Walking bass: Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh was seen walking in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood while wearing a respirator mask and carrying what looked like a takeout bag

Better fit: The jam band icon adjusted his mask while walking
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 06:22:03|Editor: yan

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RABAT, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan government said Thursday it has suspended air traffic with Algeria until further notice over COVID-19 fears, an official statement said.

The decision was notified to the Algerian authorities in advance, the statement added.

Earlier on Thursday Morocco has decided to suspend all flights and maritime voyages to and from Spain, its closest European neighbor.

Morocco has reported six confirmed COVID-19 cases till Thursday.
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Vietnam halts its visa exemption programme for eight European nations. Photo: Vietnam Insider

Accordingly, from March 12, travellers from these countries will have to apply for visas issued by the overseas Vietnamese embassies and consulates.

In addition, citizens from countries with more than 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases or more than 50 new cases a day may also expect visa-free travel to be suspended.

Vietnam has announced this decision to the relevant countries and will continue to liaise with other nations, international organisations, and partners in preventing and controlling the disease.

This is the next measure in the Vietnamese governments efforts to enhance the containment of COVID-19.

Vietnam has temporarily suspended visa waivers for Korean nationals from February 29 and Italian citizens from March 3 as these countries have seen the stronger outbreak of COVID-19.

As of March 11, the novel coronavirus has reached 119 countries and territories across the globe. At the time, Vietnam confirmed a total of 39 COVID-19 cases, 16 of which have been cured and discharged from hospital.

Starting from March 10, all Vietnamese citizens and foreigners who are currently living in Vietnam, or are entering the country, are required to complete health declarations via a website or mobile apps.

Developed by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Health in collaboration with domestic tech firms, the NCOVI app was designed for Vietnamese and Vietnam Health Declaration is for internationals. App users can update and keep track of their health status on a daily basis, in addition to reporting suspected cases of infection in their neighbourhood.

Paper-form health declarations are also available for arrivals.

Those with symptoms like coughing, fever, shortness of breath, and fatigue are required to be examined and quarantined.
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Burma Returning to Scene of 2003 Massacre, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Focuses on Present

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi addresses local residents during a public meeting in Depayin, Sagaing Region on Wednesday. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

MANDALAYDaw Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday returned to Sagaing Divisions Depayin Township for the first time since she narrowly escaped a deadly organized attack by military-backed thugs there 17 years ago.

The State Counselor was in Depayin to hold a public meeting with local residents, one of a series of meetings that have taken her across the country since January.

Known as the Depayin Massacre, the attack on her motorcade took place in Kyee Village, on the outskirts of Depayin Township, on May 30, 2003.

According to reports, about 70 people lost their lives and a number of people were severely injured in the attack, but the precise death toll remains unknown. At the time, military government officials said no more than five people were killed.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, her driver and some other National League for Democracy (NLD) members managed to escape the massacre, but were later arrested as they entered Ye-U Township and imprisoned there. She was eventually sent back to Rangoon and placed under house arrest for six years.

NLD offices were sealed off and survivors of the massacre were later arrested and imprisoned across the country.

It is widely believed that Lieutenant General Soe Win, who served as Secretary-2 of the then-ruling military junta, orchestrated the attack. Some have speculated he did so without the knowledge of Khin Nyunt, who served as Secretary-1 at the time.

Many local residents attending Wednesdays meeting, including survivors of the massacre, expressed hoped that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would discuss the events of 2003. She didnt raise past events, however, and focused instead on answering questions regarding current local issues.

She just said in her opening remarks that it was remarkable to have the chance to visit Depayin again, and said thank you to local residents. Other than that, she didnt mention the massacre, and focused exclusively on local residents questions and complaints about poor road transportation, electricity, health and education, said U Ko Lay, a massacre survivor and NLD member, who attended the public meeting on Wednesday.

Despite her brush with death in 2003, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said on previous occasions that she is willing to let bygones be bygones.

We hoped she would say something, as it was her first time in Depayin for 17 years. However, she already told us to forgive and let the past go for the sake of national reconciliation, so its no surprise that she didnt mention anything about the past, said U Hla Oo, another massacre survivor and NLD member.

Many locals of Depayin said they were glad to welcome the State Counselor to their region for the first time in 17 years.

We are so glad. After the attack, it was as if our town had been on a democracy blacklist since 2003. We always wished Amay Su [Mother Su] would visit our region but she did not. We believed our region was a source of nightmares for her, as Depayin holds a dark place in our countrys history. But now Amay Su is here, saying that her visit to Depayin is a significant one. We are very happy that she has shown that Depayin no longer holds bitter memories for her, said local resident U Tun Ohn.

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Amid rise in novel coronavirus cases, the government on March 12 asked people not to panic, saying no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there has only been cases of local transmission so far.

Asserting that the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad have always been a priority for India, the government said starting from March 13, three back-to-back evacuations will be made to bring back Indians from Iran.

With novel coronavirus being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), health ministry officials said even though the virus is difficult to isolate, scientists at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have been successful in finding about 11 isolates, but developing a vaccine will take at least one-and-a-half to two years.

The number of COVID-19 patients in India has risen to 74, which includes 16 Italians and one Canadian. The figure also includes three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month following recovery.

Lav Aggarwal, the Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry, said 1,500 people who came in contact with the 74 infected people were under rigorous observation while over 30,000 people across the country were under community surveillance.

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

"India presently has around 1 lakh testing kits. More testing kits have been ordered and they are in procurement," he said.

The remark that there has been only local transmission of the virus in the country, came days after the ministry, in an official statement, said that cases of community transmission of the virus have been observed.

About evacuation measures undertaken so far, Aggarwal said till now, India has evacuated 948 people from coronavirus-affected countries.

Of these, 900 were Indians and 48 belonged to different nationalities including from the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, the USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, he said.

A Civil Aviation Ministry official said starting from March 13, three back-to-back evacuations will be made to bring back Indians from Iran.

"The first evacuation from Iran will take place tomorrow and around 200 people are expected to reach Mumbai airport around 12.30 pm. The second evacuation will be on March 15 and the flight will arrive at Delhi airport.

"The third evacuation from Iran is likely to be on March 16 or 17," the official said, adding on March 10, 58 evacuees from Iran had arrived in India, which included 25 men, 31 women and two children all of whom are asymptomatic at present.

Moreover, 83 evacuees from Italy who arrived in India on March 11 have been housed at the Manesar quarantine facility. All patients in hospitals are being treated and reported to be stable, officials said.

The health ministry said India has always prioritised the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad and mounted timely operations from February 1 to evacuate them from coronavirus-affected countries.

Aggarwal said the government has made 52 laboratories functional for testing samples while 57 labs have been designated for helping in sample collection to enhance diagnosis and detection capacity of the disease.

The focus is on preventive approach and adequate testing facilities have been made available, he said.

Raman R Gangakhedkar, the head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases-I (ECD-I), division of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said scientists at the NIV in Pune have been successful in isolating the virus strain.

"Coronaviruses are difficult to isolate. But the efforts of the scientists of NIV Pune have been successful and about 11 isolates of coronavirus are available which is a prime requisite for doing any kind of research related to viruses. Even with expedited clinical trials and approvals, it will take around one-and-a-half-years to two years to develop a vaccine," he said.

Officials said that India's efforts to deal with coronavirus are in consonance with WHO and the focus is on preventive approach.

The government has stepped up vigil and following a strong contact tracing system to ensure anyone who has come in touch with the infected are not missed out. Till now, 11,14,025 people have been screened at 30 designated airports in India, they said.

Asked whether high temperature kills coronavirus, officials said there was no study or evidence till now to suggest that.

As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spread across the globe, the cabinet secretary on March 11 said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.

India has suspended all visas, except for a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of respiratory virus, according to a revised travel advisory. The government also "strongly advised" Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15, according to the advisory issued on March 11.

It said, any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission and 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 14 days.
The European Unions two presidents have criticised Donald Trumps decision to impose a travel ban on European citizens, warning that coronavirus pandemic requires cooperation to defeat.

In a joint statement Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel said the policy had been imposed by the US without consultation and suggested it could be counterproductive.

The Coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action, they said.

The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to improve a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation.

They added that the bloc was taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus.

Mr Trump says the US will for 30 days deny entry to non-Americans who travelled in the EUs 26-country Schengen Area in the last 14 days. Announcing the plan overnight, Mr Trump described the policy as a suspension of all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

The move is a drastic reversal of policy for the president, who has been accused of taking the pandemic too lightly, with an election looming in the autumn.

Just 72 hours before unveiling the U-turn Mr Trump downplayed the severity of the virus, comparing it favourably to the common flu and adding: Nothing is shut down, life and the economy go on.

He had also said opposition Democrats criticism of his handling of the virus was a new hoax and that they were rooting for the virus.

39 US states have now reported coronavirus cases, with close to 1,000 cases causing 29 total deaths. This compared to the UKs 460 cases and eight deaths.

Donald Trump announced the ban overnight while most of Europe slept (EPA)

Within the EU, various member states have imposed travel restrictions on each other  notably against Italy, the continents outbreak hot-spot.

Asked about restrictions, a spokesperson for the European Commission said: In a situation like the one we are in public authorities are obviously stepping in and taking measures that they consider as appropriate. What we are saying is this this is a global crisis that effects everyone, not one particular country, not one particular continent. The issue is to make sure that the measures we are taking are taken in good consultation, in good cooperation, in order to ensure their effectiveness. That is what this is all about.

Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Show all 11 1 /11 Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Ben Gurion International airport, Israel Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Changsha Huanghua International Airport, China Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty

On the subject of Mr Trumps travel ban, he added: I think that European citizens expect of their public authorities of all levels that they deal with the issues that concern them most  their health, wellbeing, and also the management of the economic fallout of the crisis.

That is what we are entirely geared towards and this is what we are focusing our comment on. We are not here to carry out a running commentary on the statements made by one or another party.

Quite honestly, the president of the Commission, her college, and her services have got lots of actions to implement, lots of measures to undertake, and that is what they are focusing their attention on.

We have now clearly said that such a measure as the US travel ban should not have been undertaken unilaterally, that prior consultation would have been good. That statement is now out there, it reflects our position on this and we will go no further than that.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:00:01|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday "resolutely" opposed the U.S. accusations on China's human rights issues and the government's Xinjiang policies, calling it "a mere repetition of an old tune."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the Chinese government's Xinjiang policies during the presentation of the U.S. State Department annual report on human rights Wednesday.

The China-related content of the report deliberately ignores facts and confounds right with wrong, Geng said at a press briefing.

He said remarkable progress has been made in China's human rights cause since the establishment of the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese government, as always, attaches great importance to protecting and promoting human rights.

"The Chinese people have the greatest say about China's human rights condition, which is at its historical best," Geng said.

Noting that China's human rights progress is there for all to see, Geng said the achievements could not be simply vilified by a report or a few words from certain U.S. individuals.

He also stressed that Xinjiang affairs are purely China's internal affairs and can not be interfered with by any external force.

Geng said the Chinese government has taken counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures in Xinjiang in accordance with laws, which has been endorsed and supported by people of all ethnic groups and commended by the international community.

"The U.S. side has no right to make wanton remarks on this issue," he said, urging the U.S. side to reflect upon and correct its wrongdoing, and stop using human rights issues to interfere in China's domestic affairs.
The Brazilian startup scene has gained some serious momentum over the past two years. Unicorns have emerged. Large global investors are putting money into Brazilian companies. Venture funding in the country has skyrocketed.

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Now, one Brazilian venture firm is ready to help keep that momentum growing in a unique way.

Canary Ventures, an early-stage firm with more than $120 million under management, told Crunchbase News exclusively that it has launched a new program to help first-time founders graduating abroad kick off their business ideas in Brazil.

Dubbed JetPack, the program is designed to help people who live outside of Latin Americas largest country explore innovative ideas with a little help.

In December, Canary closed on a $75 million fund to invest in about 50 early-stage startups operating primarily in Brazil. The Sao Paulo-based firm generally provides the first institutional capitalseed or Series A financingto tech companies in the country.

Izabel Gallera, the Canary partner leading JetPacks efforts, told me there are a lot of inefficiencies in Brazil that are much wider than in the U.S.

The real estate, health care and financial services sectors are prime examples. In fact, those industries in Brazil have a reputation for being inefficient and expensive.

Here we could use a lot of technology to become more efficient, Gallera said. Even a little bit of technology could help gain a lot of efficiencies. In Brazil, we have much more explicit opportunities of building something that can solve a real problem.

Canary Ventures Partner Izabel Gallera

As such, the firm is very bullish with regard to those market opportunities.

We believe more capital flowing to great talent will be able to help solve a lot of problems in the country, Gallera added.

Marcos Toledo, managing partner of Canary, said the program is being founded on the premise that Brazil is seeing a turning point where more and more talented workers are moving away from traditional careers.

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He also echoes Galleras sentiment regarding opportunity in the country.

In Brazil, we have tons of opportunities to tackle as we have a huge number of sectors that are either fragmented or low tech, Toledo told me.

Since it began operating in 2017 through December 2019, Canary has invested in more than 60 companies which, combined, had raised over $400 million in subsequent rounds. Portfolio companies include Buser, idwall (which we covered here), Loft (whose recent $175 million round we covered in this piece), SouSmile and Hashdex.

Program details

With JetPack, Canary is looking for an ambitious team of first-time founders who live abroad and want to return to, or go to, Brazil to start a company. A formed team or being Brazlian are not requirements, but living outside of Brazil is.

Canary says its standards are high, and the firm will only choose teams if they see true potential for a long-term relationship. It will evaluate criteria such as ambition, fit with Canarys investment model, founders market fit and execution capability.

Once a founder is chosen, Canary will invest $50,000 uncapped, which means the financing will be priced only in the next venture round. The firm will cover all LLC costs, but for future rounds a founder will need to open a company in Delaware.

The team will have office space in Sao Paulo during the extension of the (industry-agnostic) program or until its first funding round. Canary says it will be on hand to help when the team is ready to raise its first round of institutional venture capital. It will also provide full access to its network of tech founders and operators, talent to recruit, possible first clients (for B2B companies in particular), market specialists and enterprise senior executives, among others.

In return, Canary expects the right to lead that first venture round (assuming both parties agree). It also asks a team to maintain a keen and exclusive focus on validating its business hypothesis.

We want you to focus on building a business, but dont expect micromanagement from our side, the firm said.

Interested parties can apply here.

Illustration: Dom Guzman
South Africa: Government looking at using technology to issue title deeds

Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says government will ask the banking sector and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to help in finding ways of using technology to fast-track the issuing of title deeds.

She said this when Ministers in the Social Services cluster fielded oral questions at the National Assembly on Wednesday.

This comes as she told Members of Parliament that while the department  through its provincial and municipal offices  has issued just under 30 000 title deeds to date, more needs to be done to fast-track the delivery thereof.

To assist us to fast-track this, we are going to request the banking sector, together with the CSIR, to see if we cannot use technology to advance the issuing of title deeds.

If we as a country are able to register a child at birth, it should be possible to use the same kind of technology and logic to register a house even before it is built, therefore knowing ahead of time who the title deed should belong to and the title deed should be given to at a time that the house is handed over.

Challenges in fast-tracking title deeds

Addressing MPs, Sisulu said among reasons why government has not been able to fast-track the delivery of title deeds is because officials often arrive at the beneficiarys address only to find that the owner of the house is no longer there.

This despite a legal requirement that makes it very clear that people who are given houses are required to be in their houses for eight years before they hand it over to anybody.

However this is something that is regularly ignored and we are finding it difficult to fast-track this.

Our biggest problem is that sometimes we find that we get to a house and there is a clear division in a family over who should own a title deed. The biggest problem here is that we as government cannot intervene in family disputes over who is the owner of the house in order to accord the title deed to.

She said the department was currently seeking legal advice on how to deal with this.

Update on title deeds issued

Sisulu said, meanwhile, that in terms of title deeds that belonged to the pre-1994 era  the leading province in delivering these is the Eastern Cape, the lowest would be the Western Cape in the delivery of those title deeds.

However, in the title deeds that would have been belonging in the period post 1994, the lead here is Gauteng that has delivered 7773 title deeds within one year and the lowest here would be the Eastern Cape.

She said in title deeds that belonged to the current period, the province that has delivered the most title deeds was KwaZulu-Natal  with 1371 title deeds delivered, and the lowest is Limpopo, North West and the Northern Cape.

The total number of title deeds that have been issued in the past few months is 29 000 title deeds, ensuring that on a regular basis we are able to give these out.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, Lieutenant General Artak Davtyan yesterday paid a working visit to the military units stationed in the southern direction.

As reported the Ministry of Defense, the commanders of the military formation and military units reported on the completed activities, the level of physical, combat and moral-psychological preparedness of the personnel and the tasks set forth for the subdivisions.

Davtyan toured one of the military units, visited the cafeteria, was introduced to the construction underway and gave relevant assignments.
(Newser)  An extensive new study confirms that Alcoholics Anonymous works. In fact, AA not only helps alcoholics get sober, the free program was found to be more effective than professional mental health therapy in terms of participants staying sober. The research, a review of dozens of studies involving more than 10,500 people carried out by the Cochrane Collaboration, found that AA was never determined to be less effective than alternative options, and was often found to be significantly better (up to 60%) than those other interventions. "In the popular press, theres been reports of AA not working or being even harmful for people," says the lead author, per USA Today. "So, we wanted to clarify the scientific picture to the highest scientific standard." AA was found to have increased rates and lengths of sobriety compared to other treatments; a press release deems it "the most effective path to abstinence."

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Specifically, while other treatments generally result in 15% to 25% of participants sustaining abstinence, AA's rates were between 22% and 37%. A 2006 Cochrane Collaboration review involving fewer studies and fewer people found there was not enough evidence to judge AA's effectiveness, the New York Times reports. But a study co-author, a psychologist who was once skeptical of the amateur nature of AA himself, says the results of this updated review, which comes after a significant number of additional high-quality studies have been done on the subject, make sense: "AA didnt come from the scientific community, it came from people who were suffering addiction. Theyre just people with lived experience, and thats powerful when you multiply that by a couple of million people." The research also found AA typically lowered health care costs, and could save health care providers $10 billion a year. (Read more Alcoholics Anonymous stories.)
Emily Blunt and John Krasinki tied the knot ten years ago but the actress said there's one thing she would like to change about their big day.

Speaking to James Corden on The Late Late Show on Wednesday, the 37-year-old said she gave herself a 'budget DIY spray tan' and it was ill-advised.

The Quiet Place 2 star said: 'I got a bad a spray tan and I would probably change that.

'It was patchy and it stank': Emily Blunt told James Corden on The Late Late Show on Wednesday about her huge regret over having a DIY 'budget' orange spray tan on her wedding day to John Krasinski ten years ago

'I thinkI look at the pictures and it just has an orange hue that is unnatural to normal skin colour.'

She continued, 'It was a do-it-yourselfwhy was I on a budget on my wedding day?

'Why? It was a bit patchy. It stinks. And it was a very hot day, so if you sweat and you have a spray tanwearing white. Just seeping orange. It was terrible.'

She said: 'Why was I on a budget on my wedding day? 'Why? It was a bit patchy. It stinks. And it was a very hot day, so if you sweat and you have a spray tanwearing white' (pictured iwth John on Sunday)

Emily and John, 40, married on July 10 in Como, Italy and they have two daughters together, Hazel, five and Violet, three.

When the couple got engaged in 2009, Krasinski told Access Hollywood that their engagement involved a lot of tears.

He popped the question in Los Angeles, California, and said, 'She did cry after I cried and we cried and then everyone around us was crying.

She said on The Late Late Show: 'I thinkI look at the pictures and it just has an orange hue that is unnatural to normal skin colour'

'But it was great. At the end of the day, she said yes which is great. It's a big part of this whole thing.'

In 2011, he told Ellen DeGeneres: 'Then I met [Emily] and I was so nervous.

'I was like, "Oh god, I think I'm going to fall in love with her." As I shook her hand I went, "I like you." and the rest was history.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 10:05:54|Editor: huaxia

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ACCRA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced here late Wednesday a fund of 100 million U.S. dollars for the fight against COVID-19.

Addressing the nation live on radio and television on the enhanced measures against the disease, Akufo-Addo said it was necessary to step up the country's preparedness to fight the disease in case of an outbreak.

"This fund is to finance the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education," said the president.

Earlier in the day, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 a pandemic as the disease is spreading rapidly across the globe.

So far, Ghana has tested more than 40 suspected cases of COVID-19, which proved to be negative.

The president urged Ghanaians to observe all the safe hygiene practices to avoid getting infected.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI -- Two boys told police that a man in a car tried to pick them up Wednesday as they walked home from church in Coopesville.

Ottawa County sheriffs deputies are investigating the suspicious incident.

The juveniles, described as middle-aged boys, were walking along Main Street at East Street about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 when a vehicle approached.

A man in the car, a silver four-door, offered to give the boys a ride and then told them to get in. They refused and the boys ran and called 911.

The man in the car, according to the boys, appeared to be in his 40s, with shoulder-length brown wavy hair and a large brown beard. He had red and black tattoos on his hand and forearm and was wearing a plaid shirt.

The vehicle was described as a silver four-door sedan with a black stripe along the lower portion of the sides. It was last seen westbound on Main Street in Coopersville.

Anyone with information about the incident can call police at 1-800-249-0911 or Silent Observer at 877-88-SILENT.
St. Marys Academy announced Wednesday it will close for a week starting Monday and move all classes online due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Crews will conduct a deep clean of the schools downtown Portland campus.

Every St. Marys student is given an iPad during the four years they attend the private, all-girls high school.

School officials in a release said they made the decision in order to proactively prioritize the health of our students, families, faculty, and staff." The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared coronavirus a global pandemic.

In Oregon, 19 people have tested positive for the disease. The Oregon Health Authority announced four new cases Wednesday.

Outside of Washington state, school closures are so far quite limited, according to Education Week, a national education news outlet. Schools district across Oregon have opted to remain open as the disease has spread, with one exception.

Forest Hills Elementary in Lake Oswego closed for five days when a staff member was diagnosed as the states first presumed coronavirus case.

St. Marys officials say distance learning cant fully replace the classroom experience, so theyre encouraging students to check in with academic, personal and college counselors regularly while campus is closed and to contact teachers as well.

While we know that online learning doesnt fully replace the in-person classroom, we have taken measures to ensure the strength and support of our community even in a digital experience, Assistant Principal of Curriculum Design and Instruction Liane Rae said. "Students learning in an online environment need social and emotional supports, and we have ensured that our protocols allow us to meet these critical needs.

After a week of digital learning, the school will have its regularly scheduled spring break. School officials say theyll decide during that time whether to extend online classes in place of in-person ones or have students and faculty return to campus.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com or message either of the social accounts above. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Does Israels interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believe that dialogue between the states Jewish majority and Muslim minority contribute to the interests of Israeli society, or does he believe that incitement and delegitimization of 20% of the public are preferable? The answer depends on when the question is asked.

Shortly after exit polls were aired on March 2 indicating victory for the right-wing ultra-Orthodox parties, Netanyahu called for healing the rift and declared, Its time for reconciliation. Two days later, with publication of the official tally, the healing made way for inciting and delegitimizing replaced reconciliation. The right-wing ultra-Orthodox bloc got less seats than the center-left, but the prime minister decided to "calculate" the votes differently. According to the racist March 4 accounting Netanyahu presented publicly on a flip chart, the center-left political bloc accounts for no more than 47 Knesset seats. The Arab Joint List  the third-largest Knesset faction with a record 15 seats in the 120-seat legislature  did not figure in his arithmetic. For him, it is an abomination sullying Israeli democracy. Such was the will of the people, Netanyahu explained in analyzing the election results, minus their Arab component.

Which people? The Jewish people, of course. The people include voters of the right-wing Yamina alliance, among them Education Minister Rabbi Rafi Peretz who supports annexing occupied territories and disenfranchising millions of their Palestinian residents, and advocates conversion therapy for gay people.

Then there is the leader of the people (Netanyahu himself), facing a March 17 trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu conducted extensive dealings over the past year with Itamar Ben-Gvir, the disciple of arch-racist Meir Kahane and admirer of Baruch Goldstein, the Jewish settler who massacred 29 Muslim worshippers in 1994 and whose photo graced Ben-Gvirs living room until recently. The same Netanyahu just accused his opponent Gantz, the general who led the Israel Defense Forces, of colluding with terror supporters of the Joint List in a bid to cancel the peoples decision. In other words, 581,507 Israeli citizens who voted on March 2 for the Arab Joint List  among them thousands of Jews  support terrorism, including Knesset member Ofer Cassif of the Arab-Jewish Hadash party who is considered a totally kosher Jew. The democrat from Jerusalems Balfour Street went as far as to threaten, My friends and I and millions of Israelis who voted for us will not let this happen. How exactly does he intend to do so? A quarter century ago, a Jewish terrorist who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin paved Netanyahus way to power. These days the Shin Bet has done well in beefing up security around Gantz.

Netanyahu is not alone in dismissing the Arab vote. Two Blue and White Knesset members  Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel  have announced they would refuse to vote for a Gantz-led government that does not enjoy the support of a Jewish/Zionist Knesset majority. Knesset member Orly Levy-Abekasis of the center-left Labor-Gesher-Meretz ticket declared that she would not support a government that relies on the votes of the Joint List, either. I said this before the elections and I am saying so afterward, she wrote on Facebook. In a barely veiled hint at Gantz, she slammed leaders who committed themselves to acting with credibility and responsibility but are engaged these days in shameful lobbying. By the way, her Facebook page also includes an interview with Ynet website last month, in which she said, I have no problem with a narrow government supported by the Joint List."

Contrary to what Netanyahu and Levy-Abekasis think, partnership with Israeli Arabs and Muslims is not a problem. The willingness of the southern arm of the Islamic Movement (represented by Raam, one of the Joint List constituent parties) to recommend to President Reuven Rivlin a government led by Gantz, two other ex-army chiefs and one former deputy Mossad chief is actually a source of hope for improved relations between the two religions. The political constellation created by the latest elections offers an opportunity to build a Jewish-Arab coalition and foster Jewish-Muslim reconciliation. The political-social infrastructure of this partnership could be based on accepted democratic principles, such as equal opportunity, narrowing of socio-economic gaps, cultural autonomy and an end to the occupation.

As Israel found out in the days of the Arab Spring, the Islamist Movement recognizes the value of relations with the Jewish state. Former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, a staunch Islamist, nonetheless appointed a new ambassador to Israel and mediated between Israel and Hamas, contacts that resulted in a cease-fire ending the 2012 Israel-Gaza war. Then-Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman expressed satisfaction with Morsis declaration affirming Egypts commitment to peace with Israel, to the Camp David Accord and to the fight against terrorism.

In his 2019 book Muslims, Jews and Jerusalem: Ambivalence, Dialogue or Armageddon (in Hebrew), Middle East scholar professor Moshe Maoz wrote that contrary to pessimistic assessments of scholars, analysts and Jewish politicians and others  most Muslim elites and regimes (as opposed to wide swathes of the public) are not anti-Israel or anti-Semitic. His many studies on this issue, Maoz writes, indicate they are motivated by strategic-security interests, unlike Salafist jihadist groups, including the Sunni Islamic State and Shiite Hezbollah, and Iran of course, that espouse anti-Semitic and anti-Western ideologies and are a threat not only to Israel but to pragmatic Arab regimes. According to Maoz, resolution of the Palestinian issue would reduce or negate the motivation of radical Muslims, including Hamas, to fight Israel and the Jews.

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Maoz draws a direct line between resolution of the national conflict and fostering interreligious reconciliation. He urges Israeli courage and vision in order to settle the Palestinian problem and the conflict over East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. He strongly believes that with Israeli-Arab and Jewish-Muslim peace and reconciliation, Arab and Muslim terrorism, as well as Iran's and Hezbollah animosity, are likely to decline significantly. "On Israel's domestic scene, Maoz adds, Jewish-Muslim reconciliation can be achieved not only through the settlement of the Palestinian problem, but also by accepting the Arab Joint List as a legitimate partner of a new coalition government headed by Gantz.

The epidemic of racism Netanyahu is spreading and the hatred of others he is sowing have made this goal more important and urgent than ever.
Purges, interrogation, claims of torture, accusations of treason, suspicion of murder, an insane war in Yemen and ruinous plans for a reformed kingdom, all supported by the US and the west and an often fawning media. So whats new?

Poor Mohammed bin Salman is surely getting a bum rap. Far from being a frightening and uncontrollable new autocrat in the Gulf  purging his closest relatives, locking up his rivals, and embarking on a ruinous conflict in Yemen  he is following a familiar path in the history of his country. Saudi Arabia was ever a place of coup and counter-coup, of Islamist fury and fear of assassination. Come on, folks, lets give MbS a break.

Sure, hes just banged up his uncle, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, and the cousin he deposed as crown prince in 2017 and put under house arrest, Mohammed bin Nayef, along with Mohammeds half-brother Nawaf and a clutch of other family members and supposedly loyal retainers. The current interior minister, Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef, was also detained but then released after questioning over the weekend.

The royal family has said nothing  it has certainly issued no denial  but there is much talk, as there always is among the dictatorships of the Middle East, of a plot to overthrow the effective ruler of the kingdom, of an impending coup detat, and of rank treachery towards MbS himself.

Intriguingly, Reuters quoted a source in the region saying that Crown Prince Mohammed had accused the new detainees of conducting contacts with foreign powers, including the Americans and others, to carry out a coup detat. Even more intriguingly, the western media  including the Wall Street Journal, which broke the original story  did not speculate on just who the Americans and others might be. Instead, MbSs actions were described in the press as desperate, rash, paranoid and the crown prince himself as mercurial.

This is perhaps a bad sign for MbS: mercurial was the designation that we gave Colonel Gaddafi when he first showed signs of antipathy towards the west; he had first been feted by us as a fresh and reformist Libyan leader after the overthrow of corrupt King Idris. And Gaddafi ended up, we may all recall now, as a tyrant.

MbS hasnt yet achieved this exclusive moniker. But who, if all these reports are correct, are the Americans who were supposedly keen to back a coup by the assorted princes? Surely not the equally mercurial Donald Trump. Nor Jared Kushner, the philosopher king of Israeli-Arab peace who is believed to be especially close to the 34-year old heir to the throne of Saudi Arabia  the heir who launched the frightful war on Yemen in 2015 that has so far directly caused the death of at least 10,000 civilians.

So far as the US administration is concerned, Crown Prince Mohammed is one of Americas most valued arms buyers, even if his desire to buy what Trump calls his beautiful weapons is not always matched by the billions of dollars that he has promised Washington.

However, theres little doubt that the American intelligence services take a quite different view of the plucky crown prince. Their almost visceral distrust  even hatred  of MbS became clear when the CIA let it be known that they believed he personally gave the order to murder the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was dismembered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul 17 months ago. MbS has denied any involvement and Trump has regularly derided the CIA, showing extreme irritation at any intelligence reports that crossed his desk.

Recommended Dominic Raab urged to end Saudi Arabia arms sales during Riyadh trip

US and British intelligence operatives were reported to have sought a guarantee from MbS that Prince Ahmed would not be arrested when he returned from Britain in October 2018 after a self-exile in London during which he had unwisely told those protesting against the Yemen war that the bombing and killings in the country should not be laid at the feet of the entire House of Saud. What does the whole of the al-Saud family have to do with this? he can be heard asking demonstrators in a video of the event. There are certain individuals who are responsible. Dont involve anyone else.

Ahmeds son Nayef, one of the most prominent intelligence and security officers in the kingdom, who remains under arrest and interrogation, is himself much admired by both the CIA and the Pentagon as an expert in the counter-terrorism alliance run by the Americans.

It was understandable that MbS  who was obviously one of Ahmeds certain individuals  would not look kindly upon such comments. In such circumstances, guarantees in the Middle East are water in the desert. But it all leaves the suspicion that Crown Prince Mohammeds latest purge  his arrest in 2017 of 500 prominent Saudis and princes in the Ritz Carlton hotel for alleged corruption was a mere foretaste of things to come  was also aimed at the western intelligence services that have grown fearful of his power and unpredictability, and jealous of his influence over the White House. In this sense, MbSs most recent arrests were pro-Trump and anti-CIA.

Mohammed bin Salmans latest economic war with Russia and his decision to crash oil prices suggest that Putins security apparatus, which is often a lot more savvy about the Middle East than its Anglo-American opposite numbers, has no particular enthusiasm to keep the crown prince coup-proof; and sees every reason for a return to the more dependable Saudi princes with whose ancestors the Soviet Communists originally established diplomatic relations in 1926. Incredibly, the Soviets were the first foreign state to give full diplomatic recognition to Saudi Arabia.

Now the leaders of the royal court in Riyadh are acting more like the first Bolshevik rulers in Moscow  less blood, perhaps, but equal suspicion towards their supposedly loyal companions. They appear unaware of the dangers of settling scores among their fellow princes, provoking Putin, killing Yemenis (and Kashoggi) and annoying the CIA, all at the same time.

The first king, Abdulaziz bin Saud, or Ibn Saud, was beset by rivals who threatened his rule. And MbS must surely muse upon the fate of King Faisal, a genuinely reformist figure who was also involved in a conflict in Yemen, the civil war that began in 1962 and ended eight years later, with the Saudis supporting the royalists and Colonel Nasser  with 70,000 Egyptian troops  backing the republicans.

Inside the kingdom, Faisal introduced the equivalent of a welfare state, along with a ministry of justice. In 1969, suspecting that his air force and army were planning a pro-Egyptian coup  to create a Republic of Arabia  the king arrested not scores but hundreds of generals and other senior officers. At the time, his ruthless purge was put down to intelligence information from the CIA, but he tried to bring Saudi Arabias tribal groups together, along with the Shia in the eastern provinces of the country. He promoted education for women and opposed the suffocating power of the more Wahabi clerics among the ulema. Sound familiar? His introduction of television and its infidel influence over the land of Mecca and Medina led to violent protests in which Prince Khaled bin Musaid was killed.

Khaleds brother assassinated the king ten years later. Educated in the United States  a drop-out whom Arab journalists in Beirut would later claim was working for the CIA  Faisal bin Musaid managed in 1975 to enter the royal court with a Kuwaiti ministerial delegation and shot the king  his uncle  three times, fatally, in the throat. The murderer was at first called deranged  it was also thought that he acted out of revenge for his brother  but later beheaded. He was taken, walking unsteadily, it is said, towards his executioner, who chopped off his head with a golden sword before 20,000 spectators.

Saudi Arabia was never the pool of tranquillity that its kings and princes claimed. The armed Islamist rising within the great mosque at Mecca in 1979  led by a man infuriated by the dead King Faisals reforms and which cost hundreds of lives, finally being put down by French commandos  haunted the new King Khaled and the House of Saud ever afterwards. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman knows his countrys history very well, even if he has not learned how to rule the kingdom he will presumably inherit from 84-year-old King Salman. For his enemies, he is dangerous  ambition and suspicion are blood-brothers  and follows his emotions rather than his advisers. But he is, as the cliche goes, a child of his time.

Saudi Arabia has never been the font of morality that its rulers claim and it understands the foibles of dictators. Indeed, it has given asylum and exile to some pretty unpleasant and highly un-Islamic characters. Ben Ali of Tunisia comes to mind, as does Idi Amin of Uganda, who killed up to 100,000 of his own people, kept severed human heads in his fridge and even, so witnesses were to testify, dismembered one of his wives.

In the Middle East today, every autocrat fears the Arab revolt that first emerged in Tunisia in 2010. Will it end in Saudi Arabia, the land where Islam was born, in a battle not between the people and the king but in fratricidal strife between the thousands of princes who now seek prestige and power beneath the umbrella of mutually antagonistic members of the royal family? And can Mohammed bin Salman really be blamed if he fears this very outcome?
Newborn Drug Test Pittsburgh Lawsuit 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)

A mother sued a Pittsburgh hospital Wednesday, saying it collected and tested her urine for drugs without her consent while she was in labor 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.

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.

Story continues

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.

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.

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.
Passengers arrriving here by Dubai -Pune flights would be placed under quarantine at hospital if they have visited, after February 15, any of the seven "high- risk" countries which have seen major coronavirus outbreaks.

Eight Pune residents, including a couple who returned from Dubai, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Passengers from seven high-risk countries will be straightway sent to quarantine irrespective of whether they have any symptoms, said divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar.

A Spice Jet flight from Dubai is scheduled to land at the Pune airport on Friday and another on Saturday.

"As per the Union government's guidelines, if passengers on these flights have travel history to China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15, they will be kept under institutional quarantine (in hospital) in the city," said Mhaisekar.

"We are trying to obtain travel history post-February 15 of the passengers on these two flights," he added.

A "containment program" has been launched in three-km radius in four areas of the city where the patients who have tested positive for the virus live.

"We are conducting house-to-house surveys in these areas and screening people," said district collector Naval Kishore Ram.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CANYON COUNTRY, CA - The Protein Society, the premier international society dedicated to supporting protein research, announces the winners of the 2020 Protein Society Awards, which will be conferred at the World Conference on Protein Science 2020 (WCPS2020) in Sapporo, Japan, July 6 - 10. Plenary talks from select award recipients will take place throughout the 4.5-day event. The winners' scientific accomplishments, highlighted here as described by their nominators, demonstrate their lasting impact on protein science.

The Carl Branden Award, sponsored by Rigaku Corporation, honors an outstanding protein scientist who has also made exceptional contributions in the areas of education and/or service to the field. The 2020 recipient of this award is Professor Karen Fleming (Johns Hopkins University). Professor Karen Fleming is a pioneer and leader in the field of membrane protein folding. Her contributions include making some of the first rigorous thermodynamic measurements for membrane protein folding, introducing the hydrophobicity scale that is now most widely used to describe amino-acid side chain partitioning into bilayers, and elucidating the thermodynamic principles governing the coupled trafficking and folding of Gram-negative beta-barrel membrane proteins. Dr. Fleming has also tirelessly served the scientific community, devoting major service to scientific societies and co-founding (with Stein and Moore awardee James Bowie) the Gordon Research Conference on Membrane Protein Folding. Dr. Fleming is also an eloquent and outspoken advocate for women in science, with a particular passion for illuminating and neutralizing hidden biases commonly held by both men and women.

The Christian B. Anfinsen Award, sponsored by The Protein Society, recognizes technological achievement or significant methodological advances in the field of protein science. The recipient of this award in 2020 is Professor Stephen Sligar (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Dr. Sligar's academic career has featured the discovery, development, and use of chemical and biophysical tools to understand fundamental problems in protein biochemistry and biophysics. Of relevance to the Anfinsen Award is his development of nanodiscs, which are patches of lipid membrane stabilized by a "belt" of membrane scaffolding proteins. By using nanodiscs, signaling proteins and macromolecular complexes that rely on a membrane can be readily studied in a native bilayer that is solubilized in an aqueous environment. Dr. Sligar's commitment to wide dissemination of the nanodisc technology has led to its use by hundreds of laboratories, amplifying the impact of his advances and broadly benefitting the field of protein science.

The Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Award, sponsored by Genentech, is granted in recognition of exceptional contributions in protein science which profoundly influence our understanding of biology. The 2020 recipient is Professor Catherine Drennan (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Dr. Drennan has made enormous contributions by solving high-resolution structures of proteins and protein complexes that enhance our understanding of the biology of metalloproteins. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin was famous for using X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of Vitamin B12, and Dr. Drennan has provided monumental insights into the structure and function of proteins that bind to B12. Dr. Drennan is known for going beyond single proteins and elucidating structures that illuminate entire pathways, capturing multiple snapshots of enzymes as they proceed through their reaction cycles. Among her many notable accomplishments, Dr. Drennan determined the first structure of the cobalamin-dependent ribonucleotide reductase, one of the three enzymes that catalyze the final step in production of deoxyribonucleotides in all organisms. Dr. Drennan's insights are solidly etched into textbooks and the fabric of our field. Drennan is also an outstanding and widely recognized educator and a tireless advocate for inclusion and equity in science.

The Emil Thomas Kaiser Award, sponsored by The Protein Society, recognizes a recent, highly significant contribution to the application of chemistry in the study of proteins. The 2020 recipient is Professor Shuguang Zhang (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Dr. Zhang is widely seen as a founder of the field of peptide nanomaterials. He discovered a class of ionic self-complementary peptides that undergo molecular self-assembly to form well-ordered nanofibers and membranous structures. Dr. Zhang went on to show many important applications of this class of peptide materials as carriers for controlled drug delivery and as the building blocks of scaffolds for tissue regeneration and accelerated wound healing. He was at the forefront of showing that 3-D cell culture offers a more realistic micro- and local-environment than 2-D culture, and he demonstrated the utility of 3-D culture in basic cell biology, tumor biology, high-content drug screening, and regenerative medicine. His contributions have transformed our basic understanding of the biochemical basis of molecular self-assembly and its application in the field of biomedical engineering.

The Hans Neurath Award, sponsored by The Hans Neurath Foundation, honors individuals who have made a recent contribution of exceptional merit to basic protein research. In 2020, the Hans Neurath Awardee is Professor Martin Gruebele (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). Dr. Gruebele is widely known for introducing the advanced technology of flash heating and ultrafast spectroscopy to study protein folding. His work showed that early stages of protein folding, including initial collapse and formation of secondary structures, can occur in microseconds. These advances allowed the first direct comparisons between folding rates determined experimentally and folding rates estimated from simulations. More recently, Dr. Gruebele showed that fast folding can be studied in live cells. His work established that in vivo folding, while following similar physicochemical rules as in vitro folding, is significantly modulated by the different cellular environments in different parts of the cell. Dr. Gruebele's work brings the highest level of experimental innovation, experimental precision, and conceptual rigor to protein biophysics.

The Stein & Moore Award, sponsored by The Protein Society, is named for Nobel laureates Dr. William Stein and Dr. Stanford Moore. The award is given to recognize eminent leaders in protein science who have made sustained high impact research contributions to the field. The 2020 recipient is Professor James Bowie (University of California, Los Angeles). Dr. Bowie has shown great creativity and rigor in astoundingly diverse areas of protein science. His 1991 Science paper "A method to identify protein sequences that fold into a known three-dimensional structure" introduced the important idea of protein structure prediction by threading. In the area of membrane protein science, he has contributed novel methods to quantify protein stability, to measure protein-protein interactions in lipid bilayers, and to crystallize membrane proteins in bicelles. He showed that internal hydrogen bonds provide only marginal stabilization of membrane proteins and that membrane proteins can have high kinetic stability. In the area of synthetic biology, Dr. Bowie has developed in vitro systems that enable the continuous production of biofuels and other molecules in cell-free systems of enzymes with self-regenerating cofactors. Dr. Bowie has also been a dedicated and generous citizen of the scientific community, where he has served in important roles including as President of The Protein Society and co-founder of the Gordon Research Conference on Membrane Protein Folding (with Carl Branden awardee Karen Fleming).

The Protein Science Young Investigator Award, sponsored by Wiley, recognizes a scientist within the first 8 years of an independent career who has made an important contribution to the study of proteins. The 2020 recipient is Professor Mohammad (Mo) Seyedsayamdost (Princeton University). Dr. Seyedsayamdost has conducted pioneering work on novel biochemical pathways. He uses a creative combination of bioinformatics and chemical genetics to activate cryptic biosynthetic pathways in microbial systems and determine their products. This has led him to discover the vast - and previously overlooked - biosynthetic potential of many bacteria and to determine the effects that bacterially produced molecules have on other microbes. Pathways that he has discovered produce previously unknown natural products using reactions catalyzed by hitherto uncharacterized proteins. His insights are already having a substantial impact on protein science, as these pathways include novel transformations catalyzed by newly discovered metalloenzymes.

###

Delegates, exhibitors, sponsors, and the press can learn more about the World Conference on Protein Science (WCPS2020) on The Protein Society website http://www.proteinsociety.org.

The Protein Society is the leading international Society devoted to furthering research and development in protein science. Founded in 1986, the purpose of the Society is to provide international forums to facilitate communication, cooperation, and collaboration regarding all aspects of the study of proteins. In support of these goals, the Society publishes Protein Science, the premier journal in the field, hosts an annual international symposium, and facilitates the education of early-career protein scientists across all lines of discipline. The Protein Society members represent a wide spectrum of academic, industry, governmental, and non-profit institutions from more than 40 countries around the world. Media inquiries can be directed to Raluca Cadar, Executive Director at 844.377.6834.
Concerned students at the University of Nigeria Nsukka are meeting this weekend to discuss the topic of witchcraft. In an apparent display of true studentship, they want to revisit the topic of witchcraft. The title of the event is Who is Afraid of Witchcraft? The Advocacy for Alleged Witches and the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative are facilitating this interactive session.

The program presents an opportunity for the students to debate the topic of witchcraft and correct the impression that witchcraft is a taboo idea that sends fears down the spines of Nigerian (Christian)students. Last November, an academic seminar on witchcraft generated so much controversy following protests from Christian students and opposition from the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. The protests forced the organisers to change the venue and theme of the event.

Incidentally, it was not all students at the UNN who opposed the conference on witchcraft; not all Christian students bought into the idea that a seminar on witchcraft was an open invitation to the forces of evil and darkness to the campus. Many students were worried by the gradual erosion of the culture of debate and critical examination of issues in our universities.

They were perturbed by attempts by religious authorities to dictate what is to be discussed on campuses. Thus this seminar is a significant development. First, it presents an opportunity for students to freely exchange ideas on a topic of so much academic value and social relevance.

The event is an occasion for the members of the university community to reclaim their academic heritage and show that curiosity not panic, courage, not anxiety, critical examination not dogma and blind belief, are veritable dispositions towards the topic of witchcraft in a university setting.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference in New York City on March 2, 2020. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

New York Gov. Bans Gatherings of 500 Over Coronavirus Precaution

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is banning public gatherings of 500 people or more over the coronavirus outbreak.

The governor stated in a March 12 Twitter post that his office is taking new actions to reduce the density of people across the state. So starting at 5 p.m. on March 13, gatherings with more than 500 people will not be permitted.

Additionally, for facilities with an occupancy of 500 or fewer, we are reducing the legal capacity by 50 percent, Cuomo wrote.

These new rules, he said in a press briefing, will go into effect even sooner for Broadway theaters in Manhattan; they will shut down at 5 p.m. on March 12.

So, were going to take very dramatic actions in that regard to reduce the number of people in a contagious environment, he said. No gatherings with 500 people or more. Schools, hospitals, nursing, and mass transit facilities will be exempt, he said.

Some businesses will get a closed order, which will direct them to close, Cuomo said.

We are taking new actions to reduce the density of people across the state. Starting Friday at 5pm, gatherings with 500 people or more will not be permitted in NYS. Additionally, for facilities with an occupancy of 500 or fewer, we are reducing the legal capacity by 50%.  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 12, 2020

Regarding nursing homes, Cuomo said that facilities can make exceptions for those seeking to visit a family member who is sick or dying. However, they will have to wear protective gear.

More than 200 people in New York have been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, the disease the coronavirus causes, although no deaths have been reported. The majority of the cases have been linked to a cluster in Westchester County, located just north of New York City.

I cant tell you anything more than the numbers tell me. I see those numbers going up on the number of cases, on the number of hospitalizations, I see those going up, and I adjust on the numbers, Cuomo said during the news conference.

A man in a protective mask rides the subway in Manhattan, New York City, after further cases of coronavirus were confirmed in New York on March 5, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

In an attempt to reduce the spread of the virus, Cuomo also declared the Westchester County city of New Rochelle, which has a population of around 80,000, a containment area, and called in the National Guard to bring in food and sanitize buildings. Cuomo has said that streets arent closed, and movement hasnt been restricted.

On March 12, New Jersey Gov. Philip D. Murphy also recommended that all public gatherings of more than 250 people be canceled due to the outbreak.
With the global Coronavirus outbreak hitting the economic activities and supply of essential goods, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country was depended on "supply lines" from various countries and that he has had a telephonic conversation with PM Narendra Modi. His remarks came during joint statements with the finance minister, the economy and industry minister, the Bank of Israel's governor and the finance ministry director-general on dealing with the economic implications of the coronavirus.

"I also spoke to the prime minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu told a press conference on Wednesday. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office, however, did not clearly spell out the subject of Netanyahu's discussions with Modi in its press release.

READ| 10 coronavirus cases in Maha; budget session to be curtailed

The Israeli prime minister has announced a package of 10 billion NIS (USD 2.86 billion) to facilitate economic activity in the midst of challenges posed by the spread of the virus. "The Israeli economy is in a better situation than most economies in the world: Unemployment is low, growth is high and the debt to GDP ratio is good," Netanyahu said.

"However, we have a great challenge here that we all are feeling and which we are all aware of. In our view, we can also deal with it in a way that will allow us to get through it successfully in peace," he said. "Not without difficulty, and not without sacrifice, but in the end, in peace, and I think that we can do this together in an optimal manner," Netanyahu asserted.

In addition, Netanyahu asked the people of Israel to change routines and discouraged them from 'embracing, shaking hands and kissing'. He said, "I am asking you, citizens of Israel, to change your routines in order to deal with an external threat. In short, to change. It is not easy. It requires us to make many changes, such as some things that Israelis love to do. We love to embrace. We love to shake hands. We love to kiss. No more."

Coronavirus Outbreak

The deadly novel 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, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) describing the outbreak a pandemic.

UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged world governments to urgently scale up their response to the novel coronavirus if they are to stand a chance of stemming its spread. "Today's declaration of a pandemic is a call to action - for everyone, everywhere," the secretary-general said in a statement.

"We can still change the course of this pandemic -- but that means addressing inaction," he said. "I call on every government to step up and scale up their efforts -- now." "The best science tells us, if countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response, we can go a long way to mitigating transmission," Guterres said. His appeal echoed an earlier one by the World Health Organization, which officially labeled the outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday and blamed its spread and severity on "alarming levels of inaction".

(With AP inputs)

READ| Coronavirus: India suspends most visas till April 15

READ| Coronavirus: Israel announces two-week self quarantine for all arrivals in the country
Islamabad, March 12 : The Pakistan Supreme Court has asked the Ministry of Defence to submit a statement containing details about the sentences awarded by military courts.

The court gave the directive during a hearing on Wednesday of the federal government's appeal against a November 2018 verdict by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) that had set aside all convictions pronounced by military courts, reports Dawn news.

The chart should include particulars like the date of arrest of a convict, nature of allegations against him, the date of commencement of his trial as well as evidence presented before the trial court that led to his conviction over terrorism-related charges, the court said.

The directive was issued by a three-judge Supreme Court bench which has taken up over 70 appeals moved by the Defence Ministry against the PHC judgement.

The high court had ruled that the convictions by military courts were wrongful and based on ill-will.

The apex court had stayed the PHC order with a directive to the jail superintendents concerned to halt the release of the accused awarded different sentences, including death.
Truck wipes out song taew, three escape with minor injuries

PHUKET: Three people escaped without life-threatening injuries after a truck collided with a local bus in front of Chaomae Lakmuang Shrine, on the northbound section of Thepkrasattri Rd, Moo 5, Thepkrasattri, early this morning (Mar 12).

accidentstransportSafety

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 12 March 2020, 03:27PM

The two vehicles involved in the collision, the song taew in the foreground and the truck in the distance, as rescue workers and police survey the scene. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The local bus, otherwise known as a song taew, suffered massive damage. Its driver, 71-year-old Mr Phon Wonghiran, sustained scratches and bruises across his chest and to his right leg and was taken to hospital.

The Pathum Thani registered truck had veered off the road following the collision and also sustained damages. Its driver, Kiattipon Phittayanan, 28, and his passenger, On-uma Chanpruek, 38, had suffered injuries to their bodies and were taken to Thalang Hospital.

Lt Pattarakorn Phongphaiboon of the Thalang Police was called to the scene at 5:45am this morning together with Kusoldharm rescue workers and an emergency team from Thalang Hospital.

According to police, Phon stated that he was making a U-turn on the northbound section of the road when the truck, which was driving very quickly, hit the back of the bus resulting in the drivers of both vehicles losing control and crashing.

Lt Pattarakorn told The Phuket News that both vehicles had been taken to Thalang Police Station.

Asked whether police had conducted alcohol tests on either driver Lt Pattarakorn confirmed they had not, stating, I did not smell any alcohol from them.

When asked whether any charges would be made, he said, at this stage, we are still working on the investigation.

We will question both drivers once they have been released from hospital and decide from there, he concluded.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 02:33:29|Editor: yan

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KABUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government and Taliban failed to conduct the first round of planned intra-Afghan talks scheduled for Tuesday, however, the release of Taliban inmates may facilitate the dialogue, a local expert said.

One day after being sworn in as Afghan president for a second time, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday night issued a decree to release Taliban inmates on parole, with the release of the first 1,500 prisoners beginning on March 14, the government confirmed on Wednesday.

The inmates' release had been a significant step toward ending the lengthy war and could open the door to intra-Afghan negotiations enabled by two agreements signed between the United States and the Taliban and between the United States and the Afghan government, Aziz Ahmad Tassal, director of the Kabul Press Club, an independent media outlet, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

According to the decree issued by Ghani, 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 on Wednesday.

The Afghan government will release the first 1,500 Taliban inmates within 15 days starting March 14. 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.

Every prisoner must pass through a biometric registration process, Sediqqi also said.

Regarding the reintegration of the entire Taliban fighters, Tassal said the Taliban foot soldiers were fed up with the protracted war and, as seen during the reduction of violence week, most of them are ready to lay down their arms and reintegrate if they were provided with job opportunities and security.

According to the U.S.-Taliban agreements and Washington and Kabul joint declaration, the United States and coalition forces will leave Afghanistan within 14 months.

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 duties 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.
The Rajasthan Assembly on Thursday passed the Rajasthan Housing Board (Amendment) bill-2020 by voice vote.

In the amendment bill, four new sections have been included which are for the recovery of sum due to the Board as arrears of land revenue, encroachment or obstruction upon premises or property belonging to the Board, call for records of the board etc.

Replying to the debate on the bill, Urban Development and Housing Minister Shanti Dhariwal said nearly 23,000 houses constructed by the board were unsold and the government has taken initiative to sell them by giving 25-30 per cent discounted rates.

He said the board was trying to improve quality of construction.

Earlier, during the Question Hour, Energy Minister BD Kalla informed the House that the state government has so far given appointments on 35,209 posts and 19,778 recruitment are under process at various stages.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It was meant to be straight forward. I had never been to PNG before nor had I led a team on a mission trip, but everything was well thought out and had been planned months in advance.

What I didnt know however was that God had other plans in mind that would take my team and me way out of our comfort zone and put us in the midst of what would become an incredible outpouring of the Holy Spirit such as we had never experienced before.

The village

It all started the day we flew into Mt Hagen airport in the midst of torrential rain. Once inside the small terminal we were greeted by a local missionary, a Papua New Guinean brother by the name of Simon who I was told would escort us to our accommodation.

We must hurry, Simon told me as he guided us to the truck waiting for us outside, We have to get to the village before the river floods.

The village? I was puzzled by what he meant. We were already in the town where we would be staying and ministering for the week. As we packed our bags into the truck, Simon informed me that there had been a change of plans and that we wouldnt be staying in town anymore.

Now he had my attention. Instead we would be travelling out to a remote village where we would stay and minister for the week. The prospect of being whisked away to a remote village by people I had only just met and in a remote part of a country that I had never been to before made me feel a little uncomfortable.

I was trying to weigh up in my spirit what the will of the Lord was in all of this. Would I insist we stuck to the agreed plan or go off the beaten track and trust that God had a greater plan in motion?

Following the peace of God in my heart, I agreed to Simons plan and without any further protest we began the long, wet and very bumpy ride hours out of town. When we ran out of road, we disembarked and walked the rest of the way. We trekked through bushland and down local trails until we finally reached the river.

The flood

But we were too late; the river had already begun to flood. The village we were travelling to was somewhere on the opposite side of the river and there was no bridge or safe passage across, only rushing water that increased in depth and speed with every passing minute as the rain continued to fall.

Suddenly, on the opposite side of the river villagers emerged from the trees and began to make a human chain and scramble across the river toward us. Working together we slowly crossed the flooded river clinging on to one another so we wouldnt be swept away. The rapids pulled and tugged at us and sent rocks of all sizes crashing against our bodies.

Finally we made it to the other side as daylight faded. Waterlogged and exhausted we trudged on to the village and were guided to the hut where we would lodge. Where on earth were we and what were we doing here? No beds, toilets or warm showers to greet us as we had anticipated. Nothing that I had told my team to expect had gone according to plan and we hadnt even been here a day.

The power of God

The next morning we woke to find that most of the village had gathered outside in an open courtyard to greet us. We were told that we were the first white people to ever stay in their village and as we stepped outside we were greeted with warm smiles and some frightened children, some of whom burst into tears when they laid eyes on us, having never seen a white person before.

The chief of the tribe introduced himself and while we talked, a young boy in the crowd caught my attention because he propped himself up with makeshift crutches. His name was John and he was around eleven years old. Years prior, Johns leg had been crushed in a rockslide. All his family could do was to try and set his bones and wrap him up the best they could.

Although the boy was nervous he agreed to let me pray for him right there in the courtyard. Everyone began to crowd around to see what was happening. Once we had him sit down it was clear that his left leg had set an inch or two shorter than his right.

I commanded his damaged leg to be healed just as Jesus taught his disciples to do. Everyone watched in amazement as his leg began to shake and in their local dialect John began to cry out its moving, its moving!.

His leg twisted back to into place and grew out to match the length of his other leg. John was healed. People gasped at the miracle and the chief stood and with a loud voice he declared, God is here! God is here! Go and tell everyone from all the surrounding villages to come here to this place.

And that was how it began. The word got out and over the course of the next few days hundreds of people came flooding in from far and wide, hungry and desperate to encounter the living God.

During the week we saw hundreds of miracles from bone damage, deafness to tuberculosis all healed. Souls were saved, bodies were healed and lives and families were transformed. We would worship together each night, dancing and celebrating what Jesus was doing in our midst.
[March 12, 2020] Branch Awarded As One Of Forbes' Best Startup Employers 2020

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Branch, the leading deep linking and mobile attribution platform, has been recognized as part of Forbes' inaugural list of America's Best Startup Employers for 2020. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced on March 10, 2020 and can currently be viewed on the Forbes website. Forbes and Statista analyzed more than 7million data points to identify the top Startup employers. In particular, three aspects of each company were assessed during the evaluation: employer reputation, employee satisfaction, and company growth.



"As any founder knows, efficiently scaling a high-growth startup while maintaining a deep commitment to culture and employee satisfaction can be incredibly difficult," said Alex Austin, CEO, Branch. "From day one we have worked tirelessly to ensure our employees not only feel supported professionally and financially, but empowered and excited to work for Branch. We are very proud that this award reflects that ongoing commitment." Branch was founded in 2014 by Alex Austin, Mada Seghete, Mike Molinet and Dmitri Gaskin. The company  which operates fourteen offices in nine countries  powers deep links for over 3 billion monthly users across the globe and is a trusted solution for more than 50,000 apps including BuzzFeed, Yelp, and Groupon. Branch also recently joined the Advisory Board of the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF), a Washington, DC-based think tank that seeks to advance responsible data practices.

About Branch

Branch provides the leading cross-platform linking and attribution platform, offering solutions that unify user experience and measurement across devices and channels. Branch powers mobile links and cross-platform measurement to more than 3 billion monthly users across the globe, and is a trusted cross-platform marketing, engagement and measurement solution for over 50,000 apps  including Reddit, BuzzFeed, Twitch, Groupon, and many more. Contact: Jennefer Traeger, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/branch-awarded-as-one-of-forbes-best-startup-employers-2020-301021817.html SOURCE Branch

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Director Homi Adajania, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming directorial, Angrezi Medium, praises Irrfan Khan in his latest interview with a leading daily and says, "A legend doesn't come back. He's always there."

For the unversed, when Homi and Irrfan had announced Angrezi Medium in 2018, the latter was unfortunately diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour and went to London for treatment just before the shoot for Angrezi Medium.

In the same interview, Adajania says that he has decided long back that if he will make Angrezi Medium, he will make the film only with Irrfan. Owing to the same reason, Adajania waited for Irrfan's recovery and later, shot the film with the actor.

Speaking of Angrezi Medium's journey, he says, "While the making of the movie, Irrfan was undergoing treatment, so there would be good days and bad days. There was an uncertainty about his energy levels, considering how difficult shoots can be."

He further adds, "I did put everything on hold and decided to wait for him to make this. Dinoo (Dinesh Vijan, producer) and I were very clear that Angrezi Medium would be made with Irrfan only. And I took the risk, knowing that it would be an experience that my crew and I would cherish."

Angrezi Medium Movie Review: Irrfan Khan Hits The Right Chord With His Moving Performance!

Angrezi Medium also casts Radhika Madan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Dimple Kapadia in key roles. Homi says it was an enriching experience to work with these actors.

"Kareena is a very intuitive actor. Acting courses through her veins and she is very easy to direct. I feel Radhika has a very bright future as an actor because she is fearless and hungry to learn. Dimple is uninhibited as an actor and more so as a human being. We both are a little crazy and love having a laugh," concludes Adajania.
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Linkedin Josa Lukman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 14:54 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a1bcdd 1 People pop-music,Iskandar-Widjaja,Indonesian,people,music,classical-music,classical-concert,violin,arts-and-culture Free

Indonesian violinist Iskandar Widjaja is embarking on a series of firsts this year, starting with the release of his self-composed single, Spirited Away, which will hit streaming services like Spotify and Deezer on March 13.

Iskandars ventures into new territory with Spirited Away, which marks a milestone in his musical career, with a more pop-like feel compared to his regular fare of classical music recordings.

Born and based in Berlin, the violinist explained during an interview in Jakarta that the song came very spontaneously to him as he was jamming in his home studio one night he couldn't fall asleep. Spirited Away was thus born, about 15 minutes into the session.

I was in a state of  lets say a bit melancholic, maybe. Also, it was a new beginning for me, and that time period when I wrote the song was a new chapter [in my] life. So I felt, in a way, sad and hurt, but also strong and independent, he said.

Iskandar is touring Jakarta with several performances this month to promote his new single.

For a start, he is scheduled to perform in a concert sponsored by a local TV station on the single's release date, followed by a solo concert at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta on March 19.

Aspiring violinists will have a chance to meet him and learn from Iskandar at two master classes: one on March 8 at the Ananda Sukarlan Center for Music and Dance in Kebayoran Baru and the other on March 22 at the Bina Musika Jakarta music store in Jatinegara, East Jakarta.

Iskandar Widjaja (THE GRAND - SIGNATURE PIANO/-)

The classically trained violinist is a grandson of Udin Widjaja, a venerable musician during the days of Indonesias first president, Sukarno.

Iskandars repertoire features the compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach, whom he once described as "my religion, as well as more contemporary musicians like Arvo Part and Fazil Say.

Spirited Away is thus new terrain across which Iskandar is forging his own path, with plans to release more original compositions in the coming months.

Musically, Spirited Away is very much a departure from Iskandars usual fare of bold classical pieces. Despite its mellow, pop-like tone and influence from film scores, the song carries a hint of rawness that is evident in the sound of Iskandar breathing, which was not edited out of the recording.

Iskandar said that he decided not to cut the sound of breathing because it felt very personal to him, and he wanted the composition to be as intimate and raw as possible.

Im a person [who] believes very much in a certain energy flow. That's sort of my philosophy. I believe the things that come naturally are always the best, he said.

Like nearly all pop songs today, the single's release also comes with a music video co-starring actress Luna Maya, who represents Iskandar's female counterpart in the minimalist video.

Iskandar said the idea for the music video came to mind while he was at the gym.

I was on the treadmill, running, and suddenly this image came to my mind. I wanted this video to be super artsy, and to have Luna as a female version of myself, he recounted. He texted Luna there and then, and she immediately accepted his offer.

Iskandar decided to produce the video independently, even though he is signed with a German music label. Although he received generous offers from several sponsors, in the end, he financed most of the music video from his own pockets.

Recording the single was also very organic and was finished in one night at the home studio of Friedrich Wengler, a high school classmate who also plays the piano on the recording.

We also decided to do it in one take. No edits, no cuts. We lit a candle to get into the right mood, and we just started to feel it and just played. That was it, Iskandar said.

Another example of his penchant for taking a simpler approach to recording is another single, which Iskandar said was edited multiple times in the studio to produce a specific sound. But in the end, he returned to the original version, as he believed it to be the most natural.

Iskandar said that the impetus for him to play more of his own music was the public's response when he announced that he was going to play a self-composed piece. He also noticed that the audience felt his compositions were deeply personal, and that it was a different reaction to when he played Mozart or Beethoven.

Spurred by the response and the release of Spirited Away, Iskandar will be releasing a new single each month toward the release of a full-length album by the end of the year; in a plan he called very ambitious.

The new singles will be a series of firsts for Iskandar. Whereas Spirited Away is his first original composition, the subsequent singles will all feature experimental elements such as his own vocals, hip-hop beats and even a rap section.

Im experimenting with a lot of different styles because this is also my big philosophy, that I dont believe in genres. I only believe in music and [musical] quality, but I dont like to [categorize]," he said. I think that audiences nowadays have everything on their playlists. Of course, people have particular tastes, but no one really listens to one genre. That is very rare.
Welcome to Money Diaries, where were tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. Were asking women how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period  and were tracking every last dollar.



Today: an Unpaid Researcher who gets a $2,300 a month allowance and spends some of her money this week on a Moscow mule.

Occupation: Unpaid Researcher

Industry: Psychology

Age: 23

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Salary: $0 (I cant make money from my job right now because Im on a student visa, but my parents send me $1,000 a month and pay my rent. Right now my parents pay for everything as I graduated from undergrad in December and can no longer receive scholarship money from my undergrad. Their generosity is why I can focus on research for the 4 months I spend in the US postgrad, which hopefully helps me walk into a Ph.D. program with more potential publications and collaborators, which may translate into more funding in the long run. I am currently applying for a $10,000 scholarship for pre-grad students like me who are doing research.)

Paycheck Amount: $0

Gender: gender-nonconforming female



Monthly Expenses

Rent: $1,295 (I live alone in a studio by my university, paid for by my parents)

Student Loans: $0

Netflix: $8.99

Amazon Student Prime: $59/year

Spotify: $4.99

Cell Phone: $60 (prepaid plan)

Day One

12 p.m.  I make a pitcher of kale strawberry smoothie for lunch. While I eat I read a paper to prep for an upcoming meeting. I stayed up late because I was rushing a poster that I am presenting at a research conference this weekend, so I have not had time to prep for this meeting. Wish me luck!

1:30 p.m.  I head out to meet my collaborator. Background on my employment status: I graduated one semester early from college two and half months ago, which was also when I submitted my graduate applications. Because I am a foreigner, I am not allowed to work in the United States. Since I am going to grad school this fall, it is also hard to find employment in China, my home country, given that most standard employers require a two-year commitment. I am looking into online freelance work this month. I write short stories, know three programming languages, and used to be a statistics tutor, so I am focusing on work that requires those skills. My parents agreed to financially support me in between college and grad school since I graduated early and had multiple scholarships that helped with my undergrad costs.

Story continues

3 p.m.  Our meeting is a success! We go over her data set and I gain a good understanding of our research variables. She is also a woman of color in academia, and we share similar struggles in trying to be assertive, so we talk about that as well. There is a clear hierarchy in my field, in that undergrads are below postgrads, who are below Ph.D. students, and so on. But she is very down-to-earth and has become a role model/mentor for me in many ways.

4 p.m.  I stop by my universitys bookstore and browse for souvenirs for my parents. They really wanted to visit me this May and attend my graduation, but the US government imposed a travel ban on all Chinese citizens. This means they are unable to get a visa to visit. I moved to the US on my own when I was 16, left for two years to study in Europe in between, and ultimately graduated college in the US. I feel close to this country, but its situations like these that remind me that I may not belong here. I buy two of those mom and dad shirts with my universitys logo on them, a mug, two highlighters, and a ream of printer paper. The only thing I did not need was the mug, but I have a weird obsession with mugs. $74.26

5 p.m.  I get out of the bookstore and text my close friend, R., to see if she wants to get coffee. I pick her up at home and we walk over to the neighborhood coffee shop. I get a lavender latte and a vegan bureka. She talks me through my grad school decision. I am deciding between two institutions to attend this fall. We also catch up on her crazy week with three midterms coming up and her indecision about doing a Ph.D. Shes crazy smart and dedicated with original thoughts, but shes also a woman of color, and her field is very male-dominated, so she isnt sure that she truly belongs. $16.10

6 p.m.  We walk over to Trader Joes together and get groceries. I stock up on a few items that dont go bad quickly, like Tofurky sausages and tofu. I also get a bunch of green-ish bananas that should be just brown enough for my smoothies when I get back from New Orleans, a few boxes of dark chocolates, brown rice, bagels, and vegan chocolate chip cookies. I freeze the cookies and microwave them when I eat them, but they usually only last 2 or 3 days. My sugar addiction is back by popular demand. $56.89

8 p.m.  I see that I was billed for a German learning website subscription. This is for the whole year. I made it a 2020 New Year goal to improve my German (which I spoke well when living in Europe) and actually hope to get my C1 certificate at the end of the year. So far, I havent put much effort into it other than just listening to podcasts and reading German news again, and I hope this subscription will motivate me to learn more. I enjoyed the trial period of this website a lot, so Im glad I committed to a whole year. $99.95

2 a.m.  The last few hours flew by. I journaled about my day and my feelings, binged The Good Place, made tofu scrambled eggs for dinner, and smoked a bowl before brushing my teeth and knocking out. I dont read my book but scroll on my phone. I think my reading habit is falling off, as Im too addicted to my phone these days because I had a viral post that got 27k likes, so I keep checking that. This is probably my biggest accomplishment in a while.

Daily Total: $247.20

Day Two

12 p.m.  I clean up my apartment and do laundry. One load of laundry costs $3.25 in my building. I also check-in for my flight to New Orleans. R. texts if I want to get coffee and the answer is yes. I motivate myself to finish up quickly, as it usually takes me two hours to do everything. $3.25

2:30 p.m.  I take a quick shower and meet R. downstairs. We walk over to the neighborhood coffee shop and talk about my upcoming conference. I get a cold brew because it is so hot. More conversation about my grad school decision and her upcoming midterms. $4.26

3:30 p.m.  I finish up a few random things before I leave, like clearing out my fridge and taking out the trash. An hour before Im supposed to head to the airport, I finally hop online to see whos attending this conference. Its one of the biggest conventions in my field, so everyones going. I realize my prospective supervisors from both schools will be there along with several other academics whose work I admire. Nerd energy pulses through me and Im too excited now. I force myself to take a shower before I leave.

4 p.m.  I get a shared ride to LAX thats surprisingly cheap. I travel a lot, and usually have to shell out $25 for a ride to the airport, so this is nice. $16.16

8:50 p.m.  I get a latte at the airport Starbucks after customs. I brought my laptop with me to work on the plane, so coffee is mandatory. I give them my Hydro Flask because it is also a New Years goal to reduce my waste, although I hear Starbucks employees are required to measure the drink in a plastic cup anyways. I have a planning spreadsheet for my yearly goals, which my therapist says is too controlling, but all my friends think is smart (i.e. are willing to entertain me when I shove my spreadsheet in their face proudly like its my baby). Seriously, its color-coded and everything. So beautiful. $6.70

9 p.m.  I decide to pay for an all-day wifi pass for my flights. I received funding for this conference, so my flights and hotel are both paid for. However, I booked my flight too late, and all direct flights were sold out, so they routed me through Atlanta to New Orleans. This is a red-eye and I land at 8 a.m in New Orleans, then I have a whole day of the conference to get to. In retrospect, I probably shouldnt have planned to work through the flights, but I already got coffee and Im in game mode. $16

9:43 p.m.  I buy a wireless portable charger because my phone charger stopped working. I think about buying something cheaper in New Orleans, but decide against it. My friend from the lab flew in yesterday and doesnt know anybody, so I want to find her as soon as I can and unite. We are both presenting our research projects at this conference, and are the only two people from this lab that went, probably because we are the only two with funding to cover our expenses. Again, academia is elitist. There is no way I could afford it without funding. $65.69

10:30 p.m.  We finally take off. I take out my laptop and begin working on this non-profit initiative I started with a friend, who I met while studying abroad and who is also a student/researcher. She grew up in the Middle East and moved to the states for college, so we bond over our ambiguous cultural identity. We started this initiative a few months ago. We start airing podcasts next month, so busy times. Its been a humbling experience as we are small fishes in a vast ocean, but we are both pretty dedicated.

Daily Total: $112.06

Day Three

7:30 a.m.  I forgot about the time difference and I actually land at 7. I take my duffel bag and meet someone whos doing an MD/Ph.D. at another elitist west coast university and we briefly chat about that. I wonder if I should have applied to MD/Ph.D. programs and think I would have if I were more confident, but they take at least seven years to complete on a minimal stipend. Theres no way I can afford it, even with my parents help. I remind myself that what I do is also important and I shouldnt compare myself to others. Anyways, I call a Lyft to the hotel and wow its expensive. $34.30

8:30 a.m.  I duck into the bathroom and change out of my plane clothes, comb my hair, put on makeup, and get into business attire (i.e. a turtleneck and linen pants). Im a pretty casual person and generally look like Im in middle school with the way I dress down, but I want to fit in at this conference, so I dutifully change my looks. I didnt bring a blazer because I want to be comfortable, but once I get out, I see that everyone is wearing a blazer. Damn.

10:30 a.m.  The conference started before I got in and I already missed the keynote speaker, who is actually the entire reason I signed up for this conference. Hes a pioneer on racial bias research in my field, and I read his works in textbooks as an undergrad. I see him walk by me as he sneaks out of the room and want to scream and ask for his signature, but I suppress my inner groupie self. I leave the room, too, and sneak into another conference where a feminist psychologist whose work I greatly admire is giving a speech. Shes amazing in person! I talk to her afterward but am very flustered. Still, she agrees to a phone interview for my podcast.

12 p.m.  It is lunchtime, and the hotel provides free boxed lunches for us. There is one veggie option, and it is a spinach and mushroom wrap that literally tastes like nothing. I take my lunch outside to meet my friend, Z., from my lab and run into one of my prospective supervisors. We say hi, and she tells me not to commit to the other school yet. I want to get coffee with her, but none of my questions feel totally appropriate. I know her university is dominated by old white men, so thats my primary concern.

12:30 p.m.  I cant find Z, and she texts that she had to rush back to a conference that started early, so I ask the hotel if I can check-in early. The only room available right now is a special view kinda room and requires me to pay an extra $40, so I ask them to put it on my card rather than my universitys card. I decide its worth it since Im paying $0 for the hotel, and could really use a nap before tonights kickoff party. $40

1 p.m.  I take my tasteless spinach wrap to my room, take a long, hot shower, brush my teeth again, stretch out on my giant king bed, and eat chips. I watch The Good Place and pass out for a few hours. Its a nice room with a view of the Mercedes Benz center, so I take photos for my parents. Im the first in my family to have a bachelors degree, so my parents are amazed by all of this and think Ive made it, which I find hilarious and heartwarming.

4 p.m.  Z. and I finally meet up. We go to a conference just for the free snacks. I see no appealing options because Im just not satisfied with pretzel chips and hummus. Its a luxury hotel, so I expect a full buffet of dim sum because thats how it would go in Asia. Alas, she raids the snack bar, and we catch up on life. She did not get into grad school this round but has an amazing job opportunity lined up, so Im very excited for her.

5:30 p.m.  Z. and I finally make our way to the hotel lobby, where she calls an Uber to the kickoff party. I Venmo her half. It is only a 10-minute drive, and I follow the tradition of always showing up two hours late to a party (yeah, my friends complain about this sometimes), so I complain that we are leaving too early. But she has the good sense that there will be a line, so Im okay with it. $4.12

7 p.m.  After chatting with a British postdoc for a long time about what its like doing a Ph.D. in the UK, the entire table has lost interest. He essentially does methodological research, which is important, but not very interesting to me. However, I eat three bowls of bread things (I forget what its called, but this was the only meat-free option I found at this party, and I think theres butter in it). I get a beer and it hits me hard, because I dont normally drink (but take other substances, *wink wink*, as a trade-off).

10 p.m.  Z. and I call an Uber back to the hotel. Its only 10 and the place is clearing out, which amazes me. They must have exemplary self-discipline. I feel nostalgic about my old days in Europe where everyone gets shitfaced at home and shows up at a party past 2 a.m., and then in the morning, we all hit up a Turkish bakery for a semit. Quite the bonding experience. $4.14

12 a.m.  I text my ex-partner, V., asking if we can talk, which is not a good decision. I ended this four-year relationship because our respective insecurities were spilling over into our relationship, causing frequent fights in the past year. It was an amicable and mutual ending. We both know we are in love, but that right now we must grow on our own. I hope to find my way back to him because we are incredibly compatible most of the time. Its complicated so I wont go into it here. He doesnt reply, so I knock out.

Daily Total: $82.56

Day Four

9 a.m.  I wake up two hours later than intended and see that I missed my alarm. I see that V. texted back and said he was at work (hes in Europe, so there is a big time difference), but that he misses me and wishes me luck on my presentation. We text for a bit, and he reveals that he Googled when my presentation would be even though he feels its creepy. I find it rather sweet and only slightly creepy.

10 a.m.  I take a shower, pack up my laptop and miscellaneous items, drink lots of water, and leave my room. The hotel is very noisy. Who knew researchers had social skills? Maybe everyones just anxiously blabbing. Academics are notoriously awkward. The portrayal of Chidi on The Good Place is pretty accurate. JK, Im just too socially awkward and all this noise is frightening.

6 p.m.  I finish a whole day of back-to-back conferences and go back to my hotel, where I pay rent so I can check it off my to-do list and feel productive. I did nothing else today. In a state of false optimism, I made a to-do list last week for my time in New Orleans, which obviously is not going to work now that Im here and eager to do anything but these things.

6:30 p.m.  I meet Z. downstairs and go to a place known for gumbo. I call the Uber this time and Z. will call the Uber back, because weve gotten closer now and dont need to Venmo each other right away. Friendship goals. She even Googles best vegan gumbo in New Orleans for me. What a saint! $8.55

10 p.m.  Z. and I pay our bills and walk to Bourbon Street. We walk into a voodoo shop and see voodoo dolls for good fortune, and because Im ignorant, I ask the shop owner why we are wishing our enemies good fortune. He educates me on the history of voodoo as a religion and its roots in Haiti. Verdict: the idea that voodoo dolls are for cursing is a Hollywood sensation. I apologize and leave the shop with Z. in shame because I couldve Googled this before I spoke. $20

10:50 p.m.  Z. and I go back to the hotel bar and drink some more. They have tasty cocktails and I want to try them all. I also get miso soup because it is so good with cocktails, like jumping into a cold lake in summer heat. Would recommend. $15.26

12 a.m.  I cant believe I brought my book on this trip. I havent read a page, but the novel is also at a turning point where Im not sure Im ready for whats to come. I take a hot shower, brush my teeth, put on an overnight gel face mask (Pacifica, I think the brand is), and watch The Good Place until I pass out. Did you know that Kristen Bell voiced Gossip Girl?!

Daily Total: $43.81

Day Five

7 a.m.  I wake up late again. My prospective supervisor is giving a talk at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m., so I drag myself out of bed, usher myself into a hot shower and then put on a business-looking sweater and my Doc Martens. Someone compliments my pants in the elevator and I excitedly tell her I thrifted them for $5. I show up at the talk for the final segment because these conferences have several speakers per session, so Im in time for the last speaker but missed my supervisors talk. I look at another girls notes (so dutiful) and see that my supervisor cited another researcher I admire, which is cool.

11 a.m.  I meet my peer mentor, a third-year Ph.D. student from the east coast, for coffee. Shes also a woman of color and first-gen, so we talk about the hidden barriers in academia and how she dealt with them. We are both terrible at directions, but manage to find a hipster coffee shop with breezy decor and overpriced lattes that virtually transports me back to L.A. Shes so down-to-earth and driven, I feel inspired talking to her. $6.70

12 p.m.  We head back to the hotel for a first-gen academic meetup. A white man talks about how people think just because hes an old white man, he must have a privileged life, but hes actually first-gen. Its a room with primarily women and POC, but only the two or three white men in the room speak about their struggles, which I find concerning. I put the feelers out for anyone whos willing to write about their experiences in academia for my initiative as a way to encourage underrepresented communities in academia, and a girl comes up to me with interest. Its a small win.

1 p.m.  I attend a mentoring lunch with a professor and a few other students. We talk about our struggles in academia. Imposter syndrome and depression are real issues many students face in grad school and beyond. This is probably so much worse for women and POC. I also broadcast about my initiative and ask the students if they would want to submit anything for us. The professor gives me her card and asks me to send her information so she could share our platform within her network of 400+ psychologists, yay!

2 p.m.  I present my poster! A Ph.D. student from my undergrad university shows up. I took a grad course last semester, and he was in my class, but he was my nemesis. Im a competitive person. My nemesis seems to flirt with me (?!) and gives me his number. I tell him Z. and I would love to hang with the grad students later tonight. I then stop by his poster, too.

6 p.m.  The grad students are going to an indoor market hall, so Z. and I Uber over. Same deal: I get the ride there, she gets the ride back. I dont find anything appealing at the market hall except for beet juice (Im curious because of Dwight from The Office), but nobody is at the stall, so I give up. Z. and I share two cocktails and talk about our research. $6.82

11 p.m.  Z. and I head back to the hotel and the grad students head back to their Airbnb (theres less conference funding for them). We continue our conversation at the hotel bar. We have different political standpoints, but we debate the hell out of it. In the end, we are both able to see each others perspectives, and we both appreciated each other for speaking our truths. That said, neither of us changes our perspective. I get a Moscow mule, a beer, miso soup, fries, and a small avocado roll. $30

Daily Total: $43.52

Day Six

1 p.m.  I wake up without an alarm in my hotel room. Z. flew back to LA on an early flight, and I text her to let me know when she lands. I text a conference poster thats relevant to my undergrad supervisors research to her, and she says shes so jealous I get to be here because this poster is so cool. Z. also shares photos of us at the conference in our lab group chat, and our supervisor congratulates us.

2 p.m.  I take a shower, brush my teeth, put on face lotion, a sweater, and jeans, and get an uber to a vegan brunch place. Im taking myself out on a date, yay! They supposedly make the best vegan poboy in New Orleans. $7.26

2:15 p.m.  I get their famous kelp poboy and a pink cocktail, and it is so good but also very strong. Tipsy me wants to get tofu nuggets, but I know the drink is expensive and I want to save $$ for whatever I do later. I eat while reading travel blogs on my phone and decide I want to go thrifting and check out a coffee shop in the neighborhood. $32

3:30 p.m.  I walk to a thrift store where everything is at least $200, which is unexpected. I see an artsy t-shirt with a New Orleans scene on it and decide to buy it. It doesnt have a price tag, which should have been a warning sign. Its over $50! Alas, I should have asked about the price, but the store lady followed my every move around the shop, which makes me want to retreat from talking to her at all. $50.35

4:30 p.m.  I see a thrift popup in the neighborhood and spot a woven handbag. I have been meaning to buy a woven handbag for a while now, but never feel it is worth it. This one is a good size and would fit my essentials, and I currently only own one small handbag. I browse other shops, but they are all overpriced. Maybe this is just an expensive neighborhood. $12

5 p.m.  Are coffee shops just as overpriced in New Orleans as they are in L.A.? I stop in a coffee shop I find on Google Maps and get a standard latte. I complain about the price in my head, but when I take a sip of the latte, it is heaven. I instantly feel the price is worth it. I sit down and debate if I want to check out a market that closes in an hour, but decide Im tired from all the walking. $7.61

5:30 p.m.  I call an Uber back to the hotel. The driver is very chatty but not in a good way. I give short answers and get out in front of the hotel. I take another hot shower and brush my teeth again. Then I get in bed, call my parents, and we talk about my conference experience so far. I should mention that it ended yesterday, so today is just my free day. I negotiated to have my funding cover an extra night so I could explore New Orleans, which apparently meant brunch and thrifting. $6.86

6:30 p.m.  I start packing. This is when I realize I lost my Hydro Flask. I call the hotel front desk and security, but nobody has found it. I cry inside  it is so pink and so pretty! I finish packing up and browse Hydro Flask mugs on Amazon. I dont order any yet, because this is still a mourning period.

8 p.m.  I try to fall asleep because I have to get up in the middle of the night and leave for the airport. However, someone is playing the Titanic theme song on repeat. Its stuck in my head now. It is so loud and from my bed, it sounds like its coming from all directions. Finally, three hours later, I call the front desk to inquire about the music, but nobody picks up. I try every other line. Someone finally picks up, and I tell them about it, so they send someone up. I tell the security guy that someones playing it on repeat for three hours and Id like for them to not; he tries hard to suppress his laughter and takes care of it, its my next-door neighbor. I would have gone over myself if I knew.

11 p.m.  The Titanic music has stopped. I finally fall asleep.

Daily Total: $116.08

Day Seven

3 a.m.  My day begins! I hum the Titanic theme song without the lyrics because I dont know the lyrics, take a shower, and pack up my toiletries. I take one last look at this fancy hotel room and decide I have everything I need. I get an automated email from the hotel that I can just check out online (what?!) so I do that. I drop off my key card at a retrieval box by the elevator, and they send me a bill, which is billed to my undergrad universitys card directly.

4 a.m.  I call an Uber to the airport. It is, again, expensive. Uber also only offers four-person rides in New Orleans, so I cant get a shared ride. $34.25

6 a.m.  I try to get a veggie sandwich from one of the places at the airport, but they refuse to put it in my reusable container. I go to another place for a veggie wrap, and they say its a safety issue so they cant take my container, but they can put it in a cardboard box. Paper can be decomposed so I say yes. It takes over half an hour for them to make it, though. $14.50

6:30 a.m.  I know I said I wouldnt work on the flight anymore, but whatever, I want to work. I pay $16 for an all-day pass just in case I want to work through my two flights because again, flights were sold out so Im flying through Minneapolis. $16

10 a.m.  I land in Minnesota. It takes me a minute to find the metro that takes me to the Mall of America, and when I get there, I see that I can spend about half an hour. This is good enough for me since I only wanted to get out of the airport.

10:30 a.m.  I get an unsweetened lavender green tea at the mall. It is so good! I think about visiting the aquarium, but it costs $24 to go, and half an hour isnt worth it. I browse Zara and Victorias Secret but dont get anything. I then head back to the airport. $6.29

11 a.m.  Im back at the airport. I go to the bathroom, wash my face, and brush my teeth. I do these routines when I travel because they help me feel a little more grounded and refreshed. I then wait at my gate while reading the news.

3:30 p.m.  I make it back to L.A. and go through the baggage claim pretty quickly. International customs at LAX take a long time, and I was held for eight hours last time. They literally told me to wait at the detention center, and then handed me my passport back eight hours later without explaining anything. Anyways, I get through the airport quickly because this is a domestic flight, and I call an Uber home. $22.40

6 p.m.  I go to Trader Joes with R. I pick up pineapples, oat milk, edamame, kale, spinach, and golden berries. Im making pineapple fried rice this week. I made nothing but fried rice for the past two years, but for the past two weeks, Ive been experimenting with pasta and curry. I nope-d out of it and now Im going back to fried rice, but Im adding pineapples because Im fancy. $26.10

8 p.m.  I heat up a frozen brown rice and tofu scramble that I made before I left L.A. I eat that with a handful of spinach, then eat two chocolate chip cookies and make tea. I go on Netflix and decide binge Gossip Girl to satisfy my 12-year-old self. Now I cant tell if this show is actually so problematic (Blair tells Dorota shes going to call immigration services on her and say shes undocumented?!) or if its actually a social satire. I have some Asperger symptoms (and hope to get diagnosed in the future), so this is hard for me to interpret. Fun fact: autism research is primarily based on white men, so for women of color to receive a diagnosis is very difficult as we may manifest different symptoms and are much better at social masking.

12 a.m.  I take a shower and go to bed exhausted from a half-day of travels.

Daily Total: $119.54

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A Week In Detroit, MI, On A $69,657 Salary

A Week In Brooklyn, NY, On A $46,000 Salary

A Week In Philadelphia, PA, On A $76,500 Salary
So you canceled that spring break flight to the beach or ski slopes or to visit family. There are tumbleweeds at the rodeo, and youre trying to avoid large groups of people. Luckily, youll find plenty of drivable adventures, especially of the outdoor variety, waiting across the state and in nearby Louisiana. Here are 14 ideas.

Take a driving tour of the wildflowers. Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, buttercups and pink evening primrose are blooming early this year in some spots. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin is a good destination; check its website wildflower.org/texas for routes in all regions of the state.

Explore Palo Duro Canyon, southeast of Amarillo, the second-largest canyon system in the United States, reaching 800 feet deep. Called the Grand Canyon of Texas, its 120 miles long and 20 miles wide, so plenty of space for everyone.

Step out onto Katy Prairie Conservancys Matt Cook Memorial Wildlife Viewing Platform, which overlooks a lake south of Hockley and has lots of cool migrating waterfowl this time of year.

Visit our ecological heritage at Pasadenas Armand Bayou Nature Center, the largest urban wilderness preserve in North America. Youll see bison, alligators, snakes, eagles, osprey and other wildlife in the three ecosystems  coastal tall grass prairie, Armand Bayou stream and coastal flatwood forest  that comprise its 2,500 acres.

Go birding on Bolivar. While the Rockport/Fulton area gets all the attention this time of year during the last days of the whooping cranes winter migration, other parts of the Texas coast are welcoming new guests. The roseate spoonbills are flocking to the rookery at High Island. Theyre loud and lovely, and easily visible with the naked eye but better seen through a lens. The rookery has lovely little trails and also offers an opportunity to visit Bolivar Peninsula. The area works as both a day trip and a visit across a few days.

Canoe East Texas Caddo Lake, with its mesmerizing cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. Youll see a variety of wildlife, from great egrets to eagles to alligators.

Go wild at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Chambers County. The 34,000-acre refuge by East Galveston Bay envelops grasslands, marshes, ponds, oak trees and legions of birds. Species such as snowy egrets, tri-colored herons, white ibises and roseate spoonbills reside all year. Migratory songbirds such as yellow warblers and Baltimore orioles abound in spring.

Climb Enchanted Rock. The mystical pink granite dome near Fredericksburg rises more than 425 feet in the Hill Country. The Tonkawa Indians believed Enchanted Rock, which creaks and groans as it contracts on cool nights, was inhabited by spirits.

Make the trek to West Texas. The 10-hour drive from Houston to Big Bend National Park is pretty enough with pockets of paintbrush, phlox and bluebonnets along Interstate 10, but the parks trails will take your breath away this spring. A few ideas while youre there: Camp under the stars near the Davis Mountains and hike through the cliffs of Santa Elena Canyon, which soar some 1,500 feet high as the canyon runs along the legendary Rio Grande River. Across Terlingua Creek, a short trail leads into the canyon up to a breathtaking vista. Have fourth graders in your family? They get free entry into national parks with the Every Kid Outdoors pass (everykidoutdoors.gov).

Drive the Creole Nature Trail in southwest Louisiana. The 180-mile self-drive route includes 26 miles of beaches and wildlife refuges with boardwalks where you can see alligators and other creatures. For a rich experience, theres a tour app that you can download to your smartphone, or stop by the Lake Charles Visitors Bureau, 1205 N. Lakeshore, for a physical map. The 5,000-square-foot Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point, which has family-friendly interactive displays, is at 2740 Ruth, Sulphur; creolenaturetrail.org.

Watching a full moon rise somewhere on the Llano Estacado in the High Plains, such as Caprock Canyons State Park southeast of Amarillo.

Commune with nature at Big Thicket National Preserve in Kountze. The preserve is a seven-county network of 112,250 acres supporting forests, creeks and rivers. Diverse plant communities from cacti to cypress swamps attract diverse birds, including breeding migratory songbirds such as hooded warblers and yellow-throated vireos. Highly sought birds are resident brown-headed nuthatches, Bachmans sparrows and endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers.

Drop a line in the water. Fishing is a bonding activity, whether you catch something or not. Countless charter companies offer trips along the Gulf Coast, in Galveston, Rockport and beyond, and you can even fish in stocked local lakes such as Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy and Community Park Lake in Missouri City. Newbie? Check the Texas Parks & Wildlife website for a calendar of classes; tpwd.texas.gov.

Jaunt to Brazos Bend State Park in Needville. The 5,000-acre park along the Brazos River bristles with birds among woodlands, lakes and prairies. Resident birds include teal, egrets, herons, hawks, woodpeckers and songbirds. Bald eagles nesting nearby soar overhead, as gators lurk just below the water.

Andrew Dansby, Molly Glentzer, Gary Clark and Melissa Aguilar contributed to this story.

jody.schmal@chron.com
Life, as they say, goes on. And thats exactly what is happening in and around the Truc Bach ward of Hanoi, which was thrown into turmoil after an outbreak of COVID-19.

Truc Bach residents do their exercise in the quarantined area.

It only took one person to throw the area into chaos. She is a 26-year-old woman who flew back to Viet Nam from the United Kingdom, bringing with her the virus that is sweeping the world.

Up until her arrival, the country had coped admirably with the epidemic, restricting the amount of patients to just 16, all of whom had fully recovered.

But since last week, figures have gone up and up. Each day more new patients, each day, more misery.

Since last Saturday when army personnel could be seen around Truc Bach Street spraying disinfectant, the area has become a quiet, eerie place.

Large parts of the street are cordoned off, the main sounds that can be heard are not the usual hustle and bustle of daily life, but instead public service announcements blasting over loudspeakers reminding residents to take extra care in these troubled times.

At first, myself and other residents here were a little bit worried because we did not know about the situation, Nguyen Long Hung, a local living right next to the edge of the quarantine area, told Viet Nam News.

People were worried and started storing instant noodles at that time. My family also bought boxes of instant noodles, rice and necessities.

However, after receiving guidance from the Government and the Health Ministry, our lives became normal.

For those earning a living in the area, times are certainly tough.

Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy has been selling groceries at her store yards from the closed zone for 30 years.

Business right now is bad, as many people are staying away from the area.

But despite this financial set-back, Thuy is still ready and determined to play her part, no matter how small, for the good of the community that has served her so well in the past.

Everything was normal, but since this area was quarantined, everyone here has been awfully affected including restaurants and my store, she said.

There are no longer as many people visiting here, which greatly affects the income of everyone.

But if anyone is missing something, I can transfer it to them through the help of the guards.

I hope that this epidemic will be over soon, so that everyone can get back to normal life as soon as possible.

For some people, being quarantined is not only a whole new experience, but also a way to show responsibility towards the community.

Unlike other residents inside the quarantine area who still can do daily activities, Pham Quang Long, a manager of a wine restaurant, was placed under quarantine at Campus No.2 of the Central Tropical Hospital 2 in ong Anh District.

Longs house at 119 Truc Bach street is behind where Patient 17 was staying. As one of those who live so close, centralised quarantine is a must.

Speaking via-video call from the hospital where he is staying, he told Viet Nam News: At that moment I was very anxious. Initially I intended to flee and not come back to that area.

About half an hour later, there was a call from an official at Ba inh District health committee. At that time I knew things were not okay and then I accepted the reality and decided to do what was required.

But Long is in no doubt that despite the personal inconvenience, he feels the Government is doing a great job in taking care of the quarantined people.

I found the facilitys conditions fine, he said.

Meals are even better than those dishes from eateries out there on the street, many varieties. It is the fourth day but I havent had a same dish. Beds and mats are clean. The toilet is very clean.

The bathroom has a water heater. We have Wifi. I'm talking to you by Wifi now. Every day I still make a video call to talk with my kid. No one interfered with my daily activities, so I felt very comfortable.

The conditions prepared by the government and given the social responsibility that we need to take, I feel no problem at all.

Please prepare for yourself psychologically and everything you need to entertain yourself like books, a music player, and even an alcoholic beverage. If you want to drink beer, you can order it from the canteen. They can even bring you a whole crate.

A whole crate may be a little too much for just one patient, but those living in Truc Bach, or at the hospital under lockdown, hopefully one day soon they will be toasting Viet Nams victory in the war against the virus.  VNS

Hanoi's Truc Bach Street sterilised after COVID-19 patient discovered Soldiers on March 7 morning sprayed disinfectant to sterilise Tran Vu and Truc Bach streets and surrounding areas in Hanois Ba Dinh district after a COVID-19 case was confirmed a day earlier.
Coronavirus, the deadly disease which is ravaging Asia and Europe in particular, appears to be closing in on West Africa.

Ghana's neighbour, Ivory Coast, yesterday confirmed its first case, and earlier, Togo and later Burkina Faso, who share borders with Ghana on the east and north respectively, also confirmed cases. Nigeria, our only English speaking country already confirmed theirs few weeks ago.

Pandemic Declaration

Just yesterday, the coronavirus outbreak was labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO chief, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold over the past two weeks and said he was deeply concerned by alarming levels of inaction over the virus.

He, however, said that calling the outbreak a pandemic did not mean the WHO was changing its advice about what countries should do.

$100m Directive

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressing the nation yesterday directed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghana's coronavirus preparedness and response plan.

This amount, according to President Akufo-Addo, is to fund expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education.

He said with the declaration by the WHO of the disease as a pandemic, it is important for Ghana to step up the safety of the people.

Our country's two main research institutions, the Noguchi Memorial Institute and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, which have the capacity to investigate and confirm or otherwise suspected cases of Coronavirus infections, have been very supportive in this regard. So far, they have found that the fifty-seven (57) suspected cases, as of today, Wednesday, 11th March, have proved negative, he said.

Travel Ban

The President continued, I have, as of yesterday, ordered a suspension of all international travels by public officials. Except for critical assignments, which will have to be authorised by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, all public officials are to remain within the jurisdiction, until further notice. Video conferencing facilities and other technological tools are to be utilised, whenever possible, for international engagements.

Additionally, he revealed that he has instructed further enhancements of the protocols for in-bound traffic from already affected countries, and urged Ghanaians as much as possible, desist from all foreign travels, except the most critical ones, until there is a grip on the virus.

The Ministry of Information, President Akufo-Addo said, is leading a nationwide public education campaign on preventive measures that all Ghanaians must observe to ensure the control of the spread of infections, should the country record any infections.

This fight, fellow Ghanaians, cannot be that of government alone. It is for all of us. I urge the media to join this cause fully, and help disseminate effectively information on the dos and don'ts of the disease. The information to be put out, however, must be that approved by health authorities, and not just from any piece of literature found on the Internet, as false materials are already being spread from other jurisdictions, he said.

Special Appeal

The President appealed to civil society organisations, schools, universities, faith-based organisations and places, which harbour large gatherings, such as classrooms, lecture halls, meetings, parties and funerals, to put in place mechanisms to caution and assist patrons on basic preventive measures.

Indeed, we must take advantage of this crisis to strengthen our domestic productive capacity, so we can advance our self-reliance, and reduce our dependence on foreign imports. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, he added.

President Akufo-Addo extended his appreciation to the WHO, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and friends of Ghana for the assistance they have, so far, provided, and for the pledges made in support of Ghana's fight against the virus.

We shall continue to work with them to defeat the spread of the virus. I am confident that, together, with all hands on deck, we will be successful in weathering this storm, he added.

Fresh Case

According to international media outlet Reuters, Ivory Coast's Health Ministry confirmed that a 45-year-old man who had recently travelled to Italy had tested positive.

Ivory Coast, Francophone West Africa's largest economy, is the eight country in sub-Saharan Africa to report a confirmed case after Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, Togo, South Africa, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

South Africa announced six new cases of the virus on Wednesday, bringing its total to 13, the most in sub-Saharan Africa. North African countries have also recorded nearly 100 cases.

The patient in Ivory Coast is in stable condition in hospital in the commercial capital, Abidjan, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Sub-Saharan Africa did not confirm its first case of coronavirus until February 28 in Nigeria, but experts have warned that rising caseloads could test already fragile health systems.

Ghana's Readiness

On Tuesday, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) announced new national and regional preparedness and response measures aimed at any potential outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana, as the neighbouring countries continued to confirm cases.

At an emergency regional health directors' meeting in Accra to discuss gaps in the country's preparedness and how it could be addressed, the GHS said all 16 regions had identified holding rooms and treatment centres, should a case be confirmed in their jurisdictions.

The regions have had regional coordinating meetings with the regional director. They have identified treatment centres and they have done orientation for all of their staffs, Director General, GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, said.

He said the regions had also intensified community education on the disease with case definition and treatment protocol sent to health officials.

They have also intensified mass radio awareness for which we expect them to adhere to. Currently, we have also given them additional resource packs to help intensify their work with updated treatment protocols, he added.

The Eastern Regional Director of Health, Dr. Alberta Biritrum-Nyarko, said all the regional directors had disseminated all relevant information received from the GHS headquarters to their staffs in both the public and the private sectors.

Dr. Biritrum-Nyarko noted that the rollout of training for health workers was not going as fast as they would wish due to other important activities like the polio vaccination, but was hopeful the situation would improve as the other activities came to an end.

Dr. Kofi Issah of the Bono Region said logistics had been positioned at the major places where the directors expect to be managing cases while others had been distributed at places where they could easily be accessed, should the need arise.

President's tour

President Akufo-Addo last week visited some entry points including the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and later to some designated isolation centres prepared for COVID-19, to assess Ghana's preparedness level.

At KIA, the authorities took the President through the various procedures travellers may have to go through when they arrive at the airport including but not limited to filling a health questionnaire and the testing of temperature to ascertain whether or not the person has or is showing any of the signs and symptoms of the dreaded virus which has already claimed thousands of deaths worldwide, with China, where it was first discovered, being the hardest hit.

He was also shown a quarantine room with a medical team on standby 24/7 at the airport to attend to any suspected cases.

From KIA, the President moved to the Tema General Hospital to understand a similar exercise and later to the Ridge Hospital in Accra to assess the level of preparedness there.

After the visit, the President said he was satisfied with what he had seen and encouraged the health officials to be on the alert before urging Ghanaians to keep hopes high and trust the health authorities to handle any possible outbreak.

President's Safety Tips

During the 63rd independence anniversary held in Kumasi, the President dropped hints about how to stay protected against COVID-19, urging that the usual handshake we are used to should be suspended for now.

The President advised Ghanaians to refrain from further shaking hands until after a cure is found to the virus which has so far become an albatross around the neck of the world with no known cure in sight.

He admonished Ghanaians to stop shaking hands completely, and cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

---Daily Guide
BAODING, China, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After receiving over 100 MW overseas orders last month, Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited ("Yingli") (OTC Pink: YGEHY) has recently signed an agreement with a state-owned enterprise to supply 260 MW high-efficiency solar panels for the Zhangbei Internet Plus Smart Energy Demonstration Project, located in National Renewable Energy Demonstration Zone in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. This is a new demonstration that customers' confidence in Yingli is gradually recovering with its debt restructuring going forward.

Since entering the implementation phase in 2019, Yingli's debt restructuring has progressed remarkably. The restructuring plan has been recognized by all stakeholders including creditors, the governments, the court and several detailed working arrangements have been introduced. All parties are working hard to proceed with the judicial process. Within the judicial process, the company will cooperate with the court and administrator in accordance with the law to ensure the normal operation of the company. The principles of the debt restructuring are protecting creditors interests to the greatest extent and promoting the company' long term sustainable development based on marketization and rule of law. The core contents of the restructuring plan include the conversion of majority of financial debts of its major PRC subsidiaries into controlling equity interests in the subsidiaries, fully and orderly repayment of parts of financial debts and other payables, and the fund injection by local government-owned platform through the disposition of the company's certain land use rights to protect creditors' interests. In addition, the company and the restructuring working group also made in-depth contact with several potential industry investors, who showed strong interest to involve in Yingli's debt restructuring and had completed preliminary works such as due diligence.

The restructured new Yingli will return to healthy development as its debt ratio is expected to drop to the industry's optimal level, and its cash flow will also be greatly improved. The new Yingli will continue to improve the research and development and manufacturing. On the basis of maintaining a moderate scale, it will stick to high-quality development by developing extensive cooperation with all partners, promoting technological upgrades, and enhancing product competitiveness. It will also continue to innovate business models, improve profitability and profitability, and further increase market development.
The Indian Army is incurring an approximate expenditure of Rs 3.5 lakhs per day in running the quarantine facility created at Manesar in the backdrop of Coronavirus outbreak.

According to Indian Army sources, the Force has tasked 60 personnel to run the facility.

While the facility is deemed to be an emergency facility, sources managing the facility have indicated that many among those who are quarantined are demanding special facilities like independent rooms thus creating hindrances in the smooth functioning of the medical and administrative staff at the facility.

A total of 455 individuals from Wuhan (248), Japan (124) and Italy (83) have been quarantined in three batches at the emergency quarantine facility created by the Indian Army.

The emergency facility consists of temporary barracks for accommodation, administrative, and medical facilities. To prevent the mass outbreak, the facility has been divided into sectors, each with a maximum capacity of 50 persons and the population of sectors are not allowed to intermingle with each other, sources in the Indian Army said.

Daily medical examinations of all detainees are being done at the medical facility area. All detainees are required to wear a three-layered mask at all times. After 14 days, persons with no symptoms are allowed to go home with their detailed documentation sent to the District or State surveillance units for further surveillance.

Those found infected are shifted to isolation facilities for further medical exams and recovery.

Apart from playing games, watching TV and having meals together within a barrack, persons are not allowed to interact with the members of another barrack or sector, said Army sources.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seoul, March 12 : About 10 million people in North Korea were in urgent need of food assistance as the country's farming has apparently been affected by years-long "dry" and "irregular" climate patterns, according to a UN AGENCY.

"Dry weather persisted throughout the first half of 2019 in North Korea after two consecutive years of dry conditions and irregular weather patterns," Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday citing the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as saying.

"On average, only 56.3 mm of rainfall in the country from January to March 2019, which is the lowest on record since 1917. About 10 million people urgently require food assistance," the WMO noted.

North Korea has claimed it had a bumper crop last year, but it is known to be struggling with chronic food shortages caused by drought and other unfavoUrable weather conditions.

A lack of necessary farming materials, including fertilizer, amid global sanctions has also been cited as a factor that hampers farming.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), another UN agency, recently said in a report that North Korea is one of 44 countries in need of external food assistance.

Last April, the FAO and the World Food Programme jointly conducted a survey of food situations in the North and said that around 40 per cent of the North's population of some 25 million was estimated to be "food insecure".
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury is working with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to gain full transparency of countries' debts from China's Belt and Road infrastructure initiative and ensure that funds from the institutions are not used to repay China, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday.

"We think this is critically important," Mnuchin told a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. "We're not ever going to be using money from these international organizations to pay back China."

Some countries saddled by debt from Belt and Road Projects, such as Pakistan, have turned to the IMF for assistance. Pakistan entered a $6 billion loan program with the Fund in July 2019. (Reporting by David Lawder)
CHESHIRE  Town Manager Sean Kimball is proposing a $117.61 million municipal budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, an increase of nearly $3.39 million or 2.97 percent over the current spending plan.

Kimball released his proposed budget this week. The proposed budget would increase the towns tax rate from 33.22 to 34.15 mills, which is an increase of 0.93 mills or 2.8 percent, Kimball said in budget transmittal letter sent to Town Council members.

The proposed tax rate increase Kimball is seeking, if approved, would result in a $215 increase for the average Cheshire residents tax bill. The average taxpayer in town has a home with an assessed value of $214,035 and a motor vehicle assessment of $9,517.

Kimball said the proposed budgets maintains the delivery of town services at their current levels. He added $42,500 to the $75.5 million budget request the Board of Education submitted to him earlier this year.

Republican Councilman Tim Slocum, who is vice chairman of the governing body, said the proposed budget includes money for hiring a full time engineer. Walter Gancarz, the towns current engineer, told Cheshire officials last year that he wanted to reduce his work schedule with an ultimate goal of retiring this year.

Weve got an excellent staff in the engineering office, but other than Walt, none of them have any engineering degrees, Slocum said.

An ad hoc committee has been established to review the possibility of renovating the towns existing schools or possibly building a new one, Slocum said.

With the possibility of some school construction work, we need to get someone on board full time, he said. Sean has budgeted for the town to pick up half the salary for this position and the board paying for the other half.

The $42,500 that Kimball added to the school budget represents the board share of the new engineer that the town manager is proposing to hire.

Council members will begin their review of the budget on Thursday and a public hearing on the proposed spending plan will be held on March 24. It is expected the proposed budget by April 28.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
The man who tested negative for COVID-19 remained at the Guam Memorial Hospital as of Friday morning, as he is being monitored for other health reasons.

According to GMH Administrator Lillian Perez-Posadas, the patient is no longer being kept in isolation.

It was a big relief for the entire hospital because everybody is concerned, said Perez-Posadas. Before we got that patient, we were already trying to find out how to minimize exposure. We had already planned to do that. It got kicked into a higher mode when we got the call from GRMC about the patient. We didnt have much time to inform the public.

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The patient showed up to the Guam Regional Medical City earlier this week and was taken to GMH where he was held in isolation until the results were received.

On Thursday afternoon, the Guam Public Health Lab concluded that the samples from the patient, who recently traveled to the Philippines, tested negative for the virus.

Local health officials said efforts were rushed to prepare the COVID-19 kits for testing and results came back in less than 24 hours.

A second patient, who was in home isolation, also tested negative.

Health officials are expected to get results soon for two other surveillance COVID-19 cases. On Thursday, an elderly couple, who recently traveled to Japan, reported experiencing symptoms of the virus. Both are in home isolation.

The hospital administrator said a security guard remains stationed at the entrance leading toward GMHs emergency room entrance in the event anyone shows up experiencing symptoms of the virus.

They will be asked questions to determine if they may be possible PUI (persons under investigation) and meet criteria by security guards. The next stage will then be that they will remain in the car with a face mask, she said. The screening nurse will come and out and do an examination and medical evaluation. If any symptoms, then they will be directed to isolation. We are not turning anyone away. We are just minimizing the process.

Perez-Posadas said the security measures at GMH will remain in place despite the patient testing negative.

It depends on the situation. If things clear up where we are no longer concerned about COVID-19it just all depends, she said.

The governors office said neither of the surveillance cases reported on Guam met the criteria to be considered a person under investigation.

Guam has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.
[March 12, 2020] Catchpoint Provides Free Remote Employee Support Program to Aid in COVID-19 Response

NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Catchpoint , the leader in next-generation Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM), today announced the Remote Digital Employee Experience Support Program , a free program designed to help assure business continuity during the COVID-19 crisis. The program is available to the entire enterprise community as they confront an unprecedented spike in remote workers.

According to a recent survey , 44 percent of consumers with full-time jobs have already seen COVID-19 impact the way they do business. Many have cancelled travel plans and in-person meetings, and 40 percent are increasing their use of video conferencing. With this in mind, the Remote Employee Support Program leverages Catchpoints global monitoring capabilities to help businesses deliver the best possible digital experience to their employees. The COVID-19 outbreak has presented many challenges for the business community. We are seeing a significant uptick in inquiries regarding how to improve the employee experience for remote workers, said Analyst Dion Hinchcliffe at Constellation Research. A free remote employee support program is a welcomed move to support the enterprise IT community at a time of great need. We want to support our fellow IT professionals in the community, said Catchpoint CEO and cofounder, Mehdi Daoudi. We know that many in the enterprise community may not be prepared for their entire workforce to suddenly work remotely. Our estalished expertise in helping global enterprises manage user experience means we can help companies prepare for a big surge in remote workers. While this will put an unprecedented pressure on their network, digital systems and applications, our program will provide them with much-needed support in these hugely challenging times.



The completely free-of-charge program consists of three components: Alerting service for key digital collaboration and SaaS apps. Catchpoint is continually monitoring the top collaboration suites and SaaS applications commonly used by enterprises with its Global Monitoring Network that consists of 825 locations worldwide.





Remote employee endpoint monitoring. Using the Catchpoint browser extension, remote employees can instantly discover what is slowing down their web apps and share the data directly with IT support teams to help resolve incidents faster.



Enterprise Digital Experience Monitoring package. Catchpoint is offering enterprise nodes and endpoint monitors complimentary for 90 days. Catchpoint will engage with qualified companies for onboard and deployment of the service allowing them to manage employee experience, end-to-end. In preparation for a surge in remote employees and to ensure the delivery of a great Digital Employee Experience, Catchpoint recommends that enterprise IT departments leverage the Free Catchpoint Program to: Ensure that key application hosting environments are properly provisioned to support the expected load and distribution of remote employees; Confirm that SaaS and other service providers can support all remote employee locations without performance limitations or degradation; Check that all remote employees can establish secure and reliable connectivity to apps and systems from their devices as needed; Verify that all users can access content, apps and email remotely in accordance with the companys security policies, and proactively identify and fix potential network bottlenecks and security policy violations; and Quickly determine if any employee experience issues are caused by the user device, network problems, the Service Provider, the SaaS provider, or the application in the cloud or datacenter. About Catchpoint Catchpoint, the global leader in Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM), empowers business and IT leaders to protect and advance the experience of their customers and employees. In a digital economy, enabled by cloud, SaaS and IoT, applications and users are everywhere. Catchpoint offers the largest and most geographically distributed monitoring network in the industry  its the only DEM platform that can scale and support todays customer and employee location diversity and application distribution. It helps enterprises proactively detect, identify and validate user and application reachability, availability, performance and reliability, across an increasingly complex digital delivery chain. Industry leaders like Google, L'Oreal, Verizon, Oracle, LinkedIn, Honeywell, and Priceline trust Catchpoints out-of-the-box monitoring platform, to proactively detect, repair, and optimize customer and employee experiences. Learn more at www.catchpoint.com Press Contact:

Holly Hagerman

801.373.7888

[email protected]

[email protected]

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Appointment

12 March 2020

Palladium Hotel Group announced recently the appointment of Gabriel Rodriguez as the new Director of Sales, Canada. In Rodriguez's new role, he will be strengthening Palladium Hotel Group's relationships with Canadian travel agents.

Gabriel Rodriguez is a sales and marketing professional with over nineteen years of background in the travel industry. His accomplishments include launching destinations into new markets and creating company concepts. Rodriguez joins the Palladium team with experience as the Director of Sales in North America for all Dominican Republic and Mexico hotels, where he managed relationships with all accounts. Rodriguez also has previous experience securing partnerships with major tour operators in the Canadian market.
Harry and Meghan left Archie in Canada because they were worried about coronavirus, it has emerged (Getty)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left their 10-month-old son Archie in Canada over coronavirus fears, it has emerged.

It comes as details of one of Meghans last engagements as a working royal were revealed  a meeting with scholars in the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

The Duchess of Sussex invited a select few journalists to cover the event, as the couple seek to move away from the royal rota method by which royal engagements are usually reported.

One of those was Bryony Gordon from The Daily Telegraph, who reported the duchess spoke about how to prevent the spread of coronavirus throughout the globe, adding: the decision to leave Archie behind in Canada came not out of petty spite, as reported in some areas, but out of concern for his health during the threat of a global pandemic.

The Duchess of Sussex met Commonwealth Scholars, Chevening Scholars and an ACU Blue Charter Fellow at Buckingham Palace (PA)

There had been reports that the Queen was upset to learn Archie would not be coming on the couples trip.

Coronavirus was called a pandemic on Wednesday evening. Meghan had already returned to Canada to be back with Archie, with Prince Harry understood to be holding meetings in Buckingham Palace.

Meghans meeting on Monday came before she and Harry joined Prince William and Kate as well as Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen at the Commonwealth Day service.

As well as select journalists, the event was photographed by her wedding photographer Chris Allerton. He was with the couple at many of their final engagements in the UK.

Picture show her in the middle of the scholars, wearing a fitted navy cap-sleeve dress with neck scarf detail, in the 1844 Room of the palace.

Read more: How the palaces' meticulous diary plans stop one royal upstaging another

She met scholars from 11 nations at the secret event (PA)

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.

In an Instagram post, it was explained the groups covered cleaning up plastic pollution in our oceans, helping to build more sustainable cities, improving health outcomes for citizens, and supporting decent work and economic growth.

Story continues

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.

Read more: Phone prank shows Harry and Meghan are vulnerable outside Royal Family  expert

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.

The duchess has been patron of the ACU since January 2019 and in an Instagram post about the engagement, she explained that her own university education, funded by a scholarship, had led her to be passionate about access to education.

She took over the role from the Queen, who had done it for 33 years.

Meghan is thought to have left the UK shortly after the Commonwealth Day service (Getty)

Read more: The 360: Has it been a good week for the royals?

Royal correspondent Omid Scobie said Meghan will continue to prioritise the organisation even after officially stepping back.

He also said the couple were crushed to have to make the decision to step back.

Gordon wrote Meghan was quietly devastated in the final moments of her engagements.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.

Many of Meghans engagements in the couples farewell tour were held privately. She visited the National Theatre, and a secondary school in Dagenham, as well as held meetings with young leaders of the Queens Commonwealth Trust.

The Sussexes officially step back on 31 March, but it does not look like they will carry out any more engagements before that date.

They will not use the brand Sussex Royal, having agreed with the palace not to in part because of trademark issues in the UK.
Mumbai, March 12 : Actress Kriti Sanon says playing a surrogate mother in the upcoming film "Mimi" was a journey of self discovery for her as an actor.

"I had a really nice experience shooting for the film. In fact, I feel this is one of the most beautiful scripts I have read. Sometimes, it happens that certain scenes of a film look really good on paper but you are not able to execute them when you are shooting, and vice versa. But in this film that wasn't the case," said Kriti, at a promotional event on Wednesday in Mumbai

Watch the video

The actress, who recently wrapped up shooting for the film, added: "If we shot this film as effectively as it looked on paper, credit goes to the whole team and especially (director) Laxman Utekar. This is my second film with him (after 'Lukka Chuppi'). We haven't explored the topic of surrogacy in our films. I like the fact that he (Utekar) has the ability to make an entertaining and humorous film out of a serious topic. I feel it is really important to do that because you are not making a documentary."

The film made Kriti realise how she can function as an actor. "Last (shooting) schedule was satisfying for me as an actor almost like a self discovery. It made me realise how I can function as an actor. There were a lot of emotional scenes that are almost an experience when you are doing them. So, I can't wait for the audience to actually see this film because it is very close to my heart, no matter what the result is," she said.

"Mimi" is directed by Laxman Utekar and is a remake of the National Award-winning 2011 Marathi film "Mala Aai Vhhaychay!". Kriti stars in the film in the lead role of a surrogate mother alongside Pankaj Tripathi, Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak and Sai Tamhankar.

The film is slated to be released in July.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Congress leader on Thursday attacked the government over its handling of the economy and coronavirus, alleging that Prime Minister was "sleeping at the wheel" and the country was headed for an "accident".

On the state of the economy, he said it was just the beginning of a "tsunami" and things would be worse going forward as "millions and millions of people in India" are going to suffer like never before.

"I have been saying that is a very serious problem and the government has not taken action on it the way it should have," Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.

India's strength is its economy and that has been "destroyed" by Prime Minister Modi, his ideology and his policies, the former Congress president alleged.

"I am member of the opposition, I am seeing a tragedy unfolding. I am seeing a monumental tragedy unfolding," he said.

"He (Modi) is unable to utter a word about the economy. I can understand that Nirmala Sitharaman ji does not have much understanding about the economy so she will not be able to speak. But the prime minister should tell the nation what is he doing about the economy," Gandhi said.

Claiming that there was "no preparation" by the government to tackle coronavirus, he said the government was "asleep" and did not realise that the virus was spreading in this country and was going to have devastating consequences.

"Our prime minister is sleeping at the wheel. He does not understand these things, unfortunately, I am telling you, the Prime Minister of the India is clueless about the economy, about how these things work and we are heading for an accident as a nation," Gandhi said.

He highlighted that the Congress-led UPA under Manmohan Singh had run the economy smoothly for 10 years and made sure the country tided over the global economic crisis of 2008.

The informal economy of India protected the country back then, he said.

"With demonetisation, you have taken that buffer out; you have taken that shock absorber out. Now, you are going to face the full shock that you didn't face in 2008," Gandhi said. He claimed that the results of demonetisation and implementation of a "flawed" GST were now becoming apparent.

"Lakhs and crores of people will suffer losses in this country. The youngsters need to ask the prime minister what has he done about their employment because they are the future of this country," the former Congress president said.

Asked whether those close to him would get nominated for Rajya Sabha elections, Gandhi said he is not the party chief and not taking such decisions.

Gandhi alleged that the government was busy spending money trying to save YES Bank and in order to protect "15-20 stakeholders" it has run roughshod over the economy.

Prime Minister Modi should explain to the country, what his strategy is to bring the country out of "this mess", Gandhi said.

He also slammed the government over its response to coronavirus, saying it is not just a virus that is infecting people, but it is a very serious problem for the economy.

"It is a direct attack on the economy, so we have to start taking emergency measures now... It is too late, but we need to start now and take to minimise damage," he said.
School closings and event cancellations in local school districts, and changes to visits at Torringtons Charlotte Hungerford Hospital were announced Wednesday and Thursday.

Torrington schools to close

Superintendent of Schools Susan Lubomski announced on the district website that the citys public schools will close tomorrow for at least two weeks.

Unfortunately, there has been an escalation of the COVID-19 virus in our state, Lubomski wrote. During the Governors press conference today, health officials stated that spread of the coronavirus will become more prevalent in the area over the next two weeks. At this time, we do not have any confirmed or active cases in the district. However, in the interest of the safety and health of our students and staff, we are taking precautionary measures. Therefore, starting tomorrow, Friday, March 13, all Torrington Public Schools will be closed for two weeks with the hope of reopening on March 30th.

The health and safety of our students, families and staff are always first and foremost in our planning. While I realize this closure is a disruption to family routines and schedules, we are acting upon the recommendations of state and local health officials, Lubomski wrote.

Torrington High Schools annual History Day, set for Saturday, March 14, will not be held at the high school. Until at least March 27, the school district will cancel family events, performances, recognitions and ceremonies involving 100 people or more, as well as events at school facilities being used by outside agencies involving 100 people or more. The Torrington school district has canceled all in-state field trips. Out-of-state field trips scheduled for April are under review by the Board of Education. Events will be rescheduled if possible.

Litchfield, Region 6 closing

Late Thursday, Region 6 and Litchfield Public Schools Superintendent Chris Leone announced on the districts websites that the schools will be closed for at least 2 weeks.

Region 6 schools will be closed for at least the next two weeks, Leone wrote on rsd6.org. This closure is not an easy decision but being done out of extreme caution on containing the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and in the best interest of students, staff, and public health. This is done through the recommendation and guidance of the Department of Public Health. Please check your email or district website for further information.

Litchfield First Selectwoman Denise Raap attended Thursday mornings Northwest Hills Council of Governments monthly meeting. Part of the meeting was focused on the virus and its impact on local towns and school districts. TAHD nurse practitioner Leslie Polito gave a presentation during the meeting, and Superintendent of Schools Chris Leone also attended.

We met with officials from Hartford HealthCare and the Torrington Area Health District, Raap said. Events are being postponed or canceled all around town, and everyone is taking precautions. We have discussed our emergency management plans with our director, Paul Gibb. Were working closely with him.

Raap hasnt received many calls from residents, but anyone who does contact Town Hall is being directed to the town website, where information on the coronavirus and CDC guidelines are posted.

Were also asking people to call ahead if they want to come to town hall, Raap said.

I have a lot of confidence in the state being prepared for this, she said.

Residents can visit www.townoflitchfield.org/ for information.

Winchester, Winsted, Region 7 schools closed

Public schools in Winsted, including Northwest Regional 7, the Gilbert School and Winchester Public Schools all made the decision to close Thursday afternoon. Winchster Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley posted an announcement on the districts Facebook page.

As you are aware, the COVID-19 situation is ever changing. I am sorry for the second message tonight, but after consulting with local health officials and in the best interest of students and staff health and safety, our district will be closed beginning on Friday, March 13, 2020, for at least the next two weeks. This decision has not been made lightly and has been made in consult with local health officials and the Litchfield County Superintendents Group. The buildings will be open to staff from 8 AM to 12 PM on Friday, March 13, 2020, Brady-Shanley wrote.

Winsted First Selectman Candy Perez said Thursday that the recreation department has canceled all activities, and the senior center is also closed for the next two weeks.

Region 10 schools closed

In a letter to the students and parents in Harwinton and Burlington, including Lewis S. Mills High School and its elementary schools, Region 10 Superintendent Howard Thiery said the schools would close Thursday and remain closed until at least March 27.

This morning we were notified that a member of our professional community, who does not live in the towns of Burlington or Harwinton, has been directed to self quarantine and monitor for 14 days based on symptoms that are consistent with COVID 19, Thiery wrote. This staff member did not have any symptoms in school and stayed home to seek medical assistance when symptoms were present. This makes this case a very low risk for transmission to our community. Nevertheless, based on this information and the growing number of cases statewide in consultation with the Regional Health Directors, we have decided that it is best to close our schools ... to slow any spread of the virus in our community. We have decided to start with a 14 day closing and reevaluate next week as the situation evolves. Residents can visit region10ct.org to learn more.

FISH shelter, Torrington

FISH executive director Deirdre DiCara and her team of shelter residents, staff and volunteers are keeping the shelter on South Main Street as clean as possible, and have established protocols to avoid contact with visitors. During food distribution times, for example, a staff member greets the family member at the door, takes their bags, fills them and returns them. All staff and volunteers are wearing plastic gloves and using hand sanitizer.

DiCara said Thursday that she has established several rooms for self-quarantine, in case one of the shelter members is affected by the virus.

FISH will notify the health department if a person becomes ill, DiCara said.

DiCara said she has shopped a number of times for protective masks, and on Wednesday found a single box of 28 at a local store. If anyone has any masks theyd like to donate to us, wed appreciate it, she said. Its hard to find them now because so many people bought them all up already.

Hospital restricts visits

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital has updated its visitor policy and is instituting a single entry point at its front circle main entrance for patients, visitors and vendors effective at 6 a.m. Thursday, until further notice.

This new directive is being put in place in response to the recent Coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, to ensure the current and continued safety of hospital patients and staff, officials said in a statement.

This policy change only applies to the main Hospital Tower Building and Turner Coe Annex at 540 Litchfield St.

Facilities that are not affected include the CHH campus Medical Office Building at 538 Litchfield St., and all other CHH offisite facilities and provider practices including the Center For Cancer Care.

All visitors to the patient areas must enter through the main hospital entrance at 540 Litchfield St. If entering at any other entrance they will be directed to go to the main entrance for screening. Patients and visitors may still enter the hospitals Emergency Department, which is open to patients and visitors of ED patients.

The main entrance is open to all other visitors, patients and vendors. All individuals will be screened and have their temperature taken. Outpatient/Blood Draw Entrance is closed to patients/visitors. Turner Coe Annex Entrance is closed to patients/visitors.

All patients and visitors coming through the main entrance will be asked if they traveled internationally in the past 14 days, if they are experiencing any cold or respiratory issues or been exposed to anyone who has, if they have been on a cruise ship recently, and will have their temperature taken by medical professionals.

Visitors are asked not to visit the hospital if they are ill or have symptoms of cold or flu. People not visiting patients are asked not come to the hospital. Only one visitor per patient is allowed at a time.

The Charlotte Gift Shop and hospital cafeteria will not be available to the public who are not visiting patients until further notice. New visiting hours are 12-8 p.m. daily. For patients using same day services, the hours are 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

Parking is available in the hospitals main circle and the adjacent lot. In addition a valet service will be available. In addition, all Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation and Pulmonary Rehabilitation appointments in Torrington and Winsted are cancelled until further notice.

Hartford HealthCare will provide the latest information, including dedicated coronavirus websites in English at and Spanish at https://espanol.hartfordhealthcare.org/pacientes-y-visitas/coronavirus-covid-19. Get text updates by texting keyword COVID19 to 31996. In addition, we offer a 24-hour coronavirus hotline, 860.972.8100 or, toll-free, 833.621.0600. Visit www.hartfordhealthcare.org or www.charlottehungerford.org for information.
An example of an Ugly Texas from Kevin Miller's Ugly Texases Instagram page Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy

Heres a quick exercise for yall. Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Heck, use this column. Be green.

Try and draw the state of Texas from memory. Dont look at a map near you, or even glance at the nearest Texas shape you see. No doubt, there might be one nearby. You might be eating Texas-shaped pancakes.

Us Texans are obsessed with the shape of Texas. El Paso to Orange. Brownsville to Amarillo. The Panhandle. The Gulf Coast. The Pine Curtain. The fabulous western wilds.

Howd you do? Did it come out anywhere close to the shape native Texans have seared into their brains? Probably not.

Austin resident Kevin Miller has created an Instagram account collecting the various bad artistic renditions of the Texas shape. His Ugly Texases page (instagram.com/uglytexases) features all manner of aggressively bad Texas. While they might have meant well, they take outrageous liberties with the outline of the Lone Star State.

I think its fascinating that Texans make such a show of loving this state, but simultaneously tolerate some true abominations when they actually draw it, Miller says.

According to Miller he's been collecting bad Texas drawings photos since 2012 but he didnt start sharing them online until 2018. Now, Miller has followers sending him the atrocious Texases and he adds them to the Instagrams chamber of humorous horrors.

When hes not showcasing bad art, Miller teaches improv comedy classes in Austin.

Ive got a small army of vigilant citizens watching out for ugly Texases all over the state, Miller says. Id like to think we can raise our standards and make correct Texases a priority.

Native Texans are in love with the shape of the state. It's big, brash, and somehow food shaped like it tastes better, from waffles to tortilla chips. Maybe because we feel like we are ingesting a little piece of Texas with each bite.

The shape is recognizable across most of the planet to boot. It signifies expanse, individuality, and reminds outsiders of just how large we really are in size and spirit.

Miller admits hes no artist himself, especially when it comes to drawing Texas. Most freehand, would-be Texas artists lose the plot around El Paso.

Texas is a complicated shape. I couldnt draw a decent freehand Texas myself. The best/worst ugly Texases are the ones where it would have been easyor at least mandatory  to trace the dang shape before committing to it, Miller says.

Lately hes getting a lot of submissions of bad Texas tattoos. Its gotta be a state crime to get (or give) bad Texas ink.

This is a specific problem that few other states in our union probably have. Would anyone really know if you screwed up one of those square states? Nebraska? Arizona? Florida, California, and Louisiana all have easily defined shapes.

Seriously, just trace it, Miller laughs.

Now you can drink The Texican

During the course of this RodeoHouston season if you find yourself darkening the door at Tex-Mex outpost La Grange in Montrose, just a hop and skip from Goodnight Charlies and Poison Girl, you can order a drink and shot special dedicated to this here newspaper column.

A few weeks back my friend, general manager Jake Rainey, asked if he could use the name of this column for a drink special.

Of course I obliged. The moniker is pretty common aside from this little enterprise. If you remember, I named this column after my late grandfathers old online chat handle. Hows that for millennial synergy?

Asking for The Texican gets you a shot of Espolon Blanco tequila and an ice cold bottle of Lone Star Beer.

For just $8 its a way to kick off happy hour, build up an appetite for more chips and queso, or simply take the load off after a rough day in Houston. Lord knows weve seen some the last few months. Weve managed to flood a part of the freeway on a sunny day and we havent even gotten started with the Astros regular season.

While I dont drink alcohol at the moment (Im currently on a booze sabbatical) I fully endorse this liquid prescription for stress relief. You deserve it, kind Houstonians.

Remember to tip your bartender, pardners.

Craig Hlavaty is a Houston-based writer. Send your questions for The Texican to craig.hlavaty@gmail.com
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 month's 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.

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. Members of Congress have urged the administration to take this step amid the coronavirus crisis.

"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.

Also read: Coronavirus news: US suspends all travel from Europe for a month

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: US suspends all travel from Europe; Italy reports 196 deaths in 24 hours
None of the previous Coronaviruses was declared to be a pandemic. The H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak of 2009 was the last disease to be classified as a 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. - Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, 11th March 2020

On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) finally declared the novel Coronavirus (or COVID-19) a pandemic. A pandemic, according to the WHO, is the worldwide spread of a new disease. COVID-19, at the time of this announcement, had spread to 114 countries. A day later, it has spread to 116 with over 126,000 cases and 4,629 deaths.

How is an epidemic different from a pandemic?

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an epidemic refers to a sudden and unexpected increase of a certain disease in the population of a given area. Outbreak carries a similar meaning - but it is often used for a more limited geographical area.

When an epidemic spreads to many countries and continents and affects a large number of people, it is classified as a pandemic.

None of the previous Coronaviruses (like SERS or MERS) was declared to be a pandemic. The H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak of 2009 was the last disease to be classified as a pandemic. It is estimated that over 500,000 people died worldwide from it.

How is India tackling the situation?

The Health Ministry shared several decisions that were taken yesterday to control the spread of the new Coronavirus, with the major one being the suspension of all visas until the 15th of April except for diplomatic, employment, project and UN/International Organisation visas. This comes into effect on the 13th of March.

Additionally, anyone (Indian citizen or otherwise) who may have visited China, Italy, Iran, the Republic of Korea, France, Spain or Germany after 14th of February would need to be quarantined for 14 days minimum. The ministry is also advising all Indian nationals to avoid non-essential international travel as they may be quarantined for 14 days on their return.

Mumbai Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told reporters that two people in the financial capital had tested positive for the new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), taking the count in Maharashtra to 10. After the announcement, media reports say another case was confirmed in Nagpur, raising the count to 11.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shared that 73 total cases were confirmed in India, as of March 12, 11 am. Out of these 56 are Indian nationals: 6 in Delhi, 17 in Kerala, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, 4 in Karnataka, 11 in Maharashtra, 3 in Ladakh, and one each in Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

For more tips, read our article on Coronavirus infection.

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.
Apple AAPL announced that it is shutting down all its 17 retail stores in Italy due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement given to Bloomberg, the company stated that its stores in Italy will remain closed until further notice. Notably, Italy has been most affected by coronavirus outbreak after China. The country has registered nearly 12,500 positive COVID-19 cases so far while more than 820 people have lost their lives.

Apples latest store closure announcement seems a formality, as the whole country has already been put under lockdown by the government to contain the coronavirus impact. The latest shutdown marks the second store closure announcement due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus. In February, the company had closed all its 42 retail stores in China.

Coronavirus Hurts iPhone Demand and Supply

Rapidly-spreading COVID-19 is severely hurting Apple iPhone sales. Citing data compiled by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, Reuters reported that iPhone sales in China plunged 61% year over year in February 2020.

The novel coronavirus is impacting Apples supply chain as well. The companys iPhone assembling facilities were initially shut down outside Hubei (the epicenter of the coronavirus). The company has been slow to ramp up production back to normal levels, which is impacting global iPhone supply, per a BBC report.

The tech giant depends on a huge network of China-based suppliers to provide key components for its main devices. For instance, Taiwan-based Foxconn, which makes iPhones and other gadgets on behalf of Apple, is yet to fully resume work across its plants in China though some of its facilities are operating at partial capacity.

All such suppliers will need to pass government inspections with their facilities disinfected and with proper accommodation for potentially quarantining affected workers.

Citing demand and supply disruptions, Apple in mid-February had stated that it might not be able to meet its quarterly revenue expectations issued on Jan 28, 2020. Earlier revenue projections for the tech giants fiscal second-quarter 2020 were between $63 and $67 billion.

Story continues

Apple Inc. Price

Apple Inc. Price

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Lower iPhone Sales Affect Apple Suppliers Too

Apple is known to keep suppliers on their toes to such an extent that even minimal changes in demand of iPhone related devices creates a stir among its supplier base. Suppliers including Cirrus Logic CRUS, Skyworks SWKS, Qorvo QRVO, and ON Semiconductor ON, are likely to bear the brunt of anticipated constrained worldwide iPhone demand supply.

ON and Skyworks have already lowered their financial outlook. ON cited soft order trend in China as the main reason behind the outlook cut. Skyworks sees weak demand environment for its products due to supply chain disruptions.

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India is witnessing a 25 per cent to 30 per cent drop in inbound international visitors to the country in recent months in the backdrop of novel coronavirus fears, Civil Aviation Joint Secretary Usha Padhee said on Thursday.

There has been a drastic reduction in numbers (visitors to India) of international travellers, I was told that it has come down by 25 to 30 per cent. Because of the quarantine by every country, both (inbound and outbound) have got severe impact, she told reporters here.

She was speaking on the sidelines of civil aviation show 'Wings India 2020' which began here on Thursday.

The official said there has been a reduction in the number of domestic travellers also as people with business purpose or emergency requirements were only travelling.

India has on Wednesday announced suspension of all tourist visas till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.

All incoming travellers, including Indians, 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 Centre has said.

Replying to a query, Padhee said the situation was purely temporary in nature and there had been a turn around in China, the genesis of the viral fever that killed over 3,000, "which is a good sign".

On the impact on the 'Wings India 2020', the official said the event was expected to be attended by only one third of the anticipated 1,500 delegates.

According to her, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puriwill participate with the industry leaders in session wherein the current situation of the sector will be discussed.

The flagship biennial event is being jointly organised by the civil aviation ministry and industry and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Begumpet Airport here from March 12 to 15.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kitty Spencer has paid tribute to Italy as it enforces further quarantine sanctions amid the coronavirus epidemic.

Princess Diana's niece, 29, credited the country with teaching her the 'most valuable lessons about independence, passion, work and love' and admitted her 'heart was breaking'.

The South-African born model, who has done work for the likes of Dolce and Gabbana in Italy, shared pictures of her frequent travels to the picturesque country.

Scroll down for video

Kitty Spencer, seen in Italy last year, has paid tribute to Italy as it enforces further quarantine sanctions amid the coronavirus pidemic

Captioning the picture gallery, she wrote: 'My heart breaks for Italy and everybody suffering through this tragedy.

'I owe an immeasurable amount to this magnificent country. I have learnt the most valuable things I know about independence, passion, work and love from my experiences in Italy and with Italian people.

'You are the masters of all that is great and important: talent, beauty, creativity, joy, family. My most treasured friendships and most meaningful memories have come from my time in Italy.

'I am so lucky to have called you home once upon a time and have felt inextricably bound to you since The world is a brighter place for having Italy be a part of it You have always had my heart, but its with you now more than ever. I am truly sorry for your pain. You are in my prayers, wonderful Italia. #italy #coronavirus'.

Princess Diana's niece, 29, credited the country with teaching her the 'most valuable lessons about independence, passion, work and love' and admitted her 'heart was breaking'

Captioning the picture gallery, she wrote: 'My heart breaks for Italy and everybody suffering through this tragedy.

Her tribute comes after insiders told the Daily Mail that Kitty agreed to marry 61-year-old fashion tycoon Michael Lewis, after he reportedly proposed to her before Christmas.

Michael has three adult children and was previously married to a woman named Leola in 1985.

Kitty, who was spotted at the tycoons 19 million mansion in central London last summer, told the Mail at the time that she didnt feel in any rush to start a family.

I can see myself having children at some point, she told me, but Im only in my 20s. I do have friends my age who are having children, and they are so, so, sweet, but I think everyone should do things in their own time.

Lewis' previous wife, Leola, signed a prenuptial agreement but it's not yet known whether Lady Kitty will do the same.

The South-African born model, who has done work for the likes of Dolce and Gabbana in Italy, shared pictures of her frequent travels to the picturesque country

Lady Kitty's last boyfriend was Italian property magnate Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, who was also significantly older than the socialite.

At the beginning of the month one of her friends told the Daily Mail: 'Michael proposed to Kitty before Christmas.

Shes been in Cape Town for the holidays and told her mother and the rest of the family. Michael is loved by all of them. Despite his wealth, hes very humble and low key.

It's not yet known whether Lady Kitty will convert to Judaism, Mr Lewis' faith, before the big day.
Only about 11,000 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the US, health officials told lawmakers on Thursday.

Information regarding the number of tests across the nation has gone largely unreported, with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention initially refusing to release any firm numbers.

Even Alex Azar, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, told CNN on Tuesday his agency had no official numbers on how many Americans have received tests.

"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," Mr Azar said.

But in a House briefing on Thursday, lawmakers were told only about 11,000 tests were given to suspected cases compared to the "hundreds of thousands" of tests allegedly sent to labs around the country.

"I don't think anyone is going to leave that briefing satisfied with what's going on with testing right now," Democratic Representative Mike Quigley said. "Bottom line, you leave that briefing and we are not where we need to be and not sure when we are going to get there. We are flying blind."

He added: "I think the first thing they said was we don't have a system that works like it does in other countries to adequately test at this time."'

Politicians were told during the briefing that about 7,300 people were tested through the public sector while another 3,800 received testing through private labs.

"I think everyone leaving that briefing is feeling more confused than ever and disappointed in the numbers that we heard - that we really don't have a system that tests are being distributed and tests are being given," Representative Jan Schakowsky said.

These numbers are significantly lower than the testing happening globally. South Korea reports it's testing an estimated 10,000 people per day across its country. To date, the country has tested about 230,000 people.

How aggressively South Korea is testing is important because it is currently one of the countries that has been hit the hardest by the coronavirus, with 7,869 confirmed cases and 66 deaths as of Thursday. But the country's high numbers could be because it is taking aggressive action to test as many individuals, which could ultimately save more lives.

"Detecting patients at an early stage is very important," South Korea's health minister Park Neung-hu told CNN on Monday. "South Korea is an open society and would like to protect the freedom of people moving around and travelling.

"That is why we're conducting mass amounts of tests."

Data compiled by Business Insider shows the US has issued five tests per every one million people based on numbers issued by the CDC from 8 March. These numbers starkly differ from South Korea, which has issued 3,692 tests per every million of people.

When speaking to the press on Thursday, Mr Trump claimed the US was doing well with its testing. His statement contrasted what lawmakers were told earlier on Thursday about the lack of testing going on.

"We have heavily tested. If an American's coming back or anybody coming back, we have a tremendous testing set up where people coming in have to be tested," the president claimed. These claims contrast reports of testing being unavailable across the nation.

States like New York are now taking control of their own testing by employing private labs, a move other states might follow.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen, Lisa Wilkinson has found herself stranded on the other side of the world.

The 60-year-old TV presenter is currently in Los Angeles, where she was interviewing a 'major celeb' for The Project.

But after US President Donald Trump announced further travels bans in the country, Lisa acknowledged time was running out to return home.

Stuck in LA: As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen, Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) has found herself stranded on the other side of the world

'Los Angeles, you've been great, and the major celeb interview we managed to get in the can for @theprojecttv was definitely worth the trip - can't wait to tell you who it is! - but... we're outta here,' she captioned a smiling photo of herself on Instagram.

'America feels like it's shutting down, and I don't know how much longer these borders are going to be open. Australia, here I come...'

She then urged people to take care of each other in the wake of the outbreak, and reminded her followers to practice hygiene.

Work trip: The 60-year-old TV presenter is currently in Los Angeles, where she was interviewing a 'major celeb' for The Project

'Be safe everyone. Wash your hands. And look after each other. xxx,' she concluded.

The World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus to be a pandemic on Thursday, as the virus continues to spread around the world.

'We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,' said the W.H.O.'s director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as reported by The New York Times.

'America feels like it's shutting down, and I don't know how much longer these borders are going to be open. Australia, here I come...' she wrote on Instagram

He added: 'Find, isolate, test and treat every case, and trace every contact. Ready your hospitals. Protect and train your health care workers.'

Hours later, President Trump announced he was closing the US borders, ordering an immediate shutdown of all travel from Europe.

'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced in a speech from the Oval Office.
White House officials have been forced to correct and clarify multiple mistakes made by Donald Trump during his Oval Office address.

His second such speech in three years came in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which the president largely framed around the same subject as his first Oval Office address  immigration.

Mr Trump announced he was shutting down all travel from Europe, except the UK, in a speech as notable for the underlying tones of nationalism in the presidents reference to a foreign virus as it was for his apparent unease.

The 73-year-old sniffed heavily, suppressed several coughs and appeared to be struggling with the teleprompter throughout his short but laboured speech, which immediately saw members of his administration scramble to correct his errors.

First, the president risked sending markets tumbling even further when he announced, seemingly by accident, that these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval.

Shortly after his address, the White House clarified the travel ban only applies to human beings, not goods and cargo ... the people transporting goods will not be admitted into the country, but the goods will be.

Mr Trump also corrected himself on Twitter, in a post dressed up as a reminder.

Please remember, very important for all countries and businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe, he wrote. The restriction stops people not goods.

Second, Mr Trump failed to mention that the ban would not apply to American residents, citizens, or generally citizens immediate family members.

Less than an hour later, the Department of Homeland Securitys acting secretary Chad Wolf issued a statement making this clear.

Dublin Airport directed their customers to the statement on Twitter, because it made clear Ireland was exempt from the ban, which Mr Trump had also failed to mention.

Third, the president claimed health insurance providers had agreed to waive their customers payments for coronavirus-related treatment.

 Trump caught on hot mic before announcing unprecedented travel ban over coronavirus

Earlier this week I met with the leaders of health insurance industry who have agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing, he said.

But this was rebutted by a spokesperson for health insurance lobby group AHIP, senior figures of which had met Mr Trump at the White House earlier in the week.

A White House official also confirmed to CNN that insurers had only agreed to waive co-payments on testing, not treatment.

The move had been announced by the vice president, Mike Pence, on Tuesday.

Declaring his travel ban, which comes into effect on Friday, Mr Trump also attacked the European Union for not acting quickly enough, saying large numbers of clusters in the US had been seeded by European travellers.

The EUs two presidents reacted angrily, issuing a joint statement on Thursday condemning the ban as potentially counterproductive.

Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel said the policy had been imposed by the US without consultation and warning the pandemic requires cooperation to defeat.

The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action, they said.
Russias Interior Ministry to pay $20,000 to mother of police torture victim

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

17:52 12/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 12 (RAPSI)  The Supreme Court of Russias Republic of Ingushetia on Thursday ordered the Interior Ministry to pay Lemka Doliyeva, whose son had died after being beaten by police officers, 1.5 million rubles (about $20,000 at the current exchange rate) in compensation, lawyer for the injured party Andrey Sabinin has told RAPSI.

In October 2019, a lower court obligated the Finance Ministry to pay the compensation. The injured party demanded to increase the amount to be awarded up to 15 million rubles ($200,000) and to recover the money from the police.

The republican Supreme Court partially granted the victims appeal ordering the Interior Ministry to pay the compensation. However, the court denied a motion to increase the payout amount, the lawyer said.

In July 2018, the Nalchik Garrison Military Court sentenced seven officers of the Center for Counteracting Extremism (Center E) of the Interior Ministrys Directorate for the Republic of Ingushetia and regional Federal Security Service (FSB) directorate, to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10 years.

The law enforcement officers, depending on their individual actions, were earlier charged with murder, robbery, extortion, burglary, theft of documents, forging of documents, and abuse of office using violence leading to grave consequences.

According to investigators, the law enforcement officers used violence against a cashier of a bank and his wife, demanding their victims to confess to organizing and committing a robbery of Rosselkhozbank regional branch in Ingushetia. Investigators found that the victims were harshly beaten with the cashier being at one point asphyxiated, resulting in his death. Investigators believe that the criminals were responsible for numerous other crimes.

The court sentenced the former head of the Centers regional directorate Timur Khamkhoyev to 7 years in a regular penal colony. The Centers employee Alikhan Bekoyev was sentenced to 10 years in a high security penal colony, while his former colleague Andrey Beznosyuk received a 6-year prison term. Yet another officer of the Center Isa Aspiyev was sentenced to 5.5 years in jail.

Ex-FSB employee Mustaf Tsaroyev was sentenced to 5 years in a regular penal colony. Ex-head of a local police station received a 3-year prison term. A former deputy head of the Centers directorate Sergey Khandogin received a 3-year suspended sentence.
Pakistani authorities on March 12 arrested the owner and editor in chief of the country's biggest independent group of newspapers and TV stations in connection with allegations of tax evasion in a real-estate purchase 34 years ago.

Mir Shakilur Rehman was taken into custody in the eastern city of Lahore, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said without providing details.

Rehman's Jang Group of Newspapers, which includes Geo TV, has been critical of the government, including the activities of the NAB.

In a statement released by Geo TV, the media group said the property in question was purchased "from a private party," not a government entity, and "all evidence of this was given to the NAB and legal requirements fulfilled, such as duty and taxes."

"This is an attack on the freedom of expression," said Rana Jawad, Geo News's news director.

The statement said the arrest would not stop its editorial staff from covering "any story that is on merit and at the same will include" responses from the NAB to maintain reporting balance.

Pakistan is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders 2019 World Press Freedom Index.

In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed a more forceful crackdown on journalists, human rights workers, activists, and members of civil society.

Before his election in 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan often said publicly he would have Rehman arrested if he came to power.

Based on reporting by AP and Geo TV
William Reed Business Media, publisher of British Baker, has postponed its five food shows that were due to be held at the NEC Birmingham from 30 March to 1 April.

In light of the ongoing Covid-19 health situation, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the NEC UK Food Shows stated Andrew Reed, the companys managing director for exhibitions.

This decision has not been taken lightly. We have been following government and World Health Organisation advice to continue as planned, however it is now more likely that, under the governments Delay phase, large-scale events will be prohibited before the end of March.

William Reed Business Media has been working closely with the NEC to secure new dates and, as a result, Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show and National Convenience Show will now take place at the NEC on 79 September 2020.

There is not enough hall space to co-locate Foodex and The Ingredients Show on the same date, so these will move to 1214 April 2021 to coincide with the 2021 running of the William Reed UK Food Shows.

All existing bookings, live event content and visitor registrations remain in place and will be transferred automatically to the new dates, explained Reed. We will be in touch with you individually over the coming days and weeks to facilitate a smooth transition.

By acting now, we hope to remove the uncertainty and allow you to plan as effectively as possible while minimising your associated costs. We would like to thank our exhibitors, visitors, speakers, partners and suppliers for their continued support and patience during this challenging time.
The 'Save The Baloch' campaign has been launched by the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) where the participants discuss human rights abuse in Balochistan at a conference titled "Genocide in Balochistan: the role of the international community".The Baloch political activists highlighted the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army as they have launched operations in Balochistan, killing civilians and destroying their houses.Razzak Baloch, organiser, USA Chapter of Baloch Human Rights Council, said, "Every 10 miles there is a check post, Balochistan has become a bigger jail. People cannot move around. You cannot even question them as to why you are stopping us? Why are you searching for our bodies? Why are you searching for our women? Why are you searching for our children?""Life is very miserable. You cannot move around in Balochistan. Anybody talks and he's vanished. Is this freedom? We want to be free. We want to breathe freely. It is the duty of our neighbours also to see what is going on in Balochistan," he added.Taha Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist, who is now living in exile, said, "In Balochistan, currently the biggest issue is that for a very long time there was abuse. There was a lot of atrocities by the Pakistani state, but now it is not just about these missing persons actually. What is the problem is that there are missing stories, there is an information black hole and things are not being reported independently or not even reported at all."He added, "So, the worst thing that is going on in Balochistan is that we do not even have an idea of what is going on and that is worse than being able to report about it and talk about it. So in that sense, the way there are secret military operations going on, the abduction is going on, there is religious radicalisation going on and all of this is not being reported."Taha, who escaped his abduction in Pakistan by secret agencies told ANI, "The media is not being allowed and we are seeing that this is intensifying ever since China has come into the equation."He said that ever since China has invested in Balochistan, "the crackdown by the military and Pakistani state has worsened and they do not want to talk about Baloch issues, the human rights abuse or whatever is happening in Balochistan.""Nothing negative can be reported from the country because China does not want it, so the Pakistan military does not want it," the Pakistani journalist added.The event was also attended by a member of the European Parliament who talked about the persecution of people in the mineral-rich but the poorest province in Pakistan.Ryszard Czarnecki, a Member of European Parliament (MEP) told ANI, "You have a very active (Baloch) diaspora, especially in Europe. Representatives of this diaspora inform us, the members of European Parliament about the real situation in Balochistan and about Pakistani violations and lack of respecting human rights in this region.""Obviously, we should make an intervention at different international levels. The people in Balochistan should feel that they are not alone. I would like to express my solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this region," the MEP said. (ANI)
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Parliament on Thursday passed a bill that will remove end-use restrictions for participating in coal mine auctions and open up the coal sector fully for commercial mining for all domestic and global companies.

The Mineral laws (Amendment) Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha with 83 MPs voting in its favour and 12 against.

The Lok Sabha has passed the bill last Friday.

Replying after a brief discussion on the bill, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said the legislation will help in bring more FDI in the coal and mining sector, and boost economy.

The minister said the bill was important as India should be using its own natural reserves, instead of importing coal worth Rs 2.7 lakh crore.

"We have to produce coal and reduce imports," he said adding more domestic output would lead to more electricity generation and also cut oil import bill.

The minister also assured the MPs that the government will strengthen the state-owned Coal India Limited.

"CIL will be strengthened. I have already given it a target to produce 1 billion tonne by 2023-24. There will be no problem in CIL," Joshi said.

ALSO READ: Parliament passes amendments to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill 2020

According to the minister, the legislation will bring a "sea change" in the sector.

Joshi said the stress should be on exploiting reserves without harming the environment.

The minister said India has one of the largest reserves of coal in the world and if it is not mined it would turn into "mud".

Earlier, 12 MPs from different parties expressed their views on the bill.

The House saw division of votes on the bill after Elamaram Kareem of CPI (M) pressed for it.

The Bill replaces the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

The ordinance, which was cleared by the cabinet in January, had brought amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.
The shutdown of factories in China due to the coronavirus outbreak may affect Indian industries like pharmaceutical, electronics and automobile which import components and raw materials from the neighbouring country, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

Also read: Why coronavirus outbreak can cause smartphone, TV prices to go up

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the outbreak has led to restrictions on movement of people and business activities in many provinces of China, in order to control the spread of the virus. "The closure of factories in China may affect Indian industries, which import components, intermediaries and raw materials from China like the pharmaceutical, electronics and automobile industries," Goyal said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Also read: Coronavirus: Paracetamol prices rise by 40% amid outbreak of deadly virus

He said the government is engaged with Export Promotion Councils and trade bodies on assessing and addressing potential disruptions in their supply chains. The government is also in talks with the councils and trade bodies with missions abroad to secure and transport inventories available with the existing suppliers and find alternative sources of supply, he added.

"Indian Missions abroad have also been asked to explore the possibility of sourcing raw material for our production, in their respective countries," Goyal said adding several missions have shared the list of potential buyers/suppliers in their countries with the councils and agreed to facilitate B2B meetings.

Further, a committee has been formed by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to regularly review the availability of stock of API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients)/KSMs (Key Starting Materials) and API-based medicines, and to suggest and enable suitable and appropriate measures for their management.

The minister is expected to meet on Thursday with all concerned stakeholders, including exporters, to discuss export and import opportunities emerging on account of the virus outbreak in China. According to a commerce ministry analysis, there are as many as 550 products where Indian exporters can plug global supply gaps.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Sensex, Nifty log highest ever fall as confirmed cases rise to 68 in India
New Delhi, March 12 : The Centre has decided to evacuate Indians stuck in Iran due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the Middle Eastern country by allowing the operation of two special ferry flights.

As per plans, the first flight of Iran Air will evacuate Indians from the Middle Eastern country to Mumbai on March 13, while the second flight will be operated by Mahan Air on March 15 to New Delhi.

After landing, the evacuees will taken to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, where they will be quarantined at an Indian Army facility created for the purpose there. The individuals will be transferred from the airport post their initial screening to the quarantine facility.

Presently, only Mahan Air and Iran Air operate flight services between India and Iran. However, last month, the services of these two airlines to India were discontinued to prevent the spread of the global pandemic.

The plan envisages ferrying only those Indians back, who have tested negative for coronavirus. Iran had announced the first cases of viral infection in the central Qom city on February 18.

Currently, many Indian pilgrims and students are stranded in the Middle Eastern country.

There are many Indians, mostly from Kargil area in Kashmir, stranded there. They had gone to visit a religious shrine in Iran but got stuck as regular commercial flights were suspended between the two countries following the spread of the virus.

Similarly, many Iranians are currently in India who would be flown back to their country by the ferry flights.

A team of Indian doctors has already been sent to Iran for ensuring that stranded citizens there are thoroughly examined before boarding the evacuation flight.

"These airlines will bring Indians stranded in Iran back to Mumbai and Delhi," Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola told IANS.

"From Mumbai and Delhi airports, these evacuated Indians will be transferred by Air India to Jaisalmer for quarantine," he added.

On Thursday, Kharola chaired a meeting with different government agencies and stakeholders to review the preparedness for the evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran.

Earlier in the month, Iranian carrier Mahan Air brought back blood samples of 300 Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit country and while returning, its aircraft flew back Iranian nationals in India.

(Rohit Vaid can be contacted at rohit.v@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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.

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Members of the Korean Association in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday visited a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine facility in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, where 50 South Koreans and nearly 200 Vietnamese are currently under observation by medical professionals.

The quarantine center is specifically designated to house arrivals to Vietnam for 14 days after entering the country from virus-hit areas in South Korea.

During the visit, Kim Jong Gak, chairman of the Korean Association in Ho Chi Minh City, praised Vietnams work on containing the virus.

Thanks to Vietnam's disease prevention policy and the sympathy and cooperation of the people, including Koreans, up to now, there are no cases of Koreans infected with the novel coronavirus in Vietnam, Kim said.

With regard to the conditions at quarantine facilities in Vietnam, an issue which has been cast in a negative light by several South Korean media outlets, Chairman Kim admitted that some people are finding it difficult to adapt to the heat in some isolation centers where fans are scarce. That issue, Kim explained, is non-existent at the Cu Chi field hospital.

As part of its effort to maintain a positive relationship between the two countries, the Korean Association in Ho Chi Minh City contacted South Korean media outlets to explain that its negative reporting on the conditions in Vietnamese quarantine centers were incomplete and failed to show the whole picture.

While visiting the facility, the association donated 350 boxes of supplies, including seaweed snacks and hand sanitizer, in order to lighten the mood amongst those being housed at the facility.

Wednesdays visit was just one of many quarantine center visits for many members of the association, several of whom have made it their mission to ensure their fellow South Koreans needs are being met.

According to a representative from the association, there have been a wide variety of emotions observed among the people he has been helping. A large part of how people are handling the situation depends on their character, he said.

The representative also noted the importance of understanding that the quarantine is incredibly essential to protect the general population and limit the spread of the virus, adding that despite the situation residents throughout the country should do their best to go about their lives as normal.

The COVID-19 epidemic is spreading fear and affecting almost all of the world. In the short term, Vietnam and Korea will overcome this difficult time together, Chairman Kim said.

When it stops spreading, the two countries will continue to overcome whatever damage it did.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, had infected over 126,000 people and killed more than 4,600 globally as of Thursday morning, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

The World Health Organization described the new coronavirus as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday, marking a shift in its stance that the virus could potentially be stopped from mass spread around the globe.

Vietnam has so far confirmed 39 infections of the virus, with 16 having fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26.

Vietnam requires those arriving from places where there is a major COVID-19 outbreak to be quarantined in designated zones.

The Southeast Asian country has suspended 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!
Falun Dafa Day parade in Manhattan, New York City, on May 16, 2019. (Edward Dye/The Epoch Times)

Chinese Regimes Human Rights Abuses Highlighted in US State Department Report

Chinas abysmal human rights record, particularly in persecuting the spiritual group Falun Gong, was a focus of the latest human rights report by the U.S. State Department.

In China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses high-tech surveillance systems to monitor potential dissidents, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at a March 11 press briefing on the reports release.

Every year, the State Department assesses countries around the world on their human rights record.

Pompeo reiterated his remarks from July last year at a State Department-hosted religious freedom conference, calling Chinas treatment of Uyghurs in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang the stain of the century. He added that Beijing tries to hide what its doing by intimidating journalists.

More than a million ethnic Muslim minorities, including Uyghurs, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz people, are being detained in roughly 1,200 internment camps in Chinas Xinjiang region, according to the 2019 Trafficking In Persons report by the State Department. Beijing claims these camps are vocational training centers.

Its imprisoning religious minorities in internment campspart of its historic antipathy to religious believers, Pompeo said.

Pompeo also criticized Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba for their human rights abuses.

We pray for a day when Cubans, Venezuelans, Chinese, Iranians, and all peoples can speak and assemble freely without fear of their own governments, he concluded.

Organ Harvesting

The report also pointed to Chinas state-sanctioned practice of killing prisoners of conscience for organ transplant surgery, citing two recent findings.

In June 2019, a nongovernmental independent peoples tribunal in London found direct and indirect evidence of forced organ harvesting in China, citing extraordinarily short waiting times and massive infrastructure development of facilities and medical personnel for organ transplant operations.

The panel, known as the China Tribunal, concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting had taken place for years in China on a significant scale, and is still taking place today.

Additionally, panelists found that adherents of Falun Gong have been the main source of organs.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient spiritual practice with meditative exercises and moral teachings. Since July 1999, the Chinese regime has initiated a nationwide persecution, throwing hundreds of thousands of adherents into prisons, labor camps, and brainwashing centers, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

The tribunal released its full judgment on March 1, including new evidence about Chinese officials direct involvement in forced organ harvesting.

The State Department also questioned Chinas claim in 2015 of having stopped sourcing organs from executed prisoners for use in transplants, citing a 2019 study by the Australian National University and published in the scientific journal BMC Medical Ethics. Beijing claims that since 2015, it has relied on a voluntary donation system for organ transplants.

The study found that there was highly compelling evidence that Chinese official statistics on organ donations were falsified, including data that corresponded to a mathematical equation. The study pointed out that Chinas donation system likely involved nonvoluntary donors, possibly prisoners, that are misclassified as voluntary donations.

Lawyers

Lawyers in China are also being targeted by the Chinese regime for taking on sensitive cases, such as defending pro-democracy dissidents, house-church activists, Falun Gong practitioners, or government critics, the report stated. Such lawyers were punished by authorities, including with revocation of their licenses or imprisonment.

For example, Liu Zhengqing, a lawyer based in southern Chinas Guangdong Province, is known for defending rights activists and adherents of Falun Gong. In January this year, Liu had his license revoked after he was charged by local prosecutors with jeopardizing national security.

According to a December 2019 report by Radio Free Asia (RFA), Lius charges were related to his representation of two clients: Zhang Haitao, an electronics salesman who was given a 19-year prison sentence in 2016 for online criticism of Chinese authorities for their treatment of Uyghurs; and Li Yanming, a Falun Gong adherent living in Guangdongs Foshan city.

Lawyers are required to be members of the CCP-controlled All China Lawyers Association, and the Ministry of Justice requires all lawyers to pledge their loyalty to the leadership of the CCP upon issuance or annual renewal of their license to practice law, the report explained. The regulation was issued in July 2018, a move that drew concerns about the further erosion of rule of law in China.

Another Chinese lawyer, Qin Yongpei, who worked on cases involving Falun Gong adherents and lawyers arrested in connection to a nationwide crackdown in July 2015, was disbarred in May 2018. The crackdown, whereby hundreds of lawyers were rounded up across China, is commonly known as the 709 incident.

He was then detained by secret police in southern Chinas Guangxi region in October last year, on charges of inciting subversion of state power, according to the State Department report. He was formally arrested in December.

On March 11, RFA reported that Qings wife, Deng Xiaoyun, was denied access to her husbands court file by the prosecutors office in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. The court denied her request on the grounds that the file involved national secrets.

Continued Persecution

The report identified many political prisoners that are still detained in China as of the end of last year, including two Falun Gong adherents, Bian Lichao and Ma Zhenyu.

Bian, a former middle school teacher in Tangshan city in northern Chinas Hebei Province, was sentenced to a 12-year prison term in 2012, according to Minghui.org, a website that monitors the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

In March 2014, Bians wife and daughter were kidnapped by local police in Hebei. They were then tried in court in December the same year. In April 2015, the daughter was sentenced to 3.5 years and the wife 4 years, on charges of promoting Falun Gong on the internet.

Ma Zhenyu was formerly a radar engineer working for the 14th research institute of the state-run China Electronics Technology Group Corporation.

In July 2019, Mas wife, Zhang Yuhua, who has escaped to the United States, said that her husband was serving a 3-year prison term.

Appearing at the aforementioned 2019 religious freedom conference hosted by the State Department in Washington, Zhang expressed worries that her husband may be killed for his organs while imprisoned.

According to Zhang, Ma was sentenced in 2017 for sending six letters to the Chinese regimes top leaders urging them to end the persecution of Falun Gong.
KAMPALA  The Kyambogo University Dean of Students Dr Mildred Tibananuka has rejected the students request to have symbols and emblems of political parties as part of their details on ballot papers.

According to the March 11, 2020 statement, Ms Tibananuka noted that the University governance has never permitted politicising of the students guild leadership.

The electoral process that is ongoing at Kyambogo University is for student leaders and not for any national political party or pressure group, she said.

She added that,  This is therefore to clarify to all students that no student is going to be allowed to use any form of political party or pressure group symbol on the ballot paper.

Ms Tibananuka said the GUI presidential and GRC candidates who submitted electoral material including photographs to be used on the ballot papers which have any symbols relating to any political party or pressure group should submit another material or photograph without any of the symbols.

Since the process of printing ballots is time barried, the new photograph should be submitted to the chair electoral not later than March 13, 2020. Failure to do so will leave no option to pack the candidates photograph fron his/her portal, said Tibananuka.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic on Wednesday, March 11 as the number of cases and deaths caused by the virus rises by the hour, spreading to more than 121,000 people from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.

"In the past two weeks, the number of cases outside China has increased thirteen fold and the number of affected countries has tripled," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference at the organisation's headquarters in Geneva, cited by CNBC. "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 WHO officially declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Photo: WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Tedros also emphasised that this was the first time coronavirus has caused a pandemic.

It can further rattle already fragile world markets and lead to more stringent travel and trade restrictions.

WHO officials have been reluctant up until now to categorise the virus as a global pandemic, which is generally defined as an illness that spreads far and wide throughout the world.

While the virus is slowing in China where it originated in December, it is picking up pace across other parts of the world.

Confirmed cases reached 121,061 yesterday (March 11) in 115 countries and regions, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University showed. More than 4,360 people have died.

Italy has the most cases outside of China with roughly 10,149 infections, followed closely behind by Iran with 9,000 infections and South Korea with 7,775.

Japan also confirmed 54 new infections a few hours earlier, its second-biggest one-day rise thus far, taking the countrys total to 568. In the US, cases erupted over the last week to more than 1,050 spread across at least 36 states, Johns Hopkins University reported.

Since late January, Chinese authorities have implemented full or partial lockdowns in cities and communities across the country, curbing the movement of hundreds of millions of people.

Similar measures are now being imposed in Italy, the European country worst-hit by the coronavirus, where authorities early Sunday order a lockdown of more than a quarter of the population in the countrys economic heartland.

In Vietnam, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide exceeded 38 on March 11, as the outbreak has spread to other parts of the country, including Hanoi, Danang, Quang Ninh, and Binh Thuan.

Yesterday, an employee of retail chain Dien May Xanh in Danang, a subsidiary of Mobile World Group, has just tested positive for COVID-19 after communicating with two infected British tourists.

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).

The respiratory disease caused by COVID-19 has also put logistics firms on alert.

The respiratory disease caused by COVID-19 is making travel less desirable and is also putting a damper on logistics

Around 50 per cent of companies in the field reported a 10-30 per cent decline in logistics services, while 15 per cent experienced revenue halved in domestic and foreign markets against 2019, according to the Vietnam Logistics Association.

Furthermore, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control would suspend the unilateral visa waiver programme for the EU and the UK as part of country's efforts to contain the contagion.

Experts at the Asian Development Bank believed that Vietnam would likely witness a damage of around 0.41 per cent of its total GPD.
The global economy will almost certainly not grow this year, and may even go into recession, as a result of coronavirus. We know from the 2008/9 financial crash that the weakest economies are likely to be hurt the most, so parts of Northern Ireland could have a tough time this year.

Brexit provides additional challenges for the whole of the UK, but especially for Northern Ireland. Businesses here have little idea what the Irish Sea border will mean in terms of customs paperwork, or even whether the trade talks with the EU will collapse and the likely impact of that on border arrangements.

This limits the capacity to plan or invest, further undermining our economy.

The impact of coronavirus is unlikely to be just a one or two-month difficulty.

Our health service is already in crisis. If it can handle the coronavirus crisis on top of its existing crisis, a lot of people will be very surprised, as well as happy.

Fundamental NHS reform, backed by the funding to enable it to happen, cannot be delayed.

Not doing so is a serious risk to the health and wellbeing of people here, but also to our economy.

We cannot afford to have lots of people too ill to work. That would further damage our already weak level of productivity.

We also need to consider how our economy will be reshaped this year, either temporarily or, in some cases, permanently.

It is difficult to see how the cruise industry will survive intact. The outbreaks of Covid-19 on both the Grand Princess and Diamond Princess illustrate how cruise liners can provide a perfect environment to spread a virus.

Few people are likely to want to go on a cruise holiday this year or next, damaging a trade that was scheduled to deliver tens of thousands of visitors to Belfast this year and in the following years.

Airlines are also in bad shape and the ban by Donald Trump on passenger flights from continental Europe to the United States will make their situation much worse.

The sector will suffer much more widely than just the collapse of Flybe, which was already in serious trouble before coronavirus hit its bookings and cash flow.

Korean Air has grounded 80% of its fleet and warned staff it may not survive. Other airlines, including Norwegian and South African Airways, are already struggling.

We can expect some airlines to fold, others to merge and a significant reduction in flight numbers this year.

It is still too early to guess how long that reduction will continue.

At home, it is difficult to see Belfast City Airport replacing all the destinations and flight schedules lost with Flybe's collapse.

Many in Northern Ireland had hoped Chancellor Rishi Sunak would this week lift Air Passenger Duty on flights between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, recognising the special circumstances here in terms of our reliance on these air links.

Instead, he announced a review. Without that assistance, we can expect a significant reduction in air connectivity for Northern Ireland.

The wider damage to the tourism sector was recognised in the Budget. Sunak provided business rates holidays for small firms in the tourism and leisure sector - in England.

Northern Ireland's Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, has warned that copying the measure here would cost 200m, which he doesn't have.

Ironically, business rates reform in Northern Ireland was shifting the rates burden from struggling retailers to what had been a booming hotel sector, yet hotels are now in the front line in terms of lost trade.

Restaurants are also reporting a significant reduction in trade. Derry has seen some of its restaurants and cafes close in recent weeks following a difficult winter. Coronavirus is likely to cause many more to cease trading across Northern Ireland.

Measures announced by the Chancellor will help some businesses - deferring payment of taxes and the provision of some grants and loans can assist firms through difficult times.

But if the international tourism sector fails to recover quickly - and it may not, given the damage to consumer confidence - then these moves may merely delay the collapse of some traders.

I have always been concerned about the focus on tourism in terms of Northern Ireland.

It can be of value in adding to a functioning economy, but it should not be relied on at its core.

For Northern Ireland, we need to boost our high-value manufacturing and private sector services. True, the Wild Atlantic Way has been great for many parts of the Republic, but the reality is that many jobs created in the sector are badly paid, part-time, seasonal and zero-hours.

There was some relief in the Budget for vulnerable workers in terms of the Government paying statutory sick pay for the first two weeks of a person being off work, providing quicker payment of the Employment and Support Allowance and easing the rules for the self-employed to receive Universal Credit.

But there are lots of people on zero-hours contracts who will fall ill, be in preventative isolation,or laid off. Without savings to fall back on, they are at risk of not having the financial support they need.

The really big question is, what impact will the coronavirus pandemic have on the global economy for the rest of this year and beyond that?

There was already a limited move to 'near-shoring' (bringing production back closer to markets) in order to increase speed to market, provide greater production flexibility and reduce carbon emissions. That trend may now accelerate.

We can expect people to travel less this year, holidaying nearer to home and more home working and less commuting.

With Belfast just recognised as having the most congested roads of any city in the UK outside London, that would be welcome.

An economy with more home working requires good broadband, yet many parts of Northern Ireland suffer from poor broadband connectivity.

Plans to roll out faster broadband will need to themselves be sped up.

It is too soon to say that Covid-19 means life will never be the same again. But it is certainly making businesses, workers and consumers pause for reflection about working and travelling behaviour. Some things will now be different.
ROME, March 11 (Reuters) - A team of scientists in Milan believes Italy's coronavirus epidemic might have come to the country via Germany and not directly from China as many experts initially assumed.

Scientists have been hunting for the so-called "patient zero" ever since the contagion first came to light in the prosperous northern region of Lombardy on Feb. 21.

After extensive analysis, the Milan team has not yet identified the individual at the root of the worst outbreak in Europe, but they have matched the Italian genetic sequencing of the virus here to a case that emerged in Germany in January.

"The sequence closest to the base of the branch, which is the one that probably precedes the others, came from a person infected in Munich in all likelihood between Jan. 19-22," said Massimo Galli, head of the university research group and of the infectious-diseases department at Milans Sacco hospital.

Galli added that the German patient had caught the virus after contacting someone who came from Shanghai.

He said their analysis showed that the Italian outbreak must have started between Jan. 25-26, well before the first patient was officially diagnosed in the northern town of Codogno.

"We can imagine that a person who contracted the virus in the context of those infected in Munich came to Italy and the area where the virus first spread without showing any symptoms," Galli told Reuters.

Italy is the worst-affected country in the world after China, with 827 deaths and 12,462 confirmed cases in almost three weeks.

Doctors initially believed the Codogno patient, a 38-year-old man named only as Mattia, had been infected by a colleague who had recently returned from a business trip in China. However, that man tested negative, meaning the hunt was on for the origin of the contagion.

The government blocked all flights to and from China at the end of January after two Chinese tourists came down with coronavirus during a trip to Italy. At the time, it was hopeful the measure would block the spread of the disease.

"But all this started probably before the restrictions were imposed," Galli said. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Crispian Balmer, William Maclean)
By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/03/11

The American UFC fighter Brian Ortega has apologized for attacking Jay Park. The apology hit Twitter days after the original incident, when Jay Park explained the context of the strange incident. Footage of the event also backed up Jay Park's story. Jay Park was at the time acting as the translator for Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega's Korean rival in the featherweight division.

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Though Jay Park is a celebrity in his own right, he is also a personal friend of Chan Sung Jung, which is how he became wrapped up in the incident. The rift between Brian Ortega and Chan Sung Jung started last December, when the former had to delay their fight due to an injury, and the latter called him a coward for it on social media.

Brian Ortega appears to have taken the insult personally, claiming to blame Jay Park not just for rebroadcasting the message in a UFC interview in February, but also for his role in helping to manage Chan Sung Jung's career. Jay Park, for his part, was perplexed about the attack, which happened on March 7th when he happened to be in the same general area as Brian Ortega in Las Vegas.

Though public about the incident, Jay Park has declined to press charges and mainly just expressed pity for Brian Ortega in his public address. Chan Sung Jung repeated the coward accusation, owing to the obviously imbalanced absurdity of a professional fighter physically attacking a musician. Chan Sung Jung also dared Brian Ortega to come after him instead.

The extent to which any of this is being stage-managed is unclear. In the past Chan Sung Jung has purportedly intimated to Brian Ortega that the trash talk was being prompted by management for promotional reasons. However, the awkward reactions related to Brian Ortega's most recent actions have mainly just proven to be a public embarrassment for all involved parties.

Written by William Schwartz
LOVELAND, Colo. - A mountain lion attacked a person in northern Colorado on Wednesday and bit a sheriffs deputy who was responding to help, authorities said.

Both victims were taken to a hospital and were expected to recover, Larimer County Sheriffs Office spokesman David Moore said. Officials didnt release details about the victims injuries but witnesses said the deputy was bitten on the shoulder.

The attack happened at an RV park in Big Thompson Canyon near Loveland, an area north of Denver that features prominent cliff walls and is popular with anglers and kayakers.

Officers shot and killed the mountain lion. Colorado Parks and Wildlife tweeted that samples from the lion will be collected to test for disease and to analyze its DNA.

Two witnesses at the RV park told the Loveland Reporter-Herald that multiple uniformed officers chased the mountain lion.

To see the mountain lion coming right at us was pretty spooky, said Tim Satterly, adding that he saw the lion bite the deputy on her shoulder.

Thats when officers fired at the animal and eventually killed it, Moore said.

Satterly said a bullet punctured the sewer pipe drain of his trailer, and a bullet ricocheted off the axle.

Another witness, Gregory Scot Paul, said he saw the mountain lion lunge at the deputy.

If she hadnt put her arm up, Im pretty sure it would have gotten her neck, he said.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Travis Duncan told the newspaper that mountain lion attacks on people are rare.
Besides, the areas for the disengagement should be established

Dmitry Kozak Open source

The contact group in Minsk has a week to determine people for exchange between Ukraine and occupied Donbas and the areas for disengagement of forces as TASS reported citing Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Russia Dmitry Kozak.

We agreed to maximally concentrate during the week on the definition of all people who should be released mutuallyUntil March 25, it is necessary to verify all people who are ready to participate in this exchange, Kozak said.

According to him, the sides of the conflict in Donbas have agreed to define new areas for the disengagement of forces along the contact line during a week.

Moreover, Kozak reported that the contact group in Minsk decided to finally agree on the mechanism of the settlement of Donbas Conflict during the next meeting.

However, representative of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic in the task group on security Oleksiy Nikonorov stated that during the meeting in Minsk, the Ukrainian side did not offer any renewed variants concerning the potential areas for disengagement as TASS reported.

Earlier, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine is now putting effort so that the next round of prisoners exchange would take place this month.
Justice Navin Chawla asked central government to 'do a little more' than what it has been doing till now to evacuate over 3,000 Indian nationals

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court directed the Centre on Thursday to ensure that the Indian embassy in Iran gets in touch with the Indian students stranded there in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, instead of "merely issuing advisories", and to assure them of all assistance.

Justice Navin Chawla asked the central government to "do a little more" than what it has been doing till now to evacuate over 3,000 Indian nationals, including pilgrims, fishermen and students, presently stranded in Iran.

Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, representing the ministries of home, external affairs, health and aviation, told the court that mass evacuation was presently not possible as firstly, Iran has banned all commercial flights with India from 26 February onwards and secondly, those stranded there have to be tested for the coronavirus before they can be brought back.

Ahluwalia said there was no local support on the ground from Iranian authorities and it took several rounds of negotiations before they allowed Indian scientists to set up a lab there to take samples from Indian citizens and allowed an Indian Air Force plane to evacuate 58 nationals, including 25 women and 2 children.

He said the embassy there was in contact with Indian nationals presently in that country and advisories have been issued to them on following the health protocols issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The government counsel also said embassy officials were travelling to all the locations where Indians were stranded to assure them of all possible assistance for their safe and early return.

The court, however, said, "Merely issuing advisories was not going to help. That is no assurance. You know where the students are. You have to contact them. Not doing so will not be tolerated. Get in touch with them and give a report by Tuesday (17 March)."

The court was hearing a plea moved by the parents of the Indian students, who are stranded in Iran due to travel restrictions following the coronavirus outbreak, seeking directions to the Centre to evacuate them.

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Advocates Sikander A Siddiqui and Fozia Rahman, who appeared for the parents, told the court that the government was giving priority to the Indian pilgrims who are scattered across Iran instead of the students who can be easily located.

They said the students have been quarantined in their university hostels and there has been no contact from the Indian embassy in Iran.

The submissions were disputed by Ahluwalia who said the evacuation of Indian nationals was an ongoing process which will take time and the government was not distinguishing between students and pilgrims.

He said after swab samples of Indian nationals are brought back here and tested, then only they can be transported back here.

He further told the court that all possible efforts are being made to work out modalities to operate a limited number of flights to enable early and safe return of Indians stranded in Iran.

The court, thereafter, directed the government to come up with a positive plan regarding evacuation of the students and the steps taken so far to provide them with medical and other assistance.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has given a big statement on the political turmoil of Madhya Pradesh. Sanjay Raut has said that the virus of Madhya Pradesh will not be allowed to enter Maharashtra. Raut said that, 'Jyotiraditya is a famous leader, he had worked hard, if he had proper respect, Kamal Nath government would not have come in trouble today. Till the majority is not tested, we cannot say that the government of Madhya Pradesh has fallen.

Coronavirus infected so many people in Pakistan

On the question of any threat to the Mahavikas Aghadi government running in Maharashtra, Sanjay Raut said, 'The government in Maharashtra is strong. Madhya Pradesh virus will not come in Maharashtra. Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray have a good rapport. Operation Kamal will not succeed in Maharashtra. Even before this, efforts were made, but the government lasted only for 80 hours, then what happened? Here the government of Mahavikas Aghadi will run strongly.

5,000 Taliban prisoners may be released, Afghan government gives big chance

Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said on the matter that, 'Mahavikas Aghadi in Maharashtra has no threat to anyone. Our government in Maharashtra is safe in every way. The situation in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are quite different. The government will fall, these are all rumors. There are no differences in our government.

Scindia becomes BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh
By Trend

Azerbaijan has prolonged academic year by 15 days at the country's higher education institutions, Trend reports.

The corresponding decree was signed by Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Education Firudin Gurbanov.

The decree said that excluding last year's students, the calendar year for new students will start on March 27 and will go on till June 15, 2020 instead of May 30, 2020.

The exams will start on June 15 and will go on till July 13. Thus, the examination session of this academic year will include four weeks instead of five.

Schedule for undergraduate students of relevant specialties (excluding pedagogical specialties in the Education group) does not change. The new state certification will be held on schedule until the end of June.

Students' practice in the specialties included in the Education group will continue until June 15, and state certification will be held from June 15 to July 13.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Update: On Monday, March 16, Chase made a cancellation request form available for those cardholders who booked travel through Ultimate Rewards. If your airline, hotel or travel provider is waiving cancellation fees and your departure is more than seven days away, you can submit a cancellation request using the newly available form.

"Cancellation requests will be addressed in order of travel date to help those with the most immediate needs first," Chase said in a notice to affected travelers, noting the company was trying to minimize delays. "We know this is a challenging time, and we appreciate your patience as we work through your request."

Chase's Sapphire Reserve has been named one of the best credit cards for travel by numerous experts thanks in part to its many benefits, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and a dedicated customer support line. But this week, users took to social media to complain that Chase's customer service amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is resulting in long hold times spanning several hours.

Though complaints about Chase wait times seemed to dominate Twitter, cardholders were also calling out customer service at American Express, Capital One and Bank of America, all of which have online travel booking portals for their cardmembers.

Over the past weeks, the threat of coronavirus, COVID-19, has grown. As of Thursday, there are over 127,800 confirmed cases worldwide and at least 1,300 people affected in the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic on Wednesday, and the CDC has issued warnings that the risk of a severe coronavirus infection is higher for older Americans and those with serious chronic medical conditions, including heart and lung disease and diabetes.

The scale of the virus' spread prompted many Americans to reconsider their upcoming travel plans and try to recover some of the money they spent on hotel and airline reservations. But for those who booked through their credit card company's online travel portal, getting in touch with customer service to cancel or rebook has proved challenging.

https://twitter.com/official1E/status/1238100668281487360

Juan Escobar, 28, purchased flights for a weekend in Chicago using his Chase Sapphire Reserve card. He planned to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and his anniversary with his wife, he tells CNBC Make It. But because his wife is diabetic, the couple decided not to risk the roughly three-hour flight from Orlando.

After multiple calls that totaled more than nine hours on hold, Escobar says he eventually got through to Chase on Thursday using a customer service number for the company's bank division. The customer service desk reportedly told Escobar the only refund option was a travel voucher, valid for one year. "That doesn't work for us, how do we know that we can travel then?" Escobar says. "My wife is diabetic and I cannot risk her getting sick."

"It's only about $200, but it's not about the money  it's the principle," he says. "We literally have travel bans and the World Health Organization and the CDC stating that we shouldn't be traveling."

Chase tells CNBC Make It that it's working with its travel partner Expedia to build out a self-service cancellation option that will launch "very soon," according to a company spokesperson. "We are addressing individual cases and will work with customers who can't reach us right now," the spokesperson said.

American Express, Capital One and Bank of America did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Wednesday, in a courthouse in New York, Harvey Weinstein was convicted to 23 years imprisonment, resulting in a trial that sparked the international outcry of the #MeToo campaign and empowering women to speak out against sexual harassment.

During his conviction, Weinstein, 67, appeared at his hearing in a wheelchair and in handcuffs. He was faced with first-degree sexual assault and third-degree rape sentences spanning from five years to 29 years in prison for his conviction last month.

The intervention from Weinstein was surprising at court.

As said by Michelle Simpson Tuegel a lawyer who works on criminal prosecution, convicted persons who intend to appeal a guilty conviction, or who face other allegations, usually do not speak during a hearing since what they may say could be used against them.

Weinstein said however that he was concerned over this nation as well as the rights of the people to legal process. He even told the judge during the trial that he tried to bear witness, but his lawyers warned him that his case would have been harmed.

For about 20 minutes without warning, Weinstein, who did not testify during the trial, spoke continuously even as his Defense Attorney Arthur Aidala regularly and calmly demanded him to stop.

He stated that he actually thought that there was agreement and consent about the women who spoke out against him.

Weinstein's lawyers at some point called for a break and checked on him, he said that he had lost his train of thoughts, when he had begun to speak again.

Judge James Burke convicted him of felony sexual misconduct for 20 years and of rape for three years. The terms are placed sequentially and both came with supervision for five years after his release.

Not only this, but Weinstein will also be registered as a sex offender.

Burke had said that, "This is a first conviction, but it is not a first offense."

When he was led out of the courthouse, Weinstein was sporting a blank face. In the front row, his accusers cried together.

The allegations were based on testimony of the conviction of both Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann. Haley claimed that Weinstein secretly conducted oral sex with her in his flat in Manhattan in 2006, and Mann testified that she was raped during an abusive relationship with the defendant in 2013.

In a sentence note, Weinstein's defense lawyers said that a lower penalty would be due to personal welfare, advanced age, the medical condition and lack of a criminal background of their client.

Before the New Yorker post, they claimed that his life "has been destroyed".

Moreover, Weinstein is also charged with a crime in Los Angeles for forcible rape, forced oral copulation, sexual force violation and restraint.

Prosecutors state that in February 2013, a woman was raped and another sexually assaulted for two days in separate incidents.

Since his conviction, he has been in custody of the state and had a few health issues.

Last week, he was exposed to a cardiac operation during which doctors implanted a stent and his publicist, Juda Engelmayer said he fell whilst he was at the prison.

The District Attorney's office at Los Angeles County has began the process of detaining him in California on these allegations. No adjudication was set.
McLaren Northern Michigan expects increase in COVID patients during the upcoming weeks

As of Jan. 3, McLaren Northern Michigan had 20 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized, as well as three in the intensive care unit.
Less than two years after they wed and stepped forward as one into the British royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have walked away from royal life. Though the pair were full of ideas and aspirations, the constant scrutiny and the bullying proved to be too overwhelming and negative.

In an effort to take back their lives  the Sussexes pulled a move that has shocked the world. In early January 2020, they announced Megxit. Though they initially hoped to become part-time working royals, ultimately they are leaving royal life altogether to become private and financially independent citizens.

The Sussexes have been living a quiet and peaceful life in Canada, raising their son, Archie Harrison away from the spotlight. There has been a ton of talk about how Prince Harry will handle normal life. However, the prince says hes way more normal than anyone gives him credit for.

Prince Harry ultimately made the choice to leave the British royal family

Though most of the bullying, racial and sexist attacks were aimed towards her  Meghan was willing to endure it, hoping that it got better. Ultimately, Prince Harry decided that enough was enough. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly, he said during a January 2020 speech.It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I havent always got it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.

In a recent phone call leaked by Russian pranksters  the Duke of Sussex explained that the decision to leave was extremely hard. Theres lots of layers to it and lots of pieces to the puzzle, the prince reportedly said. 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.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been living a normal life in Canada

Though they are two of the most recognized people on the globe, and they have an extensive armed security team following them everywhere they go  the Sussexes are living a very normal life on Vancouver Island.

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.

This experience has also strengthed the Sussexes marriage. They are besotted and very sweet with each other, an insider told People. Its full throttle for them right now. They have a lot happening in 2020, and it will be really exciting to see.

Prince Harry says hes more normal than anyone gives him credit for

Royal experts are concerned that Prince Harry will get weary of living as a private citizen since hes been living as a royal for 35 years. However, the Duke of Sussex says, hes always tried to live as regular of a life as possible. I do my own shopping, the prince said previsously Newsweek. Sometimes, when I come away from the meat counter in my local supermarket, I worry someone will snap me with their phone. But I am determined to have a relatively normal life.

Also, being in the military for a decade forced the prince to live without many of the frills of royal life. You forget, I was in the military for ten years so Im more normal than my family would like to believe, he quipped during a leaked phone call. 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. Oh no, I think its much better.




Oregons spring break is fast approaching.

And while lots of spring breakers have their plans set in stone, some others dont. At least not yet.

So this week on the Peak Northwest podcast, we rattle off road trip ideas for the lucky folks who have time off later this month... but dont quite know what to do with it.

Wed be remiss, of course, not to reference the spread of the coronavirus in the Northwest and around the world. We urge spring breakers to stay up on the news and heed the advice of public officials as the virus continues to spread.

Some episode highlights:

Jim outlines a road trip around Mount Hood, including a stay in Hood River and some waterfalls on the way home.

Jamie charts a couple road trips featuring some of his favorite roadside attractions.

Jim details an epic ski trip that features at least three different resorts.

Jamie explains how to see each of the Oregon coasts 11 lighthouses  all in one trip.

We discuss road trips for history buffs, bridge lovers and national park aficionados.

Heres the full episode.

Check out Jamies compilations of spring break destinations around Oregon, the states best roadside attractions and spring break ideas around Portland.

Plan for warmer days with Jamies list of 12 epic summer road trips across Oregon.

Listen to our podcast episode about things to do in the snow  especially if youre interested in our first road trip suggestion.

Watch Jims most recent Peak Northwest video episode.

You can subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Follow Peak Northwest on Instagram at @PeakNorthwest.

-- Jim Ryan and Jamie Hale

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
New Call Routing Feature from NEC Reduces Telephony Spend

NEC Corporation of America has announced a new Network Connect offering that makes use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to optimize the routing of phone calls for businesses. It also includes voice network monitoring to ensure quality issues do not unfold.

Calls are routed to the most cost-effective and reliable carrier solution available through wholesale provider 46 Labs Communications, the Carrier of Record.

More specifically, enterprises purchase per-port access into the Network Connect carrier hub. After a SIP Trunk connection is established to the nearest Point-of-Presence, the platform handles the carrier selection, taxation, security, cost and quality optimization needs.

The IT and communications integrator said the new offering can reduce telephony spend by at least 30 percent as a result.

Each day the 46 Labs system routes more than a billion calls for the carrier wholesale marketplace. Working with NEC, we now have the worlds first system for connecting enterprises directly to the wholesale telecom market, said Max Adams, Chief Revenue Officer of 46 Labs. Because carriers compete on a call-by-call basis to earn your business, youre always getting the best possible price and quality.

Another benefit of the new offering is the ability for businesses to have direct access to insights including performance metrics and quality of service to more quickly detect issues and mitigate them before they can affect business.

For the first time, Enterprise customers have visibility and control of their voice networks.This solution not only comes at a wholesale cost savings; it eliminates the network vulnerability that comes from relying on a single-carrier, said Joe Salisbury, Vice President of Enterprise Sales & Marketing, NEC Corporation of America.

This up-to-the-minute access to information about telephony usage also makes it easier for businesses to set and meet telephony spending goals.

Companies with higher volumes of call traffic, such as inbound or outbound contact centers, stand to save the most in monthly charges, said Salisbury.

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Oil headed for the biggest weekly decline since 2008 after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would restrict travel from Europe for the next 30 days in an attempt to contain the coronavirus, pummeling fuel demand.

Futures in New York tumbled as much as 9% and are poised for a 24% drop this week. At the same time, Brent crude's one-year structure collapsed into a super-contango for the first time in years, suggesting a large oversupply as responses by the U.S. and European policy makers have failed to stem the rout. Trump called on Congress to pass some tax relief measures immediately, but stopped short of offering a detailed economic rescue package. The European Central Bank left rates unchanged, though it temporarily increased its quantitative easing program and took steps to boost liquidity.
The older woman who became the first victim of the coronavirus in Ireland is believed to have been treated in hospital for some time for underlying conditions before being tested for the infection.

She did not fit into the classic at-risk category and had not been abroad or to anyone's knowledge been in contact with someone else who was positive.

However, doctors looking after the frail patient in Naas General Hospital decided to test her for the new coronavirus and she proved positive.

The source of her infection is unknown and she had been gravely ill since she tested positive at the weekend before tragically passing away yesterday.

Just like the regular winter flu, respiratory viruses are more severe on 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.

In China, where the coronavirus first emerged, early research suggested the coronavirus posed a more severe risk to some populations over others.

In a report from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, an analysis of 1,023 deaths out of 44,672 confirmed, one in five occurred among patients who were over 80 years old.

People with coronavirus symptoms - dry cough, fever, and a general feeling of listlessness - are advised to avoid seeing older relatives to avoid passing it on, regardless of whether they have had a test or not.

It is important that people keep in touch with older relatives or neighbours for moral and social support.

Older people may need extra help with shopping.

Fatalities where doctors have not identified how the patient contracted the virus are a worry. These "unknowns" are causing concern globally because there are no obvious links to other cases.

More patients like the deceased woman are likely to be picked up earlier if they have the virus as doctors are being told to screen more people who have severe acute respiratory symptoms without having been abroad.

The Mercy University Hospital in Cork has confirmed that it is treating three patients who are positive for the coronavirus after returning from abroad.

The three patients tested positive earlier this week.

The patients had been abroad on a holiday together.

A man has also tested positive for the new coronavirus in University Hospital Waterford.

He 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 coronavirus infections.

The Waterford case was included in details of the latest number of positive patients which was released last night.

Meanwhile, the virus threat is mobilising gestures of support.

David Hall of Lifeline Ambulance Service contacted the HSE yesterday to offer the operational services of Lifeline to help contain the spread of the virus.

Lifeline employs 110 paramedics and emergency technicians on a full and part-time basis and has a fleet of 40 ambulances and seven emergency response vehicles.

He said: "We are prepared to offer you the operational capacity of our company."

Under this offer any work Lifeline Ambulance will take up will be done at cost. Staff are also willing to be trained in home testing.

Meanwhile, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland has decided to move its flagship awareness and fundraising appeal, 65 Roses Day, to an online campaign and is asking the public to support it by donating at 65rosesday.ie.

Making the announcement yesterday, Philip Watt, CEO of the charity, said: "In the context of the rapidly evolving circumstances regarding the coronavirus and to ensure we do everything it can to protect the health and well-being of people with cystic fibrosis, their families, volunteers and supporters, the event on Friday April 10 will now be an online campaign."
One never ceases to be amazed at the pro-government media in Turkey. One minute theyre cursing the Kremlin and calling Vladimir Putin a killer. The next minute the Russian bear is the cats meow. But then they are only keeping in lockstep with a presidential palace that gives the wink to unlicensed mass demonstrations in front of Russian diplomatic missions and simultaneously restricts access to news sites and social media relaying news of the deaths of dozens of Turkish soldiers in Idlib that sparked the demonstrations two weeks ago. Then, the next day, after the summit in Moscow last Thursday, the occupant of that presidential palace is smiling at his Russian interlocutor and handing him a gold embossed invitation to a meeting of the Turco-Russian Cooperation Council in Istanbul to mark the centennial of their countries bilateral relations.

As for the outcome of that summit, so much for the ultimatum Erdogan has reiterated for a month, ordering Syrian government forces to withdraw to the lines behind the Turkish observation posts in Idlib or else. The three-point Additional Protocol to the Memorandum on Stabilisation of the Situation in the Idlib De-Escalation Area that he signed with Putin on 5 March essentially recognises the new status quo on the ground. In addition to a halt to all military actions along the line of contact in the de-escalation zone, the agreement calls for the creation of a security corridor six kilometres deep to the south and six kilometres deep to the north of the M4 highway. On 15 March, the Russians and Turks will commence a joint patrol of that highway. Presumably, in the crucial interval before then, the two sides will be working to restrain the forces they back. It also gives time for one side  Damascus  to consolidate its new positions in the new territory it holds, which includes areas south of the M4, which had been part of the original de-escalation zone, not to mention the strategic M-5 highway that government forces captured recently.

The agreement, worked out after six hours of talks, is not just a setback for Erdogans Syrian ambitions. It looks like a form of punishment for Ankaras failure to fulfil its obligations in accordance with the Astana and Sochi agreements. Turkey did not fulfil its commitments under the Astana Agreement, said Professor Joshua Landis, director of the Centre of Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, as cited in Ahval, 23 February. Landis said that under the agreement, Turkey was supposed to ensure the withdrawal of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and their heavy weaponry from the planned demilitarised zone. Not only did Turkey fail to do this, but the group continued to fire on Aleppo neighbourhoods and Syrian troops from the zone. Thus, far from containing HTS, Turkey even failed to prevent the group from expanding, concludes Paul Iddon in Ahval. Citing another Middle East analyst, Kyle Orton, Iddons article concludes that the present situation was inevitable since the Assad regime and his Russian and Iranian backers are adamant about reconquering all of Syria and Turkeys ability to direct events on the ground is limited.

Erdogan tried and failed to play both ends against the middle, thinking that fuelling a reversion to the Cold War would better serve his ambitions. However, the West, which is growing weary of his games, went no further than pro forma declarations of support. NATO armed itself with Article 5 of its charter concerning aggression against a fellow NATO member, which is clearly not applicable in the case of Turkeys activities in Syria. In like manner, the UN pointed to Article 6 of its charter which, again, is not in Turkeys favour, given that the Turkish soldiers who were killed in Idlib sacrificed their lives in a military campaign that violated the sovereignty of another UN member state. Erdogan even turned to the US, only to receive the curt response that, as US Defense Secretary Mark Esper put it, US forces have no intention to return to the Syrian-Turkish borders.

Frustrated at the corner into which he painted himself, Erdogan played the defiance card. The S-400 missile systems he purchased from Russia would go into operation in April as scheduled, he said. The system belongs to us now that weve taken delivery of it. If the bravado is good for keeping supporters happy and diverting attention away from failures, even many in his own camp suspect hell postpone that step at the last minute because of the spectre of sanctions that are hanging over his countrys head. In all events, the opposition in Turkey is not so easily distracted. They continue to ask awkward questions such as what are the Turkish armys plans in Syria after more than 59 Turkish soldiers were killed there in less than a month? What steps is the army taking to bring HTS and other jihadist and terrorist groups under control in its areas of responsibility in Syria? Is Erdogan still pursuing the dream of overthrowing Al-Assad?

The refugee question is another area where Erdogans calculations may have backfired. Refugees have long served his demagogic purposes, as was the case when he lashed out against European hypocrisy on this question. On his way back from Moscow, he told his pool of reporters on board his presidential plane that the EU had given 700 million Euros to Greece to handle the refugee crisis at its borders and nothing to Turkey to deal with the same crisis. He also claimed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel had promised 25 million Euro for refugees, but that Turkey hasnt seen that money yet.

The next day, Erdogan softened his tone and the Turkish coast guard in the northwest province of Edirne announced that it had received instructions to prevent migrants from crossing by sea to Greek islands in the Aegean. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pointed to this as further proof that Turkish authorities had orchestrated the refugee crisis on their border. Accusing Erdogan of breaching the 2016 agreement with the EU on migration, Mitsotakis said Turkey has systematically encouraged and assisted tens of thousands of refugees and migrants to illegally enter Greece. It has failed, and will continue to fail, should it continue to pursue this strategy. Greece, with its many islands, is an easier target for Erdogan than Bulgaria which shares a 259-kilometre long border with Turkey. Bulgarian Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov said that Turkey had not let migrants move towards the Bulgarian border because his government had taken the necessary precautions to protect them years ago, thereby nullifying potential migrant pressures on the border.

On Sunday, 8 March, Erdogan said that his government had not received the support it expected from the international community with regard to refugees, but that he hoped to reach a different result during his visit to Brussels the following day, at the invitation of EU Council President Charles Michel, whom Erdogan met in Ankara 4 March. However, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn has set out conditions in advance. He cautioned that the aid the EU gives Turkey to take care of refugees could be significantly less than under the previous agreement and that this aid would only be provided if Ankaras blackmailing policy of sending refugees towards the EU is stopped.

Erdogan has previously called for changes to the refugee agreement. Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock, who called the current refugee agreement between the EU and Turkey a failure, would like to see a new agreement too. Instead of this failed deal, we need a new agreement guaranteed by the rule of law, which learns from the mistakes of the past, ensures that people are well cared for and that the 27 EU states do not fall like dominoes when Erdogan blows once, she told a German newspaper.

If the EU follows her advise, Erdogan will feel significant blowback from his refugee gambits as well.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 March, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Harvard University should be ashamed of itself. It has dumped the problem of its sudden closure due to coronavirus largely on the students themselves and their families. While most of them are affluent enough to handle the financial fallout of buying airfare at the last minute and storing or shipping their clothes, books, and other possessions, Harvards students from lower income backgrounds have, to a significant degree, been left in the lurch.

I learned about this train wreck via an e-mail from a foundation affiliated with my undergraduate house1 asking for alumni to pitch in:

As some of you already know, the College suddenly announced yesterday in the middle of exam week that due to the COVID outbreak, all students must leave their dorms by Sunday and that classes would resume online sometime next week. This has placed incredible strains on everyonestaff, student professors alike,but particularly on our lower income, first generation students, as you can read in the Crimson. These days the College no longer provides free summer storage, and this crisis requires students to pay to store or ship their things, as well as to buy airline tickets home on short notice. While the financial aid office has made some funding available for tickets, many of the our students have fallen through the cracks. Additionally some of our international students who cant return home will have to remain isolated on campus, and others will be returning home to areas with slow or no internet service which will make participating in online classes next to impossible. To make matters worse, all of the students who were working term-time are now unemployed. This really is one colossal mess. Therefore the Foundation has decided to step in and help purchase plane tickets for students, cover storage/shipping costs, and make individual grants based on need. We have already distributed 2K in grants to Adams students, with several thousand more pending, and if funding permits, would like to expand our outreach to our freshmen, who are particularly hard hit.

The Harvard Crimson piece mentioned in the e-mail describes in detail how low-income students have been turfed out, framing as students having been given an eviction notice on Tuesday to get out by Sunday. The school will not reopen after spring break. Key details:

Some students must ship or store their on-campus belongings without financial support from Harvard. Others who planned to stay on campus must now book unexpected flights home and accrue additional costs. And those who rely on term-time employment must confront additional financial concerns as they lose their primary sources of income. Harvard prides itself on having a massive student body that is a large percentage on financial aid, [Nick} Wyville said. I think that they forget that those are the same students who often come from home situations that are uncomfortable. First-generation students constitute 15 percent of Harvards undergraduate population; more than 20 percent of students are on full financial aid at the College, according to Primuss statement. James A. Bedford 20  who is on full financial aid  said he usually holds several jobs at Harvard simultaneously in order to support himself, working roughly 15 to 20 hours a week. His roles have included serving as a Peer Advising Fellow, a Learning Lab Fellow at the the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and an instructor for SCRB 78: Science Communication, among others. I havent even been able to think about the realities of the lost income and the money that I wont be able to make, he said. Wyville  who hails from Anniston, Ala.  said online courses are not feasible for him and some of his peers from rural or low-income areas, where many homes do not have internet access. Its not as if we can just like up and go to the library or the coffee shop every day, he said. The only equalizer at Harvard is the fact that we all live together and have the same accommodation. We live together, we eat the same food, we have the same faculty resources, Wyville added. But if you take away campus living and residential life then you take away that equalizer. In wake of the announcement, many students offered their homes to peers who require housing via a Google spreadsheet that connects undergraduates seeking housing with those who can provide it. As of Tuesday night, over 80 students signed up on the spreadsheet, including information about the number of beds they have available. Others have called on Harvard administrators to offer students greater support. Barton, Olvera, and several other students penned an open letter to the administration Tuesday on behalf of a new student group, Harvard Undergraduates for Decent and Urgent Accommodations. The letter condemns administrators for demanding students make sudden travel plans that exhaust their resources and put unexpected financial pressure on their families, as well as process tremendously expensive shipping fees.

The Harvard dream has just turned into a nightmare for many of these scholarship students. Lets not even go into what happens to adjuncts, who also depended on the university for a regular paycheck and in many cases, housing too.

Admittedly students all over the US are having their lives upended not just by classes being cancelled, but by them being told to get out of their dorms pronto. See this scene from the University of Dayton:

UD students gathered in large crowds on Lowes Street in the South Student Neighborhood Tuesday night in reaction to the news that university housing would close Wednesday for most students due to the spread of the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/82XL9uCR04  Flyer News (@FlyerNews) March 11, 2020

But Harvards conduct is indefensible. Harvard has, or perhaps more accurately had, a nearly $39 billion endowment. Contrast that with an exceedingly generous estimate of what it might cost to help make these financially stressed undergraduates whole, at least in terms of getting out of Cambridge, or for the ones who really cant go home (flights to their country cancelled), putting them up. Harvard has 6,800 undergraduates. Assume 25% get significant financial support. Even a gold plated solution would cost at most $10,000.

6,800 x .25 x $10,000 = $17 million. That is couch lint for Harvard.

As the University of Dayton example attests, university and college closures are widespread. For the well-endowed ones who have students attending only by virtue of having received financial aid and/or having the school arrange for paid employment to help pay for their tuition, the failure of the school to provide generous help is a disgrace.

At Harvard, the afflicted students are petitioning the university to let them store things on campus for free (which was standard practice in my day) and let the ones who cant go home stay on campus. How many could that possibly be? 200 at most? Harvard has a medical center that wont have anything to do once the kids leave. How hard would it be for their staff to check these students temperatures daily and test anyone who had symptoms?

And the university will have enough empty rooms that it could easily set aside other dorm rooms if quarantine were needed.

But the Harvard disregard is a sign of where things are likely to go in the US. A university is supposed to be a community. They are more cohesive than most of our cities and towns. Yet a crisis comes, and the grotesquely well paid university administrators cant be bothered either to make creative use of resources at hand, or dip in Harvards huge pot of money.

In other words, expect the rich to walk all over the poor out of indifference, as we are seeing at Harvard now.

___

1 Harvard houses and Yale colleges are groups of dormitories, each with their own adminisphere (such as a faculty dean a resident dean, a house tutor), their own kitchen and dining room, a common room, a library, and other amenities. They are modeled on the Cambridge and Oxford college system. At Harvard, a house has roughly 300 to 400 students.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 18:03:44|Editor: xuxin

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MALE, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC), on Thursday announced that all tourists arriving in the island country will have to present a 14-day travel history in a bid to prevent the COVID-19 from spreading further.

The Maldives Health Ministry said eight patients were confirmed with the virus while three islands were on lock down and over 100 people in quarantine.

In order to minimize the spread, Spokesperson of NEOC Mohamed Mabrook, quoted in media reports said all tourists arriving in the Maldives must now fill a health declaration form given by Maldives Immigration and the card must be submitted before they enter the country.

Mabrook said the visitors must indicate the countries they have visited recently and these will be used to evaluate if they had traveled to a high-risk area.

The government has installed thermal scanners at all ports as part of the efforts to contain COVID-19 in Maldives.

Additional testing mechanisms have also been set up in the airports. If visitors have high fever, they will be sent to the medical facility established in the airport and doctors will decide if the visitors must go into isolation, the government said.
Democrats excel in hypocrisy. It seems like half the time they speak theyre making some bold, confident statements about events and then the other half they come out and say the opposite, equally boldly and confidently, about similar events. Here are just a handful of recent examples:

They silenced the women Bill Clinton sexually assaulted but then embraced the #MeToo movement and declared that all victims must be heard;

They acquitted Bill Clinton of impeachment over perjury but voted to impeach President Trump for the high crime of faithfully executing his office;

They accused Attorney General William Barr of being Trumps wingman but accepted Eric Holders self-designation as President Obamas wingman;

They mock non-Ivy-League Republicans (Dan Quayle, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump) for being stupid but protect the apparently demented Joe Biden;

They characterize strong language from conservatives as unacceptable, violent behavior but then characterize Antifas actual violence as peaceful protests;

They criticize President Trumps fast response to the coronavirus as racist but then go into a full panic and say he didnt act quickly enough;

Chuck Schumer called out President Trump for criticizing the bias of certain Supreme Court justices in their prior opinions but then threatened, with physical violence no less, two other justices if they voted a certain way on a future case.

But have you ever noticed that, no matter how often they do this kind of thing, no matter how obvious the contradictions are, the accusation of hypocrisy never seems to slow any of them down? Democrats are never embarrassed when this kind of thing is exposed, and their voters dont seem bothered by it, either. In truth, Democrats are not being hypocritical when they talk out of both sides of their mouths like this. It sounds like hypocrisy, but the truth is, everything listed above is actually an example of the Democrats faithfully, consistently, and sincerely pursuing their core belief and highest priority.

The core belief of all leftists is that the government should have more power. It doesnt matter how much power the government currently has, the goal is always to get more. And the core priority of leftists is that this growing power of government should always be in their hands. Gaining and keeping power is whats most important and most urgent in any situation.

When considering leftist contradictions with the core belief and top priority in mind, you wont see hypocrisy, youll see single-minded commitment to the cause. Voting to acquit Clinton and impeach Trump is admirably consistent behavior for them. Thats why they never seem to be bothered or rattled by being called hypocrites. When we call them hypocrites in situations like these, they merely chuckle to themselves about how conservatives are too weak to play this game and too naive to know the rules.

Instead of calling them hypocrites, a better strategy might be to call them dangerous, power-hungry weasels: Heres another example of the Democratic lust for power. Theyre not defending a grand American ideal here, theyre just trying to fool us into giving them more power. Theyll say anything and take any position as long as it will get them more control over your lives. And dont forget, the more power they have, the less freedom you have.

Im not suggesting Democrats arent hypocrites; they are actually enormous hypocrites. But these arent examples of their hypocrisy. Thats because hypocrisy isnt the same as inconsistency or flipflopping or even failing to live up to your deeply held beliefs. Hypocrisy is pretend virtue. Hypocrisy is pretending to hold to some respected ideal or moral position when it really has no place in your heart at all. Jesus explained it this way: You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me (Matthew 15:7-8, quoting Isaiah 29:13).

Pretend virtue is the leftists stock-in-trade.

They pretend to fight for women while they encourage them to give in to the men who want to use them for sex, to dress for mens pleasure, to kill their own children, and now to accept men using their bathrooms and overrunning their sporting events.

They pretend to care about children but encourage them to be dangerously promiscuous, indoctrinate, rather than teach, them in school, scare them with tales of global catastrophes caused by their parents, and are now grooming them to accept as normal gender reassignments.

They pretend to be the great defenders of racial minorities while destroying their cities, splitting up their families, letting them kill each other off, and keeping them dependent on government.

They pretend to care about the poor while they advocate policies that hurt the poor, from rent control (reduces available housing thus increasing its cost), minimum wage laws (artificially increases the cost of labor, keeping the unskilled from getting a job that would get them into the workforce), lax immigration laws (increases the number of workers, holding down wages), taxes and regulation (increases the cost and risk of creating their own jobs), and welfare benefits (decreases the incentive to get a job and work their way out of poverty and dependency).

And this list is just a small sample of their hypocrisy. Im sure readers can think of plenty of others.

This pretend virtue is actually far more insidious, dangerous, and destructive than the contradictory positions they spout to protect their power. This pretend virtue is the real hypocrisy that we should be pointing out every chance we get.

Republicans running for Congress have successfully pointed out their opponents pretend virtue when they compare promises made at home with votes recorded in Washington. This effectively reveals the pretend virtue of their words, which aligns so well with the values of their home district, and the callousness of their actions, which perfectly supports national Democratic interests.

President Trump called out the Democrats' pretend virtue during his 2016 campaign. He asked African-Americans to consider how little the Democratic Party had done for them over the last half-century and to give the Republicans a chance. What do you have to lose? he said, giving a rhetorical flourish to the accusation of pretend virtue. The result has been an approval rating among racial minorities climbing to heights unseen for a Republican since Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves.

This strategy of pointing out pretend virtue, which has worked to unseat individual congressmen and to dislodge minorities from the tight grip of the Democratic Party, could be just as effective in changing the feelings of other core pieces of the liberal tapestry. Women can be shown how this pretend virtue has made them more vulnerable to predators and robbed them of wonderfully intimate relationships. Parents can be shown how this pretend virtue is hurting their children academically, socially, spiritually, and sexually. The poor can be shown how this pretend virtue has kept them in poverty, depriving them of access to the great economic engine that has lifted millions of others to financial stability and happiness.

Dennis Prager has pointed out that truth is not a leftist value. Since President Trump took office, theyve been called out for pushing fake news. Now its time to call them out for their pretend virtue!

Steve Matteucci has degrees in Economics, Law, Taxation, and Theology. His book, How to Be a Trustee: Practical Thinking on Settling a Living Trust, is available on Amazon.
NORWALK  Officials from Norwalk schools said Tuesday they are looking to expand membership in a federal program that provides free breakfast and lunch to all students in a given school.

As of the current school year, only Kendall and Tracey elementary schools participate in the Community Eligibility Program, which allows qualifying schools to offer free meals to all students through the National School Lunch Program.

Up until this point in the year, when we look at the revenue lost, compared to our reimbursable meals, were in a pretty good place with about three months of school left to go, Chief of School Operations Frank Costanzo told the Board of Education Finance Committee Tuesday night. In other words, we dont expect that the district would operate at a deficit at these two schools as a result of going to a CEP model. And weve served hundreds of more meals to students, probably thousands.

We think if we can operate at a small loss next year that it may be well worth our adding CEP ,because it does guarantee meals for students who otherwise would not be getting that nutrients during the day, Costanzo continued.

The program reimburses meals at a rate of $3.50 per student, as opposed to 30 cents each under the free and reduced lunch program, though districts are not allowed to collect revenue on meals served.

The state and federal governments set the eligibility criteria based on the population in a school who are directly certified students  those who qualify for free and reduced lunch because their families are on an income-qualified program like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or HUSKY Health. Schools with 40 percent or more students who meet that distinction are eligible to apply.

Based on the success of Kendall and Tracey, the district is now considering the addition of Brookside, Marvin, Jefferson and Silvermine elementary schools, and Ponus Ridge Middle School. Each could qualify and incorporate the program at a slight loss, ranging from $13,000 on the low end to $150,000 on the high end, at Ponus.

Each school is helping families who could potentially qualify for SNAP to apply. Higher numbers of SNAP-eligible students would result in a higher reimbursement rate for each school.

We currently have five schools that were looking at, and we think were probably going to end up adding between three and four schools to our CEP model for next year, Costanzo said.

Because of the wealth in the neighborhood, Silvermine is the school that fits the CEP model least well. Ponus also presents potential problems, but with the addition of Jefferson students in the fall  who will attend the school while their building is being renovated-as-new  the two schools could be lumped into one application.

Ponus is not a realistic CEP school on its own, but we thought if we could get the numbers up and combine Jefferson and Ponus in one application, that it might get us over the percentage we need to break even or operate at a small loss, Costanzo said.

Rather than families applying for free and reduced lunch on an individual basis, participation in the program provides access to all students in the school.

According to state Department of Education Director of Communications Peter Yazbak, Connecticut implemented the direct certification system in 2012 using SNAP and Temporary Family Assistance programs as criteria. In 2018, the criteria was broadened to include HUSKY Health. The result was an increase from 241 schools participating in 2017-18 to 308 participating in 2018-19. The 2019-20 school year was Norwalks first in the program.

We would be able to say after two years that half of our 12 elementary schools now are on the Community Eligibility Provision, which is a great improvement over where we were two years ago, Costanzo said.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586
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BUDAPEST, March 11 (Reuters) - Hungary on Wednesday banned inbound travel from Italy, South Korea, Iran and China for non-Hungarians in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The ban on travel from the four most heavily-affected countries will come into effect immediately, Premier Viktor Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, told a news briefing.

Hungarian universities will also be closed and public gatherings of over 100 people indoors and 500 people outdoors will be banned, he said.

The restrictions will remain in place until further notice, Gulyas said, adding the government expected the epidemic's impact to last months rather than weeks. (Reporting by Marton Dunai; editing by John Stonestreet)
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The World Economic Forum and the WHO has launched the first platform to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 to operate across the globe

The 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 COVID Action Platform will focus on three priorities, including galvanising the global business community for collective action, protecting peoples livelihoods and facilitating business continuity and mobilising co-operation and business support for COVID-19 response.

The COVID Action Platform is open to all global businesses and industry groups, as well as other stakeholders to team up with governments on their 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, said Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. 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.

Meanwhile, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, 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 organisations around the world to make full use of this platform in support of the global public health response to COVID-19.

The COVID Action Platform was conceived after a World Economic Forum conference call with over 200 corporate leaders from all over the world. It is supported by the WHO and the Welcome Trust and is the first initiative of its kind operating globally. The World Economic Forum has established a special team to support the platforms work.
FirstHealth of the Carolinas is asking the community to adhere to the visitor restrictions that are in place due to the flu.
JERUSALEM - Religious authorities cancelled or limited weekly prayer gatherings across the Middle East on Friday to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus as they encouraged the faithful to pray for those afflicted by the global pandemic.

Iran, which is mired in the worst outbreak in the region, meanwhile announced another 85 deaths, pushing its total number of fatalities to 514 amid 11,364 confirmed cases. The real number of cases might be even higher, as questions have been raised about authorities transparency.

Sudan reported its first case, a man in his 50s who died Thursday after returning from a recent visit to the United Arab Emirates. The east African country is in disarray after the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir last year, and its infrastructure has suffered from decades of sanctions.

Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders in Jerusalem said services would continue to be held in the Holy Land but moved to limit indoor gatherings after the Israeli Health Ministry said they should not exceed 100 people.

At the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest site where Jews can pray, authorities limited entrance to enclosed areas. But the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which oversees the site, said there would be no restrictions in the main plaza as it is a wide, open space.

In recent days the foundation has encouraged people to join in special prayers for victims of the virus, which has infected more than 130,000 people worldwide and caused more than 5,000 deaths.

Israels chief Sephardic rabbi, Yitzhak Yosef, meanwhile urged people to stop visiting the Western Wall, cancel mass prayers and pray near their homes until the wrath passes and mercy comes from heaven.

For most people, the 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 and the COVID-19 illness it causes.

But the rapid spread of the virus has caused worldwide alarm, tanking financial markets, disrupting travel and leading to large-scale shutdowns in some areas.

Some 10,000 Muslim worshippers attended Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, according to Sheikh Omar Kiswani, the director of the mosque. Most prayed in outdoor courtyards, heeding the advice of Muslim officials who warned against crowding inside the mosques themselves.

A short, 13-minute sermon was devoted to raising awareness on how to prevent the spread of the virus. The site is the third holiest in Islam and the holiest for Jews because it was the location of the Jewish temples in antiquity.

The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem called on churches to enforce the Health Ministrys guidelines, including with Sunday services. It invited everyone to pray for those directly and indirectly affected by this malevolence.

Hard-hit Iran has already cancelled Friday prayers in major cities, and on Friday Kuwait said all public prayers would be cancelled until further notice. Egypt ordered all mosques to limit Friday prayers, including the weekly sermon, to no more than 15 minutes. The prayers usually last around an hour.

Iraq, which has reported more than 93 confirmed cases of coronavirus and nine deaths so far, has scrapped Friday prayers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala. Iraqs most influential Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, whose Friday sermon from Karbala provides guidance for millions, last week urged people to abide by a ban on mass prayers.

In Lebanon, Friday prayers have been temporarily suspended in all Shiite mosques. The countrys top Sunni authority has said it is forbidden for anyone with a contagious disease to attend prayers and has urged elderly people and others at risk to pray at home.

Sayyed Hassan, the leader of Lebanons militant Hezbollah, said in a speech focused on the virus that his Iran-backed group would put all its paramedics and medical capabilities at the service of the countrys health ministry.

We should consider ourselves at war against the virus, he said.

Even in the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since the Palestinian militant group Hamas seized power in 2007, and which has no reported cases, many mosques kept prayers to 15 minutes and urged worshippers to take precautions.

The moves to limit prayers come on the heels of several cancellations of sporting events, conferences and other gatherings worldwide.

Dubai announced that a major horse race planned for March 28 would be held without spectators. The Dubai World Cup is the worlds richest purse for horse racing, with a $12 million prize last year.

Bahrain indefinitely postponed its Formula One Grand Prix motor race, which had been scheduled to take place later this month.

The Gulf monarchy also released nearly 1,500 prisoners, around 900 of whom were pardoned. The move appeared aimed at preventing the virus from spreading inside detention facilities. It wasnt immediately clear if those released included opposition activists detained as part of Bahrains yearslong crackdown on all dissent.

Tiny, energy-rich Qatar shut down all cinemas, theatres, museums, childrens play areas, gyms and wedding halls overnight.

Pakistan announced that all schools, colleges, universities and seminaries would be closed until April 5. It also postponed an annual military parade. Pakistan has had 28 people test positive, including seven near the border with Iran, where some 4,000 people returning from Iran have been quarantined.

In Iran, state-run TV announced that Ali Akbar Velayati was quarantined at home after testing positive for the virus. He is a close adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans 80-year-old supreme leader.

The outbreak has reached Irans top officials, with its senior vice-president, Cabinet ministers, members of parliament, Revolutionary Guard members and Health Ministry officials among those infected.

In Israel, concerns about the virus may lead to a brief respite from the yearlong political deadlock between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, former military chief Benny Gantz, after three inconclusive elections.

Netanyahu, who is set to face trial on corruption allegations next week, has called for an emergency national government to combat the pandemic, and Gantz has said he is open to the idea. They are expected to hold talks in the coming days.

Israel has reported more than 100 cases, with the numbers ticking up in recent days despite a number of tough measures taken in recent weeks to slow the spread of the virus.

___

Associated Press writers Isaac Scharf; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Noha ElHennawy in Cairo; Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Fares Akram in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan contributed.
Allentown, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/12/2020 -- A staple at any reception, wedding beer coolies are a ubiquitous sight at nearly any type of event. But how do coolies work  and do they really help to keep drinks colder? One researcher from Ohio State University put this question to the testand found that coolies do, in fact, keep drinks colder.



Most people assume that coolies keep drinks cold by insulating the can and preventing the warm weather from heating up the inside of your can or bottle. However, the truth is that the real value in coolies lies in their ability to wick away condensation. When party-goers use a coolie on their can, the coolie creates a barrier between the environment and the drink itself. This barrier prevents condensation from forming on the aluminum, preventing the transfer of heat to the beer or soda inside the can.



"If the barrier between a cool beverage and the outside air is the thin wall of an aluminum can, then the temperature of the beverage will approach the temperature of the air relatively quickly," said Jim DeGrand, a senior researcher and lecturer in the Department of Geography at Ohio State University. "The sleeve [of a coolie] doesn't actively cool the liquid inside the can, it merely slows down the rate of temperature change within the can."



Backed by science, coolies are an excellent way to add fun and flair to any party or special event. Event planners searching for the best wedding coolies are encouraged to pay the team at KooziesOnline.com a visit today to learn more about their extensive range of science-backed coolies.



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Year-over-Year Recurring Revenue Growth of 13%

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / CounterPath Corporation (CPAH) (PATH.TO) (the "Company" or "CounterPath"), a global provider of award-winning Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) solutions for enterprises and service providers, today announced the financial and operating results for its quarter ended January 31, 2020, being the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.

Third Quarter Financial Highlights (unaudited)

Revenue increased by 8% to $2.8 million compared to revenue of $2.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Growth in subscription, support and maintenance revenue (revenue of a recurring nature) of 13% for the quarter compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Gross margin of 83% compared to gross margin of 78% for the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Loss from operations of $0.2 million compared to loss from operations of $1.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Non-GAAP loss from operations of $0.0 million compared to non-GAAP loss from operations of $1.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Net loss of $0.3 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.18 per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Non-GAAP net loss of $0.1 million, or $0.02 per share, compared to non-GAAP net loss of $1.0 million, or $0.17 per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

Cash of $1.8 million as of January 31, 2020 compared to cash of $1.9 million as of April 30, 2019.

Management Commentary

"During the quarter, we saw continued growth in our recurring revenue which reached a record level of $1.5 million during the quarter, or 56% of total revenue" said David Karp, Chief Executive Officer. "Our operating costs were their lowest in two years, contributing to break even at the non-GAAP operating income (loss) level. During the quarter we entered into a contract with Honeywell International to provide Honeywell with a new unified communications software solution. Honeywell Smart Talk enables mobile workers to collaborate, enhance productivity and provide superior customer experiences. We are currently working with Honeywell on the Smart Talk go-to-market strategy for its customers, primarily in the retail, healthcare and logistics verticals. We were also chosen by Vodafone Fiji to provide Bria mobile applications and Stretto Platform services to enable reliable voice calling for consumers across the Fijian and neighboring islands. Finally, it is not clear what the full extent of the COVID-19 global public health emergency will be and how it will affect business demand or our future results of operations and financial position; however, we expect to see some offsetting benefit from businesses that are seeking unified communications software such as CounterPath's, to allow their workers to work remotely due to the situation."

Story continues

Recent Business Highlights

Secured a five-year deal with Vodafone Fiji to provide Bria mobile applications and Stretto Platform services to enable reliable voice calling for consumers across the Fijian and neighboring islands.

Partnered with Honeywell to create Smart Talk - a new Unified Communications (UC) software solution that enables organizations to streamline communications, increase productivity, and enhance customer experiences by allowing mobile workers to connect and collaborate on the devices they already use in their daily operations.

Announced that its UC solutions have been deployed in five of the nine leading call centers identified by Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS), North America.

Launched Bria Solo, a two-tiered softphone solution that is available as a free version to replace CounterPath's flagship free softphone, X-Lite, and a premium, enhanced version on a subscription basis to replace the Bria 5 perpetual softphone solution available on the Company's eStore.

Financial Overview

(All amounts in U.S. dollars and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") unless otherwise specified - unaudited).

Revenue was $2.8 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2020 compared to $2.6 million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year. Software revenue was $1.1 million compared to $1.1 million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year, subscription, support and maintenance revenue was $1.5 million compared to $1.4 million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year, and professional services and other revenue was $0.2 million compared to $0.1 million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year.

Operating expenses for the quarter ended January 31, 2020 were $3.0 million compared to $3.6 million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year. Operating expenses for the quarter ended January 31, 2020 included a non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million (2019 - $0.1 million). Cost of sales was $0.5 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2020 compared to $0.6 million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year. Sales and marketing expenses were $0.9 million for the quarter ended January 31, 2020 compared to $1.0 million for the same quarter last fiscal year. For the quarter ended January 31, 2020, research and development expenses were $1.0 million and general and administrative expenses were $0.6 million compared to $1.4 million and $0.7 million, respectively, for the same quarter in the last fiscal year.

Interest and other (expense) income, net for the quarter ended January 31, 2020 was ($0.1) million compared to ($0.03) million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year. Interest and other (expense) income, net was primarily comprised of interest expense of $0.1 million related to the loan payable, compared to interest expense of ($0.02) million and a foreign exchange loss of ($0.02) million for the same quarter in the last fiscal year. The foreign exchange gain (loss) represents the gain (loss) on account of translation of the intercompany accounts of the Company's subsidiary which are maintained in Canadian dollars and transactional gains and losses resulting from transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars.

The net loss for the quarter ended January 31, 2020 was $0.3 million, or $0.04 per share, compared to a net loss of $1.1 million, or $0.18 per share, for the same quarter in the last fiscal year. As of January 31, 2020, the Company had $1.8 million in cash, compared to $1.9 million at April 30, 2019.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, outlook, expectations or intentions regarding the future, including the statement that it is not clear what the full extent of the COVID-19 global public health emergency will be and how it will affect business demand or our future results of operations and financial position; however, we expect to see some offsetting benefit from businesses that are seeking unified communications software such as CounterPath's, to allow their workers to work remotely due to the situation. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others: (1) any direct or indirect negative potential impact or harm that COVID-19 may actually have on the Company's business or its potential/current clients' businesses; (2) the lack of cash flow which may affect the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; (3) the variability in the Company's sales from reporting period to reporting period due to extended sales cycles as a result of selling the Company's products through channel partners or the length of time of deployment of the Company's products by its customers; (4) the Company's ability to manage its operating expenses, which may adversely affect its financial condition and ability to continue to operate as a going concern; (5) the Company's ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors develop and release competitive products; (6) a decline in the Company's stock price or insufficient investor interest in the Company's securities which may impact the Company's ability to raise additional financing as required or may cause the Company to be delisted from a stock exchange on which its common stock trades; (7) the impact of intellectual property litigation that could materially and adversely affect the Company's business; (8) the success by the Company of the sales of its current and new products; (9) the impact of technology changes on the Company's products and industry; (10) the failure to develop new and innovative products using the Company's technologies including the refresh of our Software-as-a Service (SaaS) solution; and (11) the potential dilution to shareholders or overhang on the Company's share price of its outstanding stock options. Readers should also refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, the Company's annual reports on Form 10-K, and the Company's other disclosure documents filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and the Company's interim and annual filings and other disclosure documents filed from time-to-time on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About CounterPath

CounterPath Corporation (CPAH) is revolutionizing how people communicate in today's modern mobile workforce. Its award-winning Bria solutions for desktop and mobile devices enable organizations to leverage their existing PBX or hosted VoIP service to extend seamless and secure unified communications and collaboration to users regardless of their location and network. CounterPath technology meets the unique requirements of several industries, including contact center, retail, warehouse, hospitality, and healthcare verticals. Its solutions are deployed world-wide by 8x8, Airbnb, AmeriSave, BT, Citibank, Comcast, Fusion, Fuze, Liberty Global, Uber, Windstream and others. Learn more at counterpath.com and follow on Twitter @counterpath.

Contacts:

David Karp

Chief Executive Officer

dkarp@counterpath.com

COUNTERPATH CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Stated in U.S. Dollars)

January 31, April 30, 2020 2019 Assets Current assets: Cash $ 1,764,846 $ 1,862,458 Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $317,262 (2019 - $619,514)) 1,392,475 1,876,896 Deferred sales commission costs - current 152,816 122,777 Derivative assets 493 1,178 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 202,311 263,078 Total current assets 3,512,941 4,126,387 Deposits 96,113 94,829 Deferred sales commission costs - non-current 75,511 77,571 Equipment 71,162 59,914 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,361,442 - Goodwill 6,645,972 6,541,290 Intangibles and other assets 226,311 224,795 Total Assets $ 11,989,452 $ 11,124,786 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,978,501 $ 2,233,875 Derivative liability 14,761 4,512 Unearned revenue 2,780,478 2,593,726 Operating lease liabilities - current 253,302 - Accrued warranty 43,899 52,035 Other current liabilities - 947 Total current liabilities 5,070,941 4,885,095 Deferred lease inducements - 4,031 Loan payable 4,000,000 3,000,000 Operating lease liabilities - non-current 1,131,102 - Unrecognized tax liability 9,763 9,763 Total liabilities 10,211,806 7,898,889 Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value Authorized: 100,000,000 Issued and outstanding: January 31, 2020 - nil; April 30, 2019 - nil - - Common stock, $0.001 par value Authorized: 10,000,000 Issued: January 31, 2020 - 6,101,518; April 30, 2019 - 5,950,246 6,102 5,950 Additional paid-in capital 75,991,751 75,667,533 Accumulated deficit (70,577,838 ) (68,581,091 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss - currency translation adjustment (3,642,369 ) (3,866,495 ) Total stockholders' equity 1,777,646 3,225,897 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 11,989,452 $ 11,124,786

COUNTERPATH CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Stated in U.S. Dollars)

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended January 31, January 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Revenue: Software $ 1,059,931 $ 1,119,311 $ 3,111,963 $ 3,398,729 Subscription, support and maintenance 1,547,832 1,367,387 4,472,638 3,938,247 Professional services and other 177,105 101,060 474,857 579,873 Total revenue 2,784,868 2,587,758 8,059,458 7,916,849 Operating expenses: Cost of sales 464,887 563,236 1,538,866 1,782,603 Sales and marketing 899,668 983,290 2,825,271 2,945,939 Research and development 1,021,182 1,369,196 3,387,024 4,163,889 General and administrative 591,147 699,428 1,891,133 3,241,167 Total operating expenses 2,976,884 3,615,150 9,642,294 12,133,598 Loss from operations (192,016 ) (1,027,392 ) (1,582,836 ) (4,216,749 ) Interest and other (expense) income, net: Interest expense (92,317 ) (22,122 ) (245,107 ) (26,788 ) Foreign exchange (loss) gain 35,643 (16,266 ) (153,867 ) 108,205 Change in fair value of derivative instruments (19,184 ) 4,255 (8,990 ) (897 ) Loss on lease termination - - (8,746 ) - Other income 2,099 2,145 2,799 2,145 Total interest and other (expense) income, net (73,759 ) (31,988 ) (413,911 ) 82,665 Net loss for the period $ (265,775 ) $ (1,059,380 ) $ (1,996,747 ) $ (4,134,084 ) Net loss per share: Basic and diluted $ (0.04 ) $ (0.18 ) $ (0.33 ) $ (0.70 ) Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 6,031,084 5,945,181 5,979,720 5,939,803

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release contains "non-GAAP financial measures". The non-GAAP financial measures in this news release consist of non-GAAP loss from operations which excludes non-cash stock-based compensation relative to loss from operations calculated in accordance with GAAP and non-GAAP net loss which excludes non-cash stock-based compensation, foreign exchange gain (loss) and change in fair value of derivative instruments relative to net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. CounterPath utilizes both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures to assess what it believes to be its core operating performance and to evaluate and manage its internal business and assist in making financial operating decisions. CounterPath believes that the inclusion of non-GAAP financial measures, together with GAAP measures, provides investors with an alternative presentation useful to investors' understanding of CounterPath's core operating results and trends.

Reconciliation to GAAP

(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended January 31, January 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Non-GAAP loss from operations: GAAP loss from operations $ (192,016 ) $ (1,027,392 ) $ (1,582,836 ) $ (4,216,749 ) Plus: Stock-based compensation 187,909 64,817 312,012 404,414 Non-GAAP loss from operations $ (4,107 ) $ (962,575 ) $ (1,270,824 ) $ (3,812,335 )

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended January 31, January 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Non-GAAP net loss: GAAP net loss $ (265,775 ) $ (1,059,380 ) $ (1,996,747 ) $ (4,134,084 ) Plus: Stock-based compensation 187,909 64,817 312,012 404,414 Foreign exchange loss (gain) (35,643 ) 16,266 153,867 (108,205 ) Change in fair value of derivative instruments 19,184 (4,255 ) 8,990 897 Non-GAAP net loss $ (94,325 ) $ (982,552 ) $ (1,521,878 ) $ (3,836,978 ) GAAP net loss per share: Basic and diluted $ (0.04 ) $ (0.18 ) $ (0.33 ) $ (0.70 ) Non-GAAP net loss per share: Basic and diluted $ (0.02 ) $ (0.17 ) $ (0.25 ) $ (0.65 )

SOURCE: CounterPath Corporation





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/580027/CounterPath-Reports-Third-Quarter-Fiscal-2020-Financial-Results




Burma Myanmars Failed Charter Reform Will Soil Militarys Image: Military Proxy MP

Military lawmakers at the Union Parliament on March 11. / Thiha Lwin / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAWA Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) lawmaker expressed concern Wednesday that the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) partys fruitless attempts to change the 2008 Constitution will mar the image of the Myanmar military within the international community.

The Union Parliament began voting on suggested amendments to the military-drafted Constitution on Tuesday but not a single amendment was passed after two days of voting. USDP Lower House lawmaker U Thaung Aye said he is concerned that this will create a negative image of the Myanmar military, which is known as the Tatmadaw.

This will create an impression to a certain extent that the ruling party tried to amend the Constitution but failed due to the lack of cooperation from the Tatmadaw. I am concerned that this will spread not only inside the country but also reach outside the country, he told reporters on Wednesday.

There is a need to settle differing views through negotiations. Nothing will change if we go on like this, he added. Do you want to give the message to the international community that the Tatmadaws influence in Myanmar is so tremendous that even the Constitution cant be amended?

NLD Upper House lawmaker U Aung Kyi Nyunt said he had anticipated that the attempt to change the charter might fail but that the failed attempt was very telling.

Not a single amendment could be made and I interpret this as a very significant finding, said U Aung Kyi Nyunt on Wednesday. We dont feel downhearted. If we are to establish real democracy and federalism, there is great potential if we succeed, and if [the military] can accept amendments step by step. But now, we have an answer: that [the military] does not want even gradual changes.

U Thaung Aye said that the NLD should prioritize improving the standard of living in Myanmar by studying the society and economy rather than amending the Constitution.

If there are restraints imposed by the Constitution on improvements to the living standards of citizens, they should be overcome through consultation between all, he suggested.

On Wednesday, the Union Parliament voted on four amendments proposed by the USDP and 12 amendments proposed by the NLD. No amendment passed as none received the approval of over 75 percent of lawmakers.

Looking at the voting results today, over 85 percent of elected lawmakers voted in favor of the amendments proposed by the NLD. But they could not be enacted. This is quite sad, NLD lawmaker Dr. Hla Moe told reporters on Wednesday.

As the Tatmadaw, the USDP and ethnic parties will continue to hold their stances, it is quite unlikely that an approval by over 75 percent of lawmakers will be achieved in the coming days, said NLD Lower House lawmaker U Tin Tun Naing.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.

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Myanmar Parliament Will Vote on Charter Change Before Election, Speaker Vows

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Members of the United Nations Security Council, with visiting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, convene a meeting on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty at the UN headquarters, February 26, 2020. /AP

Foreign Ministers of China, France, Russia, UK and the U.S. issued a joint statement on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at its 50th anniversary on Tuesday, reaffirming their commitment to the NPT in all its aspects and their full support to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The statement reiterated NPT's role as an "essential foundation," which has made "vital contribution" to stemming the looming threat and serves the interests of all parties.

The NPT, according to the statement, aims to pursuit good faith negotiations on effective measures related to nuclear disarmament, and to realize complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.

"We support the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all," said the statement, claiming that the NPT continues "to help create conditions that would be essential for further progress on nuclear disarmament."

It acknowledged the IAEA has a critical role in NPT implementation in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and applying safeguards and verifying the peaceful uses of nuclear programs.

"We pledge our full and continued support to the IAEA and urge others to do the same," according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the statement also expressed support for broadening access to the benefits of nuclear energy and its applications for peaceful purpose as this "boon to humanity thrives."

"(The Treaty) has helped provide confidence that nuclear programs are and will remain entirely peaceful," said the statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday that the NPT is the essential foundation for the international society to stem nuclear threat and stop nuclear weapons proliferation globally.

The five countries that signed the NPT bear huge responsibility for keeping world peace and stability, Geng told reporters at a daily briefing in Beijing.

China is committed to the NPT and is ready to work with other countries to support the treaty, he said. China calls on efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination to stop nuclear weapons proliferation so as to maintain international order, he added.
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.
Spain's coronavirus outbreak death toll rises to 84

The death toll from coronavirus rose to 84 on Thursday from 47 on Wednesday, the health ministry said, a rise of nearly 80 percent overnight and a threefold increase from Monday.

Spains deathtoll from coronavirus has risen to 84 on Thursday from 47 on Wednesday, the health ministry said.

The ministry reported the number of cases rose to 2,968 up from 2,140 on Wednesday.

PRIME MINISTER WILL HOLD MEETINGS

Schools will shut down for two weeks in Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and Murcia, officials said, adding to a shutdown already in place in the wider Madrid region.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will hold all meetings via video conference starting from Thursday after fellow minister Irene Montero was diagnosed with coronavirus, the government said in a statement.

Monteros partner Pablo Iglesias, who is deputy prime minister, was quarantined and all ministers will be tested on Thursday morning, the statement said. The royal family will also be tested after Queen Letizia recently met with Montero.

The lower house of parliament, already shut, will extend its closure, Cadena Ser radio said. Health Minister Salvador Illa canceled plans to speak in parliament about the coronavirus in what would have been an exception to the suspension.

Sanchez will head a reduced cabinet meeting on Thursday only attended by the ministers whose presence is needed to approve new measures against coronavirus spreading. The cabinet is set to approve a package of measures to mitigate the economic impact of the outbreak.
Researchers from Osaka University and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology show that cancer cells cultured on Matrigel migrate to form a network structure as they do in vivo, and describe the forces responsible

Osaka, Japan - Cancer cells are known to migrate and collaborate to form networks that function as conduits providing access to nutrients and blood vessels. Now, researchers in Japan have generated similar large-scale structures from cancer cells in the laboratory and thus gained a better understanding of the underlying forces and their interactions.

Proliferating cells often cooperate in order to form self-beneficial large-scale structures; these include bacterial biofilms, protective epithelial monolayers or even more complex configurations such as endothelial capillaries. Malignant cells, in a process called vasculogenic mimicry, form structures that facilitate access to nutrients for tumor growth and to blood vessels for metastasis. The biochemical and biophysical mechanisms are not well understood, as this purposive behavior was difficult to reproduce experimentally until now.

In a study published in the Biophysical Journal in March 2020, researchers from Osaka University in collaboration with Advanced ICT Research Institute, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), have demonstrated migration and large-scale structure formation by cancer cells grown on Matrigel substrate, and have developed simple simulated models that reproduce their observations.

The research team first cultured HeLa cells, a strain of epithelial-like cervical cancer cells, on Matrigel, a gelatinous protein mixture resembling the extracellular environment of many tissues, and showed that the cells migrate aggressively and form large-scale structures. This was previously difficult to achieve in vitro as HeLa cells are relatively non-motile on glass. Using time-lapse imaging they analyzed the cell migration patterns and quantified the large-scale structures with a two-point correlation function.

"We observed that HeLa cells first exhibited increased motility on Matrigel, which later decreased after they integrated into a spatially distinct structure," explains Dr. Tokuko Haraguchi, senior researcher at NICT. "We also noted that HeLa cells in close proximity formed bridges between cell aggregates, and that structures were formed in a cell-density dependent manner."

To explain these results, the researchers developed a simulated model in which cells migrate and interact using two distinct forces: remote forces that act at a distance through substrate deformation, and contact forces between cells in physical proximity. By selectively enabling these forces, they modelled the three types of structures formedislands, network-like structures and continentsaccording to cell density.

Tadashi Nakano, lead author, explains the potential implications of their findings. "Cancer cells may rely on vasculogenic mimicry for survival and proliferation," he says. "A complete understanding of this process can, by manipulation of the relevant cell density and force parameters, inhibit these network-like structures. This may have great potential for combating cancer."

###

The article, "Roles of remote and contact forces in epithelial cell structure formation" was published in the Biophysical Journal at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2020.01.037

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

About NICT (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology)

As the only public institution that specializes in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), NICT promotes research and development, comprehensively carries out collaboration with industry, academia, and government and business promotion, etc., and works toward the realization of an affluent, safe and secure society.

Website: https://www.nict.go.jp/en/
India has been ahead of the curve in the battle against coronavirus with non-contact namaste greetings, President Donald Trump said Thursday at a news conference with the visiting Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who is of Indian descent.

The two leaders did not shake hands when they met and when asked by reporters about it, Trump and Varadkar both said they greeted each other other with namaste, without using the word.

I just got back from India and I did not shake any hands there and it was very easy because they go like this, Trump went on to say, putting his hands together in namaste. And he bowed to show how they greet in Japan.

They are ahead of the curve.

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Iran's leading carmaker IKCO halts production due to coronavirus

03/12/20

Source: Press TV

Iran's leading car manufacturer the Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) has decided to halt production at all its plants after reports emerged its workers had contracted coronavirus.

A letter addressed to IKCO workers and managers by the company's human resources deputy on Wednesday said that production lines would start lowering output in the second shift of the day with the aim to cut it to zero in the days leading to the New Year holidays in Iran.

The letter said that the decision had been made to protect the safety of the workers, adding that it had been authorized by IKCO's higher management.

It was not clear how the halt, which is expected to continue until the end of national holidays in late March, would affect the output in IKCO, one of the largest automakers in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Iranian government has introduced some strict and unprecedented measures to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The virus has infected a total of 10,075 people in Iran since February 19 while 429 patients have died and nearly 3,000 have recovered from the disease.



Official Iran's statistics on coronavirus as of March 11th

Infections: 10,075

Deaths: 429

New Cases: 1,075

Recovered: 3,276
PHOENIX - A transgender woman seeking asylum should be released after she was sexually assaulted and harassed while being detained in an Arizona immigration facility with men for nine months, advocates said Thursday.

Alejandra Alor Reyes, who is from Mexico, is suffering from PTSD and should be released on humanitarian grounds while she awaits an appeal in her asylum case, according to several groups, including ACLU of Arizona, Trans Queer Pueblo and Detention Watch Network.

They say her case is a further indication that transgender immigrants face unsafe conditions and that none are being held with members of the gender they identify with.

Reyes, 24, says she fled Mexico after suffering abuse and discrimination because she is transgender. Shortly before presenting herself at an official border crossing to seek asylum, Reyes was kidnapped and beaten, and part of her thumb was cut off, advocates said.

She asked for asylum in June and has been in custody since then, serving two stints one for a month in solitary confinement, according to the advocacy groups.

Supporters are pleading with ICE to release her from custody while she appeals her asylum denial. They say the agency has violated its own polices by placing Reyes in solitary for longer than it should.

ICE continues to fail to address her needs and further harms her by keeping her in custody, said Yvette Borja, an attorney with the ACLU of Arizona.

The Associated Press doesnt typically name people who say they are sex abuse victims, but Reyes and her advocates have gone public with her claims, hoping to bring attention to her case.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it had offered to transfer Reyes to housing for transgender detainees in August but she declined.

ICE is committed to upholding an immigration detention system that prioritizes the health, safety, and welfare of all of those in its care and custody, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts OKeefe wrote.

However, the nations only housing for transgender migrants was located in New Mexico before it closed in January amid long-standing allegations of inadequate medical care and mistreatment.

Asylum-seeker Roxana Hernandez, 33, was held at that facility after making her way to the U.S. from Honduras in 2018. An autopsy by the New Mexico medical examiner showed Hernandez died of a rare disorder that developed quickly due to AIDS. Supporters said she didnt receive the medical care she needed when she became ill. Hernandez died at a hospital.

Advocates estimate there are currently about 90 transgender migrants in immigration detention, all being held with detainees who identify as a different sex.

Theysay transgender inmates face a lack of sufficient medical care and that staff arent trained to deal with whats considered a more vulnerable population.

Reyes, who is being held at a facility about 65 miles (105 kilometres) northwest of Phoenix, knew she was transgender as a child and faced harassment at home for being effeminate.

She ran away when she was 13 and has spent her life fleeing abuse, living on the streets off and on for many years, according to Cyrina King, an immigrant advocate. In detention, Reyes devours romance novels by Isabel Allende while she waits for her appeal.

Reyes is in peril as long as shes detained, advocates say.

We are concerned about her mental health because she has been diagnosed with PTSD. It will lead to mental health deterioration if she is not released, Borja said.
[March 12, 2020] Investor Group Sends Letter to GameStop Board Commenting on Board Refreshment

PITTSBURGH, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hestia Capital Partners LP, Permit Capital Enterprise Fund LP and their affiliates, who beneficially own approximately 7.5% of the outstanding common stock of GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), announced today, after the expiration of a year-long standstill agreement, that they have delivered a letter to GameStop's Board of Directors requesting that they take immediate action to appoint a stockholder representative to the Company's Board of Directors. Kurt Wolf, Managing Partner and GP of Hestia Capital Partners stated, "While we certainly applaud the Board for finally recognizing the need for well-overdue changes to its composition and skillset, we remain concerned with this Board's ability to make positive progress without persistent stockholder engagement from inside the boardroom." John Broderick, a Partner with Permit Capital added, "Now that the Board has announced the addition of three new Board members and the impending retirement of six long-tenured Directors over the next 16 months, we believe there is ample room for a stockholder representative to join this Board." The full text of the letter follows:







Permit Capital LLC Hestia Capital Management LLC 100 Front Street, Suite 900 175 Brickyard Road., Suite 200 West Conshohocken, PA 19428 Adams Township, PA 16046 (p) 610-941-5025 (p) 724.687.7842 [email protected] [email protected]

March 12, 2020 Sent via Email The Board of Directors

GameStop Corp.

625 Westport Parkway

Grapevine, TX 76051 Dear Members of the Board: Permit Capital Enterprise Fund LP ("Permit") and Hestia Capital Partners LP ("Hestia"), together with their affiliates ("we"), are long-term stockholders of GameStop Corp. ("GameStop" or the "Company"), collectively owning approximately 7.5% of the outstanding stock. Permit and Hestia formed an investment group in 2019 for the purpose of constructively engaging with the Company to address numerous concerns about the Company's underperformance, which we believe is deeply rooted in this Board's poor governance. In early April 2019, we entered into a Cooperation Agreement (the "Agreement") with the Company that has effectively muted our voice and prevented us from expressing our increasing concerns publicly. Now that the Agreement has ended (and our ability to speak publicly has been restored), we want to be sure the Board and our fellow stockholders understand that we believe it is imperative for the Company to add a stockholder representative to the Board. Although the pending departure of four long-tenured directors, along with the appointment of three accomplished new Board members is a step in the right direction, we note that no Director on the Board will own a meaningful stake in the equity of GameStop. In fact, after the Board changes, no independent Director will own more than 86,000 shares, which is equal to approximately $355,000, or roughly 1.3x the Board's annual fees. Stockholders have lost 85% of the value of their investment over the last five years. In our view, professional managers simply do not have the same perspective as those of us that have suffered this loss and continue to be invested in the Company. Moreover, as shown in the table below, a majority of positive changes over the past fourteen months appear to have come only as a result of stockholder pressure. Recent Stockholder Demands Company Response May 16, 2018: Julian Robertson's Tiger Management sends open letter urging the Board to undertake a strategic review, and specifically sell the Technology Brands division (among other changes) January 16, 2019: GameStop sells Spring Mobile (the major business within Technology Brands) for $700M February 12, 2019: Hestia writes a public letter to the Board, urging it to seek efficiencies and cost savings in SG&A (among other changes) April 2, 2019: GameStop announces that it will undertake an effort to achieve operating profit improvements of approximately $100M March 13, 2019: Permit and Hestia write a public letter to the Company urging the Board to add new Directors with the requisite skills to help lead GameStop's turnaround efforts March 28, 2019: Permit and Hestia nominate four highly qualified candidates to GameStop's Board April 24, 2019: GameStop appoints Raul Fernandez and Liz Dunn to its Board of Directors February 12, 2019: Hestia's public letter urges the Company to repurchase a meaningful amount of stock through a tender offer, noting the Company is severely undervalued June 6, 2019: Permit and Hestia send a private letter to the Board regarding poor performance, urging the Company to repurchase shares in the wake of a precipitous stock price decline after the Company reported weak results and eliminated its dividend June 10, 2019: Company announces intent to launch a tender offer for up to 12 million shares of its stock. The Company ultimately repurchases 12 million shares for $62.4M July 22, 2019: Permit and Hestia write an email to the Company stating that, "(s)o long as the company continues to own, and regularly use, a corporate jet, it is hard for stockholders to believe that their interests are being taken seriously." December 11, 2019: Company files its third quarter 2019 10-Q, listing its corporate jet as a $12.8M asset held for sale, after taking a $7.7M impairment on the asset, as of November 2, 2019. The previous 10-Q, which covered the period ending August 3, 2019, did not list the jet as an asset held for sale August 16, 2019: Well-regarded investor (and 3% GameStop stockholder) Michael Burry sends a public letter to the Board urging the Company to complete its remaining $237.6M share buyback authorization December 11, 2019: Company files its third quarter 2019 10-Q, showing the repurchase of 22.6M shares at an average price of $5.11 between September 1, 2019 and November 2, 2019 September 12, 2019: Permit and Hestia send a private letter to the Board, urging Board members to purchase shares individually to "fulfill the obligations set forth under the Company's stock ownership guidelines" and to "reinforce the Board's confidence in the future." September 20 - September 30, 2019: Five Directors purchase almost 97,000 shares between September 17 and September 27, 2019; representing the first purchases by any of the current eleven Directors in over nine years April 2019 - Present: During the span of Permit and Hestia's Agreement, we have repeatedly called on the Board to engage with stockholders to refresh the Board to avoid the likelihood that stockholders pursue a proxy fight in order to drive needed change March 9, 2020: Three days before Permit and Hestia's Agreement is set to expire, the Board announces plans to add three new Directors and have four long-tenured Directors retire. Two additional Directors have agreed to leave the Board over the following 16 months, essentially creating three open vacancies on the Board In our opinion, a well-functioning Board addresses issues proactively, not reactively after stockholders are exasperated enough to express their concerns to the Board. We believe a fully-aligned stockholder representative can make an enormous difference in the boardroom by advocating on behalf of all GameStop stockholders on a regular basis. On March 10, 2020, we spoke with CEO George Sherman in a final attempt to persuade the Board to change its previous stance and consider the appointment of a stockholder representative to the Board. Mr. Sherman indicated that the Board had not seriously considered our (oft-repeated) recommendation because they did not believe that the skills of a stockholder were a top priority for the Board. We believe the Board's history of passivity and value destruction prove otherwise. We wholeheartedly believe that the difference between the Company's current share price (in the low $4s) and the intrinsic value of GameStop, which we believe is in the high teens, will only be realized if the Company is properly governed. The opportunity for value creation is so enormous that we must continue to advocate for stockholder representation on the Board. As has been the case for over a year, we stand ready to try to work with the Board to address the need for stockholder representation on the Board. We look forward to continuing the dialogue which was restarted over the past couple of days with George regarding stockholder representation. If we cannot convince the Board that adding a representative of a large stockholder is valuable, we are prepared to nominate candidates for election to the Board at this year's annual meeting. Sincerely,







John Broderick





Kurtis J. Wolf Partner





Managing Member of the GP Permit Capital Enterprise Fund LP





Hestia Capital Partners, LP CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS Hestia Capital Partners LP ("Hestia LP") and Permit Capital Enterprise Fund, L.P. ("Permit Enterprise"), together with the other participants named herein (collectively, the "Stockholder Group"), intend to file a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying WHITE proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to be used to solicit votes for the election of its slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders of GameStop Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). THE STOCKHOLDER GROUP STRONGLY ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS, INCLUDING A PROXY CARD, AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS' PROXY SOLICITOR. The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be Hestia LP, Hestia Capital Management, LLC ("Hestia LLC"), Kurtis J. Wolf, Permit Enterprise, Permit Capital, LLC ("Permit LLC"), Permit Capital GP, L.P. ("Permit GP"), and John C. Broderick. As of the date hereof, Hestia LP beneficially owns directly 906,600 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company. Hestia LLC, as the general partner of Hestia LP, may be deemed to beneficially own the 906,600 shares of Common Stock of the Company directly owned by Hestia LP and an additional 394,500 shares of Common Stock of the Company held in certain separately managed accounts. Mr. Wolf, as the Managing Member of Hestia LLC, may be deemed to beneficially own the 906,600 shares of Common Stock of the Company directly owned by Hestia LP and an additional 394,500 shares of Common Stock of the Company held in certain separately managed accounts. In addition, Mr. Wolf is deemed to beneficially own 21,400 shares of Common Stock that are beneficially owned directly by Mr. Wolf, his wife and various trusts for the benefit of his children. As of the date hereof, Permit Enterprise beneficially owns directly 3,053,536 shares of Common Stock. Permit GP, as the general partner of Permit Enterprise, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,053,536 shares of Common Stock of the Company directly owned by Permit Enterprise. Permit LLC, as the investment manager of Permit Enterprise, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,053,536 shares of Common Stock of the Company directly owned by Permit Enterprise. John C. Broderick, as a Partner of Permit LLC with sole voting and dispositive power over such shares, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,053,536 shares of Common Stock of the Company directly owned by Permit Enterprise. In addition, Mr. Broderick beneficially owns directly 576,645 shares of Common Stock of the Company, which includes 3,825 shares of Common Stock of the Company that are beneficially owned directly by his wife. Contacts:

Kurt Wolf at 724-687-7842

John Broderick at 610-941-5025 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/investor-group-sends-letter-to-gamestop-board-commenting-on-board-refreshment-301022237.html SOURCE Hestia Capital Management, LLC; Permit Capital Enterprise Fund, L.P.

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By now, we are all aware of the symptoms of the deadly COVID-19 aka coronavirus but a lot of us still don't the extent of the damaging effects the virus has on human beings.

Those who have fallen ill are reported to have had cough, cold, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, there can be organ failure and recovery depends on the strength of the immune system.



X Ray of Chinese man who died of Coronavirus/Mail Online

To give you some perspective on just how the virus affects the body, here are some X-ray images and CT scans including those of a Chinese man, 44, who died from coronavirus.

The above image is of a 44-year-old man who worked at the Wuhan seafood market thought to be the origin of the outbreak,

Reports state that the scans show patches in the lungs and the experts' findings could lead to a quicker diagnosis and help to prevent infections. In the 44-year-old man's case fluid in the spaces of the man's lungs became more pronounced over time, as evident when comparing image A to image F.

According to Mail Online, the man was admitted to hospital on December 25, 2019 after suffering from fever and cough for almost two weeks. Doctors diagnosed the man with pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The CT scan above is of a 54-year-old woman who tested positive after visiting Wuhan, China, the initial epicentre of the global outbreak. It shows white patches in her lungs.

As per reports, the abnormalities are known as ground-glass opacity, or fluid in the spaces in the lungs, and they were more pronounced in later scans.

The woman was diagnosed with severe pneumonia caused by the virus after suffering from a fever, cough, fatigue and chest congestion for a week .

MailOnline

The image above is of another 45-year-old woman from Sichuan Province in China who tested positive for COVID-19. The X-Ray shows white patches in her chest and a "reversed halo sign" was observed in the left upper lobe, the medical journal Radiology reported.

The 'ground glass opacities', or patches, became denser over time, and the patterns were similar to those found in patients who contracted SARS or MERS.

For now, India has imposed stringent travel curbs to the country as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic with more than 118,000 confirmed cases and 4,291 deaths in 114 countries. Indias count of infected people is 62 with no confirmed deaths so far from the disease.
The ongoing review of the Presidential Amnesty Programme by the Federal Government is to institutionalize and refocus the programme for the interest of its beneficiaries.

This is in line with President Muhammadu Buharis determination to deliver gains of the Amnesty Programme through a transparent process that ensures all allocated resources are judiciously utilized, as the success of the programme lies on transformation of ex-agitators from militancy to actualizing their aspirations, engaging in businesses and living sustainable livelihood.

This is why the programme focuses on education, vocational training and empowerment, all designed to address issues of development in the Niger Delta. There is however growing concern that the reintegration component of the programme may have been frustrated by corruption and lack of accountability. This must stop for the benefit of beneficiaries and the Niger Delta.

While the PAP which was initiated on June 25, 2009 has contributed to stability in the Niger Delta, there have been persistent calls by stakeholders for a review of the programme to achieve its objective of sustaining peace, security and human capital development in the region.

More than 10 years after its creation amidst numerous petitions and allegations of corruption which are being investigated, available data point to a systemic problem with the programme structure which permits abuse of processes. The situation is in direct conflict with the Federal Governments resolve to address the root causes of under-development in the Niger Delta conflict that necessitated the Amnesty Programme.

In order to protect all beneficiaries and ensure that no one is left behind, Government is reviewing the propramme to make it work better for human capital and socio-economic development, as well as empowerment of the region and its people.

As the PAP works to review the programme, stakeholders from the region will play a critical role, and the guiding principle is mainstreaming and institutionalization. There is a clear commitment to reform the programme in such a way that the benefits are channeled through a transparent, accountable, corrupt-free and institutionalized process.

The Amnesty Programme as structured does not deliver long term benefit to the targeted beneficiaries in the Niger Delta region and for a successful review of the programme, PAP will count on the support of all beneficiaries and stakeholders through the consultative processes already in place.

All students under the programme at home and abroad are assured that the review process will not affect their academic activities. Efforts are being made to ensure that genuine stipends are paid regularly and all genuine contractual claims settled.
Queensland's former chief scientist could be jailed for defrauding the government of about $75,000.

Suzanne Miller pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday over fraud committed while she was employed by the Queensland Museum between February 2014 and July 2017.

Suspended Queensland chief scientist Suzanne Miller pleaded guilty over fraud relating to her use of a state government-funded credit card and to dishonestly gaining private health insurance worth $45,000. Credit:AAP

The Scottish-born professor was first charged by the Crime and Corruption Commission in 2017 with fraud valued about $45,000.

It related to a fraudulent claim for private health insurance.
STRATFORD  More than 300 people in Stratford have been told to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 after a Wilcoxson Elementary School student tested positive for the virus, it was announced Thursday.

All schools in town will be closed effective Friday as a precautionary measure, officials said at a press conference at Town Hall.

Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson said schools are expected to be closed for 14 to 17 days.

She said that given how intertwined the school community is, its the best action to take at this time to keep all of our students and our families at home safe.

The student who tested positive had contact with someone who had coronavirus, although that person was not another Stratford resident, according to Bernice Bova, a registered nurse and the towns public health nursing supervisor.

They declined to say whether the person was a Connecticut resident.

The Stratford student, who is currently recovering at home, is the first child in the state to test positive for the virus, officials said, although they declined to release the childs age or gender.

We are asking that all students and staff who work or attend Wilcoxson Elementary School to remain home, to self-monitor for the next 14 days, said Andrea Boissevain, the towns health director.

Boissevain said this does not apply to any other schools at this time.

Wilcoxson had an enrollment of 389 students as of last month. The school closed earlier this week because of the suspected case of coronavirus.

Boissevain said the decision to close all public schools in town was made out of an abundance of caution. Contact tracing will take several days to complete and our main objective is to keep residents safe and slow the spread of the virus.

Robinson said school officials are looking into requirements to determine how to administer distance learning while students are at home.

Boissevain said the town doesnt know whether any other residents have been symptomatic, nor was she able to say if any additional residents in Stratford are being tested for coronavirus.

Mayor Laura Hoydick said some upcoming government meetings would likely be canceled.

If its non-essential, then were asking that the chairmen delay or postpone, she said.

The town has set up a page on its website to share information at www.townofstratford.com/coronavirus. Officials asked residents with questions to email health@townofstratford.com.

General questions about the virus can also be directed to Connecticut hot lines at Yale Health, 203-432-6604, and Hartford Healthcare, 860-972-8100 or by calling 211.
A 1958 memorandum of understanding designates who pays to move pipes for road widening projects  the utility or the Maryland State Highway Administration  depending on whether each stretch of land first had pipes or a road. If one agency or the other had prior claim to the land, the other one pays, according to the agreement.
New York, March 12 : Following his sentencing to 23 years in prison, Hollywoods disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein has returned to Bellevue Hospital here due to chest pains.

Rikers Island prison staff decided to send Weinstein back to Bellevue "for safety" and "he will be evaluated and likely will stay overnight", a spokesperson for Weinstein told hollywoodreporter.com.

"We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections officers and staff," said his representative.

Weinstein had previously gone to Bellevue when he experienced high blood pressure and heart palpitations, and was transferred to Rikers after having a heart procedure.

Weinstein will spend 23 years in a New York State prison after being sentenced by Supreme Court Judge James Burke. The judgment came on Wednesday. He was convicted on February 24 of committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape. The sentencing ends 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. Judge Burke, before issuing his sentence, told Weinstein that he will be formally registered as a sex offender.

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".
Q. I bought a house in December 2016 and I expect to sell it in June 2020 for $745,000. Im moving to North Carolina for a job. The exemptions for the exit tax confuse me, including the line that says you must have used the home that was sold as your primary residence for two out of the last five years. I havent had the home that long, and I file taxes married filing jointly.

 Moving

A. Congratulations on the new job.

On your move, taxwise, you should be okay.

The State of New Jersey follows the federal government when it comes to the sale on a home.

Internal Revenue Code Section 121 gives an exclusion of up to $250,000 of capital gain from the sale of your main home or $500,000 if your filing status is married filing jointly, said Cynthia Fusillo, a certified public accountant with Lassus Wherley, a subsidiary of Peapack-Gladstone Bank, in New Providence.

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There are two tests to qualify, she said. One is for ownership and the other is for use.

You must have owned your home, and used it as your main home, for a period totaling at least two of the most recent five years immediately prior to the sale date, Fusillo said. Based on the fact pattern you provided, you should be eligible to exclude the expected gain on the sale of your home.

She said you will have to report the sale on your tax return for the year of sale based upon the expected sale price.

However, the resulting gain, if falling within the $250,000/$500,000 parameters, will not be taxed, she said.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
(Newser)  With the State Department warning Americans not to travel by cruise ship, two cruise lines are temporarily shutting down. Viking Cruises announced Thursday that it would suspend all operations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. It's "what is best for our guests and our employees," Chairman Torstein Hagen said in a letter to passengers, noting 29 passengers aboard a Southeast Asia river cruise had been quarantined after exposure to the virus, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Continuing to operate "involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions," Hagen said, noting major ports are being restricted or closed altogether. Carnival's Princess Cruiseswhose Diamond Princess and Grand Princess ships were recently quarantined off the coasts of Japan and San Franciscoquickly followed suit, per CNBC.

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Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz said the "bold action" to dock its 18 ships until at least May 10 was meant "to reassure our loyal guests, team members, and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us." Current passengers will have until Tuesday to disembark. The company is offering full credit on a future trip to anyone booked on a cruise before the end of May, per the New York Times. The outlet reports other cruise linesincluding some operated by Carnivalare setting sail as scheduled after agreeing to "enhance their entry and exit screenings, establish shipboard testing for the coronavirus, [and] coordinate new quarantine standards for all ships with the CDC." (Princess Cruises is already facing a lawsuit.)
The polisario is living a nightmare these days in Geneva as members of the sahraoui population living in the Tindouf camps made the trip to the European capital to reveal the truth about the everyday life in these camps where abuse and torture are common practice.

Last week, Sahrawi activist & human rights defender, El Fadel Breika, denounced, before the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, the repression and serious abuses committed by the Polisario against the inhabitants of the Tindouf camps and urged the world human rights watchdog to hold Algeria accountable for these abuses, as Algerian intelligence and security services were accomplices in such acts.

Echoing him this week, Polisario dissident Mrs. Lemaadla Zroug denounced before the UNHRC ongoing 43rd session the ordeal of the families of missing Sahrawis.

She underlined the years-long sufferings of her own family since her father, Mohammed Salem Zroug, was kidnapped by Polisario militias few months before she was born and was reportedly tortured to death.

Till now, Polisario leaders continue to refuse to tell Zrougs family where their loved one was buried, she deplored, noting that hundreds of Sahrawi families were suffering from the dispearance of their members whose fate remains unknown.

Despite the efforts made by the families of the victims to know the whereabouts of missing persons, we have not received any information from the High Commissioner for Refugees, Algeria or the Polisario leaders although some of the separatist leaders admitted to committing these crimes, said Mrs. Zroug.

The Sahrawi activist condemned in this connection the silence and lack of responsiveness from international bodies and NGOs, particularly the High Commissioner for Refugees and the Human Rights Council regarding the horrific crimes perpetrated by the Polisario in the Tindouf camps.

She added that the armed militias of the Polisario are emboldened by the absence of accountability prevailing in these camps as the host country (Algeria) refuses to shoulder its legal responsibilities in a blatant violation of international charters and as the international community holds no one to account.

She insisted that the silence of the international community on these violations encourages their perpetrators to carry on their criminal practices, and urged all international bodies to pressure the host country to honor its international obligations towards the Sahrawi populations on its soil.

The testimonies of El Fadel Breika and Lemaadla Zroug revealed to the world the truth of what is going on in the Tindouf camps, debunking the allegations of the Polisario and its Algerian mentors that reports on human rights abuses in the camps are a mere Moroccan propaganda.
(Newser)  Tom Hanks is now the world's most famous coronavirus patient. The actor and wife Rita Wilson have been diagnosed with the virus in Queensland, Australia, where he was set to start filming a Baz Luhrmann movie about Elvis Presley on Monday, Deadline reports. "We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too," Hanks said on Instagram. "To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the Coronavirus, and were found to be positive." We "will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires," Hanks said, adding: "Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?" Hanks, who will play Elvis manager Colonel Tom Parker in the movie, and Wilson are both 63 years old.

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Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said anybody who was in close contact with Hanks and Wilson should put themselves in self-quarantine, though she added that fans who posed for selfies are probably safe, the Guardian reports. Other celebrities offered the couple support after the news broke, reports the New York Times. "Ok, now we all have someone we love diagnosed with #coronavirus," tweeted Ann Curry. Chet Hanks, the couple's son, said they were not too worried, People reports. "I just got off the phone with them. They both are fine," he said on Instagram. "Theyre not even that sick. Theyre not worried about it. Theyre not trippin but theyre going through the necessary health precautions obviously." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
Ajit Balakrishnan offers a thinking man's guide to the angst of the professions.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

I stare stupefied at headlines like these: One from last June said, 800,000 doctors in India on strike 'demanding better working conditions'; this one from November: Bar Council of India calls for a lawyers's strike across all courts in Delhi protesting 'brutal police action' and another from last December: Delhi University teachers's association calls for indefinite strike 'demanding absorption of temporary teachers'.

As a product of an Indian middle class family in which my father and grandfather were doctors, my uncles, aunts and cousins were either lawyers, college professors or engineers, we were the envy of other families.

They were all looked up to and admired and much sought after in the arranged marriage market, that uniquely Indian test of the worth of an individual.

Try as I could, I could not even remotely imagine any of them going on strike to achieve anything in life.

'Going on strike' was what millworkers and 'head-load workers' did. As doctors, lawyers, professors and engineers, they saw themselves being paid well above most others in India. If they needed some pay fixes to be done, all that was needed was for a few of them to whisper in the ears of the chief minister or secretaries to government and swift action would follow.

These professions were what India's middle class youth aspired to and worked hard to win in the very competitive exams that opened the doors to these careers.

These professions remained stoically prestigious and respected even as India went through its various economic experiments -- from being a State-led economy to a free market-led one -- not to mention political experiments (from the Congress to Left to social group-based parties) and social experiments (the rise of women as chief ministers and heads of large financial institutions).

One can't but think of the various stages that these professions have gone through in the past 50 years.

Around Independence any worthwhile doctor, lawyer, academic or engineer went to England for an advanced degree paid for from family funds, and came back to enjoy a secure, prestigious life.

In the 1960s, as the Indian university system expanded, graduates in these professions emigrated to the United States or England or Australia where the shortages of such professionals created a booming demand. Life in these professions looked safe till quite recently.

What then has happened?

The attack against doctors does not seem to be unique to India. According to an analysis in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry, studies of violence against doctors in the US show that 57 per cent of emergency care workers have been threatened with a weapon, in the UK, 52 per cent doctors reported some kind of violence and similar or higher numbers are reported for China, Israel, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Elliott Krause, distinguished professor of sociology at Northeastern University in the United States, analyses the challenges that modern professions (medicine, law, teaching and engineering make up 60 per cent of all professions) face as arising from their true nature. They are, he says, trade guilds.

He says that like the medieval guilds of weavers and spinners these professions and their associations work to create a mystery of their craftsmanship and operate as a pressure group where the economic motive of establishing a corporate monopoly was primary.

He concludes in his book, Death of the Guilds, that though these professions were all powerful in the past, with the rise of consumer activism in the last decade there is much lower empathy towards these professions among policymakers and a greater focus on the efficiency and quality of the services they provide.

Media coverage of the doctors's strike has focused on relatives of patients launching physical attacks on them, coverage of the lawyers's strike on the high-handedness of the police and the coverage of the teachers strike on their desire to be made permanent employees.

I can't help but draw a parallel with events in Bombay in the 1980s when suddenly a spate of strikes across the several dozen textiles mills in the city dominated the news headlines.

At that time, the strikes were portrayed as the outcome of workers's 'unreasonable' demands for higher wages led by the 'militant' union leader Datta Samant.

Within a year, 80-odd of these mills had shut down leaving 250,000 workers without jobs.

With the passage of time we are able to more clearly see what really happened. The advent of nylon and polyester had made the cotton fabric mills of Bombay unprofitable -- the mill owners could barely pay the wages of their labour, let alone give them increases and bonuses.

The real villain was not Datta Samant, but the advent of new technology in the form of synthetic fibres.

Just as the advent of synthetic fibres made clothing affordable for all, massive investments are under way, using deep learning and artificial intelligence to automate many parts of the work that professionals do.

In the medical field, AI techniques are showing promising results in disease detection (eg, detection of metastatic breast cancer in lymph node tissue), in the legal field (in contract review and litigation outcome prediction) and Harvard university already has a course on digital humanities.

These advances make it likely that medical care, legal and educational services will become very much more affordable than they are today, but may affect the earning power of these professions.

It is probably an urgent necessity that machine learning algorithm skills be made part of the curricula in medical colleges, law schools, engineering disciplines as well as for undergraduate courses even in commerce and the humanities. This will enable young Indians to step forward into the emerging world with confidence.

Ajit Balakrishnan, (ajitb@rediffmail.com), founder and CEO of Rediff.com, is an Internet entrepreneur and chaired a committee set up by the ministry of human resource development on education and entrepreneurship last year to provide inputs for the National Education Policy.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:03:57|Editor: xuxin

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MANILA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines raised on Thursday the COVID-19 alert level to code red sub-level 2, with land, domestic sea and air travel to and from Metro Manila to be suspended from March 15 to April 14.

In an address to the nation, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced drastic measures in a bid to arrest the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Philippines has reported 52 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with two deaths.

Duterte announced that land, domestic air and domestic sea travel to and from Metro Manila will be suspended from March 15 until April 14, subject to daily review of the government.

He also said classes in Metro Manila are suspended until April 12.

Duterte urged the people not to panic, follow the orders of government and practice social distancing.
With the worsening of coronavirus spread dealing a body blow to financial markets and marking down global growth forecast with each passing day, India's economic recovery from one of its worst slowdowns too is likely to be delayed by a couple of quarters.

Economists said the impact of the virus would be felt across the sectors except for agriculture, for now. They said oil price decline and a supply glut at a time when India was facing a slowdown in demand, could do no good to the country.

Equity markets suffered their worst single-day losses and stock indices slipped into bear territory on Thursday, which led the rupee moving close hitting a record low. Investors fled to safe-haven and holdings gold-backed exchange-traded funds hitting an all-time high.

To calm the frayed nerves, the Reserve Bank of India decided to sell $2 billion worth of dollars to banks and infuse liquidity in the domestic forex market roiled by concerns over virus pandemic.

The central bank said it stood ready to take all necessary measures to ensure that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian economy are mitigated, and financial markets and institutions in India continue to function normally. Experts saw credit crunch and oil collapse opening the doors for deeper rate cuts by RBI.

The finance ministry held a series of meetings internally and with the officials of Prime Minister's Office, to keep ready a fiscal plan if need be. Bankers were asked keep a vigil that lending activities were not affected.

Assuming that India could be a major winner from oil price crash is an extremely short term view, N R Bhanumurthy, senior professor at NIPFP told DH, adding a weaker rupee could wrack a havoc through various channels.

A weaker rupee could affect companies with higher dollar debts, capital-intensive sectors, firms with foreign currency borrowings and those importing raw materials heavily.

Of the 10 economists polled by DH, at least seven were of the view that the economic recovery could not be expected before June quarter. One said it could take at least one year.

Govinda Rao said Corona could hit the GDP growth by 50 basis points in this quarter and saw no meanigful recovery till banking, labour and land reforms were conducted.

The immediate impact of the calamity was seen on travel and tourism sector with the umber of international passengers arriving at the country's airports has come down to around 62,000 per day from 70,000. The count come down to around 40,000 following the travel advisory issued on Wednesday, according to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri

The second round impact will be felt when the airlines declare their earnings of the current quarter.

Industry players said the halt on travel, tourism and aviation industries could have an immediate economic impact of at least Rs 8,500 crore.

Industry body CII said many small and mid-sized hotels, resorts and car rental companies are shutting down operations and asking staff to go on leave without pay.

Assocham saw job losses across the sectors but could not immediately gave an estimate.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Donald Trump talk to journalists before their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The number of people with the new coronavirus in the Republic has jumped to 70 after another 27 people were diagnosed with the infection.

This comes just hours after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that schools, colleges, childcare facilities and other public facilities are to close and restrictions put in place on public gatherings in a bid to counter the coronavirus outbreak.

A massive 22 of the new cases are due to local transmission and two are linked to community transmission with no known source.

Three people picked up the infection abroad.

Six patients are now seriously ill in intensive care units, including three of the new cases.

The massive increase in cases led to a crisis meeting last night and roll out of drastic measures today as the country moved into the delay phase in fighting the infection.

Speaking in Washington DC this morning, Mr Varadkar announced a major escalation in the Irish government's efforts to counter the spread of the virus.

The measures come into effect at 6pm on Thursday and will be in effect until March 29.

I know that some of this is coming as a real shock and it's going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives, he said.

He said the Irish economy will suffer, but will bounce back.

All indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people should be cancelled and all outdoor gatherings of 500 people or more should be cancelled.

Public transport will still operate and businesses can remain open, but where possible people should work from home and people should limit interactions as much as possible.

Public transport will continue to operate, the shops will remain open, and we have plans to ensure that supply chains will not be interrupted. We need public and businesses to take a sensible level headed and responsible approach. during this difficult time, Mr Varadkar said.

Mr Varadkar said there will be many more cases, more people will get sick. Unfortunately, we must face the tragic reality that some people will die.

He said: The virus is all over the world. It will continue to spread but it can be slowed. Its impact can be reduced, making it easier for our health service to cope and giving our scientists more time to develop better testing, treatments and a vaccine.

Mr Varadkar said it was important to state that the effects will be mild for the majority of people, especially the young and healthy but that older people with chronic illnesses are at risk.

We've not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory and we're in unchartered territory."

Mr Varadkar was speaking ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House later on Thursday. He did not take questions from the media.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney says the measures to tackle coronavirus are unprecedented but absolutely necessary and justified.

He said theyre to protect the most vulnerable and that the irony is that to pull together as a country we are asking people to stay apart.

Mr Coveney said there will be a thousand questions about what the State is asking of its people.

He said the Cabinet is meeting today and over the next 48 hours ministers will give briefings on their individual sectors - social protection, jobs and enterprise, agriculture, food, retail and education.

He said: There will be questions which won't have immediate answers.

He said the measures put in place are asking a lot of our country and its people.

We will work with them and indeed with other political parties to, to try to make sure that everybody is informed, and that we make the best decisions in the interests of people's public health, and in a way that's transparent and open.

He continued to say: This is about a collective national response that involves everybody, rich and poor, urban and rural, young and old, the vulnerable and not so vulnerable...

"The actions are being taken to protect the vulnerable  15pc or 20pc of people who are very vulnerable to the spread and everybody needs to play their part in that.

If we have a collective national response thenwe will we will save, potentially thousands of lives.

Health Minister Simon Harris said the protective measures are proportionate and focused solely on protecting public health.

He said it is necessary to close all schools, creches and universities from tomorrow. If you can work from home you should do so.

The Mater said it regrets the impact that this will have on our patients but these new arrangements are necessary in order to deal with the impact of Covid-19. Patients whose appointments are being deferred will be contacted by phone.

Our staff across every part of the hospital are carrying out trojan work around the clock to deal with the virus, care for those infected and to protect and care for other patients in the hospital. The Mater Hospital is employing all infection control measures and every effort is being made to manage and control the spread of the virus.

Visitor restrictions remain in place for public and patient safety. The only visitors who are allowed on campus are those who are visiting patients in critical care, vulnerable young adults, or those whose loved ones are receiving end of life care.

No children are permitted to visit the hospital under any circumstances.

We thank the public and our patients for their cooperation at this time.

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Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said doctors are now being told to widen the net for testing to include more patients who have severe acute respiratory illness or who have been diagnosed with pneumonia either in hospital or in the community.

It follows yesterdays tragic death of an older woman who suffered from serious underlying illnesses and tested positive for the virus.

The frail patient who died is understood to have been treated in Naas General Hospital for some time before being tested as she had not been abroad and the source of her infection was unknown.

Dr Holohan extended his condolences to her family and he appealed to the public to follow health advice.

He said there has been a significant increase in coronavirus cases in Ireland in recent days.

He said there have been a number of intensive care unit admissions.



Mr Holohan has said that the measures taken will not prevent an increase in coronavirus cases, but are aimed at slowing them.



Mr Holohan said the aim of school closures is so that children dont spread the virus to the elderly or people who are particularly vulnerable.

The figures were based on yesterdays toll of cases and more news on more people testing positive is expected today.

Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland

Mr Holohan said there is a clear recommendation that indoor social gatherings of more than 100 people should be cancelled.

Asked about weddings he says the expectation would be that people dont proceed with such events.



Business minister Heather Humphreys says she has spoken to retailers and there are no concerns over the supply chain.



On panic buying, Mr Holohan says stocking up shouldnt be necessary.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for Spain warning against all non-essential travel to Madrid, La Rioja and Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque country.

Around 2,300 people have been tested for the virus so far but this is now to dramatically rise as more labs in Cork, Waterford and Limerick take on work.

Hundreds of hospital appointments for patients in need of surgery or a specialist appointment continued to be cancelled yesterday.

St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin has issued an appeal to members of the public, such as retired nurses, who could provide support to come forward as the expected surge in patients suffering severe illness from the virus will put a strain on staff who may need to self-isolate.

The qualifications they are planning for include medical, nursing, auxiliary nurses, administrative staff, security and catering staff.

One of the biggest sporting organisations for children in the country has cancelled all training, competitions and friendly matches until further notice.

The Dublin and District Schoolboys League said the ban on activities, which will affect tens of thousands of primary and secondary school boys and girls in Dublin and surrounding counties, takes effect immediately.
Hakuhodo, which was founded in 1895, is one of the few agencies in India that offers communication and business solutions to clients, not through specialist silos.

As part of expanding growth strategy in India, Hakuhodo INC, Japans second-largest advertising company has acquired AdGlobal360 (AGL) for an undisclosed sum, the company stated.

Adglobal360 was ranked as the fastest-growing MarTech Company in 2019 by Deloitte.

AdGlobal360 is Hakuhodos first acquisition in India as it seeks to enhance its technology and digital footprint.

Welcoming AdGlobal360 to the Hakuhodo Group, Nobuaki Kondo, President of Hakuhodo International, said, We are very happy to welcome longtime partner AGL into the Hakuhodo family. We look forward to working even more closely with AGL, as our companies learn from each other and strive toward offering the best digital marketing solutions to clients in India."

Hakuhodo, which was founded in 1895, is one of the few agencies in India that offers communication and business solutions to clients, not through specialist silos, but by integrating skill sets into a single structure, Kondo said.

"Our strategic focus on satisfying client needs in India will continue alongside initiatives such as AGL, he added.

Founded in 2009, AdGlobal360 is headquartered in Gurugram in Haryana with a current employee strength of over 460. The company offers end to end digital solutions to a plethora of brands across industries.

Confirming the deal, Rakesh Yadav, CEO of AdGlobal360, said, We believe client-agency partnership of the future will not just be a story of integrating communication and customer touch-points, but also in seamlessly integrating marketing with the clients technology infrastructure. This is what is going to make insights more meaningful and actionable. This is a common vision we share with Hakuhodo.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the death of a Delhi Police head constable during clashes over the new citizenship law in northeast district last month, police said on Thursday.

Head constable Ratan Lal died of bullet injuries in the clashes in Gokalpuri on February 24.

"Seven people have been arrested in Ratan Lal's case. It emerged during investigation that the spot where the incident took place was the venue for an anti-CAA protest. In the fateful day, a conspiracy was hatched to attack police," a senior Delhi Police official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sometimes people on reality television insist theyve been given a bad edit. But chief stew Jenna MacGillivray from Below Deck Sailing Yacht shares that the latest group of Long Island bros were exactly how they were represented on the show (and maybe even worse).

Below Deck Sailing Yacht | Photo courtesy of Bravo

The all-male group of charter guests barreled their way onto the show, pounding shots and hunting for the ladies. They insisted on making inappropriate sexually explicit comments in front of the female stews. One guest forcibly lifted second stew Madison Stalker up and down against her will. She asked him to put her down, which took him some time before he complied.

The brash group of guests were a major topic of discussion on Twitter during the last episode. It appears the guys will be featured again on an upcoming episode and it doesnt seem like their behavior gets much better.

Were these guests really that bad?

Viewers were aghast at the behavior and asked if they were really as bad as they seemed on the show. MacGillivray replied to a Twitter comment. Yes in my opinion they are just as bad as they presented, if not worse, she shared.

She added, Last nights #BelowDeckSailing : my least favourite charter guests ever. I have never believed that anyone can do what they want because they paid for the yacht. And if I, or any other crew member is hurt in any way, I have no issues telling them to f**k off.

Shortly after the episode, Stalker, deckhand Parker McCown, and stew Georgia Grobler had dinner with some of the guests. MacGillivray capped off her remark with, I have no idea why anyone would chose to go out with them. One person tweeted that hopefully, the dinner was some sort of apology. Stalker responded, Definitely.

They did go for dinner with them, MacGillivray clarified. But added some shade, Had I been asked, I wouldve told them to f**k off. Those guys are not my kind of people. Apparently Madison, Parker, and Georgia like them. You make your own conclusions of that.

MacGillivray didnt know the extent of the guests behavior

MacGillivray was questioned on Twitter about why she didnt intervene when the guys got too wild. Because we didnt know about any of this until after the fact, she tweeted. We didnt know they were bringing guests back to the boat. A lot of times guests will go out come back and go to bed. In this case they didnt and I expected Madison to wake me up for anything as I had told her to.

She added, I always encourage staff to report anything like what happened to Madison because it can be addressed. Personally I have told off charter guests for behaviour like last nights and other girls felt I would get fired. I didnt, and I would be louder if I had.

MacGillivray remarked that shed put her job on the line to protect her staff. I feel you can always communicate concerns, even with Neanderthals. Its all in how you say it, but abuse of staff, whether youre rich or not, is never acceptable. And I will get fired any day if it came down to it to stand up for that.
President Xi Jinpings well-choreographed visit to coronavirus epidemic ground zero, Wuhan, on Tuesday sent out two clear messages: The outbreak had turned a corner in China and it was time to crank up the economy.

In between meeting frontline medics, local residents and officials, and vowing victory over, what he had earlier called the devil virus, Xi made a proclamation: The epidemic will not affect the fundamentals of Chinas steady and long-term sound economic development.

Xi called for firm and meticulous implementation of supporting policies and for adopting targeted measures to assist enterprises, stabilise employment and create more jobs.

Enterprises and employment  two aspects of Chinas $14 trillion economy hit badly by the infection.

Within 24 hours of Xis visit, the worst-hit Hubei province government allowed Wuhan businesses involved in providing daily necessities, preventing and controlling the epidemic, or operating public utilities to resume work and production immediately  the first easing of tight restrictions in place since January 23.

Wuhan firms that are key to global industrial chains may do so as well, after getting approval, the government added.

Soon after Xis Wuhan visit, official news agency, Xinhua, released a news report on factories gradually resuming work in China.

Also Watch | Coronavirus: China confirms 22 new deaths, President XI Jinping visits Wuhan

China has all the industrial categories classified by the United Nations. It also ranks first in terms of output in nearly half of the over 500 major industrial products in the world. Though the novel coronavirus outbreak has slowed the humming of the factories for a while, production has been resuming across the country as the outbreak is leveling off to ensure the smooth operation of the global supply chain, the report said.

Its a remarkable achievement for companies to resume work in a city that has been ravaged by the pathogen, reporting hundreds of cases daily until weeks ago.

However, the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, Xi, 66, knows the path to economic rejuvenation for the worlds second-largest economy will be tough.

The human toll aside, the devil covid-19 has hammered the Chinese economy, which was anyway facing the twin gauntlets of a gradual slowdown and the trade war with the US.

Beijing has introduced countermeasures against the epidemics economic fallout.

It includes increasing government spending, lowering lending rates, and boosting credit support for companies.

In February, the Peoples Bank of China, the central bank, injected some 1.7 trillion yuan ($242 billion) of liquidity in the market and launched a $300 billion re-lending funds for commercial banks.

The Chinese government has cut down the tax rate for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), one of the sectors worst hit by the epidemic, economist Zhang Ming from the influential, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) said.

Companies in Tibet, Xinjiang and several provinces have even hired flights, trains and buses to bring back migrant labour to resume work at projects and factories.

Experts like Beijing-based economist Hu Xingdou told HT that the government needs to invest in infrastructure and in the health sector to spur growth.

It will take a lot more doing.

In January, the outbreak hit where it hurts a lot: The Chinese New Year festival rush and the holidays, a boom time for the Chinese economy.

The epidemic triggered massive losses in the travel and tourism industries besides dampening consumption during the most important holidays on the local calendar.

According to an estimate made by Zhu Min, former IMF deputy managing director and currently with the prestigious Tsinghua University (quoted by Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post) it is likely to have cost the tourism industry about 900 billion yuan (US$128 billion) in January and February compared with 2019 while general spending on food and entertainment was likely to have fallen by about 420 billion yuan (US$59.7 billion).

The impact of the epidemic on consumption, manufacturing, construction, the export sector and on inflation mean that the GDP growth rate in the first quarter will be around 3% to 4%, CASSs Zhang said.

There are two broad problem areas that China will need to tackle, Chan Kung, chief researcher with the Beijing-based independent think-tank, Anbound, said.

The first, which is the already-frustrating (state of) government finances, already extremely tight, and is known for its worryingly high levels of debt. With the covid-19 outbreak in the picture, the country will now require an even larger allocation in its budget to remedy the problem, thereby resulting in a heavier financial burden for the government, Chan said

The second is that a portion of Chinas enterprises probably would face a flood of bankruptcies. This is not much an issue for government-backed SOEs, but for private enterprises, however, they are at severe risk of facing bankruptcy and it is predicted that these businesses will have insufficient cash flows to last for the Chinaquarter, Anbounds Chan added.

Experts say signs of a better economy are visible on the horizon.

Only six weeks after the initial outbreak, China appears to be in the early stages of recovery. Congestion delays currently stand at 73% of 2019 levels, up from 62% at the worst part of the epidemic, indicating that the movement of people and goods is resuming. Similarly, coal consumption appears to be recovering from a trough of 43% to currently 75% of 2019 levels, indicating that some production is resuming. And confidence appears to be coming back as seen in real estate transactions, which had fallen to 1% of 2019 levels but have since bounced back to 47%, the Harvard Business Review said in an insight piece on Tuesday.

And from amid the thorny bouquet of economic adversities, Chinese companies picked out opportunities  mostly in the online sector.

The Sars epidemic of 2002-03 was behind the fast development of e-commerce in China.

Similarly, the current crisis will give further impetus to the online industry, which is already more than robust in China, Beijing-based economist, Hu, quoted earlier said.

Its still a hard road ahead.

If the economy recovers after the first quarter, and we see a growth of 5.5% to 5.6%, it will be satisfactory, CASSs Zhang said.

Back in Wuhan on Tuesday, President Xi told a covid-19 patient: What you should do now is stay confident. We all should be confident that we will win this war.

The disease is likely on the wane in China but the economic debris it will leave behind will take more than just confidence to clear.
The escalating coronavirus crisis is presenting President Donald Trump with a challenge for which he appears ill-equipped, his favourite political tactics ineffective and his reelection chances in jeopardy.

A rare crisis battering the White House that is not of the president's own making, the spreading coronavirus has panicked global financial markets and alarmed Americans, many of whom have turned to the Oval Office for guidance and reassurances.

But what they have found is a president struggling for a solution, unable to settle Wall Street and proving particularly vulnerable to a threat that is out of his control.

In an address to the nation Wednesday night, Trump announced a sweeping travel ban for much of Europe as well as a package of proposals to help steady the teetering economy. But he continued to play down the severity of the situation, painting it as a foreign threat that soon will be banished rather than focusing on managing the growing number of cases at home.

This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history, Trump declared.

Addressing the economic costs, he added, This is not a financial crisis, this is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world. But the virus has appeared impervious to the Republican president's bluster.

The virus does not have a Twitter account and, unlike so many previous Trump foes, is resistant to political bullying or Republican Party solidarity. It has preyed on his lack of curiosity and fears of germs while exposing divides and inadequacies within senior levels of his administration. It has taken away Trump's favourite political tool, his rallies, from which he draws energy and coveted voter information.

And eight months from Election Day, it has endangered his best reelection argument a strong economy just as Joe Biden, the candidate emerging from the Democratic field, seems poised to take advantage of a political landscape upended by the virus.

Crises of varying degrees produce fascinating and often consequential elections: Think 1860, 1932, 1968, 2008. Such races turn on questions of chaos versus order and favor the candidate who seems to offer the best chance of bringing order to the country in times of uncertainty, presidential historian Jon Meacham said.

What's interesting about those examples is that incumbents, or candidates of the incumbent party, lost all of them. One of Trump's most potent political assets is his ability to read a room, or a moment, often eschewing long-term planning for instantaneous reaction.

But he was slow to come to grips with the threat posed by the coronavirus as it exploded in China, distracted by impeachment and unwilling to scare the markets by stirring panic or upsetting his trading partner in Beijing, Xi Jinping.

The virus first spooked Trump while he was in India two weeks ago, as a 1,000-point drop on Wall Street caused him to pepper aides with questions about the markets even as he was feted in New Delhi.

But after he returned to the states, Trump continued to play down the virus, lashing into officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, for talking up the possible severity of the threat. He urged other aides, including Kellyanne Conway and senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow, to go on television and preach confidence, according to five White House officials and Republicans close to the White House.

They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations. And as he has so often done before, Trump believed that through his force of will and ability to dominate a cycle, he could alleviate the crisis, taking to both Twitter and the White House briefing room podium to dismiss the threat.

"It will go away, just stay calm," Trump said Tuesday after visiting Capitol Hill. "Be calm. It's really working out. And a lot of good things are going to happen." The markets, unlike traditional political foes, have not listened.

And while Trump deemed the media coverage of the virus a hoax meant to create hysteria and tank his poll numbers, it is a harder sell to ask his supporters to dismiss media reports when they see people in their own communities getting sick, schools closing and local drugstores unable to keep hand sanitizer on the shelves.

Infighting erupted within the administration, as Trump blamed and then sidelined Azar, relegating the health secretary to a secondary role behind Vice President Mike Pence on the coronavirus task force. But while Trump empowered Pence and respected medical professionals to take the lead on briefings, he ignored his advisers' advice to let the vice president be the public face of the administration's response, according to the officials.

Unable to cede the spotlight, Trump spoke extemporaneously to reporters at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday, requiring the vice president, who addressed the media in Washington moments later, to correct the president's misstatements about the availability of testing kits and the fate of a cruise ship filled with coronavirus patients.

It was only on Monday, as he was flying from Florida back to Washington, that the economic severity of the crisis hit home for Trump, according to three of the officials and advisers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Earlier, Amit Shah lauded the Delhi Police for not allowing the riots to spread to the other areas of the city

New Delhi: AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah openly 'defended' the Delhi Police in the Lok Sabha while replying to the debate on Delhi violence.

"He has openly defended the Delhi Police, though the riots took place because of the Delhi Police only. He has proudly said that the communal carnage was stopped in 36 hours," he told ANI.

"There is only one reason behind defending the Delhi Police that he (Amit Shah) doesn't want that justice should be given to especially those Muslims who have lost their lives, whose houses were set ablaze. No justice will be done after Amit Shah's reply today," he added.

Owaisi said that just like the Sikhs did not get justice in the 1984 riots, the Muslims who died in the Delhi riots won't get justice.

"We had demanded that one commission should be set up under the Inquiries Act, to be headed by a sitting Supreme Court or High Court judge, that was also denied. What will the SIT do? One-sided arrests are taking place in Delhi. Over 1100 Muslims are in illegal detention," said Owaisi.

"Moreover, he did not talk about his MPs. He did not talk about Kapil Mishra. As far as Waris Pathan is concerned, he has taken his comments back. FIR is registered against him. But has any FIR been registered against Anurag Thakur or Kapil Mishra? The government is trying to save them. The country is watching it," he added.

Earlier, Shah lauded the Delhi Police for not allowing the riots to spread to the other areas of the city.
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has directed the Minister for Finance, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghanas Coronavirus preparedness and response plan.



This amount, according to President Akufo-Addo, is to fund the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education.



Delivering an address to the nation on Wednesday, 11th March, 2020, the President explained that, with the declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the Coronavirus disease as a pandemic, it is important that Ghana steps up her preparedness to ensure that, beyond the initial measures that have been put in place, a whole of Ghana approach is adopted in preparation for a possible hit within the countrys borders.



At my prompting, the Minister for Finance has made available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance our coronavirus preparedness and response plan.



That is to fund the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment and public education, President Akufo-Addo said.



Read Full Statement Below



For Immediate Release



$100 MILLION PROVIDED TO ENHANCE CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN  PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO





The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says he has directed the Minister for Finance, Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghanas Coronavirus preparedness and response plan.



This amount, according to President Akufo-Addo, is to fund expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education.



Delivering an address to the nation on Wednesday, 11th March, 2020, the President explained that, with the declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the Coronavirus disease as a pandemic, it is important that Ghana steps up her preparedness to ensure that, beyond the initial measures that have been put in place, a whole of Ghana approach is adopted in preparation for a possible hit within the countrys borders.



Already, all of Ghanas immediate neighbours, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire and Togo, have recorded confirmed cases of infections, and countries like Italy, where there is a large population of Ghanaians, have escalated their response to the outbreak.



Ghanas entry points, such as her airports and land borders, President Akufo-Addo said, continue to show satisfactory preparedness to screen all entrants into the country, with the Ministry of Health designating a quarantine facility that can hold infected persons, whilst regional hospitals are preparing isolation centres for holding suspected cases.



Our countrys two main research institutions, the Noguchi Memorial Institute and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, which have the capacity to investigate and confirm or otherwise suspected cases of Coronavirus infections, have been very supportive in this regard. So far, they have found that the fifty-seven (57) suspected cases, as of today, Wednesday, 11th March, have proved negative, he said.



The President continued, I have, as at yesterday, ordered a suspension of all international travels by public officials. Except for critical assignments, which will have to be authorised by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, all public officials are to remain within the jurisdiction, until further notice.Video conferencing facilities and other technological tools are to be utilised, whenever possible, for international engagements.



Additionally, he revealed that he has instructed further enhancements of the protocols for inbound traffic from already affected countries, and urged Ghanaians as much as possible, desist from all foreign travels, except the most critical ones, until there is a grip on the virus.



The Ministry of Information, President Akufo-Addo said, is leading a nationwide public education campaign on preventive measures that all Ghanaians must observe to ensure the control of the spread of infections, should the country record any infections.



Reiterating his call of 6th March, and as advised by the Ministry of Health, the President appealed to Ghanaians to revisit the custom of shaking hands, and stop doing so completely, and added that all Ghanaians must cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.



This fight, fellow Ghanaians, cannot be that of Government alone. It is for all of us. I urge the media to join this cause fully and help disseminate effectively information on the dos and donts of the disease. The information to be put out, however, must be that approved by health authorities, and not just from any piece of literature found on the internet, as false materials are already being spread from other jurisdictions, he said.



President Akufo-Addo appealed to civil society organisations, schools, universities, faith-based organisations and places, which harbour large gatherings, such as classrooms, lecture halls, meetings, parties and funerals, to put in place mechanisms to caution and assist patrons on basic preventive measures.



Whilst urging Ghanaians to continue to observe the basic preventive behaviour, i.e. washing our hands regularly, using alcohol-based sanitisers, stopping shaking hands, and avoiding unnecessary close body contact, he stated that Government is analysing the potential impact to our economy of the virus, and will trigger the relevant response to minimise it.



Touching on the production of the logistics required to prevent and combat the virus, the President revealed that Government has begun to engage with the domestic pharmaceutical industry to assist in this regard.



Indeed, we must take advantage of this crisis to strengthen our domestic productive capacity, so we can advance our self-reliance, and reduce our dependence on foreign imports. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, he added.



President Akufo-Addo extended his appreciation to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and friends of Ghana for the assistance they have, so far, provided, and for the pledges made in support of Ghanas fight against the virus.



We shall continue to work with them to defeat the spread of the virus.I am confident that, together, with all hands on deck, we will be successful in weathering this storm, he added.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Under the deal, Turkish and Russian forces will carry out joint patrols along M4 highway and set up a security corridor.

Turkish and Russian officials have largely agreed on details of a ceasefire deal in Syrias war-battered Idlib province, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday, the third day of discussions between the two countries.

Last week, NATO-member Turkey and Russia  the two countries back opposing sides in Syrias war  agreed on the ceasefire to halt an escalation of violence in Idlib that has displaced nearly a million people and brought the two countries close to direct confrontation.

Under the agreement, Turkish and Russian forces will carry out joint patrols along the strategic M4 highway linking Syrias east and west, and establish a security corridor either side of it.

A Russian delegation arrived in Ankara this week to discuss the details of the agreement.

The corridor stretches 6km (3.7 miles) to the north and 6km to the south of the M4  effectively advancing Russias presence further north into Idlib.

The security corridor stretches 6km (3.7 miles) to the north and 6km to the south of the M4 highway [Omar Haj Kadour/AFP]

Russia supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Turkey backs opposition factions who have fought him for nearly nine years.

We have largely reached an agreement. At the moment, the attacks have stopped, the ceasefire is holding, Akar was cited as saying by his office. The joint patrols will start along the M4 on March 15. Our colleagues are discussing the details of that.

A senior Turkish official told Reuters news agency that concrete results were expected from the discussions in Ankara. Turkey was prepared to retaliate against violations by the Syrian government, he added.

The fact that we are moving in line with the agreements brings hope for the future. We are moving forward, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Fragile ceasefire

On Wednesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would not shy away from even stronger military action in Idlib if the ceasefire is broken.

Akar also said on Thursday that all Turkish forces remained in their positions in Idlib.

The latest Russia-backed offensive in Idlib by al-Assads forces sparked what the United Nations says may be the worst humanitarian crisis yet in a war that has driven millions from their homes and killed hundreds of thousands.

Russia had repeatedly played down any talk of a refugee crisis and accused Turkey of violating international law by pouring troops and equipment into Idlib since early last month.

About 60 Turkish troops have been killed in that time.
Flight occupancy and fresh bookings have dropped over ten per cent in last few days as individuals and corporates defer trips. International travel is already hit due to a series of visa restrictions.

SpiceJet is urging customers to travel without worry in an outreach effort to prevent slide in bookings.

The airline has listed its own coronavirus prevention measures and World Health Organisation (WHO) messages in an email to reassure customers.

GoAir too has written to customers about its safety measures which include enhanced aircraft cleaning, disinfecting touch screens among others.

"At SpiceJet we are taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of our passengers.

"At the same time we would like to assure every one that it is absolutely safe to continue international travel, tourism and trade and advise every one to take necessary precautions to avoid the risk of infection," the airline said in its customer email.

Flight occupancy and fresh bookings have dropped over ten per cent in last few days as individuals and corporates defer trips. International travel is already hit due to a series of visa restrictions imposed by countries.

The restrictions have forced airlines to cancel flights and ground aircraft.

"Despite the low risk of exposure, we want you to feel confident when traveling with GoAir.

"As a result, we have enhanced some of our cleaning procedures in the interest of our customers' and employees' health and safety," GoAir said in a communication to passengers.

"We have equipped all employees with disinfectants, sanitizers, gloves and other protective equipment, particularly for those who engage directly with customers.

"Education on WHO guidelines and training to our employees is ongoing," the airline added.

SpiceJet said its ground staff have been advised to use sanitisers, employees entering the aircraft have been provided masks and gloves and regular disinfection of aircraft is being carried out to control the spread of disease.

"During night halt extensive deep cleaning of aircraft is being done," its said.

Quoting the WHO, the airline said it is safe to travel by air.

"India is one of the least affected countries with less than 100 confirmed coronavirus cases and zero death in a population of over 135 crore," SpiceJet said in its email.

Photograph: SpiceJet via Twitter
The latest tightening of Hong Kongs coronavirus quarantine measures, resulting in the cancellation of numerous outbound tours to Europe, has prompted the citys struggling tour operators to call on the government for help.

Large operators including Wing On Travel, WWPKG Holdings, EGL Tours and Goldjoy Holidays said on Wednesday they were cancelling tours to a number of European destinations, affecting hundreds of holidaymakers and further damaging a sector already slammed by the coronavirus epidemic.

The move followed Hong Kong extending compulsory quarantine measures to the whole of Italy as well as certain regions of France, Germany, Japan and Spain. The government also simultaneously issued a red travel alert, meaning non-essential travel should be avoided.

A travel agency sits closed in Sha Tin amid a massive tourism downturn driven by the global coronavirus epidemic. Photo: Winson Wong

Travel Industry Council chairman Jason Wong Chun-tat said the levy the government-backed body collects from local travel agencies on outbound tourism services dropped more than 80 per cent year-on-year last month  indicating a significant downturn in business. He predicted figures would remain sluggish in March and April as well.

Multiple tours to South Korea, Japan and mainland China have already been cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic.

We hope the government can help us clearly understand their calls for residents not to travel overseas, their definition [of what that means] and the time frame and areas involved, Wong said after meeting with industry representatives.

The council representatives, 13 major tour operators in the city as well as tourism lawmaker Yiu Si-wing, had a nearly two-hour meeting a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor called on residents not to travel abroad.

On Tuesday evening, the Hong Kong government announced it was extending travel restrictions to people arriving from La Rioja, Madrid and the Basque region of Spain as well as the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est regions in France, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, Hokkaido in Japan and the entirety of Italy.

Story continues

The restrictions were to come into effect on Saturday, requiring arrivals from those places to undergo mandatory quarantine at government facilities for 14 days.

A red alert was also issued for the new locations, the second level in a three-tier system advising people against non-essential travel.

Wong said the timing of the announcement, which affected a number of tour groups, was not ideal as most long-haul tours depart the city at night.

The council chairman also suggested officials should step in and help tour operators negotiate with airlines and overseas firms as they attempt to retrieve deposits they had already paid for arranging tours.

Jason Wong Chun-tat, chairman of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, said a steep downturn in levies the group collects from outbound tour operators bodes ill for the industry. Photo: Nora Tam

Particularly on the down payments to airlines, if the government has not introduced quarantine measures in certain areas, then we face huge difficulties in liaising with air companies and other organisations, he said.

The council also called on the government to provide cash allowances to travel agency workers struggling amid the tourism downturn.

Tuesdays announcement saw multiple tour operators pull the plug on tours to Europe through the end of March.

EGL has scrapped 15 tours that were headed to regions included in the travel alert, affecting about 350 customers.

WWPKG made the same decision for more than 10 groups involving nearly 300 people who were headed to European destinations including Spain, Portugal and Russia.

The Travel Industry Council estimated at least 34 tours to Spain and Portugal would be scrapped in March, involving about 750 travellers. It was still tallying up the number of cancelled tours to other European countries.

An all-too-quiet travel agency in Hong Kongs Causeway Bay shopping district. Photo: Dickson Lee

Wing On Travel was among those calling off March tours to Egypt and Europe  apart from those to Britain and Northern Europe  without specifying the number of trips affected.

Another agency, Goldjoy Holidays, went even further, cutting trips to countries including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany and France through April 15, but could not provide a total number of affected customers.

Dr Wong Ka-hing, controller of Hong Kongs Centre for Health Protection, maintained at a Wednesday press conference that all non-essential travel plans should be delayed.

Nobody can predict which will be the next country to have an outbreak or even explosive outbreak, he said.

Not only travel agencies were troubled by the new travel restrictions  some business travellers also expressed frustration with the new quarantine measures.

Sebastian Damaschke, a 29-year-old German who works as an HR manager in Hong Kong and travels regularly to Germany, was among those affected by the new policy.

He needs to travel to Dusseldorf, which is in the North Rhine-Westphalia region and under the new quarantine measure imposed by the Hong Kong government, every two months for work and to visit his family members there.

Damaschke, who was originally expected to fly back to Hong Kong from Dusseldorf on Friday, decided not to return to Hong Kong after finding out he would be quarantined for 14 days upon arriving.

I believe I'm healthy right now. If I am put together with people who are potentially ill, am I going to get [sick]?" he said, adding that he felt it would be better to be surrounded by his family in Germany if he were to fall ill.

But he also said he understood why the measures were necessary.

I feel frustrated. I know why [the authorities] do it, and I think it is good they do it, because they want to keep the population safe, Damaschke said. Personally, I'm not happy, but I think it is a sound decision.

More from South China Morning Post:

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The coronavirus outbreak is officially a global pandemic, and policy experts around the world are expressing significant concern over how the virus, which has claimed 4,729 lives worldwide according to the most recent official count, will impact global economies.

White House Economic Council Director Larry Kudlows old statements have come back to haunt him in the wake of a recent coronavirus briefing where he appeared to be rather ill.

If you are on the Presidents CoronaVirus Task Force, you should practice targeted social distancing from Larry Kudlow. He is very obviously ill. (Pence looks sweaty, too, but that could just be the lights)pic.twitter.com/agwDp92eVm  Ray [REDACTED] (@RayRedacted) March 12, 2020

Kudlow told reporters who attended the briefing that President Donald Trumps proposed payroll tax cuts will lead to a big growth payoff that will help Americans deal with whatever challenges occur.

I think its very important that everyone watch this video at least twice. Remember this.#LarryKudlow#TuesdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/DzAbGOY30F  Mystery Solvent (@MysterySolvent) March 10, 2020

In January, Kudlow insisted coronavirus will have a minimal impact, telling Fox Business that the problem as it stands is not an American one.

This is a Chinese pandemic, Kudlow told host David Asman at the time, noting that China has a serious, serious public health problem and that the United States wants to help them work through it.

We are going to do everything we can as Americans and American governments, certainly, to help them solve this as rapidly as possible, Kudlow said, adding that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is deploying resources to help China control the pandemic.

Were happy to do it, Kudlow said. Its part of our engagement with China. We want to help out in any way we can. We have a lot of smart people that know how to deal with these public health issues, so we are going to send over a batch of CDC experts.

Kudlow also recently claimed that the U.S. had successfully contained the coronavirus, and critics are making sure to remind others of his blunders. Fears of an economic crisis continue to mount, with the Dow tumbling more than 1,000 points after President Donald Trump announced that all travel from Europe to the U.S., with the exception of the United Kingdom, is banned for 30 days.

Dont ever forget that they lied to us about this. In doing so they endangered the health and safety of the public. And they did it for political gain.https://t.co/Xugn9yopFN  Rick Gigger (@rgigger) March 12, 2020

Oh thank goodness I get to hear from Larry #Kudlow, he sure knew what was going on the last time our economy tanked  Matt Attaway (@mattaway88) March 10, 2020

I urge everyone concerned about the economy right now to listen to what @larry_kudlow recommends, and then do the exact opposite. #ETTD  Eryq Ouithaqueue (@EryqOuithaqueue) March 9, 2020

At an absolute minimum, @realDonaldTrump has to fire @larry_kudlow for his dangerous quotes in the last two weeks: "We have contained this. I won't say airtight, but it's pretty close to airtight." "Our threat assessment is low and the economy is fundamentally sound."  NOT THE WRESTLER (@ericyoung) March 12, 2020

The presidents proposed payroll tax cuts are reportedly worth $40 billion per month and would provide temporary relief past the November elections. Neither Republicans or Democrats appear to be sold on the idea, expressing doubts that stimulus spending or tax cuts would help the economy in general.
The Republic of Ireland has unveiled the design of its 'Island of Inspiration' country pavilion for the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai event. A fusion of Western and Eastern architecture, the facility is inspired by the megalithic Newgrange lightbox.



The pavilion will showcase the European nation as an island of inspiration and tell Irelands epic story to the millions of visitors who are expected to visit Expo 2020 from October 20 to April 10 next year.



Irelands Expo 2020 plan includes a national pavilion hosting a permanent exhibition and a comprehensive six-month programme of cultural, educational, sporting, business and other activities and events.



It reveals Ireland as a place of constant and multifaceted inspiration, from its landscapes and heritage to its culture and its people.



Welcoming the announcement, the Ambassador of Ireland to the UAE, Aidan Cronin, who is also Irelands Expo 2020 Commissioner General, said: "Irelands story is an inspirational one and Expo 2020 is an opportunity to tell that story to a large, truly global audience. Our pavilion will showcase Irish history, science, technology, business, and culture."



"The re-creation of the Newgrange lightbox will be a highlight of our pavilion, when visitors will get a chance to experience one of the wonders of Irish innovation and creative thinking, dating back some 5,000 years," he added.



Irelands pavilion will be an enjoyable, inspirational and visually stunning place to visit, with permanent exhibitions, artistic performances, seminars, showcases and a daily Be Inspired programme spread across four thematic quadrants - The Irish Fantastic; The Irish Scientific; Irish World Changers and Trailblazers and Global Ireland.



Each quadrant will comprise one major event, alongside an ongoing series of performances, talks, workshops and activities.



On the cultural aspects of the programme, Cronin said: We are developing what will be an inspiring and enjoyable cultural programme that will introduce Irish culture to a whole new global audience."



"Expo 2020 offers us an unparalleled opportunity to raise Irelands cultural profile in the UAE and in the wider region and we are determined that this will be one of the tangible legacies of our involvement in Expo 2020. This will include partnerships with the local Irish community and with other local cultural partners," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Home minister Amit Shah said there was no provision to put residents in the doubtful category during the conduct of National Population Register (NPR) as feared by the opposition. Shahs clarification came after Congress MP Kapil Sibal alleged CAA combined with NPR could lead to singling out poor people.

Respondents who cant furnish all details will be put in the D category you say, but that is not going to happen, Shah said triggering a huge din in the opposition benches.

Shah and Kapil Sibal, who is also a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, had a side debate over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act during the ministers reply to the discussion on Delhi riots in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Watch Amit Shahs full reply in Rajya Sabha over Delhi violence, CAA

While hitting out at the opposition for alleged politicisation by spreading misinformation around the act which led to the riots in the capital, Amit Shah asked Sibal if he could point out if there was even a single provision in the CAA that took away citizenship.

On repeated reference, Sibal stood up and said: We are not saying that CAA will take away anyones citizenship. Sibal was interrupted by a huge din in the house and Shah intervened to say several of Sibals party colleagues had made statements alleging the CAA will take away citizenship of a particular group.

When the din lessened a bit, Sibal said the CAA had to be looked at in reference to the NPR.

When NPR is done, 10 more questions will be asked and when the enumerator puts a D (doubtful) mark against the name of the respondents, then they will be targeted, Sibal put his statement into context.

This (CAA) is not against Muslims but against the poor, Sibal added.

Shah responded by saying that the government had clarified on several occasions that no document needed to be presented during the NPR exercise.

No document is being asked for in the NPR, any information not available with a person cant be shared with an official and no one in the country needs to fear the process of NPR, shah said.
Two Chinese restaurants in Oakland Chinatown have decided to temporarily close at a time when many businesses have been impacted by coronavirus concerns.

On Wednesday, a Twitter post captured the closure signs posted outside Peony Seafood Restaurant and Buffet Fortuna. The Oakland Chinatown closures were first reported by The Chronicle.

Due to the current situation, our restaurant will temporarily be closed end of March until further notice. Sorry for any inconvenience, read the sign posted by Peony Seafood Restaurant, a popular dim sum destination located in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza retail center.

The sign Buffet Fortuna, located at 800 Broadway St., posted outside their storefront indicated that they would remain closed until further notice. Buffet Fortuna also has a San Leandro location that is currently open.

A store employee at the San Leandro location, who wished to remain unnamed, told SFGATE that business has been slow for them during the last couple weeks. It's unclear whether that location will decide to temporarily shutter as well.

Throughout the bay, many businesses have seen fewer customers than normal, especially as companies have asked their employees to work remotely.

On Monday, San Francisco restaurant South Park Cafe, owned by tech startup Brex, closed until further notice after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. In a company-wide email, Brex told its employees that the infected employee was home resting and that no other employee had shown symptoms.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

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Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3
BEIJING: As the world struggles to contain and minimise the catastrophic impact of the deadly Coronavirus on human lives and businesses nearly two months after it's outbreak was first reported in China, the topic continues to dominate headlines across the world.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), which on Wednesday declared Coronavirus as a ''pandemic'', the virus has so far claimed at least 4,600 lives globally and affected nearly 125,293 persons. The disease's rapid rise has been accompanied by an outbreak of false claims and several conspiracy theories on social media, allowing misinformation about the origin of the virus and myths on its possible cures.

One such theory suggests that China is to be blamed for the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus. However, a Chinese government spokesman on Thursday said that "it might be the US Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan," pushing one of several popular coronavirus conspiracy theories in China.

Conspiracy Theories

Theory 1: Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in a level 4 (the highest biosafety level) research laboratory in Wuhan, China. Washington Times on January 24 said that the new coronavirus may have originated in a lab linked to China's "covert biological weapons programme", a theory later backed by Republican Senator Tom Cotton.

An article in Foreign Policy magazine on January 24 said Chinese President Xi Jinping's "political agenda may turn out to be a root cause of the epidemic" and that his multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative has "made it possible for a local disease to become a global menace".

Theory 2: The virus was engineered in the lab by humans as a bioweapon. The virus was being studied in the lab (after being isolated from animals) and then escaped or leaked because of poor safety protocol.

Theory 3: Suppressing early warnings of the outbreak. In an interview with the Chinese magazine, Renwu, or People, Ai Fen, director of the emergency at Wuhan Central hospital, said she was reprimanded after alerting her superiors and colleagues of a Sars-like virus seen in patients in December 2019.

Theory 4: Whistleblower doctor reprimanded for raising alarm. Li Wenliang was one of eight doctors reprimanded by police for posting online about a then-unknown disease that they had seen in hospital patients. Li noted that the symptoms were similar to those of SARS, which caused a deadly epidemic in 2003. He sent a WeChat message on December 30 to his classmates from medical school, informing them of what he had seen and warning them to be careful.

Li was visited by police and forced to sign an official letter of criticism for having severely disturbed the social order by making false postings online. The Wuhan police initially tried to make an example of Li and his fellow doctors, publicizing that eight people had been punished for spreading rumours about the disease. Evidence later revealed that local government had been desperately trying to cover up early warning signs about the new disease.

Chinas Objection

Chinas Foreign Ministry objected to the expression Wuhan coronavirus  saying the name will stigmatize the country  following remarks from the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Beijing leaders and the countrys state-controlled media, which have gone as far as to claim that the coronavirus outbreak may not have started in China at all.

Coronavirus Impact In India, World

India reported its first death due to coronavirus on Thursday as the number of positive cases soared to 74, with authorities taking emergency measures to contain its spread like shutting down schools, colleges and cinema halls in the national capital and some other places.

The Union Health Ministry confirmed that a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi in Karnataka, who died on Tuesday, was infected with the coronavirus. Samples of the man, who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, "has been confirmed for #COVID19", Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said.

"The necessary contact tracing, isolation & other measures as per protocol are being carried out," he tweeted.

Fourteen fresh cases have been reported from several states, including nine from Maharashtra, the Union health ministry said on Thursday. As the Centre and the states ramped up their efforts to tackle novel coronavirus, which has claimed at least 4,600 lives globally and affected nearly 125,293, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the countrymen not to panic and asserted that the government was fully vigilant.

A day after it suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15, the government also announced that three planes will be sent in the next three days to bring back Indians stranded in Iran, one of the worst coronavirus-hit countries.

Asking people not to panic, the Union Health Ministry said no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there have only been cases of local transmission so far.

With the novel coronavirus being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, Raman R Gangakhedkar, the head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases-I, a division of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said even though the virus is difficult to isolate, scientists at the National Institute of Virology in Pune have been successful in finding about 11 isolates, but developing a vaccine will take at least one-and-a-half to two years.

The total number of 74 patients in India includes 16 Italians and one Canadian. The figure is inclusive of three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month following recovery. Giving a state-wise breakup, the ministry said Delhi reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10. Karnataka has four cases, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three. Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month.

Lav Aggarwal, the Joint Secretary in the Ministry, said 1,500 people who came in contact with these 74 infected people were under rigorous observation while over 30,000 people across the country were under community surveillance. Meanwhile, the Delhi government declared coronavirus an epidemic and said all those schools and colleges where exams are over should be shut down as also cinema halls till March 31.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal and top government officials. Uttarakhand and Manipur governments also announced the closure of schools till March 31.

On its part, the Defence Ministry has set up seven more quarantine facilities, especially for Indian citizens being brought to back from the coronavirus-hit countries, an official said. The facilities have been set up at Jaisalmer, Suratgadh, Jhansi, Jodhpur, Deolali, Kolkata and Chennai.

The Army is already operating a quarantine facility in Manesar while the one in Hindon, near Ghaziabad, is being operated by the air force. Asserting that the focus is on preventive approach, and adequate testing facilities have been made available, Aggarwal said India presently has around 1 lakh testing kits and more testing kits have been ordered.

About evacuation measures undertaken so far, Aggarwal said till now, India has evacuated 948 people from the coronavirus-affected countries. Of these, 900 were Indians and 48 belonged to different nationalities including from the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, the USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, he said.

The government has stepped up vigil and following a strong contact tracing system to ensure anyone who has come in touch with the infected are not missed out, they said, adding till now, 11,14,025 people have been screened at 30 designated airports in India.

Asked whether high temperature kills the coronavirus, officials said there was no study or evidence till now to suggest that. As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spread across the globe, the cabinet secretary on Wednesday said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.

India has suspended all visas, except for a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of the respiratory virus, according to a revised travel advisory.

Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card-holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15, according to the advisory issued on Wednesday.

It said, any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission and 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 14 days.

(Reported By Saurabh Goenka)
A 31-year-old resident of Gilgit Baltistan was tested positive for novel coronavirus, bringing Pakistan's total number of cases to 21, a health official said on Thursday.

The new victim returned from Iran on February 25, said government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq.

The patient was under treatment at the Skardu hospital, he added.

With the new case, the total number of patients in Gigit Baltistan reached three, which is second highest after 15 victims in Sindh province. Two persons in Islamabad and one in Balochistan have also been tested positive.

Pakistan saw a sudden increase in coronavirus infections on Tuesday when a dozen new cases were reported across the country.

On Wednesday, a 14-year-old boy from Skardu tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The first confirmed case in GB was of a 45-year-old woman, who arrived from Iran a few days to Gilgit before she was diagnosed.

Meanwhile, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that the provincial government was not hiding anything from the public.

"I want to make it clear, the Sindh government is not hiding any information about coronavirus or the number of patients [in the province]. The government is sharing information with the people as soon as it is received, he said.

Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that the government would reopen schools from Monday.

However, Balochistan Education Minister Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind said that schools in the province will remain closed March 31.

"Action will be taken against schools who do not comply with the decision. (The decision) has been taken after consultation with the health ministry, he said.

But Balochistan Private Schools Grand Alliance rejected the decision to close schools for another 15 days.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office rejected reports that an official at Pakistan's embassy in Afghanistan was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

Separately, panic spread in Lahore after rumours that coronavirus case was reported in the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

LUMS Vice Chancellor Arshad Ahmed said that reports of a coronavirus case were not true.

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.

All the patients have contracted the virus from abroad. There is no evidence of local spread as yet.

The medical experts have warned that the virus could easily go out of hands and turn into an epidemic. They urged the health authorities to enforce strict monitoring of passengers coming into Pakistan by air and sea routes.

The deadly virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,600 lives and infected more than 124,330 people across 118 countries and territories.

China remains the hardest-hit with more than 80,000 infections and 3,100 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
No one wants to see the Nederland Heritage Festival or YMBL South Texas State Fair shut down because of the coronavirus, but the reality of what is happening across the country cannot be ignored. Public events are being canceled one after another, from the South by Southwest Festival in Austin to the Houston Rodeo. The NCAAs March Madness games will be closed to the public except for limited staff and family. St. Patricks Day parades are being canceled in many states, and colleges and universities are telling their students not to come back after spring break.

Yet amid this growing wave of public anxiety and closings, officials with both organizations here are saying little  or nothing  to the public about the precautions they are taking and whether they are considering any schedule changes.

The Heritage Festival is in the midst of its one-week run with apparently no plans to do anything different. Several attempts by The Enterprise to reach YMBL officials had not been returned by Wednesday afternoon. Eventually a woman who answered the organizations phone said the fair will go on as planned. The fair is scheduled for March 26 through April 5 at Ford Park.

Southeast Texans deserve more. They deserve a proactive approach from officials in both organizations about what they are doing in regard to the coronavirus. They should not just respond to questions from citizens and journalists  or duck them  they should be out front and accessible at this crucial time.

Related: South Texas State Fair a go despite shutdown of Houston Rodeo

This is happening in other parts of the country, even in places like ours that have not yet been directly affected. You see public officials like mayors or county judges (like Lina Hidalgo in Harris County) holding press conferences and taking questions, telling what they know and being honest about what they dont. Theyre not holding back or hiding out. Theyre stepping up and taking the heat, because thats what a responsible leader does, especially in at times like this.

The severity of this threat cannot be underestimated.

Seventy-seven of the 95 coronavirus cases in Massachusetts have been linked to a meeting of executives with Biogen, a company based in Cambridge, Mass. People who attended the meeting caught the disease from people there who had it  perhaps unknowingly  and spread it to others afterward. This is why cities like San Francisco are banning gatherings of 1,000 or more people, and the state of Washington is banning gatherings of more than 250.

Yet the Heritage Festival attracts thousands of people each day, and the State Fair will attract even larger crowds if it is held. They are outdoor events, which does minimize the risks somewhat, but even that is not a guarantee of safety.

Area residents would undoubtedly like to know what level of risk they face if they attended these events. Organizers should be open and accessible about these issues and explain why they are not canceling. We hope that the virus does not appear in Southeast Texas, but that may be asking too much during a pandemic. This could be a case of when we are affected, not if.
Michael Ventura / Alamy Stock Photo

En espanol | More than 143 million households nationwide are getting their invitations to fill out their questionnaire for the 2020 census, kicking off a process that will shape how the federal government spends and operates over the next 10 years.

The U.S. Constitution requires the government to do a complete count of all residents in the nation and where they live once every decade. The resulting numbers are used to determine how many members each state gets in the U.S. House of Representatives. The data also determine how more than $675 billion in federal funds are spent each year, on everything from schools and roads to Medicare Part B benefits.

It's vital that everyone, especially older adults, completes the census forms for his or her household. Here's your step-by-step guide to what to expect.

Step 1. You get your census invite in the mail.

That form will ask most households (112 million) to complete the process either online or by telephone. According to the Census Bureau, it should take only about 10 minutes to complete your forms after you go to my2020census.gov and enter the 12-digit identification code that is included on your mailed invitation.

In areas where people may not have reliable access to high-speed internet connections, the invitation to complete the census will include a paper version of the questionnaire. You can fill out that form and mail it back to the Census Bureau.

All invitations will include a page with a short phrase in English and 12 other languages explaining how people can complete the process in their language. In communities where Spanish is common, residents will receive both Spanish and English versions of the invite. We are giving residents the tools they need to be counted and encouraging them to shape their futures, said Steven Dillingham, director of the Census Bureau.



Step 2. The bureau sends a follow-up mail.

If you don't complete your forms online or by phone promptly, the agency will send you several reminders through the postal service. If you haven't responded to those requests my mid-April, it will send you a paper questionnaire to fill out and send back (if you didn't get that form as your original invitation).

On July 27, the Census Bureau announced that the agency will start sending reminder emails to households in communities where the overall response rate is below 50 percent. The email messages will come from the 2020census@subscriptions.census.gov account and will invite people who havent yet completed their surveys to do so online at 2020census.gov. Some people who already have submitted their census forms may still get one of these emails, which they wont need to respond to.

To improve the response rate to the 2020 Census, the bureau also is considering sending text messages to areas that have low response rates. The agency recently started sending text messages to individuals and small businesses for two separate surveys it is conducting about the effect of the coronavirus pandemic.

Step 3. Census workers go door-to-door.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Census Bureau in March temporarily suspended visits from workers who go door-to-door to help people fill out the survey if they havent completed the form already. The agency has now resumed that process. The agency also has extended the deadline for collecting all responses to October 15. If someone comes to your door, be sure to check that the person has a valid Census Bureau ID, which will have the official's name, photograph, a Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. The worker also should have a copy of the invitation you were mailed about the 2020 census.

Step 4. The results are delivered.



The Census Bureau has said it will ask Congress to allow the agency to postpone its report on the final results of the count until April 30, 2021. The bureau previously was scheduled to present those results on December 31, 2020. The U.S. Constitution requires the nation to complete a full count of the population every 10 years, so pushing the final report into 2021 will require Congressional approval.

Editors note: This article has been updated with the October 15, 2020, date to complete all census surveys.
Bengaluru, March 13 : Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu on Thursday confirmed that the 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi in the state's northern region died of coronavirus.

"The 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi who passed away and was a suspected to be a COVID-19 patient has been Confirmed for COVID-19," tweeted state Health Minister B. Sriramulu late on Thursday night.

Karnataka Health Department's joint director for Communicable Diseases Prakash Kumar said all the protocols are being followed with regard to the safe disposal of the man's body.

Kumar said the body has been disinfected completely and disposed as per government guidelines.

He shared the guidelines to be followed on how to handle a corpse in a coronavirus situation, detailing the general principles, tips for corpse handlers, storage or mortuary services, identification and release of body to relatives.

Sriramulu said the health department has initiated the contact tracing and isolation measures.

The deceased returned to Kalaburgi on February 29 from Saudi Arabia and passed away on Tuesday night. 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.

Sriramulu said the man was a coronavirus suspect after his death on Wednesday and confirmed the cause of death on Thursday.

Following his death in a private Hyderabad hospital, state health department's Information, Education and Communication (IEC) special officer Suresh Shastri said Telangana government has also been informed of the development.
The following organizations and events have been impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Governor mandates

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered that all restaurants and bars be closed to dine-in customers, effective at 3 p.m. Monday, March 16.

Also effective March 16, all Michigan schools will be closed for the next three weeks (April 6), including the Midland Public Schools District schools.Starting March 16 Midland Public Schools is suspending school events that have public participation, all assemblies, and facility rentals.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also ordered the cancellation or postponement of all events and gatherings of more than 250 people, exempting industrial work, mass transit and the purchase of groceries or consumer goods. The ban is set to end April 5.

Closed schools/buildings

Northwood University will transition all classes to an online learning format, beginning Wednesday, March 18 until March 29 for undergraduate students. For all students in the adult degree program, classes (8-week and 16-week programs) will be delivered online for the balance of this semester. The only exceptions to this decision are at our Fort Worth and Selfridge program centers, where students will attend classes during the week of March 16. For the DeVos Graduate School of Management, all courses will be delivered online for the balance of the semester. The only exception to this decision is the DeVos Accelerated MBA program. Like the undergraduate degree programs at the Midland Campus, the Accelerated MBA program will meet online beginning March 18 until March 29. In addition, a decision to return to regular classroom delivery will take place during the week of March 23. Northwood University also canceled all Spring and Summer 2020 short term study abroad programs.

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Central Michigan University suspended in-person classes until April 6.

Effective Friday, March 13 at 5 a.m., in-person classes were suspended at Delta College, and beginning Monday March 16, the entire campus and its services will close to the public, including fitness centers, the pool and all events. Online instruction will be delivered Wednesday, March 18 through Friday, April 10.

Saginaw Valley State University suspended in-person classes for lecture and discussion courses through at least Friday, April 17. All university-sponsored international travel through at least June 30 is suspended and domestic travel is discouraged. The university has also cancelled all large gatherings of 50 or more people through Friday, April 17; registered student organizations or other groups that would typically draw 50 or more people were encouraged to make alternate arrangements.

Effective Wednesday, March 18 at 8 a.m., all City of Midland buildings and facilities will close to the public, including City Hall, the Municipal Service Center, the water treatment plant, the wastewater treatment plant, the Law Enforcement Center, and all Midland Fire Department stations. In addition to these new closures, the following previously-announced closures and service changes will remain in effect until Monday, April 6: the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library and Midland Civic Arena will remain closed to the public; rental certification inspections through the Building Department are postponed; and visitors to Washington Woods and Riverside Place senior housing complexes are limited to essential care providers only. During these closures, doors to city facilities will be locked. Individual public access may be allowed in extenuating circumstances, but by appointment only.

The Midland Fire Department has suspended all station tours, fire prevention education programs, and non-emergency services until further notice. Visitors outside of fire department personnels immediate families will not be permitted at the citys three fire stations. Emergency response will be provided as normal.

City of Midland rental certification inspections have been suspended through Monday, April 6. Affected property owners will be contacted by Midland City Building Department staff to reschedule any pending inspections.

The Dow Event Center in Saginaw is closed to the public until 9 a.m. April 6. However, office hours will remain as normal.

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, Saganing Eagles Landing Casino & Hotel and The Slot Palace & Bingo Hall will be closing effective at 5 p.m. March 16 until further notice, according to information from the casino.

Senior Services,has closed or limited a number of its services for the next several weeks, including the five Activity and Dining Centers and all activities, classes, clinics and events for the next eight weeks. They hope to resume normal operations beginning Monday, May 11.

The Midland County Register of Deeds office closed to public access.

The Bay County Courts Chief Judge issued a Local Administrative Order substantially limiting public access to the courthouse facilities as well as the type of hearings held by the Court to essential matters only. All clerking operations are also confined to essential services and admittance to the building will be limited. People who have a pending matter before the courts and are represented by an attorney should contact their attorney, rather than the courts, for further information.

Events/meetings

All Special Olympics sports practice and tournaments are cancelled through the end of March. Practice for summer games will start April 4.

Dow, Inc. restricted intercontinental business travel for employees and increased health protocols at its sites to contain the spread of the virus. Also, non-plant personnel are working remotely.

The April 26 Midland Community Orchestra concert has been cancelled.

Postponing the Medical Mission at Home event scheduled for Saturday, March 21, at Ascension St. Mary's in Saginaw.

The Historical Society of Michigan is canceling its 2020 Michigan in Perspective: The Local History Conference, which was to be held in March 27-28 in Sterling Heights.

The Midland Amateur Radio Club will be canceling the Amateur Radio License Testing Session scheduled Saturday, March 21.

The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce has postponed the Annual Meeting for March 24. The Bay Area Chamber of Commerce will honor all previously purchased tickets for rescheduled events. Refunds are not available.

The Canadian Hockey League, including its three regional affiliates  the Ontario Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League  has suspended the 2019-20 season until further notice.

Minor League Baseball will delay the beginning of the 2020 season, and a start date will be determined at a later time.

The Chippewa Nature Center canceled multiple events including: Maple Syrup Day Festival and Breakfast scheduled for March 21; Spring Break Mini-Day Camp for March 30-April 2; Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour for April 3-4.

The Home Builders Association of Saginaw canceled its home show, which was scheduled for March 21-22 at Ryder Center for Health and Physical Education at Saginaw Valley State University.

A series of lectures and concerts by Midland pianist and teacher George Fee were postponed until the fall. They were Chopin: Poet of the Piano; Franz Liszt: Spiritual Seeker; and Claude DeBussy: Seeker of the Inexpressible.

The Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra concert Cole Meets Gershwin that was scheduled for Saturday, March 28, was canceled.

The Link Up The Orchestra Rocks, on Friday, March 27 was rescheduled to Friday, May 8.

Regularly scheduled Legion dinners and burger nights for the American Legion 165 will be canceled until further notice.

Midland Morning Rotary has canceled its weekly club meetings for the remainder of March. It will reschedule its guest speakers to a later date. At this time, the plan is to resume weekly meetings as of April 7, however, that may depend on the evolution of events. In addition, Midland Morning Rotary has postponed its notification about Claires Day awards, until after schools have resumed operations. If schools resume on April 6 as anticipated, the celebration will be held on May 14 as planned.

Midland Noon Rotary has been canceled weekly meetings until April 9.

The Midland Business Alliance has decided to postpone all events through Friday, April 3, which includes a ribbon cutting for Renue Physical Therapy  Greater Midland for March 23, April WakeUp! Midland for April 3, and the MYPros PerkUp, which was scheduled for March 24.

The Leadership Midland Alumni Association Night at Dow Diamond that was scheduled for April 20 is also canceled.

Saginaw Choral Societys Saturday, March 21 concert, Alzheimers Stories, at First Presbyterian Church Saginaw, has been postponed to a later date. All tickets purchased for Alzheimers Stories will be honored on the rescheduled date to be announced as soon as it becomes possible.

Midland Center for the Arts canceled the following: Echo in the Canyon, a Matrix: Midland film; Comedy Night in April; Kids Kabaret, March 21 , rehearsals and performance canceled; Uncorked canceled through April; and Interlochen's The Sleeping Beauty.

The Huge Rummage Sale that was set for April 2-4 at Blessed Sacrament Parish Center is canceled.

The Michigan Departments of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; Agriculture and Rural Development; and Natural Resources are canceling the draft Lake Erie Adaptive Management Plan public information meeting that was scheduled for Monday at Adrian College. In lieu of the public information meeting, the departments will host an additional webinar for public comments from 6 to 7 p.m. March 25.

All MidMichigan Health classes, screenings and support groups have been canceled until April 5. Those who have questions regarding classes, screenings or support groups may contact MidMichigan Health Line at 800-999-3199. Those who have questions about childbirth education classes and additional resources may contact Stephanie Leibfritz, R.N., M.S., manager of community health, at 989-839-1886 or stephanie.leibfritz@midmichigan.org.

The Countywide Managers meeting for March 24 was canceled.

Mid-Michigan's Children Museum is closed until April 7.

The March MLDA Midland Support Group meeting scheduled for Tuesday at the Grace A Dow library is cancelled. Please contact Jill at 989-859-4618 for questions or information.

Greater Michigan Construction Academy has postponed the March Trivia Night scheduled for March 25.People will be able to use tickets/sponsorships purchased for the postponed date. People who aren't able to attend the postponed date, can use the tickets/sponsorships for the November Trivia Night. More information and a new date will be coming within the next couple weeks. If you have any questions, email esadilek@gmcami.org or call 989-832-8879.

The 2020 season opener for the Chemical City Derby Girls, scheduled for Saturday, March 21 has been cancelled.

The Great Lakes Bay Region College Night set to be hosted at Saginaw Valley State University next week is canceled.

The League of Women Voters of the Midland Area has canceled its evening event scheduled for March 23 at the Holiday Inn.

Great Lakes Loons has canceled all public and private events through April 5. In addition, the front office for the Loons, ESPN 100.9-FM, MBF and Dow Diamond will be closed to the general public during this time frame, with the staff conducting business electronically and by phone.

The AAUW  Midland Branch canceled its Spring Used Book Sale scheduled for April 24-26.

Centre Lodge #273 is suspending all activities until the end of April. This includes cancellation of the annual spaghetti dinner on April 4, and the planned re-dedication of our Lodge in honor of its 150th anniversary that was scheduled for April 25.

The AAUW  Midland Branch canceled its Spring Used Book Sale scheduled for April 24-26. The Fall Used Book Sale will be held October 2-4, at the Midland Mall.

Churches/Church events

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Midland has announced that all large-group activities, including Sunday worship and classes, have been temporarily suspended until at least April 20, a decision to be reviewed every few weeks, based on recommendations by public health and denominational officials. The facilities also will be temporarily closed to rentals.

The presentation scheduled for 7 p.m. on March 26 at Blessed Sacrament Parish Center entitled, "Mass Incarceration in America," was cancelled. All activities at the Parish Center are cancelled through April 5 at this time.

The remaining Memorial Presbyterian Church of Midland's 2020 Lenten Noon-Time Recitals have been canceled.

St. Brigid Church has canceled its remaining fish fry dinners.
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Li Wenliang, a doctor in Wuhan who was reprimanded for warning colleagues of a new coronavirus earlier this year, used the messaging app WeChat to share his concerns on December 30, 2019, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Be careful, our group chat can be suspended, a contact responded, according to screenshots purporting to show the private exchange. CPJ could not independently verify the screenshots, which were widely cited in online discussions and media reports after Li sickened and later died from the COVID-19 disease.

On December 31, at least some posts involving the virus were already subject to censorship on Chinese platforms, according to a report published this month by Citizen Lab, which is based out of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Chinas sophisticated censorship apparatus blocks foreign social media platforms, while requiring their local counterparts to monitor and control what their users are able to share. CPJ reporting suggests Chinese companies use automation and manpower to block topics that are perennially sensitive, as well as implement propaganda directives issued when news breaks.

Not all information about the ongoing public health crisis has been suppressedrelated discussions were easy to find on Chinese social media this month, according to CPJ monitoring. But some posts remained subject to control, including a March 10 interview with another Wuhan doctor that was shared as an audio recording, translated into Korean, and even encoded by WeChat users to evade censorship, according to the China Media Project at Hong Kong University.

Citizen Labs report lists dozens of keywords that triggered censorship of posts on both WeChat and YY, a live-streaming platform, between December 31, 2019 and February 15, 2020. Citizen Lab says this restricted factual public health information, as well as opinions about the governments handling of the outbreak. Cases of COVID-19 have since been confirmed in more than 110 countries, the WHO said in March.

CPJ requested comment on Citizen Labs findings from WeChats parent company Tencent via their website, and from YY via email, but received no response before publication. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cyberspace Administration of China, and the Public Security Bureau in Wuhan did not respond to CPJs messages requesting comment.

CPJ interviewed Lotus Ruan, a Citizen Lab researcher who co-authored the report, via email in March. Her replies have been edited for length and clarity.

First off, what triggered your interest in analyzing social media censorship in China around the COVID-19 outbreak?

As a research lab focusing on digital technologies and human rights, Citizen Lab has been tracking Chinese social media censorship for years. The COVID-19 outbreak is one of the many events we track.

We noticed that discussions on the coronavirus outbreak started to trend on Chinese social media in early January. Meanwhile, we started to pick up censored keywords on YY and WeChat. As we gathered more data we decided to share our findings, as this is not just any event, but one that pertains to a global public health issue.

In this screenshot illustrating WeChat censorship, a United States account attempts to send messages containing the Chinese terms for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and coronavirus to a China account, but they do not arrive. (Citizen Lab)

Chinese netizens are known for using wordplay as a workaround when keywords are censored on social media. Did you come across any during your research?

Some keyword combinations [that were censored] include sarcastic homonyms or word play related to COVID-19. One example, virus of officialdom, is a homonym of the Chinese phrase for coronavirus.

What are the implications for journalists trying to report on the outbreak and the publics right to information?

WeChat implements censorship on China-registered accounts. When reporters (or any users) register their WeChat account with a Chinese phone number, they will be subject to censorship, even when they move outside mainland China and unlink the original phone number.

Moreover, censorship is conducted silently, in the sense that users will not know their messages are censored unless they double check with recipients. Such a system can potentially hinder communications among reporters who try to discuss work or share notes with their colleagues via WeChat.

Your report says Chinese authorities vowed to rid the internet of rumors about the epidemic that they say will cause public fear and chaos. Do you think China would have been able to control the spread of the virus without censorship?

It is arguably reasonable to moderate content to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The question is moderation by whom, and according to what standard. Content moderation needs to be done with transparency and accountability. In the case of YY and WeChat, we have not seen transparency or accountability from either company.

Censorship is an important part of Chinas propaganda apparatus, which aims to manage public opinion. Broad censorship of neutral and even factual information related to the virus might have limited the publics ability to share and discuss knowledge of the prevention of the disease.

We do not measure Chinas ability to control the spread of the virus. Whether Chinaor any country for that matteris able to control the virus and whether it censors information related to it are not mutually exclusive.

Do you think that restricting communication related to information about COVID-19 contributed to the spread of misinformation online?

While we dont have data to measure the correlation, the wide scope of censorship we observed from YY and WeChat is problematic, because blocking broad information during a health crisis can limit the publics ability to stay informed and protect themselves.

The Wall Street Journal reported recently that a Singapore-based subsidiary of YY has begun exporting the system it uses to moderate content. Are you aware of any such systems being deployed elsewhere?

We have not come across foreign platforms using Chinese filtering technologies. However, the case of WeChat is worth studying, as the implications of censorship on WeChat go far beyond its impact on China-based users.

Because of the way it implements censorship, WeChats content controls affect not just users in China but also those who emigrated from China. If users only read information on WeChat even after they move abroad, their perception of news events and local politics may be heavily skewed based on how WeChat filters relevant information.

Were any English keywords about the coronavirus outbreak censored?

We didnt find any during our testing period for this report. However, in past reports we observed that Chinese social media platforms censor content in other languages. WeChat also censors content in English, and in some cases, Hindi and Tibetan as well.

In our study of keyword censorship on Chinas mobile gaming platforms, we found that some platforms censor Japanese and Korean keywords.

How does Chinas approach to censorship compare with other countries around the world?

The censorship apparatus in China is sophisticated because, on one hand it is conducted through a system of intermediary liability, and on the other hand, laws and regulations on content are vague and broadly defined. Companies are expected to share the burden of controlling content on their platforms, but also to figure out what specific content they should censor. As a result, private companies often end up self-censoring to play safe.

Authorities or private companies may lift censorship around some keywords as they become less sensitive or attract less public attention, while continuing to block others. Censorship on Chinese social media is dynamictherefore it is important to continue tracking how information is controlled.

How can the authorities in China and elsewhere learn from this tragedy?

Keeping the public informed with accurate information related to disease prevention helps them to be better prepared. While it may be reasonable to moderate information in a moment of crisis to keep public fear and misconceptions in check, it is important to do so with transparency and accountability.

CPJs safety advisory for journalists covering the coronavirus outbreak is available in English, Espanol and .

CPJ China correspondent Iris Hsu contributed reporting from Taiwan.

[EDITORS NOTE: The name of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy has been corrected in the third paragraph.]
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wrapped up their royal engagements and will make their official move away from the royal family March 31. With the couple leaving their royal duties behind, many fans have been focused on how Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have been handling the transition. One royal expert is very impressed with the Cambridges, most notably Kate.

Kate Middleton and Prince William | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Prince Harry, Meghan, Prince William, and Kate reunited

As the Sussexes are on their way out, they had a handful of royal duties to wrap up, including attending the Commonwealth Day service, reuniting publicly with Prince William and Kate. It wasnt, however, the warmest moment, as many noticed there was tension between the couples.

A video showed Meghan mouthing hi and giving a small wave to Prince William and Kate, and Harry saying hello and smiling. The greeting didnt appear to be returned, with body language expert Judi James sharing the tension between them.

It wasnt the warm reunion that we were all hoping for, James told The Mirror. The tension in Harrys body language especially was palpable. When Harry arrived, the minute he and Meghan had to drop hands, he immediately reached for his wedding ring which is a self comfort.

Of their greeting, James noted: Harry and Meghan looked a lot more genuinely cheerful, and Harry especially, threw a really affectionate smile at Kate.

As they took their seats Harry threw Kate an open-mouthed smile and hello of what looked like genuine pleasure and Meghan raised her brows and smiled in an equally friendly ritual, she added.

Kate has shown shes in confident form

The Cambridges have had to carry on despite the exit drama and have handled things flawlessly. Royal commentator Omid Scobie is rather impressed with how Kate has shown immense confidence over the last few months.

It is great to see the Duchess in confident form, Scobie noted during his HeirPod podcast. I think we have been seeing a brand new Duchess of Cambridge 2.0 in the last few months.

He continued, sharing, She really seems to be relishing the role now and really going from strength to strength. It makes it all very exciting.

Scobie pointed to some of Kates recent projects, explaining, On the royal beat we do get very caught up with what is going on behind palace doors and we are all fascinated by that. But it is also great when the work itself is interesting and that becomes the talking point.

He added, For example, the recent engagements we have seen from Kate like doing the podcast.

Prince William is also winning rave reviews

The Cambridges rarely make a misstep, but their current efforts arent going unnoticed. While Kate is earning praise for showing a new confidence and strength, Prince William is also grabbing some attention.

Prince William was recently in Nottinghamshire to speak about the importance of providing opportunities for young people in the world of business, Scobie noted.

He added, We saw him jump into a giant paving truck to help lay down some surface for roads. It was unusual but I think it is great to see William willing to get his hands dirty and involved.
Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ.Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ.
'Lufthansa said it is "not yet possible to estimate the burden on earnings to be expected from current developments".' (Stock image)

Lufthansa will slash its capacity by up to 50pc in coming weeks due to the spread of the coronavirus.

The airline is also looking at taking its 14 Airbus A380 aircraft out of service.

"This measure is designed to reduce the financial consequences of the slump in demand. It complements the planned savings actions in the area of personnel, in material costs and project budgets, and other liquidity measures," it said.

Lufthansa said it is "not yet possible to estimate the burden on earnings to be expected from current developments".

The airline industry remains in turmoil due to Covid-19, with Ryanair and Aer Lingus among the carriers halting all flights to Italy as the country remains under lockdown. Airlines across the world are cutting schedules as passenger demand slumps.

Heathrow Airport yesterday reported that passenger traffic through the gateway was down 4.8pc in February, with demand continuing to weaken this month.

But speaking yesterday at a JP Morgan virtual conference, the chief executive of aircraft leasing giant Aercap, Gus Kelly, said he believed air traffic growth will remain "resilient".

He also said that the company's order book is "extremely manageable".

Mr Kelly told investors that the number of daily scheduled domestic and international flights in China has begun to rise again after hitting a low of about 4,000 on February 20. In the middle of January, the figure was about 16,000. On March 5, it was 8,000 and is due to be higher today. For March 19, there are almost 10,000 flights scheduled.

He pointed out that Aercap has continued to close aircraft sales in both February and March this year, and executed a total of 80 deals in the first 10 weeks of 2020.
Former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia (49) will visit Madhya Pradesh on Thursday afternoon to file his nomination papers as BJP candidate for the Rajya Sabha election, as per a schedule released by state BJP unit in Bhopal.

The visit happens to be his maiden one to his home state after his joining the Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi on Wednesday.

Election to Rajya Sabha for three seats in Madhya Pradesh is due on March 26. The last date for filing the nomination papers is March 13.

This is the first time when Scindia is filing his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha. He has been a member of Lok Sabha for four consecutive terms up to May 2019 when he lost the Lok Sabha election from Guna parliamentary constituency.

Also Watch l How Jyotiraditya Scindias induction will help the BJP

The BJPs Madhya Pradesh unit has made massive preparations to accord a warm welcome to Scindia, according to partys media in-charge Lokendra Parashar.

Scindia will land at Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal at 4 pm on Thursday, from where he will proceed to state BJP headquarters in a rally accompanied by all the prominent party leaders in Madhya Pradesh. The rally will cover a distance of about 13 kilometres. He will be greeted by party workers and the general public along the route.

Scindia will visit the state BJP headquarters again on Friday afternoon after which he will proceed to the state assembly to file his nomination papers, accompanied by BJP leaders and workers.

After joining the BJP Scindia had tweeted, Thanking @JPNaddaji and @narendramodi ji @AmitShah ji & members of the BJP family for accepting & welcoming me. Its not just a turning point in my life, but also an opportunity for me to continue my commitment towards public service under the inspirational leadership of PM Modi ji.

Thanking @JPNadda ji, @narendramodi ji, @AmitShah ji & members of the BJP family for accepting& welcoming me. Its not just a turning point in my life,but also an opportunity for me to continue my commitment towards public service under the inspirational leadership of PM Modi ji.  Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) March 11, 2020

As per arithmetic in the 230-seat state assembly, BJP and Congress will have no problem in getting their first candidate elected but a tough contest will follow if both the parties field their second candidate. Till now, Congress has not announced the names of its candidates; the BJP, meanwhile, has to announce the name of its second candidate.
Just days after news of the infamous Trump Tower meeting drew the attention of Robert Muellers Russia investigation, the translator present told the FBI there was no talk of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, according to recently released documents.

Anatoli Samochornov, translator, quoted in FBI memo: "There was no discussion of the 2016 United States presidential election or Collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign.

This exculpatory evidence  which backed accounts of Donald Trump Jr. and other campaign officials in attendance  was not mentioned in Special Counsel Muellers final report two years later. And the silence in the interim occurred as sinister theorizing on cable TV and in the press helped shape a public impression of the June 9, 2016 meeting as central to collusion.

The new documents record that on July 12, 2017, four days after the New York Times first disclosed the meeting, relying on government leaks, the FBI interviewed Anatoli Samochornov, a freelance translator with long ties to the U.S. government who had been engaged by the Russian side. Elaborating the day after its initial report, the Times used more leaks to report that Trump Jr. had agreed to the meeting because he was told that a Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, would provide damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

Whatever the suspicions raised by the Trump son's emailed response, "If it's what you say I love it," the meeting didn't live up to the billing, judging from what the translator told the FBI. Bureau notes show he told agents, There was no discussion of the 2016 United States presidential election or Collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign. The agent notes also state, There was no smoking gun according to Samochornov. There was not a discussion about dirt on Hillary Clinton. Samochornov did not think Hillary Clinton was mentioned by name.

Donald Trump Jr.: Translator account backs his version of the 2016 Trump Tower meeting. Why did the FBI sit on it?

Samochornov told the FBI that the meeting was 20 minutes long and focused on the Magnitsky Act, which imposes financial sanctions on wealthy Russians, and related matters. He recounted that Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was apparently so uninterested in the topic that he used his cellphone under the table throughout, and five to seven minutes after it began Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner left. FBI notes also record that Samochornov was not particularly fond of Donald Trump Jr., but stated that Donald Trump Jr.s account of the meeting with Veselnitskaya, as portrayed in recent media reports, was accurate.

Fourteen of the 448 pages of the Mueller Report are devoted to laying out in great detail the chronology and circumstances of the Trump Tower meeting. There are no mentions of Samochornovs flat denial of collusion or his corroboration of Trump Jr.s description of the meeting as benign, even though report footnotes list the translator's FBI interview nine times with little elaboration.

Natalia Veselnitskaya: Russian lawyer met Glenn Simpson before and after Trump Tower meeting, but Simpson says those encounters were coincidental.

The contents of Samochornovs 302  the form used by the FBI to report and summarize agent interviews  were first flagged this month by Undercover Huber, a pseudonymous Twitter account dedicated to following Trump-Russia news (not to be confused with Justice Department official John Huber, who was tasked with investigating potential FBI misconduct during the 2016 election). The document, with agents names redacted, was posted by the FBI under a federal judges order to release on a monthly basis 302s underpinning the Mueller Report, following a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by CNN and BuzzFeed.

Samochornov told the FBI that Veselnitskaya had dangled one piece of potentially partisan political information before the Trump officials  the claim that business associates of William Browder, the American businessman behind the passage of the Magnitsky Act, had made illicit donations to Democratic campaigns. Interview notes state that Samochornov did not know if the donation(s) were made directly to the Clinton campaign, the Democratic National Committee, or a political action committee.

This allegation, which was trumpeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was false. In November of 2017, Reuters reported that Fusion GPS  the Washington, D.C., opposition research firm paid by the Clinton campaign to compile the debunked Steele dossier used by the FBI to obtain warrants to spy on the Trump campaign  had provided Veselnitskaya with the bogus Browder-connected dirt before the Trump Tower meeting

Glenn Simpson: Co-founder of research firm Fusion GPS, which produced the Steele dossier financed by the Hillary Clinton campaign.

In their book Crime in Progress, Fusion co-founders Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch disavow having anything to do with the meeting. They write that previous Fusion work with Veselnitskaya explains Simpson's meeting with her in court on June 9, the day of the meeting, and afterward at a Washington, D.C., dinner that night.

Mueller reportedly explored charging the Trump campaign officials with campaign finance violations as a result of the meeting, on the untested theory that Veselnitskayas offer of damaging information could constitute an illegal campaign donation from a foreign source. Ultimately, Mueller decided against it.

Speculation about Russia collusion involving the Trump Tower meeting abounded in media accounts throughout the 2018 midterm elections, raising questions about whether the Mueller team should have disclosed the translators information. Mueller did speak out to correct faulty reporting on another matter that appeared damaging to the president, shutting down a BuzzFeed report alleging Trump had directed his lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress.

The Justice Department declined to comment on the assertions in Samochornovs 302.

The Mueller Report contains information that supports Samochornovs credibility. It reports that the translator was involved in civil litigation with Veselnitskaya on an unrelated matter. At one point, Samochornov said, the organization that hired him to work with Veselnitskaya on repealing the Magnitsky Act offered to pay $90,000 worth of his related legal fees  if he would corroborate certain statements made by Veselnitskaya.

Samochornov declined, the Mueller Report states, telling the Office that he did not want to perjure himself.

The FBIs 302 also records that he explicitly informed the FBI of his legal entanglement during his interview, and Samochornov has a long track record of working as a translator for the State Department and other government agencies on a contract basis. He has been married to Tatiana Rodzianko, a State Department employee, since 2006.

Samochornov told the interviewing agents that he would have contacted the FBI if he thought the meeting was nefarious, according to the 302.
The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed restrictive measures on another unit of Rosneft, intensifying pressure on the Russian state oil giant over its alleged support of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Swiss-based TNK Trading International (TTI) now faces freezes on any property and interests in property in the United States or that are in the possession or control of U.S. persons, according to a March 12 Treasury Department press release.

The measures also generally block the firm from operating on global financial markets.

Energy-rich Venezuela has been embroiled in a months-long political standoff with opposition supporters.

Russia, Cuba, Iran, and China are key backers of Maduro, who took office in 2013 and was sworn in for a second term in January 2019 following elections that were marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging.

The United States and more than 50 other countries have recognized opposition leader and legislative speaker Juan Guaido as Venezuela's leader and have demanded that Maduro step down.

TTI was accused of evading U.S. sanctions and helping prop up Maduro's "corrupt" use of Venezuela's lucrative oil industry.

"TNK Trading International S.A. is another Rosneft subsidiary brokering the sale and transport of Venezuelan crude oil, which is subject to sanctions," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. "The Trump administration remains committed to targeting those who support the corrupt regimes exploitation of Venezuela's oil assets."

After the United States imposed similar sanctions on another Rosneft unit, Rosneft Trading, on February 18, cargoes of Venezuelan oil allocated to it were changed to TNK Trading International "in order to evade U.S. sanctions," the departments news release said.

Sanctions were also placed on the brokerage's president, Didier Casimiro, for allegedly having "acted or purported to act for or on behalf of Rosneft Trading."

Rosneft works with Venezuelan energy giant Petroleos de Venezuela in South America.

Reacting to the U.S. announcement last month, Rosneft said its projects in Venezuela were "in strict compliance with the norms of international and national laws" and that it "does not pursue any political goals."

The Russian Foreign Ministry said the sanctions would not affect Russias "interaction with the lawful authorities of Venezuela."
Only through cooperation can int'l community win final victory over COVID-19, says scholar

SINGAPORE, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 epidemic is a common enemy facing humankind as a whole, and the international community must join hands to cope with it in order to win a final victory, a Singaporean scholar has said.

Zheng Yongnian, director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the nationwide and large-scale effort led by the Chinese government to combat the epidemic has made a remarkable achievement obvious to all.

The epidemic situation in China's Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, has been effectively controlled, and the number of confirmed cases in the entire country has been on a steady decline, he said, adding that the speedy containment of the epidemic is rarely seen in the history of both China and humankind.

The history of humankind is also one of humankind fighting viruses, Zheng noted, adding that China began mobilizing the whole country to push back the epidemic as soon as it realized the threat of the virus.

A team from the World Health Organization (WHO) gave an objective and fair evaluation of China's work after a field trip to the country, he said.

The Chinese government has taken strict measures to control the spread of the epidemic, and it is not easy, said the China expert, adding that Chinese people, especially the people of Hubei, have made great sacrifices.

Zheng cited WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as saying that China deserves the international community's gratitude and respect for its anti-epidemic efforts.

Viruses respect no borders, and every new virus is a public enemy of all people in the world, the scholar said. Under the circumstances, the international community should join hands to cope with the virus in order to win a final victory, he said.

The scholar suggested a two-pronged war on the virus -- people should make efforts to combat the virus on one hand and revive the affected economy as soon as possible on the other.

Recognizing the novel coronavirus as humankind's common enemy will help people understand the efforts and contributions that Chinese people have made for the sake of the world, Zheng added.

The scholar called on countries to support and learn from each other in the fight against the epidemic, and stick strong together with Chinese people.

He also called on China to stand with the world to deal with the situation in order to win a final victory.
That seemed to apply to Disneyland and other California theme parks, including Universal Studios in Los Angeles and Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif. But Mr. Newsom backtracked at a Thursday morning news conference, saying that his guidelines excluded large parks like Disneyland and places such as casinos and movie theaters because of the complexity of their unique circumstances.

Disney made its announcement regarding Disneylands closing shortly thereafter.

After carefully reviewing the guidelines of the governor of Californias executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, the company said in a statement. About three hours later, Disney announced the closure of Disney World, Disneyland Paris and Disney Cruise Line in an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees.

Disney World, which employs 75,000 people, has experience with sudden closures. The mega-resort has been shuttered for various lengths of time because of hurricanes, including Matthew in 2016, Frances in 2004 and Floyd in 1999.

Disneyland, which employs roughly 31,000 people, has had unscheduled closures only two times since opening in 1955. The first time was in 1963 for a national day of mourning after the assassination of President Kennedy. The second was after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The California resort has grown substantially since the last closing. It now consists of two popular theme parks: Disneyland and the adjacent California Adventure, which together recorded attendance of roughly 28.7 million in 2018, the last year for which figures are available. Disney also operates three hotels in Anaheim and a shopping district called Downtown Disney, which will remain open.

Hundreds of other businesses in Anaheim and the surrounding cities rely on Disneyland to keep their cash registers ringing, from nearby mom-and-pop motels to fast-food restaurants outside the park gates to busing companies that shuttle families to and from airports. A 2018 study by professors at California State University, Fullerton, found that the Disneyland resort had an $8.5 billion annual impact on Southern California.

The coronavirus has already caused major problems for Disney overseas. The companys entire Asian theme park operation has been closed for weeks  four parks in China and Japan that together attract 51.2 million visitors annually. Disney has said its China parks will remain shuttered until the end of March and perhaps longer, although its Shanghai property began what it called a phased reopening on March 9 by allowing guests to enter a shopping and dining area outside the park gates.
HALIFAXCanadian researchers across the country have received funding to help spur their fight against a global pandemic.

As nations grapple with the spread of COVID-19, work is underway to diagnose and treat the novel coronavirus, to limit its scope and to effectively deal with its fallout.

The Star spoke to researchers from Halifax, Edmonton and Vancouver who are each doing their part.

Dr. David Kelvin

 Professor, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University

 Rapid Research Funding Grant: $1 million

 Research: Triage device to indicate which patients are likely to have a more severe case of COVID-19

In the midst of a worldwide coronavirus pandemic, Halifax researcher Dr. David Kelvin is trying to make his way to the centre of Europes biggest outbreak. If he gets there, he has no idea when  or if  hell make it back.

Kelvin, a professor in the microbiology and immunology faculty at Dalhousie University, is going to Italy because thats where the data is. Hes just received a $1-million cheque from the government to help expedite his search for a method of triage for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

That method requires him and his team to identify biomarkers that will indicate if a patient is likely to have a mild or serious case of the novel coronavirus.

The goal is to identify patients who are likely to need hospitalization and/or critical care earlier, and to ease the strain on emergency room doctors by filtering the patients more likely to have mild infections from those whose cases will be more severe.

On the phone from Toronto, this week, he was putting together supplies to take to fellow researchers in Italy. There are problems just finding a way to get there  Air Canada joined British Airways as the latest airlines to announce they will no longer fly into or out of Italy. And with the country extending its emergency lockdown measures nationwide, its difficult to see how hell get back home anytime soon. In a worst-case scenario, he might be stuck in Italy for the duration of the lockdown.

But Kelvin seemed unfazed at that prospect. He was more interested in talking about his research.

Currently, when a patient tests positive for coronavirus, there is no efficient way to tell how sick they might become.

About 80 per cent of patients testing positive for coronavirus go on to develop a mild illness. Of those, 20 per cent will develop a severe case of the disease, and of those, five per cent would develop the most severe cases.

In China, at the peak of the epidemic, emergency room doctors would face thousands of people, literally, in one day. I have a picture of a thousand people lined up to get into an emergency room, he says.

During that period of time, they have to make an assessment of A) whos infected with the virus, and then B) whether the individual should be hospitalized and C) if they should be hospitalized and receive ICU admission.

The problem is that, as we found out through the Wuhan experience, there arent enough hospital beds and there arent enough ICU beds for the people who are lined up to get into emergency rooms.

So there has to be some kind of priority ranking for the people who would have the most severe illness and identify them at the earliest stages so that they could be placed in the most appropriate care.

Kelvin is part of the COVID-19 Research Network, a global network of scientists from China, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Cote dIvoire, Mozambique, Vietnam, the U.S. and Canada.

Their hope is to make those crowds more manageable.

They can do that by looking for biomarkers for immune proteins. The body produces those proteins when its immune system attempts to fight off a virus.

If they can correlate a certain set of immune proteins to patients who have the more severe forms of COVID-19, and they can test for the presence of those proteins, then scientists will be able to tell with reasonable confidence whether a particular patient will have a severe form of the disease, in which case they might need to be hospitalized, or the milder form, where hospitalization is unnecessary.

The question Kelvin is trying to answer is this: What immune proteins tend to be present in people who develop the most severe cases of COVID-19? And how can we test for them?

What were trying to do is identify a set of biomarkers that can specifically identify those individuals who are at the highest risk for developing the most severe illness, so that you can intervene earlier with those patients  and improve the chances of their survival, says Kelvin.

The hardware to do this already exists. The two candidate devices can return test results in a matter of minutes, and they are inexpensive enough that they can be used to help doctors make decisions in places that have limited resources.

Essentially what Kelvins team needs to do is to calibrate those devices for the immune proteins produced in the wake of a coronavirus infection.

To do that requires data in the form of people who have already been stricken with COVID-19. Hence Kelvins travels to  and hopefully from  outbreak zones in Italy and Wuhan.

The global effort will give us large numbers, but it also gives us something else, he says. The populations around the world are diverse. We find that there are socio-economic differences, and there are also genetic differences. So what we want to know is, in each population where theres an outbreak whether the biomarkers are similar or different.

Kelvin says he hopes to have his tests ready for approval in three to four months.

Dr. Chris Le

 Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta

 Recent Rapid Research Funding Grant: $800,000

 Research: Tool for fast, early and accessible diagnosis of the coronavirus

Dr. Chris Le knows all too well that a delayed coronavirus diagnosis can cost a life.

In January, two of his friends in Wuhan, China were infected with the coronavirus.

One of my friends was infected, and she was diagnosed very early. She was admitted to hospital and treated and she recovered and was discharged. She was fine. That was great, he says.

But there was another, my friends older brother, who wasnt diagnosed until much later, when the symptoms became very severe, including pneumonia. And at that point, he had a very difficult time to fight and in the end, he lost the battle against COVID-19.

This is quite personal to me as well. Theyre not just numbers  how many people. Each number is a person somewhere.

Le, a professor and researcher at the University of Albertas Faculty of Medicine, has just received a rapid funding grant for some $800,000. Hes working on a way to speed up the diagnosis process for COVID-19.

Its research hes familiar with  his team has previously developed technology for detecting toxic environmental substances. Hes now working on adapting that technology to work on detecting the coronavirus.

He hopes to reduce the time it takes doctors to make a diagnosis, especially in limited-resource settings, and in doing so, help patients get treatment earlier, thus saving lives.

Currently the test for coronavirus is resource-heavy and requires specialized equipment. Results for each test come back in about four hours.

Coronavirus is an RNA virus. That means at the heart of the virus is a strand of ribonucleic acid. This differs from the more familiar DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in that it is, in this instance, single-stranded, as opposed to the classic double-stranded coil of the DNA molecule. The test for coronavirus is essentially a test for the presence of its specific RNA molecule.

In the current coronavirus test, which Le calls the gold standard, a swab is taken from the nose or throat. Then the virus is deactivated and its RNA is extracted.

However the amount of RNA in the sample is much too small to be detected  it has to be amplified. This is done by duplicating it several times.

It takes time and specialized equipment to extract and duplicate the RNA. Les test would negate the need for specialized equipment and training. His technology would reduce the test to something that could be performed in resource-limited settings  perhaps a doctors office or a community centre, for a rural village.

The steps are essentially the same as the current test, but Les work is designed to keep the process in one tube and eliminate specialized equipment.

The results would be clear: The contents of a test tube changing colour on the one hand, or a strip, like a pregnancy strip, with two lines on it for a positive result.

And at a comparable cost, Les test would deliver results in one hour, rather than the four it currently takes.

With testing going on concurrently with development, Le believes he can have his diagnostic tool ready for approval in about three months.

Other tests for the coronavirus are simultaneously being developed, and Le expects that in the not-too-distant future doctors will have a number of testing tools at their disposal.

I think you will see more than one diagnostic map that will allow for faster detection and maybe some screening including triage. he says. So this way, people can focus resources on true positives, and have faster earlier diagnoses.

Dr. Srinivas Murthy

Associate professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Rapid Research Funding Grant: $954,936

Research: Clinical trial on whether antiviral medication originally designed to treat HIV is effective against COVID-19

Some doctors believe HIV medication could treat COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that doctors have not yet found a cure for.

One B.C. researcher has received nearly $1 million from the Canadian government to administer the drug to hundreds of COVID-19 patients in a clinical trial.

The drug, called Kaletra/Aluvia, kills viruses.

Its an antiviral medication, said Dr. Srinivas Murthy, a clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia. It was designed to kill HIV and it may be effective against COVID-19 infection. We dont know yet.

The challenge? Murthy and his team need to reach COVID-19 patients before public health officials are able to control the outbreak. Clinical trials require a certain sample size in order to be viable and Murthy says he is aiming to reach about 400 hospital patients this time around.

But Canada has less than a hundred confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far  and only one in ten patients are sick enough to warrant hospitalization  so if Murthy and his team are not able to begin administering the drug soon enough before officials ultimately stop the spread of the virus, the trial could be a flop.

Thats what happened during the Ebola and H1N1 outbreaks, said Murthy. Research infrastructure prevented doctors from starting the trials right away  clinical trials need to get approval from university ethics boards and the public health agencies before getting the green light  and by the time they received permission, there were too few patients.

Murthy said he is a few weeks out from beginning the COVID-19 trials.

Still, he hopes health officials will be able to stop the spread of the disease as soon as possible.

Thats the best case scenario, he said. But worst case scenario, were ready to learn new things.

This is how the trial will work.

If you are hospitalized with COVID-19, you will receive what doctors call supportive care  like fluids and oxygen  no matter what. But a researcher will then approach you and ask whether you want to participate in a randomized trial where some patients receive the trial drug and some do not. If you agree, researchers will collect information on your recovery and use that data to determine whether the drug is effective or not.

Conducting this kind of research during a pandemic is difficult, because of widespread public anxiety, said Murthy.

Even randomized trials, which under normal medical circumstances people usually readily accept, can become intolerable, he said.

During a pandemic, people tend to want everything, even if (the medication) is not proven.

Eventually Murthy said his team may turn the trial into a double blind study where patients do not know whether they receive the trial medication or not. But for now they are forgoing that in order to get the trial up and running as quickly as possible.

Murthy said the plan is to use the $954,936 federal grant to conduct clinical trials at up to 40 hospitals throughout Canada and to reach at least 400 patients. Then, his team will share the findings with hospitals around the world.

We have the infrastructure to do these clinical trials, he said. Places without those resources do not and theyll be looking to us for those signs and evidence to inform what they do.

Wanyee Li is a Vancouver-based reporter covering courts and conservation issues for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @wanyeelii

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Brent crude slid 8% on Thursday after US President Donald Trump restricted travel from Europe among measures to halt the spread of coronavirus after the World Health Organization described the outbreak as a pandemic. A flood of cheap supply coming onto the market from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates compounded pressure on prices. The Gulf Arab producers are raising production as they go on the offensive in an oil price war with Russia. Brent crude was down $2.83, or 7.9%, at $32.96 a barrel by 2:00 p.m. ET (1800 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate Texas crude was down $1.85, ...
BERKELEY, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AppearMe, a UC Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator startup that helps attorneys find litigation support in 60 seconds, goes nationwide. With over 10,000 attorneys signed up and 98.7% of requests finding a successful match with an appearance or freelance attorney in under a minute, AppearMe is the largest and only on-demand network of attorneys nationwide. Now attorneys in all states can join the startup that is changing litigation management by using the latest in artificial intelligence technology to optimize all outputs.

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With companies like UpCounsel and Atrium closing their doors, AppearMe continues to grow rapidly and becoming the go-to solution for many successful solo attorneys, as well as law firms and legal departments. The process of finding an appearance attorney used to be a two- to five-hour-long process that led to a 70% success rate at best. Now litigators rely on the real-time network to fuel their litigation support, grow their revenue and cut down overhead costs.

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The AppearMe suite of modules integrate seamlessly with a series of productivity tools already used by attorneys such as iCal and Google calendars as well as practice management software such as Clio. The startup has a huge impact on the access to justice movement and is supporting hundreds of attorneys to meet the needs of the ever-changing legal landscape.

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I became an Eagle Scout in my teens, but, despite continuing my outdoor adventures, I seem to have promptly forgotten the majority of my scouting wisdom. Tying timber hitches, identifying medicinal plants, constructing emergency shelters  all gone. I just didnt and havent needed that stuff. But I have continued one Scouting tradition: carrying a pocketknife.

Ive gone through a lot of knives in my life. There was a Buck or two, a wood-handled Old Timer, even a high-end ZT. Then sometime in my mid-20s, a weathered U.S. Special Forces operator told me that his daily carry is the Benchmade Mini Griptilian. If it was good enough for him, I assumed it could handle whatever I might put it through, and I bought my own.

Since then, Ive carried the USA-made Mini Griptilian most days and have used it in tasks both mundane and epic. The knifes 2.91-inch blade has sliced through apples and packages.* Its gutted trout alongside Utah streams and Wyoming lakes. Its butchered 400-pound caribou on the Arctic tundra. It once even sliced through my own flesh at home when I asininely used it to cut the tag off of a shirt that I was  wearing. There was some good news, at least: The cut was clean, thanks to the knifes ability to hold a precisely sharp edge. If it ever dulls, just ship it to Benchmades factory in Oregon City and the company will take care of the maintenance for you  cleaning, oiling, tuning, and resharpening the knife for free.

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At just under 3 ounces, the Mini Griptilian is light enough for everyday carry but not so light that it cant take on heavier jobs like that caribou.* Its fiberglass-reinforced, diamond-engraved plastic handle sits comfortably in your hand and stays there (its called the Griptilian for a reason). Another nice feature is that Benchmade allows you to choose from six blade shapes and a handful of handle colors. One tip: Select a yellow or bright blue handle, which makes the knife harder to lose when you drop it in the field  and harder to overlook when youre checking your carry-on before heading to the airport. Ive lost three to the TSA.




Haiti - FLASH : Air Caraibes suspends its flights to Haiti for 3 months





Following the decision of the Ministry of the Interior to no longer allow passengers from 6 countries classified as Red Zone : China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France and Germany to disembark directly in Haiti to avoid the introduction of the Covid-19 in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30226-haiti-flash-covid-19-passengers-from-6-countries-can-no-longer-disembark-directly-in-haiti.html, Air Caraibes has decided to suspend its flights to Haiti from this Wednesday from Wednesday March 11 to Tuesday June 16.



Maritza Gattereau, Representative of Air Caraibes in Haiti explains this decision on the one hand because Air Caraibe has a direct flight between Haiti and France and is directly affected by this ban and on the other hand, the airline would not like to be pointed as the one who introduced Covid-19 to Haiti. Air Caraibes is awaiting clarification on this measure from the Interior Ministry.



At Air France, the flights are maintained for the moment, the company indicates not to have been officially notified by the Ministry of the Interior, but to have learned the information on social networks, explained the official of the French company in Haiti. He claims that he was unable to obtain explanations from the authorities concerned, recalling that his planes arrive from Pointe-a-Pitre, Cayenne, Fort-de France and not from metropolitan France classified red, but only if the Ministry of the Interior confirms this ban for all French territories, Air France will respect this decision and apply it...



It is noted that in France, on the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Haiti is indeed listed as a country imposing travel restrictions on France.



Last Minute : The President of the United States Donald Trump during a solemn address from the Oval Office of the White House, has just banned for 30 days all passenger flights to the USA from Europe from midnight Friday March 13, 2020.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30226-haiti-flash-covid-19-passengers-from-6-countries-can-no-longer-disembark-directly-in-haiti.html



PI/ HaitiLibre


















STAMFORD  A city woman was psychotic when she stabbed her son in the stomach in 2017, a forensic psychiatrist testified during her bench trial on Tuesday.

Closing arguments were supposed to be held at the Stamford courthouse Thursday, but have been continued to March 19.

A judge will then decide whether Jolanta Sokolowski, 51, is not guilty of the assault by reason of insanity.

Testimony on Tuesday ended with Stamford forensic psychiatrist Hassan Minhas telling Judge Richard Comerford that the mother of three was psychotic at the time of the unprovoked attack.

According to a 16-page report Minhas submitted, Sokolowski was not taking her medications at the time of the attack.

At the time of the crime, she was actively hallucinating, had delusions that her children were being molested, and therefore the only way for her to help her son was to attack him herself, Minhas said in his report.The law requires Comerford decide whether Sokolowski lacked the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of her conduct or to be able to control her conduct to within the requirements of the law.

If found guilty, Sokolowski could face 30 years in prison for attempted first-degree assault, second-degree assault and carrying a dangerous weapon.

If found not guilty by reason of insanity, she could be sent to a hospital, such as the high-security Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital. She could be kept there longer than the maximum prison sentence if she is deemed to be a danger to herself and others.

Sokolowski, a cleaning woman, is free on $25,000 court-appearance bond and is living at home.

The prosecutors and defense attorneys agree that Sokolowski stabbed her son  at issue is her mental status.

Before coming to his conclusion, Minhas said he interviewed Sokolowski in May and September, spoke to family members and pored over her medical records and police reports of the incident.

He testified that Sokolowski had an extensive history of mental health disorders, dating back to 2009. She has been previously diagnosed with psychosis, depression and mania and has been prescribed a variety of antidepressants, mood stabilizers and anti psychotic medications.

Minhas said Sokolowski was not taking her medications at the time of the attack. He also said here is no evidence Sokolowski was on recreational drugs at the time and she has no history of alcohol or substance abuse, he said.

Minhas also testified that when he talked to Sokolowski, she was forthcoming about the incident and appeared credible.

Under questioning by Senior Assistant States Attorney Maureen Ornousky and Sokolowskis attorney Christian Bujdud, Minhas said Sokolowski has schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type.

As a result, the attack was the result of her disordered and delusional thinking, and she lacked the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions, Minhas said.

Also on Tuesday, Sokolowskis son, Peter, now 20, testified that his mother was acting in strange ways before she stabbed him. At times, she had him move boxes and then put them back to where they were before, he said.

He also said his mother cut pictures out of magazines, hung them on the wall and yelled at them.

On the night of Aug. 27, 2017, Peter Sokolowski said he was playing video games in his bedroom on the second floor of their North Stamford home when his mother came in and asked him to help with boxes in the attic. Earlier in the day, he said, his mother had displayed no violent tendencies and nothing seemed unusual.

In the attic, he moved the boxes, and although there seemed to be no purpose for her requests, they were not out of the ordinary, he said. She then asked for a hug. When he went to hug her, he said he immediately felt a pain in his left abdomen.

When he pulled back, he saw that two of his fingers had been cut open, he testified.

She asked me for a hug, so, thats when I got stabbed. After I went to her for a hug, I realized something happened, he said on the stand Tuesday.

Under questioning by Ornoousky, Sokolowski said his stab wound had completely healed in the two-and-a-half years since and that his fingers are fine.

After hearing from another witness who described the weapon as a kitchen knife with a 7.5-inch blade, both sides rested without calling Jolanta Sokolowski to the stand.

Are we not naming the witness?

Closing arguments, initially planned for Thursday, have been continued to March 19.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. - Remains found last week in Tennessee were positively identified as those of a 15-month-old girl missing for weeks, police said Wednesday.

The remains found Friday are those of Evelyn Mae Boswell, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Leslie Earhart said in a video message posted on Twitter. No other details were released.

The remains were found in Sullivan County on property belonging to a family member, the bureau had said earlier. The discovery followed a 17-day search across three states for the girl.

An Amber Alert was issued more than two weeks ago, but authorities said she hadnt been seen since at least December.

Evelyns mother, Megan Boswell, 18, was arrested Feb. 25 on a charge of filing a false report about her daughters disappearance. Authorities said her inaccurate and conflicting statements had impeded the investigation.

Megan Boswell was being held in the Sullivan County jail. Judge James Goodwin increased Boswells bond Monday to $150,000, according to news outlets.

Boswell initially told state investigators that Evelyn was with the childs father, Ethan Perry, according to court documents from her arraignment. But Perry is stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and did not have Evelyn, WJHL-TV reported.

Megan Boswell later said her mother, Angela Boswell, took her daughter to a campground in Mendota, Virginia, not far from Tennessees Sullivan County. Authorities searched multiple campgrounds in that area and found no sign of the girl, the TV station said.

Angela Boswell herself was arrested the week before her daughter was taken into custody. She and her boyfriend, William McCloud, were arrested in North Carolina on fugitive warrants unrelated to Evelyns case, authorities had said. Authorities looking for Evelyn searched a pond in the county where they were arrested.

Angela Boswell told a judge in North Carolina that she wanted to go home to resolve the situation with her granddaughter, news outlets reported at the time. She was subsequently returned to the Sullivan County jail a day before her daughter joined her there, and arraigned on a theft charge.
The former authorities are constantly trying to intimidate the people with war, sexual minorities and the loss of identity, and now theyll start intimidating the people with the coronavirus. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan stated in his speech at the campaign in Areni today.

Theyre trying to save themselves by intimidating the people, but were telling the people to not be afraid. The people have to go and say theyre not afraid by voting during the constitutional referendum on April 5, Pashinyan declared.

According to him, the other issue on the agenda is the issue of the opposition. A lot of people say there is no opposition to the incumbent authorities and the authorities havent determined who the opposition is. This is another phenomenon of the third republic that began in 1998 when the authorities were creating an opposition for them and started to mislead the people with that opposition. Our government says it isnt going to be creating an opposition for itself because the people create the real opposition. Were the government of the people, but we were the opposition of the people before we became the government, the Prime Minister declared.
Imagine leaving home for a brief family vacation and 45 days later  you're still gone.

That's what's happened to auto industry consultant Andrew Parrish and his family.

The family lives in Shanghai, but they are stranded in Dallas because of the coronavirus outbreak in China.

"We really, really, really want to go home, but were not sure when itll be a good time to go back," Parrish said. "Its kind of like being a refugee."

There are others in Parrish's predicament, people, many of them his friends, who fled China in late January for refuge in Canada, the USA, the United Kingdom and Italy.

They have no idea if or when they will see home again, said Parrish, who keeps in touch with them.

Andrew Parrish; his wife, Meng Lu, front; son, Aaron; and daughter, Shirley, head to the USA for Christmas from Shanghai Pudong International Airport in 2019.

Fear of the unknown

Parrish, 41, is a U.S. citizen who's lived in China for nearly 20 years. He's general manager for CMD Consulting, a Chicago consultancy to companies doing business in Asia. He has several auto industry clients including auto parts supplier Lucerne International in Auburn Hills and four other Detroit-based auto suppliers.

He and his family have been healthy, but their worry over getting the coronavirus is just one of many challenges to his return home.

Worried about markets? Here are 3 ways to protect your money

Dine out or eat in? Here's what public health and food safety experts say

"Most of the direct flight links are not open any more, so its not cheap to get back," Parrish said.

A 14-hour, one-way direct flight used to cost $600 per person, he said. Now the cheapest nondirect, 30-hour flight costs about $2,000 one way, Parrish said.

"Then you ask yourself are you making the right decision for your family?" Parrish said. "The uncertainty is the most unsettling thing about it."

So is the fear of not knowing what he'll face when he returns. American travelers can do a 14-day quarantine at home in China, Parrish said.

"But what if that changes where you have to go to a quarantine center and youre not in control of your own environment?" Parrish said. Its basically the same thing as being on a cruise ship. Youre in a hotel with possibly other sick people, and it could spread faster. Thats not a situation I want to be in.

Story continues

Empty flight

Parrish said he first heard about coronavirus when he was in the USA on a business trip in January.

"I remember thinking, 'I lived through SARS, this is no big deal. Im not worried,'" Parrish said. "My experience with SARS was awesome because no one was on the streets."

SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, was identified in 2003, before Parrish had his children, "so I enjoyed going out and getting everything at half-price," he said.

Parrish soon realized that coronavirus was a far cry from SARS. On Jan. 23, he boarded a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai. It was a flight he'd taken dozens of times, usually with about 280 people packed on board.

This time, there were only eight passengers.

Distressing decision

It hit him that people were not flying back to China, Parrish said. He asked a flight attendant about the vacant aircraft, and she told him, "Were empty on the way there, but we are full on the way back."

Parrish's plan was to celebrate the Chinese New Year and his wifes birthday in China, then the family would fly to Bangkok on Jan. 27 for a weeklong vacation.

Andrew Parrish and his family go on vacation in California in 2019.

"When I landed in China, I realized this was much more serious than I thought it was," Parrish said. "There werent any people out. At the time, there was no mandatory quarantine, but people all stayed in their houses."

The family stuck to the plan and made it to Thailand for "a normal vacation." By the end of that week, Parrish knew that the escalating cases of coronavirus in China meant he and his wife, Meng Lu, a teacher, would have to make a tough decision.

"Do we go back to China or go somewhere else?" Parrish said.

Parrish travels frequently throughout Southeast Asia and North America for business, meeting with customers. The Chinese government was talking about idling flights to the USA, he said, so that made returning home to China a bad option.

"Chinas our home, and we love China. But you weigh things in terms of health and safety and your business," Parrish said. "For us, the best choice was to come to America. Other friends have gone to Canada, some have gone to the U.K. You go wherever you need to go."

Life in the USA

They landed in Chicago on Feb. 3. After customs agents screened them, they were allowed into the USA with no need to do a self-quarantine, he said.

They did one anyway, for five days, when they arrived at Parrish's 67-year-old parents' house in Dallas. That's where the family of four has been ever since.

Parrish's 8-year-old son, Aaron, and 13-year-old daughter, Shirley, miss their friends and their classes at Shanghai Community International school, he said. The school is teaching all students  even those still in China who are on home quarantine  remotely, Parrish said.

"Every day, the teachers upload the lessons, and we download the work and work with the kids on it," Parrish said. "It's amazing that both schools, private and public, in a short period of time, were able to get an infrastructure to support that. But at the same time, it puts an awful lot of stress on the parents."

Then there is the culture shock of life in the USA. For one thing, they have all gained weight.

"We miss our friends, we miss our city, we miss our two cats. We miss having our normal life over there. Its very different over here," Parrish said. "We try to go out and find some food, and we cant find the right food. Ive put on a lot of weight here."

Parrish said he's gained at least 10 pounds since early February.

"The food here is more fattening and much bigger portions," Parrish said.

Government reaction

Friends in China care for the family's two cats, DianDian and Rougue, but Parrish worries that the dust and the mail are piling up.

Andrew Parrish and his son and daughter walk along The Bund in Shanghai in August 2019. The Bund is the old historic downtown district.

Parrish's homesickness might seem odd considering that China has been a communist country since 1949. But he's loved it there since first traveling to Taiwan in 1999.

"I find it very welcoming to business, very socially comfortable and quite open, and the economic opportunity is unparalleled," Parrish said. "Youd be surprised. Its quite free. There are a few things that you cant say or do. Political dissent is not encouraged. But as long as you stay away from that, youre fine."

Parrish has kept in touch with his fellow coronavirus refugees. Some have it worse than others. One couple left China around the same time Parrish and his family did, only they took refuge in northern Italy and are trapped there.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte declared a national emergency and signed a decree early Sunday to put 17 million people across northern Italy under lockdown. By Monday afternoon, the entire country was put on lockdown. NBC News reported that Italy has had the most fatalities outside mainland China.

Another pal is in Los Angeles. This friend's wife is pregnant, due to give birth in May, raising the question, "Do you travel with a pregnant wife? Theyre living with their in-laws," Parrish said. "Theyre stuck here. I think hes realized that.

Parrish said he takes it day by day. His near-term goal is to stay healthy and "keep the ability to be as mobile as possible and stay away from high-infected areas, and thats all hard to do because you want to go home, too."

Contact Jamie L. LaReau at 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: An auto exec's ordeal to flee coronavirus, stranding him far from home
India will operate two special flights from Mumbai and Delhi to evacuate Indians stranded in coronavirus hit Iran, informed Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on Thursday.

"As per the evacuation plan of Ministry of Civil Aviation, following special flights will operate to evacuate Indians from Iran--from Mumbai on March 13 at 12:30 pm and from Delhi on March 15 at 1:40 am," said Union Ministry of Civil Aviation official.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that over 6000 Indian nationals are stranded in different provinces of coronavirus-hit Iran and the Indian government is making focused efforts for their safe return to India.

"As per available information, there are over 6000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran. These include about 1100 pilgrims mainly from the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and the State of Maharashtra; nearly 300 students primarily from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir; about 1000 fishermen, including from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat; and others who are on a longer-term stay in Iran for pursuing their livelihood and religious studies," Jaishankar said.

"Given a large number of Indians in Iran, it was natural that we should seek to sequence their return, taking into account their location and exposure. The initial focus is on visiting pilgrims. Many of them are in Qom, where Coronavirus incidence has been strong," he added.

The minister informed that a team of six Indian health officials has been deputed to Iran in order to set up testing and sampling facilities there.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MINNEAPOLIS - U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has married a political consultant who worked for her, months after the two were accused of having an affair, which she denied.

A marriage license filed in Washington, D.C., shows Omar married political consultant Tim Mynett on Wednesday. Omar announced her new marriage Wednesday night on Instagram, with a photo of her and a bearded man smiling and displaying wedding rings. Got married! From partners in politics to life partners, so blessed, the post says, without identifying Mynett by name.

Filings with the Federal Election Commission show Omars campaign paid Tim Mynett or his firm nearly $600,000 since July 2018. Though it may raise eyebrows, family members, including spouses, can be on the campaign payroll as long as the family member provides services at a fair market value.

Larry Jacobs, a politics professor at the University of Minnesotas Humphrey School of Public Affairs, said the work needs to be reasonable and there has to be actual work being done.

Jacobs said constituents may question the way Omar handled the situation.

Remember the story began with her denying a relationship, and now shes marrying that person, Jacobs said. I think there are legitimate questions that constituents might ask about whether Congresswoman Omar has been fully truthful in her discussion of this relationship, and the nature of her marriage to a previous husband, whom Omar divorced last fall.

A relationship between Omar and Mynett was publicly alleged in August, when Mynetts then-wife, Beth Mynett, filed for divorce and accused her husband and Omar of having an affair. In response, Tim Mynett filed his own court document denying that he told his wife he was in love with Omar and was ending his marriage to be with the congresswoman.

When Omar was asked at the time whether she was separated from her then-husband or dating someone, she told WCCO-TV, No, I am not. She has since declined to discuss her personal life.

In October, she filed for divorce from Ahmed Hirsi, citing an irretrievable breakdown in the marriage. That divorce was finalized in November.

According to Beth Mynetts divorce filing, Tim Mynett is a founder of E Street Group and met Omar while working for her. His LinkedIn page says he is still a partner at the firm; and a spokesman for Omar confirmed that E Street has a current contract with her campaign.

Data on OpenSecrets.org shows the Omar campaign has been E Street Groups biggest moneymaker, bringing in more than $523,000 in the 2020 election cycle alone.

Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, said its notable that Omars campaign is the firms top client, and that they are now family.

I think it begs some questions, which might be easily explained, she said. Since there isnt a prohibition on paying family members, it usually comes down to understanding the patterns and PACs and whether thats a concern to the constituents and donors.

According to FEC filings, Omars campaign paid Mynett or his firm for services including fundraising consulting, internet advertising, website development and digital communications. Several payments were also for travel expenses.

A spokesman with the Office of Congressional Ethics said hes not permitted to either confirm or deny whether it is investigating.

Omar has been dogged by questions about her personal life since she first ran for state representative in 2016, with conservatives alleging she was married to Hirsi and another man at once, and that the other man was her brother. She has called those claims disgusting lies.
Lisa Rinna of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills is almost unrecognizable as a blonde.

The beauty was trying on wigs while with her glam team on Wednesday - she was also in pink and red hair.

'YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO,' said the wife of Harry Hamlin in a reference to Marie Antoinette.

White hot: Lisa Rinna of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills is almost unrecognizable as a blonde. The beauty was trying on wigs while with her glam team on Wednesday - she was also in pink and red hair

The wig was piled high in the style the French royal used to wear.

Her face was heavily made up and the shot looked to have a filter over it as she had not one wrinkle.

When she had on her pink blonde wig with matching frosty pink lipstick, she used the caption, 'PINKY.'

Fem bot look: When she had on her pink blonde wig with matching frosty pink lipstick, she used the caption, 'PINKY'

Who is Sasha? And when Lisa had on her red wig with deep purple lipstick, she said in her caption, 'Meet Sasha'

Rinna's crew: In a group shot with her glam team in a studio, Lisa said, 'The Category is Wigs. What a day! What a team!!! @nikkolamere @joeymaalouf @scottkinghair @scarletinni '

And when Lisa had on her red wig with deep purple lipstick, she said in her caption, 'Meet Sasha.'

In a group shot with her glam team in a studio, Lisa said, 'The Category is Wigs. What a day! What a team!!! @nikkolamere @joeymaalouf @scottkinghair @scarletinni .'

Earlier this week Rinna was seen dancing with a surgical mask on as she seemed to make fun of people wanting to avoid COVID-19 or at least get into the spirit.

Smart? Earlier this week Rinna was seen dancing with a surgical mask on as she seemed to make fun of people wanting to avoid COVID-19 or at least get into the spirit

She had on a black outfit with bare arms.

Lisa has been on RHONH making drama come alive alongside Kyle Richards and Brandi Glanville.

And the looker has also helped her daughters Delilah and Bella, whom she had with Hamlin, land an agent at UTA. The girls got their start as models.

Three generations: The looker has also helped her daughters Delilah and Bella, whom she had with Hamlin, land an agent at UTA. The girls got their start as models. Seen with her kids and mom
A Hoi An street (Source: VNA)

On March 10, Hoi An recorded the first infection case, a 58-year-old man from the UK on Flight VN0054 together with a number of other passengers who have tested positive for the virus.

Truong Thi Ngoc Cam, director of Hoi An citys Culture-Sports and Information-Television Centre, said that the suspension will last until the end of March 31 and the city will make thorough preparations to welcome visitors again.

Based on the disease developments, the locality will announce the reopening of tourism activities to ensure safety for locals and tourists, Cam stated, adding that earlier Hoi An city temporarily stopped welcoming visitors to Cu Lao Cham isle, Bay May coconut forest, Thanh Ha ceremics village, and Tra Que vegetable village.

On March 11, two French tourists, who were on board the same flight with another infection case, got concentrated quarantine in the locality. The two had just visited Hoi An after leaving Da Lat resort city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.
Because it is able to absorb carbon dioxide up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, seagrass has been dubbed the "wonder plant," able to help fight climate change.

"It is incredibly productive and just sucks carbon into the sediments, traps particles that are locked there for millennia," Dr. Richard Unsworth of Swansea University told BBC News. "That means that carbon dioxide is not in the atmosphere."

Seagrass, found in shallow waters, is a habitat for fish like cod and pollock and it helps protect areas from coastal erosion. As important as it is, seagrass has been disappearing at an alarming rate due to population growth around coastal areas; since 1990, it has declined globally at a rate of roughly 7 percent per year, and it's estimated that in the United Kingdom, up to 92 percent of seagrass has vanished over the last 100 years.

That's why Unsworth is undertaking Britain's largest effort to save seagrass. By November, one million seeds will be planted into a seabed off Pembrokeshire in Wales. This will create a new 215,280-square-foot meadow, which should attract young fish and "start to kick into action a recovery for our seas around the UK," Unsworth said.

More stories from theweek.com

The entire country of Norway is 'shutting down'

Girl Scout sets up libraries at hospitals so parents can read to their premature babies

Trump's Oval Office coronavirus speech was a slapdash, last-minute endeavor, aides say


As the coronavirus outbreak rages on, countries are closing their borders in a bid to slow the spread.

Among them is the US, with President Trump announcing a ban on foreign nationals who have visited the Schengen area in the last 14 days from entering the US.

The ban, which will come into effect on 13 March, will last for 30 days.

The US State Department has also updated its advice for citizens.

A global level 3 health advisory was issued on 11 March warning US citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of Covid-19.

The State Department added: Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveller mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions. Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice.

The whole of Italy went into lockdown soon after the country announced that it would be isolating northern Italy.

While the advisory doesnt physically ban US citizens from travelling, for those who do, it might mean their insurance is invalidated.

The State Departments advisory further adds that those who are planning to travel should check individual advisories issued for each country theyre visiting, as well as sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and so they can be located in an emergency.

On top of Donald Trumps Schengen travel ban, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued a level 3 warning due to widespread sustained transmission of coronavirus, with citizens warned to avoid non-essential travel to a number of European countries.

The list includes: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.

US residents who have visited these countries will need to self-isolate for 14 days after their return and monitor their health for symptoms of coronavirus.

The US State Department usually only issues advisories in relation to security concerns while the CDC issues notices in relation to health concerns.
The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia that represents newsroom staffers, in addition to employees in finance, circulation and advertising, reached a tenative three-pact with The Philadelphia Inquirer LLC on Thursday. Read more

The NewsGuild of Greater Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Inquirer LLC reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with raises and a workforce diversity provision, the union and company said Thursday.

The 338 union members began voting on the tentative contract on Thursday and are expected to continue voting through 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.

The tentative contract contains a onetime lump-sum payment equivalent to 2.5% of a union members salary in the contracts first year, plus a $500 signing bonus.

In the second year, the company would raise pay for Guild members by 3%. The third year would include a 2% raise.

Although many individual Guild members have received raises in recent years, the new contract would include the first across-the-board raises since August 2009 for newsroom reporters, photographers, digital producers, audience engagement, and other editorial staffers, in addition to finance, advertising, and circulation employees.

With news breaking about the coronavirus, the company and the union concluded talks more than two weeks before the current contract expires on March 31. The two sides negotiated for five months. The company is owned by the nonprofit Lenfest Institute for Journalism.

I said it would be a win for all of us for this [no-pay-raise] narrative to change," said Diane Mastrull, the guild president and lead negotiator. We have so many important things to do here for them to be overshadowed by something like no raises.

By no means is anyone getting rich from this contract, but we could not have employees worried about whether they would be able to pay their bills year to year, she added.

Inquirer publisher Elizabeth H. Hughes spoke with negotiators on Thursday and told them that, given the coronavirus and the potential impact on the economy, they had to finalize a deal, Mastrull said.

Hughes, a former magazine executive who took her position in Philadelphia in early February, declined to comment on specifics before union members voted on the contract. She noted that the process was far advanced when she arrived.

Hughes added, I am happy with where we are.

Hughes said that "our industry is certainly not immune to whats going on in the world. We are in a bear market, and I think everyone is aware of that. With a tentative agreement, we are focused on whats important, serving the community with journalism that matters.

The tentative contract continues its health benefits and includes extensive language committing the company to the recruitment, employment, promotion, training and career development of a diverse workforce, the union said in an email announcing the tentative contract.
PowerHouse Energy Group plc

("PowerHouse" or the "Company")

Issue of Equity

PowerHouse Energy Group plc (AIM: PHE), the UK technology company commercialising hydrogen production from waste plastic, announces that the Company is issuing 3,750,000 ordinary shares of 0.5p each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") further to the exercise of warrants at 0.5p per Ordinary Share.

Application has been made for the admission of 3,750,000 Ordinary Shares to trading on AIM ("Admission") and it is expected that this will occur on or around 19 March 2020. These shares will rank pari passu in all respects with the Company's existing issued Ordinary Shares.

Subsequent to the issue of Ordinary Shares, the Company will have 2,048,706,914 Ordinary Shares in issue. PowerHouse has no shares in Treasury, therefore this figure may be used by shareholders, from Admission, as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

For more information, contact:

PowerHouse Energy Group plc Tel: +44 (0) 203 368 6399 David Ryan, Chief Executive Officer WH Ireland Limited (Nominated Adviser) Tel: +44 (0) 207 220 1666 James Joyce / Lydia Zychowska Turner Pope Investments Ltd (Joint Broker) Tel: +44 (0) 203 657 0050 Andrew Thacker / Zoe Alexander Ikon Associates (Media enquiries) Tel: +44 (0) 1483 271291 Adrian Shaw Mob: +44 (0) 7979 900733

About PowerHouse Energy Group plc

PowerHouse has developed a proprietary process technology - DMG - which can utilise waste, unrecycleable plastic, end-of-life-tyres, and other waste streams to efficiently and economically convert them into syngas from which valuable products such as hydrogen, chemical precursors, electricity and other industrial products may be derived. The PowerHouse technology is one of the world's first proven, modular, hydrogen from waste (HfW) process.

The PowerHouse DMG process can generate up to 2 tonnes of road-fuel quality H2, and more than 58MWh of exportable electricity per day.

The PowerHouse process produces low levels of safe residues and requires a small operating footprint, making it suitable for deployment at enterprise and community level.

PowerHouse is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM Market under the ticker: PHE, and is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

For more information see www.powerhouseenergy.net
Boris Johnsons most senior aide is facing fresh allegations he flouted lockdown rules by taking a sightseeing trip on Easter Sunday.

The prime minister is facing mounting calls to sack Dominic Cummings amid claims he made several trips to see his family in County Durham, while the country was being told to stay at home.

Ministers vociferously defended Mr Cummings after it emerged he had made the 260-mile journey, insisting he had obeyed the rules by staying in one place while there.

However, an eyewitness told The Observer and the Sunday Mirror he had seen Mr Cummings on 12 April, 30 miles from Durham in Barnard Castle.

Another eyewitness said they saw the prime ministers most trusted aide in Durham on 19 April, days after he had been photographed returning to Downing Street.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 An aerial picture shows a worker using a quad bike and trailer to transport freshly harvested trees at Pimms Christmas Tree farm in Matfield, southeast England AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A shopper browses Christmas trees for sale at Pines and Needles in Dulwich, London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 November 2021 A murmuration of hundreds of thousands of starlings fly over a field at dusk in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border PA UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 24 November 2021 Migrants are helped ashore from a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat at a beach in Dungeness, on the south-east coast of England, on November 24, 2021, after being rescued while crossing the English Channel. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 23 November 2021 The coffin of Sir David Amess is carried past politicians, including former Prime Ministers Sir John Major, David Cameron and Theresa May, Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Home Secretary Priti Patel and Prime Minister Boris Johnson during the requiem mass for the MP at Westminster Cathedral, central London PA UK news in pictures 22 November 2021 The scene in Dragon Rise, Norton Fitzwarren, Somerset where police have launched a murder probe after two people were found dead Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 21 November 2021 London-based midwife Sarah Muggleton, 27, takes part in a 'March with Midwives' in central London to highlight the crisis in maternity services PA UK news in pictures 20 November 2021 Police officers monitor as climate change activists sit down and block traffic during a protest action in solidarity with activists from the Insulate Britain group who received prison terms for blocking roads, on Lambeth Bridge in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 19 November 2021 A giant installation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson made from recycled clothing goes on display at Manchester Central, as part of Manchester Art Fair, in a 'wake-up call for the Prime Minister to tackle textile waste' PA UK news in pictures 18 November 2021 The scene at a recycling centre in Stert, near Devizes in Wiltshire after a large blaze was brought under control. The fire broke out on Wednesday night the fire service has said and local residents were advised to keep windows and doors shut due to large amounts of smoke PA UK news in pictures 17 November 2021 The sun rises over South Shields Lighthouse, on the North East coast of England PA UK news in pictures 16 November 2021 ancer Maithili Vijayakumar at the launch of 2021 Diwali celebrations at St Andrew Square in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 15 November 2021 Forensic officers work outside Liverpool Women's Hospital, following a car blast, in Liverpool Reuters UK news in pictures 14 November 2021 Wreaths by the Cenotaph after the Remembrance Sunday service in Whitehall, London PA UK news in pictures 13 November 2021 Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detainee Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, is ending his hunger strike in central London after almost three weeks. Ratcliffe has spent 21 days camped outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London without food. He began his demonstration on 24 October after his wife lost her latest appeal in Iran, saying his family was caught in a dispute between two states PA

Earlier, Downing Street had described the first trip as essential, saying Mr Cummings needed his familys help to care for his young son because his wife was sick with coronavirus and he feared he was next.

Cabinet ministers lined up to defend Mr Cummings, saying he had put his family first and accused critics of trying to politicise the issue.

Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, used the daily Downing Street press conference to suggest that Mr Cummings had not broken lockdown rules because he had stayed put upon arrival in Durham.

But Robin Lees, 70, a retired chemistry teacher, told the papers he had seen Mr Cummings in Barnard Castle on Easter Sunday.

Mr Lees compared him to Catherine Calderwood, Scotlands former chief medical officer, who stood down after visiting her second home twice during lockdown.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP have written to Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, calling for an inquiry into Mr Cummingss decision to travel from London to Durham.

They want the probe to include when the prime minister was made aware Mr Cummings had left the capital.

Senior Tories also expressed concern that Mr Cummings's behaviour could encourage others to flout the rules, jeopardising the governments plans to gradually lift the lockdown.

The Independent can reveal that senior MPs are set to question Mr Johnson over Mr Cummings later this week, as pressure grows on the prime minister to explain what he knew about the trip under lockdown.

Parliament is in recess until June, meaning Mr Johnson will not have to face MPs at Prime Ministers Questions.

But members of the Commons Liaison Committee, which is made up of the chairs of other select committees, said they expected Mr Johnson to be questioned about Mr Cummings when he makes his first appearance before them later this week.

Pete Wishart, an SNP MP who sits on the committee and is a member of the "quad" which organises its business, said: If nothing has changed and Dominic Cummings is still in post by Wednesday, it would be very surprising if this was an issue that was not raised.

Another member of the committee said: Im sure one of my colleagues will crowbar the Cummings question in.

In a statement defending Mr Cummings, Downing Street said his trip had been essential to ensure his young son was properly cared for. After an offer of help from his sister and nieces, he travelled to a house near to but separate from his extended family.

A spokesperson for No 10, said: "Yesterday [Friday] the Mirror and Guardian wrote inaccurate stories about Mr Cummings. Today [Saturday] they are writing more inaccurate stories including claims that Mr Cummings returned to Durham after returning to work in Downing Street on 14 April. We will not waste our time answering a stream of false allegations about Mr Cummings from campaigning newspapers."

There was confusion about the involvement of police, however. No 10 also said that at no stage was Mr Cummings or his family spoken to by the police.

On Saturday night Durham Police took the unusual step of confirming they had spoken to Mr Cummingss father.

Steve White, the police and crime commissioner for Durham Police, a former head of the Police Federation in England and Wales, said it was "most unwise" for Mr Cummings to have travelled when "known to be infected".

The SNP accused No 10 of a "cover up" after reports some in Downing Street knew Mr Cummings had made the 260-mile journey during lockdown.

Former Tory cabinet minister David Lidington, Theresa Mays de facto deputy prime minister, told Newsnight: "There's clearly serious questions that No 10 are going to have to address, not least because the readiness of members of the public to follow government guidance more generally is going to be affected by this sort of story."

Professor Neil Ferguson, the epidemiologist whose modelling prompted the lockdown, quit as a government adviser for flouting the rules when he was visited at this home by his lover.

At the time Mr Hancock, the health secretary, said he was "speechless" and that he backed any police action against Mr Ferguson.

Sir Ed Davey, acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for Mr Cummings to quit over the allegations, while a spokesperson for Labour said: "The British people do not expect there to be one rule for them and another rule for Dominic Cummings."

Asked by reporters on Saturday if he had considered his position, Mr Cummings said "obviously not".
Samsungs Galaxy Buds+ are now reportedly available for pre-order in a brilliant red coloration for buyers in the US. The news follows a leak in late February, showcasing the wearable with its new paint job after the color variant launched in South Korea.

Now, these are the same Samsung Galaxy Buds+ that was first announced in early February at Samsungs Galaxy Unpacked event. At the time, the company did reveal that a red variation was coming. It also indicated that variant would make their way to the US. Initially, only three colors were available. Those are cosmic black, cloud blue, and white.

In each case, the color applies not only to the earbuds themselves but also to the rechargeable carry case the buds ship with. The scheme here is slightly different though. Instead of the entire carry case shipping with the same red hue as the buds, Samsung opted to keep the interior of the case black. That creates a unique two-tone effect that isnt seen with other variations of Samsung Galaxy Buds+.

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The red coloration is the only difference for these Galaxy Buds+

Samsung Galaxy Buds+ was announced back on February 11 and is the successor to the original Galaxy Buds launched alongside the Samsung Galaxy S10 series. As such, the newest truly wireless earbuds from Samsung are meant to iterate on the previous design. Thats something theyve been shown to do quite well in reviews.

While these are arguably not the best wireless earbuds on the market, they are some of the most comfortable. They also pack in an impressive claimed battery life of around 22 hours in total.

Samsung says Galaxy Buds+ last about 11 hours on a single charge. And the carrying case can recharge them an additional full cycle. More impressively, for Galaxy S10, Note 10, or S20 series owners, that carry case can be charged by the users smartphone.

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For improved sound quality, Samsung built its Galaxy Buds+ on a new dual-driver design. That sets the new wearable well above the original Galaxy Buds. It also sets itself apart from the majority of the market by including a dedicated application for adapting audio to better suit users. Although the earbuds already do a good job of balancing out strong bass tones with mids and highs that are present without being overpowering.

Pricing and where to buy

As noted above, its already possible to pre-order Samsung Galaxy Buds+ in the new red coloration. Since there arent any real differences in the wearable itself, the pricing here will remain the same too. So users can expect to pay just a penny shy of $150 for these earbuds.

Sales are also not going to be limited in terms of the retailer. The new red-shifted Galaxy Buds+ have been spotted at several major retailers in addition to the Samsung online shop. Users can pick the gadget up at Amazon or at Best Buy as well. At those sites, the new color is now listed alongside the original device as a selectable color option.

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Shipping is set to start, according to Samsungs shop, by March 20.
The Royal Family will lose 'diversity, modernity, inclusivity and representation,' following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back as 'senior royals', according to a royal expert.

Taking to Twitter, royal commentator Omid Scobie shared a photograph of the Duchess of Sussex, 35, from her surprise visit to Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham on Friday.

Alongside the snap, he penned: 'I rarely add my own opinion to reporting but if there was ever a photo that illustrates what the Royal Family is about to lose  its this.'

'Diversity, modernity, inclusivity and representation.'

Royal commentator Omid Scobie shared a photograph of the Duchess of Sussex, 35, from her surprise visit to Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham on Friday (pictured)

Taking to Twitter, Omid shared a photograph of Meghan Markle and told how it illustrates what the Royal Family is about to lose (pictured)

In the photograph, the Duchess of Sussex can be seen making the 'Equality' sign following a school assembly.

During her final solo royal engagement, Meghan marked International Womens Day by giving a speech on gender equality, social justice and womens empowerment.

In a speech addressing the school's boys in particular, she urged them to 'continue to value and appreciate the women in your lives and also set the example for some men who are not seeing it that same way.

'You have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends in your life, protect them.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex posed with school children making the 'Equality' sign following a school assembly during a visit to Robert Clack School in Dagenham

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

'Make sure that they are feeling valued and safe and let's all just rally together to make International Women's Day something that is not just on Sunday, but frankly feels like every day of the year.'

Omid also recently told how 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'.'

Speaking on the Heirpod podcast, he 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'.

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.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said no citizen would be marked D or doubtful during the updating exercise of the National Population Register (NPR). Replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the recent communal riots in Delhi, Shah said no document would be required to be furnished to prove citizenship, and it was not compulsory to provide any information not available with an individual.

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Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla is on the hunt for a location in the Central U.S. to build the Cybertruck. This news falls in line with Musks earlier idea of setting up a factory in Texas, but we didnt know it would be for Teslas pickup truck.

The Cybertruck created a lot of buzz when it was launched. We got to know the prices and tentative launch dates, but no one knew where it would be built; until now. We still dont know the exact location, but its been narrowed down the Central U.S.

With hundreds of thousands of orders in hand, Tesla needs to set up the new Cybertruck factory soon and start building it LISTEN 03:21

The Cybertruck Gigafactory Will Also Build The Model Y

This squashes the earlier rumors that the Cybertruck will be built at the Fremont facility. The current batch of Model Ys is being built there, but Musk added in the same tweet that the upcoming crossovers manufacturing will also be moved to the East Coast.

That means even though Musk called it the Cybertruck Gigafactory, both the Cybertruck as well as the Model Y will be manufactured here. This upcoming facility would be the fifth Gigafactory, with the previous ones in Nevada, New York, Shanghai, and Berlin. The Fremont facility is not called Gigafactory.

Will the Tesla Cybertruck and Model Y Be Built in Texas?

When Musk had asked his followers on twitter if the next Gigafctory should be set up in Texas, 80-percent were in favor of it and 20-percent were against it. Over 300,000 people voted on the poll. If you look at the stats, Texas was the biggest light truck market in the U.S. in 2018, but it is also one of the late adopters of EVs.

Ironically, Texas currently bans Tesla from selling cars in the state and you can only buy cars only via the internet or over the phone. Imagine building a vehicle but not being able to sell it there! Fun fact: that actually is the case in many countries where the automaker builds a particular model and exports it, but doesnt sell it over there.

Why Not Call It Cyberfactory?

Musk had also earlier announced that moving forward, the factories wont be referred to as Gigafactory 1,2,3, etc. Instead, it will now be known as Giga followed by the location. His tweet read like this:

Going with nomenclature of Giga [most widely understood location name] vs Giga #, with Giga Shanghai, Giga Nevada, Giga New York & Giga Berlin.

So, the factory for Cybertruck will be known as Cybertruck Giga followed by the location. Will it be Cybertruck Giga Texas, or Cybertruck Giga Nashville? Wait, where did Nashville come from?

The Fifth Gigafactory Could Be Built In Tennessee

According to Tech Crunch, 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.

Tennessee is actually turning out to be the EV manufacturers choice. Volkswagen is pumping $800 million in its Chattanooga factory to turn it into the German automakers North American base for producing electric cars. Volkswagen will begin production here from 2022 on. Nissan is already building the leaf in Smyrna since 2013.

Final Thoughts

Despite all the criticism initially, the Cybertruck has bagged around half-a-million orders to date. With the deliveries slated to begin next year, Tesla needs to speed up the process and get started with the factory at the earliest to stick to its timeline. Where do you think Tesla will set up the new Gigafactory  Texas or Tennessee? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Kenyas conservancy was thrown into bewilderment when two white giraffes (a female one and her male calf) were killed by poachers.

A statement by the Hirola Community Conservancy, on Tuesday, 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 poachers have not yet been identified by authorities.

The conservancy added that their deaths leave just one remaining white giraffe alive in the world.

The white giraffe was discovered in 2017 by the Hirola Conservation Program.

According to the conservancy, the rare animals had a condition called leucism, resulting in the partial loss of the giraffes pigmentation.

We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe, Mohammed Ahmednoor, manager of the conservancy, said in a report by Aljazeera.

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.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry is doing its utmost to adapt the Armed Forces to NATO standards, the defense minister's spokesperson, Svitlana Pavlovska, has said.

"The Ukrainian Defense Ministry is doing all it can to ensure that the Armed Forces are as interoperable with the forces of the Allies as possible in joint action during NATO-led operations and missions," Pavlovska said at a press conference at Ukrinform on Thursday, March 12.

According to her, another cycle of the planning and evaluation of forces ended in NATO in 2019, and new partnership goals for 2020-2021 will be determined this year. However, the arrival of NATO experts in Ukraine was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, she said.

Pavlovska said that NATO standards are normative acts that regulate a particular area of activity of the armed forces and none of the 29 NATO member states has implemented all the applicable standards. In particular, Germany often uses the so-called implementation with restriction due to the need to adapt the standard to national conditions.

Earlier, Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran said in an address to the senior management of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' full adaptation to NATO standards would not be achieved in the near future.

European Solidarity MPs, in turn, said the minister's speech on NATO standards not achievable for the Ukrainian Armed Forces was contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine in terms of the state's strategic goal  membership in the EU and NATO.

op
Prince Charles is finding it difficult to avoid shaking hands when greeting people amid fears over coronavirus.

On Wednesday, the Prince of Wales arrived at the Princes Trust Awards, held at the London Palladium, where he attempted to shake the hand of Sir Kenneth Olisa, the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, upon stepping onto the red carpet.

However, after extending his hand, the 71-year-old remembered the precautions in place to limit the spread of germs - prompting him to quickly retract his hand and laugh as he placed his palms together in the Hindu greeting Namaste instead.

I do it all the time, the royal could be heard saying in a clip of the exchange.

But moments later, Prince Charles could be seen again extending his hand for a handshake as he was introduced to others on the red carpet, before remembering and offering a Namaste to each person in turn.

The royal eventually got the hang of the alternative welcome, later greeting other guests, including Pierce Brosnan, with a Namaste.

Prince Charles eventually remembered to avoid the greeting (Getty)

This is not the first time Prince Charles has opted for a hands-free introduction - during Mondays Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, the royal greeted representatives of the Commonwealth of Nations with the Indian greeting, People reports.

As of Wednesday, coronavirus, which has been declared a pandemic, has killed eight people in the UK.

To limit the spread of the virus, officials are urging people to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly and to keep distance from people who are sick.
Apple had big plans for 2020.

The year began with a major Mac and iPhone introduction in the spring, sped forward with a little more Mac and further revelations around AirPods and services, with a major iPhone upgrade and introduction of an all-new ARM-powered Mac product at the end of the year.

Next year was going to be even bigger.

Not business as usual

Everyone on our planet now knows that business is not going on as usual and wont be for a while.

Even once weve dealt with the current crisis, governments will be forced to support businesses and individuals who are adversely impacted (in unpredictable ways) by the pandemic.

Normal business will have to wait.

Apple knows this, which is why it has reportedly delayed the planned launch of the iPhone 9, is providing more limited than usual service and support for existing products, has scuppered unannounced plans for a March spring launch event, and will  lets face it  more than likely abandon WWDC 2020.

These decisions and the market reality are hurting the companys business, but its not alone: The great majority of businesses all across our planet will be suffering at this time, and the consequences of this pain will continue even after the pandemic has abated.

All the same, Our first priority  now and always  is the health and safety of our employees, supply chain partners, customers and the communities in which we operate, Apple has said.

What did Apple have planned?

Heres some of what we think Apple had planned for 2020:

Spring launch

iPhone 9

iPad Pro

AirTags and improved AirPods

14-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with new scissor switch keyboard

Early summer introductions

Mac mini and iMac Pro upgrades, with new LED displays

Apple Music enhancements, likely to include video

HomePod improvements

Apple TV upgrades

WWDC event, complete with first glance at ARM Mac plans and OS improvements

SiriOS/HomeOS

Fall announcements

5G iPhone 12 with new design and amazing new features

New Apple Watch

iPads updated

New iMac

First ARM-based Mac

There are other products, of course, but this should give you some sense of what an important year 2020 was intended to be for the company. Its also important to read between the lines of this schedule  look at how so many of these products introduce new display technologies, and the extent to which AI, voice and augmented reality are woven into most of these plans.

Thats because all three technologies arent just fundamental to making improvements in its existing products but will also prove to essential to the companys 2021 introduction of its own Apple glasses, and for its developing vision for the future of transportation  with 5G an important component of all these visions.

2020 was intended to be a pivotal year as Apple began drawing a host of its separate strands of technology development together in order to orchestrate its moves into new voice first and then other platforms.

Apples gonna have to think differently

Its still going to be that, but Apple will likely handle it slightly differently.

The first thing it will need to do is pull back on new product releases. The company has a fantastic operations team, but the fact that it is running out of spare parts and replacement devices suggests the scale of the problems it faces. The challenges arent simply logistical. Consumers are staying home, becoming risk averse and, toilet paper and pasta sales aside, the shops are certainly not buzzing. Its just not a good time to introduce something new. This is (allegedly) why it has delayed iPhone 9, but will allegedly proceed to launch new Macs in the coming weeks.

The second thing it will need to do is look at how it communicates new operating system features to developers and customers. Ordinarily, this is something that takes place at WWDC, when the company reaches millions with a couple of keynotes and a horde of enthusiastic bloggers. This time around its going to have to take a far more virtual approach, with private online briefings for key developers, partners and people to help get its messages out  bloggers, vloggers, and journalists.

The third thing it must think about is how to stoke the engines of its business at a time when people are less interested in making purchases. This will favor the introduction of new Macs, iPads and pro devices, but probably wont help boost smartphone sales, given that people will probably be staying in for a few months. Announcements will likely take place online, with press releases and detailed video briefings.

The company will also have to think very deeply about the welfare of its partners, suppliers and employees, introducing work from home, wage support and more to help its people through.

When it comes to the big picture stuff  things like its more sophisticated plans to deploy the U1 chip introduced with iPhone 11, future AR evolutions and everything else, the perfect storm of complications make the company more likely than not to hold back a little longer, until things settle down.

That means delayed product introductions, and (potentially) a late summer Developer Conference on a much smaller scale than WWDC, possibly organized on a regional basis (North America, Europe, Africa, South America, APAC).

None of this will be the same, of course, but those companies that best plan their course through the current crisis will be those that prosper.

Like any other digital transformation, this one requires business agility and understanding of the true connections that drive every enterprise supply chain, a connection that spans the space between the people who make stuff, the people who use it, and everyone in between.

Of course, Apples fundamentals remain as strong as ever.

Recovery will happen.

However, the nature of its business  and those of every business  will likely change as a result of the current crisis, not just to make it through a challenging present, but also to face a more complex future on our deeply interconnected planet.

Now wash your hands.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
House majority whip Jim Clyburn has urged Joe Biden to pick an African American woman as his running mate if he is chosen to be the Democratic candidate for president.

Mr Clyburn endorsed Mr Biden prior to his win in the South Carolina primary last month, helping turn his campaign around after he had fallen behind Bernie Sanders.

Reuters reported after the primary that the endorsement from the South Carolina congressman was vital, with an Edison poll showing that 61% said the endorsement from Mr Clyburn was an important factor in their decision.

Speaking to NPR, the 79-year-old said that its about time that an African American woman was given a position of power in the party.

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.

Recommended Joe Biden earns one of most coveted endorsements ahead of SC primary

Mr Clyburn mentioned Sen. Kamala Harris and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams, among others as good candidates for the role of running mate, according to The Hill.

At a town hall event in November last year, Mr Biden suggested Ms Abrams as a potential running mate, referring to her as the woman who should have been the governor of Georgia, according to USA Today.

Ms Harris endorsed Biden on Monday, prior to Tuesdays primaries, where the former vice-president extended his lead over Mr Sanders.

On Monday, Mr Clyburn called on Mr Sanders to drop out if he didnt come away the victor from the six states voting on Tuesday.

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, he told NPR.

Mr Biden extended his lead at the primaries on Tuesday, but Mr Sanders announced today that he will continue in the race, saying he is looking forward to Sundays debate.

The Vermont senator said: On Sunday, I very much look forward to the debate in Arizona with my friend Joe Biden,
A teenager was sent home from school after he was caught charging other students 50p for a squirt of hand sanitiser during the coronavirus outbreak.

In a post on Facebook, the boys mother Jenny Tomkins, from Leeds, shared a photo of her son arriving home from school at 10.53am on Wednesday.

She wrote he had been sent home for the day after charging pupils for shots of sanitiser so they could protect themselves from the virus.

Ms Tompkins added that it was hard to discipline his behaviour when his dad phoned him from work to say he was a legend.

She said her son had made 9 and has used some of the money to buy a multipack of Doritos and is saving the rest to buy a kebab.

The post has since gone viral on Facebook with nearly 100,000 comments, many of which praise the boys entrepreneurship.

Dixons Unity Academy told the Standard they do not comment on individual cases but added that no student has ever been excluded for selling hand sanitiser.

Last week, visitors at a hospital in the midlands had ripped hand sanitiser bottles from walls and stolen the gel to top up their own supplies.
The seminar was originally planned to be held in Ho Chi Minh City but was changed to an online conference due to the coronavirus outbreak.

A total of US$375,000 will be up for grabs in the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge, as it is officially known.

The contest, supported by Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology, will enable the development of Vietnams rising technology ecosystem, Qualcomm said on its website.

It added that the challenge will nurture innovative small and medium-sized companies who are designing products relating to 5G, IoT, artificial intelligence, smart cities and wearable devices.

Ten shortlisted companies will be announced in May-June 2020 and will each receive US$10,000 to support product incubation and development.

Shortlisted companies will be supported through an incubation period including seminars from subject matter experts, technical support from Qualcomm, and assistance from intellectual property specialists, said the US chipmaker.

The final winners are expected to be announced in December 2020.

According to Qualcomm experts, Vietnam has emerged as one of the fastest-growing innovation and technology development hubs in Asia.

They added that promoting the start-up spirit and technological innovation will make Vietnams technology sector move further forward and help Vietnamese companies realise their global ambitions.
St. Charles Hospital in Bend, where Deschutes Countys only known coronavirus patient is being treated, announced Wednesday that it is barring all non-essential visitors.

It said family members of patients, if not sick, can go to their loved ones bedsides, but it urged them to consider postponing their visits. And it said the policy applies to its hospitals in Madras, Redmond and Prineville as well.

This message is very simple: Do not go to a St. Charles hospital if you are not a patient with a reason to be there, St. Charles chief executive Joe Sluka wrote in a message to the community. This includes vendors, delivery services, business partners and other non-essential visitors.

Other hospitals in Oregon have not issued such warnings.

But hospitals elsewhere have.

The University of Washington hospital system severely limited visitors beginning Wednesday, including barring visits to adult patients except in limited cases such as those receiving end-of-life care.

Earlier this week, Rhode Islands two largest healthcare systems established a no-visitor policy at all their hospitals, according to multiple Rhode Island news outlets. They no longer allow visitors for adult inpatients and limit how many visitors can be with patients in the emergency room, birthing suites and neonatal units.

Oregon public health officials announced Wednesday that four additional Oregon residents, including the one being treated at the Bend hospital, tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the states total known cases to 19.

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OregonianPol

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
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ALBANY  A city man who robbed two Capital Region banks last year -- and fired two gunshots during one of the heists that grazed an employee  pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

Christopher J. Cohn, 26, known as Wolf, admitted to a four-count indictment that charged him with robbing a Trustco bank in Albany at gunpoint Feb. 6, 2019 and an M&T Bank in North Greenbush on Feb. 26, 2019, federal prosecutors in Albany said.
Womens History Spotlight: Gods Direction Guides Frost as NAUW Sectional Director

Clara Frost serves as the southwest sectional director of the National Association of University Women. In this capacity, she oversees 10 branches in Southern California in fulfilling the mission of NAUW to serve women, youth and the disadvantaged in our communities and in developing countries.

NAUW was founded in 1910 by Mary Church Terrell, Sara Winifred Brown, Nancy Fairfax Brown and Mary E. Cromwell. According to the NAUW website, the women stepped out on faith to start an organization to stimulate women to attain professional excellence, exert influence in movements for civic good and promote a personal and intellectual fellowship among professional women.

Frost embodies those qualities in her role and with God as her counselor, she seeks to lead and inspire NAUW women to join her in appreciating, loving and supporting each other. The following is an edited version of the Sentinel interview with Clara Frost.

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What factors influenced you to accept this position? Have you ever asked yourself, Can I Do This? Shortly after the NAUWs 2018 National Convention, I found myself asking that exact question, Can I do this? I had a few conversations with God, praying and seeking His direction. One morning He responded, Do it, so I did and said, Yes, I can.

What role has your faith played in your position? I am guided by Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Due to my strong relationship with Christ, I believed that He would help me to lead and inspire the officers and members of this great organization to unite together as well create and promote unity with a focus on sisterhood and visibility.

What is a memorable experience as a sectional director? After becoming sectional director, God started giving me ideas such as presenting a Crazy Hat Tea. God was very clear about the occasion for the tea, which was simply to have some fun, leave all of the drama behind, laugh, joke and forget about titles and roles. He aimed for us to just embrace each other as NAUW sisters and enjoy the fellowship.

What impact is NAUW having on the community? NAUW awards branch, sectional and national scholarships to college-bound students, provides tutoring and mentoring classes for teens and recognizes outstanding women having an positive impact in their communities. As a public service organization, we offer a range of programs that focus on education, health, international development and strengthening the African American family. We also present several Community Service In Action Days to raise awareness about various issues including breast cancer, Alzheimers disease, diabetes and caregivers. We believe that everyone matters and we hope to improve the lives of others with innovative and high-impact programs.

How can others help or get involved in NAUW? Visit our website at nauw1910-sw.org for more information.

Dr. Kathye Jenkins contributed to this article.
Three people, including a 29-year-old woman, were arrested for allegedly killing a man in east Delhi's Vinod Nagar area, police said on Thursday.

On Monday morning, police received information from Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital that one Raj Kumar, a resident of west Vinod Nagar, was assaulted and he died during treatment, a senior police officer said.

During investigation, it was revealed that Raj Kumar, a private tutor, had developed some proximity with the woman. Her husband was enraged when he came to know about it and decided to teach Raj Kumar a lesson, the officer said.

The woman was also roped in. She called Raj Kumar on Monday to her house and took him to a room where her husband and his friend assaulted the victim, the police officer said.

The accused left the place after assaulting Kumar. Later, the victim called one of his students who took him to hospital where he died during the treatment, police said.

Police said that the accused Vijay (32), a resident of Mayur Vihar Phase-III, Sachin Kumar (32), a resident of Gharoli village, and the woman were arrested on Tuesday.

Three mobile phones, car, gas pipe and wooden rolling pin used in the crime have been seized from the accused, the police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
* Drops in Thailand and Indonesia trigger circuit breakers * Indonesia and Vietnam enter bear market territory * Philippines sees worst day since 2008 financial crisis * Thai index posts biggest pct drop since 2006 rout By Shruti Sonal March 12 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets were ravaged on Thursday after the United States suspended travel from Europe as coronavirus cases across the world spiralled, sparking worries that rising restrictions would hammer economic activity. Thailand's near 11% drop and Indonesia's 5% decline triggered circuit breakers, leading to trading being halted for a period of time. Indonesia, along with Vietnam , also dived into bear territory - a period signalling drawn-out negative investor sentiment. Philippines tumbled about 10%, while Singapore lost nearly 4%. Markets were rattled and tourism stocks lost ground after U.S. President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe to the United States, barring the United Kingdom. The absence of large-scale tax breaks or medical tests for Americans in Trump's announcement also disappointed investors, who had expected concrete measures to cushion the economic impact of the outbreak. "President Trump's speech was notable for what it didn't contain, rather than what it did", said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA. Worries about the economic fallout from the virus also deepened after the World Health Organization described the virus as a pandemic. "Even though we do have substantial support coming through from governments and central banks alike, the dispersion of the virus so far continues to mark the risks of dragging the global economy into recession", said Jingyi Pan, market strategist at IG. Stocks in tourism-dependent Thailand crashed nearly 11%, the most since December 2006, on a day when the country reported its biggest daily rise in virus infections since the outbreak began. The Philippine benchmark saw its worst session since the 2008 financial crisis, slumping as much as 9.7%. Singapore stocks fell 3.8% to their lowest in more than four years, as economists predicted that the city-state's economy would shrink sharply in the first quarter. Indonesian stocks fell 5% before a circuit breaker halted trading for 30 minutes, effectively ending trade just before the bell. The index has shed more than 22% from a record peak touched on Jan. 15, even as the government announced tax relief measures for manufacturing. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS Change on the day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 2678.64 2783.72 -3.77 Bangkok 1114.91 1249.89 -10.80 Manila 5736.27 6353.26 -9.71 Jakarta 4895.748 5154.105 -5.01 Kuala Lumpur 1419.43 1443.83 -1.69 Ho Chi Minh 769.25 811.35 -5.19 Change so far in 2020 Market Current End 2019 Pct Move Singapore 2678.64 3222.83 -16.89 Bangkok 1114.91 1579.84 -29.43 Manila 5736.27 7,815.26 -26.60 Jakarta 4895.748 6,299.54 -22.28 Kuala Lumpur 1419.43 1588.76 -10.66 Ho Chi Minh 769.25 960.99 -19.95 (Reporting by Shruti Sonal; Editing by Aditya Soni)
HAVANA  Where to find it? and Whatever you want and What do you need?

These are the names of some of the social media groups catering to thousands of Cubans using newly available mobile internet to grapple with shortages of basic goods that are worsening under tougher U.S. sanctions.

Armed with internet access on cell phones that came into general use last year, Cubans are forming online chat groups to share tips about where to find dish detergent, chicken, diesel fuel and other scarce essentials. They do so on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

Without the chat groups, people would have to spend all day going around the city looking for things that they need, said Claudia Santander, a graphic designer who administers a dozen WhatsApp groups at no charge.

Now, for example, someone can ask about a certain product  toilet paper or milk powder or soap  and another person on the chat might reply within minutes to say which store in Havana, the Cuban capital, is stocking it.

Ive been able to sort out diaper and other purchases since joining several social media groups aimed at locating essential items, said Havana resident Laura Vela, who has a young child.

Some of the groups have waiting lists of people anxious to get the benefits of being a member. WhatsApp limits group chat sizes to 256 people, while other platforms accept thousands.

Shopping through social media is easing life for many on the island, but it may be exacerbating inequality and making things harder for those without internet connections. Moreover, people get discounts on data if they pay with badly needed dollars through companies outside Cuba, meaning those without U.S. currency are at a disadvantage.

Cubans have been used to struggling for the basics since the collapse of their benefactors in the Soviet Union decades ago, but the situation deteriorated in 2019 after President Trump escalated sanctions.

Andrea Rodriguez is an Associated Press writer.
Eleven key accountable institutions (KAIs) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and exchange information to combat corruption and crime in the country.



The agreement was spearheaded by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), with financial support from the Accountability, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption Programme (ARAP), an EU-sponsored initiative.



The other 10 institutions which signed the MoU in Accra yesterday were the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Parliament, the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, the Ghana Audit Service and the Ghana Police Service.



The rest were the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), the Internal Audit Agency, the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.



The signing was witnessed by representatives of civil society organisations, such as the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), the Association of Parliamentary Network Against Corruption, and some private sector representatives.



Objectives



The agreement is in line with recommendations under the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP), which was adopted by Parliament in 2014.



The plan identifies collaborations among anti-corruption agencies as a key activity that will enable the agencies to conduct effective investigations and prosecution of corrupt practices.



As part of the agreement, there will be exchange of information, promotion of synergy for better co-ordination of activities, enhancement of the capacity of the KAIs to address challenges of emerging methods of corruption and crime and minimising the potential for mandate overlaps.



In line with this, an information exchange forum will be established, where specific activities, including the sharing of information and experiences and periodic public engagements, will be undertaken every three months.



Additionally, the KAIs will develop mechanisms for case referrals, conduct joint activities and investigations and also develop a strategy for collaboration with civil society and private sector organisations.



Corruption



The Deputy Commissioner of the CHRAJ, Mr Richard Ackom Quayson, said corruption was a very serious problem which had devastating effects on the development of a country.



Describing the canker as a threat to national security, he said it allowed organised crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish, and also undermined the capacity of the state and its institutions to function efficiently.



He said even though measures had been taken to combat corruption in the country over the years, the lack of coordination and collaboration among KAIs had made it difficult to win the fight.



The Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, said the public had high expectations of KAIs, and that the agreement would make it possible for all the KAIs to bring their energies together to combat crime and corruption.



We all have a responsibility to collaborate and exchange information to help fight the canker of corruption and crime. We now have the Right to Information Act in place, so there is no need to hide information, he said.



Mr Whittal urged the other KAIs to be dedicated and committed in their joint efforts to fight corruption and crime.



Resolve



For his part, the Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police Mr Frank Adu-Poku (retd), expressed the commitment of his outfit to collaborate with the other partners to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.



The Chief Executive of the FIC, Mr Kwaku Dua, also said no institution or individual can fight corruption and crime alone. Without joining forces together, no one can fight corruption and win.



The acting Executive Secretary of NACOB, Mr Francis Kofi Torkornoo, said the board was happy to be part of such a platform, where all key accountability institutions were determined to work together to fight to reduce corruption in the country.

Source: Daily Graphic









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With the coronavirus cases on the rise across the globe, there exists a flurry of queries over what should be done if an individual thinks feels symptomatic of coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has stated that there is no need for all individuals to get screened for coronavirus as the level of community transmission in the country is not there currently.

Prime factor: Travel history, contact with infected individuals

A person should immediately report if he/she has recently travelled to any of the coronavirus hotspots like China, Italy, Iran or Japan, or have been in close contact with anyone who has been tested positive for the virus. The government says it is mandatory for such individuals to declare their history of travel or contact with the infected individual and get screened to avoid any further spread of the virus.

The primary determining factor for us is a persons travel history or close contact with anyone who has tested positive. The flu season is at its peak right and most people end up getting a viral fever or cough and cold. People should stay home if they arent feeling well and wait for symptoms to get better, said Dr Sunil Sharma, Chief Medical Officer and Covid-19 nodal officer at Pt Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital in South Delhi.

Who needs to be tested, who doesnt?

The health ministry in its release on Covid-19 testing strategy stated that not all individuals need to be screened for coronavirus.

According to the ministry, there has been no community transmission of Covid-19 in the country currently, therefore all individuals need not be screened.

The disease is primarily reported in individuals with travel history to the affected countries or close contacts of positive cases, the release read.

Those with a travel history to any of the coronavirus-affected nations or individuals who were in close contact with the ones affected by the virus should stay under a 14-day self-quarantine and get tested for the infection.

In addition to this, all individuals evacuated and quarantined from Wuhan, China and Diamond Princess ship, Japan should be screened for novel coronavirus, a press release by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) read.

The symptoms

Coronavirus symptoms include fever, difficulty in breathing, coughing, tightness of chest, running nose, headache, feeling of being unwell, pneumonia, kidney failure. However, these symptoms need to be factored in along with an individuals travel history and contact with any infected person.

Should one walk into any clinic?

Queuing up at hospitals or clinics may expose people to other viruses or stand a chance for others to get infected. Therefore, it is best to report at designated hospitals for coronavirus such as RML hospital in Delhi or call the helpline number provided by the government.

Around 50 per cent of those coming in with flu-like symptoms would otherwise have not bothered to visit the clinic had it not been for the Covid-19 scare, said Dr Rommel Tickoo, senior consultant (internal medicine) at Max Saket, Delhi.

If it is flu will heal on its own. Those who suspect Covid-19 should stay at home and call the helpline number because if they come to the hospital they will spread it to others. If they dont have, they might pick up other infections from the hospital, Dr Tickoo stated adding that he recommends those with a travel history to any of the high-risk countries to RML or Safdarjung hospital.

Seeking help

As mentioned earlier, those who show symptoms of coronavirus after having returned from an international travel or after being in close contact with any of the infected individuals should report to the nearest designated hospital for coronavirus screening or call on the helpline number provided by the central government and the respective state government.

Self isolation

For those who havent travelled abroad recently or have had no contact with any of those infected with coronavirus but are down with cough and flu-like symptoms, the health ministry advises them to stay at home and monitor their symptoms. In case they dont feel any better, they must report to the nearest designated centre or call on the Covid-19 helpline number.

Self-isolation is mandatory for at least 14 days after a return from any of the coronavirus hotspots.

Precautionary measures

In order to keep the virus at bay, one should observe good hygiene practices like washing hands properly and regularly, covering mouth and nose with flexed elbow or with a tissue while sneezing or coughing. Dispose of the tissue in a closed bin after use. Maintain a distance, at least a metre, with anyone who is sneezing or coughing.

The number of positive coronavirus cases in the country has jumped to 60. The virus has infected over 100,000 people across the globe with over 4,000 killed.
Palestinian citizens in Israel made a powerful statement in the March 2 elections, with the Arab Joint List winning an unprecedented 15 seats in the 120-member Knesset. The alliance consists of Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality), headed by Ayman Odeh; the Arab Movement for Change, led by Ahmad Tibi; the Islamic Movement, headed by Abbas Mansour; and the nationalist Balad, led by Mtanes Shehadeh. The 64.7% of Palestinian voters who turned out cast their ballots almost exclusively for the Joint List, thus thwarting the hopes of the current Israeli caretaker prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to form a majority coalition government of 61 members.

Fadi Elsalameen, adjunct senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based American Security Project, told Al-Monitor that the results of the elections stand as a huge success for Palestinian citizens in Israel. This success not only blocks Netanyahu from forming a government, but also ends the right-wing agenda of excluding Palestinian Arabs from having a place in Israeli politics, Elsalameen said.

Elsalameen, a Palestinian himself, added that even before election day, The success became evident in Netanyahus last-minute attempt to peel off some of these votes for himself, or at least to cause them to stay at home, as evident in his last-minute attempt to arrange direct pilgrimage trips to Mecca and his public claims that the idea of population change was a bad idea.

US President Donald Trumps peace plan, which many believe was largely inspired by ideas from Netanyahu, includes the shifting of borders to move 250,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel to the theoretical and powerless Palestinian state. This provision, tucked away on page 13 of the 181-page Peace to Prosperity plan, is said to have increased Arab turnout in the election.

Smadar Perry, a veteran reporter for Yedioth Ahronoth, pointed to two factors contributing to the Joint List winning 15 seats. She remarked to Al-Monitor, [First,] there was no Arab candidate in any other party, which was a huge mistake as far as I can see, and second  is the high turnout the list leaders and supporters accomplished.

Perry applauded the Joint Lists leaders, saying they worked hard ahead of the elections. Only the Arabs and Likud were working in this election cycle, she said. In the elections held in April of last year, Arab parties ran separately and together won a total of 10 seats. In September, the parties reunited to take 13 seats.

Johnny Mansour, a Haifa-based historian and political science lecturer at the Academic College in Beit Berl, in Israel, told Al-Monitor that the leaders of the Joint List did well, but that their opponents are trying to deny the importance of the outcome. The results have produced multiple negative voices from other parties aligned with [Blue and White leader Benny] Gantz, including some in his own party who dont want to see the Arabs associated with any government, even accusing some of those elected, specifically the Tajamu [Balad] party, of being terrorists.

Mansour praised the maturity of the Joint List's leaders, who will make serious demands on behalf of their constituents. Their participation in the negotiations [toward support for a new coalition government], with a representative from all four elements of the list, is a major achievement compared to the past, when they were shunned in a reflection of the general denial of Palestinian nationalism, he said.

According to Mansour, leaders have to mix direct demands and ideological ones in such political negotiations. For example, they can request an end to house demolitions, demand recognition of Bedouin communities in the Negev, but at the same time, they can insist on rescinding a number of recently passed racist laws that discriminate against Arabs and demand that the new government doesnt follow through on the Trump plan. The larger parties often respond to specific issues but are reluctant to give in to some of the ideological and political demands, Mansour explained.

The high turnout among Palestinians that lead to the Joint List's unprecedented 15 seats in the 23rd Israeli Knesset also marks another precedent. Eman Khatib, the Islamic Movement candidate who occupied the 15th position on the Joint List's slate, will break new ground when she enters the Knesset. Khatib, a mother of four who holds a masters degree from Tel Aviv University in womens studies, will become the first hijab-wearing woman to enter the Knesset.

Khatib told Al-Monitor that her priorities will be to serve her community. I have made commitments to the voters to work hard in representing them and fighting for their rights, she said. As for her precedent-setting hijab, Khatib said she is used to the expected negative reaction. I have faced up to this kind of reaction all my life, including while studying at Tel Aviv University, and it doesnt faze me, she remarked.

After election results were confirmed, Khatib posted a video on Facebook thanking her voters. Your trust is valuable to me, and we will try to carry this responsibility wherever we go, and we will be honest representatives of your aspirations and rights.

Israel's March elections, the third in less than a year, have altered the country's political landscape. The record number of Knesset seats representing Palestinian citizens appears to be just enough to help create a blocking majority that could push the right-wing, corruption-indicted Israeli prime minister from office. Such success will not go unnoticed.
Whole eggplant cooked over the coals at Zahav is served as a vegan option over freekeh, lentils and pistachios topped with mangos pickled in amba sauce. Read more

My vegan friend Leah keeps a picture on her phone to remind her of the dark days. It shows a white plate with a massive, unadorned green head of broccoli that she was served at a local steakhouse chain. She hasnt forgotten the slight.

But the reason she was prompted to show me the offending brassica was a happy occasion. Shed just been served three stellar plant-based courses at Townsend (2121 Walnut St.), , highlighted by a grilled celery root steak infused with flavor sous-vide, sauced with mushroom jus that had as much depth as any veal demi-glace.

I thought it was a good test to see if this kitchen better known for meaty French dishes like roast duck and sweetbreads could cook something vegan off-menu with a couple days notice. (Calling ahead is always a good idea). But for my dedicated vegan guest, this thoughtful, labor-intensive meal represented a genuine milestone in the fight for plant-based eaters to be seen and embraced by the restaurant industry at large.

Weve rightfully celebrated the achievements of Phillys nationally renowned vegan culinary community, from Vedge and V Street to Charlie was a sinner, P.S. & Co., Blackbird Pizzeria, and Miss Rachels Pantry (owned by chef Rachel Klein, daughter of The Inquirers Michael Klein.) But the success of those pioneers has had a powerful ripple effect judging by the energy now being devoted to plant-based cooking in mainstream restaurants catering to an omnivorous crowd. If youre a top restaurant of any sort in Philly in 2020, serious vegetable chops are now the expectation.

My recent dining guide tipped a carrot to several vegetarian favorites  the broccoli tabbouleh at Spice Finch (220 S. 17th St.); the grand mezze at Irwins (800 Mifflin St.); the tehina shakes at Goldies, the cauliflower tacos with almond-morita salsa at Nemi (2636 Ann St.) But I also reached out to several chefs from my current Top 25 restaurants and beyond to hear what theyre most excited about cooking right now for those craving a plant-based meal.

No tired veggie-pasta cliches, I said. But the prodding wasnt necessary. Between the flavor-building trends of live-fire cooking, fermentation, and careful sourcing of seasonal vegetables, these chefs are genuinely thrilled by the challenge of drawing culinary satisfaction from produce and plant-based fats.

Sweet Potato Power

Sweet potato chorizo at Cadence (161 W Girard Ave.): This seasonal BYOB is always bursting with vegan options. Still, the trio of chefs here have done things to sweet potatoes I never expected, smoking them whole in the live-fire hearth, then crusting the fleshy wedges with a sweet potato chorizo. Made from scraps that are dehydrated and ground with chili oil and seasonings for an Nduja-like paste, it adds spice, tang, and texture to an incredibly dynamic dish.

Sweet potato-kimchi gratin at Vernick Food & Drink (2031 Walnut St.): Chef Greg Vernick, whos gone plant-based himself two days a week, can effortlessly veggie-flex with slow-roasted cabbage topped with mole at Vernick Fish or the best-selling mushroom-avocado grain bowl at Vernick Coffee Bar. His new vegan crush at the four-bell flagship on Walnut Street is a sweet potato-kimchi gratin with pear butter and a soy glaze.

Excelling at Eggplant

Thai eggplant at Kalaya (764 S 9th St.): Much of the Thai cuisine at Kalaya relies on fish sauce and fermented seafood paste for depth. But chef Chutatip Nok Suntaranon cooks some fabulous vegan-friendly dishes, too, including her famous blue tapioca dumplings (sakoo sai hed) stuffed with mushrooms and peanuts, and stir-fried Japanese eggplants marinated in miso, bean paste, basil, and chilies that take on additional savor when singed in Kalayas smoking-hot wok.

Roasted eggplant at Zahav (237 St James Pl.): CookNSolo restaurants have always offered veg-forward expressions of modern Israeli cuisine. So while that table of carnivores beside you is oohing over their smoked lamb shoulder, Zahav can throw down a worthy vegan centerpiece, too. These days, its a whole eggplant, sliced accordion-style like a Hasselback potato, then roasted over coals and fanned atop freekeh, lentils, and pistachios with fresh mangos tossed in amba sauce.

Bold Brassicas, Rad Roots

Cauliflower crudo at Andiario (106 W. Gay St., West Chester): Cauliflower is the sturdy brassica of choice when it comes to grilling for a veggie steak. Anthony Andiario taps the raw appeal of his heirloom varieties by serving a colorful mosaic of cauliflower carpaccio drizzled with vegan bagna cauda. Andiario also takes the cabbage trend (yes, thats a thing) to the next level by wood-roasting an heirloom flat Dutch cabbage in the fire, peeling its charred layers back, then topping it with a green onion relish spiked with fresh horseradish, vinegar, and hemp-seed oil.

Roasted cauliflower with curry at Hearthside (801 Haddon Ave., Collingswood): Live fire is the key to much of the menu at South Jerseys hottest restaurant, but the vivid sauce and spices here are the keys  a house-made coconut milk Thai curry and dusting of fresh zaatar  to take this char-roasted head of cauliflower to centerpiece status.

Cauliflower steak at Alpen Rose (116 S. 13th St.): When it is time for a cauliflower steak, Phillys best boutique chophouse knows what to do, roasting it over the hardwood grill, then topping it off with golden raisins, almonds, and bread crumbs. (If youre dairy-averse, the usual creme fraiche garnish can be subbed with an agave-lemon-olive oil dressing).

Grilled kale heart at Laurel (1617 E. Passyunk Ave.): Dense kale hearts, not salad greens, are at the core of this tasting menu gem, confited tender then grilled over Binchotan coals. Chef Nicholas Elmis elaborate treatment of seasonal chicories give the dish layered depth. Castelfranco radicchio gets fermented for two weeks before being grilled, while Tardivo radicchio is grilled, and other chicories are turned to a crumble. A vegan Perigordine sauce finished with Madeira and truffles lends it that luxurious French sheen.

Bolero carrot tartare at Serpico (604 South St.): Precious end-of-season carrots from Root Mass Farms get the tartare treatment, but true to chef Peter Serpicos lapidary ways, this is no simple mince. The carrots are steamed, partially dehydrated, cut to uniform bits, then partially rehydrated in a vacu-sealed bag to achieve ideal texture. Its all tossed with a gingery soy vinaigrette, then topped with rice-encrusted seaweed crackers showered with sliced myoga ginger.

Mushroom Marvels

Mushroom caponata at Res Ipsa (2218 Walnut St.): Dont let the blank canvas fool you. Beneath the minimalist look and delicate snap of those shaved raw Royal Trumpets, chef Michael Vincent Ferreri hides a dark, tart, and intricately rendered mushroom version of sweet-and-sour caponata. Most commonly made with eggplant, raisins, and capers, Ferreri often makes this Sicilian dish with other in-season vegetables, like artichokes. His winter rendition blends multiple kinds of mushrooms  pickled, grilled, steeped to stock, agrodolce  with cocoa, vinegar, Marsala, rosemary oil, and pomegranate for a tart kiss. A final touch of pureed bread soaked with concentrated oat milk binds it all together with a hint of richness. (The standard addition of honey can be substituted.)

White Elf mushrooms over sunchokes at Wm. Mulherins Sons (1355 N. Front St.): Meaty White Elf mushrooms, also known as Nebrodinis, are marinated with herbs and olive oil before theyre marked on this Fishtown grill, then polka-dotted with black garlic-citrus puree. Its the pairing with sunchokes, though, that Mulherins new chef, James Burke, uses to give this dish extra earthy depth, the soft mash of sunchokes crackling with crispy bits of deep-fried skin that seems to draw even more umami from these already-intense mushrooms.

Bar Stars from beyond the Top 25

Phillys gastropubs have long led the charge in normalizing vegan options on mainstream menus, from the smoked coconut club sandwich at Memphis Taproom (2331 E. Cumberland St.) to the crispy sunchokes with sunflower seed pesto at Prohibition Taproom (501 N. 13th St.) and the seitan wings at recently renovated Royal Tavern (937 E. Passyunk Ave.), where the vegan meatball banh mi is my current favorite item.

Few bar chefs, though, give as much consistent attention to creative vegan options as much as Doreen DeMarco, who oversees three local pubs. At South Philadelphia Taproom (1509 Mifflin St.), she gives an American take on jackfruit, an ingredient often used in the nearby Indonesian restaurants. She marinates chunks of the meaty tropical fruit in Buffalo sauce and then fries them in seasoned breading for a hoagie roll with lettuce and vegan ranch. She uses crab cakes as inspiration for a version made with artichokes and faba-naise at Second District Brewery (1939 S. Bancroft St.). At American Sardine Bar (1800 Federal St.), meanwhile, she skips past the usual faux-meat vegan cheesesteak by transforming sheer slices of roasted eggplant  salt-cured, dehydrated, marinated with liquid smoke, soy, and mushroom powder then griddled like meat on the flat-top  for an eggplant Parm steak drizzled with a parsnip whiz reminiscent of Vedges rutabaga fondue masterpiece.

Im not vegan, I just have a lot of vegan friends, says DeMarco. Veganizing recipes is fun to me.
A state-of-the-art facility to fast-track new medicines for patients will today be opened by Australian Minister for Health the Hon. Greg Hunt MP and Victorian Minister for Health the Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute

The $75 million-dollar centre will advance Australia's drug discovery capabilities and reduce the time it takes to bring new medicines to market. The NDDC was generously supported by $25 million from the Australian Government and $18 million from the Victorian Government, with a $32 million investment from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, which includes income from the sale of venetoclax royalties and philanthropic gifts.

The launch will include announcement of the first two successful recipients of a federal government subsidy to support drug discovery for cancer immunotherapy and type 2 diabetes. The subsidy will cover 90 per cent of the cost of using the NDDC, reducing the cost of a traditional screening campaign - normally upwards of $300,000 - to around $30,000-$45,000.

Minister Hunt said the Australian and Victorian governments had worked together to establish the centre, the first of its kind in Australia.

"This centre will allow medical researchers to fast-track the development of new drugs to treat common and rare diseases, improving the quality of life for many Australians," Mr Hunt said.

Minister Mikakos said the centre would combine specialist expertise with cutting-edge technology.

"This will be a game changer for Victoria's world-class researchers who now have the equipment they need to turn their biomedical discoveries into new medicines - bringing life-saving treatments to patients, sooner," Ms Mikakos said.

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute director Professor Doug Hilton AO thanked the Australian and Victorian governments, and philanthropic donors, for their investment, and for recognising the importance of the NDDC to the Australian medical research sector.

"For many years the translation of world-class Australian research into new medicines has been hampered by a lack of capacity for drug development. This meant many promising research discoveries were either never pursued, or researchers were forced overseas to develop their research into new therapies," Professor Hilton said.

"The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is proud to have led the establishment of a centre that will fill a vital gap in Australia's drug discovery pipeline. The centre will enable our colleagues from Australian research institutes, universities and small-to-medium enterprises to advance their research beyond the bench and provide them with world-class facilities and staff as they fast-track their drug discovery journeys."

The first two recipients of Australian Government-subsidised screens will be projects to find new medicines for type 2 diabetes and cancer immunotherapy.

Associate Professor Anthony Don, from the University of Sydney and Centenary Institute, will lead a project to develop new drugs that reverse systemic insulin resistance that causes type 2 diabetes, without the side effect of additional weight gain associated with most existing drugs.

Professor Matthias Ernst from La Trobe University and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute will receive a subsidy to identify new immunotherapy cancer treatments, uncovering ways of making cancer tumours less visible to the immune system and enhance the effect of anti-tumour immune therapies. The findings could lead to new anti-cancer drugs that could treat breast, bowel, pancreatic and other solid tumours.

Round two applications for subsidised access to the NDDC close on 23 March with successful recipients chosen by an independent panel. There will be two funding rounds per year with increasing capacity until 2022. Find out more at the National Drug Discovery Centre's website.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt:

"This centre will allow medical researchers to fast-track the development of new drugs to treat common and rare diseases, improving the quality of life for many Australians."

"Our governments have worked together to establish this centre which is the first of its kind in Australia."

Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos:

"This will be a game changer for Victoria's world-class researchers who now have the equipment they need to turn their biomedical discoveries into new medicines - bringing life-saving treatments to patients, sooner."

"It will combine specialist expertise with cutting-edge technology right here in Melbourne - and is also accessible to researchers from around Australia."

###

About the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute:

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is one of Australia's leading biomedical research organisations, with a national and international reputation for performing highly influential basic and translational research. With more than 1100 researchers addressing some of the major health challenges of our time, with a focus on cancer, immune health and infection, and development and ageing. We are at the forefront of research innovation, with a strong commitment to excellence and investment in research computing, advanced technologies and developing new medicines and diagnostics.
The 2019 Annual Regional Health Sector Performance Review has established that although deliveries in the Greater Accra Region have increased over the years, institutional maternal mortality have reduced remarkably.



The review report indicated a reduction from 189 for each 100,000 live births in 2017 to 145 in 2018 and reduced again to 136.8 in 2019.



At a meeting to review the performance of the region for 2018 and deliberate on how to improve healthcare delivery, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Mrs Charity Sarpong, said the achievement could be attributed to several interventions that had been put in place and to the hard work of our staff.



It has also been a platform to assess the resilience of the health system in respect to its mandate of providing quality health services to all persons irrespective of their geographical, financial, ethical, religious or other affiliations.



The Greater Accra review meeting for 2019 was held on the theme: Strengthening Health Systems Towards Attaining Universal Health Coverage: The Role of Quality Data and Good Governance.



Interventions



Dr Sarpong mentioned some of the interventions to include a Whatsapp platform named the Kyebele Whatsapp which facilitated the referrals of pregnant women requiring emergency or advanced care from one health facility to another.



She said the auditing of all maternal deaths both at the facility level and also by a committee that had been instituted to investigate all maternal deaths with the aim of identifying and addressing any shortfalls, including supportive supervision, monitoring and capacity building, also contributed to the reduction in maternal mortality.



Neonatal mortality



However, Dr Sarpong said the report also indicated a slight increase in neonatal death from six in every 1,000 live births in 2017 to 6.5 in 2018 and to 7.5 in 2019.



Stillbirth rate has also reduced marginally from 15.3/1,000 live births in 2017 to 14/1,000 live births during the same period in 2018 to 13.6/1,000 live births in 2019, she said.



Dr Sarpong said the situation could be as a result of low patronage of Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services during the year under review and, therefore, efforts had been made to integrate PMTCT services into the routine maternal and child health services.



By this, midwives offering focused antenatal and neonatal care services were trained to provide testing, counselling and treatment as a one-stop service at their facilities, she stated.



Challenges



Dr Sarpong said the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate had set an agenda to strengthen healthcare systems within the region to help accelerate national efforts to deliver on UHC.



In doing that, it intended to prioritise quality data management and good governance because the two were established to be among the major challenges of quality healthcare delivery in the region by the 2019 Annual Regional Health Sector Performance Review.



She mentioned other interventions to include capacity building on the data management and governance, supportive supervision; maternal and newborn health; infection prevention and control practices, and the Community-Based Health Planning and Services implementation, with support from the United States Agency for International Development.



Accountability



In a speech read on his behalf, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said the annual performance review was the demonstration of the health sectors willingness to avail itself for accountability.



He said for the third year running, the national regional peer review used a holistic and transparent assessment tool leading to authentic assessment of regional performance.



He underscored the need for a more responsive and coordinated health delivery system towards the delivery of UHC.

Source: Daily Graphic









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Accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of unleashing a "communal virus" in India that wreaked havoc, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Thursday asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah why registration of FIRs was delayed against perpetrators of hate speeches which he claimed amounted to "a licence to kill".





Initiating a short-duration debate in Rajya Sabha on the recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi, Sibal alleged that while the national capital was burning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on the matter for 70 hours and the police machinery was busy destroying evidences and supporting violence or rioters.

Pointing towards Shah, who was present in the Upper House, Sibal asked why FIRs were not registered against those who delivered hate speeches that "incited" communal violence in Delhi.



"You can do anything to protect cows, but not human beings? Do we need to bring another article to ensure the protection of human beings," he said, referring to provisions of the Constitution on cow protection.



Mentioning the spread of coronavirus, he said "we know the roots of the virus" and "we know" who were the "collaborators" of the riots. "The home minister must have seen footages of policemen destroying CCTV cameras," he said.



He said Delhi has a strong police force of 87,000 but unfortunately the riots could not be contained.



The violence in northeast Delhi last month claimed 53 lives and left over 200 injured. The riots were triggered by clashes between those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and those supporting it.



Sibal, a former Union minister, said the riots were "orchestrated" just as the celebrations to welcome US President Donald Trump.



The riots in Delhi had taken place during Trump's visit to India.



"Everyone knew what was happening, but the Delhi Police knew nothing," he alleged.



Sibal also said it was a paradox that on February 25 the government termed the Delhi riots "spontaneous", whereas the home minister in Lok Sabha said it was a conspiracy.



He said of the 53 who lost their lives, 34 were of one community and questioned the delay in registration of FIRs against those who gave hate speeches.



"This was a licence to kill...," he alleged, adding that if the government wanted to control the situation it could have easily done so.



He also warned against communalising the youth. If the "virus" is spread among the youth, democracy will be destroyed, he said.



He took a dig at the government saying that the Solicitor General when asked by a judge about the FIRs said it was not an opportune time.



Taking part in the debate, Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP said it was wrong to blame the Delhi Police for everything saying.



"The situation of the Delhi Police has become like Iraq. They are being attacked for every wrong that is happening."



Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien said children were the worst sufferers in the riots.



Referring to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to riots-hit areas, the TMC MP asked, "If Delhi Police was doing a good job, why was the chain of command superseded and the NSA was given command?"



The Citizenship Amendment Act, along with the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register, is a "toxic combination".
BAY CITY, MI - Fans of the annual St. Patricks Day parade and races in Bay City will have to find other weekend plans. The event set for Sunday, March 15, was officially canceled Wednesday evening out of an abundance of caution due to concerns around the novel coronavirus.

The parade was originally scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, with 5K races also part of the weekend event. Both the parade and the races were canceled after a joint decision Wednesday during a meeting with members of the St. Patricks Day Parade Association, The Bay County Health Department, the Bay Area Runners Club and the Bay City Department of Public Safety.

I dont want to be part of the group, none of us do, that we create a very bad epidemic in our community. People come from all over, they dont just come from Bay City, said Bay City Mayor Kathleen Newsham, a member of the parades executive board.

The cancellation comes on the heels of new guidelines set forth by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which included an instruction to avoid gatherings of 100 or more people. Whitmer declared a state of emergency Tuesday after two Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for coronavirus. This was the states first cases of the virus.

The Bay City St. Patricks Day Parade Association released the following statement about the cancellation, Based on the recommendation of the Bay County Health Department and Bay County Emergency Services Department, who are following the recommendation of the State of Michigan Governors office, we are cancelling the Bay City St. Patricks Day Parade that was scheduled for Sunday, March 15. This was a difficult decision and we are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Bay City St. Patricks Day parade usually draws a large crowd, with a lot of the attendees coming from areas around the state.

We have so many people that come, upwards of 50,000 people on a good day. Thats a lot of people to pack on the sidewalks without them being shoulder to shoulder," said Newsham.

For those registered to run in the races, all registered participants will be receiving an official email communication from organizers about the cancellation.

In efforts to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, cities such as Chicago and Boston have cancelled similar St. Patricks Day parade events.

Related news:

SVSU suspending in-person classes amid Michigan coronavirus threat

Michigan monitoring 124 residents potentially exposed to coronavirus

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan
"Surely, such a device must be way too expensive for the average fast-food restaurant to afford," you ask, looking for the ray of hope that will never shine upon our bleak jobless future. Flippy used to cost about $100,000 each, but now comes as cheap as $10,000. And if that's too expensive, companies can instead choose to pay a monthly subscription fee of $2,000. A human doing the same job would cost that company anywhere between $4,000-$10,000 a month. A person would have to reduce their already low wage all the way down to a monumentally pathetic $3 an hour just to compete. Their hourly wage wouldn't be enough to afford a combo meal from the fast-food joint that employs them.

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But maybe it's not all doom and gloom. A professor of engineering at UC Berkeley interviewed by the Los Angeles Times said a Flippy in every professional kitchen will be a lot like "when spreadsheet software first came out everyone was predicting the end of all bookkeeping and accounting jobs," but instead all it did was change the type of work people do. The writer of the article then suggested that restaurants will always need people to load and unload dishwashers, seemingly gliding over the fact that in between those two actions is a machine doing all the dishwashing. So what happens when we inevitably get a plate-stacking arm, at half the cost of a high schooler -- who's just trying to get paid enough to see a date-night movie, so he can get a handjob? How will that kid get handjobs now, fast food industry? We demand answers.

Luis can be found on Twitter and Facebook. Check out his regular contributions to Macaulay Culkin's BunnyEars.com and his "Meditation Minute" segments on the Bunny Ears podcast. And now you can listen to the first episode on Youtube!
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  Saudi Arabia has expanded its COVID-19 travel ban to cover 12 more countries, including the Philippines, the office of Manilas consulate general in Jeddah said Thursday.

The travel ban, however, exempts health workers from the Philippines and India returning to Saudi Arabia, according to Consul General Edgar Badajos.

They will be subjected to a special medical evaluation upon their return. They are further advised to coordinate with their respective employers in the kingdom prior to their return, Badajos said.

He added that transportation to Saudi by land through its borders with Jordan is also suspended, except for the passage of passengers considered as humanitarian cases.

The ban also allows Saudi citizens and permanent residents three days to return to the Middle Eastern kingdom before the travel suspension takes effect.

The state-run Saudi News Agency reported that travelers from the Philippines, countries in the European Union, Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia will be barred from entering Saudi, while its citizens will also be prohibited from traveling to these countries.

Saudi Arabia currently has 45 patients with COVID-19, while the Philippines has reported 52.

Globally, over 126,000 people have contracted the disease with more than 4,600 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University's global tracking of cases.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, but is not as deadly, with the fatality rate standing at around three percent.

According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of patients only experience mild illness and eventually recover. It added that some 14 percent experience severe illness while five percent were critically ill.

The disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze.

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.

Commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with severe and critical symptoms should call the Health Department at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150.

The WHO now calls COVID-19 a pandemic, but stressed that this should not cause alarm as it can still be controlled since 90 percent of infections are being reported in only four countries, while outbreaks in China and South Korea are slowing down.
Vladimir Putin changed his mind and backed a plan to allow him to run for two more presidential terms because of the current turbulent period in the world, his spokesman said, in the Kremlin's first public explanation of a move that would let him rule until 2036.

"The situation in the world has become less stable," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call Thursday. He cited the coronavirus pandemic, the risks of "global recession," numerous "acute regional conflicts" and western sanctions as among the factors that led to Putin's decision.

"In these difficult years, the stability of the authorities, the firmness and consistency of government have huge significance," he told reporters. "In such hard years, some countries have taken decisions to allow the incumbent president to remain on his path into the future."

Putin has had a hand in some of the latest turmoil, setting off a price war in the oil market by refusing last week to agree to deepen output cuts in a deal with other major producers and fueling a crisis earlier this year with Turkey over the civil war in Syria. Peskov didn't explain why the Russian leader felt the current instability will continue to be a factor requiring his continued rule four or more years from now.

Putin had previously said he would respect term limits, meaning he would have had to step down in 2024, even as he left the door open to take another role to retain control. But Tuesday he reversed himself and backed a constitutional amendment that would exempt him from the restrictions. While Putin had been widely expected to find a way to extend his 20-year rule, he had previously suggested he would likely step down as president.

Under the new plan, Putin, 67, would be allowed to run for up to two more terms, opening the way for him to remain president until 2036, when he would be 83. Peskov said Putin hasn't yet announced whether he will run again in 2024.

"I doubt these arguments will be seen as convincing," said Mikhail Vinogradov, a St. Peterburg political analyst. "Now it's coronavirus, but there was a time when the Icelandic volcano erupted and they suspended air service. These things happen but it's no reason to change the constitution."

The amendments were approved by parliament this week and are expected to go to a national vote next month after Putin signs them and the Constitutional Court signs off. They would take effect immediately.

Despite the apparent alarm about coronavirus, Peskov said the Kremlin isn't currently considering changes to its plans for the constitutional vote next month or the May 9 festivities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. The government Wednesday recommended canceling public events because of the risk of spreading the virus.

"The Putin regime is a classic personalistic autocracy of the Latin American or Asian type, which always uses current circumstances to justify cracking down," said Andrei Kolesnikov, analyst at the Carnegie Moscow Center. "They assume that an authoritarian system deals with crises more confidently."
In Montgomery County, with 13 presumptive cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday, court officials have instituted emergency measures to reduce the number of people in the bustling county courthouse in Norristown  canceling jury trials and many other hearings through March 27 and conducting some hearings by video.

And President Judge Thomas DelRicci has made an unusual request to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court: to suspend Rule 600 for the next two weeks. That rule codifies the right to a speedy trial guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution: 180 days if a defendant is in jail, 365 days if not.

The Supreme Court responded Thursday that it would take the question under advisement, as coronavirus fears have begun to disrupt court proceedings in Pennsylvania and New Jersey  stoking fears among anti-incarceration advocates who worry jails will fill up with people whose hearings are delayed.

Defense lawyer and University of Pennsylvania law professor David Rudovsky said that such a blanket rule suspension would be unprecedented.

It seems to me it would be very extraordinary for a court to prospectively say were going to stop the clock now because there may be problems two weeks from now or three months from now, as opposed to waiting until that actually happens, Rudovsky said.

In Philadelphia, court schedules have not been interrupted, but at least two judges have self-quarantined after travel abroad or potential virus exposure  either delaying proceedings, working remotely, or handing off their dockets to colleagues. (Neither judge had symptoms or a positive test as of Thursday.) In New Jersey, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced that new jury trials would be suspended until further notice. The states speedy trial rule specifically makes exceptions for unusual circumstances like natural disasters.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said the speedy trial rule in Pennsylvania already covers any delays due to emergency situations that cause court closures.

Meanwhile, Krasner said, stakeholders, including himself, judges, and the defense bar, have been meeting to discuss pandemic response measures to manage the jail population and ensure the safety of correctional officers, sheriffs, and those in custody.

We are working, I think, very constructively with our partners on ways to minimize risk, which does include reducing the population in county custody where we can do so safely, Krasner said.

A Defender Association spokesperson said Philadelphia public defenders are working to identify clients in custody who may be at greatest risk of getting the virus. The defenders are filing motions for release for clients in pretrial status for whom only bail is holding them in custody. In cases where the DA agrees to release, the courts have allowed for an expedited process to release those individuals, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Montgomery County announced it would conduct additional hearings via video to move defendants through the courts efficiently.

However, Premal Dharia, director of the Defender Impact Initiative, a nonprofit advocacy organization, said the changes proposed in Montgomery County  including the use of video hearings and the proposed time extension  raise constitutional concerns that cant be ignored even in the face of a pandemic.

When we incarcerate people, certain rights are triggered, she said. When you relax all of those rules and yet you continue to incarcerate people, that flies in the face of what weve decided as a community is appropriate  and it violates the constitutional principles that undergird these statutes to begin with.

Still, as a practical matter, defense lawyer John McMahon, who primarily practices in Montgomery County, expressed support for the courts decision, given the spread of the virus there.

Hopefully, it will not persist for a lengthy period of time, he added. If it does, its going to present some very challenging problems with respect to the operation of the criminal justice system.
Birdman. While Ryan Parrotts nickname is certainly interesting, the story behind it is quite traumatic. In 2005, the Navy SEALs Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Parrott was in the gunners turret, and the explosion sent him flying up into the air.

While he suffered first- and second-degree burns, an encounter with a gravely burned Army Ranger after his service would lead him to become a burn-care advocate for veterans, first responders, civilians, and their families.

Beginnings

Parrott, 36, grew up in Detroit and didnt do well academically in school. In his junior year of high school, he failed most subjects. He had been taking a class in motivational psychology, and the teacher was a Marine Corps and Vietnam War veteran. One day he told the class that there was only one thing better than the Marine Corps, and that was the U.S. Navy SEALS.

I was so fascinated by his storytelling, and what these SEALs were capable of. I was so riveted, Parrott said.

Parrott stayed after class and told his teacher he wanted to become a SEAL. The teacher laughed and asked how he was going to pass one of the toughest tests in the world when he wasnt even passing the class. But he told Parrott that if he was serious, he would get him some literature on the subject. The next day, a copy of Readers Digest with the article The Making of an American Warrior appeared on his desk.

Becoming a Navy SEAL

On Sept. 11, 2001, he was sitting in class when he watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center. That very day, he went to the Navy recruiting station. He was too young then, but after a couple of months, he enlisted in the Navy. In 2003, he started BUDS training and ultimately became a part of SEAL Team Seven in 2004.

Now Im around all these just unbelievably exceptional warriors, especially knowing that the platoon that I joined had just gotten back from combat, Parrott said. You already instantly knew that everything coming out of their mouth was from real-world experiences.

Parrott had an opportunity to travel all over the world and relished in the camaraderie and new experiences.

Ryan Birdman Parrott became a Navy SEAL in 2004. (Courtesy of Sons of the Flag)

During his first deployment to Iraq in 2005 when his vehicle was hit by an IED, the explosion sent fire and shrapnel through the Humvee. Having been ejected from the vehicle, he was the least injured. He took some shrapnel and suffered first- and second-degree burns to his face and hands.

But other members of his platoon suffered much more severe shrapnel and burn wounds. Fortunately, everyone survived and Parrott is still in touch with everyone who was in that vehicle. Parrott, meanwhile, would go on two more tours of duty in Iraq in 2007 and 2009.

Burn Unit

In 2010, Parrott left the military and moved to Dallas. There he was introduced to another Navy SEAL, who had a security firm. One day at work, a group of veterans came into the office, including an Army Ranger and West Point graduate who had suffered burns from an IED during his deployment to Afghanistan. Parrott asked him how they were treating his wounds. He replied that he had had three dozen surgeries, and that was the best that could be done for him.

Im thinking to myself, Wow. Hes got disfigurement on his face, hes got disfigurement on his hands, God only knows what the rest of his body looks like. He had been through an IED where it did not go well, Parrott said.

Ryan Birdman Parrott performed three tours of duty in Iraq in 2005, 2007, and 2009. (Courtesy of Sons of the Flag)

What Parrott gathered from that exchange was that he needed help and that advancements in burn care didnt exist. He went home and researched the subject. After staying up all night, he couldnt find anything that would help. He said it infuriated him, so he asked the Army Ranger if he would join him if he could find a way to change the situation for burn patients. He said he was all in.

Parrott and his colleagues began going to fire conferences and traveling to different burn units to speak with doctors, nurses, patients, families, and social workers to find out where the voids in burn care existed and how they could help them fill those voids.

Filling the Gaps

After extensive research, Parrott started his own charity called Sons of the Flag in 2011, which officially became a registered nonprofit in 2012. The organization addresses the gaps in burn care for veterans, first responders, and civilians. Now, Sons of the Flag has 28 team leaders in 28 states and works with 14 different burn units nationally.

Sons of the Flag has two primary programs: The Fellowship Program and Mission Reconstruct Freedom.

The fellowship program motivates and engages young doctors to become burn surgeons. According to the American Burn Association, there are 480,000 people burned in the United States every year. However, there are only 300 burn reconstruction surgeons in the country. In addition, there isnt a burn unit in every city, nor is there even a burn unit in every state. The organization provides scholarships for young surgeons to become fellows who undergo a year of training under a burn surgeon, and then becomes burn surgeons themselves. They also participate in research and development.

Add new doctors to the mix. Each doctor is going to help thousands of patients in their lives, so thats ensuring the future, Parrott said.

Ryan Birdman Parrott (R) founded Sons of the Flag in 2012 in an effort to improve care for burn injuries. (Courtesy of Sons of the Flag)

Care for Burn Patients

Mission Reconstruct Freedom focuses on the patient. During the initial hospitalization, Sons of the Flag gives families of the patients go-bags that contain essentials such as toiletries, phone chargers, pens and paper, and blankets. After patients are stabilized and leave the hospital, they can develop a number of complications. Sons of the Flag has traveled across the country and partnered with some of the best reconstructive burn surgeons to create a panel to work with these patients.

Patients who send an application through the Sons of the Flag website are contacted by the organization, which then connects the patients with a panel of surgeons via Skype. The panel, based in Tampa, Florida, is under the direction of Dr. Smith and Dr. Pribaz.

After the Skype consultation, the doctors create a course of treatment and Sons of the Flag takes care of all of the logistics to send the patients and a family member to Tampa to undergo surgery at no cost to the patient.

Sons of the Flag has helped more 1,000 burn patients to date.

Just being a piece of the puzzle is the most rewarding thing, Parrott said.
The draft reconstruction scheme for YES Bank proposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) seems to have really put the wind up the investors in the additional tier 1 (AT-1) capital bonds issued by the bank. These investors are crying foul, claiming that despite the AT-1 bonds being senior to common equity shares, they are being written down, whereas the equity shares are not.

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A Connecticut National Guard soldier who died Tuesday night in South Carolina, has been identified as Pvt. Angel Cortes-Torres, 29, of Stratford.

Cortes-Torres suffered a medical emergency while conducting a non-strenuous activity, at Fort Jackson, according to an initial press release from Thomas Byrd, a U.S. Army public affairs specialist based at Fort Jackson in Columbia.

Cortes-Torres was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead at around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Capt. David Pytlik, the director of public affairs for the Connecticut National Guard, said Thursday morning that Cortes-Torres had joined the National Guard in December and left for basic training in Fort Jackson on March 4.

Cortes-Torres would have been assigned to the 192nd Engineer Battalion in Stratford following nine weeks of basic training, according to Pytlik.

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the untimely death of Private Angel Cortes-Torres due to natural causes, wrote Major General Francis J. Evon, the adjutant general for the Connecticut National Guard, in a Facebook post Thursday morning.

The loss of any member of the Connecticut National Guard family is a tragic event and our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Private Cortes-Torres as well as Company A (FSC), 192nd Engineer Battalion and the Recruit Sustainment Program.

Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the soldiers death, wrote Brigadier General Milford Beagle, the commanding officer at Fort Jackson, in a statement issued Wednesday.

Results of the investigations will be provided first, to our soldiers family, who rightfully deserve the information, and if the family chooses we will release it to the public.

Fort Jackson is the nations largest military basic training base with more than 50,000 recruits assigned there each year.
Commuters cross London Bridge. (Peter Summers/Getty Images)

The Budget was a missed opportunity to hike sick pay levels for workers self-isolating over the coronavirus, according to a leading think tank.

New analysis suggests the average UK worker would lose more than two-thirds of their income if forced to rely on statutory sick pay.

The government itself has warned one in five workers could be absent from work over the pandemic, and up to 80% of the population could be infected in a worst-case scenario.

The legal minimum sick pay employers have to offer is 94.25 a week. Some employers pay more, but a paper by the Resolution Foundation on Thursday argued the minimum rate was very low compared to other countries.

The think tank welcomed additional support for workers and employers unveiled in the Budget on Wednesday, but said chancellor Rishi Sunak should have gone further.

Read more: What the UK Budget means for you and your finances

It said prime minister Boris Johnsons government could have raised sick pay levels as the Irish government recently did. It criticised the Budget for not including new support for low earners, with two million employees currently earning too little to qualify for any sick pay at all.

The think tank noted the government had considered reforms less than a year ago, proposing a rate at 80% of normal pay for those earning under 118 a week. But the proposals appear to have been shelved.

The lack of any extension leaves the low-paid reliant on less generous universal credit. The new benefit includes a controversial five-week wait for a first payment, and a means test that rules out support for those with more than 6,000 savings or a working partner.

Several Budget measures received the think tanks backing, however.

Read more: Retailer Wilko to slash sick pay for thousands of staff

Employees will be eligible for sick pay while self-isolating without needing to be diagnosed with the virus. The government had already confirmed sick pay entitlement will temporarily begin on day one rather than day four of absence.

Story continues

Anyone eligible for contributory employment and support allowance (ESA) will receive it immediately. Councils will receive 0.5bn to offer support through council tax discounts and other measures to those affected.

Support also includes 5bn of support to help otherwise viable firms through the temporary shock, stopping them having to lay off staff or close. Small and medium-sized firms will be able to reclaim the cost of coronavirus-related sick pay from the government.

The emergency package for firms is welcome and comprehensive, and well-targeted at smaller companies less able to handle disruption, the foundation said.

Asked about not extending sick pay, Sunak told the BBC on Thursday some gig economy workers would receive support.

For those that dont, weve strengthened the working of our welfare system so that it works quicker, more responsibly and more generously for those people.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden has formally requested protection from the U.S. Secret Service, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Bidens request begins a process by which the Department of Homeland Security will decide whether to provide the campaign with protection, though that was expected to be concluded swiftly with a favourable outcome, the two people said. The two spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

Congressional leadership was notified of the Biden campaigns request, and the DHS secretary will make the final determination. Biden campaign spokesman TJ Ducklo said, We dont comment on security measures.

The move comes a week and a half after two protesters rushed a stage in Los Angeles and came within feet of Biden during a Super Tuesday victory speech. Bidens wife, Jill, and several staff members, including one trained security officer employed by the campaign, physically restrained the women and carried them from the stage. Neither the former vice-president nor his wife was hurt.

The leading candidates in the 2012 and 2016 presidential contests had Secret Service protection by this point in those races. Neither Biden nor Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders had requested protection until now.

The Secret Service protects, by statute, the president and vice-president and their families, as well as some other senior government officials. It is also authorized to provide protection to major party presidential candidates, an authority granted after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.

The agency said in a statement last week that it has been preparing for the 2020 campaign since January 2017, with specific training underway since early 2019. The agency said thousands of agents, officers and support staff have been identified to assist in the campaign and went through training last year that included instruction related to physical protection, threat assessments, emergency medicine, and constitutional law.

Biden, code-named Celtic, had Secret Service protection from the time he was selected as Barack Obamas running mate through about six months after his term as vice-president expired in 2017. Unlike presidents, the protection of former vice-presidents does not last for life.

The process for assigning a security detail to a candidate generally requires that campaigns initiate the request for protection. The Secret Service does a threat assessment and consults with DHS officials and a congressional commission made up of the majority and minority leaders of both chambers, plus another member. The ultimate decision on whether to provide protection is made by DHS.

Some campaigns can be resistant to requesting protective details because of the additional logistical and planning constraints put on by the Secret Services security requirements.

Last week, Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., said the House Homeland Security Committee has asked the Secret Service to provide protection to all remaining major presidential candidates.

Richmond, one of Bidens campaign co-chairmen, said members of Congress were very worried about the March 3 episode, when the protesters rushed the stage at a Biden speech in California.

He isnt the only candidate to have been accosted at a campaign event. Topless demonstrators crashed a Sanders rally in Nevada in February.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
South Korea is one such country which has succeeded in cutting down the number of coronavirus infections after being one of the worst-hit outside China. Even though on Thursday it reported 114 new cases of coronavirus and six more deaths, the numbers are far lower than the peak of 909 cases reported on February 29, news agency Reuters reported. Health officials say the trend does appear to be slowing in what has been the largest outbreak in Asia outside of China.

South Koreas trace, track and test approach seems to have been working in its favour, something which the South Indian state of Kerala also seem to have tried recently to contain the rise in coronavirus cases.

On Wednesday, Pathanamthitta district administration released two sets of maps giving a detailed account of three peoples travel after they arrived at the Cochin International Airport on February 29. The chart gives an account of their movement from the airport to their hospitalisation on March 6.

The three travellers flew in from Italy and slipped out of the Cochin International Airport after dodging health authorities. They surfaced after testing positive for the novel coronavirus and are believed to have transmitted the virus to eight of their relatives.

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.

The maps were prepared with the help of health officials, the police, locals and relatives of the three people and exhibit a detailed account of all the places they had visited. According to the maps, the three patients had visited banks, hotels, bakeries, a church, hospitals, a bar and had taken public transport.

Watch | Coronavirus scare in India: Government suspends all visas as cases mount

The South Korean authorities are also reported to have been vigorously tracing down the contacts of all those who tested positive for the virus. 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 their credit card use, CCTV footage and mobile phone activity, news agency AFP reported.

Kerala continues to be on a coronavirus high alert. The total number of people under observation has crossed 3,000, state Health Minister KK Shailaja said on Wednesday.

Of the 1,179 samples sent for testing, today 889 samples report came and all were negative and we are waiting for the results of another 213. As on date, we have 14 people who are positive and are under close observation, said Shailaja yesterday.

The first three positive cases of coronavirus in India were confirmed in Kerala, all of them had recovered successfully.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases went up to 73 as on Thursday morning in India. The government has 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.

(With inputs from agencies)
For some parents like Lynda Dellipoali, affording a computer is not a possibility right now.

And its a tool that may be vital in her first and third-grade daughters education soon as New Jersey school districts consider virtual classes should in-person teaching temporarily halt amid a coronavirus outbreak.

While Dellipoalis disability allows her to stay home with her kids, it makes it difficult to afford a computer. Their only option  should the district move to virtual teaching  would be to do assignments on Dellipoalis phone, but it may increase her monthly bill due to increased data usage.

Education is more important, said Dellipoali. If it is what I need to do to assure they complete assignments its what will be done. I will deal with the cost at a later time.

These are issues parents across New Jersey are weighing after state Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet gave general guidance to school districts earlier this month should schools temporarily close.

There were 23 positive cases of coronavirus in New Jersey as of Wednesday afternoon. A 69-year-old Bergen County man died from the virus this week as well, state officials said.

The planned services should include equitable access to instruction for all students, the commissioners memo read. Each preparedness plan should also address the provision of appropriate special education and related services for students with disabilities and the provision of school nutrition benefits or services for eligible students.

Now, districts in both low-income and affluent neighborhoods are gearing up. Dozens of school districts across New Jersey will have early dismissals for students so faculty and administrators can hash out plans in the event that COVID-19 would cause instructors to temporarily close their doors.

Elizabeth Public Schools in Union County began to send out surveys Tuesday to parents via telephone, email and hard copies to gauge how many students have access to personal computers and wi-fi. The district plans to have an early dismissal next week to help faculty prepare for 14 to 30 days of remote instruction.

Virtual teaching could pose a challenge in a district like Elizabeth, where 82% percent of students were eligible for free or reduced breakfast in 2015. The district serves more than 27,000 students and has a wide range of needs and challenges.

A spokesman for the Elizabeth school district did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But parents in Elizabeth say students in kindergarten through fourth grade can use tablets or laptops in classes, while older students have district-issued laptops theyre allowed to take home.

Still, not every household has an internet connection even for district-issued laptops. Kapri Ramriez  a single mom whose children are ages 16, 10, 11 and 8  was unsure how remote learning would work for her kids since she doesnt have a computer or wifi.

Taking her kids to a public library to use a computer for assignments with four children would be a challenge, especially since one of them is on the autism spectrum and another has a severe learning disability due to a brain tumor.

Trying to juggle four kids at a library downtown when there are very limited computers would be hard, Ramirez said. There are only six to eight computers downtown (at the library). I am confused on how the special needs children will learn if some learn with visuals.

Home instruction that a district implements will be counted towards the mandatory 180-school day requirement, according to the guidelines put out by the state earlier this month. Home instruction could include direct services or online instruction.

Roselle Public Schools, for example, will instruct faculty on Friday to prepare at least 14 days worth of old-fashioned worksheets and reading for students to complete at home. Parents will also be able to contact teachers via phone or through an online teaching portal called Genesis during regular work hours.

Not all of our parents have computers to do that kind of (virtual) learning throughout, said interim Roselle Public Schools Superintendent James Baker. Theyre looking for one of the state mandates to be equitable. So well have to send things out in portfolios.

A staff member in Roselle Public Schools came in contact with a person with coronavirus, or COVID-19, so all schools in the district closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. The staff member did not qualify for a test but has been symptom-free for 10 days and is self-quarantining for seven more, Baker said.

Schools were thoroughly cleaned while closed for the last two days, which counted as snow days. Schools will reopen on Thursday, Baker added.

The Gateway Regional High School District in Gloucester County and the Lacey Township school district in Ocean County also sent out surveys to parents to find out how many dont have adequate internet access at home.

We think being proactive is best for the community we serve, said Stephen Decker, assistant superintendent of Lacey public schools, a kindergarten to 12th-grade district with 4,200 students. We want to keep them informed. A lot of times in these situations people get anxious when they dont have information.

Decker said Lacey gave all if its students a hard copy survey on internet access to take home. They expected to review the information collected. If they dont have a sufficient amount of responses the district may continue to reach out to parents with phone calls, he said.

Decker said he hopes state officials can help districts like his bridge the gap of internet access in this crisis by reaching out to internet service providers.

He said the district has a remote learning program but intends to remain open unless directed to close by the county health director.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Reporter Bill Duhart contributed to this report. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:49:43|Editor: yan

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LAGOS, March 12 (Xinhua) --Nigeria's health minister Osagie Ehanire Thursday said the government was not contemplating imposition of a travel ban on travelers from any countries over the spread of the COVID-19.

The minister, who made this known at a meeting with foreign diplomats in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, said the measures put in place by the government, is strong enough to contain the spread of the virus.

There was no immediate reason for now to impose a travel ban, he said.

The minister also said the country has not reached the point of banning large gatherings, adding that it is guided by the World Health Organization guideline.
The California Supreme Court has ruled that plaintiffs in Private Attorney General Act cases cannot recover for their own or their fellow employees unpaid wages, but are limited to recovering civil penalties set forth in the California Labor Code.

The PAGA statute was enacted in 2004. It authorizes employees to file lawsuits to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees and the state of for labor code violations. An employee who brings a PAGA claim is entitled to keep as much as 25% of the recovery, while the state keeps 75%.

Several cases have been brought under the California law, which gives employees the right to step into the shoes of the state labor secretary to bring enforcement actions. Gig economy companies like Uber have faced several such suits, including one ruling two years ago in which a Los Angeles state judge approved a $7.75 million deal offering 1.6 million California drivers an average of $1.08 each to resolve one of several U.S. lawsuits challenging the ride-hailing giants contractor-based business model.

The decision in Z.B., N.A. et al. v. Superior Court (Lawson) imposes a significant limitation on the scope and damages available in such claims, the website JD Supra is reporting.

In Lawson, the employer Zions Bancorp sought to compel arbitration of the unpaid wages portion of the recovery. The Court agreed, and found that back wages are not only subject to arbitration but are unrecoverable in a PAGA case to begin with, ruling that back wages constitute compensatory damages paid to the individual employees, not civil penalties payable to the state of California.

Based upon the courts ruling, while employees may pursue their individual wage claims in a civil action, they cannot recover unpaid wages through the PAGA statute, according to JD Supra.

Related:

Topics California Claims
The Daily Beast

Fox News White House correspondent and perpetual nemesis of Jen Psaki thought he had Joe Bidens press secretary cornered on Monday when he asked her why the president is still referring to COVID-19 as a pandemic of the unvaccinated when so many people are getting breakthrough infections. He was wrong.I understand that the science says that vaccines prevent death, Doocy began, before undercutting that basic truth. But Im triple-vaxxed, still got COVID. Youre triple-vaxxed, still got COVI
Facing significant expansion from multinational corporations, Vietnamese drug giants took a hit in 2019 despite new strategies, signalling an uninspiring outlook for future growth.

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. VIR

Bich Thuy

Foreign investors continue to target Vietnams pharmaceutical industry Vietnam's pharmaceutical market has a lot of potential coming from the demographics, rising income and priority policies of the government.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 365 crore for constructing a new Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sabroom, the southernmost town in South Tripura district, about 130km from here.

This will be the second ICP along the Indo-Bangla border in the state after Akhaura ICP here, which was set up in 2013.

Addressing an event here on March 11, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said, he had requested Union Home minister Amit Shah for sanctioning funds for the ICP, when he met him three days back.

"I am very happy that he approved it so quickly," the chief minister said.

The state government had sent the Sabroom ICP proposal to the MHA in 2016 for linking the bridge on river Feni with Chittagong division of the neighbouring country.

After the BJP came to power in Tripura in 2018, the state government received Rs 2,500 crore from the Centre, which he claimed was a "record".

The BJP-IPFT government came to power two years ago in the northeastern state by ending 25-years of Left rule.

Tripuras first Special Economic Zone (SEZ), with an estimated investment of Rs 1,550 crore which will generate 12,000 skilled jobs, will also come up at Paschim Jalefa, Sabroom, officials said.

The SEZ will open new avenues to attract private investment considering the proximity of the Chittagong Port and construction of a bridge across river Feni in South Tripura that is underway, they said.

On several occasions, Deb had said that a SEZ will be set up at Sabroom town to attract investments from Bangladesh.

He said the BJP had made a poll promise to set up a SEZ at Sabroom before 2018 Tripura assembly elections.

"Sabroom has been identified for setting up the SEZ as the Indian Railways has built a goods dumping yard there. The bridge over the river Feni will be completed by this year and an International Check Post will also be built soon," Deb had said.

Bulk of the trade between the two countries is carried out through Benapole-Petrapole border in West Bengal whereas Tripura is more accessible to Bangladesh, the chief minister said.

Bangladesh authorities had been requested to enlist Tripura as one of their export routes, Deb said.
Have you ever had a song grab you by the ears? I remember the moment I first heard the North Carolina group The Avett Brothers, (TAB) on a dark Thursday night in November listening to DJ Greg Vandy's (online) radio show The Roadhouse on kexp.org. Featuring traditional bluegrass instrumentation, with an undercurrent of punk energy, the song was "Shame" from the Avett Brothers fifth independent release, Emotionalism. It had a propulsive beat and haunting lyrics and was located firmly in my favorite musical wheelhouse - acoustic-based Americana.

Since that first listen in 2007, I have greatly enjoyed seeing TAB in concert a dozen or so times. With Scott Avett on banjo, vocals, piano and sometimes drums, younger brother Seth Avett on guitar and piano, bass player Bob Crawford, and Joe Kwon on cello, make up the core of TAB. Fiddle player Tania Elizabeth, drummer Mike Marsh and sister Bonnie Avett-Rini on piano fill out the touring roster and appear on the group's latest release Closer Than Together, which came out in September, 2019.

So when the group announced their third At the Beach festival last winter, all of my Avett-fan related Facebook groups went crazy with anticipation. The four-day festival had two previous outings, both held in Mexico, but the 2020 festival was scheduled for Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Thanks in part to the online fervor, I was seized by a "life is short" feeling and booked the trip.

And what a trip it was! Held at the fairly enormous Hard Rock Hotel, the rooms were spacious, the staff was gracious, and the white sand beaches were like nothing I'd ever seen before. There were snacks and cocktails available at check-in, and my fellow fans were as friendly as I'd come to expect from my many previous shows.

The festival kicked off with the American folk rock band Dawes, a group I'd only been lukewarm about before, but they performed with verve and seemed energized by the crowd. The Avett Brothers put on a blazing two-hour set to close the first night.

The schedule for the four-day event had a wonderfully relaxed pace with concerts at the Eclipse Pool stage starting at 2:30 p.m. featuring solo acts, 4 p.m. concerts at the stunning Beach Stage featuring smaller-sized bands, and the main stage concerts in the center of the complex starting at 8 p.m. Just to be clear, there were concerts one viewed while swimming (or standing) in a pool, and on a Caribbean beach!

Highlights from the festival included a rousing and dramatic performance by the band Shakey Graves, led by Alejandro Rose-Garcia of Austin, Texas. Previously a one-man band, his full line-up amplified his heartfelt lyrics and guitar playing. An amazing duet with his girlfriend closed the show and had the audience singing along, amusing fans to no end when they later realized it was a Backstreet Boys tune.

Two sets from the Beach Stage I loved, were the Wood Brothers, comprised of guitar virtuoso older brother Oliver, and his bass-playing younger brother Chris, their harmonies, energy and musicianship were extraordinary. The duo Mandolin Orange, featuring Andrew Marlin on mandolin, and Emily Frantz on violin and guitar, played a lovely set with the waves lapping on the beach and my toes nestled in the sand.

A thoughtful, often-depressing (she cheerfully admitted) set from Emmy Lou Harris included a couple of tunes from Gram Parsons of Flying Burrito Brothers fame. A treat to hear from this mom who named a son Graham in his honor.

The highlight for the whole event was of course my beloved TAB. Scott's energy, playfulness, banjo, guitar and piano playing along with his dramatic vocals-which include a warm bass range and a delicate falsetto, never fail to make me happy. Seth Avett's voice is at times a siren, or a lullaby, a bright tenor in the fast songs and a yearning plea in such songs as "I Wish I Was" and "No Hard Feelings." On acoustic guitar or truly rocking on electric, Seth's musicianship, along with the rest of the bands' playing, all coalesce with energy and feeling.

Although I would have appreciated just a touch more diversity in the line-up, the warmth and friendliness of my fellow fans was truly remarkable. In fact, most of the acts commented on what a warm welcome they had received, and how gracious the audience was.

Your chance to catch TAB in the Northwest include a show in Seattle on May 15, one in Portland on May 16, and in Boise, Idaho on May 19.
MP: Congress to cite technicalities to get resignations of MLAs rejected

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 12: The Congress is set to push for the rejection of the resignations of its MLAs in Madhya Pradesh.

The party would cite technical grounds while pushing for the rejection. The resignations are identically worded and do not mention state assembly. Further the MLAs had not submitted the resignations in person, the Congress says.

Citing these technicalities, the Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will reject the resignations. The Congress also filed a petition before the Speaker and demanded the disqualification of the MLAs citing anti party activities. The 22 MLAs who have submitted their resignations also include six ministers.

Suspension of 7 Congress MPs over unruly behaviour in Parliament revoked

NEWS AT NOON, 12th MARCH, 2020

The role of the Speaker would come into play and it would be extremely crucial. The 19 MLAs who are staying at a resort in Bengaluru sent their resignations to the Speaker via email. The resignations were also sent to the Governor of Madhya Pradesh. Later on original copies of the letters were handed over to the Speaker by a delegation of the BJP.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 7:48 [IST]
By Akbar Mammadov

The British Embassy in Azerbaijani has organized agricultural workshops in the country with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, the ministry told to local media on March 10.

The training will be held three days in Baku and one day in Ganja.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ilhama Qadimova said that state support for the agricultural sector has been increased in recent years. At the same time, special attention is paid to train the staff and bring innovation to this area.

Food security, employment and increase in exports are among the priority areas in the country. Azerbaijan is in the phase of transition to precision farming to increase productivity. Studying and applying new innovative methods is a very important issue for farmers. Strengthening the human resources base to enhance their knowledge and skills is always in focus. We hope that the specialists involved in these pieces of training will successfully convey the knowledge gained during the training to farmers living and operating in the regions, Gadimova said.

Addressing the opening ceremony, British Ambassador to Azerbaijan James Sharp said that while the world is facing global food shortages, production of environmental agricultural products is extremely important.

The ambassador noted that the value for human health first begins with the proper organization of production.

The agricultural economy is a very important direction for the sustainable development for every country. We appreciate agrarian reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years because of their scale; protecting environmental regulations and complying with agricultural requirements in the production are necessary in the context of these reforms, the British ambassador said.

Other international experts, speaking at the event, stressed that the UK Government's initiative would be an important step in the agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

The workshops involved qualified specialists from subordinate bodies of the Ministry of Agriculture, employees of research institutes, as well as representatives of consulting and information service organizations. The main objective is to improve the skills of trainers engaged in the use of pesticides, fertilizers and biological nutrients, and provide farmers with the latest innovations in this area.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Ian Bannen and Judy Geeson in the 1972 film spin-off of the popular BBC series Doomwatch, which was one of the most plausible catastrophe dramas

A LISTENER to The Last Word texted the show earlier in the week, drily wondering if there was any other news apart from the coronavirus. Obviously there is, but Covid-19 is, you know, kind of important at the moment.

Theres always going to be a number of people who think every threat to societys wellbeing, no matter how grave it might be, is being blown out of proportion by the media  although the President of the United States is not usually among them. Then again, the President of the United States is not usually an imbecile.

Twitter, inevitably, has made an already worrying situation infinitely worse by spreading misinformation like it was manure (which it basically is).

We dont know when the Covid-19 crisis is likely to end, or what lasting damage it will leave behind. The only certainty about it is that its most likely put dystopian TV dramas about society being reduced to rubble by some catastrophe or other, out of commission for the foreseeable future.

This might be no bad thing; theres been far too many of them over the years. TV writers have dreamt up a myriad of ways to bring humankind to its knees, even if the causes tend to be more outlandish than a mere virus.

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Skys recent series, the slick but too-soapy Cobra, had a geomagnetic storm knocking out the electricity grid. The BBCs awful, quickly-cancelled Hard Sun imagined the Earth was on a five-year destruction course.

Aliens, of course, are always good for some wholesale mayhem and merciless carnage, as evidenced by last years BBC version of The War of the Worlds (terrible) and, mere months later, Foxs definite article-free War of the Worlds (rather better).

Expand Close Eleanor Tomlinson as Amy and Rafe Spall as George in the new BBC adaptation of HG Wells classic story The War Of The Words (BBC) / Facebook

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Fondly-remembered mini-series V, shown on ITV in 1984 as an alternative to that years summer Olympics, featured a seemingly benign humanoid race christened the visitors who, underneath their fake human skin, are actually rodent-swallowing, lizard-like creatures intent on enslaving humans.

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Alien-invasion series have got a bit more sophisticated since then (Falling Skies, Invasion, Roswell, Colony), but they all invariably come down to the same formula: a small band of impossibly good-looking survivors/rebels with perfect skin and nuclear-white teeth, fighting back against tyranny.

The Walking Dead is simply a variation on this, with zombies instead of extra-terrestrials. Incidentally, the scariest thing about that exhausted series is not the rotting, flesh-eating monsters, but the fact that in America right now, there are armed-to-the-teeth zombie apocalypse preppers (otherwise known as Republicans), who are fully convinced theyll one day be fighting off hordes of ghouls.

Nigel Kneales disappointingly stodgy four-part revival of Quatermass for ITV in 1979 featured British society collapsing into violence and anarchy. Once again, an alien force was behind it. But Kneales outdated target was the hippy counterculture he detested. It came across as the work of a bitter, cranky, out-of-touch old man.

Catastrophe dramas featuring fast-spreading viruses are relatively few and tend to lean towards the fantastical. Danish series The Rain, about a deadly virus that is carried in rainfall, was the usual band-of-survivors stuff. Even in Stephen Kings The Stand, which was turned into a miniseries in 1994 and is being turned into another one as we speak, the virus is really just the scene-setter for an epic supernatural tale.

The only catastrophe series thats ever been rooted in plausible reality is the BBCs 1970s hit Doomwatch, about a team of government scientists combating various ecological, medical and technological threats, among them, mutating viruses.

Perhaps viruses are just too banal and ordinary to make compelling drama.

A realistic series about Covid-19 would largely consist of politicians making announcements and weirdos fulminating on Twitter.
The coronavirus outbreak has now had an impact on a large climate research expedition in the frozen Arctic Ocean.

While the scientists and crew aboard a German ship that is near the North Pole after drifting with the ice since October are unaffected, one member of a team scheduled to fly research missions as part of the expedition has tested positive for the virus in Germany.

As a result, the flights, which were set to begin from Longyearbyen in northern Norway this month, have been delayed, said Matthew Shupe, a research scientist at the University of Colorado who is a co-coordinator of the expedition, known as Mosaic.

There was one person who tested positive from a team of about 20 people, Dr. Shupe said, and that person had been interacting with the others. Those people are all being quarantined to see how that evolves.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes, amongst other diseases, cancer of the cervix and oropharynx. A Swedish-Finnish study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases now shows that the most oncogenic HPV types can be eliminated, but only if both girls and boys are vaccinated. Both genders will be offered vaccination in Sweden as of 2020.

The researchers began a randomised study in 2007, inviting 80,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 15 from 250 schools in 33 towns to take part. In 11 towns, both boys and girls were given HPV vaccination, in another 11 towns only girls were vaccinated, and in 11 towns the participants were vaccinated against a totally different virus (control).

General HPV screening at the age of 19 showed that the vaccination of both genders prevented HPV infections in society much more effectively than the vaccination of girls only. A gender-neutral strategy was also effective at preventing HPV infections in unvaccinated girls.

HPV was included in the Swedish vaccination programme in 2012. To date, the vaccine has only been offered to girls, but in 2019 the government decided to offer it to both genders as of autumn 2020.

"Our study is unique because the entire population of the communities included in the study was invited to take part, and the choice of vaccination strategy was randomised by community," says Matti Lehtinen, researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, who led the study. "The results have definitely influenced the decision about offering HPV vaccination to boys, which more and more countries are also deciding."

Mathematical modelling was used to calculate what the results of the randomised HPV vaccination study would mean for programs with different vaccination coverage. The improved effectiveness of vaccinating both boys and girls is particularly important if only 80 per cent or fewer of girls are vaccinated.

"If only girls are offered HPV vaccination not even a school-based vaccination programme will be able to eliminate the most oncogenic HPV type 16, ever," says Simopekka Vanska, docent at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the study's first author. "Vaccination of both boys and girls with a 75-per cent participation rate can, however, eliminate HPV 16 even in people under 30, which is the segment of the population that is mainly spreading the infection. The elimination will take place only in a few years after the vaccinated cohorts achieve these ages."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has established the elimination of cervical cancer as a priority objective.

"The results of the randomised study of different vaccination strategies now published gives us information about how this objective could be achieved at the earliest possible time," says Lehtinen.

HPV causes a variety of cancers, above all cervical cancer in women and cancer of the oropharynx in women and men. Almost everyone has had at least one sexually transmitted HPV infection in his or her life.

The study was financed by the Academy of Finland and the Cancer Society of Finland. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA financed the constituent study (data to be published separately) and was given an opportunity to check that baseline data from that study were accurately reproduced in the paper in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The international team of co-authors has received research grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Ministry of Health, Government of Catalonia, and the EU's 6th and 7th Framework Programmes in the context of this study.

###

Publication:"Vaccination with moderate coverage eradicates oncogenic human papillomaviruses if a gender-neutral strategy is applied". Simopekka Vanska, Tapio Luostarinen, Iacopo Bausssano, Dan Apter,Tiina Eriksson, Kari Natunen, Pekka Nieminen, Jorma Paavonen, Ville N. Pimenoff, Eero Pukkala, Anna Soderlund-Strand, Gary Dubin, Geoff Garnett, Joakim Dillner, & Matti Lehtinen. Journal of Infectious Diseases, online 11 March 2020, doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa099.

Editorial commentary: "Is it now the time to plan for global gender-neutral vaccination?", online 11 March 2020, doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa103, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa103
The price of bitcoin has plummeted dramatically, losing 20 per cent of its value in less than an hour.

The cryptocurrency crash takes bitcoin below $6,000  its lowest value since 2019.

Several other major cryptocurrencies also experienced significant losses, with bitcoin cash losing around a third of its value.

Some cryptocurrency analysts have blamed the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, which has had a heavy impact on the global economy.

"Bitcoin has fallen as cryptocurrencies become caught up in the turmoil we're seeing in traditional markets," Simon Peters, a market analyst at online trading platform eToro, told The Independent.

"Previously seen as a possible safe haven in difficult times, investors now seem to be selling out to take back liquidity in case the coronavirus spreads even further. In a time of uncertainty, many investors might feel it is better to own cash or gold rather than more speculative cryptocurrencies like bitcoin."

Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins  the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images

The deadly virus, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on Wednesday, has seen stocks endure near-continuous losses in recent weeks.

One economic forecaster, who predicted the 2008 global financial crash, warned that another crash is on the way. Jesse Colombo told The Independent described coronavirus as the one-two punch that will send the economy hurtling towards recession.

Bitcoin's falling price is expected to continue, having crossed a key threshold of support that investors were looking to as a sign of positive market movement.

The latest drop means more than $50 billion has now been wiped from bitcoins overall value since the start of the month.

It is one of the most severe crashes for the notoriously volatile cryptocurrency, which traded at close to $20,000 in late 2017.
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.

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.

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.

From NTD.com
A beauty queen who launched legal action against the Miss World contest after she was banned has slammed human rights watchdogs after they dropped her bid to change the law.

Veronika Didusenko, 24, was crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018 but was stripped of her title four days later after it was revealed she was divorced and had a four-year-old son.

She was also banned from entering the Miss World finals and replaced by another contestant.

Veronika Didusenko (pictured) was crowned Miss Ukraine in 2018 but was stripped of her title four days later after it was revealed she was divorced and had a four-year-old son

The model was also banned from entering the Miss World finals and replaced by another contestant

The model launched legal action against London-based Miss World claiming organisers were in breach of the Equalities Act 2010 and took her case to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

She asked them to force organisers to change their 'outdated' entry criteria to reflect the modern world and was seeking a judicial review.

But the Commission said it does not consider this matter will 'advance their strategic priority aims' and told her the case is 'atypical' and only affects a 'very small number of women.'

The 24-year-old (left and right) launched legal action against London-based Miss World claiming organisers were in breach of the Equalities Act 2010 and took her case to the Equality and Human Rights Commission

Miss Didusenko, an international model who travels to jobs with her son Alex, now five, has hit out at the Equality and Human Rights Commission for not taking action.

She said: 'I am disappointed by the Commission's response. I want these rules to change so that all women who want to enter beauty pageants can do so.

'In 2019 more than 900 million people watched the Miss World Final in 140 countries. In the same year there was a record number of applications - over 20,000 - to Miss England.

What is the Equalities and Human Rights Commission? The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the UK's national equality body. Its job is to help make the country fairer by 'safeguarding and enforcing the laws that protect peoples rights to fairness, dignity and respect'. The Commission, which operates independently, aims to be an expert and authoritative organisation that is a 'centre of excellence for evidence, analysis and equality and human rights law'. Its website says it aspires to be a point of contact for policymakers, public bodies and businesses. Advertisement

'This disproves the Commission's opinion that the pageant industry only involves a small number of women, and highlights their complete disregard for its global reach.'

Today sees the release of Keira Knightly's new film Misbehaviour, which follows the events of the 1970 Miss World competition.

It saw Sally Alexander lead a feminist protest by the Women's Liberation Movement at the Royal Albert Hall.

The 1970 Miss World Final was the first time a woman of colour won the coveted competition.

In the publicity surrounding the film's release, Knightley said 'The idea of beauty is still so narrow... probably as much as it was 50 years ago.'

Miss Didusenko said: 'My view is that Miss World's entry criteria and their defence of them represent sorely outdated views of a woman's role and place in the family and wider society.

'I am disappointed but I am also encouraged by the hundreds of people all around the world who have shown their support for my campaign.'

Miss World, which was created in 1951 by British entrepreneur Eric Morley and is the oldest and largest beauty pageant in the world, has always prohibited mothers or married women from entering.

The Commission said it does not consider this matter will 'advance their strategic priority aims' and told her the case is 'atypical' and only affects a 'very small number of women'. Pictured: Didusenko as Miss Ukraine in 2018

Miss World chief executive Julia Morley who has run the contest since her husband's death in 2000, said the rules exist to protect children's welfare as winners have to embark on busy working schedules across the world.

But Miss Didusenko says: 'I have been a mother and a model for five years and I have flown all around the world with Alex, taking him to fashion shows with me.

'If a woman was a successful lawyer or an Olympic athlete or an actress is would be no different.

Miss Didusenko (right), an international model who travels to jobs with her son Alex, now five, has hit out at the Equality and Human Rights Commission for not taking action

'It is possible to fulfil your role as a parent and a professional woman with a successful career.'

In recent years, other beauty pageants including Miss Great Britain have changed their rules to reflect the modern era.

The only two major contests to refuse entry to married women or mothers now are Miss Universe, formerly run by Donald Trump, and Miss World.
Following nearly a decade of redistricting reform efforts, Nebraska now has two opportunities to improve its process.

These efforts to remove or minimize partisan influence from this task come at the absolute last minute, with a legislative solution advancing to the floor after the halfway point of the session and a ballot initiative organizers hope to put before voters in November.

But, should both proposals come to a vote, its better late than never.

With the U.S. Census taking place this year, the Nebraska Legislature in 2021 will lift the heavy burden of redrawing political boundaries based on the new information it receives  a process that must be done more fairly than it was last time around.

The 2011 edition was marred by naked partisanship, perhaps none greater than maps being drawn on the table at the Governors Residence. The end result of such chicanery should surprise nobody  the 1st District traded heavily Republican parts of Sarpy County for bluer Bellevue, thus diluting the power of Democratic voters in suburban Omaha.
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.
Were living off her tips, she said of her family. It was a difficult decision, but honestly we werent really left with a choice.

Harvard officials said they were swamped with requests for financial and logistical help and could not take time to talk in detail about the situation. They noted that Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts had declared a public health emergency on Tuesday, and said that the university had been forced to respond in kind. But they said that any students who were on financial aid and had a demonstrated need would be taken care of.

By midday Wednesday, as the pressure built, the university had put out written guidelines for students who receive financial aid, offering to help cover the costs of storing and shipping their belongings. The university said it was stationing staff in dining halls to help with travel booking, and that the amount of financial aid that students were receiving would determine how much of their travel costs Harvard would cover.

More than a thousand miles away, at Iowa State University, Alex Stein, a 19-year-old sophomore, was astonished and a little freaked out when the teachers and teaching assistants all wore gloves as they handed out a test on Tuesday night in his mechanics of fluids class. They were scared of getting it while passing out the exams, he said.
Total number of coronavirus cases in India have risen to 73 now. WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Amid all the scare, the news that came this morning leaving everyone shocked was that Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have contracted the disease, they announced on Twitter.

Hours after their announcement that they have tested positive for coronavirus, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's son took to Instagram to update fans about their health condition. He says his parent's aren't worried.

Instagram

"What's up everyone. Yeah, it's true, my parents got coronavirus, crazy. They're both down in Australia right now because my dad was shooting a movie down there. But I just got off the phone with them and they both are fine. They're not even that sick, they're not worried about it, they're not tripping, but they're going through the necessary health precautions, obviously. But I don't think it's anything to be too worried about," 29-year-old Chet said.



hearstapps.com

"I appreciate everyone's concern and the well wishes, but I think it's all gonna be alright. I appreciate it and just, everybody, stay safe out there. Much love," he concluded.

Amid the coronavirus scare, shooting of a lot of shows including Riverdale whose team member came in contact with a coronavirus pateint has been suspended.



Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres has announced that she will shoot for upcoming episodes of the show with no studio audience.



I have some news. For now, Ill be shooting my show with no studio audience. To everyone who was looking forward to coming, Im so sorry. But Im doing this for the health of my fans, my staff & my crew. (It has nothing to do with a warrant for my arrest in the state of Florida.)," she wrote on Twitter.



I have some news. For now, Ill be shooting my show with no studio audience. To everyone who was looking forward to coming, I'm so sorry. But Im doing this for the health of my fans, my staff & my crew. (It has nothing to do with a warrant for my arrest in the state of Florida.)  Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 12, 2020

Furthermore, saying that the safety of their guests is their "top priority", NBC has also suspended live audiences for Jimmy Fallons Tonight Show and Late Night with Seth Meyers.



CBS has also announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will not have an in-studio audience along with Comedy Centrals The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, HBOs Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and Bravos Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen following suit.


[March 12, 2020] BFS Capital Hires First Chief Revenue Officer to Expand Partner Ecosystem

BFS Capital, the small business financing platform, today announced the appointment of Peter Ng as Chief Revenue Officer. Ng brings more than two decades of experience leading high-performance sales organizations, from startups to scale ups, and in launching new products and creating new revenue streams. Reporting to CEO Mark Ruddock, he will be responsible for leading all revenue-related functions, driving top-line growth, unlocking new channels and creating a vibrant partner ecosystem. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005374/en/ Peter Ng, Chief Revenue Officer, BFS Capital "I've had the privilege of working with Peter over the past few years and have always been impressed with his unique ability to drive business growth through new, innovative and diverse channels. BFS continues to develop our executive talent pool as we pursue our mission of reimagining small business financial services, and we are particularly thrilled to have him join our leadership team," said Mark Ruddock, CEO of BFS Capital. Before BFS Capital, Ng was head of BlackBerry's (News - Alert) global Independent Software Vendor (ISV) partnerships as Senior Director, Global Alliances and Business Development. BlackBerry's global ISV partner ecosystem was integral to transforming BlackBerry's enterprise software business, and Ng created new enterprise software revenue streams by launching BlackBerry's ISV Affiliate program and expanding BlackBerry's ISV ecosystem to over 120 partners globally in less than three years. Ng was also instrumental in creating the BlackBerry World mobile app store ecosystem from the ground up through strategic partnerships with leading brands in key categories to power the launch of the Blackberry 10 platform. He joined Blackberry after it acquired award-winning software developer Viigo, which was one of the most popular BlackBerry apps of all time. At Viigo, he ws Vice President of Sales and Services.



"I'm excited to accept the role as Chief Revenue Officer. This will be the third opportunity I've had to work with Mark Ruddock, who is truly a transformational leader," Ng said. "Having built an app ecosystem from scratch, I see a similar opportunity to create one for the small business owner. I'm looking forward to bringing my extensive global partnership experience and passion for startups to BFS Capital to help grow and diversify sales channels. The BFS Capital platform, combined with a robust partner ecosystem, will unlock exciting new financial products and services for underserved small businesses and drive an unparalleled customer experience." Ng, who will be based in Toronto, received a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.

His hire follows the appointments of Patricia Korth-McDonnell as Chief Marketing Officer and Sheri Chin as Chief People Officer. Altogether BFS Capital has announced five senior leadership appointments over the last 12 months and since Mark Ruddock was hired as CEO to accelerate the company's digital transformation. In May 2019, Fred Kauber was named Chief Technology Officer and Chief Product Officer. In November 2019, BFS Capital announced Brian Simmons as Chief Operating Officer. Simmons' appointment came shortly after BFS Capital launched a new data science and engineering hub in Toronto, with plans to hire up to 50 people. The company has already hired ten employees including developers, UX designers, data scientists, software developers and engineers, and business operations professionals and welcomes inquiries. To learn more and view current job openings, please visit BFSCapital.com. About BFS Capital BFS Capital champions the long-term growth and prosperity of small businesses by providing timely, flexible financing solutions. BFS Capital's leading small business financing platform leverages customized underwriting and proprietary algorithms to fund businesses in the United States, Canada, and through its United Kingdom subsidiary, Boost Capital. Since 2002, BFS Capital has provided over $2.3 billion in total financing to over 24,000 small businesses across more than 400 industries. Headquartered in South Florida with offices in New York, California, the United Kingdom and Canada, BFS Capital is an accredited BBB company with an A+ rating. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005374/en/

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New Delhi: The Delhi High Court directed the Centre on Thursday to ensure that the Indian embassy in Iran gets in touch with the Indian students stranded there in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Justice Navin Chawla told the Centre that the court will not tolerate non-compliance of its direction to contact the students and said it wants a report on that aspect on March 17, the next date of hearing.

The court directed the ministries of home, external affairs, health and aviation, represented by central government's standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, to come up with a positive plan regarding evacuation of the students.

The court was hearing a plea moved by the parents of the Indian students who are stranded in Iran due to the coronavirus outbreak, seeking directions to the Centre to evacuate them.
An Indian warship on Thursday delivered more than 600 tonnes of rice to Madagascar as part of relief for the victims of floods in the island country.

Indias envoy Abhay Kumar handed over the rice to Madagascars foreign minister Tehindrazanarivelo Djacoba Liva after INS Shardul arrived at Port Antsiranana on March 10.

The rice will be distributed among people affected by cyclone Diane that hit Madagascars coast in January, said an official statement.

On January 30, another Indian warship  INS Airavat  delivered relief materials to Madagascar. India was the first country to provide help following the devastation caused by cyclone Diane.

Speaking on the occasion, Kumar said the rice brought to Madagascar in a warship was the fastest way the relief could be delivered to the Indian Ocean country.

This was the second delivery of relief materials for Madagascars flood victims and largest humanitarian aid so far from India. This was also the biggest load of relief materials ever carried by any Indian warship for quick assistance.

Liva described the assistance as historic and said it proved the excellent relationship between Madagascar and India. In his remarks in the visitors book of INS Shardul, he wrote, Very happy to visit INS Shardul and meet its crew. Grateful to the Government and the people of India for their generous donation.

He also thanked Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi, external affairs minister S Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet.

INS Shardul is 125-metre-long warship with a displacement of 5,600 tonnes. It has a crew of 320 officers and sailors.
An American man struck down with coronavirus in Egypt has revealed his terror as he remains stuck in one of the country's remote hospitals receiving treatment.

Matt Swider, 35, 'tested positive' for COVID-19 last Saturday after several of his fellow passengers on board a Nile river cruise ship were diagnosed with the disease.

The tech editor from New York City was subsequently flown to a hospital on the country's north coast, where he remains hooked up to an IV drip.

Speaking with the Associated Press on Thursday, Swider stated that his lab results initially came back negative last Saturday, and that he was overcome with relief that he called his anxiety-prone mother in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

However, minutes later, his phone pinged: The tests had been mixed up. He was confirmed with the virus.

'I was in shock,' Swider told the Associated Press.

'I was just wracking my brain thinking how could I have gotten this? How is the luck of the draw coming into play?'

Nearly 100 of his cruise ship companions, including spouses of those infected, tested negative and flew home from quarantine late Tuesday.

Matt Swider, 35, 'tested positive' for COVID-19 last Saturday after several of his fellow passengers on board a Nile river cruise ship were diagnosed with the disease

Instead of jetting home to see his girlfriend, Swider was herded onto a cramped military jet with 32 other sick passengers and flown far north to an isolation unit in the city of Marsa Matrouh. The rocky journey was silent until one of his companions, an older American woman, started to sob.

'You don't know what kind of sentence youre in for,' Swider said. 'Thats how it feels to have this virus.'

Swider takes an arthritis medicine that suppresses his immune system making him especially at risk. But, so far, his symptoms have been negligible.

Since Sunday, Swider has been hooked up to a vitamin IV in his hospital bed. Most of the staff do nott speak English, and communication problems abound.

Swider has turned to Twitter to chronicle his botched vacation. He shared this photo from his hospital bed earlier this week

Swider was tested for COVID-19 because he was on board the cruise ship Asara. Several of the New Yorker's fellow passengers had been struck down with the virus as it traveled down the Nile

Swider's pleas for toilet paper went unanswered for days, and his first meal of the day arrives at 4:30 pm. He still hasn't found towels or soap for a shower.

Testing procedures have been unclear and contradictory, feeding his anxiety. When results from his second test came back negative, doctors told him the first was a false positive. They gave him the all-clear and promised to relocate him to a nearby hotel. Then they moved him upstairs with a few infected French and German tourists for a week of more tests.

'It's very clear that we are Egypt's first cases en masse,' he said.

'I've heard I'm leaving for a hotel... in 30 minutes. And then an hour. And then tomorrow because 'the roads are unsafe'  read into that what you will. I'm still here at this very moment wondering when I'll see the light at the end of the tunnel,' he told Live Science.

In this photo provided by Swider, posted on Twitter on March 9, a convoy of ambulances awaits tourists who were evacuated from the southern city of Luxor to take them to quarantine facility, at a remote airport near the north coast city of Marsa Matrouh

The World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus a 'pandemic' on Wednesday, with more than 125,000 people diagnosed with the disease i

Egypt's Health Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Swider fills his days trying to capture a nearby cellphone tower's weak signal to call his terrified mother.

He has also turned to Twitter to chronicle his botched vacation. His journeys dramatic turn from sunny temple tours to bedridden isolation has racked up tens of thousands of follows. Many adopted the hashtag #SendMattSwiderHome, imploring the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to intervene.

He says the constant stream of supportive responses helps him 'fight back the boredom and uncertainty,' leaving him a little less alone.

In his most recent post, shared Wednesday, Swider says he is feeling well, but is eager to get out.

'The bed should be used for someone else. And I am without my specialty health medicine. So I can't last long here,' he wrote.

More than 80 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Egypt.

The World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus a 'pandemic' on Wednesday, with more than 125,000 people diagnosed with the disease in the three months since it originated in Wuhan, China in December.

Testing procedures have been unclear and contradictory, feeding his anxiety. Results from his second test came back negative, but he remains in hospital awaiting more results
BRIDGEPORT  City schools will be closed starting Friday and at least through next week.

Acting Schools Superintendent Michael Testani made the call Thursday afternoon as school districts all around him were doing the same. Both Fairfield and Stratford schools announced they were closing. Westport, Wilton and Weston schools announced they were closing Wednesday in response to the coronavirus.
WASHINGTON - A senior Brazilian official who attended weekend events with President Donald Trump in Florida has tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first time that someone known to have the virus was in close proximity to the president. Trump does not plan to be tested or go into self-quarantine, the White House said.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications director, Fabio Wajngarten, tested positive just days after travelling with Bolsonaro to a meeting with Trump and senior aides in Florida. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Thursday that exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps.

Both the President and Vice-President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time, Grisham said.

Wajngarten joined Bolsonaro on a three-day trip to the U.S. and on Saturday was at Trumps Mar-a-Lago club, where he posted a photo of himself posing beside Trump. A video from the event also showed him standing directly behind both presidents as they addressed a crowd. Bolsonaro and Wajngarten later attended a birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is dating the presidents son Donald Trump Jr.

While Trump was not taking any apparent action in response, two Republican lawmakers announced they will self-quarantine for two weeks after coming in contact with Bolsonaros delegation. Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who met Bolsonaro in Miami, and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, announced Thursday that they will isolate themselves.

Grahams office said he had been tested for the coronavirus and was awaiting the result.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, demurred when asked whether the president should be in self-isolation. Fauci has been the face of the administrations response to the public health emergency

Questions like that I leave up to the physicians in charge of the presidents health, he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that he was quarantining himself at home after his wife exhibited flu-like symptoms. He said they were awaiting coronavirus test results.

The Mar-a-Lago meeting also included Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Brazils foreign minister Ernesto Araujo and Bolsonaros son Eduardo, who is a federal lawmaker, among others. Vice-President Mike Pence went to Mar-a-Lago that evening.

We had dinner in Florida at Mar-a-Lago with the entire delegation, Trump told reporters Thursday in the Oval Office. I dont know if the press aide was there. But we did nothing very unusual.

U.S. Southern Command, which Bolsonaro visited Sunday, said it has no cases of the virus. Southcom, which is in charge of U.S. forces in the southern hemisphere, is based in Miami and is led by Adm. Craig Faller. The statement issued Thursday said Faller has not experienced any symptoms of the virus and has not been tested.

The confirmed exposure comes after Trump was in repeated contact with people who themselves had contact with people who tested positive for the virus. Trumps newly named chief of staff, Mark Meadows, emerged from self-quarantine Thursday. Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida travelled back to Washington with Trump on Air Force One on Monday but isolated himself on the flight after being informed that he had been in contact with a person who later was confirmed to have had the virus.

It was not immediately clear what precautions the White House was taking to protect the president from the virus. Trump on Wednesday cancelled his political travel for the coming weeks, but he has disregarded the advice of medical and public health professionals to stop shaking hands.

Grisham said in a statement that the White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy.

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 127,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 68,000 have so far recovered.

Wajngarten initially denied a report on Wednesday that he had been tested for the virus, saying on his social media account that his health was fine. He is now in self-quarantine at home, according to the statement.

A statement from Bolsonaros communications office on Thursday said that Wajngartens test results had come back positive and that the presidency was adopting preventive measures to ensure Bolsonaros health.

Bolsonaros son confirmed in a Thursday tweet that his father had been tested for the coronavirus and said he isnt showing symptoms.

Bolsonaros health has been a focus since a 2018 stabbing on the campaign trail. Since the assassination attempt, he has already undergone four surgeries with a fifth upcoming. In December, he was taken to the hospital after slipping in the bathroom of the presidential residence and banging his head.

Grisham said that under U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine.

___

Biller reported from Rio de Janeiro. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report from Washington.

___

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.
Madhya Pradesh assembly speaker NP Prajapati on Thursday issued notices to 22 rebel Congress members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) who sent in their letters of resignation, asking them to appear before him by Friday and explain whether they had quit voluntarily or under pressure. These legislators are loyalists of former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, and their resignations have triggered a crisis in the MP government.

The speakers decision came in the backdrop of both the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) preparing for a protracted legal battle over what the former has called an attempt by the latter to poach its legislators and destabilise the state government . The resignations came as senior Congress leader Scindia decided to resign from the party and join the BJP.

Notices are being issued to (22 rebel) MLAs as per rules to seek their response in view of the resignation letters submitted in their names, Prajapati said.

The speaker asked the MLAs to meet him by Friday to present their resignation letters in person and also cite reasons for the move, a requirement under the state assembly rules. This requirement was upheld by the Supreme Court in the case of 15 Karnataka legislators from the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) who resigned from the state assembly, leading to the collapse of the HD Kumaraswamy government in 2019.

The speakers notice came a few hours after the opposition announced that it would seek a floor test to show that the Congress government of chief minister Kamal Nath had been reduced to a minority in the assembly.

Since the government is in minority, we are going to request the governor and the assembly speaker for a floor test on March 16 when the state budget session begins, BJPs chief whip in the state assembly, Narottam Mishra, said.

The BJP is seeking the floor test in the wake of 22 Congress MLAs, loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigning from the state assembly, he said. Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday.

Former chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan said: This government has lost majority and speaker should quickly decide on the resignations.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said there was no question of a floor test as the resignations of the MLAs had not been accepted by the speaker. He also accused the BJP of holding the 19 party legislators hostage.

Floor test cannot take place as the resignations submitted by 19 MLAs have not been accepted. They should physically come before the Speaker and speak for themselves. These MLAs have been held hostage by the BJP, he said.

On Thursday, BJP MLA and former home minister Bhupendra Singh handed over the original copies of the resignation letters of three Congress MLAs  Bisahulal Singh, Aindal Singh Kansana and Manoj Chaudhary  to the speaker. Earlier, Singh had given the original copies of the resignation letters of 19 Congress MLAs to the speaker.

The Congress, before the rebellion, had 114 members in the 228 member assembly. It also has the support of four Independents, two Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs and one from the Samajwadi Party, but some of these lawmakers may now switch sides in case of an early floor test. The BJP has 107 lawmakers and in case the resignation of the 22 MLAs is accepted, the party will have a majority in the house with a reduced strength of 206. The majority mark would be 104.

According to Congress leaders, chief minister Kamal Naths strategy is to delay the voting on the trust motion in the assembly to frustrate the rebel legislators so that they can return to the party.

The party is convinced that governor Lalji Tandon who would be returning to Bhopal from Lucknow on Thursday night does not have powers to force the speaker to hold the trust motion.

In the Karnataka assembly case, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the onus of running the house is on the speaker and governor cannot issue any direction in this regard, a Congress leader said on condition of anonymity.

The Congress leaders did not rule out the possibility of deferring the budget session on the ground that 19 of its legislators were being held hostage in Bengaluru. How can the government hold the session when the legislators are being held hostage. Let the BJP free our MLAs first, said Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha.

Tankha also said that if the Congress MLAs failed to turn up in response to the notices issued by the speaker, the party will have to move court. We will tell the court as to how democracy is under threat in the country, he said.

The BJP, however, denied that the Congress MLAs were being held hostage. Chouhan said all the Congress MLAs had gone to Bengaluru on their own and the BJP was not responsible for it. The Congress should tell why its MLAs are unhappy with the government, he said.

If the assembly session is deferred, the BJP may seek court intervention saying that the move clearly showed that the government lacked a majority on the floor of the house. We are exploring all legal options, said Mishra when reporters asked him about the possibility of deferment of the assembly session.

MP BJP spokesperson Dr Hitesh Bajpai said, If the Congress leaders will move the court, we can also move the court. Congress government knows well that its days are numbered. Thats why it wishes to buy time and make the issue complex. The Congress leaders must admit frankly and honestly that they are running a minority government and CM Kamal Nath should resign.

Another senior BJP leader, who was not willing to be named, said, The party is exploring all the options to prove the government being in minority. The party has three options-- first, to demand a floor test; second, to introduce a no-confidence motion and third, to defeat the government during voting on motion of thanks to the governors address.

Political analyst Girijashankar said, The situation is heading for a showdown in the next few days when the state assemblys budget session begins. If Congress MLAs who have tendered their resignation are not seen in the party camp then, of course, the government will have to admit that the numbers are not in its favour. However, its not an easy task for BJP too to see a floor test soon.

According to Supreme Court judgments, the speaker has to convince himself that the resignations were not submitted under pressure or coercion before deciding on them.

The speaker will consider a resignation only when it is submitted in proper format and in person, an assembly secretariat official said. He said the speaker had the final power to run the house but his decision on the floor of the house can be challenged in court.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ranjan Ranjan Srivastava leads HTs coverage from Bhopal. He has spent more than two decades in journalism in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, covering political and other affairs. For the past 16 years, he has been working in Madhya Pradesh. ...view detail
Less than two months after The Bachelorette contestant Tyler Gwozdz tragically passed away, his cause of death has been revealed.

The 29-year-old, who appeared on Hannah Brown's season of The Bachelorette in 2019, passed from, 'opioid toxicity (heroin)' with his death ruled, 'an accident.'

The ruling was given by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner, with documents obtained by E! News stating that Gwozdz's girlfriend told them he used heroin prior to his death on January 22.

Cause of death: Less than two months after The Bachelorette contestant Tyler Gwozdz tragically passed away, his cause of death has been revealed

'Given this information and a lack of admission specimens for testing his death is best classified as Opioid Toxicity (Heroin),' the documents stated.

'It is possible that the offending agent could have been a different substance than heroin,' the excerpt continued.

'However, given the circumstances it is best classified as such. If additional information becomes available in the future, it will be evaluated, and if needed the cause of death amended,' the excerpt concluded.

Toxicity: 'Given this information and a lack of admission specimens for testing his death is best classified as Opioid Toxicity (Heroin),' the documents stated

Gwozdz was rushed to the hospital around 10:45 AM on January 13 when Boca Raton Police Services Department responded to a call for a suspected overdose.

The former reality star remained in the hospital for over a week, with TMZ reporting that he was in, 'critical but stable condition.'

It was reported that a female caller told the dispatch that he might have overdosed on heroin, and she was trying to get into a bathroom that Gwozdz had locked himself into.

Rushed: Gwozdz was rushed to the hospital around 10:45 AM on January 13 when Boca Raton Police Services Department responded to a call for a suspected overdose

The reality star was an early favorite during Hannah Brown's season of The Bachelorette, having scored the first one-on-one date with her.

However, Gwozdz was abruptly sent home after just three weeks on the show, though his exit was never fully explained.

Brown would only say that Gwozdz, 'had to leave' without explaining the exit further.

Favorite: The reality star was an early favorite during Hannah Brown's season of The Bachelorette, having scored the first one-on-one date with her

Following his death, Gwozdz's family set up a charitable foundation in his name, including a GoFundMe page for fans to donate to.

'The Gwozdz family is overwhelmed by the support and love shown by everyone in our lives. We are also at a loss for words over the sudden passing of Tyler,' a statement on the GoFundMe page read.

'The devastation and heartbreak caused by addiction is unfortunately becoming a reality for too many families across the United States as the epidemic of this disease continues to spread,' the statement added.
Just before exiting the bus at Washington and Laramie, Jackson and Hatter again exchanged a gang handshake, according to Murphy. Video then captured Jackson abruptly getting off the bus after Jackson and an elderly passenger, authorities said. Jackson followed behind the victim by 15 to 20 feet  so far that Hatter likely didnt know he was being trailed, prosecutors said.
Bahrain

His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Commander of the Royal Guard, National Security Adviser, said that the Kingdom is fine thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the country's monarch, and that the Kingdom is working with an effort to combat the Corona virus "Covid 19".

The Royal Guard Commander of the National Security Adviser said: I am grateful to you during the period of this global epidemic that Bahrain has always been wisely and well thanks to its leader, may God protect him.

His Highness stressed the cohesion of the people of Bahrain and said: Our cohesion and disassociation came out stronger and united than we were. It is true that we will have certain challenges at this time, but wisdom and patience are required today.

His Highness Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa stated that the state is working day and night to ensure reducing material losses to save the national economy and limiting the spread of the virus, and His Highness asked citizens not to spread unnecessary rumors and speculation.

Finally, he concluded his speech by saying: Power is your trust in God Almighty and then our leadership, and it is beautiful that we will have a terrible story that we lack on our grandchildren, God willing.
Australia is heading for its first recession in 29 years if countries continue to enforce containment measures to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus, a top economist has warned.

The virus has infected 141 people in Australia and more than 125,00 worldwide, killing more than 4,600.

Italy was on Tuesday placed into a national lockdown, and a leading economist has warned Australia could enter into a rare recession if more countries followed suit.

Australia last went into recession - two quarters of negative economic growth in a row - between 1990 and 1991.

'This has the potential to be bigger than the global financial crisis,' economist Danielle Wood from the Grattan Institute told ABC's 7.30.

'We've seen overseas shutting down schools, events and workforces could have a sizeable impact on economic growth.'

The digital market boards at the Australian Stock Exchange are pictured in Sydney on Monday. Australia is heading for its first recession in 29 years because of the coronavirus pandemic, experts have warned

Global oil prices have halved this month, while the Australian share market has dropped 20 per cent.

On Monday, the Australian dollar fell to its weakest level in 11 years.

Ms Wood said if widespread efforts to contain the disease were put in place, recession in Australia was almost a certainty.

Passengers at Sydney International Airport pictured wearing face masks on Thursday

'In the event of widespread containtainment measures for the disease growth - which is looking more and more likely - growth will almost certainly be go back for two quarters,' she said.

'The question then is how deep is it going to go and how long is it going to go for.'

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

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, marking 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.

On Wednesday, Prime MInister Scott Morrison revealed a quarter of Australians would be given $750 as part of his $23billion bid to prevent a recession as coronavirus rocks the economy.

The cash will be handed out to 6.5million people including 3.6million pensioners, 1.1million students and working-age welfare recipients and 1.5million others including veterans and parents who receive family tax breaks.

The payments totalling $4.8billion will begin on 31 March and will be transferred automatically through the tax system.

'Australians will spend that money and that money will encourage economic activity,' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

The measure is part of a huge stimulus plan - the first of its kind since the 2008 financial crash - to save thousands of jobs and companies as coronavirus pushes Australia towards recession.

Despite the announcement this morning, the Australian stock market continue to plunge as World Health Organisation said the outbreak was a global pandemic and the US banned flights from Europe, excluding the UK.

Other measures in the package focus on helping small businesses and companies in the tourism industry that has been pushed to the brink by the virus.

The government will hand out tax-free cash grants of up to $25,000 to 7,000 small businesses who turn over less than $50million and employ people.

There will also be a 50 per cent wage subsidy for 117,000 apprentices worth $21,000 per apprentice. The cash will be paid to companies so they can afford to keep their young employees in work.




By Akbar Mamamdov

An Azerbaijani woman has died of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers reported on its official website on March 12, marking the countrys first death from the epidemic.

The 51-year-old had returned from Iran and was hospitalized due to health problems. The medical examination revealed that apart from COVID-19, the woman had a red frog (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), fourth-grade lupus nephritis, and chronic kidney failure, the Cabinet of Ministers said.

In the background of severe autoimmune disease, the patient was diagnosed with lung injury and related respiratory failure, as well as severe immune deficiency against high-dose steroid and chemotherapy treatments.

The patient died of chronic complications related to severe autoimmune disease and numerous organ failures.

Family members and other persons in contact with the patient have been quarantined.

The cabinet of minister urged citizens with cardiovascular and chronic diseases and those who are in upper age category to further strengthen the anti-virus prevention measures.

Sixteen peole have been infected with coronavirus in Azerbaijan so far.

Three of the infected persons who were infected since February 28, have been released after recovering in the special treatment hospitals.

The first COVID-19 case in the country was recorded in a Russian citizen visiting Azerbaijan on February 28.



Meanwhile, 312 Azerbaijani citizens who were placed in quarantine have tested negative for the COVID-19 and released following the medical check-up and laboratory tests, the operational headquarters under the Ministry of Health reported on March 10.

On March 4, the country evacuated 276 of its citizens from neighbouring Iran, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak in the Middle East. Three of the evacuees tested positive for the infection.

President Aliyev has allocated 10 million manats [$5.8m] to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

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(Kitco News) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in self-isolation and working from home after his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau exhibited flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip to London.

"Having recently returned from a speaking engagement in London, U.K., the Prime Minister's wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever late last night," says a PMO press release.

"The doctor's advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie's results."

Trudeaus self-isolation has indefinitely postponed a meeting with provincial premiers and Indigenous leaders in regards to a response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

This is the second virus scare this week to hit Canadas highest political office. Last week Trudeau attended the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada 2020 mining conference. It was announced late Tuesday that a man attending the conference was diagnosed with the virus, which is now a global pandemic.
No public comment was heard during a public hearing Tuesday night at the Plainview City Council meeting regarding an amendment to the zoning map.

The amendment was to change the zoning from Suburban Residential to General Commercial Business in the 400 block of South Broadway.

The applicant purchased the property next to his residence and will use the space to park a semi, Assistant City Manager Jeff Johnston told the council. No response was received from the surrounding residences when letters went out about the rezoning. Johnson told the council the city feels this area is appropriate for commercial use and will not have a detrimental impact on the area.

The first reading of the ordinance was approved on a 6-0 vote.

The council also approved bids for several upcoming projects.

Henthorn from Lubbock was awarded the construction bid for the Centennial Bank Building at $2,690,000. This is a part of several bonds that were approved by voters in November 2018. The project would take around 285 days to complete, Johnston said.

The bid was approved on a 5-0 vote with Councilmember Larry Williams abstaining from voting and commenting.

Freeman Construction was awarded a bid for the 2020 Seal Coat Project in the amount of $218,700. This will cover 87,280 square yards in three different areas of town, Director of Public Works Tim Crosswhite told the council. The total budget for the project is $255,000.

The bid was approved on a 5-1 vote with Councilmember Eric Hastey voting against.

Thrasher Inc. was awarded the bid on a 6-0 vote for the Plainview Point Park Parking Lot Rebid Project. The local company was the only bidder for the eight space parking lot in the amount of $27,000.

Finally, Gage Park Restroom Structures, LLC was awarded the bid for the Regional Park Restroom Replacement Project.

The pre-built concrete structured bathroom would replace the one that was destroyed by a fire at Kidsville Park in August of 2019. The total bid was for $61,209.28. Some of those costs would be covered by the insurance claim in the amount of $33,133.46, Crosswhite said.

The new structured would be relocated to a more convenient location and would be equipped with a drinking fountain, electric door entry and hot water heater. The bathroom would also be open year round.

Some additional costs would be needed to prep the area before the building could be placed including utilities and plumbing, Crosswhite told the council.

The bid was approved on a 6-0 vote.

Councilmembers Teressa King and Norma Juarez were absent.
US President Donald Trump's unexpected ban on most travel from Europe to the US could send some foreign airlines out of business and prompt the biggest reduction to international air travel in decades, according to a respected aviation expert.

"It is massive. This is the biggest, most valuable international route group in the world," said Peter Harbison from the CAPA Centre for Aviation.

"As a route, the North Atlantic, it's by far the biggest and most valuable. And that means valuable to commerce but also valuable to the airlines themselves. Because a lot of the travel is business travel, corporate travel and therefore high-yielding," he said.

IATA warned coronavirus could wipe $US113 billion ($171 billion) in revenue from the aviation sector this year. That was before the US travel ban. Credit:Bloomberg

Mr Harbison said the ban, which will last for 30 days from midnight Friday (American time), came at a time when travel was already down significantly.
Independent Spirit Award winner Dakota Johnson donned a black leather motorcycle jacket to stop by Cha Cha Matcha in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson strutted down Robertson Blvd. baring her belly in a beige crop-top, black wide-leg pants, and loafers.

That same day, Dakota gave Architectural Digest a tour of her midcentury-modern Los Angeles 'tree house,' which she bought in 2016 after American Horror Story co-creator Ryan Murphy moved out.

Smoothie run! Independent Spirit Award winner Dakota Johnson donned a black leather motorcycle jacket to stop by Cha Cha Matcha in West Hollywood on Wednesday

Strutting down Robertson! The 30-year-old daughter of Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson bared her belly in a beige crop-top, black wide-leg pants, and loafers

'He loved it so much too, but his family got bigger, so he moved out. Lucky,' Johnson laughed.

The Texas-born brunette's home features an abundance of vintage furniture, a heated lap pool, and an antique Wurlitzer piano that she 'plays badly.'

Dakota's artwork includes photographs of her late 'godfather figure' Hunter S. Thompson and her grandmother Tippi Hedren beside a tiger at The Shambala Preserve in Acton, CA.

On Valentine's Day, Johnson made her directorial debut helming Coldplay's music video for Cry Cry Cry, which showcased her boyfriend since 2017, frontman Chris Martin.

Home sweet home! That same day, Dakota gave Architectural Digest a tour of her midcentury-modern Los Angeles 'tree house,' which she bought in 2016 after American Horror Story co-creator Ryan Murphy moved out because his 'family got bigger'

Stepping behind the camera: On Valentine's Day, Johnson (R) made her directorial debut helming Coldplay's music video for Cry Cry Cry, which showcased her boyfriend since 2017, frontman Chris Martin (2-R)

'Refunds are available!' The 42-year-old Englishman was forced to cancel his appearance at the March 21 LOVR Benefit at the Hollywood Palladium, which was postponed until the summer due to Coronavirus concerns

The 42-year-old Englishman was forced to cancel his appearance at the March 21 LOVR Benefit at the Hollywood Palladium, which was postponed until the summer due to Coronavirus concerns.

The Wounds actress next plays an aspiring music producer called Maggie in Nisha Ganatra's comedy The High Note - hitting US/UK theaters May 8 - alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, Bill Pullman, Diplo, Ice Cube, and June Diane Raphael.

Dakota has also been hard at work on the second season of her abuse, assault, and trauma podcast The Left Ear.
Press Release

12 March 2020

Reflecting concerns and cancellations around the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. hotel industry reported negative year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 1-7 March 2020, according to data from STR.



In comparison with the week of 3-9 March 2019, the industry recorded the following:

Occupancy: -7.3% to 61.8%

Average daily rate (ADR): -4.6% to US$126.01

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -11.6% to US$77.82

Performance declines were uniform across chain scales, classes and location types.

"The question over the last several weeks was 'when', not 'if' this impact would hitwell, when has arrived," said Jan Freitag, STR's senior VP of lodging insights. "Like so many other areas of the world, concerns around the coronavirus outbreak have now hit U.S. hotel occupancy hard. Not a surprise given the amount of event-related news we have seen, but group cancellations were felt across the markets and classes in addition to consistent declines in the transient segment. ADR is starting to decline as well, rapidly in the case of San Francisco. This is quite likely the beginning of a bad run that will get worse before it gets better."

Overall, 23 of the Top 25 Markets registered a RevPAR decline.

San Francisco/San Mateo, California, posted the week's steepest drop in RevPAR (-45.5% to US$134.26), due largely to the largest decline in ADR (-30.4% to US$212.61).

Anaheim/Santa Ana, California, experienced the largest drop in occupancy (-27.3% to 59.6%) and the second-largest decreases in ADR (-19.9% to US$155.14) and RevPAR (-41.8% to US$92.42).

Seattle, Washington, saw the second-steepest decrease in occupancy (-26.4% to 52.3%), which pushed the third-largest drop in RevPAR (-34.8% to US$67.94).

Of note, New York, New York, occupancy fell 13.1% to 72.1%, while ADR in the market was down 8.3% to US$188.59.

Two markets saw occupancy growth for the week: Detroit, Michigan (+1.9% to 62.2%), and Nashville, Tennessee (+1.8% to 75.8%).

Two markets reported ADR increases: Oahu Island, Hawaii (+1.7% to US$223.05), and Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia (+1.3% to US$85.46).
Polish CBD oil market estimated to be worth 2bn in fewer than 8 years and the cosmetics market is already worth about 6bn

LONDON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dragonfly Biosciences (dragonflybiosciences.com), one of the UK's best-selling CBD business, is stocked in leading retailers, such as Boots, Ocado, Tesco, Sainsburys, and Harrods, among others. Controlling the entire process from "seed to shelf," Dragonfly Biosciences harvested over 350 metric tonnes of crop last year and is broadening its European presence with a big push into Poland.

TVO is a prominent player in the Central and Eastern Europe teleshopping market and is majority-owned by Cyfrowy Polsat - the leading provider of digital multichannel television and mobile telephony in Poland, the largest in Central and Eastern Europe and the fourth largest digital platform in Europe.

Launching via its first telesales deal, the premium British CBD brand has partnered with TVO Sp. z o. o., which has access to almost all of Polish 13.6 million* television household, and to distribute DragonflyCBD products throughout Poland.

Regan Saveall, CEO at Dragonfly Biosciences, said: "Poland offers plenty of opportunities for reliable, traceable, high-quality CBD products. Market forecasts suggest there's a fast-growing demand, particularly for CBD oils and skincare products, and that the overall category could be worth more than 8bn in less than a decade. The growth opportunities in Poland and wider Europe are huge, and Dragonfly's ambitions are high for the region."

Michal Ciesla, TVO's Chief Executive Officer, added: "We are thrilled to extend our product offer and be able to supply Polish customers with the most trusted CBD products available on the European market right now. I believe that this first step in our relationship will lead to long-lasting and very successful cooperation."

From April 2020 TVO will start offering Dragonfly's Cannabidiol oils and in Q2 a brand-new cosmetic line, on its 24/7 home shopping channel and the e-commerce platform available at tvokazje.pl.

Notes to editors

* According to KRRiTV's data from 2018. KRRiT is the Polish National Broadcasting Council, an equivalent of Ofcom in the UK.

DragonflyCBD products to be sold in Poland

270 mg Broad Spectrum 10 ml

450 mg Broad Spectrum 10 ml

About Dragonfly Biosciences

Dragonfly Biosciences is a leading producer of CBD and Cannabis-derived extracts. It nurtures all its products from seed to shelf: growing Cannabis sativa L. organically, using a unique extraction process and formulating under GMP conditions. Its range of DragonflyCBD oil is available to buy from leading pharmacy-chains, independent pharmacies and leading supermarkets in strengths of 270mg to 2000mg. Supplying both branded products and bulk formulations, Dragonfly Biosciences hopes to set the bar for quality and build a responsible industry from the grass roots up.
International busineman and Chairman of Doscar Group Holdings, HRH Oscar Yao Doe has praised the appointment of Lawyer Yooni Kulendi into the Ghana Supreme Court.



The reputable businessman described Lawyer Kulendi as an honest man who is fair and balance-minded. He revealed that he can vouch for his integrity, saying no one, including Akufo Addo can be successful (in) using Yooni Kulendi for any wrongdoing against the law.



In a public post where he personally endorsed the new Supreme Court appointee, HRH Doe said Yooni Kulendi is a patriotic, tested and trusted human rights advocate. a genius, genuine person who he believes 90% of lawyers in Ghana can testify to his attributes. Read the full post below...



"Personal Endorsement: I His Royal Highness, the most-olourful Oscar Yao Doe endorses the appointment of Lawyer Yooni Kulendi to the Supreme Court Of Ghana. This is a great day for Ghana.



Yooni Kulendi is an honest man beyond reasonable doubt. He is a fair and balance-minded person. I can bet that no one, including Akufo Addo can be successful (in) using Yooni Kulendi for any wrongdoing or anything against the Law.



Mr Kulendi is patriotic. (He is a) tested and trusted human rights advocate. Yooni Kulendi is a genius, a genuine person and I believe 90% of lawyers in Ghana can testify to these attributes.



Yooni Kulendi is a 'Unifier' who looks for collective interest. The man Yooni Kulendi (so much) loves his wife, who is his closest friend. He is a Multi-millionaire, but a very humble lawyer.



The man Yooni Kulendi lives with justice and fairness, even in his household. I recommend future governments, regardless of the party in power to consider him as Chief Justice, if he performs well at the Supreme Court.



Without any doubt in my mind, Yooni Kulendi brings into the Supreme Court, a huge asset of credibility.



My family and I wish him great Success. We love you, the legendary lawyer and patriot, YOONI KULENDI."

Source: Thecityscoopng.blogspot.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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EDWARDSVILLE  A Hartford man faces multiple felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting an underage female victim over a four-year period.

Jimmy R. Miller, 63, was charged March 11 with three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, all Class X felonies, and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, both Class 2 felonies.

The charges, brought by the Madison County Sheriffs Department, cover a number of different sex acts with the girl from 2014 to 2018. Bail was set at $130,000.

Miller was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon.

We got a complaint about it about a month ago, Madison County Chief of Detectives Capt. David Vucich said Wednesday. We got some information from a concerned family member saying the victim had disclosed it to them.

Vucich said the incidents occurred at a campground in the Highland area but declined to go into specifics. He also said police did not believe there are additional victims; anyone with information is asked to call the sheriffs department at 618-692-4433.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Tuesday the state will waive fees for COVID-19 testing for more than 2 million residents on certain health plans.

The waivers apply to residents with health insurance through their jobs with the state and public schools, as well as to those using the states social safety net programs.

Murphy also urged the states other health carriers covering people who get insurance through their jobs to follow suit. The states biggest insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, has already said it would waive costs for medically necessary coronavirus tests.

Just over half of the states residents have insurance through their employers, according to Jerrel Harvey, a spokesman for the governor.

Murphys administration is set to give an update on the number of cases in the state later on Tuesday. Officials have reported there are 11 positive cases in New Jersey so far.

Virus Details

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.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 New Jersey
A frustrated American photographer verbally sparred with Senate staffers Wednesday over restrictions at a hearing that prevented him from getting too close to the Syrian witness  who also happened to be a photographer himself.

Hes a photographer, whys he afraid of a camera? complained the American photojournalist.

The witness, who sat with his back to the crowd in a blue rain jacket to obscure his profile, is a Syrian military defector who goes by the pseudonym Caesar. During his testimony, Caesar noted that he had asked for the photography restrictions out of fear that Damascus or its Iranian and Russian backers would assassinate him as a reprisal for smuggling some 53,000 photographs out of Syria documenting the systematic torture and murder in President Bashar al-Assads prisons.

Caesar is urging the United States to immediately implement the Syria sanctions law that bears his namesake as Syrian and Russian warplanes continue to bombard Idlib province, killing thousands of civilians and intentionally targeting medical facilities.

The Caesar law has become the final ray of hope for the Syrian people in the absence of any political or humanitarian solution, Caesar told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The law is a very powerful message to all who support the Assad regime. It is a reminder to all of them that the time for accountability and justice is coming and that no matter how long oppression lasts, there is no doubt that truth will prevail in the end.

The first deadline under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which Congress passed in December, is approaching next week. It requires the Donald Trump administration to brief Congress on the operation requirements of military and non-military means to enhance the protection of civilians inside Syria, especially civilians who are in besieged areas.

Caesar himself called for a no-fly zone or a way of stopping the airplanes from Russia, the Assad regime, on these civilians that have nowhere to run during the hearing.

Although the deadline to implement most of the bills sanctions is in June, Congress is also urging the Trump administration to apply them earlier in the midst of the Idlib crisis. A bipartisan group of lawmakers called on Trump this week to immediately implement the sanctions in a letter obtained by Al-Monitor.

We respectfully request you to put them into effect immediately as the crisis in Idlib worsens with each passing day, wrote Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., along with Reps. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., and Brendan Boyle, D-Pa.

The letter also criticized Russia and China for forcing the United Nations to close two of the four border crossings used to deliver humanitarian aid into Syria while calling on NATO and Middle Eastern countries to do more to assist refugees fleeing the conflict.

The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act sanctions anyone who backs Syrias military, energy, construction and engineering sectors unless Damascus makes a series of human rights reforms. The law also would sanction Syrias Central Bank in the likely event that the Trump administration labels the bank a primary laundering concern.

Timing aside, the White House appears largely on the same page as Congress. While it slid under the radar at the time, Trumps October executive order that sanctioned Turkey for its incursion against the Kurds in northeast Syria also laid the groundwork for some of the same sanctions required under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.

Despite Washingtons bipartisan consensus, some critics worry that the sanctions could hinder Syrias long-term reconstruction efforts while economically hampering the remaining civilian population.

It will be a disaster for Syrians if their central bank is designated, said Joshua Landis, the director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Efforts to revive education, housing and hospitals will be paralyzed. The central bank is a pillar of the economy.

Emma Beals, an editor and aid analyst at the Syria in Context newsletter, noted that the Caesar sanctions will have a huge impact on reconstruction down the line, particularly as theyre likely to scare off Russian, Chinese and Emirati investment in the war-torn country.

If Caesar is implemented to even a small degree of what its capable of, it will be devastating for Syria, Beals told Al-Monitor. Its not just about reconstruction. All of the things in the bill impact subsidiary issues. It was an Iran sanction that had a devastating impact on the fuel supply last year.

Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force, countered that the sanctions are necessary to combat Assads policy of forcefully displacing civilians from their homes to replace them with loyalists.

Theyre not just arbitrarily there because we dont want to see Syria reconstructed, Moustafa told Al-Monitor. For the United States and the international community to give money to help rebuild Assad regime areas, to build homes on the homes of the [Syrians] displaced in Europe that can never return would be a disservice because it means that their property is taken away after its destroyed. Its more about ensuring that there isnt ethnic cleansing.

Moustafa pointed to all the displaced residents in embattled Idlib province who have already been forced to flee their homes in Damascus, Homs and Aleppo.

To that end, US Syria envoy James Jeffrey announced earlier this month that Washington will provide more than $100 million in aid to assist the 950,000 displaced Syrians in Idlib.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., denounced the $100 million as insufficient to address the needs of the hundreds of thousands still fleeing the Assad regimes brutality during a House hearing on Idlib that occurred while Caesar was testifying in the Senate.

The Assad regime does not understand negotiations, said Caesar. It only understands the threat of force. It only understands negotiating from a position of power.

Jack Detsch contributed to this report
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:22:52|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A leading group of China's COVID-19 response Thursday called for more targeted prevention measures to stem the cross-border spread of the novel coronavirus and promised help for overseas fight against the pandemic.

The group, led by Premier Li Keqiang, called for efforts to closely follow the overseas situation of the pandemic, and to take into consideration the latest assessment made by the World Health Organization and international practice, according to a meeting of the group held Thursday.

More precise and targeted measures should be taken to guard against import and export of cases of infection, according to the meeting, which was presided over by Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The group called for efforts to further promote international joint prevention and control, stressing better data sharing, border quarantine and other virus prevention work.

The group also stressed helping relevant countries and international organizations in fighting the virus to the best of China's capabilities.

Domestic enterprises with adequate capacity were urged to produce more materials and goods for the virus control. After fulfilling domestic needs, enterprises should work to meet the demands of overseas commercial procurement based on market-oriented principles, according to the meeting.

After having made major progress in the current stage, Hubei Province and its capital city of Wuhan should give priority to medical treatment and strengthen the treatment of severely ill patients, according to the meeting.

The group urged more supportive measures to people in need amid the outbreak, stressing help for poor people, disabled people, children without guardians due to the outbreak and other vulnerable groups.

After taking effective measures to prevent a rebound of the epidemic, various regions, especially those with low virus risks, should quicken their pace to restore normal business, production and life, according to the meeting.

Wang Huning, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting.
Uttar Pradesh Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Thursday said that 11 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the state and that they have been kept in isolation.

"About 800 doctors have been trained. Through video conferences, we are tracking all developments. 11 people have tested positive in Uttar Pradesh. The latest was found in Gomti Nagar (Lucknow). They have been kept in isolation," said the Minister here.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases across India, including foreign nationals, has gone up to 73. Out of these 73 people, 56 are Indian citizens. With 17 coronavirus positive cases, the maximum number of cases in the country has been reported from Kerala.

Maharashtra reported 11 cases while in Uttar Pradesh there were 10 positive cases including a foreigner, according to the latest data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The government has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

People can avoid catching the virus by taking simple precautions such as washing hands with soap, using hand sanitisers, maintaining good respiratory hygiene and maintaining a distance of at least 3 feet from anyone who is coughing and sneezing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.




By Trend

Iran has requested $5 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to fight coronavirus, prevent the spread of the virus and combat its adverse effects on the economy, Director General of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Abdul-Nasser Hemmati wrote on his Instagram page, Trend reports.

According to Hemmati, a corresponding letter was sent to Managing Director of IMF Kristalina Georgieva on March 6.

Hemmati noted that the international community has requested IMF to provide $50 billion as emergency financial aid adding that Iran also wants to receive part of this assistance.

The CBI director general expressed a hope that IMF will take positive steps in this direction.

Hemmati said that the Central Bank is doing everything possible to support the citizens and solve their problems.

Iran is one of the recent countries, affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 9,000 people have been infected, 354 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 2,900 have reportedly recovered from the disease.

The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.



Following the reports of coronavirus spread in the Islamic Republic, several countries have taken measures, including closing borders and banning flights.



The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
He raises the ghosts of the past  a guide to Ganesh Pyne

The quiet life and dark mysticism of one of Indias foremost modernists  featuring works offered at Christies

Ganesh Pyne (1937-2013) was once described by the journalist and film-maker Pritish Nandy as a man who radiated a mysterious quality. He was an intensely private artist who rarely gave interviews, which meant clues to his personality were often sought for in his paintings charged with the supernatural. He raises the ghosts of the past, said the actor Barun Chandra in the documentary The Painter of Eloquent Silence. In fact, Pyne was very good company, simply dedicated to his art and prepared to make sacrifices for it. For many years he lived the life of an ascetic in the ancestral family home in North Kolkata, and it was not until the late 1970s, when the celebrated artist Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011) named him the best painter in India, that he came to nationwide recognition for his dark surrealism. On 23 September, paintings by the celebrated artist are offered for sale in New York in the single-owner auction, A Lasting Engagement: The Collection of Jane and Kito de Boer. The works span Pynes career from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Pyne was obsessed with the dark world Pyne was born in Kolkata in 1937 during the tumultuous years preceding Indian independence and partition. Aged nine, he was profoundly affected by the widespread killings in the city during the Direct Action Day riots of 1946. At one point the family were forced to seek shelter in a hospital where Pyne witnessed cartloads of bodies being brought into the mortuary. I was shaken by the sight, he recalled. Since then, I have been obsessed with the dark world.

Ganesh Pyne (b. 1937), Untitled (The Shrine), 1989. Tempera on canvas laid on board. 18 x 14 in (45.7 x 35.5 cm). Sold for $56,250 on 13 September 2011 at Christies in New York

According to Nishad Avari, Specialist in South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art at Christies, Pynes grandmother was his formative influence. He grew up sitting on the balcony of the family home listening to her stories, which were based on Bengali folk tales, says Avari. His paintings are a combination of that beguiling mysticism and his visceral response to the violence he witnessed as a child. In an interview in the late 1990s, Pyne said, True darkness gives one a feeling of insecurity bordering on fear but it also has its own charms, mystery, profundity, a fairyland atmosphere.

He was inspired by nationalist art As a teenager Pyne discovered the paintings of the Bengal School, established in the late 19th century by Sunayani Devi (1875-1962) and Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951). This nationalist modern art movement promoted a romantic, symbolist style based on Indian mythology using ink wash and tempera. You can see their influence in his early paintings of the 1950s, says Avari, but very quickly Pyne starts to move on. The works become more existential in theme, reflecting the post-colonial crisis of identity India was experiencing at the time. Pynes paintings are metaphysical and suffused with a primeval darkness. Theres a lost world quality to them that is timeless, Avari states.

He was a skilled draughtsman and animator After graduating from The Government College of Art and Craft in 1959, Pyne went to work at Mandar Studios, the first animation studios in India, where he became a meticulous draughtsman. The studio was run by the renegade film director Mandar Mullick, who had visited Germany before the Second World War and come into contact with Fritz Lang and Leni Riefenstahl. Mullick was keen to establish a vibrant cartoon industry in Kolkata similar to that of the Walt Disney Studios in California. He brought the veteran Disney animator Clair Weeks (1911-1996) over from Los Angeles to train his artists. Weeks taught Pyne how to distort and exaggerate features to convey different emotions. The artist continued to use this stylistic technique throughout his career to instil a sense of the uncanny in his paintings.

Ganesh Pyne (b. 1937), Untitled (Bir Bahadur), 1989. Tempera on canvas laid on board. 22 x 20 in (56 x 51.4 cm). Sold for $134,500 on 13 September 2011 at Christies in New York

Mullick introduced Pyne to European avant-garde cinema, and gradually scenes from these films began to appear in the artists paintings. One recurring motif in his work is a fountain, taken from Federico Fellinis La Dolce Vita, while phantom-like figures recall Ingmar Bergmans The Seventh Seal. His unique style was based on painstaking process In the 1960s, Pyne developed his unique painting style. By applying multiple layers of translucent colour onto the canvas and then burnishing it, he created areas of penetrating light and shadow. It is almost as if the paintings glow from within, says Avari. This labour-intensive process took time, resulting in Pyne producing around 10 paintings a year. The largest paintings are only about 2ft x 2ft because they are so intricate and time-consuming, explains the specialist.

He waited 30 years to marry his college girlfriend At the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Pyne met and fell in love with fellow student Meera Dutta, who belonged to one of the richest families in Kolkata. The impoverished Pyne had little chance of marrying her, and remained a bachelor until the late 1980s when the couple were reunited. There is a dramatic change in mood during this period, points out Avari. The darkness is not so overwhelming anymore. The couple married in 1990 when Pyne was 53. Recognition came late in his career Due to his reclusive nature, Pyne rarely left Kolkata, which in turn meant it took time for the artists works to gain recognition internationally. In the early 1980s, thanks to the support of other artists, he had a show at The Village Gallery in Delhi, and was eventually awarded a retrospective at the Centre of International Modern Art in Kolkata in 1998.

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New Delhi, March 12 : India on Thursday deployed a warship to send its largest humanitarian aid -- 600 tonnes of rice -- for the flood-hit victims of Madagascar.

In a statement issued by the embassy, Ambassador Abhay Kumar handed over 600 tonnes of rice on behalf of the government to Tehindrazanarivelo Djacoba Liva, Foreign Minister of Madagascar.

The relief food grains were sent using Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shardul commanded by commanding officer Abhishek Pathak. 125 meter long, INS Shardul has 320 officers and sailors on board.

Shardul, which arrived in Madagascar at Port Antsiranana on March 10, is the biggest relief load ever carried by any Indian warship, loaded, transported and unloaded in record time, for quick relief assistance.

The rice will be distributed to the people affected by cyclone Diane that hit Madagascar coast in January this year.

Earlier, on January 30, India became the first country to respond to the devastation caused by the cyclone when INS Airavat delivered relief material to Madagascar.

During the handing over ceremony of the relief, Ambassador Abhay Kumar said the warship was the fastest way the relief could be delivered by India for "our brothers and sisters in the Indian ocean." The Foreign Minister of Madagascar said the assistance is historic and demonstrated close ties between Madagascar and India.

In his remarks in the visitors' book the Foreign Minister wrote, "Very happy to visit INS Shardul and meet its crew. Grateful to the Government and the people of India for their generous donation." He also thanked Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a tweet.

The warship is scheduled to leave Port Antsiranana of Madagascar on March 14, on completion of its humanitarian mission.
Talking to children is of utmost importance, not just to help them cope with what they may get exposed to directly or indirectly, but also to raise responsible, non-judgemental and inclusive human beings. If they are prevented from being exposed to conversations, they may become more vulnerable to biased information.

Amid the ongoing conversation about Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, the headline of a recent piece questioned the presence and participation of children at the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has reportedly raised concerns over the possibility of children developing "mental trauma" resulting from the exposure to "misinformation and rumours. Though it is difficult to comment on this particular move, it does raise concerns over how children process information pertaining to prejudice.

India is currently witnessing a surge in communal violence, and stories of those who have been displaced, lost homes, schools and loved ones abound in the media and everyday conversation. In the face of such adversity, it is very likely that children may develop mental scars in the form of trauma and other mental health issues. On the other hand, children are also vulnerable to acquiring bias and bigotry, depending on socio-cultural and identity-based factors.

Having the time, space and resources to discuss these issues with children is a matter of privilege. Children who primarily fall victim to discrimination and the violence associated with it do not have space spaces to explore these subjects, instead discovering such realities in traumatic ways, usually after witnessing horrific tragedies. Nonetheless, in the long term, parents, psychologists, teachers  as well as research  speak of the significance of making conversations about oppression and related affairs a part of childrens worldview.

The bottom line remains that children uncover information and there is seldom any way to prevent it, as Waheeda Saif, a mental health counselor in the US, says, As parents, we often shy away from having these conversations. We tell ourselves our children are too young, they wont 'find out'. But the reality is, children know  whether it is through the news tab left open on the tablet, or through playground gossip.

Where does it all begin?

Humans are the only living species that have been unable to accept individual differences arising out of genetics, race, religion, caste and economic status. And anyone who doesnt belong to a majority can be looked down upon, threatened, bullied or subjected to violence, says Smriti Joshi, a clinical psychologist based out of Pune, Talking to children about these issues is of utmost importance, not just to help them cope with what they may get exposed to directly or indirectly, but also to raise responsible, non-judgmental and inclusive human beings.

Infamous developmental psychologist Jean Piaget devoted his life to studying how children learn cognitive functions, knowledge and conscience. Using Piagets framework, contemporary psychologists have tried to understand how the conceptualisation of racial and ethnic differences develop among children. Between the ages of five to eight, children orient themselves towards their peers and show a willingness to be part of groups. Racial name-calling and labelling follow suit, and children try to perceive new encounters through already held concepts.

Other perspectives like psychoanalysis stress on the relational aspects of development. Indian psychoanalyst Sudhir Kakar emphasises that religious identity in a child is formed through an intergenerational transmission of narratives about ones own religion in the form of stories, gatherings, rituals and observations. The child strongly identifies with these values and forms their perceptions and opinions about the world.

Such perspectives advocate for the nurturing of a safe, non-judgmental and informed environment for children to mediate, examine and assess their own views, no matter what stage they are at. But how important is it for parents and teachers to be a part of this?

The role of caregivers and educators

My daughter, now 11, had been exposed to news and current affairs since Class 3, owing to my ex-husband (and her father) being a journalist and me being a writer. Instances like being bullied in school for being a non-vegetarian made it critical for us to have conversations over differences from the beginning, says Pooja, who is based out of Delhi.

Pooja began by introducing her daughter to her own diverse set of friends and acquaintances who belonged to different backgrounds of religion, caste and sexuality. I have always spoken to her about our personal challenges as a single parent, single child, as women/girls, about my own struggle with fibromyalgia and then extended it to larger issues like privileges, disability and discrimination.

When Chaitras six-year-old son asked why people from Pakistan are bad, the Mysore-based entrepreneur wondered where he would have learned this from. I think this is something he picked up at school. Because at home, we dont watch regular news debates of this nature, and especially not with him around. It is often that such spontaneous questions and play behaviour mark the emergence of these thoughts.

For Chaitra, this moment was a catalyst for conversation. I picked up a map and showed him where India and Pakistan and several other countries are, and how they are merely divided by borders, how similar the people and their ways of living are. It is important for children to first know who it is they are talking about, and what they are like.

Pathways to healthy dialogue

Mahalakshmi Rajagopal, a psychologist based out of Delhi who works with children and parents, suggests that it is important for parents to hold inclusive and unprejudiced views themselves to be able to build positive influences on children. In case parents do have a specific discriminatory opinion, which is quite normal, they should refrain from influencing their children's opinion.

She further adds, Parents will always teach children values based on their own belief systems. So you need to first be a person who believes in peace and equality yourself. Children also form opinions based on their experiences. For example, a child whose exams/school has been postponed due to an event like a protest may just develop a targeting opinion, without anyone influencing them.

Pooja and Chaitra echo this sentiment. I try not to impose my views on her and let her form her own, egg her on to read more about things, says Pooja. Chaitra prefers taking time and reaching the root of the issue. No matter what our opinions may be, we should give the child the freedom to have their own opinions. But I ask him questions to probe his curiosity about these things, and then use his own ways to answer them. For example, I talked about children who come from different backgrounds in his own class.

Varun Gwalani, who works as an educator in Mumbai, developed innovative ways to talk to his students about social issues. I wrote a childrens book called The Story Circle in which I touched upon several topics such as gender inequality, child marriage and similar themes, but I have done it in a way to which the children can relate... As a teacher, I believe it is our responsibility to talk about everything that is happening around them."

Varun says that if children are prevented from being exposed to conversations, they may become more vulnerable to biased information. "One needs to orient themselves to the methods of children to be able to explain to them what is right and wrong.

One way that Smriti suggests is to link discussions on discrimination and violence to values of being mean versus being kind. Very young children may start noticing differences in skin colour or hairstyles or abilities and will ask questions about it. Seizing these moments as learning opportunities rather than embarrassing moments to be hushed up or ignored can help the child avoid imbibing stereotypes and into a deeper understanding of the world around her," she explains.

Honesty seems to be an important element of such talks, according to Smriti. When we dont have the right answer, we can always be honest about it. A statement explaining that you dont know why this is happening and that it is sad that people are treating each other with disrespect and hurting each other is usually the right thing to do. Other methods involve preventing exposure to biased information via the media and an in-depth introspection about the kind of beliefs and sentiments we form about what is happening out there, its impact, its portrayal and where children come into it.
By KA Shaji

Octogenarian farmer Mannargudi S. Ranganathan is all praise for the bill passed by Tamil Nadu assembly, declaring the Kaveri delta region in the state as a Protected Special Agriculture Zone (PSAZ). While many of his fellow farmers remain sceptical about its effectiveness, Ranganathan is all praise for Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami for the landmark legislation which he believes will stop all livelihood-harming extraction projects of the area.

We are quite surprised. It took hardly ten days for the chief minister to move the bill in the assembly and make it a law, from the time of its announcement at a public meeting in Salem. Our worries about the fate of agriculture in the delta region are over now. The Chief Minister is a man of action and this bill will help the delta survive for more than a thousand years, said Ranganathan, general secretary of Kaveri delta Farmers Association. Ranganathan and his association are now organising a reception for the chief minister to the delta region as gratitude.

Meanwhile, many other farmers, not part of this association, continue to believe that the law lacks teeth to deal with the central government-supported hydrocarbon extraction projects, which pose a threat to the very existence of the delta region and its time-tested agricultural legacy.

Kaveri Urimai Meetpu Kuzhu (Kaveri Rights Retrieval Committee) coordinator P. Maniarasan says that he and hundreds of other farmers are sceptical not about the spirit of the bill but about its efficacy to address the emerging threats.

The bill itself agrees that it would not have powers to eclipse ongoing and approved projects. Private sector company Vedanta and the public sectors ONGC have already been given permission by the union government to extract hydrocarbon from the Kaveri delta. Attempts are also on from the part of union government to revive the coal-bed methane project shelved following intervention by the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. If the bill lacks powers to stop all these, there is no meaning to the declaration of the delta as an agricultural zone, he said.

According to him, the bill was drafted in haste without seeking expert opinions and it excluded Musiri, Lalgudi and Pullambadi blocks in Trichy district, Thirumanur in Ariyalur district, Chidamabaram in Cuddalore district and Kulithalai in Karur district. However, supporters of the bill say certain tactical omissions were made in it to pass it using provisions in the list and to avoid collision with central government powers. They say modifications can be made at any time based on consensus.

The already-initiated extraction works have turned the groundwater more saline. The new law would help revive the groundwater level, says Ranganathan terming the counter opinions as ill-motivated and lacking objectivity.

Sources in the government have said the bill has many strategic provisions which would help the state government to effectively prevent unilateral implementation of the extraction projects.

Right To Information (RTI) replies from Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have revealed that a number of hydrocarbon extraction projects in the delta region planned by Vedanta and ONGC are pending clearance from the state government. The state can consider them as new projects and deny permission under the new law, said a senior civil service officer who helped draft the legislation.

An expert committee constituted six months ago to go into the proposals is still verifying the documents. As none of them got any permission so far, they can be considered as new projects. The law is clearly preventing hydrocarbon exploration extraction and extraction in the delta area. The law also has clauses enabling it to add or exclude any neighbouring area into its ambit, said the official.
Wilmington, Delaware: Joe Biden hs delivered a forceful rebuke of US President Donald Trump's leadership amid the coronavirus crisis, seeking to project steadiness and resolve from his perch as the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Joe Biden speaks out about Donald Trump's handling of coronavirus. Credit:Bloomberg

In his own speech about the pandemic, Senator Bernie Sanders, Biden's main rival, also flamed the President's response. He provided a long list of policy proposals aimed in particular at helping low-income and working-class families, providing a glimpse of the extraordinary measures he might take if he were president.

"The crisis we face from the coronavirus is on a scale of a major war," he said at a news conference in Burlington, Vermont. "And we must act accordingly."

Taken together, the candidates' blistering denunciations of Trump's handling of the outbreak signalled that the coronavirus has fully overtaken the 2020 race, forcing the candidates to cancel events and propose new ways of campaigning, putting fresh political pressure on Trump, and placing matters of public health and trust at the forefront of the contest.
MADISON  Gov. Tony Evers has named an engineer and clean energy advocate to the states utility regulation board.

Tyler Huebner, who has served for the past seven years as director of Renew Wisconsin, will fill the Public Service Commission seat vacated last month by Mike Huebsch.

Tyler has spent his entire academic and professional career focused on energy and efficiency, Evers said in a statement. He is a passionate leader, whose experience will serve the Commission and the people of Wisconsin well. I look forward to seeing his good work to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable utility services for folks across our state.

A native of Iowa, Huebner holds a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Iowa and a masters degree from Stanford Universitys Atmosphere and Energy Program. Prior to joining Renew Wisconsin, he worked for the state Department of Administrations Division of Energy Services.

I understand the importance of balancing the needs of utilities and customers, while accelerating Wisconsins transition into the 21st century, Huebner said in a statement. It is an honor to be appointed to the Commission and to continue my career of public service in this new role.

Evers last year set a goal of making the states electricity supply carbon-free by 2050. Two of the states largest utilities  Madison Gas and Electric, and Xcel Energy  have made similar pledges, while the other three have committed to reducing carbon emissions by 80%.

In a written statement, PSC Chairwoman Rebecca Valcq said she looks forward to working with Huebner.

His insight and background will be invaluable to the Commission during this time of swift transition in the energy sector, Valcq said.

PSCs mission

The PSC is tasked with ensuring safe, reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electric, gas and water services. The agency approves large utility investments and sets rates.

The appointment gives Evers a majority of seats on the three-person commission. Valcq, his first pick, has five years left on her six-year term. Commissioner Ellen Nowak was appointed in December 2018 to serve out the remainder of a term that ends in 2023.

Huebsch, a former GOP lawmaker appointed to the commission in 2015 by Gov. Scott Walker, retired from public service in February.

Huebners appointment is effective March 17, and he will serve out the remaining year of the term. His salary will be $126,000, according to the PSC.

Huebner, 38, will be the first commissioner in more than two decades who is not an attorney, lawmaker or legislative aide. The last was John Farrow, a professor of mechanical engineering and husband of a state senator, was appointed by former Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1998.

Both utilities and consumer advocates praised the pick.

Praise for Huebner

While acknowledging that issue advocates can carry some bias into a new position, Huebners temperament should make him well-suited for the job, said Bill Skewes, executive director of the Wisconsin Utilities Association, which represents the states for-profit utility companies.

If theres common ground to be found hes a reasonable enough person to work with you to find it, Skewes said.

Tom Content, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, said Huebners experience, including past work on low-income weatherization programs, should be useful amid dramatic changes in the energy sector.

As the advocate for the states residential and small business customers, CUB will push to keep the focus squarely on making sure that customers arent overpaying for their utility services during this time of great change, Content said. As both the Governor and all of our utilities advance toward a cleaner, low-carbon future, we hope that Tylers experience and knowledge will help chart a path toward clean done right.

The appointment was welcomed by clean energy and climate advocates, including some who lamented that Evers first pick had worked as an attorney for the states largest utility company and who have sued the PSC over recent decisions, including the approval of a $700 million natural gas plant in Superior.

With his expertise and temperament, Huebner should be able to find solutions that work for the economy, the environment and customers, said Clean Wisconsin President and CEO Mark Redsten.

He understands where our states energy future is headed, Redsten said. He undoubtedly brings a unique perspective that will keep economic and environmental impacts of commission decisions in mind.

Eric Udelhofen, a solar energy developer and president of the Renew Wisconsin board, said the organization will name an interim director Thursday and launch a search for a permanent replacement. He said Huebners appointment is good news for the solar industry.

Hes not an ideologue, Udelhofen said. Hes done a good job of being firm on issues when necessary but also building bridges.

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Many Philadelphia teachers have concerns that the hand sanitizer stocked inside city schools contains no alcohol. CDC recommendations call for the use of alcohol-based sanitizer. Read more

Teachers and staff of the Philadelphia School District are worried that the district bought a less effective, non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer in bulk as part of its effort to cope with the threat of coronavirus.

Leaders of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, the union for teachers, said the district had recently equipped facilities with a sanitizer, foamyiQ Lemon Blossom, that is not alcohol-based, even though the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of alcohol-based products.

The district said going with an alcohol-based product posed risks of its own.

Due to safety and health hazards associated with alcohol-based products, such as substances being flammable and poisonous if ingested, the School District of Philadelphia moved away from using alcohol-based products in schools several years ago, a district spokesperson, Monica Lewis, said in a statement.

Hillary Linardopoulos, the PFTs legislative representative, met with district administrators Wednesday and was assured that the Lemon Blossom product worked as well as alcohol-based sanitizers. Linardopoulos said the union was not convinced.

On its website, the CDC urges people to wash their hands often. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, the agency advises.

 READ MORE: Read more: Some have concerns that Philly schools aren't prepared to fight coronavirus

Lewis, the districts spokesperson, said it had made the right choice.

The product we have placed in the schools is an effective alternative as part of an overall program of hand washing and building cleaning, her statement said.

The cleaning supplies used to aggressively wipe down high-touch items such as door knobs and stairwells several times throughout the day are products that have been approved to combat a number of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Linardopoulos said the union was not persuaded that the district had chosen the right cleaner.

Our concern remains," she said. And we have yet to see any evidence that it is as effective as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Representatives of Spartan Chemical Co., the Ohio-based maker of foamyIQ Lemon Blossom sanitizer, did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday. The active ingredient in its product is benzalkonium chloride.

Linardopoulos said the district had ordered foamyiQ Lemon Blossion in bulk and that it had been delivered to some of the systems more than 200 facilities earlier this week.

However, staff around the city reported that while some schools have supplies, others have received none or received not enough to cover all students and staff.

At schools that did receive supplies, several employees quickly contacted the union with concerns about the product, according to Ben Bowens, PFT spokesperson.

We just want to make sure our members are OK and obviously that our students are OK, Bowen said.

While washing with soap appeared to be the preferred cleaning method under the CDC guidelines, she said that was not always practical or would cause disruptive breaks in classroom routines.
Hyderabad, March 12 : The world's largest aircraft manufacturer Airbus on Thursday forecast that India will need nearly 1,900 new aircraft by 2038 and the country's air traffic growth will be 7.7 per cent, almost twice the expected world average of 4.3 per cent.

India's domestic traffic growth over 2018-2038 period is projected at 8.2 per cent, one of the world's highest. The international traffic growth for the country is pegged at 5-7 per cent.

Anand Stanley, President and Managing Director, Airbus India & South Asia told a news conference here on Thursday that they were bullish on the Indian market but their forecast was conservative and has taken into account cyclical events like coronavirus.

He said out of 1,880 aircraft required, 1,670 will be small and 210 in medium and large categories.

Some 1,440 aircraft are for growth and 440 are needed to replace aircraft that will be retired. Taking into account the 440 retirements, India's existing domiciled fleet of 510 aircraft will quadruple to 1,950 by 2038, he said.

The news conference was organised on the first day of Wings India 2020, Asia's largest event on civil aviation.

On average one Airbus aircraft will be delivered to India every week for the next 10 years.

Anand said India was set to become one of the world's largest economies, with some of the world's fastest growing cities in terms of GDP including Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru.

"In the next 20 years air transportation is expected to be a key enabler and a beneficiary of this economic growth. Rising wealth and urbanisation, and the Indian government's ambitious regional connectivity programmes are all growth drivers," he said.

He said with world-class engineering and training centres and 45-strong supplier network, Airbus' industrial footprint in India set new standards among international aircraft manufacturers.

"Today, every Airbus commercial aircraft is partly made in India and we are working to double our sourcing volumes from the country to more than US$ 1 billion by 2025," he said.

Annual sourcing from India currently stands at $650 million per year. Airbus currently employs 7,000 people in India including 1,500 engineers.
BERLIN  At 2 a.m. on Thursday, the dance floor at Tresor in Berlin showed little indication that Germany was in the grip of a pandemic.

About 150 people were squeezed into the main space of the famous techno club, which is under a former power station. Few seemed to be heeding the important tips for the coronavirus that had been posted next to the stern-looking bouncers at the front door. These included maintaining distance in tight spaces and not passing around drinks.

Mercedes Sanchez, 22, was at the club celebrating the end of her medical school exams with two friends. We know its maybe not such a good idea, but we thought, Today and then never again, she said. Her group was taking appropriate measures, she added, like no touching anyone, and no new friends.

They had originally wanted to go to KitKatClub, Sanchez said, a nearby fetish and dance venue where it is not uncommon for patrons to have sex in the club. But we thought the danger of infection there was higher, she added.
The RJD announced its candidates for two Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar on Thursday, rebuffing ally Congress, which had been demanding one of the seats.

At a press meet here, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) state president Jagadanand Singh announced the names of Prem Chandra Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh for two of the five seats that will go to polls.

The opposition camp is expected to wrest the two seats from the ruling NDA.

Gupta, a close aide of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, is currently a member of the Upper House of Parliament from neighbouring Jharkhand, but his term expires next month. Gupta had served as a cabinet minister in the UPA-1 government.

Singh is a well-known entrepreneur based in Patna and his candidature, which has taken many by surprise, is being seen as an attempt by the RJD to win over the upper castes ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls due later this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:00:08|Editor: yan

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COLOMBO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government on Thursday urged citizens to halt overseas tours unless it is for an essential purpose, following the global COVID-19 outbreak, a statement from the government information department said.

The government also said that the quarantine process presently carried out by the authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka was not only applicable to Sri Lankan nationals arriving from the countries of Italy, South Korea and Iran but also for tourists arriving from those countries in the island country.

"Several foreigners arrived from such countries to Sri Lanka are being quarantined in the nominated quarantine centres by now," the statement said.

"The relevant parties are requested by the government to adhere to the procedures applied while none of the individuals reserves the social or legitimate right to refuse the quarantine procedure carried out for the security of the country," the statement added.
Workers at Peter Nygards companies and staff at his properties have been warned not to destroy documents or they could face criminal charges, an internal company memo leaked to the Free Press shows.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Workers at Peter Nygards companies and staff at his properties have been warned not to destroy documents or they could face criminal charges, an internal company memo leaked to the Free Press shows.

The warning comes as the fashion mogul finds himself ensnared by a U.S. federal law enforcement investigation and a class-action lawsuit filed by 10 women accusing him of drugging, raping and sodomizing them.

Nygard, 78, maintains his innocence. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The internal memo was authored by Abe Rubinfeld, general counsel for Nygards companies, and sent to all employees and staff Feb. 26.

"Until further notice, do not discard, delete, overwrite, alter, or destroy any relevant paper documents or other physical items, or alter or destroy electronically stored information," Rubinfeld wrote.

"Until further notice, suspend any document destruction policies, to the extent any such policies are in effect."

One day before the memo was sent, agents with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives with the New York Police Department raided Nygards international headquarters in Times Square, leaving with boxes of unknown evidence in hand.

Peter Nygard has announced his intention to divest ownership of the companies he forged for more than 50 years. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

At the time of the raid, Jay Prober, one of Nygards attorneys, told the Free Press his client expects to be cleared of claims of sexual misconduct. He also said the FBI would find no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in their search.

By the end of the day, Nygard  speaking through spokesman Ken Frydman  announced his intention to divest ownership of the companies he forged for more than 50 years.

Less than 24 hours before the raid on his Manhattan headquarters, Nygards home in Marina del Ray, Calif., was also raided, according to a report from the New York Times.

The U.S. federal investigation has reportedly been underway for at least five months. The probe is headed up by a joint child-exploitation task force run out of a U.S. Attorneys office in New York.

The internal memo leaked to the Free Press calls on staff to "retain and preserve all documents," related to Nygard and his business interests in the Bahamas, California, Winnipeg and Toronto. It notes the request is prompted by the ongoing civil litigation and criminal probe.

"Its basically standard procedure. Its no different than when a media reporter gets sued and your editor or publisher says, Keep your emails, keep your texts, keep your notes,'" Prober said.

"Its also an example of the full co-operation that Nygard and his companies are providing. Its normal, standard procedure and its indicative of the kind of co-operation thats being provided."

The memo from Rubinfeld said employees could be subject to criminal liability if they do not follow his instructions on evidence preservation.

Nygard has business interests in Winnipeg, the Bahamas, California, New York and Toronto. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files)

"Please note that failure to preserve these materials or any other materials that fall within the scope of any of the categories set forth above could be detrimental to (the defendants) position with respect to the lawsuit," Rubinfeld wrote.

"(It could also) constitute obstruction of the investigation, and could result in, among other things, criminal prosecution and/or other sanctions, as well as financial penalties and termination of your employment."

The memo ends by noting the instructions remain in effect until further notice.

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"If you have any doubt as to whether this notice applies to a specific document, physical item or communication, you should err on the side of caution by preserving the item," Rubinfeld wrote.

On top of the criminal probe, Nygard is the subject of civil litigation.

On Feb. 13, 10 women accused Nygard of drugging, raping and sodomizing them in a class-action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Greg Gutzler, co-counsel for the accusers, said since the lawsuit was filed last month, 50 other women have approached the firm with similar allegations of abuse. The accusations involve alleged victims in five countries on three continents, and span four decades.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
Los Angeles' top late-night hosts will stop incorporating live audiences into their broadcasts over the next few days, amid rising fears about the spread of coronavirus in the region.

On Thursday, the networks announced that ABCs Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS' The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Talk will tape without an audience beginning Monday, March 16.

This comes just hours after their New York counterparts including Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon made the same announcement.

ABC said in a statement:'As a precautionary measure, we have decided to temporarily suspend the live audience for Jimmy Kimmel Live beginning Monday, March 16th.

Precautions: On Thursday the networks announced that ABCs Jimmy Kimmel Live (Left), CBS' The Late Late Show with James Corden (right) will tape without an audience beginning Monday, March 16

Interesting: CBS chat show The Talk will also film without a studio audience (pictured from left to right: Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Sharon Osbourne, Eve Cooper, and Marie Osmond)

'The show will continue to film as scheduled and air dates will not be affected. We will continue to monitor the situation as the safety of our employees and guests are of the utmost importance.'

CBS addressed both Corden and The Talk as they announced: 'Out of an abundance of caution, The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Talk will forego their live studio audiences beginning Monday, March 16.

'At this time, no disruptions to the on-air schedules are expected. We will continue to monitor the situation, as the health and safety of our audience and production staffs is our top priority.'

'As a precautionary measure': Kimmel seen with his audience in February 2013

'At this time, no disruptions to the on-air schedules are expected': Corden pictured with his audience on Monday

California Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday night that gatherings of more than 250 or more people should be postponed or canceled across the stage at least until the end of March which obviously put pressure on the networks.

The same night Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Trevor Noah, John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Greg Gutfeld all said that they would tape their broadcasts in theaters and studios without audience members.

In the US Wednesday night more than 1,300 people were confirmed to have coronavirus and 38 people had died. There were 220 cases in New York state.

Globally there were 125,743 confirmed cases and 4,610 deaths.

Interesting: This comes just hours after their New York counterparts including Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon made the same announcement. Pictured, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during Tuesday's February 4, 2020 live show

'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,' the NBC statement read. Jimmy Fallon is pictured with an audience of servicemen and servicewomen on May 23, 2019

In the US Wednesday night 1,135 people were confirmed to have coronavirus and 38 people had died. There were 220 cases in New York

The announcement from New York networks came as Donald Trump enforced a European travel ban due to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from abroad. Shortly afterward House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the president for failing to do enough to prevent community spread.

NBC, which broadcasts the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers, cited the safety of guests and employees as the 'top priority'.

'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,' the NBC statement read. 'Our shows will continue filming on their regular schedule, and currently, there will be no impact on air dates.'

CBS is home to the Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

'There have not been any specific developments at The Ed Sullivan Theater to cause concern for audiences with plans to attend the show tonight, tomorrow, or who have attended in recent weeks,' CBS said in a statement.

'For several weeks, the team at the theater has been taking all necessary precautions to protect everyone who enters and works in the theater with enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures.

'For the past several weeks, The Late Show producers have consulted daily to share information with other New York-based late night shows, who will also be moving forward without an audience.'

In statements, the shows indicated their staffers were well, but that producers felt performing with live crowds would not be safe or smart.

Trevor Noah (pictured), John Oliver, Samantha Bee and Greg Gutfeld are all hosts affected

'There have not been any specific developments at The Ed Sullivan Theater to cause concern for audiences with plans to attend the show tonight, tomorrow, or who have attended in recent weeks,' CBS said in a statement about Colbert (pictured)

NBC, which broadcasts the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (pictured right) and Late Night With Seth Meyers (left), cited the safety of guests and employees as the 'top priority'

TBS' Full Frontal with Samantha Bee started the policy Wednesday evening.

'Bee says she will instead "do the show in front of a mirror, which I actually prefer",' the statement joked. 'Despite the efforts being taken, we still have heard from Sean Spicer that tonight's taping "was the largest audience ever to witness an [taping of Full Frontal], period, both in person and around the globe." Wow!'

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

Fox News Channel's The Greg Gutfeld Show will implement the change Saturday and HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver show will commence with a new plan on Monday.

'We are taking this precaution in accordance with best practices as outlined by New York City officials,' HBO said in a statement to the Daily Beast. 'We will continue to monitor the situation.'

The weeknight programs will all stop using audiences as of Monday, March 16. Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Trevor Noah is included.

There was no immediate information provided on whether NBC's Saturday Night Live would use a live audience for its coming rehearsals or broadcasts. The show's next original episode is not scheduled until March 28.

Live audiences are a key element of the late-night format.

Their reactions often spur the hosts to make unscripted remarks and the shows usually feed off of a live crowd's energy.

All the shows have staffers in place whose job it is to raise the audience's energy in advance of a taping.

At NBC, Late Night and Tonight often test Fallon's and Meyer's opening monologues in front of a smaller audience group in advance of a taping and producers at Saturday Night Live use audience reaction during rehearsals to help them determine which sketches will work for the show's official broadcast.

At CBS the pandemic spread beyond live audience shows. Also Wednesday, the network said production on the 41st edition of Survivor has been postponed in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

Filming was scheduled to begin later this month in Fiji, but CBS now says production will start on May 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.

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.

Shows like that of John Oliver (pictured) see live audiences as a key element of the late-night format. Their reactions often spur the hosts to make unscripted remarks and the shows usually feed off of a live crowd's energy

CDC: HOW TO SLOW THE CORONAVIRUS SPREAD Advertisement
WASHINGTON  A coalition of the countrys most prominent womens advocacy groups will host a meeting of top female organizers, activists and officials on the eve of the Democratic National Convention in July, part of an effort to raise the influence of female political leaders and voters who make up the backbone of the party.

The hosts of the event include diverse organizations, including abortion rights groups like Naral Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, political groups that foster the participation of women of color in politics and Emilys List, one of the countrys oldest organizations funding women in politics.

The meeting is the first such event scheduled around a national party convention, say the organizers, and aims to pressure the party to place greater focus on issues affecting American women, including equal pay, sexual harassment, paid family leave, access to abortion, birth control and child care.

Female voters, activists and candidates have powered the Democratic Partys gains during the Trump era, both running for office and voting for the party in record numbers in recent years. Yet, a female candidate failed to crack the top echelons of the presidential race. Only one of the six women running in the primaries remained a viable contender until Super Tuesday. None of the female candidates won a single state.
The Michigan Senate approved a combined $25 million in funding for coronavirus response and prevention Thursday as part of a supplemental spending bill, setting the legislation up for Gov. Gretchen Whitmers review.

On Thursday, senators voted 36-2 to approve Senate Bill 151, which included $10 million for various state departments preparing for and responding to coronavirus. Another $15 million in the bill 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.

That is in addition to the $14.6 million in federal funding the state is set to receive from the Centers for Disease Control.

The Senate made some amendments to the version passed by the House earlier this week, which both Republicans and Democrats characterized as technical changes. Another House-passed bill that would put $9 million towards education-specific programs was not taken up by the Senate Thursday.

The $312.3 million spending bill also includes $15 million for the Pure Michigan program, $25 million to settle the John Does v Department of Corrections case and additional funding for the Attorney Generals clergy abuse investigation, among other expenditures.

The bill restored funding to a number of programs vetoed by Whitmer when she signed the Fiscal Year 2020 budget last September.

Senate Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas, R-Midland, said the funding comes at a critical time as we work to meet new challenges facing Michigan.

With the confirmation of two cases of coronavirus in Michigan, we are directing vital support to help state and local authorities combat and respond to the virus, he said.

Sen. Jon Bumstead, R-Newaygo, was one of the two Republicans who voted against the legislation. He said he supports spending for funding coronavirus response, but believes it shouldnt have been tied to unvetted pet projects.

Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing, denied that the bill includes pork spending, and said the money would go a long way towards helping address immediate public safety needs while investing in economic development in Michigan.

Late Tuesday evening, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency after two Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for coronavirus COVID-19.

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.

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.

For the latest information, visit Michigan.gov/coronavirus or CDC.gov/coronavirus.

Related coverage:

Michigan officials set to approve $25 million in spending for response to coronavirus threat

Coronavirus Q&A, 15 things to know about COVID-19s spread

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

What Michigan residents need to know about coronavirus

Michigan officials warn of scams related to coronavirus

CDC officials say coronavirus could happen here and it could be bad

Best defense against coronavirus

Michigans deadliest year: Look back at 1918 flu pandemic

Coronavirus prevention tips:
Three more people tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Mumbai, Pune and Thane on Thursday, taking the number of cases in Maharashtra to 14. A 74-year-old man, who recently returned to Mumbai from Dubai, is in critical condition at a private hospital, while a 35-year-old man from Thane has been quarantined at Kasturba Hospital. He had travelled to France recently, officials said. In Pune, the person who tested positive for the virus had visited the United States (US), said district collector Naval Kishore Ram.

The state government, too, announced a series of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray asked district administrations to cancel all government programmes and not allow gatherings for political and religious events. The state plans to also ask tour operators to not accept new bookings. The government asked municipal commissioners of Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur to ensure all travellers coming from seven most-affected countries undergo compulsory quarantine. The budget session of Maharashtra legislature, too, will end on Saturday as all parties agreed to curtail the session so that the administration can devote more time to handle the situation.

Meanwhile, as cases of the virus in Mumbai touched three, several private schools announced that they will remain shut from Friday.

Health minister Rajesh Tope said the government is considering invoking the Maharashtra Epidemic Act, 1989, which will be used in the interest of society if a person is not cooperating.

For instance, if a person is not ready to be admitted to the hospital, then he can be compulsory admitted under provisions of the act, he said.

The health minister said the state government has constituted a committee headed by the chief secretary for better co-ordination among departments such as urban development, rural development, revenue, medical education, food and drugs administration and tourism. Secretaries of all the departments will be member of the committee.

On the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament, Tope said, As health minister, I am of the view that the IPL tournament should not be allowed, only to avoid large gatherings. However, if BCCI comes up with a proposal of ticketless matches, then the state government will consider it. Matches without audience should not be a problem.

Of the states 14 confirmed cases, nine are from Pune, three from Mumbai and one each from Thane and Nagpur.

According to state health officials, the patient who returned to Mumbai on March 8 after his visit to Dubai was admitted to a private hospital after he started showing symptoms of coronavirus. Later, he tested positive and his condition deteriorated further, so he has been kept at the private hospital.

He was undergoing treatment at the hospital, but later, the doctors got suspicious and sent the sample to Kasturba Hospital for analysis. This is prima facie the information we have got, said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner (health), Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

As per the information provided by the private hospital, the patient was suffering from a cardiac ailment and was a regular patient at the hospital, which is why they admitted him. Although he is not on ventilator, he is critical.

The patient from Thane was admitted to Kasturba Gandhi Hospital on Thursday. He was on telephonic observation after he returned from France. Later, when he started showing symptoms of coronavirus, he was shifted to the isolation ward.

The civic body is getting in touch with all relatives and friends of these infected patients for checking.

About the Thane patient, Sandeep Malvi, PRO, Thane Municipal Corporation, said, We shall be immediately shifting his primary contacts, wife and daughter to Kasturba for quarantine and testing. We have also begun conducting surveillance and tracing his and the familys contacts. We shall start implementing measures and take action accordingly,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that no central government minister will travel abroad in the coming days, as the government pulled out all stops to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings, PM Modi tweeted on Thursday.

Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions.



No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel.



We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2020

This comes after the government issued fresh advisory for Indian nationals and asked them to avoid all non-essential travels.

The Government is fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries & 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, PM Modi said in another tweet.

Watch | Coronavirus scare in India: Government suspends all visas as cases mount

The government virtually shut the country off to foreign tourists as it announced suspension of almost all visas for entering India till April 15. The decision, announced on Wednesday, was part of extraordinary new measures taken by the government to stave off the coronavirus disease Covid-19 pandemic, including invoking laws that give the federal administration powers over states to manage containment efforts.

The government has also issued a wide advisory for anyone planning to enter the country - even Indian citizens abroad - to defer travel unless necessary and warned that they may be subjected to mandatory quarantines.

India had to take a tough decision to discourage non-essential travel to stop the Covid-19 cases from being imported into the country. It may inconvenience travellers and Im sorry for that, but the health of Indias 135 crore citizens comes first. Intensified screening, quarantine and isolation can still stop the spread of Sars-Cov-2 in the country, Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan told HT shortly after the announcement.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases across India, including foreign nationals, has gone up to 73. Out of these 73 people, 56 are Indian citizens. With 17 coronavirus positive cases, the maximum number of cases in the country has been reported from Kerala.

Maharashtra reported 11 cases while in Uttar Pradesh there were 10 positive cases including a foreigner, according to the latest data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A Brooklyn teacher who had recently traveled to Italy and began showing coronavirus symptoms has claimed that she was charged more than $10,000 for her ER visit despite never being tested for the disease.

Last week, Erin McCarthy, 44, took herself to NYU Langone in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, after suffering from a fever, headaches and tightness in her chest.

She went to Italy in February before the coronavirus infected more than 12,000 people.

Brooklyn teacher Erin McCarthy (pictured in Italy in February) who was showing coronavirus symptoms after returning from Italy, claims she was charged $10,000 for an ER visit at NYC Langone last week

McCarthy, 44, took herself to NYU Langone (pictured) in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, after suffering from a fever, headaches and tightness in her chest.

But after a six-hour wait, McCarthy wasn't even tested for COVID-19, according to THE CITY.

Despite not being tested, she claims she later received a medical bill for $10,382.96.

Fortunately, McCarthy will only be responsible for $75 out of pocket because her insurance company will pay a negotiated-down rate.

''And I wasn't even tested. But imagine if I didn't have insurance,' McCarthy told Chalkbeat.

McCarthy was reportedly billed for spending about 20 minutes with a doctor and getting a chest X-ray.

During her long wait, a doctor eventually told her that she was not eligible for the test because she did not have a compromised immune system and she isn't elderly.

Three days later on March 5, McCarthy was able to get a test after the protocol for testing was changed.

Her results were negative for coronavirus.

Three days later on March 5, McCarthy (pictured) was able to get a test after the protocol for testing was changed. Her results were negative for coronavirus

There are more than 1,400 cases in the United States and 39 deaths (shown above)

The number of coronavirus cases in the US have soared in the last 10 days and are continuing to rise

Initially, people who fit a certain criteria were only being tested for the coronavirus.

But last week, Vice President Mike Pence announced that any American can be tested for coronavirus as long as a doctor approves it.

The move expanded upon the previous criteria needed for testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There have been multiple reports of people not having access to getting tested.

The first batch of test kits that the CDC sent to state and local health departments were faulty, which led to a delay.

Secondly, the CDC had strict criteria for testing, which led to missed diagnoses of people who caught the virus from so-called 'community spread,' meaning it's unknown how they were infected.

Lastly, some health departments did not leave the decision to test up to doctors as the CDC suggested.

For instance, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health initially required doctors to call a hotline to determine if their patients met CDC criteria for testing.

Then, before the test could be administered, it had to be authorized at the State Public Health Lab.

There are a total of 1,364 coronavirus cases in the United States and 39 deaths.

Globally, there are more than 125,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 4,600 deaths.
The new coronavirus has appeared in the Lehigh Valley, one of more than 40 cases identified in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The virus that causes COVID-19 has been deemed a global pandemic infecting more than 125,000 people worldwide and resulting in 4,600 deaths.

Dont panic. Federal and state health officials say there are common-sense steps that with diligence can limit the spread of the disease locally. Here youll find information on where coronavirus is in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, symptoms and precautions for COVID-19, and more. Follow the links for more.

The coronavirus. (Centers for Disease Control)

A coronavirus is a kind of virus that commonly circulates among people, like the one that causes the common cold. This, however, is a novel coronavirus, one not previously identified, according to the CDC.

The new coronavirus causes COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. There currently is no vaccine or treatment.

Coronavirus map

As of March 12, 21 patients have tested positive for the new coronavirus in seven Pennsylvania counties: Bucks, Delaware, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia and Wayne. Most of the cases are in Montgomery County, south of the Lehigh Valley. (This map will be updated as more cases are announced.)

No deaths have been reported in Pennsylvania.

The Northampton County COVID-19 case is an adult and in isolation to prevent spread of the disease, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has confirmed. The department has not been more specific with any of the COVID-19 cases in the state, citing patient confidentiality.

As of Thursday, at least three school Lehigh Valley school districts have said they have patients or employees being tested -- Allentown, Whitehall-Coplay and Easton Arts Academy.

In New Jersey, at least 23 patients have tested positive for the coronavirus and one has died.

Closings and cancellations

Though Pennsylvania has not issued any formal recommendations for events to be canceled or schools to close, some individual organizations and campuses are doing so on their own.

Here youll find a list of Lehigh Valley advisories, closing and cancellations. The list is being updated as we get more information.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Coronavirus symptoms

Fever, cough and shortness of breath may appear up to two weeks after exposure to someone with the coronavirus, according to the CDC. Coronavirus symptoms could be mild and are different from the flu, allergies or common cold.

If you think you have coronavirus symptoms, call ahead to your doctor. Not everyone will receive a coronavirus test  a patient must meet specific criteria.

After a positive test, state health officials will reach out to anyone who has been in contact with that person to see if they also need testing.

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

Coronavirus prevention

To protect yourself from the coronavirus, the CDC recommends washing your hands often and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

To protect others, do what you normally should during flu season: Stay home if youre not feeling well. Cover coughs and sneezes. Regularly disinfect frequently touched surfaces like phones and doorknobs. Wear a facemask if you are sick  it can prevent the spread of viruses from someone who is ill, but it wont prevent a healthy person from contracting it.

Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure reminded local residents to limit interactions with vulnerable populations: the elderly, people with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes and people with compromised immune systems.

Microbiologist Xiugen Zhang runs a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at the Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory, Monday, March 2, 2020, in Rocky Hill, Conn. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has received federal approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to run diagnostic testing for the coronavirus at the department's lab in Rocky Hill. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)AP

Quarantine vs. isolation

As more coronavirus cases appear, health officials are placing those with COVID-19 into isolation, either at a hospital or at home.

That is different from a quarantine, which is where people who have been exposed to the virus are separated and their movements restricted to see if they become sick, as the Pennsylvania Department of Health recently explained.

Isolation, on the other hand, is what happens to people who are already sick so they dont spread the disease to others. If isolated at home, the patient can still go outside but is advised to avoid close contact with others like shopping.

Health officials recommend stocking up a two-week supply of food, medicine and water in case of a 14-day quarantine. Residents should also have cleaning products on-hand and arrange for caregivers and extra medication as needed.

Students walk along Marshall Street on the Syracuse University campus Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Classes will move online after spring break next week to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com

Where to find more coronavirus info?

State health officials advise against relying on social media for coronavirus updates. Instead, 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.
Central Green events canceled this weekend

All events at Central Green in LaCenterra have been canceled this weekend. The Willow Fork Drainage District will reevaluate whether or not they will resume events on Monday.

Wild West Brewfest postponed

In the interest of public health, the Wild West Brewfest, the Katy Rotary Club and the City of Katy have collectively decided to postpone Wild West Brewfest due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The event, which was scheduled for April 16-18, will be rescheduled for a later date. According to the Rotary Club, existing tickets will be valid for the new event dates. For updates, visit wildwestbrewfest.com.

Fort Bend Womens Centers 40th Anniversary celebration moved to November

The Fort Bend Womens Center has moved its annual fundraising celebration from March 21 to Nov. 14. The Journey of Hope themed gala will still be hosted at Anson Aviation in Sugar Land.

Bite Nite Friday Food Truck Festival canceled

Bite Nite Friday Food Truck Festival, which was scheduled to take place March 13 and April 10, has been canceled. Organizers will reassess whether or not the festival will open again in May.

claire.goodman@chron.com
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-12 09:11:02

12 March 2020

Acron Board of Directors Issues Dividend Recommendation

At its meeting on 12 March 2020, Acron Board of Directors recommended that the extraordinary general meeting to be held on 3 April 2020 in the form of absentee voting pay (declare) dividends in monetary form from undistributed profit for previous years in the amount of RUB 157 per share. Total amount allocated for dividends is RUB 6,364 million.

The Board of Directors proposed to set a record date for persons entitled to dividends for 14 April 2020.





Media Contacts:

Sergey Dorofeev

Anastasiya Gromova

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

Investor Contacts:

Ilya Popov

Investor Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252)

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and the Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It owns transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic port terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acrons subsidiary, North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP), holds mining licences for 11 parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty, one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2018, the Group sold 7.3 million tonnes of various products to 67 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2018, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 108,062 million (USD 1,723 million) and net profit of RUB 13,318 million (USD 212 million). Acrons shares are on the Level 1 quotation list of the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs approximately 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en.
The worrisome split screen told the story: On one side, college campuses shut down for the semester, the National Guard deployed to create a "containment zone" in New York, and major employers instructed their workforce to telecommute.

On the other, massive lines wound through precincts across Michigan and North Dakota, with Democratic primary voters standing nearly on top of each other, often for hours, before approaching volunteer poll workers protected only by Purell. At the same time that large gatherings were canceled, states of emergency were declared, and public institutions were dusting off catastrophe plans, the queues stretched through community centers, campuses and town halls - and 30 more primaries have yet to be conducted. The coronavirus pandemic presents an entirely new challenge for America's electoral system: how to ensure that all citizens can exercise their right to vote without jeopardizing public health in the process.

One common-sense measure would be to dramatically expand vote-by-mail options, allowing citizens to cast their ballots from a safe distance. (While every state allows voting by mail under some conditions, only five states conduct all of their statewide elections in this manner.) On Wednesday, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., whose state pioneered vote by mail in the 1990s, introduced legislation that would provide $500 million for states to begin making contingency plans for November's election. If a state hard hit by coronavirus does need to transfer to a large-scale vote-by-mail operation, it would take months to buy optical scanners, put them in place and retrain poll workers. The transition requires a lot of extra preparation: The long delays counting the primary vote in California and Michigan, which have recently expanded early and absentee voting, have already shown that the system is often unprepared for tallying large numbers of pre-Election Day ballots.

Wyden's plan is necessary and nonpartisan. But transitioning from voting in person to voting by mail would be a tectonic shift, presenting challenges that go beyond just technology or personnel, or even counting the vote. Any transition must also protect the foundational notion of one person, one vote, especially among historically disenfranchised communities. Too often, voting reforms have disregarded these citizens and their concerns.

Printed ballots can, in themselves, pose a challenge for equal access to the vote. While the Voting Rights Act requires that printed ballots be translated into multiple languages so that everyone can read election materials, the law is hardly perfect: Local governments need only provide translated ballots for groups that make up at least 5 percent of the population, or number at least 10,000 people. In many southern states, especially, that leaves many newly naturalized citizens, or those still learning English, vulnerable to disenfranchisement. Across Texas, Louisiana and Georgia, civil rights groups have pursued costly and time-consuming litigation trying to provide access to translators for individual voters in communities where the minority population might be significant, but under the required threshold.

Sometimes, localities that are required to provide translation services, to protect minority voting rights, fail to do so. The Department of Justice's website lists dozens of examples of violations from the past 20 years; enforcement appears to have stopped after 2015. Meanwhile, rural communities in states including North Dakota, Colorado and Iowa have slow or unreliable postal delivery, which could create an unfair barrier to the ballot box.

All this is compounded by the sad truth that, in some states, well-meaning vote-by-mail reforms have been weaponized into tools of suppression. In Arizona, which passed vote-by-mail reforms in 2007, only 18 percent of Native Americans in Arizona have mail at their homes; the courts later found that white registered voters have a rate of home mail service that is 350 percent higher. And in San Luis, a city which is 98 percent Hispanic and lacks mass transit, a major highway divides 13,000 residents from the closest post office. Many households do not have cars. As a result, Native American and Hispanic voters in Arizona had long relied on ballot collection services.

Then, in 2016, the Arizona state legislature passed a law that made it a felony for volunteer organizations to collect mail-in ballots on behalf of marginalized communities. Lawmakers renamed this practice "ballot harvesting," and claimed that the new provision was necessary to prevent voter fraud. But any chicanery with an absentee ballot would have already been illegal under existing state law. And when a federal appeals court struck the "ballot harvesting" law down earlier this year, it noted that a state elections official had conceded that a similar law has been passed in 2011 to disadvantage Latino communities. (At the time, with the Voting Rights Act in full effect, the state backed down from that law, because it still needed to "pre-clear" any voting changes with the Department of Justice.)

In Utah, meanwhile, vote by mail has increased turnout and made voting more convenient in some parts of the state - but not so in large Navajo communities. In San Juan County, where citizens have battled voting inequities in court for decades, mail-in ballots pose an additional barrier. In some remote areas, residents must travel for hours, over poorly maintained roads, to get to the nearest post office - usually just a collection of P.O. boxes inside a gas station, and often unreliable and unsecure. Incoming and outgoing mail regularly goes missing. Navajos might make the long trip to get the mail once a month, and some elders are unable to make it at all. The Navajo language is also non-written, which makes vote by mail even harder, and reliable translation services that much more important.

Some of these inequities have been beaten back in the courts. In January, a federal appeals court overturned the Arizona law, finding a disparate impact on minorities. But that decision took years, came only on appeal, and could still be upended by the U.S. Supreme Court. During that time, the 2016 and 2018 elections came and went. In Utah, a lawsuit over vote-by-mail in San Juan County was settled in 2018 through mediation, requiring many months of litigation to resolve.

With the disruption we are already seeing to our public institutions, and the high stakes of ensuring that every citizen gets to vote, states must plan now to protect November's electoral process from any disruption. But those plans must, in turn, protect everyone's right to vote. They must not presume that mail-in voting is easy for everyone. And they must safeguard any mail-in process from the state governments that have shown every willingness to add additional burdens that make it harder, not easier, for many citizens to vote.

- - -

Daley is the author of "Unrigged: How Americans are Battling Back to Save Democracy," and the national best-seller "Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count." He is a senior fellow at FairVote.
India has reported 62 cases so far and imposed new travel restrictions to control the spread of the virus.

COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China less than three months ago, has spread to 114 countries as of 11 March. On 30 January, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it to a public health emergency of international concern. India has reported 62 cases so far and imposed new travel restrictions to control the spread of the virus. One of the things mentioned in the updated travel advisory is for passengers arriving in India, who may have travelled to China, Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Japan, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Malaysia, France, Spain or Germany, to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days since the day of their arrival. This includes anyone who may have already arrived in the last few days as well.

If youre wondering what self-quarantine entails, here are some dos and donts:

Dos:

Try to stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom, if available. This would minimize the risk of getting exposed to the infection.

Ask your family members to make a first aid kit for you with all the necessary medications and equipment like a thermometer.

Exercise daily to keep yourself stress-free and physically active.

Make sure that you check your temperature at least two times a day with the thermometer.

Go and seek medical help as soon as you start having respiratory symptoms like cough or difficulty while breathing.

While sneezing or coughing, place a tissue on your nose and mouth. Then throw that tissue in the dustbin and wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

You can also use a hand sanitizer with more than 60% alcohol content in it.

Wear face masks while going to the hospital to prevent the spread of infection.

Donts:

Do not let any visitor meet you before the self-quarantine period ends.

Do not make any contact with your pet as you can transfer the disease to your pet.

If you feel that you need medical help, do not go to your regular local doctor. Call any hospital and pre-inform them about your situation. This would help them take precautions to avoid the spread of the virus.

While going to the hospital, try not to take public transport.

Tips for the people staying with a self-quarantined person:

Do not come in direct contact with the person for two weeks. You can stay in touch with them through phones or computers.

Do not share household items like cups, eating utensils, towels, or beddings with the quarantined person.

Do not touch the used laundry of the quarantined person with your bare hands. You can use gloves to handle the laundry or dirty dishes. Wash their laundry and dirty dishes separately. You can add disinfectant in their laundry.

Clean all the high-touch surfaces like the doorknobs, drawer handles, bathroom fixtures, toilet seats, phones, and tabletops with a high-quality disinfectant.

Make sure that your house is properly ventilated. Open the windows for better airflow.

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.
Bengaluru: The factional war within the Karnataka Congress -- which can be described as Migrants v the Rest  is far from over with the appointment of D K Shivakumar as KPCC president.

While former chief minister Siddaramaiah has been allowed to have the dual posts of Congress Legislature Party leader and leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, his demand for a major share of the KPCC posts has not been met.

Senior party leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad and A K Antony are likely to be deputed to Karnataka to pacify Siddaramaiah so that his supporters cooperate with Shivakumar.

Though Shivakumar's appointment was in the air for some time, it was stalled by the Siddaraamaiah group -- with the help of Karnataka point man K C Venugopal -- after Rahul Gandhi returned from self-imposed exile.

When it started looking inevitable that old-timers would be given their due, Siddaramaiah sought a major share of the KPCC posts in the new team. Apart from his loyalist Satish Jarkiholi, Siddaramaiah wanted M B Patil, a Lingayat, as the second working president and either Zameer Ahamed Khan or U T Khader as the third.

However, the party decided to continue Eshwar Khandre, a Lingayat, as the working president, while long-time loyalist Saleem Ahamed was made third working president.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah and his supporters pitched for a Lingayat KPCC president, pushing the name of M B Patil. It was a strategy to break the Lingayat vote bank, which is strongly behind the BJP.

The argument was that the BJP high command may unseat Yediyurappa anytime and then the Lingayats would desert the BJP. So to have a Lingayat KPCC president would be attract that constituency.

However, the Congress high command took its own decision and ensured a caste balance as recommended by Siddaramaiah.

Shivakumars appointment means that the Congress high command has turned to a Vokkaliga as KPCC president after 21 years. It was in 1999 that S M Krishna was appointed to the same post and he went on to become chief minister.

Shivakumar has a very big challenge ahead. He has to bring back to the Congress the Vokkaliga vote bank, which deserted the party in 2004. After the S M Krishna regime, the Vokkaliga vote base of the Congress has shifted to the Janata Dal (Secular).
After doubling sales growth year-over-year in 2019 and record results in Q4, eSentire doubles down on channel strategy in Europe

LONDON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- eSentire, Inc., the global leader in cloud-delivered Managed Detection and Response (MDR), today announced it has achieved significant momentum across the EMEA cybersecurity market in 2019 through new bookings, resulting in a 134% increase year-over-year. The company's momentum is expected to increase further in 2020 by driving over 70% of sales through its channel-centric approach and indirect channel partners by the end of the year.

There has been a significant turning point in European market awareness in how businesses view and deploy security models as the nature of threats has changed. Focus on compliance programs coupled with prevention methods are insufficient to mitigate business risk, operational disruption, and reputational damage caused by the sophistication and speed of modern cyber adversaries. MDR provides businesses with critical response and containment in minutes to minimize threat actor dwell time. In 2019, MDR was globally acknowledged as a modern, practical and holistic solution to modern cybersecurity challenges.

Alex Jinivizian, Vice President, Strategy and International Marketing, eSentire, said: "In a world where digital transformation has forced moving workloads from inside the data centre to the network edge and beyond, modern protection requires visibility, detection and proactive response to known and new threats. eSentire's cloud-delivered Managed Detection and Response is built on the belief that cybersecurity is a strategic business issue supported by the IT department by securing critical assets and sensitive data to ensure business continuity and to mitigate risk."

eSentire's European Channel Partner Programme

eSentire is transitioning and investing in a scalable channel-centric strategy in Europe, in alignment with many IT and security vendors. Now that MDR is increasingly recognized as an ideal solution for companies struggling to execute their security strategy due to the chronic and ongoing skills shortage, it is the right time for eSentire to make this transition. Partners often focus on traditional cybersecurity hygiene, tools, and preventative controls, but lack the necessary investment and expertise to provide a 24x7 Security Operations Centre (SOC). eSentire's channel programme is designed to seamlessly enhance partners' solutions with modern MDR capabilities as a natural extension to their offerings, increasing the ability to meet market demand and customer needs. The partners signed to date represent a foundation upon which to make this transition.

The company has signed a dozen channel partners across several specialty segments and European jurisdictions, including Viatel, Charles Square, Activereach Ltd., Edge Technology Group and MMR. eSentire is also working closely with its technology partners in the region, including CrowdStrike, Sumo Logic and VMware Carbon Black. eSentire enables its partners and their customers through a holistic approach that provides a unique blend of eSentire MDR services and integration with its technology partners - giving organisations the ultimate choice based on their unique risk profile.

Chris Braden, Vice President, Global Channels and Alliances, eSentire, said: "eSentire's investment in a European channel-led focus sets the core foundation for growth in the region and access to key target markets and verticals. Activereach Ltd., a leading IT integrator to FTSE 500 organisations, partnered with eSentire to extend its existing portfolio of IT and security solutions and provide end to end security for businesses from active prevention, to real-time breach response through Managed Detection and Response. This natural combination extends to also having similar technology partners in CrowdStrike, Sumo Logic and VMware Carbon Black for a more seamless experience for our customers."

Ash Hussain, Sales Director, Activereach Ltd., said: "Through partnering with eSentire, we have bolstered our existing value proposition to meet the increasing cybersecurity demands of our clients and prospects. The combined offerings ensure that customers know that they are protected through both best in class preventative controls for the things that Activereach can see, as well as being able to respond and take action to those threats that bypass those controls, which could cause major business disruption. That's where eSentire comes in."

With European sales and operations in London, England and Cork, Ireland, eSentire has served European customers in the highly regulated financial services and legal segments for years with over $6 trillion in assets under protection worldwide. In 2019, the company saw significant expansion in defence manufacturing, advertising and media segments, including major brands such as M&C Saatchi and Guaranty Trust Bank PLC. eSentire's customers and partners recognize the value of MDR to detect, respond and contain threats in minutes, limiting the impact of a potential breach.

Visit eSentire at the Cloud & Cyber Security Expo in London on March 12 at booth S750 to learn about our new service offerings, including enhanced cybersecurity in the cloud, or speak about our recent research activities. Further information can be read on eSentire's blog here.

About eSentire:

eSentire, Inc.,?the global leader in?Managed Detection and Response (MDR),?keeps?organisations safe from constantly evolving?cyberattacks?that technology alone cannot prevent. Its 24x7 Security Operations Centre (SOC), staffed by elite security analysts, hunts, investigates, and responds in real-time to known and unknown threats before they become business disrupting events. Protecting more than $6 trillion AUM, eSentire absorbs the complexity of cybersecurity, delivering enterprise-grade protection and the ability to comply with growing regulatory requirements. For more information, visit www.esentire.com ?and follow @eSentire.

Media Contact:

Kim Cumpson

Kim.Cumpson@esentire.com

1.519.497.1354

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Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain on Thursday held a high-level departmental meeting to review timely allocation and distribution of ration at fair price shops.

At the meeting, the minister said beneficiaries have to visit fair price shops (FPS) multiple times as transporters often deliver ration to the shops in installments.

Hussain directed the food commissioner to ensure timely allocation of food articles to the fair price shops.

The minister also directed the chairman, Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC), to implement the transportation plan in such a way that the allocated ration is delivered to the respective fair price shop in one go, well before the start of monthly distribution of ration by the FPS dealers.

He also directed DSCSC and his department to take necessary action against the transporters and FPS dealers, if they are found indulging in diversion of ration or other irregularities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Businesses in the backpacker area,' which is a pedestrian zone in Hue, the capital city of Thua Thien-Hue Province in central Vietnam, are being dealt a serious blow after local authorities required shops, restaurants, and bars to suspend operations and fumigate their premises.

Hues backpacker area, which spans across Chu Van An Street, Pham Ngu Lao Street, and Vo Thi Sau Streets, had been bustling up until three days ago when a female British tourist who tested positive for the coronavirus in the city was confirmed as Vietnams 30th COVID-19 patient.

Since then, cafes, bars, souvenir shops, restaurants, and hotels have been closing as early as 8:00 pm to mitigate the number of potential COVID-19 carriers coming through their doors.

Most Vietnamese chose to hunker down in their homes while the few businesses that did remain open were dominated by Western tourists, many of whom were required to have their temperatures checked before entry.

According Pham Thi Tu Nga, deputy chief of the Office of Hue City People's Committee, local authorities are encouraging households and businesses to temporarily close and disinfect their premises.

Those households and businesses that choose to remain in operation must ask customers to wear face masks and regularly wash their hands with hand sanitizer, Nga told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Local authorities are continuing the disinfection of the backpacker area, particuarly near the hotel on Pham Ngu Lao Street where patient No. 30 had stayed and a restaurant on Vo Thi Sau Street that she had visited.

Below are some photos of Hues empty backpacker streets on Wednesday.

An empty street in Hues backpacker zone,' March 11, 2020. Photo: Phuoc Tuan / Tuoi Tre

An empty street in Hues backpacker zone,' March 11, 2020. Photo: Phuoc Tuan / Tuoi Tre

An attendant checks a foreingers body tempterature outside a restaurant in Hue, the capital city of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam, March 11, 2020. Photo: Phuoc Tuan / Tuoi Tre

An empty street in Hues backpacker zone,' March 11, 2020. Photo: Phuoc Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A visitor makes use of hand sanitizer tied to a street light pole in Hue, the capital city of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam, March 11, 2020. Photo: Phuoc Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A circular announcing the temporary business closures posted on a fence outside a restaurant in Hue, the capital city of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, Vietnam, March 11, 2020. Photo: Phuoc Tuan / Tuoi Tre

An empty street in Hues backpacker zone,' March 11, 2020. Photo: Phuoc Tuan / Tuoi Tre

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New Delhi, March 12 : The Delhi government will launch a pilot project on appointing 'Mohalla Marshals' from next month with 1,000 marshals to be deployed across the city to enhance the women security at grassroots level.

Speaking to IANS, a Delhi government official said the pilot will start from April and later, the marshals will be deployed across the city.

"The pilot project will start from next month. It will be expanded to the entire city based on the success of the pilot," the official said.

As Aam Aadmi Party was re-elected last month, the '10 guarantees' of Arvind Kejriwal were the top priority of the new government.

Among the guarantees was a promise to make the city safer for women and the deployment of 'Mohalla Marshals' across the city.

According to the Aam Aadmi Party, the appointment of 'Mohalla Marshals' in Delhi will help in enhancing women safety.

The AAP government has also appointed the Marshals on DTC buses.

The official said after the success of the pilot project, the government plans to deploy about 400 marshals in each of the 70 Assembly constituencies.

"Roughly, there will be about 25,000 marshals across the city when the project will be fully implemented," the official added.

According to the government, the role of such marshals will be a revolutionary step in ensuring the overall security and safety at the grassroots level.

"The civil defence officers will conduct regular checks in vulnerable areas from where we receive maximum complaints," the official added.
Mohamed Ould Bouamatou, Mauritanias most successful businessman, returned home from a decade-long exile, after corruption and fiscal fraud charges against him were dropped last month.

The owner of GBM bank and the BSA group landed in capital Nouakchott Monday night onboard a private jet, Le360.ma reports.

Bouamatou fled Mauritania in early 2010 after falling out with his cousin, former President Mohamed ould Abdelaziz, though he endorsed his candidacy for 2009 election, one year after a military coup.

The Abdelaziz regime launched a hostility campaign against the business tycoon, attacking his businesses in the North African country.

The prosecution charged him of corruption and fiscal fraud. In 2017, the regime launched an international arrest warrant against him after he was accused of sponsoring a putsch by several senators who thwarted an attempt to modify the constitution to enable Mohamed ould Abdelaziz to seek a third term in office.

Upon arrival in Nouakchott, Bouamatou commended President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani for having embarked, since he ascended to power in June- August last year, on healing the political climate in the country.
File photo

The family of an inmate who died by suicide after hanging herself in the Midland County jail filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against Midland County and the city of Midland.

The suit claims the defendants violated the inmates constitutional rights, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act, according to a press release from the familys attorney.
Across Pennsylvania, dozens of schools have closed amid coronavirus concerns.

The Cheltenham School District, for instance, shuttered operations this week after officials there determined that a parent may have been exposed to a positive coronavirus case.

Dozens of other schools, the majority in the southeastern part of the state, have also canceled classes amid similar concerns.

But in central Pennsylvania, with the exception of unceasing reminders to wash hands and cough into elbow crooks, hundreds of thousands of students  as well as faculty and staff  have gone about their days as usual.

The State College Area School District told parents and staff Wednesday that the district would be closed to students next week in order to prepare for the coronavirus. So far, the vast majority of schools in central Pennsylvania are remaining open.

With no known positive or presumptive cases, school officials here largely remain under the guidance of state and federal authorities.

School communities remain in a wait-and-see mode. Still, theyre confronting a host of challenges, such as delivering instruction at home and aiding those kids who depend on schools for their meals.

I think the challenge right now is really looking at when are we being preemptive and when are we being reactive, and when is it appropriate? said David Christopher, superintendent of the 9,500-student Cumberland Valley School District.

Like the majority of school communities in central Pennsylvania this week, Cumberland Valley continued its day-to-day school operation unchanged.

Is it appropriate to preemptively close schools when there are no cases in Cumberland County? That is hard for people to understand why you would do that. But, if you wait too long, you miss the window.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine this week addressed a number of school-related topics at one of the many covid-19 preparedness forums. She said she wants schools to work with state health and education officials to reach their decisions.

Asked what would constitute a tipping point for closing schools, Levine said: I dont know if one case would be a tipping point  a significant number of cases would be a tipping point.

The novel coronavirus continues to prompt widespread official decrees as the pandemic surpasses 120,000 cases worldwide. U.S. officials have listed 1,000 cases of the novel virus; Pennsylvania has 16 presumptive cases of coronavirus as of March 11.

Christopher, just like every other head of schools in the state, has been attending a string of preparedness meetings with local, state and federal authorities this week. Some of these forums have been online, others in person.

In recent days, the Department of Health has been holding daily online briefings with heads of schools.

School officials say that guidance continues to set the tone for their response to the potentially lethal virus.

Its not our intent to make a call in a vacuum, said Dan Tredinnick, spokesman for the Derry Township School District. If we have a student or staff identified as a presumptive case, the first thing we are going to do is talk to health officials. Do we need to adjust our school schedule or close? We are not going to make those decisions in a vacuum.

Pennsylvania has a robust home-rule governance that allows its 500-plus school districts the ability to make such decisions as canceling schools due to snow or inclement weather. In this case, however, school officials say the decision to cancel classes or close schools is not theirs alone to make.

Christopher said its a decision he will make under the guidance of local authorities, as well as that of the state Departments of Health and the Department of Education.

Its trying to get ready for that and trying to decide where are the lines, Christopher said. We are thinking these are appropriate steps. I dont know that we are going to get more clearance. We have to wait until something happens. I don't know that its going to be clear cut, but I feel we will have more information to make that decision.

That something is, for instance, a case of community spread in the county, which might prompt health officials to issue more strident advisories.

For now, the day-to-day business of school across the majority of school districts remain unchanged, save for a ramped up effort at all schools to sanitize door knobs, hand rails and other high-touch surfaces.

When it comes to school communities, response to the coronavirus entails numerous moving and fluid parts.

Heads of school districts, some of the size of small towns, are considering everything from the proper sanitation of schools, the promotion of best hygiene practices to students and faculty; and faced with the potential of school closure, planning remote learning curriculum.

One of the most compelling areas is that of the nutritional needs of students: School officials are scrambling to find answers to how will they feed sizable portions of their student population enrolled in federal reduced or free lunch programs if schools are canceled? For some kids, public schools are the place where they get solid meals.

I have not come up with an answer, said Christopher, whose district provides the nutritional program for 2,000 students. Its all uncharted territory.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PENNSYLVANIA: Click to see where cases of the coronavirus are in Pennsylvania are located.



The seeming wealth gap implicates not just nutritional needs, but basic technological resources among families.

As district prepare for worst-case scenarios of potential protracted school closures, school officials are weighing the dilemma that some of their students may not have the technological resources at home to support remote learning. That includes internet service and laptops, computers, and even musical instruments.

Morgan Horton, a spokeswoman for the East Pennsboro Area School District, said officials there have already broached that hurdle.

Well be asking faculty to prepare lessons that can be done by all our students, she said.

Yet even as school officials lean into state and federal authorities for guidance, those same authorities are instructing school officials to turn to local authorities for guidance.

In addition to stressing good hygiene protocol, the Department of Education, for instance, continues to encourage districts to work with local health and emergency officials.

For now, its part of a learning process for everyone involved.

It would be great if somebody had all the answers and could tell us what to do, said Jim Hazen, spokesman for the Lower Dauphin School District. That would be ideal. In terms of school safety, state and federal officials will tell you that any emergency response starts at the local level. As you need assistance, you go to the county, state and federal level. So while it would be great if somebody had all answers, this is the Homeland Security enterprise. The local level deals first then moves up that chain of command.

Just about every school has a so-called Safe School Plan that addresses such emergency situations as pandemics. For most school districts, annual flu outbreaks and the managing of school communities during the flu season is par for the course during any given school year.

Indeed, the 2009 H1N1 swine flu outbreak provided some lessons for school officials to prepare for these kinds of emergency situations.

We are not starting at zero, Christopher said.

All high-touch areas in a chemistry classroom are wiped down with a cleaning solution applied to a cloth. Custodial staff at East Pennsboro High School sanitize surfaces each day as a precautionary measure for the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, March 11, 2020. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Tredinnick said school officials are putting a lot of energy into following general guidelines, but are bracing for specific situations to respond appropriately.

The general overall feeling in society is that of unease, he said. Fear has spread faster than scientific knowledge. It's natural because people aren't as comfortable or familiar that they are going to have a sense of what if. School districts aren't immune to that. The danger is getting caught too much in the hypothetical. You can't answer all the what ifs if you don't have all the information.

School districts across central Pennsylvania may not be making wholesale sweeping decisions about closures, but they are making smaller decisions about activities and programs.

Derry Township School District, for instance, which houses 3,500 students on a single three-school campus, recently canceled a field trip to New York City after the city confirmed its first case of covid-19.

Last week, however, practically the entire Derry Township High School junior class traveled to Washington, D.C., on a field trip to historic landmarks.

Lower Dauphin School District canceled its band trip to an indoor competition in New Jersey, which has active coronavirus cases and has seen one fatality.

Many schools have already hosted their spring musicals, so thats one less large gathering event for many to worry about.

But almost daily officials are looking at activities and programs and weighing them against potential risks.

We havent had anything weve had to cancel ourselves, but thats within the realm of possibility, Hazen said. We havent reached that level yet. We are playing a waiting game and seeing how this plays out.

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The head of the Korean Medical Association has slammed the government's initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak because it ignored the threat to the densely populated capital region.

Choi Jae-wook told the Chosun Ilbo on Wednesday that the surge in coronavirus infections in Seoul should not be viewed as a new discovery but rather as the discovery of "carriers who have only now been detected."

"There could be more carriers among us," Choi added. He said health officials failed to spot the spread of the virus in other parts of the nation as they focused on containing the outbreak in Daegu and surrounding North Gyeongsang Province.

"The Seoul metropolitan region has a high population density as well as a large number of foreigners, so it's the most vulnerable area," Choi said. "But it looks like health officials overlooked this fact as they focused their resources on checking incoming visitors from abroad, finding elusive Shincheonji sect followers and containing the outbreak in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province."

The total number of confirmed infections in the Seoul metropolitan region reached 368 on Wednesday, more than doubling since March 1.
The room has four shampoo stations and six hair-cutting stations with mirrors, chairs and tables outfitted with blow-dryers, capes and other equipment. They dont have a plumbing system for the shampoo stations, so Curry and the teens use water bottles to wet the hair of the people having their hair done. The water from the sink is connected to a bucket by a hose.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration is exacerbating an already antagonistic relationship with the European Union just when global health experts and economists are calling for a coordinated global response to the coronavirus.

The administrations surprise decision on Wednesday to ban travelers from the European Union, but not Britain, where diplomatic relations are better, has prompted speculation that political motivations could underlie the move. President Trump attributed the exception to Britains very strong borders and its very good job fighting the virus.

For now at least, the United States is on course to intensify trading tensions with Europe next week.

A proposed increase in tariffs on the European plane maker Airbus is scheduled to go into effect on Wednesday, raising costs for airlines now struggling with mounting losses. A visit to Washington next week by the European Union trade commissioner, Phil Hogan, which might have paved the way toward a resolution, has been canceled.
Singapore's Supreme Court (Yahoo News Singapore file photo)

SINGAPORE  He was sentenced to 24 years jail and 24 strokes of the cane for the statutory rape of his 11-year-old niece and released from prison in 2016.

But about a year after his release, the man sexually abused his stepdaughter and her best friend who were aged between 12 and 13.

At the High Court on Thursday (12 March), the 58-year-old recalcitrant sex offender pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual penetration of a minor and two counts of aggravated molestation.

Six charges of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of aggravated molestation and another charge of sexual penetration of a minor will be considered when he is sentenced, pending a report on his suitability for preventive detention.

The prosecution is seeking the maximum 20 years of preventive detention for the culprit whom it called a menace to society and a sexual predator who poses an imminent danger to adolescent females.

It is imperative that the accused be removed from society for a substantial period of time. His recalcitrance, high risk of reoffending, and sheer inability to control his sexual urges underscores the immediate need to take him out of circulation completely, said Deputy Public Prosecutors Goh Yi Ling and M Kayal Pillay in their submissions.

Preventive detention, which lasts between seven and 20 years, is a sentencing option meant to protect the public from recalcitrant offenders, who must serve their jail terms in full with no remission for good behaviour.

The man cannot be named to protect the identities of his victims.

Victims mother believed culprit had changed

The man was jailed in 2001 for the statutory rape of his niece and released early from prison in 2016 due to good behaviour. In early 2017, he married a divorcee and moved in with her. She was aware of his previous conviction, but believed that he had changed, the court heard. He worked in a factory.

The womans young daughter initially stayed with her biological father but she later moved in with her mother and stepfather sometime in 2017. The daughter was close to the stepfather and her mother did not impose any restrictions on him being alone with the girl.

Story continues

In February 2018, the man started groping the girl at home. These initial acts included resting his palm against the side of (the victims) breast over her clothes. This escalated over the next two months to squeezing (her) breast and rubbing her vagina over her clothes, said DPP Goh.

The accused continued touching (the victim) in this manner until September 2018, when he decided to slip his hand into (her) underwear and rub the outside of (her) vagina, skin-on-skin, the prosecutor added.

The perpetrator continued to sexually abuse the victim even after they shifted to a new home in November 2018. On one occasion the next month, he held on to her right breast, licked and bit her nipple, and kissed her on the lips. After the incident, the culprit also digitally penetrated the victim on two successive occasions while she was sleeping.

Most of the incidents took place while the victims mother was home, the court heard. The accused would seize opportunities when (the victims mother) was not looking or busy doing something else, to commit the offences against (the victim), said DPP Goh.

Molested stepdaughters best friend

On two occasions in 2018, the perpetrator also groped the victims best friend, who would often visit her and referred to him as papa. The culprit molested the second victim whilst his stepdaughter wasnt around or was asleep.

On one of the occasions, he offered the second victim a ride on his e-scooter and then slipped his hand into her shirt and touched her breast. He also touched her vagina, over her clothes, using his other hand.

Shocked, the second victim wriggled free from the perpetrators grip and walked back to her friends house. The second victim didnt visit her friend for a period thereafter to avoid the culprit.

Offences come to light

In January last year, the first victims mother thought that she was dating someone and told her that she would bring her to the hospital to check her virginity, the court heard.

Afraid, the girl confided in a neighbour about how the culprit had touched her. The neighbour then told the girls mother about the matter and the latter confronted the perpetrator.

Afterwards, the girl went to stay with her biological father. He found text messages which she had sent to a friend about the culprit touching her private parts and her father then brought her to a neighbourhood police centre to make a report.

During police investigations, officers discovered that the perpetrator had also molested the girls best friend.

The girl knew that what the culprit did to her was wrong but didnt tell anyone about it as she wanted her mother to be happy, the court heard. She feared that disclosing the accuseds acts would cause (her mother) to become upset; hence she kept these incidents to herself, said DPP Goh.

When interviewed by a government psychiatrist, the perpetrator said he had only touched the first victim in December 2018 after she seduced him by taking off her shirt and exposing her breasts.

The culprit was assessed by the psychiatrist to have a high risk of reoffending.

The punishment for sexual penetration of a minor below 14 is a jail term of between eight and 20 years, along with at least 12 strokes of the cane.

The maximum penalty for using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a minor under 14 is up to five years jail along with a fine and caning.

Only male offenders below 50 can be caned.

Other Singapore stories:

COVID-19: MOH tracking 95 Singaporean attendees of religious event in Malaysia

COVID-19: Singapore confirms 12 new cases including 3 RSAF servicemen on duty in France; 178 in total

Woman who plotted with lover to tamper husband's car jailed 5 months
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The hands on the iconic Doomsday Clock moved to just 100 secondsto midnight last month. That is the closest they have come to the final hour since its creation in 1947.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Scienceand Security Board, in consultation with the Bulletins Board ofSponsors, made the unprecedented decision to express the time remaining in seconds rather than minutes when the time was adjusted from 2 minutes to 100 seconds to midnight.

The time displayed on the clock has moved closer to midnight in three of the last fouryears. The last time it moved was in 2018, with a forward jump of 30 seconds. It moved to 2 1/2 minutes to midnight in 2017 from its prior setting of 3 minutes tomidnight. There was no adjustment last year, but withthe arrival of 2020 the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists noted new threats.

In addition to the two simultaneous existential dangers ofnuclear war and climate change, the world now faces the threatmultiplier of cyber-enabled information warfare.

The decision to movethe hands forward by 20 seconds was made in part because world leadershave allowed the international political infrastructure forcontaining this potential cyberthreat to erode.

It is 100 seconds to midnight, warned Rachel Bronson, president andCEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. We are now expressing howclose the world is to catastrophe in seconds  not hours, or evenminutes. It is the closest to Doomsday we have ever been in thehistory of the Doomsday Clock. We now face a true emergency  anabsolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated anymargin for error or further delay.

December 2020 will mark the 75th anniversary of the first edition ofthe Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It originally was a six-page,black-and-white bulletin, which evolved into a magazine. It wascreated in response to fears that the atomic bomb, which had been usedagainst Japan in August of 1945 to end the Second World War, would beonly the first of many dangerous presents from the Pandoras Box ofmodern science.

Origins of the Clock and Nuclear Armageddon

The Doomsday Clock, which has been maintained since 1947, isessentially a metaphor for threats to humanity from uncheckedscientific and technical advances. The clocks original setting in1947 was 7 minutes to midnight, and over the years it was setbackward and forward a total of 24 times.

It typically is assessed in January of each year.

The largest-ever number of minutes to midnight was 17 in 1991, when theUnited States and Soviet Union signed the first Strategic Arms ReductionTreaty (START I), followed by the Soviet Union dissolving on Dec. 26 of that year. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain,along with the reunification of Germany a year earlier, already had added 4 minutes to the clock.

In 1995, global military spending, as well as concerns aboutpost-Soviet nuclear proliferation, moved the clock 3 minutes closerto midnight  14 minutes in total. That number was reduced to 9minutes to midnight three years later, following Indias and Pakistanstesting of nuclear weapons.

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

Two more minutes were cut in 2002 due toconcerns over a nuclear terrorist attack and the fears that vastamounts of weapon-grade nuclear materials were largely unsecured orotherwise unaccounted for worldwide.

2010 saw the last time a minute was added. That followed a newSTART agreement, as well as the 2009 United Nations Climate ChangeConference, which called for the developing and industrialized nationsto agree to take responsibility for carbon emissions.

New Fears

Most perceptions about the Doomsday Clocks time to midnight are thatit always has been based on the threat posed by nuclear weapons andthe potential for an atomic war. However, other factors have beenconsidered by the Bulletin of the AtomicScientists, including energy, weapons, diplomacy and climatescience. In recent years they also have considered terrorist threats and climate change.

Bioterrorism and artificial intelligence also could be seenas potential sources of threats that could inch humanity closer todoomsday.

Cyberwarfare is a new factor  specifically cyber-enabledinformation warfare. It could include everything fromstate-sponsored propaganda to deepfakes to the spread ofmisinformation online. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warnedthat cyber-based disinformation could cause corruption of theinformation ecosphere on which democracy and public decision makingdepend.

Moreover, many governments are utilizing cyber-enabled disinformationcampaigns as a way to sow distrust among rival powers. It has beencalled out as threat to the common good.

In the wrong hands, technology absolutely creates a threat tohumankind that is on the same scale as current weapons technology,warned Bill Santos, president of Scottsdale, Arizona-base Cerberus Sentinel.

Improperly used or maliciously deployed, technology can cripplecritical infrastructure, upset financial systems, and disable many ofthe systems we depend on for our survival and happiness, he told TechNewsWorld.

Reducing the Threat Vectors

New arms treaties and greater cooperation among nations have allowedthe doomsday clock to be set back  gaining precious seconds, or insome cases even minutes. However, the new threats are so great thatthere may be no easy way of addressing them and regaining timebefore the hands strike the proverbial midnight.

The risk of cyberwarfare is on par with nuclear risk and climatechange  and it may even pose a greater risk than both, explainedMarc Gaffan, CEO of Israel-based cybersecurity firm Hysolate.

A decade ago, cyberthreats had somewhat manageable impacts  datatheft that would rock the stability of the organization, or monetaryloss that would affect performance and a companys stock price for acouple years, he told TechNewsWorld.

Today cyberattacks can result in serious business disruption that isfar beyond either data theft or monetary losses. A cyberattack couldpose a threat to all aspects of infrastructure, from power grids tocommunication networks.

Nation-state attacks like this stem back to 2010 with Stuxnet, noted Gaffan.

The Stuxnet attack, which likely was conducted as a jointAmerican-Israeli effort, successfully crippled Irans nuclear program. Iranian hackers were believed to be responsible for a 2018 cyberattack against a Saudi petrochemical facility.

There was no loss of life in either attack, but each increasedregional tensions. Moreover, such attacks could result in physicalequipment failures that would lead to human casualties.

Its far too easy for malicious attackers to cause physical damage said Gaffan, and the impact is far too great for this to not be a significant factor driving us closer to midnight.

Even more worrisome is the fact that much of our modern infrastructureisnt as secure as it could be.

The unfortunate truth also is that the power grid and other nationaloperations that literally keep the lights on are not built with themost sound security in place to prevent an attack from causing acatastrophic blackout or causing fatal medical device failures, said Gaffan.

Turn Back Time

It might be difficult to put time back on the Doomsday Clock,but its not impossible. Here is where cybersecurity as a defensive toolcould be crucial. The world could be safer if more governments, companies andindividuals all paid greater attention to cybersecurity.

Education and awareness can help move the hands back, said Gaffan.

Ultimately, we as a society need to start thinking of securityfirst  and not as an afterthought  in everything we do, he urged.

To that end, security needs to be built into the core architecture ofeverything  from the software and applications that are being builttoday to the improvement of legacy systems and infrastructures thatare currently in place.

However, due to advancements in technology, the risk of cyberwarfare will always be with us, warned Gaffan.

The best we can do is mitigate the risk by staying one step ahead ofattackers in building devices and an infrastructure that aresecure-by-design, he argued.

The defense against this threat goes beyond thetechnology itself, suggested Cerberus Sentinels Santos.

We need to create a comprehensive culture of security at thegovernment, corporate and individual level that is aware of thisthreat and understands the steps each can take to address it, he said.

This could begin with education to better understand the unique set ofrisks a completely connected civilization faces.

It is followed with an understanding of what can be done, at everylevel, to address or reduce these risks, said Santos. We need tothink of security holistically, understanding that it is anexistential risk that affects aspects of our interconnected lives. Weare far too dependent on technology to address our security needs.True cybersecurity is a culture.
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Detroit, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers emergency declaration and to safeguard the health and safety of DTE Energy employees, customers and communities, DTE Energy has activated company-wide plans to address the implications of a coronavirus outbreak in Michigan while ensuring reliable energy service.

DTEs business continuity and pandemic plans are designed to protect people and ensure energy operations and infrastructure are supported properly. The company will take additional precautions to protect the public and employees when work is required at local businesses and residences.

We care deeply about the communities in which we live and serve  our top priority is the health and safety of our employees and customers, said Jerry Norcia, president and chief executive officer. We are working with state officials and local authorities to support the communities we serve in our collective efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Pandemic planning is one of 96 such plans DTE has in place to ensure public safety and uninterrupted energy service during a crisis or other unforeseen scenarios.

To protect employees DTE is taking the following protocols:

Cancelling non-essential business travel

Asking employees to self-identify, if they have travelled to a high-impact area

Reinforcing good hygiene practice

Restricting all visitors and suppliers to DTE facilities

Using technology for meetings and cancelling all large assemblies

Directing employees, who can, to work remotely when possible

In addition, when on site with customers, DTE employees will taking the following precautions:

Wearing nitrile gloves to prevent hand contact with home or office surfaces;

Wiping down and disinfecting areas where work is done; and

Applying the recommended social distancing of six feet from others to prevent person-to-person transmission.

DTE is in direct and continuous contact with state of Michigans Emergency Operations Center and local health officials in Michigan and other states where the company operates.

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects; renewable natural gas; natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage; and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE utility operations will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80% by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric aspires to achieve net zero carbon by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com.
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."
SHELTON  A city resident pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to wire fraud stemming from an embezzlement scheme, officials said.

Barbara J. Buchanan, 60, waived her right to be indicted and entered the guilty plea, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham.

Buchanan was the payroll manager for an unidentified Connecticut company, where she made false entries and adjustments in the system to wire company funds to her personal ban account from about 2014 to September 2019, authorities said.

She is also accused of making false journal entries in the companys tax records to try to cover up her fraudulent activity. Through the scheme, authorities said, she embezzled about $220,000 from the company.

Beyond the embezzlement scheme, Buchanan was accused of using a company credit card to make about $40,000 in personal purchases.

She was released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which was scheduled for June 5. At that time, she faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Buchanan agreed to pay restitution of $260,202.52.
Changes to Primary Care Centre and Childrens Health Centre Clinics - COVID-19 Outbreak Prevention Measures

The PCC is working hard to ensure that patients and staff are protected from possibly contracting COVID-19; as such they are endeavouring to provide some face to face services by telephone instead, and by using the support of agencies outside the PCC such as Pharmacies.

These changes are designed to reduce the need for patients to attend the PCC or CHC in person, while maintaining access to medical services.

GP Appointments will be bookable as follows:

 On the day from 8:15am by calling 200 52441 preferentially;

 By attending the PCC in person (If doing so please read the notice outside the PCC carefully and if relevant, act accordingly).

 PLEASE NOTE IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO BOOK ADVANCED APPOINTMENTS VIA THE MyGHA AUTOMATED TELEPHONE SERVICE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Patients will be offered the opportunity to have a telephone, rather than a face to face consultation, with a GP. The GP will call the patients at the time of the appointment if this option is accepted.

Prescriptions, if required, will be dispensed and collectable directly from the pharmacy of the patients choice. The GP will arrange this.

Emergency clinics will continue to operate as normal.

As from 12th March 2020 the evening clinics will NOT be operated on a walk-in basis, instead the doctor will be available for a telephone consultation only and can be reached on 2000 7908.

Patients are urged to plan ahead for repeat prescriptions to avoid running out.

Repeat prescriptions can be requested from the Prescription Advisory Unit via telephone on 2000 7909 or via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

These will then be available to be dispensed and collected directly at your pharmacy. If requesting by email, please include your contact telephone number and the name of your preferred pharmacy.

Clinics will be run to the following schedule:

Monday - Friday

8am  4:30pm

See and Treat and Emergency Clinics will continue to operate as normal.

Evening clinics 5pm - 7pm for telephone consultations only.

Saturdays

Emergency Clinic only 9am-11am 5pm-6pm

Sundays and bank holidays

Emergency Clinic only 10am-11am

5pm-6pm

Dental Clinics

All routine dental appointments will be stopped as from Monday 16 March 2020.

Patients will be contacted with an alternative date and time for their appointment once routine services are resumed.

Emergency dental clinics will be run from the CHC and bookable as follows:

 On the day Monday to Friday from 8:30am  4pm by calling 2000 7809 and 2000 7962;

 Weekends and Bank Holidays from 9am  10am by calling 2000 7809 and 2000 7962. Emergency dental appointments will ONLY be available by telephone booking.

REMINDER

For any advice related to COVID-19 please call the helpline on telephone number 111, or consult the website www.wuhan.gi
Amid new coronavirus cases identified in Armenia this week the countrys authorities are considering ways of ensuring the efficiency of self-quarantines of citizens at homes.

At a meeting on Thursday the commission set up more than a month ago to coordinate government efforts on preventing the spread of the new virus in Armenia decided that citizens who will be evacuated from coronavirus-hit Italy will be placed under a two-week quarantine.

Earlier, Armenias Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian announced that a charter flight from Rome to Yerevan will be organized on March 15 for Armenian citizens to be able to return from Italy, which appears to be the country hit by the new coronavirus infection the hardest outside of China.

All three new coronavirus patients in Armenia, including one Italian citizen, have arrived from Italy. The first patient identified on March 1 was an Armenian citizen evacuated from Iran.

The Armenian Health Ministry said on March 12 that 57 more people who may have had contacts with the new coronavirus patients had been isolated, with some of them placed under home quarantines. Over three dozen citizens have been quarantined in a disused hotel in Armenias resort town of Tsaghkadzor since the beginning of this month over possible contacts with the first patient.

Chairing the meeting of the commission today Avinian raised the issue of how to ensure the effectiveness of home quarantines.

I think we also need to look at the introduction of some type of liability or get a concrete understanding of how we can ensure the effectiveness of the actual isolation of people at homes, he said. Even the World Health Organization does not recommend isolating and keeping in quarantine all those who enter the country, and this is also physically impossible. But in order to exercise control over those who are in home quarantines, I think we need to hold this discussion today, and we need to make decisions in that regard.

After deciding on the 14-day quarantine regime for those to be evacuated from Italy on Sunday, the commission instructed the Ministry of Health to work with the Ministry of Justice on options to ensure the responsibility of those in self-quarantines for breaking them.

The vice-premier also instructed all government agencies to tighten preventive health measures.
The Raleigh Police Department in North Carolina on Wednesday released body camera footage that shows an officer shoot a 26-year-old suspect running toward him with a gun in his hand.

Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown said she made the decision to make video from officers' body and dashboard cameras public to 'address some misinformation that is circulating on social media' concerning the shooting of Javier Torres, which sparked protests in the city and led a group of activists to burn an American flag.

Torres was shot once in the torso Tuesday night by one of the police officers who responded to a 911 call about a man who was seen at a local eatery flashing a gun.

The Raleigh Police Department on Wednesday released body and dashboard camera videos from Tuesday's officer-involved shooting of Javier Torres, 26. This screenshot shows the suspect running with a gun in his waistband (circled) and a pizza box in his hands

Torres refused repeated orders to drop the gun and led police officers on a foot chase

This screenshot shows the armed man with his gun in his right hand (circled) coming face-to-face with a second officer near some mobile homes

Torres, who survived the shooting, was later charged with gun-related felony counts.

According to the police chief, in the wake of the officer-involved shooting rumors began circulating on social media claiming that Torres was an unarmed teenage boy who was carrying a pizza box in his hands when he was confronted by cops.

Body camera footage released by the police with a judge's permission shows Torres walking on the sidewalk with a pizza box in his hands and what appears to be a black gun tucked into the waistband of his denim shorts.

As soon as he spots police officers, he breaks into a run, leading cops on a foot chase.

An officer pursuing Torres with his gun drawn repeatedly orders the suspect to drop his weapon, but he continues fleeing.

The cop fires a single round and shoots Torres in the torso (pictured)

The 26-year-old collapsed to the ground and screams that he is unarmed

Torres is handcuffed by an officer. Police later recovered his black gun nearby in the grass

Police administered first aid and stayed with Torres until paramedics arrived on the scene

Unbeknownst to Torres, a second officer was closing in on him from the opposite direction.

When Torres reached a grassy area between some trailer homes, running with his gun in his right hand, he came face-to-face with the officer, who fired a single shot that struck the suspect in the abdomen.

Torres collapsed to the ground, and in doing so lost his grip on his gun.

As police officer handcuffed him, Torres yelled several times that he was unarmed. In the video, his gun is seen resting in the grass nearby.

Officers administered first aid to Torres until paramedics arrived and transported him to a hospital for treatment.

As Torres ran from the sidewalk and into a grassy area between mobile homes, he appears to be unaware that a second police officer was waiting ahead of him.

Torres was running with the firearm in his right hand when he came face-to-face with the officer and was shot in the abdomen.

The State Bureau of Investigation is now looking into the officer-involved shooting.

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

'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,' Chief Deck-Brown told reporters prior to the videos' release.

The shooting ignited protests in Raleigh, which led to chaos in the streets, 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 chief's home, where people demanded she come outside, and the governor's mansion, where a US 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.

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

'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 at the time he spoke to witnesses after the shooting, and they told him Torres was unarmed, which the newly-released videos disprove. Similar witness accounts saying the suspect also appeared to be a teenager had circulated on social media.

'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.

'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.

Following the release of bodycam footage, Pittman blamed the 'confusion' that set off the protests on social media's rumor mill.

'[The initial claims weren't true] but it ignited a bomb that was already brewing. It's the instances that continually occur back to back to back, the feeling like they're not receiving justice,' he argued.

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.
T he British public must join the battle against coronavirus which is now a really dangerous situation, a world health chief said today.

Dr David Nabarro, the World Health Organisations coronavirus envoy for Europe, backed ramping up the fight against the infection as the number of new cases continues to rise. This is a really dangerous situation and we all have to take action to reduce risk, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

He issued his warning as Whitehalls Cobra emergency committee was set to move the Governments battleplan from the contain phase to delay to try to push a Covid-19 epidemic into the summer months when the NHS will be under less pressure and the virus may find it harder to spread.

It was expected that new social distancing guidance for people to stay at home for seven days if they have coronavirus-type symptoms will go live next week.

A man wearing a face mask walks past a traditional British red phone box near Parliament Square / AP

Health chiefs were also ready to give more details of what symptoms to look out for and how to self-isolate at home, which may be more difficult for people living in shared accommodation.

Scientists were expected to lay out more details of the science behind the Governments strategy of doing the right thing at the right time, which has been criticised by some health experts as being too slow and contrasts with far more dramatic action in other countries.

Elderly people and those with some underlying health conditions are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus and more details were expected to be announced on how to protect these groups.

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

Ministers and health chiefs are stressing that the community must unite with every person doing their duty  to stop Covid-19 escalating out of control.

Cases are rising in many European and other countries, and another significant jump is expected in the UK today, after a record rise yesterday of 83 to 456, with eight deaths. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan stressed that the outbreak would last for weeks and that nobody should be complacent.

Asked on LBC radio if he was scared, Mr Khan said: Im scared about this. Eight people have died already from coronavirus.

The news came as:

Donald Trump dropped a bombshell by banning flights from a swathe of European countries, saying America was being hit by a foreign virus, but exempting the UK from the restrictions which were immediately condemned by EU leaders.

The FTSE 100 plunged after the US Presidents move, down about six per cent at one stage this morning, wiping some 80 billion off the value of London blue chip shares.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak cast doubt on whether a flight ban, which the UK has rejected, would be effective. We are always guided by the science as we make our decisions here, and the advice we are getting is that there isnt the evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infection, he said.

Two ministers, including one Cabinet member, were awaiting Covid-19 test results, after coming into contact with health minister Nadine Dorries who has caught the infection.

Advertising and communication group Publicis shut down its office in Farringdon yesterday after an employee tested positive for the virus. Staff at the French-owned companys Turnmill Street campus were told to work from home until March 16 while a deep clean of the building is carried out.

Barchester Care Homes, which runs more than 200 facilities in the UK with more than 11,000 residents, sent a letter to residents, patients and visitors saying as a preventative measure, we are asking visitors, including family members and friends, to stop routinely visiting our care homes and hospitals until further notice.

A paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service has tested positive for coronavirus.

Shops apart from food stores and pharmacies were being shut in Italy as the government imposed the most severe controls placed on a Western nation since the Second World War. Cases there rose to 12,462 yesterday, from a previous 10,149, with the death toll jumping by 196 in 24 hours to 827.

Denmark shut all schools and universities after a 10-fold rise in cases since Monday.

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were isolated in stable condition in an Australian hospital today after contracting coronavirus.

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty says there is no logical reason for the mayoral elections on May 7 to be postponed, Mr Khan revealed.

Dr Nabarro, the co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London who played a key role in the battle against Ebola, stressed that countries needed to get right on the front foot in tackling the pandemic.

This particular disease can be minimised through effective community and government action, he said.

I suspect that in the Cobra committee today the British Government will say how can we get everybody involved in trying to limit the amount of infection that we will have in Britain and to try to delay the outbreak so that cases build up later in the year and hospitals are better able to cope with them.

The absolute need now to delay means social distancing, people who have the infection staying at home and not connecting with other people.

It means trying to reduce smaller gatherings where transmission is most likely to occur. There may be some larger gatherings that are ended but its not the primary area that we are worried about, its the home and small gatherings.

All I want to be certain is that everybody in this country understands that this is a really dangerous situation and we all have to take action to reduce risk.
Partners with Key Allies in International Distribution

BEIJING, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today SNOWPLUS has announced global investment results from 2019 through February 2020 amounting to approximately $125 million USD. The funding has come from investors in Asia, North America, Europe and the Middle East.

The company has confirmed funding from Hong Kong-based HK Rothsfortune Investment Management Limited among other investors as it further prepares for entry into global markets.

"We have invested in SNOWPLUS because of their strong global strategy which sets them up for success in both domestic and international markets," said Charles Zhu, Managing Partner of HK Rothsfortune Investment Management Limited. "With strong performance in the domestic market, SNOWPLUS has proven that they are capable of achieving success and fulfilling their mission of providing better smoking alternatives for adults at the global level."

This funding has already seen the establishment of sales teams, partnerships and other expansion efforts across four regions globally including North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Southeast Asia. SNOWPLUS has a fully developed international strategy that involves responsibly expanding into global markets by working with local industry players.

The company will strengthen its presence in the domestic market as it continues to actively expand to targeted international markets with more optimized environments for SNOWPLUS products, bolstering its presence on the international stage.

"This latest round of investment puts us one step closer to realizing our vision of providing better alternatives that satisfy adult smokers globally," said Derek Li, Co-founder of SNOWPLUS. "Moving forward, we will continue to innovate, applying the latest and most cutting-edge technologies to our products to provide global adult users the optimal vaporizer experience. We will also remain steadfast in forging industry alliances and joint ventures with local companies."

Progress has already been made in deployment to these global markets, with the building of teams in the UK, Canada and the Middle East. A UK warehouse has already been set up to ensure a steady supply of product in the country, and SNOWPLUS products can be purchased at 50 Esso convenience store locations in Canada.

Expansion efforts are also underway in Southeast Asia, with SNOWPLUS developing nicotine-free products for the Malaysian market. Meanwhile, in the Indonesian market, SNOWPLUS is currently applying for official licensing of offline stores and plans to work with local e-liquid industry players to develop flavors suited to local tastes.

Moving forward, SNOWPLUS plans to leverage investment to further expand worldwide, while maintaining a solid foothold in its home market of China. With funding from respected industry players in the capital market, SNOWPLUS is not only continuing its proven record of developing top-of-the-line vaping products and technologies, but also paving the way for a smooth entrance into key global markets that have a demonstrated demand for vape products.

About SNOWPLUS

SNOWPLUS is an established leader in China's vape industry. SNOWPLUS is dedicated to their mission of providing better alternatives to combustible cigarettes for adults and revolutionizing vape culture. Moving forward, the brand is positioned to lead responsible innovation in the field of vaporizer technology with its global vision.

SNOWPLUS takes every effort to ensure all products strictly adhere to international standards. SNOWPLUS products have passed numerous rigorous, third-party safety tests and are developed in compliance with global product safety standards. These include China's QB/T 1506-2012 tobacco flavoring standards, the FDA's 21 CFR 175.300 E and PMA regulations, as well as the CE and RoHS safety certification standards established by the European Union.

To learn more about SNOWPLUS, please visit www.snowplustech.com.

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Amazon on Wednesday beefed up paid leave for workers quarantined due to the novel coronavirus or diagnosed with the COVID-19 illness.

The company also announced creation of an Amazon Relief Fund -- starting at USD 25 million -- to serve as a pool of grant money for independent delivery drivers, seasonal employees and others losing paychecks due to the pandemic, according to the global internet retailer.

Effective immediately, all Amazon employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine will receive up to two-weeks of pay, the firm said in an online post.

This additional pay while away from work is to ensure employees have the time they need to return to good health without the worry of lost pay. Amazon is already providing unlimited unpaid time off for all hourly employees through the end of this month.

The firm is based in Seattle, Washington, the state which has emerged as the US epicenter of the virus with 24 deaths there so far.

Amazon partners and seasonal workers will be able to apply for relief fund grants to cover two-weeks pay if diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine by the government or Amazon, according to the company.

Additionally, this fund will support our employees and contractors around the world who face financial hardships from other qualifying events, such as a natural disaster, federally declared emergency, or unforeseen personal hardship.

Amazon has almost 800,000 full-time employees worldwide.

The company confirmed last week that one of its Seattle employees had been quarantined after testing positive for the new coronavirus.

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Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Matica Enterprises, Inc. (OTCQB: MMJFF) ("the Company"), a multi-faceted, innovative company in the Quebec cannabis space. CEO of the Company, Boris Ziger, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly began the interview by commenting on the medical sales license that was recently secured by the Company's subsidiary, RoyalMax. "That's a huge development for us. This has really been what we've been working towards for several years," said Ziger. "RoyalMax is a Health Canada license holder. So, we can actually grow and process cannabis now, which is absolutely huge for us," explained Ziger. "Right now, we are steps away from revenue."

Ziger then expanded on the Company's repurposed indoor cannabis grow facility, which is located inside a former undercover police station. "We've built a first-class facility over there," said Ziger. "It's a small one, about 10,000 square feet," he added. "We've been growing absolutely incredible cannabis over there."

Jolly then commented on the plummeting stocks associated with many companies in the cannabis industry, and asked Ziger about the future of the cannabis industry and what it means for the Company. Ziger shared his background as a stock broker, and explained that the cannabis industry experienced an irrational exuberance followed by a correction in the markets. "We've had a lot of challenges in the industry, a lot of regulatory challenges," said Ziger. He then explained that the correction seems to be slowing, leaving the quality cannabis companies to emerge.

"What do you think the biggest challenges are for your company and the industry itself?" asked Jolly. "The biggest challenge right now is getting through the growth period of the retail markets," said Ziger. "There's not enough outlets for our products," he explained. "It's a huge issue I think, but it's being addressed really well now," said Ziger. "We really need Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia to come on in a big way, and it is happening."

Jolly then asked about the Company's goals over the next two to three quarters. "The big thing for us, and this addresses what we talked about before, is quality," said Ziger. "There's mediocre product out there and there's a lot of it," he continued. "We want to show that we can grow very good product, and that all of Quebec can grow very good product," said Ziger. "That's going to be a big challenge for us. We want to make sure that what we're growing continues to be a high-quality product," he said. "That will develop a following and a brand, and that's what we need."

To hear Boris Ziger's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7529075-matica-enterprises-inc-discusses-upcoming-revenue-potential-with-the-stock-day-podcast.

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/.

About Matica

Matica is a multi-faceted, innovative company in the Quebec cannabis space. Its subsidiary, RoyalMax Biotechnology Canada Inc. is a Dorval, Quebec based Health Canada Licence Holder. RoyalMax has been granted a standard cultivation licence, standard processing and medical sales licences by Health Canada. In the township of Hemmingford, Matica is building 1,000,000 square feet of greenhouse growing space, in 200,000 square foot increments, on a sprawling 181 acre property.

For more information on Matica Enterprises please visit the website at: www.maticaenterprises.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

MATICA ENTERPRISES INC.

Boris Ziger

Boris Ziger, CEO & Chairman

The Company's public filings are available for review at www.sedar.com and www.thecse.com.

For further information, please contact Boris Ziger, at:

Telephone: 416-304-9935

E-mail: info@maticaenterprises.com

Website: www.maticaenterprises.com, www.maticammj.com

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Corporation. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Corporation's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

This news release contains statements about the Company's information that may be made available on the S&P Capital IQ Corporation Records Listing Program and the business of Matica that are forward-looking in nature and as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We seek Safe Harbor.

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

SOURCE:

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53389
WESTPORT, Conn., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Newman's Own Foundation, founded by the late actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, announced grants supporting internal professional and leadership development for nutrition-focused nonprofits. The Foundation identified eight organizations to receive funding, recognizing that nonprofits often have the need but not the opportunity for training.

"Over time, our commitment to nutrition has expanded beyond program support," said Kelly Giordano, Managing Director of Newman's Own Foundation. "Professional development funding can be critical in helping to foster organizational growth and sustainability for long-term impact."

A total of $50,000 is being awarded to Acta Non Verba (Oakland, CA); Green Village Initiative (Bridgeport, CT); Mother Hubbard's Cupboard (Bloomington, IN); Rid All Green Partnership (Bedford, OH); Soul Fire Farm (Petersburg, NY); The Food Project (Lincoln, MA); Truly Living Well (East Point, GA); and Urban Creators (Philadelphia, PA).

Newman's Own Foundation has been a long-time supporter of nutrition, through funding for grassroots organizations, domestic and international programs, and cohorts of nonprofits working together for greater impact and sustainability. For more information about the nutrition focus and support by Newman's Own Foundation, visit newmansownfoundation.org/nutrition.

About Newman's Own Foundation

Newman's Own Foundation is a qualified 501(c)3 charitable organization founded by Paul Newman in 2005 to assure the continuation of his commitment to use 100% of the net profits and royalties from the sale of Newman's Own food and beverage products for charitable purposes. Since 1982, Paul Newman and Newman's Own Foundation have donated over $550 million to thousands of charities around the world. For more information, visit www.newmansownfoundation.org.

SOURCE Newman's Own Foundation

Related Links

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King George VI's story was made into a film called The King's Speech. (Getty Images)

A newly unearthed note reveals King George VI thanked his speech therapist in a heartfelt letter after overcoming his nerves at his coronation.

King George VI sought help to deal with his stutter after he unexpectedly acceded to the throne, following the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII.

He employed Lionel Logue, a speech therapist, who had been found by his wife Elizabeth after then Prince Albert had been unable to speak during a live broadcast on national radio.

Australian Logue was actually an actor by trade, and was written off by many as a quack. But his daily exercise regime gave the future king the confidence to relax and to be able to speak without stammering.

The tale of King George VI and Logue was turned into a film, The Kings Speech, starring Colin Firth.

The letter, which is to go up for auction at the end of April, reveals the anxiety King George VI felt before the coronation, and how relieved he was when it was over without a glitch.

Read more: Royal Family share Queen's childhood handwriting for World Book Day

The letter expresses his thanks to Lionel Logue after the coronation. (Woolley and Wallis)

King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth on the day of his coronation. (Getty Images)

Dated five days after his coronation and written from Windsor Castle after he had watched it, the newly-crowned king said: You know how anxious I was to get my responses right in the Abbey, the poor rehearsal adding greatly to me anxiety, but my mind was finally set at ease tonight.

Not a moments hesitation or mistake!

He added: The success was due to your expert supervision and unfailing patience with me over recent months, & I truly dont know how I could have done it without you.

Read more: How the palaces' meticulous diary plans stop one royal upstaging another

The letter was sent with a silver-gilt cigarette case bearing his Royal cipher, as a token of his thanks.

Rupert Slingsby, Silver specialist at Woolley and Wallis saleroom, said: We believe this letter is the only example written to Logue by George VI which has not been retained by the Logue family.

When Lionel Logue died in April 1953 both the case and the letter were given to his younger brother, Herbert. In August of the same year Herbert gave both to an Australian jeweller in lieu of a payment of 27 [about 1,300 today], which was owed for a graduated pearl necklace with a sapphire and diamond clasp.

Story continues

The letter is going up for auction at the end of April. (Woolley and Wallis)

It was sent with a silver cigarette case. (Woolley and Wallis)

The jeweller was Charles McGowan, of Eton Arcade in Sutherland, Sydney, and it has been passed down through his descendants. It is said to be being sold reluctantly.

The letter and case will be for sale at an auction house in Salisbury and are expected to go for more than 4,000.

Read more: The 360: Has it been a good week for the royals?

Slingsby added: Before The Kings Speech, most people were unaware of the difficulties that George VI encountered with his stammer, but the enduring and endearing friendship between the King and Lionel Logue that emerged from that is especially evident in this new letter.

King George VI was crowned in the ceremony planned for his brother. He was the father of Queen Elizabeth II, currently the longest reigning living monarch.

The full text of the letter

My dear Logue,

The Queen and I have just viewed the film of our Coronation, & I could not wait to send you a few lines to thank you again for your hard work in helping me prepare for the great day.

You know how anxious I was to get my responses right in the Abbey, the poor rehearsal adding greatly to me anxiety, but my mind was finally set at ease tonight. Not a moments hesitation or mistake! The same cannot be said of the Bishops, of course, nor the pen I used to sign the Oath; the ink got all over my fingers, but fortunately one can hardly make it out.

The success was due to your expert supervision and unfailing patience with me over recent months, & I truly dont know how I could have done it without you.

I want you to know how grateful I am, not only for your invaluable help with my speech, but for your devoted friendship & encouragement, & I hope you will accept this small gift as a token of my appreciation.

Yours very sincerely

George RI
Mumbai, March 12 : The Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has arrested a former director of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank and two of its valuers in connection with the ongoing probe into the Rs 4,355-crore scam, an official said here on Thursday.

Those arrested are Jasvinder S. Banvait, a former bank director, and valuers Vishwanatha S. Prabhu and Shripad G. Jere from Yardi Prabhu Consultants and Valuers Pvt Ltd.

Banvait was a director-member of Loan, Investment and Executive Committee of the PMC Bank for many years. It is against this background that he was interrogated on the loans extended to HDIL Group, their long-pending dues, and remedial measures initiated to recover or regularise the same.

Prabhu and Jere were charged with complying with the desires of then PMC Bank Chairman Joy Thomas and inflating the valuation of the PMC-owned assets in 2012-2015 to enable maintain the Bank Capital Adequacy Ratio as mandated by the Reserve Bank of India.

The trio were interrogated by the EOW sleuths, and they failed to provide satisfactory or convincing replies, confirming their involvement in the scam, the official claimed.

They have since been remanded in police custody till March 16, said the official.

Earlier, 12 other accused, including top bank officials, HDIL promoters Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan and others, were arrested in connection with the PMC Bank scam which erupted in late September 2019 and resulted in the deaths of around 10 persons, including depositors.

The bank's aggrieved depositors have been agitating for the past six months to get their stuck money out of the scam-hit bank after the RBI imposed a moratorium on it last September following serious irregularities.
Delhi Police on Thursday asserted that the law-and-order situation in the national capital is normal now and said it has registered 712 FIRs and arrested over 200 accused in connection with last month's violence in northeast Delhi.

At a press conference, Delhi Police PRO M S Randhawa said face-recognition software is being used to identify those involved in the riots and the incident is being probed from all angles.

"Law-and-order situation normal in Delhi now. We are closely monitoring all PCR calls from northeast Delhi," he said.

"712 FIRs have been registered so far in connection with violence in northeast Delhi and over 200 accused arrested," Randhawa said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
" " Mao Zedong, aka Chairman Mao, founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and ruled the country with an iron fist until his death in 1976. Howstuffworks

Mao Zedong was an unflinching dictator responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of his people  and yet millions in China still flock to Beijing to visit his grave, and billions celebrate his birthday every year.

Mao was a visionary, a poet, a scholar and to some a demi-god who by virtue of his will and wisdom remade China from a poor country into one of the world's superpowers. Yet he is constantly grouped with 20th-century despots  madmen, murderers  like Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler.

Mao inspired the oppressed to take control of their oppressors. Yet he fought for most of his life to maintain his power, and the power of China's Communist Party, at any cost.

"Those who endured Mao's worst abuses execrate his memory," historian Jonathan Spence wrote in "Mao Zedong: A Life," a 2006 biography of the man who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949 and ruled the country until his death in 1976. "Those who benefited from his policies and his dreams still revere him, or at least remember the forces that he generated with a kind of astonished awe."

That was Mao. Complicated then. Complicated still. Even inside China. Maybe especially so there.

"The history in many people's minds is wiped out, not talked about, not mentioned. And the young people who don't know anything of that, they consider Mao as a national hero. The nationalistic appeal is so strong," says Xing (Lucy) Lu, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at DePaul University in Chicago. She also wrote "The Rhetoric of Mao Zedong: Transforming China and Its People" in 2017. "They consider that a monument to Mao, because Mao stood up against the United States, the Soviet Union ... any superpower, he was not afraid of."

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Becoming Mao

Mao was born in 1893 and, as a young man, was influenced by the revolution of 1911, which overthrew China's last imperial dynasty. He later became a founding member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its chairman. (He was, and still is, known worldwide as "Chairman Mao.")

He led battles within China and fought off the aggressions of the Japanese and, in 1949, outmaneuvered the National Government of the Republic of China in the country's civil war, forcing that faction to flee to Taiwan. In October 1949, he officially founded the People's Republic of China, then and now controlled by the CPC.

Mao was considered an intellectual by some, a poet, and a student of Chinese history and literature. He was a studied war tactician and a savvy politician steeped in the ideology of Marxism-Leninism.

A few years before modern China's formation, in a memorial speech to members of the CPC, Mao spoke of his party's most noble principle; to "serve the people." From his speech:

If we have shortcomings, we are not afraid to have them pointed out and criticized, because we serve the people ... If, in the interests of the people, we persist in doing what is right and correct what is wrong, our ranks will surely thrive.

The slogan still stands as a sort of communist party doctrine today. But history has shown that China, under Mao, could not sustain that promise.

" " During the Cultural Revolution, these members of the Red Guard  typically armed students  hold copies of Mao's Little Red Book, which still remains required reading in schools. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive

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His Controversial Rule

After solidifying his grasp on power, and winning over the people by taking land from the wealthy and giving it to workers, Mao aimed to pull China forward into the 20th century with two notable plans. Both were disasters.

The Great Leap Forward aimed to use peasants in rural areas to jump-start an economic revolution through increased grain production. At the same time, the CPC urged peasants in newly formed communes and in city neighborhoods to take the first steps toward industrialization, forging steel through the building and use of backyard blast furnaces.

Many farmers moved into steel production, which didn't prove economically sound. And due to several other factors, grain production fell and was not nearly enough for a growing population. The result was a famine of unconscionable severity; the Great Leap Forward was responsible for tens of millions of Chinese deaths  maybe as many as 45 million  from the time it started in 1958 through the early 1960s. Several million of those numbers were executed for various crimes against the party.

"It is better to let half of the people die," Mao said during a secret meeting in Shanghai in March 1959, "so that the other half can eat their fill."

The failure of the Great Leap Forward enabled some other powerful people in the CPC to wrest control of some aspects of the government from Mao, at least for a short time. But in 1966, Mao launched another deadly program destined for failure.

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, or simply the Cultural Revolution, was designed to shrug off the effects of the Great Leap Forward, rid the CPC and the country of those people who didn't agree with his vision, and move forward toward a stronger China. Mao had a simple plan: He called for rebellion against the party as a way of purging the elements that bucked his way of thinking.

Millions were driven from their homes, beaten, tortured or thrown into prison. Many millions were massacred across the country. Many thousands more committed suicide.

Armed students  the Red Guard  fought each other and killed others they deemed to be enemies of Mao and communism. They destroyed historic artifacts that symbolized the "old" China. Libraries were closed. Books were burned.

"Mao was above the law. In that sense, he was like a dictator," Lu says. "He was also seeking control of methods of controlling people's minds, brainwashing them through fear, through intimidation, through force. He [saw] himself as a savior of the nation and its people."

The Cultural Revolution threw the entire country into economic and social chaos. By its end, in 1969, at least 500,000 Chinese, maybe as many as 8 million, died in the uprising.

The Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, remain inerasable stains on Mao's rule. Tens of millions were murdered and starved to death in the name of communism.

" " Chinese paramilitary police officers salute each other as they stand guard below a massive portrait of Chairman Mao that still hangs in Tiananmen Square. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

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Mao's Legacy Today

After Mao's death in 1976, party leaders carefully pointed out "mistakes" that he made in the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Yet Mao  largely because of his part in the war against Japan and in China's civil war that established the People's Republic of China  is still revered by millions of Chinese, and even among party leadership.

In Tiananmen Square in Beijing, a huge portrait of Mao still looms. His "Little Red Book"  officially, "Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung"  remains required reading in schools. Songs are sung about him, poems written. Every year on his birthday (Dec. 26), thousands and thousands of people in his hometown eat noodles  a symbol of longevity in China  in a ritual celebration.

China is much different now, with an economy that borders on capitalism, investments from outside its borders, and a standing in the world that invites closer scrutiny and sometimes condemnation of its political and social structure.

Lu, born in the northeast part of the country, emigrated to the U.S. in 1987. She lived through the economic devastation that followed the Cultural Revolution. She remembers standing in line to get a pound of pork, her family's ration for a month.

Many idealistic Chinese, Lu says, long for simpler times, as they were under Mao.

"In private conversation, when people are complaining about corruption, about moral decline, they miss Mao," says Lu. "They think, 'I would rather go back to Mao's generation. We were poor, but people were kind to each other. Now, people only care about money.'

"There are many sides of Mao. There are sides of Mao that are heroic. There are sides that are worshipped. There are good qualities of him. But there are other sides of him, especially toward his old age ... that generated those violent actions. There are many sides of him. Many sides."

Complicated still.

NOW THAT'S INTERESTING The earlier spelling of Mao's name was a form of transliteration called Wade-Giles, which takes Chinese characters and converts them into classic Roman script based on the letters of the Latin alphabet. It comes out like this: Mao Tse-tung. You'll see that in many older books and research. The newer version, Mao Zedong, is now more widely accepted in English and comes from a transliteration known as Pinyin, which takes Mandarin Chinese and converts it into Roman script.
Ukroboronprom has received about EUR 900,000 as technical assistance from the French government, Ukroboronprom Director General Aivaras Abromavicius has said.

"This project worth EUR 900,000 reaffirms the trust of our international partners in Ukroboronprom. Technical assistance will be used to fight corruption and raise corporate governance standards," he said at a press conference on Wednesday, March 11.

According to Abromavicius, the anti-corruption component encompasses a forensic thorough audit so as to prevent the use of fraudulent schemes. "Unfortunately, there were a lot of them in the past," he said, adding that such an audit will also help detect fraudulent schemes abroad.

Abromavicius said that raising corporate governance standards is the second sphere that will be covered by the French government's funds. "We plan to build the best corporate governance standards in accordance with Western standards," he said.

Abromavicius said that to implement these projects, the French Embassy in Ukraine would find a consultant company to manage the process.

"The ultimate goal is to turn Ukroboronprom into a holding company. That's why we really need an independent audit," he said.

He expressed hope that the audit process would take four months.

French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins, in turn, noted that the French government has great confidence in Ukroboronprom and its leadership.

op
Availability of the complete version of the 2019 Annual Financial Report

Dassault Aviation complete version of the 2019 Annual Financial Report (Rapport financier annuel) as of 31 December 2019 is available to the public and has been filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers).

This financial annual report can be found on the company's website at www.dassault-aviation.com , in the "Finance / Regulated information / 2020" and "Finance / Publications / 2020 Publications" sections.

ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION:

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2019, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 7.3 billion. The company has 12,750 employees.

dassault-aviation.com

CONTACTS:

Corporate Communications

Stephane Fort - Tel +33

Investor Relations

Armelle Gary - Tel +33

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Semantic Knowledge Graphing Market Overview

A knowledge graph is a knowledge base utilised by Google to optimise its search engine results with semantic-search information taken from many sources. It was added to Googles search engine in 2012 with the initial rollout in its home market, the United States. The Semantic Knowledge Graph market aims at extracting and presenting the knowledge of a specific domain automatically from a group of documents representative of that domain. The representation encodes the semantic relationship between different words, phrases and concepts such that those relationships can expose new information about the interrelationships between all entities in that domain.

The semantic knowledge graphing market has numerous applications like being used to discover related terms within a domain, explain multiple meanings of a similar phrase, boost semantic search by expanding user queries to related keywords/ phrases, and identifying trending topics among time-series data. It can also build a recommendation engine based on content, perform data cleansing by scoring each item according to relevance, summarise documents by judging the importance of each phrase and entity within the document and do a predictive analysis of time-series data.

To Understand How Our Report Information Can Bring Difference, Ask for a brochure

Semantic Knowledge Graphing Market Drivers

A key driver of the semantic knowledge graphing market is the sheer volume of data available on search engines. According to Internet Live Stats, there are approximately 1.11 billion websites live as of 2016 with hundreds more being added every minute. It can be extremely challenging for website owners to reach their target market or even customers to find the exact data they are looking for. Semantic knowledge graphs can act as the backbone of any information architecture, enabling entity-centric views on information, data, products, suppliers, employees, locations and research topics. Semantic graphs not only retrieve what is required but also provide the interrelations between the various objects, even if not stated in explicit terms. They thus help in converting unorganized data into useful information.

The second driver of the semantic knowledge graphing market is the occasional personalization of information required. For e.g. - Some drugs might have regulatory aspects, a unique therapeutic character and an entirely different meaning to product managers or salespeople. At a given time, an individual might only require a certain aspect of information which is relevant in that particular situation. This personalised information processing requires a semantic layer on top of the data layer, particularly when the information is stored in different forms and scattered in several different repositories. Semantic knowledge graph engines can link similar content and documents related to one another in a highly precise manner.

Semantic Knowledge Graphing Market Restraints

Current semantic knowledge graphs rely on traditional machine learning methods. Thus, their results are not reusable by algorithms and neither can humans easily interpret them. The amount of information being added to the World Wide Web daily is beyond the realm of imagination. Semantic knowledge graphing is not evolving anywhere near as rapidly as required.

Semantic Knowledge Graphing Market Key Regions

China currently has the worlds largest online population, followed by the U.S. which makes these two countries the largest semantic knowledge graphing markets. India is expected to outpace the U.S within this decade and should be a key focus for companies offering semantic knowledge graphs.

Semantic Knowledge Graphing Market Key Market Players

Some companies in the semantic knowledge graphing markets are Microsoft Bings Satori Knowledge Base, Yandex's Object Answer, LinkedIn's Knowledge Graph and Googles Knowledge Graph.

The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, types and applications.

To Outstand In A Competition With Other Brands, Request For A Customized Report On Semantic Knowledge Graphing Market

Regional analysis includes:

North America (U.S., Canada)

Latin America (Mexico. Brazil)

Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain)

Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia)

Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand)

Japan

Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa)

The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.
Beirut, Lebanon  Lebanons parliament is set to vote on a law that would legalise the cultivation of cannabis for medical and industrial use in an effort to boost its crippled economy and curb illicit production of the psychoactive plant.

The draft law, which has been endorsed by parliamentary committees and is now headed for a final vote, would only affect cannabis that contains less than one percent of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabidinol, or THC.

THC gives cannabis the recreational effects that have made it the most widely used illicit substance across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 147 million people, or 2.5 percent of the world population, consume cannabis.

Lebanon has cultivated the plant for at least 100 years and produces large amounts of hashish, a sticky, sweet-smelling derivative of the cannabis plant that looks like chocolate. Though illegal to produce, sell or use, it is widely available locally and is also illegally exported.

Lebanese hashish can be found in European capitals, and formerly made up about 80 percent of the worlds supply during the countrys civil war years (1975-90) when cultivation was at its peak.

Instead of dealing with that market, this bill would seek to create a new one involving types of cannabis plants that have not traditionally been cultivated in Lebanon.

Member of parliament Yassine Jaber, who headed the subcommittee that drafted the law, said the bill was based on a 2019 report by United States-based consultancy McKinsey & Company that recommended Lebanon legalise cannabis production for high-added-value medicinal products with export focus.

Shortly afterwards, then-economy minister Raed Khoury said a legal cannabis sector in Lebanon could generate $1bn in revenue per year because the quality of Lebanons hashish was one of the best in the world.

We have a competitive and a comparative advantage in the cannabis business, Jaber told Al Jazeera. Our soil is among the best in the world for this, and the cost of production is low compared to other states.

Regulating the market

Dozens of countries around the world have allowed research in and production of medical cannabis in recent years, with studies repeatedly demonstrating the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids, a major chemical constituent of cannabis, for treatment of nausea and vomiting in terminal illnesses such as cancer and AIDS.

The WHO says it has also shown therapeutic uses for asthma and glaucoma, as an antidepressant, appetite stimulant, anticonvulsant and anti-spasmodic.





Other countries and regions have gone further and entirely legalised cannabis, including Uruguay, Georgia, South Africa, 10 US states and, most recently, Canada.

The draft law creates a commission with a regulatory authority that would issue licences for everything from importing seeds and saplings, establishing cannabis plant nurseries, planting and harvesting the crop, manufacturing goods from it and exporting its derivatives.

Licences can be awarded to Lebanese pharmaceutical companies, industries permitted to create industrial fibers, oils and extracts, and foreign companies that have a licence to work in the cannabis industry from their country of origin.

Additionally, licences can be awarded to specialised agricultural co-operatives established in Lebanon, Lebanese citizens such as farmers or landowners, and labs and research centres qualified to work with controlled substances.

Opportunity missed

One of the draft laws stated goals is to reduce pressure on Lebanons clogged court and prison system stemming from organised crime involving the local cannabis trade.

But instead of decriminalising consumption of the plant or reducing sentences, it calls for strengthening criminal penalties on violations against the articles of this law.

Between 3,000 and 4,000 people are arrested for drug crimes each year in Lebanon, the vast majority for the consumption of hashish, according to statistics from the Central Drug Enforcement Office.





The bill would also explicitly prohibit anyone with a criminal record from acquiring a licence to cultivate or work with the cannabis crop in any manner.

It would thereby exclude tens of thousands of people who have served time or have outstanding drug warrants for cultivation and use of cannabis, mostly in the fertile eastern Bekaa Valley region, where most of the crop is grown and processed.

This means that many farmers who have grown cannabis for generations would not be allowed to take part in the new legal sector.

This law would legalise cultivation without taking into consideration the situation of persons who consume drugs, or those who produce them, Karim Nammour, a lawyer with progressive NGO Legal Agenda who specialises in drug policy, told Al Jazeera.

Its an opportunity missed  they have failed to take a holistic approach.

Sandy Mteirik, a drug policy development manager at Skoun, a Lebanese nongovernmental organisation focused on drug rehabilitation and advocacy, also criticised the move.

For sure this is not what the farmers of the Bekaa want, she told Al Jazeera. There is no clear mechanism to integrate the existing illegal market into the legal market. You cant just ignore the implications and consequences of criminalising drug use and say this new market is the priority.

Big companies, big business

Jaber said local farmers would be able to benefit from the sector once a long-awaited amnesty bill is passed expunging the criminal records of cannabis farmers and users, who he said should be seen as victims.

Prime Minister Hassan Diabs government has committed to endorsing an amnesty bill, though who exactly would be included is not clear.

Jaber said the draft law was not meant to address the issue of decriminalising drug users. One way or another, the state will have to deal with that because the prisons are full, he told Al Jazeera.

However, he predicted the new legal cannabis market would move forward with or without the involvement of those who have been criminalised by the illegal sector.

I think big companies will come and other farmers will come and it will be a big business, he said.

But Nammour warned the law would create a two-tier system where elites benefit from the production of cannabis, while those who have traditionally grown it in impoverished areas will be unable to participate, and everyday Lebanese will be unable to consume any of its products.

He also warned the draft law left the door open to endemic corruption in Lebanon. The commission tasked with overseeing the sector is funded by the licences it issues, while it is at the same time supposed to regulate licensing and prevent a monopoly or oversupply in the market.

The conflict of interest is clear, Nammour said.
ALBANY  The number of confirmed coronavirus cases is growing in the Capital Region with a student at the University at Albany, a resident of Guilderland, a Union College employee, and a third person in Saratoga County all diagnosed with the disease.

As the number of coronavirus cases ballooned Thursday to 328 statewide, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday a prohibition on gatherings of more than 500 people, meaning Broadway shows and many mass gatherings are canceled. The governor said 47 people have been hospitalized.

Even as college campuses shut down and businesses ask employees to work from home, the virus is spreading. The new diagnoses prompted Albany to cancel Saturday's St. Patrick's Day parade and forced Rensselaer and Schenectady counties to forbid visits at their respective county nursing homes. Sheriffs are limiting or barring visits with prisoners at local jails.

Union College says one of its employees has tested positive. A local official said the Union worker does not live in Schenectady County nor does another person who works in the county and who also tested positive. Schenectady County Public Health Services said Thursday night that it's working with two organizations in the county who have employees that have tested positive, but did not clarify how many cases that represents.

The news of the new infections brings the region's total number of people infected to at least five. The virus can cause respiratory problems that are almost always mild but in rare cases can be deadly.

The two people in Albany County, a Guilderland woman in her 30s and a University at Albany student, were tested for the virus earlier this week and the county learned they had it Wednesday night. County officials said the patients were tested on Monday evening after experiencing respiratory symptoms. Neither needed hospitalization.

The Guilderland school district told parents Thursday afternoon that a household connected with Farnsworth Middle School had someone who tested positive  presumably the Guilderland woman in her 30s  but that no students or staff have tested positive. The household in question has been placed under quarantine, Superintendent Marie Wiles said.

School will continue as scheduled, she said, though that may change upon advice from state and local health officials. A Superintendent Conference Day has been moved up from next Friday to this coming Monday, so school will be closed that day.

Large school-related activities and events will be canceled in the meantime, Wiles said, including the upcoming school musical, Chicago, Celebrate America at Altamont Elementary School as well as dances that were scheduled to take place Friday at Farnsworth and Lynnwood Elementary School. SAT administration scheduled for Saturday at the high school has been canceled.

"This action is necessary in order to reduce the number of instances of community contact within our schools," she said. "We want to do as much as possible to protect our students and staff as we continue to take direction from the Albany County Department of Health."

Guilderland Town Supervisor Peter Barber said he was notified of the positive case Thursday morning, and that the town's medical director, department of emergency medical services and police department are working with local and state health officials to coordinate response.

The town will be canceling all discretionary town-sponsored gatherings, including court proceedings and senior programs, until Tuesday, he said.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy urged calm, but also said "we're alarmed, because (the patients) did not travel." County officials said the health department is working to identify people who had contact with the patients.

"This is new, but I want to tell everyone don't panic," McCoy said. "We are going to get through this."

The region's first two cases involve a couple from Northumberland.

UAlbany sent out a notification about the diagnosis Thursday to all students and staff members. The student who tested positive did not live in on-campus housing. Campus leaders say they are reaching out to students, faculty and staff "who may have come in contact with this individual."

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The infected person has ties to the campus' business building.

"Also, as a precaution, we are closing the business building today for cleaning," the UAlbany statement says. "Faculty and staff who work in this building are advised to work from home today. For those employees who work in the business building and choose to report to work, please go to the University Hall lobby to be provided with an alternative work location."

UAlbany has already decided that all classes will be held remotely once next week's spring break ends.

Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen said the county was in contact with local hospitals and was looking to ramp up the number of tests being done.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"As we expand number of tests, the likelihood is we will find more positive cases," she said. " This is a good thing because it gives us a better idea of how this disease is present in our community and will aid us in the mitigation efforts."

Whalen said it was difficult to say how many tests had already been done in the county because individual doctors can now order tests. The county health department only becomes aware of the test when it gets the results, she said.

As the spread of the disease grows, it is expected cases will be reported in most populated areas of the country.

In the meantime, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said the city's two St. Patrick's Day parades Saturday are now canceled, in addition to other large gatherings.

"We'll be reviewing those as the public health impacts evolve," she said. "There are those who are going to be disappointed in this decision, I think we have to recognize that there's still a lot that we don't know and none of us will regret erring on the side of caution."

When asked how the two positive cases will impact local schools, Sheehan said officials are in constant communication with school districts. The mayor said that officials have to be sensitive to the fact that schools, particularly in the city of Albany, are where many children eat their meals and are cared for during the day.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said his office is being inundated by calls from schools and towns requesting the New York state hand sanitizer that is being manufactured. "I don't have any," Apple said, adding that when he gets a supply he will alerting local officials. "There have been outlandish requests - in terms of hundreds of thousands of gallons."

The Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District sent a message home to parents Thursday afternoon that one of its employees has been asked by local health officials to enter precautionary quarantine after being "in proximity" to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The person was showing no symptoms as of 4 p.m. Thursday, when the district learned of the news, Superintendent Patrick Pomerville said.

State health officials have set 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.

The first two known local cases of COVID-19 were 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.

Saratoga County Administrator Spencer Hellwig said Wednesday evening that there had been no reported spread in the community as a result of the two local cases. But early Thursday morning, the town of Clifton Park confirmed it had a positive case in an adult resident. The Northumberland couple had gone to VENT Fitness in Clifton Park.

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.

As of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, there had been five people in Albany County under mandatory quarantine and 20 people in precautionary quarantine, according to the county. County officials said on Thursday they did not have an updated number to report as they continue to try and trace the contacts of the two patients who tested positive on Monday.

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.

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.

Bethany Bump contributed.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Windy with sunshine. High near 35F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 29F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference at the presidential office as Vice President Chen Chien-jen looks on in Taipei on Jan. 22, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

Taiwan Says More Stimulus Funds Available as Central Bank Sees Prolonged Virus Impact

TAIPEIAnother $1.33 billion is available to stimulate Taiwans economy on top of a previous $2 billion package, President Tsai Ing-wen said on March 12, after the central bank warned the coronavirus pandemic will have a longer impact than previously thought.

Taiwan, whose largest trading partner is China, had already cut its estimate for 2020 economic growth to 2.37 percent last month, citing the threat from the outbreak to its trade-dependent economy.

The island is rolling out a T$60 billion ($1.99 billion) stimulus package to help soften the impact of the virus on the economy, and Tsai told a meeting of the National Security Council that another almost T$40 billion is available from other government funding.

That includes money from the Employment Stabilization Fund and the Tourism Development Fund, she said, according to a statement from the presidential office.

But Taiwans economic fundamentals remain good and there are still sufficient funds, Tsai added.

Taiwan had previously said it expected the virus to affect growth only in the first quarter, but central bank governor Yang Chin-long told parliament earlier on Thursday it was likely to extend into the first six months of the year.

It will not become clear until the end of June whether Taiwan can maintain 2 percent economic growth this year, he added, as concerns grow that the coronavirus could deliver a damaging blow to the global economy.

The outbreak seems rather severe, Yang said, adding that a combination of both fiscal and monetary policy would be more effective in dealing with the virus impact. Its likely that (the economy) will be impacted throughout the first half.

The central bank will have a full discussion at its quarterly meeting next Thursday on how to react to market volatility, Yang said.

One of the central banks main considerations will be preventative measures, he said.

The chances of a financial crisis were not high, he added.

Stocks Fall

Taiwans key stock index tumbled 4.3 percent to a nearly seven-month low on Thursday, as global markets fell after U.S. President Donald Trump stunned investors by announcing a temporary ban on travel from Europe.

Tsai said the government would ensure market stability, and called on the Finance Ministry and central bank to pay close attention to international financial markets, especially in the United States, and immediately respond.

Deputy Finance Minister Frank Juan told Reuters on Thursday before Tsai spoke that the islands National Stabilization Fund was continuing to monitor financial asset movements with a view to intervening in the stock market if conditions warranted.

Taiwan has reported only 49 cases of the virus, but it has ramped up containment efforts, suspended visits to the island for most Chinese visitors and severely limited flights to China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

Some Taiwan manufacturers, who are a key part of global technology supply chain, have already felt the pinch.

Computer maker Acer Inc.s February revenue dropped 22 percent. Last week, Apple Inc. manufacturing partner Foxconn reported its biggest monthly drop in revenue in about seven years as the coronavirus outbreak severely disrupted its business.

By Liang-sa Loh and Ben Blanchard
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The private jet which transported Vietnams 32nd novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient from London to Ho Chi Minh City earlier this week has been the talk of the town in Vietnam, for it reportedly set her family back some US$360,000.

Flight WGT2B, which was operated using the ultra-long-range Dassault Falcon 8x jet, carrying patient No. 32, arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday morning.

The patient, a 24-year-old Vietnamese woman, is a daughter of Johnathan Hanh Nguyen -- a high-end fashion retail and air transport tycoon in Vietnam.

She lives in London and attended the Milan Fashion Week in Italy from February 18 to 24, where she interacted with Vietnams patient No. 17, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Hanoi on Friday last week.

Fearing that she could have contracted the virus from patient No. 17, the woman chartered a private jet back to Vietnam.

Her test results came out positive for the new coronavirus on Monday evening.

She is currently quarantined and treated at a makeshift hospital in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Rumor had it that her wealthy family paid a fortune for the service.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reached out to the media representative of Johnathan Hanh Nguyens family for more information on the issue.

Concerned about his daughter's health, the couple [Johnathan Hanh Nguyen and his wife] chartered a private jet at a high cost, with the purpose of preventing others from being infected, which can happen on commercial flights," the representative said.

According to the representative, it did not take much time for the family to arrange the charter flight thanks to their connections in the industry.

Regarding the exact cost for the flight WGT2B, the representative refused to give an official number.

We are currently focused on taking care of T. [Johnathan Hanh Nguyens daughter], the representative said.

According to research by Tuoi Tre, it costs about $360,000 to rent such an ultra-long-range Dassault Falcon 8x jet for a one-way trip from the UK to destinations in Southeast Asia.

Dassault Falcon 8x has a flight range of 11,500 kilometers and is capable of flying non-stop from New York, the U.S. to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ,10,500 kilometers apart.

A pilot of a local airline told Tuoi Tre that the actual cost of chartering the airplane can exceed $360,000 due to many other expenses such as hiring pilots, parking, servicing, and insurance.

Meanwhile, according to a representative of Vietstar Airlines, a Vietnamese airline providing VIP charter services, it costs VND230 million ($9,898) per hour to fly on its most expensive jets.

The novel coronavirus, which first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 126,000 people and killed nearly 4,600 globally, according to Ministry of Health statistics.

Vietnam has so far confirmed 39 infections, 16 of whom had recovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26. The remaining 19 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.

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A 20-year-old California-based Marine was killed this week when the vehicle she was in rolled during a training exercise in the United Arab Emirates.

Cpl. Eloiza Zavala, a motor vehicle operator with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, was pronounced dead at the scene after the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement 7-ton vehicle tipped over Tuesday. Two other Marines, both lance corporals, were hurt in the accident, according to a Marine Corps news release.

The release did not specify who was driving and said only that it was a single-vehicle accident. The Naval Safety Center, which collects data on serious mishaps, listed the accident as a rollover.

The other Marines hurt in the accident are also motor vehicle operators with Zavala's unit. One of them suffered serious injuries and had to be extracted from the vehicle. Marines on the scene provided first aid before a local search-and-rescue team flew that lance corporal to Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City in Abu Dhabi.

Related: Sailor Dies After Fall from Ship's Ladderwell During Mediterranean Ops

The second lance corporal's injuries were not life-threatening, the release states.

Zavala and the lance corporals were in the UAE for exercise Native Fury 20, which started Sunday. Thousands of troops from the U.S. and UAE are participating in the exercise, including members of I Marine Expeditionary Force and the U.S. Army. Native Fury is meant to prep forces to respond to crises in the region.

Tuesday's fatal vehicle accident remains under investigation, according to Marine officials.

"This is a tragic accident, and we are praying for the loved ones of our lost and injured Marines," Brig. Gen. Roberta Shea, commanding general of 1st Marine Logistics Group -- the Marines' parent command, said in a statement. "Our priority is assisting in medical recovery efforts and to provide comfort and assistance to their families, friends, and comrades during this trying time."

Zavala, who was from Sacramento, joined the Marine Corps in April 2018. After boot camp, she completed Motor Transportation School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and was assigned to her unit at Camp Pendleton in December 2018.

This is at least the Marine Corps' second fatal tactical vehicle accident this fiscal year, which started in October. That same month, Pfc. Christian Bautista was killed in a vehicle training mishap in Bridgeport, California.

Last year, at least 15 troops were killed in vehicle training accidents, prompting an investigation into what's causing the deaths by a top government watchdog agency. Families of some of those victims, along with federal lawmakers, have demanded the military take action to prevent vehicle training mishaps.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: Fallen Troops' Families Demand Action After Spate of Military Vehicle Rollover Deaths
When you want to hang out with the gang

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo is one Ive been recommending lately. Youll remember that Evaristo co-won the Booker Prize for this (along with Margaret Atwood for The Testaments) last November. We hear from Amma first; she has written a play which is now onstage. Then come 11 other Black women to see it; each gets a chapter  theyre from all over England in terms of class, profession, locale and age  and shares her particular experience. Evaristos wonderful prose is experimental  her sentence breaks look more like long-form poetry in some ways. It doesnt necessarily make it more difficult to read, but rather adds another dimension that gives a rhythm to your reading.

When you want something you can pick up and put down

Michael Melgaards debut collection of short stories, Pallbearing, takes us into life in a small town. Many of the characters are struggling to make ends meet  they are the working class and the poor  some of the stories are poignant, some funny, with insights into what it means to be poor, what it does to a person. I read the book a while ago and Im still thinking about the lady who bought the gumball machines. The characters stuck with me; thats why the books on this list.

When you want a character you can get to know

Zalika Reid-Bentas Frying Plantain travels throughout midtown Toronto, set in the Eglinton Avenue West neighbourhood of Little Jamaica, but straddling the divide between Little Italy, the area where the Caribbean and Europe converged. These linked short stories follow high-school student Kara Davis, whos trying to figure out where she fits. Great dialogue, sensitive writing, readable stories  this book hits a March Break sweet spot.

When youd really rather be in Paris

The Man in the Red Coat by another U.K. writer, the incomparable Julian Barnes, tells the story of the Parisian era weve all fallen in love with  the Belle Epoque  by telling the story of surgeon Samuel Pozzi. It starts with a prince, a count and a commoner, but instead of a punchline you get a portrait of the era, with cameos from the likes of Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, and Proust  better than reading fiction, Barnes takes you on a grand tour of the city: close your eyes and youll see it, and when you finally get there yourself, youll see it differently.

When youve got lots of driving time

Listening to Erik Larson reading his The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family and Defiance During the Blitz biography is kind of like listening to an old-school documentary, with a fine British-accented narrator  and a really well-told story. Its incredibly valuable to understanding todays politics; if Britons were fondly looking back to a previous era and its leaders  and the idea of English stoicism  it was this time. What Larson shows is Churchill as a leader who held his country together; he also mines diaries and other documents to show his domestic life, making this an intimate read, too. Probably not for long car trips with the kids, but if youre into history, itll keep your brain occupied for 17 hours.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans daily oil production amounted to 750,6 thousand barrels, including 667,000 barrels crude oil and 83,2 thousand barrels condensate in February 2020, the Ministry of Energy reported on March 10.

Daily export of crude oil constituted 530,3 thousand barrels, while export of condensate and oil products accounted for 79,6 thousand and 12,4 thousand barrels respectively.

Azerbaijan has completely fulfilled its commitment to maintaining the daily production at 769,000 barrels.

It should be mentioned that according to the agreement reached at the 7th OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting held on December 6, the commitment for Azerbaijan was set as 27,000 barrel.

Implementation of the Declaration of Cooperation will be completed by the end of March 2020.

The Ministry of Energy presented data on daily oil production in February to the Joint Technical Commission of the Joint Monitoring Committee of OPEC.

To remind, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov attend the 8th of OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting to be held on March 6.

The situation on the global oil market will be discussed at the meeting, and the issue of decision-making on the level of production for the period after March were considered.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Chilling footage shows the moment a cold-blooded killer pulled a knife on his own cousin before stabbing him to death in an inheritance dispute over land.

Nadir Ali, 32, repeatedly plunged a blade into the body of 37-year-old Hashim Khan in a frenzied attack before being recorded confessing to cops: 'I did it'.

A court heard the pair became embroiled in a family argument over land in Pakistan which reached boiling point on August 23, 2019.

Chilling footage shows the moment a cold-blooded killer (left and right) pulled a knife on his own cousin before stabbing him to death in an inheritance dispute over land

Nadir Ali (pictured) was convicted on Thursday of murder and three counts of wounding with intent

As relatives sat around discussing the matter at a property in Sparkhill, Birmingham, Ali was filmed on a mobile phone losing his temper and wielding the blade.

He then stabbed Mr Khan 11 times and other family members were injured as they tried in vain to stop the attack, which eventually spilled out onto the street.

Police were called to the property and chilling body-cam footage captured the blood-smeared walls as officers entered to confront Ali, who was still brandishing the knife.

He calmly tells officers: 'It's a knife, from my home...I did it. Yeah.'

Ali, of Balsall Heath, Birmingham, is now facing life behind bars after being convicted on Thursday of murder and three counts of wounding with intent.

Birmingham Crown Court was told how the brutal stabbing occurred after a row over Ali being given the land by his aunt last summer.

Officers entered to confront Ali, who was still brandishing the knife, left. Nadir Ali talking to police following the stabbing, right

Mr Khan - who is also Ali's brother-in-law - felt the land and a series of properties worth around 200,000 should have been returned to his mother.

Jurors were told the land was owned by their granddad who had passed away and left it to Mr Khan's mother.

She decided to transfer it over to her nephew, Ali but her sons wanted to discuss how unfair they thought this was.

The Khan family sought advice from a close family friend and he agreed to act as a mediator that evening.

One of Mr Khan's brothers decided to record the meeting and all was going well, until Ali got angry over a comment previously made about his father.

It was at this point that Ali launched the violent attack, producing a knife from his pocket and launching at him continuously.

CCTV enquiries later showed Mr Khan and his brothers staggering out of the house and into the road, before collapsing from their injuries.

Nadir Ali, 32, (pictured) repeatedly plunged a blade into the body of 37-year-old Hashim Khan in a frenzied attack before being recorded confessing to cops: 'I did it'

Following the verdict, Mr Khan's family paid tribute in a statement and said: 'Today justice has finally been done and the murderer of our beloved Ash has been convicted for his horrendous crimes.

'In this we take great comfort, but no prison sentence will ever replace this great man who was the bed rock of our family and who was loved by so many.

'Sadly some in our family were envious of him and that envy lead to his horrific cold blooded murder.

'Today he has been forced to answer for his crimes, but his true trial is yet to come on Judgement Day before Allah where there will be no hiding and in this we take great comfort.

'Thankfully the mobile phone and CCTV footage doesn't lie and whilst we as a family had to suffer the ordeal of seeing this replayed over many times during the trial, it was a necessary ordeal to endure in our search for the truth.

'Ash's murder has impacted on so many people but we are not broken by this ordeal, we are stronger because of it.

'We are not consumed with hatred instead we are filled with extra love and compassion for those that have been left behind and we are united in support for one another.

'Rest in peace Ash in the knowledge that the truth has now been exposed and in the sure and certain knowledge that Nadir will have to serve his sentence and answer to his crime.'

Detective Inspector Nick Barnes, from West Midlands Police, said: 'This tragic death was caused over a family disagreement and it's so upsetting to see that it ended in such an horrific way.

'Ali thought it was acceptable to walk around with knives which he was clearly planning to use if he saw fit.

'Today's conviction is a sad reminder around the dangers of knife crime and although offers some justice to those involved, it is bittersweet as it has left the family torn apart.'
Judge James Burke sentenced Harvey Weinstein to 23 years in prison on March 11. Weinstein will serve time for two convictions: first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape on March 11. Following the sentence, Kate Beckinsale posted a photo to Instagram. She shared a detailed account of her own Harvey Weinstein story.

Kate Beckinsale | Toni Anne Barson/WireImage

Beckinsales story did not involve a sexual assault, as many survivors of Weinstein came forward with since his indictment. Her story did share similarities with other abuses women experienced under Weinstein.

When Kate Beckinsale worked for Harvey Weinstein

Beckinsale starred in the 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity. She played a mysterious stranger whom John Cusack met one night in New York. Years later, Cusack encounters Beckinsale again on the eve of his wedding. The October release came when the city, the world and the industry was still recovering from 9/11.

Warner Bros. moved the release of Training Day from Sept. 21 to Oct. 5 and moved the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle Collateral Damage from October to February 2002. Serendipity came out on Oct. 5 and Weinstein insisted on the usual amount of publicity.

These photos were taken at the premiere of Serendipity on October 5, 2001, Beckinsale wrote. (Getty dates the premiere on Oct. 3, two das before its release.) We all refused to go because holding a premiere mere weeks after 9/11 with the city still smoking felt like the most insensitive, tone deaf,disrespectful idea possible. But Harvey insisted. We flew into New York and somehow got through it.

Harvey Weinstein contrived a meeting with Kate Beckinsale

Beckinsale and her costars dutifully walked the red carpet as expected. Then Weinstein asked to see her under false pretenses.

The next morning Harvey called me and asked if I would like to bring my less than two year old daughter to his house for a playdate with his similar aged daughter, Beckinsale wrote. I turned up and he immediately called for his nanny to take the babies to another room to play. I went to go with them and he said No, you wait here .

Harvey Weinstein complained about how she dressed

Weinstein disapproved of Beckinsales premiere attire. Beckinsale repeated Weinsteins explicit insults in her Instagram post. He used profane and sexually demeaning language to complain she should have dressed more scantily. Beckinsale tried to reason with him that the timing of the premiere made more conservative attire appropriate.

Kate Beckinsale at the Serendipity premiere | Bill Davila/FilmMagic

The shock made me burst into tears, Beckinsale wrote. I tried to say, Harvey,the city is on fire, people are still looking for their relatives. None of us even felt the premiere was appropriate much less coming out dressed like its a bachelor party. He said, I dont care  its my f*cking premiere. Screaming. Livid. I managed to get myself and my child out of there.

Kate Beckinsale says Harvey Weinstein punished her

Beckinsale said hearing Weinstein was going to prison for 23 years was a relief. However, she added he committed crimes that did not go to trial.

Yes that was one of many experiences I had that there was no recourse for, and falls under no felony, Beckinsale wrote. But I WAS punished for it, and for other instances where I said no to him for years, insidiously and seeming irreversibly.

The crimes for which Harvey Weinstein did not pay

Actors such as Mira Sorvino and Ashley Judd found out after Weinsteins arrest that he had sabotaged their careers. Peter Jackson and Terry Zwigoff confirmed Weinstein told them not to hire Sorvino and Judd. Annabella Sciorra said she could not find work from 1992  1995. That is the sort of punishment about which Beckinsale is speaking out.

Hearing that he has gone to prison for 23 years is a huge relief to me on behalf of all the women he sexually assaulted or raped, she wrote. I hope will be a deterrent to that sort of behavior in this and any other industry. Having said that,the crimes that are not crimes,the inhumane bullying and sick covert abuse for which there is STILL no recourse no matter who you tell (and I did tell), these too need to go. I hope and pray that we as an industry can start to actually outlaw all abuses of power and expose them and eliminate them, for all genders, forever.

Harvey Weinstein and wife at the New York film premiere of Miramaxs Serendipity | Evan Agostini/ImageDirect

Beckinsale concluded by acknowledging Rose McGowan, one of the many women who came forward with allegations against Weinstein.

And Rose,brava , Beckinsale wrote.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.


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A health worker in a protective suit checks on Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as he undergoes tests for coronavirus, in what officials said was a preemptive step, March 12, 2020.

President Rodrigo Duterte imposed an emergency lockdown of the Philippine capital Thursday, as health officials confirmed three new coronavirus deaths in the country, while the number of cases from the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe surpassed 125,000.

Duterte, 74, banned domestic travel to and from Manila  a megacity of 12 million people  in a sweeping monthlong security measure, beginning March 15.

Community quarantine is hereby imposed in the entire of Metro Manila, Duterte said in a nationally televised broadcast. We dont want to use that term, because you are afraid to call it a lockdown. But its a lockdown.

The order includes a cluster of containment measures along with bans on mass gatherings and the suspension of classes.

These measures were necessary because there is a crisis, with no solution sight, unless there is a vaccine in the grace of God that will be invented by scientists, Duterte said.

Duterte said classes at all school levels in Manila would be suspended until April 12.

Mass gatherings will be prohibited, he said. This means that near-daily anti-government protests would likely not be tolerated, and security forces are given the green light to arrest demonstrators, officials told BenarNews.

Lets just follow. Just a little patience. Its for your own good, Duterte said.

The movement of goods would not be covered by the travel restriction, officials said.

Duterte also said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had written him a letter saying that Beijing was willing to extend help in containing the spread of COVID-19, the official name of coronavirus, which was first detected in Chinas Hubei province and declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday.

All we have to do is ask, the Philippine president said. In my view, maybe there will be a time, if things deteriorate, that I have to call on China for help.

Moments after Duterte addressed the nation, the Philippine health department announced that the death toll from the virus had reached five, with three new fatalities reported on Thursday.

The country of 105 million people reported its first domestic transmission of COVID-19 over the weekend. At least 52 cases have now been detected nationwide.

Earlier in the day, Duterte underwent tests for the virus in a bid to assuage the public about the health crisis. The president has been sickly during the past months, and often goes around wearing a necklace with a miniature air purifier to protect himself from common colds.

The tests were made after the government said that Duterte met with some officials and senators who were exposed to a person who had recently tested positive for the coronavirus.

Around two-thirds of confirmed cases of coronavirus have been recorded in China, where the virus that has killed more than 4,600 people worldwide first emerged in December last year. As of Thursday, more than 125,000 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in at least 117 nations and territories, according to WHO.

Thailand reports 11 new infections

Thailand, meanwhile, reported the biggest daily rise in its coronavirus cases on Thursday when it confirmed 11 new infections, bringing the national tally to 70, with one death.

In other developments, the president of Thai Airways International, the state-owned airline that has been laden with financial losses, resigned as the nations travel and tourism industry braced for economic fallout from the viral outbreak.

Sumeth Damrongchaitham tendered his resignation as the airlines chief after his plans to rehabilitate the carrier were reportedly rejected by its board of directors, according to the Bangkok Post, quoting unnamed company sources.

Thai Airways, in a statement, said its board of directors had approved the resignation effective April 11. It did not elaborate.

Sumeth, who was appointed to the post in 2018, wrestled with the airliners losses last year of about 12 billion baht ($385 million). Analysts expect losses in the travel industry to deepen this year as a result of the governments announcement on Wednesday that it would temporarily suspend issuing visas-on-arrival for visitors from China and 18 other countries and territories, where the virus has been detected.

Officials said Bangkok recorded a 44 percent reduction in tourist arrivals last month compared with February 2019.

Indonesia announces stimulus package

Questions on the pandemics economic impact also emerged in Indonesia on Thursday as the government announced a stimulus package that includes a six-month tax break for manufacturers.

After tourism, the hardest-hit sector is the manufacturing sector, Airlangga Hartarto, the coordinating minister for economy, told reporters at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. The package will be implemented next month, he said.

Sri Mulyani, Indonesias finance minister, had earlier predicted that the countrys economic growth would decrease this year as the outbreak disrupted Chinas economy, Jakartas biggest trading partner.

A drop of 1 percentage-point in Chinas economic growth will result in a drop of 0.3 to 0.6 percentage points in Indonesias [growth], Sri Mulyani told reporters late last month.

Indonesia, Southeast Asias largest economy, grew by slightly more than 5 percent last year. The country has confirmed at least 34 coronavirus cases, with one death reported.

Health officials and nurses wear masks at the Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor, Malaysia, March 12, 2020. [S. Mahfuz/BenarNews]

Malaysia postpones 1MDB trial

The visible impact of the virus also appeared to reach the legal system in neighboring Malaysia, where the Kuala Lumpur High Court postponed Thursdays hearing related to the multibillion-dollar theft at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Court officials said that lead defense counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah received a phone call from his wife informing him that his sister-in-law had to be tested for the virus.

The lawyers sister-in-law usually sits at the courtroom next to a colleague, who had been tested positive, attorneys said.

Muhammad Shafee is the defense attorney for former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who established 1MDB in 2009 ostensibly to spur economic development, but instead ended up facing corruption charges.

At the time it filed the lawsuits, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Malaysian Official 1  later identified as Najib  and his associates of embezzling and laundering more than U.S. $4.5 billion (18.45 billion ringgit) in 1MDB-linked money between 2009 and 2014.

Najib has denied the allegations.

On Thursday, Malaysia reported nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the nations cumulative tally to 158 cases.

The nation of 32 million people confirmed its first sporadic case on Wednesday, indicating that the disease has spread into the community, from person to person, as authorities also announced that they were tracking around 5,000 citizens, believing that they could have been exposed to the virus.

Health officials sought to trace the thousands from across the country after Brunei reported that a middle-aged man who had attended a religious event outside Kuala Lumpur turned out to be a positive carrier of the virus that causes severe respiratory illness.

The religious event involved an estimated 10,000 people from several countries including Malaysia, the health ministrys Secretary-General Noor Hisham Abdullah told reporters Wednesday.

Bangladesh tells citizens: Do not return home now

Meanwhile, Bangladesh on Thursday urged its citizens living abroad not to return home, unless they were dealing with a family emergency.

It would be good if they do not return home now, Health Minister Zahid Maleque told reporters. If they return home, they must be put in quarantines.

The United States has pledged $2.5 million for Dhakas efforts to control the outbreak, according to state-run news service BSS.

Bangladesh has cancelled mass gatherings and postponed celebrations marking the birth centenary of its founder after the first three coronavirus cases were detected in the nation, home to more than 165 million people.

Nontarat Phaicharoen in Bangkok, Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta, and Nisha David in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is closing Broadway with almost immediate effect and is banning all gatherings of 500 or more people, as officials desperately try to contain the spread of coronavirus in the state where confirmed cases skyrocketed past 300.

Cuomo has said the lights will go out on New York's shows, in a landmark move that sees New York City close its biggest source of tourism for a month - the longest closure in its history and its first since 9/11.

This comes just hours after New York City's Mayor Bill de Blasio said New Yorkers should brace for historic measures coming today and tomorrow but insisted he did not want Broadway to 'go dark' because of the deadly outbreak.

Two schools in the Bronx shut their doors Thursday after a student contracted the virus and the Metropolitan Museum of Art also announced it will close its three sites across the city on Friday.

Cuomo tweeted Thursday afternoon that all gatherings of 500 people or more will be banned across New York state from 5pm on Friday.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (pictured at a coronavirus press conference last week) is closing Broadway with almost immediate effect and is banning all gatherings of 500 or more people across the state

Cuomo has said the lights will go out on New York's shows from 5pm Thursday. He also said that all gatherings of 500 people or more will be banned across New York state from 5pm Friday

'We are taking new actions to reduce the density of people across the state,' he tweeted.

'Starting Friday at 5pm, gatherings with 500 people or more will not be permitted in NYS. Additionally, for facilities with an occupancy of 500 or fewer, we are reducing the legal capacity by 50%.'

This ban includes Broadway theaters in Manhattan, New York City, which all seat upwards of 500 people and where the ban will start at 5pm Thursday and continue until April 12 - dwarfing the theater district's two-day closure after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the city.

'For Broadway theaters in Manhattan, these rules will go into effect at 5pm TODAY,' Cuomo tweeted.

A woman is pictured walking past Hamilton: An American Musical after the closure was announced Thursday. The landmark move to close NYC's biggest source of tourism for a month - the longest closure in its history - dwarfed the theater district's two-day closure after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the city

Broadway theaters in Manhattan, New York City all seat upwards of 500 people

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio had urged Broadway to stay open in an interview with CNN Thursday morning, after it emerged Wednesday that an usher who worked two theaters on the Great White Way had tested positive for coronavirus

The closures means musical fans must wave goodbye to 31 plays and musicals including Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King for the near future

'We have already spoken to the theaters about these new measures and they agreed.'

Cuomo also said the state is taking measures to create a 'reserve workforce of health care professionals in the event of a staffing shortage'.

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De Blasio had urged Broadway to stay open in an interview with CNN Thursday morning, after it emerged Wednesday that an usher who worked two theaters on the Great White Way had tested positive for coronavirus.

The usher had worked performances of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' at the Booth Theatre and 'SIX' at the Brooks Atkinson Theater, meaning thousands of theater-goers may have been exposed to the deadly virus.

De Blasio said the aim was to reach a 'kind of balance' and avoid a total closure.

'I don't want to see Broadway go dark if we can avoid it. I want to see if we strike some kind of balance,' he said.

'If we cannot strike the balance of course we can go to closure that's the decision we will make right away.'

Broadway producers held an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss plans to halt all productions with immediate effect, according to reports on Deadline.

Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured at a press conference on Wednesday) said New Yorkers will see 'new models that we've never used before' introduced but insisted he wants to avoid a complete subway shutdown and urged Broadway to stay open

Reports said the Broadway League trade group of theater owners and directors were muting a potential shutdown ahead of Cuomo's announcement.

Broadway League said in a statement following the news: 'Broadway shows in New York City will suspend all performances immediately in support of the health and well-being of the theatregoing public, as well as those who work in the theatre industry. Performances will commence the week of April 13, 2020.'

The closures means musical fans must wave goodbye to 31 plays and musicals including Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King for the near future.

A 2pm matinee performance of Moulin Rouge: The Musical was also axed in the eleventh hour today.

It also comes at the busiest time for the industry, as it gears up for the annual Tony Awards in June.

New York City also shut two schools in the Bronx Thursday morning after a parent said their child had become the first public school student to test positive for the deadly disease.

De Blasio insisted he had no plans to shut the city's school system but warned residents that they will see 'new models that we've never used before' rolled out in efforts to tackle the mounting crisis.

'We're going to have to introduce more and more restrictions, which we're certainly going to be doing in New York City today and tomorrow,' the mayor told CNN.

Manhattan's Broadway looks deserted on Tuesday: De Blasio urged Broadway to stay open after it emerged Wednesday that an usher who worked two theaters on the Great White Way had tested positive for coronavirus

The mayor insisted he doesn't want to shut down the city's subway system

While he committed to ensuring the 'normalcy' of daily life goes on as much as possible, he said the city will face restrictions never before seen.

'We are going to very quickly put out guidance about having to reduce crowds and audiences while still having a certain amount of activity,' he said.

The restrictions will 'somehow balance the need to keep as much normalcy in society as possible while reducing the gatherings that are causing concern, giving people more space,' he said.

This comes as officials canceled New York City's St Patrick's Day parade for the first time in more than 250 years as nine new cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours alone.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art then announced Thursday that it will close all three of its locations across the city from Friday 'to support New York City's effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.'

The famous attraction's Fifth Avenue flagship, the Met Breuer on Madison Avenue, and the Met Cloisters in northern Manhattan will close for an undisclosed duration and be deeply cleaned, the museum announced.

The museum said it had two employees who have showed symptoms of coronavirus.

De Blasio has stopped short of saying what exactly the restrictions will be and insisted he wants to avoid a complete subway shutdown and urged Broadway to keep its doors open.

'Were not going to shut down a subway system,' de Blasio said.

'If you shut down a subway system then you're shutting down an economy and you're shutting down work and livelihood.'

Instead, he is encouraging employers to stagger commuters, and allow staff to work from home where possible.

Subway cars have become notably quieter over the last week as residents have already begun avoiding travel and companies are switching staff to telecommuting in order to avoid mass outbreaks.

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transit Authority announced that it would double coronavirus-related cleanings of the city's 472 subway stations, with staff using bleach and chemicals twice a day to wipe down all of the surfaces, turnstiles and railings at each station.

Rush hour commute in the Bronx is deserted on Wednesday. Subway cars have become notably quieter as residents have already begun avoiding travel and companies are switching staff to telecommuting

On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Transit Authority announced that it would double coronavirus-related cleanings of the city's 472 subway stations, with staff using bleach and chemicals twice a day to wipe down all of the surfaces, turnstiles and railings at each station

Officials announced Wednesday they were canceling New York City's St Patrick's Day parade for the first time in more than 250 years

A man is pictured celebrating last year's parade. It's cancellation came hot on the heels of the parades in Boston and Chicago also being axed

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (pictured Thursday) will close all three of its locations across the city from Friday 'to support New York City's effort to contain the spread of COVID-19', it announced Thursday

De Blasio also went on to say Thursday morning that there is no plan to shut down schools on a mass scale.

The aim is to avoid a 'slippery slope' of schools closing, he said, adding that a protocol was in place to shut a school temporarily if a case is identified and 'then we want that school back up and running.'

His comments to CNN came as his office issued a statement Thursday morning confirming that two schools in the Bronx are being closed after a student tested positive for coronavirus.

John F Kennedy airport in New York looks like a ghost town on Thursday as people avoid traveling amid fears of coronavirus

An empty departure lounge at John F Kennedy airport in New York on Thursday

The two co-located schools, the Laboratory School of Finance and Technology and South Bronx Preparatory: A College Board School, will be closed for an initial 24-hour period while close contacts of the individual are identified, quarantined and tested, and school buildings are deep cleaned.

'We don't make this decision lightly, and we know the disruption and anxiety this means for students, faculty and parents. We are taking every precaution to keep people safe, and we will keep everyone informed as we learn more through the day,' the statement read.

While fears continue to mount across the Big Apple, de Blasio was optimistic that New Yorkers are already prepared.

'People are really changing their habits,' he said.

Meanwhile across New York state, Catholic elementary schools will close their doors next week, the New York Archdiocese said in a statement Thursday.

The closures will run for at least a week from Monday March 16 until Friday March 20, 'with the possibility of a lengthier closure'.

This will impact 19,000 students at 152 Catholic schools across areas including Staten Island and Dutchess County.

Pictures show John F Kennedy airport in New York deserted of passengers on Thursday morning as people avoid traveling amid the outbreak - the morning after President Trump's shock announcement that 'all travel' from Europe to the US would be stopped for 30 days.

New York state has fast become a hotbed for the virus, with the highest number of confirmed cases of all US states, second to only Washington. Most cases can be traced back to the New Rochelle lawyer who traveled from Westchester (pictured) to Manhattan for work

A worker looks out from a near empty restaurant on North Avenue during the coronavirus outbreak in New Rochelle on Tuesday. A one-mile radius containment zone has now been established in the New Rochelle area - a suburb of 80,000 residents just north of New York City

New York state has fast become a hotbed for the virus, with the highest number of confirmed cases of all US states, second to only Washington.

Most cases can be traced back to the New Rochelle lawyer who traveled from Westchester to Manhattan for work.

He was the second confirmed case in New York state, its first known instance of community spread and is one of few still hospitalized with the virus.

A one-mile radius containment zone has now been established in the New Rochelle area - a suburb of 80,000 residents just north of New York City.

The containment zone will remain in effect for two weeks through to March 25, though officials are stating it is not a lockdown and people not in quarantine will be able to leave their homes and go to work.
A Haven for Hope volunteer cradles a large bottle of hand sanitizer as he stands inside one of the campus cafeterias, which smells of bleach and Lysol, the result of employees diligently cleaning the area every hour.

Hand sanitizer? the volunteer asks a nearby homeless man.

The quiet man nods and receives two pumps of the clear gel in his hand.

In face of the coronavirus threat, San Antonio homeless service providers and the city have been adding new measures to help protect a population that is particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases, including distributing more sanitation items, deep cleaning of facilities and looking at options for alternate shelters in case of an outbreak.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest coronavirus updates and see an interactive map of U.S. cases

Dawn White-Fosdick, executive director of the Christian Assistance Ministry, said the organization has made some simple but important changes: no holding hands during church services, cleaning surface areas more often, Purell on every desk.

White-Fosdick said the increased measures are designed not only to help the homeless the group serves but also its volunteers, who primarily are older and at higher risk of coronavirus complications.

I am extremely surprised we have not had a decrease in volunteers, but I am bracing for it, she said. If that happens, we may have to reduce some services.

While there have not been any community cases of coronavirus in San Antonio and the risk to the general public remains low, Haven for Hope staffers met with officials from the San Antonio Metro Health District last week to discuss what can be done to avoid the spread of an outbreak in the homeless population.

We are monitoring the situation very, very closely, said Celeste Eggert, the chief development officer at Haven for Hope. The safety of our clients, as well as our staff, is the most important thing.

When it comes to preventing the spread of coronavirus, officials have reiterated similar precautions: wash your hands, avoid close contact with people, disinfect frequently touched surfaces and stay home if youre sick.

Related: CDC updates website with coronavirus recommendations for people at 'higher risk

But what happens if you dont have a sink? Or if you are sleeping in close quarters with dozens of others? Or if you dont have disinfecting wipes, let alone a home?

Haven for Hope, a 22-acre campus that is a one-stop shop providing resources for the homeless, serves about 1,700 people daily. The organization also has an emergency outdoor shelter area called the Courtyard, where about 700 people sleep on individual padded mats.

We are doubling down on our cleaning, Kenneth Wilson, president and CEO at Haven for Hope, said Wednesday.

Eggert said Haven has added more signs reminding people to wash their hands and staff members are passing out hand sanitizer.

And although they have a hefty supply of hand sanitizer due to donations throughout the year, Eggert said she and other employees spent a couple of days driving to various stores in search of more to purchase in bulk.

As for the Courtyard, Eggert said Haven is not decreasing the number of people who can stay there, but they are having people sleep head-to-toe.

Wilson said they have also set aside a couple of dorm rooms, in case people need to be quarantined.

We are in daily contact with the Metro Health District, Wilson said. That will be our first call if anyone shows any (symptoms).

CAM director White-Fosdick emphasized the routine deep cleaning of their facilities.

Just last month, the organization had GermLogic, a company that specializes in germicidal treatments and disinfects commercial and government facilities, come out to spray down everything  floors, walls, chairs tables, door handles, phones.

We actually have had a long-time plan and been doing this well before coronavirus, White-Fosdick said.

CAMs facilities are doused in anti-bacterial spray four times a year.

The ministry also has a mobile shower unit located at its campus on McCullough that is available three days a week and is scrubbed after each use.

The city bought the shower unit earlier this year. White-Fosdick said if there is a need for the unit on additional days, CAM will work with the city to make it available.

On ExpressNews.com: City purchasing first mobile shower unit for San Antonios homeless

Melody Woosley, the director of Director of the Department of Human Services, said the city has been looking at measures they can take, too.

They have been looking at buildings where homeless people can stay if there is an outbreak and a need for quarantine, or more space for the homeless.

Woosley said city case workers also have been going to encampments to educate them about the coronavirus and what they should be doing.

Some will have phones, so they may be getting some information that way but it is a concern that some may not be seeing the news, Woosley said.

Case workers are giving people at encampments a reference sheet of services, telling them where they can go for a shower and offering to take them there. They also are handing out hygiene kits that include hand sanitizer, shampoo and body wash.

On ExpressNews.com: The worst its been  clearing San Antonio homeless encampments no easy task

Other cities that have seen outbreaks of the disease also are focused on measures to help the homeless during the pandemic.

Seattle announced earlier this month that its installing more than a dozen modular units that are like tiny homes for homeless people who get sick. Officials also are bringing hand-washing stations to the homeless.

San Francisco is working on temporary housing options for people who cant self-quarantine because they dont have a home or live with many others in a common space.

In Los Angeles County, the health department is sending teams to hundreds of homeless facilities to ensure people are washing their hands and not sharing food or utensils.

And while coronavirus is coming up frequently in conversation at coffee shops, offices and bars, Eggert said it doesnt seem to be a hot topic among homeless people.

Its not necessarily being talked about a lot and I think thats because when you are in a crisis situation, they are thinking about other things such as where can I get food and where am I going to sleep, she said.
As the U.S. scrambles to make up for its severe shortage of tests for the novel coronavirus, panic-fueled claims about the nations health care system are making the rounds on social media. On Monday, a tweet that started with the words CORONAVIRUS LOOPHOLE!!!!! went viral. The supposed trick? To donate bloodan act, the tweet claimed, that would allow you to be tested for COVID-19 for free. The information was false, but it was retweeted more than 85,500 times before being deleted. Its since spurred a number of copycat tweets.

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Lets be clear: The Red Cross will not be testing for the disease. And for good reason. On Friday, the Red Cross issued a statement to address concerns about this issue. Its important to emphasize that there is no data or evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted by blood transfusion, it stated, and there have been no reported cases of transmissions for any respiratory virus, including this coronavirus, worldwide. This differs, for instance, from Ebola, which spreads through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids. (Individuals are disqualified from donating blood if theyve ever been diagnosed with Ebola.)

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But blood banks are in urgent need of donors. While people worry about bare grocery store aisles, hospitals are increasingly concerned about potential blood shortages, since people are staying home to practice social distancing. In the most affected areas, such as Washington state and New York, hospitals have already started to move blood in from other regions, Reuters reported. Over the last few days, the number of blood drive cancellations has risen precipitously, Jessa Merrill, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, told me in an email on Thursday. Merrill said that the organization has seen nearly 300 cancellationswhich translates to about 8,000 donations that now wont happen.

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In order to prevent shortages, the Red Cross and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are strongly urging donors to give blood. But how is the Red Cross dealing with the spread of COVID-19?

First, its worth noting that only eligible and healthy individuals are ever encouraged to give bloodif youre feeling unwell, you shouldnt donate as a general rule. That said, the median incubation period for COVID-19 is approximately five days, so individuals can have the disease without realizing it. Its certainly possible that those people, as well as asymptomatic carriers of the virus, will be entering donation centers.

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But it should be OK. Out of an abundance of caution, the Red Cross has also implemented new restrictions, according to its statement on Friday. This includes requiring that before donation, people wait at least 28 days after traveling to China, Iran, Italy, or South Korea; receiving a COVID-19 diagnosis; or being in contact with someone who has been diagnosed. The Red Cross is also checking the temperatures of donors before they even enter a donation center, Merrill said. The organization plans to continue evaluating emerging risks with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and industry partners.

Despite the Red Cross reassurances, fears of COVID-19 have continued to affect donations, which the organization addressed again in pleas on Tuesday and Thursday. As the number of individuals with COVID-19 increases, we are very concerned that fewer eligible donors will be able to give making it extremely difficult for our inventory to recover if we get to shortage levels, wrote Merrill. Thats why we are urging healthy, eligible individuals to schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment at RedCrossBlood.org today to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and avoid any potential shortages.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
The President had reiterated his pledge to deal with all types of violence and crime in the world when he was asked by the media at his daily news conference whether all the upsurge of outrage would have a real effect on his policies or usher in a shift of focus.

On Tuesday, President Anderes Manuel Lopez Obrador had mentioned that the latest protests in Mexico towards the growing killings of women did not alter the long run strategy that his administration had taken in tackling the issue.

Lopez Obrador said on the his media conference on Tuesday that he has been continuously improving on his policy of resolving the roots of abuse but he will not be meeting with the requests of many of the feminist activists.

At approximately two days after an estimated 80,000 women demonstrated all across the City of Mexico as well as other cities all over the country wherein also a day after hundreds of female had a smaller protest by not attending school and work known as "A Day Without Women", President Lopez Obrador had spoken about the movement.

On Monday, a massive demonstration against all the killing of women and children took place by thousands of women in strike-as well as failing the successive governments to resolve a crisis in which about 10 women are killed each day.

The latest demonstrations were sparked by the violent killing of a seven-year-old girl in February and by more femicide. About 4,000 women were reported to be murdered last year, as per the official figures.

Within the Mexican women's appeals for action on femicides, a series of particularly egregious murders have generated a renewed urgency. However AMLO has repeatedly expressed concern regarding the current rising protests by women.

Recently Lopez Obrador responds that his administration is much more specific in its strategy on gender equality, when he was asked if it will present a detailed plan on the increasing violence against women.

He looked disturbed by a femicide question during a press conference, in which, he claimed that it dominated his intention of raffling off the presidential plane.

The remarks were reminders of the past response by the president to the spiraling brutality against drug trafficking, in which he argued can be strengthened by a misdefined "moral renewal" strategy.

Lopez Obrador acknowledged the detailed coverage of the protests and argued that the demonstrations he led during the time when he was in the opposition were not sufficiently reported.

At press conferences, Lopez Obrador frequently rejects critical coverage and sometimes responds anomalously to news outlets and individual reports. He also argued that his rival politicians use them cynically to seek and damage his administration.

AMLO said that the women's movements were "very important" and said his administration embraced them. But the word "femicide" was not used by the President AMLO or gender problems were not listed, or specific safety concerns were not discussed.

In the pledge to reverse "neoliberal" initiatives, AMLO came to power, but rather has demonstrated that social problems such as abortion, fair marriage-and women's rights remain unchecked.
A conversation with cleaning expert Tracy McCubbin

Maintaining a clean and clutter-free home is always a good idea. With the spread of the new coronavirus, families are taking a more serious look at the state of their homes and, beyond simply creating a pleasant place to live, are perhaps, considering what they can do to reduce the spread of germs at home.

I asked Tracy McCubbin, a decluttering expert and the author of Making Space, Clutter-Free: The Last Book on Decluttering Youll Ever Need, for her advice on maintaining a clean and safe home for your family. Heres what she said.

The Epoch Times: Broadly, what are the key steps to keeping a clean, germ-free home?

Tracy McCubbin: The first and, I think, most important step is to declutter the stuff you dont need, use, or want. If your home is cluttered and full of stuff, it makes it much more difficult to clean, giving germs a place to breed. Cleared surfaces are easier to wipe down daily during flu season.

Countertops in the kitchen and surfaces in the bathroom should be cleaned on a daily basis, as well as doorknobs to the outside.

The Epoch Times: What areas of the home should one give special attention to when aiming to mitigate the spread of germs?

Ms. McCubbin: Start in the entryway. Have a place to take off and store shoes that have been worn outside, so you dont track dirt and germs into the rest of the house. Designate a hall closet for coats and bags so that anything worn outside isnt brought into the rest of the house. Shed the outdoor layer of clothes as soon as you come home. Consider having indoor and outdoor clothes.

Sinks should be clean with ample hand soap and towels for hand drying. Consider making the bathroom closest to the entry door a hand-washing station. Everyone washes their hands the minute they come home. Dont forget to wash while singing Happy Birthday twice.

Clean your cell phone! Microfiber cloths help, but for a serious deep clean, Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona recommends trying a home solution of 60 percent water and 40 percent rubbing alcohol. To use, he says to lightly dampen the corner of a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth or cotton swab or square with the mix. Important: Dont apply or spray the mix directly onto your phone, which could damage it. Gently wipe phones to kill unwanted bacteria and use a dry corner of the cloth to remove any excess liquid on your phone, he says.

Dont forget to wash canvas shopping bags on a regular basis. If not cleaned, they can harbor E. Coli.

The Epoch Times: What common mistakes or misconceptions do you encounter in helping families keep their homes safe and clean?

Ms. McCubbin: That a cluttered home is a clean home. In a home full of stuff, its very, very difficult to keep it really clean. Items are picked up to be wiped or dusted around. Books can hold dust and mold. While Im not saying throw everything out and live with one plate, one bowl, and one cup per person, I am saying, the more things you have, the more you have to clean.

The Epoch Times: What ongoing practices do you recommend to keep a home clean?

Ms. McCubbin: In addition to weekly cleaning sessions, people need to schedule in weekly decluttering and home organization. That means put everything away and if its something you dont need, want, or use, then instead of shoving in a closet or drawer, let it go.

The Epoch Times: What specific cleaning supplies do you recommend to keep your home free from germs?

Ms. McCubbin: Every household needs a good antibacterial cleanser. I use Method products in my own home. The CDCs recommendation is an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill germs. Read the label to make sure it states that EPA has approved the product for effectiveness against influenza A virus. During this time of uncertainty, use a stronger product than maybe you normally would.

The Epoch Times: For those overwhelmed with the prospect of cleaning their home thoroughly, where do you suggest they start?

Ms. McCubbin: Start with the entryway, kitchen, and bathroom. Those are the most frequented areas and most likely to have germs from the outside. Once you get those areas under control, move on to laundry. The build-up of laundry can be overwhelming, especially for families. Often times if someone gets upside down on doing laundry, they will buy more clothes to have something to wear, which only adds to the problem of more stuff.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is not only a health crisis impacting daily life for individuals but has led to cascading supply chain disruptions, especially in Asia. Shippers and transportation providers are pressured to anticipate the impacts of the outbreak in North America with vital data changing every day. While the possible long-term impacts of the virus on supply chains are unclear, companies have to make decisions today on how to adjust to this disruption.

For now at least, Arrive Logistics' executive vice president, Eric Lien, is counseling his customers to focus on preparation, flexibility and over-communication with trusted partners on their long-term strategy. Arrive Logistics is a third-party logistics provider headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Chicago and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The shutdown of manufacturing plants and logistics services in China coincided with a lengthy national holiday  the Lunar New Year  that Lien's customers say was the best possible time for quarantines and work stoppages to occur.

"I was with 11 customers in LA last week; half a dozen of them were Asian-owned," Lien said. "They were of the opinion that if there was a good time for it to happen, it was now. The bigger question is does the customer have upstream suppliers that are replenishing downstream manufacturers they're dependent on? Are those upstream manufacturers still hurt by labor shortages because of coronavirus?' There are still many unknowns."

Prior to Arrive Logistics, Lien spent 14 years at a Fortune 500 food shipper in distribution and supply chain operations; now he leverages that experience as a member of the Strategic Partners Division. This division is composed of executive alumni from enterprise shippers, carriers and technology providers and designed to be a resource that enriches the internal Arrive team and offers insights, networking and experience to their partners.

Story continues

Lien explained that although the official holiday in China lasts approximately two weeks, "no one gets back to work at 8 a.m. on Monday." In other words, many workers take the opportunity to change jobs, and the manufacturing sector's return to 100% capacity is a gradual process. For that reason, shippers with operations concentrated in China build an extra two to three weeks of safety stock in their inventories, which they've been relying on to keep the movement of product fluid since the coronavirus hit.

So far, control measures in response to the coronavirus have shuttered much of China's production, causing exports to plunge. Container spot rates from China to the North American West Coast are still down more than 10% year-over-year, and import shipment levels at the ports are a fraction of normal volumes. Intermodal rail volumes outbound from Los Angeles are down 36% since the beginning of February and are 22% lower than last year's Chinese New Year-related trough.

Trucking spot rates from Los Angeles to Dallas are down 12% since Feb. 2, while rates in the opposite direction are up 24% in the same period. In other words, the trucking spot market is pricing in softness in Los Angeles, treating it like an undesirable backhaul market instead of the abundant source of freight that it usually is.

While the drop in Chinese exports has mostly affected steamship lines, drayage operators and intermodal volumes  total rail intermodal volumes outbound from Los Angeles are down 21.7% compared to last year's CNY trough  truckload volumes have not been affected. Or, rather, they've been juiced by a somewhat surprising second-order effect: panic-buying.

(Chart: FreightWaves SONAR). Over the past month, national contracted truckload volumes (white) have grown, while intermodal volumes outbound from Los Angeles (green) plummeted.

Consumers are buying dry and canned foods, bottled water, paper products, and disinfectants at higher rates than normal, pushing up truckload demand across a broad swath of freight markets in the United States. It's unclear how long that spike will last, or whether it will be followed by a deep trough if inventories run out or quarantined people simply buy less.

Over the past two years, the total business inventories-to-sales ratio has held steady at about 1.4 months, a higher level than the previous five years. Companies tended to hold more inventory in the 1990s, then progressively became leaner as new manufacturing processes and supply chain management philosophies took hold. Recently, inventories have trended back up as the cost of capital has fallen and consumer expectations of e-commerce fulfillment have required companies to forward-position more products.

Whatever happens  intensified panic-buying, a brick-and-mortar exodus and flight to e-commerce, or generally depressed economic activity  shippers, carriers and 3PLs are bracing for volatility in both directions.

Arrive works to understand each of its customers' priorities and particular exposures to any supply chain disruption, custom-tailoring solutions around specific requirements, Lien said.

"It's about understanding what they value, whether it's lead time or their customers' experience or cost of capital," Lien said. "There are different metrics that our customers are trying to optimize, and we want to, first, understand it, and second, support it."

"We've dealt with anything and everything," Lien said. "We're situated as a strong contractual service provider that works with reliable carrier partners on our customers' long-term supply chain strategies."

Lien said that short-term supply chain stresses can spike spot demand for team capacity and opportunistic brokers can exploit those situations to widen their margins, but Arrive isn't built to do that.

One of the largest uncertainties for supply chain decision makers is predicting customer demand. With a "natural event" such as the coronavirus, supply chain managers are in a difficult spot: consumer behavior has the potential to strain or break the systems they have in place. Some may find themselves not using previously-booked capacity, struggling to source capacity, or in the chaos failing to see the true costs of their operation.

"We're nimble enough to provide as-needed services, whether that's capacity or data analytics, but we'd urge shippers not to take their eyes off the ball and focus on their long-term strategies," Lien said. "Pick your partners well, because some are opportunistic while some are interested in understanding how value can be distributed over the long run between partners."

To learn more about the Strategic Partners division, join Arrive Logistics and FreightWavesfor a one-hour webinar on April 30 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The webinar offers insights from these seasoned logistics leaders on today's supply chain trends and challenges. To register, please click here.

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 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah armed group has been known to wage such attacks on US interests in the past.

United States military leaders on Thursday threatened a retaliatory strike against Iranian-backed Shia militia in Iraq, saying they know who launched the rockets in Iraq that killed and wounded US and coalition troops.

US President Donald Trump gave the Pentagon the authority to respond after a rocket barrage killed two US troops and a British soldier, again raising tensions with Iran after the two countries came to the brink of war earlier this year.

Military leaders said they know who launched the rockets and the Shia militia group responsible will be held accountable.

I have spoken with the president. Hes given me the authority to do what we need to do, consistent with his guidance. And, you know  if that becomes the case  defence chief Mark Esper told reporters at the Pentagon, adding he and Trump had a good conversation.

Asked what he meant, Esper suggested he was not going to telegraph any US response.





Asked if the US response could include strikes inside Iran, Esper said: Im not going to take any option off the table right now, but we are focused on the group  groups  that we believe perpetrated this in Iraq.

Were going to take this one step at a time, but weve got to hold the perpetrators accountable, Esper said. You dont get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it.

Indirect fire

Two US troops and one British service member were killed and 18 other personnel wounded at Camp Taji north of Baghdad on Wednesday night in the rocket fire.

US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie earlier did not blame any specific militia, but noted only Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah had been known to wage such attacks on coalition forces in the past.

While we are still investigating the attack, I will note that the Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against US and coalition forces in Iraq, McKenzie told a US Senate hearing on Thursday.

The attack marked a dramatic uptick in violence less than three months after rockets killed a US contractor in northern Iraq, unleashing a round of tit-for-tat attacks between Washington and Tehran on Iraqi soil.

Within hours of the attack on the Taji air base north of Baghdad  the deadliest in years on a base used by US forces in Iraq  an air strike killed more than two dozen Iran-aligned fighters in neighbouring Syria.

Fearing an even bloodier flare-up this time, Iraqi officials and the United Nations were quick to condemn the deaths.





Terrorist attack

Iraqi President Barham Salih and parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi condemned the terrorist attack that targeted Iraq and its security.

The UN mission in Iraq called for maximum restraint on all sides.

These ongoing attacks are a clear and substantial threat to the country, and the risk of rogue action by armed groups remains a constant concern, the UN mission said. The last thing Iraq needs is to serve as an arena for vendettas and external battles.

The rocket attack was the 22nd against US military interests in the country since late October, an Iraqi military commander said.

In late December, the US accused Iran-aligned faction Kataib Hezbollah of killing a US contractor at a base in northern Iraq. It responded with air strikes in western Iraq that killed 25 of the groups fighters.

Days later, a US drone killed senior Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad airport.

Iran then launched its own strikes on a western Iraqi base, leaving dozens of US troops suffering from brain trauma.

Iraq has years of close ties with both Iran and the US, and has been put in an increasingly difficult position by the spiralling tensions between the two.

In January, Iraqi lawmakers voted to oust all foreign troops from Iraq in reaction to the killing of Soleimani and Muhandis.

Some 5,200 US troops are stationed in Iraq as part of the coalition formed in 2014 to fight the armed group ISIL (ISIS).

While ISIL has lost all of the vast territory it once held in Iraq and Syria, sleeper cells remain capable of carrying out attacks on both sides of the border.
A man is due in court later this morning in connection with the murder of a man in Kilkenny in 2006.

The suspect, in his 30s, is due before Carlow Disctrict Court this morning.
British Prime Minister called Prime Minister on Thursday to discuss the coordinated international efforts required to tackle the spread of deadly

The deadly virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,600 lives and infected more than 124,330 people across 118 countries and territories.

"The Prime Minister spoke to Indian Prime Minister Modi today. They discussed the outbreak and emphasised the importance of coordinated international efforts to tackle the spread of the virus," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus and the Mandate of Heaven

While India has cancelled most travel visas until April 15 to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, the UK has stepped up its preparations to move from the containment phase of the fightback to delaying its spread.

The delay phase, aimed at delaying the peak of the virus to warmer months of the year, could involve "social distancing" measures such as school and public facility closures.

Downing Street said that besides measures to address the pandemic, the two leaders also spoke about strengthening India-UK cooperation across all areas, including trade.

"More generally, the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the UK and India in a range of areas including trade, cultural relations, defence and technology, the spokesperson said.

The challenge posed by climate change was among the topics covered during the phone call, as Johnson welcomed India's efforts towards increasing its energy generation through renewable sources.

"The Prime Minister raised climate change, welcoming the steps taken by India to increase generation of renewable energy and urging the need for ambitious action to deliver on the Paris Agreement," Downing Street said.
Most Fairfield County School districts are temporarily shutting down as the coronavirus threat grows, but the state has yet to require a statewide closure.

We almost havent had to, Gov. Ned Lamont told reporters on Thursday.

As what he called red dots grow, referring to the geographic map illustrating the spread of COVID-19, Lamont said he has signed an emergency order modifying the required 180-day school day for impacted schools.

The order will require that schools be in session for 180 days or to June 30. Schools that have not reached 180 days by June 30 can still make that the last day of school.

Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona said at least 19 of the states 166 school districts had already announced closures by midday Thursday. The list continues to grow.

There are 23 school districts in Fairfield County. Of those, at least 13 have announced they are closing.

Earlier this week, Westport, Wilton and Weston announced they would close, as did Wilcoxin School in Stratford where a child has tested positive for the virus.

On Thursday, Fairfield and Bridgeport announced they would close for at least a week.

School-sponsored sporting events, school assemblies and visits to schools had already been abruptly canceled and large assemblies of students discouraged.

For many, closing school buildings could mean an abrupt vacation. For others, it could provide opportunities for districts to try their hands at online instruction. How many will actually do it is uncertain.

In Fairfield, Schools Superintendent Michael Cummings said online lessons will challenge a lot of districts readiness to support student learning in meaningful ways.

Given the potential length of a closure, we need flexibility to meet student needs and assurance from the state that we will be supported, Cummings said. Good faith efforts to keep learning moving forward need to be encouraged in a meaningful and collaborative manner.

In Bridgeport, the closures will not be absolute. The district is opening 21 schools for an hour in the morning and an hour at lunch time to feed school district students, all of whom qualify for free and reduced priced lunch.

State officials say if the closings continue into April, the scheduled SAT Day in April may be postponed.
At various points in his presidential campaign, Bernie Sanders has faced questions and scrutiny about his past associations with controversial leftist regimes and groups overseas.

Last year, he almost cut short an interview with the New York Times podcast The Daily when Michael Barbaro, the host, mentioned Sanderss outreachduring his time as mayor of Burlington, Vermontto the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. Last month, after his huge win in the Nevada caucuses, Sanders was asked by Anderson Cooper, on 60 Minutes, about remarks he once made praising social programs instituted by the Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Were very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba, but its unfair to simply say everything is bad, Sanders replied. Castro had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? The following day, Sanders doubled down on that view during a town hall on CNN, and added the example of China. China is an authoritarian country, he said, but can anyone denythat they have taken more people out of extreme poverty than any country in history? Then, last week, the Times returned to a story it had told beforeabout Sanderss efforts, as mayor of Burlington, to establish sister-city relations with Yaroslavl, in the dying days of the Soviet Union. The storys conclusion, that Soviet officials saw Sanderss overtures as a propaganda coup, got some pushback; the US ambassador to the USSR from the time called it a distortion of history.

Political and media commentary on Sanderss foreign-policy views tends to cleave along predictable linespundits on the right and in the center accuse him of un-American apologizing for humans-rights-abusing regimes; his supporters on the left defend his positions as needed pushback on American imperialism, and empirically correct.

Masha Gessen, of The New Yorker, sees shades of gray in between. She wrote an insightful, nuanced column criticizing Sanderss remarks on Cuba (Its as if Sanders didnt realize that all of these good things that he citesliteracy, public medicine, access to culture and public transportation, and being lifted out of povertyare good because they create the conditions for human dignity, which is precisely what totalitarianism destroys), then defended him against the Times piece on his Soviet ties. (The language of the headline and the subhead promise disquieting news. In fact, the story that unfolds is innocuous and familiar.)

CJR spoke with Gessen on Tuesdaybefore the results of that days primaries were knownon media coverage of Sanderss foreign policy, the parallels with coverage of Donald Trump, and the tendency to rely on Cold Warera cliches. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

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In your piece about Sanders and Cuba, you noted the predictable reactions from the right and the left to his remarks. It seems to me that that speaks to a broader lack of nuance in how weve been discussing his foreign policy. Do you agree?

I think its even bigger than that, actuallyI think it speaks to a broader Cold War framework of thinking about foreign policy that hasnt been updated thirty years after the end of the Cold War. It wasnt a particularly sophisticated instrument for thinking about foreign policy during the Cold War, but its become just ridiculously outdated since. And thats not true just about Bernie; its actually been true about Trump. Trump cant actually be said to have a foreign policy, but we write about it as if he does have a foreign policy. He understands affinities in terms of power, and he understands power in terms of the ability to exert control and violence. The more power the foreign leader has, the more interested Trump is in relating to him. So thatd be the framework that Id propose for understanding what Trump has been doing. But a lot of the media coverage has focused solely on Russia. All of the things that Ive said are true about Trumps love of Putin. But the reason to focus so exclusively on Putin is, I think, Cold War framing.

And so this is somewhat similar [to the recent episodes involving Sanders], and in both cases, Ive actually criticized the Cold War framing of the conversation. When Bernie saidill-advisedly, I thinkthat Castro had a literacy program, he was attacked in an exact replica of the kinds of conversations that he was having and that we were all having fifty years ago, where the right would say, How dare you support the Russkies, and the left would say, You dont understand, you focus on the bad stuff and you cant see the good stuff. And they were both wrong. Im not sure who was wronger. But certainly at this point, to reuse those tired cliches is equally wrong, I think, on both sides.

Its not just the traditional pundits and news outlets who see American foreign policy through that kind of lens, is it? Is it also a conceptual problem for some emerging voices on the left of the spectrum as well?

Absolutely. And I think Bernie is at fault here, too. I think that he hasnt updated his rhetoric since he was mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in the 1980s. For that time period, I would certainly defend him, and I think that the Times piece was ridiculous. Not only was it applying a Cold War framing, but it was applying a Cold War framing to a time [the late 80s] in which Cold War framing had already become irrelevant and erroneous. But what Bernie was doing when he made those comments about Castroand then when he doubled down the next day in the CNN town hall, and said China had lifted people out of poverty, toowas engaging in the same sort of outdated rhetoric that really troubles me.

A story like [the Times] shouldnt be written without an effort to put out the context. Thats like, basic, rightyou report on anything, you try to think about how it compares to other people doing similar stuff at the same time. Under what circumstances did this happen? Was this unusual? Its one of the most basic journalistic questions. If this was extraordinary, in what ways was this extraordinary? And the problem with that story was that, had he [the storys reporter, Anton Troianovski] called anyone who works on either Soviet propaganda or the history of the Soviet Union in the 1980sthe history of perestroika and glasnost, or the history of citizen diplomacyhe would have been told that theres nothing extraordinary about this, and then he wouldnt have had a story.

When journalists talk about history, they often do it in an unnuanced way. Do you have any thoughts on how we might make coverage of bad regimes less cartoonish?

Well, I think that we should talk to academics more. I think that certainly there are a lot of people who write and speak about totalitarian regimes in a nuanced enough way. And it doesnt have to be complicated. It just has to get you out of the territory of constant category errors. Theres a wonderful Bulgarian political scientist named Ivan Krastev, whos actually a contributing opinion writer to the New York Times. He and I were on a panel together, and someone asked a question about Russia and its ability to influence American politics, and Krastev said, Look, you know, Russia is a terrible place to live, but its also a very weak power. And thats not a very hard thing to understand. Its not complicated. But it is nuanced. Theres no direct line from a horrible place to live to Reds under the bed. And if you say that Russia is not an existential threat to American democracy, that doesnt actually exonerate Russia as a horrible place to live.

So its not that hard. But it does require journalists to think. It does require journalists to question outdated framing, and I think it requires speaking to people who know something about the subject and who keep up with it.

Do you think Sanderss old foreign-policy positions have gotten too much attention during this campaign? On the one hand, they do sometimes seem to be used as gotcha questions. On the other, they are his foreign-policy record, to an extent, and hes running for president.

I think its a fair question to ask: What is his foreign policy, and more broadly, what are his views on the world? Were very familiar with Sanderss views on economic equality; were very familiar with his views on social justice. We really dont get a whole lot of a sense of how he views this country in the world. And thats problematic for a presidential campaign. Historically, the presidency has been largely a foreign-policy job.

Another problem with the Sanders campaign, of course, is that its fairly inaccessible to media. So, if theyre not going to be proactive about broadcasting his view of the world, and there isnt an ongoing conversation between journalists and Bernie Sanders himself about how he views the world, that contributes to the kind of lazy coverage and the kind of gotcha questions that youre referring to. It doesnt justify them; I think theyre still bad journalism. But I kind of understand where that bad journalism comes from, because the Sanders campaign is actually not giving us a whole lot to go on in terms of understanding what that presidency might mean to the United States in the world. And when hes asked really stupid questionslike he was asked by Anderson Cooper on 60 Minuteshe responds with pretty stupid answers. Its like he hasnt thought through the story; like he doesnt actually have a story to tell that explains his foreign-policy trajectory, and that would make a case for him being the best candidate on foreign policy.

Since Nevada, Sanderss campaign has struggled. Do you think the recent coverage of his old foreign-policy views has contributed to that?

I dont know that we have enough information to figure out how [voters] are making those kinds of decisions. I think that its probably fair to suspect that the aftermath of the Cuba comments and the New York Times story are sort of grist for the mill of creatingor maintainingthe image of Sanders as a political outsider, and somebody whos really marginal to the way Americans think. And I wouldnt be surprised to find that that blows directly into Joe Bidens image as familiar and comfortable and what we think politicians are. But this is totally my hunch, so I dont want this to come across as my appraisal of why the primaries are going the way they are.

Aside from the constant stream of anecdotes about Democratic voters wanting to beat Trump and not seeming to care about much else, its hard to see inside voters minds.

Exactly. This is the problem with what we get out of polls these days. We have this closed feedback loop of horse-race coverage, basically, where all journalists want to know is whos going to win, and what the pollsters want to know and work out is whos going to win, but were not getting nearly enough information about actual public opinion. Were not seeing public-opinion polling, were only seeing polling that could aid somebody who wants to place a bet on the presidential election.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

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.
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.

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.

---

This is a breaking news update. This article will be updated as new details develop.
With some K-12 school districts and administrators across America panicking and attempting to get ahead of any outbreak of the coronavirus, more districts are opting for students to stay home. Id be willing to bet that most students thoroughly enjoy this. Its kind of like having snow days. However, what might be in store for these students could be far more important than a snow day, as its possible that the virus may herald a revolutionary shift in education.

Throughout the years, American homeschooling and online K-12 education has become far more popular and realistic than brick and mortar public schools want to admit. School choice is disrupting and angering public school districts and officials, and school boards are voting against student vouchers so they can continue to enslave students to their school districts instead of allowing state-allocated money to travel with that student to a school of their choice. This includes online education. School districts also keep knowledge of online schools and online education far away from K-12 students and their parents, at all costs. After all, bodies in the seats mean more money for brick and mortar school districts.

However, now that the coronavirus is causing school administrators to panic, brick and mortar schools are encouraging students to stay home and engage in Hybrid/Online classes, where they communicate with their teachers online and complete online assignments and tasks at home on the internet. For most American K-12 students, this is the first time they have consistently accomplished this task at home without direct contact with the school or their classrooms, yet many of them may fail to understand that this form of online education goes on every day, throughout our country and other countries, when a virus is not in the news or infecting anyone. They may also not know that a degree from an online K-12 school counts exactly the same and holds as much weight as it does if they were waking up early every day, riding a bus, and attending a brick and mortar American K-12 school, in person.

Its my estimation that this will be an awakening for countless American K-12 school students -- and their parents -- that these students actually dont have to attend a brick and mortar public school in order to receive a high-quality education, followed by a diploma. Once these students begin their online tasks, they may come to the realization that online learning is far more in-depth, far more rigorous, far more interesting, and yet far more quiet, as they dont have to look to see who is about to get into a physical fight, or detest attending classes where teachers are indoctrinating them with their own personal ideologies. Therefore, the presence of this virus and the forced school closings that have occurred as a result, have perhaps created the next wave of individualists and online learners in America.

Online education requires students to think for themselves. Within typical American K-12 schools, individualism is being stamped out on purpose. Students today are forced to engage in project-based learning, group activities, clubs, and competitive games that ultimately seek to conquer and divide one another among their peers, without the individual person ever having a chance to think or act for themselves in a creative way. Therefore, their participation in online education has now forced them to think for themselves, by themselves, in a what hopes to be a quiet, sensible learning environment where the individual student can exist with their own mind and their own thoughts to guide them in an online landscape where the limits are endless.

The feelings that may arise throughout this inadvertent online application of learning that schools have placed on their students, may create a dialogue among the entire student population, that attending American K-12 brick and mortar schools or even brick and mortar colleges and universities may be unnecessary. With the rising costs of colleges and universities, and given how these institutions have become such news-makers regarding professorial indoctrination while pushing radical ideologies on their students, the current crop of American K-12 students may realize that online education is not only a successful environment, it may be a far healthier one. Suicide, is in fact, the number one cause of death among college and university students -- but this isnt the case when they attend online. Gee, I wonder why?

Perhaps this inadvertent participation, that has typically been kept in the shadows by K-12 school districts, will now show K-12 students that they may not need as many people around them in order to think for themselves and be successful. Im willing to bet that once these K-12 students return to their brick and mortar schools, they will be far less enthused to be there. In fact, once they return to their brick and mortar schools when the coronavirus dust settles, they may ultimately ask themselves; Why am I waking up early and coming here, when I could be learning online?

Dr. Sean M. Brooks is the author of five books including; Violence Among Students and School Staff, and Purposeful Deception.

Website: https://theeducationreport.us
Youths in their numbers today took to the streets of Lagos to protest against the western Nigeria Security network codenamed Operation Amotekun already passed into laws in some states in the region, thereby paralysing commercial activities in Agege area of the state.

The group operating under the aegis of Yoruba Appraisal Group (YAG) organized a massive rally and commenced their procession from Women Development Centre in Agege down to Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja area of the state.

They said Amotekun is an instrument to perpetrate crime and make political gains for a few individuals masquerading as having the love of the people of the region at heart.



Speaking to journalists during the protest, spokesperson for the group, Chief Oloketuyi Joshua said the South West Governors are ignorant by throwing their weight and resources behind a security outfit whose real motive they were not aware of.

He said that the alarm raised by eminent Nigerians, including the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mallami Abubakar, the Convener of the Muslim Muslim Right Congress ( MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, former Governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the leadership of the Myetti Allah, Kautai Hore on the danger inherent in establishment of the South West Security initiative cannot be discountenanced.

Amotekun has been hijacked by those who dont mean well for Yoruba land and the country at large. They plan to hide under the guise of providing security to cause mayhem in the country,  Oloketuyi said.

He said that all they want was to hijack control of security architecture adding that the individuals which he refused to name have successfully achieved with the security outfit.

He added that the security Initiative is a healthy development, which ordinarily, no right- thinking person should opposed, saying indications are clear enough to discern that Amotekun will eventually become the Frankenstein monster that the country wont be able to control.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:34:39|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday slammed the annual human rights reports issued by the U.S. State Department, saying the contents on press exchange between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan were completely made up and constituted a malicious libel.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the lies in the so-called "2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" run counter to basic facts and common sense, exposing political bias and the ulterior motives of some U.S. politicians.

The mainland has been actively supporting press exchange and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait and facilitating Taiwan journalists' work on the mainland, and will continue to do so, Zhu said.
Autumn Phillips (right) during the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase alongside Peter Phillips (left) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham

Autumn Phillips (right) during the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase alongside Peter Phillips (centre left) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Autumn Phillips (second right) during the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase alongside Peter Phillips (centre left) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham.

Andrew Parker Bowles (left) with Zara Tindall (centre and The Princess Royal (right) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

Dolly Maude (left) and Zara Tindall (centre) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham

Zara Tindall on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham

Ladbrokes Racing Ambassador Vogue Williams pictured near the statue of Gold Cup Winning horse Best Mate, as she supports Women in Racing at the Cheltenham Festival

Ladbrokes Racing Ambassador Vogue Williams pictured near the statue of Gold Cup Winning horse Best Mate, as she supports Women in Racing at the Cheltenham Festival

Vogue Williams is an Irish model and media personality as she poses on Ladies Day at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 11, 2020 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Vogue Williams is an Irish model and media personality as she poses on Ladies Day at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 11, 2020 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Vogue Williams pictured near the statue of Gold Cup Winning horse Best Mate, as she supports Women in Racing at the Cheltenham Festival

As one of the racing world's most committed fans, Vogue Williams knows a thing or two about dressing for the occasion.

The 35-year-old tv presenters is an ambassador for Ladbrokes, and as such, is required to attend the biggest events on the racing calendar, including Cheltenham. Shunning the sometimes-stuffy attire associated with racing, she added a contemporary twist using British brand Holland Cooper in a makeshift suit of red cigarette trousers and matching ankle length trench coat, worn over a cream cable knit polo neck.

The brand prides itself on maximising the heritage style so popular among the horse racing set mixed with modern tastes and counts Amanda Holden as a fan, with the average coat retailing at 1,000.

Vogue added a high-low twist with a pair of white leather Kurt Geiger boots with gold heel, and an oversized bow by Emily Baxendale.

Expand Close Ladbrokes Racing Ambassador Vogue Williams pictured near the statue of Gold Cup Winning horse Best Mate, as she supports Women in Racing at the Cheltenham Festival / Facebook

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Whatsapp Ladbrokes Racing Ambassador Vogue Williams pictured near the statue of Gold Cup Winning horse Best Mate, as she supports Women in Racing at the Cheltenham Festival

Last year saw her fulfil a life-long dream of becoming a jockey and she said she was proud she now knew the intricacies of the sport of kings.

"I'm quite good at knowing about the horses now. Before I was like, 'Oh they've a nice name.' Now I know about the trainers and the horses and the jockey and now I can study the race card," she said.

"Spencer's going to send me all of his tips because he's so jammy."

Now based in London with husband Spencer Matthews and their son, Theodore (1), Vogue recently sold her apartment in Howth and is in the final stages of buying a new property in the northside suburb.

She said the couple were "nearly there" with the sale - but ruled out ever moving back to Ireland permanently.

"Most of my work now is in the UK. It used to be 50-50 but now it's way more the UK. It would be nice to have a base there for a few months of the year. My sister lives with us so a bigger place is essential," she said.

Expand Close Autumn Phillips (right) during the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase alongside Peter Phillips (centre left) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse / Facebook

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Whatsapp Autumn Phillips (right) during the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase alongside Peter Phillips (centre left) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

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Vogue added that she would love two more kids with her TV star husband.

"I said I wanted four before I had one. That's out the window, it will not be four. I'd like to have three but we'll see how we go, if we have a second, because that might be a lot of hard work," she said.

"It's amazing being a mum, but I don't want people to think it's easy. It is the best thing in the world, but your whole priorities have to shift."

There was some disappointment among Irish fashionistas on what is traditionally Ladies' Day after organisers inexplicably decided to ditch the 'best-dressed' competition to "focus on the racing".

Expand Close Dolly Maude (left) and Zara Tindall (centre) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham / Facebook

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Whatsapp Dolly Maude (left) and Zara Tindall (centre) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham

The women in attendance - who included racing regular Faith Amond - still took advantage of the intermittent sunshine to turn on the style.

Just under 57,000 punters made the trip to Prestbury Park for the second day, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Among those cheering on from the Royal Box was Autumn Phillips, who recently announced her divorce from Peter Phillips, Queen Elizabeth's grandson. Autumn and Peter enjoyed an amicable reunion, echoing their break-up statement in which they said they hope to remain friends. Zara Tindall, a former Olympic showjumper, was also in attendance with her mother Princess Anne.
Presidency University Vice-



Chancellor Anuradha Lohia on Thursday met students agitating over quick renovation of three dilapidated wards of a hostel for the past two months, a university official said.

Claiming that the VC did not give them any concrete assurance about their demands, the students said they would continue with the agitation.

Lohia met a delegation of students representatives at the second campus of the university at Rajarhat, and discussed with it the demands of renovation of three wards of the Hindu Hostel and reinstatement of eight sacked employees of the hostel.

"We can say she addressed all the demands and there cannot be any immediate outcome of such issues. It takes time to arrive at a solution," the official said told PTI.

However, the agitating students said the VC did not give them any concrete assurance about their two demands.

"The VC did not give any positive reply. She merely listened to us but did not commit anything. We will sit in a general body meeting and chalk out how to continue our agitation," Debabrata Mondal said on behalf of agitating students.

Thursday's discussion followed a 22-hour road blockade by the agitating students on March 5 and 6 in central Kolkata to press for their demands.

The students had also gheraoed the VC in early February for two days.

On March 6, Lohia had said, "I can have a dialogue with the students only after they withdraw the blockade."



She had said completing the renovation work of the three wards of the Hindu Hostel was not in the hands of the university authorities but the state PWD.

The VC had not visited the main campus at College Street since the gherao and attending office at the second campus at Rajarhat, around 16 km away from central Kolkata.

Repeated efforts to contact her failed on Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The International Bar Associations Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) released a statement on Tuesday condemning what it described as the reported mistreatment of Julian Assange during his United States extradition trial in February 2020. The lawyers organisation urged the government of the United Kingdom to take action to protect the WikiLeaks publisher.

The statement is the latest confirmation of the lawless character of the attempts by the British government and judiciary to extradite Assange to the US, where he faces Espionage Act charges and life imprisonment for exposing, as a journalist and publisher, American war crimes.

The IBAHRI report details the extraordinary abuses of Assange that took place during the first week of the extradition hearing, which began on February 25. It notes that according to his lawyers Mr Assange was handcuffed 11 times; stripped naked twice and searched; his case files confiscated after the first day of the hearing; and had his request to sit with his lawyers during the trial, rather than in a dock surrounded by bulletproof glass, denied.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a prison van traveling to Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

In accompanying comments, IBAHRIs co-chair Michael Kirby, a renowned Australian jurist, academic and former High Court Justice, stated that the organisation was concerned that the mistreatment of Julian Assange constitutes breaches of his right to a fair trial and protections enshrined in the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which the UK is party.

Kirby said it was deeply shocking that the UK government had remained silent and has taken no action to terminate such gross and disproportionate conduct by Crown officials. As well, we are surprised that the presiding judge has reportedly said and done nothing to rebuke the officials and their superiors for such conduct in the case of an accused whose offence is not one of personal violence.

Kirby described the treatment of Assange as shocking and excessive. He stated that it was reminiscent of the infamous Abu Ghraib prison scandal, which was triggered by the release of photos showing US soldiers torturing and humiliating detainees at the facility in the wake of the illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Anne Ramberg, co-chair of IBAHRI and general secretary of the Swedish Bar Association, added: The IBAHRI concurs with the widespread concern over the ill-treatment of Mr Assange. He must be afforded equality in access to effective legal representation. With this extradition trial we are witnessing the serious undermining of due process and the rule of law.

The statement outlined the provisions of British domestic and international law mandating a fair trial and upholding the rights of the accused. It concluded by citing the finding of UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer, that Assange displays medically-verifiable symptoms of psychological torture as a result of his decade-long persecution. If Mr Assange was viewed as a victim of psychological torture, his extradition would be illegal under international human rights law, IBAHRI declares.

The warnings of the International Bar Association carry the weight of an authoritative organisation composed of more than 80,000 lawyers around the world, 190 law societies and bar associations in some 170 countries and many major law firms. It was established in 1947, in response to the horrific violations of international law that occurred during the Second World War and the Holocaust.

IBAHRIs statement underscores the fact that the attempt to extradite Assange to the US is more akin to an extraordinary rendition operation than a legal process following the norms of international law.

The persecution of Assange has been condemned by hundreds of lawyers around the world. His treatment in the maximum-security Belmarsh Prison has been denounced by more than 180 eminent medical professionals organised in the Doctors4Assange group. An open letter demanding Assanges freedom and hailing his courageous publishing has been signed by over 1,400 journalists in 99 countries.

The IBAHRI statement is not only an indictment of the British government and judiciary, but also of all those political forces who have insisted that Assange will receive a fair hearing and that the courts decision must be respected.

This includes British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. After maintaining a criminal silence on Assanges plight for 10 months, including during the British general election, they issued statements warning against his extradition to the US in early February.

At the same time, however, Corbyn and McDonnell stressed that Assanges fate was in the hands of a court. Their promotion of court proceedings that amount to a lawless show-trial, demonstrates that their professed concern for Assanges plight is a sham aimed at diverting mounting anger behind the very institutions that are spearheading his persecution.

In Australia, the federal Coalition government and Labor Party opposition have sought to justify their refusal to defend Assange as a persecuted Australian citizen and journalist, by proclaiming their confidence in British due process and the rule of law.

In Senate hearings last week, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) falsely claimed that they were powerless to intervene in Assanges case. They declared that they had been told by their British counterparts that Assanges horrific treatment, including being repeatedly stripped-naked and handcuffed on the first day of the hearing was standard. They also defended the isolation of Assange at the back of the courtroom in a bullet-proof glass box.

DFATs chief legal officer James Larsson stated that the Australian governments longstanding position was that it could only intervene in overseas legal processes involving an Australian citizen if there was a gross violation of rights. He blandly declared that there was no evidence that this was the case in Assanges extradition hearing.

The IBAHRI statement exposes those assertions as a politically-motivated lie. They further demonstrate that the refusal of successive Australian governments to uphold their obligations to Assange is a political decision, stemming from support for the US-Australia alliance and for Washingtons campaign to silence those who expose its illegal wars and global diplomatic intrigues.

The lawless character of the proceedings against Assange underscores the futility of any perspective based upon appealing to the courts and the political establishment. It underlines the fact that the fight for his freedom must be based on a mass political movement of the working class in Britain, the US, Australia and internationally in defence of democratic rights.
Hacker Jeremy Hammond, who was also being held in civil contempt for refusing to testify before the WikiLeaks grand jury, was also ordered released by Trenga after five months of civil contempt. But he is still serving a 10-year prison sentence for cyberattacks on various government agencies and businesses.
(TNS)  The Hamilton County, Tenn., Sheriff's Office is asking the county for a $4.5 million technology agreement to safeguard data after a "catastrophic" loss All dash camera footage for 130 patrol deputies was lost after a software failure on Jan. 13, according to Sheriff Jim Hammond. The footage could not be recovered, as there was only one server used to store the videos.After defense lawyers and the district attorney said the loss potentially could jeopardize criminal and civil cases, Hammond and members of the sheriff's department have come before the Hamilton County Commission several times to address the issue, most recently with a pitch for how to improve recording and data storage."We've known that we had to migrate toward something better in technology, which is always an evolving concept," Hammond said Wednesday.The sheriff explained that the department had more than $760,000 to cover implementing the new system through Axom Technologies this year, with another $3.8 million to be spread out over the 2021-2024 fiscal year budgets."This year, we already have money in our budget that you appropriated last year, that we're able to not come before you and ask for money today," Hammond said. "What we are going to do is ask for money to bring this system totally up."Ron Bernard, the department's director of information technology, told commissioners that the system would be the best option for taking and safely storing necessary video footage."I'm confident that this is the most effective way to do this," Bernard said. "What we're looking at is several systems. We have in-car systems; we're looking at deploying body cameras. This would cover our interview rooms for investigative units, plus the storage aspect."The agreement calls for replacing a large amount of equipment that was slated to be replaced during the same term and providing cloud storage safety for about the same money it would cost the county to make these changes on its own with less security."If you told us to go do it in house, there may be some cost savings, but that would quickly be eaten up by the cost of hiring the personnel necessary to do this," Bernard added.Hammond also emphasized that a lot of relevant footage still is available."There's a story out there that we've lost everything we had, specifically stuff going on as it pertains to lawsuits or criminal investigations. That is not true," Hammond said. "We had already downloaded that before the data loss ... so contrary to popular belief, for cases that are ongoing in either a civil matter or a criminal matter, we retained that, and it's secured with the district attorney or wherever it needs to be."Hammond says most of what was lost was "routine" footage that would "never see the light of day" because no one would ever request it.The loss of the dash camera video  which is a public record  comes at a time when Hamilton County is under scrutiny for how it handles records. Attorney John Cavett filed an open records lawsuit against the county, and attorney Robin Flores has repeatedly accused the county of slow-walking records requests to run out the statute of limitations. In addition, a citizen has accused the county of stonewalling records requests , and the county destroyed records sought by a Times Free Press reporter.Despite the sizable price tag, the commission seemed largely receptive to the sheriff."I commend you for this program. I guess I don't see any downside to it other than it costs something, like everything else," Commissioner Greg Martin said.Commissioners are expected to vote on the resolution next week.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

The High Court will decide the fate of George Pell on a date to be fixed after the full bench reserved its decision on whether Australias most senior Catholic cleric was wrongly convicted of sexually assaulting two choirboys.

A two-day hearing in Canberra ended with counsel for Pell, Bret Walker SC, savaging the improvised and rickety construction of a Crown case to make something fit that will not fit and Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd QC urging the court not to acquit Pell even if he wins his appeal.

Ms Judd said if the court found that Victorias Court of Appeal had erred in law when it upheld Pells conviction for child sex offences, it should send the matter back to the court to be heard again.
Seoul Semiconductor's headquarters in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Seoul Semiconductor



By Baek Byung-yeul



A former employee of Seoul Semiconductor was sentenced to an eight-month prison term suspended for two years after being found guilty of leaking trade secrets concerning company's light emitting diode (LED) technology. He was also given 120 hours of community service.



The company said Thursday that the employee, surnamed Kim, acquired its LED technology while working as a researcher. He then used it with one of the firm's clients, a violation of the Act on the Prevention of the Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology, it added, quoting a court statement released in February.



"The former employee worked as a researcher on the company's processing and new technology teams for four years from 2010. After leaving the company, Kim intentionally used the technology with one of our clients," a company official said. "The leaked trade secrets were about technology in improving color coordination in our LED products, which the government designated as a National Core Technology," he added.



The company said it was hard to assess monetary damages suffered from the leak, however, it said the stolen technology was developed over 32 months with an investment of 37.7 billion won ($31.3 million).



Seoul Semiconductor is the country's largest LED manufacturer with 14,000 patents. To retain its leading status, the company has taken a strong stance against companies or individuals that infringe on its patented technologies.



Over the past two years, it has been involved in 32 patent lawsuits in seven countries including the United States, China and Japan, as well as in Europe. In November, 2019, the company won a patent lawsuit against Japanese lens maker Enplas Corporation over its LED TV backlighting technology.



"If patented technology is not respected, then entrepreneurs and small and medium companies cannot achieve growth and all firms company will have no option but to move to countries with cheap workforces," the official said.


In August 2019, Nigeria partially closed its land borders, and since November, has banned the supply of petroleum products to communities within 20 KM of the land borders. The supply cut was to stop the smuggling of petroleum products to Nigerias neighbours where illicit dealers could make higher margins after selling subsidised products meant for the local market.

Authorities said the border policy has led to a reduction in the fuel consumption statistics, implying that the volume of products sold illegally across the borders fed into Nigerias consumption data.

In January, we decided to investigate the effectiveness and the impacts of the petroleum products supply cut policy, as well as the wider partial border closure. Two issues provided the motivation for our investigation. One, little or nothing was known regarding whether or not smuggling was still going on despite the border closure. So, we wanted to draw on the power of investigative journalism to answer the question of impacts and effectiveness. Two, we wanted to investigate and tell the story of the communities affected by the petroleum supply cut.

All Nigerias geo-political zones, except the southeast, have international land borders with Benin Republic (southwest, northcentral, and northwest); Niger Republic (northwest and northeast); Cameroon (southsouth and northeast); and Chad (northeast). So, we raised a five-member team to conduct field investigation in regions. The security situation in the northeast, where Boko Haram is still active, prevented coverage of the northeastern borders.

READ ALSO:

The field investigations yielded two reports that showed illicit trans-border trade in, or smuggling of, petroleum products and other goods was still rampant despite the border closure. Our investigations yielded a kind of turnaround that exposed how Nigerias immigration and customs officials are sabotaging the border closure policy by taking bribes from motorcyclists carrying illicit goods through illegal routes. Also, our investigations showed the torrid impacts of the petroleum supply cut policy on the affected communities.

Meanwhile, while in Sokoto, we came across what is perhaps the harshest spinoff of the border closure policy: at least three persons, believed to be drivers of Dangote Cement and Sokoto Cement trucks, had died, after being stranded for months at Nigerias border with Niger Republic. The three persons died during the wet season after they were bitten by snakes, PREMIUM TIMES was told. As the trucks are denied entry into Nigeria, the drivers and those described as truck boys have had to stay at the border but the conditions have become increasingly unbearable.

The trucks had moved cement to countries as far away as Niger, Mali, Chad and Ghana, one official said, seeking not to be named because of service rules on press interviews. They were returning to Nigeria empty when the border closure was announced. Some got close to the (border) gate but we had to ask them to move back.

Immediately, we got the announcement, we shut the gate and trucks have been there since that day in August, the official further said.

There is no certainty yet about when the borders will open.

The border closure, beginning last August, came less than two months after Nigeria joined other African nations to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rambler Metals and Mining Limited, (AIM: RMM) ("Rambler"). The non-binding LOI includes an exclusivity period of twelve months for Maritime to evaluate Rambler's Nugget Pond Gold Plant for the purpose of processing feed from the Hammerdown gold project and to complete a feasibility study with the option to negotiate a purchase agreement during that time. The Gold Plant is a small section of the total Nugget Pond concentrator plant and is not used to process ore by Rambler. Maritime will have a right of first refusal to match any competing offers for the plant during this time. In consideration Maritime will advance a deposit of $200,000 to Rambler.

Garett Macdonald, President and CEO of Maritime, adds, "This agreement provides Maritime with a twelve month exclusive period to evaluate the Nugget Pond Gold Plant in further detail for potential future processing of Hammerdown mineralization. The gold circuit is currently idle and was operated in the past by Richmont Mines, processing feed from the former Nugget Pond and Hammerdown gold mines with gold recoveries of over 95%. Our recently completed PEA outlined an attractive case for a potential re-start the Hammerdown gold project with an average of 69,500 ounces annual production over the first five years and strong after-tax economics including $111.3M NPV 5 % and 50.5% IRR at a gold price of US$1,375/oz)." (See press release dated February 29, 2020.)

*Cautionary Statement: The reader is advised that the PEA summarized in this press release is preliminary in nature and is intended to provide only an initial, high-level review of the Project potential and design options. Readers are encouraged to read the PEA in its entirety, including all qualifications and assumptions. The PEA is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context. The PEA mine plan and economic model include numerous assumptions and the use of Inferred Resources. Inferred Resources are considered to be too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and to be used in an economic analysis except as allowed for by NI 43-101 in PEA studies. There is no guarantee that Inferred Resources can be converted to Indicated or Measured Resources, and as such, there is no guarantee the Combined Project economics described herein will be achieved. The PEA will replace the 2017 pre-feasibility study technical report.

About Maritime Resources Corp.

Maritime Resources holds a 100% interest in the Green Bay Property, including the former Hammerdown gold mine and Orion project plus the Whisker Valley exploration project, all located near the Baie Verte Mining District and Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador. The Hammerdown gold deposit is characterized by near-vertical, narrow mesothermal quartz veins containing gold in pyrite. Hammerdown was last operated by Richmont Mines between 2000-2004 producing 143,000 ounces of gold at an average mine grade of 15.7 gpt Au through a combination of narrow vein open pit and underground mining.

On Behalf of the Board

MARITIME RESOURCES CORP.

1900-110 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1T4

Garett Macdonald, MBA, P.Eng.

President and CEO

For further information, please contact:

Candace Di Vito, Director, Investor Relations

candace@maritimegold.com

www.maritimeresourcescorp.com

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward looking information" and "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, discovery and production of minerals, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, timing of geological reports, strategic plans, capital and operating costs, statements about the results of economic analyses in respect of Hammerdown and Orion, the timing, extent and success of mining operations, the availability of financing, taxation, currency exchange rates, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is given as of the date hereof, and is based on the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) 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/53366
"Wrong answers can cost a company real business any day of the week, but in a time like this  the COVID-19 pandemic  wrong answers can actually cost lives," said Howard Lerman, Founder and CEO of Yext. "Whether it's a question to a healthcare provider about the efficacy of hand sanitizer, an airline about their cancellation policies, or a grocery store about the availability of bottled water, it's imperative we help businesses across all industries deliver these coronavirus-related answers immediately and accurately."

Businesses can register and learn more about this offer at www.nowronganswers.com and start the process of getting Yext Answers implemented on their own website. Additionally, participating companies can implement Yext's free COVID-19 Knowledge Graph plug-in to add Frequently Asked Questions about coronavirus  sourced directly from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  to their own website's search experience.

Click here to learn more about the free Yext Answers offer.

About Yext

The customer journey starts with a question, and every day consumers search for answers about brands. However, they are increasingly served false or misleading information from sources other than the brand. Yext (NYSE: YEXT), the Search Experience Cloud company, exists to help brands regain and maintain a direct relationship with their customers. With a mission to provide perfect answers everywhere, Yext puts businesses in control of their facts online by delivering brand verified answers straight from the source  wherever their customers are searching. Companies like Taco Bell, Marriott, Jaguar-Land Rover, and businesses around the world use Yext to take back control of the customer journey, starting on their own website.

Yext has been named a Best Place to Work by Fortune and Great Place to Work, as well as a Best Workplace for Women. Yext is headquartered in New York City with offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Chicago, Dallas, Geneva, London, Miami, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and the Washington, D.C. area.

SOURCE Yext, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.yext.com


Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine considers an issue of taking restriction measures towards air travel with Germany and France, Minister Vladyslav Krykliy reported.

"Today we will gather with air carriersNow we're considering an issue of restriction of air trips with Germany and France," he said at a briefing on Thursday.
Rocket attacks that left one British and two American service members dead in Iraq March 11 were likely the work of an Iranian-backed Shiite proxy group, the top US military commander in the Middle East told Congress today.

Why it matters: Wednesdays attack, which utilized Soviet-era rocket artillery to attack Camp Taji, where coalition troops are based just 17 miles (27 kilometers) north of Baghdad, bore the hallmarks of Iran-backed Khataib Hezbollah, US Central Command chief Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said.

While the United States has been able to deter direct Iranian strikes against US forces after the Jan. 8 ballistic missile attack on the Ain al-Asad airbase in Iraq, McKenzie conceded that Iranian proxy groups are still attacking with the goal of expelling American troops.

Back-and-forth: The Pentagon launched attacks against Khataib Hezbollahs weapons caches after American contractor Nawres Hamed was killed in a similar rocket strike on Dec. 27.

The revelation that Iran-backed groups have not been deterred sparked attacks from Democrats and independents who insisted that the Donald Trump administrations "maximum pressure" policy has failed. "They're still doing it, and they're also headed toward a nuclear weapon," said Sen. Angus King, I-Me., in a tense back-and-forth with McKenzie.

Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon today, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said at least a dozen rockets from Iranian-backed groups had impacted Camp Taji, causing some structural damage and wounding 14 coalition service members and contractors in addition to the dead.

Whats next: McKenzie will address lawmakers in closed session later today. The CENTCOM chief said earlier this week that the United States is set to deploy Patriot air defense systems to Iraq to cope with the upgraded threat from Iran-backed groups.

Former Trump administration officials said the attack was likely carried out with the knowledge and support of Irans powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The US military is likely preparing options for a response to present Trump, a former senior administration official told Al-Monitor. These responses would likely range from direct attacks against the militia that carried this out in Iraq, targeting IRGC operatives in Iraq or Syria up to and including direct attacks on Iranian military in Iran. They may also be considered covert actions to respond, which could help reduce the chances of escalation.

Many in the Trump administration believed that the ballistic missile strikes that left more than 100 US service members with mild traumatic brain injuries after the killing of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in an American drone strike in January would only be the start of the Iranian response, the former official said, despite Trumps insistence that Iran appeared to be standing down after the Jan. 8 attacks.

Know more: Read Pentagon correspondent Jack Detsch on Wednesdays attack that killed three coalition service members in Iraq.
New Delhi, March 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, here on Thursday, urged Indians not to panic, but remain vigilant to keep the coronavirus at bay. "Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions," the Prime Minister tweeted.

Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions.



No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel.



We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2020

Stating that no Minister will travel abroad in the coming days because of the pandemic, the Prime Minister said, "I urge countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings." Earlier, Modi had requested against large-scale Holi congregation.

He said the government was "fully vigilant" about the coronavirus situation. "Across Ministries & states, multiple steps have been taken to ensure safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from suspension of visas to augmenting healthcare capacities," he said.

Earlier during the day, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba wrote to the Secretaries of all ministries on dealing with the situation.

According to the Health Ministry, the Prime Minister is reviewing the situation with the top officials since the first case was declared on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan of China. The Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to monitor the preparedness to fight coronavirus, had met 6 times, it said.

Of the 73 coronavirus cases in India, 17 are foreigners.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Lucy Mecklenburgh and her fiance Ryan Thomas have welcomed their first child together.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star announced the arrival of a son, named Roman Ravello Thomas, on Thursday night.

Mecklenburgh shared a black-and-white photo of the newborn holding on to her finger with her 1.6 million Instagram followers.

She captioned the image with the boys name surrounded by blue heart emojis.

Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and The Saturdays Frankie Bridge were among those congratulating her on the news.

Former Towie star Sam Faiers said: I thought you had gone a bit quiet. Huge congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy.

And former Love Island contestant Olivia Attwood said: Beautiful name. Congratulations guys.

Lucy Mecklenburgh (Ian West/PA)

Coronation Street actress Samia Longchambon added: Aw, so nice to hear some good news congratulations guys!

Video of the Day

Mecklenburgh, 28, and Thomas, 35, have been in a relationship since 2017 after meeting on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls.

Thomas, who played Jason Grimshaw in Corrie from 2000 until 2016, proposed during a holiday in Italy in June last year.

They announced in August that they were expecting a baby.
Police impose fines on drivers in Quang Binh province (Photo: VNA)

At a conference reviewing online public services on the national public service portal on March 10, Dung said this was among many e-payment services on the portal which have been completed and are ready for the trial.

Major General Le Xuan Duc, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Securitys Traffic Police Department, said people in Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Binh Thuan can pay fines at http://dichvucong.gov.vn.

Previously, traffic violators had to go to traffic police offices to get penalty tickets and then pay their fines at treasury offices. Police will return their revoked driving licences or seized vehicles at police stations after a certain amount of time.

The new scheme simplifies matters, allowing people to pay fines online instead of going to treasury offices.

Duc said paying only took between three and 10 minutes. People needed to enter their personal information and the penalty ticket number to search for their violation record and pay fines online through their banks.

The ministry will review the trial and possibly apply the services in other localities in the third quarter.

Speaking at the conference, Dung said other e-payment services such as personal tax payment, collecting registration fees for cars and motorcycles and business tax declaration and payment would also start on March 13.

He asked ministries, sectors and agencies to re-examine the services to ensure their operation.

Dung said the integration of additional services on the national public service portal was important in the context of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

After three months of operation on a trial basis, as of March 9, there were 77,226 accounts registered on the national public service portal and more than 20.9 million visits to find information and services.

The Governments reporting information system will be launched on March 13 to review the three-month implementation of the portal and to integrate more public services.

Dung said among 20.9 million visits to the portal, the number of businesses using it was still limited. Thus, it is necessary to boost public services involved in tax declaration and customs clearance to increase their participation.
Donald Trump addressed the nation on live television from the Oval Office at 9pm EST Wednesday on the escalating coronavirus threat. Here is what he said:

My fellow Americans: Tonight, I want to speak with you about our nations unprecedented response to the coronavirus outbreak that started in China and is now spreading throughout the world.

Today, the World Health Organization officially announced that this is a global pandemic.

We have been in frequent contact with our allies, and we are marshalling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people.

This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.

I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus.

From the beginning of time, nations and people have faced unforeseen challenges, including large-scale and very dangerous health threats.

This is the way it always was and always will be. It only matters how you respond, and we are responding with great speed and professionalism.

Our team is the best anywhere in the world.

Moment of history: Donald Trump spoke to a single camera directly in front of the Resolute desk to deliver his address on the coronavirus crisis

At the very start of the outbreak, we instituted sweeping travel restrictions on China and put in place the first federally mandated quarantine in over 50 years.

We declared a public health emergency and issued the highest level of travel warning on other countries as the virus spread its horrible infection.

And taking early intense action, we have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than are now present in Europe.

The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots.

As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.

After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and wellbeing of all Americans.

To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground.

There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings, and these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval.

Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.

These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom.

At the same time, we are monitoring the situation in China and in South Korea.

And, as their situation improves, we will reevaluate the restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening.

Trying to calm: Donald Trump used the rarely-deployed tool of an Oval Office address to the nation at 9pm EST to try to prevent coronavirus panic

Earlier this week, I met with the leaders of health insurance industry who have agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing.

We are cutting massive amounts of red tape to make antiviral therapies available in record time.

These treatments will significantly reduce the impact and reach of the virus.

Additionally, last week, I signed into law an $8.3 billion funding bill to help CDC and other government agencies fight the virus and support vaccines, treatments, and distribution of medical supplies.

Testing and testing capabilities are expanding rapidly, day by day. We are moving very quickly.

The vast majority of Americans: The risk is very, very low. Young and healthy people can expect to recover fully and quickly if they should get the virus.

The highest risk is for elderly population with underlying health conditions.

The elderly population must be very, very careful. In particular, we are strongly advising that nursing homes for the elderly suspend all medically unnecessary visits.

In general, older Americans should also avoid nonessential travel in crowded areas.

My administration is coordinating directly with communities with the largest outbreaks, and we have issued guidance on school closures, social distancing, and reducing large gatherings.

Smart action today will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow.

Every community faces different risks and it is critical for you to follow the guidelines of your local officials who are working closely with our federal health experts -- and they are the best.

For all Americans, it is essential that everyone take extra precautions and practice good hygiene.

Each of us has a role to play in defeating this virus.

Wash your hands, clean often-used surfaces, cover your face and mouth if you sneeze or cough, and most of all, if you are sick or not feeling well, stay home.

To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action, which is unprecedented, to provide financial relief.

This will be targeted for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus.

I will be asking Congress to take legislative action to extend this relief.

Because of the economic policies that we have put into place over the last three years, we have the greatest economy anywhere in the world, by far.

Our banks and financial institutions are fully capitalized and incredibly strong. Our unemployment is at a historic low.

This vast economic prosperity gives us flexibility, reserves, and resources to handle any threat that comes our way.

As of midnight on Wednesday, after Trump announced the travel ban, the United States had 1,315 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 38 deaths

This is not a financial crisis, this is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.

However, to provide extra support for American workers, families, and businesses, tonight I am announcing the following additional actions: I am instructing the Small Business Administration to exercise available authority to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the coronavirus.

Effective immediately, the SBA will begin providing economic loans in affected states and territories.

These low-interest loans will help small businesses overcome temporary economic disruptions caused by the virus.

To this end, I am asking Congress to increase funding for this program by an additional $50 billion.

Using emergency authority, I will be instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments, without interest or penalties, for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted.

This action will provide more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy.

Finally, I am calling on Congress to provide Americans with immediate payroll tax relief.

Hopefully they will consider this very strongly.

We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus. We made a life-saving move with early action on China.

Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay.

I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health, and safety of the American people.

I will always put the wellbeing of America first.

If we are vigilant -- and we can reduce the chance of infection, which we will -- we will significantly impede the transmission of the virus.

The virus will not have a chance against us. No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States.

We have the best economy, the most advanced healthcare, and the most talented doctors, scientists, and researchers anywhere in the world. We are all in this together.

We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family.

As history has proven time and time again, Americans always rise to the challenge and overcome adversity.

Our future remains brighter than anyone can imagine.

Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before.

God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you.
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The United States on Wednesday (local time) announced that it is suspending all travel from European countries except the United Kingdom for the next 30 days as coronavirus cases in America reached 1,200.

President Donald Trump, during his address to the nation, said that the European Union (EU) has failed to take precautions to restrict travel from China and other hotspots.

Coronavirus, which originated from China, has spread to most parts of the including Italy, the United Kingdom and France. Italy has recorded the maximum number of deaths from coronavirus -- over 800 -- besides China.

"America is responding against coronavirus with great speed and professionalism. EU failed to take the same precautions to restrict travel from China and other hotspots," Trump said.

"We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the US for 30 days. Restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indigenous Peruvians whose home has been contaminated by decades of oil extraction in the Amazon are appealing to Dutch authorities to hold accountable a company they say caused devastating pollution in the rainforest while using legal loopholes to avoid paying taxes to the Peruvian state.

A delegation of four local communities, supported by NGOs, on Wednesday filed a complaint in The Hague against the oil multinational Pluspetrol, which was founded in Argentina but is now based in the Netherlands via a letterbox office with one employee.

Lodged with the OECDs National Contact Point in the Netherlands, the complaint alleges that Pluspetrol violated the global trade bodys guidelines on human rights, the environment, transparency and the fair payment of tax.

It asks that Pluspetrol agree to clean up the pollution caused by billions of barrels of dumped toxic waste and oil spills that have contaminated a remote corner of the jungle, and that the company  whose contract ended in 2015  pay its taxes.

The company has a long history of failing to comply with environmental standards and of contesting sanctions and corrective measures ordered by Peruvian environment agencies, says Yaizha Campanario of non-profit Peru Equidad, one of eight organisations behind the complaint.

These indigenous communities have had to seek justice in the Netherlands, outside of a court of law, because the Peruvian state has been unable to guarantee that Pluspetrol will meet its obligations to the Peruvian people.

Between 2000 and 2015, Pluspetrol operated a concession called Lot 1AB (since renamed Lot 192). Over those 15 years, they are alleged to have polluted and destroyed almost 2,000 different sites through at least 116 oil spills  due to poorly maintained pipeline infrastructure  and the dumping of production waters.

With contaminated rivers, lagoons and soils, Campanario told RFI the impacts of Pluspetrols activities on the local Achuar, Quechua, Kukama and Kichwa communities have been devastating, with land titles rights blocked and childrens futures destroyed.

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A toxicological study in 2016 showed that a lot of the population had high levels of heavy metals in their blood: arsenic, lead, cadmium, she says, adding their exposure to the chemicals had been elevated because of their cultural closeness to the land.

Indigenous communities in the Amazon forest are hunters and gatherers and they have small-scale agriculturenow there are no more fish in the lagoons, fish in the rivers are contaminated and so are the animals.

The case cites a 2017 study that found Pluspetrols dumping practices had caused widespread contamination of natural water courses and high downstream concentrations of heavy metals affecting a population of 25,000 people.

While environmental and human rights abuses are at the heart of the complaint, another main thrust centres on the allegation that Pluspetrol has avoided paying taxes by weaving a complex network of letterbox holding companies set up in tax havens.

They only have one registered employee in the Netherlands but no further economic activity, explains Joseph Wilde, who specialises in corporate responsibility issues at the independent NGO the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, which is also supporting the complaint.

[They also have] a whole range of empty letterbox companies in Luxembourg and Cayman Islands and secrecy and tax paradises around the worldset up in constructions that are very frequently used to avoid paying taxes in the countries in which the actual economic activity is happening.

While tax avoidance  using legal tricks to reduce a companys tax base  is not against the law, Wilde says it is a breach of OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises, the global standard of responsible business conduct.

The Dutch government, because it is a signatory to these guidelines, expects companies headquartered in the Netherlands not to engage in unethical or immoral tax avoidance practices, Wilde says.

If the Dutch National Contact Point accepts the complaint is valid, it may act as a mediator between Pluspetrol and the Peruvian communities. If a resolution is not found, the body is expected to issue a public statement determining whether Pluspetrol is guilty of violating OECD guidelines.

For its part, Pluspetrol says it has worked to reduce the risk of pollution through waste management" and cleaning programs to "minimise the environmental impacts" of its operations in Peru.

RFI has contacted Pluspetrols office in the Netherlands for reaction to the allegation of tax avoidance.
A map in Panama displays countries where Covid-19 has been detected

Europe's privacy rulebook does not create obstacles to taking action to curb the coronavirus epidemic, but mass tracking of people's movements and contacts using smartphone location data would represent a clear violation.

Technophiles support the use of such data to reconstruct the movements of people exposed to the flu-like virus and identify others who are at risk of infection.

Privacy advocates counter that this approach, used in China, subjects people to the kind of digital surveillance that has no place in a western democracy.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which took effect in the European Union in mid-2018, states that people's data is their own and requires anyone seeking to process it to obtain their consent.

Companies should take action to minimise both the risk of infection and violations of privacy. They can obtain information on whether an employee has travelled to a region with confirmed coronavirus cases, according to law firms.

Some systemic data collection may also be required, such as through workplace questionnaires or requiring staff to report their travel plans.

This is covered under articles six and nine of the GDPR, which cover workplace health and safety, and using preventive or occupational medicine to address serious cross-border health threats.

WHAT CAN'T THEY DO?

Employers are not allowed to take mandatory readings of the temperature of employees or visitors, nor can they require them to fill out compulsory medical questionnaires, according to French data protection office CNIL.

In practical terms, that means a receptionist may only take the temperature of a visitor under certain conditions, as this may require processing of health data that can only be done by a doctor, said Holger Lutz, partner at law firm Baker & McKenzie.

CAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS OVERRIDE THE GDPR?

Italy, the European country hardest hit by coronavirus, has passed emergency legislation requiring anyone who has recently stayed in an at-risk area to notify health authorities either directly or through their doctor.

Germany, meanwhile, recently inserted wording into its GDPR enabling legislation that specifically allows for the processing of personal data in the event of an epidemic, or natural and man-made catastrophes, said Mr Lutz.

COULD SMARTPHONE TRACKING HELP MATTERS?

The head of the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's main public health body, caused a stir last week by suggesting that smartphone location data could be used to track people as a tool for curbing the future spread of the coronavirus.

The technology exists - Google Maps, for example, uses smartphone GPS location data to estimate traffic congestion and calculate journey times.

A Hamburg geo-tracking startup called Ubilabs is working with the Hannover School of Medicine on a data analysis platform that could track people who have tested positive for the coronavirus and their contacts, 'Der Tagesspiegel' reported on Tuesday.

HOW COULD TRACKING COMPLY WITH THE GDPR?

Such smartphone tracking would in all probability require people's consent to have a valid legal basis, federal data protection officer Ulrich Kelber told Reuters.

Any tracking-based system would need to undergo detailed analysis to ensure an acceptable level of data protection, Mr Kelber said.

It should also be proportionate, both in terms of whether the accuracy of the location data gathered serves the intended purpose and whether a less intrusive method is available.

WHAT ARE OTHER COUNTRIES DOING?

China, the source of the coronavirus epidemic, has introduced a mandatory traffic-light system which uses smartphone software to determine whether people can move about or meet.

Individuals rated red or yellow on the Alipay Health Code app are not allowed to travel or visit public places such as restaurants or shopping malls for 14 or seven days respectively.

In Taiwan, visitors to the country are required on arrival to download a questionnaire using a QR code and report the airport they came from, their 14-day travel history and health symptoms.

Those assessed to have low risk receive a text message, telling them that they are free to travel.

Those deemed to pose a risk are required to self-isolate for 14 days, with their compliance monitored using location data from their smartphones.

Reuters
The University of Houston will not hold classes next week after students return from spring break, and then will only hold courses remotely in an effort to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus, school officials announced Wednesday.

With the announcement, UH joins several other Texas higher education institutions in temporarily canceling classes due to the novel coronavirus, as well as three Houston-area K-12 districts and schools that announced temporary shutdowns Wednesday.

UH will begin holding its classes remotely on March 23.

The regions other schools and districts remain open for now, following guidance from area health officials that closures are not necessary at this time. Most local districts are on spring break this week, with notable exceptions that include Houston, Alief and Spring Branch ISDs.

Health officials in Fort Bend, Harris and Montgomery counties had announced 15 local cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, though experts expect the total will grow in the coming weeks.

UH leaders urged students to stay home and offered faculty and staff the option of working remotely as institutions across Greater Houston aimed to curb large gatherings of people. Housing and dining services still will be available to students who need them, while offices and laboratories will remain open, university officials said.

At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the University of Houston, school officials said in a statement. We urge you to please follow personal hygiene precautions and exercise social distancing measures as recommended by (the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and local health authorities.

To the west, Baylor President Linda Livingstone said Wednesday the private Baptist university will extend its spring break for students through next week, resuming classes via an online format from March 23 through April 3.

The University of Texas at Austin announced classes would resume on campus March 30, with faculty and staff using the time to prepare for social distancing measures.

Prairie View A&M officials also said they are suspending classes until March 23, with faculty and staff still required to work. Rice University and Texas A&M universities temporarily stopped in-person classes in recent days.

On the local K-12 front, Montgomery ISD, a 9,000-student district located about 15 miles west of Conroe, and two small private Houston schools, Saint Thomas Episcopal School in Meyerland and The Joy School in the Museum District, said late Tuesday and Wednesday that they are shuttering as a precautionary measure.

Montgomery County officials reported Tuesday the metro areas first non-travel-related case of the virus, while Saint Thomas Episcopal and Joy school leaders said members of their communities have had contact with individuals who tested positive or could test positive for the virus.

Montgomery ISD officials said they are canceling classes Thursday and Friday out an abundance of caution and to provide additional time for a deep cleaning of district facilities. District officials have not said there is any known nexus of students and staff to the patient positively identified as infected by COVID-19.

Im sure all of the districts are doing this deep cleaning now that there is a Montgomery County report, said Sonja Lopez, the districts assistant superintendent of human resources.

Montgomery ISD is scheduled for spring break next week and a return to class following the hiatus.

St. Thomas Episcopal officials said they shut down the 600-student K-12 campus as a precautionary measure after a student was in contact with someone possibly exposed to COVID-19. The school will remain closed for two weeks, with spring break scheduled next week.

The Joy School also will stay shuttered for two weeks after two community members each separately had some level of exposure to an individual who has a confirmed novel coronavirus case, campus officials said. The 150-student school for students with disabilities takes spring break next week.

One person had direct person-to-person contact, the other lives with someone who had direct person-to-person contact, Joy School leader Shara Bumgarner said in a taped message to parents posted Tuesday. Neither person in our community has been tested yet, nor are they exhibiting any symptoms.

Compared to universities, school districts face additional challenges in suspending school. Many children rely on meals delivered at their campus, do not have access to laptops and Internet for distance learning and need adult supervision if forced to stay home.

Still, districts across the region are preparing for the possibility of additional closures and cancellations. While Houston health officials have advised against canceling classes, noting that healthy children remain at low risk for contracting the virus, that calculus could change if reports of COVID-19 continue to grow.

Weve been asking (districts) to plan for what would happen if this becomes more widespread, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Wednesday.

Houston ISD administrators said Wednesday that they plan to continue classes through the end of the week, citing guidance from the Houston Health Department. Once the district returns from next weeks spring break, HISD officials plan to temporarily limit campus visitors, including parents and volunteers, and cancel all after-school activities and large campus gatherings.

In Alief, district officials announced they temporarily are suspending all school-sponsored field trips, ending community school events, stopping volunteers from accessing school facilities and banning parents from visiting for breakfast and lunch. University Interscholastic League events will continue until further notice.

Spring Branch leaders also revoked their approval of all district-sponsored trips, though families still can choose to travel to those events.

Reporter Brittany Britto contributed to this story.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 02:02:54|Editor: yan

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MOSCOW, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Thursday expressed satisfaction with a "significant decrease in tensions" in Syria's Idlib, the Kremlin said.

During a telephone conversation, the presidents discussed issues related to an agreement reached regarding Idlib during the Russian-Turkish summit in Moscow on March 5, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The leaders confirmed the importance of continuing close collaboration, primarily through the Russian and Turkish defense ministries, in order to ensure a stable cessation of hostilities and further stabilize the situation, it said.

They agreed to maintain regular dialogue at various levels, including personal contacts, it added.

Last Thursday, Putin and Erdogan after nearly six hours of talks agreed on a ceasefire between Turkish troops and militants they support and the Syrian government troops backed by Russia in the Idlib de-escalation zone.
The tax filing deadline may be pushed back past April 15 in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The Wall Street Journal reported the delay could be part of an overall stimulus package designed to mitigate the outbreaks impact on financial markets and the economy. The president has also recommended slashing payroll taxes to zero for the remainder of the year.

Details of the plan werent released.

Here are the latest coronavirus updates:

U.S. death toll at 37

The number of novel coronavirus cases in the U.S. is at 1,237 with 37 deaths. The vast majority of the deaths were in Washington state, with 23 occurring in a King County, Washington nursing home.

Globally, there are 126,093 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 4,628 deaths and 68,214 recovered.

Trump cancels travel

President Trump has canceled events scheduled this week in Nevada and Colorado due to the coronavirus.

The president was scheduled to fly to Nevada for a fundraiser and to speak at the Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas before stopping in Denver on Friday.

Florida universities close

Florida universities are moving to online learning due to the coronavirus.

The State University System said schools who have already returned from spring are asked to move to online learning and encourage students to stay home for at least two weeks. Those schools are: Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida.

Students who are currently on spring break or are about to be are directed not to return for at least two weeks after the conclusion of spring break. Those schools are Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, University of North Florida, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida and University of West Florida.

Samford University in Alabama has also announced it will move to online learning after spring break.

Disney: No plans to close

Disneys U.S. parks have no plans to close, according to company Executive Chairman Bob Iger.

Were all sobered by the concern that we feel for everyone affected by this global crisis. But its also important to note that throughout our companys nearly century-long history, Disney has been through a lot, including wars, economic downturns and natural disasters. And what weve demonstrated repeatedly over the years, is that we are incredibly resilient. Our future has always been bright, and it remains so for good reason, Iger said.

Disneys parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong are closed due to the coronavirus threat.

Additional hand sanitizer and hand washing stations have been installed at Disney World and Disneyland, along with extra signage advising visitors to wash their hands.

Vegas casinos close buffets

MGM Resorts has temporarily closed restaurant buffets at its locations across Las Vegas.

Buffets at the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Aria, Bellagio, Mirage, Luxor and Excalibur have closed in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

No live audiences for debates

Sundays Democratic presidential debate between former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders will take place without an audience.

The Democratic National Commission announced the Arizona debate will not be held in front of a live audience. The move was made at the request of both campaigns and out of an abundance of caution, the DNC said.

Six cases of coronavirus have been reported in Arizona.

Heres more from AL.coms coverage on coronavirus:

Mississippi reports first presumptive case of coronavirus

Coronavirus: Travel from Europe to US restricted; Americans exempted after appropriate screenings

Ascension cancels Mass at St. Vincents Hospital due to coronavirus concern

Samford moving to online classes starting Monday over coronavirus

Coronavirus: What is a pandemic?

Coronavirus hand washing: Sing Sweet Home Alabama chorus twice, health officials say

Alabama receives $8.15 million to fight coronavirus
Canterbury officials will meet in the next 72 hours to discuss the immediate playing futures of Corey Harawira-Naera and Jayden Okunbor as another club sponsor, MPA, walked away because of the Port Macquarie sex scandal.

On another tough day for the Belmore club, boss Andrew Hill was also forced to inform the NRL integrity unit a video allegedly involving Harawira-Naera with a young female patron in a toilet cubicle at a Port Macquarie hotel was not him.

MPA, a local construction company, ended its sponsorship with the Dogs because of the pre-season drama, a source close to the club confirmed to the Herald.

While MPA did not feature on any of the game-day apparel, it is another financial blow for the Dogs who only a day earlier lost a $2 million front-of-jersey sponsorship deal with restaurant chain Rashays.
Photo Illustration by Lyne Lucien/The Daily Beast/Getty

With Joe Biden taking Michigan (along with Mississippi and Missouri), Democrats can heave a gusty sigh of relief that they wont be nominating a socialist as their partys standard bearer.

Michigan was Bernie Sanders lifeline in 2016; not this time. Things wont get any easier for Sanders next Tuesday: Florida could very well be his Waterloo, and Ohio and Illinois arent looking likely to be feeling the Bern either.

This is a moment to step back and appreciate the magnitude of what has transpired. We have become inured to rapidly changing news cycles, but Joe Bidens turnabout still amazes. Just 10 days ago, Bernie seemed to have the nomination in the bag.

Biden Seizes Bernie Battleground, Closes In on Trump Showdown

Then, to everyones surprise, it turned out that 2020 Democrats were not as susceptible to the perverse incentives that allowed Donald Trump to orchestrate a hostile takeover of the 2016 GOP.

For Trump, the stars all aligned. For Bernie, they crashed and burned. The question on my mind is: Why the difference? I have thoughts.

First, Democrats benefited from having witnessed Trumps takeover. They realized that you cant ignore a problem like Bernie.

Remember, Trumps Republican adversaries assumed he would eventually flame out (while also hoping they might inherit his rabid supporters). Conversely, Democrats harbored no such illusions about Sanders potential for collapse. Indeed, his big victory in Nevada seems to have provoked an overwhelming response. (Related, its possible that some of Sanders success in 2016 had to do with Hillary Clintons unique weaknesses as a candidate, not least with some of the Democratic base.)

Second, Democrats retain some semblance of adult leadership. Whereas rank-and-file Republicans had largely turned their backs on their standard bearers (George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney) in favor of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter, establishment Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barack Obama still command a lot of respect from their rank and file. We dont know what Obama said to Mayor Pete during their pre-Super Tuesday phone call, but we do know that Buttigieg promptly got out of the race and endorsed Biden.

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Of course, and this is reason three, the real credit belongs to the sane and normal Democratic voters (most of all African-Americans) who joined hands to become Bidens firewall.

Because of the diversity in the Democratic Party, winning the nomination requires stitching together a diverse coalitiona project that tends to have a moderating effect.

There were pockets of anti-Trump sentiment in 2016 (think Wisconsin and Utah), but the GOP did not have reserves of moderate voters to serve as a similar circuit breaker.

The lack of moderates in the GOP was, perhaps, best reflected by the fact that Trumps most formidable rival was Ted Cruznot exactly an enticing Plan B for establishment Republicans.

Here, it helps to think of the modern Democratic Party as a collection of (a) African-Americans, (b) educated suburbanites, and (c) Bernie Bros of all genders. Conversely, the 2016 Republican Party consisted of (a) white evangelicals, (b) moderate RINOs, and (c) Trumpian populists. White evangelicals are to the GOP what African-Americans are to the Democratic Party: the largest and most powerful coalition. Yet, rather than being a voice of reason, conservative evangelicals backed a candidate (Ted Cruz) whose mirror image would be more akin to Elizabeth Warren than Joe Biden. And once it became apparent that Cruz wasnt going to win, they were more than happy to jump on the Trump train. Democratic voters are much, much more moderate than Republican voters.

There are also structural differences to consider.

Democrats still have superdelegates, who could potentially weigh in and tip the scales in Bidens favor. Moreover, Democrats allocate their delegates proportionately (Republicans went with mostly winner-take-all primaries). The rules make it harder for someone trailing in the delegate count to catch up.

Whether its because they learned their lesson fast, simply have a healthier political party, or just plain got lucky, one truth has emerged: As an institution, the Democratic Party is much stronger than the GOP. One friend of mine summed it up this way: In 2016, Republicans wanted a fighter. In 2020, Dems want a winner. And, it seems, they might have found one.

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The travel restrictions which were issued by the Government of Sint Maarten have now been increased from 14 to 21-days, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs disclosed on Wednesday.





The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be meeting on Thursday and a meeting will be held with Members of Parliament (MPs) to provide them with an update on national preparations for COVID-19.





Jacobs said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared that the coronavirus COVID-19 is now an international pandemic. Such a declaration calls on all countries to speed up their response and containment measures and to be prepared to take any additional measures that are required to protect public health.





The Government continues to work closely with the Government of French Saint-Martin and Kingdom counterparts in order to prepare and plan to mitigate the spread.





Prime Minister Jacobs added that the business community as well as Government will have to look at ways of allowing workers to work remotely from home, especially for persons who have traveled to COVID-19 hotspots including those who are not mentioned in the countrys travel restriction lists.





Persons should self- isolate for 14-days at home; contact their family physician (GP) and provide a list of their flu-like symptoms to their GP if they develop any. The family physician will determine if the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) should be contacted. For more information you can call the 914-hot line during business hours.





Children with flu-like symptoms should remain home; self-isolation is the best way to contain communicable diseases. Special attention should be paid to senior citizens, especially those with pre-existing health (respiratory) conditions.





Passengers and airline crew who have been in China (Peoples Republic), Hong Kong (SAR China), Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Macao (SAR China) or Singapore in the past 21 days, are not allowed to transit or enter Sint Maarten.





This does not apply to nationals of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (being from Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Netherlands, St. Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten); and this does not apply to residents of Sint Maarten.





All passengers must fill in the embarkation card in order to know where the passengers are coming from before the aircraft/ship arrives in Sint Maarten.





There are zero cases of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 on Dutch Sint Maarten at this time. Our screening processes at our ports of entry have been stepped up in cooperation with the airlines who are also following their own screening protocols based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.





There is no reason to panic; stay calm and take preventative hygiene measures at home, on the job, in school that have been promoted by the Ministry of Public Health for the past several weeks via the Governments Department of Communication.





Persons should refrain from hugging and touching each other when visiting family or friends. We have to get back to the No touch rule in order to protect ourselves at this point in time with the global COVID-19 outbreak.





The Government continues to work diligently to increase capacity within the public health sector, but this will take some time.





Listen to the Government Radio station  107.9FM - for official information, statements and news updates or visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus or and Facebook Page: Facebook.com/SXMGOV





PHOTO: Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs
Tributes have poured in for legendary chef and restaurateur Michel Roux following his death.

It has been reported that Roux passed away on Wednesday night at his home in Berkshire at the age of 78, following a long-term illness.

In a statement issued on his behalf of his family, his son and his two daughters, it stated that Rouxs family would like to thank everyone for their support during his illness.

The news of Rouxs death, having been described as the godfather of modern cuisine following the opening of his London Le Gavroche restaurant, has sent shockwaves through the culinary industry.

Celebrities including First Dates star Fred Sirieix and former Bake Off winner Candice Brown have shared messages of condolence in tribute to the late chef.

Recommended Legendary chef Michel Roux dies aged 79

RIP #MichelRoux. You and your brother Albert changed the face of gastronomy, eating out and the world of restaurants in the UK, Sirieix tweeted.

Every professional in this country are a proud descendant of your heritage. We owe you. Thank you #legend [sic].

Brown also shared a tweet, stating that the chef world has truly lost a legend.

One of the very very best #michelroux thoughts are with his family.

The Michelin Guide issued a statement on Twitter, describing Roux as a true titan of the hospitality industry.

He inspired a whole generation of chefs and the UK restaurant scene would not be what it is today were it not for his influence, the statement read.

Brian Turner, chef and president of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, said that the gastronomy world in the UK has lost their greatest modern champion.

An adopted son of Great Britain, Michel Roux was a much-loved chef with a mischievous sense of humour, Turner said, according to The Caterer.

By creating and developing the Roux Scholarship many young cooks in this country have profited by the passion of the Roux family and the leadership and dedication of Michel and will constantly be aware how this has changed the lives of so many of the top chefs in this country.

Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson described Roux as a wonderful man.

Michel Roux - A life in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux - A life in pictures The Roux brothers in 'Take Six Cooks' TV Programme, 1985 Rex Features Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux pictured with his wife Robyn at their home In Bray, 1992 Rex Features Michel Roux - A life in pictures Trevor Blyth celebrates in style with judges Gary Rhodes and Michel Roux after winning the coveted Roux Diners Club scholarship competition at Four Seasons Hotel, London on March 1996 PA Michel Roux - A life in pictures Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw after presenting French cooks Albert and Michel Roux with their honorary OBE medals at the Foreign Office in London 31 October 2002. The brothers received the honor for their services to cooking AFP via Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Competitor Helene Andersen discusses the finer points of cooking Brill with judge Michel Roux during the final of the Roux Scholarship at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, 2009 PA Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux chats to Heston Blumenthal as they judge the final round of a competition for chefs to win a 'Roux Scholarship' at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 6, 2009 Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux judges the final round of a competition for chefs to win a 'Roux Scholarship' in 2009 Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux OBE and Albert Roux OBE speak during the finals of the 'Roux Scholarship' competitionl in central London, on April 6, 2009 AFP via Getty Images

He knew his craft so well and to maintain those three Michelin stars for so many years was an incredible achievement, Thompson stated.

He was French but he adopted our country. Everyone strived to be like the Roux brothers. They changed the face of British dining, because we were considered to be a joke Anyone who wanted to be a Michelin chef would have always looked up to the Roux brothers, theres no doubt about that.

Television presenter Julia Bradbury also tweeted in homage to Roux, stating: Such respect for the legend #MichelRoux.
Alectris, the global provider of operations and maintenance service for solar industry, has announced the completion of a 11.5 MW project in Jordan in collaboration with Mase, a key player in the O&M and management of commercial and utility-scale solar PV plants.



The project saw both firms join forces to deliver enhanced O&M and asset management services to the plant.



Beginning in 2016, the partnership saw Mase take responsibility of field operations and maintenance services on location, while Alectris provided operations and legacy expertise in global asset care along with the Actis system.



The ambitious partnership model from Alectris and Mase was specifically designed to formalise, expedite and autonomise asset management activity across new solar projects in the region.



Working together, both businesses successfully improved the bankability of the project, which was financed by key development finance institutions operating across the region.



Alectris' Managing Director Vassilis Papaeconomou said: "Solar development in the Mena region offers a significant opportunity to invest in clean energy projects."



"But if this market momentum is to be maintained, its imperative that operating plants offer security and stability of financial returns. By partnering with Mase, weve been jointly able to combine the latest in asset management software with leading experience in services activity," he stated.



"This will ensure that project owners and investors benefit from enhanced and efficient performance reporting and operational management, saving time, reducing costs and ensuring the plant delivers at its optimum. As a result, the plant delivered above expectations with an excellent Performance Ratio and Availability close to 100% over the last three years," he added.



The completion of the Jordanian project was marked in February during Mases annual kick off assembly, at a commemorative event with Alectris in recognition of their accomplishments.



Mase CEO Tareq Khalifeh said: "Throughout this collaboration, Alectris have proved to be reliable, dedicated and experienced with a wealth of knowledge that has been indispensable when working in an exciting but challenging market."



"Actis ERP is now the foundation of our operations and maintenance activities and we will be continuing to use the software to further grow our presence in the MENA region," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Inside the Rain begins as a kind of college caper, although in an unusual location: the student disabilities office. Ben Glass (played by the films writer and director Aaron Fisher) is a 20-something film major with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, A.D.H.D., O.C.D. and a host of other conditions.

This is Bens second attempt at college, but it soon goes awry: romantic disappointments end in self-harm, and a misunderstanding threatens to get him expelled. Determined to vindicate himself and stay in school, Ben enlists the help of an aspiring actress and sex worker, Emma (Ellen Toland), to make a short film about his ordeal.
After being sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape, former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was taken to New York's Bellevue Hospital, reported Variety.

The movie mogul spent a very short span of time in jail before being taken to the hospital.

Weinstein was taken from the Manhattan courthouse to Rikers Island where he started complaining of chest pains. The staff decided to shift him to the hospital for "safety" purposes, said his spokesperson.

"We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections officers and staff," Variety magazine quoted Weinstein's spokesperson as saying.

On Wednesday, the former Hollywood producer was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape.

67-year-old Weinstein, who was once one of Hollywood's most powerful figures, was convicted of the 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 am 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.)
[March 12, 2020] Automation Anywhere Collaborates With ICT Academy of Kerala

More than 12,000 students in Kerala will get access to the program and 80,000 + courses will be completed by 2022 COCHIN, India, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Automation Anywhere, a global leader in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), today signed an MOU with ICT Academy of Kerala (ICTAK) to develop RPA skills among students by deploying a range of education, training, and certification programs, thereby accelerating learning and development in futuristic technology. Kerala is the first state in India to form a statewide collaboration with Automation Anywhere University (AAU - skilling arm of Automation Anywhere), and thus a frontrunner in bringing mass access to advanced technology to the students. Automation Anywhere is leading the way to have the largest number of trained resources to meet the growing demand for RPA globally and development of Digital Workforce. The collaboration will aid 60 Engineering colleges in the state to receive access to AAU learning Content & Software. More than 12,000 students will get access to the program and 80,000 + courses will be completed by 2022. "We are committed to our vision of nurturing RPA talent in India as the market has immense potential to become world's RPA hub. Digital workers have emerged as a great assistant to human employees and enable them to unleash their real potential at work by eliminating mundane tasks. As the demand for RPA climbs sharply across the world, India is all set to generate millions of new jobs in this category. We expect this partnership to be a key milestone in preparing our workforce future ready, while enabling the state to make their students employable in a hgh demand job stream," said Milan Sheth, EVP - IMEA, Automation Anywhere.



Commenting on the collaboration, Santhosh Chandrasekara Kurup, CEO of ICT Academy of Kerala, mentioned, "ICT Academy of Kerala is a social enterprise with a dedicated focus around technologies and practices that drive innovation. Our collaboration with Automation Anywhere provides the students across the state to gain in-depth skills in emerging technology like Robotic Process Automation. The skill helps them to move further towards developing future digital workers, as integral part of Industry 4.0. Automation Anywhere has also extend their support to set up 'Centre of Excellence' in select set of colleges in Kerala to make the software tools available to larger audience of learners." Automation Anywhere University (AAU), has helped the developers, business analysts, partners, and students to complete more than 750,000 courses in RPA. The program has expanded at an accelerated pace globally with more than 100 authorized training partners, 300 plus academic institutions, continuing education programs, and professional associations.

Interact with Automation Anywhere: Visit our website: https://www.automationanywhere.com/

Check out our monthly webinar series BotVisions: https://www.automationanywhere.com/company/webinars

Follow us on Twitter: @AutomationAnywh

Explore with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/automation_anywhere/

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automation-anywhere  Gartner "Predicts 2020: RPA Renaissance Driven by Morphing Offerings and Zeal for Operational Excellence," Stephanie Stoudt-Hansen, et al, Dec. 10, 2019 About Automation Anywhere Automation Anywhere is a global leader in Robotic Process Automation (RPA), empowering customers to automate end-to-end business processes with software bots - digital workers that perform repetitive and manual tasks, resulting in dramatic productivity gains, optimized customer experience and more engaged employees. The company offers the world's only web-based and cloud native intelligent automation platform combining RPA, artificial intelligence, machine learning and analytics right out of the box, to help organizations rapidly start and scale their process automation journey. With offices in more than 40 countries and a global network of 1,400 partners, Automation Anywhere has deployed over 1.8 million bots to support some of the world's largest enterprises across all industries. For additional information, visit www.automationanywhere.com. About ICT Academy of Kerala ICT Academy of Kerala is a Social Enterprise created in a Public Private Partnership model (PPP) for imparting ICT skills to the youths of Kerala and improve their employability opportunities in the Industry. The Company is supported by Govt. of India, partnered by Govt. of Kerala and the IT industry. Media Contact:

[email protected]

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  Two Lafayette men have been officially charged with murder in the stabbing death of a man on March 7.

According to court documents, Floyd Smith, 32, and Joseph Wilkerson, 25, have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder (Level 1 felony) and murder (Level X felony). Smith is also charged with assisting a criminal (Level 5 felony).

Lafayette Police responded to call on March 7 about a stabbing at a home located on N. 7th St near the corner of Cincinnati St. Officers learned Donald Alkire, 29, was stabbed in the neck. Emergency personnel brought him the Franciscan Health ER, where he died from his injuries.
The Upper West Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Osei Kuffuor Afreh has expressed grave concerns over the increasing rate at which doctors and other health workers are abandoning the region to the southern part of the country.

Speaking at the Upper West Regional health review meeting in Wa, Dr. Afreh said over 100 health workers succeeded in getting transferred out of the region while almost 70 of them are still seeking transfers.

The attrition rate of staff is high as majority seek transfer to the south and use all available means to achieve this. So, everybody wants to run away to the south. And as I talk to you now, I have about 67 applications for inter-regional transfer, he said.

While thanking the government for posting over 700 nurses to augment the situation, the director said he was unhappy that out of the 17 medical officers posted to the region last year, only five assumed duty. He stated that the situation is impacting negatively on healthcare delivery in the region as some districts are currently operating without a doctor.

The region received 788 staff for posting to health facilities across the region, including the new regional hospitals. This figure represents a 10% increase in staff situation over the previous year. However, it is very sad to note that only five out of seventeen medical officers posted to the region reported and assumed duty while at the same time, six medical doctors in the region left to pursue other studies. Thus we have a deficit of one, he stated.

Wa chiefs appeal for more doctors to improve healthcare delivery

Chiefs in the Wa municipality of the Upper West Region had also expressed concern over the appalling state of health care delivery in the area.

The paramount chief of the Waala traditional area, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV who made the comment at a durbar of chiefs to welcome President Akufo-Addo to his palace recently said most patients in the area are compelled to seek medical care outside the municipality due to the lack of doctors and other critical staff to man the municipal and regional hospitals located in the area.

The Wa Municipality is the host of the Upper West Regional Hospital which is the main referral health facility in the region.

---citinewsroom
Ten years after its closedown due to insecurity, Argungu international fishing and cultural festival has commenced.

The Argungu festival is a four-day cultural event in Kebbi State that culminates in a motor rally, farmers competition, polo match, archery contest, musical and cultural dances.

The fishing festival was flagged off with a motor rally on Wednesday in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari, during the flag off, said the return of the festival epitomises unity and testament of the federal governments resolve to build local capacity and diversify the economy.

The festival is reputed for drawing tourists from within and outside Nigeria.

Mr Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the government would harness the potentials of the tourism and automotive industries.

The federal government will continue to give the necessary support for the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival and all other festivals in the country in a bid to boost tourism.

We are committed to diversifying the economy through industrialisation and tourism, he said.

READ ALSO:

In his address, the Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu, said the Argungu Festival would serve as an avenue to showcase Nigeria-produced and assembled vehicles.

Promoting food production

During the festivals agricultural fair and display on Thursday, Mr Buhari said his government remains committed to restoring security and expanding food production.

Our presence here today is evidence of governments commitment to restoring security and expanding domestic food production as core mandate of our programmes, he said.

About Argungu festival

Argungu Fishing Festival began in 1934 in honour of the visiting Sultan of Sokoto, Late Hassan Dan Muazu, to mark an end of hostility between the former Sokoto caliphate and the Kebbi kingdom.

Until 2006, a fishing competition used to be the highlight of the festival where fishermen jumped into a river and have an hour to scoop the biggest catch for a big cash prize.

It was, however, banned over safety concerns.

The festival was last held in 2010 and was suspended because of insurgency and insecurity in the country.
An Air India flight, with 150 Indians being evacuated from Iran, will be reaching Jaisalmer on Friday, where they will be quarantined at an Indian Army facility created here, the force said.

"Individuals will be transferred from the airport post their initial screening to the quarantine facility. Another batch of 250 people being air evacuated from Iran on March 14 will also land and quarantined at the Army facility at Jaisalmer," Indian Army said.

"In the next two to three days, we are expecting more citizens to come back to India. We have prepared new facilities at places including Jodhpur, Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Kolkata, Jaisalmer, Chennai and Deolali where we can quarantine these people," Army spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand said earlier in the day.

The disease, which originated in Chinese city of Wuhan in December, last year, has spread to more than 100 countries across the world, infecting over 1,20,000 people globally. India has reported over 73 cases of infection.

Earlier on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WAs natural isolation means the state is typically one of the last places to be hit by a pandemic, an infectious disease expert says.

Curtin University professor Archie Clements  who specialises in the spread and control of diseases  said the spread of coronavirus in Western Australia could go one of two ways.

He said WA was at a juncture that would determine whether the state avoided a major outbreak altogether, or copped a peak in cases around May.

Professor Clements said WAs natural isolation from the rest of the world meant the state was typically one of the last places to be hit by a pandemic. Credit:AP

If we get community transmission of the virus then we could be in for a rough ride in the winter, he said.
Post Offices will remain open and Postal Service to operate as normal

An Post is carefully monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Detailed Business Continuity Plans are in place and we are working closely with the HSE Expert team, the Health Threats Coordination Group and international postal organisations.

 In order to help keep Irelands supply-chains running, An Post is working to ensure the continuity of mails, parcels and post office services over the coming weeks.

 Mails & parcel collection and delivery services will operate as normal (except to countries to which services are suspended - currently China and Mongolia).

 Delivery times may vary as we strive to facilitate flexible working times for staff.

 The HSE advises that there is no evidence of a risk of contracting the virus that causes Covid-19 by handling money, mails or parcels.

 All Post Offices will remain open for business as usual.

 Special arrangements for post office customers unable to collect their regular DEASP payments (e.g. Pensions) are now in place. A nominated Temporary Agent may collect the payment on their behalf, on production of necessary ID and documentation  Details at the Post Office or anpost.com.

 State Savings and An Post Money Current Account services are working normally

 Please see anpost.com for updates

At this difficult time for everyone, our objective is to ensure the health & safety of staff, the continuity of business for An Posts customers and to assist the national effort wherever possible, said An Post CEO, David McRedmond.
More than 380,000 dead, more than half of the population forced from their homes, and a country in ruins: Syria's war, which started in March 2011, has been devastating.

Here are some figures from the nine years of conflict: Victims



The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict via a network of sources across Syria, says it has recorded the deaths of more than 380,000 people.

According to its toll in January 2020, those killed have included more than 115,000 civilians, of whom 22,000 were children and 13,612 women.

Disability rates



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Syrian war represents one of the most severe and complex emergency situations in the world, and has considerably weakened its health system.

Disability rates have increased to 30 per cent in some parts of the country -- double the world average.

At least 45 per cent of people wounded in the conflict will live with a permanent disability.

Displacement



According to the US NGO CARE, the conflict has caused the biggest population displacement since the Second World War.

Fighting has forced more than half the country's pre-war population of 23 million from their homes.

The UN said in February 2020 the number of refugees abroad has reached 5.5 million, while more than six million people are displaced within Syria.

Refugees



Turkey, the main host country, has taken in 3.6 million refugees.

It fears another influx due to the regime's offensive in the northwestern region of Idlib, which since it started in December has displaced nearly a million people.

Lebanon says it hosts 1.5 million Syrians, bringing its total population to 4.5 million.

Less than one million of those are registered with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. Most of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon lack security and depend on international aid.

In Jordan, where the UNHCR says it has registered more than 650,000 Syrians, the government says it is hosting 1.3 million refugees.

At least another 300,000 Syrians have taken refuge in Iraq and more than 130,000 in Egypt, the UN agency says.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have also headed to Europe, notably to Germany, where they account for the majority of asylum seekers.

Jailed, tortured



Since the start of the conflict, President Bashar al-Assad's regime has been accused of human rights abuses including torture, rape and summary executions.

According to the Observatory, at least 60,000 people have died from torture or due to dire conditions in regime prisons.

Half a million people have gone through regime jails since the outbreak of the war, it says.

In 2017, Amnesty International said authorities had hanged around 13,000 people between 2011 and 2015 at the infamous Saydnaya prison near Damascus.

Several thousand have died over the same period in prisons run by jihadists or other rebel groups, Amnesty says.

Economy in ruins



The economy has also been devastated by nine years of war. Four out of five households are unable to meet their food needs, the UN's World Food Programme says.

With unemployment, power cuts and gas shortages, 83 per cent of Syrians live below the poverty line, according to the UN, compared with 28 per cent before the war.

The oil and gas sector has since 2011 lost an estimated USD 74 billion, according to Syrian authorities.

The UN estimates the overall cost in damages at nearly USD 400 billion. Whole areas and towns lie in ruins.

For the UN the situation in Idlib represents "probably the biggest crisis we have in the world today.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) Crucifixion reenactment activities in San Fernando City, Pampanga have been called off this year due to the coronavirus outbreak, local authorities said Tuesday.

We dont have to panic. We just have to follow (the Department of Health) protocols including the joint memorandum for holding public gatherings. We are not disrespecting (the flagellants) religious beliefs and practices, but we actually are protecting them from the disease that may put them and their family at risk, San Fernando City Mayor Edwin Santiago said in a statement.

Santiago said the local government has been discouraged to hold huge religious activities-- including its Holy Week tradition of the the crucifixion rites, which attract both local and foreign tourists during the Lenten season. The Health Department earlier advised LGUs to cancel public gatherings that will attract crowds.

The San Fernando government has also issued a resolution on infection control policies for public events in the city. The resolution's guidelines include monitoring of all participants in public events with infrared thermometers; providing the participants with hand sanitizers or 70% isopropyl alcohol, surgical masks; and providing wastebaskets for the proper disposal of all types of wastes.

The World Health Organization recently declared the novel coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. The viral disease has 118,000 cases in 114 countries, including 4,291 deaths.
Washington: Most travel from Europe to the United States will be banned for 30 days in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, President Donald Trump has said in a dramatic White House announcement.

US President Donald Trump delivers the announcement on coronavirus measures. Credit:New York Times

Trump used a rare televised national address to make the surprise announcement, which will take effect at midnight on Friday in the US (Saturday AEDT).

"This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," Trump said.

"I'm confident that by continuing to take these these tough measures we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus."
Disgraced mogul was admitted to hospital after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

According to his spokesperson, the 67-year-old and wheelchair bound producer was back in Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital for his "ongoing heart problems and chest pains".

Weinstein was suffering from chest pains and medical staff at Rikers Island decided to he went to Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in the US, barely six days after he left the same facility.

"Mr Weinstein is being taken to Bellevue Hospital Ward to treat him for his ongoing heart problems and chest pains," a spokesperson for the Oscar winning producer told Deadline.

Weinstein was discharged from Bellevue on March 5. He was then shifted to Rikers' North Infirmary Command, where he had undergone mild surgery just a few days beforehand for a blockage in his heart.

"In addition a complication related to his back surgery is going to be evaluated. We are incredibly appreciative of the level of care and attention the NYC Dept. of Corrections is showing regarding Mr. Weinstein's medical condition and we are hopeful he will be held overnight for observation given his recent heart procedure less than a week ago and his ongoing medical issues," the spokesperson for the producer added.

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.
There is nothing quite like it in the world. The type of antitrust immunity granted to international containership lines is certainly not covered in business schools except in those savvy enough to offer courses in transportation operations and management. The European Commission (EC), through its Director General of Competition, proposed allowing consortia of containership lines to retain their exemption from European Union (EU) competition law. While this has been in place since 2009, the exemption was set to expire in April 2020. The proposal is for a four-year renewal. In this setting, containership lines may form consortia (i.e., strategic alliances or discussion agreements) without fear of running up against charges of antitrust activity leading to excessive market control.

The EC's assessment of current market conditions led it to recommend a block exemption regulation (BER). The 2009 BER was granted just one year after the EU removed the BER on the more overt form of antitrust activity known as liner "conferences." This form of joint rate-making (i.e., price-fixing) had been the norm since 1875 and was built into the culture of the industry.

A BER on the supply side of the ocean carrier market is not regarded well by most shippers on the demand side. The World Shipping Council (WSC), which represents the carrier side, is pleased with the EC's judgement while other shipper councils representing consignors and consignees are not. In fact, the WSC's 19 carrier membership represents about 90% of international carrier capacity. Other entities that deal with carriers may not be pleased either. These include freight forwarders, ports and terminal operators. At this stage of the debate, the demand side is simply hoping for some amendments to the BER since outright abolition is not the EC's position. One suggestion from the European Shippers Council is to change the BER from a 30% threshold of trade lane activity to 25% in order to trigger an investigation by the EC into market dominance. Of course, the threshold had been reduced from 35% to 30% when the switch from conference to consortia BERs took place over 2008-2009.

Story continues

Even the United States offers limited antitrust immunity to international containership lines by allowing discussion agreements among the carriers. These are filed with the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). Business students might be surprised to hear that it is U.S. policy to grant such a degree of market protection to an industry that is mostly foreign-owned. Even as the industry moved away from U.S.-flagged vessels to flags of convenience (e.g., those granted by Liberia, Panama, etc.) the protection remained. Such is the prominence and necessity of international container shipping to the U.S. economy.

Yet in 2017 a meeting of the industry's top CEOs in Sausalito, California was raided by antitrust officials wielding subpoenas for information. This nearly two-year investigation was ultimately closed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in February 2019 with no charges filed. There was nothing clandestine about the meeting. It was one of the biannual meetings of the International Council of Containership Operators (affectionately known to some as the "Box Club"). Several of its CEOs are members of the WSC as well. U.S. antitrust officials do indeed sit in on these meetings to make sure that the discussions do not veer into overt price-fixing. The group can discuss pricing guidelines (i.e., methods) but not actual prices. These guidelines are also taken by the membership to be voluntary when they set their individual freight rates. Anything more than that would be akin to cartel-like behavior.

Nonetheless, the demand side of the market sometimes raises its suspicions. In other words, when do guidelines become price signals among the CEOs? It certainly is interesting that DOJ felt it necessary to open a formal investigation into an organization it immunized. It was likely in response to recent consolidations among the world's largest container lines. Of course, the FMC approved all of these alliances in the first place and is aware of the inter-carrier discussion agreements. Thus, the regulators have quite the balancing act to perform.

This limited antitrust immunity was codified in the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 1998 (OSRA), which prohibited carrier conferences along U.S. trade lanes. What did the carriers receive in return for this loss in market power? A lifting of the prohibition on negotiating confidential service contracts with preferred shippers. Naturally, big shippers like Walmart and Target were more than happy to leverage their ability to fill capacity on trans-Pacific routes from China as international supply chains went into high gear. The power of conferences was greatly diminished anyway due to this hybrid of carrier cooperation and competition.

The FMC is the regulatory interpreter of OSRA. It is also important to note that this limited protection applies only to foreign-flagged carriers. Jones Act carriers (i.e., those performing domestic transport) do not enjoy the protections codified in OSRA. In either case price-fixing is illegal and DOJ has successfully prosecuted cases involving international and domestic trade lanes.

A recent case involved Wallenius Wilhemsen Logistics (WWL), "K" Line Japan, NYK Japan and CSAV. Each paid fines in 2016 for price-fixing along trade lanes leading to the Port of Baltimore. In this case it involved roll-on, roll-off shipments of automobiles and trucks. WWL's fine after pleading guilty was $98.9 million. A case in a Jones Act trade lane involved Horizon Lines, Sea Star Line and Crowley Maritime paying fines in 2012 related to price-fixing along the U.S.-Puerto Rico trade lane. Horizon Lines pled guilty and agreed to pay a $45 million fine (though it was reduced to $15 million). The complainants in this case were The Kellogg Company and Kraft Foods.

Both sides of the ocean carrier market have one thing in common  each wants certainty. Of course, each side differs on what ought to be certain. The carriers will claim that they are only discussing availability and sharing of capacity (i.e., operational issues). One can argue that this leads to efficiencies through cost control which can be passed along to the customers.

The demand side counters that covert price-fixing (rather than innocent sounding pricing guidelines) serves to keep freight rates higher and not lower. Also, as some claim, carrier operations can involve an alliance speaking as one group when negotiating contracts with tugboats, port operators, etc. A more mercantilist argument may also suggest that foreign-based carriers, to the extent they do try to lower rates, do so only for the purpose of squeezing out non-members in a given trade lane. So, the argument would go, the alliances would be good for customers only in the short run.

The EC and the FMC regulate an industry with a past legal practice of price-fixing. More of the carriers are foreign and they are further consolidating. Just three alliances control 80% of the world's container vessel capacity. Their dominance is centered in Europe-Asia and Europe-U.S. trade lanes.

The 2M Alliance is made up of four lines of which Maersk and MSC are the world's two largest. The Ocean Alliance's six members include OOCL and CMA-CGM, the world's third- and fourth-largest. Finally, THE Alliance's six members includes Hapag-Lloyd, the world's fifth- largest.

Despite this the industry is characterized by over-capacity. Also, an increase in Triple-E class vessels promises to exacerbate this problem in the years to come. These large vessels of more than 18,000 TEUs provide economies of scale and lower costs per TEU. But the supply chain effects are not always positive. Since liners need fewer vessels when switching over to the largest ones, this means that it takes longer to load and unload them at those ports able to handle them. Thus, from the perspective of the demand side of the market, response time and flexibility are diminished. Only the mega-consignors are able to easily adjust to mega-vessels.

Take an industry with huge capital costs, long lead times in acquiring vessel capacity and couple that with the uncertainty of global market conditions over that long time period. In this context it probably never seems like a good time to invest in fleet size. But periodic investment must take place and it is always a risk-taking exercise. Unless the EU and the U.S. have the stomach for regulating international containership lines like public utilities, the current model of limited antitrust immunity may be the only way to stabilize an inherently unstable mode of international transportation. It is quite the regulatory balancing act.

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WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Department of State issued a travel advisory on Wednesday night, calling on U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global outbreak of COVID-19.

"The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19. Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions," said the department on its official website.

The United States on Wednesday expanded additional travel restrictions on Europe over coronavirus concerns. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a suspension of all travel from Europe except Britain to the United States for the next 30 days in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

These restrictions will go into effect Friday at midnight and "will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground," Trump said in his 11-minute address to the nation.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States reached 1,312 as of late night on Wednesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
A new autonomous guided vehicle is being developed that could help transform the horticultural sector and help tackle the labour shortage.

A prototype is being designed to meet the complex needs of commercial horticultural, following the launch of a project by the AHDB.

Leading automation experts from the WMG, University of Warwick are creating the model alongside three horticultural businesses; Crystal Heart Salad (lettuce propagators, Yorkshire), Valefresco (salads, Worcestershire), and WD Smith & Son (bedding plants, Essex).

It will have the potential to work in both glasshouse and outdoor environments to automate the movement of trays and boxes around the production area.

The winning AGV project was chosen following a competitive process where UK horticultural businesses were invited to pitch for WMG to help automate an area of their production. The project was launched last year.

Grace Emeny, Knowledge Exchange Manager at AHDB, said: With the lack of available labour an increasing pressure for many businesses, there is a growing need to automate more routine tasks to enable staff to be reallocated to more skilled jobs.

There are two main barriers that prevent the uptake of automation. Many off-the shelf solutions dont work for diverse horticulture production systems and often the return on investment doesnt stack up in the current trading climate.

"WMG were tasked with addressing both of these challenges, which we believe they are well on their way to achieving.

A requirement of the winning project was that it needed to be applicable to the wider horticulture industry and solve a problem relevant to many businesses.

The overall goal is for the prototype to be developed commercially and is likely to cost around 30,000 to 50,000 depending on its configuration.

James Bean, Crystal Heart Salad Co said: WMG have made several visits to our nursery. They have carried out a study of our logistics and have identified a design of autonomous vehicle which can improve efficiency and remove low-skilled manual tasks.

We are excited to see this move to the next stage, to conduct real-life tests of the technology. If it fulfils expectations, it will make a fundamental change to our business.

The project is being funded by AHDB and match-funded by Innovate-UK-backed High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Growers are invited to find out more about the project and to see how they can adopt automation in to their businesses at a special event, hosted by WMG, on 31 March 2020.
Gopika I S By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was noon, the lull of lunch hour was slowly setting in at the General Hospital in Vanchiyoor. Four patients had lined up at the help desk when the sound of an ambulance sent everyone on alert. What ensued was a flurry of activity. The ambulance was directed to the corona isolation area, the security staff checking the referral from a private hospital before allowing entry. Two people who accompanied the patient separately approached the help desk and registered the patients name before following the ambulance to the isolation ward premises.

Over the past few days, the General Hospital has witnessed an inflow of people wanting to be checked for coronavirus infection, suspecting their symptoms. The help desk at the entrance is often overcrowded -- one staff must record names, get an out-patient ticket and take the same to the security at the other end before registering new patients. Several give this help desk a miss and head to the isolation ward area. Apart from these, ambulances with patients referred from various hospitals arrive frequently.

Around 70 people had arrived at the hospital to diagnose their symptoms on Wednesday. A few among them just returned from various countries. A 33-year-old who recently travelled to Singapore was among them. I was informed at the airport to be cautious for two weeks. Yesterday I saw signs of a cold and sore throat. I immediately isolated myself from my family and came to the hospital, he said.

There are also instances of people who were denied treatment in private hospitals. They are screened at the entrance and directed to the government hospital if diagnosed with signs of possible coronavirus contraction. I developed a cold after the pongala. The private hospital I visited asked me to return after I was screened for the virus, a woman said.

People living in already-affected areas are also being sent for checkups. One such patient was accompanied by his colleagues. He is from Pathanamthitta and is a bit feverish. He returned from his hometown two weeks ago. We decided to come to the hospital to be certain, said a colleague. The hospital is on high alert. Several patients with virus-like symptoms were requested not to queue outside the OP ticket counter or enter the casualty.

Mask disposal 101

Even as there are campaigns on precautionary measures against COVID-19, there is little information on how to dispose a mask. According to experts, the steps below should be followed.

lRemove mask from the face carefully via the earloop

lPlace the mask in a tight bag securely

lPlace the bag into the garbage can or waste disposal unit

lWash hands after disposing the mask

lDo not reuse single use masks

lRemove the masks as soon as they become damp/humid
Labour today axed a live event where Jeremy Corbyn's replacement as leader was due to be revealed, over coronavirus fears.

The party said a special conference due to be held on April 4 had been cancelled, along with the remaining hustings events.

Outgoing shadow chancellor John McDonnell raised the prospect this morning of the event, due to be attended by hundreds of party members and journalists, being scrapped.

And it was confirmed this afternoon that it would not go ahead, along with local party conferences in Wales and Scotland.

A party spokeswoman said: 'The results of the leadership and deputy leadership elections will be announced at a scaled back event on the same date and we are now considering options for what form that event will take.

Outgoing shadow minister Mr McDonnell raised the prospect this morning of the event, due to be attended by hundreds of party members and journalists, being scrapped

Three MPs are in the running for the vital post; shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer (centre), shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey (left) and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy (right)

'This is not a decision we have taken lightly. Our priority is the wellbeing of our members and staff, and ensuring we fully contribute to the collective effort to protect public health.

'We are considering whether upcoming constituency meetings should go ahead and will keep our members fully informed.'

Three MPs are in the running for the vital post; shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and Wigan MP Lisa Nandy.

Mr McDonnell told ITV that the event could instead be shown on social media or on television only, but that it would be a decision for the party's ruling National Executive Committee.

Boris Johnson is ramping up Britain's response to the coronavirus crisis today amid calls to shut schools, cancel sporting events and urge everyone to work from home.

The PM is chairing the emergency Cobra committee later where the UK's tactics will shift from 'containing' the killer disease to merely 'delaying' its inevitable spread. The UK death toll hit eight yesterday.

However, ministers will not follow Donald Trump's dramatic overnight move of closing the borders to travellers from mainland Europe.

Oval Office address: Donald Trump finally addressed the nation about the coronavirus crisis from the White House on Wednesday and banned all travel to Europe

The signs are that they will instead ask those with a cold to self-quarantine, and urge vulnerable elderly people to stay indoors.

There are claims that schools have been ordered to prepare for closures that could last a month. But calls for the closure of other public spaces and the cancellation of major sporting events - as has happened in other countries - look to be some way off.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who yesterday unveiled a huge 30billion Budget package to 'vaccinate' the economy from the impact of coronavirus, today dismissed the prospect of the UK following the US example.

'The advice we are getting is that there is not evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infections,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'That is why we have taken the decisions that we have.'

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has hinted that the UK will not impose heavy restrictions yet, and swiped at political leaders who do not 'follow the science'.

In comments made before Mr Trump's announcement, he said many leaders were 'under a lot of pressure to be seen to act'.
The shock announcement that the United States is suspending travel into the US from 26 European countries in a bid to halt the spread of novel coronavirus increases the global restrictions on worldwide travelers.

With the World Health Organization declaring the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday, countries around the world have been revising their entry policies.

Below are the restrictions in place at some key destinations. We'll be expanding this story as the situation develops.

United States

The US ban only applies to the 26 countries in the Schengen Area free movement zone: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The island nations of UK and Ireland are not included in the ban, despite there being COVID-19 cases in both countries.

Trump said Wednesday that there would be 'exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings.'

Later, guidance issued from the Department of Homeland Security clarified the ban did not apply to American citizens or their family members.

The US already has other restrictions in place.

Passengers who've been in China and Iran in the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter.

US citizens who've been in China in the past 14 days can enter the US, but will be directed via one 11 airports where they'll undergo health screening. The airports include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York (JFK or EWR), San Francisco, Seattle and Washington.

Australia

Despite speculation on Thursday that, following the move by the United States, Australia would follow suit and widen its travel restrictions to Europe, it wasn't the case.

Passengers who have transited through or been in China in the last 14 days are not allowed to enter or transit through Australia. This does not apply to airline crew, Australian nationals and their immediate family members, or New Zealand nationals resident in Australia.

Passengers who have been in Iran, South Korea or Italy this month are not allowed to enter Australia for 14 days, from the time they exited those respective countries.

This does not apply to Australian nationals, permanent Australian residents, or their immediate family members, who are instead required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Austria

Austria has introduced border checks and placed a ban on all arrivals from Italy, China's Hubei Province, Iran and South Korea, with the exception of those with a medical certificate no more than four days old that confirms they are not affected by coronavirus.

However, travel through Austria is possible, as long as no stops are made in the country.

Cambodia

Cambodia is imposing a ban on foreign nationals arriving from Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the US for 30 days. The ban will take effect on March 17, the Prime Ministers' office said in a Twitter post.

China

On Wednesday, Beijing announced a 14-day mandatory quarantine on all international travelers arriving in the Chinese capital.

Meanwhile, international business travelers will be required to stay at a select number of designated hotels in Beijing where they will be tested for the virus. They will not be allowed to leave until their test results have been returned.

Countrywide, passengers arriving from Iran, Italy, Japan or Korea and traveling to Beijing, Guangzhou, or Shanghai are subject to quarantine for 14 days.

Colombia

Passengers arriving from China, France, Italy or Spain are required fill in a health registration form on arrival and self-isolate for 14 days.

President Ivan Duque also announced on Twitter that the country will close its border with Venezuela on March 14.

Croatia

Apart from Croatian nationals, passengers and airline crew who have been in China's Hubei Province, Germany's Heinsberg County, Iran, Italy, or South Korea's Daegu City and Cheongdo province in the past 14 days will be placed in quarantine for 14 days. Nationals will be required to self-isolate.

Other than Croatian nationals, passengers and airline crew who have been in all other regions of China and South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Czech Republic

On Thursday, the Czech Republic declared a 30-day state of emergency and barred entry to non-residents from coronavirus-affected countries, as well as partially closing its borders. Outbound travel to high-risk countries is also banned.

The ban applies to visitors from China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, UK, Norway, Denmark and France, and will come into force on Saturday, state broadcaster Radio Prague International reported in a tweet.

Denmark

A border closure will be in effect in Denmark from March 14 until April 13. Danish citizens and those transporting goods will still be able to enter the country.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the measures, saying: 'We are in uncharted territory. We are doing something we've not done before.' Adding 'I'm sure we'll get through this together.'

Greece

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Twitter on March 1 that the country wouldn't be accepting any new asylum applications for at least one month due to the coronavirus outbreak. This move was to 'increase the level of deterrence' at the country's borders 'to the maximum.'

Hong Kong

Passengers who have been in or through South Korea or China's Hubei Province in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Hong Kong, and neither are Chinese nationals with a passport issued in Hubei.

Hong Kong nationals and residents are exempt. Instead, they face a 14-day mandatory quarantine.

Passengers arriving from or having been in China, Iran or Italy's Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in the past 14 days are subject to the quarantine.

Starting March 14, this will be extended to passengers who've been in France (Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est), Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia), Italy, Japan (Hokkaido) or Spain (La Rioja, Madrid and Pais Vasco).

Passengers who have been in China, Iran or Italy's Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions are not allowed to enter if their permitted stay in Hong Kong is less than 14 days. Hong Kong passport-holders are exempt.

Hungary

Iran nationals, other than airline crew, are not allowed to enter the country.

India

India is now suspending all tourist visas and enforcing a 14-day quarantine on all travelers, including returning Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Spain.

Indonesia

Apart from Indonesian nationals and residents, passengers and airline crew who have been in China, or affected regions of Italy, South Korea and Iran in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter or transit through Indonesia.

Italy

Passengers arriving as tourists are not allowed to enter via airports in the following areas: Alessandria, Asti, Lombardy, Modena, Novara, Padova, Parma, Pesaro and Urbino, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Treviso-Venice, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Vercelli.

Japan

Japan is banning entry on passengers who have been in affected regions of China, South Korea or Italy within the last 14 days. Japanese nationals are exempt, as are their spouses and children, if the relations are verified.

Macau

The Macau government has introduced several measures including denying entry to visitor who have been to China's Hubei province within the past two weeks, unless they can provide a medical certificate stating they have not been infected with coronavirus.

Travelers who have visited South Korea, Italy or Iran in the 14 days prior to their arrival are required to undertake a 14-day medical observation at a designated venue.

Those who've traveled to Germany, France, Spain and Japan within 14 days of arriving will need to submit to a medical examination as well as a 14-day medical observation at a designated venue.

Residents of Macau currently in any of the affected areas will be requested to self isolate for two weeks upon their return.

Malaysia

Malaysia has imposed a ban on travelers from affected areas of China, Korea, Japan, Iran, Italy and Denmark. In addition, all Malaysians returning from any of these countries are required to self-quarantine at home for 14 days.

New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced March 14 that all travelers entering the country will be required to 'self-isolate' for 14 days.

The new measures go into effect at midnight March 15 local time and apply to nearly every traveler, regardless of nationality, including New Zealand citizens and residents.

The only exemptions are the Pacific Islands -- but travelers from there will also need to self-isolate if they show symptoms.

The measures will be reviewed in 16 days, she added.

Norway

Anyone traveling to Norway from outside the Nordic region must self-isolate for two weeks, according to the Norwegian Health Directorate. The restrictions put in place March 12 are scheduled to last until March 26.

Peru

Starting March 16, Peru is temporarily suspending flights from and to Europe and Asia for a 30-day period.

Russia

Nationals of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran and Italy are now allowed in Russia, but exemptions are made for airline crew and foreign nationals resident in Russia.

Passengers who have been in China, France, Germany, South Korea or Spain and are planning to stay in Moscow must report themselves to the authorities by phone and stay self-isolated for 14 days.

Saudi Arabia

Apart from Saudi nationals, passengers who have transited through or have been in Bahrain, China, Taiwan, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey or the United Arab Emirates in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter.

Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina are also under a temporary ban, unless the pilgrims are nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates who have obtained permits.

Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan government announced Thursday a cancellation of visas on arrival, but it has not yet been confirmed when this will be put in force. Passengers arriving from Italy, Iran and South Korea will be quarantined for 14 days.

South Korea

Visitors who have been in China's Hubei Province in the past 14 days, and passport holders from that region, are not permitted entry.

Korean visas issued by the Wuhan Consulate in the Hubei Province are invalidated, as are visas issued to nationals of Japan (at Korean Diplomatic Missions in Japan) before March 9, 2020. This does not apply to airline crew.

Thailand

Thailand has suspended its visa exemption policies for travelers from Hong Kong, South Korea and Italy, while visa on arrival has been stopped for 18 countries: Bulgaria, Bhutan, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu and China.

Under the new measures, travelers must apply for visas in advance and present a medical certificate proving they are free of coronavirus.

Turkey

Turkey has halted travel to and from nine European countries: Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands. Nationals of those countries are not allowed to enter the country.

Passengers who have transited through or been in Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, South Korea or Sweden in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter or transit through Turkey.

Turkish nationals and residents are exempt.

Vietnam

Travelers who have been in the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area, plus the UK, within the past 14 days will not be permitted to enter or transit through Vietnam.

Visas upon arrival will also no longer be issued for all foreign nationals, according to a government statement issued Saturday.

The travel restrictions come into effect at midnight Sunday local time, and will last 30 days.
On March 2, days after the visit, his wife came down with a fever, body aches, congestion and a cough. Since then, she has gone three times to an emergency room at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She has been unable to persuade anyone there to test her for the virus because she had not traveled to Italy and could not confirm she had been in close contact with anyone who had tested positive, her husband said  though she later learned that an unidentified person from the home office had.
South Dakota reports highest active case count since pandemic started

Tuesday's report included testing conducted over the weekend. Another 4,110 people tested positive for the disease.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Law enforcement officers across the county are making few changes in day-to-day operations after the arrival of the novel coronavirus in Cuyahoga County.

Several law enforcement officials said they are reminding officers to more regularly wash their hands or use hand sanitizers and disinfect phones, computers and duty belts.

Det. Jeff Follmer, the president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmens Association that represents some 1,300 rank-and-file officers, said its business as usual for his officers.

"We still have to do our job. We still have to protect and serve, Follmer said. We just have to be more conscious about disinfecting after we come in contact with the public."

While Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recommended that residents avoid going out in large crowds to protect against the spread of the virus, police officers have little choice as to where they go and who they interact with when hey respond to crime. Nor can they avoid contact with others while making arrests.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams on March 4 sent updated guidance to officers that mirror recommendations for law enforcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those recommendations were issued before three Cuyahoga County residents tested positive for COVID-19 and another in Stark County.

Capt. Brian Betley, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police union that represents Cleveland police supervisors said his officers are following protocols from the police chiefs office.

The recommendations include regular hand-washing and sanitizing, standing at least six feet away from someone with a respiratory illness and for officers to call in sick if they feel ill.

Naturally, we want officers and supervisors to be safe, Betley said. Hopefully everybody uses common sense and if theyre under the weather or sick, theyll stay home.

Pete Elliott, the U.S. Marshall for Northern Ohio, said his office has not changed any protocols, other than urging officers to use CDC guidelines for hygiene.

Parma police Lt. Dan Ciryak said his department is giving officers extra gloves and hand sanitizer. He also said a cleaning crew is cleaning the department twice per day instead of once and that people being booked into the city jail are being checked for fevers.

The Ohio Patrolmens Benevolent Association that represents several suburban police departments in Cuyahoga County, including Parma, Bay Village, Cleveland Heights and Rocky River, said in a statement officers will continue working as normal, but to use appropriate precautions as necessary.

The Los Angeles Police Department on Wednesday issued new guidelines to its officers on how to handle people with respiratory illnesses and ordered 100,000 masks for officers to wear or give to residents if needed.

Read more from cleveland.com:

Hypertension could be a leading factor in coronavirus deaths: Heres what to know

Coronavirus timeline: How the coronavirus spread from cases in China to Ohio in less than three months

Compiling a COVID-19 coronavirus quarantine prep kit: What you should have on hand at home

OHSAA state tournament events indefinitely postponed because of coronavirus concerns

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[March 12, 2020] New App Prevents Exposure to Coronavirus in Medical Waiting Rooms

TAMPA, Fla., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DocClocker , a pioneering app that enables patients for the first time to receive real-time wait time reporting of their medical providers, is addressing the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) nationwide by enabling patients to avoid long waits in medical waiting rooms  potentially limiting exposure risks. Many healthcare clinics' and hospitals' waiting rooms have been crowded in recent weeks, thanks to the rapid global outbreak of coronavirus. With the DocClocker app, which was created and funded entirely by practicing medical physicians, patients can receive real-time wait times; preventing the spread of the contagious virus by limiting the exposure of sick patients in waiting rooms. "It is important that people are not sitting in sick waiting rooms during the coronavirus outbreak when there are delays in the office. DocClocker providers value their patients' time and are engaged in technology efficiencies that mitigate long wait times. At times like these, patients deserve nothing less," said Dr. Eric Carter, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of DocClocker. DocClocker is on a mission to create transparency in the waiting room and enhance communication between patients and their medical providers. The DocClocker app easily allows for medical providers to deliver patients with waiting room wait times to create positive patient experiences  allowing patients to avoid sick waiting rooms and pursue other activites in case the office is running behind.



In addition to receiving real-time wait times, patients can easily make last minute appointments; using a convenient self pay option or finding in-network providers. Patients can manage appointments through the app, receive appointment reminders, write reviews and report long waits. DocClocker is free to all patients and is significantly more affordable than basic appointment management tools that have dominated the market in recent years. "Until healthcare systems develop more comprehensive programs to limit the spread of COVID-19, DocClocker has the potential to help patients by avoiding long delays in the waiting room, and in turn, decrease the exposure and transmission of this communicable disease. We encourage patients to take advantage of this free resource," said Dr. Kevin Makati, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of DocClocker.

PATIENTS

Download the App:

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/docclocker/id1321644191

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.docclocker.patient PROVIDERS

Request a free demo: [email protected] About DocClocker:

Developed by Fast Pathway Inc, DocClocker brings transparency to the doctor's waiting room using modern technology to streamline communication between doctors, patients, and their families. For more information about DocClocker, please visit the app's website at: https://docclocker.com/ Location Information:

Fast Pathway, Inc

2202 North Westshore Blvd., Suite 200

Tampa, Florida 33607 About Fast Pathway, Inc:

Fast Pathway Inc is the developer and operator of the DocClocker platform and maintains the cloud-based technology for subscribers and users. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-app-prevents-exposure-to-coronavirus-in-medical-waiting-rooms-301022378.html SOURCE DocClocker

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Hotelplanner and Meetings.com, leading online providers of group hotel bookings and meeting space worldwide, are pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 European Group Travel Awards (EGTA), an award that recognizes the top suppliers delivering outstanding services and group travel experiences throughout Europe.

On behalf of the entire team at HotelPlanner and Meetings.com, I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to the esteemed group of winners. It is these companies who significantly raise the bar for group travel and continue to push the industry into the future, said Tim Gunstone, EVP of Marketing, Hotelplanner and Meetings.com.

The winners for the 2020 European Group Travel Awards include:

Best Group Hotel Brand - Full Service, Sponsored by Priceline

Radisson Blu

Best Group Hotel Brand - Limited Service

Best Western Hotels & Resorts

Best Group Hotel Brand  Luxury

Rocco Forte Hotels

Best Lifestyle Hotel Brand

25hrs Hotel

Best Boutique Hotels for Group

Ascend by Choice

Best Resort/Spa Brand for Groups

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Best Partner for Weddings

Getting Married

Best Independent Hotel Brand for Groups, Sponsored by E-Voyages

Penta Hotels

Best Technology Award for Innovation in Group Travel, Sponsored by DotDot

Nextpax

Best OTA in Group

Priceline

Best Innovative Company in Group

Dotdotdot (Layered Reality)

Best City Tour for Group Travel

Big Bus Tours

Best Tour & Transportation Company for Group

The Travel Corporation

Best CVB for Group

VisitAberdeenshire

HotelPlanner and Meetings.com are also thrilled to announce that on October 22, 2020, the company will host its first annual International Group Travel Awards (IGTA) in Singapore. Please visit the website http://www.InternationalGroupTravelAwards.com for further details.

About European Group Travel Awards:

The European Group Travel Awards (EGTA) was created by Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner.com, and Peter Stonham, Editorial Director at Landor Travel Publications. Mr. Hentschel and Mr. Stonham organized EGTA to recognize the extraordinary effort and dedication that organizations in Europe put towards providing group travellers with exceptional travel experiences.

The concept was introduced into the marketplace by Peter Stonham who, with Group Travel Organiser (part of the Landor Travel Publications family), has been providing group travellers with information and ideas for group travel trips since 1988. The event in London, called the UK Group Travel Awards, is attended annually by nearly 350 attendees and awards are provided in 23 categories.

Subsequently, HotelPlanner and Landor Travel Publications also launched the European Group Travel Awards, which now in its sixth year, will take place on March 5th, 2020 at Hotel De Rome, Rocco Forte Hotels, Berlin, Germany. The European Group Travel Awards recognizes the finest suppliers on the continent that specialize in group travel.

HotelPlanner and Group Travel Organiser believe that the group market will continue to grow. Shared travel experiences with family and friends and by corporations and businesses help build more productive relationships and memories that last a lifetime.


MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th March, 2020) The number of those infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ecuador has increased by three, taking the total to 13, the country's Health Ministry said on Thursday.

"The Health Ministry has detected three more patients with the coronavirus disease, the total number of [COVID-19] cases in Ecuador is 13," the ministry wrote on Twitter.

The new patients were infected with the virus after coming into contact with the country's first person to contract the disease, an Ecuadorian woman in her 70s who came back from a trip to Spain on February 14. She was registered on Saturday and is currently in intensive care.

So far, more than 95,000 people worldwide have contracted the virus, and over 3,200 others have died. Meanwhile, about 53,400 patients have recovered.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Missouri Senate approved a long-sought prescription drug monitoring program Thursday designed to stem the abuse of opioids.

On a 21-10 vote, the Senate sent the measure back to the House for final approval after modifying the plan to address privacy concerns. If approved in the House, the proposed law would go to Gov. Mike Parsons desk.

Action came as the Senate announced it would cancel next weeks session over concerns about coronavirus. The Legislature was already scheduled to go on spring break for the final week of March. The House will remain in session next week.

The proposed law would create a statewide electronic prescription-monitoring database requiring medical providers to track drug prescriptions with the potential for abuse. Missouri is the lone state without a statewide program.

The database allows physicians and pharmacists to see a patients prescription history so they can intervene if it appears the person is addicted to the pills.
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Committee for Interfaith Relations issues a letter promoting interreligious harmony as they reflect on the first anniversary of the Christchurch shootings.

By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

A year after subsequent shootings in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Committee for Interfaith Relations has issued a letter of hope with a call for peace to all the parishes in the country. It was released on 12 March, just prior to the 15 March 2019 anniversary.

Recognizing the shared value of shalom and salaam in all Abrahamic religions, the Bishops stressed the importance of concentrating efforts towards harmony and prayer.

If we allow it, the call to peace divides and draws not only our thoughts and actions towards non-violence, but also our hearts and prayers towards God.

The Bishops then enjoined the faithful to pray for and with all Muslims, calling on God to support us in sharing each others burdens, and to give us strength and courage to stand up against oppression and justice.

Remembering those left behind

Expressing the desire that such attacks never happen again, the Bishops confirmed their closeness to the widows, children and relatives of the victims of the violent attack, praying that the desire to reach out with love and compassion may remain part of all peoples daily lives.

Friendship despite differences

In a gesture of unity and fellowship, the Bishops statement reaffirmed the Churchs bond with the Muslim community.

You are our friend. We do not need to be the same, we can be incredibly diverse  whether through religion, language, origin or body  but we are called to live as brothers and sisters. Difference is not a barrier, it is how we are made and we are made in the image of God.

Christchurch shooting

On 15 March 2019, a gunman opened fire on men, women and children in two mosques leaving at least 50 dead and several others wounded.
KAMPALA, Uganda  A supercomputer is boosting efforts in East Africa to control a locust outbreak that raises what the U.N. food agency calls an unprecedented threat to the regions food security.

The computer, a donation from Britain, uses satellite data to track locust swarms and predict their next destination. Quickly sharing the information of the locusts movements with regional authorities is key to controlling the outbreak, as even a small swarm of locusts in a single day can move nearly 100 miles and consume the amount of crops that would otherwise feed 35,000 people.

Based in a regional climate center in Kenya, where the insects have been particularly destructive, the supercomputer system produces extensive weather forecasts to predict the high winds, rainfall, and humidity that provide ideal breeding conditions for locusts so climate experts can predict their next destination, the United Kingdoms Department for International Development said in a statement. By improving early warning systems we are helping charities and African governments to take rapid action to protect vulnerable communities.

Kenya, Somalia and Uganda have been battling the worst locust outbreak that parts of East Africa have seen in 70 years. Swarms have also been sighted in Djibouti, Eritrea, Tanzania, Congo and South Sudan, a country where roughly half the population already faces hunger after years of civil war.

The threat from the locusts remains extremely alarming in the Horn of Africa, where widespread breeding is in progress and new swarms are starting to form, representing an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods at the beginning of the upcoming cropping season, according to a warning issued this month by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Locust swarms, sometimes as large as some cities, can destroy crops and devastate pasture for animals. Aerial spraying is generally considered the only effective control method. In Uganda, where the locust infestation has recently spread to more than 20 districts in the countrys north and northeast, soldiers have been battling swarms using hand-held spray pumps because of difficulties in getting aircraft as well as the recommended pesticide.

Officials in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, where the supercomputer is based, said the technology will boost their efforts in tracking locust swarms.

Rodney Muhumuza and Desmond Tiro are Associated Press writers.
- with reporting from Juno McEnroe

Ireland has officially moved to the delay phase of Covid-19 engagement, the Government has confirmed  a move it said could potentially save thousands of lives.

At dual press conferences in Washington DC and at Government Buildings in Dublin, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Simon Coveney outlined a series of measures which will see all schools, creches, colleges, and public buildings closed until March 29.

Shops and restaurants are to remain open, but have been instructed in ways of ensuring social distancing protocols on their premises. Mass gatherings of more than 100 people indoors and more than 500 outdoors are also banned.

While people have been encouraged to continue working, they are also expected to do so from home if at all possible, and to immediately self-isolate should they begin to display symptoms.

Public transport will continue to operate, albeit with expected restrictions.

Mr Coveney said that he is asking people to remain working in order to keep the economy on track.

Todays announcements are unprecedented in scale, he said, adding they havent been taken lightly.

Never before has such drastic action been taken in the face of a public health threat, he said.

The decision to move to delay sees the authorities attempting to slow the spread of the disease by imposing widespread social distancing protocols. It is the second of three phases, Ireland having been in the containment stage since January.

The irony is that, in order to pull together as a country, we are asking Irish people to stay apart. I understand the impact of this  I am a father, a husband, and a son too, Mr Coveney said, adding that the measures are designed to protect the 15% or 20% of people who are vulnerable.

If we have a collective national response we will save potentially thousands of lives.

Health Minister Simon Harris confirmed that these moves mean that Ireland has officially moved to delay.

He asked that vulnerable people in particular  they being those with pre-existing conditions, compromised immune systems, or the elderly  heighten their own social distancing measures.

Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said that one of the reasons for the measures is to avoid children picking up this infection, to avoid them bringing it home.

We do not want children or other people in society to pick up this infection in a way that might then lead that to be spread to vulnerable people in communities or in our families, he said.

Education Minister Joe McHugh acknowledged that there will be enormous pressure on parents, but he encouraged students and pupils to bring textbooks and notes home.

The State examinations Commission is also putting in place contingencies with the Department of Education, said Mr McHugh.
Coronavirus is spreading very fast in India. The effect of this virus is being seen most in Kerala. There have been 17 cases of coronavirus in Kerala alone. Keeping this in mind, the Kerala High Court has issued a notice to all district judges. The notice says that all serious cases should be given importance. With this, it is said that all the non-urgent matters can be postponed. Let us tell you that about 60 cases of coronavirus have been reported in India. Two suspects have also died due to infection with this virus. One person was from Bengal and the other from Ladakh.

According to media reports, no permanent treatment has been found so far from this virus spread from China. Many countries around the world have come under the grip of this virus, including Pakistan, Italy, Afghanistan. More than 3 thousand people have died from this virus while more than 1 lakh people are infected with this virus. The country is also engaged in getting permanent treatment from this virus spreading with freshness. Before that people of all countries have been advised to take precaution.

Let us tell you that the World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Along with this, serious concern has been raised about the spread and severity of this virus at dangerous levels and inability to stop it. At the same time, India has suspended the visas of all countries till April 15 to prevent its infection. At the same time, America has stopped travelling to the whole Europe leaving Britain for a month. More than 30 states of America have been affected by this. Due to this, many states have declared an emergency. The death toll from the virus has increased to 31.

Also Read:

BJP MLA enjoying in luxurious hotel, 22 MLA of Congress did this

Rajinikanth's big statement about his political career, says 'I will not be CM'

Scindia reached to meet Rajnath Singh, a large part of Congress expressed desire to join BJP

BJP's President Dr. Satish Punni said this in support of Scindia
Or, as President Trumps National Economic Council director, Larry Kudlow, put it last week, while batting away calls for major fiscal intervention: Lets not forget, we have automatic stabilizers in the budget, okay? If the unemployment rate rises, he noted, then unemployment insurance, food stamps, various welfare-related programs, those are automatic. You dont have to go for additional appropriation.
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Findit, Inc. (OTC PINK:FDIT) owner of Findit.com, a full service social networking management platform which provides online marketing services, is featuring Findit member Chavez for Charity who is supporting numerous humanitarian efforts with charity bracelets through their Colors for Causes Campaign. For the Month of March, Chavez for Charity is featuring the Malala Fund, which empowers young girls through 12 years of education.

Chavez for Charity has a beautiful collection of color matched charity bracelets that they sell online. Each charity bracelet is color matched to a specific charity - purple charity bracelets help support the Malala Fund, green charity bracelets support the Sierra Club Foundation. Every charitable bracelet sold helps Chavez for Charity donate 25% of net profits directly to the charity that the colored charity bracelet supports. Among the charities that Chavez for Charity supports aside from the Malala Fund are influential charities that are facing some of the most important humanitarian issues that we face today such as LGBT rights and acceptance, companion animal homelessness, breast cancer, and ending world hunger and poverty.

To date, Chavez for Charity has claimed 13 Findit Names under the Claim Your Name Feature on Findit. Each of the names represents a specific charitable organization that Chavez for Charity donates a portion of their proceeds from each bracelet sold or a keyword or phrase that Chavez for Charity is looking to index under in search engines.

Businesses and individuals that are looking to increase their online web presence can retain Findit for online marketing services.

Clark St. Amant of Findit stated "As part of our online marketing strategy for Chavez For Charity we wanted to get them indexing higher in search results under Charity Bracelets while also increasing their overall online presence in search and social. With the robust campaign Findit has been providing Chavez for Charity, they are now indexing on page one of Google for Charity Bracelets and their overall ranking on Alexa has improved over the past several months."

Visit Chavez for Charity on Findit under their Findit Names

Findit.com//malala-fund-chavez-for-charity

Findit.com//fight-breast-cancer-with-love-chavez-for-charity

Findit.com/the-hunger-project-chavez-for-charity

Findit.com/chavez-for-charity

Chavez for Charity has a beautiful selection of charity bracelets that make amazing gifts for friends, family, coworkers and for yourself. They help support worthy foundations, spread the word about Chavez for Charity's mission as well as the mission of the charity you elect to support with your purchase.

Chavez for Charity Colors for Causes Campaign Supports:

Malala Fund - Purple Charitable Bracelets

Water.org - Blue Charitable Bracelets

Best Friends Animal Society - Brown Charitable Bracelets

The Hunger Project - Black Charitable Bracelets

TAPS - Gold Charitable Bracelets

Sierra Club Foundation - Green Charitable Bracelets

Matthew Shepard Foundation - Multi Colored Charitable Bracelets

Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation - Pink Charitable Bracelets

Chavez for Charity's Featured Charity Bracelets That Benefit The Malala Fund

Strong, Powerful, Beautiful - Set of Three

Empowered Women, Empower Women - Set of Two

Besties Bracelets - Set of Two

To learn more about Chavez for Charity and their Colors for Causes Campaign, visit Chavez for Charity Colors for Causes.

Findit focuses on reaching the target demographics for Chavez for Charity that may or may not be aware of them in an effort to heighten brand awareness of their services and in some cases, their extensive product lines.

About Chavez for Charity

When Julie Chavez founded Chavez for Charity in 2013, she had an ambitious vision. She wanted to create a line of colorful bracelets that would contribute, in a significant way, to some of the most important humanitarian issues facing our world today. Leveraging her background as the Founder and Designer of the small, yet highly coveted jewelry line Marie Chavez, whose fans included a-list celebrities like Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Rosario Dawson, and Anne Hathaway, Julie carefully crafted a brand that is unique in its mission and has a purpose much greater than profits. Supporting their trademark phrase "Colors for Causes', each of the 10 colors in the collection represents a distinct cause. For every product sold, Chavez for Charity donates 25% of their profit to each color's corresponding cause.

To date, Chavez for Charity has provided over 6,000 people in rural and impoverished communities with clean water; funded over 500 micro-loans for women entrepreneurs world wide, covered 1,400 hours of critical pediatric cancer research, impacted 724 students in Ghana for a lifetime with Teacher Support Programming - and the list goes on. With over 3,000 stores across the U.S. and Canada carrying their iconic bracelets, in 2018 Chavez for Charity will proudly celebrate 1.6 million dollars in donations. While this is a major milestone for the company, it is just the beginning of what they aspire to accomplish.

About Findit, Inc.

Findit.com which is a Social Media Content Management Platform that provides an interactive search engine for all content posted in Findit to appear in Findit search. The site is an open platform that provides access to Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines access to its content posted to Findit so it can be indexed in these search engines as well. Findit provides Members the ability to post, share and manage their content. Once they have posted in Findit, we ensure the content gets indexed in Findit Search results. Findit provides an option for anyone to submit URLs that they want indexed in Findit search result, along with posting status updates through Findit Right Now. Status Updates posted in Findit can be crawled by outside search engines which can result in additional organic indexing. All posts on Findit can be shared to other social and bookmarking sites by members and non-members. Findit provides Real Estate Agents the ability to create their own Findit Site where they can pull in their listing and others through their IDX account. Findit, Inc., is focused on the development of monetized Internet-based web products that can provide an increase in brand awareness of our members. Findit, Inc., trades under the stock symbol FDIT on the OTCPinksheets."

Safe Harbor:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements regarding potential sales, the success of the company's business, as well as statements that include the word believe or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Findit, Inc. to differ materially from those implied or expressed.

CONTACT:

Clark St. Amant

404-443-3224

SOURCE: Findit, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580449/Findit-Featured-Member-Chavez-for-Charity-Is-Highlighting-The-Malala-Fund-For-Their-Charity-of-the-Month
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EUGENE, Ore. -- School districts are changing event plans after Gov. Kate Brown announced gatherings of more than 250 people will be banned through April 8 in hopes of slowing the spread of novel coronavirus.

Eugene School District 4J is suspending school events, gatherings and field trips based on the latest recommendations from health officials. The action is not related to an identified COVID-19 case, officials said. The new guideline will be in place for 30 days, effective March 12.

The Bethel School District is suspending all large non-essential school and district-based gatherings and group activities such as Oregon Battle of the Books, music concerts, school assemblies, field trips, PTO meetings, KIDSPORTS practices and games, and family nights for the next four weeks.

OREGON HEALTH OFFICIALS: PREPARE FOR 'THOUSANDS OF CASES' OF CORONAVIRUS

On Thursday, the Siuslaw School District announced it is canceling all afternoon and evening activities, including parent conferences scheduled for Thursday. They said they will reschedule them to be held by phone at a later time.

South Lane School District said its plans are to cancel all non-essential events for the next 30 days, including assemblies, field trips, sport competitions, performances and more.

Through April 10, Roseburg Public Schools will be implementing restrictions to protect students, including postponing events and gatherings. They will also be taking additional steps including using hospital-grade disinfectant to clean schools, decreasing the use of shared school supplies and suspending salad bar service during meals.

Albany Public Schools have also issued a similar statement, saying they are suspending non-essential large events.

Stay with KEZI 9 News for updates.
The Congress and the AIUDF, once considered arch-rivals for encroaching over each other's vote banks have now joined hands for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls in Assam. The Congress and the AIUDF have jointly fielded eminent Journalist of the State Ajit Bhuyan.

Addressing a joint press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon, the leadership of both the parties announced Ajit Bhuyan's name as their consensual candidate. It has been learnt that Bhuyan approached both the parties separately as the debate over one seat grew louder and louder in the State.

READ | Himanta Biswa Sarma Tables 'people's Budget', Assam CM Lauds But Opposition Says 'copycat'

Bhuyan, known for his strong anti-establishment views, has also been vocal against the Citizenship Amendment Act. He had actively participated in the anti-CAA meetings and there had been talks in the anti-CAA camp for Bhuyan's candidature.

However, Bhuyan backed by the AIUDF and Congress has also landed himself in trouble because of the strong criticism from various sections who had been alleging that the AIUDF and the Congress party have always been soft on the illegal influx from Bangladesh because of vote bank politics.

READ | Sharjeel Imam Met With AIUDF Leader In Delhi During Anti-CAA Protests: Sources

Even though the alliance of AIUDF and Congress have clear numbers to send one representative to the Upper House, the chances of cross-voting cannot be ruled out at all.

Meanwhile, the BJP and allies BPF and AGP have nominated Biswajit Daimary, sitting MP of Rajya Sabha. Daimary filed his nomination papers on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, NEDA Convener Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, BPF Chief Hagrama Mohilary and AGP president Atul Bora.

READ | Congress Contemplates Alliance With AIUDF In Assam For Rajya Sabha Election

On the other hand, the NDA alliance has named former Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneswar Kalita as their candidate for another vacant seat. Kalita resigned from the Congress over difference on the Citizenship Amendment Act and he resigned from the Upper House, strongly criticizing the party he was associated with for more than four decades for its opposition to the CAA. He is yet to file his nomination papers.

The BJP or its allies have however not yet named anyone for the third seat.

READ | AIUDF Protests Against CAA Outside Assam Assembly
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has included Iran's Cyberspace Supreme Council among the twenty worst digital predators in 2020 in a list published to mark this year's World Day Against Cyber-Censorship, celebrated on 12 March.

RSF asserts that the Iranian Cyberspace Supreme Council uses digital technology to "spy on and harass" journalists and thereby "jeopardize people's ability to get news and information."

Based on RSF's report, 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 Iranian Cyberspace Supreme Council is constructing a firewall using Internet filtering techniques," the media watchdog said.

Internet shutdowns in the clergy-dominated Iran "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," RSF noted.

Iranian Cyberspace Supreme Council, presided by the incumbent President of the Islamic Republic, consists of the key Ministers, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Police Chief, the head of the Islamic Propagation Organization, the head of the state-run Radio and TV networks (IRIB), the chairman of parliament's Cultural Committee, and seven others, all directly appointed by the "Supreme Leader'" Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

This is for the first time that RSF is publishing a list of digital entities whose "activities are tantamount to preying on journalism."

The list includes government agencies and companies that use digital technology to spy on and harass journalists and thereby jeopardize free access to news and information.

The list, which RSF says is not "exhaustive," covers private-sector companies specializing in targeted cyberespionage that are based in Western countries such as the United States and Britain.

RSF insists that these 20 Digital Predators of Press Freedom represent a clear danger for freedom of opinion and expression, which is guaranteed by article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"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."
Update 18/03/20, 10.05am: Shauna O'Donnell has been located.

Gardai have thanked the public for their assistance.

Earlier: Gardai seek help in finding missing Clare woman

A 21-year-old woman missing from home in Co Clare from home the Monday before last may have gone to Dublin.

Shauna O'Donnell from Ennis was last seen in Limerick City on March 2nd -- when it's thought she travelled to the capital.

She's described as five-foot-four and slim, with dark shoulder-length hair and blue eyes, and was wearing a distinctive duffel coat when last seen.

Anyone who's seen Shauna or who might be able to help find her is being asked to contact gardai.
The RJD on Thursday announced



its candidates for two Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar that it seeks to wrest from the NDA, in a surprise move that caught off-guard the Congress, its alliance partner.

The RJD fielded Prem Chandra Gupta, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP and close aide of party president Lalu Prasad, and a political greenhorn Amarendra Dhari Singh.

They filed their nominations immediately after their names were announced here by RJD state president Jagadanand Singh, who also scoffed at a recent "open letter" written by AICC in-charge of Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil, reminding Tejashwi Yadav of the "promise" of giving it one seat.

According to Bihar Assembly secretary and returning officer Bateshwar Nath Pandey, both Prem Chand Gupta and Amarendra Dhari Singh have, so far, been the only candidates to have filed their nominations for the elections for the five RS seats.

Three NDA candidates - JD(U)'s Harivansh and Ram Nath Thakur and BJP's Vivek Thakur - are likely to submit their papers on Friday, the last day for filing nominations.

Tejashwi Yadav, Prasad's younger son and political heir, told reporters that the candidature of Gupta - a Vaishya - and Singh, an upper caste Bhumihar, "is a befitting reply to those who accuse the RJD of confining itself to MY (Muslim- Yadav combine)".

He, however, asserted that this was in no way a dilution of the party's commitment to social justice and uplift of OBCs, EBCs and Dalits, saying "we have introduced reservations for the weaker sections in our organization. We are the only party to do so".

The decision to nominate Gupta, a Haryana-born businessman who had served as a Union minister in the UPA-1 government, was being seen as a foregone conclusion since his current term from adjoining Jharkhand expires next month.

However, the choice of Amarendra Dhari Singh - a well-known city-based entrepreneur with hitherto unknown political affiliations - came as a big surprise.

The development brought down the curtains on speculations about the candidature of bigwigs like veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav, the party's national vice- president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and journalist-turned- politician Syed Faisal Ali, who had made an unsuccessful Lok Sabha debut from Sheohar last year.

However, Yadav dismissed queries about these names with a cryptic smile and said, "We know about no other aspirants. Maybe people had shared their aspirations with you all."



He also asserted that the development will not lead to any hard feelings with the Congress, which had been seeking one seat to enable actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha's entry into Parliament after the former Patna Sahib MP was trounced by BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Lok Sabha polls.

"There is going to be no problem as the candidates have been decided taking Sonia Gandhi and Lalu Prasad, who share a deep personal bond, into confidence," Yadav said.

However, middle-rung leaders of both parties seemed to be at each other's throats, with the Congress lashing out at Jagadanad Singh for calling "farzi" (fake) the letter made public by Gohil last week.

"An open letter is addressed to somebody in particular. This so-called open letter was addressed to nobody. It appears to be farzi," Singh had said.

Congress MLC and AICC media panelist Prem Chandra Mishra "strongly" criticised the RJD state president for "making derogatory remarks" about the communication by Gohil, "who went on record with the demand that was based on a promise made by Tejashwi Yadav".

During last year's Lok Sabha polls last year, Yadav had sought to assuage the Congress, which had been upset over getting only nine seats out of 40 in Bihar, by assuring that the RJD will help the alliance partner in getting a Congress leader elected to the Rajya Sabha.

In a 243-strong Assembly, the RJD has 79 MLAs and can easily get Gupta elected on its own. For Amarendra Dhari Singh, the RJD may need a few votes of the Congress and smaller parties like the CPI-ML and AIMIM.

Despite being in a sulk, the Congeress can ill-afford to be seen opposing an upper caste candidate in Bihar, where it stands largely marginalised.

With the JD(U)-BJP-LJP combine together having 127 seats, its candidates are likely to sail through without a hitch.

A Congress candidate or an independent jumping into the fray is highly unlikely in the state where official nominees of major political parties have repeatedly won Rajya Sabha elections without a contest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The new software has already been adopted by the 230 practice network of Insurance Advisernet, servicing over 86,000 clients and 180,000 policies across Australia and New Zealand, and the initial feedback from brokers has been outstanding, Hughes said.

The new iaAnyware software is a fully-integrated solution that utilises APIs and AI to offer brokers complete control and effortless access. It includes a number of functions that are critical for running a professional and efficient insurance practice, including prospect and sales management, quote and full life cycle policy processing, document management, and claims management.

The licence holder has peace of mind and control from a compliance point of view, Hughes said. While brokers, advisers, and their clients, have easy 24/7 web access to a dynamic client management system with connectivity to a panel of insurer partners.
Hu Jia's prize brings SAKHAROV's wife to "EuroFora" on murders of Journalists Politkofskaya, Gongadze and Adali :

- Elena Bonner : "All Journalists' murders must be fully investigated", without Double Standards.



During a special Mega-Event to celebrate 20 Years of SAKHAROV Prize for "Freedom of Thought", attributed in 2008 by EU Parliament to jailed Chinese Cyber-Dissident Hu JIA, the move was reinforced by strongly criticizing the persisting impunity in three cases of Journalists' Murders, such as POLITKOVSKAYA in Russia, GONGADZE in Ukraine, and ADALI in Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.



Any bureaucratic doubt about whether Cyber-dissidents like Hu JIA might have, or not, a right to be protected as all Journalists must be, particularly when they take risks to search, find and publish original and critical News on issues of general interest to the society, could not resist to the emotion provoked by the message of his Wife, Zeng JINYAN spectacularly transmitted at a big screen in EU Parliament's hemicycle :



- "The most important and most interesting thing he did was to ... say the Truth :.. to write about the phenomena he observed... He never stopped Publishing.. on websites, so that the Public could learn about the reality .. and understand it. In my view, this has been his greatest contribution", stressed the young wife of the jailed man, eager to cite also the cases of other critical journalists who faced various kinds of "harassment".



- "Welcoming all those who have suffered for defending Human Rights", EU Parliament's President, German MEP Hans Gert POETTERING, who had invited to Strasbourg all former Sakharov prize-winners from various Countries throughout the World, said that "China needs Europe, and Europe needs China : A great nation" with which "we want to have a good relationship", "association and ..friendship". "But we are never going to stop our fight for Human Rights, and No Government can expect this from us".



- "It's impossible to achieve goals of Peace, if Human Rights are left out. In fact, Peace and Human Rights are intrinsequaly linked", added POETTERING.



It's in this spirit that MEPs adopted, on Thursday, a Resolution denouncing that "the criminal

investigation and trial following the murder of (a) Journalist ...raises serious concerns with regard to transparency and respect for the rule of law", when a "brutal killing has not yet been fully investigated and solved in a satisfactory way".



The text refered to dissident Journalist "Anna POLITOVSKAYA", a critic of Tchechen conflict, killed some years ago in Moscow, where Russian Authorities have found, arrested and are currently judging two executants, while also searching to arrest also a 3rd one, allegedly escaped in Belgium. But they have not yet found the instigators.

Similar texts were adopted recently also on dissident Ukranian Journalist Georgiy GONGADZE's murder, for which Ukranian Authorities have at least found, arrested and condemned 2 executants to 12 and 13 Years of jail, but not yet the instigators. For that purpose, they recently accepted an International Experts team to participate to the investigations.

But, it's only for the Murder of dissident Turkish Cypriot Journalist ADALI, in the occupied territories of Cyprus, that Turkey has NOT yet found ANYONE responsible, and even claimed recently inside CoE that it would be "impossible" to do so !

These astonishing differences exist despite the fact that ECHR condemned alike Ukraine and Turkey with 2 Judgements on the same year : 2005, for the murders of Journalists GONGADZE and ADALI, strong critics of Corruption in Ukraine, and of Ankara's policies on mass-influx of Turkish Settlers in the Occupied Territories of Cyprus, respectively.

Regarless of that, CoE's Committee of Ministers, who is entrusted with the duty to supervise execution of ECHR's judgements, has just asked Ukraine's Government to reply to further questions on Gongadze's murder before March 2009, while Turkey, curiously, got a longer postponement for answering questions on Adali's murder, until June...

A comparison of these cases, raises serious questions about Double Standards :

------------------------

On TRANSPARENCY :

--------------------------

On Gongadze's murder, CoE's body speaks even about the participation of

"an INTERNATIONAL group of Experts" in the Investigation, (f.ex. of "Tape Recordings"), accepted by Ukraine.

On the contrary, on Adali's murder, CoE is obliged to repeatedly ask (for a 2nd

time) Turkey whether, at least, it informed the victims' Family, or not...

------------------------------

- On EFFICIENCY :

-----------------------

On Gongadze's murder, CoE formally "recalls that the Committee (of Ministers) ..URGED the Ukranian authorities.. to TAKE ALL NECESSARY INVESTIGATIVE STEPS TO ACHIEVE CONCRETE and VISIBLE RESULTS in the INVESTIGATION, aimed at the Identification of the INSTIGATORS and Organisers of the Murder", and "STRONGLY INVITED the Ukranian Authorities to provide information on the PROGRESS IN THE INVESTIGATION", before MARCH 2009.



But, on Adali's murder, on the contrary, CoE's body merely .. "took note" of the "arguments presented by" Cyprus, which denounce the absence of any proof of new "investigation" by Turkey. Following Turkey's own suggestion (!), it simply "noted" that there is "no limitation period" for "any new element" to "lead potentialy (sic !) to a Re-Opening of the Investigation". Without saying who might find any such "new" fact, since Turkey stoped searching... It also POSTPONED the issue until .. JUNE !

-----------------------

- On the PUNISHMENT OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE :

----------------------

- On Gongadze's murder case, Ukranian Authorities already arrested and condemned, at least 2 suspects, to 12 and 13 Years of jail. And on Politkovskaya's murder at least 2 suspects are judged, and a 3rd one "wanted".



On the contrary, on Adali's murder case, the Turkish authorities simply claim that "it had not been possible to obtain new .. information .. on the basis of which criminal charges could be brought against ANY person" !...



Moreover, a LETTER sent by Turkey ...2 Years after CoE's 2006 call to re-investigate anew Adali's murder case, is totally EMPTY of Facts ! As Cypus' Delegation denounced earlier, Turkey's Letter ONLY CLAIMS that a "New Investigation" was made without any result, but does NOT even cite ANY FACT to prove it :



F.ex.,on the crucial issue of the "MOTIVATIONS" behind Adali's murder, noted by ECHR, Turkey MERELY CLAIMS that "all allegations were investigated; without result", but OMITS ANY FACT TO PROVE IT !..(It doesn't even remind which were these "allegations").. .



+ On ECHR's astonishment that the Turkish Occupation regime didn't produce any "BALLISTIC REPORT" on the Shots which murdered Adali, Turkey again repeats, 12 years later, that, still, even until now, "it was not possible to obtain the BalisticReport"...



- As for the astonishing absence of key-WITNESSES' Testimonies, denounced by ECHR, Turkey agains repeats various pretexts avoiding to reveal anything, (Fex. that a person "left" the Occupied Territories "on 2002", or that another witness was heard, but without revealing nothing of what he said, etc).



Turkey obviously "FAILS TO MEET THE CRITICISM made BY THE COURT" for lack of any efficient Investigation in Adali's case, concluded Cyprus' Government.

---------------------------------------------

Replying to our Question which COMPARED these 3 outstanding cases of "JOURNALISTS MURDERS", Adali, Gongadze and Politkovskaya, in order to avoid "Double Standards" by asking from Ukraine and Russia more than what is asked EU candidate Turkey, many European personalities were critical /



They criticised Ankara's recent claim at the CoE to stop investigating, because it would be "impossible to find anyone" responsible for the 5 bullet shots which killed Kutlu ADALI in front of his Family Home, contrary to the other two Journalists' murders, where Ukraine and Russia at least arrested the executants, searching now for the instigators :

----------------------------------





- "Where was that ? In Turkish Occupied Cyprus ? WITHOUT ANY DOUBT : Any murder of Journalist should be investigated in full ! All these Murders must be investigated !", replied the famous SAKHAROV's wife, Elena BONNER to our question on Adali's case, compared to Gongadze and Politofskaya.



Elena Bonner spoke us EXCLUSIVELY shortly after being honored by the President

of EU Parliament on the occasion of 20 Years of her husband's SAKHAROV Prize.



A strong personality, Sakharov's wife even had to struggle against an anonymous EU staffer who, astonishingly, tried to stop her speaking when h heard our question on "Turkey" (!) : - "Please, let me translate, she continues

speaking, don't stop us !", had to cry Sakharov's daughter, (a Journalist

herself), who was translating her mothers' reply, (obliged to speak louder to

make her voice heard despite the harassment).. (= + Audio Proof !)



Earlier, Elena Bonner also fustigated "Double Standards" at another case, on

Western countries' attitude vis a vis Kosovo and the Kurds : -F.ex. "You have

recognized a few 400.000 Kosovars as an "independent" country, but you still

deny that to 30 millions of Kurds in Turkey !", she denounced.

-----------------------------

- "This (ADALI's murder) is an issue which should be pursued by the Committee

for Human Rights. That's why we have one, and it's its duty to examine cases of

Journalists' murders as the one you referred to. You should bring the case in

front of that Committee", suggested in reply to our question on Adali, EU

Parliament's President, German MEP Hans Gert POETTERING.



- "It's impossible to achieve goals of PEACE, if HUMAN RIGHTS are left out :

in fact, Peace and Human Rights are intrinsequaly linked", added POETTERING.

--------------------------------------

+ "For us (European/International Federation of Journalists) it's clear :

Whenever a Journalist is Murdered, the Investigation should continue until

those Responsible are found !", replied earlier to another question on ADALI

EFJ/IFJ's Secretary General, Aidan WHITE.



Speaking as a matter of General Principle, White asked us for "concrete data"

on the execution of ECHR's judgement on Adali case, in order to "look at it in

depth" and "make a formal statement", in comparison with the other Murdered

Journalist case, also pending at CoE's Ministers for completing its execution,

on Ukranian Gongadze.

----------------------------------------------------

From EU Rapporteur on Human Rights, vice-President of EU Parliament Liberties' Committee, MEP Giusto CATANIA, we were told that, since there is an ECHR judgement in both Adali and Gongadge's cases, "Turkey must naturally execute the judgement and make a full and efficient investigation, until those responsible for the Journalist's murder are found and punished".



Even if "we (Catania's "EuroLeft" Group) support Turkey's EU perspectives, this does not mean that Ankara should not behave properly. On the contrary, it means that they have to meet tough conditions, particularly on Human Rights", was added on the occasion of Adali's murder case.



Moreover, "since you raise the issue of Mr. Adali's muder as a part of a Series of Journalist's murders, including fex. Gongadze, Politkovskaya, ao., tthen we (EU) could also act together with CoE's Commissioner on Human Rights, Thomas HAMMARBERG, it was suggested.



- "We (EU) must step up efforts against the problem of IMPUNITY : Real Peace cannot exist without Justice", stressed also this week at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, French Minister on Human Rights, Mrs Rama YADE.

------------------------




WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

Lata Mangeshkar admitted to ICU in Mumbai Hospital after testing positive for Covid

Coronavirus: Rashtrapti Bhavan closes all public visits from Friday

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 12: The Rashtrapati Bhavan has closed all public tour visits from Friday as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, official spokesman said on Thursday.

A brief statement released by the spokesman said the presidential house will remain closed for exploratory tour visit from Friday till further orders.

"Moreover, the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex (RBMC) and the Change of Guard ceremony will not be open to public till further notice," the spokesman said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 18:00 [IST]
Indiana Rep. Andre Carson announced he has decided to cancel the annual Youth Opportunities Fair because of the rapid spread of the new coronavirus.

The event was scheduled to happen March 16.

This is one of my favorite events of the year, and my staff and I cherish this chance to connect young people with a variety of enrichment activities that can help change lives, Carson wrote in the announcement. But as COVID-19 continues its rapid spread, its clear that the health and well-being of friends, neighbors, and colleagues takes precedence.

Carsons website will have a list of exhibitors scheduled to attend for those who would still like to get in touch with them.
WUHAN, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Hubei Province announced differentiated business and production resumption plans based on the epidemic situations of the counties in the province and continued to extend the opening of schools, said the provincial epidemic prevention and control headquarters Wednesday.

According to the plans, 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. Enterprises that are 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. Otherwise, other enterprises are not allowed to resume business until March 21.

In other high-risk regions outside Wuhan, enterprises that are important to the epidemic control and prevention efforts, public services, people's livelihood, agricultural production will resume production. Businesses in finance, insurance, ports and freight stations and key industrial chain supporting firms will also return to operation gradually.

In low- and medium-risk regions in Hubei, service-oriented industries such as information technology, legal and accounting services can resume orderly operation. However, resumption of work is not allowed at places that encourage gatherings such as theatres, bookstores, fitness centers, and restaurants before the situation significantly improves.

Hubei will continue the strict control of its people leaving the province and adopts a differentiated personnel control policy via a mobile app, each resident of the province will be granted a colored QR health code, allowing healthy people from medium- and low-risk areas to travel within the province.

Passenger flights, trains, buses, and ships will gradually resume operations in low- and medium-risk regions in Hubei while Wuhan and other high-risk regions will continue to ban the services.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:47:41|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese experts communicate with Adham Rashad Ismail Abdel Moneim (L), acting WHO representative in Iraq, in Baghdad, Iraq, March 10, 2020. A team of seven Chinese experts have been busy visiting Iraqi hospitals and talking with health experts and officials to help the war-torn Mideast country's health system cope with COVID-19. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A team of seven Chinese experts have been busy visiting Iraqi hospitals and talking with health experts and officials to help the war-torn Mideast country's health system cope with COVID-19.

The Chinese experts, dispatched by the Red Cross Society of China, arrived on Sunday night and also brought with them medical equipment and 50,000 test kits. Their advice and the urgently-needed medical supplies are expected to significantly improve Iraq's coronavirus detection capacity.

"We will try to help contain the outbreak from the early stage," said team leader Tao Zhongquan, adding that the aim for Iraq is to achieve early detection, early isolation, early diagnosis and early treatment.

As of Wednesday, 73 cases have been confirmed in Iraq, including at least seven deaths. The infections were reported in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces, with Baghdad, the capital of more than 7 million people, being the hardest hit.

MOUNTING CHALLENGE

After a field investigation, Chinese expert Han Mengjie said Iraq is at "the early stage" of its COVID-19 outbreak, and a strong response may curb a spread of the virus, with the Chinese working with the Iraqi government to help curb it.

With all schools and universities suspended, Iraq has recently stepped up containment measures including closing cinemas, cafes, clubs, and other public places.

However, the Chinese experts have found that due to an absence of national planning on infectious disease prevention and control, Iraq's hospitals lack support as well as more efficient channels to report information.

Han said he is "not optimistic" about the prospects for curbing the coronavirus outbreak in Iraq, citing hidden dangers such as loopholes in the control of its long border with Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East.

The Chinese expert said that some effective measures have been taken in Iraq, but the coronavirus can spread very quickly, calling for a more decisive response.

At the national level, Iraq should also establish a mechanism for joint prevention and control, formulate a national response plan, and improve the implementation of anti-virus measures in communities, he added.

BOOST TO CAPACITY

After years of war, Iraq's healthcare system is fragile, suffering from heavy damages to hospitals and other medical infrastructure, as well as a shortage of medical professionals and supplies.

According to the Iraqi Health Ministry, the country has previously completed about 700 sample tests using donations from the World Health Organization (WHO). A gap between the number of suspected cases and the limited testing capacity has denied Iraqis a full picture of the country's overall COVID-19 situation.

Health Minister Jaafar Sadiq Allawi on Monday praised China's boost of Iraq's medical capabilities to battle the COVID-19 outbreak.

Allawi's comments came during his meeting in Baghdad with Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao and the team of Chinese experts, according to a ministry statement.

"The health ministry is seeking to develop the capabilities of prevention, awareness and treatment of coronavirus by cooperation with the Chinese team of experts," he was quoted as saying.

Han said Chinese experts will also share with Iraqis China's experience on how to save lives from the coronavirus and avoid infection among medical staff.

Adham Rashad Ismail Abdel Moneim, acting WHO representative in Iraq, said that in addition to the virus test kits, the clinical practices and guidelines in China's anti-virus efforts are a valuable resource in Iraq's fight against the virus.
WASHINGTON - The U.S. retaliatory airstrikes against militants in Iraq destroyed five weapons depots, but the top U.S commander for the Middle East acknowledged Friday that there are many similar sites that the U.S. has so far not hit because of potential civilian casualties and political sensitivities with the Iraqi government.

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie said the U.S. decision to target the Iranian-backed Shiite militia group that killed American and British troops in a rocket attack this week sends a strong message to Iran and its proxies. But he said that as the threat of continued attacks remains high and tensions with Iran have not gone down, the U.S. is beefing up military assets in the region.

What should now be obvious to everyone is youre not going to be able to fire those at a U.S. or coalition base, hurt or kill our people, and escape unscathed, McKenzie told Pentagon reporters Friday. He said the U.S. has been aware of the weapons sites and knows where more are, but has exercised restraint in bombing them because in some cases strikes would kill a lot of civilians. He said the U.S. works with the Iraq military to take out the sites, but at times that doesnt work.

Kataib Hezbollah, the group the U.S. blames for the Wednesday attack at Camp Taji base that killed two U.S. and one British service members and wounded 14 other personnel, has not commented on the strikes, but another Iranian-backed group has vowed revenge.

The tit-for-tat strikes potentially signal another cycle of violence between Washington and Tehran that could play out inside Iraq. And they threaten to hamper ongoing U.S. negotiations with the Iraqi government to keep American troops in the country.

In fact, Iraqs military said three Iraqi army commandos and two federal police officers were killed in the U.S. strikes. And a Shiite endowment in the holy city of Karbala said one civilian in an airport complex being constructed by the endowment was also killed.

Asked about the Iraqi deaths, McKenzie said the U.S. talked with the Iraq military and they knew the U.S. attack was imminent.

If Iraqis were there and Iraqi military forces were there, I would say its probably not a good idea to position yourself with Kataib Hezbollah in the wake of a strike that killed Americans and coalition members.

Due to the ongoing threat, McKenzie said Defence Secretary Mark Esper has agreed to keep two Navy aircraft carriers  the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Harry S. Truman -- in the Gulf region for a period of time. He said this is the first time since 2012 that the U.S. has had two carriers in the region at the same time.

He also said that Patriot air defence missile systems are being moved into Iraq to provide defences against ballistic missile attacks like the January strike by Iran that hit an Iraqi air base where U.S. troops were present. No Americans were killed in that attack but dozens suffered mild traumatic brain injury. Since then, Washington has been negotiating with the Iraqi government to permit the Patriot deployment.

The latest strikes mark a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq. They came just hours after top U.S. defence leaders threatened retaliation for the Wednesday rocket attack, making clear that they knew who did it and that the attackers would be held accountable.

The United States will not tolerate attacks against our people, our interests, or our allies, Esper said. As we have demonstrated in recent months, we will take any action necessary to protect our forces in Iraq and the region.

According to the U.S. military, the locations of the strikes were largely around the Baghdad region. The strikes hit weapons storage facilities in Karbala, Al-Musayib, and Arab Nawar Ahmad and a missile storage and propellant production facility in Jurf al-Sakher,

Prior to the strikes top U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Esper had suggested retaliation was coming. And McKenzie told senators in a public hearing that the deaths of U.S. and coalition troops created a red line for the U.S.

Two U.S. troops and one British service member were killed and 14 other personnel were wounded when as many as 15 rockets hit the base Wednesday. The U.S. military said the 107 mm Katyusha rockets were fired from a truck launcher that was found by Iraqi security forces near the base after the attack.

Asked why there were no systems at Taji to intercept the rockets, McKenzie said that such systems are limited and cant be everywhere. He said to put a system there, he would have to take it away from another location where its also needed.

Kataib Hezbollah was also 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 Jan. 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. In response to the Soleimani killing, Iran launched a massive ballistic missile attack on Jan. 8, at al-Asad air base in Iraq, that resulted in traumatic brain injuries to more than 100 American troops.

___

Associated Press writers Robert Burns in Washington and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.
Pendine Park care home leader urges relatives to stay away unless visits are absolutely essential

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 12th, 2020

A social care leader is urging people not to visit relatives living in care homes unless its absolutely essential so they can protect their loved ones from coronavirus.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said care homes were safe havens for elderly and vulnerable people so it was vital to ensure the highest possible standards of infection control.

Mr Kreft, who also owns eight care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon, is also calling on health boards to cut bureaucracy so that older patients who no longer need hospital care can be transferred to care homes.

Expediting that process would help free up hospital beds and allow the discharged patients to receive care in a more appropriate setting.

He said Care Forum Wales was in regular contact with Welsh Government health experts and they were passing on the latest scientific advice to their 400 plus members across Wales.

Mr Kreft said: In my organisation, Pendine Park, were already significantly reducing the number people entering homes and weve introduced washing stations outside each of them.

Weve got to do everything that we can to ensure that people are safe, and I would say this to anybody who wants to visit a loved one in a care home to think very, very carefully because totally accidentally this virus could be transmitted.

Simply put, not visiting care homes is likely to save peoples lives. I think its very important that we recognise that care homes will be a safe haven.

There has been a lot of talk about cocooning people. It makes a lot of sense as a principle to use our care homes.

There are over 20,000 people in care homes in Wales and over 500,000 in the UK.

We need to ensure that those organisations are properly supported to do the job that theyre there to do and that is to protect and safeguard the people that they care for, and their staff.

The other important thing now is to make sure that we get as many people into the sector where there is capacity.

It is important to relieve pressure on the NHS which is already pretty much at capacity.

The message from Care Forum Wales is that we have to ensure that we make the room that is needed in our NHS.

People should be moved to care homes because they are relatively safe places and they will be well cared for.

It is vital that we reduce the bureaucracy to a bare minimum. Putting paper work ahead of the peoples lives cannot be tolerated in an emergency situation like this.

We need to learn from the Italian experience in terms of increasing capacity in our health care system.

I think all of the evidence is suggested that we need to push this epidemic back as far as we can so that the NHS will be able to cope and so-called herd immunity is achieved in the wider population..

If were not very careful and we dont give this the planning that we need to, were going to be finding that these people are hugely at risk.

By definition, the people in care homes and nursing homes are vulnerable because they have underlying problems.

People in the community who receive domiciliary care are also vulnerable and often have respiratory problems.

These people are the matriarchs and patriarchs of our communities across Wales and we must not be ageist in our approach in terms of prioritising resources.

We need to do everything possible to protect our vulnerable people. It is our duty as a caring society to do that.
London, March 13 : US President Donald Trump's coronavirus travel ban on 26 European countries has been met with anger and confusion, with EU leaders accusing him of making the decision "without consultation".

The Covid-19 pandemic is a "global crisis", said top European Union officials Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel. It "requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," they said, the BBC reported on Thursday.

The ban is due to go into effect on Friday.

It affects only countries that are members of the Schengen border-free travel area and does not affect US citizens, the UK, or Ireland.

It is a major escalation in the response to Covid-19 by Trump, who has been accused of inaction. However, the ban was met with frustration in Washington as well as abroad.

On Thursday, the US leader said he did not inform his EU counterparts because "it takes time".

"We had to move quickly," Trump said, adding that the EU did not consult the US when raising taxes on American goods.

The European ambassador was, naturally, diplomatic.

"We feel there should have been cooperation rather than action that targets one continent," the diplomat, who asked not to be named, says on the phone, referring to the travel ban.

Trump's action took him and other ambassadors in Washington by surprise.

Still he made his views about the travel ban, as well his frustration and anger about the restrictions, clear: "We are not very pleased," he says. "No." Others are equally dismayed: the Atlantic Council's Daniel Fried, a former US ambassador to Poland, says he found the president's remarks disappointing: "Anti-EU bashing is indulgence." Ambassadors here in Washington, both current and former, are now waiting for the president's next move - with a fair amount of dread.

As another former ambassador put it: "I am not confident." Over 1,300 confirmed cases of the virus have been reported in the US, with 38 deaths so far.

Italy now has over 12,000 confirmed cases and 827 deaths, second to China. France, Spain and Germany have also seen a rise in cases.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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.

Follow @News18Movies for more
Eighty-five employees at Canada Life have been laid off, with the cuts coming in the insurance companys Winnipeg, Montreal and London, Ont., offices.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eighty-five employees at Canada Life have been laid off, with the cuts coming in the insurance companys Winnipeg, Montreal and London, Ont., offices.

The companys senior vice-president of plan member services indicated the jobs fell within the customer service segment of the company, and said Winnipeg-based 24-7 Intouch Solutions will take on the work previously done in-house.

"Across the organization, we are constantly reviewing how to adapt to shifting customer demographics," Diane Bezdikian said in a written statement.

"As such, Canada Life has partnered with 24-7... a change which will provide greater flexibility in servicing our customers in both official languages."

Bezdikians statement didnt specify how many former Canada Life full-time and temporary staff in each city were affected by the announcement.

Last fall, a retooled Canada Life was born out of the amalgamation of three regional insurance powers  the London Life Insurance Co., the Canada Life Assurance Co., and the Great-West Life Assurance Co. Great-West Lifeco Inc., the parent company, acquired London Life in 1997, and Canada Life in 2003.

In November, all former Great-West buildings in Winnipeg were rebranded, and on Jan. 1, the amalgamation officially commenced.

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When the change was announced, Canada Life Assurance Co.s president and CEO Jeff Macoun told the Free Press it would create cost efficiencies and savings, while boosting customer experience.

"Moving forward under one brand will allow speed to market and efficiency," he said. When asked then whether the streamlining of services might come with a pared-back workforce, Macoun said that wasnt the intent.

"This is a growth play for us," he said. "Our success will be a bigger footprint in Canada. We are not doing this to get smaller."

Canada Life didnt specify how many of the employees were full-time versus how many were temporary.

Bezdikian wrote, "We value the contributions those employees have made to the business and commit to treating all affected with fairness, dignity and respect, consistent with our company values."

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca
A Chinese medical team and surplus ventilators, protective masks and other equipment are heading to Italy in a remarkable exchange of medical knowhow and material from the source of the coronavirus outbreak to its current epicenter.

The Italian Red Cross says a plane bringing a nine-person Chinese team of experts and nine cargo pallets of medical equipment would land late Thursday in Rome.

The team includes Chinese ICU specialists, pediatricians and nurses who helped manage the crisis in China.

Italian officials say they are eager to learn from the Chinese experience, particularly clinical data and experimental drug regimens.

With 15,113 positive cases Thursday and 1,016 dead, Italy's fatality rate is running at 6.7 per cent, far higher than other countries. Italy has the second oldest population in the world after Japan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If you have a pandemic and you require this, I think thats a little bit of a question mark. Will certain communities respond to that favorably, and trust it and feel confident about it? Morrell said. If you talk to my good friends in Massachusetts or somewhere on the East Coast, theyre going to tell you, Thats just not how we do things around here. 
Parliament on Thursday passed a bill that will remove end-use restrictions for participating in coal mine auctions and open up the coal sector fully for commercial mining for all domestic and global companies.

The Mineral laws (Amendment) Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha with 83 MPs voting in its favour and 12 against. The Lok Sabha has passed the bill last Friday.

Replying after a brief discussion on the bill, Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi said the legislation will help in bring more FDI in the coal and mining sector, and boost economy.

The minister said the bill was important as India should be using its own natural reserves, instead of importing coal worth Rs 2.7 lakh crore.

"We have to produce coal and reduce imports," he said adding more domestic output would lead to more electricity generation and also cut oil import bill.

The minister also assured the MPs that the government will strengthen the state-owned Coal India Limited.

"CIL will be strengthened. I have already given it a target to produce 1 billion tonne by 2023-24...There will be no problem in CIL,", Joshi said.

According to the minister, the legislation will bring a "sea change" in the sector.

Joshi said the stress should be on exploiting reserves without harming the environment.

The minister said India has one of the largest reserves of coal in the world and if it is not mined it would turn into "mud".

Earlier, 12 MPs from different parties expressed their views on the bill.

The House saw division of votes on the bill after Elamaram Kareem of CPI (M) pressed for it.

The Bill replaces the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

The ordinance, which was cleared by the cabinet in January, had brought amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U S President Donald Trump has overnight imposed a travel ban for foreign nationals who had been in the Schengen Area of Europe 14 days prior to travelling to the US.

Trump addressed the US just hours after the pandemic was declared, as 1,136 cases have been confirmed in the States with 38 resulting deaths.

Here, we take a look at what the ban entails and why the UK is exempt from Trump's travel restrictions.

Donald Trump announces a ban on travel to the US from Europe as he addresses the nation from the Oval Office / AP

What is Trumps US travel ban?

Donald Trump spoke to the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, and said he would a ban on all foreign travellers from entering the US who had been in the Schengen Area of Europe 14 days prior. These travel restrictions would not apply to those who had been in UK, he clarified, and would begin on Friday at midnight, March 13 and last for 30 days.

In his statement, Trump said: The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travellers from Europe.

He continued: We made a lifesaving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe.

The ban applies for all foreign nationals travelling from the prohibited areas, but it doesnt apply to European nationals already living in the US  only if they visit Europe and return to the US during the ban. Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton says: "The recently-announced USA travel ban allows US citizens in Europe to return home, but prohibits non-US citizens coming from the Schengen zone to enter the country."

Tom Bourlet, travel expert at Spaghetti Traveller says of Trump's statement: "I see this as reactionary. He [Trump] was blamed for being slow to react to the global virus, with an incredibly low number of tests being made, which should be their priority."

What is the Schengen Area and which European countries are included in the ban?

The countries included in the ban include the 26 countries of the Schengen Area:

Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

The restrictions apply to foreign nationals who have visited or been in one of these countries for 14 days before their planned arrival in the US.

Why is the UK exempt?

While the UK is no longer part of the European Union, it is still part of continental Europe but in his speech the President clarified that Britain would be exempt from the ban.

Only countries in the Schengen Area of Europe would be included. These countries (listed above) signed an agreement in 1985 in Schengen, Luxembourg that effectively got rid of the borders, allowing many travellers to move easily between without passport checks.

The agreement said borders could only be reinstated under exceptional circumstances, which is why Italy  who has so far seen 12,462 confirmed cases and 827 deaths  reinstated its borders and put the country on lockdown.

The UK never signed this agreement, which means everyone that comes through the UKs borders will need to go through passport checks, which could be why its exempt from the ban.

Can Europeans fly to the US from the UK?

If they have been in the UK for longer than 14 days before their planned travel to the US then yes.

Could UK citizens soon be banned from entering the US?

Bourlet says: "The UK does have more than 400 cases, so we are not completely in the clear. There is every opportunity we could also be banned depending on how much that increases over the next few weeks. At the moment the UK has been testing a large amount, while the numbers arent as alarming as some of our neighbours, such as Italy, but were not completely in the clear."

Have any countries banned British tourists?

The Pacific Islands of Kiribati is not permitting people who have been to the UK to enter the country and the Solomon Islands are taking similar measures, placing those who have visited the UK into a two-week quarantine.

What should UK residents who have flights booked to the US through Europe do?

Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, says: Todays ban on flights from Europe to America means any UK residents who have a flight booked via a European destination should get a refund directly from their airline. Passengers may be able to get a refund from their hotel, but itll likely depend on the policies of the particular accommodation provider.
May 4, 2009: While the Obama administration was telling the public that swine flu was not a cause for alarm, then-Vice President Joe Biden went on national TV and said he would tell family members to avoid airplane travel and public transportation. Bidens press team quickly backed off the comments and the White House apologized. The 2009 H1N1 pandemic killed as many as 575,000 people worldwide, 12,400 in the U.S.
BAGHDAD  Iraqs military Thursday said it opened an investigation into a rocket attack hours earlier that killed three servicemen, including two Americans, at an Iraqi base housing coalition forces.

At least 12 coalition personnel were also wounded late Wednesday by a barrage of rockets targeting Camp Taji base, located 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Baghdad, according to a U.S.-led coalition statement. A truck rigged with 107 mm Katyusha rocket launchers was discovered by Iraqi security forces a few kilometers (miles) from the base following the attack.

A military statement from Iraqs joint operations command said caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered the investigation into what he called a very serious security challenge and hostile act.

The United Nations condemned the attack, saying it took critical political attention away from Iraqs ongoing domestic challenges, which threaten to create power vacuum at the seat of Iraqs government.

The last thing Iraq needs is to serve as an arena for vendettas and external battles, the statement said.

Heightened tensions between the United States and Iran in recent months were set in motion by a rocket attack in December on an Iraqi base that killed a U.S. contractor. American airstrikes targeting the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah followed, which led to protests at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

A U.S. drone strike in Baghdad then killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a top commander responsible for expeditionary operations across the wider Mideast. Iran struck back with a ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq, the Islamic Republics most direct assault on America since the 1979 seizing of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

Wednesdays attack coincided with what would have been Soleimanis birthday.

The potential power vacuum looming over Iraq comes after the prime minister-designate, Mohammed Allawi, withdrew his nomination earlier this month. That followed political squabbling over the naming of his cabinet. Shortly afterward, the caretaker premier, Abdul-Mahdi, said he would no longer carry out most of his official duties and called for early elections.

There are at least 5,200 U.S. troops in Iraq, training and advising Iraqi forces as part of a global coalition.
Over 3,600 URLs (uniform resource locators) were blocked in 2019, up from 2,799 in the previous year, under a specific provision of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Electronics and IT Minister said Section 69A of the provides for blocking of unlawful and malicious online content in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence and security of the country, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence related to these.

"Under this provision, 1,385, 2,799 and 3,635 URLs were blocked during the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively," he added.

In response to a separate query, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said the Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, started collecting data for cybercrimes against children (involving computer as medium/target) since 2017.

"As per the data maintained by NCRB, a total of 7 and 40 cases of cyber bullying against children were registered during the year 2017 and 2018, respectively," Dhotre added.
When the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, last Thursday, abruptly announced the postponement of its 51st convocation ceremony, many Nigerians had wrongly linked the development to the rampaging coronavirus disease (Covid-19). But the truth was far from it.

The universitys vice-chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, had earlier on Monday held a press briefing at the institutions senate chamber, announcing that 13,489 graduands across various departments and faculties, including postgraduate and medical schools, would receive their certificates in different programmes and diplomas.

Earlier, the universitys governing council chaired by Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had approved a budget of N70 million for the ceremony, and advised the management to follow due processes in executing the event.

However, less than 24 hours after the briefing, the Ogundipe-led university management received a memo from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which regulates Nigerias universities, ordering immediate suspension of the ceremony. NUC, according to the memo, had responded to a directive from the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

The minister, who was reportedly away in Germany on medical vacation, had acted on a 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.

The Root Cause

On February 28, Mr Babalakin said he received invitation cards from the university to attend the five-day convocation ceremony. He was angry that he was being invited to a programme he should otherwise be part of the organisers.

He said he was further shocked that the invitation was reinforced by a clause On behalf of the governing council and senate of the University of Lagos, adding that the programmes of the event as published in newspapers on February 25 were not brought to his notice.

That same day, the pro-chancellor sent an email to the vice-chancellor requesting to know why the council should be excluded in the planning of the convocation.

The emails content was later reproduced on Mr Babalakins official letterhead and forwarded again to the VC on March 2. He, however, copied the NUC, Mr Adamu, and the Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.

According to Mr Babalakin, Section 7(1) of the universitys Act empowers the Council to be the governing body of the university and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the university, including its public relations.

The letter reads in part; The vice-chancellor informed council at its last meeting that the convocation lecturer will be the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo. Council was very happy about this choice. In the programme that I saw in the newspaper, the convocation lecturer was no longer advertised to be the president of Ghana. No one informed council about this change or the reason for the change.

The pro-chancellor also kicked at the choice of nominees for the award of honorary degrees without Senate recommending the same to the council, which has that prerogative in accordance with the University Act.

These actions contravene the laws of Nigeria fundamentally and the University Council cannot be part of it. The programme was not authorised by the Council of the University of Lagos. The letter of invitation sent out on 24th of February 2020 is inconsistent with the laws of the university.

He, therefore, advised the management not to take the rules for granted, saying apart from the budget approved for the ceremony, he approved neither the programmes nor the three individuals listed for honourary degree awards.

Mr Babalakin also said that the honourary award is a prerogative of the council based on the recommendation of the senate. He added that the list containing the trio of Abiodun Shobanjo, late Stella Adadevoh, and Muhammed Indimi, for honourary awards, was not approved by the council.

VC replies council chair

But in his response to Mr Babalakin, the vice-chancellor stated the step by step efforts of the management to carry all stakeholders along, including the Visitor, President Muhammadu Buhari; education ministers; the universitys chancellor and Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi; the NUC as a regulator, and the governing council.

The reply, also dated March 2, and obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, reads in part; You will recall that I said the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, had accepted to be the convocation lecturer. I also mentioned to council discordant tunes coming from his office because of the political climate in his country. You then advised that we seek the support of Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa to assist in this regard.

At this point, when it became clear that we could not get the President of Ghana, Senate duly approved the new convocation lecturer in the person of Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, and he has graciously accepted.

Mr Ogundipe added that apart from approving the budget, the council chair even made contributions on key aspects of the convocation, including the list of honourees.

He added; To ensure the smooth management of the process, I proactively gave council an advance notice of the proposed three honourees, and a fourth name, Dr Stella Adadevoh, was suggested by you for a posthumous award and council agreed.

Council then decided that since the next council meeting before the convocation ceremonies will be too close for inclusion of the honourees into the Convocation Order of Proceedings, you proposed that I should meet with Dr John Momoh, OON, to consider the Senate recommendations on behalf of council. This was done and a letter dated February 17, 2020 was sent to Dr Momoh. Having followed your directives, I fail to see how I have contravened any law.

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The programme published in the national dailies was duly approved by Senate at the meeting held on 12th February 2020. Therefore, the advert and the invitations sent out were consistent with the traditions and laws of the university.

Suspension Order

Based on the pro-chancellors letter, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the education minister advised the minister of state, Mr Nwajiuba, to act in his stead.

Rather than investigate the allegations, this newspaper learnt Mr Nwajiuba simply instructed the ministrys permanent secretary, Sonny Echonu, to write the executive secretary of NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, to order the suspension of the convocation.

The university, which received the NUCs letter on Tuesday, March 3, immediately convened an emergency meeting of its senate to deliberate on the matter. Though the whole 365 members of the senate could not make the meeting, a substantial number that formed the quorum attended in spite of the short notice.

The resolution of the senate, a copy of which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, reads in part; That at the council meeting of January 21 and 22, the council deliberated on the proposed dates, budget and nominees for award of honourary doctorate degree.

That it is in the interest of graduands, their parents, guardians and other stakeholders that the 2019 convocation ceremony hold between March 9 and 13, 2020 as scheduled and widely advertised. That the goodwill the university has always enjoyed and our current ranking as number one in Nigeria and eight in Africa will be adversely affected by any disruption in the 2019 convocation ceremony as advertised.

Based on the above, the senate said it unanimously resolved to enjoin the council to urgently take all necessary steps to ensure the 2019 convocation ceremony hold as scheduled from March 9 to 13, 2020, so that the brand UNILAG built over 58 years is sustained and not brought into disrepute.

A five-member committee was then set up to convey this resolution to the council, which was meant to sit the following day, March 4. The committee comprised two members of the council  Eddy Omolehinwa and Bola Oboh. Others were Oluwole Atoyebi, Ngozi Osarenren and Ayodele Atsenuwa.

However, according to sources present, the senate committee was not allowed to raise the matter at the early stage of the council meeting.

When the matter was eventually discussed during the AOB (any other business) matter, the chairman said he did not order the postponement, and so could not help in reversing the order.

Mr Babalakin told PREMIUM TIMES that he was only concerned about rule of law. He shared a copy of another letter he addressed to the vice-chancellor and dated March 5, with our reporter.

What the law says

While it is true that Section 7 (1) of the Act establishing the university empowers the governing council to be in charge of general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the university, including its public relations, Section 8 (2C and D) empowers the Senate to take charge of the award of degrees, and such other qualifications as may be prescribed, in connection with examinations held as aforesaid; the making of recommendations to the Council with respect to the award to any person of an honorary fellowship or honorary degree or the title of professor emeritus.

Section 9 (2) of the universitys Act states that Subject to sections 7 and 8 of this Act and the provisions of this Act relating to the visitor, the Vice-Chancellor shall to the exclusion of any other person or authority have the general function, in addition to any other functions conferred on him by this Act or otherwise, of directing the activities of the university, and shall be the Chief Executive and Academic Officer of the University and ex-officio chairman of the Senate.

And on the matter of convocation, in particular, Section 6 (1) of the Act states that; The Chancellor shall, in relation to the university, take precedence before all other members of the university, and when he is present shall preside at all meetings of congregation held for conferring degrees and at all meetings of Convocation, and Section 6 (2) states that; The Pro-Chancellor shall, in relation to the University, take precedence before all other members of the University except the Chancellor and except the Vice-Chancellor when acting as chairman of Congregation or Convocation and except the Deputy Vice-Chancellor when so acting; and the Pro-Chancellor shall, when he is present, be the chairman at all meetings of the Council.

Is Suspension Justified

Both the minister and the ministrys permanent secretary did not pick our reporters calls to their phones. They also did not reply text messages sent which requested to know whether any investigation was conducted before the directive was issued.

However, while the executive secretary of NUC, Abubakar Rasheed, neither picked his call nor replied text message sent him, the regulatory agencys head of public affairs unit, Ibrahim Yakasai, said NUC simply acted on the directive.

He said; Yes, a letter was written to UNILAG on the matter. But note that NUC acted on the instruction of the Minister, and nothing more.

The actions of the minister and the NUC in suspending the convocation exercise also appear to violate Nigerias University Autonomy Act as amended in 2003

Section 2AA of the Act states that; The powers of the Council shall be exercised, as in the Law and Statutes of each University and to this extent establishment circulars that are inconsistent with the Laws and Statutes of the University shall not apply to the Universities, while 2AAA added that; The Governing Council of a University shall be free in the discharge of its functions and exercise of its responsibilities for the good management, growth and development of the university.

In a treatise titled; Autonomy and Management of Federal Universities under the Universities Autonomy Act, by a visiting professor at the NUC, Ehi Oshio, he said the purpose of the above provisions was to liberate the universities from the bureaucracy of the civil service and to enable the council exercise its powers and perform its functions without undue external interference or influence.

Crisis not new

It would be recalled that the events of the past three years have confirmed the cat and mouse relationship between the Unilag management and the governing council.

The 2018 convocation ceremony almost experienced similar fate, when the council chairman insisted that the award of distinguished professorship scheduled to be conferred on the incumbent registrar of the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) and a lecturer at the university, Duro Ajeyalemi, was not approved by the council.

On other issues of allegations of misappropriation levelled against the vice-chancellor by the pro-chancellor, it took the intervention of the National Assembly, and specifically the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation led by Wole Oke, to resolve the crisis.

But the resolutions were only short-lived as the VC and the council chair soon resumed their conflicts.

ASUU kicks

Meanwhile, UNILAGs Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned the development, describing it as unfair and overbearing.

A statement issued by the union on Friday and signed by its chairman, Dele Ashiru, said 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 the action, failure to conduct proper investigation on the matter is an indictment on the minister.

Yesterday, lecturers of the university embarked on a protest against Mr Babalakin and condemned the convocation exercise.

Call for Visitation Panel

While some members of the governing council, including Saminu Dagari, believe that the pro-chancellor took the right step, others refused to take side on the matter but expressed disappointment.

For instance, Mrs Oboh, who said she was hurt by the development, said she was more concerned about the image of the institution and the consequences of the suspension order on both the students and the countrys economy.

I know of parents who had arrived Nigeria to witness the convocation while graduands had collected their gowns, taken venues, and others, ahead of the celebration, she said.

The incumbent president of the universitys alumni association and also a member of the council, John Momoh, who was tasked to convey the list of honourees to the council, could not speak with our reporter despite his promises to do so.

But one of his predecessors and an emeritus professor at the university, Olaide Abass, said the infighting that led to the postponement of the convocation was clearly avoidable.

He recounted a series of efforts made by stakeholders to resolve the lingering crisis between the university management and the council but that their failure has shown that only a visitation panel duly set up by the federal government can address the matter.

This view was shared by other stakeholders who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity, saying the panel should be bold enough to specifically identify the roles of each arm of the university.
Mahhi Vij Reaches The Police Station Challenging Troll Who Threatened To Rape Her Mother
Comment comes days after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters

Mumbai: Days after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, the Shiv Sena said the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra is "strong and impregnable".

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Thursday also criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders.

It also said the BJP in Maharashtra should stop "daydreaming", and remember that just like the unexpected political drama in the western state a few months ago, a "shock experiment" can take place in Madhya Pradesh.

Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday along with 22 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, putting the 14-month-old Kamal Nath-led government in deep crisis.

He joined the BJP on Wednesday and slammed the Congress for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership. He has also been named as BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.

Commenting on these political developments, the Shiv Sena criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders, saying even though Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh are at the "helm" of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, it was not necessary to completely sideline a leader like Scindia.

Hitting out at the BJP, it said during the Lok Sabha elections last year, the saffron party used its full mightto defeat Scindia, but now it has welcomed him into its fold with "open arms".

"Kamal Nath is also a shrewd and daring politician and will not give up easily. Just like the unexpected political drama in Maharashtra, a shock experiment can take place in Madhya Pradesh," the Marathi daily said.

It further said the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government is "stong and impregnable". "There is no room for even a rogue ant to go out or come in," it said.

The Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, respectively, the Sena pointed out.

"When seniors fail, the young leadership should be encouraged. This is not happening and that is why (Rajasthan deputy chief minister) Sachin Pilot and Gehlot are at loggerheads. If the matter is not resolved, it is believed that Rajasthan may go the Madhya Pradesh way," it claimed.

It noted that eight months ago, Scindia criticised the BJP, calling it a "murderer of democracy" after the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka was toppled.

"Fifteen days ago, he criticised BJP leaders for making hate speeches and now after joining the BJP, he says Congress is not the party it used to be earlier," it said.

"What were Scindia's demands, the state (Madhya Pradesh) unit president's post or the Rajya sabha ticket? Both were denied to him. If at least one demand was accepted, this situation wouldn't have arisen," the Shiv Sena said.
A FEMALE motorist charged with four counts of hit and run and careless driving said she felt intimidated.

Mary Morrissey, aged 34, of Oak Crescent, Newcastle West pleaded not guilty to failing to remain at the scene, failing to report an occurrence, failing to give appropriate information, failing to stop and careless driving.

Garda William McElligott said on November 30, 2018, he received a call about a possible traffic collision between a car and a person at Cedarville, Abbeyfeale.

I called to the alleged injured partys address. He said at 6.30pm he was dropping his daughter to karate lessons. He said when he was driving out of the estate a car pulled out in front of him. He had to take evasive action. As a result his daughter hit her head.

He got out of his car. He attempted to stop the offending vehicle. He stood at the entrance of the estate and attempted to stop the offending vehicle.

He saw the reg number. He said the driver wouldnt stop. He said she drove in an aggressive manner towards him and the front bumper hit his right knee, said Garda McElligott, who ascertained that the owner of the vehicle was Ms Morrissey.

When he called to her home the garda said she admitted being involved in the incident but denied that her car struck him

I invited her to make a statement. She declined. She was very uncooperative, said Garda McElligott.

Robin Lee, solicitor for Ms Morrissey, said his client is entitled not to make a statement.

She was very awkward and strange, said Garda McElligott.

Through a Polish interpreter, the alleged injured party said after the car pulled out in front of him he decided to tell the other driver what she did.

She declined to stop the car. She tried to escape. There is only one exit. I waited for her at the entrance to the estate. In the meantime I spoke to my two neighbours. As expected she appeared before me. I was in the middle of the road. She failed to stop, hitting my leg, said the Polish man.

Mr Lee said that Ms Morrissey will say he was accompanied by between 10 to 12 people and she felt intimidated as a lone woman in the car.

The Polish man said there was just his two neighbours and, I cant take responsibility for how she feels.

The Polish man has a very long, thick beard. Mr Lee asked him if he had the beard at the time?

Yes but it was a lot shorter, he replied.

Mr Lee asked the Polish man how did Ms Morrissey know that she hit him?

I lost balance and fell on her bonnet, said the Polish man.

Mr Lee said his client will say that she thought this was to stop her driving forward.

Ms Morrissey took the stand. She said there was 10 to 12 people along the road.

None of them were speaking. It was very intimidating. I asked one woman what the problem was. He (the Polish man) was on the phone. Nobody explained what happened.

Read also: Jail for man who was bottle feeding baby on his lap while driving near Limerick village

The entrance to the estate was blocked. I wanted to get away. He was letting other cars go. I followed one of them, said Ms Morrissey.

Insp Liam McGraynor asked if anybody was shouting or roaring.

No. He was on his phone. I was on my own, said Ms Morrissey.

Insp McGraynor said this wouldnt put a reasonable person in terror.

He approached my car. He did come across. It wasnt going to be a nice conversation. He tried to pull open the door. It automatically locked, said Ms Morrissey.

Mr Lee applied for the hit and run and careless driving charges to be struck out.

There is no evidence to say that my client knew that she struck him. There is no medical evidence.

She felt utterly intimidated. She was leaving the estate after visiting a friend. She left the scene as she was frightened. The State has not met the critical degree of proof beyond reasonable doubt, said Mr Lee.

Insp McGraynor said Ms Morrissey was driving in the middle of the road which is careless in itself.

She failed to stop, failed to report, failed to remain at the scene and failed to exchange details. He (the Polish man) was with his friends and daughter. It was daylight. His intention was to speak to the driver to tell her to look in her mirrors. There was no aggression on his behalf. She was careless. There is no doubt, said Insp McGraynor.

Judge Marian OLeary said on the basis of all the evidence the State didnt reach the threshold and dismissed all charges against Ms Morrissey.
By Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland will shut schools, universities and childcare facilities until March 29 and restrict mass gathering to slow the spread of the coronavirus, acting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Thursday, as the country registered a 60% surge in cases.

Ireland's chief medical officer said the government had turned to measures to try to delay the spread, rather than simply contain it, following a jump in case numbers in nine clusters across the country.

Ireland confirmed its first death of a patient diagnosed with the virus on Wednesday and on Thursday the number of confirmed cases rose to 70 from 43. Two more cases in Northern Ireland, the British region which shares an open border with the Irish republic, brought the total there to 20.

"This is going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives and I know I'm asking people to make enormous sacrifices," Varadkar said in a statement that was broadcast on national television from Washington, where he met President Donald Trump.

"Acting together as a nation, we can save many lives," Varadkar said.

All indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be canceled and where possible people should work from home, he said.

Within an hour, long queues formed at supermarkets in central Dublin despite repeated calls by ministers not to resort to panic buying.

Outside one supermarket near the city center, some shoppers wondered why the government had not taken the steps sooner. Ireland reported its first coronavirus case on Feb. 29.

"They should have done this before now," said Danielle Kinsella, a 36-year-old carer, who was carrying five shopping bags and a bag of potatoes with a friend.

"They are leaving everything to the last minute and people now are panicking," said Kinsella, who has been unable to find hand sanitizer on the shelves for her brother, who has leukemia and is in self-isolation.

Story continues

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Varadkar encouraged people to limit social interactions and for offices to stagger break times and hold meetings remotely to limit contact.

While restaurants can stay open, they should look at how to impose social distancing designed to keep people far enough apart, he added.

Public transport will continue to operate and shops will remain open with plans in place to ensure supply chains will not be interrupted. Airports will not be closed but those entering Ireland will be told to self-isolate if they develop symptoms.

Games, training and team gatherings for Ireland's Gaelic sports and rugby union were suspended until March 29 across all age groups.

The Catholic Church said all confirmations had been canceled and that believers would not be obliged to physically attend mass on Sundays and could watch online instead.

On Monday, Ireland canceled all St. Patrick's Day parades which draw hundreds of thousands of revelers, including tourists from around the world, each March.

Parliament will still sit next Thursday to vote through emergency laws to boost sick pay, part of a 3 billion euro package announced this week that the finance minister said could push the state's finances back into deficit.

Initial talks to form a new government between Varadkar's Fine Gael party and rivals Fianna Fail following an inconclusive Feb. 8 election will be postponed for now, Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said.

Earlier on Thursday Dublin's Mater Hospital, one of the capital's main hospitals, postponed all outpatient appointments and elective surgeries until further notice.

It said in a statement that staff in every part of the hospital "are working around the clock" to deal with the virus.

(Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, Peter Graff and Mike Collett-White)
A suspected illegal immigrant was found by police inside a locked car roof box at a service station after he was heard 'banging and screaming'.

A British family were returning from a trip abroad and stopped the night before their arrival back in Britain in Calais, where it is thought the man climbed inside the box.

Unaware, the family drove back to Britain, and it wasn't until they were parked at South Mimms service station on the M25 a day later that he was found.

This is the shocking moment when police opened a locked car roof box at a service station and discover a stowaway hiding inside

The family stopped at the service station, prompting the man to 'bang and shout' until worried onlookers called the police.

Firefighters were then called to crowbar open the locked storage box.

Onlookers said the stowaway told rescuers he had 'been in there for days'.

A video shows emergency workers breaking into the storage box on top of the car, finding the man surrounded by luggage, and the man jumping to safety.

A British family were returning from a trip abroad and stopped in Calais, where it is thought the man climbed inside the box

Unaware, the family drove back to Britain, and it wasn't until they were parked at South Mimms service station (pictured) on the M25 at least a day later that he was found

An onlooker said: 'Everyone could hear this knocking and screaming coming from an unmanned vehicle in the car park. A bunch of people attempted to open the luggage roof rack but failed.

'People were shouting "it's OK we'll get you out" and then the police were called but they failed to open the roof compartment as well and called the fire service.

'A man was freed, covering his eyes because of the bright daylight, and he was overheard saying he had been in there for days.

'The family returned to their car - a man with his wife and two children - and were totally oblivious as to what was happening.

'The couple were in total disbelief when they were told a man had been hiding in their roof luggage compartment. We left just as the police were questioning the couple.'

The family stopped at the service station, prompting the man to 'bang and shout' until worried onlookers called the police

Firefighters were then called to crowbar open the locked storage box. Onlookers said the stowaway told rescuers he had 'been in there for days'

The man was discovered in the storage box while the car was parked at the South Mimms Services off the M25 in Hertfordshire on February 23.

After members of the public failed to open the box themselves, the emergency services were called to assist with the situation.

Police officers and firemen managed to prise open the box with a crowbar and were shocked to find a man hiding inside amongst the luggage of the unsuspecting family.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: 'We were called about this on February 23 at around 11am.

'A member of the public arrived at South Mimms and heard someone banging and shouting and believed it was coming from the boot of a car parked nearby.

'Officers arrived and forced entry to the vehicle and found a man in a box secured to the luggage rack on top of the car.

'The vehicle belonged to a family, who had recently travelled from Calais and it is believed the man may have gained entry whilst they were parked up in Calais, where they stayed overnight.

An onlooker said: 'Everyone could hear this knocking and screaming coming from an unmanned vehicle in the car park. A bunch of people attempted to open the luggage roof rack but failed

'People were shouting "it's OK we'll get you out" and then the police were called but they failed to open the roof compartment as well and called the fire service', an onlooker said

'The man was arrested on suspicion of entering the UK illegally and the case has been passed to the UK Border Force.'

The case comes less than two weeks after a people smuggler was jailed for trying to bring three Vietnamese migrants hidden inside an 'airtight' roof box into Britain through Kent.

Robert Rooney, 35, admitted facilitating illegal entry of two men and a 15-year-old girl after stuffing them into the tiny space on top of his Ford Focus.

The Irish-born HGV driver, of Edmonton, London, was stopped at the UK-controlled zone at the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles, northern France.

Border Force officers who asked to check the roof box took the vehicle to a nearby garage last October, after Rooney claimed to have lost his keys.

They were startled to discover the three bodies inside the 'airtight concealment' - not much bigger than a suitcase - before arresting father-of-three Rooney.
A frustrated office worker has taken matters into her own hands and tried to spur police into action by filming 'homeless zombies' smoking marijuana in the middle of the day on a busy footpath.

The office worker, who spoke to The New Zealand Herald on the condition of anonymity, said she filmed the scene in Rotorua after becoming frustrated with a lack of action over the problem.

In the video one of the homeless men is seen packing something into his bong before smoking it without worrying who sees him in the act.

A New Zealand office worker has filmed a group of homeless people smoking synthetic marijuana in broad daylight out the front of businesses

It was revealed later that the man was packing synthetic marijuana into the bong.

The office worker told the publication it had become a daily occurrence which also included anti-social and intimidating behaviour.

She said she felt sympathy for the homeless but felt their aggressive behaviour was a result of being 'wasted on drugs'.

After shooting the video she called police, who attended the scene but didn't find the alleged bong.

Rotorua police acting area commander Inspector Phil Taikato told the publication tackling the issue was 'complex'.

He said officers had to 'have a reasonable belief' that drugs had been consumed before they could act.

What officers did find was synthetic marijuana, which is not illegal in New Zealand. However, some of what the police found is still currently undergoing testing.

'We are pretty sure that the substances do form the category of being illegal and as a consequence, we can start policing it from that viewpoint,' Taikato said.

'Prior to that we are only acting on assumptions and we have to be mindful of not breaking the law. We can't act on assumptions, we need a higher power of belief and we should get that shortly.

'Police can't arrest its way out of this problem. They could be smoking normal cigarettes or tobacco in that bong. The issue is they are standing around and vagrancy is not a crime.'
- mPedigree, a company that uses technology to detect fake goods, has been named as one of the innovative African companies for the year 2020

- mPedigree, which operates in a dozen countries, inserts unique codes into product labels to help check the authenticity of drugs purchased

- Other companies listed were Twiga Foods, Copia Global, Piggyvest, MPost, Tizeti, Tongoro, Lumkani, Kobo360 and 54Gene

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Information available to YEN.com.gh shows that mPedigree, a company focused on using innovative tools to detect counterfeit goods, has been named as one of Africas 10 companies to watch in the year 2020.

mPedigree achieves its objective by embedding a unique code into a product label so that buyers can verify the authenticity of an item from the manufacturer.

The company works in a dozen countries with some of the worlds largest pharmaceuticals to help detect fake drugs.

Bright Simons, CEO of mPedigree Source: Fortune.com

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Rob Shuter: MTN's CEO to leave office as company posts impressive 2019 results

Per a report by fastcompany.com, it also helps to trace seeds and other agricultural products in Africa.

Other companies recognized for the innovation are Twiga Foods, which helps urban shopkeepers obtain farm produce from small-scale Kenyan farmers, Copia Global, which brings rural Kenyans closer to the products and services via an e-commerce platform and Piggyvest, which is a savings platform that helps users to deduct fixed amounts from their accounts at specified times.

Others are MPost, which allows users to convert their phone numbers to virtual mailboxes at the closest post office, Tizeti, which provides public Wi-Fi hotspots in urban areas and Tongoro, which helps to promote the works of local fashion designers.

The rest are Lumkani, which brings fire protection and insurance services to South African townships, Kobo 360, which connects African truck drivers with companies who need their services and 54Gene, which is on a mission to build an African-wide genetic biobank.

In other news, Kenya is set to outdoor a $55,000 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace that would be assembled in the country.

It has been estimated that the car could help contribute about $500 million in taxes in the next five years.

The car has been introduced at a time when the country has embarked on a project to locally assemble cars such as the Volkswagen Polo Vivo.

The Polo was the first locally assembled German car in Kenya in 2016. In a bid to make their cars cheaper in the long run, dealers who locally assemble vehicles would not pay the 25% import duty levied on fully-built imported vehicles.

READ ALSO: ACI World ranks Kotoka International Airport as the most improved in Africa

Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

Yenkasa: Coronavirus: Is Ghana ready? | #Yencomgh

Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos

Source: YEN.com.gh
Deanna Raybourn Photo: Courtesy

Veronica Speedwell belongs to that niche of Victorian-era women determined to escape their fate as so-called hearth angels. She is also fictional.

Such strong-willed, adventurous women happen to be Deanna Raybourns specialty. The successful novelist, whose 20-plus books include this months fifth Speedwell mystery, A Murderous Relation, has been studying this mountain-climbing, butterfly-chasing sorority for about 25 years.

The more I read about them, the more fascinated I became, says Raybourn, who grew up in San Antonio. We always have this idea that Victorian women were always sitting in the parlor, serving tea to the vicar and knitting. But there was a subset of women who packed up their parasols and their petticoats and hit the road.

According to Raybourn, Veronica is most directly patterned after Margaret Fountaine. Left well-to-do in her late twenties by the death of an uncle, this Norfolk vicars daughter traveled to every corner of the British Empire and collected some 22,000 specimens during her lifetime.

You could make a pretty good living going out and catching specimens of whatever it is people were collecting, and butterflies happened to be a particularly ladylike thing to collect, explains Raybourn, who now lives in Virginia. And they were easy. Face it: if you hunt a butterfly, all you need is a net and a killing jar; you dont need a pair of Purdey shotguns.

More Information 'A Murderous Relation' By Deanna Raybourn Penguin Random House 310 pages. $26. When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 13 Where: Murder by the Book, 2342 Bissonnet St. Details: 713-524-8597; murderbooks.com

Decades after her death in 1940, Fountaines exhaustive diaries were adapted into the memoirs Love Among the Butterflies and Butterflies and Late Loves. The books editor largely obscured Fountaines butterfly pursuits in favor of her previously unknown sexual exploits; Raybourn gave Veronica a similarly vigorous carnal appetite.

Shes very self-actualized, very strong, she has these kind of aromantic physical relationships, Raybourn says of her heroine. For her, sex is exercise. Its something health-giving and invigorating, like a brisk walk in the morning air, and so she doesnt tend to get entangled with people. It leaves her free to pursue her other passions.

Besides lepidoptery, those other passions include solving murders, however inadvertently.

Veronica and her partner Stoker  a brooding, chiseled, well-bred taxidermist  live on an estate in Londons posh Marylebone district (location of 221B Baker Street, by the way). While helping classify and restore generations of their wealthy patrons family hunting trophies and other zoological finds, the pair frequently find themselves called away to investigate assorted misdeeds among the Victorian elite.

These assignments also serve as a convenient distraction from Veronica and Stokers obvious attraction to one another. They are both headstrong and intuitive, and Raybourn sets the tension between them just below the boiling point.

Theres a mental shorthand between them on a fundamental, cellular level, she says. They get each other. I think in one of the books Veronica even makes mention of the fact that other people are mud and that they are quicksilver. Theyre a different element.

In A Murderous Relation, Veronica and Stokers well-connected friend Lady Wellington asks the two to retrieve an irreplaceable jewel that Prince Albert Victor, Queen Victorias grandson, has foolishly given to his mistress. The prince, known as Eddy, was a bit of a black sheep in the royal family at the time.

Thats one of the drawbacks to having a hereditary monarchy  sometimes you end up with really capable people sitting on the throne, Raybourn says. And then other times you just get this genetic roll of the dice and youre like, Wowthis was not so great.

Eddys paramour, Madame Aurore, runs a high-end club catering to wealthy Londoners more peculiar vices, leading to long scene in the novel reminiscent of Eyes Wide Shut. Her murder leads Veronica and Stoker to uncover a plot to overthrow the British throne that brushes up against Scotland Yard and Veronicas own complicated ancestry.

Meanwhile London is being terrorized by a series of murders centered around the slum of Whitechapel. And so Jack the Ripper enters A Murderous Relation, first when Veronica and Stoker break into Lady Wellingtons desk and discover their friend has been keeping close tabs on the killings and Eddys whereabouts.

The theory that Albert Victor was responsible for the Ripper murders has long since been discredited, but you really cant write a book set in London in the fall of 1888 and not deal with Jack the Ripper on some level, Raybourn says. That whole autumn London was just a completely different place. It was in the grip of this story.

It had the same impact on people in London as a terror attack has, she adds. Its all thats in the news, its all people talk about, it has an influence on how people react and how people go about their lives.

However, focusing her book on the Ripper killings was the last thing I wanted, Raybourn says. Instead, she wanted to highlight the victims, to which A Murderous Relation is dedicated. One of them helps Veronica and Stoker late in the book, not long before Veronica has a chilling encounter with a menacing figure in a Whitechapel alley.

In every murder youve got the two sides of it: the perpetrator and the victim, Raybourn says. I was more interested in dealing with the women who are more often forgotten in the equation. And so that was the direction that I went with it.

Before A Murderous Relation is over, Veronica and Stokers relationship has reached a significant turning point. Laughing, Raybourn says she would be such a wealthy, wealthy woman if she charged for every time readers ask if her protagonists will ultimately end up together. It may take a while for them to find out, though.

Right now Im under contract to write through book seven, and I absolutely love writing these characters, so if Penguin will let me keep writing them then I will write them, she says. Ill give you a couple dozen more with no problem.

Chris Gray is a writer living in Galveston.
Accusing the ruling BJP of unleashing a "communal virus" in India that wreaked havoc, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Thursday asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah why registration of FIRs was delayed against perpetrators of hate speeches which he claimed amounted to "a licence to kill".

Initiating a short-duration debate in Rajya Sabha on the recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi, Sibal alleged that while the national capital was burning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on the matter for 70 hours and the police machinery was busy destroying evidences and supporting violence or rioters.

Pointing towards Shah, who was present in the Upper House, Sibal asked why FIRs were not registered against those who delivered hate speeches that "incited" communal violence in Delhi.

"You can do anything to protect cows, but not human beings? Do we need to bring another Article to ensure the protection of human beings," he said, referring to provisions of the Constitution on cow protection.

Mentioning the spread of coronavirus, he said "we know the roots of the virus" and "we know" who were the "collaborators" of the riots. "The Home Minister must have seen footages of policemen destroying CCTV cameras," he said.

He said Delhi has a strong police force of 87,000 but unfortunately the riots could not be contained.

The violence in northeast Delhi last month claimed 53 lives and left over 200 injured. The riots were triggered by clashes between those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and those supporting it.

Sibal, a former Union minister, said the riots were "orchestrated" just as the celebrations to welcome US President Donald Trump.

The riots in Delhi had taken place during Trump's visit to India.

"Everyone knew what was happening, but the Delhi Police knew nothing," he alleged.

Sibal also said it was a paradox that on February 25 the government termed the Delhi riots "spontaneous", whereas the Home Minister in Lok Sabha said it was a conspiracy.

He said of the 53 who lost their lives, 34 were of one community and questioned the delay in registration of FIRs against those who gave hate speeches.

"This was a license to kill...," he alleged, adding that if the government wanted to control the situation it could have easily done so.

He also warned against communalising the youth. If the "virus" is spread among the youth, democracy will be destroyed, he said.

He took a dig at the government saying that the Solicitor General when asked by a judge about the FIRs said it was not an opportune time.

Taking part in the debate, Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP said it was wrong to blame the Delhi Police for everything saying.

"The situation of the Delhi Police has become like Iraq. They are being attacked for every wrong that is happening."



Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien said children were the worst sufferers in the riots.

Referring to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to riots-hit areas, the TMC MP asked, "If Delhi Police was doing a good job, why was the chain of command superseded and the NSA was given command?"



The Citizenship Amendment Act, along with the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register, is a "toxic combination".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Airline passenger numbers in China collapsed by 85 per cent last month in a sign of the devastating toll the coronavirus epidemic is having on the countrys economy.

The Chinese aviation regulator announced on Thursday that the numbers of people flying in February were down 84.5 per cent compared to the same month last year.

This huge drop meant Chinese airlines lost revenue of about 2.35bn, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) reported.

Since the coronavirus outbreak began to spread in January from the city of Wuhan, most internal flights have been suspended in an effort to contain the virus.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese people normally travel to stay with family over the Lunar New Year holiday, providing a boost for airlines.

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

But severe restrictions on movement, as well as de facto quarantines of entire cities and regions such as Wuhan, has savaged the industry.

The CAAC said it would offer subsidies to airlines struggling to cope with the sudden loss of business, while charges for taking off and landing at airports will also be reduced and airport infrastructure spending will rise by 11bn over the rest of the year.

However, at least one company, the fourth-largest carrier in the country, Hainan Airlines, could be being effectively nationalised, the Financial Times reported.

State officials have reportedly already taken on senior management roles at the heavily-indebted parent company of the airline, and the government is mulling whether to go further and take over the firm entirely.

Recommended Customers left in the dark after Trump restricts travel from Europe

However, as Chinas outbreak of Covid-19 seems to be stabilising, the government is trying to restart its battered economy.

There were only eight new infections reported in Hubei province, where the pandemic began, on Thursday: the first time the epicentre of the coronavirus has seen single-digit new cases.

Overall, there were just 15 confirmed new cases in mainland China, compared with 83 new cases in the UK.

The total number of cases in China now stands at 81,000, but nearly 80 per cent of those have already recovered from the infection.

Many factories are now being reopened and containment measures in some key industrial hubs are being relaxed to kickstart the economy.

 Coronavirus: Trump suspends Europe-US travel

The epidemic control measures have put an enormous strain on Chinas enterprises, especially the small and medium-sized ones in the service sector, an editorial in the state-controlled China Daily newspaper said.

Any further delay in their return to normal operations will entail widespread bankruptcies and job losses, which will threaten social stability.

Airlines around the globe have also suffered during the coronavirus outbreak. Norwegian Air, a budget European carrier, announced earlier this week it would cut 15 per cent of its flights and temporarily lay off a significant share of its work force to deal with falling demand.

Many British airlines have already cancelled all flights to Italy, home to Europes worst outbreak of Covid-19.

The EU has also announced it will relax rules on the take-off and landing slots airlines need. Under the existing use it or lose it regulations some carriers had continued running almost empty planes for fear of forfeiting the precious slots to their rivals if they suspended flights.

Australian airline Qantas has reduced its global portfolio of flights by 25 per cent, while the president of Korean Air has warned employees the company could go bust if crisis continued much longer.
New Delhi, March 12 : With India announcing to cancel all non-official visas till April 15, leading online travel aggregator MakeMyTrip on Thursday said the decision will have a distinct impact on inbound and outbound international travel.

Admitting that the government's decision to cancel all visas, with a few exemptions, is timely at this point to control the spread of COVID-19 but the move is going to impact the travel industry.

"So far, there are no restrictions or advisories issued for domestic travel. The period between February till the end of March is typically a lean period because of exam season but we are seeing a demand slowdown for the upcoming summer holiday season especially for international travel," Rajesh Magow, Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said in a statement.

"The situation remains dynamic, making it hard to quantify the actual impact on our business and industry at large," Magow added.

Total number of novel coronavirus cases reached 73 on Thursday in India. Of these, 56 are Indian nationals and 17 are foreigners.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 as global pandemic. The death toll of COVID-19 has crossed the 4,000 mark and confirmed cases globally have over 1 lakh.

"Given the rapidly changing scenario, we will continue to monitor the developments closely and share updates and forecast based on the advice of government and public health authorities during this difficult period for the travel industry," said Magow.

In a statement earlier this month, the company said there has been a slowdown in outbound travel bookings since the outbreak of coronavirus and travellers are being cautious in making their (outbound) travel plans.

"At MakeMyTrip, our outbound business stands at 20 per cent of the overall business and within this share - are the contributions from the southeast Asian countries that have got impacted. We do expect a potential impact on the overall business if the outbreak spreads westwards," said the company.

"Continuing to extend complete support and comfort to our travellers amidst the scare, together with airline partners, we have been proactively offering full refunds to travellers in the impacted regions," MakeMyTrip added.
(Newser)  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, US officials say. At least 12 coalition personnel were also injured late Wednesday by a barrage of rockets targeting Camp Taji base, located 17 miles north of Baghdad, according to a US-led coalition statement. One of the officials said five service members were seriously wounded and evacuated from the base and seven others were still being evaluated. Army Col. Myles Caggins said that about 18 107mm Katyusha rockets struck the base and 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, the AP reports.

story continues below

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that a UK soldier had been killed in the abhorrent attack on the Taji base. The Ministry of Defense said the soldier was from the Royal Army Medical Corps. Officials did not say what group they believe launched the rocket attack, but Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely. A military statement from Iraq's joint operations command said caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has ordered an investigation into what he called "a very serious security challenge and hostile act."

(Read more Iraq stories.)
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly.

So, the natural question for FINEOS Corporation Holdings (ASX:FCL) shareholders is whether they should be concerned by its rate of cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

See our latest analysis for FINEOS Corporation Holdings

When Might FINEOS Corporation Holdings Run Out Of Money?

A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. When FINEOS Corporation Holdings last reported its balance sheet in December 2019, it had zero debt and cash worth 35m. Importantly, its cash burn was 8.6m over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from December 2019 it had 4.1 years of cash runway. Importantly, though, analysts think that FINEOS Corporation Holdings will reach cashflow breakeven before then. In that case, it may never reach the end of its cash runway. You can see how its cash balance has changed over time in the image below.

ASX:FCL Historical Debt, March 11th 2020

How Well Is FINEOS Corporation Holdings Growing?

FINEOS Corporation Holdings boosted investment sharply in the last year, with cash burn ramping by 74%. On the bright side, at least operating revenue was up 29% over the same period, giving some cause for hope. Considering the factors above, the company doesnt fare badly when it comes to assessing how it is changing over time. 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

How Hard Would It Be For FINEOS Corporation Holdings To Raise More Cash For Growth?

We are certainly impressed with the progress FINEOS Corporation Holdings has made over the last year, but it is also worth considering how costly it would be if it wanted to raise more cash to fund faster growth. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash to fund growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

FINEOS Corporation Holdings has a market capitalisation of 485m and burnt through 8.6m last year, which is 1.8% of the company's market value. So it could almost certainly just borrow a little to fund another year's growth, or else easily raise the cash by issuing a few shares.

How Risky Is FINEOS Corporation Holdings's Cash Burn Situation?

It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way FINEOS Corporation Holdings is burning through its cash. For example, we think its cash runway suggests that the company is on a good path. Although its increasing cash burn does give us reason for pause, the other metrics we discussed in this article form a positive picture overall. There's no doubt that shareholders can take a lot of heart from the fact that analysts are forecasting it will reach breakeven before too long. After considering a range of factors in this article, we're pretty relaxed about its cash burn, since the company seems to be in a good position to continue to fund its growth. While we always like to monitor cash burn for early stage companies, qualitative factors such as the CEO pay can also shed light on the situation. Click here to see free what the FINEOS Corporation Holdings CEO is paid..

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, 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.
Egyptian prosecutors ordered on Thursday the four-day detention pending investigation of two men for discriminating against a young Chinese man and accusing him of having the coronavirus in an incident captured in a viral video.

The footage of the incident, which took place on Tuesday, showed the driver for what appeared to be a ride-hailing company holding tissue paper over his mouth as he gave a ride to a Chinese client, while a man who filmed the video from another car laughs and tells the driver to "throw him out."

The Chinese man is later seen frantically trying to hail down cars on a busy highway, while someone is heard saying "corona, corona" and "call an ambulance" while warning people to stay away from the man.

The video has sparked outrage among Egyptian social media users.

The two men were arrested on Wednesday and face charges of committing an act that discriminates between individuals on the basis of origin, spreading false news that disturbs public security and spreads terror among people, and "disrupting traffic", the public prosecutors office said in a statement on Thursday.

During investigations, the diver said he dropped the Chinese off for fear of being infected by the coronavirus, and the other man said he had deleted the controversial videos from his social media account.

The prosecution said that it is committed to combating discrimination "in any form or for any reason," and urged people to adhere to good morals.

China is the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak, which has so far infected over 130,000 people and killed 4,700 globally.

Egypt now has 67 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

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Hollywood's disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Harvey 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."
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CALGARY, Alberta and LONDON, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INTERBIT LTD. (TSX Venture: IBIT) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has accepted and executed subscription agreements for $1.725 million worth of common shares of the Company (the Common Shares) in connection with its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement) of a minimum of 6,666,666 Common Shares and a maximum of 11,500,000 Common Shares of at a price of CAD$0.15 per share (see the Companys March 6, 2020 press release). Accordingly, the Company has instructed its transfer agent to issue and deliver the Common Shares in connection with such subscription agreements.



The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used in connection with continued operations of the Company, payment of outstanding debts, examining what financial and strategic alternatives may be available to the Company and towards general and administrative expenses.

Any securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the closing of the Private Placement. The Private Placement is subject to certain conditions, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV).

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Company owns proprietary technologies and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.

For further information please contact:

Brian Hinchcliffe, CEO

Phone: +1-914-815-2773

Email: investor@interbit.io

Website: www.interbit.io

This press release is not an offer of the Companys securities for sale in the United States. The Companys securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an available exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) and applicable U.S. state securities laws. The Company will not make any public offering of its securities in the United States. The Companys securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which include, the closing of the Private Placement, the anticipated use of proceeds, the results of the strategic review being undertaken by the Company, the timing, development, launch and success of the Companys technologies and products (including, without limitation, successful development and commercialization of the InterbitTM platform), timing of receipt of feedback in respect of patent application examinations, successful receipt of patents in connection with the Companys patent applications, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as may, expect, estimate, anticipate, intend, believe and continue or the negative thereof or similar variations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the state of the economy in general and capital markets in particular, the development of competitive technologies, the marketplace acceptance of the Companys technologies and products, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2018 available at www.sedar.com , many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
NSWs Chief Health Officer says authorities are anticipating as many as 1.5 million people in the state to be infected with COVID-19, as hospitals prepare for an outbreak to converge with flu season.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said events like the Sydney Royal Easter Show would not be cancelled at this stage, but that decision could change.

Hospitals are doubling their ICU capacity to prepare for COVID-19 patients and flu season. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Most of the 78 cases diagnosed in NSW were in overseas travellers or their close contacts. While many are connected to a community outbreak involving Ryde Hospital, the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care facility at Macquarie Park and two nearby schools, the origin of two cases remains unknown.

"For that reason NSW will continue to review all our policies in relation to mass gatherings and where theres large numbers of people congregating," Ms Berejiklian said.
Photo: Contributed

It has been seven days since my report on the COVID-19 virus.

Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the virus outbreak is now a pandemic.

What does a pandemic virus mean?

A new virus is often described in three ways.

Outbreak, which is summarized as an unusual but small virus.

Epidemic, where the virus is growing larger and is spreading.

Pandemic applies when the virus has a worldwide impact and is considered out of control.

In terms of numbers, last week there were 33 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada with 20 in Ontario, 12 in British Columbia and one in Quebec.

As of Wednesday, there were 93 confirmed cases, with 36 in Ontario, 39 in British Columbia, four in Quebec and 14 in Alberta.

There has also been the first COVID-19 related death confirmed  in a North Vancouver care home.

Some more positive news, of the 36 confirmed cases in Ontario, five have now recovered.

From a global perspective, last weeks numbers showed that the virus had infected close to 90,000 people in 60 countries and killed more than 3,000 people.

As of this week, there have now been nearly 120,000 people in 115 countries infected and more than 4,000 people have died as a result of the virus.

Fortunately, it has also been stated that more than 60,000 people have recovered.

What has been the response of the federal government?

The Prime Minister recently announced $1 billion in funding related to the COVID-19 virus.

The majority of the funding will be distributed as follows:

$500 million to provinces and territories

$275 million in research

$100 million in additional public health response, including funding for Indigenous Services Canada

$50 million in international aid.

The remaining funds will be spent in areas such as:

Communications and public education

Personal protective equipment

Repatriation of Canadians

Work sharing and changes to the EI sickness benefits program, intended to waive the usual one-week waiting period to obtain EI sickness benefits.

There is also a government general information line at 1-833-784-4397 for Canadians who have any immediate questions about COVID-19.

For clarification purposes, here some measures that other countries are undertaking to further contain the virus that are not being taken in Canada.

Measures such as vigorous screening processes upon entry, mandatory quarantine for those who do enter from high risk countries or potentially stopping incoming and outgoing flights from high-risk areas.

I mention that because there has been some confusion as to what screening efforts exist, or do not exist, in Canada.

My question this week:
US Moving Air, Missile Defense Systems Into Iraq - CENTCOM Chief

Sputnik News

19:02 GMT 11.03.2020

The US is moving air defense systems into Iraq to defend against ballistic missile and drone threats, the head of US Central Command said Tuesday. When Iran bombarded two US bases earlier this year, there were no anti-air defenses to halt the attack, and dozens of US troops were injured. However, Baghdad has made clear it wants US forces out.

Two months after 16 Iranian ballistic missiles struck the US' Ayn al-Asad Air Base in Western Iraq, the US is finally preparing to move air defense systems into the country. The redeployment has required careful negotiation with Baghdad, as the Iraqi parliament voted in January for a resolution that US troops should leave the country.

'Growing Threat' From Iran

"Since May 2019, Iranian proxies and Shiite militia groups in Iraq have increased attacks on US interests and conducted scores of unmanned aerial system reconnaissance flights near US and Iraqi security force bases," Marine Corps General and head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) Kenneth McKenzie told the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

"We are in the process of bringing air defense systems, ballistic missile defense systems into Iraq  particularly to protect ourselves against another potential Iranian attack," he added, noting also a "growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems, coupled with our lack of dependable, networked capabilities to counter them."

The general told US lawmakers that Iranian drone capabilities are the region's "most concerning tactical development," reiterating Washington's position that the September 2019 attacks on two Saudi oil facilities were carried out by Iran, despite the Yemeni Houthi movement claiming responsibility for the attack.

McKenzie provided no further details on the transfer of air defense systems, such as a timeline or even which kind of systems are being sent to Iraq.

Two of the most likely systems are the infamous MIM-104 Patriot, which once shot down Iraqi SCUD missiles during the 1991 Gulf War, or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), which has been deployed in South Korea as a bulwark against potential North Korean missile attack.

A third option might have been Israel's Iron Dome system, but earlier this week, the Pentagon ditched the idea of buying two more batteries after Tel Aviv refused to provide source code for the Iron Dome's software, preventing its integration into the larger US Integrated Battle Command System, Sputnik reported, citing the Times of Israel.

However, Patriot batteries in Saudi Arabia also failed to engage the drones that attacked Abqaiq and Khourais oil fields in September 2019, as the missile systems are oriented above the horizon. In the weeks after the attack, the US began weighing the option of employing its own kamikaze drones as point air defense against other drones, since the Pentagon has so de-emphasized tactical anti-air capabilities in the decades since the end of the Cold War as to leave US forces without other options.

Baghdad Wary

The January 8 missile attack by Iran on US forces in Iraq was directly precipitated by a US airstrike near Baghdad International Airport on January 3 that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani, a hugely popular commander who led the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. The airstrike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as several other high-ranking officials in the PMF.

Days later, the Iraqi parliament voted for a nonbinding resolution asking US forces to leave Iraq, which was reiterated by the country's president and prime minister. In response, US officials doubled down on their presence in the country, rejecting the request and threatening to restrict Baghdad's access to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York account in which Iraq's oil revenues have been deposited.

"Our presence sends a clear signal about our capabilities and our will to defend partners and US national interests," McKenzie said. "Going forward, it is CENTCOM's objective to posture forces in the region with the operational depth to achieve a consistent state of deterrence against Iran and be adaptable to future Iranian threats."

The US has roughly 5,300 troops deployed in Iraq, where they have been since they invaded in 2003 and overthrew Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

 Sputnik

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:39:31|Editor: huaxia

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MACAO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The government of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Thursday expressed its strong opposition regarding the references to Macao in a U.S. human rights report.

Regarding the so-called 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released by the U.S. State Department, the Macao SAR government said in a statement that the reports make baseless claims about Macao, and such claims are the product of political bias and arrogance.

Since its establishment in 1999, the Macao SAR has been strictly adhering to the principles of "one country, two systems," "Macao people governing Macao" and the application of a high degree of autonomy, it said, adding the successful implementation of these principles has been widely recognized by the international community and agencies.

The rights and freedoms of Macao residents are fully protected under the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, it said.

"Foreign countries have no right to interfere in China's domestic affairs and should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of Macao," said the statement.
Leo Varadkar has moved to comfort those who may lose out on wages due to the temporary shut down prompted by the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The Taoiseach, speaking in Washington, said his government would continue to sit down with union representatives in order to tackle the issues.

"This is going to be complicated because there are individual circumstances, individual businesses and individual contracts where things are different," he said, "so some people may be entitled to sick pay, others to force majeure relief, others to other forms of relief."

"It's not possible to answer every question for every circumstance today, but one thing we have been doing is sitting down with employers' reps and union reps, trying to sort out all those different issues."

Concerns have been flagged about the self-employed and those who are paid by the hour who will not be able to attend work due to the temporary shut down of schools, colleges and other events.

"In terms of self-employed people, if they have to take the 14 days after self isolation, they'll receive the exact same enhanced sick pay benefits and arrangements, as people who are working in private sector employment.

"Last June we introduced jobseekers' benefit for the self-employed, so if unfortunately people who are self-employed can no longer work, they will be able to qualify for jobseekers' benefit on the same basis."

Due to the circumstances of the current government operating in a caretaker role, there have been a number of calls to form a national government with cross-party support.

"My firm view is that, if there is a majority in the Dail at the formation of a new government, the new government can be formed. In the meantime we'll continue to discharge our duties and our functions as a government and ministers," he said.

"I think the first step has to be negotiations involving parties that could form a government, and if we get to the point where we're able to get a programme for government, then would have to go to party conferences."
House Republicans made clear Thursday that they won't support the new emergency coronavirus aid bill unveiled by Democrats  at least not in its current form.

Lawmakers in both parties are scrambling to take action to combat the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

But Republicans have hang-ups with the specifics of the Democrats' bill, CNBC's Ylan Mui reported Thursday, because it omits several of the measures President Donald Trump had called on Congress to enact.

Politico reported Thursday morning that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy R-Calif., opposed the bill.

Sherman TWEET

McCarthy was expected to explain his problems with the bill in public remarks at 10 a.m. ET. In a tweet earlier Thursday, he called the plan "unworkable" and complained that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had introduced the "completely partisan" bill late at night Wednesday.

McCarthy TWEET

Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill responded on Twitter that McCarthy's claim was "not true."

"Minority staffs of committees of jurisdiction were given language yesterday afternoon" and had already requested changes, Hammill said.

Hammill TWEET

Pelosi continued negotiations with Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin that had begun earlier in the week.

Trump, in an Oval Office address Wednesday night, had asked lawmakers to consider implementing payroll tax relief amid the U.S. response to the virus. That measure, which even some Republicans have been reluctant to endorse, is not included in the Democrats' bill.

Payroll taxes fund entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Hammill TWEET

The bill also ignores Trump's call for increased authority for Small Business Administration loans.

A spokesman for Pelosi told CNBC that the payroll tax and SBA measures did not come up during the speaker's call with Mnuchin.

Lawmakers are set to return to their districts for the next week, compounding the sense of urgency to push something through the chamber while members are still there to cast votes.

There has been talk that negotiations could extend through the weekend if a deal can't be reached before the scheduled recess begins.

During a meeting Thursday morning, the House Rules Committee's ranking Republican, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, griped about the lack of bipartisan cooperation on the bill.

"I set a pretty hopeful tone last night because I thought that was the appropriate thing to do, and I would've liked to have had the opportunity to continue that today. But frankly, while work may have been continued through the night, there wasn't very much bipartisan work through the night as I understand it," Cole said.

"On top of that, this legislation hasn't had a single hearing, hasn't had a single witness, has had zero Republican input of any substance. So at this point, we're certainly not prepared to support either the rule or the underlying legislation."

While the politicians pressed their positions, the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms announced Thursday that access to the U.S. Capitol by the general public will be banned for the rest of the month. The White House also announced it has temporarily canceled tours.
The museum said it had two employees who have showed symptoms of the virus. One is awaiting a test; the other is at home. The museum  which made its decision in consultation with the mayors office  also said it has been preparing for this possibility for several weeks, and is implementing an operational plan, which includes provisions to support salaried and hourly staff.

While we dont have any confirmed cases connected to the museum, we believe that we must do all that we can to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our community, which at this time calls for us to minimize gatherings while maintaining the cleanest environment possible, Mr. Weiss said.

Even before they made the announcement to shut down, many arts organizations were scrambling to navigate President Trumps ban on travel from Europe, which threatened to leave many without some of their most important artists and biggest stars.

The music director of the New York Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden, is currently in his native Amsterdam, and orchestra officials were girding themselves for the possibility that he could be stranded there. The Metropolitan Opera faced the loss of some of its leading stars, including Anna Netrebko, who was supposed to sing there later this month. And the Rotterdam Philharmonic noted the ban as it postponed a tour marking the 50th anniversary of its first United States trip.

Governor Cuomos limit on large gatherings effectively closed Broadway theaters. Lincoln Center said that its constituent organizations would stop performing as of Thursday evening. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center said that its musicians would play their planned performances on Thursday and Sunday without an audience, and the concerts will be streamed at chambermusicsociety.org.
Nine Nigerien soldiers were killed on Thursday in an attack on an army post close to the Mali frontier, a security source said, in the Tillaberi region that has been frequently targeted by jihadists.

All the assailants were "neutralised" in an airstrike after they attacked a military post in Ayorou, 200 km (124 miles) northwest of the Niger capital Niamey, the security source said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T his is the moment two London police officers broke into a burning building to save residents from a fire.

Their heroic actions at the fire in Harrow, north-west London, on March 7 were caught on bodyworn camera.

While waiting for firefighters to arrive, the officers noticed that a number of nearby flats could be affected by the blaze.

With the help of a member of the public, two officers forced their way into the apartments and made sure everyone got out in time.

Some residents and the officers were treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire brigade arrived soon afterwards and put out the fire. Some flats suffered minor fire damage.

Acting Chief Inspector James Noble said: I am incredibly proud of the actions of these two officers, thanks to their quick-thinking nobody was seriously injured.

Police officers helped rescue residents from the fire / Met Police

"Their actions demonstrate the commitment our officers have to protecting the members of the public, who, in this case, had no idea there was a fire in the building beneath them, until our officers raised the alarm.

He also thanked the bystander who helped the police after the fire broke out.
A police constable was



admitted to isolation ward of the district hospital in Jalna city of Maharashtra on Thursday for suspected exposure to the coronavirus, a senior official said.

His swab samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, civil surgeon M K Rathod said.

The policeman, who was posted in Mumbai and had come in contact with security personnel from Israel there, complained of cough and fever after returning here two days ago, Dr Rathod said.

"We are in the process of putting his family and others he came in contact with in Jalna under quarantine," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With global economic activities and supply of essential goods hit due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is dependent on "supply lines" from various countries and he has spoken to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The deadly novel 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, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) describing the outbreak a pandemic.

"I also spoke to the prime minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu told a press conference on Wednesday. His remarks came during joint statements with the finance minister, the economy and industry minister, the Bank of Israel's governor and the finance ministry director general on dealing with the economic implications of the coronavirus.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office, however, did not clearly spell out the subject of Netanyahu's discussions with Modi in its press release. The Israeli prime minister has announced a package of 10 billion NIS (USD 2.86 billion) to facilitate economic activity in the midst of challenges posed by the spread of the virus.

"The Israeli economy is in a better situation than most economies in the world: Unemployment is low, growth is high and the debt to GDP ratio is good," Netanyahu said. "However, we have a great challenge here that we all are feeling and which we are all aware of. In our view, we can also deal with it in a way that will allow us to get through it successfully in peace," he said.

"Not without difficulty, and not without sacrifice, but in the end, in peace, and I think that we can do this together in an optimal manner," Netanyahu asserted . The package lays special stress on the health sector and other businesses impacted by the coronavirus such as tourism and the aviation sector. It outlines financial assistance provisions for businesses affected by the global menace.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India scraps all visas as WHO declares COVID-19 'global pandemic'

Also read: Counter coronavirus efforts may harm economic growth by 2 pts: Barclays
It looks like artificial intelligence (AI) technology is already playing a critical role during public health emergencies like the global coronavirus pandemic. Researchers at BlueDot, a Toronto-based AI platform provider, identified the COVID-19 virus on December 30.

The discovery was made just hours after local officials in Wuhan, China reported the first cases in the city. It would take the Chinese government several weeks after that to make an official announcement.

We didnt know at that moment that this was going to become something of this magnitude, said Kamran Khan, founder and CEO of BlueDot and a professor of medicine and public health at the University of Toronto.

Khan told CNBCs Make It that hes an accidental entrepreneur who never went to business school or had any coding experience. As an epidemiologist and physician treating patients in Toronto during the SARS outbreak of 2003, he was inspired to found BlueDot.

Certainly none of us knew what SARS was until it literally showed up in our cities and hospitals, said Khan. The outbreak would last six months and was responsible for the deaths of 774 people in 29 countries, including many healthcare workers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the SARS outbreak cost an estimated $40 billion globally.

What I learned during SARS is, lets not get caught flatfooted, lets anticipate rather than react, said Khan. If we rely on government agencies to report information about infectious disease activity, we may not always get that in the most timely way or as quickly as we would like.

BlueDots solutions are designed to track, contextualize and anticipate infectious disease risks. The companys SaaS platform uses AI and insights to provide near real-time infectious disease alerts, tailored to specific industries like healthcare, the government and businesses. BlueDots global early warning system combines more than 100 datasets with proprietary algorithms, which offer critical insights and education on the spread of infectious diseases.

One of the keys to BlueDots success is the use of big data, which is culled from hundreds of thousands of sources using natural language processing and machine learning. A group of physicians and programmers then review the AI findings and create reports based on the information.

BlueDot goes beyond detecting disease threats and strives to actually understand and predict how they might spread to different parts of the world. In the case of coronavirus, the company sent out an alert and also identified cities highly connected to Wuhan. They were able to do this based on metrics like global airline ticketing data. The company pinpointed Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, Phuket, Seoul and Singapore as having the highest volume of travelers from Wuhan. Of the cities BlueDot identified, 11 were among the first places to see the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

"Coronavirus is a huge wake-up call for us in a positive way because of how important AI technology is and how medicine should embrace AI technology so it can recognize viruses like [COVID-19]," said Sergey Young, founder of the $100 million Longevity Vision Fund. The investment fund is dedicated to making longevity affordable and accessible. "It's also a negative wake-up call because we are still human beings with a lack of trust in AI, and human beings have a weakness in terms of how we respond to AI," added Young in a FOX Business interview.





Edited by Maurice Nagle
LONDON  President Donald Trump's ban on most travel from 26 European countries caused uproar on the continent early Thursday, with E.U. leaders blasting Trump's decision and saying they were not consulted, as chaos and confusion erupted at several major airports.

European Union leaders issued a rare joint statement condemning Trump's move, saying it was taken "unilaterally and without consultation." They also condemned attacks he made on them during an address Wednesday night, when he accused the E.U. of spreading the virus in the U.S. by not imposing sufficient travel restrictions on China and elsewhere.

"The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent, and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," said a joint statement from Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council respectively.

Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

"The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation," they added. "The European Union is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus."

Meanwhile, Americans and foreigners scrambled to work out what it meant for their plans to travel to the U.S. Others questioned the logic of Trump's move and whether it would actually help the effort to slow the spread of the contagion.

The president announced late Wednesday that he was banning travel to the U.S. for any foreign nationals who had traveled to one of more than two dozen European countries within the past 14 days.

Trump explicitly called it a "foreign virus" and said "a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe."

The U.S. had more than 1,600 confirmed cases as of Thursday, including 41 deaths, with the Trump administration coming under enormous criticism for the lack of coronavirus testing that's being done compared with certain other countries.

Story continues

The travel ban goes into effect Friday at midnight, and the restrictions apply only to foreign nationals, not U.S. citizens, green card holders or the families of U.S. citizens.

However, during the president's initial address to the nation, the distinctions were less clear, with Trump saying the U.S. would "be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days."

He did add that "there will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings"  but that appeared to do little to temper the confusion and alarm at several European airports.

Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak

"I see Americans crying at the airport right now worried about their jobs and coming home," Muhammad Alameldin, 24, told NBC News from the airport in Barcelona, Spain.

He and his fiancee, Monique Sanchez, 24, who are from Berkeley, California, woke up to the news at 6 a.m. before heading to the U.S. Consulate and then, when that produced no results, the airport.

"My flight was canceled, and I've been in line for over three hours waiting to transfer or get a voucher for my flight," he said. "No one has heard or seen anything thus far. It's a failure in U.S. policy and shows that the president doesn't know how to take care of Americans abroad."

NBC News journalist Shannon Ho was at Berlin Tegel Airport in Germany, returning home from vacation, hours after the move was announced. "Lots of chaotic energy in Tegel right now," she said. "Americans are stressed and just trying to get home," she added after speaking with several U.S. citizens there amid the panic.

Image: Passengers at Berlin Tegel airport (Shannon Ho / NBC News)

Ho met with one American who woke up his boss at 3 a.m. demanding that his Saturday flight be rescheduled. A Tesla worker cut short their trip by three weeks. And another young man found out about Trump's announcement while at a Berlin nightclub.

"He essentially left, booked this flight en route to his hostel and came straight" to the airport, she said.

Bedlam at U.S.-bound airlines at CDG in Paris early this a.m., as Americans pay as much as $20,000 for last-minute flights. pic.twitter.com/kkbOAEFn4Y  Mike McIntire (@mmcintire) March 12, 2020

Elsewhere, travelers reported long lines of Americans trying to get home at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. New York Times reporter Mike McIntire described the situation as "bedlam" and said Americans were paying as much as $20,000 for tickets home.

At Amsterdam's Schiphol airport  which normally has 200 flights to the U.S. every week  there were long lines at the KLM desk as passengers tried to get more information, airport spokeswoman Madelon van der Hof confirmed by telephone.

The airport said in a written statement: "We are now mapping out, together with the airlines, what this means exactly for flights to the U.S."

The restrictions affect countries within the Schengen Area  named after the Luxembourg town where the agreement was signed in 1985. It is a group of countries between which it's possible to travel without a passport. (That's the theory  some rolling restrictions are in place between certain countries following factors such as terrorist attacks in recent years.)

Image: Air France ticketing desk at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (Benoit Tessier / Reuters)

Schengen is different from the European Union; Ireland is not a member, and although the United Kingdom recently left the E.U., it was never part of the club, either. As such, both countries were exempt from Trump's travel ban.

That has led some to question whether it would be possible to get past the restrictions simply by connecting in London or Dublin. The statement released by Trump did not answer that point.

Furthermore, both the U.K. and Ireland had more cases, 459 and 43 as of Wednesday respectively, than many countries that were included within the ban. Slovakia, for example, had 10 confirmed cases, and Poland had 41.

A study published last week in Science Magazine, a peer-reviewed academic journal, found that travel restrictions "will have modest effects" and that other domestic measures to prevent the spread would "provide the greatest benefit to mitigate the epidemic."

That was echoed by the U.K.'s finance minister, Rishi Sunak, early Thursday.

"With regard to flight bans, we are always guided by the science as we make our decisions here," he told the BBC. "The advice we are getting is that there isn't evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infection."

Michel, president of the European Council, tweeted that "we will assess the situation today" following Trump's announcement.
Sri Lanka's National Election Commission has invited foreign observers to monitor the upcoming parliamentary polls in the island nation.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on March 2 dissolved Parliament six months ahead of its schedule and called a snap election on April 25. The earlier Parliament was appointed on September 1, 2015.

Rajapaksa sacked the House after the minimum term of four-and-a-half years necessary to dissolve it.

Rajapaksa, who was elected to office in November last year, had said he cannot work freely because his powers had been reduced. He also faced restrictions as the opposition commanded a majority in the 225-member House.

According to National Election Commission member S Ratnajeevan H Hoole, the organisation has invited observers from the European Union (EU), Commonwealth countries and the NGO, Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), to monitor the upcoming parliamentary election, the Daily Mirror reported on Thursday.

The observers will be deployed across the country. They will submit their observations and recommendations after the conclusion of the polls.

The observers will carry out a comprehensive election assessment, focusing on the legal framework, electoral administration, voter registration, campaigning, conduct of the media, including social media, voting, counting and tallying, and the transmission of results.

Local election monitors are also likely to invite their own foreign observers, the Colombo Gazette reported.

Over 16.2 million voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. The new Parliament will meet on May 14.

President Rajapaksa, who named his elder brother and former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister of the caretaker cabinet in December, earlier said he wanted two-thirds seats in the 225-member assembly.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Remedial schools are the type of schools that provide compensatory teaching to help learners attain expected competencies in specific academic subjects.

In Ghana, there are so many remedial schools spread over the country.

These remedial schools are used to address the gaps in many major academic subjects.

Over the years, the statistics have shown that most Senior Higher School graduates hardly meet the minimum entry requirements set for admission at the various universities in Ghana.

Remedial schools came into the picture as an attempt to help solve this unfortunate situation.

They help prepare students to take WASSCE and BECE examinations again in expectation of better grades.

Tuition in most remedial schools does not occur in the regular classroom environment, but in a different setting.

Unlike special education which is designed specifically for students with special needs, remedial classes can be designed for any students, with or without special needs.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND A REMEDIAL SCHOOL?

Remedial schools are for students who have average or higher intellectual abilities but who are not performing well in school.

Typically, remedial students are not struggling because of their intellectual abilities but instead because they are struggling with one subject area like reading, writing or mathematics.

Remedial programs are designed to help give the students the individual attention that they need to build their skills and their confidence so that they can live up to their potential.

Remedial programs that offer students special one-on-one attention are much more in demand.

Many students today find it difficult to sit down and stay focused in class because the delivery of traditional lectures does not grasp the attention of all learning types.

Below are examples of top remedial schools in Ghana.

SUPREME INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

The WASSCE Remedial unit of Supreme International College is the best WASSCE Remedial School in Accra, Ghana with proven track record of up to 97.3% pass rate over the past years and has been ranked No. 1 among the Top 10 WASSCE remedial schools in Ghana.

Enrolling with supreme, means you can be assured of the highest quality of education and a better grade.

Therefore, If you are looking for NOT just a school offering WASSCE remedial classes BUT a reputable, registered, and the Best WASSCE Remedial School in Accra, Ghana offering quality education with a track record of excellent grades NOT just a passes or credits then, the place for you is Supreme International College.

Visit Supreme International College at https://www.supremecollege.com/wassce-remedial

REMEDIAL SCHOOL - METHODIST UNIVERSITY COLLEGE GHANA

The Wesleyan Mission Society arrived in Ghana in 1835. Since then, the Methodist Church has been involved in the provision and development of high quality education at the basic, senior secondary and teacher training levels.

The role of Churches, including the Methodist Church, in providing basic, secondary and teacher education was reduced in 1961 under the then educational reform programme.

The Government decided to be responsible for running the mission schools and training colleges.

It also established many secondary schools and training colleges.

Despite the existence of these institutions, considerable concern has been expressed about the inadequacy of the institutional facilities in the universities to cater for qualified candidates to avail themselves of the opportunity for tertiary education.

The Methodist Church Ghana was convinced that with her unique record and experience in the provision of education at the basic, secondary and teacher education levels, it could make a contribution to the solution of the problems of offering education at all levels.

The Methodist University College Ghana (MUCG) was granted accreditation by the National Accreditation Board in August 2000. Its application for affiliation to the University of Ghana was approved in October 2002.

MUCG also has a program for remedial students who want to better their grades.

Visit Remedial School - Methodist University College Ghana at https://mucg.edu.gh/

REMEDIAL PROGRAMME - CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Catholic University College used to run Full-time, Night and Weekend schedules.

However, currently the University College runs programmes on regular and weekend basis.

The majority of the students are Ghanaians with Brong-Ahafo leading the regional balance with over 1000 students.

Predominantly Catholics by faith, there are other religious denominations including Pentecostal, charismatics, orthodox and Muslim students. CUCG has international students from Nigeria, Benin, Cote D'Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, Liberia, etc. pursing degree programmes in Five Faculties with variety of programme options available.

This Remedial Programme is designed to enable prospective applicants, who did not obtain the required grades at the SSSCE/WASSCE, to improve on their grades.

It is to give students the opportunity to adequately prepare and re-sit their respective papers in the NOV/DEC Examinations.

The duration for this programme is from March  August every year.

Subjects including: Core Mathematics, English Language, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Government, Economics, Financial Accounting and Costing.

Affordable accommodation on campus is available for interested applicants.

Visit Catholic University College at http://cug.edu.gh/

ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL COLLEGE (APC)  REMEDIAL

APC is the acronym for Advanced Professional College, as it provides the link between the academia and the industry through testing services and preparation of people to sit professional examinations.

APC is a charitable organization registered in the Republic of Ghana.

APC boasts excellence in the inter-related areas:

Professional & Educational Testing Services

Tutoring of students for professional examinations

Skills development & professional mentoring

Organization of professional events

Consulting & corporate training

Training of trainers

Other areas related to the above

Visit Advanced Professional College at https://ghfinder.com/about-advanced-professional-college-apc-shs-jhs-remedial/

ASCENT KOLLEGE REMEDIAL SCHOOL

Ascent College was established in August 2011 in Adabraka Accra.

It was conceived as an idea by Francis Kwarteng Crentsil, who strongly felt the paucity of good schools in the WASSCE remedial sector and from this strong conviction, the embryo of the school was formed.

The school had a very humble beginning and the lack of finances and facilities were made up by the sheer dedication of its teachers and the founding trustees.

These people endured and overcame the status quo just as the embodiment of the spirit of the institution.

The school from then grew rapidly into a school that can boast of being one of the best learning centers in Accra. The School brings on board all modern tools and practices to maximize student appeal to academics.

The school also has a tutorial body that has a very deep knowledge and insight of curriculum requirements and all that matters to enhance student excellence.

All tutors of the School are graduates from top Universities in Ghana with over 5-year experience, faculty and dynamism that make the teaching process strategically driven to student's maximum comprehension.

The Administration, highly qualified teachers, and staff work together to enforce a unified curriculum that consists of challenging and diverse programs with emphasis on meeting the needs of individual students.

Ascent College stimulate and empower students to learn and breakthrough by making the academic processes interesting.

Presently it has over 400 students per year.

It currently has two main branches located at Dansoman and Adabraka in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.

The school runs mornings and evening remedial programmes in WASSCE private exams.

The School also runs evening classes in English Language Proficiency and Adult Education.

Visit https://ascent.edu.gh/

DASEIN PRACTICAL REMEDIALS SCHOOL

Dasein Practical School runs programmes organised in two (2), sessions, that is, morning sessions and evening sessions,

These programmes are intended to help S.H.S graduates who could not perform well in the final examination.

The School has qualified teachers who are ready to help students to improve upon their grades to enable them pursue the programme of their choice in the tertiary institution, to finally pursue their future careers.

Sometimes, students fail their exams not because they refused to learn but due to wrong choice of programmes.

Dasein Practical School has career and academic counsellors who assist students in their field of work and the type of course to undertake to help them pursue their future careers.

Visit https://web.facebook.com/Dasein-Remedial-School-359561334636392/

HIS MAJESTY ACADEMY

HIS MAJESTY ACADEMY offers a wide range of courses in an environment students have described as friendly, welcoming and conducive for Academics.

The school is particularly proud of the records of being a center for Academic excellence, and records of the past students / graduates getting admissions into other tertiary institutions to pursue degree programs soon after completing their courses.

His Majesty Academy was established in August 1998 as a private school to run extra classes for J.S.S. 3 Graduates, waiting to enter into Senior Secondary School, with five (5) students and seven (7) teachers. The aim was to build a solid foundation for these young ones as they prepare to meet the challenges of the secondary Program.

In 1999, the school organized S.S.S vacation Classes to further prepare, monitor and train its students and other new students at the secondary school level.

Considering the challenges most S.S.S. Graduates encounter to gain admission into the University, the Institution decided to further train and prepare students with poor results for the November/December exams to enable them meet admission requirements of various Tertiary Institutions hence, the need of helping students to fulfill their dreams as far as their academics is concerned.

In view of this, in the year 2000, the school started operating as a Remedial Centre for Senior High Graduates.

So far the school has trained and prepared over fifteen thousand (15000) candidates most of whom have gained admissions into various Tertiary Institutions in Ghana and Overseas.

Most of the past students from His Majesty Academy are gainfully employed in various organizations notably among them are Bankers, Nurses, Doctors, Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Lecturers, Accountant and many more.

In addition, His Majesty started a Computer Training School in April 2002.

Currently His Majesty Senior High has obtained recognition from the West African Examination Council to run the May/June WASSCE exams for all final year students.

His Majesty Senior High was the only private school selected to participate in Ghana's 56th Independence Anniversary celebration and emerged as the 1st runners-up in the inter-schools' march pass parade.

Visit His Majesty Senior High at http://www.hismajestyacademy.com/

MATTEST COLLEGE LIMITED

Mattest College is a private educational institution registered in 2015 as a remedial school, with 77 students and 10 teachers and later was approved by GES in 2017.

The school is now growing extremely well and will spread across the whole country soon.

The creation of an institution like Mattest College was necessitated by the weak performance in the Senior High School system that led to the mass failure of students at the WASSCE.

Mattest believe that every student has a seed of genius inherent in them which only requires a serene environment and guidance to flourish, Mattest College was launched onto Ghana's educational landscape to offer an alternative to the mainstream education.

Presently, apart from the remedial section, Mattest College has established a Senior High School, located at Iron City behind Gallilea Market after Olam Depot.

Mattest also run Pre SHS classes, Vacation classes, Adult Education or Proficiency and Counseling Services.

Mattest College has become a popular name in Kasoa and its environs and beyond because of our system of dealing with the educational demands of our times.

The school has modern facilities coupled with a highly serene environment and well-furnished library, computer laboratory and among others.

The success story of Mattest College will continue to be imprinted on Ghana's education.

Recent results are unprecedented and unchallengeable. Mattest College is still setting the pace for others to follow.

This is partly the reason students are trooping to enroll with us.

Mattest Remedial School is full-time with flexible schedules for workers. Tutorials are organized to consolidate all lectures.

Visit Mattest at https://mattest-college.business.site/

IDEAL COLLEGE REMEDIAL SCHOOL

Ideal College is a registered private educational institution under GES.

Starting in 2002 as a remedial school, with 50 students and 6 teachers, the school now has about two thousand students spread across our five campuses.

The creation of an institution like Ideal College was necessitated by the inefficiencies in the secondary school system that led to the mass failure of students at the SSSCE.

Driven by the desire to help students excel, Ideal College launched onto Ghana's educational landscape to offer an alternative to the mainstream education.

Presently, apart from the remedial section, Ideal College has established a Senior High School, located at Legon in Accra.

We also run pre SHS, Vacation classes, International Programmes like SAT, TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT, IGCSE, University Mature Entrance Exam, Language Proficiency and Counseling Services.

Ideal College has since become a household name in Ghana and beyond because of the system of dealing with the educational needs of contemporary times.

Visit Ideal College at https://web.facebook.com/IdealCollegeKasoa?_rdc=1&_rdr

STREAM STREET COLLEGE

Stream Street College is a WASSCE remedial school in Ghana that is focused on achieving educational excellence and providing moral leadership to students.

The aim of Stream Street is to put integrity back into remedial schools and here you can find the information you may require to make the right decision about which college to choose for your WASSCE remedial classes.

Whether you are a parent or guardian, or looking for a remedial school for yourself, making the right choice now will have an impact on the rest of your life, or that of your ward's.

Remember that the school that you choose to attend today can be the difference between examination success and a high flying career path or examination failure and a wasted opportunity.

At Stream Street College we do not only teach our students how to succeed in their WASSCE exams with excellent grades. We provide moral and spiritual support helping them in achieving their dreams.

Visit Stream Street College at http://streamstreetcollege.com/

ELITE COLLEGE REMEDIALS SCHOOL

Elite College was established in October 2005

This institute is located at Ayeduase Opposite the chief's palace near KNUST Kumasi.

The institute currently has the following campuses:

(a)Assin Fosu

(b)Kumasi

(c)Agona Swedru

The mission of Elite College is to bring out graduates with high class secondary education, trained under sound religious and moral values, ready to enter any tertiary institution in the country.

Visit Elite College at https://web.facebook.com/pages/category/Education/Elite-College-Remedial-1656977577741758/?_rdc=1&_rdr

HOPE & JOY REMEDIALS SCHOOL

Hope & Joy Remedial educational institution was established in the year 2012 with a few numbers of students and teachers.

Its main goal is to restore the hope of students who have failed in their WASSCE education by providing high class secondary education teaching with GES syllabus and a serene environment that will help student to fill comfortable to learn.

Over the years, Hope and Joy was necessitated by the inefficiencies in the secondary school system that led to the mass failure of students at the SSSCE or WASSCE EXAMS.

It is located in the premises of GRACIE JHS SCHOOL at Apenkwa  Tesano.

Hope and Joy Remedial School have serene environment, discipline in classrooms and smaller class size which makes teaching and learning effective and less stressful.

Visit Hope and Joy Remedial School at https://hopeandjoyremedials.doodlekit.com/

CONCLUSION

Remedial schools are intended to help students to improve their performance in specific areas they are struggling with.

If you are looking for one to one lessons for yourself or your child call 0501457284 or visit https://www.excellenthomeclasses.com/looking-for-a-tutor/

What remedial school do you know that is not mention here?

Leave your answer in the comment space below.
[March 11, 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/20200311005751/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/20200311005751/en/

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LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - The Financial Times said on Wednesday it had postponed its Commodities Global Summit - due to take place in Lausanne, Switzerland later in March - by six months amid a rapid global spread of the coronavirus.

"We are very disappointed that this has proved necessary but with the rapid increase of the Covid-19 virus across Europe and globally, together with the many travel restrictions now in place for so many of our participants, we feel that it is in the interests of all our attendees to no longer proceed as planned on 23-25 March," the FT said.

Switzerland last month banned large events expected to draw more than 1,000 people in a drive to curb the coronavirus epidemic, prompting cancellation of high profile events like the Geneva car show.

The FT's summit will now be held at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne on September 28-30.

The event is one of the world's biggest gathering of executives from the commodities trading industry. (Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Lucy the Elephant, one of New Jersey's most famous National Historic Landmarks, will operate as an Airbnb for three nights next week. Read more

Meggan Haig is obsessed with elephants in general and Margates Lucy the Elephant in particular.

Every birthday and Christmas, family and friends add to her collection of elephant trinkets. When she bought her first car, a Ford Fusion, she called it an elephant of a purchase. So of course the cars name is Lucy.

When Haig was a kid growing up in Cape May County, every family trip to Atlantic City, where her dad worked at casinos, "we specifically had to take that road so we could drive by and say hi. Even though its her heinie staring at you, said Haig, 35, of Dennis Township, Cape May County.

When she saw an article last month that said three people would be able to book Lucy as an Airbnb for the first time, she immediately set a reminder on her phone. At 11:50 a.m. March 5, the bank assistant manager left for lunch, her Airbnb app ready, and started refreshing the listing, having already practiced the clicks shed make. When the listing went live at noon, she clicked through and booked.

"Im still in shock to this moment. I was shaking.  I was close to tears, Haig said. I still have no idea how Im one of the lucky three, and I will not take that for granted.

Faster than the time it takes for a hungry seagull to swoop down and peck a sandwich from unsuspecting fingers, the once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend the night inside a Jersey Shore landmark was gone. The three nights next week that Lucy the Elephant, the six-story iconic wooden elephant, will become an Airbnb were booked in a matter of seconds.

It was not surprising to all who know Lucy, the National Historic Landmark that has been welcoming visitors to Margate for 138 years.

I guess their website was just inundated, said Rich Helfant, executive director of the Save Lucy Committee, the group that restored and manages Lucy.

Six people  four from New Jersey and two from Pennsylvania  will stay inside Lucy for one night each March 17, 18, and 19. Its the first time anyone has lived in the landmark since a British family of six stayed for the summer in 1902. Its a fact Haig knew from tours and why she picked the last date available.

So going forward if they included that in the tour, I would be the last person to stay in Lucy, she said. Going there, I would think how cool it would be to stay there. And now its actually happening.

She said shes feeling "just pure joy and excitement at the thought of staying inside the gentle giant of Atlantic County.

Haig is taking her 40-year-old boyfriend, Pat, who has never visited Lucy.

Staying in Lucy also will be a first visit for Sarah Jacob, 36, who grew up and lives in Johnstown, in Western Pennsylvania. In fact, shes never been to the Jersey Shore. But her friends and family know shes always been into quirky accommodations when she travels, and she was flooded with messages about Lucys listing.

I like roadside attractions and larger-than-life stuff, said Jacob, a software engineer. Anywhere I go, I do research and look up crazy places" to stay, including a bubble and a Volkswagen Beetle.

Since work is preventing Jacobs husband from coming along this time, her 32-year-old sister, Emily, is staying with her.

I made sure I was logged on. I just had to click, click, click and get it. I figured it would go super fast, Jacob said. I read other peoples comments [online], and it didnt sound like they were ready.

She said shes excited to see Lucy and the beach.

Airbnb partnered with the nonprofit Save Lucy Committee to list the landmark on the website as part of a tradition of short-term, iconic stays, including at the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and Mattels Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse. The committee hoped to raise awareness about Lucy, especially as the elephant gets ready for a major paint restoration project set to cost a half-million dollars.

 READ MORE: Lucy the Elephant, endangered no more, gets a 20- year lease to stay in Margate

This has been a tremendous event for Lucy," Helfant, of the committee, said. Exposure around the world greater than we ever anticipated.

The lucky guests had to fit certain criteria: no children and no problem using an outside trailer for showers and toilet trips.

Doris Perkins doesnt care. "Thats where all my childhood memories are, the 46-year-old said. "That was the most exciting thing down here.

Every Sunday as a kid, Perkins went to morning church service, Sunday school in the afternoon, and an evening church service in Longport, next to Margate. In between services, shed walk along the beach and inevitably end up at Lucy.

Perkins and her family now live in Egg Harbor Township, about 15 minutes from Lucys home in Margate. But shes never been inside.

Perkins is a photographer for a couple of local nonprofits and plans to take lots of photos. "Im a little nerdy about the Victorian stuff they put in there, she said, referring to Lucys Victorian-style furnishings.

 READ MORE: The latest use for Lucy the Elephant? An Airbnb. See photos of the Jersey landmark from over the years.

In the days before the listing went live, Perkins was stressed out by stories far and wide advertising the opportunity to stay in Lucy, including in the London-based Daily Mail. "Im having mini heart attacks, she said.

Lucy was one of the first sites Perkins took her now-husband, Seth, to see when he visited for the first time from Oregon. The mother of three said her children are excited and had wanted to go, so she told them shed take videos from inside.

Perkins, who said she hasnt been away from her kids in five years, said she plans to relax, watch the birds, breathe in the sea air, and reminisce about her first visits with Lucy.

Its a great thing for Margate to have, she said. "I hope we dont get to be too complacent about things in our area.
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The unprecedented delay to his new Mission: Impossible film was put to one side as Tom Cruse boarded a private helicopter in London on Thursday morning.

The actor appeared to be in high spirits while greeting his security guard, but with the growing threat of coronavirus in mind he traded the warm handshake for a cautious fist bump.

Cruise, 57, sported a casual blue sweater and matching jeans as he made his way onto the helipad before climbing into the helicopter's front seat.

Make way: The unprecedented delay to his new Mission: Impossible film was put to one side as Tom Cruse boarded a private helicopter in London on Thursday morning

With chilly English weather in mind he added to his look with a black woolen beanie hat, while tinted sunglasses partially concealed the Hollywood star's instantly recognisable features.

But despite his good mood the actor, who famously performs his own dangerous stunts on each of his films, suggested he has suffered a recent accident by revealing a series of plasters across his knuckles.

His latest appearance comes after ex-wife Katie Holmes addressing the stress she faced after divorcing Tom Cruise in 2012 after six years of marriage.

Greeting: The actor appeared to be in high spirits while greeting his security guard, but with the growing threat of coronavirus in mind he traded the warm handshake for a cautious fist bump

Face to face: Cruise appeared to take no chances regarding the growing threat of coronavirus strain COVID-19

Safety first: Cruise and his colleague made sure they stayed safe while greeting each other

Greetings: The actor was in a cheerful mood as he made his way onto the London heliport on Thursday morning

Speaking out: His latest appearance comes after ex-wife Katie Holmes addressing the stress she faced after divorcing Tom Cruise in 2012 after six years of marriage, and her love for their daughter Suri

She told InStyle magazine: 'That time was intense. It was a lot of attention, and I had a little child on top of it,' said the New York based star, who has daughter Suri Cruise, now 14, with the actor.

'We had some funny moments out and about in public. So many people I didn't know became my friends and helped us out, and that's what I love about the city.'

The actress also reflected on her love for their young daughter, who has remained with her following her divorce from Cruise.

She said: 'I love her so much. My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality. To make sure she is 100 percent herself and strong, confident, and able.

And to know it. She came out very strong  she's always been a strong personality. She'll pick an activity and work her butt off until she's really good at it. Then she's like, "OK, I'm going to try the next thing." She's very focused and a hard worker.'

Injury: Despite his good mood the actor, who famously performs his own dangerous stunts on each of his films, suggested he has suffered a recent accident by revealing a series of plasters across his knuckles

Relaxed: Cruise, 57, sported a casual blue sweater and matching jeans as he made his way onto the helipad before climbing into the helicopter's front seat

Let's go: The actor was making an appearance in London after the spread of coronavirus disrupted his Mission: Impossible shoot in Italy

In February Cruise was forced to hole up in a luxury hotel in Venice after the filming of Mission: Impossible 7 was halted after an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy, DailyMail.com has learned.

The actor had been due to begin filming in some of the most picturesque and popular parts of the floating city but production was put in limbo after authorities put a total lockdown in place in order to stop further spread of the deadly disease.

It is likely that Cruise and his co-stars have relocated to Buckinghamshire's Pinewood Studios following the disruption.

Upbeat: The actor greeted onlookers with a wave as he prepared to set off on Thursday morning

Disruption: In February Cruise was forced to hole up in a luxury hotel in Venice after the filming of Mission: Impossible 7 was halted after an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy

Setback: Mission: Impossible 7, which will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie, is set for a summer 2021 release, but the halt on filming could delay the release

New location: It is likely that Cruise and his co-stars have relocated to Buckinghamshire's Pinewood Studios following the disruption

He's off: The actor offered one more wave before climbing into the helicopter ahead of his journey on Thursday morning

When asked whether he was shooting the franchise's seventh installment, co-star Simon Pegg told BBC Radio 6: '[We're] not in Venice, that's where I'm supposed to be.

'Paramount were very cautious and sensible I think and pulled the production out of Venice.

'It's a big group of people, we were shooting carnival sequences and it was just unwise to remain so we bugged out.

'I think it would be indelicate to complain about anything other than the fact that there was a lot of disruption for everyone.'

Mission: Impossible 7, which will be directed by Christopher McQuarrie, is set for a summer 2021 release, but the halt on filming could delay the release.

In good company: The actor was accompanied by his pilot and small security detail

Shady: Cruise kept his eyes shielded behind a pair of heavily tinted sunglasses as they set off on Thursday morning

Don't mind me: But Cruise was hard to miss as he settled down for his private helicopter ride across the city
OTTAWACanadian officials are reviewing the countrys land border policies as COVID-19 continues to spread across the United States, the union representing border guards says.

Jean-Pierre Fortin, the national president of the Customs and Immigration Union, told the Star Wednesday that his members immediate concern is more support from Health Canada at the countrys major airports  including Torontos Pearson International.

But Fortin said there are currently no Health Canada officials at major land crossings, and the government is reviewing its land border crossing policies as Canadas closest neighbour struggles to contain the virus.

At airports, our folks are wearing gloves, theyre wearing the N-95 masks, theyre wearing also glasses to protect themselves. But these measures are not in place at land borders at this time, Fortin said.

Fortin said the spread of COVID-19 across the U.S. puts more pressure on his members.

Theyre watching the news like anyone else, Fortin said.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) had already put in place enhanced screening for travellers crossing at land, rail or ferry on March 5  for instance, referring those who recently travelled to Iran or who are ill for additional screening.

The CBSA refused to confirm it is reviewing policies regarding land border crossings, referring questions to the Public Health Agency of Canada. The health authority did not respond to specific questions. A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who is responsible for CBSA, did not immediately provide comment.

But in a morning press conference Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged that with hundreds of thousands of people crossing the border every day, the U.S. is a real potential vector of transmission.

We continue to engage extremely regularly with our counterparts in the United States to ensure that we are handling as best we can the spread of this virus, Trudeau told reporters in the National Press Theatre.

We will continue to monitor, to co-ordinate to ensure that what we are doing has as minimal impact both on Canadians health but also on the growth of our economy (as possible).

The Trump administration has faced criticism over its handling of COVID-19 testing and treatment, with the president himself repeatedly seeming to downplay the significance of what the World Health Organization now calls a pandemic.

As of Sunday evening 34 states, as well as New York City and Washington D.C., had reported more than 500 cases of COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC said more than half of those cases were in California and Washington.

On Tuesday, Michigan which shares one of the busiest border crossing points with Canada  declared a state of emergency despite only having two confirmed cases.

But those numbers are expected to rise dramatically as the virus spreads.

Its fair to say 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, said Nancy Messonnier, the director of CDCs immunization and respiratory disease centre, in a Tuesday press conference.

In a statement, CBSA said they have already stepped up screening at land ports of entry, including the identification and interception of travellers who recently visited coronavirus hot spots.

Enhanced measures are being implement  based on the evolution of COVID-19 and the increasing number of cases occurring outside of mainland China as well as recognizing that a number of travellers who eventually seek entry into Canada arrive in the U.S. first, initially, the agency said in a statement.

Fortin, whose union represents more than 10,000 border officials, said his members would like to see increased support at Canadas major airports.

The problem were seeing right now is theres two or three people (from Health Canada) at each major airports  We would like to have more of these detection officers, Fortin told the Star.

Our folks, even though theyre doing a very good job in trying to screen people  you can well imagine at those major airports the thousands of people crossing at major airports. So we dont think theres a sufficient amount of health officers assisting us.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Trump administration is working on plans to delay the April 15 federal tax deadline for some taxpayers in a bid to soften the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the U.S. economy.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Congress on Wednesday that the administration is looking to provide relief for most individual taxpayers as well as small businesses.





. . .
The Effect of Antibiotics on Bone Mass

Novel research has found a link between the antibacterial and antifungal agent triclosan and an increased prevalence of osteoporosis in American females.

Image Credit: Crevis/Shutterstock.com

Researchers from the Hangzhou Medical College School of Public Health, China, found that women with higher urinary levels of triclosan were more likely to have lower bone mineral density.

Previous research has found triclosan to adversely affect the bone density of animals and cell lines. However, very little was known about the effect exposure has on human bone health.

What is Triclosan?

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent commonly found in mouthwash, soaps, toothpaste and hand sanitizers. As an endocrine-disrupting chemical, many have been skeptical about its safety, namely, the United States Food and Drug Administration, who banned its use in soap and over-the-counter antiseptic products in 2017 following a lack of evidence that triclosan was safe.

Triclosan and Bone Health

The researchers examined the data from 1,848 women and analyzed the association between bone mineral density and the concentration of triclosan in their urine. The women were divided into three groups based on their triclosan levels.

Those in group 3, with the highest concentrations of triclosan, were found to have the lowest bone mineral density in their femur, lumbar spine, and intertrochanter, compared to women in group 1, with the lowest levels of urinary triclosan.

Furthermore, when compared to those in group 1, women in group 3 were 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis of the intertrochanter.

These relationships: the inverse relationship between bone mineral density and urinary triclosan levels; and the positive relationship between triclosan and osteoporosis was found to be stronger in postmenopausal women.

Despite the associations shown, the findings cannot be interpreted as showing that exposure to triclosan causes the onset of osteoporosis. A range of other factors or chemical exposure were not controlled for in the study, and therefore, may have affected the results seen. Some argue that it might be likely that triclosan alters the biochemistry of bones. However, it might be too far to claim that such exposure causes osteoporosis. Furthermore, Professor Hammock from the University of California states that the benefits of triclosan need to be carefully examined to justify its use if there are potential adverse effects.

Additionally, research has found the prescription of some antibiotics to not negatively impact bone health. Type 1 diabetics are associated with a reduction in bone mineral density and increased risk of fracture.

There is evidence to suggest that the prescription of tetracycline derivatives and their beneficial anti-inflammatory and anti-collagenolytic properties may be useful in preventing further deterioration in bone strength.

The research used a mice model to investigate the impact of prescribing doxycycline an antibiotic of tetracycline-class on bone density. They concluded that the long-term use of the antibiotic did not improve the bone disease.

However, it was not deleterious to the biomechanical or microarchitecture of healthy bones in diabetic mice.

Other Adverse Effects of Antibiotic Use

Research has investigated the impact of repeated antibiotic use. The mice study analyzed the impact of the consumption of three short causes of amoxicillin and tylosin  a class of antibiotics commonly prescribed in children.

The mice were either given one of the antibiotics, a mixture of both and, as part of the control group were given none. The amount and number of prescriptions given matched the average amount a child is typically given during the first year of infancy.

The study found that short, high doses of amoxicillin negatively affected bone growth potentially stunting growth while tylosin was associated with long-lasting effects on weight. These findings align with research suggesting that prescribing antibiotics during crucial developmental periods can alter the guts bacterial composition and metabolism which can increase the risk of obesity.

Despite the current study being limited to mice, the results align with several other studies that have demonstrated the adverse effects on children of prescribing antibiotics early in life.
You see, If you listen to the Secretary to the State Government when he was addressing the press on the issue of the removal of the emir from office, there was nowhere he said the emir was even banished from Kano State.
The Congress has given the job of "rescuing" Madhya Pradesh MLAs from Karanatakas Bengaluru to DK Shivakumar, known to be the party's chief troubleshooter, The Times of India has reported citing sources.

DK Shivakumar was appointed as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president by the party on March 11.

Long-time Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia crossed over to the BJP on March 11, amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, pushing the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse.

As many as 22 MLAs resigned following Scindia. And 19 of those who resigned and whose letters were taken to the speaker by the BJP are secluded in a hotel in Bengaluru.

Around 400 policemen are guarding the resort where the MLAs have been lodged and barricades have been set up in a two-kilometer radius, said the report quoting a senior state Congress leader.

As many as 13 out of these 19 MLAs want to return to the party, claimed the state Congress government.

The MLAs did not know that Scindia will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They thought it was a fight for a Rajya Sabha ticket, Madhya Pradesh Congress media department chairperson Shobha Oza told the publication.

However, it is a clash of ideologies now if they are asked to join the BJP, said Oza, adding that they are not willing to switch loyalties.

Senior Congress leader from the state Digvijaya Singh also 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.

Scindias resignation from the Congress along with MLAs "loyal" to him on March 10 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.

(With inputs from PTI)
The top U.S. general overseeing the Middle East said on Thursday that an Iran-backed militia group was responsible for the rocket attack that killed American troops in Iraq a day earlier.

Yesterday, hostile forces, most likely Shia militia groups, launched more than a dozen rockets at U.S. and coalition forces at Camp Taji in Iraq, killing two U.S. and one British service member, as well as wounding several more, U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Frank McKenzie said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

McKenzie said that the military is still investigating the attack.

However, he strongly suggested that Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah, which the United States has blamed for previous rocket attacks in the region, was behind Wednesdays incident.

I will note that the Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against coalition forces in Iraq, McKenzie said.

A U.S. military spokesperson for the anti-ISIS coalition in Iraq confirmed that three personnel were killed in the Camp Taji attack, while other officials told media outlets that specifically, two Americans and a Briton died.

About 18 rockets were fired at Camp Taji, which hosts American soldiers, north of Baghdad, spokesman Myles Caggins wrote in a statement. Twelve other personnel were injured in the incident, according to his statement.

Iraqi forces wrote that they found a rocket-armed truck several miles from the camp.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote that he spoke to his British counterpart after the attack.

Todays deadly attack on Iraqs Camp Taji military base will not be tolerated  those responsible must be held accountable, Pompeo said in a social media post.

Ben Wallace, Britains defense secretary, told media outlets on Thursday: Last nights attack on UK and coalition personnel was a cowardly and retrograde act. The men and women of the UK armed forces are in Iraq to help that country establish stability and prosperity. The people that did this are not friends of Iraq, according to Fox News.

Previously, American military officials blamed Kataib Hezbollah for a rocket attack in December that killed an American contractor and injured several troops. In response, the United States conducted strikes on Kataib Hezbollah, which was deemed a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department last year, in Iraq before Iran-aligned militia groups attempted to storm the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

The United States then approved an airstrike to kill Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in early January. Top U.S. officials said Soleimani was planning attacks on American assets while saying that he has killed hundreds of Americans over the years.

Iran then launched a barrage of about two-dozen rockets at two Iraqi military bases holding troops, causing minor head injuries to more than 100 service members, most of whom have since returned back to work. President Donald Trump later announced more sanctions on Tehran.

From The Epoch Times
It was last October that Sydney Writers' Festival artistic director Michaela McGuire conceived the theme Almost Midnight.

The Doomsday Clock, measuring humanity's creep towards man-made disaster, had chimed at two minutes to midnight, the first of the devastating Australian fires had caught alight and students were following the lead of Greta Thunberg onto Sydney streets to call for climate change action.

Then the Australian summer turned deadly and the clock inched 30 seconds closer to midnight.

Director of Sydney Writer's Festival, Michaela McGuire, at Carriageworks, Sydney. The theme of the festival is Almost Midnight. Credit:Janie Barrett

Almost Midnight has never seemed less theoretical than six weeks out from the festival's April 27 start, notes McGuire, with a world in the midst of contagion, halting recovery underway from an unprecedented summer of bushfires, drought, floods and predictions of more climate extremes.
Ballot collection is central to the work done by Western Native Voice and Montana Native Vote. The groups hire and train organizers, and in the 2018 midterm elections, about 32 organizers and collected and turned in at least 853 ballots, according to the lawsuit.

BIPA would severely limit those efforts. Previously organizers averaged dropping of about 85 ballots each, far beyond the six allowed by BIPA. Even if the two organizations were able to pay for more organizers, finding people to do that work in rural and isolated areas would be difficult, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit, in stark detail, lays out the challenges to voting for Native people living on reservations in Montana, where high poverty levels mean not everyone has access to a working vehicle or money for gas. Roads can be in poor conditions, especially in the November general election.

Most houses on the Fort Peck Reservation, which is home to 4,500 tribal members of voting age and covers about 2 million acres with only four post offices, do not have home mail delivery, according to the lawsuit. Wolf Point is the only on-reservation post office that offers some level of service, but a majority of tribal members rely on Post Office boxes, which are often shared, according the lawsuit.
Coronavirus is probably the #1 concern in investors minds right now. It should be. On February 27th we publish an article with the title "Recession is Imminent: We Need A Travel Ban NOW". We predicted that a US recession is imminent and US stocks will go down by at least 20% in the next 3-6 months. We also told you to short the market ETFs and buy long-term bonds. Investors who agreed with us and replicated these trades are up double digits whereas the market is down double digits. Our article also called for a total international travel ban to prevent the spread of the coronavirus especially from Europe. We were one step ahead of the markets and the president.

In these volatile markets we scrutinize hedge fund filings to get a reading on which direction each stock might be going. With the first-quarter round of 13F filings behind us it is time to take a look at the stocks in which some of the best money managers in the world preferred to invest or sell heading into the second quarter. One of these stocks was Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD).

Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) investors should pay attention to an increase in activity from the world's largest hedge funds of late. Our calculations also showed that GOLD isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds (click for Q4 rankings and see the video below for Q3 rankings).

5 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds

Video: Click the image to watch our video about the top 5 most popular hedge fund stocks.

Why do we pay any attention at all to hedge fund sentiment? Our research has shown that a select group of hedge fund holdings outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 41 percentage points since March 2017 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that'll significantly underperform the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 35.3% through March 3rd. That's why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to.

Story continues

[caption id="attachment_340081" align="aligncenter" width="399"]

Phill Gross of Adage Capital Management[/caption]

We leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example Europe is set to become the worlds largest cannabis market, so we check out this European marijuana stock pitch. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences, and and go through short-term trade recommendations like this one. We even check out the recommendations of services with hard to believe track records. In January, we recommended a long position in one of the most shorted stocks in the market, and that stock returned more than 50% despite the large losses in the market since our recommendation. With all of this in mind we're going to take a peek at the key hedge fund action surrounding Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD).

How have hedgies been trading Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)?

At the end of the fourth quarter, a total of 51 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 6% from the third quarter of 2019. The graph below displays the number of hedge funds with bullish position in GOLD over the last 18 quarters. With the smart money's capital changing hands, there exists a select group of key hedge fund managers who were increasing their holdings considerably (or already accumulated large positions).

Among these funds, Renaissance Technologies held the most valuable stake in Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD), which was worth $290.9 million at the end of the third quarter. On the second spot was Citadel Investment Group which amassed $188.2 million worth of shares. Slate Path Capital, Adage Capital Management, and Oldfield Partners were also very fond of the stock, becoming one of the largest hedge fund holders of the company. In terms of the portfolio weights assigned to each position Oldfield Partners allocated the biggest weight to Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD), around 10.13% of its 13F portfolio. Slate Path Capital is also relatively very bullish on the stock, setting aside 9.81 percent of its 13F equity portfolio to GOLD.

As one would reasonably expect, key money managers were leading the bulls' herd. Driehaus Capital, managed by Richard Driehaus, created the biggest position in Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD). Driehaus Capital had $33.7 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Ryan Caldwell's Chiron Investment Management also made a $22.2 million investment in the stock during the quarter. The other funds with new positions in the stock are Michael Gelband's ExodusPoint Capital, Matthew Tewksbury's Stevens Capital Management, and Robert Vincent McHugh's Jade Capital Advisors.

Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD). We will take a look at Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO), General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS), Amphenol Corporation (NYSE:APH), and TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE:TEL). This group of stocks' market values match GOLD's market value.

[table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position SCCO,20,230399,4 GIS,37,907163,0 APH,36,715909,3 TEL,44,1839961,10 Average,34.25,923358,4.25 [/table]

View table here if you experience formatting issues.

As you can see these stocks had an average of 34.25 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $923 million. That figure was $1815 million in GOLD's case. TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE:TEL) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Southern Copper Corporation (NYSE:SCCO) is the least popular one with only 20 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD) is more popular among hedge funds. Our calculations showed that top 20 most popular stocks among hedge funds returned 41.3% in 2019 and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by 10.1 percentage points. These stocks lost 12.9% in 2020 through March 9th but still managed to beat the market by 1.9 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on GOLD as the stock returned 7.6% so far in Q1 (through March 9th) and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Hedge funds were clearly right about piling into this stock relative to other stocks with similar market capitalizations.

Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:43:07|Editor: huaxia

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Medical workers pose for photos after seeing cured patients off at the Wuchang temporary hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday said the peak of the current outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country is over, hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the epidemic a pandemic.

And a renowned Chinese respiratory specialist said it could be brought under control by June, if most countries act like China.

In China, new cases have kept declining and the overall epidemic situation remains at a low level, said Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission, at a press conference in Beijing.

Mi said the number of new confirmed cases in Wuhan, the epicenter in central China's Hubei Province, has dropped to a single digit, with only eight cases reported on Wednesday. Only seven new cases were reported on the Chinese mainland outside Hubei, but six were imported from overseas.

Wuhan confirmed the appearance of a new virus in December, which was later named COVID-19. This highly contagious virus quickly spread, with daily cases peaking at over 15,000 on Feb. 12.

China has mobilized the whole country's resources to contain it. Cities were locked down, experts and supplies sent to the epicenter, and hundreds of millions of people across the country stayed at home for weeks to enforce social distancing.

By this week, normality has been steadily returning to China with many provinces and regions lowering their emergency responses, many businesses resuming operation and 87 percent of the country's entry and exit authorities having resumed service by Thursday.

"China's bold approach to contain the rapid spread of this new respiratory pathogen has changed the course of a rapidly escalating and deadly epidemic," a China-WHO joint mission on COVID-19 said.

WHO officials have on many occasions commended China's response, and encouraged other countries to learn from its experience.

By Wednesday, China had seen more than 62,000 patients discharged from hospital after recovery. In Wuhan, 13,462 patients were still being treated, with 4,003 in severe condition.

The top priority now, Mi said, should be given to treating patients and vowed no relaxation or loose efforts in the epidemic prevention and control work.

But China's good news is complicated by rapidly developing situations around the world. The WHO Wednesday said the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a "pandemic."

There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the number is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.

The WHO's characterization of the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic" was to call on its members once again to make further political commitment and put in more resources to turn things around in the battle against the disease, Mi said.

Mi said China is paying close attention to the current rapid global spread of the epidemic, and will continue to strengthen cooperation with the WHO and relevant countries to contribute to the global viral fight.

Chinese respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan said China's experience and lessons over the past two months can help the world reduce the spread and deadliness of the outbreak.

If most countries act like China, he said, the global COVID-19 pandemic could be brought under control by June.
If wars were won by fiery public speeches and threats alone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would have given historical conquerors such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan and Napoleon Bonaparte a run for their money. However, fortunately for this world and unfortunately for the Turkish leader his threats mean nothing and are worthless in the theatre of war.

Erdogans decade-long day-dream of expansionism and a resurrected Ottoman Empire are finally clashing with reality. It all began with the Turkish armys massive losses in the northern Syrian region of Idlib, where Erdogan ordered an invasion allegedly to combat terrorism in a region representing the last bastion of the Islamist presence in the country.

However, Erdogans advances were met by a resilient defence by the Syrian army and Russian air bombardments that have caused over 60 casualties among Turkish soldiers and hundreds of other casualties in army ranks as well as in allied terrorist groups such as the Al-Nusra Front.

This rude awakening from Erdogans dream of occupying northern Syria has been paralleled by similar defeats and casualties among the Turkish forces in Libya. Erdogan announced a few weeks ago that he had deployed 35 military experts to aid the Islamist interim Libyan government headed by Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj. Twenty of these have been reported killed, according to statements from a Libyan National Army spokesman, along with hundreds of Syrian mercenaries shipped by the Turkish army to join the Islamist militias in Tripoli. The Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar is currently laying siege to the capital Tripoli.

Erdogans decision to send battle-hardened terrorists and mercenaries to Libya rapidly backfired, as those elements removal from Syria enabled the Syrian army rapidly to regain and liberate key strategic cities such as Aleppo and surrounding towns in record time. This consolidated the Syrian armys presence in most of the country for the first time since the Syria Civil War ignited in 2011.

The losses in life and military prestige for the Turkish military have not been in line with the threats Erdogan has been making for months and his vows to crush those who oppose his plans in Libya and Syria. Erdogans threats against the Libyan National Army and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad have been shown to be hollow. A reality check has been all the Turkish leader has received as the result of the purges he has enacted since the failed coup in Turkey in 2016 that led Erdogan to arrest and put on trial thousands of army personnel targeted for allegedly supporting Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Erdogan accused of plotting against him.

The result of these purges has been to reduce active Turkish military personnel to 355,000 men. While some attribute this reduction in the countrys armed forces to military reforms labelled Force 2014, the political decimation of experienced military commanders that pose a threat to Erdogans rule is evident in these so-called reforms.

The results speak for themselves. The Turkish army deployment in Idlib has been catastrophic to say the least, and it has been exposed to Syrian and Russian gunfire despite attempting to use the Turkish-allied Syrian militias to its advantage. This tactic has not served Turkey well, as the casualties have been enormous since the first day of the incursions, forcing Turkey to call for assistance from NATO and the United States.

Assistance came from NATO, but it was verbal in form, even as Erdogan attempted to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Charter in vain. This stipulates that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all of its members. But in the case of the Turkish invasion of northern Syria, the rule does not apply since Erdogan instigated an attack on a sovereign country and thus cannot be backed by NATO. Moreover, no NATO member is likely to relish a military encounter with a superpower like Russia just to indulge the lunacy of the Turkish president. This could be a prelude to a Third World War.

Article 5, which represents the cornerstone of the NATO alliance, has only been invoked once since the alliance was established in 1949, and that was when the horrific attacks of 9/11 occurred on US soil. Aside from this, and despite the occurrence of many global conflicts over the past 70 years, the article has never been invoked by any NATO member.

The hollow threats by Erdogan against Haftar have also fallen on stony ground since the Libyan National Army has been consolidating its positions and has even targeted Erdogans terrorist mercenaries and freight vessels carrying Turkish arms to the besieged forces of Al-Sarraj. The past month has witnessed a surge in the number of Turkish-made drones being shot down by either the Syrian or Libyan armies. These drones are manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar, which is owned by Erdogans son-in-law, and their failure in the field has caused a stir in Turkey about their quality and actual effectiveness.

At the end of the day, and despite Erdogans almost daily threats, he has been forced to lick his wounds. Last week, Erdogan was obliged to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, with the latter appearing to be gloating at the failures of his Turkish counterpart to deliver on any of the threats he has been filling the airwaves with over the past three months. After a humiliating meeting with Putin, whose forces have killed over 60 Turkish army personnel in air strikes, Erdogan capitulated and accepted a ceasefire in Syria.

While there are doubts that this agreement will hold, Erdogans Islamist hopes of invading Syria and controlling Libya have evaporated in a matter of weeks after a series of military and economic losses. The ongoing war in Syria has led to major rows within the Turkish parliament between the opposition and Erdogans supporters, and these have even ended up in fist-fighting inside the parliament.

Erdogans attempts to scare the Europeans with threats of the ongoing war in Syria leading to Syrian refugees on Turkish soil being free to travel to Europe, even on arranged shuttle buses to the Greek border, have provoked the Europeans and particularly the Greeks even further. The exploitation of the Syrian refugees as a bargaining chip in Turkeys negotiations with Europe, as was the case five years ago, is no longer working. The European Union has already contributed 4.7 billion Euros to Turkey to aid the country with the growing refugee problem, even when Erdogan was ironically a main reason for its occurrence, and the Europeans have announced they will no longer be blackmailed by the issue.

The Greek government acted within its own sovereign rights in disallowing the thousands of refugees amassed on its borders from crossing into Greece. This was a message that the Greeks, along with the Europeans more generally, will no longer cave in to Erdogans political games. At a time when the coronavirus is spreading like wildfire across the world, it would have been an act of suicide for the Greek government to allow thousands of foreigners across its borders, potentially spreading the virus by moving freely and unchecked across the country and thus creating possible mass infections.

The so-called Muhammadan army organised by Turkey and the support it has garnered from Islamists across the globe has not changed the fact that Erdogans day-dream of resurrecting an Islamic caliphate from Syria to North Africa has come to a humiliating end. This is only the beginning of a well-deserved end to the Turkish tyrant who has spared no effort in destabilising his own country and the region for over a decade.

The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 March, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Across the industry, they are also less likely to have health insurance or paid sick leave. It exposes the economic inequality that already exists, Ms. Gould said.

On March 5, Starbucks temporarily closed a store near the Seattle Art Museum after an employee tested positive for the virus. The news reached senior leaders at 9 p.m. By 9 a.m. the next morning, the store had been thoroughly sanitized, and it reopened on Monday. All the employees who had worked closely with the person who tested positive were told to stay home for two weeks, with pay.

In its marketing, Starbuck has long highlighted its efforts to promote the well-being of employees, whom the company calls partners, such as offering health insurance to part-time workers.

Even while its stores in China were closed, Starbucks continued to pay the majority of its salaried workers, a group that includes many baristas, according to a recent securities filing.

And on Wednesday, Starbucks told its workers in the United States that it would provide up to two weeks of paid leave to any employee who was infected with the virus or had extended contact with a co-worker or household member who tested positive. (Under its previously established policy, Starbucks allowed employees to accrue an hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked: A barista working 23 hours a week would accumulate about five sick days over a year.)

Still, in interviews, Starbucks employees expressed concern that the enhanced safety measures were at odds with on-the-ground realities. While few questioned the wisdom of the new protocols, some said the policies were putting more pressure on staff who already felt overworked.

A Seattle-area employee who requested anonymity to speak frankly about the company said it was unrealistic for employees to perform the full cleaning process every 30 minutes when cafes were busy. An Atlanta-area worker who also declined to be named said the cleaning duties had pulled workers away from the counter, creating longer lines and larger crowds that may have inadvertently increased the risk of contagion even as the company tried to defuse it.
The first wave of hiring freezes and layoffs are being reported in a variety of industries nationwide, including hotels, restaurants, and airlines, as the spread of coronavirus appears to have put a halt to Americas growing economy.

Since federal, state, and local authorities began confirming cases in the last month, hundreds of companies have been shedding staff as large-scale events have been canceled and the public has heeded warnings to avoid gatherings.

As of Thursday afternoon, there have been more than 1,360 reported cases of coronavirus in the United States. At least 39 people have died.

The Port of Los Angeles, the busiest port in the country, has become a ghost down.

The steep drop in the amount of cargo brought into the port has prompted Shippers Transport Express to lay off 145 drivers who transport containers to corporate warehouses, according to The Washington Post.

In a notice to laid off workers, the company told drivers that there is a near shutdown of operations for the foreseeable future.

Cranes stand idle at the Port of Los Angeles, which is the nation's busiest container port, on Friday. Some 145 drivers who transport containers to corporate warehouses have been laid off as a result of the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic

I've been working the ports for 13 years, and I've never seen anything like this, said Randy Williams, a trucker for Shippers Transport Express.

I'm glad I didn't buy a house yet.

On a typical night, the port handles more than 1,000 containers at his department.

Now, that activity has dropped to just 200, Williams said.

Seattle, the city that has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, has seen tourism come to a complete standstill.

The Seattle area is dealing with the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the country, with at least 24 deaths, and businesses are bracing for the cascading effect of losing customers for the foreseeable future.

Hotel bookings dropped as big conventions, including the Emerald City Comic Con, were canceled or postponed.

'You can see it and feel it on the streets. You can see it in restaurants and hotel lobbies,' said Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association.

This has led hotels in downtown to lay off staff, though the extent of the layoffs wont be known until data reports at the end of the month.

The Amazon headquarters sits virtually empty in downtown Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday. Hotels in downtown are laying off workers as occupancy rates dip by as much as 60 per cent, according to officials

As of Thursday afternoon, there have been more than 1,360 reported cases of coronavirus in the United States. At least 39 people have died

The number of coronavirus cases has increased geometrically since last month

The Washington Hospitality Association is reporting that some hotels in downtown are seeing a decline of between 40 and 60 per cent in occupancy, according to Puget Sound Business Journal.

The hospitality industry is a key engine of the local economy.

There are 296,600 people - 10.3 per cent of the total private workforce - across Washington State working in hospitality, according to WHA.

South by Southwest, the popular annual festival that takes place in Austin, Texas, laid off at least 50 employees - or a third of its year-round staff, according to Variety.

The festival was forced to cancel events this year after Austin banned mass gatherings due to fears of the coronavirus outbreak.

SXSW co-founder and CEO Roland Swenson told The Wall Street Journal last weeks that the company is likely to lose tens of millions of dollars as a result of the cancellations.

The festival released a statement saying: 'Due to the City of Austins unprecedented and unexpected cancellation of the SXSW 2020 events in March, SXSW has been rigorously reviewing our operations, and we are in the unimaginable position of reducing our workforce.

Today we said goodbye to approximately one-third of our full-time staff.

Those of us in the business of live events know the level of trust required to execute an event of SXSWs scale, and we are deeply sad to let people go this soon.

We are planning for the future and this was a necessary, but heartbreaking, step.

South by Southwest, the popular Austin, Texas-based festival, laid off a third of its year-long staff - 50 employees - after the event was canceled this year. The above image shows Antones Nightclub in Austin last week after the cancellation was announced

Other industries are also feeling the pinch.

Boeing is freezing new hiring and overtime except in certain critical areas in efforts to preserve cash due to the coronavirus outbreaks and the 737 MAX grounding, people familiar the matter said on Wednesday.

Layoffs or furloughs were also a 'real possibility' but were seen as a separate, later action, one of the people said.

A second industry source said job cuts were likely as the aviation industry is squeezed by plummeting travel demand and a safety ban on the 737 MAX after two fatal crashes hit the one-year mark.

A Boeing official said there were no plans at this time for job cuts but the company was closely monitoring business conditions.

Delta Airlines says it, too, will freeze hiring while offering employees a voluntary leave option in order to streamline costs.

The airline says it is reducing system capacity by 15 per cent domestically and up to 25 percent internationally.

'In the weeks since COVID-19 emerged, Delta people have risen to the challenge, taking every possible action to take care of and protect our customers during a stressful time,' said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.

Seattle-based Boeing announced that it is instituting a hiring freeze and that layoffs were possible in the near future. Boeing-made Southwest Airlines aircraft are seen above in Victorville, California, in March of last year

'As the virus has spread, we have seen a decline in demand across all entities, and we are taking decisive action to also protect Deltas financial position.

'As a result, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to immediately reduce capacity and are implementing cost reductions and cash flow initiatives across the organization.'

Royal Caribbean Cruises announced on Wednesday that it was laying off contracted workers used for special projects.

The layoffs are part of efforts to manage the company prudently and reduce operating expenses, a spokesperson told the Miami Herald.

Royal Caribbean declined to say how many contracted workers it was laying off.

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.

The large cruise providers - Royal Caribbean, Carnival Corp., and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings - say they have each lost more than 50 per cent of their market share in 2020 as a result of the economic downturn.

The three major cruise lines, which are based in Miami, have also seen their stock prices tumble.

Princess Cruises on Thursday suspended its ocean voyages for two months while Viking Cruises has also halted trips until May because of the coronavirus outbreak.

US-based firm Princess said its 18 cruise ships would stay in port until May 11 after two of its ships suffered virus outbreaks, including the Diamond Princess in Japan.

Ships which are currently at sea will sail to their final destination if they are due to finish before March 17, or dock elsewhere if the cruise was due to last longer.

Royal Caribbean Cruises announced on Wednesday that it was laying off contracted workers used for special projects. The company's Mariner of the Seas is seen above departing Port Canaveral, Florida, on Monday

Meanwhile, Viking Cruises has suspended all its ocean and river trips until May after three Britons tested positive on one of its vessels in Cambodia this week.

The company said there were 'significant risks' of quarantines or medical detentions, after a spate of virus scares at sea in recent weeks.

In Florida, toy manufacturer Basic Fun, which sells to retailers such as Walmart, Target and Amazon, has plans to cut its operating budget by as much as 15 per cent, which will result in layoffs for at least 10 per cent of its workforce, Chief Executive Jay Foreman told Reuters.

The company manufactures all of the toys at factories owned by its vendors in China, where the outbreak originated earlier this winter.

But its supplies since the outbreak have been cut off.

The toymaker had brought in excess merchandise in December and January to avoid the proposed increases in US tariffs on Chinese goods, but the inventory is set to run out in April.

Foreman says he is 'losing a lot of sleep' as there is no clarity when the factories in China would be fully up and running and how the outbreak will impact overall consumer demand.

'If I was losing two hours a night on the tariffs, I am losing three hours a night on coronavirus,' Foreman said.

'We have to watch our bottom line this year. This is going to be a challenging year.'

Wisconsin-based Putzmeister America, which makes machines for pumping, distributing and placing concrete, has frozen new hiring and cut travel expenditure.

Like Basic Fun, Putzmeister's supply chain links back to China and Chief Executive Jonathan Dawley said the company has not been able to get key components.

Delta Airlines says it, too, will freeze hiring while offering employees a voluntary leave option in order to streamline costs. A Delta ticketing agent is seen above at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in August 2016

He expects a $5million sales hit from the outbreak.

At Oren Ezra's small cosmetics factory in Sylmar, California, just outside Los Angeles, the disruptions in China have cut supplies of ingredients used to make sunblock and other skincare products as well as the distinctive packaging produced there.

Ezra's company, Formology Lab, was about to start filling a big order for a customer who was launching a new line when the crisis hit.

He had to put the brakes on it as he waits for supplies to start flowing again.

The plant operates two production lines, which each require 20 workers - but the laborers work on an as-needed basis. When they're not working, they're not paid.

'For this project, 20 people have already lost a week of work,' he said.

'And that's only one project. We're not sure what will happen with a few others we're doing.'
This afternoon Retail Excellence say they have spoken with all of the major grocery multiples and forecourt operators in Ireland.

In a statement this afternoon they say: "We would like to reassure everyone that Ireland is prepared to continue to supply all grocery outlets for the coming months. There is no reason for Irish citizens to have any concern in that regard.

"The industry has never been more prepared having planned for a hard Brexit over the past number of months. Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister of Business and Enterprise, has done a tremendous job in monitoring this matter and please be assured that we have more than adequate contingencies in place.

"Social media images of empty shelves are simply sensationalizing the matter. These shelves are restocked every evening and restocking will continue into the future.

"We echo An Taoiseachs comments when this morning he confirmed that the shops will remain open and we have plans to ensure supply chains will not be interrupted."
A coronavirus victim admitted at Naidu Hospital said that he was feeling stressed out due to isolation at the ward and the only available medium of interaction was the cellphone which he used extensively to connect with friends and relatives.

Giving details to a friend on phone, the victim said that as there is no television set inside the hospital, he has to stay alone with his wife, while their daughter is quarantined in an adjacent room.

According to the victim, he has requested family members to bring tiffin as the food arrangement at the hospital is unsatisfactory. He said doctors pay a visit only once during the entire day.

PMC hires private firm to provide food to patients

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has given appointed a private agency to provide food to Covid-19 (coronavirus) patients recuperating at the infectious diseases department of Naidu Hospital.

Ramchandra Hankare, PMC health department chief, said, Lunch and dinner are served to patients by the private agency and if relatives want to provide food, they can drop it at the gate as we have put restrictions taking into account the possible spread of the disease. Patients have the choice to either consume food provided by the civic body or manage on their own.
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The Reserve Bank on Thursday announced measures to infuse liquidity in the foreign exchange market, including the US dollar swaps worth $2 billion, as markets crashed amid mounting concerns over coronavirus pandemic

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank on Thursday announced measures to infuse liquidity in the foreign exchange market, including the US dollar swaps worth $2 billion, as markets crashed amid mounting concerns over coronavirus pandemic.

The first buy/sell swap auction will take place on Monday.

"On a review of current financial market conditions and taking into consideration the requirement of US Dollars in the market, it has been decided to undertake six-month US Dollar sell/buy swaps to provide liquidity to the foreign exchange market," the central bank said in a statement.

The swaps will be conducted through the auction route in multiple tranches. The auctions will be multiple price.

"To begin with, an amount of $2 billion would be offered on 16 March," it said.

Under the swaps, banks will buy US dollars from the RBI and simultaneously agree to sell the same amount of the American currency at the end of the swap period.

The RBI said financial markets worldwide are facing intense selling pressures on extreme risk aversion due to the spread of COVID-19 infections, compounded by the slump in international crude prices and a decline in bond yields in advanced economies.

Flight to safety has led to a spike in volatility across all asset classes, with several emerging market currencies experiencing downside pressures. Mismatches in the US dollar liquidity have become accentuated across the world.

According to the market data, foreign investors have withdrawn more than Rs 21,000 crore this month from Indian capital markets so far amid growing concerns over the virus hitting the global economy.

The RBI noted that "forex reserves of $487.24 billion as on 6 March, 2020 are comfortable to meet any exigency".
Allaying fears over the National Population Register, Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said no citizen will be marked 'D' or 'doubtful' during the updating exercise and no documents need to be furnished to prove citizenship.

Also, it is not compulsory to provide any information not available with an individual, he said.



Shah gave the clarification during his reply to a debate on communal riots in Delhi which he said were triggered by alleged hate speeches made after passing of the new citizenship law that gave non-Muslim illegal migrants from neighbouring nations Indian citizenship.

The updating of the NPR is to be done during six months beginning April 1 with enumerators seeking demographic and other particulars of each family and individuals.



On Delhi riots, Shah said the guilty, irrespective of political or religious affiliation, will not be spared. The guilty will be punished with the objective of instilling fear of law.



"No one from minority community should have any doubt regarding CAA and NPR," he said.



"I want to set the record straight. No document will be required to be furnished in the NPR exercise. It wasn't done in the past and it won't be now."



Also, people will be free to provide whatever information they have, he said.



"No one will be required to give information which is not there," he said on apprehensions of residence of parents being asked in the NPR and absence of it casting doubts.



"No 'D' will be marked" for anyone not providing information, he said.



He was responding to senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal expressing apprehension of enumerators marking 'D' against any an individual not answering all questions in the NPR.



Shah offered to clear any other doubts over NPR to a small delegation of opposition leaders if they wish to visit

him.



He said no section of the Citizenship Amendment Act provides for taking away of citizenship of anyone.



The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country. The data for NPR was last collected in 2010 along with the house-listing phase of Census 2011.



There are apprehensions that those not having citizenship documents could be identified in the NPR for action at a later date.



Shah also strongly defended his party Bharatiya Janata Party's record on communal riots, saying 76 per cent of those killed in riots were during Congress rule.



He listed the riots that happened post independence and said it was not in the nature of the BJP to instigate riots but to check them.



Rejecting allegations that the Delhi riots were state sponsored, he asked why would any government engineer such violence when the world's most powerful person, US President Donald Trump, was being hosted by the prime minister.



He saw a deep-rooted conspiracy behind the Delhi riots saying foreign money was circulated and thousands of social media accounts were created to fan hatred before violence began on February 24 and closed a day later.

All those responsible for peddling foreign money as well as spreading hatred will be unearthed as there is an electronic trail, he said.



Shah said over 700 FIRs have been registered and 2,647 persons arrested in connection with the Delhi riots based on evidence. Facial recognition technology, using data in driving licence and voter ID, has been used to identify 1922 people involved in rioting.



No Aadhaar data was used for the purpose and no privacy guideline of the Supreme Court was flouted, he said and asserted that none should be bothered about privacy rights of those who have killed people and damaged property.



Those who are responsible for the riots and those who conspired will be punished irrespective of their caste, religious and political affiliations, Shah said, adding the government will book the culprits after conducting investigations in a transparent and scientific manner.



He said 50 serious cases of murder, attacks on religious places, hospitals, and educational institutions have been handed over to three special investigating teams.



Those identified for the riots include some from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, he said.



The home minister said firearms were used, 49 cases have been registered and 125 arms seized. He said peace committees, comprising community and religious leaders were activated to appeal for peace.



According to him, police have names and addresses of people involved in violence, and 40 special teams have been constituted to arrest them.



Shah also informed that five persons have been arrested in connection with hawala transactions.



Regarding social media, he said hundreds of accounts were created just before February 24, the day the riots started, and large number of them were closed during the night of February 25. According to the minister, the riots ended on February 25.



He rejected conspiracy theories behind the transfer of Delhi High Court judge S Muralidhar who had ordered registering of FIRs against BJP leaders and ministers for alleged hate speech, saying it was done on the recommendation of the collegium and after taking consent of the judge in question.



"Why do you think only one judge can give justice and not any other," he asked. "Will any other judge not do justice?"



"Why are you spreading absurd narrative," he asked the Opposition.



Shah also took a jibe at some opposition leaders who were saying the Delhi violence took place at the behest of the ruling party.



"Use common sense, why will a government do any such thing when US President Donald Trump was visiting India," he said.



He also rubbished contention that the BJP instigate communal riots, saying it was being done since the time of independence.



He said 76 per cent of the riots in the country took place in the country during Congress party rule, adding only Gujarat riots of 2002 took place when the state was being ruled by BJP.
DES MOINES, Iowa, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Certintell Telehealth, a company focused on bringing telehealth solutions to millions of Community Health Center patients, shares how telehealth can be a useful tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

With the spread of the novel COVID-19, patients who may be experiencing symptoms should limit their contact with others if possible. As of now, a vaccine potentially a year and a half away.1 That said, solutions must be considered on how to best contain COVID-19. One way is through telehealth, especially for frontline Community Health Centers. By receiving preliminary screenings or information remotely, at-risk patients can avoid going to crowded clinics or hospitals and risking further spread of the virus.

The key takeaways regarding telehealth as it relates to COVID-19:

H.R.6074: Passed on March 6 and grants $8.3 billion to address COVID-19, allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive the rule that Medicare patients using telehealth cannot use their home as the originating site. Vulnerable Populations: The older the individual, the higher the fatality rate. Additionally, the presence of underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer also increase a patient's chance of catching COVID-19.2 Telehealth Assisting Containment: Using telehealth to initially screen patients reduces the time spent waiting for a provider in crowded clinics and hospitals. It also keeps patients from having to go to crowded areas if they are experiencing symptoms and potentially infecting others. Opportunities Enabling Billable Events: Although there are some barriers to begin using remote care to combat COVID-19, there are opportunities to streamline the process such as enabling clinical staff to reach out to patients and gain their consent for services.

Click here to read the entire COVID-19 Telehealth Guide.

1 Neergaard, Lauran. "Behind the Scenes, Scientists Prep for COVID-19 Vaccine Test." ABC News, ABC News Network, 8 Mar. 2020, https://abcn.ws/2TYwI74.

2 "Age, Sex, Existing Conditions of COVID-19 Cases and Deaths." Worldometer, 29 Feb. 2020, http://bit.ly/2IIG6WZ.

About Certintell

Founded in 2014, Certintell is a rapidly growing care management company that enables safety-net providers to make a lasting impact on the health of underserved patients through a spectrum of comprehensive health IT solutions, including telehealth, to achieve the goals of the health care Quadruple Aim.

Related Links

https://www.certintell.com

SOURCE Certintell Inc.

Related Links

https://www.certintell.com


Xiaomi India finally announced the new Redmi Note 9 series in India. The company announced two models in the lineup including the Redmi Note 9 Pro and the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max. Both the phones share most of the specifications including the design, processor, and battery.

Redmi Note 9 Pro Max

The Max variant comes with a 6.67-inch LCD display and is sort of a comeback for the large screened Mi Max. The smartphone comes with a punch-hole placed on top center and a quad-camera setup in a square module. Like the previous Redmi Note 8 series, it has Gorilla Glass on the front and back, but this time the cameras are also protected with the same. Other notable design features include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner similar to the Poco X2 and the Realme 6 series.

The device is powered by the new 8nm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G which should be more efficient and slightly more powerful than the 730G. The smartphone will be offered in a total of three variants include 6GB RAM with either 64GB or 128GB of storage and an 8GB RAM option with 128GB internal storage. There is also a dedicated microSD card slot to expand the storage further.

The square camera module is placed at the center and is raised from the main body. It includes a 64-megapixel main sensor next to an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera. There is also a 5-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. At the front, there is a 32-megapixel selfie camera placed in the punch hole. According to the company, the camera is capable of shooting RAW photography and some nifty tricks in pro mode while shooting video.

The battery unit is rated at 5,020mAh which is said to be the biggest on a Redmi Note device. It supports 33W fast charging (provided in the box) as well. Rest of the features include support for 4G VoLTE, NaVIC GPS, dual-SIM card slots, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, P2i coating, USB Type-C and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The handset will come with Android 10 with MIUI 11. There are three colour options to choose from including Aurora Blue, Glacier White, and Interstellar Black.

Pricing starts at Rs 14,999 for the base variant, while the other two variants are priced at Rs 16,999 and Rs 18,999. The first sale begins on March 25 and the handset will be available on Amazon India as well as Xiaomi Indias online and offline stores.

Redmi Note 9 Pro

The Redmi Note 9 Pro is a smaller variant of the Max featuring the same design and looks. It doesnt come with a 64-megapixel camera, rather a 48-megapixel primary sensor while the rest of the three cameras remain the same. The resolution of the front camera is also lower at 16-megapixels. Other differences include support for only 18W fast charging for the 5,020mAh battery and slightly different memory options. The Redmi Note 9 Pro will be offered in 4GB RAM and 64GB of storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. Rest all the features remain the same. This one will be available at Rs 12,999 for the base variant and Rs 15,999 for the 6GB RAM variant. Sale begins on March 17 through Amazon India as well as Xiaomi Indias online and offline stores. Special offers on both the phones will be announced on March 16.
Gov. Charlie Baker and local officials speak at Pittsfield City Hall on Thursday.

Governor Baker Calls on Feds to Certify Testing Facilities

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday called on the federal government to loosen restrictions on public and private laboratories to expedite testing for COVID-19.

Speaking in front of City Hall, Baker, who was accompanied by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Mayor Linda Tyer and the Berkshire delegation, said the state has received enough materials to test 5,000 more people.

"We're seeing an uptick in presumptive positive cases in part as a result of increased testing," he said. "And we expect this testing continues to increase, the more cases will be reported in the near future."

The state Department of Public Health on Thursday reported 102 presumptive cases of the novel coronavirus and six confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The state's DPH testing is more advanced than it is in many other states, the governor said, and that enabled the lab to process four times as many samples as it was able a week ago.

"But we need much more testing capability and we need the federal government to help us get there," Baker said. "We've been asking the federal government to support more places, both private labs and hospital labs, to run these tests. And we need the FDA and the CDC to act on these requests."

The United States has lagged well behind other countries in ramping up testing for the virus; while the efforts are improving, at the beginning of this week, by contrast, fewer than 2,000 people had been tested while South Korea had tested 189,000.

The problem has been both the shortage of test kits and the inability for laboratories to get emergency certifications for testing. Currently, only the state public health lab is qualified to do testing. Those results are "presumptive" and samples are then sent on to the CDC to be confirmed.

Baker said the supply for today was "adequate" but it was essential that the CDC and federal Food & Drug Administration give hospitals and testing facilities the capacity to begin testing.

"This is among our highest priorities," he continued. "I think there are probably a lot of people all over the country who are engaged in similar kinds of conversations. But this is a critical issue for us."

The governor reiterated that the disease is serious for older residents and those with pre-existing conditions such as heart or respiratory diseases. Children and young people, however, are at a much lower risk but may be carriers.

"But we must step up our mitigation efforts to avoid large numbers of people requiring medical care around the same time," he said. "China and other countries that saw early outbreaks are making progress and pushing back against the disease. But it's only possible if everybody plays their part."

The governor also said the Board of Registration in Nursing on Wednesday had voted to ease regulations for out-of-state nurses to work in Massachusetts.

"One of the primary concerns folks at Berkshire Medical Center had was their ability to staff appropriately given some of the folks that are currently self quarantined," he said. The health-care system has at least 50 workers out on self-quarantine after coming into contact with possible COVID-19 positive individuals.

Baker said the state of emergency he declared on Tuesday "put in place an emergency procedure that will make it possible for licensed out-of-state medical professionals and nurses to get licensed here in Massachusetts in one day."

The governor also said there are conversations between the Departments of Public Health and Elementary and Secondary Education, along with local officials, and that guidance on schools should be forthcoming on Friday. Schools in Berkshire County have stayed open for the most part, with only Clarksburg School closing for the week after the first case of COVID-19 in the county was identified as being from the town. North Adams is also closing its schools on Friday for sanitizing, but so far expects to reopen on Monday.

The state DPH has also provided the county with two epidemiologists who have been working with Pittsfield Public Health Director Gina Armstrong.

"They are helping us to establish our systems for contact investigation, communications with providers, the monitoring, and ensuring that we are building our capacity to handle the the rise in testing, and the rise in potential cases that are identified through the increase in testing," she said.
by Belisario Ciro Montoya

The parish hosts 300 orphans and children from very poor families. They eat meat only on Sundays. During the period preceding the resurrection of Christ, people pray, fast and confess. Works of charity and acts of forgiveness accomplish God's mercy.

Chandpukur (AsiaNews)  Fr Belisario Ciro Montoya, associated with PIME as fidei donum in Bangladesh, is pastor in Chandpukur, a parish in the Diocese of Rajshahi. He recently suffered the theft of animals, but a few days ago, the children of his mission made him proposal.

He first thought that it would be about a picnic they had been waiting for. Instead they asked him to stop buying meat, which they eat once a week on Sundays, and instead save the money to give as an act of charity to a poor person during Lent. For Fr Belisario, this shows the goodness of the children. His story follows:

At our orphanage for boys and girls at the Chandpukur mission, we can currently only offer a portion of meat every week, at Sunday lunch.

Every day our kids, almost 300, eat about 120 kilos of rice, with some vegetables, especially lentils. However, apart from a hot egg every Thursday and occasionally some fish (when a benefactor gives us a bit more), children have access to this source of protein only on Sundays.

A few days ago, my kids called me for a meeting and made me a proposal. I thought it would be about the long-awaited picnic. But no, it wasn't that.

Their proposal left me speechless. They asked me to stop buying meat for them for Sunday lunch and instead save the money to give as an act of charity to a poor person during Lent. I was amazed and moved by their act of generosity and love, and embarrassed by my own pettiness.

This is the token of the magnanimity and goodness of the children, like the offering of the poor widow that Jesus himself praised, because she did not give any extra, but what she needed to live on.

The children learnt about mercy and charity at the mission by participating in Mass and praying every day. They also have a box for offerings that they fill up with coins whenever they can. They give up something to give to others.

Here in Bangladesh the paschal mystery of God who becomes man and rises for our salvation is truly accomplished.

The community is preparing for the resurrection of Christ with acts of forgiveness and asking for the remission of their sins. Everyone lives in extreme poverty and destitution, but they do charitable works and share what little they have to help those who are even more in need.

Id have many stories to tell, but let me mention one above all: that of a widow in a remote village.

Her son works far away and she has nothing. Yet she never lacks food, support and medicine when she is sick, because neighbours take care of her all the time.

This is what made me fall in love with Bangladesh. The mission is like a big family: priests, nuns and children, our children. I feel fulfilled as a priest, as a Christian, as a human being.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 13:06:16|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writers Cui Enhui, Shen Rufa, He Leijing

NANJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Ryo Takeuchi, a Japanese director now living in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, never expected the documentary he made amid the novel coronavirus outbreak would go viral in both Japan and China.

"I've been working on filming documentaries for over 20 years. This is the most popular one," the 42-year-old director said.

In 2013, Takeuchi followed his Chinese wife, whom he met in Japan, to settle down in her hometown of Nanjing. They started a company that specializes in short video shooting and production and is engaged in cultural exchanges between China and Japan.

In mid-February, Takeuchi returned to Nanjing from Japan on a business trip and began a two-week quarantine.

At first, he was uncomfortable to be kept in isolation and wondered "if it was too much."

"But I later found that the strict measures protected both ourselves and others from the epidemic. They are proven to be appropriate and effective," he said.

Moreover, the solidarity and support the workers in his residential community showed in the fight against COVID-19 were far beyond his expectations.

"I'm so grateful that during my quarantine period, they went to buy vegetables for us and then delivered them to my doorstep," he recalled.

Takeuchi has been closely following the outbreak in Japan as the coronavirus spreads there. He was also very worried when he learned that some Japanese people had no sense of crisis at the beginning, including taking the subway without wearing a mask and gathering for concerts.

"They had some misunderstandings about the epidemic in China. They just saw the figures and thought the death rate wasn't high," he said.

"In fact, the relatively low death rate is due to the fact that tens of thousands of Chinese medical workers were mobilized and dispatched to the front lines and millions of Chinese people have made great sacrifices."

After his quarantine period ended, instead of standing idle at home, Takeuchi decided to go out and filmed a documentary recording the daily lives of ordinary people in Nanjing amid the outbreak, helping the Japanese public learn about the measures taken by China to curb the spread of COVID-19.

During the shooting, he visited a fast-food chain, where a "no-contact card" with the name and health condition of the cook was attached to the takeout bags to reassure customers.

When he took taxis, he found the vehicles had been equipped with protective plastic films to avoid cross-infection between drivers and passengers in the back seats.

Takeuchi admired the city's resolute and powerful efforts to combat the virus and the remarkable results achieved.

So far, Nanjing has seen no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for more than 20 consecutive days and all the confirmed patients had been discharged from hospitals after recovery.

Takeuchi and his crew completed the documentary in just four days, including planning, filming and editing.

Once released on March 2, the 10-minute documentary garnered tens of millions of hits on Japanese sharing platforms and had sparked wide discussion online.

"I hope all Japanese will watch this video," said a Japanese netizen who shared the documentary.

Major television stations in Japan, including TV Asahi, TBS and Fuji TV, broadcast it repeatedly and explained its contents in detail to the public, he said.

The Japanese viewers were shocked by the rigorous control measures taken by Nanjing in the short video, such as wearing a mask when going out, taking temperatures when returning to residential communities and resuming work and study online, and realized that it was the right way to contain the outbreak.

"As long as the documentary is seen by people in Japan and even more countries, and arouses their attention and thinking, my goal is achieved," said Takeuchi.

To his surprise, the documentary, which was made for Japanese people, has also become a hit in China. It has been translated into Chinese and viewed more than 10 million times on Chinese social media platform Weibo alone.

"A 10-minute video is not long enough." "It seems that even many Chinese people don't know as much about the details in their cities," wrote some Chinese netizens.

Takeuchi said some English subtitle groups have contacted him with a desire to translate the documentary.

Takeuchi is also the director of the internet documentary series "The Reason I Live Here," which chronicled Chinese living abroad and foreigners who live in China, including a wide variety of Japanese citizens.

"I hope to produce more films about the society and culture in both China and Japan in the future, so that we can understand each other more and deepen the friendship between the two peoples," he said.
Delhi, Uttrakhand, Chhattisgarh and Manipur on Thursday decided to shut all schools and colleges as a measure to counter the outbreak of the coronavirus. The move came as the number of people affected by the virus in the country rose to over 70.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that, All cinema halls to remain shut in Delhi till March 31. Schools and colleges where exams are not being held will also remain closed. Delhi has also declared coronavirus as an epidemic.

Hours after the Delhi government decided to shut schools, colleges and theatres till March 31, the Uttarakhand government too ordered to shut down all schools barring those hosting Board examinations till March 31.

The order said, Amid the coronavirus, all schools including pre-primary, primary, the secondary and higher secondary would be shut till March 31. Only those schools, where the Board examinations are ongoing, would be open that too only for students sitting for the examinations.

In Chhattisgarh, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in a meeting with the chief secretary, health secretary and other senior officials decided that as a precautionary measure to control coronavirus, all schools and colleges will remain closed in Chhattisgarh till March 31.

The Manipur government in a statement announced closure of all schools in the state till March 31 as a precautionary measure against the spread of the disease.

In order to ensure the reduction of mass gatherings and to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus disease and as a precautionary measure, the Governor of Manipur has ordered all schools (government, government-aided including private schools) located within Manipur state to remain closed with immediate effect till March 31, 2020, in public interest, said an order signed by T Ranjit Singh, Commissioner (Education-Schools).
By AFP

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Wednesday suspended travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days in a "tough" new effort to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has sparked a run on the stock market and is rapidly multiplying.

The ban will not include travellers from the United Kingdom, which recently left the European Union, Trump said.

In a primetime address from the Oval Office to a worried nation, Trump sought to rebuff critics who say his leadership has been lacking during the crisis, insisting that "the virus will not have a chance."

"This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," he said.

He announced a series of measures designed to ease the financial burden for people having to take weeks off from work while on quarantine.

But his most far-reaching announcement was the halt on European travel.

Trump said this would go into effect from "midnight Friday."

"I'm confident that by... continuing to take these tough measures we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and we'll ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus," he said.

Trump in his address also mentioned that there will be "exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings. And these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo''.

He also called on elderly people to avoid non-essential travel within the United States. Shortly after, the White House said Trump, 73, would be cancelling a trip to Nevada and Colorado on Thursday out of "caution."

Blaming Europe

In his address, Trump put a harsh accent on Europe's role in the spread of the virus, which began in China and has now travelled around much of the world, bringing sometimes fatal flu-like symptoms.

"The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots" as the United States, Trump said.

"As a result a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travellers from Europe."

About 4,500 people have died so far worldwide. As of Wednesday, there were more than 1,100 confirmed infections in the United States and 32 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Numbers are expected to skyrocket in the United States once more testing is done.

Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said earlier Wednesday that COVID-19 is estimated to be 10 times more deadly than flu and that without aggressive containment and mitigation, "many millions" could potentially contract the virus.

"The bottom line: it's going to get worse," Fauci said.

Emergency aid

Trump announced short-term tax deferments and called on Congress to enact "immediate payroll tax relief."

He also said he was asking for another $50 billion in funding for small business loans to help those stricken by the economic disruption.

However, there was no declaration of a national emergency which would allow the government access instantly to extra funding.

It was not clear whether Trump's plans would calm markets, which have panicked over the mounting impact on supply lines, consumer demand and investor flight to safety.

"This is not a financial crisis," Trump said. "This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation."

Election campaign disrupted

Multiple cultural and sporting events have been cancelled across the United States, schools and universities are closing, and companies are scrambling to face the probability of sending many employees home on sick leave or self-quarantine.

Even the US presidential election faces disruption, with Democratic candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders cancelling rallies and questions mounting over the future of Trump's own usually frequent rallies.

For Trump, steadying market jitters is a must if he is to maintain his reelection message of delivering a booming economy.

At a White House meeting with US bank leaders, Trump said: "We'll be doing a lot of additional work with small businesses..., many billions of dollars."

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said earlier that the White House was "looking at providing substantial relief to certain taxpayers and small businesses who will be able to get extensions on their taxes."

"We think we can provide over $200 billion of liquidity into the economy by delaying certain tax payments," he said.

Democratic leaders are cool on the idea of tax cuts and made a competing proposal for compensating workers' lost wages and sick leave, as well as providing loan forgiveness for individuals.

The Democratic proposal also called for disaster loans and grants for small businesses, emergency housing assistance, and loosened requirements for food assistance including continuing to serve meals to children even if schools are closed.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden looked cheerful today during pared-back celebrations to mark her name day amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The mother-of-two, 42, was joined by her husband Prince Daniel at the Royal Palace, where they met representatives of the armed forces who presented the future Queen with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

According to Swedish tradition, various names are associated with certain dates, and Crown Princess Victoria's is celebrated on 12th March.

Festivities usually include a military parade in the Inner Courtyard of Stockholm's Royal Palace, which attracts thousands of wellwishers, but this year's ceremony was called off amid the coronavirus outbreak - with 600 confirmed cases in Sweden.

In a statement on the official court website, the Swedish royals family explained that the decision was take following the Public Health Authority's risk assessment.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, 42, was joined by her husband Prince Daniel at the Royal Palace, where they met representatives of the armed forces to mark her name day

The Swedish royals looked in good spirits, despite Victoria's name day celebrations being scaled back due to the coronavirus outbreak

Sweden has seen a dramatic increase in the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus, with an elderly woman in her eighties being the first to die from the illness.

The official statement said: 'For the sake of the public, which at the celebration usually gather in a limited area with some congestion, and based on the Public Health Authority's risk assessment of the new coronavirus, the Swedish Armed Forces decided to cancel the ceremony this year.'

Crown Princess Victoria stepped out in neutral colours as she paired plaid trousers with a pastel coloured blazer for an elegant look, sweeping her hair back in her signature smart bun.

Her husband appeared equally dapper in a sleek navy suit, coordinated with a blue tie.

Princess Victoria, 42, teamed a pastel coloured blazer with plaid print trousers and a camel blouse for an elegant look

The mother-of-two was gifted seasonal flowers by representatives of the armed forces (pictured), despite the military parade being cancelled

She completed the look with natural make-up and bold hoop earrings.

Crown Princess of Victoria appeared delighted to meet representatives of the armed forces at the low-key celebration.

The royal was gifted bouquets of seasonal flowers and laughed as she was shown a photo album.

The annual ceremony was cancelled following the advice of the Public Health Authority's risk assessment. Pictured: Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel being shown an album

Princess Victoria (pictured) was recently forced to cancel a formal dinner with her parents because of fears surrounding the spread of the coronavirus

Princess Victoria was saluted by members of the armed forces during the annual celebration of her name day

Crown Princess Victoria who is next in line to the Swedish throne which is currently reigned by her father King Carl XVI Gustaf, was recently forced to cancel attending her parent's formal dinner due to the virus outbreak.

Her eight-year-old daughter Princess Estelle's school made a decision to close after a student became the first child in the country to be diagnosed with COVID-19.

It is expected the royal's agenda will continue to make adjustments when attending and hosting engagements due to the coronavirus.


3 1 of 3 Courtesy photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Today (Friday the 13th) is your luck day to learn about a Texas wine family evolving into a legend. Roy Doc McPherson was a Texas Tech University professor with a brilliant idea back in 1972. Why not start a winery in Texas? The Texas High Plains was well suited as to climate, soils, and altitude for growing grapes. Doc had several learning experiences in establishing Llano Estacado Winery.

First, there had been three generations of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Agency agents that had never permitted a winery in Texas which started with Prohibition. Second, Doc realized he was starting a winery in the Hub of the Bible Belt so had to encapsulate his winery with 12-inch thick cinder block walls to keep outsides from shooting out his wine tank. During the initial stages of starting the winery, Doc used his three sons, Kim, Mark, and Jon, to help in planting his vineyards. In 1976, Llano Estacado was finally permitted. Both Jon and Kim got their Food/Science Degrees at Texas Tech University and later to UC - Davis. Duke as Mark was known is a College Professor teaching US/World Literature.
Hong Kong: Police to launch e-Ticketing scheme

Police today announced it will launch the e-Ticketing Pilot Scheme on March 16 to improve accuracy and efficiency.

The scheme will first be rolled out in Wan Chai, Tseung Kwan O and Sham Shui Po police districts to combat illegal parking.

The trial project will give traffic wardens the ease of using a mobile application installed in official smartphones.

They can simply scan the encrypted QR code on vehicle licences or input vehicle registration numbers to extract details of offending drivers' vehicles.

The mobile app will then generate necessary information automatically and traffic wardens can print fixed penalty tickets with portable printers.

Issuing officers can also take photos to capture details of the offence for evidential purposes before printing an e-ticket at the scene.

Police Traffic Branch Headquarters Acting Senior Superintendent Nip Hoi-kwan explained that the mobile app will greatly minimise the chance of human error because handwriting tickets can lead to mistakes.

He added that e-Ticketing is much more efficient as it automatically extracts the date, time and exact location using GPS.

About 60 traffic wardens will use e-Ticketing initially. Police will launch the scheme in different phases and districts.

The Transport Department will imprint encrypted QR codes on newly issued vehicle licences.

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi, March 12 : Amid the growing coronavirus scare, a video of Prince Charles greeting people with an Indian-style "namaste" has gone viral on social media, leaving netizens impressed.

In the video, Prince Charles, 71, could be seen greeting people with a namaste at the yearly Prince's Trust Awards which was held on Wednesday at the London Palladium. Parveen Kaswan, an Indian Forest Service (IFC) officer, shared the video on his Twitter handle with the caption: "Namaste... See we Indians told to do this to world many many years ago. Now just a class on how to do namaste properly." In the shared video, Prince Charles could be seen getting out of his vehicle and extending his hand to greet one of the guests before he quickly changes his gesture to a namaste upon realising the precautionary measure in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

As the post went viral, social media went abuzz with reactions.

A user wrote, "Now our millennials will accept it coz the whites are doing it. But had any Indian done on social gathering before COVID 19, he would have been ridiculed by the same lot." Another wrote, "Slowly but surely our way of greeting is picking up worldwide." "After Yoga... Namaste wud be the biggest export... Now experts will dive in and create various flavours of authentic Namaskar to suit their international clients," read one post.

Another user remarked, "In my opinion, this form of greeting makes more sense."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Singapore has launched a probe to identify 95 of its citizens who took part in a religious gathering in Malaysia, after Brunei's first coronavirus case was detected in a person who attended the same three-day congregation held last month, a top minister said on Thursday.

The 95 Singaporeans were among over 1,500 people, including almost 700 Indonesians and more than 200 Filipinos, who attended the gathering held between February 28 and March 1 at the Seri Petaling Mosque in Selangor state on the outskirt of Kuala Lumpur.

Brunei's first case was a 53-year-old man who returned from Kuala Lumpur on March 3 and started showing symptoms four days later, the Sultanate's Health Ministry said.

Malaysia reported 20 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its toll of infections to 149.

"I am concerned to hear that there were several COVID-19 cases confirmed, arising from a mass religious gathering in Malaysia," Singapore's Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said in a Facebook post on Thursday.

"It was reported that 95 Singaporeans had attended the event," the Minister, said, adding that Singapore's Health Ministry was investigating and identifying the Singaporean attendees.

"If you were there, please get yourselves checked up by a doctor - protect your loved ones and those around you. For those who are unwell, please seek medical attention immediately," the Channel Asia quoted the Minister as saying.

Eleven cases have surfaced in people in Brunei who attended the meeting. The 12th case linked to the Kuala Lumpur meeting is a Malaysian, according to media reports.

The Malaysian authorities are also tracking about 5,000 of its citizens who took part in the event.

Malaysia called on Thursday for mass gatherings to be postponed after at least 12 coronavirus cases were linked to the gathering of Islamic missionaries.

Lauding the local Muslim community for taking "much effort" to adjust its religious practices during this challenging time, minister Zulkifli said the people in Singapore must be vigilant when carrying out religious practices.

"Many are refraining from our usual handshake or 'salam' and instead are adopting what I call the 'Mufti Salam', where one places his hand on his chest to convey his greetings," he said.

"Many are also bringing their own personal prayer mats and paraphernalia to the mosque," he said.

Zulkifli, who is also Environment and Water Resources Minister, said that cleanliness and hygiene were Singapore's first line of defence against COVID-19 pandemic.

He reiterated the importance of using tissues while sneezing or coughing and not attending social gatherings when unwell.

The deadly coronavirus virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,500 lives and infected more than 124,000 people across 107 countries and territories.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday characterised the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jersey City school district is preparing three weeks worth of home instruction for students in the event that schools must close because of the coronavirus.

Students were dismissed early Wednesday to give school administrators and staff members time to initiate plans and coordinate with staff for satellite learning options.

Superintendent Franklin Walker told The Jersey Journal that teachers will be preparing individual classroom learning packets for the districts 30,000 students to take home in case schools close because of COVID-19, the new coronavirus that has infected tens of thousands worldwide. These individual class learning packets are often made for students who may require home instruction for a medical reason.

In doing so, a teacher will prepare an educational packet for that student based upon on all their classes," Walker said. That packet will be provided for them to work on during the time they are out, and it can be updated depending on how long (their absence) is.

State Department of Education spokesman Michael Yaple said the decision to close schools is made by the districts superintendent in consultation with health officials. Districts can go ahead and close their schools if they receive a written directive from the state Department of Health or the health officer of the jurisdiction to institute a public health-related closure.

Each district has been advised to create a plan for home instruction for all students in the district, Yaple said. School superintendents throughout the state have been collaborating on their plans with other superintendents.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that New Jersey has eight new cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 23 positive tests, including one death. Murphy declared a state of emergency Monday amid growing concerns about the spread of the virus throughout the state.

COVID-19 has sickened more than 1,100 people nationwide and led to at least 33 deaths.

Walker said students would receive between 10 and 20 hours worth of home instruction per week, depending on their grade. Students with internet access would be able to use programs like Google Classroom to communicate with teachers and get additional instruction.

Those without internet access would depend on the packet, but phone numbers for coordinators, who are teachers in the district, would be made available for all students and parents to call in case they need further help.

More than 70% percent of students already have Chromebook laptops issued by the district and over 2,000 internet hot spots are available for those who would need them.

John Melendez, a professor of educational leadership at New Jersey City University, said K-12 schools are in uncharted territory when it comes to transitioning to home instruction for an indefinite amount of time. He added that its more difficult for K-12 schools to undergo home instruction than colleges, because the students are younger and need more individual attention from teachers.

The challenge is how do you manage and contain the situation right now to maximize student learning in knowing that whatever solution we have is not going to be perfect, Melendez said. Once the imminent danger is away, how do we then come back and try learning outcomes are achieved.

Melendez said school districts would probably assess on a week-by-week basis if home instruction is in fact ordered. Any home instruction scenario is not going to be perfect, he added.

Each solution is going to be based on current information and it is going to have to be flexible and fluid, Melendez said. Everybody is just going to have to be patient and understanding that the educational leaders are doing the best they can with the information they have in that moment.

Walker said breakfast and lunch will still be made available at designated meal sites throughout the city if schools close. The district would work to distribute thse meals to students who are unable to make it to the meal sites.

Meanwhile, a potential closure would be determined based on the number of positive cases that develop in the area. Only one case has been reported in Hudson County, a 32-year-old West New York man who is resting at home.

Sending the home instruction is not going to offer the best set of circumstances for us in terms of a learning environment and teaching environment, Walker said. Certainly, when they come back into school, the plan is to accelerate the learning process back to where it was at before and make whatever adjustment we need to make if there are gaps that develop.
: The Andhra Pradesh High Court



on Thursday pulled up state Director General of Police Damodar Gautam Sawang over the Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu's detention at the Visakhapatnam airport on February 27 after taking him into preventive custody.

A Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice J K Maheshwari, made the DGP read out section 151 CrPC and questioned Sawang why he did not take disciplinary action against his subordinate officers.

The DGP appeared in person on the summons of the court for hearing a petition filed by former MLA T Sravan Kumar challenging the illegal detention of the TDP chief in the airport when he went to attend a series of programmes in the district.

"Read out Section 151 CrPC. Why did you not take any action against the Visakhapatnam police officials," the court asked the DGP.

It also questioned if he supported his subordinate officers when they violated the law.

The DGP replied that he did not take any action as the issue was pending in court.

"If the court orders, we will take necessary action," Sawang replied.

If you dont take action which you are supposed to, we will take action, the court warned.

The court then directed the DGP to submit a report on the action taken against the errant officers.

The DGP also faced the courts wrath in another case relating to the police action against protestors in capital Amaravati.

The High Court, which on its own took cognizance of imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr P C and the conduct of a 'long march' by over 500 police personnel in a village, asked the DGP what was the need for such an action when protests were being carried out in a peaceful manner.

Why were so many police deployed in one village? What is the need? Why such acts in a democracy, the court questioned.

The court was not satisfied with the DGPs reply that everything was part of precautionary measures.

"Precautionary measures should be in tune with the law. Where is the need for such measures in villages where people are protesting in a peaceful manner," the court asked.

The court asked the DGP to explain the action taken against police officials concerned over this.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Virgin Australia has announced deals for domestic business and economy flights as holidaymakers continue to avoid travel due to coronavirus fears.

The sale will run from February 13, 2020, until midnight on March 23, with flights available from Friday until December.

Most of the economy tickets are under $100 one-way - including Sydney to Ballina for just $79.

Airline Virgin Australia has announced flight deals for domestic business and economy flights as people abandon their travel plans due to coronavirus fears. Pictured: The Apostles on the Great Ocean Road

The flights from Virgin Australia go on sale from February 13, 2020, until midnight on March 23

Flights to Darwin from major cities including Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are on sale for $169.

Meanwhile, business class domestic travel has become much more affordable.

One-way business class flights range from $250 to $999.

The most expensive business class flights are trips to and from Perth.

A Virgin Australia spokespersons said: 'Our great value domestic airfares are not only helping travellers fly to their next Australian holiday destination, but they're helping support the local tourism industry in the wake of the recent natural disasters.

'With the April school holidays fast approaching Virgin Australia is encouraging everyone to consider travelling within Australia this Easter.'

Most of the economy flights are under $100 one-way - including Sydney to Ballina for just $79. Pictured: Tasman National Park

Meanwhile those who have always wanted to cash in on business class flights have the chance to do so. Pictured: South Australian vineyard

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA'S FLIGHT DEALS Economy Hobart to Mackay via Brisbane - $229

Sydney to Tamworth - $99

Sydney to Ballina - $79

Gold Coast to Uluru via Sydney - $199

Brisbane to Broome - $379 Business class Port Macquarie to Brisbane - $99

Launceston to Melbourne - $299

Brisbane to Cairns - $499

Adelaide to Melbourne - $399

Darwin to Melbourne $750 Advertisement

The sale comes as Australians continue to ditch their travels plans due to COVID-19.

A travel ban has been put in place for mainland China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that no one, besides the country's citizens, can enter America if they have been in Europe.

Airlines - including Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin - scaled back their flights following the declaration of a public emergency.

People have been warned to stay clear of cruises following incidents like the Diamond Princess, where many were infected after it was forced to isolate off the coast of Japan for two weeks.

Australians have also been urged to travel domestically following the devastating bushfire season between September 2019 and February 2020.

Many Australians have decided to ditch their travels plans due to COVID-19. Pictured: Litchfield National Park near Darwin

Co-Founder of Australian Traveller Magazine Quentin Long urged Australians to consider local destinations.

'I think everyone should be holidaying here this year and getting behind the Tourism Australia policy,' he told Nine.

'The tropical north around Cairns, Port Douglas, Palm Cove, they have had incredible and a dire period over that Chinese New Year.

'If anybody can turn around their trips and start heading to these destinations and make that pledge that Tourism Australia has put out that we are putting money into the local economy, it is bushfire affected, it is drought affected, there are also now virus affected regions of Australia that are screaming out for help.'
Cristiano Ronaldo has been in quarantine in Madeira for several days but is not showing any symptoms of the coronavirus contracted by a Juventus team-mate, local authorities in Portugal said Thursday.

"Ronaldo left Italy a few days ago and his isolation hasn't just started now," said Pedro Ramos, a member of the Madeira regional government in charge of health.

"Both the athlete and his family are symptomless," he added during a conference.

Juventus and Italy defender Daniele Rugani tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on Wednesday, although the club said he was not exhibiting any symptoms.

"The players, members of staff and all those who came into contact (with Rugani) are in voluntary isolation. Ronaldo... is in Madeira and is staying there until further notice," the Serie A club told AFP.

Ronaldo travelled to his home town of Madeira last week to visit his mother who suffered a stroke.

"The player visited his mother because the health services were able to guarantee all the safety conditions, for him but also for everyone who has been in contact with him," said Ramos.

Portugal on Wednesday suspended flights to and from Italy until March 24 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Portuguese health authorities on Thursday reported a total of 78 infections in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, March 12 : To fight the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the Northern Command of the Indian Army has created four isolation wards with a 100-bed capacity at the Command Hospital (NC) in Udhampur, the Northern Command headquarters in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the Northern Command, a team of specialists will handle the suspected coronavirus cases at the Command Hospital.

"Four isolation wards with 100-bed capacity have been created using crisis expansion beds, life-saving medical equipment and medicines," a statement issued on Thursday said.

The hospital has also procured hazard suits, N-95 masks and protective equipment for the healthcare personnel. All patients will be treated for respiratory infections and the suspected patients will be treated at the dedicated Covid-19 OPD.

For testing purposes, the Command Hospital has tied up with the Indian Council of Medical Research, which will carry out tests under strict biosafety protocols.

The officials of the Northern Command are also carrying out an intensive information-education-communication campaign at the Udhampur station to sensitise army personnel and their families about the dreaded virus and its precautionary measures.

"The Commandant, Command Hospital (NC), has urged all personnel to perform hand hygiene with soap and water and/or hand sanitiser, avoid handshakes, avoid crowded places, maintain two feet distance and wear medical masks if feeling sick," the statement added.

At least 76 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported from India as on Thursday. Even a three-year-old has tested positive in Kerala, who had a travel history to Italy with his parents.

The coronavirus outbreak was first reported in December last year in Wuhan city of China. The disease has affected more than 100 countries so far and has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday rejected the objections raised by creditors over distribution of funds under the revised distribution framework in the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) matter, saying it would be against public interest. We accept the suggestion of pro-rata distribution as suggested by Union of India and the procedure as suggested by it for the purpose of completing the resolution process, said NCLAT Chairman S J Mukhopadhaya.

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Digital Editor
In the wake of Jyotiraditya Scindia joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday took a jibe at his former party colleague, stating that "may God keep him safe in BJP".

"I pray to God to keep Scindia safe in BJP," Singh tweeted.

Meanwhile, preparations are underway at BJP's Bhopal office to welcome Scindia. Posters, banners and a red carpet have been arranged to welcome Scindia to the party.

On Wednesday, Scindia joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party President JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Scindia will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the culprits of Delhi violence will not be spared irrespective of any religion, caste or party, adding that over 2,600 people have been arrested so far for rioting and vandalism

Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday said that the culprits of Delhi violence will not be spared irrespective of any religion, caste or party, adding that over 2,600 people have been arrested so far for rioting and vandalism.

"The culprits  whichever religion, caste or party they belong to  will not be spared. They will be brought to book," said Shah while replying to the debate on Delhi violence in the Rajya Sabha.

Shah said that over 700 FIRs have been registered in Delhi against rioteers based on 'scientific evidence', adding that the Delhi Police had reached out to people and media houses for video evidence and action was being taken against rioteers based on that. He said that those behind killing of two Delhi policemen have also been arrested and the police is conducting further investigation to determine whether the killings were a part of a conspiracy.

Shah also alleged that foreign funding was used to finance and orchestrate the Delhi riots. Taunting the Opposition, Shah said that it was absurd to suggest that the riots were state sponsored because their timing coincided with the visit of US President Donald Trump.

"We had information from several agencies that money came from abroad and from the rest of the country and was distributed in Delhi before the morning of 24 February...There were bank accounts that were opened on 23 February and shut within a few days. We have arrested five persons for the crime," Shah said.

He also said that the government was not running away from a debate on this issue but wanted a peaceful Holi.

Giving details, Shah said a detailed scrutiny of videos of the riots is being done and driving licence, voter ID data are being used in facial identification software. He said that no Supreme Court guideline on privacy has been violated and no Aadhaar data has been used. He added that 1922 faces have been identified using facial identification software. He informed that 50 serious cases of murder, attacks on religious places, hospitals, and educational institutions being handed over to three SITs.

He also claimed that the allegations of Delhi Police's inaction were baseless. The home minister said that no suggestion of calling military were made in all-party meeting on 25 February and the Delhi Police managed to curtail riots in less than 36 hours.

Mounting an attack on the Opposition at the end of a bitter debate, Shah also read out a list of riots since Independence that occurred under Congress rule. He claimed that 76 percent of riot-related deaths occurred under the Opposition party's rule, which has launched a propaganda to link Shah and the BJP to riots.

"Instigating riots not our nature; our nature is to stem them," Shah asserted in Rajya Sabha.

Earlier, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal came down heavily on the Central government over the recent incidents of violence in North-East Delhi.

The Congress leader stated that the government will do anything for the protection of cows, but not human beings. At least 53 persons died including IB officer Ankit Sharma and Constable Rattan Lal in the violence that took place in North-East Delhi last month.

With inputs from agencies
The Chancellor staged a raid on the tax break for building a business yesterday as he slashed the lifetime limit on entrepreneurs' relief from 10million to 1million.

The move will hit serial entrepreneurs and those who have turned start-ups into medium-sized businesses and has been made due to fears that too much of the tax break goes to investors and contractors.

But some small business owners breathed a sigh of relief as the special 10 per cent capital gains tax rate was kept intact, rather than being removed as many feared.

The controversial cut reduces by 90 per cent the amount of profit an individual can claim entrepreneur's relief on over their lifetime.

Instead of scrapping the Entrepreneurs' Relief, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has slashed the lifetime limit down to 1m

Rather than being able to pay a special 10 per cent capital gains tax rate on up to 10million worth of profit from selling a business, instead of the standard 20 per cent capital gains tax rate, it will now be limited to 1million of profit.

Before the Budget move someone using the maximum 10million lifetime limit would have paid 1million in tax, whereas after the change they would pay 1,800,000 - having benefited from a 10 per cent rate on only the first million pounds of profit.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said in his Budget yesterday that the cut was in response to evidence that the tax break has done little to incentivise entrepreneurial activity and that it has primarily benefited a small number of 'very affluent taxpayers'.

He added: 'This will help to ensure that the tax system is fair and sustainable while leaving over 80 per cent of those using the relief unaffected.'

Nimesh Shah, partner at Blick Rothenberg said: 'It has become viciously complicated in recent years with various rule changes and anti-avoidance measures. Now that the relief is only worth 100,000, surely the rules need to be simplified?

Entrepreneurs' relief: Why was it cut? Entrepreneurs' relief is a tax break that allows business owners to pay less capital gains tax when they sell their business and applies to entrepreneurs who've managed businesses for two years or more. It was introduced in 2008, when flat rate capital gains tax replaced the previous system where taper relief rewarded long-term ownership. However, a fair chunk of entrepreneurs' relief goes to those who don't quite fit the traditional bill of the person who spend a lifetime building a business. They might instead look like already wealthy serial investors, or contractors rolling up income in their business with the intention of winding it down and taking the cash in a more tax-friendly way.

He added: 'At a time when UK businesses are facing hugely uncertain futures, it is disappointing that the Government has decided to reduce the Entrepreneurs Relief lifetime limit without any review or consultation.'

Industry commentators had feared that the Chancellor would announce in the Budget that he would abolish the relief altogether.

It has been criticised by influential think-tanks the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Resolution Foundation as doing little to encourage people to start a business. They have argued that a tax break would be better targeted at those starting up, than those who have already made big profits on a successful endeavour.

Mr Sunak said the government was at in favour of reforming entrepreneurs' relief while 'continuing to support the vast majority of entrepreneurs and increasing tax incentives for businesses investing in structures and buildings and R&D.

He also announced that investment into R&D would be increased to 22billion a year.

Paul Falvey at accountancy and business advisory firm BDO says: 'Mr Sunak's plan to reduce the scope of from 10million to 1million is a surprise as many expected entrepreneurs' relief to be scrapped totally.

'Whilst it is encouraging that entrepreneurs' relief will still exist in a scaled back guise, this change will impact a significant number of entrepreneurially spirited business owners.

Scrapping entrepreneurs' relief would destroy the retirements of thousands of business owners. Mike Cherry, Federation of Small Businesses

'Businesses will be pleased that Research and Development (R&D) relief will be more generous moving forward, however HMRC have indicated they will scrutinise claims more closely, so businesses must ensure their submissions are within the intended scope.'

Sunak said he would not abolish what some called the 'UK's worst tax break', as there were some who still benefitted from it.

How hard will this hit small business?

The Chancellor branded the tax break as 'expensive and ineffective'.

Earlier this month, the Federation of Small Businesses showed that the annual cost of the incentive to the Treasury could be reduced by three-quarters if it was concentrated on business sales of under 1million.

In the financial year 2017-18, entrepreneurs' relief cost the Treasury 2.3 billion. Of the 43,000 individuals that made use of the incentive, 38,000 claimed relief on business sales of under 1 million, coming at a cost of only 600 million to the Treasury.

Before today's announcement the FSB's Mike Cherry warned: 'Scrapping entrepreneurs' relief would destroy the retirements of thousands of business owners.

'The Conservative manifesto committed this Government to reviewing and reforming this incentive, not scrapping it entirely.

'The Conservatives should keep their promises  it's a question of trust.'

However, some believe this move brings the government one step closer to scrapping entrepreneurs' relief altogether.

Svenja Keller, head of wealth planning, Killik & Co adds: 'Sunak has announced a simple change to the ER limit so as not to discourage genuine entrepreneurs and support creativity, with 80 per cent of small business owners unaffected - but it's very effective and could have a significant impact; lowering the limit by 9million is a big change.

'However, isn't such a large reduction similar to an abolishment? Whether this could happen next remains to be seen.'
Over 16,500 cases of cyber crime



were registered in Maharashtra in the last five years, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told the Legislative Council on Thursday.

He was responding to a query asked by some opposition members.

"In the last five years, 16,512 cyber crime cases were recorded in the state, of which 4,530 cases have been cracked so far," Deshmukh said.

As many as 3,511 and 4,822 cyber crime cases were registered in 2018 and 2019 respectively, he added.

"In 2019, a total of 7,500 criminal cases were registered in Pune and as many cases related to cyber crime were recorded in that city. This underscores the gravity of the situation," he said.

Police have registered 799 and 867 cases in 2019 and 2018 respectively, including those related to obscene and derogatory messages sent to women and girls through social media and e-mails, Deshmukh said.

The state cyber cell is the "most modern one" in the country, he said, adding that around 1,000 staffers have been trained to probe the cyber crime related cases.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EU Council agrees US ban

Trump had announced that the US would restrict all travel from Europe with the exception of the UK starting later this week.

The EU will assess the US presidents decision to restrict all travel from Europe in a bid to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, the head of the European Council said on Thursday.

"EU TAKES ALL NECESSARY MEASURES"

Economic disruption must be avoided, said Charles Michel on Twitter, adding that EU is taking all necessary measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The restrictions are similar to those Trump issued on China and Iran in January and February, respectively.
The Ministry for Special Development Initiative has debunked claims that dams built under government's One District One Dam project are not fit for purposes.

It said claims by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the dams were not properly constructed were only meant to score cheap political points.

Communication Director at the Ministry for Special Development Initiative, Kabori Awudu Moro said the dams cited by the NDC had already been declared uncompleted by the government itself.

The Opposition National Democratic Congress at its 8th edition of the party's Moment Of Truth series held on Wednesday [March 12, 2020] toured three of the dam sites in Adibo and Nakpache in the Yendi constituency and at Zakpalsi in the Mion constituency.

The National Communication Officer for the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi who led the team said the dams in their current state would not be able to serve their intended purposes.

But Kabori Awudu Moro said the NDC got it wrong with their assessment of the dams they toured.

We disagree with their conclusion that the dams are not fit for purpose and that it has not been properly constructed.It is a kind of a surprise to us that the NDC will rather choose to go and do the press conference at the dam site that we have already given the indication that we have not completed. I think they got it very wrong and we believe that their action is clearly aimed at scoring some cheap political points, he said.

NDC has consistently demanded a complete overhaul of the 1 Village 1 Dam projects, urging the government to realign its funding to produce standard dams.

There are concerns that the implementation of the policy has been subpar.

Construction sites for govt's 1V1D now death traps  NDC MP

In 2019, the Member of Parliament for the Garu Constituency in the Upper East Region, Albert Akuka Alalzuuga said most construction sites under the government's one village one dam initiative have become death traps.

Speaking to Citi News, the legislator said the, digging of deep wells in the middle of the dams without warning signs was claiming the lives of humans and animals in some areas.

They scoop a large area and dig something like a well inside. That water will become a death trap because most people are not aware that this is what the contractors have done there. When people come and see small water there, they will not know that it is deep and before you realize animals and human beings will be falling into it.

---citinewsroom
Boom in tanker rates following oil price war

VLCCs are being chartered at $166k a day from Middle East to China, up from $30k a day on March 6, according to Bloomberg, quoting Baltic Exchange data.
For many Napa Valley wineries, hosting corporate retreats and events is a significant source of revenue. Every week, companies from around the world fly here so that their employees can engage in team building and financial planning against a backdrop of lush vineyards and cellars full of top-tier Cabernet Sauvignon.

Thanks to the spread of the novel coronavirus, though, the business of hosting corporate groups in Napa Valley has come to a sudden halt, as companies restrict business travel. There are no known cases of COVID-19, the coronavirus disease, among Napa County residents, and most wineries report that local visitors are still coming to tasting rooms at a normal rate. Yet the drop in corporate income is a troubling development for a region still reeling from slow tourism during a few years of wildfires and other natural disasters.

Im beginning to get worried, said Andrea Myers, hospitality director at Round Pond Estate in Rutherford. Three corporate groups were scheduled to visit Round Pond this week, a total of 88 visitors. All have canceled.

V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena has so far lost about $40,000 worth of group business, said president Tom Davies, including four groups from Japan and one from Florida. Another tech company canceled a full buyout of Charter Oak restaurant in St. Helena, chef Christopher Kostow told The Chronicle.

Opus One Winery, which normally sees a lot of international tourists in its by-appointment tasting room, has seen a 20% decrease in visitors recently, said Christopher Barefoot, vice president of communications.

The trade war had already impacted our visitors from China, he said. However, now we are seeing an impact on our Japanese visitors, many of whom are canceling their plans to come to the U.S. due to quarantine concerns.

Many of the Japanese visitors cancellations are for visits that would have taken place during late Aprils Golden Week, a holiday period in Japan.

One winery, Shafer Vineyards, has suspended tastings for the remainder of the month.

Talia Herman / Special to The Chronicle

Its been brutal, said Shannon Kelly, chef-owner of St. Helenas Oak Avenue Catering, which serves winery events nearly exclusively. His company has lost 80% of its March business so far. Of the 10 winery clients he works with most consistently, all have canceled at least one event that Oak Avenue was going to cater.

With wineries, we dont even get a deposit, Kelly added.

Ive had two earthquakes and three wildfires, he continued. I wasnt expecting a pandemic, too.

After the 2017 fires, it took nearly a year for business to return to normal, but, he said, this seems more immediately impactful.

WineDirect, a company that facilitates direct-to-consumer wine sales, observed a 22% decrease in tasting room sales by volume last weekend compared to last month, according to company spokesperson Carly Imhof. The data took into account 900 wineries in the U.S. and Canada, so is not specific to Napa.

The group cancellations may have more to do with companies wanting to avoid air travel and skirt liability for their employees than with a perception that Napa Valley is an unsafe place to be.

But most of Napas tourism industry doesnt run on large group events. And a large number of wineries happily report that apart from the corporate groups, day-to-day tourism is normal  in some cases, even on the rise.

Weve not seen a drop-off in visitation at all, said Davies. This time of year, the bulk of our business is people who live within a drive of the valley, and thats been strong.

V. Sattui, which sees about 275,000 visitors a year, tends to start seeing larger numbers of out-of-state tourists beginning in April or May. Davies is hopeful that the panic over the virus would subside by then.

Weddings represent a significant source of V. Sattuis revenue, too; it is one of just a handful of wineries in Napa Valley whose permit allows weddings. Davies said no weddings yet had canceled, but he worried about whether chef Stefano Masanti, whom the winery employs for about half the year to cater weddings and special events, would be able to make it to Napa. Masanti is in northern Italy, which is now under lockdown.

Talia Herman / Special to The Chronicle

Myers said that Round Pond, too, was seeing normal visitation numbers, mostly locals. To make people feel more comfortable, the winery has instated a rigorous cleaning protocol, wiping down tables between visitors and requiring employees to wear gloves when handling wine bottles or glasses.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Robert Biale winery in the valleys Oak Knoll District saw typical visitor traffic last weekend, but general manager Chris Dearden worried that the tides could change quickly.

We have had a few cancellations, and so were trying to be proactive, he said.

He was trying to work out a way to offer virtual tastings to customers who canceled  shipping them some wine, then leading them through a guided tasting in a videoconference.

This is uncharted territory, Dearden said.

Shafer Vineyards chose more extreme proactivity, announcing Tuesday that it would cancel all of its tastings for the remainder of March. Shafer doesnt see many visitors  it caps out at about 20 people per day, low traffic for Napa  but the announcement means about 200 cancellations, said Andy Demsky, director of communications.

Were doing this with the well-being of guests in mind, said Demsky. A visit to Shafer should be 100% relaxing, fun and positive. As such, it seemed like taking a break would be the way to go.

For some Napa wineries hoping to keep business up, there may be a hidden silver lining: the potential of the coronavirus-induced staycation.

While we have seen some people traveling on airplanes cancel their trips, weve also seen a rise in local Bay Area visitors, said Hailey Trefethen of Trefethen Family Vineyards.

Just as fewer tourists may be coming, fewer Bay Area residents may be flying to other destinations  leaving more room in their schedules for a trip to Wine Country.

The prevailing sentiment among winery staff was a sense of understanding that people might not want to visit tasting rooms or other public places during this time. But for those who feel comfortable, I would hope that local residents would see this as an opportunity to do things in their backyard that they dont get to do more often, said Round Pond director of marketing Erin Robertson. To embrace this beautiful area where we live.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese banking sector has beefed up financial support for small businesses to weather the COVID-19 outbreak.

As of Tuesday noon, China's city commercial banks and private banks have offered credit support of 298.3 billion yuan (42.8 billion U.S. dollars), according to the China Banking Association.

All 134 city commercial banks and 18 private banks nationwide have unveiled detailed measures of financial services to help enterprises resume production and fight against the epidemic, said the association.

The credit support has been mainly used to finance micro, small and medium-sized firms that are greatly affected by the epidemic, as many banks issued special financial bonds for small and micro-sized enterprises.

To help small and medium-sized enterprises, the country's central bank has increased the re-lending and re-discount quota by 500 billion yuan, with the bulk channeled to small and medium-sized banks to increase their credit support to smaller businesses.
The Managing Director of Citi TV/FM, Samuel Attah-Mensah is urging corporate bodies in Ghana to support the Creative Art Industry.

Mr. Samuel Attah-Mensah noted that it is good companies in the country declare the huge profits they make at the end of the year but noted that it is time they invest in the Creative Art Industry.

He, therefore, called on them to support the development of the youth whose interest is in the Creative Arts. He made the appeal on Citi TVs programme Point of View hosted by Bernard Avle.

Samens noted that supporting the Creative Art Industry would go a long way to clear most of the youth from the streets. Citi TV in collaboration with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly would be organising the Heritage Art Festival, the programme forms part of this years Heritage Month.

The Heritage Art Festival would be from March 12 to 14, 2020 and would be held at the Forecourt of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly. Over fifty artists are expected to participate in the programme.

---First1news.com
This was not our fault. This was a situation that understandably, out of an abundance of caution, CPS decided to hold back on trips, and we were expecting, based on the purchase of an insurance policy, that we would be made whole, said Dattner, 49, who lives in Beverly. Katie saved really hard for this, and I know a lot of families who made a lot of sacrifices in order to have their kids have one last hurrah before going off into college or going off on their own."
The U.S. military in Europe is weighing how best to get what may be thousands of troops stateside following the release of a Defense Department policy memo Wednesday ordering a 60-day suspension of military travel to and from countries, including those in Europe.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Joe Hontz, a spokesman for U.S. European Command, told Military.com on Thursday that command officials are working with individual bases and major commands within the continent to evaluate which troops will be sent home following their temporary duty assignment, and which will move on to their next duty station, which could be within Europe.

Hontz stressed the options are in line with Defense Secretary Mark Esper's latest guidance, which was distributed to personnel just hours after President Donald Trump announced a separate travel suspension. The Defense Department guidance imposes a 60-day ban on travel for service members, military families and DoD civilians to all countries designated as "Level 3 locations" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention due to the widespread and ongoing transmission of the novel coronavirus.

Those locations now include China, Iran, South Korea and all of Europe.

Related: Defense Department Orders 60-Day Troop Travel Ban for Virus-Afflicted Countries

Military personnel stationed within countries that have had an abundance of cases are adhering to installation commander and host nation instructions, as well as CDC guidelines, Hontz said.

The military has already canceled or scaled back multiple exercises in an effort to protect troops from exposure to the disease, known as COVID-19.

On Wednesday, U.S. European Command announced that the number of U.S. troops participating in DEFENDER-Europe 20 was being cut back, although several U.S. units have already arrived and moved into position in NATO alliance states.

DEFENDER-Europe 20 was set to be the biggest deployment for an exercise in 25 years, with 20,000 soldiers deploying from the U.S. and training with 17,000 allies.

"In light of the current coronavirus outbreak, we will modify the exercise by reducing the number of U.S. participants," the EUCOM statement said. "Activities associated with the exercise will be adjusted accordingly, and we'll work closely with allies and partners to meet our highest priority training objectives."

Reducing military exercises is an obvious step to stop the spread of the virus, said Mark Cancian, a retired colonel and senior security adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said he does not believe the command will cancel the exercise completely.

"This is just the beginning of widespread curtailment of military exercises overseas," he said. "[Europe] is not more dangerous than the United States. It would be different if the United States was unaffected [by the virus] and [troops] were going to a place that was severely affected, but that's not the case."

But as the virus continues spreading, he said the U.S. will most likely have to "eliminate virtually all future military exercises overseas" and quarantine the troops and equipment deployed to participate in exercises like DEFENDER-Europe 20.

The announcement followed on EUCOM's cancellation of two other joint training exercises within a week that were already underway -- one in Norway and a second in Israel.

A statement Wednesday from EUCOM headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, said that Norwegian authorities had called off the remainder of Exercise Cold Response.

The cancellation, two days after the cold-weather exercise officially began, followed the precautionary isolation of about two dozen soldiers and Marines who may have come in contact with a Norwegian service member who tested positive for COVID-19.

In a statement Wednesday, Maj. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway, spokesman for U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe-Africa, said that no troops who had taken part in Exercise Cold Response had exhibited any symptoms.

Last week, EUCOM and Israel called off a military exercise in Israel that had already begun in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus.

A missile defense exercise with the Israeli Defense Forces, called Juniper Cobra 20, began March 3, but EUCOM said the remainder, which had been scheduled to run through March 13, was being canceled as a precaution.

About 2,500 U.S. service members had been scheduled to support the exercise, and about 600 were already on the ground in Israel. A EUCOM spokesman said that the 600 were being pulled back, either by military or commercial air.

Hontz said future exercises are still in the planning stages.

"We're always assessing what the threat of COVID is to [the area of responsibility]," he said. "Other [exercises] that are still in the planning phases will be planned accordingly."

Annual spring and summer exercises in the region, which typically involve thousands of troops, include Saber Strike, led by the U.S. Army in Europe, and United States Naval Forces Europe's Baltic Operations, or BALTOPS.

"Right now, we're following SecDef's guidance," Hontz said. "Anything we're planning to do in the future, we will let our [communities] know."

The virus had already spread to NATO headquarters in Brussels from Italy ahead of an address to the nation Wednesday by Trump announcing restrictions on travel from Europe, but the alliance echoed the Pentagon in stressing that readiness to defend member states would not be affected.

In a statement Monday, NATO said that a staff member returning from a holiday in northern Italy had come down with a fever and tested positive for COVID-19. The staffer is in isolation at home, and other staff members who had come in contact with the infected individual are working from home, NATO said.

Also Monday, Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of U.S. Army Europe, and several members of his staff reported that they were working remotely as a precaution after they may have been exposed to the coronavirus at a recent conference, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said.

"Out of an abundance of caution," Cavoli and his staff are "self-monitoring" while continuing to carry out their duties, McCarthy said in a statement.

Trump's announcement Wednesday night of a 30-day ban on travel to the U.S. from Europe and a ban on cargo coming from Europe sowed confusion.

The president quickly went on Twitter after the address to clarify that cargo from Europe is not banned and the travel ban does not apply to Americans and U.S. permanent residents.

The direct effects of the coronavirus on U.S. service members, dependents, Defense Department civilians and defense contractors thus far has been minimal compared to civilian populations, but the epidemic has forced limitations on travel by the military and the cancellation of several joint military exercises.

On Tuesday, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state announced that a service member assigned to base and the service member's spouse had tested positive for coronavirus and are isolating at their home off-base.

At a Pentagon briefing later Tuesday, Air Force Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, the Joint Staff surgeon, said the cases at JBLM brought the total number of confirmed cases among DoD personnel, dependents and defense contractors to at least 11.

Friedrichs said that all infected personnel are doing well but cautioned that COVID-19 could be more widespread in the ranks among individuals who have not yet shown symptoms.

"We're still learning how easy it is to spread this," he said. "Yes, absolutely, it could be more [cases]."

-- Chiara Vercellone of Medill News Service contributed to this report.

-- Matthew Cox contributed to this report.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214.

Read more: Some Military Travel Restrictions Now Global with New CDC Guidance
Photo: The Canadian Press 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

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."
The Advisory Board will be created after consultations with the representatives of the OSCE, France and Germany

In Minsk, at the talks of the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas Conflict settlement, the sides agreed on the opening of two new checkpoints and creation of the Advisory Board as the Presidents Office reported on Telegram.

In Minsk, another meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas Conflict settlement took place, Head of the Presidents Office Andriy Yermak and Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Russia Dmitry Kozak participated in it, the message said.

Besides the issue of the prisoners' swap and the disengagement of forces, the sides also agreed on the opening of two new checkpoints in Zolote and Shchastya and the creation of the Advisory Board in the composition of the political task group.

The Advisory Board will be created after consultations with the representatives of the OSCE, France and Germany concerning the fulfillment of the agreements reached during the Normandy Format summit.

Earlier, Dmitry Kozak reported that the contact group in Minsk has a week to determine people for exchange between Ukraine and occupied Donbas and the areas for disengagement of forces.

According to TASS, representative of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic in the political task group Rodin Miroshnyk stated that first time ever, on the results of the session of the Contact Group, the commitments of the sides were enshrined in the final protocol of the meeting and it was passed to the OSCE secretariat. It clearly describes the commitments of the sides of the so-called Donbas republics and Kyiv, which should be implemented in a very limited period of time.
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, greets Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with a playful elbow bump (PA)

The US Speaker has praised the friendship between her nation and Ireland as brilliant.

Dressed in green ahead of St Patricks Day, Nancy Pelosi made the remark as she welcomed Irelands premier Leo Varadkar to the Capitol.

President Donald Trump was invited to attend the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon event but said at an earlier press conference that he was busy and had other things to do.

It was a pleasure to welcome Prime Minister @LeoVaradkar to the U.S. Capitol today to honor the strong relationship between the people of Ireland and the United States. pic.twitter.com/ut4wO8DRVJ  Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) March 12, 2020

It comes after long-running tensions between Mr Trump and Ms Pelosi.

The guest list for the luncheon included Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, Democratic Unionist Party MP Ian Paisley and Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken.

Ms Pelosi extended a welcome to all of the guests in brief remarks before inviting Mr Varadkar to address the gathering.

Ian Paisley MP at the Speakers luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington DC during the Taoiseachs visit to the US (Niall Carson/PA)

We are coming together at a challenging time globally  but we are coming together at a time where the friendship between our two countries is so brilliant, she said.

It is an honour to welcome the Taoiseach once again to the Capitol to return some of the hospitality he extended to us on our trip to Ireland.

In his address, Mr Varadkar referred to the friendship between the two countries as an historic bond that goes back centuries.

Congressman Richard Neal (left) and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, applauding Taoiseach Leo Varadkars speech (Niall Carson/PA)

He referred to recent changes in Ireland, including the recent inconclusive general election which left him as a caretaker Taoiseach in the wait for a new government to be agreed, as well as the resumption of power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.

But he said the impact of coronavirus reminds us that we, humans, are not masters of our world.

This is a problem that is global, he said.

The virus knows no borders and we all have to work together to combat it.

Mr Varadkar added that three things will remain the same, Irelands commitment to staying at the heart of the European Union and at the centre of EU-US relations, facing challenges together in a spirit of partnership and protecting the achievement of peace.

Whatever lies ahead, we will protect the achievements of the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. Thank you for sharing this determination, he added.
Stefan_Alfonzo/iStock(WASHINGTON) -- President Trump on Thursday continued to project optimism about the coronavirus crisis a day after his controversial speech to the nation and imposing travel ban on much of Europe, saying thats its going to work out well for everybody.



I think its going to work out well for everybody, but its a world problem. You do need separations in some cases. You have some areas that are heavily infected and some areas that are not. But we do need separation for a little bit of a time in some cases, he said during an Oval Office photo op with Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.



When questioned about the effectiveness of the new travel restrictions, given that Americans could still bring back the virus under the new ban, he said there will be testing and heavy enforcement of quarantines



It they are positive  we're not putting them on planes if it shows positive. But if they are, if they do come here, we're quarantining. It's going to be a pretty strong enforcement of quarantine, Trump said.



Emphasizing the importance of separation, the president said of the pandemic, The really important thing  it goes away, its going away. We want it to go away with very, very few deaths.



Asked about European Union leaders upset at not being told about the travel restrictions beforehand, the president said he had to move quickly and compared the decision not to consult with Europeans raising taxes on the U.S.



We had to make a decision, and I didnt want to take time, it takes a long time to make the individual calls and we are calling. We have spoken to some of them prior to, but we had to move quickly. When they raise taxes on us, they don't consult us, Trump said.



Questioned about the negative economic impact from the travel ban, the president said its a price worth paying to help blunt the spread of the virus.



It will be a big impact but it is a bigger impact and it is also a human impact which is more important than financial, when you lose thousands of additional lives, Trump said.



He said its possible the travel restrictions to Europe would need to be extended but its also possible it could end ahead of the 30-day period if things go well.



Asked whether he plans to invoke a national emergency under authorities granted him in the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the president said he will do what he needs to do but wouldnt reveal if and when he plans to exercise those authorities.



We have strong emergency powers under the staffer act. I have it memorized practically. If I need to do something I will do it. I have the right to do a lot of things that people don't know about it, Trump said.



Well, I don't want to say that, Trump said when asked if he will take any immediate action but said there are some minor things at this point that he might act on.



He said there is a possibility that at some point there would be travel restrictions imposed within U.S. boundaries but didnt elaborate on the hypothetical.



Despite the fact that the figure of infected individuals continues to climb in the U.S. and that the U.S. has lagged in rolling out widespread testing, especially compared to countries such as South Korea, the president insisted that the U.S. is in great shape.



We are in great shape compares to other places. We are in good shape and we want to keep it that way. That's why I did the ban with respect to Europe, the president claimed.



Questioned about the case of one emergency doctor who struggled to get a coronavirus test for a patient, the president claimed testing going very smoothly and said were very much ahead of everything.



This is a brand-new thing that just happened, Trump said defensively. Millions are being produced. If you go back and look at the swine flu and what happened with the swine flu, you will see how many people died and how actually nothing was done for such a long period of time as people were dying all over the place. We're doing it the opposite. We're very much ahead of everything.



The president said he would look into the case cited but emphasized that its just one case and said there are other examples of efficient testing.



The president and the Irish prime minister did not shake hands in their meeting, Trump said, with the two politicians making light of the awkwardness of not doing so.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Coronavirus could have a devastating impact on the local economy and potentially lead to business closures in Derry, a local councillor has warned.

The comments were made at Tuesdays meeting of Derry City & Strabane District Councils Business and Culture Committee after a decision had been made earlier in the day to cancel the St. Patricks Day parade.

SDLP Councillor Shauna Cusack, put forward a proposal in relation to coronavirus which she said will affect the city and district and have implications for local businesses.

She added that it is central governments duty to protect peoples jobs during this period of uncertainty.

This could result in job losses and business closures, Cllr Cusack said. She proposed writing to the Executive, particularly the Finance Minister, to seek funding for small and medium sized enterprises as a matter of urgency.

Her party colleague, Rory Farrell, seconded the proposal for a contingency fund saying that coronavirus will have a devastating impact on health and the economy.

This week in the South of Ireland a 3 billion euros relief fund was announced to assist the health service, help at-risk businesses and to change the rules around sick pay for those who need to self-isolate. Cllr Farrell suggested a similar package was needed in NI.

Sinn Fein Councillor Sandra Duffy believed it better to broaden the proposal to contact all relevant ministers and the British Treasury for a corona relief fund, particularly to protect workers on zero-hour contracts.

It should be coming from the Treasury as Stormont budgets are already under severe pressure.

A temporary VAT reduction was also sought for the tourism and hospitality products to mitigate against the financial impacts of coronavirus. Those amendments were supported by councillors.

People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson should be immediately called on for an emergency relief fund and if he dilly dallies then Stormont must act.

People on zero-hour contracts and the gig economy need protected, it should include mortgage relief and it needs to be coordinated North and South. Businesses shouldnt be allowed to dictate the response to this, he added.

Meanwhile, DUP Councillor Graham Warke said they have to plan for the worst and work for the best. He questioned why the Council was sending another letter to Stormont as we have ministers who can raise these issues.

The person at the sorting office on the Strand Road must be up to their eyes, he said.

A council official provided an update on the coronavirus and said serious meetings will be taking place next week where decisions will be informed by the latest information available. Decisions will be taken in an appropriate and timely manner, he explained.

Cllr Duffy thanked council officers who have been working hard to organise the St. Patricks Day festival for the past year. The decision wasnt taken lightly but on best advice.

Her sentiment was echoed by Cllr Farrell who described St. Patricks Day as one of the highlights on the Derry calendar. He concurred that the right decision was made as public safety is of primary concern and hoped that other events would not have to be cancelled.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the proposal.
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: The Shaheen Bagh model protest in Athupalam, Coimbatore, against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been decided to be halted for five days.

The indefinite protest in the open space adjacent to the Irshadul Islam Shafia Sunnath Jamath mosque in Coimbatore began on February 19th, organised by various Islamic organisations and Muslim-centric parties.

Modelled after Delhis Shaheen Bagh protest, the protestors have been chanting slogans against CAA and waving the tricolour flag.

Earlier, the protestors had said that the agitation would be continued with same vigour until the Centre repealed the CAA, which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.
By PTI

BRASILIA: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's communications chief, who met Donald Trump last weekend at his Florida resort, has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the government said Thursday.

Fabio Wajngarten, chief spokesman for the Brazilian government, traveled with Bolsonaro last Saturday to Tuesday to the United States, where the far-right leader -- who has been dubbed a "Tropical Trump" -- met with his US counterpart.

Wajngarten, who posted a picture to his Instagram account that shows him side-by-side with Trump, developed flu-like symptoms and tested positive for the virus that has become a global pandemic, the Brazilian presidency said in a statement.

Trump said he was unconcerned, and downplayed his contact with "the press aide," apparently referring to Wajngarten.

"I did hear something about that. We had dinner together in Florida, in Mar-a-Lago, with the entire delegation. I don't know if the press aide was there. If he was there, he was there. But we did nothing very unusual," he said.

ALSO READ | No need for COVID-19 test for Donald Trump: White House

"Let me put it this way, I'm not concerned." Brazilian media reports said Bolsonaro had also been tested for the virus.

Newspaper O Globo reported that the US embassy in Brasilia had contacted the Brazilian government for information on Wajngarten's test.

The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.

The Brazilian president's office "has taken and is taking all necessary preventive measures to protect the health of the president and all staff that traveled with him to the United States," it said in a statement.

"This is because one of the officials in the group, Presidential Communications Secretary Fabio Wajngarten, is infected with the new coronavirus, COVID-19, as confirmed by a second test that was recently carried out." Bolsonaro, an admirer of Trump, met the US president at a lunch on Saturday.

After the meeting, Wajngarten posted a picture of himself standing next to Trump and wearing a hat reading "Make Brazil Great Again." In the picture, Trump, who is holding a similar hat, is standing next to Vice President Mike Pence.
Contributed photo

STAMFORD  A Norwalk man who pleaded guilty to two stabbings was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday.

Angel Mejia-Villalba, 33, stood before Judge Bruce Hudock and expressed his remorse while speaking through a Spanish-speaking interpreter. Mejia-Villalba, who said he was very drunk during the fights during which he stabbed two men, had earlier pleaded guilty to single counts of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and failure to appear in court.
A coronavirus chart shared by New York State on Thursday incorrectly identified Broome County as having a confirmed case of COVID-19, officials said.

The Broome County executive and Health Department director held a press conference Thursday afternoon to correct the record. They said there has not been a positive test in Broome County, despite the inclusion on the chart by New York state.

Broome County as of yesterday was testing two people for coronavirus, said Rebecca Kaufman, the countrys health director. One of those tests came back negative and another is still pending, Kaufman said.

County Executive Jason Garnar said he did not have all the details as to why the error occurred. The positive test actually occurred in a different county, Garnar said. The patient, who lived in the different county, is also currently under quarantine there, Garnar said. He did not name the other county.

This is a very fast-moving event that is occurring, Garnar said. Sometimes information is going to be put out incorrectly.

Garnar said Broome County had been in touch with state officials and verified with them that the information on the chart presented earlier in the day was incorrect.

Garnar said that while the error was frustrating, he didnt believe any significant harm had been done. He applauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo generally for his transparency and rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic.

There are NO confirmed COVID-19 cases in Broome County. The state incorrectly identified a positive case that actually occurred in a DIFFERENT county. The patient is currently living in that other county & is quarantined there.



Again, there are NO confirmed cases in Broome Co.  Jason Garnar (@jasongarnar) March 12, 2020

According to Broome County officials, two people in the county are currently under precautionary self-isolation.

Garnar said he and other county officials were bracing for the time when, not if," Broome County gets its first positive case.

Broome County on Thursday opened an emergency operation center," with 30 dedicated staff to respond and prepare for the coronavirus spreading to the region.

Garnar said his team has even practiced for how it will release information once the first case occurs in the county.

We would like to be the people to discuss that first, he said.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

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Chair of the National Red Cross Society, Margareta of Romania, has urged people to calm and reason amid an increasing number of cases of infection with the novel coronavirus, pointing out that that together we are a force capable of overcoming this health threat.

"We are all disturbed by the rapid spread of this condition, unknown so far. But I want to urge our citizens to be calm and rational. At this time, we need to show care for our neighbour, be responsible and, above all, to comply with the medical advice of the relevant authorities. Together, we are a force capable of overcoming this threat to our health," Margareta says in a message.According to the Crown Custodian, "In these troubling times to each of us and our families, the Romanian Red Cross is in permanent collaboration with central and local administrations, providing logistical, human and material support to strengthen Romania's response to the threat of the novel coronavirus ( COVID-19).""The Romanian Red Cross is conducting a national public information campaign to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus across Romania. Thanks to our volunteers, the information materials have arrived in the urban and rural areas, and the campaign is also running online. I want to thank the thousands of volunteers of the Red Cross, of whom I am very proud. At the same time, we have made requests to donors and partners, so that the personal care products can reach as many people or institutions in need as possible. We are glad of our partners' prompt response," says Margareta.She also shows that Red Cross leaders assist the population in self-isolation or isolation, by providing basic food packages and personal care packages, according to emergency rules and standards."Through a joint effort, these days, one million medical face masks will arrive in the country and will be distributed by the Romanian Red Cross to public institutions, schools, foster homes, elderly homes and in spaces with large crowds," says Margareta.
Crossings Toyota Naas on the Sallins Road are hosting a two day Hybrid information and test drive event in their showroom on the Sallins Road this weekend, on Saturday 12 and 14 March.

This event will provide lots of information on the new trend sweeping through the motor industry with Hybrid experts on site to answer all your Hybrid related questions. They will have all the Toyota hybrid vehicles on display and available for test drive, including Irelands Best Selling car - the Corolla Saloon, Hatchback, Touring Sport, Yaris, Rav4, Camry, Prius and the brand new 2020 C-HR.

This is a free event but appointments are recommended to make sure you can secure a Test Drive in the Toyota Hybrid model of your choice. If you have questions about mild vs full hybrid and how they compare to EV  then come along and learn all the advantages of choosing Hybrid  Lower maintenance costs, fuel efficiency, and low emissions with studies showing that over 60% of all Hybrid drives are made in EV mode- meaning Zero emissions.

Commenting on the event and the recent success of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid returning as best selling car in January 2020, Liam Fitzpatrick, Dealer Principal of Crossings Toyota Naas commented Were delighted to see the success of Hybrid in Kildare and the return of the Corolla to the Top Spot. If you want to learn more about our Hybrid range then pop in and speak to one of our Hybrid Experts.

"Organise a 24 hour test drive in your favourite model with one of our friendly team and see if Hybrid is the right choice for you. This event is to answer any questions people may have about Hybrid and allow them to experience the models first hand. We look forward to seeing you there.

The Crossings showroom is easily located off the M7 and offers customers an immersive experience, encompassing a combination of physical, human and digital touch points which will guide the customer through the showroom. Take the opportunity to design your dream car using the Toyota car configurator and choose your fabric and paint selection at our Design your Car  Touch and Feel Wall.

One of the few Toyota Dealerships with an in-house Business Manager  Aaron Dunney, who can tailor a finance package to suit your needs and your budget. Competitive APRs staring from 3% mean that financing your car using Toyota Finance Services as a convenient and cost-effective way to purchase. Crossings Toyota Naas have also introduced a 0% deposit offer  running until the 31 March, so there has never been a better time to choose Hybrid.

The team at Crossings Toyota Naas would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone to call in to their Toyota Showroom on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March for the Hybrid Information and Test Drive Event and to discover just exactly what a Hybrid is.

Have all your Hybrid questions answered in a warm and welcoming environment and experience the Hybrid Advantage for yourself at Crossings Toyota on the Sallins Road.
There is a growing acceptance within Whitehall and No 10 that large numbers of the public are going to be infected with coronavirus  the attempt at containment has failed.

The governments strategy has shifted and is now focused on marshalling the resources of the entire government machinery and the NHS in to coping with what could be an unprecedented surge in demand for critical care.

But while some European countries have moved to ban large gatherings and close schools, the UK government has held back from such measures. Why?

One answer is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction and the governments science advisers are weighing up the impact of closing schools versus the inevitable impact on parents, some of whom may be doctors and nurses, who may have to stay home to look after their children.

This brings huge economic impact.

Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Show all 10 1 /10 Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A man wearing a face mask crosses a road in Wuhan, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Reuters Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A view of the empty entrance to the UniversitA Cattolica (Catholic University) in Milan, northern Italy, on 24 February, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Empty streets in Daegu, South Korea, on 23 February 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A lone sanitation worker sits near the closed Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on February 24, 2020. Reuters Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A view of a deserted street in Codogno, northern Italy, on February 23, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty Italian police officers set a road block in Codogno, Northern Italy, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. AP Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A supermarket closed in Codogno, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown, on February 23, 2020. EPA Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty A lone cyclist wearing sanitary masks pedals in the center of Codogno, Northern Italy. LaPresse via AP Coronavirus: Streets around world left empty An empty road at the entrance of the small Italian town of Codogno on February 23, 2020. AFP via Getty

In addition the closure of schools does not guarantee children will not still congregate and spread the virus anyway, only in an environment where there will not be repeated warnings to wash their hands.

Ministers have also weighed up the options on banning mass gatherings of people. Theyve resisted this so far on the basis it is unlikely people will infect large numbers at, for example, an open air event. Even if gatherings were cancelled, people might still mix and congregate.

In comings weeks, we may see restrictions on indoor events and gatherings of fewer than 1,000 people where there is a greater risk.

Officials today suggested as many as 10,000 people could already be infected with coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases in the UK jumped by 134 in a day.

Holding back the tide is no longer seen as an option and indeed the idea that the UK population could now be protected from the virus is seen as unrealistic among senior health figures.

As more detail emerges about the crisis in Italys intensive care services, where there are large numbers of seriously ill patients, the dominant concern within the UK government is preventing the collapse of the health service.

It is not true to say the evidence dictates one way or the other how things will develop. The coronavirus epidemic is an unknown and the science of epidemiology can only help so much.

The government is as much in the dark as the rest of us.

The controlling fear within Whitehall is no longer how to prevent the disease spreading within the UK  that is a certainty. It is how the Department of Health and NHS England cope with the demand for intensive care beds and specialist respiratory care.

Chief nurses have been warned to expect a several-fold increase in intensive treatment unit demand and NHS bosses are working round the clock on plans to find as much spare capacity as they can.

This is likely to include large-scale cancellation of non-urgent hospital surgeries as well as using private hospital bed capacity, redeploying nurses and doctors and volunteers to care for patients in makeshift intensive care wards and bringing back recent retirees.

While the government is talking about delay, many in Whitehall are already at the mitigation phase and aiming to lessen as much as they can the consequences of this newly declared pandemic.
Kaleeswaram Raj By

On March 6, a Supreme Court Bench consisting of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari declined to entertain a plea seeking guidelines for registration of criminal cases for sedition. The petition made a specific reference to an incident in Karnataka where a sedition case was framed against a few in charge of a school for staging a play. Many such cases have been filed across the country in recent times. Some of them relate to putting up banners or raising political slogans.

Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with the offence of sedition. It is a colonial provision. By virtue of Article 372 of the Constitution it continued to govern the citizens of India, as it was not repealed. Its misuse has been rampant. Its history is curious. Prior to Independence, it was invoked against Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo, Annie Besant and Abul Kalam Azad, among others. In the great trial of 1922, Gandhiji said about the legal provision: I know that some of the most loved of Indias patriots have been convicted under it. I consider it to be a privilege, therefore, to be charged under that section. Though Nehru criticised the provision as highly objectionable and obnoxious, at no point of time did the Congress-led Centre think of repealing it. During unjust political situations, illiberal regimes misused the law against their own citizens and the saga continues even now.

According to the provision, words or signs or visible representations that bring in hatred or contempt towards the government amount to the offence of sedition. The maximum punishment is imprisonment for life. So the laws very vocabulary has a draconian effect, as it indicates that even a criticism of the government could be branded as seditious. The provision, on the face of it, is intimidating and undemocratic.

However, in Kedar Nath Singh (1962), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the provision with a significant rider that comments, however strongly worded, expressing disapprobation of actions of the government, without exciting those feelings which generate the inclination to cause public disorder by acts of violence, would not be penal.

The court emphasised that even a stringent criticism, written or spoken, will be outside the scope of the section. The accused in that case was a leader of the Forward Communist Party, who spoke about revolution that would establish a government of the poor and the downtrodden in India. In Balwant Singh (1995), the top court said that a casual raising of a slogan like Khalistan Zindabad, without any other act, cannot attract the charge of sedition. Bilal Ahmed Kaloo (1997) said that existence of an overt act is the decisive ingredient of the offence.

The emerging legal position is that when there is no incitement to violence, there is no offence of sedition. Certain statements or remarks by themselves cannot make out an offence unless they create disorder or have the pernicious tendency to create public disorder, to use the phrase in Kedar Nath.

This writer has argued even earlier that the provision as such had to be scrapped by the top court or repealed by the legislature. There is an ostensible ambivalence in Kedar Nath, as it abundantly warns against the dangers of textual reading and motivated invocation of the provision by the police or the government of the day.

The judgment relied on the British genesis of the sedition law, whereas even in Britain, the law was abolished in 2010, as it was found unsustainable in the light of the Human Rights Act, 1998. In countries like New Zealand, the US, Canada and Australia, sedition law has either been abolished or put to disuse. In Nigeria, the provision was judicially struck down in Arthur Nwankwo (1985) . The Indian law on sedition is also dangerously overbroad and capable of trapping the innocent and so vulnerable to constitutional scrutiny. Again, other provisions in the penal code dealing with offences against the state are adequate to achieve the object of protection of sovereignty. Sections 121, 121A and 122 of the IPC deal with the offence of waging war against the government of India. And there are special enactments to deal with terrorism and other anti-national activities.

As such, the provision is a dangerous and risky addition, even from the states point of view. Reports say that 48 cases of sedition were registered in 2014 and the number rose to 70 in 2018. There is reason to think that the trend got further accelerated thereafter. During the four years since 2015, though 191 cases for sedition were filed, trials were concluded only in 43 among them, leading to only four convictions. This revelation by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is testimony to the laws humiliating track record. During the UPA regime, in 2011, hundreds of activists who protested against the nuclear power plant at Kudankulam were booked for sedition.

In the famous decision in Texas v Johnson (1989), the US Supreme Court said that even the right to burn the US national flag falls within the ambit of free speech, for, in the words of Justice Anthony Kennedy, it is poignant but fundamental that the flag protects those who hold it in contempt. India, on the other hand, requires a minimum guarantee that those who are on the streets, saluting the national flag and holding the Constitution in their hands are not labelled as culprits. Mark Twain has put it in perspective: Loyalty to the country always; loyalty to the government, when it deserves it.

KALEESWARAM RAJ

Lawyer, Supreme Court of India Email: kaleeswaramraj@gmail.com
Maluma recently joined a long list of artists postponing shows over coronavirus concerns.

But the Colombian artist still managed to enjoy a romantic outing during his performances in Greece.

He was spotted Wednesday putting on a loved-up display with girlfriend Vivien Rubin in Greece.

Romantic outing: Maluma was spotted Wednesday putting on a romantic display with girlfriend Vivien Rubin in Greece

The 26-year-old sported a white printed Gucci sweatshirt with slim jeans and beige Nike high-tops.

He wrapped his arm around Rubin, 27, who put on a busty display in a white zip-up bustier, paired with a black leather moto jacket.

The Russian model completed the ensemble with skintight black leather leggings and white high-tops.

The couple was first romantically linked back in January, following his split from girlfriend Natalia Barulich.

Gucci vibes: The 26-year-old sported a white printed Gucci sweatshirt with slim jeans and beige Nike high-tops

Leather queen: He cozied up to Rubin, 27, who put on a busty display in a white zip-up bustier, paired with a black leather moto jacket

Taking the stage: Maluma was set to perform later that night at Peace and Friendship Stadium in the nearby Piraeus

Maluma posted to his Instagram story earlier in the day with a selfie in front of his gorgeous waterfront view.

He was set to perform later that night at Peace and Friendship Stadium in the nearby Piraeus.

The 11:11 artist recently postponed his March 7 show in Milan to March 31, amid the coronavirus outbreak in Italy.

He announced on his Instagram story: 'At the moment, it is the only concert we are going to postpone in Europe.'

Italy has recently gone into lockdown over the outbreak of COVID-19, temporarily closing all nonessential commercial businesses.
General Secretary of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Murtala Mohammed, has cautioned NDC and NPP members to stop playing with the emotions of Ghanaians and tell them the truth about petroleum prices.



He says even though the truth hurts it is better to disclose it at an early stage than to conceal it with sweet talk.



Discussing a statement by the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Hassan Tampuli that per their calculations, fuel prices may be reduced by 15% on March 15, 2020, during the next pricing window, the PPP communicator during a panel discussion on UTVs Adekye Nsroma political discussion show rubbished it.



Stop talking about reduction in petroleum products since you can't do anything about it . . . but if you insist let us see and feel it as citizens for the current economic conditions are not the best, he said.



He further explained that the petroleum prices have been deregulated in such a way that no government in power can subsidize it unless by the power of parliament.



If there is something a government can do on petroleum products then it is to reduce taxes placed on petroleum products, but I know they [government in power] will not do this, but keep deceiving Ghanaians to keep their hopes high, he added.



Listen to him in the video below





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Broadway shows had been going on as scheduled amid of the spread of the coronavirus, but now the pandemic has come closer to home for the theater industry. According to the New York Times, a Broadway usher has tested positive for COVID-19. The usher worked last week at the Booth Theatre, currently home to a revival of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf starring Laurie Metcalf, and before that managed lines at the Brooks Atkinson Theater, home to Six, the pop musical about Henry VIIIs wives. According to the Times, the usher is now quarantined, and both shows are expected to continue as scheduled.

Last evening, we were notified that a part-time employee of both organizations has tested positively for COVID-19 (Cornonavirus), the Shubert Organization, which operates the Booth, and the Nederlander Organization, which operates the Brooks Atkinson, said in a joint statement. Immediately upon learning of the positive test, both organizations began taking every step necessary to ensure the safety of our audiences, performers, crew, and building staff.

The individual, who is currently under quarantine, most recently worked at the Shuberts Booth Theater on Tuesday, March 3rd through Friday, March 6th as an usher. As a result, a deep cleaning, following all current government standards, has been completed at the Booth Theater, the organizations said. The employee also recently worked at the Nederlanders Brooks Atkinson Theater on the evening of February 25th and the matinee of March 1st, expediting lines outside the building. Out of an abundance of caution, a deep cleaning is currently scheduled to take place overnight at the Brooks Atkinson Theater.

The statement continues:

Leadership of both organizations have been in contact with the State of New York, as well as the City of New York, and we are closely following all protocols related to containment and prevention. We are exercising necessary due caution with all our employees and the public. Employees of the theaters and productions who may have been exposed were notified and advised to monitor their health diligently and follow best practices related to personal hygiene, as well as directed to stay at home if they are ill. In addition, we are urging any high-risk audience members who attended these performances in the past several days to follow similar guidance. This evenings performances of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf at the Booth, Six at the Brooks Atkinson, and all other Broadway shows have determined they will continue as scheduled. Any ticketholder that prefers to attend a future performance of Virginia Woolf or Six will be provided the opportunity for an exchange at the point of purchase. Our teams are continuing to monitor and address the situation in real time, and will provide updates as appropriate. Among the many reasons that Broadway is unique is the connection between our audiences, the performers, and the women and men who work on the production teams and within our theaters. We are committed to making sure this never changes, and we will continue to provide a safe and special experience for all involved.

Broadway has so far kept its doors open as the coronvirus continues to spread. The Broadway League has instituted several health and safety measures, encouraged those with flulike symptoms to stay home, and recommended that shows stop their stage door policies for the time being. Some productions, Virginia Woolf among them, have also slashed their ticket prices in response to the news. Elsewhere in the country and around world, governments have instituted bans on mass gatherings, such as in Washington, D.C., which recently declared a state of emergency.
ALBANY  Train trips, flights and even bus rides weren't immune to the turmoil caused by the spread of COVID-19. At week's end, travel agents were busy re-booking European vacations for their clients after President Trump suspended travel from most countries in Europe to the United States.

On Saturday, the United Kingdom and Ireland were added to the list.

The ban doesn't apply to U.S. citizens or their family members, Politico reported. Vice President Mike Pence said the ban was to begin Monday at midnight, according to the Washington Post.

Airlines were cutting capacity, among them Delta, which said it planned a 40 percent cutback. But early indications suggested that service was relatively unaffected at Albany International Airport, although it wasn't immediately clear how full those flights might be.

Meanwhile, America's largest airports were struggling over the weekend, as hours-long waits were reported at airports like Chicago O'Hare, as customs agents were asking each international fliers questions and taking their temperatures.

For train travel, Amtrak said that beginning Sunday, Amtrak's Maple Leaf service would only operate between New York City and Niagara Falls, N.Y., while Adirondack service would only operate between New York City and Albany. The Maple Leaf, which serves the Capital Region, normally travels to Toronto, while the Adirondack normally serves Montreal.

The passenger railroad cited reduced demand for the curtailments. It wasn't immediately clear whether Amtrak would provide alternate transportation beyond Niagara Falls and Albany.

Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams said future bookings on Empire Corridor trains through the Capital Region and upstate New York were down 50 percent from a year earlier, while cancellations had jumped three-fold.

At Albany International Airport, "we know anecdotally traffic at the (security) checkpoint is down, but we don't have any numbers," airport spokesman Doug Myers told the Times Union.

And Trailways had canceled nearly two dozen trips throughout eastern New York from Friday through Sunday, although a spokesperson couldn't immediately be reached for comment. Greyhound said it hadn't canceled trips but was offering travelers a free re-booking, with conditions.

The Capital District Transportation Authority was a rare bright spot. Spokeswoman Jaime Watson said it hadn't seen a drop off in riders.

"Our ridership has been fairly stable," she said Thursday evening. "Year to year, we're up a bit."

The transit authority was taking extra steps to clean and disinfect buses. So-called "deep cleans" that previously were done every 14 days now are being performed every three days, she said.

Bus operators are being supplied with cleaning supplies, gloves and hand sanitizers, she added. "We are going to be increasing cleaning out on the road as well," she said.

CDTA had planned extra service to accommodate the 15,000 basketball fans next weekend for the NCAA playoffs. "Now ... that is not happening," Watson said.

And the abrupt end to classes at area colleges and universities also has CDTA considering reductions in its universal access service. The authority likely will go to a summer schedule.

"There's no final determination," Watson said. "We're taking it case by case."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Third COVID-19 case reported in Saratoga County

Albany cancels St. Patrick's Day parade amid coronavirus diagnoses

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Trump's announcement of a 30-day suspension of flights from most European countries except the United Kingdom, beginning Friday  the U.K. and Ireland joined the list Saturday afternoon  caught travel agents by surprise, said Jean Gagnon of Plaza Travel in Latham.

"Most airlines, hotels and tour operators are being exceedingly reasonable" in accommodating travelers, including those with nonrefundable tickets, she said. "Everyone's trying to work with this situation."

The airline industry has been hit hard, first with suspension of service to China and other Asian destinations, and now with European flight suspensions. The International Air Transport Association earlier this month estimated the impact could cost the industry as much as $113 billion.

The virus is spreading at a time when families are making summer vacation plans or spring getaways, and as college students head out on spring break.

For many students, it appeared this week might be the last time they're in class this school year, as colleges move to suspend classroom instruction and move it online.
He informed the diplomatic community on steps being taken by the Federal Government to tackle the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
I know its contagious, but why do we need people to tell you to wash your hands and sanitize  that is just normal, Victoria Roldan, 62, said after she stopped at Starbucks for her morning coffee. I think people are losing their faith in God. . . . I am not saying you should not take care of yourself, but I really believe we are making it a bigger deal than it is.
TOKYOLegendary fisting star Trent Bloom is back with Axel Abysse for the latters newest release, Do Not Disturb.

Do Not Disturb is a stylized crude amateur hotel hookup between Bloom and first-time porn amateur Chicago kinkster FlyBoyChi.

The scene debuts Friday, March 13, on AxelAbysse.com.

No bling, no pretending and far from the studios, the hotel room fisting session marks the latest edition of Abysses project Axel Abysse Presents, where the acclaimed fisting and kink master brings back his favorite and most popular fisting play buddies in exclusive encounters with each other and upcoming models.

Trent Bloom is a luminary in the fisting community who made a recent comeback in Abysses Carnage series after a 10-year hiatus from porn modeling. A fisting enthusiast since his teenage years with his first boyfriend, a struggle with life-threatening lymphoma left him a changed man, unafraid of taking healthy risks and challenges. At that point shooting on-camera porn was not a big deal, and also a chance to turn other young guys on to the joys of fisting. Though his initial porn career lasted only a few years he became an inspiration to a new generation.

In Do Not Disturb, Bloom takes a fist from young first-time model FlyBoyChi. Chicago-based world traveler Michael has a pretty boy face paired with filthy pig hands. As an avid lover of music, opera and all things wrecked, he has traveled the world making deep fisting connections (pun intended).

In his debut with the legend, he revels in a chance to get down, deep and filthy with the one and only.

Trent Bloom is huge, in so many ways, FlyBoyChi said. I hate to say I grew up watching him, but I really did. He opened my eyes to the beauty, the filthiness and hotness of fisting and to get to play with him, especially my first time shooting, was a joy. What I liked the most about Trent was that even though hes such a big name, hes humble, so sweet, sexy and engaging.

Abysse describes the unpolished, unforced ambiance of Do Not Disturb as a crude amateur aesthetic with the Abysse touch in the editing. Its pure joy and real anal destruction. And Trent takes double punches like no one else.

The new scene has its debut on AxelAbysse.com on March 13.

Visit Zbuckz for affiliate details; direct inquiries to [email protected].
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tom Hanks, one of Hollywoods biggest stars, and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Oscar-winning actor, who began his career at Clevelands Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in the 1970s, is in Australia working with director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) on a movie about Elvis Presley. Hanks confirmed the diagnosis Wednesday night on Twitter.

We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches, 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, he posted.

"Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

Well keep the world posted and updated, he wrote. "Take care of yourselves!

Hanks and Wilson are both 63 years old.

The news, first reported by Deadline, came as President Donald Trump addressed the nation about the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, including instituting a travel ban from Europe to the United States for 30 days. Within the same hour, the NBA announced it was suspending the season after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for COVID-19.

Earlier Wednesday, the World Health Organization classified the crisis as a pandemic.
Colombian authorities say they have arrested a cell of elite Venezuelan police agents who were allegedly spying and plotting attacks against members of the Venezuelan opposition throughout Colombia.

The targets reportedly included a Venezuelan congressman who opposes that country's president, Nicolas Maduro.

Members of Colombia's Border Counterintelligence Battalion and the Colombia Migration Judicial Police arrested Alejandro Olivares, Wilnelmary Lourdes Callejas Navas and Herierv Jose Borja Pirona during an operation that was carried out in the province of Cudinamarca on Wednesday.

Colombian newspaper El Tiempo first reported the arrests.

Officials said Olivares, Callejas Navas and Borja Pirona are all members of Special Action Force of the Venezuelan National Police [FAES], which was created by Maduro in 2017.

The FAES has been accused by the United Nations and the opposition of carrying out killings under orders of the Maduro regime.

Wilnelmary Lourdes Callejas Navas (left), Alejandro Olivares (center) and Herierv Jose Borja Pirona (right) were apprehended by the Colombia's Border Counterintelligence Battalion and the Colombia Migration Judicial Police during an operation Wednesday

Herierv Jose Borja Pirona (second from left), Wilnelmary Lourdes Callejas Navas (third from right) and Alejandro Olivares (second from right) were turned over by Colombian authorities to their Venezuelan counterparts Wednesday

President Nicolas Maduro created the Special Action Force of the Venezuelan National Police [FAES] in 2017. Three of its members formed part of a cell that was discovered in Colombia in January and were reportedly spying on congressman Hernan Aleman, a staunch opponent of Maduro, who they planned to attack

The three FAES members were reportedly detected in January by Colombia's Border Counterintelligence Battalion after the agency received reports that the group was attempting to carry out attacks against Venezuelan military members who had fled to Bogota.

Led by Olivares, Callejas Navas and Borja Pirona, they were reportedly spying on congressman Hernan Aleman, a staunch opponent of Maduro.

Investigators seized several cellphones and allegedly discovered that the group was relaying information back to their superiors in Venezuela.

Authorities say they also confiscated a fraudulent Colombian identification card that Olivares used in masking his identity. At the time of his arrest he was in possession of a FAES identification card that identified him as deputy chief of Maduro's elite police squad.

Olivares, Callejas Navas and Borja Pirona were placed in custody of the Colombia Migration and were taken to El Dorado International Airport in Bogota on Wednesday night.

They were scheduled to be transported to the Colombia-Venezuela border and turned over to Venezuelan authorities.

It is unknown why all three suspects were not kept under arrest in Colombia to be tried there. DailyMail.com reached out to Colombia Migration for comment.

Venezuelan congressman Hernan Aleman, an opponent of the Maduro regime, was targeted by a cell of the FAES that was secretly operating in Colombia and received financial support from Venezuela

A November report published by Reuters looked into 20 civilian killings attributed to FAES.

Official narratives of the shootings described the incidents as self-defense, but they were ultimately countered by eyewitness accounts, video evidence, death certificates, autopsy reports and other documentation.

The elite police force has been linked to hundreds of deaths since its creation.

The notorious FAES is highly secretive, known for signature dark masks and black uniforms bearing skull insignias but no name tags. Officers typically remain anonymous even after blood is shed.
[March 12, 2020] Confirmit Genius Named 2020 CUSTOMER Magazine Product of the Year Award Winner NEW YORK and LONDON and OSLO, Norway, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Confirmit, the leading global solutions provider for Customer Experience (CX), Employee Experience (EX), and Market Research (MR) today announced that its text analytics platform Confirmit Genius has been recognized in CUSTOMER Magazine's 22nd Annual Award. Recognized as an industry leading customer experience solution, Confirmit Genius has been announced by TMC as a 2020 CUSTOMER Product of the Year Award winner. Confirmit Genius is a text analytics solution that leverages machine learning technologies to organize, categorize, and make sense of unstructured data for valuable insights. The solution ties that information  scattered across open-ended survey responses, business systems, CRM data, social media and more  with structured data to provide a complete picture of customer, employee, and market sentiments. "Organizations across the world are sitting on an extraordinary amount of data that could be used to inform valuable business decisions," said Michael Wooh, Chief Marketing Officer, Confirmit. "Confirmit Geniu is undeniably changing the way businesses examine and act on data, and we're absolutely thrilled that Confirmit is among this year's winners." The 2020 CUSTOMER Product of the Year Award recognizes vendors who are dedicated to benefitting the overall customer experience by advancing the call center, CRM, and teleservices industries one solution at a time. A prestigious award within the communications and technology sector, the CUSTOMER Product of the Year Award aims to highlight innovative solutions that meet or exceed the expectations of customers. "On behalf of both TMC and CUSTOMER magazine, it is my pleasure to honor Confirmit with a 2020 Product of the Year Award," said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. "Its Confirmit Genius solution has proven it is deserving of this elite status and I look forward to continued innovation from Confirmit in 2020 and beyond." The latest award adds to Confirmit's growing number of achievements demonstrating its leadership in the industry, commitment to innovate, and dedication to customer success. A full list of award winners is available online. Award recipients will also be published in the 2020 2nd Quarter issue of CUSTOMER Magazine. About Confirmit

Confirmit is the world's leading SaaS vendor for multi-channel Customer Experience, Employee Engagement, and Market Research solutions. The company has offices in Oslo (headquarters), Grimstad, London, Moscow, New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Vancouver, and Yaroslavl. Confirmit's software is also distributed through partner resellers in Madrid, Milan, and Tokyo.

Confirmit powers Global 5000 companies and Market Research agencies worldwide with a wide range of software products for feedback / data collection, panel management, data processing, analysis, and reporting. Customers include Aurora, British Standards Institution, Cross-Tab, GfK, GlaxoSmithKline, GMO Research, KeepFactor, Nielsen, Research Now, RS Components, QRS, SSI, and Swisscom. Visit www.confirmit.com for more information TMC's CUSTOMER Magazine

TMC's CUSTOMER magazine premiered in September 2012 and is the industry's new, definitive source for news, product information, and strategies for communications that engage customers and potential customers. Each issue of CUSTOMER includes news and insights on the latest developments in agent training, analytics, ERP, IVR, social CRM solutions, mobile apps, workforce management and more. Please visit http://customer.tmcnet.com for more information. Media Contact:

Sara Beth Fahey

Matter Communications

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Nicolas Weglinski and Nhuvi Nguyen, just married in Paris, had been on their West Coast honeymoon for one day when President Trump banned most travel from Europe to the U.S. to clamp down on the coronavirus outbreak.

The couple faced a difficult choice: Stay on their honeymoon or go? Fearing that they could get stuck in the U.S. paying for hotels and food and missing work, the couple abandoned their plans and jetted back to the airport six hours after they got the news. They suspect France will go on lockdown soon and flights will stop altogether.

Return is possible now, but tomorrow? Nguyen, 34, said while waiting in San Francisco International Airport to get on a 4 p.m. flight to Paris. We wont know.

Trumps Europe travel ban Wednesday evening reverberated throughout the Bay Area, a huge travel market that in a normal year sees more than 50 million people fly through SFO. What is now recognized as a global pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard. On a day that marked the sharpest drop in the stock market in decades, carriers serving the Bay Area outpaced others in crashing. United shares plummeted nearly 25% and Southwests plunged 15%.

The White House announcement, which covers most of Europe though not the United Kingdom, is expected to further decimate demand for travel, already hobbled by cuts to flights to China, which saw the first outbreak of the novel coronavirus, and other Asian countries where it quickly spread.

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The ban prohibits entry of any foreign national who was in any of 26 European countries in the past two weeks: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The U.S. State Department also urged American citizens to reconsider any travel abroad. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already issued its highest level advisories to avoid non-essential travel in Europe, China, South Korea and Iran amid spread of the new coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease.

The presidential proclamation said the U.S. is unable to effectively evaluate and monitor all travelers and the potential for undetected transmission threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security.

SFO spokesman Doug Yakel said the affected countries amount to about 15% of the airports international flight schedule. Norwegian Airlines, which was supposed to start more cheap flights to SFO this spring, is canceling routes to Rome and Oslo. Flights to London are still running. The European budget airline is laying off up to 50% of its workforce, with the possibility for more cuts.

The new restrictions imposed further pressure on an already difficult situation, Norwegian CEO Jacob Schrams said in a statement Thursday.  We urge international governments to act now to ensure that the aviation industry can protect jobs and continue to be a vital part of the global economic recovery.

Uniteds regular schedule will be in place until March 19. After that, the airline will still fly daily to Zurich, Brussels, Paris, Amsterdam, Manchester and Edinburgh, maintain multiple flights to Frankfurt and Munich, operate 18 daily flights to and from London, three to Dublin and less than daily service to Lisbon, all while continuing to monitor demand. United flies from SFO daily nonstop to London, Frankfurt and Paris.

Confusion reigned after Trumps prime-time address in which he said all travel from Europe would be suspended for 30 days. Panic set in for Americans and their loved ones abroad.

Acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli issued a statement afterward clarifying that U.S. citizens, permanent residents and their family members were exempt. They will be subject, like travelers from China, to enhanced screening at 11 U.S. airports. One of those is SFO.

But some Bay Area locals are still trying to get back before the travel ban hits at 9 p.m. Friday.

Jeff Crockett, 63, of Monterey, waited anxiously in the international terminal Thursday for his wife, Catherine Crockett, 59, and daughter, Amy Willemsen, 37, of Mill Valley, who were scheduled to arrive from Paris around noon. The two initially flew to England for a wedding and wrapped up their European trip in France.

Crockett said the pair told him their flight was initially half empty but that travelers rushed to get on the plane.

After Trumps confusing announcement, which suggested borders would be closed, they immediately went like eight hours earlier than they needed to, to the airport, and they sat over there for hours just to make sure they got through the check lines and everything else, he said. The plane filled up quickly, evidently, and then it was delayed because there wasnt enough food because they only stocked it for the initial passengers.

People are trying to get out of Europe right now, he added.

Others are trying to leave the U.S. to get home. Philippe Pfeifer, 60, was among several travelers who stood at an empty kiosk for Swiss Air Lines on Thursday morning hoping to catch a flight home to Zurich. He had traveled to San Francisco for business and was initially scheduled to go home Sunday night, he said. Then came the travel ban.

I thought, This will create problems, Pfeifer said. I tried to call my airline but I couldnt reach anybody. Nobody from my family or friends could reach anybody from the company. We dont know anything, if well get home within the next 30 days or not.

By 10:30 a.m., the kiosk remained closed as the number of confused travelers grew.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

I have business in Switzerland so I need to get back. I cannot really stay here 30 days. I love San Francisco, of course, I love California, Ive been working here for many years. But I need to get home, he said.

More flights are likely to be cut under the new ban, on top of reduced routes from major airlines. United, which accounts for 40% of traffic at its SFO hub, said before the ban it would slash international routes by 20% and domestic routes by 10% in April and May.

SFO flight traffic is down 3.1%, with a 30% drop in international passengers. San Jose Airport has one route to China canceled and is expecting more cuts, spokesman Scott Wintner said. The airport saw an 18% drop in passengers from the first week of March compared to the same time last year, he added.

Federal agencies are screening passengers for coronavirus symptoms and travel history. Under screening programs at airports from Feb. 2 to March 4, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol referred 62,864 travelers to the CDC. These travelers were most commonly citizens of the U.S., China, Canada, Vietnam and India.

At San Jose Airport, three Transportation Security Administration security officers tested positive for the coronavirus this week, the first agency officers to do so in the nation. Forty-two more employees who interacted with the three workers are under home quarantine.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo heard from TSA on Thursday that the three officers worked Terminal B, at checkpoint B, on evening shifts. Two performed screenings including checking bags, operating the X-ray, monitoring the body scanner and patting down passengers; one checked documents. Each had a different last day of work: Feb. 21, Feb. 26 and March 2.

The airport has implemented extra deep cleaning of security checkpoints and high-traffic areas that meets and exceeds the CDCs guidelines, an airport official said at a news conference Thursday.

The outbreak is hitting other aviation workers: United sent a letter to San Francisco Mayor London Breed and California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, laying out the impacts on its workforce. In normal times, between 12,000 and 13,000 people work for the airline out of SFO. Workers have been asked to take voluntary leave and the company is freezing noncritical hiring and raises for senior-level employees.

Amid global uncertainty, many airlines have changed their policies and waived change fees for passengers who booked before March to travel during this month or who are booking in March for future trips. Travelers have to reschedule before the end of the year. Those looking to cancel or reschedule could face long waits on hold with airlines swamped by requests.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Anna Bauman contributed to this report.

Mallory Moench and Tatiana Sanchez are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com, tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench, @TatianaYSanchez
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on Wednesday evening that Stephanie Turco Williams will be his Acting Special Representative in Libya until the appointment of a successor to Ghassan Salame.

Guterres said he was grateful to Mr. Salame for his accomplishments at the helm of UNSMIL, and his tireless efforts to bring peace and stability back to Libya.

The UN statement said that Ms. Williams brings more than 24 years of experience in government and international affairs. She has served as Deputy Special Representative (Political) in UNSMIL since 2018.

Salame, a Lebanese appointed in 2017, struggled to organise elections and bring rival parties together for talks to end the conflict until he announced his resignation on 2 March, citing health reasons.

Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, said Guterres has informally consulted with some council members about appointing the 68-year-old former Algerian Foreign Minster Ramtane Lamamra as his new Libya envoy, but has not yet sent a formal letter.

Diplomats said most council members support the appointment.

Libya has faced internal strife since the 2011 uprising that ousted long-time 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 rival 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 12 January.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y.  Onondaga County officials wont disclose how many county residents have been tested for coronavirus because they say doing so will increase public anxiety.

County Executive Ryan McMahon said at a press briefing today any resident with symptoms can be tested for the virus as long as their doctor orders a test. He also said the number of people being tested has increased. No one in the county has tested positive yet.

Theres not been a human being in our county whos been symptomatic and their doctor has ordered a test whos been refused, McMahon said.

But he and Dr. Indu Gupta, the countys health commissioner, refused to say how many people have been tested so far. Whenever someone is tested, the county health department gets a copy of the test results.

I dont want people to focus on how many people have tested negative, Gupta said. It just creates a lot of anxiety.

The countys stance comes as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others say theres not enough coronavirus testing available in the state. Were continuing to prioritize ramping up testing capacity because the more people you identify as having the virus, the better you can contain it, he said. Experts say testing helps track the spread of the virus.

McMahon said its counterproductive to focus on the number of negative tests, but said county officials will consider whether that information should be released.

The county routinely reports the number of residents who dont have symptoms, but are being self-quarantined at home because they traveled to a coronavirus hot spot or had contact with someone with the virus. The county currently has 21 self-quarantined residents.

Cuomo and Sen. Chuck Schumer both say New York does not have enough testing capacity and blame the federal government for being too slow to approve more testing labs.

Fewer than 2,000 people in New York have been tested since the state got approval in late February to conduct its own testing, according to the New York Times.

The state Health Departments Wadsworth lab in Albany is doing most of the coronavirus testing in New York state. Upstate Medical University is working with the state to get approval to do some of the testing in its own lab. Commercial labs also are expected to begin testing soon.

Currently, doctors and hospitals collect oral and nasal swabs from patients and send them to the Albany lab.

In order to collect samples from patients, primary care doctors need to wear goggles, gloves and other protective gear. Some primary care offices and community clinics in the Syracuse area have those items and others dont, said Dr. Stephen Thomas, chief of infectious disease at Upstate University Hospital. Thats why samples are taken from some patients at hospitals.

What we are doing is networking with primary care offices and urgent care centers and doing a gap analysis to find out who has what and get them the resources they need, Thomas said.

Thomas said people who suspect they have coronavirus should call their doctor and not just show up at an emergency room. If and when Onondaga County sees an outbreak of cases, Syracuse hospitals want to make sure they have enough room to handle the sickest patients, he said.

Infectious respiratory illnesses like flu are not decreasing as much as they typically do at this time of the year, Thomas said.

Thomas said if the area sees a wave of coronavirus on top of those illnesses local hospitals could outstretch our surge capability.

James T. Mulder covers health news. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com

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.
UPDATE: 11:25 p.m. Thursday, March 12 - Gov. Gavin Newsom says sweeping guidance for Californians to avoid large gatherings will likely extend beyond March.

The statewide guidance applies to sporting events, concerts and even smaller social gatherings in places where people can't remain at least 6 feet apart.

He said Thursday that he expects it will affect the Major League Baseball season that begins at the end of the month. But so far, the guidance has not been extended to Disneyland or to casinos and card rooms. It is not an official ban on big gatherings.

Newsom said California's legal authority is limited when it comes to enforcement but he expects people to adopt the recommendations.

Newsom also discussed matters regarding the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland, California. He says nearly 500 passengers remain aboard the ship. He hopes they will all be off the ship by the end of the day Thursday.

In addition to the 21 people who previously tested positive while aboard the ship, Newsom says at least two more people have tested positive after leaving.

Newsom expects the number to climb as more people are tested.

He says the refusal by Lachland Air Force Base in Texas to take non-Texan U.S. citizens has not helped our logistics to be candid with you."

Newsom says that bases in California and Georgia have welcomed other stranded Americans.

The ship was carrying about 3,500 passengers and crew when it docked earlier this week in Oakland.

---

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued sweeping, statewide guidance in response to the coronavirus pandemic, asking Californians to postpone all non-essential gatherings through the end of March, including even small social gatherings in places where people cant remain at least six feet apart.

The California Department of Public Health advisory issued shortly before midnight Wednesday also says gatherings of 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled, and gatherings of people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people.

Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects  saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now, Newsom said in a statement. The people in our lives who are most at risk  seniors and those with underlying health conditions -- are depending on all of us to make the right choice.

The advisory defines a gathering as anything that brings together people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, or any other indoor or outdoor space.

This applies to all non-essential professional, social, and community gatherings regardless of their sponsor, the guidance says.

The goals are to delay the rates of transmission and death by reducing the number of people who contract COVID-19 before an effective treatment or vaccine is available, protect the elderly and chronically ill, and to preserve and protect the health care systems capacity to respond, it says.

The guidance vastly expands local and case-specific responses to the outbreak around California.

California cities have started instituting ever-increasing methods to curtail spread of the virus. San Francisco, Oakland and Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, banned gatherings of 1,000 or more people.

The Los Angeles City Council announced it would hold just one public meeting a week instead of the usual three for the remainder of the month.

Corrections officials canceled daily visits at all state prisons until further notice. There are no suspected or confirmed cases of the virus at any lockups and the move was made as part of wider prevention efforts.

Meanwhile, officials in Oakland will continue Thursday with the painstaking process of disembarking more than 2,000 passengers from the cruise ship Grand Princess and moving them to military bases around the U.S. for a two-week quarantine. More than 20 passengers have been diagnosed with the virus, as well as 19 crew members.

Princess Cruises announced a two-month pause of global operations on Thursday that will gradually sideline all 18 of its cruise ships. Company president Jan Swartz said the decision was difficult but necessary, given that the company normally serves 50,000 guests from 70 countries.

Health officials on Wednesday defended their approach of not quarantining the Carlton Senior Living facility in Elk Grove after a woman in her 90s there died of the coronavirus, even as a new dispute arose over whether Sacramento County officials were getting a sufficient number of kits to test for the virus.

Carlton Senior Living, which has 13 assisted living facilities in Northern California, said the resident in Elk Grove, near Sacramento, died at a hospital Tuesday.

Tyler Cooke of Sacramento, whose mother lives at the facility, said he first learned that a resident was infected through a media report and hasnt gotten updates on what is being done to help his mother, who is 71 and has a plethora of health issues.

A Carlton spokesperson did not return calls and emails seeking additional information.

Sacramento County public health spokeswoman Brenda Bongiorno said isolation order precautions include limiting visitor access, freezing new admissions to the facility, closing common areas and enhanced cleaning measures. She would not release information on other residents in quarantine or whether any residents or employees were showing symptoms or tested positive.

No information about the woman who died has been released by Carlton or local health officials. Sutherland said she was 97, chair of the facilitys food committee and always very friendly.

On Tuesday, Sacramento County health director Peter Beilenson indicated frustration at the pace of testing for the disease. Under federal guidelines, the county is only allowed to process 20 tests per day.

California Health and Human Services Agency spokeswoman Kate Folmar said state public health officials on Tuesday provided Sacramento County with enough testing supplies to test 300 specimens, so that the county can address any testing backlog it may have including people at the assisted living facility. More supplies are coming.

Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said the question is not so much having enough kits as how fast they can be processed. Her county can run about 30 tests per day using just one machine and have ordered two more.

Newsom and Ferrer said they expect more supplies to be delivered soon, but she said in the meantime the county lab could still perform hundreds and hundreds of tests.
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Foaming agents are used create foam in food products and also used to add flavour to the food products. Various types of foaming agents include Gelatin and Lecithin.

Gelatin is used in various food products to stabilize the foam. However, Lecithin is primarily used for converting juices to foams. Foaming agents are of various types including natural and artificial foaming agents. Natural foaming agents such as Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria are used in various applications such as carbonated beverages, juices and beer. These foaming agents are especially used in products that require enhanced foaming properties.

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Global foaming agents market is segmented on the basis of type, application and region. Based on the type, food foaming agents is segmented into natural and artificial. Of which, the natural foaming agent is the leading segment in terms of revenue contribution, followed by the artificial foaming agents. The natural foaming agent is the dominating segment, as companies are primarily manufacturing natural foaming agents in order to meet the rising preference of the customers for the food products that contain natural ingredients. On the basis of application food foaming agents, segmentation includes beverages and dairy. Of which, beverage segment is expected to be the dominating segment over the forecast period due the expanding market for the beverage such as alcohol globally, However, followed by the dairy, dairy segment is expected to witness consistent growth in the coming four to five years. Global foaming agents market is segmented on the basis of the region into North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Middle East and Africa and Japan.

The Global foaming agents market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period due to the expanding beverage and dairy industry. Globally among all regions, North America is the most dominating segment followed by other regions. In North America, U.S. is expected to contribute highest market share, followed by other countries during the forecast period. North America is expected to contribute maximum market share owing to the high consumption of food products, especially in the dairy segment. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness fast growth in the next four to five years

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A major factor that fuel the growth of foaming agents market includes the growing demand of consumers for the food products that are superior in taste. Another factor that is expected to boost the demand of foaming agent is increasing consumption of beverages such as alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Moreover, application of foaming agent in beverages such as alcohol is the cost-effective method for releasing foam in drinks. However, major factor that is expected to hinder the growth of foaming agents is adverse effects related to the consumption of food products in beverage and dairy segment

Major companies operating in Foaming Agents are-

Nature S.A.

Bergen International

Adams Food Ingredients Ltd

Desert King International

Garuda International Inc.

Kerry Inc.

RIKEN VITAMIN Co., Ltd.

Companies operating in foaming agent market are adopting strategy to launch numerous foaming agents in order to cater to the evolving demand for foaming agents especially from food and beverage industry. Companies are also adopting a strategy to expand its geographical reach in order to increase its market presence and grab the maximum untapped and potential market related to foaming agents. Companies operating in foaming agents market are also adopting a strategy to increase the revenue by manufacturing foaming agents tailored for the specific application.
A respiratory illness has become the primary point of conversation in the U.S. Today, it was officially announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The novel coronavirus originated in China and has so far infected more than 115,800 people worldwide, including at least 1,000 in the U.S, and has more than 4,200 fatalities across the globe.

A pandemic is a global outbreak of a serious new disease that needs "sustained transmission throughout the world," according to Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Many think the word "pandemic" can be associated with the 1918 flu pandemic that killed tens of millions of people but by definition, a pandemic does not require that scale of destruction. Thus, it is a loosely defined term.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said this phenomenon is a crisis that will touch every sector, so every sector and individual must be involved.

Meanwhile, an epidemic refers to a small increase in the spread of a disease within a specific community.

"We are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity (of COVID-19), and by the alarming levels of inaction," Ghebreyesus said.

This is the first time WHO has announced a coronavirus to be a pandemic.

WHO specified that framing the situation as a pandemic does not change their assessment of the virus or affect their overall response plan. Countries all over the world have shifted into a pandemic response plan.

Also Read: Tom Hanks, Wife Rita Wilson Share How It Feels to Have Coronavirus After Testing Positive

The director-general said that they expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries soar higher. WHO continues to closely monitor the prevalence of the virus. They have called every day for countries to urgently and aggressively respond to the pandemic.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the virus known as SARS-CoV2.

According to Ghebreyesus, the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold in two weeks.

Italy closed all shops except food shops and pharmacies. Hairdressers, bars, restaurants, and cafes that could not provide a meter's distance between customers and non-essential company departments would also close, declared Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

WHO last called an outbreak a pandemic during the H1N1 swine flu in 2009.

The health emergency has reached its highest level, but Ghebreyesus said hope remains that COVID-19 can be curtailed.

Eight countries including the U.S. are now each recording more than 1,000 cases of the novel coronavirus.

The determination of an outbreak to be a pandemic is based on the severity of illnesses it causes, geographic spread of disease, and its effects on society.

The director-general pointed out that "pandemic" is not a word to use lightly or rashly. "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."

Related Article: 44 Killed by Alcohol Poisoning in Iran in an Effort to Cure Coronavirus

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NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jensen Partners, an executive search and corporate advisory firm for the alternative investment management industry, was named "Best Recruitment Company for Investor Relations & Asset Raising" by the readers of Private Equity Wire, a leading source for PE news and features. This is the first time that Jensen Partners has won the title in the European award set and follows its win in the 2019 U.S. awards.

This win comes as part of the publication's annual set of awards, honoring the best managers, investors, consultants, advisers and service providers in a range of categories in the private equity space for the year prior. The 2020 Private Equity Wire European Awards were celebrated on March 11 in London.

"This award win could not have come at a better time as we continue celebrations around our own recent expansion of two senior hires in Europe, Peter Mayer and George Lewis," said Sasha Jensen, Founder and CEO of Jensen Partners. "Thank you to the readers of PE Wire. We look forward to an exciting year ahead as we continue to enhance and promote our practices to better serve our clients in the alternative investments space."

Jensen Partners specializes in the sourcing and placement of capital raising professionals for the alternative investment industry by leveraging its extensive investor relationships as well as its proprietary market mapping and big data recruitment model. Jensen Partners' model is based on the firm's global database of more than 22,000 global alternative capital raisers, which includes professionals from private equity firms, private credit firms, real estate investment firms, real asset investors, infrastructure investors and hedge funds.

Since 2014, Jensen Partners has tracked more than 11,000 marketing moves across the alternative investment industry. In 2016, Jensen Partners began publishing a quarterly newsletter that highlights key trends and capital raising hiring activity across the alternative investment industry. Jensen Partners became the first executive search firm to track diverse candidates in the alternative investment space in 2019 and will begin tracking the movement of marketers specializing in ESG and impact investing in 2020.

Jensen Partners is also the recipient of awards for its executive search and recruiting work from industry trade publications HFMWeek, Alt Credit Intelligence and The Drawdown for the firms' expertise in hedge funds, private credit and private equity, respectively.

About Jensen Partners

Jensen Partners is a global advisory, corporate development and executive search firm that leverages its extensive relationships in the investor and alternative asset management community to source and recruit leading capital-raising candidates. The firm takes a data-driven approach, combining quantitative and qualitative insights to source and place the ideal human capital. In addition to executive search, Jensen Partners offers LP/GP referencing, proprietary 360 Investor Referencing methodology, and compensation benchmarking and analysis. To learn more, please visit www.jensen-partners.com.

Media Contact:

Samantha Foley

646-818-9140

[email protected]

SOURCE Jensen Partners

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Amber Heard has denied her former assistant Kate James allegations that she was regularly verbally and mentally abusive. The claims emerged in court documents seen by The Blast.

Heard, who has both accused and been accused by her ex-husband Johnny Depp of domestic abuse, branded her a disgruntled former employee in a denial.

Speaking to The Blast, her spokesperson 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.

Amber Heard / Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Depp has filed a $50 million defamation suit against Amber Heard in Virginia, claiming Heards essay about being a victim of abuse for the Washington Post depends on the central premise that Ms. Heard was a domestic abuse victim and that Mr. Depp perpetrated violence against her - alleging she is not a victim of domestic abuse; she is a perpetrator.

Heard has denied the claims.

James, who worked for Heard between 2012 and 2015, characterised Heard as a classic bully and said she was permanently scarred by the experience.

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in 2016 / Getty Images

She also delved into the abuse allegations that both parties had levelled against each other, claiming she never saw any sign of an altercation, or even the aftermath of a serious and messy fight in the way that Amber describes despite being with Heard nearly every day for three years.

She said, Amber was regularly verbally and mentally abusive and would often scream at me in that way, over the smallest things. 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.

Claiming her time with Heard had affected my mental and physical health, she said, I ultimately became emaciated due to the extreme stress and the fact I had no time to eat with the crazy workload she bombarded me with constantly.

Getty Images

She also alleged that following Heards continued usage of drugs including MDMA and mushrooms, Heard would reportedly lash out at James in a string of texts - which she claims have now been deleted.

James said, The assortment of drugs and a great deal of wine would mean that 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.

Other encounters James described with Heard included one in which Heard missed a flight connection over Christmas.

Getty Images for Chopard

James, who says she was with her aunt who was visiting at the time, claimed the star then called her screaming abuse at me for literally hours as though I had made it snow and caused the disruptions to the flight.

She also described how Heard had reportedly been very controlling and paranoid about anyone else being in [Johnny Depps] space, which included her.

Characterising Depp as a thoughtful and kind, and a genuinely decent person, James said, Amber hated me talking to Johnny, even if it was just polite small-talk, she would give me the evil eye if she found me having a conversation with him.

Getty Images

She continued that she would sometimes bring her son to work with her and recounted how Depp would be there and would hang out with him, teaching him how to play the guitar.

She said, I would never have left my son with Johnny while I was working if I had any concerns about him whatsoever.

Calling working for Heard an exercise in daily humiliation, she said, With the benefit of hindsight, I now recognise Ambers behaviour towards me as mental abuse. It still makes me extremely emotional to speak of my experience of working for her. I feel that I am permanently scarred by the experience.

I felt constantly embarrassed that someone so much younger than me could make me feel so worthless. Amber was a classic bully. She enjoyed making me feel stupid, she finished.

Getty Images for Art of Elysium

She later touched on Heards allegations that Depp had abused her, saying, In the three years that I worked for Amber, I would go to her house almost every day, including on weekends. I would not announce when I was going to attend the apartment to drop things off or pick things up, so it would regularly be without notice. I never saw any sign of an altercation, or even the aftermath of a serious and messy fight in the way that Amber describes in her statements.

She continued that she never saw any physical violence by either Amber or Johnny. James claimed, I understand that the period of my employment overlaps with the majority of incidents in which Amber has alleged that Johnny was violent towards her.

I never once saw any bruising, swelling, or any evidence of what could have resulted from violence. I would often see her naked, or semi-naked, when she was getting dressed or at fittings. I was around her a lot, often 7 days a week, she said.

Getty Images

Over the course of Depps defamation suit, the pair have accused one another of domestic abuse as revealing documents and audio recordings have been released.

In the wake of the suit, Heard is said to have filed 300 pages of documents delving into Depps alleged abuse of her which claim he abused her prior to and during their marriage - adding pictures of herself with bruises on her face, scars on her arms and hair allegedly torn from her head according to USA Today.

Over the course of her divorce, she claimed in a deposition that Depp had another personality the part of him that is present when he beats me up that they called the monster - which she said petrified her.

Getty Images

Heard also alleged that Depp had thrown her phone as hard as he could, hitting her in the face, and that he grabbed her by the hair as he broke a lot of glass things that left glass on the floor.

An LAPD officer who arrived on the scene to investigate a call made to 911 claimed that she did not see any marks, bruises, swelling or signs of injury on Heards face and she also said that there was no signs of shattered glass or broken items - a testimony that another LAPD officer supported according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Depp alleged that things happened differently that night, claiming that Heard became aggressive and violent after he was late to her birthday dinner - which led her to punch him twice in the face.

He also alleged that Heard had thrown a glass bottle at him on another occasion, which shattered and severed his fingertip.

Getty Images

A leaked 2015 audio recording between Depp and Heard during a therapy session was also recently revealed, in which they discussed Heard hitting Depp.

She was heard saying, Babe, you're not punched ... I don't know what the motion of my actual hand was, but you're fine. I did not hurt you, I did not punch you, I was hitting you.

Depp later said I do not want a divorce, I do not want you out of my life. I just want peace. If things get physical, we have to separate - to which Heard said that she cant promise you I wont get physical again.

EPA

Following the tape, Depps lawyer claimed, It exposes that Ms. Heard perpetrated serial violence against Mr. Depp, and then concocted an elaborate abuse hoax to cover it up. Ms. Heard gives a motive for her violence: Mr. Depp was always trying to 'split' to escape her abuse.

In response, Heards lawyer said, The fact that a woman fights or talks back does not mean that she has not been the subject of repeated domestic violence and abuse. Its a myth to say, as Mr. Depp apparently is implying, that if Ms. Heard slapped him, then she cant also be a victim. That is just not true.

Depp is set to appear in UK court on March 23, in which he is suing News Group Newspapers for defamation over a 2018 article which called him a wifebeater.

Johnny Depp has appeared in court / AP

In the lead up to the appearance, his lawyers accidentally shared 70,000 text messages from Depp which included texts in which he told actor Paul Bettany, Lets burn Amber!!! Let's drown her before we burn her!!! I'll f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she's dead.
* Dalian iron ore turns flattish after falling as much as 2.3%

* U.S. bans travel from Europe, Italy tightens lockdown

By Enrico Dela Cruz MANILA, March 12 (Reuters) - Iron ore futures in China were flat in volatile trade as the demand outlook clouded for the steelmaking raw material after world health authorities declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

Iron ore's most-active May contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange slumped as much as 2.3% to 646 yuan ($92.63) a tonne in early trade before quickly turning flattish by 0306 GMT. Futures on the Singapore Exchange dropped as much as 1.1%.

While more signs have emerged that top steel producer China's strict measures to contain the epidemic are working, the overall picture is grim and business disruptions are escalating in other parts of the world. U.S. President Donald Trump suspended travel to the United States from Europe, except the United Kingdom, for 30 days from Friday, while Italy's 60 million people are under lockdown in a drastic effort to control the damage.

The World Health Organization's declaration of a pandemic is likely to spur countries to impose border closures and other restrictions, said Robert Carnell, ING head of research for Asia-Pacific. "While such measures may result in a lower peak of infections within each country, they certainly aren't without their economic consequences," he wrote in a note.

China accounts for more than half of the world's steel output and is also the biggest exporter of the manufacturing and construction material.

Commodity broker Marex Spectron said it has a bearish outlook for iron ore demand and supply and macroeconomic conditions in China.

"Margins continue to be under pressure with the decline in steel prices," said Marex Spectron analyst Hui Heng Tan. "With pressured margins, it is perhaps unsurprising to see steel rates continue to decline."

Chinese steel mills and traders are sitting on a huge inventory of steel products that is still piling up because downstream demand is far from fully recovering after the epidemic stalled economic activity in the mainland for weeks.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Several places in China have lowered their emergency response level to the epidemic, and the mainland has been reporting fewer new infections in recent days.

* Construction steel rebar on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was up 0.3% while hot-rolled coil slipped 0.3% and stainless steel shed 1.4%.

* Coking coal was flat while coke edged up 0.1%. ($1 = 6.9739 yuan)

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; editing by Uttaresh.V)
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

Coronavirus a pandemic: What does that mean and what changes now

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 12: The World Health Organization on Wednesday finally declared the novel coronavirus a 'pandemic', citing infections in over 121,000 people worldwide.

Making an announcement on the same 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."

"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," he added.

WHO declares COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, India suspends all tourist visas till April 15

What is a pandemic

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention a pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents and usually affects a large number of people.

The word 'pandemic' may be scary but its status has to do more with the spread of the disease, than its severity. It generally just refers to how many parts of the world are dealing with an elevated risk of the disease.

According to the WHO, 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.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

One suspected Coronavirus death in Karnataka; total confirmed cases in India reaches 62

What is an epidemic?

An epidemic refers to a more localised or regional outbreak of a disease. It is comparatively affects fewer number of people and is confined to a geographical region.

An epidemic is a Greek word derived from 'epidemia'. While pandemic originates from the word 'pandemos', which means "all people".

For example, the ebola spread that affected western Africa and the SARS outbreak that hit China were considered as an epidemic.

What changes now

Declaring the situation as a pandemic does not change WHO's assessment of the threat posed by this virus. It doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:10:31|Editor: yan

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BUCHAREST, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Moldova's Prime Minister Ion Chicu and his visiting Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban signed the Joint Declaration for Strategic Partnership between the two countries on Thursday.

The primary aim of the partnership is to extend and deepen the bilateral cooperation and support Moldova's effort of European integration, according to the communication and protocol department of the Moldovan government.

The two sides will undertake joint actions aimed at backing Moldova's progress in the European integration process, while developing relations in the sectors of security, economy, trade, energy, transport, agriculture, tourism, health, science, etc.

Orban said that Hungary has been a supporter of Moldova's integration into the European Union (EU). "We have much enough experience in the EU to say that it is not easy, while being in EU, to defend your national interests; yet, it is better to be inside EU, than outside it," he stressed.

Orban added that Hungary is interested in investing in the agricultural sector and the education field in Moldova.

"I am happy that the Hungarian side is willing to invest in Moldova, through the 100 million-dollar-worth fund," said Chicu, stressing that Moldova is "ready to provide attractive fiscal regime to Hungarian companies."
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Events are part of youth ministry. Your Wednesday night or Sunday night (or whenever weekly meeting) is an event. The retreats you do, camps you coordinate and conferences/concerts you take your teenagers to are events.

And there's nothing necessarily wrong with events. But if these events aren't triggering movement toward spiritual growth in the hearts of our teenagers then we may need to do some re-thinking, re-imagining and re-tooling.

Here are a few questions to consider when leading/doing/attending events with and for your teenagers:

1) Will this event inspire my teens to serve Jesus more passionately?

I have a youth pastor friend named Mr. Bill who has a simple grid for any and every youth group event: "Will this help my teenagers know Jesus and make him known?" If not, then it's off his grid and off the youth group calendar.

Don't get me wrong. Mr. Bill and his youth group have fun, play games, do events and reek all sorts of typical-youth-ministry havoc. But, behind it all, there is a deeper purpose. And he drives everything about the event toward his teens knowing Jesus more deeply and making him known more widely.

He calls the unbelievers to believe and challenges the believers to fall in love with Jesus and tell others about him. It's woven into the fabric of each one of his events.

Mr. Bill's events lead to movement...spiritual movement. Do yours?

2) Will this event equip my teens to live for Jesus more passionately and proclaim his good news more purposefully?

Forward spiritual movement in the lives of our teenagers takes more than inspiration. It takes equipping.

Teenagers don't naturally know how to pray. They must be equipped, like Jesus equipped his disciples, to pray (Luke 11:1-13).

Teenagers don't naturally know how to study God's Word. They must be equipped, like the Bereans were equipped to study the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).

Teenagers don't naturally know how to share the Gospel. They must be equipped, like the Corinthians were equipped, to share the core message of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

Why not use the newly re-designed and hugely interactive evangelistic app, Life in 6 Words to train your teens to share their faith? If they can swipe and read they can share the Gospel. Life in 6 Words makes it that easy.

3) Could this event help trigger a spiritual movement in my youth group?

We can't force a revival to happen, but we can put in the plumbing and ask God to turn on the water. We can cultivate the ground, plant the seed and ask God for a harvest.

Are your events laying the pipework for revival? Are they cultivating the ground for a spiritual awakening? Or are you doing events just for the sake of events?

I really want to challenge you to consider leading an event in your city which could genuinely trigger a movement. Dare 2 Share Live is a one day outreach and mobilization event that's designed to inspire, equip and unleash your teens with the hope of the Gospel.

For $99 (between now and the end of May) you can sign your entire group up (and all of their friends!) You can bring the event to your church and then challenge other churches in your area to register too. On October 10th, 2020 teens from Anchorage, Alaska to Puerto Rico (and potentially hundreds of cities in between) will be inspired, equipped and deployed for the Gospel. Check out Dare2sharelive.org for more info and sign up right away.

Don't just do events. Spark a movement! Why not start with Dare 2 Share Live?

This article was originally published at Dare 2 Share.
Sales of new homes across the UK increased for the third month in a row in February, according to RICS. (Getty)

UK property prices appear to be going up amid growing demand from buyers, according to surveyors.

A net balance of 29% of surveyors reported a rise in house prices in February, up from a balance of 18% the previous month, according to the February 2020 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) UK Residential Market Survey.

Furthermore, a net balance of 22% of surveyors expect house prices to continue to increase over the spring, RICS said.

Sales of new homes across the UK increased for the third month in a row and a net balance of 20% of property professionals saw an increase rather than a fall in inquiries from new buyers in February.

Experts are predicting an improved sales outlook for the rest of the year, with 61% saying they expect more homes to be sold in 2020.

However, optimism has been tempered by concerns about the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak and whether it will influence viewings and the traditional spring house selling season.

Read more: Halifax warns on coronavirus risk to UK housing market recovery

London, Yorkshire and the Humber, and East Anglia saw the greatest uplift, although all regions of the UK experienced growth in the property market.

The number of new homes coming onto the sales market also went up for a third consecutive month, with the West Midlands and the South East seeing the most new properties arriving onto the market.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist, said: It is encouraging that the results of the latest survey continue to show a positive trend both in terms of potential buyer interest and new instructions to agents. Indeed, this is the first time since 2014 that new supply to the market on the RICS indicator has increased for three consecutive months.

Inventory levels are still at historically low levels despite this but the firmer trend in appraisals suggests that the picture could improve over the coming months providing the coronavirus doesnt become more of an inhibitor of activity in the sector.

Story continues

For now at least, feedback around expectations are consistent with activity levels continuing to strengthen albeit relatively modestly.

Residential lettings also saw a rise in demand from tenants looking to rent a home. However, the number of properties listed by landlords for rent continued to decline  extending a trend seen since it was first recorded in 2016.

Read more: Regulator cracks down on mis-selling of leaseholds

A growing demand for rental properties combined with falling supply could increase rents by 2% to 3% per year by 2025 if the trend continues.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
South Africa: Gauteng urged to use water sparingly as Vaal Dam level drops

The Vaal Dam has this week plunged to lower levels compared to the same period last year.

According to a weekly dam levels report released by the Department of Water and Sanitation this week, the dam is currently hovering at 55.1%, down from 55.8% last week.

During the same period last year, the dam was floating at an impressive 70.3%.

The drop indicates that the dam has been on a steady decline for a number of months, the department said.

The Vaal Dam is part of 14 dams forming part of the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) and is responsible for providing water to petro-chemical giant Sasol and the electricity generating company Eskom.

The IVRS has also dropped slightly from last weeks 66.4% to 66.3%, a slight difference from the 68% the dam recorded in the previous year at the same time.

The Grootdraai Dam remained the same at 99% it recorded last week. Similarly unchanged from its last weeks levels is the Sterkfontein Dam, which is at 92.7% this week.

Both the Katse and Mohale dams continue to float at concerning levels this week.

Katse Dam levels has increased from 33.8% to 34% this week, whilst the Mohale Dam dropped from 13.4% last week to 13% this week.

Given that most of the dams are either dropping or remain stagnant, the Gauteng Water and Sanitation has called on water users in the province to use water sparingly as the country moves towards to the dry winter season.

Being alert and cautious not to use water excessively will play a key role to ensuring that the province does not find itself in a calamitous situation in next coming months, the department said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The peak of the novel coronavirus outbreak has passed, Chinas national health authorities said on Thursday, hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the contagion a pandemic.

The situation in China, where the virus originated, has improved remarkably with a steady decline in new cases. The number of new cases has dropped to a single digit in ground zero - the city of Wuhan.

China has passed the climax of the novel coronavirus outbreak with the number of new infections continuing to decline, Mi Feng, spokesperson of the national health commission (NHC), said at a press conference in Beijing.

The announcement came two days after President Xi Jinping visited Wuhan for the first time since the outbreak began, signalling that the situation has turned a corner in China.

Until weeks ago, China was reporting hundreds of new cases of the infection daily. The central Chinese province of Hubei, worst-hit by the outbreak that began in late December, had just eight new cases in the last 24 hours - all of them in Wuhan.

Only seven new cases were reported on the Chinese mainland outside Hubei; six of them were imported from abroad.

Overall, 15 new Covid-19 infections and 11 new deaths were reported on Wednesday on the Chinese mainland. The total number of infections stood at 80,793, with 3,169 deaths.

With six new cases reported on Wednesday, the total number of imported cases in China reached 85, with 46 coming from Iran and 27 from Italy.

Wuhan could clear all infected cases to zero by the end of March if all efforts being implemented continue uninterrupted, and there are no emergencies over infections coming in from overseas, leading epidemiologist Li Lanjuan has said.

NHC spokesperson Mi said China had taken the most comprehensive prevention and control measures to contain the outbreak. Wuhan was put under a lockdown on January 23, and across Hubei, millions faced restrictions. As the restrictions are likely to be lifted in a staggered manner, the Chinese governments focus will now be on reviving the economy.
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)
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

From Town & Country

Photo credit: Marcia Straub





Pat Barnes is teaching his students how to not die in the woods. This is our emergency response, Barnes says, starting his lecture. Its a chilly evening in late September, just past dusk, and the group is standing on a dirt path behind the academic building of the Mountain School, an alternative-learning semester school and 416-acre largely self-sufficient farm in rural Vershire, Vermont, 30 miles south of Montpelier. Each semester the school enrolls 45 academically gifted high school juniors from around the country, with the mission of teaching them to take care of a place and work for the common good, as Alden Smith, the schools director, puts it. In addition to a rigorous, honors- and AP-level academic schedule and on-site farm training, the teenagers learn wilderness survival skills, the teaching of which Barnes leads.



All of you have your whistles and compasses around your necks, says Barnes, who also teaches environmental science, physics, and chemistry. Because thats how we spend our solo: with our whistles and compasses around our necks.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

The solo Barnes refers to is a camping trip in the White Mountains, where, for three days and three nights, students will be entirely alone in the wilderness, with no more technology than a flashlight. The solo is a way to not only test their cumulative outdoor training but also to allow them to experience some solitude and self-sufficiency in an age of hyperconnectivity.

This semesters trip leaves a week from now, and the students are doing last minute preparations, including reviewing emergency response drills and getting used to being alone in the woods at night. Half the student body completed this exercise last night, and now its the other halfs turn.

Barnes teaches them that if you have a life-threatening injury, you should blow your whistle three timesloud.

And then wait how long to do it again? Barnes asks the group.

Five minutes, one boy calls out.

Story continues

Five minutes? Myca (pronounced Meeka), a 16-year-old girl from Westport, Connecticut, says, nearly laughing. Hes dying!

Five seconds, Barnes corrects him. One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand, four-one-thousand, five-one-thousand. And then?

Tweet! Tweet! Tweet! the students say in unison.

Barnes goes over the call-and-response tactic: The nearest student to hear the three whistles will blow her whistle once, both to signal that she hears the call for help and to likewise send the distress signal farther down the line of campers; it will then, hopefully, reach base camp, where faculty will be stationed.

Myca, did you hear three whistles? Barnes asks, as if it were a real emergency and she was the next camper in line.

Yes.

What should you do?

Whistle once.

Go ahead, whistle once!

Myca takes a breath and blows into her whistle as hard as she can. The high-pitched squeal slices through the air.

Oh, beautiful! Excellent! Barnes says. If you can hear the three whistles, you are close to the person who is having what they consider to be a life-threatening emergency: broken ankle, appendicitis, femoral bleedingyou know, spurting arterial bleedinghe uses his hands to suggest blood shooting out of his legany of those. If you can hear three whistles, make sure the message gets passed on, but then go and give aid. He looks around at his pupils. We will rehearse this even more. We want this to become muscle memory.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Barnes then leads the students into the woods, where they will split up, spread out along the on-campus trail, and try to endure 20 minutes of alone time in the darkness. They have just come from dinner, where Myca, over vanilla ice cream doused in maple syrup, showed some apprehension not only for tonights activity but for the concept of a solo camping trip in general.

Wait, you have to be, like, alone for 20 minutes? Myca said, spoon in hand, about to take a bite. I dont want to be alone in the dark! Literally my worst fear ever.

Now that theyre actually in the woodsBarnes wont let them use lights of any kindMycas fear starts to show. Myca, why are you apprehensive about 30 minutes? asks Jacob, whos from New Haven.

Its 20 minutes, okay? she retorts. Stop saying the number 30!

Do you have some sort of phobia of 30? Jacob says, clearly trying to provoke her.

Nopethe dark, Myca says. The team continues down the path.

Okay, folks, Barnes says, stopping the group. The goal for tonight is principally to give you some time on your own as the sky gets darker and darker, all right? Its a chance to sit and relax and listen to the sounds of the night, sounds you might be unfamiliar with, but also to get a sense of what it will be like to be out on the solo. He explains that as they keep walking he will periodically tap one of them on the shoulder. That person will stop, and Barnes and the rest will continue until the group is dispersed along the trail. After 20 minutes the first person who stopped will resume walking along the trail, collecting the group as he goes.

The first student is tapped (Bye, guys!), and the rest of the group walks on. Myca is the second student tapped by Barnes. Although no one can see her face, her groans are audible in the darkness. A faint crackling can be heard among the trees, an eerie stillness settles around her, and the arms of the trees hug the sky out of sight: complete darkness. Twenty minutes go by, and the first students to stop start moving again. It actually wasnt that bad, Myca tells them. A boy farther along jumps up and screams.



Photo credit: Mint Images - Getty Images

Aaaaaah! Myca yells. I hate you!

They keep walking until all the students are together. After a few minutes the group emerges into a clearing lit by moonlight. Oh my god! one student calls out. Look at the stars!

Theres the Big Dipper, one says.

And the Little Dipper! another shouts. All the kids stand in silence for a moment, looking up.

The following morning, just before 7 a.m., the students start trickling out of their dormshair wet from the shower, faces slack from fatigueto do their chores. Theres a cyclical, interdependent rhythm at the Mountain School, which was founded in 1984 as the countrys first semester school. The students are an integral part of its operations; without them the entire system would crumble. Thats part of the schools mission, after all: to allow students to be a part of a place that needs them as much as they need it.

They plant and harvest crops, care for the animals (cows, sheep, chickens, and others), take out the trash, do the dishes, clean the classrooms and dorms, manage the compost, and stack hay. They come here ready to commit to something that improves life for others, not just for themselves, Alden Smith says. We tend to draw kids that want to help the world, and we also have a curriculum that helps them practice doing that over and over again, every day.

The Mountain School may seem an unusual if not downright peculiar place for wealthy families (who can afford the $30,960 tuition) to send their children, but the experiences it provides can be eye-opening and even life-affirming for teenagers acclimated to the bubble of an upper class upbringing. When youre living in New York City and your kid is in trouble, you send them to a wilderness program. But these kids are up there to build life skills. Theres a distinction, says jewelry designer and Child Mind Institute co-founder Brooke Garber Neidich, whose daughter went to the Mountain School in the early 2000s. And its one semester when you arent talking about SATs or where youre going to college; thats not their conversation there. Its a great break.



Photo credit: 130920 - Getty Images

The concept of nature programs, academically related or otherwise, as a tool to help high schoolers prepare for adulthood has been current among well-to-do families for decades. At the turn of the 20th century Teddy Roosevelt promoted getting out in nature generally, and the Boy Scouts of America in particular, to reinforce the masculinity of upper class young men.



As the college admission process has become more competitive, however, the need for students to have a diverse range of experiences has become paramount. In addition, theres an element of pedigree within these types of programs, says Hilary Levey Friedman, professor of education at Brown and author of Playing to Win: Raising Children in a Competitive Culture.

She says that not only do students in programs like the Mountain Schools develop skills necessary for success in adulthood, they make lifelong connections within elite circles, which creates a cycle that perpetuates such programs sociological prestige. If kids going there did not go off to great colleges and careers, Friedman adds, getting into these programs would not be as competitive.

The Mountain School, which is owned by Milton Academy (a boarding and day school in Massachusetts), normally receives more than 100 applications for each semester, most of them the result of recruitment at dozens of schools with high-achieving students. The admissions process is need-blind, and theres usually an even split between public and private school students in each highly curated class.

Were trying to pack as much diversity as possible into the 45 kids: artists and athletes, students from different geographies, a certain ratio of boys to girls. We want students of color, people from different economic backgrounds, says director of admissions Emily Adler Boren. She adds that the Mountain Schools students are learning not only in the classroom and on the farm but from one another, too. One person can have a big impact on such a small group.

For Myca, who was born in New York City, lived in London as a child, and moved to Westport just before starting at Staples High School, the program was recommended by her mother Giselle Hantz, a lawyer turned art specialist at Christies. Myca had recently quit ballet and hadnt really found another passion, and I thought she would benefit from being challenged and expanded in this very different way, Hantz says.

Myca wants to be a doctor when she grows up, and she sees the Mountain School as a way not only to boost her resume but to gain some life experience outside Westport, where rich kids live in monotonous comfort (Ive never known where my food comes from, she admits) and where her father works in hedge fundinglike, banking, some sort of dad job.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Hantz agrees with Mycas assessment; she says the aim of sending kids from affluent communities like Westport to the Mountain School is simply to thrust them into a challenging experience. Its about getting kids out of this sort of coddled, protective environment, she says. Any kid of mine would benefit from a more Rousseau-like experience, where you mix physical work with the work of the mind.

Myca says she was hesitant about going to Vermont, but now that Im here and actually doing it, its really amazing. I think its cool that were participating in something that we benefit from. Everything is maintained by us.



Today is a day of heavy academics, so after breakfast Myca hustles over to the academic building, which is honeycombed with classrooms, for humanities. The class is taught by Jack Kruse, who has been a faculty member since the schools inception. The topic of todays discussion, Kruse announces, as if he were Julian Morrow from Donna Tartts novel The Secret History, is how to think about science and uncertainty, the synthesis of conscious thought, and the concept of truth in an inherently subjective world.

Its a pretty heady assignment given the age of his students, but they take to it. He has them chew on the topic in smaller groups and then distill their thoughts down to a paragraph or two.

Myca leads the discussion in her group. The topics we choose to focus on are based on our biases and our opinions and experiences, so, like, there might be a whole world of possibilities, but weve only researched one, she says, her peers listening intently. So things that are supposed to be completely objective are still slanted by our own biases.

After lunch and the rest of her classes (math, environmental science, and English), Myca sits on the lawn with Caroline Meliones, a Spanish teacher who is her adviser, to discuss next weeks solo. Meliones talks about mindfulness, and the way teenagers are overstimulated and disconnected from nature. Just sitting and watching and being in nature, she says, is a really powerful experience.

Meliones draws three concentric circles on a piece of paper, the smallest one hardly bigger than a dot. All the things I think can happenshe points to the largest circlewhat actually could happenthe second circleand what actually does happenthe dotthats the visual of the power of fear in the mind. She pauses. Does that make you feel more comfortable? Or are you still, like, Nu-huh?

No, that makes me feel more comfortable, Myca says.

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Also, think about the future, to after solo, coming back on Saturday with all your friends, being like, That was so wild and crazy! I cant believe I did that! I cant wait to shower! I heard a crazy noise that I thought was a deer but it was just a stick falling! Having this experience that pushes you, that stretches you, not to the point of breaking or panic, but having this shared experiencethat you did that, that you persevered through something.

Myca says that she called a Mountain School alum earlier in the day for advice. I said, I am really hesitant about the solo. Do you have any words of encouragement? He just said, You are going to graduate college and get a job, and the chances of doing this in the future are slim to none, so now is the time to push yourself out of your comfort zone. 

Still, the contract for the solo sits unsigned at her feet. The last step is for Myca to sign it, committing to the trip. She puts it off, explaining that she needs another night to think about it.

Happy Farm Day! a student calls out in the dining hall the next morning. Farm manager Liana Horster addresses the group. I hope youre feeling as pumped as I am about today, she says. Our goal is to bring in all our storage cropsthats going to be thousands of pounds of produce. Were going to be bringing it in, washing it, culling it, packaging it, and storing it. Finally, after all these months and months of taking care of these crops, finally they are in a place where they are going to feed us. Today is that day.

The students eat quickly and then make their way up to the crop field, a six-acre plot atop a hill on the campuss south-facing slope. They split up into teams, each of which will handle a specific vegetable: potatoes, carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips. Myca is assigned to carrots, and she squats at a furrows end and begins pulling. With dirt-caked hands and dusty boots, she gawks at the organic carrots unique shapes. A truck makes trips to haul the vegetables down to campus to be cleaned and sorted; a smattering of trees in the distant hills beam a soft yellow as fall approaches the valley.



The students have picked all the vegetables by 11 a.m., so they switch to pulling weeds to prepare for the afternoon session, when a different group of students will spread compost, the first step in starting the process over again for subsequent semesters. After lunch Myca is assigned, along with two other students, to help assistant farm manager Gwynne Durham, who primarily takes care of the animals.



Photo credit: bob van den berg photography - Getty Images

Sheep are very prone to internal parasites, Durham tells them. You guys will wrangle them, and I will harvest some fecal material that we will put into a little bag. From there, she explains, the samples will be sent out for testing. If you start to feel jealous

of the poop picking? Myca interjects.

Durham smiles. I dont want to hear of any journal entries where youre upset that I hogged the best part!



They walk down to the field and herd the roughly 30 sheep into the barn. Durham shows the students how to wrangle a sheep: a modified headlock, holding an ear and gripping the chin. Its Mycas turn to catch a sheep.

What do I do? Just grab it? she asks. Durham gives her a quick Yep.

Can I get a little one? Myca asks. She goes after a lamb, gripping its neck and chin.

Im so sorry! she tells it as it tries to squirm away. Youre so tiny! Durham pulls a glove on, lifts the lambs tail, and successfully retrieves a sample.

The group finishes the task and takes the sheep back out to pasture. Myca stands with her arms outstretched, guiding them. For the rest of the afternoon they take down and reset grazing fences, shuffling the cows and sheep from one field to the next. At 5 p.m. the day is done, and all the students go swimming in a small pond at the schools entrance. Myca slowly wades in, shivering in the late afternoon shade. A glow falls off the mountains, engulfing the pond in a golden haze, the cattails lining its edges lit up like tiki torches in the slanting light.

Its a quick swim, and everyone rushes back to the dorms to change before dinner: shepherds pie, a fitting meal in light of the task they just completed. Myca, clad in sweatpants and slippers, sits with Meliones, her adviser. Upon finishing dinner, Myca follows Meliones to her faculty mailbox, where the solo contract awaits. Myca picks up a pen and finally, without hesitation, signs her name on the line.

For admissions and application information, visit mountainschool.org.

This story appears in the April 2020 Issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW



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STENOCARE, supplier of medicinal cannabis stock to approximately 70% of the Danish market, will distribute Panaxia manufactured pharmaceutical cannabis stock to authorized pharmacies in the country; the partners are exploring further collaboration in other countries in which STENOCAR operates; Denmark regulation enforcement is considered stringent among European countries, comprising a right-end marker with respect to cannabis-related quality and regulatory requirements.

Dr. Dadi Segal, CEO of Panaxia Israel: "Entering the Danish market, where regulation is among the most stringent in Europe, provides us with a standard that will allow entry into further European markets. We see Denmark as our entry gate into Scandinavian countries, and we look forward to helping thousands of patients in this important market. We are making progress towards the establishment of additional distribution agreements in our European target countries as we complete the registration processes in these countries."

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical company Panaxia Labs Israel Ltd. (Panaxia Israel, TASE: PNAX), the largest manufacturer of medical cannabis products in Israel, announced today its agreement with STENOCARE (STENOCARE, FRA:STENO), the largest distributor of medical cannabis stock in Denmark, to distribute and market Panaxia medical cannabis products in the Danish market.

The 5-year agreement stipulates that STENOCARE, distributor of medical cannabis stock to approximately 70% of the Danish market, will distribute, market, and sell Panaxia's products to authorized Danish pharmacies. A non-competition clause sets exclusivity of certain Panaxia products in the STENOCARE portfolio in this market. The agreement also stipulates distribution and public awareness campaigns concerning Panaxia cannabis products among relevant medical professionals. The partners are exploring additional potential collaboration in other European countries in which STENOCARE operates.

The Danish medicinal cannabis market has the most stringent entry barriers among European countries and is characterized by a low number of competitors. Therefore, despite being small, comprising about potential ten thousand patients in a four million strong population, the Danish market is a strategic market for Panaxia as it sets the highest regulatory standard. The number of Danish patients is expected to increase within four years four to five times fold, amounting to 1-2% of the population. An additional advantage of the Danish market is that products are sold in pharmacies pendant on prescription and in their final form (as opposed to markets where preparatory compounding is required of pharmacists).

Cannabis oil products are currently unavailable in Denmark as the only approved medicinal cannabis oil, of Canadian origin, was recently disqualified by the Danish authorities, leaving the Danish market in want of advanced forms of administration such as sublingual drop and tablets based on cannabis extract.

A long process of due diligence preceded the signing of the agreement with STENOCARE, during which STENOCARE assessed the preparedness and capacity of Panaxia to uphold the stringent regulatory requirements of the Danish Medicines Agency (DMA) and receive regulatory certification for marketing its products in Denmark. The company is expected to launch its sales in Denmark during Q3 of 2020 pendant upon the completion of registration and licensing for distribution in this market as well as an export permit from Israel to Europe. The herbal substance designated for products to be sold in the Danish market will be cultivated by Seach Medical Group Ltd. (Seach, TASE: SEMG) in a manner meeting specific criteria set by Danish regulation.

Dr. Dadi Segal, CEO of Panaxia Israel: "Entering Denmark, where regulations are most stringent within Europe sets a standard for us that will further allow us to enter other European markets. We regard Denmark as an entry point leading to other Scandinavian countries, where the use of medicinal cannabis is prohibited. We expect to extend our help to thousands of patients in this important market through a distribution agreement with a strategic partner such as STENOCARE, the most prominent player in the Danish market of medicinal cannabis, and provide them with our high-quality medical cannabis products that are characterized by regulatory compliance that is more stringent than the market typically accepts and accurately dosed to address the most stringent medicinal requirements. We are making progress towards the establishment of further distribution agreements in our European target markets as we finalize registration and licensing in these countries."

Mr. Thomas Skovlund Schnegelsberg, STENOCARE CEO: "As a company that is highly focused on import, supply, and distribution of finalized high-quality medical cannabis products to patients in Denmark, we chose Panaxia following a meticulous investigation of various suppliers of advanced medical cannabis products aimed at identifying the one manufacturer or supplier with the best high-quality products that would meet the stringent demands of the DMA. Panaxia's team of executives and experts, among who are doctors and even a Nobel laureate (Prof. Aaron Ciechanover), has impressed us in its pharmaceutical approach to medicinal cannabis, starting with manufacturing, through knowledge and clinical data of patients, all the way to its ability to grasp and comply with DMA requirements. These allow us to file for product approval upon signing the agreement. We are looking forward to our collaboration and extending our knowledge concerning effective care using these products for the benefit of our patients."

About STENOCARE

Founded in Denmark in 2017, STENOCARE's main goal is to participate in the four-year Danish Program of medical cannabis products for patients. The company is operating in a highly regulated market, under the jurisdiction and control of the Danish Medical Agency, where the products are legally available only via physician prescription. STENOCARE's headquarters is located in Denmark and its fully owned subsidiary, STENOCARE Ireland Ltd., is located in Ireland. For more information visit the company's site at: https://STENOCARE .com/.

About Panaxia Israel

Panaxia Israel (www.panaxia.co.il) is part of the pharmaceutical group of the Segal family, operating for over four decades, and manufacturing over 600 different pharmaceutical products, which it distributes in over 30 countries. Panaxia was founded by Dr. Dadi Segal, Dr.Eran Goldberg and Assi Rotbart, LL.b, and constitutes the Group's cannabis division. In addition, the sister-division of North America manufactures over 60 pharmaceutical products based on medical cannabis, including sublingual tablets, oral tablets, oils, inhalers, and more, intended to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress, cancer, chronic pains, epilepsy, anorexia, burns, and many other medical conditions. Panaxia employs around 90 employees and all clinical experiments are conducted by the company.

For further info: Email - robyn@panaxiapharmaceutical.com/ Tel (305) 933-4646

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/822703/Panaxia_Pharmaceutical_Logo.jpg




New data released by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development shows unemployment increases in nearly all of Tennessees 95 counties in January 2020.Ninety-four counties experienced some level of increase during the first month of the year. Meigs County is the only county in the state where unemployment remained unchanged in January.Unemployment rates are below 5 percent in 59 counties. The rate is 5 percent or greater, but less than 10 percent, in 36 counties.Williamson County continues to have the states lowest jobless numbers.Its new rate of 2.5 percent represents a 0.4 percentage point increase from December 2019, but a 0.1 percentage point decrease when comparing that figure to January 2019.Davidson and Rutherford counties have the next lowest rates at 2.7 percent. Both counties saw an increase of 0.4 percentage points when compared to December, but a 0.1 percentage point decrease compared to a year ago.Lincoln County has Tennessees highest unemployment rate in January. Its current figure of 7.5 percent represents a 1.4 percentage point increase from December and a 4.1 percentage point increase from January 2019.Perry Countys rate is up 2.6 percentage points from Decembers rate to 7.4 percent. Clay County saw an increase of 1.3 percentage points to 7.2 percent. Lake Countys new figure is 7.1 percent, up 2 percentage points from December, but down 2.7 percentage points from January 2019.Unlike the statewide unemployment rate, county rates are not seasonally adjusted.Statewide, January is the fifth consecutive month Tennessee recorded an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent.Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate did increase between December and January by 0.1 percentage point to the new rate of 3.6 percent.You can find a complete analysis of Tennessees January 2020 county unemployment data here.The state of Tennessee will release the February 2020 statewide unemployment rate Thursday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - California and other states which had fought a merger of Sprint Corp and T-Mobile US Inc over concerns about higher prices for consumers and less innovation have agreed to end their opposition.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, whose state worked with New York and others, said the states would not appeal a loss in a New York federal court in February.

"Today's settlement locks in new jobs and protections for vulnerable consumers, and it extends access to telecom services for our most underserved and rural communities," Becerra said in a statement.

California, Washington, D.C. and other states that fought the deal will be reimbursed for up to $15 million in litigation costs and receive enforceable commitments on pricing and job protections, Becerra's office said.

The companies agreed to offer all the plans that T-Mobile had in place in February 2019, or better, to residents of the plaintiff states for five years, according to a copy of the signing document which was seen by Reuters.

New T-Mobile has committed to offering residents of the plaintiff states two low-cost plans for at least five years, including one for $25 per month with 5 gigabytes of high-speed data.

The merged company agreed to offer all of T-Mobile and Sprint's retail employees in good standing in the plaintiff states substantially similar employment.

New York had previously said it would not appeal and is not part of this settlement.

The plaintiff states involved in the settlement are California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, DC and Wisconsin.

"While I would have preferred this megamerger not to move forward, I am pleased to have secured significant concessions for Connecticut consumers to lock in rates and protect Connecticut jobs," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said in a statement.

New York had previously said it would not appeal and was not part of this settlement.

The deal still must be approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, which is scheduled to make a final decision on April 16.

The U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission signed off on the merger last year after the companies agreed to divest Sprint's prepaid businesses, including Boost Mobile, to satellite television company Dish Network Corp , and give it access to 20,000 cell sites and hundreds of retail locations.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Lisa Shumaker)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Alice Eve who is starring in Julian Fellowes' new drama series Belgravia has said the 'feminist' Downton creator is 'completely biased' towards women.

Alice, 37, appeared on This Morning with presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield to talk about the period drama, which premieres on Sunday night at 9pm.

The actress, who plays the feisty Susan Trenchard, opened up about working with the 'feminist' producer and writer, revealing: 'He is completely biased towards us [women], he doesn't see women objectively, he gets right in there.'

Meanwhile Alice, known for her roles in Star Trek and blockbuster Bombshell, also revealed that the coronavirus outbreak is impacting her career, with a film she had been scheduled to start filming in April delayed 'indefinitely'.

Belgravia star Alice Eve, 37, appeared on This Morning where she said Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes was 'completely biased towards' women

The actress opened up about her latest role on the programme, explaining her character Susan is unhappily married and wanting a child.

She explained: 'She's an architect of her own fate, she's a determined little so-and-so.'

Alice revealed that writer and producer Julian, who also created Downton Abbey, is so specific about his direction that he sends recordings of how she should pronounce words and phrases.

Holly asked: 'So where Downton Abbey was safe, and nice, and we'd all sit down and watch, this is a bit more racey. Is that fair to say?'

The actress, who stars as Susan Trenchard in ITV's new period drama, said the programme was 'juicy, racy and scandalous'

Alice teased: 'It's juicy, racy, scandalous, spicy...its about the rise of the industrial class who unseat an upper class.

'They had new money, and then people fall in love, they do things and they have babies, and there's all sorts of problems with who gets titles. It's all scandalous.'

And, after Holly questioned whether her new character was 'ambitious', Alice replied: 'Ambitious is often used derogatorily for women sometimes. I don't think ambitious is a bad thing.

'But she has definitely been labelled barren. There wasn't the medical community we have now to support women in that area.'

Meanwhile she said series creator Julian could be precise with direction and often sent recordings of how she should pronounce words and phrases

Alice explained: 'It's a pretty brutal word, for a woman, but she has a hunch that says she is not the one...there were books at the time that said men couldn't be sterile so the onus was on her.

'So she was quite crafty and thought she would take matters into her own hands-'

Holly interrupted with a giggle, saying: 'She was testing a theory! She was a scientist, a pioneer.'

As the trio shared a laugh, Phil went on: 'You say Julian is a feminist. He writes very strong roles for women.'

Alice called series creator Julian Fellowes 'completely biased' towards women as she revealed how the writer was

Alice nodded, saying he was 'completely biased' towards women, and added: 'If you had a theory about a woman who might not love her husband, he's there, supporting you on why she might not. He'll be right there with you.'

Phil continued, asking if the costumes were uncomfortable, with Alice pointing to her green Jimmy Choos and admitting: 'Well I'm wearing these shoes voluntarily.

'It gives you a feeling of something, it makes you feel feminine. A corset does the same for me. In a corset, there's no room for slouching.

'No you can't get much food in, but in the evening, you can make up for it when its off.'

Alice also told presenters Holly and Phil how coronavirus is impacting her career, revealing a film project due to film in April has been delayed 'indefinitely'

Alice also revealed how coronavirus is impacting her career, explaining: 'I had a film scheduled to go in April but it's now been put back indefinitely.

'The bonus for me is community, and spirit that we're all coming together in.'

Alice, the daughter of Waking The Dead star Trevor Eve and actress Sharon Maughan, has appeared in big Hollywood franchises like Star Trek.

The actress also revealed that she didn't mind wearing corsets for the period drama, saying they made her feel 'feminine'

She splits her time between London and Los Angeles, and she filmed Belgravia in Victorian corners of London, Edinburgh and Bath.

Based on Fellowes' novel of the same name published in 2016, it tells the story of secrets and dishonour amongst the upper echelon of London society.

It later follows the families as secrets unravel behind the porticoed doors of Belgravia, one of Londons grandest postcode.
Some Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada may become drive-thru only while others could limit the number of people allowed inside, the company said, one day after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of coronavirus a pandemic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 file photo, a Starbucks barista hands a coffee drink to a customer from a drive-up window at a store near the company's corporate headquarters in Seattle. On Thursday, March 12, 2020, the company said some of their stores in the U.S. and Canada may become drive-thru only while others could limit the number of people allowed inside, one day after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of coronavirus a pandemic. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Some Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada may become drive-thru only while others could limit the number of people allowed inside, the company said, one day after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of coronavirus a pandemic.

As a last resort, we will close a store if we feel it is in the best interest of our customers and partners, or if we are directed to do so by government authorities, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said in a letter to customers.

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Johnson emphasized that any closures will be temporary. The company said decisions will be made on a store-by-store basis.

The Seattle roaster has approximately 15,000 U.S. stores and 1,600 Canadian stores. Most are owned by the company but some  including locations in retail stores and airports  are run by licensees.

Starbucks has already increased the pace of sanitizing stores and put into place a temporary ban on use of personal cups or in-store mugs and glassware.

In a separate letter to employees, the company said it is temporarily expanding catastrophe pay for employees who have been diagnosed with or exposed to the virus. Employees can use up to 14 days of catastrophe pay in addition to paid sick leave, vacation time and personal days.

Employees with symptoms are also being asked to stay home.

National chains like Starbucks Corp. that serve customers face-to-face are bearing the brunt of some of the fallout from the virus. The company's shares plunged 7% Thursday to a 52-week low. In the past month, since the gravity of the outbreak has hit home in the U.S., shares are down almost 30%.
TORONTO  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is quarantining himself at home after his wife exhibited flu-like symptoms.

Trudeau's office said Thursday that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau returned from a speaking engagement in Britain and had mild flu-like symptoms, including a low fever late, Wednesday night.

She is being tested for the COVID-19 disease and is awaiting results. Her symptoms have since subsided.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie's results," the statement said.

His office said the doctor's advice to the prime minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given that he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. He is spending the day in briefings, phone calls, and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining a special cabinet committee discussion on the new coronavirus.

Trudeau has also cancelled an in-person meeting with Canada's provincial premiers.

Opposition NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is also working from home after feeling unwell. Singh said he's been in contact with a doctor and they do not believe he has the virus but was advised to limit contact with the public until he feels better.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, meanwhile, is asking all people returning from travel abroad to self-isolate for 14 days. The measure will be mandatory for all government employees.

He is also asking organizers to cancel all indoor events attracting crowds of more than 250 people and all other large gatherings that are not considered essential.
NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB) and Business Partners for Sustainable Development (BPSD) today called for a cooperative, unified, business and government response to the global threat that is the COVID-19 Virus, on par with the challenges of the Space Race of the last century.

With a membership base of American companies operating globally and a longstanding role in representing business before the United Nations, and as the American affiliate of the leading international business organizations, USCIB and its partner organizations offer an extensive network to coordinate the private sector in its response to COVID-19.

"Grand challenges like COVID-19 require "moonshot thinking", where governments around the world develop transformative and inclusive programs in consultation with the business community in a collaborative effort to stem the spread of the virus," said Peter M. Robinson, President and CEO, USCIB. "Our networks can play a vital role in rapidly bringing together the considerable resources of the global business community. History tells us that in times of crisis, business and government, working together, have the capacity to develop collaborative, innovative solutions that are not possible without such cooperation."

Effective immediately, USCIB has taken steps to limit the spread of the virus by asking employees in New York and Washington, D.C. to work remotely until further notice. USCIB is utilizing teleconferencing tools to hold meetings virtually and limiting domestic and international travel in an effort to protect team members.

USCIB is working closely with public health expert Dr. Scott Ratzan, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Communications: International Perspectives, and Executive Director of Business Partners for Sustainable Development (BPSD).

BPSD is an international public-private partnership in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It provides a framework for government, business and civil society to share information, resources, activities and capabilities, and works in collaboration to achieve objectives together that the sectors cannot achieve independently.

"By working with the extensive networks of USCIB and its affiliated organizations, government can more rapidly mobilize the resources of the private sector and communicate in a more effective and timely manner," said Dr. Ratzan. "This coordinated, multi-lateral response is essential to effectively responding to COVID-19."

Recent initiatives of USCIB and its international affiliates that demonstrate how business and government can work together to develop response plans for COVID-19 include:

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) on the design of an action plan to reach millions of businesses which are seeking support and guidance to ensure business continuity. ICC is taking an inventory of all tools and instruments that will be essential for businesses in facing the current exceptional circumstances.

The International Organization of Employers (IOE) is working with the International Labor Organization (ILO) to distribute WHO guidance on simple and low-cost measures that can help prevent the spread of the disease while creating a healthier and more productive workplace.

Business at OECD (BIAC) is working with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on recommendations to help governments deal with the threat to the global economy posed by the coronavirus crisis.

USCIB and Business Partners for Sustainable Development (a partnership initiative of The USCIB Foundation), is working with Business Fights Poverty to develop an online "challenge" discussion on how business should tackle the coronavirus challenge.

More information is available at www.uscib.org.

SOURCE United States Council for International Business

Related Links

www.uscib.org


Former vice president Joe Biden named Jen O'Malley Dillon as his new campaign manager Thursday, a major shake-up that comes as the party's leading candidate plans an organizational expansion to prepare for the general election.

The move is intended to quell concerns raised in recent weeks by senior Democratic strategists about the leadership structure of the Biden campaign, which has been beset by underwhelming fundraising, scant staffing resources and organizational miscues during the early nominating contests.

"She will be a tremendous asset to a campaign that is only growing and getting stronger as we prepare to take the fight to Donald Trump this fall," Biden said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

The campaign shuffle is an acknowledgment that while Biden has had a remarkable recent run of victories - at least 15 of the past 21 contests - his operation was not up to the challenge posed by President Donald Trump if Biden wins the nomination.

After Biden performed well below expectations in the Iowa caucuses, Anita Dunn, a senior adviser who previously worked for President Barack Obama, took operational control of the campaign, sharing responsibilities with Biden's original campaign manager, Greg Schultz.

Dunn, who helped Biden prepare for a possible 2016 run for president, will also continue with the campaign, returning to her role as a senior adviser to Biden. Schultz, who prepared and built the Biden campaign and oversaw initial hiring and delegate strategy, will stay on in a new role. "I will value his continued input on this campaign," Biden said in the announcement.

"I look forward to building out the Biden coalition and doing the necessary preparations for a possible general election and making sure we coordinate with the local, state, and national Democratic infrastructure," Schultz said in a statement to The Washington Post.

In the wake of multiple victories in Tuesday's presidential primary contests, Biden's advisers acknowledged taking steps to expand virtually all parts of his shoestring campaign operation, from finance, field and communications departments to the senior leadership team, answering the concerns of senior Democrats who are bracing for a new wave of assaults from Trump.

"Jen is in a league of her own," said Guy Cecil, the chairman of Priorities USA, a super PAC that has committed to helping Biden. "She is smart, strategic and a terrific team builder. I can't imagine a better person to lead us into November."

Robby Mook, who managed Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign, also praised the new leadership structure.

"She comes to this with all the different pieces of the tool kit," Mook said of O'Malley Dillon. "The best campaign managers are talented and prepared, and she is coming with both."

He also favored Schultz's new role as one of the point people for coordinating with the Democratic National Committee.

"You want someone heading up that operation who has the deep trust of the candidate and of the inner circle," Mook said. "And you want someone with deep experience running the state operations, and Greg has both of those things."

Biden's new campaign manager also has deep ties across the party. O'Malley Dillon, 43, served as battleground states director for Obama's 2008 campaign and deputy campaign manager for his 2012 reelection effort. She was also executive director for the Democratic National Committee during his first term, putting her in the inner circle of Obama's political advisers.

More recently, she helped to lead an early 2019 Democratic effort to create a new for-profit data exchange to allow for greater information sharing between Democratic campaigns and affiliated groups, an effort party leaders see a crucial for catching up with the Republican data program.

O'Malley Dillon later served as the presidential campaign manager for former congressman Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, relocating to El Paso. After O'Rourke's campaign ended, she volunteered as a campaign adviser for Biden before the Nevada caucuses, and then continued on as an informal adviser to senior Biden campaign officials in recent weeks.

O'Malley Dillon will work out of the campaign's Philadelphia headquarters.

"Vice President Biden is turning out voters at record levels and building the broad coalition we need to ensure Donald Trump doesn't get a second term," O'Malley Dillon said in a statement. "It's an honor to help make him the 46th President and I'm ready to get to work."
A Brampton judge will face a second disciplinary hearing following an allegation that he committed perjury when he testified at his first disciplinary hearing.

Ontario Court Justice Donald McLeod was cleared of judicial misconduct in December 2018 by a discipline panel of the Ontario Judicial Council over his involvement with an advocacy group called the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC).

The council is now alleging that McLeod committed perjury and/or misled the hearing panel at that hearing regarding his involvement in the deportation case of former child refugee Abdoul Abdi, according to a notice of hearing filed with the council.

At the first hearing, McLeod testified he was not involved in the federations advocacy work regarding the Abdi case.

Contrary to his evidence at the hearing, Justice McLeod was involved in the FBCs efforts in this regard, including arranging and/or participating in a meeting with the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, on behalf of the FBC, the council alleges.

The second disciplinary hearing is set for July. None of the councils allegations have been proven.

In a response filed with the judicial council, McLeods lawyers argue that the evidence at the second hearing will show that he did not commit perjury or intentionally mislead the discipline panel. McLeod did meet with the immigration minister in January 2018, but not about the Abdi case, his lawyers say.

McLeods lawyers, Frank Addario and Wesley Dutcher-Walls, write that the evidence will show that the council did not interview anyone with first-hand knowledge of the meeting with the minister, which forms the basis of the perjury allegation.

The evidence will show that the alleged discussion about the Abdi case did not take place at the private meeting between Justice McLeod and Minister Hussen, says the response. The choice not to investigate this matter thoroughly led to a notice of hearing that contains unnecessary allegations against Justice McLeod.

According to a complaint received by the council in March 2019  and which was redacted to cover the identity of the complainant  the allegations against McLeod stem from a blog post by Toronto journalist and author Desmond Cole, who has covered McLeods discipline case and his role with the Federation of Black Canadians.

McLeod also faces allegations that he misled the first disciplinary panel about having disengaged from the activities on behalf of the FBC, and that he appeared at political events on behalf of the FBC in 2019, allegedly engaging in behaviour that could be seen as impermissible advocacy and lobbying.

His lawyers say he returned to the FBC in a limited role in 2019, which they say conformed to the legal rules set out by the panel at his first disciplinary hearing. They say he did not engage in advocacy and was not involved in fundraising or applying for government grants.

Finally, the council levelled allegations against McLeod regarding an incident that allegedly took place on Parliament Hill in 2019, in which a security guard requested a group of Black attendees at the National Black Summit to leave the cafeteria.

The council alleges McLeod told two youth delegates to the summit who witnessed the incident not to speak publicly about it.

His Honours counselling in this regard was or could be perceived as providing legal advice, and was part of and meant to further the advocacy of the FBC, the council alleges.

McLeods lawyers say he had a phone conversation with the two delegates and did not pressure or intimidate them.

Justice McLeod drew upon his own experiences as a Black man in Canada to provide advice to the youth delegates about the potential outcomes of making public allegations of racial profiling against law enforcement, the lawyers wrote in their response. This was personal advice.
DANBURY  Students must leave Western Connecticut State University campus housing for the next three weeks as the university tries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The university had already decided to run all academic programs online beginning March 23 through April 4 due to the number of cases of the virus in neighboring New York and the travel plans of students, faculty and staff over next weeks spring break, WCSU said. The decision was made in consultation with the Board of Regents.

Residential halls will close at 5 p.m. Friday. The expectation is that students will be permitted to return to campus housing on April 5, the university said.

Students were told to bring class materials home and ensure they can log into their courses. Faculty advisers will work with students to see if they can continue with their internships or clinical placements, the university said.

The university recommended students not attend internships at high-risk areas, such as hospitals, or to not attend if they have been exposed to coronavirus.

This is an evolving situation, but the university wants to facilitate the completion of the minimum contact hours required while taking safety concerns into consideration, the university said.

Campus buildings will remain open and administrative staff will continue to come to campus, unless they need to work from home due to health reasons, the university said.

All campus events through Thursday, April 30, have been canceled. A few will be held virtually. A list of events and their status are available online.

While WCSU has had no reported incidents of COVID-19 in our community, the precautions detailed above have been established to protect students, faculty, staff and community members, the university said. A reporting structure has been established for our constituents to report travel to affected areas and symptoms indicative of the virus, with protocols for self-quarantine if necessary.
Ashburn, Virginia, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An undisclosed e-retailer has signed a full-building lease with Merritt Properties for 137,350 square feet of space within the developers I-66 Business Park, a six-building Class-A industrial park located in Prince William County. The building will be used for warehousing purposes and is set to be completed next month. The retailer intends to occupy the space this summer.

CBRE brokers Tony Russo and Diane Drobia represented the developer and the full-building user in the transaction.

Leasing activity has exceeded our projections and triggered construction of our final building within the park, said Michael Larkin of Merritts Virginia office. With tremendous access to transportation systems, this park has seen high demand over the past three years, and we look forward to assisting more customers with their warehousing and distribution needs as we reach full occupancy.

Elsewhere in the park, new tenant Traffic Systems, Inc. is moving into 14,462 square feet this month, and United Brokerage Packaging is expanding into 20,000 additional square feet, bringing their total to 53,967 square feet at I-66 Business Park.

Everyone at United Brokerage Packaging feels very fortunate to have been the first tenant in Merritts I-66 Business Park project. Because of our steady growth in the Northern Virginia market, we are expanding into a second building within the park, said John Villermaux, general manager of United Brokerage Packaging. Merritt has yet again made this process seamless.

To date, Merritt has leased 393,000 square feet to 11 tenants within the park. This activity brings overall occupancy throughout the first five buildings at Merritt I-66 Business Park to 83 percent.

Construction on the final building, a 97,200-square-foot warehouse, is set to start next month and deliver during the third quarter of 2020. Once complete, the park will total 596,900 square feet.

Situated along Interstate 66, I-66 Business Park is located 28 miles west of Washington, DC, just east of the Prince William Parkway and the Route 234 Bypass in Manassas, Virginia. Buildings range from 30,600-137,350 square feet and offer 18 to 32-foot clear heights. Each property is rear loaded and provides dock and drive-in capabilities.

Merritts I-66 Business Park is being leased by Shaelyn Mullaney and Scott Longendyke of Merritt Properties.

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A senior Brazilian government official, who visited Mar-a-Lago last weekend and was close to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, has tested positive for coronavirus, the president confirmed Thursday.

We did nothing very unusual, Trump said according to the Washington Post. We sat next to other for a period of time... Well find out what happens. Lets put it this way: Im not concerned.

President Trump acknowledges he had dinner with a Brazilian official who has tested positive for coronavirus.



We did nothing very unusual, Trump says. "We sat next to each other for a period of timeWell find out what happens. Lets put it this way: Im not concerned."  Matt Viser (@mviser) March 12, 2020

Fabio Wajngarten, the communication director for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros, dined with Trump on Saturday at Mar-a-Lago, according to the New York Times.

Wajngarten tested positive for the virus after returning to Brazil with flu-like symptoms. He is awaiting the results of a second test to confirm the diagnosis, according to the newspaper Estadao.

Over the weekend, Wajngarten posted a photo with Trump. However, it is not clear when the photo was taken.

Related Content:
The total payout by Bharti Airtel, however, is half of Rs 35,586.01 crore liability estimated by the DoT.

New Delhi: A week before the 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 as the government, on 4 March, 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.
The New York Times has been slammed online for double standards after it recently posted two completely different news tweets about the lockdowns in China and Italy. It called the measure in China a campaign that has come at great cost to peoples livelihoods and personal liberties, while saying that Italy is risking its economy in an effort to contain Europes worst coronavirus outbreak, according to the WeChat accounts of Beijing Daily and China Daily.

This discrepancy drew widespread criticism online, with many saying the bias is too obvious.

Both tweets were published on March 8. The tweet on the lockdown in virus-hit Wuhan, capital of central Chinas Hubei province, was posted at 10:30 a.m., 20 minutes before the tweet about Italy.

To fight the coronavirus, China placed nearly 60 million people under lockdown and instituted strict quarantine and travel restrictions for hundreds of millions of others. Its campaign has come at great cost to peoples livelihoods and personal liberties, says the tweet.

Cant wait to see what you say about the lockdown in Italy. Im sure words like loss of liberties would be replaced with more beautiful ones like selfless sacrifices, commented an Internet user, whose post would turn out to be extremely prescient.

Breaking News: Italy is locking down Milan, Venice and much of its north, risking its economy in an effort to contain Europes worst coronavirus outbreak, the media said in another tweet just after the first one about China.

The tweets were quickly swamped with comments mocking and criticizing the media for its old trick of using double standards on whatever China does.

Double standards is the best game they know, said an Internet user.

China has made great sacrifices to avoid further spread of the epidemic. You can live without epidemic only through Chinas efforts. You should be grateful, commented another netizen.

Other comments included: China sacrifices a province to save the world from coronavirus, and Whatever China will do, western media will remain critical. If they do nothing they will be criticized and if they do something will get criticism either.

In fact, just a few days before the two tweets, The New York Times published an interview with Bruce Aylward, team lead of the WHO-China joint mission on COVID-19.

Journalists also say, Well, theyre only acting out of fear of the government, as if its some evil fire-breathing regime that eats babies. I talked to lots of people outside the system  in hotels, on trains, in the streets at night, Aylward said.

Theyre mobilized, like in a war, and its fear of the virus that was driving them. They really saw themselves as on the front lines of protecting the rest of China. And the world, stressed Aylward.

Since the article on the interview, which was published on March 4, was a clear demonstration of Chinas efforts and measures to contain the epidemic, its very confusing why media still posts such tweets about China.

History has proven that effective isolation and even lockdowns in emergency situations are some of the most primitive and yet most effective measures to prevent and control infectious disease, which is why China implemented the emergency action to lock down the epicenter of the epidemic with great courage and sense of responsibility.

As the facts have clearly shown, this huge sacrifice has brought significant rewards, as the country has not only been able to continuously improve its own epidemic situation, but also gained valuable time for other countries to take action.

With more and more patients being cured and discharged from hospitals, all 16 temporary hospitals in Wuhan were closed by Tuesday. Meanwhile, Chinas daily new confirmed cases of COVID-19 outside Hubei have remained at low levels for many consecutive days.
Iran asks IMF for $5B in emergency funding to battle coronavirus as cases spike

03/12/20

Source: Press TV

The Central Bank of Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $5 billion emergency funding to fight a coronavirus pandemic as the number of infections keeps growing in the country. The epidemic has so far killed 429 people in Iran and infected 10,075. In an Instagram post on Thursday, Abdulnaser Hemmati, governor of the Central Bank, said he had written to the IMF's head, Kristalina Georgieva, last week to stress Iran's "right to benefit from the fund's $50-billion Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI)."



Official Iran's statistics on coronavirus as of March 11th

Infections: 10,075

Deaths: 429

New Cases: 1,075

Recovered: 3,276

In the letter, the official highlighted the "widespread prevalence" of the virus - called COVID-19 - inside Iran and the need for the country to take measures to prevent further spread, treat the patients and counteract the economic aftermath of the disease.

"Given the size of the Islamic Republic of Iran's quota in the fund, it calls for the use of the RFI fast financing facility of around $5 billion," he added.



Source: Tehran Times

In a tweet on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also called on the IMF to extend support to Iran, who is a member state of the Washington-based lender.

Zarif said the IMF managing director "has stated that countries affected by #COVID19 will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument. Our Central Bank requested access to this facility immediately."

IMF's @KGeorgieva has stated that countries affected by #COVID19 will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument. Our Central Bank requested access to this facility immediately.



IMF/IMF Board should adhere to Fund's mandate, stand on right side of history & act responsibly.  Javad Zarif (@JZarif) March 12, 2020

The "IMF/IMF Board should adhere to fund's mandate, stand on right side of history and act responsibly," he said.

The outbreak - declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization - first emerged in China and is now spreading fast in other parts of the world.

Iran on Thursday reported 75 new deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll from the virus to 429.

"We have identified 1,075 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, meaning that there are 10,075 infected people in the country. The death toll is 429," Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state television.

The illness, whose symptoms are fever, cough and difficulty breathing, may cause lung lesions and pneumonia.

Since December 2019, over 119,400 people have been infected in several countries, with 4,300 deaths mostly in China.
UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th March, 2020) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres designated Stephanie Turco Williams of the United States as an Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (USMIL), UN Spokesperson's Office said in a statement.

On March 2, former special representative for Libya, Ghassan Salame, announced his resignation due to health reasons.

"Guterres announced today the designation of Stephanie Turco Williams of the United States as his Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)... until the appointment of a successor," the statement said on Wednesday. "Williams has served in UNSMIL as Deputy Special Representative (Political) since 2018. Before that appointment, she served as Chargee d'Affaires, a.i. at the Embassy of the United States in Tripoli (Libya External Office)."
Offer: RTE chief Dee Forbes has said she is willing to take a 10pc pay cut. Photo: Mark Condren

RTE may be forced to pay increases to almost 500 workers after a row erupted over its plan to freeze their wages.

The station has confirmed it does not intend to pay wage increments given to staff each year as they move up their pay scale.

It said it was not in a position to pay the increases to any of its staff as its financial situation remains "grave".

The move came after it suspended talks with unions on 60m cuts due to the coronavirus. But sources revealed its plan to withhold the increments due to 491 staff could now be halted.

This is because it would be forced to suspend its plan under the rules of an internal tribunal based at the Montrose campus. The long-standing rules aim to prevent the parties in disputes from inflaming rows further.

Sources said the status quo would have to be maintained and the increments paid in line with contractual entitlements. They said the industrial tribunal's rules have never been breached before.

Unions are considering referring the dispute to the industrial relations body and this was flagged at a meeting of the tribunal yesterday.

Sources last night warned the unions will not go back into the talks to reduce the troubled broadcaster's costs until the increments are paid.

The RTE Trade Union Group has spoken of its "shock" at the station's planned pay freeze.

It said it came after management suspended talks "to facilitate the station's commitment to dealing with the consequences of Covid-19".

Unacceptable

Shirley Bradshaw of the union group said that it was unacceptable that lower paid workers would have a pay cut enforced, when management "continues to refuse to address the culture of excessive pay at certain levels within the organisation".

Union sources said a proposal to cut pay for those earning more than 40,000 was close to agreement when talks ended. They said talks were suspended after unions tabled proposals to cut senior executive pay.

RTE director general Dee Forbes has previously said she will take a 10pc pay cut.
Although some provincial governments are working to introduce at-home testing for people with coronavirus symptoms, there are no immediate plans to introduce a similar strategy here.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Although some provincial governments are working to introduce at-home testing for people with coronavirus symptoms, there are no immediate plans to introduce a similar strategy here.

Manitoba has not recorded its first diagnosis of COVID-19, but as of last week 97 people had been tested. While the province has announced it will be working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to purchase $35.2 million worth of protective gear, personal testing kits were not included.

B.C. and Alberta are providing at-home testing services, which include nursing house calls to administer tests, along with lab facilities set up specifically for obtaining results; Ontario announced Monday it will be following suit.

The goal is to avoid the potential of people with mild symptoms overtaxing emergency rooms.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen said Tuesday that 40 tests per day are being administered in Manitoba.

A spokesperson for the province said it had identified home testing "as a consideration," but added that there was more work "needed to flesh out options."

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.

"However, this becomes more of a priority as the number of cases in the province increases," the spokesperson said in an email to the Free Press, "As there are no lab-confirmed cases known to date, work to prepare is continuing."

While provincial lab results take 24 hours, some people who have undergone testing say theyve been told they will hear back in a few days. The spokesperson attributed the delay to time getting samples to and from the lab.

"The timeline for testing currently remains at approximately 24 hours from receipt of the specimen at Cadham Provincial Laboratory," the email said. "This may have been a miscommunication with the patient, or reflects timeline for transportation of the sample."

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Donald Trump talk to journalists before a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House earlier this year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said people should stop panic buying amid widespread reports of bare shelves in supermarkets and shops.

Speaking in Washington DC on Thursday, Mr Varadkar also said he could not confirm that the Defence Forces are preparing to go on yellow alert and that preparations are being made for military quarantine zones.

I can't go into the detail of that, he said. But I can say that the Irish Defence Forces stand ready to aid the civil power if necessary and both the chief of staff the Defence Forces and the Garda Commissioner and their teams have been briefed about plans over the last couple of weeks.

So the Gardai and the Defence Forces stand ready to be available as needed."

Mr Varadkar said there was no need for panic-buying and that retailers had assured the government that supply chains are strong and any shelves that are empty this evening will be filled again tomorrow.

Mr Varadkars earlier announcement that schools and colleges would close for two weeks and restrictions put in place on mass gatherings prompted a rush by consumers to the shops throughout Thursday.

People dont need to engage in any panic-buying whatsoever, thats not necessary. That may create a problem in fact that doesnt exist, he said.

This is a rapidly developing situation, it is a dynamic situation and we will make sure that the public are updated everyday through our press conferences.

Read More

Mr Varadkar said that people returning from the Cheltenham racing festival and elsewhere will be informed of the risks of Covid-19 and what they should do if they develop symptoms.

He said that public health experts had advised that testing people at airports and ports would not be effective.

Mr Varadkar said it was not possible at this stage to answer questions people have about supports for businesses forced to close, but that the government was in talks with employers and unions trying to sort out all those different issues. He said that government was also trying to prioritise childcare solutions for health workers who are grappling with the Coronavirus crisis in hospitals.

Mr Varadkar defended the government from earlier criticism from Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster of his decision to announce emergency measures without any prior consultation. We are very different jurisdictions, different decisions will be made. But we are going to keep in very close contact so that we inform each other of decisions we're making and our thinking behind them, he said.

He also admitted that the decision to ban mass gatherings presented a complication for the holding of party conferences to ratify any programme for government that the parties may negotiate in the coming weeks. He also said there were real issues about appointing a new government at this time with new ministers, advisers and officials.

But he added: It's my view that the Covid-19 crisis shouldn't prevent a new government being formed if there is a majority in the Dail to do that. But in the meantime the government will continue to do its job.

Mr Varadkar was speaking after he met with US President Donald Trump and senior US politicians on a 36-hour visit to the US capital that has been overshadowed by the global Coronavirus pandemic.

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The Fine Gael leader said he had had second thoughts about visiting the US but said that he had the most important and most essential meetings during his trip. In a very short visit, I was able to have the crucial meetings that I needed to have and still be in touch with the office back home, he said.

Amid widespread criticism of President Trumps decision to ban people travelling to the US from European countries in the Schengen zone - which does not include Ireland - Mr Varadkar said he had been reassured that the US has a plan to deal with outbreaks following an earlier meeting with Vice President Mike Pence who is spearheading the US response.

This country, America, with its scientists, with its universities, with its labs, with its pharmaceutical companies has the capacity more so than anyone else to develop new tests, new treatments and the vaccine which is crucial and they're very much zeroed in on that.

He said that during quite a long meeting with Mr Trump in the Oval Office they discussed the trade gap between Ireland and the US, the E3 Visa law which would open up thousands of US visas for Irish people if passed through the Senate. He's committed once again to assisting us with that, Mr Varadkar said.
Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker N



P Prajapati has issued notices to 22 Congress MLAs who have resigned, asking them to appear before him by Friday and clarify whether they have quit voluntarily or under pressure, a legislature official said on Thursday.

The BJP, meanwhile, has said it will seek a floor test in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly on March 16, while the Congress said it is ready to face the test only after a decision on the resignations of the 22 MLAs.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said Speaker Prajapati has issued notices to the 22 MLAs, including six ministers, who have resigned.

Singh also sought to know why the MLAs were not meeting the Assembly speaker to submit their resignations.

The speaker has asked the 22 MLAs to appear before him by Friday to clarify whether they have resigned voluntarily or under any pressure, Vidhan Sabha principal secretary A P Singh said.

The 15-month-old Kamal Nath-led government has been facing deep crisis following the resignation of 22 Congress MLAs after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday.

"Since the government is in minority, we are going to request the governor and the Assembly speaker for a floor test on March 16 when the state budget session begins," BJP's chief whip in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Narottam Mishra told reporters here.

The governor and the speaker have the resignations of 22 MLAs. Now it is up to them to take a call, he said.

"This government has lost majority," senior BJP leader former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said here.

BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal also said that on the opening day of the state Assembly's budget session on March 16, they will press the Speaker for a floor test.

When asked about the BJP's demand, Digvijaya Singh said the chief minister is ready for a floor test.

"As Kamal Nathji has already said we are ready for the floor test. But, there should be a decision on the resignation of MLAs before the floor test," Singh said, while blaming the BJP for the constitutional crisis in the state.

"The resignations will be accepted when the MLAs meet the Speaker one-on-one and verify their signatures without any pressure. Then the resignations will be accepted and the floor test can be conducted," he said.

He said the speaker has already issued notices to the rebel MLAs, who should now go to him and clear the air.

"Nineteen Congress MLAs are in their (BJP's) captivity. The family members (of MLAs) are unable to talk to them. Their phones were taken away. It is also strange that the resignation of Congress MLAs were submitted to the speaker by BJP leader Bhupendra Singh," he said.

"Now, they (BJP) are expecting that their resignations should be accepted," the Congress leader said.

The BJP claimed this is an "internal matter" of the Congress, but at the same time leaders of the saffron party submitted the resignations of ruling party (Congress) MLAs to the speaker, he pointed out.

The Congress veteran also said people of the country should understand what kind of "manipulation the BJP has been doing to form its government".

Digvijaya Singh further said he never comprised with his ideology and believes in political accountability.

On Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh resigned soon after Scindia quit the party.

Of these legislators, 19 are currently staying in a resort in Bengaluru while three are still in Madhya Pradesh, sources said.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) at the headquarters.

An OPEC and non-OPEC technical panel meeting planned for March 18 in Vienna is unlikely to go ahead, three sources with knowledge of the matter said, a development suggesting no agreement yet on further steps to support the market.

A deal to reduce oil output by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+ that pumps over 40% of the world's oil, expires at the end of this month.

The panel, called the Joint Technical Committee, advises OPEC+ oil ministers.

Oil has fallen 38% to $31 a barrel since a ministerial meeting on Friday collapsed without a deal to deepen or extend supply cuts.

"The meeting is likely to be postponed," one of the sources said, referring to the March 18 panel.

Saudi Arabia would not attend the JTC meeting and it was unlikely to take part even via teleconference, one source said.

Three years of cooperation between OPEC, Russia and other producers ended in acrimony on Friday after Moscow refused to support deeper cuts to cope with the outbreak of coronavirus. OPEC responded by removing all limits on its own production.

No new ministerial meeting is planned for now. Saudi Arabia's energy minister said on Tuesday he did not see a need to hold one if there was no agreement on what steps to take.

"I fail to see the wisdom for holding meetings in May-June that would only demonstrate our failure in attending to what we should have done in a crisis like this and taking the necessary measures," Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told Reuters on March 10.

Russia has said it wants to keep open dialogue with allies. Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday that the JTC meeting was likely to be held via video conference.
BOSTON  Its not just shaking hands and kissing babies thats falling by the wayside as campaigns adapt to a world with coronavirus. Even passing a pen to sign a candidates petition is a potential danger.

Campaigns in Massachusetts are eyeing virtual town halls and increased digital ad spending to keep their bids afloat as voters hunker down at home to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

The Bay State has seen a steep rise in coronavirus cases over the past week, with 95 patients testing positive for coronavirus. Seventy seven of those cases are linked to a Biogen conference held at a Boston hotel in late February. Several of the remaining cases were linked to international travel, but a number of illnesses cannot be traced and are assumed to have spread person-to-person.

With most political events canceled and in-person meetings screeching to a halt, its going to be virtually impossible for candidates to shake hands  or bump elbows  with prospective voters or donors. Boston's big political St. Patricks Day Breakfast is off, the Massachusetts Democratic Party canceled the rest of its state caucuses until further notice, and the state Legislature is looking at ways to operate virtually" in the weeks ahead.

A Senate Democratic primary debate between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy on March 18 is on for now but will no longer include a studio audience due to coronavirus concerns, according to a spokesperson for Western Mass News, one of the organizations hosting the debate. Markey, who is 73, is at increased risk of contracting the virus due to his age.

Candidates are limited to three guests who must remain in the green room during the debate, and supporters and protesters may not congregate on the sidewalk outside the building. Outside media are barred from the debate, meaning candidates will not take questions from reporters after the event.

In the face of the viral outbreak, Kennedy will double campaign efforts in every way we can including phone calls and digital efforts, according to spokesperson Mike Cummings. Kennedy held a coronavirus roundtable in East Boston last week.

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Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., addresses The Road to the Green New Deal Tour final event at Howard University in Washington, Monday, May 13, 2019. (AP Photo/)

Markeys campaign is banking on relational, friend-to-friend organizing, campaign manager John Walsh said. That means supporters reach out to people they know, which can be done over the phone  and far away from crowds.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts on Tuesday, and the state Legislature plans to take up a $15 million supplemental budget bill next week to establish a "fund" to help mitigate the outbreak, but offered few details about what the fund would do.

The virus is particularly challenging for the nine Democrats running in the crowded race to replace Kennedy. Campaigns are grappling with how to reach voters during the coronavirus outbreak as the state's September primary creeps closer.

"We're all preparing for the worst," said Alex Vuskovic, campaign manager for Newton City Councilor Becky Grossman. "A lot of campaigns are concerned about losing out on prime retail politics time. It's a crowded primary and a small electorate.

Grossman is part of a crowded field of Democrats running to replace Kennedy.

"I think it will force campaigns to be a little more creative in how they're organizing and how they're getting out there," Vuskovic added.

Grossman announced three "virtual town halls" planned through April 23, which will be hosted on her campaign Facebook page. The first virtual town hall on March 19 will focus on public health.

Lately, campaigns have been trying to gather the 2,000 signatures necessary to appear on the ballot, which are due in early June. But even sharing pens comes with extra concern. Others running in Kennedys district echoed similar plans to cancel gatherings or hold virtual events if necessary. Campaigns are also eyeing more online outreach to voters, meaning paid digital ads.

Brookline Democrat Jesse Mermell, who is also running for that seat, is elbow-bumping rather than shaking hands according to spokesperson Karissa Hand, and carrying extra hand sanitizer. Her campaign put a halt on events with more than 50 people, and the office will no longer share food.

Mermell canceled the opening of her campaign headquarters planned for Saturday, and is orgnizing a "fun-filled virtual headquarters opening" that day instead, according to a Medium post from her campaign.

"Details are coming but you arent going to want to miss this one  from the safety of your home," Mermell said.
Justice Minister Naomi Long has said she is fully supportive of the redevelopment of Magilligan Prison.



The Minister was speaking following her first visit to the medium-security facility near Limavady, which holds more than 450 male prisoners.



Naomi Long said: Magilligan Prison is an important part of the community in the North West, and its retention on that site, and plans for redevelopment, are very much part of Northern Ireland Prison Service future projects.



Significant investment will be required to modernise the facility, and delivery of the redevelopment is dependent on the provision of capital funding, which will be considered as part of wider Executives budget discussions.



However, it is our aim at Magilligan Prison to have safe, secure and decent custody to support staff, visitors and the people who live here.



Progress

Commending the work of the Governors and staff, Ms Long added: I want to see Magilligan build on the progress it has made over recent years.



I have had the opportunity to speak with the Governor and his team about the initiatives they have developed to support and challenge the people in their care as they work towards resettlement back into the community.



But further progress is needed, in particular in supporting vulnerable people.



As ever, we will continue to work to ensure that all those in our care have the support they need.



The estimated cost to redevelop Magilligan is 108m.
A United States District Court judge ruled in favor of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline this week, dealing a blow to Nelson County in a fight over the locality in the ongoing permitting process for the natural gas project.

In a 24-page ruling and an accompanying order issued Monday, Judge Norman Moon of the U.S. District Courts Western District of Virginia said the ACP will not have to comply with Nelson County regulations governing floodplain crossings, bringing a sense of finality to an issue that has stretched on for more than a year. With the ruling, the company cleared a lingering hurdle to construct the intrastate pipeline through part of Nelson County.

The judge found the federal Natural Gas Act, preempts the requirements of Nelson Countys floodplain ordinance, which had been updated about a year before issues arose between the county and pipeline company.

Because the [Nelson County] Floodplain Regulations and their application through the [Board of Zoning Appeals] to deny [ACPs] variance request stands as a clear obstacle to the meaning and purpose of the [Natural Gas Act], it is therefore preempted as applied to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Moons ruling reads.

Changes in the countys ordinance, passed in September 2017, required ACP to obtain variances to cross certain areas in the county because the pipeline  which is slated to cross 600 total miles in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina and is both over budget and behind schedule  would qualify as a critical facility not normally allowed to be built in a floodplain.

Along its 27-mile course in Nelson County, the pipeline and associated access roads would cross 4 miles of designated floodplain s.

In December 2018, the Nelson County Board of Zoning Appeals voted 3-2 to deny ACP variance requests for floodplain crossings. ACP shortly thereafter sued the county  naming the Nelson County Board of Supervisors as a defendant  over the issue, marking the first and only time the company has sued a locality.

The ruling in favor of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is another positive step for the project. Were pleased that the conflict between local and federal law is now resolved and that we are even closer to bringing cleaner energy to the region, ACP spokesperson Ann Nallo said in a statement Wednesday.

Nelson Countys zoning requirements for floodplain crossings were unique from other localities in Virginia that would be crossed by the pipeline.

Of the 14 localities it plans to cross, 11 have floodplain requirements that could be taken care of by a zoning administrator, rather than requiring a variance approval from a local governing body like Nelson Countys.

Four of five Nelson County supervisors reached Wednesday said they believe the board will take a closer look at the ruling in the coming days. After talking with legal counsel, they will decide whether to pursue additional legal action.

All I can really say at this point is [we] will circle the wagons and figure out whats the appropriate course to take on this, said Ernie Reed, the boards Central District representative.

East District Supervisors Jesse Rutherford said he is disappointed by the judges ruling.

Tommy Harvey (North District) said he wasnt surprised by it.

I think we pretty much suspected this to start with, Harvey said. But it was worth a chance.

Harvey said Nelson County has been a forerunner in opposing the pipeline, but said he is not sure additional legal action would be advantageous.

Much of Moons ruling focused specifically on one word in Nelson Countys floodplain ordinance.

As part of a process spanning more than a year, officials worked to update the countys floodplain ordinance to comply with requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agencys National Flood Insurance Program. Among several changes passed by supervisors in 2017, critical facilities were defined as structures that produce, use, store, or transport hazardous materials.

Those critical facilities would be prohibited from being constructed in a floodplain, and a variance approved by the BZA would be required for such a structure  including a natural gas pipeline like the ACP  to be built in those areas.

When changes to the ordinance were being considered, Nelson officials based amendments on a model ordinance from FEMA, but one additional word  transport  was added.

Moon said in his ruling that Nelson Countys regulations, with the addition of the word transport, are not FEMA approved. This expanded definition was critical to defining the Atlantic Coast Pipeline as a critical facility, he added.

No federal law required Nelson County to pass its Floodplain Regulations as modified.  Nothing gives these Floodplain Regulations, as modified, the force of federal law now, Moons ruling reads.

Because the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission  which approved the interstate pipeline in fall 2017 with its issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity  allowed individuals and localities to comment about their concerns prior to the projects approval, Moon described Nelson Countys zoning decisions as circumventing the process.

The ruling states: The notion that any one locality in the path of a FERC-approved project can halt it entirely by second-guessing FERCs environment findings clearly conflicts with the certificate  which says state and local agencies, through application of state or local laws, may not prohibit or unreasonably delay the construction or operation of facilities approved by FERC. The ruling adds Nelsons process also conflicts with the fundamental purpose of the Natural Gas Act  to assure an adequate and reliable supply of gas at reasonable prices.

Moons ruling comes on the heels of another legal fight for the ACP. In February, the nations highest court took up an issue dealing with the pipelines permit to cross a section of the Appalachian Trail near the Nelson County-Augusta County border.

The New York Times on Feb. 24 reported the U.S. Supreme Court justices appear poised to back the pipeline in the case, in which the ACP challenges a U.S. appellate courts decision to throw out the permit allowing the trail crossing.

Reach Emily Brown at (434) 385-5529.
As the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, continues to spread in the U.S. and globally, the number of virus-related job postings have increased in the U.S. over the past week, reports job searching site Glassdoor.

Though some industries, like traveling, have put a temporary halt on hiring, Glassdoor found that between Feb. 29 and March 7, the number of job postings in government, biotech and pharmaceuticals, health care and the nonprofit industry tripled in the U.S. as a direct response to the virus outbreak.

When looking specifically at job listings that included "coronavirus", "2019-nCoV" and "COVID-19", Glassdoor saw that within one week postings with this language increased from 100 to 300 in the U.S. Globally, job postings with this language increased from 254 to 565 over the same one-week period.

While the trajectory of the coronavirus outbreak is still uncertain, Glassdoor senior economist Daniel Zhao tells CNBC Make It that job seekers in health care, government and nonprofit sectors should continue to keep an eye out for new opportunities because "many companies are still looking for talented workers to fill open positions."
ST. PAUL  With a growing number of workers being asked to self-quarantine out of concern for spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus, Democrats in the Minnesota House of Representative said Wednesday, March 11, that they would push to expand unemployment insurance to allow more people to collect during an outbreak.

The proposal along with a variety of others came a day after Gov. Tim Walz approved $21 million in funding for the department of health to contain and treat the disease and as the department on Wednesday ticked up the number of cases of COVID-19 in the state to five.

In the United States, 647 Americans have been diagnosed and 25 have died as a result of the virus, according to the CDC. And in Minnesota, 222 individuals had been tested for the illness as of Wednesday, state health officials said.

As the number of individuals asked to seek care or self-quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 grew, lawmakers said they should consider proposals to provide financial relief to workers and to health services.

"We want to keep Minnesotans safe. We're moving these bills and considering these bills as fast is as reasonably possible," Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, said. "Things are changing on kind of an hour-by-hour basis, so we just want to be prepared to consider the things that Minnesotans would want us to take action on."

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House Democrats put forth proposals that would grant the governor the authority to declare a peacetime emergency in the event of a health emergency and allow workers to seek unemployment insurance or paid sick leave if they are quarantined due to the outbreak of a communicable disease or if their employer shuts down due to the outbreak. The workers wouldn't be required to seek new employment as a condition of collecting unemployment in that situation.

"We are trying to be more proactive in situations where the employer may shut down due to quarantine or they don't allow any workers to come to work due to health concerns," Rep. Mohamud Noor, D-Minneapolis, said. "This is more about public safety, in order to ensure the individuals can continue to receive income."

Additional bills would also prevent price gouging certain crucial items during a time of emergency, ensure compensation for hourly workers in Minnesota's public schools and require health plans to cover testing, treatment and quarantine for COVID-19 patients without sharing those costs with the patients. And lawmakers said they should set up a revolving loan account to help health providers to cover the expense of treating new cases of the disease.

"We want to come out on the other side of this with a health care system that is at least as strong as it is right now," Rep. Tina Liebling, D-Rochester, said. "We definitely dont want to lose providers over this and hopefully well come out stronger."

Senate Republicans a day earlier said they would consider additional proposals to address COVID-19 but didn't commit to approving any of the plans.

"As we monitor our situation in Minnesota, we will take appropriate action on bipartisan ideas," Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said in a release. "The best thing now is for people to follow the advice of the experts: Cover your cough, stay home if you are sick, and wash your hands frequently."

A conversation about closing the Capitol

Hortman said legislative leaders, the governor and Minnesota health officials were in an ongoing discussion about the need to close the Capitol to the public if the disease's spread triggered that need.

And while the University of Minnesota on Wednesday announced that it would move from in-person classes on its campuses to online-only classes from March 18 through at least April 1, attendees at the Legislature didn't come from quite as broad geographic base.

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"It's not really a light switch of either we're functioning here as a state Capitol in legislative session or not, there are things we can do to slowly dial back risk to participants in the building if we need to," Hortman said. "We, so far, don't have a public health justification to start to limit public gatherings."
Its said that a crisis can make the reputation of a leader. But it can equally destroy them.

People remember Winston Churchill for his defiance during the Second Word War, or Franklin Delano Roosevelts humane response to the Great Depression. Yet, there are just as many failures. George W Bushs faltering reaction when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, allowed a natural disaster to swell into a tragedy nobody expected.

Now, Donald Trump, the 45th president, has stepped into the Oval Office and rolled the dice.

Having initially played down the threat presented by COVID-19, ignoring his own experts and airing his hunches about the likely mortality rate of the coronavirus, Trump has appeared on prime time television looking stern and  in the words of a television anchor  terrified.

We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will are be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground, he said.

He said there would be exemptions made for certain Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings.

He added: These prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom.

Officials later clarified the president was talking about travel to the US, and legal residents and citizens would not be prevented from withering the country. Nor would it apparently stop travel to Europe from Americans.

There were also reports that Trump did not mean to refer to cargo.

That ought not to downplay the scale of what Trump has done. In the hope of reassuring Americans and the financial markets, he has enforced the sort of travel restrictions not seen since 9/11.

The impact will be immediately clear. But it is likely to have huge disruption to trade and the travel industry.

 Coronavirus US: Washington becomes first state to ban large sporting religious and social events

Trumps actions  and thence his reputation  will likely be measured by two metrics. Do they halt the spread of the coronavirus, and will they act to calm and reassure people rather than scare them beyond the degree they already are.

If it turns out he has made things worse rather than better by botching the details, it could well be the latter.

Almost certainly sooner rather than later, we will find out.
On Wednesday night, the Cathedral of St. Paul led a procession around the block and as part of an ancient Roman Catholic ritual, the Penitential Procession in Time of Mortality or Epidemic.

In a spiritual response to the coronavirus COVID-19 respiratory disease pandemic that is spreading worldwide, more than 100 people took part in the walk around the downtown block in Birmingham where the cathedral sits and gathered inside for prayer.

The 16th Century ritual included a litany of the saints with petitions. From plague, famine, and war, Lord, deliver us, they prayed and repeated. That you deliver us from the scourge of pestilence, we beg you to hear us.

Although the ritual dates to the Council of Trent, held between 1545 and 1563 in northern Italy, versions of a ritual against plagues pre-dated the current liturgy, said the Rev. Bryan Jerabek, pastor of the cathedral.

The church is not just praying, but taking precautions, Jerabek said.

We have to trust in God but that doesnt mean we dont take every precaution, Jerabek said.

Parishioners are urged to wash their hands frequently and if theyre sick, stay home, Jerabek said.

Daily Mass at the cathedral continues as usual, but the holy water font has been emptied as a precaution. No shared chalice is used during communion and physical contact has been discouraged, including during the sign of peace, a traditional time of handshakes and greetings. Archbishop Thomas Rodi, head of the Archdiocese of Mobile, advised not to take communion directly from the ministers hand to the mouth. St. Vincents Hospital cancelled Sunday Masses in its chapels and limited visitors to two at a time.

Otherwise, we pray and ask God to keep us safe, Jerabek said.

The Black Plague, which struck Europe in 1347-48 and wiped out an estimated one-third of Europes population, was the worst of many medieval plagues. It returned in 1361 and 1374, and the Great Plague of 1665.

The bubonic plague, transmitted to humans by fleas from rats, continues to occur in some places in modern times.

St. Charles Borromeo, archbishop of Milan from 1564-84, took drastic measures during an outbreak of plague in 1576.

He actually did close the churches, Jerabek said. He conducted Mass at major intersections, so people could watch from a distance.

In times of plague, the church responded with prayers for protection, and when the plague subsided, they thanked God, Jerabek said.

In many European cities, such as Prague, there are public monuments of gratitude for the end of the plague, Jerabek said.

They thanked God for that, he said.
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], Mar 11 (ANI): The Cyberabad Police's Cyber Crime team arrested four members of a gang for cheating innocent victims in the name of sending expensive gifts by making friendship on the pretext of marriage through an online matrimony platform, VC Sajjan, Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad said on Wednesday.



The arrested persons were identified as Giddy Isaac Olu (36) native of Logos, Nigeria, Sagar Sharma (24), Sudeep Giri(26), Bikas Balmiki(25) all native of Karkando Chowk, Nepalgunj, Banke, Nepal.

Police have recovered 18 Mobile Phones, 9 ID proofs, 1 Passport, 25 SIM Cards, 1 Laptop, 67 Cheque Books, 15 Debit cards and amount frozen in Bank accounts is Rs 3,05,076.

On February 4, we received a complaint from a doctor stating that she registered her profile with an online matrimony platform in search of a partner. Soon, a person who posted his profile in the name of Dr Vipul Prakash contacted her and introduced himself as "Orthopaedic Surgeon at the UK" and chatted with her on WhatsApp and given the commitment of marrying her by visiting India.

After a few days, he informed her that he is sending expensive gifts. Later, she received a call from a person who in turn informed her that, he is calling from customs department, Delhi and asked her to pay amounts for release of gift box and share the bank account details for remitting amounts. Believing the same to be genuine, she paid an amount of Rs 7,45,500 into the bank accounts furnished to her. Subsequently, she realised that she was cheated by the fraudster in the name of alliance and requested for legal action.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Cyber Crime Police Station, Cyberabad and we have arrested four accused has and one person yet to be nabbed, Police said. (ANI)


GRAND BLANC, MI-- Grand Blanc Community Schools Superintendent Clarence Garner told parents in a March 12 districtwide letter that they should prepare for extended school closings of two weeks or more.

Everyone should start to make a plan for their family if the school is closed for an extended period of time (2 weeks or more), the letter states. We have to consider this as a possibility in the future.

The letter also says that there are remote learning options available for students who cannot be sent to school due to a pre-existing condition or compromised immune system.

Bobcat Families: Please see the attached letter from Superintendent Garner regarding Coronavirus/COVID 19 precautions... Posted by Grand Blanc Community Schools on Thursday, March 12, 2020

The district is also canceling all attendance-based incentive programs, field trips, school-sponsored travel, performances and assemblies including the high schools production of Legally Blonde.

Garner said the district will have more updates as they receive them.
Amazon.com Inc.s AMZN expansion of the cashierless checkout technology has been in full swing.

This is definitely something new. The company now plans to sell the cashierless technology to other retailers.

Reportedly, Amazons cashierless checkout technology will be launched in one of OTGs CIBO Express stores on Mar 16. The store  which offers food, drinks and other essentials  is located in the Newark Liberty International Airport.

Reportedly, the company has also signed several deals with other retailers in a bid to expand the Just Walk Out technology to more stores.

The move is inline with the companys strategy to expand the cashierless technology to as many stores as possible. In addition, adoption of the Just Walk Out technology would result in increased usage of Amazon Web Services, thereby expanding its customer base.

Markedly, the latest move of the retail giant would definitely add a feather to the lucrative services that Amazon offer to other retailers.

Amazon.com, Inc. Price and Consensus

Amazon.com, Inc. Price and Consensus

Amazon.com, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Amazon.com, Inc. Quote

Cashierless Store Technology Gains Momentum

With the expansion of this technology, Amazon aims at making an average office goers life easier in todays fast-paced world by allowing them to grab whatever food item they want.

The Just Walk Out technology uses machine learning and cameras to automatically detect the picked-up products. Once the shopping is done, one can simply leave the store. After a while, money will be charged online from the Amazon account of the customer.

The technology has been gaining a lot of momentum as it eliminates checkout queues, one of the frustrating parts of shopping in store, saving shoppers a lot of time and effort. The company definitely has first-mover advantage with this system.

Amazon had started its first cashier-free convenience store in 2018. Since then, the company has been making all efforts to open more physical Amazon Go convenience stores in the United States. Just recently, it opened a full-size grocery store called Amazon Go Grocery in Seattle. The store is 10,400 square feet and offers items including fresh produce, meats, and alcohol.

Story continues

We believe the latest move will help the company to further expand this technology in the growing online retail market.

Bottom Line

Amazons aggressive retail strategy and distribution strength will continue to benefit it in gaining traction in the retail space.

The growing footprint of Amazon Go store and its new efforts to expand the cashierless facility to other stores will further improve the companys market position in the retail space.

Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider

Amazon currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector include Stamps.com Inc. STMP, eBay Inc. EBAY and Atlassian Corp. TEAM. While Stamps.com and eBay sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Atlassian carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Long-term earnings growth for Stamps.com, Atlassian Corp. and eBay is currently projected at 15%, 22.3% and 11.3%, respectively.

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Meeting the same fate as its fellow airline players, Delta Air Lines DAL has been hit hard by the rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Mar 11. Fears surrounding this highly contagious disease are primarily responsible for the stock shedding 28.2% of its value in the past month. In comparison, the S&P 500 Index has depreciated 14.7%.

In a bid to fight coronavirus-led low demand for air travel, Delta has been taking various steps like reducing 10-15% of domestic capacity. Additionally, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company aims to trim international capacity by 20-25%. The latest measure announced in this respect was the extended suspension of its flights connecting the United States with China through May 31, 2020. Previously, this Atlanta-GA- based carrier had cancelled flights on the route until Apr 30.

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Moreover, Delta, which aims to reduce trans-pacific capacity by 65%, announced suspension of some flights to South Korea and Japan through May 31. The flight cancellations to Japan include suspension of a service between Portland and Tokyo apart from the one connecting Detroit and Nagoya. Moreover, flights between Detroit and Tokyo, which operated daily will now be available six times a week through May 31. Similarly, a daily service between Honolulu and Tokyo is now slashed to six times a week through May-end. Also, flights connecting Minneapolis with Tokyo and operating five times a week can now be accessed thrice until May 31.

Regarding South Korea, Delta announced actions like calling off flights between Atlanta and Incheon through the above-mentioned date. Also, the airline deferred the launch date of its service between Seoul-Incheon and Manila from May 1 to May 31. Further, the airline announced several changes to its trans-Atlantic flying schedule as part of its decision to cut 15-20% capacity in the region.

Story continues

Delta apart, carriers like American Airlines AAL, United Airlines UAL and Spirit Airlines SAVE declared capacity reductions in an attempt to combat the coronavirus-led dwindling demand.

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Queen Maxima continued her royal tour fashion parade today, as she sported two stylish outfits on the last day of her state visit to Indonesia with King Willem-Alexander.

The couple had a picturesque start to the day on a visit to Toba Lake in North Sumatra, where the Queen, 48, sported a pink floral dress.

Later, she changed into beige culottes with a matching top for to meet locals in the eco-town of Simila Lombu,

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 48, and her husband King Willem-Alexander, 52, had a picturesque start to the day on a visit to Toba Lake in Northern Sumatra, on the final day of their Indonesia tour

The couple also visit the eco village of Silima Lombu. Maxima performed an outfit change for a linen ensemble in beige with orange floral details

The couple started the day at Toba Lake, the biggest volcanic crater lake in Indonesia and South East Asia.

Maxima looked particularly stylish in a coral dress embroidered with floral detail and a matching hat as she and her husband posed for pictures on the north coast of Sumatra.

The dress was fitted at the waist with a fabric belt, adorned with buttons at the bust, which matched beads on her cream clutch bag.

Her blonde locks were tucked under the small hat in a stylish bun.

Willem-Alexander and Maxima were wrapped in the same shall as they received gifts from locals in the the Silima Lombu eco village in Tobalake

Locals seemed delighted to welcome the Dutch Royals by the Lake Toba in Northern Sumatra (pictured) as they arrived by boat

Playful locals wrapped the Dutch royal in the shawl as Maxima, wearing a stylish pair of rose tinted glasses, smiled widely

Her makeup enhanced her natural glow with a dash of blush and eye-shadow.

Willem-Alenxader looked smart in a beige suit, which he paired with a crisp white shirt and matching tie.

The couple looked relaxed as they posed together for a portrait by the shore, with the beautiful sea and mountains in the background.

Willem-Alexander waved to wellwishers during his visit to North Sumatra with Queen Maxima

Maxima donned a beautiful coral dress with floral detail and a hat over a neat bun for pictures next to Lake Toba

After taking a few pictures by themselves, Maxima and Willem-Alexander posed with several ministers and delegates as they visited Lake Toba to sign Indonesia-Netherland's Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on agriculture, health, coastal and maritime protection technologies, and circular economics and air technology

They then posed for a group pictures with several ministers and delegates to sign Indonesia-Netherland's Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on agriculture, health, coastal and maritime protection technologies, and circular economics and air technology.

Later on, the couple travelled to the eco-town of Silima Lombu.

For the occasion, Maxima switched to a more practical outfit, sporting a linen ensemble of beige culottes and a matching top embellished with orange and white flowers.

The picturesque view showed the beautiful Lake Toba and its surrounding mountains under the Indonesian sun

The Dutch royal observed locals women working on fabrics during their visit to the eco-town of Silima Lombu (pictured)

Her orange ballet shoes complemented the outfit perfectly.

For this visit, she let her hair down but kept it in place with a large headband made of linen, and wore a pair of large round sunglasses with tinted pink lenses.

Encouraged by villagers, Willem-Alexander and Maxima drapped themselves under the same shawl and were gifted a musical instrument resembling a small zither.

During their visit, the couple did not shake hands with their hosts with the exception of receptions hosted in their honour. Only 34 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Indonesia as of today, but the Netherlands counts 503, making it the fifth most affect country in Europe.
Few situations test the resilience, efficacy and flexibility of a citys institutional architecture, especially its public health system, as a fast-spreading fear-invoking epidemic like the coronavirus or CoVID-19. Cities, after all, are potential hotbeds of epidemics given their large populations, public transit systems, and uncontrollable person-to-person interactions.

Whether a city manages to ride out an epidemic with minimum loss depends partly on its good fortunes, partly on its administrators who manage information and health networks, and partly on its citizens. Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus caused maximum havoc in December-January was tagged an unprepared city by researchers of Hong Kong University. How is it looking in Mumbai, the gateway for international travellers, a city with super-dense population and an over-burdened public health system where two people tested positive?

Lets just say panic is an epidemic already. Municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi is on record that all efforts are on to prevent an outbreak of CoVID-19 in the city. Staff of civic and private hospitals have screened more than 1,75,000 international passengers so far which is how the group that visited Dubai in late February  two of whom from Pune tested positive  was sifted out. The state government has provided for isolation beds, quarantine facilities and ventilators.

However, there arent effective ways to screen local citizens or determine how many suspected citizens may have come into contact with and where. It boils down to self-reporting and/or alert and conscientious neighbourhood general practitioners that people usually approach with symptoms of flu. The alacrity with which the public health system responds to such a situation could make the difference between a few isolated cases or an epidemic spinning out of control as did the deadly Spanish Flu or Bombay Fever 102 years ago. From the docks and ports to the mills and offices, it claimed a staggering 1,600 lives in less than three weeks of June-July 1918.

Its a no-brainer that verified information spread ultra-fast can make all the difference at such times for panic is the default response of people. Mumbais pharmacies and clinics have run out of masks and hand sanitisers, Mumbaiites are sharing all sorts of half-baked cures on social media groups, myths and rumours are taking the place of information, central government minister Ramdas Athawale organised a morcha to shout Go Corona, Corona Go for it to recede (well, we wont die of humour), and there are discussions about gau-mutra and gobar to prevent CoVID-19. The only antidote to such madness is clear and succinct information in multiple languages. It helps to contain panic, rumours and half-baked cures.

The management of information and early outbreak form the intervention that the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention termed as essential for flattening the curve. Without adequate intervention, an outbreak will peak quickly leading to a sharp spiky curve of its path overwhelming the health system; with appropriate intervention, the rise in number of cases will happen over a longer period making the curve flatter and, more importantly, will remain within a systems capacity. Mumbai administrators attempts, if cases are detected, must be to keep the curve as flat as possible.

There is an enormous body of literature  medical and academic  that throws light on various aspects of the urban life and spread of epidemics including natural defences in cities and how they make a difference, the pattern of spread of an epidemic, why some cities are safer or more resistant than others, relationship between standard hygiene and epidemics, crowds and fast spread of pathogens, information protocols in such situations and so on.

The extreme step is to severely restrict all movement within a city or shut it down. Who can forget those photographs of Wuhans neighbourhoods in January that resembled ghost-towns? Cities in Italy and Iran are in lockdown. Mumbai will, hopefully, not be in this list if all of us play our part. How well prepared Mumbai is depends on who you ask. The administration must do its job but lets take due precautions like frequently washing hands, not sneezing or coughing without protection, self-quarantining if the need arises, not spreading myths and unverified information. Prepare but do not panic, dear Mumbaiites.

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Michel Andre Roux was born in the central French town of Charolles on April 19, 1941, and he spent his early years living over his grandfathers delicatessen. In 1946, the family moved to a suburb of Paris, and it was in the French capital that his passion for cooking really began, and his reputation was cemented. One of his jobs in Paris included a stint between 1958 and 1959 at the British Embassy.
Press Release

March 12, 2020 De Lima appeals for proactive, positive steps vs COVID-19 outbreak Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for more proactive and positive steps in ensuring that all Filipino families will be properly assisted in the face of national public health emergency brought about the coronavirus (or COVID-19) outbreak. De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, said she is appealing for concerted nationwide effort among all able Filipino people, including civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector, to arrest the further spread of the coronavirus, especially among the vulnerable sectors. "I call upon the government, volunteer and private sectors to go beyond the usual norm of public service to assist our countrymen, especially among the most vulnerable sectors, and lessen the burdens they carry for themselves and their families," she said. "An outbreak of disease knows no politics. Let's stop foolish bravado, non-sensical jokes and hysteria but provide clear guidance and direction to contain the further spread of the virus and its deleterious impact to our lives and economy," she added. Last March 9, the Philippines was placed under a state of national public health emergency following the surge of reported cases of transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Classes on all levels have also been suspended for a week in Metro Manila. In a three-day span, the confirmed cases rose quickly from six to 49 with most cases situated in the highly populated Metro Manila area. The virus surpassed the 14 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome recorded in 2003. The DOH has also implemented ''social distancing'' measures, including the cancellation of public events that would host large groups of people and recommending telecommuting to those who can work from home, among others. De Lima pointed out that the Filipino people have shown time and again that they can rise up to challenges, presently, the COVID-19 emergency, similar to the nationwide efforts to assist those affected by the recent eruption of Taal volcano. "At this point, merely saying 'do not panic' repeatedly on-air would not hinder the virus from spreading havoc in the country. What the people need now is to see their government taking decisive actions to stay on top of the crisis," she added. "Our government should ensure that access to reliable public utilities will remain unhindered. All should have access to right information, healthy food, clean supply of water, among others, to enable us to survive the brunt of this pandemic," she added. De Lima also appealed to CSOs and the private sector to explore creative, doable and practical ways, such as distribution of pocket size bottles of rubbing alcohol, face masks and pocket tissues, to spare the public from being exposed to further risks. In emergency situations such as a virus pandemic, the lady Senator from Bicol said that government institutions should be mindful of the basic human rights of the patients under monitoring or investigation and those that would be affected by quarantine or possible lockdown as they think of ways to stop the spread of the virus. "In this time of crisis, we do not need crazy ramblings, crude jokes and fake news. Our people need and demand to be assured that our government is not sleeping or making light of their safety and well-being," she said. "Many are already afraid. We can alleviate that fear by showing dignified responses and educated statements devoid of shady machinations to cover up the lack of governance and decisive action from our leaders," she added.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, two students from Maharashtra's Amravati district are stranded in Italy, prompting their parents to urge the local MP to facilitate their safe return to India

Nagpur: Amid the coronavirus outbreak, two students from Maharashtra's Amravati district are stranded in Italy, prompting their parents to urge the local MP to facilitate their safe return to India.

Pranav Vairale, who is pursuing civil engineering from Polytecnico Di Milano university, and Suraj Bundele, studying at the University of Marangoni Rovereto, have been stuck at the Milan airport in Italy since Wednesday.

Pranav's grand uncle Govind Vairale, who lives in Nagpur, told PTI on Thursday that in view of the current coronavirus scare, both the students booked their tickets with Air India on 2 February, and were supposed to board the flight from Milan on Wednesday.

He said while booking the tickets, the students were not told anything by the airline authorities, but when they went for the check-in at Milan airport on Wednesday, they were asked to produce the 'coronavirus negative certificate'.

Before going to the airport, the students had tried for a test at a hospital at Lecco in Italy, but they were denied the test, he claimed. "On the day of their travel, it was mentioned on the official website of the Government of India that such passengers would be screened at all airports and are required to produce self-declaration forms, but Air India authorities denied check-in to them and nearly 150 other passengers," the relative said.

The parents of both the students have written a letter to Lok Sabha member Navneet Rana to take steps to bring them back to India safely. Rana is an independent Lok Sabha member from Amravati.

In the latest wave of restrictions, Italy on Wednesday shut all stores except for pharmacies and food shops in a desperate bid to halt the spread of coronavirus that has killed 827 in the European country in just over two weeks.

Italy has witnessed nearly 60 percent of the deaths recorded outside China since the epidemic first started spreading from the Asian giant's central Hubei province in January.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday said it will provide $200 million (about Rs 1,480 crore) to companies manufacturing and distributing medicines, and other items needed to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

New Delhi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday said it will provide $200 million (about Rs 1,480 crore) to companies manufacturing and distributing medicines, and other items needed to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The funds will be made available through ADB's Supply Chain Finance Program and provided to selected companies within weeks, the Manila-headquartered multilateral funding agency said in a release.

Companies manufacturing and distributing products, including medicines and personal protective equipment, are increasingly strained as production and distribution ramp up to address COVID-19, it said.

The support from ADB, working in partnership with commercial banks, will provide such companies in Asia and the Pacific with additional working capital to meet expansion and other requirements.

"The support will target companies in the supply chain that are critical to fighting the virus," ADB Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance Steven Beck said.

"We're looking to support companies that want to ramp up production and therefore need to engage suppliers," he said.

Given that a single pool of supply chain finance is typically used for a subsequent delivery over a period of 120180 days, the $200 million facility could support more than $400 million of financing over the next 12 months, the release said.

Fifty-fifty risk sharing from partner commercial banks could boost support under the facility to $800 million over the same period.

"ADB is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on trade finance and is in regular contact with client banks to assess whether additional support is required," it said.

Earlier on 7 February, ADB came up with a $2 million assistance for COVID-19 to enhance detection, prevention, and response in China and the Greater Mekong Subregion.

It was followed by another $2 million on 26 February to support response against the outbreak in all its developing members, and a CNY130 million ($18.6 million) private sector loan to Wuhan-based pharmaceutical distributor Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd to support continuous supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment.
A delegation of AIADMK MPs met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here on Thursday and sought his intervention in the quick repatriation of 592 fishermen from Kanyakumari who are languishing in Iran due to coronavirus threat.

Tamil Nadu government's special representative here



N Thalavai Sundaram, who led the delegation, later told reporters that the minister promised them that his ministry would put in place additional staff to monitor and ensure repatriation of the fishermen.

The delegation also sought food, medical and water facilities to the affected fishermen, who went to Iran for fishing, and are now being kept in three islands of that country after the coronavirus outbreak, Sundaram said.

Priests from some local churches in Kanyakumari district were also part of the delegation.

The delegation also met Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan in this regard, said Soosai Antony, a priest from Kottar.

AIADMK Rajya Sabha members A Navaneethakrishnan, Vijila Sathyananth, R Vaithilingam and N Chandrasegharan, among others were part of the delegation.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier this month taken up with the Centre the issue of over 300 stranded fishermen from the state in Iran and sought steps for their immediate evacuation.

According to Chief Minister K Palaniswami, 450-odd Indians, including fishermen from Tamil Nadu, were working in various fishing vessels berthed and operating in Iranian ports.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Brian Head Welch opens wellness centers to help others find healing, body, mind, and spirit

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Evangelist and rock star Brian "Head" Welch announced the opening of a series of wellness centers to help others find healing.

Named Zivel, the performance and recovery suites are designed to help people function at their best. Some of the services included at the facilities are saltwater floating, cryotherapy, infrared sauna, oxygen therapy and compression therapy.

Welch, who is a member of the popular rock band Korn, is a recovering drug addict who has found solace in his Christian faith and is receiving therapy similar to what he offers at his wellness centers.

"In 2005, I found healing after years of struggling with addiction, depression, and suicidal ideation," Welch said in a statement. "I consider myself extremely blessed to have been made whole  body, mind and spirit  and I've devoted my life to help others find the healing they deserve."

"The most exciting thing for me about Zivel is that our services can help revitalize every part of a person's life, body, mind and spirit, which again, is what I feel is my life's purpose."

Welch developed the facility with Dr. Matt ONeill, a physical therapist he first met in 2017 when the doctor went on tour with the band to help them decompress during their gruesome tour schedule. They first launched a parent company in 2018 and Zivel was registered as an LLC later that year.

The spa-like facilities are now opened in Bakersfield, California; Spring Hill, Tennessee; and Melbourne, Florida. Facilities are also planned for Texas, Georgia, Washington State, Arizona, and an additional location in Florida.

Our goal is to open locations in every state, and eventually around the world to help people young and old. Because Zivel is more than just another spa offering, it is a way of life, where we truly believe that everyone should be treated and feel like a rock star, ONeill and Welch shared in the statement.

Welch is gearing up to hit the road with Korn this summer.
Foreign minister S Jaishankar has said that more than 6,000 Indians are stranded in different provinces of Iran, one of the worst-hit countries by coronavirus.

Tackling Coronavirus: Track Live Updates

As per available information, there are over 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 the state of Maharashtra; nearly 300 students primarily from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir; about 1000 fishermen, including from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat; and others who are on longer term stay in Iran for pursuing their livelihood and religious studies, Jaishankar said in the Lok Sabha.

He further said that government is trying for the return of these people and its initial focus is on visiting pilgrims. Many of them are in Qom, where Coronavirus incidence has been strong. The nature of their residency also increases the risks of exposure. Age is also a factor that was taken into account, said Jaishankar.

Watch | Coronavirus scare in India: Government suspends all visas as cases mount

The government received 529 samples from Iran and so far, 299 of them have tested negative, said the minister. He once again highlighted the situation in Italy and said that a medical team is being sent there from India.

The government moved on Wednesday to restrict travel into the country in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus. The government said late on Wednesday that it would suspend the vast majority of visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across the region continued to rise.

Also read: Coronavirus: Air India suspends flights to Rome, Milan, Seoul over COVID-19 fears

The move to restrict visas comes ahead of the busy summer travel period from April to June, and could also hamper the governments attempts to sell Air India, the only carrier flying long-haul international routes.

The number of coronavirus patients in India rose to 73 on Thursday with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh, and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union Health Ministry said.
Former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said he considers himself fortunate that the Bharatiya Janata Party accepted him in the party and assured party workers that he will work wholeheartedly for them.

IMAGE: BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia being felicitated by party leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan at the party office in Bhopal. Photograph: PTI Photo

Speaking at the state BJP office, Scindia also said the one thing he was bringing to the table was hard work.



"I am feeling fortunate to join the BJP. Party president J P Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah opened the doors of this party for me," Scindia said.

"I have brought only one thing with me (to BJP) and that is my hard work," Scindia said.



Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was present to welcome Scindia at the party office.



"The organisation and family in which I have spent 20 years, the organisation where I have put my hard work and efforts, I am leaving all that behind and handing myself over to you," said Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday.



"It is a very emotional day for me today. I consider myself fortunate that this family (BJP) opened the doors for me," he said.

IMAGE: BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia being felicitated by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar. Photograph: PTI Photo

Scindia said he joined the BJP "by leaving everything" and came with only a full heart.



He said his aim is "not politics but doing public service" and told the BJP leaders: "We had fought against each other in 2018, but today we are one."



Lauding Chouhan, Scindia said, "There are only two leaders in the state who never use air-conditioner in our vehicles... Chouhan and me.



Scindia said when he raised issues like injustice to farmers falsely accused in the Mandsaur firing case, he was asked (by Congress) to take to the streets.



"When Scindia family is challenged then it won't remain silent," he said.



Scindia said his only aim is to make a place in the heart of each and every BJP worker.

Welcoming Scindia, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar assured him that he will not have any complaints with the large BJP family.



Chouhan said, "We had a direct fight with Scindia ji, but someone else took the post (of chief minister).

IMAGE: BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia being welcomed by his supporters on his arrival at Bhopal Airport. Photograph: PTI Photo

Taunting Chief Minister Kamal Nath for organising IIFA ceremony, Chouhan said the government has no money for farmers but enough funds for the Bollywood event.

Scindia arrived at the state BJP headquarters to a grand welcome by the saffron party leaders amid bursting of crackers.



After reaching the BJP office Deendayal Parisar in posh Arera Colony in a rally from the airport, Scindia garlanded busts of his grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia, Deendayal Upadhyay and former BJP president Kushabhau Thakre.



Earlier, Scindia arrived at the airport on Thursday afternoon to a rousing welcome by BJP workers.



A large number of his supporters and BJP workers welcomed him at the airport with the party flags.



Local BJP activists and leaders rushed to greet the former Lok Sabha MP from Guna as soon as he stepped out of the airport.



Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, landed at the airport along with Tomar in a special aircraft.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As we head into mid-March, some Staten Islanders may be wondering what happened to winter, as New York City has had one of the least-snowiest winters on record, with temperatures averaging in the 40s, data shows.

This winter has been the fourth-least snowy (with only 4.8 inches in Central Park) of all New York City winters -- dating back as far as the 19th century, data shows.

And January saw an unusually warm weekend for Staten Islanders, with residents grabbing their bicycles out of storage or gearing up in running clothes to enjoy the weather and the outdoor air at local parks. View the gallery above to see photos from the winter weekend that seemed more like spring -- in which the high hit 68 degrees, according to timeanddate.com.

The average temperature in both January and February was 40 degrees, according to data.

In fact, the lack of severe winter weather hurt some small business owners on Staten Island.

The weather has caused a tremendous strain on the business, Steve Margarella, who owns 980Plow Corp., an Elm Park-based snow removal service, told the Advance/SILive.com in February. Statistically, we get about 29 inches of snow per year and we havent even gotten one 2-inch snowfall."

So why the lack of snow?

Its not necessarily global warming, its just the weather pattern. Weve had years before like this. We had storms fracking west... It seems low, but its not the lowest, said John Cristantello, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

The winter of 1972-1973 holds the top spot for the least snowiest, with only 2.8 inches recorded in Central Park.

Other winters with low snowfall took place in 2001-2002 (3.5 inches) and 1918-1919 (3.8 inches).

However, there is still a chance of snow. In 1946, New York City experienced a small trace of the white stuff as late as May.

Of course, any hopes of a late winter might be useless if Staten Islands resident groundhog Chuck, weather forecasters and the Farmers Almanac are right. They all say spring is coming early this year.
Juventus defender Daniele Rugani said he is "fine" as the Italy international quelled concerns about his health after testing positive for coronavirus.

Rugani tested positive for COVID-19 but is not displaying any symptoms, Serie A champions Juve revealed on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old contracted the virus following last week's clash with rivals Inter, and just six days before Juve are scheduled to play Lyon in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

Rugani urges "respect rules" amid coronavirus crisis

"You will have read the news and that's why I want to reassure all those who are worrying about me, I'm fine," Rugani wrote via social media.

"I urge everyone to respect the rules, because this virus makes no distinctions! Let's do it for ourselves, for our loved ones and for those around us #thankyou."

No country outside China has been more heavily affected by the virus, which originated in Wuhan in December and was on Wednesday confirmed as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Italy has responded strongly to the outbreak, with the country placed on lockdown by its government and suspending all domestic sport until April 3.

According to the WHO, Italy has more than 12,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and has seen over 800 deaths as a result.
A trio of Houston men were indicted Wednesday following testimony that they tricked vulnerable seniors across the country into mailing them thousands of dollars in cash to cover the fictional cost of an overpaid credit for tech support.

The scheme outlined by a federal prosecutor began with outreach: the fraudsters offered computer assistance by phone, email or online. Once they made contact with an elderly victim, they requested access to the persons home computer, where they obtained personal data including bank and credit card information. The victims paid a fee for the tech support services but were told they were due a refund. At this point, the scammers manipulated the victims documentation at home to look like theyd been refunded far too much money, according to court documents.

The final step of the process was requesting the seniors mail cash back to one of the fraud crew members, where a runner would pick it up using a fake identity at a FedEx or UPS store in the Houston area.

The victims were pressed to make cash payments, sometimes multiple times. In some cases, targets were threatened with bodily harm if they did not pay, according to the indictment.

Md Azad, also known as Azad Mohammed, 23, Sumit Kumar Singh, 27, and Himanshu Kumar, whose lawyer said he is in his early 20s, all Indian nationals who overstayed student visas, were indicted on charges of conspiracy and seven counts of mail fraud for soliciting the fraudulent payments between January and February 2020.

A lawyer for one of the men said he believed the trio were the little guys, in a much bigger operation probably based overseas, and likely picking up packages for the kingpins at the top.

In fact, they may not know entirely what they were engaged in, said Edward A Mallett, who represents Singh. The testimony yesterday was that when the police went to arrest them they were living on air mattresses in a one-bedroom apartment.

Investigators didnt find any cash at that location, Mallett said.

Kyle Shadowens, a U.S. postal inspector, testified before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances H. Stacy Wednesday that the men were operating  in their final days  out of newly rented apartment in southwest Houston where federal agents found several fake international drivers licenses. He indicated that the investigation was ongoing and his agency suspected others were involved in the ring.

The case stems from a tip from the Indiana State Police about a victim in Indiana. According to court documents, the operation lured in elderly customers in Texas, Indiana, California, Pennsylvania and Michigan who had sought help setting up new computers, asking the patrons to send cash payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to FedEx locations around Houston.

The magistrate judge ordered Azad and Kumar to be held in federal custody pending trial. On Thursday, Singh appeared before Stacy and told the judge through a Hindi interpreter that he didnt contest detention. He and the other two men are facing an ICE detainer if theyre not detained on the criminal charges, his attorney said.

The three men were arrested at an apartment in the Urban Palms in southwest Houston. There agents found fake IDs with photographs resembling some of the defendants under the names James Baptiste, Steve Bernard and Victor Ubert.

Mallet said the three men were not related but had all been working at an Indian restaurant. None had any prior criminal record in the U.S. or India.

Jed Silverman, who represents Azad, said his client was not pictured in any of the fake IDs and the evidence in court did not show hed been involved in the tech support scheme. The agent only mentioned hed taken out the lease for the apartment.

The evidence that weve seen at this point is scant at best. It showed that Mr. Azad was here and overstayed a visa and had a pending asylum application based on fact that he was a Muslim and faced discrimination in India.

Silverman said his client entered the U.S. on a J-1 visa. He had been in a hospitality and management program in India and had done hotel apprenticeships in Texas and Florida before.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
All schools, pre-schools and higher education establishments will close from 6pm today until March 29 in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) has said that the State Exams Commission only found out this morning about school closures.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the shock measures in a speech, saying that the nation has a duty to protect the elderly and the vulnerable in society.

There will be more cases and more deaths, he said, but the spread of the virus can be slowed.

All schools are to continue to plan lessons and, where possible, provide online resources for students or online lessons, the Department of Education has advised.

Schools are asked to be conscious of students that may not have access to online facilities and to prioritise exam classes.

Oral and aural exams scheduled for the coming weeks must now be cancelled, Kieran Christie of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) said on a special RTE broadcast about the new measures.

Teachers will be stepping up to meet the challenge but he warned that remote communication could be problematic due to the lack of decent broadband in many places.

It was a surprise but there has been speculation all week, he said.

Minister for Education Joe McHugh announced that his department would liaise with the Exams Commission to put contingency plans in place for exams, but no definite measures were announced.

Mr Christie said that, as far as he was aware, the State Exams Commission only found out this morning about school closures, but he said there would be many questions over the coming weeks about alternative exam arrangements.

All pupils and students, from pre-school to third level are urged to practice social distancing, the Department of Education advised, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19.

"This should include minimising social contact, avoiding meeting up and keeping physical space between them. Parents and guardians are urged to support their children to maintain this approach," a statement from the Department advised.

Physical classes in universities and higher education facilities will not be held during the closure.

Minister McHugh said: I am deeply conscious of the impact that school and education setting closures have on students, on families and on the wider community. This is a necessary and proportionate measure that we are taking as a pro-active measure to help contain the threat of Covid-19.

This is the right decision at the right time. It is taken in the best interests of our children, our young people, our school and college communities and our wider society.

At this point in time the closure is planned for two weeks, from tomorrow until March 29. The Government, in conjunction with the public health authorities, will keep the situation under ongoing review. Any change to that date will be communicated widely.

Pupils should take their books and learning materials home with them this evening.

This is a very challenging time for our pupils, our teachers, our students and our colleagues in further and higher education.

Ar scath a cheile a mhaireann na daoine  we all live in one anothers shadow. If there was ever a time for us to appreciate how closely we are connected, how much what we do maters to others, how much we rely on each other, this is it. This is a time where we all need to work together for the best possible outcome for our students. The support of everyone across the sector is vital, as we all strive to ensure that this threat is dealt with as effectively as possible.
Amid the global outbreak of coronavirus, India's national carrier, Air India on Thursday announced that it has cancelled multiple flights. The cancelled flights were scheduled for departure to several destinations like Rome, Milan and Seoul. Taking to Twitter, Air India announced the list of flights which have been cancelled. In addition, the airline also stated that passengers can request a complete refund of their booked tickets.

READ | Coronavirus: Air India Waive Cancellation Charge, Aviation Min Advises Privateers Follow

Air India cancels flights

The national carrier, through its Twitter handle mentioned that flights operating between March 14-28 will remain cancelled due to coronavirus. The list includes connecting flights to destinations like Rome, Milan and Seoul from Delhi. Here's a list of the cancelled flights.

#FlyAI: In view of the #coronavirus situation, the following flights are cancelled:



AI123/AI122(Delhi-Rome-Delhi) from 15th to 25th March 2020.



AI137/AI138(Delhi-Milan-Delhi) from 14th to 28th March 2020.



AI312/313(Delhi-Seoul-Delhi) from 14th to 28th March 2020. (1/2)  Air India (@airindiain) March 12, 2020

READ: IndiGo Cancels Flights To Doha Till March 17

However, Air India has also initiated a complete refund for passengers who have booked their tickets for the mentioned flights. The carrier has stated that passengers can request for a refund by contacting Air India's booking centres and agents for a full refund.

(2/2) Passengers are requested to contact Air India Booking office/call centre/booking agents for full refunds.  Air India (@airindiain) March 12, 2020

READ | Kuwait To Suspend All Flights From Friday Over Virus: State Media

IndiGo Cancels Flights

Air India is not the only airline which has cancelled flights. Earlier on March 9, another national carrier, IndiGo announced that it is cancelling flights to Doha till March 17, following travel ban imposed by Qatar on Indian nationals due to coronavirus scare. IndiGo in its company statement said:

"We will be monitoring the situation closely and will share further updates once the ban is lifted," it said.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Qatar has announced that it would temporarily ban entry of people coming from India and 13 other countries in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, which has infected thousands of people. Along with India, the temporary ban by Qatar will also be applicable on people travelling from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand.

READ: Delta Cuts Flights, Hiring As Virus Curbs Travel

(With PTI Inputs)
The location where Gardai investigating the abduction of Kevin Lunney recovered a horse box (Liam McBurney/PA)

Gardai have arrested a male in his 50s in relation to the abduction and assault on businessman Kevin Lunney.

He is currently being detained at Cavan Garda station under section 50 of the criminal justice act.

In September, Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) director Mr Lunney, 50, was abducted outside his home near Derrylin, Co Fermanagh and taken to a horsebox across the border, where he was savagely beaten.

His attackers broke his leg, sliced his fingernails and face with a Stanley knife, carved QIH on his chest, and doused the father of six in bleach.

The attack was the most serious in a six-year campaign of intimidation targeting the companies and directors that now control the business portfolio which was built up by fallen tycoon Sean Quinn, once Irelands richest man.

The Quinn family has repeatedly condemned the intimidation.

The Garda and PSNI established a joint investigation team to work on the case last November.

A serial criminal considered a key suspect in the kidnapping and torture died from a heart attack when police arrested him in Buxton, Derbyshire, last November.

Cyril McGuinness, known as Dublin Jimmy, was believed to have been hiding out in the area following the assault.

In December, four men were remanded in custody at a court in Co Cavan charged with the kidnap and torture of Mr Lunney.
Scientists are marveling over the exquisitely preserved skull of what appears to be the smallest-known bird - tinier than any hummingbird - encased in 99-million-year-old amber and boasting many odd traits including jaws studded with numerous puny teeth.

The skull, measuring about half an inch (14.25 mm) long, belongs to a bird called Oculudentavis khaungraae that lived during the Cretaceous Period in what is now northern Myanmar, the researchers said on Wednesday.

None of the rest of the body was preserved, but the researchers estimated that Oculudentavis weighed about an ounce (28 grams) and measured 2 inches (5 cm) long including a hypothetical bony tail.

I was totally blown away, said paleontologist Jingmai OConnor of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, describing her reaction upon seeing the fossil. Its probably the most beautifully preserved Mesozoic bird skull Ive ever seen, and its so weird.

The Mesozoic Era was the age of the dinosaurs.

I was amazed, added Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County paleontologist and study co-author Luis Chiappe.

OConnor said Oculudentavis appeared to be smaller than a bee hummingbird, until now considered the worlds littlest bird.

Oculudentavis shares few similarities, aside from size, with hummingbirds, which like all modern birds lack teeth and eat nectar. Many Mesozoic birds had teeth, but Oculudentavis possessed the most - about 100, with a conical shape and sharp ridges on the edges. Oculudentavis likely hunted insects. Hummingbirds have long beaks, unlike Oculudentavis.

Birds evolved from small feathered dinosaurs roughly 150 million years ago. Oculudentavis illustrates the almost-incomprehensible size difference among members of the dinosaur lineage, contrasting to contemporaneous South American long-necked, pillar-legged dinosaur Argentinosaurus at perhaps 90 tons and 115 feet (35 meters).

The size diversity hints at the amazing biology of dinosaurs, capable of sustaining such a diversity of forms, said OConnor, who led the research published in the journal Nature.

Its eyes resembled those of owls, with the eye bones forming a cone, indicating acute vision, OConnor said. Unlike birds of prey with forward-facing eyes and binocular vision enabling good depth perception, the eyes in Oculudentavis faced to the sides and bulged out of its head. The small size of the aperture of the eye bones indicates Oculudentavis was active during daytime.

Amber - fossilized tree sap - has preserved numerous small organisms including insects, lizards and frogs.

Amber is just amazing as a preservational medium, OConnor said. If the animal does not decay much before getting entombed in resin, the preservation is phenomenal: All the soft tissues preserved in three dimensions, like a window into an ancient world.

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Authorities say a Penns Grove man was drunk and speeding when he slammed head-on into another vehicle, killing a Delaware man in January.

David M. Thomas, 34, is charged with vehicular homicide and five counts of assault by auto.

He was driving an Audi Q7 northbound on Hook Road in Pennsville Township on the evening of Jan. 24 when his SUV struck the rear of a Honda CRV, then entered the southbound lane and collided with a Ford Focus driven by Wayne J. Corbin, 70, of Wilmington, Delaware, according to police.

Corbin died, while three passengers in his car were taken to a hospital with injuries. The CRV driver was also injured.

Before he was transported from the scene, Thomas stated he had been consuming alcoholic beverages just prior to operating the vehicle, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by police in the case. An open alcohol container was found in the cars passenger compartment, police noted.

The defendants blood alcohol content was measured at 0.156 percent, nearly double the legal limit of 0.08 percent, police said.

Surveillance video recovered from multiple locations along North Hook Road show Thomas car traveling at an extremely high rate of speed before the crash, according to the affidavit. Several witnesses reported seeing the Audi cross the centerline and strike the Ford head-on.

A motion by prosecutors for pre-trial detention was denied in February. Thomas is scheduled to appear in court April 9 for a pre-indictment conference.

His attorney declined to comment when contacted Thursday.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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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."

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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

Attachment
Tourists wear protective face masks as they walk around landmark Sagrada Familia basilica, in Barcelona

By Belen Carreno and Ingrid Melander

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain on Thursday announced measures to tackle the economic impact of the coronavirus epidemic, which the country's hoteliers described as a "tsunami" threatening the survival of their businesses.

Funds will be directed to central and regional health authorities, prices of drugs and medical equipment will be capped, and the tourism sector will also receive financial support.

There was little fresh money, however, in the 18 billion euros package announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, with some already earmarked payments simply brought forward.

The bulk of the package goes towards allowing small businesses to make split or delayed tax payments over the next six months.

"These are difficult moments but we will overcome then," Sanchez told a news conference. "We will overcome this with unity and responsibility from all."

Spain, which initially did little in response to the outbreak, changed tack this week after infections soared. It ordered a ban on flights from Italy, warned against domestic and foreign travel, and closed some schools.

Spain's coronavirus death toll rose to 84 on Thursday, a rise of nearly 80% overnight. Spain has the second-highest coronavirus tally in Europe behind Italy.

Sanchez urged more regions to close their schools and universities after Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias and Murcia on Thursday followed the Madrid region in announcing shutdowns.

Occupancy rates at Spanish hotels have fallen dramatically, with some left empty, and there are "no new bookings" due to the coronavirus epidemic, a top official at Spain's hotels federation CEHAT said.

"A tsunami has arrived. A meteorite has fallen on us and we have to see how we survive," CEHAT Secretary General Ramon Estalella told Reuters.

Amid measures announced by Sanchez, which did not go as far as Italy's 25 billion euros, are 2.8 billion euros in brought-forward transfers to regions, 1 billion euros for the health ministry and 400 million euros for the tourism sector.

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STAYING HOME

Sanchez will hold meetings via video conference after fellow minister Irene Montero was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Montero's partner Pablo Iglesias, who is deputy prime minister, was quarantined and all ministers will be tested, as will the royal family. The lower house of parliament, already shut, will extend its closure.

In Madrid, metro stations and bars were unusually quiet.

"Business has gone down a lot, really a lot," said Jose Manuel Gonzalez, manager of the Santa Barbara cafe. "It's very quiet at lunchtime, things have dropped by 40%- 50% since the school shutdown."

As #Imstayingathome became a top trending topic on Twitter in Spain, 20-year-old student Alejandro Fernandez said his grandparents had fled Madrid.

"My grandparents, who are 84 and 81 years old, have left for the countryside and have locked themselves up there. We have orders not to go visit them," Fernandez said.

After the Prado and other major museums in Madrid, Barcelona's Sagrada Familia cathedral said it was closing.

Madrid health authorities asked people to donate blood, after a drop in donations in recent days. Doctors in the capital say they could run out of beds in intensive care units.

China has offered help, including medical equipment, to tackle the outbreak, a Spanish government source told Reuters.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro, Emma Pinedo, Clara-Laeila Laudette, Joan Faus, Jesus Aguado, Richard Martin; Writing by Ingrid Melander and Belen Carreno; Editing by Giles Elgood)
People arriving from eight countries affected by the virus must be quarantined. Covid-19 is a now classified as a pandemic. No union-wide measures have been taken. Schools are closed in Kerala but exams will go ahead in Maharashtra. At least 2,000 people under observation in southern cities. Economic growth expected to drop to 5.3 per cent.

New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The Indian government has decided to suspend all tourist visas until 15 April. Indians returning from eight countries affected by the coronavirus  China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, Japan, Spain, Germany and France  will be placed under quarantine.

These decisions follow the announcement by the World Health Organisation that the Covid-19 outbreak constitutes a "pandemic". Meanwhile, Indias coronavirus count has reached 73.

The new visa provision will come into effect tomorrow at 5:30 am Indian Standard Time. Certain exceptions apply, namely diplomats, employees of the United Nations or international organisations, and people working on development projects.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan has urged all Indians to refrain from travelling to another country for any non-essential businesses.

The decisions were taken after a meeting chaired by Mr Vardhan that also included senior ministers like Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The purpose of the suspension is to prevent the virus from spreading across the country, which has a population of 1.3 billion people.

However, Indian authorities have not yet adopted measures that apply to the entire country. At present, each state in responsible for emergency management.

Kerala is the most affected state with 14 cases, including the grandparents, aged 85 and 90, of a man who travelled from Italy.

Yesterday, the authorities in Kochi quarantined 42 people coming from Italy. Another 2,000 are under observation, 300 in hospital.

State Health Minister K Shailaja has ordered the cancellation of all public events and the closure of schools, calling for strict community surveillance and urging people to avoid contact with others.

In Maharashtra, six people are the latest to be hospitalised. The states Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is urging people not to panic and those returning to India after a trip to go into self-isolation at home.

Nevertheless, Board exams are on, he said, so the schools are functional at the moment, but, if theres a need the State will issue a holiday.

According to experts, these restrictive measures will negatively impact the Indian economy, which relies on tourism.

Two days ago, Moodys said that growth in 2020 is expected to drop to 5.3 per cent. Civil aviation authorities have reported that the number of passengers landing in India is down from 70,000 to 62,000 a day and should fall to 40,000 with the latest travel ban.
Norwegian Cruise Line has been accused of giving customers misleading information and downplaying the seriousness of coronavirus to secure new bookings.

A whistleblower at NCL leaked a series of emails to the Miami New Times, in which a senior sales manager allegedly provided one-liners to help employees close sales with customers who were on the fence about booking a cruise.

Team, these are one liners [sic] to help you close your guests that are on the fence. DO NOT USE THESE unless the coronavirus is brought up, reportedly reads one email.

The only thing you need to worry about for your cruise is do you have enough sunscreen, says one of the reported lines, while another resorts to pressure booking by advising that demand for itineraries has soared as a result of Asian routes being cancelled.

I suggest we secure your reservation today to avoid you paying more tomorrow, reads the talking point.

At the more worrying end of the spectrum, some of the alleged one-liners appear to contain unfounded information about Covid-19.

The Coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise, one talking point allegedly says; another reportedly reads: Scientists and medical professionals have confirmed that the warm weather of the spring will be the end of the Coronavirus.

Most scientists in fact say its too soon to know how the virus will react in warm weather.

The anonymous NCL employee claimed to the Miami New Times that managers are downplaying the threat of coronavirus to staff too: Even during our department meetings, managers tell us that it isnt a big deal, that more people die from other things.

They said they had not used the one-liners on customers themselves as they felt uncomfortable about doing so, but that cruise sales had plummeted.

Despite this, they alleged that sales targets for employees had not been altered.

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

If you dont hit quota, you will absolutely be fired, they claimed.

NCL declined to comment on the allegations when The Independent got in touch.

It comes after the US State Department advised all citizens against travelling by cruise ship.
(Bloomberg) -- Vladimir Putin set the stage to stay on as Russias president for potentially another 16 years, reversing his past opposition to scrapping term limits so that he -- and only he -- can continue to rule the country.

I fully recognize my own personal responsibility toward the citizens of this country, Putin said Tuesday in an unscheduled speech before the lower house of parliament. I see that people, certainly most of society, await my own views and decisions on the key question of governing the state, both today and after 2024 for a fifth and possibly sixth presidential term.

He spoke after a surprise appeal by ruling United Russia lawmakers for him to stay on as president once his current term ends in 2024. Their proposal to reset the term limit under a revised constitution, allowing Putin two more six-year terms, may be possible but on one condition -- that Russias Constitutional Court give an official ruling that it wouldnt contradict the countrys basic law, Putin said.

Putin, whos been in power since 2000, is already the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. For years, he rejected the notion of joining a long line of strongmen in amending the constitution to keep power, ranging from Chinas Xi Jinping to central Asian leaders in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

His position appears to have shifted as alternative Kremlin proposals for keeping power that included a takeover of neighboring Belarus and ruling through parliament or via Russias State Council -- foundered. Advocates argue that constitutional changes announced by Putin in January and now passing through parliament mean he can simply disregard his current presidential terms under the new rules.

The Constitutional Court ruling -- along with a national vote scheduled for April 22 in support of the plan that Putin also set as a condition -- is all but certain to go the Kremlins way in Russias tightly-controlled political system. It opens the way for Putin, 67, to rule potentially to 2036, when he would be nearly 84.

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Noting that the U.S. imposed presidential term limits only in 1951 -- thats practically yesterday in historical terms -- Putin said Russia was still strengthening its political system after the turmoil that followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

In such times, stability is probably more important and should be the priority, he said. Once the country has become stronger, rotation of leaders takes priority, he added, without specifying when that would be.

Putin is achieving his main goal of staving off the day when he will have to give up power, said Tatiana Stanovaya, head of R.Politik, a political consultancy. He wants to get the elites and society used to the idea that he may stay on.

The president addressed the State Duma after Valentina Tereshkova, a respected United Russia lawmaker who was also the first woman in space, made the proposal to reset the term limit under the revised constitution, saying Putin needs to be there -- in case something goes wrong. Shortly after Putin spoke, the Duma passed her proposal by 380 votes to 43.

This proposal will calm everyone down, Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the upper house of parliament, told state television. All this discussion of who would be the successor, what would happen to national security, these are all alarming processes.

The presidents reversal of his opposition to changing term limits came as markets have been roiled by the coronavirus outbreak and the oil-price war that followed last weeks collapse of the accord on output cuts between Russia and OPEC states led by Saudi Arabia. Putin spoke days after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman consolidated his grip on power with an unprecedented crackdown by security forces who arrested senior princes and military officials.

The overhaul to Russias 1993 constitution was widely seen as an effort to create options for Putin to retain control even after he steps down as president. But until Tuesdays announcement, confusion surrounded his plans as initial expectations faded that the presidency would be weakened by moves to bolster parliament and the State Council, an advisory body that Putin heads.

The shift in approach also followed unsuccessful Kremlin efforts to pressure neighboring Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to agree to merge his country with Russia, allowing Putin to sidestep term limits as head of the new unified state.

He doesnt want to become a lame duck, said Evgeny Minchenko, a Moscow political consultant. While Putins likely to remain in office, the constitutional changes still leave a lot of room for maneuver and there could be other moves.

Putin appears to have finally decided in favor of running again in 2024, Dmitri Trenin, director of the Moscow Carnegie Center, said in a tweet. That may make the eventual transition, whenever it happens, less smooth.

(Updates with detail in fourth, fifth paragraphs)

--With assistance from Ilya Arkhipov, Stepan Kravchenko and Evgenia Pismennaya.

To contact the reporters on this story: Henry Meyer in Moscow at hmeyer4@bloomberg.net;Andrey Biryukov in Moscow at abiryukov5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Gregory L. White at gwhite64@bloomberg.net, Tony Halpin

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

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A Derry councillor has said that an 'all-Ireland strategy' is required to deal with the health and economic impacts of coronavirus.

People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin said: "The Tories have already shown far too much complacency in responding to the Coronavirus threat. Cheltenham races were cancelled in 2001 because of foot-and-mouth disease - but were allowed to go ahead now when there is a much greater public health risk.

"Multinational airlines and corporations should not be allowed to dictate the response to what the World Health Organisation has declared a pandemic. We need a response that genuinely puts people before profit. Government resources must be made available and guided by the leading medical advice - not by airline CEOs worried about how much profit shareholders will receive. The priority must be protecting communities.

"People Before Profit has called for the Stormont Executive to demand Westminster immediately establish a Coronavirus emergency relief fund. If Boris Johnson refuses to act with the necessary urgency the Minister for Finance should source funding at once."

He continued: "An emergency relief fund making sick pay available to all workers should already have been set up. Workers on zero hour contracts, in the gig economy or with bogus self-employment status will feel pressure to work even if they don't feel well. Making sick pay available to all workers protects the most vulnerable.

"Other countries have already begun a period of rent freezes, tax breaks and mortgage relief. Stormont must do the same and more.

"An emergency relief fund will make sure our health services are funded to deal with the crisis. Money should be made no object to cleanse public areas and make soap/hand sanitation available in as many public places as possible. Our health service must be supplied with all necessary equipment. Immediate audits should be conducted and additional resources put in place where necessary without delay.

"Any product that can reduce the spread of the Coronavirus should be made available to the public free of charge. Action should be taken on price gouging with price caps.

"At Stormont, in the Dail and in local councils North and South People Before Profit representatives are calling for an all-Ireland approach to containing the spread of Coronavirus. The work of public health bodies across the island must be integrated to deal with the crisis. Stormont and the Dail should create an emergency committee to coordinate containment and response across Ireland.

"We should not have a situation where the North and South is bound by separate guidelines. This is completely impractical and would, especially in border counties like Derry and Donegal, put lives at further risk.

"Saving lives now requires a shift in political will. People Before Profit will work with others to make sure government resources are put on war footing to limit the impact of the Coronavirus as much as possible."


Twelve prisoners have died and 16 escaped following chaos in Italys prisons triggered by measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Protests erupted in jails across the country  now on lockdown over the virus  after authorities stopped or limited normal family visits.

Unfortunately, 12 inmates have died from what initial findings suggest are mostly overdoses on drugs taken from the medical room during the disorder, the justice minister has said.

Earlier this week, it was reported that three prisoners had died at Modena prison in northern Italy, and three others shortly after being transferred elsewhere, with multiple others hospitalised.

One inmate potentially suffocated to death after fires were started, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson told The Independent on Monday.

While briefing the Italian parliament on the prison riots, Alfonso Bonafede, the justice minister, said the unrest involved some 6,000 prisoners at more than two dozen facilities around the country.

Mr Bonafede confirmed on Wednesday that 16 inmates broke out of a medium-security prison in Foggia in southern Italy and remained at large.

He said 56 escapees had been brought back to jail, where inmates had set fire to mattresses and bed sheets.

The minister said 40 prison guards were injured during the riots.

The riots on Sunday and Monday broke out after corrections authorities suspended or limited family visits for two weeks to prevent the spread of infections.

In some cases, relatives gathered outside prisons to block traffic and stage their own protests.

Mr Bonafede said that he was aware that many inmates were worried about their health and prison conditions as the virus takes hold of Italy, and that authorities have worked to safeguard the health and safety of all those who work or live in prison. 

The Ministry of Justice said 100,000 face masks have been allocated to protect prison guards, personnel and inmates.

Recommended UK coronavirus response criticised by former public health director

The whole of Italy entered a state of lockdown earlier this week over soaring numbers of coronavirus cases in the country.

More than 12,000 people have been infected with Covid-19  a flu-like disease that can develop into pneumonia  in Italy as of Thursday morning, with according to a Reuters tally.

Meanwhile, more than 800 confirmed coronavirus patients have died in the European country worst-hit by the virus.

Public gatherings have been cancelled, schools closed and movement restricted as authorities try to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Two more passengers on the Viking Cruise Journey cruise ship docked at Kampong Cham province have tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, a day after another British woman on the same cruise tested positive.

The Ministry of Health confirmed Wednesday night that a British couple aboard the cruise had tested positive. The positive tests coincided with an announcement from the World Health Organization on Wednesday, classifying the viral outbreak a pandemic.

Five of the cruise passengers had been tested for COVID-19, after which one British woman tested positive on Tuesday. The five were on a flight from London to Hanoi last week, when one of the passengers onboard tested positive for the virus. The Vietnamese authorities alerted Cambodian officials, after which the five British nationals were tested.

Following the positive test, the remaining 59 passengers were tested on Wednesday. There are 30 passengers onboard the cruise, including citizens from Great Britain, United States, Canada, Holland, Vietnam, and Myanmar, according to the Health Ministry. Twenty-four of the 34 crew members are Cambodians.

Provincial Governor Un Chanda said 61 passengers and crew, excluding the three infected individuals, had been quarantined at hotels in the provincial town and kept isolated from each other.

We prepare [around] 60 hotel rooms, each of them will stay separately in a room, and this is in accordance with the instructions from health officials, Un Chanda said.

The two positive cases from Wednesday have been quarantined at the provincial referral hospital. But the other British woman was transferred to Phnom Penh, because she needed special assistance on account of a disability, said Health Ministry spokesperson Or Vandine.

Four individuals who came in contact with the British woman  a translator, the translators daughter and two tuk tuk drivers  had tested negative, said Or Vandine, and were asked to remain in self quarantine for 14 days.

The cruise travelled along the Mekong River from the My Tho port, near Ho Chi Minh City, through Chau Doc and Kaoam Samnor. The cruise left on March 5 and arrived in Phnom Penh on March 7, after which it proceeded to Kampong Cham.

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on Wednesday, after its rapid spread to 114 countries, with more than 118,000 cases reported and around 4,300 deaths globally.

We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus. This is the first pandemic caused by a coronavirus. said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

We expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higher, he said in the press conference.
Members included Vivek Murthy, a former surgeon general; Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a prominent oncologist and a vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania; and Lisa Monaco, who served as a homeland security and counterterrorism adviser to Mr. Obama. And when he spoke on Thursday, he did so against a backdrop of American flags, reading from teleprompters to the click of cameras and beginning with a nod to his fellow Americans, a setting reminiscent of a White House address.

No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks, he said. But I can promise you this. When Im president, we will be better prepared, respond better and recover better. Well lead with science. Well listen to the experts. Well heed their advice. And well build American leadership and rebuild it to rally the world to meet the global threats.

Throughout his remarks, Mr. Biden nodded  as he often does  to what he cast as the resiliency and potential of the American people.

Mr. Biden, who is 77, did not stop to take shouted questions about his own health.

He has previously expressed shock and frustration at Mr. Trumps past skeptical remarks about the severity of the virus, and has sketched out other steps he would take as president to fight it, noting his work as vice president in combating Ebola. Ron Klain, who was Mr. Obamas Ebola czar, is a top Biden adviser.

Mr. Trumps own somber address Wednesday night, in which he announced he was blocking most travel from continental Europe and promised new aid for workers and businesses, was a break from his previous efforts to play down the effects of the outbreak. But he also mischaracterized some of his administrations new travel policies and described the threat as a foreign virus, though Americans are infected along with many in other countries.

The Trump campaign quickly issued a response to Mr. Bidens remarks on Thursday. In times like this, America needs leadership and Biden has shown none, said Tim Murtaugh, a campaign spokesman. President Trump acted early and decisively and has put the United States on stronger footing than other nations. His every move has been aimed at keeping Americans safe, while Joe Biden has sought to capitalize politically and stoke citizens fears.

As for Mr. Sanders, Mr. Murtaugh said in another statement, Hes just another Democrat candidate for president trying to score political points by recklessly provoking anxiety and fear. He also argued that the proposal from Mr. Sanders, the Vermont senator  who supports a sweeping single-payer system  would drive doctors and other medical workers away from the profession, leaving America woefully unprepared for public health emergencies.
Married At First Sight's Mishel Karen has made some interesting claims about returning bride Elizabeth Sobinoff.

The mother-of-two, 49, told the Not Here to Make Friends podcast on Wednesday that the returning bride, 28, was being fed instructions from producers via an earpiece.

Mishel apparently confronted Elizabeth about the device at Wednesday's dinner party, but the scene wasn't included in the final edit.

'We were so suss': Married At First Sight's Mishel Karen (pictured) has accused Elizabeth Sobinoff of being 'fed instructions' by producers via a hidden earpiece

Mishel claimed that she and Michael Goonan had suspected Elizabeth was wearing an earpiece because of the way she styled her hair for dinner parties and commitment ceremonies.

'We were just so suss because of the way she wore her hair and she never [normally] wears her hair over that ear,' she said.

The Brisbane-based police worker was also skeptical when Elizabeth effusively praised the show and its relationship experts.

'We actually didn't like the fact that she told us, "This is a one-off experience, you are so lucky to have this and whatever,"' she said.

You didn't see this on TV! Mishel apparently confronted Elizabeth (pictured) about the device at Wednesday's dinner party, but the scene wasn't included in the final edit

Mishel also fuelled rumours that Lizzie was being paid a significant fee to appear on the show, saying: 'I don't know, it's just speculation but it was $100,000.'

MAFS participants aren't typically paid, but they do each receive a $150 daily allowance for food and other expenses.

It comes after fellow bride Hayley Vernon revealed on the same podcast last week that the relationship experts - John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Dr. Trisha Stratford - were fed lines by producers at the commitment ceremonies.

What was she hiding? Mishel claimed she had suspected Elizabeth was wearing an earpiece because of the way she styled her hair for dinner parties and commitment ceremonies. Pictured with Seb Guilhaus

'They don't speak for themselves': It comes after fellow bride Hayley Vernon (pictured) revealed on the same podcast last week that the relationship experts were fed lines by producers at the commitment ceremonies

'The experts don't speak for themselves. They have an [earpiece] in their ear, and we can hear, because it's so silent on set,' she said.

'We can actually hear people feeding them lines.'

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine
Ride Report, which offers software to help governments use data to study micromobility, has raised $10 million in investment money.The round, reported by TechCrunch , comes less than a year after Ride Reports last fundraising haul . The two rounds together total $13.4 million.The company works with micromobility companies such as Lime, Skip and Bird to gather data on things like e-bike and scooter trips.Ride Report appears to be growing relatively quickly. In May of last year, CEO William Henderson toldthat the business was working with about 30 cities; he told TechCrunch that that number is now at 70.Buoyed by an influx of data and a growing need for cities to accommodate new citizens, a new class of startups has appeared seeking to help local governments access micromobility data  as well as data from transit, cyclists, pedestrians and private cars. They include Strava Populus and StreetLight Data The current fundraising round was led by Unusual Ventures, according to TechCrunch.
The Union ministry of environment and forests granted environmental clearance for the proposed second international airport in Goa on Thursday, said minister Prakash Javadekar.

In a tweet, Javadekar said the proposed airport will pave way for the overall development of the region and boost tourism in the state.

I am happy to announce that today I have given Environmental approval for Greenfield Mopa International Airport in #Goa. This will pave [the] way for overall development for the region and give [a] boost to tourism in the state, Javadekar said.

The decision was welcomed by the State chief minister Pramod Sawant.

My gratitude to Shri Prakash Javadekar ji for environmental approval to Mopa International Airport with addendums as per Honble Supreme Court judgment, to the original EC, Sawant tweeted.

In January this year, the Supreme Court of India lifted its moratorium on the construction of the airport after the expert appraisal committee of the ministry of environment and forests revised its earlier recommendations and imposed additional conditions on the construction of the project.

The Supreme Court also directed the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute to oversee compliance with the courts directions, the costs for which will have to be borne by the State Government.

The projects first phase was earlier scheduled to be completed by September 2020, but it stands revised to 2022 as per an announcement by the chief minister.

The second international airport for Goa, to be set up at Mopa village in the extreme north of Goa, about 35-kms from the state capital of Panaji, has faced opposition by activists since 2000, when it was first mooted.

The airport was scheduled to replace Goas existing Dabolim airport, which is also a naval base, however, owing to the opposition, it was decided to let civilian aircraft operations continue at Dabolim even after the commissioning of the new airport.

The new airport is set to cost around 3,300 crore of which the first phase will cost around 800 crore and allow for handling of around 3.4 million passengers. By the end of the fourth phase in 2045, the airport is scheduled to have a capacity of 13.1 million passengers.

The project was stayed on grounds that the environmental impact assessment report was flawed and concealed, among other things, that as many as 54,676 trees will require to be felled and that an ecologically sensitive zones on the Maharashtra side of the airport was within a 15km radius.
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 day testing site.
The new coronavirus (COVID-19) mysteriously spares children from severe disease, but it does not mean they do not get it. Though children and teens do not appear so far to get sick COVID-19, they play a pivotal role in the spread of the deadly pathogen.

There is no evidence that children are more or less susceptible to the novel coronavirus disease, but most confirmed cases reported have occurred in adults. There are infections noted in children, including very young ones, but they recover, and some may not manifest any symptoms.

However, parents are understandably concerned about the coronavirus disease, which has now sickened more than 126,000 people across 114 countries and territories and caused the death of more than 4,600 people. It is essential to keep in mind that comparatively few children have tested positive for the virus.

Image Credit: CGN089 / Shutterstock

What is COVID-19?

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a condition characterized by respiratory issues, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is a strain of a family of viruses discovered in the 1960s. Coronaviruses circulate in humans, usually causing only mild illness, such as cough and colds. These viruses often thrive in wild animals, such as bats.

The coronavirus outbreak was first reported at a seafood market in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, in late December 2019. Dozens of people were infected, and over the next couple of weeks, the cases ballooned, reaching more than 80,000 as of writing. Since then, the virus has spread to more than a hundred countries, with infections happening now in three hotspot countries - Italy, Iran, and South Korea.

All the infections have one thing in common  they affect older adults the most, including those with underlying medical conditions. A majority of infections and deaths have occurred in people who are more than 60 years old. Younger people tend to get the virus but manifest only mild symptoms.

The common signs and symptoms reported were fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.

Severity increases with age

The China Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 87 percent of the more than 44,000 coronavirus cases in February are people between the ages of 30 and 79. Only 8.1 percent of cases were teens, while 0.9 percent was nine years old and below.

In a report published online in the journal JAMA , of the 44,672 people with confirmed COVID-19, 1,408 or 3 percent were people who are more than 80 years old, 38,680 people were from 30 to 79 years old, while only 416 cases were children below ten years old.

Children who contract the virus may only exhibit milder symptoms and, in some cases, none at all. Children with a confirmed COVID-19 may present with cold-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, and colds. Still, there are children who are at an increased risk of severe infection, such as those with underlying health conditions such as asthma, and those with weakened immune systems. Severe complications like acute respiratory syndrome may be reported, but are rare.

Children play major role in virus spread

It remains unclear why the coronavirus disease appears so far to spare children. The low numbers of infections may be due to fewer children being exposed to the virus, few children being infected, or few children developing symptoms, severe enough to seek medical care.

Even if children do not get sick or present severe COVID-19 disease, they still contribute to the rapid virus spread. Children are mobile since they attend school and play with other children. They always go with groups, such as in classrooms, shedding large volumes of the virus. They carry the virus, even without symptoms.

What can be done?

Shutting down schools amid the coronavirus spread is an excellent strategy to contain the virus. It is an effective community prevention strategy. Governments may need to consider school closures as a precautionary measure to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus.

Parents should always practice good hygiene at home and educate their children to do the same. Promote regular handwashing at home while teaching them to do the same at school.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that people should channel their concern into good hygiene, encouraging children to wash their hands with soap and water regularly. They should wash their hands after being out in public, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet.

Parents should teach their children about respiratory hygiene and social distancing. They should not be around other people within 3 feet, and if they cough or sneeze, they should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue, and disposing of it in a closed bin.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The State government will not adopt a resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as it will be tantamount to cheating the public, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar said responding to the issue raised by Opposition leader MK Stalin during the zero hour in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Stalin wants the government to adopt a resolution against CAA. But, he knows well that a resolution adopted by the Assembly will not be binding on legislation enacted by Parliament. So, adopting a resolution will be like cheating people, the Minister said. Reiterating that minorities need not fear the National Population Register (NPR), the Minister said, All cases relating to CAA have been dealt with only by the Supreme Court. Hence, the House should ponder over how adopting a resolution against CAA, an issue contested before the apex court, will safeguard the interests of the people here.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, The AIADMK has been safeguarding the interests of all sections of the people for over four decades. So, this government will ensure that all the minorities, including Muslims and Christians, are not affected.

Format difference

Udhayakumar also informed the House that the Centre is yet to respond to the State governments letter seeking clarifications regarding certain questions over NPR 2020. The only difference between the format for NPR 2010 and NPR 2020 was the additional three questions relating to details on the native place and date of birth of parents and spouse, mother tongue, Aadhaar card and driving licence number in the new format, he clarfied.

The Opposition wants these columns to be dropped. The State government has also urged the Centre to avoid these questions. But we did not ask the Centre to give up NPR itself as it was carried out earlier during the UPA regime in 2010. The State government has, so far, not issued any notification for NPR 2020, he added.

Change of stance

Raising the issue, Stalin said the BJPs allies like the Janata Dal (United), YSR Congress and Telangana Rashtra Samiti, which supported CAA in Parliament, had changed their stand after getting to know the pulse of the people. As such, the government should adopt a resolution in the Assembly that NPR, which would pave the way for NRC in future, will not be carried out in the State, he said. Stalin said the NPR 2010 was a usual census exercise and hence, the DMK did not oppose it.

It is clear that NPR 2020 is being carried out only for facilitating National Register for Citizens. NPR will divide people on the basis of religion and this will affect the plurality of the country, he added. When Udhayakumar indicated that no resolution would be adopted against CAA, Stalin along with his party colleagues and allies staged a walkout.

No law and order situation, TN tells court

Chennai: The State government on Wednesday informed the Madras High Court that there is no law and order situation as alleged by some of the pro-CAA petitioners. Also, protection for both, protestors and public, is being provided, apprised State PP A Natrajan, to a division bench of the High Court. The case was adjourned to March 17.
[March 12, 2020] Wipro to Co-Develop Solutions with SAP for Retail and Fashion Industry

Wipro (News - Alert) Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with SAP (News - Alert) SE (NYSE: SAP) to jointly go to market and co-develop solutions for the retail and fashion industry. The intent of this engagement is to co-develop new solutions, which will help retail and fashion companies effectively manage business processes and customer experience. It will offer a range of functionality from fashion manufacturing to in-store merchandising as described below: Retail merchandise management solution based on SAP S/4HANA Cloud will help rapid innovation and business transformation. It will address end-to-end processes such as procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, supply chain, and core finance for retail. Omnichannel pricing and promotions, omnichannel merchandise and assortment planning, demand and supply planning, and store commerce will be key areas of focus.

Advanced fashion manufacturing functionality as part of the SAP S/4HANA solution for fashion and vertical business will strengthen end-to-end manufacturing planning and execution while catering to last minute changes that have become a norm in the industry.

A cloud offering for an intelligent store solution, which will help enhance the customer experience by increasing productivity of store associates through advanced store processes, and store processes automation. These solutions will enable seamless integration with SAP Cloud Platform and allow customers to build differentiated extensions in the cloud. Achim Schneider, Global Head of SAP Retail Business Unit said, "SAP Cloud for Retail is our strategic cloud solution, designed to support retail merchandise management, omnichannel pricing and promotions which will help retail and fashion companies capture new opportunities and develop targeted business models in a dynamic market. The industry needs to create responsive, innovative and integrated solutions to adapt quickly to changing market conditions." Harish Dwarkanhalli, President - Cloud Enterprise Solutions, Wipro Limited said, "Our strong domain capability, experience in SAP S/4HANA implementations, innovation using side-by-side extensions, and partnership with SAP puts Wipro in a unique position to build industry specific solutions. This initiative will help enable our customers in the retail and fasion industry to achieve business outcomes by leveraging SAP S4/HANA solutions."



Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC (News - Alert)"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 175,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property, and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005395/en/

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Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga has jumped to the defence of Nairobi MCA Habiba Hussein who lost her seat on Tuesday over absenteeism.

Omanga criticised Speaker Beatrice Elachi for declaring the MCAs seat vacant, explaining that Habiba failed to attend plenary sittings for two years over health issues.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Omanga said 28-year-old Ms Habiba lost her newborn daughter in 2018 and she has since been in and out of hospital.

As a woman, I do not understand how inhuman, selfish and insensitive some people can get, just to earn some cheap political mileage out of a tragedy.

From the information and records in my possession, Hon. Habiba carried a challenging and complicated pregnancy to term, and delivered a baby girl Shadia, through a Caesarean Procedure, on November 21, 2018.

Unfortunately, the baby was born with heart complications that are suspected to have arisen from the treatment the mother was undergoing during the pregnancy. Since Hon. Habiba could not undergo intense scanning that involved radiology during the pregnancy, she was put under medication for ulcers for most of the pregnancy duration, while that was not what she was suffering from. Despite the dedicated efforts by the doctors, Baby Shadias condition deteriorated due to a blocked A-V valve, and she died a few hours after birth, on the 23rd November 2018.

Omanga added: Nothing is as devastating to any mother as the loss of child, and the death of Baby Shadia only aggravated the illness of Hon. Habiba.

The Senator noted that since then Habiba has been in hospital undergoing treatment and surgeries.

It, therefore, breaks my heart, as a mother and a woman, when people choose to politicize the pain and agony that Hon. Habiba has undergone in the last two years, simply because they have been implicated in stealing bursary funds meant for poor and orphaned children, said Omanga.

According to Omanga, it was discriminatory and inhumane to make light of Habibas situation as well as to strip her of her seat.

As the Nairobi City County Nominated Senator, I demand an unconditional apology from the Kitisuru Ward MCA, Hon. Alvin Palala, and his associates for degrading, disrespecting and demeaning women, especially at their most painful and vulnerable time.

The least Hon. Habiba deserves is support and sympathy as she recovers from the painful loss of her child, while she undergoes her treatment, where she was admitted in hospital as recently as February 2020.

I also call upon the DCI and EACC to move with speed and get to the bottom of the bursary scandal in Nairobi that has been unearthed through the trending voice clip, she said.

To attack a woman, for simply being woman, is not only unacceptable but almost Satanic, stated Omanga.
Both the Michigan House and Senate will continue holding session as needed for now, but are taking additional precautions due to coronavirus concerns.

Both chambers will now let staff over 60 or with underlying health conditions work from home, as well as non-essential staff. Essential, non-vulnerable staff will continue to report to work on session days under the new policies.

In the House, all staffers may work from home on non-session days unless directed to do so by their supervisor.

We need to do our part to help limit the spread of this virus to vulnerable populations, while still doing what we can to keep our state functioning and remaining available for possible future legislative action on this situation, Chatfield said in a statement. As health officials and experts learn more, we will continue to review our policies and consider further improvements to keep the public safe."

In the Senate, session days will only be scheduled only as needed," per a statement from Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, and Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint.

Shirkey will evaluate the need for session on a weekly basis.

At this time, we plan to meet next week for session to address any pressing legislation and continue our work on the budget. Ive also asked my colleagues to apply the as needed rule to committees and hold hearings only as needed, Shirkey said. The Governor has asked citizens to limit social interactions, especially congregating in large groups, and we intend to lead by example.

Both chambers will prohibit all non-essential out-of-state work travel by employees and suspend all tours and public events. The measures will remain in place until April 20.

Members of the public will still be able to attend committees and House and Senate sessions.

The announcements came shortly after the Michigan State Capitol Commission suspended public tours and events at the Capitol through May 1.

On Thursday, events at the Michigan Capitol and other government buildings in Lansing had been running as scheduled, including committee hearings, House and Senate session and Capitol tours.

Capitol staff have taken some additional coronavirus precautions since two cases were confirmed in Michigan, including setting up hand sanitizer stations and conducting more regular cleanings.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Related coverage:

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Best defense against coronavirus
DELAWARE CITY, Del. (AP)  Two workers at a Delaware oil refinery were critically injured when a blaze broke out at the facility Wednesday afternoon, the second such fire at the refinery in one year.

A fire erupted at the Delaware City Refining Co. after 1:30 p.m., shooting flames and black smoke into the sky, a spokeswoman for the refinery's owner, PBF Energy, confirmed.

The two victims suffered critical injuries and were flown to a hospital before being taken to a burn center in Pennsylvania, Assistant State Fire Marshal Michael Chionchio told news outlets. Authorities did not identify or list the positions of the injured workers.

Flames and black smoke were rising from the Delaware City Refinery Wednesday afternoon as fire crews appear to be working to control the blaze. https://t.co/rv6qyu7ibo  Delaware Online (@delawareonline) March 11, 2020

Multiple agencies responded to the scene and brought the fire under control about an hour after it was reported, The Delaware News Journal said. Its unclear what started the blaze, and authorities are investigating.

The spokeswoman, Lisa Lindsey, didn't say which agencies were handling the investigation. She said there was no immediate threat to the surrounding community.

A fire at the same refinery just over one year ago sent more than 6,000 pounds of pollutants into the air that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says can cause health problems if inhaled, The News Journal reported. Last month, state environmental regulators fined the company $70,000 for two separate pollution violations, one in 2018 and another in 2019, according to the newspaper.
Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of permanent loss is the risk I worry about... and every practical investor I know worries about. When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. As with many other companies Total Gabon (EPA:EC) makes use of debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky.

Why Does Debt Bring Risk?

Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company can't easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own cash flow. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. However, a more frequent (but still costly) occurrence is where a company must issue shares at bargain-basement prices, permanently diluting shareholders, just to shore up its balance sheet. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.

Check out our latest analysis for Total Gabon

What Is Total Gabon's Debt?

You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of June 2019 Total Gabon had US$43.3m of debt, an increase on US$2.16m, over one year. However, it does have US$426.2m in cash offsetting this, leading to net cash of US$382.9m.

ENXTPA:EC Historical Debt, March 12th 2020

How Strong Is Total Gabon's Balance Sheet?

We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Total Gabon had liabilities of US$225.3m falling due within a year, and liabilities of US$1.95b due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$426.2m and US$426.6m worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by US$1.32b.

This deficit casts a shadow over the US$530.0m company, like a colossus towering over mere mortals. So we definitely think shareholders need to watch this one closely. After all, Total Gabon would likely require a major re-capitalisation if it had to pay its creditors today. Total Gabon boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load, even if it does have very significant liabilities, in total.

Story continues

Fortunately, Total Gabon grew its EBIT by 7.8% in the last year, making that debt load look even more manageable. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But you can't view debt in total isolation; since Total Gabon will need earnings to service that debt. So when considering debt, it's definitely worth looking at the earnings trend. Click here for an interactive snapshot.

Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. Total Gabon may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Happily for any shareholders, Total Gabon actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT over the last two years. That sort of strong cash generation warms our hearts like a puppy in a bumblebee suit.

Summing up

While Total Gabon does have more liabilities than liquid assets, it also has net cash of US$382.9m. And it impressed us with free cash flow of US$206m, being 146% of its EBIT. So we don't have any problem with Total Gabon's use of debt. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. To that end, you should be aware of the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Total Gabon .

When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
WESTPORT  With more than a dozen people showing flu-like symptoms following a party last week, the health director said the town can no longer effectively track who could potentially be exposed to the coronavirus.

It would be like trying to determine who knows who, and who may have seen who when, Mark Cooper, health director of the Westport-Weston Health District, said in a statement posted on the health districts website Thursday. That is no longer an efficient use of resources. Contact tracing usually involves two or three people with a limited number of cases. This has grown exponentially.

The large private party held at a Westport home on March 5 was attended by dozens of people, including a man who does not live in the U.S. and is believed to have the coronavirus. The man, who has since left the country, told officials he has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Cooper said the town obtained test kits late Wednesday and has finished administering its first batch. Results are expected to return in three to five days.

Everybody ought to think of it as if its potentially everywhere, Cooper cautioned on Thursday.

While its too early to tell if the coronavirus has spread in Westport, just half an hour away, New Rochelle, N.Y., has created a containment area due to 121 cases coming back positive as of Wednesday.

The population is certainly more concentrated in New York, Cooper noted. Whether those steps would be deemed to be necessary here in Connecticut is up to the governor.

Cooper continues to advise residents to wash their hands, cover their mouths and stay home if they feel sick.

According to Cooper, the health district is still waiting medical records from the party guest to confirm a COVID-19 diagnosis.

He indicated he went to medical professionals and we have no reason to doubt it at this point, Cooper said.

The event was attended by a number of Westport parents and students, prompting Interim Superintendent of Schools David Abbey to close all schools indefinitely.

Similarly, Town Hall and the Westport Library were closed this week. The library will be open with limited services on Monday.

Westport has also been planning for the possibility of a prolonged school closure.

This week, state officials provided districts with information regarding short-term school closures (up to two weeks), a statement on the school districts website read. At that time, we were informed that if districts were to decide to close schools for up to two weeks, they would be required to make-up lost days by adding days to the school calendar and/or changing vacation days to school days.

Adding lost days would enable the schools to meet their obligation concerning state and federal laws, including those associated with special education services. However, Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday signed an executive order waiving the 180-day requirement for Connecticut schools amid the announcement of the states fifth confirmed coronavirus case, allowing more leeway for closed school districts.

If the decision is made to keep schools closed beyond a few days, the district plans to provide students activities for home learning and to keep them academically active.

These activities are encouraged, but not required, the notice on the schools site reads. Activities will not be graded and students will not be required to submit completed work.

Westports Elementary Administrative Team notified K-5 parents on Thursday the district has prepared at-home learning modules, in case of a prolonged closure.

It is our hope that during a school closing, these learning modules provide students with opportunities to learn and grow, the statement reads. The modules include educational activities designed to reinforce and practice previously learned concepts, preview content in preparation for a return to school, and extend understanding of previously learned concepts to new and deeper levels.

All modules for reading, writing and social studies are available on the At Home Learning site, with art, music, physical education and Spanish as well.

Ann Leffert, interim director of pupil personnel services, notified parents of special needs students that plans were being made if the district is closed for two weeks.

Classroom teachers, special education teachers and related services providers have or will be sending home learning opportunities appropriate for the grade level, Leffert wrote in an email on Thursday. The district will not be utilizing online or distance learning during the period of closure and teachers will not be providing instruction, Leffert said. The closure is being treated similar to a closure due to inclement weather; the days missed will be made up later in the school year.

In the meantime, Cooper advised residents feeling flu-like symptoms should believe they have contracted COVID-19, even though there are active cases of seasonal flu. A test will still be required to be 100 percent sure, he said in the statement.

Residents who have symptoms and would like to be placed on a list to be screened for testing can call 203-227-9571, ext. 237 and leave their name and telephone number.

We will get to everyone as efficiently as possible, the statement continued.If someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is a confirmed case, the recommendation is to stay home, wear protective face covering if contact with other people is at all possible, and get plenty of rest to help the recovery process.

Patients who are ill but not critically, should stay at home, the health district advises; and if they are at high risk for having contracted COVID-19, they should reach out to their physicians by phone or email. Patients physicians will contact the Department of Public Health and get advice as to whether they should be tested or just isolate themselves at home.

This is a very fluid and fast-moving situation, Cooper said in the statement. The health district will continue to work with the town, state Health Department, and CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) to reduce the impact to the community.

In addition, First Selectman Jim Marpe on Thursday announced an Incident Command Structure has been set up to manage the towns response to COVID-19.

The Incident Command Structure is based on well-tested practices for similar community-wide incidents and includes key public safety and other town officials, Marpe said in a news release. What is important is that COVID-19 is in the community and collectively we have to take appropriate precautions to protect the health of our friends and family.
New York, March 12 : In an unprecedented move, US President Donald Trump has announced he is shutting down travel from Europe to the US as the coronavirus grew into a pandemic that he said called for an "unprecedented response".

Speaking to the nation from the White House Oval Office on Wednesday night, Trump said the travel ban will come into effect Friday night, but will not apply to travellers from Britain.

"Smart action today will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow," Trump said as the coronavirus cases exceeded 1,000 in the US and 29 deaths from it have been reported.

The travel ban will be in effect for 30 days.

US citizens, who are stranded, will be allowed in after proper screening, he said.

"The virus will not have a chance against us. We have the most talented researchers and scientists in the world", Trump said, in a bid to reassure Americans.

Trump's action was spurred by the outbreak in Italy, where 12,000 people have been infected and 929 have died, in the worst casualty after China, where the disease originated.

The action followed the World Health Organisation declaring the Covid-19 disease a pandemic, which essentially puts everyone at risk.

Earlier India had taken the momentous step of suspending all visas but the official ones for non-citizens to the country.

Italy, which is worst hit by the coronavirus crisis, ordered almost all businesses to shut down in the country, which is under a lockdown.

Anthony Fauci, the US administration's expert on coronavirus, said the worst is yet to come and that COVID-19 with a kill rate of nearly 3 per cent is at least 10 times worse than the annual flu which has a mortality of 0.1 per cent.

Trump also said that he will take massive emergency action soon to protect workers who are infected with the coronavirus so that they can stay home without fear of losing pay.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
[March 12, 2020] Ground Labs Appoints Nellie Manktelow as CEO

Ground Labs, the global expert in sensitive data discovery, today announced that it has appointed Nellie Manktelow as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. The company also announced that co-founders Peter Duthie and Stephen Cavey have assumed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Evangelist roles, respectively. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005115/en/ Ground Labs Appoints Nellie Manktelow as CEO (Photo: Business Wire) In 2019, co-founders Cavey and Duthie worked to propel the company towards its current growth, ultimately bringing on Don Kaye s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) in tandem with the opening of its North American headquarters in Austin, Texas. The two then set out to find Ground Labs' next CEO, as both co-founders remained committed in roles tied to their areas of expertise.



"To support our next phase of growth we identified the need for a dedicated CEO to have a singular vision on that goal," said Cavey. "Peter and I are delighted to be able to fill such an important role from within the organization's existing executive leadership. Since joining the company seven years ago, Nellie built everything operational in our growth from a small start-up to a multi-national organization. She's truly the backbone of our company -- I'm looking forward to seeing her lead us during this critical point in time as we continue to expand and scale our business." Manktelow comes from a deeply rooted background in investment banking, previously working at European banks in Singapore, Hong Kong and London for over 12 years. Before joining Ground Labs, she was the Director of Business Management at the Royal Bank of Scotland, responsible for the Asia Pacific region. During her time at Ground Labs, she has helped the company grow aggressively year-over-year in both revenue and headcount. She's conducted business development research in key target markets, opened subsidiary entities in EMEA, North America and ANZ regions and helped place Ground Labs on the global map. Under her leadership, Ground Labs has established robust internal business and financial reporting processes to strategically guide the company's long-term decisions and control costs. This also allowed for reallocated investments to be placed back into the business to support its hyper-growth.

"I am truly honored to take on the role of CEO at Ground Labs and to help lead our company as we look to increase global employee headcount and deliver stronger revenue growth for our existing product line," said Manktelow. "We have a lot of exciting momentum right now as we continue investing heavily in the development of our next-generation product line, which will fuel revenue growth come 2021 and onward. I couldn't think of a more thrilling time for Ground Labs." In tandem with Manktelow's appointment, Ground Labs has recently tapped Nazirah Akhtar as Head of Finance, Daphne Chaing as Head of Human Resources and Greg Kopotic as Global Head of Marketing, expanding its bench of veteran leaders. About Ground Labs

Ground Labs, the leading provider of data discovery solutions, enables organizations to find, secure and remediate all of their sensitive data across multiple types and locations - whether it's stored on-premise or in the cloud. Ground Labs serves as the most comprehensive and trusted solution in the enterprise to confidently mitigate risk and find sensitive data.

For more information, visit www.groundlabs.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005115/en/

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Heimat Is a Space in Time observes Germany for more than a century through the experiences of one family. The bulk of this experimental essay film, which runs almost four hours, consists of the unseen writer-director, Thomas Heise, reading documents in voice-over  generally letters to and from his relatives, but also resume drafts, diary entries and, from the Cold War era, a surveillance report.

Heises recitations are accompanied by photographs and artifacts from the past or footage from contemporary Germany, particularly landscapes and city scenes. The contrast between the cataclysmic past and the placid present owes something to Shoah, Claude Lanzmanns groundbreaking 1985 Holocaust film. But because most of the testimony in Heimat (the word roughly means homeland) is filtered through Heise, the structure seems even more oblique.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called for the formation of an emergency government to confront a growing crisis over the coronavirus, offering a potential way out of the deadlock that has paralyzed the political system for the past year.

Netanyahu made the offer in a nationally televised address, saying the virus does not differentiate between Jews and non-Jews or between the political left and right.

I call for the formation now, even this evening, of a national emergency government, he said.

It will be an emergency government for a limited period. Together, we will fight to save the lives of citizens, he added, saying that should be put aside.

The conciliatory language marked a sharp change after months of acrimonious campaigning and heightened rhetoric in the wake of another inconclusive election earlier this month.

Israel has been relatively insulated from the coronavirus scare, with just over 100 cases diagnosed so far. But the numbers have begun to creep upward in recent days.

Israel has imposed a number of tough restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, placing tens of thousands of people into protective home quarantine, ordering all Israelis who return from overseas into quarantine and barring almost all tourists from entering the country.

Netanyahu announced that schools and universities would be closed through the end of the Passover holiday in mid-April, with the exception of preschools, boarding schools and special education facilities.

Israel's Health Ministry has barred all gatherings of more than 100 people.

This month's election was Israel's third to end in deadlock in the past year.

Netanyahu's Likud emerged as the single largest party but fell short of securing a majority of seats in parliament required to form a government.

Although a slight majority of lawmakers oppose Netanyahu, they are deeply divided on other issues. Netanyahu's main rival, former military chief Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White party, also appears to lack enough support to form a government.

A unity government between the two large parties would be the most straightforward way out of the crisis.

But after three contentious campaigns, there is great animosity between the two leaders, and it remains unclear who would lead a unity government. Still, the growing coronavirus threat may be the spark that brings the sides together.

Gantz has previously ruled out a partnership with Netanyahu, citing the prime minister's upcoming trial on corruption charges, which is set to begin next week.

Netanyahu has insisted that he lead any unity government.

Citing the urgent health crisis, Gantz appeared to be open to compromise with Netanyahu earlier Thursday.

"Blue and White, under my leadership, will support every appropriate measure, putting aside political considerations entirely, at this complex and sensitive time, he said.

There was no immediate comment from Gantz on Netanyahu's proposal for a unity government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Maldives called India a true friend in need after New Delhi announced to assist the island nation with essential medicines and medical relief team in the wake of coronavirus. Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid took to Twitter to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for continued assistance.

With its generous assistance and solidarity at this challenging time taking on the #Covid19 pandemic, #India has once again proved itself to be a true 'friend in need' of the Maldives.

Thank you PM @narendramodi EM @DrSJaishankar and the Govt. of India for continued assistance. https://t.co/nurF5zvFi1  Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) March 12, 2020

The Indian High Commission in Male said in a statement, on March 12, that India has decided to send a large medical relief team to assist health authorities of the Maldives to deal with the evolving situation of the novel coronavirus. The relief team will comprise of pulmonologists, anaesthetists, physicians and lab technicians who will work closely with their Maldivian counterparts.

Read: Coronavirus Pandemic: Cases In Middle East Cross 10,000 As Gulf Reports Spike

'Neighbourhood First'

Government of India has also decided to gift essential medicines, despite a temporary ban on exports, to deal with the deadly virus in the next few days. The Indian Embassy said that the humanitarian gestures are a concrete example of Indias neighbourhood first and the Maldives India First policy in action.

Read: LaLiga Suspended Due To Coronavirus Outbreak; Real Madrid Training Ground Under Lockdown

On March 11, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus as pandemic which has forced governments to take drastic measures to contain the disease. Speaking at a press briefing, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about alarming levels of spread and severity and alarming levels of inaction.

We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic, said Ghebreyesus.

Read: Tom Hanks' Elvis Biopic Stalled After Actor Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Read: Coronavirus: Teacher's Unique Way Of Reminding Students To Wash Their Hands Wins Internet
LOS GATOS, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Neeyamo Inc., a leading platform-based global payroll & HR services provider is elated to sponsor the 'Global Payroll Titan Award' presented by the Global Payroll Management Institute (GPMI) as part of the Global Payroll week celebrated from April 27 to May 1, 2020.

The Global Payroll Titan Award intends to recognize and felicitate payroll professionals who have contributed exceptionally to the global payroll industry by exhibiting commitment, perseverance, and strong leadership to solve complex payroll issues with ingenious solutions. The award recipient will receive free education from GPMI, a special citation, a digital badge for their LinkedIn profile, and an annotation for their email signature.

"Global payroll professionals work diligently to process payroll on a global scale and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts," said Dan Maddux, president of the Global Payroll Management Institute. "We're thrilled to work with Neeyamo to recognize this often underappreciated group of professionals."

Samuel Isaac, Sr. Vice President and Head of Marketing at Neeyamo said, "We are happy to sponsor yet another profound initiative by GPMI to acknowledge payroll professionals who tackle the complexities in managing payroll for multiple countries with a global footprint. Neeyamo has always taken pride in working with GPMI on their novel ideas and initiatives like Global Payroll Week & GPMI Chennai Chapter that provides a platform for payroll professionals to foster networking with payroll leaders and propagate extensive knowledge on global payroll."

About Global Payroll Management Institute

The Global Payroll Management Institute is a worldwide organization that provides top-quality education, training, and leadership to global payroll leaders. GPMI publishes Global Payroll magazine and offers numerous educational resources to help companies effectively manage the challenges of paying their employees around the world. Visit GPMI online at www.gpminstitute.com.

About Neeyamo

Neeyamo is a leading platform-based payroll & HR solutions provider focused on delivering global services to multinational organizations with operations across a long-tail of countries. Neeyamo leverages its unique service-based model and functionality-rich, next-generation portfolio of HR products to help organizations enable agile and scalable global business. With deep functional and industry expertise, and its breadth of geographical reach, Neeyamo envisions to stand at the forefront of revolutionizing the global HR ecosystem and meet the market-specific requirements including Global Payroll, Benefits, Workforce Administration, Background Screening, and Employee Helpdesk. To know more, visit Neeyamo online at www.neeyamo.com.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leading U.S. bank executives in a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House said banks are strongly capitalized and prepared to help small businesses and American consumers weather the coronavirus outbreak.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leading U.S. bank executives in a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House said banks are strongly capitalized and prepared to help small businesses and American consumers weather the coronavirus outbreak.

The chief executives of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and others said banks are in good shape, there is no financial crisis and bankers want to provide liquidity.

Trump said he would discuss travel restrictions to Europe later on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The effects of the coronavirus pandemic began to ripple across the front lines of the publishing industry this week with mounting author tour cancellations, declining sales in independent bookstores, and a growing number of festival cancellations and postponements. In response, booksellers and authors are beginning to use creative means to reach readers and support one another.

Graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang reluctantly made the decision on Monday to cancel an eight-stop tour for his newly released graphic novel Dragon Hoops (First Second), after becoming concerned that his tour could endanger his own health and the health of attendees.

That thought kept me up at night, said Yang, who has asthma, and is worried about his susceptibility to the virus. In conversations with his publisher, Yang also became concerned about the potential of people coughing on airplanes and being targeted as an Asian-American due to misinformation about the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China.

After working on his book for six years, Yang was reluctant to do nothing after canceling his tour. Instead, he devised a digital cartoon tour. Every day that he would have been on tour, Yang is posting a new cartoon to social media. The approach that I decided on is that I have a set of responsibilities, he said. Its almost silly to think about thatdrawing cartoonsbut thats my role in society. Im supposed to be promoting my book and talking to people about the importance of reading, and I have to find a way to do that. Thats what will keep me from sinking into pessimism and anxiety.

In addition to the daily comics, Yang is also signing bookplates for the bookstores where he had planned to appear.

Early this week, childrens author events across the country were still drawing audiences. A Saturday story time at Vromans Books in Pasadena was well attended and events at An Unlikely Story in Plainville, Mass., were unimpeded despite local school closures for cleaning and disinfecting on Monday.

However, as the week progressed, the landscape swiftly began to change. On Monday, Brooklyns Books Are Magic announced the cancellation of two story times after authors declined to fly. On Wednesday, Copperfields Books in Petaluma, Calif., postponed a March 18 story time with authors David Lee Miller and Steven Jay Rubin.

Books, Inc., which has 10 locations in the Bay Area, had to cancel two author events in the Palo Alto Unified School District after events with more than 100 attendees were banned. The bookstore, which is the oldest in the Bay Area, also runs 30 book fairs annually, but had to cancel one next week at an elementary school. Students will be provided with print catalogs and order forms instead.

The list of author cancellations is getting longer, said Books, Inc. CEO Andy Perham. Like many stores we have very active event calendars, especially this time of year. A good number of events have been canceled, [and] we entirely understand why.

Perham believes that Skype author events will become more popular in the coming weeks and months, and author Yang said that he has overhauled a room in his house to do just that. I think that coronavirus is going to force us to get creative and what were thinking about is how can we make it easy for people to shop our stores, Perham said. The store is offering free shipping to customers who order online, and has seen a strong response since the offer was launched on Tuesday.

Along with bookstore event cancellations, numerous book festivals have been postponed or canceled, including the Tucson Festival of Books, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the Virginia Festival of Books, the NoVa Teen Book Festival, the SE-YA Book Festival, the New Orleans Book Festival, and YALLWest.

On Tuesday, Scholastic, Macmillan, Candlewick, and Workman withdrew from the Texas Library Association conference, and on Wednesday the conference was canceled and will transition to a virtual event. Also on Tuesday, We Need Diverse Books canceled its annual Walter Awards and the Diversity in Childrens Literature Symposium.

Some industry professionals expressed anxiety about the economic impact of conference withdrawals on publishing houses, but Lauren Donovan, senior director of publicity at Scholastic, said that health was of the utmost importance. We are making decisions about event attendance on a case by case basis, always keeping the safety and well-being of our staff, authors, and customers as a top priority, she said.

Authors Ellen Oh, Melanie Conklin, and others began organizing a virtual bookstore on social media as a way to support indie bookstores and authors affected by the cancellation of events and festivals. Kate Messner, author of the recently published Chirp (Bloomsbury), usually maintains a busy touring schedule, but with impending school closures, the author took to her website to create a resource page for children to access from home. Using social media, she recruited other authors to contribute to the archive. The page now includes more than two dozen links and videos of readings by authors including Tracey Baptiste, Debbi Michiko Florence, Nikki Grimes, Grace Lin, and Jason Reynolds. Messner intends to update the site daily with new resources.


Overview of the New Data Utilization platform

TOKYO, Mar 12, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) and Cloudera (NYSE: CLDR), the enterprise data cloud company, today announced that Hitachi's "Pentaho", data integration and analysis platform- core of Hitachi's Lumada portfolio -, and "Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub", have been adopted for the new data utilization platform (the Platform) of Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. (TSE) that recently started operation.The Platform standardizes data management across the Japan Exchange Group, and the basis for streamlining back-office operations such as form creation and transaction fee calculation, and expanding the information business. By combining Pentaho and Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub, the Platform has achieved efficient data integration and simple visualization, while also significantly boosting processing performance, such as by shortening processing times.As a first step, TSE consolidated the system that creates forms based on various data such as transactions and the system that calculates commissions each time an individual transaction or payment. Moving forward, there are plans to progressively expand the Platform as a common infrastructure of the Japan Exchange Group, including systems that analyze and produce reports on transaction data from various angles.TSE processes more than tens of millions transactions on a typical day, and more than 100 million on busy days. To cope with transaction volumes that will expand in the future, TSE faced the challenges of speeding up data processing and developing an environment enabling utilization of the data. Moreover, considering the possibility of utilizing cloud services in the future and an expanding scope of adoption, open technologies not dependent on specific vendors were needed.Pentaho has highly affinity with Hadoop/Impala environments, and is able to provide a consistent environment that not only collects but also analyzes and utilizes data, including the visualization and multidimensional analysis of integrated data. Meanwhile Cloudera's secured and governed data platform enables multi-function analytics that eliminates silos and speeds the discovery of data-driven insights. Fueled by open source innovation, it has true hybrid capability that supports public cloud, multi-cloud and on-premises deployments.Many customers, including financial institutions, have introduced a combination of "Pentaho" and "Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub" in the global market.The Platform that recently began operating utilizes the Pentaho Data Integration (data integration and form creation) and Pentaho Business Analytics (visualization and analysis) components of Pentaho, and the Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub(1), was built by Tosho System Service Co., Ltd. Taking advantage of the coding-less data integration features, Pentaho was able to develop easily and quickly while repurposing the processing programs of TSE's existing business systems.Specifically, Pentaho was used to consolidate data that had previously been dispersed across individual business systems such as those for form creation and fee calculation, and data integration processing was standardized. This greatly streamlined data preparation tasks, which especially required considerable time and effort in the data analysis process, and made it easy to cross-reference data between different systems.The parallel distributed processing and the SQL engine Impala offered by Cloudera also speeds up batch processing to significantly reduce processing times and ensure scalability to handle future data increases.Moving forward, Hitachi and Cloudera will not only offer stable, enterprise-level operation by enhancing TSE's system processing capabilities but also support the promotion of digital transformation through the provision of an environment allowing the creation of new services that utilize the accumulated data assets and contribute to ongoing business reform and development.Comments from Takashi Kamikura, Manager, Information Systems Department, IT Development Division, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.In recent years, the amount of market-related data has continued to increase remarkably, making improved data processing an urgent issue. With this latest adoption of Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub, we have significantly improved our data processing capabilities and we are delighted to have achieved stable operation. In addition, we were able to quickly and easily develop the applications needed to utilize Cloudera Enterprise Data Hub with the intuitive GUI-based operation offered by Pentaho, which is highly compatible with the Hadoop environment. In the future we have our sights on expanding to the cloud and utilizing the data to create new businesses.About PentahoPentaho is a core platform of Hitachi's Lumada portfolio that accelerates digital innovation.Pentaho is a data integration and analytics platform that simplifies the management of the enormous volumes and increased variety and velocity of data, including in-house data, sensor data and social media data, to enable analysis from various perspectives. Pentaho is made up of two main components, Pentaho Data Integration that delivers analytics-ready data to end-users faster with visual tools that reduce time and complexity, and the Pentaho Business Analytics that provides a modern, highly interactive, and intuitive web-based interface for business users to discover and explore virtually any data. Together, they provide a consistent data pipeline platform that covers from data engineering, data preparation to analysis.About Cloudera Enterprise Data HubCloudera delivers an integrated suite of analytic engines ranging from stream and batch data processing to data warehousing, operational database, and machine learning. Cloudera SDX applies consistent security and governance, enabling users to share and discover data for use across workloads. Fueled by open-source innovation, Cloudera's data platforms deliver ultimate flexibility so you can focus on your data, your applications, and your business.About Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is focusing on Social Innovation Business combining its operational technology, information technology and products. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2018 (ended March 31, 2019) totaled 9,480.6 billion yen ($85.4 billion), and the company has approximately 296,000 employees worldwide. Hitachi delivers digital solutions utilizing Lumada in five sectors including Mobility, Smart Life, Industry, Energy and IT, to increase our customer's social, environmental and economic value. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.About ClouderaAt Cloudera, we believe that data can make what is impossible today, possible tomorrow. We empower people to transform complex data into clear and actionable insights. Cloudera delivers an enterprise data cloud for any data, anywhere, from the Edge to AI. Powered by the relentless innovation of the open-source community, Cloudera advances digital transformation for the world's largest enterprises. Learn more at Cloudera.com.(1) Provided in the form of Hitachi OSS Support Service for Cloudera Enterprise.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Georgine Nanos, a California-based physician specializing in epidemiology and public health, recommends cleaning anything anyone could potentially touch. She suggests using wipes, but if your local markets shelves are bare, soap and hot water will do the trick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a recipe for bleach solution on its Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations page: Mix five tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water or four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water. (The agency also explains the difference between cleaning and disinfecting, an important distinction. Cleaning removes germs, dirt and other unwelcome guests from surfaces; disinfecting involves germ-destroying chemicals.) Be aware that the cleaning products could damage your bag, depending on the material.
Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola and Byron Cooke roasted former AFL player Warwick Capper for his payment demands to appear on their morning radio show on Thursday.

Shortly after, the 56 year old said he was disappointed in the radio trio after they laughed that he 'upped his fee' to be a movie reviewer on Fifi, Fev and Byron.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, Warwick said: 'They get paid for their work, why shouldn't I? It's only fair.

'That's FOX FM for you!' On Thursday, Warwick Capper (pictured) slammed Fifi Box, Brendan Fevola and Byron Cooke after they roasted him on air for 'upping his fee' to appear as a movie reviewer on their radio show

'That's Fox FM for you. You can't trust them. I didn't want to do the (movie review) segment in the first place. Plus, I always liked Triple M better anyway.'

On Fifi, Fev and Byron on Thursday morning, the show's producer Darcie Ridgeway spoke to the radio hosts about Warwick's demands to appear on the show.

'He (Warwick) did a little Valentine's Day message for you, Fi,' Darcie told Fifi.

Fifi replied: 'I remember, that was such a generous thing to do!'

'It was probably just 10 seconds. A little piece to camera. Probably 10 seconds of his time in the morning. He now wants $700 for it!' Darcie said.

The radio hosts burst into laughter with Byron saying: 'He sent an invoice for a shout out?'

Warwick's war: The 56 year old said he was disappointed in the radio trio after they laughed that he 'upped his fee' to be a movie reviewer on Fifi, Fev and Byron

'Yes! But he also sends invoices that are not eligible. Accounts have been contacting me 24/7. He's been calling accounts, saying very inappropriate things,' Darcie said.

'Sometimes he calls me on a Sunday 10 times just to follow up on his money. The other day, he sent me a message saying "Hey, do you have my ABN number?"'

'Hang on, why doesn't he know his own ABN?' Byron replied.

'He gave it (his ABN) to me to try and get paid and then he was in Sydney and forgot it!' Darcie explained.

Fifi then asked: 'Is it not true that he also now wants to up his fee for his appearances?'

'Yes! Accounts have asked that we never work with him again!' Darcie replied.

Allegations: The show's producer Darcie Ridgeway (left) spoke to the radio hosts about Warwick's (right) payment demands to appear on the show

Previously, Warwick contributed a movie review segment to Fifi, Fev and Byron.

Last month, the former AFL star made a crude remark on air about Fifi's surname, 'Box', which is a slang term for a vagina, prompting Byron to 'hit the dump button'.

'Dumping' is radio terminology for when a live show is cut off because the broadcast delay (usually around 45 seconds) is insufficient to censor inappropriate content.

Warwick had actually been invited on the show to apologise for controversial comments he'd made the previous week.

'There were more lines than Falls Creek': Warwick (right) was dumped on air while speaking to Fifi, Fev & Byron about his friendship with Charlie Sheen (left)

Just days earlier, Warwick had been dumped while speaking to Fifi, Fev & Byron about his friendship with actor Charlie Sheen.

He made a reference to there being 'more lines than Falls Creek', seemingly alluding to cocaine use, and was dropped from the live broadcast.

Following the incident, he labelled the hosts 'f**king boring' and insisted that his comments had actually boosted their ratings.
Officials of Hamilton County General Sessions Court said for the next several weeks, due to coronavirus concerns, they will hear only cases of those in jail or "as otherwise necessary."

They also said new sanitary procedures would take place including "disinfecting procedures and social distancing."

Defendants who are on bond will be notified of new court dates.

Officials said, "It is our hope to be ahead of any issues and to minimize any potential problems that could arise should this affect our community."

East Ridge Judge Cris Helton said the court there would follow the same procedure.

Judge Helton said, "After meeting with members of the District Attorney's office, members of the District Public Defender's office and Judges in the General Sessions Court, the City Court of the City of East Ridge, in an effort to slow the spread of the Corona virus, will follow the plan that has been implemented in Sessions Court. The City of East Ridge will only hear custody cases and cases otherwise necessary to be heard.



"If you have a case pending in the city of East Ridge and you are on bond you will be notified of a new court date. If you are charged with a traffic offense, please call the clerks office to obtain a new court date. We shall continue in this manner for the next several weeks."

City of East Ridge officials said it is postponing all recreational activities and community gatherings in the citys park facilities during the period which follows the Hamilton County Department of Education school closure calendar.

The Camp Jordan Complex and East Ridge Community Center will be closed from March 16-27. Officials will continue to monitor the situation closely and make adjustments as warranted, it was stated.

Soddy Daisy courts will not be in session. As of right now, they do not plan to have court until Tuesday, April 14. All cases in the Soddy Daisy City Court for March 17, 24, and 31, shall be reset except those cases regarding incarcerated individuals. Any prisoner in-court proceedings will be limited to only persons necessary to those cases. If you have a case set for one of the listed above dates, you are instructed to contact the Soddy Daisy City Court Clerk's office at (423) 332-4741 or (423) 332-5323 to receive your new Court date. If you are out on bond, contact your bondsman as well.

Collegedale Municipal Court will be operating with a reduced docket for the next three weeks to include March 18, March 25 and April 1. Officials said, "During those three weeks, only defendants that are in custody will be seen, along with those that the court was unable to make contact with to reschedule. It is strongly encouraged that only essential people to cases being heard attend the court sessions. Anyone that has a question about their pending court case(s) is strongly urged to call the court clerks office at 423-468-1891 to inquire about their court date and status."

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said, "In order to limit potential exposure to our inmate population and employees at the Hamilton County Jail and Silverdale Detention Facility, all on-site inmate classroom programs and visitation have been suspended until further notice.

"Inmates will still have access to current video and phone communication to communicate with family, friends, and legal counsel."

Bradley County Sheriff Steve Lawson said, "Under my direction, the Bradley County Sheriffs correctional and medical staffs have been ordered to implement enhanced policies and procedures for screening new intake inmates as well as those currently incarcerated. The implementation of these enhanced policies is to prevent the introduction of the COVID-19 virus in the Bradley County Jail.

"These measures include, but are not limited to, a two-week suspension of all programs that are reliant on outside staffing entering the facility, as well as the suspension of all non-essential persons from entering the correctional facility. All scheduled on-site public inmate visits will be canceled and terminated for a minimum of two weeks. However, all video home visitations will continue to allowed and scheduled.

"The health and safety of everyone inside and outside of the Bradley County Justice Center is of the greatest importance to my office and staff. While at this time, there have been no reported cases of the COVID-19 virus within the East Tennessee region, I believe this is a proactive measure that will greatly reduce the possible introduction of the COVID-19 virus and help ensure the health and safety of the staff and inmates of the Bradley County Jail. I want the citizens of Bradley County to know that we take the health and safety of everyone under our care, custody and control, as well as all of the employees of the justice center very seriously. We will continue to monitor the situation and will re-evaluate whether these measures may be lifted or should continue on Friday, March 27, and announce it at that time."

"In light of the recently confirmed case of COVID-19 in Knox County, we have received questions regarding our plan for how an inmate contraction of this virus would be handled, if that were to occur. In the event that an inmate at the Bradley County Jail contracts COVID-19, that inmate will be isolated immediately and receive care from our medical staff. At this point in time, as there are currently no confirmed cases in the southeastern region of Tenn., our jail administration and medical staff will continue to do everything in their power to ensure the welfare of our inmates and corrections employees."

Chattanooga Fire officials said, "The volunteer trip planned for this Saturday to assist with tornado cleanup has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We will send the supplies that have been collected to the Nashville Red Cross."

The Rotary Club, Chattanoogas largest civic club, has suspended meetings for the next two weeks "as a way to keep their members safe from the coronavirus."

Board members unanimously agreed to suspend the meetings on March 19 and 26. The board intends to meet after that point to determine reasonable next steps for hosting weekly meetings.

Club President Charlie Arant said, We want to do all we can to keep our community safe during this time. While we enjoy our weekly meetings and camaraderie with our fellow club members, we also realize that the close proximity could lead to inadvertently exposing some of our members to the virus. With this in mind, were hopeful to come back stronger and healthier than ever in the coming weeks.

The Chattanooga Green Prix has been cancelled. Officials said, "It's with a heavy heart that we cancel the Chattanooga Green Prix. The safety and welfare of students and Chattanoogans is of the utmost importance to us. Due to the threats we may face from COVID-19 we must cancel the Green Prix. Thank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers, and the hard work of students and teachers. We hope to reschedule this event as soon as possible."

The East Ridge Police Department community meeting scheduled for March 19, will be postponed until further notice. It will be rescheduled at a later date.
People want to liken the novel coronavirus pandemic to the 1918 Spanish influenza, but experts say the more useful comparison is to SARS and MERS  the well-known cousins of the current virus.

The good news about the comparison is that the new coronavirus is significantly less likely than its kin to kill you.

Thats also the bad news.

Any infection thats really lethal makes infected people too sick to walk around transmitting it, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a Houston infectious disease specialist. Thats what makes this coronavirus such a problem. It can be lethal, but in most cases, its moderate enough that people still go about their business  which is why its able to infect such large swaths of populations.

No one knows the swath that COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, ultimately will cut in the U.S., but experts agree that its combination of potential lethality and high transmissibility could cause the number of deaths to pile up if the spread isnt checked.

The prospects are making for some grim projections. At a webinar presentation hosted by the American Hospital Association in February, one experts best guess estimate was that the U.S. could suffer 96 million cases, 4.8 million hospitalizations and 480,000 deaths as a result of the new coronavirus. Even the usually staid New England Journal of Medicine asked if were seeing a replay of the 1918 pandemic, which killed more than 50 million people and has become the benchmark against which all other serious outbreaks and infectious disease emergencies are measured.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust.

But other experts note the different eras  1918 was before antibiotics, antivirals, respirators, protective equipment for health care workers and testing that enables quarantines. They say the greatest similarity in the two pandemics is the anxiety and fear in the population.

Of all the epidemics since 1918, this one is the loudest, said Dr. Howard Markel, the director of the Center for the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan. The amplification, the sound and the volume all feel higher.

Of course, theres good reason for that. After emerging in China less than three months ago, the new coronavirus already has infected nearly 120,000 people globally, killing more than 4,200. The number of U.S. cases went from 15 to 800 in less than two weeks.

No other recent pandemic compares. The global death toll more than a month ago exceeded that of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), the coronavirus diseases that spread to different parts of the world in 2002-04 and 2012, respectively. SARS killed 774, and MERS killed 527.

The coronavirus family, so named because of the spikelike proteins that stud their surface, are cold viruses that spread to people after jumping from animals. They typically cause respiratory symptoms, which, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those already sick or with compromised immune systems, can progress to pneumonia.

On HoustonChronicle.com: PHOTO GALLERY- How coronavirus compares to other epidemics

SARS, which killed about 10 percent of people who contracted the virus, burned out quickly because of that lethality, said Mark Cameron, an immunologist who was part of a response research team at the University of Toronto, when the Canadian city became one of the disease hot spots in 2003 and 2004. Because people became so sick so fast, Cameron said, it was easier to identify people infected with the virus and isolate them. And tracing their contacts was more straightforward because the outbreak originated from a patient zero, one individual who came from China.

SARS2  the shorthand term used by some doctors for SARS-CoV-2, the viruss scientific name  provides no such advantages. Because its relatively moderate in 80 percent of people who contract it, easily confused for the flu, its not as easily identifiable and spreads more widely, including to communities more susceptible to severe reactions to the virus, such as nursing homes. And because those infected keep coming to the U.S. from around the globe, tracing patients is a seemingly unremitting process.

Still, one expert emphasized the U.S. doesnt have to look far for a lesson in how to respond to COVID-19.

China has gotten the number of infections to go from 5,000 a day to 150 a day and projects to be rid of the disease by the end of April, said Dr. Ali Khan, author of The Next Pandemic: On the Front Lines Against Humankinds Gravest Dangers and dean at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. It took a herculean effort of social distancing, but they appear to have put the virus back in the box.

Khan questions whether the United States has the stomach to pull off such a containment strategy over a protracted period. He noted that the nation knew there was a global problem brewing in December and squandered much of the time it had to prepare.

Others are more optimistic. Cameron, now at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, praises the public health response thus far and casts doubt on projections that call for the pandemic to overwhelm the health care system, arguing that there would be a lot more cases today if the outbreak was likely to hospitalize millions of Americans.

The key question is the death rate associated with COVID-19. The rate currently cited is about 2 percent  based on the number of global cases and deaths  which is just a little less than 1918 Spanish influenzas 2.5 percent. But many suspect that the actual rate is lower because some people with mild COVID-19 cases are never tested. In addition, death rates are always evolving  often declining as a new virus moves through a population, higher in some geographic areas than others.

South Korea is reporting a COVID-19 death rate of 0.65 percent, for instance, based on its 7,478 confirmed infections. Thatd be closer to the U.S. seasonal flu rate, which is roughly 0.15 percent.

On HoustonChronicle.com: How to know if its a cold, the flu or coronavirus

Some scientists, such as Cameron, say they wouldnt be surprised, given its footholds in so many places, if COVID-19 stays in the community and becomes more seasonal, like the flu, dwindling in the summer and returning in the fall and winter. In such a scenario, he said, it wouldnt go away so much as move from place to place.

For now, of course, the flu is killing exponentially more people in the United States. In Texas, which began seriously tracking such deaths in recent years, the flu has killed more than 10,000 people each of the last three years. COVID-19, in comparison, has yet to kill anyone in Texas.

Dr. Jamie McCarthy, chief physician executive at the Memorial Hermann Health System, says hed love to see people treat the flu as seriously as they do this new virus.

Still, there are some key differences between the flu and COVID-19. For one, there's no vaccine for COVID-19 like there is for the flu. And for another, because the virus is new, people don't have some measure of immunity to it like most do the flu.

For that matter, because it's new, the virus is completely unpredictable. So dont take too projections too literally, say some scientists.

Anyone who says they know whats going to happen with this pandemic is not telling the truth because no one does, Markel said. Thats the problem with epidemics. They involve living organisms, both inside and outside our bodies, and they spread. You just dont know how things are going to play out.

todd.ackerman@chron.com
WUHAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- In Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province and the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 30,000 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital. In line with the country's latest diagnosis and treatment scheme, the discharged patients are suggested to undergo a further quarantine for 14 days.

Hubei provincial health commission said, as of March 10, there are over 35,000 beds in what are called "recovery stops" to quarantine recovered patients in Wuhan. The quarantine venues have been re-purposed from hotels, student dormitories, or newly-built makeshift infrastructure.

Hubei reported eight new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, all of which were in Wuhan. This was the first time that the number of daily new confirmed cases dropped to a single digit in the city. Although the spread of the novel coronavirus has been basically curbed in Hubei and Wuhan, the prevention and control task remains arduous.

Since a few discharged patients tested positive, medical experts call for follow-up efforts to manage and supervise discharged patients. The measure is aimed at ensuring the health and safety of those patients, as well as their family members.

By Wednesday, Wuhan has discharged 34,094 patients from hospitals after treatment, according to statistics released by Hubei provincial health commission. More than half of them are still under medical observation at these "recovery stops."

In Wuhan's Jianghan District, the Bolaihua Hotel has been used for quarantine since Feb. 24, and all the 52 rooms were filled with discharged patients at its peak.

Some districts took over student dormitory buildings for use and renovated four-bed rooms to accommodate one patient each. The beds and cabinets are covered by protective packaging. Daily necessities, including water bottles, slippers, and toilet paper, are provided for each patient.

Qiaokou District built a new prefab building with 400 beds and equipped with water supply, electricity and toilets.

Those temporary venues also have medical workers who conduct conventional medical checkups and provide psychological counseling for the patients.

Local health authorities said that the first batch of cured patients admitted to such venues in late February had been released after the 14-day isolation.

Patients who show symptoms of fever or chest pain at these venues will be readmitted to hospitals for treatment.

"The novel coronavirus is a newly-discovered virus, and the current understanding of it is far from enough. We should strengthen post-discharge follow-up visits, create a patient case base to timely spot and report health threats," said Liu Bende, head of an experts' group in Jiangxia District.
New measures are likely to be introduced at Irish airports to monitor people entering Ireland from Europe and other parts of the world to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

It comes as the Government officially moved to the Delay phase of Covid-19 engagement and took the unprecedented step of closing all schools creches, colleges, and public buildings until March 29.

Speaking at a briefing in Dublin, Tanaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said that new measures will be introduced at airports but confirmed there were no plans to close airports and cancel ferry services.

"Its certainly our intention to introduce some new measures in our airports for people coming in particular from other parts of Europe and other parts of the world as well so that we leave people in no doubt as to the States response to this issue and the responsibility that they have towards that."

"We dont have any plans to close airports or shut down ferries but certainly I think we will be looking at how we can communicate more directly and more effectively as people use those facilities," he said.

Other transport and travel sector developments include:

Public transport:

In a statement, the National Transport Authority said that, although public transport services will continue to run as normal, it will provide regular updates over the coming days. It also said that public health officials have advised that cleaning and sanitary procedures on the public transport fleet are sufficient for dealing with Covid-19.

"We are aware of the HSE advice to practice social distancing and passengers are asked to be mindful of this when considering the use of public transport," said the statement.

The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) had called for a major scaling back of capacity to stop the spread of the virus.

NBRU general secretary, Dermot OLeary, has written to the NTA and said action is needed to allow for adequate social distancing between commuters: "Whilst the numbers travelling have started to drop off, we remain concerned that the seating and standing arrangements on our buses and trains are not in line with recommended best practice."

The fact is that the current bus and train configuration are not compatible with the social distancing advice from the health experts," he said.

US Travel Ban:

US president Donald Trump announced the suspension of all travel to the US from most of Europe in the wake of the crisis.

In short, the US will not permit the entry of any non-US national including Irish nationals, who have visited or are resident in Schengen Area countries 14 days or less prior to their travel to the USA.

The US Government has indicated that this is a temporary restriction that will last for 30 days. This restriction does not apply to travelers from Ireland who have been continually present in Ireland or Britain for at least 14 days prior to their travel to the USA.

Eoghan Corry of Travel Extra said that, although Ireland is excluded from the ban, the reality is that most services from mainland Europe to the US are "no longer viable" and that it "is going to impact heavily on travel and inbound travel to Ireland".

European Travel:

The Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a "do not travel" advisory for Italy after the entire country was placed on lockdown.

Ryanair has suspended all its Italian flights until April 8 and Aer Lingus has cancelled all flights to and from Italy until April.

On Wednesday, the Department upgraded its overall security status in respect of Spain to "exercise a high degree of caution" and advised against non-essential travel to Madrid, Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country and La Rioja.
Geneva/IBNS: A pavilion is set up outside the UN Office of Geneva adjacent to iconic broken chair and named as Save the Baloch is a campaign by rights activists to garner greater international awareness for the near-extermination of the people of Balochistan in Pakistan.

Pakistan occupied Baloch lands in 1948 and crafted a religious state, imposing alien cultural traditions upon the people of Balochistan at the expense of their traditional beliefs and practices.

This was a flagrant intrusion into the Baloch way of life and a blatant denial of the secular and democratic principles to which the Baloch cling, activists said. Since the Pakistani government invaded the region, the people of Balochistan have suffered under constant oppression and terror, they said.

Currently, the Baloch face an unending saga of humiliation, destruction, and grief. Mass graves have been discovered across Balochistan; death squads kidnap social and political activists and human rights defenders, who are then murdered and thrown into these mass graves. Military oppression is the key tactic Pakistan has employed in order to sustain its unjust rule over the Baloch, human rights activists said.

The people of Balochistan were never asked whether they wanted to be part of Pakistan. Furthermore, they never gave their consent to have their territory annexed into the fundamentalist hotbed that is Pakistan. Despite the peoples peaceful requests for a referendum on the future status of Balochistan, the Pakistani government has denied their right to self-determination.

"Pakistan pushes the narrative that the people of Balochistan are happythat they want to be part of Pakistan. This narrative is baseless and demeaning to the actual lived experiences of the Baloch," said an activist in Geneva.

"Thus, the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC)s 'Save the Baloch' initiative marks an effort to amplify the voices of the people of Balochistan and usher in the restoration of their most basic human rightsto social, cultural, political, and economic autonomy," he said.

Defending the rights of the people of Balochistan is not an optionit is an obligation. In the words of one of the protesters: Freedom for Balochistan has been long-delayed, but it cannot and will not be denied.

Because of these transgressions and the lack of UN counteraction, the UN has failed its own mandate to protect and fight for human rights across the globe. Silence from the UN on this matter is essentially an endorsement of this cultural extermination of genocidal proportions, said activists.

The protestors demand that the UN must launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the Pakistani governments actions in Balochistan and must commit to holding Pakistan accountable for its egregious human rights abuses against the people of Balochistan.
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An ayurvedic doctor was stabbed



to death by four persons at his clinic here on Thursday evening, police said.

The opposition BJP claimed that the deceased was an office-bearer of its medical cell.

Dr Jeevan Jalchhatri (45) was at his clinic in Bhatagaon locality when four men stabbed him following an argument, a police official told PTI.

One of the accused was immediately arrested. The other three were thrashed by locals and received minor injuries. They were admitted to a local hospital and will be arrested after they are discharged, the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jyotiraditya Scindia, who on Thursday received a rousing welcome from BJP workers in Bhopal a day after ending his alliance with the Congress and joining the saffron party, said that he considers himself fortunate that the BJP accepted him in the party and assured workers that he will work wholeheartedly for them.

Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday received a rousing welcome from BJP workers in Bhopal a day after resigning from the Congress and joining the saffron party. The former Guna MP said that he considers himself fortunate that the BJP accepted him in the party and assured workers that he will work wholeheartedly for them.

While Scindia joined the BJP after tendering his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh will likely face a floor test on 16 March. The BJP in Madhya Pradesh will seek a floor test in the wake of 22 Congress MLAs resigning in the state, PTI reported. The MLAs are reportedly supporters of Scindia.

The 15-month-old Congress government has been facing a major crisis following the resignations. "Since the government is in a minority, we are going to request the governor and the Assembly speaker for a floor test on 16 March when the state budget session begins," BJP's chief whip in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Narottam Mishra told reporters.

"The governor and the speaker have the resignations of 22 MLAs. Now it is up to them to take a call," he said.

"This government has lost its majority," senior BJP leader former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said. The Congress has a wafer thin majority in the 228-member Assembly. Before the rebellion, its tally was 114.

Feeling fortunate to join BJP, says Scindia

Speaking at the state BJP office, Scindia said the one thing he was bringing to the table was hard work. "I am feeling fortunate to join the BJP. Party president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah opened the doors of this party for me. I have brought only one thing with me (to BJP) and that is my hard work," Scindia said.

"The organisation and family in which I have spent 20 years, the organisation where I have put my hard work and efforts, I am leaving all that behind and handing myself over to you," said Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday. "It is a very emotional day for me today. I consider myself fortunate that this family (BJP) opened the doors for me," he added.

Scindia said he joined the BJP "by leaving everything and came with only a full heart. Chouhan was present to welcome Scindia at the party office.

Lauding Chouhan, Scindia said, "There are only two leaders in the state who never use air-conditioner in our vehicles...Chouhan and me. Scindia said when he raised issues like injustice to farmers falsely accused in the Mandsaur firing case, he was asked (by Congress) to take to the streets.

"When Scindia family is challenged then it won't remain silent," he said. Scindia said his only aim is to make a place in the heart of each and every BJP worker.

Welcoming Scindia, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar assured him that he will not have any complaints with the large BJP family. Chouhan said, "We had a direct fight with Scindia ji, but someone else took the post (of chief minister).

Taunting Nath for organising IIFA ceremony, Chouhan said the government has no money for farmers but enough funds for the Bollywood event. Scindia arrived at the state BJP headquarters to a grand welcome by the saffron party leaders amid bursting of crackers.

After reaching the BJP office Deendayal Parisar in posh Arera Colony in a rally from the airport, Scindia garlanded busts of his grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia, Deendayal Upadhyay and former BJP president Kushabhau Thakre.

Home Minister Amit Shah also tweeted a welcome to Scindia, saying that his induction will "strengthen the resolve" of BJP in Madhya Pradesh.

Met Shri @JM_Scindia ji. I am sure his induction into the party will further strengthen BJPs resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/jrxAAWrjyl  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 12, 2020

Scindia ignored his ideology, says Rahul Gandhi

On the other hand, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, of whom Scindia was considered a close confidant, said that the former Guna MP had ignored his ideology and decided to go with the RSS as he feared for his political future, asserting that "his old friend" will neither get respect in the BJP, nor will he be satisfied.

Speaking candidly on Scindia's shock move to the BJP after being in the Congress for years, Gandhi recalled his long association with Scindia and said there is a difference between what is in his heart and what he is saying.

While some senior leaders like Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot have been scathing in their criticism of Scindia, Rahul's response to his quitting the Congress was tempered.

"I know the ideology of Jyotiraditya Scindia ji, he was with me in college. I would keep talking to him, I know him well. Jyotiraditya Scindia feared for his political future and therefore kept his ideology in his pocket and went with the RSS," Gandhi said.

"But the reality is that neither will he get respect there, nor will the truth and emotion in his heart be satisfied. He will come to realise it," he said, adding that he has an old friendship with Scindia.

A day after quitting the Congress, Scindia joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday in the presence of its president Nadda and slammed his former party for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership.

On Scindia's move to the BJP, Rahul said, "This is a clear cut fight of ideologies. On one side is the Congress party's ideology, on the other hand is the RSS-BJP ideology".

Congress workers targeted Scindia on Thursday, with a protest against him in front of the Gandhi Bhawan in Indore. Emotions ran high with party workers displaying placards with 'Sharam Karo Maharaj' (have shame Maharaj) message and "traitor" written on them during the protest.

In the midst of the developments, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh filed his nomination for the 26 March Rajya Sabha election.

Singh reached the state Assembly secretariat around 12.30 pm and submitted his papers to the returning officer and Vidhan Sabha principal secretary AP Singh.

He thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for reposing faith in him and nominating him for a second term in the Upper House of Parliament.

Three Rajya Sabha seats from Madhya Pradesh, currently held by Digvijaya Singh, and BJP leaders Prabhat Jha and Satyanarayan Jatiya, are falling vacant next month.

The Congress has re-nominated Singh, while the BJP has named former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the saffron party on Wednesday, as its Rajya Sabha poll nominee from Madhya Pradesh.

With inputs from agencies
Asia Bangkok Airways Suspends Most Flights to Myanmar as Virus Hits Air Travel

Bangkok Airways

Bangkok Airways will suspend most flights between Thailand and Myanmar for seven months from March 29 amid the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement posted on its website. The Thai airline has also canceled certain flights to Cambodia, Vietnam, India and the Maldives for varying periods.

In the statement released last Friday, the carrier said, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited announces a decrease in flight frequency as well as flight termination on certain domestic and international routes to be in line with current passenger demand. This also follows the airlines expense reduction plans which were launched earlier this month due to the global economic slowdown combined with the COVID-19 epidemic.

More than 119,000 people have been infected worldwide by the COVID-19 coronavirus, which emerged in China in December, and more than 4,200 have died.

The head of the World Heath Organization (WHO) on Wednesday announced that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.

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 director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the agencys daily briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.

Flights on seven of Bangkok Airways domestic routes, including Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Bangkok, have been canceled from March 10-28. Flights on five other domestic flights in Thailand will be suspended until Oct. 24.

Three routes will be suspended from May 1 to Oct. 24, including Bangkok-Chiang Mai flights.

The airline said that from March 29 to Oct. 24, nine international routes would be suspended, including flights from Bangkok to Yangon, Naypyitaw and Mandalay.

Flights from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Mumbai, India; and Danang, Vietnam have been canceled until March 28.

Bangkok Airways Chiang Mai-Yangon and Chiang Mai-Mandalay routes were not mentioned in the announcement, but in December the airline reduced the frequency of Chiang Mai-Yangon flights to four days a week from seven.

Other carriers flying from Yangon to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, such as Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) and AirAsia, have not yet canceled any flights, according to the carriers and ticket agents.

MNA flies to Thailand as well as Japan, India, Singapore and South Korea.

MNA director U Than Tun told The Irrawaddy that while the carrier had been affected economically by the global pandemic, it was maintaining all its flights except for those on the Yangon-Hong Kong route, which were canceled this month.

We dont have a plan to suspend international routes, except to Hong Kong. It [the Yangon-Hong Kong route] is suspended until the end of April. We have been affected; we have started cutting costs, but are not reducing the number of our employees yet, he said.

Last Wednesday, Korean Aira major South Korean airlineannounced it was suspending direct flights to Yangon from Incheon International Airport near Seoul from March 5 to April 25 due to the rapid spread of coronavirus in South Korea.

You may also like these stories:

Some Businesses Allowed to Resume in Wuhan, Origin of Virus Outbreak

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Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast/Photos Getty/Reuters

Four years ago, one of the most outlandish aspects of Russias interference efforts centered on cultivating and inflaming separatist movements across the U.S., especially in places like Texas and California.

Now, it looks like its happening all over again.

Last week, YesCalifornia, the group leading the charge for California secession, announced on Twitter that it would be attending the third Dialogue of Nations conference, slated to be held next month. YesCalifornia has been invited to and has accepted an invitation to attend the third international Dialogue of Nations conference on building a multipolar world in which countries such as the Republic of California exist, the group wrote, adding that the conference is set to take place in April.

The previous iterations of the conference, in 2015 and 2016, were hosted by a Kremlin-backed group called the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, which was itself helmed by a Russian national named Alexander Ionov. Ionov confirmed to The Daily Beast that the California secessionists, pushing what theyve dubbed Calexit, would attend the upcoming conference, scheduled for April 27. Ionov added that Louis Marinelli, the co-founder of YesCalifornia, would be in attendance. However, Ionov declined to say if other Americanssuch as the groups from Texas, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii who attended previous conferences in Moscowwould also be joining. He also declined to say if representatives whod previously joined from other regions, such as Scotland or northern Italy, would attend. I wont say, he told The Daily Beast. Youll see after the conference.

Ionov also said this conference would have a new home. Where the two previous secessionist conferences were held in Moscow, the upcoming shindig would instead be held in the Donetsk Peoples Republic, a militarized chunk of eastern Ukraine still occupied by Russian-backed forces. (The State Department has specifically said that U.S. citizens should not travel to the occupied region, due to the fact that it is heavily militarized and overseen by brutal Russian proxies.) The region presents one of Russias most successful efforts at cultivating secessionist movements, with local militias relying solely on the Kremlin for their continued rule over, and pillage of, the region. YesCalifornia confirmed on Twitter this week that the conference will take place in Donetsk, saying the conference is being organized by the Donetsk Peoples Republic.

Story continues

YesCalifornias attendance at the upcoming conference is somewhat surprising, considering how much criticism the group received for its previous relations with Ionov and Russias broader 2016 interference efforts, which saw American secessionists travel back and forth from Moscow while fake Russian social-media accounts specifically targeted American separatist groups. One of Russias most popular fake accounts, the Heart of Texas Facebook page, accrued more than a quarter-million followers before it was removed, totaling more followers than the official Texas Democratic and Texas GOP pages combined in 2016all while aiming squarely at Texas secessionists.

YesCalifornia group kicked off its Calexit efforts in earnest in 2016, when Marinelli traveled to Moscow to stump for breaking California off from the U.S., rubbing shoulders with Texas secessionists whod also received Russian funding to travel to Moscow. By that point, Ionovs Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia group had already begun receiving Kremlin backing, with Ionov himself having received a personal note of thanks from Russian President Vladimir Putin for work[ing] to strengthen friendship between peoples[.]

However, Russian links with the California separatist movement were far broader than just that 2016 conference. A few weeks before the 2016 election, YesCalifornia draped a banner in San Francisco, complete with a winking Putin, claiming that California and Russia will always be friends! Following the 2016 vote, KQED reported that Marinelli had worked with Russias Internet Research Agency troll factory to raise awareness for California secession. (YesCalifornia disputed KQEDs coverage, but the outlet stood by its reporting.) And shortly after Donald Trumps victory, dozens of bots and sock-puppet accounts just so happened to suddenly begin pushing #Calexit on both Twitter and Medium.

Most notably, in early 2017 Marinelliwho had by then moved to Russia permanently, where he remainsannounced the opening of the Embassy of the Independent Republic of California, with space provided rent-free by Ionovs Kremlin-backed group, which he described as a partner. The embassy, according to Marinelli, came with the explicit aim of gain[ing] Russian support for California independence. One photo from the opening of the embassy included a volunteer wearing a Barack Obama mask while helping set up.

Following a rush of criticism for their links with Moscow, YesCalifornias embassy went dormant in late 2017. However, not only did Marinelli continue living in Russia, but, as documents obtained by The Daily Beast show, he continued communicating with Californias state government on official Embassy of the Independent Republic of California, Moscow letterhead through at least March 2019. At the time, Sacramento was investigating allegations that YesCalifornia had laundered foreign contributions. (The California state government ultimately cleared it of allegations that it had failed to properly report contributions and expenditures.) Marinelli specifically directed all official correspondence to the embassy in Moscow.

As such, its unclear if the embassy is officially closed, or if YesCalifornia has continued using rent-free space to operate from a Kremlin-backed group. YesCalifornia did not respond to The Daily Beasts questions. However, YesCalifornia recently announced that it would be filing for a new independence referendum in August, so that it is cleared for circulation on November 4, 2020the day after [Trump] is reelected president.

Ionov, meanwhile, has remained busy in his efforts at not only cultivating American secessionists, but has begun joining other prongs of Russias interference efforts. Last year, he became the official Russian spokesperson for Maria Butina, the Russian agent convicted for infiltrating the National Rifle Association while working with now-sanctioned Russian official Alexander Torshin. Ionov also helped raise funds on Butinas behalf, alongside another Russian figure, Alexander Malkevich, who was himself sanctioned by the U.S. for aiding Russias online disinformation efforts.

Butina is now back in Russia, where she is helping Russias Commission for Human Rights publicize the difficult situations of Russian nationals abroad. Ionovwho recently posted video of a flag for the Texas Nationalist Movement, the leading Texas secession group, hanging in his officesaid she would not be attending the upcoming conference.

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by Bernardo Cervellera

Beijing will give 100 thousand masks; 20 thousand protective suits, 50 thousand swabs. 1000 lung ventilators are also on the way to help Italian coronavirus patients breathe. But China should not have suffocated the voices of doctors and journalists who already warned of a more powerful SARS virus in December. Italy should also ask for "free speech" for the Chinese. The silence of the leadership generated the pandemic.

Rome (AsiaNews) - A shower of gifts is about to submerge Italy. Thanks to the good relations between our foreign ministry and Beijing, 100 thousand high-tech masks will arrive soon (and free of charge); 20 thousand protective suits, in addition to 50 thousand swabs to perform diagnostic tests for coronavirus. In addition, "thanks to friendship and solidarity" with the Middle Empire, Italy will be able to buy and receive 1000 lung ventilators as soon as possible  through favorable channels - to help our coronavirus patients breathe.

In the midst of this dramatic emergency that our nation is experiencing, coupled with the fear of seeing even more fall ill with the virus over the next few days, similar steps will reduce the risk of collapse of our hospital structures. And for this reason it is only right to express our sincere gratitude to the Chinese government.

However, all the publicity generated by these gifts is disturbing: Xi Jinping's letter to our President of the Republic, which exalts humanity's "shared future"; the proclamations of the Chinese embassy in Rome, with the slogan "Come on China, come on Italy!"; videos of Chinese strangers who urge Italy to "put their foot on the gas" for a string re-start ("Itali jia you!").

The avalanche of gifts and the outpourings of friendship show a China crowing victory over the coronavirus, now ready to help the whole world starting with Italy. The impression, however, is that with this loudly proclaimed friendship, Beijing is attempting to mask the responsibilities it alone has had and still has regarding the coronavirus emergency. And this is not just regarding the sale of wild animals at the Wuhan market: We are talking about the silence of the authorities that lasted for over a month, before raising the alarm.

Just as Beijing donates respirators to Italy, we must speak above all of the systematic suffocation that leaders have implemented against doctors and journalists who already warned hospitals, friends and authorities about a pneumonia similar to Sars, but far more harmful, as early as last December.

With immeasurable courage, as Xi Jinping is attempting to show himself as the great victor in the war against the virus, Wuhan's doctors have spoken out and denounced the silence and oppression they were subjected to and the lies fabricated by the authorities. Some of them, like Li Wenliang, and many others, died of the same disease they first tried to alert the world to.

Dr. Ai Fen, from the Wuhan Central Hospital Emergency Center, also courageously told a newspaper about her continuing attempts to push hospital and civic and provincial authorities to take action against the virus. But in vain. It is likely that if the alert from these doctors had been heeded, the coronavirus epidemic would not have become a pandemic.

Now these doctors and many intellectuals are demanding guarantees for free speech in China, and instead they are receiving threats and arrests.

I think that China's gifts to Italy would be even more welcome if Beijing and Xi Jinping gave his people and the press freedom of speech. He would do his people and the whole world a favor. And I also think that if our Italian politicians really want to be friends with China, they cannot hide this truth from Beijing.
Yes Bank account holders are having a tough time with RBI moratorium in place, which has restricted online banking transactions. Initially not only withdrawals but also deposits to the account were restricted. However, things have improved with people now allowed to transfer money to their Yes Bank accounts to meet obligations such as loan EMIs or credit card payments. However, clearing transactions such as payment to mutual funds are still blocked. What are your options if your payment towards mutual funds - either through SIP or lumpsum -is due in next few days or you have already missed the deadline? Here is how to deal with MF investment if you are a Yes Bank account holder:

What to do if planning to invest online?

Many account holders willing to invest in MFs online are unable to do so due to the restriction. "As per the moratorium on Yes Bank, the limit of Rs 50,000 is applicable for all kinds of transactions which include savings, investments, and withdrawals. Investors who wish to set up online SIP in Mutual Funds also cannot do so with their Yes bank account online," says Harsh Jain, Co-founder and COO, Groww. So, if you are planning to invest a lumpsum which is within Rs 50,000 withdrawal limit, you can very well transfer money online and make investment. However, it would be better to do so only if you have an alternate bank account with adequate funds to manage your personal and household expenses at least for a month or more.

If you are planning to set up an SIP, you will have to go for another bank account. Making online investment in mutual fund through another bank account will not be difficult if you are an existing investor with registered KYC. "If they are already having a folio with the Asset Management company, they may change the bank mandate accordingly," says Vinit Pagaria, Head of Research & Analytics, StockEdge. If you are a new investor, you will need to get your KYC done, which may delay your investment typically by a week or 10 days.

However, if you are not in hurry and can wait a bit for your new investment, you may be able to do so through your Yes Bank account also. "As per Yes Bank administrator Prashant Kumar, the moratorium on the bank is likely to be lifted very soon and the bank would sell down part of its corporate loan portfolio and focus more on retail banking going forward," adds Pagaria.

What to do if you have already written the cheque?

Many investors still prefer investing through cheques. Some would have already written the cheques or may have been planning to do so. "If the cheque has not been cleared, the investor may make additional purchase through other bank. If the units have already been allotted and the cheque has been cleared, no immediate action is necessary," says Pagaria of StockEdge.

In case your cheque has not been cleared or presented, you need to replace it through cheques from a different bank account. If your SIP is running through cheques, you need to act now. "SIPs through Yes bank cheques need to be stopped. Customers can issue cheques from other accounts basis availability of funds," says Jain of Groww.

What if existing standing instruction is due in few days?

There are many investors with existing standing instruction through which their SIPs get deducted each month. What are their options? All clearing activities except loan EMIs and Credit Card payments have been stopped. "The onus for making payments lies with the customers. As of now, only inward remittance has been allowed, which means customers are allowed to make payments through IMPS and NEFT for YES Bank credit card dues and other bank loan obligations," says Jain of Groww. Till the time restrictions are not relaxed your next payment will not be cleared if it falls within the moratorium period. "The investors should change the ECS mandate at the earliest," suggests Pagaria. For this you will have to get in touch with the intermediary which can be an online platform or offline players such as CAMS and Karvy. You may also get in touch with the mutual fund house directly.

If you had used an online platform to invest and set up standing instruction or ECS debit on your Yes Bank account, you may use change it easily. "For the online method, they can cancel the SIP linked with the YES bank, add another primary bank and start a fresh SIP, giving the mandate to the new bank. One way is to reach out to the respective Fund House and inform them of the change immediately," says Jain of Groww.

What if you wish to liquidate your investment?

There could be many investors looking to liquidate their investment either partially or fully. "Investors may consider changing the bank mandate if they intend to redeem the units in the near future. Before redeeming any units, the investors must ensure that they change the bank mandate else all the proceeds will be credited to the Yes Bank account, which they would not be able to utilise immediately. Once the bank mandate is changed, they can proceed with the redemption," says Pagaria. Many fund houses have already stopped processing any liquidation request from Yes Bank investors unless they have changed their account with the MF house. However you should not take chance and you must verify the change of your bank account for crediting proceeds of your MF investment before making any redemption request.

ALSO READ: Yes Bank fallout: RBI cautions states against abandoning private banks

ALSO READ: SBI to invest Rs 7,250 crore in Yes Bank

ALSO READ: Cabinet may take up Yes Bank revival plan on Friday
CHENGDU, March 11 (Xinhua) -- One hundred and sixty-four Chinese nationals arrived here Wednesday morning from Iran via chartered flight CZ3004 operated by the China Southern Airlines.

All the passengers took nucleic acid tests and reported negative results, according to the municipal health commission of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

They were now placed under a 14-day quarantine in a hotel.
Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
Space startup Rocket Lab has planned a ride-share mission for its 12th launch, colorfully named "Don't Stop Me Now" after a 1978 Queen song.

With the launch, the space technology company plans to send payloads into space for NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and other customers, Rocket Lab announced in a statement .

The launch window for this mission will last about two weeks and will open March 27, with the Electron rocket ready to lift off from Rocket Lab's usual launchpad on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.

Related: Rocket Lab and its Electron booster (photos)

"We created Electron to make getting to space easy for all, so it's gratifying to be meeting the needs of national security payloads and student research projects on the same mission," Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO, said in the statement.

The NASA-supported payload aboard this mission is a satellite from Boston University called ANDESITE, which stands for Ad-Hoc Network Demonstration for Extended Satellite-Based Inquiry and Other Team Endeavors. This satellite is designed to measure the magnetosphere (the region of space dominated by Earth's magnetic field) and examine electric currents flowing as a part of "space weather"  activity initiated by the sun. NASA and other agencies have a keen interest in following space weather to better protect satellites and Earth infrastructure (such as power lines) from the sun's activity.

With this mission, the NRO will send three of its payloads. While Rocket Lab has not yet provided many details about the payloads, in the statement the company said that these payloads were procured under the Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket (RASR) contract vehicle to put small satellites in space quickly and cost-effectively. Rocket Lab's first dedicated NRO launch took place Jan. 31, 2020.

Also on board will be the M2 Pathfinder satellite, a joint initiative of the University of New South Wales Canberra Space and the Australian government. This satellite is designed to test communications and other technologies "that will assist in informing the future space capabilities of Australia," Rocket Lab said.

Although Rocket Lab is currently launching these payloads from New Zealand, the company will soon also be launching from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island in Virginia. This new launchpad will provide even easier and cheaper access for American customers seeking to launch their satellites , Rocket Lab has said . The first mission to launch from this new pad is expected in 2020.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
When psychic Sylvia Browne wrote in a 2008 novel that a 'severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe' around the year 2020 little did she know how eerily prophetic it might become.

However 12 years on from the prediction, conspiracy theorists have taken to the work of fiction to find the answers and are now claiming that the author's words 'prophesied' the outbreak of the coronavirus.

As the world rushes to slow down the progression of the illness, which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, some claim the late self-professed psychic foresaw the virus in her book End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies about the End of the World.

The bizarre claims, which have taken social media by storm, were shared by reality star Kim Kardashian, 39, who posted a book excerpt to Twitter before copying it to her Instagram Stories.

Conspiracy theorists have been claiming that psychic Sylvia Browne (pictured) predicted the coronavirus

Kim Kardashian (left), who was sent the author's work by her sister Kourtney, shared the author's words online (right)

'Kourtney just sent this on our group chat,' she wrote.

In the 2008 book, Browne wrote: 'In around 2020 a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments.

'Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it has arrived, attack again 10 years later, and then disappear completely.'

Theorists have been drawing attention to her description of a 'pneumonia-like illness' that attacks the 'lungs and bronchial tubes' and claimed it matches that of the respiratory illness today.

However fact-checking website Snopes.com pointed out that the SARS virus had occurred a few years before she published the book and might have inspired the passage.

Browne was best known in her lifetime for writing more than 40 books and was a frequent guest on talk shows, during which she would do psychic readings with guests or callers.

But she was nearly as infamous for her repeated false or discredited predictions.

In 2002, she claimed that the kidnapped 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck was abducted by a Latino man with dreadlocks and dark skin, but when Hornbeck was found alive in 2007, it turned out he was kidnapped by a white man.

In 2004, Browne told the mother of Amanda Berry that her kidnapped daughter was dead, going as far as to suggest her body had been disposed of in water and that DNA from the killer might be found on her jacket.

Berry's mother died two years later, and Berry was found alive with two other abducted women.

Browne made numerous other significant errors while predicting the outcomes of abductions, and she even got the age she would die at wrong by 11 years.

The fresh claims are not the first time conspiracy theorists have said the virus, which has now been transmitted between humans in 30 countries across Europe, was foretold.

Some theorists claimed the author pointed to a respiratory illness in her book End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies about the End of the World (left) while others said Dean Koontz had also predicted the virus in his The Eyes Of Darkness (right)

Some conspiracy theorists have claimed the French astrologer Michel de Nostredame also saw the virus approaching

Some theorists have claimed the French astrologer Michel de Nostredame - Nostradamus - who wrote about the onset of 'diverse plagues' that 'will be upon mankind', also saw the virus approaching.

In his 1555 book Les Prophetie the physician wrote: 'From the vain enterprise honour and undue complaint,

'Boats tossed about among the Latins, cold, hunger, waves. Not far from the Tiber the land stained with blood,

'And diverse plagues will be upon mankind.'

Elsewhere, other conspiracy theorists have argued that COVID-19 was foretold in author Dean Koontz's book The Eyes of Darkness in 1981.

Taking to social media to share their findings with the public, conspiracy theorists have been circling Browne's excerpt and claiming it was a spooky prediction of what was to come.

One wrote: 'This is frightening and scary...Sylvia Browne book 'End of days' predictions and prophecies about end of the world...and clearly mentions Coronavirus type symptoms in 2020.'

While another added: 'Did Sylvia Browne predict the Coronavirus outbreak twelve years ago, or was it just a lucky guess? In her book 'End of Days', Browne provides a rather explicit description of the respiratory illness. If other aspects of her prediction bear out, COVID-19 will soon vanish!'

Another Twitter user commented: 'Oh my god! Look what the late psychic Sylvia Browne wrote in her book from years ago! I think she must have been predicting the coronavirus!

Theorists took to social media to draw a connection to the virus from Sylvia's Browne's book

However others slammed the bizarre notion stating that the words written by the author were simply a 'coincidence'.

One social media user wrote: 'Coincidence. There are millions of books with plots that don't come true. Inevitable that some will have significance this way.'

While another argued: 'And that prediction it was completely bogus. When you wrte a book of fake predictions, you may just get one of them right based on statistics.'

Another person responded by saying: 'Some people are now freaking out and posting fiction saying Sylvia Browne predicted the coronavirus back some time in 2010. Please! She couldn't even predict her own demise.

'I'll continue to rely on Nostradamus' quatrains thank you.'

The conspiracy theories come as President Donald Trump imposed a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the United States on Wednesday in an effort to slow down the progression of the virus.

Other social media users poked fun at the strange claims and said that the words written by the author were simply a 'coincidence'

The American leader declared the ban would come into effect at 'midnight' on Friday after health officials declared it was now a pandemic.

The White House said the travel restrictions would apply to foreign nationals who have visited 26 European countries - but excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days.

It comes after the number of reported cases of coronavirus in the U.S. rose to 1,315 and the number of deaths hit 38 as of Thursday morning, with some 366 of those cases and 29 deaths reported in the Washington state.

With around 4,600 people having died so far worldwide, many U.S. states have been limiting travel and putting in place 'social distancing measures' to limit contact between people.

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 lock-down to contain the escalating outbreak.

The total confirmed infections in Europe have risen to 23,339 with 951 deaths, according to a new tally which is compiled from official sources.

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.
Three women were arrested for allegedly administrating fake coronavirus vaccines to villagers in Maharashtra's Jalna district, police said on Thursday. The police on Wednesday arrested Beed residents Radha Ramnath Saamse, Seema Krishna Andhale and Sangeeta Rajendra Avhad, who allegedly posed as doctors and healthcare workers, an official said.

The trio met villagers of Pipalgoan in Ambad tehsil, informed them about a vaccine that could protect them from coronavirus and administered it to gullible locals, he said. Some villagers informed Dr Mahadev Munde, a medical officer at a rural health centre, about this, after which a complaint was lodged, the official said.

Fake vaccines and bottles, which were seized from the accused, have been sent to the state health department, he said, adding that a case of cheating has been registered against the trio.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Over 6,000 Indian nationals stranded in virus-hit Iran, says Jaishankar

Also read: Coronavirus impact: Will IPL be postponed?
5 things to know about Joe Biden

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Correction Appended

Former Vice President Joe Biden is beginning to pull away as the frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary election as he picked up key victories to extend his delegate lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in the March 10 primaries.

As of Thursday morning, the 77-year-old Biden holds a 864 to 710 lead over Sanders. On Tuesday, Biden picked up wins in four states, including the biggest prize, Michigan.

Along with Sanders and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Biden is one of just three candidates left vying for the partys nomination.

With several other candidates dropping their bids for the partys nomination in recent weeks, Biden is likely to pick up the support of more moderate liberal voters who dont embrace Sanders self-described Democratic Socialist agenda.

The following pages detail five things to know about Biden's background.

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Groups of western gorillas may defend the centres of their home ranges against neighbouring groups, a study in Scientific Reports suggests. These findings may suggest that western gorillas are territorial.

Gorillas are widely assumed to be non-territorial due to their large home ranges (the areas in which they live and move), extensive overlap between the home ranges of different groups, and limited aggression between groups.

Robin Morrison and colleagues used large-scale camera trapping to monitor eight groups of western gorillas (113 individuals in total) across a 60 km2 area in the Republic of Congo. The authors determined the home ranges of each group and found that, although there is some overlap in the home ranges of different groups, gorillas tended to avoid feeding in areas that had been visited by another group that day. Avoidance was more likely the closer the area was to the central region of another group's home range.

The authors suggest that gorillas may avoid the centres of other groups' home ranges to prevent conflict as these regions may be defended by physical aggression or chest beating. They also suggest that larger groups may find it easier to defend central regions than smaller groups.

The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the social structures of gorillas are more complex than previously thought, as interactions between groups are influenced by social and familial relationships and territoriality.

###

Article and author details

Western gorilla space use suggests territoriality

Corresponding authors:

Robin Morrison

University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

Email: robinemilymorrison@gmail.com

Jacob Dunn

Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom

Email: Jacob.Dunn@anglia.ac.uk

DOI

10.1038/s41598-020-60504-6

Online paper*

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60504-6

* Please link to the article in online versions of your report (the URL will go live after the embargo ends)
Amid growing warnings that a substantial section of the global population could become infected in the deadly coronavirus pandemic, US President Donald Trump gave a prime-time address Wednesday characterized equally by its ignorance, its xenophobia and its total indifference to human life.

In remarks consisting almost entirely of self-praise, Trump took no responsibility for the inaction and disarray that has characterized his administrations response to the crisis. Rather, he presented the botched American reactionviewed around the globe as a disgraceas the best anywhere in the world.

Trumps speech included no measures that would slow the spread of the disease and mitigate its effects. He announced no funding towards expanding hospitals or increasing available resources for testing, or even providing the most basic protective equipment for frontline medical workers. Instead, he announced $50 billion in loans to businesses and urged congress to adopt a pro-corporate payroll tax cut: measures that will do nothing to stop the spread of the disease or help the workers affected by it.

Trump treated the pandemic as though it were a foreign invasion. He described the disease as a foreign virus that started in China and announced unprecedented travel restrictions, banning all non-citizens travelling from Europe to the United States.

Masked people walk in front of a TV screen showing a live broadcast of U.S. President Donald Trump's speech at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Trump, visibly rattled and straining to read from a teleprompter, declared that the restriction would apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo. As market futures plunged amid what was interpreted as the largest trade restriction since World War II, Trump later clarified on Twitter: The restriction stops people not goods.

In his paralysis in the face of a crisis expanding outside of his control and his sociopathic indifference to human suffering, Trump was merely giving particularly perfidious expression to the response in nearly every country to the pandemic.

Less than 24 hours earlier, German chancellor Angela Merkel told a dumbstruck group of lawmakers she expects 60 to 70 percent of the German population to become infected with the deadly disease.

Merkels declaration was less a statement of fact than of policy. She was saying, in effect, that no serious measures would be taken to prevent the outbreak from becoming a mass casualty event in her country.

Earlier in the week, a visibly distraught World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom warned that a moral decay was taking hold in capitals throughout the world.

Shocked at the seeming rapidity with which governments were giving up on any serious effort to contain the disease, which he attributed to its disproportionate effect on the elderly, Adhanom insisted that any individual, whatever age, any human being matters.

Adhanom stated: Whether it kills a young person or an old person or a senior citizen, any country has an obligation to save that person. So thats why were saying no white flag, we dont give up, we fight. To protect our children, to protect our senior citizens, at the end of the day its a human life. We cannot say we care about millions when we dont care about an individual person.

Working people around the world are profoundly shocked by the events of the past week and are struggling to process what it means to live in a world where the lives of their friends, coworkers and loved ones are in imminent danger.

Once workers begin to understand this new reality, they will be moved not by Trumps fascistic nihilism, but by the conception that the life of any human being matters.

The working class must not accept what Trump and Merkel have accepted: That millions will die. Workers must not accept their self-serving and half-hearted lies and excuses.

Workers must instead demand that immediate and urgent measures be taken to combat the disease. Hundreds of billions of dollars must urgently be made available to ensure a full regime of testing, contact tracing and quarantine, not to mention trillions more for urgently rebuilding the healthcare infrastructure necessary to combat the pandemic.

Paid sick leave and paid time off for taking care of children, and full compensation for the economic effects on quarantines, must be immediately provided to all. Workers cannot wait for the ruling classes to implement these policies but must immediately begin to organize workplace and neighborhood committees to ensure safety, sanitation and the humane treatment of the ill and suffering.

In the end, all of Trumps lies and obfuscation were an effort to cover up the responsibility of his own government, and the economic interests it serves, for the disastrous spread of the pandemic.

The ravenous spread of the disease is the end result of the constant subordination of human need to profit interestsso-called shareholder value. This market religion, preached for decades from every pulpit, has led society into a blind alley.
A Sydney hospital has banned families and friends from visiting newborn babies over fears of spreading the deadly coronavirus.

The Mater Hospital in North Sydney announced on Wednesday that only the partners of the mother will have access to the maternity ward.

'The Mater Hospital has increased its precautionary measures aimed at minimising the risk of COVID-19 to its maternity patients and their babies, and is restricting visitors to the Mater maternity unit from today,' the hospital said.

The Mater Hospital (pictured) in North Sydney announced on Wednesday that only the partners of the mother will have access to the maternity ward

The hospital announced that maternity ward tours would also be cancelled through an Instagram post

'Partners are still welcome but the decision to allow siblings and grandparents to visit will be left to the discretion of each individual patient.

'We ask that friends and other family members do not visit.'

The hospital also said that tours to the maternity ward would be cancelled.

'Our Maternity Tours are also cancelled until further notice. These measures reflect advice from the Australian Government and NSW Health and we will update you on any changes,' the hospital said.

It comes after the Sydney Adventist Hospital in Wahroongah in Sydney's north shore also restricted visitor access.

The Sydney Adventist Hospital (pictured) in Wahroongah in Sydney's north shore also restricted visitor access

Passengers at Sydney airport are seen being checked by authorities in face masks over fears of coronavirus

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

Partners of the mother will be the only visitors allowed into the maternity awards as the hospital takes measures to protect newborn babies from contracting the disease.

Last week, the NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged anyone who was feeling unwell not to visit loved ones in hospital.

'If you have any symptoms of an illness, albeit incredibly mild please, defer visits,' Dr Chant said.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the travel ban would extend to Italy.

The same rules are in place for Iran, South Korea and mainland China.
KAMPALA  Uganda Clays Limited (UCL) has sacked its Managing Director Mr. George Inholo after failing to get the company back on track.

Mr. Inholo was fired alongside the Head of Production, Head of Human Resources and Support Services, effective March 6th, 2020 according to the Companys Board Chairman, Eng. Martin Kasekende who put out a mild statement in the papers.

Mr. Kasekende said the trio and the company had parted ways by mutual consent.

But CEO Magazine quoting sources familiar with board proceedings reported that: The trio were sacked over big-time performance issues

Wait until you see the numbers- it is embarrassing. They failed to do anything to turn around the company; they were just bickering. There were big fights amongst the team.

While the Kajjansi-based company searches for new leaders to fill the positions, Ms. Jacqueline Kiwanuka, the Head of Finance will step up as a new Managing Director in the interim.

The embattled Inholo replaced Charles Rubaijaniza, the Company Secretary turned Managing Director, who served from November 2010 to April 2013 when he was apparently made to resign as pressure for better numbers mounted.

At the meeting that announced Inholos appointment in 2014, it was reported that the roofing tile maker had made a half-year loss of UGX2.4 billion. It went on to announce a record loss of UGX5.2 billion for 2014 and his task was clear: restructure the company and return it to profitability.

Under his leadership, UCL has downsized staff, paid off or converted expensive loans and retrofitted its controversial second plant in Budaka to use cheaper fuel oil. Revenues have risen and operating expenses have fallen but a loan from its largest shareholder, the National Social Security Fund, is still to be cleared and  with its 15% interest  remains a drag on profitability.

In 2015, Inholos first full year in charge, UCL registered a 76.7% reduction in a net loss to UGX1.2 billion from UGX5.2 billion in 2014.

Inholo was the country manager at Unilever Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi for 15 years before his current joining UCL. He has a BA in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University.

Related
Seven more people in B.C. have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing B.C.'s total to 46, according to B.C.'s top doctor, Dr. Bonnie Henry, who is now calling for increased social distancing.

Two of the cases are related to the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, where an elderly man died of the virus earlier this week. Henry says both of the people newly infected are recovering at home.

Several new cases are associated with people recently returning from travel, with three of them related to travel to Egypt. The other travel-related cases are connected to China, Iran, India, Hong Kong and Washington state.

Henry says there are also two new community cases in the Fraser Health region.

Earlier Wednesday, the World Health Organization upgraded the outbreak to pandemic status, as the number of people infected rose to more than 118,000 in 114 countries, with 4,291 deaths.

"We've learned a lot from the countries that have been dealing with this ahead of us. The measures that have been put in place in China have bought us the time to understand more about this virus than we would have several weeks ago," she said.

Watch | Dr. Bonnie Henry shares what B.C. has learned from the world response to this pandemic

Despite the calls for increased social distancing measures, Henry emphasized a worst-case scenario is not inevitable.

"It's not inevitable that everyone will become infected with this. It's not inevitable that our systems will be overwhelmed ... we do not have to be in that position," she said.

With some workplaces advising employees work from home, while other continue with business as usual, Henry also fielded a number of questions around just how many precautions people should be taking while altering their daily schedules.

She advised people to take individual risk assessments, recommending people increase their distance to others, think carefully about attending large group events, wash their hands regularly and stay away from others when they suspect they might be falling ill.

Story continues

"This is not forever. This is for the coming weeks. The coming weeks where we know we have to do everything we can to prevent transmission of infection in our communities, protect those people that are more likely to have severe illness, and particularly our seniors and elders," she said.

Recoveries

Henry also listed a number of positive outcomes in B.C.'s cases.

A man in his 90s has been discharged from hospital, and a woman in her 60s, who was aboard the Grand Princess cruise has also been discharged and sent home.

The first community case, a worker from the care centre, has fully recovered.

Henry said the cases at the care centre have highlighted the fragility of B.C.'s long-term care systems and said there will be enhanced screening of health-care workers in care homes.

People visiting loved ones in long-term care facilities are being told to not visit if they are feeling unwell and, if they do visit, spend time with their family members but avoid group settings.

"It's really challenging because we're used to hugging, we're used to touching. Right now we need to keep our hands to ourselves  make it okay within our family groups and within our religious and social groups that we do it from a distance right now," said Henry.

"We look people in the eyes, we smile in the same way that we have before. But be aware that there are groups right now within the community that are isolating themselves because there have been people who have had this disease who have gone out without realizing it and have exposed other people."

As a number of schools and universities consider temporarily shutting their doors, and as increasing numbers of public and sporting events are cancelled, Henry declined to provide broad advice on whether events should be shut down completely.

"There's no blanket statement right now ... Virtual classes are very much an option that should be considered," she said.

"At the moment, I do not feel like there's a need for us to close schools across the province."

For more on what you need to know about COVID-19 in B.C. for March 11, click here.
12 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Luxembourg, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.

This brings Luxembourg's total to 19 cases - details on the previous cases can be found below.

According to the ministry, two of them were found to have contracted the virus in Luxembourg. Officials are currently assessing the situation.

One case was diagnosed at the Kirchberg site of the Robert Schuman Hospitals (HRS). In order to protect public health, the hospital has implemented a number of new precautionary measures.

Access will be controlled at the main entrance and patient visits will be limited. Only hospital staff can reserve parking spaces and ambulatory consultations are substantially reduced.

Read more: Chief Medical Officer Jean-Claude Schmit answers common questions on Coronavirus

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.

Previous cases

Luxembourg's sixth and seventh cases were confirmed on Tuesday evening. One of the infected persons had stayed in the US, while the second had returned from a visit to Switzerland.

Read more: Luxembourg to ramp up testing capacities at National Health Laboratory

The fifth case was confirmed four 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.

Government responses to date

In a press conference on Wednesday, the government communicated the decision that all events expected to attract over 1,000 visitors must be cancelled or postponed.

You can see a list of events we know to be cancelled or postponed to date here.

Read more: Expert views - No, coronavirus isn't the same as the flu

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. In the meanwhile, it's important to keep your hands clean and avoid touching your face.
Tight vigil is being



maintained in the city and those involved in attack on workers of SDPI and RSS will be brought to book soon, Police Commissioner Sumit Saran said on Thursday.

Police have taken 127 people into preventive custody as a precautionary measure, he told reporters here and sought cooperation from the regional outfits to maintain peace and communal harmony.

Adequate police force has been deployed in and around the city to meet any eventuality and also instill confidence among the public, he said.

Besides, vehicle checks have been intensified at 40 strategic points across the city, particularly during night, he said, adding that three cases were registered in connection with the incidents over the last one week.

Arrests have already been made in the two cases of hurling of petrol bombs on a mosque and Hindu Munnani office.

Those protesting were also asked to avoid any type of agitations in the city for one week, he added.

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 last week.

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 thrashed by some unidentified people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump says the travel suspension will protect US citizens from the coronavirus outbreak.

US President Donald Trump is suspending travel with 26 countries in Europe for 30 days to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The sweeping restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom and US citizens and permanent residents will be exempted.

In his national address, he accused the European Union of not responding quickly enough to the virus.

Al Jazeeras White House correspondent Kimberly Halkett reports from Washington, DC.
Queen's granddaughter beamed as she posed for snaps with husband Mike, 38,

Zara Tindall appeared in high spirits as she cheered on competitors at Cheltenham Festival alongside her husband Mike today.

The Queen's eldest granddaughter, 38, wrapped up warm from the British spring in a royal blue knee-length coat dress, which she paired with chic navy and black accessories.

The royal joined Mike, 38, at the Cheltenham Racecourse where the two appeared in high spirits, posing for photographs as they shared a laugh together ahead of the action.

Later, the mother-of-two joined friends in the stands, where she could be seen cheering on competitors in the races.

Zara Tindall, 38, appeared in high spirits as she posed with her husband Mike, 38, while attending the third day of the Cheltenham Festival today

The Queen's granddaughter put on an animated display as she joined friends at the races to cheer competitors on

Zara put on an animated display as she cheered on competitors during the third day of Cheltenham Festival

Proving her style credentials, the mother-of-two wore a deep blue gloves, which she matched with a chic black handbag, black heels, and a striking blue trilby hat with black feather detailing.

The mother-of-two swept her blonde hair back behind her ears, revealing a pair of glittering stud earrings to add a little glamour to the event.

Meanwhile husband Mike donned a fetching checked jacket, which he coordinated with a smart red tie and black trousers.

Opting for a natural make-up look, Zara sported a light layer of foundation and a lick of black mascara around her eyes, while opting for a nude lip.

The Queen's granddaughter could be seen enthusiastically cheering on competitors from the stands

The mother-of-two joined friends in the stands at the Cheltenham Racecourse, donning a pair of sunglasses as the sunshine came out

The couple, who also attended the first two days of the festival, appeared in good spirits ahead of the races today.

Arriving at the event hand-in-hand, they posed for photographs at the course and could be seen laughing and joking with one another.

Zara appeared conscious of the weather and could be seen clutching her trilby with a gloved hand.

As the sun came out later in the day, she removed her woolen coat, revealing a navy dress, and donned a pair of tortoise-shell sunglasses.

Zara appeared conscious of her hat at the event, and could be seen raising a hand to her trilby to maintain her stylish look

Woops! At one stage the wind at the racecourse blew Zara's hat from her head, startling the Queen's granddaughter

The royal appeared to see the funny side after losing her hand to the wind, and could be seen smiling as she reached to smooth down her blonde locks

The mother-of-two could be seen cheering enthusiastically as races began and put on an animated display alongside her friends.

Other racegoers dressed to the nines as they turned out in force for the third day of the festival.

Glamorous women turned heads in vibrant colours and standout coats as they arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse this morning.

The third day of the festival is known as St Patrick's Day and dozens of revellers dressed accordingly, showing off their shamrocks, green frocks and emerald accessories.

The couple appeared in high spirits as they shared a laugh on the third day of the festival at Cheltenham Racecourse

The Queen's granddaughter wrapped up warm in a smart blue coat dress for the occasion, which she paired with black accessories and a feathered trilby hat

Zara and Mike shared a smile as they arrived for the third day of the Cheltenham Festival earlier today

The couple appeared in high spirits and could be seen beaming at one another as they posed for snaps at the racecourse

Others chose to put their best fashion foot forward in flirty floral frocks or eye-catching monochrome ensembles. In a nod to the changeable weather, some women decided to pair their outfits with practical wellington boots, rather than heels.

Thousands are expected to descend on the racecourse once again today despite ongoing fears about the potential threat of coronavirus. Organisers have faced questions this week over their decision to allow the festival to go ahead as planned, even as the number of confirmed cases in the UK continues to rise.

The Queen's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, who recently announced his separation from wife Autumn, was among those spotted earlier on in the day.

The couple arrived at the third day of the event in Cheltenham hand-in-hand as they prepared for the afternoon of races
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 01:23:01|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday deplored the protracted civil war in Syria.

"The Syrian conflict has entered its 10th year, yet peace still remains far too elusive," said Guterres in a statement.

The brutal conflict has exacted an unconscionable human cost and caused a humanitarian crisis of monumental proportions. Millions of civilians continue to face protection risks, over half the population has been forced to flee their homes with millions living in precarious conditions as refugees and 11 million continue to require life-saving humanitarian assistance, he said.

"We have seen nine years of horrific atrocities, including war crimes, nine years of human rights abuses on a massive and systematic scale, eroding international norms to new depths of cruelty and suffering," he said.

Tens of thousands are missing, disappeared, detained, subjected to ill-treatment and torture. Untold numbers have been killed and injured. There must be no impunity for such horrific crimes, said Guterres.

Throughout the conflict, the humanitarian system has used all available means to get aid to those who need it -- from airdrops to cross-line deliveries to cross-border deliveries. In 2019, the United Nations and its partners reached over 6 million people each month throughout Syria. In January 2020, food assistance for around 1.4 million people was delivered via the cross-border mechanism alone, as were health supplies for almost half a million people, and nonfood items for more than 230,000 people, he noted.

The steps to end the suffering of the Syrian people are well-known but must be realized, he said.

The March 5 cease-fire agreement on Idlib between Russia and Turkey must lead to a lasting cessation of hostilities that paves the way to a permanent cease-fire nationwide. Also, the parties need to return to the UN-facilitated political process, he said.

"My message today is clear. We cannot allow the tenth year to result in the same carnage, the same flouting of human rights and international humanitarian law, the same inhumanity," the secretary-general said.
12.03.2020 LISTEN

Three Ghanaian citizens, Elikem Kotoko, Stephen Kwabena Attuh and Issifu Seidu Kudus Gbeadese, have petitioned UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to remove President Akufo-Addo from the Eminent Group of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates as a Co-Chair.

According to the petition, the President is complicit in the resurgence of illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) in Ghana, which has proven inimical to the countrys water bodies and the environment in general.

The UN, under Goal 6 of the SDGs, has set out to provide a world in which there is safe access to water at the most affordable cost to every citizen across the globe.

Under its Goal 13, the UN commits also to a safer climate.

The petitioners noted that the actions of the officials have resulted in the pollution of water bodies in some parts of the country.

The petition said: Reports have indicated how a section of the Ghanaian population risk not having access to safe water in a few years to come if the activities of illegal miners are not checked.

In recent times, there were revelations to the effect that party officials, members, and government officials, are deeply involved in galamsey activities that have proven dangerous to the future of the people of Ghana.

We recall how the President, somewhere in 2017, committed to the fight against illegal small-scale mining and had placed his presidency on the line to fight it. Following the revelations of involvement by his party officials and appointees in the entire galamsey set up, the President has not taken any action to reprimand any of his appointees.

Indeed, following the expose by Tiger Eye of Mr Charles Bissue, where he was captured on video taking bribe to compromise the fight against galamsey, the President would have been expected to crack the whip and to set an example to others. Unfortunately, Mr Bissue has been cleared of any wrongdoing and brought back to his position at the seat of government.

The petitioners are of the firm view that the President has shown lack of will to fight galamsey and fight all its related corrupt practices which have proven potent to erode the Goals 6, 13, 14 and 15 of the UN SDG Action Campaign.

As a Co-Chair of the Eminent Group of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocates, the petitioners believe President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was supposed to be a living example to his compatriots and counterparts. According to them, the president has proven unfit for reference by his counterparts across other parts of the world as committed to the realisation of the SDG goals.

The petitioners believe that his removal from the position as a Co-Chair, would send strong signals that the United Nations is highly committed to the defined goals, and is unwilling to entertain individuals members whose actions or inactions are defeating the purposes they have set out to achieve under the SDGs or will compromise the goals in any way.

---classfmonline
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans state-owned rail-transport operator Azerbaijan Railways has invited German experts to strengthen control over the Laki-Gabala one-way railroad. The German specialists will be familiarized with the project's construction of the site as an independent audit.

During the meeting held on March 12, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC discussed the progress of implementation of the Laki-Gabala one-way railroad project.

Deputy head of Azerbaijan Railways Zaman Novruzov said that implementation of the project that is financed by the state budget began in 2018.

Speaking about the current situation of the construction process, he noted that significant work has been done on the construction of the railway bed and the underground bed, as well as the construction of bridges.

It should be noted that the total length of Laki-Gabala Railway Line is 43 kilometres.The total cost of the project is around $159m. It is planned to be completed in 2020

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
President Moon Jae-in



President Moon Jae-in called on people not to lose hope in South Korea's battle against the new coronavirus Thursday as the U.N. health agency has declared the virus outbreak a pandemic.



"This cannot help being a big threat to us at a time when domestically we've contained the blaze of COVID-19 and sought to curb the further spread," Moon wrote on his social media.



"(The global spread of the virus) could deal an unspeakable blow to the global economy and the Korean economy."



The World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the virus crisis is now a pandemic as confirmed cases are swelling across the globe.






Experts say that even in a 'best case' scenario nearly 60,000 people are expected to die from the coronavirus in New South Wales alone.

University of Sydney Professor Robert Booy, who has previously advised Australia's chief medical officer on influenza pandemics, said the best case scenario is that one in five people in the state will be infected with the deadly coronavirus.

New South Wales has a population of eight million people, meaning 1.6 million people are predicted to get coronavirus this year.

Australia's latest Health Department alert said the global case fatality rate is now about 3.7 per cent.

Based on those figures, 59,200 people would die in the state.

A woman leaves St Vincent's Hospital, in the inner-Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, on Tuesday. In a best-case scenario 1.6 million people in NSW alone are expected to catch the coronavirus

The figure assumes health care would be able to be provided for all those who need it.

The World Health Organisation has said that 14 per cent of people who get coronavirus will have serious complications including viral pneumonia.

A further 5 per cent will need critical care in an intensive care unit.

Those patients will require a ventilator machine and specially trained nurses and medical staff to care for them.

NSW Health told Daily Mail Australia that New South Wales has more than 1000 intensive care unit beds but the availability fluctuates on demand.

Triage point at Civile Hospital, Brescia. Italy has become a time machine for the rest of the developed world to see what will happen if their healthcare systems become overwhelmed

Emergency medical structure in Brescia, Italy pictured on Tuesday. These tents were set up to ease the burden on hospitals. Italy has shut every shop and business to slow the virus spread

However, in the best case scenario outlined by Professor Booy, 80,000 people in New South Wales will need those 1000 beds.

Even if the numbers were evenly spaced over a 12-month period there would still be only one bed available for more than six people who need it.

If people cannot get the healthcare they need, then people who would otherwise live will die, pushing up the case fatality rate.

University of NSW Associate Professor James Wood said the key to helping people survive is to slow down the rate of infection.

This spreads out the cases so as not to overwhelm the health-care system.

Dr Wood said to slow the rate the virus spreads it would be necessary to take measures to isolate people from each other such as closing schools, banning public events, encouraging social distancing, quarantine and isolation.

'There are plans in place and we are trying to free up spaces in hospital, the biggest challenge is having sufficient ICU beds available for patients,' Dr Wood said.

People waiting to be tested for coronavirus at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney

Ryde Hospital, Sydney. New South Wales has over 1000 emergency beds but more than 80,000 people will need to use them if just 20 per cent of the population get coronavirus

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 Grattan Institute has also urged Australia to follow the lead of countries like Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore which have introduced radical social distancing measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Chief executive John Daley said Australia needs to close the borders, shut down schools and universities and cancel mass events.

Even though this can hurt the economy in the short term it will reduce the number of virus cases and reduce the long-term impact.

Mr Daley warned if Australia keeps up 'non-stringent measures like Italy', our fatality rate would skyrocket.

Daily Mail Australia has filed a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) request with NSW Health to find out what the department's modellers predict will be the peak numbers of coronavirus cases and how many hospital beds there will be to treat them.

Epidemiologists say a worst-case scenario would mean far more people infected than just 20 percent.

Professor Booy said it is possible that half the population could catch the coronavirus, the Daily Telegraph reported.

University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay said the virus could infect up to 80 per cent of the population.

'We're all susceptible to the infection as we have no herd immunity,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

Professor Raina MacIntyre, the head of Biosecurity at the University of New South Wales's Kirby Institute, said the doubling time of the pandemic worldwide is six days.

'So it's going to get worse very, very quickly,' Professor MacIntyre told The Australian.

If it becomes widespread, there is the potential for the health system to be overwhelmed.'

Italy has become the world's petri dish example of what happens when too many people need treatment at the same time.

People line up outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital for coronavirus testing on Tuesday. Experts say if too many people get sick at the same time, the system will be overwhelmed

The Mediterranean nation has a population of 64.5 million people.

Although it only had just over 12,450 cases of coronavirus confirmed as of Thursday night, it's health system is already teetering on the brink of collapse.

Italy's government has had to place the entire country under quarantine and has closed shops and businesses to try to slow the spread of the virus.

All shops are now closed in Italy except for food stores and pharmacies in Europe's toughest lockdown, BBC news reported on Thursday.

The Financial Times reported that Sacco Hospital in Milan is barely holding up as coronavirus patients take up an increasing number of intensive care beds.

'Frankly, I don't know for how long the health system can cope, I don't even want to think about how it could end,' said Massimo Galli, head of the hospital's infectious diseases department.

More than 820 people have so far died in Italy and more than 1000 are in a serious condition according to BNO News which has tracked the progress of the virus since its start.

US President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban heavily restricting all travel from Europe to the United States starting at midnight on Friday.

The ban does not apply to US citizens returning home or to the UK or Ireland.

Australia's coronavirus pandemic went national on Thursday with the ACT - the last coronavirus-free jurisdiction - confirming it's first case.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show (pictured) could be cancelled over coronavirus fears. Experts say shutting down large public gatherings can help stop the spread of the virus

New South Wales remained the epicentre of the outbreak with the highest number of confirmed cases at 78 out of a national tally of 158.

The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of covid-19 to be a pandemic on Thursday.

A pandemic describes a disease that is widely spreading between people in multiple countries around the world at the same time.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made an emergency address to the nation on Thursday evening to reassure people that the government was preparing for the pandemic.

Travellers leave Sydney airport on Thursday. Travel bans may need to be enforced in future to stem the spread of the virus. The US will begin a 30-day ban heavily restricting any travellers from Europe from entering the country in an effort to slow the spread of the virus

People walking through Sydney's CBD on Thursday

'Now I know, many Australians are anxious about this and we do still have a long way to go,' Mr Morrison said.

'We will get through this together, Australia. We all have a role to play.'

The Prime Minister earlier announced $2.4 billion would be spent on health including producing pop-up clinics to reduce the burden on hospitals.

It would also fund public hospitals, support for aged care and boost the national stockpile of medicines and masks, he said.

The Prime Minister also announced $17.6 million for an economic stimulus plan to subsidise the wages of apprentices and give cash support for small and medium sized businesses.

Tax incentives would be given to businesses and one-off payments of $750 for more than six million people including pensioners.

The measure is part of a huge stimulus plan - the first of its kind since the 2008 financial crash - to save thousands of jobs and companies as coronavirus pushes Australia towards recession.

Economist Steve Keen had instead called for a one-off cash payment for every citizen of $7780 to encourage them to stay home in isolated quarantine, so they could afford to pay their bills and rent.

This is especially important for those whose income would be cut by the virus such as the nation's three million casual workers who don't have sick leave.

Mr Keen said the aim was not to stimulate the economy but to help people pay their bills while staying at home and to prevent bankruptcies.
Wyoming health officials confirmed Wednesday evening the first known case of coronavirus in Wyoming, hours after Colorados number of patients spiked and health officials in Casper urged calm.

The first Wyoming patient identified with the virus is a woman from Sheridan County with some recent domestic travel history, according to the state Department of Health.

WDH is following up to learn more details about the persons exposure risk and to identify and communicate with anyone who may have been in close contact with the patient, the Department of Health wrote in an announcement. Known contacts will be monitored for symptoms and tested if needed. As is currently standard, the test result is considered to be a presumptive positive and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will conduct further testing for confirmation.

Health Department spokeswoman Kim Deti largely declined to provide any additional details late Wednesday evening and said that the department was still conducting followups. She said that the results from the test came back late, late Wednesday afternoon.

Its unclear where the patient is being treated.

The respiratory illness continues its march across the United States and the world. As of Wednesday, there are more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the U.S., with at least 37 related deaths. Worldwide, there have been more than 120,000 cases and 4,300 deaths. In response to the wave of cases, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that travel to Europe, where the virus has spread significantly in some areas, will be suspended effective Friday.

Even with the states first confirmed case, the risk of transmission for most Wyomingites is low, Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state health officer and state epidemiologist, noted in the announcement. Officials have said Wyomings rural nature and isolation from the big population centers exposed to international travel contribute to the low risk.

We expected to identify a case in Wyoming at some point because the reach of the disease is clearly growing, she said. Travelers to certain affected locations and close contacts of ill people are still overall at the highest risk of becoming ill.

State preparations

Health officials in Casper and elsewhere in Wyoming have said for days that it is likely a matter of time before there was a case here. By Wednesday afternoon, at least 11 Wyomingites had tested negative for the disease.

Those officials have maintained that the state is prepared. Deti previously said the state had hundreds of test kits available, which she characterized as enough. The University of Wyoming has already taken steps to prepare campus to move online, if necessary.

In a statement Wednesday night, just before the state confirmed the first case, the university wrote that the spring semester will resume as scheduled after spring break. Should that change, the university said, campus will be updated by March 23.

Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to re-evaluate spring break plans so as to avoid potential exposure to the virus or to limit the likelihood of exposing older people, and those of any age who have compromised immune systems, the universitys acting president, Neil Theobald, said in a statement. In addition, students are advised to take with them any materials they might need to resume instruction in an online format. The university is developing contingency plans for online-only teaching, should that be necessary.

In a statement included in the Health Departments announcement, Gov. Mark Gordon said the state was prepared for this first case.

Our state has been planning for this situation for weeks and we will continue our coordinated efforts to address this threat, he wrote. I pledge to work closely with our state agencies, federal partners and local officials to ensure we are implementing all the necessary steps to protect public health.

Nearly all of Wyomings neighbors confirmed cases in the days before the Equality State verified its first infection. Colorado declared a state of emergency earlier this week as cases rapidly appeared in Denver and Aspen. At one point Wednesday, the Denver Post reported first five and then 10 new cases within the span of five minutes.

Montana reported its first case Wednesday, as well, albeit in a patient in Maryland. Utah and Nebraska had both previously confirmed infections.

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a respiratory illness, symptoms of which include fever, cough and shortness of breath. It comes from the broader family of coronaviruses, which causes illnesses like SARS and the common cold.

Officials at Wyomings two largest hospitals  Wyoming Medical Center and Cheyenne Regional Medical Center  say they are prepared to handle any cases that crop up in the Equality State.

Medical response

Health officials have asked Wyomingites to refrain from seeking COVID-19 testing unless they meet one of two criteria: Theyve traveled to a COVID-19 hot spot, or theyve interacted with someone who has the disease. Those who meet one or both should then call their health care provider, rather than going to the emergency room. The state is capable of processing tests here in Wyoming, rather than sending them to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

While much is still unknown about the disease, it is apparent that its most dangerous for the elderly. Dr. Mark Dowell, an infectious disease physician in Casper, previously said that the average age of Americans whove died of the disease is 80.

Should cases present in Casper, officials have said the early patients will be treated in special rooms at Wyoming Medical Center in an attempt to stop or slow the spread. But should cases become more common, physicians here plan to treat COVID-19 like the flu: More serious cases will require hospitalization in single rooms, while patients with more mild symptoms should self-isolate in their homes for two weeks.

By Wednesday evening, the National Basketball Association abruptly announced it was suspending its season after a player tested positive right before a game was set to tip off. Actor Tom Hanks and his wife confirmed that both had COVID-19 after traveling to Australia. The NCAA announced that there would be virtually no fans in attendance at its national championship tournament set to start later this month.

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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.

Wendys can be ordered through DoorDash or Postmates.

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!
A U.S. district judge in South Carolina overturned a decades-old state law Wednesday that prohibited discussion of LGBTQ issues in public school sex education classes. According to the ruling, the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

The decision was prompted by a lawsuit filed just two weeks earlier by student members of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance at the School of the Arts in Charleston County, as well as several legal and LGBTQ advocacy groups.

The law, passed in 1988, made it illegal for public school teachers to discuss alternate sexual lifestyles from heterosexual relationships except in the context of sexually transmitted diseases. Teachers who disobeyed the law  whether by including LGBTQ issues in their curriculum, answering a students question or allowing classroom discussion  could be imprisoned.

Julie Wilensky, a senior attorney for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which helped file the suit, said the law was clearly discriminatory and unconstitutional.

There's no comparable restriction in the law on health education about different sex relationships, Wilensky told NBC News. After 32 years, students in South Carolina will no longer be harmed by this outdated law.

South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman was named as the defendant in the lawsuit, but the case was settled in a consent decree, meaning the resolution was mutually agreed upon. In a statement, Spearman said the courts decision moves South Carolina forward.

The balance of protecting freedoms and preventing discrimination will be upheld in any guidance we send to schools on this issue, she added.

South Carolina was one of a handful of states left with a so-called no promo homo law on the books, after similar laws were repealed in Arizona last year and in Utah in 2017. Advocates say that their success in the Palmetto State can be repeated in the remaining states with anti-LGBTQ curriculum laws: Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

Story continues

Today makes me hopeful that states that have similar laws will realize that singling out LGBTQ students for unequal treatment in the classroom can't pass muster under the Constitution, Wilensky said.

At the weekly Wednesday meeting of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, the mood was celebratory. Tenth grader Eli Bundy, the clubs president, said they were shocked by how quickly the court had decided in their favor, and excited that the state Department of Education had not opposed it.

It makes me really proud and happy to live in South Carolina, Bundy, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, said.

For Bundy and their LGBTQ peers, the decision doesnt just mean more inclusive sex education, but hope for a more inclusive school culture, as well. The lawsuit recounted the experience of one middle school student in Greenville, who had a Clorox wipe thrown at him and was kicked in the chest before being called diseased and told that the stairway to hell was rainbow-colored. These kinds of incidents, Bundy hopes, will be less likely in a school environment where LGBTQ identities and issues are more normalized.

When teachers have to say that they can't talk about queer relationships, it really just sends a message that it's not acceptable, they said. Now that that doesn't exist anymore, my hope is that for school communities across the state, including our school specifically, the environment and the climate for LGBTQ students will be more accepting.

In this regard, South Carolinas public schools have room for improvement, according to a 2017 National School Climate Survey from LGBTQ advocacy group GLSEN. The survey found that 88 percent of LGBTQ students in South Carolina regularly heard homophobic slurs or remarks, and 76 percent said theyd been verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. LGBTQ youth in general, many surveys have shown, are already significantly more likely to be bullied or have suicidal thoughts than their heterosexual peers.

Jasmine Beach-Ferrera (Campaign for Southern Equality)

Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, which also helped file the lawsuit, told NBC News that the decision bodes well for LGBTQ rights in the South as a whole.

I think the decision is very reflective of where people in the South are, Beach-Ferrara said. The politics of the state or the laws of the state are catching up to where people already are in their beliefs and attitudes.

Still, she said, theres a long way to go in ensuring legal equality for LGBTQ Southerners. At the same time as its no promo homo law is being overturned, South Carolinas state Legislature is considering two bills that would curtail the rights of transgender people in the state.

The political reality is we are still contending with some political forces in the state that target LGBTQ folks, she said. But we see today's legal victory as a clear indication of what South Carolina is ready for.

Beach-Ferrara said the decision itself is a beacon for LGBTQ youth across the South, hopeful for similar victories over their states anti-LGBTQ laws.

There's a kid in Mississippi who will hear this news today and know that even if the courts or the Legislature of Mississippi haven't come to the same conclusion yet, a federal court in the South has, she said. And that's powerful.

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The largest lender State Bank of India on Thursday announced a Rs 7,250-crore fund infusion into the crippled under which it will pick up to 49 per cent equity in the fourth largest private sector lender.

The fund infusion is part of the Reserve Bank-mandated rescue plan.

SBI said its shareholding in will remain within 49 per cent of the paid up capital of the private lender and following the fund infusion, it will pick up 725 crore shares.

"The executive committee of the central board at its meeting held on March 11 accorded approval for purchase of 725 crore shares of at a price of Rs 10 a share, subject to regulatory approvals," SBI said in an exchange filing on Thursday.

The bank, however, did not mention the exact quantum of stake it will be buying in Yes Bank.





Under the reconstruction scheme, SBI will have to buy 49 per cent of Yes Bank and cannot reduce its holding below 26 per cent before for the next three years.

The SBI investment of Rs 7,250 crore is much higher than Rs 2,450 crore it had planned initially for 49 per cent stake in the private sector lender that began operations in 2004.

Last week, SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar had told reporters that the bank would invest Rs 2,450 crore to buy 245 crore shares of Yes Bank. He had also spoken about roping in other investors and SBI investment would not exceed Rs 10,000 crore.

On March 5, the RBI imposed a moratorium on Yes Bank, restricting withdrawals to Rs 50,000 per depositor till April 3.

The RBI also superseded the board and placed it under an administrator, Prashant Kumar who is a former deputy managing director and CFO of SBI.

Since the RBI action, the central agencies ED and CBI have arrested Yes Bank's co-founder and former CEO Rana Kapoor for alleged money laundering and corruption, while his wife Bindu and three daughters are also being quizzed by these agencies for their role in siphoning of public funds.

One of the biggest charges against Kapoor is that he illegally benefitted to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore by lending to certain troubled companies like DHFL, Anil Ambani group and Essel group-- all the loans worth around Rs 20,000 crore that have turned into bad debt.
The revolt over Huawei is bigger than it looks. It spells trouble for the Prime Minister over security, defence, and veterans.

With the news dominated by the coronavirus, Rishi Sunaks budget and the Prince Harry leak, one significant story ended up buried this week  even though it has huge implications for Britains future.

As many will know, the Tories have been battling it out for months over whether to allow Huawei, the Chinese technology company, to control the countrys 5G networks.

The project was given the go ahead earlier this year, but on Tuesday, 38 MPs staged one of the biggest rebellions yet against its roll-out  backing an amendment to end Huaweis participation in Britains networks by the start of 2023.

The rebels include former cabinet ministers Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Liam Fox, David Davis, Esther McVey and two select committee chairman; Tom Tugendhat and Tobias Ellwood, Chair of the Defence Select Committee, who said: the Government should be on warning that this House believes that we need to wean ourselves off Huawei.

With Johnsons stonking majority in December, it was easy to believe that these sort of tensions couldnt happen in 2020. But they are a massive wake-up call as to how serious the Huawei issue is  and it seems fractures are only going to get worse.

The Conservatives have always known that allowing Chinese technology providers to build Britains networks would be controversial, hence the amount of provisions they have made each step of the way to convince parliament that this is what we need.

Some of this has been done by way of legal assurances. For instance, the contract was signed off on the condition that Huawei kept out of Britains most sensitive security areas. And, anticipating the revolt, the Government claimed there would be a new bill to address concerns around how long Huawei can manage our networks.

None of this stopped Tuesdays events, however, and MPs have called it merely a first showing in the war against Huawei. Culture Minister Matt Warman responded that the rebel warnings had been heard loud and clear. Loud is certainly what we can expect much more of, as there will be future attempts to push a bill through.

Whats most interesting about the Huawei fight is that it exposes how much matters of defence and security can throw into jeopardy the Tories majority, not least because the substantial numbers of backbenchers with military backgrounds (Duncan Smith, Davis and Ellwood, for instance). If the government does not address their objections sensibly, it is not immune to defeat.

The events have also highlighted potential problems for trade agreements, with some MPs worried that Huawei has isolated us from major allies such as Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand (all of which have banned Huawei and condemned the UKs decision to use the technology). Duncan Smith complained [w]e have no friends out there any more on [the Huawei] issue, and he is probably right.

The worst international outcome, of course, is the impact of Huawei on the UKs special relationship with America. Trump consistently told Boris Johnson not to move ahead with the contract, and was apparently apoplectic when he ignored this advice. Can the damage be undone with a new bill? One suspects not; that Trump will punish us for what he perceives as a monumental betrayal.

This battle will continue to play out, though may not get the coverage it fully deserves  as coronavirus absorbs the nations attention. The matter is one of utmost importance, however, as to our future safety and economic performance. It will exacerbate Tory tensions and showcase any weaknesses in the UKs knowledge around technology (hence why we had to use Huawei in the first place). But the Tories will plough on, perhaps having invested too much physical and political capital to step back, and take stock of the situation.

As Paul Goodman put it in his January article, it is difficult to know whether Huawei is good for the country; [w]e dont have the technical knowledge  and doubt whether the politicians who sound off on the matter one way or the other do so either. Personally, I find it incredibly hard to imagine what this technology is going to look like, and when I have asked others I have only got vague responses about the internet of things and driverless cars  the latter of which begs the deeper question of whether humanity needs all of this.

At the very least, given the increasing dominance of China on the world stage, as well as its terrible treatment of Uighur Muslims, we cannot simply go blind into the Huawei issue. Troublemaking Tories are no bad thing.
The deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is not only taking a toll on humans, it has also been roiling equity markets around the globe. India is no exception to this mayhem.

Nearly Rs 10 lakh crore of market cap was wiped out as the Nifty and Sensex crashed on Thursday morning in the biggest single-day decline ever. Indian stock markets have now officially entered the bear territory as Nifty 50 slipped below the 9,700 mark for the first time since September 2017 and the Sensex crashed by nearly 2,500 points, the lowest in almost two years.

Market watchers say COVID-19 worries mounted as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has now termed it a global pandemic. Also, the markets opened with the news that the United States has banned all travel from Europe (barring the UK) for a month and the panic among investors seemed real.

The Indian economy has anyway been in a tailspin for months now, with factory output shrinking, the financial sector in a free fall, exports down and private investments plummeting. The COVID-19 threat is likely to shave off some more points from an already tepid GDP growth forecast for India for the current and next fiscal years.

Anyhow, the events leading up to Thursday mornings market crash will likely worsen the situation for Indian investors.

The Other Contagion - Yes Bank

Take the sudden supersession of the board of Indias fourth private bank, Yes Bank, last Thursday by the RBI. This was done to ostensibly prevent a run on the bank and stopping the contagion from spreading further in the domestic financial markets. But by asking the State Bank of India (SBI) to pump in money to keep Yes Bank afloat, the government has not only socialized private losses, it has also hurt the confidence of investors and of the non-banking financial industry (NBFI) as a whole.

India's NBFI will now likely face renewed pressure on funding and liquidity following the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) takeover of Yes Bank this month, says Fitch Ratings.

The consequences will compound the credit squeeze across the country's financial system, adding to current economic uncertainty.

Global ratings agency Fitch has pointed out that while the exposure of a large part of Indias non-banking financial institutions was negligible to this bank nonetheless, 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 write-down on 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.

Put simply, the near collapse of Yes Bank and now the turnaround package being implemented by the government will raise funding costs for all borrowers.

Fitch has further said that there may also be knock-on effects for NBFIs if smaller private banks start to face deteriorating depositor confidence. Banks 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.

Already, there have been news reports of at least two smaller but healthy private banks nearing collapse (these reports have been successfully contested) and analysts concur that regardless of what the government and the RBI do to instill investor confidence, depositors of private banks have lost confidence in the system.

Private Capex Elusive

Indias famed private sector has pulled back expenditure as more of factory capacity remains idle across industries and exports shrink. A Bank of Baroda analysis found that capital expenditure by the private sector nosedived 40% in the December quarter of 2019-20 against the same quarter of the previous fiscal to Rs 1.3 lakh crore. If one were to consider the nine-month period from April to December 2019-20, then the expenditure was down to almost half.

The BoB analysts have said that despite the government slashing corporate tax rates by a large margin earlier in the fiscal year, this tax cut has had little effect on capex as only a handful of companies are looking to reinvest the savings amid a dull economic climate. In other words, with economic growth tapering, companies are not expanding manufacturing capacities since the ones already installed are not functioning anywhere near peak capacity.

Crude Price Crash Could Help

The Brent crude prices have been in a freefall these last few days and some analysts believe that can only be a good thing for the beleaguered Indian economy. As they speculate over the increasing possibility of prices stabilising at 40-45 US dollars per barrel, estimates suggest a windfall for India which is hugely dependent on imports to fulfill its domestic oil needs. This windfall could help improve the precarious fiscal situation in India.

But the Indian economy is now further from recovery than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic and despite the relief seen through lower oil prices, economic recovery is likely to be delayed. The markets have entered the bear phase and market watchers are advising investors to remain in invested in mutual funds and do cherry picking of select sectors to safeguard their monies.
The UK will go ahead with a new tax on tech giants, setting up another potential transatlantic row between Boris Johnson and Donald Trump.

The 2 per cent levy targeting the likes of US firms Google, Amazon and Facebook will be introduced on April 1, it was announced after Rishi Sunak's first Budget yesterday.

The Digital Sales Tax will affect search engines, social media services and online marketplaces which 'derive value from UK users'.

It is designed to target businesses who make massive amounts of money from UK consumers put pay little or no tax in the country because they are based abroad - to the detriment of domestic businesses.

It comes despite threats from Washington that the UK would face trade sanctions if it forced American companies to pay the tax.

US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin has previously warned the US could retaliate with tariffs on UK-made cars.

And speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, he said President Donald Trump would raise the issue personally with Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister in December vowed to make major multinational companies pay their fair share of tax.

Rishi Sunak (right, with Boris Johnson yesterday) announced that the 2 per cent levy targeting the likes of US firms Google, Amazon and Facebook will be introduced on April 1

President Donald Trump (pictured yesterday)

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg recently voiced support for international tax reform, saying at the Munich Security Conference (pictured) that he understood the 'frustration' and accepted it may mean his company will have to pay more tax

Companies whose worldwide revenues from digital activities exceed 500 million, with more than 25 million of the revenues from UK users, will fall under the digital services tax.

It is expected to bring in an extra 65 million this year.

In documents published last night after the Budget, the Government said the tax would apply to 'a groups businesses that provide a social media service, search engine or an online marketplace to UK users'.

'These businesses will be liable to Digital Services Tax when the groups worldwide revenues from these digital activities are more than 500 million and more than 25 million of these revenues are derived from UK users.

'If the groups revenues exceed these thresholds, its revenues derived from UK users will be taxed at a rate of 2 per cent.'

It adds that 'the provision of a social media service, internet search engine or online marketplace by a group includes the carrying on of any associated online advertising service', suggesting it may also apply to news websites like MailOnline if they breach the revenue threshold.

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg recently voiced support for international tax reform, saying at the Munich Security Conference that he understood the 'frustration' and accepted it may mean his company will have to pay more tax.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development had already urged the UK to hold off its own plans to allow time for the international approach to succeed.

The Government said it is 'committed to dis-applying the digital services tax once an appropriate international solution is in place'.
C.P. Vietnam staff processing chicken for export

In a document sent to the Department of Livestock Husbandry under the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, the Federal Agency for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of Russia noted that C.P. Vietnam Corporation, a subsidiary of Thai C.P. Group, with a chicken processing plant in Chuong My district, Hanoi, is the first business in Vietnam to be certified to export processed chicken to Russia.

This is the result of great efforts by the Department of Livestock Husbandry in negotiating with Russian authorities as well as preparing documents for export registration.

Exporting Vietnam's processed chicken to Russia means that these products can enter all member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan.

In order to set foot in these markets, processed chicken products have to match all requirements related to husbandry, slaughter, processing, as well as ensure all criteria for biosecurity, food safety, and traceability. In addition to these, the Russian and EAEU markets have very high standards and technical barriers for exporters to overcome.

In the next couple of months, C.P. Vietnam will inaugurate Vietnam's most modern factory in Becamex Binh Phuoc Industrial Park (Chon Thanh district), including a food processing plant, hatchery, as well as a slaughtering and processing plant. All links in the production chain apply Industry 4.0 technology for a safe chicken production chain for local consumption and exports to Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Earlier, in 2017, the Department of Livestock Husbandry also negotiated with Japan successfully to export processed chicken. The exports not only increase the added value of the Vietnamese livestock sector but also opens new ways for chicken farmers and decreases their dependence on the domestic market. Thereby, this is a good chance for the sector to invest into high-technology and ensure safety from disease and food hygiene.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Jessica Mari, 34, has always loved kids.

So much so, she decided to work as a nanny after becoming discontent with her job as a chef. But she also always had a penchant for the arts and taking photos to capture moments.

For this reason, she recently decided to combine both loves by opening a portrait studio specializing in childrens portraits. About one year ago, Jessie James Photography was launched in Eltingville.

I received my first DSLR [camera], 10 years ago and originally was planning on getting into food photography, because at the time I was a chef. After realizing the food industry wasnt for me, I started working as a nanny for small children, and have been blessed to be able to witness all of their little milestones, said Mari.

I also realized how fast the children would change along the way. I would always find myself photographing every little cute thing they did to make sure their parents wouldnt miss a thing while at work. Its something, at the time, I felt I had to do because if it was my child, I know I would want to be able to witness those moments too, she added.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

After the birth of her niece, Mari became even more passionate about photography.

When my niece was born, I wanted to make sure we had these memories for her for when she gets older, she said. Thats when I knew I wanted to open the business. ... I realized I was able to tie together my creativity with my love for working with kids. Its the best of both worlds for me.

Mari said she is drawn to photographing babies because they change so much as they grow.

Growing up, I always had a ton of pictures of me, said Mari. I wanted my niece to be able to look back all her milestones. ...Its so amazing to see the changes as a child grows. Even in the first few weeks, newborns change like crazy. So to be able to capture these moments for people is important.

SERVICES

Maris studio specializes in maternity, newborn and family sessions.

Most of my photography is babys first year,' she said. I often start with expecting mothers, newborns, then move into that first birthday.

She said her favorite part of the business is to be able to tap into her creativity.

What intrigues me is that no two sessions are the same. The possibilities are endless when it comes to creativity. I am constantly doing something new. That is something I feel super passionate about. I love editing, and I love fine art styles [of photography], said Mari.

WORKING WITH GRANDMA

Maris grandmother, Carolyn Bernard, is a portrait artist who assists in the creation of Jessie James Photography products.

She does some painting for me. Ill take a portrait and put it on canvas, and shell paint over it to give it a unique look, she said.

My grandmother is why we [her family members] all have that extra creative knack. She is a painter. ...I like that I can put my art together with her art to create something unique and different, Mari added.

PRINTING PHOTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

She said she feels its still so important to provide printed photos for her clients -- even in the digital age.

I think its so important to print. Its the only way we can guarantee our images are preserved, she said. I like to give my clients a piece of artwork to take home.

JESSIE JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY AT A GLANCE

Website: jessiejamesphotog.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessie_jamesphotography/

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CHICAGO  The coronavirus claimed its first major events in Chicagos civic life Wednesday, as Mayor Lori Lightfoot canceled the citys massive St. Patricks Day parades for this weekend because of fears the disease would spread through the dense crowds.

The mayor made her decision after days of speculation as other cities from Boston to Dublin dropped their festivities for the holiday. Lightfoot called off Saturdays downtown parade and Sundays South Side Irish parade just days before they were set to step off. She also canceled a smaller Northwest Side parade.

This was not an easy decision and we dont take it lightly, Lightfoot said at a morning news conference with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other officials announcing the decision.

The mayors last minute move to shut down the parades reflects the difficulty of the call. The St. Patricks Day revelry  which features the famous dyeing of the Chicago River green on the morning of the downtown parade  is a huge boon to Chicago hotels, restaurants and bars as people stream into the city from throughout the Midwest.

The local tourism industry is already reeling from the recent cancellations of several big trade shows at McCormick Place, and the St. Patricks Day events draw tens of thousands of spectators.

But in the end, Lightfoot had to know she would be judged more harshly if Chicago got hit especially hard by the COVID-19 virus and the outbreak was traced back to the decision to go ahead with the parades. Health officials have been warning for weeks that the best way to avoid contracting the respiratory ailment is to avoid close contact with people who are infected.

Like cities across the nation, we concluded that having a parade at this time posed an unnecessary risk to the publics health, she said.

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, noted how hard it was to scrap the events.

It was a very difficult call for the Mayor, Reilly said Wednesday. Nobody is more sensitive to the concerns of the downtown business community than I am, so this is very disappointing. But, as the son of a public health doctor who ran County Hospital, I can say this is 100% the right call.

Pritzker said he supported the decision as officials were trying to minimize the rampant spread of COVID-19.

This is not a decision that she took lightly, and we all know what the St. Patricks Day celebrations mean to the city of Chicago," Pritzker said. Because of what weve seen nationally, and across the world, of the increased risk of large gatherings, this was the right call.

With the mayor out of town on vacation, Pritzker on Tuesday questioned whether Chicagos parades should happen this weekend, even as event organizers and city officials said the celebrations would go on as planned.

Theres a precedent for a public spectacle causing serious public fallout during an outbreak.

In 1918, Philadelphia went ahead with a parade meant to drum up support for the sale of bonds to fund the U.S. effort in World War I, despite concerns about the burgeoning Spanish flu. Philadelphia then saw particularly high flu rates, and the decision to hold the parade has been blamed by historians.
Statistics are shown on a screen during a briefing on the developments of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, from medical and research staff from Johns Hopkins University on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., on March 6, 2020. Johns Hopkins has been on the forefront of researching the coronavirus and developed the outbreak map dashboard that is being used by officials worldwide to track the virus. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Top US University Backs Down on Taiwan Naming on Virus Map After Protest

TAIPEIA top U.S. university, Johns Hopkins, has backed down on how it refers to Taiwan on a map detailing the spread of the new coronavirus after the islands government protested at the institutions inclusion of the island as part of China.

The Chinese regime has been exerting pressure on foreign companies and organizations to identify Chinese-claimed Taiwan as part of China, and often to name it as 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 had begun being used by Johns Hopkins on an interactive map it publishes tracking the virus outbreak around the world.

But, in a rare diplomatic victory for Taiwan, the university has now changed that, and again calls the island simply Taiwan. Taiwans Foreign Ministry said on March 11 it had asked its representative office in the United States to lodge a protest with Johns Hopkins.

During a comprehensive review of the dashboard this week, Professor Lauren Gardner and her team decided to align the names of nations with the World Health Organizations naming conventions to achieve consistency in reporting, the university said in an emailed statement, referring to the professor who oversees the mapping project.

Upon further consideration, the team now uses U.S. State Department naming conventions, including the use of Taiwan.

Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou expressed approval for the name change, and said the island was looking forward to deepening cooperation with the university.

At the same time we thank the Trump administration and members of the United States Congress for their kind support for Taiwan, she added.

Taiwan has reported 48 virus cases, and has won plaudits from experts for effective controls at keeping its tally so low, especially considering it is next to China and that many Taiwanese work and live in China.

Taiwan says its inclusion by the WHO as part of Chinas virus area has misled countries into believing its situation was as serious as Chinas, and to take measures to restrict or ban visits by Taiwanese nationals.

By Ben Blanchard
The Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing on Thursday decided to verify facts afresh in a complaint against former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and his family, where they are accused of falsifying a property document while selling land.





The development came after Scindia quit the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday. Twenty-two MLAs who belong to his camp also tendered their resignations, threatening the survival of the Kamal Nath government in the state.

"Yes, an order has been given for re-verification of facts in the complaint filed by Surendra Shrivastava," an EOW official said.



An EOW release said Shrivastava on Thursday filed a new complaint against Scindia and his family, alleging that by falsifying a registry document, they sold him a piece of land at Mahalgaon which was smaller by 6,000 sq feet than the original agreement in 2009.



He had lodged the complaint first on March 26, 2014.

But it was investigated and closed in 2018, the EOW official said. "As he again petitioned us today, we will re-verify the facts," the officer said.

Scindia's close aide Pankaj Chaturvedi alleged that it was political vendetta.



"The case had been closed for want of evidence. Now for vengeance, it is being reopened. We have full faith in the Constitution and law. We will get justice and Kamal Nath government a befitting reply," Chaturvedi said.
Government pledges 1 billion to upgrade national broadband availability

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.

Story continues

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

Nicolas Bombourg

nbombourg@budde.com.au



Within Australia

(02) 8076 7665



Outside Australia

+44 207 097 1241


Ten people have expressed a desire to evacuate.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Infrastructure start preparations for the second evacuation of Ukrainians from China.

Read alsoCoronavirus: Ukraine announces nationwide quarantine as prevention measure

"We, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Infrastructure, are starting preparations for the second evacuation of our citizens from China," he said at a briefing following a meeting of the Foreign Ministry's operational headquarters to respond to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the world, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"Now the Ukrainian Embassy is aware of 41 citizens located in [the Chinese city of] Wuhan, 10 of them have expressed a desire to evacuate," Kuleba said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, a plane on February 20 evacuated 45 Ukrainians and 27 foreigners, including those from Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Israel, Montenegro, Panama, amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus in China's Wuhan. The evacuees were placed at a health center in the town of Novi Sanzhary in Ukraine's Poltava region for 14-day observation.
Calls Abound for Scrutiny of Chinese Money and Influence in Canadian Universities and Think Tanks

News Analysis

A recent meeting of the Canada-China parliamentary committee played out something akin to a courtroom drama as one MP tried to get to the crux of a matter that all governments must now contend with: Can they trust the objectivity of their China experts?

In a meeting on Feb. 24, when a Liberal colleague on the committee challenged the relevance of Conservative MP Garnett Genuiss line of questioning to an expert witness, Genuis said it was important to establish the integrity of the advice the committee was receiving.

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis in a file photo. (NTD Television)

Genuis is among those calling for more scrutiny on financial ties between Canadian academic institutions and China.

Should we be concerned about the fact that our institutions may be quite exposed to Chinese influence through various channels? And what can we do about that exposure? Genuis, the Conservatives shadow minister for Canada-China relations, said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

Several Canadian universities have partnerships with Chinese telecom giant Huawei worth millions of dollars, many host Beijing-funded Confucius Institutes, and many are reliant on tuition fees from international students from China, with university admins concerned that souring China-Canada tensions could lead to Beijing pulling these students back to China.

But there are other financial ties that havent been subjected to as much public scrutiny.

So many think tanks are recipients of Peoples Republic of China-associated funding, and I think we need to demand much more transparency about where the money comes from, said Charles Burton, a former Canadian diplomat to China and a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, in an MLI forum last October. Burton was also one of the expert witnesses speaking during the Feb. 24 committee session.

Academics have historically played an important role in Canada-China relations, with some playing key roles in paving the way for Canadas establishment of formal ties with the Chinese communist regime in the 1970s, and influencing Canada-China policies in the years after.

Financial Ties

Genuis was questioning Yves Tiberghien, a professor of political science at the University of British Columbia, and executive director of the universitys China Council as well as director emeritus of the universitys Institute of Asian Research (IAR), during the Feb. 24 Canada-China committee meeting.

Genuis asked Tiberghien if China Council academics ask university admin for speaking points before speaking publicly, pointing to some of the University of British Columbias financial exposure to China-linked projects and initiatives, including a $7 million partnership with Huawei and the Vancouver Summer Program, a $10 million-generating initiative inviting international students to take summer courses.

Students walk on the University of British Columbia campus on March 10, 2020. (Jerry Wu/The Epoch Times)

No, Tiberghien responded, and the main reason is because the prime role of a professor in a university is academic freedom.

Tiberghien similarly answered no to the question of whether professors are involved in commercial negotiations with Huawei, and answered not in many years when asked if the China Council provides advice to the university on fundraising.

In his next round of questioning, Genuis read from emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act showing that Tiberghien wrote to UBCs vice president in charge of public relations and the universitys media relations senior director asking for advice on how to respond to a reporter on issues related to Huawei in January 2019.

I can of course provide my expertise on the analysis of the larger Huawei event and Canada-China relations. But I will be asked about impact on UBC and UBC relations. So it is good for me to know well the official response, Tiberghien wrote, adding, And do you encourage me to do this interview?

Genuis next presented an email sent in March 2019 by Paul Evans, another UBC professor and IAR and China Council member who also appeared before the Feb. 24 committee, writing to Tiberghien that (four of five were with us) negotiating with HW [Huawei] now. Meigan made the case that this is an issue where UBC could play a national leadership role.

Another email sent in the same month by Tiberghien regarding a Presidential Advisory Council on China reads, Jack Austin [one of the co-chairs of the China Council] remains very excited about this process and thinks that it holds the key to a higher-quality relation of UBC with China, but also to fundraising related to China.

The Epoch Times has seen copies of these email exchanges.

In response to Genuiss questions and comments, Tiberghien said what was presented was taken out of context and wasnt representative of the usual function.

Out of 200 interviews I may have given in three years, this one may be the one where I asked for some thoughts, he told the committee.

He also said the emails about Huawei were in response to discussions on the issue in Ottawa, saying that the issue was not about managing media, it was responding to what we heard from government, and we had a very fair discussion.

He added that fundraising is not a primary goal of the Presidential Advisory Council.

Genuis told The Epoch Times that he was concerned that two out of the six experts or entities appearing before the committee were people specifically involved in the UBC China Council, and their involvement wasnt identified until after I pointed it out.

What I was able to demonstrate through the testimony is that the China Council at UBC appears to be having some discussions about the strategic interests of the university, even while people that are part of that Council, including professor Tiberghien, the executive director, are also offering advice to the wider public about engaging that relationship, he said.

He added that the meeting brought out at a high level the financial exposure that UBC and perhaps other institutions have to Beijing-linked sources, saying the issue should raise concerns about the influence of the Chinese government.

Genuis requested in the meeting that the committee study the relationship between Canadian universities and Chinese government-controlled entities, and that the co-chairs of the UBC China Council appear before the committee as part of the study.

Echoing Business Interests

Genuis isnt the only one asking for more transparency in links between Chinese regime-associated entities and academia. Burton also thinks there is a need for more scrutiny on funding for Canadian think tanks.

Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau shakes hands with Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong in Beijing on Oct.13,1973. (CP Photo)

The domination of Chinese money in Canada, Burton said during his October talk, is the reason why there is no significant discourse on issues related to China compared to what goes on in the United States and other countries.

Burton wrote in an MLI paper that former prime minister Pierre Trudeau and the Red Tories of his period had a general admiration for dictators such as Cubas Fidel Castro and Chinas Mao Zedong who challenged U.S. liberal democratic political and economic agendas.

This paved the way for elite capture by Chinas United Front Work Department (a Chinese Communist Party organization charged with spreading Beijings influence abroad), Burton argued, with the result of a strong majority view in the uppermost circles of Canadian politics and business that catering to the will of the Communist Party should be Canadas policy toward China.

We have been told that it is these interests [of major businesses], as opposed to questions of national security, that should be at the core of Canadas China policy, he writes. This line is echoed by numerous think tanks, public policy schools, and government relations firms that focus on China.

Burton cited China Research Partnership, a web portal launched in 2017 described as a joint effort by leading Canadian institutions dedicated to the study of China, as an example of a partnership between business-focused organizations and academic centres during his October talk.

The top three members [of the partnership] are the Asia Pacific Foundation, the Canada China Business Council, and the Canada-China Institute for Business & Development. The bottom three members are the Institute for Asian Research at the University of British Columbia, the Munk School for Global Affairs University of Toronto, and the China Institute at the University of Alberta, he said.

You can see that the ones with the money are at the top of the list, and the ones producing the policy reports are below that, and one could assume that there is some relationship between the funding and the reluctance of these institutions to issue documents which suggest that there is anything wrong with what the Peoples Republic of China is doing, he added.

The news of the start of the web portal was praised by the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa at the time of its launch, with a tweet reading Thats a good move! Congratulations!

The domain of the website is no longer active, redirecting users instead to the website of the Asia Pacific Foundation, a business-focused research institute.

Talks in Committee

Genuis said he found Burtons testimony at the Feb. 24 committee meeting much more representative of what he has observed about the situation in China and its behaviour compared to what he heard from the other witnesses.

A Chinese navy formation, including the aircraft carrier Liaoning (C), during military drills in the South China Sea, on Jan. 2, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

On the geopolitics side, some witnesses said that both China and the United States are distorting the rule-based international order.

Genuis says its not reasonable to equate what is happening in the United States around a possible changed nature of engagement with international institutions to the massively destabilizing efforts of the Chinese government.

Burton said during his testimony that in the United States, there is non-partisan political consensus on the issue of China.

Its not just Mr. [Donald] Trump. His nemesis Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi has also articulated that we need to stand up for the principles of the rules-based order, which protects middle powers like Canada from the arbitrary domination of hegemonic superpowers, he said.

Evans, director emeritus of UBCs IAR and a past co-CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation, said in his talk that were facing a double challenge: a China challenge and an America challenge.

We need to push back against efforts to unravel or corrode the multilateral rules-based system, whether those challenges come from China or, as we have increasingly seen, from the United States, he said.

Evans also stressed that there is a need for Canada to navigate an independent course on issues such as supporting Chinas Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank or its views on Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious infrastructure plan to establish China-centred land and maritime trade routes. The initiative is seen as part of Beijings plan to expand its global influence and has been criticized as a debt-trap for some participating countries.

Tiberghien said that to a large extent, the Canada-China crisis is part of the larger U.S.-China crisis and is a prism for challenges to the rules-based order. He also said at one point that there is broad support for the Chinese regime in China, and that Chinese people feel a sense of great progress, growing wealth and prosperity, greater freedom, except for political freedom, particularly the ability to criticize the Party.

Jeremy Paltiel, a professor of political science at Carleton University, said in the committee meeting, We cant simply rely on our ally [the United States] to protect us, because our ally has turned its back, in some ways, on the rules-based international order. He also said that Canadas prosperity and global influence depend on having a workable relationship with China, adding that currently Canada has the worst relationship of any of the G7 countries with China.

Also speaking at the forum were representatives from the Canada West Foundation (CWF), one of whom said, China has become an important trading partner for Canada and for Western Canada.

More Diverse Opinions

Andre Laliberte, a professor of political studies focusing on China and Taiwan at the University of Ottawa, says its important for Canadas decision-makers to hear from experts with more diverse opinions than those they currently consult with.

A building on the University of Alberta campus on April 24, 2019. (Gary Bai/The Epoch Times)

People in the Liberal Party certainly have their own mindset on what our policy [on China] should be, and theyre looking for people who will confirm their opinion, he said in an interview.

And its my impression after years of observation that the Liberal Party has a policy that tends to downplay issues such as human rights in China when it comes to trade.

He adds that its a problem when the academic experts the government invites to Ottawa to give advice on China-related issues often tend to be not very critical of China.

Two of the main China-focused research centres hosted on Canadian campuses are the China Institute at the University of Alberta and the IAR at UBC.

The commentary section of the China Institutes website includes recent articles on the COVID-19 outbreak in China, Chinas arrest of Kovrig and Spavor, and the Hong Kong protests, among other topics.

One of the two pieces published on the Hong Kong protests in 2019, both of which are penned by the same author, notes in one part that some protestors damaged public property and injured police officers, adding that Beijing has put the rule of law, as a direct response to the protests, and that this deserves some degree of respect by foreign governments.

Of the eight articles published in 2018 up to December, when Meng was arrested in Canada and Kovrig and Spavor were subsequently detained in China:

-two commentaries urge Canada and China to seek closer relations despite restrictions imposed by the USMCA trade deal on Canadas engagement with non-market economies, i.e. China;

-one offers advice to Chinese state-owned companies that in order to seek approval for investments in Canada they should invest more funds in government relations and gaining social capital in Canada;

-one is a rebuttal by the institutes director, Gordon Houlden, about what he calls troubling inferences in an op-ed by Burton, in which Burton had argued for regulations to monitor retired civil servants and politicians who go into lucrative businesses with China-related sources;

-one piece is about a white paper published by Beijing on its Arctic policy, arguing that the international community welcome the transparency and increasing confidence China shows in participating in Arctic governance.

The other three pieces discuss U.S.-China relations, North Korea, and an import expo in China.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese leader Xi Jinping greet each other during the official welcome at the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China, Sept. 4, 2016. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

In an online post, Houlden says the federal government sends diplomats to the University of Albertas China Institute to train, adding, Weve helped shape the views of a new generation of Canadian diplomats.

The institute was founded in 2005 by Wenran Jiang, at the time a faculty member at the University of Alberta. In a January 2016 op-ed for The Gobe and Mail titled Canada must stand up to the United States to secure deals with China, published soon after the Liberals took power, Jiang wrote: After a decade of inconsistency and lack of strategic vision by the Conservative government, a reset on China policy is indeed urgent. Jiang was also at one point a senior fellow with the Asia Pacific Foundation and a senior fellow at UBCs IAR.

Jiang has also defended Beijings Confucius Institutes in media interviews. In a 2008 interview with the Globe and Mail he said speculation about the institutes political agenda is total nonsense, and in a recent CBC interview called New Brunswicks plan to end its program arbitrary and undemocratic. The program was halted by the provinces Education Minister Dominic Cardy, who has criticized the institutes for offering a one-dimensional view of China. Their job is to create a friendly, cheerful face for a government that is responsible for more deaths than nearly any other in the history of our species, he said.

In the articles section of the website of the Centre for Chinese Research at UBCs IAR, the last six postings are from 2018. Three are written fully or in part by Tiberghien; the other three are on family or labour issues in China or fertility issues relating to Chinas new two-child policy.

In October 2017, IAR member Evans, along with fellow UBC assistant professor Xiaojun Li, published a paper based on a survey on Canada-China relations, among other issues.

The paper said that 69 percent of Canadians support negotiating a free trade agreement with China, and that on global leadership, there is a visible lack of confidence about the role of the United States. The paper was reported on by Chinese state media Xinhua and China Daily, with the headline Canadians growing more supportive of deeper trade ties with China: Study.

The results of the survey were very different from a poll done by Nanos Survey for The Globe in June of that year showing support for a free trade agreement at 54 percent.

Financial Post columnist Kevin Libin said at the time that the survey in Evans and Lis paper used unconventional methods, built from UBCs own online survey-making tool and without a French version, largely excluding Quebec, where enmity to Chinas corporate imperialism runs high.

Jacob Kovalio, an associate professor in the Department of History at Carleton University, says the extent of the push for China appeasement policies in academia is exemplified by a post-2015 election op-ed written by academic Yuen Pau Woo, now a senator, who is also a senior fellow with UBCs IAR and a former head of the Asia Pacific Foundation.

Sen. Yuen Pau Woo in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

In the article, published in October 2015 by iPolitics with the headline Now that Harpers gone, can we have a sensible talk about China? Woo says a return to the Liberal approach to China pre-2008 [before the Conservative majority government] will not be enough.

He bases his assertion on the argument that since the time of former prime ministers Paul Martin and Jean Chretienwho he says understood well the importance of China for Canadian exportsChina has grown to become an increasingly assertive global power and is therefore no longer content with the status quo of international relations.

Woo was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the Senate in 2016 and is now the leader of the Independent Senators Group. In his first speech in the Senate, he spoke against a motion critical of Chinas hostile behaviour in the South China Sea.

Past and Present

Shortly after the Liberals won the 2015 federal election, a booklet containing a compilation of essays on Canada-China relations became essential reading among Canadian diplomats, according to the 2019 book Claws of the Panda by Jonathan Manthrope, citing reports from Ottawa.

A foreword of the booklet says the published work is an effort to reboot Canada-China relations at the start of the twenty-first century, and notes that Trudeaus charting of a new course on Canada-China relations ought to be welcomed.

Kovalio says its not only the current Liberal government whose policies are influenced by academics who have for years been supporters and strong promoters of China being the way of the future. He says past Liberal governments have followed a similar course of action, with the state administrators forgetting about human rights and freedom of expression for the sake of the Chinese market.

According to Manthropes book, Paul Lin, a leftist Canadian academic who lived in communist China and was close to high-ranking regime leaders, was in regular contact with Pierre Trudeaus foreign policy adviser. Manthrope writes that Lin, who was the head of the Centre for East Asian Studies at McGill University, used his position to mount a drive for a new political, diplomatic, economic, and academic relationship between China and Canada.

The book notes that U.S. and Canadian intelligence agencies believed Lin to be an operative of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

United Front

Steven Mosher, a social scientist and author who has conducted research in China, told The Epoch Times that the Chinese regime has always paid a lot of attention to academia, as it sees academic discourse favourable to its position as an opportunity to strengthen its power.

Chinese Peoples Liberation Army troops practice marching in Beijing in a file photo. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Mosher says when it comes to academia, the CCP is employing two of Chairman Maos three magic weapons, tools the communist dictator cited as necessary to defeat the enemy of the revolution.

The first weapon, he explains, is the Peoples Liberation Army. The second is propaganda, and the third is the United Front Work Department. When it comes to academia in the West, he says Beijing is using the latter two weapons.

A key function of the United Front, Mosher says, is to compromise scholars in Western institutions and whenever possible place in key institutions these scholars who work to advance CCPs narrative.

The United Front department operates by co-opting and penetrating an organization and subverting that organization to its own purposes, he says.

A 2018 U.S. congressional commission report notes the increasing concern over United Front activities in the United States and other countries, and cites examples of Washington think tanks receiving funding from organizations with close ties to the Chinese regime.

The CCP has sought to influence academic discourse on China and in certain instances has infringed uponand potentially criminally violatedrights to freedoms of speech and association that are guaranteed to Americans and those protected by U.S. laws, the report says.

On a broader level, Mosher says, there are financial incentives provided by the CCP to universities in the West that make university administrators reluctant to offend the goose that lays the golden egg.

Presidents of those universities pay attention to the bottom line. And theres a lot of money that comes from China in terms of tuition [from international Chinese students] and Chinas support of various programs, he says.

One such program is the Confucius Institute, campus-based programs funded by Beijing and branded as offering a chance for students to learn about Chinese history and culture. The institutes are a source of concern for intelligence agencies as they are controlled by an agency of the CCP.

The prevalence of Confucius Institutes in recent years on Western campuses are a sign that the CCPs efforts to infiltrate academia has become more overt, Mosher says.

Another initiative of the CCP to exert influence in academia, he says, is the Thousand Talents Program, declared by Beijing as being intended to attract foreign experts to China. The U.S. National Intelligence Council says the program is a means to enable technology transfer to China.

The FBI recently arrested the chair of Harvard Universitys chemistry department, Charles Lieber, for allegedly lying about his financial involvement with the Chinese regime. Authorities allege that he was under contract as part of the Thousand Talents Program while working on sensitive U.S. research.

Mosher says Beijing may co-opt key individuals within the academic institution by, for example, giving large sums of money for a lecture or granting honorary titles, or using the threat of visa denial on a China scholar, who is then compelled to keep silent out of fear that further research work would be hindered if his entry to China was denied.

A police officer gestures at the photographer as security staff stand guard outside the Canadian Embassy in Beijing on Dec. 20, 2018. (Reuters/Thomas Peter)

When the CCP finds a potential friend of China, it will invite the person to China and treat him or her very well, Mosher adds, with the goal being for the person to advance CCP policy aspirations when he or she goes back.

Mosher adds that another reason some academics may be advancing views favourable to China is that some intellectuals are alienated from their own culture in society and romanticize political systems such as those of the Soviet Union, communist Cuba, and Maos China.

Speaking from his own experience, Mosher, who is the first American social scientist to conduct research after the Cultural Revolution in China, said that before moving to China in 1979, he thought Mao had made tremendous advances for the people and the country.

It took a year for the Chinese people to convince me that it wasnt true, he said.
A doctor has explained how coronavirus testing actually works in Australia after scores of patients complained about the confusing process.

Dr Preeya Alexander, a general practitioner from Melbourne, said doctors have been inundated with people asking to be tested despite not showing any signs of symptoms or travel history.

Under the Department of Health guidelines, doctors are only testing people who have travelled to certain countries in the 14 days before onset of symptoms - or have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

'There are some understandably anxious people presenting to the doctor asking to be tested but they don't fulfil the above criteria - no symptoms, contact or travel history,' Dr Alexander - who publishes medical insight on her Instagram - said.

'Currently we are not testing everyone, and whilst this may change in the future, at the moment this isn't feasible - the pressure on labs would be mammoth and the yield is likely low.'

Dr Preeya Alexander (pictured) has explained how coronavirus testing actually works in Australia after scores of patients complained about the confusing process

As the World Health Organisation declares the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, travellers were spotted at Sydney Airport on Thursday wearing face masks in a bid to avoid the virus

If work is urging you to get tested for COVID-19 after a recent trip, what should you do? There is no need for you to be tested unless you develop fever, cough, runny nose, and shortness of breath or other symptoms and have travelled overseas in the 14 days before developing symptoms. You should see your GP or visit your local Emergency Department to be tested for COVID-19. If you are visiting your GP, please call ahead beforehand and tell them where you have travelled. You should self-isolate and exclude yourself from work until your test result is available. Source: NSW Health Advertisement

The GP - who's known as The Wholesome Doctor on social media - went into details about the things doctors are taking into consideration when it comes to deciding whether a patient needs testing.

'From a general practice point of view - this is who we are testing currently: Patients who have either a history of international travel - in the two weeks preceding illness onset - or been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19,' she said.

'The patient also needs symptoms consistent with the virus such as fever or cough etc. Every doctor has discretion on who they test but this is the current guidelines right now.'

According to the Department of Health, if you are sick with a respiratory infection such as a cough, runny nose, sore throat or fever, the doctor may order a swab from the back of your nose or throat for testing.

Dr Alexander advised if you're not unwell enough to attend an emergency department (ED) but you think you need testing because you feel concerned about your symptoms, call ahead before seeing the doctor.

'Some GPs with adequate safety equipment and resources to clean rooms afterwards may see and swab you. Or you may be redirected,' Dr Alexander said.

A massive queue formed outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Tuesday - as people wearing face masks waited to get their symptoms tested

Dr Alexander, a general practitioner from Melbourne, said doctors have been inundated with people asking to be tested despite not showing any signs of symptoms or travel history

Despite the fast-spreading virus 'changing rapidly', Dr Alexander reminded her followers to continue practising good hygiene.

'How many people actually get the virus with no symptoms and thus transmit it? We don't know and that makes it harder to track,' she said.

'But the key is to wash hands consistently. Many experts suggested that touching the face - with contaminated hands - is a common way people are getting infected.'

Her advice comes just days after federal health minister Greg Hunt encouraged Australians with flu-like symptoms to get tested for the virus 'if in doubt'.

'That's the important message. Even though it can be a little bit of a stress on the system, we would rather people over-test rather than under-test,' Mr Hunt said.
Google's G Suite, which includes Gmail, Google Docs, Hangouts, Meet and other apps, quietly passed a major milestone at the end of last year: It now has more than 2 billion monthly active users, G Suite boss Javier Soltero told Axios Wednesday.

Why it matters: Long seen as the upstart challenger to Microsoft Office, Google's productivity suite is now one of the two incumbents, facing fresh rivals of its own.

"That's a staggering number. ... These products have incredible reach. Changing the way people work is something we are uniquely positioned to do."

 Javier Soltero

Soltero declined to offer a breakdown of how many of those 2 billion users are for products beyond Gmail or how many are paid versus free.

Driving the news: Soltero, who joined Google from Microsoft last year, said his focus has been on doubling down on features that make G Suite unique, like its robust search, conversation focus in Gmail and built-in collaboration.

Once a startup CEO himself  he sold mobile email app Accompli to Microsoft  Soltero now touts the benefits of going with an established player, rather than some company that might not even be around a year from now.

Yes, but: The presence of so many startups out there shows there is more work to be done, Soltero said. "This is not a solved problem. Nobody has run the table on communication and collaboration."

As for what distinguishes Google from Microsoft, Soltero pointed to its Silicon Valley culture: "I don't feel the need to be quite as outspoken here," Soltero said. "People do a lot more self-examination here, which is great."

What's next: Soltero said to expect the "smart compose" feature  which suggests email replies, for instance, based on the content of the message  to expand beyond Gmail and Docs. The feature, he said, should go everywhere it is prudent to do so.

He also sees room for improvement in better integrating the separate apps. "I think we still have work to do," Soltero said.
[March 12, 2020] Tony Aquila's AFV Partners Acquires RocketRoute Limited from Alyssum Holdings

AFV Partners LLC ("AFV Partners") has acquired one hundred percent of U.K.-based RocketRoute Limited ("RocketRoute"), a leading global aviation services company that provides flight-planning, fuel, concierge and marketplace services through a single integrated SaaS (News - Alert) platform that serves the commercial, business, air rescue and military aviation markets, from Alyssum Holdings Limited ("Alyssum Holdings"). Terms of the transaction, which closed on March 11, 2020, were not disclosed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005227/en/ Tony Aquila, founder and CEO, AFV Partners (Photo: Business Wire) RocketRoute was co-founded in 2010 by Uwe Nitsche and Justin Coelho with the mission to make flight planning easy and straight forward for all. Using a SaaS platform and an industry leading 24x7 flight support service, RocketRoute has the ability to dynamically route flights in real-time using current air traffic conditions, which is a core competency required to operate efficiently in European air space. Nitsche and Coelho will continue in their leadership roles under AFV Partners' ownership. Tony Aquila is Founder, Chairman and CEO of AFV Partners, which was formed in 2019 as a long-term permanent capital investor. In January 2020, Aquila's AFV Partners acquired Aircraft Performance Group ("APG"), a leading global provider of proprietary aircraft performance, weight and balance, and flight planning software solutions. On the acquisition of RocketRoute, Aquila said, "We had an immediate connection with Uwe and Justin and hold a high regard for what they have built. As part of our global mobility platform, adding a leader in flight planning is a key cornerstone and expands our product capabilities globally and across all end markets. We will leverage APG and RocketRoute's core offerings to create a seamlessly-integrated weight and balance, runway analysis, fligt-planning and services platform for the global aviation market. Bringing APG and RocketRoute together demonstrates our commitment to continuous innovation and furthers both companies' visions by creating a global market leader."



"We are very excited to work with Tony and the AFV Partners team and to benefit from their collective technical expertise, synergies and geographical reach as we strive to become a key contributor to their global mobility platform," said RocketRoute's CEO Nitsche. RocketRoute Chief Commercial Officer, Coelho added, "I have been very impressed by the speed and accuracy of the AFV Partners team in getting this deal done and their expertise and vision for the space. Relative to the other parties we interacted with during our sale process, AFV Partners was the most logical and complimentary fit for RocketRoute. We have now been liberated to execute on our long-term vision."

The addition of RocketRoute to the AFV Partners portfolio brings access to many new flight planning capabilities that will enhance APG's newest app, iPreFlight Genesis, with particular focus on European routing and filing. "The speed and precision in which the AFV Partners team has moved to accelerate and execute on the APG vision since acquiring the company just a few months ago is without precedent," said Mike Caflisch, APG's CEO. "Our customer-product roadmap will be greatly accelerated by working directly with the RocketRoute team who share our commitment to serving the global market with apps and services that enhance safety, security, and efficiency. Together with AFV Partners, we look forward to bringing deeper integration of our industry leading aircraft performance services to RocketRoute in the markets they serve, bringing together the best of both teams to positively impact our global customers." About AFV Partners Founded by serial technology entrepreneur and investor Tony Aquila, and anchored by some of the world's largest and most experienced investors, AFV Partners is an affirmative low-leverage capital vehicle that invests in long-term mission critical software and data businesses. AFV Partners is headquartered in Argyle, Texas with offices in Jackson Hole and Zurich. http://www.afvpartners.com About RocketRoute A leading software platform simplifying route planning and flight plan submissions to aviation authorities around the world, RocketRoute was founded in 2010 by Uwe Nitsche and Justin Coelho. RocketRoute solutions span the private, business and commercial aviation end markets and are the backbone to many air rescue operations in Europe. www.rocketroute.com About Aircraft Performance Group APG is a leading global provider of proprietary flight operations software solutions into the aftermarket of the aerospace industry. APG operates a software as a service business model focused on the corporate and business aviation segment of the aerospace industry. APG has recently integrated its market leading aircraft performance software solutions, including runway analysis and weight and balance services, with flight planning services into a new software offering and mobile app, iPreFlight Genesis. http://www.flyapg.com/ About Alyssum Holdings Alyssum Holdings was formed in England in 2018 by Clive Jackson as a holding company for the RocketRoute and FlyVictor assets. In March 2020 RocketRoute was sold to AFV Partners and Clive Jackson completed a successful MBO of FlyVictor. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005227/en/

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Empowered21 shifts online after Israel imposes ban on international conferences

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The Global Congress of Empowered21, a worldwide gathering of Pentecostal Christians, will now take place as an online event after the Israeli government imposed a complete ban on foreign travelers due to the new coronavirus pandemic.

Empowered21 announced in a release Thursday that instead of the in-person event scheduled for the week of Pentecost 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel, they will be shifting to an online event that will stream from the campus of Oral Roberts University from May 31 to June 2.

The announcement came on the heels of a decision by Israeli authorities to shut their borders to all foreigners this week to clamp down on the spread of the new coronavirus which has infected at least 109 people in that country as of Thursday.

Israel is also limiting public events in enclosed areas to 100 people as part of their efforts to contain the new coronavirus.

We find comfort in knowing that God is not surprised by this turn of events, Billy Wilson, president of ORU and global co-chair for Empowered21, said in a statement Thursday. We hold fast to our mission to see every individual on earth have an authentic encounter with Jesus through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit by Pentecost 2033. We believe that this adjustment to an online event will actually help us accelerate the mission that God has given us.

The online event hosted by ORU is expected to begin with a live Pentecost Sunday celebration with special guests and worship teams.

We ask that everyone would join us in praying against the spread of coronavirus, healing for all those affected and that many lives will be touched with the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit through our upcoming online global congress, Wilson added. In Matthew 24, Jesus tells us that there would be upheaval, including global disease, but that this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. This unique historical moment requires a new way for a new day.

This is the second Global Congress of Empowered21, and is expected to focus on the next generation.

The next generation focus comes after concern was raised at the first global gathering which took place during the week of Pentecost in Jerusalem in 2015, that a generation was being lost.

Jentezen Franklin, senior pastor of the multi-campus Free Chapel Church, had urged thousands of Spirit-filled believers at that gathering to start preaching "the truth about being filled with the Holy Spirit" and speaking in tongues to their families or risk losing a generation.

"It is a slow process to the death of the language. The unity on the language, it's a soul thing. The less it's taught in the home, the less the children of the next generation will get it. I want to say to all of you who are parents here today, what language are you teaching your children? When you go home from church, what language do they hear?" asked Franklin at the time.

"If ever there was a time that we must engage ourselves in the active discipleship of our families, it's in this time. If Deuteronomy 6 ever had meaning to any generation, it is to this generation where it says that you shall diligently teach these things to your children. When they rise up, when they go to bed, when they walk, when they go to school, talk the faith, talk the Word. Let them hear the language even in the home, let them hear the language of the Holy Spirit. Let them hear, Mama," Franklin urged.
A district court here acquitted a



25-year-old man who was accused of kidnapping and brutally killing a three-year-old boy in Maharashtra's Thane district.

In his order dated March 3, district judge H M Patwardhan held that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges of kidnap and murder against Badal Sarkar and acquitted him.

According to the prosecution, Sarkar, a native of West Bengal, lived at Kashi village in Kashimira and worked at a construction site with the victim's father.

Sarkar used to frequent the victim's house, but the victim's mother took objection when he came home drunk one day, the prosecution stated.

When he was not invited to the victim's birthday celebrations, Sarkar was allegedly furious and abducted the child on January 8, 2015, the prosecutor claimed.

The toddler was killed and his body was found in a gutter the next day, following which Sarkar was arrested.

Appearingfor the accused, counsel Ramrao Jagtap said the prosecution has not proved that the victim and the accused were last seen together.

There was no evidence to suggest that Sarkar had killed the child and thrown his body in the gutter, he said, adding that there were no witnesses and the chain of circumstances was not complete.

Taking note of the defence's argument, Sarkar was acquitted of all charges in the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 13:06:37|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 10, 2020 shows a stop sign and a plane approaching to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The United States will suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days.

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States will suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days in a new measure faced with further spread of the COVID-19.

These restrictions will go into effect Friday at midnight and "will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground," President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night in his 11-minute address.

The president urged Americans to take proper precautions and called on Congress to take further action on payroll tax relief.

"We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus," Trump said.

The virus has infected more than 1,000 Americans and at least 38 people have died of the virus nationwide.

The Trump administration has earlier restricted travel from China and Iran. 
Rishi Sunak's first Budget confirmed what we had suspected. Boris Johnson's Tories are not the party of Margaret Thatcher, or even David Cameron. That is why it is no exaggeration to describe yesterday as historic.

The spectacle of this passionate, articulate, confident young Chancellor of Indian descent showed on one level how much the old Tory party has changed. But it was what he said that was truly revolutionary.

In fact, I can't imagine any Tory chancellor of the past 50 years delivering such a speech. The truth is that many of his measures would have sat very happily in a Labour Budget.

Rishi Sunak's first Budget confirmed what we had suspected. Boris Johnson's Tories are not the party of Margaret Thatcher, or even David Cameron. That is why it is no exaggeration to describe yesterday as historic

Largesse

Indeed, although Mr Sunak's intonation sometimes oddly recalled that of Tony Blair, his evangelical fervour, and his appetite for spraying money around in parts of the economy often neglected by his Tory predecessors brought back memories of former Labour Chancellor Gordon Brown.

What Mr Sunak unveiled in his speech  unquestionably a tour de force  was, according to the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the largest sustained fiscal loosening since the Tory pre-election budget of 1992. The then Chancellor, Norman Lamont, had to claw back much of his largesse after the UK was humiliatingly driven out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in September of that year.

Not only is austerity (whose demise was intimated by Philip Hammond, the then Chancellor in October 2018) now dead and buried. The spending taps have been turned on so that government debt, already heading towards 2,000 billion, is expected to increase by 125 billion over the next five years.

The principles of Thatcherism  a tendency towards frugality, and a cautious attitude towards expenditure on infrastructure projects  have been replaced by Boris Johnson's spirit of 'Boosterism', calculated to appeal to ex-Labour voters in the North of England who backed the Tories last December.

A massive 640 billion is planned to be spent on roads, rail and broadband by the end of this Parliament. And 30 billion has been conjured up in the coming tax year which will include all sorts of imaginative measures to mitigate the worst effects of the nightmare of coronavirus.

That sum easily exceeds the 21.1 billion that Italy  which has so far been much worse affected than the UK  has just set aside to deal with the disruption caused by the alarming spread of the contagion.

Of course, no one can say whether all of Mr Sunak's fighting fund will be needed, or whether it will have to be augmented. But it is clear that the Government will spend whatever it takes to get this country through what Mr Sunak conceded is a 'significant' disruption.

How should traditional Tories, brought up to respect the disciplines and restraints of Thatcherism, respond to what can only be described as a spending splurge? Favourably, I believe, though not without a degree of caution.

Almost no one will cavil at extra spending during the coronavirus crisis on the NHS, the temporary abolition of business rates for firms with a rateable value below 51,000, and more generous provisions for sick pay, including for those on benefits.

What Mr Sunak unveiled in his speech  unquestionably a tour de force  was, according to the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the largest sustained fiscal loosening since the Tory pre-election budget of 1992

And although a lot of detail still has to be published about how 640 billion will be spent on infrastructure projects, there is surely little doubt that rail connections in the North of England must be improved, and that new roads and bypasses in many parts of the country should be constructed.

Nor will most drivers complain about the 2.5 billion being set aside to mend the 50 million potholes (Mr Sunak's figure) that are becoming such a menace. The 5 billion earmarked to upgrade our sluggish broadband will be widely welcomed.

Moreover, it is undoubtedly the case that Mr Sunak is in the happy position of being able to borrow money at rock-bottom rates which would have seemed incredible to most previous chancellors, whether Tory or Labour.

He also has room to manoeuvre simply because the Conservative-led coalition, followed by the Tory government of 2015, were so successful in bringing down a deficit that at one stage threatened to sink the country, though it is true that the reduction has been achieved at some social cost.

All this said, I confess to having a few qualms about the sheer scope of the extra spending  and I am sure I'm not alone. No one can feel comfortable about adding substantially to the national debt, which has almost doubled in cash terms since 2010 even while the deficit has steadily been brought down.

Euphoria

It wouldn't take much  a prolonging of the coronavirus scourge, for example, or a disadvantageous trade deal with the European Union  for Mr Sunak's sums to go awry. In his defence, it should be said that his assumptions about future economic growth are relatively modest.

Some Tories, when they have recovered from their post-Budget euphoria, may also reflect that, apart from a raising of the national insurance threshold which will be especially welcome to the low paid, this wasn't a tax-cutting Budget.

With coronavirus rampant, it probably wasn't the moment for such measures. But Britain remains a relatively heavily-taxed country. I hope Mr Johnson's boosterish Tories won't forget that reducing taxes is a key, and perennially popular, Conservative policy.

For the moment, though, such reservations can be held at bay. Mr Sunak's Budget was pitched about right  and all the more impressive given that he was appointed Chancellor only a month ago after Sajid Javid (cruel to say, already almost a forgotten figure) could not accept the Prime Minister's exiguous terms.

It was a politically clever Budget, too, inasmuch as Mr Sunak  and Mr Johnson, sitting benignly by his side  have stolen some of Labour's clothes

Brio

It was a politically clever Budget, too, inasmuch as Mr Sunak  and Mr Johnson, sitting benignly by his side  have stolen some of Labour's clothes. In his response in the Commons, Jeremy Corbyn was reduced to blathering about a 'smoke and mirrors' Budget. In truth, a sensible Labour chancellor would have been proud to have delivered much of Mr Sunak's speech.

The challenge for a post-Corbyn Labour Party is how to stake out a territory of its own that is distinct from the new-fashioned Tories with their eye on the North. Clinging to far-Left policies is obviously not the answer since that would make the party unelectable. Time will tell whether Boris and Rishi have shot Labour's fox.

One of the immutable laws of Budgets is that they can look different 48 hours after the event than they do on the day. Budgets that are received with rapture sometimes appear disappointing after a few days, while seemingly dismal ones can turn out to have concealed one or two initially unnoticed treasures.

But it is hard to believe that the general impression of Mr Sunak's first outing as Chancellor will change much as experts chew over the implications. It was the 'People's Budget' Boris Johnson wanted, but Mr Sunak delivered it with brio and elan that made it his own.

Over the longer term, none of us can say how successful his Budget will turn out to be. But I suspect it will be seen as a historic shift in the modern Tory party  and Rishi Sunak will not at all have damaged his chances of one day leading it.
Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball, and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil arrive for a press conference following the Atlantic Premiers Conference at the Emera Innovation Centre in St. John's on Jan. 13, 2020. (Paul Daly/The Canadian Press)

Labour, Business Leaders Urge Common Federal-Provincial Front on COVID-19

Canadas largest labor organization and the group that bills itself as the voice of business in this country have set aside their differences to jointly confront the economic fallout from the rampaging novel coronavirusand theyre hoping premiers can do the same when they meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The heads of the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce are trying to arrange a conference call with premiers ahead of first ministers meeting on March 13 to discuss the potentially devastating effect of the pandemic on workers and businesses as the global economy teeters on the brink of recession.

Both organizations have applauded Trudeaus initial $1-billion response plan to the rapidly spreading virus, announced Wednesday, and CLC president Hassan Yussuff says theyre not far apart on what more needs to be done.

Yussuff concedes it may seem unusual for him to be collaborating with chamber president Perrin Beatty but, he says, we also recognize its a moment for the country to come together. And, he hopes, its an example for premiers, wholl be arriving Thursday in Ottawa for a two-hour meeting with Trudeau and Indigenous leaders before closeting themselves for a daylong first ministers meeting Friday.

A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus, the type of virus linked to the Wuhan COVID-19 outbreak, shared with Reuters on Feb. 18, 2020. (NEXU Science Communication/via Reuters)

I hope when the premiers meet on Friday that its more of a collaborative front as to how were going to deal with it, Yussuff said in an interview.

Nobodys going to get [everything] they want, but if we can do something to help the whole country get back on its feet as quickly as possible, I think that would be the best solution. I think for me and Perrin, Im hoping that our collaboration can show some example of how people need to work with each other at this moment in the history of the country.

Privately, federal officials are hoping the same or, at the very least, that premiers will tone down the bellicose rhetoric, finger-pointing and complaining that often attend first ministers meetings.

That may prove impossible for some premiers, particularly Albertas Jason Kenney, who has been at war with Trudeau over federal energy and climate policies that he maintains have destroyed his provinces oil and gas industry. He couldnt resist a jab at the prime minister Wednesday just before boarding a flight to Ottawa at the Calgary International Airport.

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 said. We are facing an economic crisis in Canada and we need the national government to act accordingly with total focus on that issue.

The official agenda for Fridays meeting includes a laundry list of issues, including clean growth, competitiveness, health care transfer payments, pharmacare, climate change, gun control, infrastructure, equalization and fiscal stabilization payments to the provinces.

But the everwidening ripple effects of the COVID19 pandemic top the agenda and are expected to wind up monopolizing much of the day.

Yukons Sandy Silver has announced he wont be attending the meeting at all, out of an abundance of caution about the virus. And as of Wednesday evening, New Brunswicks Blaine Higgs attendance was uncertain.

I havent officially canceled my trip there yet but we are in communications right now with the federal government and with my colleagues basically suggesting that we should be doing this by teleconference, said Higgs.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister will miss at least the Thursday meeting with Indigenous leaders, after opposition parties blocked tabling of his governments budget on Wednesday.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil will be coming, looking for some direction from the federal government about the impact of the pandemic on the cruise ship season, which would normally get underway at ports in Halifax and Sydney next month.

The government made a declaration that Canadians should stay off cruise ships and we have to deal with the issue that cruise ships are coming to us, McNeil said Wednesday, pointing out that potentially thousands of passengers from each ship could be visiting Canadian ports.

We need Health Canada to be part of that conversation and it may be such a thing as we dont receive [passengers] or, if we do, what are the protocols.

Trudeau was clear that the federal government is already preparing to do more than the initial $1billion response to COVID19 announced Wednesday. That includes $500 million to the provinces and territories to bolster their healthcare systems, waiving the oneweek wait period for workers to claim Employment Insurance if theyre quarantined or forced to selfisolate, and more funding for testing, research, and personal protective equipment.

More measures are expected in the federal budget, to be unveiled March 30, and more could follow if necessary as the government assesses the effect of the pandemic on the economy and on specific industries, particularly energy, tourism, and aviation.

The energy industry has been hit by a double whammyplunging oil prices due to both the abrupt reduction in travel around the globe and an oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Kenney intends to keep up the pressure for a more generous fiscal stabilization program, which was designed to help provinces that face sudden decreases in revenues, as happened in Alberta when oil prices crashed several years ago. He wants the $60 per capita cap lifted and the change to be applied retroactively, resulting in a $2.4-billion federal payment to his hard-hit province.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has signalled his willingness to reform the program, but Kenney is unlikely to see anything concrete until the budget in several weeks.

Some premiers still have their own agendas for the meeting, beyond the COVID-19 crisis.

Ontarios Doug Ford, who has moderated his criticism since Trudeau won re-election last fall, is coming to Ottawa with a team of ministers to press for more federal funding for the Greater Toronto Area subway plan, critical infrastructure projects and health-care transfers. He also wants Ottawa to allow Ontario to nominate more economic immigrants to address a skilled labor shortage.

Newfoundland and Labradors Dwight Ball, meanwhile, wants to talk about federal help to mitigate increases in power rates as a result of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric projects cost overruns.

I will not be taking my foot off the gas at all at on areas that impact Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Im committed to rate mitigation, he said earlier this week.
Obama Defends Obamacare, Attacks Republicans as Challenge in Supreme Court Looms

Former President Barack Obama is defending the Obamacare law as election season heats up and as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a legal challenge about a court ruling that invalidated his signature domestic legislation.

Its been 10 years since we passed the Affordable Care Act. With your help, its the closest weve ever come to universal coverage in America, Obama said in a 90-second video produced by his allies at Protect Our Care, a project of the well-heeled left-wing group Sixteen Thirty Fund.

There are people alive today because of what you did, he said, without substantiating the claim.

But the law is under threat because Republicans will keep trying both in Congress and in the courts to rip away the care that millions of Americans rely on, he said.

So even as we celebrate, we commit ourselves to protecting the progress weve made until we finish the job for good with quality affordable coverage for every single American.

Protect Our Care is run by Brad Woodhouse, who worked previously as communications director for the Democratic National Committee and as a strategist for both Obama presidential campaigns. Woodhouse is credited with helping to build the political infrastructure used to promote the passage of Obamacare and to defend the program after it was enacted.

Republicans are determined to undermine Obamacare, according to Woodhouse.

President Trump continues to deliberately sabotage peoples health care out of his own spitefulness, and we are going to make sure the public is constantly aware of every move this Administration makes until Congressional Republicans stand up and make them stop, he said previously.

Protect Our Care plans a bus tour to campaign in the 2020 battleground states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, The Hill newspaper reports.

The roadshow begins March 15 in St. Paul, Minnesota. There will also be a panel discussion in the nations capital on March 23, at which Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and health care activists will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the signing of Obamacare into law.

In his campaign for the presidency, former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat like Obama, claims credit for helping to enact the law that critics say has caused health care premiums to skyrocket while limiting consumer choice. Biden has said he will defend the law if he wins the White House.

Bidens opponent, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), has promised to substitute his expensive proposed Medicare for All program for Obamacare, establishing a single-payer system and abolishing private health insurance. Obama referred to Medicare for All as a good idea during the midterm elections of 2018, while campaigning for congressional Democrats.

The Supreme Court, which said March 12 that it would be banning visitors to its building in Washington until further notice to stop the spread of the coronavirus, announced earlier this month that it will review a lower court ruling that partially invalidated the Obamacare statute.

The case will likely be heard in the courts new term that begins in October, which suggests a decision wont be rendered until after the elections in November. The decision to take the case seems certain to revive health care as a major issue on the campaign trail this year.

The case goes back to Dec. 14, 2018, when Judge Reed OConnor of the Northern District of Texas struck down the so-called Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in its entirety.

Before that, in NFIB v. Sebelius (2012), the Supreme Court deemed the mandate that compelled Americans to buy health insurance a valid exercise of congressional taxing power because it generated revenue, rejecting the governments argument that the mandate could be justified under the Constitutions Commerce Clause.

Because the mandate penalty was reduced to zero by Congress in 2017, it no longer would generate revenue and couldnt be viewed as an exercise of congressional taxing authority.

Zeroing-out the mandate penalty sawed off the last leg Obamacare stood on, OConnor ruled. The court finds the individual mandate is essential to and inseverable from the other provisions of the statute, he held in Texas v. United States.

The Trump administration supports OConnors ruling.

At the time, President Donald Trump applauded it on Twitter. As I predicted all along, Obamacare has been struck down as an UNCONSTITUTIONAL disaster! Now Congress must pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare and protects pre-existing conditions, he wrote.

On Dec. 18, 2019, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the striking-down of the mandate, but remanded the case to OConnor to decide if the rest of the statute should be invalidated.
Moscow: Constitutional changes allowing Vladimir Putin to run for president again in 2024 sailed through Russia`s lower house of parliament on Wednesday, opening the way for him to potentially stay in power until 2036.

Putin, 67, who has dominated the Russian political landscape for two decades as either president or prime minister, made a dramatic appearance in the chamber a day earlier to argue that term limits were less important in times of crisis.

Putin, a former KGB officer, is currently required by the constitution to step down in 2024 when his second sequential and fourth presidential term ends. But the amendment which he backed would formally reset his presidential term tally to zero.

The 450-seat State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on Wednesday voted in favour of the change, along with other amendments to the constitution, by 383 votes, in a third and final reading. Nobody voted against, but 43 lawmakers abstained. Twenty-four lawmakers were absent.

If, as Putin critics expect, the constitutional court now gives its blessing to the amendment and it is backed in a nationwide vote in April, Putin would have the option to run again for president in 2024.

Were he to do that, and his health and electoral fortunes allowed, he could potentially stay in office for another two back-to-back six-year terms until 2036 at which point he would be 83 and have spent 36 years at the top of Russian politics.

Kremlin critic and opposition politician Alexei Navalny has said he believes Putin will now try to become president for life.

Putin has not spelled out what his plans for the future are after 2024, but has said he does not favour the Soviet-era practice of having leaders for life who die in office.

Protest pickets

Putin in January unveiled a major shake-up of Russian politics and a constitutional overhaul, which the Kremlin billed as a redistribution of power from the presidency to parliament.

But Putin`s critics say the reform was merely a smoke screen to give the country`s ruling elite a way to keep Putin in power after 2024.

Opposition activists have said they plan to organise protests as early as Friday against the move to allow Putin to stay on. Their plans are complicated however by an order from Moscow`s government which has banned public gatherings of more than 5,000 people until April 10 due to coronavirus-related risks.

Two people staged lone pickets outside the State Duma on Wednesday. One of them Gleb Tumanov, 31, said he was a member of the Yabloko party, and held a banner calling the move "an usurpation of power."

"Im here because of Vladimir Putins desire to stay for a fifth term or even maybe a sixth," said Tumanov.

It just feels sad. And reminiscent of the Soviet Union. I didnt spend very much time living in the Soviet Union obviously but neither do I have any desire to do so."

The changes backed by the State Duma on Wednesday will now be reviewed by other parts of the Russian legislative branch, including by Russia`s upper house of parliament later on Wednesday. No significant opposition is expected.
The limited EU trade agreement pursued by Boris Johnson could be little better for the economy than a no-deal Brexit, the UKs former ambassador to Brussels has warned.

Sir Ivan Rogers, who served as the UKs top official in the EU capital under both David Cameron and Theresa May, said he was not optimistic at the prospect of a deal by the end of the year.

He also suggested there were people in the government misjudging the right approach to negotiations.

I think you could reach a quick and dirty, skinny, very thin, FTA. You might question how much economic value it has in comparison with no deal, he told a think tank event in Whitehall.

On whether a deal could be reached, Sir Ivan told the audience at the UK in a Changing Europe event: I dont think its beyond the wit of bureaucrats on both sides .... but do I honestly sit here optimistic at the moment that all of this is going to happen? Of course not. I persist in saying regularly to financial market players here ... that the risk of no deal is very considerably underestimated.

The former senior official, who quit his role 2017, said: Youre up against a really sophisticated negotiating opponent, with huge experience in the field, and a deep and intimate knowledge of all our positions because theyve been representing those positions for the last 40 years.

The EU system, which is constantly disparaged in the UK, is a bloody good and formidable negotiator that knows what it is doing and its just spent the last three years demonstrating that.

Since Boris Johnson came to power Downing Street has said it only wants a basic free trade agreement with the UK that would bring back border checks on goods.

The UK government says it wants a deal like the one the EU has signed with Canada, which removes most tariffs and quotas, but leaves the most politically contentious in place.

Britain has also signed a political declaration which states it wants to remove all tariffs and quotas on goods.

Such a deal would put the UK outside of the customs union and single market and render it the least economically connected to its neighbours of any western or central European country.

Economic forecasts have suggested a limited free trade agreement would be second only to no deal in the damage it causes to the UK economy.

On the governments negotiating strategy, Sir Ivan said: I suspect there are some people in No 10 who think if we go hard and demonstrate that unlike Theresa May we really are prepared to walk away ... this will concentrate the minds of some member states who will be frightened to death by the idea that we do end up with no deal.

Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Show all 37 1 /37 Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit supporters celebrating in Parliament Square, after the UK left the European Union on 31 January. Ending 47 years of membership PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro Brexit supporters attend the Brexit Day Celebration Party hosted by Leave Means Leave Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage smiles on stage AFP/Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People celebrate in Parliament Square Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A Brexit supporter celebrates during a rally in Parliament square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Police form a line at Parliament Square to prevent a small group of anti-Brexit protestors from going through to the main Brexit rally PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square JD Wetherspoon Chairman Tim Martin speaks as people wave flags Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage arrives Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters gather AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Ann Widdecombe speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Brexit supporters wave Union flags as they watch the big screen AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square People wave British Union Jack flags as they celebrate Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square on Brexit day Reuters Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AP Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering AFP via Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square An EU flag lies trampled in the mud Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square Getty Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square PA Brexit celebrations in Parliament Square AFP via Getty

He added: I think thats the wrong judgement ... I dont buy it but I think there are some who want a deal who are misjudging what the EU are prepared to give them.

The first round of trade talks took place Brussels last week, with the second scheduled for next week week in London. But uncertainty swirls around whether the meetings, which involve more than 200 officials, will take place amid the coronavirus outbreak.

A UK government spokesperson said: Talks remain scheduled to go ahead next week but clearly we will keep the situation under review and will be guided by scientific advice.
A York County town has declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus and has closed their borough hall for 30 days.

As of noon Thursday, West York Mayor Bruce Vick declared the state of emergency, according to a news release.

The declaration comes with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania and the northeastern United States, borough officials say. There are no confirmed cases in West York, but the intent of the declaration is to help curb the spread of the virus.

During the state of emergency, West York Borough Hall, 1381 W. Poplar St., will be closed to the public.

Officials say they are developing a system for public meetings to allow residents to submit questions in advance and to live stream those meetings.

Payment for utility bills and permit fees can be made through a secured drop box in front of the building, or can be made through the mail or online at the boroughs website.

Borough administrators can be reached at 717-846-8889.

Concerned residents can also contact borough officials at Covid19@westyorkpa.gov or emergencyoperations@westyorkpa.gov.

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The worldwide panic over the spread of coronavirus is of an unprecedented magnitude, made possible by the proliferation of social media and fake news, as well as by a mass media that contributes to the dissemination of news in alarmist and sensationalist ways, often in order to increase profits. Such phenomena throw into relief the need for a different approach to receiving news and, specifically, the need for news recipients to learn how to sort fact from fiction and expose false or misleading information.

The international community, through organisations such as the UN and its subsidiary bodies, should take action towards two main ends. One is to confront false news which has become a powerful and dangerous weapon in political conflicts and propaganda wars, because of the falsehoods and misinformation it spreads and also because of the acrimony and antagonisms it builds. The second is to promote the advancement of media literacy. Recent events, such as the hysteria surrounding coronavirus, have shown how crucial it is to develop peoples ability to read the news critically, to identify sources and their possible agendas, and to ascertain the credibility of the facts.

This is not to suggest that precautionary action on the part health and other concerned authorities should be de-prioritised. However, there should be no doubt about the urgency of the question of media literacy. A recent study in the US revealed that schools do not equip students with the basic skills needed to discern the quality of the information they receive over the internet or to create and share content in a responsible way. According to the US Media Literacy Report 2020, only 14 states have taken legislative action to address the need for media literacy education in schools.

The coronavirus crisis has also shown that the detrimental effects of the mass media do not discriminate between developed and underdeveloped societies. Audience reactions to the news have been pretty much the same everywhere. Wherever you look, you find fear, panic and uncertainty due to the dissemination of inaccuracies and exaggerations, perhaps deliberately in order to accomplish certain ends.

Mankind desperately needs a worldwide awareness-raising campaign on the problem of the lack of media literacy and ways to address it. Certainly, too, social media platforms, journalists, citizen fact-checkers and others have a role to play in stemming the flow of false news and information. This is a collective responsibility of the international community, governments, media establishments and civil society organisations. Large portions of world public opinion believe that misleading information is one of the greatest threats to social cohesion. However, experts believe that while ordinary people have a role to play, the process of reform should be led by the media, the IT industry and governments, again underscoring the importance of collective responsibility.

The most serious epidemic the world faces today has sounded an alarm about many problems. Not least is the problem of how to deliver and receive bad news in ways that do not make critical situations worse. Obviously this does not imply that we should ban bad news. A lack of information could also aggravate crises. But clearly there is a need for an extraordinary effort at several levels to rationalise the treatment of bad news so as to avert unnecessarily violent shocks to societies and to promote more constructive responses to public health crises such as contagious diseases.

One lesson to be learned as we watch the coronavirus drama unfold is that political disputes and agendas can often hide behind a global health crisis. Perhaps this would be a good place to begin our re-examination of how we consume news.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 March, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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UTC will close next week, then use online instruction through the end of March due to the Corona Virus.



UTC said in a statement on Twitter, "UTC is committed to protecting the health of our students, faculty, staff & the Chattanooga community. UTC will suspend face-to-face instruction effective March 16. The week of March 16 will be used to migrate face-to-face courses to online instruction platforms.





"The week of March 23, all course instruction will be offered online. We hope to resume normal operations on Monday, March 30. Students with research or clinical requirements should contact their faculty advisors for guidance We hope to resume normal operations on Monday, March 30. Students with research or clinical requirements should contact their faculty advisors for guidance





"From March 16 to March 30, students are asked not to return to campus. We recognize that some students cannot go home, for a variety of reasons. We will continue to provide housing & food service for students who are unable to return home.







"Automatic waivers will be granted to international students, student athletes and selected other student groups. Those students who need to retrieve personal belongings from campus housing will be allowed to do so; details will be forthcoming."

Chancellor Steve Angle released the following statement:

"The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is committed to protecting the health of our students, faculty, staff and the Chattanooga community and help slow potential spread of the novel coronavirus in Tennessee. As of the time of this message, there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton County or on this campus. At the same time, we want to ensure the continuity of our teaching, research and outreach missions.

"Consistent with the announcement today by interim University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd, UTC will suspend face-to-face instruction effective March 16. The week of March 16 will be used to migrate face-to-face courses to online instruction platforms.

"The week of March 23, all course instruction will be offered online. We hope to resume normal operations on Monday, March 30. Students with research or clinical requirements should contact their faculty advisors for guidance.

"From March 16 to March 30, students are asked not to return to campus. We recognize that some students cannot go home, for a variety of reasons ranging from their hometowns or countries are unsafe to the fact that this campus is their only home.

"We will continue to provide housing and food service for students who are truly unable to return home. Automatic waivers will be granted to international students, student athletes and selected other student groups. Those students who need to retrieve personal belongings from campus housing will be allowed to do so; details will be forthcoming.

"The remainder of the student body is not to report to campus for the resumption of classes until Monday, March 30. Residence halls are scheduled to re-open on Saturday, March 28. If circumstances change, updated information will be provided.

"Access to campus facilities during the period from March 16 to March 28 will be determined and communicated as soon as possible. Modified food service will be provided by Aramark.

"Until March 16, all scheduled events presented by the University and outside entities will go forward as planned. A decision on events later than March 16 will be announced as soon as possible.

"Faculty and staff are to report to work as usual during the two-week period that begins on Monday, March 16. Further details for faculty about online instruction will be shared by Provost Jerold Hale.

"In addition to restrictions on international travel announced earlier this month, the University is suspending indefinitely all non-essential, domestic, University-related business travel.

"Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to continue practicing social distancing along with other recommended habits to avoid viral illness, including frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer, cleaning or disinfecting high-touch surfaces and staying home if you are sick.

"The health and safety of our students is top priority. Thank you to every member of the campus community for pitching in to help find solutions to the unique challenges we face in the present circumstances. Your efforts and cooperation are much-appreciated and key to successful management of these challenges."

Additional updates will be provided as they are available at www.utc.edu/coronavirus.








Scientists have identified nearly 140 new minor planets in the darkness just beyond Neptune's orbit.

The new findings were made after searching through data gathered by the Dark Energy Survey (DES)  a project focused on investigating the dynamics of the universe's expansion by mapping the southern sky.

Researchers found a total of 316 minor planets in the data and determined 139 had not been documented before.

These objects ranged in distance from about 30 astronomical units (AU), which is close to Neptune's orbit, right out to over 90 AU.

Those involved with the study have not only applied a new approach in finding planets, but also believes it will aid future searches for the mysterious Planet Nine.

Scientists have identified nearly 140 new minor planets in the darkness just beyond Neptune's orbit. These objects ranged in distance from about 30 astronomical units (AU), which is close to Neptune's orbit, right out to over 90 AU

The Dark Energy Survey uses technology to map galaxies, detect supernova and find patters of cosmic structures that help experts learn about the expansion of our universe.

It collected infrared and near-infrared data of the southern sky from 2013 through 2019.

A University of Pennsylvania graduate student Pedro Bernardinelli said: 'Dedicated TNO [trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs)] surveys have a way of seeing the object move, and it's easy to track them down.'

'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 and high-tech software, the team started with a dataset of seven billion 'dots' that represented possible objects detected by the software.

The Dark Energy Survey uses technology to map galaxies, detect supernova and find patters of cosmic structures that help experts learn about the expansion of our universe. Pictured is the Dark Energy Survey's camera mounted on the Blanco telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile

Using the first four years of DES data and high-tech software, the team started with a dataset of seven billion 'dots' that represented possible objects detected by the software. And then the team cut back to just 400 candidates that were spotted over at least six nights of observation and then 139. Picutured is an up close shot of the Dark Energy's camera

Then objects that were present on numerous nights were eliminated, which includes stars, galaxies and supernova  narrowing down the list to 22 million.

And then the team cut back to just 400 candidates that were spotted over at least six nights of observation.

To filter their list of candidates down to actual TNOs, which are planets located in the far reaches of the solar system, the team identified 139 objects that have never been seen before.

These objects ranged in distance from about 30 astronomical units (AU), which is close to Neptune's orbit, right out to over 90 AU.

According to the researchers involved, they believe the new way of using TNOs to find planets could help aid their mission to hunt down the elusive Planet Nine.

Planet Nine was first theorised by experts at Caltech in 2016 when they spotted that a group of icy objects on the edges of the solar system have tilted orbits.

They suggested the orbits of these lumps of ice - so-called Trans-Neptune objects (TNOs) - were warped by the gravitational pull of a ninth planet in the solar system.

The objects had elliptical orbits that pointed in the same direction and were tilted 30 degrees 'downward' compared to the plane in which planets circle the sun.

While Planet Nine has never been spotted, a number of astronomers - including scientists at NASA - have since released research that supports the theory.
Carthage College, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and UW-Parkside have added their names to the lists of colleges that are making the unprecedented decision to extend spring break and then (at least temporarily) resume classes online-only.

These decisions are all following international health guidelines to prevent large gatherings of people in order to slow the spread and flatten the curve of COVID-19, otherwise known as the novel coronavirus.

As of 3 p.m. Thursday, eight people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Wisconsin, up from three on Tuesday and up from six on Wednesday. One of those eight has already recovered, and the remaining seven are active in the following counties: Fond du Lac, Waukesha, Dane and Pierce.

Carthage College reported that the private school will extend spring break for another week and move to remote instruction beginning Monday, March 23. Remote teaching and learning will continue through at least Thursday, April 9.

On Thursday, Marquette announced that in-person classes are suspended from March 16 through March 20. Faculty will receive training in online course deployment and will be working to develop a plan for moving instruction online. This is NOT an extension of spring break; students should complete their assigned readings and coursework, Marquette announced. Faculty will follow up with specific instructions for their classes. From March 23 through April 10, all instruction will be accomplished online.

Officials at UW-Platteville on Thursday announced that there will be no face-to-face classes until at least April 14.

Also on Thursday, Whitewater said spring break would be extended by one week (now ending March 29) and that face-to-face instruction will be suspended starting March 30. Face-to-face instruction could resume on April 20 at the earliest.

Parkside break moved up

UW-Parkside has extended its spring break in the other direction. It will begin March 16, instead of March 23. It is expected to conclude March 27, as had been previously scheduled. When the semester resumes on March 30, Parkside advised that the university is preparing for alternative delivery of classes.

Effective immediately, all events that would draw more than 50 people at Parkside have been canceled through at least April 10.

Not all academic offerings easily lend themselves to online delivery. We are working on best-possible solutions for science labs, music rehearsals, art classes and others, stated Rob Ducoffe, UW-Parkside Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.

A top priority for UW-Parkside is providing a safe and healthy learning environment, and working to ensure the health and wellness of the communities we serve, Parkside Chancellor Debbie Ford said in a statement. The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving. We are hopeful that beginning our spring break a week earlier than planned will assist in the regional, state and national initiatives to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19.

Prior to Thursday, the UW-Madison, UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee had all already announced extended spring breaks and plans to have classes taught via alternative delivery methods for the time being thereafter.

Lauren Henning, a junior at UW-Madison who graduated from Burlington High School, said, When Ohio State and Purdue announced a similar approach, I knew it was coming to UW soon.

Henning is also a student supervisor with university housing. She said, As a student and employee of UW, I understand the thought process of suspending face-to-face instruction, but I was hoping it would not come to this, she said. Im worried... about how my classes will adapt to online instruction because I dont absorb things as well through a screen, as most people dont ... Im also really worried about how this might affect my work on campus, as a student who is putting themselves through school, I need steady work to stock my fridge and pay rent.

Gateway

Gateway Technical College, which has locations in Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties, has a plan in place to offer classes remotely if necessary, but the plan has not been activated yet, Zina Haywood, Gateways executive vice president and provost, told The Journal Times Wednesday evening.

The classes that require hands-on learning may be delayed and recontinued at a later date if a campus closure is later put into effect.

Were just considering that right now, Haywood said Wednesday.
Hedge fund losses picked up in February with the industry down 2.81% for the month, according to the Barclay Hedge Fund Index compiled by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions. By comparison, the S&P Total Return Index was down 8.2% for the month.

For the year-to-date the hedge fund industry was down 3.00% through the end of February. The S&P Total Return Index was down almost 8.3% over the same period.

All but a handful of hedge fund sectors were in negative territory for February, as what little good economic news to be found in the month was offset by the impact of the spreading coronavirus.

In ordinary times, news like favorable U.S. manufacturing data and a strong U.S. January jobs report might have provided a boost. But, with the coronavirus, these arent normal times, said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge. As the month continuedand with it, the spread of the viruswe saw markets in turmoil including the worst week for stocks since the 2008 financial crisis as businesses and investors tried to gauge the potential economic impact of the novel coronavirus.

Among hedge fund sectors, only four of BarclayHedges 31 indices were in the black in for February. In a month marked by extreme volatility, the Volatility Trading Index set the pace among gainers, up 1.38% for the month. Others posting February gains included the Convertible Arbitrage Index, up 1.01%, the Option Strategies Index, with a 0.94% return, and the Fixed Income Arbitrage Index, gaining 0.47%.

Much more common were the sectors in negative territory in February. Among them were the Emerging Markets Latin American Equities Index, down 8.20%, the Pacific Rim Equities Index, off 6.48%, the Emerging Latin America Index, losing 6.22%, and the Emerging Markets Global Equities Index, down 5.77%.

Hedge fund sectors year-to-date picture was similar to their monthly performance in February, with the losers far outnumbered by gainers over the years first two months. Among the many hedge fund sectors in the red year-to-date were the Emerging Markets Latin American Equities Index, down 9.18%, the Emerging Markets Global Equities Index, off 8.67%, the Emerging Markets Latin America Index, losing 7.81%, and the Pacific Rim Equities Index, down 6.31%.

Among the gainers, the Convertible Arbitrage Index led the way with a 1.61% return through the end of February, followed by the Volatility Trading Index, up 1.57%, the Fixed Income Arbitrage Index, returning 1.35%, the Option Strategies Index, gaining 0.86%, and the Merger Arbitrage Index, up 0.06%.

For a complete table of BarclayHedge Hedge Fund and Sub-Index results for February, as well as historical returns, click here.

About Backstop Solutions

Backstops mission is to help the institutional investment industry use time to its fullest potential. We develop technology to simplify and streamline otherwise time-consuming tasks and processes, enabling our clients to quickly and easily access, share and manage the knowledge thats critical to their day-to-day business success. Backstop provides its industry-leading cloud-based productivity suite to investment consultants, pensions, funds of funds, family offices, endowments, foundations, private equity, hedge funds and real estate investment firms.

BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop, currently maintains data on more than 7,100 hedge funds, funds of funds and CTAs. The BarclayHedge Indices are utilized by institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries.
Advance Cabo Dentistry will be headed by Harvard trained Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c Thomas Koty who is a Master of Science for Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry.

San Jose del Cabo or Cabo as it is best known, has been booming over the past few years and has become one of the top dental tourism destinations in Mexico. Cabo offers many benefits: beautiful scenery; perfect climate; white, sandy beaches; and a convenient location close to the US West coast. Advanced Cabo Dentistry is the result of high demand for fast, top-quality dental services but at far less cost than in the USA and Canada, and caters mainly for patients that have been looking to travel overseas for their dental treatments.

The new clinic opened its doors this February, offering cosmetic, restorative, and implantology dental services. It is led by one of the most experienced dentists in the world. Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c. Thomas Koty is an internationally-renowned German specialist who has been working as a dentist for more than 30 years, and constantly keeps up to date with the latest techniques and equipment. He has run a series of award-winning clinics from Europe to Indonesia, and now Mexico, in which he has been for just over one year, with his first practice in Cancun.

Dr. Thomas Koty is confident that this upcoming clinic will become a convenient go-to place for patients in the USA and Canada. The purpose of Advanced Cabo Dentistry is to offer clients the highest level of European standards with savings of up to 70%.

Patients benefit highly from the use of state-of-the-art dental technology, which provides efficient and accurate results in less time. Among the equipment the clinic will use for an initial evaluation for implant placement, is the 3D CBCT X-Ray, which captures a 3D image of nerve pathways, bone, and soft tissues of a patient. Oral scanners are other of the ultra-modern devices that will be used at the clinic. Thanks to these scanners, patients will avoid the long, tedious process of taking impressions, which can be tiring and even painful in cases of damaged teeth or gum diseases. With oral scanners its possible to explore the complete oral cavity of a patient in minutes, creating a digitized image with natural color and precise data for lab technicians.

An in-house laboratory complements the high-tech dental setup, and gives continuity to the agile initial diagnoses mentioned above. It is equipped with CAD/CAM technology, which makes possible the design of restorations on 3D molds, the milling of the materials sourced from Germany and the US, such as porcelain and zirconia, and the complete production of veneers, implants, and crowns at the moment. Even if any change is necessary, it can be done immediately.

The fully-equipped laboratory is led by Jochen Parnt, a German dental master technician with more than 35 years of experience in important clinics around the world, such as Finland, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. With its on-site lab the clinic can offer patients from all over the world the tranquility that their treatments are performed with the highest quality but in reduced times, especially for those who who will stay for just a few days at this destination.

Advanced Cabo Dentistry has a convenient location, very close to the Hotel Zone in the Tourist Corridor, at Mira Vista. Languages spoken at the clinic are English, French, German and Spanish.

For further information or to book an appointment, please visit https://advancedcabodentistry.com/ or call toll-free at 1 888 646 1856.
[March 11, 2020] K-Tec Acquires Ashland Industries

ORG K-Tec Holdings LLC ("K-Tec") announced today it has acquired Ashland Industries Holdings Inc. ("Ashland"). The merger represents two highly regarded specialty manufacturing companies within the earthmoving industry. The newly merged organizations will be headquartered in Rosenort, MB, Canada and led by Mikhail (Mike) Palitsky, President of K-Tec. The combined business will have manufacturing and service locations in both Rosenort, MB, Canada and Ashland, WI, USA. K-Tec is majority owned by an affiliate of private investment firm Owner Resource Group LLC ("ORG"). Austin, Texas-based ORG originally partnered with the owners and management of K-Tec to acquire a majority stake of the company in 2018 and assisted with the acquisition of Ashland. K-Tec and Ashland are leading manufacturers of earthmoving scrapers and accessory products serving the construction, mining, and agriculture markets. The merger will allow them to offer the broadest product line of earthmoving scrapers in the industry across a large geographic footprint of dealers while providing exceptional service coverage. The combination will provide shorter lead times for customers and accelerate product design and introduction. There will be no management changes at either company as a result of the merger.



ORG led the transaction which received additional financing support from Cadence Bank NA. The merger transaction closed on February 28, 2020.

For additional information, please visit www.orgroup.com or contact Will Burnett ([email protected] or 512-505-4180). Owner Resource Group, LLC

Owner Resource Group is an Austin, Texas based private investment firm founded to bring superior outcomes to privately held businesses. The company's affiliates make investments that enable business owners and management teams to pursue their objectives and accelerate the growth of their companies in a disciplined manner. ORG appreciates an owner's need for fairness, certainty, flexibility and confidentiality when considering a transaction. After a transaction, the ORG philosophy is to align our interests with management to support the existing culture and continued growth. The firm is most helpful to businesses with the following aspirations:

 Business owners hoping to achieve a full or partial exit

 Businesses looking to expand their capabilities, offerings or geographic reach

 Management teams that would like to establish or increase their ownership in a business View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005819/en/

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Following last weeks argument in a Louisiana abortion case, the consensus among attentive Supreme Court-watchers is that the outcome depends on Chief Justice John Roberts, who seemed not to share Justice Samuel Alitos visceral dislike of abortion clinics and his deep suspicion of doctors who work in them. I agree.

Further, many of these close observers came away believing that even if the justices rule for Louisiana, they will take neither of the two drastic steps being pressed on the court by the state and its White House ally: to reject four decades of settled law under which doctors can challenge abortion restrictions on their patients behalf, or to overturn the 2016 decision that struck down the same admitting-privileges requirement in Texas that Louisiana is now defending.

I agree with that prediction as well. The chief justice seemed to be probing for ways within the framework of the 2016 decision that Louisiana might be different from Texas, either because of a more persuasive rationale for requiring clinic doctors in Louisiana to have hospital admitting privileges or because the requirement imposes a lesser obstacle to abortion access in Louisiana than it did in Texas.

So why do I think that anyone who cares about preserving womens access to abortion should be seriously worried? Wouldnt a state-specific win for Louisiana, one that left existing precedents on the books, represent a reprieve from looming disaster, a moderate place for this conservative court to land, however tentatively or temporarily?
Time for government to rethink efficacy of education policy



Private tutoring expenditure by parents with elementary, middle and high school students reached 20.9 trillion won ($17.6 billion) last year, up 7.8 percent from the 19.5 trillion won in 2018 and the biggest increase in a decade.



There must be a reason for their spending to spike despite a fall in student numbers caused by the declining birthrate. Above all, the country can hardly overlook the aggravation of most related indices, such as the participation rate in private education and tutoring expenses per student. The participation rate surged 1.9 percentage points to 74.8 percent, meaning nearly three-quarters of young Koreans students engage in private lessons. Elementary schoolchildren showed the highest participation rate of 83.5 percent, followed by middle school students' 71.4 percent and high school students' 61 percent.



Monthly private tutoring expenditure stood at 321,000 won on average per student, exceeding the 300,000-won mark for the first time. Noteworthy in this regard was the huge gap between the spending of people in the high-income and those in the low-income brackets with the former spending approximately five times more on supplementary education. In Korea, educational opportunities are somewhat dependent on parents' income. Had the nation established the public education system properly, it might not have been lamenting the undue involvement of private education. The unrelenting rise in spending on extra classes shows Korea still has a way to go before normalizing school education.



Now that it has become clear that policies to reduce private tutoring went nowhere, the government should seek a fundamental change in direction. Few would deny frequent changes in the college entrance system has encouraged the growth of private tutoring. Parents are also confused by debates on whether to retain special-purpose high schools such as those focusing on foreign languages or science. What's clear is that few people will oppose a reduction in private tutoring costs through the strengthening of school education. The time is now for the education ministry to start from the ground up by listening to the views of the three principal agents of education  students, teachers and parents.


Some have been told to reuse surgical masks. Use body wash when the hand soap runs out. And when they request help on how to properly don protective gear, one manager said they should remember their training from the Ebola outbreak in 2014.

Nurses and and certified nursing assistants in hospitals and nursing homes across the state are relaying shocking concerns" about supply shortages as the coronavirus steadily spreads. On Wednesday night, representatives from six labor unions called on the Murphy administration to ensure all healthcare facilities have the supplies, training materials, and staffing support they need to reduce everyones risk of exposure.

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, a registered nurse, held a teleconference meeting with union leaders late afternoon on Thursday in which he pledged to secure more protective gear for frontline health care employees.

The union leadership is concerned that there will not be sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the employees who care for patients, Persichilli, the health commissioner, said in a statement after the meeting. Particular concerns were about face masks, N95 masks and equipment in nursing homes. We have been in touch with our federal partners about receiving an allotment of (equipment) from the Strategic National Stockpile as soon as possible.

Debbie White, president of Health Professionals and Allied Employees said in a press release she appreciated how Persichilli listened to unions leaders concerns and pledged to deliver more supplies.

It was reassuring to hear the Commissioner say that it is her priority to make sure our frontline caregivers who have the highest risk to exposure have the protections they need, White said. Taking precautionary measures now will go far to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Each of our unions will continue this dialogue with the Commissioner of Health to ensure more is done to ensure every facility has a plan in place to address the needs of workers and patients to minimize the risk of exposure for all, while providing safe treatment to those who become infected with COVID-19, White added.

Health care workers worries have mounted in the past several weeks and are reaching a boiling point as COVID-19 cases are multiplying at a steady rate. New Jersey officials on Thursday said the statewide number of cases rose to 29, with one death.

I shouldnt lay in my bed and wonder if Im gonna have the proper supplies to protect myself and my residents, said one nursing home employee in Hudson County who spoke to NJ Advance Media on condition of anonymity because she feared retaliation.

In a letter sent to Persichilli Monday and publicly shared on Wednesday, the labor leaders asked to participate in the preparedness planning activities that you are leading since Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency.

We remain hopeful that the coronavirus will be contained. However, while it continues to spread, we believe it is important that the Department include the voices of frontline caregivers in the States preparation and response efforts, the letter said.

About 500 HPAE employees have responded to a survey about the coronavirus response, more than half said they did not have access to an N95 mask, said HPAE spokeswoman Bridget Devane said. More than 50 percent also said they had not received training on how to use protective gear, she said. The N95 masks are designed to block the wearer from inhaling 95% of airborne particles, including pathogens.

Workers at several hospitals have been told to reuse disposable N95 masks, even though there is not a shortage of masks as of yet, Devane said. When workers have asked to be trained to better prepare themselves on proper usage of protective gear, they have been told that they received that training during the Ebola crisis so it isnt necessary to retrain staff.

In nursing homes where staffing shortages are common, the shocking shortage of supplies like masks, gear and in one facility hand soap is compounded the anxiety many workers feel, Bryn Lloyd-Bollard, spokesman for 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

If they have family they need to care for or need to take sick time for themselves, what will the staffing situation look like, Lloyd-Bollard said. Its extra important right now to deliver care by the book  washing hands for 20 seconds and taking their gear off the appropriate way.

A nursing home employee in Mercer County who asked not to be identified said administrators are keeping masks and gowns under lock and key.

Now were seeing we dont have masks and gowns, and when I approach the administration about it, they have them locked in the closet, she said. We need the masks because were the primary caregivers of the patients.

COVID-19  the illness caused by the virus  has sickened more than 1,000 people in the U.S. and left at least 32 dead. Health experts have warned that elderly people and those with weakened immune systems should take extra precautions as the pandemic is expected to grow.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters

NJ Advance Media Staff Writer Noah Cohen contributed to this report.

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.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.
Meketa Investment Group Hires Sandra Ackermann-Schaufler as Principal

Meketa Investment Group (Meketa), a global investment consulting and advisory firm, is pleased to announce Sandra Ackermann-Schaufler has joined the firm as a Principal, effective March 9. Based in Meketa's New York office, Ms. Ackermann-Schaufler will be servicing discretionary and non-discretionary clients as a Portfolio Strategist and Consultant.

"Sandra's outstanding work ethic and dedication make her the ideal professional for Meketa and for our clients," said Stephen McCourt, Managing Principal and Co-Chief Executive Officer at Meketa. "We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of services and support for our clients and believe Sandra will be a wonderful addition to the team."

"I have the utmost respect for Meketa and am truly excited to join a firm that values excellence and provides exceptional advice, support and execution to clients," said Ms. Ackermann-Schaufler. "I look forward to working with the team and using my investment expertise and client focus to provide the best portfolio solutions and services to all of our clients." /p>







Ms. Ackermann-Schaufler is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion and a frequent speaker at industry conferences. She earned a Master of Science in International Economic Sciences from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and is a CFA charterholder.

About Meketa

Founded in 1978, Meketa is an employee-owned, full service investment consulting and advisory firm. As an independent fiduciary, the firm serves institutional investors in non-discretionary and discretionary capacities. Meketa's collective client assets under advisement represent approximately $1.4 trillion. For more information, please visit www.meketa.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005028/en/
A march of solidarity against violence took place near the Urkuya Salieva monument in Bishkek. The women gathered in the square declared equality and protection of their rights. Ex-president Roza Otunbayeva, leader of the Ar-Namys party Felix Kulov and other politicians came to support the action. They criticized the dispersal of the women's solidarity march on Victory Square on March 8.

Roza Otunbayeva stated that the Minister of Internal Affairs should resign. "We have been creating a democratic image of the republic for decades. But at one point, they spilled it out of the bucket. We were on the front pages of world's publications. The dispersal of a women's rally is a shame. The Minister of Internal Affairs must voluntarily resign. Every worthy minister must resign after he embarrassed the country in front of the whole world. If he doesnt do this, then there is authorities. There are deputies who decide the fate of such ministers. Therefore, everyone should draw a conclusion from this. There have been April 7 and March 24 dates. Can one at least turn back and understand the lessons?" Otunbayeva said. According to her, more people were supposed to join the action, but they were afraid.

From the first days of independence, Kyrgyzstan has been open to democratic change. Under first president Askar Akayev's rule, the republic was called the "island of democracy" in Central Asia. But imperceptibly, Kyrgyzstan went off the democratic tracks, embarking on the path of authoritarianism. The current government, getting rid of the political opposition, gave the command to stop even the women's march on March 8. By the way, such demonstrations took place around the world. As Kyrgyz parliamentarian Dastan Bekeshev noted, "solidarity actions took place all over the planet, from Chile and Mexico to Iraq and Russia, but there was a shameful event in Bishkek - the dispersal of a peaceful march, moreover, women  both adults and very young girls  were dispersed."

Last Sunday, representatives of women's social movements Bishkek Feminist Initiatives and 8/365 organized an march against domestic violence on Victory Square. They intended to march from Victory Square to the Opera and Ballet Theater. However, even before the start of the rally, members of the Kirk-Choro nationalist movement in national caps (ak-kalpak) and masks broke through to the activists, considering their actions inappropriate. Flowers, banners and balloons held by women were taken away and trampled by Kyrgyz nationalists. Women were injured.

The police, as can be seen in the numerous videos posted on Facebook, not only did not intervene, but, on the contrary, detained about 60 protesters. Six activists were fined "for disobedience to the police." Only on March 10, after the dispersal of the rally got a wide response, leader of the Kyrk Choro movement Zamir Kochorbaev was fined 3,000 thousand soms (about 3,000 rubles).

The leader of the Ar-Namys party, General Felix Kulov, suspects that the police acted in conjunction with the Kyrk Choro movement. "The members of this group were not detained, innocent women were detained instead. Hence the conclusion, they acted in concert. Otherwise, the police must find these provocateurs and show the country who these people are. I am convinced that most of them did not even know that they 'protect'. They were sent to disperse the rally, like rams at a slaughterhouse," Kulov noted.

Chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Speech Adil Turdukulov believes that members of the nationalist Kyrk Choro movement are affiliated with the police. Sunday's rally of intimidation was not the first one. "Such actions was used against Chinese companies working in Kyrgyzstan, raids were also carried out in other foreign companies, actions were organized against national minorities, which we have a lot in our country. Where the Ministry of Internal Affairs cannot legally use force, this group is used, Adil Turdukulov told Vestnik Kavkaza. In his opinion, Bishkek is confident that the Kyrk Choro movement's massacre addressed an ominous hint to the political forces preparing for the parliamentary elections in October and sketching out a strategy, which may involve rallies as well.

The violent disruption of the peace demonstration took place against the backdrop of officials' statements that "the authorities' efforts are aimed at ensuring that women are confident in their future." The government understands that the increase in cases of domestic violence in the country is over the top. "The flagrant acts of violence against women leading to death are considered a serious challenge for the state to review traditional approaches to the prevention, response and protection from domestic violence," the government noted. "Any form of violence is a crime and an unacceptable phenomenon. "Only through the joint efforts of state bodies, civil society and all concerned citizens we can eradicate the phenomenon of domestic and gender-based violence."

That is why the residents of Kyrgyzstan joined marches of solidarity with the Women's march. The rallies of solidarity with the Women's march were held in Bishkek and other cities of the republic. The action was joined by Kyrgyz citizens living abroad. They take to the streets and take pictures with posters in support of a peaceful rally and publish photos on social networks with the hashtag #non-violence. According to the initiators of the action, it is impossible to observe the rights of some citizens of the country and violate the rights of others. Many were outraged by the impunity of the march attackers.
A Special Task Force (STF)



jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Thursday, a police official said.

Constable Ramaram Swami shot himself with his service rifle in the wee hours outside his barrack in Potali camp under Aranpur police station limits, the official told PTI.

After hearing the gunshot, his colleagues rushed to the spot and found him lying in a pool of blood.

The body was sent to a local hospital for postmortem, he said.

The exact reason which prompted him to take the extreme step was yet to be ascertained, the official said.

Swami was a native of Chala village in Rajasthan's Sikar district and his family members have been informed about the incident, he said.

Personnel from the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF), District Reserve Guard (DRG) and STF were deployed at the Potali camp, located in a strategically important core Maoist area, after it was set upin November last year.

On March 4 this year, a CAF jawan allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon in Naryanpur district.

As many as 50 police personnel, including those from the paramilitary forces, committed suicide in Chhattisgarh in the last two years, the government informed state Assembly last month.

Of these suicide cases, 18 were reported from six districts of the Naxal-affected Bastar division.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has welcomed the decision of third countries - Montenegro, Albania, Norway and Ukraine - to join the restrictive measures that the EU has taken against Russia for violating Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.

A corresponding statement by the EU High Representative has been published on the website of the European Council.

"On 28 January 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/120 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP. The Decision amends the list of persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex to Decision 2014/145/CFSP by adding seven persons involved in the organisation by the Russian Federation of so-called 'local elections' on 8 September in the illegally annexed Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol in Ukraine. The Candidate Countries Montenegro and Albania, the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, align themselves with this declaration," the statement reads.

According to the statement, these countries have undertaken to bring their national policies into line with the decision approved by the Council. "The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it," the statement reads.

op
After a brief respite following reports of central bank economic stimuli in the United States and the UK, crude oil slumped once again after on Wednesday, President Donald Trump instituted a 30-day travel ban on most European countries because of the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time of writing Brent crude was trading down by more than 8 percent at $32.71 a barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $30.27 a barrel, also down by more than 8 percent.

In a televised address from the Oval Office, Trump said, We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground. There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings. And these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval.

Airline stocks slumped further on the news, as the ban is another blow to an already battered industry, but fuel demand from one of the biggest consumers globally will also be affected further, which, along with the panic associated with such radical disease containment measures, added to the already sizeable pressure on oil prices.

The Energy Information Administrations latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, also released yesterday, did not help lift industry spirits, either. The EIA said it expected oil consumption to have declined by 900,000 bpd in the current quarter from a year earlier, and for full-2020, demand for oil would rise by a modest 400,000 bpd.

The authority also revised down its price forecast, now expecting Brent crude to average $43 a barrel this year, but just $37 a barrel during the second quarter as the disease, which the WHO has now classified as a pandemic, continues to rage across the world.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Washington Post published an article entitled "Gaza militants send bomb-loaded balloons to Israel" (3/9/20). The article describes an Israeli child named Emma who was initially "pleased" when she saw a balloon floating toward her. But, as the article continues, "another child, who had heard the warnings from local police, knew better: "That's a bomb!" According to the Post article, "In recent months, hundreds of booby-trapped balloons  sometimes bearing the messages 'I love you' and 'Happy Birthday' along with small improvised explosives dangling by a string  have descended" on Israel from Gaza.

No need to parse words on this: the goal is the targeted killing of Israeli children by the Palestinians.

The Post, always quick to jump to the defense of the Palestinian movement, claims this is "one of the ways in which militants in Gaza keep up a low-intensity armed resistance to Israel's 14-year blockade of the Palestinian enclave." But if that were the case, how come the balloons aren't aimed at Egypt as well, since Egypt blockades Gaza on its west side? Why doesn't the Post  supposedly the gold standard among newspapers  examine that basic fact?

According to the article, "15-20 inflatables that land" each day include "unicorns" and "red birthday balloons" clearly meant to target children. The Post interviewed one of the launchers of these inflatable bombs, calling him a Palestinian "militant." Most in the civilized world would call him a child-murdering terrorist. The terrorist tells the Washington Post reporter, "We are not intending to kill children." What? Why, then, did the Post reporter not follow up with, "Then why are you sending bombs to them?" The Post used to be known for its investigative reporting. The follow-up question is a no-brainer to ask.

The terrorist additionally said, "Balloons are the best  they go further." And the Post reporter merely continued the interview amid such evil and sadism. How the Post is numb to this is incomprehensible to understand.

The Post article ends with interviews of several more named and unnamed sources who blame Israel for the Palestinians' plight, still not mentioning how Egypt is spared from these attacks even though it is part of the two-pronged blockade  the blockade occurring in the first place due to Palestinian rocket fire and other acts of terror.

The plain truth of the abhorrent Palestinian practice of targeting children is in one of the messages sent from Gaza into Israel for all to witness. The message on the balloon, written in Hebrew and Arabic, said, "Zionist, you have no place in the country of Palestine" (meaning Israel). That is the crux of what is going on: the Palestinians refuse to accept a Jewish state in Israel. The Palestinians have made it clear in so many ways, this case cynically targeting children. Why won't news sources like the Post finally acknowledge this? The idea of giving a movement like this a state as a solution...who needs such a state?

Dr. Michael Berenhaus (Twitter: @bbmichael2000) is a contributor to the news and public policy group the Haym Salomon Center. He has been published in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Economist along with many other publications with the expressed purpose to ensure accuracy, fairness, and truth as they relate to Israel.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by traders' body CAIT against CCI nod to Walmart's USD 16-billion acquisition of Flipkart.

A two-member bench of the appellate tribunal headed by Justice S J Mukhopadhaya said CAIT failed to establish its allegations against CCI granting approval for Walmart-Flipkart deal.

NCLAT also said Flipkart was not even made party by CAIT in its plea.

"We find no merit in it, accordingly the appeal is dismissed," said NCLAT, upholding the CCI nod to the deal.

The appellate tribunal also observed that the deal would add value to the Flipkart platform.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on August 8, 2018 had said it has approved US retail giant Walmart's acquisition of Flipkart.

NCLAT had reserved its order on CAIT's plea in January last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This shelter dog is trading in the hard-knock life for some time in the spotlight!

Shelby County High School in Columbiana, Alabama put a sweet twist on their production of Annie by casting a shelter dog to play the role of Sandy, a scruffy pup that orphan Annie takes in from the street.

According to CBS, the cast brought in Triton Daniel, a husky/boxer mix from the Shelby County Humane Society.

RELATED: Missing Florida Dog Found in Michigan Backyard Over 1,000 Miles Away from His Miami Home

The cast brought up the idea of adding Triton Daniel to the production and Kathyrn Myrick, the high school theater teacher, was all for the idea.

It kind of fits the theme of Annie, Myrick told the outlet. Annie is about second chances. Its about acceptance and one thing I know, just from being a huge animal lover myself, is a lot of these animals need a second chance.

Triton Daniel has been at the humane society since September.

His former family  who owned the dog for seven years  dropped Triton Daniel off and got a smaller dog, the outlet reported.

RELATED: Billie Eilish Gets a Sweet Visit from Shelter Puppies Before Kicking Off Her Tour in Miami

Ive known this dog for over 100 days and Ive known he is a good candidate and very sweet and gentle and nice and no one has wanted to adopt him because he does look a little funny but this play has allowed him to get adopted, Savana Tarwater, a volunteer at the humane society, said.

According to the outlet, as news of Triton Daniel spread across social media, one family took interest in the dog and is set to bring him home after the final show on Sunday.
MPPs have given Premier Doug Fords government the authority to suspend the Ontario Legislature over COVID-19 concerns as the province named six viral assessment centres, paused public health cuts and officials recommended gatherings of more than 1,000 people be scrapped.

The developments came as coronavirus cases in Ontario surged by 17 in just 24 hours  including a baby boy  for a total of 59, five of which have recovered and been cleared. Seven of the new cases were people who had returned from the neighbouring United States.

The risk for travelling Ontarians is not low, chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams warned on the eve of the annual March break, which usually sees thousands of people head south and abroad.

Williams also said he would prefer large events be cancelled, delayed or moved online, and cautioned parents against visits to museums or malls with their children. I would suggest not to go to public venues, he said.

The first wave of COVID-19 assessment centres will be separate from emergency departments at Brampton Civic Hospital, the Ottawa Hospital, North York General Hospital, Mackenzie Health in York Region, Scarborough Health Network, and Trillium Health in Mississauga.

Were preparing for the worst-case scenario, said Health Minister Christine Elliott.

Doctors will be allowed to do more telephone assessments to keep sick patients out of waiting rooms, and the province has posted an online self-assessment tool at Ontario.ca/coronavirus to guide Ontarians through a series of questions if they are concerned about having contracted COVID-19.

The province said one-time mitigation funding will be extended to offset controversial cuts to municipal public health in last years provincial budget, keeping 2021 levels equal to this years because of the considerable time and resources necessary for public health units to effectively respond to COVID-19.

Critics have repeatedly slammed Ford for the cuts and said the new coronavirus outbreak proves them right.

Anything that reduces public healths ability to deal with these kinds of situations is troubled, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

Councillor Joe Cressy, chair of Torontos public health board, told the Star that provincial public health cuts for 2019 cost the city $4.3 million, which the city covered, and planned cuts were expected to cost Toronto $14 million next year.

Ford was not budging. Right now were taking it year-by-year, he said Thursday.

Before MPPs left Queens Park for March break, they passed a motion allowing the government to suspend the spring session temporarily as a health protection measure if circumstances warrant. The authority expires June 4.

Its not just about the provincial parliament, its about all of you, its about the people who work here, and out of an abundance of caution, Government House Leader Paul Calandra told reporters.

Hundreds of political staff, legislative staff, civil servants, politicians and journalists work in close contact in and around the legislature, with many arriving on public transit from across the GTA and beyond.

A suspension could disrupt the scheduled March 25 spring budget from Finance Minister Rod Phillips, which must be presented in the legislature. Williams warned a plan to lock up 2,000 journalists and stakeholders to preview the fiscal blueprint would be concerning for health reasons.

Williams said he has not given any advice on the legislature and noted any suspension should be based on evidence of a health hazard, such as a potential exposure of someone in the precinct.

Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the motion makes sense.

In these uncertain and unprecedented times, we must be prepared to take drastic action to keep people safe, including social distancing.

With files from David Rider

Read more about:
Norwegian Air, which was already financially vulnerable, became the first casualty of Covid-19 as the transatlantic carrier announced a huge programme of short-term flight cancellations and layoffs in response to the ban imposed by US president Donald Trump on visitors to the US from the  the 26 countries in continental Europe which allow free movement without passport checks through their mutual borders.

The airline, which pulled out of transatlantic flights from Ireland last year, said it will ground around half of its long-haul aircraft and cancel a quarter if its short-haul routes through the end of May.

The new restrictions imposed further pressure on an already difficult situation, said its chief executive Jacob Schram, as he called on governments to act now to ensure that the aviation industry can protect jobs and continue to be a vital part of the global economic recovery.

The call came as the shares of long-haul airlines, including IAG, the owner of Aer Lingus and British Airways, slumped.

IAG lost 15% of its value in London trade, Air France-KLM slumped 13% in Paris, and Lufthansa dived 14% in Frankfurt trade.

Airline stocks took a major beating through the trading sessions, as European stock markets posted their worst day in history.

Non-US citizens who have visited a Schengen country in the two weeks prior to their scheduled arrival in the US, wont be permitted to enter the US from midnight.

The industry has lost more than 90bn in market value so far this year.

Mr Trumps controls will almost certainly mean more flights scrapped at European carriers and US peers.

Struggling companies like transatlantic discounter Norwegian Air may be pushed closer to the brink.

The government in Oslo said it is examining steps to help the industry.

Things are moving so fast, said Brendan Sobie of the Sobie Aviation consultancy.

The crisis that the industry is facing right now is likely to be the worst in over 40 years, he said.

Mr Trumps speech offered limited substantial steps beyond the travel ban, and failed to reassure nervous investors.

The MSCI All-Country World Index extended losses to trade more than 20% below last months peak, signalling a bear market.

Restrictions on travel in Europe will hit some of the most popular long-haul routes. France, Germany and the Netherlands are home to three of the top 10 gateways to America, according to the US Department of Transportation.

The US is the worlds largest air travel market, though China is catching up fast.

As the scenario continues to evolve, so does the assessed impact, IATA, which represents about 290 airlines globally, said in a statement following the US announcement.

Additional reporting from Bloomberg
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Washington, D.C., March 12, 2020  Pakistani authorities should immediately release Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, the CEO, owner, and editor-in-chief of the Jang Media Group, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Pakistans National Accountability Bureau arrested Shakil-ur-Rehman today over a case involving allegations that he illegally leased land in 1986, according to news reports. Jang Media Group owns Pakistans largest TV news channel, the Urdu-language GEO News, and several prominent newspapers, include the Urdu Daily Jang and the English The News International.

Pakistans National Accountability Bureau should immediately release Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman and drop the obviously drummed-up case against him, said Steven Butler, CPJs Asia program coordinator. This arrest over a 34-year-old land deal makes a mockery of Pakistans claim to be a democracy that upholds freedom of the press.

A Jang Media Group spokesperson told The News International that the National Accountability Bureau had threatened reporters, producers, and editors over the media groups coverage of the bureau, and had threatened to use the countrys media regulator to shut down its broadcast channels.

CPJ emailed the National Accountability Bureau for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
The Delhi Police have arrested Popular Front of India's (PFI) Delhi unit president Parvez and state secretary Ilyas in connection with alleged PFI-Shaheen Bagh link.

The development comes a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case against suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, an accused in the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.His alleged links with the Popular Front of India (PFI) are also being investigated.The Enforcement Directorate has also registered a case against PFI in connection with the Delhi violence.

Police sources said that a PFI member, Danish, who was arrested in connection with Delhi violence, has said that the organisation was "deeply involved" in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Danish has revealed that the organisation provided logistical and financial support to the protesters, according to sources. He has been working with PFI since 2018 and is the general secretary of Trilokpuri area in Delhi.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police had on Monday arrested Shah Alam, brother of Tahir Hussain. Three other people who had given shelter to Shah Alam have also been arrested.Hussain was sent to seven-day police custody on March 6 in connection with the case. The Karkardooma Court had earlier rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the suspended AAP leader.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 14:37:11|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Foreign investors' sale of South Korean stocks hit the highest in 16 months last month on worry about the COVID-19 outbreak, central bank data showed Thursday.

A foreign fund of 2.66 billion U.S. dollars flowed out of the local stock market in February, marking the biggest foreign capital outflow since October 2018, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

Unease over the COVID-19 outbreak led to foreign sell-off as the number of confirmed cases began to soar from mid-February, topping 7,800 as of Thursday morning local time.

Foreigners moved to safer assets such as domestic bonds, into which 310 million dollars of foreign funds flowed.

The premium on the five-year credit default swap (CDS), which gauges the country's sovereign credit risk, averaged 26 basis points in February, up 3 basis points from the previous month.

The won/dollar exchange rate closed at 1,213.7 won per dollar as of the end of February, up 21.9 won from a month earlier.
As the number of coronavirus cases in India jumped to 73 on Thursday (March 12), Union Foreign Minister S Jaishankar told parliament that the outbreak of the deadly virus is a "matter of concern".

Addressing Lok Sabha on Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit Iran and Iraq, Jaishankar assured the House that the Centre is making all efforts to ensure their well-being. There are operational constraints in evacuating Indians as the Iranian system is strict. We will do whatever we must to check the spread of coronavirus, he said, adding that "extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures."

"As per available information there are about 6000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran, including 1100 pilgrims mainly from Ladakh, J&K and Maharashtra, nearly 300 students primarily from J&K, about a 1000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Gujarat and others who are on longer-term stay visas in Iran for pursuing their livelihood. Where communities are understandably anxious, we should reassure them and encourage the observance of globally recognised precautions & procedures. An excessive sense of alarm would only be to the detriment of those who are really in it," Jaishankar said.

The Union Minister also said that the Centre has taken necessary action where specific interventions were required. "As the House would have noticed, where specific interventions are required - as in the case of Wuhan in China, the Diamond Princess crew in Japan or now the pilgrims in Iran, we will take necessary action. But these are exceptional situations that require an exceptional response. At this time, travel in itself is not recommended as it only heightens risks," Jaishanksar remarked.

In a related development, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that universal screening has been put up in place to curb the spread of coronavirus. Puri added that earlier passengers from the 12 most-affected countries were screened but now the airport authorities have been ordered by the government to subject all incoming passengers to basic thermal screening tests.
Canada and the United States conferred over the fate of their shared border while the provinces pleaded for cooler heads to prevail Thursday, after President Donald Trump slammed America's door on foreign nationals who have been in outbreak-racked Europe.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

President Donald Trump speaks in an address to the nation from the Oval Office at the White House about the coronavirus Wednesday, March, 11, 2020, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Canada and the United States conferred over the fate of their shared border while the provinces pleaded for cooler heads to prevail Thursday, after President Donald Trump slammed America's door on foreign nationals who have been in outbreak-racked Europe.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to emphasize Canada's strong health and border measures  part of a scramble to keep Canada's most important bilateral relationship from being sideswiped by Trump's dramatic efforts to arrest an accelerating global pandemic.

"I spoke with him about the very strong public health system and health-care system in Canada and the measures we are taking to combat the coronavirus," said Freeland, adding the two agreed to keep the lines of communication open.

Business leaders implored the Trudeau government to avoid overreacting and to ensure Canada's border agents could keep potential virus carriers out of Canada without hindering access to the crucial American market.

Trump's prime-time Oval Office announcement had more to do with politics than public health, said Perrin Beatty, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"There's a concern we may face, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, (of) pandemic protectionism  people will want to seal off markets, (and) use the excuse of the pandemic for doing so," Beatty said in an interview.

Canada doesn't have to move in lockstep with the United States but "we have to be concerned if we get too great a divergence that suddenly that we find problems on our border and problems doing business with our largest customer," he added.

Goldy Hyder, the president of the Business Council of Canada, called the Canadian government's response to COVID-19 "spot on," and urged it to think twice before acting. "We have to look at protecting that flow of services and that flow of people in what is effectively 75 per cent of our economy."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Ottawa with most of his counterparts for a first ministers meeting  a gathering that turned into a conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau self-isolating at home. Trudeau's wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, was awaiting the results of what would turn out to be a positive test for COVID-19.

"We have to be vigilant, keep an eye on our borders, make sure that we're doing proper screening," Ford said. "We have to look at this as North America, not just Canada  it's absolutely critical we keep the borders open and have the trade flowing back and forth."

Trudeau and Trump spoke by phone Thursday about their shared goals in dealing with the outbreak  protecting "the health and safety of their citizens and to promote economic resilience," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

"The prime minister and the president welcomed the close co-ordination between Canada and the United States in managing this challenge, including as it relates to the Canada-U.S. border, and looked forward to staying in touch."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a former federal immigration minister, said he told Freeland to exercise "greater rigour"  including mandatory quarantine  on foreign nationals from countries with a greater risk of infection.

But closing the Canada-U.S. border should be a non-starter, he insisted: "There is no single action which would impose greater cost on the Canadian economy."

Trump's order, which takes effect at midnight Friday, only applies to the movement of human beings, not goods or cargo, despite what he said on television. It covers only foreign nationals who in the last two weeks visited one of 26 countries in Europe that allow free and open travel across their borders. American citizens and permanent residents are exempt, and will be directed to one of 13 designated U.S. airport where they can be screened.

A persistent effort to start banning international visitors could have deeper implications for globalization and the unfettered movement of goods and people around the globe, warned Chris Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center.

"There are a lot of implications here that are quite worrisome," said Sands, a Canadian-affairs scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. "The potential economic damage of this is very high ... and there doesn't seem to be any path for Europe to fix it."

Canada will have to "seriously consider" whether to follow the U.S. lead to keep traffic moving between the two countries, he added  all the while working diplomatic channels to find a better solution, including ways to ensure Canadians don't end up on the wrong side of the next White House proclamation.

Matthew Mitchell, a professor of international business and strategy at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, likened the response  and the likely economic and social fallout  to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I ran with the bulls 25 years ago, and I think about coronavirus in much the same way as I do the bulls in Pamplona," Mitchell said. "It's not necessarily the bulls that are going to hurt you. It's the people that get scared and trample everyone else because of the bulls."

The fallout from 9/11 was precisely that, he said  it wasn't terrorism that cost the global airline industry tens of billions of dollars in the immediate aftermath, but the fear of it.

"So the message that we're trying to promote is one of appropriate preparedness, and not panic. It's our collective response as individuals, as nations, as a world that's going to determine the outcome of this."

In the meantime, Sands suggested a short-term silver lining for Canada among would-be European tourists looking to rescue their vacation plans.

"It sends a message of low confidence in the U.S. government," he said. "Maybe it will have people thinking, 'Let's go to Canada instead for summer vacation.' "

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2020.

 With files from Joan Bryden and Stephanie Levitz in Ottawa
Ireland will close all schools and universities until 29 March and restrict all mass public gatherings in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus, acting prime minister Leo Varadkar has said.

The virtual lockdown will start from 6pm tonight and remain in place for two weeks, Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said.

Teaching will be done online or remotely while schools and colleges close down as Ireland battles the spread of Covid-19.

Childcare facilities will also be temporarily shut, and people will be encouraged to work from home, the taoiseach said.

For those who still have to go to offices, work and break times should be staggered where possible.

While restaurants, cafes and other businesses can stay open, Mr Varadkar warned people "to reduce social interactions as much as possible.

Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor meetings of more than 500 should also be cancelled, the government has said.

They also recommend that museums, galleries and tourist sites close as authorities work to contain the outbreak.

We've a duty as a society to protect ourselves, our parents and grandparents, our family and friends, our co-workers and neighbours, Mr Varadkar said in the statement which was broadcast on national television from Washington, where he is due to meet President Donald Trump on Thursday.

In the period ahead, the government will deploy all the resources we can muster. They are extensive but not unlimited. This is going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives and I know I'm asking people to make enormous sacrifices. Acting together as a nation, we can save many lives.

These are the right measures, at the right time, Mr Varadkars deputy, Simon Coveney, added.

If we have a collective national response we will save potentially thousands of lives.

The move comes after Ireland saw its first death linked to coronavirus on Wednesday.

Announcing the new measures, the taoiseach said many more people in Ireland  where the number of confirmed cases stands at 43 - would get the virus and fall ill.

Unfortunately we must face the tragic reality that some people will die, Mr Varadkar said.

The taoiseach said he was acting on fresh advice from the countrys National Public Health Emergency Team.

We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory and this is uncharted territory for us, he said. We said we would take the right actions at the right time and we have to move now to have the greatest impact.

More than 125,000 people have been infected with Covid-19  a flu-like disease that can develop into pneumonia  across the globe, according to a Reuters tally.

As of Thursday, there have been more than 4,600 recorded deaths since the virus originated in central China towards the end of last year.

The whole of Italy  the worst-hit country in Europe  entered a state of lockdown this week as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continued to soar.

The World Health Organisation declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday.

Additional reporting by Press Association
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday (March 12, 2020) released its second list of candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled for March 26. The ruling party has named its national vice president Dushyant Gautam from Haryana in its second list which was released on Thursday. Along with him, Ram Chandra Jhangra has also been named from the state of Haryana.

Among others, Indu Goswami has been named from Himachal Pradesh and Bhagwat Karar from Maharashtra.

However, Madhya Pradesh sprung a surprise of sorts where the party has decided to field Dr Sumer Singh Solanki, as opposed to Harsh Chauhan, as speculated.

Earlier on Wednesday, the BJP had released its first list where it named nine candidates including the newly-inducted leader from Congress Jyotiraditya Scindia. It also allotted two seats to its allies, one each in Maharashtra and Assam, in its first list.

BJP general secretary Arun Singh said that the list of candidates was finalized in a meeting of the party`s Central Election Committee on Tuesday, which was chaired by party chief JP Nadda, and attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior ministers and leaders.

In the 245-member Upper House, members from 17 states are set to retire. The BJP has only 82 members in the Rajya Sabha, well short of the 120 required for a simple majority. Though the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 97 seats.

Attaining the magic figures of 120 may not only be unpragmatic but also highly ambitious for the BJP. But it definitely wants to better its tally from the current 82.
Indian equity benchmarks suffered their biggest ever one-day plunge to crash into bear territory on Thursday as the coronavirus pandemic left a trail of red across global financial markets.

After nosediving over 3,204.30 points on across-the-board selling, the 30-share BSE Sensex closed 2,919.26 points or 8.18 per cent lower at 32,778.14.

Likewise, the broader NSE Nifty gave up the 9,600 level, slumping 868.25 points or 8.30 per cent to close at 9,590.15.

This was the biggest drop for the benchmarks in absolute terms, eclipsing their previous record one-day fall on Monday (March 9).

The markets have now entered bear territory -- that is more than 20 per cent down from a recent high.

The Sensex and Nifty, which had hit their lifetime closing highs on January 14 this year, closed at more than 2-1/2-year lows on Thursday.

The carnage on Dalal Street eroded investor wealth worth Rs 11,27,160.65 crore, taking the total market capitalisation (m-cap) to Rs 1,25,86,398.07 crore on the BSE.

Global markets reeled after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, and expressed deep concern over the "alarming levels of inaction".

US President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for the next 30 days.

Countries across the world are imposing travel restrictions, fuelling fears of a global recession, analysts said.

All Sensex components ended in the red. SBI was the top loser, crashing 13.23 per cent, followed by ONGC, Axis Bank, ITC, TCS and Titan.

"Global stocks including India plunged into a bear market and oil slumped on Thursday after US President Donald Trump banned travel from Europe to stem the coronavirus, threatening more disruption to the world economy.

"Recession risk is rising and the markets do not seem to be pricing that in fully. January was the third month in a row that the three-month measure of UK GDP showed zero growth, the weakest such run since the middle of 2009. In Q1 CY20, on an annualised basis, global growth could be deeply negative - more like (minus) 1 per cent," said Deepak Jasani - Head Retail Research, HDFC Securities.

All sectoral indices ended in the red, with BSE oil and gas cracking 9.82 per cent, followed by realty, metal, bankex, finance, energy and IT.

Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices followed the benchmarks, losing up to 8.72 per cent.

A massive plunge in international oil prices and depreciating rupee added to the volatility, traders said.

The rupee depreciated 49 paise to 74.17 per US dollar (intra-day).

Brent crude oil futures dropped 5.50 per cent to USD 33.82 per barrel.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai dropped 1.52 per cent, Hong Kong 3.66 per cent, Seoul 3.87 per cent and Tokyo cracked 4.41 per cent.

Markets in Europe crashed up to 6 per cent in early trade.

In overnight trade, the Dow fell into a bear market and futures pointed Thursday to another rout in New York and Europe.

The number of coronavirus patients in India has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh, and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the union Health Ministry said.

Covid-19 has claimed over 4,200 lives and infected more than 117,330 people across 107 countries and territories.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO), a commercial stage biotech company, announced today the first patient has been dosed in a commercial setting with its U.S. FDA approved non-opioid drug Strontium89 (Strontium Chloride Sr-89 Injection, USP) for patients with pain from metastatic bone cancer.

The Company completed its initial commercial production run and shipment in February and is pleased to have dosed the first of what it expects to be thousands of patients in the coming years. Due to the opioid crisis, clinicians and patients are looking for pain management alternatives. Strontium89, which can be administered every 3 months, was shown in numerous clinical trials to relieve pain in over 70% of patients who received the treatment.

"With an estimated 10 million people living with bone metastases, we expect that even a small penetration in this market will have dramatic effects on QBioMed's future. We believe this drug has a very important role to play as clinicians move toward proven non-opioid therapeutics for pain palliation for patients with painful bone metastases," stated Q BioMed CEO Denis Corin.

Q BioMed plans to launch the drug in global markets, including Europe, in late 2020.

To learn more please visit www.Strontium89.com .

INDICATIONS AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Strontium Chloride Sr-89 Injection, USP is indicated for the relief of bone pain in patients with painful skeletal metastases. The presence of bone metastases should be confirmed prior to therapy.

WARNINGS

Use of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection in patients with evidence of seriously compromised bone marrow from previous therapy or disease infiltration is not recommended unless the potential benefit of the treatment outweighs its risks. Bone marrow toxicity is to be expected following the administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection, particularly white blood cells and platelets. The extent of toxicity is variable. It is recommended that the patient's peripheral blood cell counts be monitored at least once every other week. Typically, platelets will be depressed by about 30% compared to pre-administration levels. The nadir of platelet depression in most patients is found between 12 and 16 weeks following administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection. White blood cells are usually depressed to a varying extent compared to pre-administration levels. Thereafter, recovery occurs slowly, typically reaching pre-administration levels six months after treatment unless the patient's disease or additional therapy intervenes. In considering repeat administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection, the patient's hematologic response to the initial dose, current platelet level and other evidence of marrow depletion should be carefully evaluated. Verification of dose and patient identification is necessary prior to administration because Strontium-89 Chloride Injection delivers a relatively high dose of radioactivity.

Strontium-89 Chloride Injection may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while receiving this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant.

PRECAUTIONS

Strontium-89 Chloride Injection is not indicated for use in patients with cancer not involving bone. Strontium-89 Chloride Injection should be used with caution in patients with platelet counts below 60,000 and white cell counts below 2,400.

Radiopharmaceuticals should only be used by physicians who are qualified by training and experience in the safe use and handling of radionuclides and whose experience and training have been approved by the appropriate government agency authorized to license the use of radionuclides.

Strontium-89 Chloride Injection, like other radioactive drugs, must be handled with care and appropriate safety measures taken to minimize radiation to clinical personnel.

In view of the delayed onset of pain relief, typically 7 to 20 days post injection, administration of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection to patients with very short life expectancy is not recommended.

A calcium-like flushing sensation has been observed in patients following a rapid (less than 30 second injection) administration.

Special precautions, such as urinary catheterization, should be taken following administration to patients who are incontinent to minimize the risk of radioactive contamination of clothing, bed linens and the patient's environment.

Strontium-89 Chloride Injection is excreted primarily by the kidneys. In patients with renal dysfunction, the possible risks of administering Strontium-89 Chloride Injection should be weighed against the possible benefits.

PREGNANCY

Teratogenic effects. Pregnancy Category D. See Warnings section.

NURSING MOTHERS

Because Strontium-89 Chloride Injection acts as a calcium analog, secretion of Strontium-89 Chloride Injection into human milk is likely. It is recommended that nursing be discontinued by mothers about to receive intravenous Strontium-89 Chloride Injection. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk.

PEDIATRIC USE

Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 18 years have not been established.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

A single case of fatal septicemia following leukopenia was reported during clinical trials. Most severe reactions of marrow toxicity can be managed by conventional means.

A small number of patients have reported a transient increase in bone pain at 36 to 72 hours after injection. This is usually mild and self-limiting, and controllable with analgesics. A single patient reported chills and fever 12 hours after injection without long-term sequelae.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call (800) FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Strontium-89 Chloride Injection.

About Q BioMed Inc.

Q BioMed Inc. is a biotech acceleration and commercial stage company. We are focused on licensing and acquiring undervalued biomedical assets in the healthcare sector. Q BioMed is dedicated to providing these target assets the strategic resources, developmental support, and expansion capital needed to ensure they meet their developmental potential, enabling them to provide products to patients in need.

Please visit http://www.QBioMed.com and sign up for regular updates.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; our ability to obtain, perform under, and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

Please visit http://www.QBioMed.com and sign up for regular updates.

Q BioMed Media Contact:

Denis Corin

CEO

Investor Relations:

Keith Pinder

+1(404) 995-6671

[email protected]

SOURCE Q BioMed Inc.
While international airlines have been blindsided by the impact of the coronavirus on global travel, the outbreak may bring unexpected benefits for South African Airways as it battles to lower costs.

A sharp reduction in international flights has deflated the price of leasing jets and made it easier for state-owned SAA to re-negotiate terms, according to Siviwe Dongwana, one of two administrators hired by the government to draw up a turnaround plan. Equally, this weeks oil-price crash triggered by Saudi Arabia and Russia will lower the cost of fuel, he said.

The coronavirus issues and the impact on the industry means that a lot more lessors are going to find themselves with a lot of aircraft, the administrator said in an interview on Wednesday in Bloombergs Johannesburg office. At a risk of being too much of an optimist thats a silver lining for our renegotiation of aircraft.

SAA has racked up 26 billion rand ($1.6 billion) of losses over the past six years and was placed in a local form of bankruptcy protection in December to end a damaging cycle of government bailouts. The administrators have cut back the number of domestic and international routes and started a legal process with the companys 4,708 employees about job cuts, while trying to reduce costs across the board.

While the coronavirus may have significantly cut demand for international travel, an enforced reduction in flights to hubs such as London could help SAA preserve cash in the short term by taking out landing fees and fuel bills, said Dongwana, an accountant who once served as the countrys director general in the public works ministry.

Many of SAAs routes are loss-making anyway and the load factor on its planes  or the amount of seats filled  fell to 71% in January as flyers feared for the airlines survival.

Four Options

The administrators have offered the government four options for SAA, ranging from complete liquidation to a light restructuring, and are proceeding with the latter course, Dongwana said. If they succeed, some suspended routes could be reinstated, he said.

Some overheads that need to be trimmed range from over-staffing and generous employee benefits to supplier contracts on unfavorable terms. While some airlines operate with as few as 30 employees per plane, SAA has a ratio of more than 100, Dongwana said.

We need to deal with it now to cleanse the airline of sins of the past, he said, adding that he anticipates a complicated and lengthy discussion regarding jobs with SAAs seven different unions.

If and when SAA becomes a viable business, the government can turn to its long-held goal of seeking a strategic partner to bolster its balance sheet and rectify an underinvestment in technology thats left the airline with dated planes and inferior flying experience.

The company has enough money to keep going until early April and is in discussions with lenders about providing a bridge financing to take the company to the next stage of development, Dongwana said.

Until then he needs to do everything I can to extend the runway, he said.

Now read: 17 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa
New Delhi, March 12 : The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. It was passed in Lok Sabha on March 6.

The amendments are aimed at streamlining the insolvency resolution process and to protect last-mile funding and boost investment in financially-distressed sectors.

The Bill replaces an ordinance.

Discussion on the motion to consider the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the Rajya Sabha was moved by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

After a debate on the Bill, Sitharaman explained to the members "why we are constantly coming up with amendments... Couldn't we think of these aspects when the Bill was introduced in 2016 and even then, why so many ordinances?" She pointed out that the government is listening to the industry -- small, medium, big -- and understanding their requirements with a change in law and with a change in approach.

"We waited for resolutions and the results coming out of them were not acceptable," she said.

The Finance Minister said that earlier companies did not know where they were and debtors and creditors were both worried. "So the need to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code arose and thereafter it was brought in 2016 and both Houses discussed and cleared the Bill," she said.

The minister explained that because of the changing requirements and also the requirement to fine tune the Act itself, the need arose to amend every time.

"So we are also quick enough in coming up with changes to the Act... it has no other motive. We are absolutely responsive and are in tune with the time. Further, periodically, we are reminded that Supreme Court has come up with this order. We humbly accept the order of the Supreme Court. Our amendments are in line with what Supreme Court has said in letter and spirit," she said.

"Amendments are periodic. Ordinance do come because we don't want a hiatus," she said.

She also spoke about performance of the National Company Law Tribunal.

"Total cases dealt by NCLT till January 31, 2020, are 64,423 out of which 27,107 pertain to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Total cases disposed of were 43,102 out of which 14,977 pertain to IBC," the minister said.

She also said that the total pending cases are 21,421 out of which 12,130 cases pertain to IBC.

The NCLT is encouraging disposal of cases under the IBC.

Talking about home buyers' concerns following amendments, the minister said, "I had several rounds of meetings to address the issue of home buyers." She pointed that government understands the difficulties being faced by the home buyers . "We have show clear, pro-active initiatives to sort out the cases which are lying incomplete. "We are giving last-mile completion related funding through single window mechanism," she said.

The minister also said that the number of cases pertaining to concerns of home buyers filed since inception NCLT is 2,454."We are taking care of the interest of home buyers," the minister said.

About Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) concerns, the minister said, "We are working with the MSME Ministry and looking into suggestions that MSME Act should be amended." The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, which came into force in 2016, has been amended thrice.
BARRYTON  The village of Barryton is one step closer to having its first marijuana greenhouse as the council voted to approve six permits during its Wednesday evening meeting.

"It was a full house," Village Pro-Tem Kathryn Kerr said. "Everything passed."

According to Kerr, the Council had the opportunity to vote on whether they would allow a group called M66 Group LLC to have a marijuana greenhouse permit, as well as other permits, in the village. Other permits included a recreational provisioning center, a grow facility, a consumption center and more.

According to Todd Levitt, attorney spokesperson for the group, M66 is a Michigan LLC with the purpose of participating in Michigan legal cannabis laws.

"M66 is a company that is involved in utilizing the licenses that the state and the local communities allow to do everything from opening up a provisioning center to running grow operations," Levitt said in a previous interview. "I think it's important for these communities that decide to opt-in to make sure they team up with organizations that are there to work as a team with the local community leaders and the residents of those communities to provide those benefits.

"M66 Group found a partner in the village of Barryton that was interested in bringing revenue, jobs, job training, all these different new resources to the community that's definitely needed."

As some residents had initial concerns regarding security, Kerr said opinions still were mixed during the council's meeting Wednesday, but there wasn't a lot of discussion overall.

The board decided to approve all six requested permits, hoping the group will bring new opportunities to the village.

"They're going to be bringing a lot of jobs to town," Kerr said, noting that's a positive, especially for a small town.

Levitt also voiced his excitement for the approvals and what it can bring to both the company and Barryton.

"I think it's great for the village. It's great for the local surrounding communities," Levitt said. "It's definitely going to bring a boost to the economy, and hopefully attract other businesses to the community.

"It's just an exciting time for the communities who have decided to opt-in."

Though Levitt is excited for the new permits, he said what he's more looking forward to is the consumption lounge recreational license, which will allow individuals to smoke marijuana products on the premises.

"Like any business, any industry, it takes time to get its foot in the ground and get things moving," he said. "Those things come with time.

"Everything is heading in the right direction and going extremely well."

According to Kerr, the next step for M66 is to get approvals from the state, and then to begin construction.
A music teacher and clarinet choir founder was today struck off after a disciplinary body found he'd engaged in unlawful sexual activity with a girl of 15.

A fitness to practise committee of the Education Workforce Council ruled Richard Edwards, now 70, had drunk alcohol with the girl before asking her if she was a virgin.

The committee found that he then allegedly kissed the victim before she touched him in an intimate area, touched her breasts, was naked, and declared his love for the victim.

The incident was alleged to have happened during a North Wales Clarinet Choir (NWCC) trip in 1997, during which Edwards was the choir lead.

Richard Edwards arrives at a teacher misconduct hearing at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, Wrexham. Richards has been struck off after a disciplinary body found he'd engaged in unlawful sexual activity with a girl of 15

During a music trip to London he also allegedly held the girl, named 'Person B', by the hand.

The EWC also explored an allegation that he slow danced with the girl on a ferry during a music trip the previous year.

A prohibition order was imposed.

Panel chairman Mark Brown said: 'This is a proportionate and appropriate sanction and one necessary to protect learners.'

Mr Edwards's 'pattern of misconduct' had 'a very serious impact' and was 'fundamentally incompatible' with him remaining on the teaching register, Mr Brown added.

The EWC also heard how during a trip abroad Mr Edwards allegedly attempted to have sex with a woman identified as 'Person A' on a mattress in an empty classroom. According to the panel, this was consensual and the woman was aged 19.

The panel found that during lessons or music groups Mr Edwards allegedly used 'innuendo' including referring to 'tonguing', 'opening the throat', 'take it from bar 69', 'girls who like big instruments', 'girls having a problem getting their mouth around such a big mouthpiece', and 'girls having a large instrument between their legs.'

Panel chairman Mr Brown said 'Person B' had been 'deeply affected' by the sexual activity and it was clearly unacceptable professional conduct.

Presenting officer Cadi Dewi said at the Wrexham hearing : 'Clearly what you have found amounts to a serious and deliberate course of conduct by Mr Edwards which had life-long consequences particularly for person B.'

The panel had found unlawful sexual activity with a child under 16 in the nature of a student-teacher relationship.

Encouraging and allowing drinking and the conduct involving Person A and innuendo the panel might consider 'fundamentally incompatible' with remaining on the register. The panel had found Mr Edwards 'untruthful in the account he's given.'

She said to the panel : 'Mr Edwards was a prominent member of the music education community and you may feel in an even greater position of trust. Mr Edwards doesn't intend to practise any further.'

He told the panel : 'In the 1990s I hadn't the benefit of any training as regarding child protection.' He'd undertaken a teaching course but in further education.

He said current training 'would have helped enormously.'

The panel found that during lessons or music groups Mr Edwards (pictured) allegedly used 'innuendo' including referring to 'tonguing', 'opening the throat', 'take it from bar 69', 'girls who like big instruments', 'girls having a problem getting their mouth around such a big mouthpiece', and 'girls having a large instrument between their legs'

Mr Edwards added : 'I have had a very successful career. It doesn't feel like it sitting here now.'

The panel had heard Mr Edwards conducted a relationship with Person A - a Bangor university student - who received private clarinet tuition.

She said she now dealt with cases of abuse by clergy. She now realised how 'abusive' his behaviour had been towards her and, in particular, towards the other witness at the hearing, 'Person B'.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, the witness said she went to police after Mr Edwards told her he was in the Church in Wales selection process for the ministry.

Person A said they'd started a sexual relationship when she was 19 and he was almost 28 years older. She recalled a North Wales visit in the 1990s by a Danish clarinet choir when there had been late nights and drinking games.

When she was at university, she said, he would take her out at night and encourage her to drink. 'I was quite inexperienced and naive,' the woman said.

During the trip abroad there had again been partying and drinking and 'A' said she'd played 'footsie' with the flirty teacher.

In Frankfurt, in 2000, they'd had sex in a youth hostel, the woman alleged. She ended their affair the following year. 'I have been single the vast majority of my adult life. I do wonder whether things would have been different had I never met Richard Edwards,' she declared. 'I don't want any other young woman to go through what I suffered because of Richard Edwards.'

Presenting officer Miss Dewi said he'd taken 'Person A' to dinner, invited her out when his wife and family were away, and eventually a sexual relationship began.

The allegations dated back to between 1996 and 2001. Miss Dewi said Mr Edwards was a peripatetic music teacher for the Gwynedd and Anglesey schools music service and prominent in the national and local music scene. He was leader of North Wales Clarinet Choir (NWCC) with expertise involving wind instruments.

He provided private clarinet lessons and two pupils were 'A' and 'B'.

Miss Dewi alleged at the hearing that Mr Edwards had been 'grooming' woman 'A' for a relationship which became sexual when she was 19.

Following 'safeguarding' training, 'Person A' had realised Mr Edwards's behaviour towards her was inappropriate and in July 2017 she made a complaint to Staffordshire police.

Counsel said Mr Edwards accepted the affair was unacceptable by current standards but not those in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

'Person B' became involved with him between the ages of 13 and 16 and went abroad with the NWCC.

Miss Dewi said in 1999 'Person B' had disclosed some of the alleged behaviour to her parents, and police were involved, but no charges brought.

Mr Edwards has disputed the allegations except those of drinking alcohol with students. 'It was in the company of a wider group including other adults,' he declared.
- Parliament has finally passed the Customs Amendment Bill, 2020 into law

- The law prohibits the importation of accident cars and vehicles 10 years old into Ghana

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Ghanas Parliament finally passed the Customs (Amendment) Bill 2020 into law on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

The law bans the importation of accident cars and vehicles which are over 10 years old from the country.

The law was passed despite opposition to portions of it by the Minority in the House.

READ ALSO: Rebecca Akufo-Addo: First Lady gives startup kits to 180 women across Ghana

The passage of the law means Ghana will now lose over GHC802 million for the first three years in tax waivers.

The law will also provide incentives for automotive manufacturers and assemblers registered under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturing Development Programme.

Meanwhile, a clause in the amendment allows the Minister of Finance to specify the exact date on which the ban will come into force.

READ ALSO: SDGs goals: 3 Ghanaians petition UN to remove Akufo-Addo

The document becomes law after President Akufo-Addo assents to it.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that President Nana Akufo-Addo has instructed that foreign travels for all public officials be suspended temporarily.

The Presidents directive comes on the back of the increasing rate and impact of the deadly coronavirus.

The directive is also a government measure to prevent the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ghana.

Yenkasa: Coronavirus: Is Ghana ready? | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo provides $100 million for fight against coronavirus in Ghana

Enjoyed reading our story? Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
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What are we to make of the coronavirus? Is it true that God has spoken through modern-day prophets who have declared the virus will be short-lived? Should we believe the theorists who claim the virus is a manmade weapon? And on a practical level, do we follow the hyper-caution of Israels Netanyahu or the more laid-back approach of President Trump?

As far as prophecies go, Pastor Shawn Boltz posted this on March 3: The Lord showed me The end of the Coronavirus...the tide is turning now!

He is answering the prayers and cries of the nations and is putting an end in sight. The exaggerated fear based tactics of both the enemy and several media outlets for political reasons is coming to an end. The enemy has been trying to distract and steal from several equally important purposes and issues by dominating airwaves with conspiracy and fear.

Even now several vaccines are coming out as well as a natural dying out of the virus itself. The Lord is saying I am removing the threat of this.

Within a short amount of time the extreme threat will feel like it is in the way past.

As of this writing, there is no end in sight to the virus, although it is allegedly under control in countries like South Korea and China.

So, if this prophecy is to prove true, there will need to be a very quick turnaround.

For example, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70% of the country's population  some 58 million people  could contract the coronavirus.

And in Italy, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the closure of schools, gyms, museums, nightclubs and other venues across the country, which on Wednesday passed 10,000 confirmed infections.

If Boltz really heard from the Lord, we should see supernatural evidence of it very soon.

As for conspiracy theories, as expected, in some circles, the Jews are being blamed for the virus. But this is to be expected. In centuries past, the Jews were accused of poisoning the wells, leading to the Black Plague.

Now, the Jerusalem Postreports, Iran has pushed several reports claiming that Zionists were behind the coronavirus. Press TV also quoted the same website that was at the center of an antisemitic article from 2017 that claimed Americas Jews are driving Americas wars.

On March 5, Press TV claimed that Zionist elements developed a deadlier strain of coronavirus against Iran.

So, Iran mishandles the outbreak of COVID-19, and its all the fault of Israel.

A more plausible explanation is that the virus was developed by China. At least thats what my Chinese driver told me after picking me up in the airport in Australia.

He told me quite emphatically that COVID-19 was manmade, developed as a weapon by Chinese scientists.

When I asked him where he learned this, he replied, The internet.

But, he was quick to add, the YouTuber he followed was a former Chinese official with excellent, inside intelligence.

A few days later, a friend of mine in New York City, who is a pastor, shared a similar theory with me.

He said that he a well-placed friend, formerly a higher-up in the FBI, told him that China developed the virus to hurt the American economy, thereby hurting Trump. And this was in retaliation against Trump for pushing back against Chinas trade policies.

For my part, Ill let the scientists and researchers sort out the question of the origins of the virus. But, for the record, I will make this public statement: I categorically reject the antisemitic libel that the Jews are the cause of COVID-19.

This, then, leaves us with the question of pragmatics.

On March 10, I posted this poll on Twitter: Prime Minister Netanyahu is treating the coronavirus as a serious pandemic while President Trump is comparing it to the average flu. Who do you think is right?

According to Netanyahu, this is a pandemic, because of which he has ordered that everyone arriving in Israel from any country must be quarantined for 14 days

In contrast, Trump tweeted on March 9, The Fake News Media and their partner, the Democrat Party, is doing everything within its semi-considerable power (it used to be greater!) to inflame the CoronaVirus situation, far beyond what the facts would warrant. Surgeon General, The risk is low to the average American.

How did my Twitter followers respond? Of the four choices I offered, 14.3 percent answered with, Dont know; 24.3 percent thought Netanyahu was right; 26.7 percent thought Trump was right; and 34.8 chose, Theyre both half right.

How, then, do we sort this out?

A group of experts in Australia predicted that even the best-case scenario is 15 million dead and a $2.4 trillion hit to global GDP. Yes, that was the best-case scenario.

According to Michael Mina, an epidemiologist at Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Its the most daunting virus that weve contended with in half a century or more.

At the same time, other researchers are claiming that the virus is not as deadly as previously reported. Much more deadly than the common flu, for sure. But not as deadly as the WHO has claimed.

What I would suggest is this.

First, there is no reason for panic. Caution, yes. Panic no.

Lets remember that the media, by nature, can be sensationalistic. That means that coverage of the coronavirus will also be sensationalistic.

So, analyze the reporting with your head and not just your heart. Then, make wise decisions, especially based on your health. You can be cautious and practical without being in a panic.

Second, for followers of Jesus, there is no room for fear.

If we truly have God as our Father and are in right relationship with Him, we need only fear Him (in a holy, reverential way). We need not fear sudden disaster or wasting disease.

He is our shield and our strength, our lives are in His hands, and we trust Him, whatever comes our way.

Plus, the greatest antidote to fear is a healthy, Bible-based faith. At times like this, it is good to build our faith with passages like Psalm 91.

Third, lets not only think of ourselves. Lets think of others too.

As stated in an open letter by Akos Balogh, the CEO of The Gospel Coalition Australia, The truth is, we dont know for sure. And so as a society, were increasingly anxious. Anxious for our loved ones. Anxious for ourselves. Its a time of fear. But whatever happens, dear Christian, know this: this is our time. God has raised us up for such a time as this. Its no accident youre here. This is our time to think not about ourselves, but about our neighbors. Many of whom are scared, and will only grow more so as the virus spreads.

Lets use this opportunity to brings words of faith to others. To encourage them to put their trust in the Lord. And to let our friends and co-workers and neighbors know, no matter what happens in this world, we can enjoy eternal life in the presence of God.

Fourth, keep on praying for divine intervention, for a speedy end to this virus, and for millions of people to turn to Him.

The virus itself is deadly. But we can use it to bring life and hope to many.
New Delhi, March 12 : The Supreme Court, in an effort to reduce the wastage of paper through uniformity in its usage in day-to-day proceedings, has said it will accept petitions and affidavits only on A4 size sheets printed on both sides beginning from April 1.

On January 14, Chief Justice S.A. Bobde told the registry of the apex court to begin using A4 size sheets printed on both sides for all communications internally at all levels. A new circular dated March 5 has been published on the apex court website stating that A4 size paper will be accepted on the judicial side from April 1, with required specifications.

"It is notified for the information of all concerned that the Competent Authority has been pleased to direct that: With a view to bring uniformity about use of paper and printing thereon and to minimise consumption of paper and consequently to save the environment, superior quality A4 size paper...," the circular said.

Apex court secretary general Sanjeev S. Kalgaonkar issued the circular stating that all the communication to the advocate-on-record will be sent through e-mails and text messages and the registry is beginning to discontine the practice of sending these communications through hard copies.

The current practice involves usage of legal size paper, which is bigger than A4 size sheets, and it is used in most of the courts in the country. Many environmental activists have raised concerns on the existing norms on the usage of paper, which includes one side printing where wide margins led to large scale wastage of paper in courts.

On January 26, another circular urged all the stakeholders to be economical in the consumption of paper and to ensure that the commucation is clear on both sides of the sheet.
It has been three weeks since the coronavirus-driven volatility hit the global economy, and the market continues to rapidly move into both the green and the red. Since its February 19 peak, the S&P 500 has ultimately shed 15% of its value, with it swinging violently in either direction on a seemingly daily basis. As for the other major U.S. indexes, they seem to be following this pattern to a T.

Given the uncertainty related to how long the aftermath of the virus outbreak will weigh on the market, investors are turning to the pros for guidance, namely healthcare investing guru Hal Mintz. The New York investment banker, who previously managed BAM Capital, has earned a Street reputation as being a trusted source of stock picking inspiration. Currently leading the Sabby Capital hedge fund, which primarily focuses on small-cap healthcare names, Mintz has grown the equity portfolio to reach $361 million, according to the latest 13F filling. As a result, when Mintz makes a move, Wall Street watches.

Bearing this in mind, we took a closer look at three small-cap biotech stocks Sabby Capital added to the portfolio recently. After running the tickers through TipRanks Stock Screener tool, we found out that analysts see plenty of upside in store for each of these Buy-rated names. Lets dive in.

Zosano Pharma (ZSAN)

Using its patented intracutaneous microneedle patch technology, Zosano Pharma wants to provide a safe, simple and fast acting method for drug delivery. While shares have taken a nasty tumble since the start of the year, some believe that a turnaround is on the horizon.

Hal Mintz falls into this category. On February 12, Sabby Capital snapped up 3,576,491 shares at $0.65 cents apiece. The total purchase value comes in at more than $2.3 million, with the fund now a 9.99% owner of the company.

Based on its Adhesive Dermally Applied Microarray (ADAM) technology, Maxim analyst Anthony Vendetti remains confident in the companys long-term growth prospects. Specifically pointing to its Qtrypta therapy for migraines and cluster headaches, the analyst noted that there is a significant market opportunity. Among current patients suffering from migraines, 74% receive insufficient treatment, according to a MAST (Migraine in America Symptoms and Treatment) study from 2017. In our opinion, Qtrypa has the ability to provide a fast, non-oral treatment for migraines, which according to the Migraine Research Foundation, is the third most prevalent disorder in the world, he stated.

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The drugs NDA was accepted by the FDA on March 4, and Vendetti sees gains in store as he believes clinical data supports its approval in October. In the ZOTRIP Phase 2/3 clinical study, the drug was able to provide pain relief in 81% of patients two hours after treatment. Additionally, he reminds investors to consider the implications of the therapy beyond migraines. Furthermore, we believe the company's ADAM technology can be used as a drug delivery system for future immunotherapy, proteins, and biologics, he explained.

The analyst concluded, "The acceptance of the NDA for Qtrypta by the FDA represents another positive step towards bringing an innovative therapy for migraine sufferers to market, and we believe that the capital raises get ZSAN closer to the PDUFA goal date of October 20, 2020, a potentially transformative date for the company. We are bullish on the opportunity for its Adhesive Dermally Applied Microarray (ADAM) technology."

As a result, Vendetti rates Zosano shares a "buy" alongside a $2.00 price target which implies nearly 260% upside from current levels. (To watch Vendettis track record, click here)

Biocept Inc. (BIOC)

Biocept is developing cutting-edge diagnostic solutions that can possibly provide critical information to both cancer patients and doctors using a simple blood test called liquid biopsy. Given the technologys potential, some members of the Street see big things in store.

This is the case for Mintz as his fund added a BIOC holding to the portfolio on March 2. Acquiring a 9.71% stake in the company, Sabby Capital spent $3.6 million to buy 9 million shares.

Like Mintz, Maxim Groups Jason McCarthy has high hopes for the biotech. He doesnt dispute the fact that in liquid biopsy, the actual circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) only represents a small percentage of circulating DNA and the rest gets released as a normal part of the cells life cycle in the form of cfDNA. That being said, he points out, Biocepts Switch-Blocker technology is designed to suppress amplification of wild-type targets, without suppressing mutant sequences containing even one single nucleotide variant (SNV). On top of this, the technology allows for real-time PCR.

It doesnt hurt that the Clinical validation of qPCR Target Selector assays using highly specific switch-blockers for rare mutation detection study supports the use of liquid biopsy and switch blocker technology. In the study, which looked at the EGFR, BRAF and KRAS gene mutations, a high concordance between Target Selector liquid biopsy and traditional biopsy was discovered.

Demonstrating concordance to tissue is an essential step in establishing a liquid biopsy. Tissue is the gold standard, though isn't always practical and can have issues relating to tumor heterogeneity. The new data helps further display the performance of Target Selector, which should help drive continued adoption in 2020, McCarthy commented.

It should also be noted that these mutations are seen in several types of cancers, and that two approved therapies, Tagrisso and Mekinist, targeting these mutations generated $3 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, in 2019.

To this end, McCarthy stayed with the bulls, reiterating his Buy rating and $1 price target. Should the target be met, a 186% twelve-month gain could be in the cards. (To watch McCarthys track record, click here)

Heat Biologics (HTBX)

With its proprietary T-cell Activation Platform (TCAP), Heat Biologics has been able to create therapies that enable a patients own immune system to defend itself against cancer cells. Its two platforms, ImPACT and ComPACT, were designed based on the heat shock protein, gp96.

Among the biotechs fans is the Sabby Capital manager. His fund added a new position comprised of 4.3 million shares at $0.35 per share. The total purchase value comes in at more than $1.5 million, with the fund now a 7.49% owner of the company.

More recently, HTBX has made a splash after it announced that through its subsidiary, Zolovax, it is launching a coronavirus vaccine program. Using gp96, the biotech will design a vaccine that takes advantage of the proteins immune activating capabilities. According to Jason McCarthy, who also covers this stock, the fact that gp96 is used in both oncology and infectious diseases makes it especially promising in the battle against coronavirus.

In addition, McCarthy believes that the technologys efficacy in other infectious diseases bodes well for the company. Previously, the gp96 platform has been evaluated in numerous NIH (National Institutes of Health) and DOD (U.S. Department of Defense)-funded preclinical trials, against HIV/SIV, malaria, Zika and other infectious diseases. The results demonstrated potent immune response and induction of mucosal immunity in animal models, the analyst noted.

Even though HTBX has been weighed down thanks to exchange agreements around warrants, McCarthy points out that since February 28, shares are up 82%.

Based on all of the above, McCarthy left both his Buy rating and $1 price target unchanged. This conveys his confidence in HTBXs ability to soar 67% in the next twelve months.

To find good ideas for biotech stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.
MINSK -- The former chief of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's security has pleaded guilty to bribe-taking along with more than a dozen others.

Andrey Utsyurin said on March 11, the second day of his trial, that although he was pleading guilty, he has "doubts" about whether his actions were what the court claimed and that he will talk about the subject at a later date.

Utsyurin and 15 other defendants, including former employees of state entities, financial institutions, and private businesses, went on trial on March 10.

Utsyurin was arrested in April last year. He is charged with accepting at least $190,000 in bribes and instigation of a bribe-giving during the handling of a state project on buying communications equipment, computers, and software.

Born in 1971 in the Russian city of Penza, Utsyurin led the presidential security unit from 2007-2014 before he was appointed a deputy secretary of the Security Council, the post he had until his arrest.
What has especially put people on edge is hearing that the first case was confirmed in a 27-year-old woman who works as a cake decorator at the Walmart Supercenter on the edge of town. She was initially treated at a nearby hospital but then airlifted because of her deteriorating condition to a hospital in Lexington. Rumors and fears have swirled, with some people speculating that she became infected through baking supplies shipped from China. Officials keep trying to end such talk, stressing that there is no evidence that the virus can survive on surfaces for such long travel periods.
The decision to arrest Aram Vardanyan, who is known as a Yerevan neighborhood authority, has been appealed. His lawyer Yervand Varosyan told about this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia had informed that a decision had been made to arrest Vardanyan as a pretrial measure and that he had been declared wanted. He is accused of plotting the robbery committed by Emir Aramyan in 2016, plotting the kidnapping of the very same Aramyan in 2019, and committing attempted murder against him on March 4, 2020.

According to the Investigative Committee statement, on March 5, Vardanyan's nephew A.V. was charged with kidnapping, and S.K.with robbery.

At around 2:40am on March 5, hundreds of police officers entered the houses of Aram Vardanyan and his relatives at the same address. As a result, Vardanyan's son and two others were apprehended and two more were detained, one of whom is his nephew and the othera neighbor.

The search at Aram Vardanyans house continued during the day yesterday. Investigators conducting the search had presented the search warrant to his lawyers. According to this court order, they were looking for weapons and ammunition in Vardanyan's house; but not finding such items, they took video recordings related to his personal life.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/12/2020 -- Advance Market Analytics released a new market study on Global Compensation Software Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chat, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy to understand detailed analysis. At present, the market is developing its presence. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Compensation Software Forecast till 2025*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study are Oracle (United States), SAP SuccessFactors (United States), ADP (United States), Ultimate Software (United States), Workday (United States), Beqom (Switzerland), Curo (United States), CWS Software (New York), Decusoft (United States) and Greytip Software (India)



Increasing demand for automated compensation management process will lead to boost global Compensation Software. Compensation software is also called as Human Capital Management Solutions (HCM) solutions. Compensation management is a critical part of talent management as well as employee retention. Confirming that salaries are competitive is a major advantage of compensation management systems. Compensation data that's in tune with the market gives the hiring manager's critical data they required when making a proposal to a candidate. It uses financial as well as nonmonetary welfares to reduce turnover, spur performance, attract recruits, and increase employee engagement. The integrated apps offer HRM features including appointment and meeting reminders, on-demand video learning for participants for new projects, time and attendance management, messaging, and stress monitors. According to AMA, the Global Compensation Software market is expected to see growth rate of 8.4%



Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/33431-global-compensation-software-market



Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:



1) What all companies are currently profiled in the report?

Following are list of players that are currently profiled in the report Oracle (United States), SAP SuccessFactors (United States), ADP (United States), Ultimate Software (United States), Workday (United States), Beqom (Switzerland), Curo (United States), CWS Software (New York), Decusoft (United States) and Greytip Software (India)

** List of companies mentioned may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger etc.



2) Can we add or profiled new company as per our need?

Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey.

** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Upto 3 players can be added at no added cost.



3) Can we get more level of segmentation to meet our market intelligence objective?

Yes it can be provided, however ETA would vary and final confirmation would be given only after checking data in data repository.



4) Can inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible?

Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be shared with our research before giving final confirmation to client.



** Depending upon the requirement the deliverable time and quote will vary.



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Market Trend

- Growing Adoption of Digital HR Technology

- Upsurging Demand of Cloud-Based Software



Market Drivers

- Increasing Demand for Automated Compensation Management Process

- Rising Demand Due to Provide Training Services to the Employees



Opportunities

- Huge Demand for Mobile HR Technology

- High Demand Due to Security Purpose In Emerging Organizations



Restraints

- Huge Implementation and Expensive Costs



To comprehend Global Compensation Software market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Compensation Software market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas.



- North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico.

- South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.

- Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa.

- Europe: UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Russia.

- Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia.



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Major Highlights of TOC:

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Supply/Value Chain, Porters Five Forces, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent & Trademark Analysis, Bargain Power

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Global Compensation Software

By Type: Cloud-Based Compensation Software, On-Premises Compensation Software

By Application: Enterprise, School, Municipal, Corporations, Government, Other



Global Compensation Software Region

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others)

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Chapter Seven: Global Compensation Software, by Market Segmentation and Region (value, volume**) (2019-2024) ------ USD1400

------ Sections same as Chapter Five ------

Chapter Eight: Company profiles / Competitive Landscape [12 Players] ------ USD1250

Chapter Nine: Methodology/Research Approach, Data Source, Disclaimer

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Kathmandu, March 12

Two members of the House of Representatives have demanded that the Federal Parliament postpone meetings of both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly for a certain time citing the entire country is living under the fears of novel coronavirus spread.

Speaking in the House meeting on Thursday morning, leaders of the main opposition Nepali CongressBharat Kumar Shah, and Bhimsen Das Pradhanviewed that conducting meetings regularly would keep the lawmakers at the risk of infection.

There is no point in running the House regularly while the entire world is under terror, Pradhan said, The infections possibility is greater in such places. Lets close the House as soon as possible.

They also demanded that the government also close schools and other academic institutions.
A Monmouth County adult day care center has voluntarily closed after learning two people who are clients of the facility tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Thursday.

The Golden Age Medical Day Center in Morganville closed temporarily after a 66-year-old woman and 83-year-old woman, both from Hazlet were determined to have COVID-19, according to notices from Mayor Jon Hornik and Monmouth County officials. The building is being disinfected.

Both women are being treated at Hackensack Meridian Health Bayshore Medical Center, Monmouth County said in a statement. The 83-year-olds test results were announced Monday and she started showing symptoms on March 3.

The clients of this facility are being notified this evening. The measures being taken by the state of New Jersey include a thorough cleaning and survey of the facility, which will be done out of abundance of caution to ensure that it is completely safe before reopening. Note that this facility is not open to the general public and can only be accessed by application and acceptance," Hornik said in a release.

The day care facility, located on Commercial Court off Route 18, is described as offering personalized health monitoring, social services, door to door transportation, rehabilitative services plus a full range of activities on its website. It has no overnight options for clients and is only open during the day.

There are two other presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Monmouth County, a 27-year-old man from Little Silver who recently attended the Biogen conference in Boston and one of his family members, a 17-year-old from Little Silver.

We are committed to ensuring that the County has the necessary resources to respond and mitigate this evolving situation," said Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Manama

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, yesterday held a telephone call with Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

During the call, HRH the Crown Prince and the Director-General reviewed developments regarding the global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). HRH the Crown Prince and the Director-General also discussed Bahrains efforts to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19, including testing, quarantine, isolation and treatment procedures.

For his part, the Director-General commended Bahrain on the precautionary and preventative efforts it has taken to contain the COVID-19, which contribute to safeguarding the health and safety of the Kingdoms citizens and residents.

In another development, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Waleed Al Manea, highlighted that the Ministry has initiated yesterday its International COVID-19 Repatriation Programme (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 and do not pose a threat to the community.

Dr Waleed further noted that out of the 165 passengers within the first group of the ICRP, 77 passengers had tested positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19), with 88 testing negative.

Dr Waleed added 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
The door to the hotel room shuts and Zena the robot raises what looks like a domed head and begins emitting intense bursts of light. A couple minutes later, the room is sanitized, disinfected and ready for its next guest.

As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world and in the Houston area, the owner of a new hotel in the Texas Medical Center has purchased two of these germ-fighting cleaning robots from a San Antonio-based company founded in 2008 to serve hospitals and health care facilities that are constantly battling pathogens in their patient rooms, operating rooms and elsewhere.

The robots use pulses of high-intensity ultraviolet light to damage the DNA of bacteria and viruses that may be living on surfaces such as hospital beds and medical equipment, or in a hotels case, remote controls, bathroom countertops or coffee pods. The light is so bright, people arent allowed in the same room with the robot while its in use.

Now Playing: As the coronavirus continues to spread around the world and in the Houston area, the owner of a new hotel in the Texas Medical Center has purchased two germ-fighting cleaning robots from a San Antonio-based company founded in 2008 to serve hospitals and health care facilities that are constantly battling pathogens in their patient rooms, operating rooms and elsewhere. The robots use high-intensity ultraviolet light to damage the DNA of bacteria and viruses that may be living on surfaces such as hospital bed rails and medical equipment, or in a hotels case, remote controls, bathroom counters and coffee pods. Video: Steve Gonzales, Staff photographer/Houston Chronicle

The 150-pound machines, priced at $100,000 each, are being used at The Westin Houston Medical Center, which opened in December. Houston-based Pearl Hospitality, which owns and operates the hotel, recently acquired the robots from manufacturer Xenex Disinfectant Services.

The robots, which operate for two-minute cycles in the hotels bedrooms, bathrooms and suites, are being used between guest stays. They are also being used throughout other parts of the 273-room property, including the restaurant and lounge, lobby and staff areas.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Coronavirus fallout gives Houstons hospitality the chills

The machines are used after manual cleaning as an extra layer of protection. They use pulsed xenon, a noble gas, to create broad-spectrum UV light.

Pearl came across Xenexs robots while searching online for hospital-grade disinfectants as cases of COVID-19 were becoming more widespread.

I said lets add another layer of protection to create a safer place, Archit Sanghvi, vice president of operations for Pearl, said Wednesday.

Xenex has sold 1,200 of its robots to more than 500 hospitals, including MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston In the health care industry, the company competes with makers of mercury vapor-based systems.

This is Xenexs first venture outside the health care world, said Sarah Simmons, the companys senior director of science.

The company has started marketing its robots to pharmaceutical manufacturers and long-term care health centers, similar to the nursing care facility in suburban Seattle where there have been multiple cases of COVID-19.

Wed love also to get be able to get into cruise ships, Simmons said. This is the perfect demonstration of why disinfection of cruise ships needs to be more robust than it is right now.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houstons housing market faces uncertain future amid coronavirus and oil price collapse

Xenex, which calls its patented machines LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots, has received multiple rounds of venture funding, including a $38 million round led by Essex Woodlands, a health care private equity firm. Piper Jaffray Merchant Banking, Malin Corp. and Tectonic Ventures also invested.

In addition to the robots, Pearl is implementing other new cleaning protocols at the Westin. One of them is placing all room amenities, including bath products, coffee and tea and remote controls into sealed plastic bags after they are disinfected. Other non-essential items like magazines and decorative pillows are being removed.

Located at 1709 Dryden, surrounded by Houstons largest hospitals, the Westin largely caters to patients receiving treatments, researchers and health care providers. However, the hotel, along with many others, has seen business slow as companies cut corporate travel as the coronavirus spreads and conferences are called off or postponed.

The largest cancellation at the Westin was the Texas Salsa Congress, a Latinx dance and culture event scheduled to take place there from March 12-15. Some 200 attendees were expected at the groups 16th annual event.

A lot of corporate travel has slowed down, Sanghvi said, but the business of medicine has to continue.

nancy.sarnoff@chron.com

twitter.com/nsarnoff
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

By Eldar Janashvili  Trend:

The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held an extraordinary foreign exchange auction with the participation of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), attracting 155 million manat ($91.1 million) from Azerbaijani banks, Trend reports referring to CBA.

According to CBA, demand from the banks at the auction increased by 31.2 percent or by 52.6 million manat ($30.9 million) compared to the previous auction, reaching 220.8 million manat ($129.8 million).

Considering the number of days remaining before the next scheduled auction, as well as with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted currency trading by the banks on weekends, the demand of banks at the auction has been fully provided.

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 12)

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili
Gardai examine the scene where two women were hit and seriously injured by a car which was fleeing an earlier convenience store robbery

Gardai are investigating if the gang which killed an innocent woman during their getaway following a shop robbery went to a local pub and drank pints afterwards.

The Herald can reveal that gardai have identified a number of suspects in the horrific killing of special needs teacher and mother Jacqueline McGovern (54).

The suspects are from the same south Dublin suburb and are known to gardai for burglary, theft and assaults.

A manhunt was continuing for the suspects last night.

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Gardai have been going through CCTV footage from a pub in the area as part of their investigation.

"Early on, three men were reported to have been in a local bar drinking pints after this robbery occurred and they were rattled by all accounts," a source said.

"This is one line of inquiry being looked at by gardai, to establish if these men were involved in the earlier robbery."

Ms McGovern, from Churchview Road in Cabinteely, was walking on Avondale Road with her friend and colleague Audrey Behan, when the getaway car that had been used in the robbery shot across the junction from Ballinclea Road after mounting the path at speed.

Threatened

The incident happened at 9.20pm on Tuesday night after the robbery at the Centra shop on Barnhill Road in nearby Dalkey.

Two men ran into the shop and threatened staff before making off with money from the cash register.

They left the scene in a car, being driven by a third man, that was then involved in the fatal crash with the women at the junction of Ballinclea Road and Avondale Road in Cabinteely.

The men abandoned the car and ran away.

Ms McGovern and Ms Behan were treated at the scene by emergency service personnel before being taken by ambulance to St Vincent's University Hospital.

Ms McGovern died from her injuries, while Ms Behan was treated for what are described as minor injuries.

Searches for the gang began immediately, with the assistance of the Garda helicopter.

At first light yesterday morning the extent of the carnage of the scene was laid bare.

Shattered car plastic and scrapes and tyre marks showed where the driver of the getaway car lost control while speeding down Ballinclea Road from the Killiney Road direction, most likely after hitting a speed bump.

Black tyre marks show where the car mounted the footpath, and deep scrapes indicate that a tyre, or tyres, may have burst on the car.

One local woman told the Herald: "There was one crashed car and another in the middle of the road, and the women were on the ground.

"I think they were walking on the path, but there were three shoes in the middle of the road too."

Ms McGovern was an SNA teacher in the local Our Lady of Good Counsel Girls' National School. Ms Behan is also an SNA teacher at the same school.

Both teachers were prayed for at Mass in the parish yesterday morning.

The principal of the school, Caroline Quinn, paid tribute to the teachers.

"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," she said.

"Today is about supporting each other, the children, and the school community.

Terrible

"Our critical incident management plan is being implemented and we are supported in that through a team from the National Education Psychological Service.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of both colleagues," Ms Quinn added.

Last night locals said they were shocked about the loss of life.

"It's absolutely terrible. Jacqueline would be very well-known in the area," said one.

A sign was left of the door of the Centra shop that was robbed, advising customers that it would remain closed.

Gardai say no one was physically harmed in the shop raid.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda Station on 01 666 5000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Investigations are ongoing.
The problem, however, was that the surgeon general lacked the budget to do it. As Fauci recounted to me during a 2018 interview, he told Koop: You know, there is a mechanism called an interagency transfer. Fauci had the authority to provide funds to get the project off the ground, because combating AIDS related to his own agencys core mission.
Chicken fans rejoice, youre about to have Sunday access to Chick-fil-A sauce without hoarding packets.

Chick-fil-A announced Wednesday that it will begin selling its sauces in bottles as a pilot in Florida this spring.

"Starting this April and May, customers will be able to purchase 16-fluid ounce bottles of Chick-fil-A's signature Chick-fil-A and Polynesian Sauces in all Florida Publix, Target, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores so they can dip, drizzle and marinate to their delight, right at home," the chain said in a statement.

The 16-ounce bottled sauces start at $3.49 and 100 percent of Chick-fil-A, Inc. profits off sales will be donated to the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures Scholarship Initiative.

The initiative will award $17 million in scholarships to 6,700 restaurant team members this year, the company said.

"Chick-fil-A Sauce and Polynesian Sauce are our two most popular sauces, so we are extremely excited to offer them at select retail stores outside of the restaurant," said Michael Patrick, principal program lead, Beyond the Restaurant. "And because our Team Members are truly our 'secret sauce' to creating a positive experience in our restaurants, each time a customer purchases a Bottled Sauce at a participating retailer, the Chick-fil-A profits will support Team Members through our scholarship program."



2020 the Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)

Visit the Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) at www.ohio.com

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The Rt Rev John McDowell with his wife Mary and daughter Dorothy at his ordination as Bishop of Clogher in 2011

The new leader of the Church of Ireland has been named as the Rt Revd John McDowell.

The 64-year-old is the 106th man to lead the church since St Patrick.

Mr McDowell, the current Bishop of Clogher, was yesterday elected by the House of Bishops as the new Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

He succeeds Archbishop Richard Clarke, who retired on February 2.

"I am overwhelmed by the confidence my fellow bishops have placed in me to fill this ancient office," Mr McDowell said.

"I look forward to working with them in the time to come and to serving the people of the Diocese of Armagh and the Church of Ireland in whatever way I can.

"I think that, like everyone else at present, inside and outside the Church, my greatest concern is that, as governments and societies, we manage our way through the Covid-19 challenges with steadiness and compassion.

"Many people are feeling vulnerable at the minute and will continue to feel that way for some time.

"It is important that we as churches do what we can to ensure that a sense of isolation, which will be a particular feature of the response to this virus, does not become a sense of abandonment.

"Like many organisations, we have our part to play in helping people cope with a very trying set of circumstances.

"In the medium to longer term Ireland, north and south, seems to be at a time between times.

"There is a sense of uncertainty about what shape the future will take. There are anxieties but also many opportunities."

Belfast-born Mr McDowell, a twin, has served as Bishop of Clogher since 2011 after being consecrated as bishop in St Macartin's Cathedral in Enniskillen.

He is married to Mary, who teaches in Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, and they have one daughter, Dorothy, a student at Oxford University.

He pursued a career in business prior to training for ordination. He worked on the commercial side of Shorts' missile systems division and then as assistant director of the CBI. His late father had also worked in Shorts, as well as H&W. He was previously Rector of St Mark's, Dundela, in east Belfast (2002-2011), Rector of Ballyrashane (1999-2002), and Curate of Antrim (1996-1999).

He also served as an Honorary Secretary of the General Synod (2008-2011) and is currently Chairman of the Church of Ireland's Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue.

Mr McDowell was ordained in 1996 and initially served as Curate of Antrim, in the Diocese of Connor.

He was subsequently Rector of Ballyrashane, in the same diocese.
The currencies of India and Pakistan will continue to witness increased volatility in the coming days as global economic concerns and the possibilities of a further plunge in financial and oil markets deepen, analysts said on Tuesday.

The Indian rupee, after breaching the 74 per dollar mark to hit a 17-month low of 74.17 on Monday, closed on Tuesday at 20.14 against the dirham, but could extend the slump when the market opens after Tuesday's Holi festival holiday, analysts said.

The Pakistan rupee declined 0.7 per cent on Tuesday, extending a two-day decline to 2.1 per cent, the most in eight months as foreign investors withdraw $180 million from Pakistan's treasury bills in the first six days of March.

Dharmesh Krishnan, assistant general manager at Belhasa Global Exchange, said the Indian rupee is expected to trade weaker in the short term on account of the global meltdown over the past few days.

"The plunge in the crude prices also couldn't support the rupee. After today's holiday for Holi, the rupee is expected to trade between 73.65 and 74.77 against the greenback. If a widely anticipated intervention by the Reserve Bank of India is not there, pressure on the currency is expected to continue," said Krishnan.

The slump in the Indian rupee was on the back of a rout across global financial and oil markets on persistent concerns of severe impairment of the global economy due to the coronavirus outbreak. Further, free-fall in oil prices also weighed on the sentiments. Although, the rupee has significantly weakened in the past 10 days, over the past month, it has been depreciating and has weakened from around 71 per dollar to over 74.


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The Delhi government on Thursday requested the Centre to increase the number of testing laboratories for COVID-19 in the national capital as the city reported its sixth case of coronavirus.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain wrote to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan requesting him to increase the number of testing labs for COVID-19 in the city.

In Delhi, the facility of coronavirus sample testing has been made available at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the National Centre for Disease Control.

"Written a letter to @drharshvardhan requesting to increase lab testing facilities for covid19 in Delhi," Jain tweeted.

Talking to reporters after a high-level meeting attended by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and top officials, Jain said private hospitals should also be permitted to conduct COVID-19 tests because it is important for every hospital to have a testing lab.

He also called for opening testing laboratories in four Delhi government hospitals along with the Lady Hardinge Hospital, where the testing laboratory was to become operational.

"Private hospitals should also be permitted to conduct tests because it is important for every hospital to have a testing lab. We need more testing laboratories to conduct quick tests and contain the panic around the whole situation," Jain told reporters.

The health minister said Delhi has six confirmed cases of coronavirus as of now.

"The Delhi government is fully prepared to handle the crisis," Jain asserted.

The total number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 74 with 14 fresh cases being reported on Thursday, including a foreign national.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MONTREAL - Bombardier Inc.'s new CEO comes on board as the debt-laden plane-and-train maker faces a new future as a pure-play producer of business jets, a cyclical industry bracing for a potential economic storm.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (669 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL - Bombardier Inc.'s new CEO comes on board as the debt-laden plane-and-train maker faces a new future as a pure-play producer of business jets, a cyclical industry bracing for a potential economic storm.

The company on Wednesday named Eric Martel as its new president and chief executive, replacing Alain Bellemare effective April 6.

Martel rejoins Bombardier from Hydro-Quebec, where he has headed the provincial utility since July 2015. Between 2002 and 2015 he held a raft of senior positions at Bombardier, heading up the business aircraft division in 2014.

Martel steps into the cockpit shortly after Bombardier reached a US$8.2-billion deal to sell its rail business to French rail giant Alstom SA, casting off the Quebec company's largest division to help pay down US$9.3 billion in debt and focus solely on private planes.

If approved by regulators, the transaction will help Bombardier slash its hefty debt by nearly three-quarters to about US$2.5 billion, capping a five-year turnaround plan that has seen the company shed numerous assets.

However, the path ahead is far from clear.

"The new CEO has a number of challenges to steer the company through over the coming two years, including navigating the current economic challenges and the potential for declining business aircraft orders, and overseeing the finalization of three assets sale deals," said Bank of Montreal analyst Fadi Chamoun.

Those deals include the Alstom transaction  likely to face intense regulatory scrutiny in the European Union  as well as the sale of Bombardier's aerostructures business and its CRJ regional jet franchise.

The company has already started to ramp up production of high-margin business jets, which it expects will drive double-digit revenue growth with 160 unit sales in 2020 amid a $16.3-billion backlog. But delays and "significant setbacks" have plagued several major contracts for the rail division, Chamoun noted.

"Martel's role is to help ensure that execution takes place...and working through a number of challenged projects," said AltaCorp Capital analyst Chris Murray. "It feels like they are rectifying those, although its slow.

"The next piece will be shepherding the sale of Bombardier Transportation to Alstom through the regulatory process"  essential to dealing with Bombardier's debt load  he said. "Thats not going to be a simple process.and likely complicated by some of the issues around COVID-19."

Murray said that longer-term priorities should include "orderly deleveraging" and investing in the company's three business aircraft brands: Learjets, Challengers and the large-cabin Global.

While private jets often yield higher margins, the luxury industry is more volatile than rail, where companies can tap into massive government infrastructure contracts. Reduced to a single jet-stream revenue, Bombardier may well face falling demand for new planes in the event of a broader economic slowdown triggered by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"Those aircraft at the lower end of the business jet market, like the Learjet, are more subject to market conditions than larger-cabin, long-range aircraft, which seem to have their own market drivers," Murray said.

"I wouldnt expect a material change in strategy," he added.

After Bellemare took the helm in 2015, Bombardier sold several divisions to pare down debt, including its turboprop segment and commercial airline unit, once touted as the company's crown jewel.

Meanwhile, the rail division sale announced last month shrinks a company that 18 months ago boasted three major divisions  planes, trains and business jets  leaving it with just one at the end of a turnaround that one analyst said looked more like an asset liquidation.

The Alstom deal is expected to close next year, if EU antitrust regulators give it the green light.

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"Overall, while we believe Alain Bellemare has done a decent job with the turnaround plan considering the significant challenges the company faced at the time of his arrival in February 2015, we believe investors will welcome the refreshed leadership at the corporate level in light of the stock's recent price performance," Desjardins Securities analyst Benoit Poirier said in a note.

Pierre Beaudoin, chairman of the Bombardier board of directors, said Martel is the right leader at the right time for Bombardier as the company focuses on business jets.

"He is an engaging builder with a deep understanding of our organization and product portfolio as well as of the global business aircraft industry," Beaudoin said late Wednesday in a release.

The company declined interview requests with Martel and Bellemare.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2020

Companies in this story: (TSX:BBD.B)
The authorities of Albany International School, Zaria confirmed the death of a JSS 3 student, Abdurahman Doko, in a fire incident that gutted a hostel on Wednesday.

The fire, which started around 12.30 p.m., destroyed the male students hostel of the school situated at Gaskiya Layout in Zaria, Kaduna.

Dr. Abdulraheem Abdulganiyyu, the school director, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), that the cause of the incident had not been confirmed.

As at the time the fire started, there was no electric power at the school, and no cooking activities are allowed in the hostel. The school kitchen is not located around the hostel. So, we are still at a loss, he said.

The director commended the Fire Service for its prompt response that stopped the fire from spreading.

Abdulganiyyu explained that the school was on vacation, adding, however, that final year students, who were preparing for the West Africa School Certificate and UTME, were around.

He said that Junior Secondary School students, who were also preparing for their Junior School Leaving Certificate, were also around.

According to him, as at the time the fire started, all the students were in their respective classes on the ground floor of the school.

Corroborating, Umar Mohammed, Sectional Head, Fire Service, Zaria said that only Doko died, while the cause of the fire was still unknown.

Mohammed added that other students on the ground floor were safely evacuated, adding that the prompt response quickly quenched the fire.

He advised members of the public to ensure that all electrical appliances were switched off when not in use, while extra care should be taken when cooking.

Many households are reverting to the use of cooking gas for domestic purposes; we must strive to adhere to safety practices to avert fire outbreaks, he said

Watch the video as shared by Amir Yahaya:



May his soul continue rest in perfect peace. We have just had that the school of Albany Science Academy Zaria has burned.May his soul continue rest in perfect peace. pic.twitter.com/epEun7JPsp  Amir Yahaya (@top_g11) March 11, 2020

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Harvey Weinstein's indictment is important because it sends out the message that a sexual predator can be brought to justice even if the crime occurred years ago, when the victim did not have the courage or the agency to speak out, notes Shuma Raha.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Harvey Weinstein's conviction in New York for a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape was a moment of vindication for the more than 90 women who had alleged that he had sexually harassed them.

Though the disgraced Hollywood mogul was let off on the more serious charge of first-degree rape, and will doubtless appeal the court's decision (he was sentenced to 23 years in prison), Weinstein's conviction is a landmark event in the evolving trajectory of the #MeToo movement.

#MeToo's perfect storm was sparked, ironically, by none other than Weinstein himself.

In October 2017 The New York Times published a detailed story on allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein.

And at once, legions of women started coming forward with their own harrowing tales of being harassed, groped, assaulted or even raped by the big daddy of Hollywood, who, for decades, had taken advantage of his power to make or break the careers of young actresses by treating them as his prey.

This is turn seemed to flip a switch in women the world over -- they now felt that they too needed to tell their stories, they too needed to end their petrified silence and call out the men who had used their power and position to sexually abuse and exploit them.

Since then, #MeToo has felled many a man.

Men who had gone about demanding sexual favours from women in the workplace, confident that their gender and influence would protect them from blowbacks, were suddenly being held to account.

The cultural shift was nothing short of seismic.

Women were breaking out of generations of social conditioning that taught them not to talk about unwanted sexual attention from men.

And men were waking up to the uncomfortable reality that they could never again rely on a female colleague or subordinate to keep mum after being subjected to sexual intimidation.

Which, one hoped, would make them think twice before behaving like sex pests.

Harvey Weinstein's indictment is important because it sends out the message that a sexual predator can be brought to justice even if the crime occurred years ago, when the victim did not have the courage or the agency to speak out.

However, mighty as he was, Weinstein was the easy one.

Once he had been outed as a serial sexual aggressor, and outed by a flotilla of women, including such influential stars as Ashley Judd, Uma Thurman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie and others, Weinstein's retribution was more or less assured.

Unfortunately, in most other cases, the road to justice is proving to be long, complicated, and uncertain.

And #MeToo notwithstanding, the powerful are continuing to find ways to silence complainants.

In India, where the movement gusted ferociously in 2018, many of those accused of harassment have segued back into male-dominated workplace power structures.

Others, such as former Union minister M J Akbar, who was called out for alleged harassment by several of his erstwhile colleagues, have resorted to criminal defamation suits to intimidate accusers.

Recently, the son of a prominent person with links to the ruling party obtained a court order to take down all references to allegations of sexual misconduct against him that appeared in the media and social media.

R K Pachauri, the environmentalist who had a long-running sexual harassment case against him, died last month -- before the country's infernally slow legal system could punish him for his alleged crimes.

There is no doubt that #MeToo is fraught with contextual complications.

It involves questions of consent that are hard to legally ascertain since a woman's apparent acquiescence may be influenced by the unequal power dynamic of the relationship, that is to say, when she is in a subordinate position to the man -- socially, at the workplace, or in academia.

There is no doubt, too, that a woman may maliciously accuse a man of harassment even after a consensual encounter, amplify it via social media, and potentially destroy him.

But then anything is open to abuse.

#MeToo is a work in progress, its contexts and contours are still being defined.

And it's worth staying the course because the movement has given women a voice and dented the male sense of impunity.

The guilty verdict on Harvey Weinstein is a powerful milestone in that journey.
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New Delhi, March 12 : With 900 Indians evacuated from COVID-19-affected nations, India has intensified its efforts to protect its citizens against the deadly coronavirus.

Apart from 900 Indians, the government has also rescued 48 other nationals of countries such as the Maldives, China and the US, the government said on Thursday.

In a statement, the government said a high-level Group of Ministers has been formed to continuously monitor the situation and evaluate preparedness and formulate measures about containment of COVID-19 in the country.

It was in a meeting of Group of Minister on Wednesday that the GoM decided to suspend all existing visas till April 15. The GoM also decided that visa-free travel facility granted to OCI card holders will be kept in abeyance till April 15.

The government also echoed its earlier decision of a compulsory COVID-19 free certificate for travellers from Italy and the Republic of Korea. The government added 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.

The decision will come into effect from March 13 at the port of departure.

The government will also restrict international traffic influx to the country through land borders. "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," a statement by the government said.

Apart from these, all international passengers entering India are also required to furnish duly filled self-declaration forms in duplicate to health and immigration officials and undergo Universal Health Screening at the designated health counters at all points of entry, ther government said.

According to the Health Ministry, the Prime Minister is reviewing the situation with the top officials since the first case was declared on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan, China.

The Group of Ministers (GoM), set up to monitor the preparedness to fight coronavirus, has met six times, it said.

Of the 73 coronavirus cases in India, 17 are foreigners.
While it is generally believed that domestic violence cases are underreported, federal authorities estimate that in the United States there are still more than five million incidents of domestic violence every year, with as many as one in four women becoming a victim of domestic violence, " he said.
New York, March 12 : Before getting 23 years in prison, Hollywoods disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein pleaded for mercy in a courtroom here, saying "men are losing due process".

Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. He was sentenced by Supreme Court judge James Burke on Wednesday morning.

"First of all, to all the women who testified, we may have different truths, but I have great remorse for all of you. I have great remorse for all the men and women going through this crisis right now in our country," pagesix.com quoted Weinstein as saying.

He added: "You know, the movement started basically with me, and I think what happened, you know, I was the first example, and now there are thousands of men who are being accused and a generation 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. I read, you know, those letters where people talked about, you know, missing you, loving you, that kind of thing. As you know, having a serious friendship, that is what I believe that I had with Mimi and Jessica. You know, I really, really was maybe hypnotic and under that impression that I had that feeling, that I had that relationship.

"That five years with Jessica and the years that I knew Mimi were always filled with don't go on the plane Harv, I want to have dinner with you first from Mimi. Or Harv, whatever, let's get, you know, can you look at this idea I have for a television series. Or Harv, I'm in Cannes, can I go to the premiere. Or Jessica, can I get into the Soho Club which is a very exclusive tough place to get into. But she needed it for herself. I got her a job at the Peninsula Hotel which she excelled at for a while.

"I'm not going to say these aren't great people, I had wonderful times with these people, you know. It is just I'm totally confused and I think men are confused about all of these issues. You know, I just - dealing with the thousands of men and women who are losing due process, I'm worried about this country in a sense too. I'm worried there is a repeat of the black list there was in the 1950s when lots of men like myself, Dalton Trumbo, one of the great examples, did not work, went to jail because people thought they were communists.

"You know, there was a scare, and that is what happened, and I think that is what is happening now all over this country." Weinstein, who has been accused of assaulting many women, was convicted last month of raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann in a hotel in New York in 2013 and forcing oral sex on former TV and film production assistant Mimi Haley at his apartment in 2006.

He continued: "Two years ago we wrote a letter to 15 friends, I think, the ADA quoted part of it, but the part of it that was the most important part was I'm a builder, I know how to build, and I know how to generate, you know, things on a charitable nature, and I know how to pass my success forward. I think even Mimi and Jessica would say that I was generous, you know, in that part of the relationship.

"The thing that I wanted to do in that letter was I wanted to build a hospital, but not a hospital like the regular hospital, a hospital that deals with this, rehabilitation and redemption; people losing their jobs over the fact they testified for me, or people being afraid to testify that they will lose their jobs. That is not the right atmosphere for this United States of America.

"It is wrong, you know, and that is what is happening. Everybody is on some sort of black list. I had no great powers in this industry. Miramax at the height of its fame was a smaller company than by far any Walt Disney, any Sony, Paramount,. I could not blackball anybody, because if I said don't use that actress, the guys at Warner Brothers would say I'm going to use it to despite that bastard, whatever. That is what it was. But it became blown up like power, power, power.

"I was not about power, I was about making great movies, I was a perfectionist, and I think I drove myself crazy. I'm not going to also run away from what the District Attorney said about some of the things I did say. I had a fight with my brother, yes, people said I said bad things to people, but there are so many people, thousands of people who would say great things about me. 60 executives in this industry were trained by me. They are at the top of their field. They were running studios in top positions in this country." The producer expressed remorse over not being able to contact with his family.

"The thing for me is I have not seen my three older children since the newspaper, since the New Yorker article came out; not The New York Times, but The New Yorker article, so I have not seen them. I just have no idea what they are doing, and I'm in no communication with them, that for me is hell on earth. I just think my empathy has grown over the last two and a half years. I can look at everybody there, you know, and just say, you know, I understand things, I empathise, I feel things, and I was not that person until this crisis started. I have to just say that. I mean that part of this is such a tough process and has come out where I have learned so many things. I never thought I could deal with or things I dealt with in Arizona." Looking back at his extramarital affairs, he said: "I went to extraordinary lengths to hide my extramarital affairs; that was a terrible thing that I did by having those extramarital affairs, and God knows if I could take it back, I would. I know everybody in this room feels the same way. It had nothing to do with anything. I was unfaithful to both, and I just cannot tell you how bad I feel about that. You know, I never see my children again and they are everything to me in this world. You know, when I deal with subjects like this, I don't wish for vengeance, I wish for understanding." "I really feel the remorse of this situation, I feel it deeply in my heart. I feel emotional, I feel like to go and talk to you guys, you know, just really, really caring and really trying and really trying to be a better person. Thank you, your Honour, for the time," he said while concluding.
House Democrats, White House Race to Reach Agreement on Coronavirus Relief Package

House Democrats and the White House on March 11 raced to strike a deal on emergency legislation in response to the coronavirus outbreak, with the hope of securing a signature from President Donald Trump by the end of the week.

As of Wednesday evening, the relief proposal unveiled by House Democrats included emergency provisions such as expanded unemployment insurance and paid sick leave, among other measures which were earlier prioritized by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

The proposalswhich lawmakers hope will pass on the floor Thursdaywere announced at a press conference on Wednesday as the Trump administration and House Democrats worked toward what an economic stimulus package to help Americans should look like.

Pelosi said after a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats she hoped legislation to help Americans navigate through the coronavirus crisis would win the backing of the Trump administration. On Wednesday evening, she spoke with Vice President Mike Pence and Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The legislation would include expanding unemployment benefits for those who have lost work because of the impact of the fast-spreading virus. It would also call for workers who are infected, quarantined, or taking care of children or a loved one who is sick, to be granted up to three months of paid leave, The Wall Street Journal reported.

This vote tomorrow is going to be an act of confidence that  were acting on a national health emergency, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal said, according to Reuters.

(R to L) Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) and Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) hold a news conference unveiling House Democrats new infrastructure framework at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 29, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Neal said that on Tuesday he spoke with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and he surely seemed supportive of the positions I had taken.

The Senate Democrats COVID-19 Economic and Community Services Proposal also includes, among other measures, loan payment relief for up to six months on federally insured mortgages and student loans, emergency mortgage and rental assistance, federal funding for local communities, grants for small businesses, and additional funding for food banks, schools, and nonprofits.

There are a lot of proposals in the Speakers package that deal with critical issues we agree are important, but we have not finished reviewing the details of her ideas, a White House official told the WSJ.

Democrats have refused to back Trumps call for at least temporarily suspending the payroll tax as a way of helping families get through the coronavirus crisis. They have argued that the proposal is too broad and would not be the most effective way of helping Americans.

Trump has also proposed providing loan guarantees to the cruise ship, hotel, and airline industries affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

We are not looking for bailouts, Mnuchin said, according to The New York Times. Loan guarantees are a very effective way of making sure the government gets paid back without putting the government at risk.

Cases of the coronavirus have exceeded 1,000 in the United States across almost three-quarters of U.S. states and the death toll increased to 36 as of late Wednesday. Congress last week passed an $8.3 billion bill which would provide funding toward developing a vaccine for the virus and preventing its spread across the country.

Reuters contributed to this report.
In front of Michigan State Universitys Wells Hall Wednesday afternoon, a typically bustling crosswalk in the heart of campus was nearly empty.

Students, newly freed of in-person class schedules, hurried down the sidewalks alone or in small groups. An occasional bike rider or longboarder whizzed by.

Some were pleased by the new turn of events after MSU officials became of the first public universities in Michigan to suspend in-person classes. Others were concerned their education could suffer.

But most were simply waiting for more answers as their professors and the university as a whole deal with the unprecedented situation of moving all classes online now that coronavirus is confirmed in Michigan.

I dont know whats going to happen right now - well see how our classes go, said Elizabeth Nestor, a junior at MSU. We dont know.

MSU announced Wednesday morning that the university would transition all classes to an online or remote setting until April 20, effective noon Wednesday.

By Wednesday evening, every public university in the state had suspended in-person classes, with various end dates. Many universities plan to re-evaluate the situation as it evolves.

MLive has complete coverage on coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus.

Katherine Christians, a sophomore studying business at Michigan State, lives in a sorority and is a little nervous about living in such a social environment, but said shes not currently planning to isolate herself further beyond taking some extra sanitary precautions.

She is worried about her education, however - she said she learns better in a classroom and is concerned her professors might not be aware of how much the upheaval could impact student learning.

Expecting us to completely change from going to lecture hall every single day to learning completely online for the next two months, thats really hard, she said. Im nervous that theyre going to have higher expectations than what we can achieve.

MSU seniors Jake Stuifbergen and Jack Domeier said the decision would have a big impact on their schedules, as all of their classes are in person and some of them are hands-on lab courses.

Stuifbergen said hes not personally panicking about coronavirus, noting many students he knows are excited about the prospect of going online.

I think there will be an adjustment period, but I think everyones OK with it, he said. I feel like well just start getting used to it.

Junior Michelle Chen said she lives in the dorms and has already noticed more preventative measures, including staff wearing gloves, introducing sanitizing stations and more frequent cleaning of common touchpoints. She said she feels a little better knowing the university was quick to respond, but shes unsure of what to do next.

I dont want to go home, because I have baby siblings and theyre more at risk than if I were to just get it, she said.

Elsewhere on campus and in the neighboring city of East Lansing, MSU students sought to find levity in the situation.

Some took advantage of their newly cleared schedules to play beer pong on their lawns, and a car with a large inflatable Corona beer attached to the roof was seen driving around downtown East Lansing.

Later Wednesday, many students gathered to seek solace in other East Lansing institutions.

Reporters for The State News, MSUs student newspaper, encountered long lines at most of the university towns popular bars Wednesday evening.

The line at Harpers stretches to the 7Eleven parking lot. pic.twitter.com/wynhb3QYvO  karly graham (@karlygraham_) March 12, 2020

The suspension of in-person classes came with an announcement from MSU President Samuel Stanley that Michigan State University has a potential case of coronavirus on campus. 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 Wednesday to the campus community.

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.

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.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  The Philippines has expanded the travel ban it imposes due to the COVID-19 pandemic to all countries which have localized transmission of the viral disease.

All those who come from countries with local transmissions of the virus will not be allowed entry into the Philippines, except Filipino citizens, their foreign spouse and children, permanent residents and holders of diplomatic visas.

But ang Pilipino pati yung pamilya niya, because they are Filipinos and this is their country, they are very much welcome to come back lalo na sa panahong ito if they want a more secure, comfortable place, President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday as he announced the new travel restriction.

[Translation: Filipinos and their families, because they are Filipinos and this is their country, they are very much welcome to come back especially in this time if they want a more secure, comfortable place.]

Upon signing a declaration that they are aware of the risks involved, Filipino workers will also be allowed to go back to China, except Hubei province where Wuhan  the epicenter of COVID-19  is located.

Prior to the expansion of the ban, the Philippines had only barred foreign travelers from China, Hong Kong, Macau and the South Korean province of North Gyeongsang.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia have imposed their own ban on travelers coming from the Philippines.

According to the World Health Organization, 65 countries, including the Philippines, South Korea, Japan and the US, have local transmissions of the viral disease.

Five people have died in the Philippines because of the disease. Two have recovered, while 48 are admitted at various hospitals in the country.

Globally, the virus has killed more than 4,700 and infected over 127,000 people, according to the Johns Hopkins University global tracking of cases.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which is related to the virus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, but is not as deadly, with the fatality rate standing at around three percent.

According to the World Health Organization, 80 percent of patients only experience mild illness and eventually recover. It added that some 14 percent experience severe illness while five percent were critically ill.

The disease is spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth when people infected with the virus cough or sneeze.

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.

Commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. Those with severe and critical symptoms should call the Health Department at (02) 8-651-7800 local 1149-1150.

The WHO has declared COVID-19 a pandemic, but stressed that this should not cause alarm as it can still be controlled since 90 percent of infections are being reported in only four countries, while outbreaks in China and South Korea are slowing down.
New Delhi, March 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson in a phone conversation on Thursday stressed on the need to coordinate international efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian government said Modi received a phone call from Johnson on Thursday.

The two discussed the ongoing global pandemic that has hit some countries of Europe badly, apart from China, and decided to coordinate efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Modi also expressed concern on UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries testing positive for coronavirus, and wished her a speedy recovery.

Both the leaders also agreed to further strengthen India-UK strategic partnership through the new decade. They concurred that it would be useful to formulate a comprehensive roadmap for the next ten years towards the objective of strengthening ties.

The leaders expressed their satisfaction at the cooperation between India and UK in the field of climate change, especially with reference to the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Johnson for the invitation to COP-26 in Glasgow later this year. Modi reiterated his invitation to Johnson to visit India on mutually convenient dates.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
S ince work began on the high-speed Crossrail line seven years ago this month, property prices along the east-west route have been steadily rising.

In the last year alone, average prices have soared by a third, with further rises predicted to exceed local house price growth by 3.3 per cent a year until the route, which was recently renamed the Elizabeth line, opens at the end of 2018.

However, there is still value to be found along the line because average house prices on a third of the line are still under 350,000  with average prices in the 10 cheapest areas below 285,000.

The 13 cheapest areas on the Lizzie Line 1 /17 The 13 cheapest areas on the Lizzie Line Chadwell Heath Av. house price: 246,000



Located in the London borough of Redbridge, commuters will be able to reach Paddington in 34 minutes - 16 minutes less than the current journey time of 50 minutes. City workers will be able to reach Canary Wharf in 23 minutes rather than the current time of 33 minutes. As a result, house prices rose by 19 per cent over the last year. Slough Av. house price: 253,000



London-bound commuters will be able to travel into Liverpool Street in 39 minutes, cutting 9 minutes off the current travelling time. From December 2019, four trains in each direction will serve Slough station. In 2016 house prices rose by 24 per cent. Rex Goodmayes Av. house price: 255,000



Once the Elizabeth Line is fully running, commuters will be able to cut their journey time into Paddington of 48 minutes down to 32 minutes. Trains will arrive into Canary Wharf in 21 minutes - down from the current 31 minutes. Thanks to improved transport links, house prices in the area have rose by 19 per cent in a year. Seven Kings Av. house price: 256,000



City commuters will be able to cut their journey time from 29 minutes to 19 minutes once the Elizabeth Line opens. Trains will arrive into Paddington in 30 minutes - cutting 16 minutes of the current journey time. s such, house prices in the area rose by 19 per cent in a year. Southall Av. house price: 262,000



Located in the London borough of Ealing, commuters from this suburb will be able to reach Liverpool Street in just 24 minutes - almost twice as fast as the current travelling time. The travel time to Canary Wharf will be cut down to 31 minutes from 50 minutes. As a result, house prices have risen by 11 per cent in a year. Alamy Romford Av. house price: 268,000



The journey into Paddington will be cut by 19 minutes, reducing the commuting time to 37 minutes. Plus, travelling to Canary Wharf will take 27 minutes instead of the current 37 minutes. Thanks to the Elizabeth Line, house prices have risen by 27 per cent in a year.



Read our full area guide on Romford Daniel Lynch Burnham Av. house price: 268,000



Commuters from this Kent village will be able to cut their train time by a third - with 21 minutes being shaved off their 64-minute journey to Liverpool Street. Those travelling into Canary Wharf will also reduce their journey time from 70 minutes to 49 minutes. As such. prices in the area rose by 21 per cent in the last year. Gidea Park Av. house price: 277,000



Commuters will be able to shave 10 minutes off their journey into Canary Wharf, taking it from 39 minutes to 29 minutes. A direct train to Paddington will take 40 minutes - down from the previous 58 minutes. House prices in the area have increased by 15 per cent over the last year. Harold Wood Av. house price: 278,000



City commuters will be able to cut their 43 minute journey into Canary Wharf down to 32 minutes when the Elizabeth line opens. There will be 12 trains running each hour at peak times. House prices in Harold Wood have risen a staggering 30 per cent in a year. Denis James Langley Av. house price: 282,000



Travelling into central London from this Berkshire town will take just 29 minutes to reach Bond Street station- shaving 19 minutes off the current journey time. Canary Wharf travel time will be cut down to 43 minutes from 68 minutes. From December 2019, up to four trains an hour will travel in each direction. House prices have risen a comparatively modest by 7 per cent in the past year. Alamy Reading Av. house price: 318,000



A fast and frequent train service already links Reading to Paddington in around half an hour, but when the Elizabeth line arrives, commuters will have direct links to Bond Street in 55 minutes, to Liverpool Street in 61 minutes, and Canary Wharf 67 minutes. Prices have risen by just over 23 per cent in the last year.



Read our full area guide on Reading Daniel Lynch Brentwood Av. house price: 332,000



Brentwood, which is best known as the setting of TV show The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) already has a train service to Liverpool Street, but the Elizabeth Line will link the town to Tottenham Court Road in 40 minutes. Buy-to-let landlords have made it a competitive market place for one- and two-bedroom flats and so over the last year prices have risen by 16 per cent.



Read our full area guide on Brentwood Daniel Lynch Forest Gate Av. house price: 347,000



This Zone 3 town on the edge of Epping Forest neighbours Stratford and Leytonstone. An existing overground train to the City takes 13 minutes. Once the Elizabeth line opens Tottenham Court Road will just be a 17-minute train ride away. Gentrification is in full force and prices have risen by 17 per cent over the last year.



Read our full area guide on Forest Gate Graham Hussey

Three hotspots to watch

1. Reading



House prices in Reading, the westernmost Crossrail station, average 318,000, but two-bedroom flats within a mile of the station start from 215,000.

"London's booming economy has benefited Reading, but it more than holds its own as a thriving town," says David Fell, research analyst at Countrywide. "With the price gap between Reading and London at an all-time high, last year more Londoners than ever before left the Capital for a life in the Berkshire town."

This commuter hotspot is undergoing significant regeneration, with new homes near the revamped station under construction in the town centre and overlooking the canal.

Three and a half acres of office space, shops, restaurants and 300 flats are also under construction. Once complete, Station Hill will be the largest mixed-use development in the Thames Valley.

A fast and frequent train service already links Reading to Paddington in about half an hour, but when the Elizabeth line arrives, commuters will have direct links to Bond Street in 55 minutes, to Liverpool Street in 61 minutes and Canary Wharf in 67 minutes.

2. Brentwood

At the other end of the line, Brentwood, best known as the one of the settings of TV reality show The Only Way Is Essex, has average house prices of 332,000, with two-bedroom flats sitting at around the 275,000 mark.

There are very few new developments and the town has a boutique feel, with lots of popular independent shops, which is what attracts - and retains - residents.

Brentwood already has a train service to Liverpool Street, but the Elizabeth line will link the town to Tottenham Court Road in just over 40 minutes.

One- and two-bedroom flats have been flying off the shelves over the last six months, with buy-to-let landlords have been investing because of Crossrail," says Carl Gable from Beresfords. "The recent changes in stamp duty slowed this down  we expect this to be a temporary lull and we're already seeing interest come back.

Forest Gate

Rapper Plan B and actors Idris Elba (Luther and The Wire) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave) spent their formative years in this east London town on the edge of Epping Forest.

This Zone 3 district has Stratford and Leytonstone as neighbours and has an overground train to the City that takes 13 minutes. However, once the Elizabeth line opens, Tottenham Court Road will be a mere 17 minutes away.

Its not only the Crossrail effect that has put a rocket under Forest Gate property, says estate agent Rash Cheema from Spencers. The area was first boosted by the Olympic Games in 2012, followed by the opening of the nearby Westfield shopping centre.

Gentrification is in full force, says Cheema. A trendy pizza restaurant has opened opposite the station and high-profile foodies are moving into the area. But the locals arent keen on sky-high new builds ruining the local vibe.
Norwegian Air will scrap another 4,000 flights and temporarily lay off up to half of its employees due to the coronavirus outbreak, the company said on Thursday.

Travel restrictions and falling demand due to the pandemic have hammered airlines around the world.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump ordered sweeping restrictions on travel from Europe for the next 30 days in a bid to halt the spread of the virus.

The US restrictions are a particularly severe blow for Norwegian Air, a pioneer in transatlantic budget travel and the largest foreign airline serving the New York region and several other US cities.

Around 40 per cent of its long-haul fleet will be grounded until the end of May, the company said.

Norwegian Air, which had already suffered big losses and hemorrhaged cash in recent years, blamed the 'extraordinary market situation due to the coronavirus' for the layoffs.

'We must look at all possible measures to reduce costs. This unfortunately also includes temporary layoffs of up to 50 per cent of our employees, and the number may increase,' Chief Executive Jacob Schram said on Thursday.

The airline employs around 11,000 people, according to its website.

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Norwegian Air (file image) will scrap another 4,000 flights and temporarily lay off up to half of its employees due to the coronavirus outbreak, the company said on Thursday

Photos have emerged of nearly deserted airports throughout the US. The international terminal at O'Hare Airport is nearly devoid of travelers on Thursday

At Newark Liberty International Airport's Terminal B barely had any passengers at the check-in counters on Thursday

There were hardly any passengers at the international terminal at O'Hare Airport on Thursday

An employee works at an almost deserted check-in desk at the International Departures terminal at Logan airport in Boston the day after the Trump administration shut down most air traffic from the EU

'We urge international governments to act now to ensure that the aviation industry can protect jobs and continue to be a vital part of the global economic recovery,' Schram added.

Schram said: 'This is an unprecedented situation and our main priority continues to be the care and safety of our customers and colleagues.'

Flights to the US from Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Madrid, Athens and Oslo will be canceled, although routes from London's Gatwick Airport will continue as normal as Britain is not affected by the American restrictions.

Up to a quarter of short-haul flights have also been axed, the carrier added.

The company said earlier this week it would cut around 3,000 flights between mid-March and mid-June.

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg has also said that her government would offer financial assistance to hard-hit industries, including airlines, but did not provide details.

But on Friday, the government plans to announce a series of measures to aid industries that have been hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak, including airlines and hotels.

Since Norway's first case of the virus was confirmed on February 26, the total number of infected people has soared past 600 as of Wednesday, including one at an offshore oilfield.

Airlines are stuck in a severe patch of turbulence as the virus outbreak causes passengers to cut back on travel, clouding the industry's growth prospects.

El Al Airlines has plans to lay off 1,000 permanent and temporary employees.

El Al Airlines (file image) has plans to lay off 1,000 permanent and temporary employees. The airline expects to lose about $70million in revenue and is hoping the cut of about 16 per cent of its total payroll will help. El Al employed 6,356 people as of the end of 2019

Finnair (file image), the Finnish national airline, announced on Wednesday that it has plans to temporarily layoff its entire staff based in Finland, due to the coronavirus. The airline said the decision will affect more than 6,000 of its employees

Flybe collapsed last week. The company's collapse saw around 2,300 people lose their jobs

The airline expects to lose about $70million in revenue and is hoping the cut of about 16 per cent of its total payroll will help.

El Al employed 6,356 people as of the end of 2019.

Finnair, the Finnish national airline, announced on Wednesday that it has plans to temporarily layoff its entire staff based in Finland, due to the coronavirus.

The airline said the decision will affect more than 6,000 of its employees.

According to Finnair, the layoffs would be short-term, lasting no more than 30 days.

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific has probably taken the most extreme measures by asking all 33,000 of its employees to voluntarily sign up for three-week unpaid leave before the end of June.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak came the collapse of Flybe, which carried about eight million passengers per year between 71 airports across the UK and Europe.

The company has around 2,000 staff who have lost their jobs.

Flybe's bosses, which includes Virgin Atlantic, are blaming the coronavirus crisis for the sudden collapse.

All Flybe flights and those operated by sister airline Stobart Air have been cancelled, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement.

Flybe was bought by a consortium of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital in February 2019, after running into earlier financial problems.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes says the coronavirus outbreak is 'probably worse' than the 9/11 terror attacks aftermath where the airline industry lost 30 per cent of business

As a precautionary move the airline (file image) 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

In a statement, chief executive Mark Anderson said the company had made 'every possible attempt' to avoid collapse but had been 'unable to overcome significant funding challenges'.

'The UK has lost one of its greatest regional assets,' Anderson said.

'Flybe has been a key part of the UK aviation industry for four decades, connecting regional communities, people and businesses across the entire nation.

'I thank all our partners and the communities we have been privileged to serve. Above all I would like to thank the Flybe team for their incredible commitment and dedication.'

The company said all Flybe flights were immediately grounded and advised all passengers not to travel to airports unless alternative flight arrangements had been made.

All big US airlines have warned investors that their finances will take a hit, and many are cancelling flights because of slumping demand.

Currently, there are about 2.95 million airline employees around the world and more than 460,000 of those workers are in the United States.

That means that even a 5 per cent drop in airline employment would result in about 150,000 lost jobs worldwide, and more than 20,000 in the US.

It's a dramatic change of fortune for the industry, which finished 2019 with strong passenger demand.

As governments across the globe implement quarantines and other strict measures to contain the virus, the outlook for the travel industry is darkening.

Amazon, Apple and other companies are telling staff to skip business trips, an especially profitable market for airlines.

Tourists worried about the virus or the risk of being stranded in a virus-stricken nation are also holding off booking trips.

The International Air Transport Association forecasts big losses for the industry.

'It is unclear how the virus will develop, but whether we see the impact contained to a few markets and a $63billion revenue loss, or a broader impact leading to a $113billion loss of revenue, this is a crisis,' IATA's director general and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, said in a statement.

Delta Air Lines (file image) is cutting international flight capacity by 20-25 per cent and domestic by 15 per cent. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said: 'This clearly is not an economic event. This is a fear event probably more akin to 9/11 than what we saw in (the recession) in 2009'

There more than 1,500 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died (depicted above)

There more than 1,400 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died (depicted above)

The IATA has said the impact will be on the same scale to the 2008 financial crisis, when airline shares lost 25 per cent following the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

The virus outbreak hit just as the industry was forecasting mostly solid growth in 2020. United Airlines had forecast a profits between $11 and $13 per share after finishing 2019 with a profit of $11.58 per share.

A key measure of airlines' revenue was expected to rise 4.1 per cent globally, according to the IATA. All of those forecasts are now in doubt.

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said that 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 per cent 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 per cent drop in sales since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the US back in January.

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.'

United Airlines is slashing capacity by 20 per cent on international routes and by 10 per cent in the US starting in April.

Social media users have been sharing images of their near-empty journeys around the world. A flyer proved there's no stopping them as they traveled from Denver's International Airport to Orlando on Wednesday

Another Instagram user captured his ghost Delta flight from MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport in Minnesota last month

The coronavirus continues to steer passengers away from air travel (a man pictured at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington last Friday)

The airline also abandoned its financial forecasts for the year and asked employees to volunteer for unpaid leave.

American Airlines suspended flights to Seoul and Milan through April 25th, as well as flights to China. It also scrapped its annual financial forecasts.

Delta Air Lines is cutting international flight capacity by 20-25 per cent and domestic by 15 per cent.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said: 'This clearly is not an economic event. This is a fear event probably more akin to 9/11 than what we saw in (the recession) in 2009.'

Southwest is considering flight cuts as well, but didn't release an estimated amount.

Their CEO Gary Kelly did announce that he will be taking a 10 per cent pay cut.

United cut its April and May flights last week, but announced more precautions on Tuesday.

The airline will continue to evaluate whether additional flight cuts are needed on a rolling 90-day basis.

Germany's biggest airline, Lufthansa, warned that it might cancel up to half its flights in the next few weeks, depending on how the virus outbreak develops.

British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair have cancelled hundreds of flights, while Virgin Atlantic has admitted some of its planes are 'almost empty'.

Ratings agency Moody's Investors Service cut its outlook for the industry to negative, saying it expects a sharp decline in passenger demand through the first half of the year.

There is no clear picture how the industry will recover until the virus infections subside.

'Major unknowns - uncertainty about the virus's active period, its eventual geographic spread and the scale of infections in a given country or region - complicate efforts to project operational and financial impact for the industry,' Moody's said.

Social media users have been sharing images of their near-empty journeys around the world.

Trips to Florida and New York appear to have all been affected by the impact of the pandemic, with one flight even holding as little as 13 passengers.

At least 125,000 patients have been infected and 4,000 have died worldwide since the outbreak began last December, and the virus has been spreading between humans in four continents since February 28, according to the World Health Organization.
Amid growing fears over the suffering COVID-19 could inflict on Canadas biggest city, 1,700 of Toronto Public Healths 1,900 employees could be off the job as early as Saturday.

They include nurses who take swabs for coronavirus tests and other skilled professionals who are now busy trying to contain the pandemic, their union said Wednesday when asked by the Star about potential impact of a strike or a lockout if Torontos inside workers fail to reach a new contract agreement.

The president of CUPE Local 79, which represents more than 20,000 city staff, is questioning the citys insistence that losing almost 90 per cent of public health staff would not impact the citys ongoing effort to contain the deadly disease.

Public health nurses in Local 79 are monitoring, ranging from contact tracking (finding out who has come in contact with a confirmed case) to doing home visits and swab testing for COVID-19, Dave Mitchell wrote in an email. They are also staffing the citys COVID-19 call centre, which answers public inquiries, phone screening and referral if deemed necessary.

We have nurses that work in communicable disease control who are currently the only ones qualified to attend private homes and do swab tests for COVID. It would not be possible for a city manager to perform this role; it is a qualified, skilled, training individual.

Local 79 is trying to understand how the city plans to keep these services running and unaffected, as it seems to be saying ... but our goal is to negotiate a fair contract by the deadline, of Saturday at 12:01 a.m., the earliest a legal work stoppage could begin.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, the citys medical officer of health and public face of the local effort, has warned of an expected jump in active COVID-19 cases  from 18 as of Wednesday afternoon  as Torontonians start infecting each other, rather than returning infected from travel abroad.

The health and safety of our community is our top concern, de Villa said Wednesday in a statement responding to questions about how her department would function during a lockout or strike.  Our labour disruption plan considered the potential for a large infectious disease outbreak. We have already trained staff for our COVID-19 response.

The citys contingency plan for a work stoppage includes response to infectious and communicable disease (i.e. COVID-19) as emergency services that will continue while other services  such as breastfeeding clinics and DineSafe restaurant inspections  would be suspended.

Toronto Public Health will continue to fully staff its response to COVID-19. Staff will be redeployed within TPH to ensure its response to this issue is uninterrupted in the event of a Local 79 work stoppage, City spokesperson Brad Ross said.

Specific numbers will evolve as circumstances change, which could be daily, as we have seen with the virus. In the event we have a work stoppage, well share staffing numbers as we redeploy.

Dr. David Fisman, a University of Toronto epidemiologist studying COVID-19, told the Star that the world is currently in the opening weeks of a global pandemic that could kill millions of people.

Our current response in Canada depends on case identification, and identification and quarantine of close contacts. That is keeping all of us in Toronto safe, said Fisman, head of epidemiology at the U of Ts Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

That kind of work is very intensive with respect to human resources, and my recollection from SARS is that staff from all areas of my health department were reassigned to help deal with the response. It was all hands on deck.

To assert that a lockout of public health workers at this time would not endanger the public is, frankly, ridiculous.

Toronto Public Health is not an essential service, a designation that strips some staff, including TTC operators and paramedics, of the right to strike. In the past, city council has asked the provincial government to pass legislation that deemed specific groups of employees essential.

Mitchell said any emergency return of staff during a strike or lockout would have to be the result of negotiations between the union and the city.
White House Coronavirus Task Force Announces Community Mitigation Strategies For Seattle, Santa Clara

March 11, 2020

The White House Coronavirus Task Force today recommended 30-day mitigation strategies for Seattle-King, Pierce, and Snohomish County, Washington, and Santa Clara County, California due to widespread transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These mitigation activities are designed to address the effects of COVID-19 on areas that are experiencing community spread.

"President Trump has made clear that the Task Force must move decisively to protect the health and safety of the American people," said Vice President Mike Pence. "These recommendations outline a whole-of-community approach to immediately minimize the impacts of coronavirus in these cities and towns. I look forward to the continued partnership between the Task Force and State and local leaders."

Earlier today, Vice President Pence spoke with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Washington Governor Jay Inslee about these community mitigation strategies. The Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have worked closely with state and local leaders in California, Washington, and around the Nation to develop these strategies. Additionally, CDC has teams in these areas working with public health partners to respond to the situation on the ground.

Cooperation with communities, businesses, and healthcare organizations is necessary to implement extensive community mitigation activities with the goal of protecting:

Individuals at risk for severe illness, including persons with underlying health conditions including immune suppression and especially seniors with underlying health conditions;

The healthcare workforce; and

Critical infrastructure workforces.

Due to widespread community transmission of COVID-19 in these communities, examples of mitigation strategies for these areas include, but are not limited to:

Individuals should practice protective measures (e.g., hand washing);

Schools should conduct regular health checks of students, staff, and visitors;

Senior living facilities should implement social distancing measures;

Workplaces should encourage staff to telework and expand sick leave policies;

Community and faith-based organizations should move gatherings of any size to video-accessible venues or postpone/cancel; and

Healthcare facilities should implement triage before entering facilities.

In making these recommendations, the Task Force considered guidance from multiple Federal agencies, including technical advice from CDC. These community mitigation strategies are recommended for 30 days, after which local and state public health officials, in coordination with CDC will reassess the individual community situations.

Read the Seattle-King and Pierce County Community Mitigation Strategy.

Read the Santa Clara County Community Mitigation Strategy.

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Iran's economy has been battered by US sanctions, which have choked Tehran's ability to sell its oil

Tehran: Iran said on Thursday that it has sought financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, which has not lent it money since 1962, to help it combat the novel coronavirus.

Our central bank requested access to the IMF's Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter, urging the fund's board to respond to the request responsibly.

Iran's Health Ministry on Thursday said the new coronavirus has killed 75 more people, raising the death toll to 429 amid over 10,000 cases as the Islamic Republic revealed it had asked for a multibillion-dollar loan from the International Monetary fund to fight the virus.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the latest virus figures in a televised news conference.

Iran has asked for an emergency USD 5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to combat the outbreak there, which has killed more than 360 people and infected some 9,000 people in the Islamic Republic.

Iran's Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati on Thursday said he made the request last week in a letter to IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. The international lender has said it stands ready to support countries through a Rapid Financial Instrument.

Iran's economy has been battered by US sanctions, which have choked Tehran's ability to sell its oil. The recent outbreak of the virus there has compounded its economic woes, with all of Iran's neighbours closing their borders to Iranians and multiple nations cutting travel links with Iran, including shipping in some cases, which is affecting imports, as well.

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 and the COVID-19 illness it causes.

Because the there is still no vaccine for the infectious disease, countries are implementing tough measures to restrict its spread, as well as the impact an outbreak could have on emergency rooms and intensive care units.

A spike in cases in the Gulf Arab states helped push infections in the Middle East for the new coronavirus past 10,000 cases on Thursday, with most infected people either in Iran or having recently travelled there.

Countries in the region have imposed their own varying levels of travel restrictions, from wholesale halting of all commercial flights in Kuwait, to Saudi Arabia banning travel to 39 countries.

Regional stock markets were also down, reflecting investor concerns and nerves felt globally as oil prices plunge and tourism revenue is eroded by the virus. The World Health Organization on Wednesday officially designated the outbreak a pandemic.

Multiple top officials in Iranfrom its senior vice president to Cabinet ministers, members of parliament, Revolutionary Guard members, health workers and health ministry officials have contracted the virus. Some of those officials have died.

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.

A third Lebanese man died from the coronavirus, state-run National News Agency said Thursday. It said the man's immune system was impaired because he had cancer. Local media reported the man was 79 years old and that the virus was transmitted to him from the first man who had died in Lebanon earlier this week.

Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East. Iran has one of the world's worst death tolls outside of China, the epicentre of the outbreak.

This week, Qatar reported a massive jump in cases of the new coronavirus late Wednesday with 262 now infected. The more than 200 new cases had been found in quarantine. In the Gulf Arab island nation of Bahrain, confirmed cases also rose by nearly 70 per cent this week to 189 confirmed cases, after some 77 new cases were confirmed on a returning flight of Bahrainis from Iran.

Kuwait on Thursday closed all workplaces and non-essential business for two weeks, including restaurants, cafes and health clubs. Schools and universities have already been suspended. All commercial flights are being halted to Kuwait starting Friday. The country has over 70 confirmed cases of the new virus.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, reported seven more cases late Wednesday, bringing the country's total number of cases to 67. In the southern tourist-driven city of Luxor, 70 Egyptian workers and guides remained in quarantine on a Nile cruise ship called the Asara.

Earlier this week, 83 foreign tourists left quarantine on the ship and flew home week after testing negative for the virus.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, announced a jump in cases from 21 to 45 late Wednesday, among them 12 Egyptians under quarantine in Mecca.

The government has suspended pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites, barring entry of all pilgrims to Mecca and Medina to curb the virus' spread.
By Simon Lewis and Michael Martina

DETROIT (Reuters) - Michigan voter Monique Dooley believed in Bernie Sanders forceful message of support for Americas working class.

So she cast a ballot Tuesday in Detroit for the Democratic candidate she believes can win back the White House: Joe Biden.

If we are going to be unified, I think we should go with him, said Dooley, an African-American fifth-grade teacher.

Millions of Democrats across the country agreed with Dooley during Tuesday's nominating contests, adding to the momentum and delegate count that has resurrected the former vice president's campaign. Biden won at least four of the six states that voted, including the biggest prize of Michigan, dealing another blow to the "political revolution" promised by 78-year-old Sanders.

Many voters said they admired the Vermont senator's authenticity and consistent message, and like his policies, but had cast ballots strategically for Biden, the candidate they think can beat President Donald Trump in the November general election.

This isnt the time for extreme, said Kurt Nortin, a 55-year-old substitute teacher who saw Biden speak in St. Louis on Saturday.

Sanders fell short of his primary performances against Hillary Clinton in 2016, when he pulled off an upset in Michigan and lost by a whisker in Missouri. On Tuesday he lost handily in both those states, places where he hoped to demonstrate his strength among Midwestern voters. Sanders only pulled off a win in North Dakota, a small state with few delegates. In Washington state, Biden and Sanders were in a virtual tie with more than two-thirds of the votes counted.

"Last night obviously was not a good night for our campaign," Sanders told reporters in his hometown of Burlington on Wednesday. He insisted he was staying in the race and would draw a sharp distinction with Biden in a televised debate scheduled for Sunday in Arizona.

Sanders said he was winning "the ideological debate" on issues such as universal healthcare that are popular with many Americans, as well as the "generational debate" with his appeal to younger voters. Yet he acknowledged many Democrats were still choosing Biden because they believe the former vice president is the best candidate to defeat Trump.

Story continues

"Needless to say, I strongly disagree with that assertion," Sanders said. "But that is what millions of Democrats and independents today believe."

Sanders had promised his platform of ambitious social programs and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy would expand the electorate. Instead Americans of all stripes turned out for Biden: women and men, white and black voters, those with or without college degrees, and self-described liberals and moderates. Sanders only dominated among young voters and Latinos.

State after state, voters by roughly 2 to 1 said they would rather pick a candidate who can beat Trump than one they agree with on major issues, according to Edison Research exit polls in the states that voted on Tuesday as well as last week's Super Tuesday contests.

The overwhelming majority of these voters who cited beating Trump as the top priority - 61% in Michigan, 67% in Missouri, and 82% in Mississippi - voted for Biden, the polls show.

It was a stinging setback for Sanders, who just two weeks ago was riding high with back-to-back strong showings in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Wall Street investors fearful of a government takeover of healthcare dumped shares in health insurers, while Democratic Party insiders sounded the alarm that the self-described democratic socialist would not only lose to Trump in November but would also hurt the party's chances down ballot.

Biden, the moderate former vice president under Barack Obama, was helped in part by a wave of endorsements from moderate Democrats and former rivals, including Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar who ended their own presidential bids and rallied behind him. On the eve of the pivotal Michigan primary, former rivals Kamala Harris and Cory Booker stumped for Biden at a Detroit rally.

But progressives, whose loyalties had been split between Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who dropped out of the race on Thursday, have yet to close ranks around Sanders.

While nearly all of Biden's moderate rivals endorsed Biden after ending their own presidential bids, Warren has yet to throw her support behind her longtime progressive ally.

Some Warren supporters said they were unable to overcome concerns about Sanders electability or the perceived divisiveness of his supporters, despite agreeing with much of his policy platform.

Dooley, the Michigan teacher who voted for Biden, said she liked the platforms of both Sanders and Warren. But when Warren dropped out, Dooley said her personal admiration for Sanders could not bring her to vote for him. She said she was thinking about November.

For the general population, I feel that (Sanders) might be a little too liberal, Dooley said.

On Tuesday, even voters describing themselves as liberal broke for Biden in Missouri and Mississippi, and were evenly split between Biden and Sanders in Michigan, according to exit polls.

At the same time, many of the ideas Sanders has been taking around the country for the better part of the last five years appear popular among voters. Even in Mississippi, where Sanders was routed by a 66-point margin, 60% of voters said they favoured the idea behind Sanders' Medicare for All bill, replacing private healthcare with a single government plan for everyone.

Democrats right now arent necessarily voting on policies, said Andrew Feldman, a Democratic political consultant in Washington.

The reality is they're prioritising electability because of the unique threat of Trump, and they're saying that Biden is across the board more electable," he said.

TAKING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT

After losing the Democratic nomination to Clinton in 2016, Sanders built a formidable campaign apparatus for his 2020 run, bolstered by an army of devoted supporters who contributed small donations to his campaign in unprecedented numbers. [L4N2A00B6]

It all seemed to be paying off when he emerged out of Nevada's Feb. 22 caucuses as the clear delegate leader after three states had voted.

But exuberant crowds of 10,000 people or more at Sanders' rallies masked his narrow coalition of voters. His mostly young supporters did not turn out to the polls in large numbers, while Biden dominated among the older voters who did show up.

In Michigan, even as turnout surged from 1.2 million in 2016 to an estimated 1.7 million in 2020, Sanders' core base - voters between the ages of 18 and 29 - made up just 15% of the Democratic primary electorate, down at least 4 percentage points from four years ago.

Sanders showed little interest in reaching out to the Democratic Party's moderate wing, fuelling criticism that he, and his fiercest supporters are sowing intra-party division ahead of a bruising general election battle against Trump.

When Sanders campaign on Monday held a call with former Warren supporters to get their input on how to court those who have yet to back him, it did not go well, according to a person familiar with the call.

The Warren supporters suggested adopting some of her policies and addressing abusive language of some Sanders backers online, but found the campaign unwilling to take responsibility for the behaviour, the person said.

The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the call.

When Sanders emerged as a front-runner, Republicans began casting November's vote as "America vs. Socialism." Sanders' Democratic rivals warned that his history of positive comments about left-wing governments like Cuba and Venezuela would damage the party and play into some Americans' fears of a socialist takeover.

Gary Williams, a 64-year-old physical therapy assistant from Detroit, said he did not see Sanders as a socialist, but that he had a "message for the people."

Still, Williams said he feared that with what he called the establishment of the Democratic Party against Sanders, Biden was a better bet to beat Trump.

If you were to ask what Bidens message is, I dont even know, said Williams. He said he voted for Biden anyway.

That kind of singular focus among Democratic voters was on display at Biden's St. Louis rally.

Nortin, the substitute teacher, showed up wearing an t-shirt emblazoned with AOC, the acronym for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive lightning rod who has challenged the partys Old Guard and supports Sanders.

But 55-year-old Nortin said he's casting his lot with Biden with one thing in mind: We gotta get (Trump) out."

(Michael Martina reported from Detroit; Simon Lewis reported from Washington; Additional reporting by Amanda Becker and Joseph Ax and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Soyoung Kim and Marla Dickerson)
A week after hearing West Linn residents react with shock to his wrongful arrest, Portland resident Michael Fesser faced a different crowd Wednesday night, holding a community forum in his North Portland neighborhood.

The largely African American crowd wasnt at all surprised by the racial discrimination Fesser faced at his old A&B Towing Co. job and neither were they stunned by how a former Portland police veteran and West Linn police violated his rights.

Fesser, 48, won a $600,000 settlement from a federal suit against the West Linn police last month after earlier settling a discrimination and retaliation suit for $415,000 against his former boss, Eric Benson, owner of A&B Towing Co. in Portland.

I know theres a lot of pain and hurt here in this community, Fesser said, addressing a crowd of about 45 people in the auditorium of De La Salle North Catholic High School. Im here to hear from you guys. What does the community want? ... We can be stronger together.

His litigation revealed that West Linn police arrested Fesser in Southeast Portland on Feb. 25, 2017, on trumped-up theft charges as a favor to Benson, a friend of then-West Linn Police Chief Terry Timeus. Text messages exchanged between Benson and the lead West Linn detective hours before Fessers arrest were filled with racist, derogatory and crude banter. The text messages were disclosed during the course of Fessers suit against Benson.

Emails obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed that current West Linn Police Chief Terry Kruger also had a personal friendship with Fessers old boss, Benson.

Attendee William Davis told the crowd that hes trying to move beyond a 2007 arrest and clear his name. Community members need lawyers to help people who dont have the resources to fight their cases, he said.

Resident Aryic Payton said he was disturbed after reading of Fessers case that members of the West Linn Police Department werent going to take further action to hold officers involved accountable until other agencies, such as the Clackamas County District Attorneys Office, initiated investigations after the settlement with West Linn became public.

Many called for West Linns current police chief to resign or be fired.

This man cant possibly be the person to move them forward, said Paul Buchanan, Fessers lawyer. He called for Kruger to step aside.

Resident Jessica Johnson said she empathized with Fessers case, noting how then-West Linn police Lt. Mike Stradley had Portland police gang enforcement officers help West Linn police with Fessers arrest. Stradley had retired from the Portland Police Bureau before joining the West Linn force and characterized Fesser as a threat in 2017 based on his encounters with Fesser more than two decades earlier, court records show.

Just because we have a past doesnt mean that makes us who we are today, Johnson said.

Resident Jerry Lawrence thanked Fesser for standing up for his rights and urged people in the crowd to understand the rights they have and work to safeguard them. He also urged them to go out and vote.

If you dont know your rights, you have no rights, he said.

Joe Bean Keller vowed to keep pressure on Kruger to resign.

Kruger shot and killed Kellers son, Deontae J. Keller, 20, when he was a Portland police officer in 1996. Police said Deontae Keller was running from a car after a stop and had a .45-caliber handgun with him, but some witnesses disagreed. Kruger shot him in the back as he fled. He bled out in the yard of a home several blocks away, his father said.

A prosecutor at the time said Deontae Kellers involvement in a drive-by shooting an hour earlier made him dangerous. A Multnomah County grand jury found no criminal wrongdoing by Kruger.

Kellers father has argued for years that his sons shooting was unjustified.

It was one of Krugers two fatal shootings as a Portland officer and gave some West Linn City Council members pause when he was a finalist for police chief.

Kruger in 2005 shot Ronald R. Riebling Jr., who held an umbrella wrapped in a cloth when he came out of his ex-girlfriends duplex. Kruger thought the object was a rifle and fired one shot, killing Riebling.

Kruger was selected as West Linns chief by the former city manager Eileen Stein and started the job on June 4, 2018, the day Fessers lawyer had a notice of intent to sue hand-delivered to him at the police department.

On May 18, 2018, Stein wrote in a memo to the mayor and City Council that she selected Kruger from two finalists and indicated she realized he wasnt the candidate preferred by the majority of the council. Stein noted concerns raised about Krugers prior two deadly shooting while a Portland cop, and an off-duty drunken driving arrest from nearly 20 years ago in March 2001 that he disclosed to West Linn officials. The arrest ended with him completing a diversion program. Stein said she was swayed to select Kruger based on the substantial support and recommendation of West Linn command staff, her memo said.

Sam Sachs, who leads a Portland group called Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers to build relationships between residents and police, said he cant understand how West Linn residents could be so appalled by the actions of their police yet the lead West Linn investigator, Sgt. Tony Reeves, and Stradley, now a training supervisor at the states basic police academy, still have their jobs. Both were placed on paid leave last month, pending a U.S. Department of Justice investigation and other state and local inquiries into Fessers arrest.

We need action before we can move forward, Sachs said.

Teri Cummings, the West Linn City Council president, and two members of the new group Concerned Citizens of West Linn attended the meeting.

Abby Farber, one of the organizers of the Concerned Citizens, invited Portland residents to attend a March Against Racism in West Linn Saturday afternoon. The march will start at 1865 Blankenship Road and end at the West Linn Police Department, where participants will urge that Kruger and any other officers tied to Fessers case be removed and an independent board be created for police oversight.

Everybody is welcome to participate, she said. We want Terry Kruger off the force.

At the very least, Kruger should be placed on leave, said Kathy Selvaggio, another organizer of the Concerned Citizens group.

Kruger didnt return an email seeking comment late Wednesday.

Cummings said she was struck by the different responses at Fessers meeting last week with West Linn residents and Wednesday nights gathering with Portlanders.

West Linn was in shock, she said. This here was the opposite. People here were saying, This is the same old story.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

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This article is part of our latest special report on Design, which is about getting personal with customization.

The tumultuous period remembered as the 60s (although it extended well into the 1970s) was half a century ago, as far removed from 2020 as World War I was from Woodstock. Nonetheless that eras cultural awakening  an unwieldy hodgepodge of social, political and aesthetic insurgencies  has begun to seem fresh again, relevant (as they used to say) and potentially of practical use for navigating the turmoil of our present moment.

So it is entirely apropos that the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has mounted an exhibition called Radical: Italian Design 1965-1985, the Dennis Freedman Collection. (The show runs until April 26 and will travel to Yale Universitys School of Architecture in 2021.)
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Linkedin Elly Burhaini Faizal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 08:08 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069f3671 1 Opinion public-health,health-ministry,#commentary,Endang-Rahayu-Sedyaningsih,Nafsiah-Mboi,avian-influenza,outbreak,outbreak-in-Indonesia Free

This is a story about two health ministers, the late Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih and Nafsiah Naf Mboi. When covering health issues from 2010 to 2013, I was deeply impressed with their strong leadership, which is crucial to helping Indonesia achieve its dream of being an overall healthy nation.

Each leader has his or her own challenges, and no policy can be based on a one-size-fits-all philosophy, so this is not an analytical comparison of ministers.

Nevertheless, we may be fortunate that amid the COVID-19 coronavirus scare, previous ministers have left useful legacies, including Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto. With many natural disaster-prone areas and a high migration rate, Indonesia cannot be free from endemic diseases and infection transmissions. But with their solid leadership, Bu Endang and Bu Naf at least instilled confidence that the government could handle emergencies while prioritizing public health and safety.

Appointed on Oct. 22, 2009, to replace health minister Siti Fadillah Supari, Endang, a former adviser for the World Health Organization, initiated many programs to improve public health. She prioritized healthcare reforms to combat the stubbornly high rates of not only infectious diseases but also malnutrition and maternal and child mortality.

The reforms to improve public health were part of her vision to achieve national targets under the global Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

When Indonesia faced potential threats from the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) in 2011, Endang explained the avian influenza virus was endemic to bird species and that it rarely infected humans, but she also reminded everyone to remain on guard against possible mutations of the virus into new subtypes that could easily infect humans.

She did not want us to take the situation lightly despite the very low number of recorded cases of human infection at the time.

The bird flu virus could mutate or even directly infect humans and start to develop into an influenza pandemic, she said in September 2011. No one knew when the virus would infect humans and under what circumstances.

To cope with the threat, the government improved the BSL-3 Laboratory, which has the capacity to contain agents that could cause severe or lethal disease as a result of contact or inhalation, under the Health Ministrys Health Research and Development Agency (Balitbangkes). The ministry also cooperated with the Agriculture Ministry, which conducted inspections to detect sick chickens, while requiring poultry breeders to implement hygiene procedures.

The Health Ministry prepared hospitals, ambulances and other emergency facilities and ensured all health workers, including in community health centers (Puskesmas), were well-prepared to handle bird flu patients. Oseltamivir tablets were provided free everywhere for people at risk of infection.

Endang was widely appreciated for the transparency she showed regarding hospital capacity to handle bird flu. She explained that of the 100 hospitals assigned since 2007 as referral centers for avian influenza, only a few facilities had airborne infection isolation rooms with the required negative pressure.

Conducting lab tests was an expertise the government sought to develop at the time to tackle the disease. This was because further tests, involving virus sequencing, was needed for more accuracy, following the swab test results of suspected H5N1 patients. Not all labs had this capacity, Endang admitted. The Health Ministry oversaw all labs to ensure they observed proper standard operating procedures and assessed whether lab personnel could use reagents test kits properly.

Evidently, Endang had sufficient expertise in public health, but always remained faithful to the rules.

Her successor, Nafsiah, displayed a similar willingness to work with other health professionals whose advice she heeded.

Nafsiah responded quickly to reports of the spread of a new strain of the H5N1 virus. While asserting that Indonesia had no cases of human infection, the minister nevertheless wanted all parties to anticipate the possibility of animal-human transmission.

Nafsiah said Indonesias success in combating the H5NI virus that killed both chickens and humans was not a reason to become complacent because the virus could rapidly mutate.

To prevent the spread of the new strain, the government temporarily stopped importing poultry products from Australia.

The former secretary of the National AIDS Commission also persistently pushed for greater youth access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services to better avoid unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS.

Once misquoted as propagating condomization or free-condom giveaways to students and adolescents, Nafsiah relentlessly campaigned on the importance of condom use, especially for those considered at high risk, explaining that condoms were still the most effective form of HIV prevention and control.

Under her ministry leadership, fewer babies born to HIV-positive mothers tested positive, thanks to the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment received by the pregnant women under her policy of strategic antiretroviral drug use. With expanded access of ARV treatment, the case fatality rate (CFR) of infections was reduced to as low as 0.4 percent of total cases as of June 2014.

Many of Nafsiahs tasks suited her concern for providing healthcare services for women and children. She also played a key role in the issuance of a 2012 governmental regulation on tobacco control to curb smoking addiction, especially among children.

Both ministers always laid out their policies in clear and well-measured statements, which left little room for polemicizing, and remained highly resolute when undertaking their duties.

They serve as role models for public health leadership. Suddenly, I miss Bu Endang and Bu Naf very badly.
The outbreak and spread of coronavirus in the country have led to an alarming 45 per cent drop in footfalls in automobile showrooms across the country over the last one week and may impact stock clearance ahead of the March 31 BS VI transition deadline, dealer body Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) warned on Thursday.

It is getting progressively worse. Footfalls declined by 10-15 per cent in the first week of this month and have deepened between 25-45 per cent over the last five days.

The association said inventory levels for two-wheelers at 20-25 days continue posing a problem and while the overall consumer sentiment in the market remained low, news of the spread of the virus has added to the challenge for the dealer community.

"Dealers are now facing a new challenge with coronavirus cases being detected in India and an alarming drop in customer walk-ins in auto showrooms. The overall uncertainty of the situation due to coronavirus and the huge drops in the share markets, further contribute to the already weakened sentiment as purchase decisions are getting postponed," said Ashish Harshraj Kale, president, FADA. As it is, banks and NBFCs are getting into a cautious mode with regards to financing BS-IV stocks and many RTOs across the country prescribing their own cut-off dates for permanent registration, retails of 100 per cent of dealer inventory of BS-IV stocks continue to be a challenge.

"Supply of BS-VI vehicles is also affected due to the coronavirus situation in China and an already difficult transition has become even more difficult due to this unexpected outbreak all around. Due to all this, the outlook for the month of March is negative," he added.

The domestic automobile industry posted a marginal growth in overall retail sales in February after three months of continual decline. Sale of two-wheelers posted a 1.5 per cent growth during the month, while commercial vehicles grew by 13 per cent and three-wheelers galloped at 20.7 per cent. Passenger vehicles, however, posted a marginal 1.2 per cent decline in sales.

With the focus firmly on liquidation of all BS IV compliant vehicles before March 31, after which they will not be registered anywhere in the country, dealers are worried over high inventory levels in the two-wheeler segment where a stock-out may be a challenge by the end of the month.

"Despite year-on-year growth, overall retail sales were much below expectations as the expected pre-buying for the BS-IV stocks was not seen. Many customers held on to their purchase decision expecting sweeter deals towards the end of March," Kale said. "On the inventory front, two-wheeler inventory of BS-IV vehicles remains a serious concern. We have urged two-wheeler companies to handhold dealers for full liquidation of their BS-IV stocks. Our survey reveals a high number of two-wheeler dealers will not be able to fully liquidate their BS-IV inventory and have expressed inadequate support from their OEMs for this."

While the average range of inventory for BS IV stocks in passenger and commercial vehicle segments ranges between 10-15 days, the same for two-wheelers remains high at 20-25 days. A majority of the dealers also expect a de-growth in sales in March with more than 80 per cent saying the sentiment was either bad or neutral. The outbreak of the coronavirus, which is grabbing headlines worldwide, is also impacting footfalls and may impair the ability of the industry to clear existing stocks.

"We would once again very seriously urge the government to look towards a relief package for the auto Industry with temporary reduction in GST till return of stability and a financially attractive scrapage policy," he added. "It will also help in reviving CV sales which currently is the worst hit."
Telangana Rashtra Samithis parliamentary party leader Kancherla Kesava Rao was on Thursday re-nominated as the party candidate for Rajya Sabha elections for a second term.

TRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao cleared the name of Kesava Rao for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats that are falling vacant next month. He announced the candidature of K R Suresh Reddy, former speaker of combined Andhra Pradesh, for the second seat.

The TRS, which has 104 members in the 119-member state Assembly can easily win both the Rajya Sabha seats.

Kesava Rao, who got elected to Rajya Sabha on a TRS ticket in March 2014, before the bifurcation of the combined Andhra Pradesh, was allotted to residuary Andhra Pradesh through lottery after bifurcation, while Congress candidate K V P Ramachandra Rao, who belongs to Andhra, was allotted to Telangana.

Eighty-year old Kesava Rao had been associated with the Congress for four decades and held several positions including PCC president. In 2013, he quit the Congress to join the TRS and has been playing a vital role in the party since then.

On the other hand, Suresh Reddy, who represented the assembly from Armoor in Nizamabad district, was also associated with the Congress party holding several positions including cabinet minister and state assembly speaker. He joined the TRS before the state assembly elections in 2018.

An official release from the CMO said both the TRS candidates will file their nominations on Friday. They thanked the chief minister for choosing them as party candidates for the Rajya Sabha, the release added.

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New Delhi, March 12 : A Delhi court has sent Popular Front of India (PFI) Delhi Chief Parvez Ahmed and Secretary Mohammad Iliyas to 7-day custody of the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

The duo were produced before Additional Chief Metropolitian Magistrate Purshottam Pathak who sent them to police custody.

The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested them earlier in the day in connection with the Delhi riots.

"The duo have been arrested for their alleged role in instigating the people during the Delhi riots," a senior official told IANS over the phone.

"Their role has also surfaced in the funding of the riots," the officer said.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

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During the spread of coronavirus here in New Jersey and worldwide, weve heard lots of questions from you on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. We wanted to do our best to answer your frequently asked questions.

The situation with COVID-19 is constantly changing, so well update this information and add more over time. As always, reach out to us on social media if you have a question for us.

Is there a vaccine for coronavirus?

No. Pharmaceutical companies, including New Jerseys Johnson & Johnson, are working on a vaccine, but its unlikely it will be ready anytime soon.

When will the coronavirus pandemic end?

Nobody knows for sure. Some experts think warmer, humid weather may control the spread of the virus the way it does the flu, but coronavirus is so new, disease experts arent sure what to expect.

Can I still travel out of state?

Yes, but the CDC says to stay out of China, Iran, France, South Korea and Italy, where the volume of coronavirus cases is high. Additionally, travel to Europe has been halted. Older folks should not travel to Japan and consider postponing cruises. New Jersey has canceled international business travel for its state workers.

Should I be stocking up on food and cleaning supplies?

You should be ready to stay home for two weeks, just in case.

Will I get paid if my boss orders me to stay home due to coronavirus?

Maybe, but it depends on your employer.

Where are the N.J. cases of coronavirus?

This map shows the location of coronavirus cases here in New Jersey. We are constantly updating this map as we get word of new cases from the Department of Health.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

First presenting symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath.

How can I tell if I have the flu or a cold, rather than coronavirus?

Thats a big reason why if you have symptoms like these, you are supposed to stay home from work just to make sure you arent contributing to the spread of coronavirus. If you have similar symptoms, call your doctor and begin monitoring your condition.

How do I get tested for coronavirus?

There are specific criteria, but it all starts with talking to a doctor. Not everyone who wants a test is going to get one. You have to have the symptoms AND have been in a place where theres a lot of coronavirus or been in contact with someone who has coronavirus or have symptoms that are so severe you need to be hospitalized. If all thats true, your case gets reviewed by the Department of Health, among others, and then you can get tested. The good news? The test is free.

Whats the test like?

A doctor will have you cough into a cup, then take a swab from your nose and throat. Results come back in two days or less.

If I have coronavirus, whats next?

Your doctor will determine the next steps. Patients are typically kept in isolation to keep from spreading the disease. The vast majority of cases do not produce serious symptoms. Some older folks and those with compromised immune systems are at greater risk. Thats why its important to talk to your doctor.

If you get the virus, can you get it again?

Harvard Medical School says its likely that coronavirus patients will have at least a short-term immunity to the virus once they recover from it. Just like the flu, coronavirus could mutate. Medical professionals are still learning about how coronavirus works.

What does New Jerseys State of Emergency mean?

The State of Emergency due to the coronavirus doesnt have any real effect on you yet. Governors use the law to help organize and distribute money, staffing and other resources to communities affected by the event. If there are any restrictions put in place, NJ.com will have all the details.

What if public schools close?

Remote learning days will be counted toward instruction days for New Jersey public school students, the state has said. Schools are making plans for potential closings, and its important to check with your school district to see what the plans are for students to work at home.

What if colleges and universities close?

New Jersey colleges and universities are making contingency plans for online learning to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus. In most cases, remote instruction days will count the same as in-person instruction days. Check with your school to get the specific details.

Is the CDC going door-to-door to check for coronavirus?

No. Some New Jersey communities have issued warnings that you should not fall for a scam like this. Health officials are not coming to your house to test you. If someone knocks on your door claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dont open the door, but do call the police.

Hook me up with a recipe for DIY sanitizer.

Its not safe to make your own. Youre better off using soap and water.

What is price gouging and how do those rules work?

Price gouging happens during a state of emergency when a merchant raises prices more than 10% above the pre-state of emergency prices. If you see evidence of price gouging, file a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs.

Can you be ordered to quarantine?

The state can order folks to quarantine, but that has not yet happened.

Will offices close?

Private businesses may close or allow employees to work at home. Speak with your employer to understand all of your options.

Will New Jersey state offices close?

State offices have not closed yet. NJ.com will carry the news if state offices are closed. The state has eliminated overseas travel for its employees.

Do I still have to report for jury duty?

Yes. Courts are still open.

What if my drivers license, registration runs out during concerns over coronavirus?

Right now, nothing has changed and youd still be liable if those expire. But a New Jersey politician is asking that folks deadlines to renew be extended. If that happens, well carry the news about this on NJ.com.
HELSINKI - A Finnish court has jailed in a custody hearing a 50-year-old Sierra Leone man suspected of committing serious war crimes and crimes against humanity from 1999 through 2003 during Liberias bloody second civil war.

The man is suspected of several murders, gross human rights abuses in exceptional circumstances, aggravated war crimes and an aggravated rape, said the Pirkanmaa District Court during Thursdays hearing in the southern city of Tampere.

The man wasnt publicly named but the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, citing court documents, identified him as Gibril Ealoghima Massaquoi, a citizen of Liberias neighbour Sierra Leone who had lived in Finland for more than 10 years.

Official charges against Massaquol need to be filed by the end of January 2021, the Finnish court said.

Massaquoi was arrested on Tuesday by Finlands National Bureau of Investigation, or NBI, in his hometown of Tampere, a key Finnish industrial and university town, where according to Iltalehti he has a regular job and a family with children.

Aamulehti, another Finnish newspaper, said Massaquoi had lived a modest life in a dire financial situation in Tampere over the past years but stressed the African wasnt hiding. It wasnt immediately clear how he ended up living in the Nordic nation of 5.5 million.

Finnish police first became aware of accusations against Massaquoi in 2018 through information provided by an unnamed Finnish non-governmental organization, Thomas Elfgren, NBI inspector in charge of the case, told the Finnish news agency STT.

The court charges claimed the suspect had held a leading position in the Revolutionary United Front, a rebel army in Sierra Leone which was involved in the Liberian civil war.

Following a preliminary investigation, the Prosecutor General  Finlands supreme prosecution official  issued an order to proceed with Massaquois case, Elfgren said.

He said a team of Finnish police investigators have visited Liberia on several occasions since early 2019 to hear dozens of witnesses in co-operation with Liberian authorities in the complex criminal case.

Massaquoi is the first non-Liberian to be held accountable in connection with the African nations brutal first and second civil wars that are estimated to killed at least 500,000 people.
Visitor restrictions are being imposed for federal courts in Massachusetts to limit the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus, officials said Thursday.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has announced that some groups of people are now prohibited from entering federal courthouses and probation offices.

That restriction applies to people who have traveled to China, Italy, Iran, Japan and South Korea in the last 14 days, according to a public notice. The list of countries could be expanded.

Federal courthouses are located in Boston, Worcester and Springfield. The courthouses will remain open, but with limitations that will remain in place until it is safe to remove them, according to a notice signed by Clerk of Court Robert M. Farrell and an order by Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV.

The courts are also prohibiting anyone who resides with or has had close contact with someone who has traveled to those countries in the last 14 days, according to the notice.

People who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have had contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with the respiratory illness are also prohibited from entering.

Additionally, entry to federal courthouses and probation offices will be denied to people who have been asked to self-quarantine by any doctor, hospital or health agency or anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, severe cough or shortness of breath.

Anyone who is unable to appear in court for those reasons is asked to contact their attorney. Attorneys who are impacted and scheduled to appear in court before a judge should contact that session directly.

Effective immediately, all jury trials scheduled to begin before April 27 are continued pending further order of the court and all trial-specific deadlines in criminal cases scheduled to begin before April 27 are continued pending further order of the court, according to the notice by Saylor.

The court is cognizant of the right of criminal defendants to a speedy and public trial under the Sixth Amendment, and the particular application of that right in cases involving defendants who are detained pending trial, Saylor wrote. Any motion by a criminal defendant seeking an exception to this order in order to exercise that right should be directed to the District Judge assigned to the matter in the first instance provided, however, that no such exception may be ordered without the approval of the Chief Judge after consultation with the court.

Individual judges can hold hearings, conferences and trials with their own discretion, Saylor wrote. Judges are encouraged to conduct proceedings by telephone or video conferencing.

Grand juries will continue to meet and criminal matters like first appearances, arraignments, detention hearings and the issuance of search warrants will continue, Saylor wrote.

Those who are scheduled to meet with probation or pretrial services are asked to call 617-748-4200. Jurors are asked to call 617-748-9082.

For other district court matters, anyone can call the clerks office at 617-748-9152.

Related Content:
A medic looks at a patient who is under surveillance for coronavirus (COVID -19) in an isolation ward in Hyderabad, on March 10, 2020. (PTI)

Hyderabad: Health authorities in Hyderabad have quarantined a nurse in the emergency section of a private hospital who came in contact with a 76-year-old patient from Kalaburagi who died on Tuesday and was subsequently confirmed to have been coronavirus positive.

The 76-year-old man, a native of Kalaburagi, had been brought to Hyderabad from a hospital in Bidar with lung complications. Mohammed Hussein Siddiqui was kept in the emergency room which was separated from others.

Telangana health officials visited the private hospital late on Thursday and counselled the nurse to practice self-isolation. They have asked the hospital to check on her daily. The nurse is asymptomatic now.
WASHINGTON (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. [nL1N2B42RU]

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)
DANBURY  Police have arrested a city man suspected of carrying out a shooting at Castello Restaurant that left two people injured in January.

Andrew Fermin, 29, was charged Thursday with two counts of first-degree assault in the Jan. 11 shooting.

Police said they were called to the Danbury Hospital emergency room early that morning for a man and a woman people being treated for gunshot wounds.

It was determined that each victim received a gunshot wound to their leg, while in the bar area of Castellos restaurant at approximately 3:15 a.m. that morning, Det. Sergeant. Adam Marcus said in a post to the departments Facebook page.

Police said a fight broke out between Fermin and the male victim.

During this fight, Fermin brandished a pistol and fired off one shot, as he was falling to the floor after being struck, Marcus said.

The bullet passed through the mans leg and hit the womans leg as she was standing behind him, Marcus said.

Police tracked down Fermin with the assistance of the US Marshalls violent fugitive task force, and arrested him at a residence in Danbury, Marcus said.

At the time of this shooting, Fermin had been wanted for absconding from parole and for an active arrest warrant from a gun-related incident, which occurred in Danbury during February 2018, Marcus said.

The investigation determined the management at Castellos restaurant, located at 2 Padanaram Road, had also broken state liquor law, which was referred to the state Liqour Commission.

Fermin was also charged with criminal possession of a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and carrying a pistol without a permit.

His bond was set at $250,000.
The University System of Georgia has announced that all 26 USG institutions will remain open for face-to-face education at this time amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a message sent to the presidents of all USG insitutitions and forwarded to the University of Georgia community.
New Delhi/Mumbai, March 12 : Arrested Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, who along with his family members owned 78 shell companies, was the one who handled and controlled the affairs of these companies, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials said.

Rana Kapoor, who was arrested early on March 8 was further sent to ED custody till March 16 by a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here in connection with the case.

A senior ED official related to the probe in Mumbai told IANS, "During investigation it was found that 78 shell companies were owned by the family of Kapoor, including his wife Bindu and three daughters -- Roshini Kapoor, Raakhee Kapoor Tandon and Radha Kapoor Khanna." The official said that Rana Kapoor was the person who "controlled and managed" the affairs of these 78 companies.

A senior investigative agency official related to the probe in Delhi said that Kapoor's wife Bindu Kapoor was director in at least 42 companies, many of them investment companies, out of which some of them have been named in the FIR registered by the CBI for receiving kickbacks to the tune of Rs 600 crore from DHFL as a builder loan.

The official claimed that Bindu was a director in the main investment and holding companies associated with Kapoor, including Morgan Credits, Yes Capital (India), DoIt umbrella companies, RAB among others.

The majority of these companies are realty nomenclatured like Bliss, Imagine, Mantra where the suspicion is that the money was siphoned off into realty ventures. In Delhi alone, Rana Kapoor had three bungalows.

Meanwhile, Roshini Kapoor is the director of Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd and Doit Urban Ventures, Raakhee Kapoor Tandon is also the director of Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd and Radha Kapoor Khanna is the director of Morgan Credits Pvt Ltd and Doit Urban Ventures (India) Pvt Ltd.

The ED official further said that during investigation, the amount of the loans sanctioned by Yes Bank was found to have gone up from Rs 4,300 crore to Rs 30,000 crore.

"Of the Rs 30,000 crore, Rs 20,000 was turned into non-performing assets (NPAs). The flow of transaction needs to be probed in detail. How has the money been siphoned off? The ED is calling key management persons to be confronted with Kapoor," the ED official said.

He also claimed Kapoor has not been cooperating in the investigation and as yet he has not disclosed the proceeds of the crime.

The ED has questioned Yes Bank chief Ravneet Gill for two days in the case and asked him questions about the amount of loans shooting up. The officer further said that the agency is going to summon other former Directors and corporates who got loans from the Yes Bank or whose loans were restructured by the bank.

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 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)
RICHMOND  Virginias General Assembly on Thursday passed its two-year budget, which includes pay raises for public school teachers and nearly $80 million for colleges and universities that freeze tuition for the upcoming school year.

The legislature approved the budget five days after it was scheduled to adjourn its 60-day session. Newly empowered Democrats touted the $135 billion budget , which contains significant funding increases for public education , health care equity and affordability, and worker compensation.

We made history today, Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement. This session the Appropriations Committee worked to create a budget that would reflect the values and the needs of all Virginians. We aimed to raise employee compensation, increase workforce equity, and make health care and higher education more accessible for all Virginians.

The approval vote came after a few Senate Republicans urged colleagues delay approving the budget for a few days while uncertain economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic become clearer.

It is going to have an economic impact on our commonwealth, said Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg.

Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment, R-James City, said the coronavirus outbreak would undoubtedly affect tourism, travel, retail and manufacturing. He said to expect a decline in sales tax revenue.

We are in troubling and uncertain times, acknowledged Sen. Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee. We dont know whats going to happen next.

Still, she urged the Senate to approve the budget. Legislators can work on developing contingencies to send Gov. Ralph Northam for consideration as he takes a final look before sending back changes for the legislature to take up on April 22. Shortly after the General Assembly approved the budget on Thursday, Northam declared a state of emergency, which gives him more flexibility in spending and procurement.

Howell added that the state has nearly $2 billion in rainy-day funds as a buffer during uncertain times. She said not voting on the budget would send a distressing signal to Virginians.

I think we need to be steady and firm at this point, she said. Passing the budget will send that message.

Higher education

When Republicans controlled the legislature last year, they approved additional funding to Virginias public colleges and universities if the institutions froze tuition for in-state students.

After some doubt over whether that would continue and some negotiating among new Democratic leaders, the 2020 General Assembly approved nearly $80 million for a tuition freeze in the first year. It also increased need-based financial aid by more than $60 million.

Lawmakers also approved $69 million for Northams new program to provide tuition-free community college attendance opportunities to middle and low-income students in high demand professional fields.

The legislature also approved funding for various higher education buildings, such as $101 million for the Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity planned for Radford Universitys main campus and $11 million to replace Virginia Techs Randolph Hall, which is largely used by the College of Engineering.

Lawmakers also approved $6 million to help equalize tuition following Radford Universitys merger with the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke.

K-12 education

The budget provides $290 million for a 2% salary increase each year for teachers, as the state tries to raise teacher salaries that lag behind much of the country.

Northam originally called for a $1.2 billion increase to the supplement known as the at risk-add on that provides more per-pupil funding for each low-income student. The final budget included $61 million.

To help schools suffering from enrollment loss  which is especially problematic in small and rural divisions  the budget includes $4.6 million for relief.

Small and rural schools had been advocating all year for state funding to help with school construction needs. The new biennial budget increases the Virginia Lotterys proceeds based on per-pupil amounts to $263 million in the first year and $266 million in the second year.

Of that, $79 million in the first year and $107 million in the second year is required to be spent on school construction, renovation and modernization of classrooms, or on debt service on school infrastructure projects.

The budget also provides funding as an incentive for the Alleghany County and Covington school divisions to consolidate in the face of declining enrollment. The two school divisions have been discussing consolidation for years as a way to offer better education to all students and aid school buildings upkeep.

Health care

Legislators stripped $20 million for over two years requested by Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to support 56 additional beds at Catawba Hospital in Roanoke County that the department said would be used to temporarily alleviate overcrowding.

The department began adding beds last year without the General Assemblys approval by using funds it had on hand.

This doesnt have to do with Catawba, specifically, but this has to do with our goal of providing community-based services, Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, said about eliminating the $20 million.

The budget does include $5 million in special funding to cover the cost of caring for patients in those beds until they can be phased out.

The budget also provides for an adult dental benefit for Medicaid recipients. The state will add $34 million for the benefit, but the federal government would pay $91 million.

The final budget does not include a proposal from Northam for $146 million for a new reinsurance program to lower health insurance premiums. Multiple legislators who examined that aspect had concerns about the cost. The governors administration will come up with a plan for the program next year.

Economic development

The budget includes $70 million over the next two years for broadband expansion.

Virginia has lost manufacturing business to other states with comprehensive economic development proposals. In an effort to assist business recruitment with high-paying jobs, the budget has set aside $12.5 million.

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Police are investigating Paivi Rasanen, a Christian Parliament Member in Finland, for a 2019 tweet of Romans 24-27, which questioned her church for supporting a LGBT event.

According to The Christian Post, Rasanen has been a member of Parliament since 1995 and chaired the Christian Democrat Party. Police are looking into interviews she also gave to a television program and radio station on her beliefs.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, a US-based international law firm, is representing Rasanen and says this is not the first time shes been investigated for alleged hate speech.

The Prosecutor General initiated a second, third, and fourth investigation, said ADF. These concerned a pamphlet that Rasanen wrote more than 16 years ago outlining the official teaching of her own church on human sexuality, a television interview, and a radio interview. Despite the police previously concluding that no crime had been committed, the Prosecutor General re-opened the file.

In 2018, Rasanen was interviewed on TV and discussed religious beliefs with the presenter. The next year, Rasanen answered the question, What would Jesus think about homosexuals? in a radio interview that stirred controversy.

In a free society, everyone should be allowed to share their beliefs without fear of censorship, said Paul Coleman, executive director of ADF International and author of Censored: How European Hate Speech Laws are Threatening Freedom of Speech.

This is the foundation of every free and democratic society. Criminalizing speech through so-called hate-speech laws shuts down important public debates and poses a grave threat to our democracies. These sorts of cases create a culture of fear and censorship and are becoming all too common throughout Europe, he said.

Rasanen is concerned with the polices radical response.

I never thought I would face a criminal investigation for sharing my deeply held beliefs, she said. It came as a total surprise. As a Christian and a democratically elected Member of Parliament, I have often heard things with which I disagreesometimes very strongly. At times, I have felt insulted. I believe the best response to this is more debate, not censorship.

Photo courtesy: Eurooppalainen Suomi ry/Creative Commons

Mikaela Mathews is a freelance writer and editor based in Dallas, TX. She was the editor of a local magazine and a contributing writer for the Galveston Daily News and Spirit Magazine.
President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and several Trump family members on Saturday were in close contact with a Brazilian official who was diagnosed with coronavirus disease on Thursday.

Fabio Wajngarten, media director and press secretary of the Brazilian cabinet, was part of a delegation with Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and other high-profile officials who visited President Trumps Florida seaside resort at Mar-a-Lago on a business mission on Saturday, according to the Brazilian newspaper O Estadao de Sao Paolo.

In a photo, posted by Wajngarten to Instagram, one can see Vice President Pence, President Trump, and Wajngarten shoulder to shoulder smiling at the camera and holding up caps emblazoned with the logo Make Brazil Great Again.

After an initial meeting, the two delegations had a working lunch at Mar-a-Lago, which was attended by several members of the Trump family, including his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, both aides to the president, as well as Pence.

In a statement provided by Bolsonaros office, it said it was adopting all the necessary preventive measures to preserve the health of the president and the delegation that accompanied him on the recent official trip to the United States. It also said it had informed U.S. officials so they could take appropriate cautionary measures, The New York Times reported.

The statement also said Wajngarten tested positive on two individual tests after developing flu-like symptoms.

The White House was told about the test so that they can adopt the necessary cautionary measures, Brazils government said.

Trumps press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the White House was made aware of reports that the official tested positive after visiting Mar-a-Lago last weekend.

Exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps. Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time, she said. As stated before, the White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy.

Trump said he is not concerned about the possible consequences of the interaction he had with Bolsonaro, Wajngarten, and their team. He said, we did nothing very unusual.

Lets put it this way: Im not concerned, Trump told reporters during his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Washington on Thursday. Trump said that he hasnt shaken hands with Varadkar and his associates. Its a very strange feeling, Trump said of this new code of conduct.

Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who met with Bolsonaro this week, announced he was going into a voluntarily two-week self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
The district administration on Thursday held a 'Dandi March' in the collectorate premises in a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

The officials took an oath that they would never show laxity in work, District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said.

Pandey instructed the officials not to sit on files related to public grievances.

"As per the declaration of the central government, the150thbirth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi will be celebrated for the whole year," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Albuquerque, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TriCore Reference Laboratories is now performing a molecular diagnostic test of respiratory specimens for COVID-19 virus. The test is provided under the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Decisions for COVID-19 testing should be based on symptoms as assessed by a healthcare provider and performed for symptomatic patients. Patients should contact their healthcare provider and appropriate specimens should be collected by the healthcare provider and sent to TriCore for testing. Providers should follow guidelines for specimen collection and notification as defined by the CDC and New Mexico Department of Health. Current information about specimen collection, testing, and TriCores response to COVID-19 can be found at www.tricore.org/covid_19.

As New Mexicos premier clinical laboratory, TriCore is addressing this public health emergency. Douglas Clark, MD, TriCores Chief Medical Officer, says TriCore is mobilized to address the needs of communities throughout the state. We are collaborating with healthcare providers to provide rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 infection.

As part of TriCores response to this public health need, we are working closely with the New Mexico Department of Health State Laboratory to increase state-wide testing capacity, says Dr. Michael Crossey, MD, PhD, TriCores CEO.

Attachment
A person who was suspected of being infected with coronavirus and who was quarantined a day ago was returned to the Clinical Medical Center #1 in Azerbaijans capital Baku, Trend reports on March 11 referring to the Center.

Presently, this person is on quarantine in the Clinical Medical Center, the statement said.

One of the individuals on quarantine left the hospital without a doctors permission on March 10, the statement said. A team of doctors returned him to the Center, and he was told that he must not leave the hospital without permission.

Presently, there are six people in the ward, the statement said. Their medical check-up results are negative. They are not infected. At the end of quarantine, they will be discharged."

The information was previously disseminated by media outlets that one of the individuals suspected of being infected with coronavirus ran away from the Clinical Medical Center.
The Ministry of Defense of Armenia has issued a statement on the spread of coronavirus. The statement reads as follows:

Due to the new cases of coronavirus recorded in Armenia, the Armed Forces of Armenia continue to take preventive and anti-epidemic actions to improve the health conditions of servicemen and avoid possible complications.

Taking into consideration the aforementioned and with the purpose of preventing penetration of the virus into the armed forces, the Ministry of Defense urges:

to limit visits to structures subject to the Ministry of Defense of Armenia (administrative complex, military units, military education and military-medical institutions (hospitals)) as much as possible;

to wear face masks when visiting the aforementioned institutions, if it is strictly necessary.
Oil prices slumped again on Thursday amid a broader market rout after the United States banned travel from Europe following a declaration that the coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic.

Follow live updates on coronavirus cases here

The threat of a flood of cheap supply compounded market concerns as Saudi Arabia promised to raise oil output to a record high in a standoff with Russia.

Brent crude was trading down $2.12, or 5.9%, at $33.67 by around 0214 GMT, having flipped in and out of positive territory before the U.S. announcement. The contract fell nearly 4% on Thursday.

U.S. crude was down $1.87, or 5.7%, at $31.11 after dropping 4% in the previous session.

Oil is down around 50% from highs reached in January.

Global shares also crumbled after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will suspend all travel from Europe as he unveiled measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic.

"Travel restrictions equal slower global economic activity, so if you need any more coaxing to sell sell sell sell ... it just fell in your lap," said Stephen Innes, markets strategist at AxiCorp.

On supply, the United Arab Emirates followed Saudi Arabia in announcing plans to boost oil output after the collapse last week of an agreement between OPEC, Russia and other producers, a grouping known as OPEC+, to withhold supply and buttress prices.

UAE's national oil company, ADNOC, said it plans to raise crude sales to more than 4 million barrels per day (bpd) and accelerate a push to boost capacity by a quarter to 5 million bpd.

"Without OPEC+, the global oil market has lost its regulator and now only market mechanisms can dictate the balance between supply and demand," said Espen Erlingsen, head of upstream research at Rystad Energy, which estimates that oil will need to fall to the low $20s to achieve equilibrium.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have slashed forecasts for oil demand because of the coronavirus outbreak and now expect demand to contract this quarter.

Still, weekly data on U.S. inventories showed minimal effects from the coronavirus pandemic. Crude stocks increased by 7.7 million barrels, but inventories of gasoline and diesel fell sharply, as refining runs remain at seasonally low levels.
12 Mar  Bianca Manalo recently urged the public to be tolerant and not hoard supplies in fear of the pandemic.

On 10 March, the actress took to Instagram to relay her message, saying that people should not fall victim to panic-shopping.

"Please please do not hoard. Pity our fellow Filipinos who live on their daily wages, who can only afford to buy what they need when they receive their daily or weekly salaries. When they go to buy their needs, the shelves will be empty," she wrote.

Manalo stated that while she hated to admit it, it is the upper class that may cause the shortage and increase of price.

"Pantries will be full in the exclusive villages, while the poorer man will have little choices..." she added.

The Philippines is currently placed under a state of public health emergency as more coronavirus cases are reported.

(Photo Source: Bianca Manalo Instagram)
A bill that would strengthen seat belt laws for youth ages 8 to 17 has passed the Oklahoma House with a vote of 78-18.

House Bill 2791, by State Rep. Ross Ford (R-Broken Arrow), would require every person under the age of 18 to wear a seat belt when riding in the back seat of a passenger vehicle in Oklahoma.

According to information from AAA, Oklahoma is the only state in the nation without a law requiring children 8 to 17 to wear a seat belt when riding in the back seat of passenger vehicles, and the state currently ranks 50th nationwide in protecting children in car crashes  the leading cause of death and injury to those 8 and older in our state. The organization says that over half of deaths and serious injuries in car crashes can be prevented with proper use of seat belts.

As a former police officer, there was absolutely nothing worse than working an accident scene where a child died because they were not wearing a seat belt, Ford said in a media release. This law will help us avoid such needless tragedies in the future.

Currently, state law requires only youth ages 8 or younger to wear a seatbelt while riding in the backseat of a moving vehicle. Other than that, only the driver and front-seat passenger are required to be belted.

Ford worked with AAA Oklahoma, Safe Kids Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) to draft the legislation, which is supported by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma Hospital Association, the Oklahoma Sheriffs Association, chiefs of police organizations throughout the state and many others. In total, 36 state organizations joined together to express support for this change in statute.

Data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office show 67 children ages 8 to 17 were injured and 16 were killed in 2017 in Oklahoma who werent wearing seat belts.

The bill now moves to the state Senate where Sen. Darrell Weaver (R-Moore) is the Senate author.

Source: Oklahoma House of Representatives

Related:

Topics Legislation Oklahoma
(TNS)  T-Mobile promised to provide free internet for low-income customers and reduced-cost plans for five years under a settlement the company reached with California that ends a lawsuit the state filed to block the companys merger with Sprint.Up to 10 million low-income households in the U.S. with children in school will be eligible for free broadband internet through the agreement, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced on Wednesday.The five-year deal includes $700 million worth of WiFi hotspot devices. California cant exceed more than 2 million total devices and connections each year.The agreement commits the company for five years to offering California customers a $15 per month plan that includes unlimited talk, text and two gigabytes worth of data, and a $25 plan that includes five gigabytes.The company also pledged to continue rate plans held in February 2019 for another two years.Despite the acrimony of litigation and lawsuits and court trials, you can really come to terms even with those with whom you go to battle in court, Becerra said. In this case, we didnt see eye-to-eye with the way things were done by Sprint and T-Mobile, but we saw eye-to-eye enough to reach a settlement that included protections for Californias market and Californias people.T-Mobile and Sprint announced their plan to merge in April 2018. The California Department of Justice sued to block the proposed $25.6 billion union last summer , an attempt that was rejected in February by a New York federal district judge.Sprint and T-Mobile are the third and fourth largest telecommunications companies in the United States, behind AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Becerra has argued the merger would threaten California jobs and consumer protections and disrupt market innovation.Though the lawsuit failed, Becerra said California still secured the safeguards it aimed for in court and that the agreement would ensure the continuation of fairness, good prices and competition.T-Mobile also committed to employment protections that includes a new call center in Kingsburg thats estimated to create 1,000 new jobs, according to the settlement.The company estimated that employees at the Central Valley center would be paid between $1,129 and $1,254 per week , according to an analysis by the Berkeley Research Group.The company pledged that the number of its future workforce will be equal to or greater than its current combined employee numbers, within three years of the mergers closing date.Becerra said the new T-Mobile would aim for a 60 percent participation rate in its diversity and inclusion program within the next three years. The company also agreed to waive non-compete agreements for the next year, which are already banned in the Golden State.T-Mobile said it would reimburse California and the states that joined in the lawsuit legal and investigation fees that total $15 million.The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said in 2018 that The combined company will have lower costs, greater economies of scale, and the resources to provide U.S. consumers and businesses with lower prices, better quality, unmatched value, and greater competition.
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.
We are in the midst of exam season and soon many students will start thinking of going to college. It is a period of stress and excitement for parents and students alike as they chalk out their plans for the future. It is no secret that lakhs of students are going to go abroad for their studies. This article highlights some of the more frequently asked questions about studies abroad and what does it entail. US continues to be the biggest destination and admission to colleges there would be the main focus of the article.

Q. Where I should go to college - US, UK, Canada, Europe?

Ans. Most of Europe is generally in a tough place besides Germany. UK is also struggling due to BREXIT uncertainty and firms are fleeing to other parts of Europe. However, the bigger issue is getting a work Visa following your studies. All these countries in Europe welcome students since you are contributing to the economy. International students will be allowed to stay in the UK for two years after graduation to find a job, under new proposals announced by the Home Office. The move reverses a decision made in 2012 by then-Home Secretary Theresa May that forced overseas students to leave four months after finishing a degree. This should boost the number of applications to the UK from this year. As an international student studying in Canada, you are considered a temporary student. The Canadian government expects that you will leave Canada once you have completed your studies unless you apply for PR or a work permit. Getting these is relatively easier than in US or UK.

This brings me to the destination I recommend- the US. It is the biggest economy in the world and has by far the best resources/people in the field you want to study. Furthermore, it is more welcoming of foreign students and also the opportunities are vast. In the US, you have 1 year to 3 year (for STEM subjects) to find a job after you graduate. However, it is to be noted that in general the wave of nationalism that we are witnessing is a global phenomenon and has made it more challenging to continue in these countries post your education.

Q. What colleges should I apply to and what should be my major?

Ans. I will state the obvious -Go for a major which you are passionate about because you will be good at it! However, be aware of what is in demand. If you look at India today, almost 90% or greater jobs are in technology, data analytics/AI and consulting. Most of their revenues are coming from overseas. The world is increasingly gravitating towards expertise rather than a general degree. A technical/quantitative skillset will only help you in your job search after you graduate. Even a History major should learn some technical skills which will make them stand out.

Regarding choices of colleges, it is important to consider a few things. Remember there are thousands of schools/boards in the world. In India, you have primarily CBSE, ICSC and the newer IB. Admissions committees generally have a very hard time determining which students are better or worse from a particular board. There are multitudes of schools whose performance vary even under the same board. So, what they tend to do is that as long as you are in top 10%-20% of your class, the very best colleges are satisfied. However, they pay a considerable attention to your standardized tests like SAT/ACT. The reason is quite simple it is the same for EVERYONE regardless of what board/country you come from. So, the first step is to see whether your application is competitive for your dream college. What makes a good SAT score for you personally, depends on the schools you are interested in? Every school publishes a 75% percentile score in SAT which means that 75% of the students who got admitted were below that score. If you are in the 75% percentile ranking you are competitive for that school provided the rest of your application supports it.

Q. Getting admission is relatively easy but scholarship needs serious work.

Ans. In 2017, applications to colleges dropped by 3-4% even at the very top universities. The reason being that spending $200,000 for a college degree is simply not worth it for many people. In the US, student loan debt is in trillions of dollars as they are having a hard time paying their loans. The jobs they are getting is simply not paying enough. Is it possible to get a scholarship? Absolutely! Here I am going to start using the term - Extreme Resumes. All the very top schools and students wanting scholarship have to have a resume which truly stands out. It is hard to create an extreme resume - it needs serious preparation over a period of time. Unfortunately, most people in India do not understand the concept. Your resume should have one to two things which truly stands out. It should impress not only the admission committee but professors in the department you want to major in. Good grades, Good SAT/ACT scores, being part of council, debate teams, blogs, AP courses all help but you have to go a step higher.

I am of the opinion that everyone is capable of getting a scholarship not necessarily the brightest but rather the smarter kids who go about it in an organized fashion and work on putting substantive additions to their resume. The application process is intense and if you are smart about it than most of your work on getting a scholarship should already be done. In other words, your application should be a mere formality.

Q. Dont be jack of many things but rather a master of one or two.

Ans. A common mistake people make is that they have their kids do many things, play a musical instrument, debates, sports, social causes etc. There is nothing wrong with doing all these things and is rather commendable. However, what is more important is that you excel at one or two things. If you claim you are great at all these things- admissions committee know that is only possible by Bollywood heroes! Colleges want to see you go very deep in one or two areas at the highest possible level!

Q. When should I start preparing for college admissions?

Ans. Ideally, you should start preparing your resume by the time you are in 10th grade or even earlier. This will give you ample time to focus in doing one or two things exceptionally well. This is besides getting good grades, good SAT/ACT scores, AP courses . I never said this is going to be easy!

Q. No sat scores, super scores or just one sat score which is preferred?

Ans. From this year, University of Chicago which is a top school has said that they do not require a SAT score. However, I maintain that they are very important. A recent phenomenon has been the concept of super scores where they add your best math + English scores from two or more tests. While many schools say they accept super scores, it is my opinion that if you get a higher super score than you should be able to get it in a single test. Your preparation needs improvement! A super score might be sufficient to get admission but for scholarship it might not be enough. In terms of importance, One SAT score > Super score > No SAT score

Q: What is a Good Sat score, Average Sat score or Bad Sat score?

Ans. It all depends on your field of study and target college. The rule of thumb is that your target college should have admitted 75% percentile of the students near your SAT score. Some field of study require higher scores. Computer science is a hot area to study and Foreign languages or History is not. Colleges report average scores so there is some amount of variability among your field of study.

Q. Is partial financial aid possible?

Ans. Absolutely. It all depends on your resume and approach to application. The smarter candidates who go about it the right way have a great chance.

Q. What is need based financial aid as opposed to merit based?

Ans. Based on your income, it is possible to get need based financial aid. For example, if your earning is less than $48000 there are good possibilities. You will have to file ITR returns in the applications.

Q. Beware of colleges advertising 100% job placement after graduation

Ans. When colleges advertise like that as many do, it makes me wary. There are many details missing. First of all, how has been the placement of foreign students versus the citizens of that country. None of the details are provided. What kind of jobs are the students doing? What about foreign students? Are they the one going to graduate school.

Q. Are scholarships available for Indian citizens to study abroad?

Ans. Absolutely, it depends upon your field of study and destination.

Q. Scholarship is harder in undergraduate and gets easier in graduate school. Is it possible to get scholarship for MBA?

Ans. It is a fact that getting a scholarship for undergraduate is harder than in graduate school. Although universally, MBA schools dont provide scholarship. However, there are ways of getting around that and spend no money for MBA. For that you got to have a solid academic background and good GMAT scores and business/economics major background.

Q. Is it possible to improve my sat scores when my first diagnostic test was poor?

Ans. It is indeed possible to improve your SAT scores by 200 to 300 points. However, you need to be very analytical and thorough. Identifying your weak points and only practicing on actual SAT questions. Do yourself a favor and meticulously plan and work at improving your score for at least 12-18 months. There is no substitute for hard work.

Q. What should I take SAT or ACT?

Ans. They are mostly equivalent in terms of admissions. ACT is more science focused in the reading sections and has a lesser weightage on MATH (~30%) compared to (50%) in SAT. Take a diagnostic for each and see which one you are most comfortable.

Q. Are only the Ivy leagues schools or top name colleges the best to go or any school in top 100 is good?

Ans. This is a very important question. A big-name college gives you advantages. However, if you are planning to go to graduate school then the advantage is not that much. Remember it is much easier to get into a big-name college in graduate school with scholarship than undergraduate. The pool is much smaller for students applying. If you get admission to an Ivy league school with no financial aid and a top 50 college with financial aid. I would prefer to go to the Top 50 College. After finishing your undergraduate, go to graduate school with scholarship at a top school. Any top 100 college in the US is better than what you get in India. The professors are better, the altitude is better and resources are great. Also, your skill set that you bring to the table is important. Look at the consulting companies in India, they are hired on a contract basis to some of the best companies in the world. There employees have graduated from ordinary colleges in India but have much desired skill set. Therefore, what you bring to the table as an individual is important.

Q. What should be my timeline for college admissions?

Ans. Plan on taking SAT/ACT by middle or end of 11th grade. Devote part of 11th grade and 12th grade for subject SAT. Plan to take at least 6 AP courses by grade 12. Colleges want to see you can handle an extreme work load and be challenged. In the 10th grade, work on optimizing SAT scores and create an extreme resume. The college application process is intense and you have to write an essay, extended essay etc. Start planning your essays early with the theme of what makes you unique and why you want to pursue the field of study. Good writing is an art and takes time. So the more planning you do and the more time you spend on it the better it will get. Identify one or two areas to excel in. It is a 2-2.5-year process and if you are focused and work hard, the reward is a free education!

Q. How does the visa system work in the US?

Ans. After you get admission, you have to get a student visa (F1) from the consulate. The better the college the easier it is to get the visa. If you are paying your way through college, your financials should be in order otherwise you might get a rejection. After the election of Trump and the winds blowing in Europe, the Visa getting process has become more challenging. However, if you have a scholarship than you should have no issues getting a student Visa. You get a year or 3 years (STEM subjects) of practical training upon graduation and you can work wherever you want - no questions asked. However, after that that period if a company hires you than they have to sponsor you for an H1 B visa. Based on some anecdotal data, the current environment of getting an HIB visa is getting harder. You can hold an H1B Visa for years till your company sponsors you for a green card.

(Author Pankaj Jha is the founder of makeageek.com. He works closely with schools, teachers and students to help them achieve their potential. Views expressed here are personal.)
British health giant Bupa has appointed an independent auditor to check that it has not been underpaying its 22,000 employees in Australia.

Bupa, which is Australia's second-largest health insurer behind Medibank with a 26 per cent market share, described the move as precautionary.

"Bupa is undertaking a review to check our adherence to the awards and enterprise agreements covering our employees to see if there are any issues," said a company spokesperson.

Bupa has launched an independent audit of its compliance with pay awards covering its 22,000 employees.

"We are now working diligently to establish the facts and have formed a dedicated team to audit our business quickly and efficiently."
Up and down the UK, gaming conventions are making appearances like Goomba in Mario. Unlike those little mushroom-like creatures that appear everywhere charging towards you at any given opportunity, these conventions offer hours of fun and enjoyment, celebrating some of the greatest games ever made. From board games to consoles, we take a look at some of the must-visit gaming conventions around the country.

AireCon

From 13th - 15th March Harrogate Convention Centre will host AireCon. With a great range of exhibitors and demos happening across the event, there's something here for everyone. You may even have the chance to play games that haven't even been released yet. It will also have a 'bring and buy' for you to swap out any old games with a few new purchases. There is a huge game library where you can borrow games too.

EGX Rezzed 2020

Europe's biggest indie gaming night is returning to the Tobacco Dock, London on 26th - 28th March where hundreds of screens will feature the very best console and PC games. Those who visit will be lucky enough to play games, weeks or even months, before they're released. Visitors will also get to see presentations by world-famous game designers and much more. Check out hotels in London to make the most of the three-day event.

UK Games Expo

Taking place at the NEC and Hilton Birmingham from 29th - 31st May, the UK Games Expo features an abundance of things for lovers of table-top games. Take part in open gaming (find a game you like, find some friends and get gaming), play test (play tomorrow's games today), bring and buy (find a new game to take home, or sell some of yours to make a bit of cash.) There is also a range of exhibitors showcasing what they're up to, sharing new ideas and what to look forward to in the future.

Leeds Anime and Gaming Con

The Leeds Marriott Hotel and Leisure Club will be hosting the Leeds Anime and Gaming Con from 14th - 15th March. As well as a whole host of amazing games, from board games to PC and consoles, expect challenges, cosplay masquerades, expert talks and so much more.

Can't get to Leeds in March? Then don't worry; Manchester Anime & Gaming Con is on the 4th to 5th April at Sugden Centre. Then there is one in Birmingham from the 2nd to 3rd May, Liverpool from 13th to 14th June and Cardiff from the 15th to 16th August - no one will have to miss out on the fun.

Whether it's up north in Leeds or down south in London, there are so many gaming conventions to check out this year all around the country. These are set to provide days of fun for the whole family.
Rajinikanth health update: Actor doing fine, admitted to Kauvery Hospital in Chennai for health check-up

Rajinikanth all set to announce launch date for his political party today?

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Chennai, Mar 11: With just a week after holding a meeting with Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) district secretaries, Superstar Rajinikanth is all set to hold another meeting in Chennai today.

Also, there are speculation that Rajinikanth is likely to announce the launch date for his political party.

Meanwhile, senior functionaries of the RMM reportedly said that the upcoming meeting would focus on revamping the organisation ahead of Tamil Nadu's 2021 Assembly elections.

Ready to play 'any role' to maintain peace in country: Rajinikanth tweets

However, sources close to the RMM functionaries said that the launch of Rajinikanth's political entrance would be around April 14.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Several followers of Rajinikanth took to Twitter with a sreen grab of the film "Baba" where the calender had mentioned today's date (March 12) and began to celebrate that the actor-politician would announce the launch date for his political party on this day.

In the previous meeting, Rajinikanth seen unhappy after people made it clear that they do not want to join the party. With these feedbacks, the functionaries were told to temporarily stop the membership drive.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 10:16 [IST]
F rance will close all of its schools from Monday amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Addressing the nation, Emmanuel Macron unveiled what amounted to some of the most significant Covid-19 measures to date from a major European country outside of Italy.

The French president described the deadly illness that is sweeping the world as "one of the most serious health crises France has ever faced".

All nurseries, schools and universities are to close in an bid to try to slow its spread, he announced on Thursday.

French President Emmanuel Macron / AFP via Getty Images

He said: From Monday, until further notice, nurseries, schools, middle schools, high schools, universities, will be closed. For a simple reason: Our children and young people, according to our scientists, are the ones that spread the virus the quickest, even if they have no symptoms.

Mr Macron said the aim was to slow down the disease enough that healthcare services can keep pace with the flow of patients.

He also urged employers to let staff work from home and said that the elderly and people with health conditions should stay indoors.

Five Britons test positive for coronavirus in France

He said, however, that municipal elections scheduled for this weekend should go ahead.

It comes after the UK moved to a delay phase in a bid to stem the outbreak, with Boris Johnson issuing stark warnings to the UK public.

On Thursday, the French Health Ministry said the death toll in France from the coronavirus outbreak had risen to 61 from Wednesdays 48.

It added that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France had also risen to 2,876 from 2,281, with 129 people in very serious, life-threatening condition.

On the economic impact, Mr Macron said a package of measures unveiled by the European Central Bank would not be sufficient. He promised a concerted, bloc-wide response.

We, Europeans, will not allow a financial and economic crisis to spread. We will react strongly and quickly. Together, European governments must take decisions on supporting activity, and relaunching it, whatever it costs.

He said there would also be coordination among the Group of Seven nations, and that he would speak to US President Donald Trump on Friday.
With the coronavirus hitting economic sectors hard across the world, tourism workers are anticipating the effects of the virus on Egypts tourism industry

Egypts tourism sector, particularly workers working in Nile tourism, are anticipating the effects of the announcement that 45 cases of infection with the coronavirus were recorded on board a Nile cruiser going from Aswan to Luxor last week after being in contact with a Taiwanese-American tourist aboard the ship who tested positive after returning home in late February.

The sector is highly vigilant, and it is monitoring the spread of the new coronavirus, called Covid-19, across countries that export tourism to Egypt in an attempt to estimate its effects on the countrys tourism business.

Until Monday night, infected cases had reached 59. It is not possible to assess the amount of travel cancellations for the time being, said Ihab Abdel-Aal, a member of the board of the Chamber of Tourism Companies.

The Escapade tour agency, which had registrations of 120 hotel rooms per week, reported that all its reservations until May had been cancelled, according to Chairman Mounir Wissa, a member of the board of the Chamber of Hotels.

The winter season from October to April is a high period for Egypts Nile tourism.

After the 45 cases were reported on the Nile cruiser, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities distributed information on precautionary and preventive measures as per the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

During a meeting between the managers of hotels and floating boats and the ministers of tourism, health, and civil aviation in Luxor on Sunday, Maged Fawzi, head of the Chamber of Hotel Establishments, announced that it had been agreed to purchase 1,000 infrared thermometers to be distributed in land and floating hotels to detect any cases of high temperatures among guests or employees.

An international company specialising in food safety has been contracted to inspect Luxor hotels and will proceed with its measures starting next week.

Mohamed Osman, head of the Committee for the Promotion of Cultural Tourism in Luxor, was not optimistic about future cancellations of trips to Egypt. However, what is reassuring is that tourists currently in Luxor and Aswan have not requested the cancellation of their trips, he said.

The tourism crisis resulting from coronavirus fears comes a few weeks after the UK allowed the resumption of flights to Sharm El-Sheikh after a four-year hiatus following the downing of a Russian airliner after take-off from the Red Sea resort killing all people on board.

A wave of optimism had hit Egypts tourism sector when the UK resumed its flights to Sharm El-Sheikh, and the sector was even more optimistic after it was announced that new flights would be operated between Luxor and Sharm El-Sheikh starting on 20 February.

In the fiscal year 2018-19, tourism revenues in Egypt recorded $12.57 billion, up from $9.804 billion a year earlier. Investment banks expected the tourism sector to record $15 billion in earnings by the end of this fiscal year.

A Colliers International report had earlier predicted that hotel room revenues in Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, and Alexandria would increase in 2020 on an annual basis, expecting a two per cent increase in revenues in hotels in Cairo, 13 per cent in Sharm El-Sheikh, 10 per cent in Hurghada, and nine per cent in Alexandria.

Chairman of the Egyptian Federation of Tourism Chambers Ahmed Al-Wassif told Al-Ahram Weekly that it was too early to estimate the number of cancellations owing to fears about the spread of the coronavirus as travellers who had booked trips could not receive refunds since there was no international travel ban.

What could be calculated, however, were no-shows of tourists from China and Italy, where some cities have been locked down and travel bans have been in force, Al-Wassif said. The following months would show the repercussions of the crisis on world tourism, he said.

New reservations for trips to Egypt have fallen by 70 to 80 per cent compared to last year, the media reported Hossam Al-Shaer, chairman of the Chamber of Tourism Companies, as saying. Tourism had also slowed down across the world, he added.

By Sunday night, more countries had put restrictions on travel to and from Egypt, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Qatar. While Oman suspended travel to and from Egypt for a month starting on Sunday, Saudi Arabia suspended travel to and from Egypt and eight other countries and banned travellers who had been in these countries 14 days or less before their arrival in Saudi Arabia.

The health ministries of Bahrain and Oman tweeted that people arriving from Egypt should isolate themselves in their homes for two weeks.

Meanwhile, Ahmed Youssef, head of the Tourism Development Authority, told the media that the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities would be contracting an international firm next week to design a new promotional campaign for Egypt.

The campaign will target up to 12 markets, particularly those that export tourism to Egypt, such as the UK, Germany, Italy, and the US.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 March, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Pawan Gupta, one of the death-row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, has approached Delhi High Court through lawyer AP Singh, challenging the trial court's order which dismissed the application questioning the credibility of the sole witness, claiming that he was a tutored witness and his statement was not credible.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Friday. Earlier, a Delhi court had dismissed the plea of Pawan Gupta.

In his plea, Pawan has alleged the sole witness in the Nirbhaya case is a tutored witness and is not credible as he took a bribe to give interviews to news channels.

The petition, which was filed by convict Gupta, has sought the registration of FIR against the victim's friend for perjury for giving false testimony in the court.

The sole eye-witness was accompanying the 23-year-old girl when she was raped by six men on a moving bus on December 16, 2012.

It claimed that the boy accompanying the victim in the bus turned the case into a "media trial" by charging money from the news channels to give interviews.

Pawan, along with the other three death-row convicts in the case, is scheduled to be hanged on March 20.

The case pertains to the brutal gang rape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
However, I also believe that how a candidate manages both their public life and political campaign are important metrics for voters to assess transparency and integrity. Misleading voters is a serious breach of the public's trust, whether that be the President of the United States or a Member of Congress.

Campaign finance remains a significant issue, especially when it comes to how campaigns raise and spend money. Ethics still matter. The voters of Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District deserve to know when Rep. Omar's relationship with Mr. Mynett, a paid campaign consultant and fundraiser, began and what steps, if any, she has taken since to avoid any conflict of interest.

I call on Rep. Omar to explain to the hardworking voters and donors in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District why her campaign has paid her husband's political consulting firm, E Street Group, more than $586,000 since 2018, according to the Federal Election Commission. This amount represents almost 60% of the total lifetime revenue of the firm, which prior to 2018 was largely inactive.

Over the course of my campaign, I will be unveiling my policy position on campaign finance reform laws so that voters and donors no longer have to wonder if their hard-earned donations are being spent for their intended purpose.

As a lifelong progressive Democrat, mediator, volunteer minister and civic leader, I'm running against Rep. Omar because I believe every person in Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District needs and deserves a representative who will show up, listen, and do the work with integrity and transparency. I am and always will be focused on the Fifth.

To learn more, please visit www.AntoneForCongress.com and on social media @Antone_MN Instagram @AntoneMN and on Facebook at Antone For Congress.

Media Contact: Lee Hayes

(651) 261-4356

[email protected]

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Photo: Contributed Pacific Coastal Airlines started flying Vancouver to Cranbrook in 2003

Pacific Coastal Airlines said March 11 that it will stop flying its regularly scheduled route between Vancouver International Airports South Terminal and the Canadian Rockies International Airport that services Cranbrook as of April 26.

Customers affected by this cancellation will be contacted and offered a full refund, the airline said.

This was a difficult decision, said Pacific Coastal Airlines vice-president of commercial services, Johnathan Richardson. However, given increased competition from Canadas two major airlines, we can no longer sustain the continuation of our current service between the two communities.

It has been our privilege to serve the East Kootenay region with scheduled service between Vancouver and Cranbrook for the past 17 years, adds Richardson. While that service will come to an end, we are pleased to continue supporting the people and communities of the East Kootenay region by maintaining our current non-stop scheduled service between Cranbrook and Kelowna International Airport.

Pacific Coastal launched its VancouverCranbrook route in September, 2003, and introduced non-stop service between Cranbrook and Kelowna in November, 2013.
SHREVEPORT, La. - A Texas megachurch pastor and former spiritual adviser to two U.S. presidents has pleaded guilty to bilking investors out of millions of dollars alongside a Louisiana investment adviser.

Kirbyjon H. Caldwell pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, news outlets reported. Caldwell was the senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston and a spiritual adviser to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Caldwells co-defendant Gregory A. Smith, a Shreveport financial planner, pleaded guilty to the same charge in July 2019.

According to the Department of Justice, Caldwell and Smith used their clout and influence to persuade people to invest about $3.5 million in historical Chinese bonds. The bonds were reportedly issued by the former Republic of China before they lost power to the communist government in 1949. The bonds arent recognized by Chinas current government and thus have no investment value.

Smith began approaching victims about the investment in 2013 and promised high returns on the investment. In 2013 and 2014, about $3.5 million was invested and divided between Caldwell, Smith and others, prosecutors said.

Caldwell used about $900,000 to maintain his lifestyle, pay down personal loans and mortgages, according to the Justice Department.

Smith and Caldwell face up to five and seven years in prison each. Caldwell has made partial restitution and has agreed to pay the remaining balance of about $2 million before sentencing.

Smith will be sentenced on May 4. Caldwells sentencing date is schedule for July 22.
The severity of the global coronavirus epidemic has reached levels almost certain to trigger a financial instrument sold by the World Bank to raise money for developing countries in a pandemic.

The bonds, which were sold in 2017, are quoted at less than 10% of face value by some brokers on the riskier of two tranches, according to investors who own the securities. Two weeks ago they were at 60%.

The securities are structured so that they are written down following outbreaks of certain diseases named as covered perils. The quoted price of the $95 million risky Class B portion of the debt means investors think a wipeout is all but inevitable when a mandatory period since the start of the outbreak expires on March 23.

The safer Class A tranche is quoted at around 85 cents, said the investors, who asked not to be named because the information is private. Holders of this $225 million tranche face losses of 16.67%.

The bonds were issued to raise money to help poorer countries respond to a pandemic. Boston-based private company AIR Worldwide Corporation determines whether a trigger event has occurred, based on an outbreak meeting a list of criteria in areas such as geographic spread, rate of growth and number of deaths.

Officials at AIR and the World Bank did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Triggered Soon

Previous incidents, such as an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo last year, were not deemed serious enough to trigger the bonds.

Despite a number of complaints in the early stages of the current coronavirus outbreak which highlighted that pandemic bonds would not likely pay out, we believe that they will actually be triggered soon, Marcos Alvarez, head of insurance at DBRS Morningstar, wrote in a note last week.

Deaths from the coronavirus, known as Covid-19, have surpassed 4,000 worldwide and the number of infections is approaching 120,000, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The bonds are due to mature in July. In the meantime, the World Bank is already working on the second iteration of the emergency fund, called PEF 2.0, and plans to start marketing its risk-transfer mechanism around May.

Potential losses for bondholders in coming weeks may not dent demand for the next series of pandemic bonds, however.

Investors in this market expect that certain bonds take losses at times, said Craig Bonder, head of insurance-linked securities trading at Beech Hill Securities. Its a robust market that can withstand these kind of losses and continue to grow.

Investors greeted the existing bonds enthusiastically when they were first sold three years ago, ordering two times the amount being offered. Proceeds from the sale funded the World Banks Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility, or PEF.

At the time, the World Bank said the transaction enables PEF to potentially save millions of lives. The facility was a response to the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014 that killed more than 11,000 people.

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Topics COVID-19
Connecticut moved closer to a full shutdown of public gatherings on Thursday in an attempt to slow the inevitable spread of the coronavirus that may infect as many as 700,000 residents over the next month and, according to the state epidemiologist, as much as 70 percent of the population if it erupts again in the autumn.

Those numbers of people ill with COVID-19 are not a prediction, but they could happen if the disease follows the same arc as the seasonal flu, Dr. Matthew Cartter, the veteran state epidemiologist, said at a news briefing at the states emergency operations center.

And that could mean thousands of deaths in Connecticut, based on the apparent mortality rate of the illness  although Cartter stopped short of forecasting deaths.

Measures the state is taking are designed to prevent those deaths.

On Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont issued executive orders banning public gatherings of more than 250 people, and allowing public school systems to fall short of the 180 days required for state funding. At least 19 school systems and virtually all the states colleges and universities have closed, piggybacking on spring breaks and delaying  for at least a couple weeks  decisions on reopening.

CLICK HERE for a full list of coronavirus-related closings and cancellations in Connecticut.

Two new cases of infection in Connecticut were reported Thursday: a pupil aged five-to-10 in Stratfords Wilcoxson School and a Stamford woman who returned from Italy Tuesday with symptoms, according to the state Department of Public Health.

State courts suspended jury trials that were not already underway, for 30 days. And the state Capitol, already closed Thursday and Friday for cleaning, was closed until March 30  delaying legislative business.

Grim numbers possible

Cartter, speaking alongside Lamont and other officials in the William A. ONeill State Armory in Hartford, predicted that 10-to-20 percent of the states 3.6 million people could become infected over the next month, if the virus follows the patterns of most seasonal influenza bugs. No one knows how likely that pattern is to happen, and some afflicted people may barely feel sick.

When this is all over, probably about 70 percent of our population will have had this infection. And this is between this wave and if there is a fall wave, a second wave that we see in the fall. Because this is a virus that none of us has immunity to, Cartter told reporters. Right now, were trying to slow that down.

No state official is predicting deaths. Heres how the numbers shake out: If 10 percent to 20 percent of the population falls ill from COVID-19, the midpoint of that number is 540,000.

What does that mean for deaths? The mortality rate from the virus is impossible to know, but it could be around 1 percent, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease official in the National Institutes of Health, told Congress.

CLICK HERE for the most up-to-date information about coronavirus in Connecticut.

Early reports from China had a number closer to 2 percent or even higher. In South Korea, the death rate is closer to one-half of 1 percent.

One percent of that 540,000 would be 5,400 Connecticut residents. Implausible? Weve yet to see a death but some number of victims is viewed as inevitable.

Connecticut can lose as many as 500 people to influenza in a bad season  and COVID-19 is considered to be 10 times as lethal.

Im not predicting deaths at this point, Cartter said, but he did not refute the possibility that Connecticut could see thousands of deaths this spring alone.

Changing by the day

The promising news is that seemingly extreme measures such as canceling winter high school sports tournaments and banning gatherings of more than 250 people  no more than 100 people if possible, Lamont said Thursday  could significantly reduce the incidence of COVID-19.

We also have far more advanced medical care than most places in the world, and than at any time in the past, Lamont said.

And, as the number of people with COVID-19 rises, its entirely possible the death rate will fall precipitously, experts say. Thats partly because the number with the disease might be far greater now than we realize, because Connecticut had only tested 96 people by Thursday.

The clear message is that Fairfield County is the nexus of the pandemic in Connecticut. Of the five confirmed cases, four patients live in Fairfield County and one is in Litchfield County. Cartter expects infections to next move into New Haven County, as well as the virus moving across borders from Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

This is something that is going to change day by day, Cartter said.

A sixth positive test result was for a man treated at Greenwich Hospital who is a New York resident.

School waivers, crowd bans

The governor said the state is waiving the 180-day requirement for schools, meaning theyre able to close without worrying about making up those days at the end of the year. Lamont said its going to be a statewide waiver for schools, but he stopped short of calling for a statewide or even county-wide order  which he could do under the emergency declarations he signed this week.

We havent had to decide to close schools across the state, Lamont said, praising local officials for making decisions to close the schools where needed  including most school systems in Fairfield County.

So far, 19 school systems have or will soon close, according to Miguel Cardona, commissioner of the Department of Education. Many schools across the state, including colleges, have opted to move all classes online amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus.

We do not want any more gatherings with more than 250 people and thats going to be an executive order, Lamont said. This is highly contagious  COVID-19. Its unclear how and whether the state would enforce that order.

He said he is personally recommending people stay away from gatherings of more than 100 people.

Lamont says Connecticut has learned from the ways China and Italy have handled outbreaks there.

Anybody whos feeling ill ... they should stay home, Lamont said. Thats how we contain this.

Easing the pain

Lamont said he is working with the congressional delegation to talk about unemployment compensation and adding other benefits for people who must stay home, or who lose hours of work. Maybe theyre living paycheck to paycheck, theyre hourly workers, what types of protections will there be for them?

He asked Beth Bye, a former state senator from West Hartford whos commissioner of early childhood, to expand daycare to meet the needs of working parents as schools close  including, Lamont said, faster approval of on-site daycare at those workplaces that are remaining open.

He said David Lehman, his economic and community development commissioner, is working with companies, banks and the federal government to help disrupted businesses with Small Business Administration loans or other forms of aid. He referred to possible legislation, which could be a problem as, later Thursday, the leaders of the General Assembly closed the Capitol for the next two weeks.

We dont know whether this is going to be one month or two months, Lamont said. But were planning for the future.

He also promised at least a 90-day extension for DMV license renewals to limit the amount of people having to risk potential exposure by waiting on lines.

More testing coming

Cartter emphasized the importance of testing during the worst viral outbreak since the influenza epidemic of 1918. None of us have been through anything like this in 100 years, he said.

The state testing lab can handle 40 to 60 tests per day, Cartter said, up from less than half that number just a few days ago. Beyond that, the state is looking to private labs and hospitals to bring more tests online.

That includes Greenwich Hospital, which is sending samples for testing out of state. And Cartter said four or five more are far along toward their own testing protocols. We expect that Yale-New Haven Hospital will be the first online in the next few days, Cartter said.

Some people have worried about the virus lingering on surfaces and used drink bottles. Although the virus generally survives for just a day or a few hours outside of a host body, This virus or fragments of this virus can be found hours to several days afterwards, Cartter said, adding that fragments are not the entire virus. Cleaning and disinfecting will kill this virus.

Lamont took a long and broad view in addition to focusing on details.

Theres a lot of talk about 1918, Lamont said. Theres a lot of talk about where this could go. I think you should understand there are some real differences here. Were paying attention to this. Weve learned from China. Weve learned from Italy and were taking real efforts right now to make sure we hold down and contain this the best we can. Anybody whos feeling ill, not feeling where they ought to be, they should stay home. Thats one way we can contain this.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com
Text of the legislation had not been publicly released Friday amid the uncertainty. Democrats had been prepared to move forward to a vote with or without GOP support, and they could pass the legislation on their own. But if the bill lacks GOP support in the House, and does not have the full backing of the administration, its passage could be imperiled in the Senate.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 07:03:36|Editor: ZD

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Photo taken on March 12, 2020 shows the closed Guided Tours Ticket Desk at the UN headquarters in New York. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reacting to the coronavirus crisis, has cancelled all UN system-sponsored side events at headquarters in New York, but not legislative meetings such as for the General Assembly and Security Council, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Jiangang)

UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, reacting to the coronavirus crisis, has cancelled all UN system-sponsored side events at headquarters in New York, but not legislative meetings such as for the General Assembly and Security Council, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, also said the UN chief urges all 193 member states to consider cancelling all side events they are sponsoring.

President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande of the General Assembly already has postponed to an unspecified date the Youth Plenary in preparation for commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, said his spokeswoman, Reem Abaza. It was slated for March 31-April 2.

The related Economic and Social Council Youth Forum also was postponed.

The decision to postpone was taken "given recent developments related to the global health emergency (COVID-19) and guided by risk assessments carried out by the UN Secretariat," said a UN website notice.

Abaza also said Muhammad-Bande sent a letter to member states, "strongly" recommending canceling side events in March and April, scaling down the number of people at gatherings within UN premises and encouraging delegations to limit participation at meetings to no more than two New York-based delegates and holding meetings in larger rooms.

Dujarric said the secretary-general was sending a letter Thursday to member states explaining that "a three-phase response activation system to manage and coordinate health emergencies is in place and that UN headquarters in New York is currently in phase two, which is an active risk reduction mode."

Guterres said this includes taking measures for social distancing in the workplace and assessing the criticality of travel and meetings against associated risks.

Telecommuting at UN headquarters was ordered to reduce the staff "footprint" and non-essential travel was curtailed, his spokesman said.

Governor of New York State Andrew Cuomo -- who previously declared a state of emergency -- banned meetings of 500 people or more and said meetings of less than 500 had to be halved in size. Broadway theaters suspended productions for a month.

Shortly afterward, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency.

Dujarric said earlier in the week that the UN headquarters in New York was abiding by recommendations of the host city and state in taking measures to mitigate effects of the virus. He did not expect any immediate reaction to the latest edict.

In a video message released Wednesday evening, Guterres said classification of the crisis as a pandemic "is a call to action and a call for responsibility and solidarity," the spokesman said. "He stressed that, as we fight the virus, we cannot let the fear go viral."

"We can still change the course of this pandemic -- but that means addressing inaction," the secretary-general said in the message. "The best science tells us, if countries detect, test, treat, isolate, trace and mobilize their people in the response, we can go a long way to mitigating transmission,"

Guterres called on every government to immediately step up and scale up their efforts, and he added that we must move forward with resolve and without stigma.
After Pennsylvania identified widespread problems with its guardianship system, the Supreme Court established an office to oversee the implementation of 130 recommendations. Read more

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.

HARRISBURG  More than five years ago, Pennsylvania identified widespread problems with its system of appointing and overseeing guardians  the legal decision-makers, chosen by judges, who manage the affairs of adults who are unable to care for themselves.

In response, the state Supreme Court established an office to oversee the implementation of 130 sweeping recommendations made by experts in the field. An update from 2019 noted significant progress, marking more than half as accomplished.

But a Spotlight PA review found the report paints an overly rosy picture of the situation. Experts say that critical changes needed to better protect vulnerable seniors lack funding, are incomplete, or are stuck in limbo in the state legislature.

Of the recommendations marked as accomplished, many were not actually put into practice, the review found. One of those recommendations  to guarantee legal counsel to people who might be put in the care of a guardian  has been at least temporarily shelved.

Other reforms marked accomplished will be included as best practices in a new guidebook for judges who handle guardianship cases. The book, still in draft form, was originally slated to be published in early 2019 but is now expected this summer.

The most significant accomplishment, the update said, was the rollout of a highly touted technology to collect data about guardianships and to automate portions of oversight. One year later, however, there is little consistency as to how, and how well, counties are using it.

Other recommendations are caught in stalled legislation or unfunded mandates.

Having protection systems that function properly is a bipartisan, commonwealth-wide issue, said Katherine Pearson, a professor of elder law at Penn States Dickinson Law School, who served on the task force that drafted the recommendations. "Am I frustrated with the Pennsylvania legislatures slowness to address and adopt carefully considered reforms, such as a clear right to counsel for alleged incapacitated persons? Yes."

Those involved with the guardianship system  from judges to court clerks to attorneys  say they are impressed with the states efforts to bolster protections in recent years. Court officials are committed to improving the new tracking and oversight technology, and nearly all agree the data it provides will offer crucial insights into the system.

Its a huge step in the right direction, said Kathryn Holt, a senior court research analyst for the National Center for State Courts. From a national perspective, Holt said, she has been very impressed with Pennsylvanias progress.

But a lot of work remains.

Stewart Greenleaf, a former Republican lawmaker from Montgomery County, spent years attempting to pass sweeping changes to the system. But he was unable to get a bill establishing better guardianship protocols for courts to the governors desk before retiring in 2018.

The legislative process takes time, Greenleaf said.

Its as simple as that, he said. That its not that simple.

Around the time of Greenleafs retirement, Sen. Art Haywood (D., Philadelphia) announced his intention to reintroduce and update the bill, but more than a year later, he still hasnt. He said he cant find bipartisan support.

Asked where Pennsylvanias guardianship system stands now, Haywood responded with one word: Stuck.

We need to appoint counsel

In Pennsylvania, there are about 18,400 adults living under guardianship. More than half are age 60 and up.

Guardianships begin when someone is perceived to be unable to care for themselves. If they do not have an existing legal document describing their preferences, like a durable power of attorney, their case is sent to the local Orphans Court. There, a judge can appoint a guardian to take control of financial, medical, and personal decisions.

Unlike many states, Pennsylvania does not require that courts provide lawyers to represent people facing guardianship. Vulnerable seniors who cannot find or afford an attorney can be left to navigate the process alone.

Its stressful for courts, said Karen Buck, executive director of SeniorLAW Center in Philadelphia and a member of the task force that made the recommendations. Judges cannot give legal advice, and without representation, Buck said, people might not be aware of their rights.

In 2014, the task force recommended changing court rules to make legal representation a requirement.

But the Orphans Court rules committee dismissed the recommendation, instead deciding that appointment of attorneys, in cases where someone doesnt provide their own, should be left to a courts discretion. In a notice, the committee cited concerns about the financial burden and added that a large majority of guardianship cases go uncontested.

Haywood, who was previously an attorney for people who could not afford legal representation, said the committees analysis doesnt cut it.

Failure to contest is not an indication of the lack of the need for legal representation, he said. In fact, it can be conceived as the exact opposite.

Still, the recommendation to mandate counsel was marked as accomplished.

Cherstin Hamel is the director of the states Office of Elder Justice in the Courts, which is overseeing the implementation of the 130 recommendations. She said that if a recommendation was considered, but not adopted, it was marked as accomplished.

Hamel added the guidebook for judges will indicate that it is best practice for counsel to be appointed in every case.

Lawmakers could mandate the right to counsel through legislation. But according to Haywood, there has been tremendous pushback to the idea, primarily over perceived costs.

Some judges have taken matters into their own hands.

George Zanic, president judge of the Huntingdon County Court of Common Pleas, appoints an attorney each time someone facing a guardianship hearing does not provide their own. In situations where the individual cannot cover the fees, he said, the county pays upfront and is later reimbursed by the state.

According to Zanic, who served on the task force, the issue is vital.

We need to appoint counsel, he said. Theres no question about it.

Improved oversight with a tech assist

In 2014, the task force found that nearly 70% of Orphans Courts did not track whether they were receiving annual updates from guardians with information about an individuals finances, health, and well-being.

The task force recommended a new technology that could automatically notify Orphans Courts when guardians failed to file required updates. An algorithm would also search across those reports and trigger automated alerts when something seemed amiss.

By December 2018, the new technology was in place across Pennsylvania, and one year in, many who interact with it say the tool is progress.

I really like it, said Lauren Cascino Presser, an elder law attorney in Johnstown, who helps her clients use the technology to submit their annual reports.

But for a tool intended to ease and streamline oversight, it falls short of addressing the disparities in how counties are monitoring guardianships.

Once a guardian submits a report, the tool automatically searches for 32 problem scenarios. The majority are related to finances. A report showing a drastic drop in assets, for example, triggers an automated flag.

But flags dont directly imply wrongdoing. They require follow-up to determine whether harm is being done and what action, if any, should be taken.

In some counties, court staff is tasked with reviewing the incoming flags. In others, law clerks do the work. Some counties have outsourced the job to outside attorneys. One, so overwhelmed by the scale of alerts, said they recently tapped a retired judge to step in and assist.

By comparison, Minnesota has a similar tool that sends alerts to centralized teams of trained auditors.

Any system is only as good as the people running it, said Zanic, the judge in Huntingdon County.

Pennsylvanias new technology is also susceptible to an old problem: bad actors.

Guardians are self-reporting and are not required to provide bank statements, receipts, or other documentation. And reports can only reveal so much, said Sherry Baskin, a longtime volunteer helping to monitor Dauphin Countys guardians.

Unless there was something egregious and glaring, that wouldnt be reflected, Baskin said.

One benefit of the new system, many agree, is that when courts have questions, they can order guardians to submit evidence or appear for a hearing. Prior to the tool, court officials said, they lacked the authority to follow a hunch.

Its when courts cant keep up, though, that issues creep in.

Alerts arrive daily in Philadelphia, courts spokesperson Gabriel Roberts said.

They come not only for every flag raised in a file, Roberts said, but also for reminder notices and for reports that are overdue. There are flags for guardians removed from a case and flags for people who have died. Staff resources are stressed and overwhelmed, Roberts said.

When asked in January how Cumberland County is managing the tools alerts, Lisa Grayson, clerk of the countys Orphans Court, said: Were still working that out.

You need to review the entire report, Grayson said.

But, she added, that takes manpower, it takes hours, it takes money.

Hamel, the director of the office overseeing reforms, said the tool is meant to enhance a courts existing statutory obligation to monitor guardianships, and that the office is actively working to recommend best practices in reviewing reports.

Still, her office has marked two recommendations for adequate funding to support guardianship monitoring as accomplished, citing the new technology.

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YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. Online reports about the situation in the town of Ethmiatsin (Vagharshapat) are highly exaggerated, Mayor Diana Gasparyan said, advising the general public to follow only official information. She presented details about the novel coronavirus patient who is a local of Ejmiatsin.

We have one carrier who has participated in an engagement ceremony on Sunday. Direct contacts were clarified and the information was given to the healthcare ministry. The contacts are being quarantined for testing, she said.

Direct contacts are being taken out of the city to the quarantine zone by ambulances and police.

The patient is hospitalized at the Nork Infectious Disease hospital in Yerevan. The patient is not in serious condition.

Speaking about public calls for shutting down local schools, she said the City Hall doesnt have the authority to do so.

Gasparyan said kindergartens have been provided with disinfecting and sanitation gels. I am personally strictly supervising it, she said. We dont have a decision on shutting down kindergartens yet, but we do monitor the attendance levels.

Mayor Gasparyan said she will postpone a scheduled campaigning rally for the constitutional referendum because of the coronavirus case.

The Mayor called on the general public not to panic and follow official news reports.

On March 11, three novel coronavirus cases were confirmed in Armenia, bringing the total number to 4. One of the three latest cases was diagnosed in a citizen of Etchmiatsin.

The first case was confirmed on March 1.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
A father-of-five has had one of his lower legs amputated after suffering horrific injuries in a hit-and-run.

Police are searching for the driver of a small dark blue car that hit Robert Field, 66, as he crossed the road in Northfield, south Birmingham, in February.

The driver fled the scene, leaving behind a wing mirror that was knocked off in the incident, according to police.

Mr Field has been in hospital ever since and has had to have one of his lower legs amputated.

Robert Field suffered life-changing injuries / West Midlands Police/PA Wire

His children have sent out a message today appealing for any information that could help catch the driver.

In a statement, issued by West Midlands Police, they said: Our dad was involved in a hit and run in Northfield and his injuries included 10 fractures throughout his body, a brain bleed and an open fracture to his leg. Doctors told us many times hes lucky to still be alive.

During his time in the hospital dad has spent a week in intensive care and will be leaving with life-changing injuries, including the amputation of his lower leg.

They continued: Anyone who knows dad will understand the troubles hes had with his knees and still maintained his independence and the ability to walk unaided.

"This will now change and will include him spending time in a wheelchair, the fitting of a prosthetic and the physiotherapy required to learn to walk again.

Many people from Northfield will recognise dads face from over the many years he has lived here from a small lad."

Mr Field's children thanked members of the public for their messages of support.

They added: We urge anyone who may have noticed the slightest detail on that night to come forward and we will always be indebted to the people that stopped and helped him and have continued to message in support since."

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the serious collision investigation unit, added: We are conducting CCTV enquiries and speaking to witnesses, however we are still appealing for information or anyone with dashcam footage or CCTV.

No matter how small you believe your information may be, it could hold vital information to help progress this investigation."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:51:54|Editor: yan

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HONG KONG, March 12 (Xinhua) -- With rising number of confirmed cases, the Asia-Pacific countries are on a high alert after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 a "pandemic."

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea confirmed 114 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Thursday local time, raising the total number of infections to 7,869.

Five more deaths were reported, lifting the death toll to 66. Forty-five more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, raising the combined number to 333.

South Korea plans to impose tighter immigration procedures on more European countries amid the soaring cases of the COVID-19 across Europe in recent days.

All travelers arriving from Britain, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands will be subject to special immigration procedures beginning midnight March 15 local time, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.

Under the intensified procedures, all entrants, both South Korean and foreign nationals, will be required to get fever checks and submit papers on health conditions at airports.

They will also be required to download a self-diagnosis smartphone app to submit self-diagnosis results for 14 days and to be placed under intensive care if they show symptoms.

All entrants arriving from other countries after departing the five European nations for the past two weeks will be subject to the special immigration procedures.

JAPAN

The number of COVID-19 infections in Japan stood at 643 as of 6:00 p.m. local time here.

The death toll stood at 24, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama, close to Tokyo.

Of the 643 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Japan, the majority are in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, which has confirmed 128 cases and previously declared a state of emergency over the situation.

The health ministry said there are currently 40 patients considered severely ill and are on ventilators to receive respiratory assistance or have been admitted to intensive care units for medical treatment.

The House of Representatives of Japan on Thursday passed a bill enabling Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a state of emergency to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak if needed.

SINGAPORE

Singapore recorded nine new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 187, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday.

Three are part of the cluster involving the private dinner function at SAFRA Jurong on Feb. 15. Five are imported cases and one is linked to a previous case.

The ministry also said that a total of 91 patients were still in the hospital and nine of them are under intensive care.

INDIA

The number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 73 on Thursday, up from 60 in the previous day, India's federal health ministry said.

Of all the cases, 56 are Indian nationals and 17 are foreign nationals, a statement issued by India's federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

Nine new cases were reported in Maharashtra, two in Uttar Pradesh and others in Delhi.

Authorities across India have sounded an alert and urged people to avoid unnecessary foreign travel and mass gatherings.

India on Wednesday suspended all visas, barring diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project categories until April 15.

Authorities in various states have closed schools and cinema halls until March 31 as a precautionary measure.

AUSTRALIA

The first COVID-19 case was reported in the Australian capital Canberra on Thursday.

According to Andrew Barr, chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a man in his 30s became unwell on Tuesday. He presented to the Weston Creek Walk-in Center on the following day, with a positive result confirmed on Thursday.

A report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said that the man has not been overseas in the past a couple of weeks.

Nationwide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has risen to 126 as of 11 a.m. local time on Thursday.

The latest figure, which was released by the Department of Health, represents an increase of 14 from 112 confirmed cases on Wednesday.

The number of deaths related to the virus remains at three, all of which were of patients over the age of 70.

New South Wales (NSW) has more confirmed cases than Australia's seven other states and territories combined with 64 - up from 60 on Wednesday - followed by Victoria with 18 and Queensland with 17.

Also on Thursday, Hollywood star Tom Hanks and his wife, who are in Gold Coast, tested positive for the COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg unveiled a support package on Thursday, one day after Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt announced a 2.4-billion-Australian dollar (1.5-billion-U.S. dollar) medical response to the crisis.

Of that figure, 11 billion Australian dollars (7.1 billion U.S. dollars) will be pumped into the economy before the end of financial year on June 30.

VIETNAM

Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Thursday afternoon confirmed five new cases of novel COVID-19 infection in the central Binh Thuan province, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 44.

The latest cases, including a 2-year-old baby and a 13-year-old boy, are all related to a 51-year-old female Vietnamese patient, who has traveled to the United States and transferred in South Korea and Qatar, the news agency reported. The female returned to Vietnam on March 2 and was confirmed to be infected by the health ministry on Tuesday.

A total of 16 out of the 44 confirmed cases in Vietnam have been discharged from hospital. The country has reported 28 new confirmed cases since March 6, and has 113 suspected cases with nearly 25,000 under quarantine as of Thursday, according to the ministry.

Vietnam has temporarily suspended visa waiver program for nationals of South Korea, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

THAILAND

Thailand on Thursday reported 11 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 70.

All of the new patients had socialized and shared drinks, health officials said, adding that a tourist from Hong Kong had been the source of the infection.

The Health Ministry further added that 34 patients have been discharged with 24 still in hospital, one of them in serious condition.

SRI LANKA

A 44-year old man tested positive for the COVID-19 in Sri Lanka on Thursday, making him the second local patient to be detected with the virus in the island country, the government information department said in a statement.

The patient had closely contacted with the first patient, who was a 52-year old tour guide and had tested positive for the virus earlier this week, the statement said.

The Health Ministry said both the patients were receiving treatment at the National Infectious Disease Hospital in the outskirts of Colombo and were being monitored by a special medical team.

Further, two more suspected patients had been admitted at the hospital earlier Thursday, with their results expected to be released soon, the Health Ministry said.

THE PHILIPPINES

The Department of Health (DOH) in the Philippines said on Thursday that three more people have tested positive for the COVID-19, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 52 with two dead.

The DOH said the three new cases include two Filipino females, aged 69 and 79, and a 26-year-old Filipino male. The 79-year-old female patient had a history of travelling to Britain.

On Wednesday night, the DOH confirmed the death of a 67-year-old Filipino female who tested positive for COVID-19 disease.

The DOH said the patient died of severe pneumonia on Wednesday at a Manila hospital.

On Thursday afternoon, the Philippines Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, 74, was tested for COVID-19 disease after some Cabinet members and senators have gone on self-quarantine because they interacted with people who have the viral disease. The result of the test will be known after 48 hours.

While Duterte does not have the symptoms of the virus, the Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said they have opted to undergo the test to ensure that they are fit and healthy to perform their duties as government workers.

The country also raised the COVID-19 alert level to code red sub-level 2, with land, domestic sea and air travel to and from Metro Manila to be suspended from March 15 to April 14.

PAKISTAN

The confirmed cases of COVID-19 rose to 21 in Pakistan, with a new case reported in north Gilgit Baltistan (GB) region on Thursday.

The new patient, a 31-year-old man, returned from Iran last month and was isolated upon showing the symptoms of the disease. He was tested positive for the disease in lab tests, Faizullah Firaq, a spokesman of the GB told Xinhua.

He said the new case brought the total number of COVID-19 patients to three in isolation wards of Skardu district of the region, and all of them are in stable condition, whereas two more infected people from the region are being treated in a hospital in Islamabad.

On Wednesday, the country's foreign ministry said that a Pakistani in Italy died of COVID-19, and the Pakistani Embassy in the country is in touch with his family and the concerned Italian officials.

A medical emergency has been declared in the country's east Punjab province, the official Twitter account of the provincial government said, adding that three hospitals across the province with a capacity of 800 beds are declared quarantine for emergency.

Over 4,000 people, returning from Iran, are being quarantined along Pakistan-Iran border in Balochistan.

MALAYSIA

Malaysia on Thursday announced nine new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 158.

Another six patient had been declared cured and discharged, making for a total of 32 who have recovered in Malaysia. Three patients required respiratory assistance in intensive unites and are in stable condition, he added.

Participants of a recent mass religious event were urged to report to the local health authorities following participants being reported infected with COVID-19. The event, held from late February to early March outside the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, was reported to had some 10,000 participants.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Adham Baba confirmed Malaysia's first sporadic case of COVID-19. He explained that this meant the virus was detected in an isolated and specific cluster within the country that had not seen cases previously.

Adham said the new cases were part of a second wave, with the disease transmission occurring within the country rather than from individuals coming from abroad, adding that this could lead to a sudden spike in the number of cases in the country.

BRUNEI

Brunei reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, following preliminary tests, bringing the country's total to 25 cases.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, among the 14 new cases, 10 cases were linked to the same religious gatherings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with the first confirmed patient, while three cases are close contacts of the confirmed patients and the last case is a 64-year-old man who had been to Kuala Lumpur and Cambodia.

A 53-year-old local man tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday after returning to the country from Kuala Lumpur on March 3, who possibly contracted the virus there during religious mass gatherings from Feb. 28 to March 1.

THE MALDIVES

The Maldives government on Thursday declared a state of public health emergency for the first time in its history in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

The announcement was made by Health Minister Abdulla Ameen who holds discretionary powers to declare such emergencies under Maldives' Public Health Act.

The state of public health emergency is to last 30 days starting March 12.

Maldives has eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 and has set up a quarantine centre at a tourist resort on the northern Lhaviyani Atoll.
In some former Soviet bloc countries, men often die early due to alcohol abuse. Alcoholism-related mortality varies considerably from one region to another, according to a study in the European part of Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Poland. The most problematic regions in these terms are north-western and western Russia, eastern and north-western Belarus, south-eastern Lithuania, and eastern and central Poland, say an international team of demography researchers that included scholars from HSE University.

Tragic practices

Heavy drinking often turns out to be fatal. It either leads to death directly, for instance due to acute alcohol poisoning, or provokes serious diseases of the liver (cirrhosis and fibrosis), heart and blood vessels (cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease), and brain (blood stroke), as well as some types of cancer. Deaths from external causes, such as car accidents, murder, falling, burns, drowning, and frostbite, are also often related to excessive drinking.

Official statistics show that the share of deaths directly related to alcohol is not high. For example, in Russia in 2015 it was 3.1% of total deaths, or over 58,000 people. But among the able-bodied population, this share was higher at 8.8%.

But even this share is lower than the real one, experts say. Some alcohol poisonings and diseases caused by drinking are registered as 'non-alcohol-related causes of death,' while in reality, alcohol abuse has led to the fatal outcome.

Dangerous levels of alcohol consumption largely explain early mortality of men in European Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Poland, according to a study conducted by an international team of demographers, including HSE researchers Evgeny Andreev and Sergey Timonin.

These regions share a common past, as well as similar cultural practices and consumption patterns. The researchers believe that this largely determines mortality due to alcohol consumption, which is similar in the four countries.

That said, generalizing can be problematic. The situation with alcohol-related early mortality varies considerably not only by country, but by region inside a given country. There are relatively safe regions and problematic hot spots.

Mortality hot spots and glimmers of hope

From 2006 to 2014, demographers studied mortality among males ranging in age from 20 to 64 in four economic regions of European Russia: central, north-western, central Black Earth, and Kaliningrad (23 oblasts including Moscow and St. Petersburg), as well as regions in Belarus, Poland, and Lithuania. The total number of geographic areas studied was nearly 1,180.

The study revealed the following:

There are more alcohol-related mortality hot spots in Russia and Belarus, and fewer in Lithuania and Poland.

The most troubled territories are north-western Russia, eastern and north-western Belarus, south-eastern Lithuania, and eastern and central Poland.

Within Russia, the lowest alcohol-related mortality rates are in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Central Black Earth regions (Lipetsk, Kursk, and Voronezh oblasts), while the highest rates are in north-west and west (Leningrad, Novgorod, Smolensk, and Bryansk oblasts).

Alcohol-related male mortality rates largely explain early mortality among men in general.

Other studies have already shown that peaks in mortality coincide with alcohol consumption peaks. This means that the contribution of drinking in mortality is high.

'Alcohol-related mortality, particularly mortality from acute alcohol poisoning, had defined the general trends of life expectancy in Russia for several decades,' said Sergey Timonin. But today, the situation is changing, and there is a reason for certain optimism. According to the new study, 'the forecasting power of alcohol-related mortality is weakening.' This may mean that alcohol is finally playing a smaller role in early mortality in Russia, the scholar explained.

Hypnotized by the past

Demographers calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for alcohol-related mortality in these countries (number of deaths per 100,000). This average indicator has been taken as a unit.

Relative SMRs by region within the countries were then calculated. Any indicator of the coefficient that is higher than one means that the mortality is higher than the average. On the contrary, SMRs less than one indicate lower alcohol-related mortality.

Standardized mortality ratios across the combined territory of Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and European Russia.

Study by S. Timonin, E. Andreev et al.

Demographers say that alcohol-related mortality across the four countries is homogeneous in some parts and mosaic in others.

All these countries face a problem of excessive alcohol consumption, which researchers explain by pointing to their common history. This includes both the socialist past (Poland was long influenced by the Soviet Union, while Belarus and Lithuania were Soviet republics) and history more than a century ago under the Russian Empire, which included a considerable part of Poland along with Belarus and Lithuania.

But risky alcohol consumption practices that formed over a century ago have persisted up to the present.

For example, in central parts of Poland (around odz) and in the east (in areas bordering Belarus), mortality data show that heavy drinking is more widespread than in the other parts of the country.

On the contrary, in regions that have not been impacted by a shared past, such as in southern Poland, which used to be part of Austria-Hungary, alcohol-related mortality is lower. The culture of drinking is obviously less risky there.

'Barrier-free' environment and internal contrasts

Russia demonstrates the highest heterogeneity of regions in terms of alcohol-related mortality.

In the north-west, SMR often exceeds 1.6, and sometimes goes off the scale, breaking the 2.4 barrier. On the other hand, in the southern part, in the Central Black Earth region, this indicator is often just a little higher than 0.5.

In Belarus, on the contrary, the landscape is more homogeneous, and almost hopeless. In most regions, the alcohol-related standardized mortality rate exceeds average levels (higher than one). Only regions bordering Poland in the southwest is the situation better.

The situation is better in Lithuania and Poland: in most regions, SMR is low. In Poland, hot spots are in the central part of the country, as well as in several eastern areas bordering Belarus.

The culture of drinking is obviously 'barrier-free' and crosses national borders. Patterns of alcohol abuse in border regions are almost identical. This is true, for example, for border regions of Russia and Belarus, or Belarus and Lithuania.

In Lithuania, almost all regions close to the border with Belarus have higher alcohol-related mortality.

The safest regions in Belarus are located in the southwestern part of the country closer to the Polish border.

The Kaliningrad oblast, on the contrary, is high in contrast to its neighbours. The 'alcoholic' SMR there is considerably higher than in Poland and Lithuania.

Remote and rural regions fall behind

In addition to shared history, other factors impact alcohol-related mortality. These include a region's socio-economic situation: real household earnings and unemployment levels.

Another important factor is migration from the country's remote regions to its centre: the healthiest and most active people usually migrate. Finally, the illegal alcohol trade is also a factor.

For example, the relative safety of Moscow and St. Petersburg may be explained by higher living standards and cultural habits of the population. Other 'sober' territories are university towns and some closed administrative territories, such as related to defence industry (Zhukovsky, Korolev, Obninsk, Dubna, Protvino, etc).

'The advantage of university towns and closed territories is in the more favourable educational background of the population,' Timonin explained. 'The share of the population with a university degree is considerably higher in these communities as compared to other areas.'

Socio-economic factors largely determine the situation with alcohol-related lethality in the north-western economic region.

Its areas are located between the key centers that attract migrants: Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Baltic countries.

North-western areas suffer from poor agricultural conditions and have depressed agriculture. This leads to an outflow of the most active populations.

The situation in Belarus is similar: the least developed eastern regions are prone to depopulation.

Finally, when alcohol-related mortality is analyzed by the type of settlement, rural areas perform worse than urban ones. The researchers believe this is due to worse access to medical aid, weak leisure infrastructure, and uncertainty regarding the future. Rural areas lack attractive jobs. Younger, healthier and ambitious people leave for the cities.
Disney is slammed by a mom who said the company is promoting the "LGBT ideology" and making television not safe for her children. She also said the company just might want to reconsider this since its stock prices are already taking a toll on what it has been doing.

This is a timely accusation, considering "Onward" movie just hit the theaters. The movie features the first openly gay character.

The company, however, did not change its stance on the matter and successfully established its stand. The company also addressed the woman's issue with the company's stock prices and provided the real reason why it could be plummeting.

Suffice to say, Disney's CEO Bob Chapek is a strong-willed person who will not let its company's belief and value system be swayed in exchange for approval or higher stock prices.

In a Q&A session at Disney's annual shareholder meeting held on Wednesday in Raleigh, North Carolina, a woman highlighted the fact that the company's stock prices are certainly not doing well. She then proceeded to associate this downturn to the company's promotion of LGBT ideology to children. Caroline Farrow, the woman who dared to say this is from an organization called Citizen Go.

According to her, moms and audiences like her are no longer trusting of Disney because of who it supports. For her, Disney is no longer family-friendly because of its protection and promotion of one particular minority group, the LGBT.

"We want to trust your brand. But we no longer feel safe. At a time when your stock is down by 20%, is it perhaps time to reconsider what you can do to make Disney more family-friendly, to make it safe for people around the world, not just one particular minority?"

She highlighted that there are hundreds and thousands of them sharing her sentiment. "What would you say to those 700,000 people who signed our petition saying, please, let's not have the gay prides in the Disneyland parks?" she asked.

Chapek however handled the question with ease. He did not try to change the customer's mind nor did he try to "save" Disney's reputation from this woman's accusations.

First, he clarified that Disney is all about reflecting "diversity that we find in our fan base and with our audience." This means that it is not merely protecting one minority and certainly does not see supporting the LGBT community as bad.

Then second, he quickly shut down Farrow's allegations that Disney's LGBT-supportive shows are the cause for the stock's downturn. Instead, it could be a range of reasons.

Of course, no matter how well Chapek handled the question, it cannot be denied that some people are really bothered by the firm's content lately. Apart from the 700,000 people Farrow said that have signed a petition, Disney's markets overseas are also making their disapproving stance known.

For example, the new "Onward" movie, is not widely accepted in certain Middle Eastern countries. The movie is now missing from schedules in certain Middle Eastern countries, which implies that it has been banned. Still, conservative countries such as Egypt and Lebanon are still showing the movie, so not everything is lost.
With many teams forced to work remotely, we are now seeing interest in an even wider range of decision-making tasks, and we are offering significant discounts to any business impacted by Coronavirus. - Dr. Louis Rosenberg, CEO of Unanimous

Unanimous AI, maker of the award-winning Swarm software platform, announced today that any business team in the US that is forced to collaborate remotely because of the Coronavirus, will be given a half-price discount off the standard monthly subscription price.

Named AI Technology of the Year at SXSW in 2018, Swarm is the worlds only on-demand AI platform for amplifying the intelligence of remotely collaborating business teams. Inspired by the biological principle of Swarm Intelligence, Swarm enables any business team to optimize its combined knowledge, wisdom and insight, to quickly converge on optimized forecasts, evaluations, prioritizations and decisions.

Swarm is an AI-based collaboration platform that enables optimized decision-making by remote business teams. Networked teams, especially those that are new to tele-working, depend heavily on conference calls, online chat, and video conferencing for basic communications, but often struggle to make fast and accurate decisions as a distributed team. Swarms secure, cloud-based platform complements any communication channel and gives teams the means to quickly and easily reach AI-optimized insights, getting the most from the combined knowledge, wisdom, and experience of their team members.

Numerous academic studies have shown that teams using Swarm, can significantly amplify their group intelligence. As published in the Journal Nature (Digital Medicine), medical teams at Stanford University significantly increased their collaborative accuracy, reducing diagnostic errors by over 30%. In another study, published in collaboration with researchers at MIT, financial teams significantly increased their forecasting accuracy (over 35%) when predicting financial markets. And finally, as published last year in Berkeleys California Management Review, business teams using the Swarm platform were able to quickly reach optimized decisions about marketing messages, advertising content, and sales forecasts.

Swarm Intelligence, the science behind the Swarm platform, is the reason why birds flock, bees swarm, and fish school  they are smarter together than alone. By forming closed-loop systems, these organisms produce insights, together in groups, that greatly exceed the abilities of any individual member. While humans have not evolved this ability naturally, Swarm technology enables this using AI, allowing groups to amplify their intelligence by forming real-time swarms. The process was described in a popular TED talk, demonstrating how Swarm technology can amplify team intelligence across a wide range of collaborative tasks.

Business teams around the world have been using Swarm for everything from marketing decisions to financial forecasting said Dr. Louis Rosenberg, CEO of Unanimous. With many teams forced to work remotely, we are now seeing interest in the platform for an even wider range of decision-making tasks and we are offering significant discounts to any business impacted by Coronavirus.

About Unanimous AI

Unanimous AI is the maker of Swarm the worlds only on-demand AI platform for amplifying the collective intelligence of remotely collaborating business teams in real-time.
A 12-year-old mentally unstable girl was allegedly raped by one of her neighbours in a village in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place within the limits of the Bakewar police station on Tuesday night, when the culprit took the girl for shopping and allegedly raped her, Bakewar Station House Office (SHO) AK Gautam said.

The girl, who returned home late in the night, somehow managed to narrate her ordeal to her mother, after which an FIR was lodged against Seth Kushwaha, a truck driver, the SHO said.

A hunt was on to nab the culprit, he said, adding that the girl was sent for a medical examination.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 13 people were killed in fighting in the Central African Republic where rival armed factions are battling after a seven-year civil war, UN officials said on Thursday.

Fighting erupted a week ago in the northern province of Bamingui-Bangoran between rival factions of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central Africa or FPRC, one of the country's largest militias.

CAR struggles with violence despite a peace deal signed between the government and 14 armed groups. Rival militias battling over resources control most of the country.

"Combat with heavy weaponry and light arms has left 13 dead in Ndele town, including some civilians," an official with the UN mission MINUSCA told AFP by telephone from the capital Bangui.

"The combat yesterday (Wednesday) morning was a consequence of an attack on the town by the Gula faction of the FPRC," the UN official said.

The FPRC last year split into two factions: the Runga ethnic group on one side, including FPRC's military chief Abdoulaye Hissene, and rival fighters from the Gula and Kara ethnic communities.

Fighting had subsided by Thursday and UN peacekeepers had intensified their patrols in the area.

The United Nations said on Saturday that one local Central African MINUSCA employee was shot and killed in Ndele. Its police unit was investigating the murder.

There have been clashes between Runga and Gula in Ndele, which is under FPRC control, since the start of March.

Around 50 people were killed after fighting erupted between the two factions in the diamond-rich town of Bria in January.

More than two-thirds of CAR remains in the hands of armed groups, which typically claim ethnic or religious affiliations and often fight over mineral resources.

One of the world's poorest and most unstable nations, the former French colony has suffered several crises since 2003 when former president Francois Bozize seized power in a coup.

The country spiralled into bloodshed after Bozize was overthrown in 2013 by the mainly Muslim rebel Seleka alliance.

Since then, fighting has forced nearly a quarter of the country's 4.5 million people to flee their homes.

In February 2019, the government and 14 armed groups signed the eighth in a string of peace deals. Under it, rebel chiefs were given government positions, and army troops and militiamen were meant to carry out joint patrols.

But the accord has remained extremely fragile and breaches of it by the rebels occur almost daily.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 11:13AM

Embed from Getty Images

Star Wars actor John Boyega's UpperRoom Productions company inks a deal with Netflix to develop non-English language films that focus on west and east Africa. In a statement, the company said it would work with the streaming service to develop film projects based on stories, cast, characters, crew, literary properties, mythology, screenplays, and/or other elements in or around African countries."

Netflix's VP of international film, David Kosse, shared, "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."

The streaming service has been looking to develop content coming out of the continent. It sent a high-level delegation a couple of weeks ago to Lagos to announce their first Nigerian series. Netflix then headed to South Africa to launch its first African original, Queen Sono, which is a six-part drama that debuted worldwide at the end of February.

Source: Deadline
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Travellers wear face masks as a precaution against coronavirus at Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain on March 12, 2020. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Todays more than 12 per cent plunge marked the single biggest one-day drop on the TSX, in percentage terms, since May 1, 1940 when it fell more than 25 per cent.

Coronavirus fears sent stocks tumbling again, triggering circuit breakers that brought trading on the TSX Composite Index (^GSPTSE) to a halt shortly after the open.

Canadas main stock index ended the day down 1761.64 points to 12,508.45 after opening down 7.5 per cent. The TSX came close, but didnt hit the 13 per cent drop threshold to trigger another halt.

Brian Madden, senior VP and portfolio manager at Goodreid Investment Counsel, says supply and demand for securities is out of whack.

Normally prices adjust calmly and mildly to new information, as traders process and digest value-relevant information rationally and supply/demand imbalances are brief and mild, Madden told Yahoo Finance Canada.

That is not the current reality. Traders are not processing information rationally. Supply/demand imbalances are large and price jumps are correspondingly large and the market is in a temporary state of panicky dis-equilibrium.

LEVEL 1 MARKET-WIDE CIRCUIT BREAKERS TRIGGERED: At the instruction of IIROC, TSX, TSXV and TSX Alpha have been halted due to the triggering of a level 1 market-wide circuit breaker. Markets are now in Pre-Open state and are set to resume trading at 09:51:00.  TMX Group (@TMXGroup) March 12, 2020

The TSX was down around 11 per cent when trading resumed at around 9:51 a.m. ET.

Where we go from here

Peter Hodson, founder and head of research at 5i Research, says theres room to fall further until maximum pessimism sets in.

This weekend all the individual investors may sit and stress for 48 hours, perhaps culminating in a big blow-off next week, Hodson told Yahoo Finance Canada.

A bounce is setting itself up, and it should be a good one. There is still going to be a recession, however, so traders need to be nimble.

Story continues

Brooke Thackray, research analyst at Horizons ETF Management Canada, says the TSX falling below 13,000 was a key technical level.

The next key level of support is 11,843 which is the low set in late January 2016. A break below this level would be demoralizing for investors in the Canadian market and could put further negative pressures on the Canadian stock market, Thackray told Yahoo Finance Canada.

The last time that the S&P/TSX Composite Index traded below the 11,843 level was in 2013.

Poor handling of COVID-19

Circuit-breakers also kicked in on U.S. markets, but have since resumed trading. The next 15-minute halt would come if losses hit 13 per cent.

The S&P 500 index has declined by 7%, triggering a Level 1 Market Wide Circuit Breaker trading halt. US equity markets will resume after 15 minutes.  NYSE  (@NYSE) March 12, 2020

The TSX officially entered bear market territory yesterday after closing down more than 20 per cent below its recent high, which was reached on February 19. Todays trading brought the TSX down to 2016 levels.

Losses started overseas on European and Asian markets after President Donald Trump and other lawmakers failed to calm markets after restricting travel from Europe.

Trump's travel ban from Europe is likely the last straw. A recession, which was previously unlikely is now a high probability, Darren Sissons, vice-president and partner at Campbell, Lee & Ross, told Yahoo Finance Canada.

Sissons says patience is key and investors shouldnt panic.

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.
Students who do return are being directed under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The decision on the program Italy comes as Wells also announced this week that the ongoing spring break at its main campus in Aurora would be extended another week in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Pollock said Wells is responding to the pandemic both abroad and in the U.S. "to the best of our ability."

"With our home campus having extended its spring break, we're really focused still on making sure that both everyone in our Aurora campus community as well as all the students in the program in Florence, that they stay as healthy and safe as possible given the uncertainty of the situation," he said.
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An Italian medical chief died of coronavirus at the age of 67, it emerged today, as the countries death toll jumped to over 1,000.

Roberto Stella passed away on Tuesday after being hospitalised with respiratory failure following his diagnosis with the disease in Como, Italy.

Italy's National Federation of Doctors and General Practitioners issued a statement following the news mourning Stella's death, according to CNN.

The federation's secretary Silvestro Scotti said in a statement: 'He was the example of the capability and hard work of family doctors. His death represents the outcry of all colleagues who still today are not equipped with the proper individual protection needed.'

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Italy jumped by 189 to 1,016 in 24 hours, a rise of 23 per cent, it emerged on Thursday.

The total number of cases in Italy, the European country hardest hit by the virus, rose to 15,113 from a previous 12,462, an increase of 21.7 per cent. That marked the biggest daily rise in absolute terms since the contagion first came to light on February 21.

The Civil Protection Agency said that, of those originally infected, 1,258 had fully recovered compared to 1,045 the day before. Some 1,153 people were in intensive care against a previous 1,028.

More than half of those who are in intensive care in Italy are located in hard-hit Lombardy province, which on Thursday reported 605 ICU patients in a region with only 610 ICU beds.

Hospitals in Lombardy are are overflowing with the dead. Lombardy's top health care official, Giulio Gallera, said at the request of the hospitals, the region had simplified the bureaucracy needed to process death certificates and bury the dead.

Rome's Catholic churches were ordered to close today due to the pandemic, in a move believed to be unprecedented in modern times.

The decree by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Pope Francis' vicar for the Rome archdiocese, will remain in effect until at least April 3. There are more than 900 parochial and historic churches in the Italian capital.

It comes as Italians with coronavirus symptoms could face murder charges if they venture outside despite the quarantine and cause a patient's death.

Suspected virus patients have been ordered to stay indoors with a penalty of 206 euros (182) over their heads - but they could face far graver charges if they infect someone on their travels.

The most severe charge of 'malicious murder' could lead to a prison sentence as long as 21 years, according to Italian media, while virus spreaders could still be charged with misconduct even if no-one is killed.

Top Italian doctor Roberto Stella passed away on Tuesday after being hospitalised with respiratory failure from the coronavirus

Italian police officers wearing protective masks check motorists and pedestrians due to the coronavirus emergency in Rome

Italian police officers checking the self-certifications of three people in Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square) in Milan today

The Italian National Civil Protection has set up three tents in front of the hospital of Tempio Pausania to accommodate possible coronavirus patients in Tempio Pausania, Sardinia

The parish priest of the cathedral of Catania looking at the empty church during the emergency lockdown today

A map showing the latest number of virus cases in Europe. Italy is by far the worst-affected nation in the West

Closed bars and restaurants near Piazza Navona in Rome this morning after Italy's quarantine was tightened even further

Police with the protective masks controlling the traditional open-air fish market 'a piscaria' closed due to the coronavirus in Catania today

The traditional open-air fish market in Catania was closed today as new measures by the prime minister Giuseppe Conte against the spread of the disease require the closure of all commercial activities except supermarkets, pharmacies, tobacconists, newsagents and banks

A couple share a kiss - as far as their face masks will allow them - in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome today, a popular landmark which has been deserted in recent days

The Catania airport departure lounges being disinfected during the coronavirus emergency today. The Italian government has escalated the lockdown measures

A deserted St Peter's Square in Vatican City this morning with Italy entering the third day of its nationwide lockdown and regular tourist hotspots remaining empty

'If I am infected, I know I am, and I look for contact with other people regardless of the possibility of transmitting the infection, then the crime of injury occurs,' lawyer Franco Coppi told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Italian media compared the possible charges to penalties for spreading HIV by deliberately having unprotected sex - a charge which led to one man being jailed for 24 years in one case in Rome in 2017.

The government shut down all shops except for pharmacies and food stores on Wednesday as the country entered day three of its unprecedented nationwide lockdown.

Prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced the latest wave of restrictions in a prime-time address last night with bars, pubs and restaurants shut down for two weeks.

'Thank you to all Italians who make sacrifices. We are proving to be a great nation,' Conte said in his nine-minute address to the nation.

History was also made in the Milan stock exchange, which fell 17 per cent for its worst single-day loss ever, under-performing a generally disastrous global market, as investors fretted over the huge, long-term cost of the coronavirus lockdown.

The quarantine is in place until at least April 3, but top health official Walter Ricciardi told Italian TV today that his countrymen should prepare for a 'long war' against the virus.

Italian cities are becoming 'unrecognisable' with the famous piazzas in Rome, Florence and Venice empty except for sanitation workers spraying them with disinfectant.

Previously, only Masses had been cancelled in Italian churches because of the outbreak. Thursday's decree also dispenses Catholics in the archdiocese from their obligation to attend Mass on Sunday's and on what are known as Holy Days of Obligation.

The decree allows a relatively smaller number of oratories in convents and monasteries to remain open.

The move follows a decision by the Italian government on Wednesday night to close virtually every commercial activity in Italy apart from pharmacies, food shops and other stores selling essential goods.

St. Peter's Basilica, which is on Vatican territory, has already been closed and the pope has cancelled his two weekly appearances in public. He held his most recent Sunday blessing and general audience from inside the Vatican and both have been streamed on the internet.

A deserted St Peter's Square at the Vatican, as seen from St Peter's Basilica today, with the city-state imposing its own quarantine measures

An empty tram in Milan today after the Italian government strengthened its quarantine rules, shutting non-essential shops and banning necessary travel

An elderly man, without a protective mask, crosses the traditional open-air fish market with police officers in Catania today

Shops have their shutters down on a street in Genoa in northern Italy today after most businesses were ordered to close

Police checking certification in Milan today. Tougher lockdown measures kicked-in in Italy on the day after Italian Premier Conte announced that all non-essential shops should close as part of the effort to contain the coronavirus

Passengers waiting in almost empty queuing areas for the check-in desks at Catania airport today

A woman wearing a face mask walks out of a pharmacy - one of the few things which are allowed to remain open - in Genoa

In a statement from Cardinal Angelo De Donatis said: 'The faithful are consequently exempt from their obligation to fulfill the festive precept.'

The Vatican statement said access to 'churches of the Diocese of Rome open to the public - and more generally to religious buildings of any kind open to the public - is forbidden to all the faithful'.

The statement added that monasteries would remain open to 'communities that habitually use them as residents'.

'This provision is for the common good,' De Donatis wrote.

Most Italians were stoical in the face of the unprecedented disruption.

Rome delicatessen shop owner Roberto Castroni: 'The government is doing its best, we're in a war against an invisible enemy.'

The outbreak has turned Italy into a pariah state, with many countries severing transport links, leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights and the closure of some airports.

Rome demanded that Austria lift 'unjustified' controls at their shared border by Thursday evening after spot health checks on truck drivers caused huge tailbacks, adding to the mounting economic toll from the health crisis.

Business lobby Confindustria said in a statement: 'The block on Italian goods vehicles to northern Europe is causing incalculable damage to our exports and to European trade.'

The interior ministry said police had booked some 2,162 people during the day for violating the order. Seven foreigners were arrested in Rome after being caught playing cards around a table in the open air, Ansa news agency said.

A policeman with a protective mask assisting and monitoring passengers departing from Catania airport today

A worker wearing a protective mask serving customers in a grocery store in Rome today. Food outlets were some of the few still open during the lockdown

Doctors and nurses carrying out health checks on passengers arriving at Catania airport today

Passengers departing from Catania airport today after the coronavirus pandemic closed the Italian territory for a third day

A police control in Piazza Duomo in Milan today after authorities locked down travel between cities in a bid to contain the spread of the virus

The Spanish Steps in Rome, which are often overflowing with tourists, are deserted today because of the quarantine

Those found guilty of infringing the rules face up to three months in prison and a fine of up to 206 euros ($231). Anyone who has coronavirus and is caught breaking the obligatory 2-week quarantine order faces between one and 12 years in jail.

So far, Italians has been supportive of the clampdown, with one poll showing more than 80% in favour of the government's decision.

Federica Bravi, out shopping for essentials in Rome, said: 'I am convinced these measures are right and will reduce the length of this epidemic. So at this time, the more sacrifices we make the more likely it will be that we contain this problem.'

The death toll yesterday jumped by 196, reaching 827, while the number of cases rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149 in the world's worst outbreak outside China.

Several big communications and entertainment companies are contributing giveaways for Italians stuck indoors because of the country's coronavirus outbreak lockdown.

Since Monday Italians have been told to only leave the house when strictly necessary, with cultural events among the swathes of public life which have fallen victim to the shutdown ordered by authorities to counter the virus's spread.

The government has called on media and communications companies to join its 'digital solidarity' initiative by offering services for free.

Among those taking part is Vodafone, which is scrapping data limits for students for a month so they can continue studying while schools and universities remain shuttered.

A mask-wearing woman looks at her phone in an otherwise empty underground train in Rome amid the lockdown today

Passengers on a flight from Rome to London Stansted Airport yesterday - with most flights shutting down this weekend

A departure board at London Stansted Airport shows flights to Naples and Cagliari as cancelled today

Slovenian police and health workers approach a driver for questioning at the Slovenian-Italian border crossing of Fernetici today, with Italy's neighbours increasingly shutting their borders

Italy's antitrust watchdog said on Thursday it was investigating e-commerce giants Amazon and eBay for an allegedly excessive rise in the price of products such as hand sanitiser during the crisis.

The antitrust authority said in statement it had opened a probe into the two companies' subsidiaries in Italy and in Europe in relation to an unwarranted spike in prices of items such as disinfectant gel and protective masks.

It said it would also investigate allegations of misleading advertisements for some items put up for sale on the e-commerce platforms where they were described as being effective against the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Britons to return home from Italy with the last flights departing tomorrow night, neighbouring countries shutting their borders and a Rome airport closing tomorrow.

A graph showing how coronavirus cases have surged in Italy in the last three weeks, rising to 12,462 last night

The UK government is advising British tourists in Italy to arrange flights home as soon as possible - but the number of available spots is dwindling after BA, Ryanair and easyJet ripped up their flight schedules.

Ryanair's Italian ban comes into effect from midnight tomorrow night, leaving Britons scrambling for a spot on a small number of repatriation flights arranged by Ryanair and easyJet.

EasyJet said earlier this week it would be 'operating rescue flights for passengers wishing to travel for essential work, health or repatriation reasons to and from Italy'.

Ryanair had initially announced a minimal service until April 8, but announced on Tuesday it was completely scrapping flights from Italy from midnight on Friday.

Meanwhile, British Airways says travellers booked to fly between London and Italy until April 4 can claim a refund or book a later flight.

The airline has also advised its customers to travel home via Geneva or Zurich in Switzerland instead.

'The majority of carriers have indicated that they will cease operating direct flights between Italy and the UK after 13 March,' the UK Foreign Office warns.

'British tourists in Italy should contact their airline operators as soon as possible to arrange return to the UK.'

Britons who return from Italy have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they do not have any virus symptoms such as coughing or breathing problems.

That puts Italy in the same category the three other virus hotspots: China's Hubei province, the whole of Iran, and certain areas of South Korea.

A view of the deserted Spanish Steps and Piazza Spagna in Rome, which are normally crammed with tourists

A view of the empty Via Andrea Doria this morning, which is usually one of Rome's busiest streets surrounding the Vatican

Toledo Metro station in Napoli today after a lockdown on travel and the closure of many commercial businesses by the government

Slovenian authorities wearing masks speak to a motorist at the Italy-Slovenia border crossing of Fernetti this morning

A person walks past closed shops including a massage parlour and a phone repair shop in Genoa in northern Italy today

There were empty seats on this flight to London yesterday from Rome's Ciampino airport, which is shutting down tomorrow

An employee of the municipal company Veritas sprays disinfectant in public areas at the Rialto Bridge in Venice

Italy's Six Nations match against England, which was due to take place this weekend, has already been postponed.

Italian authorities announced today that Rome's Ciampino airport, which usually handles budget flights, would close entirely from Friday night.

The main Fiumicino airport will also close a terminal on Tuesday next week as airlines around the world slash flights to Italy.

Escape from Italy has been made even harder by new border checks in Austria, Switzerland Slovenia, which have all acted to stop the virus spreading across their borders.

Austria has ordered a halt to flights and trains from Italy while Slovenia said has begun imposing controls at its border with the country.

Switzerland said yesterday that the border remained open for commuters with work permits, but nine border crossings have been closed.

A spokeswoman for Germany's Deutsche Bahn said that the only service it had linking it to Italy, between Munich and Venice, has also been suspended.

France's national train company SNCF said on Tuesday it was 'waiting for advice' about how to proceed regarding services to Italy.

Since late February, French staff on cross-border SNCF trains have been getting off before the Italian border and being replaced by Italian colleagues.

A closed border crossing between Slovenia and Italy at Lipica is seen today as countries try to stop the virus spreading

A medic checks the temperature of people crossing the Slovenian-Italian border by car at Fernetici on Thursday morning

A man in protective gear gives a coronavirus fact sheet to a driver at Austria's Brenner Pass border crossing with Italy

Austrian police turn away cars arriving from Italy at the Brenner Pass on Wednesday, directing them to a nearby checkpoint

In Italy, Conte tightened restrictions even further last night with bars and restaurants ordered to close after previously being told they could stay open if they ensured a 3ft distance between guests.

'All shops will be closed except for basic necessities, such as pharmacies and food stores,' said Conte. 'Bars, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and canteen services will close. Home delivery is allowed.'

There was 'no need to rush to buy groceries,' he said - after Italians responded to the announcement of the lockdown on Monday night by cramming into supermarkets to stock up.

Conte's announcement came hours after his government promised to spend up to 25 billion euros (22bn) to fight a disease that has put hospitals and the economy under intense strain.

The size of Rome's rescue was the same as one the European Union announced for the entire 27-nation bloc Monday.

Italy's economy minister said half the money would be used immediately and the other half stowed away and tapped should the health crisis spiral out of control.

Part of the government's cash injection is meant to help small businesses that are suffering the brunt of an implosion in the number of tourists who visit Italy's art-filled churches and beautiful hills.

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.

Sanitary workers disinfect the streets of Naples in southern Italy early this morning during the country's virus lockdown

A medical worker in Slovenia checks a driver's body temperature at the Fernetti border crossing from Italy today

A policeman wearing a protective mask controls road traffic in Via Dei Cerchi in Rome today

Two women wearing face masks walk outside Rome's Fiumicino airport today with few flights remaining to Britain

A pharmacist works behind a glass screen at a drugstore in Genoa this morning with pharmacies allowed to remain open

Soldiers walk at Milan's Malpensa Airport Terminal 1 today during a coronavirus outbreak which has led to cancelled flights

Passengers wearing protective face masks are pictured at Rome's Fiumicino airport on the third day of the lockdown today

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 social distancing measures in Milan's Lombardy region and surrounding areas in which more than 15 million live and 40 percent of the nation's economic activity occurs.

The Lombardy measures were extended to all Italy on Tuesday morning.

Tourists have essentially disappeared and the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square has closed to all but those who want to enter the basilica to pray under its soaring dome overlooking Rome.

Pope Francis held an audience in his private library yesterday with his clerical translators sitting apart, while St Peter's Square stood empty with disappointed worshippers forced to watch his audience on a live-stream.

Some shoppers and shopkeepers have also taken the 3ft safety distance to heart by carrying rulers and marking out lines where people should stand.

The central streets of Rome remained deserted on Wednesday evening and buses that are usually crammed with commuters ran almost empty.

'I can't even recognise Rome now,' 30-year-old Muscovite Yekaterina said while posing alone for a photo by the usually bustling Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome.

Photographers saw masked sanitation workers in white nylon suits and rubber gloves spraying Florence's deserted Saint Mark's Square with disinfectant through a long hose.

Cathedrals posted hand-written notes cancelling mass and cafes apologised to their regulars for having to turn them away.

A crosses a road in a mostly deserted area in front of the Teatro Marcello in Rome today, with people encouraged not to go out

Three men wearing masks cross a road in Rome today, with coronavirus restrictions tightened even further today

A tram passes by the closed La Scala theatre in Milan today with public buildings shut down because of the virus outbreak

Staff sit behind an easyJet counter, one woman wearing a face mask, at Milan's Linate airport today - with many countries imposing restrictions on travel to and from Italy

An arcade near the Doge's Palace in Venice is deserted except for a sanitary worker spraying disinfectant

A square is deserted in front of Milan Central railway station, with travel restricted until at least April 3 because of the virus

People wearing protective masks waiting to enter an internet point in Rome today. Movements in and out of cities are allowed only for work and health reasons proven by a medical certificate

Italy has witnessed nearly 60 percent of the deaths recorded outside China since the epidemic first started spreading from the Asian giant's central Hubei province in January.

Italian hospitals have become increasingly overwhelmed by the crisis, with doctors forced to make life-or-death decisions about who gets access to intensive care.

With even Lombardy's first-class health system creaking under the strain, there are fears that hospitals in poorer southern regions will be unable to cope.

A new intensive care unit is being assembled at the Cardarelli hospital in Naples where rooms are being stripped out to make way for a 'Coronavirus Wing'.

'The south is less prepared, and could pay a serious price for it,' Cardarelli's director Giuseppe Longo said. 'The state has asked us to get ready. We are employing hundreds of new doctors, nurses and medical staff.'

Of the 5,400 or so intensive care beds in Italy, the seven southern regions and islands counted just 1,582 between them.

Conte said yesterday that the production and distribution of intensive care equipment for hospitals across the nation would be ramped up.

Keeping their distance: Pope Francis gives his weekly audience in a Vatican live-stream - with his clerical translators keeping the recommended 3ft apart as the Italian quarantine measures reach the Holy See

A view inside the mostly deserted Milan railway station yesterday, where checks were taking place on the few passengers

Prepared: A woman carries a ruler to a shopping trip in Milan, under a 3ft rule intended to stop the spread of the virus

An empty street in Milan yesterday on the second day of Italy's unprecedented national lockdown to tackle the coronavirus
New Delhi, March 12 : Defence sources on Thursday said around 400 people would be brought back from Iran and will be taken to a military facility in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.

Defence facilities are also being readied in Jodhpur, Jhansi, Deolali, Kolakata, Chennai, Suratgarh, sources added.

Indian Army sources said if required, military field hospitals can be set up at various places.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A plan to allow people in Alabama to use medical marijuana products for chronic pain and more than a dozen other conditions and symptoms is under consideration in the Alabama Senate today.

The bill by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, would create the framework to regulate a medical marijuana industry from the cultivation of the plants all the way to the patient.

Alabama would be the 34th state to legalize medical marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Melsons bill won approval in a Senate committee last month, but also has opposition, including from Attorney General Steve Marshall.

The bill cleared a procedural hurdle today to allow the debate to continue. The vote was 22-7.

More than three hours into the debate on the bill, senators were still trying to amend it and express opposition.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, tried several times to amend the bill. He said he was prepared to talk as long as Senate rules allowed to make his points on the bill, including staying until midnight tonight.

Hearings on the legislation have drawn overflow crowds to committee rooms and testimony from people who see medical marijuana products as a possible source of relief for chronic conditions and an alternative to strong medications like opioids.

Experts have given opposing views of what the research and experience in other states shows.

Melson, a medical researcher and anesthesiologist, says the overall body of research and experiences in other states weighs in favor of allowing medical marijuana products for patients who have not gotten relief from other medications.

His bill would not allow us of raw plant materials or any product that would be smoked.

Doctors who receive training in medical cannabis could issue medical cannabis cards to patients suffering from about 15 conditions: Anxiety or panic disorder; autism; nausea, weight loss, or pain from cancer; Crohns disease; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; fibromyalgia; HIV-related nausea or weight loss; persistent nausea; post traumatic stress disorder; sleep disorders; spasticity associated with a motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injury; a terminal illness in which the life expectancy is six months or less; Tourettes Syndrome; and conditions causing chronic or intractable pain that cant be treated effectively treated otherwise.

This story will be updated.
By IANS

BHOPAL: 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 JP 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.
Officials of the Unification Party of North and South Koreas, a new political party launched by North Korean defectors, cheer during an inauguration ceremony at the Federation of Korean Industries Tower in Seoul, March 6. Fourth from left is An Chan-il and fifth from left, Kim Seong-min, who were elected co-leaders of the party. Courtesy of the Unification Party of North and South Koreas



New party calls for consistent policy on defector issues



This is the second in a series on minor parties with specific agendas that were newly launched to target proportional representation seats for the April 15 general election.  ED.



By Jung Da-min



A chronic problem North Korean defectors face in terms of receiving institutional support or protection while struggling to settle in the South is that such social policies often lack consistency and are vulnerable to political shifts, according to defectors here.



They say recent years have been a rough time for many defectors. Specifically, the case last year of a destitute defector mother and her son who apparently died from starvation shocked their communities here and abroad, and showed how the current administration's engagement policy toward Pyongyang has negatively affected policies for defectors here, they say.



To make policies more reflective of their voice, North Korean defectors have gathered to create their own political party under the name the Unification Party of North and South Koreas, about two months ahead of the April 15 general election.



"North Korean defectors had once been called defector veterans under the slogan 'unification that came first,' but have now become troublemakers due to a cold shoulder from society," read the party's inaugural declaration, issued Feb. 18. "The cases of defectors who committed suicide and the miserable life of a defector mother and son who died from starvation show the current state of the defector community under the Moon Jae-in government."



The Unification Party of North and South Koreas held its inauguration ceremony March 6, and elected two co-leaders  Kim Seong-min, founder of Free North Korea Radio who was with the North Korean military before his defection, and An Chan-il, who heads the World Institute for North Korea Studies and also a former member of the North's military.



Kim said that at first he was hesitant to respond to such calls from the defector community to create their own political party, thinking they did not have much time ahead of the election. But he said he later thought that now was the right time as the election features a new electoral system, which provides a better chance for minor parties to get proportional representation seats.



"Every time the administration changes, North Korea policies change, which is the problem. Every time the administration changes, the state of North Korean defectors changes. This is the reason for launching our own party that is reflective of defectors' interests," he said in a recent phone interview with The Korea Times.



Kim said, as of Thursday, the party was recruiting hundreds of members, mostly in Incheon, to meet on of the conditions to form a legal political party  having at least 1,000 members each in at least five regions under a central headquarters in Seoul. He said the party needs to submit a list of its proportional representation candidates by March 15 but the party will not be disbanded even if it fails to do so.



"Our goal is not necessarily winning Assembly seats themselves but establishing unification policies that reflect North Korean defectors' opinions," Kim said.



The other co-leader Ahn said the party was not only for North Korean defectors here but also those living abroad and anyone supportive of North Korean defectors. He said the party especially welcomes overseas Koreans such as ethnic Koreans living in China and central Asia.



Ahn said an important task for the party was to embrace people still in North Korea, as the party exists to prepare for unification.



"About 34,500 North Korean defectors are in South Korea and many of them are still in touch with their family members in the North. They are physically apart from each other but still keeping the form of a family by secretly being in touch with each other. The family members in the North would say 'yes' if those in the South ask them to join the party," Ahn said.



According to Ahn, North Korean defectors in other parts of the world have also joined the party, with about 50 members from Australia and Southeast Asia, 100 from European countries and 100 from the United States.



Meanwhile, former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho, who is running in Seoul's Gangnam-gu in the election as a member of the main opposition United Future Party, also expressed his support for the Unification Party of South and North Koreas, saying this year's election will be an opportunity to show the world that the two Koreas are one.




Oliver Cooper, pictured with mother Jenny Tompkins, was reportedly sent home from school for selling hand sanitiser (SWNS)

Coronavirus

A teenage schoolboy has reportedly been suspended after he was caught selling squirts of what he claimed was hand sanitiser to fellow pupils for 50p.

Oliver Cooper, 13, picked up the 1.60 tub of Johnson's child hand wash from a Tesco store as he waited for the school bus and offered a squirt to his mates, who suggested he could charge people to use the cleansing product during the coronavirus pandemic.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

But after earning 9 from his endeavours, the youngster reportedly fell foul of staff at Leeds Unity Academy in Leeds, West Yorkshire, when he offered some gel to a teacher.

Olivers mother Jenny Tompkins claims her son was then sent home from school for the day for breaching rules.

Oliver picked up the 1.60 tub of Johnson's child hand wash from a Tesco store as he waited for the school bus (SWNS)

In a Facebook post, Jenny wrote: "Why is he [Oliver] getting in from school at 10:53am you ask? Schools don't finish until 3pm.

"Well the little t**d has just been expelled from school for the day after been caught charging students 50p a squirt for hand sanitiser to protect themselfs from the b****y corona virus!! (sic)

Olivers mum claims her son was then sent home from school for the day for breaching rules (SWNS)

She later edited the post to add: For those asking, he made 9! He bought a multipack of Doritos and saving the rest to buy a kebab later xXx

Oliver said he had been listening to the news on his phone and their concerns about coronavirus when he decided to buy the hand wash.

He now faces a day in isolation followed by a two-hour detention.

Read more: Nurse in Italy shares picture of bruised face after gruelling coronavirus shift

Mother-of-seven Jenny said: I don't think it's an excludable offence.

A spokesperson from Leeds Unity Academy told Yahoo News UK that they do not comment on individual cases but added: "No student has ever been excluded from Dixons Unity Academy for selling hand sanitiser.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
Huawei smartphones are extremely popular in South Africa, but many users are concerned they will not be able to use popular Google apps like Gmail and YouTube on new devices.

This is not true, and Huawei has confirmed that users can continue to use these services.

This follows Huaweis announcement that it would no longer use Google Mobile Services (GMS) and the Play Store  instead, it will offer its own Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and AppGallery ecosystem on its upcoming smartphones.

Many people are thinking that basic services are not going to be functional  thats not true, said Huawei South Africa CTO Akhram Mohamed.

The difference for consumers is that your app repository, which used to be the Google Play Store, is no longer there.

How to access Google services

While the Play Store is not available on new Huawei devices, it is still possible to get popular apps that would usually be downloaded from the Play Store.

Users will now download them from the AppGallery or third-party platforms.

These included Facebook-owned apps  Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Centrain Google-owned apps, such as Chrome, can run using an APK, and services like YouTube can be accessed through a mobile browser shortcut.

Users will be able to log into their Gmail accounts via the Huawei Email app, or they can use their mobile web browser.

Using Google Search is as simple as setting Google as your default search engine in your browser.

Additionally, many popular applications such as Waze work perfectly on Android 10 with HMS.

Huaweis HMS-powered devices still run Android, and this means that users will still be able to use popular Google services they would usually access through the Play Store.

The success of AppGallery

Huawei smartphone owners will have access to an extensive library of apps through the companys AppGallery.

AppGallery is already one of the worlds top three application stores, serving over 600 million Huawei device users in over 170 regions.

There are over 1.3 million developers registered to develop apps for Huaweis platforms, with more joining this group every day.

A large reason for this is that Huawei has made it easy for developers to bring their applications to its AppGallery, including providing assistance with the migration and development of applications.

Huawei has said its goal is to deliver an experience through Huawei Mobile Services and AppGallery that not only replaces Google Mobile Services (GMS), but surpasses it.

This ambition has resulted in unprecedented progress being made by Huawei over the past year, and it is showing no signs of slowing down.

Customer service points

Huawei South Africa CBG vice president Likun Zhao said that while the smartphone user experience will not be identical to previous devices, Huawei plans to scale its service points in South Africa to address any possible issues faced by the owners of new Huawei smartphones.

We want to expand our service points from six to 150, with a service point in every top mall, said Zhao.

Customers who buy new Huawei smartphones can take their devices to any of these service points and receive free support for software and application issues.

We want customers to know we are here for them. We see that if a customer moves onto HMS, the experience is going to be the same  as its still Android  but not every application may be on AppGallery, because we are still building the ecosystem, added Mohamed.

We have proved that you can trust us before. Now again, trust us when we say, weve got you covered.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) - Two more Filipinos in Hong Kong have recovered from coronavirus disease and were discharged from the hospital, the Philippine consul general Raly Tejada said Thursday.

That leaves two other Filipinos still in the Hong Kong hospital being treated for coronavirus infection.

Also, six other Filipinos are under quarantine for having come in contact with coronavirus patients. The consul general said the six are healthy and asymptomatic.

Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 120 confirmed cases and three deaths due to the outbreak.
Spearheaded by earth scientists of the University of Cologne, an international team of geologists has found evidence that a large proportion of the elements that are important for the formation of oceans and life, such as water, carbon and nitrogen, were delivered to Earth very late in its history. Previously, many scientists believed that these elements were already present when the Earth began to form. However, geological investigations have now shown that most of the water in fact was only delivered to Earth when its formation was almost complete.

The new findings, which are a result of collaboration among scientists from Germany, Denmark, Wales, Australia and Japan, will be published in Nature under the title 'Ruthenium isotope vestige of Earth's pre-late veneer mantle preserved in Archean rocks' on 11 March 2020.

It is a generally accepted fact that volatile elements such as water originate from asteroids, the 'planetary building blocks' that formed in the outer solar system. However, there is ongoing discussion among experts as to when precisely they came to Earth. 'We have now been able to narrow down the timeframe much more precisely', said first author Dr. Mario Fischer-Godde from the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Cologne. 'To do so, we compared the composition of the oldest, approximately 3.8 billion-year-old mantle rocks from the Archean Eon with the composition of the asteroids from which they may have formed, and with the present-day composition of the Earth's mantle.'

To constrain the delivery of the so-called 'volatile' elements to Earth, the researchers measured the isotope abundances of a very rare platinum metal called ruthenium, which was already present in Earth's mantle by Archean time. Like a genetic fingerprint, this rare platinum metal is an indicator for the late growth phase of the Earth. 'Platinum group metals like ruthenium have an extremely high tendency to combine with iron. Therefore, when the Earth formed all ruthenium must have been completely sequestered into the Earth's metallic core', said Fischer-Godde.

Professor Dr. Carsten Munker added: 'If we still find traces of the rare platinum metals in the Earth's mantle, we can assume that they were only added after the formation of the core was completed. They were certainly added during later collisions of the Earth with asteroids or smaller protoplanets, so called planetesimals.'

Scientists refer to these very late building blocks of the Earth, which were delivered by these collisions, as the 'late veneer'. If ruthenium was added during this stage, it is distributed and well mixed into Earth's mantle by now. The old Archean mantle relics in Greenland, on the other hand, have still preserved Earth's pristine composition.

'The up to 3.8 billion-year-old rocks from Greenland are the oldest preserved mantle rocks. They allow us a glimpse into the early history of the Earth as if through a window', Fischer-Godde said. Interestingly, Earth's oldest mantle is openly accessible in surface outcrops in southwest Greenland, allowing the geologists to easily collect rock samples.

The pristine ruthenium preserved in the old mantle rocks most likely originates from the inner part of the solar system, the two Cologne-based geologists report. It is presumably the same material that - for the most part - also formed Mercury and Venus. The reference values for the asteroidal ruthenium were previously obtained from meteorites found on Earth.

'Our findings suggest that water and other volatile elements such as carbon and nitrogen did indeed arrive on Earth very late, during the "late veneer" phase', Fischer-Godde concluded. This result is surprising because the scientific community had previously assumed that water-bearing planetary building blocks were already delivered to Earth during the early stages of its formation.

The scientists are planning further field trips to India and Greenland to investigate more rock samples. Their work is being supported by the German Research Foundation's Priority Programme 1833 'Building a Habitable Earth', which is coordinated in Cologne, as well as Professor Munker's ERC grant 'Infant Earth' by the European Union.

###
The Dow plummeted 2,352.60 points, or 9.99%, to close at 21,200.62. The S&P 500 dropped 9.51% to 2,480.64 The Nasdaq Composite fell 9.43% to 7,201.80. Stocks got roiled again on Thursday as the U.S. government failed to assuage fears of the coronavirus outbreak denting economic growth.

The S&P 500 closed Thursday's session in a bear market, joining the Dow in trading more than 20% below a record high set last month. On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump announced the administration would provide financial relief for workers who are ill, caring for others due to the virus or are quarantined. However, these moves were not specific enough for investors who were looking for a more robust fiscal response to curb potentially slower economic growth stemming from the coronavirus. Bottom line: Wall Street wants a substantial fiscal stimulus package to fend off a pronounced economic downturn. Otherwise, expect stocks to keep falling.

Investors will be on the lookout once again for more substantive fiscal measures to cushion the economic blow from the coronavirus. Consumer sentiment numbers are also set for release at 10 a.m.

Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world.
Of 89 recognized professors who live and work in Vietnam, only 35 professors are below 70 years old and are still working.

The scientific research achievements of mathematics professors after recognition is an issue of great concern. In Vietnam, there is a fear that after being recognized, professors may not continue their research.

Si Duc Quang became the youngest professor when he got the title in 2019, at the age of 38.





However, a study by Tia Sang, a prestigious science journal, found that all the 35 professors are still involved in scientific research.



According to MathSciNet, the professor with the lowest number of scientific articles publishes 0.85 articles a year (he was recognized as professor 13 years ago), while the professor with the highest number of articles publishes nine articles a year (he was recognized one year ago), and the professor with the second highest number of articles has 5.61 articles.

The scientific research achievements of mathematics professors after recognition is an issue of great concern. In Vietnam, there is a fear that after being recognized, professors may not continue their research.

This means that after the recognition, each professor published nearly one article a year at least. The average number for all the 35 professors is 2.2 articles per year per professor.

This is a relatively high figure, which demonstrates the professors passion for research and creative capability after the granting of professorship title. In many cases, their research achievements are even better than before.



Si Duc Quang became the youngest professor when he got the title in 2019, at the age of 38.



By the day of recognition, Quang had 50 international publications, supervised two people who successfully defended their doctoral dissertations, and instructed three other PhD students.



Quang is now a lecturer at the Mathematics and Information Technology Faculty of the Hanoi University of Education.



With such a modest number of professors, it will be a difficult task to develop mathematics in the future. The development of researchers, especially mathematics professors, is always a burning issue.



It is estimated that there are 300-350 associate professors. Of these, fewer than 100 are below 60.



Luckily, a number of them are still relatively young and have good scientific research achievements. The young associate professors are hoped to continue to promote their abilities to become professors to assume the responsibility of developing Vietnams mathematics.



When assessing the achievements of professors in scientific research, it is not only necessary to count the number of articles they publish, but also the quality of research.



Meanwhile, when assessing the contributions of professors to the countrys science development, it is necessary to consider their research, but also their ability to build research teams and research orientations.



This explains why Prof Ta Quang Buu and Le Van Thiem are highly appreciated not only for their scientific research achievements, but also for their laying the foundation for Vietnams modern mathematics.

Linh Ha

Young associate professor invents unmanned aerial vehicle Born in 1983, Vu Ngoc Anh, a lecturer and researcher, is one of a few young individuals granted the title of associate professor in 2019.
New Delhi, March 12 : In a setback to a few secured creditors of the crisis-ridden IL&FS Group, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday accepted the suggestion of pro-rata distribution of the remainder sales proceeds after the creditors are paid under Section 53 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

In January, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) had submitted a revised framework for distribution of the financial bid amounts/termination amount and settlement amounts for all set of creditors.

As per the resolution, the resolution process costs would be recovered first and then up to the liquidation value to the creditors in accordance with the waterfall mechanism under Section 53 of the IBC.

The excess amount was proposed to be distributed on a pro-rata basis to each class of creditors of the relevant group company.

Few financial creditors raised objections to the resolution process and the pro-rata distribution of the excess amount.

The two-judge bench headed by the NCLAT Chairman S.J. Mukhopadhaya said: "While we reject the objections raised by some of the creditors, as noticed above, we accept the suggestion of pro-rata distribution as suggested by the Union of India and the procedure as suggested by it for the purpose of completing resolution process." The appellate authority observed, "it cannot be said that 'Shareholders' including the Life Insurance Corporation, IL&FS Employees Welfare Trust, Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited, Central Bank of India, State Bank of India, UTI-Unit Linked Insurance Plan etc. should not be paid by following the procedure under Section 53 of the I&B Code." It noted that denying payment to them would be against the public interest as the money invested by purchasing shares by Life Insurance Corporation of India, IL&FS Employees Welfare Trust, Central Bank of India and SBI are public money, who are the shareholders.

Further, the bench also directed the government and the IL&FS board to conclude resolution of all the IL&FS entities "preferably" within 90 days. "The development should be brought to the notice of this appellate tribunal every month," said the judgement.
The Hong Kong government is looking at strengthening travel restrictions, quarantine rules and border control measures in its fight against the coronavirus after the World Health Organisation declared the worldwide spread of Covid-19 a pandemic.

Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi said authorities would consider in a timely fashion the escalation of port health, quarantine and travel alert measures, stressing they would not rule out any enhancements.

The health official said key considerations were the number of cases, trend of increase and the health systems in the foreign countries concerned, as well as the frequency of travel of Hongkongers to those areas.

Faced with the rapid changes in the global health crisis and the challenges it brings, the Hong Kong government will continue to do the work of virus detection, testing, treatment, isolation and tracing, he said at a daily press conference on Thursday.

We have been very stringent at the beginning and we do better than many places

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, HKU expert

Chui declined to comment if the citys restrictions would next be applied to some regions in the United States, which is experiencing a surge in infections. He doubled down on an earlier call against non-essential travel.

In late January, Hong Kong raised its response to the highest emergency level and has since implemented a raft of containment measures, including on Tuesday announcing the extension of travel restrictions to people arriving from Italy; La Rioja, Madrid, and the Basque Country in Spain; Bourgogne-Franche-Comte and Grand Est regions in France; North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany; and Hokkaido in Japan.

Earlier restrictions were also in place for those coming in from mainland China, South Korea and Iran.

On Wednesday, as cases worldwide soared to more than 120,000, with spikes in Europe and the US in recent days, global health watchdog WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Hong Kong recorded two new cases on Thursday, bringing the tally to 131. It also registered a string of imported infections recently, including nine members of an Egypt tour and a Cathay Pacific flight attendant who returned from Madrid last weekend.

Story continues

The Centre for Health Protection said a 37-year-old man who is the husband of a previously confirmed patient, was one of the new cases.

The couple returned from London on February 29. Their one-year-old infant  according to a medical source  was in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital with a runny nose.

Thursdays other new case is a 31-year-old man who has an underlying illness. He recently travelled to Boston in the US and Manila in the Philippines. The patient has been classified as an imported case, bringing the citys count of people infected overseas to 39.

Separately, the Hospital Authority also revealed that at least two patients who recovered from Covid-19 might be suffering from lung damage, as they experienced problems such as shortness of breath after walking briskly.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (centre) attends a press conference in Geneva. Photo: Xinhua

Health authorities said the blood test for the worlds first dog thought to have contracted the virus came in negative, although its oral and nasal swabs continued to show weak positive. Blood tests for Covid-19 detect antibodies specific to the disease, thereby confirming an infection.

The antibodies in question were not found in the dogs case.

Chui maintained however that the Pomeranian, which belonged to the citys 85th patient, still had a low-level infection, and more blood tests were needed.

It doesnt affect or change the way Hong Kong deals with this

Dr Wong Ka-hing, Centre for Health Protection

On the Ching Ming Festival on April 4, Chui said people should avoid gathering in large crowds for the custom of grave-sweeping, and consider using an online memorial service set up by the government.

Earlier on Thursday, Dr Wong Ka-hing, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, struck a different tone on new measures and said no changes were needed as experts in some countries had indicated that Covid-19 was already a pandemic long before the WHO move.

I am not surprised [by the WHOs decision], Wong told a radio programme. Many countries and experts have said earlier that the outbreak was a pandemic. It doesnt affect or change the way Hong Kong deals with this.

Dr Wong Ka-hing, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, has urged residents not to travel overseas unless absolutely necessary. Photo: Winson Wong

Two medical experts and advisers on a government panel also agreed that the citys current measures such as social distancing should continue despite the WHO warning.

Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory disease expert from Chinese University, said: The time to change our strategy would be when contact tracing becomes no longer effective and there are lots of cases in the community with unknown sources.

He said if such a scenario occurred, the containment strategy could evolve into one of mitigation, and infected patients with mild symptoms might be asked to stay home so hospital beds could be reserved for more severe cases.

While US President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe, Hui said Hong Kong was unlikely to do so as the city relied on concrete figures for decision-making.

He cited statistics showing countries such as South Korea, Iran and Italy had a surge in cases, which necessitated Hong Kongs quarantine measures on arrivals from these areas.

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, a top infectious diseases expert from the University of Hong Kong, also said the city should continue with present efforts.

We have been very stringent at the beginning and we do better than many places, Yuen said. We just need to maintain what we have done, ensure a [sufficient supply of hygiene products], and try to make life as normal as possible.

Johnny So, general manager of Sunflower Travel Service, the agency of the infected guide for the Egypt tour in which several people came down with Covid-19, said some of the guides colleagues had already been quarantined.

So said the agency had no outbound tours in the last three weeks, and most of his staff were just handling cancellations.

He said the industry would start making its own decisions on whether some tours to certain destinations should be cancelled, and called on the government to offer more help for the struggling sector.

What are we going to do with our staff if we decide to stop all tours? he asked. We understand that there are risks for our customers and staff [if tours continue], because they may be bringing the outbreak to Hong Kong from somewhere.

We understand that we need to do something for society. Its fine if we close our doors for a period of time. But can the government do something to help us?

Additional reporting by Phila Siu

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Coronavirus: Hong Kong government looking at strengthening travel restrictions and border control following WHOs pandemic declaration first appeared on South China Morning Post

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The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes, amongst other diseases, cancer of the cervix and oropharynx. A Swedish-Finnish study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases now shows that the most oncogenic HPV types can be eliminated, but only if both girls and boys are vaccinated. Both genders will be offered vaccination in Sweden as of 2020.

The researchers began a randomized study in 2007, inviting 80,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 15 from 250 schools in 33 towns to take part. In 11 towns, both boys and girls were given HPV vaccination, in another 11 towns only girls were vaccinated, and in 11 towns the participants were vaccinated against a totally different virus (control).

General HPV screening at the age of 19 showed that the vaccination of both genders prevented HPV infections in society much more effectively than the vaccination of girls only. A gender-neutral strategy was also effective at preventing HPV infections in unvaccinated girls.

HPV was included in the Swedish vaccination program in 2012. To date, the vaccine has only been offered to girls, but in 2019 the government decided to offer it to both genders as of autumn 2020.

"Our study is unique because the entire population of the communities included in the study was invited to take part, and the choice of vaccination strategy was randomized by community," says Matti Lehtinen, researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, who led the study. "The results have definitely influenced the decision about offering HPV vaccination to boys, which more and more countries are also deciding."

Mathematical modeling was used to calculate what the results of the randomized HPV vaccination study would mean for programs with different vaccination coverage. The improved effectiveness of vaccinating both boys and girls is particularly important if only 80 per cent or fewer of girls are vaccinated.

If only girls are offered HPV vaccination not even a school-based vaccination program will be able to eliminate the most oncogenic HPV type 16, ever. Vaccination of both boys and girls with a 75-per cent participation rate can, however, eliminate HPV 16 even in people under 30, which is the segment of the population that is mainly spreading the infection. The elimination will take place only in a few years after the vaccinated cohorts achieve these ages." Simopekka Vanska, docent at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the study's first author

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established the elimination of cervical cancer as a priority objective.

"The results of the randomized study of different vaccination strategies now published gives us information about how this objective could be achieved at the earliest possible time," says Lehtinen.

HPV causes a variety of cancers, above all cervical cancer in women and cancer of the oropharynx in women and men. Almost everyone has had at least one sexually transmitted HPV infection in his or her life.

The study was financed by the Academy of Finland and the Cancer Society of Finland. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA financed the constituent study (data to be published separately) and was given an opportunity to check that baseline data from that study were accurately reproduced in the paper in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The international team of co-authors has received research grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Ministry of Health, Government of Catalonia, and the EU's 6th and 7th Framework Programmes in the context of this study.
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Linkedin Thomas Urbain (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States  Thu, March 12, 2020 10:07 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a042f0 2 Food oats,plant-based,milk,food,united-states,oat-milk Free

Almond, soy, coconut, nonfat or whole? American stores offer a dizzying array of milk but a new option is experiencing unprecedented growth and fast becoming a vegan favorite: oat milk.

The oat milk market was virtually non-existent five years ago, but in the 12 months to April 2019 revenues from the sale of the non-dairy creamy drink catapulted 222 percent, according to The Good Food Institute.

In recent months, Starbucks, American yogurt giant Chobani, and Nesquik have all started offering oat milk, known for its nutritional and environmental benefits.

"There seems to be a buzz around oat milk, especially in the US, which isn't there with other plant-based milks," Andy Coyne, food correspondent at research firm GlobalData, told AFP.

Swedish world leader Oatly entered the US market in 2016 by first offering oat milk in coffee shops for cappuccinos and lattes.

"(That) was a very clever piece of ground-up marketing from Oatly," said Coyne. "It became a word of mouth phenomenon and its popularity has grown from there."

Oat milk sales represent just over one percent of sales of almond milk in the United States, according to the data compiled by The Good Food Institute, which promotes plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs.

But oat milk companies expect their product to rapidly catch up, saying it has the edge over rivals when it comes to taste.

"Almond milk is great but it tastes like almond," said Peter Truby, chief marketing officer at Elmhurst, an American oat milk producer.

"And what if you don't want an almond taste in your coffee and you're just looking for something creamy to go with your coffee and will not overpower it?" he added.

While oats have a very common-man image, Oatly succeeded in positioning oat milk as a high-end product by first establishing it in the coffee market.

Now it is ubiquitous on shelves across supermarkets.

Read also: Five health myths that could do more harm than good

Environmental benefits

For Mike Messersmith, president for North America at Oatly, on top of taste, oat milk has two other advantages which fit well with the rise of veganism.

Firstly, its nutritional properties: It's low in calories, possesses lots of fiber, has more protein than other grains and unlike soy or almonds is known to cause few allergies.

Secondly, it "minimizes the impact on our natural resources," Messersmith told AFP.

The production of cow's milk and almond milk requires about 15 and 8 times the amount of water needed to make oat milk respectively, according to a study published in the journal Science in 2018.

"Sustainability is becoming an important selling point and it's something that clearly resonates with consumers," said Coyne, the food correspondent.

Oatly sends some of its residue to mushroom farms to be used in soil while Elmhurst claims it produces almost no residue.

Oat milk has another major advantage over its competitors: production costs, which are around one third less than that of almonds.

Oatly opened its first American factory in New Jersey in 2019 and is preparing to open another in Ogden, Utah, this summer.

Other companies getting in on the act are Planet Oat Pacific Foods, Califia Farms, and French giant Danone, which bought WhiteWave Foods for $12.5 billion in 2016.

"I think it will take a few years because almond milk has been dominant for a long time," predicted Truby.

"But just like almond milk overcame soy, I really see oat milk becoming the leader."
Number of coronavirus positive cases have seen a meteoric rise in the UK. People have been advised to avoid any form of contact with each other. The Royal family is also following this measure diligently. In a viral video, Prince Charles can be seen greeting people with a namaste at the yearly Prince's Trust Awards that were held on March 11 at the London Palladium.

The viral video was shared by IFS Parveen Kaswan on Twitter. The video was captioned as "Namaste. See,we Indians told to do this to the world many many years ago. Now just a class on 'how to do a namaste properly'".

Namaste See we Indians told to do this to world many many years ago. Now just a class on 'how to do namaste properly'. #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/P1bToirPin - Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 12, 2020

The 12-second long video features Prince Charles arriving at the London Palladium in his car. He is seen stepping out of the car, offers his hand and suddenly gets reminded of the precautionary measures and greets with a namaste.

As the video went viral, it received a lot of attention and some Twitterati had really interesting comments. A user by the user name, Namma Bengaluru wrote, "After Yoga.. Namaste wud be the biggest export Now experts will dive in and create various flavours of authentic Namaskar to suit their international clients".

A user called this event a transition from 'Hello World' to 'Namaste World' whereas another said, "Our ancestors had true profound vision".

'Hello World' to 'Namaste World' - Ek Bharatiya (@ProIndic) March 12, 2020

Our ancestors had true profound vision. - sandeep yash (@punyasandeep) March 12, 2020

A user by the name Prasanna tweeted, "Slowly but surely our way of greeting picking up worldwide."

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: COVID-19 vaccine could take around 2 years; no evidence of missing cases, says govt

Also watch: Coronavirus: Learn hand washing from UK PM Boris Johnson
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
As Australian scientists try to learn more about how the deadly COVID-19 spreads - and develop a vaccine to stop the new global threat - a group of health professionals have detailed the public places you should be wary about coming into contact with.

A study published in The Journal of Hospital Infection in February looked at previous versions of human coronaviruses like SARS and determined that the virus could live on metal, glass and plastic surfaces for as long as nine days.

Temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius and applying household disinfectants to the site can all effectively prevent the spread, but beyond that, experts are still cautioning individuals when it comes to coming into contact with germ-filled areas.

A group of Australian health professionals have detailed the public places you should be wary about coming into contact with (travellers pictured in Sydney)

Melbourne-based environmental scientist Nicole Bijlsma (pictured)

FEMAIL spoke to Melbourne-based environmental scientist Nicole Bijlsma about 'high contact public places' that aren't regularly cleaned, which pose the most risk to our health and safety.

'Money, ATM and lift buttons are all handled by thousands of hands in their lifetime, as are escalator belts, handrails, mouses and keyboards,' she said.

Elevator buttons alone are said to contain 40 times more bacteria on them than a public toilet seat, a study at the University of Arizona found.

Instead of touching a button or door handle Ms Bijlsma recommends placing the sleeve of your shirt over your palm to press down, or using your elbow.

That way you're not using your bare hand, which will inevitably touch your eyes or mouth, passing any pathogens or disease-causing microorganisms into your system.

Which public places carry the most germs? * Pedestrian crossing button * Food court trays * Supermarket trolleys * Supermarket baskets * Elevator buttons * Money * ATMs * Handrails leading down to the train station * Keyboards and mouses * Public bathroom taps * Door handles * Escalator belts * Keys Advertisement

'The focus of contamination will be on those areas that many people get into contact with such as trolley handles, supermarket baskets and trays in your local food court,' she said.

She recommends steering clear of regular public bathroom taps and instead seeking out taps that turn on only when you wave your hand around underneath them.

'Using bars of soap defeats the purpose to, as it's already contaminated, so only wash your hands with liquid soap that's dispensed out of a bottle,' Ms Bijlsma said.

Alcohol-based sanitisers are more effective at killing viruses than antibacterial soap, which kills the good bacteria on our skin leaving us at risk of raising 'super bugs' made of 'bad' bacteria.

Associate Professor Timothy Newsome and Professor Dee Carter from the University of Sydney agree that antibacterial soap is of no use to individuals in the fight against coronavirus

Associate Professor at the University of Sydney's School of Life and Environmental Sciences Timothy Newsome has agreed that using a handkerchief to press buttons or at pedestrian crossing lights is a wise move.

'I have loaded my bank cards onto my phone so I don't have to handle money, which is coming in handy now,' Mr Newsome told FEMAIL.

While he agrees washing your hands with soap - not the antibacterial kind - is the best measure, he claims the major source of infection will come from other people, not surfaces.

'Think about children who go to daycare and come back with a million and one infections... it's people passing it between the air and through coughing, most of all,' he said.

Elevator buttons alone are said to contain 40 times more bacteria on them than a public toilet seat (stock image)

Naturally people are turning to extreme cleaning methods and trying to sterilise the environment in which they live but this isn't necessarily helpful.

Your body naturally has millions of microorganisms living on the inside and outside of it that help protect your immune system, so it needs to come in contact with germs to learn how to fight against the disease-causing ones.

'Microorganisms are absolutely everywhere and we're not sick most of the time... we have really good immune systems,' Professor Dee Carter from the University of Sydney told FEMAIL.

Ms Carter said metal surfaces in public spaces are 'toxic' for most germs and have 'surprisingly little growing on them' when you look at the surface on a petri dish.

'I have loaded my bank cards onto my phone so I don't have to handle money, which is coming in handy now,' Mr Newsome told FEMAIL (stock image of an ATM pictured)

How is coronavirus transmitted? Human coronaviruses are spread from someone infected with COVID-19 virus to other close contacts with that person through contaminated droplets spread by coughing or sneezing, or by contact with contaminated hands, surfaces or objects. The time between when a person is exposed to the virus and when symptoms first appear is typically five to six days, although may range from two to 14 days. For this reason, people who might have been in contact with a confirmed case are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Source: NSW Health Advertisement

Dry surfaces in general don't transmit disease as easily as colder and wetter surfaces do.

Some of the concerns people have about the coronavirus shedding from people's skin onto these surfaces is unfounded, they are more likely coughing into their hand and then placing that hand onto a public surface.

'That's why hand hygiene is so important but you don't need to wash your hands 10 times a day if you're just staying in your own house,' Ms Carter said.

While it's important Australians 'don't get complacent' because there are still no known cures or firm understandings around transmission, Ms Carter said panicking isn't the answer.

'I'm on board with quarantining and avoiding any unnecessary overseas travel at the moment,' she said.
[March 12, 2020] Gayatri Raman Appointed Head of International Business for Clearwater Analytics

Clearwater announced today that Gayatri Raman was appointed as Head of International Business. Gayatri will lead the UK, EMEA, and APAC business for Clearwater and will be based in Clearwater's London office. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005206/en/ Gayatri Raman was appointed Head of International Business for Clearwater Analytics (Photo: Business Wire) Clearwater is the leading SaaS (News - Alert) solution for data management, reconciliation, accounting, and reporting for investment managers, insurers, and corporates. With more than 90 clients in EMEA, Clearwater is gaining significant market traction in Europe. "I am excited to welcome Gayatri to head the international business at Clearwater," said CEO Sandeep Sahai. "Expanding in international markets is a key priority for us. Gayatri has the vision, leadership, and execution track record to lead Clearwater's international expansion. I look forward to her playing a key role as part of the executive leadership team." Clearwater has ambitious international expansion plans. The Edinburgh site serves as the operations center for Euope; it currently has 100+ employees and is expanding rapidly. Clearwater's operations and development center in Noida was opened in 2019 to support the company's international expansion plans. Gayatri's experience and leadership is crucial in further establishing and supporting these operations.



Gayatri was previously CEO of AIM Software, a Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe company that was acquired by SimCorp. As CEO, Gayatri led corporate strategy, expanded into new markets, drove growth, and launched a full SaaS offering. Gayatri has also held a number of leadership positions in the financial services industry with firms such as Capgemini (News - Alert) and Headstrong in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the US. "I am excited to be joining Clearwater at such a pivotal time. Clearwater has been transforming the investment operations landscape. We have an incredible team and an unmatched delivery track record. I am honored to be leading the company's charter for international expansion and growth," Gayatri said.

About Clearwater Analytics Clearwater Analytics is a global SaaS solution for automated investment data aggregation, reconciliation, accounting, and reporting. Clearwater helps thousands of organisations make the most of their investment portfolio data with a world-class product and client-centric servicing. Clearwater offers a full complement of middle- and back-office solutions like trade confirm/affirm, client billing, composite management, client statements, and more. Each day, the Clearwater solution reports on more than $3.5 trillion in assets for clients that include Arch Capital, AXA Art Insurance, Catalina Holdings, Cisco (News - Alert), Convex Group, Facebook, FBD Insurance, Garmin, J.P. Morgan, London & Capital, Oracle, Starbucks, Spotify, Unum Group, and many others. Since its founding in 2004, Clearwater has provided a cloud-native solution that helps investors make the most of their data. Investment professionals in more than 49 countries trust Clearwater to deliver timely, validated investment data and in-depth reporting. Additional information about Clearwater can be found at www.clearwater-analytics.com LinkedIn (News - Alert): https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearwater-analytics/ | Twitter (News - Alert): @cwanalytics View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005206/en/

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President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a drastic ban on foreigners traveling to the United States from Europe in an effort to curb the deadly coronavirus from spreading, but his vague plan seemed to only heighten fears.

Americans in Europe rushed to airports late on Wednesday and early on Thursday morning in a desperate bid to get home, before confusion over who would be affected by the ban was cleared up.

While U.S. citizens and lawful residents will be allowed to return home, most foreigners from the 26 banned countries will be denied entry beginning on Friday.

Vice President Mike Pence attempted to clear up some aspects of the ban, but didn't address how airports would test passengers for the virus, which airports passengers would be filtered through and how the government would stop Europeans from entering the U.S. from other countries, such as Canada or the UK.

President Trump created new chaos on Thursday, saying American passengers would be tested for coronavirus before boarding planes home and added: 'We are not putting them on planes if they test positive. It is going to be a pretty strong enforcement of quarantine.'

He didn't explain which tests would be used or where the diagnosed cases would then be treated overseas, creating panic over if people would be stranded abroad.

Here, DailyMail.com details what we know - and more crucially what we don't know.

President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced Wednesday a drastic ban on foreigners traveling to the United States from Europe in an effort to curb the deadly coronavirus from spreading, but his vague plan seemed to only heighten fears

WHO IS COVERED BY THE BAN?

Foreigners who are traveling directly from any of the 26 countries on Trump's European ban list will not be admitted into the United States.

Foreigner means anyone coming from outside the U.S. and is not a U.S. citizen or doesn't have a valid green card.

The countries include EU members France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. See right for the full list.

It is unclear if passengers flying from a non-European destination will be asked when they were last in Europe.

Foreigners who are in the U.S. on a work visa or a tourist visa are likely going to barred from entering the U.S. if they visit a European country and try to re-enter the country.

WHO IS NOT COVERED BY THE BAN?

The restrictions don't apply to U.S. citizens, legal U.S. permanent residents, meaning those with green cards, immediate family members of U.S. citizens or others 'identified in the proclamation' that was signed by Trump on Wednesday night.

It also doesn't apply to foreigners with diplomatic, NATO, military or government visas. And for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who have a foreign child or are adopting a foreign child, according to NAFSA.

Americans who are currently in Europe will be allowed back in  though they will be subject to an 'enhanced' health screening and asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Trump did not mention any restrictions on Americans traveling to Europe and the ban will last for 30 days.

WHAT ABOUT FOREIGNERS COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES? WILL THEY BE ASKED IF THEY WENT TO BANNED DESTINATIONS?

It is unclear how airports will be screening for foreigners who have visited an European country and later traveled to another country that isn't on the ban list.

For example, London's Heathrow airport is a major travel hub for Europe and is exempt from the ban, meaning Europeans could possibly travel to London to fly out to the U.S.

Heathrow's most popular destination is JFK in New York City.

Heathrow has a daily average total of 219,458 passengers, with 49.5 percent of those passengers classified as departures.

Around 94 percent of passengers who travel out of Heathrow are coming or going to international destinations.

Several international airlines also have designated layovers in cities worldwide, meaning passengers might be able to travel to Asia or other North American countries and bypass the ban if screening officials aren't being thorough.

WHAT HAPPENS TO AMERICANS WHEN THEY TRAVEL FROM EUROPE?

Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday that Americans returning from Europe 'will be screened as they return through 13 separate airports.'

The 13 airports were set up to be able to house hundreds, if not thousands, in quarantine conditions after the outbreak in China.

They are in Honolulu, Chicago, Dallas, L.A.X, San Francisco, Atlanta, JFK, Seattle, Washington DC, Newark and Detroit. The two new ones have not been announced.

It was not mentioned if screening included testing for every passenger.

It is unclear how passengers are expected to self-quarantine when they still need to travel home from the airport, particularly if the airport they are routed through is not close to their final destination.

Trump on Thursday encouraged travelers to self-isolate after returning from Europe.

In February, the military set up quarantine camps at 11 airbases next to airports around the country in anticipation of people coming back from China. Those are believed to be among the ones Pence was referring to where US passengers will be 'screened' and 'funneled' back into the country after returning from Europe

HOW EXACTLY ARE PEOPLE SCREENED FOR CORONAVIRUS?

In addition to the passenger being asked if they have visited any of the banned European countries, officials look for symptoms of the virus.

The most common symptoms include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and fatigue.

To confirm if a passenger has coronavirus, a sample is collected for a diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2, which is the strain of virus that leads to the respiratory disease.

Medical officials often take a sample by putting a swab up the nose. A swab can also be taken through the mouth if the person has a wet cough.

The samples are sent off to be tested by various health departments and clinical diagnostic laboratories. Results usually come back within 2-7 days.

In Cleveland, a clinic said a new in-house coronavirus test it developed would deliver results within eight hours.

WHO WILL ENFORCE THE BAN?

It is unclear who will be responsible for enforcing the ban.

International airlines could be tasked with denying boarding for European passport holders at the gate or at check-in.

Another option could see European passengers being turned away at the U.S. border if they somehow made it on a U.S-bound flight.

Additionally, it is unclear if the government will use federal resources to send additional officials to check passports and enforce the ban at airports.

CAN AIRPORTS EVEN TEST FOR CORONAVIRUS?

One of the main concerns over the spread of the virus has been over a shortage of testing kits available, as Vice President Mike Pence said passengers will be tested at one of the 13 airports upon arrival.

Airports and local clinics have repeatedly said they did not have supplies to test people who are concerned they have the virus.

It has been reported that fewer than 10,000 people have been tested in the U.S. compared to 20,000 per day in South Korea.

The CDC revealed on Tuesday that only 8,554 Americans had been tested for coronavirus, with the agency's director saying state and local health labs are understaffed and ill-equipped to keep up with the crisis.

Health officials and Democrats have slammed the limited supply of tests, while some government officials claimed there was a surplus of testing kits, citing figures of 1.1 million tests at labs across the country and a million more on the way.

However during the coronavirus task force briefing, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, confessed that Americans will only be able to find out whether they have contracted COVID-19 if a doctor gives the go-ahead.

Despite a claimed 4 million more tests due to be delivered by the end of the week, Azar said: 'There's a false premise. Just because I as a person say I'd like to be tested for coronavirus, I can walk into a Minute Clinic and say ''give me my test please''  that's not how diagnostic testing works in the United States or frankly anywhere else.'

The global travel industry is already reeling from declining bookings and canceled reservations as people try to avoid contracting and spreading coronavirus. Pictured: People wear face masks at the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, north of Paris

Why wasn't the United Kingdom included in the ban?

Despite the UK having 373 cases and Ireland having 43 cases, in addition to the UK imposing far fewer restrictions in response to the virus than many EU countries, Trump's travel ban excluded the two. Trump has properties in both nations.

Trump said on Thursday: 'One of the reasons UK basically has been (excluded from the restrictions is) its got the border.

'Its got very strong borders and theyre doing a very good job.'

The exemption will raise questions about the coherence of his policy.

Trump had accused Europe of not acting quickly enough to address the 'foreign virus' and claimed that U.S. clusters were 'seeded' by European travelers.

But the UK has no screening of people coming from France - to which it is connected directly by the Channel Tunnel - or other European countries, as Nancy Pelosi quickly pointed out.

On Thursday, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of America's top scientists, explained the ban on European countries.

He said: 'When we were looking at the pure public health aspect of it we found that 70 percent of the new infections in the world were coming from Europe, that cluster of countries, and of the 35 states - 30 out of 35 of them who were more recently getting infections were getting them from them - that was predominantly from Italy and from France and from Germany.'

How many people does this affect?

Europe is the most popular international destination for Americans and according to flight tracker FlightAware, there are around 400 flights across the Atlantic from Europe to the United States each day, converting to around 72 million passengers a year.

Although Americans aren't outright barred from traveling to Europe, many have already cancelled bookings to European cities.

The time of year the ban falls under is when several grade schools and universities have spring break.

What do health officials say about the Europe ban?

Some evidence has suggested travel restrictions  such as the ones imposed in China early on in the pandemic  can contain the virus by stopping cases being imported to the rest of the world.

Margaret Harris, of the World Health Organisation, admitted that travel bans are useful in the early stages of an outbreak but said they are of little use when the disease starts spreading freely within communities  as it has done in the U.S.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease specialist at the University of East Anglia, said: 'It is uncertain what the US intends to achieve with the recently announced travel ban to the Schengen area of Europe.

Hunter continued: 'Many of us have been pointing out since the COVID-19 epidemic began that travel bans have a poor record on preventing the spread of epidemic diseases. At best travel bans only delay the spread of an epidemic by a short while.

'Introducing an international travel ban at a time when the US is now one of the countries with the most rapidly accelerating internal transmission rates will do little if anything to reduce the burden of infection within the US.'

Foreigners who are traveling directly from any of the 26 countries on Trump's ban list will not be admitted into the United States. The so-called Schengen countries include EU members France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Pictured: A man walks past the closed Air France counters at JFK in NYC

What does this mean for the tourism and airline industry?

The global travel industry is already reeling from declining bookings and canceled reservations as people try to avoid contracting and spreading coronavirus.

With Europe being the most popular travel destination for Americans, the move will hit tourist reliant-heavy countries hard.

Airlines scrambled to adjust to the new restrictions, with many telling customers they were still assessing options and asking for patience from those trying to contact them.

Even before Trump's announcement, the International Airline Travelers Association was forecasting a 24 percent fall in Europe's passenger traffic this year and $37 billion in lost potential ticket sales.

Italy, which is all but closed off as authorities try to control the spread of the virus there, has been particularly hard hit.

An industry trade group warned that airlines worldwide could lose up to $113 billion in revenue from the virus  several times the damage caused by the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S. Since mid-February, shares of American Airlines have dropped by nearly half, United Airlines by more than one-third, and Delta Air Lines more than one-fourth.
Pipeline protesters leave the site of a blockade in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, Que., that halted rail traffic south of Montreal for more than three weeks, on March 5, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiroz)

Wetsuweten Band Councils Still in the Dark on Deal with Hereditary Chiefs

Expected this week, deal will implement decades-old Delgamuukw decision on rights and title

More than a week after federal and provincial ministers made a deal with Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs protesting a natural gas pipeline, elected Wetsuweten leaders say they havent yet seen details of the deal, which will implement a 22-year-old Supreme Court of Canada decision over aboriginal rights and title in their region.

We were excluded from the process, said Wetsuweten First Nation Chief Maureen Luggi of the meetings held over three days between the hereditary chiefs and Indigenous-Crown Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and her provincial B.C. counterpart Scott Fraser.

Luggis community is one of six Wetsuweten First Nations in northeastern British Columbia whose interests are entwined in both the landmark 1997 Delgamuukw decision and the Coastal GasLink pipeline, five of which have signed deals related to the $6.6 billion project.

After RCMP arrested several protesters on Feb. 6 at a blockade erected on a road used by Coastal GasLink to supply construction efforts, solidarity protests erupted across B.C. and at railways in Ontario and Quebec, bringing freight transportation to a standstill.

The meetings with the hereditary chiefs aimed to resolve the crippling rail blockades held in protest against the pipeline.

This week, Luggi expects the Office of Wetsuweten hereditary chiefs will present her community with what she anticipates is a memorandum of understanding over asserting aboriginal land title recognized by the decades-old Delgamuukw decision, and resulting from the Bennett-Fraser meetings.

Whether or not we agree to this MOU is really something we are not able to answer because we have to see it, she told The Epoch Times, adding that theres a lot of misinformation out there regarding who speaks for the Wetsuweten.

The Office of Wetsuweten would not exist if there werent the six Wetsuweten communitiesthey need us in order to exist.  So it would have to be the hereditary chiefs and the elected band councils working together because we all represent the same people, she said.

When Frank Alec, a.k.a Chief Woos, one of the hereditary chiefs, emerged from the meetings with Bennett and Fraser on March 2 after they reached an agreement, he told reporters the chiefs remain opposed to any pipeline.

Were informing the federal government and were informing the province that Delgamuukw is where people need to start respecting, and this is where it starts.

Title Versus Sovereignty

While the Supreme Courts Delgamuukw decision established that Wetsuweten people as a whole had not surrendered aboriginal title or had it extinguished by the Crown, University of Calgary political scientist Tom Flanagan said the difference between title and sovereignty is key.

Title refers to ownership over land, but title is not the same as sovereignty. Sovereignty is a clinical, governmental concept which is the right to make laws and to enforce them. Title is an economic concept of ownership of land, the right to derive benefits from that land, Flanagan explains.

Regardless of whos got control over the landwhether its hereditary chiefs or the band councilsthe Crown has the right of infringement. That could be either the federal Crown or the provincial Crown depending on the circumstances.  Infringement is described in very broad terms in the Delgamuukw decision.

The decision is explicit that Aboriginal title is something that cannot be held by individual aboriginal persons; it is a collective right to land held by all members of an aboriginal nation.

Decisions with respect to that land are also made by that community.

In terms of infringement on Aboriginal title by provinces or the federal government, the ruling lays out a substantive test for these potentialities, acknowledging that that the fiduciary relationship between the Crown and aboriginal peoples demands that aboriginal interests be placed first.

However, the fiduciary duty does not demand that aboriginal rights always be given priority, it reads. Aboriginal title suggests that the fiduciary relationship between the Crown and aboriginal peoples may be satisfied by the involvement of aboriginal peoples in decisions taken with respect to their lands.

After Bennett failed to invite elected band councillors or chiefs to the meetings with hereditary chiefs, Luggi says and her council did express concern to [Bennett] that she does have a fiduciary obligation to Indian band councils and she also excluded us from that meeting with the Office of the Wetsuweten.

Dan George, elected chief of the Tsil Kaz Koh First Nationanother Wetsuweten community that backs the LNG pipeline project and was also snubbed by the meetingstold CBC Radio this week that hes not signing no titling rights agreement.

We need to figure out our governance structure within the hereditary chief system first and foremost  all these protests started with our governance system, George said during an interview on As It Happens, where, like Luggi, he noted the Tsil Kaz Koh havent yet seen the MOU.

My concern is really the governance, he said. So if the people are voting for me are all Wetsuweten and voted for LNG, that tells you that theyre all in support of it already. And that goes with the rest of the bands also.

No Right to Bar Development

In addition to five Wetsuweten band councils onside with the pipeline that will transect their traditional territory, an additional 15 First Nations have also signed deals with Coastal GasLink making support for the project along the 670 km right-of-way unanimous among elected indigenous groups.

George also noted that band councils represent the interests of hereditary chiefs and their respective clan members who live on reserves, derive benefits, vote in band elections, and run for leadership positions.

From Flanagans study of the Delgamuukw decision and extensive writing on the subject of aboriginal rights as defined by Canadian jurisprudence, Delgamuukw is the locus classicus of the notion of reconciliation, he said.

To reconcile the pre-existence of First Nations with the sovereignty of the Crown  Delgamuukw doesnt say that the hereditary chiefs have the right to make laws and control the so-called traditional territory, he explains.

Its being misrepresented in mainstream media, as if the Wetsuweten, whoever makes the decision, has the right to bar development on their land. They dont. And in this case I dont know if you would argue that infringement is taking place or not, because the proponent [Coastal GasLink] got the agreement of all the band councils.

As far as Luggi is concerned, any deal about asserting aboriginal title on Wetsuweten land is entirely separate from the Coastal GasLink project. She said her band council has a lot of work to do if we decide were going to go along with the [Office of the Wetsuweten MOU] process; if we dont go along with them, we still have a lot of work to do.

In our community, the project is not up for discussion and were moving forward with a lot of other initiatives in the community. So we just look forward to discovering whatever it is that they present to us and whether were going to work together or not.
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.




Madhya Pradesh assembly speaker N P Prajapati has issued notices to 22 Congress MLAs who have resigned, asking them to appear before him by Friday and clarify whether they have quit voluntarily or under pressure, a legislature official said on Thursday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, meanwhile, has said it will seek a floor test in the Madhya Pradesh assembly on March 16, while the Congress said it is ready to face the test only after a decision on the resignations of the 22 MLAs.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said speaker Prajapati has issued notices to the 22 MLAs, including six ministers, who have resigned.

Singh also sought to know why the MLAs were not meeting the assembly speaker to submit their resignations.

The speaker has asked the 22 MLAs to appear before him by Friday to clarify whether they have resigned voluntarily or under any pressure, Vidhan Sabha principal secretary A P Singh said.

The 15-month-old Kamal Nath-led government has been facing deep crisis following the resignation of 22 Congress MLAs after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday.

"Since the government is in minority, we are going to request the governor and the assembly speaker for a floor test on March 16 when the state budget session begins," BJP's chief whip in the Madhya Pradesh assembly Narottam Mishra told reporters in Bhopal.

The governor and the speaker have the resignations of 22 MLAs. Now it is up to them to take a call, he said.

"This government has lost majority," senior BJP leader former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal also said that on the opening day of the state Assembly's budget session on March 16, they will press the Speaker for a floor test.

When asked about the BJP's demand, Digvijaya Singh said the chief minister is ready for a floor test.

"As Kamal Nathji has already said we are ready for the floor test. But, there should be a decision on the resignation of MLAs before the floor test," Singh said, while blaming the BJP for the constitutional crisis in the state.

"The resignations will be accepted when the MLAs meet the Speaker one-on-one and verify their signatures without any pressure. Then the resignations will be accepted and the floor test can be conducted," he said.

He said the speaker has already issued notices to the rebel MLAs, who should now go to him and clear the air.

"Nineteen Congress MLAs are in their (BJP's) captivity. The family members (of MLAs) are unable to talk to them. Their phones were taken away. It is also strange that the resignation of Congress MLAs were submitted to the speaker by BJP leader Bhupendra Singh," he said.

"Now, they (BJP) are expecting that their resignations should be accepted," the Congress leader said.

The BJP claimed this is an "internal matter" of the Congress, but at the same time leaders of the saffron party submitted the resignations of ruling party (Congress) MLAs to the speaker, he pointed out.

The Congress veteran also said people of the country should understand what kind of "manipulation the BJP has been doing to form its government".

Digvijaya Singh further said he never comprised with his ideology and believes in political accountability.

On Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh resigned soon after Scindia quit the party.

Of these legislators, 19 are currently staying in a resort in Bengaluru while three are still in Madhya Pradesh, sources said.

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 Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs and one from the Samajwadi Party, 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.
Nifty gives up 10k points as Sensex nosedives

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 12: Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted over 1,800 points and the broader Nifty gave up the 10,000 level in opening session on Thursday as worsening rout in world markets, after WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic, flared up fears of a global economic recession.

The rupee too plunged 82 paise to 74.50 against US dollar in morning session.

The selloff picked pace after the World Health Organization (WHO), late Wednesday night, termed the the new coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, and expressed deep concern over the "alarming levels of inaction".

Following the announcement, US President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for the next 30 days to stop the spread of the virus.

Brent crude oil futures plunged over 5 per cent to USD 34 per barrel, after the travel ban.

Continuing its downward spiral, domestic BSE Sensex sank 1,821.27 points at open. The 30-share index was trading 1,652.54 points, or 4.63 per cent, lower at 34,044.86 in morning session.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty cracked 486.75 points, or 4.65 per cent, to 9,971.65.

In the previous session, the 30-share BSE barometer settled 62.45 points or 0.18 per cent higher at 35,697.40, and the Nifty closed 6.95 points or 0.07 per cent up at 10,458.40.

On a net basis, foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 3,515.38 crore, while domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 2,835.46 crore on Wednesday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

All Sensex components were trading in the red. Tata Steel was the top loser, tanking up to 9 per cent, followed by ONGC, SBI, Titan, Axis Bank, M&M, UltraTech Cement, L&T and Reliance Industries.

According to traders, volatility peaked in global markets after WHO's announcement describing the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

Besides selloff in global equities, massive plunge in international oil prices and depreciating rupee added to investor concerns, they added.

Incessant foreign fund outflow also spooked market participants, traders said.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai dropped over 1.34 per cent, Hong Kong 3.66 per cent, Seoul 4.29 per cent and Tokyo cracked up to 5.32 per cent.

In overnight trade, US equity benckmarks also plunged nearly 5 per cent, intensifying the global rout.

The new 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 over 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 16:07 [IST]
As soon as the All India Congress Committee's official communique was out announcing the appointment of former minister DK Shivakumar as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, party workers outside his house in upscale Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon were ready with crackers and life-size cutouts of their leader

Bengaluru: As soon as the All India Congress Committee's official communique was out announcing the appointment of former minister DK Shivakumar as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, party workers outside his house in upscale Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon were ready with crackers and life-size cutouts of their leader. All of them had been awaiting D-Day for around three months.

But a calm Shivakumar, who had seen deadlines being missed on the announcement, chose to attend the ongoing legislature session. In the Assembly's lounge, as Congress legislators congratulated him, he offered a red rose to former chief minister Siddaramaiah and in return got a pat on his shoulder from him. "My biggest challenge was keeping my confidence," Shivakumar said in an intervier.

Siddaramaiah and outgoing KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao had put in their papers after the party won just two of the 15 Assembly constituencies in the bypolls  the result of Congress-JD(S) MLAs resigning and bringing down the 14-month-old HD Kumaraswamy government in July 2019.

Edited excerpts from the interview follow:

Your appointment as KPCC president turned out to be a long haul. What were the challenges you faced?

My biggest challenge was keeping my confidence and the faith reposed in me by not only the party cadres, but also the common man on the street. Several surveys were conducted to find the ideal KPCC president and all surveys showed a preference for me. This gave me confidence. When observers were sent by the Congress to elicit opinion, 99 percent of them conveyed to the high command that they preferred me. It was shocking as even those who had opposed me earlier spoke in my favour. Now this challenge has turned into a responsibility and it's my duty to take everybody along together.

What is Shivakumar's USP that makes the Congress high command turn to you in difficult times?

I am a simple person and go by the party workers' aspirations. I don't have a motive and try to be the voice of the workers. This has been my USP whether I have been in power or out of it. Even when I have been deprived of power, I did not voice my displeasure.

What are the lessons the party should learn from the political developments in Madhya Pradesh?

I don't want to comment on national politics. Regarding Karnataka politics, I am going to set a new agenda, which I don't want to divulge now. There will be a makeover of the Congress in Karnataka as many things have to change.

How are the equations going to play out between former chief minister Siddaramaiah and yourself as he was not in favour of you becoming the KPCC president?

I don't have any differences with Siddaramaiah and have been a loyal worker at all times. When I was not given a minister's post, the party took care of me. I have not voiced any complaint.

As a former KPCC working president, which did not work out well both for you and the then president over sharing of power, how are you going to manage now?

Yes, I know what it was. Now I am definitely going to share power with them. I don't consider the president's post as a reward by the high command for whatever I have done. It was my duty to do and now this is a responsibility for me to fulfil.

You have always advocated giving youth a role in politics, will this be seen in the constitution of your team?

I agree youth and women are the biggest strength in politics. I started my career in politics as a student leader. To get the fruit, one should not forget the roots. The seniors in the party are the roots for the fruit and we need their presence as well.
NBU: no plans to introduce foreign exchange limits, reserves enough to smooth fluctuations

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) does not plan to introduce foreign exchange limits, and its reserves are enough to smooth currency rate fluctuations, Deputy NBU Governor Oleh Churiy has said.

"There are no plans to introduce currency restrictions. We have sufficient foreign exchange reserves to smooth out currency fluctuations. The introduction of any restrictions will most likely negatively affect market sentiment," Churiy said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

The main demand for currency is formed by Ukrainian companies, he added.

For his part, NBU Governor Yakiv Smolii, answering journalists' questions, said that at present, the regulator is not considering the option of default.

"About default. We see no reason for the development of such events in the country. And we are not considering the option of default at all," Smolii said.
Local News, Politics

By Ls Cohen Published: March 12 2020

Forces towns to reveal names of complainants about quality of life issues.

Long Island Town Supervisors in Suffolk County held a press conference at Brookhaven Town Hall on March 5th calling on New York State to amend the states new discovery law. The state law has created what one town supervisor called a laborious process for code inspectors and town attorneys adding complexity, time, and cost to simple code enforcement matters.

But, more importantly for local officials, it eliminates the ability of individuals to report code violations anonymously.

During the press conference, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said that because of the additional hurdles imposed by the state, complaints could take up to two years to resolve as opposed to one month before the law was passed, if they are reported at all.

Complaints now have to be identified, said Schaffer.

(Watch the full video of the press conference.)

Previously, concerned citizens did not have to put their name down if reporting a town code violation but with the new discovery law anonymous complaints cannot be accepted. As a result, residents are not reporting violations.

Our information well has dried up, Schaffer said.

The law has severely affected the time it takes to resolve issues and severely decreased the number of town code violations and quality of life complaints that local towns are getting. The supervisors at the press conference want to roll back the legislature. If not, they want to be able to form their own tribunals not subject to the states discovery law.

Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci recently announced that he expects his town to be the sole local municipality with what he called an antidote to the discovery law.

The State's changes to the discovery process created a nightmare for the Town Attorneys office and Code Inspectors seeking to resolve code violations, restore public safety and improve quality of life for our residents, Lupinacci said in a statement.

He said that Huntongton has gotten state approved legislation enabling the establishment of the first Bureau of Administrative Adjudication on Long Island, which will not be subject to the State's new discovery obligations.

Once it is operational, hopefully by May, residents in Huntington will be able to once again report code violations anonymously while the Town will be able to resolve these matters faster and more efficiently, said Lupinacci.

Before the NYS changed the law, an individual would be able to report a code violation to a town anonymously; if the violation was resolved through compliance, the entire process remained anonymous, according to a description of the process by Huntington Town in a statement.

Under the new law, if a summons is issued, a town must provide the person in violation of the town code identifying contact information of the person reporting the violation. Iif the case goes to trial, the town has to perform a criminal background check on witnesses and provide the defendant contents of the background check.

If the Town cant protect the privacy of individuals concerned enough to report a code violation, this makes it less likely a person will report sometimes dangerous violations and it can escalate neighbor disputes, which helps no one, Lupinacci added.

Previously, paperwork was never turned over to the defendant unless the case went to trial.

The Huntington Town Bureau of Administrative Adjudication (BAA) resolves many of the issues created by the state law. The town is hoping to cut red tape and improve operational efficiency while maintaining the privacy of residents and individuals who report violations that do not go to trial.

One of the points of the supervisors made is that the New York State law was rushed.

When legislation is rushed there are unintended consequences, said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter. And the municipalities here on Long Island are the victims of those unintended consequences.

Carpenter said that complaints that previously might have been made will not be because people dont want to anger their neighbors by filing a complaint. To make her point, Carpenter said that complaints about unsafe pools that could lead to the death of a child may go unfiled.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine said that when the state law was proposed town supervisors never expected it to apply to town code enforcement.

But the discovery law that the state legislature passed has done exactly that, he said.

Romain stressed that the law has a direct effect on quality of life issues not being addressed in his town.

So now if you live next to a guy that has a house with two illegal apartments and four or five unregistered vehicles and trash on the property if you call we are obligated by state law to tell the guy next door that you called.

With towns having to disclose the compaintants information, people have stopped calling.

That has had a chilling effect on code enforcement, Romain said.
The promised budget surplus is gone and replaced with a deficit of at least $14 billion and a blowout beyond $600 billion in federal debt as the government fights to keep the Australian economy out of recession.

The surplus, which was forecast to be $7.1 billion when announced last April and then downgraded to $5 billion in the mid-year update, has been swept away by the combined impact of the coronavirus on the economy and now the government's stimulus package.

In his budget speech last year, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declared that he would deliver "the first surplus in 12 years and the first repayment made on Labor's debt".

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will not deliver a promised budget surplus this year as the economic slowdown and the government's stimulus package hits the nation's finances. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

That promise was already in trouble at the end of January when monthly Finance Department figures showed the budget $3.7 billion behind where it needed to be to reach the forecast $5 billion surplus.
Former vice president Joe Biden seems headed to become the Democratic presidential nominee for the 2020 general election as he solidified his lead over rival candidate Bernie Sanders on Tuesday.

What Happened

Biden clinched four states voting on Tuesday, including Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, and Idaho by a comfortable margin, according to the New York Times.

Results in North Dakota and Washington were too early to call, but Sanders maintained the lead in both states. The contest seems particularly close in Washington, where Sanders is leading by about 2,000 votes, with 67% of the results in.

The Sanders campaign was counting on a win in Michigan to keep the presidential hope alive, as the Vermont senator had defeated Hillary Clinton in a close contest in 2016 in the state. Michigan pledges 125 delegates, the most of any state that voted on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

Biden's campaign was revived after his stellar performance on Super Tuesday, as he failed to make it among the top three candidates in the first three primaries in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.

This was the first head-to-head contest between Biden and Sanders, after all, but one other candidate dropped out of the race following Super Tuesday results. Tulsi Gabbard, the only other contestant in the race, has two pledged delegates.

If Sanders doesn't win both Washington and North Dakota, it seems Tuesday's results would serve as the demarcation line for the Democratic Presidential Race. Biden leads with 823 pledged delegates against Sanders' 663 at press time, based on the Times data.

As early results came in, former rival candidate Andrew Yang also endorsed Biden as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, as reported by CNN. A number of other candidates, including Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, and Amy Klobuchar, have previously endorsed Biden for the contest.

What's Next

If the race isn't settled, four delegates-heavy states Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Arizona will hold Democratic primaries next Tuesday.

Story continues

As Michigan results became clear, Biden called for unity in the party.

"We share a common goal and together we are going to defeat Donald Trump," Biden said, thanking Sanders and his supporters for their "energy as passion," as reported by Reuters.

"Winning means uniting America. Not sowing more division and anger," Biden added.

Photo Credit: Public domain photo via Wikimedia.

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
It was near noon of July 22, 1924, when Dr. Blakely, from Sanford, said to Anna Andrick (my grandmother), "if only there was a hospital in Midland, we could get him (my grandfather, John Andrick) there and most likely save his life."

An hour before Dr. Blakely made this statement, my grandfather fell from the top of his barn at the Andrick farm on Baker Road (10 miles north of Midland). With no local hospital, the extensive injuries that John Andrick sustained would have to be cared for at home by the doctor and my grandmother. Despite diligent care, John Andrick succumbed from his injuries on July 28, 1924, less than a week after the accident.

This was a typical scenario that occurred over and over throughout Midland County in the years before a hospital was constructed here.

A hospital was certainly needed and when hospitalization was absolutely necessary, Bay City and Saginaw hospitals served the needs. Midland's leaders met and proclaimed on Aug. 19, 1904, that Midland would have a hospital. It was declared that with the natural mineral springs in Midland, a medical facility could be run successfully. Unfortunately, the good intentions never materialized.

It wasn't until the Midland General Hospital opened by Nora Porath at 715 Gordon St. in the 1930s to attend obstetrical, minor surgeries and accidents, did Midland have a suitable medical facility. The Midland General Hospital had an 18-bed capacity and more often than not, all beds were occupied.

Until the opening of the Midland General Hospital, obstetrical needs in the Midland area were handled by doctors making house calls along with local midwives. One such midwife was Bertha Bailey, who attended over 1,700 births starting in 1920, costing between $3 and $9 to deliver the baby. Another midwife was Jennie Hines, who operated the Hines Maternity Home on Ashman Street. The Midland Lying-in-Home operated by Berniece Finch, also located on Ashman St. at the corner of Hines St., served the obstetrical needs for Midland women during the 1930s and early 1940s. Hundreds of babies were born at the two facilities.

In 1937, Dr. Joseph Sherk and Dr. Wilbur Towsley, along with dentist Dr. Frank Hardy, discussed the need for a hospital in Midland. It was becoming more and more difficult for Midland doctors to get patients admitted to the Bay City and Saginaw hospitals. Travel to and from the two locations greatly curtailed the time needed for Midland doctors to attend patient needs in Midland. The following year, in August 1938, Alden Dow laid out a sketch for the hoped-for hospital. Preliminary talks continued into 1939.

Finally, on Aug. 7, 1940, 21 local men met to establish the Midland Hospital Association. The committee was headed up by newspaper publisher Phil Rich as chairman, who later became known as "Father of the Midland Hospital." Others on the committee were W. G. Bonvouloir, who was the executive secretary of the Midland Chamber of Commerce; Wayne McCandless, of the Midland News Agency; and Morley Blackhurst and Aaron T. Bliss as secretary and treasurer. At that time in 1940, there were 10,000 people living in Midland proper, with a total of 27,000 in the county ... certainly a hospital was needed and could be supported.

When the committee plans were made public, considerations were shared for potential hospital locations. Several sites were offered with most being in or near residential areas. Neighbors of the potential sites protested that a hospital in their neighborhood would reduce their property values. Others commented they didn't want to put up with the smells emitted by such a facility or contend with the "screams of patients."

On April 8, 1941, Grace Dow gave 10 acres and later increased the gift to 40 acres for the hospital site on Sugnet and Sturgeon roads. Midlanders commented, "who would want to go way out there to a hospital?" Sugnet at the time was not much more than a trail where the younger set liked to "hang out," and thus the area was known as a "lover's lane." The site gift was accepted by the Midland Hospital Association and plans proceeded for fundraising to begin construction. The land on Sturgeon Road given by Grace Dow was part of the Dow apple orchards and the roadway was renamed Orchard Drive.

The Midland Hospital Association Committee submitted a request to the Public Works Administration, which was granted on Jan. 26, 1942, in the amount of $43,500. A public fund drive began on March 2, 1942, and in 56 days, a total of $268,761 had been raised. The Midland Republican paper reported on April 29, 1942, in the headline "Hospital Drive Over Top."

At that time, World War II was raging and rationing of building materials was a big obstacle for the start of construction. Prices rose for scarce building supplies necessitating Phil Rich to make several trips to Chicago and Washington to make pleas for the necessary materials. The PWA was instrumental in obtaining a priority for the supplies and construction began in August 1942.

Construction delays of the hospital took place several times due to inability of obtaining the needed building materials. Even though carpenters and stone masons were paid a good wage (at the time) of $1.70 per hour, they were often idled due to lack of supplies.

Lyle Nye, who served as the hospital maintenance supervisor for many years, shared that the closest water main to the hospital location was a quarter mile away and pipe for the line was unavailable. To fill the need, 3,000 feet of used 6-inch diameter oil pipe was secured from the oil fields in Mt. Pleasant. The pipe was cleaned and installed to get an adequate water supply to the hospital. Lyle Nye also shared that due to the shortages of faucets and valves during wartime construction of the hospital, whenever it was necessary to make a repair in the water system, the entire system had to be shut down. This caused significant inconvenience throughout the facility.

By February 1944, the hospital was completed, inspected and approved for opening. March 4, 1944, a grand opening of the facility was held with over 12,000 people attending over two days. During the event, the 5,200 donors to the facility were also honored.

The hospital opened for business on March 15 for obstetrical care and the first baby was born there that day. The new baby (John Randall) was awarded a $25 United States War Bond from the builders and staff. The X-Ray Department opened April 18, followed by the medical and surgical departments opening on April 24. Ada Mitchell R.N., served as superintendent of the hospital until 1945, when Bernard Lorimer was hired for the position. There were a total of 47 beds and the daily charge per patient was $5. The Midland General Hospital on Gordon Street operated by Nora Porath closed during this time.

In May 1944, the Women's Auxilliary was formed with 54 volunteers. Eventually, that number grew into the hundreds who performed thousands of hours of volunteer services for patients and staff.

The Midland Hospital Association endured significant struggles during the first year of operation. The facility operated in the red for the first year, but attained a positive financial balance in 1945. Due to war rationing, it was a continual struggle to obtain needed supplies. Hospital engineer George Mclaughlin visited local slaughter houses and butcher shops so meat could be included on the hospital menu. Several dozen volunteers canned hundreds and hundreds of jars of fruits and vegetables to serve patients and staff.

The new Midland Hospital was greatly utilized and it was not long before more beds were needed. In 1948, an addition was completed which brought the bed capacity up to 80. In that same year, Ms. Margaret Loessel, R.N., was hired as nursing supervisor. When administrator Bernard Lorimer was on leave during 1950-51, Ms. Loessel served as administrator.

During the 1944-50 period, the following doctors were on staff at the hospital: Ballmer, Bulmer, Linsenmann, McCallum, Towsley, Rice, High, Ittner, Howe, Buskirk, Meisel and Gronemeyer. Nursing staff consisted of: Vivian Mudd, Lucille Delaney, Donna Bunting, Ruth Metcalf, Gladys Cushway, Florine Bigelow, Berniece Finch, Mildred Bergman, and others as needs increased.

With the Dow Chemical Company offering hospitalization insurance to employees, the hospital was frequently at capacity. Post war population growth of Midland greatly increased the need for additional hospital beds. In 1949, over $1 million in contributions was raised to construct additions which increased the bed capacity to 180.

During the early 1950s, the polio epidemic hit Midland as it did everywhere else. The cause of the illness was unknown as well as method of transmission for the tragic sickness. Parents endured a stressful time with worry about their children being afflicted. The devastating illness would hit suddenly and usually paralyzed the individual soon thereafter. Death would often come within a few days of the disease onset. The nearest iron lungs were located in Bay City, which necessitated a fast ambulance ride for the afflicted individuals. Fortunately, the Salk Polio vaccine subsequently spared thousands from the terrible affliction.

In the spring of 1960, construction began on another wing of the hospital for pediatrics. A surgical wing was built in 1962, bringing the bed capacity up to 225. A new lab opened in 1967, and cobalt radiation therapy was offered for cancer treatment.

On May 26, 1969, following a three-year study, plans were unveiled for a new six story health center that would incorporate the existing hospital building. Completion of the $12 million facility was planned for the summer of 1973, but it did not open until May 1974. This addition brought the bed capacity up to 305. There were 62 doctors on staff with more than 1,000 employees total. With additional land gifts from Dow and the Dow Foundation, the hospital campus grew to 120 acres bounded by Orchard Dr., Sugnet and Saginaw roads.

A Family Practice Center was established in 1976 at the hospital campus and has served thousands of patients since opening.

In 1988, with ever expanding services and facilities, a new name was given to the hospital: Mid-Michigan Regional Medical Center (MMRMC) with a dozen Michigan hospitals in affiliation.

In 2008, plans were unveiled for a huge expansion to the MMRMC, which was completed and opened on Dec. 4, 2011. With ever growing needs for services and advanced medical care, more changes and additions were revealed in 2017. Plans including dismantling a significant portion of the original Orchard Dr. facility to construct a new and updated outpatient center which opened in 2019. Construction for a $57 million cardiac care center to open in late 2020 is on-going at the present time. The MMRMC and Dow Chemical Company are now the largest employers in Midland County.

The afore is a brief summary of our wonderful Midland medical facility and how it came about. A listing of all the expansions of the physical facilities, as well as all the added services would require several more pages. Credit for the facility is due to the efforts of thousands of dedicated individuals over the past 76 years. One Midlander who has served for that entire time as a volunteer is Mrs. Rhea Currie who began service in 1944 and is now 103 years of age.

Floyd Andrick is a 22-year volunteer with the Midland County Historical Society and was employed for 25 years with the MMRMC from 1970 until 1995.
Canada and the United States conferred over the fate of their shared border while the provinces pleaded for cooler heads to prevail Thursday, after President Donald Trump slammed Americas door on foreign nationals who have been in outbreak-racked Europe.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to emphasize Canadas strong health and border measures  part of a scramble to keep Canadas most important bilateral relationship from being sideswiped by Trumps dramatic efforts to arrest an accelerating global pandemic.

I spoke with him about the very strong public health system and health-care system in Canada and the measures we are taking to combat the coronavirus, said Freeland, adding the two agreed to keep the lines of communication open.

Business leaders implored the Trudeau government to avoid overreacting and to ensure Canadas border agents could keep potential virus carriers out of Canada without hindering access to the crucial American market.

Trumps prime-time Oval Office announcement had more to do with politics than public health, said Perrin Beatty, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Theres a concern we may face, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, (of) pandemic protectionism  people will want to seal off markets, (and) use the excuse of the pandemic for doing so, Beatty said in an interview.

Canada doesnt have to move in lockstep with the United States but we have to be concerned if we get too great a divergence that suddenly that we find problems on our border and problems doing business with our largest customer, he added.

Goldy Hyder, the president of the Business Council of Canada, called the Canadian governments response to COVID-19 spot on, and urged it to think twice before acting. We have to look at protecting that flow of services and that flow of people in what is effectively 75 per cent of our economy.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Ottawa with most of his counterparts for a first ministers meeting  a gathering that turned into a conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau self-isolating at home. Trudeaus wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, was awaiting the results of what would turn out to be a positive test for COVID-19.

We have to be vigilant, keep an eye on our borders, make sure that were doing proper screening, Ford said. We have to look at this as North America, not just Canada  its absolutely critical we keep the borders open and have the trade flowing back and forth.

Trudeau and Trump spoke by phone Thursday about their shared goals in dealing with the outbreak  protecting the health and safety of their citizens and to promote economic resilience, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement.

The prime minister and the president welcomed the close co-ordination between Canada and the United States in managing this challenge, including as it relates to the Canada-U.S. border, and looked forward to staying in touch.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a former federal immigration minister, said he told Freeland to exercise greater rigour  including mandatory quarantine  on foreign nationals from countries with a greater risk of infection.

But closing the Canada-U.S. border should be a non-starter, he insisted: There is no single action which would impose greater cost on the Canadian economy.

Trumps order, which takes effect at midnight Friday, only applies to the movement of human beings, not goods or cargo, despite what he said on television. It covers only foreign nationals who in the last two weeks visited one of 26 countries in Europe that allow free and open travel across their borders. American citizens and permanent residents are exempt, and will be directed to one of 13 designated U.S. airport where they can be screened.

A persistent effort to start banning international visitors could have deeper implications for globalization and the unfettered movement of goods and people around the globe, warned Chris Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center.

There are a lot of implications here that are quite worrisome, said Sands, a Canadian-affairs scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. The potential economic damage of this is very high ... and there doesnt seem to be any path for Europe to fix it.

Canada will have to seriously consider whether to follow the U.S. lead to keep traffic moving between the two countries, he added  all the while working diplomatic channels to find a better solution, including ways to ensure Canadians dont end up on the wrong side of the next White House proclamation.

Matthew Mitchell, a professor of international business and strategy at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, likened the response  and the likely economic and social fallout  to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.

I ran with the bulls 25 years ago, and I think about coronavirus in much the same way as I do the bulls in Pamplona, Mitchell said. Its not necessarily the bulls that are going to hurt you. Its the people that get scared and trample everyone else because of the bulls.

The fallout from 9/11 was precisely that, he said  it wasnt terrorism that cost the global airline industry tens of billions of dollars in the immediate aftermath, but the fear of it.

So the message that were trying to promote is one of appropriate preparedness, and not panic. Its our collective response as individuals, as nations, as a world thats going to determine the outcome of this.

In the meantime, Sands suggested a short-term silver lining for Canada among would-be European tourists looking to rescue their vacation plans.

It sends a message of low confidence in the U.S. government, he said. Maybe it will have people thinking, Lets go to Canada instead for summer vacation. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2020.

 With files from Joan Bryden and Stephanie Levitz in Ottawa
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- A written official reply laid bare online revealed that the Wuhan-based joint venture Dongfeng Honda and its suppliers have been approved by a local authority to resume operation, nearly fifty days after the city went into lockdown due to the novel coronavirus.

This is definitely an inspiring sign that shows the contagious epidemic has been effectively contained in the epicenter. To prevent a wider virus spread, Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province have quarantined themselves and pushed the pause button over their own development for nearly two months. According to the provincial command, companies in Hubei were requested to restart work no earlier than March 11.



(Photo source: Honda China)



Dongfeng Honda, one of sales drivers to Wuhan's automobile industry, has three complete vehicle manufacturing plants at Wuhan Economic Technological Development Zone. Two of which feature a combined capacity of 512,000 vehicles per year, while the third one, which kicked off operation last year, is designed to have an annual capacity of 120,000 units for its first phase. The prolonged shutdown is likely to bring down the full-year outputs.

For the first two months, there were 77,400 consumers took delivery of the joint venture's vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 19.5%, according to Honda's China branch. The company no doubt took hit during the anti-epidemic hit, while its Jan. retail sales jumped 21.3% to 73,597 units, in spite of the Spring Festival holiday.

It is roughly estimated that Hubei province accounted for 8.8% of China's total auto outputs in 2019. The virus-caused lockdown significantly dents the whole auto market. One of consequences is that the country's locally-produced PV outputs tumbled 80.9% over a year earlier to only 216,041 units in Feb., according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Besides, the wholesale volume and retail sales all represented sharp slump from the year-ago period.
The chief executive of Sydney-based biotech commercialisation firm The iQ Group Global believes Australia needs an innovation rethink if the country is going to build global health solutions.

"I think our nation is at a crossroads now... to actually become an innovative country we need a mindset change, and investors have to move away from bricks and cars and minerals: their lifespans are finite," Dr George Syrmalis says.

The IQ Group Global founder George Syrmalis says Australian policymakers need to give better details on what it means to become an innovative nation. Credit:AFR.

Over the past nine years, Syrmalis has been harnessing funds from high-net-worth individuals to invest in the development of projects for catering to unmet medical needs.

The iQ Group Global now includes a portfolio of listed and unlisted companies including ASX-listed life sciences consultancy iQ3 and wholesale investor funds, like the $100 million Series 8 fund, which is now closed off to new investors.
EDDYSTONE  Ridley School District administrator Kelly Mullany gave a presentation at councils March 9 meeting, stressing the importance of community participation in the upcoming federal 2020 census and what it means financially to the school district. The borough is part of the district.

All federal programs in the district are based on the census figures and if that number is understated it would affect the federal funding the district needs.

Its about who is living in your house on April 1, Mullany explained.

Mullany said that includes babies, toddlers and the elderly. She said census forms will be sent by mail and there are only nine questions to be answered.

It is confidential, she said. No one else sees it.

Mullany ended her presentation by telling her audience that for every person missed in the count, Pennsylvania will lose $2,000 per person in federal funds. Federal funding for schools is administered by the state.

In other business, council passed a resolution approving the final land development plan for Alliance Partners HSP, LLC for the former Foamex site on Second Street. The 770,000-square-foot facility will be used as warehouse space. Approval is subject to 10 conditions, all of which have been agreed to by the applicant. They include comments from the Delaware County Planning Commission, DELCORA sanitary sewer connection, and establishment of appropriate escrow accounts.

In another matter, the borough is on board to apply for a $60,000 Transportation Community Development Initiative to address planning for improvements along the Route 291 corridor. Borough engineer Lisa Catania explained that the money is a planning grant to improve the economic development of the corridor. It will also allow for a study on traffic signalization and installation of bicycle lanes.

Catanias report also included information on the Eddystone Avenue sanitary sewer rehabilitation project. She said contracts for the 2019 CDBG project have been forwarded to the solicitor for review and execution. Work should be completed this spring.

During a discussion among council members about the two veterans organizations located in the borough whose trash is picked up as commercial trash and not residential trash, resulting in a higher disposal cost by the Delaware County Solid Waste Authority, councilman Robert Yannuzzi favored the continuation of an earlier agreement designating the veterans organizations as residential trash, citing the veterans groups participation in the community.

Council President Bill Stewart said after the meeting that any change in the veterans groups trash collection status would have to wait until the trash ordinance is modified.

Stewart also said a motion by Councilman Glen Wilson to hire a treasurer separately rather than to continue with a secretary/treasurer failed because the matter was not discussed at councils workshop meeting. Possenti Consulting Inc. served in the role of treasurer.
LOS GATOS, California, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NuVera Medical, Inc., a portfolio company of Shifamed LLC, has been awarded the "Top 25 Cardiac Imaging Leaders 2020" honor from Cardiology2.0 Magazine as recognition for the impact the company is making in the cardiac imaging space.

"NuVera is reinventing the imaging modality for complex cardiac transcatheter procedures," said John Matthews, Managing Editor of Cardiology2.0. "The company's novel solution (4D imaging on an ICE platform) is breaking new ground and aims to offer physicians insights into a variety of complex cardiac structures that are hard to detect without the aid of technology. We are glad to have selected NuVera, which is at the forefront of revolutionizing cardiac imaging, as one of the leaders in this space."

NuVera Medical is enabling a new era in transcatheter cardiac interventions through the advancement of real-time 3D intracardiac echocardiography (4D ICE). With state-of-the-art 4D ultrasound technology, the NuVera ICE Catheter is being developed to represent a true paradigm shift in procedural guidance for a growing number of electrophysiology and structural heart procedures, which are underserved by current methods of imaging.

"We are honored to be a part of this elite group and proud to be recognized as a leader in cardiac imaging innovation," said Todor Jeliaskov, President CEO of NuVera Medical. "Our team has worked hard to develop the NuVera ICE Catheter, and this award validates our efforts to advance intracardiac imaging that positively impacts care for patients worldwide."

To read the full article on NuVera Medical from Cardiology2.0, please visit https://magazine.cardiology2.com/mar2020/nuvera.

About NuVera Medical, Inc.

NuVera Medical is a privately held medical device company formed by Shifamed LLC, a Silicon Valley based medical innovation hub. The company is developing the NuVera ICE Catheter to enable a new era in transcatheter cardiac interventions through the advancement of real-time 3D intracardiac echocardiography (4D ICE). The NuVera ICE Catheter is currently in the research and development phase and not available for sale. To learn more about NuVera Medical, please visit www.nuveramedical.com.

About Shifamed, LLC

Founded by serial entrepreneur Amr Salahieh, Shifamed LLC is a highly-specialized medical innovation hub focused on developing advanced solutions that get to market faster, reduce risk, increase impact, and forge a path toward a world where all people are able to lead longer, healthier lives. To learn more about Shifamed, please visit www.shifamed.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Katie Arnold

SPRIG Consulting LLC

(408) 805-0520

katie@sprigconsulting.com
Two more positive cases have been reported in Kerala on Thursday taking the number of coronavirus infected people to 16, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after a review meeting in the state capital.

He said out of two, one person in Kannur had come from Dubai and the other, a Thrissur resident, returned from Qatar about five days back. The state is going through a difficult situation. But there is no need to panic. What we need is more surveillance and being alert. We will overcome this challenge also, the CM said.

At least 4,180 people are under observation and out of these 3,910 are quarantined in their homes and 270 admitted to various hospitals with symptoms. More than 1200 people were let off after their results were found negative. He said samples of another person were rushed to the National Institute of Virology, in Pune, after some confusion crept in and it was expected in a day or two.

What we need is responsible behaviour from all. We will give special care to the aged who are more prone to it. We have also got some reports that people under home quarantine came out and some others insulted foreigners. The government will deal with them sternly, he said.

The CM has also inaugurated a mobile app on coronavirus. Called GOK-Direct, it can be downloaded from Playstore and will give updates and messages frequently. It will also help check rumours doing the rounds. The government has given the responsibility of 14 districts to ministers and they will review the situation frequently. The CM has asked people to go with the directives of the health department. There is some silver lining also-- more than 40 people have tested negative including some who came from the worst-affected areas.

Earlier the state had gone into partial shutdown cancelling all public meetings and closing down educational institutions till March 31, to contain the spread. In Pathanamthitta, the district administration had prepared a flowchart of five affected people indicating the places they visited with time and around 120 people voluntarily came up for quarantine after seeing this map.

The state with the highest density of population in the country had 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.

State health minister K K Shailaja has called for strict community surveillance, scaling up of contact tracing and tapping local bodies to stop the further spread of the deadly disease.

The state had reported Indias first three cases of coronavirus in January this year and they had fully recovered later. Similarly, two years back, the state had witnessed the outbreak of another dangerous virus, Nipah. Though it claimed 17 lives, it was localised and contained effectively. During the outbreak of Nipah, the mortality rate was more than 70% but in the case of coronavirus, it is less than 5 per cent, health experts said.
Lord Hall has sparked a fresh row with Victoria Derbyshire after he claimed her 3million-a-year BBC2 show is watched by 'old men' as it faces the axe in the corporation's cuts.

The BBC director-general was being grilled today by MPs at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee, when he said he hopes the ditched programme finds a home on the BBC News channel.

'What I very much hope is that the programme ... Victoria herself ... and the journalism which they do will find a home on the news channel and elsewhere on the BBC,' he said.

Lord Hall also said the show only had 300,000 viewers and was mainly watched by 'old men'.

Victoria Derbyshire, who has clashed with BBC executives over the cancellation of her show, hit back at Lord Hall's claim on social media today.

Victoria Derbyshire, pictured on her show last month, criticised Lord Hall's comments he made at DCMS today

The BBC director-general was being grilled today by MPs at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee

She tweeted: 'This COMPLETELY ignores the rest of our figures - last month interviews/stories from our TV prog were viewed 20 MILLION TIMES online - stories & ints that wouldn't have been commissioned without our on-air programme.

Lord Hall says he does not want to see over- 75s 'going to court' over non-payment of licence fee Lord Hall was also asked at DCMS today if the BBC were willing to take 80 or 90-year-olds to court for non-payment of the licence fee, Lord Hall said: 'We have a special team to make sure our communications with the over-75s is sensitive and do everything we can to make sure they know everything they need to do. 'I don't want to see people going to court, of course I don't. It's conceivable but of course I don't.' Clare Sumner, director of policy at the BBC, added: 'It's highly unlikely.' She continued: 'When TVL have to consider whether you enforce against somebody there is a long process to get there and that is not where we are starting, we are putting in payment plans and lots of additional support. 'We are doing everything to help support people to pay.' Asked why over-75s should not then just take their chances, BBC chairman Sir David Clementi said: 'The majority of over-75s want to stay within the law and value the BBC.' Advertisement

'On our FB (Facebook) page three quarters of our viewers are women,' she added.

The 51-year-old discovered that her show was being axed as part of a string of cuts when it was reported in a newspaper before the official announcement was made in January this year.

The presenter also previously clashed with the BBC News' editorial director Kamal Ahmed.

He had shared a post about a probe by the flagship current affairs programme that had resulted in the Government announcing measures to ban putting children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation.

Ahmed wrote: 'Investigations matter. Original journalism matters.'

The presenter tweeted Mr Ahmed to 'reconsider the decision to close our programme then' after he tweeted his praise for a Newsnight investigation.

During a briefing to BBC staff about the cost-reduction cuts weeks before she tweeted: 'we were NEVER asked to grow the linear Tv audience. Ever.

'We were asked to grow our digital audience - we did - our digi figures are huge (our successful digital figures appear to be an inconvenience to those making the decisions).'

Victoria Derbyshire (left) hit back at BBC News' editorial director Kamal Ahmed (right) who hailed the corporation for its original journalism after her own programme was axed

Ahmed shared a post about a probe by the flagship current affairs programme that had resulted in the Government announcing measures to ban putting children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation (pictured, his tweet)

Derbyshire retweeted Ahmed's tweet urging him to reconsider the BBC closing down her programme - which won a Bafta in 2017 and has been nominated for several awards

She added: 'Our remit when we were set up: 1. Original journalism 2. Reaching underserved audiences 3. Growing the digital figures We achieved all 3.'

Derbyshire's show began in 2015 and broadcasts live on BBC Two and the BBC News channel every weekday from 10am.

The programme won a Bafta in 2017 and has been nominated for several awards, including the RTS presenter prize.

Her response to Ahmed came after he apologised to BBC staff for accepting a 12,000 fee to speak at a banking conference last week.

Derbyshire live tweeted from a briefing to BBC staff about the cuts to the news division as part of a cost-reduction drive

In an email to staff that was shared with the Financial Times, Ahmed - who was previously the BBC's economics editor - said he had accepted the invitation to speak at the Investing for the Future conference hosted by Aberdeen Standard Investments, and that it was not part of his work with the BBC.

He said he would no longer be accepting the fee for his appearance, which came days after the BBC announced that around 450 jobs would go as a result of the cuts.

Ahmed, who earns 205,000 a year at the BBC, wrote: 'As a senior manager, I knew the event would be declared via the usual Declaration of Personal Interests that we publish.

'There has been some comment in the media and on social about the fee and several people have raised it internally.

'I realise now that I did not think things through sufficiently at the time of the booking and, although I did not break any of the BBC's guidelines on external speaking, it was a mistake to agree a fee.'
Hours after Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP in presence of party president J P Nadda in New Delhi, Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said on Wednesday (March 11) that Scindia leaving the Congress is unfortunate, adding e wished things could have been fixed resolved 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 tweeted.

Unfortunate to see @JM_Scindia parting ways with @INCIndia. I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party.  Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) March 11, 2020

Shortly after joining the BJP, Scindia lashed out at the Congress accusing the party of being involved in corruption. "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,'' he added.

"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, '' Scindia said.

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.''

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 (March 10).
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A San Francisco man whose daughter's alleged pimp was murdered eight years ago was convicted in federal court Tuesday of racketeering conspiracy but was acquitted of the murder.

Barry Gilton, 46, was convicted by a jury in the court of U.S. District Judge William Orrick in San Francisco of participating in a racketeering conspiracy conducted by a gang known as the Central Divisadero Players.

He was accused, but acquitted, of participating in the murder in aid of racketeering of Calvin Sneed, 22, of Compton, in San Francisco on June 4, 2012. Sneed allegedly had pimped the then-17-year-old daughter of Gilton and Lupe Mercado in Southern California.

Mercado, 45, was also acquitted of the murder, but was convicted in the same trial of being an accessory after the fact to the murder by helping to hinder the apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators. She was not accused of participating in the racketeering conspiracy.

Sneed was killed in a drive-by shooting shortly before 2 a.m. as he was driving near the parents' Bayview District home on his way to pick up the girl, who had returned to her parents' home.

Gilton faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison and Mercado could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. Their sentencing date has not been set.

Sarah Potter, a lawyer for Mercado, said her client has a motion for acquittal pending before Orrick. If that motion is denied, Mercado will appeal the verdict.

Nine other defendants who were alleged to have been members of the gang have previously been convicted and sentenced.

Two defendants who pleaded guilty to the racketeering charge admitted during their pleas to participating in Sneed's murder.

They were Antonio Gilton, 33, a cousin of Barry Gilton, and Alfonso Williams, 42. They were sentenced by Orrick last year to 22 and 25 years in prison respectively.

Potter said Mercado's alleged action in being an accessory after the fact was allegedly misleading police in an interview after she was arrested on June 9, 2012.

Mercado pleaded not guilty to that charge. In addition, her motion for acquittal contends the federal charges against her should be dismissed because she had no connection to the alleged federal crime of racketeering.

"The evidence shows that everyone who was allegedly involved in this crime - and especially Ms. Mercado - was motivated solely by personal aims to prevent the exploitation of Ms. Mercado's minor daughter," the acquittal motion argues.

Tony Tamburello, another lawyer for Mercado, said Barry Gilton and Lupe Mercado are longtime partners who had four children together.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Joe Biden Wins Big in Mini Super Tuesday

The campaign of former Vice President Joe Biden gained even more steam on what was billed as mini-Super Tuesday on March 10. He crushed his opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, by winning the primaries in four of six states  Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri and Michigan.

As of press time, Sanders was projected to win in North Dakota. Votes in the state of Washington were still being counted. Yet, Biden greatly widened his delegate lead over Sanders, tallying 842 delegates for the former VP compared to 681 for the Vermont senator. The winner must secure 1,991 delegates to win the Democratic prudential nomination.

The win was a big boost for Biden, who had already grabbed wins in 10 of the 14 states that voted on Super Tuesday on March 3. However, Sanders can possibly even the oddson March 17, when voters in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio go to the polls. Those states have a total of 577 delegates with Florida tallying the most at 219.

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Black voters are credited with breathing new life into Bidens campaign. His candidacy appeared stalled before African Americans in the South came out in big numbers to help him dominate on Super Tuesday. In South Carolina, Bidens victory was furthered emboldened by the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black in the House of Representatives.

Seeming to predict Bidens win on March 10, Clyburn said that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) should step in to end the primary process if Biden swept the six states holding primaries and caucuses on March 10.

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, and 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 that the numbers will not shake out for you, Clyburn said.

Bidens positive relationship with Black America likely stems from the favorable impression he garnered as former President Barack Obamas second-in-command for eight years. Throughout his tenure during the two terms, many Blacks feel that he provided unwavering support to the first Black president in the midst of constant political attacks and changing economic conditions.

In an exclusive interview with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, Biden predicted that the Black vote would likely determine the next Democratic nominee for president.

Its going to be the determining factor in who the nominee is going to be, and I hope that means who the next president is going to be, Biden proclaimed. The Black Press is the way I did my politics. You go where people are, he continued.

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You walk into a Black barbershop or beauty salon, and your newspaper was there. Its who we are. The neighborhood we come from.

Its incredibly important; youre incredibly important. I never had the money, but any ads that Ive ever purchased has only been in Black newspapers because its the single best way for people to get access to what I say and what I really mean.

According to the report by NNPAs Stacey Brown, Bidens campaign was further propelled when three former opponents: former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Texas Rep. Beto ORourke, announced they were endorsing him. Their support came after Bidens victory in South Carolina.

Before South Carolina, it appeared that Sanders was poised to place a stranglehold on the nomination and that Bidens campaign had run out of steam. However, over two days in the Palmetto State, Bidens fortunes began to turn. His success appeared to influence Senator Elizabeth Warren to end her presidential bid, especially after she failed to win her home state of Massachusetts in the Super Tuesday primary.

Likewise, candidate Michael Bloomberg, whose late start and lack of Super Tuesday voter supportleft no clear path to the nomination, also left the race. However, unlike Warren, who has yet to indicate who she will endorse, Bloomberg threw his support behind Biden and recommitted to his pledge to do whatever it takes to defeat Trump. Biden also received the endorsement of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.

For his part, Sanders maintains that he will ultimately prevail because voters understand that hes best positioned to defeat Trump.

What we need is politics that bring working-class people into our political movement. One that brings young people into our political movement, and which, in November, will create the highest voter turnout in American political history, said Sanders during a campaign stop in Vermont last week. You cannot beat [President] Trump with the same old politics.

Still, most observers agree that African Americans are responsible for Bidens blazing comeback and will likely continue to support his election. According to exit polls, more than 80% of Black voters in the Mississippi voted for Biden and he chalked up dominating numbers among Blacks in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.

Voters will have another opportunity to decide between Biden and Sanders on Sunday, March 15. Thats when the two are scheduled to debate in Arizona. The event will be broadcast live at 5 p.m., local time, on CNN and other television stations.

NNPAs Stacey Brown contributed to this article.

@StacyBrownMedia @JoeBiden @BernieSanders @ewarren @amyklobuchar @realDonaldTrump @MikeBloomberg
Photo: The Canadian Press Carl Goldman in the biocontainment unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Amid all the fears, quarantines and stockpiling of food, it has been easy to ignore the fact that more than 60,000 people have recovered from the coronavirus spreading around the globe.

The disease can cause varying degrees of illness and is especially troublesome for older adults and people with existing health problems, who are at risk of severe effects, including pneumonia. But for most of those affected, coronavirus creates only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, with the vast majority recovering from the virus.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe ailments may take three to six weeks to rebound. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed, but more than 58,000 already have recovered.

Because the difference in impact can be so great, global health authorities have the difficult task of alerting the public to the virus' dangers without creating panic.

Already, the widespread consequences of the virus have been staggering, sending shock waves through the world's financial markets. Global oil prices sustained their worst percentage losses since the the Gulf War in 1991, and new restrictions were imposed in Italy and in Israel as the Holy Week approached.

But even some of the most vulnerable patients can fight their way through the disease.

Charlie Campbells father, 89-year-old Eugene Campbell, has been diagnosed with the coronavirus and is hospitalized in Edmonds, Washington. Charlie Campbell said his father's doctor is cautiously optimistic, adding, Under normal circumstances, he would discharge my dad, but these arent normal circumstances.

Eugene Campbell came to the hospital from Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland that has been linked to nineteen of Washington states 23 coronavirus deaths.

We went and saw him yesterday and he looked pretty good, Campbell said, noting that his father is breathing normally and his vital signs and heart rate are good. He may be the oldest person to recover from coronavirus.

For some whove been quarantined, anxiety and dread that they will become stigmatized by friends, neighbours and co-workers have made them reluctant to acknowledge even the most modest health impact. A few patients with the virus who were interviewed by The Associated Press  all of them passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that ended up quarantined off Japan  described symptoms that were no stronger than a regular cold or flu.

Its been a 2 on a scale of 10, said Carl Goldman, hospitalized in Omaha, Nebraska, since Feb. 17, after developing a 103-degree fever on a chartered flight from Japan to the U.S.

Goldman is staying hydrated with Gatorade. He said he continued coughing more than two weeks after he first got sick, but would probably only have missed one day of work if he had been diagnosed with the cold or flu. He stays active by pacing in his room, trying to match his pre-sickness routine of 10,000 daily steps on the pedometer.

I totally get this is where I need to be and I need to be cleared of this before Im released, he said.
SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health voted on a bill to update our cosmetic safety laws, which have largely stood unchanged since 1938. The vote reflects consumer demand for more government oversight of chemicals commonly used in personal-care products. The vote passed in the subcommittee and awaits two more key votes in order for it to pass in the House, before moving to the Senate. In December 2019, Beautycounter's Founder and CEO, Gregg Renfrew, testified as an expert witness in a congressional hearing on cosmetic reform held by the same House subcommittee that first introduced the bill.

"This vote marks a victory for consumers across the country  one that has been 82 years in the making," said Renfrew. "By taking this first important vote, Congress is listening to American families. Our collective voices have been heard, and I applaud Chairman Pallone, Congresswoman Eshoo, and the members of the subcommittee for prioritizing this important public health issue."

Beautycounter is asking all consumers to take action by texting "BETTERBEAUTY" to 52886, urging their Representatives to support the bill.

Over the past seven years, Beautycounter has sent over 150,000 emails, made over 15,000 calls, and held over 1,500 meetings with legislators in both the U.S. and Canada, all urging lawmakers to support cosmetic reform.

Beautycounter, the leader in safer skin care and cleaner cosmetics, has been mobilizing consumers around non-partisan advocacy for cosmetic reform since it launched in 2013. To lead a national movement for a cleaner future for all, Beautycounter is continuing their advocacy work in several ways throughout the year. This month, on the company's seven-year anniversary, they debuted the "Give 'Em Lip" trio, three bold limited-edition lipsticks featuring designs by activist and artist Lisa Congdon with messaging for change in the industry. The packaging features the unique text action which easily allows everyday consumers to email their Members of Congress about an issue that shares bipartisan support.

Historically, the company and their network of approximately 50,000 independent Consultants meets with Members of Congress across the country to discuss the need for cosmetic reform. Beautycounter also printed a full-page ad in The New York Times this past Sunday, calling on Congress to act.

For more information on Beautycounter's products, mission, and advocacy work, visit: www.beautycounter.com

ABOUT BEAUTYCOUNTER

Beautycounter is the leader in the safer skin care and cleaner cosmetics category. The Santa Monica, CA-based brand drives a national movement for improved transparency and accountability in the beauty industry, including advocacy to update federal regulations that have stood largely unchanged since 1938. The company's mission is to get safer products into the hands of everyone. Beautycounter develops and distributes approximately 150 products across skin-care, color cosmetics, advanced anti-aging, kids, baby, and personal-care collections. Beautycounter is a Certified B Corporation. Founded by Gregg Renfrew in 2011, Beautycounter launched in 2013 as a direct-retail brand that is available online at beautycounter.com, in retail boutiques in New York City, Denver, and a seasonal Nantucket pop-up, through strategic partnerships, and through approximately 50,000+ independent Consultants across North America. Beautycounter has received numerous awards, including Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, Allure's Best of Beauty, Glamour's Beauty Awards, Refinery29's Innovators List, the NewBeauty Awards, WWD's 2019 Best-Performing Beauty Company (small cap), and the CEW's 2019 Indie Brand of the Year. For more information, please visit www.beautycounter.com. Follow along on social channels: Instagram: @ beautycounter ; Twitter: @ beautycounterhq ; Facebook: @ beautycounterhq ; YouTube: @ beautycounter .

SOURCE Beautycounter

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http://www.beautycounter.com


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) - Celebrity couple Richard Gutierrez and Sarah Lahbati decided to postpone their wedding this weekend amid the coronavirus disease outbreak.

The wedding was supposed to take place on Saturday, March 14 at Shangri-La at the Fort Hotel in Bonifacio Global City.

As much as we want to celebrate our love with our family and friends, in light of the recent situation we have decided to postpone our wedding as we do not want to put anyone at risk, said Gutierrez in an Instagram post.

He added, Thank you so much to those who flew in and to everyone who worked so hard for our special day. We only wish good health for everyone and we hope to celebrate with you as soon as things get better. Much love, Richard & Sarah.

The wedding recently made buzz on social media after it was announced the high profile politicians will attend the wedding as sponsors. Among them are former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, as well as President Rodrigo Duterte and his spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Gutierrez and Lahbati first met in a television drama in 2012 when they were still artists of GMA Network. The following year Lahbati gave birth to their first son Zion.
JACKSON, MI  Consumers Energy is prepared to avoid disruptions of electricity and natural gas services amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Consumers has more than 60 business continuity plans to make sure critical functions continue as COVID-19 spreads across Michigan, company officials said in a news release. Officials said a response team was activated in early February using a plan thats been ready to go for three years.

Two cases of coronavirus are confirmed in Michigan and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency Tuesday, March 10. 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.

When Consumers employees need to go into a customers home or business, they will keep a six-foot distance from people, the release said. All work surfaces will be thoroughly washed before the employee starts to work as well.

Consumers is asking customers who are sick and have appointments at their home to reschedule.

We are confident our business continuity plans will keep electricity and natural gas flowing to Michigan homes and businesses as we respond appropriately to any potential risks, the release said.

To read all of MLives coverage of COVID-19, click here.
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

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.

Story continues

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.

Read more

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Harvey Weinstein claimed Jennifer Aniston should be killed
Bengaluru, March 12 : The New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) has barred all cruise vessels from entering the port till March-end, in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Thursday.

"Until the end of March, no cruise ship is allowed into Mangaluru port as per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Shipping," said the port's traffic manager.

He said six cruise ships will be denied entry following the shipping ministry's directive.

"There is no cruiseliner at berth now. One ship was denied entry and another we have cancelled. We are not allowing four more till March 31," he said.

Before this development, seven cruiseliners were scheduled to call on Mangaluru port between March 24 and May 13.

According to the traffic manager, the cruiseliners generally make 12-hour port calls at Mangaluru, halting in the morning and sailing away in the evening, enabling the tourists to visit proximate tourist attractions and shopping destinations.

Meanwhile, the district administration has made arrangements at the port to prevent coronavirus from spreading.

"With the help of the district health officer and others, we are scanning the people and allowing inside," said the port traffic manager.

Equipped with 9.5 m draft at cruise berth with the capacity to accommodate vessels up to 331 m long and e-visa clearance on arrival, Mangaluru Port is the port of call for seven cruiseliners.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text


The United States is accusing authoritarian governments around the world of severe human rights violations and abuses.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke this week at the release of the 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. He told reporters, "Experience teaches that government officials who oppress are also responsible for creating social environments that encourage corruption, violent conflict, and terrorism."

Iran

The U.S. report examines the Iranian governments reaction to widespread protests that began last November after an increase in fuel prices.

Iranian security forces killed nearly 1,500 people and detained 8,600 others, reported international media at the time.

There is no evidence that government agencies were seeking independent or impartial investigations into protester deaths, the report said.

The government "blocked almost all international and local internet connections for most of a week, the U.S. report noted.

The report provides an ugly picture of conditions in Iran. It described executions for crimes that failed to meet international legal standards and without fair trials of individuals.

The State Department said Iranian officials were responsible for human rights abuses in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. It criticized Irans military support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and pro-Iran militia groups.

China

The U.S. human rights report also looked at China and its mass detention of members of Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

China is imprisoning religious minorities in internment camps, part of its historic antipathy to religious believers," Pompeo told reporters in Washington.

The U.S. report says Chinese officials reportedly have detained "more than one million Muslims in efforts to remove religious and ethnic identities.

The report said that human rights in China include unlawful killings, forced disappearances, and detention by the government. It noted life-threatening prison and detention conditions; physical attacks on and criminal prosecution of journalists, lawyers, writersand others as well as their family members. And it noted Chinas forcible return of asylum-seekers to North Korea.

Saudi Arabia

The U.S. report expressed concerns about the openness of the Saudi government about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi officials in Turkey. However, the report did not detail the observations of U.S. embassy officials who attended the suspects trial in Saudi Arabia.

"The murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an unacceptable crime. We have spoken with the Saudi leadership from the king down about our concerns. The position that we have taken hasn't changed," said assistant Secretary of State Robert Destro.

The U.S. report said the Saudi government, in several cases, did not punish officials accused of human rights abuses, which created an environment of lawlessness.

Venezuela

On Venezuela, the State Department report noted restrictions on political participation and a lack of free speech.

A single party has held political power for more than 10 years, the report said. It added that the party has an authoritarian executive exercisingcontrol over the judicial, citizens' power, and electoral branches of government."

The reelection of Nicolas Maduro as Venezuelas president was neither free nor fair, the U.S. report said. It also pointed to issues of unlawful killings and torture by security forces, disappearances, detention, political prisoners, a corrupt judiciary as well as restrictions on freedom of speech.

Im Jonathan Evans.

VOAs Nike Ching reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words In This Story

authoritarian  adj. an oppressive way of behaving

encourage  v. to add to happiness

impartial  adj. treating both sides the same

standard  n. the regular normal

antipathy  n. a strong dislike

prosecution  n. this who represent the state or the courts in a trial

journalist  n. one who seeks out information for newspapers, radio and television

king  n. a male who inherits his rule of a country

participation  n. to join in with others

judicial - adj. regarding the law or the court system
Net sales and EBITDA exceeded raised full-year guidance as a result of continued execution of the three strategic growth drivers

Etienne Jornod to step down as Executive Chairman. Jacques Theurillat proposed to be elected as new Chairman

Stefan Schulze appointed CEO Vifor Pharma Group

Ferinject / Injectafer : Blockbuster status achieved one year earlier than anticipated

Nephrology portfolio driven by strong US performance of Velphoro and Mircera

Veltassa delivered significant growth in the US by expanding the hyperkalaemia market

Regulatory News:

Vifor Pharma Group recorded strong financial and operational performance in 2019 by focusing on its three strategic growth drivers while continuing to invest in its pipeline. The company exceeded its raised guidance for full-year 2019 on both net sales and EBITDA.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: STRONG SALES AND PROFIT GROWTH CONTINUES

Net sales of CHF 1,887.2 million, up 18.5%

EBITDA of CHF 540.0 million, up 37.9%

Core EPS of CHF 4.67

Strong balance sheet with equity ratio of 75.7%

Net cash position of CHF 5.7 million

Investment grade credit rating from Standard Poor's received in September 2019 and from Fitch Ratings in March 2020

Initiation of the sale process for OM Pharma

FERINJECT/ INJECTAFERACHIEVES BLOCKBUSTER STATUS

In-market sales of CHF 1.06 billion, up 19.1% from the previous year reinforcing status as the world leading i.v. iron therapy

Net sales increased 15.6% to CHF 561.0 million, by 17.5% in local currency

Strong performance mostly driven by the US market (+18.7%)

Growth of 20.1% adjusting for inventory impacts and increased demand due to INFeD shortages in 2018

Strategic partnership with Fresenius Kabi China announced in February 2020

EXPANSION OF NEPHROLOGY PORTFOLIO CONTINUES

Mircera net sales CHF 523.4 million, up 16.0%, due to continued expansion in mid-sized organisation dialysis clinics in US

net sales CHF 523.4 million, up 16.0%, due to continued expansion in mid-sized organisation dialysis clinics in US Velphoro net sales CHF 181.7 million, up 89.9%, driven by strong US growth from continued adoption of updated KDIGO guidelines

net sales CHF 181.7 million, up 89.9%, driven by strong US growth from continued adoption of updated KDIGO guidelines Venofer net sales CHF 132.4 million, up 12.0%, mostly driven by strong US demand

net sales CHF 132.4 million, up 12.0%, mostly driven by strong US demand Positive top-line data from pivotal phase-III ADVOCATE trial announced in November 2019 demonstrating avacopan's superiority over standard of care at week 52 in ANCA-associated vasculitis

VELTASSA CONTINUES TO DRIVE GROWTH OF HYPERKALAEMIA MARKET

Net sales CHF 132.3 million, up 46.2%, with US net sales of CHF 124.8 million

Roll out continued in Europe with additional launches in Spain, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands

Reimbursement secured in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Portugal and Spain

Positive recommendation for funding received from NICE in the UK in December 2019

Positive results from AMBER study demonstrating potential in renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitor medication (RAASi) enablement with Veltassa in patients with resistant hypertension and CKD

in patients with resistant hypertension and CKD Global phase-IIIb outcome study DIAMOND initiated to evaluate the potential of Veltassa in combination with RAASi to improve patient outcomes reducing cardiovascular mortality and hospitalisations

CONTINUED FOCUS ON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE TO DELIVER GLOBAL LEADERSHIP IN IRON DEFICIENCY, NEPHROLOGY AND CARDIO-RENAL THERAPIES

Collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. to commercialise Invokana in US to nephrologists for patients with diabetic kidney disease

in US to nephrologists for patients with diabetic kidney disease Partnership with Evotec, by creating a 50:50 joint venture, NephThera, to discover and develop novel nephrology therapeutics

Orphan drug designation granted by FDA and EMA to VIT-2763 (ferroportin inhibitor) for treatment of beta-thalassemia; phase-II study activities initiated in Q4 2019

ENSURING CONTINUED COMMERCIAL SUCCESS WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE

Appointment of Dr Klaus Henning Jensen as Chief Medical Officer and member of the Executive Committee with effect from January 2020

Appointment of Lee Heeson as President International and member of the Executive Committee with effect from February 2020

Commenting on the 2019 results, Etienne Jornod, Executive Chairman of Vifor Pharma Group, said:

"Vifor Pharma Group recorded another excellent performance in 2019, focusing relentlessly on delivery and execution of our strategy. We continued to maximise our current products and future pipeline, while carefully managing costs and ensuring positive returns for our shareholders. Once again, we have kept our promise to shareholders, delivering strong, profitable growth and exceeding our raised 2019 guidance.

A strong focus on execution has enabled us to continue to build on our three strategic growth drivers. We remain on track to meet the ambitious Milestone 2020 targets which we set ourselves in 2017."

ETIENNE JORNOD TO STEP DOWN AS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, STEFAN SCHULZE APPOINTED CEO

After 25 years of service the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vifor Pharma, Etienne Jornod, has decided not to renew his mandate, which expires at the Annual General Meeting of May 14, 2020.

Stefan Schulze, currently President of the Executive Committee and Chief Operating Officer (COO) is appointed CEO for Vifor Pharma Group as of May 14, 2020.

"At the request of major shareholders, I decided to accompany the first phase of Vifor Pharma's entrepreneurial independence when Galenica and Vifor Pharma were split up in 2017 and to run the plan "Milestone 2020"," says Etienne Jornod. "Today, with all objectives of such plan being overachieved Vifor Pharma is established as a stand-alone pharmaceutical company and has made outstanding progress. I have come to the end of my mandate and I believe this is the perfect time to hand over the responsibility to my successors to lead the Group. Vifor Pharma is today on the right track, with a renewed, strong and experienced BOD and EC members, all projects on track. Vifor Pharma has excellent prospects with many new products to be launched in the next years. The company's Board of Directors has been almost completely renewed since the IPO of Galenica Sante over the last 3 years, with the addition of significant international and pharma expertise. The Executive Committee has also been reinforced with 3 very experienced international executives. Stefan Schulze has successfully established and led the Executive Committee and executed on the strategy since 2017 and the Executive Committee has proven that it has the competence and experience to address the challenges and opportunities of the company going forward".

Stefan Schulze, an engineer by education, spent his professional career in the healthcare industry in the U.S. and Europe. He was working for the Fresenius Group in various positions from 1992 to 2014. In 2014 he became CEO of Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma a joint company of Vifor Pharma and Fresenius Medical Care. Stefan is COO and President of the Executive Committee of the Vifor Pharma Group since 2017.

The Board of Directors proposes Jacques Theurillat to be elected by the shareholders as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. All other Board members will stand for re-election. Gilbert Achermann, currently Chairman of the Board of Straumann Group, is proposed to become member of the Boardto succeed Jacques Theurillat in the ARC (Audit and Risk Committee).

Jacques Theurillat has an extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. From 1987 to 2006, he held various positions at Serono, including CFO and Deputy CEO. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Serono since 2000 until the sale of the company in 2006. He has served in thirteen different Boards during his career and at present, he is a founding partner of Sofinnova Crossover 1 Fund in Paris and a member of the Boards of CNH Industrials N.V., Mundipharma Ltd and ADC Therapeutics SA. Jacques Theurillat is a Swiss attorney-at-law and Swiss chartered tax expert and was elected to the BoD of Vifor Pharma in 2018.

Jacques Theurillat comments: "The Board of Directors and I would like to sincerely thank Etienne Jornod for his excellent achievements in the past 25 years. Under his leadership and tenure the group has grown steadily from a value of 230 million Swiss francs to two listed companies with a total value of around 3 billion and 11 billion Swiss francs respectively, and today employ approximately 10,000 people. It has been a tremendous honor to work with him for all of us"

Etienne Jornod has spent his entire professional life to date with the Vifor Pharma Group (formerly Galenica until it changed its name to Vifor Pharma in 2017). Joining the company in 1975 as Junior Product Manager he was appointed to the Corporate Executive Committee in 1988. In 1995 he was appointed COO of the Galenica Group and a few months later he was appointed Chairman and CEO. Etienne Jornod has also been appointed Honorary Chairman of Galenica in 2017 as well as Honorary Chairman of Vifor Pharma in 2020. He will act as advisor and counsel to his successors, the Non-Executive Chairman and the CEO of Vifor Pharma Group.

"It is fantastic to be involved in the leadership and renewal of first-class management teams and employees," says Etienne Jornod. "Devoting my life to Vifor Pharma and Galenica would never have been possible without the unconditional support of my wife and children. I am grateful to all those who have enabled me to live my passion".

"For the last 5 years, because of the takeover of Relypsa, the IPO of Galenica Sante and the launch of Vifor Pharma, I had almost no time for vacation, I will compensate this now, that is for sure!"

1. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

In million CHF FY 2019 FY 2018 Change in % Net sales 1,877.2 1,584.6 18.5% EBITDA 540.0 391.5 37.9% Net profit after minorities 159.1 152.4 4.4% Core earnings per share (in CHF) 4.67 4.16 12.2%

For further details, please see the Vifor Pharma Group 2019 Report (PDF) at www.viforpharma.com.

KEY PROFIT AND LOSS FIGURES

Vifor Pharma Group net sales grew to CHF 1,877.2 million, a strong increase of 18.5% compared to the previous year or of 18.4% in local currency. EBITDA increased to CHF 540.0 million compared to CHF 391.5 million in the previous year, or +37.9%.

The Group made changes to its defined benefit pension plan (IAS 19) in 2019 which resulted in a positive impact to EBITDA of CHF 27.2 million. Excluding this IAS 19 impact, EBITDA grew to CHF 512.8 million or by 31.0%.

Other income declined to CHF 38.4 million from CHF 64.6 million in 2018. This was primarily due to the expected decrease of royalty payments from CellCept due to the sunset clause as well as lower income from partnering activities.

Cost of sales amounted to CHF 761.5 million compared to CHF 648.7 million in the previous year, resulting in a gross profit margin of 60.3% compared to 60.7% in the prior period. This slight decrease was primarily due to the decline in other income.

Marketing and distribution expenses amounted to CHF 455.3 million compared to CHF 410.8 million in the previous year. The main drivers were the investments in pre-launch activities of our pipeline products and the continued rollout of Veltassa

Investments in research and development amounted to CHF 228.3 million compared to CHF 206.4 million in the previous year. The increase was driven by the DIAMOND study for Veltassa

General and administration expenses amounted to CHF 145.7 million compared to CHF 155.9 million in the previous year. The decrease is mainly attributable to cost containment and the exceptional income resulting from the previously mentioned changes to the defined benefit pension plan (IAS 19).

Core earnings per share amounted to CHF 4.67, an increase of 12.2% compared to CHF 4.16 in 2018. Excluding the exceptional FX gain in the previous year and the positive impact from IAS 19 in the current year, core earnings per share increased by 23.2%. Core earnings are defined as reported earnings after minorities adjusted for proportionate amortisation of intangible assets of CHF 143.9 million in 2019 (2018: CHF 117.5 million).

CASH FLOWS

As a result of the strong operating cash flow, Vifor Pharma Group achieved a net cash position of CHF 5.7 million at the end of 2019 compared to a net debt position of CHF 179.7 million at the end of 2018

Cash flow from operating activities amounted to CHF +524.8 million compared to CHF +193.8 million in the previous year. The increase is due to the strong operating result of Vifor Pharma in 2019 as well as an optimised net working capital.

Cash flow from investing activities amounted to CHF -132.5 million mainly due to upfront and milestone payments for in-licensing agreements of CHF -88.2 million.

Cash flow from financing activities amounted to CHF -238.5 million and was mainly influenced by dividend distributions of CHF -174.7 million, whereof CHF -45.0 million was paid to Fresenius Medical Care and CHF -129.7 million was distributed to shareholders of Vifor Pharma.

FINANCIAL POSITION

Goodwill and intangible assets amounted to CHF 2,584.5 million at the end of 2019 compared to CHF 2,676.0 million at the end of 2018, representing 52.4% of total assets (2018: 59.5%).

Financial assets amounted to CHF 510.3 million at the end of 2019 compared to CHF 208.2 million at the end of 2018. The increase is mainly due to the fair value gain on our equity investment in ChemoCentryx, Inc. following the successful result of the phase-III ADVOCATE trial in November 2019.

With CHF 3,735.3 million of shareholders' equity, Vifor Pharma Group had a strong equity ratio of 75.7% at the end of 2019 compared to 74.8% in 2018. The return on equity after minorities amounted to 5.0% in 2019, unchanged compared to 2018.

2. MAXIMISING THE POTENTIAL OF OUR STRATEGIC GROWTH DRIVERS

Ferinject/ Injectafer

Ferinject Injectafer reinforced its position as the market-leading intravenous (i.v) iron therapy and achieved blockbuster status in 2019, one year earlier than anticipated.

Net sales of Ferinject/Injectafer increased by 15.6% to CHF 561.0 million, or by 17.5% in local currency. The global growth was driven by cardiology, gastroenterology and patient blood management. With significant market opportunity around the world, Ferinject/Injectafer reported net sales are expected to continue to grow in the high double-digit millions.

The latest available data showed global in-market sales of Ferinject/Injectafer of CHF 1.06 billion in 2019, up 19.1% from the previous year.

In the US, Injectafer continued to drive i.v. iron market growth. Vifor Pharma's US partner American Regent, Inc., a Daiichi Sankyo Group company, recorded net sales of USD 444.8 million in 2019, an increase of 16.6%. This strong double-digit net sales growth occurred despite the positive impact in 2018 due to a US market shortage of a competitor product. In-market sales of Injectafer in the US were CHF 502.4 million in 2019, up 20.0% from CHF 418.5 million in 2018. Growth continued in all key therapy areas, particularly gastroenterology, with in-market sales growth of 25% and patient blood management up 30%.

In March 2019, our partner in Japan, Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. received marketing authorisation for Ferinject, which is the first and only high dose i.v. iron approved in Japan. The product is expected to be launched in 2020 subject to successful reimbursement negotiations.

In February 2020, Vifor Pharma announced a strategic partnership with Fresenius Kabi China, part of the Fresenius Group, which is among the top 10 multinational pharmaceutical companies in China, specialising in infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition.

Nephrology

Net sales of the long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) Mircera increased by 16.0% to CHF 523.4 million in 2019 from CHF 451.3 million. This was mainly due to continued expansion of sales in mid-sized organisation dialysis clinics in the US. Strong penetration has now been reached in both the Fresenius Kidney Care clinics, mid-sized and independent clinics in the US.

Net sales of the i.v. iron sucrose Venofer increased to CHF 132.4 million in 2019, up 12.0% from CHF 118.2 million in 2018, of which the largest market remains the US. Global in-market sales for Venofer amounted to CHF 475.5 million in 2019, up 7.8% from the previous year. Vifor Pharma combined market share of Ferinject and Venoferin value amounted to 72.1% of the i.v. iron market in 2019.

Net sales of Velphoroincreased by 89.9% in 2019 to CHF 181.7 million, from CHF 95.7 million. Global in-market sales amounted to CHF 372.6 million. Strong growth was driven by the US, supported by the continued adoption of the updated Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines.

In November 2019, the joint company Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (VFMCRP) and its partner ChemoCentryx, Inc. announced positive top line data from the pivotal phase-III ADVOCATE trial of avacopan in 331 patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. Both primary endpoints of clinical remission at weeks 26 and 52 achieved with statistical superiority of avacopan over standard of care at 52 weeks.

In November 2019, Vifor Pharma announced a partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. to commercialise Invokana (canagliflozin) in the US to nephrologists to treat diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and reduce the risk of hospitalisation for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes and DKD.

Also in November, Vifor Pharma and Evotec SE created NephThera, a jointly-owned (50:50) drug discovery and development company for innovative nephrology therapeutics.

Veltassa

Veltassa net sales of Veltassa increased by 46.2% to CHF 132.3 million in 2019 from CHF 90.5 million. Net sales in the US amounted to CHF 124.8 million (USD 124.8 million), a 41.6% increase compared to 2018. Roll out continued in Europe with additional launches in Spain, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands. Veltassa has driven the expansion of the global potassium binder market from CHF 175.7 million in 2016 to CHF 340.4 million in 2019.

In Europe, Veltassa has secured reimbursement in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Portugal and Spain, and a positive recommendation was received from NICE in the UK in December 2019.

In July 2019, Vifor Pharma concluded a licensing agreement with Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc., granting it exclusive rights to commercialise Veltassa in Canada. Otsuka expects to launch Veltassa in Canada in Q2 2020.

The AMBER study, a phase-II trial, was presented in May 2019 at the National Kidney Foundation Congress in Boston and published in September 2019 in The Lancet journal. Results demonstrated that Veltassa enabled guideline-recommended use of spironolactone for blood pressure management in patients with resistant hypertension and CKD by controlling blood potassium levels. Based on the positive results of the AMBER study, Vifor Pharma decided to invest in the DIAMOND phase-IIIb outcome study to evaluate the potential of Veltassa in combination with RAASi to improve patient outcomes, including reducing cardiovascular mortality and hospitalisations. This investment reflects our belief in the potential of expanding Veltassa usage in this field. The first patient was enrolled in May 2019.

3. 2020 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE

Financial guidance

In 2020 at constant exchange rates, Vifor Pharma net sales* are expected to grow in the range of 10%, reported EBITDA is expected to grow by more than 25%.

For further details, please see the Vifor Pharma Group 2019 Full Year Report (PDF) at www.viforpharma.com.

Live conference call and webcast

Vifor Pharma will host a live conference call (see phone numbers below) and webcast (https://stream.swisscom.ch/vifor/20200312) on the 12th of March 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (CET). The pin code for the live conference call is 7893117.

Phone numbers for the live conference call

Country Number Switzerland +41 31 580 0059 France +33 17 670 0794 Germany +49 302 215 31802 United Kingdom +44 207 192 8000 United States of America +1 631-510-7495 Other countries +44 207 192 8000

Replay

A webcast replay (https://stream.swisscom.ch/vifor/20200312) will be available shortly after the end of the live conference.

Vifor Pharma Group is a global specialty pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is the partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma; Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care); and OM Pharma. Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348). For more information, please visit viforpharma.com.

*Including OM Pharma

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005702/en/

Contacts:

Media Relations

Nathalie Ponnier

Global Head of Corporate Communications

+41 79 957 96 73

media@viforpharma.com



Investor Relations

Julien Vignot

Head of Investor Relations

+41 58 851 66 90

investors@viforpharma.com
A KFC in Brisbane has been forced to close down 'until further notice' after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

Employees at the store in Deagon, in the city's north, have been told to self-isolate amid fears they have been exposed to COVID-19 via the infected worker.

Pictures showed sign at Deagon KFC on Thursday reading: 'The restaurant is temporarily closed today.

'We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.'

Employees at the store in Deagon, in the city's north, have been told to self-isolate amid fears they have been exposed to COVID-19 via the infected worker

The store informed local schools about the diagnosis. Students who work at the store were also sent home from school.

The fast food giant confirmed to 7 News the store had been shut down indefinitely.

'A team member from our Deagon restaurant has tested positive for COVID-19,' a statement read.

'As a precaution, we've closed the restaurant until further notice and all employees exposed to the staff member have been asked to self-isolate.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted KFC Australia for comment.

Queensland has reported 27 cases of the respiratory infection, while Australia's total sits at 158.

The store informed local schools about the diagnosis. Students who work at the store were also sent home from school (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 state's most famous cases are actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson, who announced they had tested positive on Thursday and were in isolation.

The pair arrived in Australia in January while Hanks shot a movie on the Gold Coast.

However he briefly returned to the U.S. in February for the Oscars.

Three people in Australia have died following their diagnosis.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made a rare address to the nation on Thursday night, assuring Australians the country is 'well-prepared and well-equipped' to cope with the spread of COVID-19.

He detailed his government's $22.9billion economic stimulus package, dividing his government's strategy into three goals.

'One, protect Australians' health; two, secure Australians' jobs and livelihoods; and three, set Australia up to bounce back stronger when the crisis is over,' he said.

A travel ban has been put in place for mainland China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

A travel ban has been put in place for mainland China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. Pictured: people in Melbourne waiting to be tested for COVID-19

Coronavirus infections have a wide range of symptoms, including fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Mild cases can cause cold-like symptoms including a sore throat, headache, fever, cough or trouble breathing.

Severe cases can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory illness, kidney failure and death.

Symptoms may appear two to fourteen days after exposure, which is why the government's self-isolation period is currently two weeks.
Houston, TX and St. Louis, MO, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RadioMedix Inc. and its commercial partner Curium announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted copper Cu 64 dotatate injection a priority review. Copper Cu 64 dotatate is a PET diagnostic agent intended for somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expressing neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Curium is preparing to launch copper Cu 64 dotatate in Q3 of this year.

If approved, we expect that copper Cu 64 dotatate injection will have a significant impact on physicians, neuroendocrine tumor patients and their caregivers as this will help alleviate the scheduling and supply challenges many geographies have experienced with other somatostatin analogue PET agents, said Ebrahim Delpassand, MD, CEO of RadioMedix.

We are preparing for the full-scale commercialization of copper Cu 64 dotatate injection and are excited to introduce a new product and a new isotope into the market. We are pleased that our significant efforts will result in helping neuroendocrine tumor patients receive a specific, sensitive and timely diagnosis, said Curium CEO, North America, Dan Brague.

About RadioMedix

RadioMedix, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, based in Texas, focused on innovative targeted radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy of cancer. The company is commercializing radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and targeted alpha and beta-emitter therapy. RadioMedix has research and contract service facilities for academic and industrial partners: the cGMP Dose Manufacturing and Analytical suites for the investigational clinical trials, and the Drug Discovery and Pre-clinical Core Facility for pre-clinical evaluation of drugs, both located in Houston, TX. Also, a second new state of art commercial manufacturing facility located in Humble, TX, has been recently established. To learn more, visit www.radiomedix.com. For more information about this press release, please contact: media@radiomedix.com. Follow us on social media: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/radiomedix-inc-/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadioMedix-Inc/

About Curium

Curium is a world-class nuclear medicine solutions provider with more than a century of industry experience. Curium is the largest vertically integrated radiopharmaceutical product manufacturer in the industry.

With manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States, Curium supports over 14 million patients around the world with SPECT, PET, and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. The Curium brand name is inspired by the work of radiation researchers Marie and Pierre Curie and emphasizes a focus on nuclear medicine. To learn more, visit curiumpharma.com. For more information about this press release, please contact Janet Ryan media contact for Curium: janet@ryan-pr.com.

About Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of rare neoplasms that originate from neuroendocrine cells. These neoplasms occur mostly in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas, but can also occur in other tissues including thymus, lung, and other uncommon sites such as cervix, heart and prostate. Most NETs strongly express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs).
COVID-19 Safety: Sing Stevie Wonders (Black) Happy Birthday (2X for Clean Hands)

Experts say you should wash your hands with water and soap for about 20 seconds to prevent spread of the Coronavirus.

How do you keep track of hand sud time without risking water damage to your smartphone-slash-timer?

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Easy. Lets start with a song every Black person in America knows.

Now, getting through it will take about enough time (youll go a little bit over in fact to about 26 seconds) to get in the standard three-line Happy Birthday repetition in Stevie Wonders version of the birthday song  at least two times. So, a total of six lines after which youll be good. And safe. And fresh. And clean. And protected.

Your hard end can come right after you hit that last happy birthday  the one unpunctuated with the standard to you at the end. Yes, you can cut before you get to the bridge and go all out with the dragged out haaaaaaaaaa peeeeeeeeee birth  day  haaaaaaaaaa peeeeeeeeee birth  day you know the part.

Thank us, later. We appreciate you, too.

In other COVID-19 related information: As the he US Census Bureau sends out forms this week to homes across the country asking people to participate in the 2020 Census, the agency is assuring workers, officials and the general public that it is taking necessary safety precautions to conduct a safe and successful national count.

The safety of the American public and our employees is job one, said Steven Dillingham, director of the US Census Bureau, in a statement released last week.

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Although the Census Bureau did not yet share the details of its safety plans, Dillingham says his team is working with national health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Presidents Task Force, as well as state and local health departments to ensure all of their guidance is incorporated into our operations.

Operations for the 2020 Census and our ongoing household surveys have procedures built in that specifically anticipate epidemics and pandemics, and we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to keep those up to date, his statement continued.

California is among the four states that are most likely to be undercounted. Our state is also, sadly, one of the states hit hardest by COVID-19 cases.

So far, with 124 confirmed Coronavirus cases in California, the state has just under one-fourth of the roughly 566 total confirmed cases in the United States.

There has been one death in the state, a Placer county man who had been on a Princess cruise ship authorities have been holding off the northern coast of California, and is expected to dock in Oakland this week. The 2,500 passengers on board have been confined to their cabins.

On Sunday, Gov. Newsom announced plans to isolate all passengers when they disembark and provide immediate medical attention to the 11 passengers and 10 crew members who have exhibited symptoms of the mysterious virus.

Another 10,250 Californians across the state have self-quarantined.

Last week, 17 U.S. Senators sent a letter dated March 3 to the Census Bureau asking it to develop a plan that addresses the Coronavirus potential impact on worker safety and public participation.

We urge the Census Bureau to be prepared to assess whether public health concerns about novel coronavirus are depressing census response rates, and develop contingency plans for mitigating measures to help ensure a full and accurate population count, the senators wrote.

Across California, in big cities and small towns, there are growing concerns, too, about safety.

Stanford University has moved all classes online, and several school districts have temporarily cancelled classes, including Elk Grove Unified School District in Sacramento, where a students family has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The State of California is deploying every level of government to help identify cases and slow the spread of this coronavirus, Gov. Newsom said last Wednesday when he declared a State of Emergency.  This emergency proclamation will help the state further prepare our communities and our health care system in the event it spreads more broadly.

Be safe, California.
The pandemic poses wide-ranging ethical challenges for governments, health authorities and workers and the public.

The global coronavirus pandemic poses immediate, wide-ranging ethical challenges for governments, health authorities, health workers and the public.

At the heart of these challenges is how best to respond to COVID-19 urgently, yet safely and fairly.

How do we ensure rapid development and delivery of vaccines and other medicines, ethically and with proper oversight? How do we ration and distribute limited healthcare resources? How many of our personal freedoms are we willing to forgo to contain the pandemic?

How do we do this while protecting the vulnerable?

This situation is unique

We ask these hard questions in a unique and rapidly changing environment, with the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 rising daily, and with increased global mobility leading to unstoppable transmission across borders.

The urgency of the situation is even forcing us to rethink how we answer these questions.

Traditionally, we make ethical decisions after open dialogue to achieve mutual understanding.

Such dialogue is placed under stress in times of crisis where, because decisions have to be made rapidly, authorities seek to suspend or dispense with time-honoured checks and balances.

However, it is precisely in these potentially dangerous situations that we most need nuanced ethical conversations.

Here are three key examples of the ethical challenges we face.

1. How do we develop new drugs quickly yet safely?

The first is how to balance the unknown risks associated with developing a vaccine or other drugs with the need for a response rapid enough to limit spread of the virus.

Part of that challenge is to ensure there is enough oversight of clinical trials when we are also accelerating the delivery of new therapies.

We will have to decide whether it is appropriate to accept higher levels of risk to research participants and patients when the stakes are higher.

As well as the risks there are also potential benefits.

It has taken many years to construct an elaborate framework to ensure clinical research is conducted ethically.

However, under the pressure of the current emergency we may be able to find ways to reduce bureaucracy and red tape, speed up decision-making and make the system more responsive.

These changes may serve us well in the future, when we return to business as usual.

2. How prepared are we to give up some personal freedoms?

Balancing our personal freedoms  such as freedom of movement and the right to choose or decline medical treatment  with limiting the spread of disease is another major challenge.

We have seen disturbing images from Wuhan in China of officials apparently detaining citizens walking along the street, or dragging them from their homes.





Australia has announced plans for legislation allowing people to be detained or isolated when they are said to pose a threat to public safety.

At the same time, community organisations are mobilising to protect and support vulnerable members of society by providing food or other services. Health practitioners will continue to serve their patients with courage and dedication, even when this places them in danger.

How can we ensure such ethical values prevail over increasing authoritarian power?

How much of our personal freedom will we be prepared to give up in support of public health demands? Will we accept self-quarantine at home or isolation in a medical facility? Will we allow authorities to enter peoples homes and arrest infected people?

There is a great risk the emergency measures introduced will continue and be absorbed into everyday practice when the crisis ends. Will we be able to prevent this?

3. How do we allocate scarce resources?

Finally, there is the question of how best to allocate scarce resources, such as drugs, access to intensive care treatments, personal protective equipment, staff and research funding.

As the number of cases increases globally the number of critically ill patients will quickly exceed the available facilities, requiring us to make difficult choices.

We will have to decide who is treated where, who has access to scarce drugs or technologies, how and for whose benefit health professionals and emergency services are deployed, and how food, protective clothing and other items are rationed.

Medical professionals have long been familiar with such discussions, which are now likely to become more routine.

What lies ahead?

We will need to make these decisions in a democratic way with public involvement, rather than leaving them to experts or government authorities.

We will need to struggle to preserve the ethical values of mutual respect and responsibility, fairness, and care for vulnerable members of society, which may be difficult in our present harsh and uncompromising times.

There are no easy solutions to satisfy everyone. However, at least we can start talking about these issues. For now, maybe thats the best we can do.

Paul Komesaroff, Professor of Medicine, Monash University and Ian Kerridge, Professor of Bioethics & Medicine, Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Egypts national carrier EgyptAir said 85 percent of flights were proceeding normally, adding in a statement Thursday afternoon that the bad weather has only caused slight delays for some domestic trips.

In Luxor, the international airport has been shut down due to unclear visibility and to ensure safe landing of flights, an official told Ahram Arabic news website. All flights have been rerouted to the airport of the Red Sea city of Hurghada.

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.

Thunder and lightning started to hit the capital, Cairo, since the early hours of Thursday along with heavy rains, strong winds and heavy fog that lowered visibility levels.

The health ministry said it had stepped up its action plan in preparation for the bad weather, increasing the number of ambulances on main roads and sending rapid deployment teams across all governorates. TV footage showed vacuum trucks draining rain water from the streets of Cairo and Giza.

Power outages were reported in several parts of Cairo and Giza in the early afternoon.

At least two people died in Egypt Thursday as a result of "severely unstable weather conditions that have prompted authorities to declare a nationwide day off.

A 35-year-old man died Thursday morning after a wall collapsed in Upper Egypts Sohag governorate due to bad weather, according to the website of state television.

In Qena, also in Upper Egypt, a seven-year-old child was killed and five others injured when two buildings collapsed in northern Karnak village. A mosque also collapsed in Qena's Nag Hammadi region, causing no casualties.

Authorities closed off three major highways connecting Qena with the Upper Egyptian governorates of Luxor, Sohag, and the Red Sea.

Cities around the country witnessed heavy and moderate rainfall Thursday, with meteorologists warning of more rain through the day.

Egypt suspended schools and banks and declared the day off for employees of the countrys public and private sectors.

Authorities warned Thursday will see the peak of the rainfall during this stint of unstable weather that is expected to run into next week. The governorates of Giza, Minya, Marsa Matrouh and New Valley will see the heaviest rain, the cabinet said Wednesday.

The wave of unstable weather is set to recede gradually as of Saturday.

In Upper Egypt, heavy rain accompanied by dusty winds started Wednesday night and continued Thursday morning.

In the coastal city of Alexandria, major streets and squares appeared to be almost empty of pedestrians and vehicles due to heavy rains which started at dawn.

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"There's been a lot of controversy in the field as to whether every woman with breast cancer should receive genetic testing," said Allison Kurian, MD, MSc, associate professor of medicine and of epidemiology and population health at Stanford, "in part because we didn't know how prevalent cancer-associated mutations are in this largest subgroup of newly diagnosed people -- that is, women who develop breast cancer after menopause without the presence of any known hereditary risk factors."Kurian is the lead author of the study, which will be published March 10 in JAMA. Marcia Stefanick, PhD, professor of medicine and of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford, is the senior author of the study.Cancer-associated variantsUnlike mutations that accumulate over time, specifically in cancer cells, germline mutations are inherited and are found in every cell of the body.Physicians primarily consider a woman's age at diagnosis and her family's cancer history when determining whether to recommend genetic testing. A woman diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, for example, or a healthy woman with several close family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer, is more likely to be referred for genetic testing than a postmenopausal woman with breast cancer and no other risk factors.For the study, Kurian and Stefanick and their colleagues set out to compare the prevalence of cancer-associated mutations in 10 breast-cancer risk genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2. They compared 2,195 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer at an average age of 73 with 2,322 women without breast cancer.The data for the study came from the Women's Health Initiative, which enrolled more than 160,000 women ages 50 to 79 throughout the United States between 1993 to 1998 to conduct the largest study of postmenopausal health in the country. Stefanick served as chair of the initiative's steering committee for most of the project.The researchers found that about 3.5% of the women with breast cancer had a cancer-associated mutation in at least one of the 10 genes, compared with about 1.3% of women without cancer. When they narrowed their focus to just the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in women diagnosed before age 65, they found that about 2.2% of women with breast cancers had cancer-associated mutations, versus about 1.1% of those without breast cancer.Only about 31% of those women with cancer and 20% of those without cancer, both with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, were likely to have been recommended for testing under the current guidelines of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network."Now we know that the prevalence of cancer-associated BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in women diagnosed with breast cancer after menopause rivals that in women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent -- a population that is currently encouraged to discuss genetic testing with their doctors," Kurian said. "We finally have a read on the likely benefit of testing this most common subgroup of breast cancer patients."Source: Eurekalert
Domestic spread has slowed down in the past seven days due to weeks of strict measures imposed to control the movement of people and traffic.

China had eight new coronavirus infections in Hubei province, the first time the epicentre of the epidemic recorded a daily tally in single-digits, as more businesses reopened with local authorities cautiously easing strict containment measures.

The capital of Hubei, Wuhan, reported all of the new cases on Wednesday, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.

The domestic spread of the disease has slowed markedly in the past seven days, a result of weeks of strict measures imposed to control the movement of people and traffic, including the virtual lockdown of Wuhan, a city of 11 million people.

Outside of Hubei, mainland China had seven new cases, including six cases imported from abroad.

Of the six imported cases, Guangdong province accounted for three, while Gansu province and Henan province were responsible for two and one, respectively.

Overall, the 15 new confirmed cases in mainland China on Wednesday was a drop from 24 cases a day earlier.

That brings the total number of confirmed cases recorded in mainland China to 80,793. As of Tuesday, 62,793 people have recovered and been discharged from hospital, or nearly 80% of the overall infections.

As of the end of Wednesday, the death toll in mainland China had reached 3,169, up by 11 from the previous day. Hubei accounted for 10 of the new deaths, including seven in Wuhan.

The ruling Communist Party newspaper, the Peoples Daily, warned in an editorial that while the number of new virus cases in China is falling, conditions were still difficult and there were risks of further outbreaks.

As the spread of the virus slows, China is focusing on restarting factories and businesses hit by strict containment policies which prevented millions of people from traveling and returning to work after extended China Lunar New Year holidays.

Factory activity plunged to its worst level on record in February, and while more businesses have reopened in recent weeks as containment measures are eased, analysts do not expect activity to return to normal levels till April.

Local governments must do their utmost to ensure people return to work as soon as possible, the official China Daily said in an editorial.

Many businesses are still facing labor shortages and supply-chain disruptions, the China Daily said.

The epidemic control measures have put an enormous strain on Chinas enterprises, especially the small and medium-sized ones in the service sector, it said.

Any further delay in their return to normal operations will entail widespread bankruptcies and job losses, which will threaten social stability.
Commissioners Court has formed a working group to review Harris Countys shift to voting centers and examine what effect it had on hours-long lines at the polls on Primary Day, which Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis called unacceptable.

During an at-times contentious discussion with County Clerk Diane Trautman during Tuesdays Commissioners Court session, Ellis questioned whether she had become too focused on county-wide voting centers, her signature initiative since taking office last year.

Ellis noted that the March primary was the second election overseen by Trautman that had problems. In last Novembers municipal elections, the county clerk did not post full voting results for nearly 12 hours. Trautman blamed the delay on a last-minute directive from the secretary of state that forced Harris County to change its vote counting method; that directive, however, came out weeks before Election Day.

Id hate for a third one; because at some point, the discussion will have to be held, are voting centers worth it if you have all these unintended consequences? Ellis said.

Last weeks primary Election Day was marred by long lines at several locations, including Texas Southern University where the final voter cast a ballot after 1 a.m., six hours after polls were supposed to close.

A Houston Chronicle analysis found three primary causes of the delays: most polling sites were placed in Republican areas; there were an equal number of voting machines for each party at each location, regardless of past voting patterns; and election workers sometimes failed to update an online map showing the wait times at voting centers.

University of Houston political science Professor Brandon Rottinghaus said his research has shown the success of voting centers, which allow residents to vote at any polling site on Election Day, depends on the ability of counties to manage large crowds at popular sites.

Though Democrats and Republicans will share voting machines in Novembers general election, he said Harris Countys wait time map must perform better.

People are used to being consumers in a world where they have real-time information about everything, Rottinghaus said. So, this is an expectation from voters that you cannot let them down on.

County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she was surprised to learn, just days before the primary, that nearly two-thirds of polling sites would be in Republican commissioner precincts. She said that was functionally discriminating against Democratic voters, who outnumbered Republicans 2 to 1 on Election Day.

Trautman countered that the voting sites were set by an agreement between the Democratic and Republican parties.

Hidalgo was unsatisfied with that response. She said if Trautman had been more forthcoming about potential voting problems, and asked for more resources from the county, Commissioners Court would have tried to accommodate.

I dont know what I dont know, Hidalgo said. Ive been nothing but supportive of your guys effort to expand access to the vote.

More than 50 counties in Texas use voting centers, including Bexar, Travis, Dallas and Tarrant, according to the secretary of state. November will be the first general election in Harris County to use the system, when more than 1 million voters are expected to cast ballots.

Ellis said he may not have supported the creation of voting centers had Trautman explained how the switch could affect primary elections.

Trautman called the election a very sad night for voters and pledged to do better. The working group formed this week will include a representative from each court members office, as well as county clerk staff.

Commissioners Court sets the county clerks budget, but does not supervise Trautman, as the county clerk is independently elected. The courts Democratic majority, however, is wary that flawed elections administration reflects poorly on county leadership as a whole. The Super Tuesday debacle, given Harris Countys importance in deciding the winner of the Texas presidential primary, drew national attention.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton shared a picture online of Hervis Rogers, a black man who was the final Harris County voter that evening, and likened his seven-hour wait to a poll tax. Clinton said Republican elected officials should be barred from shutting down polling sites.

Left unsaid was Harris Countys entire elections apparatus is controlled by Democrats.

High turnout in the most populous Texas county is crucial for the Democratic Partys goal to again win a statewide race, Rottinghaus said. That helps explain why Democrats are so keen on helping Trautman run a smooth election.

If you are losing voters a result of these kinds of delays, then these elected officials are literally shooting themselves in the foot, Rottinghaus said.

zach.despart@chron.com
SHS Students Enroll In Health Science Practicum Class

The Spearman High School students enrolled in the Health Science Practicum class recently took their CNA  Certified Nursing Assistant - exam. SHS is proud to report that our students had a 100% pass rate! The students are now working on their Patient Care Technician certification and will be completing clinical rotations at Hansford County Hospital in lab, x-ray, and physical therapy. At the end of the semester, they will take the PCT exam and, hopefully, earn a second certification. We are very proud of the students in the program and extremely proud of this great accomplishment.



Spearman High School would like to extend a big thank you to our local school board and administration who supported the implementation of this health science endorsement four years ago. The medical field is a growing industry and we are excited about the possibilities these certifications provide to our students. We hope to see the program continue to grow in the coming years.



SHS would like to also extend a big thank you to the Hansford County Hospital District and the Gateway Education program. This is truly a collaborative effort through the school and community and its success it directly tied to the cooperation of all of its stakeholders. We could not ask for a better partner than HCHD!



In the picture are our 100% students: Shaylyn Whiteley, Denise Serrano, Tamara Jacquez, and Susy Alvidrez. Seated is our special helper, Simple Suzy the Basic Patient who was donated to the program by the West Texas Area Health Education Center.






BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar.12

Trend:

Azerbaijan's Deputy Economy Minister Shirzad Abdullayev has been dismissed, Trend reports on March 12.

The order was signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Abdullayev was born on October 16, 1970, in Azerbaijans Agdash district, where he finished the secondary school.

He served in the air defense forces.

Abdullayev was appointed the deputy minister in June 2018.

Before this appointment, Abdullayev served as Executive Director of the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support under the Ministry of Economy (now the Entrepreneurship Development Fund).

Abdullayev was awarded with the medals "For Distinction in Public Service" and "Tereggi" upon the orders of the Azerbaijani president dated November 12, 2012, and October 21, 2014.
Older Australians set to benefit from Scott Morrison's coronavirus stimulus package say they would prefer to save the cash rather than splurge it, as the prime minister has urged them to do.

Mr Morrison announced a one-off $750 payment to 6.5 million pensioners on Thursday as part of a $17.6 billion package designed to inject cash into the economy as businesses hit by coronavirus disruptions begin to falter.

But some experts say the package targeted the wrong people and will not produce the desired result - to save Australia from recession.

Struggling pensioners say they will save the $750 stimulus money. Health experts say they want people to isolate. Economist Steve Keen says the focus should be on helping people pay their bills and mortgages while staying home during the pandemic so they aren't ruined

The idea was that the pensioners would immediately spend the money on goods and services to stimulate the economy and keep businesses afloat.

Dee Friend, 87, a resident of RSL Anzac Village Narrabeen, on Sydney's northern beaches, said the cash payout was too valuable to spend frivolously as many pensioners are struggling with the high cost of living.

Another resident, 82-year-old David Picknell, said he wouldn't spend it either.

'Weve all been losing money for so long because the deeming rate has been above what weve been getting, so well be able to replenish our accounts,' he told The Australian.

Economics Professor Steve Keen of the University College of London said the cash injection was inadequate.

'This is a complete failure to understand the scale of the problems,' said Professor Keen on his Patreon blog.

'(You need) something of the order of $10,000 where you can pay 2 to 3 months worth of rent, mortgage payments and food, and we have to give that to everybody.'

Professor Keen said on his blog that people needed to be protected from defaulting on their bills and mortgages for the time they may be in quarantine unable to earn a living.

Elderly pensioners along with those on Newstart and disability pensions will get the $750 payment but casual workers who don't have sick leave will miss out

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

Australia has three million casual workers who do not have access to sick pay so if they are ill or have to take time off work to care for a loved one, their income stream stops.

They miss out on any cash payment under the stimulus package.

If they lose work due to coronavirus, they will instead qualify for a 'sickness payment'.

The Prime Minister said on Thursday this was equivalent to the Newstart payment, which for a single person without children is just over $279 per week.

Professor Keen said the pandemic is the greatest physical threat to the economy since World War II.

'Capitalism has to be suspended until we defeat the virus,' he said.

'A credit-driven, private sector monetary system is not capable of handling a systemic crisis like this,' he wrote on his patreon blog.

Professor Keen has long been an advocate of a modern debt jubilee to iron out the distortions in the economy created by the 2008 financial crisis and the extremely high levels of debt.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing the toughest test of his leadership since the bushfire crisis in trying to keep the economy solvent during the coronavirus pandemic

Professor Keen said the coronavirus crisis was the exact time this would help, and called on the government to give people a per capita payment so they can pay their bills and mortgages while isolated.

He said the Government could issue $200 billion worth of coronavirus bonds - even at zero per cent interest - to raise funds for emergency payments.

A flat rate of money for everyone, rich or poor, should give people enough for three months worth of effective lock-down, while not unfairly penalising anyone, and would keep the velocity of money high, he said.

Further measures could also help avoid a financial crisis in Australia such as suspending normal bankruptcy rules for companies and banks.

Italy has become the world's first example of a developed western country with a substantial coronavirus outbreak.

Although the country of 64.5 million people only had just over 12,450 cases of the virus as of Thursday night, it's health system is teetering on the brink of collapse.

Italy is now under quarantine.

All shops are closed in Italy except for food stores and pharmacies in Europe's toughest lockdown, BBC news reported on Thursday, as businesses where shuttered and events cancelled to slow the spread of the virus.
(Newser)  For Sarah Chavez, its important her death reflect the beliefs and values that guided her in life. Thats why, instead of having her body buried or cremated, Chavez said she would opt to have her remains turned into soil. Death is a natural process, and to Chavez, director of The Order of the Good Death, a nonprofit that informs the public about their rights and choices surrounding death, this would be not only environmentally friendly but also an act of resistance. But first, at least in California, the human composting process has to become legal. California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, a Democrat, in late February introduced a piece of legislation that would give legalize it, per a story by Religious News Service distributed by the AP. There has not yet been a hearing, but the California Catholic Conference has already come out against it.

story continues below

The procedure is seen as a more sustainable alternative to cremation, which requires fossil fuels and releases carbon dioxide that pollutes and contributes to climate change. A dead body is broken down through a process known as Natural Organic Reduction by placing the body in a reusable vessel, covering it with wood chips and aerating it, which creates an environment for microbes and essential bacteria. The body, over a span of about 30 days, is fully transformed into soil. The process is modeled after green or natural burials, which avoid using metal or concrete containers and embalming fluids and which are becoming more popular. Human composting will be legal in Washington state in May, but the Catholic Church has denounced it as an undignified way to treat the body. (Read much more here.)
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 06:44:37|Editor: xuxin

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A tourist wearing a mask is seen on the Place du Trocadero in Paris, France, March 12, 2020. On Thursday, France confirmed 2,876 cases of coronavirus and 61 deaths, and 129 were hospitalized in intensive care. (Photo by Aurelien Morissard/Xinhua)

PARIS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday warned against the "nationalist withdrawal" as a pitfall to avoid at international level in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

"Two pitfalls must be avoided, one is the nationalist withdrawal because this virus has no passport," said Macron at a televised address to the nation. The other pitfall is the individualistic withdrawal.

"We may have to take border control measures but we have to take them when they are relevant," said the French president, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days as a new measure to contain spread of COVID-19.

"Internationally, I appeal to the responsibility of the G7 and G20," said Macron. "As of tomorrow I will speak with President Trump to offer him an exceptional initiative."

"It is not the division that makes it possible to respond to what is today a global crisis, but rather our ability to act together," he added.

The French president also called on Europeans to act strongly and quickly to stop the spread of a financial and economic crisis.

"Together, European governments must take decisions on supporting activity, and relaunching it, whatever it costs," he said.

On the national scale, the French head of state pledged "everything will be done" to protect the companies of all sizes and all the workers.

"An exceptional and massive mechanism of technical unemployment will be implemented," following which the state would take over paying salaries of people forced to stop work, said Macron. Also, firms would not have to pay taxes that fall due in March.

Warning that the coronavirus is the worst health crisis that France has faced in a century, Macron admitted that "despite the efforts to slow it down, the virus continues to spread and is accelerating."

He announced that all educational establishments will be closed starting from Monday and until further notice.

Recalling the priority of protecting the most vulnerable, he urged everyone over 70 of age and those suffering from chronic disease to stay at home as much as possible.

Meanwhile, public transport will stay open and two-round municipal election is maintained as scheduled for March 15 and 22, said Macron.

On Thursday, France confirmed 2,876 cases of coronavirus and 61 deaths, and 129 were hospitalized in intensive care.
Ships of all shapes and sizes rely heavily on navigational tools to sail the open seas; most wouldn't dare leave port without them. The same is true for logistics companies navigating freight markets. Visibility changes everything.

As capacity and market demand change daily, logistics professionals need access to freight rate forecasts, as well as exclusive insights. FreightWaves' SONAR is the only leading freight forecasting platform that tracks every movement across the entire freight economy.

SONAR enables transportation companies, brokerages and financial providers eager to embrace newfound logistic strategies the ability to pounce on those opportunities.

One such company in search of operational changes was SONAR subscriber ARL Logistics, a Pittsburgh-based full-service logistics company that, like so many other freight brokerages, established nearshoring operations in Colombia.

Nearshoring is a means of outsourcing certain business functions to a third-party vendor relatively close to a business's home country. Many U.S. freight brokerages have opened South American satellite branches in part due to the groundwork laid by nearshore services providers. These outsource specialists make sure the transition goes smoothly and train new offices according to the American companies' standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Nearshore services provider Lean Staffing Solutions helped ARL nearshore to South America as the logistics company searched for ways to diversify and structure itself for future growth. Its Barranquilla offices handle ARL Transport's billing and safety departments, employing 35 college-educated Colombians, eight of whom work on the logistics side of the company.

Entry-level logistics positions often viewed as undesirable to Americans or jobs that experience high turnover are seen as great employment opportunities by those searching for stable jobs in Colombia.

ARL Logistics Executive Vice President Jordan Reber is satisfied with the growth in the Colombian branch and credits its employees' strong work ethic, bilingualism and willingness to learn as valuable traits that keep the operation going strong.

Story continues

Because of their workers' eagerness to learn, the introduction of SONAR at ARL's Colombian branch proved to be a great addition to the company. Reber credited FreightWaves' Freight Forecasting Platform for providing its employees the ability to easily analyze the U.S. freight markets.

"We were really only training two of our employees to master it, but as we were showing them how to use SONAR, others were asking when they would get to learn the platform," Reber said. "We've since learned that a couple of guys down there are tinkering with SONAR every day. They're learning more about it and finding new things to show to not only our customers but our employees as well."

Reber added that before using SONAR, the company primarily received freight market information via traditional load boards and transportation management systems that analyzed data passively and was often slow to provide insights.

"All that stuff was looking in the past. A lot of times it was last month, let alone last week," Reber said. "SONAR has given us the ability to receive daily updates which have changed the way we look at the data and react to it and then educate our employees and customers."

ARL's addition of SONAR contributes to Reber's suggestion that U.S. logistics companies looking to set up shop in Colombia successfully need to provide their new team members with the same resources and training as their American counterparts.

"You've got to be ready to invest in those first six months and send people to Colombia to focus on the training," Reber said. "If you spend more time than you normally would in the first six months, it's going to give you that launching pad for you to build off of and scale it out."

He continued, "Treat it as if you're opening a new office in an American city. You wouldn't try to train them remotely, but instead you'd rather go to that city and train them yourselves."

Image Sourced from Pixabay

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
StratosShare is enabling zero-emission transportation by offering hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on-demand to the public. - Jonathan Palacios-Avila, Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer of StratosFuel, Inc

The County of San Bernardino has signed an agreement with StratosFuels shared-vehicle program StratosShare to house five Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicles at their Fleet Management yard in the City of San Bernardino. The vehicles will be available on-demand to County departments through the Fleet Motor Pool.

Last year, StratosShare was launched in front of an audience attended by members of the California Energy Commission, local officials, and the public. Presenters at the event included Commissioner Patricia Monahan from the California Energy Commission, Mayor of San Bernardino, Toyota Motor of North America, California Fuel Cell Partnership, Dr. Barth from the College of Engineering-Center for Environmental Research and Technology at UCR, and Jonathan Palacios-Avila, CEO of StratosFuel, Inc.

The concept behind StratosShare is for users to rent hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on-demand by the hour or day through a smartphone app. How it works, the StratosShare app enables users to reserve, unlock, start, and pay rental fees all from their phone. Every trip includes hydrogen fuel and maintenance, making it convenient for short and long-term rentals. The vehicles are strategically located in high-density areas and are accessible 24-hours a day.

With less than a year of operation, StratosShare has deployed vehicles to various locations, such as airports, universities, downtowns, and office parks in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. As a way to expand and provide zero-emission transportation to locations that utilize vehicles daily, StratosShare is partnering with public entities to provide on-demand vehicles for employees.

By utilizing the hydrogen-powered StratosShare vehicles, we hope to demonstrate the viability of the car share concept in a fleet operation, while reducing tailpipe and greenhouse gas emissions in the County fleet, stated Ron Lindsey, Fleet Management Director for San Bernardino County.

The pilot agreement between the County of San Bernardino and StratosShare will provide an on-demand, zero-emissions alternative to using conventional County fleet vehicles. The StratosShare vehicles are stationed at the County yard and are available 24 hours a day for County departments. Through this agreement, San Bernardino County is one of the first in the State to have a shared hydrogen fleet.

StratosShare is enabling zero-emission transportation by offering hydrogen fuel cell vehicles on-demand to the public. By partnering with the largest County in the United States, it furthers our strategy to increase hydrogen demand as well as demonstrate the effectiveness that fuel cell vehicles have in a fleet setting, stated Jonathan Palacios-Avila, Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer of StratosFuel, Inc

StratosShare is currently expanding its on-demand car rental program throughout Southern California and is looking to bring the program to other areas of the State. StratosFuel is in charge of fueling and maintaining the vehicles, which utilize existing hydrogen infrastructure. The company has plans to develop more stations that will support its growing fleet.

About StratosShare: StratosShare (@stratosshare) is an on-demand rental car company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of StratosFuel, Inc. (@stratosfuel). StratosShare rents hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by the hour or day through a smartphone app and is available in select parts of California. StratosShare is an extension of its parent companys vision to make hydrogen an everyday fuel. Both companies are leading the hydrogen industry in segments that produce renewable hydrogen fuel and make transportation more accessible and convenient to the public. To learn more about StratosShare, visit stratosshare.com

About San Bernardino County: Located at the heart of Southern California, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States. Its vast borders stretch from the greater Los Angeles area to the Nevada border and the Colorado River encompassing a total area of 20,105 square miles. Comprised of 24 cities and towns, San Bernardino County encompasses more than two million residents. In June 2011, the Board of Supervisors and the San Bernardino Council of Governments adopted the Countywide Vision in partnership with the community. The Countywide Vision provides a roadmap for the future of San Bernardino County, including the creation of a healthy and prosperous future for all who live, work and play here. For more information on the Countywide Vision, visit http://www.sbcounty.gov/vision.
The Balakot airstrikes are a classic example of a successful operation not being backed adequately by an equally strong information campaign. Consequently, the adversary gained an upper hand in influencing the narrative.

The Uri example

However, the cross-border raids in response to the Uri terror attack, popularly known as surgical strikes, were announced by Indias then Director General of Military Operations, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, to the world during a press conference on July 12, 2018.

In the case of Balakot, the news was broken first by the Director-General, Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) of Pakistan Army. In an early-morning tweet, it said that an Indian airstrike into Pakistans territory was forced to drop bombs hastily because of their alert and timely countermeasures, and it caused damage only to trees.

Indian aircrafts intruded from Muzafarabad sector. Facing timely and effective response from Pakistan Air Force released payload in haste while escaping which fell near Balakot. No casualties or damage.  DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 26, 2019

Indias response in the media, and on social media, over the next two days left a lot to be desired, including the news of the capture of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

Of late, it has increasingly become apparent that social media is, arguably, the most significant tool of this dimension. In fact, it is more than a tool today  it has become a weapon. Shaping narratives are as important as combining different instruments of power to exert influence. As wars become hybrid in nature, countries engage in different dimensions like the military, diplomatic, political, economic, cyber, social and everything else in between. Therefore, when the military bans its use in parts, or when social media is denied in Kashmir for long durations, does it really serve the purpose, or is it self-defeating? Do we lose out on more than we gain? Does reluctance to engage actively on social media display our weakness in the field?

First, it is important to understand why the military finds itself at odds with the unbridled use of social media. The military is secretive by nature, disseminates by permissions and is hierarchical in structure. Meanwhile, social media is almost intrusive by nature, spontaneous in dissemination and absolutely flat in structure. Social media, more than regular media, tends to go for speed of dissemination rather than verification of facts. However, the military does not give out any information, until it is fully formed, double-checked and confirmed. By then it is often too late and the world has moved on to a new story.

Information weapon

However, given the power of social media, there is no choice but to learn to exploit this powerful enabler to our advantage. If we do not, space will be filled up by the other side, which will be hard to reclaim later. Even organisations rooted in medieval fundamentals like the Islamic State or ISIS have grasped its power and are using it skilfully for recruitment and propagation.

Given the power of social media, there is no choice but to learn to exploit this powerful enabler to our advantage. (Photo: Reuters)

The US Army encourages the use of social media by its soldiers (embrace is the word used in their manual, DTM-2010), albeit with some caution. Five years ago, the British Army raised the 77th Brigade to take social media and cyber warfare to a new level of employment. Officers have to start a Twitter handle in their name and are groomed to use it by their superior officers. Israeli Army personnel regularly engage in Twitter wars with Hamas Twitter handles.

Today, this is the best medium to connect, especially with the younger generation. Social media is augmenting, and gradually replacing, regular media. Therefore, instead of banning or discouraging its use, the way ahead lies in educating soldiers how to use it well without compromising security, training those who deal with it and involving professionals to exploit its power to the fullest. Army officers and men can be used as the Armys best messengers to stay connected and spread their message and stories.

Owning narratives

Training and educating them to be sensitive to security and propriety will fetch good dividends. Those who have to deal with social media have to be trained professionally so that they can be more effective. It is also far too important to be left to amateurs. We need to bring in domain experts.

In this era of core competencies, it is inadvisable to do everything yourself. Building up a credible narrative based on truth is an urgent national need, not only in Kashmir but also on several emotive contemporary issues in the country. We are losing the narrative, whereas both our adversaries are employing social media aggressively, based on fake narratives, and are filling up the space left open by us. It is time we created a million social media activists from among our soldiers, also use the Territorial Army models and involve the involved citizenry imaginatively in this national cause, lest we learn at our peril.

Ex-servicemen can also form an effective part of the value chain. What is all the more surprising is that we are unable to use social media more skilfully at a national level, more so when the political party in power uses social media so adroitly in elections, inter-alia.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: Why it's important for media to be careful with the Army's image
The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has told all enterprises that they must develop long-term policies for training and job replacement during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Epidemic only a short-term dampener, VN story remains intact: survey

Bui Sy Loi, deputy chairman of the National Assembly Committee of Social Affairs, told the Lao ong (Labour) newspaper that enterprises taking part in social insurance and unemployment insurance must pay salaries for workers during the epidemic.

He noted that during the SARS epidemic, the preparation of human resources was crucial, and thus a strategy for human resource development must be created for the long term to maintain and increase staff quality.

Enterprises must also have a strategy to recruit new local workers.

Thousands of workers have been affected by businesses suspending operations and narrowing production, but most large enterprises are still maintaining normal operations.

The labour market has been relatively stable since the outbreak, according to Loi.

Thirty provinces have reported that out of 181,597 enterprises, only 322 enterprises have temporarily stopped operation, and 553 have reduced production scale.

In addition, 25 cooperatives have temporarily stopped, while five of more than 5,060 cooperatives in 30 provinces have cut production scale.

As many as 1,027 workers have lost their jobs during the outbreak, including 365 workers in the hospitality and catering services industry, and 106 workers in the manufacturing industry.

Aviation industry

According to experts, the aviation industry has been the hardest hit.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV), the Chinese market accounts for more than 26 per cent of international flight volume for Vietnamese airlines. The temporary suspension of flights to China has caused airlines to lose more than 400,000 passengers a month.

CAAV forecasts that domestic airlines will suffer losses of over VN25 trillion (US$1.08 million)

To support airlines, CAAV has asked the Transport Ministry to allow airlines to discount air services, and to require service providers such as caterers to reduce costs for airlines.

Duong Tri Thanh, general director of Vietnam Airlines, told the Nguoi Lao ong (Labourer) newspaper that 40 of its aircraft were not being used during the outbreak.

The COVID-19 epidemic has slowed down the development of the aviation industry by three to four years, and has affected the work schedule of more than 20,000 of its employees, according to Thanh.

Vietnam Airlines plans to cut salaries by 20 to 40 per cent for the leaders of the company. Employees will not immediately see a wage reduction but the company will reduce the number of employees during certain shifts.

For foreign pilots who work for Vietnam Airlines, unpaid leave will be available for two weeks, while Vietnamese staff working in other countries will be allowed to take unpaid leave for two week to a month.  VNS

VN enterprises hurt by COVID-19 proposed five months tax payment leniency 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.
I anticipate that perspectives on goodness will vary wildly. Some of you will find its foundation in the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule. Others may embrace simply Doing the Right Thing with no acknowledgment of a Higher Power. Your motivations might involve an eternal reward or an upgraded reincarnation or leaving the world a better place before your consciousness blinks out of existence. Just dont let MEDITATION sour you on the concept of goodness. (Becoming ONE WITH THE UNIVERSE makes my butt look really fat doesnt, doesnt it?)

When you wrestle with issues such as carbon footprints, animal rights, little white lies and mercy killings, you realize goodness isnt as clear-cut as you would like. Oscar Wildes character Dorian Gray certainly oversimplified when he remarked, To be good is to be in harmony with ones self. Yeah, I dont care if the voices in your head are harmonizing in a BARBERSHOP QUARTETif theyre whispering suggestions like, Dude, lets spend another weekend frolicking and planting pipe bombs, we need a definitive answer to the situation of having a sociopath in our midst!
WASHINGTON  United States warplanes struck five targets in southern Iraq on Thursday night, hitting back at an Iraqi militia with ties to Iran that is believed to have been part of a rocket attack on Wednesday that killed two Americans and a British soldier, American officials said.

The airstrikes, which were supported by the British military, targeted the militia Kataib Hezbollah and facilities that were believed to store the type of rockets used in the attack on coalition forces on Wednesday. It is not known how many militia members, if any, were killed, a military official said.

The United States will not tolerate attacks against our people, our interests or our allies, Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said in a statement after the strikes.

Mr. Espers language falls in line with a now familiar pattern as Washington moves to curb malign efforts from Iran and its proxies across the region.
Consulting services for feasibility studies to construct a sea port in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region is expected to begin next month, April 2020, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister for Transport has announced in Accra.



He said the Government through the Ministry of Transport was going through the necessary processes to develop the Keta Port Project.



Mr Asiamah, answering questions in Parliament on the project said as of February 10, 2020, a number of activities were concluded or were underway at various stages for the project.



Mr Richard Quashigah, MP for Keta asked the Minister what plans the Government had to build a sea port in the Keta Municipality.



The Minister said a suitable site in Kedzi within the Keta Municipality was identified to locate the Port of Keta, and this site takes a good developmental and commercial use of pre-engineered system of parts of the Keta Lagoon.



He said the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has issued an Executive Instrument to declare the area a port zone, and also appointed a Keta Port Director to coordinate all the activities of the Keta Port Development.



Also, Expression of Interest was advertised and seven of the 19 respondent applications were shortlisted to submit technical and financial proposals for feasibility studies.



Mr Asiamah said technical evaluation on the project was completed on February 7, 2020 with other schedules being vigorously worked at.

Source: GNA









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While Israels third election failed to produce a conclusive result, Netanyahu has won in terms of the decimation of the Israeli left, leaving the Arab Joint List as the only defender of justice, writes James Zogby

Israel just completed its third general election in less than a year. The first two votes in April and September 2019 ended in an impasse with no party able to form a governing coalition of 61 Knesset Members (ie a majority of the 120-member body). While the result of this third round appears to be as muddled as the first two, it also consolidated several profoundly disturbing trends that are shaping Israeli politics.

Its not as if nothing happened in the intervening months since Israelis first went to the polls last April. In fact, there were a number of dramatic developments.

In first place, Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud Party and current prime minister, was formally indicted on charges of political and financial corruption. His trial may begin in just a few weeks. His attempt to secure immunity from prosecution failed. Now Netanyahus opponents are attempting to pass legislation that would bar a Knesset Member under indictment (meaning, of course, Netanyahu) from serving as prime minister.

The past few months also saw the release of the Trump administrations Deal of the Century. Since it gave Netanyahu everything he could have hoped for, the deal might be better called Trumps Gift of the Century. In remarks delivered in Jerusalem just a week before the election, Netanyahu described the benefits of the deal in this way:

For the last three years Ive worked very closely with a good friend of mine, President Trump... to fashion a different plan for peace in the Middle East A few weeks ago, I stood as an Israeli prime minister in Washington next to the president of the United States, who said that the United States will recognise Israels sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, the northern Dead Sea and all the Jewish communities, large and small, in Judea and Samaria. This is a breakthrough 

Another factor that impacted this voting round was the extent to which Netanyahus opponents surrendered in the face of his continued racist incitement against Israels Palestinian Arab citizens. Netanyahu continued to insist that should Benny Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White Party, be victorious, Gantz would partner with terror supporters (which is the way Netanyahu describes Arabs) to form a new government. Not only did Gantz go overboard in asserting that he would not partner with Arab Knesset Members, he also embraced many of Netanyahus policies, including acceptance of the Trump deal and the promise to annex large portions of the occupied West Bank.

Finally, there was the total collapse of what had been a limited, but still numerically strong, liberal current in Israeli politics. The Labour Party, which in 1992 held 44 Knesset seats, was only able to elect three Knesset Members as part of the paltry seven member bloc they were forced to form with two other failing parties.

When the votes were counted, Netanyahus Likud won 36 seats in the new Knesset, while Gantzs Blue and White won 33. With his partners, far-right and ultra-religious parties, Netanyahu can tally up only 58 seats: not enough to govern. Gantz, on the other hand, can claim only 40 seats.

There are two parties that remain outside of these calculations. The Arab parties, who coalesced as the Joint List and won 15 seats, have been rejected as potential partners by Gantz and, more importantly, have made it clear that they could not support him after he endorsed policies they find abhorrent. Then there are the seven seats held by Avigdor Liebermans far right, secular and anti-Arab Yisrael Beitenu Party. Liebermans party could give Netanyahu the majority he needs to form a government, but it is a fervent opponent of the religious parties and Lieberman insists Yisrael Beitenu will not sit in a government with them.

So, Israel remains at an impasse. Even with the uncertainty that follows this third round, there are a few observations that can be made based on what has happened during the past year.

Even though he appears unable to form a government and may yet end up convicted of the charges against him, Netanyahu has won.

His poisonous anti-Arab rhetoric, his demagoguery, and his insistence on denying any Arab rights in the occupied lands now define Israeli politics. Despite having three serious indictments hanging over his head, Israelis voted for him because they support his polices, his racism and his rejection of Palestinian rights. Not unlike the way US Republicans have turned their backs on decency and the rule of law in their embrace of Donald Trump, Israelis have embraced Netanyahu, whom they now call King Bibi. Even those who deplore him personally and reject the divisions he has exploited within Israeli Jewish society nevertheless support the policies he has advanced.

Along with this, it is important to acknowledge the end of the myth of the Israeli peace camp. While there are still courageous Israelis who continue to fight against the occupation and for Palestinian human rights, they are not an electoral force and have no power to impact Israeli policy. Netanyahu has succeeded in intimidating politicians who might have played a role in the Knesset in opposition to his policies. He and his colleagues also used their power to pass laws that penalised and weakened peace groups.

Another major contributing factor to the death of the peace camp has been the cowardice of past US administrations, whose acquiescence to Israeli policy, even when mildly criticising it, served to feed and empower the Israeli right, while starving and weakening the Israeli left.

With agreement on so many of Netanyahus policies vis-a-vis the Palestinians and the occupation, the major issues now dividing Israels two major political camps  both on the right  are Netanyahu, himself, and the role of religion in governance and personal affairs.

As a result, the Arab-led Joint List, now the third largest political party, is the only real Israeli peace camp. And as the Israeli government moves to annex key areas of the West Bank and expand Jewish settlements in the occupied lands, it is paving the way for a one-state apartheid reality in which the Joint List will become the major fighter for democracy, equal rights and justice for the entire Israeli and Palestinian population.

The writer is president of the Arab American Institute.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 March, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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West Australians should expect a big up-turn in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases over the next 24 hours as the results of the surge of tests via the COVID-9 clinics begin to come through, Health Minister Roger Cook says.

So far, only about 20 of the 860 people who have required testing at the clinics have received their results. Of the 2.3 per cent of results available all have been negative.

Since the clinics opened two days ago, more than 1500 people presented across three facilities, with more than 640 turned away without the need to be tested.

WA currently has recorded nine cases of the virus, with one death. No new cases have been identified overnight.
Mercantile & Maritime updates operational procedures to comply with OFAC sanctions

As a global business operating across the oil and gas value chain, the Mercantile & Maritime Group operates in full compliance with all international trade laws and maritime regulations.

On February 18 the US Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Controls announced further sanctions in relation to oil sales from Venezuela. Following an extensive review of our live arrangements, we can confirm that any activities impacted by the recent U.S sanctions will be terminated in accordance with the specified timeline. We will continue to monitor developments to ensure we remain compliant going forward. Mercantile & Maritime has long-established compliance procedures and internal controls in place to ensure we are compliant with the applicable rules and regulations in the territories in which it operates.




The Aurangabad Municipal



Corporation in Maharashtra has urged the Indian Medical Association's (IMA) local chapter to postpone its conferences planned in near future in view of the coronavirus scare.

The civic body's health officer Dr Neeta Padalkar told PTI that they have also appealed to people to avoid large gatherings and follow the do's and dont's to check the spread of the virus.

"We have received certain guidelines from government agencies. We are implementing them as a precautionary measure," Padalkar said on Wednesday.

"Many foreign delegates visit Aurangabad and attend conferences arranged to discuss health sector dimensions and most of them are doctors. Hence, we have requested the IMA Aurangabad chapter to postpone its conferences, if planned in near future," the official said.

While there are no specific guidelines given to cancel any event in Aurangabad till now, people should follow advisories pertaining to coronavirus and avoid gathering in big numbers, she said.

On Wednesday, swab sample of an 18-year-old Aurangabad-based man suffering from pneumonia was sent to Pune's National Institute of Virology (NIV) to check for the novel coronavirus infection, a health official earlier said.

The man, who travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Aurangabad in a train some days ago, has been kept in an isolation ward of the Government Medical College and Hospital here for further treatment, he said.

Besides, the swab sample of a 29-year-man residing in Aurangabad was collected three to four days ago, but his report came negative, the official added.

Maharashtra has so far 11 positive coronavirus cases - eight in Pune, two in Mumbai and one in Nagpur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Courtesy photo/WBU

The Wayland Baptist University celebrated another successful trip to the Texas Academy of Sciences conference Feb. 28-29. Eight Wayland students were accompanied by five faculty members and returned highly decorated for their research and presentations.

Five students gave oral presentations on their research, four of whom were recognized as having the best presentations in their sections. Sarah Macha, Elizabeth Reinhart, Krista Epley and Joshua Wynn were recognized for their presentation. Epley was honored as having the second best presentation of undergraduate research overall at the conference.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Says 5 Members Dead After Contracting Coronavirus

Sputnik News

14:06 GMT 11.03.2020

TEHRAN (Sputnik) - Five members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have died after contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while attempting to contain its spread, IRGC spokesman Ramadan Sharif said Thursday.

"Five members of the Revolutionary Guard have been martyred in the health struggle against coronavirus," Sharif said at a news conference in Tehran, as reported by Fars News Agency.

Sharif added that up to 100,000 Revolutionary Guard members have been mobilized to combat the spread of the virus in the country.

The Islamic Republic is one of the worst-hit countries outside of China, with more than 350 people dead from among 9,000 people infected. Furthermore, most infections in the surrounding regions in the Gulf and the Middle East at large can be traced back to Iran.

 Sputnik

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Brian Cox has detailed his fears of the coronavirus and told how he believes the virus has attracted more attention than past pandemics because of social media.

The Succession star, 73, appeared on Thursday's Good Morning Britain to discuss his new play Sinners, but talk quickly turned to global worries surrounding COVID-19.

The acclaimed actor spoke with hosts Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid about the pandemic, and claimed viruses such as SARS 'didn't get the same attention'.

Worried: Brian Cox has detailed his fears of the coronavirus and told how he believes the virus has attracted more attention than past pandemics because of social media

After talking about his new play, Brian told how 'without a question' the coronavirus would affect theatres, but more so the larger venues with a bigger capacity.

When asked if he was concerned about the disease as an actor, he replied: 'I am concerned, but I've lived a few years.

'Of course, it's a very very serious thing. But I think of it in this way, before social media, and when you think of the SARS virus and the viruses we've had previous, it didn't get the same attention.

'And some of those viruses were a lot more serious than this present one I'm not a doctor so don't quote me on this'

Discussion point: The Succession star, 73, appeared on Thursday's Good Morning Britain to discuss his new play Sinners, but talk quickly turned to global worries surrounding COVID-19

Susanna then intercepted, stating: 'You mean in terms of the percentage of fatality, this is much more serious in terms of its spread and contagion.'

Brian then replied: 'Yes, in terms of its spread, but we're also more aware.'

Meanwhile, the veteran actor, who plays Logan Roy in HBO drama Succession, revealed that he's not too worried about how Coronavirus would affect filming for the new series, which begins at the end of April.

He simply said: 'I'm supposed to leave on 21st so I may have to get my plane early.'

When Ben joked that the issue may not affect private jet travel, Brian added: '] Maybe HBO may come up with something like that!'

Discussion: Brian spoke with hosts Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid about the pandemic, and told how viruses such as SARS 'didn't get the same attention'

Opinion: 'Of course, it's a very very serious thing. But I think of it in this way, before social media, and when you think of the SARS virus and the viruses we've had previous, it didn't get the same attention'

Elsewhere, last month left Phillip Schofield close to tears after he told the presenter he was 'very proud' of him, after he came out as gay in February.

The actor from Dundee appeared on the show to talk about his role in hit series Succession, when he stopped to congratulate the presenter on his revelation.

Brian, who has three children - one of whom is also an actor - said that Phil, 57, had done a 'remarkable thing' by coming out.

Actor: Meanwhile, the veteran actor, who plays Logan Roy in HBO drama Succession, revealed that he's not too worried about how Coronavirus would affect filming for the new series, which begins at the end of April

Philip, who shares two children with his wife of 27 years, emotionally revealed his sexuality in a lengthy social media post this month, before speaking about his sexuality to co-host and friend Holly Willoughby, 39, on This Morning.

After finishing their interview, hosts Holly and Phillip thanked Brian and started to say their usual goodbyes, before the actor stopped Phil and said: 'And by the way, well done.'

'Thank you', replied Phil.

Brian went on: 'Really, really well done. I was very proud of what you did I thought that was a remarkable thing, I really did'

Moved: Elsewhere, last month left Phillip Schofield close to tears after he told the presenter he was 'very proud' of him, after he came out as gay in February

A clearly moved Phil, said: 'Thank you, you're going to make me cry.'

Viewers were warmed by the moment, with one hailing Brian 'lovely' while another said Brian showed 'utter class' after the comments.

One tweeted: 'Brian Cox making Phil cry on This Morning by being lovely', while another said: 'Isn't Brian Cox just lovely.'

A third said: 'What a lovely thing to say on This Morning. Utter class'.

Good Morning Britain continues weekdays from 6am on ITV.

The actor from Dundee appeared on the show last month, where he congratulated the presenter on his revelation and said that Phil had done a 'remarkable thing' by coming out
By AFP

BEIRUT: An airstrike killed 26 fighters of Iraqi paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi in eastern Syria after a deadly attack on US-led coalition troops in Iraq, a war monitor said Thursday.

Updating its toll for the Wednesday strike, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was probably carried out by the coalition.

The coalition did not immediately provide comment. Before the strike near the border town of Albu Kamal, rockets were fired at a military base north of Baghdad hosting coalition troops, killing two Americans and one Briton.

It was the deadliest such attack in years on an Iraqi military base hosting foreign troops.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the United States has blamed Iran-backed factions from the Hashed al-Shaabi for similar violence in recent months.

Within hours, the airstrikes were launched against Hashed forces just across the border in Syria.

Hardline Hashed factions have fought alongside Syrian government forces for several years and have been targeted by both coalition and Israeli airstrikes.

The coalition has been carrying out airstrikes in Syria since 2014, when IS overran a large swathe of the country and neighbouring Iraq.

Coalition-backed forces last year expelled the jihadists from their last outpost in eastern Syria, but the group retains sleeper cells on both sides of the border.

An air strike killed 26 fighters of Iraqi paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi in eastern Syria after a deadly attack on US-led coalition troops in Iraq, a war monitor said Thursday.

Updating its toll for the Wednesday strike, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was probably carried out by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

Before the strike near the border town of Albu Kamal, rockets were fired at a military base north of Baghdad, killing two Americans and one Briton.
The news these days feels constant, overwhelming and frankly, scary. If you already suffer from anxiety and depression, the stress of the stock market and coronavirus are probably increasing those feelings, and if you dont generally deal with those stress responses, you may find yourself exhausted, less upbeat than usual and deeply anxious.

We asked a professor of psychiatry and a minister to give us some tools to help us deal with global pandemic-induced anxiety. Heres what they said.

1. Practice self-awareness

According to Sydney Ey, a professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University, the first step to dealing with stress and the anxiety it causes is to be aware of how you are dealing with it.

When Ey works with people suffering from anxiety, she said, I have them identify whats a sign when they are feeling stressed, where do they feel it in their body.

We all have habits that we engage in when were feeling stressed, she said. Maybe its hitting the fast-food drive-thru or disappearing into our phones. Be aware of your signs, Ey said. Notice when you fall back on them. Notice when you feel your body tensing. That is when you take action.

2. Focus on your body

Once you recognize that you are anxious, try to calm your body.

If you can calm your body down, and release some of the stress hormones, Ey said, then your mind will follow.

Her number one recommendation? Exercise.

I really encourage people on a daily basis to find some way of moving, Ey said, even if its just going for a walk.

Another way to help your body relax, Ey said, is by practicing it. Maybe a couple times during the day, she said, take a couple moments to relax.

She suggested taking 10 deep breaths or focusing on tense muscles and softening them. She said apps like Headspace and Calm can help people who need a little guidance.

3. Dont forget to eat, sleep and drink water

Its also incredibly important to not neglect your bodys basic needs, Ey said.

Its really important to continue prioritizing sleep, she said. Still eat and hydrate. If youre not feeling well stay home and take a break.

4. Stay connected

The most important thing is for people to remain connected, Rev. Bill Sinkford, the Senior Minister at Portlands First Unitarian Church, told us. The great danger here is isolation.

Even though his church has opted to cancel Sunday services, they are looking for more ways to help people engage with one another. Social distancing may mean not meeting up in person, but he recommends email, Facebook groups and even the old fashion phone tree.

The longer this crisis lasts, the more intense that sense of isolation is likely to be, he said. Connecting emotionally or spiritually is what we need to focus on most.

5. Set meaningful, positive goals

Whether you are at work or at home, Ey suggests trying to do some meaningful, positive, productive things.

Moving towards goals, she said, is one way to stay present in the face of anxiety and unrest.

Find ways to be effective, Ey said. Do things that are meaningful.

6. Be informed, take precautions, but limit your exposure to the news

Neither Ey nor Sinkford recommends ignoring the news or pretending we arent in the middle of a crisis.

Be informed," Ey said, "but limit how much time youre spending reading about this if its really causing you a lot of stress.

Anxiety is justified, Sinkford said. There is a real risk and real danger.

But, he added, Theres a whole series of things each of us can do to minimize the risks to ourselves and our families.

Dont forget those basic practices, he said, like washing hands and covering coughs. And employ bigger changes too, like no more handshakes and practice social distancing.

7. Find uplifting moments

Pay attention to what is positive and uplifting, Ey said. Flowers are blooming, babies are blissfully unaware of whats happening, you are connected to your body and your community. Even in these chaotic moments, those beautiful things are still happening. Notice them.

8. Remember your strength

Almost every one of us has been through adversity before. Ey suggests remembering that, and focusing on the strengths youve used before.

I often ask people to think about another difficult time in their life when they dealt with uncertainty, she said. What were the strengths they drew on? How can they learn from that and apply it now?

9. Play it out

Another exercise Ey suggests is actually diving into your anxiety and playing out the worst-case scenario in your mind. What does that look like, and how would you overcome it? Remember that strength from number seven? How would you use it if the absolute worst thing were to happen? How would you survive?

Now turn it around. Ask yourself, whats the best thing that could come out of this?

10. Seek help if you need it

There is no shame in asking for help.

If people are finding they cant stop worrying, Ey said, it might be helpful for them to talk to a counselor short term worries.

-- Lizzy Acker

503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Tripolis government is battling eastern commander Khalifa Haftar in the latest factional fighting since 2011.

Three African heads of state, the African Union chief, and a senior UN envoy met on Thursday in Republic of Congo in the latest attempt to broker talks over Libyas crisis.

The meeting is the second in the Congo since a summit in Berlin in January where world leaders agreed to halt foreign interference in Libya and impose an arms embargo.

Tripolis UN-recognised government is battling renegade eastern commander Khalifa Haftar in the latest factional fighting since the 2011 fall of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

International efforts to end the conflict have stumbled and Libyas African neighbours have been seeking a wider role in resolving the North African nations crisis.

Unequivocal message

At the talks in Oyo town, Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso urged an unequivocal message to prepare a conference on national reconciliation for Libya.

Nguesso was joined by South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chadian leader Idriss Deby Itno, AU commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat, and Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad.

Algerias government has said it would be ready to host a comprehensive dialogue among Libyan parties and joined other African nations in urging an end to foreign interference in Libya.

Its time to unite the Libyan people so that they can be reconciled, Djerad said.

The meeting in Oyo comes in the wake of the resignation of the UN special representative on Libya, Ghassane Salame, whose efforts towards a settlement were commended by the African leaders.

His resignation came after months of work to bring a ceasefire since Haftar launched an offensive in April to seize the capital Tripoli.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone with Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj on Thursday, a German government spokesman said in a statement, urging him to move quickly towards signing a ceasefire.

The phone call came days after Haftar visited Merkel for talks in Berlin.

They discussed the current political and military situation, the statement said.

The chancellor stressed, as she did on Tuesday in her conversation with renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, the importance of signing the ceasefire that was recently agreed in Geneva by representatives of the conflict parties.

The unity government in Tripoli is supported by Turkey, while Haftar is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and UN Security Council permanent member Russia.
On Feb. 27, 2020, I met with President Trump in the White House to pitch a simple idea  lets set aside political gridlock and pass the most important conservation law in the last 50 years.

In our meeting, I stressed the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund for Montana, and asked the president to support full, permanent funding for the program. I told the president that our national parks and other cherished public lands suffer from a massive maintenance backlog too, and how important these priorities are for Montana and our way of life.

The president listened as I explained the challenges we face accessing our public lands, and the fact that LWCF was responsible for 70% of the fishing accesses we have in Montana. At the end of our meeting, he said, Steve, you have my full support. Get me a bill, and Ill sign it into law.

It was a historic breakthrough and an incredible win for Montana and our public lands.

As a fifth-generation Montanan, I grew up appreciating and enjoying all the wonders our public lands had to offer. From fishing on the Yellowstone River to summiting Granite Peak to backpacking in the Beartooths, Ive always enjoyed our outdoors and this appreciation is something Cindy and I have been proud to pass on to our four children. In fact, Cindy and I were engaged to be married on Hyalite Peak, south of Bozeman, in July 1986.

As Montanas voice in the U.S. Senate, Ive made it one of my top priorities to protect and expand access to our public lands. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a critical tool for enhancing collaborative conservation and sportsmen and fishing access in Montana.

Under my leadership and by working with President Trump, we permanently authorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the first time in history, and we will soon pass and sign a bill into law that fully funds this critical program. Its a huge win for Montana.

In addition to protecting our public lands, we must also take care of our national parks.

Our national parks set us apart from the rest of the world, but with increased visitation to them each year, park infrastructure has inevitably experienced wear and tear and has led to a significant maintenance backlog.

Today, there is nearly $12 billion in maintenance backlog facing national parks across the nation, including over $700 million in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks and an additional $50 million throughout the state.

Im glad to have worked with folks from all over Montana, including our great conservation organizations like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Montana Trout Unlimited, and the National Parks Foundation and others to address our maintenance backlog.

Its essential we protect and maintain access to these lands for future generations.

You know, despite the partisan politics happening back in Washington, Im confident that public lands are something that can pull us all together.

Its an honor to work with our president to get things done for Montana as we accomplish what no other administration has ever come close to accomplishing  Republican or Democrat.

Its time to make history again for our public lands.

This opinion is signed by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana. He is running for reelection.

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The Centre on Wednesday decided to invoke a provision of a nearly 125-year-old law to ensure that multiple government advisories on COVID-19 becomes enforceable.

The decision to invoke the provisions of Section 2 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 was taken at a review meeting chaired by the Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba.

It was decided that all States and Union Territories should be advised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 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 and Family Welfare/State/UTs are enforceable, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.

Framed to tackle a bubonic plague epidemic in the Bombay state of British India, the law had an objective of preventing the spread of dangerous epidemic diseases better. It remains one of the shortest legislatures comprising of only four sections

Follow live updates of coronavirus cases in India here

The Governor-General of colonial India used the act to confer special powers upon the local authorities to implement the measures necessary for the control of a dangerous epidemic.

In case of any disease outbreak of epidemic proportions, the law empowers the State to take measures going beyond the scope of the ordinary law after issuing public notices prescribing such temporary regulations that are to be observed by the public

Under the law, the state government may prescribe appropriate regulations for the inspection of persons travelling by railways (or any other transportation).

A subsequent section (Sec-2A) allows the government to inspect any ship leaving or arriving at any port and detention of any person intending to sail or arriving.

According to a 2009 report published in the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, the whole act and the way it was implemented by the British government led some of the historians to describe the law as one of the most draconian pieces of sanitary legislation ever adopted in colonial India and "a law that has enormous potential for abuse."

The execution of the Act remained more or less dormant after Independence.
For a year, Epic Charter Schools has been denying Tulsa World requests for information about how it spends taxpayer money.

Now, add the Oklahoma attorney general and auditor and inspector to the list being told they cant see whats happening inside Epic. The situation has forced Attorney General Mike Hunters office to file court motions to compel information.

Epic is under investigation by the FBI and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and Gov. Kevin Stitt ordered an audit eight months ago.

Of particular interest is how the school and Epics for-profit management company use the $1,000-per-student learning fund the school offers students and a 10% management fee. The private management company is owned by Epics founders.

It should not take a court order to find out whats happening with the publics money. These are records any citizen ought to be able to inspect.

This lack of transparency is what the Oklahoma Open Records Act was designed to prevent.
Study: African Americans Poorer Today Than Five Years Ago

African Americans were more likely to be unemployed than Americans overall in 2018 than they were in 2013, according to a new study that details the economic and financial progress African Americans have made over five years.

Researchers at Lending Tree, the popular website that connects borrowers with lenders, found that while unemployment decreased for African Americans by 36 percent  from 16.6 percent in 2013 to 10.6 percent in 2018  it was still five percentage points higher than the unemployment rate for Americans as a whole.

The unemployment rate for Americans overall in 2013 was 9.7 percent, which fell to 5.9 percent in 2018.

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I dont want to get political here, but I would hope that this report would color how people view the approaches that the parties and candidates take toward legislative and social issues, and how those things are framed, Lending Tree Lead Researcher Kali McFadden told NNPA Newswire.

It certainly demonstrates that, even though people talk about how much better economically things are, African Americans are more in the hole than they were five years ago.

Among other key findings, the median household income for African Americans grew by 13.4 percent, roughly the same rate of 13.7 percent for Americans as a whole. But, it remains 33 percent below the national average.

The study revealed that the median household income for Blacks in 2018 was $40,155  more than $20,000 less than the $60,293 median household income for Americans as a whole.

The median individual earnings for African American workers  which were already 16 percent lower than the median personal earnings for American workers as a whole  grew by 7.1 percent, compared with 9.5 percent for workers as a whole.

That means that the earnings gap between African Americans and Americans as a whole increased by 11.2 percent between 2013 and 2018.

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And, although household income increased, the income gap between Black Americans and Americans as a whole remained steady at 33 percent. In comparison, the wage gap between Blacks and Americans as a whole increased 11 percent from 2013 to 2018.

While homeownership rates fell for Americans overall between 2013 and 2018, Blacks saw a more significant drop of 4.7 percent, compared with 1.7 percent for Americans as a whole.

Study authors concluded that there are four metro areas in which Black homeowners have closed the gap within 20 percent  all of them are in the South, specifically in the Carolinas.

Minnesota, Minn., has the most substantial gap, at 64 percent.

What McFadden said she found most striking is the advances made in education by African Americans, which didnt translate into more economic prosperity in the Black community.

In almost every metric we examined, African Americans realized slower growth than the country as a whole, but they did outpace their peers when it comes to higher education, McFadden noted.

The study revealed that African Americans are closing the higher education gap as the percentage of Black people with a bachelors degree rose from 18.6 percent in 2013 to 21.1 percent in 2018  an increase of 13.5 percent.

The increase for Americans as a whole was just 9.4 percent  from 28.8 percent in 2013 to 31.5 percent in 2018, Lending Tree researchers found.

Black residents of Riverside, Calif., Pine Bluff, Ark. and San Antonio have closed the gap with the whole of their communities when it comes to earning higher education degrees.

Residents of Charlottesville, Va. have seen that gap widen the most: 66 percent.

The education findings to me really were the most striking, the most disheartening and frightening, McFadden lamented.

You know, wed really hope that education would create a more even playing field and the fact that African Americans are exceeding the growth rate in higher education degrees shows a lot of things. It shows achievement, and it shows that families are directing their children, and it shows a lot of groundswell for entering the professional working world.

She continued:

The fact that other economic indicators arent keeping pace with that is really startling. And, I dont have a good reason for why that is. We know about workplace bias, and we know about resume bias.

McFadden opined that student loans are more of a hindrance to African Americans than others. If youre less likely to come from a family that has the kind of wealth that can help support your schooling, its obviously going to be a problem in terms of accumulating debt, she stated.

For those attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), McFadden believes the lack of funding at those schools contributes to high student debt.

HBCUs just dont have the endowments that the most prestigious schools have. We have reports that show where parents are borrowing to send their kids to school, and those debts are harder to pay, McFadden added.

The comprehensive study did reveal places where African Americans are faring well.

Researchers found that the Cape Coral-Ft. Myers, Fla., metro area is leading the country in economic advancement for African Americans. The population has grown by 17 percent, median household income is up by 26 percent, and individual earnings are up by 22 percent.

Homeownership is up by 50 percent in Cape Coral-Ft. Myers, and unemployment is down by 66 percent.

Also, 25 percent more Black residents in the Cape Coral-Ft. Myers area is attaining higher education degrees than they were in 2013.

Grand Rapids, Mich., and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., came in second and third place, respectively. The five locations with the least overall gains for African Americans are all in the South  Houma-Thibodaux, La., Shreveport-Bossier City, La., Hammond, La., Goldsboro, N.C., and Hilton Head Island-Beaufort, S.C.

When asked whats the biggest takeaway from the study, McFadden called most of the details depressing for African Americans.

Click here to view the full report.
TOKYO (Reuters) - Global shares crumbled on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump stunned investors by announcing a temporary travel ban from Europe in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, threatening more disruptions to businesses and the world economy.

U.S. S&P500 futures ESc1 dived 4.7%, a day after the S&P 500 .SPX lost 4.89%, putting the index firmly in a bear market territory, defined as a 20% fall from a recent top.

Euro Stoxx 50 futures STXEc1 sank 5.8% to their lowest levels since mid-2016.

The travel ban from Europe has definitely taken everyone by surprise, said Khoon Goh, head of Asia Research at ANZ in Singapore.

Already we know the economic impact is significant, and with this additional measure on top its just going to multiply the impact across businesses. This is something that markets had not factored in...its a huge near-term economic cost.

Australia's benchmark dived 7.4% while South Korea's Kospi .KS11 fell 4.6% to a 4-1/2-year low.

Trump announced on Wednesday the United States will suspend all travel from Europe, except from the United Kingdom, to the United States for 30 days starting on Friday. Howevrr, Trump said trade will not be affected by the restrictions.

He also announced some other steps, including instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments for entities hit by the virus.

For those who had been hoping for measures to offset likely fall in consumption, it was a disappointment, said Hirokazu Kabeya, chief global strategist at Daiwa Securities. There was no talk of payroll tax cuts.

Investors worry whether the stimulus steps can quickly turn around the global economy as concerns grew that the number of infections could quickly snowball in many countries.

In many European countries, the number of patients are increasing in a track similar to Italy. The U.S. appears to be following that path. It now looks realistic to expect, within 10 days, those countries could have more than ten thousands patients.

Safe-haven assets were back in favour, though many of them were still below recent peaks, which some market players suspect reflects a desperate bout of profit-taking to make up for losses suffered elsewhere.

Gold XAU= edged up 0.5% to $1,642.5 per ounce but still stood well below Mondays high above $1,700.
Kutna, a refugee from Syria, sits among family members in the room where they are living in an apartment block in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon.  UNHCR/Hannah Maule-ffinch

Geneva, 9 March  As the Syrian crisis enters its tenth year, the Syrian people continue to experience acute tragedy. Every second Syrian man, woman and child has been forcibly displaced since the start of the conflict in March 2011  often, more than once. Today, Syrians are the largest refugee population in the world.

Year after year, the Syrian people have also shown incredible resilience. While the majority of refugees in neighbouring countries live below the poverty line, they also strive to make a living and create a future for themselves and their families; looking to return home but contributing to the economies of the countries who generously host them, while they stay. In North-West Syria, fighting has tragically led to almost a million people displaced since December 2019, living in terrible conditions; at the same time, in other parts of the country, many families and communities are trying to rebuild their lives, and move on, despite widespread disruption of services, destruction of property and economic hardship.

The last nine years have also been a story of remarkable solidarity. The governments and people of Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, as well as some countries beyond the region, have provided Syrians protection and safety, opening up their schools, hospitals and their homes to Syrian refugees.

The international aid response has expanded in scale and depth over the last nine years, thanks to generous contributions by government donors, the private sector and individuals. What started as a humanitarian response has been matched by the engagement of key development actors, such as the World Bank, providing structured support to host governments and institutions, bolstering the resilience of both host communities and refugees. Over US$14 billion has been channeled through the Regional Refugee Response and Resilience Plan (3RP) since 2012 and delivered by a coalition of over 200 partners, coordinated by UNHCR and UNDP. Much more has been provided through bilateral aid and other multilateral mechanisms.

Im deeply humbled by the courage and resilience of Syrians. Day in, day out, they have faced suffering and deprivation, said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. As this crisis moves into its tenth year, I urge the world not to forget those who remain displaced in Syria, and those who have been forced to flee abroad. We must recognize and support the generosity of the neighbouring countries  one of the greatest acts of solidarity in decades. However, we must stay the course. More is needed.

Indeed, nine years in, the challenge has been to maintain and expand support to the region, especially in a time where host communities, for instance in Lebanon, live through economic hardship. The Regional Refugee Response and Resilience Plan (3RP) for 2019 has received 58 per cent funding against a US$5.4 billion appeal. The gap between actual needs and available resources is widening by the day. Lack of aid, limited access to health services and education increase daily costs and risk pushing refugee families into an irreversible spiral of vulnerability. Out of desperation, some refugees are forced to take their children out of school to work and support their families. Others reduce their daily meals. Vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, some turn to the streets, early marriages, or child labour.

Nine years of crisis have left a mark across the entire region. Host countries remain in need of predictable and timely financing to enable them to continue to support millions of Syrian refugees, to ensure national services are able to cope, and to expand opportunities for both refugees and host communities. Support is also needed for those who wish to exercise their right to return home. The Global Compact on Refugees, endorsed by the UN in December 2018, offers to governments and private sector a blueprint for the whole of society approach to refugee crises through a more predictable response and equitable responsibility-sharing. Syrian refugees and their hosts depend on it.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
SCHOOLS and colleges in Limerick and nationwide are to shut down later today in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.

The unprecedented measure will see schools close later today in a bid to halt the spread of the disease.

It was announced by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Washington DC this morning during his visit to the States for St Patrick's Day.

He confirmed that schools, colleges and childcare facilities will be closed from 6pm this evening, as well as other public facilities. Mr Varadkar has said where possible remote teaching will be facilitated.

He has urged people to continue to go to work, but asked businesses to facilitate remote working where possible. And he has said outside of work, as a general rule, people should reduce social interaction as much as possible.

"We can all play our part by hand-washing, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and seeking medical advice where you have symptoms. This is now more important than ever," Mr Varadkar added.

Mass gatherings of more than 100 people indoors, and outdoor mass gatherings of over 500 people will be cancelled.

These measures will remain in place until March 29.

Public transport will remain in operation as it stands, while shops will remain open. An Taoiseach also said he will endeavour to ensure supply chains remain uninterrupted.

But the announcement effectively amounts to a general shutdown in Limerick and across Ireland. It's the first time in living memory Limerick has been subject to such extreme measures.

In his speech in the US capital, Mr Varadkar said: "There will be many more cases. More people will get sick, and we have to face the tragic reality that more people will die. The virus is all over the world. It will continue to spread, but it can be slowed. Its impact can be reduced making it easier for health carers to cope and giving our scientists more time."

He said the effect of coronavirus will be mild for younger, healthy people.

"But we know older people and those with a chronic illness are at real risk," he added, "We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory, and this is unchartered territory for us. We have to take the right actions at the right time. We have to move now to have the greatest impact."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) for the first time yesterday labelled the coronavirus a pandemic, adding that Italy and Iran were on the frontline of the disease and other countries would soon join them.

There are more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, and 4,291 people have died, the WHO said, with the numbers expected to climb.

There are now 43 confirmed cases of the virus in the Republic, with another 18 in Northern Ireland.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a new executive order Thursday in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, which now has nearly 200 positive cases reported in the state.

Newsom's executive order waives a one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed or disabled as a result of the virus, which is also known as COVID-19, readies the state to commandeer property for use in treating, quarantining or isolating people, and allows legislative bodies to hold meetings electronically, among other policies.

At a late morning briefing at the State Capitol in Sacramento, Newsom said 198 people in all across California have tested positive for COVID-19, including 21 from Wednesday.

He said a problem is that there are just 8,227 kits available across the state as of midday Thursday to test for the virus, and 1,573 tests have been conducted so far.

Newsom said private labs are helping the state to expand the amount of tests available and authorities are also working to eventually set up centralized testing sites that are easily accessible.

"My greater concern is we could be testing a lot more people," he said.

The governor also provided an update on the quarantined Grand Princess cruise ship currently docked at the Port of Oakland, saying 1,963 passengers have been taken off the boat as of Wednesday night, with the hope that more than 400 more will be able to leave the boat Thursday.

Newsom emphasized the state public health guidance released late Wednesday for large gatherings that said non-essential ones must be limited to no more than 250 people, with gatherings of people at higher risk of severe illness for the virus limited to no more than 10 people while following social distancing guidelines.

"We have agency, we can change the future. It's not something to experience, it's something to manifest," the governor said. "I have confidence we will meet the moment.

Newsom's full executive order on the coronavirus response can be found at https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/3.12.20-EO-N-25-20-COVID-19.pdf.

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.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today the state is limiting visits to nursing homes across the state, except in exigent circumstances, during the coronavirus pandemic.

.@NYGovCuomo is requiring all nursing home/senior assisted facility workers to wear face masks, and all non medicinal staff to wear protective garb pic.twitter.com/KpGPd8OPW0  Bernadette Hogan (@bern_hogan) March 12, 2020

The announcement was part of several new measures that include limits to crowd sizes at public gatherings, including at Broadway shows. Cuomo said no gatherings of more than 500 people will be allowed after Friday at 5 p.m. He also said that facilities meant to hold fewer than 500 people will only be allowed to fill that space by half. He admitted that would, in effect, shut down Broadway theatres, starting tonight.

The new order applies to religious facilities, he said.

Theres no end date, he said of the new rules. As soon as we can go back to normal, well go back to normal.

We are taking new actions to reduce the density of people across the state.



Starting Friday at 5pm, gatherings with 500 people or more will not be permitted in NYS.



Additionally, for facilities with an occupancy of 500 or fewer, we are reducing the legal capacity by 50%.  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 12, 2020

Those crowd size rules do not apply to schools, hospitals, nursing homes, government facilities -- including the Capitol -- or mass transit, he said. In those places, Cuomo urged people to apply social distancing, diligent cleaning and working from home when possible.

Were working with the private sector, he said of the limits to large gatherings.

Cuomo also announced a series of updates about preparations for a surge in patients needing hospitalization. Those measures include identifying sites for temporary health facilities, putting former healthcare workers -- doctors and nurses -- on standby and accelerating healthcare training and certification across the state.

We are talking about a public emergency, he said, and we are talking about setting up a public emergency system.

BREAKING: NY positive case count reaches 328, 112 new cases since Wednesday.



Westchester at 148, 27 new

NYC AT 95, 43 new



47 out of 328 hospitalized. Thats 14 % of the cases, per @NYGovCuomo pic.twitter.com/30CEwYUCeW  Bernadette Hogan (@bern_hogan) March 12, 2020

New York now has 328 confirmed cases, Cuomo said. Monroe and Herkimer counties now have confirmed cases, he said. No deaths have been reported. Thats the nursing home nightmare that happened in Washington, he said.

In New York, 14 percent of people with confirmed cases are hospitalized, he said. The state has tested more than 2,000 people so far, Dr. Howard Zucker, the states health commissioner, said.

Cuomo said if the federal government allows the state to do automated, or robotic, testing, New York could test as many as 5,000 people a day, starting next week.

Cuomo said the new measures mean to create less dense crowds and better unify healthcare systems across New York. The governor said hes also considering suspending all elective surgeries, which can account for 25 to 35 percent of beds at hospitals.

When asked about closing schools, Cuomo said hes not considering it at this time.

You close schools, en masse, now you have to find out...its tremendously disruptive to society, Cuomo said.

At nursing homes, all staff must wear masks and will be routinely screened, he said. Visitors will only be allowed in during special circumstances, and those visitors must be in full protective garb.

This is a developing story. It will be updated as soon as possible.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.

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The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Thursday it will make available 200 million dollars for companies manufacturing and distributing medicines and other items needed to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Companies manufacturing and distributing products, including medicines and personal protective equipment, are increasingly strained as production and distribution ramp-up to address COVID-19.

The support from ADB, working in partnership with commercial banks, will provide such companies in Asia and the Pacific with additional working capital to meet expansion and other requirements.

"The support will target companies in the supply chain that are critical to fighting the virus," said ADB's Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance Steven Beck. "We are looking to support companies that want to ramp up production and therefore need to engage suppliers," he added.

Given that a single pool of supply chain finance is typically used for a subsequent delivery over a period of 120 to 180 days, the 200 million dollar facility could support more than 400 million dollars of financing over the next 12 months.

A total of 50:50 risk sharing from partner commercial banks could boost support under the facility to 800 million dollars over the same period.

The funds will be made available through ADB's supply chain finance programme and provided to selected companies within weeks. ADB said it is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on trade finance and is in regular contact with client banks to assess whether additional support is required.

ADB's response to COVID-19 to date includes two million dollars announced on February 7 to enhance detection, prevention and response in China and the Greater Mekong Subregion; another two million dollars announced on February 26 to support response in all its developing members; and an 18.6 million dollar private-sector loan signed on February 25 to Wuhan, China-based pharmaceutical distributor Jointown Pharmaceutical Group to support the continued supply of essential medicines and personal protective equipment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A meeting on the situation in the global energy market and its impact on the country's economy was held in Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ali Asadov on March 11, Trend reports.

Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Economic Issues and Innovative Development Policy of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahmar Movsumov, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Finance Samir Sharifov, Chairman of the Central Bank (CBA) Elman Rustamov, Executive Director of the State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) Israfil Mammadov and Assistant to the Prime Minister Fakhri Ismailov attended at the meeting.

Shahmar Movsumov, noting the volatility observed in oil prices in 2014-2016, said that at that time oil prices had fallen from $140 to $30.

It was a sharp volatility. Compared to that, the observed changes today are not so great. Naturally, the dependence of Azerbaijan's economy on oil prices has also sharply decreased during these years. This, of course, became possible as a result of a thoughtful policy of the head of state, Movsumov added.

Currently, the economy of Azerbaijan is quite stable. The pressure associated with the exchange rate is more based on psychological factors. Even if Azerbaijan does not make any changes today, our resources will allow us to carry out sustainable activities in the next 20 years. I believe that there is no reason for concern, " the assistant to the president said.
LOS ANGELES - The annual movie exhibition and trade show CinemaCon has been cancelled in Las Vegas due to coronavirus, scuttling one of Hollywood's premier hype machines.

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LOS ANGELES - The annual movie exhibition and trade show CinemaCon has been cancelled in Las Vegas due to coronavirus, scuttling one of Hollywood's premier hype machines.

The week-long conference, which brings together everyone from Hollywood studio executives and celebrities to movie theatre owners and equipment and concession manufacturers, had been scheduled to begin March 30 at Caesars Palace.

Theater owners, however, have not yet closed their doors. While cinemas have been shuttered in several other nations, including China, Italy and Poland, they remain open in North America.

The cancellation was announced Wednesday in a joint statement by John Fithian, president of the National Association of Theater Owners, and CinemaCon's managing director, Mitch Neuhauser.

While local outbreaks vary widely in severity, the global circumstances make it impossible for us to mount the show that our attendees have come to expect," they said. "After consultation with our attendees, trade show exhibitors, sponsors, and studio presenters, NATO has decided therefore to cancel CinemaCon 2020.

Hollywood studios including The Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros., Universal, Lionsgate, Paramount and Focus Features had planned big presentations of their upcoming slates, with new footage, trailers and appearances from A-list talent. This year entertainers like Michael B. Jordan, Carey Mulligan, Antoine Fuqua and Glen Powell were expected to attend the conferences awards ceremony on April 2.

Organizers had sent out several updates to attendees about plans for enhanced health and sanitation measures at the ninth annual gathering, noting also that delegates from China, Japan, Korea and Italy had cancelled their attendance.

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Its the latest virus-related shakeup in the movie business that has in the past few weeks seen the theatrical releases of the new James Bond and Peter Rabbit movies delayed and film festivals, like South by Southwest, cancelled.

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.

Although North American theatres have yet to report any discernible decline in earnings, the global theatrical market has been directly impacted by the virus. Cinemas have been closed in China for several weeks and Italy also recently shuttered its theatres. In many countries, health experts are advocating social distancing to help prevent the spread of the virus.

___

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.
Rauf Ahmed, a student stuck in Rome, said on Thursday that around 200 Indians have been stuck at Rome airport for the last 24 hours.

The majority of them are from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Punjab.

"We were scheduled to go back to India through an Air India flight, but the Air India authority is asking us to show the medical certificate to prove that no one is affected with COVID-19," Ahmed told ANI.

"We have tried everywhere in Rome. The medical authorities in Rome are not giving any medical certificates. If anyone is having COVID-19 symptoms, he will be tested as per procedures," he said.

"We have also approached the Indian Embassy. We have been said that a medical team from India is arriving in Rome, and those who test negative will be sent to India," he said.

"Many of us don't have accommodations. We have vacated our residences to go back to India but now we are stuck at Rome airport. We are sleeping on the floor at the airport. After request, Air India provided us with food today afternoon," added Ahmed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after joining the BJP, former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia reached Bhopal on Thursday, to a rousing welcome by workers in his new party.

Local BJP activists and leaders thronged the airport to greet him as soon as he stepped out of the airport.

Scindia landed at Bhopals Raja Bhoj Airport in the afternoon along with the Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar in a special flight.

A large number of his supporters and BJP workers welcomed him at the airport with the saffron partys flags. Scindias paternal aunt and BJP MLA Yashodhara Raje Scindia, who reached the airport earlier, welcomed her nephew.

Those who greeted Scindia included state BJP president V D Sharma, leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava, former ministers Rampal Singh, Bhupendra Singh and Narottam Mishra.

Several hoardings and BJP flags were put up by Scindia's supporters and BJP leaders along the 15-km route of his rally from the airport to the state BJP headquarters.

Meanwhile, hours before his arrival, posters bearing Jyotiraditya Scindia's pictures in parts of Bhopal were blackened, party sources said.

Scindia will file his nomination papers for the March 26 Rajya Sabha polls on Friday, a party spokesperson said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seven persons with



suspected coronavirus-like symptoms were admitted to the Nashik district civil hospital on Thursday.

With this, the number of persons admitted to the hospital for suspected exposure to the virus went up to 11.

Those who were admitted had returned from countries such as Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Britain and US.

Their throat swab samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune.

A 23-year-old girl who was admitted to the hospital on March 10 has been discharged as her reports were negative.

Her 54-year-old mother had been discharged on March 9 itself.

Meanwhile, the district administration has put in force the Disaster Management Act in view of the coronavirus scare.

Temples such as Navshya Ganapati temple here are handing out sanitizing solutions to devotees before they enter the temple.

The famous Lord Kalaram temple here has canceled certain cultural programs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As markets fluctuate wildly while investors struggle to grasp the impact of the Wuhan coronavirus, an admonition from the 1981 movie Stripes comes to mind: Lighten up, Francis.

There are already strong signs from advanced, free nations in Asia that the economic impact from the disease brewed in mainland China will be limited.

STOCK FUTURES FALL ON SKEPTICISM OVER STIMULUS PLANS

For one-half of this writing team, mornings in Hong Kong consist of catching up on what could almost be considered the great American coronavirus freak-out as every new batch of exposures appears to bring fresh rounds of panic to the wide swaths of the general public.

Forecasts of long-term doom from what some of us in Hong Kong and Taiwan call the WuFlu can sometimes be portrayed as unstoppable by the liberal media. American stock market volatility drives Asian stock market volatility.

As an American living in Hong Kong, undertaking what were near-weekly trips to Taiwan, its hard to describe how embarrassing it is to watch friends and neighbors, who live next to the diseases source, China, effectively contain the spread of the coronavirus while the United States, which benefits from population separation and often-better health care, appears to be flipping out.

CORONAVIRUS NOT SCARING AWAY MOVIEGOERS

As of Wednesday, Hong Kong has 121 cases, Taiwan has 48, Singapore has 166, and Japan 587. All these countries have by any reasonable estimation contained the coronavirus, and while all are still adding small numbers of cases, the growth rate of infections has dropped to a trickle. In fact, in Hong Kong and Taiwan, recoveries are nearly on par with new cases.

So heres the point: if Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, and even South Korea, which is seeing a decrease in spread, can turn things around, why cant the United States?

In fact, it can and will.

The Trump administration did the one thing that mattered most, as we saw in many of these Asian nations: it closed off travel from China to the United States. Doing so limited exposure and delayed the impact until closer to warm-weather months when respiratory diseases like WuFlu decline.

Story continues

AMAZON, APPLE, GOOGLE LEAD TECH CORONAVIRUS WHITE HOUSE MEETING

So if we did that correctly--by our count the most important action--then why the hand-wringing over our ability to take other actions?

Are Hong Kong and Taiwanese doctors, many educated in America, better than our doctors?

Are the federal Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health a step behind the Japanese or Singaporeans?

Can the space between homes and people in the United States be less than in Hong Kong or Singapore?

Could it be that Taiwanese are better at washing their hands than Americans?

Yes, the coronavirus is serious, but when did it become a de facto assumption of the American people that Hong Kong, Japan, or Taiwan were better at facing this adversity than the United States?

When did we start accepting the rationale of MSNBC or the New York Times that Americans are on the run when other advanced free nations can demonstrably hold their ground?

It is remarkable to watch the health professionals in Hong Kong, Japan, or South Korea enter infected homes or wards to help the sick.

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Yet, there are individuals who are just as remarkable in America doing exactly the same thing.

Who actually believes American health care and emergency services stand second to other nations?

For the other half of our writing team, the reality of people going about their everyday lives in Colorado is a stark difference from what is conveyed by the mainstream media, especially the left-leaning financial press that has been rooting for a recession since Donald Trump was elected president.

Restaurants, malls, and airports remain busy and the non-travel economy does not appear to be impacted. People here grasp the risk, how to mitigate it, and when to take politically motivated hysteria with a grain of salt.

In Hong Kong, to say the public is in conflict with the government is an understatement. We have nightly street battles between pro-democracy protesters and police, yet each day the vast majority of the city pulls together in its fight against the coronavirus.

We see a battle across Asia against a virus, despite the conflict in Hong Kong, and in Taiwan despite China denying it access to basic information and World Health Organization assistance, that is being won.

America will follow suit with equally good or better results.

Mark Simon is an American executive of Next Digital, which publishes Apple Daily in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Christian Whiton is a former State Department senior advisor in the Trump and Bush administrations based in Colorado and Washington, D.C.

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A small bag filled with clothes of their six-month-old granddaughter is all that is left in Sanjay Kaushiks three-storeyed house in north-east Delhis Brijpuri, which was one of the worst-affected areas during the recent communal violence. His house, along with several other buildings in the area, was set afire by the mob.

Kaushik, a cooking oil wholesale dealer, had renovated the house in 2017. The extent of damage is such that it has to be razed, he said.

We had spent so much money on its renovation. We are left with nothing now, said his wife, Bhagwati Kaushik, tightly holding the small bag.

The local builder has said that the building is not safe as the floors, internal electric wirings and pipelines were damaged. We will have to reconstruct, said Kaushik.

Like Kaushik, there were several families whose homes and shops were gutted in Brijpuri, Shiv Vihar, Chand Bagh, Maujpur, Karawal Nagar, Khajoori Khas and Gokalpuri, among others.

The Delhi government had tasked the Public Works Department (PWD) to assess the extent of damage to properties and structural stability of these buildings. In a large number of cases, reconstruction is the only way out, said a senior Delhi government official.

While government will compensate up to Rs5 lakh for damage to property, owners say rebuilding their houses is not going easy. A majority of the riot-hit areas are in unauthorised colonies, and construction of new buildings will be restricted.

In Shiv Vihar Phase-7, most families whose homes were set ablaze are yet to return. Some like Shaqir Ali spend their entire day sitting outside their damaged homes lest they miss any communication from the authorities regarding their compensation.

Alis two-storey home was reduced to rubble on February 25 after rioters used gas cylinders to bring down the building. On Wednesday, a team of officials from the sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) office in north-east Delhi visited his home for the second time for a final damage assessment. I am told they will give me separate compensation amount for each floor. So far, I have only got the ex-gratia amount of Rs25,000. I had taken a loan to build my home about a year ago and today I am left with nothing, Ali said.

A government official at the spot said Alis home has been put under the total damage category which means he will be entitled for Rs15 lakh compensation.

Focus now to give immediate relief: Govt

When asked whether the government is taking into consideration the legality of the homes damaged while disbursing compensation funds, the SDM on duty said: No. The focus currently is only on providing immediate relief to the victims.

The office of the district magistrate Shashi Kaushal said that a junior or an assistant level engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD) was deputed with each of the 60 teams that have been on ground to assess the damages to the homes and shops.

But those PWD officials were roped in to help us categorise the houses into three - total damage, substantial and minor damage - so that the right amount of compensation is disbursed to the victim. No separate report has been made on the structural safety of the properties burnt or damaged so far, an official said on condition of anonymity.

On March 5, the Delhi government had revised its compensation scheme for riot victims under which an amount of Rs4 lakh will be provided to the owner of each floor in case of total damage to a residential property and Rs1 lakh for loss of household items, which is to be divided among tenants of that floor. Besides, a compensation of Rs1 lakh will be provided for complete loot of household goods in residential units and Rs50,000 for partial loot.

As of now, the government has disbursed at least Rs5.12 crore in compensation. Fourteen homes were assessed as completely damaged, 236 with substantial damages and 157 with minor damages. As many as 721 shops have also been made eligible for compensation after scrutiny.

New buildings and the challenges

According to East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) officials, new construction in unauthorised colonies is not allowed, as per law. All structures that have come up till January 1, 2015, in these areas are protected under the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2017.

But no new construction is allowed in these areas. But there is a provision in the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, which allows people to reconstruct under special circumstances such as these, said a senior EDMC official.

Sandeep Kapoor, standing committee chairman of EDMC, said, Those who suffered property damage will be allowed to rebuild and repair. We want to provide relief to people living in these areas, as they already have gone through a lot.

For repair work, people dont need permission from the EDMC. We cant give permission to construct in these areas. They will just have to inform us about the work which they want to carry out, said a senior EDMC official.

Urban development experts say that the civic body should bring in special provisions to ensure the structural safety of the buildings. Buildings in these areas were constructed without any approvals. If they are repaired or reconstructed, the civic agencies should ensure that they are done as per the prevailing building byelaws. The government can also bring in a special provision for this, said Shamsher Singh, former chief town planner of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).




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 Pittsburghs 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, its going to be a treehopper, because theyve got these crazy horns, they have this wacky fashion sense about them. Theyre unlike anything youve 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 been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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New Delhi, March 12 : The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has coined a unique idea to spread awareness over COVID-19 amongst kids.

The Ministry has come up with a graphic novel for children, named "Kids, Vaayu and Corona who wins the fight?" The story of the comic series revolves around a Superhero 'Vaayu' who works for better public health and environment. In the cover page, there are three kids who seem to be scared of coronavirus. The kids are guarded by Vaayu. He fights with the coronavirus. The creature coronavirus is of black colour on the cover page. It has been described as a virus which is spreading fast globally and causing COVID-19 disease.

The comic book has been authored by Ravindra Khaiwal, Additional Professor of Environment Health Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh and Suman Mor, Associate Professor and Chairperson Department of Environment Studies, Punjab university, Chandigarh.

School kids have also contributed to the content of the comic book. Aaditya Khaiwal, vof Ankur School in Chandigarh, Lakshya Khaiwal from Chitkara International School, Chandigarh have helped with the story line.

Graphics have been done by Sonali Verma and Shruti Govil of Punjab University, Chandigarh. Anchita Thakur and Kirti Dutt of the Punjab University have also contributed for the content of the book.

Citing the reason that sometimes parents are too busy to resolve queries of kids regarding coronavirus, the PGIMER - Chandigarh and Punjab University created the comic book to make children aware of the threat of coronavirus and how to remain safe through simple precautionary steps.

Given that the population of all ages are making use of available media such as newspapers, social media and television to make themselves aware and from adults to children most of the discussions are around the coronavirus, the comic aims at educating children, especially those below the age of 12 years in most comprehensive manner.

The ministry suggested that parents should resolve the queries of the kids so that they don't panic. The comic is created to learn along with fun and motivate children to be a hero of prevention by defeating corona.

Vaayu lives in the foothills of Himalayas in India and he has been called to fight against global threat of coronavirus and to protect children from sudden panic and fear.

Vaayu battles with his swords against the coronavirus and demonstrate to the children how to observe personal and respiratory hygiene and social distancing. The book has also described about coronavirus and common signs of COVID-19 disease.

A fear of children getting infected at a school in Noida surrounded everyone when an infected person from Delhi allegedly threw a birthday party that was attended by kids.

At least 73 confirmed cases have been reported from India as on Thursday. Even a three year old also tested positive in Kerala who had a travel history of Italy with his parents.

Coronavirus outbreak was first reported in December last year in Wuhan city of China. The disease has affected more than 100 countries so far and has been declared a global pandemic by the world health organisation.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
UN Security Council concerned about humanitarian situation in Cameroon Internet

Terrorism and violent extremism pose a significant and growing threat to peace and security in Africa and the international community must redouble its efforts to strengthen the continents ability to fight back, delegates in the Security Council said Wednesday as it issued a presidential statement and heard briefings by senior United Nations officials.

In a statement (document S/PRST/2020/5) issued by Chinas Zhang Jun, Council President for March, the 15-member organ underlined the importance of prompt and effective implementation of its resolutions dealing with terrorism, including sanctions aimed at Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Daesh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates.

The Security Council calls on the international community to strengthen its political commitment and to consider mobilizing more sustainable and predicable resources and expertise to strengthen the capacity of African countries in countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive terrorism, the statement said.

To that end, the Council specified areas in which the international community can support African countries, including through stronger inter-agency cooperation, the sharing of good border security practices, developing fair and effective criminal justice systems, preventing the acquisition of weapons by terrorists, and both developing and implementing plans to respond to terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure.

The Council emphasized that Member States must ensure that counter-terrorism efforts comply with their obligations under international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, as a failure to do so contributes to radicalization.

In her briefing, Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, warned that Al-Shabaab poses the most persistent threat to security in Somalia and East Africa, despite recent military operations launched against the group. Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant meanwhile continues to carry out activities in Libya and empower affiliates in eastern, southern and central Africa. The result is the terrorizing of local populations, especially women. Just as misogyny is at the heart of so many terrorist-group strategies, so must women be at the centre of our responses, she said, calling for greater multilateral cooperation, notably the sharing of best practices and resources.

In similar vein, Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union, said terrorism and violent extremism are assuming unprecedented scales of expansion and intensity. In addition to the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin and Horn of Africa, terrorism is now spreading to parts of Africa that had been spared that menace. We cannot ignore the fact that these regions are at war today  a real war in which dozens of soldiers and civilians die almost every week, she said. A greater focus must be placed on prevention, root causes and understanding why young people join terrorist groups or espouse extremist views.

On that point, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Special Adviser to the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said his office invests heavily in research and evidence-based programming in order to help prevent the rise of violent extremism. UNDP has interviewed hundreds of former members of terrorist and extremist groups to better understand what drives recruitment and found that over half of them were dissatisfied with their economic situation. More than three quarters of those interviewed said they had zero trust in politicians or in law enforcement institutions. Addressing these root causes would bring dividends, he assured, noting that funds directed at prevention are more effectively spent than simply responding to crises as they happen.

In the ensuing debate, delegates underscored the significant threat posed by terrorism on African communities and institutions. Efforts to date are insufficient, several speakers warned.

Nigerias representative described African anti-terrorism efforts as fragmented, military-oriented and incommensurate with the scale of the threat. The criminal-justice response remains weak, law enforcement agencies face capacity constraints and courts in many countries are hard-pressed to deal with the number of persons disengaging from terrorist groups, he said, emphasizing: Simply restoring social, political and economic structures to pre-conflict levels will not lead to sustainable long-term solutions.

Omar Hilale of Morocco said terrorism is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals. Terrorist operations in Africa are increasingly audacious in attacking infrastructure, such as schools. Noting that separatists and non-State armed groups represent a genuine threat to peace and security, he expressed concern over the growing closeness of Al-Qaida and ISIL/Daesh in the Sahel, as they engage in joint operations, raising cause for alarm. Terrorists aim to incite violence, creating a vacuum to be exploited for their own ends.

Separatists in Cameroon have been fighting for the independence of the predominantly English-speaking North West and South West Regions, forcing educational and economic activities to grind to a slow.
Beijing: China has passed the peak of the coronavirus epidemic, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.

The comments were made by commission spokesperson Mi Feng at a news conference.

This comes a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) characterised the new coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. 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.

"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," he told a news conference in Geneva, adding that he expected the number of cases and deaths to grow in the coming days and weeks.

"We have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus," he said.

India, meanwhile, on Wednesday announced it would suspend most tourist visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. The suspension will come into effect from 12pm GMT (5.30pm IST) on March 13 at the port of departure.
By Natalie Rahhal, Acting US Health Editor for DailyMail.com

HOW DANGEROUS IS CORONAVIRUS?

About 14 percent of people who contract the Covid-19 coronavirus are taken to hospital  with severe symptoms including breathing problems and pneumonia. About 5 per cent need intensive care.

But the majority who get the virus suffer nothing more than a cough and may never know they are infected.

So far, some 51,000 people around the world have already recovered from coronavirus  and that just includes the numbers who received a diagnosis.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE?

Officially, the death rate so far has been just over three percent. But experts believe the true mortality rate is probably between one and two percent. This is because most mild cases have not been picked up by doctors or reflected in the official numbers  so the death rate is inflated.

HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH OTHER DISEASES?

Seasonal flu kills roughly 0.1 percent of people. So Covid-19 is between 10 and 20 times more fatal.

But it is far less dangerous than SARS  the virus that ripped across China in 2003  which killed 10 percent of patients.

BUT DOESNT CORONAVIRUS SPREAD MORE EASILY?

Yes, but not dramatically. The best estimates suggest every person with Covid-19 passes it on to 2.6 people, on average. For flu that number is 1.5.

CAN IT BE SPREAD WITHOUT SYMPTOMS?

Initially scientists feared carriers who had no symptoms could pass it on. That is now in doubt.

What is likely, however, is those who have mild symptoms are putting it down to a cold and going about their normal lives  which puts others at risk.

HOW LONG IS IT BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR?

Again, unclear. Initially scientists said this could take up to two weeks.

But recent evidence suggests the incubation period could be as long as a month  particularly among children.

The average, however, is much shorter. A Chinese study said the average period of symptom onset was 5.4 days for adults and 6.5 for children.

WHO IS AT RISK?

The virus can affect anyone  with a study of the first 41 infected people revealing two thirds did not suffer from any pre-existing condition. But the middle-aged are most likely to get it  78 percent of those infected in China have been aged 30 to 69.

WHAT ABOUT THE OLD?

Only 3 percent of people infected so far have been over 80  but if they get it they are more vulnerable. Analysis of 72,000 cases in China suggests for over-80s the death rate is 15 percent. For those in their 70s the death rate is 8 percent and for those in their 60s, 4 percent.

WHO ELSE IS VULNERABLE?

Those with other conditions  such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney problems  are likely to suffer severe complications if they become infected.

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?

Children seem to be low-risk. Less than 1 percent of the Chinese cases have been under the age of ten  and if children do get the virus its often a mild form.

They do, however, retain the virus for longer than adults.

A study last week found the virus was still present in the stools of some children for a month after they contracted it.

DOES GENDER MATTER?

Men are marginally more likely to get the virus than women. It is not clear why this is.

HOW DO DOCTORS TEST FOR COVID-19?

Anyone who has symptoms particularly if they have travelled to an at-risk area  are told to call ahead to their health care provider, local emergency department or clinics.

This way, health care providers can be prepared, wearing masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment when they meet the possible patient and escort them to isolated areas of the facility.

They are tested using a cheek swab which is sent off for analysis at one of 12 Public Health England labs, a process that takes between 24 and 48 hours. Any positive test is double-checked at the main PHE lab in Colindale.

WHAT TREATMENT DO PATIENTS GET?

There is little doctors can do to tackle the virus, but they can treat the symptoms  such as fever and respiratory problems. Antivirals and antibiotics are also used, mainly to keep secondary problems at bay.

In the most serious cases patients are put on life-support equipment.

There are several clinical trials for potential coronavirus treatments ongoing worldwide, including one in Nebraska, where at least 13 patients are in quarantine, including two in biocontainment units.

WHAT ABOUT A VACCINE?

Even though the Wuhan virus appeared only a few weeks ago, 20 teams around the world are already manufacturing vaccines.

Chinese authorities provided the DNA code for the virus early on in the outbreak, enabling scientists to get to work straight away.

At least 30 companies and research institutions in the US are racing to make a vaccine.

Last week, one of these companies, Moderna, shipped its candidate vaccine to the US, signalling the shot was ready to begin clinical trials.

Even so, US health authorities say it will likely be upwards of a year before a vaccine is actually ready.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 01:08:02|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Commander of U.S. Central Command Kenneth McKenzie said on Thursday that a Shia militia group had likely conducted the Wednesday rocket attack on Iraq's Camp Taji military base that killed two U.S. soldiers and one British service member.

McKenzie told the Senate Armed Services Committee that investigation into the Taji attack is ongoing, while noting that Shia militia group Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) likely carried out the rocket attack.

"The Iranian proxy group Kata'ib Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq," the general said.

Two U.S. soldiers and one British service member were killed in a rocket attack on Iraq's Camp Taji, north of the capital city of Baghdad, and a dozen were wounded.

A statement issued by the U.S.-led coalition force said that approximately 18 rockets struck the base, adding that Iraqi Security Forces had found a rocket-rigged truck a few miles from Camp Taji.

The United States claimed that KH was responsible for numerous attacks against U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq, including a rocket attack on an Iraqi base near Kirkuk (the K1 base) in late December 2019 that killed a U.S. civilian contractor and injured four U.S. service members.

The rocket attack on K1 base led to U.S. airstrike against senior Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and the subsequent Iranian missile strike retaliation, which nearly triggered an uncontrollable conflict between the United States and Iran.

Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support Iraqi forces in battles against the Islamic State, mainly providing training and advising for them.
Manama

House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security chairman and MP Mohammed Al-Sisi has denied rumours of government employees being granted two weeks leave. He confirmed that the meeting held this morning (March 12, 2020) discussed prominent preparations and government efforts to confront the Covid - 19 virus at all levels. The government has implemented extra measures to increase the capacity of isolation and quarantine areas, aiming to provide over 6,000 beds.
Former Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim ONeill, the man who came up with the BRICS acronym, made a snarky comment while giving an interview on the novel coronavirus.

Thank God, this didnt start in India, he said as he praised the efforts of the Chinese government in containing the spread of COVID-19. ONeills comments not only smack of a racist bias, they are also disingenuous at multiple levels.

First, China is the reason why the world is battling with this massive pandemic of proportions we havent seen in many recent years. Not only did the virus originate in China, but the Chinese government tried to play down the impact of it by initially denying the scale of the tragedy. Later, as the proportions became clearer, the Chinese government just outright arrested whistle-blowers and threatened to jail anyone who would not comply.

Not just coronavirus, almost all of the major diseases in recent times from SARS to swine flu to COVID-19 now can all be traced back to live animal markets in China. The Chinese governments response in many of these crises has initially been wanting, only got better as the scale of the tragedy became apparent. The large-scale panic we are seeing in global markets can also be attributed to just how central China has become to the global supply chain. COVID-19 could possibly be the last nail in the globalism coffin.

Instead of China, had India or any democratic country clamped down like the way Chinese authorities have, the same Jim ONeills of the world would be crying infringement of human rights and conspiracy by an authoritarian government to shut down voices. Contrary to China, the Indian governments response to the coronavirus has been robust and well-measured.

The decision on Wednesday to suspend travel to India by all foreign nationals on existing visas was much called for. While on the face of it, it may seem alarmist, it was a much welcome decision. While in March-April 2019, around a million-plus tourists had come, this year it is expected to be almost marginal. While it will hurt the travel and tourism industry, it is a small price to pay in the fight against coronavirus.

The Modi government moved in quickly realising the threat posed by the virus. The task force under the PMO has been meeting on a daily basis to take stock.

Almost all hospitals where testing is available have been well-stocked. There are no reports of any panic from these hospitals and testing centres. The government has been putting out massive advertisement campaigns on the dos and donts of how to tackle the crisis. Yes, we need more labs like the National Institute of Virology which can confirm or deny cases. But those facilities cannot be built overnight.

For a country of 1.3 billion people, so far, the number of infected cases is only 60. That in itself is an achievement. Something that people like Jim ONeill, blinded by their agendas, cannot seem to see.

In fact, the Prime Minister has struck the right note by cancelling Holi celebrations yet making sure that Parliament functions. He has also told people to trust doctors and not quacks, not to fall for home remedies etc. If India were to come together in the next two weeks in a concerted way, not only can we beat the coronavirus but also show the world how the Indian model against such diseases actually works. Maybe that convinces naysayers like ONeill.
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations-GFD with support from the voice Netherlands has yesterday organized a special training for women with disabilities on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The training which formed part of the activities earmarked for the celebration of the 2020 International Women's Way enlightened several women with disabilities on the sustainable development goals, their targets and indicators, and how relevant they are to the leave no one behind agenda and the idea of inclusive development.

The facilitator, George Obinpe of SendGhana took the participants through all the seventeen goals and placed greater emphasis on those that are directly connected and related to disability.

According to him, Goal 4 focuses on inclusive and quality education aimed at promoting life-long learning opportunities for all in order to eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to education at all levels including vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities.

In Goal 8: he said, the goal is aimed at promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all including persons with disabilities.

For Goal 10, he explained that the goal strives to reduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including women and girls and with disabilities

In Goal 11, he made the participants understand that the cities and human settlements would be inclusive, safe and sustainable to all including persons with disabilities.

Last but not least, he stressed on Goal 17 saying that it aims at strengthening the means of implementation and revitalization of the global partnership for sustainable development, the importance of collecting data as well as monitoring and accountability of the SDGs

Explaining the link between the SDGs and the United Nations Conversation on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), he said the CRPD is legally binding on state parties while the SDGs are a political commitment and vision for a better world to be achieved by 2030.

In conclusion, he explained how civil society organizations and organizations of persons with disabilities can use the sustainable development goals and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for advocacy stressing on the importance of data.

Madam Lilian Bruce-Lyle who participated in the shared her feelings. "I thought it was going to be the normal workshop but this has been very special. I now know the linkage between the SDGs and the CRPD and how we can use them for advocacy".
Dr. Helen Y. Chu, an infectious disease expert in Seattle, knew that the United States did not have much time.

In late January, the first confirmed American case of the coronavirus had landed in her area. Critical questions needed answers: Had the man infected anyone else? Was the deadly virus already lurking in other communities and spreading?

As luck would have it, Chu had a way to monitor the region. For months, as part of a research project into the flu, she and a team of researchers had been collecting nasal swabs from residents experiencing symptoms throughout the Puget Sound region.

To repurpose the tests for monitoring the coronavirus, they would need the support of state and federal officials. But nearly everywhere Chu turned, officials repeatedly rejected the idea, interviews and emails show, even as weeks crawled by and outbreaks emerged in countries outside of China, where the infection began.

By Feb. 25, Chu and her colleagues could not bear to wait any longer. They began performing coronavirus tests, without government approval.

What came back confirmed their worst fear. They quickly had a positive test from a local teenager with no recent travel history. The coronavirus had already established itself on U.S. soil without anybody realizing it.

It must have been here this entire time, Chu recalled thinking with dread. Its just everywhere already.

In fact, officials would later discover through testing, the virus had already contributed to the deaths of two people, and it would go on to kill 20 more in the Seattle region over the following days.

Federal and state officials said the flu study could not be repurposed because it did not have explicit permission from research subjects; the labs were also not certified for clinical work. While acknowledging the ethical questions, Chu and others argued there should be more flexibility in an emergency during which so many lives could be lost. On Monday night, state regulators told them to stop testing altogether.

The failure to tap into the flu study, detailed here for the first time, was just one in a series of missed chances by the federal government to ensure more widespread testing during the early days of the outbreak, when containment would have been easier.

Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday that acting quickly was critical for combating an outbreak. Time matters, he said.

But the Seattle Flu Study illustrates how existing regulations and red tape  sometimes designed to protect privacy and health  have impeded the rapid rollout of testing nationally, while other countries ramped up much earlier and faster.

The CDCs own effort to create a system for monitoring the virus around the country, using established government surveillance networks for the flu, has not yet built steam. And as late as last week, after expanding authorizations for commercial and academic institutions to make tests, administration officials provided conflicting accounts of when a significant increase in tests would be available.

A Prime Mission

As soon as the genetic sequence of the coronavirus was published in January, the CDCs first job was to develop a diagnostic test. Thats our prime mission, Redfield said, to get eyes on this thing.

The agency also released criteria for deciding which individuals should be tested for the virus  at first only those who had a fever and respiratory issues and had traveled from the outbreaks origin in Wuhan, China.

The criteria were so strict that the sick man in the Seattle area who had visited Wuhan did not meet it. Still, worried state health officials pushed to get him checked, and the CDC agreed. Local officials sent a sample to Atlanta and the results came back positive.

Officials monitored 70 people who were in contact with the man and none tested positive for the coronavirus. But there was still the possibility that someone had been missed, said Dr. Scott Lindquist, the state epidemiologist for communicable diseases.

Around this time, the Washington State Department of Health began discussions with the Seattle Flu Study already going on in the state.

But there was a hitch: The flu project primarily used research laboratories, not clinical ones, and its coronavirus test was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. And so the group was not certified to provide test results to anyone outside of their own investigators. They began discussions with state, CDC and FDA officials to figure out a solution, according to emails and interviews.

Lindquist, the state epidemiologist in Washington, wrote an email to Dr. Alicia Fry, the chief of the CDCs epidemiology and prevention branch, requesting the study be used to test for the coronavirus.

CDC officials repeatedly said it would not be possible. If you want to use your test as a screening tool, you would have to check with FDA, Gayle Langley, an officer at the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, wrote back in an email Feb. 16. But the FDA could not offer the approval because the lab was not certified as a clinical laboratory under regulations established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a process that could take months.

Chu and Lindquist tried repeatedly to wrangle approval to use the Seattle Flu Study. The answers were always no.

Sense of Exasperation

As Washington state debated with the federal officials over what to do, the CDC confronted the daunting task of testing more widely for the coronavirus.

The CDC had designed its own test as it typically does during an outbreak. But when the CDC shipped test kits to public labs across the country, some local health officials began reporting that the test was producing invalid results.

The CDC promised that replacement kits would be distributed within days, but the problem stretched on for more than two weeks. Only five state laboratories were able to test in that period.

By Feb. 24, as new cases of the virus began popping up in the United States, the state labs were growing frantic.

The Association of Public Health Laboratories made what it called an extraordinary and rare request of Dr. Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the FDA, asking him to use his discretion to allow state and local public health laboratories to create their own tests.

We are now many weeks into the response with still no diagnostic or surveillance test available outside of CDC for the vast majority of our member laboratories, Scott Becker, the chief executive of the association, wrote in a letter to Hahn.

Hahn responded two days later, saying in a letter that false diagnostic test results can lead to significant adverse public health consequences and that the laboratories were welcome to submit their tests for emergency authorization.

But the approval process for laboratory-developed tests was proving onerous. Private and university clinical laboratories, which typically have the latitude to develop their own tests, were frustrated about the speed of the FDA as they prepared applications for emergency approvals from the agency for their coronavirus tests.

New tests typically require validation  running the test on known positive samples from a patient or a copy of the virus genome. The FDAs process called for five.

The FDA has disputed that it moved too slowly, saying that it provided emergency authorization for two laboratory-developed tests within 24 hours of a completed submission  one was the CDCs test and the other a test developed by New Yorks Wadsworth laboratory after it had trouble verifying the CDCs test.

What Do We Do?

On the other side of the country in Seattle, Chu and her flu study colleagues, unwilling to wait any longer, decided to begin running samples.

A technician in the laboratory of Dr. Lea Starita who was testing samples soon got a hit.

Im like, Oh my God, Starita said. I just took off running to the office of the studys program managers. We got one, she told them. What do we do?

They decided the right thing to do was to inform local health officials.

The case was a teenager, in the same county where the first coronavirus case had surfaced, who had a flu swab just a few days before but had no travel history and no link to any known case.

The state laboratory, finally able to begin testing, confirmed the result the next morning. The teenager, who had recovered from his illness, was located and informed just after he entered his school building. He was sent home and the school was later closed as a precaution.

Later that day, the investigators and Seattle health officials gathered with representatives of the CDC and the FDA to discuss what happened. The message from the federal government was blunt. What they said on that phone call very clearly was cease and desist to Helen Chu, Lindquist remembered. Stop testing.

Silent Spread

Still, the troubling finding reshaped how officials understood the outbreak. Seattle Flu Study scientists quickly sequenced the genome of the virus, finding a genetic variation also present in the countrys first coronavirus case.

The implications were unnerving. There was a good chance that the virus had been circulating silently in the community for around six weeks, infecting potentially hundreds of people.

On a phone call the day after the CDC and FDA had told Chu to stop, officials relented, but only partially, the researchers recalled. They would allow the studys laboratories to test cases and report the results only in future samples.

They were not to test the thousands of samples that had already been collected. The same day, the FDA said it would relax its rules and allow clinical labs to begin using their own coronavirus tests as long as they submitted evidence that they worked to the agency. Under that new policy, according to an agency representative Tuesday, it had heard from 14 labs, with 10 already beginning patient testing.

On March 2, the Seattle Flu Studys institutional review board at the University of Washington determined that it would be unethical for the researchers not to test and report the results in a public health emergency, Starita said. Since then, her laboratory has found and reported numerous additional cases, all of which have been confirmed.

As new samples came in, Staritas laboratory also worked their way backward through some older samples that had been sitting in the freezers for weeks, finding cases that date back to at least Feb. 20  seven days before public health officials had any idea the virus was in the community.

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.

But on Monday night, state regulators, enforcing Medicare rules, stepped in and again told them to stop until they could finish getting certified as a clinical laboratory, a process that could take many weeks.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
If you've ever had a nostalgic urge to watch an episode of your childhood favourite show, it turns out you're not alone.

Twitter users from across the globe have revealed the classic cartoons they would love to see make a comeback in the not so distant future.

In the viral thread, #CartoonsThatShouldReturn, which began trending this week, firm favourites proved to be Wacky Races, Scooby-Doo and Pinky and the Brain.

Also among the array of iconic children's shows, which featured those from the seventies, eighties, nineties and noughties, included Ben10, Dexter's Laboratory and The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy.

Here, FEMAIL has shared a selection of the most favoured shows...

One Twitter user, from Oxford, England, insisted that people 'hadn't lived until they've seen an episode of Wacky Races'. The American animated television series featured 11 different cars racing against each other in various road rallies throughout North America. Each driver hoped to win the title the Worlds Wackiest Racer. It first aired on September 14, 1968, with its final episode occurring after just 17 episodes in 1969 and was repeated throughout the 1970s and 80s. It was given a reboot in 2017 until November 2019

This person, of Lagos, Nigeria, suggested that the comedy Pinky and The Brain should be the only cartoon to make a return. This cartoon aired for half of the 1990s, starting in 1995, and was about two genetically enhanced mice - one being intelligent and the other being foolish - who would try for world domination in each episode, and hilariously fail each time

Avatar: The Last Airbender aired between 2003 and 2005 for three seasons, but that just wasn't enough for some viewers. The American animation debuted on Nickelodeon 15 years ago and tells the story of Aang, the Avatar, a spirit that reincarnates to bring the world into balance after it the four realms parted ways. It was created by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino. A live-action remake in the form of a Netflix series is on its way, with the original creators on board. Its expected to be released next year.

This person, from Pakistan, said: 'Bring back this gem, Baby Looney Tunes'. The cartoon classic aired for five years from 2001. The American animated television series depicted toddler versions of Warner Bros. Looney Tunes characters and saw them all living in the same nursery

This viewer, from an undisclosed location, 'just needed' the classic animation of Ben10 to make a comeback. The American franchise revolves around a boy named Ben Tennyson who acquires a watch-style alien device, the Omnitrix, which allows him to transform into ten (plus more) different creatures to defeat evildoers. The original show aired from 2005 to 2008. The show has been rebooted since the original finished

Justice League and the Green Lantern animated series topped some social media users' lists, as they wished to see the characters working together once again. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and other superheroes joined forces in the Justice League animation to battle crime and otherworldly threats. The show aired from 2001 until 2004

'Back when Cartoon Network was good': One social media user, from an unknown location, wished to see the return of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, which first aired in 2004 until 2009. Set in a world where imaginary friends exist along with humans, it centres on a boy named Mac and his imaginary friend Bloo. They find an orphanage dedicated to housing abandoned imaginary friends and interact with the characters there

Angela, believed to be from America, dreamed of the original version of Scooby-Doo returning to our screens, claiming the current versions aren't as good. The original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! premiered in 1969 and ran for three seasons. It featured Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, Fred and Scooby all solving mysteries. The franchise has since had several reboots and movies made about the characters

Noughties cartoon classic The Grim Adventures Of Billy And Mandy also featured in the hashtag, with one Twitter user from New York City, wanting the show to make a return. The cartoon involved three main characters, Bill, Mandy and the Grim Reaper, who is fated to be their 'best friend' forever after losing a bet to the two of them. Treated like a slave, Grim is forced to do everything from basic household chores to creating portholes to other dimensions for them to explore. It was released in 2000 and continued for eight years

Classic 1990s cartoon Dexter's Laboratory also made the hashtag, with a social media user, believed to be from America, sharing an image from the show. The cartoon followed the misadventures of a pint-size child inventor with a secret lab and his ditsy big sister. It aired for four seasons from 1995 to 2003

An American user wanted to see the return of The Powerpuff Girls. First airing in 1998, the classic cartoon followed super-powered sisters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup regularly saving Townsville from evildoers. The original show last aired on 25 March 2005
An air strike killed 26 fighters of Iraqi paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi in eastern Syria after a deadly attack on US-led coalition troops in Iraq, a war monitor said Thursday.

Updating its toll for the Wednesday strike, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was probably carried out by the coalition. The coalition did not immediately provide comment.

Before the strike near the border town of Albu Kamal, rockets were fired at a military base north of Baghdad hosting coalition troops, killing two Americans and one Briton.

It was the deadliest such attack in years on an Iraqi military base hosting foreign troops.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the United States has blamed Iran-backed factions from the Hashed al-Shaabi for similar violence in recent months.

Within hours, the air strikes were launched against Hashed forces just across the border in Syria.

Hardline Hashed factions have fought alongside Syrian government forces for several years and have been targeted by both coalition and Israeli air strikes.

The coalition has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since 2014, when IS overran a large swathe of the country and neighbouring Iraq.

Coalition-backed forces last year expelled the jihadists from their last outpost in eastern Syria, but the group retains sleeper cells on both sides of the border.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cong accuses BJP of using Tek Fog app to propagate agenda on SM, seeks intervention by SC

Congress govt facing crisis in MP as Kamal Nath underestimated new generation: Shiv Sena

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Mar 12: Days after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, the Shiv Sena said the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra is "strong and impregnable".

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece ''Saamana'' on Thursday also criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders.

It also said the BJP in Maharashtra should stop "daydreaming", and remember that just like the unexpected political drama in the western state a few months ago, a "shock experiment" can take place in Madhya Pradesh.

MP: Congress to cite technicalities to get resignations of MLAs rejected

Former Union minister Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday along with 22 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, putting the 14- month-old Kamal Nath-led government in deep crisis.

He joined the BJP on Wednesday and slammed the Congress for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership. He has also been named as BJP''s Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.

Commenting on these political developments, the Shiv Sena criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders, saying even though Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh are at the "helm" of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, it was not necessary to completely sideline a leader like Scindia.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Hitting out at the BJP, it said during the Lok Sabha elections last year, the saffron party used its full mightto defeat Scindia, but now it has welcomed him into its fold with "open arms".

Confident that govt will survive: Kamal Naths son amid Madhya Pradesh crisis

"Kamal Nath is also a shrewd and daring politician and will not give up easily. Just like the unexpected political drama in Maharashtra, a shock experiment can take place in Madhya Pradesh," the Marathi daily said.

It further said the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government is "stong and impregnable". "There is no room for even a rogue ant to go out or come in," it said.

The Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, respectively, the Sena pointed out.

"When seniors fail, the young leadership should be encouraged. This is not happening and that is why (Rajasthan deputy chief minister) Sachin Pilot and Gehlot are at loggerheads. If the matter is not resolved, it is believed that Rajasthan may go the Madhya Pradesh way," it claimed.

It noted that eight months ago, Scindia criticised the BJP, calling it a "murderer of democracy" after the Congress- JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka was toppled.

Kamal Nath-led MP Cong govt hopefull to prove their numbers in 'Floor Test'

"Fifteen days ago, he criticised BJP leaders for making hate speeches and now after joining the BJP, he says Congress is not the party it used to be earlier," it said.

"What were Scindia''s demands - the state (Madhya Pradesh) unit president''s post or the Rajya sabha ticket? Both were denied to him. If at least one demand was accepted, this situation wouldn''t have arisen," the Shiv Sena said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 11:39 [IST]
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Wyoming health officials expect to have ample capacity to keep testing for the new coronavirus after a woman from northwestern Sheridan County became the states first person to test positive for the illness, authorities said Thursday.

Confirmation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control of Wednesdays state test result was pending. The woman travelled outside Wyoming in the U.S. recently and health officials were investigating who may have had close contact with her.

No additional details about the woman, including her condition and whether she is hospitalized, were being disclosed, said Wyoming Department of Health spokeswoman Kim Deti.

As of Thursday, 16 others in Wyoming had tested negative for the virus causing the COVID-19 disease. They included 15 whose samples came back negative from the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory in Cheyenne, which began testing March 5, and one negative result from the CDC.

The COVID-19 virus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.

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 61,000 have so far recovered.

People in Wyoming who think they need a coronavirus test should visit a healthcare provider, Deti said, but not all who want a test would necessarily get one.

Wyoming health officials were prioritizing testing for people who have recently travelled internationally, had contact with somebody with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 or who were hospitalized with a severe illness.

People over 65 and those with chronic illness and/or compromised immune systems also were priorities, according to the department.

The department-run laboratory has hundreds of test kits, Deti said.

We have enough supplies to meet demand for some time to come. Were in pretty good shape for now, Deti said.

The new coronavirus prompted precautions in Wyoming well before Wednesday. The University of Wyoming has cancelled study abroad in China and South Korea this summer and prohibited university travel to or through those countries, Iran and Italy.

Students and university personnel returning from those four countries have been told self-isolate for 14 days to make sure they do not have the COVID-19 virus according to university rules.

___

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YouTubes efforts to reduce the spread of conspiracy theories on the platform appear to be bearing fruit.

Our analysis corroborates that YouTube acted upon its policy and significantly reduced the overall volume of recommended conspiratorial content, three researchers wrote in a study the University of California, Berkeley, released Monday.

Because information is spread on YouTube largely through recommendations  70 percent of watched content is recommended content  the researchers spent 15 months studying 8 million recommendations from the platforms next-watch algorithm.

Starting in April 2019  three months after YouTube announced measures to limit content on the platform that could misinform users in harmful ways  the research team found a consistent decrease in conspiratorial recommendations.

The decline continued until the beginning of June 2019, when the raw frequency briefly hit a low point of 3 percent, noted researchers Marc Faddoul and Hany Farid of UC Berkeley, and Guillaume Chaslot of the Mozilla Foundation.

Raw frequency is the product of the number of times a video is recommended and the probability that each video is conspiratorial, the researchers said.

It appears there has been some slippage, though. Since last years low point, conspiratorial recommendations have rebounded steadily, the study notes. They now are 40 percent less common than when YouTube first announced its measures.

Further, despite this downtrend over the past year, the overall volume of conspiratorial content recommended from informational channels remains relatively high, the researchers found.

Selective Targeting

Tribute ought to be paid to YouTube for effectively filtering out some dangerous themes, such as claims that vaccines cause autism, the researchers wrote.

Nonetheless, other themes which we showed to be actively promoted by YouTube were described by the FBI as very likely to motivate some domestic extremists to commit criminal, sometime violent activity, they pointed out.

A closer look at the data reveals that YouTube is selective in how it applies its harmful content policies, research scientist Faddoul noted.

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

Some political and religious conspiratorial content hasnt been demoted, while other topics, like the coronavirus, havent had any form of conspiratorial disinformation being promoted, he told TechNewsWorld.

Given the superior data, labeling and computational resources available to YouTube, it is technically capable of detecting conspiratorial topics with high accuracy, the study notes.

In fact, for certain topics which seem to fall under particularly close scrutiny, recommended videos are effectively stripped from disinformation, it states. It is encouraging to see that YouTube is willing to target specific issues effectively and in a timely fashion. Deciding what to demote is therefore a question of policy more than technology.

Maintaining Neutrality

YouTubes selectivity stems from all social medias desire to have as little content intervention as possible, Faddoul explained.

They want to remain as neutral as possible, he said. They dont want to be criticized as biased, as they often are by conservatives who see a liberal bias in Silicon Valley.

There are legal reasons to maintain neutrality. Under federal law, YouTube and other social media outlets are treated as platforms. As such, their legal liability for their content is less than that of a publication with editorial content.

The more you start editing and picking what can be promoted and not, the closer you come to effectively becoming an editor, Faddoul observed.

The study calls for greater transparency in how YouTube makes its recommendations for users.

With two billion monthly active users on YouTube, the design of the recommendation algorithm has more impact on the flow of information than the editorial boards of traditional media, the researchers wrote.

The role of the engine is even more crucial, they maintained, when one considers the following:

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

The increasing use of YouTube as a primary source of information, particularly among youths;

The nearly monopolistic position of YouTube on its market; and

The ever-growing weaponization of YouTube to spread disinformation and partisan content around the world.

And yet the decisions made by the recommendation engine are largely unsupervised and opaque to the public, they pointed out.

Algorithm End Run

Adding transparency to the recommendation process would add accountability to it, Faddoul contended.

These decisions  what should be promoted by the recommendation engine and what should not  are important. Having a process that is public facing and involving other actors besides YouTube, would improve the process, he said.

If you had more transparency, youd have a more informed viewer, remarked Cayce Myers, an assistant professor in the communications department at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Removing the platform protections for social media under the Federal Communications Decency Act of 1996 could promote tougher content policing policies by social media companies, he told TechNewsWorld.

A lot of time company policy is driven by liability, Myers explained, so if you change the liability for a third-party site like YouTube, you may see a more aggressive response to cleaning up content.

Although transparency is always a good thing, and it could help reduce the spread of harmful content, it poses some problems.

Making your algorithms transparent will divulge technology that you dont want your competitors to have access to, said Vincent Raynauld, an assistant professor in the department of communication studies at Emerson College in Boston.

Whats more, whenever these platforms adjust their algorithms, content producers are always finding a way to bypass the algorithms or reshape their content in ways to evade their filters, he told TechNewsWorld.

Radicalization Tool

While YouTubes reduction of conspiratorial recommendations is encouraging, the study noted that it could not make the problem of radicalization go away.

YouTube videos reportedly have been used to groom terrorists and swing some conservatives from the right to the far right.

In general, radicalization is a more complex problem than what an analysis of default recommendations can scope, for it involves the unique mindset and viewing patterns of a user interacting over time with an opaque multi-layer neural network tasked to pick personalized suggestions from a dynamic and virtually infinite pool of ideas, the study observes.

Being exposed to conspiracy content is one aspect of the radicalization process, Raynauld said. In order to be radicalized, you need access to this content to fuel radicalization, but I suspect there are other factors external to YouTube content at play.
The 76-year-old man had returned from Saudi Arabia last month

Mohammed Hussein Siddiqui, a religious leader from Kalaburagi who was confirmed to have died of lung complications. His samples returned coronavirus positive.

Kalaburagi: The Karnataka health department late on Thursday confirmed that the 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi who died of lung complications on Tuesday has tested positive for the coronavirus.

A communique issued by the health department said, The suspected COVID 19 patient has been confirmed for COVID 19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol are being carried out. The Telangana government has also been informed since he went to a private hospital there. "

This would be the first coronavirus death recorded in India.

The 76-year-old man, identified as Mohammed Hussain Siddiqui, was a religious leader from Kalaburagi. He had returned to India from a trip to Saudi Arabia last month.

He was first admitted to a hospital in Kalaburagi following complaints of cough and other symptoms. Doctors screened him for the Covid-19 coronavirus earlier this week. When he did not respond to treatment at a hospital in Bidar, he was driven to Hyderabad for urgent medical attention.

The patient, however, failed to get emergency care in two private hospitals in Hyderabad as he was suffering from acute breathlessness and lung dysfunction.

The patient was referred to Gandhi Hospital but the family was not ready to go there. Another private hospital examined the patient in the emergency section but again advised them to go to Gandhi Hospital.

The family was given an option of hospitalisation in the isolation unit. But if the patient was found to have been infected by coronavirus, the doctors told the family that he must be shifted to Gandhi Hospital.

But the family rejected the option and decided to take the patient back to Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) in a private ambulance. During their journey, the patient passed away.

Siddiquis 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 not to touch the body with bare hands and use other protective measures during burial.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 19:29:09|Editor: xuxin

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LONDON, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said Thursday the travel ban imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump prohibiting trips from most of mainland Europe was not right.

Sunak, in media interviews a day after he presented a "coronavirus budget" in the House of Commons, said Britain would not be following the U.S. decision, adding the evidence does not support such a travel ban.

"Here in this country we're determined to take the right steps at the right time," he said.

Trump has excluded flights from Britain and Ireland in the ban he announced Wednesday night in Washington.

"With regard to flight bans we are always guided by the science as we make our decisions here. The advice we are getting is that there isn't evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infections," Sunak said on a morning radio news program.

He also said the Europe-wide ban could impact on the British economy.

"There will be an impact on the demand side of our economy as people are unable to spend in the way that they normally do and travel but it also affects supply chains for business and that impacts the supply side of our economy if those supply chains are disrupted," said Sunak.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

By Cecilia Yap and Clarissa Batino

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte will test for the new coronavirus after his finance and transportation secretaries announced they were exposed to an infected person and will go on self quarantine.

Dutertes plan came as the nations Department of Health said on Wednesday that another person died out of the 49 confirmed cases in the Philippines. A 44-year-old Chinese male from Wuhan died in the Philippines on Feb. 1.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said he met with an infected person on March 5 and 6 and while hes not showing any symptoms, he will be isolating himself until he gets tested. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also said he will go on a quarantine.

At least two senators will also go on isolation after a guest at a March 5 hearing was confirmed to be one of the countrys Covid-19 cases. It couldnt be readily verified whether Dominguez, Tugade and the senators were exposed to the same person.

The Asian Development Banks headquarters in Manila will be closed from March 12 for cleaning and disinfecting, while its staff work from home after a visitor to the bank tested positive for the virus, it said in a statement.

The Senate building and portions of the presidential palace, where finance officials regularly exposed to Dominguez conducted a media briefing on March 11, will be shut for disinfection, according to statements.

 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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Let the truth spelled out in my peace guide you.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household." (Proverbs 31:2527)

Sunday was International Women's Day. People worldwide bought flowers for their mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters.

Since its inception in 1909, this special day has gained status as a public holiday in about 30 nations, including Uganda, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

International Women's Day (IWD) rallies supporters of gender equality in the professional world, advocates for safe environments for women, and celebrates women in our lives in all their varied roles.

This year, the IWD theme was "An equal world is an enabled world." Denominations have destroyed the truth and offered it as a sacrifice to the culture of men.

The Bible is full of women who played decisive roles, boldly enabling change as prophets and leaders in Jewish society.

Other women's lives in the Bible are wrought with tragedies of exploitation and injustice. Even so, they were often redeemed and avenged by those boldly seeking a change to such injustice.

While the avengers' methods were not always godly, their moral outrage is still commendable.

Let's take a look at some of these women and those who stood by them in good and in evil, boldly seeking change.

Queen Esther, by Edwin Long

Queen Esther

"Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti." (Esther 2:17)

This theme of enabling change seems especially fitting since the Jewish people just celebrated the courage of women with the most joyous festival on the Jewish calendarPurim (Festival of Lots).

This holiday celebrated the exemplary leadership and bravery of Hadassah, a Jewish girl who rose to become ancient Persia's Queen Esther.

As queen, Esther risked death to inspire change, advocating for the Jewish People's salvation from planned genocide.

In struggling with the decision to seek the king's mercy, she modeled modesty, courage, and perseverance, even as she rallied her people to fast and pray for their lives.

To come before the king uninvited was a huge risk. But Esther listened to the sage advice of her uncle Mordecai who urged her to break through social barriers and do whatever was in her power, even if it meant hazarding a death sentence.

"Mordecai trained Esther so that when the time came to exercise courage to risk her life and her nation (that special moment), she was able to accomplish what God wanted," writes the Rev. Eric Maefonea. "It takes courage to push yourself to places that youve never been before, to test your limits, to break through barriers." (Solomon Star News)

Esther seized the opportunity at hand and boldly yet modestly changed a decree of death to life.

Seduction of Dinah, Daughter of Leah, by James Tissot

Jacob's Daughter Dinah: Brotherly Revenge

"Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the land." (Genesis 34:1)

In Genesis 34, the daughter of Israel, named Dinah, was raped by Shechem, the son of a local ruler who professed to love her. He even underwent circumcision to marry her.

Nevertheless, Dinah's indignant brothers, Simeon and Levi, attacked Shechem and every male in his city, incurring the condemnation of their father. (Genesis 49:57)

Despite this rebuke from their father, the brothers argued: "Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?" (Genesis 34:31)

Judah and Tamar (1653), by Ferdinand Bol (1616-1680)

Judah's Daughter-in-Law Tamar: The Pursuit of Justice

"He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children." (Psalm 113:9)

Another biblical account concerning the poor treatment of women involves Tamar, the wife of Judahs firstborn son, Er. (Genesis 38)

Because of his wickedness, Er died before Tamar conceived any children.

Under Yibbum or Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:56), Ers brother Onan was obligated to marry the widow to raise up an heir for Er. Despite this obligation, Onan refused to give Er an heir. As a result, God judged him as well, and he died prematurely.

At this point, Judah told Tamar to wait for his next son Shelah to grow up so that Shelah could bring about an heir for Er.

He really had no intention of doing so, though, as he blamed his daughter-in-law Tamar for his sons' deaths, thinking she was cursed.

Judah and Tamar, by Rembrandt

When Tamar understood Judahs deception, she disguised herself as a prostitute in her own effort to raise up an heir for her deceased husband. It worked. Judah unwittingly hired Tamar for her services.

When he found out that Tamar was pregnant, Judah condemned her for prostitution. In fact, he called for her to be burned to death.

In her wisdom, Tamar kept Judah's pledged seal, cord, and staff (the emblems of his leadership) as evidence of his involvement.

These items also gave evidence to the community that Tamar's deceased husband, Er, would finally receive an heir from a close male relative, as was the custom.

When Judah recognized that he was the father of Tamar's baby, he repented of his unjust attitude and actions toward her.

He understood that she acted only to obtain what was due to her and admitted, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." (Genesis 38:26)

By independently acting to obtain justice for herself, Tamar not only protected the lineage of her husband, but also the promised Messianic lineage. How?

Tamar's son Perez became a forefather of King David and Yeshua (Jesus). (Matthew 1:3; Luke 3:33)

Ruth: A Woman of Excellence

"But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'" (Ruth 1:16)

Similar to Tamar, the Book of Ruth highlights a situation in which a woman overcomes obstacles.

Ruth, the Gentile daughter-in-law of the Jewess Naomi, looked to the family goel (kinsman redeemer) to redeem her from widowhood and buy Naomi's land so as to keep it in the family name.

By being redeemed, Ruth would be able to help the widow Naomi who was left without a husband, sons, or grandchildren.

Boaz consented to marry Ruth and to redeem the land, fulfilling the patriarchal duty of keeping the property in the family inheritance. (Ruth 4:5; Deuteronomy 25:6)

Through this union, Boaz and Ruth became ancestors of both King David and Yeshua.

Ruth has some wonderful qualities in addition to being an overcomer, which should inspire men and women alike.

When Ruth's husband died, she could have easily stayed in Moab and let her mother-in-law go on to Israel on her own.

But she insisted on standing by Naomi and returning with her to Israel, even though it was a foreign land to her.

She is a model of chesed (compassion) and courage. She even faced the dangers of gleaning in the field so her mother-in-law could eat.

Ruth further demonstrated loyalty and obedience by agreeing to Naomis plan for her to marry Boaz. (Ruth 3:5)

You can model the faithfulness of Ruth, Disciples, by bringing the Good News of Yeshua to the Jewish People, and the gentiles as well.

Help Share God's Word rightly and desist from the lies of culture and the mind of man. This seems to fight the truth and causes confusion. Be careful wise as your Father and defend the Gospel.

Boaz didn't only marry Ruth because of his responsibility to Naomi. He recognized, along with everyone else, her very evident qualities and called her an eshet chayil, which has been translated as a virtuous and capable wife, a worthy woman, and a woman of excellence.

Don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character [eshet chayil]. (Ruth 3:11)

This same phrase is found in Proverbs 31, which Jewish men recite over their wives every Shabbat as a blessing.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (Proverbs 31:10)

King David's Daughter Tamar: Purity and Innocence

Another woman in the Bible named Tamar is King Davids daughter and the sister of Absalom.

This Tamar is described as an innocent, pure, beautiful virgin.

Davids firstborn son Amnon believes he is madly in love with her and concocts a plan to rape her. Caught in his trap, Tamar attempts to dissuade him, but he forces himself upon her.

Once he is finished with her, he realizes that he doesnt love her, and he throws her out as damaged goods, destroying her emotionally.

David is angry, but he does not act to protect the honour of his beloved daughter, perhaps because of his own guilt in his sin with Bathsheba.

Her other brother Absalom takes care of her, and two years later he takes revenge on Amnon, having him murdered when he thinks the matter has been forgotten.

Her brother Absalom said to her, Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't take this thing to heart. And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom's house, a desolate woman. (2 Samuel 13:20)

The Prophetic Ministry of Judge Deborah

"Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel." (Judges 5:7)

Long before Golda Meir, at age 71, became the first female prime minister of the Jewish homeland, a Jewess named Deborah ruled Israel, showing civil and spiritual leadership.

Unlike the detailed story of the rise of Queen Esther, the Bible does not record the circumstances under which Deborah rose to a position of national leadership.

She is one of few Bible women who achieved that status.

The Bible does, however, indicate in Judges 4:47 that Deborah was not only a wise woman, but she made herself available to assist others in need of that wisdom.

As a judge, the people came to her "to have their disputes decided." (Judges 4:5)

Within her position as judge, Deborah had a prophetic ministry as the Lords messenger.

As a prophet, Deborah would seek God's decisions on issues the people faced, and even issued commands directly.

The Book of Judges reveals that Israel had been drifting away from God, and was experiencing His judgment, which resulted in them being oppressed for 20 years by the significant military might of Jabin and his commander Sisera.

To deliver Israel from oppression and this superior might, God gave Deborah the wisdom, insight, and understanding of a military strategist. She detailed Gods plan to Barak, telling him exactly where the victory would take place.

"She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, 'The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabins army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.' (Judges 4:67)

Barak accepted the plan but told Deborah she would have to accompany him.

"If you go with me, I will go; but if you dont go with me, I wont go," Barak said to her. (Judges 4:8)

Verses 813 underline Deborahs faithful obedience to the Lord, courage, and personal availability as a leader.

Defying, perhaps, the social mores of the day, she accompanied him to the battlefield, prophesying that God would deliver Sisera into the hands of a women as a result.

"Certainly I will go with you," said Deborah. "But because of the course you are taking, the honour will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." (Judges 4:9)

Yael (Jael) fulfilled that prophecy. She welcomed the fleeing Sisera into her tent and killed him as he slept. Her valiant act earned her the following blessing by Deborah and Barak:

"Yael is most blessed of women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; she is most blessed among tent-dwelling women." (Judges 5:24)

A Woman's Place: More than the Home

"She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night." (Proverbs 31:1618)

Although it is obvious from the Bible that women are capable leaders, many societies have done their best to keep women in their place.

The 1960s feminist movement asserted women's capabilities, some saying that they did so in a way that disadvantages men.

At the heart of the Word of God, however, we find that men and women are equal.

The original Biblical model serves to remind us that "God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God, He created them; male and female He created them." (Genesis 1:27)

God created humankind, male and female, in His image. Women are no less the image of God than men.

As well, the Ten Commandments require children to honour both their father and mother:

"Honour [kaved] your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you. (Exodus 20:12)

In other words, we are to consider both our parents as being equally worthy of respect.

Honour or kaved is a central concept of Judaism. This word is related to weight or heavy, as well as glory (kavod).

Judaism holds that we are to treat one another with respect, considering people as having equal weight or importance as ourselves.

Many of us are tempted to think that this kind of respect only involves parents and leaders and that it is not necessarily owed to women or wives.

Nevertheless, it is impossible to fulfill Gods commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves (including the women in our lives), without honouring them and giving them this kind of respect.

Let us honour the women in the Bible by meditating on the valuable lessons that they have to teach us.

And may we reach out with love and respect to the women in our lives.

Disciples, please stand with Bibles For Israel as we endeavour to bring the Good News of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) to the Jewish People here in Israel and around the world.

"For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show My glory to Israel." (Isaiah 46:13)
When in March of 2018, nearly two years ago, actor Irrfan Khan announced to the world that he had been diagnosed with cancer, a gloom descended on his fans and well wishers. Over the years, not only did he emerge as an actor of great eminence, he metamorphosed into a much loved star as well. The actor who started out in films like Salaam Bombay (1988), became a popular character-actor star in his later avatar.

In a world that would cruelly differentiate a star and an entertainer from an actor, Irrfan has come to be seen as blend of the two into a seamless whole. Starting with films like Salaam Bombay, Ek Doctor Ki Maut and TV serials like Bharat Ek Khoj, Chanakya, Chandrakanta and Banegi Apni Baat, it was with The Warrior (2001) that Irrfan first got noticed as they say, in film parlance. He followed it up with Maqbool (2003) and then in 2004s Aan: Men at Work, it was as if commercial masala movie makers started to see a certain potential for mass audience in Irrfan. It was also the time to go international as movie makers began to take a liking to him. In 2005, he had significant roles in commercial films like Chocolate and Rog. However, his breakout moments, both national and internationally came in 2007, when Anurag Basu cast him opposite Konkona Sen as a small-town 30-something man, looking out for a suitable match on a matrimonial web site in Life in a ... Metro! and Angelina Jolie starrer The Mighty Heart and Mira Nairs The Namesake. These films were all successes -- Irrfan had arrived.

Since then, Irrfan has met with success with passing years -- Slumdog Millionaire (2008), New York (2009), Paan Singh Tomar (2012), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), Life of Pi (2012), The Lunchbox (2013), Haider (2014), Piku, Jurassic World, Talvar, The Jungle Book (2016), Hindi Medium and Qarib Qarib Singlle (2017).

Then in March 2018, came the shocker -- Irrfan has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer -- neuro endocrine tumour, a form of cancer that affects ones endocrine system and nervous system. The actor reportedly left for the UK for treatment and has been a long battle against the dreaded disease for the actor.

The process has made his reflective and philosophical. In the few interviews that have come out since, Irrfan has often sounded pensive, calm and introspective about life. Here are few other instances when Irrfan has spoken about life, its deeper and hidden meanings and how the disease has changed him as a person.

Before the launch of the trailer of the film in February, when Irrfan again took ill and could not promote the film, as he had expected, the makers released an audio-video in which he spoke to his fans presenting the film and deliberating about his health. He had said how when life gives us lemons it is not easy to make a shikanji (lemonade). He had said: I am with you and not with you. This film, Angrezi Medium, is very special to me. I truly wanted to promote this film as passionately as we made it, but there are some unwanted guests in my body and theyre keeping me busy. Ill keep you informed on that front. Theres a saying, when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. It feels good to hear, but when life really hands you lemons, making lemonade is really difficult.

One doesnt have any other choice but to remain positive. Whether you are able to make lemonade in such situations is entirely up to you. Weve made this film with the same sort of positivity. I hope this film is able to make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Enjoy the trailer, and be kind to each other, and enjoy the film. And yes, wait for me.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, he mentioned how after falling sick, he realised the true meaning of what running out of time meant. He said, I had become excessively busy (before falling ill), so much so that I almost missed (watching) my sons (Babil and Ayan) become young adults from little boys. I was running out of time all the time. Ironically now, I have kind of an idea what running out of time actually means. So, I am just counting my blessings and thanking everyone who has prayed for me.

In an interview to Mid Day, Irrfan spoke about how this disease had made him more sensitive to life around him and how he now noticed the smallest of gestures. When your life experience changes so drastically, the actor is bound to change, too. Actors get their stimuli from their personal life. I will be indebted to this films crew all my life. I wasnt sure if I would be able to shoot in such extreme weather, but Anil Mehta [cinematographer] made it easier. Perhaps, I have become more sensitive because I noticed even the smallest of gestures of those around.

Through these two years of his fight against the illness, his wife Sutapa Sikdar has been his pillar to strength. Reflecting on his will to survive, he had said that if he survived this disease, he would want to live for her. In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, he had said, Its been a roller-coaster ride, a memorable one. Happy moments were underlined because of the inherent uncertainty. We cried a little and laughed a lot. We became one huge body. You screen out noises You are selective about what you want to filter in. I have gone through tremendous anxiety but have somehow managed to control it, then, let go. You are playing hopscotch all the time.

Also read: Rohit Shetty unfollows Katrina Kaif on Instagram days after his nobody will notice Katrina comment

Speaking about his kids and wife, he had added, And the best part is that I have had all the time literally to see them evolve. A crucial time for a teenager, like the younger one. The older one isnt a teenager anymore. What to say about Sutapa (wife)? She is there 24/7. She has evolved in care-giving and if I get to live, I want to live for her. She is the reason for me to keep at it still.

Angrezi Medium, a sequel to 2017s hit Hindi Medium, release this week. The film also stars Radhika Madan, Kareena Kapoor, Deepak Dobriyal, Pankaj Tripathi and Dimple Kapadia in prominent roles.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The roster of insurance-related conferences being canceled, postponed or moved to virtual due to the coronavirus threat keeps changing. Here is an updated list:

March

Property Liability Research Bureau (PLRB) called off its 2020 Claims Conference scheduled to start Sunday, March 8 at the Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C

Insurance data analytics and risk modeling firm Verisk converted its Cyber and Casualty Seminar scheduled for March 10 in New York City from an in-person to a free virtual event.

The Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) announced the organization canceled its 2020 International Conference scheduled for Mar. 8-10, at the Westin Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage, California because of safety concerns due to COVID-19.

The Wholesale and Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) has canceled the following events:

March 11-12 Legislative Fly-In (Washington D.C.)

March 15-18 Insurtech Conference (New Orleans)

March 27-28 Extreme Risk Takers Symposium (Chicago)

The Consumer Federation of America has decided to reschedule the National Food Policy Conference to a later date in 2020. The conference was scheduled to occur March 11 and 12.

Georgia State University Risk Management Foundation has canceled the 6th Annual Riskies Awards scheduled for the evening of March 12, 2020.

Benefits management platform Benefitfocus said it will now hold its annual conference, One Place 2020, scheduled for March 17-19 in Charleston, S.C., as a digital event.

The National Cannabis Risk Management Association (NCRMA) has decided to postpone NCRMA2020, its conference on March 22-24 in Las Vegas. The event will now be held in the fall.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has decided to hold the Spring National Meeting scheduled as a live event for Phoenix from March 21-24 in a virtual-only format. Below is a tentative schedule, which is still subject to change:

The public portion of the NAICs special session on state responses to COVID-19 will be held on March 20, 2020, starting at 11 a.m. ET via virtual meeting.

Working groups, subgroups and other meetings will be held via conference calls March 16-31, 2020.

Task force meetings will be held via conference calls April 1-10, 2020.

Executive Committee and letter committees will be held via conference calls the week of April 13, 2020.

EX/Plenary will meet via public conference call on April 20, 2020.

The Casualty Actuarial Society has canceled its 2020 Ratemaking, Product and Modeling (RPM) Seminar Planning Committee in New Orleans that was to start March 22. See the FAQ for information.

The Ceres 2020 Investor Summit on Climate Risk scheduled for March 23-26 in New York has been canceled. The group said it is arranging to offer a digital program in the weeks and months to come.

April

WSIA has canceled its April 3 Extreme Risk Takers Symposium in Santa Barbara.

The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) has postponed its European Risk Management Awards 2020 dinner that it planned to host in London on April 23. The new date is December 8, 2020.

WSIA also said it is still evaluating two education programs, including an April 28  May 1 Executive Leadership Summit (ELS) in Washington D.C. and a June 7-10 Excess & Surplus Lines program in St. Louis.

May

The Financial Health Network canceled its Emerge conference, scheduled for May 5-7, 2020 in Atlanta.

Topics Excess Surplus Washington Training Development Risk Management
Disability Awareness Day is an annual event that draws more than 300 people to the Vermont Statehouse every year.

But this year, group leaders canceled because they say they couldn't risk people who are more susceptible getting sick.

"I was disappointed, but overall I support the decision," said Zachary Hughes of Montpelier.

Hughes says he understands the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights wants to limit the spread of coronavirus, but other event attendees tell him they still wish they had the option to go.

He says a good thing that has come out of this is that people are considering precautions those with disabilities experience every day to keep themselves healthy.

"Everyone who's lived in these categories of asthma, heart problems, they know enough to exercise judgement about it, know very well what they can take the risk of and what they can't take the risk of," said Hughes.

That includes things like shaking hands and sharing food. And he says acknowledging Disability Awareness Day amid coronavirus concerns is an opportunity to initiate conversations about equality.

"It's really about connecting that lived experience with legislators," said Sarah Launderville, the president of Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights.

Launderville and the advocacy groups running the Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights canceled the event. She says because of coronavirus, state leaders are talking about policies her organization pushes daily.

"So now we're really having conversations around paid leave -- being out of the office, telecommuting, that sort of thing. People with disabilities have been having a really hard time accessing jobs for years, and have asked for reasonable accommodations to be able to work from home occasionally, and businesses really haven't bought into that or even showed any interest in it. Now all of a sudden because there is a crisis, we're starting to see movement in that," said Launderville.

She also wants to remind people that leaving that extra bottle of hand sanitizer or package of disinfecting wipes on the shelf could save someone who's more vulnerable and doesn't have the means to stock up on supplies.

"The people who really, really need that in order to stay safe, to be able to stay safe in our society, are not having access to that," said Launderville.

Ultimately, disability right advocates advise people to live their lives as normally as possible, with precautions in mind.

"This is the same thing with hand washing. We've always known hand washing is good, until now, we really know," said Hughes.

The organization says the most vulnerable communities, those with underlying health conditions, are sometimes left out of the conversation.

"I'll see articles or statements that really talk about general population, but not also talking about people who have asthma, who have heart conditions, who have diabetes, that are at greater risk for developing longer symptoms, including death. We've seen those are the people that are just at greater risk," said Launderville.

The Vermont Center for Independent Living says it's important coronavirus information is as inclusive as possible, from using simple language and pictures for people with intellectual disabilities, to putting captions on videos for people who are hard of hearing.
Mike Speck is ready for a new stage of his career -- by making use of an old stage.

Speck, the new director of operations for the Chatfield Center for the Arts , brings years of theater experience to the position. He plans to make more use of the stage in the 84-year-old Potter Auditorium in the former school building.

Enter the bard.

The art center will host Minneapolis-based Classical Actors Ensemble for a performance of " A Midsummer Nights Dream " May 7. Classical Actors Ensemble is a professional acting company that specializes in pieces and plays of the English Renaissance.

"Were looking at not just being a center for concerts but a center for all the arts," Speck said. "As awesome as the music is -- and it is -- we want to expand use of the stage."

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Speck said hes looking forward to seeing professional actors grace the stage, but admits its a bit of a leap of faith.

"Were crossing our fingers a little bit," he said.

Producing a well-known Shakespeare work will help in a couple of ways, he said. One, the show itself, with mythical faeries and a fantastic setting can itself be a draw. Two, Shakespeare didnt rely on massive sets to tell his stores.

"The neat thing about doing Shakespeare is his plays are made to be performed on a more open stage," Speck said. "Theres less in the way of heavy labor that needs to be done."

The Potter Auditorium does host a few other theater events. Its home to Wits End Theatre and hosts productions by Chatfield High School, Speck said. Add in being in the center of a region rich in theater organizations and interest, Speck said he expects a good turnout.

"Im optimistic because those high school theater and community theater crowds might be vested in seeing professional actors use that stage," he said.

{{tncms-inline content="<p>What: "A Midsummer Night's Dream"</p> <p>When: Thursday, May 7</p> <p>Where: Potter Auditorium, Chatfield Center for the Arts, 405 Main St. S</p> <p>Cost: $15 student and advance, $20 door, chatfieldarts.org or 507-884-7676</p>" id="2c6299ee-dc31-47d6-9eda-10bf3d20afbd" style-type="fact" title="If You Go" type="relcontent"}}

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What: "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

When: Thursday, May 7

Where: Potter Auditorium, Chatfield Center for the Arts, 405 Main St. S

Cost: $15 student and advance, $20 door, chatfieldarts.org or 507-884-7676

Due to concerns about coronavirus, this performance was postponed from Saturday, March 21, to Thursday, May 7.
(CNN)  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 story was first published on CNN.com, "Consumers snap up PhoneSoap to sanitize cell phones as coronavirus outbreak spreads."
As the virus spreads, a growing number of people across the country are living under the cloud of having been associated with it, however remotely. Some have had longtime friends and neighbors disappear on them. Others have had babysitters abruptly quit. Still others, like Christina Kerby, have been shamed for buying lunch in public, even after they were cleared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to move about freely.
While Prabhas is currently in Europe shooting for Radhe Krishna Kumar's directorial venture, it's his upcoming film with Nag Ashwin that has been grabbing headlines every other day. The talented actor announced his 21st project not too long ago on social media and since then everyone has been wondering about the leading lady of the film. We had exclusively reported about Deepika Padukone being approached for the sci-fi movie.

But it looks like she isn't the only one being considered for Ashwin's big-budget film. Reportedly, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt are also in the running. So the big question is - who should romance Prabhas in his next outing?

Deepika Padukone

Ranveer Singh's wifey has already established herself as a bankable actress in Bollywood. And the leggy beauty recently made her Hollywood debut as well with xXx: Return of Xander Cage. In fact, Deepika made her acting debut with Kannada film Aishwarya in 2006 and then in 2010 she even entered the Tamil industry with Rajinikanth starrer Kochadaiiyaan. So going by her vast and diverse filmography, we think it's just the perfect time for the Piku heroine to make her mark in Telugu cinema too. Also, Prabhas and Deepika would look great together on the big screen, don't you guys agree?

Katrina Kaif

Unlike her contemporary Deepika, Kat has already done films in Telugu. Yes, you heard that right. The B-town babe starred in Malliswari and Allari Pidugu back in 2004 and 2005 respectively. So the fact that the Sooryavanshi actress already knows how things work in Telugu cinema is good enough reason for Ashwin to cast her opposite the Saaho hero. Plus, it would be interesting to see Prabhas and Katrina's chemistry on 70mm. So all in all, if Kat bags the coveted project then it would be equally exciting, no?

Alia Bhatt

The Highway actress is yet to make her presence felt in the South film industry. However, she is already doing RRR which is going to be one of the biggest Telugu releases of next year. And if she can follow it up with another magnum opus like Prabhas starrer then we think Ms Bhatt would become a bigger name down South. Though her pairing with Prabhas may seem unconventional, Alia will definitely do a good job as she's doing a sci-fi thriller in Bollywood and that will definitely come in handy for her if she signs Ashwin's untitled film.

Lastly, we think all the three ladies are supremely talented so whoever ends up doing the film, we are sure won't disappoint. But we want to know your thoughts. So comment below and let us know who should star opposite Prabhas in his next film.

ALSO READ

EXCLUSIVE: Was Deepika Padukone Approached For Prabhas Starrer By Nag Ashwin?
Russian lawmakers have approved constitutional changes to permit President Vladimir Putin to remain in power past 2024.

Russias lower house of parliament passed the measures Wednesday, by a vote of 343 to zero. Forty-three members did not take part in the vote.

The constitution requires Putin to step down in 2024 when his fourth presidential term ends. The new reforms would permit him to seek an additional two terms.

The 67-year-old Putin has been an influential part of Russian politics for twenty years as either president or prime minister.

Russias constitutional court must approve the constitutional changes for them to take effect. A nationwide vote on the proposed amendments is set for April 22.

The measures extend more powers to the presidency. They also ban same-sex marriage and declare a belief in God as one of Russias traditional values.

Putin made an appearance in parliament on Tuesday to argue that term limits were less important in times of crisis. In his words, the measures, are needed, and I am sure they will be useful for society, for our citizens."

Russian government critics and opposition groups condemned the parliamentary action and called for protests.

On Tuesday night, about 200 people demonstrated individually near the Kremlin - the only legal form of protest in Russia without approval from the government.

Activist Alexei Miniaylo had posted a message on Facebook calling for the protest of Parliaments action. It was clear from the start that it is being done to keep Putin in power forever, he said.

Two opposition groups called for a bigger protest in Moscow on March 21 or March 22, and sought approval from city officials. Soon after, the officials banned until April 10 all outdoor events of more than 5,000 people. The officials said the ban would help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

Activists then made a new request Wednesday that reduced the number of demonstrators from 50,000 to 4,500. Civil Society movement leader Mikhail Svetov told the Associated Press, Our position is that if the coronavirus is such a dangerous threat, then they should cancel the vote, as it can expose millions of people to infection. He said if it is safe for the country to vote on constitutional reforms, then demonstrations should be permitted as well.

Activists are planning demonstrations in other Russian cities also, said Tatyana Usmanova, a member of the group No. It formed two months ago to organize opposition efforts against the proposed constitutional action. She said the issue gets to people, because it is totally out of line.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Caty Weaver was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

expose  v. to put (someone or something) at risk from a harmful action or condition
ATLANTA - The Georgia House of Representatives approved legislation Thursday that would dramatically overhaul a state law that makes it a crime for people who know they have HIV to have sex without first disclosing the infection.

Advocates say the measure would be a milestone in the South, where the bulk of new HIV diagnoses occur and stigma around the disease remains high.

For a southern state, this is a big deal, said Nina Martinez, with the Georgia HIV Justice Coalition.

The bill passed the state House 124-40 and now goes to the state Senate.

Georgia is among roughly 20 states that criminalize the failure to disclose HIV status before sex. Authorities in Georgia made nearly 600 arrests from 1988 to September 2017 on suspicion of HIV-related crimes, according to a 2018 study by the Williams Institute, a think-tank at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law.

The new bill would decriminalize that failure unless the person intends to infect someone and engages in a sex act that has a significant risk of transmission based on the latest science. The burden would be on prosecutors to establish intent, and defendants could beat the charge by showing they used a condom or took medication that makes transmission of HIV effectively impossible, Martinez said.

California has a similar law for HIV and other communicable diseases.

In an earlier version of the bill, the penalty for violating the law was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanour, but lawmakers scrapped that change.

Supporters of decriminalizing HIV exposure say it reflects the reality that HIV is not easy to contract and can be managed these days with drugs. Rather than deter behaviour that could transmit the virus, existing laws could exacerbate the epidemic, health experts and advocates for HIV patients say.

It is time for us to remove part of the stigma that keeps people that are HIV positive from getting treatment or even to go to be identified, which then puts the rest of our population at risk for further infections, Rep. Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, a sponsor of the Georgia bill, said at a hearing last month.

The laws defenders point to statistics showing tens of thousands of new HIV diagnoses each year and say that although the disease may not be a death sentence, it still requires a lifetime of expensive medical treatment.

Some states have made more modest changes. North Carolina and Michigan recently updated their HIV policies to exempt HIV patients from prosecution if theyre on medication that has suppressed their virus. A Louisiana law that took effect in August 2018 allows defendants to challenge a charge of exposing someone to HIV by presenting evidence that a doctor advised them they werent infectious.

People with HIV who are on antiretroviral drugs that keep their viral load below a specific threshold have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But as of 2016, only a little more than half of the estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV in the U.S. were virally suppressed, the CDC says.

Many advocates say policies such as those in North Carolina and Michigan create an underclass of people who lack access to drugs and are therefore still vulnerable to prosecution.

The Georgia legislation is advancing as the Trump administration aims to eradicate HIV by 2030  an effort that has focused attention on the South. Southern states accounted for more than half of the nearly 40,000 new HIV diagnoses in 2017, though fewer people are aware of their disease in the South than in any other region, according to the CDC.
MUCH has been made of the 3-16 scoreline in the All-Ireland final between Limerick and Galway matching Frank Hogans original John 3:16 sign.

But he died on Saturday, March 7 which using the American date system is 3/7 and Franks most famous placard is John 3:7. This would have made the Christian Evangelist smile.

Few supporters have resonated with so many as the late Frank. It was a remarkable achievement by somebody as softly spoken and and unassuming as Frank was. Yet for decades there was hardly a Sunday that went by that Frank wasnt in the throng of a terrace.

And proudly out in front of him was his bright yellow John 3:7 sign meaning, Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.

In an interview with the Limerick Leader back in 2009, Frank said: Im surprised that the Lord has made John 3:7 so acceptable to everybody. Its quite extraordinary. Usually when Christians go out to evangelise, they say to them did you get many conversations and that makes me laugh. Some days when I come home from a match my voice is gone!

He was laid to rest in Mount St Lawrence after removal from Thompsons funeral home this Tuesday afternoon.

Everybody was fond of Frank. But that was not always the case.

In a moving graveside oration, his long-time friend Gerry Nugent said: Though oft abused in those early days at matches Frank Hogan did go with a big yellow sign with a text from Gods word, the bible.

He continued: Was he a fool carrying a sign  but only in the eyes of those who were / are still dead in sin. Tis no fool that will nail his colours to the mast and stand up for God and his word in a land of idolatry and wickedness. Year after year Frank trod the roads for God  Munster finals, All-Irelands, club games, often in the wet and cold.

Mr Nugent described Frank as a husband, a father, a brother, and for many years a loyal servant of his Lord and saviour Jesus Christ who has gone home to heaven and is in Gods wonderful presence right now.

The 81-year-old is survived by his wife Myrna, son Jason, and daughter Natasha.

In his oration Mr Nugent addressed the most common question  why did he carry that sign?

Because Frank Hogan was born again, saved by Gods free grace, having received the gift of God. He wanted everybody in the world to know about this wonderful salvation found in Christ alone, said Mr Nugent.

After the Leader broke the sad news on Monday, tributes flowed in for Frank. He was a little part of every sporting fan.

Originally from Borrisokane he made his home in Castletroy and over the last three decades he followed Limerick through the good times and the bad.

Sadly as his health failed in recent years, Frank was not able to attend the All-Ireland final between Limerick and Galway in 2018.

Prior to his John 3:7 sign, Frank had a John 3:16 sign. John Cregan, chairman of Limerick GAA, said wasnt it ironic that Limerick scored 3-16 in that match.

John 3:16 states: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

That All-Ireland final win did give eternal life to so many.

Mr Cregan said as long as he is going to matches he can vividly remember seeing Frank and noticing him on the train because he had the big long placard with him.

You would always see him. He persisted. Some of these things come and go but he was a constant. He persisted in spreading his message in a very novel kind of way, said Mr Cregan, who on behalf of Limerick GAA expressed his sympathies to the Hogan family.

He was somebody who was always there. He always managed to get that shot on camera. Even if you werent at a game you would see him because he was always picked out from the crowd. He obviously believed very much in spreading his message.

It was an ideal way of doing it, travelling the length and breadth of the country. From our point he view he was quite an iconic figure, standing with his placard all of the time. It is sad that Frank has passed to his eternal reward but he will be fondly remembered by everybody in Limerick GAA and, indeed, the wider sporting community throughout the country, said Mr Cregan.
MTN CEO Rob Shuter says South Africans can expect an announcement from the company regarding data price cuts shortly.

This comes after Vodacom and the Competition Commission reached an agreement on 10 March 2020 regarding the Data Service Market Inquiry.

Vodacom agreed to reduce mobile data prices by over 30% across all monthly data bundles for contract and prepaid customers.

Vodacom has also agreed to drop its monthly data bundle prices across the board by up to 40% over a two-year period.

The company will further extend personal discounts to customers in 2,000 areas where most of the population have income levels below the upper-bound food poverty line.

After this announcement, eyes were on MTN to see what their agreement with the Competition Commission would look like.

Shuter said MTN has had constructive engagement with the Competition Commission since their Data Service Market Inquiry was released.

We are trying to find the right balance between addressing their concerns, giving more value, while making sure that our business is sustainable, he said.

He said data pricing transformation in South Africa is desperately needed to make Internet access more affordable for entry-level customers.

We believe strongly that this will be much easier to accommodate if we have additional spectrum to carry the traffic, Shuter said.

We are very close to finding each other. We expect to make an announcement shortly.

The need for more spectrum

Shuter told Business Day that as you make data more affordable, you get more usage, you acquire new users, and you get price elasticity.

This has worked well for MTN in its other markets, but the challenge in South Africa is a lack of spectrum.

Shuter said MTN South Africa has less spectrum than in the 21 other countries where it operates.

It is complex to implement this commercial strategy as we do not have the have the spectrum to carry the extra traffic, he said.

The MTN CEO is upbeat on what is going to happen over the next 12-18 months, however.

He said there is good progress on the state getting ready to license new spectrum, which will make it easier to cut data prices.

Rob Shuter interview



Now read: Big Vodacom data price cuts and free SMSs for prepaid customers
CHESTER SPRINGS, Pa. and CHICAGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Advaite, an innovative biotech company focused on developing novel diagnostics, announced today that it will begin supplying the global market with its COVID-19 rapid response diagnostic testing kits, ADVAITE RAPCOV, to help efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus infection. This diagnostic test kit was developed in collaboration with Dr. Jun Xing, Windsor, Canada using a proprietary technology (US IP pending). In light of the emergence of this pathogen (COVID-19 virus) and its impact on public health, there is an urgent and unmet need to identify patients who may be carrying the virus. The COVID-19 rapid response test utilizes immunochromatography technique which highlights the presence of anti-COVID-19 IgM and IgG antibodies in their specific bands and verifies the validity of the test with a third control band. Based on the presence or absence of IgM and IgG antibody bands, the COVID-19 rapid response test provides presumptive differentiation between recent and past infections.

In light of the World Health Organization's declaration that coronavirus infection has risen to the level of a pandemic, Advaite intends to distribute COVID-19 diagnostic kits worldwide. To this end, it has filed an application with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to produce its diagnostic kits under the agency's Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Pending FDA EUA, the kits could be available soon in the U.S. for the detection of the COVID-19 virus. Given the diagnostic's ability to provide results in 15-30 minutes from a drop of fingertip blood, as well as the fact that its use is not limited to the traditional laboratory setting, the Advaite test offers the promise of providing healthcare workers an ideal solution for mass screening of large populations such as academic and healthcare institutions, public and private businesses, global tourism hubs, airports and other ports of entry.

"Tests that can rapidly and accurately identify patients infected with the COVID-19 virus are critical to the efforts to contain the disease," said Karthik Musunuri, Chief Executive Officer of Advaite. "More widespread testing for the virus will enable healthcare workers to isolate and treat patients much faster." "In testing at a provincial blood bank in China, the Advaite diagnostic test demonstrated accuracy of over 94% in blood samples obtained from COVID-19 infected patients" said Sandeep Jain MD, Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago and Chief Scientific Officer of Advaite. "The addition of Advaite's highly accurate, sensitive and specific test to the COVID-19 diagnostic testing menu is a great step forward to help clinicians to rapidly evaluate patients suspected of having COVID-19 virus infection" said Bellur S. Prabhakar PhD, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Associate Dean for Technological Innovation and Training, Senior Associate Dean for Research and the past Director of the Center for Global Health at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago.

About Advaite

ADVAITE Inc. is a biotech company focused on developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics to help patients suffering from a variety of debilitating diseases. The word 'Advaite' means 'one without a second', unrivaled or unique. At ADVAITE, we aspire to be just that. ADVAITE operates from two locations, Chester Springs, PA and University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Incubator facility in Chicago, IL.

SOURCE Advaite Inc.

Related Links

http://www.advaite.com


Chennai: Actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth on Thursday pulled back the curtains a little on plans for the launch of his political party ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In his first official press conference since December 31, 2017, Rajinikanth shot down speculation of CM aspiration, saying the chief ministerial candidate of his yet-to-be-launched party would be someone young and well-educated.

With a two-leadership system for party and the government, the former would act as an "opposition" to highlight issues and would not even hesitate to "remove", apparently the head of the government, if it fails to perform, he said.

His prospective party would focus on including a substantial amount of youngsters in the age group of below 45 years while the rest would comprise retired judges and IAS and IPS officials among others. "I myself would reach out to them and invite them," to join him, the 69-year-old actor said.

Contrary to expectations, he however, did not make a concrete statement on floating his party but called for an "uprising" by youth, after which he would make his formal political entry.

To maintain that he had made his stance clear in 2017 when he said he is ready to take the political plunge, Rajinikanth played a video of his old speech in which he said he held no hopes of becoming the chief minister.

I will be a party leader and the CM will be someone who is a youngster, educated, and has vision and self-respect. The party leader will work like an opposition leader. If they (elected representatives of the party) dont listen, we will remove them, but it wont be a parallel governmentThis is my plan, he said.

The 30-minute speech by Rajinikanth dashed hopes of the actors die-hard fans who had hoped that their Thalaivaa (leader) could be a potential CM candidate in the post-Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa era in Tamil Nadu.

The district secretaries of Rajini Makkal Mandram, the actors fan club and launched for the party, too, expressed disappointment over his decision this Thursday when Rajinikanth met them.

The actor said he was upset that none of the office-bearers of RMM accepted his proposal. A good follower is someone who listens to his leader. A leader who listens to everything his followers say is not a good leader, Rajinikanth added.

Political observers say Rajini has indirectly made it clear that 2021 is a battle between the AIADMK and the DMK.

As Rajini has conceded it, it is the two Dravidian majors domination all over again. Also, the BJP that purportedly counted on Rajini may have lost further steam, and has one option less in assembly polls, said analyst N Sathiya Moorthy.
A study found that viable virus could be detected up to four hours on copper and up to 24 hours on cardboard.

The new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for as long as two to three days, tests by U.S. government and other scientists have found.

Their work, published Wednesday, doesnt prove that anyone has been infected through breathing it from the air or by touching contaminated surfaces, researchers stress.

Were not by any way saying there is aerosolized transmission of the virus, but this work shows that the virus stays viable for long periods in those conditions, so its theoretically possible, said study leader Neeltje van Doremalen at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Since emerging in China late last year, the new virus has infected more than 120,000 people worldwide and caused more than 4,300 deaths  far more than the 2003 SARS outbreak caused by a genetically similar virus.

For this study, researchers used a nebulizer device to put samples of the new virus into the air, imitating what might happen if an infected person coughed or made the virus airborne some other way.

They found that viable virus could be detected up to three hours later in the air, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

Similar results were obtained from tests they did on the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak, so differences in the durability of the viruses do not account for how much more widely the new one has spread, researchers say.

The tests were done at the National Institutes of Healths Rocky Mountain Lab in Hamilton, Montana, by scientists from the NIH, Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles, with funding from the U.S. government and the National Science Foundation.

The findings have not been reviewed by other scientists yet and were posted on a site where researchers can quickly share their work before publication.

Its a solid piece of work that answers questions people have been asking, and shows the value and importance of the hygiene advice that public health officials have been stressing, said Julie Fischer, a microbiology professor at Georgetown University.

What we need to be doing is washing our hands, being aware that people who are infected may be contaminating surfaces, and keeping hands away from the face, she said.

As for the best way to kill the virus, its something were researching right now, but cleaning surfaces with solutions containing diluted bleach is likely to get rid of it, van Doremalen said.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to give VND350bn (USD15m) to five provinces in the Mekong Delta region to cope with the ongoing drought and saline intrusion.

Illustrative image

Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces will receive VND70bn each. The money will be used to pump water, build water pipes and buy equipment to transfer water. The government will monitor the process to ensure that the money will be appropriately used.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep said saline intrusion had badly affected the daily lives and production of the Mekong Delta since last December. It is predicted to worsen from March 7 to 15.

Saline water will intrude 100 to 110 km into the mainland through the Vam Co Dong and Vam Co Tay estuaries in Long An Province.

"During the dry season, saline intrusion will worsen along with high tides until the end of April," Hiep said.

39,000ha of rice last year and over 30% of the spring-winter crop have been damaged because of drought and saline intrusion. 95,000 households are in difficulties and suffering from water shortage, 24,000 households are in Soc Trang Province.

Laodong/Dtinews

Central Vietnam at high risk of drought: official The central region is at high risk of drought from March to May, the remaining months of this dry season, said Deputy Director of the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting Vu Duc Long said on March 9.
CINCINNATI, OH / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Family RV Group, a specialty retailer of new and used recreational vehicles ("RVs") and related services, with twelve dealerships and service locations in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia, has announced the promotion of Robert "Bob" Ginnan to President, in addition to his current role as Chief Financial Officer, effective March 11, 2020.

Bob joined Family RV as Chief Financial Officer in 2018. His background includes extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning and managing relationships with lenders, regulators and investors. He previously spent more than 20 years with Standard Register in Dayton, Ohio and more recently as Senior Vice President and CFO of The Oneida Group, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Ginnan will replace Walt Rodgers.

Ken Heuer, principal with Kidd & Company and Family RV Board Member, said, "The Board is very pleased to promote Mr. Ginnan to his newly expanded role. Mr. Ginnan has proved to be invaluable during his tenure as Chief Financial Officer, particularly as a strong contributor and trusted member of the executive leadership team at Family RV." Mr. Heuer added, "We are completely confident that Bob can continue to provide outstanding leadership to ensure the Company's continued growth in the future."

About Family RV

Family RV began in Cincinnati in 1968 as a family-owned and operated RV dealership, providing sales of new and used RVs, related services, parts and accessories for RV owners and camping enthusiasts. Family RV has grown to twelve locations across five states and has developed a stellar reputation among its customers for delivering best-in-class sales and service. For more information, visit www.familyrvgroup.com.

About Kidd & Company

Based in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, Kidd & Company is the private investment arm of the Kidd Family Office engaged in sponsoring private equity transactions in the lower middle market. The firm's focus is on driving superior returns by implementing fundamental strategic and operational improvements to drive above-market growth in revenue and earnings, both organically and through accretive acquisitions. The diverse skill set of its partners allows Kidd & Company to bring management, operational, sales and marketing, corporate finance and merger and acquisition expertise to bear to substantially increase the total value of its investments. For more information, visit www.kiddcompany.com.

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CONTACT:

Jerry Watkins

513-923-5440

jwatkins@familyrvgroup.com

SOURCE: Family RV Group





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As the state and national responses to the outbreak of the new coronavirus develop, employees for the Springfield-based Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. have been told to work from home beginning March 16 if they are able to do so, according to a company official and a message sent Thursday by chairman and CEO Roger Crandall.

Earlier today, we did ask all of our employees who have the ability to work remotely to do so beginning Monday, said Laura Crisco, MassMutuals head of media relations.

The company has about 3,500 employees in Springfield, 1,500 in Enfield and about 500 in Boston.

For the past week thousands of employees have already been working from home without any disruption to the companys day-to-day operations, Crandall said in his email. While there will be a limited number of essential staff still working at the Springfield office the majority of employees will not be accessing the building until further notice.

We had already previously canceled non-essential domestic and international business travel and large-scale events, proactively tested our work from home capabilities, restricted non-essential guests at our facilities and enhanced our cleaning protocols at our office, all of which continue, Crisco said.

Employees will be allowed to work from home starting Friday. There is no timeline as to when they will be able to return to the building.

This is our latest effort to reduce the potential spread of this virus, protect the health of our employees, their families, and our community and assure the continuity of our business operations, she said. We continue to monitor this evolving situation, will adjust our approach as needed and continue to stay in close communication with our employees.

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Retail may be changing, but here's why this tried-and-true practice prevails.

At a time when discovering and shopping a buzzy brand requires little more than a wifi connection and an Instagram account, for many designers one of the most tried-and-true methods of connecting with their customers  repeat and potential  remains: the trunk show.

Trunk shows haven't really gotten the same level of media attention during a time when the future of retail more recently has been pegged on advancements in augmented reality, pop-up temporary retail or experiential events. Perhaps understandably so: Trunk shows aren't exactly a novel concept. A 1998 New York Times article suggested "the era of the trunk show is upon us." But now, over two decades later, designers and retailers hold contradicting opinions on the practice.

"Trunk shows are an important part of the business from a vendor, retailer and customer perspective," says Shelley E. Kohan, a retail pundit, business strategist, speaker and professor. The benefits reach everyone involved, she argues: Vendors and brands test out a new market, retailers build customer loyalty with events that offer exclusive access and customers are exposed to brands or styles beyond their norm. In addition to the effect on sales  which Kohan says may not always be significant  "the excitement and engagement drive customer loyalty to the brand and the retailer."

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Kristen Cole, president and chief creative officer of the luxury boutique Forty Five Ten, argues that trunk shows are valuable beyond the same-day monetary gains. "Sometimes we don't see the immediate sales impact day of, but often we do it anyways because after our clients meet the designer and the selling staff gets more behind the designer, we see a spike in sales laterin subsequent seasons," she says.

Story continues

For Forty Five Ten, trunk shows may just be part of the secret sauce for its famous curation of established luxury brands and more unexpected labels that can't be found on most retail floors. "That is an investment we are willing to make for designers we see real potential in," adds Cole of the brands that have found success through trunk shows, citing Area and Maisie Wilen as examples.

Designers themselves are finding that trunk shows offer an opportunity to change the course of their businesses. "You instantly learn what's working, what's not, how it can improve and even what you might be missing," says designer Jonathan Cohen.

Cohen and his co-founder, Sarah Leff, launched a waste-conscious line under the eponymous label called The Studio last year after a positive response from a trunk show audience. "Before Fall 2019 trunk shows, we cut one dress shape in 19 prints from our excess fabric and tested it with a consumer who was already buying into the brand," Leff says. "We got real-time feedback on what they loved about the dress and why they would buy it. This ultimately allowed us to take a jump and launch our own e-commerce late last year."

Beyond the quantifiable, the value of trunk shows lies in "the face-to-face interaction with clients," adds Leff. "It's amazing to sit in a dressing room with a woman and [have] her tell you that she bought a dress of yours for a special event. It allows us to define who the Jonathan Cohen woman is."

It's this IRL aspect that resonates strongest amongst designers.

Tanya Taylor averages between eight to 12 trunk shows a year  mostly in key markets including Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and Miami  that are tailored specifically to regional customers. "We have seen how the customer's excitement during an event has translated to increased sales," Taylor says. "In a noisy world, trunk shows are a great way for us to bring the brand story directly to the customer and to engage with them in real life."

For Victor Glemaud, it's the social and celebratory aspect of trunk shows that appeal to him. "I treat 'trunk shows' more as a happening or really fun gathering of friends in a retail environment," he explains. "We show the collections on models, have great music with a live DJ and serve skinny margaritas and nibbles. Plus, I invite all of my friends in each city." Example: When his brand debuted at Saks Fifth Avenue, Glemaud co-hosted a trunk show with Vogue fashion director Virginia Smith and celebrity stylist Kate Young, two longtime friends.

"I do think more designers should get out there," advises Glemaud, echoing a similar sentiment expressed by his fellow designers who recognize some connections  and eventual brand loyalty  can't be replicated through a screen.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 89% of total retail sales in the last quarter of 2019 were attributed to physical stores, not e-commerce. Retailers can't necessarily afford to fall back on old practices that don't work  and yet, trunk shows are perhaps an irreplaceable exception, even among newer approaches to retail.

"There are significant opportunities for DTC and pop-up shops to use trunk shows as a method to test markets and to gain valuable feedback from customers," says Kohan of the latest market trends.

For Cohen  who shares that he typically begins holding trunk shows following sales appointments for each season  the practice is as beneficial for his business as it is for his creativity. "I believe it's actually where the pulse of fashion is happening," he says. "It's where you see your creations come to life and interpreted in the real world."

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Iran says the new coronavirus has killed 75 more people, raising the death toll to 429 amid over 10,000 cases in the Islamic Republic.

That's according to a Health Ministry spokesman who spoke in a live, televised conference on Thursday.

Iran is the hardest-hit country in the Mideast by the new coronavirus, which sickens but largely doesn't kill those afflicted.

Iran has asked for an emergency USD 5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to combat the outbreak there.

The rising casualty figures each day there suggests the fight against the new coronavirus is far from over. Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ministry of Defence has set up seven more quarantine facilities for COVID-19 patients, especially for Indian citizens being brought to back from coronavirus-hit countries, an official said on Thursday.

The facilities have been set up at Jaisalmer, Suratgadh, Jhansi, Jodhpur, Deolali, Kolkata and Chennai.

"We are expecting more civilians to be brought back to India. We are ready with our facilities," Army spokesperson Colonel Aman Anand said.

The Army is already operating a quarantine facility in Manesar while the one in Hindon, near Ghaziabad, is being operated by the air force.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ibrahim Haider, a member of the Air Force Intelligence who recently moved to Sweden, is accused of kidnapping and killing innocent civilians reports Zaman Al Wasl.

Many of Bashar al-Assads thugs, known as shabiha, have fled the war-torn country to Europe, either escaping the consequences of their inhuman practices, or going undercover by taking advantage of the refugee crisis and profiting from it.

Ibrahim Haider is one such militiaman, a member of the Air Force Intelligence, who a few days ago, left Syria for Sweden after erasing all references and evidence indicating his support of Assad and all his military dress photos from his Facebook page.

According to activist Maryam Abdullah (pseudonym), Haider, who is accused of theft, kidnapping and liquidation, left from Damascus International Airport on Feb. 27, 2020, to join his wife, Rasha Baria, who has been living in Sweden with her children for three years. The activist confirmed that Haider is responsible for the kidnapping and killing of her two brothers who were abducted in Damascus, back in 2012.

Their family had received calls from the kidnappers, demanding that they pay a ransom, and made contact with a person affiliated with the regime who told them to contact Ibrahim Haider. From the information and the details Haider provided the family with, they became certain that he was the one holding them. She added that he asked her family for 10 million Syrian pounds in exchange for their release. However, after they have given him a million pounds as an advance payment, he no longer answered their calls. Later a person who had been detained with her brothers confirmed their killing under torture in Sednaya prison in 2014.

The source revealed that Haidar deleted all his photos and everything related to his work in Syria since January 2013, so as not to be discovered in Europe. Other members of his family also worked with the shabiha including his brother and his brothers-in-law, one of whom is still working with the Jibril group in Yarmouk camp.

The source, a human rights activist in Sweden, said that many criminals hide among asylum seekers, but that the Swedish police is working to identify and arrest them. The Swedish Migration Agency has signed an agreement with the Bureau of Prosecution and the police to strengthen operational cooperation between the three agencies, in order to facilitate the arrest of suspects involved in war crimes, by speeding up the exchange of information between the agencies.

Based on this agreement, Sweden issued a decision to cancel the asylum of Mohammed al-Abdullah, who was accused of belonging to the shabiha and was convicted by a Swedish court after a picture of him in a military uniform carrying a weapon and stepping on the bodies of dead civilians was uncovered.

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.
She's the former Miss Universe Australia who went on to reinvent herself as a health and wellness mogul.

So it's no surprise that Rachael Finch looked the picture of perfection as she took a dip at Coogee Beach on Thursday.

The 31-year-old practically glowed as she gracefully stepped out of the water in a black and white animal print string bikini.

Looking good! Model Rachael Finch flaunted her flawless physique while donning an animal print bikini at Coogee Beach on Thursday

The mother-of-two donned a snakeskin bikini set, and wrapped a dark grey towel around her waist as she wandered along the pier.

Keeping sun safe, the brunette beauty tied her damp hair into a bun before slapping on a plain black cap as soon as she came out of the sea.

The stunning model went completely makeup free, letting her natural beauty shine.

Psyching yourself up? The 31-year-old looked hesitant to enter the water

A little chilly! The model gingerly eased her foot into the cool water

Rachael has made the most of the flattering bikini over the warmer months, posing for an Instagram video in the same ensemble back in February.

'Stillness is where the magic can be found,' she captioned the post at the time.

She also shared a video of herself leaving the beach after spending the morning soaking up the sun.

In you go! The brunette model eased herself further into the water after testing the temperature with her foot

Rachael's outing comes after she revealed what she eats in a day in an interview with Daily Mail Australia's FEMAIL.

She revealed that she starts her day with a breakfast smoothie with avocado, almond milk, frozen banana, spinach, a scoop of Kissed Earth Replenish Protein in vanilla or chocolate and nut butter.

She said: 'I also can't go without my collagen coffee. It's a black coffee with a scoop of collagen powder, medicinal mushrooms and maca powder blended.'

Stunner: The 31-year-old practically glowed as she gracefully stepped out of the water in a black and white animal print string bikini

Let's go! The mother-of-two donned a snakeskin bikini set and tied her hair into a bun while getting out of the refreshing water

For lunch she puts together a 'macro bowl', which includes eggs, grilled broccoli, kale, brown rice, tomato slices and some avocado on the side.

Dinner is grilled dish and steamed vegetables with roasted baby chat potatoes, with an aim to balance the protein, carbohydrates and fats in her meals.

Rachael also revealed her favourite snacks include brown rice cakes with avocado and fresh tomato slices with sea salt, smoothies, homemade hummus, homemade chocolate mould and banana muffins.

What a hiding spot! She wrapped her dark grey towel around her before wandering towards the local surf living-saving club

Sun safe: The brunette bombshell tied her damp hair into a bun before slapping on a plain black cap as soon as she came out of the sea

If she has time in her busy schedule, Rachael likes to sit in front of a Joovv light: an LED light therapy device that emits infrared light.

'I do try and sit in front of that as often as possible. I'll do it before I've got a really full-on day with work,' she told 9Honey earlier this month.

She previously said of the device: 'Light therapy is becoming more popular and personally I've noticed a stack of benefits from applying it to my weekly regime.'

Cheeky girl! The brunette confidently flaunted her pert derriere in the skimpy swimwear

Ab-solutely fabulous! The stunning model showed off her incredible abs

Light therapy, which is often used by professional athletes, helps to promote weight loss, muscle recovery and skin health.

Rachael shares her two children with her husband, professional dancer Michael Miziner.

They married in 2013 after meeting on Dancing with the Stars three years earlier.

Smoothies, avocados and coffee, oh my! Rachael's outing comes after she revealed what she eats in a day in an interview with Daily Mail Australia's FEMAIL
CHEYENNE  Oil prices worldwide suffered a major hit over the weekend, reaching a four-year low in the United States, and the rapid changes in the global economy could have major implications for Wyoming.

U.S. oil prices were down by as much as 34% on Monday, largely due to two factors: a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, and dropping demand as the coronavirus continues to spread globally.

The effects of the rising supply and dropping demand of oil could be felt in Wyoming, where oil extraction is a linchpin of the states economy. The price plunge came in the days immediately...
A German woman who is kept



under observation at a hospital here has tested negative for the coronavirus, a health official said on Thursday.

The 52-year-old woman, who arrived in Maharashtra for visiting the nearby Tadoba tiger reserve, tested negative.

Another woman, who had traveled to Italy, also tested negative, said an official of the Government Medical College and Hospital.

Both were under observation at GMCH and would be discharged soon, he added.

The city has one confirmed coronavirus patient who is undergoing treatment at present.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police beat for Tuesday, Jan. 11 Morgan County Jacksonville Police THEFTS, BURGLARIES  Money was taken between 6 and 8 p.m....

Whats going on around town today A look at events taking place in Jacksonville and surrounding counties.
Prince Harry inadvertently gave Russian pranksters who posed as Greta Thunberg and her father his phone number and personal email address.

The Duke of Sussex, 35, responded to Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov from his email, and called them on his phone - without withholding his number.

Royal insiders are shocked by the major security lapse, and have blamed his new PR advisers for the huge oversight, The Sun has reported.

Kuznetsov and Stolyarov posed as environmentalist Thunberg and her father Svante to speak exclusively with Harry, due to retire from public life from March 31.

Pictured: Prince Harry attending BGC Charity Day in September 2019

Pictured: Vladimir Kuznetsov (left) and Alexey Stolyarov (right), March 2016

During the astonishing phone call, which is believed to have occurred between New Year's Eve and January 22, the senior Royal made a string of stunning claims.

He slammed 'sick' world leaders for ignoring the climate crisis, and told the fake Greta that US President Donald Trump had 'blood on his hands'.

Prince Harry, who stirred controversy after flying on private jets while urging the public to reduce their own carbon footprint, told the fake Swedes that they would have to take 'extreme' measures to force political change on the climate issue.

The Duke also called Boris Johnson a 'good man' who would need convincing on the climate crisis, and alleged the UK political system was 'broken'.

Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Commonwealth Day Service 2020

Pictured: Greta Thunberg (left) and her father Svante (right), August 2019

Two Russian pranksters Alexei Stolyarov and Vladimir Kuznetsov 'tricked' Prince Harry into believing they were climate change activist Greta Thunberg and her father Svante

Bizarrely, Prince Harry was also fooled into talking about a fictional island in the tropics that was mercy to coal companies backed by President Trump.

He offered to help the fake Greta and fake Svante transport 50 penguins held in 'barbaric' -20C to the North Pole by sea from landlocked Belarus.

The Royal was also propositioned with restoring monarchy to Russia, and helping the fake Greta marry... six-year-old Prince George.

Prince Harry also:
SALEM, Ore.  For the next four weeks, all large gatherings over 250 people are canceled statewide, Gov. Kate Brown announced Wednesday night.

The decision comes after 21 people have tested positive for novel coronavirus, the most recent two cases involving residents at a veterans home in Lebanon.

A gathering is defined as any event in a space in which appropriate social distancing of a minimum of three feet cannot be maintained.

Non-essential school-related gatherings and group activities should also be canceled. Workers are also recommended to maintain distance between each other and limit in-person meetings and travel.

Brown also reminded the public of strict limitations at long-term care and assisted living facilities

Nobody is immune to this virus, it can touch everyone," said Brown. We can't let fear and anxiety stigmatize people. We are seeing cases across multiple counties and age groups, and in people exposed through different circumstances. It's time for us all to do what we can to slow its spread and take care of one another."

The measures being put in place follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, Oregon public health experts, epidemiologists and health professionals.

Brown will be holding a press conference at 9 a.m. Thursday in which she will discuss these rules.
In effect, Sanders was signaling that although Bidens advantage in the race might prove too difficult to overcome  he notably did not pledge to run against him through all 50 state contests as he did against Hillary Clinton in 2016  he intends to pressure Biden to adopt more liberal positions and has no intention of quietly stepping aside before getting a chance to take him on directly.
For weeks, epidemiologists have been calling coronavirus a pandemic and from an epidemiological perspective, WHOs declaration is overdue.

The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. This is a landmark event. As an epidemiologist listening to the steady stream of conversation around the coronavirus, Im hearing newscasters and neighbours alike mixing up three important words my colleagues and I use in our work every day: outbreak, epidemic and pandemic.

Simply put, the difference between these three scenarios of disease spread is a matter of scale.

Outbreak

Small, but unusual.

By tracking diseases over time and geography, epidemiologists learn to predict how many cases of an illness should normally happen within a defined period of time, place and population. An outbreak is a noticeable, often small, increase over the expected number of cases.

Imagine an unusual spike in the number of children with diarrhea at a daycare. One or two sick kids might be normal in a typical week, but if 15 children in a daycare come down with diarrhea all at once, that is an outbreak.

When a new disease emerges, outbreaks are more noticeable since the anticipated number of illnesses caused by that disease was zero. An example is the cluster of pneumonia cases that sprung up unexpectedly among market-goers in Wuhan, China. Public health officials now know the spike in pneumonia cases there constituted an outbreak of a new type of coronavirus, now named SARS-CoV-2.

As soon as local health authorities detect an outbreak, they start an investigation to determine exactly who is affected and how many have the disease. They use that information to figure out how best to contain the outbreak and prevent additional illness.

Epidemic

Bigger and spreading.

An epidemic is an outbreak over a larger geographic area. When people in places outside of Wuhan began testing positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2 (which causes the disease known as COVID-19), epidemiologists knew the outbreak was spreading, a likely sign that containment efforts were insufficient or came too late. This was not unexpected, given that no treatment or vaccine is yet available. But widespread cases of COVID-19 across China meant that the Wuhan outbreak had grown to an epidemic.

Pandemic

International and out of control.

In the most classical sense, once an epidemic spreads to multiple countries or regions of the world, it is considered a pandemic. However, some epidemiologists classify a situation as a pandemic only once the disease is sustained in some of the newly affected regions through local transmission.

To illustrate, a sick traveler with COVID-19 who returns to the U.S. from China doesnt make a pandemic, but once they infect a few family members or friends, theres some debate. If new local outbreaks ensue, epidemiologists will agree that efforts to control global spread have failed and refer to the emerging situation as a pandemic.

Terms are political, not just medical

Epidemiologists are principally concerned with preventing disease, which may be fundamentally different than the broader concerns of governments or international health organizations.

The WHO has declared only two pandemics in history - for influenza in 1918 and for influenza H1N1 in 2009. For weeks, epidemiologists like me have been calling the coronavirus a pandemic. From an epidemiological perspective, the WHOs declaration is overdue. As of March 11, the official numbers count excess of 120,000 cases in at least 114 countries. Eight countries, including the U.S., have more than 1,000 cases each, and community spread has been documented in several U.S. states.

.@WHO is deeply concerned by the alarming levels of the #coronavirus spread, severity & inaction, & expects to see the number of cases, deaths & affected countries climb even higher. Therefore, we made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic. https://t.co/97XSmyigME pic.twitter.com/gSqFm947D8  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 11, 2020

Pandemic is the highest level of global health emergency and signifies widespread outbreaks affecting multiple regions of the world. However, the WHO statements remain hopeful that the pandemic can be controlled and the damage minimized by taking immediate aggressive steps.

The formal declaration of COVID-19 or any other infectious disease as pandemic tells governments, agencies and aid organizations worldwide to shift efforts from containment to mitigation. It has economic, political and societal impacts on a global scale, and the WHO takes extreme care when making this determination.

This formal declaration neednt incite fear or cause you to stockpile surgical masks. It doesnt mean the virus has become more infectious or more deadly, nor that your personal risk of getting the disease is greater. And it doesnt mean that efforts to fight COVID-19 are being abandoned. But it is an historical event.



Rebecca S.B. Fischer, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Texas A&M University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Woolworths has been forced to introduce a one-packet limit on paper towels and napkins after footage emerged of a shop assistant reprimanding customers over their bulk buying.

Australia's biggest supermarket chain imposed the new rule on Thursday as Daily Mail Australia revealed the confrontation at its Marrickville Metro store in Sydney's inner west.

It introduced a new one-packet rule for paper towels after footage emerged of two men ignoring a Woolworths shop assistant's late-night directive to refrain from buying an unusually high volume of paper towels and tinned food.

The same rule will also apply for serviettes and wipes, just days after it followed its rival Coles in imposing a one-packet limit for toilet paper for each customer transaction.

Woolworths grocery limits Tissues - two pack limit per shop;  Paper towel, serviettes and wipes - one pack limit per shop;  Toilet paper - one pack limit per shop;  Hand sanitiser - two unit limit per shop; and  Bulk rice (2kg+) - one pack limit per shop. Source: Woolworths, March 12, 2020 Advertisement

A two-pack limit applies for tissues.

'The move will help Woolworths meet the needs of as many of its customers as possible in the face of unprecedented demand for certain products,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.

The intervention was made after Daily Mail Australia obtained footage of a female shop assistant reprimanding two male customers who had attempted to buy a high volume of paper towels after 10pm on Wednesday.

'Are you going to listen or should I call security?,' she said. 'We're not letting anyone bulk buy.'

One of the men disregarded her directive and told her to 'call security' and 'do what you like' as the younger man argued he had already paid for two boxes, only to annoy the woman working at Woolworths.

Woolworths has been forced to introduce a one-packet limit on paper towels and napkins after footage emerged of a shop assistant reprimanding customers over their bulk buying. Australia's biggest supermarket chain imposed the new rule as Daily Mail Australia revealed the confrontation (pictured) at its Marrickville Metro store in Sydney's inner west

'There's no point of arguing with me,' she said.

'Are you understanding now there's a situation where everybody's bulk buying?

'We can't let it happen.'

On Saturday, a woman, 60, and her 23-year were videoed clashing with a female customer at Woolworths at Chullora, in Sydney's south-west, after she objected to them filling their trolley with multiple packets of toilet paper.

They were charged the next day with affray.

Woolworths also has a one-packet rule for rice if it weighs more than 2kg.

On Saturday, a woman, 60, and her 23-year were videoed clashing with a female customer at Woolworths at Chullora, in Sydney's south-west, after she objected to them filling their trolley with multiple packets of toilet paper

Customers are also limited to two units of hand sanitiser.

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

'Woolworths has introduced quantity limits on tissues, paper towel, serviettes and wipes in addition to its existing limits on toilet paper, hand sanitiser and bulk packs of rice.'

Woolworths is hoping to alleviate toilet paper shortages by getting its suppliers to produce more smaller packs.

'This means more toilet paper packs will be available to more customers online and in stores from next week,' the spokesman said.

Woolworths this week announced refunds would no longer be available for toilet paper, tissues, rice and pasta unless the goods were faulty.

'Woolworths encourages customers to continue purchasing only what they need,' a spokesman said.
The man charged with repeatedly raping a female jogger in parkland near Merri Creek, in Melbourne's north, is to undergo testing to determine whether he was mentally impaired at the time of his alleged crimes.

Police allege Joel Russo, 25, abducted a woman who was jogging along the Merri Creek Trail in Coburg on December 3, and repeatedly raped her over several hours, choked her and held her head under water.

Police at the scene of the alleged attack on a jogger on the Merri Creek trail in December last year. Credit:Justin McManus

Police say the woman, aged in her 20s, managed to escape when she persuaded Mr Russo to walk her to a McDonald's outlet in Brunswick East that night, where she screamed and raised the alarm and he fled.

Mr Russo was arrested several hours later when police allege he was trying to rob a service station in Carlton.
London, March 12 : Earth's great ice sheets, Greenland and Antarctica, were now losing mass six times faster than they were in the 1990s due to warming conditions, the media reported on Thursday citing scientists as saying.

A comprehensive review of satellite data acquired at both poles was unequivocal in its assessment of accelerating trends, the BBC quoted the scientists as saying.

Between them, Greenland and Antarctica lost 6.4 trillion tonnes of ice in the period from 1992 to 2017.

This was sufficient to push up global sea-levels up by 17.8 mm, the scientists added.

"That's not a good news story," said Professor Andrew Shepherd from the University of Leeds.

"Today, the ice sheets contribute about a third of all sea-level rise, whereas in the 1990s, their contribution was actually pretty small at about 5 per cent. This has important implications for the future, for coastal flooding and erosion," he told BBC News.

The researcher co-leads a project called the Ice Sheet Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise, or Imbie, which is a team of experts who have reviewed polar measurements acquired by observational spacecraft over nearly three decades.

The Imbie team's studies have revealed that ice losses from Antarctica and Greenland were actually heading to much more pessimistic outcomes, and will likely add another 17 cm to those end-of-century forecasts.

"If that holds true it would put 400 million people at risk of annual coastal flooding by 2100," Professor Shepherd told the BBC.

The combined rate of ice loss for Greenland and Antarctica was running at about 81 billion tonnes per year in the 1990s.

By the 2010s, it had climbed to 475 billion tonnes per year.
Taiwan issues travel alerts for 10 European, Middle Eastern countries

ROC Central News Agency

03/11/2020 04:18 PM

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) issued a Level 2 travel alert Wednesday for 10 European and Middle Eastern countries due to the rapid rise of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The countries include Iceland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria in Europe, and Bahrain and Kuwait in the Middle East, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung () announced at a press conference.

Under the CECC's three-tier travel advisory system, a Level 2 Alert requires arriving travelers to observe 14 days of self-health management by minimizing time spent in public, wearing a face mask and checking their temperature twice daily.

The coronavirus outbreak has been worsening in Europe, with confirmed cases in countries adjacent to Italy, France, Germany and Spain ballooning, Chen said, citing the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's (ECDC's) assessment of the risk for continued transmissions as "moderate to high."

Italy has been under the highest Level 3 Alert by the CECC since the end of February, while France, Germany and Spain were issued a Level 2 travel alert March 7.

Under a Level 3 Alert, all incoming travelers to Taiwan are subject to mandatory 14-day home quarantine, while outgoing travelers are cautioned against unnecessary trips.

Meanwhile,the CECC also issued a Level 1 Watch on Wednesday to the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as 14 Schengen countries, including including Greece, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Finland, Slovenia, Poland, Estonia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein.

A Level 1 Watch asks travelers to observe local virus response regulations and says incoming travelers should observe 14 days of self-health management.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Wednesday issued a "gray" alert to the states of New York, Hawaii and Utah in the United States due to recent development of the coronavirus outbreak, advising its nationals to "exercise caution" when traveling to those areas.

The ministry has a four-color-coded travel alert system, with red the highest level of alert, followed by orange, yellow and gray.

As to the 10 European and Middle East countries imposed with a Level 2 travel alert by the CECC, MOFA issued a yellow alert to them, taking the CECC's recommendation as a reference.

Under a yellow alert, Taiwanese travelers are urged to "exercise extra caution and reconsider their trips."

On Tuesday, MOFA also imposed a yellow alert for Indonesia, due to the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Southeast Asian country.

"Confirmed COVID-19 cases have continued to increase in Indonesia since its discovery of the first case March 2. The ministry calls on our nationals who live in Indonesia or intend to visit the country to step up their personal disease prevention practices," MOFA said in a statement.

The CECC and MOFA issue separate travel advisories based on their own systems, as the CECC's system concentrates purely on health considerations, while MOFA's system incorporates more factors, such as peace and order, into their reviews.

(By Emerson Lim)

Enditem/J

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ROSEBURG, Ore. -- Timber activists say theyre not backing down from the fight against cap and trade.

This comes after Gov. Kate Brown signed an executive order to fight climate change in Oregon Tuesday.

The order directs state agencies to put new measures into effect that will lower the state's greenhouse gas emissions.

RELATED: LOCALS REACT TO GOV. BROWN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

Many activists told KEZI 9 News that they have no plans for retaliation right now. However, they said they are looking at their options.

Jim Dudley, who is the vice president for timber resources for a local sawmill called the Swanson Group, said he wont be surprised if legal action is taken against legislators.

She had to make a decision when she didnt get the legislation to pass to go on without us, said Dudley.

Activists from Timber Unity also told KEZI 9 News that theyre not going down without a fight.

Everybody is appalled, said Todd Stoffel, a co-founder of Timber Unity. Everyone is wanting to know what we can do, what choices they have.

Stoffel said Timber Unity does not have plans for another protest at this time.

KEZI 9 News reached out to Browns office for comment, but they did not get back to us.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 12:35 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a0f8a2 1 Business corporate-income-tax,import-duties,fiscal-stimulus,workers,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,manufacturing-industry Free

Indonesia is set to delay import duties and corporate income tax payments for six months while also expediting the repayment of overpaid taxes in new fiscal measures to shield the economy as the coronavirus pandemic pressures businesses.

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the fiscal stimulus aimed to stimulate manufacturing activity, adding that the government was finalizing the supporting regulations to enact such policy.

We hope to implement the stimulus package in April after preparing the legal background, Airlangga told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Manufacturing industries have complained of raw materials supply disruption that has crippled factories across Indonesia. Twenty to 50 percent of raw materials for the countrys industries are sourced from China, Indonesias biggest trade partner.

Read also: Full salary: Manufacturing workers freed from six-month income tax burden

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the stimulus for import taxes aimed to fulfill industry needs of raw materials.

This is related to the import duty for raw materials. In principle, we have already agreed on how much it will cost, Agus said, declining to say how much the stimulus would cost. We will decide the new economic package in the next few days.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the move to provide these incentives took aim at relieving industries burden caused by the pandemic. This aims for all industries to have [breathing] space in this tight situation, she added.

The government is also set to temporarily exempt manufacturing workers from income tax payment to relieve workers burden.

The minister has warned economic growth could weaken to 4.7 percent this year from 5.02 percent in 2019 amid increasing business disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia has said that it was likely to trim the economic growth forecast in 2020 at this months board of governors meeting on March 18 and March 19.

The tax break for manufacturing workers and tax payment lenience for businesses are in line with industry needs as conveyed by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo).

Read also: Battered by virus: Businesses across Indonesia feel the pinch

Yes, we have talked about fiscal and monetary policies [with the government] We also discussed matters related to exports and imports, Kadin chairman Rosan Roeslani said earlier in March, acknowledging that the virus had caused a decline in the sales and production of several industries, including automotive businesses and tourism.

The government collected Rp 103.7 trillion in revenue in January, down 4.6 percent from the same month last year. It collected Rp 84.7 trillion in taxes, down 6 percent from the same period last year.

Meanwhile, government spending reached Rp 139.8 trillion, down 9.1 percent from the same period last year. It resulted in a budget deficit of Rp 36.1 trillion, 0.21 percent to gross domestic product (GDP) in January.

Economists have predicted that the fiscal deficit could soar this year as the government spends more to cushion the negative effects of the coronavirus but at the same time state income will be lower than expected as business activities weaken amid the pandemic.

The government announced a Rp 10.3 trillion (US$717.87 million) fiscal stimulus package to support the tourist industry and increase consumer spending to counter the economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.

Read also: Bank Indonesia spends Rp 110t to stabilize markets as virus stokes sell-off

It also said on Wednesday that 34 individuals had tested positive for COVID-19 in Indonesia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus a pandemic as it had shuttered factories, disrupted travel and supply chains, delayed conferences and sporting events and infected more than 120,000 people worldwide. More than 4,300 people have died from the virus.
Fears about the coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) are causing people from all across the globe to alter their plans. Italy is essentially on lock down, and large group gatherings bans are leading to event cancellations in numerous areas. Social distancing is an increasingly common recommendation, encouraging people to maintain a minimum amount of physical space between each other.

Coronavirus Leads to Cheap Flights

As a result, many people are forgoing vacations, business trips, and other ventures away from home. And, as more people cancel their plane tickets, airlines are scrambling, offering shockingly cheap plane tickets to entire travelers to hit the skies.

The Availability of Cheap Flights

Right now, cheap flights abound. Many people are canceling tickets or skipping trips due to fears surrounding COVID-19. Flying means being in a relatively small space with dozens and dozens of people, not including crossing paths with strangers in airports. In hopes of limiting their exposure, people are choosing not to travel.

This leaves airlines in a bind. They have to drop prices if they are going to fill planes with passengers. Without amazing deals, people simply wont take the risk.

As of March 11, a round trip flight for one person from Seattle to New York City costs as little as $112. Thats less than half of the usual price, which comes in near $300. From Miami, a person can get to and from Chicago for a mere $66, about $157 less than normal.

Travelers looking to go from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. could spend $66 for a single round-trip ticket. Thats $188 below the usual price, making it a discount of 74 percent.

International flight prices are also falling. For example, trips from Washington D.C. to London are coming in hundreds of dollars lower than usual on average, with some coming in just shy of the $400 mark. If you wanted to go from Boston to Barcelona, round-trip tickets are available for less than $200, a far cry from the usual $681.

Why People Are Buying the Cheap Tickets

In some cases, the low-cost airfare is working. Some people are taking advantage of the discounts and traveling to places that may otherwise be unaffordable.

This is especially true for younger adults who might not be able to shoulder travel expenses otherwise. Plus, COVID-19 seems to hit older populations harder, so healthy individuals in their 20s or 30s may feel like the potentially deadly disease isnt as troublesome for them. That doesnt mean they arent aware of the possible danger, only that they think the high-risk, high-reward travel scenario is worthwhile.

Flying Risks During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Generally speaking, the primary risk of traveling during the coronavirus outbreak is potential exposure. Airports bring people together from all over the world. Plus, due to their sheer size, they cant be continuously sanitized from top to bottom at all times.

Planes have similar risks. However, they add on the potential to be in an enclosed space (with recirculating air) with a person who may be infected. A person may be contagious before symptoms appear, and some of those who get COVID-19 have mild symptoms that may not be highly noticeable to them or others.

Finally, when traveling overseas, new issues could arise. A person could be caught in a quarantine zone, unable to return to their home country as planned. Additionally, seeking medical care could be challenging, depending on the nations rules and overall service availability.

Ultimately, the coronavirus means there are airline deals to be had. It isnt clear how long this situation will last or where COVID-19 will reach next, but if you are comfortable with the risks, then you might be able to save a bundle on your dream destination.

Since the coronavirus leads to cheap flights, would you consider vacationing now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Khartoum, SUDAN (PANA) - Sudan on Thursday suspended issuing visas for citizens hailing from countries devastated by the Coronavirus, while at the same time telling its citizens to avoid travelling to those countries save for force-majeure
Home minister Amit Shah has clarified that Aadhaar cards were not being used by the police for identifying culprits in the Delhi riots and said only driving licenses and voter identity cards were being used to match identities.

Responding to the debate in Rajya Sabha on Thursday evening over the Delhi riots in February, Amit Shah said some news reports had wrongly claimed that Delhi police was using Aadhaar identity cards for riots probe.

Only driving license and voter ID card is being used for face identification (of the culprits). Aadhaar data is not being used, as wrongly reported by some sections of media, Shah said.

He also dismissed concerns expressed over the privacy of the UIDAI data and asked if the question of privacy should be entertained when several people had lost lives and homes in the riots.

Some people lost life; some lost their limbs, someones home was burnt, what privacy are you talking about? Police should have the right to put the rioters to trial before a court so that they are given the strongest ever punishment. We have not violated anyones privacy, he said.

The home minister had informed Rajya Sabha members a moment ago that close to 2000 faces or individuals responsible for the rioting and destruction of property between Feb 24 and Feb 27 in the northeast Delhi had been identified by Delhi police.

1170 faces had been recognized till yesterday, 1922 faces and individuals have been identified until Thursday morning. These people have been seen rioting, throwing stones, damaging property, said Shah.

Shah said there are forty teams deployed by the Delhi police to arrest the identified culprits.

Shah also lauded the Delhi police for its handling of riots in northeast Delhi and said the investigating teams had already arrested the suspected killers of two security personnel- Delhi police head constable Ratan Lal and IB staffer Ankit Sharma

Those who wielded knives (against Sharma) were caught on video, their voice captured and they are behind bars, similarly, those who attacked Ratan Lal are also behind bars, Shah said.

Head constable Ratan Lal had died of bullet injuries in the riots in Gokalpuri on February 24, the same day when Ankit Sharma was stabbed nearly 50 times before his body was dumped in a drain near his house in Chand Bagh area of northeast Delhi.

Home minister said the police was committed to prosecute all the culprits irrespective of their religious association or identities.

Shah responded to several allegations made by the opposition benches including that the Delhi police was not registering FIRs of all complainants.

Explaining that multiple FIRs couldnt be registered on a single incident, the home minister said counter-claims on the same incident were attached to the existing FIRs.

Over 700 FIRs had been registered till date, 2,647 people had been detained or arrested; two special investigative teams formed and the third was being formed to investigate riot cases and 192 weapons were recovered Shah said.

Shah reiterated that the investigations were being done in a completely scientific manner and that not a single guilty individual will be spared.

Shah said he had suggested the presence of a conspiracy behind the riots on the basis of the investigations that led to the unearthing of the funding of the riots and the individuals associated with it. He said five people have been arrested so far for the alleged funding of the violence that started on the evening of February 23 but assumed the form of a full riot by the morning of February 24.

There is prima facie evidence that the riots were a pre-planned conspiracy and the police are unearthing proof of this, he said.

He added that a couple of people linked to the banned IS (Islamic State) had been arrested in connection with the riots.

Two people linked with IS have also been nabbed, they used to receive IS material from abroad and they used to translate it and circulate on social media, shah added.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Plans are in the works to plant dozens of trees along Maple Road near the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park in Ann Arbor.

The citys Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee OKd a plan this week for the Soliders Row project, which calls for a long line of trees along the parks western edge  a mix of nearly 40 northern red oaks and London planes.

Its one of the more substantial projects undertaken by the citys Elizabeth Dean Fund in recent years.

The committee established a $20,000 budget for the project, but actual costs are expected to be less than that.

The trees are to be planted this spring, beautifying the stretch of Maple just south of the Ann Arbor Skatepark.

Ann Arbor to add lighting at skatepark for safer nighttime use

The Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee advises the city on how to spend the annual interest income from a roughly $2 million fund willed to the city in 1964. Elizabeth Dean, who was an Ann Arbor resident and daughter of a Main Street grocer, gifted the money to support public trees in Ann Arbor.

Committee Chairman Ben Muth explained the background of the Soldiers Row project.

Theres a big row of crab apples planted there 20-plus years ago and theyre starting to get old and die, and so the question was do we replace the crab apples, he said.

But then when we looked at the site more, we realized that stretch is one of the few stretches of sidewalk in the city that doesnt have any overhead power lines on it.

The committee is often restricted from planting big trees due to power lines, Muth said.

We thought, well, this is an opportunity to re-look at this site and maybe plant something bigger and better, he said.

Members of Ann Arbor's Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee and city forestry staff meet inside city hall March 10, 2020.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Red oaks can grow to be about 80 feet tall, and the plane trees can grow even taller, said Tiffany Giacobazzi, the citys urban forestry and natural resources planning coordinator.

The red oak is one of the more quicker-growing oaks, she noted.

The Soldiers Row project has been in the works for over two years, Muth said.

We started off by redoing that corner of Jackson and Maple, he said, noting the parks department purchased a new sign for Vets Park. We redid that corner of trees, did a bunch of pruning, planted new stuff that looks really nice.

At the same time, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars group chipped in to make some improvements, including a new flag pole and walkway, Muth said.

This is all flowing into this project, he said, adding theyve gone through multiple design iterations.

We saw that theres a big patch of red oaks by the skatepark at the north end, at Maple and Dexter, and so we thought we should continue that sight line of oaks. We can plant big trees there and itll be a great addition to the park.

The Dean Fund has a remaining unencumbered budget of over $52,000 for the next fiscal year, records show, and the committee is looking for next projects to tackle.

The committee already has several smaller projects planned at Cranbrook Park, Hanover Square Park, Riverside Park and the Leslie Science and Nature Center.

Members of the public can suggest projects for the committee to consider via a proposal form on the city website.

Not a lot of people know about it, so the committee doesnt get many citizen requests, Muth said.

The committee encourages donations of matching funds for special projects to allow its funds to have greater impact.

The committee has undertaken cost-share projects, for example, with the Downtown Development Authority, University of Michigan, Kiwanis Club and city parks department.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

High-rise idea shelved for now as AADL reinvests in downtown Ann Arbor library

Ann Arbor taking coronavirus emergency very seriously, city admin says

Closures, postponements, cancellations in Ann Arbor due to coronavirus fears

Washtenaw Community College suspends in-person classes until April due to coronavirus

University of Michigan students concerned about coronavirus impact on classes, graduation
Some of Ghana's leading acts will take to the stage on Saturday for the maiden 3Music Fan Fest.

The event will be held at the Accra Polo Grounds, and will feature over 30 mainstream and upcoming acts for a day's fun-filled event driven strictly by their fans.

The 3Music Fan Fest is the official nominees jam for the 2020 edition of the 3Music Awards, and is happening as part of the scheme's Power of 3 campaign for this year, which focuses on three stands: The Fans, The Music and Impact.

It is being held on the back of the highly successful 3Music Women's Brunch, which brought together leading females in the creative arts industry.

Confirmed acts for Saturday are Kuame Eugene, KiDi, Dope Nation, Wendy Shay,

Kweku Smoke, Epixode, Jupitar, Sister Derby, Camidoh, Kurl Songx, and Yaw Berk.

Others include: Kelvyn Boy, MzVee, OV, Bosom P Yung, Lord Paper, Fameye, Dada Hafco, Mr Drew, Krymi, Offei, Raph Enzee, Larusso, Kimilist, Enam, Mista Myles, Sitso, Kyei Nwom, Queen Ayorkor, and Sorakiss among a tall list.

The organizers, 3Media Networks say the Fan Fest is to offer an avenue for nominees to engage directly with their fans through MUSIC, FOOD, and ARTS.

There will be autograph signing sessions, souvenir merchandise, and a games arcade stocking the best games as well as carefully-selected on-ground activities. Patrons will also take part in competitions for prize mouthwatering rewards from sponsors.

#3MusicAwards20 returns to the Fantasy Dome on March 28. Voting is underway via the short code *447*3#.

3Music Awards 2020 is jointly powered by 3Media Networks, Multimedia Group, Fantasy Dome and EandE Ghana with support from Guinness Extra Smooth, Smirnoff Ice and Nasco Electronics.
She threw her support behind beau Kevin Clifton when he revealed he would be leaving Strictly Come Dancing.

And Stacey Dooley looked relaxed as she enjoyed an outing with a friend to walk around Notting Hill, London, on Wednesday.

The TV personality, 33, kept things casual for the occasion as she wore a grey co-ord tracksuit, and wore her top with a French tuck for a more tailored look.

Outing: Stacey Dooley kept things casual in a grey co-ord tracksuit as she enjoyed a relaxed stroll with a pal in Notting Hill on Wednesday

Stacey opted for comfort over style as she stepped out in a pair of white trainers that had flecks of pink across the sides.

Her auburn locks were pulled back into a messy ponytail, and she used a light touch of make-up to highlight her pretty features.

Completing the look, Stacey accessorised with a gold chain necklace and wore a pair of cat-eye sunglasses, while she kept her personal items in a white handbag.

On Thursday, Stacey revealed to her fans that she recorded a podcast with pal Susannah Constantine for the fashion guru's show My Wardrobe Malfunction.

Casual chic: Stacey opted for comfort over style as she stepped out in a pair of white trainers that had flecks of pink across the sides

Finishing touches: Completing the look, Stacey accessorised with a gold chain necklace and wore a pair of cat-eye sunglasses, while she kept her personal items in a white handbag

On Friday last week Stacey's beau Kevin left fans devastated when he announced that he had quit Strictly after seven years on the show.

Dooley took to Instagram to share a gushing tribute to her beau, as she shared a selfie of the two of them and wrote: '...will always be the King of Strictly. Well done darlin. Watch this space!!!!'

She then shared a video so she could speak publicly about the news, and gushed: 'I have just seen that Kev has just posted about him leaving Strictly.

Busy schedule: On Thursday, Stacey revealed to her fans that she recorded a podcast with pal Susannah Constantine for the fashion guru's show My Wardrobe Malfunction

Amusing: Both Stacey and Susannah shared snaps posing together, and the What Not to Wear joked that 'despite the vast age chasm we bring out the best or worst in each other'

'I just wanted to say publicly Kevin I'm so proud of you what you've achieved on that show is remarkable and its completely undeniable.

'Without question you're the most successful pro strictly has ever had and that because you work so bloody hard and you're kind, and you're full of grace and you're so talented, and I can't wait to see what you've got next. Well done darling.'

It was reported by The Mirror that Clifton quit Strictly to protect his relationship with Dooley, but a representative for the star has denied the claims.

A source told The Sun that Clifton's decision to quit Strictly shocked show bosses given that he'd become one of its most beloved pros.

'I want to leave on a high': On Friday last week Clifton left fans devastated when he announced that he had quit Strictly after seven years on the show (pictured with Stacey in 2018)

It was also alleged that Clifton told friends he could be an even bigger star after leaving the show, with Stacey also backing his decision.

The insider said: 'Kevin's decision came as a real shock to many of those involved in the show. But the fact is he just thinks he's bigger than it now  even though it's what put him where he is today.'

They added: 'He's told people he thinks he's now a bigger star than the celebrities on the show, and Stacey has been encouraging him to go out on his own too. She thinks they can be a bit of a TV power couple.

'Bosses were shocked that somebody who has benefited so much from the show wants to walk away. But fame and fortune has obviously turned his head.'

Sweet: Dooley paid tribute to her boyfriend and dance partner, as she gushed that he 'will always be the King of Strictly'
CLEVELAND -- The clarion call that rescued Joe Bidens candidacy for president has been sounded before. And nowhere has it rung louder than in Cleveland.

In fact, the astonishing show of black political might that U.S. Rep. James Clyburn unleashed on Bidens behalf in South Carolina was straight from the Carl Stokes playbook. History will record that, but for the veteran South Carolina congressmans endorsement of Biden on Feb. 26, Biden would not be the presumptive Democratic nominee that he is today.

On Tuesday, Biden will seal the deal with primary election wins in Ohio, Illinois and Florida. Any thoughts of a brokered convention in July ended with Bidens crushing of Sen. Bernie Sanders on March 10 in Michigan.

If Biden wins the presidency, Democrats would be wise to erect a statue of Clyburn outside the partys national headquarters in Washington.

And worth remembering in all this are some of the feats that Stokes, the nations first big-city black mayor, performed long ago in Cleveland.

For there was a time when no political figure in the nation had a better understanding of -- and attachment to -- black voters than Stokes, who died in 1996.

Cleveland pollster Bob Dykes, who worked on Stokes winning campaigns for mayor in 1967 and 1969, recalled that, in both those elections, there were precincts on the citys East Side where Stokes received 100 percent of the vote. In 1969, against Republican Ralph Perk, Dykes said Stokes shut out Perk in about a dozen East Side precincts.

Carl had it all, said Dykes. He was handsome. He was smart. He was charismatic. Above all, Carl was so idolized, he was able to transfer the affection and support that the black community had for him.

Candidate endorsements from fellow politicians are often borderline meaningless. But what happened here in the 1972 Democratic presidential primary election provided an entire nation with an almost unimaginable show of political force.

That years May 2 primary made Ohio a must-win state for Hubert Humphrey in his fierce campaign to deny front-runner George McGovern the Democratic nomination.

Both Humphrey and McGovern were progressives with records that argued convincingly for support from black voters. Stokes was no longer mayor in April 1972. His brother, Lou, was in his second term in Congress.

As the primary election day neared, the Stokes brothers endorsed Humphrey. The strategist charged with maximizing black voter turnout on Humphreys behalf was Arnold Pinkney, the brothers close political ally.

On election night, in an excruciatingly slow vote count caused by problems with voting machines in a number of polling places, the outcome seemed to hinge on the results from Clevelands East Side.

In Hunter Thompsons epic book, Fear And Loathing On The Campaign Trail, the author described the tense scene inside McGoverns campaign headquarters as legendary political strategist Frank Mankiewicz awaited the results.

At 4:48 a.m. Wednesday morning, Thompson wrote, The hammer falls. Incredible ratios from black precincts in Cleveland.

Consider the blows from that hammer, coming in the form of results in some East Side precincts: 200-0, 208-0, 109-1. In two middle-class Cleveland precincts, McGovern people thought they might win outright, Humphrey beat them 370-42.

At one point, an angry Mankiewicz said, What I think is that Stokes is sitting there and waiting to be told how many votes they need.

When it became apparent the black vote played a gigantic role in Humphreys statewide win, Mankiewicz growled of the Stokes brothers, When we win this thing [the Democratic nomination], theyre going to have to crawl.

Three months later, it was the McGovern people who did the crawling, pleading successfully for Lou Stokes help in the general election race against President Richard Nixon.

When Carl Stokes left for a television job in New York, Lou Stokes became the citys most powerful voice in the black community. For nearly 30 years, an endorsement from Stokes in Cleveland and what was then known as the 21st Congressional District Caucus was often more important than any newspaper endorsement, or one from the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.

In 1999, Stokes was succeeded in Congress by Stephanie Tubbs Jones, whose charisma made her a worthy heir to the 30-year congressmans political empire. In the 2001 mayoral election, an endorsement from Tubbs Jones carried Raymond Pierce, who hadnt lived in the city in nearly a decade and knew almost nothing about its politics or government, to within less than 9,000 votes of defeating Jane Campbell.

When Tubbs Jones died in 2008, the seat in Congress went to her dear friend, Marcia Fudge, who seems popular with voters but has yet to demonstrate that unique ability to transfer that popularity to a designated beneficiary.

Lou Stokes had it. Tubbs Jones had it.

And for a few brief years, Carl Stokes had as much or more of it than anyone.

Brent Larkin was The Plain Dealers editorial director from 1991 until his retirement in 2009.

To reach Brent Larkin: blarkin@cleveland.com

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions, comments or corrections regarding this opinion article to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
A former United States Marine has been in detention in Moscow for eight months and on trial for what his lawyers say are trumped-up charges that he assaulted police officers.

The arrest of 28-year-old Trevor Reed, who is from Texas, is attracting comparisons with the detention of Paul Whelan, the former Marine held in Moscow on espionage charges.

Relatives of both men have expressed fears they might have been targeted as Americans amid tensions between the U.S. and Russia, and when there are heightened concerns they could be viewed by Russian authorities as bargaining chips. They have both appealed to the U.S. government for help.

MORE: Russia extends detention of Paul Whelan, American facing trumped-up espionage charges

Reed's family has only recently gone public with his detention, concerned initially that doing so could make his case political and believing the facts would quickly lead to his release.

"We believed that the evidence spoke for itself," Reed's father, Joey Reed, told ABC News outside his son's latest hearing on Wednesday at the Golovinsky court in northern Moscow.

"But it became evident that the charges against him were going to be maintained no matter what," he said. "We realized that things seemed to be changing and there seems to be a desire to keep him."

Reed is currently being held in Moscow's Detention Center 5 and the court ruled last month to extend his detention by six months and refused bail, despite it previously being granted by an earlier court.

PHOTO: U.S. former Marine Trevor Reed, who was detained in 2019 and accused of assaulting police officers, stands inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing in Moscow, March 11, 2020. (Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters)

Reed, who left the Marines in 2016 with an honorable discharge, traveled to Moscow last May to study Russian and spend time with his Russian girlfriend, Alina Tsibulnik.

On Aug. 15, a few days before he was due to return to Texas, Reed and his girlfriend attended a party organized by her colleagues. While at the party, he drank a large amount of vodka and became heavily intoxicated, his family said.

In a car going home afterwards, Reed became frantic and demanded to get out. Fearing he was unwell and that he might injure himself in traffic, his girlfriend and her friends called the police, believing they would take him to a hospital or drunk tank to sober up, she told ABC News.

Story continues

Inside American Gaylen Grandstaff's 2-year odyssey in Russian prison on apparently trumped-up drug charges

Two officers arrived and agreed to take Reed to a station, while Tsibulnik and the other followed in another car. At the station she said she was told to come back for him in two hours.

When she returned, however, she said she found Reed showing signs he had been beaten up, with bruises on his face. Officers from Russia's domestic intelligence agency, the FSB, then arrived and questioned Reed without an attorney or a translator present, she said.

Reed was arrested and charged with deliberately endangering the lives of the two police officers who had transported him to the station. Investigators accuse him of having attacked the officers while in the police car, shaking the driver by the shoulders, allegedly causing him to swerve into oncoming traffic and putting them in mortal danger.

Prosecutors have brought a serious charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years jail.

PHOTO: Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was detained in Russia and accused of espionage, speaks inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing to consider an appeal to extend his detention in Moscow, June 20, 2019. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters, FILE)

But Reed's family and his attorneys say the evidence doesn't support the charge and police have deliberately exaggerated the severity of the incident.

His attorneys said they will present traffic camera footage to the court that shows the police car never swerved, something Reed's girlfriend and others in the car following have testified.

The police car and the police station were also fitted with cameras, which should have shown what happened. But police have refused to hand over any of the recordings, telling investigators the files have been deleted.

"It's the defense attorneys' belief that if we had those videos we would not be talking with you here today," Reed's father said on Wednesday.

The two officers appeared as witnesses in the hearing on Wednesday, where both struggled to recall the incident in detail and gave descriptions that suggested it had been more minor than portrayed by the prosecution.

The driver told the court that he had felt "him pulling at my shoulders," but that his colleague had almost instantly restrained Reed. The other officer said Reed had hit him around the stomach once with his elbow, leaving a "small bruise." The driver said Reed tore off his uniform's epaulette while pulling at him.

MORE: Russia's parliament opens way for Putin to stay in power beyond 2024

Both nonetheless said they feared their lives were in danger, since the car could have crossed onto the other side of the road. They said the bruise and the tear to the uniform had also caused them "moral damages."

Both were also repeatedly confronted with inconsistencies in their written testimonies, including that the senior officer had falsely said Reed had to be brought into the police station in handcuffs. The two became so confused that the judge more than once laughed at them.

Given the facts in the case, the family said they initially thought it would quickly be dismissed or reclassified with a less serious offence that carries a fine. Instead they said what appeared to be a relatively minor incident was being treated as a deliberate, serious attempt on the police officers' lives.

Other Russian courts have already treated the case skeptically. In September, a Moscow court granted Reed bail, posted at $15,000 -- almost unheard of in a case on serious criminal charges. But an appeal court overturned the ruling, prolonging his detention. Moscow's Supreme Court again rejected that decision in February, Reed's father said, ruling that the decision to deny bail had procedural errors. Yet another court is due to review the decision later this month.

Reed's family have said they still do not understand the motives driving the case. They said they have been told it is standard practice for the FSB to question any American with a military background when arrested.

Whelan's detention has heightened concerns among U.S. officials that Americans in Russia may be at risk from Russia's security services. No evidence has yet been made public against Whelan, and former American intelligence officials have said his case resembles frame-ups once typical of the KGB.

Critics say Russia's criminal justice system is also plagued by cases where prosecutors bring contrived charges, knowing they will face little resistance from judges in a system where fewer than 1% of criminal trials end in acquittal. Another Texas man, Galen Grandstaff, was held for almost two years in pre-trial detention in Moscow after police charged him with large-scale drug smuggling for buying a cleaning product online.

The U.S. embassy sent a consular officer to attend the hearing on Wednesday. It declined to comment on the case.

Reeds family said they still hoped it might be "just how the system works" and that there is no political dimension to the case. But they said they are increasingly worried. His girlfriend on Wednesday said she could see no other explanation for the severity of the charges besides Reed being an American serviceman.

"It seems like that," Tsibulnik said. "I can't know for sure. If it's not, I will be glad, but it seems like that."

2nd former US Marine held in Russia for months on charges his family says are false originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
SAN JOSE (BCN)

South Bay elected leaders on Wednesday called on the Transportation Security Administration to release more information about three TSA officers who work at Mineta San Jose International Airport and recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The TSA in a written statement Tuesday night said that 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 statement did not say what interactions the officers may have had with members of the public, prompting the call for more information by leaders that included U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren, Ro Khanna, and Jimmy Panetta, as well as Santa Clara County board president Cindy Chavez and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo.

"We urge the TSA to immediately provide the public with information about the three employees who have tested positive for COVID-19, beginning with the operational posts held by the employees," the group said in a statement.

"If these employees were not in direct contact with travelers, we seek to reassure consumers. However, if the employees were posted at security checkpoints and had direct contact with travelers, we believe more information about posting locations and shift times should be made available to the public," the statement said.

The airport is following the Santa Clara County Public Health Department's guidances for limiting the spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, and remains open.

"While we understand SCCPHD assesses the risk to be low of contracting COVID-19 through brief interactions, we also know the CDC is recommending a six-foot separation from infected persons," the politicians said.

"As such, 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," they 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:12:33|Editor: huaxia

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Ultra-Orthodox Jews wearing costumes celebrate Purim in Mea Shearim neighborhood, Jerusalem, March 11, 2020. Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot during the reign of the ancient Persian Empire, according to the Biblical Book of Esther. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)
The United States will give individuals, and small and mid-sized businesses a three-month tax holiday to try to fight the economic impact of the novel coronavirus, President Donald Trump said Wednesday night.

It will also give affected companies $50 billion more in low-interest loans, he said.

The moves, designed to keep markets liquid and businesses and consumers spending, were overshadowed by Trump's announcement that the U.S. would suspend travel from Europe for 30 days, and confusion over whether he had said cargo would be banned as well.

Trump said he would instruct the Small Business Administration (SBA), a government agency, "to exercise available authority to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the coronavirus."

Effective immediately, he said, the agency would provide low-interest loans to companies in affected areas.

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 said he would ask Congress to increase funding for the SBA lending program to $50 billion. That would be more than double the amount of loans the SBA's flagship lending program made.

He also said that some people and businesses would be able to defer paying their federal income taxes, normally due April 15, for three months, with no penalties.

"Using emergency authority, I will be instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted," he said.

The pledge echoes testimony from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to Congress today. Deferring taxes could put another $200 billion into the U.S. economy, both Trump and Mnuchin said but didn't elaborate on how that was calculated.
Microsoft and partners across 35 countries have taken coordinated legal and technical steps to disrupt one of the world's most prolific botnets called Necurs which had infected more than nine million computers worldwide.

The disruption is a 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, Microsoft said on Thursday.

The Necurs botnet is one of the largest networks in the spam email threat ecosystem with victims in nearly every country in the world.

During a 58-day period in the investigation, one Necurs-infected computer sent a total of 3.8 million spam emails to over 40.6 million potential victims.

The breakdown by countries for the first seven days of March showed 13.59 per cent of the distinct infected IP addresses coming only from India.

"India is also home to one of the largest number of super-nodes, also known as P2P (peer-to-peer) communication channels which are created by cybercriminals in order to prevent botnet disruption by law enforcement, network operators and researchers," said Tom Burt, Corporate Vice President for Customer Security and Trust at Microsoft.

Necurs is believed to be operated by criminals based in Russia and has also been used for a wide range of crimes including pump-and-dump stock scams, fake pharmaceutical spam email and Russian dating scams.

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.

On March 5, the US court for eastern district of New York issued an order enabling Microsoft to take control of US-based infrastructure Necurs uses to distribute malware and infect victim computers.

In India, the Microsoft digital crimes unit partnered with the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) and National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) to disrupt cyberattacks led by the botnet.

"This effort prevented the criminals behind Necurs from registering new domains to execute attacks in the future in India," said Burt.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If anything, Kaduna Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is mad with his Kano counterpart Abdullahi Ganduje who deposed and embarrassed Emir Muhammed Sanusi on Monday.

To press home his grievance, El-Rufain invested Sanusi first with an appointment in the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency, late yesterday. Then Wedneday evening, the Kaduna governor followed it up with a fresh onechancellorship of the Kaduna State University.

Many already see the governor as making a statement.

According to a release by El-Rufais Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, the dethroned emir succeeded the pioneer Chancellor of KASU, His Highness, Malam Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moroa in southern Kaduna.

The Kaduna State Government has named His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Chancellor of the Kaduna State University, barely 24 hours after he was made the Vice Chairman of Kaduna State Investment and Promotion Agency, the statement read in part.

Sanusi II succeeds the pioneer Chancellor, His Highness, Malam Tagwai Sambo, the Chief of Moroa, who was appointed to the role in 2005.

El-Rufai, in the statement, insisted that the appointment was based on the fact that in public life, His Highness [Sanusi] has demonstrated a strong commitment to education.

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.

The appointment of the new chancellor comes at an exciting moment for KASU, which is transiting to a multicampus structure with presence across the state.

The 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.

PV: 0
From quarantines to working remotely, precautions are being taken across the U.S. in response to the spread of coronavirus.

If you find yourself stuck at home, there are ways to make the best of a bad situation, according to "Shark Tank" investor Daymond John.

"You have to make sure that you take that time to switch things up, adjust and get ready for this change," he said.

His advice: Think like an entrepreneur.

"What if you save three hours of transportation a day that you normally would have had to do?" said John, author of "Powershift: Transform Any Situation, Close Any Deal, and Achieve Any Outcome."

More from Invest in You:

How to protect your small business amid coronavirus outbreak

The coronavirus: Can you afford to be quarantined?

Don't let panic drive investment decisions. How to get a grip

"You're not going to treat those three hours a day like Saturday and hang out and do nothing," he said. "You're going to take those three hours and you're going to work for those three hours."

Big companies like Amazon and Google, as well as smaller firms, are instituting remote work policies to help reduce the potential spread of the virus, which has now infected more than 1,300 in the U.S. There are more than 127,564 cases to date of the coronavirus around the world.

John said while it may not be feasible to devote all of your newfound free time to work, try to use some of that time for self improvement.
Comes amid reports around 180 soldiers have died after contracting COVID-19

It said Supreme Leader has been away from Pyongyang for a 'considerable time'

Kim Jong Un has fled the North Korean capital for the coast in a bid to escape coronavirus, an insider has claimed.

A source in South Korea said the Supreme Leader fled Pyongyang for Wonsan on the nation's east coast amid growing fears over the virus.

'Intelligence analysis suggests that Kim Jong-un has been away from Pyongyang for a considerable time,' the source told Chosun Ilbo. 'This appears to be connected with the coronavirus outbreak.'

It comes amid reports that roughly 180 soldiers have died after contracting COVID-19 in the secretive state.

A source in South Korea has claimed Kim Jong Un (pictured on Monday) fled North Korean capital Pyongyang for Wonsan on the nation's east coast amid growing fears over the virus

A source in the North's military leaked the apparent death toll to South Korea's Daily NK newspaper and claimed most of the deaths had occurred close to the border with China.

A further 3,700 soldiers were under quarantine after testing positive for the virus, it was added.

Pyongyang continues to deny COVID-19 has any presence within its borders.

The regime is also developing a 'broad-spectrum antiviral injection which is highly effective in treatment of various diseases', according to a report from Monday which didn't name the virus.

The nation's neighbour South Korea has seen one of the world's most significant outbreaks of the virus, with 66 reported deaths amid 7,800 infections.

The most recent photographs of Kim Jong Un, released by North Korean media on Tuesday, show him overseeing a live fire artillery exercise in an undisclosed location.

'Intelligence analysis suggests that Kim Jong-un has been away from Pyongyang for a considerable time,' the source said

The most recent photographs of Kim Jong Un, released by North Korean media on Tuesday, show him overseeing a live fire artillery exercise in an undisclosed location (pictured)

In the images, he appears bare-faced alongside a deputy who dons a surgical mask.

One of the images shows munitions exploding on a cliff face with water nearby, perhaps suggesting a coastal location.

It's unclear when he was last in the country's capital, but photos dated February 29 show him addressing the political bureau of the ruling party's central committee, most likely in Pyongyang.

He was also photographed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on February 16.

Kim Jong Un is known to have been in Wonsan on March 2, when he oversaw another test firing exercise.

A beach resort, reputed to be a 'North Korean Benidorm', is being constructed in the coastal town, which is also said to be the site of the Supreme Leader's favourite Dacha.

In its report, Daily NK added that the wave of deaths had led to corpses being disinfected rather than cremated in defiance of government orders.

'There's just too many bodies,' their source said. 'The military leadership likely believes that suddenly asking the hospitals to cremate all the bodies would create a big headache for medical staff.'

The insider added that army chiefs would 'be held responsible for the deaths that have occurred in their units'.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 18:07:49|Editor: huaxia

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GUANGZHOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China's experience can help the world avoid detours in their fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, said Zhong Nanshan, a renowned Chinese respiratory specialist.

Zhong made the remarks at a press conference in Guangzhou on Thursday. He said that the mortality rate of the current COVID-19 outbreak overseas is similar to the early stage of Wuhan.

Zhong said his team has exchanged ideas on the epidemic prevention and control with the Hongkong Special Administrative Region, Japan, Singapore, and a number of European countries, and Chinese experts have been sent to Italy to conduct further communication.

It is essential to enhance the exchanges between China and overseas regions since China's experience and lessons over the past two months can help the world reduce both prevalence and mortality rates, Zhong said. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  Steadfast in its commitment to promote gender equality, CNN Philippines embarks on a month-long campaign titled, "STANDING TOGETHER, STRONGER TOGETHER."

While the Philippines remains one of the worlds most gender-equal countries, there is still so much we can do to help build a society where we are all equal in dignity and rights.

To kick-off the campaign, CNN Philippines invites the public to share their thoughts on equality through the Strike a Pose social media contest. People are encouraged to post the "hands out" equal pose along with their caption and the hashtag #EachforEqual.

Reel Filipina Digital Shorts Competition, the first ever digital film contest on CNN Philippines, calls for filmmakers and aspiring content creators to craft a 2-4min video revolving around this years theme, An equal world is an enabled world." The competition will have two winners  the Peoples Choice awardee who will be chosen through online voting and will receive Php 50, 000.00 cash and the Jurys Choice awardee who will get Php 100, 000.00 cash.

Throughout the entire month of March, CNN Philippines will also celebrate the achievements of women at the forefront of social change by amplifying their voices and telling their stories in our programs like Leading Women, Story of the Filipino and Med Talk, Health Talk.

To culminate the month-long celebration, CNN Philippines will have a special presentation that brings together two inspiring women from the opposite ends of the spectrum to show that female empowerment is never a one-size-fits-all. CNN International senior correspondent, Anna Coren and Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray, will talk about the state of gender equality and inclusivity in their respective fields. STANDING TOGETHER, STRONGER TOGETHER, A Special Presentation will be live on Facebook on Wednesday, March 25, 5PM and will have a delayed broadcast on Saturday, March 28, 9PM.

Tune in to CNN Philippines via Free TV Channel 9, Channel 14 on Sky Cable, Channel 10 on Cignal and live-streaming via CNNPhilippines.com, facebook.com/CNNPhilippines, iFlix app under NEWS section and HOOQ app under Channels.
The Delhi government on Thursday declared coronavirus an epidemic and shut all cinema halls, schools and colleges, except those where exams are on, till March 31.

The government also made it compulsory to disinfect all public places, including government and private offices and shopping malls, every day in the national capital.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal and top government officials.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, the chief minister said the Delhi government was making arrangements for quarantine facilities at vacant flats owned by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and under-construction hospitals.

"All cinema halls will remain shut till March 31. Also, all schools and colleges, except those where exams are being held, will remain shut till March 31 due to coronavirus. The government has declared coronavirus an epidemic," he said.

He said that his government is fully prepared to deal with COVID-19, asserting that more than 500 beds in hospitals are ready to admit coronavirus patients if needed.

In the meeting, measures taken so far to tackle coronavirus were reviewed, Kejriwal said.

"Whatever we are doing is to deal with coronavirus. I hope that all will support us. In the entire world, coronaviurs is rapidly increasing, but in India, we all have so far been able to contain it. If we are cautious, we can save our country from coronavirus," he said.

After the meeting, Baijal tweeted, "Reviewed preparedness to contain the COVID - 19 in Delhi with Hon'ble CM @ArvindKejriwal, Hon'ble Health Minister @SatyendarJain, CS, Delhi & other officers.Decision taken to close schools, colleges, cinema halls, etc. for sometime to minimise the possibility of spread."



The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 74 with 14 fresh cases, including a foreign national. The national capital has so far recorded six cases of coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - AT&T Inc.'s (T) Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson received total compensation of $32.03 million in 2019, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Stephenson's realized pay for 2019 was $25.60 million. The Wall Street Journal reported that the 10 percent rise in the CEO compensation was due to stock appreciation after fight with activist investor Elliott Management. The company's shares climbed about 37 percent during the year. John Stankey, AT&T's president and chief operating officer, and CEO of WarnerMedia, received a total of $22.47 million in 2019, up 36 percent. AT&T's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is on April 24. 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.
Financial derivatives linked to liquefied natural gas are mushrooming as a market crash and a boom in physical trading creates an appetite to manage risk and provides opportunity to speculate on prices.

The growth is helping speed up the development of a truly global trade in the fuel, linking together what has historically been geographically isolated markets into something with the depth and complexity of oil, the worlds most heavily traded energy commodity.

This is the globalization of natural gas, Gordon Bennett, Intercontinental Exchange Inc.s managing director of utility markets, said in an interview.

The clearest example of the trend is the expanding use of the Japan-Korea Marker, a benchmark for LNG delivered to northern Asia, the top consuming region for the fuel. Trading volumes rose to an all-time high in February, and open interest tripled in the past year to a record. Higher JKM volumes have tracked the development of increasingly vibrant gas hubs in the U.S. and Europe, as well as Asia.

TEXAS COAST: Port of Corpus Christi to slash spending after market meltdown

While LNG tankers have been delivering fuel commercially since the 1960s, its only in the past few years that spot trading went beyond a niche in the energy industry. Thats because the fuel was mostly bought and sold through rigid long-term contracts that sent shipments from sellers directly to pre-arranged buyers.

But more nations and companies have started to supply LNG, and many more ports are springing up to receive the shipments and deliver the gas into pipelines. A flood of new supply in the last decade -- in particular the start of U.S. exports in 2016 -- has helped make the flow of those seaborne cargoes more frequent, global and flexible. That, in turn, has spurred a variety of contract structures and pricing options that require derivatives.

More Transparent

Spot trades took up about 30% of total LNG deliveries last year, or almost 1,600 cargoes, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the biggest trader of the fuel, said in its annual LNG outlook last month.

Actual trading of spot LNG is becoming more and more transparent, Steve Hill, a Shell executive vice president, said at the time.

Spot prices traditionally mimicked moves in the oil market, as most of the worlds long-term LNG contracts are indexed to crude. But their prices have diverged over the last few years thanks to the increase in liquidity of the physical and paper gas markets.

The fact that JKM barely budged during the historic meltdown in crude prices this week illustrates the markets growing confidence in the benchmark, which better reflects the fuels unique supply-demand fundamentals.

FUEL FIX: Get our energy news in your inbox each weekday

If the crash had happened a couple of years earlier, the impact on spot LNG would be far greater than what it is today, said Edmund Siau, a Singapore-based analyst with energy consultant FGE. This shows the rapid progress that spot LNG has made in decoupling from oil.

JKM futures in New York have gained 0.5% this week to $3.310 per million British thermal units. Brent oil, meanwhile, has tumbled about 20%.

Churn Rate

One way to see how far the LNG derivatives market still has to grow is the so-called churn rate, which is a measure of the ratio of paper to physical trade in a commodity. The benchmark U.S. gas future contract -- delivered only by pipeline and centered at Henry Hub -- has a churn of 41 times the nations gas consumption. In Europe, with trading centered in Amsterdam and pricing a mix of pipeline and LNG supply, is eight times the physical market, according to ICE. JKM, a pure LNG indicator, neared a one-to-one ratio last month.

With a growing number of physical cargoes being traded on a fixed price, there will be additional risks to manage. The LNG volume represented by the trade in JKM derivatives this year will probably surpass combined imports into the region including by Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China, said Ciaran Roe, director for global LNG at S&P Global Platts in Singapore.

Physical bids, offers and trades on Platts LNG Market on Close, the main mechanism for determining the JKM price, has more than doubled in February from the same month last year, according to Roe. And the first LNG derivatives contract was sold on the so-called MOC last week, which added a layer of transparency by showing company names, contract sizes and prices. The narrowing price difference between physical and futures prices is an indication that the market is becoming every bit as evolved as crude.

Very, very quickly LNG is starting to look like a twin of oil, Roe said by phone. If you compare the way the markets are forming, they are very, very similar now.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 21:00 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a2d634 1 City Jakarta-council,deputy-governor,anies-baswedan,Gerindra-Party,PDI-P,PKS,Riza-Patria,Nurmansyah-Lubis Free

Both candidates for the Jakarta deputy governorship are convinced they can fulfill the demands of the vacant post and ease Governor Anies Baswedans official burdens.

A confirmation hearing for the 2020-2022 deputy governorship is slated for March 23.

The candidates have submitted administrative documents to Anies, marking their first personal meetings with the governor. They acknowledged having lobbied political parties with members on the City Councils voting committee for support.

Gerindra Party executive Riza Patria, one of the two candidates for deputy governor, together with the partys Jakarta executive board members, visited Anies on Monday, enclosing in his files an approved resignation letter from the House of Representatives.

I will work with the governor to run policies optimally. I will be closely in touch with the city councillors to accommodate their aspirations and put them forward to Anies, Riza told reporters.

Gerindra said the Golkar Party had openly backed Riza. Golkar Jakarta deputy chairman Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita had extended the support on behalf of Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartarto, Riza said.

Riza said he had been on political trips to various Council factions including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to gain support, although the faction said it had not made a choice.

The PDI-P dominates the 106-strong Council with 25 seats, followed by Gerindra with 19 and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) with 15.

PKS executive  and the other deputy governor hopeful  Nurmansyah Lubis submitted his paperwork on Monday. He said Anies told him to make maximum effort in the campaign but to play fairly.

He said he had gained the support of City Council Deputy Speaker Abdurrahman Suhaimi, a former PKS Jakarta Sharia Council head who was previously designated for the deputy governor post by the party but whose application was not processed for uncertain reasons.

During a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Nurmansyah said he was not too worried about being thought to stand alone in the Council or about his opponents claims of more robust support.

Since the voting will be close, party members will not feel obliged to choose the same person [that the party has officially chosen]. So, Id rather take a personal approach. I have about 40 friends at the Council who are ready to send some support, he said, declining to identify them.

Despite his view of Anies as a visionary leader, Nurmansyah thinks the Governor has been overwhelmed by Jakartas many problems since the deputy seat was left empty by Sandiaga Uno, who decided to become the running mate of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in 2019.

Anies has a holistic point of view as a character of his leadership. He needs a companion who thinks in detail to complete his tasks in the city effectively, he said. When elected, I will form a harmonious relationship with him.

Neither candidate wanted to be a spare tire for the governor for the remainder of his administration. They wanted to revamp the programs of their focus.

In addition to dealing with rampant flooding, both said they were determined to create more integrity in human resources and build systems that guaranteed transparency to encourage city officials to be more responsible.

After administrative verification, the two candidates will advance to a fit and proper test where they will present their visions and missions to all Council members. After a break, the councillors will then vote.

Eneng Malianasari, a member of the voting committee from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), said the new deputy governor would be expected to help direct policies, at least those listed in the mid-term regional development plan (RPJMD).

As the Governor always says: collaboration. Hopefully, he and his new deputy can share their tasks and not beat each other up. They must work together to address the problems for the peoples sake, she said.

Indonesia Political Review executive director Ujang Komarudin said the new deputy governor would be in an important position as the Governor had been distraught dealing with the mounting problems in the capital city.

Besides, the new deputy governor must also play a role in communicating with the public because, so far, Anies has seemed rather evasive when asked certain questions. A deputy should make his burden lighter, Ujang said.
OPEC asked Russia to cut an additional 300,000 bpd in oil production at last weeks meeting in Vienna, but according to Russias Deputy Energy Minister, this wouldve been technically challenging

OPEC asked Russia to add another 300,000 bpd to its production cut quota art the Vienna meeting last week, but it would have been technically challenging to do this, deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin told Reuters.

But there was also the uncertainty about oil demand developments in the immediate future that determined Russias response to the OPEC proposal, which sparked an oil price war with Saudi Arabia.

We cannot fight a falling demand situation when there is no clarity about where the bottom (of demand) is, the deputy minister told Reuters in an interview. It is very easy to get caught in a circle when, by cutting once, you get into an even... worse situation in say two weeks: oil prices would shortly bounce back before falling again as demand continued to fall.

Like his boss Alexander Novak, Sorokin said Russia remained open to further discussions with OPEC.

All communication channels are open, but I cannot predict when we will meet again - this largely depends on our partners, Sorokin said.

Their partners from Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, dont seem so open to further communication.

I fail to see the wisdom for holding meetings in May-June that would only demonstrate our failure in attending to what we should have done in a crisis like this and taking the necessary measures, Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman told Reuters in response to a request to comment on Alexander Novaks statement that OPEC+ was due to meet later this year for further discussions.

Russia plans to boost its production by between 300,000 and 500,000 bpd from next month, which would bring the total to 11.8 million bpd. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it will boost its production by more than 3 million barrels daily from current levels, to 12.3 million bpd, which is more than its production capacity. To be able to maintain this production rate, the state energy company Aramco has been told to boost its production capacity to 13 million bpd.



By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Travelers queue at a departures terminal in Barcelona on March 14, 2020. Photo by Adria Salido Zarco/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A tourist travels through an airport last year. Photo by SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

Sky Princess, one of the 18 ships in Princess Cruises' fleet, sends a WeWillBeBack message via its balcony cabins. Last week, Princess stated it was voluntarily pausing its global operations for 60 days in response to COVID-19.

Passengers travelling during the pandemic. Photo by Sergei Bobylev\TASS via Getty Images

One by one, countries and continents are closing as coronavirus outbreaks around the world throw travel into disarray.

This is a fluid situation, with new developments by the hour - let alone day - so check with your airline, tour operator and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) travel advisories before travelling.

What's the latest?

The Irish Government is now advising against all non-essential travel overseas at least until March 29. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all cruise ship travel.

Flight restrictions and route cancellations are happening on a daily basis worldwide and there is no guarantee that air routes will continue to operate for the coming weeks," Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said.

"For this reason, where commercial flights are still an option, we recommend that people who wish to do so make arrangements to return to Ireland as soon as possible."

Expand Close The Irish government's unprecedented travel advice, issued March 16, 2020. / Facebook

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Anyone coming into Ireland, apart from Northern Ireland, should restrict their movements for 14 days, the HSE says. This includes Irish residents. Essential supply chain services such as hauliers, pilots and maritime staff are exempt.

For now, "this advisory overrides all other travel alerts and security status notifications, with the exception of countries with a do not travel security status, which remain unchanged", it says.

It follows a temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU, set to be imposed for a period of 30 days, announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"The less travel, the more we can contain the virus," she said.

The DFA's list of countries closing their borders or introducing travel restrictions is changing by the hour, and now includes dozens of destinations (see below).

Are Irish airports still open?

Yes, Irish airports and airspace remain open at this time.

As chaos continues however, the Irish Travel Agents Association has asked the Tanaiste "to look at the repatriation of Irish travellers from other countries in the EU and across the world, especially the US.

What's happening in Spain?

A repatriation effort has been taking place, seeing the Irish government liaise with Ryanair and Aer Lingus to bring home an estimated 20,000 people from Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Both airlines are severely reducing flights.

"Customers that were already checked-in for their return flight may have experienced difficulties to change their booking," Ryanair said. "Today we are unchecking all customers booked on flights exiting Spain from 21 Mar to 28 Mar and advising them to apply for a free move on an alternative date via our online service."

Aer Lingus passengers should us the Manage My Trip page to re-book travel.

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Irish citizens can also ring a dedicated DFA helpline on +353 (0)1 613 1733.

What is the latest travel advice?

The Irish Government is advising against all non-essential travel overseas at least until March 29. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all cruise ship travel.

It follows a wave of travel restrictions in responses to the Covid-19 crisis, the DFA says - with travel advised against either due to virus outbreaks, or lockdowns and closed borders aimed at containing it.

Citizens are advised not to travel at all to Italy.

In Europe, the DFA had earlier advised against non-essential travel to Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Malta and Slovakia (click links for country advice) as coronavirus-related travel restrictions mount.

Anyone coming into Ireland will be asked to restrict their movement for 14 days..

The US has extended an original travel ban for 26 countries in the Schengen Area to the UK and Ireland. The ban won't apply to US citizens, green card holders or their immediate family members.

Irish citizens should also "avoid non-essential travel" to China, Iran and Morocco, the DFA says, and a wave of new advisories has now been issued for Latin and Central America as countries there move to curb travel from Europe.

You should now avoid non-essential travel to the region, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Peru among other countries.



In Asia, avoid non-essential travel to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

In other news, Norway closed all borders, airports and ports, while Malta has said that all passengers arriving by air or by sea are obliged to undertake a 14 day period of mandatory quarantine, including fines of 1,000 for every breach.

New Zealand and Australia are requiring almost all travellers entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days. Cruise ships from foreign ports have been banned from docking for at least 30 days.

In India, the government has announced that visas for all nationalities would be suspended until April 15, due to the coronavirus. All non-Indian citizens will not be allowed entry.

The DFA has already advised travellers to "exercise a high degree of caution" in South Korea, which is also battling an outbreak, and advises against "all but essential travel" in affected zones Daegu and Cheongdo.

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Ireland's list of at-risk countries also includes Singapore and Hong Kong.

This advice is changing rapidly as the virus spreads.

Are flights operating as normal?

No. Airlines are now under siege.

Ryanair expects to ground most of its 450+ planes by March 24, and Michael O'Leary has warned that a full grounding of the fleet cannot be ruled out.

Disruption to US and European schedules is unfolding as airlines scramble to deal with the coronavirus carnage.

SAS has suspended operations, American Airlines grounded 75pc of international routes until May, and IAG will reduce capacity "by at least 75 per cent" in April and May. Talk of multi-billion euro bailouts has begun... and that's just the latest news.

We expect demand to remain weak until well into the summer", IAG chief Willie Walsh has said.

In the meantime, Aer Lingus and Ryanair have moved to waive their flight change fees for certain bookings (fare differences may apply). See a list of airlines waiving change fees here. Aer Lingus has also now requested that only customers due to fly with the airline within the next 72 hours contact its call centre, due to unprecedented demand.

Both airlines say they will contact affected passengers, continue to monitor the situation, and liaise with the DFA, other governments, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and EASA.

I'm nervous. Should I travel?

Following government advice, not until March 29 at the earliest - unless it is essential.

As The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, made clear in an address to the nation on St Patrick's Day, the Covid-19 crisis will go on long beyond that date, possibly into the summer months.

Beyond this stark new reality, there's no one-size-fits-all answer.

If the DFA advises against travel to your destination, then you should consider cancelling your trip. Otherwise, there is no official advice not to go, but the situation is changing extremely quickly.

Decisions like this come down to individual comfort levels. It's natural to feel a bit worried... but stay calm and don't rush a decision. If you still have time before your trip, wait and see how events unfold.

The Irish Travel Agents' Association (ITAA) has called for the public to "be pragmatic" about their holiday bookings.

Our advice is to speak to your travel agent and get good advice from the experts," says John Spollen, ITAA President. "Members are monitoring what is a fluid situation on behalf of their clients on a day to day, hour by hour basis."

Remember that travel agents and airline staff are under extreme stress, and are anxious about their families too. If you are not due to travel in the coming days, consider waiting a while before making contact.

You can download TravelWise, the DFA's free smartphone app, on the Apple or Google Play stores, and set an alert for the country you are visiting to receive significant updates direct to your phone.

If coronavirus affects my trip, can I get a refund?

If the DFA issues a warning to "avoid non-essential travel" to an area (as it has done for Spain, for instance), or a "do not travel" alert, then you should be eligible for refunds or re-bookings.

In the first instance, contact your travel provider (i.e. airline or tour operator) to see what costs you can reclaim for trips that have been cancelled or curtailed.

If you booked separate accommodation yourself (i.e. not through a licensed and bonded travel agent) then you will need to check the T&Cs, or look to your travel insurance (see below) to recover money.

If I cancel my holiday, can I get a refund?

If you cancel or cut short a trip because you feel uncomfortable about travelling to an area, and the DFA has not issued a warning about that area, then you are likely to lose your deposit or payment.

If you are worried about travel, contact your tour operator or travel agent and ask if you can change or defer your plans - they are not obliged to, but Irish agents have a history of being helpful in stressful situations and airlines, cruise lines and tour operators are offering unprecedented levels of flexibility on bookings at the moment.

Airlines have also waived change fees.

If you are not due to travel in the ban periods now in place for Covid-19, my advice is to wait for now. The ban periods are likely to be extended, which may give you more rights and eligibility for refunds if you cancel at that point.

What if my airline cancels the flight?

If your flight is cancelled for any reason, and regardless of when you are notified, your airline must offer you the choice between:

1) Re-routing as soon as possible, subject to availability, free of charge.

2) Re-routing at a later date.

3) A full refund.

You may also have certain assistance and compensation rights. See here for a full list, or check flightrights.ie.

What will my travel insurance cover?

If the DFA declares a no-go area, or advises against "non-essential travel" to a destination, your first recourse for refunds or re-bookings should be your airline or travel agent.

Travel insurers may provide compensation for money lost on hotels or other bookings, but only if you cancel or cut short travel plans to areas the DFA advises against. They will not provide cover if you simply don't want to travel.

As a general rule, it's a good idea to check that government travel advice changes are included in your policy, and that you have 'Travel Disruption' cover to help recoup from cancellations in events like this (as well as strikes and terror attacks etc.).

"Travel Disruption is an additional cover and must be purchased in advance of any public announcement prohibiting travel to the area you are travelling to," explains Ciaran Mulligan of Blue Insurance and MultiTrip.com.

Note that there is a moratorium (typically around seven days) on this additional cover from the date you add it. If you buy it today, for example, it will only kick in a week down the line.

Is this a good time to buy travel insurance?

Yes - if you don't have an annual, multi-trip policy, take the opportunity to get one.

Even if your summer holiday is unaffected now, it may not remain so. There is also a strong likelihood that Covid-19 may be excluded on future policies.

One Irish insurer, Blue Insurance, reported a jump of 425pc in new policy purchases on one day in late February, compared with the same day last year, as a result of the outbreak.

It also saw a rise of 1,400pc in people adding Travel Disruption Cover to their policy.

Bear moratoriums in mind, however, read T&Cs, and make sure there is a Government Travel Advice benefit on the policy (which allows cancellation cover if DFA travel advisories change), and remember that travel insurance will most likely NOT cover you if you go to a destination to which the government has advised against travel.

Also, check that you have up-to-date European Health Insurance (EHIC) cards for your family.

Can my credit card help?

If you booked your flights or holiday using a card, you may be able to have pre-paid purchases reimbursed, but terms & conditions will apply.

As a rule, credit cards tend to offer more protections than debit cards.

Will travel insurance cover me for medical expenses if I contract coronavirus overseas?

"Providing the customer is not travelling to an area where the FCO/DFA have advised against All but Essential travel, then the customer would have cover for medical expenses if they were to travel and contract coronavirus while abroad," Ciaran Mulligan says.

"If the customer decides to travel against the advice of the FCO/DFA, there will be no cover in place as the policy would exclude any travel to an area where the DFA have advised against all but essential travel."

"In all instances, customers should contact their airline and/or booking agent if they have any concerns around the area they are travelling to, as if travel advice changes then it is likely that the airline or agent will offer to reschedule/refund their trip."

"All customers would need to go down this route before a claim will be considered."

What other precautions can I take?

Travellers can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by:

Avoiding close contact (2m) with people suffering from acute respiratory infections

Frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment

Practicing good cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands)

Avoiding close contact with live or dead farm or wild animals

Find the HSE's health-related information on the coronavirus here.

The DFA's dedicated coronavirus help line is on +353 (0)1 613 1733.

NB: This story is being updated as events unfold.
ASHLAND, Ore., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Phytonyx LLC announces premier US sales of USDA certified organic feminized high-CBD and high-CBG Hemp seeds for the 2020 growing season. As the first major hemp seed breeder/producer of premium quality, feminized hemp seeds to obtain organic certification, Phytonyx is positioned to provide organic seeds to all hemp farmers who intend to produce certified organic hemp flower, oil, and isolate.

Phytonyx is a trusted source of quality feminized hemp seeds that sold more than 40 million feminized seeds across 19 states in 2019. Phytonyx is proud to offer its farmers the opportunity to excel in the highly competitive hemp market by growing USDA Certified Organic seeds. Per the USDA, once certified organic seeds are available, organic farmers must use certified organic seeds in order to produce certified organic crops.

Phytonyx, headquartered in Ashland, Oregon, and recently USDA organic-certified by Oregon Tilth, has always been committed to using organic farming methods to protect people, animals, and the earth. The practice of organic hemp seed farming is focused on growing wholesome feminized hemp seeds, which allow organic farmers to produce high-cannabinoid (CBD and CBG) flowers and concentrates that are free of pesticides or harmful chemicals. Organic certification for hemp is especially important since many hemp products are concentrated into oils before they are either inhaled, consumed or applied externally to the body.

In addition to the renowned high-feminized CBD varieties Frosted Lime and Siskiyou Gold, Phytonyx is now introducing certified organic Frosted Kush and Golden Kush high-CBD feminized hemp seeds as well as Serenity CBG, a new proprietary variety for 2020. Organic hemp farmers are encouraged to visit www.phytonyx.com for a complete listing of organic feminized varieties now available for pre-order.

CONTACT: Heather Hill

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SOURCE Phytonyx LLC

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The Former Acting General Manager and Supervising Chief Editor of Ghana News Agency, Boakye-Dankwa Boadi is billed to become Ghana's version of Jamel Khashoggi, a South Arabian Journalist for 'The Washington Post', who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, story.

He was killed on October 2, 2018 under a program to rid Saudi Arabia of persons they perceive to be critics of their government.

The burial of Mr Boadi's Big Sister, Charlotte Boadi, was due to be held at Jema Nkwanta in Bono East Region on March 7, 2020.

On Thursday, March 5, 2020, Mr Boadi dreamt that elaborate plans have been made to eliminate him, apparently, for being critical in two articles he wrote recently. 'Asanteman The Way Forward' and 'Return Of Red Rooster Nana Addo Stop Your Lies'.

The plan included faking a road accident in which Mr Boadi would be killed. When he woke up he called his Brother Asare Boadi to change a previous plan in which he was to drive Mr Boadi to Jema Nkwanta.

In the dream, Mr Boadi survived the accident. Again armed robbers attacked his residence and an attempt was also made to poison him through a woman.

In real life, Mr Boadi drove to Jema Nkwanta as planned. While he was returning to Kumasi, a taxi cab ran into his car when he entered the main Kintampo/Techiman Highway. The Driver targeted and hit the door on the driver's side but as it happened in the dream, Mr Boadi escaped unhurt.

About The Writer

Boakye Dankwa Boadi was the Acting General Manager and Supervising Chief Editor of Ghana News Agency, when he went on retirement in 2011. He has written many articles. You may google 'Boakye-Dankwa Boadi' to access them.
A 23-year-old man who plowed his pickup truck into a troop of Girl Scouts picking up trash on the side of a Wisconsin road, killing three girls and one woman, was sentenced Wednesday to 54 years in prison.

Colten Treu pleaded no contest in December to four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and guilty to one count of hit and run causing bodily harm. He had originally pleaded not guilty to all charges.

On Wednesday, he addressed the families of his victims.

"I screwed up bad. No matter what I say or do, you guys are never going to know how sorry I really am," Treu said, according to NBC affiliate WEAU. "I can't give back what I have taken. I want to. Lord knows I want to."

A judge ordered that Treu's 54 years in prison be followed by 45 years of extended supervision. He has been credited 495 days for time served.

Colten Treu (via KARE)

In November 2018, Treu was driving a black Ford F-150 pickup truck north on a highway in Lake Hallie when it crossed over a lane and into a ditch where the troop was volunteering.

He killed Jayna Kelley, 9, Autum Helgeson, 10, Haylee J. Hickle, 10, and her mother, Sara Jo Schneider, 32, according to the Lake Hallie Police Department. Another 10-year-old girl was critically injured.

Police said the group of 12 was wearing highly visible safety vests and was not on the shoulder of the road.

Treu fled the scene, but later turned himself in. He and a passenger in the car told police that they had been "intentionally inhaling chemical vapors," or "huffing," just before the crash.

Judge James Isaacson, who handed down the sentence, told Treu it was "hard to label" what he did.

"You know it's been called a tragedy  that doesn't seem to be enough. It's been called a horrendous tragedy; senseless, thoughtless," Isaacson said. "There's more adjectives. Avoidable is one that comes to mind. Still it's not enough."

In closing arguments, Treu's defense attorney, Carly Sebion, asked that the court "remember that Colten Treu isn't the sum of just those bad mistakes on that one day."

Story continues

During sentencing, the defense team also repeatedly brought up the passenger who was in Treu's car during the crash. That man, John Stender, has not been charged, but Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said he is expected to be charged by the end of the week with intentional abuse of a hazardous substance and aiding a felon.

Newell said after sentencing that he would have preferred a longer sentence for Treu, "but I think justice was served though and that he was held accountable for what he did on Nov. 3, 2018."

The Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes said in a statement that the organization was "thankful for the sentence handed down today for the deaths and injuries of our beloved Girl Scouts."

"We remain fully in support of Troop 3055, their families, and our Girl Scout community and hope todays sentencing provides some small measure of closure as the families continue to try and rebuild after immeasurable loss," the statement said.

CORRECTION (March 13, 2020, 1:48 p.m. ET) An earlier version of this article misstated the age of Colten Treu, who was sentenced for a crash that killed three Girl Scouts and a mother. He is 23 years old, not 22.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Self-quarantining and other uncertainties brought on by coronavirus should have little impact on census 2020, at least in the early weeks, because of plans that were put in place well ahead of the first census mailings that went out Thursday.

For the first time, the census can be completed online or by phone. This means that it will be easier than ever to avoid a door-to-door face visit from a census worker. People uncomfortable with filling out a paper form and dropping it back in the mail will be able to complete the required form by picking up a phone or using the internet anywhere at any time.

And, even when census workers do go later to non-responding householders, the process should go quicker than in the past. Ditched beginning with this census has been the old-fashioned paperwork. Instead, enumerators in the field will be plugging information into iPhones. Encrypted data will be sent directly back to census offices.

The unknown

However, thats not to say that there are not concerns. In fact, during a Cleveland visit just three weeks ago, Census Director Steven Dillingham cited the unknown.

The biggest concern is if anything is going to happen between now and then that could in any way delay us or impact us. But we have planned this for 10 years. We have all these contingency plans with tests in our systems. Everything is looking very good, Dillingham said. We are very prepared to conduct this census. In fact, we are doing it in Alaska right now. But there are always unknowns.

The need for face-to-face contact with census workers has dramatically gone down over the years.

The Postal Service wasnt even used until 1970, and even then the mailings covered just 60% of the nations geography. There werent enough good addresses until that time to ensure reaching each household. In 1960, explains says historian and author Margo Anderson of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, census forms were hand-delivered to homes and an enumerator returned to pick them up. The first full mail census didnt occur until 1990, Anderson said.

Yet, each 10 years the census has been conducted, this now being the 24th census.

Anderson noted that the Census Bureau has methods to cope with special situations, such as after Hurricane Katrina or more recently the tornadoes in Nashville. Coronavirus, however, could be different because public and government reaction is changing so rapidly.

We are in very much uncharted territory," Anderson said, noting that if the planned door-to-door visits to non-responding households in May to June are pushed back, it will be more difficult to get an accurate count as it relates to census day April 1.

The schedule

Each American household should receive census instructions by about March 20. The first mailings went out Thursday. The dates are scattered to smooth the process.

Unlike in past years, there is no long form. That was eliminated after the 2000 census. Instead, the brief questionnaire is limited mainly to the collection of information about the number of people in each household, age and race. Under law, individual responses are confidential for 72 years.

Here are the key dates, and what to expect.

March 12-20 - Mailings will go to nearly every household. For most, this will only involve instructions on how to fill out the form online or by phone. Others in targeted areas, such as places with limited internet access or with older populations, will receive a paper form in this mailing as well as the online and phone instructions. This group will account for about 1-in-5 mailings.

March 16-24 - Reminder letters will be delivered.

March 26 - April 3: Reminder postcards will be delivered to households that have not yet responded. Only one form is to be completed per household, not one form per person.

March 30 - April 1 - The Census Bureau will count homeless people, in part by going to shelters, soup kitchens, tent encampments and the streets.

April 1 - Census day. Households will be asked to provide a count as of this date. For example, a child born April 1 or earlier counts; children born later do not count. (Newborns still in the hospital count at the home where they will be living, not the hospital.)

April 8 -16 - Households not yet responding will receive another reminder. This time, all the mailings will include a paper questionnaires, not just instructions to complete online or by phone.

May - June - Census takers will visit homes for which responses have not been received.

December - The Census Bureau will deliver an official count to President Donald Trump for the purpose of dividing up the 435 congressional seats among the 50 states.

2021 - Other census results will be released.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. Find other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral or use this link for other census 2020 coverage.

Read previous stories

Q&A with director Steven Dillingham on citizenship question, last-minute concerns, more during Cleveland visit

Tackling a historic undercount, census director tells Cleveland school children to make sure theyre counted in census 2020

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan stand to lose U.S. House seats after 2020 census, analysis shows

Census 2020 expected again to miss thousands of young Ohioans; why it matters
The US states hit the hardest by the coronavirus outbreak are struggling to make testing for the virus widely available.

The top United States official on infectious diseases, Anthony Fauci, said on Thursday that people could not get tests for the deadly coronavirus easily and the US testing system is not meeting the countrys needs.

The system is not really geared to what we need right now  That is a failing. Lets admit it, Fauci told a House panel. The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it, were not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes. But were not.

New York and Washington, the states hit the hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, are struggling to make testing for the virus widely available, and local officials estimate it could take weeks more to reach peak testing capacity.

While over 1,270 people have been confirmed to have the virus in the United States  and at least 38 have died  according to official data, experts estimate the real number of cases may be far greater.

An unidentified flaw in test kits distributed by the federal government in February, which gave some false results, has set the country back in testing for the virus and containing an outbreak that has infected more than 121,000 people worldwide.

Boosting testing is crucial, disease experts say, to assessing the scope of the US outbreak and identifying where it is spreading most rapidly.

Vice President Mike Pence said on March 4 that roughly 1.5 million tests would be available by the end of that week, while President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that anyone who wants a test, gets a test.

But more than a week later, the ramp-up of creating testing kits has been much slower due to regulatory hurdles at the federal and state level, as well as logistical and technical challenges, according to healthcare providers, public health officials and test makers.

Nowhere illustrates the constraints on testing more than an outbreak at the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, which alone accounts for 19 of 24 coronavirus-related deaths in the state.

Despite huge concern over how quickly the virus could spread there, about 150 of the 180 staff have not been tested. Life Care Center spokesman Tim Killian said the problem was a lack of kits to test employees.

Workers from a Servpro disaster recovery team wearing protective suits and respirators are given supplies as they line up before entering the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington [Ted S Warren/AP Photo]

Vanessa Phelps, whose 90-year old mother is a resident at the nursing home, was tested twice for coronavirus in a single week because she had been a frequent visitor. She cannot understand why all people affiliated with Life Care have not undergone testing.

If they dont test everyone, one worker could still have it and be passing it around because people are still dying, said Phelps, who ultimately tested negative.

The state has increased capacity to about 1,000 tests a day at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and local officials say they are ready to help.

President Trump has been accused of initially downplaying the threat of the virus.

Under pressure, Trump announced on Wednesday that he was banning travel to the US from most of Europe beginning on Friday, causing anger and confusion across Europe.
In a move to fulfill one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus key 2019 campaign promises, Attorney General David Lametti this week introduced a bill that would outlaw so-called conversion therapy nationwide in Canada, according to a report by the Guardian newspaper.

Canadas Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Bardish Chagger joined Lametti in pushing the bill to end the practice that Trudeau has said is harmful, degrading and has no place in Canada.

Brazil, Ecuador, Malta and Taiwan have already banned the therapy, which purports to change an LGBTQ persons sexual identity to heterosexual, or to change gender identity to align with the sex given at birth, according to the Guardian report.

But the practice has been discredited and denounced by professionals and health associations in Canada, the United States and around the world. It has no basis on science or facts, Lametti said, in announcing the proposed legislation, as quoted by the Guardian.

While the practice can sometimes consist of little more than talk therapy, other versions of the treatment include medication and electroshock designed to alter a victims sexual identity.

The new law would add five new criminal offenses to Canadas federal code, according to a government press release: causing a minor to undergo conversion therapy; removing a minor from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad;mcausing a person to undergo conversion therapy against their will; profiting from providing conversion therapy; advertising an offer to provide conversion therapy.

Several Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, already ban the bogus therapy within their cities, but the federal law would outlaw the practice throughout Canada.

In the United States, California, Colorado, New York and Washington also have bans against conversion therapy in place. But the proposed Canadian ban would not apply to those who provide support to persons questioning their sexual orientation, sexual feelings or gender identity, according to the government press release.

The bill not only outlaws the practice of so-called conversion therapy, it also allows courts to order that advertisements for the therapy be trashed or deleted online.

Conversion therapy practices have resulted in tragic rates of depression, anxiety, self-hatred and suicidal behaviours among queer and trans change effort survivors, wrote David Kinitz, a University of Toronto researcher and self-decsribed survivor of conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy, in all its forms, threatens our health and human rights. The addition of conversion therapy to the criminal code is a good first step but must come with education efforts to change the structures and social attitudes that underlie such practices, he wrote, in an essay for the site The Conversation this week.

Photo by Justin Trudeau  Prime Minister of Canada / Wikimedia Commons
EE has added 21 new towns and cities in its 5G roll-out alongside busy areas like London Bridge and Bath's Royal Crescent  bringing it total locations up to 71.

The company has also added new sites in more populated parts of existing 5G cities including Bath, Birkenhead, Motherwell and Rotherham.

EE says it has focused on adding more 5G masts to areas with higher footfall so that it can meet increasing demand for more data at those places but is also launching in new locations for the first time such as Chelmsford and South Shields.

According to independent tests by RootMetrics, EEs 5G network is fastest and most widely available in London, Birmingham and Cardiff.

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The company has added new sites in more populated parts of existing 5G cities including Bath, Birkenhead, Motherwell and Rotherham. They say it will allow people to make video calls and connect to the internet more quickly using a 5G device

Marc Allera, CEO of BTs consumer division, said: 'We have 5G coverage in more places than any other operator.

'We remain focused on connecting even more towns and cities in 2020 and beyond to keep our customers connected in the busiest places.'

BT owned EE launched with 5G coverage in 2019, starting with London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester.

'All the major manufacturers, bar Apple, now offer 5G variants of their latest models,' said Ernest Doku, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com.

'EE will be hoping that this alongside its wide-ranging network will encourage more people to sign up to 5G tariffs.

'Many mobile phone users have been slow to embrace 5G, with fewer than one in seven wanting to upgrade to the new generation of connectivity with their next deal.

'However, with more devices and networks offering 5G in ever more locations, it would be unsurprising to see that number increase rapidly, especially with some of the unlimited data deals now available.'

The company says it will allow people to make video calls and connect to the internet more quickly if they have a 5G enabled device.

They have been expanding to new cities and locations on a daily basis, the company confirmed.

Today saw connections in Bath, Birkenhead, Clydebank, Motherwell and Rotherham expanded with more fifth generation masts.

They also switched on 5G sites in Bransholme, Bury, Chelmsford, Cheshunt, Clevedon, Dartford, Dinnington, Loughborough, Loughton, North Shields, Rochester, Rugeley, Swadlincote, South Shields, Staines and Waltham Cross for the first time.

As well as switching on the first 5G sites in new cities and large towns, EE has also brought 5G to more high footfall places, including Baths Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge, London Bridge and Londons Thornton Heath railway station.

Specific information about who is in reach of the 5G masts is one issue facing customers debating whether to upgrade, but many people are also stuck with archaic connectivity.

A recent Ofcom report discovered more than 50,000 homes are stuck with mediocre broadband and 4G, let alone 5G.

It also found that 610,000 UK homes and businesses suffer without a 'reasonable connection', defined as a download speed of at least 10 Mbps.

In contrast, 5G offers download speeds of upwards of 500mbps.

Many towns and cities now have some form of 5G connectivity available - through one of the major network service providers

5G is expected to be up to 1,000 times faster than the currently used network standard, 4G

Rival telecom company O2 expanded its 5G network at the start of the year, rolling out to 13 new cities bringing their next generation network up to 20 places.

Vodafone says it now has 5G in 100 around the world, including five sites in the Republic of Ireland and 37 in the UK.

5G is expected to be up to 1,000 times faster than the currently used network standard, 4G.

According to Which?, time taken to download an HD film could be only 0.6 seconds on a 5G network, compared with 60 seconds on 4G.

However, according to a uSwitch survey, many phone users are reluctant to upgrade to 5G, with only 19 per cent believing it will improve connectivity.

Three announced in February it was launching its 5G network in 65 locations across the UK - putting it second behind EE now it has expanded to 71 sites.
O ne thing were learning as coronavirus spreads: always expect the unexpected.

Donald Trumps shocking travel ban has made that ever more stark. Turning away passengers from the EU arguably makes sense, but why now, three weeks into the European epidemic? And why exempt the UK, where even ministers are dropping like flies?

Its the result of a chaotic leader wrestling with an unpredictable situation. For business, thats the most toxic of witches brews.

Airlines, obviously, have gone into drastic retrenchment mode, scrambling to manage as cash floods out. But others, from airport store WH Smith to debt-laden Tullow Oil, are trying to figure a way through this latest stage in the crisis.

It is a horrible time to be running a company or investing peoples money.

The Chancellor was right in his Budget to say we will get through it, but we shouldnt kid ourselves; there will be many business casualties.

Travel firms, oil explorers, retailers and hoteliers are victims we can predict, but there will be others we havent figured out yet as the collateral damage spreads.

One thing we can be certain of, though. Only London has the deep pools of capital, expertise and will to clean up the global mess.

It is the City which will restructure the worlds damaged firms with new funding, preserving jobs and helping economies rebuild when the storm passes.
Karnataka State Police (KSP) recruitment board on Thursday released the admit card or hall ticket for the recruitment exam for the post of civil police constable (men and women) 2019.

Candidates who have applied for the examination can download the KSP hall ticket online from the website of Karnataka State Police (KSP) recruitment.

Steps to download KSP exam hall ticket 2019:

Visit the official website of KSP recruitment @ http://cpcnhk19.ksp-online.in/

Click on My application tab in the left hand side

A login page will appear on the screen

Key in your application number and date of birth and login

Your admit card will be displayed on screen

Take a print out and download it on your computer

Here is the direct link to download Karnataka State Police (KSP) recruitment hall ticket.

Visit the official website of Karnataka State Police for latest news and updates on the exam.
On Thursday, Shiv Sena decided to nominate party deputy leader Priyanka Chaturvedi for the lone Rajya Sabha seat which it is contesting. 7 Rajya Sabha seats in the state are scheduled to go to the polls, out of which the Maha Vikas Aghadi is assured of winning 4 of them due to its numerical strength in the Maharashtra Assembly. While the NCP will contest 2 seats, its allies Shiv Sena and Congress have settled for one seat each. The last day for filing nomination is March 13.

Read: BJP Announces Names Of 9 Candidates For Rajya Sabha Elections; Nominates Scindia From MP

Priyanka Chaturvedi's career

Having served as a director of a media and public relations firm in Mumbai, Priyanka Chaturvedi started her political career with the Congress party in 2010. She gradually rose in the party ranks from becoming the general secretary of the Indian Youth Congress from North-West Mumbai in 2012 to being named as the spokesperson of the All India Congress Committee. On April 19, 2019, Chaturvedi joined Shiv Sena as she was aggrieved over the reinstatement of some Congress workers who had manhandled her during a press conference in Mathura in September 2018. Reportedly, she was miffed also because of the denial of the party ticket to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Mumbai. Subsequently, she assumed charge as the deputy leader of Shiv Sena.

Read: JDU Announces Names Of Speaker Harivansh Singh & Ramnath Thakur For Rajya Sabha Election

The scenario in Maharashtra

A total of 55 Rajya Sabha seats across 17 states will go to the polls on March 26. Out of the 7 Rajya Sabha seats due for polls in Maharashtra, NCP currently holds two seats while Shiv Sena, BJP and Congress have one seat each. The other seat is held by RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale and a BJP-backed Independent candidate. With 54 seats, NCP can secure only one seat as 38 votes are required for a candidate to win.

However, with the surplus votes of Congress and Shiv Sena, it can bag the second seat comfortably. On Wednesday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha seat. BJP, on the other hand, has named Udayanraje Bhosale, Ramdas Athawale, and Dr. Bhagwat Karad as its three candidates. The counting of votes will take place on March 26 itself after the voting concludes.

Read: Cracks In Bihar Mahagathbandhan: Congress Demands One Rajya Sabha Berth, RJD Denies

Read: JMM Chief Shibu Soren Files Nomination For Rajya Sabha; Banks On Party's 29 Seats
The Kullu police has arrested a man from Rajasthan's Alwar for allegedly duping a resident of Chamba of over Rs 1.10 lakh after putting up an advertisement on an online portal for selling a car, police said on Thursday.

The accused, Irfan, was arrested on Wednesday from his village, Ghati Baas Chandoli in Rajasthan's Alwar district, by a police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Prakash Chand, Kullu Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Singh said.

The accused has been remanded to three-day police custody by a city court on Thursday, he added.

In a complaint lodged at the Bhuntar police station on November 28 last year, complainant Suresh Kumar, a resident of Chamba's Pangi, stated that he struck a deal to purchase a car from the accused for Rs 1 lakh after coming across the advertisement put up by the latter on online portal OLX.

The accused had sent the registration certificate and photographs of the car to him on WhatsApp, the complainant had stated.

The accused told the complainant on WhatsApp that the car would be sent to him in Kullu through the Army postal service for which he would have to pay Rs 5,120 as postal charges which would be refunded, the complaint had stated.

The complainant sent the said amount to the accused through a mobile application after receiving the receipt of the Army postal service on WhatsApp, the former had alleged.

The next day, the accused called him from another number, claiming that he was speaking from the office of the Army postal service and the car would soon be handed over to him, but he would have to pay a refundable amount of Rs 15,550, the complaint stated.

The complainant further alleged that the accused received a total of Rs 1,10,300 from him through the mobile application in the name of service charges stating that the same would be refunded, but neither the money was paid back to him nor the car delivered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If there was anyone left in Wyoming who hadnt yet gotten the memo, lawmaker activity during current legislative session has made it abundantly clear: The state needs to find some funding solutions.

Toward that end, lawmakers have considered bills that would change the sales tax rate, alter the flows of severance and mineral royalty revenues and reduce dependence on the states general fund  which was the major motivation behind the lodging tax passage.

The House Appropriations Committee even brought forth House Bill 186  K-12 and local government structural deficit repair act,...
Connect-seq: molecular circuitry

To create an anatomical map that includes molecular information about the component neurons, Hanchate combined two technologies that scientists already use.

The first technology is based off engineered viruses that infect neurons and then hop their way up the neural circuit (opposite the direction that information flows from neuron to neuron). Using these viruses, scientists can trace which neurons are connected upstream  and are therefore sending signals  to the originally infected neuron, like a tree branching from its trunk. This builds the neural road map.

The second technology, called single-cell RNA sequencing, or RNA-seq, allows researchers to determine which genes each neuron turns on, or expresses. This is the list of landmarks.

Researchers, including those working at Seattle's Allen Institute for Brain Science, have applied single-cell RNA-seq to collect a census of the individual neuronal types in the brain, Buck said.

Each technology provides just a partial picture to a neuroscientist trying to navigate the brains complexities. Virus tracing doesnt tell you whats going on inside each neuron within a specific circuit, though you may know the general role of the brain area in which the neurons are located. And single-cell sequencing doesnt tell you to which circuits an individual neuron connect.

Previous work in Bucks lab had shown that 31 different brain areas connect to CRHNs.

What kinds of stressor information are those neurons sending to CRHNs? We knew where they were, but we didn't have any way to identify them, Buck said. If you could find genes expressed in those neurons, then you would have a handle that would allow you to figure out what those neurons are doing and what kinds of responses they're controlling.

So Buck and Hanchate developed Connect-seq to create molecular maps that contained information about neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in each neuronal branch.

Hanchate and Lee did this by using viral tracing to identify neurons upstream of CRHNs and then following it up with single-cell RNA-seq to add information about individual neurons. First, they infected CRHN stress neurons with viruses that made them glow. After the viruses hopped across the synapse to upstream neurons, these neurons also glowed, which allowed the researchers to isolate them. They then used single-cell RNA-seq to see the signaling molecules within individual upstream neurons.

Signaling molecules on an anatomical map

Connect-seq made it possible for Hanchate and Lee to build an anatomical map complete with information about individual neurons complements of signaling molecules. And there were some surprises lurking in the data.

For one thing, Hanchate and Lee found that individual neurons produce many more different signaling molecules than they and Buck had expected.

Traditionally, it was thought one neuron, one signaling molecule, Hanchate said. It was thought that a neuron has either glutamate or GABA, and maybe one or two neuropeptides. But more and more studies now provide evidence suggesting that a neuron can release two or more chemical messengers.

The Connect-seq data confirmed these reports and showed that while many neurons produce either glutamate or GABA, a sizable minority produce both. And Hanchate also found that, rather than add just one or two neuropeptides in addition to a neurotransmitter, neurons upstream of CHRNs can also produce an unexpected variety of neuropeptides: 43 in total.

While some were only found alongside glutamate, and others only with GABA, some neuropeptides accompanied either or both neurotransmitters  another surprise. Bucks team also reported for the first time that a given neuron can produce as many as eight neuropeptides. Hanchate confirmed these results in a publicly available single-cell RNA-seq dataset released by others. And, working with Andria Ellis, a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Cole Trapnell at the University of Washington, the team found that within different neurons, neuropeptides can be expressed in various combinations and at different levels, adding another layer of complexity to the results.

The different neuropeptides a neuron produces, as well as its location, give hints to its function, Hanchate said. He and Lee were able to trace CRHN-connected neurons that produce specific neuropeptides to several different areas of the hypothalamus. For example, they found one neuropeptide only within neurons in an area of the hypothalamus that regulates the feeling of satiety, or having eaten enough.

When these neurons are activated, they suppress food intake and increase metabolism, Hanchate said. That is intriguing, because what are neurons linked to appetite to do with stress?

Another type of neuron that Hanchate found communicates with CRHNs controls reproduction. It will take future studies to determine why neurons that control sexual behavior or appetite may be activating or inhibiting stress neurons, he said.

Putting the guidebook to work

Though the researchers focused on just one function of the brain, scientists could use the approach to build guidebooks for any brain function, Hanchate said. And theres yet more information they could use to fill out the picture. The current analysis focused on the molecules that neurons use to send signals  but not on those that they use to receive them. Hanchate plans to examine these molecules next.

Connect-seq will also help Buck, Hanchate, and Lee better understand how the brain processes stress. Now that they better know some of the brain areas that communicate with stress neurons, they can ask which neuronal types in each area respond to specific stressors, he said. The team is working to develop methods to detect which neurons are activated in response to a given stress signal, as well as take another step upstream and study the neurons two synapses away from CRHNs.

Far off in the future is the potential application of these findings to human health. A deeper understanding of how a specific molecule mediates responses to a stressor could be a step toward developing drug interventions that help blunt the negative effects of stress, Hanchate and Buck said.

Many of the brain areas and neuronal types are conserved from mouse to humans. So the hope is that if we can learn about neural circuits that control basic functions  not higher cognitive functions  in the mouse, that data can be applied to humans, for example, to identify drug targets, she said.
* The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) handed over personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Lao Ministry of Health to support the country's response to and preparedness for the COVID-19 in Vientiane on Wednesday (March 11). Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has no confirmed cases of COVID-19, but these supplies help us to prepare and equip hospitals around the country.

* In Italy, the hardest-hit country outside China, a total of 10,590 coronavirus infections were registered on Wednesday, up from 8,514 in the previous day, the Civil Protection Department stated. In the day, 196 new fatalities were also recorded in Italy, bringing the death toll to 827 since the epidemic first appeared on Feb. 21. By far, Italy has reported a total of 12,462 accumulated COVID-19 cases.

* Iranian Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that the test of a domestically-made medicine has resulted in treatment of symptoms in severe cases of COVID-19, Tehran Times daily reported. Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a total of 9,000 people have been affected by the disease, of whom 354 people have died.

* The Republic of Korea (ROK) confirmed 114 more cases of the COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Thursday local time, raising the total number of infections to 7,869. Five more deaths were reported, lifting the death toll to 66. The total fatality rate rose to 0.84 percent.

* Singapore recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 178, the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

* Thailand's Ministry of Industry on Wednesday told the media that it had instructed some 80,000 factories across Thailand to take precautionary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their work places. Thailand's Ministry of Public Health on Wednesday reported six new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total in the country to 59, with 34 cases having fully recovered, 24 still in hospital and one death.

* Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will undergo testing for the COVID-19 disease while he does not have symptoms, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said on Thursday. The Philippines has now 49 confirmed COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

* The Indian government has suspended all tourist visas amid COVID-19 scare. The decision was taken during a meeting of a group of ministers after novel coronavirus cases in the country sharply spiked. According to Health Ministry officials so far 60 cases were recorded across the country.

*Tokyo stocks tumbled Thursday morning after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average tumbled 1,003.82 points, or 5.17 percent, from Wednesday to 18,412.24. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, plummeted 66.16 points, or 4.78 percent, at 1,318.96.

* The United States will suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days in a new measure faced with further spread of the COVID-19. The virus has infected more than 1,000 Americans and at least 38 people have died of the virus nationwide.

* Cuba confirmed on Wednesday its first three cases of COVID-19, state television reported.

* The US military confirmed Wednesday that two US troops had been killed in a rocket attack at an Iraq base earlier in the day, US media reported.

* Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced a package of CAD1billion (about US$724 million) to help combat the spread of COVID-19. At least 93 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death have been reported in Canada so far.

* New Zealand Finance Minister Grant Robertson will visit Australia's Canberra on Friday where he will meet with Australian political and business leaders to discuss the actions both governments are taking on the economic impacts of COVID-19.

* The Australian police are investigating a seemingly random stabbing spree which left three people dead and two injured in the city of Melbourne on Wednesday night.

* Staff at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) headquarters in Manila, Philippines, are temporarily working from home from Thursday following advice that a visitor to the bank has tested positive for the COVID-19.

* The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 20 with the emergence of two new cases in the country over the last 24 hours, official reports said on Wednesday.

* 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.

* Japanese and ROK trade officials on Wednesday agreed at the conclusion of lengthy talks to continue to hold dialogue on ways exports controls can be improved. The director general-level meeting was held as a teleconference due to both sides' travel restrictions to combat the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

* Malaysia on Wednesday announced 20 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 149, said the Health Ministry.

* The Russian State Duma, or the lower house of parliament, passed a bill amending the national constitution initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the third and final reading Wednesday. A nationwide vote on constitutional amendments is scheduled for April 22, which is declared a day off.

* Activities in schools and mass events will be limited in Kiev starting Thursday to prevent possible spread of the novel coronavirus, the capital city's mayor said on Wednesday. Currently, only one coronavirus case has been confirmed in Ukraine, in the town of Chernivtsi.

* The British government is set to move to "delay" phase, the second in Britain's four-step move, in responding to the coronavirus by closing schools, cancelling major sporting events and making people work from home, British media reported Wednesday night.

* Four European countries -- Bulgaria, Albania, Ireland, and Belgium -- reported their first deaths from the COVID-19 on Wednesday, with the total number of infected cases in the four countries reaching seven, 12, 43, and 314 respectively, according to health authorities. Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland saw their biggest daily jump of caseload on Wednesday. With 252, 121 and 21 new confirmed cases, respectively, in just one day, the total infections in the three countries rose to 514, 503 and 61.

* A total of 27 Israelis were tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 97, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health. Of the 97 infected, two are in serious condition, while three others have recovered, said the ministry.

* France on Wednesday confirmed 2,281 coronavirus infection cases -- nearly 500 more than a day before, with 48 deaths and 105 patients hospitalized in intensive care.

* In Spain, the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 2,181, of which 1,024 were in the Madrid region. The country has reported 49 coronavirus fatalities.

* As to other parts of Europe, the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 1,567 in Germany, 500 in Stockholm, 456 in the UK, 246 in Austria, 99 in Greece, 59 in Portugal, 31 in Poland, 19 in Croatia, 18 in Serbia, 13 in Hungary, 10 in Latvia, 9 in North Macedonia, seven in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), six each in Cyprus and Malta, according to health authorities.

* US House of Representatives approved a resolution on Wednesday to curb the president's power to use military forces against Iran, and sent the bill to President Donald Trump's desk where it is expected to be vetoed. The House passed the war powers resolution in a largely party-line vote of 227 against 186.

* Greek border guards at Kastanies border crossing continued to stand on alert Wednesday as hundreds of migrants and refugees attempting to cross into Greece from the northeastern land border with Turkey, as tension escalated in particular in the sea borders in the Aegean Sea. Almost 1,000 people were kept off here this Monday and Tuesday, according to Greek government sources.

* The Swedish government announced on Wednesday evening that restrictions on all public events with more than 500 people would come into force at midnight and that anyone found breaking the rules may face fines or six months in prison.

* An airstrike targeted an area in Syria's eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Wednesday evening, state news agency SANA reported. It said no human losses were reported.

* Kuwait has decided on Wednesday to suspend the commercial flights to and from the country starting from March 13. The decision was made at a meeting of the Kuwait's government on Wednesday. Kuwait confirmed three new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 72, Kuwait's Ministry of Health said Wednesday.

* The Egyptian Health Ministry announced on Wednesday seven new cases of COVID-19, raising the number of infected cases in the country to 67.

* Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday warned about the COVID-19 in Turkey, as the virus outbreak in Europe poses a serious risk to the country. The health minister urged the citizens not to travel abroad and stay at home for two weeks if they arrived from another country.

* Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan affirmed mutual interest in expanding and diversifying bilateral trade and economic cooperation as the two countries' top leaders met in Baku on Wednesday.

* Global oil price tumble has dealt a heavy blow to Nigeria, said Mele Kyari, head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Wednesday. He urged the citizens to prepare for "a more tough time in a few months following the crash in the price of crude oil due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus."
FLINT, MI - Kris Gibson knew Simba the Dog was lost. She had no idea just how far from home he was.

Gibson met Simba on Thursday, March 5 when she let her dog out the back door of her Mount Morris Township home and saw the gentle giant standing at her fence. She lured him into the backyard using a bag of treats, she said.

She took him to Mayfair Animal Hospital, located at 8025 Clio Road in Mt. Morris, to have him scanned for a microchip. She was surprised to find out Simbas owner lived in Florida.

Kassidy Gruno, a veterinary assistant at Mayfair Animal Hospital, said Simba has apparently been missing for about two and a half months. She was shocked at how far the dog had come, she said.

"Never have I ever seen something like that happen before, I dont think any of us have here, Gruno said.

Simba is a Presa Canario, or Canary Mastiff, native to the Spanish Canary Islands. While they dont know for sure, both Gruno and Gibson speculated Simbas journey could be explained by someone abducting him with the intent to sell him. The owner told staff Simba was in the yard when he went missing, Gruno said.

They are thousand-dollar dogs, Gruno said. The cheapest one around here was $1,800.

As of Thursday, March 12, Simba is still staying with Gibson, she said. Shes working with the nonprofit organization Pilots N Paws to find him a flight back to Florida, she said.

Simbas unlikely reconnection with his family might never have happened without his microchip, Gibson said.

Usually when I find dogs, they never ever have a chip, I was pretty shocked, Gibson said. I always advocate for chipping. I used to volunteer in rescue groups, and I would say 90% of the dogs that come in arent micro chipped, or they dont register them.

HAPPY TAIL! Simba has been missing from his home in Miami, Florida for two months. He was found in Mt. Morris this week... Posted by Mayfair Animal Hospital on Saturday, March 7, 2020

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GRAND BLANC, MI  A Grand Blanc Township doctor has been charged with 20 counts related to alleged possession of child pornography.

Andrew Keri, 43, on Tuesday, March 10, appeared in Genesee County District Court for arraignment on 10 counts of using a computer to commit a crime and five counts each of child sexually abusive activity and possession of child sexually abusive materials.

The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Detective Sgt. David Vergison said police began their investigation in October upon learning Keri was allegedly downloading and sharing child porn on the internet.

Police did say they seized digital evidence from Keris home. Keri was criminally charged following a forensic analysis of the evidence, police said.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs lists Keri as having an osteopathic physicians license and a controlled substance license. Vergison said Keri is an emergency room physician at Ascension Standish Hospital. Staff there did not return calls seeking comment.

The MSP Computer Crimes Unit encourages parents to speak to their children about the safe use of the internet. There are many resources available to parents to assist in keeping children safe online. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a comprehensive list of resources on their website at http://www.missingkids.org. The MSP ICAC Task Force also provides resources at http://www.michiganicac.com.

Those with information regarding possible child sexual exploitation can report it to the CyberTipLine at http://www.missingkids.org/cybertipline.
DALLAS, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Essilor Vision Foundation (EVF) announced today that it is has renewed its partnership with Walman Optical to continue Walman's Kids with a Vision program throughout 2020. For every pair of digitally surfaced lenses treated with non-glare treatment produced by Walman Optical labs purchased by participating eye care professionals through Dec. 31, 2020, Walman Optical will donate $5.00 to EVF.*

It is estimated that one in four children in the United States has a vision issue significant enough to affect their ability to learn. Vision impacts every aspect of a child's life, from learning, confidence and social interaction to participation in activities such as sports, art and music. The funds raised through Kids with a Vision will help EVF provide vision care for children in underserved communities around the country who otherwise would not receive crucial vision exams and glasses.

"2020 is the year of vision -- a year when everyone should make their eye health a priority and be advocates for the estimated 12 million kids in America with a vision impairment, half of whom are not getting the care they need," says Becky Palm, EVF President and Executive Director. "With the generous support of Walman Optical, we will continue to raise awareness and donations for the millions of children in this country who lack proper vision care."

Walman Optical CEO Marty Bassett agrees. "The Kids With a Vision program gives our customers the chance to engage in a more meaningful way in philanthropy and giving back to their communities," he says. "We see it as an opportunity for them to build their brands, create greater awareness and recognition for the importance of optical health, and have a direct impact on kids in their communities."

Children rely on eye care professionals, parents, teachers and communities to be advocates for their vision care. Together, Essilor Vision Foundation and Walman Optical are providing vision services and enabling children to reach their full potential by giving them the ability to see clearly.

* Excludes outsourced and previously discounted products

About Essilor Vision Foundation

We strive to give children a brighter future by helping them see the world more clearly. Since 2007, Essilor Vision Foundation has provided more than one million pairs of eyeglasses to individuals in need. Essilor Vision Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public, non-profit organization committed to eliminating poor vision and its lifelong consequences. To learn more, visit www.evfusa.org.

About Walman

In support of the optical industry, Walman is focused on your success for the betterment of patient care. It is a family of optical companies with a 100-year history of excellent relationships built on enduring trust and added value. Each of Walman's businesses is guided by the same core principles and single vision: to be the most trusted partner in the industry. To learn more about Walman, visit www.walman.com.

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SOURCE Essilor Vision Foundation

Related Links

https://www.evfusa.org/


[March 12, 2020] INVESTIGATION REMINDER: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm

The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. ("Norwegian" or "the Company") (NYSE: NCLH) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Norwegian is the subject of an article published by the Miami New Times on March 9, 2020, titled "Leaked Emails: Norwegian Pressures Sales Team to Lie About Coronavirus." According to the Times, the leaked emails show Norwegian managrs pressuring sales employees to lie to customers about the threat of the coronavirus (COVID-2019) to protect the Company against cancellations. One of the emails reportedly advises sales staff to tell customers, "Coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise." Based on this news, shares of Norwegian traded down sharply during intraday trading on March 11, 2020.



If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005847/en/

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A day after the Air Education and Training Command told parents and friends of recruits graduating from basic military training not to attend this weeks parade on a sprawling field, the Air Force canceled it.

That parade, a staple of life at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for decades, was seen as a potential breeding ground for coronavirus, which was declared a pandemic Wednesday by the World Health Organization. It will be moved indoors to the bases Pfingston Reception Center, where an Air Force reviewing official will administer the oath of enlistment.

That ceremony will not be open to the public.

The decision was driven by concerns that some retirees, who have Defense Department ID cards and can come onto the base whenever they wish, would attend the event anyway, increasing the risk of spreading coronavirus to both technical training schools and the general population.

Weve been getting calls from people all morning in that category, said Bob Rubio, a spokesman for the 37th Training Wing, said of the retirees. Its really unfortunate. Its an unfortunate situation. Change is happening as we speak.

The cancelation wasnt the only change in plans. A coining ceremony typically held every Thursday in an outdoor theater at the reception center was moved to basic training squadron facilities. Graduates stand in formation before large audiences as they receive the Airmans Coin from their instructors.

That ceremony, too, will now be a private affair between airmen and their NCOs.

Word of those changes came only hours before commanders with the 502nd Air Base Wing held a virtual town hall on Facebook Live to field comments and concerns from troops at Joint Base San Antonios three major installations and Camp Bullis.

The commanders were led by Brig. Gen. Laura Lenderman, who heads the wing. She told troops watching the town hall that she had raised the health protection condition from zero to Alpha following an exercise Friday.

Now Playing: Brig. Gen. Laura Lenderman and Col. Michael Newsom, 737th Training Group commander, discuss efforts to protect their troops. Video: mySA

On Monday, it was decided to reduce mass gatherings  hence the decision to scrap the popular basic training ceremonies that occur on Thursdays and Friday at the base, where 6,500 recruits train every week.

Lenderman said similar decisions were made by the Navy and Army, and told those listening to the broadcast, Our priority is the health of the force.

The decision to raise the health protection level, made after consulting with her medical team, involves taking such basic precautions as washing hands and doing fist and elbow bumps rather than shaking hands. She and others said it is possible the condition could be raised to one of three higher levels.

Maj. Gen. John DeGoes, a physician and flight surgeon commanding the Air Forces 59th Medical Wing on Lackland, said people should avoid mass gatherings, unnecessary touching, and should cover their faces when they sneeze and remain home when sick.

Hands should be washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Describing the status as Alpha-plus, Lenderman noted that troops on the joint bases constitute a large population that is in close quarters on an around-the-clock basis, and that whether its this infection or another infection, were always cautious about the training environment.

So, for me right now, Im aware that this could elevate quickly, just as it did over the last couple of days, she said. So were just going to take it day by day and evaluate the health risk and provide the best military advice to our commanders.

Still, tens of thousands of motorists enter and leave Joint Bases Randolph, Fort Sam Houston and Randolph daily, as well as Camp Bullis, a sprawling training range in Northwest Bexar County.

The checkpoints, manned by Security Forces troops who review all IDs before allowing people on the base, are one of the more likely areas where contagious drivers or passengers will likely interact with the guards.

Yet another site of potential contagious contact are the many military dining facilities, or DFACs, that dot the installations.

Lenderman revealed that some Security Forces troops are wearing gloves to protect themselves and conceded that they are at greater risk.

I think youre correct in that our defenders are always vulnerable, whether its influenza or COVID-19, because of their job, and the fact that they do touch hands and they touch ID cards of every person that comes on to the installation, she said.

But I also think thats part of installation support, that when youre providing a customer service, whether its at the gates or its at the DFAC, at our dining facility, or our lodging, those are the kinds of folks that have close interactions with visitors that come from all parts of the country, she continued. And there is a risk there, and were going to continue to monitor it and provide our precautions as necessary based on the guidance of our health professionals.

sigc@express-news.net
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 20:38:23|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China's civil aviation industry bore the brunt of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as it suffered major losses in February, the biggest in a single month.

The aviation sector registered losses of 24.59 billion yuan (about 3.53 billion U.S. dollars) last month, Zhang Qing, an official with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), told an online press conference Thursday.

The total air transport turnover last month tumbled 73.9 percent year on year to 2.52 billion tonne-km, while the passenger throughput stood at 8.34 million trips, plummeting 84.5 percent from the same period last year.

Cargo and mail throughput stood at 297,000 tonnes, down 21 percent on a year-on-year basis.

Civil aviation authorities will pay close attention to the ongoing epidemic and ensure the implementation of preferential policies in a bid to cushion the blow of the epidemic on the air transport industry, said Zhang.

China has rolled out a slew of fiscal policies, including tax relief to reduce business risks faced by enterprises in this sector, according to the administration.
A California judge has ruled that there is enough evidence to put a former McDonalds worker on trial for allegedly spitting on a police officer's food.

Tatyana Hargrove, from Bakersfield, smirked during a preliminary hearing on Thursday as she was ordered to stand trial on a felony count of attempting to mingle substances with food and drink.

The presiding judge, however, dismissed a misdemeanor count of battery, citing insufficient evidence.

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Tatyana Hargrove, from California, was ordered on Thursday to stand trial on a felony count of attempting to mingle substances with food and drink for allegedly spitting on a cop's food

Prior to incident, Hargove (pictured left in 2017) lost a federal lawsuit alleging she was beaten up by officers from Bakersfield Police Department two years previously

Hargrove, then aged 21, was arrested last November for allegedly spitting on a hamburger bun and rubbing it on the floor before serving it to a uniformed Bakersfield police officer.

She was allegedly heard yelling, Black lives matter, f*** the pigs,' while preparing the cop's order, reported the local station KGET.

The charge of felony tampering is defined as a case where a person 'willfully mingles any poison or harmful substance with any food, drink, medicine, or pharmaceutical product.'

During Thursdays hearing, a deputy public defender representing Hargrove argued that the felony count was not applicable to her case because it is unknown when a chemical-based cleaning product was last used to wash the floor at the fast-food eatery before the hamburger bun was rubbed on it.

The defense lawyer also argued there was no proof that her client spit on the food because she was facing away from the surveillance camera at the time.

In July 2017, Hargrove said she was confronted by police at gunpoint, punched in the mouth and bitten by a police dog after she was mistaken for a male suspect. She is seen in screenshots from a video shot for NAACP Bakersfield

But a prosecutor cited testimony from a witness who said Hargrove was heard drawing saliva into her mouth and then wiping her lips with her arm.

The incident began unfolding on November 15, 2019, when Hargrove was arrested after management at the McDonald's eatery where she worked on Rosedale Highway in Bakersfield reviewed surveillance video and discovered that she had allegedly tempered with the officer's food.

The officer is said to have not been sickened after eating the foul hamburger, and he did not go to a hospital.

In July 2017, Hargrove said she was confronted by officers from the Bakersfield Police Department at gunpoint, punched in the mouth and bitten by a police dog after she was mistaken for a much larger bald man suspected of threatening people with a machete.

Hargrove said she had ridden her bicycle to a local store to buy a Father's Day gift. But it was closed and she decided to return home, she said.

The video showed close-ups of scratches, bites, bruises and scrapes on her face and body

Hargrove sued the City of Bakersfield in federal court alleging the use of excessive force and civil rights violations, but the jury found against her

Temperatures in the Central Valley city had hit around 102 degrees, and Hargrove, who had three bottles of water in a backpack, stopped to take a drink.

'And then I turned around and there were three cop cars and one of the officers already had a gun drawn at me,' she said.

The confrontation escalated after an officer demanded to search her backpack and she asked if he had a warrant.

Hargrove contended that police grabbed her by the wrist and neck, punched her and threw her to the ground, where she was bitten in the leg by a police dog.

The suspect was described as a 25- to 30-year-old bald man standing about 5-foot-10 and weighing about 170lbs. Hargrove is 5-foot-2 and weighs 115lbs.

The officer who allegedly punched the young woman was not charged with a crime.

Hargrove later sued the City of Bakersfield in federal court alleging the use of excessive force and civil rights violations. She had sought punitive and compensatory damages.

However, a jury ruled in favor of the city and the police officers.

Bakersfield Police Chief Lyle Martin apologized to Hargrove and her family, and Hargrove told Eyewitness News that she accepted the apology.
A blonde woman has admitted to stealing a vibrator from a sex shop during a wild shoplifting spree.

Brooke Jane Davis pleaded guilty to five counts of stealing in Maroochydore Magistrate Court in Queensland on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old was accused of stealing from various stores on the Sunshine Coast between June and January including Coles, TK Maxx and Sunglasses Hut.

Brooke Jane Davis pleaded guilty to five counts of stealing from stores around the Sunshine Coast between June and January

'You stole an Ovo s4 vibrator from Totally Adult in Caloundra,' Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said, as reported by The Sunshine Coast Daily.

Some of the items Ms Davis had stolen have been returned to the stores, but police prosecutor Phillip Stephens said more than $900 in goods was still unaccounted for.

Ms Davis lawyer Neale Tobin said she had suffered from drug addiction at the time of her offences.

She is undertaking a therapy program for her habit and will give a medical report to the court at her sentencing on March 18.
Climate change denial is a moving target. In the past, it consisted of a fully fledged denial of any scientific evidence that the world was warming. More recently, it has evolved into a creative mix of strategies. Deniers today often contradict part of the scientific basis for climate change, while pinning the blame for the rest  anything completely undeniable, even to them  on developing countries, particularly India and China.

Over the past few weeks, a new figure has emerged: Naomi Seibt. Seibt, the so-called anti-Greta Thunberg, a 19-year-old from Munster in Germany, rapidly gained media attention for her call for climate realism, claiming that climate change science really is not science at all, and for this reason, there is no need to panic. The young activist immediately caught the eye of the lively US denier scene and was  just months after publishing her first YouTube video  invited to speak at the high-profile Conservative Political Action Conference 2020 (CPAC) and made a member of the Heartland Institute, a thinktank known for its ties to the fossil-fuel industry.

As an academic who researches climate disinformation strategies, I found her sudden emergence very interesting. Combing through Seibsts speeches available online, I had a chance to analyse her own style of denial, coming across a number of cliched skeptical arguments that have been repeatedly debunked in the past.

What was perhaps most interesting, was her use of a recurrent argument on the supposed historical rebranding of climate change. The theory goes as follows: in the past, everyone used the term global warming to describe this phenomenon, but seeing that the planet was, in fact, not heating, global warming was rebranded to climate change in a sophisticated cover-up.

Clearly, this hypothesis is flawed, as the Earth is unequivocally warming. Despite this, the idea appears to be widely held in the denialist scene  to take one prominent example, Donald Trump tweeted it more than 20 times in the two years before he became president.

Story continues

So, was there really a conspiracy to rebrand climate change?

Even deniers used climate change

To find out whether there is some truth underlying the rebranding theory, I analysed 30 years (1990-2019) of data containing the terms global warming and climate change from five sources: the academic literature repositories Scopus and Web of Science, the British newspapers The Times and The Guardian, and the articles published by the Heartland Institute itself.

This mix of sources provides a nice overview of how the two terms have been used over time. If the theory is true, we would expect the use of global warming to be dominant in the past, to then slowly be substituted by climate change. Lets see what the data says.

First, the academic literature has always preferred the more comprehensive term climate change, and there is no single point in time where articles mentioning global warming exceed those mentioning climate change on Scopus and Web of Science. Yet the gap between the two terms increases significantly after the Kyoto Protocol entered into force in 2005, a watershed year for climate governance.

On the other hand, newspapers behaved somewhat differently. In both The Guardian and The Times, climate change is generally the most common term, but the two are used interchangeably until 2005 when again we see a breaking point. Despite this, climate change was in use long before any possible rebranding.

Yet the most interesting findings come from looking at data from the Heartland Institute. In fact, the thinktank used the two terms with roughly the same frequency until 2013, when we finally see a decoupling as the use of global warming dropped while the use of climate change remained constant.

This shows that global warming was widely used by climate change deniers over this 30-year period. Perhaps this is because the phrase is relatively specific, which allowed them to contrast it with simple arguments like saying that the planet cannot be warming as its cold outside.

In 2015 US senator James Inhofe brought a snowball into congress to show climate change wasnt real.

Different terms, same problem

Looking at the data, it is safe to say that there was no historical rebranding of climate change, as global warming was never the most commonly used term in the first place. Rather, it is evident how, over time, newspapers and academics used different phrases to represent the same phenomenon, as newspapers tended to use global warming very frequently until 2005, while this term was never common in the scientific literature.

Climate change deniers are known to often misrepresent innocuous facts and use them to their advantage, and this case was no exception: a simple evolution in language was transformed into an unfounded conspiracy theory. While the latter was easy to debunk by looking at the data, these sorts of arguments are dangerous smokescreens, designed to shift the focus of the debate away from the need for decisive measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Whatever we decide to call it, climate change is happening, and it calls for urgent action.

Click here to subscribe to our climate action newsletter. Climate change is inevitable. Our response to it isnt.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Giulio Corsi receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership at the University of Cambridge and from the Cambridge Trust.
New Delhi, March 12 : While admitting that supplies of an important TV component have taken a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese technology company Xiaomi on Thursday said that the impact of the outbreak on its smartphone business in India would be minimal.

This is because of the "exceptional job" in managing the balance of supplies done by the supply chain team and partners of the company, Muralikrishnan B, Chief Operating Officer, Xiaomi, told IANS.

"While there has been some impact on our supply chain, the entire Xiaomi global organisation realise that India is a very important market. That's why we ensure that the present condition should not impact us as far as smartphones are concerned, which is why we continue to launch new smartphones in India," Muralikrishnan told IANS.

Amid the prevailing uncertainties in the market, the company on Thursday launched its new smartphones Redmi Note 9 Pro and Pro Max in India that support the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO's) indigenously developed navigation system, NavIC.

"However, there are certain other categories such as TVs which have been impacted due to coronavirus outbreak, as the panels are imported from abroad. As panels are taking more time to arrive in India this will impact us here," he added.

In January, ISRO chief Dr K Sivan announced a collaboration with Qualcomm to provide better navigation systems using the NavIC satellite system in India.

At the Qualcomm event, Xiaomi's Global Vice President, Manu Kumar Jain, and Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth confirmed they "will work closely" with the chipmaker to introduce phones with the new chips, starting with the Snapdragon 720G.

"For us, adding NavIC reflects our commitment to the Indian market to provide new technology with a greater location ability. NavIC technology is a function of chipset supporting the specific functionality," Muralikrishnan said.

NavIC-supported Qualcomm chipsets will be Snapdragon 720G, 662 and 460. These new chipsets support WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 along with faster 4G speeds.

"Different smartphones are made with different audiences in mind and therefore one has to pick the right balance of power battery display. It will be wrong on my part to say that every device will support NavIC because it depends upon the chipset we use," he informed.

(Md Waquar Haider can be reached at waquar.h@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Schools in Northern Ireland will not be closing because of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnston today said it is time to move to the next stage of planning against the disease.

However, he said that schools should remain open.

Earlier today, it was announced that all schools and colleges in the Republic will close from 6pm today until March 29 at the earliest.

Mr Johnston said: "The most dangerous period is not now, but some weeks away, depending how far it spreads."

He said that new measures are going to be in place.

They include:

Staying at home for seven days if you have, however mild, a new continuous cough or higher temperature

Advise all those over-70s not to go on cruises

Advise against international school trips

Mr Johnson says they are only "considering the question of banning major events, including sporting fixtures" - not because of the spread of the virus, but because of the burden it puts on public services.

The UK's chief medical officer, Chris Witty, said the actions taken so far by the government has delayed the virus taking hold - but they must move to the next stage.

"If you move too early, people get fatigued. This is a long haul," said Mr Witty.

Mr Witty says he "cannot emphasise enough about washing hands" as it makes a real difference in the spread.

But he reiterates the call for anyone, even with mild symptoms, to stay at home for seven days.

"The virus seems to have its maximum transmission period around the time the first symptoms show and for two or three days after, then it declines, so by seven days, the majority are not infectious and fine to go into society."
Nguyen Tu Long, deputy director of the Department of Civil Servants-Public Employees under the Ministry of Home Affairs, speaks on sanctioning Government officer or public employees who break the law.

Nguyen Tu Long, deputy director of the MoHA's Department of Civil Servants-Public Employees. Photo sggp.org.vn



Can you give us an overview of the Governments draft decree on sanctions for Government officials and State employees working in public office?

This decree is an integration of Decree 27 on sanctioning public employees with Decree 34 on sanctioning Government civil servants. The decree has also detailed contents in the revised law and supplements to some articles in the Law on Government Officials and the Law on Public Employees. The draft law has been sent to concerned Government agencies and offices for comments and suggestions. In the next step, the Ministry of Home Affairs will submit a full report to the Government on the draft.

Why does the draft decree include sanctioning measures on Government officials or public employees who have already been disciplined by Party organisations?

In the course of drafting the decree, we have discussed quite a few factors. For any act encroaching upon Vietnamese laws, the violator is subject to either administrative or criminal sanctions depending on the seriousness of their actions, regardless they are a member of the Party or not or whether they are retired or not.

What will happen if the violator does not co-operate with the sanctioning council?

This is a very complicated issue. At the moment, the law drafting board tends to use administrative sanctions first and then Party sanctions later. Of course, the Ministry of Home Affairs will consult with concerned agencies to complete the decree before it is submitted to the Government for approval.

Did you face any challenges in writing the decree?

Under the current organisational laws, violators who are the chairmen, vice chairmen of the provincial peoples councils and communal officers will only face a form of punishment, namely dismissal. There are not procedures on how to punish them or any other forms of sanctioning. This issue should be covered in the draft decree.

What does the Ministry of Home Affairs hope to gain from this decree?

We hope when the decree comes to life, it will help us to solve problems with officials at the commune level and some position titles in Government offices. We also hope the decree will institutionalise rules on sanctioning retired Government officials.

Last but not least, when the decree comes to life, it will help reduce current cumbersome administrative procedures in our country.  VNS/SGGP

Law on public service management needed to control service quality: experts Viet Nam News speaks to experts about public service management and the need to enforce a law on public service management after the recent water crisis in Hanoi.
Three Ireland has apologised after a "power issue" saw their services stopped work intermittently throughout the day, leaving customers unable to make calls, send texts or use data.

The mobile service provider said that the problems customers were facing accessing call, message and internet functions on their service was due to a power issue at one of their data centres.

Frustrated Three users took to social media today to say that they were unable to make calls and texts and could not access customer care support.

Three Ireland has apologised and said they are attempting to resolve the issues.

A spokesperson said: "We are aware that some customers are currently experiencing intermittent access to voice, SMS and data services.

"The cause has been identified as a power issue at one of our data centres. We have engineers working to resolve this ASAP. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
Copper and iron ore prices have held up surprisingly well as markets in the West belatedly come to grips with the coronavirus pandemic and China shifts focus from containment to rebuilding its economy following more than two months of inactivity.

On Wednesday BMO Capital Markets held a conference call with PRC Macro, a consulting firm focused on Chinas political economy, about the prospects for 2020 GDP growth in the country.

PRC Macro anticipates spending by Beijing of as much as $570 billion primarily focused on infrastructure. PRC Macro says in order to declare an economic victory, a 5 percent growth rate is the absolute minimum that will be acceptable:

There are two parts to the stimulus plan.

The first, which is almost complete, is to cover cashflows at businesses impacted by weak demand.

The second, just commencing now, is to bolster growth. Infrastructure spending is key, and much of the support (up to 4 trillion RMB) will come from policy banks.

BMO notes the first stage in the China restart is to get factories going again (services would take longer) and is well progressed, noting that even in the centre of the outbreak  Wuhan  (Chinas Detroit), automakers have been notified to restart operations, albeit with some restrictions.

Build-a-bull

China is responsible for some 70 percent of the worlds seaborne iron ore trade, and half the worlds copper consumption. China last year produced 56 percent of the worlds steel and with rapid refinery expansion in recent years, the country also produces the majority of the worlds copper and other industrial metals. Related: U.S. Regulators Take Aim At Foreign Investments

While panic selling of equities in the US and elsewhere have pushed markets into technical bear territory, that is, a decline in excess of 20 percent, industrial metals and raw material prices have held up relatively well.

Copper trading in New York was set to close on Wednesday below $2.50 a pound ($5,500 a tonne) for the first time since May 2017, but year to date losses are only just into double digits.

The Chinese import price of 62 percent Fe content is actually up more than 2 percent for the week, trading at $90.05 per dry metric tonne on Wednesday, according to Fastmarkets MB, wiping out the steelmaking raw materials pandemic-related losses.

By Mining.com

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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus talks during a daily press briefing on COVID-19 virus at the WHO headquaters in Geneva on March 11, 2020. - WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on March 11, 2020 that the new coronavirus outbreak can now be characterised as a pandemic. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)



The World Health Organization characterized the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic on Wednesday, as new cases spiked in Iran, Italy and other locations.



WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters the world health body had been "assessing this outbreak around the clock" and 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 can be characterized as a pandemic."



The characterization does not activate any specific action, he explained, noting that it "doesn't change what WHO is doing, and it doesn't change what countries should do."






They may look like regular cows, but a herd of Friesian dairy cattle at a British farm are internet pioneers and they are enjoying the benefits of 5G connectivity before you.

Cisco Systems Inc, which is developing network infrastructure for the emerging technology, has set up 5G testbeds to trial wireless and mobile connectivity in three rural locations.

5G promises super-fast connections, which evangelists say will transform the way we live our lives, enabling everything from self-driving cars to augmented-reality glasses and downloading a feature-length film to your phone in seconds.

While it is being used in pockets of pilot studies around the world, the first near-nationwide coverage is not expected in countries such as China, Japan or the United States until 2023, according to industry analysts.

For the cows, among the 5G-connected gadgets they are wearing is a collar that controls a robotic milking system.

When the cow feels ready to be milked it will approach machine gates that will automatically open. The device recognizes the individual to precisely latch on to its teats for milking, while the cow munches on a food reward.

At the government-funded Agricultural Engineering Precision Innovation Centre (Agri-EPI Centre) in Shepton Mallet, in southwest England, around 50 of the 180-strong herd is fitted with the 5G smart collars and health-monitoring ear tags.

The gadgets do not harm the cows and the monitoring allows handlers to see any signs of distress.

We are testing the ability of 5G to transmit the data from our sensors much quicker, and not via the farms PC and a slow broadband internet connection, said Duncan Forbes, Project Manager at the Agri-Epi Centre

And the significance of that is it means that this sort of technology could be taken up ... not just on farms but on rural communities right across the country.

The working dairy, set up by Agri-EPI with the support of Britains innovation agency, uses a range of technology; including automated brushes that rotate when the cow rubs up against them, sensor-operated curtains that open depending on the weather, and a smart feeding system that automatically delivers food in the barn via ceiling-mounted rails.

We can connect every cow, we can connect every animal on this farm, Ciscos Nick Chrissos said.

Thats what 5G can do for farming  really unleash the power that we have within this farm, everywhere around the UK and everywhere around the world.
All schools in Uttarakhand have been closed till March 31 in view of the coronavirus threat, according to an order issued on Thursday.

However, schools where board examinations are underway will remain open till the exams conclude, according to the order.

Pre-primary, primary, upper primary and high schools up to the Intermediate level will remain closed till March 31, School Secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram said in the order.

The decision has been taken as a safety measure in view of the coronavirus threat, it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Telangana will pay the employees of state road transport corporation for the period when they had gone on a strike last year. The state finance department on Wednesday issued orders to release 235 crore towards payment of salaries of employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) for a 56-day period.

Around 48,000-odd RTC employees were sacked from their jobs in October and November last year and taken back into service after 55 days.

The release of salaries to the RTC employees for their strike period has been made in accordance with the promise made by chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao at the time of withdrawal of their strike, the spokesman said.

A senior official in Bus Bhavan, the state headquarters of the RTC, said the salaries would be paid in lieu of the earned leave accrued to the employees without affecting their increments. The strike period will, therefore, be considered as utilisation of earned leaves, he said.

The government has also allocated 1,000 crore for RTC in the latest budget, indicating that it is going to rescue the organisation from the losses. The RTC officials said the corporation is returning to normalcy with the services getting streamlined and the revenues of the corporation are showing gradual increase due to revision of bus fares recently.

The strike by 48,000 employees, under the banner of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana RTC workers unions, demanding among other things upward revision of their wages and merger of RTC with the state government paralysed public transport in the state, had caused a lot of inconvenience to commuters.

With the JAC adopting a tough stand, the chief minister announced the termination of all the employees from service and said there was no question of holding talks with the employees unions. At one stage, he even declared partial privatisation of RTC and his government called for tenders for privatisation of RTC routes.

The strike continued for a long period, during which as many as four RTC employees committed suicide and at least half a dozen workers died of heart attack. The state high court also refused to intervene in the administrative decisions of the government and appealed to both sides to resolve the issue.

Finally, the frustrated employees came forward to withdraw their agitation and join the duties unconditionally. But the RTC management refused to take them back into service. After keeping them on tenterhooks, KCR asked them to return to their duties on the condition that they would not take up strikes in future again.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 07:36:32|Editor: huaxia

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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (L) speaks at a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 11, 2020.(Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

The coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people across Europe, forcing European countries to impose more travel restrictions, among others, to contain the spread of the virus.



BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic."

The Geneva-based WHO's assessment came as the coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people across Europe, forcing European countries to impose more travel restrictions, among others, to contain the spread of the virus.

UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC SPARKED BY CORONAVIRUS

"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 on Wednesday.

"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," Tedros added.

There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions, and 4,291 people have lost their lives, Tedros said.

He noted that the number of coronavirus cases, deaths, as well as affected countries, is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.

Food-delivers work in Milan, Italy, on March 11, 2020.(Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

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, Tedros said.

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.

RISING DEATH TOLL ACROSS EUROPE

Four European countries -- Bulgaria, Albania, Ireland, and Belgium -- reported their first deaths from the COVID-19 on Wednesday, with the total number of infected cases in the four countries reaching seven, 12, 43, and 314 respectively, according to health authorities.

Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland saw their biggest daily jump of caseload on Wednesday. With 252, 121 and 21 new confirmed cases, respectively, in just one day, the total infections in the three countries rose to 514, 503 and 61.

In Italy, the hardest-hit country outside China, a total of 10,590 coronavirus infections were registered on Wednesday, up from 8,514 in the previous day, the Civil Protection Department stated.

In the day, 196 new fatalities were also recorded in Italy, bringing the death toll to 827 since the epidemic first appeared on Feb. 21. By far, Italy has reported a total of 12,462 accumulated COVID-19 cases.

A nurse escorts a woman out of a tent to treat suspected COVID-19 cases in the courtyard of Henri Mondor Hospital in Creteil, France, March 10, 2020.(Photo provided by Jack Chan/Xinhua)

France on Wednesday confirmed 2,281 coronavirus infection cases -- nearly 500 more than a day before, with 48 deaths and 105 patients hospitalized in intensive care.

In Spain, the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 2,181, of which 1,024 were in the Madrid region. The country has reported 49 coronavirus fatalities.

An ambulance and tents provided by the Portuguese Red Cross to quarantine suspected COVID-19 cases are seen next to Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, on March 10, 2020.(Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

As to other parts of Europe, the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 1,567 in Germany, 500 in Stockholm, 456 in the UK, 246 in Austria, 99 in Greece, 59 in Portugal, 31 in Poland, 19 in Croatia, 18 in Serbia, 13 in Hungary, 10 in Latvia, 9 in North Macedonia, seven in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), six each in Cyprus and Malta, according to health authorities.

An empty art classroom is seen at a primary school on Vodickova street in Prague, the Czech Republic, March 11, 2020. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

TRAVEL BAN AND TWO-WEEK BINDING QUARANTINE

A growing number of European countries Wednesday introduced travel bans to and from a selection of virus-stricken countries, as well as compulsory self-quarantine of 14 days for those who had been there.

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela (L) addresses a press conference about the COVID-19 in Valletta, Malta, on March 11, 2020.(Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela on Wednesday announced a travel ban to and from Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland, starting from midnight.

Flights to and from these countries will be canceled except for those carrying medicine and food or those repatriating people residing in Malta.

Anyone who has traveled to these countries -- plus those arriving from Italy -- in the past 14 days will have to spend 14 days in obligatory quarantine enforced by police with spot checks at different times. Violators will face a fine of 1,000 euros (1,130 U.S. dollars).

BiH introduced an entry ban to all visitors coming from Italy, South Korea, Iran, and the city of Wuhan and Hubei Province of China, starting Wednesday, BiH Border Police (BP) officials said.

All BiH citizens returning from these areas, and all visitors from Germany, Spain, and France will go in a mandatory self-isolation of 14 days.

Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama announced similar measures on Wednesday. Police and military forces will set up roadblocks on the streets of the capital to check all cars, a move to identify anyone who has returned from Italy or Greece in the last 14 days.

Anyone who breaks the self-quarantine of 14 days -- a preventive measure already announced on Monday -- will get a fine of 5,000 euros (around 5,655 U.S. dollars) and will not be allowed to travel abroad without paying the fine.

The Spanish government said on Wednesday that it will ban all flights between Spain and Italy for two weeks.

In other developments, four main Vienna-based United Nations organizations have suspended, in principle, meetings and events with more than 100 participants in the Vienna International Centre (VIC), the building complex hosting the UN Office at Vienna, according to a press release of the UN Information Service (UNIS).




The cell area of one of the biggest garda stations in the country remains in lockdown tonight as gardai awaited medical results to determine if three arrested men have Covid-19.

The situation means that over a dozen officers based at the affected stations  Kevin Street and Store Street Garda Stations are in self isolation after coming in contact with men who may have the deadly virus.

The officers had been dealing with three Brazilian men who had allegedly flown into the country illegally on a flight from Portugal.

One of the men was brought to Kevin Street while the other two were brought to Store Street.

Tonight it emerged that the cell area of Store Street had been declared safe after it was sterilised.

The foreign prisoners were on the same flight but were not together, a senior source said last night.

One Brazillian man was brought from Dublin Airport to Kevin Street District Garda Station after he attempted to gain entry into Ireland, in what is believed to be unlawful circumstances.

The man, who was brought in by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) has showed symptoms of the virus, leaving the entire area in shutdown.

He is in isolation while he awaits a coronavirus diagnostic test.

Around five gardai who interacted with the man are in self-isolation, as are the two guards who brought him to the garda station from the airport.

Prisoners cannot be brought into the areas with the suspected case of Covid-19, and there is a worry that others in the large station may have also been in contact with the virus

Meanwhile in a bizarre development in a northside Dublin garda station, a superintendent has issued a bulletin to gardai in the station saying that CCTV has been seized as part of an internal investigation into the disappearance of a large quantity of anti-bacterial items.

These items were ordered in order that the members of this district would have the necessary protection they required to carry out their duties during this unprecedented time, the superintendent said.

I am now requesting that anyone who may have removed items from this order to anonymously return the items to the staff office so they can be distributed evenly among the station party for their protection, the senior officer wrote.

Elsewhere, senior gardai say that a directive ordered by a superintendent based in the north west of the country has been rescinded.

The directive included a number of different bullet points as to how gardai should deal with the worsening pandemic.

It advised among other things that all checkpoints should be cancelled and that only essential incidents are to be recorded on the Pulse while 12 hour shifts were to be introduced.

This directive has been rescinded  it was not deemed practicable, a senior source said last night.

In a further twist it can also be revealed that all superintendents who were due to retire in the coming weeks and months have been asked by Garda HQ to stay in their jobs for the next three months so that the unprecedented pandemic situation can be policed in an appropriate way.
The 2020 Census, which starts nationwide Thursday, is the first decennial census in which the federal government is encouraging all households to respond online. Read more

Philadelphia and local governments across the country have been preparing for a year or more for the 2020 Census, the countrys largest peacetime mobilization and the population count that will shape national policy and funding for the next decade. And now its finally here.

Starting Thursday, residents nationwide will receive invitations from the Census Bureau to answer the census. Roughly 143 million households will get the mailing between March 12 and March 20.

Heres what you need to know:

The point of the decennial census

The U.S. Constitution mandates a population count every 10 years. This count determines the allocation of hundreds of billions of dollars to state and local governments, the share of seats each state has in the U.S. House, and the boundaries of voting districts.

At stake is federal funding over the next decade for housing assistance, schools, highways, medical centers, and community development. Businesses use population data to decide where to open. Nonprofits and local governments use it to focus resources. Other agencies use census statistics for their own analyses.

Census time line

March 12-20: The majority of households will receive invitations in their mailboxes to respond to the census online.

March 16-24: Households will receive a reminder letter.

March 26-April 3: Households that havent responded will receive a reminder postcard.

April 8-16: Households that havent responded will get a reminder letter and a paper questionnaire.

April 20-27: Households will get a final reminder postcard.

May-July: Census takers visit households that have not yet answered their questionnaires online, by phone, or by mail.

Dec. 31: Deadline for President Donald Trump and Congress to receive apportionment counts.

March 31, 2021: Deadline for the Census Bureau to send data to states so they can redraw legislative districts based on population shifts.

The main purpose of the census is to count people, so the form asks how many people live in the household, with a reminder to count babies and nonrelatives. Questionnaires also ask households for demographic information, including the sex, names, dates of birth, and races of people living in a home, whether occupants own or rent, and a phone number census workers can call to follow up if necessary.

The form is nine questions for the first person and seven or fewer for each additional household resident. The decennial census does not include inquiries about housing characteristics or income. The Census Bureau does not ask for Social Security numbers, bank information, or money.

 READ MORE: Participate in the 2020 Census? Most adults say they will, but others aren't convinced

Language help for non-English speakers

Residents can respond to the 2020 Census in more languages than ever before.

Paper questionnaires are available in English and in Spanish. Census invitations will include an insert in 12 languages inviting online and phone responses in those languages. Residents can call for help with their forms in these languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Japanese. Additional guides in 59 non-English languages, braille, and large print also are available.

The 2020 Census is the first decennial census for which the federal government is encouraging households nationwide to answer questionnaires online, which saves the Census Bureau time and money. But community activists are concerned the digital divide may depress population counts.

Libraries throughout Philadelphia and nationwide will host residents who want to use their public computers and internet access to fill out forms. Philadelphia plans to host events at which residents can fill out the census on wireless devices. Any resident also can answer the census by phone or mail.

 READ MORE: Possible positive coronavirus side effect? More people may fill out the 2020 Census online

Census officials and community leaders also are fighting against misinformation and confusion. Some residents throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania received forms from the Republican National Committee in February titled 2020 Congressional District Census, which local government officials feared would lead residents to mistakenly believe they had already filled out the census when the Census Bureau asks for responses starting this month.

 READ MORE: 2020 Census concerns in Camden  where thousands avoided 2010 count  reflect worries nationwide

In general, fewer people trust the government now than they did in previous census counts, which can make persuading people to share personal information difficult. The bureau and local officials are trying to combat that mistrust by emphasizing that, by law, the bureau cannot share residents personal information with anyone, including other government agencies.

In an ongoing challenge, each census misses some people. Historically undercounted communities include young children whom caregivers might not think to count and immigrants and racial minorities who dont trust the government. The Census Bureau and state and local governments have been focusing on reaching these communities.

And even though a citizenship question will not appear on census questionnaires, bureau and community officials worry immigrant communities will be less likely to respond to the census out of fear built up during more than a year of debate over the question.

State and local governments and immigrant and community groups sued the Trump administration to stop it from adding a citizenship question to the census. The government dropped its pursuit of the question after the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked it.

 READ MORE: Timeline to the Supreme Court's ruling on the citizenship question on the 2020 Census

Census Bureau officials also were worried the countrys low unemployment rate would make recruiting census takers more difficult. But Philadelphia is well ahead of its recruitment goal, and nationwide, more than 2.6 million people have applied for positions. The bureau is aiming for 2.7 million.

The people who will go door-to-door

The Census Bureau has started hiring the part-time, temporary workers who go door-to-door collecting responses from households that have not answered their questionnaires. The bureau is accepting applications for census takers through the end of May. It is hiring up to 500,000 workers.

Workers must have Social Security numbers, be at least 18, pass background checks, and complete training. They will wear ID badges with their photo, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date. For those worried about the coronavirus, the Census Bureau emphasizes there is no need for physical contact with workers and encourages online responses.

The bureau hiked hourly pay for census takers in January to boost lagging recruitment and has boosted pay again in some counties. Philadelphians can earn $25.50 an hour. Hourly rates in the rest of the region range from about $20 in Delaware, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties to $27.50 in Chester County.

In March and April, census takers will count people who are homeless and people living in group housing, such as college students and residents of senior centers.

 READ MORE: 2020 Census 'listers' walked through the country's neighborhoods to verify millions of addresses

Preparing for the 2020 Census

On the advice of the Census Bureau, state and local governments formed complete count committees" to spread awareness about the census, encourage residents to participate, and target communities that historically have been undercounted.

Philadelphia and other cities across the country began preparations in 2018. Philly started planning nine months earlier for the 2020 Census than it did for 2010. It has trained thousands of people to be Census Champions, those equipped to teach members of their communities about the census. The director of the Census Bureau called Philadelphias Census Champions program a national model.

Philly Counts 2020, the citys effort to make sure residents are counted, and similar groups across the region have hosted census job fairs and awareness events. They plan to continue their efforts through July.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia trains more than 2,000 people in 1 day to be 2020 'Census Champions'

State funding for the census has varied widely. California, for example, has devoted more than $100 million  more than $2.50 per person  for census work. New Jerseys budget includes $9 million for census efforts  roughly $1 for every resident.

Pennsylvanias census commission asked for the same allotment per resident  nearly $13 million in total  but the states budget did not include census funding. Gov. Tom Wolf later authorized the State Department to use up to $4 million from the general fund.

The Census Bureau is spending $500 million on advertising alone. Its the most robust ad campaign in census history, officials said.
Wyoming Business Tips for March 16-22

A weekly look at issues facing Wyoming business owners and entrepreneurs from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Steen Stovall, regional director, Wyoming SBDC Network

A strategic plan is a written document used to focus a small businesss plans for the future. It summarizes its goals and clarifies why theyre important. The strategic planning process also helps small businesses pinpoint the areas in which they need to improve in order to operate at their fullest potential. Put simply, the process of strategic planning is the blueprint for building a small businesss foundation for success.

Despite its importance, only a small percentage of small businesses take the time to consistently plan strategically, due to the widespread belief that strategic planning is a complicated, time-consuming process that is only suited to large companies. Fortunately, this is a misconception. Simple and effective strategic planning methodologies exist for small businesses. One such example is set out below.

-- Begin by identifying your competitive advantages. What makes your business unique? How is it different? What makes your products or services better than those of your competitors?

-- Establish your businesss mission. What is the purpose or reason for your businesss existence? What does your business stand for?

-- Develop your vision. What do you want your business to achieve in the future? What kind of community/social impact do you want it to have?

-- Develop your long-term, broad-based goals and objectives.

-- Conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis. A SWOT analysis lays out the areas of your business that can be improved and the areas that are strong. It helps you identify the opportunities for growth and pinpoint the threats. Each of these four areas should be reviewed by answering a set of relevant questions that have been developed for each.

Strengths. What do you do really well? What makes you better than your competitors? Do you have a strong customer base?

Weaknesses. Whats not working? What processes need improving? Are you making enough profit?

Opportunities. What is the market missing? What external changes will bring opportunities? What are the current trends, and will they affect you in a positive manner?

Threats. What are the negative aspects in the current market? What is threatening your business: customer trends, economic trends or technology trends?

-- Develop detailed interim objectives and specific performance indicators to measure those objectives, along with a schedule of detailed action items that need to be completed to achieve them.

The key takeaway is that strategic planning for small businesses doesnt have to be difficult and time-consuming. At its most basic, as this example shows, strategic planning is a SWOT analysis that has been operationalized. It is a tool that can be used to both plan for the long term and execute for the short term. Its absolutely essential if a small business wants to produce better outcomes, develop more realistic operating guidelines and minimize risk.

If you would like some assistance with your businesss strategic plan, contact your local Wyoming SBDC Network adviser at www.wyomingsbdc.org for no-cost, confidential assistance.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers no-cost advising and technical assistance to help Wyoming entrepreneurs think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. In 2019 alone, the Wyoming SBDC Network helped Wyoming entrepreneurs start 108 new businesses; create or save 3,402 jobs; and bring a capital impact of more than $24 million to the state. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY 82071-3922.
Inside a shining new medical quarantine unit in Omaha, Nebraska, eight evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship remain under armed guard as they recover from coronavirus infections.

Though the doors to their rooms aren't locked, U.S. marshals enforce a rarely used federal quarantine order preventing the men and women from going home until they've recovered. Opened last year, the 20-bed National Quarantine Center is the nation's only specifically designed federal site where people suspected of having high-risk infections can be securely detained.

"The whole tenet of public health is temporarily giving up some personal liberties for the greater good," said Dr. Angela Hewlett, an infectious-disease expert and leader of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which is associated with the quarantine center. "We haven't had anyone who has tried to escape."

A self-quarantine seems brutal when you're not sick with coronavirus  but it really is for the greater good

As cases of disease from the new coronavirus spread across the country  topping 1,300, including 39 deaths, as of Thursday afternoon  more Americans find their daily lives altered by public officials, and quarantine orders and "social distancing" requests are growing.

Tuesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered the National Guard to help manage quarantine for a section of the town of New Rochelle after doctors discovered a series of infections. The next day, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee banned all gatherings of more than 250 people in three counties, including the Seattle area. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis followed suit Friday, ordering all mass crowd events postponed or canceled for the next 30 days. Hours later, Cuomo did the same.

Members of the New York Air and Army National Guard move a pallet of bananas that was unloaded from a Feeding Westchester truck at the New Rochelle Community Action Partnership in New Rochelle on March 12.

Experts said quarantines are effective in controlling the outbreak because the coronavirus spreads easily through droplets from coughs or sneezes. Scientists are studying how long the virus can survive, but some research shows it can stay in the air for hours and on surfaces for two or three days.

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The recent actions highlight little-known and rarely used powers of government to narrowly limit the movements and interactions of residents at the expense of individual liberties. Those powers are in addition to the flexibility granted to governors who declared states of emergency to free up funding and expedite response.

State and federal authorities are dusting off long-shelved plans to force Americans to stay in their homes; ban public gatherings, including sporting events; close schools; and restrict travel in ways that seemingly violate constitutional protections.

The last time the U.S. government mandated large-scale quarantines was more than 100 years ago during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19 (a much smaller effort surrounded the Ebola outbreak in 2014). Scientists and public health officials are battling both the new coronavirus and the skepticism of a society that hasn't seen a similar epidemic or quarantines for generations, said Glen Mays, professor and department chair in the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

"That's part of the challenge. Infectious diseases are not the killers of our population that they were 50 years ago," said Mays, who studies health system emergency preparedness. "We've got more skepticism around these issues. You see that in vaccinations and vaccinations rates. Part of that may represent some complacency. We fought back these infectious diseases decades ago."

Studies show that governments willing to use those powers saved millions of lives during the Spanish flu pandemic, while those that didn't saw greater casualties.

At the epicenter of the current pandemic, the communist government in China swiftly moved to contain the new coronavirus by mandatory restrictions on the movements of millions of people. Such decisions are trickier in a democracy that prides itself on self-determination. Politicians and experts must make their case to a public that may be skeptical of both the risk and, in some cases, the basic science of medicine.

Experts said U.S. residents should expect widespread efforts to curtail their movements as the viral infection grows. Those efforts will include isolation  the lockdown of an individual person who is known to be sick  and quarantines, which are broader restrictions on people who have been exposed but aren't actually ill.

Although public health officials have the legal authority in every state to order quarantines and "social distancing," efforts are most effective when people voluntarily abide by them, said Eric Cioe-Pena, director of global health for Northwell Health, New York's largest health care provider. Many large employers have asked their employees to work from home.

Cioe-Pena, a medical doctor who holds a master's degree in public health, has isolated patients with contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis. Most people, he said, abide by orders once they understand that although they might not be that sick, they're putting their loved ones at risk.

"What we've found is that voluntary quarantines are actually pretty effective," he said. "People, in general, when faced with this on an individual level, are understanding about the situation."

Though specific quarantine and isolation powers vary across the country, many are similar to those in Colorado, where public health officials can order a quarantine and require people to report their temperature and other symptoms daily, along with potential in-home visits by doctors. State officials prefer to work collaboratively with quarantined people, but a judge could order them detained, and if they refuse to cooperate, fine them up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail once they recover.

Mays said his research has shown political leaders must clearly communicate the risks to the public to build and maintain support for travel restrictions and quarantines.

"It is a big challenge and one that the public health system confronts routinely," he said.

In suburban Seattle, public health officials bought an EconoLodge hotel to use as a coronavirus quarantine facility, alarming area residents and business owners who want assurance sick people won't be transported there, then allowed to wander the community. How will those quarantined be kept on the site?

The King County Health Department bought this 85-bed EconoLodge hotel in suburban Seattle to use as a coronavirus quarantine facility.

"I mean, are they going to have guards with machine guns walking around?" asked Robert Tegtmeyer, 51, co-owner of the Kent Bowl bowling alley across the street. "I don't want sick people coming over here."

Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Barack Obama, said political considerations always play a role in ordering widespread quarantines.

"It becomes a cost vs. benefit political decision," he said. "How many could die if you dont? How much of the public will rebel if they dont buy into the danger of not quarantining folks. Freedom of movement and individualism tend to work against public good. Selfish people dont care unless they feel threatened."

In Omaha, where she monitors the quarantined Diamond Princess patients, Hewlett said simple isolation works really well, despite how low-tech it might seem in an age of MRI scanners, robotic surgery and instant-read thermometers.

"Remember Typhoid Mary? They stuck her on an island off New York City," Hewlett said. "Even with all of our technology, keeping people away from each other is still an effective way of preventing the spread of disease."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus prompts officials to deploy rarely used quarantine powers
Virgin Australia has announced deals for domestic business and economy flights as holidaymakers continue to avoid travel due to coronavirus fears.

The sale will run from February 13, 2020, until midnight on March 23, with flights available from Friday until December.

Most of the economy tickets are under $100 one-way - including Sydney to Ballina for just $79.

It comes after a Virgin staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

The airline has not said where the staff member worked or what their role was, but admitted on Friday morning that the worker did have contact with the public as part of their job.

Airline Virgin Australia has announced flight deals for domestic business and economy flights as people abandon their travel plans due to coronavirus fears. Pictured: The Apostles on the Great Ocean Road

'We can confirm that one of our team members has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in isolation and receiving the appropriate medical treatment,' a company spokesman said.

'We have begun the process of determining the contacts of the team member during the time they would likely have been infectious and will be checking in on them regularly to check on their health.

'We are in regular contact with all of our team members to provide them with the latest information around COVID-19 as well as proper hygiene practices and cleaning.'

The flights from Virgin Australia go on sale from February 13, 2020, until midnight on March 23

Flights to Darwin from major cities including Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are on sale for $169.

Meanwhile, business class domestic travel has become much more affordable.

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA'S FLIGHT DEALS Economy Hobart to Mackay via Brisbane - $229

Sydney to Tamworth - $99

Sydney to Ballina - $79

Gold Coast to Uluru via Sydney - $199

Brisbane to Broome - $379 Business class Port Macquarie to Brisbane - $99

Launceston to Melbourne - $299

Brisbane to Cairns - $499

Adelaide to Melbourne - $399

Darwin to Melbourne $750 Advertisement

One-way business class flights range from $250 to $999.

The most expensive business class flights are trips to and from Perth.

A Virgin Australia spokespersons said: 'Our great value domestic airfares are not only helping travellers fly to their next Australian holiday destination, but they're helping support the local tourism industry in the wake of the recent natural disasters.

'With the April school holidays fast approaching Virgin Australia is encouraging everyone to consider travelling within Australia this Easter.'

The sale comes as Australians continue to ditch their travels plans due to COVID-19.

A travel ban has been put in place for mainland China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that no one, besides the country's citizens, can enter America if they have been in Europe.

Airlines - including Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin - scaled back their flights following the declaration of a public emergency.

People have been warned to stay clear of cruises following incidents like the Diamond Princess, where many were infected after it was forced to isolate off the coast of Japan for two weeks. Australians have also been urged to travel domestically following the devastating bushfire season between September 2019 and February 2020.
Leo Varadkar has paid tribute to Irish-America for changing the future of Ireland.

The Taoiseach had warm words for US Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying her statement in support of Ireland last year during Brexit negotiations had been heard in London, Washington, Paris, Berlin and Brussels, and had made a difference.

There was a standing ovation at the National Building Museum in Washington DC as Mr Varadkar rose to address the Ireland Funds 2020 National Gala dinner.

The audience included Northern Irelands Economy Minister Diane Dodds and her DUP colleagues Ian Paisley and Edwin Poots as well as PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne.

Mr Varadkar flew to the US earlier today to speak at the event. He had been due there earlier this week but delayed his arrival to contend with the coronavirus situation in Ireland.

He is set to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.

Speaking on Wednesday evening, he described the theme of the event as peace and reconciliation, adding it was a celebration of how Irish-America helped change the future of Ireland.

The Taoiseach paid tribute to former deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon, who recently died, as a political giant who helped change the course of Irish history.

He also singled out Londonderry woman Emma DeSouza for particular welcome to the event.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar got a standing ovation as he took to the stage at the National Building Museum in Washington DC for the Ireland Funds 2020 National Gala dinner. Currently paying tribute to the late Seamus Mallon as a political giant pic.twitter.com/ABYCudvXIa  Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) March 12, 2020

She has been fighting a legal battle to be recognised as an Irish citizen.

The Good Friday Agreement protects the citizenship and identity rights of all those born in Northern Ireland and includes the right of people to identify as British or Irish or both, he said.

Emma DeSouza has sought to have her right to be an Irish citizen upheld by British laws and I want to welcome her here this evening.

Emma, we support you in your fight. It is a fight for the spirit, not just the letter, of the Good Friday Agreement.
The World Trade Organization said Thursday that a planned ministerial conference in Kazakhstan in June would "not be feasible" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is our considered view that holding MC12 (the 12th Ministerial Conference) as previously agreed from 8-11 June will not be feasible," WTO chief Roberto Azevedo said in a note circulated to member states and sent to the media.

WTO said it had reached the conclusion after consultations with the government of Kazakhstan, who had asked that members "revisit the decision" to hold the conference in its capital Nur-Sultan in June.

The final decision will meanwhile be up to member states, and the WTO said a special General Council meeting would be held "as soon as conditions permit" to discuss "how to proceed with revised arrangements for MC12." That could meanwhile take a while.

Earlier this week, the global trade body said it would suspend all meetings until March 20 after one of its staff members contracted the new coronavirus.

Given the worsening situation in Switzerland, where more than 800 people have been infected and four have died, that suspension could easily be prolonged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump announced sweeping new travel restrictions in an address to the nation Wednesday, instituting a 30-day travel ban from Europe to the U.S. in an effort to battle the coronavirus outbreak.

We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days, Trump stated from the Oval Office, saying the ruling would go into effect Friday at midnight. He added that the ban did not apply to the U.K.

We made a life-saving move with early action on China, now we must take the same action with Europe. If we are diligent . . . the virus will not have a chance against us, Trump said. In January, the administration announced a temporary ban on foreign nationals attempting to enter the country from China.

Trump later clarified that the travel restrictions did not apply to trade and commerce, despite implying in the speech that they did.

Hoping to get the payroll tax cut approved by both Republicans and Democrats, and please remember, very important for all countries & businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people not goods.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2020

After the presidents address, acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolfe released a statement which outlined the European travel restrictions, saying that it applied to any foreign national who had been in the Schengen Area  which includes France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and others  over the last two weeks. The statement added that the restrictions did not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.

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The president also addressed concerns over the viruss impact, emphasizing that while the danger for most Americans remained low, the elderly population must be very, very careful. He advised nursing homes to end all non-essential visits.

Trump downplayed the threat of a recession, saying this is not a financial crisis. On Wednesday, the stock market entered a bear market after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed nearly 6 percent lower than Tuesday, and 20 percent lower than the record high set last month.

This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome as a nation and as a world, Trump declared, saying he would take executive action to provide sick workers with economic relief. He asked Congress for $50 billion for small business loans and immediate payroll tax cuts.

He ended with a plea for unity. We are all in this together. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship and unify together as one nation and one family, Trump closed.

More from National Review
Lucknow, March 12 : Uttar Pradesh Minister for Minority Welfare Mohsin Raza has alleged financial irregularities and large-scale corruption in the Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards during the Samajwadi Party's rule.

Reacting to the missing audit files of the two boards, the minister said that the collusion of officials was responsible for the recent loss of important documents in the case.

"I want to say that there are about 1,30,000 properties with the Shia/Sunni Waqf boards. Some officials have been trying to usurp these properties through corrupt means. These properties rightfully belong to the Muslim community in the state," he said.

He said that, "These corrupt officials have deliberately lost crucial documents in an effort to misdirect investigations. We may even set up a special investigation team to probe the theft, if needed. Anyone found guilty will be severely dealt with by the government." The minister had earlier proposed a special audit of financial irregularities in the Waqf bodies that allegedly occurred during the Samajwadi Party's rule in UP between 2012-17.
Editors Note: For up-to-date global cases of COVID-19, follow this map from the University of Washington or this map from John Hopkins University. It is likely case numbers are higher than depicted due to community transmission or mild cases that are untested, but author and global health expert Daniel Chin points out that those cases are mostly likely to occur where we see the virus already clustering. Therefore, those areas without cases or with low numbers of cases are not yet in the same risk category as others, like Washington state or New York. But Chin warns that we should assume that case numbers will rise across the country, thus even lower-risk places should plan a response now and follow local public health recommendations.

As I write this, my heart is very heavy. I just spent the second Sunday morning of Lent in my living room with my wife, watching a livestream of the worship service from my church. The church was empty because this past Friday, the King County Public Health Department in Washington state sent a notice to faith-based organizations, recommending that they cancel all gatherings with 50 or more people. Pretty much all churches in the Seattle area have already stopped their in-person worship services along with most other church activities. Since the evangelical church that I attend has over 1,500 worshipers in four services each Sunday, we livestreamed our worship services. As this article was being prepared for publication, Gov. Jay Inslee took it further, banning gatherings larger than 250 people in three metro counties, and WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.

But my heart is not heavy because I could not gather with others to worship (as much as I appreciate corporate worship). It is heavy because I can see where the COVID-19 epidemic is going to take us, while most of those in our society and churches do not. Seventeen years ago, I was working for the World Health Organization (WHO) in Beijing when the SARS coronavirus epidemic broke out in China. I was thrust into leading much of WHOs support to China and worked 24/7 for over three months to help contain that epidemic. I saw firsthand the effects of SARS on the people of China, the extraordinary social distancing efforts undertaken by the government, and the cost that the society paid to contain that epidemic.

After working for WHO and then the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in China, my wife and I moved to Seattle in 2015 to lead the foundations work to control tuberculosis in several countries. For a quarter of a century, Ive answered a calling as a follower of Christ to stop the spread of diseases and work to eliminate them, and now I heed that calling to speak to my brothers and sisters in Christ to take this epidemic seriously and respond.

When COVID-19 first surfaced publicly in China in January, this was not an issue for most churches in the Seattle area. But it generated a lot of anxieties among local Chinese churches because Chinese Spring Festival was happening and their members were going to and coming from China. Church members were extremely concerned about being infected by a traveler from China, and the number of Sunday worshipers declined by half. The leadership of a large majorityethnic Chinese evangelical church asked me to help guide their churchs local response. Subsequently, the large American evangelical church I attend, which draws congregants from a wide geographic base, made the same request, along with a smaller neighborhood church deeply engaged in its local community through service programs like Scouts, childcare, and youth work.

From working with these churches, each with diverse approaches to kingdom engagement, I learned that a robust church response requires a proper understanding of how COVID-19 spreads and harms, how to protect ourselves and others from being infected, and how to properly assess the risks we face in our communities.

Article continues below

Understanding how COVID-19 spreads and harms

Several factors have come together to help the COVID-19 effectively and stealthily invade our community without notice.

First, it is hard to know whether you have COVID-19 or just the common cold. Eighty percent of people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, and general tiredness, which matches the common cold. This means a person may be carrying and transmitting the virus without knowing it.

Second, you dont have to be around an infected person to get infected. Infected people can cough and generate respiratory droplets, which then land on nearby surfaces. Or people with the viruses on their hands can deposit the viruses onto a door handle when they open the door. Because these viruses can stay alive on surfaces for at least several hours, people who touch a surface with the viruses on it and then touch their nose or eyes can become infected.

Third, about 20 percent of infected people develop a more severe illness and may need to be hospitalized; 3 percent of all those infected die. However, the virus is particularly aggressive among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, resulting in a death rate several times higher for these vulnerable individuals.

Therefore, this virus is particularly difficult to control because it causes complacency among the vast majority of people who have the infection, which facilitates its transmission from person to person while causing the greatest harm to the most vulnerable individuals.

Adding to the difficulty is the fact that we currently do not have enough test kits to diagnose this infection. Right now in Seattle, there are barely enough tests for those admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. Though more tests should become available soon, we need to make testing so widely available in Seattle that anyone who wants the test can get it. Only then can we shine a light on the real size of this outbreak, which is what is needed to contain it.

How to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19

By now, you are probably looking for some good news. Fortunately, there is some.

First, we know it is possible to protect ourselves and others from being infected. However, the approaches are so ordinary that we underestimate how effective they can be: Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face, be friendly but dont shake hands, keep away from sick people, and stay home when you are sick.

You dont have to be afraid when you hear someone coughing near you. If that person is not coughing directly in your direction and is within six feet, the viruses cant get to you because they are in large respiratory droplets that fall to the ground. The virus does not float and circulate in the air.

Second, the virus can be beat. All around the world, there are many examples of COVID-19 entering a community and then never gaining a footholdall because people apply basic public health principles. There is nothing sexy about rapidly identifying and isolating infectious cases and their contacts. But it works. However, it needs to be applied aggressively and effectively right at the start.

Unfortunately, what we see over and over is that the response is late. By the time the virus gains a foothold in the community, beating it requires much more aggressive social distancing. I believe this virus is already firmly established in many of our communities. Even so, many churches are reluctant to act. By the time an outbreak spirals out of controllike the ones in China, South Korea, and northern Italyextreme social distancing measures, like locking down cities or regions, become necessary. But the social cost of such extreme distancing will be high, not to mention the economic cost.

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Simple tools are needed to formulate a response

As part of our mission in this world, the church can be a strong agent to prevent sickness and protect the vulnerable. We are an integral part of our community, and many social contacts run through our church. If we can recognize the early signs of a local COVID-19 outbreak, we can lead in protecting those inside and outside our churches. But I have worked with enough disease control efforts to know that it is not enough to convince people they should act. People need to be given simple tools to help them take action.

Churches in the US are in uncharted territory regarding how to respond to the current epidemic. We will all continue to learn as this epidemic evolves. But based on my recent experience, here are two simple tools to help churches make good decisions in real time: (1) a simple way to assess what kind of actions a church should take based on the local risk of transmission, and (2) a framework that can help churches develop a specific plan to prevent infection and increase social distancing that can be implemented as soon as it is necessary.

Image: Daniel P. Chin / CT

How to determine your churchs risk and response

As cases of COVID-19 increase, we are seeing a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about what the church should do. But responses can be based on sound epidemiologic principles. I use traffic light imagery to help churches think through their local risk of transmission and what kind of actions they should take (see figure). After all, all transmission of this virus occurs locally. Your actions should not be based on what is happening 50 miles away; they should be based on what is happening in your particular community.

Your church is in a green light zone when there are no known cases of COVID-19 in your community. What should you be doing?

Implement all of those boring but effective public health measures like hand-washing and staying home when you are sick.

Educate your church about the COVID-19its symptoms, how it spreads, how it affects the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, and what they can do to protect themselves from being infected.

Carry out discussions within the church and make concrete plans to modify, cancel, or replace church activities as needed. The church leadership should be engaged in this process. Now is the time lay a good foundation in preparation for what the church might face next.

Because of the huge mobility of people and ease of travel, many communities have started to see COVID-19 cases imported into their community. As soon as a case from another community enters your community, your church is in the yellow light zone. If no one who came into contact with this case is infected, this indicates there was no further transmission of COVID-19. When one or more of the contacts are infected, but no one else in the community is infected, this means transmission has not spread to the broader community. The church is still in the yellow zone. At this point, what should your church be doing?

If your church hasnt completed a concrete response plan, do it now.

Begin implementing this plan, modifying some activities to reduce risk and inform the entire church about this.

Establish a system to rapidly communicate any changes in church activities to the entire congregation.

Be hypervigilant, and check regularly with your local public health department about additional cases that could move your community and church into the red light zone.

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Your church moves into the red light zone as soon as a resident of your community becomes infected but has not traveled recently to another area with cases and cannot be linked to any other case. This raises alarm because it means transmission in the community was previously undetected. Epidemiologists call this community transmission. A community is also in the red zone when multiple generations of transmission in the community are linked to an imported case. As soon as you are in the red zone, your church should do the following:

Implement various social distancing measures and protect the vulnerable groups.

As more community transmission takes place, temporarily discontinue more and more activities, including corporate worship, and move if possible to livestreaming or to small group worship.

Watch for recommendations or mandates from your local public health department; you may be asked to limit social gatherings.

How to make decisions on your churchs activities

In my work with the three churches in Seattle, I found that they all initially struggled with diverse opinions about what activities to cancel or modify when planning their response to COVID-19. I developed a framework to help them. Using a spreadsheet, we listed church activities, thought of possible transmission of the virus during each activity, rated risks, provided modifications or substitutes, and then made decisions for each (see figure for an example).

The key is to work out the how transmission, whether direct or indirect, can occur through each activity. Keep in mind the ways COVID-19 is transmitted. When assessing the risk of direct transmission, ask: How likely are people to cough, sneeze, or generate respiratory droplets toward others? How likely is direct hand contact? Activities like singing, talking at very close quarters, giving handshakes, and hugging will have increased risk. To decrease risk, consider increasing distance between people, preferably to more than six feet.

When assessing the risk of indirect transmission, ask: How likely will people touch surfaces that could be infected? Activities that involve touching surfaces, such as offering plates, Communion plates, Bibles, and coffee dispensers will increase risk. To decrease risk, implement frequent hand-washing and use of hand sanitizers.

Consider the age groups involved when planning what activities to modify or cancel. The much higher risk of severe illness among the elderly and those with chronic illnesses means we need to protect this group from infection.

Image: Daniel P. Chin / CT

Remember, the decision of what church activities to modify, cancel, or substitute largely depends on the level of community transmission (see figure). If the level is low, you may just modify some activities but not cancel any. But as the level of community transmission increases, canceling activities becomes a better idea because it is increasingly likely that an infected person will enter the church unknowingly. Finally, follow public health recommendations.

When using this approach, a pastor said, We determined that childrens ministry was high risk because kids are constantly touching each other and we cant control it. If they spread infection among themselves, they can bring it home to their parents and grandparents. Besides, many of our teachers are elderly, and we dont want them to get infected. So, we quickly decided to close children Sunday school.

An elder said, Our choir had people of all ages participating. But with singing during rehearsals or when standing in rows and singing during worship, there was a medium-to-high risk of transmission. So, we decided to substitute the choir with a quartet, especially since some choir members were elderly.

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An executive pastor said, I was getting calls and emails from individual ministry leaders about what to do with their activities. It was really helpful to list all the activities and review their risk of transmission all in one go because we could compare the risk of one activity to that of another. This helped us to be consistent when making decisions about individual activities, and we were able to clearly communicate why we made these decisions. That was so helpful to our team.

When developing your churchs response plan, communicate with church members. Some members anxiety will decrease when they know that your church is making a plan. They can better understand the rationale behind the churchs decision process and take comfort knowing it is based on good science. Develop a communication process because decisions often have to be made in real time and then clearly and effectively communicated to the congregation.

Your church needs to have a plan to respond now

Reflecting on our experience in Seattle over the past weeks, I am struck by how fast this outbreak took off. COVID-19 is going to hit many communities hard and fast. There is no time to waste. Because our church activities can facilitate the transmission of this virus, our churches should first do no harm, a dictum I learned in medical school. Using the tools described above, which are based on our current understanding about this virus, our churches can have a response plan in place to quickly protect ourselves and the most vulnerable among us. By implementing such a plan, our churches can play a major role in stemming the tide of this epidemic and reduce its harm on society.

The approach discussed here is admittedly heavy on good public health and epidemiological approaches for decision making but light on empathetic response and engagement around those who have the virus and are suffering from its more potent effects. I hope that, having understood how the virus spreads and harms, this response plan can also include ways to serve with compassion those who are sick, care for the most vulnerable, and become a congregation more sensitized to and engaged with the needs of the world.

Daniel Chin is a physician trained in pulmonary and critical care medicine and epidemiology with 25 years of global public health experience. In 2003, he led much of WHOs support to China to contain the SARS epidemic.

[ This article is also available in espanol and Portugues. ]
Although nearly 75% of the countries in the world have adopted a uniform approach to refugees, India privileges people from certain groups and countries over others. Nearly 150 countries around the world, including the US, are party to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees or the 1967 Protocol adopted pursuant to the Convention. Signatories to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention cannot deport people who have a fear of persecution or have been persecuted on the basis of their religion, nationality, race, political opinion, or particular social group. This world consensus on refugees developed in response to the Nazis persecution and killing of Jews and other minorities.

India, however, is not party to, nor has it acceded to, the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, nor the 1967 Protocol to that Convention. Consequently, it can pick and choose the types of refugees it will accept or reject. Buddhists from Tibet, fleeing Chinas persecution, have been welcomed in India, but Rohingyas fleeing from religious persecution in Myanmar are generally denied entry into India. This selective approach that gives priority to certain refugees while rejecting others is reflected in the law -- the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 -- that lead to widespread protests and violence in India recently. The Indian Parliament amended its nationality law, the Citizenship Act of 1955, to give a fast-track pathway to citizenship to Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians (but Muslims) who had entered India before 2014 from Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh.

Widespread protests around India erupted immediately after this law was passed. People gathered to read the preamble of the Indian Constitution to suggest that the government had violated the principles of the Constitution that requires it to treat all its residents equally. The CAA was seen to reflect a vision of India as a Hindu nation where Muslims are not welcome. These protests still going on across the country. On the other side, pro-CAA protests emerged, and shortly before Trumps visit to India, violence began. Recent reports suggest that at least at least 53 people died in the violence in Delhi, most of them Muslims. The Indian government refuses to give a pathway to citizenship to Muslims minorities persecuted in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

While the objections to the CAA were forceful and from many corners, few people realise that the Indian government had already adopted the same approach to refugees as found in the CAA with two notifications from the ministry of home affairs years earlier in 2015 and 2016. In those notifications, the ministry amended the Passport (Entry into India) Rules of 1950 to allow Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered into India on or before the December 31, 2014 to travel without valid travel document into India. Although the CAA is seen as a uniquely discriminatory law, the reality is that the unequal treatment of refugees and the privileging of certain group over others it not a new policy approach of the Indian government.

On the other hand, if, like most countries in the world, India had signed or acceded to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or 1967 Protocol, it would not be permitted to privilege certain types of refugees over others. The 1951 UN Refugee Convention requires countries to admit and refrain from deporting refugees. To qualify as a refugee, a person must fear or have been subject to religious persecution (or certain other forms of persecution) in the country of his or her residence. If it were party to the UN Refugee Convention or Protocol, India could not adopt a policy that excluded Muslims or one that allowed refugees only from certain countries. Nearly 150 countries in the world follow the same approach to refugees; India should also accede to the 1951 UN Convention.

Sital Kalantry is a clinical professor of law, Cornell Law School, has published a book on womens rights and migration in 2017, is faculty director of the Cornell India Law Center, and teaches international human rights and immigration law

The views expressed are personal
Kigali, Rwanda (PANA) - All travellers arriving in Rwanda from countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus will be isolated at a nearest hospital for investigation and laboratory testing procedure, according to new instructions by health authorities in Kigali
Indonesian ministry identifies three areas susceptible to illegal fishing

March 12,2020 | Source: Antara

Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has identified three areas -- the waters of North Natuna Sea, Malacca Straits, and Sulawesi Sea -- as being prone to illegal fishing practices by foreign vessels.



"We have identified three areas that we should to be aware of as spots susceptible to illegal fishing. The three areas are the North Natuna Sea, Malacca Straits, and Sulawesi Sea," the ministry's Director General of Marine Resource and Fisheries Surveillance Tb Haeru Rahayu noted in a statement here on Wednesday.



On Tuesday (March 10), the Directorate General of Marine Resource and Fisheries Surveillance had detained two illegal fishing vessels for poaching in the Malacca Straits.



The authority has also arrested 12 Myanmarese crew members that had operated the banned trawl net.



Earlier in March, the agency had detained five illegal foreign vessels for poaching in the North Natuna waters and took 68 Vietnamese crew members into detention.



The Pontianak immigration office has detained 27 Vietnamese fishermen from three fishing vessels for poaching in the North Natuna waters recently.



Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo has reiterated the ministry's commitment to stepping up its surveillance and fortifying its patrolling fleet.



During the course of the past four months, the ministry had detained 15 illegal foreign vessels comprising eight Vietnamese ships, four Philippine boats, and three Malaysian boats.

 www.antaranews.com Copyright  2020

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.
Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden

Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump

Coronavirus 'Made in China': Donald Trump officials emphasise

International

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Washington, Mar 12: There's one thing the Trump administration wants Americans to remember about the coronavirus pandemic: It carries the "Made in China" label.

Trump administration officials, on the defensive about their own handling of the virus, have repeatedly reminded people that the virus started in Wuhan, a city in China's Hubei province, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referring to it as the "Wuhan coronavirus."

President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, went even further on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up," O'Brien said at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative-leaning think tank in Washington.

India under lockdown as confirmed cases of coronavirus jump to 68 now

"There's 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 the word of this virus could not get out. It probably cost the world community two months."

O'Brien said that if experts would have had those two months to get ahead of the spread of the virus, "I think we could have dramatically curtailed what happened both in China and what's now happening across the world." O'Brien's remarks seemed to be aimed at countering a disinformation campaign that Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla., says China's Communist Party is waging to blame the US for the virus so it can dampen discontent in China, distract from true infection rates and "save face internationally."

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

"The Chinese military portal Xilu.com recently published an article baselessly claiming that the virus is 'a biochemical weapon produced by the US to target China,'" Rubio wrote. China, however, says it is helping the international community battle the virus.

UN Ambassador Zhang Jun told reporters at UN headquarters in New York that Beijing is working closely with other countries and have provided medical supplies to nations, including Korea, Japan and Italy.

"We are sending medical teams to countries that need that, and we will do whatever to join the international community to fight this virus ... because we have only one world, we need to join hands, we need to show solidarity."

Rubio claims that besides China, disinformation is coming from Russia and Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East. "In Qom, ground zero of Iran's coronavirus outbreak, a prominent cleric accused the United States of introducing the virus 'to damage (the city's) culture and honor,'" Rubio wrote.

While Trump has lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping's work to respond to the virus, Trump himself has referred to "China's Coronavirus situation." Trump has been criticised for playing down the virus, contradicting his own public health officials and concentrating more on the economic fallout from the outbreak.

In a speech to the nation Wednesday night he referred to the "foreign virus" that "started in China." (He also worked in some digs at Europe for letting it spiral out of control there.) For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

Coronavirus a pandemic: What does that mean and what changes now

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.

Health professionals, who depend on China for access to the country, have publicly praised Beijing for its response, noting that it is difficult to spot a new virus during flu season when there are numerous alerts about atypical pneumonia and other respiratory problems.

On Capitol Hill, Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, praised China's work to control the spread of coronavirus.

"They really have now got control of their outbreak," Redfield told the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday.

Chinese health officials informed the WHO about the new virus on December 31. By January 8, it had been identified as a new coronavirus, a large family that causes the common cold and more serious illnesses including SARS, which also began in China.

A recently submitted complaint to the country's National Health Commission alleged that during this period, officials with the Wuhan health commission told doctors they were not allowed to report about the new virus, letting patients wander around freely instead of being isolated.

China's foreign ministry has taken offense at people blaming China. After Pompeo called it the "Wuhan coronavirus," the ministry's spokesman said the description was "despicable," disrespected science and stigmatized China. Other Republicans also have specifically pointed how the outbreak was first reported in China.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 11:51 [IST]
Aditya Shrikrishna By

Express News Service

In the distance, we hear Alka Yagnik's voice from Koyla, going 'Dekha tujhe to'. The city is Omdurman, Sudan. The first two lines of the song seem reserved for the love of cinema.

Suhaib Gasmelbari's Talking About Trees is a documentary about four Sudanese directors trying to bring cinema back to the people of their country, under dictatorship, censorship, and a fascistic bureaucracy. They are the Sudanese Film Group, a practically defunct club, on life support like the rest of the arts in Sudan. The filmmakers are Ibrahim Shaddad, Suleiman Ibrahim, Manar Al Hilo, and Altayeb Mahdi.

Talking About Trees never betrays that it is a documentary; it works like a missive expressing profound sadness over the stifling of expression in art, mainly cinema. It is informed by real events in Sudan that happened to real filmmakers playing themselves, but it also portends a dystopia that is not too far away in countries plunging into fascism and censorship today, one piece of work at a time.

A future where something as innocuous as talking about trees will be deemed a criminal act (inspired by a Bertolt Brecht poem).

Gasmelbari draws an intricate portrayal of intimacy at two different levels. One is the intimate relationship with cinema. How it is life itself for these four filmmakers, cinephiles first. In a heartbreaking scene, Suleiman calls his film school in Russia and asks about the film he made as a student, the copy of which he has lost.

We hear only his end of the conversation and he communicates in the Russian still left in him, but the film is now beyond his reach. This film is called Africa, Jungle, Drum and Revolution. It's the kind of title that makes an adage like 'What's in a name?' null and void.

Along with this, we also see footage of films these men have made, mostly in black and white. A man faces a gun, runs away, and is shot at the last moment as he climbs up a slope. In another formal subversion, we see scenes from Ibrahim Shaddad's films, recounting his experiences in prison post the coup in Sudan.

Ibrahim looks the same as he does in the film's present timeline, therefore it is difficult to say if this is film footage or just Ibrahim in a throng of masochism, recreating moments from his past in present day Sudan, that's only taken a turn for the worse. One of them elaborates in a radio show how cinema did not die a natural death. It was killed.

The four filmmakers try to organise one show in a dilapidated theatre to revive that cinema magic, to see in others' eyes the same light that shines bright when they talk of Truffaut or Cecil B Demille. Or the excitement in kids' voices when they mention Avengers and Salman Khan.

The other level of intimacy is between the four filmmakers. Cinema is always on their mind, either as part of the flux in reviving their club's activities or by them recalling their respective personal histories, the silent era (Modern Times, a contextual favourite) or their days of studying cinema as young men with dreams in the horizon.

The good days, such as when one of their films won at a festival, and the many bad days, of the coup, being incarcerated for their communist leanings, and prison time in Sudan. Almost like a metaphor, there is no electricity in the night, so the only way for them to pass time is to revel in nostalgia and mull an uncertain future.

One washes the other's legs, another trims his older friend's beard, they celebrate birthdays blowing candles in the middle of a power cut. It's not just the fact that they are under a dictatorship, where election is a rigged formality, but also that they are men past a certain age, their mortality looking down upon them as they ponder if they would be able to bring to the city of Omdurman at least one community experience of watching a film.

It's not clear if it is Gasmelbari's sleight of hand or just that Ibrahim Shaddad is a naturally playful comic but even if others feel a tinge of the melancholy of their situation - the inability to not just practice but also consume art - he is there making jokes and seeing only the funny side of the fascist regime they are all under.

Like when they are told to inform the Intelligence Service about their plans to screen a film or when he is giving his thoughts on the appropriate time for their screening, as there are several mosques around the chosen location with minute differences in their prayer schedule. His antics are a far cry from his films - silent, agonising and autobiographical - while he loiters around taking selfies.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TruGreen, the largest provider of lawn care services in the country, today announces the launch of a new branding campaign focused on raising awareness about their services with existing and potential customers. The foundation of the campaign is rooted in homeowner pride and TruGreen's science-based expertise to deliver results that make a statement. To bring this national campaign to life, TruGreen will be revealing two new TV spots in addition to digital and social creative assets.

The goal of the new campaign is to show how TruGreen's science-based expertise and local experience help customers achieve a lawn that makes them proud and reflects the best version of who they are. In a fun and entertaining way, the campaign highlights the tagline: "When you see a great lawn, it's all you see." Throughout the 30-second spots, outlandish occurrences, such as alien visitors and a meteor landing, take place on a TruGreen-serviced lawn, but consumers are too mesmerized by the green grass to notice.

"At TruGreen we are committed to providing our customers with a lawn they can feel proud of and one that positively reflects their lifestyle," said Anthony Conversa, Chief Growth Officer. "We hope this new campaign illustrates TruGreen's commitment to help our customers showcase a lawn that commands everyone's attention."

The new TV spots are featured across an array of national, cable, network and connected TV programming familiar to TruGreen's core audiences. Viewers can watch the new campaign on sports, business and lifestyle channels, as well as TruGreen's social channels.

"As part of the new campaign, we experimented with humor in a way that is unconventional in the lawn care industry and reinforces TruGreen as a premium and expert brand," said Justin Reinke, VP of Product Management and Brand Marketing. "The launch of this campaign signifies a reintroduction of TruGreen and allows us to connect with new and existing customers on how we can provide a tailored and localized service experience."

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, TruGreen operates approximately 260 branches and 38 franchise locations across the United States and Canada, offering a comprehensive set of lawn care services to more than 2.5 million residential and commercial customers' accounts. The campaign was developed in collaboration with Brownstein Group, a marketing and communications agency in Philadelphia. The new TV spots for the campaign can be viewed here and here.

For more information about TruGreen and the new campaign, please visit www.trugreen.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About TruGreen

TruGreen is the nation's leading lawn care company serving over 2.5 million residential and commercial customer accounts with lawn, tree and shrub care along with mosquito control. TruGreen's science-based expertise coupled with a customer-centered approach serves as the foundation for achieving a healthy, green lawn and establishing homeowner pride. There are approximately 260 TruGreen lawn care branches in the United States and Canada, plus 38 franchise locations. Visit http://www.TruGreen.com or http://www.facebook.com/TruGreen for more information about TruGreen.

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The BJP on Thursday demanded a CBI probe into the parking of money of the Jagannath Temple in Puri with cash-starved Yes Bank. Odisha finance minister Niranjan Pujari said the funds had been deposited as the bank offered the highest rate of interest among all the scheduled commercial banks.

Replying to an adjournment motion moved by opposition members in connection with the issue of parking of funds of the 11th century temple, Pujari said the Jagannath Temple administration in March 2019 had invited quotations from 12 scheduled commercial banks for depositing its money. Of all the banks who had bid, Yes Bank had offered 8.61 per cent interest per annum, he said.

A total amount of 592 crore was kept in Yes Bank of which 545 crore was fixed as term deposit for a year. The remaining 47 crore was kept in a flexi account. The finance minister said Yes Bank was one out of the recommended list for 2019-20 of the 29 banks selected by a committee chaired by the state finance department which had representatives from the RBI and State Level Bankers Committee. The committee had met twice and had drawn up the list after taking into consideration various parameters.

Yes Bank is a listed bank under the schedule II of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, and under Section 35 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, functioning of all banks are supervised by RBI. There was no directive from the RBI against undertaking financial transactions with Yes Bank before March 5, 2020, the Odisha finance minister clarified.

He also added that it was the temple administration which had deposited the amount as it is the sole authority for management of financial affairs of the 11th century shrine.

On the other hand, Opposition chief whip and senior BJP leader Mohan Majhi demanded the parking of the temple funds in Yes Bank be brought under the purview of an ongoing CBI probe. However, BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi said that the state government was playing with the sentiments of the devotees of Lord Jagannath. He alleged that chartered accountant Bijay Sahoo, a member of the temple managing committee and former chief administrator of the temple, Pradipta Mohapatra had gone on vacation in Europe with Yes Banks commission money.

Majhi alleged that Madhav Mohapatra, a member of the temple management finance sub-committee was removed from the temple managing committee when he raised his voice against the parking of temple funds in Yes Bank. The state government should form a House Committee to get back Lord Jagannaths money, he added.

Union minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises Pratap Chandra Sarangi too wrote to the union finance minister seeking a probe to fix responsibility of the state government officers responsible for parking of the temple funds. The money was deposited in a private bank in flagrant violation of the guidelines to keep the temple money in nationalised banks. The move to keep the money smells of some conspiracy on the part of some officers to serve their pecuniary interests in connivance with the authorities of Yes Bank, wrote Sarangi.

Meanwhile, four Rajya Sabha MPs of Biju Janata Dal led by MP Prasanna Acharya on Thursday met union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the second time urging her intervention in releasing the temple funds stuck in Yes Bank. The finance minister assured the BJD MPs that she had spoken to the RBI Governor on their request for ensuring safety of the temple funds.
[March 12, 2020] Global Edge Computing Market 2020-2024| Rising Demand for Decentralized Computing to Boost the Market Growth | Technavio

The global edge computing market is expected to grow by USD 9.14 billion during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005247/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Edge Computing Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) Centralized computing systems have a geographically distributed infrastructure with high latency. It does not help in minimizing the response time in many time-sensitive applications such as autonomous vehicles and wearables. This is propelling the need for and adoption of decentralized edge computing solutions because they speed up the decision-making task by enabling low-latency in computing. Edge computing nodes involve reduced round-trip time as they are located much closer to the user or device. Thus, such benefits of decentralized edge computing solutions will boost the growth of the edge computing market during the forecast period. To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/report/edge-computing-market-industry-analysis As per Technavio, the growing limitations of front-end devices will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over th forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024.



Edge Computing Market: Growing Limitations of Front-End Devices Front-end devices have relatively limited battery life, computational power, and hardware resources in comparison to dedicated servers or data centers. As a result, they are rather used to forward the collected data to dedicated servers. However, there are times when the cloud servers cannot use the data generated by these front-end devices. This is leading to an increase in the utility of edge computing solutions. Edge node hardware present in these solutions speedily interprets a significant amount of data and immediately sends the response to the end-user or device. Thus, with growing limitations of front-end devices, the market for edge computing is expected to showcase a positive outlook during the forecast period.

"The optimization of network traffic for sustainable energy usage is another major factor that will boost market growth during the forecast period," says a senior analyst at Technavio. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Edge Computing Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the edge computing market by end-user (industrial manufacturing, telecom, mobility, government, retail, healthcare, finance, and other end-users) and geographic segmentation (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA). The North America region led the edge computing market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA. During the forecast period, the North America region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to factors such as the growing emphasis on improving efficiency in IT infrastructure within commercial and industrial environments. Moreover, the increasing adoption of big data analytics and IoT by end-users will also contribute to the growth of the market. Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report Some of the key topics covered in the report include: End-user Industrial manufacturing

Telecom

Mobility

Government

Retail

Healthcare

Finance

Other end-users Geographic Segmentation North America

APAC

Europe

South America

MEA Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

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BIG RAPIDS  As the ballot proposal to ban recreational marijuana sales failed Tuesday, Lume Cannabis Co. opened its doors Wednesday morning as the first marijuana retail store in Big Rapids.

"This is an exciting day for our company. Its a tremendous honor to be the first marijuana retail store in Big Rapids," said John Gregory, chief marketing officer of Lume Cannabis Company.

Lume filled an empty storefront, 113 S. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids, previously occupied by Glamare, a women's intimates store. It offers both recreational and medical marijuana. It also offers a variety of CBD products and accessories.

"Lume Cannabis Company is a privately held vertically integrated cannabis company with deep Michigan roots committed to producing high-quality cannabis products for medical patients and recreational consumers to enjoy," Gregory said.

"Big Rapids has been an underserved community and our customers were reliant upon Lume Delivery to get the medical and adult-use cannabis products they need. We are excited to open a store here, and make it easier for our patients and adult-use customers in Big Rapids and across Mecosta County to access our high-quality cannabis products without having to travel outside their community."

Open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays, Lume offers a variety of flavors at the bud bar, which is located on the sales floor. Some flavors include wedding cake, blueberry crumble and orange cream.

In total, were just over 10 total strains for both medical and adult use," Lume launch team leader Joseph Stancowski said. "Were around 12 total strains, with more arriving at either the end of this week or the beginning of next week.

Though more flavors are expected to arrive shortly, many residents were already checking out the new business Wednesday morning, and making purchases of their own.

"I love it. It looks really nice," Big Rapids resident John Michalski said. "I've been to the one up in Evart a couple of times, and I really like that one. (This store) is like a 10-minute drive instead of a 45-minute drive, so it's a lot nicer to have it here in your hometown."

Big Rapids resident Jessica Willis also took her business to Evart, as Lit Provisions  a Lume-owned business  opened its doors last year.

Traveling all over Michigan, Willis said she's glad Lume came to Big Rapids.

"I've been to Bay City. I've been to White Cloud. I've been all over because we didn't have one here," she said. "It's great. Everybody here is so happy and positive  it's awesome."

As customers are excited for the new business to hit Big Rapids, Gregory looks forward to continuing to diminish the stigma he believes still surrounds the cannabis industry.

"While the stigma around cannabis still exists, it is getting smaller and smaller every day, and we are proud to be playing a significant role in that process here in Michigan," Gregory said. "We hope that the aesthetic and cleanliness of our stores, the quality and safety of our product, the professionalism displayed by our staff, and our ability to welcome and guide every customer regardless of background and experience all combine to create an unparalleled consumer experience built to minimize the negative stigma around our industry.

"We see the positive impact that cannabis can have on peoples lives every day, and thats what motivates us."

Though Gregory believes there's a stigma around the cannabis industry, neighbor and business owner Kelly Dennis is thankful for Lume's decision to open shop in downtown Big Rapids.

I think its great, The Yellow Window LLC owner said. Ive had family members afflicted with different diseases that only medical marijuana has helped them with, as far as pain. I think its going to bring more business downtown. Theyre very professional, nice people. They came over and introduced themselves to me, and theyre just really nice.

The Pie Hole owner Niki Stricker also sees the new business as a positive for downtown proprietors, hoping the convenient location will help area residents and keep business in Big Rapids.

I think its a great move. I dont think theres anything wrong with it," Stricker said. "Its got a lot of great purposes for people who are in pain and have the need for it. Its like an alcohol store  if you dont want it, dont go in and use it.

Itll bring business downtown, regardless of how you feel about it. Downtown businesses in Big Rapids need that, because right now, a lot of our customers are traveling to other towns to get that, and why not leave that income here? Its not an easy thing to achieve and get those licenses and certifications to do that, and its highly regulated.

This is the sixth Lume store in the state and fourth to offer adult-use sales.

Lume operates Lit Provisioning Centers in Evart and Lume stores in Adrian, Honor, Owosso and Kalamazoo and is estimated to have 20 stores by the end of 2020.

For more information on the new business, visit lume.com.
London already boasts some of the most expensive houses in the world, but now it could add one of the costliest parking spots on earth.

A garage in the capital is on the market for 750,000 making it the most expensive in British history if sold.

The double space in Portman Square is worth more than three times the national average house price.

The garage, pictured above from the front looking in, stands 10ft 6in wide and is 29ft 7in long, making it able to contain two cars. The double space is in Portman Square, near Oxford Street in London

It is around the corner from Selfridges and Oxford Street in a 24-hour portered block of flats.

The 303sqft spot is in the same building as an apartment used for the F section of the Special Operations Executive in the Second World War.

It stands 10ft 6in wide and is 29ft 7in long, making it able to contain two cars.

David Ewart, residential property expert at interior furnishings firm Pavilion Broadway, said: 'With regards to parking garages, this is certainly the most expensive that I have come across in the UK.

The garage in the capital (pictured centre above) is on the market for 750,000 making it the most expensive in British history if sold

The garage is pictured above from the inside. The 303sqft spot is in the same building as an apartment used for the F section of the Special Operations Executive in the Second World War

'With financially trying times currently looming, it does beg the question on whether escalating commercial property prices and spaces such as garages will reach a ceiling soon and indeed collapse in the event of a recession.

'Inevitably, what may have seemed a solid acquisition during a boom period may now look like a much riskier investment if prices in the surrounding area start to stagnate.'

If sold, it would be priced a mere 3,000 less than a single car parking spot sold in Hong Kong last year.

That space is in the basement of 73-storey skyscraper The Center and was bought by a mysterious man, reported South China Morning Post.

The most expensive car parking spot in the UK was 400,000 near the Royal Albert Hall in London, slightly more than half the price of the Portman Square listing.

It is also more expensive than the 670,000 garage sold in Chelsea in 2016, the previous record holder in the UK.

For the cost of the garage, drivers could park in NCP's nearby car park for 140 years on a season ticket price.

Mr Ewart, based in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, said: 'Property in the prestigious W1H postcode and particularly Portman Square have been rising rapidly for quite some time.

For the cost of the garage, drivers could park in NCP's nearby car park, pictured above, for 140 years on a season ticket price

'It is not uncommon to see three-bedroom apartments closing for in excess of 2m in what has been a robust market with demand vastly outstripping supply.

'The area is in a unique position ideally situated between Oxford Square and the always desirable Hyde Park, and with the recent announcement of a new Nobu Hotel in Portman Square in 2020, this will only further drive up exclusivity and appetite for space that is already at a premium.'

Manors London, selling the garage, declined to comment.
India will send a 14-member medical team and a consignment of medicines to the Maldives on Friday to help authorities in the Indian Ocean archipelago to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, officials said on Thursday.

India has received requests from several countries, including Bhutan, the Maldives, Iran and Italy, for assistance and essential supplies such as surgical masks and protective gear, and these are being processed, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told a news briefing.

In February, India had despatched a consignment of medical supplies, including gloves, surgical masks, feeding and infusion pumps, and defibrillators, to China in a flight that also brought back Indian nationals from Wuhan.

We can only spare items which we have at this point of time. Accordingly, based on the request and the availability of such items, a package is being put together, Kumar said.

A statement from the Indian high commission in Male said the composite COVID-19 medical relief team, comprising pulmonologists, anaesthetists, physicians and lab technicians, will work closely with health authorities in the Maldives to deal with the evolving situation.

India will also send essential medicines despite a temporary ban on their export as a special goodwill gesture to the people of the Maldives. These humanitarian gestures are a concrete example of Indias Neighbourhood First and the Maldives India First policy in action, the statement said.

A separate statement from the Maldives government the 14-member Indian medical team was being sent in response to a request from the archipelago. The three-month stock of essential medicines is being provided as grant assistance, it said.

India has historically been a first responder to humanitarian crises in the Maldives. India flights evacuated seven Maldivian nationals from Wuhan on February 02 and two more nationals on February 27. In January, India provided 30,000 doses of measles vaccines within 72 hours of a request from the Maldives.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yates Service, Inc. today announced the launch of Complimentary White Glove Vehicle Pickup & Delivery Service and Complimentary Full-Service Gas Pump Attendants at Yates Automotive / Sunoco in response to our customers' and community's growing concern of the spread of COVID-19. These new services, in addition to the existing Free Pickup and Delivery Service at Yates Dry Cleaning and delivery service at Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, enable Yates' customers to continue to experience the convenience and award-winning customer service Yates businesses provide without being concerned about whether they are increasing their exposure to COVID-19.

Jason, Loren and Jason Yates Jr. Yates Automotive

"For more than half a century, Yates Service has kept a laser focus on providing convenience and an exceptional customer experience to our community and we have seen a lot of changes here, on what is now called 'Yates Corner,'" says Jason Yates, President & CEO at Yates Service, Inc. "Our businesses and our community have seen a lot in that time, and through innovation, understanding and constant communication with our customers and staff, we have survived and thrived."

Details of services include:

Complimentary White Glove Vehicle Pickup & Delivery Service at Yates Automotive  Yates Automotive team members will provide free local pickup and delivery of customers' vehicles that require repair, maintenance and detailing services.

 Yates Automotive team members will provide free local pickup and delivery of customers' vehicles that require repair, maintenance and detailing services. Complimentary Full-Service Gas Pump Attendants at Yates Automotive  Yates Automotive's Sunoco station in Del Ray /Old Town will provide the option of full service at the pumps at self-service gas prices. As always, Yates Automotive will continue to donate 2/gallon purchased to a local charity through their Give Your Two Cents program (now in its third year). March's local charity is Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic.

 Yates Automotive's Sunoco station in /Old Town will provide the option of full service at the pumps at self-service gas prices. As always, Yates Automotive will continue to donate 2/gallon purchased to a local charity through their Give Your program (now in its third year). March's local charity is Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. Complimentary Free Pickup & Delivery Service at Yates Dry Cleaning  Yates Dry Cleaning provides free local pickup and delivery of customers' dry cleaning and home goods orders.

 Yates Dry Cleaning provides free local pickup and delivery of customers' dry cleaning and home goods orders. Food Delivery Service at Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap  Yates-owned Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap provide food delivery via UberEats and ChowNow as well as customer curbside pickup.

 Yates-owned Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap provide food delivery via UberEats and ChowNow as well as customer curbside pickup. Online Photo Estimates at Yates Collision - Yates Collision now offers online auto body repair estimating. Customers can easily send damage photos to Yates Collision from the convenience of their mobile device.

Out of concern for our in-store customers, team members and their families, Yates Service has also enacted new protocols to promote health and safety. "Although Yates Service businesses have always been known for their cleanliness, we'll be working double- and triple-time to maintain a clean and healthy environment," says Jason Yates.

About Yates Service, Inc.: Yates Service, Inc. (yatesservice.com) is one of Alexandria's oldest family-owned small businesses. Over 56 Years in the Alexandria area including: Yates Automotive, Yates Collision, Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, Yates Dry Cleaning, and Yates Corner 7-Eleven in Del Ray/Old Town and Yates Kingstowne Sunoco, Yates Kingstowne Shell, Yates Express Lube, and Yates Car Wash in Kingstowne. Yates Service, Inc. businesses is proud to have won the Washington Business Journal's Family-Owned Business Award, Angie's List Super Service Awards, Zebra Readers' Choice Awards, Open Table Diner's Choice Awards, and Nextdoor's Neighborhood Favorite Awards. Jason and Loren Yates were also recently named 2019 Living Legends of Alexandria for their successful efforts to improve the quality of life in the City through their urban infill & Brownfield redevelopment, Yates Corner, and their substantial and sustained contributions to the community and support of local charities.

Joey Civali

Yates Service, Inc.

(704) 258-1016

[email protected]

SOURCE Yates Service, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.yatesservice.com


Medics wear protective suits to stop the spread of the coronavirus, outside the special isolation ward of District Hospital Aluva in Kochi. (PTI)

Kochi: With reports coming out that people are jumping coronavirus quarantine, the Kerala government has decided to use geo-tracking technologies to locate and rein them in.

This week there have been reports from Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Mangaluru and Hyderabad of people either resisting coronavirus testing or fleeing quarantine, health authorities in Thiruvananthapuram have started to use geo mapping and GPS tracking to keep an eye on home-quarantined persons.

In February, two China-returned persons who were under observation in Kozhikode left the country for Saudi Arabia without informing the authorities.

In another instance, a panchayat president from Pathanamthitta district, who was under home quarantine, was given a warning and sent back after he turned up for a meeting at the district collectorate.

This week, the Pathanamthitta administration started implementing the GPS tracking system to keep coronavirus suspects under watch at home. The collector of the district, P B Nooh, declared on his Facebook wall that strict legal action would be taken against those who do not stay within isolation.

At present there are 900 persons under quarantine--at home or in hospital--in Kerala. Some 60 engineering students have been roped in to man the GPS tracking system. This requires them to collecting details of the people and contacting them every morning and evening.

If any of the marked individuals steps out of the house, the GPS tracking system can identify whether he/she is included in the high-risk category or only an asymptomatic secondary suspect.
Update: This event has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak. A new date is to be determined.

It takes the streets to know the streets, and any top-down attempt to quell violence will meet the same fate: failure. Not because they dont care enough, but because they just dont understand.

Thats the idea behind a free event  Taking our Community Back  organized by Hovey Street Church of Christ and Indiana Department of Corrections Watch (IDOC Watch), a group made up of prisoners and outside advocates.

Taking our Community Back will be noon to 4 p.m. March 21 at Hovey Street Church of Christ and will include a screening of the documentary The First Rainbow Coalition.

The two guests  Blair Anderson and Benny Lee  are heavyweights in the world of organizing, cutting their teeth in the 1960s and 70s.

Anderson was a member of the Black Panther Party in Illinois. He was 18 years old when he stayed the night at Fred Hamptons Chicago apartment Dec. 3, 1969, when the Cook County States Attorney office organized a pre-dawn raid that killed Hampton and fellow Panther Mark Clark.

Lee was a leader the Conservative Vice Lords Nation from the late 60s, when he was just 13, through the early 80s. He spent a lot of that time trying to bring gang members, including those from rivals, together to see how their individual actions could affect the whole, for better or worse.

Anderson and Lee are veterans in the effort to get the streets organized, said Kwame Shakur, response coordinator for IDOC Watch.

Ive always felt like its the people thats been in the streets, been part of the problem, thats part of the solution, he said, adding that Anderson and Lee are the ones who can provide the needed guidance.

Its also important to have representatives from groups like the Black Panther Party and Vice Lords, Shakur said, because there are still misconceptions about what those groups were trying to do.

Hes upset that not many people seem to remember  or be educated about  the Panthers so-called Rainbow Coalition, a multiracial and multicultural movement that, among other things, brokered treaties to end gang violence.

Anderson, 68, said hes going to share the history of the Black Panthers at the event and make the case for how learning a trade can create sustainable incomes for Blacks in large numbers.

This is the new battlefield for us, he said. It is economic, very largely. We need enough money so we can prepare the youth for the responsibility of governing our world.

Asked how Hamptons assassination changed his life, Anderson said it gives relevance to the work hes done in the decades since.

They killed one of the most prolific young men that I had encountered, he said. They killed him right in front of my eyes.

Lee said hell focus on Dr. Martin Luther Kings beloved community model, the pillars of which are economic and social justice.

Lee got much of his organizing experience in prison, doing three stints from ages 19 to 30. He was also in juvenile detention from 15 to 17.

He organized a labor strike in the Pontiac Correctional Facility, with cooperation from other gangs, because the administration wouldnt expand the school program for younger inmates.

Lee was put into segregation for his actions and took the time to read Malcom Xs autobiography.

When I came out of segregation, I was a whole different person, he said.

Lee also spent three years on death row with 16 other gang leaders  they were known as the Pontiac 17  because prosecutors blamed them for instigating a riot that killed three guards. The riot was found to be a result of overcrowded conditions, though, and they were acquitted.

Lee and other members of the Conservative Vice Lords Nation joined organizations outside of prison to improve their reputation in the community, and he eventually started a group called African American Survivors, which is known today as the National Alliance for the Empowerment of the Formerly Incarcerated.

One problem with the way some groups, including police, try to solve violence, Lee said, is they dont understand whats actually causing it.

Sometimes they go chasing a gang problem, he said, when really its a conditions problem.

Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.

Benny Lee (pictured), a former leader of the Conservative Vice Lords, and Blair Anderson, a former member of the Black Panther Party in Illinois, will be at Hovey Street Church of Christ on March 21 to talk about the importance of grassroots organizing. (Photo provided)
Defying a veto threat, Congress has approved a bipartisan measure to limit President Donald Trump's 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 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 US 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 US 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 US involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after US-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 shouldn't be engaged in hostilities with Iran without a vote of Congress,'' he said in a statement.

The legislation doesn't 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 harm's 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 president's ability to protect US 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 US 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 US 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 US soldiers, the Pentagon said.

Democrats and Republicans alike criticized a briefing by the Trump administration shortly after the drone strike, saying US 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 US.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus outbreak is a matter of 'great concern' and the government's initial focus is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

New Delhi: Coronavirus outbreak is a matter of "great concern" and the government's initial focus is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

Speaking on the situation arising out of the spread of the coronavirus, he said around 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here

There are also around 300 students there, he added. The "initial focus is on bringing back pilgrims, mostly stranded in Qom", he said, adding 58 citizens from Iran has been brought back and the government was working with Iranian authorities to operate some limited commercial flights for facilitating the early return of the remaining Indians after testing them.

The minister also informed that there are 1,000 Indian fishermen who are stranded in Iran, but they are in the region which is not affected by the virus. He said a team of health professionals has been sent to Iran to set up testing facilities there for Indians.

Talking about Italy, Jaishankar said the situation in the European country is a matter of great concern. Those tested negative will be allowed to return. The minister said about 90 countries have reported coronavirus cases and the government has to focus and to prioritise.

At the moment after China and Diamond Princess (cruise ship) issue, Iran and Italy are 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 countries have stretched their resources in dealing with 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," he said.

"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.

"As a country whose citizens are spread across the world. This is matter of great concern for us. But we have to act responsibly and soberly to address the situation and not create panic," he said.
More than 32m in personal debt has been written off this week under insolvency arrangements approved by the High Court.

The huge sum relates to six cases dealt with between Monday and Wednesday.

The largest write-off - 15.2m - came with the approval of a personal insolvency arrangement for former Pierse Construction director Michael O'Reilly.

The company was one of the country's largest building firms before going into examinership and then liquidation after the property market crashed a decade ago.

This week's cases highlight the increasing use of legislation introduced in 2013 aimed at allowing insolvent debtors keep their family homes and get protection from creditors.

Already this year there was a record 60m debt write-off approved for Enda Patrick Whelan, an Ennis-based former quarry operator.

The arrangement for Mr O'Reilly, of Newtown, Celbridge, Co Kildare, continues the trend of multi-million euro write-offs.

It was devised by personal insolvency practitioner Alan McGee and approved on Monday by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey.

The court heard Mr O'Reilly invested heavily in Pierse Construction and other property ventures. But all of the investments were lost in the recession and he ended up with debts of 15.8m.

Mr O'Reilly's largest creditors were Everyday Finance DAC, which was owed more than 8.9m, and Danske Bank, which was owed 4.8m.

Unlike other recent arrangements, Mr O'Reilly will no longer own his family home.

He found a third party to purchase it at market value and then rent it back to him and his wife Fionnuala. It was one of three properties now worth a combined 690,000, on which 2m in mortgage debt was outstanding. All have been voluntarily sold.

A feature of some of the cases this week was the poor return vulture funds recouped on bad debts.

In one case dealt with yesterday, Ennis Property Management, a vulture fund affiliate of global investment bank Goldman Sachs, will get just 182 from two sisters-in-law who had total debts of 8m.

The case involved the approval of arrangements for Una and Margaret Kinsella, both from Ballybritt, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

Una Kinsella had debts of approximately 3.8m, while Margaret Kinsella owed around 4.2m. The vast majority of these debts have now been written off.

They will also keep their family homes under restructured mortgages.

Each will have to make a lump sum payment of just 100 towards their debts.

The debts arose from personal guarantees for loans used to fund a business run by their husbands.

The arrangements were also put together by Mr McGee.

His barrister Keith Farry told the court the arrangements were more advantageous to creditors than if the debtors were made bankrupt.
Just Listed: Savage River Lodge I am very pleased to have listed this incredibly unique opportunity. There is a strong model in place, a 20-year history of repeat business, as well as prospective growth on the horizon for future creative minds to shape the lodge into their own success, said Crawford

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales is pleased to announce their recent listing 1600 Mount Aetna Road, also known as Savage River Lodge.

Represented by sales agent Terah Crawford, this unparalleled property is situated on 43 private acres surrounded by 700 acres of Savage River State Forest. Savage River Lodge is a nationally recognized destination. There are 18 charming cabins, 8 unique yurts, a picturesque 3-bedroom residence and a stunning 10,000 square foot lodge with a spacious dining room well-known for gourmet American cuisine.

I am very pleased to have listed this incredibly unique opportunity. There is a strong model in place, a 20-year history of repeat business, as well as prospective growth on the horizon for future creative minds to shape the lodge into their own success, said Crawford

Operated since 1997 by husband and wife team Jan Russell and Mike Dreisbach, Savage River Lodge has welcomed thousands of guests and built an unmistakable brand. Among other titles and accolades, they have been awarded Marylands "Finest Spa & Couple's Getaway", "Finest Dessert" and "Finest Fine Dining".

It's time for the next chapter in our lives. To look ahead toward the next twenty years and beyond, were excited to announce the Savage River Lodge is listed for sale. Well turn 70 this year, and after operating the business nearly seven days a week for more than two decades, its time for us to start thinking about retirement, stated Russell.

Committed to sustainability, the owners installed 325 solar panels behind the main Lodge building. The panels provide 65% of the Lodge's electricity and create 84 Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECS) each year.

The Lodge is the only venue in Maryland endorsed by Trout Unlimited. Savage River Lodge is nestled between four trophy rivers. Through a cooperative agreement with the State of Maryland, the Lodge maintains 14 miles of trails throughout their property and the Savage River State Forest. The diverse loop trails offer hours of enjoyment and natural scenery at its finest.

The sellers welcome potential purchasers to tour the lodge, to meet them and understand existing brand standards. Interested parties can contact Terah Crawford at Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales to discuss this opportunity and take the next steps.

About Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales

Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales is a leader in Deep Creek Lake vacation rentals, real estate and property services. Taylor-Made rental homes and sales listings are conveniently located within a few hours drive from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Washington, DC.
(Newser)  Climate change isn't our only environmental problemand evidence lies in the North Sea. Back in the 16th century a Dutch fishmonger could witness "whales everywhere, as far as the eye can see," writes Tamar Stelling at the Correspondent. "Some majestically spring from the water as they migrate from north to south. For hours on end. Can you picture it?" Since then, such massive whale migrations have vanished along with much of the world's whale population. That loss is part of an ongoing biodiversity crisis that some consider an even greater threat than weird weather and rising oceans. But Stelling sees a problem with quantifying that die-off and communicating it to the public, so she's offering a solution, called Gross Biomass Product or GBP.

story continues below

At issue is the counting of species. It's been said that "a million species are threatened with extinction," but that's just an estimate. Enter Israeli biologist and physicist Ron Milo, who measured the carbon weight of all species in 2018. Apparently it comes to 500 gigatonnes of carbon, 90% of which is plants, 5% bacteria, and only 0.4% animals! "In the last thousand years there has been a strong decrease in biomass, caused by humans," says Milo. "Without a doubt." And humans need non-human life to keep living on Earth. So Stelling suggests we have a constant GBP rating and see how it affects people's life choices. "Me, I would happily trade some material goods to see thousands of whales moving in unison along Dutch shores again," she writes. Click for her full piece. (Or see what's happened to the Endangered Species Act.)
The opposition National Democratic Congress has rubbished the Ministry of Special Initiatives response to some concerns it raised over the implementation of governments One Village One Dam (1V1D) initiative.

The Opposition National Democratic Congress at its 8th edition of the party's Moment Of Truth series held on Wednesday [March 12, 2020] toured three of the dam sites in Adibo and Nakpache in the Yendi constituency and at Zakpalsi in the Mion constituency.

Sammy Gyamfi, National Communications Officer of the NDC who led the delegation for the tour claimed that the dams they visited were not properly constructed and were not fit for purpose.

But the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives debunked the claims saying the NDC only meant to score cheap political points.

Communication Director at the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives, Kabori Awudu Moro said the dams cited by the NDC had already been declared uncompleted by the government.

We disagree with their conclusion that the dams are not fit for purpose and that it has not been properly constructed.It is kind of a surprise to us that the NDC will rather choose to go and do the press conference at the dam site that we have already given the indication that we have not completed. I think they got it very wrong and we believe that their action is clearly aimed at scoring some cheap political points, he said.

The NDC is however sceptical about the clarification from the sector Ministry.

The party in a counter statement signed by Sammy Gyamfi described the Ministrys rejoinder as barefaced lies.

We are not in the least surprised by the farcical response from the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives because President Nana Akufo-Addo and his appointees have demonstrated time and again that they have no respect for truth and for the people of Ghana.

The penchant of the Akufo-Addo government to openly lie and spread falsehood even in the face of overwhelming and incontrovertible evidence is very well-known by Ghanaians. We wish to state emphatically that claims in the press statement from the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives are nothing but barefaced lies and a desperate attempt to cover their shame relative to the fraudulent implementation of their much-vaunted 1V1D programme.

Sites visited were all completed

The NDC further stated that the sites its officers visited were all completed 1V1D projects.

For the avoidance of doubt, the 1V1D sites we visited, in the company of journalists, in the Adibo and Nakpachie communities in the Yendi constituency, are all completed 1V1D projects. Contrary to the government's claims, these so-called dams, which are part of several poorly constructed dugouts by government, harvested and retained water during the 2019 rainy season but quickly dried-up at the early stage of the dry season. This was confirmed by members of the two (2) communities.

The NDC further indicated that it will in the coming days provide evidence to buttress its claims.

The NDC will in the coming days release additional evidence to buttress this fact, as well as evidence of several other completed but dried-up 1V1D projects in the five (5) northern regions of Ghana, the statement added. One Village One Dam Policy

The One-Village-One-Dam policy is one of the Akufo-Addo administration's flagship programmes aimed at ensuring all-year-round agriculture in the regions of the north, through the construction of irrigation dams in every village in that part of the country.

Under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme in the 2017 budget, GHc94, 446,132 was earmarked for the One-Village-One-Dam policy.

Read the NDCs statement below: NDC responds to claims by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives on fraudulent 1V1D Projects

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken note of a response from the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives to our Moment of Truth press conference on government's fraudulent 1Village 1Dam projects.

We are not in the least surprised by the farcical response from the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives because President Nana Akufo-Addo and his appointees have demonstrated time and again that they have no respect for truth and for the people of Ghana. The penchant of the Akufo-Addo government to openly lie and spread falsehood even in the face of overwhelming and incontrovertible evidence is very well-known by Ghanaians.

We wish to state emphatically that claims in the press statement from the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives are nothing but barefaced lies and a desperate attempt to cover their shame relative to the fraudulent implementation of their much-vaunted 1V1D programme.

For the avoidance of doubt, the 1V1D sites we visited, in the company of journalists, in the Adibo and Nakpachie communities in the Yendi constituency, are all completed 1V1D projects.

Contrary to government's claims, these so-called dams, which are part of several poorly constructed dugouts by government, harvested and retained water during the 2019 rainy season but quickly dried-up at the early stage of the dry season. This was confirmed by members of the two (2) communities.

The NDC will in the coming days release additional evidence to buttress this fact, as well as evidence of several other completed but dried-up 1V1D projects in the five (5) northern regions of Ghana.

We wish to place on record that the Akufo-Addo government has not constructed a single meaningful small-scale irrigation dam anywhere in Ghana such as the ones constructed by President John Mahama and his government in areas such as Sakpe and Zakpasi, just to mention a few.

This fact is amply buttressed by the Minister of Special Initiatives Development, Hawa Koomson's own confession that, the amount of GH256,000.00 allocated by government for each 1V1D project is woefully inadequate to construct any meaningful Dam.

In the spirit of promoting a facts-driven and evidence-based public discourse on this important subject, the NDC demands that:

1. Government explains the basis of its claim that the 1V1D projects in the Nakpachie and Adibo communities are uncompleted. Government must tell the good people of Ghana in very specific terms, what makes the said 1V1D projects incomplete. Simply put, government must explain to Ghanaians, what specific features these (2) projects lack and how different they are from completed 1V1D projects.

2. In line with the principle of transparency and accountability, the Akufo-Addo government should publish the full list of their so-called completed 1V1D projects so that the opposition, the media and Ghanaians at large can fact-check and ascertain the veracity of the claims being made by the Ministry.

It is an indisputable fact that President Akufo-Addo is serving the people of the North with poorly constructed dugouts instead of the small-scale irrigation dams he promised.

The NDC maintains that President Akufo-Addo's 1V1D promise is the biggest scam ever to be perpetrated by any government on the people of the North. The poorly constructed dugouts he has so-far delivered have failed to serve their intended purpose and have occasioned a huge financial loss to the state, for which reason the next NDC government will ensure that all those responsible for this stinking scam are prosecuted.

SIGNED

Sammy Gyamfi

National Communications Officer

Thursday, March 12, 2020.

---citinewsroom
With the perception of a moderate ticket, the Dems are going to turn the industrial Midwest back blue, said Greg McNeilly, a Republican consultant in Grand Rapids, who added that Mr. Bidens pick for running mate would be critically important to his chances in Michigan.

In scores of rural counties on Tuesday, Mr. Biden beat Mr. Sanders by significantly larger totals than Mr. Sanders earned when he carried the same counties in the Democratic primary four years ago. The states rural enclaves are dominated by white voters without college degrees, the most loyal members of the Trump base. Even if most of them stick with the president, small gains by Democrats could make a difference in a closely fought statewide election.

It suggests that Vice President Biden has a chance to stop the bleeding there, said Brandon Dillon, a former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party.

Then there are the suburbs, the key to Democratic gains nationwide in 2018. Largely thanks to a swing by suburbanites in affluent Oakland County outside Detroit  the boyhood home of the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, whose father was governor of Michigan  Democrats rolled up large victories in 2018. They included the election of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and two congresswomen who flipped Republican seats, Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin.

Turnout in the Democratic primary on Tuesday was up 40 percent in suburban counties, and 44 percent specifically in Oakland County, the second most populous county in the state after Detroits Wayne County.

The districts that flipped from Republican to Democrat were largely located in large fast-growing suburban counties, said Whit Ayres, a Republican pollster. So Republicans are going to face the same challenge in 2020 that they faced in 2018  how to be competitive in those larger suburban counties that contain large numbers of college educated women.

Even if Republicans take a beating in Oakland County, just east of it is the states third-most populous county, Macomb, with its storied place in election lore.
At least nine lawyers were detained on terror charges in early morning raids in the mainly Kurdish provinces of Urfa and Diyarbakir today, part of an ongoing campaign of repression targeting human rights defenders, said Abdullah Oncel, the president of the Urfa Bar Association.

Seven of the lawyers were detained in Urfa and two others in Diyarbakir. Three others  all from Diyarbakir  are being sought, Oncel told Al-Monitor. Several of the lawyers offices were ransacked by police and their homes raided, he added.

Bunyamin Seker, co-chair of the Jurists for Freedom Association, said a fourth lawyer from Sirnak, a heavily Kurdish province on the Iraqi border, was also being sought in connection with the case that is being overseen by the chief prosecutor of Urfa.

We have been unable to find out the details or the exact reasoning of this operation but its obvious to us that with respect to lawyers, its to do with their work on abuses, particularly those that occur inside prison, he told Al-Monitor. Another 12 individuals, none of them lawyers, are also believed to be facing charges in the case but their identities remain unknown and it remains unclear whether any have been detained, Seker said.

A secrecy order has been slapped on the investigation. The lawyers are thought to be accused of aiding and abetting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a rebel group that is waging an armed campaign for political autonomy and is classified as a terror group by Turkey, the EU and the United States.

The charge is liberally dispensed to lock up anyone who demands greater rights for the countrys 14 million or so Kurds. They include dozens of democratically elected Kurdish officials, among them Selcuk Mizrakli, the mayor of Diyarbakir, ousted from office in October and jailed.

Mizrakli, who was elected with 63% of the vote in March 2019, was sentenced to nine years, four months and 15 days on Monday on thinly evidenced charges of membership of a terrorist organization.

Oncel denied any of the detained lawyers were connected with the PKK. These are men and women dedicated to defending human rights and recording abuses. They are a constant thorn in the side of authorities who want to cover them up, he said.

Torture under detention including sexual abuse, beatings and electric shocks has been on the rise since the failed July 2016 coup, rights groups say.

One of the detained lawyers, Sevda Celikol Bingol, was among a group of 11 lawyers who documented the cases of some 54 men, women and children who were rounded up in Urfas Halfeti district and tortured after a policeman died in a clash there with PKK rebels.

Coming during the Ramadan fast, photos of the detainees lying on the ground, face down with their hands cuffed behind them as soldiers stood over them, provoked an outcry. The president of the Diyarbakir Bar Association, Cihan Aydin, likened the scene to Auschwitz, Gaza and Abu Ghraib in a tweet.

There were boot marks on their backs, Oncel said. Authorities are still investigating a criminal complaint filed against the perpetrators.

Bingol was also representing the family of four men who were killed in a feud with the tribe of Ibrahim Halil Yildiz, a lawmaker for Urfa from President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development Party. Yildiz made headlines last week when he broke his hand during a fistfight in the parliament that erupted when an opposition lawmaker criticized Erdogans Syria policy.

At least two more of the lawyers detained in todays sweep have already served jail time on terrorism charges. They include Emin Baran, who practices in Urfas township of Suruc, where the Islamic State carried out a 2015 bomb attack that killed 33 young activists. They had been planning to help rebuild the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani that was wrecked by the jihadis during a months-long siege. Baran spent two years in pre-trial detention in 2016-2019, Oncel said.

The police have had Baran in their sights before. He was unjustly accused of terrorist propaganda, said Emma Sinclair-Webb, Turkey director for Human Rights Watch. The New York-based advocacy group published a 56-page report in April 2019, cataloging what it called the systematic abusive detention and prosecution of human rights lawyers in Turkey since July 2016.

It's part of a pattern of targeting lawyers for discharging their professional duties, resulting in an erosion of the right to defense [and] a violation of fair trial. They get accused of the same crimes of the people they sometimes represent, she told Al-Monitor.

And Urfa has a very bad record of abuses over a long time.
PHILADELPHIA, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 6th Annual Teach Music Week will be celebrated Monday, March 16th through Sunday, March 22nd. This annual week-long holiday invites musicians, music schools, music stores and other music organizations to offer a free lesson or class to new students (both kids & adults). This year, over 850 locations in fifteen countries will participate including the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, India, Ireland, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

Teach Music Week is supported the following music brands and organizations: Alfred Music, D'Addario Foundation, Casio EMI, The Les Paul Foundation, Conn-Selmer, REMO, Kala Brand Music, Hungry For Music and Music Nomad Equipment Care Music Education should be available for ALL children!

Teach Music Week is celebrated annually during the 3rd week of March to coincide with national Music in Our Schools Month. Anyone interested in learning to play an instrument is encouraged to seek out a participating location or musician friend to help get them started. Teach Music Week also invites public, private and charter schools to schedule activities that will encourage more students to sign up for music, band and chorus classes.

Vincent James, co-founder of Keep Music Alive states: "We all know that the biggest hurdle to doing something is often just getting started. With Teach Music Week, we are hoping to inspire a new generation of musicians who will continue reaping the educational, therapeutic and social benefits of playing music, long after the month of March is over."

Keep Music Alive is honored to welcome the following music brands as partners for the 6th Annual Teach Music Week: Alfred Music, Casio, Conn-Selmer, D'Addario Foundation, Hungry For Music, Kala Brand Music, Music & Sounds Retailer, and Remo. Together, they are helping to share the Teach Music Week message, inspiring more children and adults to begin their musical journey. Music & Arts, the largest music lesson provider in the country, is participating in Teach Music Week by holding an Open House Weekend Friday March 20 through Sunday March 22 featuring an Open Mic special event and complimentary Beginner Guitar Classes at all locations (www.MusicArts.com/OpenHouse)

Individual locations from additional chains participating this year include Long & McQuade, Kindermusik, Gymboree Play & Music, Music Together and the legendary School of Rock. Keep Music Alive is also grateful for grant support received from the Les Paul Foundation and Music Nomad Equipment Care. For more information or to find participating locations, please visit www.TeachMusicWeek.org or contact Vincent James at (610) 874-6312 and vincent(at)keepmusicalive(dot)org.

Keep Music Alive is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to promoting the value of music: educationally, therapeutically and overall making us a happier society. To support this mission, they created two international music holidays: Teach Music Week (3rd week in March) and Kids Music Day (1st Friday in October). Each year, Keep Music Alive partners with hundreds of music school and retail locations to celebrate by offering free music lessons and holding numerous community events including open houses, student music performances, instrument petting zoos, community jams, instrument donation drives and more. For more information, please visit www.KeepMusicAlive.org.

Music in Our Schools Month is a registered trademark belonging to the National Association for Music Education (www.NAfME.org).

SOURCE Keep Music Alive
French chef and restaurateur Michel Roux OBE has died aged 78.

He passed away on Wednesday night surrounded by his family at home in Bray-on-Thames, Berkshire.

In a statement seen by The Independent it was confirmed that the cause of death was long-term idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

He had fought a long and brave battle, it reads.

Michels son Alain and daughters, Francine and Christine, on behalf of the Roux family said: It is with deep sadness that the Roux family announces the passing of our beloved grandfather, father, brother and uncle, Michel Roux OBE.

The family would like to thank everyone for their support during his illness. While many of you will share our great sense of loss, we request privacy for the family at this difficult time.

The Roux scholarship, a cooking competition set up in 1984 by Michel Roux and his brother Albert  and now run by their sons Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr  also released a statement on Instagram on Thursday.

We are deeply saddened to have lost our founding father, Michel Roux OBE. We are grateful to have shared our lives with this extraordinary man and were so proud of all hes achieved.

A humble genius, legendary chef, popular author and charismatic teacher, Michel leaves the world reeling in his wake. For many, he was a father figure inspiring all with his insatiable appetite for life and irresistible enthusiasm.

But above all, we will miss his mischievous sense of fun, his huge, bottomless heart and generosity and kindness that knew no bounds. Michels star will shine forever lighting the way for a generation of chefs to follow.

Roux, often known as Michel Roux Sr, was best known for opening Le Gavroche restaurant in Sloane Square in 1967 and was given the nickname the godfather of modern cuisine.

In 2017 he told The Independent that when he moved to the UK from France the food was in the dark ages.

He said: We came to point the way forward knowing that we would face either a quick death or quick success.

Luckily, it was the right time. Now, in restaurant terms, we have landed on the moon and Mars, all in 45 years.

Michel Roux - A life in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux - A life in pictures The Roux brothers in 'Take Six Cooks' TV Programme, 1985 Rex Features Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux pictured with his wife Robyn at their home In Bray, 1992 Rex Features Michel Roux - A life in pictures Trevor Blyth celebrates in style with judges Gary Rhodes and Michel Roux after winning the coveted Roux Diners Club scholarship competition at Four Seasons Hotel, London on March 1996 PA Michel Roux - A life in pictures Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw after presenting French cooks Albert and Michel Roux with their honorary OBE medals at the Foreign Office in London 31 October 2002. The brothers received the honor for their services to cooking AFP via Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Competitor Helene Andersen discusses the finer points of cooking Brill with judge Michel Roux during the final of the Roux Scholarship at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, 2009 PA Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux chats to Heston Blumenthal as they judge the final round of a competition for chefs to win a 'Roux Scholarship' at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 6, 2009 Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux judges the final round of a competition for chefs to win a 'Roux Scholarship' in 2009 Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux OBE and Albert Roux OBE speak during the finals of the 'Roux Scholarship' competitionl in central London, on April 6, 2009 AFP via Getty Images

Among those to cook under Roux during his career were Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and Pierre Koffman.

Le Gavroche was the first restaurant in the UK to win a Michelin star in 1974. Roux would go on to win three stars for the restaurant in his lifetime, and a further three for The Waterside Inn.

Roux appeared regularly on BBC cooking shows Saturday Kitchen and Masterchef and on the TV series The Roux Legacy about the impact of the Roux family on the world of cooking.

The Michelin Guide paid tribute to Roux on Twitter, calling him a true titan of the hospitality industry.
The Dean of the School of Performing Arts of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum has cautioned officials who will be handling the $100m set aside to fight the Coronavirus.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghanas efforts to fight Coronavirus.



At my prompting, the Minister for Finance has made available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance our coronavirus preparedness and response plan. That is to fund the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment and public education, President Akufo-Addo while addressing the nation on Wednesday, 11th March, 2020.



Speaking to this on Peace FM's morning show Kokrokoo, Thursday, Opanyin Agyekum said when such monies are disbursed, the tendency of people diverting it for their personal use is high.



However, I pray that those in charge will not divert the funds into their pockets but use it for the intended purpose, he said.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
DENVER, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Veteran broadcast journalist Neil Cavuto has been named a 2020 Business News Visionary, recognized by his peers for his transformative contributions to the profession.

Cavuto is one of 52 prominent business and financial journalists who will be showcased, one honoree weekly, for the next year. His oral history and profile are now available at www.NewsLuminaries.com.

2020 Business News Visionary Neil Cavuto Dean Rotbart, Chair and Editor-in-Chief, 2020 Business News Visionary Awards

In conferring this special recognition on Cavuto, BNVA chair and editor-in-chief, Dean Rotbart, noted, "Neil recognized the potential to make broadcast business journalism understandable to every type of viewer, not just professionals."

Cavuto and other members of the Business News Visionary (BNVA) Class of 2020 will be featured online and also in a commemorative book to be published early next year.

Cavuto was an original employee at three startup networks, CNBC, FOX News, and FOX Business Network, and was a cornerstone contributor to the success of each of them. As senior vice president and managing editor of business news at both FOX channels, Cavuto leads a team of talented correspondents, anchors, and producers who consistently win in the ratings and earn plaudits for the quality of their content.

Rotbart also noted that Cavuto, who has faced multiple, severe health challenges, is a role model of personal and professional perseverance, hosting 17-plus hours of live television each week.

In his oral history, Cavuto tells Rotbart, that the secret to his career success is that he has never stopped hustling.

"I think the one thing you learn from people who stand out in this industry, in any industry, is the key to their longevity is their work ethic," Cavuto says.

Cavuto's breakout role in broadcast business journalism came as New York bureau chief for "The Nightly Business Report," which aired on public television stations. Subsequently, he was a founding anchor on CNBC (1989), FOX News Channel (1996), and FOX Business Network (2007).

In addition to his managerial duties, Cavuto currently hosts "Your World with Neil Cavuto" weekdays on FOX News, and "CAVUTO Live" on Saturday morning. He also anchors "Cavuto: Coast to Coast" weekdays on FOX Business Network.

The Business News Visionary Awards are a continuation of The Business News Luminary Awards, which in 2000 honored the 100 top business and financial news journalists of the 20th century.

"The goal of this project extends beyond the celebration of the specific men and women who are profiled," notes Terri Thompson, who introduces each journalist's oral history.

"It is also to educate the public about the high standards to which these and so many other dedicated journalists have adhered and to offer a proven playbook for other journalists and journalism students to follow," she says. Thompson, herself a 2020 BNVA honoree, is the former director of the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship in Economics and Business Journalism at Columbia University.

Rotbart, a Pulitzer Prize nominated, award-winning financial journalist and former columnist with The Wall Street Journal, was the founder of "TJFR Business News Reporter," an influential trade newsletter and magazine that provided a behind-the-scenes look at business and financial journalists and their news organizations.

He, along with a panel of more than two dozen distinguished nominating judges  including top business news organization editors and reporters, and past award recipients  are responsible for the selection of the 2020 BNVA recipients.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the 2020 BNVA commemorative book and other sponsorship opportunities will benefit business journalism education and scholarship programs.

The Business News Visionary and News Luminary Awards are made possible, in part, by the generous support of Monday Morning Radio, a weekly podcast produced in cooperation with the nonprofit Wizard Academy and its founders, Roy H. and Pennie Williams; Robert L. Dilenschneider and Joan Avagliano of The Dilenschneider Group, providing an unsurpassed level of communications counsel to global clients; eReleases, delivering personal service and exceptional value to every customer; Time in a Bottle Photography and its founder, Avital Rotbart, specializing in world-class portrait photography; and All Kids Bike, a nonprofit movement to teach every child in America how to ride a bike in kindergarten.

For more information, contact BNVA's Dean Rotbart at 303-296-1200, or by email at [email protected].

SOURCE NewsLuminaries.com

Related Links

http://www.NewsLuminaries.com


An incredible battle between a spear-fisherman and three hungry sharks has been caught on camera.

Cole Harrison, 29, was on a dog tooth tuna fishing expedition in the Cook Islands when he spotted his potential catch of the day.

Except three sharks were also eyeing up the tuna for their dinner.

As he pulled it closer to the surface, the sharks followed, coming within a couple of meters of him and the fish he had in his grasp.

The Florida fisherman managed to get his fish on board his boat, but not before the sharks bit huge chunks out of his catch.

Cole, from Key West, Florida, said: 'The sharks don't have much experience of people and they weren't shy of coming at us.

'After I speared the tuna it ran off and my friend Alex was on the buoy putting pressure on the line.

Three hungry sharks latched on to the tuna Cole Harrison had snared in the South Pacific

As Cole, from Florida, tries to pull the the dog tooth tuna from the depths of the ocean, the school of sharks rip chunks out of its tail

All three sharks continued to feast, even as Cole neared the surface. Cole and his fellow fisherman had tried to catch three other tuna that day, but all three attempts had been foiled by roaming sharks

'I made it to the surface and started fighting the fish, but then the sharks turned up.

'They started having a go on the tuna and I called the boat saying I needed them.

'Five seconds later he was right there and we were able to bring the fish onto the boat which the sharks were trying to take it out of my hands.'

The battle between man and shark happened during a 2,000 mile trip between Tahiti and Fiji in the South Pacific.

Cole added: 'I stayed calm, it's just experience. I've been diving with sharks my whole life and I've been fishing since I was 10-years-old.

'I've been butted by them before and have friends who have been bitten by sharks.

Cole described the dog tooth tuna as 'the pinnacle of spear fishing'. 'They taste incredible and they look incredible,' added the boat captain

Hungry sharks ripped massive chunks out of Cole's catch, but he continued to pull it to the surface of the South Pacific

'It was fortunate that everything worked out, I had a really small window to land the fish and take it from the sharks.

'If I didn't get the boat there then we would have lost the fish. For sure I was worried about getting bitten, there was a lot of adrenaline.

'It's risky, reef sharks are the most notorious for always biting people in the water.

'In this pure clean water at least you can see them coming. You can get a gauge on how the sharks are behaving.

'They're kind of like dogs, you can see when they are fired up. You can read sharks, I was fortunate there were only three of them.'

Cole, a boat captain and underwater photographer, was on a two and a half month trip from Tahiti to Fiji when he took the video.

Along with his crew, Adam Schewitz, and Alex Thomas, both 32, he'd tried to snare dog tooth tuna three times earlier - but all were stolen back by sharks.

After three failed attempts, Cole and his crew went into an area known for being a bit 'sharky' on October 22, last year.

'We were after the dog tooth tuna,' he said.

'They're known as the pinnacle of spear fishing because they are so hard to catch.

'They can't be caught by rod.

'They taste incredible and they look incredible.'
The Pennsylvania Capitol will curtail all public tours and events until further notice amid growing concern about a widespread coronavirus outbreak.

Gov. Tom Wolf made that announcement on Thursday at an event where Dr. Rachel Levine, state Health secretary, announced the number of presumed and confirmed cases in the state has now risen to 22 cases.

The governors office and the General Assembly and its offices will remain open, the state Department of General Services said. Access to the Capitol Complex, including all state offices in downtown Harrisburg, will be limited to employees and people with badge keycard credentials.

The cancellation of events applies to all interior and exterior venues in the Capitol Complex, the Wolf administration said. It will affect rallies, school or group tours, choir performances and receptions.

Read more: The latest coverage on the coronavirus

Signs on doors around the state Capitol declaring handshake-free zones and one that asks visitors to call to gain entry to the office of state Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Luzerne County, as they must limit our interactions with the public are other indications that COVID-19 is a mounting concern. The sign on Mullerys door was removed later in the day on Thursday.

Both the House and Senate are scheduled to be in session Monday through Wednesday next week and the following. The Senate issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying its session will take place as scheduled. In the House, a couple of committee meetings on the schedule for Monday were cancelled but House GOP spokesman Mike Straub said, As of now, session remains as scheduled.

Every spring, young musicians come to the Capitol to entertain around noon. On Thursday, three Catholic schools from Bucks and Montgomery counties performed in the East Wing Rotunda.

A mother of two of the young musicians proudly pointed out her two children who sat amongst the 75 students as they waited to perform the national anthem.

Asked if she was concerned about the coronavirus outbreak coming to the Capitol, she replied, Concerned. Thats a good word for it. You have to be careful what you say to a reporter.

Those students will be the last to perform for the time being. The state Department of General Services calendar that as recently as yesterday had 17 public events scheduled for early next week, all have since been cancelled.

*This post was updated to reflect the removal of a sign posted on Rep. Mullerys door as well as to mention some indication about the House and Senates plans to return to session next week as scheduled.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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.

More coverage:

Coronavirus in Pennsylvania: Map, details on known cases

If you need to be tested for coronavirus, dont fear the bill: Pa. health secretary

Editors note: This story was updated to reflect the announcement of a 22nd confirmed case of coronavirus.
A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan, police said on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Wednesday under Sadar police station area of the district and the 40-year-old accused has been detained, police added.

The girl, who was an LKG student, went missing on Wednesday and the body was recovered in a sack from the rented house of the accused in the night," they further said.

Police said that the accused, who hails from Madhya Pradesh, is being interrogated in custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the coronavirus spreads across the world, one student in the United Kingdom was suspended from school for selling hand sanitizer to students.

The Detroit Free Press reports that a teenager in the U.K. was sent home from school for the day for selling squirts of hand sanitizer to his friends at Dixons Unity Academy in Leeds.

The teens mother, Jenny Tompkins, posted her sons moneymaking plan on Facebook this week. Hundreds of thousands of people weighed in on it, many of whom complimented his business savvy.

Very hard to discipline this behaviour when his dad phones him from work to call him a (expletive) legend, Tompkins wrote on Facebook.

Tompkins said her sons profits were used for a bag of Doritos.

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CNN Philippines (March 12)  Kuwaiti authorities have expanded their travel restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic, canceling all commercial flights starting Friday except for those carrying its citizens and domestic workers accompanying them.

Kuwaits Director General of Civil Aviation Yousef Al Fouzan said in a circular posted on Twitter that their council of ministers will indefinitely suspend all commercial flights, except if they are carrying their citizens with families and employees as well as goods, starting Friday, March 13.

Commercial flights will be limited to Kuwaiti citizens, their first degree relatives and domestic workers accompanying them. It also allows entry to domestic workers accompanying them.

This circular excludes air [freights], Al Fouzan added.

Al Fouzan also bared the government's plans of bringing home Kuwaiti citizens overseas.

Non-Kuwaitis are already barred from entering the Gulf state, the circular stated.

On March 8, Kuwait temporarily canceled flights to Philippines, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Sri Lanka. The suspension was supposed to be lifted on Friday. It also called on all nationalities leaving Kuwait to avoid unnecessary travel to these five countries.

As of Thursday, Kuwait recorded 72 cases of COVID-19, without fatality, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering, which follows coronavirus cases across the world.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday six foreigners have tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting the Philippines. But the travel history of two of them suggests they may have gotten infected in other countries, Duque added.

On the same day, 16 more COVID-19 cases have been recorded by the DOH, bringing the total number to 49 as of Wednesday, with two fatalities.
[March 12, 2020] 2020 Filtration & Separation Asia to be held at Shanghai New International Expo Center in December

SHANGHAI, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 8th Filtration & Separation Asia (FSA 2020), cohosted by Informa Markets, which also is the 11th China International Filtration & Separation Exhibition will be held at Shanghai New International Expo Center from 9  11 Dec, 2020 in Shanghai, China. The exhibition's scale will be 12,500 square meter and around 235 leading companies from 18 countries and regions are expected to showcase their latest products and solution offerings. The exhibit categories include: Filter Media, Filter Media Production Machinery, Chemicals, Filters, Filters Production Lines, Testing Equipment, Services and others. Filtration & Separation Asia (FSA) combined with China International Filtration & Separation Exhibition, hosted by China Filtration & Separation Society (CFS), CNTA and Informa Markets is an important and influential filtration & separation topic event in Asia region. The every-2-year's event is aimed to provide a trade and technical communication platform between exhibitors and trade visitors, where the up-to-edge filtration technologies, technical solutions and know-how can be found and discussed. Till now, most of the booth are booked with no more than 1/3 left. Hold the last chance to seize the constantly improving filtration market. Below are part of the exhibitors who confirmed their participation in FSA2020: AEREM, AHLSTROM  MUNKSJO, AIR TECHNIQUES INTERNATIONAL, BERRY, ZHENTAI, FIBRWAY MATERIALS, GUANGDONG XINTAO, HANDAN HENGYONG, HANGZHOU FILTER, HANGZHOU SPECIAL PAPER, HV, JIANGXI NATIONAL, JOHNS MANVILE, NDC, NEENAH, PALAS, SWM, TIENG, TOPAS, ETC. In 2018, thanks to the great support from the whole industry, an amazing communication platform had been presented to serve the 211 Exhibitors from 16 countries and regions and 8,674 Trade Visitors. Total exhibition scale reached 11,000 ?. Detailed information for the 8th Filtration & Separation Asia and the 11th China International Filtration & Separation Exhibition (FSA 2020):

Date: 9  11 Dec. 2020

Address: Hall N1, Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), Shanghai, China

Official Website: www.fsa-expo.com







For Project Cooperation For Visitor and Media Partner Inquiry Ray Pan Few Fu E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: +86-21 6157 3930 T: +86-21 6157 3924

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200311/2745757-1 SOURCE Informa Markets

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New Delhi: A 35-year-old man from Noida has been infected with the coronavirus and is undergoing treatment at a Delhi hospital, according to the Health Department.

The Noida resident works as a guide and was in contact with tourists from Italy visiting Agra and Jaipur.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Anurag Bhargava said Delhi's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed that the patient is infected with the virus.

Though the person's reports from Pune-based Institute of Virology has not been released yet, the samples were sent two weeks ago and the results are expected soon.

Samples of three other members of the person's family have also been sent for tests.

Meanwhile, The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, prompting the governments worldwide to take extraordinary measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus

The virus, which emerged in China in December 2019, has spread around the world, halting industry, bringing flights to a standstill, closing schools and forcing the postponement of sporting events and concerts.

As a border control measure, India 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. In 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 number of confirmed cases in India stands at 73, with Kerala and Haryana reporting the most number of cases at 17 and 14, respectively.

In Maharashtra, 11 cases have been reported and 11 positive cases from Uttar Pradesh. Rajasthan has reported 3 cases, Delhi 6 cases, Karnataka 4 cases and Union Territory of Ladakh 3 cases.

While Telangana, Punjab, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu have reported one confirmed case each.
The state of missouri is suing disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker for selling a fake coronavirus cure on his website and show.

Attorney General Eric S Schmitt named Bakker and his production company, Morningside Church Productions, as the defendants in the suit which was filed in the state's circuit court of Stone County.

Both Bakker and the church are based in the state.

The suit states that the defendants 'violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act by falsely promising to consumers that Silver Solution can cure, eliminate, kill, or deactivate coronavirus and/or boost elderly consumers' immune system and help keep them healthy when there is, in fact, no vaccine, pill, potion or other product available to treat or cure coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).'

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Jim Bakker is being sued by Missouri for marketing Silver Solutions as a cure for coronavirus

During a February 12 episode of the show with guest 'naturapathic doctor' Sherill Sellman, Bakker posited that the Silver Solution sold on the show's website would be effective against the coronavirus.

The suit calls for a temporary restraining order against Bakker and the production company.

It states that the defendants 'solicited the business of Missouri and non-Missouri consumers to purchase Silver Solution as a product to "support your immune system", "speed up natural processes that have positive effects on the body", and "resonating at just the right frequency"... to... "disrupt foreign elements without disturbing the body's natural environment.'

Attorney General Eric S Schmitt named Bakker and his production company, Morningside Church Productions, as the defendants in the suit which was filed in the state's circuit court of Stone County

The suit mentions that Sellman and Bakker's exchange was referenced on the show's website, where the Solution was sold.

Missouri is the first state to sue Bakker in connection to Silver Solution, with the suit mentioning an Food and Drug Administration (FDA) letter from last week that slammed the company and others for selling unapproved coronavirus drugs.

'The FDA considers the sale and promotion of fraudulent COVID-19 products to be a threat to the public health,' the FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., said in the letter. We have an aggressive surveillance program that routinely monitors online sources for health fraud products, especially during a significant public health issue such as this one.

'We understand consumers are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and urge them to talk to their health care providers, as well as follow advice from other federal agencies about how to prevent the spread of this illness. We will continue to aggressively pursue those that place the public health at risk and hold bad actors accountable.'

The website is no longer selling Silver Solution products but Sellman is expected to make an appearance on Baker's show on March 19

The website is no longer selling Silver Solution products but Sellman is expected to make an appearance on Baker's show on March 19.

News of the lawsuit comes after the office of the New York Attorney General released a scathing cease-and-desist letter to the televangelist telling him to stop trying to sell people a fake cure for the coronavirus.

Lisa Landau, Chief of the Health Care Bureau, gave 'The Jim Bakker Show' 10 days to comply with the letter that was sent to the convicted fraudster on Thursday.

The letter highlights that during a February 12 screening of the conservative show, Bakker posited that the Silver Solution sold on the show's website would be effective against the coronavirus.

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The show was selling a bundle of Silver Solution products for more than $125. To use, consumers were instructed to 'apply generously to skin as needed to help promote natural healing'

Bakker - an ardent Trump supporter - asks guest Sherill Sellman if the solution will work against the virus, to which she responds: 'Let's say it hasn't been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it's been rested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours'.

Landau said that the discussion and adverts for the solution 'may mislead consumers as to the effectiveness of the Silver Solution product in protecting against the current outbreak'.

'The World Heath Organization ('WHO') has noted that there is no specific medicine to prevent or treat this disease,' Landau continued.

'Therefore, any representation on the Jim Bakker Show that its Silver Solution products are effective at combating and/or treating the 2019 novel coronavirus violates New York law.

The letter highlights that during a February 12 screening of the conservative show, Bakker posited that the Silver Solution would cure the disease

Bakker - an ardent Trump supporter - asks guest Sherill Sellman if the solution will work against the virus, to which she responds: 'Let's say it hasn't been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it's been rested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours'

In addition to the discontinuation of the misleading info, Landau also ordered that a disclaimer be listed to all Silver Solution products listed on the show's website.

'These statement have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease,' the disclaimer reads.

The show was selling a bundle of Silver Solution products for more than $125. To use, consumers were instructed to 'apply generously to skin as needed to help promote natural healing.'

The gel is said to help boost immune systems.

Earlier in the month, AG Letitia James released a statement that highlighted available sources while also noting potential consumer scams related to the disease.

AG Letitia James released a statement that highlighted potential consumer scams related to the disease

'As we experience more cases of coronavirus, it is imperative that New Yorkers remain calm, but stay vigilant,' she said in the statement.

'In addition to being mindful about our health, we must also beware of unscrupulous actors who attempt to take advantage of this fear and anxiety to scam or deceive consumers. I encourage anyone who believes they are the victim of a scam or predatory action to contact my office and file a complaint.'

Jim and Tammy Faye used to co-host PTL, which stood for 'Praise the Lord,' but people later came to associate with 'Pass the Loot' as the two were notorious for a lavish lifestyle that included air conditioners for their dogs.

During the height of their popularity, Jim and Tammy Faye ran a Christian theme park that spanned 2300 acres in Fort Mill, South Carolina, which is also where they taped their show.

The two parted ways in a divorce in 1992, after it was revealed in 1987 that Jim paid money to cover up a 15-minute affair with a church secretary by the name of Jessica Hahn.

Jim later served close to five years in federal prison for fraud related to PTL.

Now, Jim and his current wife, Lori, tape The Jim Bakker Show from another Christian compound, deep in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri.
China has employed the digital technology used in manufacturing J-10 fighter and J-20 stealth fighter to develop fully automatic mask production machines. The 24 machines planned to be built will have an estimated daily production capacity of 3 million masks.

The disposable surgical masks produced by the machines are of high quality and extremely effective in terms of protection.

The masks are composed of three layers of cloth. The outermost layer is made of non-woven cloth which inhibits bacteria, and the middle layer is made of melt-blown cloth, mainly used to isolate the virus.

The mask production machines operate automatically and can run continuously for 24 hours, with each machine capable of producing 100 masks per minute. One workers can supervise several machines at one time.

Compared with traditional mask machines, automatic machines have the advantages of being highly efficient and much more stable.

Currently, there are plans to produce 24 automatic mask machines, and four of them have been completed and delivered to mask production factories.

In order to ease the acute shortage of manpower in traditional mask factories, the design and development team from AVIC Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI), made up of over 600 people, worked 24 hours a day and completed the drawing design of the mask production machines in three days.

"Digital design and production technology helped save time in the development of aircraft such as the J-10 and J-20, because it can be used for simulation before physical manufacturing, reducing unnecessary errors in the manufacturing process," said Li Zhiqiang, AVIC Chief Expert at MTI.

People in the aviation industry are proud to be able to provide protective equipment to support medical workers and people throughout the country after the epidemic outbreak, Li added.
A paramedic from Hertfordshire has tested positive for coronavirus as the UK outbreak continues to grow.

Announcing the news, an NHS spokesperson said: The Chief Medical Officer today confirmed a further case of Covid-19 who is a resident of Hertfordshire and a paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).

There are well-established procedures that are being followed in a case such as this and the NHS and Public Health England are taking all necessary steps to manage the situation.

They did not confirm whether the patient was undergoing specialist treatment or whether contact tracing has begun.

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 comes after the total number of declared cases in the country rose to 460, with eight deaths confirmed so far.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak to be a pandemic on Wednesday, as it ramped up pressure on all countries across the world "to take urgent and aggressive action".

Later today it is expected that Boris Johnson will announce that the UK is moving into the next phase of the government's virus "battle plan."

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra meeting at lunchtime, where ministers are expected to agree to begin the delay stage of the process.

Moving to delay would mean social distancing measures could be brought in, such as restricting public gatherings and issuing more widespread advice to stay at home.

It comes as British medical chiefs informed doctors that they may need to work outside their usual area of expertise for the benefit of patients and the population as a whole in the peak of an epidemic.

A letter, sent by the UK's chief medical officers and officials from the General Medical Council and NHS England, said part of a professional response is a rational approach to varying practice in an emergency, and GP practices, hospitals, trusts and health boards should ensure clinicians are supported to do this.

They must bear in mind that clinicians may need to depart, possibly significantly, from established procedure in order to care for patients in the highly challenging but time-bound circumstances of the peak of an epidemic, it added.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been working with health officials to help structure the government's response / REUTERS

Meanwhile, data published on Thursday suggests the NHS 111 system is coming under increasing pressure.

In February, there were 1.6 million calls to the helpline in England  an average of 56,000 a day. This is up from 1.4 million calls in February 2019, which was an average of 50,000 a day.

Only 70 per cent of calls were answered within 60 seconds  the lowest for any calendar month on record, and down from 74 per cent in Feb 2019.
Today, through a military procedure, residents of Pokr Vedi village buried 36-year-old contractual serviceman Zohrab Sianosyan, who was killed from a gunshot fired by Azerbaijan on the border with Nakhchivan.

Head of Pokr Vedi village Norik Martirosyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that army generals and colonels were also attending the funeral.

Zohrab had two daughters aged 2 and 4. He was the eldest son, and his younger brother is working abroad. A couple of days ago, the brother was also drafted as a contractual serviceman.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense had reported that on March 10 at around 3:30 p.m. contractual serviceman, Private Zohrab SIanosyan received a lethal firearm injury in the chest area after Azerbaijan fired a gunshot in the direction of the military post in the maintenance area of N military unit of the Defense Army stationed in the southwestern direction, as reported the news service of the Ministry of Defense.

Investigation is underway to establish the circumstances behind the incident.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan has extended for two more weeks border closure with its southern neighbour Iran where over 10,000 people have been infected with coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers announced the border closure extension on March 12, saying that it was aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the country and by taking into account the World Health Organizations description of coronavirus as a global pandemic.

In the meantime, Azerbaijan has suspended for 45 days visa processing through "ASAN Visa", according to information posted on the official website of the Cabinet of Ministers on March 12.

Thus, foreign nationals wishing to visit Azerbaijan are requested to apply for a visa by the relevant Azerbaijani embassies and consulates that will operate in a special mode.

Citizens of countries with a high number of of COVID-19 cases will need a medical certificate to pass the COVID-19 test when applying for a visa. These terms will also apply to other foreign nationals who have been in those countries in the past 14 days.

Citizens of foreign countries visiting Azerbaijan can be required to be located in quarantine for 14 days, taking into account individual medical conditions, or required to observe a 14-day individual quarantine at home.

From now on, Azerbaijanis returning from China, South Korea, Iran, Japan, Italy, Spain, France, Germany will be placed in a 14-day quarantine regime if required, or in a 21-day quarantine.

All citizens are required to follow the quarantine regime in the territory of Azerbaijan in connection with the COVID 19 virus.

Moreover, Azerbaijani citizens returning from China, South Korea, Iran, Japan, the European Union, especially Italy, Spain, France, Germany and other countries are asked to be registered in the relevant Azerbaijani embassies and consulates to follow the quarantine rules of the countries where they are.

The Cabinet of Ministers strongly encouraged the citizens to refrain from travelling to foreign countries for the next two months unless there is a special necessity .

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A mum has been left terrified after a snake slithered out of a bag of Woolworths' potatoes when she opened it in her kitchen.

Marissa Davidson bought the Woolworth brand 4kg pack from the Park Beach Plaza store in Coffs Harbour, on NSW's mid coast, last Friday afternoon.

She had taken two potatoes out of the bag but returned to grab a third when the reptile suddenly slithered out.

Marissa Davidson found a snake in a bag of potatoes that she purchased at Woolworths on Friday

The serpent immediately began heading towards her son, Chase, five, who has a congenital heart defect that has required three open heart surgeries.

The mother immediately launched into action and grabbed a laundry basket to detain it.

'The closet thing I had to me was a laundry basket, it was attacking the laundry basket, viciously attacking it,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'He has got hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which is half a heart, it would of been life threatening for him.'

Ms Davidson said she ended up killing the snake to ensure her son's safety, but the incident has left them both shaken.

'I grabbed my son then ran and got my vacuum pole and smashed it's head off,' she said.

'It was terrifying, I still can't sleep,' she said.

Ms Davidson said the incident has left her and son Chase (pictured together) petrified and unable to sleep

Ms Davidson sent photos of the snake to the supermarket giant then froze it in case they would need to identify its species.

The mother-of-one said she was appalled Woolworths had not offered a refund for the purchase and she has not heard back from them since receiving an initial email when she lodged her complaint almost a week ago.

Snake catcher Stuart McKenzie from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 said the snake looked like a marsh snake, which are mildly venomous and found near waterways along Australia's east coast.

A Woolworths spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the company's quality team was investigating the incident.




The FCT Police Command on Thursday said it arrested 98 suspects over various criminal offences.

The command also said it recovered 15 AK47 rifles in the past two months.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the command, Bala Ciroma, stated this at a media briefing in Abuja.

He said 21 locally made pistols; two pump action, 379 ammunition, 17 cars and one tricycle were recovered.

Others are 26 bags of dried leaves suspected to be Marijuana and 79 mobile phones.

Mr Ciroma said other items recovered from the suspects are four pairs of military camouflage, three packs of dizapam, 18 bottles of codeine syrup, four packs of extol, cutlasses, knives and others.

He said the command had made concerted efforts to fulfil its commitment to fight crime and ensure quality service delivery for FCT residents.

The CP said the command had not rested on its oars to ensure that crime was nipped in the bud with black spots for criminals identified and dislodged.

He pledged the commitment of the command to continue to review its policing strategy to meet up with the expectations of FCT residents.

It is, therefore, cardinal to call on community leaders, religious leaders, residents and other stakeholders to support the police in its effort to fight crime, make FCT safe and secured for all.

READ ALSO:

While appreciating the residents for their support, I want to entreat all not to relent in their efforts to support the police with information.

All communities in the FCT must rise to the occasion and unanimously gang up against criminals by exposing their activities to the police.

If we must enjoy a crime free society, members of the public must deliberately make their respective communities inaccessible to criminals, he said.

(NAN)
Corn Off Highs at Midday Barchart - 37 seconds ago Corn futures are trading fractionally to 1 3/4 cents in the black so far on Tuesday. Earlier turnaround attempts were faded as prices had been up by more than 5 cents. South Koreas KFA booked 130k... ZCH22 : 600-6 (+0.17%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.8772 (+0.17%) ZCK22 : 601-4 (unch) ZCZ21 : 588-6s (+0.77%) ZCPZ21US.CM : 5.7930 (-0.49%)

Wheat Markets in the Black for Midday Barchart - 37 seconds ago Tuesday wheat futures are trading stronger through midday. CBT prices are up 5 to 6 3/4 cents so far. KC wheat is gaining as much as 10 1/2 cents. MPLS spring wheat prices are recovering with double digit... ZWH22 : 768-4 (+0.85%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.2702 (+0.90%) KEH22 : 791-0 (+1.64%) KEPAWS.CM : 7.7222 (+1.67%) MWH22 : 930-4 (+1.78%)

Hog Market Mixed for Midday Barchart - 37 seconds ago So far for Tuesday lean hog futures are trading in both directions. The front months are down 10 to 55 cents through May, with summer contracts as much as 30 cents in the black. USDAs National Average... HEG22 : 77.850 (-0.67%) HEK22 : 89.775 (-0.61%) KMG22 : 90.125 (-0.41%)

Copper ETF $CPER Long Term Bullish Cycles ElliottWave-Forecast - 37 minutes ago Firstly the CPER Copper Index Tracking instrument has an inception date of 11/15/2011. There is data in the HG_F copper futures before this going back many years. That shows copper made an all time high... CPER : 26.99 (+1.43%)

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China has begun restricting access to Mount Everest in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Expedition organisers said that the Chinese authorities had cancelled hundreds of permits ahead of the spring climbing season on the world's highest peak.

This time last year saw a record 885 people summit Everest including 644 adventurers from Nepal and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet.

Expedition organisers said that the Chinese authorities had cancelled hundreds of permits ahead of the spring climbing season on the world's highest peak in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus (stock image)

Access from Nepal currently remains open but climbers have been asked to submit a 14-day travel history as well as their medical reports.

Lukas Furtenbach, from Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures, said that the Chinese authorities 'have informed us that the mountain will close from the north side'.

Mr Furtenbach added that he will now be forced to make alternative arrangements for his 11 clients who were booked to make the journey.

Another company, Alpenglow Expeditions, has cancelled its Everest plans altogether.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Adrian Ballinger said: 'I am in agreement with China's decision. It is responsible...

'Climbing a mountain is not currently worth the transmission risk in the Base Camps, nor upon returning home.'

This time last year saw a record 885 people summit Everest including 644 adventurers from Nepal and 241 from the northern flank in Tibet (stock image)

A Nepali team, specialised in fixing the climbing route, is currently on its way to the base camp to begin fixing ropes on Everest.

Everest attracts hundreds of mountaineers from all over the world each spring, when a window of good weather opens up between late April and the end of May, prompting a rush for the summit.

The China Tibet Mountaineering Association, which issues permits for Everest, declined to comment.
12.03.2020 LISTEN

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central Mrs. Victoria Adu has urged residents in the Municipality to clean their environment, wash their hands with soap, clean water and cover their mouth when sneezing amongst others.

This, she said would prevent them from getting contact with the coronavirus and emphasized that Ghana has so far not recorded any outbreak as it is being recorded by other countries such as China, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt and amongst others.

Mrs. Adu said an outbreak of the coronavirus in the aforementioned countries has killed many people and informed residents to be vigilant as there is an adage that prevention is better than cure to ensure Ghana records zero outbreak.

Mrs. Adu made this statement when she addressed parade of school children on the 63rd Independence Day Anniversary Celebration at Akim Oda Methodist School Park in the Eastern Region.

She indicated that come December 2020, Ghana would go to the polls to elect new leaders to lead the nation for the next four years and admonished all and sundry especially the younger generation to preach peace before, during and after the Presidential and Parliamentary general elections to ensure the Municipality and as well as the country continues to enjoy the atmosphere of peace.

She, however, urged the general public not to allow themselves to be divided by politics but informed them to come together as one people with one common destiny to fight for the developmental needs of the Municipality.

Mrs. Adu used the occasion to inform the general public especially persons above 15 years to take part of the Ghana Card Registration exercise to make them counted as Ghanaians as it is being conducted by the National Identification Authority.

Advising the students, Mrs. Adu charged them to be disciplined and take their studies seriously to enable them achieve their futuristic goals and aspirations.

Touching on the achievements of the government, she said the government under the leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has introduced a number of intervention programmes, policies among others in the various sectors of the Ghanas economy aimed to improve the living standards of the people. For instance, the planting for food and jobs programme, free SHS policy, restoration of teachers and nurses training allowances, the introduction of NABCO programme and amongst others.

The Junior High schools which performed well in the BECE and a student excelled well in WASSCE last year, 2019 were given awards. In all 35 schools including the Akim Oda, Community Health Nurses Training College participated in this years march past.


Half Year Report to December 2019

Perth, Mar 12, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - During the half year Horizon Minerals Ltd ( ASX:HRZ ) made progress on a number of fronts.Key developments were as follows:Mine DevelopmentAn 18,000m grade control infill drilling program was completed at Boorara during the Period enabling the compilation of an updated geological model for the first 50m of the resource. Mine optimisation, evaluation and design will then be completed with the aim of mining two to three starter pits in 2020 utilising contract mining and third party toll milling.Statutory approvals, discussions with contractors and third party milling operators are well advanced with operational readiness work on track for mine commencement in the June Quarter 2020 and first production in the September Quarter 2020.In addition, mine evaluation work continues at Binduli, Rose Hill and Teal as part of the Feasibility Study due for completion in the December Quarter 2020.ExplorationExploration activities continued during the period across the Company's 100% owned tenure in the Goldfields of Western Australia. The Company completed 5,800m of regional Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling at prospects including Binduli, Windanya, Black Flag and Baden Powell with encouraging results.For details on the drilling programs, we refer you to the announcements released on the ASX and on the Company's website (www.horizonminerals.com.au).Results from the drilling were compiled and a resource update announced for the Crake gold project during the period. Further resource updates are expected in the June Quarter 2020.Menzies Gold ProjectDuring the period, the Company divested its 100% interest in the Menzies and Goongarrie gold projects to Kingwest Resources Limited ( ASX:KWR ) ("Kingwest") for a total consideration of A$8 million. The Company received 20 million ordinary shares in Kingwest and $1.75 million in cash on completion. A further 10 million shares and $1.625 million in cash is payable by Kingwest 18 months following settlement.Nanadie Well Coppert - Gold Project Joint VentureAs announced to the ASX on 18 November 2019, Horizon received a notice of withdrawal from Minex (West) Pty Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of Mithril Resources ( ASX:MTH ) with the project now returned to Horizon on a 100% basis.The Company now intends to complete a detailed geological review of the project ahead of field reconnaissance work and an RC drilling program to test a number of walk up targets and to ensure the project tenure remains in good standing.Northern Star asset swapAs announced to the ASX on 12 September 2019, the Company reached agreement with Northern Star Resources Limited ("Northern Star") to an exchange of tenements in the WA goldfields for nil cash consideration. The transaction saw Horizon divest its 100% interest in the Anthill, Blister Dam, New Mexico, White Flag and Kanowna North tenements and acquire 100% interest in Northern Star's Rosehill, Brilliant North and Gunga West projects in Coolgardie and the Golden Ridge, Balagundi, Abattoir and Mt Monger projects in Kalgoorlie.To view the full report, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited

Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.
North Korean City Quarantines Suspected Coronavirus Patients, Makes Them Pay the Bill

2020-03-11 -- 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 government's 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 RFA's 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 they're 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 Korea's 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 aren't 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 it's 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 aren't many people on the streets these days. It's 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 Pyongyang's apparent unwillingness to acknowledge the virus' likely presence inside North Korea, state media Tuesday reported for the first time that the government's 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 it's telling the truth," Cho Han Bum of the Korea Institute of National Unification told RFA Tuesday.

"This is because it's 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 public's 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 RFA's Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.

Copyright  1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Prominent Iraqi Shia scholar, Hadi Al-Modarresi has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

This happened weeks after he claimed the deadly disease was undoubted an act of Allah against the Chinese for their treatment, mockery, and disrespect towards Muslims and Islam.

The 63-year-old cleric who is one of the most prominent Shia leaders in Iraq and comes from a long line of active scholars was quoted in parts, saying in February 2020;

It is obvious that the spread of this virus is an act of Allah. How do we know this? The spread of the coronavirus began in China, an ancient and vast country, the population of which makes up one-seventh of humanity. More than a billion people live in that country. The authorities in that country are tyrannical and they laid siege to more than a million Muslims and placed them under house arrest.

READ ALSO  South Africa Records Six New Cases Of Coronavirus

Watch Him Talk About Coronavirus Here:

Iraqi Islamic Scholar Hadi Al-Modarresi, Prior to Being Infected with Coronavirus: The Virus Is a Divine Punishment against the Chinese pic.twitter.com/7NiQki6qBy  MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) March 9, 2020

Hadi Al-Modarresi confirmed hes been diagnosed with coronavirus in a tweet which came with a photo of him wearing a surgical mask.

See His Post Here:
As it did in 2016, the Democratic party this year flirted with a socialist presidential candidate, but ultimately rejected him for a pragmatist. Bernie Sanderss quest for the nomination seems doomed. The party almost certainly will select Joe Biden.

The case for nominating Biden was three-fold. First, he was Barack Obamas vice president. This was probably important to black voters, and it was black voters who carried Biden to victory in South Carolina, thereby turning the race in his favor.

Second, Biden isnt a socialist. It may still be the case that a majority of Democratic voters arent quite down with socialism.

Third, Biden was viewed as more electable than Sanders. This, I think, is the main reason why Biden overtook Sanders. Polls have suggested that perceived ability to defeat President Trump is more important to Democratic voters than nominating someone with whom they consistently agree on the issues.

With this in mind, lets look ahead to 2024. If Biden is the president, the nominee will likely be Biden or his vice president.

But suppose Biden loses this year. In this scenario, which seems more likely than not, theres a good chance that the Dems will nominate a socialist in 2024.

Why? Mainly because non-socialist contenders will be far less able to pitch themselves as electable because of their moderation. In addition, unless Michelle Obama runs, its unlikely that there will be a non-socialist in the field with strong ties to Barack Obama.

Thus, of the three factors cited above as explanations for Bidens victory, only the second  a disinclination towards socialism  will militate against nominating a socialist in 2024 if Biden loses. Its unclear whether this factor, standing alone, would have been weighty enough to prevent Sanderss nomination this year.

The left may also be able, in 2024, to find a more attractive socialist than Bernie Sanders  someone who can present a similar message in a less threatening way. (By the same token, though, the leading non-socialist Democratic contender in 2024 might well be more appealing than Joe Biden.) I dont know the leftist landscape well enough to say who that candidate might be. I dont think it will be Elizabeth Warren or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Most likely, it will be someone who is below my radar now.

Taking all of this into consideration, I think its as likely as not that if Biden loses this year, the Democrats will nominate a socialist, or someone very close to being a socialist, in 2024. If Biden loses big, I think its more likely than not that the Dems will nominate such a candidate next time.

Its probably foolish of me to speculate about 2024. After all, it has been hard enough accurately to predict the 2020 Democratic race. Nonetheless, it seems clear that if Biden loses to Trump, the logic in favor of the Democrats nominating a socialist in 2024 will be considerably more forceful than it was this year.
SAN FRANCISCO  A hoax? Just the flu? A serious pandemic? The conflicting messages as the coronavirus spreads across the nation leave Americans wondering what and who to believe.

In Silicon Valley, a hot spot in the outbreak, one outspoken doctor boasts that his guidance comes with no spin and no political filter, despite efforts by some in his department to tone down his messages.

Nobody tells me what to say  nobody, said Dr. Scott Morrow, the chief health officer for San Mateo County, which includes the headquarters of Facebook and many other big technology companies.

Dr. Morrow has made a name for himself as the medical officer who dispenses pithy, unvarnished and personalized bulletins on the outbreak as it moves through his part of the country, a departure from the sterile health warnings issued by most other health officials.
The bloodbath on the stock markets saw Britain's blue-chip FTSE 100 index plummet 11 per cent or 639.04 points to 5,237.48.

The European Central Bank launched a packet of fiscal measures aimed at shielding the eurozone economy from the fallout of the coronavirus.

It loosened monetary policy further, with 120billion worth of bond purchases and more cheap loans for banks.

In the US, just as on Monday, the S&P 500 hit exchanges 7 per cent threshold drop earlier, halting trade during regular market hours for 15 minutes to ensure order in the marketplace.

Back in Britain, the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak is ongoing. WH Smith said it believes the outbreak could knock up to 130million off its revenues for the current financial year.

Elsewhere in retail, shopping centre firm Intu posted an annual loss of over 2billion and warned that it will struggle to stay afloat unless it gets more cash.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:07:52|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has commended Tanzania over its success in controlling drug trafficking, an official said on Thursday.

James Kaji, the Acting Commissioner General for the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA), said the UNODC report for 2019 showed that Tanzania has controlled drug trafficking, especially of heroin, by 90 percent.

"The achievement made by Tanzania in controlling drug trafficking is a result of three consecutive years (2018-2020) of concerted efforts in fighting the illicit trade," Kaji told a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

The UNODC, through the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), said Tanzania was among a handful African countries that has succeeded in fighting drug trafficking and drug abuse, said the official.

Kaji added that the achievements were made following the enactment of the drug control and enforcement legislation in 2015 and its amendments in 2017.

"Despite its porous borders, Tanzania has been able to control and monitor its borders in collaboration with international security agencies by conducting special operations that have hugely helped to control the illicit trade," said Kaji.

Following the achievements made by Tanzania in controlling drug trafficking, Kaji said a number of countries, including Uganda, Mozambique, Nigeria and Ghana have requested to learn from the country on how it managed to control the illicit business.
Boris Johnson

Frank Augstei n- WPA Pool/Getty Images

Brits with even the mildest coronavirus symptoms should stay at home for at least seven days, Boris Johnson has said.

Johnson warned the country that COVID-19 was "the worst public health crisis for a generation."

"Many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time," he said.

The UK's chief scientific advisor said the true number of confirmed cases could be as many as 10,000.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told British people with even mild symptoms of coronavirus to stay at home for at least seven days, warning that the virus "is the worst public health crisis for a generation."

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Johnson confirmed that Britain had moved into the "delay" phase of its plan for combating the COVID-19 virus, with the number of confirmed cases growing on a daily basis.

"It's clear that coronavirus continues, and will continue, to spread across the world and our country over the next few months. We've done what can be done to contain this disease and this has brought us valuable time," Johnson said.

"But it's now a global pandemic and the number of cases will rise sharply.

"This is the worst public health crisis for a generation. Some people compare it to seasonal flu. Alas that is not right.

"Owing to the lack of immunity, this disease is more dangerous and it's going to go further.

"Many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time."

Boris Johnson: Families will lose loved ones

Johnson said that in the next few weeks the UK government could take more radical steps, including banning big public events like sporting fixtures and telling the entire families of people with coronavirus symptoms to stay at home.

Story continues

However, the UK government does not plan to close schools, as it does not believe it would be effective in fighting the virus.

"There is no escaping the reality that these measures will cause severe disruption across our country for many months," the prime minister at a press conference in Downing Street.

UK Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance said that while the number of confirmed cases in the UK was 590 as of Thursday afternoon, the true number of cases was probably somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000.

Vallance said that the UK was "four weeks or so behind" European countries like Italy in terms of the trajectory of the virus, and said that their aim was to delay its peak until spring or early summer when the NHS will be better-equipped to deal with it.

However, he warned that the peak of the virus could be 10 to 14 weeks away in June.

Read the original article on Business Insider
T omorrow Im holding a public discussion at LSE about how society is failing victims of rape.

In England and Wales, rape prosecutions have plummeted to their lowest level since 2008, despite record numbers of allegations to police. Since 2010, the time victims are forced to wait from reporting the crime to a charging decision has increased by 140 per cent.

And there is a widespread practice of rape complainants being required to hand over phones to the police for the consideration of their case. Campaigners have called this digital strip-searching as it can make a complainant feel like theyre in the dock. On the panel at LSE will be QC Lewis Power, who is representing the British woman prosecuted for lying about gang rape in Cyprus; Dr Yassin Brunger, an expert in sexual and gender-based violence; journalist Sirin Kale; Sarah Green, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition; and Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Womens Justice. We must examine how a world-envied system is failing so badly.

Shami Chakrabarti, Shadow attorney general and human rights campaigner

Editor's reply

Dear Shami

The decline in rape prosecutions is clearly a concern, with the most recent statistics from the Crown Prosecution Service showing a 26.9 per cent year-on-year fall.

That suggests that more perpetrators are escaping justice and that theres an urgent need for prosecutors and police to redouble their efforts to ensure viable cases are brought to court. There are no easy answers, however, when many cases rely on one persons word against another. Reducing defence access to phones  already limited by disclosure rules  isnt the solution, as this would create an equally damaging risk of wrongful convictions.

What will help is better support for complainants and better education about consent. I hope useful ideas emerge from your event and look forward to hearing the outcome.

Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor

An education in future-proofing

In the face of uncertainty, and with a heightened risk of economic downturn, we need to focus on improving productivity and building business resilience.

This is a great challenge, and to thrive we need to invest in both digital transformation and our talent pool. However, our recent survey of UK workers revealed that 37 per cent of them dont currently feel that they need to learn new skills, despite a growing demand for digital and soft skills in the job market.

Lifelong learning, upskilling and continuous professional development need to play a bigger part in the Governments agenda.

Andrew Harding, Chief executive, management accounting, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Stockpiling is hitting foodbanks

Empty supermarket shelves in Berlin / PA

Long-life essentials such as pasta and tinned soup have been flying off the shelves in recent days, as a minority of Britons succumb to panic over coronavirus.

Meanwhile, some foodbanks are reporting a shortfall in these products as people buy up supplies and fewer take the time to donate.

Perhaps next time we go to the supermarket we can all think about those in need and make a timely contribution to the donation box?

David Smith

Trust the experts please, Rory

It is highly irresponsible of Rory Stewart to sow distrust in expert medical advice on coronavirus. To give his own advice based on instinct rather than the latest scientific evidence grounded in constantly updated mathematical modelling is both arrogant and potentially dangerous. It will also cause distress to already-worried parents. This is not a political game.

Rory Stewart / PA
What is a credit card skimmer?

In the security industry, a skimmer has traditionally referred to any hardware device designed to steal information stored on payment cards when consumers perform transactions at ATMs, gas pumps and other payment terminals. More recently, the use of the term has been extended to include malicious software or code that achieves the same goal on e-commerce websites by targeting payment card data inputted during online purchases.

Whether hardware- or software-based, skimmers are tools that enable fraud. The data they capture is used to either clone physical payment cards or to perform fraudulent card-not-present transactions online.

How card skimming devices work

Physical skimmers are designed to fit specific models of ATMs, self-checkout machines or other payment terminals in a way that is hard to detect by users. Because of this, they come in different shapes and sizes and have several components.

There is always a card-reading component that consists of a small integrated circuit powered by batteries. It is usually contained in a plastic or metal casing that mimics and fits over the real card reader of the targeted ATM or other device. This component allows criminals to get a copy of the information encoded on a card's magnetic strip without blocking the real transaction the user is trying to perform.

A second component is usually a small camera attached to the ATM or a fake PIN pad that covers the real one. The purpose of this component is to steal the user's PIN, which, along with the data stolen from the magnetic strip can enable criminals to clone the card and perform unauthorized transactions in countries where swipe-based transactions are still widely used.

However, as many countries around the world have moved to chip-enabled cards, criminals have adapted, too, and there are now more sophisticated skimmer variations. Some skimming devices are slim enough to insert into the card reading slot  this is known as deep insert. Devices called shimmers are inserted into the card reading slot and are designed to read data from the chips of chip-enabled cards, though this is effective only against incorrect implementations of the Europy, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) standard.

Skimmers can also be installed completely inside ATMs, typically by corrupt technicians or by drilling or cutting holes into the ATM cover and covering them with stickers that appear to be part of the intended design. A Visa report shows pictures of several types of physical skimmers found on ATMs around the world as well as modified standalone point-of-sale (POS) terminals sold on the underground market that can be used to steal card data.

How to avoid credit card skimmers

Because of the large variety of skimming devices, there isn't any single way that consumers can avoid becoming a victim. Recommendations include:

Avoid using ATMs that are installed outside buildings or are located in poorly lit areas. When deploying skimmers, criminals target ATMs that don't see a lot of foot traffic, are not inside banks or stores, and are not covered by many security cameras. They also tend to install skimmers during weekends, when they're less likely to be seen, so try to avoid withdrawing cash from ATMs during weekends if possible.

When deploying skimmers, criminals target ATMs that don't see a lot of foot traffic, are not inside banks or stores, and are not covered by many security cameras. They also tend to install skimmers during weekends, when they're less likely to be seen, so try to avoid withdrawing cash from ATMs during weekends if possible. Wiggle or tug on the card reader and the PIN pad to see if they come off or move before inserting your card. Criminals typically use low-grade glue to attach skimmers because they need to return and recover them. This video shows a cybersecurity professional discovering a skimmer attached to an ATM on a street in Vienna.

Criminals typically use low-grade glue to attach skimmers because they need to return and recover them. This video shows a cybersecurity professional discovering a skimmer attached to an ATM on a street in Vienna. Look for signs of tampering such as unusual holes, pieces of plastic or metal that look out of place, components of a color that doesn't match the rest of the ATM, stickers that aren't aligned properly. If there are visible seals on the machine for the service locks, check if they seem broken.

If there are visible seals on the machine for the service locks, check if they seem broken. Cover the PIN pad with one of your hands while entering your PIN to prevent any rogue camera from recording it. This won't help in cases where there's a rogue PIN pad, but it's good practice.

This won't help in cases where there's a rogue PIN pad, but it's good practice. If your card has a chip, always use the chip-enabled card reader of POS terminals instead of swiping the card.

Monitor your card statements for unauthorized transactions. If your bank offers app-based or SMS-based notifications for every transaction, turn the feature on.

If your bank offers app-based or SMS-based notifications for every transaction, turn the feature on. If your bank allows it, put a limit on how much cash can be withdrawn in a single transaction or over a period of 24 hours.

Use a debit card attached to an account where you keep a limited amount of money and can refill it easily when you need more, instead of using a card attached to your primary account that has most or all of your funds.

Software skimmers

Software-based skimmers target the software component of payment systems and platforms, whether that's the operating system of POS terminals or the checkout page of an e-commerce website. Any software that handles unencrypted payment card details can be targeted by data skimming malware.

POS malware, also known as RAM scraping malware, has been used to perpetrate some of the largest credit card data thefts in history, including the 2013 and 2014 breaches at Target and Home Depot that resulted in tens of millions of cards being compromised.

POS terminals have specialized peripherals such as card readers attached to them, but otherwise are not very different from other computers. Many use Windows and run cash-register-type applications that record transactions.

Hackers gain access to such systems through stolen credentials or by exploiting vulnerabilities and deploy malware programs on them that scan their memory for patterns matching payment card information  hence the RAM scraping name. Card data, except for the PIN, is generally not encrypted when passed from the card reader to the application running locally, so it can be easily copied once identified in memory.

Web-based card skimmers

In recent years, POS vendors have started to implement and deploy point-to-point encryption (P2PE) to secure the connection between the card reader and the payment processor, so many criminals have shifted their attention to a different weak spot: the checkout process on e-commerce websites.

These new web-based skimming attacks involve hackers injecting malicious JavaScript into online shopping sites with the goal of capturing card information when users enter it into the checkout pages. Like with POS systems, this targets a step in the transaction chain where the data is not protected, before it gets sent to the payment processor through an encrypted channel or before it's encrypted and stored in the site's database.

Web skimming has affected hundreds of thousands of websites to date, including high-profile brands such as British Airways, Macy's, NewEgg and Ticketmaster.

How to protect yourself against software payment card skimmers

Consumers can't do much to directly prevent such compromises because they don't control the affected software, whether that's the software in POS terminals or code present on e-commerce websites. It's the responsibility of the merchants and their technology vendors to provide a safe shopping experience, but consumers can take some actions to reduce the risk their own cards will be exposed or to limit the impact if a compromise does happen:
For the Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital in West Texas, the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup means an emergency room filled with people seeking treatment for snakebites, cuts and bruises. This year, however, the 86-bed hospital has to contend with the possibility that someone among the more than 20,000 people who attend the annual event to catch rattlesnakes and enjoy the carnival could carry the coronavirus.

The coronavirus is testing hospitals and health care providers throughout the country and around the world, but it provides a particular challenge to small, rural hospitals such as Rolling Plains, which in the best of times struggle with staffing shortages, rising costs and tight budgets that leave little room for unexpected expenses.

A coronavirus outbreak could quickly drain these hospitals resources, pushing many into the red  or deeper into the red  and affecting care of other patients. Rolling Plains, for example, has staffing to handle only about 30 patients a day.

Wed be quickly overwhelmed if we had an influx of patients, said Donna Boatright, the hospital administrator.

Protective gear and planning treatment

Rural hospitals are preparing, even though the chances of an outbreak in their communities remain low. Boatright said she has regularly ordered supplies of protective gear such face masks, surgical gowns and face shields as her suppliers allow. Rolling Plains usual vendors have limited the amount that health care providers can purchase at one time because of high demand as the coronavirus spreads.

Rolling Plains hasnt yet had a problem with running out of supplies, but Boatright worries that if the pandemic worsens, supplies run low and prices surge, it will affect hospital operations well beyond coronavirus care, threatening both financial stability and patient care  for example, not being able to perform surgery because the hospital is out of surgical gowns.

Over the last decade, 26 rural hospitals have closed in Texas, and 46 percent of the states rural hospitals have reported operating at a loss, according to the Texas Organization for Rural and Community Hospitals.

Many of us just live on a very, very narrow margin of operation, and some of us with negative margins, Boatright said. One of the fears our small hospitals have is, how do we continue if we dont generate the small amount of revenue we try to generate?

On HoustonChronicle.com: Gov. Abbott asks insurance providers to waive costs for coronavirus testing and treatment

In Rankin, 55 miles south of Midland, the Rankin County Hospital has the same concerns. Its supplier did not entirely fill a recent order of masks and gowns despite its ordering before the panic, said Jim Horton, CEO of the Rankin County Hospital District.

Hortons staff has started to stretch the supplies on hand in case another order is only partially filled.

We are changing some of our habits to reduce the use of gowns as much as possible, he said.

At the hospital district, staff have built a plan for taking in any highly contagious patients. Paramedics responding to a call will wear protective gear such as masks and face shields, which they will also place on patients at their homes. A potential COVID-19 patient will be taken into the hospital through a side door and into an isolation room thats been negatively pressurized to prevent airborne pathogens from traveling through the hospitals ventilation system.

Severe cases would be taken to hospitals in larger cities, Horton said.

Payment methods

Rural hospitals say they would treat any coronavirus cases, regardless of if patients can pay. Under federal law, emergency rooms must treat everyone before asking for proof of insurance or proof that they can cover the costs.

About 17 percent of Texans are uninsured  the highest rate in the nation  and the rate of uninsured patients is as high as 25 percent in some rural counties, according to the Texas Medical Association.

Rural doctors are worried about absorbing the costs of uncompensated care. Hospitals may get some of those costs for treating people without insurance or money to pay. Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor, provides about 60 percent of the costs of charity care for hospitals.

Medicaid and many private insurers will cover coronavirus testing, state officials said. Rural hospital administrators are wondering who will pay for testing for people who dont have insurance. The Trump administration is considering using a national disaster program to pay the costs of hospital providers care of uninsured people who have COVID-19, the name for the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Doctors also worry that fear of getting infected by the virus is driving away patients who have chronic conditions  even if they have insurance and can afford to pay for care.

Theres a little bit of apprehension, said John Henderson, the president of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals, that if any hospital were to care for a coronavirus patient, there would be patients with more significant chronic medical conditions that would avoid needed care.

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But for hospital stays to treat a viral infection such as COVID-19, the costs get pricey. An inpatient stay is a little over $8,000 daily at the Rankin County Hospital District, for instance. Health care providers say they plan to treat first and ask questions about funding later.

Regarding coronavirus, we are confident that the state and federal government will find a way to reimburse most of our costs, Horton said. They see us all working together to solve this crisis, and I truly believe they will take care of us. Sort of like the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

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Janet Erskine with her son Richard, who died at the age of 27

The manager of a homeless charity has called for more investment in care facilities for the most marginalised people in Northern Ireland.

Deirdre Canavan's call to local politicians follows yesterday's shocking story of Richard Erskine, a Cambridge-educated schoolboy genius who died from alcohol poisoning at just 27-years-old after his life spiralled out of control.

Ms Canavan, senior services manager at Depaul - one of whose facilities housed Richard in his final days - revealed that the organisation has been struggling to attract and maintain staff since its funding was slashed by 5% in 2017.

She also called for a full roll-out of Depaul's 'Housing First' service so that a growing number of homeless people and rough sleepers with extremely complex needs can be addressed comprehensively - an objective supported by Richard's mother Janet, whose harrowing interview in the Belfast Telegraph has once again brought the situation into sharp focus.

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"The demand for our services is increasing all the time," Ms Canavan said.

"More people who present are in crisis and they need help now."

Depaul runs 20 facilities in the Irish Republic and nine in Northern Ireland, including Stella Maris in north Belfast which was established in 2005 as a first-of-its-kind wet hostel for long-term rough sleepers with entrenched alcohol addiction.

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Richard Erskine's lifeless body was found under a bridge not far from Stella Maris, where he'd been staying in the run-up to his untimely death on October 12, 2019 as a result of alcoholism.

That particular hostel offers specialist high-support accommodation for 23 residents, comprising long-term male and female street drinkers and people with a long history of addiction.

But it's a perennial financial struggle for facilities like this.

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"We operate the service on the principles of low threshold," Ms Canavan said.

"That means we have few restrictions in place so that makes it easier for people to be able to access that service and we work on the basis that we use a harm-reduction method of practice.

"It's about helping individuals move forward and reduce the harm they are doing to themselves through their entrenched addiction issue.

"It could be somebody who is drinking hard spirits; we try in a planned manner, in agreement with them, that they move on to less harmful alcohol types and then try and reduce the amount of times that they drink throughout the day, so we have very robust alcohol management support plans in place for each individual within the service."

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Ms Canavan said each service user at Stella Maris has a dedicated worker to help them with a range of issues.

"It's not just around the addiction; people have mental health issues, they have physical health needs, etc so it's about the holistic approach," she said.

"Since 2015 the demographics of that service user group has changed quite dramatically, with the majority of individuals now presenting with poly-substance addictions and severe mental health issues.

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"They are much, much younger - currently between the ages of 18 and 45, when it used to be 38-45 upwards - and that is putting staff under a lot of pressure."

That comes against a backdrop of cuts to the funding of its accommodation-based services in recent years, causing real difficulties in recruiting social care staff to meet the needs of people presenting to its services.

In 2018 in Northern Ireland, Depaul helped 522 children, representing an increase of 42%, and worked with 257 families, a hike of 19% on the previous year.

Eight babies were born into its services in 2018 and nine lives were saved through the administration of Naloxone, a life-saving antidote that reverses the effects of drug overdose.

The charity also provided 156 bed spaces each night.

"In our family services we've seen that leap because a lot of families are now facing poverty," said Ms Canavan.

"Welfare reform and the way benefits are now paid is having an impact on families because they could be waiting for weeks before they get any benefits through and they end up in debt which can put their tenancies at risk.

"Poverty is definitely an issue and a lot of our families are relying on food banks."

Although Richard Erskine tragically passed away five months ago today, as a result of his addiction to alcohol, Ms Canavan, who is responsible for all nine local Depaul facilities, said there are numerous success stories as well.

"We have many individuals who go on to live very fulfilled lives in their own tenancies," she said.

"This is a moment in time in someone's life. It could happen to anyone. Homelessness should not define the individual."

She said that "people want to be helped and they're willing to be helped" but she also acknowledged that "the outcome is not always as we hope", adding that "people do pass away".

"We lose people to health-related issues that may have originated from their long-entrenched addiction so I'm not saying there is a success story everywhere," she said.

"But we have had individuals who have come through our services and have become volunteers, or have gone on to become employees.

"We've had individuals who've gone on to university and are now working in prestigious jobs. Service users come back and say that if it hadn't been for our support they would have been dead."

When asked how someone with a lot of promise goes off track and ends up in a hostel like Stella Maris, Ms Canavan said it's "not always obvious".

"Very often when someone comes to our services they are already in crisis," she said.

"It could be a trauma that has occurred in their earlier years, it could be an underlying mental health issue that has gone undiagnosed and then other issues pile up on top of that.

"Family breakdown is one of the most common causes of people coming into homelessness."

Ms Canavan said there are a variety of reasons why younger people are accessing the services Depaul provides.

"Firstly, drugs are much easier to come by because they can be purchased on the street or online and that's an issue," she said.

"There has definitely been an increase in mental health issues.

"There's a relationship between poor mental health and addiction but there's also an increase in poor mental health separate from addiction.

"As a result of poor mental health, people sometimes turn to alcohol or drugs as a support and before they know it that's also an issue."

Ms Canavan also pointed to housing pressures in Northern Ireland.

"People are sharing more, they can't get onto the property ladder or they can't actually get into suitable, affordable, long-term housing," she said.

Depaul runs two family accommodation units in Belfast, Cloverhill and Mater Dei family services.

It's also behind Floating Support Services, Harm Reduction Floating Support Services and a Day Centre for street drinkers in the Foyle area in Londonderry.

It works with the most marginalised people in society providing low-threshold support, meaning those most in need have access to the care they need.

Depaul was also the first organisation to operate the Housing First model on the island of Ireland, starting in Belfast and spreading to Derry.

"Housing First aims to place homeless individuals into their own accommodation in the community and our workers case co-ordinate packages of support around those individuals to help them sustain their tenancy," the senior manager said.

"We are the only commissioned service to deliver Housing First in Northern Ireland. It's part of an international model and we're calling for further investment in it."

Ms Canavan said Housing First is a "unique" service "for a very small percentage of the overall homeless population" who have "very complex needs".

"We would help identify permanent housing solutions for that individual because communal settings, like supported accommodation, are not always the best place for some individuals with complex needs," she said.

"They find it difficult to live in hostel-type accommodation and want to be in a property of their own so we identify a property for that person and case co-ordinate support around it.

"We were pioneering in setting that particular model up in Northern Ireland in 2013. We piloted it using existing money to move people out of Stella Maris into their own accommodation in the community."

With success came additional funding and Depaul was able to roll it out as a permanent service.

"It's just in Belfast and Derry at the moment but we're calling for it to be placed in the Programme for Government as a priority for Northern Ireland like they do in Scotland," she said.

"We'd also be asking for a full roll-out of Housing First throughout Northern Ireland.

"Housing First is all about housing people first and then putting the supports in place.

"Traditional models of support have been that individuals have to abstain from their alcohol or drug addiction or they have to be abstinent in order to get services but we're saying that is not necessary for this particular model.

"It's about getting them into the property first and then putting a package of support around them.

"It's for the likes of people in Stella Maris and other people who are sleeping rough or homeless with very complex needs."

Ms Canavan said the majority of Depaul's funding comes through the Supporting People Fund that is administered by the Housing Executive from the Department of Communities. But it isn't enough.

"The statutory funding has been static for the last 10 to 11 years," she said.

"There has been no uplift in funding to our organisation or organisations like us in the voluntary sector.

"There was a 5% cut in funding in 2017 and that has had a significant impact for us as an organisation on the recruitment and retention of staff.

"We would be seeking a restoration of the 5% that was cut a couple of years ago and a commitment to increase the funding that comes into the sector.

"That's because it's important that we deliver the services to high standards and it's important that we improve the salaries for our workforce."
CHICAGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has arranged a $256 million refinancing for 141 W. Jackson, an iconic, 1.33-million-square-foot office tower situated at the doorsteps of Chicago's LaSalle Street Corridor that comprises the 44-story North Building and the 22-story South Building.

JLL worked on behalf of the borrower, a partnership between funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ("Oaktree") and GlenStar Properties, to secure debt financing through a domestic financial institution. Ownership has successfully instituted a spec suite program and plans to allocate a portion of the loan proceeds toward future leasing.

Known as the Chicago Board of Trade Building ("CBOT"), 141 W. Jackson is proximate to West Loop South, the new epicenter of a live-work-play district offering restaurants, bars, shopping, hotels and residential and office space. Boasting a Transit Score of 100 and a Walk Score of 99, the property is near numerous CTA line stops with connectivity to O'Hare International Airport, the surrounding Chicago suburbs and the area's major freeways (Interstates 290, 90 and 94).

Ownership has institutionally maintained and updated 141 W. Jackson by offering robust on-site amenities and technology, including a 24/7 fitness center, video conference center, rooftop deck and game room, Ceres Cafe Bar and Patio, Cellars Market and a tenant lobby with concierge services. The property is LEED Silver certified and designated a BOMA 360 Performance Building. It has a Platinum Wired Certification, and TOBY named it the 2019 Outstanding Building of the Year for Historical Buildings. With a wide range of suite sizes, 141 W. Jackson is home to a diverse tenant roster consisting of companies in the technology, financial services, retail/banking, healthcare, legal and real estate industries, among others.

JLL Managing Director Christopher Carroll and Director Lucas Borges represented the borrower.

"It's been an absolute privilege to work with the GlenStar and Oaktree team on this special property in Chicago," Carroll said. "While the remarkable history of this building is well known, the real story here is a next generation icon resulting from the transformative renovations ownership has made."

"Oaktree and GlenStar have done a tremendous job transforming this architectural masterpiece into a competitive, modern landmark," Borges added. "Positioned in the path of growth, CBOT is poised to capitalize on increased tenant demand as mega-developments redefine the surrounding area."

JLL Capital Markets is a full-service global provider of capital solutions for real estate investors and occupiers. The firm's in-depth local market and global investor knowledge delivers the best-in-class solutions for clients  whether investment advisory, debt placement, equity placement or a recapitalization. The firm has more than 3,700 Capital Markets specialists worldwide with offices in nearly 50 countries.

For more news, videos and research resources on JLL, please visit the firm's U.S. media center Web page: U.S. newsroom.

Deal secured by Holliday GP Corp. ("HFF") prior to being acquired by JLL on July 1, 2019. Co-brokerage services provided by Jones Lang LaSalle Americas (IL) LP.

About Oaktree

Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $125 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real assets and listed equities. The firm has over 950 employees and offices in 18 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree's website at oaktreecapital.com.

About GlenStar Properties

GlenStar Properties is a vertically integrated real estate firm that has acquired, developed and managed a portfolio of high-profile properties in excess of 10 million square feet and $2 billion in value. For more information, please visit glenstar.com.

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

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Contact: Kristen Murphy, JLL Senior Manager, Public Relations

Phone: +1 617 848 1572

Email: [email protected]

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Moody's Analytics, a global provider of financial intelligence, has won the RegTech Innovation Award at the 2020 FinTech Breakthrough Awards. We earned this award for our software-as-a-service (SaaS) regulatory technology solutions. Last year we won the award for Best Wealth Management Product.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005477/en/

Several offerings contributed to this year's win, starting with Banking Cloud, a suite of cloud-native SaaS solutions to help banks address regulatory requirements while removing the need for on-premises software deployment and maintenance. Launched in July 2019, Banking Cloud Credit Risk offers greater flexibility and faster turnaround times for credit risk calculations and regulatory reports. Clients also use it to evaluate potential impacts of future regulations, promoting better, faster decisions.

Also part of the Banking Cloud Suite is Reporting Studio, our regulatory reporting-as-a-service solution. Reporting Studio drives business efficiencies and helps institutions respond more quickly to changing regulations.

"We're pleased to win again in the FinTech Breakthrough Awards," said Pierre-Etienne Chabanel, Managing Director, Moody's Analytics. "More firms are seeking to use the cloud for their regulatory needs. This award reflects our success in helping them do that."

Click here for more on this recognition for Moody's Analytics, which adds to our growing list of awards and industry accolades.

About Moody's Analytics

Moody's Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moody's Analytics, visit our website or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Moody's Analytics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO). Moody's Corporation reported revenue of $4.8 billion in 2019, employs approximately 11,100 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 40 countries.

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Contacts:

JUSTIN BURSZTEIN

Moody's Analytics Communications

001.212.553.1163

justin.bursztein@moodys.com

Moody's Analytics Media Relations

moodysanalytics.com

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NEW HAVEN  The basic budget outline was already out there, but this was an opportunity to hear more of the details, although in depth explanations are reserved for upcoming individual department testimony.

Budget Director Michael Gormany took the sparse crowd and the Finance Committee through the reasons for changes in the proposed budget for the next year, explaining the major cost drivers, revenue totals and the tax increase impact on homeowners.

The audience, which had some residents and a large contingent of city officials, was scattered throughout the auditorium at Hillhouse High School in response to concerns over the novel coronavirus, or Covid-19.

Individuals were asked to put at least one seat between themselves and their neighbor as a precaution against spreading the disease, which has now been declared a worldwide pandemic. The rule wasnt consistently followed by either the alders or the residents.

Sanitizing wipes were set up near a microphone and instructions were given on hand washing.

Acting committee Chairman Alder Adam Marchand, D-25, controlled the mic for the alders who had questions, repeating their inquires so the audience could hear them, which kept it from being passed through many hands.

Mayor Justin Elicker has proposed a $569.1 million general fund budget for fiscal 2021, which is 2.2 percent greater than this year, or $12.5 million. It gives the Board of Education $191.7 million in general funds to $377.3 million for city government. With the addition of special revenue funds, the total is $594,522,776.

The tax rate will increase to 44.51 mills, from 42.98 mills, with 80 positions eliminated or reduced to $1 placeholder. There will not be any layoffs with staff supported by general funds dropping to 1,404 positions, the lowest in 15 years.

Gormany gave examples of the impact of the new proposed mill rate change for differently valued properties.

For a house valued at $200,000 and assessed at 70 percent, or $140,000, taxes this year are $6,017 and increase by $214 to $6,231 next year; a home assessed at $245,000 would pay $375 more in fiscal 2021; for a $350,000 assessed property, taxes will go up $536.

The budget chief explained the four major cost drivers as $600,000 more for city general liability insurance; $1.2 million more for pensions; debt service is going up $8.6 million; education budget went up $3.5 million.

The board adopted a two-year capital budget this year so there is no new capital borrowing in fiscal 2021.

The mayor proposes re-designating $900,000 for a full property revaluation, which will take place in July and August. The last one was done in 2011-12; information and technology digitization continues with continue with re designated funds; climate and sustainability infrastructure changes were also added to the capital budget.

Most departments were cut, but the Police Department went up $1.3 million; the Fire Department is flat funded on overtime; the mayor has proposed eliminating the ALS service and replacing it with an outside contracted group. Twelve fire paraprofessional positions are eliminated.

As already reported, the sworn police positions to be eliminated that are currently vacant, include: 3 lieutenant positions; 1 captain, 12 sergeants, 7 detectives and 4 officers. Another 14 have been reduced to $1 positions, which keeps them in the budget for potential funding at a later time, if that is possible. These include an assistant chief; 1 captain and 13 officers.

Gormany said medical expenditures will remain flat because as costs have been trending downward lately; registrar of voters staff will increase due to the presidential election.

Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Youth Services will be merged for what the city feels will be savings through efficiencies.

The mayor is proposing $50,000 for the Boys and Girls club; a $25,000 cut to Tweed New Haven Airport for a total of $300,000; elimination of $300,000 for Market New Haven; $50,000 is budgeted for the Canal Boathouse; cultural affairs will be placed in Economic Development.

In an overview of revenues, the Alliance Grant for the schools goes up by $2 million; Educational Cost Sharing will remain flat; building permits expected to increase to $19 million; New Haven Parking Authority pilot payment to increase from $2.6 million to $4 million.

For delinquent parking tickets, the city will hired a third-party vendor to collect them; an outside vendors will conduct personal property audits and also look for motor vehicles to add to the tax rolls.

New Haven continues to have the highest grand list exemption rate compared to other towns. New Havens exempted property value was estimated at $8.2 billion in 2018; Hartford had $4.2 billion with $2.9 billion in Stamford; $2.6 billion in Bridgeport and $1.5 billion in Danbury.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  A local official in Negros Oriental province is among the confirmed cases of coronavirus disease or COVID-19.

This was confirmed by Mayor Felipe Remollo of the provincial capital Dumaguete City.

He said the official is the 39th patient earlier confirmed by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH said Wednesday that the patient, a 64-year-old Filipino man "went to Greenhills" before testing positive for COVID-19 on March 11.

The country's first case of local transmission is a 62-year-old Filipino man who frequented a prayer hall at Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan City. The man's wife has also been infected. Authorities have since disinfected the prayer room and the shopping area.

The provincial health office said the patient went to Manila on February 28 to attend a convention, went to Greenhills, and took an early morning flght back home on March 7. He was earlier confined at the Allied Care Experts (ACE) Dumaguete Doctors, Inc. and was transferred to the Silliman University Medical Center.

The province is monitoring three people for possible coronavirus infection  a couple who traveled to Japan, and a Filipino worker from Hong Kong. They are under home quarantine.

Negros Oriental Governor Roel Ragay Degamo has urged the public to stay calm and practice proper hygiene.

The Philippines now has a total of 49 confirmed cases, including two deaths. Most of the patients are admitted in various hospitals in Metro Manila. ACE Dumaguete Doctors, Inc. and Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City each have one patient.

Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,600 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in December last year. Over 126,000 people have been infected according to the Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 global tracker.

The World Health Organization now considers COVID-19 a pandemic.

According to the WHO the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said eight in ten, 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 exhibit virus symptoms.

Dumaguete City-based stringer Roy August Bustillo contributed to this report.
An American art teacher has been quarantined in China since he arrived to the country six days ago and is giving DailyMailTV an inside look at his mandatory government isolation

Originally from Miami, Florida, Branden Paillant, 30, is an American living and working in China - the epicenter of the corona outbreak where over 3,000 people have died.

Paillant's life was relatively calm until he landed in Hangzhou, China, on March 6 from vacationing in Japan. Hangzhou is only a five hour train ride away from Wuhan, where the outbreak began.

When he arrived to China, he was asked to deplane before any other passenger and was detained for seven hours in the airport before being inspected by officials in hazmat suits and then taken to a hotel where he is to remain for 14 days.

Paillant opened up to DailyMailTV exclusively, giving an inside look at what quarantine looks like from the moment he was taken by Chinese officials at the airport until today, his sixth day in quarantine.

Branden Paillant, 30, is an American art teacher living and working in Hangzhou, China and has been quarantined in a hotel room since March 6

He is staying in this government-sponsored quarantine hotel for two weeks, is fed three meals a day and has to take his temperature at 9am and 3pm daily

Three meals are provided by the government daily, (pictured) but doesn't look so appetizing to Paillant so he generally orders all his meals to the hotel

Paillant was placed on an empty charter bus with a makeshift barrier between him and the driver before being placed in his government appointed hotel for a 14 day quarantine

Speaking positively of China's handling of the outbreak, Paillant said quarantine has been 'kind of nice.'

'It's not as horrifying or torturous as people might think that it is,' he said.

Paillant was assigned to stay in a government-sponsored quarantine hotel, the Atour Hotel, which is listed at $40 a night and looks clean and stylish.

Paillant has to report the results to doctors via WeChat and says he's 'approaching this as sort of like a retreat from the world and the hysteria'

He gave DailyMailTV video tour of his current accommodations in isolation, which he says are 'really comfortable'.

Paillant, who had been living in China since September, said he's ordered to check his temperature at 9am and 3pm daily and report the results to a doctor via WeChat.

Aside from the initial scare, Paillant is enjoying movies, ordering food, making phone calls home and is taking this time for personal development.

'I'm approaching this as sort of like a retreat from the world and the hysteria,' Paillant said of his mindset. 'I still watch the news, of course, but I'm in solitude, and it gives me a lot of time to reflect and to think.'

He says he's been using the time to journal and practice learning Japanese because 'all of a sudden I have time to do this for two weeks.'

He's also not locked in his room and is able to open the door to collect his food and take his trash out. But there is a camera outside his room, prompt up facing his door, ensuring that he's monitored at all times.

Paillant's coronavirus quarantine story began when he decided to travel during the Chinese New Year celebration, commonly known as the Spring Festival, which is one of the largest human migrations in the world.

It's common for Chinese citizens to travel outside the big cities, to visit family, or take vacations in the West.

This year the holiday happened to coincide almost exactly with the outbreak of the coronavirus.

After traveling to Japan and parts of Southeast Asia, Paillant was informed by the school he works for that returning to mainland China was not possible, so he stayed abroad for four more weeks awaiting travel developments.

Japan is one of four countries currently - along with Italy, Iran, and South Korea - that requires travelers to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a government appointed hotel.

Paillant was later informed by his school that he should return to Hangzhou but would need to do a 14-day quarantine.

On March 6, Paillant arrived in Hangzhou, the capital of China's Zhejiang province.

Chinese officials were waiting for Paillant in hazmat suits (pictured) when he arrived to the country on March 6

Officials gave Paillant some masks and a thermometer to check his own temperature twice a day. There are cameras outside his hotel room facing his door at the Atour Hotel

Paillant gave DailyMaliTV an exclusive inside look at what quarantine looks like, showing off his 'comfortable' hotel room bathroom

He posed for a photo in Nikko, Japan, while visiting the country on vacation. He wore a face mask throughout the trip

Paillant left China during the Chinese New Year, days before the outbreak became public, and due to his travels to Japan he was placed in quarantine upon arrival in China. He's pictured on vacation in Tokyo just before returning

The first sign of a problem occurred when he was escorted out of the plane, skipping the other 30 passengers waiting to deplane.

From there he was taken into a private room in the airport to begin inspection by airport personnel in hazmat suits and was held by the Chinese Immigration Inspection for seven hours.

He was put through a severe trial of questioning by Chinese officials before being transported to quarantine.

'Being detained in the airport lobby was by far the worst part of this whole experience,' Paillant said. 'It felt more like being in prison than it does here in the comfort of this hotel. The lobby was cold and really dirty actually, which was frustrating.'

Paillant was put into what he considered 'a full-blown background check.' The personnel asked him where he had been and what he was doing in China, among other questions.

They questioned him while filling out paperwork and taking his temperature.

'Airport personnel were just these like ominous figures,' Paillant said. 'It's not like they're wearing badges with their roles on them or anything. They were like, ''sorry you're not going to be able to stay in that other hotel.'''

After this process, he was escorted to the lobby of the airport and questioned again.

Palliant, who does not speak Chinese, had to call his employers to translate what the officials were telling him.

'They're just doing their best to make sure that I don't infect anyone, if I'm infected, and they're doing their best at making sure that no one infects me for two weeks.'

Pallaint snapped this photo of a messy check-in area for people entering Hangzhou who will be quarantined

He waited in the check-in area for seven hours at the airport and snapped this photo of the dirty surroundings

The check in area was 'cold and really dirty ', according to Paillant, who called the whole ordeal frustrating'

Unbeknown to Branden, he would be scheduled for transportation to a government cleared quarantine hotel.

He was transported on an empty charter bus with a makeshift barrier between him and the driver.

'I thought I was going to be free to leave the airport and call my taxi and be on my way. But, I was actually being escorted this whole time,' said Paillant. 'I was ready to call the taxi and leave. When I tried to do that someone stopped me; I wasn't allowed to leave the waiting area where everyone else was. Then I realized, okay, I can't leave.

'I was a bit disoriented and just, you know, tired from waiting in an airport lobby, cold, dirty airport lobby for seven hours. And I had a heavy bag on me.

'We'd gotten to the hotel and actually we didn't even walk through the lobby, they took me around the side, like the back entrance of the hotel.'

Despite a challenging and scary process, Paillant stayed calm and trusted the order of the Chinese officials.

'When they told me that I wasn't going to be able to stay in the hotel I planned on, I wasn't very happy about that. But I knew that there was not much I could do about it. If I want to stay here, I have to follow the rules.'
Classrooms will remain empty at the University of Houstons Sugar Land and Katy campuses following spring break next week after all in-person and online classes were canceled March 11 to 16, university officials announced Wednesday, March 11. Beginning Monday, March 23, all UH classes will be held remotely, either online or in alternative format, in response to the potential spread of COVID-19.

Related: Coronavirus prompts Rice University to cancel in-person classes for week

During that time, campus offices and research labs are scheduled to remain open at both campuses with increased custodial cleaning and the availability of hand sanitizer dispensers at all entrances, common areas and elevators. But, UH officials are asking students to stay at home and UH-sponsored events and gatherings of more than 50 people are discouraged until March 31. Last week, university officials announced all international travel was restricted through the end of March with students required to self-quarantine off-campus for 14 days after traveling to any country on the Center for Disease Controls travel warning list at level 2 or level 3 for COVID-19. During the quarantine, access to University campuses or activities is prohibited.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston told of rodeo tie to coronavirus case before K-pop concert

Countries currently classified as level two and three include China, South Korea, Iran, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstei, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City. Students are asked to submit an international travel registration form online for any international trips taken since Jan. 31. Currently, no confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been among the UH community, according to a university release posted online. For information about online reporting, visit www.uh.edu/covid-19/travel

knix@hcnonline.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 12:32:03|Editor: huaxia

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FUZHOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The death doll has risen to 29 in a hotel collapse in eastern China's Fujian Province, as rescuers found another victim on Thursday.

Rescuers found the dead body of the victim at 11:04 a.m. in the city of Quanzhou, according to the local rescue headquarters.

The Xinjia Hotel collapsed on Saturday night in Licheng District, trapping 71 people underneath. Of them, 27 were dead when rescuers found them, while two others died after medical efforts failed.

A preliminary investigation has shown serious problems exist in the construction, renovation and examination and approval of the hotel.

Those responsible for the accident have been taken into custody, said Hong Ziqiang, executive deputy mayor of Quanzhou.

Construction of the building began in 2013, with a floor area of around 7,000 square meters. It was converted into a hotel in 2018 with 66 rooms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions on the novel coronavirus outbreak and its possible impact on the supply lines in Israel, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's office. The Health Organisation has declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

"I also spoke with the Indian Prime Minister, my friend Narendra Modi. We also depend on supply lines and we are working with other countries. We are in contact with them all the time," Israeli Prime Minister said.

Netanyahu is in talks with Israel's crucial bilateral partners like India, the United States and the European Union to ensure a constant flow of supplies, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's office.

Netanyahu's remarks came during joint statements with the finance minister, the economy and industry minister, the Bank of Israel's governor and the finance ministry director-general on dealing with the economic implications of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister of Israel, while addressing his country, urged the people to change their greeting habits and maintain personal hygiene at all the times to better fight the deadly virus. Netanyahu had earlier asked Israelis to adopt Indian way of greeting by joining both hands for a 'Namaste'.

He said fighting coronavirus "demands a sacrifice of old habits" and keeping a vigilant eye over elders.

"I am asking you to do this in order to safeguard your father, your grandfather and your grandmother," Netanyahu added.

WHO has declared the novel coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. While several countries have clamped down on foreign arrivals.

India has also suspended all international visas until April 15. The government announced late on Wednesday, "All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas have been suspended until April 15".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OAKLAND (BCN)

The Oakland City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a resolution confirming former City Administrator Sabrina Landreth's declaration of a public health emergency on Monday because of the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The council's action extends the emergency for up to another 60 days so the city can exercise emergency powers to address the coronavirus, which is also known as COVID-19.

Assistant City Administrator Ed Reiskin said the action will help the city acquire supplies and equipment to prevent the spread of the disease and seek reimbursement for the extra costs it expects to incur.

"This resolution is as much about preventing and preparing for the virus than for recovering from it. The public should not have cause for panic but cause for reassurance," Reiskin said.

In a related matter concerning fears about the possible spreading of the virus at large public gatherings, many speakers at the meeting expressed concern about the large crowds of tenants, landlords, attorneys and court staff at eviction hearings at the Hayward Hall of Justice, where all such hearings in Alameda County are held.

Meghan Gordon, director and clinical supervisor of the housing practice at the East Bay Community Law Center, said crowds of 100 to 200 people often gather in close proximity in and outside the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Patrick McKinney, who holds the eviction hearings.

Gordon said the situation presents a public safety issue for all involved. But she said the problem exists because tenants and landlords need to appear in court to try to protect their rights.

Responding to the concerns that were expressed at the meeting, the City Council unanimously passed an emergency measure asking Alameda County Superior Court Presiding Judge Tara Desautels to delay all eviction hearings until April 7 for public safety reasons.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a letter to the City Council that in order to try to prevent the virus from spreading to homeless people, the city in partnership with Alameda County is nearly doubling the number of encampment sites, from 20 to 39, at which it will provide toilets, sanitizer and hand-washing stations.

Schaaf said the city also is providing additional hand sanitizers at the 20 encampments that already are serviced with toilets and hygiene.

In her letter, Schaaf wrote, "At present, we have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 among our unsheltered population. We are taking major preventive steps, outline above, to help ensure that this remains the case."

Schaaf said in the event of an infection or outbreak among the city's homeless population, the city will immediately work with the Alameda County Public Health Department "to follow protocols, up to an including revisions to our encampment closure process, provide appropriate access to quarantine and treatment."

Wednesday was Landreth's last day as city administrator and former Lafayette City Manager Steven Falk is now Oakland's acting city administrator.

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.
By AFP

BRUSSELS: The EU will on Thursday assess the travel ban on Europe imposed by US President Donald Trump, European Council President Charles Michel said, adding: "Economic disruption must be avoided."

The tweet by Michel, who coordinates action by the leaders of the EU's 27 member states, followed an overnight decision by Trump to suspend travel from Europe -- but not Britain which is no longer part of the bloc -- to the US for 30 days in a bid to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

"Following the travel ban President Trump announced, we will assess the situation today," Michel said.

"Europe is taking all necessary measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, limit the number of affected people and support research," he said.

Following the travel ban @realDonaldTrump announced, we will assess the situation today.



Economic disruption must be avoided. #Europe is taking all necessary measures to contain the spread of the #COVID19 virus, limit the number of affected people and support research.  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 12, 2020

Trump's order is to be implemented from late Friday.

The White House said it would apply to non-US citizens and residents and would not be applied to goods.

According to the last count from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on Wednesday, more than 17,000 cases of infection of the new virus have been recorded across Europe, more than half of them in Italy, and there have been 711 COVID-19 related deaths.
As the world struggles to contain the rapid spread of Coronavirus, more and more countries are realizing the magnitude of the crisis that is engulfing them. The pandemic that originated in China has since been reported in all continents except Antarctica. Since December more than fifty countries have reported cases of Covid-19 and the numbers are only growing.

REUTERS

Except for China, which has seen a decline in the number of cases for the first time since December, in other countries like Iran, Italy, South Korea, the US and many more have seen an increase in the number of reported cases and it is likely to go up in the coming days.

AFP

Italy on Wednesday dramatically ramped up the severity of its national lockdown to control the spread of the coronavirus, ordering a halt to nearly all commercial activity aside from supermarkets and pharmacies, while bringing the country to a near- total economic standstill. In Italy, there have been more than 12,000 confirmed cases and 827 deaths so far.

REUTERS

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warning that more than two-thirds of Germany's nearly 83 million people could be infected before the outbreak ends. Germany has about 1,300 confirmed infections and Merkel's comments fit a pattern of government officials using sobering warnings to convince people to protect themselves by washing their hands and not gathering in large numbers.

In the US, President Donald Trump said he will suspend all travel from Europe for the next 30 days, the most far-reaching measure yet in the administrations efforts to combat the spread of coronavirus. The restrictions, which will not apply to the UK, will go into effect Friday at midnight, he said Wednesday in an Oval Office address. Trump put a harsh accent on Europe's role in the spread of the virus, which emerged in China and has now traveled around much of the world, bringing sometimes fatal flu-like symptoms.

reuters

"The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots" as the United States, Trump said. In his speech, Trump called on elderly people to avoid non-essential travel within the United States. The White House later said Trump, 73, would cancel a trip to Nevada and Colorado on Thursday out of "caution."

In the UK, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus rose to 456 as of Wednesday, up from 373 a day earlier. Eight people in the United Kingdom with the virus have died.
Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800 aircraft with registration LN-DYE as seen with passengers boarding on the airplane for departure at Alesund Airport, Vigra AES ENAL in Mre og Romsdal county, Norway.

European airlines were sent reeling Thursday, after President Donald Trump abruptly announced unprecedented restrictions from Friday on travel to the U.S. from continental Europe.

The sweeping measures roiled Europe's airline stocks during afternoon deals, with the travel and leisure sector falling nearly 10%.

Norwegian Air Shuttle, which has rapidly increased its transatlantic service to the U.S. in recent years, led the losses, tumbling more than 20% on the news.

Tui, Air France-KLM, easyJet, Lufthansa and British Airways owner IAG were all at least 5% lower Thursday afternoon.

In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday, the U.S. president laid out plans to suspend travel to the U.S. from more than two dozen European countries for 30 days.

The travel order is set to take effect from 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday. The U.K. and Ireland were not included in the travel ban.
While Mr. Johnson said that Blue Star has not been cooperative, Karen A. Tramontano, a partner at the firm, said it has provided the committee with nearly 89 pages of relevant documents, responded to questions from several committees and will continue to cooperate with the committees investigation to the best of our ability.

Staff members for the committee have been working with Mr. Telizhenko for months, interviewing him and collecting documents to bolster two separate investigations into subjects that could help President Trump as he heads into a re-election campaign in which Mr. Biden has emerged as his leading Democratic challenger. The White House is closely monitoring Mr. Johnsons efforts on the investigations, according to a person familiar with the situation.

One of the investigations deals with the overlap between Hunter Bidens work for Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company widely accused of corruption, and his fathers diplomacy in Ukraine. The other relates to claims that Ukrainian officials tried to undermine Mr. Trump during his 2016 campaign.

Both subjects featured prominently in last years impeachment of Mr. Trump, who had urged the Ukrainians to investigate the matters.

Mr. Telizhenko has firsthand experience in both subjects. Before his work with Blue Star on behalf of Burisma, he worked for Ukraines top prosecutor and then in Ukraines Embassy in Washington, where, he claims, he was instructed by a superior to work with a Democratic operative to collect and disseminate damaging information about Mr. Trumps 2016 campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. Republicans seized on those claims to justify Mr. Trumps push for investigations and, at times, to answer concerns about Russias interference to help Mr. Trump in 2016.

American intelligence agencies have concerns about Mr. Telizhenkos role in spreading disinformation about Ukraines involvement in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the matter.

Intelligence agencies have contended for months that Russian intelligence has worked to amplify, spread and distort stories relating to the involvement of Ukrainian officials in trying to influence the outcome of the last presidential election, as part of a campaign to minimize or obscure Moscows own efforts.
(Alliance News) - Oriole Resources PLC on Thursday said its joint venture partner IAMGOLD Corp is to shortly begin a year three development programme.

In March 2018, Canada's IAMGOLD signed an option agreement in which it can earn a 70% stake in the Senala gold project in Senegal in return for spending USD8 million on the asset.

IAMGOLD has since then spent USD1.5 million, and must spend USD1 million in the third year of the agreement to keep it in "good standing", Oriole said.

Oriole recently secured a new licence at the project, securing the site for another ten years, meaning IAMGOLD is to press ahead with the next stage of work.

IAMGOLD has been exploring the Madina Bafe prospect in the south of Senala since signing the earn-in agreement. The 2019/2020 work programme was finished in November, with drilling taking place at the Saroudia prospect to the north of Madina Bafe.

IAMGOLD, Oriole said, was testing a possible extension to surface gold mineralisation already found, but no trends were found and so no further work is planned on Saroudia.

IAMGOLD is to now move northwards again to drill at the Fare prospect. Oriole said Fare is the "most advanced" site within Senala and it believes it could host its own standalone deposit.

Oriole shares were 8.9% lower on Thursday morning in London at 0.26 pence each.

By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A Delhi court on Thursday sought an action taken report from Mandoli jail authorities on a plea by Pawan Kumar Gupta, a death row convict in Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, seeking registration of an FIR against two cops for allegedly assaulting him in the prison last year.

Metropolitan Magistrate Prayank Nayak asked the jail authorities to file the ATR by April 8, the next date of hearing.

Gupta, through his counsel A P Singh, has sought a direction to the station house officer of Harsh Vihar Police Station to register an FIR against constable Anil Kumar and another unidentified police constable.

The complaint said that since Pawan is scheduled to be hanged on March 20, 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 said he was then treated at Guru Teg Bahadur government hospital in Shahdara for his alleged head injury and had received 14 stitches. He sought registration of the FIR against the two policemen under penal provisions relating to physical assault, it added.

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.)
(Newser)  President Trump on Thursday defended new rules barring travel from most of Europe to the US. "I don't want people dying," the president told reporters at the White House, per Politico. "I made a very tough decision last night." European officials were angry that Trump did not consult with them before his prime-time announcement, but Trump brushed off those concerns because he said he had to act fast. "I mean, when they raise taxes on us, they don't consult us, and I think that's probably one in the same," he said. As for the negative reaction by global markets, Trump asserted that stocks are "going to bounce back very big at the right time."

story continues below

In terms of the markets, he added: "Whether it affects the stock market or not, very important, but it's not important compared to life and death. And I think you will see the end result is very good because of it. But it'll take a period of time." Also:

Emergency declaration: The president suggested he is considering declaring a national emergency that would free up more money and aid, reports the Hill.

The president suggested he is considering declaring a national emergency that would free up more money and aid, reports the Hill. Restrictions in US: Trump also said the White House is considering travel restrictions to certain areas of the US if things worsen, reports NBC News. "Is it a possibility? Yes. If somebody gets a little bit out of control, if an area gets too hot."

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
The joint European and Russian mission to send a rover to Mars in a hunt for ancient signs of life won't leave until 2022 after due to delays in pre-flight tests.

The ExoMars mission was due to leave for the Red Planet on a Russian rocket in July or August this year - carrying the British built Rosalind Franklin rover.

All of the hardware for the mission is built but there is a long list of outstanding checks and tests still to do before it can launch.

With countries on lock down due to COVID-19 and large gathering discouraged, ESA and Roscosmos don't think they can have the tests done by summer 2020.

Scroll down for video

The ExoMars mission was due to leave for the Red Planet on a Russian rocket in July or August this year - carrying the British built Rosalind Franklin rover

Revealing the delay at a video press conference from Paris, ESA director general Jan Woerner said a number of tests still needed to be successfully conducted, but there would not be enough time before the launch window.

Given that the journey from Earth to Mars can only be attempted when the planets are in specific positions, the next launch date will not be until 2022.

'After carefully reviewing reports, we have together accepted the advice that launching this year would mean sacrificing essential remaining tests,' said Woerner.

'So we have therefore jointly decided and today confirmed this decision to move the ExoMars mission to a later launch opportunity, namely 2022.

'This is a very tough decision, but it is, I'm sure, the right one.'

Named after the British DNA pioneer Rosalind Franklin, the six-wheeled robot will search for life on Mars by drilling deep into the surface.

It is equipped with a 6.5ft drill to take samples from below the surface where they will have been protected from the harsh radiation environment.

Europe's first planetary rover was assembled at Airbus in Stevenage.

'We have made a difficult but well-weighed decision to postpone the launch to 2022.,' said Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin.

'It is driven primarily by the need to maximise the robustness of all ExoMars systems as well as force majeure circumstances related to exacerbation of the epidemiological situation in Europe which left our experts practically no possibility to proceed with travels to partner industries.

'I am confident that the steps that we and our European colleagues are taking to ensure mission success will be justified and will unquestionably bring solely positive results for the mission implementation.'

The European Space Agencys ExoMars rover being prepared to leave Airbus in Stevenage (Aaron Chown/PA)

The project, which started in 2005, has waited a long time for completion, facing a number of obstacles along the way.

The briefing was due to take place in Moscow but the coronavirus outbreak meant it was conducted via video, with Roscosmos director general Dmitry Rogozin unable to join because of technical difficulties.

ExoMars is a joint programme between ESA and Roscosmos, with the primary goal to determine if there has ever been life on Mars.

'We want to make ourselves 100% sure of a successful mission. We cannot allow ourselves any margin of error. More verification activities will ensure a safe trip and the best scientific results on Mars,' said Worner.

"I want to thank the teams in industry that have been working around the clock for nearly a year to complete assembly and environmental testing of the whole spacecraft,' he said.

'We are very much satisfied of the work that has gone into making a unique project a reality and we have a solid body of knowledge to complete the remaining work as quickly as possible.'
As an employer, you (hopefully) know that every time you hire a new employee, paperwork is involved. One of the most important forms your employees must complete is Form W-4. And in 2020, employers and employees alike were introduced to a new W-4 form.

So, have you been able to spot the differences between the old W-4 form and the 2020 version? No? Dont worry, we spotted them for you.

The 2020 Form W-4 Employees Withholding Certificate is an updated version of the previous Form W-4 Employees Withholding Allowance Certificate. The updated forms goal is to simplify the process of filling out Form W-4 and improve tax withholding accuracy.

Related: 75 Items You May Be Able to Deduct from Your Taxes

In case you didnt know all about Form W-4 already, heres a brief refresher. When employees start a new job, they must fill out Form W-4. Then, employers use Form W-4 to determine how much federal income tax to withhold from an employees gross wages.

The above process hasnt changed, but certain aspects of Form W-4 have. Check out everything you need to know about the updated 2020 W-4 form below.

The form had a makeover

Maybe you noticed. Maybe you didnt. But, the 2020 W-4 form had a little makeover. Why, you ask? Here are a few reasons why the IRS decided to switch things up on us employers:

To match changes to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

To make the form easier to understand and use

To help boost tax withholding accuracy

On older versions of Form W-4, employees would enter their personal information, claim allowances or exemptions, request additional withholding and sign the form. Now, the revamped form is broken up into five steps, including:

Entering personal information Adding information about multiple jobs and a working spouse Claiming dependents Adding other adjustments (optional) Signing

Along with the federal Form W-4 getting a new look and layout, states with state income taxes might be shaking things up for employers, too.

Story continues

Some states have their own state W-4 form. Other states use the federal W-4 form. Because of the changes with the federal form, states had to choose whether they would use the federal W-4 form and make necessary adjustments to their state tax system or create their own state W-4 form.

Related: When Starting a Business, Beware All the Taxes and Regulations

To stay compliant and ensure all of your ducks are in a row when it comes to the W-4 form updates, check with your state to see how they adapted to the changes.

Withholding allowances are absent

If youre looking at the 2020 version of Form W-4, you might notice something missing. Did you find it? Ah yes, the withholding allowances are gone! One major 2020 Form W-4 change is the disappearance of the withholding allowances.

For those of you who arent familiar with withholding allowances, allow me to quickly break them down for you. Before the W-4 form revision, employees could claim withholding allowances on Form W-4. The more allowances an employee claimed, the less employers would withhold in federal income tax.

Before, employees would claim a certain number of withholding allowances to determine federal income tax withholding. Now, instead of claiming allowances, employees can claim dependents or other deductions.

You may have different versions of the form

Now that there is a new version of Form W-4, you likely have some older versions of the form floating around your business.

So youre probably wondering, Do I have to scrap all of my employees old W-4 forms and start from scratch?!

Thankfully, no.

Yes, its true that not all employees have to fill out the 2020 W-4 form. Employees whose first paycheck is in 2020 must use the new version of Form W-4. Current employees whose first paycheck was before 2020 that dont need to make any changes on the form are not required to fill out a new W-4 form. Employees who do want to update their withholdings or W-4 form must use the 2020 version.

Related: These Are the Most Common Tax Filing Mistakes for Entrepreneurs -- and How You Can Avoid Them

More likely than not (unless you dont plan on doing any more hiring in the future), youll probably have a couple of different versions of Form W-4 in your records.

If you want to only have the current version of the form on file for each employee, you can ask employees hired before 2020 to fill out a new form. Keep in mind that employees first paid before 2020 arent required to submit a new form. And, you cant force employees to fill out a new form or insinuate that a new form is mandatory.

New tax withholding tables exist

In addition to the IRS switching things up with a new Form W-4, employers are also being gifted new tax withholding tables in 2020. Because the new W-4 form put the kibosh on withholding allowances, new tax withholding tables were born.

The new withholding tables go hand in hand with the new W-4 form. Like the new W-4 form, the new income tax withholding tables have also said goodbye to withholding allowances.

The updated income tax withholding tables have two tables that go along with the new W-4 form:

Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems Wage Bracket Method Tables for Manual Payroll Systems

If you have employees who filled out older versions of Form W-4, the IRS did not forget about you. There are withholding tables that support earlier versions of Form W-4 that include rates based on withholding allowances.

If youre a little lost when it comes to the new tax withholding tables, youre not alone. There are plenty of other employers in your shoes. To help clear up some confusion, the IRS provides a withholding worksheet, Publication 15-T.

Related: Cryptocurrency and Taxes: What You Need to Know

With so many W-4 changes to keep track of, it can be difficult to keep up. But no worries, employers. Like with anything in business, it takes time to learn new things.

If youre still lost, dont panic just yet. To recap the main changes we covered and clear up possible confusion, here is everything that you need to know about the new Form W-4:

There was a redesign

Withholding allowances are gone

Instead of allowances, employees can claim dependents or other deductions

Employees whose first paycheck is in 2020 need to use the new form

There are five steps on the revamped form

Employers cant force employees to submit a new W-4 form

There are new income tax withholding tables

States that previously used the federal form may either use the new Form W-4 or create a state W-4 form

If the above breakdown wasnt enough to calm your nerves about the new Form W-4, consider taking things into your own hands by doing a little homework. Take some time to research and absorb the new W-4 changes. Your business (and employees) will thank you for it later.

Related: W-9s and Four Other Business Tax Forms Entrepreneurs Need to Know About
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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
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Saudi Aramco logo is pictured at the oil facility in Abqaiq

By Shu Zhang, Chen Aizhu and Jane Chung

SINGAPORE/SEOUL (Reuters) - State-owned oil behemoth Saudi Aramco has rejected at least three Asian refiners' requests for additional bargain-priced crude for April, despite a recent pledge by the kingdom to boost supplies to a new record, four sources told Reuters.

The refiners - one Korean, one Taiwanese and one Chinese, had requested extra barrels of Saudi oil in a so-called nomination process for April - on top of their long-term supply deals - following the steep price cuts announced by Aramco at the weekend, but were turned down by the producer.

However, Saudi Arabia did approve incremental supplies for its top Indian and Chinese customers, including Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPLC), Reliance Industries Ltd, at least one Chinese state refiner, and privately held Zhejiang Rongsheng Holding Group, to fend off market share threats in the top Asian oil markets - India and China, other sources told Reuters.

"We have got all we asked for," one of the sources said of the nomination results.

Reliance, operator of the world's biggest refining complex, and BPCL have each bought 2 million barrels of extra Saudi oil for loading in April, Reuters reported earlier on Thursday.

BPCL is taking a mix of Arab light and Arab medium grades.

Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it would increase supplies to a record 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, or 300,000 bpd above its maximum production capacity, indicating it may draw from storage.

Saudi's increased supply was mainly for the lighter grades, while the increase in medium and heavy grades appeared to be limited, two of the sources said.

Some Saudi crude term contract holders believed the producer was playing a strategic game during its allocation of extra April crude barrels to beat competitors in targeted markets while taking care of its core clientele, some of the sources said.

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"Saudis are trying to fight against Russia and shale producers in U.S," said a trader with a North Asia refinery.

"India is a pretty big Russian barrel buyer for Urals. For the Koreans and Japanese they don't buy much Russian (crude) except ESPO, and they will buy U.S. (crude) anyway."

Some Asian buyer that had their requests rejected were not pleased while a few were still trying to negotiate for extra barrels.

"(Saudi) did not give any explanation. So annoying," said one of the sources, who was disappointed about its own nomination result.

Due to the hefty Saudi price cuts, many Asian buyers had asked to load more in April, while a contango market structure supports oil storage, creating competitions for the extra barrels.

Some buyers in Asia had asked for three times the usual amount of Saudi crude, said Lachlan Shaw, head of commodities research at National Australia Bank in Melbourne, noting that the discounts in official selling prices set last week were bigger for other areas outside Asia.

But at least three Asian refiners - one Chinese and two Japanese - did not seek more than their usual volume due to lingering concerns about limited storage space, weak demand and the downward price trend, three sources at the refineries said.

(Reporting By Shu Zhang and Aizhu Chen in SINGAPORE, Jane Chung in SEOUL; Additional Reporting by Nidhi Verma in NEW DEHLI, Yuka Obayashi and Aaron Sheldrick in TOKYO and Rania El Gamal in DUBAI; Editing by Kim Coghill, Robert Birsel)
V iolence has risen again at Londons troubled Pentonville prison and is going unpunished too often because of management failures, a watchdog warned today.

Peter Clarke, the chief inspector of prisons, said that attacks on staff had leapt by 30 per cent in the past year and that the overall number of assaults in the jail was up by 10 per cent.

He said the increases - and similar failure to reduce the risk of suicides - had occurred despite the prison being put on notice last year that it needed to make major improvements to safety and other aspects of the jails regime.

But Mr Clarke said the prison had failed to do this in almost every respect - except reducing the flow of drugs inside - and that he was so concerned that he had written to the Justice Secretary to express his dismay.

Mr Clarke added that the problems would not be solved simply by reducing inmate numbers or increased spending and that instead the solution lay in the gift of the jails management.

Warning of his serious concern at the lack of progress, Mr Clarke said that he was particularly disappointed to see that in many areas little or nothing had been done until shortly before his latest inspection.

He added: This failure to grip and manage key processes created a culture where violence and poor behaviour could all too easily go unpunished. Overall levels of violence had risen once again.

Mr Clarke said that there had also been three self-inflicted deaths in the nine months since inspectors had last visited the prison. He suggested that one contributory factor was that the implementation of recommendations from previous suicides could only be described as lacklustre.

Todays report describes Pentonville as one of the oldest and most famous prisons in the country with a transient population of more than 1,000 adult and young adult prisoners, ranging from those recently remanded to others serving significant sentences.

Todays report follows a critical assessment of the prison last year in which Mr Clarke seriously considered issuing an Urgent Notification requiring the government to publish an action plan for improvement within 28 days.

He decided not to do so then because he was optimistic that a new management team would deliver the necessary improvements.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 16:01:46|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- After securing an upper hand in its all-out confrontation with the novel coronavirus on home turf, China is warily repositioning itself to fight the economic fallouts of the outbreak already declared as a pandemic.

In stark contrast to the rapid spread elsewhere in the world, the virus spread has been basically contained in China, with new risks largely coming from imported cases. The National Health Commission said it received reports of 15 new confirmed cases on the mainland on Wednesday, among which six were imported cases.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, China has prioritized the health of people from home and abroad and taken stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus at the expense of short-term economic gains.

Flexibility and agility are what China has learned from its tough fight with the ferocious virus. Shortly before the World Health Organization declared the outbreak as a pandemic, China's State Council unveiled new measures to support foreign trade and investment in case the increasingly severe situations overseas might further weigh down global industrial chains.

The measures in the pipeline include a shorter negative list of foreign investment and more foreign trade loans from financial institutions.

DECISIVE COMMAND

During his Tuesday inspection of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that the epidemic will not undermine the fundamentals of China's steady and long-term sound economic development despite short-term economic repercussions.

In a speech at a teleconference on Feb. 23, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed the importance of coordinating the prevention and control of the epidemic and economic and social development.

While ensuring sufficient epidemic prevention and control, resumption of work and production in certain regions has a bearing on solid material supply to contain the epidemic, completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, China's opening up and global economic stability, among others, said Xi.

Xi demanded detailed steps to keep the economy stable, including category-based and region-specific work and production resumption, enhanced macro policy adjustment, doubled-down efforts on poverty alleviation and boosting employment, stepping up agriculture production, ensuring people's livelihood, as well as stabilizing foreign trade and investment.

POLICY TOOLKIT

As the world's second-largest economy, China has much leeway in sustaining steady economic growth. The ample maneuver room comes from the government's rich policy toolkit.

Xi has demanded the right pace and capacity of macro policies to cushion the epidemic's impact and prevent economic growth from slipping out of an appropriate range.

The epidemic has become one of the busiest occasions for China's government agencies, which are in full swing to keep an eye on the economy's well-being amid the epidemic fight and develop support steps.

Liquidity is boosted via open market operations and targeted credit ease. Tax, fee and social security payment cuts are offered to impacted firms. Daily necessity supplies are ensured through national reserve allocation. Logistics is facilitated via fast-track channels and free tolls. Food production is guaranteed by supporting spring farming.

Governments at all levels are responding swiftly to calls for help. Some local authorities arranged chartered buses, trains and flights to bring employees back to work to ease labor shortages.

After reports of some 300 million chickens starving over impeded feed supply in epidemic-stricken Hubei, the government prompted state-owned grain suppliers to send feed and later ordered local governments to refrain from blocking ways key to transport of livestock feed and products.

MARKET FORCES

Besides government aid, the country's businesses have been biting the bullet with grit and wit to survive and thrive. Companies and factories see the hard times as a chance to discover opportunities in the midst of a crisis.

Industrial giants are taking the lead in business adjustments, such as the rollout of non-contact delivery services and promotion of virtual reality salesrooms and online scenic spot tours. Many also lend a hand to prop up smaller players in their business ecosystem, including scraping rent and commission and offering microloans for vulnerable partners.

In one of the hardest-hit sectors, many restaurants take to food delivery to keep business going. Some even put their chefs on livestreaming platforms to pitch dishes or offer cooking tips.

The country's vibrant digital sector further adds to the economy's resilience by enabling millions of people to work, entertain and study from home via telecommuting and livestreaming.

As of the end of February, over 95 percent of companies in petrochemical, telecommunications, electricity and transport industries have resumed operation, while staff in over 80 percent of foreign-funded enterprises have returned to work.

As the rest of the global economy is increasingly gripped by fears of the outbreak, China's getting back to economic normality offers much-needed comfort.

UPHILL BATTLE

Xi said the COVID-19 epidemic will inevitably deal a relatively big blow to China's economic and social development, but its impact is temporary and generally manageable. He pointed out that at such a time it is even more important to view China's development in a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective and to strengthen and firm up confidence.

China's major economic growth targets for 2020 are yet to be announced as the annual session of the national legislature was postponed due to the epidemic, but Xi has reiterated that the country has confidence and capabilities to achieve the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and the eradication of poverty.

Noting that the country has been trying to manage a balancing act between containing the epidemic and reviving the economy, analysts and business insiders of many countries have expressed their cautious optimism that the Chinese economy will be left unscathed in the long run.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in February that she believes the Chinese economy "remains resilient" and will "return to normal in the second quarter" of 2020.

"We believe the coronavirus is a one-off negative shock, which should not alter the long-term growth trajectory of China's economy," UBS economists said in a research note in February. "As the virus outbreak is contained and economic activities normalize, we see pent-up demand being released and businesses recover."

However, experts said worldwide disruptions by the pandemic would pose new challenges to the Chinese economy.

The prevention focus should be shifted to the monitoring of inbound travelers to minimize the impact on business resumption, said Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.
[March 12, 2020] Sridhara Gutti Selected as 2020 Small Business Person of the Year for Alabama by U.S. Small Business Administration

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration has announced this year's Small Business Persons of the Year winners  over 50 outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs from across the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. Sridhara Gutti, owner of Essnova Solutions, Inc. has been selected as Alabama's Small Business Person of the Year for 2020. "Essnova is honored to be selected to represent Alabama's top Small Businesses for 2020. Essnova has achieved its success by virtue of its hard-working staff, implementing formal processes, and partnering with other small businesses and the government. In the upcoming year we look forward to increasing our business maturity by establishing Mentor-Protege relationships with larger organizations who are focused on driving this business segment to even greater successes. We thank the SBA District office, PTAC and Small Business Specialists for their continued help and guidance," said Mr. Gutti. Each year, the SBA celebrates National Small Business Week by recognizing the achievements of outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs across the United States. All NSBW winners have been invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C., May 3-4 where they will be honored for their achievements.



SBA will also co-host a free, two-day virtual conference featuring educational workshops and networking. Additionally, recognition and educational seminars throughout SBA's 10 Regions and 68 Districts will be held throughout the week. To get involved in the National Small Business Week activities and to see all the 2020 awardees, visit https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/nations-top-small-businesses-be-recognized. About Essnova:

Incorporated in 2005, ESSNOVA SOLUTIONS, Inc., is an ISO 9001:2015 certified growing Small Business offering a broad range of Technology and Program Management Support Services to government and commercial customers. Our management approach allows us to effectively manage staff spanning dozens of professional, technical, engineering, and scientific fields. We offer specialization in Scientific, Engineering, Technical, and Administrative Services, Geospatial/Environmental Services, and Healthcare. Our VAR reseller unit augments our services with products and licensing from hundreds of manufacturers. As an SBA 8(a), HUBZone certified, minority owned small business, Essnova continues to diversify its capabilities in serving governmental and commercial organizations while working diligently to ensure that it continues to be the best small business in our customers' vendor portfolio. About Mr. Gutti: Sridhara Gutti is an Emory University MBA graduate and is an internationally reputed strategist, visionary, thought leader. With over 20 years of experience designing and implementing complex systems, Mr. Gutti is passionate about supporting the federal government and local governments in their efforts to deliver services to the citizens. Mr. Gutti is active in the local community and is a graduate of the Leadership Birmingham Class of 2015. In 2014 he was a distinguished recipient of Birmingham's Top 40 Under 40 award. For more information, please contact Essnova Solutions at [email protected] or (888) 405-3189. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sridhara-gutti-selected-as-2020-small-business-person-of-the-year-for-alabama-by-us-small-business-administration-301021973.html SOURCE Essnova Solutions, Inc.

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So imagine if the word flowed down from on high that Fox News should communicate to Trump that he needs to take an entirely new tack on the virus. Imagine if Murdoch ordered the network to end its habit of praising him as if he were the Dear Leader of an authoritarian regime and to instead use its influence to drive home the seriousness of the moment.
Jyotiraditya Scindia ignored his ideology and decided to go with the RSS as he feared for his political future, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday, asserting that "his old friend" will neither get respect in the BJP, nor will he be satisfied.

Speaking candidly on Scindia's shock move to the BJP after being in the Congress for years, Gandhi recalled his long association with Scindia and said there is a difference between what is in his heart and what he is saying.

While some senior leaders like Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot have been scathing in their criticism of Scindia, Gandhi's response to his quitting the Congress was tempered.

"I know the ideology of Jyotiraditya Scindia ji, he was with me in college. I would keep talking to him, I know him well. Jyotiraditya Scindia feared for his political future and therefore kept his ideology in his pocket and went with the RSS," Gandhi said.

"But the reality is that neither will he get respect there, nor will the truth and emotion in his heart be satisfied. He will come to realise it," he said, adding that he has an old friendship with Scindia.

A day after quitting the Congress, Scindia joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (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.

On Scindia's move to the BJP, Gandhi said, "This is a clear cut fight of ideologies. On one side is the Congress party's ideology, on the other hand is the RSS-BJP ideology".

Scindia's crossing over to the BJP has left the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh tottering precariously.

Scindia, who was also named as its Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh by the BJP, on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "competence and complete dedication" to serving India. He had asserted that the country's future is fully secure in Modi's hands.

He had also vented his anguish over 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.

The Congress is no longer the party it was, he had told reporters at the BJP headquarters, adding that his heart was "anguished and pained" as his goal to serve people through the party was no longer possible.

Scindia had tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi saying it was now time for him to move on. Gandhi had immediately expelled him from the Congress for anti-party activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MADISON, FL -- The following is a Coronavirus statement from North Florida College:

North Florida College is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for our students and employees. We are closely monitoring the current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and following recommendations and guidelines from the Florida Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Gov. DeSantis. We have in place environmental, as well as health, safety, and security measures to protect our faculty, staff, and students in the event of local concerns.

Travel Guidelines

Following guidance from the Florida Department of Education, North Florida College is taking additional precautions and requesting that students and employees who have traveled to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan self-isolate and not come back to their campus or work location for 14 days after their return.

The Florida Department of Health has also advised that individuals who recently returned from a cruise, should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the United States. If you become symptomatic immediately self-isolate and contact your healthcare provider.

All individuals who traveled on a river cruise on the Nile River in Egypt in February 2020, should self-isolate for 14 days following their return to the United States.

Students & Employee Notices

NOTICE AS OF MARCH 10, 2020 NFC is temporarily suspending all college-sponsored student travel. NFC is temporarily suspending all college-sponsored out-of-district employee travel, unless such travel is critical to the operation of the College.

UPDATES FROM FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM MARCH 11, 2020

Floridas student population is at a low risk, but Florida is in a constant state of preparation to respond to COVID-19 and FDOE is available to assist as needed. Daily updates will be posted on the FDOH website and the FDOE website. Memorandum/Updates - March 11, 2020 Q&A March 11, 2020

Floridas student population is at a low risk, but Florida is in a constant state of preparation to respond to COVID-19 and FDOE is available to assist as needed. Daily updates will be posted on the FDOH website and the FDOE website.

Take Precaution

We recommend the following practices provided by the CDC to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

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

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

North Florida College Safety Measures

The health and well-being of our students and employees is our priority, and the College has put in place additional measures to prevent the spread of infection.

Posters across restrooms and common areas on how to Stop the Spread of Germs and What you need to know about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Monitoring of hand sanitizer stations and soap dispensers across all locations to ensure they are replenished as needed.

Resources

You can also subscribe to email updates from the CDC here.

Courtesy of https://www.nfcc.edu/alerts/
Bahrain accused Iran on Thursday of "biological aggression" by covering up the spread of the new coronavirus and failing to stamp the passports of Bahraini travellers, as other Gulf Arab states boosted measures to stem rising infections.

Iran, epicentre of the flu-like disease in the Middle East, saw its caseload grow by 1,075 to more than 10,000, while its death toll reached 429.

Many of the recorded infections throughout the Gulf region are linked to travel to Iran, which hosts several important shrines and pilgrimage sites for Shi'ite Muslims. No Gulf Arab state has so far reported a coronavirus death.

"With this behaviour, Iran has allowed the disease to travel abroad, and in my estimation this constitutes a form of biological aggression that is criminalised by international law, as it has put in danger our safety and health and that of others," Bahraini Interior Minister General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said in comments on Twitter.

Bahrain on Wednesday reported 77 new infections among citizens evacuated from Iran. A second government-chartered repatriation flight is scheduled for Thursday.

In an apparent response to Al Khalifa's comments, special aide to Iran's parliament speaker Amir Abdollahian tweeted: "America, which rules Bahrain through the presence of its Fifth Fleet, is a major cause of biological warfare and initially denied the existence of coronavirus."

Saudi Arabia, which has a minority Shi'ite population and had previously criminialised travel to Iran, last week denounced its key regional rival for granting Saudi citizens entry amid the outbreak. Bahrain, where Shi'ites make up a majority of the population, has no such restrictions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi has denied that not stamping passports has anything to do with coronavirus and called on Riyadh to avoid politicising the epidemic.

"...Attaching labels and issuing entry and exit stamps (in the passports) is avoided, in conformity with the visa policy of many advanced countries," he said on Tuesday.

Bahrain said separately on Thursday that non-compliance with isolation measures would be punishable by up to three months in jail and a fine of up to 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars ($32,000). Three individuals have already been reported to the public prosecutor, state news agency BNA reported.

FLIGHT BANS

Saudi Arabia, which has suspended the Umrah pilgrimage and locked down its eastern Qatif region where many infections are located, announced 24 new cases overnight, bringing its total to 45.

Riyadh halted flights to the European Union and 12 other countries, extending an earlier ban and giving Saudi citizens and residents 72 hours to return, state news agency SPA said.

The flight ban now includes Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia -- countries where millions of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia hail from.

Passenger traffic through all land crossings with Jordan was also suspended. Commercial and cargo traffic continued.

Saudi Arabia's health ministry asked people to avoid handshaking and gatherings of more than 50.

Kuwait reported eight new infections, taking its total to 80, as the country started a two-week public holiday that has been declared to help contain the spread of the virus.

Authorities also shut the stock market on Thursday and banned all commercial passenger flights to and from the country.

Oman introduced a raft of measures to control the virus' spread, including suspending tourist visas from all countries and banning cruise ships from docking.

The neighbouring United Arab Emirates (UAE) said its total number of cases had increased by 11 to 85.

A spokesman for public relations firm Edelman told Reuters an employee had tested positive for coronavirus, and that staff at its UAE offices would work remotely.

Dubai's Emirates airline, one of the world's biggest long-haul carriers, said it was suspending flights to Italy until April 3, in addition to other routes in the United States, Europe and Far East.

Qatar on Wednesday announced 238 new cases among expatriates in a residential compound that had been placed under quarantine after three residents tested positive for the virus on Sunday.

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The technology of 5G is embracing faster development and wider application, and it shall be welcomed by the entire world to benefit the people.

It was recently hailed by Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) who led a joint mission for field investigation of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in China. The WHO official commended the huge convenience brought by the technology which enabled him and his colleagues in Sichuan Province to communicate with a field team conducting epidemiological investigation in remote areas.

However, American politicians are anxious about its application.

The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill requesting the government to identify security threats within the equipment and software that support 5G wireless networks. A cross-party group of 20 U.S. senators has called on the UK to revisit its recent decision to cooperate with Chinese enterprises. Some of them proposed a bill that would require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. to review the UKs place on the foreign investment whitelist if it allows Chinese companies to build portions of its 5G infrastructure.

These political petty moves rudely impede the normal technological cooperation and the trend of such cooperation in the global context, making U.S. a real troublemaker.

The so-called digital autocracy was cooked up by certain U.S. politicians at this years Munich Security Conference to achieve political purposes, who held that 5G network builders unauthorized by the U.S. are a threat to the western system.

However, such mendacity, as new as it might look, still fits in the old-fashioned method applied by the U.S. to politically oppress enterprises - a monodrama watched by none.

Multiple European countries have made it clear that they wont follow the U.S. to exclude Chinese enterprises in 5G construction. The European Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan called the threat from the U.S. saber-rattling and a bluff. The unsuccessful petty moves indicate the lack of support for politicalizing technological cooperation.

The waves of scientific development are unstoppable, and the trend of scientific cooperation conforms to peoples aspiration. They will not be reversed despite the political traps set by certain Americans.

Chinese tech giant Huawei announced last month that it has signed 91 commercial contracts on 5G technology, with 47 in Europe and 27 in Asia. The company, together with its Chinese peers constructed around 80 percent of Africas major network infrastructure. Besides, multiple telecommunication enterprises in Europe recognize Chinese enterprises as strategic cooperation partners on 5G infrastructure.

Such huge interests of common development brought by cooperation will by no means be denied by threats or slanders from the U.S.

The world should stay alert that the U.S. hegemonic practices are not only stopping Washingtons benefits from scientific and technological cooperation, but also threatening global industrial, supply and value chains and damaging the common interests of global countries.

As an observer pointed out, technological trade is a global industry that relies on a highly-integrated supply chain, which achieves best results with international cooperation. However, he said, if every purchase of telecommunications equipment will be transformed from a business decision into a geopolitical one, that will be a more fractured, less prosperous and less peaceful world.

To conform to the trend of time and participate in global technological cooperation with an open mind is the only way out. During the R&D development of the 5G technology, China has never avoided in-depth cooperation with foreign companies such as Intel, Ericsson and Nokia.

The global wireless communication industry has long established a mechanism in which standards are jointly set by multiple parties so as to achieve interconnectivity.

Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology noted that 5G is not about which country or region has the upper hand. It can bring the benefits of the digital economy to all parts of the world, he said.

The 5G technology has sailed out, and any attempt to politicalize it and impede the development of the world is doomed to failure.

The world has entered the 5G era from the first generation of communication technology in just less than 40 years, raising the curtain for the internet of things. The cutting-edge technology is becoming a shared benefit through the wide consultation and joint contribution made by each country.

Political fences will not survive when technologies are driving development of the world. Only the pursuit of win-win results in global cooperation remains the rational and correct choice.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by Peoples Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)
DALLAS, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocky Mountain High Brands, Inc. (OTCQB: RMHB), a healthy lifestyle Company specializing in high-quality health and wellness products, announced today that the Company started a 360,000 can production run of Rocket High, California Limonada (California Lemonade), and California Sabor Te Negro (California Black Tea), under its Master Manufacturing Agreement with CBD Life.



Michael Welch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain High Brands, Inc., stated, Today marks a significant milestone under our agreement with CBD Life. We have moved into a normal production mode at our copacking facility. We plan to ship at least 10 truckloads of Rocket High, California Lemonade, and California Black Tea from this production run as we get ready for the onslaught of additional production runs.

To view some video footage and photos of our production run, go to our Rocky Mountain High Brands, Inc. Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/RMHBinvestors/?tn-str=k*F.

About Rocky Mountain High Brands

Rocky Mountain High Brands, Inc. (OTCQB: RMHB ) Rocky Mountain High Brands (RMHB), a family of brands positioned to disrupt the hemp oil and hemp extract categories, is a consumer goods company that specializes in developing, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing high-quality, health conscious hemp-infused products that span various categories including beverage, food, fitness, skin care and more. RMHB also markets a naturally high alkaline spring water as part its brand portfolio. Our mission is to assist others in their journey to live productive, fulfilling and healthy lives.

The Company currently markets its HEMPd product line, which currently consists of hemp oil infused topicals and nutraceuticals, and a line of hemp extract infused beverages. RMHB also bottles and distributes a naturally high alkaline spring water under the name Eagle Spirit Spring Water.

For corporate information, please visit www.rockymountainhighbrands.com .

For product information, please visit: www.hempd.com and www.eaglespiritwater.com .

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Information about Forward-Looking Statements: This release may include forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involves risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products, the ability to meet customer demand, the ability to manage growth, acquisitions of technology, equipment, or human resources, the effect of economic business conditions and the ability to attract and retain skilled personnel. Words such as anticipate, estimate, expect, intend, plan, project and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the companys filings with the SEC. The occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on the companys business, financial condition, and results of operations. The Company is not obligated to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Governor Gavin Newsom announced that health officials have updated policy on gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Gatherings of 250 people or more should be rescheduled or canceled in California at least through the end of March.

View the Livestream in the link below.

LIVE NOW: Governor @GavinNewsom and state health officials provide an update on the states response to #COVID19. https://t.co/qZlr0NemNh  Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) March 12, 2020

---

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued sweeping, statewide guidance in response to the coronavirus pandemic, asking Californians to postpone all non-essential gatherings through the end of March, including even small social gatherings in places where people cant remain at least six feet apart.

The California Department of Public Health advisory issued shortly before midnight Wednesday also says gatherings of 250 people or more should be postponed or canceled, and gatherings of people at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people.

The guidance vastly expands local and case-specific responses to the outbreak around California.

California cities have started instituting ever-increasing methods to curtail spread of the virus. San Francisco, Oakland and Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, banned gatherings of 1,000 or more people.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) College of the Ozarks Response and HEERF Reporting

College of the Ozarks to open campus for visitors, beginning with Hoge Greenhouses on May 10, 2021

The Keeter Center open for lodging, dining

POINT LOOKOUT, MO.  College of the Ozarks plans to reopen its campus to visitors, beginning with the Hoge Greenhouses and Patriots Park on May 10. Edwards Mill and General Store, along with the Stained Glass and Candle Shop, will reopen on May 26.

Hours of operation are as follows:

Hoge Greenhouses (Open beginning May 10): Monday  Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Monday  Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Edwards Mill and General Store (Open beginning May 26) : Monday  Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday

: Monday  Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday Stained Glass and Candle Shop (Open beginning May 26) : Monday  Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday

: Monday  Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Sunday Patriots Park (Open beginning May 10): Monday  Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday  Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Ralph Foster Museum and the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen are scheduled to reopen in the fall.

The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks is open for lodging in Mabee Lodge and for dining at Dobyns Dining Room. With a new menu, and standard favorites such as meatloaf mignon and fresh ice cream from Nettie Maries Creamery, guests may experience the best of a time-honored tradition.

Sunday Brunch will once again be offered at The Keeter Center, beginning June 13. For reservations, visit keetercenter.edu or call (417) 690-2146.

As visitors approach the entrance to College of the Ozarks, two lanes will allow navigation of campus and ensure a smooth flow of traffic. The right-hand lane is for visitors to campus. The left-hand lane is for faculty, staff, and students.

A member of the Public Safety team will provide visitors with a map of The Keeter Center and of the College campus. Currently, guests to campus are expected to mask and social distance.

A much-anticipated reopening

The reopening of the College campus and The Keeter Center comes after a year of adjusted operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restaurant began offering curbside meals in August 2020. Over the past year, The Keeter Center staff and students founds ways to innovate, meet customers needs, and give back to the community. During the holiday season alone, more than 3,000 holiday meals were purchased for curbside pick-up for those who wanted a taste of the holidays. In addition, more than 11,000 C of O fruitcakes were packed and shipped, along with thousands of student-made products.

To continue enjoying the College offerings from home, guests may avail themselves of Keeter Center Curbside. To place an order, visit keetercenter.edu. To purchase student-made items  including fruit spreads, the Colleges famous fruitcake, candles and more  visit store.cofo.edu

We are excited to reopen the campus in phases, said Dr. Weston Wiebe, vice president for vocational programs and chief operating officer. Our efforts to keep students healthy, experiencing seated instruction in the classroom and working in person at more than 100 workstations, have paid off. We have done just that.

Administrators note that many colleges and universities across the nation were slow to move to in-person instruction.

We are fortunate to be in the 3 percent of universities and colleges in the nation who offered fully seated instruction by the spring semester, said Dr. Sue Head, vice president for cultural affairs and dean of character education.

The Keeter Center hours

Bakery: 7 a.m.  8 p.m.

Nettie Maries College Creamery: 10 a.m.  8 p.m.

Giftshop: 8 a.m.  8:30 p.m.

Dobyns Dining Room: 10:30 a.m.  8 p.m., Monday  Saturday Sunday  10 a.m.  2 p.m., beginning Sunday, June 13



All information regarding opening dates and times are subject to change at the Colleges discretion. Please visit cofo.edu for information regarding the College and keetercenter.edu for updates on The Keeter Center.

For additional information, contact Public Relations Director Valorie Coleman at (417) 690-2212.


The rest of the world may have descended into panic and pandemonium over the coronavirus pandemic, but for a while Orthodox devotees in the Russian city of Lipetsk believed they had found a fail-proof way to a cure.

A religious group going by the name of the Holy Royal Martyrs intended to delegate the problem of banishing Covid-19 from Lipetsk to God  by organising a holy automobile procession through the city. Organisers said the idea to give a spiritual push to banish the virus woe came about after multiple requests from believers.

Approximately 50 such fanatics were ready to join in the event this Sunday.

But the procession was not to be after city authorities scuppered plans over public health fears. Now the group will be forced to pray away the virus in the safety of their churches and their own homes.

We ask followers to sing hymns and read prayers against coronavirus, Yury Bernikov, the groups spiritual leader wrote on his social media page.

Earlier in the week, Lipetsk local authorities closed schools and introduced a ban on all mass cultural and sport gatherings. The restrictions, which are due to last two weeks, mirrored similar measures introduced across the country.

Moscow, home to over 12 million often densely populated people, has for over a week been subject to severe restrictions and a regime of high alert.

Thousands of flights coming from the seven countries deemed to be most at risk  China, South Korea, Italy, Iran, France, Spain and Germany  have been cancelled. Those who have been in any one of these countries are also being asked to self-isolate for a period of two weeks.

Speaking on Wednesday, prime minister Mikhail Mishustin said that such measures have enabled the country to limit the impact of the virus in Russia.

Despite the seriousness of the situation abroad, we have managed to keep the risk of transmission to a minimum, he said.

While the number of reported cases across the country remains low, the same day Russias Health Ministry reported the largest single day rise so far. The official number of cases now stands at 28 nationwide, up from 20.

Some fear that the real number may be much higher, and that the countrys skeletal public health system stands woefully unprepared.

But Russia is feeling the effects of the coronavirus crisis even more acutely elsewhere.

A combination of a Saudi-Russian oil price war and pandemic fears have seen the oil price tumble to a below-cost $33 dollars a barrel. The currency of the oil-dependent nation has also experienced a significant drop in value, with the ruble losing around 15 per cent against most currencies over the last week.

On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin was not yet in panic mode, and was certainly not contemplating the possibility of cancelling the most valuable political event of the year: Victory Day.

Due to be held on 9 May, this years event marks 75 years since the end of WWII in Europe. Moscow has been long poised to use the event to emphasise the countrys historic role in defeating Fascism.

Nothing has changed yet. Our preparations are continuing, he told journalists.
Angrezi Medium Review: Irrfan Khan, Radhika Madan And Deepak Dobriyals Adeptness At Their Craft Make This Film A Must Watch!
Social media users have shared images of their near-empty journeys around the world, as the coronavirus continues to steer passengers away from air travel.

Trips to Florida, Vietnam and New York appear to have all been affected by the impact of the pandemic, with one flight even holding as little as 13 passengers.

At least 125,000 patients have been infected and 4,000 have died worldwide since the outbreak began last December, and the virus has been spreading between humans in four continents since February 28, according to the World Health Organization.

US President Donald Trump has taken extreme measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 as he's imposed a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the country - excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland - starting at midnight on Friday.

Despite the chaos, which has seen the likes of British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet cancel trips and suffer a 87bn loss in revenue, some airlines are still running 'ghost flights' to hold on to valuable 'use them or lose them' airport slots.

Social media users have shared images of their near-empty journeys around the world (passenger pictured on the Tokaido Shinkansen train line in Tokyo on Wednesday)

The coronavirus continues to steer passengers away from air travel (a man pictured at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington last Friday)

Another Instagram user captured his ghost Delta flight from MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport in Minnesota last month

A passenger snapped a photo of a deserted flight to Tokyo's Haneda Airport last month

Vacant seats were pictured on a Eurowings journey from Germany's Cologne Bonn Airport last week

A flyer proved there's no stopping them as they travelled from Denver's International Airport to Orlando on Wednesday

An image of an unidentified flight was uploaded to Instagram earlier this month, with rows and rows of seats left empty

Holidaymakers opted to stay at home in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 (flight to Japan pictured on Thursday)

Trips to Florida, Vietnam and New York appear to have all been affected by the impact of the pandemic, with one flight even holding as little as 13 passengers (pictured at London's Heathrow on Tuesday)

A passenger kicked their feet up on empty chairs as they delighted in not being disturbed by others (Ben Gurion Airport in Israel last week)

An air traveller shared their 'sadness' at people's health fears as they treated their social media followers to a peek at their very quiet unidentified flight on Thursday

Some airlines are still running 'ghost flights' to hold on to valuable 'use them or lose them' airport slots (photo taken by Robert Maturski on Tuesday)

A handful of passengers boarded a flight from Gatwick Airport on Tuesday

Only two people pictured on a trip from Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Vietnam at beginning of the month
Im very concerned with the current leadership of School District 22. I cannot believe this lack of discernment which places these students, their families, and this region at significant risk. The chancellor of Germany just announced tonight on CNN (Mar 11) that she is informing us her country has a 70 per cent expected chance of infection rate of COVID 19.

Our PM has been slow to react to this pandemic (too many points to list), however, Trump (finally doing something), moments ago, announced a 30 day minimum ban on travellers from Europe. I can assure SD22 that the US position banning visitors from Europe was necessary to safeguard its citizens based on science hard facts.

In retrospect, given the severity of the pandemic, Im sure the superintendent will cancel all out- of-country tours as have all other Provincial school districts.

My husband, 65, has chronic health issues. Vernon has a disproportionate number of seniors who would also be at tremendous risk if these students returned from Europe at this time.

Linda Albert
Angrezi Medium

Cast: Irrfan, Radhika Madan, Deepak Dobriyal, Pankaj Tripathi, Kareena Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Kiku Sharda, Ranvir Shorey

Director: Homi Adajania

A father and daughters journey to a new phase of their lives, a doff of the hat to old family ties that keep people together in times of need and dollops of humour dished out scene after scene-- whats not to like in Angrezi Medium? The film takes a fresh approach to a family drama, building on the larger theme of parent-child relationship, adulting, and its accompanying youthful rebellion and so forth, all in the breezy style that is Hindi cinemas new normal.

What started off as something to ponder in Hindi Medium the obsession Indian parents have for getting their children an English educationnow has a natural progression in Angrezi Medium. In this outing a doting single father (Irrfan as Champak Bansal) goes to extreme lengths to send the apple-of-his-eye, his daughter Tarika (Radhika Madan), for graduation to a college in London, because thats what she has set her heart on.

Like its previous edition, this one too is quite the obstacle race packed with humour and of course, some touching moments. The young Tarika is determined to land a scholarship in a university in London to get away from her home in Udaipur to be cool and taste the much-coveted adult freedom. However, in an unexpected turn of events, her father innocently ends up spoiling her chances and tries thereafter to ensure that she gets the admission in the university by hook or by crook.

There are multiple directions in which the film could have gone-- but the writers  Bhavesh Mandalia, Gaurav Shukla, Sara Bodinar and Vinay Chhawall, narrow it down to an emotional father-daughter story that tugs at your heartstrings without getting inordinately preachy. Sure, there are some sappy emotional scenes that may appear contrived, but nothing that you will mind excessively. Director Homi Adajania, known for more urbane films like Finding Fanny, Cocktail or Being Cyrus, navigates this small-town emotional roller-coaster of a story, well, aiming to please the small-town audience.

Adajania along with producers Dinesh Vijan and Jio Studios, not only retain most of the acting cast from Hindi MediumIrrfan, Deepak Dobriyal, Tillotama Shome, but also bring in some noteworthy additions to it, namely Kareena Kapoor Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Ranveer Shorey, and Radhika Madan. Adding to the humour quotient, there are Pankaj Tripathi and Kiku Sharda although their screen time is too short for a significant impact on the narrative.

Irrfan, who, despite a difficult phase of illness just before the films shooting began, puts forward a stellar performance, absolutely convincing as the loving father, afraid to let his little one, go. His seamless emoting and the sensitivity he brings to the role, truly lifts the film. Deepak Dobriyal as his younger sibling and Radhika Madan as Tarika are excellent and the trios chemistry together is crackling. Dobriyal is delightful and Madan, a relative newcomer compared to the veterans she is pitted against, is confident and adorable as the pampered daughter, bringing in just the right degree of teenage angst.

Currently, films with middle-class minutiae humorously showcased are the new favourites at the marquee and given its comic and emotional twists, Angrezi Medium is quite the family drama worth earmarking for watching with your folks.

Rating: 3.5/5

Follow @News18Movies for more
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster as well as Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi Edgard Kagan here on Thursday and discussed a range of issues towards strengthening mutual cooperation between the two countries.

"It was a pleasure to receive US Ambassador to India, His Excellency Ken Juster @USAmbIndia and Dy Chief of Mission, Mr Edgard Kagan. We discussed a range of issues towards strengthening mutual cooperation, including the recent visit of @FLOTUS Mrs Trump to a Delhi govt school," the Chief Minister tweeted.

During the US President and First Lady's brief trip to India last month, Melania had visited a government school in Delhi but Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were not allowed to accompany the visiting dignitary.

Both Trump and Melania flew to Ahemdabad on February 25 to address the 'Namaste Trump' event that was held on the lines of 'Howdy Modi' in Houston last year. The two dignitaries, accompanied by a 12-member delegation, then visited Taj Mahal in Agra and then moved to Delhi, on the last leg of the two-day visit, to ink $3 billion defence deals.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to victims and survivors of terrorism, as well as their families, in a sombre speech at Trocadero in central Paris.

King Filipe VI of Spain joined Macron at the ceremony during which 98 people were awarded medals in recognition of their suffering.

The French president paid tribute to the trained First Responders and also to the ordinary people who reached out to help in those in need.

Macron praised their selflessness and their sense of nationhood and told survivors and the families of victims that the French state would always stand beside them.

Members of an organisation representing victims of the 2016 Nice attacks, when a jihadist drove through crowds celebrating Basitlle day, leaving 86 people dead, chose to boycott today's service.

The Promenade des Anges group objected to the involvement of Francois-Xavier Lauch in the preparation of today's ceremony.

Lauch, the principal private secretary to Macron, has been named as an "assisted witness" in an investigation into possible security failures in the arrangements for the Bastille Day celebrations in Nice.

A spokesperson for the presidency denied that Lauch played a role in the organisation of the ceremony.

The national remembrance service will take place every year on 11 March, which is already the European Day to commemorate victims of terrorism.

The date was chosen because it marked the day in 2004 of the worst terrorist attacks on European territory since 1988, the bombings in Madrid.
Mr. Trump spoke hours after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic in hopes of spurring a more aggressive response, and on a day when infections in Europe jumped by almost a quarter from Tuesday to Wednesday, reaching more than 22,000.

Here are the latest updates on the virus and a map of where it has spread.

Notably, as leaders around the world grapple with the potential for crushing burdens on economies and health systems, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said on Wednesday that two in three people in her country might become infected. India also joined a growing number of countries that have imposed drastic travel limits.

But so far, our London bureau chief writes in an analysis, the global response is less a choir than a cacophony. He says that is partly  though not entirely  because Mr. Trump has ignored scientific advice and has failed to work with world leaders to fashion a common response.

In other news:
A woman convicted of killing her four children is not entitled to a second judicial inquiry into her case and the Supreme Court has "no power" to order one, the NSW Attorney-General has argued in court documents.

Kathleen Folbigg, 52, was jailed for 25 years in 2003 for the murders of Patrick, Sarah and Laura, and the manslaughter of Caleb, who were all aged between 19 days and 18 months old.

Kathleen Folbigg gives evidence at her inquiry last year. Credit:AAP

The children died over a 10-year period between February 1989 and March 1999.

Folbigg maintains her innocence. Her supporters petitioned for years before an inquiry into her convictions was announced in 2018 by NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman.
The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 74 with 14 fresh cases, including nine from Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

IMAGE: A boy wears a mask as he waits for the start of the first One-day International cricket match between India and South Africa, amid coronavirus fears, at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Giving a state-wise breakup, the ministry said Delhi reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10. Karnataka has four cases, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three.



Besides, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month after they recovered from the infection declared a global pandemic.

The total number of 74 confirmed cases includes 17 foreigners -- 16 Italian tourists and a Canadian, the ministry officials said.



As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spreads across the globe and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, the cabinet secretary has said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 so all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.



An Indian team of doctors will leave for Italy on Thursday night to collect and bring swab samples of Indian students stranded there so that they can be tested before being brought back to the country, a health ministry official said.



Eighty-three evacuees from Italy who arrived in India on Wednesday have been housed at a quarantine facility in Manesar. All patients being treated in hospitals are reported to be stable, the officials said.

IMAGE: An official uses a thermal screening device on an employee in the wake of deadly coronavirus, at an office in New Delhi. Photograph: Arun Sharma/PTI Photo

The ministry said the government 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 added.

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 are stationed in Iran and have so far collected swab samples of over 400 Indians stranded there.



"The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran has arrived on March 10 with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board. All evacuees are asymptomatic at present," the ministry said.



India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries. Of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 from different countries, including Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, it said.



India has also suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the coronavirus spread, according to a revised travel advisory.



The suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

IMAGE: A medic checks the temperature of a tourist as part of precautionary screening in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak, at a hotel in Bikaner. Photograph: PTI Photo

Advise Indians to stay put wherever they are, travel only under compelling reasons, says MEA

The government's focus is on containing and controlling coronavirus the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday and advised Indians to stay put wherever they are and travel only under compelling reasons.



Responding to questions about IPL and other sporting events, it said the MEA's advise would be "not do it at this time but if the organisers want to go ahead, it is their decision".



"The government's immediate concern is to contain and control coronavirus. There is no need to panic. We advise Indians to stay put wherever they are and only travel under compelling reasons," Dammu Ravi, Additional Secretary, MEA and Coordinator (COVID-19), said at a press conference.



"We have also not issued any guidelines to airlines to stop or reduce flights. It's a commercial decision, we leave it to them to decide," he added.



To questions about organising sporting events, he said, "Think it is for the organisers 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."



MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the government has received requests from four countries for assistance in arranging protective gears.



"We have received requests from Bhutan, Iran, the Maldives, Italy for assistance with masks and protective gears. We are processing it. Earlier, such request was received from China, and a package was sent," he said.



Anil Malik, the additional secretary from ministry of home affairs, informed reporters that there has been a decline of 40 per cent in number of people travelling to India in the last 20 days.



"The number of people coming to India dropped by 40 per cent in the last 20 days, the number will come down further," he said.

IMAGE: Security personnel wear masks at Kasturba hospital in Mumbai. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo

'Initial focus to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran'

Speaking in Rajya Sabha, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said coronavirus outbreak is a matter of "great concern" and the government's initial focus is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran.

Speaking on the situation arising out of the spread of the coronavirus, he said around 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

There are also around 300 students there, he added.

The "initial focus is on bringing back pilgrims, mostly stranded in Qom", he said, adding 58 citizens from Iran has been brought back 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 also informed that there are 1,000 Indian fishermen who are stranded in Iran, but they are in the region which is not affected by the virus.

He said a team of health professionals has been sent to Iran to set up testing facilities there for Indians.

Talking about Italy, Jaishankar said the situation in the European country is a matter of great concern. Those tested negative will be allowed to return.

The minister said about 90 countries have reported coronavirus cases and the government has to focus and to prioritise.

At the moment after China and Diamond Princess (cruise ship) issue, Iran and Italy are 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 countries have stretched their resources in dealing with the situation post spread of the coronavirus.

IMAGE: RIMS management conducts a mock drill for coronavirus-affected patients at a ward in designated quarantine centre in Ranchi. Photograph: PTI Photo

"The House will surely appreciate that few other nations have done what we have with respect to the COVID -19," he said.

"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.

"As a country whose citizens are spread across the world. This is matter of great concern for us. But we have to act responsibly and soberly to address the situation and not create panic," he said.

Passengers from 15 nations not allowed to enter Delhi airport duty-free shopping area

Indian customs has barred passengers arriving from 15 nations, including China, the US, Italy and South Korea, from entering duty-free shopping area at the Delhi airport in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

With the government already cancelling visas with effect from March 13, this would mean that even Indian nationals returning home from these 15 countries will not be allowed to enter the Delhi duty-free shopping area.

The Commissioner of Customs at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, in a notice, said the ban has been put in place "in view of the threat from COVID-19 virus".

Passengers arriving on flights from China, the US, Italy and South Korea, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Spain, France, Vietnam, Nepal and Thailand will not be able to enter the duty free shopping area due to operational limitations till further orders, it said.

Rashtrapti Bhavan closes all public tour visits from Friday



Rashtrapati Bhavan has closed all public tour visits from Friday as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, official spokesman said on Thursday.



A brief statement released by the spokesman said the presidential house will remain closed for exploratory tour visit from Friday till further orders.



"Moreover, the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex and the Change of Guard ceremony will not be open to public till further notice," the spokesman said.
Soap is the item everyone should be stockpiling to avoid catching coronavirus instead of hand sanitiser, a top scientist has revealed.

Supramolecular chemistry expert Palli Thordarson confirmed alcohol-based hand sanitisers aren't the best defence against the contagion which has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide so far.

The UNSW professor wrote a series of Tweets explaining that soap dissolves the fat membrane around the virus molecule and it 'falls apart', making it an effective shield against most viruses.

The UNSW professor wrote a series of Tweets explaining that soap dissolves the fat membrane around the virus molecule and it 'falls apart'

'The soap is effectively 'dissolving' the glue that holds the virus together. Add to that all the water. Soon the viruses get detached and fall a part like a house of cards due to the combined action of the soap and water. The virus is gone,' he wrote.

The scientist went on to explain that disinfectants, wipes, gels and creams containing alcohol - hand sanitisers - are effective at killing bacteria, but don't break down the structure of the virus.

He also suggested bar soaps could be better than liquid soaps because a bar generates more bacterial-killing foam.

COVID-19 spreads through droplets in coughs and sneezes and can fly up to ten metres away from the sick person.

Empty shelves in a chemist after the retailer ran out of hand sanitiser following a limiting sales to two per customer in February

Even dry droplets can carry active virus molecules.

Professor Thordarson said if the virus lands on a rough surface, it can be pulled apart and won't stay active for long on wood or clothing as it would on steel.

'So when you touch say a steel surface with a virus particle on it, it will stick to your skin and hence get transferred onto your hands. But you are not (yet) infected.

'If you touch your face though, the virus can get transferred from your hands and on to your face. And now the virus is dangerously close to the airways and the mucus type membranes in and around your mouth and eyes.'

The Tweets come after Dr Norman Swan also declared soap was better on ABC's 7.30 program.

Hand sanitiser dispensers have been placed in buildings around the country to try and stop the spread of COVID-19

'Well, handwashing with soap is probably best, because it removes the fat layer on your skin which holds the virus. But hand sanitiser is a very good runner-up.'

Dr Swan also criticised people who wore face masks in a bid to protect themselves from catching coronavirus.

'Masks are pointless. Your chances of walking past a person with the illness or being on the same train or bus as them are not much higher than winning the lottery,' he said.

'So by wearing masks, you are unnecessarily using a resource that is needed for health workers who will be directly exposed to infected patients, and need it for people with the illness to cut the chances of them spreading it.'

There are 126,139 cases of COVID-19 globally.

Australia currently has 127 confirmed cases.
UW Extends Spring Break to Prepare for Online Instruction, If Necessary

The University of Wyoming has extended its spring break by one week in response to concerns about the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

In a message to the UW community today (Thursday), Acting President Neil Theobald says a decision will be made later regarding whether face-to-face classes on campus will resume Monday, March 30. UWs regular spring break starts at the end of classes Friday, March 13.

The extended break is designed to provide time for faculty to better prepare for online-only teaching, should that be necessary, Theobald says. We will continually monitor the situation and make a decision about moving more fully to online classes.

No confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported at UW, but the spread of the virus around the country -- including the fact that Wyomings first case was reported Wednesday evening in Sheridan County -- prompted the universitys action.

During the extended spring break, UW will remain open, although employees with chronic health conditions or compromised immunity are allowed to consult with their supervisors to possibly work from home. UWs residence halls remain open for students who dont leave for spring break.

At this point, no limitations are being placed on the ability of people whove traveled in the United States to return to campus, but Theobald notes that is subject to change based upon public health agency guidance and directives. Meanwhile, anyone who has traveled from Europe, China, South Korea or Iran should self-monitor and self-isolate for 14 days before returning to campus.

We ask that you try to understand how difficult it is to make these decisions and request your patience as we seek to make the best decisions possible to keep everyone in our community healthy and safe, while also doing our part to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Theobald says.

To see his complete message to the UW community, go here.
Ghana's Higher Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Papa Owusu-Ankomah, has urged Ghanaian garment and textile manufacturers to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that exist in the UK and European markets following the UK's exit from the European Union (EU).

According to the High Commissioner, Brexit has opened up new markets and it is my hope that you use the opportunity to manufacture more in order to create wealth and generate employment in Ghana.

He made such revelations at an event hosted by the Ghana High Commission to introduce Ghanaian garment manufacturers to potential buyers in the UK and Europe. It was organized by Ethical Apparel Africa, a UK based garment sourcing and development organization in collaboration with Ghana's Ministry of Trade and Industry through their UK office and supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

Papa Owusu-Ankomah also advised Ghanaian manufacturers to find out expectations of the market so as to live up to them.

Patrick Nimo, Chief Director, Ghana's Ministry of Trade and Industry, in a remark, urged participants to make the most of Ghana's position as the headquarters of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and use Ghana as a base to access the larger African market.

Keren Pybus, founder and CEO of Apparel Africa disclosed that she chose Ghana as her base because of the stable political and economic environment, as well as the youthful and hardworking industrial population.

She therefore called on the major international brands in the UK and Europe to consider Ghana as their manufacturing base.

Others present at the event included Kofi Addo, Head of Strategic Anchor, Industries and Special Initiatives at the Ministry of Trade; Paakow Bartels, head of Trade and Investment at the Ghana High Commission; Dodzie Numekevor, Head of Public Affairs and Information; Peter McAllister of the Ethical Trading Initiative and Naana Frempong Arhin from the DFID.

Some exhibitors at the event included Adjo Asare of Alfie Designs, Linda Ampah of KAD Designs and Maa Grace Designs.

---Daily Guide
[March 12, 2020] Keysight Validates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Advanced Data Analytics Software in Nokia's 5G Base Station Manufacturing Processes

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that helps enterprises, service providers and governments accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, has validated an innovative new software approach, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics, in Nokia's (News - Alert) 5G base station manufacturing processes, significantly improving test efficiency. The two companies have expanded a collaboration to help the leading network equipment manufacturer optimize test processes critical in advanced manufacturing. Keysight combined expertise in automated test and cloud-computing with machine learning (ML) applied to Nokia's historical manufacturing data to demonstrate significant reductions in test times. Following the successful validation, Nokia has moved to implement Keysight's advanced AI software into the vendor's 5G manufacturing processes. 5G equipment is considerably more complex compared to legacy technology equipment, which is increasing test times in manufacturing processes. As 5G deployments ramp up around the world, manufacturers of 5G equipment look for ways to optimize test processes, allowing them to maintain competitive delivery schedules. Keysight used advanced software technology developed by Keysight Laboratories, the company's applied research arm, to analyze vast amounts of historical manufacturing data provided by Nokia. This allowed Nokia to make data driven test strategy decisions and develop optimized manufacturing test plans. "Keysight's extended 5G collaboration with Nokia, initiated more than three years ago, signals an inflection point in the commercialization of the next generation of mobile communications," said Giampaolo Tardioli, vice president and general manager ofKeysight's network access group. "By combining leading hardware and advanced software solutions, Keysight is well-positioned to help wireless manufacturers such as Nokia capture the full potential of 5G."



The new advanced AI software capabilities will be integrated into the company's PathWave Software Suite. Keysight's close collaborations, multi-domain technology expertise in areas such as AI and cloud-based test capabilities will help a wider industry address complex manufacturing test requirements. "Nokia's 5G technology will make the extraordinary come alive for every industry, every business and every experience," said Erja Sankari, vice president of Supply Chain Engineering at Nokia. "Close collaborations such as the one we enjoy with Keysight help us create world-leading intelligent factories and support our strategy to deliver 5G solutions that exceed customers' expectations."

About Keysight Technologies Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) is a leading technology company that helps enterprises, service providers and governments accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Keysight's solutions optimize networks and bring electronic products to market faster and at a lower cost with offerings from design simulation, to prototype validation, to manufacturing test, to optimization in networks and cloud environments. Customers span the worldwide communications ecosystem, aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics end markets. Keysight generated revenues of $4.3B in fiscal year 2019. More information is available at www.keysight.com. Additional information about Keysight Technologies is available in the newsroom at https://www.keysight.com/go/news and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005462/en/

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First look of the Redmi Note 9 Pro with specs

Here are the updates of the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max as it happened.

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Investment expected to bring 200 new jobs in Northern Ireland

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, March 12, 2020. in the second half of 2020 to accommodate its growing European Research & Development (R&D) center.



Rapid7 has been a part of Belfast's burgeoning technology scene since 2014 and now plans to double its workforce in the region by adding 200 new roles in engineering, development, and customer advisors, among others. In an effort to aid in achieving this growth goal, Invest Northern Ireland has offered Rapid7 165,000 of support towards the creation of 30 of the new jobs.

"Rapid7 is committed to investing in the company's global expansion, particularly in areas with impressive technical talent such as Belfast," said Jamie Kinch, vice president of real estate and workplace experience at Rapid7. "Expanding our presence in Belfast, supported by InvestNI, will provide us with the space and resources we need to grow and attract the region's top talent."

Welcoming the expansion, Chief Executive of Invest NI, Kevin Holland said: "Rapid7 is one of the U.S.'s fastest growing software security companies and since opening its office in Belfast in 2014, it has utilised the exceptional skills and talent of our local workforce to grow its business in Northern Ireland."

It is always fantastic to see another externally owned company reinvesting in Northern Ireland," Holland continues. "In fact, over 70 percent of new investors reinvest here which is testament to our appeal. The senior level jobs we are supporting will build upon the technical expertise already present at the company's Belfast engineering site, helping to drive the company's future innovation."

For job opportunities in Rapid7's Belfast office, visit the company's career page .

About Rapid7

Rapid7, check out our blog , or follow us on Twitter .

Rapid7 Press Contact

Caitlin Doherty

Public Relations Manager

press@rapid7.com

(857) 990-4240

Rapid7 Investor Relations Contact

Sunil Shah

investors@rapid7.com

(857) 990-4074
Syria: Strikes against pro-Iran militants, 26 dead - SOHR Attacks attributed to US forces

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MARCH 12 - More than 20 pro-Iran Iraqi militants were killed in recent hours at the border between Syria and Iraq in airstrikes attributed to the United States, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).



The strikes come after two US soldiers and one British soldier were killed Wednesday in an attack on a military base in Iraq, north of Baghdad.



SOHR said the missile bombing took place overnight between Wednesday and Thursday in the town of Hayri, south of Abukamal, the Syrian border city where camps of pro-Iran Iraqi militants are located, and said 26 militants were killed.



Meanwhile, local sources in the region of Dayr az Sor, not far from Abukamal, confirmed that on Thursday morning pro-Iranian militants in the area were in a state of alert and placed a curfew on people in the entire district of Abukamal.(ANSAmed).




Paris: Tinier than the teeniest bird, older than T-Rex and perfectly preserved for eternity: scientists have identified a 100-million-year-old flying dinosaur encased in amber that may be the smallest yet discovered.

The skull of Oculudentavis khaungraae was found in a globule of amber in Myanmar, offering researchers a startlingly clear view of its features.

"When I first saw it I was blown away," said Jingmai O'Connor, a paleontologist from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and lead author of the study published in Nature on Wednesday.

"It's pretty exquisitely preserved and really weird looking, with its unique scleral ring (eye bones) and large number of teeth," she told AFP.

The preserved skull is just 7.1 millimetres (less than one-third of an inch) long, likely making it the smallest dinosaur yet discovered. It would have been smaller than the smallest bird alive today, the bee hummingbird.

The team even refer among themselves to the specimen as "Teenie Weenie", O'Connor said. Despite its minuscule size, researchers believe it hunted insects, using its sharp teeth and large eyes to home in on prey. Unlike fossils encased in rock, amber specimens still retain their soft tissue, showing scientists their original colour and morphology. As to whether Teenie is a bird or a dinosaur, O'Connor said the lines were blurry.

"We think it's a bird -- the skull has a shape that only occurs in birds and some dinosaurs," she said, "However there are no skull characteristics that define birds therefore it could be a dinosaur or even something else." Writing in a linked editorial, Roger Benson from Oxford University's Department of Earth Sciences said the discovery suggests birds may have evolved miniature body sizes much earlier than thought.

"This indicates that, only shortly after their origins late in the Jurassic period (which lasted from about 201 million to 145 million years ago), birds had already attained their minimum body sizes," he said. And although it's encased in amber, there's no risk of scientists bringing it back to life, like a certain Steven Spielberg film.

"There are most certainly fragments of DNA preserved inside but we'll never reach 'Jurassic Park'," said O'Connor.
Recalling the services of his grandmother, the late Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, and father, the late Madhavrao Scindia, to Indian society, former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday that his family had never deviated from the path of truth and public service in overcoming the worst of challenges.

Scindia on Thursday evening arrived in Bhopal on his first visit to Madhya Pradesh, his home state, after joining Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi on Wednesday, a day after he ended his 18-year association with the Congress.

He received a rousing reception en route from the Raja Bhoj Airport to the state BJP headquarters, a distance of about 13 kilometers. Scindia was accompanied by Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, BJP national vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan, leader of the Opposition in the state assembly Gopal Bhargava, state BJP president VD Sharma, former minister Narottam Mishra and others.

Addressing a gathering of party workers at the state BJP headquarters, Scindia said, Whenever the Scindia family head was challenged, whether it was Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia in 1967 or my father Madhavrao Scindia in 1990, when false charges were levelled against him, they accepted the challenges and overcame them.

He said he himself had raised his voice to call for employment to the young and loan waivers for farmers. When he said the promises contained in the Congresss 2018 assembly elections manifesto would have to be fulfilled or he would take to the streets, the response from some party leaders was: Let him.

He said he had always believed in following his familys tradition of service to the people. For this, politics was just a means. Power had never been his goal, he said.

Scindia said, I have come to the BJP with just one thing my hard labour to serve people and society. I will stand by the party workers. If you shed one drop of sweat, I will shed 100 drops and if need be I will not hesitate in shedding my blood.

Scindia, who has been declared a BJP candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh, will file his nomination papers on Friday.

New BJP leader calls on Rajnath and Shah

A day after he joined the BJP and was announced as the partys candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh, Jyotiraditya Scindia met Union home minister Amit Shah and Union defence minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi.

Announcing the meeting on Twitter, Shah said that Scindias induction into the party will further strengthen BJPs resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh.

I am sure his induction into the party will further strengthen BJPs resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh, he tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Scindia met Singh at the latters residence.

Welcoming Scindia to the BJP, Singh said his joining will help in further strengthening the party.

Met with Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia today. I welcome him to the BJP. His joining will help in further strengthening the party. I extend my best wishes to him in all his endeavours, the defence minister tweeted.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Gold Corp. (LGD-TSX) (Liberty Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce that it closed the sale of its Net Profit Interest (NPI) in the Regent Hill Property, Nevada, to Ely Gold Royalties, Inc. (Ely Gold).



Liberty Gold has also closed the sale of the Griffon Property, Nevada, to Fremont Gold Ltd. (Fremont) through a purchase-option agreement (the Option Agreement).

Terms of the Regent Hill Property NPI Sale include:

US$800,000 - received

2,000,000 two-year purchase warrants for Ely Gold common shares, exercisable at C$0.43 per warrant.

Terms of the Griffon Property Option Agreement include:

US$25,000 upon executing the Option Agreement (the Execution Date)  received.

US$25,000 and 2,500,000 Fremont common shares to be issued to Liberty following TSX Venture Exchange approval of the Agreement received.

US$50,000 and the number of Fremont common shares that will bring Liberty Golds total ownership of Fremonts issued and outstanding common shares to 9.9% on the first anniversary of the Execution Date.

US$50,000 on the second anniversary of the Execution Date.

US$75,000 on the third anniversary of the Execution Date.

US$100,000 on the fourth anniversary of the Execution Date.

1% NSR which may be repurchased by Fremont for US$1,000,000.

The Company also wishes to announce that since July 2019 to the date of this press release it has received a total of C$3,327,150 and C$401,375 from the early exercise of Liberty Gold share purchase warrants (Warrants) issued pursuant to the bought deal financings that closed on October 2, 2018 and January 26, 2018 respectively; the Warrants are exercisable for C$0.60 and C$0.65 respectively for a period of three years from issue.



With the sale of Liberty Golds 40% interest in the Halilaga copper gold Project in Turkey (see press release of November 18, 2019 ); the pending sale of the Kinsley Mountain project in Nevada (see press release of December 2, 2019 ); and the monetization of the Regent project NPI and the Griffon project, the Company can focus its exploration efforts on its core projects, the Black Pine oxide gold discovery in Idaho and the Goldstrike oxide gold deposit in Utah. The Companys intent is to continue to lower non-core project obligations and maximize exploration expenditures with no equity dilution to shareholders.

ABOUT LIBERTY GOLD

Liberty Gold is focused on exploring the Great Basin of the United States, home to large-scale gold projects that are ideal for open-pit mining. This region is one of the most prolific gold-producing regions in the world and stretches across Nevada and into Idaho and Utah. We know the Great Basin and are driven to discover and advance big gold deposits that can be mined profitably in open-pit scenarios. Our flagship projects are Black Pine in Idaho and Goldstrike in Utah, both past producing open-pit mines, where previous operators only scratched the surface.



For more information, visit www.libertygold.ca or contact:

Susie Bell, Manager, Investor Relations

Phone: 604-632-4677 or Toll Free 1-877-632-4677

info@libertygold.ca



All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Liberty Gold within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements that address potential quantity and/or grade of minerals, potential size and expansion of a mineralized zone, proposed timing of exploration and development plans, Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "planned", "expect", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intends", "believe", "potential", and similar expressions, or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "should", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining governmental approvals and financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, the receipt of staged payments. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Liberty Gold and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Such forward-looking information, involves known and unknown risks, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, risks related to the interpretation of results and/or the reliance on technical information provided by third parties as related to the Companys mineral property interests; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; current economic conditions; future prices of commodities; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; the costs and timing of the development of new deposits; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; the timing and success of exploration activities generally; delays in permitting; possible claims against the Company; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals, financing or in the completion of exploration as well as those factors discussed in the Annual Information Form of the Company dated March 27, 2019 in the section entitled "Risk Factors", under Liberty Golds SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com .

Although Liberty Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Liberty Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.
A brief trip to Hong Kong to visit a dear friend seemed like a good idea at the time. Two weeks later, when my head began to throb, I thought I must be suffering from that common millennial affliction of caffeine withdrawal.

But after three days of paracetamol and plenty of coffee, the pain ramped up to an unbearable level. I presented at St Vincents Hospital emergency department in Sydney at 8am last Sunday, convinced I had a brain tumour on the precipice of exploding.

Please calm down, urges Tom Hywood, who is recovering from coronavirus.

I underwent brain scans, blood tests and a precautionary nose swab. About 12 hours later, I was told by a friendly doctor  covered from head to toe in an armour of protective clothing  that I had coronavirus. Frankly, the diagnosis was a relief from the alternative.

By this point, my symptoms had subsided. While Im very aware COVID-19 can be lethal for the elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system or respiratory difficulties, the experience of a young, relatively fit patient seems out of proportion to the panic and fear Ive encountered since my diagnosis.
An Italian man has taken extreme measures to ward off coronavirus, after it was classed as a pandemic by the World Health Organization this week.

In a clip shared to Twitter on Wednesday, he strolls along the streets of Rome wearing a giant disc in an attempt to enforce social distancing amid the global outbreak.

There have been 827 deaths from 12,462 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Italy - the most anywhere outside of mainland China.

An Italian man has taken extreme measures to ward off coronavirus, after it was classed as a pandemic by the World Health Organization this week

The man leaves the social media user who captured his appearance in hysterics as he visits Testaccio market while shielding himself from fellow shoppers in the elaborate object, which he pairs with a tool used to pick up litter.

Speaking in Italian, he is asked: 'And would this be the security distance for?'

'For coronavirus!', the man responds, before the filmer jokes: 'Wonderful. I can't cope!'

Italy has encouraged the shutdown of travel for its entire population as the European country currently has the highest coronavirus death rate in the world.

In a clip shared to Twitter on Wednesday, he strolls along the streets of Rome wearing a giant disc in an attempt to enforce social distancing amid the global outbreak

The man leaves the social media user who captured his appearance in hysterics as he visits Testaccio market while shielding himself from fellow shoppers in the elaborate object

Earlier this week, Italy implemented a nationwide lockdown in a desperate bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Social distancing, advised by WHO, involves maintaining at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who coughs or sneezes, as the small liquid droplets sprayed could contain the virus.

The measure also includes staying at home if you have a cough or fever even if you have not travelled and 'cocooning' elderly people suspected of being more vulnerable to the infection.

The European country has the highest coronavirus death rate in the world

An empty street due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak in Alzano Lomabardo last week

At least 125,000 patients have been infected and 4,000 have died since the outbreak began last December.

The virus has been spreading between humans in four continents since February 28, the WHO has admitted.

The killer coronavirus rapidly spreading around the world can survive in the air for three hours, scientists have found.

US government researchers, who worked with other experts, also found the deadly infection can live on surfaces for up to three days.

Tests showed the virus can survive on copper for four hours, cardboard for an entire day and up to 72 hours on plastic and steel.
Supporters of Armenian protest leader Nikol Pashinyan gather in Republic Square as parliament holds a session to elect a new prime minister in Yerevan, Armenia. (Reuters)

What can a tiny country, a dot on the map, offer a giant one like India? This has been a recurring thought for me since the tiny Caucasian country of Armenia opened up its embassy in New Delhi a decade ago. It stemmed from something purely personal  the love and warmth that I had received many summers ago when I had visited the place as a student. I have since travelled across the globe. Numerous countries have left their mark for some or the other reason. But tiny Armenia had captivated me with its haunting beauty and ancient if at times melancholic history; the love that people had for India and things Indian were beyond my expectation, besides, of course, the generosity and hospitality (which would require a separate article).

Many Indians still struggle to find Armenia on the map, but Armenians know India well. Small compact nations tend to know their history well. So it was Armenians who told me how their first constitution had been drafted in the city of Chennai; Armenians were away that their diasporas existed in cities as far flung as Kolkata, that one of the oldest hotels there had been built by an Armenian, and that an Armenian school and college still exist there. Bollywood had also done its bit to endear us to the Armenians; children from Armenia come to India each year and do their schooling at the Armenian College in Kolkata. The groundwork for good bilateral ties had already been cemented by history.

Modi-Pashashian meeting

Some high-level bilateral meetings have taken place between the two countries.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Armenian President Nikol Pashashian in New York in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Had extensive deliberations with PM @NikolPashinyan. We talked about expanding India-Armenia cooperation in aspects relating to technology, pharmaceuticals and agro-based industries. PM Pashinyan also referred to the popularity of Indian movies, music and Yoga in Armenia, he had tweeted after the meeting.

This news gained currency because just days before that Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had stridently condemned Indias recent reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir state. It seemed only natural, therefore, and wise, for India to try and cultivate closer ties with countries inimical to Turkey, of which Armenia is one, because of the genocide of Armenians during Ottoman times, which Turkey has not yet acknowledged, and next, because of Turkeys cooperation with Azerbaijan during the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

But there are other merits for India to develop relations with Armenia and the Caucasian region in general. For one, Armenia has a full vote in the UN General Assembly and it is important at a time when India is shoring up support for itself in the UN for a seat in the expanded UN Security Council. Moreover, Armenia fully appreciates Indias position on Kashmir, has no diplomatic relations with Pakistan, and has almost total convergence with India on bilateral and multilateral issues. In the words of Ambassador Achal Malhotra who had earlier served as Indias ambassador to Armenia, It is difficult to identify an issue which can be termed as a bilateral irritant.

Next, it is a great tourist destination, with ancient sites, delectable cuisine, and home to the famed Armenian cognac. With many Armenian heritage sites in India, some kind of joint heritage tourism can be and should be developed (Armenian heritage sites are interesting for Armenians outside of Armenia too).

Silicon Valley of the CIS

More recent developments, however, demonstrate yet another angle to bilateral relations. Last month, India clinched a deal worth $40 million with the Caucasian country to supply it four indigenously built weapon-locating radars. The SWATHI radars have been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This opens up new vistas of cooperation for both countries and defence cooperation is always long term. Such sales, while helping countries like Armenia as they are cheaper than their European counterparts, also opens up new markets for India and will give a big boost to indigenous defence production in India.

Armenia is considered the Silicon Valley of the CIS, and is a member of the Eurasian Economic Community and also has a partnership agreement with the European Union. Sitting on the threshold of Europe, in the heart of the Caucuses, and having a border with Iran, Armenias geo-political location is significant. By deepening ties with the country, India would have everything to gain, and nothing to lose.

Aditi Bhaduri is a widely published journalist and political analyst, tracking West, South, and Central Asia.
Jersey City has canceled its annual St. Patricks Day Parade on Sunday in response to the growing number of coronavirus cases in the state, city officials announced this afternoon.

In social media posts, Mayor Steve Fulop said the city, out of an abundance of caution, is canceling all city-sponsored or city-involved events, including a police graduation ceremony, senior events, meetings of the planning board and zoning board, as well as most recreation events.

2/3 We are canceling all #JerseyCity sponsored (or JC involved events). We will reassess in 1-week. Events include the JC St Patricks Day Parade, JCPD graduation ceremony, senior events, planning board, zoning board, most recreation events etc. - we are also going to cont  Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) March 11, 2020

We will reassess in one week, the mayor said in a Twitter post. Fulop pointed out that there have been no reported coronavirus cases in Jersey City.

There have been 23 confirmed presumptive cases of COVID-19, the new strain of coronavirus, in New Jersey, including one in West New York. Across the United States, some 1,100 people have been infected.

Fulop also said the city will reach out to venues that host private groups of 25 or more and ask them to maintain contact information for all guests in case a guest is confirmed to have the coronavirus.

Well leave these policies in place until we see a decrease in confirmed NJ cases, Fulop said.

Earlier today New York City officials announced that its annual St. Patricks Day Parade has been canceled as well.
Home minister Amit Shah said the NDA government was not running away from a discussion on Delhi communal riots and had set the dates for the discussion in both the houses after the Holi festival keeping the need to maintain communal harmony.

Shah was responding on Thursday in Rajya Sabha to the debate on the Delhi riots in February that took 52 lives.

Shah responded to several allegations made by the opposition benches including that the Delhi police was not registering FIRs of all complainants.

Explaining that multiple FIRs couldnt be registered on a single incident, the home minister said counter-claims on the same incident were attached to the existing FIRs.

Over 700 FIRs had been registered till date Shah said.

Shah reiterated that the investigations were being done in a completely scientific manner and that not a single guilty individual will be spared by the government.

1170 faces had been recognized till yesterday, 1,922 faces and individuals have been identified until Thursday morning. These people have been seen rioting, throwing stones, damaging property, said Shah.

Shah said there are forty teams deployed by the Delhi police to arrest the identified culprits.

According to figures provided by him in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, 52 people were killed, 526 were injured, 371 shops were burnt and 142 homes were destroyed in the riots.
Photos of a virtually deserted Bali Airport have revealed the devastating impact COVID-19 coronavirus is having on the Indonesian island's tourism industry.

The photographs of Ngurah Rai International Airport were taken by an employee from Kania Bali Tour at 9.30am on Thursday.

They showed the once-bustling international airport almost devoid of people, accompanied by the caption: 'Bali Airport Today at 9.30am. Very Empty. Bali very sad and hard life.'

Indonesia has 34 confirmed cases of the virus, including a 53-year-old woman from the UK who died from COVID-19 on the holiday island on Wednesday morning.

Photos of Ngurah Rai International Airport show the severe damage the coronavirus is doing to Bali's tourism industry

A major foyer in the airport is a wasteland as people cancel their holidays due to coronavirus

The tour group employee told Daily Mail Australia that March is normally a busy time.

'Every country has travel warnings now not to travel to Indonesia,' he said.

'I understand that corona is very bad for the tourism industry, but now everyone is scared come to Bali.'

He used the comments section on the airport's Facebook page to plead with tourists to give his company some business.

'If you still come to Bali for your holiday, use our transport service,' he wrote.

The tour operator explained that by visiting the resort holiday island and spending money, customers can help local families survive the slump.

The tour group employee told Daily Mail Australia that March is normally a busy time for Bali

Pictured: an empty car park at Bali's international airport. An employee from Kania Bali Tour company said the airport is normally busy in March

'No tourists, no money,' he wrote.

Bali lovers and travellers who booked their holidays through the tour group were both worried and devastated by the photos.

'Soooo hoping our holiday doesn't get cancelled,' one person commented.

'Hopefully you still come,' an employee replied.

'Omg I've never seen this. So sad for Bali,' another wrote.

But many Facebook users vowed to go ahead with their travel plans to support the island's struggling tourism industry.

Pictured: Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in busier tims. Many Facebook users vowed to go ahead with their travel plans to support the island's struggling tourism industry

People walking through Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali in July 2019

'We will be there March 26 and I can't wait,' one woman wrote.

'We are coming for Easter,' another commented.

Government advice for Australians going to Indonesia was upgraded last week to advise them to 'exercise a high level of caution' due to the spread of the virus.

Indonesia announced seven new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday night.

A health officer checks a domestic flight passenger's temperature on arrival at Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia on March 10

Health officers wear face mask as they wait for domestic passengers at Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia on March 10

The Chair of Balis COVID-19 task force, Dewa Made Indra, said the 53-year-old British woman who died had underlying conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and lung disease, 7 News reported.

She started showing symptoms on March 3 - three days after she arrived on the island - and was treated for five days before she was taken to Sanglah Hospital, near Kuta, where she died.

Bali authorities believe she did not get the virus on the island.

Mr Indra said everyone who she came into contact with the virus has been contacted and asked to self-isolate.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Terakeet, a search engine optimization company based in Armory Square, directed its 250 employees Thursday to work from home until further notice as a precaution against the growing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

No one at Terakeet has come down with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. But CEO Mac Cummings said he decided it would be most prudent to have employees work from home to minimize the chance of any getting the disease and spreading it to co-workers.

Were not trying to alarm people, he said. Were trying to protect our employees.

Employees were told of the decision after reporting to work Thursday morning and will be leaving the office after meetings with managers, he said.

Cummings said employees have the tools -- laptops and access to cloud-based teleconferencing and document-sharing services -- to continue serving clients from home.

We dont want people to think were shutting down, he said. Its actually business as usual but in a temporarily remote environment.

In an email to employees, the company said the work-from-home policy will remain in effect until further notice, but at least through March 27, by which time we may better understand the implications of the virus in Central NY.

This is really uncharted territory, said Cummings, the companys co-founder. I didnt receive any training in college on what to do if there was a worldwide virus outbreak.

As an SEO company, Terakeet helps its clients marketing by improving the prominence of their online content in search engines. About 220 of its employees work from its headquarters in Washington Station at 333 W. Washington St. Its other 30 employees work from other locations around the country.

Terakeet is not the first Syracuse company to direct its employees to work from home because of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic.

On Wednesday, The Post-Standard | syracuse.com closed its downtown office for cleaning and directed its employees to work remotely for the day. It took the action as a precaution after an employee attended a conference out of state where another attendee was later diagnosed with the virus. The news organizations office in Merchants Commons reopened on Thursday.

Cummings said he expects other local companies to adopt work-from-home policies in the coming days.

We think the real disruption will come from not being proactive, he said.

Coronavirus: Syracuse University area businesses brace for impact of no students

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148

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Amir Bastawrous and his wife Sarah are doctors based in Seattle. They found themselves unexpectedly at home caring for their kids after schools closed. Amir Bastawrous

Dr. Amir Bastawrous and his wife Dr. Sarah Bastawrous are both physicians working in Seattle, one of the regions hardest hit by the COVID-19 coronavirus. With Seattle-area schools closed until at least April 24, his wife, who's a radiologist, has had to stay home from the veterans clinic where she works to take care of their daughters. On Thursday, Amir, who's a surgeon and medical director at Swedish, said he canceled appointments with patients as well as elective procedures to be with the kids. The family is also using some backup care from a local daycare as much as they can -- a benefit offered through Swedish, which is part of the Providence St. Joseph hospital chain. The benefit involves a small co-pay but covers the cost for ten days, which is more generous than most employers in the U.S., including hospitals and clinics. "The school closure will affect those who rely on out-of-home child care," said Bastawrous. "That's not limited to physicians; it's also environmental services staff, nurses and administrators." Hospitals across the country are scrambling to figure out how to help their medical staff who are also parents. That extends beyond the providers to the environmental services workers, who are responsible for hygiene and play a vital role in mitigating the risk of infection within hospitals. These workers are needed on site more than ever with the rise of coronavirus cases in the United States. But many have been left without childcare, and don't have the resources to keep paying out of pocket if school closures stretch out. Now they face a big question: If they're at the hospital caring for a flood of patients who need them, who's looking after their kids?

Beginning of the storm

"We're worried about our workforce," said Providence CEO Rod Hochman by phone. Hochman said that Providence has hired many doctors who are single parents, as well as couples who are both in the medical profession. "We are thinking about how this will affect their ability to come in to the hospital," said Hochman. "That's troubling as we're at the beginning of the storm, and we think we haven't seen the worst of the virus." Providence offers its daycare benefit through a local service called Bright Horizons, according to Hochman, and is working to understand how many of their doctors will be impacted. The hospital chain is confident that Bright Horizons, which offers center-based and in-home care, will have capacity to help it through the current situation, and that it's willing to extend the daycare benefit for longer than the customary ten days. As well as hospitals, the Governor of Washington Jay Inslee also asked on Thursday for free childcare for healthcare workers and first responders who need to be at work. But experts say there are no obvious solutions with so many parents likely to need childcare. It may not advisable be for kids to be placed with grandparents, who are among the highest-risk groups as the virus continues to spread. Some daycare centers are already closing and others will likely have trouble to keep up with the demand if schools continue to close in other parts of the country. Making matters more challenging, many doctors in the United States have moved away from their home states for residency programs so they don't have close friends and family nearby. "The US is still one of the most geographically mobile countries in the world, so there are a lot of people who aren't near any extended family," said Nicole Rodgers, founder and executive director of Family Story, a think tank dedicated to understanding how individuals are forming and reforming families in America. "I can't imagine what people are going to do with their children. This is when we would ideally lean on our communities and share the burden of filling in and caring for each others' kids. But when we're being asked to practice social distancing, that might not be feasible. It's a truly impossible situation."

The need for collaboration

Some hospitals are thinking in new and innovative ways to keep their health care workers on site. At UW Medicine in Seattle, clinicians have received emails from human resources about plans to "activate additional resources." The emails, which have been viewed by CNBC, indicated that the health system is talking to local university programs that can match accredited students with "interest in child development" to families in need. The hospital is also hoping to contract with local childcare services. "Short-term, we are asking that all staff with school-age children quickly review and active their individual disaster contingency plans as they relate to childcare support," one email reads. "This may include turning to friends and family for additional help." A spokesperson for UW Medicine confirmed that the health system is in the midst of formulating a plan, and that employees currently have access to in-center care or at-home care. The current cap, however, is five uses per employee per calendar year. Some doctors have been preparing for school closures for weeks independently of their work. Dr. Anita Thomas, an emergency medicine physician at Seattle Children's, said her peers started creating lists of high school-age kids who can watch the younger ones at home while their parents are treating patients. "There is backup (child)care through some employers but that will definitely get filled," she said. Dr. Thomas noted that it's also a challenge for partners who can work from home to manage toddlers on their own without help. "It's so hard to do that without resorting to screen time," she said. In her view, collaboration is more important than ever. "Since daycares and schools are closing and we are required to be there as frontline healthcare staff, there are groups of my colleagues that are banding together," she said.
A senior director of a firm in Uttar Pradeshs Greater Noida opened fire at two of the company directors in a board meeting on Thursday, the police said.

Pradeep Aggrawal, a director in UP Telelinks Limited director, shot two senior officials of the company, Naresh and Rakesh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Harish Chander said. The police identified the two directors only by their first names.

Aggarwal later shot himself, Chander added. The incident happened in Badalpur area, about 60 kilometres from Delhi.

While Aggarwal and Gupta are dead, Jain has been admitted to a hospital. Police say the three directors had some business issues, and the firing is a result of that.

UP Telelinks Limited manufactures wire harnesses, cable assemblies and battery operated vehicles. It started business in 1984.

The company has manufacturing plants in Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad and Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand.

More details are awaited.
The Supreme Court bench asked the Uttar Pradesh government under which law it publicly pasted the posters of the protesters who demonstrated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

Highlighting the issue of privacy, Justice UU Lalit said that while the court agrees there should not be unruly behaviour, there must be some law which backs the action of putting up the hoardings. In this case, there is no backing of law, said Justice Lalit.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, then presented a precedent set by the court in its 1994 judgement in R Rajagopal vs State of Tamil Nadu on the issue of privacy. He contended that people who resort to violence and point guns during protest cannot claim right to privacy.

The court, however, refused to stay Allahabad High Court judgement ordering removal of these posters but referred the question of law to a larger bench. The matter requires further elaboration and consideration, the two-judge bench said.

The court was hearing a plea filed by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging the Allahabad high courts March 9 order directing it to remove hoardings containing photos and other personal details of people, who allegedly took part in anti-CAA protests.

A high court bench of chief justice Govind Mathur and justice Ramesh Sinha had ruled that the state governments action of erecting the hoardings in Lucknow with personal details of the alleged anti-CAA protestors amounted to an infringement of their privacy.

Privacy is an intrinsic part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution and the actions of the state government amount to an unwarranted interference with the same, the high court added, while directing authorities to remove the hoardings immediately and submit a compliance report on or before March 16.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had on March 5 put up several hoardings across Lucknow, identifying those accused of violence during the protests that took place against the CAA in December last year.

The names, photographs and residential addresses of the accused were on the hoardings and triggered concerns over the safety of those who figured on them. The accused were also asked to pay for the damages to public and private property caused during the protests within a stipulated time or have their properties seized.

The high court on March 7 registered a suo motu public interest litigation and asked the district magistrate and police commissioner of Lucknow to give details about the law under which such hoardings were put up.

On March 8, the high court pulled up the state government for putting up such hoardings and termed it as an insult of state and its public, highly unjust and an encroachment on the personal liberty of the people concerned.

The high court also brushed aside the governments argument that the hoardings were meant to act as a deterrent so that such acts are not repeated. It added while the state is entitled to take actions for the maintenance of law and order, it should not come at the cost of fundamental rights of people.
BURLINGTON, Mass., and PLANO, Texas, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NYSE: KDP) today announced the appointment of Mauricio Leyva, a highly accomplished executive with over 25 years of broad business experience, to the newly-created role of President, International and Business Development. Reporting to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Gamgort, Leyva will join the Company's Executive Leadership Team and will be responsible for leading KDP's Canadian and Mexican business units and the Company's external growth initiatives, including strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions across all geographies.

Commenting on the announcement, Gamgort stated, "We are pleased to welcome Mauricio to the Keurig Dr Pepper leadership team. His extensive experience in the global beverage business will be a valuable addition to the Company, as we continue to strengthen and optimize our existing international presence. Mauricio's proven leadership and relevant experience will support the delivery of Keurig Dr Pepper's bold vision and ambitious financial targets."

Leyva most recently served as a Senior Adviser at JAB Holding, supporting the group's global beverage and coffee team. Prior to JAB, he was CEO at Grupo Lala, a Mexican dairy company, with plants and distribution centers in Mexico, Brazil, the United States and Central America. Before that, Leyva held senior executive roles at AB InBev, serving as President of the Middle Americas Zone and CEO of Grupo Modelo, and at SABMiller, including serving as Chairman and Managing Director of its flagship South African market.

Leyva holds a postgraduate diploma in International Management from Universite de Nancy, France, and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia. He has also completed an Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford.

About Keurig Dr Pepper

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with annual revenue in excess of $11 billion and 25,000+ employees. KDP holds leadership positions in soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, water, juice and juice drinks and mixers, and markets the #1 single serve coffee brewing system in the U.S. and Canada. The Company's portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partner brands is designed to satisfy virtually any consumer need, any time, and includes Keurig, Dr Pepper, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Canada Dry, Snapple, Bai, Mott's, CORE and The Original Donut Shop. Through its powerful sales and distribution network, KDP can deliver its portfolio of hot and cold beverages to nearly every point of purchase for consumers. The Company is committed to sourcing, producing and distributing its beverages responsibly through its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform, including efforts around circular packaging, efficient natural resource use and supply chain sustainability. For more information, visit, www.keurigdrpepper.com.

Contact information

Investors:

Tyson Seely

(781) 418-3352

t[email protected]

Steve Alexander

(972) 673-6769

[email protected]

Media:

Katie Gilroy

(781) 418-3345

[email protected]

SOURCE Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.

Related Links

http://www.keurigdrpepper.com


Favourable demographics and rising middle class population are driving the life insurance industry growth in the country. The industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% to reach IDR253 trillion (US$17.1 billion) in 2024, said Madhuri Pingali, insurance analyst at GlobalData.

Despite the fast growth rate of the market, Indonesian insurers are facing many challenges. Consumer confidence has suffered a blow due to crises involving state-owned insurers. The countrys fifth-largest insurer, Asuransi Jiwasraya, which has a 5.9% market share, is on the brink of collapse due to alleged fraud and mismanagement and is awaiting government bailout. Other state-owned insurers are also suffering in similar situations.

While the government funding will help solve short-term problems, easier capital access will be helpful for the long-term growth of the industry, the report said.

As a result, the government relaxed foreign investment restrictions in January 2020. This means that foreign investors, who were previously allowed to own up to 80% in insurers, are now exempt from such a limit. This will enable overseas investors to inject funds in their Indonesian ventures. Regulations require that the foreign insurers must raise capital through a primary issue.

The relaxation of investment restrictions was a long standing demand of incumbent insurers, said Pingali. The domestic life insurance industry is dominated by foreign joint ventures, which have 57% market share. Access to additional capital will bolster their efforts to expand business and strengthen consumer confidence.
Chrissy Brackett and grandson Caidence Miller, a 4th grader at Cottage Lake Elementary, struggle to navigate the online learning system the Northshore School District will use for two weeks due to coronavirus concerns, at Brackett's home in Woodinville, Washington, March 11. / Reuters-Yonhap



LONDON, March 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As coronavirus sweeps the Seattle area, with more than 20 deaths so far in one of the worst outbreaks in the United States, the University of Washington this week shuttered its classrooms in a bid to contain the spread of the disease.



But lecturer Ian Schnee's philosophy class for 300 students took place as scheduled on Monday - just online. Eighty tuned in live, with more expected to watch the recording later.



Schnee's other teaching also happened virtually, with 20 students joining a video-streaming chatroom to share answers to logic problems and ask questions before upcoming exams.



"I could share my desktop and other students could share theirs", the same as with the office whiteboard, he said. "Doing it virtually was a pretty rich experiment."



Recently, some of the university's 40,000 students and professors have been exploring options to curb planet-warming emissions, in part through greater use of video-conferencing technology.



But restrictions triggered by coronavirus have swiftly turned ideas into a large-scale, real-time trial.

"It's become de facto a massive experiment in education," Schnee told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone. "It's like a crash course in new technology."



As a growing coronavirus pandemic shuts down conferences, transport, schools and sporting events worldwide, it is also nudging people toward new behaviours and technologies that may have lasting impacts on the emissions driving climate change.



Not all are positive. The threat of contracting the virus, for instance, is pushing some public transport users into taxis to avoid crowds - though others are taking to bicycles and other green means of getting around.



And a global slowdown in air travel, which has curbed emissions so far this year, could bounce back with a delayed surge in demand for flights if the virus tails off, climate experts warn.



But as organisers of conferences, political negotiations and classes scramble to switch to digital events - and even doctors consult online to try to avoid spreading the virus - huge amounts of emissions from travel, in particular, are being avoided, creating a knock-on effect that could persist.



New tele-commuters



Japan is one example of a country getting its first real taste of working from home, in a culture that has never adopted that option.



"Japan doesn't have a 'working at home' policy. People go to work whether they are sick or not," said Niklas Hohne of the German-based NewClimate Institute, which supports action to address climate change.



"But now with coronavirus, they can't do that, so they are learning to work at home - and they might continue doing it. It might lead to a consistent change in behavioural patterns and lower emissions," said the emissions reductions expert.

In virus-hit Seattle, big employers such as Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook and Google all have urged or allowed staff to work remotely.



"There's definitely a tele-commuting movement going on, not just at the university but all around Seattle," Schnee said.

When classrooms shut for at least two weeks starting on Monday at the University of Washington, "it was so sudden a lot of students felt at sea and a lot of faculty were scrambling", he said.



But three days on, "there's much less scepticism (among professors), and an acceptance that even though it's not their normal experience they can pull it off", the lecturer said.



They might even acquire the skills to be comfortable continuing with it, he predicted.



Kelly Levin, an emissions specialist with the Washington-based World Resources Institute (WRI), said the coronavirus experience could spur a rethink about whether big international meetings are worth the huge environmental and financial costs.



"This is giving us some space to pause and re-evaluate," she said, noting virtual meetings also can benefit some groups, from disabled participants to those who can't travel for family or other reasons.



Colin Marshall, who organises seminars for the University of Washington's philosophy department, said a pre-virus commitment to begin having 15% "virtual" speakers had allowed them to land an April guest they had otherwise failed for years to attract.



Technology offers the possibility "to make academia more equitable and just better", he said. "More people will be in a position to be involved in things that weren't before."



Drawbacks



But virtual conferencing is not well suited to everyone, warned Anna Schulz, who works on climate policy with some of the world's least-developed countries for the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development.

Where internet is patchy or unreliable - a problem in many poorer parts of the world - holding negotiations or conferences online would "further marginalise vulnerable voices", she said.



As she and colleagues prepare for November's U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, "we're in the process of trying to rethink what diplomacy looks like in the face of an inability to meet with people", she said.

As the pandemic stretches around the globe, there may be time for new habits to take hold, some of them lower-carbon.



"Behavioural sciences suggest a disruption is one of the few things that can disturb habits," WRI's Levin said.

But how much the coronavirus will cut emissions - or reduce in a lasting way high-carbon activities such as flying - remains unclear, analysts said.



"There are a lot of unknowns right now," Levin said.


BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

By Huseyn Safarov  Trend:

Azerbaijan has sufficient foreign exchange reserves in case of cataclysms in the field of energy, Ukrainian diplomat and political analyst Vadym Triukhan told Trend.

The political analyst reminded that the panic around the spread of coronavirus led to a drop in oil demand due to emerging trends of slowing economic growth.

"Russia did not agree to the proposal to reduce oil production and this was the decisive reason for the collapse in oil prices, Triukhan added.

The Russian Federation proposed to maintain the current terms of the deal, while Saudi Arabia offered to further reduce oil production, the analyst said. The countries could not agree on either changing the parameters of the agreement or extending it. However, in case of a drop in oil prices, it is necessary to be cold-blooded as they vary due to a number of factors.

Triukhan said that as a result of such crises, the winners are the most technologically advanced countries with stable political systems that can effectively respond to the changing situation.

"It is highly likely that the competitiveness and diversification of the Azerbaijani economy will protect the country from various risks, the political analyst said. An increase in the share of the non-oil sector may serve as the main factor that will form a kind of immunity of the Azerbaijani economy.

If Azerbaijan retains great volumes of foreign trade, as well as the growth of the non-oil sector of the national economy, then it seems quite possible to be protected from the negative consequences of the crisis, Triukhan said.

The countries that use the revenues from the export of oil and other raw materials in advance to achieve this goal, are more prepared for such global crises, the political analyst said. Therefore, the current crisis is a chance to rethink the models of own economy and trade for many countries, which for various reasons greatly depend on the export of raw materials.

----

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Casual workers who want financial help as they isolate themselves or seek medical treatment for coronavirus will have to apply for Centrelink to access the government's Sickness Allowance, which will be abolished and rolled into another payment in just over a week.

But it will take up to five days to get registered with Centrelink, and they may have to wait up to 13 weeks if they have money in the bank.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday that casual workers who were affected by coronavirus would be able to apply the long-standing Sickness Allowance payment.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a multibillion-dollar stimulus package in Canberra on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"It is a Newstart-level payment and people who are casual employees that wouldnt be able to go to work or because they have to self-isolate or, indeed, have the virus, they would be able to access that payment," Mr Morrison said.
12.03.2020 LISTEN

An aspirant in the NPP parliamentary primaries in the Jaman South constituency, Hon. Alex Awuah, has called for unity among members of the party ahead of the April 25 Presidential and Parliamentary primaries.

According to him, the NPP can only continue their good works if they desist from backbiting and rather engage in aggressive grassroots campaign ahead of the 2020 elections with unison.

The Deputy Managing Director of ARB Apex Bank made the call in an interview with Jaman Radio and seized the opportunity to call on the NPP party delegates in the area to listen to issues that would see the interest of the party first.

This, he noted, will go a long way to strengthen the party ahead of the 2020 general elections.

He warned members of the party to desist from favoritism and tribalism during campaign.

He said measures will be put in place at the constituency level to train the party communicators when he is elected.

The move, according to him, will help the party communicators be on top of issues and communicate in an eloquent manner that will convince the voter.

Hon. Alex Awuah called on both new and old executives of the NPP in the area to work together and take each others suggestion into consideration.

This, according to him, will help the party retain power in the upcoming 2020 general elections.

He called on the delegates who will vote in the upcoming presidential and primaries of the NPP to vote for a winnable candidate.

The ARB Apex Bank deputy director called on the members of the party to develop the spirit of forgiveness and volunteerism in all their endeavors.

Hon. Alex Awuah however, pledged to support any person who the delegates or the party would eventually choose as the party's candidate for the area.
UPDATE: As of 8:44 AM local time, the Butte County couple facing uncertainty over returning home to the United States from Europe, reports to Action News Now they have been able to purchase tickets to return home. Barring any additional changes, they anticipate returning Sunday, March 15, 2020.

MADRID, Spain - A Butte County couple traveling in Europe is now expressing concern over their options for returning home to the United States, after learning of the travel ban issued by President Trump Wednesday evening.

James and Kristi, first arrived in Spain on March 6, 2020, and are currently staying in Portugal.

They say they received an alert Thursday morning advising the ban would take effect soon. At that point, they say they made plans to cut their trip short and were able to book a flight out; flying back to the states. But, they say that flight got canceled at the last minute.

Adding to their concerns; they say they received somewhat conflicting messages from news reports and the U.S. Department of State, as to what is and what is not allowed for travel for Americans. Their concerns: will they be able to fly home from Spain? Will they be able to book last minute? Is San Francisco International Airport; their intended arrival airport, classified as one in which the U.S. Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures?

RELATED: Trump suspends travel between US and Europe for 30 days

In Portugal, there are currently 21 cases of coronavirus while there are more than 2,000 cases in Spain.

James and Kristi say if for some reason they are unable to get back home, they will stay in Portugal for several days, then hope to book a direct flight from Spain.

The soon to be implemented travel ban does not apply to Ireland or the United Kingdom.

RELATED: COVID-19 - Important links and resources

If the couple is not allowed to take a flight out of Spain, they say while it would be an inconvenience, they would travel to the UK to catch a flight home.
Pasadena senior adults felt the impact of precautions regarding the global novel coronavirus pandemic Thursday when the city closed its senior center until further notice.

The Madison Jobe Senior Center, 1700 Thomas Ave., has been a place where many members of the citys elderly population had access numerous activities and special events, along with offering classes and sponsoring day trips.

Although no cases of coronavirus have been reported in Pasadena, the virus has proven especially dangerous for older adults.

The closure is really a preemptive measure, because it is a vulnerable population, city spokeswoman Laura Branch Mireles said. (Mayor Jeff Wagner) felt that it was in the best interest of public safety for them not to have any group gatherings.

We havent heard any announcements of anybody going through there that was infected or had been exposed (to the coronavirus), but we wanted to get ahead of this thing, Mireles said.

However, some groups that meet at the senior center will hold teleconferences, Mireles said.

The announcement raised some concerns among the citys seniors, but it was not themselves they were worried about.

They had several calls from their regulars and they were very concerned about the staff members, Mireles said. Were they going to get paid? Were they going to get laid off? Its like a family over there.

Senior center workers are still on the job.

The staff is fine, they are staying busy and they are not losing any work hours, Mireles said. Its all good.

Madison Jobe workers are giving the senior center a deep cleaning and performing other organizational tasks, Mireles said.

John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com.
Smith's sells out of bathroom tissue, hand sanitizer

Shelves normally holding bathroom tissue were completely empty at Smith's Tuesday morning. Heavy demand for the tissue, as well as hand sanitizer are attributed to fears related to the spread of coronavirus.

As illness caused by the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world, with many states throughout the country reporting cases, local awareness continues to grow.

The new strain of coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, causes a respiratory illness similar to the flu. However, according to the World Health Organization, about one in six people become severely ill and develop problems breathing. Elderly people, as well as those with underlying medical issues like high blood pressure or diabetes are more likely to develop severe symptoms that require medical treatment. More than 100,000...
A British servicewoman killed in a missile attack in Iraq has been named.

Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon, 26, died in the incident at Camp Taji.

Her commanding officer said she was a hugely popular character in a tribute on Thursday, adding he was proud and humbled to have served alongside her.

Lieutenant Colonel William Leek, Commanding Officer Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, said: She was a larger than life soldier who was determined to deploy on operations, help others, develop herself and gain practical experience.

She had already achieved a great deal in her relatively short time with us and it was abundantly clear that she was destined for great things in her civilian and military careers. Her loss is keenly felt.

My deepest condolences go to her family and loved ones. They are in my thoughts and prayers, and those of the wider Regimental family.

Two American soldiers were also killed in the rocket attack on Camp Taji and a dozen more personnel were wounded.

Earlier on Thursday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the attack would not be tolerated, while Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was a cowardly act .

We will defend against these deplorable acts & hold those responsible to account, Mr Raab tweeted. My thoughts are with the families of those killed.
In response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Wells College has decided to extend its ongoing spring break by a week.

The Aurora-based school made the decision to push back the return of students to campus on Wednesday, the same day Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced all state-run schools, including Cayuga Community College, will be moving to a distance learning model in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading.

For Wells students, classes had been scheduled to resume on Monday, March 16. The new date for resuming classes will be Monday, March 23. The college also said it will continue to monitor the situation, and additional actions could be taken.

Before students went on spring break at the end of last week, Wells communicated with the campus community to urge caution. On a dedicated page on its website, the Aurora-based college said while there haven't been "no reports of any member of the campus community" contracting the coronavirus, the college has been monitoring the situation in partnership with its community medical center, the Cayuga County Health Department, and the New York State Department of Health.

The college also requested that every student traveling away from campus fill out a form detailing where they were traveling for the matter, no matter the destination. In a page on the request, the college asked students to not return to campus if they feel sick. They were also asked to contact their local care provider who can assess their condition. Anyone exhibiting symptoms will need to self-quarantine for 14 days before they can come come back to campus.

Those staying on campus during the break are asked to call the community medical center before they visit the office. Wells Provost Cindy Speaker said in an update on virus precautions to faculty that per college policy, "international travel to countries with U.S. State Department Travel Advisory levels of 3 and 4 is restricted." These areas include Italy, China and South Korea.

"For any travel, I urge you to be prepared. Know what the impact of the virus is on your planned destination. Also be aware that your travel may become restricted due to public health and safety precautions," Speaker said.

Speaker had also told faculty to prepare for alternatives to classroom instructions.

"Should it be determined that the campus needs to suspend residential operations this semester, we need to be prepared to offer students alternate instruction so that they can complete their coursework and earn academic credit. To that end, I am asking faculty to be prepared to provide alternate instruction opportunities," 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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Once one of Atlantic Citys iconic hotels, the Trump Plaza tower could very well be going away in 2020.

Officials in Atlantic City announced they would be filing an injunction in Superior Court Thursday afternoon to demolish a tower at Trump Plaza after an inspection deemed the building an imminent hazard.

Atlantic City Director of Licensing and Inspections for Dale Finch said he received a call around 11 a.m. Sunday from Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his chief of staff Ernest Coursey about panels that had fallen from an area at least 15 stories high from the building and had left debris on the ground. After discussions and inspection with city construction official Anthony Cox, the property was declared an imminent hazard.

Atlantic City Fire Department Chief Scott Evans utilized drone footage of the exposed areas, explaining the panels that had fallen were approximately around the 18th floor of the building. Evans said that behind the panels of the building, corrosion has set in, and wind and water had helped push the panels off of the building.

Plywood has been placed inside the building to prevent wind from entering and accelerating the process, but the water has expanded in areas, leading to pieces falling off of the building.

These buildings need to maintained, and they need to be kept safe, Evans said. The most important thing for us is public safety. We need to ensure that the owners of these buildings do not create a situation that is going to pose a threat or risk to the city, or to any pedestrians for that matter, that are within the vicinity of this building.

Construction on the building began in 1982, with its official opening happening in 1984. After the casino closed in 2014, it has remained empty. Ichan Enterprises, owned by Carl Ichan, currently controls the property after assuming ownership of it in 2016.

The mayor stated the city has tried to worked with Carl Icahn Enterprises to figure out a solution for the Trump Plaza.

We have had negotiations with Trump Plaza owner Ichan Enterprises, and we had two sessions, the mayor said. He could not have been more generous. It is safe to say we are on the same page of getting this building down but we have different paths on how we get there. Part of my vision is to have a clean and safe city, said small sr. Right now, Trump Plaza is not clean, and it is not safe. When is this going to stop? When we have a fatality?

Hunter Gary, President of Real Estate for Ichan Enterprises, said the process to demolish the building had already begun.

We are puzzled by the citys actions, Gary said. In fact, we have already decided to demo the building and have commenced the process including finalizing contracts. If the mayor had simply called us instead of holding a press conference, we could have updated him too.

Special Advisor to the Mayor, Steven Perskie, said the city has a moral and legal obligation to protect the residents.

The city does not have the power itself to tear the building down, Perskie said. In order to do that, the city is filing the action in the Superior Court of New Jersey to get injunctive relief requiring the immediate demolition of the building and until demolition begins, sheathing the building.

The city has placed police officers around the building to keep people away. The city will also be setting up fences to create a buffer zone. City officials said in the past that panels have fallen on Columbia Avenue and some have almost made it to the boardwalk itself. The fences will create some distance to keep people from walking into specific areas.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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SAN CARLOS (BCN)

San Mateo County is urging its residents to be compassionate after state officials announced Wednesday that some passengers previously quarantined on the Grand Princess cruise ship due to the novel coronavirus will be temporarily housed at a San Carlos hotel.

The passengers being taken to the hotel are Americans who have been screened by medical professionals and have mild or no symptoms of the virus, also known as COVID-19, so they don't require hospitalization.

The San Carlos hotel is owned by the private company GRM Properties and can house up to 120 people and is currently unoccupied. None of the people taken there are known to have contracted COVID-19, but they will be tested and monitored, according to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services.

"We have been assured by federal and state authorities that the individuals now temporarily housed in San Carlos pose no health or safety risks to our residents or visitors," San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy said in a statement.

"They are now in a controlled environment managed and protected by the federal government," he said.

"We have a humanitarian responsibility to assist during this health crisis. These passengers have to go someplace. We will do everything we can to help and protect our citizenry from exposure," said San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley, whose supervisorial District 3 includes San Carlos.

The Governor's Office of Emergency Services and other state offices are handling the operations at the hotel. The county's Emergency Operations Center is providing around-the-clock support to the federal and state government's efforts.

The ship arrived at the Port of Oakland on Monday carrying more than 3,500 passengers and crewmembers, including 21 who had tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to the passengers headed to the San Carlos hotel, more than 650 other Grand Princess passengers were taken to both Travis Air Force Base near Fairfield and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego for 14-day quarantines.

"First and foremost, we want to ensure that these Americans, who have faced a great deal of adversity, are in good hands until they can return to their homes," state Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in a news release.

"Just as important is protecting the public health of our state and the communities that welcome these passengers, including San Carlos and San Mateo County," he said.

The county remains in a state of emergency, with 15 countywide cases reported as of Wednesday.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkeys export of steel to Russia from January through February 2020 made up $13.6 million, which is 53.4 percent more compared to the same period of 2019, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on March 12.

Turkeys export of steel to Russia in February 2020 increased to $8 million, which is 83.2 percent more compared to February 2019, the ministry noted.

From January through February 2020, export of steel from Turkey to world markets dropped by 9.5 percent compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $2.1 billion.

Turkeys steel export amounted to 7.4 percent of the countrys total export in January-February 2020.

In February 2020, Turkeys export of steel to world markets amounted to $1 billion, which is 15 percent less compared to the same month of 2019.

Turkeys steel export in February 2020 made up 6.9 percent of the countrys total export.

From February 2019 through February 2020, Turkey exported steel worth $13.6 million.

Turkeys foreign trade turnover in January 2020 exceeded $33.9 billion.

In January 2020, Turkey's total export exceeded $14.7 billion, which is increase by 6.4 percent compared to January 2019.

Turkey's total import increased by 18.8 percent in January 2020 compared to the same month of 2019 and exceeded $19.2 billion.

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
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."

Story continues

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.
CNBC's Jim Cramer blasted the U.S. government's response to the coronavirus on Thursday, arguing "this is the time for radical action."

"They know nothing. They know nothing. We know more than they do, and that's not acceptable either," Cramer said, hearkening back to his famous 2007 rant about the Federal Reserve before the financial crisis.

"I want the federal government to know more than me. I knew more than they did in 2007, and I know more than they do now and it is disappointing," he said on "Squawk on the Street."

Later Thursday, President Donald Trump said that markets will be "just fine." Trump made the comment as he was meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.

Cramer said he is worried that multiple companies in the S&P 500 could go bankrupt within four weeks due to the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus.

"Are we going to sit here and let so many companies go bankrupt because of an illness? I think that is stupid," Cramer said. "Once we settle that out and stop worrying about money, we can worry about health simultaneously. Right now we can't do both."

Cramer argued the government should temporarily suspend all manner of tax collection.

"Everyone owes the government at all time. Everyone in this country, individuals, corporations. That has to be suspended right now so they have more money," Cramer said.

"Are these radical actions? You bet they are," he added. "This is the time for radical action and the action can be done by the federal government."

About 30 minutes later, Cramer took a phone call live on CNBC at 9:38 a.m. ET. After hanging up, he said he believes the government is debating some big options to tackle the economic and financial markets crisis due to the outbreak.

"You're going to get clarity," he said.

Cramer's comments come after Trump's prime-time address on Wednesday, in which the president announced travel restrictions that would curtail travel from most of Europe to the U.S. for 30 days in an attempt to slow the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump also said he will be asking Congress to provide payroll tax relief for Americans and instructing the Small Business Administration to "provide capital and liquidity" for small businesses.
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

Lata Mangeshkar admitted to ICU in Mumbai Hospital after testing positive for Covid

Say no to panic, yes to precautions: PM Modi's message on coronavirus

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a series of tweet, has said that the government is "fully vigilant" about the coronavirus outbreak.

"Across ministries and states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure safety of all," PM Modi said, adding that no central minister will travel abroad in the upcoming days.

"I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel."

List of Coronavirus testing center in India

In a bid to contain the spread of noval corona virus has suspended all regular visas till April 15 in the wake of Coronavirus scare as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared COVID19 a 'pandemic'.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare late on Wednesday said that all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till the said date.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Apart from this all incoming travelers, including Indians, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15, 2020 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days, it said.

Coronavirus vaccine: Scientists in Israel likely to announce soon

The move came as the number of Coronavirus cases crossed 60 in the country. Out of the 73 cases, 16 are Italian tourists while the remaining are Indians.
WHY DONT YOU READ THESE?
Valued at $104.5 million and the face of over 20 big brands and almost every big hit in Bollywood, it is Akshay Kumars comic timing and sense of humour that the brand seeks as much as his mass appeal.

T E Narasimhan reports.



In an age where actors and brands spend every waking hour under the glare of a billion spotlights, endorsements are a fraught issue.

Ask PepsiCo India and Akshay Kumar, who have recently come together for Brand Kurkure, the corn puff snack that has traditionally spun its advertising narrative around fun and quirky tastes and targets young consumers across the country.

Both have run into a cloud of criticism and some loud carping over their choices.

Where is the brand fit between a health food and fitness fanatic and a snack brand and; how does a 52-year-old actor appeal to the young Kurkure consumer?

Dilen Gandhi, senior director and category head, Foods, PepsiCo India has no doubt that the brand and the endorser make a good team and is clear that the brand is harnessing the entertainer in Kumar.

We believe that Akshay Kumar, with his comic-timing and OTT (over the top) personality, personifies the brand tenets of Kurkure.

"Both have entertained Indian families for more than 20 years, in an endearing and fun manner, he says.

Kurkure stands for a fun snack and, the company said that at the end of the day, everyone including a celebrity would like to indulge.

Valued at $104.5 million (Duff & Phelps, Celebrity Brand Valuation 2019) and the face of over 20 big brands and almost every big hit in Bollywood, it is Kumars comic timing and sense of humour that the brand seeks as much as his mass appeal.

Kumar who has a huge fan following and is well known for his comic capers in the popular Hera Pheri (movie) franchise says, Kurkure for me has always been about fun and crazy times with family.

"The brands quirky and unconventional campaigns have stood the test of time and are remembered by all.

"I love entertaining the audience and am looking forward to adding zing and liveliness (to the brand) in a memorable and unique way.

Kurkure, a brand born in and made for India, has built its persona around being rooted in local tastes.

Its Tedha hai par mera hai (twisted but mine) campaign helped establish the premise and created huge recall for the brand.

However, in recent years, it has faced stiff competition from local and hyperlocal brands that have converted traditional domestic fare into packaged snacks.

And experts believe that this is where Kumar can help the brand rebuild its pan-Indian appeal.

With Kumar, the company has launched two new flavours, Kurkure Gazab Golmaal and Kurkure Hera Pheri Hungama, both names draw on a hit comedy franchise and its characters.

The ads are funny and have Kumar playing three generations of consumers.

He brings a dash of slapstick to the storyline and the ads clocked one million views in a day, the company said.

Kumar is also the face of the brand on digital and social media as well.

We believe the combination of Kurkure and Akshay Kumars wide appeal cuts across geographies and town-classes and can weave magic across the country, says Gandhi.

Does Kumars allure extend to the young consumers that PepsiCo wants to target?

Sandeep Goyal, advertising and media practitioner and founder Mogae Media believes so.

He has the necessary appeal and the requisite connect with millennial audiences, in fact much better than that of younger, emerging heroes, he says.

Using older heroes to reach out to the young is not just Kurkures choice, Salman Khan for Pepsi and Shah Rukh Khan for Byjus are directionally similar, Goyal points out.

Brand fit, according to several experts, has to be redefined in the age of social media.

Many older stars are extremely prolific with their tweets and posts and have managed to build a huge following on many platforms, brand are tapping into these spaces and not just the body of work or the age of the celebrity, they say.

However, Kurkure must be careful as to how it uses Kumar, warns Goyal.

The company must leverage the right attributes that represent Brand Kumar, which is beyond just humour and fun, he notes.

Photograph: Courtesy, akshaykumar via Instagram.
CAIRO - Thunderstorms packing heavy rains and lightning caused widespread flooding across Egypt on Thursday, killing at least five people and injuring five others, officials said as authorities shuttered schools, government offices and an airport.

A child died and five people were injured when floods demolished their houses in a rural area in the southern province of Qena, where lightning ignited several fires. Also in Qena, a motorist was killed when winds blew his car into a canal.

Photos and video footage circulated on social media showed flooded roads, damaged bus shelters and broken windows around the country.

In western New Valley province, a technician was electrocuted while trying to fix a lighting column that went off due to the rain, local officials said.

In southern Sohag province, a 35-year-old bystander died under the rubble of a wall that was knocked down by wind.

A 60-year-old man was electrocuted as he walked down the street in his village in the Delta province of Menoufeya.

Authorities shut down Luxor International Airport, a key hub for tourists, and three seaports  the Mediterranean port of Alexandria and the Red Sea ports of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada.

Nile River cruises between the southern cities of Luxor and Aswan, which harbour most of ancient Egypts monuments, were suspended and several key highways were closed.

The countrys railway authorities suspended train service nationwide, citing the bad weather. The announcement came shortly after two Cairo-bound trains collided near their final destination, injuring 13 people, according to health officials. Railroad officials later said in a statement the collision was due to a signal system error caused by the bad weather.

Officials earlier in the week announced that schools would be closed and suspended work in businesses and government offices after forecasters warned of heavy rains and flooding across much of the country through Saturday.

The prime ministers office on Wednesday advised Egyptians to stay home, prompting hundreds of people to line up outside grocery stores to stock up on supplies for the weekend.

Chaos always accompanies bad weather in Egypt, raising questions about the countrys poor infrastructure and dilapidated sewage and drainage systems.

Late Thursday, Cairos Water Authority announced it had suspended water service to the entire megacity because heavy rain had overwhelmed the vast sewage system. Water would return when the weather improved, it said, without offering an exact time.

In October, rain that slammed Cairo and other parts of the country flooded key roads and left at least eight people dead, including four children.
India recorded its first case of coronavirus caused death in Karnataka on Thursday after the state health department confirmed that the 76-year-old man from Kalburgi who passed away on Tuesday had tested positive for the disease that has infected 74 people in the country so far.

76-yr-old man from Kalburgi who passed away & was a suspected COVID-19 patient has been confirmed positive for COVID-19, said commissioner of Karnatakas health department.

He added that the administration had begun contact tracing and isolation of all those who came in touch with the man after his arrival and before his death. The man had also been treated in a hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The man had recently returned from Saudi Arabia and Karnataka officials till yesterday had said that his death was not due to coronavirus.

Karnataka Minister B Sriramulu had said that the man was suffering from pneumonia, hypertension and asthma and the government was waiting for the lab results from the National Institute of Virology, Pune before his death could be attributed to coronavirus.

The government officials, however, released a statement on Thursday evening confirming the death was due to coronavirus. Senior State health official Dr Suresh Shastri said the lab test has confirmed that the deceased man had Covid 19. The statement was soon retweeted by minister B Sriramulu.

The necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol are being carried out, added the release.

The mans condition had deteriorated shortly after his return from Saudi Arabia on February 29 and he is reported to have died on Tuesday night in an ambulance while being moved from Telangana to Karnataka

The man was first admitted to a hospital for flu-like symptoms on March 5 in Kalburgi and was later moved to a Hyderabad hospital by his family.

Telangana government was also informed about the case in order to facilitate contact tracing, isolation and other preventive measures in the state.

Sriramulu had said on Wednesday that the district health department has taken some precautions for the funeral of the deceased.

the state government had also suspended one Kalburgi district health official on the charge that he had revealed details about the patient including his name.

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On Wednesday afternoon, shortly before he was scheduled to speak to reporters, Mr. Trump rebuked congressional Democrats, who have indicated they arent waiting for the presidents guidance on an economic package to help the economy. Someone needs to tell the Democrats in Congress that CoronaVirus doesnt care what party you are in. We need to protect ALL Americans! Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter.

In interviews, a half-dozen Republicans close to the presidents campaign said that his re-election effort had become a political battleship, slow and creaky to turn, unlike the nimble race Mr. Trump ran in 2016. Several advisers worked on Tuesday to persuade Mr. Trump not to let the campaign announce a rally tentatively scheduled for the end of the month in Florida; those advisers ultimately won.

Aides have sent mixed signals about how they plan to approach Mr. Biden, with some wanting to portray him as a 2020 version of Hillary Clinton, and others wanting to try to define him as interchangeable with Mr. Sanders because of some of the progressive stances Mr. Biden has adopted.

Primary results cannot easily be projected onto general elections, but the surge in Democratic turnout so far has not only helped Mr. Biden, it has also illustrated what may be Mr. Trumps most glaring vulnerability. The former vice president has established a commanding delegate lead in part because of a surge of suburban voters including many from affluent jurisdictions.

In Virginia, North Carolina and Michigan  each a general election battleground  Mr. Biden benefited from a large increase in turnout among moderate voters in the Washington, Charlotte and Detroit suburbs.

In Michigan, for example, over a million and a half voters participated in the Democratic primary Tuesday  up from just over 1.2 million in 2016 there. But it was where the turnout jumped so much that was revealing and, for Mr. Trump, ominous. In affluent Oakland County, Mitt Romneys boyhood home and an epicenter of the Democrats 2018 midterm election gains, turnout went from approximately 180,000 in 2016 to about 260,000 on Tuesday.

Mr. Trumps team of actual political strategists is small, despite the large staff employed by his campaign, and his campaign manager only recently relocated to Washington, where the headquarters is based. After data leaked early on, information is closely guarded and formal polling is ordered only every few months. On Tuesday, as Mr. Trump sat with advisers in the late morning going over the results of the latest campaign surveys, some of the data was already out of date.
David Lynch has been a visionary in his films and TV projects, and that includes finding many of the amazing cast members of his celebrated Twin Peaks. Those whove watched the show through all its incarnations will remember the bizarre presence of the Log Lady.

It turns out the actress who played her wasnt really intending to start an acting career on TV or film.

Catherine E. Coulson may not be a household name, yet the Log Lady will always be an indelible TV image for any Twin Peaks fan. The sight of her holding that log (as a form of therapy) is still a haunting concept, something Coulson revived briefly in the new cable Twins Peaks revival.

Unfortunately, Coulson passed away five years ago, though left a very interesting media legacy.

One of the few going from behind the scenes to actress

Catherine E. Coulson as The Log Lady | CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Its not often when you see someone helping to make movies go in front of the camera later in an iconic role. While there have been directors whove done this (or at least cameos), Coulson went from being an assistant camera operator on many top films to becoming an acting muse for David Lynch.

Not that Coulson didnt have acting experience. Living for a time in Ashland, Oregon, she was involved doing stage acting for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival during the time she met Lynch. Once associated with Lynch, she started doing various production duties for him, including as an actress.

Her first on-screen role was in Lynchs bizarre and gruesome short film Amputee in 1974. However, shed already met Lynch in 1971 and immediately became simpatico with one another in the near avant-garde creative vision the director nurtured.

The devotion to making Eraserhead on a limited budget showed Coulsons commitment to sticking with Lynch through constant delays. Working on it for four years doing assistant camera and directing work, the end result was clearly more than worth it based on its cult status today.

Working on more mainstream movies

#BestThingAboutThe70s?



The moment David Lynch met Catherine E. Coulson.



7 days left to make I Know Catherine, The Log Lady happen!https://t.co/Z4dJ1OsLLl#Eraserhead #DavidLynch pic.twitter.com/lRGILFPqmD  I Know Catherine, The Log Lady (@LogLadyFilm) June 9, 2018

Despite Coulsons willingness to get very weird with Lynchs cinematic ideas, she started to become in demand as a skilled assistant camera operator. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, she was hired as a production assistant on many popular movies, including Modern Romance and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

She kept her association with Lynch going, but not until 13 years later. Coulsons work on other films made her too busy to participate in Lynchs other movie classics through the 1980s.

Not until 1991 did he hire her again as an actress as the Log Lady in Twin Peaks. According to most biographical information, Lynch had a dream vision of Coulson coddling a log back when they were making Eraserhead. He apparently had the role of Log Lady in mind for years before finally making it a reality when Twin Peaks debuted on ABC.

Outside of Coulsons memorable appearances in the role, she didnt stray away from her Oregon connections later.

Making an appearance on Portlandia

Based on Coulsons attraction to the strange in film and TV, she probably found it apropos Portlandia would do the same. Since Portland always has the slogan of Keep it weird, no wonder Coulson joined the show for one memorable episode in 2012 where she played a marionberry farmer.

Shed done more acting roles throughout the 2000s and into the 2010s, mostly since Lynch convinced her to come back as Log Lady (named Margaret Lanterman, incidentally). Her role was brought back in the theatrical Twins Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, plus in clips on the Showtime revival.

Her 2015 death from cancer just before the revival began was a shock, and it must have been a gut punch for Lynch. They seemed to be creative muses for one another from the early days, something that can feel like losing a limb when a loss occurs.
Consumers are being warned that jars of Branston pickle are unsafe to eat following fears they might contain pieces of plastic.

Maker, Mizkan Euro Ltd is recalling a number of its products.

The Food Standards Agency warned on its website that the product should not be eaten.

'Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund,' it added.

Maker, Mizkan Euro Ltd is recalling a number of its products including jars and squeezy bottles

A number of small chunk jars are being recalled by Mizkan Euro Ltd

Items affected include: Branston Original Sweet Pickle Pack size 280g, Branston Original Sweet Pickle Pack size 360g, Branston Original Sweet Pickle Pack size 520g, Branston Original Pickle Pack size 2.55kg, Branston Original Pickle Pack size 310g, Branston Small Chunk Pack size 2.55kg, Branston Small Chunk Pack size 520g, Branston Small Chunk Pack size 360g, Branston Squeezy Smooth Pickle Pack size 355g, Branston Smooth Pickle Pack size 370g.

They have best-before dates spanning April and May 2021, along with January, February and March 2022.

It's the second blow to fall Mizkan Euro Ltd in recent months after the company received hundreds of complaints in December and January about its pickle having a 'disinfectant', 'chlorine' or 'washing up liquid' taste.

Branston Pickle is a relish of diced, crunchy mixed pickled vegetables in a thick, dark sauce. It was first formulated

Branston Pickle was first formulated by a Mrs Graham and her two daughters, Evelyn and Ermentrude, in their kitchen in Branston village, Staffordshire, during the early 1900s.

The recipe was bought by Edmund Crosse and Thomas Blackwell.

In 2004, the pickle business was sold by Nestle to Premier Foods with Premier selling the brand to Mizkan in 2013.

An estimated 17 million jars are sold each year.
Calls on New Zealand to Recognize Assyrian, Armenian, Greek Genocide

The frontman of Grammy award-winning rock band System of a Down is calling on Foreign Minister Winston Peters to recognize the Armenian Assyrian, Greek, Genocide in WW1.

The American-Armenian's grandparents survived the slaughter of up to 1.5 million Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks within the old Ottoman Empire due to their religious beliefs.

"It's important for people to be aware about the genocide - the first genocide of the 2nd century," Serj Tankian told Newshub.

But New Zealand does not call it genocide.

"The United States just recognized it, most - or a lot of countries - have recognized it, including France, Italy, the European Union, the Vatican, [and] Russia," Tankian says.

Newshub asked Tankian if he would like Peters to use the word 'genocide' and he said: "I would."

There are fears it would damage the country's relationship with Turkey - one of the first countries the Government visited in the wake of the mosque attacks.

And thousands of Kiwis make the annual trip to Gallipoli to pay respects on ANZAC Day.

"There are dances around the word genocide because Turkey does not want nations to use that word," Tankian says.

He will be speaking at an event in Parliament on Thursday evening where politicians from across the House of Representatives were invited.

Newshub has been leaked a memo sent to MPs by Peters' office which says: "In deciding whether to take up the invitation, please note the New Zealand Government's position on this sensitive issue, which is to encourage Turkey and Armenia, as the parties directly concerned, to discuss the issue."

Tankian views that as a threat to MPs not to attend.

"Even the Republican Party of the United States hasn't gone that far," he says. "That's interesting. I think that's a shame... it's disappointing."

Newshub asked Peters if he told MPs not to go to an event and he replied: "That's your allegation. Of course I didn't."

It's not unusual for Foreign Minister's to remind MPs of New Zealand's position on difficult diplomatic issues like this.

But the Armenian community feels strongly their loss should be recognized - and now there is a very loud voice calling for New Zealand MPs to listen up.
OSLO, March 11 (Reuters) - The Norwegian government plans to help airlines secure funding that will allow them to remain in operation while bookings fall to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Wednesday.

"We aim to find targeted measures, particularly to ensure that they have liquidity to operate," Solberg told parliament. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik; editing by John Stonestreet)
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 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 were published March 11 in the journal Nature Medicine, with extensive tests on newborns at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago and Prentice Womens 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 Engineerings 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 Northwesterns 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 Childrens 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 Childrens Hospital and Prentice Womens 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 couldnt 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 dont need expensive equipment that requires a specialized bioengineer and IT department to install. You pull out your mobile device, connect to our sensors, and youre 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. Weve 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. Its 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. Theres 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

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 sensors 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.

Whats 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. Thats a lot of physiological information, Xu said. Wed 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, were working with Dr. Jeffrey Stringer  the director of the division of Global Womens 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 US 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 papers 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).



Editors note: Rogers and Xu have financial interests in and affiliations with Sibel Health. Northwestern University has financial interests (equities, royalties) in Sibel Health.
New Delhi [India], Mar 12 (ANI): Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday urged all opposition, particularly Congress to lend a helping hand after Home minister Amit Shah's dispelled doubts on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Population Register (NPR) in Rajya Sabha.

Prasad quoted previous replies in the parliament where on February 3, MoS home Nityanand Rai had stated that no document is to be collected during NPR.

"Again on February 4, Rai reiterated in the reply that no document is to be collected during the exercise of NPR. And that no verification is done to find individual citizenship is doubtful, "stated Prasad quoting from replies in the Parliament.

While quoting Rai's reply, Prasad said he wonders why there is so much of misinformation when the information is to the opposition in the house in writing.

While quoting Rai's replies, Prasad said that when information is there to read about then why was there misinformation.

"It has been repeatedly stated in the Parliament, we are entitled to know why there is misinformation. Please stop. CAA or NPR both are in the interest. We need to know about residents of the country as to how many have got pucca houses and gas connections and thus NPR. CAA doesn't take away citizenship. I would urge opposition, particularly Congress to give a helping hand," the minister added.

He also took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"I thought that congress will do some homework but under Rahul Gandhi has stopped that tradition," said Prasad.

The minister further praised Shah for his 'effective' reply in Rajya Sabha that has dispelled a lot of lies and myths regarding CAA and NPR.

"Home Minister in fact clearly stated that there is no doubtful category in NPR. He categorically asked Ghulam Nabi Azad if there is any clause that is anti-minority or says CAA takes away citizenship. He requested Azad to come with opposition leaders if have any doubts," stated the minister.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sudeep Starrer Kotigobba 3 Producer Soorappa Babu claims to have worked very hard to restore the films teaser on YouTube. For the unversed, the highly anticipated Sandalwood biggies teaser had been removed from YouTube due to a copyright claim filed by a person named Sanjay Kumar Pal.

The teaser in question was launched on Maha Shivratri festival (February 21) but was subsequently taken down by the video giant when the Mumbai based complainant accused Rambabu Productions of cheating him. He alleged that the production house owed him 88.8 lakh rupees in dues for the shooting of the film that took place in Poland.

And now, the films producer has reassured that the highly loved teaser is again streaming online with any issues. In a recent interview with the Bangalore Mirror, Soorappa Babu opened up about the entire controversy. He said that Sanjay Kumar Pal was demanding excess money and was just unwilling to solve the issue amicably. Hence, he has decided to approach the court seeking justice.

The Rambabu Productions honcho also requested the media to not speculate about his financial position or indulge in any malicious rumours of alleged issues with leading man Sudeep. Babu set the record straight and said, One media report stated that Sudeep has not done dubbing for this film due to some issues with me. I want to clarify that I have no issues or disputes with Sudeep. There are preparations for one more sequel  Kotigobba 4. Sudeep is expected to dub only after other artistes attending the dubbing schedules. (sic)

Citing many recent incidents, he then went on to add that almost all big films today have turned into soft targets. There was a dispute over the script of KGF film three days before its release. Similar dispute was raised when Tamil film Linga was scheduled for release. Producer Rockline Venkatesh had to deposit Rs 10 crore in the court and release the film as per the schedule. Finally, the court found that complainant has no locus standi and returned money to Rockline Venkatesh, he said.

ALSO READ: Ahead Of Kotigobba 3 Release, Sudeep Opens Up About Stepping Into His 25th Year In Cinema

ALSO READ: OMG! Kichcha Sudeeps Kotigobba 3 Teaser Removed From YouTube Over Copyright Issue
The White House is considering a rescue package for the U.S. shale industry, although the idea is getting pushback from so many sides that it faces challenging odds of passing into law.

According to the Washington Post, the White House warmed to the idea of aid for shale drillers after taking calls from oil executives who have voiced concern and at times exasperation, following the sudden crash in oil prices. Of note, Continental Resources Harold Hamm reached out to the Trump administration, though Hamm said he had not made direct contact. He has been a personal supporter of President Trump.

Hamm reportedly lost $2 billion personally on Monday from his 77 percent stake in Continental Resources. Hamm said the administration should consider any action that the administration might take to protect and preserve American interests at this time from being unfairly disadvantaged by whatever government  and were talking governments here, whether it be Russia or Saudi Arabia, according to the Post.

The help would involve low interest loans to shale companies because access to credit has been largely choked off, the Post said.

Indeed, with much of the industry heavily indebted, access to capital is a critical issue. During the 2014-2016 downturn, so many drillers survived and returned to growth due to a nearly endless supply of credit and equity supplied by banks, investors and private equity. The major recapitalization effort revived shale drilling after a brief downturn.

This time around, investors are no longer interested in financing unprofitable drilling. Trump wants the government to step in to prop up failing companies.

Related: Saudi Arabia Prepares To Flood The Market With Even More Oil

Story continues

But the idea was met with howls of criticism immediately after the Post broke the story. The proposal was panned by Democrats, who Trump will need to pass anything.

Instead of lining the pockets of Big Oil, Democrats are working on legislation to protect the financial security of working families affected by the spread of the coronavirus, Evan Hollander, communications director for the House Appropriations Committee, told Oilprice.com No matter how many oil billionaires lose their shirts and call President Trump, House Democrats will stay focused on the real needs of the American people.

Instead, he said the Democratic side wants any economic stimulus should focus on things like paid sick leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, food security, free coronavirus testing and affordable treatment. Not rescue packages for shale drillers.

But, perhaps more surprisingly, the proposed shale bailout was also met with skepticism from traditional allies of the oil and gas industry. The head of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industrys most powerful lobby group, shot down the idea. We believe we shouldnt be reacting to one day of a market downturn, API CEO Mike Sommers said, according to the Washington Examiner.

Anne Bradbury, CEO of AXPC, an industry group representing 25 independent oil and gas producers, told the Post: We believe in the free market system and will advocate for policies that support a level playing field to address geopolitical manipulation of the market, Bradbury said. Reading between the lines, one could interpret support for a level playing field as support for government assistance, although the language is obviously vague. Bradbury later said in a follow-up interview with the Post that we are not seeking a bailout.

Related: Traders Are Making A Killing In The Oil Price War

On Wednesday, Secretary of Treasury Steve Mnuchin said that aid to struggling industries, including airlines, cruises and the oil industry should not be described as a bailout.

I want to be clear: This is not bailouts. We are not looking for bailouts, he said. But there may be specific industries that are highly impacted by travel and have issues with lending.

There was skepticism elsewhere. It sounds like a bailout to me, Paul Winfree of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, told the Post. We are going to have to see specifics, but when you are dealing with special treatment given to one industry or sector of the economy, that is, almost by definition, a bailout.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that oil lobbyists are pushing the Trump administration to buy up oil for the strategic oil reserve (SPR), in order to mop up some of the excess supply on the market. Bloomberg reported that the administration is also considering lowering royalty rates for drillers on federal land. Already, many in Congress on both sides of the aisle consider the royalty rates too low.

But help for the shale industry will be difficult. Even an anonymous senior administration official told the Post that political blowback might scuttle the idea.

By Nick Cunningham for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Read this article on OilPrice.com
Access to vital services for people who have neurological conditions has worsened since the recession.

Waiting times to see a neurologist have increased: in 2019, 37% of patients were waiting more than a year; 33% were in 2011.

Munster had the highest number waiting more than a year, at 41%, according to a survey published by the Neurological Alliance of Ireland.

NAI executive director, Magdalen Rogers, said that the number of people unable to access vital services doubled between 2011 and 2019. Those services included neurology, nurse specialists, physiotherapy, and counselling.

People with a neurological condition are also incurring additional costs, with 45% paying more than 100 a month towards their care.

Physiotherapy was a significant part of the additional expenditure.

The NAI blames the lack of progress in implementing the national strategy for neuro-rehabilitation services, which was published in 2011. The plan outlines a three-year framework for the development of hospital and community-based neuro rehabilitation services.

Alexis Donnelly, a lecturer in computer science, who has multiple sclerosis, was a patient representative on the working group that developed the strategy.

Mr Donnelly said he felt completely let down at the lack of progress in implementing the strategy.

What makes me most angry is the lost opportunities for so many people, due to the failure to put services in place, he said.

We talk about our countrys recovery, but where was their chance for recovery?

Mr Donnelly, who was speaking in advance of Brain Awareness Week, from March 16 to 22, said a further challenge was the threat to existing services.

HSE-funded disability organisations are the primary providers of specialist services to people with neurological conditions who are living in the community.

However, those organisations incomes were reduced when public-services pay was cut between 2010 and 2013.

Ms Rogers said the so-called Section 39 organisations stepped in because the State did not develop the neurorehabilitation services that are taken for granted in other countries.

Now, we have a serious crisis for people with neurological conditions in this country, as even the limited services they have are under threat, she said.

Ms Rogers said the next government must invest in neurology and neuro- rehabilitation services, including those provided by Section 39 organisations.

We are calling on any new government to honour commitments made over decades to invest in services for the 800,000 Irish people living with neurological conditions.

The alliance is the national advocacy umbrella for 30 patient organisations that work with Irish people who have neurological conditions.

There are 800,000 such people, who have neurological conditions including stroke, epilepsy, dementia, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinsons disease, as well as rare and genetic conditions.

loveyourbrain.ie
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised the readiness of the new government in Ukraine to continue implementing reforms and macroeconomic policies for sustainable growth and expressed its willingness to support these efforts, in particular, through the new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.

IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said this at a news briefing in Washington on March 12 when asked by Ukrinform about the prospects of a new IMF program for Ukraine after a government reshuffle in the country.

He said that the new government signaled that it wants to continue working closely with the IMF, including on the new program.

Rice noted that the authorities in Kyiv made it clear, including in recent statements, that they intend to continue to implement macroeconomic policies to achieve sustainable growth. He stressed that the Ukrainian side primarily focused on maintaining economic stability and promoting reforms.

The IMF is ready to fully support Ukraine's reform efforts, as well as policies aimed at achieving these goals, Rice said.

Earlier, U.S. news agency Bloomberg said the IMF was concerned about the change of power in Ukraine and the possible influence of oligarchs on the new Cabinet of Ministers.

op
: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K



Palaniswami on Thursday allayed fears over coronavirus, saying the state was home to the best medical practitioners in the country and people need not panic.

Making his first comment on the coronavirus in the state Assembly on Thursday, Palaniswami said the disease spread only through those people coming from foreign destinations and those living in the state were not affected.

The state reported its first coronavirus case on March 7 in which a 45-year-old engineer hailing from Kancheepuram had tested positive after returning from Oman.

The Chief Minister said the government was screening those who come to the state from various foreign destinations and those showing symptoms were isolated and given proper treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGH).

Reiterating the earlier comments made by Health and Family Welfare Minister C Vijayabhaskar that the disease was spreading through those individuals who had returned from overseas, Palaniswami said facilities are available to give proper treatment to those people if they show symptoms of the virus.

"There is no need to worry. Around 1.50 lakh people who had arrived from foreign countries were screened and only those with symptoms of the virus are given treatment by isolating them," Palaniswami said.

Meanwhile, Vijayabhaskar, in his social media account, said the 45-year-old patient undergoing treatment would be discharged in couple of days.

"Subsequent mandatory tests on the corona patient at RGGH have again been negative. He will be observed in a stepdown care facility and shall be discharged in couple of days," he said.

"I reiterate this is not a miracle but because of the meticulous screening and treatment adopted by the TN Health department", he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hello old stock. My company is working from home since yesterday and Im in complete withdrawal from the old harmless flirting. I have no motivation now that I cant stroll down to the marketing department and shout, Love the new dress Ulrike, I wouldnt mind self-isolating with your good self. Hoggy suggested a bit of harmless flirting on instant messenger, but I was lost without a visual cue, so I contacted Ulrike on Skype and typed, What are you wearing? She never replied  I have a bad feeling about this. Would it help if I sent her some flowers?

- Reggie, Blackrock, all day every day.

My neighbour works in HR because somebody has to do it. I said,what do you think of sending flowers here? She said, as bad ideas go, thats somewhere between licking a Chinese bat and three days in Cheltenham. #PleaseGambleResponsibly #WithYourGrandmothersLife

Its getting very heated on our WhatsApp group, Douglas Road Stunners Terrified They Will Have to Look After Their Kids. All the talk about closing the schools is devastating  I havent seen this level of doom and gloom since Christians started playing hurling. Lorna_1982Looks28MindYou is going mad she fired their au pair after catching her getting pleasured by her husband Ken on the CCTV. If I dont snap up this girl as my au pair, one of my so-called friends will take her and Ill be stuck at home putting on YouTube for my two kids, when I could be at work googling Norry-Free Staycations. So, how much do I need to offer her?

- Jenni, Douglas Road, please dont put an e at the end of my name, its not like Im from Turners Cross.

I asked my Posh Cousin whats a fair salary. She said, 5 grand a month, people in Posh Cork will do anything to get their hands on an au pair. I said, particularly ones called Ken. She said, hilaire.

Cmere, whats the story with the Late Late Show going to Limerick? I seen a thing that they cancelled a show there this weekend because of the coronavirus and people were all dats a shame like, and I was all, its not a shame like, it was madness in the first place. Even without a global pandemic, you do never know what you might catch in Limerick. And anyway, its just the latest in a long line of kicks in the teeth to Cork. Im sure snobby people like you know someone who knows Ryan Tubridy, so could you get him a message there and say hed a be more than welcome in Cork and any chance of a ticket for me and me old doll?

- Dowcha Donie, Blackpool.

My niece is very well connected in RTE because she speaks a bit of Irish. I said, whats the best way to get Irelands top chat-show host to come to Cork. She said, wait until Graham Norton comes home on holidays, is docha. . #Ouch #RyanBocht

Hello. Im writing to you on behalf of Sundays Well Residents Who Like Having Their Breakfast In The Nip. Were a group of about 20 people living in giant houses up here, we have our breakfast naked every morning at about 10 oclock because getting dressed and going out to work is for people who didnt inherit 40 million when the old lady kicked the bucket. Anyway, it has come to our attention that the Shakey Bridge is being re-installed. This is just the kind of thing that will attract slack-jawed gawpers from the lower orders, who are desperate to get out of their tiny houses. Our worry is that theyll catch a glimpse of us and be straight on to the radio saying they do be bollocks naked, boy. Can you organise a sign to be put up, saying Dont Disturb the High Net Worth Locals Please?

- Paul, Sundays Well.

I rang City Hall there and told the receptionist theres a gang of lazy perverts in Sundays Well looking down at the people of Cork. He said, no change there then.

Howre oo goin on? Herself fell in with a gang of wellness gurus in Durrus last month and didnt she place us on a four-week social media and news blackout. Anyway, it was lifted yesterday and I turned on the wireless to hear that there is no toilet paper in the supermarket because of some dodgy bats over in China. Apparently things have gone so drastic there is talk of people using soap back in Drimoleague. The problem for me is that the cousin is coming over from Chicago to see the Patricks Day parade in Cork, and the thing cancelled. Herself said I cant have him hanging around the house because, in fairness to her, hes a complete blowhole. Im thinking of bringing him to up to Cork to recreate the Paddys day experience. What would you recommend?

- Dan Paddy Andy, head out beyond Dunmanway until you see a man shouting any chance youd stop saying everything is f**king awesome?

I phoned the Posh Cousin and said whats the best way to recreate the Patricks Day experience in town. She said stand on the South Mall in the rain shouting Id never let my daughter join the majorettes, and then pay a teenager to puke on your shoes. #Real
Highlights Vodafone, Airtel and Jio have proposed a minimum data price at Rs 35, Rs 30 and Rs 20 per GB, respectively.

The telecom companies want the government to set a minimum floor price for telecom services and 4G data.

If government accepts the demand raised by telecom operators, prices will go up.

If government accepts a proposal made by telecom companies -- Airtel, Vodafone, Jio and others -- your phone bill may go up significantly. Mobile data users and callers are likely to feel the pinch as 4G data prices may increase by 10 times.

Mobile subscribers in India get access to 4G data at a price as low as Rs 3.5 per GB, news agency PTI reports. If the floor price, which is the fixed minimum rate, demanded by telecom operators is given way, the mobile data prices could rise 5-10 times from the current price.

Vodafone Idea, which is struggling, has proposed that the minimum data price should be fixed at Rs 35 per GB, Bharti Airtel has proposed minimum price of Rs 30 per GB for low data users and Reliance Jio wants the data to be priced at RS 20 per GB, gradually. Amitabh Kant, Niti Aayog CEO, has come out in support of telcos decision to fix mobile data rates and call prices. As of now, the telcos have the liberty to set the prices for mobile data and call rates. However, these companies have sought intervention from TRAI because of stiff competition.

"We would like to strongly emphasise that floor prices are the need of the hour to enable continuation of a multiplicity of firms that is critical for healthy competition. Given the heavy debt burden being faced by the sector and the recent fall in prices to unsustainable levels, there is no option available but to set floor prices," Kant said in his letter to Trai dated March 4.

Niti Aayog, in the past, showed discomfort with the idea of TRAI fixing floor prices in order to bail out telecom companies.

If the regulators accept proposal from telecom operators, the data price may see an increase tenfold or more. How it will impact you? Take this example. Right now you are using the cheapest data plan -- Rs 3.5 per GB -- with overall plan price of Rs 599 with a validity of 84 days. It offers up to 2GB data per day at 4G speed. After the telcos set a floor price, the same plan may end up -- theoretically -- costing between Rs 3,360 to 5,880.

The Telecom regulatory authority of India (TRAI) is reportedly consulting interested parties over setting a minimum price for call and data services following the industry's demand.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI), however, is not in favour of this step. It has aid that setting a floor price for mobile services is a regressive step that may have a detrimental effect on the market.

"No mature jurisdictions have imposed price floors on crucial sectors like telecom. Such retrograde regulatory measures bring inefficiencies in the longer run," CCI in its statement said to PTI.
LONDON - European Union negotiators will not travel to London next week for the second round of post-Brexit trade talks with the U.K. because of the coronavirus outbreak that is tightening its grip across Europe.

In a joint statement Thursday, negotiating teams from both sides said they were looking at alternative ways of continuing the negotiations, including by video conferencing.

Given the latest COVID-19 developments, U.K. and EU negotiators have today jointly decided not to hold next weeks round of negotiations in London, in the form originally scheduled, they said.

Both sides are currently exploring alternative ways to continue discussions, including if possible the use of video conferences.

While Britain left the political institutions of the EU on Jan. 31, it remains part of the blocs tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of this year.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants a comprehensive trade deal completed this year and wont seek an extension to the countrys current transition period, insisting that 11 months is more than enough time to secure a wide-ranging deal with the EU for goods and services. Under the terms of Britains departure from the EU, the country can request a one-off extension to the transition for up two years.

The coronavirus outbreak, though, has raised questions as to whether a deal can now be completed in time, given the increasingly onerous restrictions on an array of fronts that are being put in place as a result of the outbreak.

Opposition lawmakers from the Labour Party have said that Johnson should ask for an extension given how an already tight timetable has been made even tighter by the virus.

The talks began earlier this month in Brussels, and are due to alternate between the EUs headquarters and London.
New Delhi, March 12 : In an unusual turn of event, a Florida man, who was arrested for 3 felonies and 2 misdemeanors, took time to thank the arresting deputies for being so polite and professional, leaving netizens amused.

The incident came to light after the Polk County Sheriff took to their Twitter handle and shared the photo with the caption, "We arrested this guy for 3 felonies & 2 misdemeanours & he asked to speak to their Sarge so he could compliment them all on their professionalism & excellent customer service. He also asked to take this pic. Great job, SW Delta platoon!" The Sheriff also took to his Instagram about the unique encounter with the man and wrote, "Mulberry Deputies Smith, Durrance, and Trainee Harrison stopped this motorcyclist for speeding on Church Ave in Mulberry. He had a large knife concealed on his person, as well as heroin, drug paraphernalia, and other Rx and controlled substances. Ultimately, he was arrested for 3 felonies and 2 misdemeanors and requested to speak to a supervisor.

"Sergeant Hearth spoke to the man, who stated he wanted to express how polite and professional all the Deputies had been during the arrest, and how much he appreciated all the courtesy and respect they showed to him. He posed for a quick photo before his transport & asked to have the photo emailed to him so he could post it on his Facebook page when he got released." At the end, the Sheriff wrote, "Now if that ain't excellent customer service, we don't know what is." As soon as the post went viral, social media was abuzz with reactions.

A user wrote, "Well 5 star customer service." Another wrote, "Polk County Sheriff's office definitely has a sense of humour." "He should give a 5 star review," read one post.

Another user remarked, "Lol this is hilarious."
Probably Im the only person thinking more about how to protect her computer instead of her health right now. I dont know anything about epidemiology or how to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but I do have a lot of ideas about how to take good care of your digital ecosystem at a moment when were all increasingly relying on our home devices and networks for work and school.

Obviously, virtual viruses are not our biggest concern at the moment. But the shift to remote work and education, alongside the uncertainty about official guidance and data on the spread of COVID-19, has created a lot of new opportunities for cybercrime at all levels of sophistication and seriousness. Here are some threat vectors to look out for online as you work on washing your hands more and not touching your face.

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Already, the spread of the coronavirus has proved to be a fertile opportunity for phishing emails. For instance, in January, Check Point reported on spam campaigns that targeted Japanese and Indonesian recipients, spreading Emotet and Lokibot malware through malicious attachments that claimed to provide information on where the coronavirus was spreading and how to protect against it. Many other related phishing campaigns purport to be critical updates on the coronavirus from senders like the World Health Organization. For instance, Check Point also reported that Italian businesses had been targeted with emails that included infected attachment files and contained the following text (translated from Italian):

Due to the number of cases of coronavirus infection that have been documented in your area, the World Health Organization has prepared a document that includes all the necessary precautions against coronavirus infection. We strongly recommend that you read the document attached to this message. With best regards, Dr. Penelope Marchetti (World Health Organization  Italy)

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When people are particularly desperate for information and expert advice, they may be less careful than usual (which was already not terribly careful to begin with!). Emails purporting to distribute that guidance from sources like WHO and the CDC may be especially effective at tricking people to download malware onto their computers. Simply put, you will not be getting WHO or CDC information about the coronavirus via emailand absolutely not, under any circumstances, from email attachments.

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You can (and should) visit the websites of organizations like WHO directly to see what guidance they are giving. If your employer or school is sending out updates, you should be careful with those toodont automatically assume those emails are coming from legitimate senders. Be especially wary of opening any attachments you were not expecting. Remote work makes it even harder than usual to confirm with people whether they actually sent you a message or attachment, but thats all the more reason to be especially vigilant.

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Emails are not the only risk right now. Reason Labs reported that applications purporting to show the spread of coronavirus were being used to distribute AZORult malware. The malware creates new accounts on infected machines to allow for remote desktop connections that can then be used to steal victims browsing history, cookies, passwords and other credentials, and cryptocurrencies. Check Point also found a spike in registrations of domain names linked to COVID-19, with a total of more than 4,000 coronavirus-related domains registered since January. Of those, 3 percent were malicious sites, designed to distribute malware to visitors or support phishing schemes and trick users into making fraudulent purchases (e.g., masks or home tests or hand sanitizer that will never actually arrive). Beyond those clearly malicious websites, another 5 percent of the coronavirus-related domains were deemed suspicious by Check Point. In other words, criminals are already building up online infrastructure to take advantage of this crisis. You should expect to see lots of pseudo-legitimate-looking websites and domains that are merely trying to steal your money or infect your computer.

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Computer infections right now could lead to many different bad outcomes, especially since many of us are at greater distance from our IT staff than usual. If your computer is infected with ransomware, for instance, you may find yourself unable to continue working remotely.

And if you work for a company with a lot of proprietary information, sensitive customer data, or confidential intellectual property, this is a moment to be on high alert for attempts at corporate espionage.

The influx in the number of remote connections to company servers and networks will make it even more challenging than usual for those firms to identify and flag intruders in their systems. Employees bringing home work devices, data, and prototypes, and connecting them to their residential wireless networks, will only add to those challenges. Ideally, all of that corporate traffic will be run through secure virtual private networks, but its unclear whether those VPNs will be able to handle the influx in traffic they are about to face. Other organizations that are less well prepared to conduct operations remotely may find themselves forced to make quick decisions and overlook important security protocols. This appears to have been the case at the interior ministry of Bavaria in Germany, which reportedly started using an insecure online video conference system that did not require any authentication, allowing anyone with the URL to join private government meetings.

The coronavirus pandemic is a stark reminder that our physical hygiene and health measures are tied to those of othersone person not washing their hands, choosing to fly, or going in to work sick can have massive consequences for thousands of other people. That is just as true online, where any individuals carelessness about what email attachments they download, what links they click on, or whether they bother to connect to a VPN can cause far-reaching damage.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  The authorities on Thursday arrested the owner of the countrys largest media group on three-decade-old allegations involving a land deal, a case widely criticized by journalist groups as an attempt to muzzle independent news reporting.

The owner, Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, is one of Pakistans most influential media figures, and his company, the Jang Media Group, has run afoul of successive governments. But the current prime minister, Imran Khan, has shown particular impatience with its coverage.

This arrest over a 34-year-old land deal makes a mockery of Pakistans claim to be a democracy that upholds freedom of the press, said Steven Butler, Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, one of several groups to denounce the arrest.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, an independent group, called the case another attempt to gag a beleaguered independent press.
Yve Digital, an online music marketing company, has held its third edition of a workshop under the theme, Money & Music Conference, for music industry stakeholders in Accra.

The conference aimed at sensitizing artistes on ways of making money through the digital online space which included Facebook, Soundcloud and Audiomack.

The conference, which was held at the Hilla Liman Hall, University of Ghana, Legon in Accra, was attended by a large number music stakeholders such as artistes, music producers and artiste managers.

It was organized to provide a platform for players in the music industry to study, understand and access opportunities in the emerging global markets.

The focus of the workshop to upgrade the skills of Ghanaian artistes is geared towards pushing Ghana music beyond the borders of Ghana.

Yve Digital's Music and Money Conference has already been held for music stakeholders in Kumasi, as part of efforts to encourage artistes to take advantage of digital platforms and social media to promote their arts for improved income.

Speaking to the media after the conference, Mr. Kwame Baah, Content Manager of Yve Digital, said his outfit looked to spread its tentacles across the country and teach musicians on the need to capitalize on the digital space.

The Music & Money Conference seeks to teach upcoming musicians and content creators the skills and tools needed to become successful in the online marketing space.

We engaged them in topics which included branding, planning, execution and promotion techniques in the online space and hopefully it could impact significantly on their knowledge about the digital space, he said.

He assured that for us at Yve Digital, we are ready to support and move Ghana music industry forward in every way within our means.

Over the years, Yve Digital has engaged hundreds of Ghanaian artistes as they seek ways to promote their works, especially, on the international market.

---Daily Guide
The United Arab Emirates followed Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in promising to raise oil output to a record high in April, as the two producers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised the stakes in a standoff with Russia that has hammered global crude prices.

The extra oil the two Gulf allies plan to add is equivalent to 3.6 percent of global supplies and will pour into the market at a time when global fuel demand in 2020 is forecast to contract for the first time in almost a decade due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Oil prices have almost halved since the start of the year on fears that OPEC states would flood the market in OPECs battle with Russia after Moscow rejected the blocs call last week for deep output cuts and a pact on cutting output that has propped up prices since the 2016 oil-market collapse.

But Russia said on Wednesday that it would not reverse its decision, as it still believed cutting output would make no sense if the virus hit demand deeper than expected.

Saudi Arabia, which has already announced it would hike supplies to a record 12.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in April, said on Wednesday it would boost production capacity for the first time in more than a decade.

UAE national oil company ADNOC said it would raise crude supply to more than four million bpd in April and would accelerate plans to boost its capacity to five million bpd, a target it previously planned to achieve by 2030.

By raising supplies, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi will add a combined 3.6 million bpd of extra oil in April to a market already awash with crude, compared with their existing output, which has been limited by the pact with Russia that expires in March.

In addition, Moscow has said Russian oil firms might boost output by up to 300,000 bpd and possibly as much as 500,000 bpd.

Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabias plan to raise output was not the best option and said Moscow was still open to dialogue with OPEC. But his deputy told Reuters that cutting output was not an option, either.

We cannot fight a falling demand situation when there is no clarity about where the bottom [of demand] is, deputy Pavel Sorokin told Reuters.

OPEC member Algeria said intense discussions were under way and UAE Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei called for a new pact on supplies. But Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that talks were pointless unless they were going to lead to a deal.

Scrapping limits

State-run Saudi Aramco plans to raise capacity to 13 million bpd from 12 million bpd, Chief Executive Amin Nasser said, adding that the move was ordered by the Ministry of Energy.

The company is exerting its maximum efforts to implement this directive as soon as possible, Nasser said.

No timeframe was given for the plans, which will require billions of dollars of investment.

The virus has prompted lockdowns in major economies such as those of China and Italy, disrupting businesses and sending shares into a tailspin.

Moscow also said supporting prices simply helped boost costlier production in the US, where output has surged above that of Saudi Arabia and Russia. US producers, by law, are barred from participating in any supply pacts.

The US government slashed its forecast for US oil output in 2020, saying it would rise by 760,000 bpd not the 960,000 bpd it previously forecast, and would drop by 330,000 bpd in 2021 to 12.66 million bpd.

Even as Abu Dhabi and Riyadh promised more supplies, OPEC slashed its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and said further reductions might follow.

Brent was trading four percent down below $36 on Wednesday, off this weeks low of about $31 but 45 percent lower than at the start of year.

Saudi Arabias influence on oil markets is much akin to a central banks role in financial markets. The kingdom holds nearly all the worlds spare capacity and can turn the taps on and off to deal with supply shortfalls or surpluses.

But the kingdom has increasingly voiced frustration about acting as the worlds main swing producer, propping up prices by much bigger cuts than others, while its reserves are among the worlds biggest and its oil among the cheapest to extract.

The clash between Saudi Arabia and Russia has triggered panic selling of shares on Wall Street and other stock markets that were already pummelled by the coronavirus outbreak.

US oil firms have rushed to cut dividends and spending.

Oil companies in Canadas energy-rich Alberta are expected to announce layoffs and export cuts soon after oil prices plummeted, the Canadian provinces premier said on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia last embarked on a $100bn push to raise its capacity more than a decade ago amid a price boom fuelled by Chinas growth. Since then, Saudi officials have brushed aside questions of new investment to boost capacity.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2020) - Pan Global Resources Inc. (TSXV: PGZ) (OTC: PGNRF) (the "Company") is pleased to report two more drill holes will be added to the step out drill program now in progress at the La Romana copper target in the Escacena Project, Iberian Pyrite Belt, southern Spain. A detailed infill gravity survey has also commenced to better delineate the target.

Tim Moody, President and CEO of Pan Global Resources, commented, "With copper mineralization in each step out drill hole completed so-far, we are excited to add two more drill holes to further extend the mineralization."

The company has completed four diamond drill holes (LRD03, LRD04, LRD05 and LRD06) in the first step-out program at the La Romana target. These holes test along strike, up and down dip from hole LRD-02 which intersected 20.55 meters at 1.5% Cu equivalent from 37 meters, including 7 meters at 3.43% Cu equivalent. Copper mineralization has been intersected in all of the drill holes, including semi-massive to massive sulphide and stringer style sulphides. Assay results for the first three new holes are expected before the end of March with the remainder to follow. Hole locations are shown in Figure 1.

Holes LRD03 and LRD04 stepped approximately 50 meters West and East, respectively, from hole LRD02. Hole LRD05 tested approximately 25 meters up-dip and hole LRD06 approximately 50 down-dip, from LRD02.

The new drill holes indicate the copper mineralization in hole LRD02 continues along strike East and West, down-dip and up-dip to within 12.5 meters from surface, and remains open all directions. A deeper pyrite-dominant sulphide zone has also been intersected up to several tens of meters thick, including intervals of banded or stratiform massive sulphide and local stringer style chalcopyrite.

Two more drill holes will be added to the program to test for further extensions of the copper mineralization. Hole LRD07 will step approximately 100 meters West from hole LRD02, where down-hole electromagnetics (DHEM) shows a conductor coincident with the copper mineralization in LRD02 is increasing in this direction. Hole LRD08 will test approximately 200m East from LRD02 and also aim to intersect the upper southwestern corner of an off-hole DHEM conductor below hole LRD01 (ended in 0.59% Cu eq).

Story continues

Qualified Person

Robert Baxter (FAusIMM), a Director of Pan Global Resources and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Baxter is not independent of the Company.







Figure 1 - La Romana target area and diamond drill hole collar locations

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5190/53347_a7f2c9d9d42649b4_001full.jpg

About Pan Global Resources

Pan Global Resources Inc. is actively engaged in base and precious metal exploration in Spain, and is pursuing opportunities from exploration through to mine development. The company has committed to operating safely and with respect to the communities and environment where we operate.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

www.panglobalresources.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

info@panglobalresources.com

Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors that may affect the Company's operations, markets, products and prices. Readers should refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis of its audited financial statements filed with the British Columbia Securities Commission.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53347
T heres a nerdy website that I sometimes look at when Im bored. Its called routesonline.com, and in staccato sentences it lists every schedule change by almost every airline around the world. Air Senegal adds London to Freetown Service from late June 2020  that sort of thing.

Normally its a way to dream up strange holidays I will never take when I am meant to be working, but now it reads like some sort of jet-fuelled slaughterhouse. Airline after airline, shutting down routes, shrinking services and trying to survive the coronavirus crisis without going bust. Some wont make it.

Last year, travel seemed unstoppable. Now its in freefall. Donald Trumps panicked decision to ban travel to the US from most of Europe will add to the crisis. And its not just flying. Last week traffic on Britains national rail network was down by about 15 per cent. One big long-distance route has lost almost a fifth of its passengers. The Tube is less busy too, and numbers appear to be falling as I write.

This might just be the start of a weird few weeks. The Government warns that soon up to a fifth of people could be off work sick and a lot of others may be working from home. If this is right then todays haunting pictures from Italy of a deserted Milano Centrale station and empty cars on Romes Metro will be tomorrows scenes from Euston and the Northern line.

In his Budget yesterday the Chancellor reeled off road schemes and promised more money for rail, even if some of the plans are not much more than a respray job of projects that have been announced before. He skipped over the fact, too, that the end of plans for a third runway at Heathrow means the Governments old policy for more flights has been shredded. But from HS2 to highways, the basic plan has long been to find more ways for more people to get around more quickly. And we need this.

However, in the next few horrible weeks many of us may stop moving anywhere much at all.

Julian Glover / Daniel Hambury

For the brave this is a big moment. You can now book flights for a long weekend in Kenya for 350. There are trips where airlines will pay you to fly: you can buy a one-way flight from New York to London for 85.32 if you pick your date carefully, which is 4 less than the tax and charges on the ticket, and has free drinks and a bad meal thrown in.

Desperate to keep us moving, airlines are trying other tricks. Australias Qantas is about to axe stops on its route from London as an emergency measure, and will send two smaller planes a day direct to Perth. Its what passengers want  no stopovers  but its not going to prevent numbers falling. Airlines with giant A380 jets are pulling them out of service all over the place.

Travel firms know that many of us will decide to hunker down until things get better. And maybe we wont get a choice, if predictions that we are the next Italy are correct. We could be told to work from home  at least those of us who can might, because you cant visit a dentist or drive a train from your sofa over broadband.

Hiding in a yurt in the Scottish Highlands sounds tempting today, but lonely isolation is not our future

Will this just be a few weeks of madness, or will it change things for good? Already fewer people commute five days a week than they did a few years ago. Once we have been released from the rush-hour grind on the District line, will we want to go back? Or once we have avoided taking long flights to dull business conferences, will we return to the habit of taking them  especially when lots of businesses have been honing their conference-call skills, and the case for flying less because of climate change is so strong?

But moving about is part of being human. Weve always done it and we always will, using whatever systems were allowed. Its not always the most practical thing to do, but practicality isnt the point. It is stimulating and exciting; its wired into our souls, and even when it becomes routine we get something out of it. After a few weeks of teleconferences and wobbly video links we will be begging to get back to the dawn commute, to talk to somebody, to be in a queue, to see something new.

Hiding in a yurt in the Scottish Highlands sounds tempting today, but lonely isolation is not our future. Most of us live in cities and we invariably will. They are the most complex and efficient machines ever invented, but they depend on the close proximity and smooth movement of many people to work. Its why the Tube needs to keep running, whatever happens, as it did in the Blitz and the day after the 2005 bombings  even if, for a time, some of us use it less. Systems such as this are the lifeblood of our existence.

Britain, after this strange, scary, invisible infection has subsided, will be different. Events always change us. But perhaps less than we think.

The urge to get moving will be there. Hold us back for a bit and it will get stronger. Crack the worst of coronavirus, and prices will soar and the trains and skies will be full.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Rio Tinto will pay its former chief executive Sam Walsh's delayed bonus after he refused to agree to a further suspension of entitlements earned during his time with the company. Rio Tinto and Walsh had agreed to defer incentive payments in light of investigations by regulators into a payment made to a consultant in relation to the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea. Sam was chief executive of the iron ore product group at the time the payment was made. 'Rio Tinto felt that a further deferral of the amounts that were payable on 31 December 2018 was appropriate given that the regulatory investigations in relation to the Simandou matter are ongoing. However, the parties could not agree to extend the deed of deferral,' Rio Tinto said in a statement. Upon the completion of an independent confidential and binding dispute resolution process, Rio Tinto has determined that Walsh's incentive plan awards should not be subject to any further deferrals and are payable. As a result, payments will be made by Rio Tinto to Sam Walsh of all deferred incentive plan awards which would have been payable on 31 December 2018 together with associated dividends and interest. 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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  A leading Russian pharmaceutical company is ready to donate medicine for the treatment of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19 in the Philippines, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said Wednesday.

The envoy said that Russian company Polysan is offering free medicine they developed called "Cycloferon" which reportedly has been effective in curing the symptoms of those infected with the viral illness in Russia and China.

Cycloferon is an over-the-counter medicine used to treat patients with major viral and bacterial infections, such as influenza, acute respiratory viral infections, and tuberculosis. Khovaev called the drug "highly-effective" and said that in China, its effects are " very, very encouraging, and very positive."

"It's offered as donation just to extend the hand of help to our Filipino partners so now this offer is under consideration in Manila, he said, adding that Russia has been successful in containing and treating its COVID-19 patients.

As of March 12, there are 28 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Russia.

"To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus," the World Health Organization said in its website."However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care."

It said some specific treatments are under investigation, and will be tested through clinical trials.

The United Nations agency on Thursday characterized the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. It also earlier said it will take a minimum of 18 months to develop a vaccine for the virus.

There are now more than 126,000 infected people and over 4,600 deaths worldwide due to COVID-19, according to the Johns Hopkins University's global tracker.
There is no society known where a more or less criminality is not found under different forms. No people exist whose morality, security and right is not daily infringed upon. Crime is thus part of almost every society and state. For this reason, the fundamental concern of every social organization is to protect the people. Crime seems to change character every now and then when it crosses a bridge or a tunnel. In the city, crime is taken as emblematic of class and race, in the suburbs, it is intimate and psychological. No punishment has ever possessed enough power of deterrence to prevent the commission of crimes. On the contrary, whatever the punishment, once a specific crime has appeared for the first time, its reappearance is more likely than its initial emergence could ever have been.

In Ghana, crime has crossed another bridge and tunnel and its new character is manifested in the Ghana police service who ironically are mandated by the constitution to fight crime. The police in Ghana over the years have done their best to fight crime. Whilst there are good men and women in the Ghana Police Service with unquestionable integrity, the bad nuts are increasingly becoming one too many and are spreading their influence like a wildfire in the harmattan. This canker has led to mysterious deaths of innocent citizens. The most interesting part of this police conundrum is the edge by the police service to defend their members even when there is sufficient evidence to show that they have committed crimes.

The recent murder of Mr. Marcus Mawutor Adzahli, the assembly member for Sogakope South Electoral Area in the Volta Region learns credence to the actions and inactions of the personnel of the Ghana police service and how negatively this affects the lives of citizens. Most often, crimes by personnel of the Ghana police service are easily and quickly covered up by the command especially when these crimes are against the vulnerable and the down trodden. In knee jerk reactions, they issue logically incoherent and inconsistent statements defending their members and it takes pressure from citizens and well-meaning Ghanaians to push them to pretend to take action. In the Midland savings and loans saga for example, where a police officer brutally and unprofessionally assaulted a woman, we saw the relaxed attitude of the police and it took public uproar for them to take action.

According to the daily graphic general news of 9th March, 2020, Mr. Marcus Adzahli was shot and stabbed several times in the presence of his wife and child at Sogakope in the Volta Region when a yet-to-be identified gang stormed his residence on March 1. The news further indicated that the Volta Regional police command in a statement signed by the Regional Public Relations Officer, Cpl. Prince Dogbatse, announced the arrest and detention of two Police officers in connection with the disappearance on March 7, 2020, of one service rifle at the Sogakope Police station. Is that not interesting? Whether it is a coincidence or not, I am not a Jewish prophet neither I am I related to one, so I cannot determine that. However, those who might have followed this story will remember that the residents of Sogakofe after the death of the assemblyman, rose up in arms demanding the closure and punishment of the police personnel on the allegation that the police were called for close to fifty minutes before the death of Mr. Mawutor Adzahli but they did not show up. They claimed their inaction caused the death of their dear assemblyman. All these cannot just be mere allegations and speculations especially when the Sogakope residents are living in fear following many of such attacks on residents in the past.

The Inspector general of the Ghana police service must as a matter of necessity suspend all the police personnel on duty on 1st March, 2020 at Sogakofe when the assembly member was murdered, institute a serious investigation into the alleged involvement of the police and subsequently interdict each one of them if found guilty.
An inquiry has been launched into whether police, the Border Force and other agencies are prepared for the impact of coronavirus.

The Home Affairs Committee said it would be looking at how Home Office agencies were responding to the outbreak, and dealing with the impact on their own staff.

Police forces across Britain have already been ordered to draw up contingency plans for how they will respond to crimes if large numbers of officers fall ill or go into isolation.

Officials insist that violent offences and incidents where there is a safety risk will still be investigated, but admitted that non-urgent investigations may be paused.

Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, said: Its very important that all of our public services are prepared for coronavirus.

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

We need to know what preparations the Home Office is and should be making and what practical consequence there will be for police and Border Force as coronavirus continues to spread.

Under the governments action plan, Border Force officers are working with Public Health England at ports, and have helped repatriate British citizens from affected areas overseas.

New regulations allow police and other agencies to detain individuals suspected of having coronavirus.

As of Thursday morning, the UK was still in the contain stage  the first level of the outbreak  but if it reaches the fourth mitigate stage the government has warned of severe consequences for the emergency services.

With a significant loss of officers and staff, the police would concentrate on responding to serious crimes and maintaining public order, the governments plan states.

The Home Affairs Committee has asked for submissions on issues including how police, fire and rescue services are ensuring their plans protect both the public and emergency service workers.

MPs are questioning what trade-offs will have to be made by police if a significant number of officers are unable to work and what the impact could be.

They will ask the Home Office how it will ensure contractors fulfil services, especially involving vulnerable people, and whether Border Force can handle the extra work required of it with reduced staff.

The committee has given a deadline for written submissions at noon on 25 March.

Both the Border Force and police need to carry out core functions in the UKs response to coronavirus, but may be hit by staff shortages (Getty)

Its announcement came as Boris Johnson prepared to chair a meeting of the governments Cobra emergency committee where he was expected to declare the next stage of the outbreak in Britain.

Ministers are to discuss moving into the delay phase of the coronavirus response, meaning enhanced measures to distance people from each other could be imposed including restrictions on public gatherings.

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has played down the possibility of mass travel restrictions after Donald Trump suspended flights between the US and Europe, excluding the UK and Ireland.

Ten people with coronavirus have so far died in the UK, while the total number of confirmed cases stands at 590.

A cabinet minister, who has not been named, was self-isolating while awaiting a test result after coming into contact with health minister Nadine Dorries, who has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Fellow health minister Edward Argar is also self-isolating at home as a precaution after having lunch with Ms Dorries last Thursday and Public Health England is tracing her other contacts.

The World Health Organisation formally declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday, saying the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold in the past two weeks, and the number of affected countries has tripled.

The organisation hit out at alarming levels of inaction in some parts of the world.
Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire has said that the index case of Cornavirus in Nigeria, an Italian will be discharged soon.

The Health minister disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a conference with the diplomatic community about measures being taken by the Federal Government to tackle the spread of the disease.

The minister emphasised on the fact that there are only two confirmed cases in Nigeria, the index case and the second person who was a primary contact of the Italian.



The Commissioner of Health in Lagos, Professor Akin Abayomi had earlier disclosed that the health of the Coronavirus patient was improving.

Professor Abayomi urged the residents not to panic and assured them that the government was putting necessary measures in place to curb the spread of the virus.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
The novel coronavirus that originated in 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 12. Below are updates from March 12.

Disneyland to Close

The Walt Disney Co. on Thursday announced it would close Disneyland over concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The closure will go into effect starting on Saturday, March 14, and last until the end of the month, the company confirmed. It will work with visitors who want to change or cancel their plans and provide refunds on hotel bookings.

While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of Californias executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month, the company said in a statement.

Disney added, The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.

Read more here

Some Cities in Chinas Coronavirus Epicenter Partially Lift Lockdown Measures

Five local governments within Hubei province, where the novel coronavirus outbreak in China is most severe, announced that lockdown measures would be partially lifted.

Coinciding with Chinese leader Xi Jinpings visit to coronavirus ground zero Wuhan on March 10, his first since the outbreak began, authorities began to ease restrictions.

In recent days, the Chinese regime has aggressively pushed the narrative that the epidemic has been successfully contained.

Chinese authorities ramped up publishing media articles that portray their containment efforts in a positive light.

The goal is to promote government policies, monitor public opinion online, discover exemplary models among the frontlines of epidemic control work, and create a strong atmosphere of people united in working together, according to an internal document from Shanghai authorities that was obtained by The Epoch Times.

But locals in Wuhan say that many are still sick.

Read the full story here.

Broadway Goes Dark

New Yorks governor ordered all Broadway theaters to shut their doors in the face of ongoing coronavirus concerns, plunging into darkness one of the citys most popular tourist attractions and causing turmoil in the run-up to the Tony Awards.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday banned gatherings of 500 or more in the city, effectively forcing the hand of Broadway producers who had previously said that Broadway would be open for business unless advised not to by the government.

Shows will resume the week of April 13, only 10 days before the official cut-off for eligibility for the Tony Awards. Cuomo said venues of under 500 can only be filled to half their capacity.

NCAA Cancels March Madness

The NCAA canceled its mens and womens basketball tournaments on Thursday because of the spread of coronavirus, putting an abrupt end to the season less than a month before champions were to be crowned.

The unprecedented move comes a day after the NCAA announced the games that were scheduled to start next week would go on, but played in mostly empty arenas. That plan was scrapped as every major American sports league from the NBA to MLB put the brakes on its season due to concerns about the pandemic.

This decision is based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, our ability to ensure the events do not contribute to the spread of the pandemic and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during the academic year given the ongoing decisions by other entities, the NCAA said in statement.

The NCAA canceled championships in every spring sport, which include hockey, baseball, and lacrosse.

NHL Suspends Season

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday the league will pause its season, effective immediately, because of the coronavirus pandemic. The move came one day after the NBA suspended its season after a player tested positive for COVID-19.

Bettman said the hope is to resume play later and still award the Stanley Cup.

Following last nights news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirusand given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some pointit is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time, Bettman said.

France Closing All Schools and Universities Over Pandemic, Macron Says

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that all schools and universities in the country will be shut down on March 16 in response to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

During a televised address, the French president said the measure will be implemented on Monday, March 16, after a spike in confirmed cases in the past several days.

It is one of the most serious health crises France has ever faced, he said, according to The Independent. In spite of our efforts to stop it, the virus is still spreading.

New York Bans Gatherings of 500

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is banning public gatherings of 500 people or more over the coronavirus outbreak.

The governor stated in a March 12 Twitter post that his office is taking new actions to reduce the density of people across the state. So starting at 5 p.m. on March 13, gatherings with more than 500 people will not be permitted.

Additionally, for facilities with an occupancy of 500 or fewer, we are reducing the legal capacity by 50 percent, Cuomo wrote.

Cuomo declared a state of emergency on March 7 to contain the spread of the virus.

Read more here

Trump Met With Brazilian Official Who Tested Positive

A Brazilian official who met with President Donald Trump at his Florida resort Mar-a-Lago tested positive for the new coronavirus, which causes a disease called COVID-19.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, as well as Bolsonaro himself, met with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence last week.

Photos on Wajngartens Instagram showed him standing next to Trump and Pence at Mar-a-Lago with the caption: Make Brazil Great Again.

In a statement, the Brazilian government confirmed Wajngartens positive COVID-19 test.

Read more here.

UK Likely Has Up to 10,000 Infected: Scientist

Britain likely has between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected with coronavirus, the governments chief scientific adviser said on Thursday, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson stepped up the response to the outbreak.

There are currently about 590 cases identified in the UK and there are more than 20 patients on intensive care units, chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said.

If you calculate what that really means in terms of the total number, it is much more likely that you have somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected at the moment, he added.

The British plan for dealing with the outbreak has three main phasescontainment, delay and mitigation.

In the delay phase, so called social distancing measures such as school closures, more home working and reducing large scale gathering will be considered, though will not necessarily be approved immediately.

At a meeting of Britains COBR emergency committee, Johnson decided to move up to the so called delay phase from the contain phase.

This is now not just an attempt to contain the disease as far as possible but to delay its spread, he said at a news conference with the governments top scientific and medical advisers.

Johnson said those showing symptoms of having the virus should self-isolate for at least a week.

Its going to spread further, Johnson said. I must level with you, level with the British public  more families, many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus across the United Kingdom rose 29 percent to 590 over the past 24 hours. Ten people with coronavirus have died in the UK since the outbreak.

Italian Actor Pleads for Help

Luca Franzese, an Italian actor, posted a video on social media claiming that he needs help after his sister died of the novel coronavirus, apparently showing footage of her body inside a home.

Franzese, a mixed martial arts trainer who appeared in Gomorrah, said in a video he is trapped in his Naples home with his sister, Teresa Franzese, who died of the virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, over the weekend.

I have my sister in bed, dead, I dont know what to do, he said in the video, according to a translation provided by news outlets. I cannot give her the honor she deserves because the institutions have abandoned me. I contacted everyone, but nobody was able to give me an answer.

Read more here.

US Agency Cant do Most Effective Form of Contact Tracing: Senator

Efforts to track the spread of coronavirus in the United States are hampered because Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials cant use the most advanced form of location contact tracing, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said March 12.

Meanwhile, Cassidy and other senators are changing how they work in response to the virus.

Weve been advocating the use of location data, coupled with lab-test results, so that public health officials can better track those who are infected, where they may have been infected from, where you should go back and clean if you need to disinfect, and to warn those folks with whom they have routine contact in the future, Cassidy told reporters.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is now advising contact tracing and the reports are from South Korea and Taiwan are that they used aggressive contact tracing, with aggressive testing, in order to get ahead of the outbreak, Cassidy said.

Read more here.

Cruise Lines Suspend Operations

Two cruise lines are suspending all cruises over the new coronavirus, including the company that operates the Diamond Princess.

Princess Cruises said it was pausing global operations of its 18 ships for two months starting March 12. The company operates the Diamond Princess, where hundreds were infected, and the Grand Princess, where about two dozen infections forced passengers to disembark into two-week quarantines.

By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world, Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.

Read more here.

Canadian Prime Minister Self-Isolating Over Wifes Symptoms

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is quarantining himself at home after his wife exhibited flu-like symptoms.

Trudeaus office said Thursday that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau returned from a speaking engagement in Britain and had mild flu-like symptoms, including a low fever late, Wednesday night.

She is being tested for the COVID-19 disease and is awaiting results. Her symptoms have since subsided.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophies results, the statement said.

His office said the doctors advice to the prime minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given that he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. He is spending the day in briefings, phone calls, and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining a special cabinet committee discussion on the new coronavirus.

Trudeau has also cancelled an in-person meeting with Canadas provincial premiers.

Opposition NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is also working from home after feeling unwell. Singh said hes been in contact with a doctor and they do not believe he has the virus but was advised to limit contact with the public until he feels better.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault, meanwhile, is asking all people returning from travel abroad to self-isolate for 14 days. The measure will be mandatory for all government employees.

He is also asking organizers to cancel all indoor events attracting crowds of more than 250 people and all other large gatherings that are not considered essential.

Confirmed Dutch Infections Rise 22 Percent

The number of new coronavirus infections in the Netherlands rose 22 percent to 614 on Thursday, health officials said.

The bulk of the infections, 273, are in the southern province of Noord-Brabant, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in a statement.

Second NBA Player Tests Positive

Professional basketball player Donovan Mitchell tested positive for the new coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, China last year, according to reports.

The Utah Jazz confirmed in a statement that a second player tested positive for COVID-19, the disease the virus causes.

As a follow-up to yesterdays positive COVID-19 test, Oklahoma health officials tested all members of the Utah Jazz traveling party, confirming one additional positive outcome for a Jazz player, the statement said. We are working closely with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials, and the NBA to monitor their health and determine the best path moving forward.

The statement did not name the player, nor did a Wednesday statement that announced a different player tested positive.

That player tested negative for the flu, strep throat, and an upper respiratory infection before testing positive for COVID-19, the Jazz said. After the test came back, the NBA was informed and subsequently suspended its season for now.

Read more here.

Fast & Furious 9 Release Date Delayed by a Year

Universal Pictures said on Thursday that the release of Fast & Furious 9 is being pushed back a year to 2021.

Universal did not say why but the decision follows delays in the releases of several other Hollywood movies due to the disruption in the global entertainment industry caused by the coronavirus.

The virus has closed movie theaters in China, Italy, and many other nations, while a ban on travel from Europe to the United States announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday is seen likely to curtail red carpets and other promotional events for movies and stars.

Known as F9, the action movie starring Vin Diesel was due to roll out internationally in May 2020, but Universal said the new date would be April 2, 2021.

Paramount Pictures on Thursday indefinitely delayed the release of thriller A Quiet Place Part II, which was due to start its international rollout in movie theaters on March 18, because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Due to the ever-changing circumstances of whats going on in the world around us, now is clearly not the right time to do that, Quiet Place director John Krasinski said in a posting on his Instagram account.

The decisions followed the postponement last week of James Bond movie No Time to Die from April to November, and a move for Peter Rabbit 2 from March to August.

Czech Shuts Borders to Travelers From 15 Countries

The Czech Republic will close its borders to travelers crossing from Germany and Austria and also ban the entry of foreigners coming from other risky countries to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Thursday.

Czechs will also be barred from traveling to those countries, and to and from and other countries deemed risky, effective from Saturday (2300 GMT on Friday).

The full list includes other European Union members Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Denmark, and also Britain, Switzerland, China, Korea, and Iran.

International public transport vehicles with more than nine seats will also be banned from crossing borders.

Under a state of emergency declared for 30 days, the Prague government also banned international passenger transport, but kept freight business open.

Babis told a news conference the government would also ban public events of more than 30 people and impose closures of places such as sport centers, spa services, and galleries.

Restaurants must close by 8 p.m. and refreshments at shopping malls will be banned altogether.

It is clear there will be economic impacts. But now we have to do everything for the virus not to spread, to avoid having it here without control, Babis said. If we see the measures do not have sufficient effect, we will take more.

Some border crossings were to be shut while others would be manned by police. Exceptions will be given to foreigners with residency in the Czech Republic and to cross-border workers.

The Czech Republic reported 96 cases of the coronavirus on Thursday. There have been no known deaths from the disease in the central European country.

Iran Reports 75 Coronavirus Deaths in 24 Hours

Iran on Thursday said another 75 people had died of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 429, according to state-run media outlets.

Kianoush Jahanpour, a spokesman for Irans health agency, said that 10,075 people have been infected with the new coronavirus in the country, with 3,276 recoveries overall, according to the state-run IRNA. The 75 deaths represent the highest daily death toll in three weeks since Iran announced its first deaths from the outbreak in February.

In the past 24 hours, 1,075 people have been infected with COVID-19 bringing the total number of infected people to 10,075 cases, Jahanpour said in a news conference, according to AFP news agency. Seventy-five people hospitalized in the past few days have lost their lives and today a total of 429 infected people are no longer with us, he added.

The COVID-19 outbreak in Iran is among the deadliest and most widespread outside of mainland China, where the virus originated. Iran announced its first deaths in the city of Qom on Feb. 19, prompting Tehran to close down schools, universities, and sporting events and tell people to stop traveling.

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press conference Wednesday that the virus is now a pandemic. He made a remark about Tehran, saying, We are trying to mobilize more support for Iran and will attempt to obtain more supplies.

Inovio Gets Grant to Speed Up Vaccine Delivery Device

Inovio Pharmaceuticals announced it received a new $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate the testing and scale up of a device thats aimed to delivery a COVID-19 vaccine.

The smart device is planned for the delivery of INO-4800, a DNA vaccine for the disease thats slated to advance into Phase 1 clinical trials in the United States next month.

The delivery device is designed specifically for a COVID-19 type pandemic scenario, Inovio said in a statement, describing it as a small, portable, hand-held, user-friendly device that runs on readily available AA batteries.

Companies around the world are working to produce vaccines for COVID-19, which has no vaccine or proven treatment at this time.

Norway, Lithuania Shut Down Schools

Norway and Lithuania are shutting down kindergartens, schools and universities for at least two weeks and the Norwegian government says employees at work must be at least one meter apart.

In Oslo, the Norwegian capital, gatherings of more than 50 people were banned. Norways royal palace said all official arrangements till early April will either be cancelled or postponed. King Harald V said its crucial that everyone avoid exposing ourselves or others to infection.

Lithuania suspended gatherings of more than 100 people and closed museums, cinemas and sports clubs. In the capital of Vilnius, the lockdown was for five weeks.

In Finland, the government recommended banning all events with more than 500 people until end of May.

Denmarks royal palace said Crown Prince Frederik and his wife will return from Switzerland to be with the Danes at this time.

Japan Must Plan for Olympics Being Postponed: Official

Japan must brainstorm plans for dealing with a canceled or postponed Tokyo Olympic Games, even if that is unlikely, said Shigeru Ishiba, a ruling party heavyweight seen as a leading candidate to be the next prime minister.

Ishiba, an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said on Wednesday the fate of the Tokyo Olympics was a decision best left to the International Olympic Committee. He declined to comment on what the best move might be.

Whatever the decision, Japan must be prepared, he said.

Not thinking about worst-case scenarios wont eliminate the risk of them materializing, Ishiba told Reuters.

The government must start thinking now about what to do in case the Olympics Games is canceled or postponed, he added.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Thursday there has been no change to plans for Japan to hold the Games starting July 24.

California Bans Mass Gatherings

Officials in the largest state in America said that gatherings of 250 or more people shouldnt be held amid the coronavirus outbreak until at least the end of March.

Smaller events can be held if organizers make sure attendees stay six feet apart.

The new virus spreads in part through close personal contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines close contact as being within six feet.

Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effectssaving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now.

California has reported over 170 cases of COVID-19, along with four deaths.

Washington state made a similar move on Wednesday.

Unfortunately we know that the rest of the nation will be where we are, perhaps in a couple or three weeks, Gov. Jay Inslee said. And we hope that the things were doing aggressively here can set a template for the rest of the country.

Senate Staffer on Capitol Hill Tests Positive

In the first known case on Capitol Hill, a staff member from the Washington, D.C. office of Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

In a statement, the senators office said it was closing the D.C. office on the advice of the attending physician for the week. The office will be deep-cleaned and staff teleworking during the closure.

The statement also explained, The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 has had no known contact with the senator or other members of Congress, adding that, The senator is requesting that testing be done on any other staffers who have been in contact with the individual and show symptoms.

Greece Reports First Death

Greece reported its first fatality from a coronavirus infection on Thursday, a 66-year-old man who had returned from a religious pilgrimage to Israel and Egypt at the end of February.

The deceased had underlying health issues, the health ministry said in a statement. There were 99 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Greece by late Wednesday.

Separately, passengers on board a ferry boat were quarantined as a precaution after a crew member said he felt unwell, a health ministry spokesman said. The crew member disembarked for further health checks.

The Athens News Agency reported there were 341 passengers and 77 crew on board the ferry which was currently docked at port on the island of Limnos.

Australian Stock Market Closes Down 7 Percent

Australian shares have plunged yet again, sinking to their lowest level since November 2016 in their second-worst day ever, after the WHO officially announced a pandemic and the Trump administration announced a travel ban to the United States for all Schengen countries in Europe.

In percentage terms it was the worst losses for the ASX200 since Oct. 10, 2008, surpassing Mondays 7.33 percent selloff.

The Australian dollar meanwhile was buying 64.55 US cents, down from 65.05 US cents from at the market close on Wednesday.

India Suspends Tourist Visas

India will suspend all tourist visas to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, the government said in a statement on Wednesday.

All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, U.N./international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till April 15, 2020, it said in the statement.

Millions of foreign nationals of Indian origin, who are traditionally granted visa-free access, will now also need to apply, the order read.

The advisory said anyone with a compelling reason to travel to the country could contact their nearest Indian mission. It also urged Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

Mississippi Reports First Case

The Mississippi State Department of Health has reported the states first presumptive case of COVID-19 in the state, awaiting CDC confirmation.

According to a statement released Wednesday night, the man from Forrest County had recently returned from Florida.

He does not require hospitalization and is now at home for 14 days of self-quarantine.

First Known Patient in Pacific Islands Infected

French Polynesia has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the Pacific islands.

The patient is French Polynesias representative in the French National Assembly, Maina Sage, who returned to the countrys largest island, Tahiti, from Paris on March 7, President Edouard Fritch told local media.

Sage is now quarantining at home in Papeete.

While in Paris, Sage spent time working alongside Frances culture minister Franck Riester. Riester tested positive for the virus on March 9.

Following the announcement, Fritch said that his government is working on actions for monitoring, testing, and isolation. He added, I invite the population to avoid travel outside the country.

US Issues Worldwide Travel Warning

The U.S. State Department on Wednesday night issued a Level 3 travel advisory for worldwide travel, shortly after President Trumps address to the nation.

A Level 3 warning from the State Department is to reconsider travel.

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19, the statement said.

Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions.

Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice.

Italian Medical Chief Dies From COVID-19

The head of the medical association in Italys northern Varese region has died from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, local media reported Wednesday.

Roberto Stella, president of the Medical Guild of Varese, died on Tuesday night in a hospital in Como, according to the state-run ANSA.

Colleague Alessandro Colombo, Director of the Academy of Training for the Lombard Social and Health Service, said that few days ago, Stella told him: We have run out of masks. But we dont stop. We are careful and we go on.

Now, the 67-year-old is being remember by the medical community as an example of the capability and hard work of family doctors, according to Silvestro Scotti, who is head of the countrys National Federation of Doctors and General Practitioners.

His death represents the outcry of all colleagues who still today are not equipped with the proper individual protection needed, he said in a statement.

NBA Suspends Season After Jazz Player Contracts Coronavirus

The NBA announced it is suspending the 2019-2020 season after a Utah Jazz player contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus, becoming the biggest sports league to make such an announcement in light of the pandemic.

Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from the NBA.

The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19, the league said. The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonights game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Read more here.

President Trump Cancels Campaign-Related Event

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said Wednesday night that the President was canceling a campaign-related event.

Out of an abundance of caution from the Coronavirus outbreak, the President has decided to cancel his upcoming events in Colorado and Nevada, Grisham said in a statement.

Tom Hanks, Wife Test Positive for Coronavirus

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, said they have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, becoming the highest-profile celebrities to contract the mysterious new virus.

In a statement on Wednesday night, the 63-year-old actor said: Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

Read the full story here.

Trump Suspends All Travel From Europe

President Donald Trump said he is now suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days as of midnight on Friday.

Exceptions are in place for Americans who have undergone the appropriate health screenings. The temporary travel ban allies to countries in Europes Schengen Area, meaning that the United Kingdom and Ireland are exempt from the suspension.

We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now, we must take the same action with Europe, Trump said.

He also announced that low-interest loans are available to small businesses to help them overcome temporary economic disruptions caused by the virus.

This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation, and as a world, Trump said.

We will provide extra support for American workers, families, and businesses, Trump said.

Trump also said that he would soon be asking Congress to take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus.

Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before, the president said.

Read more here.

All Australian States, Territories Have Detected SARS-CoV-2

The Australian Capital Territory has reported its first case of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, meaning that all states and territories across the country have now detected at least one infection.

The man in his 30s tested positive to COVID-19 on Wednesday at the Weston Creek Walk-in Center in Canberras southern suburbs.

Health authorities say the person is being cared for and precautions are being taken to ensure the ongoing safety of staff and the broader community.

Australia Announces AU$17.6 Billion Economic Package

Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the government is doing all it can to support jobs, injecting AU$17.6 billion ($11.4 billion), as the coronavirus impacts the Australian economy.

Morrison said the gross impact of the stimulus in this financial year and the next two financial years would be AU$22.9 billion ($14.6 billion) or 1.2 per cent of Australias GDP.

This is a significant investment, Morrison said in the capital, Canberra, on Thursday, as he unveiled business and demand stimulus measures.

Melanie Sun, Mimi Nguyen-Ly, Zachary Stieber, Reuters, and AAP contributed to this article.

For updates from March 11, click here.

From The Epoch Times
Liliana Velasco was excited to host a statewide Spanish competition last year at Columbus High School following the cancellation of a similar event at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Unfortunately, events outside of her control prevented the event from going off as planned.

For starters, the event had to be postponed because of the devastating flooding that affected communities across the state. Due to that, some schools that had made commitments to attend the event decided to step away, for understandable reasons.

The show did go on, but at a much smaller scale than what she had anticipated.

A lot fewer people were able to attend because of the change in date, Velasco said. It will be our second try.

Now, she gets the chance to do the kind of event that she had intended, before fate and Mother Nature intervened. The statewide Spanish competition will run 8 a.m.-3 p.m. March 16 at CHS. Admission is free for all and there will be concessions offered, with food being provided by El Tapatio. Competitions will begin at 9:30 and will go through the end of the day.

Velasco had wanted to do something for Spanish students across the state since UNL canceled a foreign-language competition that had been held for 43 years. She and her students were disappointed and have since turned their disappointment into an event celebrating the various cultures of the Hispanic world.

The main reason I do this is because I want students to practice, in a meaningful context, what theyre learning in their textbooks, Velasco said. I want them to bring that to life. Its one thing to know (about) this famous painter, and you read it in your textbook, its another thing to incorporate that in your art and trying to replicate what that artist did with your own hands. Reading is one thing, but experiencing it is another.

Students will have the chance to experience culture through the various competitions, like poetry, music art, dance and drama. Each of the competitions is designed to test students knowledge and ability to pick up the culture and understand the impact that it has on people.

Language is more than words, Velasco said. Its culture, its the way that you view things.

The district is excited to see the event be unleashed to its full potential this year, after a rocky start last year. Nicole Anderson, marketing/foundation director for Columbus Public Schools, said that it is a good way for CHS to show off who it is and what it represents as a diverse place of learning.

When they discontinued the event (at UNL), they were very disappointed, Anderson said. Its a testament to Liliana and her dedication to the students and to Columbus High School to continue this competition.

Velasco and her students now have the opportunity to make it shine and show that theres always an opportunity to make the most of a second chance.

The way we had envisioned it last year could not take place, Velasco said. This is almost like our first time doing this. Velasco said.

Zach Roth is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at zachary.roth@lee.net.

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Is Sonoco Products Company (NYSE:SON) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments.

A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for Sonoco Products. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Sonoco Products for its dividend, and we'll go through these below.

Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Sonoco Products!

NYSE:SON Historical Dividend Yield, March 12th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. In the last year, Sonoco Products paid out 59% of its profit as dividends. A payout ratio above 50% generally implies a business is reaching maturity, although it is still possible to reinvest in the business or increase the dividend over time.

In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. The company paid out 70% of its free cash flow, which is not bad per se, but does start to limit the amount of cash Sonoco Products has available to meet other needs. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Consider getting our latest analysis on Sonoco Products's financial position here.

Dividend Volatility

From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. Sonoco Products has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. The dividend has been stable over the past 10 years, which is great. We think this could suggest some resilience to the business and its dividends. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was US$1.08 in 2010, compared to US$1.72 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 4.8% a year over that time.

Story continues

While the consistency in the dividend payments is impressive, we think the relatively slow rate of growth is unappealing.

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. Sonoco Products has grown its earnings per share at 5.5% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share are growing at an acceptable rate, although the company is paying out more than half of its profits, which we think could constrain its ability to reinvest in its business.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Sonoco Products's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. Sonoco Products's is paying out more than half its income as dividends, but at least the dividend is covered by both reported earnings and cashflow. Earnings per share growth has been slow, but we respect a company that maintains a relatively stable dividend. In sum, we find it hard to get excited about Sonoco Products from a dividend perspective. It's not that we think it's a bad business; just that there are other companies that perform better on these criteria.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For instance, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Sonoco Products that investors should take into consideration.

We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state, the Emirs of Lafia went to visit the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II in Awe.

The Governor of Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule and the Sidi Muhammad, Emir of Lafia, this evening visited Muhammad Sanusi II, the deposed emir of Kano.

A few minutes past 5pm, the governor arrived in a convoy of cars, to see the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. About 20 minutes later, the emir of Lafia, also arrived in the company of police officers and traditional chiefs.



This is the first major visit from the state authorities to the deposed emir. The meeting lasted for about 25 minutes.

Muhammad Sanusi II was brought to Awe on Tuesday and has been indoors since his arrival. 

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A woman nearly burnt down her North London flat when her tea light candles melted through her bathtub and set fire to the cladding despite being extinguished after she had taken a bath.

Lucy Bergman, 24, who works in recruitment, heard a crackling noise and went back into her bathroom to see what it was and found thick, black smoke billowing out.

The fire ripped through the bathroom in her flat in Edgware, North London last Saturday while Lucy and her flatmate evacuated.

The fire got so intense it blew the window out but firefighters were able to successfully tackle the blaze and stop it spreading.

Lucy Bergman, 24, heard a noise and found thick, black smoke billowing out of her bathroom

Lucy said: 'I initially thought the crackling noise was my flat mate straightening her hair, maybe that was the burning smell.

'I opened the bathroom door and that's when a thick black smoke blew out into the hallway, so I slammed the door shut and was screaming for everyone to get out.'

'Luckily we've just lost shampoo bottles and nothing major,' she said.

'My biggest fear was that the whole flat was going to go up in flames and we were going to lose everything.

Lucy is now urging people to get heat-proof candles after her tea lights burned through the acrylic on the bath, then sank through to the cladding underneath setting it alight.

The firemen told her the tea light's metal casing can reach temperatures hotter than an oven even after they've been extinguished.

A tea light candle's metal casing can get hotter than an oven and set fire to the bath's cladding

Lucy added: 'If we didn't have a second bathroom, we'd have to get temporary accommodation.

'The house needs a whole new bathroom and the stairs are ruined as well - and they had to rip the carpets up to see whether the fire fighters have come in.

'There's char and black soot everywhere.'
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Mittal said on Wednesday that the telecom operator has paid the complete AGR dues of Rs 13,000 crore as per its self assessment. The court-mandated deadline for AGR payment ends in a week.

Responding to a question on Telecom Department's recent notice to companies to pay their remaining AGR dues after his meeting with Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash on Wednesday, Mittal said, "They had said pay full... we have paid full 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."

He said that the company has made payment in compliance with the department's instructions for self-assessment. Mittal added that the Supreme Court had not mentioned any specific amount.

Also read: Sunil Mittal meets Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad amid 'unprecedented' AGR crisis

The government on March 4 had asked Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and other telecom companies to pay the remaining dues as per the Supreme Court Order.

Bharti Airtel has paid Rs 13,004 crore to the government in two instalments. It 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.

Like Airtel, Vodafone Idea also pegged its total dues at Rs 21,533 crore -- lesser than what the government estimated. Vodafone Idea has so far paid Rs 3,500 crore out of the "self-assessed" liability of Rs 21,533 crore.

The telecom department earlier this month had written to telcos asking them to pay the 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.

(With PTI inputs)

Also read: AGR dues: Sunil Bharti Mittal seeks sustainability for telcos in talks with FM Sitharaman

Also read: Bharti Airtel can survive Rs 35,586 crore AGR blow, says Moody's
RICHFIELD, Ohio -- A Revere High School student and family members are self-quarantining for two weeks after they returned from international travel and felt sick, according to the school district.

In an email Thursday to parents of students at Revere Local Schools, which includes Richfield and Bath, Superintendent Matthew Montgomery said the family has not been tested for the COVID-19 coronavirus, but is trying to get tested.

We do not know if the student or a parent has COVID-19 or any other virus that could be easily transmitted, Montgomery said in the email, which does not identify the student by name or gender. However, we wanted you to be aware.

The district already had planned to cancel classes on Friday to allow staff to prepare for the possibility of remote learning in the future," Montgomery said.

If Revere would make a decision to close school at some point, it would happen in conjunction with the recommendations and guidance of Summit County and the Ohio Department of Health, Montgomery said Tuesday in a message to parents. The district does have pandemic procedures in place, which may include decontaminating all surfaces, closing school buildings or adjusting school academic hours.

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New York, US (PANA) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for greater international support to African countries in their continued fight against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in parts of the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin region and the Horn of Africa
NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP >> The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors welcomed a new member to its board and welcomed back a board veteran during its reorganization meeting on Jan. 3. District Judge Mick Petrucci administered the oath of office to newly-elected supervisor Elen Snyder and re-elected supervisor Kyle Davis. Snyder, a Democrat and former member of the townships Environmental Advisory Council, ran on a platform of protecting...
Just six months ago, the most destructive storm in the history of the Bahamas tore through the islands and cut deep into the lives of the people living there. Hurricane Dorian stole more than physical things like homes, cars, buildings and boatsbut permanently altered the path many would take to getting back to a new normal.

No one expected this type of water, Grand Bahama resident Stephanie Ferguson said of the destruction to her small business caused by the storm in early September 2019. The hurricane crawled at a painstakingly slow pace across the islands, where her shipping and brokerage business had an office on Grand Bahama. She says it felt like they had finally gotten back to a good place after Hurricane Matthew in 2016 just to be starting over again following Dorian.



The storm left the island without safe drinking water, many homes and businesses like Stephanies destroyed, and thousands of people left wondering what they would do now. In the days that followed, the American Red Cross worked alongside the Bahamas Red Cross to help thousands of people with everything from food and water to emergency shelter materials and hygiene kits to cash.



Since the storm, the American Red Cross has helped to put nearly $14 million directly into the hands of 3,000 families and helped more than 200 families pay rent on apartments because their own homes had become unlivable. More than 10,000 families also received additional essential items following the storm including kitchen sets, tools, tarps, hygiene items, food, water and more. It was that initial bridge in the days following the storm that propelled people to keep going down the path of recovery.



For some, a once bleak outlook turned bright again through financial assistance provided on the islands. For Arlene Cornish of Abaco, having cash in hand from the Red Cross was the difference between wondering what to do next and being able to bring happiness and cheer to her eight grandchildren.



I was so excited when I got the call from the Red Cross, I couldnt sleep. I was thinking, what is going to happen tomorrow? Arlene said. I will never forget you.



Its more than just something tangible. The Red Cross is an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on for today and right now, but also tomorrow and the road ahead. By partnering with other groups on the ground, the help spreads even further.



Stephanie Ferguson was one of the first to receive a business grant through Mercy Corps and funded by the Red Crossto help her shipping and brokerage business, which she co-owns with two other women.

The money went toward a fresh start: a new office space, computers, wiring and the many things it takes to get a business going again after the storm brought everything to a standstill. The women will also receive mentorship and training to bring their business back from the storm even stronger than before.

Six months later, getting back to work brings a sense of normalcy to the people so devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Stephanie says the help has her filled with relief.



The steps toward recovery after such a severe storm can be difficult. The generosity of the American people has made it possible for the Red Cross to provide help and hope to those whose lives were disrupted so much by the storm.

To support the Bahamas Red Cross, the American Red Cross deployed more than 40 disaster responders to the Bahamas immediately following Hurricane Dorian to assist in the disaster and the recovery of the storm. Red Cross workers remain on the island today, helping people get back to a new normal including clearing the debris still left behind and helping make sure clean drinking water is available. By partnering with other groups on the ground, the Red Cross was able to support the distribution of more than 500,000 fresh, hot meals to people on the ground through World Central Kitchen and distribution of tens of thousands of gallons of fresh drinking water through Mercy Corps. Nearly 13,830 cubic meters of debris has already been removed through the CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) program supporting homes hit hardest on the islands.



With all the progress that has been made, there is still a long road ahead for people impacted by Dorian. The American Red Cross, Bahamas Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) are working together in the Bahamas to provide support for the complex needs created by the storm. Thanks to generous donors, the American Red Cross is still in the Bahamas, and can continue to help communities recover.
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[March 12, 2020] KoreConX Launches Global Direct Issuance Platform for Companies

NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KoreConX is proud to announce the launch of the Direct Issuance Platform for use by companies for their capital raising around the world. There are more private companies around the world raising capital. Only 1% get funded by VCs, while the remaining 99% end up going through a number of other channels. With recent changes to securities regulations around the world, like the JOBS Act in the USA, raising capital has in some ways become easier for companies. These changes provide more options to companies today, however, many companies are unfamiliar with them. New technologies like blockchain-enabled tokens have created a lot of interest in raising funds across borders. Many companies have fallen into this trap and do not understand the importance of complying with regulations in multiple jurisdictions, maintaining compliance and auditable records. Two important regulations that allow companies to raise money in the USA are Regulation D and A+. The former deals with accredited investors and the latter with non-accredited. Many countries outside the USA offer somewhat similar regulatory options for accredited or sophisticated investors. For those interested in raising capital using a Regulation D offering, KoreConX is happy to now present an all-in-one, end-to-end solution for companies to manage their fundraisers. "We are a global company that requires a global solution. We selected KoreConX because it will allow us to remain compliant with regulations not only in the USA and Australia but in multiple other jurisdictions around the world," said Liam Twigger, CEO of PCF Capital. "This is a very important step in the history of PCF, and we want to make sure our investors are protected and have a platform to be able to manage the entire life cycle of the digital securities. That's why we are using the best possible tools for the job." The KoreConX all-in-one "Direct Issuance Platform" provides companies an end to end solution to allow them to offer their securities to investors with the confidence that only those who qualify can view and invest. This reduces any issues with regulators in different countries. Companies today might be required to provide reports to securities regulators as to who they have distributed their offering to and who has invsted.



"Our vision has been to remove friction from all aspects of capital activities for companies around the world. Our Direct Issuance Platform is a direct result of understanding the friction companies have to go through when raising capital and then having to report to regulators. This is critical when companies offer their securities to accredited investors," said Jason Futko, Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer. The KoreConX all-in-one Direct Issuance Platform (DIP) is an ideal solution for companies doing direct issuance to investors. With full details of the offering, the company, its key management, and dataroom, investors can review the materials and walk through the online investment process at their leisure.

The Direct Issuance Platform includes: a fully branded platform on the issuing company's URL, KYC, ID verification, AML, suitability, investor verification, payment processing, subscription agreement, e-signature, and full post-transaction management (cap table management, investor relations, transfer agent/share registry, boardroom tools, data management, etc.). All of this, plus the full compliance back-end of the KoreConX platform makes it easy for issuers to manage their offering and adhere to regulations. https://www.koreconx.io/global-direct-issuance-platform/ About KoreConX KoreConX is the world's first highly secure, permissioned blockchain ecosystem for fully-compliant digital securities worldwide. To ensure compliance with securities regulation and corporate law, the KoreConX all-in-one, AI-based blockchain platform manages the full lifecycle of digital securities including the issuance, trading, clearing, settlement, management, reporting, corporate actions, and custodianship. KoreConX connects companies to the capital markets and secondary markets, facilitating access to capital and liquidity for private investors. KoreConX is the first secure, all-in-one platform for private companies to manage their capital market activity and stakeholder communications. Removing the burden of fragmented systems and inefficient tools across multiple vendors, KoreConX offers a single environment to connect companies, investors and broker/dealers. Leveraged for investor relations and fundraising, private companies can share and manage corporate records and investments including portfolio management, capitalization table management, virtual minute book, security registers, transfer agent services and virtual deal rooms for raising capital. https://www.koreconx.io/global-direct-issuance-platform/ Media Contacts: KoreConX Oscar A. Jofre [email protected] Related Images direct-issuance-platform.jpg

Direct Issuance Platform Related Links KoreConX KoreConX View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/koreconx-launches-global-direct-issuance-platform-for-companies-301022502.html SOURCE KoreConX

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Auserd (refugee camp), March 12, 2020 (SPS) - The Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Saharawi People, Mohamed Bujruf, has called on European youth organizations to take an active role and put pressure on the various governments of the old continent so that the sovereignty of the Saharawi people is respected.

During his speech at the First International Youth Forum for Solidarity with Western Sahara, he recounted the strength of youth organizations to prevent the governments of the European Union from continuing to hinder a definitive solution and preventing the Saharawi people from exercising their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.

The Wilaya of Auserd hosted yesterday the first edition of the International Youth Forum for Solidarity with Western Sahara, an event convened by the Youth Union of Saguia El-Hmara and Rio de Oro (UJSARIO) to approach and involve international youth organizations in the just fight of the Saharawi people for their self-determination and independence.

During the forum, the organizations and delegations present will attend conferences on the struggle of the Saharawi people, visit institutions and places of interest, and participate in workshops to coordinate future actions at the international level.

The Secretary General of the UJSARIO, Mohamed Said Daddi, has marked the event as a new space for action in which more than 150 international participants exchange ideas on how to continue to apply pressure from different spaces to guarantee the Saharawi people their fair and legitimate claims .SPS

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How secure are four and six-digit mobile phone PINs?

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

###

This story has been published on: 2020-03-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Just before 9pm on Wednesday, Donald Trump was preparing to address the nation from behind the English Oak desk that Queen Victoria had made from the timbers of HMS Resolute for President Rutherford B Hayes in 1880.

Over the 140 years it has been in the White House's collection, it has become synonymous with the presidency itself, and, since the advent of radio and television, it has acquired a historical weight that goes far beyond the 1,000 pounds at which it tips the scales.

It's where presidents have sat as Americans have invited them into their homes at times of crisis and in times of triumph.

Franklin D Roosevelt sat behind it as he assured Americans that their money would be safe during the bank holiday he ordered upon assuming office in 1933; when he signed the declaration of war with Japan on December 9, 1941; and when he told Americans that US forces had begun the process of liberating Europe in June 1944.

When Harry Truman took FDR's place less than a year later, he used an Oval Office address to reassure the American people, many of whom had known no other president, and later on, to announce the surrenders of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in May and September of 1945.

And whether it was Eisenhower speaking on the need to send federal troops to enforce desegregation in Little Rock, Lyndon B Johnson consoling Americans after the assassinations of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr and Bobby Kennedy, Nixon resigning, Reagan comforting the children of America after the Challenger disaster, or George W Bush reassuring a frightened country after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the image of a president behind that iconic piece of office furniture has defined America's tragedies and triumphs for more than a century.

It was that archetype of American leadership which Donald Trump sought to evoke when he took his place before the cameras on Wednesday night. Television technicians adjusted their focus, and the networks flashed "special report" graphics on their screens.

But as a sound technician clipped a microphone to the president's tie, the first words he spoke fell well short of the mark set by his predecessors.

"Ah f*ck. Uh oh. I got a pen mark," said the 45th President of the United States, who asked those present if anyone had a wipe or some "white stuff" to hide the stain on his shirt.

Things went downhill from there.

After describing the virus which has sickened people in almost every state as a "foreign virus" (as if it was taking the job of a hard-working, law-abiding American pathogen), and boasting that his administration had conducted most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history," Trump announced that he would be signing an order "suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days."

"These prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing," he added, before assuring Americans that their insurance providers "agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing."

But after he'd finished speaking, in what might be a first for a presidential Oval Office address, members of his administration began immediately walking back what he'd said.

Instead, White House officials said that cargo transport would not be suspended, permanent US residents would be exempt from the restrictions, and the travel ban itself would only apply to the Schengen Area in which free movement between countries is permitted.

Insurance companies also had to clarify that their negotiations with the White House had been about the cost of testing, not treatment.

The stock markets reacted (and are still reacting) badly, to say the least.

Michael Waldman, who wrote more than 2,000 speeches as President Bill Clinton's chief speechwriter from 1995 to 1999, was aghast at the haphazard nature of Trump's attempt at presidential-level oratory.

"I am having a hard time remembering a speech that was more counterproductive than that one," said Waldman, now director of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University's law school. "For a president to use an Oval Office address at a time of national emergency to put out policy announcements that were wrong and repudiated by his own administration within minutes boggles the mind."

Waldman described Trump's botched speech as "part of a pattern of crisis leadership that is just not funny."

"Leadership during crisis is hard because it involves often playing against what is human nature for people, like steering against the skid in a car," he explained. "You have to tell people the truth. If things are bad, you have to level with them about them being bad. That will give a leader the credibility to be taken seriously on what they want to do  you have to know what you're talking about so you don't keep correcting yourself."

Crooked Media co-founder Tommy Vietor, who served in the Obama administration as a national security spokesperson, said the mistakes in Trump's prepared remarks were "inexcusable."

"I could not have imagined a scenario where the President of the United States could give an Oval Office address about a subject of this magnitude and make errors that panic people like this," he said. "This was a moment that called for clarity and facts, and he bungled it enormously."

Vietor laid the blame for Trump's disastrous performance at the feet of the speech's authors, White House senior advisers Stephen Miller and Jared Kushner (who is also the presidents son-in-law).

"Not having a racist and a dilettante write your speeches is a good rule of thumb for any president, but they have no subject-matter expertise at all and I think that was born out in the so-called solutions Trump put forward," he said (though the White House says Miller "condemns racism and bigotry in all its forms".)

But even the best-written speech in history might not have helped Trump achieve what he sought out to achieve by delivering it, Vietor cautioned, noting that President Obama had also delivered a speech during the BP oil spill crisis that was widely panned.

"A speech is not going to get us through a crisis that is unraveling in real time. He could have given the perfect set of remarks last night, put people at ease by laying out real proposals for how to manage the crisis and economic ideas that actually would help, but he's still going to wake up today, tomorrow, and the next day with a government that seems to be incapable of testing people for this virus, which means it's spreading, which means things are getting worse," he said. "The thing they don't seem to get is you can't spin your way out of this. You have to solve the underlying problem and that requires competence and a president who is willing to model appropriate behavior, speak truth, and give people bad news, and he won't do that."

But because 2020 is an election year, Americans who found themselves aghast by Trump's Oval Office star turn got a look at an alternative less than 24 hours later, when former Vice President Joe Biden appeared behind a lectern at a Wilmington, Delaware hotel to address the crisis that has already caused unprecedented disruptions to American life.

At the outset of his speech  the point where Trump had offered boasts and tried to assign blame  Biden offered Americans something they had not seen since January 2017: a glimpse at a consoler-in-chief.

"I know people are worried, and my thoughts are with all those who are directly fighting this virus  those infected, families that have suffered a loss, our first responders and healthcare providers who are putting themselves on the line for others. And Id like to thank those who are already making sacrifices to protect us  whether thats self-quarantining or cancelling events or closing campuses," Biden said. "Because whether or not you are infected, or know someone who is infected, or have been in contact with an infected person, this will require a national response. Not just from our elected leaders or our public health officials  from all of us."

"We all must follow the guidance of health officials and take appropriate precautions  to protect ourselves, and critically, to protect others, especially those who are most at risk from this disease," he continued, adding later that his campaign would be canceling large public events until advised that it is safe for such gatherings to resume by a committee of experts his campaign has assembled.

"We will be led by the science," he declared.

While the Trump campaign announced that it would cancel a number of its own rallies late Thursday, the campaigns national press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, had ridiculed the idea of canceling any events during a television appearance just 24 hours earlier.

Joe Lockhart, who served as Bill Clinton's press secretary during his 1999 impeachment trial, said Biden's address provided Americans with a "stark contrast" to the incumbent president.

"He had concrete ideas on testing, how to help the displaced and making this a global effort, and most of all no one is going to have to clean up for him after this speech," he said. In short, he looked like a president."

Veteran Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins concurred with Lockhart's assessment.

"That's what a president looks like  it was factual, it was concise, it was sober, and it's what the American people needed to hear," he said. "When you juxtapose what we saw in the Oval Office [that] explains why the markets are tumbling and why Americans are terrified and why our outlook for the next couple months is pretty bleak."

"At the moment when the American people need to have faith that they're being told the truth, the president sat down behind the Oval Office desk last night and read from a teleprompter, but the bar is so low for him that it's done nothing to make people feel like it's things are going to get better."

And it wasn't just Democrats who were impressed with Biden's performance.

One former Republican elected official who cut his teeth in the Tea Party movement but asked to remain anonymous for fear of harassment from his former colleagues put it succinctly: "Biden f*cking became president today."

Another ex-Tea Party Republican wasn't shy about speaking on the record about the events of the past 24 hours.

Joe Walsh, the Illinois ex-Congressman who recently attempted to challenge Trump in the GOP primary, predicted that Trump's disastrous speech and Biden's response would be remembered as an inflection point which boosted the former VP's chances of occupying the Oval Office at this time next year.

"Trump's sh*tty response to this pandemic paved the way for a guy like Biden to stand in front of the American people today and just reassure people and calm them," he said. "That's something Trump is just incapable of doing."

"After three and a half years of this absolute asshole in the White House, the American people just want to breathe. And I really believe that with Biden, they know him and they feel like they can just pause and do just that."
Homicide detectives are a step closer to solving the 1988 suspected gay-hate killing of Scott Johnson, with the chief police investigator confirming the search was now focused on one individual.

Mr Johnson's naked body was found at the base of a cliff near North Head on Sydney's northern beaches in December 1988.

Steve Johnson, left, and Detective Chief Inspector Peter Yeomans in 2018 on the cliff at North Head, the site of Scott Johnson's death. Credit:Jessica Hromas

Police initially concluded the 27-year-old US mathematician had died by suicide, but a 2017 coronial inquest found he had most likely been the victim of a "gay-hate attack".

More than 30 years after the first bungled police investigation into Mr Johnson's death, Detective Chief Inspector Peter Yeomans has confirmed the investigation had narrowed on a "particular individual".
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The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at New York University (NYU) condemns the lawsuit filed against the university on the fraudulent basis of opposing anti-Semitism. The lawsuit is part of the state-led effort to equate criticism of the Israeli government and capitalism with violence against Jews. It has nothing to do with the fight against anti-Semitism, which will only be encouraged by this right-wing campaign. The IYSSE calls on students to oppose the lawsuit and defend the right to free speech.

Last April, NYU student Adela Cojab, who has since graduated, filed a legal complaint with the Department of Education (DoE) in response to the universitys decision to award the Presidents Service Award to the pro-Palestinian university club Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). SJP was one of 150 students and organizations given the award for the Spring semester of 2019. In a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, NYU President Andrew Hamilton stated, Had it been up to me, SJP would not have received the award. Hamilton did not attend the awards ceremony.

The complaint argued that the university failed to protect its Jewish students, citing attacks on social media to resolutions of student government, to boycott [Israel], flag burning and physical assault. As evidence, the complaint cited an incident last year when two SJP members were arrested while protesting at an event hosted by a Zionist club at NYU in Washington Square Park, located near NYUs lower Manhattan campus.

Cojab based her complaint on the false equation of criticism of Zionism and the actions of the Israeli government with violent anti-Semitic attacks from right-wing forces, such as last Decembers shooting at a Jewish-owned market in New Jersey in which six people were killed, or the 2018 massacre of 11 Jews by a neo-Nazi at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

The initial complaint slandered the SJP as a terror-affiliated anti-Semitic network, and claimed that giving a humanitarian award to SJP is equivalent to giving such an award to the Ku Klux Klan, or any other racist organization. As the WSWS wrote at the time, The accusations against SJP flip reality on its head: the pro-Palestinian group has regularly been the target of far-right Zionist provocations, and in the 20162017 academic year, the NYU chapter received multiple anonymous death threats.

Following Cojabs complaint, the DoE launched an investigation into NYU. John Beckman, an NYU spokesperson, responded by expressing his solidarity with the same Zionist elements who had initiated the lawsuit. He protested the universitys innocence of the charge by stressing that NYUs president rejected and criticized attempts to ostracize pro-Israel groups; that the University has publicly, repeatedly, and vigorously repudiated BDS [boycott, divestment and sanctions] proposals both at NYU and elsewhere. He added that NYU is the only American university to operate a campus in Israel.

The response of NYU as well as other universities to these legal complaints was sharply criticized by the Middle East Studies Associations Committee of Academic Freedom (MESA). In a letter addressed to the NYU president, the MESA stated that the universitys failure to explicitly reject the conflation of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism not only threatens the constitutionally protected right to free speech but may also  [undermine] academic freedom.

The NYU lawsuit is being used as a precedent to crack down on supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) and other left-wing critics of Israel, especially on college campuses. Israeli advocacy groups have already filed similar complaints in California at UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz and UC Berkeley, and also at Barnard College, Brooklyn College and Columbia University in New York City and at Duke University in North Carolina. In early 2020, two separate complaints were brought at UCLA.

The lawsuit against NYU is a product of a close alliance between the most right-wing Zionists and the Trump administration, but the Democrats are almost unanimously complicit. In December, the US President signed an executive order that reinterprets Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits funding to institutions which discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national origin, to include anti-Semitism. Trump has repeatedly spelled out the policy of equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. He declared that if publicly-funded universities want to accept the tremendous amount of federal dollars you get every year you must reject anti-Semitism. His executive order based itself on the fraudulent 2016 definition of anti-Semitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. This labeled as anti-Semitic all those who [claim] that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.

A few days after signing the executive order last December, Trump introduced Cojab to an audience of more than 4,000 at the Israeli-American Council (IAC) National Summit in Miami, Florida. Cojab has since given interviews on the NYU lawsuit to numerous outlets, including the Jerusalem Post,a right-wing Israeli daily.

Adela Cojab with Trump at Israel American Council summit. (Credit: YouTube)

The IYSSE has principled political differences with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS). In holding the Israeli population as a whole responsible for the criminal actions of the Israeli state against the Palestinians, and in appealing to US corporations and US imperialism to take action against their Zionist ally, it confuses workers internationally and reinforces national divisions and antagonisms between Palestinians and Jewish citizens of Israel. The fight to defend the rights of the Palestinian people can only be based on a united socialist struggle by the Jewish and Arab masses against imperialism and for the United Socialist States of the Middle East.

However, the right-wing campaign against the BDS movement and the lawsuit at NYU, have absolutely nothing to do with the fight against anti-Semitism, and must be unequivocally opposed as an assault on democratic rights.

They are part of a state-led effort to slander and criminalize all left-wing criticism of the state of Israel, and more broadly of capitalism and imperialism, as anti-Semitic. It is no coincidence that this campaign is led by the very same forces that have built up and encouraged far-right and fascist forces in recent years. While supporting the vicious policies of the Israeli government, US President Trump has not let a day go by without whipping up xenophobia, anti-Semitism and racism. This has created the climate in which several fascists and right-wing extremists have felt encouraged to perpetrate horrific terrorist attacks, including the Pittsburgh massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in October 2018.

Internationally, the smear of anti-Semitism has been leveled against a number of bourgeois politicians perceived as critics of the Israeli government, including UK Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Democratic Party Representative Rashida Tlaib. The German government has engaged in a similar effort to equate all criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. At the same time, it has continued to defend right-wing extremist Professor Jorg Baberowski of Berlins Humboldt University, who claims that Hitler wasnt vicious and did not want to know about Auschwitz. This defense continued even after Baberowski physically assaulted a left-wing student. In 2019, this same Baberowski received a $300,000 grant from Princeton University to study Dictatorships in Transition.

The Trump-backed anti-Semitism campaign is the opposite of a genuine struggle against the scourge of anti-Semitism. The socialist movement has always been in the forefront of this struggle, while Zionism has a sordid history of collaborating with and encouraging anti-Semitic forces. The Netanyahu government itself has embraced as great friends of Israel fascistic leaders ranging from Trump to Brazils Bolsonaro, Italys Salvini, Hungarys Orban and Duterte of the Philippines.

The promotion of the far right by the state and the attempt to slander and criminalize all opposition to capitalism and the state of Israel as anti-Semitic are two sides of the same coin. Amid a historic crisis of the capitalist system, now massively exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, the bourgeoisie is attacking core democratic rights and moving toward dictatorial forms of rule. This includes smearing those opposed to the crimes of imperialism and the Israeli state as anti-Semites who are to be denied the right of free speech.

The IYSSE at NYU therefore denounces this reactionary lawsuit as an assault on the rights of all workers and students. We call upon all those who are concerned with the defense of democratic rights and the fight against the threat of fascism and war to join our club at NYU, and take up the fight for socialism within the working class.
The Supreme Court will decide on Friday whether to extend the Holi break in view of the Covid 19 threat.

A brief meeting was held on Thursday evening at the residence of the Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde to discuss the issue.

Besides the CJI, the meeting was attended by Supreme Court judges, justices Arun Mishra and UU Lalit, attorney general KK Venugopal, solicitor general Tushar Mehta and officials from the health ministry besides representatives of the two lawyers bodies, Supreme Court Bar Association and Supreme Court Advocate-on-Record Association.

The judges are expected to hold another meeting in this regard before Friday afternoon to decide if the top court, which is set to reopen on March 16, should postpone the reopening date.

Besides the option of extending the vacation, the judges might also consider whether to function in a limited manner by only taking up matters requiring an urgent hearing.

The Supreme Court campus and the court rooms are overcrowded, particularly on Mondays and Fridays, when a large number of cases are listed for admission, raising concerns of the spread of coronavirus. The court is currently shut for Holi break with only a vacation bench sitting to deal with urgent matters.

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases across India, including foreign nationals, shot to 74 by Thursday evening. Out of these 56 are Indian citizens. The Delhi government on Thursday announced that all movie theatres and schools will remain shut till March 31. Several other state governments had also announced shutting down schools to prevent the spread of the disease.
Stassi Schroeder shared that it was 'romantic and sweet, in a way' to discuss and obtain a prenuptial agreement.

The 31-year-old Vanderpump Rules diva is engaged to the hunky casting director Beau Clark and got candid about the prenup in an essay for Glamour.

'Maybe its because both of my parents have been divorced three times. I dont know. But to me, prenup doesn't feel like a dirty word,' wrote the blonde.

So in love: Stassi Schroeder shared that it was 'romantic and sweet, in a way' to discuss and obtain a prenuptial agreement

She argued against the 'stigma around' these agreements, theorizing that they 'have this sexist connotation - people think of gold diggers and things like that. Men who have a lot of money and are trying to protect it from women.'

Stassie argued: 'That's not what a prenup is about. It's a mutually beneficial agreement so both partners feel safe and taken care of.'

There was no need for 'a big conversation' with Beau as 'He's from a family of divorce too, so we both just knew that's what we would do.'

She dished: 'And the more Beau and I talk about it, the more I realize we're so in sync. We're able to have those hard conversations.'

Making it happen: The 31-year-old Vanderpump Rules diva is engaged to the hunky casting director Beau Clark and got candid about the prenup in an essay for Glamour

The reality TV star shared that 'If Im going to commit to someone for the rest of my life, I need to be able to talk about uncomfortable things like finances. I've found the whole experience to be romantic and sweet, in a way. We're close enough to discuss anything. Nothing is off limits.'

Stassi revealed: 'Beau and I have only just begun the process. Ideally, Id like us to go in together and discuss our thoughts and the things we want. Then we can separate and find our own lawyers.'

Their beloved dogs will be part of the talks, as will the fact 'Beau has given up a lot of time in his own career to help mine,' as she acknowledged.

'If you start talking about a prenup with your partner and it becomes a source of contention and arguing, maybe you should look at your relationship. Maybe there are some cracks there,' the Bravo personality advised.

Openness: The reality TV star shared that 'If Im going to commit to someone for the rest of my life, I need to be able to talk about uncomfortable things like finances

'You should be able to talk about everything, because when you sign a prenup, you're disclosing all that you have. It's a vulnerable place for two people to be. And if you can be vulnerable together, I think you're doing pretty well as a couple.'

In a romantic flourish Beau popped the question to Stassi at a graveyard last July, giving her a 3.5 carat ring that has been in his family for a century.

Last October, before the coronavirus outbreak, she dished to People magazine that they wanted to marry in Rome.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Xtra-Gold Resources Corp. (TSX: XTG) (OTCQB: XTGRF) ("Xtra- Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce today that the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") has accepted a noticed filed by the Company of its intention to renew its prior normal course issuer bid for a further one year period. The Company intends to proceed with a normal course issuer bid to purchase up to 4,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "2020 Bid").

The Company is commencing the 2020 Bid because it believes that the current market price of its common shares may not fully reflect the underlying value of the Company's business and its future business prospects. The Company believes that the purchase of common shares for cancellation is in the best interests of the Company's shareholders by increasing the respective proportionate shareholdings and therefore increasing the respective equity interest in the Company for all remaining shareholders.

As of March 10, 2020 the Company has 46,704,117 common shares issued and outstanding. The 4,000,000 common shares that may be purchased by the Company under the 2020 Bid represent approximately 10% of the public float (42,858,262 as of March 10, 2020) of the Company. The 2020 Bid will commence on March 16, 2020 and will terminate on March 15, 2021 or at such earlier date in the event that the number of shares sought in the 2020 Bid has been repurchased. The Company reserves the right to terminate the 2020 Bid earlier if it feels that it is appropriate to do so.

All shares will be purchased on the open market through the facilities of the TSX, and payment for the common shares will be in accordance with TSX policies. The price paid for the common shares will be the market price at the time of purchase. Purchasing may be suspended at any time, and no purchases will be made other than by means of open market transactions during the term of the 2020 Bid.

The maximum number of common shares that may be purchased on a daily basis is 5,298 common shares representing 25% of the average daily trading volume for the last six calendar months, except where purchases are made in accordance with "block purchases" exemptions under applicable TSX policies. The common shares purchased by the Company will be cancelled.

The Company has engaged Haywood Securities Inc. to act as broker through which the 2020 Bid will be conducted.

Previous purchases were made by the Company under a prior normal course issuer bid (the "2019 Bid"), the results of which are noted hereunder.

Results of 2018 Bid

Pursuant to a previous notice of intention to conduct a normal course issuer bid, under which Company sought and received approval from the TSX to purchase up to 4,000,000 Common Shares for the period of February 13, 2019 to February 12, 2020, the Company has purchased, as of January 31, 2020, 426,800 Common Shares on the open market at an average purchase price of $0.435 per share. As of February 29, 2020, the issued and outstanding number of Common Shares is 46,704,117 shares and the public float of the Common share is 42,858,262 shares.

About Xtra-Gold Resources Corp.

Xtra-Gold is a gold exploration company with a substantial land position in the Kibi Gold Belt, in Ghana West Africa.

Contact Information

For further information please contact:

James Longshore, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 416-628-2881

E-mail: info@xtragold.com

Website: www.xtragold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53365
Crew members of the Alpine Penelope ship, including a Ukrainian sailor, captured by pirates off the coast of Nigeria, have been freed, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said.

He wrote this on his Twitter account.

"Ukraine does not abandon its people. [...] The crew has been released after talks. Our [sailor] Dmytro Holianenko is already in Ukraine with his family. I congratulate you on your return," Kuleba said.

The return of crew members was possible thanks to the actions of the ship's owner and diplomats of the Embassy of Ukraine in Greece.

Pirates attacked the Alpine Penelope tanker, heading from the Netherlands to Lagos, off the coast of Nigeria on February 20. As a result, they captured ten crew members, including a Ukrainian citizen.

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Amid high drama, a Minister in the crisis-stricken Kamal Nath government was on Thursday stopped by police from entering a resort near here where some of the rebel Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh are staying.

The Minister, identified as Jitu Patwari, was briefly detained along with his supporters as he sought to enter the resort near here in the BJP-ruled Karnataka, police sources said.

The police action was condemned by the Karnataka Congress which demanded an apology from Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

A video purportedly showing the minister picking up heated argument with the police has surfaced.

Patwari later called on newly appointed Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, considered a troubleshooter of the party.

Nineteen Madhya Pradesh MLAs, including six ministers, who are staying put in the city, had earlier this week written to Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police seeking protection and police escort.

According to sources, the Minister had come with an intention to convince the MLAs, who have sent in their resignations, to return to the party fold.

Karnataka Congress alleged the Minister was arrested and condemned the police action.

"Karnataka police action of arresting the Madhya Pradesh Minister, who had come to convince the Madhya Pradesh Congress legislators who are in Bengaluru is condemnable.

"Goonda behaviousr of Karnataka BJP government is not right, they should be released immediately, and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has to apologise for the mistake," the state Congress tweeted.

The 19 legislators, said to be loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia who has joined the BJP, in their letter to the DGP had said they have come to Karnataka "voluntarily" on some "important work".

All 19 had announced their resignation on Tuesday, pushing the Kamal Nath government into a crisis.

It is not clear whether all the 19 are staying at the resort where Patwari had gone.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Spanish NGO released a report showing how victims are forced to frame the accusations against them as crimes against the state or the party. Once unsophisticated compare to China, Vietnam is now catching up.

Hanoi (AsiaNews/RFA)  Vietnam is adopting the techniques of another communist regime, Chinas, when it comes to forcing human rights activists and other political prisoners to make televised confessions, a Spain-based rights NGO said on Wednesday.

In its report titled Coerced on Camera: Televised Confessions in Vietnam, the NGO Safeguard Defenders, which is led by Vietnamese Nguyen Quoc Ngu, identified 21 people who, since 2007, have been forced by authorities to confess on TV.

For 16 of them, it found videos. Of these, 14 were human rights defenders -- rights lawyers, citizen journalists, villagers protesting against land grabs  while one was a state oil executive public accused of corruption and another was a farmer accused of murder.

However, 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.

What is more, 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 criminalise dissenting or critical voices.

The report notes that Vietnams forced-confession broadcasts have long been less sophisticated than Chinas, but added that Vietnamese authorities have been catching up.

Starting in 2017, the confession news packages appear to become more elaborate, the report said.

One slicker confession video is that of William Nguyen, a US 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, the group said.

Nguyens confession dates back to 2018, when the graduate student from Houston, Texas, was 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 an elderly community leader killed by Vietnamese police during a land protest outside Hanoi in January.

Le Dinh Kinh, 84, was shot dead on 9 January when police attacked his home in Dong Tams Hoanh village in an early morning operation that involved some 3,000 security officers.

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.
Luxury car shoppers who choose Autos of Dallas will benefit from free luxury car delivery in Texas and affordable nationwide shipping.

Autos of Dallas  located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth area  is a premier pre-owned luxury car dealership in the Dallas Metroplex. Luxury car shoppers who choose Autos of Dallas and live in the Lone Star State will have the advantage of free luxury car delivery within Texas and Oklahoma. Online car shoppers who find themselves on the Autos of Dallas site will still have the chance to find their dream car at a dream price with affordable nationwide shipping provided by the dealership.

To cater to luxury car shoppers, Autos of Dallas features an impressive inventory of pre-owned luxury cars, trucks and SUVs that includes many popular luxury brands. Luxury brands that potential owners will find at the dealership include  BMW, Lexus, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Acura, Infiniti, Bentley, Tesla, Cadillac, Lincoln, MINI, Porsche, Volvo and more. With more than 800 pre-owned luxury vehicles in stock, the dealership provides countless automotive options for Dallas-area drivers.

No matter where Autos of Dallas customers live in the state of Texas, they are eligible for free luxury car delivery  a service that extends to the state of Oklahoma. Luxury car buyers who live outside of Texas and Oklahoma can contact a dealership representative for more information on affordable nationwide shipping charges and the process associated with it. Autos of Dallas nationwide shipping starts at $499 to select states with affordable prices for the rest of the United States.

Individuals who would like to learn more about available free luxury car delivery in Texas and nationwide shipping services at Autos of Dallas, can visit the dealership online at http://www.autosofdallas.com. Potential owners who prefer a more personal interaction can contact a dealership representative directly by calling 972-484-9200.
The District Chief Executive for Tain in the Bono Region, Madam Charity Akua Foriwaa Dwommoh has handed over a fully equipped Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound and a motorbike to the Chiefs and people of Dagadu, a farming community in the District.

The health facility is expected to serve the people of Dagadu and nearby communities such as Kwaku Donkor, Attakrom, Nkrankrom, Kwada, Kwame Broni, Okukrom, Aseakrom and other nearby communities where the residents have to walk for about 15 miles to Seikwa to access healthcare.

In a short ceremony attended by staff of the Assembly, Party Executives, some Assembly Members, the District Health Directorates as well the Chiefs and people of Dagadu and its surrounding communities, the DCE Madam Charity Akua Foriwaa Dwommoh admonished the people to own the facility and make good use of it.

She urged the people to help maintain the facility for the benefit of future generations.

She said the Assembly is committed to ensuring that development gets to the grassroot level hence there is the need for the people to help the Assembly by protecting and preserving the facility especially looking at the investment that has gone into it.

She pleaded with the citizenry to continue supporting the NPP government to help develop the District by renewing its mandate come December 2020.

The District Health Director Mr. Kofi Annor Duku Annor called on the residents to patronage the CHPS compound.

He assured the people that equipment and drugs are available at the facility whiles health personnel have also been posted there to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to the people.

He appealed to the people to warmly welcome the health personnel to the community and extend the necessary support and cooperation to them.

He also advised them to ensure maintenance culture towards the facility.

Expressing their joy for the facility, the Chief of the area Nana Okra Joseph thanked the government for completing the project which was their major problem and appealed to the District Chief Executive to also help the community with Teachers quarters.
Technavio has been monitoring the social media security market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.12 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 18% 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 latest free sample report of 2020-2024

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005640/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Social Media Security Market 2020-2024

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. The increase in hacks and data thefts will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Increase in hacks and data thefts has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Social Media Security Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Social Media Security Market is segmented as below:

Type

Endpoint

Web

Network

Cloud

Application Security

Geographic segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30044

Social Media Security 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 social media security market report covers the following areas:

Social Media Security Market Size

Social Media Security Market Trends

Social Media Security Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies emergence of BYOD as one of the prime reasons driving the social media security market growth during the next few years.

Social Media Security Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the social media security market, including some of the vendors such as CA Technologies, Centrify, Micro Focus, Proofpoint and Symantec. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the social media security 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

Social Media Security Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist social media security market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the social media security market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour

The growth of the social media security market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of social media security market vendors

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 2020-2024

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 SECURITY TYPE

Market segmentation by security type

Comparison by security type

Endpoint security Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Web security Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Network security Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Cloud security Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Application security Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Market opportunity by security type

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Americas Market size and forecast 2020-2024

EMEA Market size and forecast 2020-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Emergence of BYOD

Use of analytics in social media security

Need for MFA in social media security

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

CA Technologies

Centrify

Micro Focus

Proofpoint

Symantec

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/20200312005640/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/
A kind-hearted woman who stopped to save an elderly man's life was cruelly robbed of her iPad as she resuscitated him by the side of a Perth road.

Mother-of-three Latara Ogle saw a distressed woman trying to flag down passing cars as she drove through Perth's outer southern suburb of Warnbro on Wednesday.

She stopped and went to see what was wrong and found an elderly man had collapsed.

Latara Ogle immediately stopped when she saw a woman in distress by a Perth roadside and found an elderly man had collapsed. She saved his life but was robbed in the process

'He had stopped breathing ... he had no pulse,' she told WAtoday.

The 30-year-old health sciences student immediately began cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to revive the man.

In the heat of the moment, Ms Ogle asked a man standing nearby to go to her car and get a resuscitation mask from her car.

The man never came back so she asked another person to get it for her.

'I was not really thinking  it was quite a hectic scene,' she said.

She kept working on the man and he began to breathe again.

Frazzled, she returned to her car and drove home.

Once she arrived, she realised her iPad was nowhere to be seen.

It had been sitting on the passenger seat.

Latara Ogle said she thinks a man she asked to get a resuscitation mask from her car's glovebox stole her iPad. She just wants it back, no questions asked, as it has her photos on it

Ms Ogle said she suspects the first man who never returned had taken off with her iPad.

Unfortunately she did not take enough notice of the man to remember what he looks like, and was unable to describe his appearance.

'In all honesty  I didn't think someone would do this,' she said.

The device contained her latest thesis edits which were not backed up along with precious photos of her children.

Ms Ogle said her iPad was disabled and of no use to the thief.

She said she just wants it back, no questions asked - and urged anyone who has it to contact a police station or contact her with the location.

The condition of the elderly man is unknown.
Farmers are being urged to take advantage of the current four Wildlife Offers available as part of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme following this year's launch.

The simplified Countryside Stewardship agreements are designed to preserve the natural environment and protect wildlife.

The four Wildlife Offers, consisting of Arable Offer, Lowland Offer, Mixed Offer and Upland Offer, began accepting applications from 11 Feb 2020, giving a deadline of 31 July 2020.

They are help support wildlife by providing winter food for seed-eating birds, sources of nectar and pollen for insect pollinators, and improved habitats, especially for farmland birds and pollinators.

However, according to property consultancy, Bruton Knowles, many farmers and land managers remain unaware about the available offers.

Ben Compton, rural expert at the firm, said: "We are very concerned that farmers are either unaware of the available funding, or are being put off from applying by previous schemes complicated application processes.

"Our rural experts are on hand to help those who simply dont have the time to complete the application form, struggle with access to broadband or a computer, or would like more in-depth, tailored support."

Each of the four offers has a set of options and requirements, with a wildlife benefit and payment rate.

If successful, farmers and land managers receive a five-year agreement with annual payments.

For example, introducing flower-rich margins and plots will net 539 per ha/year, similarly offering a nectar flower mix will net 511 per ha/year and winter bird mix at 640 per ha/year.

Bruton Knowles' tips for completing a Wildlife Offer application

1. Consider carefully the areas of the farm which arent currently being used productively. Think about how these could be maximised with regards to protecting wildlife or the environment. This may be for example, field corners, banks or wet areas unable to be cultivated.

2. Keep it simple  you dont need to over complicate your ideas as this will make day to day management a challenge e.g. having different types of margins with different closed periods in the same field.

3. Beyond the minimum requirements of each offer, any additional options are paid for on a /ha basis. Therefore as long as the minimum requirements are met, applications can include as many options as you like.

4. Successful applications will have a 1st January 2021 start date and run until 31st December 2025. These offers are a five-year scheme so maybe a secure, known income stream to help weather changes in Agricultural policy in the coming years.

5. Holdings with SSSIs, scheduled ancient monuments, existing other agri-environment schemes or very large holdings are not eligible for Wildlife Offers, only MidTier.

6. Typically, a Wildlife offer has options on 5 per cent of the holding  is all your holding productive land?

7. Capital grants are not available under Wildlife Offers.

8. Ensure you are signed up to the Rural Payments Service and have an SBI number. You can register online at Gov.UK Verify, or call the Rural Payments Helpline on 03000 200 301.
In working in museums, Ive seen all these different objects that I thought, 'Oh my God, if I ever curated an exhibition, I would have this in this show and this is what I would say about it, Sanders said recently, during a break from the process of installing the exhibit at the Field. And so the exhibition was almost already sort of created within me, and it wasnt difficult to pitch something.
Local high networth individuals and leading financial institutions have evinced interest in putting money in crisis-hit Yes Bank, analysts said on Thursday.

There is lot of interest in putting money into Yes Bank because now the real value will be unlocked as the stock price has already reached Rs 26 apiece, IIFL Securities Director Sanjiv Bhasin said.

There is a mixed bag of local investors, mutual funds, AMCs, HNIs alongside ICICI and HDFC, he said further.

"There is ICICI, HDFC, then there are individual HNIs like Radhakishan Damani (Dmart), Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and some mutual funds," Bhasin added.

Yes Bank's administrator Prashant Kumar, a former SBI executive, has said that the lender is in talks with various investors to raise capital.

Yes Bank was superseded by the RBI last Thursday under an administrator after it failed to raise capital.

The troubled lender will announce its third quarter results for December 2019 on Saturday and analysts expect that there will be deterioration in bank's asset quality.

"I think there will be deterioration in the asset quality, slippage would be higher, their core equity capital is expected to go below what RBI mandates," said an analyst on the condition of anonymity.

The bank may post a loss of Rs 1,000 crore during October-December 2019-20 quarter, an analyst commented.

Emkay Global Financial Services said: "We expect Yes Bank to report a loss of Rs 778 crore, mainly due to recognition of heavy corporate NPAs from its stress pool including ADAG NBFC, some real estate acounts and pending NPA provisioning for FY19."



Emkay said it believes that SBI stake buy in Yes Bank will provide immediate capital support in the phase 1 of restructuring and also ensure continued support in the future capital raise with SBI being an anchor investor.

"Apart from capital support, SBI holding stake in the bank will soothe depositors, as otherwise Yes Bank has been witnessing sharp deposit run down. However, we believe apart from capital infusion, bank will have to strip-off assets to further release capital and also rake up internal liquidity to pay-off depositors, where SBI can provide a pivotal role in buying these assets," it added.

Bhasin said it has to be seen how much asset quality deterioration will be there on the results day.

"Once we know that...recapitalisation, you know there is Rs 20,000 crore coming as far as capital (is concerned) and Rs 30,000 crore as deposits to allay all investors' negativity, so that is all presumption."



As per the bank's reconstruction plan, SBI has committed Rs 2,450 crore investment through an acquisition of 49 per cent equity in Yes Bank, which remains in moratorium till April 3, as bank's capital condition has jeopardized.

Yes Bank over the last over one year has failed to raise enough capital under the new leadership of Ravneet Singh Gill, who took charge as the managing director and CEO from March 1, 2019.

Troubles at new-generation private sector started brewing up ever since the Reserve Bank denied extension to its co-founder Rana Kapoor -- who now is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate on charges of financial mismanagement and money-laundering -- to continue as MD and CEO in September 2018, and had asked the lender to find a new successor.

Yes Bank shares closed at Rs 25.05 on BSE, down 13.02 per cent from the previous close.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Alliance News) - Iodine and specialty chemicals maker Iofina PLC on Thursday said that 14%-shareholder Arron Banks does not intend to make an offer for the company.

Shares in Iofina were down 9.8% at 17.52 pence each in London.

Following a request of clarification, Banks has informed that he does not intend to make an offer for the company, Iofina said.

"Mr Banks, and an associate of his, had made a number of statements through the media indicating that he was actively considering a possible offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Iofina. Until today, the company had not received any communications regarding the possible offer from Mr Banks," the company noted in a short statement.

Banks was one of the founder of the Leave.EU campaign in the UK and poured significant funding into the UK Independence Party.

Iofina on Tuesday slammed an attempt by Banks to remove its non-executive chair.

Rene Nominees IOM Ltd A/C POOLED, on behalf of South Rock Insurance Co Ltd and ICS Risk Solutions Ltd, on Monday called for a meeting of shareholders to vote to remove Iofina Non-Executive Chair Lance Baller and appoint Banks to the board.

London-headquartered Iofina on Tuesday had said the requisition of the meeting was a reaction to Iofina's decision to not invest into a hemp project in Belize with which Banks is associated.

Banks has accused the company of "badly executed" expansions of iodine plants with high costs, which Iofina said is incorrect. He also criticised Iofina's debt reduction plans to which the company had said it is in talks with several possible debt providers to restructure its debt.

Another criticism levelled by Banks referred to Iofina's investment into Colorado-based hemp seed producer Organic Vines, as part of a plan to move into the hemp products market. Iofina on Tuesday responded that the investment could deliver the maximum return achievable and also had said Banks was publicly supportive of the investment at the time.

By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Reuters

By Helen Coster and Sheila Dang

(Reuters) - Brian Lesser, chief executive of AT&T Inc's advertising unit Xandr, has resigned, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, raising questions about the future of its advanced advertising strategy.

A spokesman for AT&T declined to comment. Lesser was not immediately reachable.

Lesser had interviewed for the CEO role at WarnerMedia, AT&T's media unit, but received an indication that he would not be selected, the source said.

A replacement at Xandr is not yet known.

AT&T has spent a combined $134 billion to buy satellite TV provider DirecTV and media company Time Warner to take on Netflix Inc and then craft a digital and TV advertising strategy that would make use of the combined companies' assets.

The company launched Xandr in 2018 to offer partners a better way to target ads to consumers using data collected from phone, internet and TV services.

Lesser felt comfortable stepping down because Xandr is in a good position and its first quarter results are expected to show significant growth, the source said.

A long-time advertising executive, Lesser joined AT&T in 2017 and was previously CEO of ad agency GroupM North America. Lesser also founded Xaxis, an ad technology company.

At Xandr, he oversaw the purchase of ad tech companies AppNexus and clypd to give Xandr the technical capabilities of selling digital and TV ads.

However, ad agency executives who spoke with Reuters earlier this year have viewed Xandr's progress as slow, citing few new product offerings for advertisers since its launch.

A spokeswoman for Xandr did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

News of Lesser's resignation came on the same day the company announced a move toward its long-stated goal of changing how TV ads are purchased.

On Wednesday, Xandr launched a TV ad-buying tool in partnership with Walt Disney Co , AMC Networks and WarnerMedia that would allow advertisers to target certain viewers across the networks using AT&T data.

One ad agency executive who did not want to be named said the timing of Lesser's resignation was a surprise. The executive added that clients would be advised against using Xandr's new ad buying tool until there was more clarity surrounding the company's technology strategy.

(Reporting by Sheila Dang and Helen Coster in New York; editing by Kenneth Li, Nick Zieminski and Tom Brown)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders plans to remain in the 2020 Democratic presidential race, despite another bruising night for his campaign on Tuesday.

"What became even more apparent yesterday is that while we are currently losing the delegate count, we are strongly winning in two enormously important areas, which will determine the future of our country," Sanders said during a Wednesday press conference in Burlington, Vermont.

Joe Biden dealt a crushing blow to Sanders' campaign on Tuesday night when he won four of the six primary states, including the biggest delegate prize of the night, Michigan.

Sanders loss in Michigan, a once reliably blue state that flipped to President Trump four years ago, is particularly stunning. In 2016, a surprise upset against Hillary Clinton in the state revived his anti-establishment campaign.

The self-avowed democratic socialist, who two weeks ago emerged as an unlikely frontrunner in the Democratic Party, vowed to participate in the one-on-one debate with Biden in Phoenix on Sunday night -- and hinted at how he plans to attack the former vice president's voting record. Sanders listed a number of issues that he thinks Biden is weak on, including health care, climate change and student debt.

BIDEN, SANDERS TO DEBATE WITHOUT LIVE AUDIENCE AS CORONAVIRUS SPREADS

Sanders will likely face escalating pressure to exit the primary and unify the party after his path to the nomination considerably narrowed on Tuesday. But he concluded the presser, which lasted less than 20 minutes, by targeting President Trump, whom he previously called a "sexist, racist and homophobe."

"Donald Trump must be defeated," he said. "And I will do everything in my power to make that happen. On Sunday night, in the first one-on-one debate in this campaign, the American people will have the opportunity to see which candidate is best positioned to accomplish that goal."

To clinch the nomination, candidates need to secure 1,991 delegates of the 3,979 pledged delegates at the convention in Milwaukee this summer. Delegates are awarded based on caucuses and primaries throughout the nominating contest. Biden, fresh off the heels of a surprise run of victories on Super Tuesday, when he won 10 states, entered Tuesday with a slim delegate lead over the Vermont senator.

Story continues

More than half of the pledged delegates have not yet been allotted, meaning that Biden cannot mathematically win the nomination until at least April 28.

According to the Associated Press's delegate tracker, Biden currently has 823 delegates. Sanders trails with 663.

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The group suits up discreetly while putting on their protective caps and strategic rigging. Government operators haul battering rams, jolt cutters and overwhelming weaponry by foot up a slope on a private California road that is delicately aglow from road lights.

At that point, the operators turn onto the walkway of their objective's home. Minutes after the fact, a rumored individual from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, is exited in binds.

Last Wednesday, specialists dispersed over the United States early in the morning, coming full circle to a six-month examination with the essential objective of destroying the more elite class of CJNG and planning to draw nearer to catching its pioneer, one of the most wanted men in America. They set a ransom for Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera at $10 million.

The posse controls between 33 percent and 66 percent of the sedate market in the United States. It is savage to such an extent that individuals leave heaps of bodies in avenues and swinging from bridges in Mexico, and has mass graves filling the city of Guadalajara.

In excess of 600 individuals have been captured during the operation as of late, in excess of 15,000 kilos of meth was seized and almost $20 million taken as search and capture warrants were executed.

The battling Mexico's quickest developing and most fierce posse is a priority according to the United States. Law authorities know the group has center points in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta. They are also know to have a grasp on 24 of Mexico's 32 states.

In contrast to different cartels, CJNG shows no hesitance in assaulting police and armed forces and is accused of the deadliest assaults against law implementation powers in Mexico. In wiping out opponents, it has demonstrated tremendous acts of viciousness.

According to the specialist for the DEA's field office in Los Angeles, Bill Bodner, their affinity to brutality is a major piece of it, a very much equipped association, yet actually the fuel that was tossed on the fire was manufactured medications.

They looked through the home, a stately, salmon-shaded Spanish Colonial-style with a huge light fixture in the hall, palm trees in the front yard, and slithered on the ground to look under vehicles, including a dark Lexus, in the carport. No shots were discharged.

At the war room tucked inside a dull government working in northern Virginia, a gathering of twelve examiners and operators sat behind PC screens inside a meeting room that has been changed over into a war room. As operators were slamming down entryways the nation over, the telephones rang at the war room and experts recorded the number of captures and the measure of medications seized on printed worksheets.

The specialist responsible for the division of the uncommon tasks gathered with her group before a warmth map, red dabs shining darker and darker as more captures are made, fundamentally in Texas, California, and New Jersey. By 9 a.m., in excess of 60 individuals had been arrested.

The cartel is driven by the subtle Oseguera, whose guardians once killed a Mexican military helicopter to forestall his capture. Lately, examiners have brought charges against his child, Nemesio Oseguera, otherwise called "El Menchito" and his girl, Jessica Johanna Oseguera.

While Mexican medication cartels brought in their cash prevalently from Maryjane in past decades, the market has fairly dispersed with the state-level authorization of cannabis in many states over the US.

Presently, they've gone to methamphetamine and fentanyl, selling it at just about multiple times the value it cost to make and flooding the lanes of the US, filling vagrancy and the narcotic emergency, and abandoning another path of bodies: from overdoses.

Authorities state he's more perilous than rumored Mexican medication boss and slick person "El Chapo" Guzman, who as pioneer of the Sinaloa cartel ran a gigantic medication intrigue that spread homicide and pandemonium for over two decades.

The Jalisco cartel is additionally referred to for audacious strategies, for example, driving around in guards of pickup trucks set apart with the letters "CJNG" and for flowing recordings of vigorously outfitted cartel shooters in military-style dress. While Mexico says it is never again focusing on keeping drug rulers, the Mexican government has removed Oseguera's child and has confined a portion of his partners.
On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, news broke that actor Tom Hanks tested positive for COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. This came the same day that that the World Heath Organization declared it the virus a pandemic.

Tom Hanks attends the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Hanks, who recently received the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes, contracted the virus outside of the U.S., in Australia, where hes filming a movie. What is the project that hes working on?

Hanks shared the following message from Australia

In a message shared on his social media accounts, Hank wrote that both he and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, had tested positive for coronavirus. He explained their symptoms, explaining both felt a bit tired and had slight fevers before they were tested.

Hanks then shared that he would be following the protocols of the medical officials in Australia, where they are right now. He explained that they will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. The actor finished by writing hell keep the world posted and updated, and encouraged everyone to take care of yourselves.

Fans and other celebrities reacted on social media

Its like it picked the celebrity we cared the most about to make a point  Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) March 12, 2020

Lets face it, Hanks is a big deal. Hes starred in countless films that are very important to people, and played many incredible characters over his decades-long career. So when people found out he had the virus, they were understandably upset.

Its like it picked the celebrity we care the most about to make a point, wrote comedian Whitney Cummings on Twitter. Others made jokes about his various roles, saying that hes survived being stuck on an island (Cast Away), landing a plane in water (Sully), and much more.

What movie was he filming there?

What were Hanks and Wilson doing in Australia? The couple has been there for at least a few days, as pre-production began on an as-yet-untitled film about Elvis Presley. The Warner Bros. project, helmed by Baz Luhrmann, stars Austin Butler as the musician and Hanks as his long-time manager, Tom Parker. Its due out in October 2021.

The studio released a statement, as reported by Deadline, stating that it is working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies and is taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.

Hanks and Wilsons son, Chet, weighs in

Hanks has four children: Colin and Elizabeth, from his previous marriage, and Chet and Truman, from his marriage to Wilson. Chet is a musician and actor who has gotten a lot of attention for, among other things, his way of speaking. See what we mean in his statement about his parents condition.

Whats up everyone? Yea, its true. My parents got coronavirus. Crazy. Theyre both down in Australia right now cause my dad was shooting a movie down there. But I just got off the phone with them  they both are fine. Theyre not even that sick. Theyre not worried about it, theyre not trippin. But theyre going through the necessary health precautions, obviously. But I dont think its anything to be too worried about. I appreciate everyones concern and the well wishes. But I think its all gonna be alright. But I appreciate it and everyone just stay safe out there. Much love.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  CNNs Don Lemon and former Ohio Governor John Kasich got into a heated exchange Wednesday night over President Donald Trumps most recent national address in regard to coronavirus.

On Wednesday, President Trump announced the suspension of travel from 26 European countries to the United States for 30 days. With Kasich as his guest, Lemon accused Trumps speech of giving mixed messages. Kasich disagreed.

"I watched the address tonight, and I thought it was fine, Kasich said on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon. I thought he did fine. What I saw tonight was what I anticipated before he delivered the address.

"Mr. President, you've got to be serious, you've got to warn the country, we have to move forward. Just stick to the script and read what's on there.' And that's exactly what he did."

However, Lemon was highly critical of the presidents speech, questioning Kasichs reaction.

"I just got to say, if the president came out to calm people's fears, he didn't do a good job of it because they've had to come back and clarify it several times," said Lemon. "This has been going on long enough for them to get it straight. "We need straight, accurate information from this president and from this administration, and we're not getting it."

After Lemon accused Kasich of tip-toeing around the fact that the speech was flawed, things got heated.

"First of all, he read it," Kasich said. "And somebody who wrote, look I don't want to get into that

Lemon then interrupted Kasich, which didnt sit well with the former governor.

"Can I finish?" Kasich shouted. Lemon told him he couldnt. To which Kasich responded: "Oh I can't talk?"

You can watch the full exchange below:
The world is on heightened alert as the dreaded COVID-19 continues to spread and the death toll rises. With all the information being transmit
By any modern day measure of logic, rationality, or deductive reasoning, a Donald Trumpled government should have resulted in an unmitigated disaster by now  a complete and unrestrained failure sending society into a tailspin, erasing decades (maybe even centuries) of progress. But it hasn't  and it probably won't. In fact, much of his first term has seen progress and movement on key issues where there was once only a hopeless standstill, complete with feats that even the most passionate Democrat would have a hard time seriously arguing that Hillary Clinton could achieve. The seemingly high-minded, rational liberals can't make sense of the results.

Here's why: it is perfectly possible to be both completely rational and dead wrong. Logic requires that people find universal laws, but outside scientific fields and especially in political contexts, there are fewer of these than we might expect. To insist on thinking logically even when the real world is acting nowhere near logical is an affliction that tends to infect the liberal intellectual mind at a higher rate than just about anyone else. And smug arrogance to boot doesn't exactly help open the aperture for a deeper depth of field.

After the Obama victories, the Democrats swore undying obedience to the statistical models and approaches they thought had propelled them to victory. Anecdotal evidence, political intuition, and anything else that couldn't be tested or tied to a statistically significant data point were discarded and even scoffed at. Fast-forward a few years, and Hillary Clinton's campaign, in full embrace of the hyper-rational and mathematical worldview, made a series of tragic missteps. Over the final 100 days of the election, Trump made a total of 133 visits to Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Over the same time period, Hillary Clinton visited the first five of those states a total of 87 times. Why didn't Clinton travel to Wisconsin once during the 102 days between the convention and the election? Because the data didn't lead her there. Meanwhile, subservience to the model brought her to Arizona five times.

Statistical analyses should always be taken with a heavy dose of skepticism. While reliable for designed experiments, clean data, and well understood environments, they can also be downright harmful in situations that have none of the above  such as an election influenced by a multitude of unpredictable human variables. But this isn't just about strategic and tactical errors made during a campaign. It's an embodiment for the myopic mode of reasoning that has come to dominate the entire apparatus of liberal thinking. Instead of prompting much needed introspection on the part of those who mistook broken models for winning strategies, the 2016 result only hardened the flawed thinking that to this day can't comprehend or fathom Trump-led progress.

For all his faults, Donald Trump is actually solving problems. He didn't need to build the wall to achieve his southern trade ambitions  he just needed people to believe that he might. He didn't need to rain down "fire and fury" on North Korea to halt that country's nuclear ambitions  he just needed the North Koreans to believe he might. As it turns out, being slightly unhinged can be a good negotiating strategy. Being rational means being predictable, and being predictable is weak. This isn't chess; it's game theory.

The problem with most liberal ideas is that they make too much sense. They're often incompatible with lived human behavior and missing incentives to change said behavior. To solve complex problems requires intelligent, logical people to admit the possibility that they're wrong about something, or that they might not have sufficient data to solve with. But these minds are often the ones most resistant to change or doubt  usually because their status is deeply intertwined with their capacity for reason. Highly educated liberal elites don't just use logic; it is a core part of their identity. In some cases, it is their identity.

As long as liberals continue to judge the world with a narrow and naive logic, the alchemy of progress will slip right on by, only to be seized by someone with a little less sense.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr.
Re: PM, wife in self-isolation

What a laugh, seriously. For starters he has never protected us by instigating a ban on incoming visitors from Iran, Italy, Asia and infected countries. Students arriving from Rome yesterday not even checked for temperatures or asked to self-quarantine.

Another laughable question posed today on the news: oh my, who will lead us if Justin is ill?

Well, lets look at the nations true leader, much more capable, and leaned on for practically every issue because Justin cant measure up  and that person is Chrystia Freeland.

If she were at the helm during the protests that rocked the international world, I doubt if Teck would have withdrawn its bid.

Frankly a gerbil would do a better job than Justin.

Helen Smith
As the battle against coronavirus



intensifies, a Chhattisgarh-based law university has suspended its classes till March 18 as a precautionary measure after a few of its students were found suffering from cough, cold and fever.

The management of the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) in Raipur district has asked its students to vacate by Thursday evening the hostels located in the campus.

"Taking preventive measures regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the university is suspending its classes for students till March 18," an order issued on Wednesday by university registrar (in-charge) Dr Ayan Hazra said.

"A review will be taken on March 16 by the university administration regarding the preparedness of resuming the classes," he said.

All the students of the university have been directed to vacate the hostels by 6 pm on Thursday evening, it said.

Around 700 students, who are from different states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, had gone to their native places for Holi festival.

Some of them, who returned on Wednesday, were found suffering from cough, cold and fever. Therefore, as a precautionary measure, classes were suspended for six days, a university official said.

The university management is fully taking care of its students, he added.

Meanwhile, after getting information about it, a team of the state health department reached the university campus to take stock of the situation.

Raipur Collector S Bharathi Dasan said, "Students who have symptoms of cough and cold are being examined by the doctors and if required their samples will be sent for testing to AIIMS here."



The samples of persons suspected to have coronavirus infection are being tested at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur.

No confirmed novel coronavirus case has been reported so far in Chhattisgarh, where samples of 44 persons screened for possible exposure to the virus tested negative till Wednesday, health officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After the World Health Organisation (WHO) termed deadly disease coronavirus as an 'epidemic', Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking on the subject and focusing on toppling elected governments of opposition parties in various states.

"Sensex has fallen. The WHO has labeled the coronavirus an epidemic. There is chaos among people. If the Prime Minister, who is skilled in the PR stunt, has got free time from toppling the elected government, then he should also speak on this subject necessary for the country. Coronavirus pandemic," Priyanka tweeted.

The Central government has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.The virus, which originated in China, has infected over 1,10,000 people worldwide spreading to over 90 countries. As many as 73 cases have been reported positive for coronavirus in India.

Moreover, equities were on a freefall around midday on Thursday after the WHO declared coronavirus a global pandemic and the United States suspended travel from Europe.Oil also slipped further as Russia and Saudi Arabia increase output and saw prices fall.At 12 noon, the BSE S & P Sensex was down by 2,509 points or 7.03 per cent to 33,188 while the Nifty 50 slumped by 736 points at 9,723.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A third of the 106,000 Chinese students initially trapped offshore by the coronavirus travel ban have made their way to Australia after waiting out their 14-day isolation periods in third countries.

Since mid-February, 31,196 Chinese students have landed in Australia, Department of Home Affairs figures show. In recent weeks, up to 1000 students a day have been arriving to start or return to their studies.

Over 30,000 Chinese students have returned to Australia since the restrictions were introduced. Credit:Bloomberg

While the large number of students arriving is encouraging for universities and other international education providers, the sector has warned tens of thousands are still missing out on their studies and providers will feel the impact.

On February 1, when the ban on non-citizens returning to Australia from China was imposed, 106,680 Chinese students were overseas, either in China or elsewhere. The vast majority were enrolled at universities, with several thousand in schools or vocational education.
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Older adults who have surgery with general anesthesia may experience a modest acceleration of cognitive decline, even years later. But there's no evidence of a link to Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from Mayo Clinic.

The research, published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, examined brain scans from 585 patients, ages 70 to 91 ? 493 of whom had at least one surgery with general anesthesia. The analysis found cortical thinning in cerebral areas but no significant evidence of deposits of amyloid protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The cortex is the outermost layer of the brain's nerve cell tissue, and thinning of that tissue is associated with diminished cognitive functions.

"This finding suggests that the modest cortical thinning is not related to Alzheimer's disease pathology, but is caused by other processes," says Juraj Sprung, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist and first author of the study. "These results are reassuring and consistent with the conclusion that surgery and anesthesia do not increase the risk for development of Alzheimer's disease."

The potential link between surgery with anesthesia and cognitive decline in older adults has been examined for many years, and concerns have grown as animal studies have indicated that exposure to inhaled anesthetics may be related to brain changes similar to those seen with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die. It is the most common cause of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Also, Alzheimer's disease causes a continuous decline in cognition and behavior that disrupts a person's ability to function. While there is no cure, some medications can slow its progression. An estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

One of the key indicators of Alzheimer's disease is a buildup of proteins in the cortical area of the brain, which can be visualized by positron emission tomography (PET) scans. The protein deposits, called "amyloid plaques," have a toxic effect on neurons and can precede any clinical symptoms of the disease by 30 years or more.

The Mayo Clinic study used data from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, which started in 2004 and has data on more than 5,000 participants ? all from Olmsted County, Minnesota, where Mayo Clinic in Rochester is located. The study analyzed 585 patients, 493 of whom had at least one surgery with general anesthesia after age 40, and later had PET scans. Of those, the median time between surgery and the PET scan was 25.9 years.

The researchers used two methods to define amyloid deposition in the PET scans. "Regardless of the definition used, no significant associations were detected between exposure to surgery and anesthesia, and increased amyloid deposition," Dr. Sprung says.

Dr. Sprung and Mayo Clinic colleagues published a study last year that also noted the association between surgical anesthesia and cortical thinning in the signature region for Alzheimer's disease. The study cautioned that the pathogenesis and mechanisms driving these changes required more study.

The new study concludes that the cortical thinning was not associated with pathologic changes related to Alzheimer's, but was caused by other undetermined processes.

"Older adults who are considering surgery, and their families, must be properly informed of the risk for slightly accelerated cognitive decline in the years following surgery," says Dr. Sprung. "However, they should also be made aware that this potential impact may be related to preexisting conditions that necessitate the surgery."

"Most important, patients should be reassured by our findings that surgery with anesthesia does not lead to changes associated with Alzheimer's disease," says Dr. Sprung.

###

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Robert H. and Clarice Smith and Abigail van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Program, the Rochester Epidemiology Project, the Mayo Clinic Center for Translational Science Activities, and the Mayo Clinic Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.

Two of the study's co-authors have disclosures. David S. Knopman, M.D., a clinical neurologist at Mayo Clinic, serves on a Data Safety Monitoring Board for Lundbeck and for the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit. Dr. Knopman is an investigator in clinical trials sponsored by Biogen, Eli Lilly and Co., the University of Southern California, and TauRx Therapeutics Limited, and receives research support from NIH. Ronald Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., director of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, is chair of data monitoring committees for Pfizer Inc., GE Healthcare, and Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy LLC. Dr. Petersen has been a consultant for F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Biogen, Eisi, Merck & Co. Inc., and Genentech Inc.

About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network and An Inside Look at Mayo Clinic for more information.
Amid rising cases of coronavirus across the world, Rwanda in East Africa has come up with an innovative method to prevent the deadly virus from spreading in the African nation. The government has deployed portable washbasins at bus stops to ensure passengers wash their hand before boarding buses. While Rwanda has not reported a single case of coronavirus so far, the governments decision to set up washbasins for commuters as a preventive measure is noteworthy. Kigali, Rwandas capital, has mandated that everyone must wash their hands before boarding public transport.

Rwanda govt installs hand washing points in Kigali as a measure to stop Corona Virus. pic.twitter.com/G6aXuNgUIj  Clive Wanguthi (@WanguthiClive) March 11, 2020

'Alarming levels of inaction'

On March 11, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus as pandemic which has forced governments to take drastic measures to contain the disease. Speaking at a press briefing, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about alarming levels of spread and severity and alarming levels of inaction.

We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic, said Ghebreyesus.

Read: 'Say No To Panic, Say Yes To Precautions': PM Modi Tweets Guidelines On Coronavirus

The WHO chief cautioned against using the word carelessly to cause unreasonable fear or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over. Ghebreyesus added that the UN health agency has rung the alarm bell loud and clear and urged countries to take urgent and aggressive action.

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, he said.

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: India Suspends Most Visas; Global Sports Events Hit

Europe has been witnessing a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus cases with Italy being the worst-hit. Italy has reported more than 12,000 cases with the death toll rising to 827. While Europe and the United States grapple with the rising number of cases, the rate of infections in China, the worst-affected country, has slowed down. According to the latest report, 11 new deaths in China due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to 3,169.

Read: Subramanian Swamy Fears Bankruptcy Of Private Airlines Due To Coronavirus, Moots Solution

Read: IPL 2020: CSK CEO Hints At Tournament Cancellation After Coronavirus Travel Restrictions
By Silke Koltrowitz

ZURICH, March 11 (Reuters) - Foods United has bought plant-based digital media platform LIVEKINDLY and rebranded as The LIVEKINDLY Co as it moves to capitalise on the trend for vegan meat alternatives, for which it has already raised $200 million in capital. The group, which is backed by Swiss investment firm Blue Horizon, said it would use the funds - raised from 10 to 15 investors including its founders, entrepreneurs and family offices - largely to develop chicken substitutes.

It plans to build a platform by buying majority stakes in plant-based firms and hooking them up with production and distribution partners.

The new firm has already acquired a majority stake in South Africa's The Fry Family Food Co, it said, a majority holding in German firm LikeMeat, and a stake in plant-based ingredient maker Puris.

Plant-based meat substitutes are growing quickly as many consumers cut meat consumption on health, environmental or animal welfare grounds.

"Today, an entrepreneur can try to go it alone or sell to a big company or private equity. We want to offer our LIVEKINDLY platform as a third option," Bjoern Witte, managing partner at Blue Horizon, told Reuters.

"What differentiates us is that we partner with established meat industry players to get access to their knowhow, infrastructure and capex to use it for plant-based food," he said.

LIVEKINDLY is working with poultry groups like Germany's PHW Group and South Africa's RCL Foods to help companies such as LikeMeat and Fry's with production and distribution.

"We also signed with a partner in Asia, (and) two are about to sign in the U.S. We should have five partners by the end of the year," Witte said, adding at least two or three acquisitions were also in the pipeline.

Blue Horizon, founded in 2015 to invest in plant-based foods, is LIVEKINDLY's controlling shareholder. Former Unilever executive Kees Kruythoff is its chairman and chief executive.

U.S. grocery sales of plant-based foods that directly replace animal products grew 11% to $5 billion last year, including $939 million for plant-based meat alternatives, data published last week by the Good Food Institute showed.

Story continues

Plant-based burger patties have already been developed by companies like Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and Nestle .

In the U.S. market, per-capita consumption of chicken stood at 93.8 pounds in 2018, almost double beef consumption, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Beyond Meat, which last month posted a 212% jump in fourth-quarter sales, said in January it would supply plant-based "fried chicken" to fast-food chain KFC. (Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Ian Foreman is packing his bags and getting ready to move home for the semester.

Foreman, a freshman studying math at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, will return to Crown Point this week after the school announced Tuesday it is canceling all in-person classes effective Wednesday.

Foreman told The Times that while campus isn't a ghost town, classes have been canceled for the remainder of the week and it's "pretty quiet."

"The possibility of the school closing and the topic of coronavirus in general has basically been in most everyday conversations. Everybody is just talking about it," Foreman said.

Classes and club meetings have been canceled and students can no longer enjoy a meal in a dining hall. Rather, takeout options are available.

"The school is not just completely shut down, there's still stuff available," Foreman said. "It is kind of quiet, and for safety, they're discouraging lots of people being in crowded, contained areas."

Midterms have been postponed until after spring break, which begins Monday and ends March 22.
KOLOLO Lt. Gen Henry Tumukunde has said that military officers that surrounded his office in Kololo on Thursday evening, have arrested him.

I have been arrested. This will not stop our resolve, the former Security Minister said on his Facebook wall.

The military is yet to pronounce the reason behind this action.

Gen. Tumukunde last week confirmed plans to take on his former boss President Museveni was slated to appear on BBS Teleffayina for an interview on his political ambitions.

Comrades, I have been surrounded by army officers at my private office in Kololo, he said on social media asking his supporters to Stay United.

His arrest comes a day after Electoral Commission cleared him to consult the electorate on his 2021 presidential bid.

Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC Chairperson in a letter, clarified on March 10, that Gen. Tumukunde can only exchange views with the electorate but no campaign or distribute materials or hold rallies.

Tumukunde has been arrested on the day the US government released a report accusing the Uganda government of harassing opposition leaders and their supporters through torturing their supporters and denying them freedoms of peaceful assembly and association.

In its 2019 report titled 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the US government refers to the continued arrest, torture and killing of supporters of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, and Dr Kizza Besigye of the Peoples Government.

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GREENWICH  The Greenwich Public Schools has announced the recipients of its Community Service Awards.

The Community Service Awards are an honored tradition in our school district, recognizing students who have given so much of their time, energy and efforts to improve their school and broader communities. I am filled with so much pride when I see and hear about the impact that these impressive students have made, Superintendent Toni Jones said in a statement.

But the ceremony to honor the students and programs has been postponed until further notice, district officials said. When the event is rescheduled, the ceremony will be held at Greenwich High School in the Performing Arts Center, followed by a reception in the Galleria.

Jones, Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein, and First Selectman Fred Camillo will present awards to the elementary, middle and high school student recipients.

Former GPS Superintendent of Schools Ernest Fleishman, who served from 1976 to 1989, will present the Fleishman Award for Community Service to a high school student that has made outstanding contributions to their community.

The students will each receive State Citations in recognition of their accomplishments. The student award recipients and program participants are:

The Fleishman Award

Emil Perdue, Greenwich High School

Elementary School awards

Nina Baldinucci, Cos Cob School

Ava Hagerty and Emma Maini, Glenville School

Keeghan Kortner, Hamilton Avenue School

Slater Palmer, The International School at Dundee

Lynn Gulli, Julian Curtiss School

Alexis Palanca, New Lebanon School

Kaitlyn Qin and Kyler Woerz, North Mianus School

Charlotte Marek and Isabella Nedder, North Street School

Patrick Owen Cunnion and Oliva Leach, Old Greenwich School

Noah Coppel and Aliza Torop, Parkway School

Bobby Stanley, Riverside School

Middle School awards

Martin Fomin, Central Middle School

Audrey Long, Eastern Middle School Kristine

Anne De Jesus, Western Middle School

Daniella Gavalas, Western Middle School

High School Awards

Emma Burstiner, Bella House

Lucas Gazianis, Cantor House

Amy Barratt, Clark House

Luciana Stefani, Folsom House

Kate Ochoa, Sheldon House

The ceremony was delayed due to concerns over the coronavirus. Gov. Ned Lamont outlined steps the state is taking to curb the spread, followed up by the declaration of a public health state emergency and a civil preparedness emergency Tuesday. School districts were also told to reconsider large gatherings with 100 or more people.
Parker was transported via medical helicopter to the hospital, where he was treated, guarded by deputies, and released into police custody. After he was released, Parker was interviewed by police.

According to Parker, he was using methamphetamine during the night of the incident. He stated he believed he was the target of a conspiracy, that family members might be involved, and someone sprayed meth on his truck.

He said he tried to get into a business in the area to attempt to use the phone, but was unsuccessful. He then traveled to the residence on Thompson Street. Parker said he believed the people in the home were part of the conspiracy to hurt him, so he left and went to his property.

While at his property, he felt bugs crawling on his legs and getting into his blood stream, so he took off portions of his clothes. He then returned the residence on Thomposn Street because he wanted them to shoot him as he had mud puppies in his blood.

Parker stated he remembered hitting the door and yelling that he was going to kill and rape them, though he felt bad about the rape portion because he knows he is not a rapist. He found a metal ring he used to break the window of the residence, at which time he was shot.
MUNICH and BENGALURU, India, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, today announced that it has been selected by Siemens to deploy Wingspan, Infosys' Digital Learning and Talent Transformation Platform. The company-wide deployment will provide employees a personalized learning experience and make it possible for them, among many other useful features, to track their progress and successes.

Siemens is on a digital transformation journey and has become one of the 10 biggest software companies in the world over the last 10 years. To maintain and extend market leadership, new digital technologies like AI, IoT, automation, cyber security or additive manufacturing are critical for Siemens' and its customers long-term success. It's vital for every employee at Siemens to get easy access to upskilling and reskilling opportunities. Infosys will support Siemens to stay ahead of the curve through a highly effective learning experience platform, while leveraging and simplifying the existing learning technology ecosystem.

Infosys Wingspan will provide a next generation, cloud-based talent and learning experience platform with features like mobile access to enable learning anytime and anywhere. It will use AI-powered search through concepts like topic spiders, navigators and personalized homepages to create a powerful and personalized interface for employees. The platform, which is named My Learning World at Siemens, will be a single-entry point to access learning content across multiple sources (internal and external), thereby leveraging investments in existing systems.

Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer, Infosys said, "We are delighted to partner with Siemens to further develop the learning experience of its employees. To survive the impact of digital disruption and to navigate these digital times, it is imperative for enterprises to ensure effective talent development. Wingspan, a robust Open-source stack-based platform, will provide Siemens' employees an innovative learning experience that will set new industry standards."

Thomas Leubner, Chief Learning Officer, Siemens AG said, "Digitalization is at the core of our strategy for the future. We are excited to have found an effective partner in Infosys who can support us to further improve our employee's growth journey with My Learning World. This is an important partnership for Siemens, and we look forward to a new learning experience for our employees."

Know more about Infosys Wingspan.

To know more about Siemens learning transformation journey, please click here

About Siemens

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed company Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. In fiscal 2019, which ended on September 30, 2019, Siemens generated revenue of 86.8 billion and net income of 5.6 billion. At the end of September 2019, the company had around 385,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements mentioned in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

SOURCE Infosys
KALAMAZOO, MI  A day after Western Michigan University canceled in-person instruction through April 3 due to the coronavirus pandemic, some students made the decision to head for home and study remotely for the next few weeks.

Others, like Francisco Hernandez, dont see going home as an option.

Being far away from family is difficult, said Hernandez, a transfer student from the Dominican Republic. Some of (my family members) are asking me to go back to my country, but traveling with this situation is even worse, so I prefer to stay here and take the preventative measures instead.

A senior studying business analytics and management, Hernandez said he is also worried about what impact the universitys decision is going to have on his studies and potential graduation timeline  especially if the eventual determination is made to cancel in-person instruction for the remainder of the semester.

Some of the classes there is no way to know how they are going to proceed," he said. "Im just waiting for the professors decision on how they are going to evaluate the last part of the semester. But basically, I dont know how its going to work.

And as a transfer student, I may need to go back to my country so that might impact my graduation dates.

RELATED: Michigan gets more coronavirus test kits amid concerns about access to testing

On-campus housing, dining and other student services remains open at the institution and university spokesperson Paula Davis said there are no plans to shutter Westerns campus entirely. Davis said a decision on whether to suspend in-person instruction for the remainder of the semester, which ends April 25, will be made on or before March 27.

What distance learning will look like, she said, will be as unique as the course offerings at the school.

All faculty are going to be approaching the challenge differently, Davis said. Some will have videos, some will have narrated Power Points, some will use Skype. Students should take solace in the fact that they will continue to receive the same high-quality education from the same professors they have been studying with all semester.

And while students like Hernandez and many of the other 1,589 international students at WMU will not be traveling home anytime soon  many due to travel restrictions  Davis reiterated that none of the 4,400 students who live on campus are being asked to leave.

RELATED: $25 million for coronavirus preparedness, response approved in Michigan Senate

That has not stopped many, especially those who live within driving distance of Kalamazoo, from making the decision to leave campus and continue their immediate studies from home.

Hope Harbour, a freshman from St. Louis, Missouri, was packing up some of her belongings Thursday morning and preparing to head home with her mother, Stacey, for the next three weeks.

The student was taking only the necessary items she needed to finish up the semester, preparing for the possibility that she may be at home for the rest of the semester, but regardless would have to come back to check out of her dorm at the end of the semester.

I think there is some overreaction, but precaution isnt a bad thing either, her mother said.

Her being in the dorm where they have a shared ventilation system is not any safer, if were looking at pure safety, she added. So for her for three weeks, Id rather have her home with me and honestly I dont see any difference whether they are going to classes or staying in their dorms, so if she can do online, Id rather have her at home.

RELATED: MHSAA suspends all winter sports

Charlie Baker, a junior who lives in Fox Hall, said his father was on the way to pick him up and that he will head home to Royal Oak Thursday afternoon.

We were half expecting the decision yesterday because of all the other schools having done it, Baker said. Its kind of crazy though. I think a lot of people are still unsure how classes are going to look.

Being an aerospace engineering major, I have a lot of labs and I dont know thats going to work. Theres still a lot unknown, but I think they are doing a good job of communicating to us as they are getting information.

In a statement posted on its website Thursday morning, WMU stated that there are still no known COVID-19 cases at the school.

We are not trying to contain the spread from a patient within our community  or even nearby. Instead, we are aiming to slow the spread of the disease as new cases emerge, the statement read.

Residence and dining halls, tutoring services, computer labs and student support offices all will remain open. However, all WMU-hosted events with 100 or more people are being canceled at the school in an effort to minimize interpersonal contact, the statement reads.

Some events, such as performances at Miller Auditorium that are hosted by outside organizations, are scheduled to proceed as planned as of Thursday afternoon, Davis said.

Its an adventure," Stacey Harbour said, while loading the car with her daughters belongings. "Well navigate it with as much ease and grace and learning as we can and hopefully stay healthy in the long run.

For more information on how the school is handling the pandemic, visit wmich.edu/covid-19, email info@wmich.edu or call 269-387-8400.

Also on MLive:

In-person classes canceled at Western Michigan University because of coronavirus

Kalamazoo Valley Community College suspends in-person classes during coronavirus concerns

No coronavirus cases at Western Michigan University, officials say

Big Ten mens basketball tournament canceled due to coronavirus
LINK TO DOWNLOAD TRAILER OF 'FARINA'

LINK TO DOWNLOAD STILLS FROM 'FARINA'

With Javier Rey in the leading role, more than 120 actors make up the cast of this series on the drug trade in Galicia, pitched in the key of a thriller.

Shot entirely on location, 'Farina' is a journey in time back to the moment when a group of secretive fishermen became smugglers and ended up as Europe's biggest drug kingpins.

Ramon Campos, Teresa Fernandez-Valdes, Sonia Martinez and Carlos Sedes are the executive producers of this adaptation of the book of the same name by Galician journalist Nacho Carretero

MADRID, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- 'Farina,' a new original series by Atreseries, will premiere in prime time on March 16th.

The series, starring Galician actor Javier Rey ('Bandolera', 'Hispania' and 'Velvet'), recounts the fast life of Sito Minanco in Galicia in the 1980s, when this coastal region had all the ingredients to become the 'new Sicily': economic backwardness, an age-old tradition along its rocky shores of smuggling by land and sea, against a backdrop of admiration and tolerance for criminal activity, inherited from harmless and benevolent tobacco smuggling chieftains.

In ten episodes  each one set during a year in the decade of the 1980s - and pitched in the key of a thriller, 'Farina' is an original series by Atresmedia, produced in collaboration with Bambu Productions, and an adaptation of the best-selling book of the same name by Galician journalist Nacho Carretero.

Besides Javier Rey, more than 120 actors make up the cast of this series, featuring stars like Tristan Ulloa, Manuel Lourenzo, Antonio Duran Morris, Carlos Blanco, Jana Perez, Marta Larralde, Tamar Novas, Fran Lareu, Xose A. Tourinan, and Celso Bugallo, among others.

The shooting, which lasted for 26 weeks, was done entirely on location, depicting a journey in time back to the moment when a group of secretive fishermen overnight became smugglers and ended up as Europe's leading drug kingpins, driven by the Colombian connection, which, via the rocky estuaries of Rias Baixas, was to inject farina, or flour, the cocaine that the whole continent would be snorting from that moment on.

With Ramon Campos, Teresa Fernandez-Valdes, Sonia Martinez and Carlos Sedes as executive producers, the script features input from Nacho Carretero, under the responsibility of Ramon Campos and Gema R. Neira themselves, along with Cristobal Garrido and Diego Sotelo.

More than 120 actors and over 3,000 extras were involved in the filming of 'Farina' during the six weeks in which shooting took place. More than 300 period vehicles were needed, and over 10,000 pesetas in currency had to be printed.

One of the truly outstanding features of the production was the filming of the chase scenes at night over the course of three weeks, which required more than 30 vessels.

Series Synopsis

1980s. Galicia. The reform of the fisheries industry has left part of the Galician fishing fleet on dry land, and hundreds of vessel owners in debt. There is no work. In the numerous fishing villages dotting the coast of Galicia, the lack of income and daily wages is economically strangling households. It's the perfect mix of ingredients to bring about the big transformation: former tobacco smugglers make the leap into something that's bigger and more profitable, but also far more dangerous: drugs.

Tobacco smuggling, which had somehow become deeply rooted in society over the years, makes way for drug smuggling. The local smugglers get in touch with the Colombian cartels and start to smuggle cocaine. The drug trade in the white powder  which is already moving vast amounts of money in the U.S.  reaches Galicia and, ultimately, Spain and the rest of Europe.

Very soon, 80% of the cocaine arriving in Europe will be landing on the coasts of Galicia. Galician drug smugglers are raking in huge sums of money as the serpent of the drug trade begins to spread its poison in a society held hostage to the economic hardships of the period.

Lots of people see this criminal enterprise as a way to get by and even to live well. Law enforcement does not always act the way it's supposed to, and there are those willing to look the other way.

With the passing of each day, the drug kingpins of Galicia gain more and more power. Overnight, they have become the Kings of Galicia.

BROADCAST TIMES

Mondays, starting on March 16th

Latin America

8:00 p.m. Mexico/9:00 p.m. Colombia/10:00 p.m. Venezuela/11:00 p.m. Argentina

U.S.A.

10:00 p.m. ET /7:00 p.m. PT

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/323322/1498622_logo_atreseries_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Atresmedia Internacional
By Akbar Mammadov

The State Tourism Agency and the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau presented a domestic tourism campaign to the public on March 11.

The purpose of the campaign called Adventure Is Near! is to promote domestic tourism at the state level and bring together all the tourism offers for the Azerbaijanis citizens by encouraging the local population to take advantage of the country's tourism opportunities.

The campaign, initiated by a joint initiative of the State Tourism Agency and the Azerbaijan Tourism Bureau, aims to promote domestic tourism among citizens and individuals who have temporary or permanent residence permits in Azerbaijan.

Thus, the website www.macerayaxindadir.az will contain offers of special discounted services or tourism packages offered by campaign partners and hotels. All local companies are invited to cooperate within the campaign.

As part of the state regulation of domestic tourism activities, the campaign will promote the development and activation of domestic tourism.

In the framework of the event, an advanced and updated version of the website azerbaijan.travel, which includes a wide range of functions and offers various options for foreign tourists, was presented. The new website not only gives tourists enough information about the tourism potential of the country but also provides versatile opportunities by offering flight tickets, hotels and various tour packages in a comparable format.

At the same time, the second edition of the Experience Azerbaijan magazine, which is intended for foreign audiences, and discusses the tourism potential of Azerbaijan, was introduced to the public.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Advertisement

Passengers today told of a visible impact on Britain's transport network as coronavirus caused terrified Britons to abandon their usual travel plans.

The London Underground appeared markedly less busy as more people opt to work from home in a desperate bid to avoid coming into contact with the deadly disease.

Elsewhere, Heathrow Airport looked almost empty as it was revealed there has been a 4.8 per cent year-on-year decline in passenger numbers in February due to the virus.

In Birmingham, 'worried' commuters spoke of 'empty trains' and 'cancelled meetings' as they warned of 'a tough couple of months' ahead.

There were a noticeably smaller number of passengers arriving at Gatwick Airport today as panic over coronavirus spreads across Britain

And in Manchester, train passengers spoke of quieter carriages and the measures they have chosen to avoid catching the virus, as one revealed: 'I wasn't close to other people and deliberately so.'

It comes as a Transport for London boss revealed there had been a two per cent decline in passenger numbers across the network last week due to fears over the virus.

Passengers on the Underground told of their coronavirus fears on tightly packed tube trains. Some travellers spoke about 'panic' and people 'jumping out of their skin' when they hear a sneeze.

While others said passengers were 'sitting further apart' and that 'a third of the trains are empty' as they spoke of their concerns about taking public transport.

The number of UK cases has risen by 130 and the death toll hit 10 in the last 24 hours, with experts increasingly bracing for turmoil as fears grow a large proportion of the population could become infected.

Passengers wore face masks as they arrived at Gatwick Airport today amid concerns over coronavirus in the UK

The entrance to Gatwick's South Terminal looks almost empty as two passengers are pictured above. Coronavirus fears caused terrified Britons to abandon their usual travel plans

Several of those arriving at Gatwick Airport today wore face masks as they arrived back in the country

Heathrow Airport looked almost empty this morning as it was revealed there has been a 4.8 per cent year-on-year decline in passenger numbers in February due to the virus

The London Underground also looked markedly quieter today as a Transport for London boss revealed there had been a two per cent decline in passenger numbers across the network last week due to fears over the virus

A sign is pictured above at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 asking flyers to go home, stay indoors and phone 101 if they have returned home from places including Iran, specified towns in northern Italy and China's Hubei province

Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five is seen looking almost empty as just a few flyers are seen checking in their luggage with British Airways

Rinaldo Falzone, 54, Marco Bel-Carratore, 56 and Alessandro Salerno, 43 are pictured above in Stansted Airport wearing face masks. They are trying to fly to Genoa in northern Italy

Even Heathrow Airport's International Arrivals section in Terminal Five looked almost empty today, as tourists stayed home due to coronavirus fears

The usually packed Bank station appeared less busy that usual this morning as commuters appear to be avoiding public transport

Streets were quiet in central London this morning as fears around coronavirus spread across the UK. So far, 456 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, up from 373 on Tuesday

The UK death toll hit eight yesterday, and experts are increasingly bracing for turmoil as the overwhelming majority of the population becomes infected and the country develops 'herd immunity' (pictured, Heathrow Airport terminal 5 looking empty today)

Arrivals at Heathrow Airport appeared quieter than usual this morning as coronavirus fears grip the nation. It comes as Boris Johnson is set to defy demands for an immediate shutdown of schools and borders

The stairs at St Paul's London Underground station appeared quiet today as more and more Britons opt to work from home amid the coronavirus outbreak

The London Underground appeared quiet today as cases of coronavirus continue to rocket across the country today

Coronavirus was yesterday declared as a pandemic for the World Health Organization and shoppers around the world are stocking up on essentials as Britons appear to be avoiding public transport

The usually busting City of London appeared quieter than usual today as coronavirus fears spread across the country

Travellers using major airports across the UK told of quieter scenes at terminals today as coronavirus fear spreads

The UK government is not yet telling people to avoid public transport and Chancellor Rishi Sunak said today there is not currently the evidence to suggest that imposing travel bans will have any effect.

But panicked commuters have spoken of taking transport in the midst of the outbreak with some saying they've taken extra measures to ensure they don't catch the virus.

DROP IN TUBE USE AS CONCERN GROWS OVER CORONAVIRUS There has been a 'small reduction' in the number of people using the London Underground amid growing concern over coronavirus, Transport for London (TfL) said today. The decline may be partly due to more people working from home, according to the transport body. St Paul's Underground station appeared empty today as concerns grow over the spread of coronavirus in the UK A TfL spokesman said: 'The overwhelming majority of Londoners are using our services as normal in line with the Public Health England advice that there is no specific concern about public transport. 'We have seen a small reduction in ridership over the last week. 'This may reflect some of the pre-emptive action taken by some employers around coronavirus, but passenger ridership is affected by a range of factors including fluctuations in the economy and extended periods of bad weather.' Figures also show there was a 1.6% year-on-year fall in London Underground passenger numbers in the four weeks to February 22. Bus use is down 0.2% over the same period. Retailer Halfords has recorded a 30% increase in sales of commuter-friendly folding bikes during the last three weeks compared with the previous three weeks, suggesting some public transport users may have started cycling due to the virus. Advertisement

At Manchester Piccadilly Station today, Denise Stow-Williamson, 69, from Bolton, who volunteers at a telephone helpline said trains were less busy than usual.

'I would say the train was a bit more quiet than normal, we had no choice but to sit next to people,' she said. 'I noticed on the bus coming from where I live people were a bit more separated. I have not got a choice.'

Debs Mccahon, 46, from Bottesford, who works in children's charity, said: 'I come here once a month for work. It seemed quieter than normal, people just get on with it their own business.'

She added: 'I wasn't close to other people and deliberately so.'

Others said they were trying to keep calm amidst the outbreak. Brian Sumner, 59, from Alderley Edge, who is retired, said: 'I come to Manchester once every two weeks. I am retired, I am having a lunch here with a friend who is coming from Leeds.

'I do not always take that train but it wasn't busy. The risk is worth taking, keep calm and carry on.'

While Jacqui Grainger, 46, from Preston, a manager at Vision Express said: 'I normally do not come, or was just a one off. I've come to go shopping. I am not worried, the train wasn't too bad. I am just taking the risk and keeping clean and washing my hands.'

In London TfL has launched an 'enhanced cleaning regime' in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus as it's revealed there has been a 'small reduction' in the number of people using the London Underground amid growing concern over coronavirus.

The decline may be partly due to more people working from home, according to the transport body.

A TfL spokesman said: 'The overwhelming majority of Londoners are using our services as normal in line with the Public Health England advice that there is no specific concern about public transport.

'We have seen a small reduction in ridership over the last week.

'This may reflect some of the pre-emptive action taken by some employers around coronavirus, but passenger ridership is affected by a range of factors including fluctuations in the economy and extended periods of bad weather.'

The City of London was less busy than usual today (pictured, Cannon Street Station this morning). It is expected more people are working from home due to the spread of coronavirus in the UK

The entrance to Manchester Piccadilly today as Boris Johnson is expected to move to the delay phase of tackling the UK spread of Covid-19 as Ireland announced the closure of schools and tourist attractions

Birmingham New Street today as UK coronavirus stand at 460 and there have been eight deaths in British hospitals

Manchester Piccadilly today as it was revealed the Prime Minister might bring in social distancing measures to restrict public gatherings and issuing more widespread advice to stay at home

The FTSE 100 index of leading London-listed companies fell more than 5 per cent in early trading following the World Health Organisation's declaration of a pandemic (pictured the City of London today)

Some commuters wore face masks on the London Underground today as coronavirus fears spread across the UK

The City of London was less busy than usual today (pictured Cannon Street Station). It is expected more people are working from home due to the spread of coronavirus in the UK

Some travellers arriving at Gatwick Airport today wore face masks as concerns over coronavirus spread across the UK

The London Underground today as Transport for London said there has been a 'small reduction' in the number of people using the London Underground amid growing concern over coronavirus

The number of UK cases has risen by 130 and the death toll hit 10 in the last 24 hours, with experts increasingly bracing for turmoil as the overwhelming majority of the population becomes infected and the country develops 'herd immunity'

Travellers have told of how airports seem markedly less busy due to coronavirus fears. One said their plane was 'half empty'

Figures also show there was a 1.6 per cent year-on-year fall in London Underground passenger numbers in the four weeks to February 22. Bus use is down 0.2 per cent over the same period.

Passengers on the London Underground today told of their coronavirus fears on tightly packed tube trains.

Harriet Aber-Luwum, 51, a social services administration supervisor from Willesden Green, north west London was travelling on the Victoria Line.

She said: 'People are more aware and so some get anxious about going on the tube.

She added: 'You become a lot more conscious of it in the train if someone is coughing and then people move away. But you have to go on the tube to get to work, so it's a risk you have to take.'

Ivalina Bacharva, 54, a cleaner from Edmonton, north London, was travelling on the Victoria Line.

She said: 'I worry a bit going on the tube. If somebody is coughing, then I'm worried. When I come on here I use antibacterial hand gel and try not to hold the handles.

'I have seen people avoiding other people, yesterday I saw someone cough without s tissue - that's really bad. I have noticed that there are less people on the Tube, less people in the pub too.'

Yasmine Benchakroun, 25, who lives in central London and is a business management and marketing student at the University of Westminster, was travelling on the Circle Line.

She said: 'I'm taking the train and I'm panicking about coronavirus. Everyone is scared but for me, as a young person, I know that it's not going to affect me so badly. But we will infect older people.

'When you sneezed on the tube before it used to be "God bless you." But now it's "Get away from me!" I gave my friend a mask, but she doesn't want to wear it.'

IT manager Dan Little, 27, of Harlow, Essex, was travelling on the Circle line. He said: 'I came into London and used the tube on Saturday and it was really quiet then - people are cutting down on non-residential travel.

'But coming to work nothing had changed, we have got to go into work; things haven't stopped. It's a confined space and you can prepare yourself as much as you want, but you are relying on people to do the same.'

People wore face masks in central London today as coronavirus fears spread across the capital

Chancery Lane Underground Station appeared less busy than usual today. More people are thought to be working from home as the virus spreads across the country

A married couple had a photo shoot outside St Paul's Cathedral today, but the photographers made sure to wear face masks

The streets outside St Paul's Cathedral today as the number of coronavirus cases in Britain as the number of UK cases rose by 130 and the death toll hit 10 in the last 24 hours

Experts are increasingly bracing for turmoil as the overwhelming majority of the population becomes infected and the country develops 'herd immunity' (pictured, St Paul's Underground Station today)

Gatwick Airport appeared quiet today as coronavirus fears spread across the country. The FTSE plunged by more than 9 per cent in response to the dramatic US announcement of a travel ban from Europe overnight, and growing global chaos

The City of London appeared less busy than usual today. It is expected more people are working from home due to the spread of coronavirus in the UK (pictured, a man wears a mask while walking through the city)

Boris Johnson is expected to accept that the coronavirus outbreak can no longer be contained in the UK, signalling the start of the next phase in the battle against Covid-19 (pictured, Heathrow Airport today)

The London Underground appeared less busy today as workers opted for different means of transport. Retailer Halfords has recorded a 30 per cent increase in sales of commuter-friendly folding bikes during the last three weeks compared with the previous three weeks, suggesting some public transport users may have started cycling due to the virus

Westminster Station today as the number of dead from coronavirus rose to 10 today. The FTSE 100 has lost more than one 10th of its value as global stock markets faced a rout in the face of Covid-19 fears

Pictures showed a visibly quieter transport network in London today, with some Underground platforms almost empty.

Alice Adshead, 29, a construction project manager living in Ealing, west London but originally from Manchester, was travelling on the Northern Line.

She said: 'I have got a lot of friends who are germaphobes or on the spectrum of OCD and they are struggling a bit more because it's exacerbating concerns they already had about the Tube - I think its causing anxiety.

'Things are different, now if someone sneezes everyone jumps out of their skin.'

Antonio Bertio, 66, a retired electrical technician living in Mitcham, south London, said: 'Put it this way, the trains are empty, tourists are missing.

'I try to avoid contact if I can. I am Italian, I have a lot of family I am concerned about.'

Chris Callanan, 31, a courier from Greenwich, south east London, travelling on the Circle Line, said: 'I work in the travel industry, courier for a visa company, no one is travelling.

'People I know are losing their jobs and it is likely that I will lose mine. I've been washing my hands more, but I can't find any masks to buy.'

James Triming, 50, a sales manager based in Chelsea, west London, travelling on the Circle line, said: 'There is definitely more paranoia. 'About a third of the trains are empty and 50 per cent of the people at my work are working from home.

'I'm worried about being in contact with vulnerable people like my father who is in his 80s.'

Chetan Patel, 39, a manager at a shop inside Embankment station but who lives in Romford, Essex, said: 'People are coming to buy hand gel and we're sold out. The platforms are more empty, less people are buying from me.'

Transport for London bosses said additional substances which kill viruses and bacteria are being used across the networks in a bid to combat the virus.

The busiest stations will be cleaned more regularly than usual, including during the day.

Bus parts which are regularly touched - such as poles and doors - will be wiped down with a strong disinfectant every day.

Heathrow airport terminal 5 looked empty today amid coronavirus fears. In the UK cases stand at 460 and there have been eight deaths in British hospitals

A lone cleaning machine stands in an empty terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport today as coronavirus cases spread across the UK

Passengers preparing to depart from Stansted airport in Essex this morning

A sign at London's Heathrow Airport today warning passengers to be aware of coronavirus symptoms

Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport appeared empty today as fears around coronavirus continued to spread across the country

A quiet Manchester Piccadilly Station today amid coronavirus fears. Government advice is still maintains it is safe to take public transport, but some passengers have decided to stay away for the time being

Some commuters in Birmingham New Street Station today wore face masks. Passengers told of 'quieter' trains in the city as concerns over the virus spread

Coronavirus spreading across the UK and extra measures are being put in place to slow the spread (pictured, Birmingham New Street today and a sign urging people to wash their hands more often and for at least 20 seconds)

People were seen wearing face masks outside St Paul's Cathedral today as the City of London appeared less busy due to fears over coronavirus

A man wears a face mask, goggles and gloves on London's Underground today in a bid to protect himself from coronavirus

Londoners have told of how the city appears much quieter than usual during the coronavirus outbreak (above and below)

Olive Hickey, 29, a sales manager from Fulham, west London, travelling on the Northern Line said: 'I'm not panicking, but I've noticed more people moving away from each other. I'm sanitising my hands and not touching handles on the escalator.'

Anna Maria Dillon, 50, a nanny from Belsize Park, north London, said: 'I am taking care when travelling on public transport, I'm not touching the poles. I am also a student, learning English and I am a nanny; I am concerned if schools close.'

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he is doing all he can to keep Londoners safe and has announced an enhanced cleaning regime.

He said: 'I want to reassure Londoners and visitors that the advice from experts is to continue with our daily lives as normal, including using public transport.'

At Heathrow, the airport warned that demand has continued to weaken in March.

The airport's 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 Britain's 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.'

At Birmingham New Street today a few worried travellers could be seen wearing masks while others had pulled their scarves up to their noses.

Toby Darbyshire, 36, a father-of-two, who works a sales manager for a drinking company and his job involves a lot of travelling, had to cancel his trip to London today due to coronavirus concerns.

He said: 'I travel all over the country and my job involves going into pubs and talk to a lot of people. I have been told to minimise non- business related travelling- I had to cancel a meeting with a client today.

'I am trying to take preventative measures as much as I can, I always carry hand sanitizer and wash my hands. I'm diligent.

'My job is quite mobile and I need to touch things and shake peoples hands so I am trying to be responsible, I have two kids.

'I went to Glasgow on Monday and I noticed although all the seats were booked, the train was half empty.

'I can see how businesses are going to get affected. People are not risking to go into the pubs anymore but the businesses still have rent and bills to pay. It's going to be a tough couple of months'.

Ryan Patterson ,29, who works as a plumber has to travel daily for work and was on his way Cheltenham festival.

He said: 'There are definitely less people travelling, I get the train every day and I noticed. I have seen people wearing masks and using hand sanitizers, they are more cautious.'

The London Underground today with some commuters wearing masks whilst others ignore the warnings

Travel on the Underground appeared less busy than usual today amid coronavirus fears

Bank Station in central London today amid coronavirus fears. Should the UK move to delay today it would mean social distancing measures could be brought in, such as restricting public gatherings and issuing advice to stay at home

Some arriving at Gatwick Airport wore masks to protect themselves from coronavirus

Passengers arriving from Rome at Gatwick Airport today as coronavirus cases continue to rise across the country

The District Line today as coronavirus cases spread across the UK. Some wore masks in a bid to protect themselves from the virus

In the UK, the PM is holding an emergency Cobra meeting where ministers are expected to agree to move into the 'delay' stage of the process (pictured, stairs on the London Underground today)

Ryan Patterson in Birmingham New Street Station on his way to the Cheltenham Festival of horse racing. Denise Stow-Williamson, 69, talks about Coronavirus worries on trains to Manchester Piccadilly

A quiet Manchester Piccadilly Station this morning

Heathrow airport Terminal 5 looked empty today as coronavirus hits airlines across the world

Heathrow Airport looked almost empty as it was revealed there has been a 4.8 per cent year-on-year decline in passenger numbers in February due to the virus

Bank Station seemed less busy than usual today as the number of Britons taking the tube declines as a result of coronavirus

John Patience, 65, works for oil and gas company and his job involves a lot of travelling.

He said: 'I travel often because of my job , I don't really have a choice. I noticed yesterday at the Cheltenham station they have put hand sanitizer too.

'I think people on the train are more aware of the situation and are more careful. '

Zairb Griffiths, 24, travels roughly every two weeks. He said: 'I have noticed less people in the shops. On the trains there are a few people more careful and protecting themselves'.

Student of Birmingham City Sophie Collins, 22, said she is very concerned about coronavirus as she was applying hand gel to her hands.

She said: ' I am very worried, I wash my hands all the time, use hand gel and disinfect my phone.

'I use the train every day and I see people doing the same - I can't say people are travelling less but it's obvious there is a general concern.

'My course finishes in two weeks but if I had the option I wouldn't travel at all.'

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said it could see a reduction in passenger numbers but added it was too early to release any specific figures.

Passengers travelling across Britain have spoken of a visible reduction in the number of people using public transport.

Commuters in Birmingham New Street Station today as cases of coronavirus spread across the UK

Travellers wore face masks as they arrived at Heathrow Airport this morning. The airport's chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: 'The threat of coronavirus is an increasing challenge for the UK'

Bank Station in central London today as No10 dismissed suggestions they will emulate Ireland, which announced this morning that it will close all schools and colleges - although the step is being kept in the locker in case the situation escalates

Passengers preparing to depart from Stansted airport in Essex this morning

Alison Thiafall, 54, a mother of two, travels regularly and said she wanted a lockdown instigated as soon as possible.

She said: 'I would self-isolate if I had it and probably avoid seeing my mother and father. I check the government updated and I think we will be on lockdown soon- at least we should.

'We should be in lockdown, clean everything and contain it that way but we have to wait for now.'

Rebecca Hartley, 39 , an HR director is on maternity leave and was about to travel with her 6 mo old baby Alex.

She said : 'I am not overly cautious I probably should have. I wash my hands but there's not much else I can do.

'The trains are very quiet these days and I have seen a few people wearing masks.

'We are two weeks behind Italy so I think it is going to peak eventually and we will be in lockdown probably closer to the Easter holidays.

'I am trying to be sensible and not travel if not necessary, I have two kids'.

Britain's quieter transport network comes as Boris Johnson is today set to defy demands for an immediate shutdown of schools and borders as the UK admits it can only 'delay' mass spread of coronavirus to avoid being swamped with cases.

No10 has also dismissed suggestions they will emulate Ireland, which announced this morning that it will close all schools and colleges - although the step is being kept in the locker in case the situation escalates.

In the first sign of splits within the UK, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today declared that she is 'minded' to cancel mass gatherings of over 500 people from the start of next week.

The government has also made clear it will not follow Donald Trump's dramatic overnight move of closing the borders to travellers from mainland Europe.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who yesterday unveiled a huge 30billion Budget package to 'vaccinate' the economy from the impact of coronavirus, today said the UK was not following the US example.

'The advice we are getting is that there is not evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infections,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'That is why we have taken the decisions that we have.'

Asked whether the PM knew of Mr Trump's escalation in advance, Downing Street said today: 'UK and US officials are in regular contact.
T he US is temporarily banning incoming travellers from parts of Europe in a bid to try and stop the spread of coronavirus.

The strain has infected more than 120,000 people around the world and has killed over 4,500.

The ban covers the Schengen Area, which encompasses 26 countries that have abolished their internal borders allowing for freedom of movement.

The area includes hundreds of airports and land crossings and has a population of almost 420m.

Here, we take a look at the countries in the zone and how travellers will be affected by the recent restrictions enforced by the US.

Which countries are in the Schengen Area?

Evening Standard graphic

The following countries are part of the zone:

Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Although Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City are not official members of the agreement, they have also opened up their borders to allow a visa-free zone.

Empty counters at an airport in Germany / AFP via Getty Images

The Canary Islands, Madeira and The Azores are also part of the zone, despite not being part of the geographical continent of Europe.

Ireland opted out, while Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are in the process of joining.

Other European countries not in the agreement are Albania, Andora, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, The United Kingdom

What is free movement and how has it been impacted by coronavirus?

The Schengen Borders agreement allows people to travel freely within the area without border checks.

Residence permit holders can journey through the zone without needing any additional documents.

The idea of free movement could be a daunting prospect to world leaders who are trying to contain the virus spread and invoke isolation policies.

However, a scientific journal study looking at travel in China in connection to the Covid-19 outbreak shows once the strain has spread sufficiently, travel restrictions have little impact.

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What restrictions has Donald Trump put in place?

The details of the restrictions have yet to be clarified, however it will begin on Friday, March 13 at midnight and last for 30 days.

The ban will apply to most foreign nationals who have visited the Schengen Area at any point, 14 days prior to travelling to America.

It does not apply to US citizens returning home or apply to foreign citizens with legal permanent status.

Foreign nationals are also exempt from the ban if they are married to a US citizen, parents and guardians to those with permanent residency, children and foster children of a US citizen.

The ban does also not apply to foreign nationals who work with US armed force, are experts tackling the virus and members of NATO and the United Nations.

Department of Homeland Secretary acting secretary, Chad F Wolf said: Protecting the American people from threats to their safety is the most important job of the President of the United States.

"The actions President Trump is taking to deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in affected areas will keep Americans safe and save American lives.

"I applaud the president for making this tough but necessary decision.

"While these new travel restrictions will be disruptive to some travellers, this decisive action is needed to protect the American public from further exposure to the potentially deadly coronavirus.

In January and February, the Administration issued similar travel restrictions on individuals who had been in China and Iran.

"That action proved to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus to the U.S., while public health officials prepared.
Sarita Patel

Kelowna's top cop says he hopes the local detachment can move past the fallout caused by its handling of sexual assault cases.

The detachment was investigated after Statistics Canada determined a higher than normal amount of sexual assault cases brought to the detachment in 2017 and 2018 were deemed unfounded.

"The way it's been reported, there's been a significant impact on the detachment," Supt. Brent Mundle tells Castanet. "We've heard from people within the general public that they had perhaps lost confidence when it comes to some of these serious investigations."

Mundle says he hopes the public understands the detachment has taken recommendations from an internal review seriously, and has already initiated all the actions recommended.

"We do have over 200 very dedicated officers here at the detachment. I am hoping we can move past this and restore any damage that's been done to public confidence."

There were 66 unfounded sexual assault case files reviewed. Mundle says the 12 identified as requiring further investigation have been reopened and returned to investigators.

He adds there is no need to further investigate the 29 files that needed to be re-scored. Those files, said Mundle, had some errors with regards to how information had been interpreted.

Mundle expects a new RCMP sexual assault unit to roll out later this month. That team, he says, was created as a result of an internal reorganization.

He expects those members will receive additional training but, as members already involved in investigating serious crimes, Mundle says they already have higher levels of training and experience.

A second general investigative support team was launched last month.

"I've been asking for additional members to create what we call a general investigation support team. Essentially, that would imbed detectives with our general duty or our uniformed members and assist them with our more complex files.

"As a result of recent increases in our budget approved by council, it allowed me to reorganize some of our existing investigative resources to create a specialized sexual assault team."
A woman who leads a men's rights group says some mums lie about domestic violence attacks to game Australia's family courts system.

Men's Rights Agency founder Sue Price has told a federal inquiry on family law fathers are suffering in and outside court because of the lies some women tell.

The inquiry was told by the leader of a men's rights group it was a "known fact" some women lie to secure domestic violence orders. Credit:Fairfax Photographic

"Society in general has been subject to a hate campaign led by determined groups of women focusing on removing fathers from their children," Ms Price has told the inquiry in Brisbane.

"When you have people telling lies on the basis of really non-essential issues, you're using up the facilities, you're using up the money, you're using up everything which really should be given to the people who are genuinely victims of domestic violence."
- Managing Director of the ECG has directed that all stations would purchase only made in Ghana electrical cables for their operations

- Mr. Agyeman-Budu explained that the idea is to empower local producers to create more jobs for Ghanaians

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG), Kwame Agyeman-Budu, has directed that all stations should purchase only made in Ghana electrical cables for their operations.

According to a Citi News report, it is a standing policy that had been overlooked as purchases were made outside Ghana, particularly China.

Speaking after reactivating the policy, Agyeman-Budu explained that the idea is to empower local producers to create more jobs for Ghanaians.

READ ALSO: Election 2020: Dumelo promises one-student-one scholarship for constituents

The idea is to fulfill the local content policy of the country. We also want to make sure that the local companies have the capacity to supply ECG, Agyeman-Budu said.

Agyeman-Budu revealed that the cables produced by local companies are of international standards, thus the need to stop importing foreign ones.

He advised local manufacturers to put an end to importing cables into the country, which ends up defeating the purpose of the local content policy.

READ ALSO: STC buses obey road regulations; safest bet for travels - Deputy Speaker

In other news, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu has lauded intercity STC for their low involvement in accidents across the country.

According to him, the intercity STC vehicles have rarely recorded any accident cases since they started operating.

The MP for Bekwai who doubles as the CEO of the Drivers and Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA), said this occurrence can be attributed to their adherence to traffic rules.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo celebrates his beautiful wife as she turns a year older

Ghana marks her 63rd Independence today, what makes you proud to be a Ghanaian? | #Yencomgh

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"Prices of oil are going much lower from here," said McNally told CNBC on Thursday. "Everybody's got a pain point and we're going to go down and test it."

Despite the market turmoil and resultant losses, Saudi Arabia will not cut production unilaterally, said McNally, founder of oil consultancy Rapidan Energy Group.

The oil rout started on 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, the de facto leader of OPEC, is also planning to raise production, together with the United Arab Emirates.

The price of oil is likely to fall "much lower from here," according to Bob McNally, who was energy advisor to former U.S. president George W. Bush.

National prestige is involved here, honor is involved and political power is involved. And political leaders will suffer costs in a war if they believe they are pursuing a greater and more important aim.

Oil prices are going to fall until they hit a "political-financial pain point" for Saudi Arabia or Russia  or if North American production is significantly curtailed, said McNally. He did not give a price forecast.

Prices will test a point well below Russia's break-even price  at $42.4 a barrel for Urals crude, said McNally.

But there's more at stake than just oil.

"National prestige is involved here, honor is involved and political power is involved. And political leaders will suffer costs in a war if they believe they are pursuing a greater and more important aim," said McNally.

Benchmark international Brent crude oil futures were trading around $34.45 a barrel on Thursday afternoon in Asia, while benchmark U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were around $31.66 a barrel. Both grades were over $40 a barrel last week.

"What makes this even more damaging, and more dangerous and bearish for crude oil prices and equity prices, than anything we've seen in modern times, is this surge in supply. The supply shock is coinciding with an authentic catastrophic demand collapse," said McNally.

Before the talks between OPEC and its allies fell apart, oil prices had already been under pressure from the U.S.-China trade dispute, as well as the coronavirus outbreak.

With the American shale industry under siege from the oil industry turmoil, the U.S. is likely to take a tougher stance with Russia to get the country back to talking with Saudi Arabia, said McNally. That could mean tighter sanctions on Russian state oil company Rosneft, for instance, to get Russian President Vladimir Putin back to the negotiating table.

"To get reelected, you'll do almost anything. But in this case, I think the goal is perhaps more ... to raise the cost on Putin, to induce him to go back to the table with the Saudis," he said.

Correction: This report has been updated to reflect the correct break-even price of Russian Urals crude oil.
The deadly Coronavirus has claimed more than 4,000 lives globally, so far, and it is getting worse beyond our imagination.

In the first case of a noted celebrity being infected, veteran American actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have been recently diagnosed with the virus while they were filming in Australia.

The 63-year-old Academy Award-winning actor has been an integral part of everyones childhood by voicing the iconic Toy Story character, Sherrif Woody.



The actor was filming Baz Luhrmanns untitled movie about Elvis Presley on the Gold Coast, when this development came to light.

He recently took to social media and confirmed the devastating report himself.

He wrote, Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.



Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requirements. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

Who could have imagined that out of all people, Tom Hanks would test positive with the virus?

Twitter is being flooded with people wishing Tom and wife Rita Wilson a speedy recovery.

This is so true.

I mean Tom Hanks is who would play the guy in the movie about Coronavirus  Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) March 12, 2020

Agreed.

.@tomhanks youve survived a space vehicle malfunction, crashing an airplane into a river, being stranded on a deserted island, pirates, and psychotic abandoned toys. You can handle COVID-19! #TomHanks  Dave aka Mediocre Jedi (@MediocreJedi) March 12, 2020

Making the best out of a bad situation.

This is a perfect opportunity for them to send Tom Hanks to a isolated island and force him to make a Cast Away 2  b (@ITsKinda_Breezy) March 12, 2020

Its all making sense right now.

Makes us so sad.

This motherfuckin virus got Woody too. This means war #TomHanks pic.twitter.com/b3LDNIGzZi  Brandon Messina (@BrandonM226) March 12, 2020

OMG



Everyone right now.



Ohho.



we really be living in a world #TomHanks is coronavirus positive and Donald Trump isnt pic.twitter.com/kF9xroDokr  e  (@lostnurlight) March 12, 2020

We all hope, he gets better soon.



According to the WHO, there are currently more than 120 confirmed coronavirus cases, so far, in Australia and its getting worse each passing day.



In the most recent development, the WHO has officially declared that the Coronavirus, which is sweeping the planet, is a 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

We hope both Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson gets better soon. The world is praying for you, Tom. Get well soon.
Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas have welcomed their first child together.

Former TOWIE star Lucy, 28, announced the happy news on Instagram and revealed the couple have named their baby boy Roman Ravello.

Taking to the image-sharing app on Thursday evening, the brunette beauty shared a black-and-white snapshot of her bundle of joy's hand and the lower half of his face as she simply shared his full name alongside a blue heart emoji.

Baby joy: Lucy Mecklenburgh and Ryan Thomas have welcomed their first child together

Bundle of joy: Former TOWIE star Lucy, 28, announced the happy news on Instagram and revealed the couple have named their baby boy Roman Ravello

Within minutes, a host of Lucy's famous pals flooded her comments section with congratulatory messages, including some of her former TOWIE co-stars.

'Thought you had gone a bit quiet,' wrote Sam Faiers. 'Huge congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby boy...  lots of love. Xxxx.'

Her sister Billie Faiers responded to the post with the message: 'Congratulations darling... lots of love to you all at this very special time.'

Congratulations: Within minutes, a host of Lucy's famous pals flooded her comments section with congratulatory messages, including some of her former TOWIE co-stars

'Ahhhhhh congratulations,' said Kate Ferdinand, while Ferne McCann simply penned: 'Congrats darling.'

The fitness guru announced her pregnancy in August, after fiance Ryan, 35, proposed during a trip to Italy's Amalfi Coast in June. Ryan is already dad to Scarlett, 11, with his ex Tina O'Brien.

The couple met on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017. They brushed off split rumours in December 2018 after Lucy was pictured looking cosy with a man in a Dubai nightclub, believed to be her friend and business associate Adam Rossiter.

At the time, Ryan was said to be 'in pieces' over the pictures but the couple quickly moved on after Lucy explained it was her pal.

Congratulations! Lucy took to Instagram on the evening of her 28th birthday to announce that she is expecting her first child with Ryan and debuted her blossoming baby bump

Doting dad: Ryan also raises daughter Scarlett with his ex-girlfriend and former Coronation Street co-star Tina O'Brien, 35, who he was in a relationship with for six years

Lucy took to Instagram on the evening of her 28th birthday to announce she was expecting her first child with Ryan and debuted her blossoming baby bump in a figure-hugging red dress.

The ex Corrie star gifted Lucy a baby grow, which they held up for the snap as they revealed that they are set to welcome their first baby together following two years of dating.

Alongside the heartwarming shot, the reality star wrote: Best birthday present 'I've ever had. Love you @ryanthomas84,' with a baby emoji and a heart emoji included in the caption.

Brunette beauty Lucy opened up about her pregnancy journey and said she was starting to 'embrace' her new body.

Over the moon: The couple confirmed they were expecting a baby boy with another sweet Instagram post in September

She wrote: 'Although trying to keep this under wraps especially whilst on holiday really wasnt easy, Im now over 12 weeks and Im starting to fall in love with & embrace my new, ever changing... ever expanding body.

'Im in awe of what my body is doing, creating another human! Yes 1 human I was worried with how big I got very quickly it was twins haha!

'For the first time I feel content in myself and how I view my body. It feels like as soon as I became pregnant my priorities changed and I must admit this is definitely for the better.'

Lucy went through her pregnancy with her best friend Lydia Bright, who recently gave birth to a baby girl.

Throwback: The couple met on Celebrity Island With Bear Grylls in early 2017 and confirmed their romance in July after months of speculation (Pictured on the show in 2017)

Lydia previously revealed she found out she was pregnancy days before she was due to start filming Celebrity Hunted with Lucy and rang her to tell the news.

In an episode of The Brights podcast, Lydia said: 'I'll never forget the day we both found out we were pregnant.

'Basically, we were both due to start filming on Celebrity Hunted, I thought it would be a good idea to do a pregnancy test a couple of days before because I was off birth control and it came back positive to my shock.

'Because I fell pregnant very quickly, I gave Lucy a call, and she guessed that I was pregnant.

It's a BOY! The former TOWIE star took to Instagram to share a sweet video of the moment she and Ryan, 35, discovered the sex of the baby in September

'So she ran out and got a pregnancy test and called me 6 hours later and said she was pregnant as well. I mean, it's crazy. You couldn't write it.'

She also told Closer: 'We've said they might end up dating in the future! We've also said they could be husband and wife one day  but then we're so close we thought that might be quite weird because they'll probably end up growing up like cousins.'

Both Lucy and Lydia shot to fame in 2010 with their starring roles in TOWIE, which led to their reality careers.
Maine regulators are going to fine a gas utility $50,000 for failures to meet safety requirements.

The company, Maine Natural Gas of Brunswick, is a subsidiary of Avangrid, which also owns Central Maine Power. Maine Natural Gas delivers pipeline gas to 4,800 customers in the state.

The Maine Public Utilities Commissions staff identified quality assurance and quality control lapses starting in 2017, the Portland Press Herald reported. For example, a February 2019 inspection found the company did not follow operations and maintenance requirements to manage active leaks in Augusta and Windham, the commission found.

The utility has entered into a consent agreement with the commissions gas safety manager that includes paying the fine and agreeing to remediation.

Avangrid spokesman Edward Crowder told the Press Herald the company was already aware of problems when the violation notice was issued. The utility was working with the utilities commission to remedy the problems, Crowder said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Maine
Over Rs 1,900 crore belonging to the Himachal Pradesh government and the public are stuck in crisis-hit Yes Bank, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told the state assembly here on Thursday.

In a statement after the question hour in the Budget session, Thakur told the House that Rs 1,909 crore of the government and people in the state are deposited in nearly 32,000 accounts of Yes Bank's nine branches located across the state.

Hundreds of crores of several state government institutions, including HP Cooperative Bank, Kangra Central Cooperative Bank, HP Infrastructure Development Board, HP Power Transmission Corporation and the Dharamshala Smart City project, have also been stuck in the bank, he said.

The CM added that these institutions had started depositing money in the bank before the current government came to power in the state on December 27, 2017.

Thakur said the Union government was making efforts to revive Yes Bank.

The centre had appointed SBI's former chief finance officer as the bank's administrator.

The SBI will ensure its share of 26 per cent in Yes Bank, which may increase up to 49 per cent, he said, adding that the SBI would formulate a plan to revive the beleaguered bank within a week.

The CM said the RBI had already stated that the money of the depositors in Yes Bank is secure and safe.

Thakur further stated that Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri on Wednesday asked which influential person had promoted Yes Bank in the state.

"I want to tell that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi had sold her late father Rajiv Gandhi's painting to Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor for Rs 2 crore," he said.

Intervening, Agnihotri said the CM should also tell to whom the prime minister's expensive suit had been sold.

Later participating in the discussion on the state Budget for 2020-21, senior Congress legislator Asha Kumari said, "The CM should not have levelled allegations against Priyanka as it is not proper to do so against a person who is not even a member of the House."



Beginning the discussion on the Budget on Wednesday, Agnihotri had said Yes Bank had been facing a crisis for the past one year.

"Why did the state government institutions not make any effort to withdraw the amount from Yes Bank," he had asked.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leftist congresswoman Ilhan Omar has married her fundraising chief, she has announced.

Her wedding to Tim Mynett happened earlier this week, DailyMail.com understands.

She announced the wedding in an Instagram post, which was accompanied by the couple in a romantic pose. The couple, both of whom divorced their previous spouses late last year, tied the knot at an undisclosed location.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar announced tonight she married her fundraising chief, Tim Mynett

Omar kept her head down as she left dinner with her chief fundraiser turned lover Tim Mynett

Mynett was all smiles ahead of dinner with the congresswoman. He officially divorced his wife in December

The couple wore wedding rings on the day they were spotted by DailyMail.com, sparking speculation they may be married

'From partners in politics to life partners. So blessed,' the Minnesota congresswoman wrote on her Instagram account under the black and white photograph.

The couple were wearing the same rings that DailyMail.com pictured them wearing in Washington, D.C. last week.

Both Omar, 37 and Mynett  whose company received more than $500,000 last year from her campaign  initially denied they were having an affair.

But sources in the Somali community in Minneapolis say she was forced into announcing the nuptials because of articles on DailyMail.com.

'She sent this picture to a friend saying she wanted to announce her wedding because the reporting of the Daily Mail had been so accurate,' said one Somali leader.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune said the couple had married 'in the Islamic faith'.

The pair are pictured heading out to dinner at Cafe 8 Mediterranean Eatery in Washington DC

Omar had arrived to Mynett's office and stayed about two hours before they both drove out of his parking garage and headed to dinner

Omar has had a complicated marriage history, including allegations that she married her own brother.

She married her first husband, Ahmed Hirsi in 2002 in an Islamic ceremony that  like many in the Somali community was not registered with state authorities  and had two children with him.

But in 2009 she married British citizen Ahmed Elmi in a civil ceremony in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She said she had an Islamic divorce from Hirsi before that ceremony.

Her marriage to Elmi allowed him to get student loans to attend North Dakota State University  an issue that is now being probed by the FBI, DailyMail.com has learned.

She and Elmi  who now lives in east Africa  split in 2011, but did not divorce until 2017, the year before she again married Hirsi, with whom she had already had a third child.

The couple stayed inside the Mediterranean Eatery restaurant for about 2 hours and left together, making sure not to touch or display affection

The couple were spotted driving out of Mynett's parking garage as they headed out to dinner

But Hirsi and Omar divorced in November last year after he had flown to Washington, D.C. to pay her a surprise visit  only to find her in her apartment with Mynett, both of them wearing only pajamas.

Mynett, 38, was married to Dr. Beth Jordan, the head of the District of Columbia prison system's medical team. They divorced a month after Omar did.

Mynett clapped his hands in glee as he left their divorce hearing in Washington, where his wife tried to read out a statement saying he had stunned her the previous April.

There was no immediate response to DailyMail.com from Omar's spokesman.

Omar, who represents a district based in Minneapolis, has long denied an affair with Mynett.

But DailyMail.com pictured the two of them together both shopping at a Cub supermarket in Minneapolis and dining at Cafe 8, , a Turkish-themed Mediterranean restaurant and hookah bar where they stayed for 2 hours dining in a private room.

DailyMail.com first broke the news that Omar, 37, was cheating on then-husband Ahmed Hirsi last year. We obtained video of her and Mynett leaving a restaurant in Los Angeles where the Minnesota congresswoman had given a speech.

They had been holding hands as they ate in the out-of-the-way Caffe Pinguini in the beachside enclave of Playa Del Rey.

When they stepped outside Omar and Mynett were confronted by a man angered by her remarks at the California speech when she described the 9/11 atrocities as 'some people doing something'.

The man who filmed them on his cellphone told DailyMail.com: 'He seemed very protective of her, it was not a random person. It just felt to me like they were close.'

Insiders soon identified the mystery man as Mynett, whose company has been on Omar's payroll since July 2018, providing fundraising and strategy services.

The intensity of the affair has grown fast. Hirsi, Omar's husband made a surprise visit to her previous apartment in Washington a year ago only to find her and Mynett both in their pajamas, DailyMail.com reported exclusively last month.

'It wasn't that he actually caught them in bed but they were clearly in a romantic situation,' a Somali source said.

Mynett was later pictured taking a six-pack of Stella Artois beer and other groceries into Omar's apartment.

That picture shocked many of her Moslem Somali supporters in Minneapolis as the Quran forbids alcohol, describing it as 'an abomination of Satan's handiwork'.
China will work to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and encourage financial institutions to increase foreign trade loans to cope with the impact of the epidemic and keep steady progress in foreign trade and investment. Sound preparations will be made for the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) this spring. These were decided at the State Council's executive meeting on Tuesday presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

"Keeping foreign trade and foreign investment stable is vitally important as the Chinese economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy. Given the severe impact of the epidemic on foreign trade, we must implement targeted policies to arrest the slide in foreign trade and foreign investment, to forestall damage to the wider economy," Li said.

It was decided at the Tuesday meeting that all export tax rebates must be made in full without delay except for energy intensive, polluting, and resource products.

Financial institutions will be encouraged to increase foreign trade loans, fully deliver the policy of loan deferment in both principal and interest, and consider further rolling over, through consultations, the loans made to smaller firms deeply affected by the outbreak yet hold promising prospects.

Commercial insurance companies will be supported in offering short-term export credit insurance services and lowering premium rates.

The meeting called for sound preparation for the China Import and Export Fair this spring to bolster cooperation on foreign trade.

Efforts must be intensified to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and expand the catalog of industries where foreign investment is encouraged, so that foreign investors in more sectors get to benefit from the tax and other incentives.

Recent tax and fee relief policies designed to help companies in difficulty should equally apply to both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises.

"All companies, regardless of size or type of ownership, should get to benefit from the recent policies designed to ease their difficulties. We must swiftly work out a further shortened negative list on the access of foreign investment to more clearly demonstrate our firm resolve on opening-up," Li said.
Senator Rick Scott says that he will self-quarantine after he came into contact with a coronavirus-stricken Brazilian government official who was photographed standing next to President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday.

Scott's announcement came after a Brazilian newspaper reported that Fabio Wajngarten, President Jair Bolsonaro's communications secretary, tested positive for the virus.

Wajngarten was photographed standing next to President Trump, who on Thursday said he was 'not concerned' about possibly contracting the virus.

Wajngarten accompanied his boss Bolsonaro on a visit to Florida that included dinner with Trump at Mar-A-Lago.

Scott, the Republican senator from Florida, said in a statement: 'My office was alerted today by the Brazilian embassy that a member of President Bolsonaro's delegation tested positive for coronavirus.

'On Monday, I met with the president in Miami, and while I do not believe I interacted with the infected person, that individual was in the same room as me.

From left: Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump, and Fabio Wajngarten, the communications secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The three men posed for a photo on Saturday at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida

The president hosted his Brazilian counterpart, Bolsonaro (right), for a working dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday

Senator Rick Scott (left), the Republican from Florida, is seen next to Bolsonaro at a seminar in Miami on Monday.

Scott is seen shaking hands with Bolsonaro at the event. Scott announced on Thursday that he will self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution

'The embassy said the person had no symptoms leading up to or the day of the conference.

'After consulting with the Senate's attending physician and my personal doctor, I have been told that my risk is low, and I don't need to take a test or quarantine.

'However, the health and safety of the American people is my focus, and I have made the decision to self-quarantine in an abundance of caution.

'I am feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms at this time.

'I will still be working on my plan to combat coronavirus and protect American families, and my offices in D.C. and throughout the state will still be fully operational to help Floridians.'

In response to the article by the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, Wajngarten wrote on Twitter that he is healthy.

However, he did not deny that he tested for the virus after returning to Brazil.

The newspaper also reported that Bolsonaro and his staffers are being monitored for possible signs of the disease. There are reports from Brazil that Bolsonaro was himself tested.

President Trump on Thursday told reporters that he wasn't concerned about contracting the coronavirus after he was asked about the report on Wajngarten.

'Let's put it this way, I'm not concerned,' Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

In response to the article claiming that he tested positive for coronavirus, Wajngarten (above) wrote on Twitter that he is healthy. However, he did not deny that he tested for the virus after returning to Brazil

Wajngarten on Twitter denied that he had the virus, though he did not deny being tested

The White House released a statement on Thursday, saying: 'Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time.'

A columnist for the newspaper, Monica Bergamo, said Wajngarten was tested for coronavirus at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

She did not cite any sources.

A spokesperson for the hospital could not confirm or deny the report.

Wajngarten did not respond to requests for comment nor did Bolsonaro's office.

'Despite what the rotten media have already said about my religion, my family and my company, now they are talking about my health. But I am well,' Wajngarten tweeted.

In the photo he posted on Instagram, Wajngarten is standing next to Trump wearing a 'Make Brazil great again' cap.

Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.

Brazil's Health Ministry has so far reported 52 confirmed cases of the virus that the World Health Organization has now labelled a pandemic, but has not had any deaths.

As of Thursday afternoon, there have been more than 1,500 reported cases of coronavirus in the United States. At least 39 people have died.

An attendee at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference has tested positive for the coroanavirus. The event included speeches from Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Trump is pictured during his appearance at CPAC on February 29

There more than 1,500 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died (depicted above)

Last month, Trump said he was not concerned about contracting the virus after a man in his 50s who attended the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference that began on February 26.

The man, who lives in Washington, D.C., had tested positive for the virus. He began exhibiting symptoms in late February and was hospitalized on March 5.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said: 'With his test yielding a presumptive positive, D.C. Health has started its investigation in keeping with CDC guidelines. This investigation includes contact tracing and providing guidance on next steps for care.'

The patient had not traveled or met with another patient with a confirmed case but is believed to have caught it via community spread.

The American Conservative Union, the organization that runs CPAC, insisted the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland.

'A New Jersey hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result,' the ACU said.

'The individual is under the care of medical professionals in the state of New Jersey, and has been quarantined.'

The attendee did not listen to any speeches in the main hall, the ACU confirmed.

Several senior White House officials attended the event, including White House adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump, White House senior counselor Jared Kushner, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway and the former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Donald Trump Jr spoke at CPAC and his spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the first son did not come in contact with the person infected with coronavirus

White House counselors Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also spoke at CPAC

Donald Trump Jr was also there as were several members of the president's cabinet including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement to reporters that precautions were being taken although she did not offer specifics.

'The White House is aware of an individual testing positive for coronavirus after attending the CPAC conference that took place nearly two weeks ago. At this time, there is no indication that either President Trump or Vice President Pence met with or were in close proximity to the attendee.

'The president's physician and United States Secret Service have been working closely with White House staff and various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the first family and the entire White House complex safe and heathy,' she said.'

Donald Trump Jr did not come into contact with the individual at CPAC, a spokesman said.

'It has been confirmed that Don did not come into contact with the individual that tested positive,' said a spokesman for the president's son told DailyMail.com.

The American Conservative Union said in a statement the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland

Earlier this week, a leading New York doctor and political ally of Senator Ted Cruz went into self-quarantine over fears he has coronavirus.

Alan Berger, a 55-year-old gynecologist who works for NYU Langone Health, volunteered to isolate himself and is no longer seeing patients, the facility confirmed in a statement.

Berger has hosted fundraisers for Texas Republican Cruz in his hometown of Englewood, New Jersey and is said to be friendly with President Donald Trump's in laws, the Kushners.

Authorities have not commented on suggestions Berger is the 'patient zero' who interacted with Cruz and Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, at CPAC.

The CPAC patient was described as a 55-year-old man who was recovering in New Jersey; Dr. Berger is a 55-year-old man who has self-isolated in New Jersey.

Self-isolating: NYU Langone hospital says Dr. Alan Berger, an obstetrician/gynecologist who also attended CPAC last month, has voluntarily self-quarantined. It did not say if he has tested positive for coronavirus

Self-quarantine: Texas senator Ted Cruz said he was staying at home after shaking hands with someone at the CPAC conservative conference

New Jersey authorities have confirmed that a 55-year-old man from Englewood was quarantined for a presumptive positive attended CPAC. He was in stable condition and has been hospitalized since March 4,

The Englewood man attended services at a temple in New Rochelle, New York, according to New Jersey commissioner of health Judith Persichille.

Schlapp shook hands with the president and mingled with Ivanka Trump, Lara Trump and Jared Kushner during the event in Washington, D.C,'s Maryland suburbs but says he's 'healthy as a horse' and has urged attendees not to panic.

Cruz, however, announced last Sunday: 'Last night, I was informed that 10 days ago at CPAC I briefly interacted with an individual who is currently symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID-19.

'That interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake.'

It was later announced that a second lawmaker, Arizona Republican Paul Gosar, and three members of his staff had also gone into quarantine following 'contact at CPAC with a person who has since been hospitalized with the Wuhan Virus.'
Investors who take an interest in Hanison Construction Holdings Limited (HKG:896) should definitely note that the Non-Executive Chairman, Mou-Sing Cha, recently paid HK$1.14 per share to buy HK$911k worth of the stock. Although the purchase only increased their holding by 0.2%, it is still a solid purchase in our view.

Check out our latest analysis for Hanison Construction Holdings

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Hanison Construction Holdings

Notably, that recent purchase by Non-Executive Chairman Mou-Sing Cha was not the only time they bought Hanison Construction Holdings shares this year. They previously made an even bigger purchase of HK$1.3m worth of shares at a price of HK$1.35 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being HK$1.16). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

While Hanison Construction Holdings insiders bought shares last year, they didn't sell. Their average price was about HK$1.19. I'd consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

SEHK:896 Recent Insider Trading, March 12th 2020

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Does Hanison Construction Holdings Boast High Insider Ownership?

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Hanison Construction Holdings insiders own about HK$602m worth of shares (which is 48% 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

What Might The Insider Transactions At Hanison Construction Holdings Tell Us?

It's certainly positive to see the recent insider purchases. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. Along with the high insider ownership, this analysis suggests that insiders are quite bullish about Hanison Construction Holdings. Looks promising! In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Hanison Construction Holdings. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Hanison Construction Holdings 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.
EVANSTON, Illinois and BEER-SHEVA, Israel, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 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.

"We are excited to launch this unique water-energy binational initiative together with our partners," 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 at BGU. "Since desalination technologies were developed at BGU, we are ideally positioned to help research and solve some of the world's most challenging water issues."

"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."

"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.

About Northwestern University

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is one of the country's leading private research and teaching universities with an enrollment of approximately 8,000 full-time undergraduate students and approximately 8,000 full-time graduate and professional students and approximately 2,000 part-time students on campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Northwestern provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth in a setting enhanced by the richness of Chicago.

About BGN Technologies

BGN Technologies is the technology company of Ben-Gurion University, Israel. The company brings technological innovations from the lab to the market and fosters research collaborations and entrepreneurship among researchers and students. To date, BGN Technologies has established over 100 startup companies in the fields of biotech, hi-tech, and cleantech as well as initiating leading technology hubs, incubators, and accelerators. Over the past decade, it has focused on creating long-term partnerships with multinational corporations such as Deutsche Telekom, Dell-EMC, IBM, PayPal, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Merck, Sigma and Bayer, securing value and growth for Ben-Gurion University as well as for the Negev region. For more information, visit the BGN Technologies website.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Amanda Morris (Northwestern) at 847-467-6790 or [email protected]

Tsipi Haitovsky (BGN Technologies) at +972-52-5989-892 or [email protected]

SOURCE BGN Technologies; Northwestern University
By Johan Purnomo and Tommy Ardiansyah

BANDUNG, Indonesia (Reuters) - It sounds like a riddle - what feet can be used to make shoes to put on your feet?

Nurman Farieka Ramdhany, a 25-year-old entrepreneur in the Indonesian city of Bandung, thinks he has come up with a cost-effective answer that promotes sustainability: skin taken from the feet of chickens.

A rubbery delicacy in many cuisines, including dim sum, chicken feet are covered with skin that has a similar texture and pattern to snake or crocodile skin.

Ramdhany's father had researched these more exotic skins and recommended he try making shoes with chicken feet, which he started doing in 2017.

Now, Ramdhany and a team of five, including his father, produce shoes entirely or partially made from chicken feet in a labour-intensive operation that takes 10 days. They skin the feet by hand, dye the skins and sew them into pieces that can be fashioned into shoes.

It takes 45 chicken feet to make a pair of shoes, which are priced between $35 and $140.

Ramdhany said he is mainly motivated by the opportunity to use a waste product from fast food restaurants and markets, his main suppliers.

"The waste is a lot, that is why we try to process it to get more value from it," he said.

Food waste is forecast to rise by almost a third to more than 2 billion tonnes by 2030, the Boston Consulting Group forecast in 2018.

Ramdhany says customers like his shoes. "They say our products are comfortable to wear. So far the market response has been positive."

(Writing by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Karishma Singh and Giles Elgood)
- Akufo-Addo gives $100 million to Health authorities in the country to enhance the fight against the Covid-19 virus

- He has also banned all public officials from travel outside until further notice

- Meanwhile, the WHO on Wednesday, March 11 declared that the coronavirus ountbreak has reached the pandemic stage

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The government of Ghana has made available $100 million for the fight against the deadly coronavirus in the country.

Addressing the West African country on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, President Nana Akufo-Addo opined that he has directed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to release the Cedi equivalent of $100 million to boast the countrys measures and preparedness against the Covid-19 illness.

 is to fund expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education, Nana Addo said when he addressed the country.

READ ALSO: WHO officially declares COVID-19 a pandemic

He also noted that with the announcement by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the coronavirus disease has reached the pandemic, Ghanaians must be prepared and put in place measures that will fish out any hidden cases within our territory.

Ghanas neighboring countries have recorded cases of the deadly disease - Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire and Togo all have confirmed cases.

Meanwhile, all 57 suspected cases reported in Ghana have tested negative after a series of test was conducted by the Noguchi Memorial Institute.

President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday announced that all public officials must suspend all foreign travels until further notice.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: UK health minister Nadine Dorries tests positive for the deadly disease

Any public official who wants to travel must seek approval from the Chief of Staff.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that as the world struggles to find a lasting cure and remedy to the deadly COVID-19 illness, authorities have also intensified measures that will help reduce the spread of the disease.

In China, for example, people are avoiding handshakes and resulting to greeting one another with a gong shou gesture, where a palm is folded over the opposite fist.

In the Gulf, citizens are saying "hello" with a wave rather than the traditional nose to nose greeting.

"I will score President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo 0/100" - Market woman reveals | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: 1D1F: Senior Minister commissions Indomie factory in Accra

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Source: YEN.com.gh
SYRACUSE, NY -- In any other year, the approach of the annual Syracuse St. Patricks Parade would find Mike Yorton busy scanning weather reports.

Now the owner of Armory Squares Blue Tusk bar has another worry when trying to predict the crowds on what is often the busiest Saturday of the year for downtown dining and drinking spots.

This years parade, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, has been postponed due to the coronavirus. A new date has not been set.

Weve had blizzards and rain and cold and every kind of weather that could affect our day, said Yorton, who in his 27th year at The Blue Tusk. "But weve never had (the parade) cancelled, and not by a virus.

Yorton and other bars and restaurant operators around downtown depend on the parade -- which often turns into an all-day, all-night affair -- to provide a big boost in business.

Now, theyre worried about whether theyve ordered too much beer and food.

Were staying positive and hoping we can do everything we can to make it a celebration like it always has been, said David Hoyne, owner of Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub, typically one of the busiest downtown bars on a really busy day. Of course we will continue to take all the precautions we can to make sure were providing a safe environment for all of our customers.

Yet there are still concerns: In Rochester, which also cancelled its parade, officials are temporarily banning any gathering likely to draw crowds of 50 people or more.

The state announced today it will prohibit gatherings of 500 or more and require those less than 500 to cut their occupancy in half.

There has been no local ban of that sort, though Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said they are considering options. Unlike Monroe County (Rochester), which has a confirmed case, there are no Covid-19 (coronavirus) cases in Onondaga County.

Walsh, at a coronavirus briefing today with McMahon, said the city is reviewing all permits for large gatherings for the next 60 days to see how they can limit density and slow the potential spread of the virus.

We have yet to identify a specific number, a threshold where we would say thats where we want to draw the line as far as public gatherings," Walsh said.

The city has decided not to close any streets Saturday. That includes a decision not to block off Walton Street in Armory Square to accomodate pedestrian revelers, city director of initiatives Greg Loh said.

Any restrictions could have an impact on Saturday business, not just downtown but in other areas, specifically Tipperary Hill, where many revelers go after the parade.

Im obviously disappointed because its one of our busiest days of the year," said Peter Coleman, whose pub on Tipp Hill hosts huge crowds on parade day. "I certainly understand why they had to do it. You cancel Boston, New York, you have to do it here. We can have a parade anytime. You have to do whats right. We had loaded up on beer and everything else, so we were prepared.

But its still hard to predict the impact. At Kitty Hoynes, people have been calling in to say theyre still planning to show up for their reservations for the traditional pre-parade breakfast, David Hoyne said.

There are folks still looking forward to getting out and joining in the fun, said Hoyne, who planned to meet with other Armory Square merchants to talk about how to handle business on Saturday. But we also recognize the seriousness, and well do whatever our health officials and elected officials believe we should do to keep everyone safe.

Postponing the parade is a disappointment to the thousands of spectators and hundreds of participants in the annual parade.

But former syracuse.com / Post-Standard columnist Sean Kirst, scheduled to be a grand marshal at this years parade, thinks its the right decision. 1000 percent right call, he said. Would have been tense, divisive, a little scary - contrary to whole point.

He elaborated on Facebook:

And yet, there still might be a party downtown on Saturday.

This is Syracuse, The Blue Tusks Mike Yorton said. People like to drink. They like to celebrate. If they want to come down and party at The Blue Tusk, wed like to have them.

Staff writers Chris Baker and Charlie Miller contributed to this report.

 Social distancing: Can we give each other some room?

 Full coronavirus coverage at syacuse.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.
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper's visit to India on March 15-16 has been called off due to the coronavirus threat, Defence Ministry officials said on Thursday. The trip, during which Esper was supposed to meet his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, is among the several events being postponed because of the coronavirus infection.

A two-day conference organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), which was to start from Thursday, has also been postponed due to the COVID-19 threat.

The defence minister and Home Minister Amit Shah were scheduled to attend the conference, which included seminars on a range of security issues in Asia.

"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 Ministry of Defence think tank 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.

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

Besides this, Milan-2020, the largest multilateral exercise hosted by the Navy to be held from March 18 to 28 in Visakhapatnam, was indefinitely postponed as a precaution.

Another military drill -- India Egypt Joint Special Forces exercise 2020 -- which was scheduled to be held at Jodhpur from March 11 to 13, has been postponed as well.

The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharahtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union Health Ministry said.
It's (almost) official, folks: We have (kind of) a bear market!

With the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling as much as 20% below its highest closing price of last month, the venerable index of American blue chips finally dipped into bear market territory on Wednesday, the same day that -- not coincidentally -- the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global "pandemic."

Technically, of course, some might argue that for a real bear market, the Dow needs to move 20% below its last best high, and stay there till the closing bell. The fact that the index recovered slightly to close down "only" 19% below its previous high, therefore, may give nitpickers enough wiggle room to argue that we didn't actually achieve bear market status on Wednesday.

But hey! There's always Thursday, right?

Kidding aside, the fact that the Dow (and the Nasdaq, and the S&P 500, and the Russell 2000...) have fallen umpteen percent in a matter of a couple of weeks is bound to get some investors thinking that now might be a good time to start bottom-fishing for bargains in the stock market -- official bear market or no. In fact, amidst all the market turmoil Wednesday, one brave investment banker began doing just that: Sifting through the rubble, and searching for bargains.

Here's what Rosenblatt Securities' analysts came up with yesterday:

GoDaddy (GDDY)

Rosenblatt's Mark Zgutowicz offers up GoDaddy stock as the banker's first tech pick of the day. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based domain registration company has been hard hit in the tech rout, falling 25% in share price over the past three weeks. And yet, Zgutowicz argues this now leaves the stock "attractively-priced in both absolute and relative terms."

Why are these analysts so optimistic? GoDaddy maintains "dominant positioning with over 19M customers," explains Zgutowicz, and its "refreshed global brand" positions the company to develop "more and deeper customer engagements with high margin products" including "Websites + Marketing" and "Managed WordPress" going forward. Leveraging its existing client base and selling them on these new products, Zgutowicz could conceivably grow its profits 30% this year (to $0.99 per share), and then grow them another 25% in 2021 (to $1.25 a share).

Story continues

Furthermore, the analyst believes GoDaddys upcoming April 2nd Investor Day should be a catalyst for the shares. "While 20 guidance was provided on the 4Q earnings call, we expect the company to provide a new LT growth forecast, perhaps by segment, which may alleviate some questions about moderating domain and hosting growth. In this regard, we would not be surprised to see a floor put in place for both domain and hosting LT growth, which we believe will provide a nice stabilizer for the stock," the analyst opined.

In Zgutowicz's estimation, this is fast enough growth to justify a "buy" rating on GoDaddy stock as well. From a Wednesday closing price just above $58, he predicts these shares could rise as high as $88 over the next 12 months -- a near 52% return. (To watch Zgutowicz's track record, click here)

Interestingly, this prediction is almost precisely what other analysts have valued GoDaddy at. Among of the eight analysts who've ventured an opinion on GoDaddy in the last month, each and every one of them a "buy" rating by the way, the overwhelming consensus is that GoDaddy shares are worth about $88.88 per share. So, the message is clear: GDDY is a Strong Buy. (See GoDaddy stock analysis on TipRanks)

PTC Inc. (PTC)

Let's continue with Boston-based PTC. The software and services company behind the "Creo" suite of product design software has been hit pretty hard by the coronavirus-inspired tech selloff, losing about 33% of its market cap in the last three weeks. In a note Wednesday, Rosenblatt analyst Yun Kim observed that investors seem to be reacting to PTC's "relatively large exposure" -- about 30% of its revenues -- to industrial clients in the retail and airline sectors, which could suffer in a coming recession.

That being said, Kim believes that the company's "recent transition to a ratable revenue model," where more of the business derives from recurring revenue from existing customers, should insulate PTC somewhat from any economic turbulence.

"ARR growth," says Kim, "is more driven by the sustainability of [PTC's] churn rate" among existing customers rather than by acquiring new customers. And last time America faced a recession, in 2009, the company "didn't experience any deterioration in its churn rate." Moreover, here today PTC is says its churn rate has recently "modestly improved," and management believes that "it can grow its ARR at least in the low-teens for the current F2Q even without any new business bookings for the rest of the quarter."

Kim is predicting that despite the current economic troubles, PTC will successfully grow its profits as much as 40% this year (to $2.30 per diluted share) and a further 12% in 2021. If he's right about that, Kim thinks the stock could be worth as much as $105 a share -- as much as 76% above where it trades today. (To watch Kim's track record, click here)

All in all, cautious optimism circles this software maker, as TipRanks analytics exhibit PTC as a Buy. Out of 9 analysts tracked by TipRanks in the last 3 months, 5 are bullish on PTC stock, while 4 remain sidelined. With a return potential of nearly 50%, the stocks consensus target price stands at $90.22. (See GoDaddy stock analysis on TipRanks)

Splunk (SPLK)

Next up from Rosenblatt is another pick by Mr. Kim: San Francisco-based real-time operational intelligence software provider Splunk.

Down 31% from where it traded three weeks ago, Splunk stock looks like another bargain to Kim, who values the shares at $200, even -- about 66% above where they trade today

Why is it a bargain? Once again, Kim's analysis focuses on ARR, "the key metric that reflects the company's actual business momentum." Annual recurring revenue, explains Kim, was up 54% in Q4 2019, accelerating from the 50% growth rate Splunk was showing a year ago.

Management at Splunk is forecasting "mid-40s" ARR growth this year -- and not only this year, but 40% average growth rates all the way through fiscal 2023, numbers that "we believe will be received positively by investors," understated the analyst. Furthermore, Kim confirms that, in his view at least, "SPLK's ARR growth guidance is highly achievable."

While other investors are worrying about the short-term effects of coronavirus, Kim argues that Splunk is forging ahead and "emerging as a de facto standard in the infrastructure and security management platform market, which positions the company well for the next stage of growth."

Other analysts share a similar enthusiasm with Kim when it comes to the data analytics giant. TipRanks data shows out of 23 analysts, 20 are bullish and only 3 are sidelined. With a consensus price target of $179.55, the potential upside here stands at nearly 50%. (See Splunk stock analysis on TipRanks)
The Northern Arapaho Tribe has declared a state of emergency to begin taking steps to minimize the number of tribal members who contract the coronavirus.

The tribe, in a joint Business Council and Wind River Cares press release, also said it was recommending tribal citizens not travel to Denver for an upcoming powwow. That powwow has since been canceled.

We are following the situation closely, and will continue to work with federal, state and local officials to ensure we receive the resources needed to effectively mitigate COVID-19 in our community and limit risk to Tribal members, the tribe said in the Wednesday evening press release.

The Wind River Reservations other tribe, the Eastern Shoshone, also said Wednesday that it was monitoring the situation, adding that it had recently met with Indian Health Service and Wyoming Health Department officials.

The Eastern Shoshone Tribe has been closely following the latest on COVID-19 and has met with several local and national tribal partners to advance our understanding and help us in ensuring our tribal members and the general public in our area are receiving the most accurate and up-to-date information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the tribe said on Facebook. We plan to continuously monitor the situation and relay information to our tribal members and the general public through our social media pages and website. The health and safety of the Tribe and its members is our highest priority.

Although no cases have been reported among Eastern Shoshone or Northern Arapaho tribal members, the Northern Arapahos declaration comes after Wyoming health officials on Wednesday said a woman from Sheridan County became the first case of coronavirus in Wyoming. The move also comes as Colorados number of patients spiked, health officials in Casper urged calm and an Indian Health Service patient in nearby South Dakota was listed as a presumptive positive case.

Other tribal nations like the Oglala Sioux, Yankton Sioux and Navajo Nation have made similar declarations to prepare for potential cases of the novel coronavirus, which causes a respiratory disease called COVID-19.

In its press release, the Northern Arapaho asked its citizens to be especially mindful of members who might be more susceptible to the illness, like elderly members and those with pre-existing health conditions. To help prevent infection, the tribe said enrolled members should frequently wash their hands and disinfect common surfaces at home or work, while also avoiding contact with those who are ill.

There are common-sense steps we all can take to protect ourselves and minimize the risk of infection, the tribe said. As always, the health and safety of Tribal members is our highest priority. COVID-19 is a public health threat we all face. Together, our community will get through this and emerge stronger and more unified as a people.

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Marinated Salmon at Woollahra's Bistro Moncur. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer I bet not many journalists were prefects because we dont like authority  I remember the headmistress standing up on the day they announced the head girl, saying that shed prayed, and that God had given her the answer. I remember thinking, Come off it! Ive got nothing against your prayer system or your belief system, but God did not tell you who to make head. That didnt happen! New Hall School was housed in the Tudor hunting lodge of Beaulieu, an estate acquired by Henry VIII in 1517 from Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne Boleyn. Henrys rupture with the Catholic church had been plotted under that very roof, but the nuns who taught there never acknowledged as much. The much-married king was still persona non grata. That was a lesson in putting the blinkers on, says Ferguson. Tudor history was all around us but there was no mention of [what had happened] where we were. There was something essentially bogus about the intellectual structure of the place. Ferguson is not Catholic. Her parents sent her there rather than away because it was a good school near the Essex village of Little Baddow, where theyd eventually settled.

Adventure-seeking lies deep in the family DNA. Her maternal grandfather, John Dean, set up a bus company in Africa. Her mother, Marjorie, a nice middle class girl defied her parents orders and went out to Kenya as well. There she met Sarahs father, Iain, a trainee pilot turned businessman working for Dunlop. Iain and Marjorie eloped to his native Scotland to marry in the face of family disapproval (Dean considered Iain unsuitably racy for his daughter). The rift lasted some years. Fergusons parents settled in Nigeria but the outbreak of war with Biafra forced the family back to the UK when she was still a toddler, and she and her two older brothers slotted back into British upper middle class life. In her early teens she discovered poetry, one of her unwavering passions. She began an unlikely correspondence with the poet Philip Larkin, and his poems  not horses or rock bands  were tacked up on her pinboard. The pair exchanged four to five letters over a year or more. 'Dear Mr Larkin, why do you think life is first boredom and then fear? I think its very nice!' Sarah Ferguson, aged about 14, to poet Philip Larkin Ferguson had stumbled across his work in a book shed won for English.

One of his lines is, Life is first boredom, then fear. And I wrote to him [she puts on a self-mocking voice] saying, Dear Mr Larkin, why do you think life is first boredom and then fear? I think its very nice! She thinks she was around 14. Her mother later threw the letters out in an over-enthusiastic clean up, to Fergusons enduring regret. I have poetry for every occasion, she says, in those clipped tones so familiar to ABC viewers. I have it in my head  Whatever you are experiencing, as the vicissitudes of our lives get richer, its a comfort, its a balm, a massive balm. I would give up my sight before I gave up my poetry. She checks herself. Is that really true? I just would hate to give it up, I would be lost without it. She taught herself a lot of Shakespeare at home too. Not because I was a nerd, but because I loved it. Current affairs was a constant backdrop growing up, but it was theatre, not journalism, which first drew her. While studying English at Kings College London she and a colleague wrote, funded and staged a musical about sexual assault. They called it You Cant Thread a Moving Needle (referencing the comments of a judge who had dismissed a rape case). Ferguson insists the production was execrable. Yet it played for two weeks at the Edinburgh Festival. Looking back, shes astonished at her own chutzpah.

It was a bloody mad thing to do. It never occurred to me that anything could stand in my way. Not because I was horribly over-confident, but because it hadnt registered that people could try and stop me doing what I wanted to do. Whatever gift that is, its a good one. Too hot for her preferred souffle, Ferguson chooses a chicken terrine as her second course. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Two years ago Ferguson wrote On Mother, a short but lyrical book about the sudden death of Marjorie, purveyor of that gift. Her mother had fallen at home, and died in hospital after an emergency operation, before her children were even made aware of the accident. She died alone, which is wrong. A kind, good person. My mother educated me to go and live, and not think again, she says. She set me free completely, which was a wonderfully generous thing to do. Sometimes, though, Ferguson admits envying those who are simply racinated. (Reader, I had to look that up: it means putting down roots.) That willingness to leap in, to just do it, impelled her to travel to Australia in 1992, soon after meeting Jones in Paris where shed been working on arts documentaries.

He was the ABCs London correspondent. She came recommended as a Paris-based fixer. The connection was instant. It was some peculiar form of recognition  Aha! There you are, she says. The pair have two grown sons, in addition to Jones child from a previous relationship. Sauteed Ricotta Gnocchi. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Weve dawdled over the entrees: marinated salmon for her, and my beetroot salad with goats curd, celeriac and hazelnuts. Conversation wanders into its second hour. She likes Moncur for the best souffle in town but not today, given the humidity. She orders chicken terrine as a main instead and I opt for sauteed ricotta gnocchi. Conversation, mostly driven by Ferguson, ranges across a dizzying array of topics: Christopher Hitchens book on Thomas Paines Rights of Man, French playwright Jean Anouilhs adaptation of the Greek tragedy, Antigone; what artificial intelligence might do to the continuum of the human condition; encounters with Germaine Greer (whom she knew through friends at university); and the TV series Succession, about power and betrayal in the family of a media mogul. The sometimes tortuous ethics of journalism get a work-over too. Shes a huge fan of The Circus, a documentary series which goes deep behind the scenes of the byzantine American political system.

'I was interested in what happens in your head when you are ordained  what makes you act with such gross impunity.' Ferguson is relishing how television is stretching its legs, in long-format documentaries and drama. In 2015, she took leave from Four Corners to write and front an acclaimed three-part series: The Killing Season, about Labors leadership ructions, and another hard-hitting series on domestic violence. I now think 45 minutes [standard Four Corners length] is so short you cant do a thing with it, she jokes. But the most ground-breaking yet, she believes, will be her new series on paedophilia in the Catholic church, Revelation, which starts later this week. She acknowledges the fantastic work other journalists have done before her. But I wanted to see what this looks like now, and what justice delayed looks like. Terrible things were done to children, to thousands of Australian children, and I want to understand every piece of that. And the story is not finished.

To get up close, Ferguson had to persuade the gate keepers of the legal system, together with victims, and a paedophile priest, along with a second perpetrator, a religious brother, to let her cameras into two trials. Its the first time its been done anywhere in the world. Jones, who worked with her on the series, believes Fergusons painstakingly crafted letters were key to getting that access. Loading She was also determined to speak to the perpetrators outside the court setting, another rarity. I was interested in what happens in your head when you are ordained  what makes you act with such gross impunity, she says. Its not enough to say, this is what they did, you have to understand why they did it and [ how] it was covered up ... When the church swoops in and protects you immediately theres a hint of something wrong, all it does is reinforce that glorious moment in ordination when you are made above ordinary men.
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Travellers arriving in Kolkata from Dhaka and Khulna in Bangladesh via two trains  the Maitree Express and Bandhan Express  will now be screened at the Kolkata railway station starting from Saturday for the coronavirus infection, a top health department official of West Bengal said on Thursday.

Bangladesh authorities have already started thermal screening of passengers reaching the country from India in these two trains from Tuesday, the Bangladesh media had reported.

We will start thermal screening of passengers alighting from Maitree Express and Bandhan Express at the Kolkata station starting from Saturday. The decision was taken on Thursday, said Ajay Chakraborty, director of health services.

While Maitree Express, which connects Kolkata with Dhaka runs five days a week, Bandhan Express which connects Kolkata with Khulna runs twice a week.

Meanwhile, some Nepalese media reported on Thursday that a Ukrainian couple who entered Nepal from Darjeeling district in north Bengal was detected with high fever at a border check post in the neighbouring country and were sent back to India. Senior immigration officials posted in Darjeeling district, however, said that the couple didnt have fever.

They didnt have fever. They came back to India. We are trying to track them, said Amarnath K, superintendent of police of Darjeeling district.

In Kolkata, a shopping mall, with one of the largest footfalls in eastern India, started giving hand sanitizers to its visitors from Thursday. Security guards, wearing surgical gloves, at the entrance of the mall were seen providing hand sanitizers to visitors as a precautionary measure.

Bengals Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Dilip Ghosh said on Thursday that one can prevent contracting the deadly coronavirus infection just by covering the face with a piece of simple household cloth.

As there is a shortage in the supply of masks, one can take a piece of clean cloth available at home and use a string to tie it. I think this will solve the purpose. Some scientists are saying that as the size of the coronavirus is big it can be stopped by using a piece of cloth. It will take at least two to three months to supply masks to such a large population in India and China. So as a preliminary precaution, a cloth will do, said Ghosh.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Ghosh had said that thousands of peoples at temples across India drink water with their hands and also consume prasad, but nothing happens as they have the blessings of God.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  President Rodrigo Duterte will address the public Thursday night amid the rising cases of coronavirus disease or COVID-19 in the country.

Malacanang in a statement said the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases has agreed to adopt a resolution on measures to contain the spread of the virus.

"The contents of the resolution will be announced to the public following the approval by the President," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

The Philippines now has a total of 49 confirmed cases, including two deaths. Most of the patients are admitted in various hospitals in Luzon, mostly Metro Manila, but a hospital in Dumaguete City and Cagayan de Oro City each have one patient.

READ: PH transport official tests positive for COVID-19, sources say

Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,600 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in December last year. Over 126,000 people have been infected according to the Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 global tracker.

The World Health Organization now considers COVID-19 a pandemic.

According to the WHO the most commonly reported symptoms are fever, dry cough and shortness of breath. WHO said eight in ten, 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 exhibit virus symptoms.

CNN Philippines' Triciah Terada contributed to this report.
Hygiene will be king this Sunday as France heads to the polls for the first round of municipal elections. Voters  who are encouraged to bring their own pens  are to be offered masks, anti-viral sanitisers and antiseptic wipes as they cast their ballots at local schools and town halls.

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has cancelled all meetings during her last week of campaigning as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, had asked Interior Minister Christophe Castaner to allow school closures for cleaning before and after the vote.

Instead, hand-washing stations will be set up at voting points for the first and second rounds on 15 and 22 March, with Castaner assuring the nation that voting is safe and rigorous and protective measures have been taken to ensure the best possible sanitary conditions.

Several cities have said polling booths will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after the vote. School and town hall toilets will be open to the public, and posters at the entrance to polls will encourage people to wash their hands before and after casting a ballot.

To minimise the risk of infection, voters are being asked follow floor markings that will help them maintain a distance of one metre between themselves and others.

Proxy rules for fragile voters who are elderly or have pre-existing health conditions have been relaxed. Those with fragile health are also invited to vote outside of peak periods, which are 10am-2pm and 4-6pm.

Disinfectant bombs are to be set off on Saturday at polling stations in the cities of Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, where the regional prefect has said coronavirus sufferers will be allowed to vote wearing masks  which they won't obliged to remove for identification purposes.

According to the latest report released late Wednesday, France has confirmed 48 coronavirus deaths, and identified 10 major outbreak zones.

President Emmanuel Macron is to deliver a televised statement Thursday at 8pm in his first official speech since the health crisis began.
She also has not attempted to flee and has cooperated with authorities, Vollan said. What she described was consistent with what authorities surmised.

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According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement spoke to Hildebrandt Tuesday at the Dodge County Sheriffs Office. During the interview, Hildebrandt said that she went to the bathroom and forgot that the boy was on the floor and accidentally stepped on him. She said that she put him on the floor to change his diaper and then went to get a new one but stepped on the 25 pound boy when she returned to the bathroom.

Hildebrandt said she thought she had stepped on the boys ribs but they did not feel broken. She then helped the boy to his bed, according to the complaint. She then put make-up foundation on him when she put him back to bed.

Hildebrandt said she did not check on the boy until her mother came to her home.

Hildebrandts mother called police after finding her grandson around 7:30 p.m. on March 6.
A cow described as faster than it looks is wanted by US police after avoiding capture for over a month.

The elusive female has been on the loose in South Florida since late January and local authorities have now issued a wanted poster for her.

For several months a loose cow has been seen wandering in the area of Sheridan & I-75. It has evaded capture by both our officers & assisting cow herders since January. If you know the owner of this cow, or if you know its whereabouts, contact the PPPD at 954-431-2200.  pic.twitter.com/S4QrBYYeIa  Pembroke Pines PD (@PPinesPD) March 11, 2020

A poster shared on Twitter by the Pembroke Pines Police Department reads: Wanted: Unknown Cow.

Description: Female cow. Brown with a white head. Faster than it looks. Talented fence jumper. Enjoys pools.

Pending charges: Mooving Violations, Uddering false checks, and fleeing and eluding police.

The police department said the bovine fugitive is not considered dangerous but has been spotted near Interstate 75 in southern Broward County and has been known to walk into the road.
Chinas Belt and Road Initiative Leads to Global Pandemic

Spread of COVID-19 coronavirus directly linked to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative

Commentary

Reminiscent of the old Silk Road trading routes of the Mongol Empire that linked Asia with Europe, the Chinese regimes Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road) has retraced those historic routes with unanticipated historical outcomes. Just like the Mongol rulers of the 13th century, the CCP leadership hoped that the BRI would help them realize their grandest ambitions of extending trade and political influence throughout Asia and Europe.

And by most estimations, with its massive levels of direct foreign investment, the BRI could certainly have given China an opportunity to go even further than that. It would extend Beijings economic and political hegemony throughout Western Europe and into Africa and the Americas as well.

For the first time in history, China could see itself becoming the center of influence for global commerce, technology, and manufacturing. But of course, Beijings great scheme must shift the global economic center of gravity away from the United States and seat it in China.

Pandemic Brought to the World by BRI

But rather than economic development and global political triumph, the Chinese regimes grand plans have brought a potential disaster upon the entire world.

As of this writing, the highly contagious and deadly COVID-19 continues to spread to new countries. In fact, it is being compared to the spread of the Black Plague of the mid-1300s.

The historical parallels between the two are startling, to say the least.

For example, like the Black Plague pandemic, the coronavirus also began in China. Furthermore, like the Plague, this new and deadly pathogen traveled westward, closely following Chinas BRI trail across Iran (Persia) and into Europe via Italian ports.

Low Infection Rates in Chinas Neighbors

And as with the plague, trade with China is a major factor, though certainly not the only one. Some countries with close economic or strategic ties with Beijing have suffered the most. On the other hand, some nearby trading partners have managed to avoid high infection and fatality rates.

For example, Japan and South Korea both have deep trading relationships with China. Yet Japan, with many factories located in China, as of March 11, reports less than 500 infected. And as of March 10, though South Korea reported 7,513 cases, it is seeing infection rates falling for a fourth day in a row without citywide quarantines.

Most notable, however, are Taiwan and Hong Kong. Both are staunchly anti-communist and in close proximity with China. And yet, as of March 11, Taiwan has one of the lowest infection rates in the world, reporting less than 50 cases.

Thats due largely to quick action by Taiwans government. Those steps included a travel ban on China, Hong Kong, and Macau, a ban on surgical mask exports to keep a national supply, and rapid travel and health data coordination to identify potential carriers quickly.

Its a similar situation in Hong Kong. As of March 6, it had only 97 infected and two deaths, even though it is on the very doorstep of China.

No doubt the citys ongoing antipathy toward Chinas communist government has limited travel back and forth, which has, in turn, minimized the exposure. But Hong Kongs experience with the SARS outbreak in 2002 is also a key factor. Scrupulous hygiene and face masks are much more a part of Hong Kong life than elsewhere.

Iran Hit Hard by Virus

By contrast, political fellowship as well as trade has proven to be a most effective transmission path for the virus. In the Middle East, Irans strategic relationship with China has meant increased exposure to the disease and thus higher infection and fatality rates.

With hundreds of Chinese workers in Iran, the impact of the pandemic has reached all the way to the top of Irans leadership, with at least 23 members of Parliament10 percent of Irans lawmakersinfected.

Other members of Irans leadership who have died from the disease include Mohammad Mirmohammadi, a close confidant and adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The cleric Hadi Khosrowshahi, Irans former ambassador to the Vatican has also died, as well as a recently elected member of Parliament.

Infected members of Irans leadership include Iraj Harirchi, the deputy minister of health, as well as Masoumeh Ebtekar, a vice president for women and family affairs, Mojtaba Zolnour, chairman of the Iranian Parliaments national security and foreign affairs committee. Irans leadership continues to pay a high price for traveling with the CCP.

Italy Once Again Entry Point Into Europe

In Europe, Italy is another example of similar outcomes, but for a variety of reasons. As a struggling member of the European Group of Seven (G-7), Italy saw direct foreign investment by China as a source for a much-needed infrastructure update. Its economy has been burdened by an aging population, astronomical debt levels, and paralyzed by political division.

For those reasons, Italy led Europes G-7 in embracing Chinas proposed BRI investment in ports and infrastructure in Genoa and other places, wholeheartedly.

Some, however, regard Italys BRI member status and the resultant influx of Chinese nationals as the cause for exposure and the high level of infection and death rates outside of China. As of March 10, Italy has 631 deaths and more than 10,000 infected, with a fatality rate at 5 percent, much higher than the global average of 3.4 percent, according to the World Health Organization.

Chinese BRI workers may be partially to blame for Italys high infection and fatality rates. But perhaps more likely a cause is the significant illegal immigration of Chinese nationals into Italy and other European nations. These two factors, combined with Italys aged population, have resulted in Italys unusually high infection and mortality rates from the pathogen. In a startling display of determination, the entire nation of 60 million people is now under quarantine.

France, though sharing a border with Northern Italy, has reported 2,281 cases. But with a death toll of now 50, it is adding further restrictions. Germanys infections doubled to more than 1,100 by March 9, and recorded two deaths. Both victims were elderly.

Instead of leading the global economy into the 21st century, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its BRI are, in fact, destroying it. In Italy, factories are being shuttered as towns and cities are put under weeks of quarantine.

The rule seems to be that those nations that turn a blind eye to the CCP and its atrocities for economic gain will reap what they sow. The CCPs dream of world domination has turned into a nightmare for those who have allied themselves with Chinas communist leaders.

The consequences of the global pandemic that China has brought upon the world are just beginning to be seen. Companies are fleeing from China even faster than before. Travel bans to China are common, including now in the U.S. regional economic activity, and trade with China is drastically slower than it was just a few weeks ago.

In short, the world that China hoped to captivate and dominate is now a much different one, and not nearly so eager to listen to what the CCP has to say.

James Gorrie is a writer and speaker based in Southern California. He is the author of The China Crisis.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The saddest part is that mankind is unlikely to have learnt any lessons, as in the past

Workers wear masks as they manufacture shoes at a factory in the town of Xiangtang, Nanchang county in eastern China's Jiangxi Province. The ruling Communist Party has told local officials to help reopen factories that were idled by the most intensive anti-disease controls ever imposed. (AP)

One fine morning, Joseph Stalin, then the all-powerful general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, could not find his watch and he promptly alerted Lavrentiy Beria, the much-feared head of the KGB. But he found it soon afterwards, and told Beria so. Too late, Comrade Stalin, the KGB boss intoned, five people have already confessed and have been executed. While this incident may have been a mere figment of the popular imagination  and Russians have an exceptional ability of making light of hardship or adversity -- the fact remains that totalitarian regimes are adept at the extraction and suppression of information, especially of the adverse kind.

This tendency appears to have been at play at Wuhan and caused the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. It has ravaged the city, consumed over 3,000 lives in China alone and set alarm bells ringing across the globe.

In all fairness, the coverup instinct is not confined to authoritarian regimes.

The Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan, for example, took place in March 2011. The power plant was operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco). It resulted in three nuclear meltdowns and leakage of radioactive materials that contaminated vast stretches of land and marine life. The president of Tepco admitted in June 2016 that the company covered up the meltdown.

A total of 103,168 (including 80,695 in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) confirmed cases of coronavirus infection including 3,507 deaths (3,097 in China, 145 in Iran, 230 in Italy, 50 in South Korea, 13 in Japan, 19 in the United States, plus other countries) have been reported across the world as of March 7. It has now spread to more than 100 countries.

Coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan (in Chinas Hubei province) in late 2019. When the first case appeared in early December, Wuhan officials threatened and gagged the doctors from alerting the public. Coronaviruses are common in animals and can sometimes spread to humans. By the time the authorities issued warnings and alerted WHO on December 31, the virus had already spread to an unmanageable level. By January 30, every Chinese province had been afflicted.

This is not the first time that the world has been gifted a deadly virus of Chinese origin. An epidemic of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), affected 26 countries and resulted in more than 8,000 cases in 2003. It was again an animal virus, that was transmitted to humans first in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

We now know that coronavirus continued to spread unchecked within and outside China, for one month, as China enforced silence and struggled to get a handle on the problem. Here it becomes important to contextualise. Over 5.5 billion Chinese travel annually within the country. More than 160 million Chinese travel abroad, and over 140 million overseas visitors come to China. It is scary to realise that in December 2019, tens of thousands of unsuspecting carriers continued to travel all over, compromising their own health and safety as also that of others.

The reaction of nations and individuals, in coping with virus, is also a study in contrast. Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates states that the coronavirus has started to behave like a once-in-a-century pathogen. As usual, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation quickly rose to the occasion, pledging $100 million to fight the outbreak.

Several countries, including India, reached out to China with offers of help and support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to President Xi Jinping offering assistance. The spokesman of Indias external affairs ministry noted that India had always been the first responder for its neighbours and friends in times of crises. It was in that spirit that we are ready to dispatch the relief package as our token of support to China. On February 25, an Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft delivered 15 tonnes of medical supplies to China, comprising mostly of masks, gloves and other emergency medical equipment. The aircraft also ferried back 76 Indian nationals from Wuhan, in addition to 23 nationals from Bangladesh, six from China and other nations. The aircraft had to wait for a week for Chinese clearance. India had evacuated 647 of its nationals and seven Maldivians earlier in February. New Delhi was also diligent in temporarily suspending visas for all those resident in China, as well as flights to and from that country. These precautions have helped so far, though there is no room for complacency.

On the other hand, fearful of upsetting its benefactor and ally, Pakistan decided against evacuating close to 1,000 of its students in and around Wuhan, disregarding their entreaties and that of their parents. China has lauded its iron ally Pakistans decision.

Surprisingly, even South Korea, which is keen on President Xi Jinpings visit in April, chose the appeasement route in allowing flights to and from China to continue. The South Korean embassy in Beijing put up a banner proclaiming  Chinese difficulties are ours. Beijing is naturally pleased, but Seoul has ended up paying a huge price. South Korea has reported a total of 7,134 cases of coronavirus, 367 on March 7 alone, causing 50 fatalities.

Confronted with such an epidemic, the Chinese President was forced to admit that the outbreak revealed obvious shortcomings. He appeared as anxious to prevent an economic slowdown, exhorting workers to return and the factories to resume production. However, the peoples confidence in the ruling Communist Party and the administrative machinery is really shaken.

The window of opportunity (to contain the outbreak) may be closing, WHOs director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in Geneva recently. On the ground, there are mixed indications. It is possible that new cases may be declining, at least in China. Mercifully, the prevalent virus is mild in form. All the same, the situation remains fluid. The saddest part is that mankind is unlikely to have learnt any lessons, as in the past.

The writer is a foreign affairs analyst and a former Indian ambassador to South Korea and high commissioner to Canada
The confirmation of the new coronavirus in a Montgomery County man who hadnt recently traveled outside Texas marks the expected but challenging next phase in the Houston-region outbreak: community spread.

Public health officials Wednesday provided no information about how the patient might have acquired the virus but acknowledged that it must have been transmitted locally, not brought in from another area, like the other 13 cases in the region.

We all knew that it was probably a matter of time before this was going to happen, said Dr. David Persse, the city of Houstons public health authority.

Persse called the case the tip of the iceberg.

Late Wednesday, city of Houston officials announced the citys third confirmed case, a female between 15 and 25, who is self-quarantined in her home with mild symptoms. She apparently represents another travel-related case, having recently traveled to New York state.

On HoustonChronicle.com: RodeoHouston canceled over coronavirus fears

Community spread is important because it expands the number of patients health care providers have to consider when treating a respiratory illness characterized by fever. Previously, it was relatively easy to identify those with a risk factor, such as the 12 Houston-area patients who contracted the virus on a Nile River cruise and a woman who returned to Houston after living abroad in Italy. Now many of the patients seeking treatment will have no idea where they became infected.

This opens up the possibility of patients coming in without a particular travel history or suspected contact with a recognized case, said Dr. Robert Atmar, a professor of infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. It makes it more important that we have rapid testing that provides a quick turnaround.

Such testing is in the process of coming to Houston, Atmar said, either through tests a hospital develops itself or private ones that began being rolled out to some hospitals this week. Last week, the Houston Health Department laboratory was verified to conduct coronavirus testing using a kit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the city, which serves a 17-county area, has limited capacity and fairly stringent standards for the suspected cases it accepts.

The Montgomery man, who is in his 40s, is in fair but stable condition in a hospital in Montgomery County.

Public health officials announced Tuesday that he tested presumptively positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, but they didnt disclose until Wednesday that he hadnt traveled recently. And they noted he attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeos BBQ Cookoff event Feb. 28. Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Wednesday that the annual festival was being closed to prevent community spread.

The Houston tie to the case was disclosed Wednesday afternoon at Turners news conference. Montgomery County officials had informed Houston officials of the patients attendance at the cookoff Tuesday evening between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., said Jason Millsap, chief of staff to County Judge Mark Keogh. That was not long before a packed crowd gathered for a K-pop concert featuring the group NCT 127.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Churches brace for financial hit with coronavirus

Montgomery County did not mention the patients visit to Houston during a morning news briefing because it was out of their jurisdiction, Millsap said.

The lack of disclosure was criticized by state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, who attended the briefing but didnt learn of the patients time at the rodeo grounds 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 (privacy rights), 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.

On HoustonChronicle.com: How COVID-19 compares to other epidemics

Harris County public health officials have launched an investigation into who the man came into contact with while he attended the cookoff in Houston, and Montgomery County officials are monitoring his close contacts in the countys northwest areas. All of them are under a 14-day quarantine.

Texas Health and Human Services officials said in a news release that the man had no out-of-state travel and no identified contact with another person with COVID-19. Officials are continuing to investigate whether it is definitely a case of community spread or if theres still a chance it might be connected to another case.

The presumptive positive test still must be further confirmed by the CDC. Its lab is expected to conduct testing next week.

From the very start, the state of Texas has anticipated the possibility of community spread of COVID-19, and the proactive strategies we have in place were developed with this very scenario in mind, Gov. Gregg Abbott said in the release. State personnel are trained and equipped to respond to this situation, and are actively working to mitigate the impact of community spread.

On HoustonChronicle.com: All of the Houston metro areas coronavirus news in one place

Also in the release, Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt called on Texans to continue to take personal preventive actions like washing their hands, disinfecting homes and businesses and staying home if sick.

With the possibility of spread in one of our communities, now is the time to intensify our efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in all our communities, he said.

Hellerstedt also emphasized the importance to heed the advice of local leaders because there may be calls to take broader community actions.

Health officials said suspending large events, closing places where many people gather, and encouraging people to keep 6 feet of physical separation between them are recommended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Minimizing exposure is especially important for people who are 65 or older or who have an underlying health condition like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or cancer. People in those groups have a higher risk of developing severe diseases such as pneumonia if they get COVID-19. The safest thing for them during an outbreak will be to stay home as much as possible and minimize close contact with other people, city, county, state and federal health authorities have said. To get ready, they should talk to their doctor about getting additional prescription medications and have enough household items and groceries on hand to stay home as needed.

People who experience COVID-19 symptoms like fever, cough and shortness of breath should contact their health care provider and follow their instructions on being assessed, officials said.

To date, Texas has had 21 confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19. Texas Health and Human Services is posting the latest information, guidance for the public, health care providers and others, and updating case counts daily at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus

todd.ackerman@chron.com

nicole.hensley@chron.com
To the Editor,

I am responding to Mayor Maguires Letter to the Editor which appeared in the Telegraph on Saturday, March 7. The mayor stated she wanted to clear up rumors and misinformation about the new rec center and plans for the existing Roundhouse.

I obtained a copy of the $2,500,000 PARC Grant application the city submitted to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources with a FOIA request. The application included detailed plans of a new, proposed, rec center. The mayor signed the application for the grant and certified that the statements herein are true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. and agreed that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil or administrative penalties.

In Form PARC/DOC-1, Page 1, Question 10, Concise Description of the Proposed Project, it reads, in part, as follows:

This park revitalization effort will include a new recreation center, an all inclusive playground, a fitness challenge course, a splash pad and an outdoor multipurpose all inclusive ballfield. The description continues, The outdoor features mentioned above and the existing Round House Building, shelter, and playground will be shown in the park revitalization plans but are not included for funding in this PARC application. Funding for those particular features and demolition of the existing building, shelter, and playground will come from donations and other grant funds but will follow the construction timeline of the recreation center so that the entire revitalization can happen at once. (emphasis added)

The PARC Grant application included an architectural rendering of the revitalized park with the splash pad occupying the space where the Roundhouse is currently located.

Included as part of the grant application were Work Session Minutes Tuesday, December 10, 2019. These minutes read in part as follows:

Parks & Recreation Director Jason Woody stated that the outdoor/facilities are just as imp01iant [sic] as the indoor facilities The minutes continue, Councilwoman Ufert asked if this includes tearing down the Roundhouse. Woody stated yes. She asked if there was an Alternate Plan B that keeps the Roundhouse and Woody stated no. (emphasis added)

On Jan. 21, 2020 the City Council entered into two no-bid contracts totaling over $1,000,000 for architectural design and a general contractor for the rec center. These contracts contained undetermined amounts of penalties for contract termination. The vote was 3-2, with the mayor casting the deciding vote. Objections to the contracts were raised because there had been no studies to determine the need or operating revenues/expenses of the rec center, there was no final construction cost because there were no final plans, the city wouldnt know if it would receive the $2,500,000 grant until later in 2020 and there was no understanding of the amount or how to finance the project.

I encourage all concerned citizens to attend the next City Council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. March 16 at city hall to express their comments/concerns regarding this matter. A copy of the citys PARC Grant application I received from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and my list of recommendations to address these concerns will be available for anyone to review.

Bill Dettmers

Wood River
: Chief Minister of Puducherry V



Narayanasamy on Thursday said Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi has no unfettered powers and cannot reject the decisions of the Council of Ministers or modify them.

Addressing reporters here, he said this had been "lucidly clarified" by the Madras High Court order delivered on Wednesday in a public interest litigation filed by Congress legislator K Lakshminarayanan.

The court order upholds the Constitution, the Union Territory Act 1963, Business Rules governing the administration and also the Council of Ministers, Narayanasamy said.

Reading out the highlights of the judgement, he said Bedi should accept the decisions of the Council of Ministers on matters of routine administration.

"She cannot reject the decisions and if there was a difference of opinion she can only send the decisions to the President for his decision," he said.

The court had also pointed out that "The Central government through the Union Home Ministry under orders of the President exercises a referral role to umpire a decision in the event of the administrator making a reference as per the Rules for its decision," he said.

As per the judgement, Bedi cannot convene officers' meetings, issue orders and direct the officials to respond to her directions, the Chief Minister said.

Asked as to how in the wake of the judgement, she had held a meeting at her office earlier in the day to discuss the action plan for preventive steps to keep corona virus at bay, he said, "I will issue standing orders."



"The judgement was available only now and I would issue standing instructions or orders to officers to abide by the court order," he said.

He said the judgement upheld that the elected government of Puducherry "no doubt represents the will of the people and in all forms of government the people are the true legislators."



The High Court had also stated in its judgement that "The primary responsible role of the governance has to be executed by the Council of Ministers," Narayanasamy said.

The court not only gave directions to the Lieutenant Governor but also to the Central government. The judgement said, "The Central government has to act within the limitations of the Constitution and not beyond it subject to the laws made by Parliament."



He said it had been clearly stated that the "Will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government and protecting its free expression should be the first object."



"I have been constantly telling that Bedi has no authority to take independent decisions or act arbitrarily. This has been vindicated in the present verdict and the primary responsible role of the governance has to be executed by the Council of Ministers," Narayanasamy said.

The Madras High Court had on Wednesday set aside a single judge's order which had held that Bedi cannot interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the elected government in the union territory.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service has tested positive for coronavirus.

Health officials are now looking for anyone who may have come into contact with the paramedic from Hertfordshire.

An NHS spokesman said: 'The Chief Medical Officer today confirmed a further case of Covid-19 who is a resident of Hertfordshire and a paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).

An East of England Ambulance Service paramedic has tested positive for coronavirus. Health officials are contacting 'everyone who has been in contact' with the paramedic (file photo)

Marcus Bailey, Chief Operating Officer of EEAST, said the risk to patients and staff is 'very low', adding those who have been in contact with the paramedic are being given 'health advice'

'There are well-established procedures that are being followed in a case such as this and the NHS and Public Health England are taking all necessary steps to manage the situation.'

Marcus Bailey, Chief Operating Officer of EEAST, said: 'Our first priority is protecting the public and staff.

'We are currently contacting everyone who has been in contact with the paramedic and they will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after they had contact with the confirmed case.

'The risk to patients and staff is very low.'

It comes as schools and childcare facilities in Ireland are set to close from 6pm today, and will not reopen until March 29 to help contain the spread of coronavirus, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said.

Teaching will be done online or remotely and state-run 'cultural institutions' will close.

Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor meetings of more than 500 will be cancelled.

Boris Johnson is expected to accept the coronavirus outbreak can no longer be contained in the UK, signalling the start of the next phase in the battle against Covid-19.

Boris Johnson (pictured during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday) is expected to ramp up Britain's response to the coronavirus crisis, and will chair a Cobra meeting at lunchtime today

US President Donald Trump (pictured) has ordered a shutdown of all travel from Europe, with the UK and Ireland as an exception. The rules will be put into effect on Friday at midnight

The Prime Minister will chair a Cobra meeting at lunchtime today where ministers are expected to agree to move into the 'delay' stage of the process.

Moving to delay would mean social distancing measures could be brought in, such as restricting public gatherings and issuing more widespread advice to stay at home.

The UK's chief medical officers and officials from the General Medical Council and NHS England wrote to doctors saying they may need to work outside their usual area of expertise and in unfamiliar circumstances 'for the benefit of patients and the population as a whole' in the peak of an epidemic.

The letter said part of a professional response is a 'rational approach to varying practice in an emergency', and GP practices, hospitals, trusts and health boards should ensure clinicians are supported to do this.

The letter read: 'They must bear in mind that clinicians may need to depart, possibly significantly, from established procedure in order to care for patients in the highly challenging but time-bound circumstances of the peak of an epidemic.'

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has ordered a shutdown of all travel from Europe, with the UK and Ireland as an exception.

Speaking yesterday, after coronavirus was declared a pandemic, Trump said: 'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

'The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.'
American film producer, Harvey Weinstein, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault that sparked a global #MeToo movement against sexual abuse.

Last month, Mr Weinstein, 67, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a former production assistant, Miriam Haley, and raping a former aspiring actress, Jessica Mann.

During the court trial on Wednesday in New York, Judge James Burke handed down a 20-year-jail term to the filmmaker for a first-degree criminal sex act for forcing oral sex on Ms Haley, in 2006.

He also imposed a three-year sentence for a third-degree rape of Ms Mann all culminating in a 23-year-jail term.

CNN reports that both the main accusers, as well as the four other witnesses from trial  the Sopranos actor Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff and Lauren Young  came into court as a united group, sitting at the front row alongside Cyrus Vance, the district attorney of New York who led the prosecution.

Mr Weinstein was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair.

In a victim statement read out in court, Ms Haley said that the filmmaker stripped her of her dignity as a human being and made her lose confidence and faith in herself.

She added she felt alone as she was going through the trauma with no idea other women who had similarly suffered abuse were out there.

In her statement, the rape victim said she had finally found her voice, saying it is time people who rape other people pay with their life and the life they took.

Ms Mann also addressed the court and spoke of the trauma she had endured since the attack.

I want to remind you I told Harvey, no. I am forced to carry that experience until I die, she said.

Rambling defence

In a rambling address that expressed remorse, the sex offender said he had been confused in his dealings with the women.

Im totally confused, men are confused about all of this issue, he said. I really feel remorse for this situation, I feel it deeply in my heart. We may have different truths.

Both main accusers asked Mr Burke to impose the maximum sentence on the offender.

However, Mr Weinsteins lawyers pleaded for leniency and a minimum possible sentence, asking the judge to consider the filmmakers charitable activities.

They said a longer sentence would likely mean Mr Weinstein would die in prison.

Lifetime of misdeeds

Al-Jazeera reports that more than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Mr Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back for decades, fuelling the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment.

Mr Weinstein had denied the allegations and said that any sex (he had) was consensual.

A statement by the Silence Breakers, a group of 24 women who accused Mr Weinstein of sexual assault, said no amount of jail time would repair the lives he had ruined with his nefarious acts.

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, it said.

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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

More trouble

Within a few hours of the stunning sentence being delivered, Weinstein was hit with another criminal case being opened.

Guardian UK reports that the district attorney in Los Angeles has announced that it has begun extradition proceedings to bring him to face two charges relating to two additional west coast accusers.
Only 15% of executives believe their companies' top leadership will succeedA A SINGAPORE, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --A Only 15% of business executives worldwide have confidence in their company's own top leadership to successfully manage disruption a including unexpected events like pandemics, technological advances, shifting demographics and climate change, a global analysis from the international executive search firm Odgers Berndtson reveals today. This lack of confidence is striking since 95% of executives also believe that managing disruption well is now critical for companies to succeed in turbulent times. Odgers Berndtson, concludes that successful companies will have to "reinvent leadership" for the modern world. "Business executives across companies in Asia-Pacific, like the rest of the world, lack confidence in the ability of their top people to drive future success. This is a crisis not just for those businesses, their shareholders and employees, but also the wider economy," said Mark Braithwaite, Managing Partner of Odgers Berndtson APAC. Using a methodology developed with Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, the firm today launches The Odgers Berndtson Leadership Confidence Index. Using data from almost 2,000 senior executives, managers and board members of companies with sales from $50 million to $5 billion around the world, this gives a first measure of confidence in the ability of top leaders to drive success in changing times. The Index also identifies what qualities and attributes in top people companies need most to thrive in changing times. In its report, Odgers Berndtson notes that 88% of senior managers and executives expect disruption to increase over the next five years, and almost as many (85%) say it has already had an impact on their organisations.A The stakes are high. According to Harvard Business Review Analytic Services (HBR-AS), 95% of senior executives[1] around the world now believe managing disruption well is not only vital to the success of their company but also brings "discernible competitive edge". The longevity of top companies is getting ever shorter, with some in the US for example, predicting half of the current Fortune 500 companies will disappear over the next decade[2]. "The quality of leadership has never been more important," Kester Scrope, Chief Executive of Odgers Berndtson said. "For the first time, this Index shines a unique light on the attributes leaders need most to develop confident organisations aligned to the modern world." Only 16% of senior managers believe their company's top leadership has managed disruption well to date, and only 15% are confident they will do well in future. The majority (61%) are tentative but a quarter (24%) actively worried a with similar results across all global regions. This crisis of confidence appears most stark when it comes to individual roles and leaders, notably chief executives. While 85% of respondents believe the CEO has the most critical role to play, 40% express doubts that the person in the top role will manage disruption well over the next five years. "The uncomfortable truth for some CEOs is that a strong track record does not equate to having the capabilities to deal with future disruption," Odgers Berndtson notes in its report. However, the Index shows confidence is also lacking in all C-suite roles a including key top jobs such as finance, human resources and technology a and that there are clear differences between the top 15% of leaders, who inspire the most confidence, and the rest. "The more progressive leaders see only opportunity," Odgers Berndtson notes. "What is required is a healthy attitude towards change." The Index also compares companies that score highly on confidence in their top leaders with those that don't. Confident companies are the most positive about their leadership's courage, vision, and curiosity, plus their ability to drive a sense of purpose. "Successful companies will recognise that mindset as well as skillset is critical in their leadership," Mr Scrope said. "Agility is key, both at the organisational level and in the individual characteristics of leaders inspiring confidence. Attributes of mindset are now very important if individuals are to adapt and seize opportunities in the face of unprecedented disruption." "What we are finding is that the leaders who are successfully thriving now are much more collaborative with their colleagues, says Mark Braithwaite, Managing Partner of Odgers Berndtson APAC, and author of "Leadership Disrupted",A a book published last year which explores how CEOs across APAC handle disruption. "If leaders have the humility to accept that they don't know everything, they can create a culture of innovation where they include a lot more people in thinking through business problems, not expecting to be right every time." Odgers Berndtson believes an evolution in leadership is required for companies to thrive in a world of complexity and uncertainty, combining the drive, adaptability and curiosity required for constant change, with the vision and courage to lead change and resilience to stay the course. Leaders need a mindset to cope with change, and the humility to move on from old command and control structures. Notes 1. HBR-ASA A Harvard Business Review Analytic Services, The State of Leadership: Is Disruption Creating a Crisis of Confidence? (2020) 2: InnosightA https://www.inc.com/ilan-mochari/innosight-sp-500-new-companies.html Key Findings, Methodology and Notes overleaf SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS: Taken from The Odgers Berndtson Leadership Confidence Index 2020. Full report here 85% of global organisations have been impacted by disruptive change, and even more (88%) expect this will increase over the next five years.

95% of senior global executives believe managing disruption is vital to the success ofA their company and brings competitive edge.A A

Only 16% of senior executives and managers worldwide have confidence in what their top team has delivered to date.

Only 15% of global leaders are inspiring confidence about succeeding through disruption. 24% of respondents are actively worried about leaders' performance.

Confident organisations are also the most positive about their leaders' vision, courage and curiosity a scoring over 80%, against under 5% for the most worried organisations.

Confident organisations are better at overcoming common obstacles to managing disruption well, which all face. 58% of worried organisations said resistance to change was their biggest obstacle to man! aging dis ruption well, compared to just 31% of confident organisations.

Confidence in top bosses is low across all different geographic regions. Between 14% and 17% of organisations across all parts of the world believe top leaders have what it takes to succeed. The Index found North America had the highest level (27%) of organisations actively worried about the ability of their top leaders to manage well.A A A

had the highest level (27%) of organisations actively worried about the ability of their top leaders to manage well.A A A There are major gaps between the importance attached by senior executives to top leadership roles, and their confidence in the ability of those in them. When it comes to CEOs, 85% believe they have a critical role, but 40% doubt the current CEO will succeed in the next five years.

Senior executives are least confident in their leadership team's abilities to manage talent and drive change.

Among those most worried about disruption, resistance to change is cited as the biggest obstacle to managing disruption,! followed by lack of vision from their top leaders (respectively at 58% and 56%). The challenges are greatest for organisations that are worried, and not managing well a not because they are greater, but because their top leaders are less effective in these areas. NOTES TO EDITORS: For this study we defined disruptionaas the unsettlingaforces that can impactaanaorganisation's strategic direction and challenge its operational capabilities, such as emerging technology, competition from unexpected quarters, the impact of unforeseen global events, A climate change, regulatory oversight, innovative business models, rising customer expectations, and shifting demographics.aaA THE ODGERS BERNDTSON LEADERSHIP CONFIDENCE INDEX Methodology The Odgers Berndtson Leadership Confidence Index is believed to be the first measure of confidence in global business leaders and their ability to manage through disruption and drive success. The methodology has been developed by Odgers Berndtson with Harvard Business Review Analytic Services (HBR-AS). Our analysis is based on responses to a study of 1,890 senior executives, representing companies with revenues ranging from $50 million to over $5 billion. The Index provides a single measure of confidence in leadership's ability to succeed through disruption by combining the responses to questions examining 44 attributes and activities of leadership. The Index also measures confidence in leadership skills, experiences, motivations and behaviours. Companies with high and low confidence scores are compared to highlight those leadership activities and attributes that are found to a much greater degree in organisations that feel positive about future success. About Odgers Berndtson Odgers Berndtson delivers executive search, assessment and development to businesses and organisations varying in size, structure and maturity around the world. The firm has specialist practices which focus on over 50 sectors, commercial, public and not-for-profit, involving over 250 partners and their teams in 29 countries. Across the Asia Pacific region, the firm has offices across Australia, India, China, Japan and Singapore. www.odgersberndtson.com, @odgersberndtson Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1122687/Odgers_Berndtson_Logo.jpgA A
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reportedly tapped market heavyweights Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, DMart (Avenue Supermarts)

owner Radhakishan Damani and PremjiInvest to join the Yes Bank rescue consortium.

Jhunjhunwala and Damani are among the many private investors tapped for the Yes Bank recapitalisation plan, The Times of India reported. While The Economic Times added that PremjiInvest is also on the rolls.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the reports.

The central bank is looking for the maximum number of investors are part of the consortium to ensure that no single entity/individual (other than the State Bank of India) holds more than 5 percent stake in the troubled bank, TOI reported.

The government is keen on involving private equity (PE) to keep the nationalisation tag away from the Yes Bank rescue as most public sector banks (PSBs) are in capital conservation mode.

However, global P/E players have laid out important conditions, reports Business Standard. JC Flowers, Cerberus Capital, Tiden Park Capital and Blackstone want SBI to completely write-down Yes Banks Tier II bonds as part of the liability clean up.

As per the report, they want SBI to identify all stressed loan accounts and sell them to an asset reconstruction company (ARC). PEs are willing to invest up to $1.7 billion in Yes Bank but on similar terms that were offered to SBI, i.e. at Rs 10 per share.

The RBI proposed a revival plan for Yes Bank that will include initial capital infusion and funding lines to prevent a relapse once the 30-day moratorium imposed on March 5 is lifted. As per the plan, investors in additional Tier I (AT1) bonds have agreed to write-off 80 percent of their investment and convert 20 percent to equity, the TOI report said.

The central bank is expected to announce finalised commitments from SBI and other banks such as HDFC Group, Kotak Mahindra Bank and ICICI Group  who are in talks for equity investment - as soon as the banks confirm their investment.

As per the plan, once the announcement is made, banks will infuse Rs 20,000 crore as equity on day 2; public sector banks will invest around Rs 30,000 crore in certificates of deposits (CDs) of the bank on day 3; and the moratorium will be lifted on day 4, the TOI report stated.

The AT1 bondholders have Rs 8,500 crore investment Yes Bank, which will be converted into 170 crore equity shares with a face value Rs 10. This means an investment of Rs 1,700 crore with a three-year lock-in. The one sticky point would come from mutual fund houses (MFs) that hold AT1 bonds in pure debt funds as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) restricts equity investments by funds.
10:45 p.m. Dallas County declared a statement of emergency after reporting five additional presumptive positive cases of the new coronavirus, the Dallas Morning News reported.

One of the people who tested positive had no travel history, making it a possible case of community spread, the Morning News reported.

Public gatherings larger than 500 people will be prohibited in the county from 11 a.m. Friday to March 20.

9:40 p.m. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the Associated Press reported late Thursday.

In a statement, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau said she was "experiencing uncomfortable symptoms" but would be back on her feet soon.

Being in quarantine at home is nothing compared to other Canadian families who might be going through this and for those facing more serious health concerns," according to the statement, reported by the Associated Press.

The prime minister is in good health with no symptoms and would remain in isolation for 14 days, his office said.

9 p.m. All Harris County Department of Education buildings will be closed next week, March 16-20, "out of an abundance of caution," according to a news release.

"We will be issuing status updates through our website and social media platforms (@hcdetx)," the release said.

8:50 p.m. Late-night talk show staples are going dark next week, according to the New York Times.

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and "Late Night With Seth Meyers" will suspend production next week due to the new coronavirus pandemic, NBC and CBS said, according to The Times.

The earliest date that the three shows would return with new episodes is March 30, The Times reported.

6:40 p.m. The city of Conroe has issued a disaster declaration and new local policies to combat the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release.

The requirements include:

No parade or outdoor events with an estimated attendance of more than 2,500 people allowed within the corporate city limits.

Events with more than 250 guests shall cease at all public facilities owned or operated by the city.

Events with more than 250 guests held at private events are urged to cancel but should make those determinations with their organization

Nursing homes and senior living centers should limit pubic visitation.

6:25 p.m.The XFL is suspending its season indefinitely due to health concerns created by the coronavirus pandemic, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly.

It's unclear at this time when the football league will resume operations, reports the Chronicle's Aaron Wilson.

Several teams, including the undefeated Houston Roughnecks, are holding exit meetings within the next few days to provide more information to players.

6:15 p.m. Chambers County officials have signed a disaster declaration as they monitor the spread of COVID-19 cases in the region, the county announced.

There are no known cases of COVID-19 in Chambers County as of Thursday evening, officials said.

"Our public health department continues to monitor the situation as it evolves daily, and will release information regarding positive cases and will promptly inform the residents and public if a case of COVID-19 is confirmed in our county," the county said.

5:45 p.m. Houston ISD schools will be closed tomorrow thought March 30 due to coronavirus concerns, Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan says.

All spring break camps and UIL events have also been canceled. The district will be sending additional information later tonight, reports the Chronicle's Jacob Carpenter.

The Chronicle is updating a list of school district closures around the Houston area.

5:30 p.m. The Houston Symphony is canceling all remaining concerts this month to protect the health of audiences, musicians, and staff, according to a statement.

The concerts include:

Adams El Nino, March 14 and 15

Swing to Rock with Dave Bennett, March 20, 21, and 22

Mozarts Piano Concerto No. 20, March 26, 28, and 29

The Chamber Music Series Concert with Cedric Tiberghien, previously scheduled for March 27, will now be rescheduled.

5:20 p.m. Initial tests of the potentially exposed healthcare workers at Memorial Hermann have all come back negative, the hospital announced.

"As precautionary measure and consistent with the recommendations from the public health department, we are testing the healthcare workers again before their return to work," the hospital said.

5:05 p.m. Rice University announced Thursday that it will move all of its classes online or to remote formats for the rest of the semester and has advised students to return home or relocate off-campus amid concerns of the spread novel coronavirus, COVID-19, reports the Chronicle's Brittany Britto.

All classes will switch to a remote-learning format starting March 23, Bridget K. Gorman, dean of undergraduates, said in a letter to the schools undergraduates.

The dean encouraged students who left campus for spring break to not return, and all who live on campus and remain in Houston are encouraged to return home or remain in Houston in their off campus location for the duration of the semester, Gorman wrote. Only students who petition to stay on campus or meet a certain criteria will be allowed to reside on Rice grounds, she said.

5 p.m. Harris County District Courts have suspended jury service from March 13 to March 20, according to an announcement from the Board of District Court Judges.

Jurors who received a summons for those dates do not need to appear and do not need to reschedule, the board said.

"We are monitoring the situation and will provide updates as soon as practical," according to the announcement. "Each Thursday the courts will make a decision regarding jury service for the following week."

4:30 p.m. A slew of other Houston-area school districts have announced closures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the Chronicle's Shelby Webb reports.

The districts include Conroe, Spring, Dickinson, Texas City ISDs. See the full list here.

4:15 p.m. Cy-Fair ISD, the region's second-largest school district, announced it is canceling school next week.

"In an abundance of caution, CFISD, along with most neighboring school districts, will close all schools and facilities next week," according to the district's statement.

Fort Bend ISD also announced it will suspend classes for at least two weeks starting March 16.

"During this period, FBISD will finalize online learning logistics and training for staff," the district said.

3:50 Houston Community College officials said two "campus locations" were possibly exposed to the new coronavirus, according to an announcement on its website.

The Fraga Academic Building and Coleman College were impacted and will be closed immediately, the school said. Deep cleaning is underway.

Houston ISD operates Middle College at Felix Fraga out of the Fraga Academic Building, reports the Chronicle's Jacob Carpenter. About 120 students attend.

Classes at both locations are canceled for this afternoon and for the rest of the week, HCC said.

3:40 p.m. The NCAA on Thursday announced the cancelation of the mens and womens basketball tournament in response to growing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus, reports the Chronicle's Joseph Duarte.

This marks the first interruption in the widely popular mens tournament, known as March Madness, since it began in 1939. The womens tournament has been played every year since 1982.

In a release, the NCAA said the decision was made on our ability to ensure the events do not contribute the spread of the pandemic, and the impracticality of hosting such events at any time during this academic year given ongoing decisions by other entities.

Earlier in the day, most conferences, among them the Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, SEC, AAC and C-USA, announced the halting of conference tournaments used to determine the automatic qualifier for the 68-team field that was to be unveiled Sunday.

2:34 p.m. A third person has tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 in Montgomery County, this time a man in his 40s who recently traveled to Florida, health officials said.

The man lives in the northwest part of the county.

Already the county has found presumptive positive cases in a man and woman, both in their 40s. The woman recently went to New Orleans, while the man did not leave Texas.

2:25 p.m. Mayor Sylvester Turner said Thursday the city of Houston will not be disconnecting water service because of late payments. This order will last through the end of April, he said.

The outstanding bill, however, will not be forgotten, Turner said, but water service will continue so residents can keep washing their hands.

2:08 p.m. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stressed during a press conference Thursday that residents should not gather in large groups, citing the potential impact on medical care should the number of the regions COVID-19 cases increase.

She said that based on their estimates, if 30 percent of Harris County becomes sick, and 20 percent of those people end up in the hospital, we simply do not have enough hospital capacity to assume all of those people," she said.

"We cant afford to have a sudden spike in cases, Hidalgo continued.

She recommended that organizers of events expected to draw more than 250 people cancel or postpone their gathering. Employers should make use of telecommuting if possible and senior citizens should take care to avoid crowds, she said.

1:09 p.m. The Houston Chronicle is keeping tabs on the latest in closures and cancelations, including Houston area schools, sporting events, and food and entertainment.

These stories are being updated throughout the day.

12:45 p.m. A person who on Wednesday tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 in Houston came in contact with a known case in New York, rather than contracting it through community spread. The female, in the 15 to 25 age range, is a resident of New York and is staying in Houston, officials said.

She attended the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 8 but was not symptomatic at the time.

There is a low risk to attendees, city officials said.

12:10 p.m. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough has signed a declaration of local disaster in the wake of two people testing presumptive positive for COVID-19.

He also signed an order Thursday ordering that county events, including those permitted by the county to operate, to cease. That includes events with more than 250 people expected to congregate. The order is will take effect at midnight Friday and will last for at least 30 days.

The order will not apply to law enforcement activities, emergency responses, court operations, including juries.

Nursing homes will also be limiting their visitor access, according to Keough's statement.

11:47 a.m. Fort Bend County is expected to announce a public health disaster declaration at 2 p.m. Thursday after six people tested presumptive positive with COVID-19.

Staff writer Brooke Lewis will be attending the news conference hosted by Fort Bend County Judge KP George.

In Montgomery County, an emergency commissioners court meeting has been scheduled for noon to relay updates from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

11:11 a.m. The University of St. Thomas is canceling its classes at noon Thursday through Friday, officials said. Classes will resume online during the week of March 23 until the university reassesses whether there is a need to continue with online delivery.

The campus will remain open for business operations.

11:00 a.m. Mounting concerns into the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted Harris County to cancel jury trials in the district civil courts through the end of March.

Harris County Civil Administrative Judge Michael Gomez said individual judges would determine how to handle bench warrants.

In Montgomery County, officials shared no indication that criminal and civil cases would be impacted.

10:20 a.m. Health officials in Montgomery County said a second presumptive positive case of COVID-19 was found in a woman in her 40s.

The woman lives in south Montgomery County and recently traveled to New Orleans. Her test is awaiting further confirmation from the Centers of Disease Control. The man behind the county's first diagnosis remains hospitalized.

At least 16 people have tested presumptive positive in the Houston area in the past two weeks.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to do all in their power to maintain high integrity in their work.



The Moderator said this when the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs. Jean Mensa addressed the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) at its quarterly meeting at Abokobi in Accra on Tuesday on the need for the compilation of new voters register before this years general elections.



Rt. Rev Prof. Mante urged the Commission to find more outlets to publicize its point of view on the need for new voters register in a language accessible to the general public.



Addressing the General Assembly Council, Mrs Mensah once again assured the nation that it has no intention to rig this years general election in favour of any political party or individual.



The decision of the Commission to compile a new register has been met with opposition by some political parties and Civil Society Organizations.



Mrs. Mensa justified the need for a new voters register on the following grounds among others: save the country some money, safeguard the integrity of the election process by not leaving the control of data in the hands of vendors of ICT equipment and overcome the deficiencies of the existing equipment and data; she insisted this was necessary to render the electoral process reliable, credible, transparent and trustworthy.



According to the Commission, the quality of the voters register played a critical role in the electoral process and an obsolete and incomplete register could not be relied on for an electoral process which guaranteed the principle of one man, one vote.



According to the Commission, the IT infrastructure, that supports the Biometric Voting Management System (BVMS) must be modern, secure, reliable, robust and have the necessary performance features to meet tight electoral timetables and demanding service requirements.



The EC Chairperson made emphatic statement that the current system in place simply cannot meet the requirement to support the 2020 general election and beyond. She said that the server, storage and networking hardware at the Data centres on which BVMS applications run on were all obsolete and have reach end of life.



According to the Commission, the current Biometric Verification Devices (BVD) were unable to verify candidates electronically which led to high incidence of manual verification in the last District Assembly Election.



The Moderator later led the house to pray for the Commissioners, the nation and peaceful election 2020.



Mrs. Jean Mensah was accompanied by her two deputies, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare and Mr. Samuel Tetteh and Mrs. Sylvia Annor, Ag. Director of Public Affairs.







Source: Rev George Larbi, Public Relations Officer, Presbyterian Church of 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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Passengers on board Sea Princess watch as the ship departs the Overseas Passenger Terminal on March 10, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. James D. Morgan | Getty Images

Shares of Carnival Corp. plunged by more than 31% Thursday after its Princess Cruises line announced it was immediately suspending all operations for two months due to concerns over the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement impacts the cruise line's fleet of 18 ships, the company said, and will affect voyages from Thursday to May 10. Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz said the company is taking the "bold action" to reassure investors of its commitment to the well-being of its passengers. Pre-market trading in the stock was halted pending the news. Shares of Carnival, which owns Princess Cruises, have fallen by 70.6% since Jan. 1. The stock closed at $14.97 a share Thursday, down 31.2% for the day.

Current Princess voyages that are underway and scheduled to end before March 17 will carry on as planned, the company said. Voyages that extend beyond March 17 will be ended at the "most convenient location for guests," the company added. Princess said it will compensate affected customers with credit for a free cruise with "an additional generous future cruise credit benefit" that they can apply toward another cruise. Customers can also request a cash refund online. "We've been asked, and we've asked ourselves, why COVID-19 seems to be impacting Princess so heavily," Swartz said in a video shared on YouTube. "We don't really know." The State Department earlier this week issued an official advisory for Americans, especially those most vulnerable to COVID-19, which includes those with underlying health conditions, to "not travel by cruise ship." Princess Cruises has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of its ships, the Diamond Princess, had one of the largest clusters of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside of China with more than 700 infected passengers and crew. The Diamond Princess and its 3,700 passengers and crew were quarantined at a Japanese port on Feb. 4 after a previous guest, who didn't have any symptoms while aboard the ship, tested positive for the virus.

Several people died after disembarking the ship. The Japanese government and other nations eventually evacuated their citizens from the ship. Last week, U.S. officials announced 21 confirmed COVID-19 cases on another Carnival-owned ship, the Grand Princess, which was moored off the coast of California. The ship had roughly 3,500 passengers and crew on board. After several days, California officials brought the ship to the Port of Oakland, where passengers are disembarking and being transported to federal quarantine facilities.

An emergency services van of the Japan Self-Defense Force drives away from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, operated by Carnival Corp., sitting docked in Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. Toru Hanai | Bloomberg | Getty Images
2020 capital program reduced by $900 million; represents 33% reduction in upstream spending

$100 million in additional cost-saving measures

This news release contains references to the non-GAAP financial measure debt to capital. Please refer to Non-GAAP Measures at the end of this news release.

CALGARY, Alberta, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Husky Energy is taking a series of actions to fortify its business in response to challenging global market conditions.

These initiatives reflect the Companys commitment to capital discipline, which includes maintaining the strength of its balance sheet while protecting value in an extended low commodity price environment. Huskys drive to improve process and occupational safety is unaffected and remains a top priority.

Husky has three important advantages: a strong balance sheet, an Integrated Corridor which includes a sizeable downstream and midstream segment, and Offshore operations that include long-term gas contracts in the Asia Pacific region not linked to the price of oil, said CEO Rob Peabody.

Given current market conditions Husky will commence the safe and orderly reduction, or shut-in, of production where it is cash negative on a variable cost basis at current prices.

Strong Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Total liquidity is $4.9 billion, comprised of $1.4 billion in cash and $3.5 billion in unused credit facilities. In line with its committed credit facilities, Husky is required to maintain debt to capital of no more than 65%, and is well below this threshold with a ratio of 27% with no long-term debt maturities until 2022.

2020 Capital Program Reduced by $900 Million; Further Cost Reductions of $100 Million

Husky has revised its 2020 capital and production guidance as follows:

Current Previous Capital Investment1 ($ millions) Upstream

1,750  1,900 2,625  2,800 Downstream 475  550 475  550 Total 2,300  2,500 3,200  3,400 Total Upstream Production2 (mboe/day) 275  300 295  310 1Includes exploration capital and other capital expenditures but excludes asset retirement obligations, capitalized interest and Superior Refinery rebuild capital

2Includes curtailment allowance of 5,000 bbls/day in first half of 2020



Capital Reductions

Investment in resource plays and conventional heavy oil projects in Western Canada has been halted, with a focus on optimizing existing production and lowering costs.

Drilling of sustaining pads at all thermal operations has been suspended.

Lloydminster thermal projects scheduled to be delivered beyond 2020 have been deferred and will be reconsidered as market conditions improve.

In the Asia Pacific region, the development of the Block 15/33 oil field offshore China has been deferred by a year. In Indonesia, development of the MDA-MBH natural gas field has been deferred. The Liuhua 29-1 field at the Liwan Gas Project is being advanced as planned, with first production expected by the end of 2020.

The Company continues to review further capital adjustments in response to the current market environment.

Additional cost reduction initiatives totalling approximately $100 million in 2020 will include a reduction in well servicing activities on uneconomic production, and a halt in exploration activity.

Investor and Media Inquiries:

Leo Villegas, Senior Manager, Investor Relations

403-513-7817

Kim Guttormson, Communication Manager,

External Communications & Issues Management

403-298-7088

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements and information (collectively forward-looking statements), within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are forward-looking and not historical facts.

Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected to, will continue, is anticipated, is targeting, estimated, intend, plan, projection, could, aim, vision, goals, objective, target, schedules and outlook).

In particular, forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, references to: general strategic plans; expected 2020 ranges of total capital investment and total upstream production; the expected timing of first production at Liuhua 29-1; and potential savings from additional cost reduction initiatives.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected by the forward-looking statements presented in this news release are reasonable, the Companys forward-looking statements have been based on assumptions and factors concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company about itself and the businesses in which it operates. Information used in developing forward-looking statements has been acquired from various sources including third party consultants, suppliers, regulators and other sources.

Because actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements, investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predicted outcomes will not occur. Some of these risks, uncertainties and other factors are similar to those faced by other oil and gas companies and some are unique to Husky.

The Companys Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019 and other documents filed with securities regulatory authorities (accessible through the SEDAR website www.sedar.com and the EDGAR website www.sec.gov) describe risks, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and are incorporated herein by reference.

New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Companys 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 statement. The impact of any one factor on a particular forward-looking statement is not determinable with certainty as such factors are dependent upon other factors, and the Companys course of action would depend upon managements assessment of the future considering all information available to it at the relevant time. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and, except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

This news release contains reference to the term debt to capital. This measure is used to enhance the Companys reported financial performance or position. This measure is a useful complementary measure in assessing the Companys financial performance, efficiency and liquidity. There is no comparable measure to this non-GAAP measure under IFRS.

Debt to capital is a non-GAAP measure that is calculated as total debt (being the sum of long term debt, long term debt due within one year and short term debt) and certain adjusting items specified in the Companys credit agreement divided by total debt, shareholders equity and certain adjusting items specified in such credit agreement. Debt to capital is considered to be a useful measure in assisting management and investors to evaluate the Companys financial strength.

DISCLOSURE OF OIL AND GAS INFORMATION

Unless otherwise indicated: (i) projected production volumes provided are gross, which represents the total or the Companys working interest share, as applicable, before deduction of royalties; (ii) all Husky working interest production volumes quoted are before deduction of royalties.

The Company uses the term barrels of oil equivalent (or boe), which is consistent with other oil and gas companies disclosures, and is calculated on an energy equivalence basis applicable at the burner tip whereby one barrel of crude oil is equivalent to six thousand cubic feet of natural gas. The term boe is used to express the sum of the total company products in one unit that can be used for comparisons. Readers are cautioned that the term boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. This measure is used for consistency with other oil and gas companies and does not represent value equivalency at the wellhead.

All currency is expressed in this news release in Canadian dollars.




Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Japan Gold Corp. (TSXV: JG) (OTCQB: JGLDF) (the "Company") is pleased to host a live webinar today at 2:00pm EST (11:00am PST) with Red Cloud Securities Inc. ("Red Cloud"), a global resource-focused investment firm.

John Proust, Japan Gold's Chairman and CEO, will join Jacob Willoughby, Red Cloud's Vice President of Research, for a live update on Japan Gold and a discussion about what's ahead for 2020 and beyond.

Registration for the webinar: https://www.redcloudfs.com/rcwebinar-jg/

About Japan Gold Corp.

Japan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused solely on gold exploration across the three largest islands of Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu. The Company has a country-wide alliance with Barrick Gold Corporation to jointly explore, develop and mine certain gold mineral properties and mining projects. The Company holds a portfolio of 30 gold projects which cover areas with known gold occurrences, a history of mining and are prospective for high-grade epithermal gold mineralization. Japan Gold's leadership team represent decades of resource industry and business experience, and the Company has recruited geologists, drillers and technical advisors with experience exploring and operating in Japan. More information is available at www.japangold.com or by email at info@japangold.com

For further information, please contact:

John Proust

Chairman & CEO

Phone: 778-725-1491

Email: info@japangold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53384
A suspected arson attack on a cottage may have been targeted at former prime minister David Cameron, police last night revealed.

A Molotov cocktail was said to have been hurled through the window of a property near the ex-Tory leaders home.

The suspect had reportedly travelled almost 60 miles to the scene.

One resident claimed the fire may have been the result of a failed targeted attack on a cottage which was bought by David and Samantha Cameron in an Oxfordshire hamlet near Chipping Norton, 19 years ago.

A suspected arson attack on a cottage (above) may have been targeted at former prime minister David Cameron, police last night revealed. A Molotov cocktail was said to have been hurled through the window of a property near the ex-Tory leaders home in an Oxfordshire hamlet near Chipping Norton

One resident claimed the fire may have been the result of a failed targeted attack on a cottage which was bought by David and Samantha Cameron in the area 19 years ago

He added: If it was, whoever did it wasnt very clever as they got the wrong house. The source added that he had seen an armed response unit on the scene in the aftermath of the fire.

Fire crews remained at the scene yesterday as two men tried to retrieve items from the wreckage.

A man, 33, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was arrested on suspicion of arson and detained under the Mental Health Act, the Sun reported.

Mr Cameron told the newspaper: Its terrible. Theyve had a fire engine here for the last couple of days. Ive heard a man has been arrested but I cant say anything.

'I was not home on Monday night when it happened, I came down as soon as I heard. There was a woman who lived there but she moved out about a year ago, a lovely old lady.

'Thankfully, the homeowner is living with relatives but she is very shaken up. It is a huge relief that it was empty and no one was hurt.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Cameron (pictured with his wife) said of Mondays incident: There was a bad fire at one of David Camerons neighbours. It is a huge relief that the house in question was empty and no one was hurt'

The former premier is entitled to lifelong personal protection from specialist Met Police officers.

Former Scotland Yard commander John OConnor told The Sun that the suspected attack reinforces the need for the life-long protection of prime ministers.

Another local resident claimed he had been told Molotov cocktails had been used, adding: The word is that they were targeting the Camerons home, but well have to wait for the police and fire service to finish their investigation.

Windows at the address had been boarded up yesterday while part of the roof appeared to have collapsed. The former Prime Minister is said to have been seen in the hamlet looking at the damage.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Cameron said of Mondays incident: There was a bad fire at one of David Camerons neighbours. It is a huge relief that the house in question was empty and no one was hurt.

They added: This is now being investigated by the police, so it would be inappropriate to comment further.
To the Editor,

As a former and proud member and of the United Mine Workers I recognize the historic hostility of the Republican Party and big money to unions and their members.

The current hostility of this administration through all levels of government has reached a fever pitch. Union membership has reached its lowest level since the Wagner Act of the 1930s. It is time to have a Congressional representative in the 12th District who stands strongly for working men and women and their families. Its time to retire Mike Bost.

Our position on some of the key issues are clear:

1) Raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour. Though Illinois has, with our progressive Democratic Governor J. B. Pritzker, already raised the minimum wage, a federal $15 per hour minimum will lift wages of all workers throughout the country and buoy our economy. Long overdue! Its time to retire Mike Bost.

2) We support 51% card check (employee free choice)! If a majority of workers sign union authorization cards they should have a union as their bargaining agent. The current process makes it too easy for employers to threaten workers, crush unions and hurt workers. Mike Bost opposes card check. Bost also voted against PRO-Act, which would have restrained companies from anti-union practices. Its time to retire Mike Bost!

3)We support a big infrastructure bill including a major buildout of renewable energy infrastructure. All of these projects should be union jobs paying Davis-Bacon wages. Bost voted for a huge tax cut for the rich rather than addressing an infrastructure package that the nation needs. We have not had a big infrastructure bill since the late 1980s. Its time to retire Mike Bost.

4) Reform the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): The NLRB is currently in the pocket of big business and the oligarchs. Time to take back the NLRB for working families. The courts and the NLRB should not be allowed to steal from the pockets of hard-working families.

The survival of organized labor is at stake in the next decade. We must stand together and expand the labor movement to represent all workers to move together for economic and social justice. Labor must be at the vanguard of this movement. Bost opposes all of these pro-labor positions.

The times they are achangin; it is time to retire Mike Bost!

Ray Lenzi

Candidate for Illinois 12th District
Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shahs proposed Manipur visit on March 15 has been postponed in view of the advisory to avoid mass gathering due to the threat posed by coronavirus (COVID-19).

The state governments spokesperson Thongam Biswajit Singh, who is also a minister in the BJP led coalition government, said the postponement was due to the prevailing situation.

Union home minister Amit Shahjis proposed visit has been postponed till April 15 considering the prevailing situation, Biswajit said, before adding: The step has been taken up in view of the government advisory to avoid mass gathering.

Minister Biswajit also appealed to the people to reduce mass gathering especially during the ongoing 5-day Yaoshang festival which will conclude on Friday.

Several advisories have been released by the central and state authorities and steps taken to avoid mass gatherings as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Although there is no confirmed case of COVID-19 in the state as of now, Manipur government has restricted movement of people across the international border with Myanmar and increased screening in the border areas and at the airport. All people entering the state are being screened as well.

More than 1 lakh persons, including air passengers, have been screened at entry points including Moreh, Behiang, Sinzawl, Tusom, Kamjong, Mao gate, Jiribam and at Imphal International airport.

The State also ordered closure of all schools in the state till March 31 as a precautionary measure.

In order to ensure reduction of mass gatherings and to avoid spread of Covid-19 novel coronavirus disease and as a precautionary measure, the government of Manipur is pleased to order all schools (government, government aided including private schools) located within Manipur state shall remain closed with immediate effect till March 31, 2020 in public interest, said an order signed by T Ranjit Singh, Commissioner (Education-Schools).

The order, however, said the scheduled examinations by state secondary board and the council of higher secondary schools were exempted from the order.

However all kinds of examinations already scheduled (both theory and practicals conducted by Board of Secondary Education Manipur) and Council of Higher Secondary Schools will not be affected, the order added.

A total of 74 people in India are infected with coronavirus as per the data available on Thursday evening.
" " Locusts swarm over the Huthi rebel-held city of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, on July 28, 2019. MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images

In the ancient world, nobody liked locusts. Some of the earliest literature produced in Egypt, China and the Near East describe invasions of the grasshoppers, carried in on the east wind after the rains. They could decimate the year's crops in a matter of hours, bringing famine in their wake.

The desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is a species of grasshopper with breeding and habitat areas extending from West Africa (Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco), east to the Horn of Africa, the Near East, and all the way to western India. They're able to live solitary lives, but they're also capable of swarming, collecting in large groups and acting in unison like a school of fish or a pack of dogs.

Physical contact with each other triggers the instinct to forage for vegetation together, and their bodies actually change as they do this. Gregarious desert locusts change color (from tan to yellow and black) and grow more muscle mass when this happens. They even start eating toxic plants, which they would never have done solo.

A swarm of locusts can reach astonishing sizes: 150 million locusts per 0.3 square miles (1 square kilometer), with a pack that size eating as much in one day as around 35,000 people. Because desert locusts eat vegetation, they've historically been the scourge of anybody who eats plants or grazes animals in the same general area of the locust swarm.

They're also alarmingly efficient breeders  between two and five generations of locusts can be produced each year, depending on weather conditions.

"Unusually good rains or severe weather events such as cyclones maintain favourable breeding conditions for up to six months," Keith Cressman, senior locust forecasting officer for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), says in an email. "These conditions can be sufficient for two generations of breeding, giving rise to about a 400-fold increase in locusts  a generation is about three months, and with each generation there is a 20-fold increase in locust numbers."

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Modern Locust Plagues

Although locust plagues seem like something only people during ancient times had to worry about, the 21st century is seeing its fair share. However, as 2020 has seen the most destructive outbreak in 25 years, scientists are examining why locusts are exploding.

"The short-term evidence of the past decade indicates an increasing frequency of cyclones in the Indian Ocean  particularly in the past few years  are to blame," says Cressman. "In 2019, there were eight cyclones when normally there are none or only one in a single year. Cyclones are important because they have caused locust plagues in the past  the last being in 1967. Therefore, if this trend continues, then it is likely there will be increased locust upsurges in the Horn of Africa like we are witnessing now."

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The Toll of the Locusts on Human Livelihood

Desert locust upsurges can affect farmers or those who raise livestock for their livelihood  that includes between 75 and 80 percent of the population in Ethiopia and Kenya. Children are often pulled out of school in order to work protecting family farms from locusts, and locust swarms can lead to family debt: 60 percent of the heads of household in Mauritania in Northwest Africa went into personal debt due to the locust swarms there between 2003 and 2005, according to Cressman.

Not only that, locust outbreaks can lead to food insecurity. Because they love to eat pretty much the same things people like, locusts can decimate grain crops. They also eat the same forage cattle eat, so milk production of grazing animals declines when locusts really get going, which can affect nutrition in everyone  especially children.

" " A farmer holds dead locusts in Pakistan's central Punjab province on Feb. 23, 2020. Pakistan's farmers are struggling to combat the worst locust plague in nearly three decades as insect swarms decimate entire harvests in the country's agricultural heartlands and send food prices soaring. ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images

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What Governments Can Do About Locusts

All sorts of ideas have been floated  one has to do with releasing a bunch of ducks into the most locust-ravaged areas, since the water birds love locusts and will eat over 200 per day.

In the past, farmers have burned tires as a means of dispersing the locusts, and sprayed pesticides from the ground and air. But what's to be done if this starts happening more frequently due to the environmental effects of climate change?

"In the long term, strong national locust units must be established and maintained within the Ministry of Agriculture that have an autonomous budget, equipment, resources and well-trained staff to monitor the situation and take preventive measures to avoid emergency situations and upsurges," says Cressman. "If these units are not autonomous, too often the funds, staff and equipment are used for other pest control and then when the desert locust invades, there are insufficient means."

Now That's Interesting Locusts were one of the 10 plagues that visited Egypt in the biblical Book of Exodus  the others were hail, fire, frogs, lice, livestock diseases, darkness, boils, the death of firstborn sons and all water turning to blood.
Ranchi, March 12 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said that a displacement commission will be constituted soon to address the grievances of people displaced over hundreds of years due to mining and industrialisation in the state.

BJP legislator Biranchi Narayan raised the displacement issue in the state assembly. Responding to his demand, the Chief Minister said a "Displacement commission will be constituted in the state and local representatives will be members of the body." In Jharkhand, nearly one third of the population was displaced in the state for more than a 100 years. They have been complaining of not being given adequate compensation as promised at that time.

BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi raised the issue about the merger of his party, JVM-P and the Leader of Opposition status. Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto has not accorded Leader of Opposition status to Marandi, despite the fact he has been elected the legislative party leader of the BJP.

Marandi joined the BJP on February 17 and was elected the legislative party leader on February 25. The Election Commission accepted the merger of the JVM-P with the BJP on March 5.

Marandi appealed to the BJP legislators not to disrupt the House, demanding to accord him Leader of Opposition status. He asked the Speaker to take a decision on the issue.
At the heavily trafficked subway entrance to the building on Tuesday, a stand of handsanitizer appeared. But putting such stands throughout the building, with its miles of corridors, has yet to become standard practice.

The mixed nature of the Defense Departments response is mirrored around Washington. On Capitol Hill, where many congressional members are in the older cohort most endangered by the virus, some representatives were observing hand-washing and no-touching protocols (a lot of the first, not much of the last) while others were not. In Alexandria, Va., two local health workers who had just insisted that they were observing no-touching protocols before seeing elderly patients then went on to hug a colleague they had not seen in some time.

All of this emanates from the fact that we havent shifted into full red-zone mode yet, said Stephen Morrison, the director of the Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Were still in a kind of amber light or yellow zone. So you have people choosing, electing one path or another. Theres a lot of variance.

Part of that variance stems from the fact that the slow pace of testing for the virus in the United States has meant that Americans are not aware of the extent of contagion here. In fact, the Pentagon acknowledged on Tuesday that the militarys official tally of service members and Defense Department civilians who had been infected probably undercounts the total.

I think that it is likely, given what we are seeing around the world, and the fact that we have people all over the world, that there are more, Brig. Gen. Paul Friedrichs, the joint staff surgeon, said during a news briefing. That is an important detail because the low average age and good health of American troops means that they are better able to withstand the virus if they get it. But it also means that they are more likely to become carriers who do not show symptoms, yet may infect other people.

The Army was the first to order its troops to defer from deployment to Italy and South Korea. Force health protection is the Armys top priority, the Army said in a statement. Referring to the disease caused by the new coronavirus, it continued, Protecting the force includes mitigating the spread of the virus and ensuring personnel have the most up-to-date information on appropriate measures to prevent potential spread of Covid-19.
Photo: The Canadian Press This Dec. 18, 2019 handout photo provided by Agencia Brasil shows Communications Director Fabio Wajngarten in Brasilia, Brazil. Wajngarten, who attended weekend events with President Donald Trump in Florida, has tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first time that someone known to have the virus was in close proximity to the president. Trump does not plan to be tested or go into self-quarantine, the White House said Thursday, March 12, 2020. (Carolina Antunes/Agencia Brasil via AP)

A senior Brazilian official who attended weekend events with President Donald Trump in Florida has tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first time that someone known to have the virus was in close proximity to the president. Trump does not plan to be tested or go into self-quarantine, the White House said.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications director, Fabio Wajngarten, tested positive just days after travelling with Bolsonaro to a meeting with Trump and senior aides in Florida. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Thursday that exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps.

Both the President and Vice-President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time," Grisham said.

Wajngarten joined Bolsonaro on a three-day trip to the U.S. and on Saturday was at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, where he posted a photo of himself posing beside Trump. A video from the event also showed him standing directly behind both presidents as they addressed a crowd.

The meeting also included Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Brazils foreign minister Ernesto Araujo and Bolsonaros son Eduardo, who is a federal lawmaker, among others. Vice-President Mike Pence went to Mar-a-Lago that evening.

We had dinner in Florida at Mar-a-Lago with the entire delegation," Trump told reporters on Thursday in the Oval Office. I dont know if the press aide was there. But we did nothing very unusual."

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.
Rae Bareli: The truck that rammed into a car carrying Unnao rape survivor and her relatives in Rae Bareli on July 28, 2019. On Sunday, the rape victim, who had accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar of raping her in 2017, was travelling to Rae Bareli with he Image Source: IANS News

Rae Bareli: The wreckage of the car in which the Unnao rape survivor and her relatives in Rae Bareli on July 28, 2019. On Sunday, the rape victim, who had accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Sengar of raping her in 2017, was travelling to Rae Bareli with her law Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 12 : A Delhi court on Thursday reserved till March 13 its order on sentencing in a case pertaining to death of Unnao rape survivor's father, in which seven people, including expelled BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar, have been convicted.

District Judge Dharmesh Sharma of Tis Hazari court will pronounce the order tomorrow.

The case pertains to the death of rape survivor's father in custody on April 9, 2018. Seven people, including Sengar and his brother, were held guilty for culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy earlier this month.

Sengar had also raped the daughter of the deceased in 2017 in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district and was sent to jail for the "remainder of his natural biological life", last year.

During the course of proceeding today, the Central Bureau of Investigation sought maximum punishment for the seven convicts.

"They should be given maximum punishment as an innocent man was beaten to death. They commited a grievous offence," the public prosecutor told the court.

The counsel, representing the convicts, however sought lesser sentence for their clients.

Sengar told the court that he is innocent and should be let off. "See my previous record and leave me. I haven't done anything wrong." A police officer, who has also been convicted, pleaded with the court with folded hands that his character has always been good. "I don't have a home. My kids will be out on road," he said.

The judge retorted, "Everyone has a family. You should have thought about it while committing the crime. Your have made a mockery of the system." All the convicts were held guilty under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for offences such as criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, disappearance of evidence, framing incorrect record and wrongfully restraining a person, and the Arms Act.
Revelation 6:5-8 says that in the final days, the world will be rocked by subsequent famines and plagues.

In the U.S., cases of Coronavirus have crossed 800and the death toll has risen over 20 with an even larger impact globally. Around the world, there are over 118,000 cases and over 4,200 deaths from the virus.

Luke 21:11 cautions us that there will be pestilences in various places and fearful events in the final days. While we dont know if the pestilences Jesus mentions refers directly to COVID-19, is it a warning?

The word pestilence comes from the Greek word loymos which means plague, a fatal epidemic disease.

There are many who believe that the pestilences that Jesus spoke about will be fulfilled in the first 3 1/2 years of the seven-year tribulation period that follows the rapture.

Recently, there has been a wave of other biblical plagues. This has many wondering if the remaining six will strike soon.

According to Jewish tradition, all of the plagues that struck Egypt will reappear before the final redemption.

The Bible talks about the first plague in Exodus 7:20 which says, Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the Nile, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood.

Last year, there were signs of the first plague appearing with water turning to blood. There were several cases of rivers turning blood-red reported in different spots around the world according to Breaking Israel News.

There were also signs of the seventh plague hail late last year with hail showing up in many unexpected locations. Some of these included Saudi Arabia which was hit by base-ball sized hail and Swaziland, South Africa where the hail was so intense that it killed a herd of cows. What really caught attention was the biblical mix of fire and ice that struck in Australia as ice storms.

The Bible addresses this in Exodus 9:22 which says, Hashem said to Moshe, Hold out your arm toward the sky that hail may fall on all the land of Egypt, upon man and beast and all the grasses of the field in the land of Egypt.

Recently, Saudi Arabia was hit with a massive infestation of bugs, specifically locusts which is the eight plague. While natural causes were blamed for the insects appearance, the images of locusts were quickly connected with the plague.

Exodus 10:15 speaks of the eight plague which says. They covered the face of the whole land, so that the land was darkened, and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Not a green thing remained, neither tree nor plant of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

The final plague that has recently appeared is darkness. Exodus 10:21 speaks of this plague when it says, Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt.

In August 2017, the total solar eclipse that crossed the continental U.S. was followed by one of the most catastrophic hurricane seasons that weve seen in our nations history. Following this, on January 21st of last year, we experienced a lunar eclipse that passed over the country with major biblical significance.

Do you believe God is warning us? What do you believe these signs are pointing to?
If there's one lesson Joe Biden seems to have gleaned in his five or six decades in public office, it's that it's fine to say black is white, green is orange, red is purple...

So here's the surreal "product" that comes of it, according to CNS News:

Hours after an angry Joe Biden "shushed" one of his female minders and told a union worker in Michigan "you're full of s---," Biden preached a message of unity and "dignity" in Philadelphia Tuesday night. "Tonight we are a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honor to the White House," Biden said, as he headed for a major victory in Tuesday's primaries.

That comes after the last public interaction he had with a voter, poking a finger in to the man's face and hurling a string of insults, with gems of civility like "don't be such a horse's ass," "you're full of s---," alongside a vow to take the voter "outside," presumably to beat him up. The video is here.

Biden's statesmanlike display to the voter came in response to the man asking Biden, standard-bearer of the Democratic Party, about his bid to expropriate law-abiding citizens' guns (which Biden misidentified as AR-14s). Instead of soothe the man, which would have been easy, telling him his fears were overblown, Biden responded with a slew of personal insults showing a freakish sort of rage against the very people he expects to vote for him.

It's not exactly a show of civility, let alone "decency," "dignity," or "honor," as he's touting now.

And cripes, this isn't the first time, either.

Last December, he similarly flew off the handle when an old Iowa farmer asked about his "selling access" over the House Biden Ukrainian corruption and the problems of his age. Instead of answer with civility, Biden challenged the man to a push-up contest and hurled personal insults, basically calling the man fat three times:

Instead of telling the farmer he's got it wrong, he growls with ad hominem attacks  "You're a damn liar"  and then attacks the man three times for being fat, failing to answer his question.

It followed with an insult to a second Iowa voter in January:

The video is non-shareable, but it's a doozy  click here to see it. Biden not only told the man  a Tom Steyersupporter, as it were  to go vote for someone else on some pipeline disagreement  but poked the guy, palmed the man's chest, and put both mitts to grip the man's jacket openings, something the man remarked would have drawn security if he himself had done that to Biden. In short, Biden got handsy even with a guy he had a problem with, in a bizarre gesture of aggression. "I did not expect to be told to leave, to go vote for somebody else, then to be lectured about," Fallon said.

Then he lost it with a female student, calling her a "lying, dog-faced pony soldier," only half in jest, a strange way to engage a voter, and whatever it was, it didn't look like "dignity" or "decency." It looked like a guy who was "off."

Prior to that, he flew off the handle with other members of the public, telling skeptical voters not to vote for him:

Former Vice President Joe Biden appeared to dismiss voters concerned about his age, saying he didn't want their votes in the 2020 Democratic primary race, clearly unable to offer reassurances about his mental faculties. "I say if they're concerned, don't vote for me," Biden said while speaking to reporters in Keene, New Hampshire.

A year earlier, he was calling Trump voters, "some of them, the dregs of society."

These meltdowns with voters  and there have been many  should be distinguished from his gaffes, which often are not intended to insult.

These are something else  cold, mean statements from a politically corrupted nasty old man who hates people.

As I noted in February, when he looked all washed up (I was wrong about that part):

Second reason he failed had to have been in his string of insults to voters. With the press covering for him, voters took matters into their own hands and asked Biden all about his corrupt deals. Instead of answering them with platitudes, Biden attacked them. He challenged an old fat Iowa farmer to a push-up match, engaging in fat-shaming and other insulting statements. He told another voter to "go vote for someone else." It raised questions: Did Biden want to be there? He seemed to wither like a hothouse protected flower when exposed to actual voters and it was clear he hated them. He lacked the press as a foil for his fight (as Trump did not), so ended up attacking the little guys. Big turnoff. Not a guy you'd want to have a beer with, according to the political-viability estimator. Nobody wants to vote for a mean old man who hates people.

Now that he's back, the fact that he made such a shameless statement about "decency," "dignity," and "honor," which are so at odds with his own repellant behavior with little-guy voters, means he comes off as living on another planet. For months, he's demonstrated that he's unable to take political heat, nor respond to challenges in ways that look presidential. The fact that he's bringing up promises that are exactly the opposite of his own behavior pretty well serves to remind us of how temperamentally unfit he is for public office, any public office.

He's a textbook case of 'what not to do' on matters of decency, honor, and dignity.

Image credit: Twitter screen shot.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - WeSC, one of the first pioneers in the fashion headphone space is re-entering the market this fall by signing a new licensing agreement with Telecom Lifestyle Fashion (TLF).

WeSC logo



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6889/53396_b61a0094a4f89b2a_001full.jpg

Known for collaborating with top brands and celebrities such as The Standard Hotel, Medicom, Smartcar, Axwell, RZA, and Steve Aoki, WeSC has built a reputation as a trend leader in the headphone space.

"We have waited for the right time and partner to re-enter the headphone space. The partnership comes at a perfect time as true wireless continues to grow in the market, and the consumer is looking for trusted brands where fashion meets function."

-Joseph Janus, CEO, WeSC

Under the terms of the new license agreement with WeSC, TLF will design, develop, manufacture and market audio products under the WeSC brand. The line will feature true wireless, wired and wireless headphones, speakers and an array of tech accessories.

"The audio market, especially the true wireless segment, is showing solid growth. The partnership with WeSC enables TLF to leverage the audio segment with a very strong global brand, which has been successful in the audio category in the past."

-Morsin (Mouhssine) Otmani, CEO, TLF

For more information, please contact:

Joseph Janus, CEO, 212-334-9372

About WeSC

WeSC designs, markets and sells clothing and accessories in the premium streetwear segment of the international market under the WeSC (We are the Superlative Conspiracy) brand.

About Telecom Lifestyle Fashion (TLF)

Based in Tilburg, in the Netherlands, TLF designs, develops, manufactures and markets innovative accessories for mobile devices under license from the world's biggest fashion and lifestyle brands. TLF strives to be the licensing partner of choice for global lifestyle and fashion brands expanding into mobile device accessories.

About STRAX

STRAX is a global company specializing in mobile accessories. The company develops and grows brands through an omnichannel approach. STRAX operates two complementary businesses - Own brands and Distribution (retail and online marketplaces) - where the lifestyle audio brand Urbanista is the flagship, along with our licensed brands Adidas. Through its retail distribution platform in Europe, STRAX represents over 40 major mobile accessory brands, whilst Brand vault, online marketplace distribution, is currently centered around own brands and startups. STRAX sells into all key channels, ranging from telecom operators, mass merchants and consumer electronics to lifestyle retailers and direct to consumers online. STRAX was founded in Miami and Hong Kong in 1995 and has since grown across the world. Today, STRAX has over 200 employees in 12 countries with its operational HQ and logistics center based in Germany.

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Boris Johnson's Government today refused to mirror Donald Trump's unprecedented ban on flights to and from mainland Europe to stem the spread of coronavirus with Chancellor Rishi Sunak insisting it won't work.

Mr Trump blames the EU for failing to stop the killer virus in its tracks - but has exempted the UK and Ireland from his 30-day travel moratorium from midnight on Friday.

But Mr Sunak today insisted the government doesn't believe stopping European flights is the 'right thing' on the day the Prime Minister will switch the nation from a 'contain' policy to 'delay'.

He told the BBC: 'We haven't believed that that's the right thing to do. The advice were getting is that there isnt evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infection'.

Critics including Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage have been arguing for weeks that EU freedom of movement is making the UK far more vulnerable to coronavirus.

US President Donald Trump last night announced a 30-day ban on all travel to the US from continental Europe with flights from 26 countries banned - excluding the UK and Ireland.

But it appears that British travellers who have been to one of the banned countries in the 14 days before arriving at the American border are expected to be turned away.

And there is also confusion about whether people from the UK who take one of the many cheaper non-direct flights to the US that stop in now-banned countries such as Germany, France, Holland, Norway and Iceland en route could also be sent back.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured today in Leeds) has insisted the government doesn't believe stopping European flights is the 'right thing' and claimed there is no evidence closing borders will work

Passengers in masks arrive at Heathrow yesterday hours before Trump announced all flights between America and Europe - apart from the UK and Ireland - would be banned from midnight on Friday

UK airports are already quieter after BA, Ryanair and easyJet all cancelled flights to Italy until April

British ministers will today step up their war against coronavirus today after the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak had become a pandemic and the UK total rose by 83 to 456 yesterday  meaning it has more than doubled in just four days. Eight have died.

Who is Donald Trump banning from travelling to the US? WHICH EUROPEAN COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN BANNED Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland WHO THE BAN APPLIES TO Most foreign nationals who have been in these countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States AND WHO IT DOESN'T 'Legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.'* * according to Department of Homeland Security Advertisement

Boris Johnson is set to defy demands for an immediate shutdown of schools and borders as the UK admits it can only 'delay' mass spread of coronavirus to avoid being swamped with cases.

Today the UK's tactics will shift from 'containing' the killer disease to merely 'delaying' its inevitable spread.

But this morning Ireland announced all schools, colleges and nurseries will be closed across Ireland with outdoor gatherings of more than 500 banned amid a growing coronavirus outbreak.

In less than 48 hours all flights between America and continental Europe will be banned - but the move was so sudden Mr Trump's acting Homeland Security secretary said the full guidance on how it would work is still not complete.

Planes to the US from 26 mainland European countries will be grounded - and according to the Department of Homeland Security they will check if anyone arriving in the US has been to any of those countries in the previous 14 days - the coronavirus incubation period.

It will not apply to US citizens, their 'immediate' family members or legal permanent residents, if they can get flights home.

But confusion remained over how exactly the rules would apply.

Some have claimed that Europeans could fly into London and change for a transatlantic flight. But it is likely that border agents would check where they came from and turn them back.

Britain is today set to switch from a 'contain' policy to 'delay', with advice on 'social distancing' to stop the disease from spreading.

Thousands of flights between Britain and Italy have been axed until April but there are call for a wider European ban to be implemented to stop the flow of coronavirus.

UK Government sources have also accused the EU of dragging their feet over flight bans.

One senior insider told MailOnline last month: 'What is the point in one of you banning flights if none of the others are going to do it?' a senior government source told MailOnline. 'Because you just get in by an indirect route.'

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said: 'EU freedom of movement does make us more vulnerable.'

UK hospitals are preparing to cancel thousands of non-urgent operations to free up beds, while sporting events, concerts and festivals scheduled for the next few weeks are likely to be cancelled or held behind closed doors.

The elderly and those with long-term illnesses will be advised to stay at home when the epidemic hits its peak in Britain. Healthy adults will be advised to work from home where possible.

Oval Office address: Donald Trump finally addressed the nation about the coronavirus crisis from the White House on Wednesday and banned all travel to Europe

Experts have warned that a lack of testing means US cases could be up to ten times higher than official estimates, and are increasing at an exponential rate

Boris Johnson is expected to usher in the 'delay' phase at a Cobra meeting today after the UK saw its biggest jump in infections in a single day.

The new cases include health minister Nadine Dorries and a resident at a Hampshire care home.

Trump's travel ban will do NOTHING to stop coronavirus spreading, top WHO doctor warns Trump's European travel ban will do little to help the US combat coronavirus and may actually help the disease spread by giving people a false sense of security, a top doctor has warned. Margaret Harris, with the World Health Organisation, said that while travel bans are useful in the early stages of an outbreak, they are of little use when the disease starts spreading freely within communities - as it has in the US. Rather than focus efforts on closing borders, she urged countries including the US to stop the spread within their own borders by rapidly testing people for the virus and ensuring they get appropriate treatment. Meanwhile the EU Commission said it 'disapproved' of Trump's decision, which was taken without consultation leading to confusion over how it would be implemented. European leaders stressed that cooperation rather than unilateral action is needed to combat a global pandemic. The UK, which was given an exemption from the ban alongside Ireland, said that there is little evidence to support the theory that travel bans are effective against pandemics. Advertisement

Another two elderly patients were confirmed to have been killed by the virus yesterday, taking the death toll in the UK to eight.

A Briton has also died from coronavirus during a luxury family holiday in Bali. The 59-year-old had been staying at the five-star Four Seasons hotel.

Her husband was in hospital under observation yesterday, while her four children were in quarantine. She reportedly had several underlying health conditions, including diabetes, chronic lung disease and hypertension.

The deaths came as the WHO warned some countries had been complacent over the outbreak as it upgraded its status to that of a pandemic.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director-general, said he had been calling for 'urgent and aggressive action' on a daily basis, adding: '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.'

Dr Ghebreyesus said some countries were struggling with a 'lack of resources'  but others had shown a 'lack of resolve'.

The WHO's declaration is a recognition that the outbreak has spread across multiple countries beyond initial predictions. Its official definition of a pandemic is 'an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people'.

Until now, ministers in Britain have been trying to contain the spread of the virus but they now accept this is impossible.

Instead, they will focus on delaying the peak of the epidemic to the spring or summer, which would be less disastrous timing for the NHS.

Officials are also hoping to 'flatten the peak'  reducing the number of patients infected at any one time, to lessen the impact on hospitals. They remain reluctant to close schools as they are concerned that many doctors and nurses will be forced to stay at home to look after their children.

Despite this, some schools are considering extending their Easter holidays by an extra week on each side  meaning the two-week break would be lengthened to four.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock re-iterated yesterday that the Government had 'no plans for a mass closure of schools'. Addressing the Commons, he said: 'Of course individual schools sometimes will be advised to be closed, but because one of the saving graces of this virus is that it doesn't have a big impact on children, it means there are fewer benefits to closing schools.'

He also stressed that Parliament would remain open despite his own health minister becoming one of the latest cases.

'The ability to hold the Government to account and to legislate are as vital in a time of emergency as in normal times,' he said. 'Our democracy is the foundation of our way of life.'

Mr Hancock also said he wanted to 'get his hands on' as many additional frontline NHS staff as possible, including retired doctors, trainee nurses and medical nurses. He added that special advice would be issued to care homes later this week which could lead to visitors being banned or restricted.

Britons could even be advised to self-isolate even if they have the mildest of symptoms  such as a cough or cold  as suggested by Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty earlier this week.

A Whitehall source said: 'The health experts will present a set of options on what we could do, the benefits of each and the disruption they would cause.'

Q&A: WHAT IS THE US'S TRAVEL BAN? WHO WILL BE BANNED FROM ENTERING THE US? US President Donald Trump said any foreign citizens who have been to a country in the European Schengen zone within the past two weeks will not be allowed to enter the United States. This applies to people who have been to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. US citizens, their immediate family members, and people who are legal permanent residents are not included in the ban and will still be allowed into the country. People travelling from the UK will be able to fly into the US as usual  as long as they haven't been to an EU country  because Britain is not in the free movement area. Americans who are travelling back from the affected areas will be funnelled through select airports where they will go through 'enhanced screening procedures'. WHAT DID DONALD TRUMP SAY? In a speech broadcast from the White House, President Trump said: 'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.' 'The virus will not have a chance against us  no nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States,' he said. 'This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history... I will always put the well-being of America first.' A statement from the US Department of Homeland Security added: 'While these new travel restrictions will be disruptive to some travelers, this decisive action is needed to protect the American public from further exposure to the potentially deadly coronavirus. 'In January and February, the Administration issued similar travel restrictions on individuals who had been in China and Iran. 'That action proved to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus to the US, while public health officials prepared.' WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO FALL FOUL OF THE RULE? The travel ban will come into force tomorrow, Friday March 1. It is not yet clear what will happen to people who have already booked flights from Europe to the US. Anyone who decides to travel in violation of the new law is expected to be turned away at either their departure airport or at the US border when they land. It is not known whether the US will quarantine people who demand to enter the US or simply force them to fly home. The Department of Homeland Security said it will issue more details about how the rule will be enforced by Friday. HOW BAD IS THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION IN THE US? At least 1,315 people in the US have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and 38 have died. 44 states are known to have infections, with Washington the worst affected (373 cases, 30 deaths), followed by California (177 cases, 4 deaths), Colorado (34 cases) and Florida (29 cases, 4 deaths). No dramatic measures have been put in place nationwide, but some states are making moves ahead of the government. Ohio has limited large gatherings and ordered schools to temporarily close for deep cleaning and so that staff have time to plan for longer-term shutdowns. All 12 of Florida's universities are closing their dormitories and presenting classes online. In Wisconsin, all residents have been told to avoid all non-essential travel. Oregon and California have banned gatherings of more than 250 people, with smaller gatherings only permitted if people are able to stay six feet apart. Washington state has adopted similar rules and has closed all schools in Seattle, with 50,000 children told to stay at home. Advertisement

'People started to roll in like a wave': American tourists desperate to flee Europe descend on Barcelona airport amid chaos and confusion over Trump's travel ban

Panic has ensued as American tourists and students tried catch the earliest flight home from Europe after President Donald Trump stopped all travel from the continent to the United States.

Hundreds of tourists, confused as to whether they will be let back home and face quarantine, rushed to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain, after Trump announced a 30-day travel restriction to start this Friday to slow the progression of the coronavirus.

Tourists from the U.S., who were left shrouded in confusion by the details of the proposal, scrambled to the Spanish airport in the early hours of Thursday morning uncertain about how the ban would impact their attempts to fly back home.

With President Trump declaring the ban would come into effect at 'midnight' on Friday, confusion reigned over exactly how it would be implemented - including how the cut-off would apply across time zones and which routes Americans would be allowed to use to get home.

Questions also remained as to whether travelers returning from Europe would face screening or quarantine.

American tourists were seen rushing to El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain, after Trump announced a 30-day travel ban to start on Friday

The State Department also warned Americans against all non-essential travel abroad, raising the prospect of mandatory quarantines and further bans that could leave people stranded.

CNN reported that all travelers returning from Europe would face mandatory quarantine, though did not make it clear where that information came from.

Sharing footage of the chaotic scenes, American passenger Michael Bjork, 22, from Dinkytown, Minnesota, who was scheduled to fly back home next week, took to Twitter to write: '4:30 AM @ El Prat Airport.

'Literally all American tourists and students in here fleeing Barcelona after Trump's travel ban pray for us.'

Speaking to MailOnline Mr Bjork, a student at the University of Minnesota, said: 'I woke up from WhatsApp call from my dad explaining the situation. My dad has been nervous about this holiday for a couple of weeks. I simply told him I would figure it out in the morning.

'Then I proceeded to get the exact same call from my mother demanding I return to the U.S. immediately. After maybe a minute of deliberation I decided to wake up the three other people staying with me at the Airbnb and inform them of it.

'We decided it would be best to go immediately to the airport to try and move our flights.'

'We got to the airport fairly quickly whilst it was still open. We woke up about 2am and were there by 3.30am.

'People started to roll in like a wave. Almost all Americans and lots of students. Some here on spring break like my group and others studying here for the semester.'

He added: 'Most people were very confused on what exactly the travel ban meant and honestly we're still a bit confused on the rules. At first we thought we had till Friday to get back home but now it's possible just for foreign nationals?

'It seemed like a deceiving announcement that was poorly communicated by our government and a bit quick.

'Glad to see action is being taken to prevent the spread of the illness but the government scared so many Americans to buying a absurdly priced plane tickets and cluster the airport where the virus could spread more.'

According to Trump's travel ban, American citizens will be able to get back into the country once the ban is implemented and can fly directly from Europe while UK travelers can fly to the US only if they fly direct and cannot fly via Europe.

Once the ban is enforced it is yet unknown which airlines will cancel their flights and how this will impact U.S citizens trying to get back.

It is also unclear if pilots and crews from European airlines will be exempt and be able to get into the U.S.

As an atmosphere of confusion prevails, travel commentators have said it is a chaotic and confusing time for U.S passengers and until airlines reveal what their flying schedules will be, it is unclear how they will be able to travel back from Europe.

Tourists scrambled to the Spanish airport on Thursday morning in a desperate attempt to fly back home

The panic came after Donald Trump addressed the Nation from the Oval Office about the widening crisis of the coronavirus on Wednesday

Nicky Kevin, Director of Content at TPG UK, said: 'Yes, there will be some chaos (and confusion) and no-one knows yet whether airlines will cancel flights (which  unless there is dispensation for crew, all non U.S. airlines will have to cancel as e.g. Lufthansa's pilots and crews won't be able to get into the U.S. as it stands.)

'Whilst airlines could fly the crew straight back, once we are over the initial 'evacuation' (there has been a lot of stories of Americans rushing back to the US last night and Europeans back to Europe), there will be close to zero demand/appetite to travel.

'The actual order/rules say that American citizens are exempt so they will be able to return home (it's banning citizens from the listed countries from entry) though the means may not be there to do so.

'And yes, theoretically, the way to potentially overcome this is to route via London anyway. I have copied text below from the Department of Homeland Security. The actual proclamation goes into more detail to say spouses and children of Americans are also exempt.'

Blogger, One Mile At A Time, wrote: 'My gosh, these are unprecedented times. These are all the details we know so far, so I'm sure we'll learn more about the logistics soon.

'But does this mean all flights between Europe and the US will be canceled, with the exception of flights from the UK? Will there be flights from other points in Europe for US citizens? How will US citizens be screened?

'Does this just ban flights from most points in Europe to the US, or does it ban European citizens altogether? In other words, could Europeans choose to fly to the US via Canada? Is there any restriction on non-Europeans who have been in Europe in the past couple of weeks otherwise?'

And Aviation blogger and frequent flier Gilbert Ott, who runs the God Save The Points flight tips site, said the Trump ban would mean 'pandemonium for Americans'.

Meanwhile consumer choice company Which? added that even though the UK is not included in the travel ban, it could still have implications for Brits travelling to the U.S.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: 'The US travel ban means travelers from the UK on connecting flights via Amsterdam, Paris and other popular European hubs will also be denied entry.

'It's vital that airlines provide clear information and support to passengers due to travel and those already in the US - and that they offer options such as refunds, re-routing or rebooking if flights are cancelled.

'To avoid a repeat of the situation that left travellers stuck in Italy, affected airlines should not be flying passengers out to the US ahead of the ban if they will be left stranded once the restriction comes into force on Friday.'

Rory Boland also tweeted: 'It's nearly 10 hours since the US announced its planned ban on Schengen visitors. This will affect thousands of UK travellers.

'Yet again, like with Italy before, the FCO has done nothing to update its advice. If travellers are to trust it, the advice must be quickly updated.

'While the UK is not included in the #travelban on visitors from Europe to the US, UK holidaymakers will still face significant disruption. It bans anyone who has been in a Schengen country in the past 14 days, so those with flights via Amsterdam, Paris etc won't be allowed entry.

'The communication has been so poor, despite the fact it affects millions of people and will potentially put many businesses into bankruptcy.

'I suppose they could check all passports for previous travel on arrival in the US, but the queues would be huge.'

American Airlines has said it is working closely with the U.S authorities to comply with the new order and is giving its customers rebooking options.

While United has said they will comply with the announcement and Delta will make adjustments to their service as needed.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'Following the U.S. government's announcement, we are working through exactly what this means for passengers travelling through Heathrow.

'We continue to work closely with Government, Public Health England, Border Force, and airlines to ensure the safety of our passengers, colleagues and the wider UK. Further guidance will be provided shortly and passengers should check Heathrow.com for any updates.'

Adam Ewart, CEO of Send My Bag, said: 'If travelers weren't panicking about COVID-19 before, they certainly are now. After the US announced its ban of all travel from mainland Europe (in the Schengen Area), our orders for luggage to be shipped from Spain to the US has spiked by 800 per cent.

'And those in Spain are not the only ones getting itchy feet  since the beginning of the month, orders for the route from Italy to the States is up over 3,000 per cent compared to the same time last year.

'As the borders go up, travellers, business people and perhaps even expats are clearly getting their ducks in a row to leave areas with higher cases of infections as soon as they can.

'The travel ban does not impact the shipping of goods, so our luggage shipping service will continue as usual.

'We're continuing to monitor the situation closely to make sure those stuck in areas affected by the virus get all the travel support they need - particularly as we're expecting to see further spikes from other European nations over the weekend.'
To keep our community informed of the most urgent coronavirus news, The San Francisco Chronicles critical updates are free to read. Ongoing coverage is available to subscribers. Subscribe now for full access and to support our work. For regular updates on our coverage, sign up for our coronavirus newsletter here.

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Whats open? Whats closed? | Transit | School closures | Touching surfaces

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For weeks, the staff of The Chronicle has been working to provide our readers with as much useful news and information as possible about the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Declared a global pandemic, the virus is expected to spread farther across the U.S. and the world.

To help Bay Area residents understand and protect themselves, we have compiled this guide to some of the most important facts we have been able to gather and verify about the virus and its impacts. Heres what you should know:

What is the new coronavirus?

The new coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, is part of a large family of such viruses. Two other kinds of coronaviruses are known to cause the potentially fatal illnesses  SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). Coronaviruses also cause very mild illness and are thought to be responsible for 10% to 30% of all common colds.

Read more about the science of the coronavirus: young people not impervious, how rate of infection compares to other diseases, and more.

What are the symptoms?

Todd Trumbull

Symptoms can vary, but the main ones are fever and cough, plus shortness of breath as the illness progresses. People with COVID-19 tend not to have runny noses and sinus congestion or gastrointestinal issues that often come along with influenza.

Coronavirus or not? What to do if symptoms show up

How does it spread?

Like the flu, COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory illness, but it is caused by a different virus. Both are spread by droplets that are expelled with sneezes and coughs. People who are sick should cough or sneeze into their arm or a tissue, not into their hands. They should also stay home and avoid being around other people. Most people become infected by touching their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands because thats the easiest way for viruses to enter the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that Americans wear face coverings in public  using scarves, bandanas or other nonmedical cloths  while saving N95 respirator masks for health care workers.

How dangerous is it?

About 80% of people who have contracted the virus do not need to be hospitalized, according to large studies of cases in China. About 14% become severely ill and 5% critically ill. Those most at risk of becoming seriously ill are over age 50 or have underlying health problems, such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, or have weakened immune systems.

What should I do if I have symptoms?

If your condition is not urgent, contact your doctor or an urgent care clinic. Call ahead in case they need to redirect you to another medical center or emergency room. If your health care provider uses telemedicine, such as video chatting, you may want to consider that to avoid potentially exposing others. Also, many counties have set up special phone lines for coronavirus inquiries from the public; your county public health department should have this information online.

If you believe your symptoms are urgent and you need to go to the ER, try to call ahead so that health care providers are prepared to isolate you and take other precautions to protect you and other patients when you arrive.

How can I get tested?

Individuals can request a test for coronavirus, but doctors and public health authorities will decide whether thats appropriate.

The Chronicle has heard from a number of Bay Area residents expressing frustration about delays, red tape and conflicting information on whether, where and how they can get tested. Some are showing symptoms of fever, dry cough and shortness of breath, and are in high-risk groups based on their age (50 and above) and chronic health conditions.

Here is a list of Bay Area locations where testing is available, who can get it and the conditions that must be met to get tested. Most require a doctors order.

All providers emphasize that because of a nationwide shortage, tests are limited and are being prioritized for the sickest and highest-risk patients. The amount of time it takes to get results back varies depending on if the test is being processed in-house, which is faster, or sent to a lab at another location, which takes longer. The test entails taking a sample from a patient, which can be uncomfortable because a swab has to go up the nose or down the throat.

Is there a vaccine?

Not yet. Development and testing of a vaccine could take a year or more.

What is the treatment? Is there a cure?

There is no specific treatment for a COVID-19 infection. Those with symptoms should rest, drink fluids, take a fever suppressant as needed and not go to work or school. Older people and those with underlying health problems should check with their doctors at the onset of symptoms and watch carefully for complications. At the hospital, patients can get oxygen if they have trouble breathing, and those who can no longer breathe on their own may need a ventilator. People with less severe cases may receive fluids and medication to lower fevers.

A potential treatment  Gilead's drug remdesivir  is in a clinical trial, which is expected to report results in April. Even if the trial is successful, however, it could still be months before it is available for widespread use.

How many people in the Bay Area and California have it?

The numbers are changing every day. For the latest numbers as well as data on testing and a look at how cases have changed over time, go to The Chronicles Coronavirus Map.

What were the first Bay Area COVID-19 cases?

The first case was reported in Santa Clara County on Jan. 31. The earliest cases were in people who had recently been to China, who had close contact with someone already infected, or who had been passengers on the cruise ship Diamond Princess, the source of a large outbreak off the coast of Japan.

The first local case of unknown origin was reported in Solano County on Feb. 26, suggesting the virus was spreading in the community.

What steps can I take to protect myself?

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person to person when people are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth, stop shaking hands, avoid large gatherings and practice social distancing. While a respiratory vaccine like one to prevent pneumonia will not guard against the coronavirus, it can help protect high-risk individuals who could develop pneumonia after falling ill.

Should you wear a mask? Heres the answer.

Are there cleaners that kill coronavirus?

A bar of soap can effectively kill coronavirus when you wash and rinse your hands thoroughly, for a recommended 20 seconds or more. Hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol can be effective, too, but is less recommended than soap and water. For cleaning surfaces, common household products including bleach (four teaspoons in a quart of water), solutions with at least 70% alcohol, hydrogen peroxide (3%) and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants are effective. Wearing gloves is highly recommended.

What is social distancing, and why is it important?

Todd Trumbull

Social distancing measures are meant to slow the spread of diseases like COVID-19 that are believed to be circulating in the community but not yet widespread. These include self-isolating (staying home), avoiding large crowds, restricting travel and keeping a distance from others in general. Other recommendations include canceling large gatherings, such as concerts and sporting events, as many localities and organizations have done, and closing schools as needed. Authorities goal is to ensure that hospitals are not overwhelmed with critically ill patients.

Coronavirus social distancing, quarantine, self-isolation: What does it mean?

The Bay Area has been ordered to stay at home. What does that mean?

All counties in the Bay Area have ordered residents to shelter in place, and most have extended the order at least through May 3 as health officials struggle to keep the coronavirus from spreading across the region.

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.

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all Californians on March 19 to stay home and leave only for essential trips, mirroring the directives that local health officials already had in place. The state order does not supersede the local directives.

Todd Trumbull

Counties have shut down all but the most critical operations, according to the health orders. Places that attract clusters of people, like gyms, nightclubs or bars, have closed. Restaurants must serve only take-out or delivery orders. Hospitals, grocery stores, banks and pharmacies remain open.

All nonessential gatherings of any size are now banned.

People are still able to leave their homes to handle essential business in limited circumstances  like buying groceries or picking up medicine  and to get fresh air. But when people do need to leave their homes, health officials are requiring they maintain at least 6 feet from other individuals and that they wash their hands for at least 20 seconds as often as possible. Theyre also calling on people to cover their coughs and sneezes and avoid shaking hands.

More info on going outdoors: Shelter-in-place requires social distancing in the outdoors

What precautions are being taken in health care settings?

Patients are being advised to call before going to any medical office, including emergency rooms, so that health care providers can take appropriate precautions.

Health care workers treating suspected COVID-19 patients must wear gloves, hospital gowns, eye protection such as goggles or a face shield, and use an N95 mask or respirator. They must report the patient to the county health department and collect samples for testing, according to the CDC.

Whom can I contact for more information?

The California Department of Public Health can be reached by phone at 1-800-852-7550. Ask for the duty officer.

Contact information for every local health department in California can be found here.

Is there financial help available?

The president signed a relief package including two weeks of paid sick leave, up to three months of paid family and medical leave, enhanced unemployment benefits, free virus testing, additional food aid and funds for Medicaid.

San Francisco has said it will fund five additional days of paid sick leave during the crisis for private-sector workers who have exhausted their own.

California workers may be eligible for a range of benefits, including paid sick leave, paid family leave, unemployment insurance and state disability insurance. The states Work Sharing Program lets employers reduce employees hours and wages, which can be partially offset with unemployment insurance.

For more on these and other programs administered by the state Employment Development Department, go here.

Official information about the rights and responsibilities of California employees and employers in light of COVID-19 can be found here.

For a detailed Q&A from Chronicle reporters on the financial help available, click here.

How can I help?

For a list of organizations that need donations and volunteer time, click here.

How did the coronavirus get started?

Chinese health officials alerted the World Health Organization about a growing number of cases of pneumonia caused by an unidentified virus in the city of Wuhan in late December. The new coronavirus was identified about two weeks after that.

Coronaviruses can cross over from animals to humans. The virus that causes SARS is believed to have passed from bats to civets and then to humans, and the MERS virus was linked to camels. But scientists have not yet determined the source of the new coronavirus.

When will this be over?

Thats not clear. Other coronaviruses, such as those that cause the common cold, tend to be seasonal  which means the virus could wane in the summer, though even if that happens it could still return in the fall. The coronavirus that caused SARS appears to have disappeared about a year after it was identified in 2004. Its too soon to say what will happen with the new coronavirus. But local and state restrictions are likely to be eased only gradually, with the goal of avoiding a second wave of infections, and the world will need to be on continous watch until the virus is stamped out or a vaccine is developed.

Read: Will Californias shelter in place work to slow the coronavirus pandemic?

 Researched and edited by Chronicle staff. Graphics by Todd Trumbull, John Blanchard and Tam Duong
PARIS  A Las Vegas wedding with an Elvis impersonator: Canceled. A 3,500-kilometer (2,200-mile) trans-America road trip, a voyage of a lifetime that took months to prepare: On ice, too.

The travel ban announced by U.S. President Donald Trump to try to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus threw Europeans best-laid plans  family reunions, birthday celebrations, vacations, trips for both business and pleasure  into utter disarray Thursday.

For Europeans brought up on imports of American television, music, sports and fast food, the idea of suddenly becoming unwelcome on the other side of the Atlantic for 30 days from midnight on Friday was also a psychological shock, akin to being spurned by an old and familiar friend.

We were going to get married in Las Vegas, with Elvis. It was going to be epic, said Sandrine Reynaert, a Parisian who was having to cancel the ceremony on April 20, a date that Gael, her future husband, already has engraved on the inside of his ring.

Its strange, she said of the travel ban. Perhaps an overreaction compared to the epidemic.

Reynaert said shed take a day off work Friday to devote herself to canceling or adjusting reservations, unraveling the road trip that, as well as Las Vegas, would have taken them to other iconic spots of Americana: Route 66, Joshua Tree National Park, the Grand Canyon.

Likewise, retired French teacher Jean-Michel Deaux spent months planning the 3,500-kilometer (2,200-mile) trans-America road trip that has now evaporated just when it was within touching distance, with a flight into New Orleans that had been booked for March 24.

The March-May voyage with his wife, Christiane, would have taken them through multiple states, on a giant loop. They planned to follow in the footsteps of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French aristocrat who fought with American colonists against the British. They wanted to see Amish communities in Pennsylvania, take in music in Memphis and ride a boat on the Mississippi. They even bought extra suitcases to carry gifts and souvenirs back to France.

Weve been preparing this trip for years, Jean-Michel Deaux said. It was going to be a pilgrimage.

Ive been studying the maps every night, he added. I had already pictured myself on the boat.

That Trump chose not to apply the travel ban to the United Kingdom baffled, even angered, some European neighbors of the British. With nearly 600 confirmed infections, Britain has more coronavirus cases than all but nine of the 26 European countries hit by Trumps ban, making the new restrictions confusing and seemingly arbitrary to some.

Typical Trump. Its mindless We cant leave from Europe, only from Great Britain, its nonsense, said Emmanuel Philippart, a would-be traveler at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, wrestling over whether to cancel his flight to New York, for fear that he might not be able to return to France.

Travelers hung on phone-holds for what seemed eternities and repeatedly hit refresh on websites in hopes of changing or reimbursing tickets, canceling hotels, and recovering deposits.

My mood is pretty low, said Matias Rietig, a student from Berlin whose plans to start a sought-after internship on March 31 at tech firm Cisco in California collapsed.

In Paris, accountant Aude-Claire Trost was actually relieved that the ban was kicking in before she had been due to fly Saturday to San Francisco, to audit a French firms U.S. subsidiaries.

I was scared about getting sick in the plane, getting a fever and then being put in quarantine, she said.

Trump announced the ban in a rare Oval Office address to the nation Wednesday night. He sought to be upbeat, declaring: The virus will not have a chance against us.

More than 4,700 people have died worldwide. Most people have only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, though symptoms can be severe, including pneumonia, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. Recovery for mild cases takes about two weeks, while more severe illness may take three to six weeks, the World Health Organization says. More than three-fourths of patients in China, where the virus started, have recovered.

Paris lawyer Thomas Devred didnt wait for Trumps decree to cancel his trip to Boston planned for later this month. Mindful of the risk that, as a European, he might be a possible spreader, Devred said he decided that out of respect for others and a civic duty that he would not cross the Atlantic.

Private jet brokers in Europe reported a surge in demand Thursday from wealthy Americans scrambling to get home.

All of a sudden theyre thinking But I would rather not be quarantined when I arrive, so theyre jumping on the planes, said Eymeric Segard, CEO of Geneva-based LunaJets.

Others flocked to commercial airports.

Ive been hysterical for two days, so a complete panic attack about getting home, said Helen Neumann from Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, who was flying to Boston on a direct flight from Rome on Thursday. I was like, Ive got to get out of here.

But for many Europeans, the prospect of a breakfast in America, of waking up in Vegas, or living a fairytale in New York evaporated with smartphone alerts and harried overnight trans-Atlantic phone calls after Trump spoke.

For Reynaert, it meant postponing her Elvis wedding in Vegas to next year.

We didnt want to do something conventional in France, she said.

Deaux said hed try to reschedule his voyage for later this year, in hopes the virus passes.

When I heard this morning, I was very disappointed but not surprised, he said. All the preparations, ruined.

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Associated Press journalists Alex Turnbull and Nicholas Garriga in Paris, Karl Ritter in Rome, Kirsten Grieshaber and Kelvin Chan in London 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.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
China on Thursday said the peak of the novel coronavirus in the country is over but its success in controlling the deadly disease has become complicated due to a global surge in the COVID-19 cases.

In China, new cases keep declining and the overall epidemic situation remains at a low level, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), told the media here.

Mi's remarks came a day after the World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic."



Mi said the number of new confirmed cases in Wuhan, the capital of the worst-hit Hubei province, has dropped to a single digit, with just eight new infections reported on Wednesday. Only seven new cases were reported on the Chinese mainland outside Hubei, but six were imported from overseas.

Among the 11 new deaths on Wednesday, 10 were in Hubei and one in Shaanxi province.

Wuhan confirmed the appearance of a new virus in December. But the government started acting only from January 23 when it locked down Hubei province and its capital Wuhan with over 50 million people.

By the time over five million residents of the city left for holidays to different parts of China and the world to celebrate the new year.

The highly contagious virus quickly spread, with daily cases peaking at over 15,000 on February 12.

China mobilised the whole country's resources to contain the virus. Cities were locked down, experts and supplies sent to the epicentre, and hundreds of millions of people across the country stayed at home for weeks to enforce social distancing.

By this week, normalcy has been steadily returning to China with many provinces and regions lowering their emergency responses, many businesses resuming operation and 87 per cent of the country's entry and exit authorities having resumed service by Thursday, state run Xinhua agency reported.

The top priority now, Mi said, should be given to treating patients and vowed no relaxation or loose efforts in the epidemic prevention and control work.

But China's good is complicated by rapidly developing situations around the world, the Xinhua report said.

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday said the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a "pandemic."



There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the number is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.

The WHO's characterization of the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic" was to call on its members once again to make further political commitment and put in more resources to turn things around in the battle against the disease, Mi said.

Mi said China is paying close attention to the current rapid global spread of the epidemic, and will continue to strengthen cooperation with the WHO and relevant countries to contribute to the global viral fight.

Chinese respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan said China's experience and lessons over the past two months can help the world reduce the spread and deadliness of the outbreak.

If most countries act like China, he said, the global COVID-19 pandemic could be brought under control by June.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) walks through Statuary Hall to the House Chamber for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Sen. Rick Scott Goes Into Quarantine Over Possible Contact With Brazilian Coronavirus Case

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) is going into self-quarantine over possible contact with a member of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros delegation who later tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Fabio Wajngarten, Bolsonaros communications director, tested positive for the virus, Brazil said on Thursday.

Scott said his office was told of the news, prompting the decision to go into isolation and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes.

On Monday, I met with the President in Miami, and while I do not believe I interacted with the infected person, that individual was in the same room as me, Scott said.

Doctors told him that he didnt need to be tested or go into quarantine but he chose to go into isolation in an abundance of caution, he said in a statement.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, right, sits next to Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), at the Brazil-USA Business Relations Seminar in Florida at the Hilton Miami Downtown, in Miami, Florida on March 9, 2020. (Zak Bennett/AFP via Getty Images)

I am feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms at this time, he said. I will still be working on my plan to combat Coronavirus and protect American families.

Scotts offices in Washington and Florida will stay open.

There are 100 senators in the United States, or two per state. Scott is the second senator to go into isolation over possible contact with a COVID-19 patient. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was isolated at his house after an attendee of last months Conservative Political Action Conference tested positive.

Other lawmakers, including Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) also went into quarantine after attending the conference.

None have tested positive for the virus. Some, including Cruz, closed their Washington offices for the time being.

Another lawmaker, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), closed her office after a staff member tested positive for the virus, the first known case on Capitol Hill.

President Donald Trump, who spent time with Bolsonaros delegation, told reporters on Thursday that he wasnt worried about Wajngarten testing positive.

Lets put it this way, Im not concerned, he said.

President Donald Trump, center, speaks with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, left, during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 7, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

We had dinner together in Florida at Mar-a-Lago with the entire delegation, Trump added. I dont know if the press aide was there. If he was there, he was there. But, we did nothing very unusual. We sat next to each other for a period of time, had a great conversation. Well find out what happens.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that the White House was aware of the reports that a member of Bolsonaros delegation tested positive. To reiterate CDC guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine, she said.

A picture Wajngarten posted on Instagram showed him standing near Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, the head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

The White House said earlier this week that Trump hasnt been tested for COVID-19 because he has neither had prolonged close contact with any known confirmed COVID-19 patients nor does he have any symptoms.

Bolsonaros communications office said on Thursday that Bolsonaro was taking precautions to try to prevent contracting the illness himself. Wajngarten said in a statement that he is feeling fine. Hes in isolation at home.

According to a Brazilian paper, Bolsonaro was being tested Thursday, with results expected Friday.
Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was admitted to hospital after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

According to his spokesperson, the 67-year-old and wheelchair-bound producer was back in Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital for his "ongoing heart problems and chest pains".

Weinstein was suffering from chest pains and medical staff at Rikers Island decided to he went to Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in the US, barely six days after he left the same facility.

"Mr. Weinstein is being taken to Bellevue Hospital Ward to treat him for his ongoing heart problems and chest pains," a spokesperson for the Oscar-winning producer told Deadline.

Weinstein was discharged from Bellevue on March 5. He was then shifted to Rikers' North Infirmary Command, where he had undergone mild surgery just a few days beforehand for a blockage in his heart.

"In addition a complication related to his back surgery is going to be evaluated. We are incredibly appreciative of the level of care and attention the NYC Dept. of Corrections is showing regarding Mr. Weinstein's medical condition and we are hopeful he will be held overnight for observation given his recent heart procedure less than a week ago and his ongoing medical issues," the spokesperson for the producer added.

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.
[March 12, 2020] Computer science education bill wins approval in Mississippi House of Representatives

JACKSON, Miss., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A bill championed by C Spire that would give elementary, middle and high school students in Mississippi access to computer science curriculum in the classroom won overwhelming approval Wednesday from the Mississippi House of Representatives. HB 1165 by Rep. Richard Bennett, R-Long Beach, to bring computer science education to the state's 884 public and charter K-12 schools by the 2023-2024 school year, was approved 114-2 by the 122-member House a day before the deadline for floor action on the legislation during the 2020 session. Earlier this month, a companion bill, SB 2284 by State Senator Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi, did not receive a hearing or vote in the Senate Education Committee by the March 3 deadline. With the House's action as a guide, supporters are now hopeful the Senate will reconsider its position and back efforts calling for computer science education in all public K-12 schools. "We appreciate the leadership of House Speaker Philip Gunn, House Education Committee Chairman Richard Bennett and the House for taking action on such an important issue," said C Spire President and CEO Hu Meena. "Because of their action, the lives of hundreds of thousands of Mississippi school-age children have the potential to be improved with computer science." The next stop for the bill will be the Mississippi State Senate, which has until the end of the month (March 31) for committee consideration and approval of a companion measure. If that occurs, the 52 Senate members will have until April 8 to decide the legislation's fate by bringing a proposal to the Senate floor for a final vote. Meena said Missssippi Gov. Tate Reeves, business leaders, teachers, school superintendents and thousands of voters have responded to the company's comprehensive grassroots online, social media, TV, radio and letter writing campaign begun last month to encourage state lawmakers to promote a stronger computer science foundation in the state.



The letters, which reached all 174 state lawmakers, cited countless examples of how computer science will enhance education and job opportunities for students so they can pursue their hopes and dreams for success in life. "People really understand and embrace the importance of this moment for our state's future," Meena said. "Getting computer science in all Mississippi classrooms represents a tremendous opportunity to give our young people exposure to the fundamentals necessary for their success in the new 21st century digital economy," Meena said, noting that computer science teaches critical thinking, computational and problem solving skills that benefit all students.

C Spire has worked closely with lawmakers to refine the legislation that would help make computer science available in all schools fully by the 2023-2024 academic year. Many districts and schools have made progress and will not need to make changes while others will need to boost teacher training and update courses to the latest curriculum. "We're committed to helping all of our schools overcome any barriers that might stand in the way of offering computer science in classrooms," Meena said, adding that C Spire is offering to help identify solutions for more teacher training and distance learning. Today, only 47 percent of the state's high schools teach computer science. C Spire has been heavily involved in efforts to promote computer science education in Mississippi, investing over $3 million since 2015 in coding challenges, coding academies, pilot accelerated degree programs and other efforts designed to inspire and encourage students to consider pursuing academic degrees or professional careers in science, technology, engineering and math-related fields. The grassroots computer science education campaign is part of the C Spire Tech Movement designed to move communities forward with a focus on broadband access, workforce development and technology innovation. To learn more about the need for computer science education in K-12 classrooms or to get involved in the "Mississippi's Future Can't Wait" campaign, text FUTURE to 50457 or go to www.ourMSfuture.com. About C Spire

C Spire is a diversified telecommunications and technology services company that provides world-class, customer-inspired wireless communications, 1 Gigabit consumer Internet access as well as a full suite of dedicated Internet, wireless, IP Voice, data and cloud services for businesses. This news release and other announcements are available at www.cspire.com/news. For more information about C Spire, visit www.cspire.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cspire or Twitter at www.twitter.com/cspire. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/computer-science-education-bill-wins-approval-in-mississippi-house-of-representatives-301022366.html SOURCE C Spire

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A 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi in Karnataka who died on March 10 night has been confirmed positive for coronavirus, Karnataka Health Department Commissioner said, according to news agency ANI.

This is the first virus-linked death in India.

"Contact tracing, isolation and other measures are being taken. Telangana government has also been informed as he went to a hospital there," the commissioner said, according to the news agency.

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.

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.

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 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.
Researchers at UC Berkeley and the University of Arizona, among other institutions, plan to move automated vehicles out of the lab and onto roadways for fuel savings.

University of Arizona electrical and computer engineering researchers are collaborating on a multi-institution project that uses connected and autonomous vehicle technology to smooth traffic and decrease fuel consumption. The project, funded through a U.S. Department of Energy $3.5 million cooperative research agreement, aims to demonstrate for the first time in real traffic that using intelligent control of a small number of connected and automated vehicles can improve the energy efficiency of all vehicles in the flow by reducing the effects of congestion.

ECE's Jonathan Sprinkle, Litton Industries John M. Leonis Distinguished Associate Professor, and professor Roman Lysecky are principal investigators for the University of Arizona's $875,000 portion of the grant.

"More and more passenger vehicles come with features that automate some driving tasks," said Sprinkle. "New advancements in machine learning are showing how small changes to those features can work to address societal-scale challenges, such as the amount of fuel spent while sitting in stop-and-go traffic during a daily commute."

Alexandre Bayen, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, is leading the project.

"We are very excited to lead this project and contribute to relieving the negative impacts of congestion and dependence on fuel," said Bayen.

The project is a continuation of the research team's prior work, which introduced an autonomous car into a traffic circle to calm stop-and-go traffic waves, resulting in smoother flow and significantly reduced fuel consumption.

In previous field experiments funded by the National Science Foundation on a single-lane track, fuel consumption decreased up to 40%. With more complex traffic conditions, including vehicles with drivers, researchers estimate that automating fewer than 5% of vehicles in the traffic flow will result in a greater than 10% energy gain.

Also on the research team are Benedetto Piccoli, Lopez Chair Professor of mathematical sciences at Rutgers University, Camden; Benjamin Seibold, associate professor of mathematics at Temple University; Daniel Work, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Vanderbilt University; and Brad Freeze, director of traffic operations at the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

The project is part of $59 million the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Office has allocated for 43 projects involving research for advanced batteries and electric drive systems, co-optimized engine and fuel technologies, materials for more efficient powertrains, alternative fuels and energy-efficient mobility systems.

"Vehicles drive our national economy," said DOE Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. "At DOE, we support a broad portfolio of technologies, generating the knowledge needed for industry to further develop and commercialize affordable, secure and reliable transportation systems."

In the United States alone, vehicles annually transport 11 billion tons of freight -- more than $35 billion in goods each day -- and move people more than 3 trillion vehicle-miles. The average U.S. household spends nearly a fifth of its total family expenditures on transportation, second only to housing.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted in front of the House Oversight Committee Thursday that Americans are not able to get tested for the coronavirus 'easily' and called it a 'failing.'

'The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it, we're not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes, but we're not,' Fauci said on Capitol Hill. 'That is a failing. It is a failing. Let's admit it,' he also said.

Less than an hour later, President Trump boasted that testing in the U.S. for coronavirus is cases 'is going very smooth.'

Yahoo News reported Thursday that Americans states are, on average, testing fewer than 100 people per day, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had tested just 77 people in the first two days of this week.

Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted Thursday on Capitol Hill that Americans are not 'easily' able to get tested for the coronavirus and called it a 'failing'

Directly after Fauci gave that testimony, President Trump said in the Oval Office that testing for coronavirus is 'going smoothly'

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (left) asked a series of questions about health care professionals not being able to get tested that resulted in Dr. Anthony Fauci's admission (right)

Fauci returned to Capitol Hill Thursday to sit on a panel of experts before the House committee and jumped in to respond to an inquiry by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat, who was prodding Robert Redfield, the DCD director, on who's in charge of green-lighting testing for Americans if they want it.

Wasserman Schultz brought up cases in which healthcare workers, namely nurses, had been denied testing.

Redfield didn't give Wasserman Schultz a direct answer, instead explaining that the CDC's job is to get tests public health labs.

'Its really the engagement of the private sector to get these tests into clinical medicine, which is a partnership between the private sector and CDC,' Redfield explained.

Wasserman Schultz asked, 'Basically you're saying ... there's not one person that can ensure that these tests can be administered? Yes or no?'

Fauci then joined the conversation explaining that the U.S. medical system is not set up in such a way to make widespread testing easy.

'The system is not really geared to what we need right now - what you are asking for,' Fauci said.

Later on in the hearing Fauci also said that patients heading into individual doctors' offices is also not ideal

'The system was geared for the individual doctor-patient, what we're dealing with now transcends that,' Fauci said.

On the other end of Pennsylvania, Trump was presenting the testing issues with a much more positive spin.

'They have a million tests out now. Over the next few days they'll have 4 million tests out,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office as he held a bilateral meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
For decades, the routine treatment for Lyme disease has been standard antibiotics, which usually kill off the infection. But for up to 20% of people with the tick-borne illness, the antibiotics dont work, and lingering symptoms of muscle pain, fatigue and cognitive impairment can continue for years  sometimes indefinitely.

A new Stanford Medicine study in lab dishes and mice provides evidence that the drug azlocillin completely kills off the disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi at the onset of the illness. The study suggests it could also be effective for treating patients infected with drug-tolerant bacteria that may cause lingering symptoms.

This compound is just amazing, said Jayakumar Rajadas, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Biomaterials and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory at the Stanford School of Medicine. It clears the infection without a lot of side effects. We are hoping to repurpose it as an oral treatment for Lyme disease. Rajadas is the senior author of the study, which was published online March 2 in Scientific Reports. The lead author is research associate Venkata Raveendra Pothineni, PhD.

We have been screening potential drugs for six years, Pothineni said. Weve screened almost 8,000 chemical compounds. We have tested 50 molecules in the dish. The most effective and safest molecules were tested in animal models. Along the way, Ive met many people suffering with this horrible, lingering disease. Our main goal is to find the best compound for treating patients and stop this disease.

Hunting for alternative drug

Frustrated by the lack of treatment options for Lyme disease patients with lingering symptoms, Rajadas and his team began hunting for a better alternative in 2011. In 2016, they published a study in Drug Design, Development and Therapy that listed 20 chemical compounds, from about 4,000, that were most effective at killing the infection in mice. All 20 had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for various uses. One, for instance, is used to treat alcohol abuse disorder.
[Read our latest coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in the New York area.]

If there is one thing New Yorkers believe about themselves, its that no one pulls together quite as well during a crisis.

Vigorous hand-washing, staying home, bumping elbows instead of hugging  we got that. But with more than 200 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York and more than 1,110 nationwide, some people are asking if they can do more to help.

Its been so internally focused, Chris Principe, 40, said of the advice he has heard from public officials. Mr. Principe, who lives in Brooklyn and is a video director at the publishing company Conde Nast, said he assumed there would be ways for people to assist others.

That has been a common question, said Kathryn S. Wylde, president and chief executive of the Partnership for New York City, an association of major businesses in New York. But large-scale efforts have been hampered in part by safety concerns. The number of cases has increased, even as the capacity to test for the virus has remained limited, prompting concerns about accidental exposure.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has said he will self-quarantine and be tested for coronavirus after mingling with the Brazilian President and his infected aide at Mar-a-Lago last weekend.

President Donald Trump will learn on Friday whether Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to reports out of Brazil, after the two men dined together at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night and shook hands.

Bolsonaro was checked for the disease after his aide Fabio Wajngarten tested positive for it but South Carolina senator Graham said Thursday he doesn't recall touching the leader or the infected staff member.

'Senator Graham was at Mar-a-Lago last weekend. He has no recollection of direct contact with the President of Brazil, who is awaiting results of a coronavirus test, or his spokesman who tested positive,' Graham's office said in a statement.

'However, in an abundance of caution and upon the advice of his doctor, Senator Graham has decided to self-quarantine awaiting the results of a coronavirus test. This is a precautionary measure. He will continue to work from home.'

Lindsey Graham said he would self-quarantine and be tested for coronavirus on Thursday

A statement said Graham has no recollection of direct contact with Brazilian President (left) who is awaiting coronavirus test results. President Donald Trump will learn on Friday whether Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus; the two men shook hands during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night (pictured)

Graham also said he doesn't recall touching the infected staff member. From left: Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump, and Fabio Wajngarten, the infected communications secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The three men posed for a photo on Saturday at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida

The decision is in an abundance of caution and upon the advice of his doctor, a statement read

A map shows the latest number of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths across the US and how COVID-19 has increased since January

Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida also said that he will self-quarantine after he met with the Brazil delegation, which included Wajngarten.

Senator Scott said in a statement on Thursday that, when he met with the president in Brazil in Miami on Monday, he was in the same room as the Wajngarten.

'While I do not believe I interacted with the infected person, that individual was in the same room as me,' Scott said.

'The embassy said the person had no symptoms leading up to or the day of the conference,' he noted. 'After consulting with the Senate's attending physician and my personal doctor, I have been told that my risk is low, and I don't need to take a test or quarantine.'

He said, however, he would self-quarantine out of 'an abundance of caution.'

'I am feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms at this time,' Scott said.

President Trump, who was photographed standing next to Wajngartenn and Vice President Mike Pence at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night, said Thursday he was 'not concerned' about possibly contracting the virus.

'Let's put it this way: I'm not concerned,' Trump told reporters Thursday while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office.

Sen. Lindsey Graham - with Kimberly Guilfoyle - speaking to dinner guests at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro is seen at the Alvorada Palace, after reports of the coronavirus, accompanied by a man in a surgical mask

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is pictured with his son Eduardo Bolsonaro (center) and an adviser, inside Alvorada Palace in Brasilia

The president hosted his Brazilian counterpart, Bolsonaro (right), for a working dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday

In this March 7, 2020 photo provided by Brazil's presidential press office, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, center, stands with President Donald Trump, second from left, Vice President Mike Pence, right, and Brazil's Communications Director Fabio Wajngarten, behind Trump partially covered, during a dinner in Florida

In this March 7, 2020 photo provided by Brazil's presidential press office, Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, left, and his Communications Director Fabio Wajngarten, second from left, greet an unidentified man during a dinner in Florida

Rudy Giuliani posed with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday

Fabio Wajngarten was at the dinner and birthday party at Mar-a-Lago Saturday night

Several members of the first family were at the Winter White House that night where there was a birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., in addition to the working dinner for the Brazilian delegation.

Wajngarten, who was at the dinner and the birthday party, tested positive for the virus, setting off a chain of events on Thursday, including a test for his boss. Brazil has 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus and zero deaths thus far.

The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald reported Bolsonaro took the test: 'The result should be ready. But the presidential palace is now saying the result will only be released Friday, which likely means he had a second test, and that one takes longer,' he wrote on Twitter.

A columnist for the newspaper, Monica Bergamo, said Wajngarten was tested for coronavirus at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

His test result was positive, multiple news outlets reported.

In the photo he posted on Instagram from the Saturday night events at Mar-a-Lago, Wajngarten is standing next to Trump wearing a 'Make Brazil great again' cap.

Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.

In addition to the working dinner at Mar-a-Lago, there was a birthday party for Guilfoyle, attended by several members of the first family and many Trump allies.

Spotted at the lavish bash: Donald Trump Jr., her boyfriend of almost two years; Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump; Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner; Tiffany Trump; Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney; Republican Senator Lindsey Graham; and Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson was also there as was National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien; Senator Rand Pauls Deputy Chief of Staff Sergio Gor, Fox News Jesse Watters and his wife Emma Watters; and new acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.

Senator Rick Scott (left), the Republican from Florida, is seen next to Bolsonaro at a seminar in Miami on Monday.

Scott is seen shaking hands with Bolsonaro at the event. Scott announced on Thursday that he will self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro joined President Trump in toasting Kimberly Guilfoyle at her birthday party at Mar-a-Lago

The head table of Don Jr, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at Guilfoyle's birthday bash

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham addressed the situation before reports of Bolsonaro's test.

'The White House is aware of public reports that a member of the Brazilian delegation's visit to Mar-a-Lago last weekend tested positive for COVID-19; confirmatory testing is pending. Exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps. Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time,' she said, referring to Wajngarten.

'As stated before, the White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy,' she noted.

'To reiterate CDC guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine,' Grisham said. 'We are monitoring the situation closely and will update everyone as we get more information.'

As of Thursday night, there have been more than 1,716 reported cases of coronavirus in the United States. At least 41 people had died.

An attendee at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference has tested positive for the coroanavirus. The event included speeches from Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Trump is pictured during his appearance at CPAC on February 29

Congressman Matt Gaetz, who announced he was exposed to Coronavirus, departing off Air Force One on Monday

Rep. Matt Gaetz, center, was spotted at a party at Mar-a-Lago Saturday night where President Trump and several members of the first family were present

The encounter was the latest brush Trump has had with the coronavirus. An attendee at CPAC, the annual conservative conference that the president addressed at the end of February, tested positive for the virus.

The American Conservative Union, which sponsors the conference, was quick to say the person had no direct contact with Trump or Pence, who also spoke. But three lawmakers went into self-quarantine because they did and all had contact with the president: new White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Rep. Doug Collins and Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz was also at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night for the dinner and birthday party. Additionally, the Florida Republican flew back to Washington D.C. with the president on Air Force One on Monday.

Last month, Trump said he was not concerned about contracting the virus after a man in his 50s who attended the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference that began on February 26.

The American Conservative Union, the organization that runs CPAC, insisted the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland.

'A New Jersey hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result,' the ACU said.

'The individual is under the care of medical professionals in the state of New Jersey, and has been quarantined.'

The attendee did not listen to any speeches in the main hall, the ACU confirmed.

Several senior White House officials attended the event, including White House adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump, White House senior counselor Jared Kushner, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway and the former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Donald Trump Jr spoke at CPAC and his spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the first son did not come in contact with the person infected with coronavirus

White House counselors Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also spoke at CPAC

The American Conservative Union said in a statement the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland

Donald Trump Jr was also there as were several members of the president's cabinet including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement to reporters that precautions were being taken although she did not offer specifics.

'The White House is aware of an individual testing positive for coronavirus after attending the CPAC conference that took place nearly two weeks ago. At this time, there is no indication that either President Trump or Vice President Pence met with or were in close proximity to the attendee.

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

'The president's physician and United States Secret Service have been working closely with White House staff and various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the first family and the entire White House complex safe and healthy,' she said.'

Donald Trump Jr did not come into contact with the individual at CPAC, a spokesman said.

'It has been confirmed that Don did not come into contact with the individual that tested positive,' said a spokesman for the president's son told DailyMail.com.

Earlier this week, a leading New York doctor and political ally of Senator Ted Cruz went into self-quarantine over fears he has coronavirus.

Alan Berger, a 55-year-old gynecologist who works for NYU Langone Health, volunteered to isolate himself and is no longer seeing patients, the facility confirmed in a statement.

Berger has hosted fundraisers for Texas Republican Cruz in his hometown of Englewood, New Jersey and is said to be friendly with President Donald Trump's in laws, the Kushners.

Authorities have not commented on suggestions Berger is the 'patient zero' who interacted with Cruz and Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, at CPAC.

The CPAC patient was described as a 55-year-old man who was recovering in New Jersey; Dr. Berger is a 55-year-old man who has self-isolated in New Jersey.

New Jersey authorities have confirmed that a 55-year-old man from Englewood was quarantined for a presumptive positive attended CPAC. He was in stable condition and has been hospitalized since March 4,

The Englewood man attended services at a temple in New Rochelle, New York, according to New Jersey commissioner of health Judith Persichille.

Schlapp shook hands with the president and mingled with Ivanka Trump, Lara Trump and Jared Kushner during the event in Washington, D.C,'s Maryland suburbs but says he's 'healthy as a horse' and has urged attendees not to panic.

Cruz, however, announced last Sunday: 'Last night, I was informed that 10 days ago at CPAC I briefly interacted with an individual who is currently symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID-19.

'That interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake.'

It was later announced that a second lawmaker, Arizona Republican Paul Gosar, and three members of his staff had also gone into quarantine following 'contact at CPAC with a person who has since been hospitalized with the Wuhan Virus.'

Self-isolating: NYU Langone hospital says Dr. Alan Berger, an obstetrician/gynecologist who also attended CPAC last month, has voluntarily self-quarantined. It did not say if he has tested positive for coronavirus

Self-quarantine: Texas senator Ted Cruz said he was staying at home after shaking hands with someone at the CPAC conservative conference
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Thu, March 12, 2020 17:45 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a25c3c 1 National face-mask,smuggling,Malaysia,COVID-19,Medan,Indonesia,North-Sumatra,Kualanamu-airport,Kuala-Lumpur,Singapore Free

Security authorities at Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra have detained two Malaysian nationals for allegedly trying to smuggle 12,000 face masks to their home country on Wednesday.

The Malaysians, identified only as CHS, 44, and LYS, 42, are accused of having bought face masks with total value of Rp 60 million (US$4,126) from several drug stores across the provincial capital of Medan. The authorities claimed the two men confessed to having smuggled masks across the border five times in February.

Kualanamu Airport security manager Mira Ginting said the Malaysian nationals were still undergoing interrogation at the aviation securitys office, before being eventually transferred to the North Sumatra Police, who are to take over the case.

Both suspects [allegedly] bought masks from Medan to be resold in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, Mira said on Wednesday.

Read also: The dos and donts of wearing masks in our fight against COVID-19

Security personnel arrested the two Malaysians after officers operating a security scanner reported finding suspicious items. They later asked baggage-check officers to conduct a manual search of the two suspects belongings.

Our officers found seven bales of face masks in their belongings, Mira said.

A number of regions across the archipelago have reported a shortage of masks and hand sanitizer following the governments announcement that confirmed COVID-19 cases had been discovered in Indonesia. As of Thursday afternoon, Indonesia recorded 34 confirmed cases of the disease, with one patient identified as Case-25 having died early on Wednesday morning. (dpk)
WASHINGTON  Images posted to social media after the attack in Iraq on Wednesday that killed three service members, two American and one British, showed a dilapidated white flatbed truck affixed with primitive rocket tubes tucked among desert shrubbery.

These types of photographs have often appeared in the past 18 years of United States wars in the Middle East as insurgent groups have relied on rudimentary but effective tactics to maim and kill their technologically superior enemies.

But in recent months, with relatively few American troops still in Iraq, militias there with ties to Iran seem to have perfected a strategy that has left U.S. forces with little recourse to defend themselves, according to American officials, who are scrambling to put effective countermeasures in place.

The attack in Taji, Iraq, home to a sprawling base roughly 15 miles north of Baghdad, involved about 30 rockets. More than a dozen hit the base, killing and wounding nearly 20 people.
(Support Free Thought) -

Cameron, TX  While many think that the state taking children from parents is a noble gesture to protect the child, all too often, the state removes kids from a bad situation and throws them into a situation akin to a horror film. Many times the children are taken from caring parents, who happened to hit a rough patch in their lives, and thrown into torturous and outright sadistic situations where they end up raped, tortured, and, as the tragic following case highlights, even murdered.

Alexandria Hill, a 2-year-old little girl, was taken from her father because he used marijuana to treat his seizures. In 2012, Joshua Hill told a case worker with Child Protective Services that he would smoke marijuana after little Alexandria would go to sleep at night to treat his medical condition. This would prove to be a grave mistake.

The case worker couldnt have cared less that the marijuana helped stave off his seizures. Instead, because this loving father dared ingest a plant that helped him, the case worker recommended Alexandria kidnapped and placed in a foster home.

Mr. Hill admitted to smoking marijuana in the house when his daughter has been upstairs sleeping, the caseworker representing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services noted in court records.

Alexandria was placed in foster care in 2013. She would not make it to her third birthday.

During their supervised visits, Hill and his wife Mary Sweeny told CPS that they were finding bruises all over Alexandria. However, CPS did not care. The state removed a child from a home with loving parents over marijuana and put her in a home with an abusive woman, Sherill Small, and her crack addict husband who ran a racket keeping foster children.

Prior to placing Alexandria in the foster home, CPS never told Hill that Small had racked up 15 violations as a foster parent. Nor did they know that over one hundred more violations would soon follow.

As the Houston Press reported at the time:

While the idea of removing a toddler from her parents care not for abuse, but for simple marijuana use, is puzzling at best, whats even more disconcerting is that the same rules didnt apply to her foster family. Turns out Sherill Smalls third husband, Clemon Small, had a pretty legit criminal history, including multiple drug charges. During the home study portion of the couples foster application, Clemon described himself as a recovering crack cocaine addict, and admitted to multiple drug charges. Small also admitted to the home study investigator that she had also been out of work for months. Rather, she made a living by keeping foster children.

After jumping through multiple hoops and suffering without his medical marijuana, Hill finally received word that he would be getting his daughter back soon. Tragically, however, it would be too late.

Four months before Alexandria was to be reunited with her parents, Hill got a call that she was in the hospital.

Hill and Sweeny arrived at the hospital to find Alexandria hooked up to life support machines. She was completely brain dead and unable to breathe on her own. They had no other choice but to tell their little girl goodbye forever.

They were told it was an accident. Little Alexandria had fallen while playing a game, according to Small. Once Alexandrias body was autopsied, however, they would discover bruises all over, including her neck, head, back, arms, and legs.

These monsters  who were entrusted by the state to keep children  had slammed Alexandria on the ground so violently that she had subdural hemorrhaging, subarachnoid hemorrhaging, and retinal hemorrhaging in both eyes.

Small would eventually be arrested and tried for murder. On Tuesday, according to KLFY, she was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Alexandria Hill.

Adding to the perfidious nature of kidnapping a child from caring parents over marijuana use is the fact that prior to receiving Alexandria, Smalls husband Clemon had been arrested three times for marijuana.

Alexandria would have turned 10 this November.
New Delhi, March 12 : The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to put up hoarding, displaying the pictures and addresses of the people who indulged in violence and destruction of property during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, as currently there was no law to back the action and referred the matter to a three-judge bench next week.

The UP government filed an appeal in the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order directing it to pull down the roadside hoardings forthwith.

A vacation bench comprising Justices U.U. Lalit and Aniruddha Bose accepted the government's contention that people who resort to violence in public could not raise the issues on their privacy, but queried the government's decision "naming and shaming", which it reckoned permanently labels an individual.

"Privacy has many dimensions. If you wield your gun in a riot, then you cannot claim privacy", said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the UP government. Justice Lalit agreed on this argument, but said: "Yes, there cannot be vandalism, but the question is could such hoardings be put up?" He contended before the court that the state administration probed the role of 95 people and concluded 57 of them were responsible for vandalism during anti-CAA protests in Lucknow.

Mehta said the state administration asked these people to pay compensation for the loss of property according to the apex court's 2009 verdict. He insisted that the administration apprehends these people may dispose of the property; as a result, a stringent action was required.

However, the bench said it understands the anxiety of the state government, "but where is the law for this action of the administration?" Mehta insisted that hoardings were put up following the process of law. The bench replied that there is a difference between an individual and the state. The individual can do anything unless specifically prohibited by the law, but the state can do anything only if permitted by the law.

Senior advocates A.M. Singhvi, Colin Gonsalves, C.U. Singh, representing protesters, submitted before the court that these posters may provoke people to target, hit and lynch the people allegedly accused, and also their family members.

Singhvi, appearing for 1972 batch retired IPS officer S.R. Darapuri, whose photos with personal details, were put out on the posters, contended action of this nature is not permissible against a person convicted in grave offences of child rape and murder.

The bench, after hearing counsels from both sides, observed the matter involved issues of significance and it should be examined by a three-judge bench as soon as possible.

The apex court also did not stay the Allahabad High Court order. "Let papers be placed by the Registry before the Chief Justice of India immediately so that a bench of sufficient strength can be constituted by the Chief Justice of India in the coming week to hear and consider the controversy involved in the matter, said the court.

The top court also granted liberty to those individuals whose names and pictures appeared in the hoardings to implead themselves in the proceedings on the matter.

Uttar Pradesh Advocate General Raghavendra Singh said the administration will not remove posters/hoardings, as the matter has been referred to a larger bench, and if removed, then the matter will become infructuous.

The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging the March 9 Allahabad High court order directing the state administration to pull down posters of the accused in vandalism during the protests against the citizenship law.

The High Court also directed the district magistrate and the Lucknow police commissioner to submit a report on the matter by March 16.

The High Court, which took suo motu cognizance on the issue, had termed the move "highly unjust" and said it was an "absolute encroachment on personal liberty of individuals".
By Akbar Mammadov

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Italy has requested all Azerbaijani citizens in that country to strictly adhere to the guidelines and recommendations adopted by the Italian government regarding the epidemiological situation in the country.

In a statement published in the embassys official website on March 10, Azerbaijans diplomatic mission has reminded the Italian governments decision to declare the entire Italian territory a "closed zone" from March 10, 2020 to April 03, 2020, as well as the closing of all educational institutions, museums, etc., cancellation of all public events in connection with the COVID-19. Foreign nationals who are in Italy and tourists on a temporary trip are allowed to return to their home countries.

The embassy announced that Azerbaijani citizens in Italy wishing to return to Azerbaijan must send relevant documents to the embassy via email and will be quarantined upon return to Azerbaijan.

According to the latest data released by the World Health Organization (March 11), the number of infected people in Italy is 10,149, and the death rate from the virus is 977.

Meanwhile, 312 Azerbaijani citizens who were placed in quarantine have tested negative for the COVID-19 and released following the medical check-up and laboratory tests, the operational headquarters under the Ministry of Health reported on March 10.

On March 4, the country evacuated 276 of its citizens from neighbouring Iran, which is at the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East.

So far, 11 Azerbaijani citizens have tested positive for COVID-19.

President Aliyev has allocated 10 million manats [$5.8m] to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz




Haiti - News : Zapping...





First Council of Ministers Moise-Jouthe

Wednesday at the National Palace, Jovenel Moise chaired the first Council of Ministers of the Moise-Jouthe Administration "We are mobilizing all the resources of the Republic in order to address urgently, the main challenges facing the country in these times difficult," said Prime Minister Jouthe after the Council.



Suspension of intercountry adoptions

Wednesday, March 11, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs suspended international adoptions for Haiti for 3 months "[...] due to the current security situation in the country" A decision that concerns applicants for adoption residing in France and who were not related at the date of entry into force of the decree.



Economic integration of Haitian graduates

Signing of an agreement this Tuesday March 11 between the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) and the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) to develop partnerships aimed at improving the economic integration of Haitian graduates by the creation of a Solidarity Support Network for Business Creation (ReSACE). Through this Agreement, the two parties undertake to create an entrepreneurship support program for students and graduates after 2018 from AUF member universities in Haiti.



Helen La Lime talks with Chancellor Joseph

New Chancellor Claude Joseph received Helen La Lime, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (UNINH). Among other issues, the mission of the Office was discussed, constitutional reform, elections, the fight against cholera and compensation for the victims.



Monthly assessment of the Ambulance Center

During the month of February 2020, according to emergency statistics from the National Ambulance Center (CAN) the Center took care of 180 cases of road accidents, 40 cases of gunshot wounds, 83 cases of other injuries and various fractures , 397 cases of obstetric emergencies, 19 cases of burns, 199 cases of chronic diseases, made 85 transfers and treated 241 other cases.



Covid-19 Epidemic : Global Report March 12, 2020

As of Thursday, March 12, 2020, the number of people who have been infected with Covid-19 worldwide since the start of the epidemic stands at 126,392 (laboratory confirmed cases, official source), up 7,113 cases from the day before, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30243-haiti-news-zapping.html (no new cases reported in China). 68,300 people have been cured of Covid-19 (54.02%) since the start of the epidemic, 2,512 more than the day before. Today, the number of infected people receiving care (active cases) worldwide is 53,490 (+6.02% compared to the previous day). Since the start of the epidemic 4,641 people have died from Covid-19 (+8.71%) or 354 more than the previous day (4.287) for an average fatality rate of 3.6% (+0.1%) compared to the previous day (3.51%).



To date, there have been 45.511 confirmed cases outside China (+18.76%), or 7.190 cases more than the previous day. 1,119 deaths outside of China have been reported since the start of the epidemic, 165 more than the previous day.



Diaspora :

United States : 1,266 active confirmed cases (+26.7%) compared to the previous day, ie 267 cases. Affected States among others: New York 220 cases, California 177, Boston 94, Florida 27, Georgia 24, Pennsylvania 16, Louisiana 13. On Wednesday 2 new cases of Covid-19 were identified in Florida including one in Broward County and one in Miami Dade. 38 deaths (+18.75%) have been recorded in the USA since the discovery of the first case and 8 people have been cured.

Canada : 117 confirmed active cases, including 42 in Ontario and 9 in Quebec 1 death and 1 cure.



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Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, smiles as student Aker Okoye speaks during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, Britain March 6, 2020, in support of International Women's Day

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 09, 2020 in London, England

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 9, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Harris - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Handout picture released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex showing the Duchess of Sussex, Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), meeting 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 - at Buckingham Palace in London before they all attended the Commonwealth Service

Handout picture released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex showing the Duchess of Sussex, Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), meeting 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 - at Buckingham Palace in London before they all attended the Commonwealth Service

The Duchess of Sussex met Commonwealth scholars to hear about their commitment to tackling global challenges, ahead of her final official public duty as a senior royal.

Meghan, 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 fitted navy cap-sleeve dress with neck scarf detail, listening to one scholar, and in the centre of a group photo in the 1844 Room of the Queen's London home.

The images were taken by her wedding photographer, Chris Allerton.

Expand Close Handout picture released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex showing the Duchess of Sussex, Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), meeting 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 - at Buckingham Palace in London before they all attended the Commonwealth Service / Facebook

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Whatsapp Handout picture released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex showing the Duchess of Sussex, Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), meeting 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 - at Buckingham Palace in London before they all attended the Commonwealth Service

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 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.

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"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.

Expand Close Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 09, 2020 in London, England / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 at Westminster Abbey on March 09, 2020 in London, England

"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.

Meghan is reported to have flown back to Canada soon after the Commonwealth Service.
The Glass Hotel is out March 24. Photo: Chris Schoonover and Hand Colored by: Linda Schoonover

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Sales of Station Eleven are suddenly up. In Emily St. John Mandels 2014 blockbuster hit, the Georgia flu wipes out over 99 percent of humanity  it moves so quickly that within 24 hours of the virus reaching America, all air travel is shut down. Cell lines jam, and phones stop working within two days. In under a week, television stations have gone to static as entire production crews die out. Spread via tiny aerosol particles, the Georgia flu is like our seasonal one and, yes, the coronavirus, on steroids  mercury-popping fevers, rattling coughs, respiratory distress, followed by death.

I dont know who in their right mind would want to read Station Eleven during a pandemic, the perplexed author wrote on Twitter, to which her readers replied: We would. Inhaling a novel about a contagion that brings civilization to an end while news about COVID-19 sends hand-sanitizer sales vaulting doesnt sound logical. But there can be something reassuring about taking in a fictional disaster in the midst of a real one. You can flirt with the experience of collapse. You can long for the world you live in right now.

The virus in Station Eleven would have burned out before it could kill off the entire population, Mandel points out when I pose the question legions of fans are sending her way: Is she worried? The author is preternaturally-composed  dressed in a checked toffee blazer and mahogany boots, she has an air of Betty Draper just returned from riding lessons. I sound reassuring, right?, she asks, explaining that she thoroughly researched similar pathogens while writing. She also has a mischievous streak. Her face turns stoic. Its frightening, and we need to keep an eye on it. Then she waggles her eyebrows: Famous last words before the whole nation collapses!

Station Eleven sold 1.5 million copies, a hit with sci-fi fans and highbrow-fiction devotees alike that elevated Mandel to literary stardom. Published after a mid-aughts deluge of postapocalyptic novels, it doesnt fit the standard mold. Mandel isnt interested in the flus aftermath, with the accompanying pillaging and clan-building. She imagines how society might have remade itself 20 years later. Readers loved that it bypassed the cliches of civilians turning against one another and instead made sense of chaos.

Theres considerable pressure on her follow-up, The Glass Hotel  so much so that her editor, Jenny Jackson, wrote a note to readers explaining that even a sales rep at Knopf confessed she was worried about reading it, that it wont live up. Their fears were not borne out: The novel has already roped in gushing advance reviews, and its in its third printing, even though it doesnt publish until the end of March.

The Glass Hotel, which has some prickling connections to the world of Station Eleven, revolves around disaster of another kind: a multibillion-dollar Bernie Madoffstyle Ponzi scheme in 2008 Manhattan. Financial-crisis drama doesnt have the same ring of excitement as, say, a deadly cough that flattens the world. But unlike Station Eleven, this is a disaster in which Mandel can point a finger at a perpetrator. Its a story less interested in hope. Its bleaker than the end of the world.

In the summer of 2015, Mandel was on her second tour of the U.K. for Station Eleven. She had just taken home the Arthur C. Clarke prize and was a finalist for the National Book Award. Late one night, she was in her hotel room booking plane tickets for her boss at Rockefeller Universitys cancer-research lab, where Mandel had worked as an administrative assistant for seven years, when she realized the absurdity of her situation. Station Eleven had been such a smash success that she wasnt even planning her own travel anymore. But here she was selecting seating assignments for someone else. If youre from a working-class background, she says, its really hard to let go of that day job.

She did let go, spurred by a realization: She couldnt do the job and continue to promote the novel, work on her next one, and parent her daughter, Cassia, now 4, with her husband, Kevin Mandel, a ghostwriter and headhunter. Station Eleven had done that rare thing, which even the most critically celebrated authors struggle to achieve  it gave her, she says, more money than I ever would have imagined having in my entire life.

Mandel is vague about what this means. Nobody with money thinks theyre wealthy, she offers, but its enough to remodel my house. People who say that problems cant be solved with money, I dont know  Show me the problem! The money, it seems, is more than just enough to remodel. She sold the TV rights to Station Eleven to HBO Max; The Glass Hotel has gone to NBC, and on the day we met, she was deep in pilot drafts. Shes 41, and shes crossed over into another life.

Mandel grew up very much without money in a forest on Denman Island (about the same size and shape as Manhattan, but with a thousand people) off the east coast of Vancouver Island. Its a place with two stoplights, beautiful and claustrophobic. She could feel the tenuousness of humanitys hold over nature. When you take it for granted water comes out of your tap, she says, youre thinking differently than where I grew up, where wed run out of water consistently in the summer and switch to a backup system.

Theres something almost tedious about disaster  At first its all dramatic, but then it just keeps collapsing.

Mandel was homeschooled because of what she calls the inadequacies of rural education, her counterculture parents, and dance, which she pursued seriously until her early 20s. At 18, she left the island to attend the School of Toronto Dance Theatre without a high-school diploma or a GED (she didnt need 12th-grade math to keep dancing, so she didnt worry about it). By 21, her passion for dance had waned. She bounced around Toronto, Montreal, and New York. To support herself, she worked jobs like manning the stockroom of a now-shuttered Montreal chain store, Caban, where she earned $8.50 an hour, showing up at 7 a.m. to unload trucks. There were mornings when it was minus-20 Celsius, Mandel recalls. She liked the nature of the work  her characters, too, are often settled in hands-on, rhythmic jobs like tending bar.

The story of how Mandel began writing is almost odd in its lack of velocity. As part of her homeschooling curriculum, her parents had asked her to write every day, and the habit stuck with her. Mandel knew a novelist in New York  somebody not terribly well known, maybe lets leave the name out  who made her realize it could be a career. She put her mind to it, just like that, without a single formal class or any professorial encouragement. The first thing she really dug into turned into her debut novel.

In 2006, after four years of writing, she had finished Last Night in Montreal, about a young woman with a peripatetic childhood who cant stop fleeing the lives she creates. Her agent at the time, the late Emilie Jacobson of Curtis Brown, understood her work implicitly. She submitted it to 35 publishers, one by one, waiting to hear back from each before sending it on to the next. Two years later, it was bought by Unbridled, a small house that published her first three novels, all noirish mysteries. Theyre so distinct from Mandels current preoccupations that they seem to come from a different author. Each sold a few thousand copies and earned small industry press, especially in France, where she was beloved on the crime circuit.

Ive always seen myself as writing literary novels with the strongest possible narrative drive, which pushed me in the direction of genre, Mandel says of her early work. But she yearned for a broader audience and felt that if she kept going down the same path, shed end up boxed into that marketing category. She decided to do something entirely different for her next book. It began as a story about a Shakespeare troupe, a way for Mandel to write about theater and her experience with dance. But as a child of the forest, she wanted to see what her characters might do without technology. Thats when the idea of a global calamity came to mind. She placed her troupe in a dystopian setting, traveling through what was once Michigan, offering kinship through art.

Her agent sent out the Station Eleven manuscript, and while the then-34-year-old Mandel paced her familys living room, an auction with six publishing houses ensued. It would go on to blow past all her parameters for how successful a novel could be. It just kept ballooning, she recalls. The book was a BuzzPick at BookExpoAmerica, a surefire indicator of commercial salience, and a Title Wave selection inside Random House, which meant the publishers threw their full weight behind its promotion. The five-city tour mushroomed into 17 cities, then spread around the globe. Year-end lists rained down on us, Jackson said. Thats when sales really spiked. They reached 450,000 after a year. Then it sold a million more copies.

The first sentence of The Glass Hotel that Mandel put to paper is now in the middle of the novel. A Greek-chorus-like collective of Wall Streeters who work at doomed billionaire Jonathan Alkaitiss financial firm suddenly begins to speak: We crossed a line, that much was obvious, but it was difficult to say later exactly where that line had been.

The we in question are party to The Arrangement  the falsifications required to prop up a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. At this point in the story, we already know Alkaitis will end up in a white-collar prison for the rest of his life, but this rewind back in time to the brink of collapse turns it from a ripped-from-the-headlines high-art form into a careful, damning study of the forms of disaster humanity brings down on itself.

Alkaitiss employees are gathered in a conference room to hear him explain that the company has liquidity problems  meaning, they can no longer steal from one investor to pay back another. We then learn about the next 24 hours for each of them: who stays to drunkenly shred papers, who spends hours mindlessly liking Facebook posts, who calls the FBI. The details are similar to those newspapers relayed after Madoffs sandcastle washed away in 2008. But Mandel is careful to note the Madoff character is not Madoff. His family is not Madoffs. But the crime is the same. The crime is what fascinated me.

The author professes a good deal more anxiety about economic collapse than cough-splatter pandemics. Its hard not to wonder if now, a secure future in hand, Mandel worries about being kicked out of the kingdom of money. I sold The Glass Hotel in a partial, she explains, which I normally would never do. Ive always finished a novel before I sold it, but I was pretty sure the economy would inevitably collapse under Trump. Its also personal. A close family member, whose identity she doesnt want to disclose, invested with Madoff. I think they had put in $100K, and it performed well, obviously, because the funds were totally fictional. This relative wasnt financially ruined  Mandel calls them the lucky minority who got more money out of the fund than they put in. They had simply trusted.

Like Station Eleven, Mandel was drawn to a narrative of downhill momentum. But the books differ in fundamental ways. Reading Station Eleven is a soothing experience. Connections align. There is a definitive before and after. The world settles into something new. You can fear a pandemic, but you cant rage at one. The Glass Hotel doesnt offer the same reassurances. With a Ponzi scheme, theres a clear villain, which is a narrative boon. But the disaster, perhaps because humanity caused it, feels crueler. What do we do when the world explodes, it asks, but most of the population carries on as before? Like the rest of Mandels work, there are characters all over the globe  from parched Dubai terraces to the extravagant boutiques of Fifth Avenue. This sort of global wandering is too often gushed about in jacket copy, as if a variety of locales are a substitute for other kinds of expansiveness, but for The Glass Hotel its central to the premise that the worlds interconnectivity magnifies calamity. In this case, a tsunami of manipulated zeros and dollar signs that washed away the lives people had imagined for themselves.

It also gives weight to disasters unbearable banality. The Glass Hotel, notably, includes a shipping executive whom Station Eleven readers will remember: Leon Prevant, who, in this iteration of his life, invested with Alkaitis. Just before Leon discovers his life savings are a fabricated string of numbers, hes in a meeting with a colleague who was his secretary in the parallel universe of Station Eleven. Theyre discussing the economys general downturn when she wryly says, Theres something almost tedious about disaster. Dont you find? I mean, at first its all dramatic, Oh my God, the economys collapsing  but then that keeps happening, it just keeps collapsing, week after week.  In a novel full of Easter eggs for devoted Mandel fans, its a sly note of camaraderie. And in a world where rolling disasters fade into one another, its a reminder that Mandel wants to lurch us out of the tedium.

*A version of this article appears in the March 16, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!

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The man who tested positive and is now in isolation had been abroad, but not in Italy

A man who tested positive for the coronavirus has described how people "emptied from the hallways" as he arrived at a hospital for treatment.

A man who tested positive for the coronavirus has described how people "emptied from the hallways" as he arrived at a hospital for treatment.

The man, who spoke to the Herald anonymously, is aged in his 50s and has no underlying medical issues.

He is from the west of the country and got the virus from contact with a couple who had been to Italy.

He was told on Monday he had tested positive, and is now being treated in a hospital isolation unit.

"It's all been very surreal," he said. "It's like something out of a movie. I never thought I would be caught up in it all."

Describing his experience of the virus as "like having a cold", the man said he had been visiting a European country, not Italy, when he met up with friends who had unknowingly already become infected.

He said one of his friends was under the weather.

"He wasn't coughing or spluttering or anything like that, he was just feeling a bit achy," he said.

The man retuned to Ireland on March 1 and three days later got a call to say his friends had the coronavirus.

His initial reaction was one of "total shock".

"Even though we were all talking about the coronavirus while we were in each other's company, we never for a second thought that he actually had it," he said.

A few days later, the man himself began to feel the symptoms of the virus.

"At any other time I wouldn't think I was ill," he said.

"The symptoms were very mild for me, and that's not to downplay the seriousness of this.

"It's been nothing worse than a minor cold so far. I don't have a cough. I was just a little bit achy and I had a bit of a fever. I was on heightened alert, but otherwise I don't know if it would have bothered me at all."

He was tested for the virus on Saturday night after the HSE became aware of his symptoms.

"A paramedic arrived to the house in a full hazmat type suit," he said. "He was on his own.

"The ambulance service had called to say he was on his way and they told me what to prepare for, in terms of what he would be wearing, so I wouldn't be shocked.

"Obviously, some people would get a bit of a shock. He came to the door in the hazard suit, mask and goggles.

"It was a simple test, a throat swab and a nasal swab. He left and the swabs were sent up to Dublin for testing, so I had to wait for a phone call."

On Monday, he was told he had tested positive and an ambulance was sent to his home to take him to a hospital isolation unit.

"When I entered the isolation ward from the ambulance it was surreal," he said.

"The hallways empty of people as you're being brought through. I was wearing my mask and the paramedic from the ambulance was wearing his suit.

"You get to the doors and they're all double-locked.

"People are using their elbows to open doors. You're ushered into your room and then it's lockdown.

"I'm alone. I was monitored fairly closely for the first 24 hours. Tuesday's consultation was done by a doctor over the phone."
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Business NSW calls for support as pandemic bites Staff shortages and customer falls causing severe problems in recovery

Yesterday afternoon, Pepper Moneys Australia and New Zealand CEO Mario Rehayem had his head shaved as the grand finale of his fundraising efforts for the Leukaemia Foundation.

Rehayem currently holds the very top position of the 16,000 individual fundraisers registered for the Leukemia Foundations Worlds Greatest Shave campaign across the country.

The CEO has received nearly 100 donations to date, smashing through both his initial $10,000 goal and revised target of $20,000.

At the time of publishing, Rehayem has raised over $36,000.

The funds will go to providing a variety of services to those diagnosed with blood cancer and their families, free of charge, including accommodation while they are undergoing treatment, transport to medical appointments, and other practical and emotional support, in addition to further investment in vital research.

Just before the shave took place, Pepper Money made a $10,000 donation. Prior to that, the largest contribution came from non-bank lender and Pepper competitor Resimac, with a gift of $3,100.

As such, Resimac CEO Scott McWilliam, who Rehayem dubbed his closest friend in the industry, had the honour of taking the first shave.

Pepper Money A/NZ CEO Mario Rehayem & Resimac CEO Scott McWilliam

There isnt anyone I know who hasnt been impacted by some form of cancer. Its touched a couple of our workers recently as well, which is probably my main reason for doing this. Its just such a good cause, said Rehayem.

This is actually the first time Ive taken the advantage and opportunity of reaching out to my network for donations. Ive always been the one thats donating  but people have really gotten behind this.

Australian Finance Group (AFG), NextGen.Net, and Better Mortgage Management were among the companies within the industry to make a show of support for Rehayem.

On an individual level, Aussie CEO James Symond and NABs Bill Constantinidis also gave of their own funds.

As the Leukemia Foundation spokesperson put it, Blood cancer does not discriminate.

It can develop in anyone at any age, from children through to working adults with families, all the way to older Australians.

While there is already a staggering 110,000 Australians living with blood cancer today, this figure is forecasted to more than double in the next 15 years.

That breaks down to 41 Australians diagnosed and 20 dying every day.

If this is the first youve heard of Rehayems journey, its not too late to contribute; donations can still be made here.
Dense, superheated lava does whatever it wants. It certainly cannot be drained away. Few barriers can stand up to its incandescent anger. If lava threatens a harbor by the sea, pumping billions of gallons of seawater at it may slow it down, as Iceland discovered at Heimaey Island in 1973.

Image A pointer bomb dropped on Mauna Loa in 1935, photographed in 1977 by Jack Lockwood, a Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist. Credit... Jack Lockwood/U.S. Geological Survey

And then there is explosive lava diversion. As far back as 1881, it was considered to stop a lava flow headed toward Hilo. It was never tried; the pile of gunpowder remained unused, and religious conviction was widely credited with stopping the burning river.

The incendiary concept nevertheless struck a chord. Lava often travels long distances in solid tubes or in channels of its own design. Some wondered, why not sever these dangerous volcanic arteries? Bombs delivered by land could work, but aerial bombing could be more accurate and speedier.

It remained nothing more than a concept until an eruption in 1935. That December, a pond of lava breached its levees and advanced on Hilo at a rate of a mile per day. Fearing it would reach the town and its watershed, Thomas Jaggar, the founder and first director of the U.S. Geological Surveys Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, called on the Army Air Corps. On Dec. 27, 10 Keystone B-3 and B-4 biplane bombers struck the lava flow, targeting its tubes and channels.

Half these bombs were packed with 355 pounds of TNT. The other half were not explosive, and instead designed to emit smoke so the pilots could see where the bona fide bombs landed. Mr. Singson found one of those inert devices last month.
Ive learned over the last few weeks that tackling tough issues during a short legislative session is rather unpopular. Without a doubt, dozens of important issues will fall by the wayside due to legislative deadlines and political stalemates. But there are some issues that we grapple with that simply cannot wait. While every problem feels urgent, my colleagues and I will be forced to determine over the next week which bills to prioritize and which could be dealt with by a future legislature.

I believe dignity in death is one that cannot wait. I have spent the last year meeting with family members who watched their loved ones struggle with a terminal disease and endure a treatment plan they did not wish to pursue. Ive heard from doctors who watched their patients writhe in pain, deprived of health care choices during their final days. Ive listened to survivors of a serious illness who fear what will happen if their health deteriorates. Constituents who have developed a terminal illness, such as Alzheimers disease, have shared their fear about what the future could hold for their families.

As a legislator, I think its my job to listen and learn from my constituents. Although I was aware of issues surrounding end-of-life choices, Ive come to care much more deeply about this issue and the families it impacts. During every one of my visits to a senior center, the conversation inevitably turns to whether or not patients in Connecticut will retain control over their own medical decisions at every stage of life. I think they should, so Ive decided to co-sponsor House Bill 5420, An Act Concerning Aid In Dying For Terminally Ill Patients.

I supported this bill last year, although it never made it out of the Public Health Committee. Why bother trying again, during an abbreviated legislative calendar? In my view, we owe it to those who are currently suffering to provide relief. Of course, this bill comes too late for many families. If youre interested, read through the testimony from last year and hear the stories of those who were deprived of dignity in their final hours. As this session moves forward, I challenge any of my colleagues to look a terminally ill patient in the eye and tell them that the Legislature doesnt have time to consider this reform.

Keep in mind, Connecticut would not be the first state to permit medical aid in dying, and we have an opportunity to follow the example of states that have passed safe, well-regulated programs. HB 5420 would allow doctors to prescribe legal doses of medication to patients who have terminal illnesses and who experience significant pain. A patient would need to submit two separate requests to access the medication, with each request witnessed by two people who are not family members, would not benefit from the patients estate and are not medical professionals.

The patient would also need to speak with a physician who would inform them of risks they face and alternatives they could pursue instead, such as palliative care to potentially alleviate pain. If a patient experiences a psychiatric condition in addition to a terminal illness, they would be required to undertake counseling to test competence and ensure they are of sound mind. No one would be allowed to act on behalf of a patient; they would need to speak for themselves. Further, doctors would approach the requests by individual case and could reject requests.

Im grateful that the chairs of the Public Health Committee, Rep. Steinberg and Sen. Abrams, understand the urgency of this issue and have raised it once again in the Public Health Committee. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver peace of mind for our constituents.

State Sen. Will Haskell represents District 26, which includes Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton and parts of Weston, Westport and New Canaan.
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Linkedin Josa Lukman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, March 13 2020

Iskandars ventures into new territory with Spirited Away, which marks a milestone in his musical career, with a more pop-like feel compared to his regular fare of classical music recordings.

Born and based in Berlin, the violinist explained during an interview in Jakarta that the song came very spontaneously to him as he was jamming in his home studio one night he couldnt fall asleep. Spirited Away was thus born, about 15 minutes into the session.

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Leaving the EU will free up more than 40billion for domestic spending and slash net immigration by almost half, Budget documents forecast yesterday.

The official Treasury 'Red Book' predicts that cash saved from EU contributions will total 42.3billion over the next five years, even after the effects of the Brexit divorce bill are taken into account.

A separate document produced by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility suggests that net immigration is likely to fall sharply from 240,000 last year to 130,000 by the time of the next election.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak poses outside no.11 Downing Street before delivering the first post-Brexit budget on Wednesday

Government sources last night said the official forecasts were evidence of a 'Brexit dividend'. The Red Book figures show savings from EU payments start at a relatively modest 4.3billion while the UK is still funding the so-called divorce payment.

But the figure rises rapidly in following years to reach 14.6billion by 2024.

A Government source said: 'Some people have questioned whether there would be a Brexit dividend, but here it is in black and white  growing every year. This is money that we are taking back control of in order to spend on our own domestic priorities.' However, the OBR also fires a warning shot on the potential long-term impact of Brexit on the economy. The economic watchdog suggested that trade levels would be 15 per cent lower over the next decade than they otherwise would have been if Boris Johnson secures his preferred option of a Canada-style free trade deal with the EU.

It indicates that the overall size of the economy could be 4 per cent lower than otherwise after 15 years.

The OBR also suggests that Brexit will hit the UK's productivity, saying it may fall by 1.4 per cent after the end of the Brexit transition when 'the effect of the higher trade barriers...will increasingly come into play'. The report states that higher trade barriers will 'impose an additional burden on exporters and importers, lowering productivity directly'. But the OBR admitted that its findings were incomplete, saying that the outcome of the Brexit talks was 'still unknown' and that it had 'not modelled' the long-term impact of a particular trade deal.

The OBR said it was now predicting 'zero net EU migration' when free movement of people ends, with overall net migration falling to 129,000 a year.

It would lead to the UK's population being 0.4 per cent lower than it would have been by 2024. But it would have little overall impact on public finances.
In July 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged that he would work towards delivering full-fibre [broadband] to every home in the land by 2025 and three months later the ruling Conservative Party committed 5 billion of public funding to support the roll-out of full-fibre, 5G and other gigabit-capable networks to the hardest-to-reach 20% of the UK, that is rural and non-metropolitan areas that had traditionally been underserved as regards to communications infrastructures.Sunak has announced that the government will fulfil its promise to make funding available to develop gigabit broadband roll-out across the UK, and the Government revealed that as part of more than 1 billion that it has already committed to next-generation digital infrastructure, the next seven areas that have successfully bid for funding from the third wave of the Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund will be: North of Tyne (to receive 12 million), South Wales (12 million), Tay Cities (6.7 million), Pembrokeshire (4 million), Plymouth (3 million), Essex and Hertfordshire (2.1 million) and East Riding of Yorkshire (1 million).The Budget statement also revealed that the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will soon publish a consultation response that will confirm the governments intention to legislate to ensure that new-build homes come with gigabit-capable broadband. It also noted that the governments existing superfast broadband programme has shifted its focus to delivering gigabit-capable broadband and has already delivered full fibre to more than 370,000 premises. Also, more than 100 schools in rural areas are due to receive full-fibre broadband in the next 12 months under the Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme.The funding commitment comes hot on the heels of a major fibre deployment announcements by Virgin Media and BT. On 4 March, cableco Virgin reformed its partnership model to provide a one-stop-shop for the planning, expansion and maintenance of its next-generation gigabit network across the UK, awarding five-year contracts worth 500 million to six national partners to manage the delivery and maintenance of its gigabit-capable network. Its plan is to see gigabit fibre connectivity delivered to more than 15 million UK homes in less than 24 months.For its part, incumbent telco BT is claiming to be on the verge of becoming the country's fastest home broadband provider in more places than any another after announcing the launch of a new gigabit service in March 2020 . The service will form part of a new range of next generation Full Fibre plans  designed to offer consumers average speeds up to 25 times faster than Superfast fibre  and will be available initially to more than two million households across the UK.
Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air has announced the temporary suspension of flights to and from Kuwait International Airport, effective from midnight March 13 until further notice, in light of the COVID-19 situation.



Gulf Air highlighted that the remaining flights to and from Kuwait are limited to Kuwaiti citizens and their first degree relatives as well as domestic workers accompanying them; non-Kuwaitis are prohibited from entering Kuwait through Kuwait International Airport on flights arriving on March 12 and 13. Non-Kuwaitis will be able to enter Bahrain through returning flights from Kuwait until March 13.



All passengers are urged to check Gulf Airs website before travelling or to call the Contact Centre for more information on +97317373737.



Gulf Air apologizes to all passengers for any inconvenience that this may have caused and is working closely with the concerned authorities in Bahrain to take all precautionary and preventive measures in order to ensure the safety and security of the citizens and residents of the kingdom along with its passengers and crew. - TradeArabia News Service




One hundred years to the day, Hugginstown village commemorated the centenary of the successful attack and capture of Hugginstown RIC Barracks by the 1st and 7th battalions of the Kilkenny Brigade IRA on Sunday.

The Commemoration began at 2pm on Sunday with a march up the street by the Kilkenny ONE with their flag party followed by John-Joe Cullens 1st Kilkenny Brigade Flying Column and the Enniscorthy Historical Re-enactment Society.

They marched up to where the event was held. Willie Barron, chairman of the Gairdin an Ghorta Historical Society, welcomed all and called on Peter Cleere, Cathaoirleach Kilkenny Co Council to say a few words.

Following the speeches Jim White, accompanied by Michael Power on accordion, gave a powerful rendition of Grace.

Willie said that the song was dedicated to Cumann na mBan, the almost forgotten women of Ireland who played a large part in the War of Independence.

Ned Hanrahan then sang the Michael Hogan Song which Willie Barron dedicated to the soldiers of Ireland.

Guest speaker, Jim Maher, who is Kilkennys foremost authority on the War of Independence spoke about the night of the attack and capture of the RIC Barracks in Hugginstown.

Jim gave a great insight about the explosive period in Irish history.

Jim then unveiled the plaque to commemorate the attack one of the pivotal moments of the War Of Independence.

Willie Barron asked Terri ODonohue (who travelled from Kilmaley, Co Clare) to lay a wreath at the plaque in honour of her uncle Joe McMahon, who took part in the attack and capture of Hugginstown RIC Barracks and who was killed later that year in County Cavan.

John Holden from Dunnamaggin, whose father took part in the Barracks attack in Hugginstown, was asked to lay a wreath in honour of Captain Pat Walsh from Dunnamaggin Village who also took part in the Barrack Attack but was killed by the British Military at Knocknagress in 1921.

Fittingly, the buglers played the Last Post before Amhran na bhFiann was played to bring proceedings to an end.

A crowd of around 500 people attended the event.

There were people from all over Ireland, many with strong family connections to the great men and women who fought and died for Irelands Independence, Willie Barron said.

We did not forget those people yesterday and we will never forget them now, he added.
LOS ANGELES, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today influence.co announced the closing of a $3 million seed funding round. influence.co is the definitive online professional network for influencers, creators and the businesses that work with them. The platform is used by everyone from Instagram travel influencers to mommy bloggers and YouTube beauty stars. Bonfire Ventures led the round with participation from ACT Capital Partners, Alumni Ventures Group , Next 10 Ventures and Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) Ventures . influence.co will use this round of funding to scale its community and launch a media division focused on the influencer and creator lifestyle.

Launched in 2016, influence.co's three co-founders ( Ryan Angilly , Niel Robertson and Jeff Smith ) are serial entrepreneurs who have built and sold six companies between them. Their vision is to connect everyone in the influencer economy through inspiring content, supportive community and collaborative commerce enabling them to pursue their passion and grow their businesses. To date, over 175,000 members (of which 35,000 are businesses) have signed up to create their own professional profiles. Members use influence.co to share their work, learn from each other and find collaborations.

"When we met influence.co we were attracted to the fact that they have a different model than other companies in the space," says Mark Mullen, managing director at Bonfire Ventures. "They have always focused on building a lasting relationship with the influencers and creators. We think that's a valuable asset to have as the number of influencers is growing exponentially on a global basis."

With many Gen Z's exploring how being an influencer or creator can be a viable occupation, they need many traditional professional tools, but translated into this new domain.

"The influencer economy is disrupting everything from how we make purchasing decisions as consumers to how and where we consume media," says Niel Robertson, co-founder and CEO at influence.co. "The problem is that no one is catering to this rapidly expanding generation of influencers who are driving this disruption. Like all professionals, they need resources, support and opportunities to help them learn and grow. That's where influence.co comes in. We're excited to put this capital to work by building out our team and investing in new ways to expand our platform."

influence.co is a free resource for everyone including influencers, creators and businesses. Individuals who want advanced features can upgrade to a subscription service . Businesses who need to hire and manage influencers at scale can upgrade to a complete software suite . Major brands who want to reach a large audience of influencers can do so through specialized content offerings to the community.

influence.co has raised $1.4 million dollars from a number of angels including internet marketing expert Neil Patel and digital agency scion Alex Bogusky, bringing influence.co's total funding raised to date to $4.4 million. influence.co is a remote company with staff in Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, New York, San Francisco and Austin.

About influence.co

influence.co empowers the influencer generation. By providing a platform that enables influencers, creators and the businesses who work with them to have a professional presence online, we help everyone in the influencer economy pursue their passion and grow their business through inspiring content, supportive community, and collaborative commerce. For more information, please visit https://influence.co/ .

Contact Information:

Krista Canfield McNish

[email protected]

SOURCE influence.co

Related Links

http://influence.co


A Paris court has 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.

Gilbert Chikli, 54, received the heavier sentence plus a fine of two million euros, 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 minister of defence at the time of the crime -- 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 was in operation between 2015 and 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.
Putting the ball in the court of the 22 rebel Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, the Assembly Speaker has asked them to appear before him by Friday and clarify whether their resignations that pushed the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government to the brink of collapse was voluntary or under pressure.

The move by Speaker N P Prajapati came amid high drama when a MP minister Jitu Patwari was allegedly detained and stopped by the police from entering a resort near Bengaluru in BJP-ruled Karnataka where 19 of the 22 MLAs were believed to be holed up. The 22 MLAs who were issued notices are stated to be supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia. Scindia quit Congress and joined the BJP on Wednesday.

Police sources said the minister was briefly detained along with his supporters as he tried to enter the resort.

A video purportedly showing the minister picking up heated arguments with the police has also gone viral.

According to sources, Patwari had come with an apparent intention to convince the rebel MLAs who included six ministers to return to the party fold.

The Congress, however, alleged two ministers from MP were arrested by police in Bengaluru.

Talking to reporters at the state Congress office in Bhopal, party MP Vivek Tankha said the two ministers, Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh, had gone to Bengaluru along with the father of party MLA Manoj Choudhary, who he claimed, had been held "captive" by the BJP at the resort.

Both the Congress ministers were also assaulted by policemen in Bengaluru, alleged Tankha, who is also a senior Supreme Court lawyer.

As the fate of the Congress government hung in balance, the BJP said it will seek a floor test in the Assembly on March 16 to test the majority of the ruling party.

The Congress, however, said it will face the floor test only after the Speaker decides on the resignations of the 22 MLAs.

The Speaker has asked the 22 rebels to appear before him by Friday to clarify whether they have resigned voluntarily or under any pressure, said Vidhan Sabha principal secretary A P Singh.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh wondered why the rebel MLAs were not meeting the Speaker to submit their resignations.

BJP's chief whip in the Assembly Narottam Mishra said since the government has been reduced to a minority the opposition party is going to request the Governor and the Speaker for a floor test on March 16 when the state budget session begins.

"This government has lost majority," said senior BJP leader and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

When asked about the BJP's demand, Digvijaya Singh said the chief minister is ready for a floor test.

"As Kamal Nathji has already said we are ready for the floor test. But, there should be a decision on the resignation of MLAs before the floor test," Singh said, while blaming the BJP for the constitutional crisis in the state.

"The resignations will be accepted when the MLAs meet the Speaker one-on-one and verify their signatures without any pressure. Then the resignations will be accepted and the floor test can be conducted," he said.

Singh said the rebel MLAs should now go to the Speaker and clear the air.

"Nineteen Congress MLAs are in their (BJP's) captivity. The family members (of MLAs) are unable to talk to them. Their phones were taken away," Singh alleged, adding it is also strange that the resignations of the Congress MLAs were submitted to the Speaker by BJP leader Bhupendra Singh.

The BJP claimed this is an "internal matter" of the Congress, but at the same time leaders of the saffron party submitted the resignations of the ruling party (Congress) MLAs to the speaker, Singh pointed out.

On Tuesday, 22 Congress MLAs resigned in a coordinated revolt soon after Scindia quit the party. Three of them are still in Madhya Pradesh, sources said.

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 with the magic number for a majority being 104.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus scare has been wreaking havoc with death toll and infection cases rising on a daily basis. The cascading effect of the same has also been felt on the global markets. The effects of it has seen Indian equity benchmarks suffer their biggest ever one-day plunge to crash into bear territory on Thursday as the coronavirus pandemic left a trail of red across global financial markets.

After nosediving over 3,204.30 points on across-the-board selling, the 30-share BSE Sensex closed 2,919.26 points or 8.18 per cent lower at 32,778.14. Investors have apparently lost over Rs 11 lakh crore. Likewise, the broader NSE Nifty gave up the 9,600 level, slumping 868.25 points or 8.30 per cent to close at 9,590.15. This was the biggest drop for the benchmarks in absolute terms, eclipsing their previous record one-day fall on Monday (March 9).



bccl

The markets have now entered bear territory -- that is more than 20 per cent down from a recent high. The Sensex and Nifty, which had hit their lifetime closing highs on January 14 this year, closed at more than 2-1/2-year lows on Thursday. The carnage on Dalal Street eroded investor wealth worth Rs 11,27,160.65 crore, taking the total market capitalisation (m-cap) to Rs 1,25,86,398.07 crore on the BSE. Global markets reeled after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, and expressed deep concern over the "alarming levels of inaction".

US President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for the next 30 days. Countries across the world are imposing travel restrictions, fuelling fears of a global recession, analysts said.

All Sensex components ended in the red. SBI was the top loser, crashing 13.23 per cent, followed by ONGC, Axis Bank, ITC, TCS and Titan. "Global stocks including India plunged into a bear market and oil slumped on Thursday after US President Donald Trump banned travel from Europe to stem the coronavirus, threatening more disruption to the world economy.



afp

"Recession risk is rising and the markets do not seem to be pricing that in fully. January was the third month in a row that the three-month measure of UK GDP showed zero growth, the weakest such run since the middle of 2009. In Q1 CY20, on an annualised basis, global growth could be deeply negative - more like (minus) 1 per cent," said Deepak Jasani - Head Retail Research, HDFC Securities. All sectoral indices ended in the red, with BSE oil and gas cracking 9.82 per cent, followed by realty, metal, bankex, finance, energy and IT. Broader BSE midcap and smallcap indices followed the benchmarks, losing up to 8.72 per cent. A massive plunge in international oil prices and depreciating rupee added to the volatility, traders said.



afp

The rupee depreciated 49 paise to 74.17 per US dollar (intra-day). Brent crude oil futures dropped 5.50 per cent to USD 33.82 per barrel. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai dropped 1.52 per cent, Hong Kong 3.66 per cent, Seoul 3.87 per cent and Tokyo cracked 4.41 per cent.



reuters

Markets in Europe crashed up to 6 per cent in early trade. In overnight trade, the Dow fell into a bear market and futures pointed Thursday to another rout in New York and Europe.



reuters

The number of coronavirus patients in India has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh, and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the union Health Ministry said. Covid-19 has claimed over 4,200 lives and infected more than 117,330 people across 107 countries and territories.
Its not just local Chinese restaurants that are feeling the chill of coronavirus fears. With the whole of Italy placed under quarantine earlier this week, Italian restaurants in the GTA are also bracing for a downturn in business.

Business has definitely dropped 30 to 40 per cent in the last two weeks, says Giancarlo Colombaro, co-owner of Italian restaurant Gamberoni in the Yonge and Lawrence neighbourhood. Weve lost reservations and there are fewer walk-ins, which is tough because were a neighbourhood restaurant.

The main conversation at every table is the coronavirus or how people are doing in Italy, and people get nervous when someone coughs, he says, adding hes also seen fewer visitors from other countries coming in for a meal.

Several Italian restaurants and food shops the Star reached out to declined to say whether their businesses have been impacted in recent weeks, worried that having their company associated with the coronavirus in any capacity would drive customers away.

At Eataly, the giant Italian food emporium at Bay and Bloor, diners still filled the tables at its upper floor restaurants during lunch earlier this week and customers were perusing the shelves, buying fresh pasta, produce and cheese. A spokesperson for Eataly did not respond to queries from the Star about whether business had been impacted.

Its important to talk about this, Colombaro says, adding that worries over the virus could hurt the restaurant industry as a whole in the coming weeks. I honestly dont know how theyre doing it. If you get one bad month, you close the doors.

Italy has been hard-hit by the virus, with more than 10,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. China, where the virus first emerged in December, has had over 80,000 cases of the respiratory illness. Canada, meanwhile, has reported roughly 100 cases.

As to whether Italys countrywide shutdown will affect the import of Italian foods such as cheese and cured meats, Corrado Paina, executive director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario, said in an emailed statement its too early to say whether or not supply chains will be impacted.

Italys decision to expand its quarantine nationwide is ultimately a proactive decision that will be better for people and business in the long run ... The Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario is working with its partners here in Toronto and Milan to ensure communication and trade channels are connected between our markets during this time to best meet Canadas high demand of imports such as wine, cheese and meats.

While the restaurant industry as a whole is expecting a drop in sales, University of Toronto visiting professor Paolo Granata, from the Faculty of Information at the McLuhan Centre for Culture and Technology, says Chinese restaurants will still be hit the hardest.

He says for many in the city, Chinese food is considered a cheap and cheerful meal and there is a lack of knowledge among diners about the ingredients and cooking methods.

This explains the unjustified distrust of Chinese restaurants in the past weeks, he says. On the other hand, an Italian restaurant is usually perceived as a delightful but pretty expensive food experience. The overall perception that Italian food is of high quality makes consumers trust that its safe to eat.

Granata adds that social media and news outlets play a large role in shaping attitudes toward cuisines and that its important for people to reflect on their own biases and prejudices towards different cultures and foods.

Chinese restaurants in the GTA (and even in other cities) have reported lagging sales in recent weeks with some restaurants facing racist sentiment and Mayor John Tory having to address the discrimination Chinese-Canadians have experienced during the coronavirus outbreak. Last month, a two-week dining event called Asialicious was held to encourage diners to visit more Chinese restaurants across the GTA.

Chinatown historian Arlene Chan writes in an email that among the reasons Chinese restaurants have faced a more drastic drop in business is that the coronavirus outbreak started in China. Italian restaurants havent been subjected to the same kinds of rumours and misinformation that have circulated around Chinese food so far, she says. The Lunar New Year also took place during this period, resulting in Chinese restaurants losing money due to the cancellation of large gatherings.

Colombaro is not sure how diners will behave as more news comes out about the pandemic. The only thing he knows is that the price of rent, ingredients and labour will continue to be the same as profits decrease.

I remember when SARS came down, you just had to wing it out, its out of my control, he says. We keep the restaurant clean, give customers the full experience when they come in, and try to hold it out.
(Newser)  President Trump said Wednesday he is suspending all travel from Europe to the US for 30 days beginning Friday as a measure to combat the novel coronavirus. Trump made the announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation, blaming the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the foreign virus" and saying US clusters were seeded by European travelers. We made a lifesaving move with early action on China," Trump said. "Now we must take the same action with Europe. Trump said the restrictions won't apply to the United Kingdom and the US would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier, reports the AP. The BBC reports the rules take effect at midnight Friday.

story continues below

Trump said he was also directing agencies to provide unspecified financial relief "for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus," and asked Congress to take action to extend it. Trump said the US will defer tax payments for some individual and business filers for three months to lessen the impacts of the virus outbreak. He said the Small Business Administration will also make low-interest loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm. "This is not a financial crisis," he said. "This just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world." Trump also reiterated his call on Congress to pass a cut to the federal payroll tax in order to stimulate the economy.

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
With infectious disease outbreaks, specifically, the coronavirus outbreak, topping the headlines worldwide, scientists are now under pressure to further understand the drivers influencing the pathogens' transmission to better foresee and control such disease epidemics.

In relation to this, a new study led by the College of Natural Resources and Environment professor, Kathleen Alexander explored the ways "that landscapes can influence the behavior of animals," promoting dynamics that either limit or encourage the widespread of infectious diseases.

Through observation on banded mongoose populace across several environments in Botswana, the team of researchers was able to obtain insight into how in which type of and behavior of animals interact to affect the spread of "novel tuberculosis pathogen" transmitted employing "olfactory communication behaviors."

The research which the journal, Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution published, was financially aided with an award received from the National Science Foundation's Evolution and Ecology of Infectious Disease program.

ALSO READ: Rare White Giraffes Killed in Kenya by Poachers

Banded Mongoose

Scent marking is what the banded mongoose use to communicate or deliver information to others, a fundamental fitness behavior in this species and many more.

More so, Alexander said, "scent marks are put into the environment," and comprise odor signals conveying information from one mongoose to another.

The novel tuberculosis pathogen the researchers discovered has importantly hijacked the communication pathways of the mongoose.

More so, as they transmit information to another mongoose, they can deliver the said pathogen, as well.

Incidentally, working through the Chobe Research Institute and Centre for the Conservation of African Resources: Animals, Communities and Land Use (CARACAL) that Alexander co-formed in Botswana, she and Carol Anne Nichols, a former graduate student used camera traps and radio collars that have remote sensors in earth sites to monitor the behaviors of mongoose.

In this manner, the researchers can observe the said animals sans affecting their behavior and can study in shielded park landscapes, urban settings, and other areas that have different characteristics.

The finding was an extensive data set of the behavioral instructions of mongoose across a range of types of landscape.

Research Findings

What they found, according to Alexander, is that type of land considerably influences the interaction of watchfulness-particularly watching for competitors or predators, using the scent-marking behavior.

This, the research head added, "Has the potential for pathogen transmission change and," where there is an elevation of scent marker, "superspreading landscapes" are created.

Furthermore, Alexander described the banded mongoose as social animals that live in territories, which is what's making this specific transmission method, as well as the findings very interesting.

She also added that infectious disease will keep on emerging as they've seen once more, with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Their results, Alexander shared, recommends an urgency in terms of understanding the manner landscape types affect animal behavior, specifically that of the banded mongoose's, and the manner these interactions might rise or drop the possibility of the disease to be transmitted between humans and animals.
By Express News Service

MALKANGIRI: Panic has gripped people in the district after a 55-year-old man of MV-14 village in Korukonda block, suspected to be suffering from COVID-19, was asked by health officials to undergo quarantine at home for 14 days.

The suspect, Parimal Biswas, had recently visited an ISKCON temple in West Bengal to attend an international conference, where he came in contact with several devotees including those from foreign countries.

On his return, he began feeling unwell. He visited the district headquarters hospital for check-up on Monday.

ADMO (Medical) Anil Kumar Mishra said Biswas was examined by doctors and no significant symptoms were found in him. He, however, was asked by the Hospital Superintendent to undergo self-quarantine at his home for 14 days.

Mishra said doctors of Korukonda CHC along with health workers would attend to Biswas every day during the quarantine period. His health condition will be examined again after 14 days.
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Linkedin Alice Lefebvre and Daphne Rousseau (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France  Thu, March 12, 2020 09:09 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069f83cf 2 Lifestyle health,coronavirus,COVID-19,France,dating,love Free

People are being warned against cheek-kissing and handshakes for fear of spreading the coronavirus. But at such a time, are love and dating also on hold?

Some in Paris, seen by its fans as the capital of romance, seem happy to flout the advice against physical contact and put their quest for love first.

On Camille's second date with Olivier, who she met via dating app Tinder, he offered her a sip from his drink at a Paris movie theater. There was only one straw.

"I hesitated for several seconds, and then I said 'yes' because I was afraid I would spoil the moment," the French architect recalled.

In the end, they kissed.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which has warned of a real threat of the coronavirus outbreak becoming a pandemic -- meaning it has truly spread worldwide -- has no specific advice for people pursuing amorous agendas.

"WHO's advice on prevention applies to all social situations," the UN's health arm said in a statement sent to AFP in response to a query.

Advice includes regular hand-washing, avoiding travelling if you have a fever or cough, and coughing and sneezing into your sleeve or a discardable tissue.

Read also: Love speaks through glass panes at coronavirus facility

'Continue to have fun'

The virus is known to travel in human saliva, which should make kissing on the lips off limits. France has already advised against the less intimate but common greeting "la bise" -- which involves touching cheeks while making kissing noises in the air.

There is no published data suggesting the virus can spread via sex.

Tinder, the app that famously allows users to swipe through a myriad of candidates for a date or a hookup, has issued a warning to users that "While we want you to continue to have fun, protecting yourself from the coronavirus is more important."

The message, which pops up between two potential "matches", is accompanied by a list of basic prevention measures which include keeping a "social distance" in public gatherings -- seemingly at odds with the app's very reason for existence: getting people together.

Health authorities say the virus appears to spread between people who are within about 1.8 meters from one another.

"Tinder is aware that its members are sometimes driven to meet in person," the company, which has some 50 million clients, told AFP. It said it wished to highlight safety precautions "given the current environment".

Celia, a 39-year-old Parisian who did not give her full name, said the outbreak did nothing to dampen her excitement about meeting up with the man she had been flirting with online.

"There is an element of 'the end of the world' to this virus, it... makes me want to live a little more intensely, and not necessarily in a wholesome way," she told AFP.

The date was ultimately cancelled because her counterpart had a fever.

Read also: Love in the time of coronavirus: A quiet Valentine's Day in China

'Loosening up'

For some, the outbreak seems to have only fueled their search for love.

"I have the impression that it has served as a boost, that everyone is connecting, loosening up," said a dating app user who gave her name as Leila and said she had observed a sudden increase in "matches" and meet-ups.

Research has shown that periods of high anxiety may drive people to engage in more, and riskier, sexual behavior.

The WHO said it was "normal and understandable to feel anxious" in these days, "especially if you live in a country or community that has been affected" by the coronavirus.

In the bars and nightclubs of Paris, many seem to be opting for the strategy of avoidance.

A man sitting at a bar counter with three friends jokes that the virus "is a good topic of conversation, it makes it easy to talk to girls".

At another popular spot, 30-year-old Jeanne asserts that after a few drinks "one quickly forgets about the risks of infection".

And at Mask, a Paris swingers club where guests often wear elaborate disguises, the management has noted a 30-percent drop in clientele, but insists it will not close, for now.

At the entrance, guests can collect a mask -- of the surgical kind.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Advantagewon Oil Corp., (CSE: AOC), (OTC Pink: ANTGF), (the "Corporation", "Advantagewon", "AOC") announced today that further to its press release issued March 3, 2020 it has completed tying in it's second Canadian well.

The second well is now on production and producing 40 Barrels of Oil Equivalent Per Day ("BOE/D"). The Corporation will receive 100% of the net revenue until it has recovered the cost of well currently estimated at $60,000 CDN after which time it will become a 75% working interest owner.

The Corporation continues to execute on its strategy of low risk high return acquisitions and reactivations. This acquisition resulted in the Company spending approximately $1,500 to acquire a BOE. The Corporation continues to make progress on several additional opportunities and hopes to be able to announce an additional acquisition shortly.

About Advantagewon Oil Corp.

Advantagewon is focused on building consistent cash flow from low cost, low risk oil wells. Advantagewon's common shares are listed on the OTC Markets in the United States and on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") in Canada. Advantagewon is a member of the CSE Composite Index (CSE: AOC). For more information please visit www.aoc-oil.com

For further information please contact:

Mr. Stephen Hughes

CEO & Director

Advantagewon Oil Corp.

T: (587) 580-9344

Mr. Frank Kordy

Secretary & Director

Advantagewon Oil Corp

T: (647) 466-4037

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither 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. We seek safe harbor.

- 30 -

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53387
Tasteless photos of Married At First Sight's Steve Burley imitating Adolf Hitler and mocking Asian appearance emerged on Wednesday.

And that same night, the reality star was spotted looking tense while attending An Evening with Jean Claude Van Damme in Melbourne.

The 52-year-old was strolling through the Convention and Exhibition Centre on his way to the event.

Caught out! Married At First Sight's Steve Burley, 52, looked worried while out in Melbourne on Wednesday, which was the same night that tasteless photos him imitating Adolf Hitler and mocking Asian appearance were leaked online

He stepped out in a tailored blue checked blazer with a white T-shirt and jeans.

The barber shop owner styled his silver in a left-swept coiffure, while the right side of his head was shaven.

He looked down and scrolled through his phone - possibly to check out his own name in the headlines.

Steve appeared to be furiously typing on his phone, indicating that he may have been stressed out about his photo scandal.

Leaked: The same night his disrespectful images were leaked, the reality TV star, 52, was out attending An Evening with Jean Claude Van Damme at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Quickly responding: Steve appeared to be furiously typing on his phone

Channel Nine, which airs MAFS, sent a response on his behalf to The Daily Telegraph's Confidential on Wednesday.

'This is a private message that was never intended to be made public but I can see that it is culturally insensitive and I regret it. I am deeply sorry if I have offended anyone,' the statement read.

The picture was reportedly sent to the barber shop owner's co-stars in a WhatsApp group chat called 'The Kids', alongside the question 'Who am I?'

Disrespectful: The photos were reportedly sent by Steve to his MAFS co-stars in two WhatsApp group chats. One image, he hair brushed forward with the Nazi leader's moustache. In another chat, Steve shared a photo of himself pulling his eyelids outward to look 'like an Asian Mishel'

In the photo, Steve brushed his hair forward and drawn on the Nazi leader's toothbrush moustache.

A scandalous image from another group WhatsApp chat with his co-stars, also leaked to Confidential, saw Steve in a black T-shirt and cap, pulling his eyelids outward to look 'like an Asian Mishel'.

Steve 'wed' Mishel Karen, 49, on the current season of Married At First Sight.

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine
Government says it has procured 350 buses for Senior High Schools (SHSs) nationwide.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia made the disclosure on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Accra, as he handed over some 365 Isuzu Double Cabin pickups to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Education Directorates nationwide.

He said the buses are expected in the country by the end of April 2020.

---Daily Guide
The Afghanistan Telecoms Regulatory Authority (ATRA) has fined the countrys five main operators a total of AFN1.2 billion (USD15.7 million) for falling short of quality of service (QoS) standards.

Afghan Telecom (Aftel), Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC), Etisalat Afghanistan, MTN Afghanistan and Roshan have all fallen afoul of the regulator, although no timeframe for the fines was disclosed.

Despite the QoS fines, ATRA highlighted the operators efforts, noting that as of December 2019, they had collectively deployed 7072 sites delivering coverage to 90% of Afghanistans population via a total investment of AFN183 billion.

The regulator also conceded that while the fines were appropriate, the market presents significant challenges for maintaining networks and improving QoS. These include insurgent groups destroying infrastructure and cutting fibre lines as well as the unlimited use of jammers by government authorities, foreign troops and individuals.

Additionally, the regulator noted that Afghanistans limited fibre backbone and spectrum distribution restrictions also make it hard operators to achieve higher QoS standards  but it was clear in saying that penalties would be issued to any operators that failed to meet their licence terms.
Sides to give TCG list of people slated for mutual release, and as soon as possible  Zelensky's Office

The participants in the latest meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) for Donbas in Minsk, which was also attended by head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and deputy chief of the Russian presidential administration Dmitry Kozak, reached agreements on issues concerning prisoner exchanges, the disengagement of forces and hardware, the simultaneous opening of checkpoints in Zolote and Shchastia, and the introduction of a Consultative Council.

The sides agreed to provide the TCG with a list of people who may be released as part of a mutual move, "bearing in mind the need to complete this release as soon as possible," the Office of the President of Ukraine said on Facebook.

The TCG also received agreed lists of people slated for mutual release, including the results of verification by the International Committee of the Red Cross and ensuring unconditional and unhindered access for OSCE Special Monitoring Mission officials to certain people in the territory of Ukraine and the certain districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Additionally, the TCG decided to include the Consultative Council in the TCG political subgroup, it said. This decision will be signed after consultations with representatives of the OSCE, France, and Germany regarding the implementation of agreements achieved during the Normandy Four summit in Paris on December 9, 2019.
Workers manufacture masks in a factory in southern Long An Province on February 29, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

The Vietnamese government is considering delaying the tax payment deadline by five months for businesses affected by the novel coronavirus.

It will involve over VND30 trillion ($1.3 billion) worth of taxes.

Some VND22.6 trillion ($974.3 million) of it will be owed in between March and June by businesses in the agriculture, food processing, textiles, footwear, leathers, electronics, auto, aviation, railroad, roads, logistics, restaurants, and tourism sectors, according to a draft decree from the Ministry of Finance.

Payment of another VND3 trillion ($129.3 million) in value-added and income taxes by individuals will also be deferred until December 15.

Around VND4.5 trillion ($194 million) in land-use fees will be delayed until October 31.

But since all businesses have to complete their tax obligations before the end of the year, the governments revenue this year is unlikely to be affected, the ministry said.

It is part of the governments effort to mitigate the economic losses caused by Covid-19, which is set to bring GDP growth this year down to a seven-year low of 5.96 percent.

Last year growth was 7.02 percent, the second highest rate in a decade.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:56:36|Editor: xuxin

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By Xinhua Writer Ding Lei

NAIROBI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria and Angola, OPEC's African members and two of the largest crude producers on the continent, are warning a tougher time in a few months following the global oil market turbulence earlier this week.

Driven by a demand dislocation amid the global spread of COVID-19 following a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia last week after the collapse of a supply cut deal between OPEC and its alliance, Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices plunged by more than 25 percent on Monday.

Mele Kyari, head of Nigeria's state oil firm Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, said on Wednesday that Africa's largest economy is beginning to see the effects of the global oil market slump, adding that when the oil market collapsed everything would collapse, especially in a country like Nigeria where oil is the mainstay.

The national oil corporation chief said the reality on the ground is beginning to dawn on Nigeria.

Latest data from Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the oil sector, which sees average daily oil production of 2 million barrels, accounted for about 8.78 percent of the country's total real GDP in 2019.

Angola, Africa's second biggest crude oil exporter after Nigeria, is also facing the challenges where the oil sector has already underperformed. In 2018, Angola's oil product reduced by 9 percent due to the aging of oil production infrastructure and poor performance of new oil fields, according to the African Development Bank.

The National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) said in a statement released on Wednesday that it is still investigating the impact of the global oil price crash.

DOUBLE BLOW

The oil price crash could not come at a worse time for two of the largest economies in Sub-Saharan Africa whose recovery remains fragile following the sharp drop in oil prices in 2014.

According to World Bank, growth in Angola and Nigeria has subdued in 2019, remaining well below historical averages and contracting for a fifth consecutive year on a per capita basis.

Global ratings agency Moody's Investors Service said on Thursday that although oil prices have recovered a bit, they remained below 40 U.S. dollars per barrel. Low oil prices and possible foreign-currency shortages will filter through the economy, resulting in low economic activity in Nigeria.

The agency warned that Nigeria's foreign-currency reserves, which declined to around 36 billion U.S. dollars at the end of February, will be under pressure, triggering a possible depreciation of local currency naira and further diminishing investor and business confidence.

London-based economic research consultancy Capital Economics said on Wednesday that Angolan economy is projected to fall by 3.5 percent in 2020 and an 18-percent devaluation in local currency kwanza, due to the global oil price drop amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The think tank estimated that oil prices may drop about 35 percent in total this year, which will be "painful" for main producers such as Nigeria and Angola.

Nigeria's economy slipped into recession in 2016 following oil price falls in 2015. According to official statistics, the economy contracted 1.58 percent in 2016 and grew by only 0.82 percent in 2017. The country recorded a 2.27 percent expansion in 2019, slightly higher than a growth rate of 1.91 percent in 2018.

In its latest African Economic Outlook 2020 report released earlier this year, the African Development Bank said a real GDP contraction of 0.1 percent is estimated for Angola in 2019, indicating that the recession has not yet ended.

COUNTER RESPONSE

Industry watchers noted that Africa's petroleum producers will suffer from the oil price dive as they need the prices to meet spending requirements while balancing national budget, and the global oil pressure, coupled with COVID-19 outbreak will have various impacts on African markets.

At the end of last year, the Nigerian government pegged the oil price at 57 U.S. dollars per barrel in its 2020 national budget, predicting that the economy was expected to grow by 2.93 percent in 2020.

"We can take oil production to three million barrels if we are determined, but the problem still remains that we have a huge challenge which is the capacity to finance oil development in Nigeria," said Kyari, while speaking at a conference held in Abuja to cushion the effects of the decline in the global oil price.

Mary Uduk, acting director-general of Nigeria's capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), told reporters in Abuja on Wednesday that the effect of the declining global prices would be felt in various countries' markets.

The Nigerian government has already convened a conference led by the Central Bank of Nigeria to look at possible ways out of the situation, she noted.

According to the official, Nigeria's 2020 national budget had already been threatened by the fall in the oil price, but concerted efforts are required to tackle the issue as it affects the local benchmark for crude oil.

"It is a serious thing, so all of us need to sit down and say what we can do. It is not just one sector, it has to be concerted efforts by all," she added.

(Xinhua reports Xu Zheng in Accra and Wu Changwei in Windhoek also contributed to the story.)
It is globally known that most of the goods in the United States of America originates abroad. Tariff issues could affect international trade, says a recent article. This can significantly affect the major trade partners of the US such as Mexico.

Here are some products used in the United States that came from Mexico:

Jumpsuits from NASA

The jumpsuits used in NASA are made in Mexico. Additionally, all of the clothing used by the scientist at NASA and space explorers are made in Mexico.

Grupo Alsico Promex, a Mexican firm, manufactures the specialized clothing used by international chemical laboratories for handling high-tech materials and equipment.

The Fender Stratocaster Guitars

The Fender Stratocaster guitars are both manufactured in the United States and made in Mexico. There is a belief by many fans of the brand saying the United States version is more superior than the ones made in Mexico. This is one of the reasons why the US-made Fender Stratocaster guitars are priced higher than those made in Mexico. However, higher tariffs for imports will increase the price of the Mexican-imported Fender Stratocaster guitars.

Avocados and Other Fruits and Vegetables

The avocado is Mexico's unofficial fruit are also grown in the southern parts of the United States.

In 2018, Mexico reported a total of $5 billion imports of fruits and nuts and $7 billion worth of vegetables to the United States.

Some of the fruits and vegetables imported to the United States from Mexico are squash, beans, mango, bananas, tomatoes, corn, and pineapples. A change in tariffs will also affect the US prices of this product.

Televisions and Other Electronic Devices

Though Asia is famous for being the headquarters of major electronics companies. However, these Asian companies' electronic products are being assembled in Mexico. Tijuana had become a center for electrical manufacturing. In 2018, it had made $37 billion exports of these products. In the city lies a Center for Digital Research and Technological Development by Samsung. Furthermore, Vizio's manufacturing had been built in Mexican territory since 2015.

Also read: Mexico Takes Top Spot as US Foreign Trade Partner in January 2020

Precious Substances Such as Gems and Metals

Upon the arrival of Spaniards in Mexico, they immediately tried to excavate the precious gems and metals from its lands. Emeralds, gold, silver, quarts, and fire opals were mined by them. These precious metals are currently being shipped worldwide for jewelry making.

Tequila

Tequila is a native drink in Mexico. The drink has a protected designation of origin from 40 nations in the world. It means these nations only accept tequilas made in Mexico and by approved distilleries.
In the wake of Yes bank crisis, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has stepped in to restore faith in private banks. After its action against Yes Bank, the central bank noticed that some state governments had advised bodies under them to move their deposits and accounts to 'more' secure public sector banks. Reacting to this development, the RBI has written to state governments, advising them to not panic.

"It has been observed from certain media reports that some of the State Governments have advised government bodies and other entities under their jurisdiction to transfer their funds held with Private Sector Banks to Public Sector Banks. It is also learnt that a few other State Governments are contemplating similar action," RBI said in a letter addressed to chief secretaries of various state governments.

RBI has told state governments that apprehension on safety of deposits with private lenders is highly misplaced and as already mentioned, such reactive decision will not be in the interest of stability of financial system in general, and banking system in particular. RBI expressed concerns that such a step on part of state governments will cause unnecessary panic in banking sector, leading to liquidity issues.

ALSO READ:SBI to invest Rs 7,250 crore in Yes Bank

ALSO READ:'Yes Bank gave enough notice, there was enough time for rescue plan': Raghuram Rajan

RBI has requested state governments to reconsider any decision they might have already taken or are about to take regarding withdrawal or transfer funds deposited by them in private sector banks. In the letter to state governments, the apex bank has also reiterated its faith in private banks.

"We strongly believe that such a move can have banking and financial sector stability implications. We would like to point out that the Reserve Bank has adequate powers to regulate and supervise the Private Sector Banks and by using these powers it has ensured that the depositors' money is entirely safe," the RBI said

In the same letter, RBI assured that every possible measure is being taken to restore normalcy at Yes Bank. "It is pertinent to mention that the resolution of weak Private Sector Banks in the past has been done in a manner that the depositors are not put to loss. It is precisely with a view to retaining depositors' confidence in Private Sector Banks and mitigating their hardship that, after the imposition of moratorium on Yes Bank Ltd, the RBl has drawn up a draft scheme without any delay and we are making every effort to expedite the finalisation of the scheme," RBI assured.

ALSO READ:'Was in talks with RBI, Finance Ministry to takeover Yes Bank': Rana Kapoor

ALSO READ:Infographic: What is the ED case against Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor?
As the city of Worcester responds to the outbreak of coronavirus, officials have announced that the Worcester Public Schools will be closed for cleaning on Friday, the senior center is being closed and a hotline for questions about the respiratory illness is available.

Three individuals, with connections to North High School and Chandler Magnet School, came into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus. An outside cleaning company is being hired to clean North High School and Chandler Magnet School and regular custodians will clean the rest of the districts schools before classes resume Monday, Superintendent Maureen Binienda said alongside other city officials at a Thursday afternoon press conference.

City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said that the city is closing the senior center until further notice because older people are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus.

The seniors being an important part of our population but also one of the more vulnerable parts of our population, we are acting with an abundance of caution, Augustus said.

Senior center staff is working to create plans to support the needs of seniors at home, he said.

Items that are frequently touched, like doorknobs and elevator buttons, are being cleaned on city property. Sanitizer is also being made available, the city manager said.

As the city responds to the uncharted territory of this disease, officials have launched a COVID-19 information line to answer questions. The number is 508-799-1019. The line will provide facts and information and will be available in multiple languages.

The city website is also being updated with coronavirus information, which is available in several languages.

The effects of the virus are already here, Augustus said. The more we can do now, the better.

On Thursday afternoon, the state Department of Public Health announced there are now 108 cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts. Six of those cases are confirmed by the CDC and 102 are presumptive.

Only one of those presumptive cases is from Worcester County, DPH said. That person was initially treated at UMass Memorial Medical Center. The hospital has since added visitor restrictions and is prohibiting anyone who has a fever, cough or shortness of breath from coming into the hospital.

Michael Hirsh, a UMass Memorial Medical Center doctor and the medical director for Worcesters Division of Public Health, said the coronavirus is considered a cousin of a virus that was long thought to be one of the causes of the common cold.

This particular strain, which originated in Wuhan China, appears to have come from an exotic animal market in that city.

Because of the population there, it spread from patient zero to a large segment of the population there, Hirsh said.

Augustus said Worcester all work-related travel for city employees, both foreign and domestic, has been canceled, but that regular internal business will continue. Conferences and seminars will be held virtually or canceled. Employees who feel sick with flu-like symptoms must stay home, per an executive order by the city manager.

City employees who have traveled to countries or places with a Level 2 or 3 alert because of coronavirus must notify their department head and may be required to say home for two weeks. Employees who travel to those countries for personal purposes will be required to stay home for two weeks, according to the order.

All city events with an attendance of 50 or more people are being canceled. City public hearings and board meetings will continue, Augustus said.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts.

Officials reminded residents to wash their hands thoroughly and regularly and to cough and sneeze into their elbow or a tissue.

Several schools around Massachusetts have closed over COVID-19 concerns or to allow for a deep clean of buildings.

Events around the state have been canceled, including the Worcester County St. Patricks Day parade.

A real-time map by The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University indicates that there have been 127,863 confirmed cases of coronavirus globally. A total of 4,718 people have died from the illness and 68,310 people have recovered.

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Part of the 320th Squadron of the Jolly Rogers 90th Bombardment Group, the crew of this B-24 arrived in Papua New Guinea only four months prior before being shot down in March of 1944. (The MacArthur Memorial)

The nose art on this B-17, a member of the 349 Bomber Squadron, 100th Bomber Group, humorously captures certain bodily reactions when flying over Nazi-Occupied Europe. (American Air Museum)

"Old Man Moe", a C-47 of the 455th Service Squadron giving off slight Herbert the Pervert vibes. (The MacArthur Memorial)

Sgt. J.S. Wilson, paints a design on a B-24 bomber based at Eniwetok, 1944. (National Archives)

The crew from the 497th Bomb Group, 869th Bomb Squadron, pose in front of their B-29, "Waddy's Wagon." These men were the fifth B-29 to take off on the initial Tokyo mission from Saipan, and first to land after bombing the target. (National Archives)

This B-17, named after a popular song at the time, was assigned to the 91st Bomb Group"The Ragged Irregulars." It flew 24 combat missions in WWII, receiving flak damage seven times. It was later found in France in 1968, returning to the U.S. in 1988 after undergoing a major restoration. (U.S. Air Force)

The famous B-29 "Bockscar" nose art was added after the Nagasaki atomic bombing mission. (U.S. Air Force)

Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, Jr., pilot of the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, waves from his cockpit prior to takeoff on August 6, 1945. (National Archives)

Crewmen of the 43rd Bomb Group 64th Squadron admiring their B-24's nose art. (The MacArthur Memorial)

An American airman waves from the cockpit of a B-17 emblazoned with a picture of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, circa 1943. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Kate Beckinsale has recalled a shocking encounter with Harvey Weinstein after the disgraced movie mogul was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

The British actress penned an emotional Instagram message on Wednesday hours after Weinstein, 67, was sentenced 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.

Kate recalled how Weinstein had forced the cast of her hit 2001 movie Serendipity to go ahead with the New York premiere of the film mere weeks after 9/11, before accusing her of 'ruining' the premiere in a shocking rant.

Reveal: Kate Beckinsale has recalled a shocking encounter with Harvey Weinstein, hours after the disgraced movie mogul was sentenced to 23 years in prison (pictured at a Miramax party in 2004)

Kate shared two photos from the October 2001 premiere, showing herself and Weinstein on the red carpet.

She told her followers in the lengthy caption: 'These photos were taken at the premiere of Serendipity on October 5, 2001.

'We all refused to go because holding a premiere mere weeks after 9/11 with the city still smoking felt like the most insensitive, tone deaf, disrespectful idea possible.'

The actress revealed that 'Harvey insisted. We flew into New York and somehow got through it.'

The ordeal wasn't over as Kate revealed that the next morning Weinstein invited her and her then two-year-old daughter Lily, who she shares with ex Michael Sheen, over for a playdate 'with his similar aged daughter'.

Worked together: Kate recalled how Weinstein had forced the cast of her hit 2001 movie Serendipity to go ahead with the New York premiere of the film mere weeks after 9/11 (pictured at the premiere)

'I said ok,' Kate wrote. 'I turned up and he immediately called for his nanny to take the babies to another room to play. I went to go with them and he said No, you wait here .'

Kate then went on to describe Weinstein's terrifying rant, as he accused her of ruining the Serendipity premiere with her choice of outfit, a white suit and tie.

'The minute the door closed he started screaming you stupid f**king C**T, you C**T you ruined my premiere. I had no idea what he was talking about and started to shake.'

'He said, "If I am throwing a red carpet you get in a tight dress, you shake your a** you shake your t**s you do not go down it looking like a f**king lesbian you stupid f**king c**t ."'

Remembering: Kate shared two photos from the October 2001 premiere, showing herself and Weinstein on the red carpet

Emotional message: She told her followers in the lengthy caption: 'We all refused to go because holding a premiere mere weeks after 9/11 with the city still smoking felt like the most insensitive, tone deaf, disrespectful idea possible'

Kate continued: 'The shock made me burst into tears. I tried to say "Harvey, the city is on fire, people are still looking for their relatives none of us even felt the premiere was appropriate much less coming out dressed like its a bachelor party."'

'He said, I dont care -its my f**king premiere and if I want p***y on the red carpet thats what I get". Screaming. Livid.'

Kate recalled that 'I managed to get myself and my child out of there and yes that was one of many experiences I had that there was no recourse for.'

She pointed out that while the incident 'falls under no felony I WAS punished for it, and for other instances where I said no to him for years, insidiously and seeming irreversibly.'

Run in: The ordeal wasn't over as Kate revealed that the next morning Weinstein invited her and her then two-year-old daughter Lily over for a playdate (Kate and Lily pictured in an Instagram photo)

Kate ended her statement by expressing her relief when she heard Weinstein's sentencing on Wednesday but cautioned that there are many other crimes that the convicted rapist will not be held accountable for in a court of law.

'Hearing that he has gone to prison for 23 years is a huge relief to me on behalf of all the women he sexually assaulted or raped, and I hope will be a deterrent to that sort of behavior in this and any other industry.'

'Having said that, the crimes that are not crimes, the inhumane bullying and sick covert abuse for which there is STILL no recourse no matter who you tell (and I did tell), these too need to go.'

'I hope and pray that we as an industry can start to actually outlaw all abuses of power and expose them and eliminate them, for all genders, forever. And Rose, brava.'

Not happy: Kate then went on to describe Weinstein's terrifying rant, as he accused her of ruining the Serendipity premiere with her choice of outfit, a white suit and tie

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.

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

The ex movie mogul, 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.

Relief: Kate ended her statement by expressing her relief when she heard Weinstein's sentencing on Wednesday to 23 years in prison in a landmark #MeToo case (pictured in 2016)

Kate previously spoke about her first encounter with Weinstein in an October 2017 Instagram post, revealing he came onto her when she was just a 17-year-old ingenue with school the next day.

Like many of his alleged victims, Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to assault her during a hotel room meeting early on in her career.

'I was called to meet Harvey Weinstein at the Savoy Hotel when I was 17. I assumed it would be in a conference room which was very common. When I arrived, reception told me to go to his room,' she wrote.

'He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed.'

Like many of his alleged victims, Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to assault her during a hotel room meeting early on in her career

A few years later, the British actress says Weinstein recalled their first meeting and asked if he had 'tried anything'.

'I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not,' Beckinsale said.

Beckinsale, whose parents were both actors as well, says turning Weinstein down negatively impacted her career.

'I had what I thought were boundaries - I said no to him professionally many times over the years - some of which ended up with him screaming at me calling me a c*** and making threats, some of which made him laughingly tell people oh "Kate lives to say no to me."

Ambitious: Turning down the movie mogul 'undoubtedly' hurt her career, Beckinsale said

'It speaks to the status quo in this business that I was aware that standing up for myself and saying no to things, while it did allow me to feel uncompromised in myself, undoubtedly harmed my career and was never something I felt supported by anyone other than my family,' she said.

Beckinsale also told the story of how Weinstein allegedly threatened a male friend of hers, after he warned another young actress about the producer's predatory behavior.

'I had a male friend who, based on my experience, warned a young actress who said she was going to dinner with Harvey to be careful. He received a phone call the next day saying he would never work in another Miramax film; the girl was already sleeping with Harvey and had told him that my friend had warned her of,' Beckinsale says.
A OneFour rapper will be allowed to continue his music career with the 'drill rap' group after appealing a bail condition over an alleged affray.

Iakopo Esera was banned from associating with the rap group while waiting to fight allegations he was involved in a brawl outside a kebab store in Sydney's west.

But on Thursday, self-confessed 'music-lover' Justice Natalie Adams ruled the bail conditions imposed on the 20-year-old were 'more onerous than necessary', The Daily Telegraph reported.

Iakopo Esera (pictured) was banned from associating with the western Sydney rap group while waiting to settle an alleged affray offence

'I've never seen anything quite like it,' she said.

'It seems to me that if this applicant is genuine (about his music career) he would not risk the opportunity to gain overseas success by doing something stupid.'

Justice Adams also changed the conditions which barred Esera from communicating with street-gang OneFour, which is unrelated to the rap band, as well as MF14, Greater West Brotherhood and Notorious Familia.

The bail conditions still restrict Esera from contacting rival groups Inner West and District 21.

Esera and an unnamed male were caught wrestling in front of a kebab store after two of the rapper's friends were injured in a stabbing, police allege.

Defence barrister Stephen Lawrence said his client would argue self-defence.

But on Thursday, 'music-lover' Justice Natalie Adams ruled the bail conditions imposed on the 20-year-old were 'more onerous than necessary'

OneFour shares its name with a Mount Druitt youth gang but have insisted they are not members themselves, and say the name comes from the year they were established.

The OneFour gang are at war with 21 District, which appears to have started after a song which made fun of the death of one of their members in Parramatta.

The group has developed a cult-following for its drill-rap about living in western Sydney.

But the band has been struggling to perform after three members were jailed for a violent assault at a pub in western Sydney.

New South Wales police previously said they haven't banned the group from performing but said venues hosting the rap-group would need to pay for on-duty police officers to attend the concerts.
NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintendo Switch, the fastest-selling console of the current generation, and Gain laundry detergent zoomed up the list of brands most positively talked about in offline conversations, both leapfrogging ahead of more than 600 brands to take the first and second "most loved" positions, respectively, in Engagement Labs' TotalSocial system.

Meantime, online brand conversations generated a completely different list of most loved brands, including American Family Insurance and Great Value, a Walmart brand, earning the most positive online talk. Only one brand, Unilever's Dove Men + Care, managed to rank among the most positively talked about brands both online and offline.

Marketers desire to foster a brand evangelist movement and a community of active brand advocates. Brand evangelism is important as positive consumer conversations about the brands they love can accelerate and grow business. According to Engagement Labs data and analytics 19 percent of all consumer purchases are driven by these kinds of consumer conversations.

For the 2019 analysis of more than 600 US consumer brands across a spectrum of industry sectors and categories, Engagement Labs ranked the most loved brands based on net positive conversations happening online (via social media) and offline (via face-to-face conversations) based on its annual TotalSocial Brand Awards series.

MOST LOVED BRANDS OFFLINE Rank Brand Change vs. 2018 1 Nintendo Switch +67 2 Gain +66 3 Disney World -2 4 Lego +15 5 Fisher-Price -1 6 AVEENO +19 7 Marvel +24 8 Olay +19 9 Dove Men + Care +17 10 Costco +22

MOST LOVED BRANDS ONLINE Rank Brands Change vs. 2018 1 American Family +1 2 Great Value -1 3 Dove Men + Care +17 4 AVON +9 5 Mary Kay -2 6 Garnier Fructis +1 7 Clean & Clear -5 8 CoverGirl +27 9 Kirkland's +23 10 Lush +5

"The eclectic mix of brands on our 'most loved' brands list show that brands in any category can earn positive recommendations from consumers," said Engagement Labs CEO Ed Keller. "We also see the potential for brands to improve, dramatically, as Nintendo, Gain, and CoverGirl did last year."

Many of the brands on both the online and offline lists are in the beauty category. Aveeno and Olay are among the most positively talked about brands offline, while 7 of the 10 top online brands are in the beauty category, including Avon, Mary Kay, and Garnier Fructis.

"The beauty category has worked hard to engage online influencers, and it shows in the positive discussions these brands receive," said Keller. "It's a lesson for other categories, as well, that they can benefit from proactive social media campaigns."

Despite the general strength of beauty brands, several fell of the lists entirely. L'Oreal dropped off the "most loved" offline list, from number 8 in 2018 to 34 in 2019. In terms of positive online conversations, Estee Lauder fell from 8 to 46, and Neutrogena fell from 9 to 73.

To learn more about Engagement Labs and how to increase your brand's consumer conversations in real life and online, reach out at: [email protected].

To learn more about the TotalSocial Brand Awards, click here.

About Engagement Labs

Engagement Labs (TSXV: EL) is an industry-leading data and analytics firm that provides social intelligence for Fortune 500 brands and companies. The Company's TotalSocial platform focuses on the entire social ecosystem by combining powerful online (social media) and offline (word of mouth) data with predictive analytics. Engagement Labs has a proprietary ten-year database of unique brand, industry and competitive intelligence, matched with its cutting-edge predictive analytics that use machine learning and artificial intelligence to reveal the social metrics that increase marketing ROI and top line revenue for its diverse group of clients.

To learn more visit www.engagementlabs.com / www.totalsocial.com.

About TotalSocial

TotalSocial is a premier data and analytics platform that provides brands with unique insights, improved marketing ROI and strategies to grow revenue. Fueled by actionable online and offline data, TotalSocial is the only platform that encompasses and listens to the entire social ecosystem. TotalSocial offers unique, proprietary data about brands, its industry and competitors. With cutting-edge diagnostics, patent-pending predictive analytics and machine learning, TotalSocial identifies business opportunities and provides recommendations and a roadmap to grow revenue and achieve business and marketing goals.

About TotalSocial Brand Awards  Most Loved Brands

The awards are based on the Company's proprietary TotalSocial data and analytics platform, which continuously measures the online and offline social metrics that are proven drivers of business performance. These metrics, including both online and offline conversations against the following major conversation dimensions: net sentiment (the difference in the percent positive conversations minus negative), brand sharing (the extent to which people are sharing or talking about a brand's marketing or advertising), volume (a measure of how many conversations mention a brand) and influence (the extent to which an influential audience is talking about a brand). The Most Loved Award is given to brands with the highest net sentiment scores online and offline in 2019.

Disclaimer in regard to Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements included herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Engagement Labs does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

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.

For media inquiries please contact:

Vanessa Lontoc, VP of Marketing

Engagement Labs

732-846-6800

[email protected]

SOURCE Engagement Labs

Related Links

engagementlabs.com


Theres nothing to say that a future Legislature cant come in and scoop some of that money, so I think to get me there would have to have some sort of protection on those resources, Hinson said.

She also had concerns about changing the income tax triggers that she sees as a good fiscal safeguard.

Schneider said the Senate is working on one budget plan and doing various runs through the state Department of Revenue that include accelerating 2018 income tax triggers and assessing the property tax phasedown of the local government backfill and mental health levies that would raise the net tax reduction to at least $157 million.

I dont think anyone in our caucus is saying were going to throw anything overboard at this point, or ever, for that matter, said Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny. We want a significant tax reform package, and when you include the mental health part, I think backfill is an area that we could consider.

Schneider, who also attended the Westside Conservative Club meeting, said nothing is being ruled out at this point.

Theres a shift nationwide of moving things toward a consumption-based tax, like a sales tax, and off of income tax revenue. So thats nothing new, he said. Weve voted to broaden the base of the sales tax in the past to help us drive down income taxes. So I think the appetite is there within our caucus to do it. It just has to be something that the caucus feels would be significant enough to take that vote.

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Photograph: Hayoung Jeon/EPA

A federal judge has ordered that Chelsea Manning be released from jail in Virginia.

Related: Chelsea Manning hospitalized after suicide attempt, legal team say

The former US army analyst who leaked hundreds of thousands of documents and diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks in 2010 had been held since May last year, when she was taken back into custody for refusing to testify to a grand jury investigating the pro-transparency organisation.

A hearing had been due on Friday.

Ordering Mannings release, Judge Anthony J Trenga wrote: The court finds Ms Mannings appearance before the grand jury is no longer needed, in light of which her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose.

Trenga rejected a request by Manning to cancel fines imposed for her refusal to testify, ordering instead that a judgment be entered against Manning for $256,000.

On Wednesday, representatives for Manning said she had attempted suicide at the Alexandria adult detention center.

In a statement, Mannings representatives said she has previously indicated that she will not betray her principles, even at risk of grave harm to herself.

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.

Dana Lawhorne, the Alexandria sheriff, said the incident was handled appropriately by our professional staff and Ms Manning is safe.

No further details were released.

Manning served six years in military custody for her part in the 2010 WikiLeaks disclosure, which was made via media outlets including the Guardian. Barack Obama commuted the rest of her 35-year sentence shortly before the end of his time in office.

Manning attempted suicide twice while held on the original charge, during which time she was held in solitary confinement, mounted a hunger strike and completed gender reassignment.

After her release she mounted a run for Senate in Maryland, a failure which she told the Guardian left her closer and closer to being on the edge of really deep, dark depression.

Story continues

She also said she had been exhausted when, in May 2018, she tweeted a picture apparently showing her standing on a ledge several storeys above the ground.

Manning was first jailed for refusing to testify in March that year. She was released and then taken back into custody, telling the judge she would rather starve to death than appear before the grand jury.

In February this year she petitioned for her release, comparing her experience with the Trump administrations defiance of congressional subpoenas.

Manning wrote that she had been separated from my loved ones, deprived of sunlight, and could not even attend my mothers funeral.

She added: It is easier to endure these hardships now than to cooperate to win back some comfort, and live the rest of my life knowing that I acted out of self-interest and not principle.

An extradition hearing for Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, continues in London. In the US, Assange is charged with violating the Espionage Act.
Pennsylvania state microbiologist Kerry Pollard performs a manual extraction of the coronavirus inside the lab at the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of Laboratories on Friday, March 6, 2020. Read more

Though federal officials have directed the nations physicians to order coronavirus testing for anyone they think needs it, some Pennsylvania residents say they have been denied tests deemed vital to containing the spread of the respiratory illness.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday updated guidance for evaluating and testing possible cases. The earlier instructions essentially limited testing to symptomatic people who had traveled to an outbreak hot spot or were exposed to a confirmed case. Now, the CDC is advising physicians to use their judgment to order testing for anyone with symptoms  regardless of travel  especially older adults who are at greatest risk of serious complications and death.

Pennsylvania Department of Health officials insist they are following the new guidance, at the same time noting that they have the final say about who gets tested at the state lab.

We follow CDC guidance. Weve loosened up testing criteria, said Sharon Watkins, the state Health Departments epidemiologist. We consult with doctors whenever they call us. If a doctor feels a test is warranted and we dont think so, they can use a commercial lab.

Yet at a news conference Thursday afternoon, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said limited testing availability has made it difficult to identify cases and take action to slow the spread of the virus.

Philadelphians who were in contact with known patients in Philadelphia and Montgomery County were showing symptoms of the virus, he said, but the city had not received any test results Wednesday or by 4 p.m. Thursday.

Our ability to contain this infection rests right off the bat on our ability to identify cases as quickly as possible," he said.

Until this week, the state lab was the sole point of access to testing in this state. LabCorp and Quest are now offering testing, although doctors may be unaware of the new services.

 READ MORE: Politifact: Trump says anyone who wants one can get a coronavirus test.

Anecdotal cases  and state Health Department data showing only 138 tests in a state with more than 13 million people had been completed as of Thursday afternoon  suggest Pennsylvania retains stringent rules, even as outbreaks worsen. Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday ordered mass closings of schools and businesses in Montgomery County, where 13 people have tested positive.

Claudia Bahorik, 69, a retired family physician in Bernville, Berks County, was appalled to discover the state deemed her ineligible for a test.

Bahorik has been hospitalized for pneumonia three times in the past. About two weeks after she spent a Saturday in Manhattan and Nassau County, Long Island  where dozens of cases have been confirmed  she developed a cough, mild fever, and shortness of breath. On Tuesday, a flu test was negative and X-rays and blood tests were normal, so her doctor called the state Health Department to get approval to send respiratory specimens for coronavirus testing.

He said they told him they wouldnt test because I didnt meet the criteria,' " Bahorik said by phone Wednesday after she, too, called the Health Department and was rebuffed. I asked how would we ever know the extent of the epidemic if we cant test all persons with symptoms.

In the guidance issued Sunday, the CDC said it was expanding testing to do just that  to quickly detect and respond to community spread of the virus in the United States.

Pennsylvania state health officials have taken the position that community spread  transmission of an illness with no known source of infection  is not yet occurring because most of the states 22 positive tests have each been traced to a source.

But state officials also have stressed that they are prepared to meet growing testing needs. Pennsylvanias physician general, Rachel Levine, has repeatedly said the state lab has no testing backlog and can do up to 125 cases a day.

There are no data on how many doctors, like Barhoriks, have been refused a test  or how many doctors dont realize they are supposed to help expand testing.

On Monday, for example, Francesca DAngelos doctor told her he wouldnt request a coronavirus test from the state because she didnt meet testing criteria.

DAngelo, 39, had respiratory symptoms, tested negative for the flu, lives just minutes from Bucks County schools closed because of the coronavirus, and works in a health-care facility.

She tried to get the Bucks County Health Department to intercede with the state on her behalf, but a county worker echoed her doctors conclusion that she didnt need a test. The worker basically said theres no point in me calling the state Health Department, DAngelo added.

Another resident, Sara Simon, ran into a similarly dismissive attitude when she called the state Health Department on Thursday to ask about testing, prompted by Gov. Wolfs tweet that people possibly exposed during travel should do so.

Simon, a reporter with the Spotlight PA investigative newsroom in Harrisburg, was at a journalism conference last week in New Orleans with her boyfriend, a ProPublica reporter. One other attendees at the conference have been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The Pennsylvania couple are now self-isolating at home in Mechanicsburg for two weeks in case they were exposed. (Spotlight PA, focused on Pennsylvania government, is an independent unit led by The Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/the Patriot-News.)

I said my lungs feel a little heavy and my boyfriends throat feels scratchy, but weve been taking our temperatures and have no fevers," Simon recalled telling a state nurse during the call. "The registered nurse laughed at me and said: Yeah, you definitely dont have the coronavirus. Turn off the TV. You would know if you had it. 

Despite the nurses comment, health experts have found cases of people without symptoms transmitting the virus.

For Bahorik, whose career taught her the importance of using medical judgment, the situation is surreal.

I heard Vice President Pence in a news briefing telling us that there were sufficient test kits and everyone with symptoms could be tested, she said. So on live TV, the government says one thing to reporters, but in reality testing is not being done.

Staff writer Laura McCrystal contributed to this report. Are you a Pennsylvania physician or patient who has sought testing and been turned away? Please email Marie McCullough at mmccullough@inquirer.com.
Updated at 2:45 p.m. with information from Belleville.

GLEN CARBON  A spokeswoman for the owner of a Glen Carbon assisted living facility said Thursday the facility would no longer act as a polling place in Illinois presidential primary next week because of coronavirus concerns.

We did that as a precaution, said Maryanne Wallace, spokeswoman for Lutheran Senior Services, which owns Meridian Village assisted living facility in Glen Carbon. We are moving it just because of the flu and coronavirus risk.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions are at elevated risk of contracting coronavirus.

Illinois voters cast ballots in presidential primaries on Tuesday.

According to the Madison County Clerk, instead of the Meridian Village, voters living in the Edwardsville 20, 26 and 27 precincts will now cast ballots at the Calvary Baptist Church, 2249 S. State Route 157 in Edwardsville.
Less than three months after announcing their intent to step away from the British royal family, Prince Harry and Megan, Duchess of Sussex have completed their final royal duties. After returning to the U.K. from their blissful new life on Vancouver Island in Canada, the Sussexes hit the ground running, completing a flurry of final royal engagements before Megxit goes into effect April 1.

On March 9, the couple attended their final royal engagement, Commonwealth Day as president and vice-president of the Queens Commonwealth Trust. It was the first time theyd been in public with the senior royals this year.

While the Sussexes had an awkward interaction with Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, they were all smiles and laughs with Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex. Heres why.

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

Inside the awkward British royal family reunion at Commonwealth Day

After Queen Elizabeth II booted Meghan and Prince Harry from her processional at Commonwealth Day, Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge pulled out also. They didnt want the press to analyze their interactions with the Sussexes. Unfortunately, their awkward interactions once they were seated didnt help.

Though the foursome briefly said hello to one another, thats as far as it went. According to Royal commentator Camilla Tominey, The Daily Telegraphs lip-reader gave the lowdown on the brothers conversation. 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. Yikes, it looks like the tension between the brothers isnt easing anytime soon.

Thankfully, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex were present to ease the tension. The Sussexes spent the majority of their time chatting with them.

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

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex are beloved royal family members

Amid all of the drama that has come out of the royal family in recent years, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex have been a steady force. Edward has molded into a quiet and efficient figure who does not seek attention or acquire headlines, a source told Express. He and Sophie are liked for being dutiful and uncomplaining.

Queen Elizabeth adores the prince and the countess and she is even discussing bumping them up to replace the Sussexes and ease some of the workload from the Cambridges, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

The Duke & Duchess of Sussex in deep conversation with the Earl of Wessex at the #CommonwealthDay Service. pic.twitter.com/VvuPRXorqQ  Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) March 9, 2020

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have always been close to Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Since Prince Harry and Prince Williams feud stems back before the Sussexes engagement  they were always closer to Prince Edward and Sophie. Royal expert Katie Nicholl told Express in April 2019, According to sources, the Queen has earmarked Sophie as a royal mentor for Meghan. The two spent time together at Royal Ascot last year and are understood to get along well. The pair share similar backgrounds, as Sophie, like Meghan, gave up a successful career (in PR) to marry into the Royal Family, so is in a position to help Meghan.

The foursome grew extremely close in the past year when the Sussexes moved to Windsor where the Wessexes live. The countess and the duchess also have similar interests and are major advocates for the privacy of their children. For his part, Prince Edward has been working to try and ease tensions between Prince Harry and Prince William.
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.

Gov. 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. Nineteen of those deaths are tied to a Kirkland nursing home.

King County reported new cases were found in 10 long-term facilities where residents or staff or both have tested positive. 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.

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 China, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.

The resident of the Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center died over the weekend and five other residents are in quarantine  two onsite and three offsite, the nursing home said. Two staff members also tested positive and are in an offsite quarantine. The center is awaiting results for tests on two other workers.

A man in his 80s who was a resident of Ida Culver House in Seattle was hospitalized at University of Washington Medical Center, and died Monday, King County health officials said.

Inslee said the state is implementing a list of new rules for these long-term care centers. Residents at these facilities will be limited to one visitor a day and they must host them in their rooms. All visitors must sign in and follow precautionary measures like social distancing, he said.

Employees must be screened for symptoms at the start of each shift and the facilities are not allowed to disclose confidential health information, he said.

Employees at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, linked to 19 virus deaths, have finally started getting tested for COVID-19, said Tim Killian, a spokesman for the nursing home. He said that about 30 had been tested by Tuesday, and that he believed arrangements were being made to test all 180 workers. Some 64 of the facilitys employees are showing symptoms and not working, he said, and two have returned to work after receiving medical clearance.

Forty-nine residents remain at the Life Care Center  21 of them with positive coronavirus tests, and 16 with pending or inconclusive tests, Killian said Tuesday. Nearly three dozen others are in hospitals, including four who were transferred since Monday. Including all residents, those who are hospitalized and those who remain at Life Care, there are 55 positive  34 in hospitals, 21 at the nursing home.

Over the weekend a team of 30 medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service began arriving at Life Care to relieve exhausted  and ill  staff.

The Josephine Caring Community nursing home in Stanwood reported three confirmed cases of the disease and the facility was placed in lockdown.

And the blood supply in Western Washington state is at risk of collapse, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Bloodworks Northwest said in a statement.

The accelerating number of blood drive cancellations due to the closure of schools, businesses, and events over coronavirus concerns has put nearly 60% of the communitys blood supply in jeopardy, they said. With exponentially decreasing opportunities for the public to donate, our community blood supply is in real danger.

They urged the community to donate blood if they have not been to contaminated areas and are in good health.

Inslee said the state is still considering banning large gatherings like sporting events.

I would not be shocked if we have some more news on that in the next few days, he said. If were going to stop this epidemic, we need to look at whats coming, not just whats here today.

Since COVID-19 has impacted workers, Inslee also said he has expanded support for businesses and workers in the state.

Workers can receive unemployment benefits and employers can get relief of benefit charges if they need to cut operations or shut down because a worker is sick with the disease.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics COVID-19 Washington Homeowners
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has pledged more than $100 million to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private foundation, announced a partnership with Wellcome and Mastercard to donate $125 million to help tackle COVID-19. The money will be used for identifying treatments and manufacturing millions of doses for victims worldwide.

A project funded by the private foundation has successfully developed at-home testing kits that will be distributed to residents of the Seattle area.

The project aims to be available beyond Seattle and the United States.

People who have been exposed, or suspect themselves to have been exposed to the virus, can sign up on an online form to request a kit. Test results are expected to be available within two days. All findings will be shared with local health officials.

The Gates Foundation is known for helping in fighting diseases and epidemics, as well as assisting local health agencies during outbreaks.

The Seattle Flu Study, a research project based at the University of Washington, will work on increasing its testing capacity to help health officials understand how coronavirus is spreading through the community.

Of the $125 million donations, $20 million will go to the World Health Organization(WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is also expected China and other countries heavily affected by the outbreak will receive funding from the Gates Foundation.

The funds are expected to help build hospitals and other health care facilities in Southern Asian and Africa. It can also help create a brand-new international database of the outbreak, as well as at-home test kits.

Amazon Care, a virtual medical clinic for employees, is currently in talks with the Gates Foundation as well as local health agencies in a bid to help deliver at-home testing kits, including a nose swab, to people affected by the coronavirus in the Seattle area.

Seattle has fast become one of the most heavily affected regions for the COVID-19 in the country. King County health officials are reporting over dozens of new cases daily.

The Amazon Care team is also in talks with other health groups to expand its focus outside of Seattle.

Amazon Care launched in September 2019 to ensure the delivery of premium health care to their employees and dependents located in the Seattle area. The company has hired many public health experts and doctors, including pulmonologist Dr. Vin Gupta, and clinical operations leader Dr. Kristi Henderson.

The project involves multiple organizations such as the Gates Foundation, UW Medicine, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Seattle's Children's. Funds originally meant for the Seattle Flu Project will be used to fund coronavirus test kits and analysis.

Amazon Care's involvement can speed up the processing of the coronavirus testing kit which is currently being sent out by mail.

More states have begun to embrace the new approach as federal health officers are slwoly allowing more people to fit the criteria of those who should get tested.

Amazon has also shared its ongoing fight to keep prices for face masks, hand sanitizer, and other basic health care items from skyrocketing. The company said it will remove hundreds of thousands of "high priced offers" and suspend sellers who have committed price gouging on its online market platform.
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. (AP)  A part-time janitor charged with fatally shooting a supervisor inside a crowded suburban St. Louis community center stopped taking medication to treat his bipolar disorder weeks before opening fire after he was sent home for using profanity, according to search warrants.

Michael Honkomp, 30, had been prescribed lithium but told a 60-year-old co-worker that he had stopped taking his medication before last month s shooting at the Maryland Heights Community Center, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. The shooting killed 45-year-old Maria Lucas, a customer service representative who was working the front desk while also serving as the acting supervisor.

The co-worker also told police that Honkomp grew angry with Lucas because she corrected him for using profanity over the community center radios, and asked Honkomp to leave work for the day, the search warrant said.

Honkomp then got his coat from the employee locker room, went to the front desk and was recorded on video shooting the victim in the facial area at point blank range, the warrants said.

About 150 people were in the community center, many of them children, when the gunfire erupted. A patron ran out and found a uniformed officer in the parking lot. The officer ran into the building and wounded Honkomp in a gun battle in which more than 40 rounds were exchanged. The officer wasnt hurt.

Police seized a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, which Honkomp is accused of using, at the scene along with two ammunition magazines.

Honkomp, who remains hospitalized, is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault on a special victim, resisting arrest and three counts of armed criminal action. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

His father, Joseph Honkomp, told detectives his son also had been diagnosed in high school with Aspergers syndrome, the warrants said.

Maryland Heights police chief Bill Carson previously declined to say why the janitor was being sent home or if Lucas was involved in the decision. She was buried last weekend along with her father, who died about a week later from heart and kidney problems.
ST. PAUL  The Minnesota Senate on Thursday, March 12, unanimously approved a proposal to require insulin manufacturers to provide insulin supplies to uninsured Minnesotans or those that can't afford them.

Under the proposal, manufacturers would provide insulin to patients through existing patient assistance programs and send pharmacists insulin to cover the supplies of those who seek the hormone in emergency situations.

Approval in the Senate comes after more than a year of starts and stops over the issue and it moves the proposal to a conference committee where differences between the bill and a House emergency insulin plan will be ironed out.

In the chamber, senators hugged the bill's author, Sen. Scott Jensen, R-Chaska, after the 66-0 vote came up on the screen. And Rep. Michael Howard, D-Richfield, who has championed a similar measure in the House, came to shake Jensen's hand and begin talking about the next steps for the legislation.

Jensen in discussing the proposal said "perhaps the biggest thanks" goes to the advocates who have pushed it over the past year, including the family and friends of Alec Smith, a 26-year-old Minnesotan who died after rationing his insulin in 2017.

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"I never met Alec Smith, so I can't speak to the life he lived, but I can tell Alec Smith that in passing from this Earth, hes had a far greater impact than he might ever have guessed," Jensen said. "So thank you to that family for the tragedy that they suffered and bore and thank you to all the other advocates and champions of this bill."

Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said the House approach was akin to beating drug manufacturers with a stick to contribute to the program, where the Senate's proposal to was more like "coaxing them with a carrot."

The only negative comments issued about the bill before it came up for a vote dealt with the time it took for lawmakers to reach an agreement that could send it forward and about the broader scheme of prescription drug prices that put critical medicines out of reach for Minnesotans.

"I wish we had done it sooner, but I'm glad we're doing it now," Sen. John Marty, D-Roseville, said. "This is a very important but tiny piece of the big picture."

Insulin access advocates on Thursday said the move was positive and encouraged lawmakers to act quickly to reach an agreement on the emergency insulin program.

"We have no time to waste. Minnesotans with diabetes are struggling every day to afford the insulin that they need to survive. Peoples lives are at stake," Nicole Smith-Holt, Smith's mother and an advocate for emergency insulin, said. "But Im confident that we can work together and ensure that not one more Minnesotan dies because they cant afford their insulin."

Senators accepted one change to the measure Thursday, which would boost the penalties to drug manufacturers if they don't provide the required insulin supplies for the program. But they voted down amendments that would have brought down the co-pay for receiving a supply of the insulin from $75 to $25 and eliminated a provision that allows the bill to sunset in three years.

The bill moves now to a committee of Senate and House members to be revised. A compromise measure will have to be approved in both chambers before moving to the governor's desk for a vote. Gov. Tim Walz has said he supports the emergency insulin program.
Why it matters: Spain, France, and now the UK have all introduced their digital services tax for Big Tech, in an effort to address concerns about multinational corporations avoiding taxation in countries where they derive a profit without a physical presence. Until the OECD comes up with a solution that 137 countries can agree on, some governments feel that an interim solution is high on the priority list.

Last year, the Trump Administration vowed to impose significant import taxes on several French products after the latter country's government announced the introduction of a "digital services tax" that would target companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon.

Now, the UK has announced that starting in April, it'll tax revenue made from digital services like online marketplaces, search engines, social media platforms, streaming services, and pretty much any other online company that derives value from UK users.

The Digital Services Tax (DST) will apply to multinational companies that register revenues of 500 million ($641 million) on an annual basis, but only if 25 million ($32 million) of that is derived from UK users. The UK wants to tax the latter chunk at a rate of 2 percent.

HMRC will spend 8 million ($10 million) to develop the IT system and processes needed to monitor and administer the newly introduced tax, and the estimated effect of DST is expected to range from 280 million ($359 million) in the first year to more than 500 million ($640 million).

By comparison, Spain and France are looking to tax digital revenue at a rate of 3 percent, but the latter country has been persuaded by other EU members to hold off on applying the new rules until the end of this year, when the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will have to reveal a preliminary draft for international tax rules that are supposed to bring 137 countries on the same page.

This would generate a total of over $100 billion in global corporate income tax revenues that will be beneficial for both high-income and developing economies, and will make profit shifting much less appealing to big tech companies.

As for the UK, the decision will arguably affect US-based companies disproportionately, which is bound to increase tensions between the two countries. At a Davos meeting in January, US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin hinted that a levy on UK car exports is a very likely outcome for the DST.

Global trade association ITI -which is a lobbying group representing companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Snap, Twitter, and eBay - noted in a public statement that "the digital services tax proposed by the UK represents the latest in a worrying and very real trend of countries departing from important multilateral efforts to secure an agreement on international tax reform."
The lone COVID-19 patient in Telangana has fully recovered and would be discharged soon, state Health Minister E Rajender said on Thursday.

No fresh positive case of the coronavirus has been reported in the state, an official release quoted him as saying.

Rajender, who held a meeting of the state co-ordination committee on COVID-19, urged the DGP to take action against those spreading false informationabout the virus on social media.

Meanwhile, results of 12 samples (cumulatively) are awaited for test results, according to an official media bulletin on COVID-19.

It advised mass gatherings be avoided or postponed tillthe spread of COVID-19 was contained.

Universal screening was being carried out for all with history of foreign travel, it said.

The state reported its firstCOVID-19 case on March 2 when the man, a 24-year-old softwareengineer who returned from Dubai, tested positive for the virus.

TheCOVID-19 positive person, who works in Bengaluru, is currently undergoing treatment at the state-run Gandhi hospital here.

Meanwhile, a student of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Warangal, who returned from the US on March 1 after attending a conference, has been admitted to a state-run hospital in the town with complaints of cold and fever.

The student had gone to his native place Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh after returning from the US.

He returned to Warangal on March 8 and was staying outside the campus, according to an NIT statement.

The student, who was suffering from cold, cough and fever, was initially admitted to a private hospital on the evening of March 10.

After the hospital notified the case to the district health authorities, the student has been shifted to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Warangal on Thursday.

The NIT has taken all precautionary measures to conduct medical examination of students returning from outside Warangal, it said.

All faculty, staff and students have been advised to take all preventive measures to ensure that they do not contract any viral infections, the statement added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 12, 2020] HKW's Xirgo Technologies Acquires Owlcam Assets

HKW, a middle-market private equity firm focused on growth-oriented companies, today announced its portfolio company, Xirgo Technologies, LLC ("Xirgo"), has acquired assets and technology of Palo Alto (News - Alert)-based Owlcam. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "We are excited about adding Owlcam's technology to the Xirgo product portfolio and the immediate impact it's going to bring to our enterprise customer base," said Shawn Aleman, CEO of Xirgo. "Delivering AI camera technology with our existing vehicle telematics products was already part of Xirgo's short-term road-map and strategic vision. The addition of Owlcam technology has allowed us to accelerate that vision, putting us significantly ahead of our original timelines." Owlcam's artificial intelligence (AI) technology delivers innovative driver monitoring and feedback, actuarial modeling, and actionable insights that are of great importance to companies looking to improve safety and reduce costs. We believe Owlcam's technology can minimize incidents involving poor driver behavior, reduce accidents, and associated insurance claims. "The intellectual property associated with Owlcam's products as well as related AI techology fits well with Xirgo's current portfolio," said Luke Phenicie, HKW's Lead Transaction Partner. "We have confidence in Xirgo's leadership by leveraging AI camera technology to increase market penetration in the vehicle telematics space. We appreciate the opportunity to continue supporting Xirgo as part of HKW's ongoing interest in companies focused on IoT."



In 2019, Xirgo had acquired Baltic Car Equipment ("BCE (News - Alert)") based in Kaunas, Lithuania. BCE is a provider of fleet management solutions for light vehicles, trucks, heavy machinery, and agricultural equipment. The acquisition has allowed Xirgo to establish a European footprint improving access to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. About Xirgo

Xirgo is a provider of customized IoT solutions for various verticals, including insurance telematics, fleet management, asset tracking, monitoring & control, transportation logistics & mobility. More information regarding Xirgo is available at xirgotech.com.

About HKW

HKW is a private equity firm investing in growth-oriented companies with talented management teams in the US and Canada. HKW targets small to mid-size companies in the Business Services and Health & Wellness sectors. Since 1982, HKW has sponsored 62 platform transactions of lower middle-market companies throughout North America, as well as 68 add-on acquisitions. For more information on HKW, please visit hkwinc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005022/en/

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Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Variable clouds with snow showers or flurries. High 3F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. About one inch of snow expected..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 3F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%. Snowfall around one inch.
NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Verizon has unveiled a new mobile phone service called 'Yahoo Mobile.' It is available in the U.S. today on iPhone and Android devices. Yahoo Mobile, which operates on Verizon's 4G LTE network, offers unlimited talk, text and data for $39.99 per month. Customers will also get ad-free Yahoo Mail Pro for free of cost. The unlimited data is reportedly at 5-12 Mbps speeds, which could be throttled to slower rates 'in times of high traffic.' The service also offers mobile hotspot for sharing data with another device. Speeds are capped at 5 Mbps and limited to one tethered device at a time. Verizon acquired Yahoo's operating business in June 2017. Yahoo has since changed its name to Altaba Inc. 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.
Treasury Sanctions Businesses Linked to Mexican Cartels

March 11, 2020

Treasury action taken in coordination with DEA operation

Washington  The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today designated four Mexican businesses pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) because of their links to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) and the Los Cuinis Drug Trafficking Organization (Los Cuinis), two closely allied Mexican drug trafficking organizations. CJNG and Los Cuinis funnel fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the United States, fueling drug addiction across the nation. Today's action is the result of OFAC's ongoing collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which today executed Project Python, a nationwide operation to disrupt CJNG through a series of coordinated arrests, seizures, and indictments.

"The United States will continue to work with our Mexican counterparts to expose drug trafficking organizations that profit off of the suffering of American families," said Deputy Secretary Justin G. Muzinich.

"DEA targets drug trafficking organizations, including CJNG, on all fronts," said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. "Making money is at the heart of drug trafficking, and by choking off their means to launder drug proceeds, DEA, along with our interagency partners, is taking another step toward dismantling CJNG and associated organizations."

The first company designated today is International Investments Holding S.A. de C.V., an asset holding company registered in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It is owned or controlled by Los Cuinis leader Abigael Gonzalez Valencia and his wife, Jeniffer Beaney Camacho Cazares, whom OFAC designated on August 19, 2015 because she assists her husband's drug trafficking activities. The second company is GBJ de Colima, S.A. de C.V., a gas station company located in Villa de Alvarez, Colima, Mexico. This company is owned or controlled by Diana Maria Sanchez Carlon, whom OFAC designated on August 19, 2015, because she assists Abigael Gonzalez Valencia's drug trafficking activities and plays a key role in the management of his assets.

The two other companies designated today represent attempts by Los Cuinis and CJNG to evade sanctions and maintain access to the financial system. Master Reposterias y Restaurantes, S.A. de C.V. serves as the new management company for Bake and Kitchen, a restaurant in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico designated on September 14, 2017 for being owned or controlled by Abigael Gonzalez Valencia and Jeniffer Beaney Camacho Cazares. Corporativo Sushi Provi, S. de R.L. de C.V. acts as the new management company for Kenzo Sushi, a restaurant in Guadalajara, Mexico designated on September 14, 2017, because it is owned or controlled by CJNG and Los Cuinis. Bake and Kitchen and Kenzo Sushi both recently opened new locations in the Guadalajara area.

In addition to these designations, OFAC identified two new names for a cabin rental business located in Tapalpa, Jalisco, Mexico that was designated on September 17, 2015, because it provided material assistance to the drug trafficking activities of CJNG. Cabanas La Loma en Renta and Cabanas La Loma Tapalpa are the new names for Cabanas La Loma, which had originally been known as Las Flores Cabanas.

PREVIOUS U.S. GOVERNMENT ACTIONS ON CJNG AND LOS CUINIS

Today's Kingpin Act designation marks OFAC's eleventh action against CJNG and Los Cuinis, which were designated on April 8, 2015, along with their leaders, Ruben Oseguera Cervantes (a.k.a. "Mencho") and Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, for their significant roles in international narcotics trafficking. In March 2014, following an investigation by the DEA Los Angeles Field Division, a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia indicted brothers-in-law Oseguera Cervantes and Gonzalez Valencia on the charge of being the principal leaders of a Continuing Criminal Enterprise. Mexican authorities captured Gonzalez Valencia in late February 2015, and he is awaiting extradition to the United States. Oseguera Cervantes remains a fugitive.

The U.S. Department of State's Narcotics Rewards Program has issued a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Oseguera Cervantes. Tips can be submitted to DEA by phone (+1-213-237-9990), through Twitter (@DEALosAngeles), and by email (MENCHOTIPS@usdoj.gov).

In previous actions, OFAC designated a wide range of businesses and individuals linked to CJNG and Los Cuinis. The previously designated businesses in Mexico include shopping centers, real estate companies, agricultural companies, a music promotion business, and a luxury boutique hotel. Many of these Mexican entities have engaged in the laundering of drug proceeds and represent attempts by CJNG and Los Cuinis to integrate themselves into the legitimate economy. Among the previously designated individuals are those who play critical roles in CJNG's drug trafficking activities, such as Julio Alberto Castillo Rodriguez (Oseguera Cervantes's son-in-law), and those who facilitate corruption activities on behalf of CJNG and Los Cuinis, such as now former Mexican magistrate judge Isidro Avelar Gutierrez and attorney Victor Francisco Beltran Garcia.

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated entities that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or persons within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

Since June 2000, more than 2,100 entities and individuals have been named pursuant to the Kingpin Act for their role in international narcotics trafficking. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1,503,470 per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million. Other individuals could face up to 10 years in prison and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act.

For more information on the entities designated today, click here.

To view the Kingpin Act chart on entities designated today, click here.

####

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Hotlines introduced to provide info on Coronavirus





The Education Ministry has decided to close down all Government schools in the island from tomorrow (March 13) until April 20 as part of efforts to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.





Education Minister Dallas Alahapperuma announced this at a media briefing a short while ago.













The minister stated that authorities had decided that the first term school vacation would commence early from tomorrow. All end of term school exams has also been cancelled owing to the decision to start the school vacation early.





Earlier today, the Education Ministry announced that all school educational tours will be suspended until further notice.





Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has introduced hotlines today in order to provide verified information on Coronavirus - COVID 19 to the public in view of false information being shared via social media sites over the spread of the virus in the country.





Accordingly, the common public can get information on the virus that has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) by dialling the numbers of 0710107107 and 0113071073 at the Ministry.





Earlier, the police have urged the public not to be misled by false information being spread via social media regarding the spread of the Coronavirus in the country and have warned that those engaged in spreading such information will face legal action.




New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade, the largest such celebration in the world, was postponed late Wednesday evening (local time) over concerns about the spread of coronavirus that has killed dozens of US citizens and infected more than 1,200 Americans.

This is the first time in more than 250 years that the event will not be organised as scheduled.

The announcement was made in a statement by Governor Andrew M Cuomo as well as other parade organisers, and followed the cancellation of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Chicago and Boston, The New York Times reported.

"While I know the parade organizers did not make this decision lightly, public health experts agree that one of the most effective ways to contain the spread of the virus is to limit large gatherings and close contacts," Cuomo said.

"And I applaud the parade's leadership for working cooperatively with us," he added.

The parade, traditionally held on March 17, draws an estimated 150,000 marchers and two million spectators a year to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, including many police and military groups, firefighters, Irish musicians and student groups from across the United States. It is one of the city's largest recurring public events.

Cuomo said he had spoken to Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose "strong recommendation" was to "reduce large gatherings" like the parade.

"Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing this is a virus that is easily communicable?" Cuomo said at a news conference. "St. Patrick's Day is one of the great convenings of a large number of people."

"If you listen to the experts, they are saying you should not have a St. Patrick's Day convening at this time, which I believe makes sense," the Governor said.

St. Patrick is the patron saint of both Ireland and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the second-largest diocese in the United States, which has traditionally played a role in the parade.

The occasion, while not a legal holiday in the United States, is nonetheless widely recognised and observed throughout the country as a celebration of Irish and Irish-American culture. Celebrations include prominent displays of the colour green, religious observances, numerous parades, and copious consumption of alcohol.

The NY Governor declared a state of emergency in the state on Saturday and deployed the National Guard three days later to a "containment area" in New Rochelle, in Westchester County.

Earlier this week, Ireland also cancelled all parades nationwide.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
**Not for distribution to United States News Services or release publication, distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in the United States**

CALGARY, Alberta and TORONTO, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnetic North Acquisition Corp. (TSXV: MNC) (Magnetic North or the Company) is pleased to announce that its board of directors has approved a quarterly dividend on the Company's preferred shares of $0.125 per share (or $0.50 per share on an annualized basis). This dividend will be paid March 24, 2020 to holders of record on December 31st, 2019.

Magnetic North's dividend on its preferred shares is designated to be an eligible dividend for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and any similar provincial or territorial legislation.

About Magnetic North Acquisition Corp.

Magnetic North invests and manages capital on behalf of its shareholders and believes that capital alone does not always lead to success when making investments in portfolio companies. With offices in Calgary and Toronto, our experienced management team applies its considerable capital markets and management expertise to ensure portfolio companies are as successful as possible for shareholders. Magnetic North shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the stock symbol MNC. For more information about Magnetic North, visit its website at www.magneticnac.com . Magnetic Norths securities filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com .

For further information, please contact:

Graeme Dick

Investor Relations

403-561-8989

graeme@colwellcapital.com

Kevin Spall

Co-CEO

kevin@magneticnac.com

Andrew Osis

Co-CEO

andrew@magneticnac.com



CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer's business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer's prospective financial performance or financial position.

The Company has made certain material assumptions, including but not limited to: prevailing market conditions; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; the completion of the proposed financing; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives after the closing of the Transaction, to develop the forward-looking information in this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this news release, unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.
At the reception (Photo: thanhuytphcm.vn)



He made the statement during his reception for Mr. Sampath Prasanna Walpita Gamage, new Sri Lanka Ambassador to Vietnam, on March 10th.



During the reception, Mr. Nhan showed his pleasure with the close relationship between the two countries, noting that this year they will celebrate the 50th year of diplomatic ties.

He urged the Sri Lanka ambassador to carry out diverse activities to boost bilateral cooperative relationship, and issue initiatives in celebrating the 50th diplomatic anniversary.

Agreeing with Sri Lanka in holding some events in Ho Chi Minh city promoting bilateral cooperation in September, Mr. Nhan said that the two sides can consider the development of sea links, thus further enhancing exchanges and cooperation.

Mr. Sampath Prasanna Walpita Gamage sent his best congratulations on the 90th birthday of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and spoke highly of Vietnam as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council term 2020-2021.

According to the Sri Lanka ambassador, Sri Lanka businesses expect to expand operation in Vietnam. In tourism, some 70,000 Sri Lanka tourists came to Vietnam in 2019, while the two-way trade turnover reached USD200 million in the same year.

Asserting with Mr. Nhan that he would make efforts in promoting cooperative relationship between the two sides as an ambassador, he discussed ways and put forth proposals to increase cooperation in traffic, agriculture, trade and culture./.
In what is reportedly the first known case of COVID-19 to strike at a U.S. auto manufacturing plant, a worker at the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU) plant in Kokomo, Indiana, has tested positive, CNBC has reported.

The UAW, which represents workers at the facility, and company officials, said the unidentified male employee at the transmission plant is quarantined and receiving medical care.

Production continues

A Fiat Chrysler spokeswoman has said that normal production at the facility continues, and the company is working with local health officials, according to The Detroit Free Press. The factory employs about 4,000 workers and is located north of Indianapolis. The company reported that an undisclosed amount of others that may have had direct contact with the infected employee are also under quarantine.

Besides Chrysler and Dodge, the FCA automotive brands include Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Maserati. On Wednesday, the London based group put out a press release addressing its Italian operations. In part, it stated that the company would be taking measures in support of the Italian government's new directives, including temporary shutdowns of its plants across Italy.

The company put out the following emailed statement, according to CNBC, regarding the Kokomo plant employee:

"Consistent with CDC guidelines and the company's own protocols, the company has placed into home quarantine his immediate co-workers and others in the facility he may have come into direct contact with. Additionally, the company has deep cleaned and disinfected his working area and is deploying additional sanitization measures across the entire facility, retiming break times to avoid crowding and deploying social spacing."


DEARBORN (dpa-AFX) - Ford Motor Co. issued a safety recall for select 2019 Ford Ranger mid-size pickup trucks that were involved in a recall last year. The latest recall is to eliminate the risk of fire related to faulty HVAC blower motors.



In October 2019, Ford had issued a recall for more than 19,500 Ford Ranger vehicles for replacing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning or HVAC blower motor. The automaker is now recalling more than 5,800 of those vehicles.



According to the company, the replacement part used for the service in October may have been built with an improper clearance between an electrical terminal and the conductive base-plate slot. This could result in a resistive electrical short.



The condition can increase the risk of the HVAC blower motor overheating, melting, smoking or causing a fire.



However, Ford added it is not aware of any reports of accident, injury or fire related to this condition.



The recall affects 5,384 vehicles in the U.S. and federal territories as well as 418 in Canada. The affected vehicles were built at Michigan Assembly Plant between August 1 and September 27, 2019.



Dealers will inspect the HVAC blower-motor date code and replace blower motors that were built within the suspect time frame.



In late February, Ford recalled about 220,000 F-150 pickup trucks in North America to fix issues with the headlamps that could increase risk of a crash.



The company said its investigation found that the daytime-running lamps remain activated instead of dimming to parking-lamp intensity as required by federal motor vehicle safety standards. This could reduce the visibility of other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.



The F-150 has been the top selling U.S. vehicle by any manufacturer for more than 40 years.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
New York: Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for sexual assault and rape after giving a rambling court statement sympathizing with men accused of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo era.

The sentence was handed down in Manhattan criminal court by Justice James Burke, with Weinstein`s lawyer Donna Rotunno afterward denouncing the prison term as "obscene" and "cowardly" and saying the judge and jury "caved" under the pressure of the #MeToo movement against sexual abuse and harassment.

A jury on Feb. 24 found Weinstein - once one of Hollywood`s most influential men - guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping former aspiring actress Jessica Mann. The length of the sentence means Weinstein may spend the rest of his life incarcerated, considering he is 67 and has health issues. Defence lawyers had recommended the minimum possible five years in prison.

Weinstein, Haleyi and Mann all addressed the court during the sentencing hearing. The two women spoke of the trauma they have endured since Weinstein attacked them, with Haleyi saying, "It scarred me deeply, mentally and emotionally, perhaps irreparably, perhaps forever."

Mann added, "I am forced to carry that experience until I die."

Addressing the court from a wheelchair behind the defence table, Weinstein said, "I`m totally confused."

Prosecutors portrayed Weinstein as a serial predator who had manipulated women with promises of career advancement in Hollywood, coaxing them to hotel rooms or private apartments and then overpowering and violently attacking them.

"The young struggling dreamers were not even people to him. He could take what he wanted knowing there was very little anyone could do about it," Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi told the court.

Weinstein said he was worried about the "thousands of men who are losing due process" during the #MeToo movement just as people in the past had their careers destroyed when they were accused of being communists. "I feel remorse for all of the men who are going through this fight," Weinstein said, sounding unrepentant.

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

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

Haleyi, dressed in black, began to cry as she talked about coming forward to testify. During the trial, she testified that Weinstein invited her to his home, backed her into a bedroom and forced oral sex on her in 2006.

"I showed up not as a perfect victim, but as a human being," she said.

Weinstein had faced a maximum of 29 years in prison.

"Although this is a first conviction, it is not a first offence," the judge told the court.

Weinstein said he had worked too hard and put too much pressure on himself. "I`m really trying to be a better person," he said.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance told reporters the judge had "sent a message" to potential offenders.

Weinstein faces separate sexual assault charges in Los Angeles, where the local district attorney said on Thursday he had started extradition proceedings.

Appeal promised

A spokesman for Weinstein, Juda Engelmayer, said the defence expects to file an appeal in July.

Defence lawyer Rotunno said there are murderers who will go free sooner than Weinstein will. "I am overcome with anger at that number," Rotunno said of the 23-year sentence.

After sentencing, Weinstein was sent back to New York`s Rikers Island jail, where he was moved last Thursday following a 10-day hospital stay at Bellevue Hospital where he underwent a procedure to clear a heart blockage.

Mann testified during the trial that Weinstein raped her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013. Mann called Weinstein a "Jekyll and Hyde" character, charming in public but prone to rage when they were alone.

"I want to remind you I told Harvey, `no,`" she told the court. Her voice was strong but the paper she read from shook in her hands.

"He`s baffled at finally being held accountable," Mann said of Weinstein.

"Justice has been served today, due in no small part to the courage of the women who testified against Harvey Weinstein," U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet wrote on Twitter. "To mark real change, others who commit such appalling crimes must be held accountable, no matter where & what position they occupy."

Burke sentenced Weinstein to 20 years for the attack on Haleyi and three years for the rape of Mann. The jury 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.

Weinstein won an Academy Award for producing "Shakespeare in Love" and was responsible for other acclaimed films including "Pulp Fiction," "The English Patient" and "Gangs of New York."
Milan, Italy. Daegu, South Korea. Qom, Iran. Many of the worlds largest coronavirus outbreaks took root in and around well-traveled cities, but they have since grown to encompass entire countries.

Cases have spread across Italys north and down to Rome, leading to a lockdown of the entire country. Irans capital, where leaders dismissed the virus just two weeks ago, has seen thousands infected. And cases continue to surge across Europe.

New cases in past week Total cases Cases per 100k residents Italy 24,122 27,980 45 Iran 11,478 14,991 18 Spain 7,494 7,753 16 France 6,253 6,633 10 Germany 5,530 6,012 8 South Korea 1,781 7,869 16 Sources: Local governments; The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University; CIA World Factbook. Data as of 4:59 p.m. E.T., Mar. 16.

The outbreaks are not all heading in the same direction. South Korea has managed to slow growth of new cases for now, through intensive testing and monitoring of infections. Italy, Iran and the United States are still reporting large numbers of new cases every day.

Official case totals are an imperfect method of judging the worlds outbreaks. Every country has more cases than it has been able to detect through lab tests. And a shortage of testing kits in some countries, like Indonesia and the United States, along with a lack of public disclosure in others, like Egypt, means official reports are probably masking large outbreaks.

Heres the extent of some of the largest outbreaks in the world and information on how these countries are trying to slow the spread of the virus.

Italy

An outbreak in Lombardy has threatened the entire country.

Lodi 1,135+ AUSTRIA HUNGARY Bergamo 2,365+ SWITZERLAND Milan 1,305+ LOMBARDY SLOVENIA Brescia 1,780+ SERBIA CROATIA FRANCE Venice 245+ 300+ Padua 520+ 480+ BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 250+ 515+ 360+ 495+ Piacenza 705+ Florence 100+ 155+ Ancona ITALY Cremona 1,340+ ITALY Rome 215+ Bari ITALY Naples 135+ 50 MILES Catania Lodi 1,135+ AUSTRIA Milan 1,305+ HUNGARY Bergamo 2,365+ SWITZERLAND LOMBARDY SLOVENIA Brescia 1,780+ CROATIA Venice 245+ 300+ Padua 520+ BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 480+ 515+ 360+ 495+ Piacenza 705+ Florence 100+ 155+ Cremona 1,340+ ITALY Rome 215+ Naples 315+ 50 MILES Lodi 1,135+ AUSTRIA Bergamo 2,365 HUNGARY SWITZERLAND Milan 1,305+ LOMBARDY SLOVENIA Brescia 1,780 CROATIA Venice 245+ 300+ BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 480+ 515+ 360+ 495+ Piacenza 705+ 155+ Cremona 1,340+ ITALY Rome 215+ Naples 135+ 50 MILES Lodi 1,135+ AUSTRIA Milan 1,305+ Bergamo 2,365 HUNGARY LOMBARDY SLOVENIA Brescia 1,780+ CROATIA Venice 245+ 300+ BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA 360+ 495+ Florence 100+ Piacenza 705+ ITALY Cremona 1,340+ Rome 215+ Naples 135+ 50 MILES By The New York Times | Source: Italy Department of Civil Protection | Note: Data shows total number of cases as of March 13.

With more than 17,000 confirmed cases, Italy has reported the largest outbreak outside of China. Italian authorities first put restrictions in place in the northern region of Lombardy, where the outbreak first accelerated, before moving on Monday to restrict the movement and end public gatherings for all 60 million citizens in the country. At least 1,000 people have died because of the virus.

On Wednesday, the government shut down basically all commercial activities, including bars and restaurants. Supermarkets, pharmacies and newstands can remain open. All schools are closed until at least April 3. But Italys nationwide lockdown, the first in Europe, is not a severe ban on movement like the one put in place in Wuhan, China. Italians are still able to move around for work, to buy groceries and other essentials, and for reasons having to do with health, child or senior care. Police checkpoints have been set up around the country, at which people are required to stop and fill out official forms explaining their movements.

The number of new cases in Italy had steadily increased for more than a week before dropping on Tuesday. On that day, though, there were still almost 1,000 new cases.

New coronavirus cases announced in Italy each day 0 500 1,000 1,500 cases Jan. 22 Mar. 10 By The New York Times | Source: Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Italy is aggressively testing for the virus, which could help explain why its total confirmed cases are higher than some other countries in Europe. On Tuesday, more than 60,000 tests had been performed, more than twice as many tests as the United Kingdom had done.

Today, the red zone is Italy, Matteo Renzi, a former prime minister, told The New York Times. But in 10 days, he warned, it will be Madrid, Paris and Berlin. If Italy cannot show how to stop the virus, he said, the red zone will be Europe.

South Korea

The outbreak has slowed after weeks of intense surveillance and testing.

NORTH KOREA Seoul 220+ Incheon 25+ Chungnam province 110+ SOUTH KOREA Gyeongbuk province 1,145+ Daegu 5,900+ Gyeongnam province 80+ Busan 95+ 50 MILES JAPAN NORTH KOREA Seoul 220+ Incheon 25+ Chungnam province 110+ SOUTH KOREA Gyeongbuk province 1,145+ Daegu 5,900+ Gyeongnam province 80+ Busan 95+ 50 MILES NORTH KOREA Incheon 25+ Seoul 220+ Chungnam province 110+ SOUTH KOREA Gyeongbuk province 1,145+ Daegu 5,900+ Gyeongnam province 80+ Busan 95+ 50 MILES NORTH KOREA Seoul 220+ Incheon 25+ Chungnam province 110+ SOUTH KOREA Gyeongbuk province 1,145+ Daegu 5,900+ Gyeongnam province 80+ Busan 95+ JAPAN 50 MILES By The New York Times | Source: South Korea Division of Risk Assessment and International Cooperation | Note: Data shows total number of cases as of March 13.

In contrast to most other countries, South Koreas reports of new cases have begun to slow  at least for now. Unlike other countries with major outbreaks, South Korea, with a population of 50 million, has not outright restricted the movement of its citizens and has instead focused on aggressively monitoring for infections. More than 7,900 cases and 66 deaths have been reported.

New coronavirus cases announced in South Korea each day 0 500 1,000 1,500 cases Jan. 22 Mar. 10 By The New York Times | Source: Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

More than 235,000 people have been tested, and health officials carefully track down people who may have symptoms, testing more than 10,000 people each day. The government even opened drive-through testing centers. While health officials are battling smaller clusters of infections in other cities, much of the effort has focused on Daegu, the center of the outbreak, where many people were infected in a large church congregation.

Health officials also introduced aggressive public awareness campaigns, sending out mobile phone alerts to citizens whenever a new case is reported in their districts. Updates are provided on government websites and mobile apps as to how many people have been tested and where, along with brief sketches on each patient: their gender, how they became infected and where they are being treated, as well as which places they visited before testing positive.

Officials have advised against holding large gatherings, like outdoor rallies and religious services. Schools remain closed.

Iran

The true size of the rapidly expanding outbreak is unknown.

TURKMENISTAN East Azerbaijan 275+ Golestan 230+ Mazandaran 1,185+ Gilan 680+ Razavi Khorasan 390+ Tehran 2,975+ Semnan 360+ Alborz 460+ AFGHANISTAN Qom 885+ First cases of COVID-19 were reported in Qom. Markazi 580+ Esfahan 900+ Lorestan 230+ Yazd 215+ IRAQ IRAN Khuzestan 170+ Fars 230+ SAUDI ARABIA 100 MILES TURKMENISTAN 90+ TURKEY East Azerbaijan 275+ Golestan 230+ Gilan 680+ 140+ Mazandaran 1,185+ Razavi Khorasan 390+ 100+ Qazvin 335+ Semnan 360+ Tehran 2,975+ Alborz 460+ Qom 885+ AFGHANISTAN 90+ First cases of COVID-19 were reported in Qom. Markazi 580+ 75+ Esfahan 900+ Lorestan 230+ Yazd 215+ 75+ IRAQ IRAN Khuzestan 125+ 75+ Fars 230+ PAKISTAN 80+ 50+ SAUDI ARABIA 100 MILES TURKMENISTAN Gilan 680+ Mazandaran 1,185+ Razavi Khorasan 390+ Tehran 2,975+ Semnan 360+ Alborz 460+ AFGHANISTAN Qom 885+ First cases of COVID-19 were reported in Qom. Markazi 580+ 215+ Esfahan 900+ IRAQ IRAN Khuzestan 170+ 75+ Fars 230+ SAUDI ARABIA 100 MILES TURKMENISTAN Gilan 680+ Mazandaran 1,185+ Tehran 2,975+ Razavi Khorasan 390+ Qom 885+ First cases of COVID-19 were reported in Qom. Markazi 580+ Esfahan 900+ IRAQ IRAN Khuzestan 170+ 75+ Fars 230+ SAUDI ARABIA 200 MILES By The New York Times. Source: Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Data shows total number of cases as of March 13.

Two weeks ago, Irans leaders denied the coronavirus epidemic would be a problem. Now, with the total number of cases standing at more than 11,000, and with more than 400 people dead, Iran is scrambling to control one of the worst outbreaks in the world.

The virus started in the holy city of Qom, where thousands of pilgrims from Iran and around the Middle East travel each day. Two days after the first deaths and cases of the virus were reported in Qom, Iran held parliamentary elections, which are widely believed to have been the cause of the virus spreading to other provinces.

New coronavirus cases announced in Iran each day 0 500 1,000 1,500 cases Jan. 22 Mar. 10 By The New York Times | Source: Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

The authorities failed to take protective measures at this early stage. But the problem became impossible to ignore after nearly three dozen Iranian government officials and members of parliament were infected, and a senior adviser to the supreme leader died.

Now, Friday prayers are cancelled, and schools and universities are closed until mid-April. Government offices remain open, but employees must work reduced hours. For everyone else, officials are asking people to leave their homes only when necessary.

A severe shortage of testing kits in Iran means the spread of the virus is likely much higher than reported. One study projected a week ago that the true total of infections may have been more than 18,000, and a week ago is eons when we are talking about an epidemic, said Isaac Bogoch, a Toronto doctor who is a co-author of that study.

See our maps tracking the coronavirus outbreak around the world.

See our page of maps, charts and tables tracking every coronavirus case in the U.S.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Testing for the new coronavirus is multi-step process that involves genetics, compounds and cotton swabs.

The federal government, which has been criticized for shortages in testing kits, has developed standards for a procedure thats being used by thousands of clinical laboratories across the country, including at the Ohio Department of Health and in other hospital and private labs.

(Read below for more on the testing kit shortage.)

The test is known as Polymerase chain reaction, or PCR. Its also called nucleic acids extraction. Its a process to make copies of genetic material in a test tube from a human sample -- followed by testing to determine if there is a genetic match between the genetic material being tested and the genetic material of the coronavirus.

The test itself is not new.

Many strands of the flu are tested by PCR.

The difference is that many flu testing kits contain all the parts needed by clinical laboratory scientists. Since coronavirus is new, the only part of the testing kit that comes from the federal government are compounds. The rest of the parts must be stocked by the lab or hospital.

Dr. Christine Schmotzer, University Hospitals chief of the division of clinical pathology, explained the testing in simple terms for non-scientists.

University Hospitals has testing kits and is under a process of validating the compounds and determining how much genetic material is needed for an accurate test. If all goes well, testing should begin in days.

Step 1: The swabs

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now requires two swabs - nasal and oral.

Many medical facilities, including University Hospitals, are swabbing patients away from the general public, in an isolated area.

At UH, the area is part of the emergency department, but it is a negative air pressure room, which has a ventilation system to prevent infection from being spread to other parts of the hospital.

At UH, medical workers wear a mask, gown and gloves in the room, Schmotzer said.

The swabs are stored in a sterile, plastic tube and transported to the lab.

Step 2: Removing the virus from the swab

At the lab, the swab is put into a liquid at a clinical laboratory scientists work station.

One person can test for coronavirus from start to finish.

The sample undergoes a process in which the virus falls off the swab into the liquid, Schmotzer said.

It can take about an hour.

The entire testing takes four hours -- although Schmotzer cautions that a four-hour turnaround for test results is not realistic.

A lot of preparation is in between -- making sure you have the right patient and the right sample and making sure youre doing it safely, she said.

Step 3: Enter the testing kit

The testing kit sent to the state by the CDC contains compounds. Theyve also been called reagents.

Reagents are sequences, mini-gene pieces that will pair up with the virus genes, Schmotzer said.

The lab scientist uses a clear, plastic plate the size of a 3-inch by 5-inch or 5-inch by 7-inch index card.

On the plate will be a number of patient samples.

The scientist will add gene pieces called primers from the reagents. The primers will match up with coronavirus genetic material if the virus exists.

As it reacts, it can create a fluorescent signal, detected on instruments, Schmotzer said.

Why the shortage in testing?

In the U.S. there has been a shortage of the reagents, and Ohio is no exception.

First Ohio and other states experienced delays in getting an effective lab test kit. Ohios first kit arrived in February, but the CDC detected problems with it, and the state had to wait for another kit, the first of which arrived last week. A lab can test hundreds from one kit.

Testing began Saturday, and Ohio has a protocol for testing due to the shortage. Two more arrived Wednesday.

The highest-priority cases get to jump the queue and get tested directly by the Ohio Department of Health. Lower-priority cases require elimination of other illnesses and a doctor or other providers order before people can get tested at a hospital or private lab, which can take longer than the state.

In addition to preventing the testing of a wide population, the lack of testing has made it difficult to pinpoint the direction the virus is going to take.

Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health, said the testing delays have made it more difficult to track the pandemics progression in the U.S.

Some of the early modeling is suggesting that potentially there could be a late April, early May peak to this," Acton said. "But again we dont have all the data. Our delays in being able to test delayed our understanding.
A day after a senior citizen couple from Mumbai tested positive for Covid-19, several private schools in the city on Thursday announced that they will remain shut. The state education department has, however, not made any announcement for aided and government schools.

While some declared holidays, many other warned parents against sending their children to schools if they are sick. On Thursday, some schools emailed parents about cancellation of classes, postponement of tests and other activities.

Andheris Utpal Shanghvi Global School sent an email to parents on Wednesday announcing that the school would remain shut until March 13. We have decided to keep the school closed for two days just as a proactive precautionary measure. Students are expected to stay home and await lots of work coming their way through the school app. We are also exploring the possibility of students accessing & viewing classes online from home, said Rakhi Mukherjee, principal of the school.

Another school in Andheri, Tridha International, sent out an email to its parents announcing the closure of pre-primary and primary section until further notice. High School (Classes 7 to 9) will continue to function as usual. However, students suffering from cold, cough, sore throat, fever etc. will have to stay home for a week. They will be sent back in case they come to school. They will be permitted to resume school thereafter with a doctors certificate, read the email.

Many schools like Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) in BKC, Rustomjee Cambridge in Dahisar and Oberoi International School in Goregaon pushed their spring breaks forward. The spring break was scheduled to begin from March 14 and as a precautionary measure, it has been decided to bring it forward from March 13, said DAIS in a statement. The Oberoi International School has asked its parents to register any travel details or future travel plans of parents and relatives.

Other schools that decided to remain closed from Friday include Cathedral and John Connon in Fort, Vasant Vihar School in Thane and Witty International School in Malad. It is a much-needed step as it would ensure the safety of students and their families. Many schools have e-learning platforms which can be used to ensure that children do not miss out on studies, said a Thane-based parent.
Facebook recently promised that it would increaseefforts to remove so-called deepfake videos, including content thatincluded misleading manipulated media.

In addition to fears that deepfakes  altered videos that appear to be authentic  could impact the upcoming 2020 general election in the United States,there are growing concerns that they could ruin reputations and impact businesses.

A manipulated video that looks real could convince viewers tobelieve that the subjects in the video said things they didnt say,or did things they didnt do.

Deepfakes have become more sophisticated and easier to produce, thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning, which can be applied to existing videos quickly andeasily, achieving results that took professional special effects teams and digital artists hours or days to achieve in the past.

Deepfake technology is being weaponized for political misinformationand cybercrime, said Robert Prigge, CEO of Jumio.

In one high profile case, criminals last year used AI-basedsoftware to impersonate a chief executives voice and demand afraudulent transfer of US$243,000, Prigge told TechNewsWorld.

Unfortunately, deepfakes can also be used to bypass manybiometric-based identity verification systems, which have rapidly grownin popularity in response to impersonation attacks, identity theft andsocial engineering, he added.

Facing Off Against Deepfakes

Given the potential for damage, both Facebook and Twitter have banned such content. However, its not clear what the bans cover. For its part Facebook will utilize third-party fact-checkers, reportedly including more than 50 partners working worldwide in more than 40 languages.

Theyre banning videos created through machine learning that areintended to be deceptive, explained Paul Bischoff, privacy advocateat Comparitech.

The videos must have both audio and video that the average personwouldnt reasonably assume is fake, he told TechNewsWorld.

A deepfake superimposes existing video footage of aface onto a source head and body using advanced neural network-poweredAI to create increasingly realistic doctored videos, noted Prigge. In other words, adeepfake looks to be a real persons recorded face and voice, but thewords they appear to be speaking were never really uttered by them.

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

Defining Deepfakes

One troubling issue with deepfakes is simply determining what is adeepfake and what is just edited video. In many cases deepfakes arebuilt by utilizing the latest technology to edit or manipulate video. News outlets regularly edit interviews, press conferences and other events when crafting news stories, as way to highlight certain elements and get juicy sound bites.

Of course, there have been plenty of criticisms of mainstream newsmedia for manipulating video footage to change thecontext without AI or machine learning, simply using the tools of the editing suite.

Deepfakes generally are viewed as far more dangerous because it isnt just context that is altered.

At its heart, a deepfake is when someone uses sophisticatedtechnology  artificial intelligence  to blend multiple images oraudio together in order to change its original meaning and conveysomething that is not true or valid, said Chris Olson, CEO of The Media Trust.

From manipulating audio to creating misleading images, deepfakesfoster the spread of disinformation as the end user typically doesntknow that the content or message is not real, he told TechNewsWorld.

To varying degrees, social platforms have issued policies prohibitingthe posting of highly manipulated videos that are not clearly labeledor readily apparent to consumers as fake, added Olson.

Still, while these policies are a step in the right direction, they do not explicitly ban manipulated video or audio, he pointed out. Having youraccount blocked isnt much of a deterrent.

Manipulation Without Malice

Facebooks ban and other efforts to ban orotherwise curb deepfakes do not apply to political speech or parodies.

Consent may be another issue that needs to be addressed.

This is a great point  fake videos and images can be definedbroadly  for example, anything that is manipulated, said ShumanGhosemajumder, CTO of Shape Security and former fraud czar at Google.

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

But most media created is, to some extent, manipulated, he told TechNewsWorld.

Manipulations include automatic digital enhancements to photos taken using modern cameras  those equipped with HDR settings or other AI-based enhancement  as well as filters, and aesthetic editing and retouching, noted Ghosemajumder.

If most media is thus automatically marked on a platform assynthetic or manipulated, this will reduce the benefit of such atag, he remarked.

The next step will be to figure out objective criteria to excludethat type of editing and focus on maliciously manipulatedmedia, which could be an inherently subjective standard.

However, it cant be a question of individuals consenting to be invideos, because no such consent is generally required of publicfigures or of videos and images that are taken in public places,observed Ghosemajumder, and public figures are the ones that aremost likely to be targeted by malicious users of these technologies.

AI Tools Singled Out

Facebooks deepfakes ban singles out videos that use AI technology or machine learning to manipulate the content.

This is an incomplete approach, since most fake content, includingmisleading videos posted today, are not created with such technology,said Ghosemajumder.

The now famous Nancy Pelosi video could have been created withtechnology from 40-plus years ago, since it was just simple videoediting, he added.

More importantly, maliciousness cannot be defined based only on thetechnology used, said Ghosemajumder, since much of the same technology used to create a malicious deepfake is already being used to create legitimate works ofart, such as the de-aging technology used in The Irishman.

Viewer Perception

As the Facebook policy stands, satire and parody would be exempt, but what falls into those categories isnt always clear. Viewer reactions dont always align with what thecontent maker may have had in mind. A joke video that falls flat might not be viewed as satire.

The standards for judging satire or fan films are also subjective it may be possible to determine what is or is not intended as satirein a court of law to societys satisfaction in an individual instance,but it is much more difficult to make such determinationsautomatically for millions of pieces of content in a social mediaplatform, warned Ghosemajumder.

In addition, even in cases when a video is created with obviouslysatirical intent, that intent can get lost if the video is shortened, taken out of context, or even just reposted by someone who didnt understand the original intent.

There are many examples of satirical content fooling people whodidnt understand the humor, said Ghosemajumder.

Its more about how the audience perceives it. Satire doesnt fallinto the ban. Nor does parody, and if the video is clearly labeled asfiction, it should be fine, countered Bischoff.

It is our understanding that Facebook and Twitter are not banningsatire or parody  intention is the key differentiator, added AlexeyKhitrov, CEO of ID R&D.

Satire by definition is the use of humor, exaggeration or irony,whereas the intention of a deepfake is to pass off altered orsynthetic video or speech as authentic, he told TechNewsWorld.Deepfakes are used to trick a viewer and spread misinformation. Whilea deepfake aims to deceive the average user, satire is apparent.

Legal Efforts

There have been legal efforts to stop the proliferation ofdeepfakes, but the government might not be the best entity to tacklethis high-tech problem.

Over the past two years, several U.S. states introduced legislationto govern deepfakes, with the Malicious Deep Fake Prohibition Act andDEEPFAKES Accountability Act introduced to the U.S. Senate and Houseof Representatives respectively, said The Media Trusts Olson.

Both bills stalled with lawmakers, and neither proposed muchchange beyond introducing penalties. Even if laws were passed,it is unlikely a legislative approach can keep up with technological advancements.

Its very difficult to effectively legislate against a moving targetlike emerging technology, warned Olson.

Until there is perfect recognition that content is a deepfake,platforms and media outlets need to disclose to consumers the sourceof the content, he suggested.

Deepfake videos cannot be stopped, just like photoshopped photoscannot be stopped, said Josh Bohls, CEO of Inkscreen.

Libel laws can be expanded to include altered videos that mightmisrepresent a public figure in a harmful way, providing the subjectsome kind of recourse, he told TechNewsWorld. It would also be prudent to pass laws requiring the labeling of certain categories of videos  political ads, for example  so that the viewer is aware that the content has been altered.

Tech to Fight Tech

Instead of the government creating new laws, the tech industry could solve the deepfakes problem, even if defining them remains fuzzy. Providing access to technology to determine if a video has been manipulated could be a good first step.

Several social platforms have taken steps to detect and removedeepfake videos with limited success as detection lags behind thespeed at which new technology emerges to create better, more realisticdeepfakes in an ever-diminishing period of time, said Olson.

The challenge remains on the difficult process of identifying andremoving deepfakes before they spread to the general public, he said.

Social media is where these videos are spreading and where removal iscrucial. These platforms are in a good position to roll out new technology.

Overall, Twitter and Facebook announcing plans to take action againstmalicious fake content is an excellent first step, and will increasescrutiny and skepticism of media uploaded to the Internet, especiallyby anonymous or unknown sources, noted Ghosemajumder.

However, this is absolutely not a silver bullet solution to thisproblem, for many reasons warned Ghosemajumder.

The detection of fake media is a cat-and-mouse game. If manipulatedcontent is immediately flagged, then malicious actors will experimentagainst the system with variations of their content until they canpass undetected, he explained.

On the other hand, if manipulated content is not immediately flaggedor removed, it can be spread  and will quickly morph  causing damagein whatever period exists between creation and uploading and flagging, ina way that may not be possible to easily contain at that point,Ghosemajumder suggested.

Finally, the use of fake accounts andautomated fraud and abuse is the primary mechanism that maliciousactors use to spread disinformation, he said. This is one of the key areassocial networks need to address with the most sophisticated technologyavailable, not just home-built solutions.

Anti-Deepfake Tools

Several companies are exploring methods of combating deepfakes. Facebook, Microsoft and AWS launched the Deepfake Detection Challenge to encourage development of open source detection tools. [*Correction  Jan. 22, 2020]

Without consistently flagging suspect digital content and labeling thesource of the doctored video or audio, technology will have littleimpact on the issue, said Olson.

Providing this context will help the consumer better understand theveracity of the message. Was it sent to me from an unknown thirdparty, or did I find it on a brand website during product research? This attribution information is whats needed to counter deepfakes, he said.

However, with a lot of manipulated content, it is often aboutmisdirection  and in this case, too much focus on the video itself could be problematic.

Its not just the visual stream thats vulnerable to deepfakes, butalso the voice stream. Both can be altered or manipulated as part ofa deepfake, said ID R&Ds Khitrov.

There is technology to help detect a deepfakes manipulated audio, he noted.

Liveness detection capabilities can identify artifacts that arentaudible to the human ear but are present in synthesized, recorded orcomputer-altered voice, explained Khitrov. We can detect over 99 percent of audio deepfakes, but only where that technology is deployed.

The Deep View

Those with a pessimistic take believe the technologyto create convincing deepfakes simply will outpace the technology tostop it.

Our analogy is that there are viruses and there is antivirustechnology, and staying ahead of the bad guys requires constantiteration, and the same holds true for deepfake detection, saidKhitrov.

However, the AI-based technologies that the bad guys are using arevery similar to the technologies the good guys are using. So thebreakthroughs that are available to the bad guys are also being usedby the good guys to stop them, he added.

A bigger threat is that deepfake software is already freelyavailable on the Web, although its not that great yet, saidComparitechs Bischoff. We will have to learn to be vigilant andskeptical.

*ECT News Network editors note  Jan. 22, 2020: Our original published version of this story incorrectly stated that the Deepfake Detection Challenge was a project launched by The Media Trust. In fact, it is a joint effort of Facebook, Microsoft and AWS. We regret the error.
IRVINE, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation's premier property database first property data provider of Data-as-a-Service (DaaS), today released its Q1 2020 Single-Family Rental Market report, which ranks the best U.S. markets for buying single-family rental properties in 2020.

The report analyzed single-family rental returns in 389 U.S. counties with a population of at least 100,000 and sufficient rental and home price data. Rental data comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and home price data comes from publicly recorded sales deed data collected and licensed by ATTOM Data Solutions (see full methodology below).

View interactive map displaying SFR returns in all 389 counties analyzed

The average annual gross rental yield (annualized gross rent income divided by median purchase price of single-family homes) among the 389 counties is 8.4 percent for 2020, down slightly from an average of 8.6 percent in 2019.

"The business of buying single-family homes for rent has lost a little steam this year across the United States as rents aren't rising quite as fast as prices for investment rental properties in a majority of the country," said Todd Teta, chief product officer at ATTOM Data Solutions. "But from the national perspective, things are generally holding steady for landlords in the single-family home rental market. Also, profit trends are moving in favor of investors in higher-rent counties and against those in lower-rent regions."

Counties in Baltimore, Vineland, Macon, Mobile and Atlanta metro areas post highest rental returns

Counties with the highest potential annual gross rental yields for 2020 are Baltimore City/County, MD (28.9 percent); Cumberland County, NJ, in the Vineland-Bridgeton metro area (20.1 percent); Bibb County, GA, in the Macon metro area (18.2 percent); Mobile County, AL (15.7 percent); and Clayton County, GA, in the Atlanta metro area (15.1 percent). Baltimore City, Cumberland and Bibb counties also had the top three yields in 2019.

Among counties with a population of at least 1 million, the highest potential gross rental yields in 2020 are in Wayne County (Detroit), MI (14.5 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (11.8 percent); Cook County, IL (9.3 percent); Dallas County, TX (9.1 percent); and Harris County, TX (8.7 percent).

Rental returns decrease from a year ago in over half the counties analyzed

Potential annual gross rental yields for 2020 decreased compared to 2019 in 231 of the 389 counties analyzed in the report (59.4 percent), led by Delaware County, PA, in the Philadelphia metro area (down 30.5 percent); Bibb County, GA, in the Macon metro area (down 27.0 percent); Erie County, PA (down 26.6 percent); Saint Louis County, MO (down 26.5 percent); and Sussex County, DE, in the Salisbury metro area (down 26.4 percent).

The biggest decreases in potential annual gross rental yields for 2020 compared to 2019 among counties with a population of at least 1 million are Wayne County, MI (down 16.6 percent); Philadelphia County, PA (down 9.6 percent); Oakland County, MI, in the Detroit metro area (down 8.9 percent); Franklin County, OH (down 7.0 percent); and Bexar County, TX (down 4.0 percent).

Counties in San Francisco, New York, and Nashville metro areas post lowest rental returns

Counties with the lowest potential annual gross rental yields for 2020 are San Francisco County, CA (3.8 percent); San Mateo County, CA (3.8 percent); Williamson County, TN, in the Nashville metro area (3.9 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (4.3 percent); and Santa Clara County, CA (4.3 percent).

Along with Kings County and Santa Clara County, the lowest potential annual gross rental yields in 2020 among counties with a population of at least 1 million are in Orange County, CA (5.0 percent); Queens County, NY (5.1 percent); and Los Angeles County, CA (5.2 percent).

Wages rising faster than rents in 53 percent of markets

Wages rose faster than rents in 2019 in 206 of the 389 counties analyzed (53.0 percent), including Harris County (Houston), TX; King County (Seattle), WA; San Bernardino County, CA; Bexar County (San Antonio), TX and Wayne County (Detroit), MI.

Rents rose faster than wages in 183 of the 389 counties analyzed (47.0 percent), including Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA and Orange County, CA, in the Los Angeles metro area.

Prices rising faster than rents in 59 percent of markets

Prices rose faster than rents in 2019 in 231 of the 389 counties analyzed (59.4 percent), including Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; Kings County (Brooklyn), NY; Riverside County, CA and San Bernardino County, CA.

Rents rose faster than prices in 2019 in 158 of the 389 counties analyzed (40.6 percent), including Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; San Diego County, CA; Orange County, CA, in the Los Angeles metro area, and Miami-Dade County, FL.

Prices rising faster than wages in 61 percent of markets

Prices rose faster than wages in 2019 in 238 of the 389 counties analyzed (61.2 percent), including Los Angeles County, CA; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego, County, CA; Orange County, CA, in the Los Angeles metro area, and Miami-Dade County, FL.

Wages rose faster than prices in 151 of the 389 counties analyzed (38.8 percent), including Cook County (Chicago), IL; Harris County (Houston), TX; Queens County, NY; King County (Seattle), WA and Clark County (Las Vegas), NV.

Best SFR growth markets include Detroit, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Memphis

The report identified 73 "SFR Growth" counties where average wages grew over the past year and with potential 2020 annual gross rental yields of 10 percent or higher.

The 73 SFR Growth markets include Wayne County (Detroit), MI; Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH; Milwaukee County, WI; Shelby County, TN, in the Memphis metro area; and Macomb County, MI.

Methodology

For this report, ATTOM Data Solutions looked at all U.S. counties with a population of 100,000 or more and with sufficient home price and rental rate data. Rental returns were calculated using annual gross rental yields: the 2020 50th percentile rent estimates for three-bedroom homes in each county from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), annualized, and divided by the median sales price of single family homes in each county.

ATTOM Data Solutions incorporates the most recent (Q3 2019) weekly wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About ATTOM Data Solutions

ATTOM Data Solutions provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes and enhances the data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID  the ATTOM ID. The 9TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, marketing lists, match & append and introducing the first property data delivery solution, a cloud-based data platform that streamlines data management  Data-as-a-Service (DaaS).

Media Contact:

Christine Stricker

949.748.8428

[email protected]

Data and Report Licensing:

949.502.8313

[email protected]

SOURCE ATTOM Data Solutions

Related Links

http://www.attomdata.com


Americans should think carefully about traveling outside the country because of the spread of the new coronavirus, which causes a disease called COVID-19.

Thats the warning the State Department issued late March 11.

The department advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19, it said in an updated global health advisory.

Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions. Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice, it added.

Americans have gotten the new virus while traveling in Iran, Italy, China, and Egypt, among other countries. Americans have also become infected while on cruise ships.

People were asked to visit the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal health agency thats been on the forefront of efforts to try to stem the spread of the virus.

Americans who still travel abroad despite the level 3 advisory were told to review and follow the CDCs guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus infections, to check with their airlines or cruise lines regarding any updated information about their travel plans and/or restrictions, and to visit the State Departments travel advisories for individual countries.

They should also visit the departments embassy pages and the Department of Homeland Securitys website to view the latest restrictions on traveling to the United States.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday night announced a 30-day travel ban on travelers from Europe amid the spread of the virus. The ban centers on countries in Europes Schengen Area, including Austria, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Norway, and Sweden.

We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now, we must take the same action with Europe, Trump said in his address, referring to how his administration suspended travel from China to the United States on Jan. 31.

Officials have previously said that elderly Americans and those with underlying health conditions should think about canceling nonessential trips while avoiding crowds and being prepared to stay at home for a period of time.

The new virus has quickly spread in some parts of the United States, including New York, Washington state, Massachusetts, and California. Around 1,000 people have tested positive, the CDC said on Wednesday. With Mississippi reporting its first case, the number of states recording at least one patient rose to 40.

The death toll was up to 38, including 30 deaths in Washington state, as of Thursday, according to updated figures from state and local officials. California, Florida, New Jersey, and South Dakota have reported at least one death.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
Joe Biden on Thursday issued a plan to fight COVID-19 he said was based on science while painting his Republican rival, President Donald Trump, as an unprepared leader focused on shifting the blame overseas and hiding facts from the American people.

Speaking from Wilmington, Delaware, the former vice president sought to distinguish himself as a steady alternative to Trump, whose administration is under fire for not paving the way for coronavirus testing to ramp up across the nation to isolate and contain the deadly disease.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has sparked market plunges and cancelations of public events and campus closings out of safety concerns, laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration, Biden said.

Trump had undermined efforts to prevent the disease by hollowing out our agencies and the disparagement of science, and the United States ability to lead globally was undercut by damage to relationships around the world, Biden added.

Lets be crystal clear. The coronavirus does not have a political affiliation, Biden said. It also doesnt discriminate, he said, based on race, gender, zip code, power or position in society.

This disease could impact every nation and every person on the planet. We need a plan," he said.

In an Oval Office address on Wednesday night, Trump pinned the spread of the virus on Europe for failing to restrict incoming travel from China, where the disease originated. He blocked all travel from foreign nationals to the U.S. from Europe and called for an $8 billion boost to a federal program to support small businesses and employees impacted by the virus.

Biden said reclaiming public trust would require that public health professionals ... be the ones making our public health decisions and communicating with the American people."

He proposed free testing for coronavirus and free treatment for those infected, saying the administrations failure on testing is colossal. And its a failure of planning, leadership and execution.

By next week the number of tests should be in the millions not the thousands, he said. He called on the federal government to work with local communities, nursing homes, senior centers and private labs in universities and manufacturers to ensure tests were available to all who need them. The government should stop at nothing to make that happen.

The White House should receive a daily report, he said, of tests ordered, completed and how many were tested positive. Mapping, tracing and isolating the disease would help prevent the diseases spread and also calm the nervous markets.

The markets will respond to strong, steady, capable leadership that responds to the root of the problem," he said.

Biden also called for the re-establishment of the National Security Global Health Security team.

He added that the Department of Defense should prepare for potential deployment of manpower and logistical support. His plan also calls on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a temporary emergency standard to protect frontline workers and investments in more protective equipment for health care workers.

Like the bill proposed by Democrats on Wednesday night, Bidens plan calls for reimbursements to businesses impacted by the disease; extended unemployment benefits and expanded food assistance; boosting small business loans to revive the economy; and paid leave for affected workers as well as families who need to take care of children home from school.

Both Biden and Trump have expressed confidence the U.S. would overcome the virus.

Volunteers raise their hand to help," Biden said. Neighbors look out for neighbors. Businesses take care of their workers. Well meet this challenge. Im confident of it. But we have to move now."

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Market regulator Sebi on Tuesday said foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per international norms.

The announcement comes after the tax haven was put on the grey list of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) -- an inter-governmental policy making body that sets anti-money laundering standards.

A significant percentage of foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) investing in the Indian market is registered in Mauritius.

Following the FATF notice, some fund managers knocked on Sebi's door overnight, raising concerns over validity of FPI registration done through the tax haven.

The regulator on Tuesday said, "Foreign investors from Mauritius will continue to be eligible for FPI registration with increased monitoring as per FATF norms".

For several years, there have been apprehensions about Mauritius being a money laundering route for FPIs due to its limited regulatory oversight. But, the Indian Ocean island nation has been taking several steps in recent years to address the concerns.
"What is important about this project is that it uses community-based, participatory research methods to identify community issues facing children and families," said Boston College School of Social Work Professor Theresa Betancourt, the lead researcher. "We worked collaboratively to adapt an evidence-based family strengthening intervention to the culture and context of Bhutanese and Somali Bantu refugees resettling in New England."

The researchers studied 80 familieshalf of them Bhutanese, half Somali Bantuto assess the program, its acceptance and any trends in improving child mental health and family functioning. Nationwide, approximately 100,000 Bhutanese and approximately 10,000 Somali Bantu have settled in the U.S..

While resettlement can impact refugee mental health, there are few preventative interventions, especially when it comes to mental health and family functioning, said Betancourt, the Salem Professor in Global Practice and director of the Research Program on Children and Adversity at BC. "We set out to answer if a family-based, home-visiting, preventative intervention done for refugees, by refugees could be feasible, acceptable, and impactful on the wellbeing of youth and families."

In addition to the high rates of satisfaction and engagement, the study uncovered other important trends that bode well for its full implementation and evaluation of effectiveness. For instance, children in the study group reported less traumatic stress reactions. Parents and other caregivers reported fewer child depression symptoms, when compared to a control group of families who did not receive the intervention.

Bhutanese children reported less arguing among family members and fewer symptoms of depression. While caregivers noted improved child behavior among Somali Bantu children in the control group, they found families in the study group had fewer conduct problems compared to the control group, according to the journal article, titled Family-Based Mental Health Promotion for Somali Bantu and Bhutanese Refugees: Feasibility and Acceptability Trial.

Given the small number of participants, trends on its impact will be explored further in a planned long-term evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in a study involving 300 families.

Betancourt cautioned that until that effectiveness study is done, it is too early to draw sweeping conclusions about the intervention impact, particularly given the relatively small number of participants. But the early findings point to a program that is promising and can be successfully implemented in refugee communities by lay workers who receive strong training and ongoing supervision to support resettled families from refugee communities.

The researchers say the study results suggest the program can be used, with minor adaptations, to support immigrants from other countries.

"Overall we were very happy to see that an intervention delivered by refugees, for refugees could be acceptable and feasible even during these very difficult times when the national dialogue on refugees can be very negative," said Betancourt.

Ed Hayward | University Communications | February 2020


President Donald Trump has announced he is suspending all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for the next 30 days to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus that has claimed 37 lives and infected 1,300 in the country.

In a televised address to the nation from his Oval Office in the White House, Trump said the new rule will be coming into effect from Friday midnight.

There will be exemptions for Americans returning to the US after undergoing multiple screenings, he said.

The president said the European Union has "failed to take the same precautions" as his administration had implemented to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Trump said he is monitoring the situation in China and South Korea and asked citizens to suspend all essential travels.

He urged them to adopt best hygiene, wash their hands and stay away from large gatherings to reduce the chance of spread of the deadly virus.

"This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment in time that we will overcome as a nation and a world," Trump said, adding that "we are marshalling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people".

No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the US, he said.

"We have the best economy, the most advanced healthcare, and the most talented doctors, scientists, and researchers anywhere in the world, the president said.

Trump said he has taken these decisions after consulting with top government health professionals, to protect all US citizens against the coronavirus.

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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court sought the response of the police and the AAP government in the national capital on Thursday on a fresh plea alleging that hate speeches were made by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Salman Khurshid and the BJP's Anurag Thakur and Kapil Mishra.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the police and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on the petition, which has also sought registration of cases against those allegedly making hate speeches.

The petition has sought setting up of a special investigation team (SIT) to assess the property damage in last month's communal violence in northeast Delhi.

The bench asked the Delhi government and the police to file their reply by March 16 and listed the matter, along with all other similar pleas, on March 20.

In the other matters pertaining to hate speeches, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought time till March 16 to file a reply and the same was granted by the court.

(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 (Reuters) Washington, United States  Thu, March 12, 2020 08:23 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069f6066 2 World #USA,#coronavirus,Donald-Trump,travel-ban,flights,Europe Free

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday the United States will suspend all travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days starting on Friday in order to fight the coronavirus.

Trump said the travel restrictions do not apply to the United Kingdom.

The restrictions, meant to combat the spread of the coronavirus, do not apply to legal permanent residents of the United States, nor does it generally apply to immediate family members of American citizens, DHS said in a statement.

DHS acting Secretary Chad Wolf said in the statement he plans to issue a notice in the next 48 hours that would require U.S. passengers who have been in Schengen Area countries to travel through select airports with enhanced screening.

The White House at dusk ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's address to the nation in Washington, U.S., March 11, 2020. (REUTERS/Tom Brenner)

Furthermore, Trump emphasizes that trade will not be affected by the 30-day restrictions on travel from Europe, apparently rolling back on comments he made in a speech earlier in the evening.

"The restriction stops people not goods," he said in the tweet.

In the speech about an hour earlier, Trump said: "These prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing."

U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled events planned this week in Colorado and Nevada "out of an abundance of caution from the coronavirus outbreak," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
Professional surfer Alana Blanchard has shared an emotional video opening up about ending her long-term sponsorship with Rip Curl.

The Australian-based blonde says she cut ties with the iconic surf brand earlier this year because they were unhappy she had fallen pregnant.

The 30-year-old from Hawaii and her partner, professional surfer Jack Freestone, welcomed baby Banks on December 1, 2017.

Blanchard, who has her own YouTube channel, claims Rip Curl began treating her differently as soon as she fell pregnant.

Scroll down for video

Professional surfer Alana Blanchard has shared an emotional video opening up about ending her long-term sponsorship with Rip Curl

The Australian-based blonde says she cut ties with the iconic surf brand earlier this year because they were unhappy she had fallen pregnant

'They pretty much stopped using me after I had Banks or found out I was pregnant,' she said in her latest video, which was uploaded on Tuesday.

'They really didn't like that I had a kid.

'I kind of just decided, we kind of both decided to go our separate ways.

'They no longer really wanted to use me anymore and I kind of want to be with a company that really supports me, who I am today and that just wasn't Rip Curl at the time.'

She said she was excited for a change but admitted she had been struggling since the split.

'Going from being sponsored my whole life, since I was 14 to now not having a main sponsor, as a professional surfer that's a huge thing.'

Rip Curl has denied Blanchard's claims and said it had wanted to re-sign her.

The 30-year-old from Hawaii and her partner, professional surfer Jack Freestone, welcomed baby Banks on December 1, 2017

Alana Blanchard remains one of the most sought-after stars in the sport with more than 1.8 million followers on Instagram (pictured with her son Banks and partner Jack Freestone)

'Rip Curl has supported Alana Blanchard for the past 12 years and she has been a legend within our brand and a huge influence in our sport,' the company told Stab Magazine.

'When Alana stepped into the next phase of her life as a mother, we went to great lengths to support her throughout her pregnancy and months after.

'Rip Curl wanted to re-sign Alana and continue her relationship on our surf team, and made an offer to do so, but unfortunately could not agree to terms.

'We are a little surprised by the comments in her most recent video, but can empathise with her disappointment in leaving the brand. We did some great things together.

Blanchard had been sponsored by the brand since she was just 14 (pictured with her son Banks and partner Jack Freestone)

She said she was excited for a change but admitted she had been struggling since the split with Rip Curl

'We wish her all the best; we value her contribution and legacy at the brand and we are sad to see her go.'

Blanchard had been sponsored by the brand since she was just 14.

During the past decade she has taken out major tour wins, she was ranked seventh in the world in 2012.

And while her appearances on the tour circuit has been dropping, she still remains one of the most sought-after stars in the sport with more than 1.8 million followers on Instagram.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Rip Curl for additional comment.
Ireland on Thursday announced the closure of all schools and colleges, and recommended the cancellation of mass gatherings as part of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said "schools, colleges and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow (Friday)", as would state-run cultural institutions.

Indoor events of more than 100 people and those outdoor involving over 500 "should be cancelled", Varadkar said in a statement in Washington, where he was on an official visit.

Ireland has 43 confirmed cases of the disease and on Wednesday announced the country's first death.

Varadkar said more cases and deaths were expected as the world moved into "uncharted territory".

The premier said the new measures were part of the government's "duty to protect" the public and the restrictions would be in place until March 29.

He said people could still go to work, as public transport was not affected, but recommended home-working, staggered working and break times wherever possible, to minimise contact.

The new guidance follows a meeting between the prime minister and the government's National Public Health Emergency Team on Wednesday night.

In Dublin, foreign minister Simon Coveney told a conference: "This is a phase that we have been planning for some time." He called them "the right measures, at the right time" that were based on best public health advice.

He added: "In order to pull together as a country now we are asking Irish people to stay apart." Ireland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said there had been a "significant increase" in the number of cases detected in recent days, and urged people to be socially distant.

Varadkar travelled to Washington for St Patrick's Day celebrations on March 17 for Ireland's patron saint.

The annual parades in Ireland, which attract hundreds of thousands of people, have been cancelled because of fears about the spread of COVID-19.

Similar parades in Boston and New York have also been called off.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Philippines is all set to cement its role as the next hotbed for fintech and tech innovation with all the necessary ingredients to tech up already present in the Southeast Asian country.

A solid financial and business ecosystem with projected 6.2% GDP growth in 2020; an innovation-ready regulatory environment; a large, young, and increasing population with an internet penetration rate of 63%  most of them through mobile devices  the Philippines is certainly ripe for fintech growth.

(L-R): Union Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Edwin Bautista, TeamAsia President and Founder Monette Hamlin, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Dr. Rafaelita Fita Aldaba, Fintech Philippines Association (FPH) and Distributed Ledger Technology Association of the Philippines (DLTAP) Chairman Justo Ortiz, and FPH Board of Trustee Mark Gorriceta sign a memorandum of agreement for the staging of the Philippine Fintech Festival 2020 Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, in Taguig City.

We strongly believe that this is a pivotal moment for us to become more relevant and competitive in the global marketplace. DTI has always been supportive of the growing fintech industry because of its massive potential for financial inclusivity for our people. With all the work and tech innovation building up in the country in recent years, we are ready to expand our horizons, shared Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Dr. Rafaelita Fita Aldaba.

She underscored the significance of being at the center of tech innovation, citing how fintech companies and products have largely contributed to the governments relentless drive for financial inclusion.

These include telcos and traditional banks successfully launching their own fintech products offering millions of consumers access to formal credit products; small and medium enterprises as well as farmers being given alternative finance by startup firms who link them to banks and other investors; and mobile wallets and startup firms working on modernizing remittances through online payments and use of cryptocurrencies amid the growing number of Filipinos working overseas.

Now, the Philippines is primed to move on to the next level and transition into a world-class digital economy via the Philippine Fintech Festival  an international gathering of experts and leaders in innovation, continued Usec. Aldaba.

The forthcoming Philippine Fintech Festival (PFF), to be held at Shangri-La at The Fort on September 16-17, 2020, will explore the widening horizon for the tech and fintech potential of the Philippines. The festival is in partnership with various government agencies including the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), along with private corporations and organizations such as Distributed Ledger Technology Association of the Philippines (DLTAP) and FinTech Philippines Association (FPH).

The Philippine Fintech Festival promises to be a showcase of the latest technological innovations both here and abroad to local and international businesses. This will definitely go a long way in helping us develop the countrys capability for innovation through the continuous development of information and communications technology, declared DICT Undersecretary Jose Arturo de Castro.

PFF will gather global innovation experts to discuss the future of banking, industry transformation, and financial inclusion for the plenary sessions.

Beyond the plenary talks and exhibits, there are several exciting events geared for those participating in the festival such as Business Matching activity with Trade Connect where entrepreneurs can network with possible investors and learn from their peers in the industry. There will also be a PFF edition of The Final Pitch wherein startups can present their innovative business ideas to industry leaders and venture capitalists. While, the PFF Hackathon will challenge students and tech enthusiasts in creating impactful solutions for current pressing issues in the Philippine financial industry. Access to the ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN)s APIX platform will be made available to Hackathon participants as part of their toolkit. These activities will culminate during the PFF Awards wherein winners from these activities will be recognized.

We are working closely with the various government and industry partners in putting together PFF 2020 because this is an opportunity to showcase the Philippines capabilities in the fintech space. Through the PFF, we are taking a shot at co-creating the future together, said DLTAP and FPH chairman Justo Ortiz.

The Philippine Fintech Festival aims to empower enterprises via a digital revolution in order to remain relevant and competitive amid a rapidly changing business environment.

Registration for the first Philippine Fintech Festival is now open. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for interested parties. For more information about PFF 2020, visit www.philippinefintechfestival.com/.
Rangers at a nature conservancy in Garissa County, Kenya, have discovered the skeletal remains of two rare white giraffes that went missing several months ago.

According to a statement issued on Twitter, the carcasses belong to a mother and her 7-month-old calf  two of only three white giraffes living in Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy  and appear to have been there for four months. All signs indicate that the animals were killed and butchered by armed poachers.

"This is a very sad day for the community and Kenya as a whole. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe," Mohammed Ahmednoor, manager of the conservancy, said in the statement.

Related: The pink and white album: amazing albino animals

The poachers have not been identified, and their motive remains unclear. The Kenya Wildlife Service, the main conservation body in Kenya, is currently investigating the killings.

Image: TOPSHOT-CORRECTION-KENYA-NATURE-WILDLIFE-GIRAFFE (Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy / via AFP - Getty Images)

One white giraffe remains in the park  an adult male  and it may be the last white giraffe in the world, the conservancy said.

The white giraffes are not albino, the conservancy noted, but they have a condition called leucism, which causes a partial loss of skin pigmentation. Unlike animals with albinism, animals with leucism still produce dark pigment in their soft tissue cells, which is why the giraffes in this family have dark eyes and dark tail hair.

Leucism affects many mammals, but it is extremely rare in giraffes. Outside of this Kenyan giraffe family, only one other white giraffe has been spotted in Africa; it was last seen in Tanzania's Tarangire National Park in January 2016, according to Kenya's Northern Rangelands Trust.

White or otherwise, all reticulated giraffes (Giraffa reticulata, the species found in the conservancy and throughout northern Kenya) are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. About 15,780 individuals remain in the wild, according to an estimate from the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF). That represents a decline of about 56% from the roughly 36,000 estimated to remain in the wild 30 years ago. The main threats to their survival are loss of habitat (due to human activities) and poaching.

Originally published on Live Science.
WHO Declares Coronavirus Pandemic As Russia Cancels More Flights To Europe

By RFE/RL March 11, 2020

Russia is canceling flights to many European destinations due to fears of the new coronavirus spreading as the World Health Organization (WHO) designates the outbreak a pandemic.

"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 had reached 114 countries, infected more than 118,000 people, and 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.

Meanwhile, Russian state-owned airline Aeroflot announced the same day that it will 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 have more than 1,000 reported cases of the virus.

The issuing of travel visas to Italians has also been suspended 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 only about 26 confirmed cases, including six that were confirmed in Moscow on March 11. Several of those individuals contracted the disease while traveling in Italy.

Before the WHO briefing, Italy and Britain announced multibillion-dollar spending plans to fight the disease and the United States said it was considering new steps.

Meanwhile, Moldova confirmed its fourth virus case as did Armenia. Albania recorded the first coronavirus death in the Western Balkans and has 11 known cases.

The U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 11 said the number of virus deaths in the country reached 31 and the number of confirmed cases exceeded 1,000.

President Donald Trump is considering declaring a national emergency to unleash funds for the federal government's 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.

U.S. lawmakers and health officials have also set up containment zones and quarantine areas.

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.

With reporting by Politico, Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-cancels-more- flights-to-europe-through-april-to-stop- coronavirus/30482162.html

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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The new review, according to intelligence officials, is designed to reduce duplication among the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the C.I.A. and other agencies. It would also send intelligence officers assigned to the director back to their home agencies, with the view that those agencies could better allocate them.

While the decision on the review will be up to Mr. Grenell, Gina Haspel, the C.I.A. director, is generally supportive, given that the study could send agency officers back to its headquarters in Langley, Va., according to people briefed on her view.

The proposals remain in early stages, though Mr. Grenell has signaled that he wants to move quickly because his time in office is limited.

Kashyap Patel, an aide in the directors office who was transferred last month from the White House, is involved in the review, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Patel was a former aide to Representative Devin Nunes, Republican of California, who has long argued that the intelligence office should be pared back.

Mr. Patels arrival has been greeted skeptically in the headquarters of the director of national intelligence, known as Liberty Crossing. Some officials have said that they believed Mr. Grenell and Mr. Patel were sent by the White House to purge the ranks of intelligence officers disloyal to Mr. Trump.

The White House, the president doesnt see the need for O.D.N.I., said James R. Clapper Jr., a former director of national intelligence who has been sharply critical of Mr. Trump. So I would infer that Grenells marching orders were to cut the place.

A debate has long churned about whether the office has grown too large, but Mr. Trumps longstanding skepticism of his intelligence agencies has sown suspicion that the administration may be conducting the review for partisan purposes.
As several Fairfield County school districts have closed amid coronavirus concerns, a group of superintendents is pushing for the state to credit their e-learning lessons toward the 180-day requirement.

New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Wilton, Weston and Greenwich school districts announced prolonged closures on Wednesday as the states third coronavirus case was confirmed and a potential large exposure was discovered stemming from a private party in Westport.

In anticipation of the closures, 14 area superintendents signed a letter this week to Gov. Ned Lamont and Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona to get credit for e-learning toward the mandated 180-day school year.

New Canaan Superintendent Bryan Luizzi, as president of the Southern Fairfield County Superintendents Association, penned the letter because he said he did not receive enough direction on a call with Lamont and Cardona hours before he addressed the New Canaan Board of Education on Monday.

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Today the Department of Education gave some guidance for districts to follow, Luizzi said. The guidance in my estimation was vague and non-committal, not helpful enough for districts that have to work through what we are working through.

The guidance issued by the state in advance, in my opinion, needs to be strong and clear and show leadership, Luizzi told the school board.

He would like e-learning, which entails distance learning on the internet, to be handled similar to the way it is dealt with in New Jersey.

Given the urgent need to stop community spread through non-pharmaceutical interventions such as school closures, we are writing to urge you to take a next, necessary step to protect our children and our schools, Luizzi wrote in the letter sent Tuesday. As the leaders of Connecticut and of our Department of Education, we implore you to follow New Jerseys lead by making swift and decisive action on behalf of Connecticuts children. Specifically, we urge you to publish guidance, similar to our neighbors in NJ.

The letter was signed by 13 other superintendents, including Michael Testani, of Bridgeport, Charles Dumais, of Cooperative Education Services, Alan Addley of Darien, Thomas McMorran of Easton/Redding/ Region 9, Mike Cummings of Fairfield, Toni Jones of Greenwich, Joseph Kobza of Monroe, Steven Adamowski of Norwalk, Beth Smith of Shelton, Janet Robinson of Stratford, William McKersie of Weston, David Abbey of Westport and Kevin Smith of Wilton.

Our teachers and staff have been strong partners in these efforts on behalf of children; however, they are also asking important questions about the 180-day requirement and whether the expectations we are placing on them to provide substantive home instruction to every child, in all classrooms, covering the entire program, will be credited as days of instruction for our students and staff, the letter reads.

In the letter Luizzi quoted New Jerseys decision, which in part read: Any day in which students are impacted by a public health-related closure have access to home instruction services provided consistent with the guidance in this memo will count as a day in which the board of education has provided public school facilities toward its compliance with the180-day requirement.

Luizzi wrote that administrators worked in close partnership with local unions, coordinated efforts district-wide with a focus on equity and access to programs, and considered special education students.

Schools are also developing plans to provide meals to students who are identified through the free and reduced lunch program, and are ensuring all students and families have the resources necessary to access the home instruction program.

What we are doing now is identifying the families who may be in need of additional resources, primarily technology, but other things too, Luizzi said. There can be other things that families may need. Our social workers psychologists, principals, our teachers are working together to identify who those folks might be, it would be confidential.

In the event of a prolonged closure, I would work with our health director locally to figure out: Do we use our white vans to transport the equipment to the homes? Do we spend the day bringing them whatever they need in order to get them up and running? Things like that are all possibilities. We are figuring out the best way to distribute resources to families. We are confident in the event it happens we can solve those problems, Luizzi said.
WASHINGTON - Chelsea Mannings legal team said Wednesday that the former intelligence analyst tried to take her own life Wednesday, but was transported to a hospital where she is recovering.

Manning has been in jail since May 2019 for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks. She was scheduled to appear in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday for a hearing on a motion to terminate the civil contempt sanctions stemming from that refusal.

In the motion filed last month, Mannings lawyers argued that Manning has shown during her incarceration that she cant be coerced into testifying before a grand jury.

Manning served seven years in a military prison for leaking a trove of documents to WikiLeaks before President Barack Obama commuted the remainder of her 35-year sentence in 2017.

Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne said Wednesday: There was an incident at approximately 12:11 p.m. today at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center involving inmate Chelsea Manning. It was handled appropriately by our professional staff and Ms. Manning is safe.

Andy Stepanian, a spokesman for Mannings legal team, said in a statement Wednesday that Manning remains unwavering in her refusal to participate in a secret grand jury process that she sees as highly susceptible to abuse.

__

An earlier version of this story said Andy Stepanian is a lawyer for Chelsea Manning. Stepanian is a spokesman for Mannings legal team.
TANTALLON, N.S. At the Thursday night knitting circle in Tantallon, conversation turns, as it seems to these days, to coronavirus.

Its a group thats been getting together for seven years. Its members have discussed a little bit of everything over that time, but these days its one topic that is hitting a little closer to home in the Halifax bedroom community.

I stay away from big crowds now, says Rosalind Watt, 74. And Ive changed some things. If the supermarket opens at 8 a.m., Im there at 8:01 a.m., get my stuff and get out.

But what can you do? You do what you can to protect yourself, and you try to be optimistic.

The arrival of the coronavirus in Atlantic Canada has prompted particular concern in the region of this country that has the highest proportion of seniors.

Many of the women in this knitting circle fall into that most vulnerable of categories.

Im concerned, said 68-year-old Margaret Gillis, from behind a nascent knitted hat.

Not so much for myself, but for other people. Those who are sick or who are going through chemo.

New Brunswicks Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed its first case of a COVID-19  a woman between 50 and 60 years old, who had travelled to France recently.

Though expected, the spread of the outbreak to the East Coast raises the prospect that it could prove more deadly here than elsewhere in the country.

Statistics Canada reported that in 2016, during the most recent census, that almost one in five people in Atlantic Canada were 65 years of age or older.

That figure drops to 12.3 per cent  almost eight percentage points lower  for the next highest area, Alberta. That gap, reported Statistics Canada, is the largest such difference between areas since Confederation.

According to the World Health Organization, the latest data published in the joint WHO-China mission report shows that individuals there at highest risk for severe disease and death include people older than 60 and those with underlying conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer.

An older population means that they are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus, said Marissa Lennox, chief policy officer at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), the countrys largest advocate for seniors.

As we age, our bodys ability to fight infections weakens. This is a natural process called immunosenescence. Chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, chronic Lyme  these things are more common. And these conditions make us vulnerable to the effects of coronavirus.

Of particular concern, said Lennox, are seniors in long-term care homes. The countrys first death linked to the novel coronavirus was a care-home resident in North Vancouver.

We know that the most vulnerable populations are those living in long-term care, and that is because of the sheer makeup of the population and their close proximity to one another, she said.

When it comes to residents in long-term care, these are the frailest of the frail.

On Wednesday, Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health for New Brunswick, announced restrictions prohibiting international travellers from visiting long-term care facilities for 14 days after their return. Those restrictions also prevent international travellers from entering health-care facilities to visit those most at risk for severe illness for 14 days after the travellers return. Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland have similar bans in place.

Health officials are also concerned the virus might shift from being spread by returning international travellers to being spread within local communities  so-called community cases.

Currently, 79 per cent of ill individuals are travellers and only 12 per cent are close contacts of those travellers.

We have been preparing for this since the virus first emerged in January, said Russell. We were expecting this scenario in the post-March Break period, so this is not a surprise and we are ready to respond.

Back in Tantallon, Gillis and the other knitters are trying to take the situation in stride.

Common sense is the main thing, she said.

Use your head. Dont panic.

Read more about:
Washington: 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 US governments response to the contagion, according to four Trump administration officials.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with bank executives at the White House. Credit:Bloomberg

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.
Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Since arriving in Australia in late January, the couple, both 63, have come into contact with several local celebrities.

On Monday, Rita sat down for an interview with Today Extra's David Campbell and Belinda Russell. It's believed Tom was also present on set.

Revealed: How Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, mingled with celebrities before testing positive for coronavirus - as the deadly pandemic strikes Australia's media elite

As a result, David told 2GB's Deborah Knight on Thursday that he and Belinda will be self-isolating and getting tested for coronavirus.

'Belinda Russell and I will go get tested. We will make sure we are clear,' he said.

David explained he will be taking his three children out of school and keeping his family isolated until they're given the all clear.

'We will get tested': On Monday, Rita (centre) sat down for an interview with Today Extra's David Campbell (left) and Belinda Russell (right)

Daily Mail Australia understands Tom was also present on set when Rita was being interviewed

Recalling his interview with Rita, David said: 'She came into the Today Extra studios on Monday and she was delightful and really nice and she didn't have any symptoms of anything. She was cautious.

'She actually made a joke coming into the studios, saying we shouldn't shake hands, we should bump elbows. So we bumped elbows.'

David said he feels 'perfectly fine' at the moment and isn't too concerned about the risk because he only spent 'seven or eight minutes' with Rita.

During her visit to Channel Nine's Sydney studios, Rita used the dressing room of A Current Affair host Tracy Grimshaw.

As a precaution, Tracy will not host ACA tonight and Karl Stefanovic will stand in.

A Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'Nine today has taken action in line with our crisis response plan around a visit to our studio by Ms Rita Wilson on Monday this week, for an appearance on Today Extra with David Campbell and Belinda Russell.

'Our actions are in line with the guidelines set out by the Government and Health Authorities. Those who were in prolonged contact with Ms Wilson have been tested and are self-isolating for 14 days. Our premises is currently being thoroughly cleaned in all areas she visited and we are encouraging our employees to monitor their health and practice good hygiene... Arrangements for hosts for Today Extra are still being confirmed.'

Feeling fine: David (left, with Belinda) said he feels 'perfectly fine' at the moment and isn't too concerned about the risk because he only spent 'seven or eight minutes' with Rita

After chatting to Rita on Today Extra, David thanked her for the interview and performance

Daily Mail Australia understands that a number of media professionals who have come into contact with Tom and Rita - including publicists, producers and bodyguards - are now self-isolating and getting themselves tested for coronavirus.

Tom has also been in contact with dozens of actors and crew members while filming Baz Luhrmann's as-yet-untitled Elvis Presley biopic on the Gold Coast.

The cast includes Rufus Sewell, Austin Butler, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Olivia DeJonge, but it's unclear if any of them are currently in Australia.

Tom has also been in contact with dozens of actors and crew members while filming Baz Luhrmann's as-yet-untitled Elvis Presley biopic on the Gold Coast. Pictured: Baz Luhrmann and his wife, Catherine Martin, in New York City on July 25, 2019

The cast includes Rufus Sewell, Austin Butler (right), Maggie Gyllenhaal and Olivia DeJonge (left), but it's unclear if any of them are currently in Australia

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported on Wednesday that Baz had shut down production, asking the cast and crew to stay home from work following Tom's diagnosis.

'Be assured we will keep you updated as that information develops,' Baz told them in a letter.

'We request all cast and crew stay at home today and not come to work. All work activity on the production is cancelled and will not resume until further notice.'

Tom revealed on Instagram on Thursday that he and Rita had tested positive for coronavirus

He also shared this picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket in a hospital

On Thursday, Tom announced he and Rita had tested positive for coronavirus.

'Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches,' he wrote on Instagram.

'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.'
Mumbai: Arvind Jadhav and Vedant Kadam, residents of Mumbai, are stuck in Iranian capital of Tehran and have requested the Indian government to rescue them as soon as possible.

They are concerned as all civil aviation routes have been closed in Tehran and they are trapped.

The hotel, in which they are living, is also planning to shut down soon, as only eight of its 250 rooms are occupied. They are in touch with their families on Whatsapp and are appealing to the Indian government to help them immediately.

"The number of people who have died from the novel coronavirus in Iran jumped to 354 after the country reported the highest single-day total of 63 fatalities on Wednesday," said Alireza Vahabzadeh, an adviser to the country's health minister.

The Iranian authorities have taken several steps to prevent the further spread of the disease, including suspension of classes in schools and universities and postponing cultural and sporting events.

As of Wednesday, there were almost 120,000 confirmed cases globally, with the total number of deaths exceeding 4,300.
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Secretary of Defense Mark Esper addresses the media at U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida on Jan. 23, 2020. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Pentagon: Service Members Cant Travel to Countries Most Affected by New Coronavirus

The U.S. military is ordering service members, civilian Department of Defense workers, and families from traveling to, from, or through countries most affected by the new coronavirus.

The travel restrictions are in place from March 13 for two months.

The Department of Defenses top priority remains the protection and welfare of our people, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in a statement. While directing this prudent action, I continue to delegate all necessary authority to commanders to make further decisions based on their assessments to protect their people and ensure mission readiness.

While we deal with this fluid and evolving situation, I remain confident in our ability to protect our service members, civilians and families.

The countries are those identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as Level 3 locations and may change, Esper said. As of now, those countries are China, Iran, and South Korea. Most of Europe is also labeled Level 3, or avoid nonessential travel.

The new virus first started in Wuhan, China, last year and has spread to over 100 countries around the world, infecting more than 120,000 people and killing thousands. The majority of those infected are in China.

Official travel to Level 2 locations for families of service members and civilian personnel is also denied for the next 60 days, Esper said.

National Guard troops give food to residents of New Rochelle, New York at New Rochelle High School on March 12, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

All service members who have traveled from, to, or through Level 2 or 3 countries will be screened and isolated at home for two weeks.

Symptoms of the new virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms appear in one to 14 days after infection. People who are sick should stay home and contact health authorities or their healthcare provider.

Esper told reporters earlier this month that the U.S. military could continue operations even if theres an outbreak in Washington.

Our national military command center has the capability to go for weeks at a time if they have to be locked down inside the building if we have some type of outbreak, Esper said during a press conference.

The Pentagon was finalizing plans to prevent the spread of the virus among service members and at military bases, he said, as well as making arrangements for what to do if an outbreak occurs.

Two soldiers have tested positive, one in South Korea and one in Europe, officials said earlier this week. A civil servant, four family members, and one contractor have also contracted the illness.
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. During todays Cabinet meeting Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan raised the issue of suspending classes in schools and universities in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. The Ombudsman said they receive many requests on this matter and asked what is the position of the government in this respect.

In response Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said concrete explanations are needed for making such decisions which will prove that the disease is already spreading broadly. Our cases are very localized and concrete, they are people who have been under control from the very start. And there is no need yet to discuss such an issue, and there is also no need to panic because in reality Armenia is the country in the region with the minimum cases. And there is quite a heightened control in all checkpoints. But in any case we are operating on a heightened mode both with the healthcare and foreign ministries. If there is a need for that, we will make a decision within a day, the deputy PM said.

In turn minister of education Arayik Harutyunyan said the ministry is making decisions on this issue taking into account the instructions given by respective agencies. They will be discussed and will be notified to the public definitely. As for the absences in educational facilities I just want to state that the attendance is nearly 90%, is less in the provinces and is a little bit more in Yerevan, the minister said.

The total number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Armenia is 4 as of now.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Uzbekistans Justice Ministry has this week registered a U.S-based nongovernmental group focusing on poverty relief and a local justice advocacy organization, raising hopes that the authorities intend finally to allow a more open environment for citizen activism, Eurasianet writes in the article Uzbekistan sparks hope with registration of NGOs.

Gazeta.uz news website cited authorities as saying on March 11 that Mercy Corps intends to pursue a project providing balanced nutrition to pupils at more than 400 pre-school institutions in the provinces of Karakalpakstan and Surkhandarya. The NGO suspended its operations in Uzbekistan more than a decade ago.

Perhaps more significantly, however, registration was given on the same day, on March 9, to a local group called Huquqi Tayanch ("Legal Support" in Uzbek), which focuses on criminal justice reform, according to independent human rights researcher Steve Swerdlow. Swerdlow described Huquqi Tayanch as the first human rights group to be registered in Uzbekistan since 2003.

Organizations operating beyond the confines of full state control have historically been viewed with intense suspicion by Uzbek officials. But with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power in 2016, signaling his intent to usher in sweeping political and economic reforms, it was hoped that the restrictions might be eased.

The slow pace of progress has frustrated activists, however. The complications entailed in registered an NGO were amply documented in a January report by Dilmurad Yusupov and Oybek Isakov published on the Central Asia Bureau for Analytical Reporting website. The authors of the piece talked about excessive bureaucratic hurdles, a lengthy registration process, language barriers, low legal literacy and absence of legal support combined with unwritten rules of expertise [complicating] the formation of a genuine civil society in Uzbekistan.

Yusupov and Isakov welcomed the reduction of registration fees and the creation of an online NGO portal created by the Justice Ministry, but they suggested that the problems all lay in implementation and the arbitrary rules that apply to activists operating outside the world of GONGOs (government-organized non-governmental organizations).

On average, registration of NGOs takes from seven to more than 10 months. Initiative groups receive multiple rejection letters from the justice authorities and the number of such refusals can reach an average of four to more than 10, they wrote. If in the first refusal the registering authority reveals several shortcomings in the constituent documents, then in subsequent refusals, having received the same corrected documents, it refuses based on previously unspecified shortcomings." Huquqi Tayanch, for example, was registered only on its third attempt.

The government is, on paper, alert to the need to move things forward. There are currently public discussions taking place on the look of future legislation regulating the operation of NGOs. And the subject of human rights, and the need to do more work in that direction, has started to be covered, albeit in dry terms, by state media. An article published on March 10 by state newspaper Pravda Vostoka dwelled on ongoing consultations between Uzbek lawmakers and a visiting delegation from the UN Human Rights Committee. Among the topics discussed were plans to work further on the registration of NGOs, as well as religious organizations. The article gave no specifics on the governments plans.

Writing on Twitter, Yusupov was elated about the news of this week's registrations and expressed hope they were an omen for the future. "Great news! I hope the new code on NGOs in #Uzbekistan will confirm this commitment for all self-initiated civil society groups by making the registration process less bureaucratic and transparent," he wrote.
THE grave look on the faces of Irish officials as they arrived outside Blair House moments before the Taoiseach said it all.

"Pay attention," said one, as he pointed to the podium where Leo Varadkar arrived minutes later to deliver a short statement that will be centre-stage when RTE is compiling 'Reeling in the Years 2020'.

"I need to speak to you about the coronavirus and Covid-19," the Taoiseach began, underlining the urgency and import of the words that would follow.

For the next two weeks, and possibly longer, the way we live our lives will change utterly. Schools, colleges, childcare facilities and cultural institutions will close from tomorrow. Restrictions are in effect from 6pm Irish time.

The Government is now advising that mass indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled.

People should still go to work but where possible should look to work from home, Mr Varadkar advised. Public transport will continue to operate and shops, restaurants and cafes will remain open - but with the sort of drop-off in footfall they can expect in the weeks ahead, it's difficult to envisage whether it would be worth their while.

"As a general rule, outside of work, people should seek to reduce social interactions as much as possible," he said.

Read More

Mr Varadkar concluded his statement on a hopeful note: "We're a great people. We've experienced hardship and struggle before. We've overcome many trials in the past, with our determination and our spirits and once again, we will prevail."

It had been an eventful 12 hours for the Taoiseach, who was forced to leave the Ireland Funds gala dinner abruptly on Wednesday in the wake of US President Donald Trump's unilateral announcement of travel restrictions on people coming from European countries other than Ireland and the UK.

Mr Varadkar's most senior official, Martin Fraser, escorted him from the dinner to a private room where he was briefed on the implications for Ireland.

He later left the event altogether to receive further briefings. But it is now clear that the discussions with his colleagues back home while most of Washington was asleep were not just about the US president's announcement.

They also centred on the announcement that Mr Varadkar made as dawn broke over the US capital of unprecedented limitations put on the public back in Ireland until the end of March.

"Our own national public health emergency team met last night and has issued new advice to government. We're acting on that advice today," Mr Varadkar said.

Ireland, it appears, is not affected by the US travel restrictions as they pertain to countries in the Schengen travel area. But Mr Varadkar did not address Mr Trump's announcement in his remarks and did not take questions.

The Taoiseach is due to convene an emergency Cabinet meeting, which is taking place in Dublin this afternoon. As he is nearly 5,500km across the Atlantic, Mr Varadkar will have to dial into the meeting.

It may become a footnote given the scale of this crisis, but the optics of Mr Varadkar delivering this most grave news from the US - and not the steps of Government Buildings - are not great for this caretaker government.

And it is also now far from clear what all of this means for the government formation talks, with the banning of mass gatherings impacting on political parties' ability to hold special conferences to ratify any programme for government.

Mr Varadkar is due to meet President Trump at the White House later, after which it is hoped he can shed more light on what all this means for the country and its government in the coming weeks.
LANSING, MI -- Ten Michigan prisons are on lockdown to visitors due to influenza outbreaks, but none of the cases involve coronavirus suspicions, Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman Chris Gautz says.

No Michigan prisoners have been tested or isolated for suspicion of coronavirus, Gautz said. "The prisoners we have that are sick at those facilities with an outbreak have tested positive for influenza.

To this point, we have not had any prisoners who have presented with symptoms of coronavirus who also meet the criteria for a test.

Gautz said prison medical staff, in accordance with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services protocol, do not make the diagnosis of COVID-19.

The local health department in the county the prison is in would make the decision whether to have the prisoner tested, Gautz said.

MDOC declares an outbreak if more than one inmate in a facility is determined to have the flu at the same time. The facility lockdown to visitors may not be lifted until at least seven days pass without a new case of influenza, Gautz said.

Prisons under lockdown for an influenza outbreak include: Womens Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Carson City Correctional Facility, Alger Correctional Facility, Newberry Correctional Facility, Thumb Correctional Facility, Kinross Corectional Facility, Central Michigan Correctional Facility, Cooper Street Correctional Facility, G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility and Macomb Correctional Facility

Independent of the flu outbreak, Michigan prisons on Wednesday, March 11, enacted a coronavirus screening plan that includes potential temperature checks for visitors.

Gautz said three facilities that house vulnerable prisoners" will temporarily suspend visitation Friday, including Duane Leonard Waters Hospital in Jackson County; Charles E. Egeler Reception and Guidance Center C-Unit, which houses quarantined inmates also in Jackson County; and Lakeland Correctional Facility, which houses elderly inmates in Branch Countys Coldwater.

Also, the department has been reviewing large gatherings that are scheduled and those being postponed are being communicated to our employees, but the biggest one coming up soon that the public attends is the Corrections Officer Academy graduation, scheduled for March 20 at the Lansing Center," Gautz said. The officers will still graduate and move to begin work at their facilities, and we will reschedule the graduation ceremony for a later date.

Two Michigan residents have contracted the conronavirus health officials confirmed.

There were 150 cases of possible coronavirus under active monitoring in Michigan as of Thursday, March 12, according to the states coronavirus information website. That figure was 124 on Tuesday and 520 more possible cases have been referred for assessment.

Ninety-one suspected cases were tested and found not to be coronavirus.

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PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Related coverage:

Whitmer urges Michigan residents to prevent the spread of coronavirus by following new guidelines

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Japans 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 Vizios TV products in the United States, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Sharp, a unit of Taiwans Foxconn, said Vizios 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.
Grossos citation of the Janney PTOs $1.4 million haul is intended to appeal to residents sense of equity and fairness, but even this figure is misleading. A Post story regarding that headline finding now includes a lengthy editors note where the reports authors clarified that roughly two-thirds of the PTOs revenue came from fees that parents paid for after-school services  not from parent donations. (Today, these after-school services are provided by a separate nonprofit organization, Janney Plus.) Janneys PTO estimates that it spends $785 per student each year; adding this modest figure to Janneys current per-pupil funding still leaves the school near the very bottom of the pack.
President Trump likes to use the word hoax when condemning any scenario he doesnt deem to his liking (global warming, the coronavirus, criticism that he cozies up to dictators, white supremacists and the NRA, etc.).

For what its worth, in my own opinion, the real hoax is in the Oval Office masquerading as president of the United States.

We have a chance to end this nightmare on Election Day, Nov. 3.!

Herb Stark

Mooresville
What happened

The coronavirus pandemic continues to drive an historic stock market sell-off, which has now put all major indexes firmly into bear market territory. As of noon EDT, here's how deeply in the red several semiconductor stocks are trading:

Silicon Laboratories NASDAQ:SLAB)

Sierra Wireless NASDAQ:SWIR)

Cirrus Logic NASDAQ:CRUS)

NXP Semiconductors NASDAQ:NXPI)

Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs updated its guidance this morning to warn investors that it would miss its previous outlook due to the outbreak. "Due to the uncertain and evolving public health outlook resulting from COVID-19, we are seeing an impact on first quarter demand and are updating our guidance accordingly," CEO Tyson Tuttle said in a statement. "While all of our Asia-Pacific-based suppliers have resumed operations, there are some minor ongoing impacts on our supply chain."

Revenue in the first quarter is now expected to be $200 million to $205 million, down from the previous outlook of $209 million to $219 million in sales. Adjusted earnings per share should be $0.49 to $0.53, compared to the prior range of $0.57 to $0.67 per share. Separately, Silicon Labs said it would acquire Redpine Signals' connectivity business for $308 million in cash to expand its Internet of Things (IoT) wireless platform.

Sierra Wireless

Sierra Wireless reported fourth-quarter results about a month ago, and at the time did not factor in the coronavirus impacts to its 2020 guidance, which calls for revenue of $690 million to $710 million this year. That was about the time that China was coming off its Chinese New Year holiday and contract manufacturers were starting to reopen factories. More recently, the company filed its annual report and acknowledged the risks to its supply chain:

In particular, the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) that was first reported in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, is impacting production by our contract manufacturers in China. The outbreak of coronavirus may also impact customer demand, the availability of key components sourced from China, logistics flows and the availability of other resources to support critical operations in the Asia Pacific region. If we are unable to mitigate the impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak on our operations, we may be unable to fulfill our product delivery obligations to customers, our costs may increase, and our revenue and margins could decrease.

Cirrus Logic

When Cirrus Logic reported results in late January, it did not provide much commentary on the coronavirus other than to acknowledge the emerging threat. CEO Jason Rhode said that the company was taking a "conservative view of what will happen." Cirrus Logic did add the disease to its risk factors in regulatory filings.

Apple, which accounted for an overwhelming 83% of Cirrus Logic's revenue in the fiscal third quarter, warned last month that it would miss its own revenue guidance due to the crisis. Declining iPhone sales will inevitably drag down Cirrus Logic's top line as well.

NXPI Semiconductors

At the beginning of March, NXPI slashed its guidance, too. The company expects revenue to take a hit of $50 million to $150 million due to the coronavirus.

"From a business perspective, the impact is very much an estimate at this time, based on business trends over the last several weeks post the Lunar New Year holiday," CEO Richard Clemmer said at the time. "What we have seen is lower than expected sell-through and order push outs in both our distribution channel and with direct customers."
I asked Spirit about your delay. Although it did not have a record of you arriving at the airport two hours before the flight's 3:14 p.m. departure time, it did show you tried to check-in at its kiosk at 2:32 p.m. A Spirit representative said passengers must have completed the check-in process at least 45 minutes before their flight's scheduled departure time. Although the 45-minute cutoff is disclosed on Spirit's site, you say you never received any notification.
While campaigning in Vayk today, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan gave a speech in which he said that he had talked about the inadmissibility of hate speech and stated that the government shouldnt respond to even those who use swear words.

Its clear that we all get offended and frustrated, but it doesnt matter. All government officials have many duties and must perform them with honor. Yesterday a group of people who refer to themselves as the guardians of the velvet revolution, visited a person who had said something bad and demanded an apology from him. I dont accept this, Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan addressed his supporters and called on them to not give in to provocations. Let them use swear words as much as they want. Who care? The important thing is whether what they say is true or not. Today there is an atmosphere of confidence in Armenia. Some peoples dreams were crushed these past two days because they hoped the people were disappointed, but this isnt the case, Pashinyan said and stated that the people cant be disappointed since they chose him and his cabinet to be in power and can change the government when they get disappointed.
Technavio has been monitoring the continuous basalt fiber market and it is poised to grow by USD 67.53 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 11% 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 latest free sample report of 2020-2024

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005569/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Continuous Basalt Fiber Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. The advantages of continuous basalt fiber 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.

Advantages of continuous basalt fiber has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Continuous Basalt Fiber Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Continuous Basalt Fiber Market is segmented as below:

End-user

Construction

Molding

Electrical and Electronics

Automotive

Geographic Segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30014

Continuous Basalt Fiber 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 continuous basalt fiber market report covers the following areas:

Continuous Basalt Fiber Market Size

Continuous Basalt Fiber Market Trends

Continuous Basalt Fiber Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies increasing renewable power generation as one of the prime reasons driving the continuous basalt fiber market growth during the next few years.

Continuous Basalt Fiber Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the continuous basalt fiber market, including some of the vendors such as Jiangsu Green Materials Vally New Material T&D, JiLin Tongxin Basalt Technology, Kamenny Vek, Shanxi Basalt Fiber Technology and Technobasalt-Invest. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the continuous basalt fiber market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Continuous Basalt Fiber Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist continuous basalt fiber market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the continuous basalt fiber market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour

The growth of the continuous basalt fiber market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of continuous basalt fiber market vendors

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 2020-2024

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

Construction Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Molding Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Electrical and electronics Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Automotive Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Others Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Market opportunity by application

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Americas Market size and forecast 2020-2024

EMEA Market size and forecast 2020-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2020-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Increasing renewable power generation

Increasing demand for sustainable building materials

Use of basalt fiber in 3D printing

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Jiangsu Green Materials Vally New Material T&D

JiLin Tongxin Basalt Technology

Kamenny Vek

Shanxi Basalt Fiber Technology

Technobasalt-Invest

PART 14: APPENDIX

List of abbreviations

Research methodology

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/20200312005569/en/

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Website: www.technavio.com/
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday accepted a fresh distribution framework based on "pro-rata distribution" among creditors of debt-ridden group from the proceeds of the sale, as suggested by the government.

A two-member bench headed by Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya said that the resolution framework should be "fair and equitable" and should ensure that interests of all stakeholders are considered and balanced.

The appellate tribunal rejected the objections raised by the creditors, which wanted the to follow Section 53 of IBC for distribution of funds, the appellate tribunal said that it would be against the public interest as the money invested by these public funds, in fact belonged to share and unit holders.

"We reject the objections raised by some of the Creditors, as noticed above, we accept the suggestion of pro-rata distribution as suggested by Union of India and the procedure as suggested by it for the purpose of completing resolution process," the observed.

Besides, the has also directed to complete the resolution plan according to the revised framework as suggested by the central government within 90 days.

"The Union of India, the Board of Directors of and the Committee of Creditors' already constituted or which may be constituted are directed to conclude resolution of all the Entities preferably within 90 days," said NCLAT adding that development should be "brought to the Notice of this Appellate Tribunal every month".

The appellate tribunal has directed to list the matter on April 14 further for orders.

"The maximization of the asset and distribution of it to all the stake holders are the object to be kept in mind while following any Resolution Framework for the Group Companies," said NCLAT in its 101-page-long order.

Under the revised distribution framework, all the public fund creditors such as pension and provident funds, army welfare, employee provident, gratuity and superannuation funds be repaid at least a part of their dues.

If these public funds were not paid their hard earned dues, the central government had said in the revised distribution framework, it could result in a debt contagion from which the financial markets of the nation would not be able to recover.

Further, for the lenders of IL&FS' holding companies, the resolution plan should consider paying the interest component.

While, SBI, a lead financial creditor with respect CNTL and some other IL&FS group entities had on the other hand, suggested a resolution framework for under the 'Red' and 'Amber' category, which has also been accepted by the NCLAT.

The banker had suggested that in where no Committee of Creditors (CoC) had been formed until now, a CoC should immediately be formed.

"Out of the 347 Group 169 domestic entities have been categorized as Red, Amber and Green companies. The Resolution Consultant (Alvarez & Marsal India) must be directed to forthwith categorise the remaining domestic entities," it said.

For companies in these categories where a CoC had been formed, the resolution consultant should contact the committee with latest fair market and liquidation value reports, the audit reports obtained, the bids received, as well as the recommendations of the consultant.

"A central coordinating team under the supervision of a former Judge or senior advocate comprising 7 to 8 representative of IL&FS, senior lender banks, resolution consultant may further be constituted for monitoring and supervising the developments, SBI had suggested.

As per the roadmap for IL&FS, which has a total debt of over ?90,000 crore, its group companies have been categorised into three categories -- Green, Amber and Red -- based on their respective financial positions.

Companies under the green category will be those that continue to meet their payment obligations.

Amber category is for those companies that would not be able to meet their obligations but can meet only operational payment obligations to senior secured financial creditors.

Amber category entities "are permitted to make only payments necessary to maintain and preserve the going concern".

"Companies falling in the red category are the entities which can not meet their payment obligations towards even senior secured financial creditors," as per the plan.

Passing an interim order on October 15, 2018, the NCLAT had stayed all proceedings against IL&FS group companies, whose total debt is Rs 94,215 crore.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire in Ottawa on Dec. 5, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Justin Trudeau Goes Into Self-Quarantine, Wife Tested for Coronavirus

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife are in selfisolation over fears that they may have contracted the new coronavirus after his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, began showing flu-like symptoms.

The prime minister will spend the day in briefings, phone calls and virtual meetings from home including speaking with other world leaders and joining the special COVID-19 cabinet committee discussion, his office said in a statement. The move forced the cancelation of an in-person meeting with Canadas first ministers.

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau returned from a speaking event in the United Kingdom and started to show symptoms, including a fever last night.

She has been tested for the virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, but the results have not come back in, according to Trudeaus office.

Clean up crews from Servpro gear up to go inside the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases in Washington state on March 11, 2020. (Reuters/Karen Ducey)

The doctors advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophies results, read his offices statement.

Another federal party leader, the NDPs Jagmeet Singh, wrote Thursday that hes staying at home because he wasnt feeling well. Doctors said, however, that his symptoms are consistent with COVID-19.

I have been in contact with a doctor and they do not believe I have symptoms consistent with COVID19. But their advice is for me to limit contact with the public until I am feeling better, he wrote on Twitter. All of us come into contact with many people who may be vulnerable to illness  we have to make sure we are taking measures to limit the chance that we infect them.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has advised Canadians with possible symptoms to self-isolate and mitigate their contact with others to curb the spread of the new virus, which has sickened tens of thousands of people across the world after it emerged in mainland China late last year.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters that Canadians must band together to fight the spread of the virus.

Moments of urgency require us to put aside our differences, have each others backs, stick together as a country and reassure the people of Ontario and the people of Canada that were all in this together, he told a news conference, according to the CBC.

So far, Canada has confirmed around 140 cases of COVID-19, according to a map provided by Johns Hopkins University.
(Alliance News) - Burford Capital Ltd said Thursday it has delayed the publication of its 2019 financial year results by two or three weeks due to the coronavirus outbreak, resulting in the closure of its office in New York.

Burford was initially expected to publish its results on March 24. However the firm said it does not expect the delay to extend beyond Easter.

Shares in Burford Capital were 12% lower at 354.10 pence on Thursday in London.

The litigation financing firm said it has closed its office in the New York following several "locally relevant data points", including companies such as Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook Inc and Amazon.com Inc asking their employees to work remotely.

"Prudence suggests that we follow suit," Burford said.

Burford said that despite the virus pandemic, it remains open for business, with the signing of two term sheets for new investments on Wednesday.

Although the firm said the disruption will not have any material negative impact on its business, it did say that the closure will take a toll on its finance and in-house legal teams, which work collaboratively with each other.

In addition, Burford said that two of its employees which are "key to its results process" have had to self-isolate themselves.

"We regret the delay in the release of our 2019 results, but these are unprecedented circumstances and the health and safety of our team is our first priority. This is a rapidly evolving situation. Burford is acting on strong medical advice and following the lead of a number of other respected firms," said Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bogart.

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Massimo Sangiovanni and his wife Alessandra (Massimo Sangiovanni)

Coronavirus

A family has described what its like to live in Italy as it struggles to contain the spread of coronavirus by placing emergency measures across the entire country.

Based on official reporting worldwide, Italy is the worst hit country from the infection outside of China, with more than 9,000 reported cases and over 460 deaths.

Massimo Sangiovanni, who runs his own business, has been working remotely from home in Pavia, a historic town not far from Milan.

With the entire country in lockdown, he gave Yahoo News UK a glimpse of what it is like to live under quarantine in Europes worst affected state.

We have been locked down since Saturday but as you may have seen the whole country is locked down so theres not much difference across Italy now, he said.

The road Via Roma effectively deserted in Turin as Italy's lockdown continues. (Photo by LaPresse/Sipa USA)

Staying at home, decreasing social life will help limit the spread of the virus, so Ive been decreasing my social life quite a lot in the last two, three weeks.

Being locked down means you shouldnt leave the home unless there are serious reasons to do so.

These include getting medicines and food, Massimo added, and many grocery stores and supermarkets have remained open.

Most shops and businesses have closed, however. Massimo, who runs a consultancy business called StrategicLane, is able to work from home.

As of (Monday) depending on the severity of your behaviours, if they catch you out at night or going to the gym  which would be closed by the way  you could get arrested actually, you could get three months of jail.

I dont think youd have that but you could get a fine.

You can download from the government website a form to explain why you need to go from place A to B.

This street in Pavia would usually be packed at the time of day in the photo  late afternoon  but only a handful of pedestrians are out in lockdown (Massimo Sangiovanni)

(It shows) my name is X, I live here, this is my address, I go to the pharmacy there because I need medicine and drugs, and (the authorities) stop you.

You show it and of course they can trust you or they can follow you.

His wife Alessandra is at home with him, and his eldest daughter is finishing her PHD in artificial intelligence and robotics but her university has been shut for a month.

Story continues

He is most concerned for his other daughter who lives and works in Paris.

He worries that France, along with other European countries, could see a similar outbreak to Italy, which he said should be viewed as a test bench for what coronavirus can do to a European country.

Although the restrictions mark a serious change to daily life, Massimo said he views the quarantining as necessary to fight the virus.

Put it this way, nobody in the government has faced a pandemic, an emergency like this one, I think they did it correctly.

I think if they had imposed a lockdown earlier it would have been better, but Italy is not like China, where Chairman Xi has locked down people in Wuhan, they couldnt do it overnight in Italy.

He added that he believes the sooner governments take the hard decisions, the better.

The Foreign Office now advises against all but essential travel to Italy, and a number of airlines have cancelled flights to the country. Neighbouring Austria shut its border to the country.

Meanwhile, the UK, which has announced more than 450 cases, is expected to reach its coronavirus case peak within two weeks.

The government has warned that isolating too many people prematurely would not help stem the UKs outbreak.
 Close EU commission spokesperson criticises Trump travel ban

The EU has hit back at Donald Trump after the president addressed the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday night to announce a 30-day emergency travel restriction on 26 European nations because of the coronavirus, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen condemning a decision made unilaterally and without consultation.

US commentators were quick to express concern about the militaristic, nationalistic tone of the presidents drastic decree, with Barack Obama staffers Susan Rice, Ben Rhodes and David Litt all taking to Twitter to voice their fears. Hes gonna get us all killed, wrote Litt, not entirely joking.

Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders each offered their own course of action following Trump's address.

The former vice president and Vermont senator pleaded for "compassion" as the virus spreads, standing in stark contrast to the president's tonally bleak remarks.

Mr Sanders said: "If there ever was a time in the modern history of our country when we are all in this together, this is that moment."

Slamming the president's assessment of Covid-19 as a "foreign virus" as "falling back on xenophobia", Mr Biden called the lack of a comprehensive federal paid sick leave policy a "national disgrace" as millions of American workers could face cut hours or layoffs and quarantines that could significantly impact their incomes.

He unveiled his campaign's multi-pronged approach to the crisis, offering it up to the White House for consideration.

As the press secretary of Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro reportedly tested positive for the virus days of meeting Trump, the White House has cancelled St Patricks Day celebrations with Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar and Trump 2020 events in Colorado, Nevada and Wisconsin in the interest of safeguarding the public.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grishman said the president and Mike Pence have no plans to get tested, despite their likely exposure to the virus.

Follow live coverage as it happened

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IDFC FIRST Bank was founded as a new entity by the merger of IDFC Bank and Capital First

IDFC FIRST Bank has announced the signing of iconic Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, as its first-ever brand ambassador. Bachchan is a winner of countless prestigious national awards, an all-time favourite of the masses, and the countrys most celebrated actor. Bachchans personality perfectly resonates IDFC FIRSTs brand persona and values pillars, that of Sincerity, Humility and Contemporariness.

V Vaidyanathan, MD & CEO, IDFC FIRST Bank, said, It gives me immense pleasure to welcome the superstar of the millennium, Amitabh Bachchan, as our brand ambassador. The charisma of Mr. Bachchan has captivated people of all ages across countries. I am most amazed by his humility despite his extraordinary successes. All of us at IDFC FIRST Bank are delighted about this association with the true legend of our times.

Speaking on the association, Amitabh Bachchan, said, I am proud to partner IDFC FIRST Bank  a bank with strong values, great corporate governance, and transparency. The bank is transforming the lives of a large population of our country with new-age products and services. It is my great pleasure to be the brand ambassador of IDFC FIRST Bank.

IDFC FIRST Bank was founded as a new entity by the merger of IDFC Bank and Capital First on December 18, 2018. The Bank is rapidly transforming itself into a large and powerful retail banking franchise.

The bank has a Pan India presence and offers cutting edge and customer-friendly propositions for Savings and Current accounts, NRI accounts, salary accounts, Demat accounts, fixed and recurring deposits, home and personal loans, two-wheeler loans, consumer durable loans, small business loans, forex products, payment solutions and wealth management services.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)






By Sun Xi




Nearly 100 passengers and crew on a London-Saigon flight were quarantined Thursday after a Vietnamese student passenger was suspected of carrying the novel coronavirus.

However, results later showed she'd tested negative, officials said.

Vietnam Airlines flight N50, which took off from London's Heathrow Airport to Saigon's Tan Son Nhat Airport, had flown for two hours when the HCMC International Health Quarantine Center received news that a Vietnamese female student on the flight had coughed and found to be feverish. She could be carrying the Covid-19 virus, the center was informed.

The student had already exhibited symptoms back in the U.K. and had herself checked up. She was diagnosed as having a flu and not tested for the Covid-19 virus, her family said.

Upon receiving the news, crew members on the flight transferred the girl to the back seat and separated her from other passengers. After landing in Tan Son Nhat at 5 a.m., she was taken to the HCMC Hospital of Tropical Diseases for Covid-19 tests. All passengers and crew members on the flight, around 100 people, were also quarantined in Cu Chi District. The Vietnam Airlines plane was disinfected after the incident.

Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Health, said late on Thursday the girl has tested negative for the Covid-19 virus and her co-passengers and the crew would be removed from quarantine.

As of Thursday morning, HCMC had isolated 394 people in several quarantine zones in the city, and 594 in their own homes. The city is treating one Covid-19 patient.

Vietnam has recorded 44 Covid-19 cases so far, including nine people in the central province of Binh Thuan, five in Hanoi, and other cases in Lao Cai, Ninh Binh and Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam; Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam in central Vietnam.

The highly infectious novel coronavirus has thus far spread to 125 countries and territories around the world, killing more than 4,700 people.




China News on Women





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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12) - President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said the Chinese government offered help amid the coronavirus disease outbreak.

President Xi Jinping, for all his goodness to us, wrote me a letter and he is willing to help. All we have to do is to ask, said Duterte in a late night press briefing wherein he announced the guidelines in containing the outbreak through Resolution No. 11.

The country has so far recorded 52 confirmed cases and five deaths due to COVID-19 since the country was placed under state of public health emergency.

Duterte said he will only ask for help if things deteriorate.

Ako, sa tingin ko, (For me) maybe there will be a time, if things deteriorate that I have to call on China to help. He (Xi Jinping) said they have managed the crisis very well in his country and he is very much willing to help kung kailangan (if needed), said the President.

China remains the worst affected country in the Covid-19 epidemic.

CNN reported that as of Wednesday, Chinas National Health Commission (NHC) recorded a total of 80,793 people infected since the pandemic began in December last year -- 62,793 of whom have since recovered and been discharged from hospital. The NHC said there have been 3,169 virus-related deaths during the same period.
It is unknown how much most of these groups have raised to support Sanders in the 2020 cycle or where they are getting their money because they are not required to disclose their donor lists. Advocates for more transparency in political donations  predominantly on the left  refer to this type of funding as dark money.
Less than an hour after President Donald Trump announced a 30-day suspension of travel from Europe to the U.S. in an address to the nation, the Defense Department released its own list of travel restrictions for troops, military families and DoD civilians.

The restrictions, which become effective on Friday, include a 60-day ban on travel to all countries designated as "Level 3 locations" by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention due to the widespread and ongoing transmission of coronavirus. Those countries include China, where the virus originated, as well as Italy, Iran and South Korea.

"This restriction includes all forms of travel, including Permanent Change of Station, Temporary Duty, and government funded leave," the Defense Department announcement states. "The Level 3 countries are set by the CDC and may change. The DoD guidance will follow those changes. Service secretaries and commanders may issue waivers to this policy as they determine necessary to ensure mission readiness and address specific cases."

According to a Pentagon memo, military travelers are advised to plan trips with care, making sure they don't make stopovers in Level 3-designated locations.

"Authorized Departures are delayed until appropriate transportation and reception procedures are in place for their intended route of travel as prescribed in this memorandum," the memo states.

Also in place as of Friday is a 60-day prohibition on official travel to "Level 2 locations" for military families and civilian personnel. These locations, for which the CDC advises taking advanced precautions, include the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore and Bahrain. Bahrain, which houses the headquarters for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, is a hub for thousands of U.S. troops and DoD civilians.

Related: Trump Suspends Travel Between US, Europe for 30 Days

The travel restrictions also entail a hiring freeze: for civilians awaiting hiring actions for jobs in Level 2 and 3 locations, those actions will be paused, as long as the jobs are designated non-essential and travel has not already begun.

The individual Defense Department components must also make determinations about whether travel plans to non-Level 3 locations are mission essential, and postpone them if they are not.

Exceptions to these restrictions are intended to be rare: waiver requests must prove extreme hardship, a mission-essential purpose, or necessity based on humanitarian reasons. And these requests can only be granted at the general or flag-officer level.

"The Department of Defense's top priority remains the protection and welfare of our people," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in a released statement. "While directing this prudent action, I continue to delegate all necessary authority to commanders to make further decisions based on their assessments to protect their people and ensure mission readiness. While we deal with this fluid and evolving situation, I remain confident in our ability to protect our service members, civilians and families."

For required travel to countries designated Level 2 or 3, military officials plan to "implement enhanced health care protocols for traveler safety" and use military or contracted aircraft rather than commercial transit, according to the announcement.

For all Defense Department personnel who have recently passed through Level 2 or 3, countries, an across-the-board 14-day self-monitoring period at home will be observed, officials said. That policy will be reviewed at the end of the 60-day period. For those who live in barracks or other open-bay housing arrangements, separate lodging will be arranged and funded by the DoD component to which they are assigned.

The memo also urges individual DoD organizations to "take immediate action" to establish communication systems with all personnel, and establish "pre- and post-travel screening and reception procedures" for those with approved travel plans. A separate memo notes that those traveling on military aircraft will get a temperature check and answer a questionnaire at the point of embarkation to screen for symptoms and risk of exposure.

Coronavirus, known formally as COVID-19, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization earlier on Wednesday. In the United States, public gatherings of all kinds are being cancelled, while virus-affected Italy is observing a national shutdown in efforts to slow the spread of the disease.

As of noon Wednesday, there were 938 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and 29 deaths; while globally there have been more than 126,000 cases and 4,600 deaths.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
Yve Digital, an online music marketing company, has held its third edition of a one-day workshop under the theme, Money & Music Conference, for music industry stakeholders in Accra.



The conference aimed at sensitizing artistes on ways of making money through the digital online space which included Facebook, Soundcloud and Audiomack.





The conference, which was held at the Hilla Liman Hall, University of Ghana, Legon in Accra, was attended by a large number music stakeholders such as artistes, music producers and artiste managers.



It was organized to provide a platform for players in the music industry to study, understand and access opportunities in the emerging global markets.



The focus of the workshop to upgrade the skills of Ghanaian artistes is geared towards pushing Ghana music beyond the borders of Ghana.



Yve Digitals Music and Money Conference has already been held for music stakeholders in Kumasi, as part of efforts to encourage artistes to take advantage of digital platforms and social media to promote their arts for improved income.



Speaking to the media after the conference, Mr. Kwame Baah, Content Manager of Yve Digital, said his outfit looked to spread its tentacles across the country and teach musicians on the need to capitalize on the digital space.



The Music & Money Conference seeks to teach upcoming musicians and content creators the skills and tools needed to become successful in the online marketing space.



We engaged them in topics which included branding, planning, execution and promotion techniques in the online space and hopefully it could impact significantly on their knowledge about the digital space, he said.



He assured that for us at Yve Digital, we are ready to support and move Ghana music industry forward in every way within our means.



Over the years, Yve Digital has engaged hundreds of Ghanaian artistes as they seek ways to promote their works, especially, on the international market.

Source: Daily Guide









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
Farrah Abraham isn't taking any risks with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The former MTV star, 28, tried to fend off germs by wearing a face mask and pair of rubber gloves while out with daughter Sofia on Thursday.

It looked like the pair had stocked up on essentials during their trip, seen carrying plenty of toilet paper and Lysol brand disinfectant into their LA home.

Precautions: Farrah Abraham wasn't taking any chances with Coronavirus, seem wearing a face mask and rubber gloves while outside of her home in LA on Thursday

The Teen Mom alum had a serious expression while making her way from the car to the house.

Though usually a fan of glamour, Farrah kept her clothes fuss-free, donning leggings and tank top and leather jacket. Her hair was raked up into a messy bun.

Meanwhile Sophia bundled up in a grey onesie worn with a jean jacket.

Supplies: She and daughter Sophia stocked up on essentials during their trip, seen carrying plenty of toilet paper and Lysol brand disinfectant into the house

Practical: Farrah wore a low-key outfit for the errand run

Farrah was stocking up while Southern California communities have been ramping up precautionary measure in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

California on Thursday joined Washington and Oregon in banning non-essential public gatherings of more than 250 people.

Governor Gavin Newsom said smaller events could proceed, but only if attendees distance themselves from each other by at least six feet.

Taking measures: California on Thursday joined Washington and Oregon in banning non-essential public gatherings of more than 250 people. Above Governor Gavin Newsom is seen during the announcement

'Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know,' Newsom said.

'The people in our lives who are most at risk - seniors and those with underlying health conditions - are depending on all of us to make the right choice.'

More than 1,480 coronavirus cases have been reported in the US as of Thursday morning, prompting the cancellation of festivals, conferences, political rallies and other events across the nation.
Will Superstar Rajinikanth find success in upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election?

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Chennai, Mar 12: Superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday said that he has no interest in becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and prefers to remain the chief of his political party.

However, with no names being called out at the event that was held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the veteran actor said that he would choose a suitable and responsible person for the CM post.

Without revealing the date of his political party's launch and refused to answer media officials, Rajinikanth left the hall leaving people confused.

Need to change the system: Superstar Rajinikanth on Tamil Nadu politics

In 2017, the Darbar-starrer Rajinikanth announced his decision to enter politics. Also, it can be seen that cinema and politics has witnessed success in Tamil Nadu where MG Ramachandran, M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa were voted to power in the state. Now, with Kamal Haasan on the other side, this would a tough task for the people to choose a party.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Also, it can be seen that the veteran actor is not in support of the BJP as he earlier compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Lord Krishna and Arjuna. But, he was seen attacking the same, after Delhi riots took an ugly turn in the national capital.

With Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is due in 2021, this would be a battle between the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK party. Also, with Rajinikanth's entry to politics, this election would play a majoy role in the histry of Tamil Nadu politics.

Ready to play 'any role' to maintain peace in country: Rajinikanth tweets

According to reports, it is said that Rajinikanth would formally launch his party on April 14.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 12:03 [IST]
Night work for Multnomah Countys new Central Courthouse at the west end of the Hawthorne Bridge continues to close one eastbound lane onto the bridge through March.

Contractors working on frontage improvements will have one eastbound lane onto the bridge closed between Southwest First Avenue and Naito Parkway from 8 p.m.-5 a.m. most nights through March.

Bicyclists and pedestrians will share a path in the area. One traffic lane will remain open.

During the day, travelers will see narrowing of two eastbound lanes between Southwest First Avenue and Naito Parkway. Bicyclists and pedestrians will share an 8-foot wide path.

The changes allow workers to remove a covered sidewalk and scaffolding. This spring the contractor will construct new sidewalks around the building and stairs leading from Southwest Madison Street to Naito Parkway.

The new Central Courthouse is scheduled to open this summer. For information on the courthouse project, visit: https://multco.us/central-courthouse-project.

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VANCOUVER 8:48 a.m.: Crash on Northeast 42nd Avenue and St. Johns Boulevard.

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MARQUAM BRIDGE 8:44 a.m.: Stall has a right center lane blocked on I-5 southbound on the Marquam Bridge.

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GRESHAM 7:10 a.m.: Injury crash on Southeast Burnside Road at Powell Valley Road.

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BANFIELD 7:08 a.m.: Crash on I-84 westbound near 68th Avenue has the left lane blocked.

Update 8:07 a.m.: Cleared.

#pdxtraffic UPDATE/Only the right lane getting by now on I-84 WB at 68th. Traffic backing into Gateway. pic.twitter.com/nJUsWGJS5b  PDX Traffic Alerts (@TrafficPortland) March 12, 2020

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MARINE DRIVE 7 a.m.: Crash reported on Northeast Marine Drive at 158th Avenue.

***

Heads up for a new signal in Aloha:

Be ready to stop! Crews are heading out to activate the new traffic signal at the 209th Avenue and Rosedale Road today (map: https://t.co/tKF0uBIPwz) #pdxtraffic #WashCoLUT #209thRosedale pic.twitter.com/Osc1dFjSNF  Washco Oregon Roads (@washcoroads) March 12, 2020

In Vancouver: Police are investigating a serious vehicle crash involving a pedestrian that happened early Thursday morning on Northeast Andresen Street in Vancouver. Andresen is closed between Vancouver Mall Drive and 58th Street.

Travelers should expect closed lanes and delays on Northeast Broadway Street between 24th-25th avenues as crews extend the sewer line in that area.

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services began work Tuesday. Sewer construction will continue in the area through the end of March. Crews will close lanes in both directions, and at least two lanes of the four in the area will be closed at all times during work hours; 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and occasional Saturdays.

Construction zone map for NE Broadway sewer projectCity of Portland

Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists should use caution in and near the work zone, expect delays and observe reader boards and the direction of flaggers. Use alternate routes when possible.

#spoileralert ! PPBs @ppbtraffic is out doing an enforcement missions long Highway 30 this morning looking for speeders and dangerous drivers. Slow down, stay off electronic devices, and drive with care.  pic.twitter.com/TuQjyZ7Ppf  Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) March 12, 2020

Work to replace a failing culvert will close Oregon Highway 204 west of Elgin beginning Thursday evening.

Crews will begin work at 6 p.m. Thursday and the road will remain closed at milepost 37, four miles west of Elgin, through 6 a.m. Friday, March 13. A culvert that runs under the highway will be replaced. No traffic will be able to cross the highway in that location. Motorists are advised to choose an alternate route.

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.
During the recent anti-Muslim violence in Delhi that has consumed dozens of people, the role of Delhi Police has repeatedly come under the scanner. Not only did the law enforcement agency that is tasked with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the capital fail to fulfill its duty, there are also accusations and many video evidences, showing that it sided with rioters in many cases and supported attacks on Muslim houses and business establishments.

The image of Delhi Police seems to have been permanently sullied by its indifference, lack of professionalism and its apathy towards people whose security was its responsibility. Not only did it not show professionalism, but many of its officials have also sounded rather very insensitive towards Muslims. A number of riot victims have revealed how they continued to make distress calls to police even as the rioters were attacking them. Reports suggest that during the five days of rioting beginning February 24, as many as 15,000 PCR calls were made. It is no surprise that in most of the cases police failed to reach the victims on time or even assuage their feelings.

The communal overtone of the Delhi Police was visible on many occasions during the riots. On many occasions police officials clearly spoke in partisan manner and made it apparently clear they wouldnt go to a particular area for the rescue of the victims if they belonged to a certain religion. Special Commissioner of Police (CP) (Law and Order) Satish Golcha while leading the force during the riots told a reporter when asked why he did not employ equal force in Bhajanpura from where repeated cases of stone pelting was reported, he replied, Those people are the aggressors. I saw it myself last night. The people on the other side (Bhajanpura) are carrying weapons for self-defence. I know they will not attack me when I speak to them, but I cant say the same when dealing with the other side.

This happened at a time when it was known to almost everyone that Muslims were victims of an organized assault. There are a number of video, pictorial and audio evidences of police complicity during the riots. They were seen throwing stones at Muslims along with rioters and giving them a free hand to indulge in arson and destruction of businesses and properties belonging to Muslims.

The courts too passed strictures against the police forces poor handling of riot cases and, in particular, the inability of the police force to take action against the BJP leaders. The Delhi High Court bench consisting of justices S Muralidhar and Talwant Singh observed that the national capital had seen too much violence. The court also wondered as to why no FIRs have been filed against BJP leaders including Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma, and Kapil Mishra for hate speeches.

The high court justices went on to add, "Why are you not showing alacrity when it comes to registration of FIR in these cases? We want peace to prevail. We do not want the city to witness another 1984 riots. This city has seen enough violence and anguish. Let it not repeat 1984. But the police is yet to take any action against the trio. On the other hand, Justice Muralidhar who had acted tough against the Delhi Police, was issued his transfer orders the very same night. He was not even given the usual 14 days time that is allotted to judges on transfer.

The Supreme Court, which has failed to come to the rescue of the riot victims till now has passed verbal strictures against the Delhi Police. Justice Joseph, while orally observing in the court said, Lack of professionalism of the police is the main problem here. If you had not allowed people to get away after inflammatory remarks, all this would not have happened. If you act the way law requires to act, you will see the difference.

Justice Joseph went on to add, Unless you get the police to act, there will be no difference. Look at how police acts in the U.K. Do they require somebodys nod? If somebody makes an inflammatory remark, police swings into action immediately.

However, despite rebukes from both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, the police havent taken any action against the people who made inflammatory speeches over the past few weeks, including Kapil Mishra whose venomous speeches are said to have triggered the violence. On the contrary, Delhi Police has tried to change the narrative and is also presenting itself as a victim of violence. One of my constables has died. My DCP is injured. He is on ventilator. Let us not demoralise the police by saying anything now. We dont know what the situation on the ground is, said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to the Supreme Court on behalf of Delhi Police.

There is no denying that police over the past many decades have been used as an instrument of oppression in the country. The people in power have been using them in whatever manner they deem fit.

Some six decades ago, Justice AN Mulla of the Allahabad High Court, in one of his judgments, called the police force the most lawless group in the country. He went on to add, There is not a single lawless group whose record of crime comes anywhere near the record of that organized unit, which is known as the Indian police.

Kirpal Dhillon, a former Joint Director of CBI, while writing in his book, Police and Politics in India: Colonial Concepts, Democratic Compulsions: Indian Police, 1947-2002 says, It needs to be emphasized that the process of degeneration and decay, afflicting the Indian criminal justice system, will slowly engulf all areas of governance and soon negate all national endeavors and undermine the very roots of civil society  The way the police is being employed to protect wayward and corrupt political elements and to keep them in power leaves little scope for the police to ever develop into a citizen supportive and accountable institutions. It is clear that, if left unchecked, the current trends are bound to critically hurt the police and their ability for law enforcement.

More Columns by Syed Ubaidur Rahman:



Despite muted denials, NRC will target Muslims



Bhagwat, Madani meet: End of the maddening divide



Ahmadullah Shah: Hero whose head and body are buried



Muslim women's entry in mosques: What is the truth?



Syed is a New Delhi based author and commentator. His forthcoming book 'Ulema's Role in India's Freedom Movements with Focus on Reshmi Rumal Tehrik will be out in October
(Natural News) Seventy percent of the German population  roughly around 58 million people  are now at risk of getting infected with the deadly coronavirus, warns Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel made the remark during her address at the parliamentary group meeting of the Christian Democratic Union party. German-language newspaper Bild, which covered the event, said the room fell silent when Merkel uttered the grave prognosis.

60 to 70 percent of people in Germany will become infected with the coronavirus. We are facing a challenge that we have never had before. It really depends on us, Merkel said.

Merkel, in her speech, noted that the priority was 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.

Our solidarity, our sensibility, our warmth for each other is already being put to the test, and I hope that we will pass this test, she added.

Merkel added that Germany would do what was needed in order to counter the effects of the coronavirus and that all of its countermeasures would happen in agreement with European partners.

The message should be: we will do what is necessary as a country, and that is also together with Europe, Merkel said.

Merkels announcement came days after Italy announced it was logging an average of 1,000 coronavirus cases per day. Health Minister Jens Spahn, who was also at the meeting, confirmed the Chancellors analysis, adding that 80 percent of all infected people would get through the epidemic with almost no symptoms. According to Spahn, 28,000 beds are available to accommodate the infected, stressing that it is now a matter of keeping the health system and social life stable.

All of Germanys 16 states now have confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, which originated from Wuhan in China. As of press time, according to data taken from Johns Hopkins University and the Robert Koch Institute, the total number of confirmed infections in Germany is now at 1,853, with the number of deaths logged at three.

Merkel, during the meeting, told the lawmakers present that more events and large gatherings  including parliamentary proceedings  could be canceled or postponed, depending on the severity of the outbreak.

Coronavirus panic hits Berlin: Parliament, MPs told to work from home

A day following Merkels impassioned address at Parliament, members of a Social Democrat Party (SPD) working group have been told to work from home after it was revealed that a guest who attended a session earlier this month had tested positive for the potentially deadly flu-like virus.

According to a story first reported by Business Insider Deutschland, the Working Group on Law held a closed conference on March 2, with about 20 participants present. An external guest, who turned out to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, was also present at the event.

As per the report published on Business Insider, while none of the delegates or parliamentary group members have shown symptoms, the working group has announced the cancellation of all its appointments and sent delegates to work from home for at least this week. (Related: Pope Francis urges priests to Visit, comfort coronavirus sufferers is he trying to SPREAD the epidemic?)

Yes, there is the suspicion that there is a case in the Bundestag, SPD MP Karl Lauterbach said, adding that all SPD deputies who attended the meeting had left the Parliament.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Bild.de

BBC.com

TheLocal.de

BusinessInsider.com
A Chinese government spokesman said Thursday that "it might be U.S. Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan," pushing one of several popular coronavirus conspiracy theories in China.

Zhao Lijian, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, called attention to the admission Wednesday by Robert Redfield, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that some Americans who were said to have died from influenza may have actually died from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

"When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected?" he asked. "What are the names of the hospitals? It might be U.S. Army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! U.S. owe us an explanation!"

In a short thread on Twitter, a social media platform inaccessible in China, Zhao demanded to know how many of the 34 million influenza infections and 20,000 associated deaths during this latest flu season were related to COVID-19.

The coronavirus, now a pandemic, first appeared in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, capital of hard-hit Hubei province and the epicenter of a serious outbreak that has claimed the lives of thousands, the majority in China.

As China has faced criticism, Chinese authorities have been pushing back, suggesting that the virus may have originated somewhere other than China. Dr. Zhong Nanshan, a leading Chinese epidemiologist, said in late February that "though the COVID-19 was first discovered in China, it does not mean that it originated from China."

Zhao, in his role as a government spokesman, stressed the same point in a recent press briefing.

"No conclusion has been reached yet on the origin of the virus," he told reporters, adding that "what we are experiencing now is a global phenomenon with its source still undetermined."

One popular conspiracy theory that has emerged about the coronavirus is that American athletes participating in the Military World Games, an event held in Wuhan last year, may have brought the virus, either intentionally or accidentally, into China. There is, however, no evidence to support this accusation.

The Trump administration has laid the blame firmly at China's feet though. "Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up," White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters Wednesday.

"It probably cost the world community two months to respond," he added.

Another Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang, called O'Brien's efforts to denigrate China's efforts to fight the virus "immoral and irresponsible."

More From Business Insider:
CARACAS, Venezuela - When a re-energized opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to Venezuela from a world tour that saw him meet President Donald Trump, he turned to a well-worn page in the oppositions playbook for ousting socialist President Nicolas Maduro - he called a street protest.

But after only a modest number of supporters showed up Tuesday and they were scattered mid-march, ducking tear gas fired by heavily armed security forces, analysts say it is time for Guaido and his international backers to refine their approach.

While opposition protests drew as many as 1 million participants in 2016, then hundreds of thousands in early 2018 when Guaido announced plans to oust Maduro, they are now drawing thousands, if that. And none have budged the government. Observers say people are weary, fearful of government supporters and focused on survival amid the countrys economic collapse.

The modest turnout (for Tuesdays protest) once again suggests the need for a pivot in strategy, said David Smilde, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America. International pressure and street mobilizations are not going to make the Maduro government fall.

Smilde said Venezuelas opposition, which is backed by roughly 60 nations, should focus on how to force fairness in legislative elections expected later this year and better communicate to followers the need to shift strategies.

Opposition lawmaker Stalin Gonzalez has been seen on state TV news segments participating in negotiations with Maduro representatives aimed at reforming Venezuelas elections commission, but Guaidos allies have not talked about it.

Guaido, Stalin (Gonzalez) and the others inside their coalition need to speak to the public clearly and say that working for legislative elections is their policy, Smilde said. They need to exercise actual leadership to come up with a new path that does not begin with ending Maduros presidency.

Guaido in early 2019 rose to the centre of Venezuelas political fray as head of the opposition-dominated National Assembly. He claimed presidential powers under the constitution and vowed to end Maduros rule, joining with his international backers in arguing that the socialist leader was fraudulently re-elected in 2018 elections.

Despite an initial burst of support for Guido from the U.S. and more than 50 other nations, Maduro remains in power with control over the countrys main institutions, most importantly the military.

Guaidos latest protest drew only several thousand supporters Tuesday, many dressed in patriotic yellow, blue and red and carrying protest signs comparing Maduro to the coronavirus. The turnout was far short of the huge demonstrations last year.

Opposition leaders on Wednesday showed no signs of shifting their strategy. Lawmaker and Guaido ally Juan Pablo Guanipa announced a new push to take to the streets. Starting Thursday they will rally in support of health workers followed by a weekend mobilization in the neighbourhoods and barrios, the streets of Venezuela, he said.

This country needs sufficient pressure to be generated to bring political change in Venezuela, Guanipa said, without giving details of when or where the demonstrations would happen.

Guanipa did not respond to questions later in the day by The Associated Press about the oppositions strategy.

Guaido has said he will refuse to participate in the legislative elections expected later this year if it is overseen by the same elections council dominated by Maduro loyalists.

But even some of his supporters are beginning to second guess his strategy. Henry Ramos, a lawmaker who heads the Democratic Action party, said Tuesday that with a new presidential vote out of reach for now, it is time to start preparing for the congressional elections.

What are we going to do  stay at home and let the government grab the National Assembly? Ramos said in a rare public break with Guaido.

Oscar Valles, a political analyst and professor at the Metropolitana University in Caracas, said that amid the political stalemate Venezuelans are feeling increasingly disconnected.

Fewer and fewer Venezuelans are interested in politics, Valles said. They dont see the oppositions political perspective coming in response to their most urgent and immediate problems.

Jose Leonardo Garcia, a shop owner in Caracas, said he is among those who have given up. He said it is dangerous to take to the streets against Maduros security forces, and it takes time away from scratching out a living.

When your main concern is eating, taking care of your children, all the rest becomes secondary, Garcia said. To make matters even worse, no one believes that all these marches will have the effect of ever removing these thugs from power.

Francis Otero, a hairdresser, disagreed. She acknowledged that a march isnt likely to drive Maduro from power, but said it serves its purpose to remind the government of widespread discontent.

We must remind Maduro that we havent surrendered, she said.
With global economic activities and supply of essential goods hit due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is dependent on 'supply lines' from various countries and he has spoken to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

Jerusalem: With global economic activities and supply of essential goods hit due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is dependent on "supply lines" from various countries and he has spoken to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.

Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here

The deadly novel 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, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) describing the outbreak a pandemic.

"I also spoke to the prime minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu told a press conference on Wednesday.

His remarks came during joint statements with the finance minister, the economy and industry minister, the Bank of Israel''s governor and the finance ministry director-general on dealing with the economic implications of the coronavirus.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office, however, did not clearly spell out the subject of Netanyahu's discussions with Modi in its press release.

The Israeli prime minister has announced a package of 10 billion NIS (USD 2.86 billion) to facilitate economic activity in the midst of challenges posed by the spread of the virus.

"The Israeli economy is in a better situation than most economies in the world: Unemployment is low, growth is high and the debt to GDP ratio is good," Netanyahu said.

"However, we have a great challenge here that we all are feeling and which we are all aware of. In our view, we can also deal with it in a way that will allow us to get through it successfully in peace," he said.

"Not without difficulty, and not without sacrifice, but in the end, in peace, and I think that we can do this together in an optimal manner," Netanyahu asserted.

The package lays special stress on the health sector and other businesses impacted by the coronavirus such as tourism and the aviation sector. It outlines financial assistance provisions for businesses affected by the global menace.
Twitter Inc, which on March 2 encouraged its employees to work from home, has now made it mandatory for all its 5,000 employees to work from home. Jennifer Christie, Vice-President, People, in a blog said, "Informed all employees globally they must work from home." This has been in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which now has affected 120,000 people across the globe and has claimed more than 4.300 lives.

"Our top priority remains the health and safety of our Tweeps, and we also have a responsibility to support our communities, those who are vulnerable, and the healthcare providers who are on the front lines of this pandemic," said Christie in her blog.

She also said though the company is exercising work from home, Twitter would continue to support its employees and the other people associated with the company.

Christie said the pays of hired contractors and hourly workers won't be cut if they were not able to perform their duties from home. "Twitter will continue to pay their labor costs to cover standard working hours while Twitter's work-from-home guidance and/or travel restrictions related to their assigned office are in effect," said Christie.

Twitter would also be helping working parents by covering additional costs incurred to them when their normal daycare closes. Christie said all employees will get reimbursed for the money spent on setting up a work desk at home. They are working with vendors to ensure that their contractors' work from home needs are met.

"We listened to employee feedback and expanded our policy to include home office equipment, such as desks, desk chairs, and ergonomic chair cushions. We're also allowing Tweeps to expense online fees while working from home," wrote Christie.

Twitter will also be organising virtual talks, called #FlockTalk, which will have twitter employees from around the world coming together to discuss COVDID-19 related issues and have health-related conversations. Twitter has also issued guidelines for its employees, which will make the practice of work from home easier.

Also Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Fresh cases of COVID-19 virus in India; number spikes to 73

Also Read: Coronavirus update: India cancels all visas till April 15
Bengaluru, March 12 : Karnataka on Thursday registered India's first coronavirus death after medical tests proved that the 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi died of the disease.

"The 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi who passed away and was a suspected to be a COVID-19 patient has been confirmed for COVID-19," tweeted state Health Minister B. Sriramulu late on Thursday night.

He said the health department has initiated the contact tracing and isolation measures.

The deceased returned to Kalaburgi on February 29 from the Middle East and passed away on Wednesday. He incidentally showed flu-like symptoms and was admitted to 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 man was a coronavirus suspect after his death on Wednesday and confirmed the cause of death on Thursday.

Following his death in a private Hyderabad hospital, Karnataka health department's Information, Education and Communication (IEC) special officer Suresh Shastri said Telangana government has also been informed of the development.

Karnataka Health Department's joint director for Communicable Diseases said all the protocols are being followed with regard to the safe disposal of the man's body.

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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Baghdad, Iraq  Thu, March 12, 2020 05:35 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069eb754 2 World #USA,#Iraq,UK,soldiers,killed,rocket,attack Free

An American soldier and a British soldier, as well as one US contractor, were killed Wednesday when rockets hit an Iraqi military base north of Baghdad, a US military official said.

It was the deadliest attack on an installation hosting foreign troops in several years and comes after a spate of rocket attacks targeting US troops across Iraq as well as the US embassy in Baghdad.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Washington has blamed Iran-backed factions for similar attacks.

The Iraqi army had earlier said the attack against the Taji base did not wound anyone or cause any damage, in what was the 22nd attack against American military interests in the country since late October.

Previous rocket attacks targeting US soldiers, diplomats and facilities in Iraq in recent months have killed one US contractor and an Iraqi soldier.

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 armed faction Kataeb Hezbollah.

Tensions then rose further between arch foes Washington and Tehran, leading to the assassination in Baghdad on January 3 of the powerful Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and an Iraqi paramilitary commander in a US drone strike.

Iran retaliated by launching a volley of missiles at an Iraqi base hosting US soldiers days later.

The US leads an international coalition -- comprised of dozens of countries and thousands of soldiers -- formed in Iraq in 2014 to confront the Islamic State, a jihadist group that Baghdad declared defeated in late 2017.

While IS has lost its territory, 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 must be executed by the government.

The outgoing government, which resigned in December in the face of mass protests, has yet to be replaced due to a lack of agreement in parliament -- one of the most divided in Iraq's recent history.
The Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has again visited Muzaffarnagar to enquire into alleged atrocities against children in violence during protests against the amended citizenship law in December last year.

The team, led by its chairman Vishesh Gupta, visited the affected areas on Wednesday and recorded statements of affected students in Sadat hostel of a madrassa here.

During violence, some students were detained and later released following court orders on the report that they were found to be innocent. The apex court has directed the state government to report about the complaint.

One person was shot dead and several injured while property was damaged in Muzaffarnagar during the violence on December 20. Police registered cases and arrested several people in this connection.

The child rights body came to the city for the second time in a week after their last visit on March 7 to inquire into the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIRUT - As 2019 gave way to 2020 in a cloud of tear gas, and in some cases a hail of bullets, from Hong Kong to Baghdad, from Beirut to Barcelona and Santiago, it seemed civil disobedience and government crackdowns on protests would dominate the international landscape.

Then came the coronavirus.

Protests, by their very nature driven by large gatherings, have been doused. Streets crammed with tens of thousands of chanting protesters are largely deserted. Masks worn to protect against tear gas are now worn to protect against the virus. A very different kind of fear has set in around protest camps and around the world.

The global unrest spanned three continents last year, fueled by local grievances but reflecting worldwide frustration at growing inequality, corrupt elites and broken promises. In Hong Kong, Beirut and Barcelona, images of euphoric protesters captured peoples imaginations around the world even as they were beaten back, and in some cases, shot dead by police.

In most of these places, the protests had waned even before the outbreak  a combination of fear and fatigue giving way to resignation or apathy. The spreading new coronavirus has in some cases given authorities a means to further suppress the protests.

But the movements are not over. Even with the panic and adjusted daily behaviour engulfing the world, some continue to demonstrate, insisting they have sacrificed too much to give up. With the street revolts underlying causes largely unaddressed, those surviving remnants could eventually swell once more.

SIGNATURE FACE MASKS

Hong Kongs protesters made face masks a signature of revolt, wearing them to protect against tear gas and conceal their identities from authorities.

These same masks are now ubiquitous around the world -- worn by people from China and Iran, to Italy and America, seeking to protect against the coronavirus.

In Hong Kong, major anti-government protests that at times drew hundreds of thousands of marchers began to tail off late last year.

But smaller-scale gatherings continue to spring up, mostly to mark the anniversary of key incidents during last years demonstrations, underlining the refusal of city leader Carrie Lam to give in to most of the movements demands.

The movement that began last June, while no longer regularly making the front pages, is still very much underway and Hong Kong remains on the brink, wrote Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a historian of modern China at the University of California, Irvine.

The governments handling of the virus outbreak may add to protesters long list of grievances, he said.

Complaints include the selection of quarantine sites, Lams refusal to close the border with China entirely and the stranding of Hong Kong residents in virus-hit parts of mainland China, although some returned home last week.

In Chile, protests that drew hundreds of thousands of people demanding social reforms late last year had dropped off dramatically during the southern hemispheres summer months. Those who are never absent are the masked hard-liners who clash violently with police.

They call themselves the first line of defence for other protesters from police repression.

Despite the expanding coronavirus, Carlos Donoso, a 30-year-old tattoo artist, says he wont stop protesting.

You could catch it in the disco, at the gym, in the supermarket. Its much more important what were doing now, he said.

In India, fear of the virus has had almost no impact on an 85-day-long sit-in led by women in New Delhis sprawling Muslim-majority neighbourhood of Shaheen Bagh, now an epicenter of the protests over a disputed new citizenship law. Hundreds of women take turns maintaining the around-the-clock gathering.

The demonstrators demand the revocation of the citizenship law, which fast-tracks naturalization for religious minorities from several neighbouring countries, but not Muslims. The law caused an explosion of communal violence and rioting in New Delhi, with dozens killed.

Organizers say more women and children were now participating in the sit-in after authorities closed all primary schools in the capital because of the coronavirus.

We are also taking the necessary precautions by wearing masks, said Hena Ahmad, a protester.

In a twist, thousands of women across Mexico made their protests felt this week by staying home from work and school, to demonstrate against gender-based violence. And teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg called for digital protests for now, to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

BETTER TO DIE PROTESTING

The protest camps in central Beirut and Baghdad are subdued. The coronavirus was the last straw for two struggling protest movements that for a short while seemed like they might actually achieve at least some of the social change they so desperately aspired for.

Both countries, scarred by long conflicts and on the brink of economic collapse, erupted last October in unprecedented, spontaneous anti-government revolts, calling for revolutionary change. Thieves! they shouted to describe a hated and corrupt ruling class they blame for their current despair.

But security crackdowns, disputes among the protesters, economic exhaustion and a craving for normalcy greatly diminished the rallies in recent weeks.

Protesters in both countries now struggle to attract demonstrators with the added obstacle of outbreak worries. Both the Iraqi and Lebanese governments have called on citizens to avoid large gatherings, although they have not yet banned protests outright.

What are you waiting for? Do not fear corona, you are dying anyway from the air you breathe! shouted a woman in Beirut marching along with a small group of protesters, referring to Lebanons chronic pollution and waste management troubles. Better to die protesting.

To encourage protesters, Iraqis set up a sterilization booth on the edge of Baghdads Tahrir Square for those entering the encampment at the centre of their movement. Civil defence teams sterilized the square and the Turkish Restaurant, a Baghdad high-rise where protesters have been staging a sit-in, turning it into a potent symbol of the demonstrations.

On a recent day, protesters wearing face masks and protective suits marched in Tahrir Square.

The demonstrations may make you ill, but they will not kill you, said Ali Salih, 30, who works as a volunteer paramedic for the protesters. We gave at least 700 martyrs and more than 25,000 wounded. How can it end without fulfilling its demands?

___

Associated Press writers Ken Moritsugu in Beijing, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, India, Eva Vergara, in Santiago, Chile, Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Samya Kullab in Baghdad contributed reporting. ___

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.
As of March 12, Pakistan had reported just 21 coronavirus cases of the new coronavirus, but the countrys shared border and trade activity with Iran has officials concerned as a number of the Pakistanis who have been infected had traveled to Iran.

Iran reported March 12 that its official number of COVID-19 cases had jumped by 1,075 over 24 hours to reach 10,075, with 429 deaths. Iran was one of the first countries to report an outbreak, possibly because of its strong trade links with China, the epicenter.

Many citizens travel between China and Iran throughout the year. According to the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce, a quarter of Iranian trade is with Beijing and since Iran is under severe US economic sanctions, Tehran initially was reluctant to take actions that would slow down trade.

Qom, one of Irans holiest cities, became a second epicenter for the virus. Qom is also a business center, as it is only about 90 miles from the capital. In addition, millions of Shiite pilgrims from all over the world frequent the Qom shrines as part of religious rites, while thousands of foreign students stay in the city.

Even so, no lockdown or quarantine was enforced in the city of shrines. Undoubtedly, Tehran was slow in implementing travel and quarantine restrictions. It announced the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 just after the Feb. 21 legislative elections. The epidemic could not have happened at a worse time, as Irans economy contracted by 9% last year in the aftermath of reimposed US sanctions. Since the outbreak, Irans currency has lost value and Tehran faces falling into an even greater recession unless the virus is quickly brought under control.

Pakistan halted both air and land links with China and has been trying its best to keep the virus out. But Pakistan kept its border with Iran open initially, as isolation would have worsened the latters already-severe economic problems.

Unfortunately, that delay in closing the border threatens to present a public health emergency that Pakistan is ill-equipped to handle. Pakistans health authorities are trying to track down nearly 8,000 pilgrims who returned recently from Iran. Since closing the border, Pakistan has allowed some citizens to return from Iran in batches, screening them as they enter. At times nearly 3,000 have been quarantined in Pakistani facilities at the Taftan border crossing.

Even now, thousands of Pakistanis are in Iran for business or pilgrimages and Qom is not in lockdown. Videos of pilgrims kissing the windows of tombs and shrines keep appearing on social media. Pakistan has been preparing for the return of the rest of its Shiite pilgrims and is trying to screen and quarantine them as soon as they enter.

The terrain along the 959-kilometer (nearly 600-mile) Pakistan-Iran border makes it difficult to monitor and Pakistan also has struggled to control what was a constant flow of people and goods through border gates.

Usually, three Iranian airlines run seven flights a week to and from Pakistan, but business has come to a standstill except for what can be conducted online, or otherwise without people-to-people contact. Trade volume between the countries has become negligible.

Some Pakistani traders who export produce to Iraq and Azerbaijan through Iran stood to lose 400 million rupees ($2.55 million) daily due to the total suspension of Pakistan-Iran trade, so they instead began using a sea route. That option is more expensive, but better than a total loss.

Nevertheless, the traders support the border closure, and Waheed Ahmed, the head of their trade union, said in a statement, If the coronavirus spreads in Pakistan, our trade with other countries would be directly affected because foreign nations will avoid buying from us. Therefore, this temporary halt is good in the longer run.

Recently, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to express Pakistans full support in coping with the crisis. They agreed to work together to contain the epidemic.

The countries also have agreed to try to improve bilateral relations in other ways.

Currently, the trade volume between Iran and Pakistan is just $5 billion. To increase bilateral trade ties, the Iranian government recently expressed the desire to open banking channels with Pakistan. Meeting with senior officials of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Irans envoy to Islamabad, Mohammed Ali Hosseini, pegged the lack of those channels as the main obstacle to enhancing trade relations and economic cooperation.

Accompanied by a delegation from the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, the envoy also offered Irans help in meeting Pakistans energy needs and improving the tourism sector. A joint information and technologies working group has also been established as an adjunct unit of the Iran-Pakistan Border Trade Committee.

Adjusting its trade strategy since the US sanctions, Iran has switched focus to more regional partners. Unfortunately, the ongoing pandemic has caused most of Irans major trading partners, including Turkey, Iraq and Afghanistan, to close their borders and scale down economic interaction. And Iran cant yet normalize its trade flow with China.

As this public health crisis spins out, there are serious risks of it turning into a national security matter as well.
Residents wearing protective masks wait to do their shopping outside a supermarket in Codogno, southeast Milan, a day after Italy imposed unprecedented national restrictions on its 60 million people to control the deadly coronavirus. Miguel MEDINA / AFP

Analysts noted that the size of Rome's rescue was the same as one the European Union announced for the entire 27-nation bloc on Monday.

"It shows that Italy alone is supposed to make as much effort as the EU as a whole," Allianz chief economist Ludovic Subran said.

Italy's Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said half the money would be used immediately and the other half stowed away and tapped should the health crisis spiral out of control.

The announcement came as Italians grappled with a nationwide clampdown on public gathering that has emptied streets and shuttered everything from churches to restaurants.

AFP photographers spotted masked sanitation workers in white nylon suits and rubber gloves spraying Florence's empty Saint Mark's Square with disinfectant through a long hose.

"I can't even recognise Rome now," 30-year-old Muscovite Yekaterina said while posing alone for a photo by the usually bustling Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome.

Anything still open across Italy must close every evening by 6.00pm. Cathedrals posted hand-written signs cancelling mass and cafes apologised to their regulars for having to turn them away.

Part of the government's cash injection is meant to help small businesses that are suffering the brunt of an implosion in the number of tourists who visit Italy's art-filled churches and achingly beautiful hills.

"With economic activity liable to fall more deeply and broadly in the near term, we mist provide stronger support," Gualtieri wrote in a letter to EU officials who must still approve Rome's spending boost.

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.

TOTAL SHUTDOWN

Italy has witnessed nearly 60 per cent of the deaths recorded 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 social distancing measures in Milan's Lombardy region and surrounding areas in which more than 15 million live and 40 percent of the nation's 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 evening and buses that are usually crammed with commuters ran almost empty.

Tourists have essentially disappeared and the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square has closed to all but those who want to enter the basilica to pray under its soaring dome overlooking Rome.

People have been told to keep at least a metre 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.

Florence's Uffizi Gallery reported hundreds of thousands of views a few hours after posting a virtual welcome to its now-shuttered permanent collection online.

"As soon as the emergency has passed, we will organise a free carbonara day for doctors, nurses and healthcare workers," a closing note by a restaurant in Rome's popular Trastevere neighbourhood said.

But Lombardy region leader Attilio Fontana urged the government in Rome to close all stores and public transport for 15 days across the north because "the situation is approaching a dangerous moment".

He said only essential services such as garbage collection should continue during the total clampdown on public life.
Gardai have arrested and charged two men in relation to an aggravated burglary and a burglary at two houses in Limerick city earlier this week.

Shortly before 4.30am last Saturday, gardai at Henry Street received a report of a burglary at a house on Rossa Avenue.

Two men had entered the house and stole a mobile phone, identification cards, a hammer and a bicycle. No person was injured during this incident, said a garda spokesperson who added they were alerted to a second incident a short time later.

Minutes later, gardai received a report of an aggravated burglary at a house off Mulgrave Street. Two men had entered the house, one of them armed with what is believed to be a hammer, and assaulted one of the occupants, said the spokesperson.

The culprits then left the house having stolen jewellery and bankcards. The occupant of the house was brought to University Hospital Limerick with non-life threatening injuries and has since been discharged.

An extensive garda investigation was carried out in relation to these two crimes. A large volume of CCTV footage was gathered from the immediate areas and gardai were able to identify two suspects believed to have been involved, read a statement from the Garda Press Office.

As part of the investigation, detectives from Henry Street, with the assistance of the Armed Support Unit, executed a search warrant at a house in Limerick on Tuesday.

Two men, in their 20s and 30s, were arrested and brought to Henry Street garda station where they were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

They have since been charged and are due to appear before Limerick District Court later this Thursday.
The Wuhan doctor first mentioned the coronavirus in a WeChat post on December 30th. First suspected cases since mid-December. Her superiors ordered her to keep quiet so as not to create panic. The hospital changed the diagnoses of the first patients from "viral pneumonia" to "generic infection". Ai's information shared by Li Wenliang. The authorities did not act in a timely manner.

Rome (AsiaNews) - Ai Fen, head of the emergency department of Wuhan's central hospital, said in an interview with People magazine that the authorities prevented her from raising the alarm at the beginning of the epidemic crisis. The article, published on March 10, the day of President Xi Jinping's visit to Wuhan, was immediately censored, arousing widespread indignation.

Ai reveals that on December 30 she posted on WeChat, a popular Chinese messaging site, the image of a diagnostic folder of a patient suffering from a lung infection similar to Sars. However, the first suspected cases date back to December 16, coming from another hospital. Patients had high fever and did not respond to medication.

Ai immediately informed her superiors of what was happening. They replied that the city health commission had ordered them to say nothing about the virus so as not to panic the population. The hospital management itself then reminded staff that publishing information about the disease was prohibited.

On January 1, a hospital supervisor gave her a "dressing down" for creating havoc with her revelations, accusing her of being an informer. A week later, a nurse contracted Covid-19. However, the hospital management decided to change the description of the disease from "viral pneumonia" to "generic infection".

The doctor also expressed doubts about where the disease started to spread from. "Patients continued to increase after the closure of the Huanan fish market on January 1, initially indicated by the authorities as the likely epicenter of the infection." It was now clear that the transmission took place from man to man, but the authorities did not give this information until January 18.

Ai had not received any official authorization to disseminate this news. The doctor is convinced that she is not at fault and that she has simply done her job, sharing sensitive information with colleagues from the hospital. Among them was Li Wenliang, the doctor arrested by the police for launching the alert. Li died of the infection on February 7, followed by three other doctors.

According to her, city officials could have intervened in a more timely manner and saved many human lives, including those of her colleagues: If these doctors had been made aware of the real situation immediately, they would not have died now. My great regret is that I was unable to notify more people."
The brain seems to have two different systems through which we can put ourselves into the shoes of someone else. These two systems mature at different times such that only 4-year-olds can understand what another person is thinking, and not, as some have assumed, 1-year-olds.

In order to understand what another person thinks and how he or she will behave we must take someone else's perspective. This ability is referred to as Theory of Mind. Until recently, researchers were at odds concerning the age at which children are able to do such perspective taking. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS), University College London, and the Social Neuroscience Lab Berlin shed new light on this question in a study now published in the journal PNAS. Only 4-year-olds seem to be able to understand what others think. The study reports that this unique ability emerges around 4 years of age because of the maturation of a specific brain network which enables this. Younger children are already capable of predicting others' behaviour based on what they think, but the study shows that this prediction of behaviour relies on a different brain network. The brain seems to have two different systems to take another person's perspective, and these mature at different rates.

The researchers investigated these relations in a sample of 3- to 4-year-old children with the help of a video clips that show a cat chasing a mouse. The cat watches the mouse hiding in one of two boxes. While the cat is away the mouse sneaks over to the other box, unnoticed by the cat. Thus, when the cat returns it should still believe that the mouse is in the first location.

Using eye-tracking technology, the scientists analysed the looking behaviour of their study participants and noticed: Both, the 3- and 4-year-olds expected the cat to go to the box where the mouse had originally been. That is, they predicted correctly where the cat was going to search for the mouse based on the cat's belief.

Interestingly, when the scientists asked the children directly where the cat will search for the mouse, instead of looking at their gaze, 3-year-olds answered incorrectly. Only 4-years-olds succeeded. Control conditions ensured that this was not because the younger children misunderstood the question.

The reason for this discrepancy was a different one. The study shows that different brain structures were involved in verbal reasoning about what the cat thinks as opposed to non-verbal predictions of how the cat is going to act. The researchers refer to these brain structures as regions for implicit and explicit Theory of Mind. These cortical brain regions mature at different ages to fulfill their function. The supramarginal gyrus that supports non-verbal action prediction matures earlier, and is also involved in visual and emotional perspective taking. "This enables younger children to predict how people will act. The temporoparietal junction and precuneus through which we understand what others think -- and not just what they feel and see or how they will act -- only develops to fulfil this function at the age of 4 years," first author Charlotte Grosse Wiesmann from the MPI CBS explains.

"In the first three years of life, children don't seem to fully understand yet what others think," says co-author Nikolaus Steinbeis from the University College London. "But there already seems to be a mechanism a basic form of perspective taking, by which very young children simply adopt the other's view."
A thermal scanner installed at Changi Airport of Singapore checks passenger's body temperature (Photo: AFP/VNA)



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 7th, 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./.
Iran said on Thursday that it has sought immediate financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund to help it combat one of the world's deadliest coronavirus outbreaks.

According to a tweet by Iran's top diplomat, IMF chief Kristina Georgieva had "stated that countries affected by #COVID19 will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument (RFI)".

"Our central bank requested access to this facility immediately," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif added on his Twitter account. Iran has not received assistance from the IMF since a "standby credit" issued between 1960 and 1962, according to the fund's data.

Zarif said the IMF and its board "should adhere to fund's mandate, stand on right side of history and act responsibly".

The various loans that can be granted by the IMF must be approved by the institution's executive board, where the United States practically has a veto on decisions.

The United States is currently pursuing a policy of "maximum pressure" aimed at crippling the finances of Iran's government.

In an Instagram post picked up by state agency IRNA, central bank governor Abdolnasser Hemmati claimed to have formally requested access to RFI by letter on March 6.

"Given the widespread prevalence of coronavirus in our country and the need to continue to take strong measures to prevent and cure (the disease), and to address its economic impact," Iran was asking for "about $5 billion" in assistance, Hemmati wrote on his Instagram account.

Iran on Thursday reported 75 new deaths from COVID-19, the highest single-day toll since the Islamic republic announced the first deaths from the outbreak on February 19.

It took the overall death toll to 429 out of a total of more than 10,000 confirmed cases of infection.

The World Health Organization called for Iran to be given more support in its fight to bring the outbreak under control.

"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.

According to the IMF's website, the RFI "provides rapid financial assistance, which is available to all member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Longmeadow senior center has closed due to the threat of the coronavirus except for individual appointments and its meal delivery program.

The Holyoke senior center, also in response to the virus, has cancelled pitch and bingo games until further notice.

The impacts of the virus occurred as senior centers in some other area communities, including Springfield, Chicopee and Northampton, opted to remain open Thursday.

Longmeadows senior center, known as the Longmeadow Adult Center, was directed by the town manager to close on Wednesday afternoon, and to remain closed until further notice, center director James Leyden said.

I would say they (seniors) are disappointed but there is an understanding about being contagious at this time, Leyden said.

The congregate dining program at the center is closed, as are daily programs and activities and special events, Leydon said. Known seniors were being contacted, he said.

Some of the essential programs are open  Meals on Wheels, the food pantry and individual appointments, he said.

Leyden said he expects the policy will be reassessed at the end of the month, but that the center remains closed until further notice.

In Holyoke, the virus will temporarily end pitch games held every Thursday and bingo games held every Friday.

Related stories:
The U.S. launched airstrikes in Iraq Thursday, American officials said, targeting the Iranian-backed Shia militia members believed responsible for the rocket attack that killed and wounded American and British troops at a base north of Baghdad.

One U.S. official said multiple strikes targeted Kataib Hezbollah weapons facilities inside Iraq. The strikes were joint operation with the British, that official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because operations were still going on.

The strikes marked a rapid escalation in tensions with Tehran and its proxy groups in Iraq, just two months after Iran carried out a massive ballistic missile attack against American troops at a base in Iraq.
The Pyes Pa School teacher died following a car crash on the Tauranga Eastern Link on Wednesday, February, 5.

She was transported by the TECT Rescue Helicopter to hospital, where she later died.

Now, Owen and his school mates Kaden Carter, 7, Jackson Carter, 9, and James McNamee,7, are walking up Mauao twice consecutively every weekend to help keep Sue's memory alive.

The Pyes Pa students have made it their mission to raise as much money they can for the TECT Rescue Helicopter.

Its all part of the 2020 Mount Everest Challenge, which will see the boys climb Mauao 38 times over 50 days.

It was Sue's Walmsley 19th year working at Pyes Pa School. She held many roles there  deputy principal, junior teacher and special education needs coordinator.

One day Mrs Walmsley was coming to school and she just didnt make it. She was my favourite teacher, and we trying to recover from the news but its really hard, says Owen.

We are shocked, scared and annoyed this has happened.

We are raising money for the helicopter that rescued her, so they can rescue other people, and they wont have to die like Mrs Walmsley did.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Pyes Pa School students have raised more than $1500 on their Givealitte page.

Whilst the boys are climbing Mauao they approach other walkers, sharing Sues story and talking about the vital role that the rescue helicopter plays in Tauranga.

You feel good after you have done a climb because every time you do it you raise about $50 or $60. You know you are doing something good for a good cause, says Jackson.

But the day after you get really sore muscles, adds Owen.

Lizette McNamee, the mum of both Owen and James, says this challenge is teaching the boys a powerful lesson.

We are doing this to teach the boys that through the sadness we can do something positive  and you cant just ignore what has happened to Sue.

She says talking about Sue during the walks has particularly helped her son Owen, who is finding it hard to process the upsetting news.

We remember all the good things about Mrs Walmsley, and we are telling the world about how they can help.

Teachers play an important role in childrens lives  next to parents they are everything, says Lizette.

For kids, it is one of the main people in their lives. And Sue was here one day and gone the next  it was so sudden.

A larger group of Pyes Pa students and staff will be climbing the Mount on Saturday, March 21 to remember one of their favourite teachers.

More than 40 people from the school are expected to turn out.

Kids in other classes have wanted to join the boys. We are trying to encourage the school community to head along, and hopefully, its a positive way to remember Sue, says Tania Carter  Kaden and Jacksons mum.

The four boys, who were all previously been taught by Sue in Room Three, agree she was the most helpful and caring teacher.

If you needed help, she would always be there and if there was a problem she would listen to both sides of the story  not just one, says Owen.

And if you got stuck in maths she would come and explain the problem to you  not just give you an easier task or tell you the answer.

Jackson says she was the type of teacher to always get you out of a tricky situation.

She would help you when you were stuck. Just say I climbed a tree and I got stuck, she would be the one to come and help me down.

Pyes Pa School principal Blake Carlin says he commends the boys for their thoughtfulness and compassion.

We think it is a wonderful idea and very worthy cause that the boys are supporting through this personal challenge.

Owen, Kaden, Jackson and James are encouraging the community to join them when they climb Mauao on March 21.

The group will depart from the Mount Maunganui Surf Club Toilets at 9am that Saturday.
FORT WORTH, Texas, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Koddi , a leading marketing technology company for the travel and hospitality industry, has been recognized as #25 out of 500 on Forbes inaugural list of Americas Best Startup Employers for 2020. Koddi has also been named #1 in the Advertising and Marketing category and #1 startup in Texas. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The rankings were announced on March 10, 2020, and can currently be viewed on the Forbes website .



"We are thrilled to begin the decade by being recognized as one of Americas Best Startup Employers from Forbes, said Nicholas Ward, President, Koddi. "We owe every one of our teams a heartfelt thank you for making this possible. Knowing that we were independently selected for this list means a tremendous amount to our company. We have the best employees in the business and knowing that they enjoy where they work while they help grow the business is a great testament to their dedication and the culture they foster.

Forbes and Statista analyzed more than 7 million data points to identify the top Startup Employers. 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 Koddi is ecstatic to be recognized as one of Forbes 2020 list of Americas Best Startup Employers.

About Koddi

Koddi is a provider of comprehensive marketing management software and services for the travel and hospitality industries, powering advertising programs that drive measurable revenue growth to the best brands in the world. The companys award-winning SaaS platform, coupled with superlative customer service, provides a robust network for hospitality brands and online travel agencies to connect with consumers and drive more revenue through unified metasearch, social and programmatic campaigns. Brands can consolidate and manage the entire purchase funnel and gain insights at each point to adjust and optimize campaigns across all channels. As a result, marketers fuel their growth and harness real-time intelligence to drive informed decision-making across their marketing and media activities.

For more information, please visit https://www.koddi.com/ .
Is it safe to travel? Coronavirus is a global pandemic according to the World Health Organization, and it shows no signs of slowing its spread throughout the world. With more than 4,700 people dead from the disease and more than 120,000 cases confirmed globally, its no wonder that people are considering cancelling their upcoming trips.

Many travel organizations have undertaken serious action, canceling flights or, in the case of Princess Cruises, suspending operations for 60 days. Heres a look at the travel advisories in place, what airports are doing to keep themselves safe and what airlines, cruise lines, train and bus companies are offering refund policies. This information is up-to-date as of 1:32 p.m. EST March 12.

Should you travel?

Older adults and any person with serious chronic medical conditions should consider postponing any trips, according to the CDC. At the very least, they should contact a healthcare provider to discuss the upcoming trip. This is true regardless of the destination.

For others: the question fo whether or not to travel it depends on where youre going. Anyone who is traveling anywhere, however, should do so with care: closing monitoring their health for 14 days after they return, washing hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds and avoiding contact with sick people. The CDC says you should avoid non-essential travel if youre going to any of these countries:

Austria

Belgium

China

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Iran

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Monaco

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

San Marino

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Vatican City

If you do travel to or have layovers in any of these countries, upon your return you will have to enter the United States through one of eleven approved entry points where you will undergo screening:

Chicago OHare International Airport

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu

Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta

John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City

Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey

San-Francisco International Airport

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Washington-Dulles International Airport

Once you are back home, you must stay there for 14 days after your trip and monitor your health. Those who find that they are sick with a fever, cough or have trouble breathing should stay home and contact their doctors office over the phone before going to a medical facility, according to the CDC.

Foreign nationals from China, Iran and the impacted European countries are no longer allowed entry to the United States through at least April 12.

What are Pennsylvania airports doing?

Many airports are in contact with the CDC and local health departments. Customs and Border Protection will be screening international travelers initially visually, looking for signs of illness including coughing or difficulty breathing. After that, additional testing may be done. No Pennsylvania airport is a screener airport, so it wont be the first point of entry for those coming in from countries under quarantine.

The Philadelphia International Airport regularly sanitizes surfaces, with custodial staff using Envirox Critical Care, a chemical cleaner that, in just 30 seconds, can disinfect and area. It has 24 hour bacterial killing capabilities. Every night the staff wipe down high touch areas like escalators, handrails and handles. Each terminal also has hand sanitizer dispensers at each terminal on both the public and private sides of the airport.

Pittsburgh International Airport has added new travel protocols geared towards enhancing deep cleaning routines. Its staff will ensure that restrooms are cleaned a minimum of once every two hours and that trains will be cleaned four times daily. Its also installing hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipe stations at entrances to the trains and approximately 30 hand sanitizing stations within the terminals themselves. Custodial staff are also using hospital-grade and environmentally friendly disinfectant.

Harrisburg International Airport is maintaining cleaning practices of regularly wiping down and disinfecting surfaces and cleaning restrooms multiple times a day. At night they use special equipment which thoroughly disinfects the entirety of the restroom, including the floor.

How dangerous is air travel with COVID-19?

The CDC says that the risk of infection on an airplane is low because of how the air circulates and is filtered. However, it does recommend you still avoid contact with sick passengers, wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer.

If a passenger is sick on your plane, the pilot has to report it to the CDC. If the CDC considers that person to be a public health risk it will find a way to contact all passengers and crew exposed to that person. You can make this easier on the CDC by providing your airline correct and current contact information when you book your ticket.

I just got back from a trip. Now what?

If you traveled to or from or had layovers in China, Iran, South Korea or the impacted European countries, the CDC says you need to stay home for 14 days from the time you left that country -- that means not going to school or work. During that time you need to monitor your temperature by taking your temperature with a thermometer twice a day. You also should pay attention if you start coughing, have trouble breathing or get a fever. You also should not take public transportation, taxis or ride-shares and avoid crowded places. Stay about six feet away from others as well. If you get sick call your doctors office and tell them about your symptoms and recent travel before you go into the office.

Already booked your journey?

Or planning to book one? Heres what you need to know, based on who is getting you there.

Train

Amtrak

Amtrak has temporarily suspended several trains that go between New York City and Washington, specifically Trains 2401, 2402 and 2403. This is because of lower demand. There are still trains that go between these cities though. Amtrak also wants customers to know that if they do go to Canada and cross a border on their train journey they may be subject to medical screening by the US Customs and Border Control.

Amtrak is waiving change fees for all existing and new reservations that were made before April 30, 2020 -- noting that this policy could be adjusted in the future as COVID-19 continues to spread. To change your reservation go to amtrak.com and click modify trip. You may still have to pay an additional amount if the new fare is more than the old one. If youd prefer to just cancel your trip, call 1-800-872-7245.

Amtrak has increased the frequency of cleaning efforts on both trains and stations -- in some cases having cleaning occur on an hourly basis. This includes disinfecting and wiping down handrails, handles and doorknobs. Amtrak is also adding more antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizers to its trains and stations. The travel company is also increasing its stocks of gloves, antibacterial products and more for staff. Learn more at amtrak.com.

Bus

Greyhound

As of March 12, there are no cancellations or travel restrictions for Greyhound buses because of the coronavirus. However, that doesnt mean Greyhound isnt doing anything to combat the spread of COVID-19. Greyhound has, in its words, enhanced the sanitation procedures on our buses and in our privately owned terminals.

Its also waiving change fees for those looking to postpone their trips because of concerns related to COVID-19. This offer is only valid for those who booked an Economy or Economy Extra fare between March 5 and March 17, 2020 for travel on or before May 31, 2020. Youll be able to postpone your trip without the change fee if you rebook to travel through Dec. 31, 2020. If you wish to take advantage of this offer call 800-231-2222 to speak to a Greyhound customer care agent.

Stay up to date on service alert changes at greyhound.com/en/service-alert.

Plane

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines is waiving change and cancellation fees for those who bought tickets on or before Feb. 26 as well as those who purchase new tickets between Feb. 27 and March 31, 2020. You may still have to pay a fare difference if the flight you change to is more expensive than the one you were on. The waiving of fees applies to Saver Fares as well. Learn more at alaskaair.com.

The airline is enhancing its cleaning procedures. It also will not be refilling used cups during its beverage service. Flight attendants may wear gloves. Those flying first class will not have the warm towel service either. The airline urges all guests who are sick with an acute respiratory illness to refrain from traveling.

American Airlines

American Airlines is waiving change fees for anyone who booked any American Airlines flight on before March 1, 2020 for travel between March 1 and April 30, 2020. Youll be able to travel within one year of the date the ticket was issued, or before Dec. 31, 2020 -- whichever is earlier. You may also cancel your trip and rebook it at a later date, provided you do so within a year of when the original ticket was issued. To rebook your flight youll need to have your ticket number and a six-character confirmation.

The airline is also waiving change fees for passengers who were traveling to, through or from several cities in Italy, South Korea, Hong Kong, China. Italian cities impacted are Bologna, Florence, Milan, Naples, Pisa, Rome, Turin, Venice and Verona. In some cases you can even cancel your trip and get a full refund. You can see the exact terms of the policy, including what travel dates are applicable for the offer, at aa.com. You can also contact the airlines reservations department by calling 800-433-7300.

American Airlines has suspended flights between Philadelphia and Rome through the end of April. It has also suspended the following flights between destinations:

Mainland China and Hong Kong from Los Angeles: through Oct. 24

Mainland China from Dallas-Fort Worth: through Oct. 23

Barcelona from Charlotte: through June 3

Hong Kong from Dallas-Fort Worth: through July 1

Madrid from New York: through June 3

Milan from Chicago and Charlotte: through June 3

Milan from Miami: through May 2

Milan from New York: through May 1

Montevideo, Uruguay from Miami: service ends in May and resumes in December.

Paris from Miami: through June 3

Rome from Chicago and Charlotte: through June 3

Rome from New York and Dallas-Fort Worth: through April 23

Rome from Philadelphia: through April 23

Santiago, Chile from Dallas-Fort Worth: through May 6

Seoul, South Korea from Dallas-Fort Worth: through May 1

Venice from Chicago: through June 4

American Airlines is waiving change fees for those who purchase travel through March 31, including for those who booked non-refundable fares. The tickets must have been purchased between March 1 and March 31.

American Airlines says that its cleaning efforts have always met or exceeded guidelines from the CDC. That being said, its enhancing its cleaning procedures on international flights and plants that are kept overnight at an airport. This includes more thorough cleaning of hard surfaces like tray tables and armrests. Most American Airlines planes have a high-efficiency particulate air filter that completely changes the air in a cabin approximately 15 to 30 times per hour. International flights are also having their catering equipment undergo additional disinfection procedures. Certain international flights will have the elimination of self-serve snack options and fruit baskets, with guests having to ask for food and beverage items. The airline encourages all to travel with hand sanitizer and to not travel when sick with an acute respiratory illness.

Delta Airlines

Delta Airlines is waiving change fees for all tickets purchased between March 1-31, 2020 who planned on travelling between March 1, 2020 and Feb. 25, 2021. You must re-book your travel no later than Feb. 28, 2021 to take advantage of the offer.

If you wish to cancel your flight, you can apply any unused value of the ticket towards buying a new ticket. To change or cancel your flight, just go to My Trips on delta.com. Learn more at delta.com.

JetBlue

JetBlue is waiving change and cancel fees for those who were supposed to travel between March 10 and April 30, 2020. You can rebook your flight through Oct. 24, 2020 by going to the Manage Trips section of jetblue.com. Your original trip must have been booked on or before March 10. Those who choose to cancel will receive a JetBlue Travel Bank Credit which is valid for one year.

JetBlue will be waiving future change and cancel fees to all customers who purchase a flight between March 6 and March 31, 2020 for flights through Sept. 8, 2020. It is also waiving change and cancel fees for bookings made between Feb. 27 and March 5, 2020 for travel through June 1, 2020. These policies apply to all JetBlue tickets, including Blue Basic. Learn more at jetblue.com/travel-alerts.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest has enhanced its overnight cleaning procedures. Its planes are also equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air filter, which filters out recirculated air on planes. Southwest does not charge fees for changing or cancelling flights. If you wish to cancel your flight, the money spent on the initial flight can be used up to one year from the original purchase date for a new flight. Learn more at southwest.com.

United Airlines

Anyone who was supposed to travel on United Airlines between March 9 and April 30, 2020 can now change their flight without paying a change fee. New tickets must be reissued within 12 months of the original ticket date or Dec. 31 (whichever is earlier). Rebooked travel has to happen within 12 months of the original ticket issue date as well. This only applies for those who purchased their ticket on or before March 2, 2020.

United Airlines is waiving change fees for a year for those who purchase new flights between March 3 and March 31, 2020. You may have to pay a fare difference if the new flight is more expensive. This applies to all tickets and all destinations. Learn more at united.com.

United Airlines has suspended flights between the U.S. and Beijing, Chengdu, Hong Kong and Shanghai through April 30.

United Airlines is waiving change fees and, in some cases, offering full refunds for those travelling to or from Wuhan, Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai in China, Hong Kong, Seoul in South Korea and Bologna, Genoa, Milan, Trieste, Turin, Venice and Verona -- all in Italy.

To see details and to see if your trip is included in this offer visit united.com.

Cruise Ship

Carnival

Carnival will be extending the deadline for cancelations to 30 days prior to sailing for cruises from May through Sept, 2020. Youll receive a future cruise credit as long as you book within a year of the original sailing date. If you were supposed to set sail in March you can now cancel up to three days prior to sailing. Those customers can receive a future cruise credit if they rebook by March 30. Those who were supposed to sail by April can cancel before March 31, 2020 and will receive a future cruise credit as long as they book within one year of their sailing date.

The cruise line asks that you contact them at 1-800-CARNIVAL if you have travelled to or through China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore or South Korea in the 20 days leading up to the beginning of the cruise. You should also call that number if you have been in contact with another person who is suspected of having COVID-19.

You will be subjected to additional medical screening, including having your temperature checked, if you have visited Taiwan, Thailand or Vietnam in the 20 days leading up to the trip.

All guests will have to go through a pre-boarding health reporting. There will also be enhanced sanitation measures taken. Any guest who shows signs of either flu or an upper respiratory infection with a fever may also be isolated. Learn more at carnival.com.

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Norwegian Cruise Lines is implementing several new policies in an effort to keep travelers safe. Anyone who has visited or had layovers in China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Iran or Italy within 30 days of the trip will not be allowed to board. Their travel companions who were meant to share the same stateroom will also be denied boarding. The same goes for anyone who, in the last 30 days, came into direct contact with anyone who had travelled to those countries. Those guests will be given a refund.

The cruise line will also be conducting pre-boarding health evaluations, including non-touch temperature screenings. Anyone with a temperature detected at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit will be denied boarding, as will anyone who, within 30 days, had contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Any guest who appears symptomatic, feels unwell or shows flu-like symptoms or has difficulty breathing may also be denied boarding. All guests denied boarding will be refunded in the form of a future cruise credit.

The cruise line has new cleaning and disinfection protocols as well. Learn more at ncl.com.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruise is temporarily suspending cruise for two months, which will impact all trips leaving between March 12 and May 10. Anyone currently onboard a Princess cruise that is going to end by March 17 will continue traveling, while those that were set to go on past that date will end at a location thats convenient for guests.

Those whose trips are cancelled will be able to apply all of the money paid for their cruise to a future cruise of their choice. The company will also add an additional future cruise credit benefit. The same offer will go to guests who made a final payment or canceled their booking on or after Feb. 4, 2020. The future cruise credit can be used for any trip that leaves through May 1, 2022.

If you do not want a future cruise credit, you can apply for a cash refund by going to princess.com.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has cancelled or changed trips in Asia through mid-March. Any guest who had a cruise in Asia that was to leave before March 23, 2020 can rebook their trip without penalty at a later time.

Royal Caribbean will be denying boarding to any guest who has traveled to, from or through China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea and Italy within 15 days of the trip. The same goes for any guest who was within six feet of someone who has done that within 15 days, as well as any guest who came into contact with someone with COVID-19. For those traveling to the Caribbean, any person who has come into contact with someone who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Italy, Iran, Japan, Macau, Singapore, South Korea or Taiwan within 20 days will also be denied boarding.

Mandatory health screenings will be done any guest who reports feeling unwell or shows flu-like symptoms, has travelled from, to or through Japan or Thailand within 15 days and guests who are not sure if they came into contact with someone who was in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Thailand or Italy within 15 days. Those going to the Caribbean will also be screened if they had contact with someone who has traveled from, to or through Thailand, France, Germany and Spain within 20 days of the trip. You will be denied boarding if you have a fever or low blood oximetry during these screenings.

If you are denied boarding because of these policies will receive a full refund in the form of a future cruise credit.

Learn more royalcaribbean.com.

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China is slowly but surely going back to work, according to the Asian Times:

Statistics on Gaodes work resumption index showed that coastal export powerhouse provinces in the southeast were taking tentative steps to return to normal, Trivium China, the research and policy advisory company, reported. The leading city was Dongguan in Guangdong province with a work resumption figure of around 49.5% while Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, was at the bottom of the table on 12.5%. . . . On Wednesday, Morgan Stanley, the multinational investment bank based in New York, released a media brief, stating that 72% of people who left tier 1 and tier 2 cities during the two weeks before Lunar New Year have already returned to work. Intra-city activity has also improved steadily, with traffic congestion and subway passenger traffic in large cities reaching 81% [and] 37%. . .of their respective comparable weekday levels last year, Morgan Stanley said.

Heres the key point:

Most of the companies we talk to are looking to hit at least 80% capacity in March, with full normalization at some point in April, Trivium China stated. . . .

This may be an overly optimistic assessment, but there is little doubt that China is rebounding faster than one would have predicted a few weeks ago.

This is good news for the American economy and bad news for those Democrats hoping for a recession that will enable them to regain the White House.

The ball now is in Americas court, not Chinas. Its up to America  the administration, state and local officials, private associations, and citizens  to make decisions that will prevent our country from experiencing this epidemic on a massive scale.
Reading, PA (19601)

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.
A Delta Air Lines customer service agent.

Reuters

US airlines won't be eager to offer refunds on flights between the US and Europe even after President Donald Trump heavily restricted transatlantic travel, says expert Henry Harteveldt.

Delta Air Lines was the first US airline to offer a transatlantic-specific travel waiver that allowed for flight changes but not refunds.

American Airlines and United Airlines did not say whether they will offer refunds in addition to flight changes and cancellations.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US airlines first began offering travel waivers for destinations impacted by coronavirus including China, Italy, and South Korea, soon expanding the coverage to include existing bookings to any international or domestic destination.

The move was largely a domino effect with one airline taking the lead and the others following.

Under the waivers, passengers could change their flights without a fee but would still be responsible for any difference in fare or taxes or choose to cancel their flights and put the value of the ticket towards a future flight.

Following President Donald Trump's Wednesday announcement limiting travel between the US and Europe, Delta Air Lines was the first US airline to implement a travel waiver specific to transatlantic flights.

The waiver covered Delta flights to all of the countries affected by the travel restrictions and even the unaffected countries of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Other US airlines simply maintained existing waivers covering all destinations, international and domestic.

Despite numerous efforts to assist affected travelers and restore confidence in bookings, however, airlines are not giving the one thing people want right now: their money back.

Here's why.

According to industry consultant Henry Harteveldt, airlines aren't offering refunds since maintaining their cash flow will be vital to weathering the storm of cancellations and reduced demand for travel.

Story continues

Gatwick Airport planes

Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

"The airlines are trying to preserve their cash flow," said Harteveldt when asked why airlines might not be quick to offer refunds.

If a customer changes or cancels a booking but isn't issued a refund, the airline isn't losing money with one of three outcomes.

The traveler can forfeit the ticket by not showing up for their scheduled flight, change to a future flight, or have the value of the ticket converted into a travel credit for use solely on that airline In either case, the airline keeps the money.

A refund closes the door on a trip that might not be rescheduled as global demand for air travel continues to decline. Offering a change or credit, however, keeps that door open for when the industry inevitably bounces back.

"[The airlines are] hoping that once conditions normalize or return closer to normal, people will take the trip that they are planning," Harteveldt explained.

flying during coronavirus austin bergstrom airport five feet apart

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

If a flight is canceled or a schedule change greatly affects the flight's departure time, refunds are more likely to be issued. Airlines, however, are already adjusting their policies to minimize refunds from schedule changes.

United Airlines was under fire as it announced it would be changing the threshold for schedule-change refunds from two hours to 25 hours. Following criticism, the airline revised the wording in its policy and decided to issue refunds on a case by case basis.

With airlines still reeling from Trump's announcement, it's unsure when schedules will be adjusted and which flights will be canceled, leaving travelers in the dark about when or if they'll get their money back.

"If [the airlines] don't issue refunds, they will experience a huge backlash from consumers."

Read the original article on Business Insider
DENVER  Colorado regulators on Thursday proposed a fine of more than $18 million against an Occidental Petroleum Corp. subsidiary for a fatal 2017 house explosion linked to a severed oil and gas well flowline.

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission will formally consider the proposed fine against Kerr-McGee Corp. on April 6, The Denver Post reported.

Commission director Jeff Robbins announced the proposed fine, which would be the largest ever sought by the agency. The fine would help fund monitoring of oil and gas flowlines and air emissions, the agency said.

Occidental said it would not contest the fine and, in a statement, noted that part of the penalty will fund projects that aim to strengthen safety and best practices for the industry and for all Coloradans living near oil and gas operations.

We will work with the COGCC on those projects, Occidental said.

Federal investigators said in November that the explosion in the Weld County town of Firestone occurred after lines then owned by Anadarko Petroleum likely were severed during the homes construction.

Kerr-McGee was a subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum, which was later purchased by Occidental.

The National Transportation Safety Board found that flowlines near the home werent properly abandoned. Anadarko acquired the well the line was connected to in 2013.

Investigators blamed odorless gas seeping from a long-abandoned flowline just feet away from the home. They found that, despite being abandoned, the line was connected to an operating well. Its existence was unknown to regulators or developers of the neighborhood where the home was built.

The blast killed two people and injured a third. The state began requiring inspections of underground flowlines near occupied buildings.

In November, Colorado regulators approved a set of safety measures designed to increase citizen protections in areas surrounding thousands of miles of underground oil and gas pipelines in the state.

Killed in the explosion were Mark Martinez and Joey Irwin. Erin Martinez, Marks wife and Irwins sister, was badly burned.

No amount of penalty or fine is ever going to take away our immense pain and suffering nor bring Mark and Joey back, Erin Martinez said in a statement Thursday.
Jignesh Shah, promoter, 63 Moons Technologies (Reuters)

live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has on March 12 dismissed the central governments plea seeking to supersede the board of 63 moons technologies, CNBC-TV18 reported.

The company has been dragged to the tribunal in relation to the Rs 5,600 crore National Spot Exchange (NSEL) payment default case.

The Appellate court upheld the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Chennai benchs order refusing to fully change the boards composition, it said. It has also upheld that the Centre can nominate three directors to the board of 63 Moons Technologies.

As the appeal was dismissed, promoter Jignesh Shah, Divang Narela and one more company director are to be disqualified. The trio will be ineligible to serve on boards of any company.

The NCLT Chennai bench had in June 2018 junked the Centres plea to supersede 63 moons board and allowed three nominated directors for the welfare of stakeholders, investments.
There were no plans at this time for job cuts, but the company was closely monitoring business conditions: Boeing

Boeing Co is freezing new hiring and overtime except in certain critical areas to preserve cash, the United States planemakers CEO said on Wednesday. The move came as the coronavirus outbreak compounds the fallout from a year-old grounding of the companys money-spinning 737 MAX.

The twin global crises, and news that Boeing is planning to draw down the rest of a $13.8bn loan it took last month, sent shares down more than 14 percent to almost a three-year low on Wednesday amid a broader market dip over the spreading virus.

Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun told employees on Wednesday that the company was taking steps to address the business pressures that result from the pain our customers and suppliers are feeling.

Its critical for any company to preserve cash in challenging periods, Calhoun wrote in a memo seen by Reuters.

Layoffs or furloughs were also a real possibility but were seen as a separate, later action, one person familiar with the companys thinking said. A second industry source said job cuts were likely as the aviation industry is squeezed by plummeting travel demand and a safety ban on the 737 MAX after two fatal crashes hit the one-year mark.

A Boeing official said there were no plans at this time for job cuts, but the company was closely monitoring business conditions.

The cash preservation strategy cames as Boeing scrambles to curb fallout from the year-old grounding of the 737 MAX jet after crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia killed 346 people five months apart.

The worldwide safety ban wiped billions from the companys value and sparked hundreds of lawsuits from bereaved families.

Boeing took in 18 new orders for widebody planes in February but saw more customers cancel 737 MAX orders.

Separately, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters News Agency that Boeing was drawing down the loan because of overall market volatility and not due to the changing of the return-to-service date for the 737 MAX. That date has been pushed back for months and is now expected at earliest mid-year.

Boeing took the extraordinary step of preserving production staffing levels when shutting down 737 MAX production earlier this year to be ready to ramp back up when the 737 MAX wins regulatory approvals to return to service.

But the depth of the coronavirus outbreaks and the demand by airlines to defer orders and delay pre-delivery payments has increased pressure on Boeing and forced it to consider more stringent steps to reduce cash outflow, according to the sources.

United Airlines, for example, slashed its 2020 capital expenditure on Tuesday, a move that will halt jet deliveries and push back its timeline for future deliveries.

To be clear, we will not be taking delivery of even a single aircraft in that CapEx forecast unless it is fully financed until the crisis is over, United President Scott Kirby told investors.

As of January 21, Uniteds main 2020 aircraft delivery commitments were with Boeing, including two 777-300s and 15 787s. It was also due to receive 28 737 MAXs, pending regulatory approval.

Boeing will want to avoid cutting into the resources needed for a smooth ramp-up in 737 production, however, Reuterss sources said. Losing workers to other companies in a tight labour market or training new ones would complicate such efforts.

Youll hear from us often through this uncertain period ahead, Calhoun told employees. Well be clear about the challenges. And well be transparent as we consider additional affordability measures.
Feet Beyond Fiction

March 10, 2020

Harry Potters enchanted Marauders Map allows the titular character to see every individual in Hogwarts, displaying their name and exact location. Carnegie Mellons Pei Zhang and Stanford Universitys Hae Young Noh have demonstrated a new system that uses floor vibrations to match this magical featand much, much more.

In lieu of spells or charms, the pairs Marauders Map relies on vibrations transmitted through the floor of a structure. Devices deployed on the ground pick up the vibrations, and machine learning algorithms filter out background noise created by other objects and machinery. This essentially turns the entire structure into one gigantic sensor platform.

With this information, Zhang and Noh are able to treat an individuals footprint almost like a fingerprint, using their footsteps and gait to determine their identity and location. Based on the way they are walking, the researchers are also working to derive things like the individuals size, health status, and even their state of mindsurpassing even their magical inspiration.

Zhang, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, has extensive experience in sensing and using machine learning to interpret sensor data. Noh, formerly an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon, is a structural engineer focusing on understanding how vibrations are transferred through the building. Their unique collaboration is the driving force bringing this idea from the pages of childrens fantasy into the modern world.

The possible applications for their work are multiplying with every new piece of information theyre able to pry from their test participants footor hoofprints.

Agricultural implementation is already allowing farmers in Thailand to monitor the state of their livestock. Pig farmers testing the sensors are able to monitor the location and movement of their animals, increasing efficiency and allowing them to identify sick animals. This also reduces the need for widespread application of antibiotics, which is costly and promotes dangerous antibiotic resistance.

The greatest opportunities the team has identified so far lie in health and medicine. Their sensors are aiding doctors in tracking the progression of neurological disease in populations that have difficulty accessing medical care. Changes in a persons movement or regular activities can provide an early warning of a heart attack, stroke, or whether they may be about to experience a fall. Vibrations passing from countertops into the floor can even indicate whether a nurse or doctor has washed their hands.

As their technology continues to improve, Zhang and Noh hope to be able to learn information like an individuals mood or affect. Meanwhile, sensor platforms with a similar capability to determine location and identity are being tested in AR, VR, HVAC control, and other emerging fields.

Famed science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke once said, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Though their technology is at the cutting edge of innovation, in this case Noh and Zhangs work bears one important distinction from magic: theyre going beyond.
Technavio has been monitoring the metallurgical coal market and it is poised to grow by USD 14.91 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 2% 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/20200312005392/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Metallurgical Coal Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. China Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd., Coronado Global Resources Inc., Glencore Plc, Teck Resources Ltd. and Vale SA are some of the major market participants. Although the increasing demand for steel will offer immense growth opportunities, slowing investments in the coal industry will challenge the growth of the market participants. 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 demand for steel has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, slowing investments in the coal industry might hamper market growth.

Metallurgical Coal Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Metallurgical Coal Market is segmented as below:

Application

Steelmaking

Non-steelmaking

Geographic segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40815

Metallurgical Coal 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 metallurgical coal market report covers the following areas:

Metallurgical Coal Market size

Metallurgical Coal Market trends

Metallurgical Coal Market industry analysis

This study identifies advances in the mining industry as one of the prime reasons driving the metallurgical coal market growth during the next few years.

Metallurgical Coal Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the metallurgical coal market, including some of the vendors such as China Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd., Coronado Global Resources Inc., Glencore Plc, Teck Resources Ltd. and Vale SA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the metallurgical coal market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Metallurgical Coal Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist metallurgical coal market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the metallurgical coal market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the metallurgical coal market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of metallurgical coal market vendors

Table of Content

PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT

2.1 Preface

2.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE

Market ecosystem

Market characteristics

Value chain analysis

Market segmentation analysis

PART 04: MARKET SIZING

Market definition

Market sizing 2019

Market outlook

Market size and forecast 2019-2024

PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION

Market segmentation by application

Comparison by application

Steelmaking Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Non-steelmaking 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

Americas Market size and forecast 2019-2024

EMEA 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

Increase in number of smart city projects

Advances in mining industry

Steel production through electrolysis

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

Competitive scenario

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Anglo American Plc

Arch Coal Inc.

Bharat Coking Coal Ltd.

BHP

China Coal Energy Co. Ltd.

China Shenhua Energy Co. Ltd.

Coronado Global Resources, Inc.

Glencore Plc

Teck Resources Ltd.

Vale SA

PART 14: APPENDIX

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

Definition of market positioning of vendors

PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005392/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/
The Food and Drug Authority, Pune (FDA) has issued show cause notice to four medical shops in the city on Thursday after it was found that these shops were selling substandard sanitisers and overcharging for masks. FDA has conducted multiple raids since the outbreak of Covid-19 (coronavirus) in the country and people complaining about overcharging and substandard materials started making rounds.

Since the outbreak of the virus and more cases being detected in the country, people have been rushing to medical stores to buy sanitisers and masks. Despite the administration and doctors repeatedly appealing that masks are not compulsory and even handkerchief can work and that washing hands with soap is effective to contain the spread of the virus, citizens have been rushing to buy sanitisers. Taking advantage of the situation, local manufacturers are supplying substandard hand sanitisers which claims to kill 99% germs.

FDA administration said that these products are not approved by the authority and are ineffective in providing safety against Covid-19 virus strain. Suresh Patil, FDA Pune drug division joint commissioner, said, We have raided 156 medical shops across the city after we received multiple complaints that bogus sanitisers are being sold and that masks are being sold at a higher price than the printed MRP. We found four such shops which were doing such malpractices, two in Kothrud, one each at Gokhalenagar and Balewadi.

Patil said that while the stock of fake sanitisers was over, the shopkeeper was interrogated wherein he accepted that he had sold bogus product. We have issued show cause notice to these shops and also shut down the shop temporarily. If their explanation is not satisfactory enough we may cancel their licences.

Patil has appealed to people to reach out to FDA in case they are suspicious of any such malpractices wherein customers or even chemists are duped. He said, One can differentiate between an original and fake sanitiser by looking for the manufacturers name and licence number which usually starts with the state initials like MH for Maharashtra or GJ for Gujarat.

District collector Naval Kishore Ram too appealed to the people to contact district administration in case they find any such incidents. Naval said, Strict action would be taken against chemists or suppliers if any such action is caught.
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Linkedin Fabio Teixeira (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Territory, Brazil  Thu, March 12, 2020 12:52 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a141f6 2 World Brazil,forest,environment,indigenous-people-rights,indigenous-people,tropical-forest Free

The old men want war, but the younger ones are holding them back. That generation divide was clear among the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau tribe, who live deep in the Brazilian Amazon.

Endangered by land-grabbers and illegal loggers, the tribe called a meeting to discuss how to fight back and plan for the year ahead, Brazil's second under Jair Bolsonaro's presidency.

"You say we cannot kill, but the white man does not respect us," said Uaka, one of the village elders, standing up to speak in broken Portuguese.

"We do not steal their cattle to eat, so why do they steal our land for themselves? Our law works better than theirs," said Purui, another older tribe member.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation got rare permission to attend the meeting, held at Aldeia Nova, one of the tribe's nine villages in their 1.8 million-acre reservation in Rondonia state, as the indigenous group made plans for the future.

The state was among the hardest hit by last year's Amazon fires, according to INPE, Brazil's government agency tasked with monitoring deforestation in the region.

Living in small isolated villages made up of wood and straw huts, the indigenous community of about 300 people is surrounded by farmland that used to be part of their reservation.

Bolsonaro came into office pushing for the development of agriculture and mining on indigenous lands. Last month, he presented a bill to Congress that would open up indigenous reserves for mining and commercial farming.

Among the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau, the consensus is that the government supports the farmers and that this year the fires - often set to clear land for farming - will be as bad or worse than in 2019.

A mention of the president's name evoked ire among the elders during the meeting. Reverting back to their native language, Tupi Kawahib, they had a heated discussion.

"(Bolsonaro) called us children, so you can see how angry we get," Purui noted.

The Amazon rainforest, the largest in the world, plays a key role in slowing climate change, as its trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main heat-trapping gas.

Members of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau regularly venture into the forest to inspect their land. When they find invaders, they alert federal police and FUNAI - the country's indigenous affairs agency.

In some cases, they arrest loggers and hold them in a village until authorities come to get them. They may also confiscate loggers' equipment or the trees they cut down.

But using violence - or "just an arrow to the leg", as one older tribal member suggested during the argument in Tupi Kawahib - would be a step beyond.

Increasingly, young community members rely on technology to document invasions and alert authorities, taking pictures from afar with drones.

They say violence is not the answer.

"Since before I was born there were invaders on our land," said Bitate, a 19-year-old tribal leader. "I fear that if (violence) happens, it would lead to even more conflict."

Ivaneide Bandeira holds a machete during a meeting held at Aldeia Nova, a Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau village deep in the Amazon, Brazil, February 18, 2020. (Thomson Reuters Foundation/Fabio Teixeira)

POLITICAL ACTION

The meeting began in the morning, with most of the 32 attendees having arrived the night before, after hours traversing dirt roads by motorcycle, or cramped inside a car borrowed from the Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection Kaninde, a non-profit that assists them.

At a "maloca" - a large hut with a straw roof supported by wooden beams - in the middle of Aldeia Nova, hammocks had been hung and benches set up to accommodate the arrivals.

Duct tape held a map of the indigenous reservation on the maloca's supports. By the end of the meeting, it would be covered with pieces of paper indicating decisions made and votes undertaken.

Such formal meetings are a rarity, those attending said, as transporting people distances over rough terrain requires planning, time and cash.

When someone suggested a trip to Brazil's capital to talk with congressmen and government officials about the issues the community faces, Ivaneide Bandeira, of the Kaninde non-profit, seized on it as a peaceful idea to come from the meeting.

It was then quickly decided that six people, one from each village present, would go - four men and two women.

"I'll say this up front: we can't send just men," she warned.

The group also decided to form groups to lobby local politicians that support Bolsonaro's proposed bill to open up indigenous lands.

Still, there was skepticism about what the talks with politicians can bring.

"We worry because these people are not sleeping. They are working the law to end us," warned Cleber Tenharim, an indigenous man who married into the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau tribe.

After a lunch of large plates of rice, served with fish or chunks of wild pig raised in the village, the tribe discussed logistics.

They depend on rivers for transportation, so they must match their inspections of their territory to the rainy season when travel is easiest - but in a way that does not interfere too much with planting their crops.

Bitate, a member of the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau tribe, plans land inspections during a meeting held at Aldeia Nova, a village deep in the Amazon, Brazil, February 18, 2020. (Thomson Reuters Foundation/Fabio Teixeira)

A 'SCARRED' PEOPLE

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau villages are separated by kilometers of precarious dirt roads. Near one village, Alto Jamari, Brazilian farmers are building fresh settlements.

They are not in the indigenous reserves, but tensions have risen since the settlers moved in last August, tribal members said. The tribe estimates 54 families are building houses on the land surrounding the reservation.

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau have taken a "wait and see" approach, but are wary of recent offers by the newcomers to fix the road leading to the village, and to give cattle to the tribe if tribal members don't make a fuss about the settlements.

The Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau tribe first came into contact with outsiders around 1981, Bandeira said. Soon after, a violent conflict between the indigenous community and farmers started.

Many older tribal members lost relatives during it, she said.

"The pressure they are under is making the older ones remember the past, the massacres," Bandeira said. "Many are scarred by bullets" - literally in some cases, she said.

She has worked with the tribe for over 25 years and supports the younger generation's push for a non-violent approach.

"You cannot kill the white man, because the white man has the government's support," she told Uaka during a discussion.

In other areas of Brazil, invasions of protected land have led to violent clashes. Last year alone, eight indigenous leaders were killed in circumstances that have not yet been clarified.

In the state of Maranhao, a group of indigenous people, calling themselves "guardians of the forest" have donned masks and arms to carry out operations where they intimidate and expel illegal loggers from their land.

Juwi, a 22-year-old Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau woman, worries that escalating violence could result in her husband's death. She is married to Awapu, who leads a group of a dozen people responsible for surveillance of the tribe's territory.

He has received death threats in the past and, last December, men in motorcycles showed up at the couple's village, asking questions about him. That day, both he and Juwi were far away in Porto Velho, Rondonia's capital.

"I worry every day," said Juwi, who took notes on the meeting, using the tribe's laptop. "But his surveillance is not to attack anyone. It's to protect (the forest)."
House Passes Resolution Aimed at Limiting Trumps War Powers in Iran

The House of Representatives voted on March 11 in favor of a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trumps ability to take military action against Iran without congressional approval.

The War Powers resolution was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) with bipartisan support and was approved by the House on Wednesday in a largely party-line 227-186 vote. Six Republicans voted in favor of the resolution, while six Democrats and 180 Republicans opposed it.

It declares that Trump gain authorization from Congress before launching further military operations 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.

The measure will now be sent to Trump, who is expected to veto it. He has promised to veto the war powers resolution, warning that if his hands were tied, Iran would have a field day.

The resolutions approval comes after tensions between the United States and Iran escalated, when a U.S. drone strike killed Irans top general, Qassem Soleimani, in early January.

While tensions with Iran have abated since then, Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the resolution clarifying Congresss power to declare war is still important.

The resolution sends a clear message that the American people dont want war with Iran and that Congress has not authorized war with Iran, Engel said.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, in Washington on May 8, 2019. (Jennifer Zeng/The Epoch Times)

Congress doesnt have to wait until the president alone decides to use military force again, Engel told House members during the floor debate on 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.

Meanwhile, the measure was criticized as divisive and irresponsible and based on a false premise by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee. 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 Trump administration has defended the killing of Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Quds Force, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying that it was the right decision.

In the weeks that followed Soleimanis death, the House of Representatives passed two separate bills aimed at curbing President Trumps war powersone to block funding for any use of military force in or against Iran unless Congress declares war, and the other to repeal the 2002 Congressional Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq. The Senate chose to move forward with Kaines legislation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Australian share market has suffered its biggest one-day plunge since the height of the global financial crisis 11 years ago - losing another $113billion despite a massive stimulus package.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 has also dived to its lowest point since November 2016, as coronavirus fears overwhelmed news of handouts to pensioners and employers.

Investors overlooked Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's announcement $17.6billion would be spent tackling the economic contagion of coronavirus - amid fears a global recession was very likely.

Their plan to spend $4.8billion of that largesse - giving $750 payments by Easter to 6.5million pensioners, students, parents and jobless Australians - did little to calm financial nerves.

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The Australian share market has suffered its biggest one-day plunge since the height of the global financial crisis 11 years ago - losing another $113billion despite a massive stimulus package

The government is hoping its lump-sum handouts and business subsidies, designed to encourage employment, will generate $23billion over four years.

The Australian Securities Exchange thought otherwise with the benchmark S&P/ASX200 diving by 7.3 per cent on Thursday to suffer its worst one-day fall since November 2008 at the height of the GFC.

It lost another $113billion as the index shed 421 points to 5,304 points, the lowest point since November 2016.

IG market analyst Kyle Rodda said the share market overlooked the stimulus announcement and instead focused on the World Health Organisation belatedly declaring coronavirus to be a pandemic as the US banned flights from Europe outside the UK.

'The stimulus, as far as the Australian government goes and what it can do for economic management, rubs some economic lotion on the burn a little bit but it can't fix the actual issue itself,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

'Markets largely ignored the government's announcement today because the issues go far beyond what they can control.

'The market's got a bit of a kick in the guts from the pandemic news overnight.'

Investors overlooked Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's announcement $17.6billion would be spent tackling the economic contagion of coronavirus

Since peaking on February 20, Australian shares have lost more than half a trillion dollars, with a series of heavy losses suffered this week.

'We're hypersensitive to the bigger macroeconomic issues that obviously drive global growth,' Mr Rodda said.

The US ban on European travellers spooked investors.

'It's effectively got the market pricing in that the globe's heading for something of a serious downturn, probably a recession,' Mr Rodda said.

'At the moment, the biggest concern is what's happening in the US economy.'
The University remains closed until further notice, European Schools I and II suspend classes between Monday 16 March until 29 March.

As a preventive measure, the University of Luxembourg has cancelled all classes until further notice as of Friday 13 March, it announced in an email on Thursday. Web-based learning services are currently being set up so students and staff can continue their work remotely.

Live ticker: Follow the latest international and national coronavirus updates here

Meanwhile, also on Thursday afternoon, parents of pupils at the European Schools were informed about the new measure from the Secretary General of the European Schools concerning the situation regarding COVID-19.

As a precautionary measure and until further notice, pupils will be exempted from compulsory regular attendance and all classes will be suspended at the European Schools of Kirchberg and Mamer, from Monday 16 March until 29 March.

Children are urged to go to school on Friday 13 March to prepare themselves for distance learning and exchange information with teachers. If they are unable to do so, however, the school will not consider this as an unjustified absence.

Earlier on Thursday the UBI business school in Wiltz confirmed that the school will be closed until mid-April.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel is holding a press conference at 6pm on Thursday afternoon and is expected to give more information on matters of education.
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)
LAS VEGAS - A New York woman attending a conference at a Las Vegas Strip casino became sick last weekend with the new coronavirus, health authorities said Wednesday, stoking concerns that a widening outbreak could cripple business in a gambling mecca that attracts more than 40 million visitors a year.

The woman, whose name was not made public, arrived March 5 in Las Vegas the Women of Power Summit at The Mirage resort and was hospitalized Sunday and isolated in stable condition, Southern Nevada Health District officials said. She is among five people in the Las Vegas area to test positive for COVID-19.

State officials reported another three cases since last week, with 164 people statewide under public health monitoring as of Tuesday. Another 168 people have tested negative.

The risks of acquiring a coronavirus infection in our community still remains low, said Dr. Fermin Leguen, acting regional chief health officer in Las Vegas.

Still, fears prompted some postponements and cancellations, including President Donald Trumps upcoming events in Nevada as well as Colorado. Out of an abundance of caution from the Coronavirus outbreak, the President has decided to cancel, said White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.

Trump was set to speak on Saturday at a now-postponed three-day Republican Jewish Coalition conference at casino mogul and big Republican party donor Sheldon Adelsons flagship Las Vegas Strip resort, the Venetian. The group later announced that it will look for dates in the near future when we can reschedule and when the current health crisis allows, a decision made in consultation with the White House and experts.

The National Association of Broadcasters is cancelling its annual trade show that draws about 100,000 to the Las Vegas Convention Center. It had been scheduled April 18-22.

We are deferring to the developing consensus from public health authorities on the challenges posed by coronavirus, association chief executive Gordon Smith said in a letter.

Casino giant MGM Resorts International on Tuesday took buffets off the menu at its Las Vegas Strip resorts, citing concerns about the virus.

A Cirque du Soleil charity event scheduled for March 27 at a nearly 1,500-seat theatre at the pyramid-shaped Luxor casino-hotel was postponed, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

The International Wireless Communications Expo announced it will be rescheduled, and next weeks ISC West security trade show was postponed to an unspecified date in July. It usually draws about 29,000 attendees.

Seven weeks after the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the U.S., the outbreak was classified by the World Health Organization as a widely spreading pandemic. The virus has infected more than 120,000 people around the world and killed more than 4,500, mostly in China where the new strain of coronavirus originated.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate fever and cough. Some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, can develop severe illness and pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover within several weeks.

Many events remain scheduled, including a construction equipment expo that was expected to draw more than 100,000 attendees continues through Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman complained during a Tuesday meeting of tourism officials that media coverage of the outbreak was hurting business, reported the Review-Journal. She recalled the Depression-era words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1933: There is nothing to fear but fear itself.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority chief Steve Hill told board members the agency was preparing an advertising push to begin in two or three months, after infections and their financial effects are expected to have passed.

Analyst Robin Farley, at UBS, issued a report Wednesday attributing a weekly drop in revenue per available rooms, a hospitality industry measure, to the outbreak.

David Schwartz, director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Gaming Research, said Wednesday it could take weeks for financial reports to reflect effects of the virus outbreak on tourists and spending.

Potentially, travel restrictions could have a big effect, he said. I think we have to see how this develops.

____

Associated Press staff writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) on Thursday told Republican lawmakers the party would oppose Democrats emergency aid package meant to combat the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.

The legislation that Speaker Pelosi introduced at 11pm last night  written by her staff and her staff alone  and plans to vote on just 12 hours later is not only completely partisan. It is unworkable, McCarthy wrote on Twitter.

Republicans and Democrats disagree over certain aspects of the aid package, sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), including the specifics of a paid-leave proposal and the inclusion of tax-related provisions. The White House wants to delay tax-payment deadlines, while Democrats would like to deal with tax issues in a separate bill.

We continue to want to work with the Speaker, but if shes choosing to pass a partisan bill then everyone needs to face that fact and what that means, a senior White House official told Politico.

Lawmakers are scrambling to pass the aid package on Thursday, the last day before a week-long congressional recess. With the Wuhan coronavirus spreading, lawmakers are hoping to return to their districts to help organize a response.

The aid package was written up in less than three days, catching even Democrats by surprise.

This is about as far from regular order as it gets, Representative Ed Perlmutter (D, Col.) told House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D., N.J.) at a meeting early Thursday morning. Perlmutter said he did not understand why the vote was being rushed through, without time for lawmakers to examine its contents fully.

The U.S. government and health system have struggled to coordinate a response to the outbreak and subsequent economic fallout. President Trump on Wednesday announced a series of measures meant to curb the outbreak, including a 30-day travel ban on foreign nationals from Europe.

However, stocks again fell sharply on Thursday morning, causing Wall Street to suspend trading for the second time in a week.

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The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate strongly condemn this deliberate act of violence against media workers and urges the Israeli authorities to investigate the attack and bring those responsible to justice.

A wounded Palestinian is being carried away by locals after Israeli forces' intervention during the protest in Beit, on 2 March. ISSAM RIMAWI / ANADOLU AGENCY

The PJS reported that the Israeli army fired bullets and threw tear gas at reporters while they were covering the assault of Israeli soldiers on Palestinian citizens in the city of Beita. The attack left several people injured, including journalist Baker Abdulhaq, Palestine TV correspondent in the region, who was hit by a bullet in the leg. The PJS denounced the incident as a "deliberate attack on journalists" while they were doing their job.

The PJS said: "The complete responsibility for such crimes falls on the leaders of the occupations government and army who should be held accountable according to the UN security council resolution 2222, which requires the legal persecution of the perpetrators of crimes against journalists".

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger expressed full support for the PJS and urged the Israeli army and authorities to stop the on-going repression and targeting of Palestinian media workers.
D onald Trump and Leo Varadkar greeted with a namaste gesture instead of shaking hands as they met at the White House.

The two leaders acted on official health advice by making a bow gesture.

The president said he felt weird with the non-contact gesture as he spoke from the Oval Office.

We didnt shake hands today and we looked at each other and said, what are we going to do?," Mr Trump said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left) and US President Donald Trump greeting each other with a Namaste gesture in the Oval Office at the White House / PA

Its a sort of a weird feeling.

He added: I just got back from India and I didnt shake any hands there and it was very easy.

He referred to traditional greetings used in India and Japan, adding that the countries were ahead of the curve.

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

Mr Trump added: We looked at each other  there was also a lot of press staring at us, right  saying, are we supposed to shake hands? And when his group of very smart representatives came in, who I know, its a very strange feeling.

I was never a big hand-shaker, as you probably heard, but once you become a politician, shaking hands is very normal.

Its a very strange feeling when people that you know and like and they walk up and just say hi.
A 'sudden avalanche' of coronavirus cases would overwhelm Australia's health system and force doctors to leave older people to die, top medics have told Daily Mail Australia.

Australia is 'only weeks' behind Italy where cities have been sealed off and wards are so crammed doctors have called for a maximum age limit to prioritise care.

If the crisis in Australia gets dramatically worse, there is a 'serious risk' the country will run out of intensive care beds, said Paul Komesaroff, Professor of Medicine at Monash University.

That would mean intensive care units (ICUs) would only let in patients who have the highest chance of recovering - usually young, fit and otherwise healthy people.

Those who are too old and don't have a high likelihood of recovery will be left to die.

The Australian government has been advised by the Chief Medical Officer to ban all mass gatherings of more than 500 people in an attempt to stop the spread of the killer illness.

Intensive care wards may need to stop treating older patients and instead focus on those who have longer to live and better chances of survival. Pictured: An Italian ICU ward in Cremona

A coronavirus emergency checkpoint and triage point at Civile Hospital in Brescia, Italy

People who are already under intensive care could be moved to make way for others considered more deserving.

On Thursday NSW Chief Medical Officer Dr Kerry Chant estimated that 20 per cent of the population - around 5million Australians - would get coronavirus.

That means around half a million Australians may need intensive care, based on statistics from Italy which show 10 per cent of patients were sent to ICUs.

Australia currently has around 2,500 ICU beds, only enough to cover 0.01 per cent of the population at once.

It may become necessary to establish an age limit for access to intensive care

'There are limited facilities in the high-tech areas such as intensive care and the ability to ventilate patients,' Professor Komesaroff told Daily Mail Australia.

'There is a very serious possibility a sudden increase in people requiring ventilation would overwhelm the system.'

Asked how doctors would decide who gets access to the scare intensive care beds, he said: 'Decisions on triage are common practice in medicine. Doctors chose patients who are most likely to achieve a favourable outcome.

'The focus is on the need of the individual and the ability of medical intervention.

'The doctor examines carefully a person's total medical need and the ability of the proposed intervention to make a difference.'

He added: 'It's a difficult conversation with no absolutely clear, correct decision.'

Professor Komesaroff said there is no age limit on treatment, but the triage system would inevitably mean older Australians would be turned away.

A traveller wears a mask at Sydney International Airport on Thursday

He is among several other top doctors who admit the coronavirus crisis will require drastic health measures.

'We would not have any cap on age but if we get to a tipping point we might have to make certain allowances,' Infectious Diseases Specialist at ANU Sanjaya Senanayake told Daily Mail Australia.

On Wednesday top doctors in Italy - which has more than 12,000 coronavirus cases and almost 1,000 deaths - said intensive care wards should place a maximum age limit on beds as a way of prioritising medical resources.

Hospitals should adopt to 'catastrophe medicine' guidelines - typically used in war zones and during natural disasters - where those with the greatest chance of survival are given priority, the group of doctors 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

The guidelines should apply to all patients needing intensive care treatment and not just those suffering from coronavirus, according to the Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care (SAARI).

'It may become necessary to establish an age limit for access to intensive care,' the group said.

Stephen Leeder, Emeritus Professor of Public Health at the University of Sydney, said it was 'possible' Australia would have to adopt this model unless drastic steps were taken.

'We need to radically and very, very quickly expand the number of intensive care beds and ventilators in the country,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'When I researched this three weeks ago I was shocked at how limited our national capacity in this regard is.

'We also need to begin immediate and extreme forms of social distancing in order to slow the continual expansion of COVID-19 and flatten its peak,' he added.

Social distancing may include working from home and avoiding public transport and

Asked if an age limit for intensive care would be required, he said: 'Anything is possible. I'm not sure about Australia following Italy, but who knows.'

Professor Komesaroff agreed that the only hope of saving lives was to slow the spread of the 'unstoppable' virus.

'A sudden avalanche would immediately overwhelm our ability to respond. We need mechanisms to slow the spread and give us a chance of being able to deal with it,' he said.

Rome's Deputy Maria Teresa Baldini wears a protective mask and gloves inside parliament as she helps deal with the fallout from coronavirus

Oval Office address: Donald Trump finally addressed the nation about the coronavirus crisis from the White House on Wednesday and banned all travel to Europe

Such measures include quarantine, extra hand washing and restricting travel.

On Thursday afternoon Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked health officials to look at whether flights from Europe to Australia should be stopped.

Meanwhile, the federal government extended bans for China, Italy, South Korea and Iran.

The bans mean any foreigner has to spend 14 days outside those countries before entering Australia.

It came after President Donald Trump told America he was ordering an immediate shut-down of all travel from Europe to the United States as he addressed the nation on the coronavirus.

Shadow cabinet minister Bill Shorten demanded Australia introduce social distancing 'not in weeks and months but in days'.

'The only way to make sure this pandemic is not worse than it otherwise could be is to have more drastic social distancing measures,' he told Sky News.

'Singapore and Japan and parts of China, they are putting in more draconian reactions. As a result it would appear that some of their pandemic numbers are not going to be as bad as other countries who are doing too little too late.'

Travellers at Sydney Airport wear masks and gloves in a bid to avoid getting coronavirus

Terrifying prediction nearly 60,000 people in just one Australian state will DIE from the coronavirus - and that's the BEST case scenario

Experts say that even in a 'best case' scenario nearly 60,000 people are expected to die from the coronavirus in New South Wales alone.

University of Sydney Professor Robert Booy, who has previously advised Australia's chief medical officer on influenza pandemics, said the best case scenario is that one in five people in the state will be infected with the deadly coronavirus.

New South Wales has a population of eight million people, meaning 1.6 million people are predicted to get coronavirus this year.

Australia's latest Health Department alert said the global case fatality rate is now about 3.7 per cent.

Based on those figures, 59,200 people would die in the state.

A woman leaves St Vincent's Hospital, in the inner-Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, on Tuesday. In a best-case scenario 1.6 million people in NSW alone are expected to catch the coronavirus

The figure assumes health care would be able to be provided for all those who need it.

The World Health Organisation has said that 14 per cent of people who get coronavirus will have serious complications including viral pneumonia.

A further 5 per cent will need critical care in an intensive care unit.

Those patients will require a ventilator machine and specially trained nurses and medical staff to care for them.

NSW Health told Daily Mail Australia that New South Wales has more than 1000 intensive care unit beds but the availability fluctuates on demand.

Triage point at Civile Hospital, Brescia. Italy has become a time machine for the rest of the developed world to see what will happen if their healthcare systems become overwhelmed

Emergency medical structure in Brescia, Italy pictured on Tuesday. These tents were set up to ease the burden on hospitals. Italy has shut every shop and business to slow the virus spread

However, in the best case scenario outlined by Professor Booy, 80,000 people in New South Wales will need those 1000 beds.

Even if the numbers were evenly spaced over a 12-month period there would still be only one bed available for more than six people who need it.

If people cannot get the healthcare they need, then people who would otherwise live will die, pushing up the case fatality rate.

University of NSW Associate Professor James Wood said the key to helping people survive is to slow down the rate of infection.

This spreads out the cases so as not to overwhelm the health-care system.

Dr Wood said to slow the rate the virus spreads it would be necessary to take measures to isolate people from each other such as closing schools, banning public events, encouraging social distancing, quarantine and isolation.

'There are plans in place and we are trying to free up spaces in hospital, the biggest challenge is having sufficient ICU beds available for patients,' Dr Wood said.

People waiting to be tested for coronavirus at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney

Ryde Hospital, Sydney. New South Wales has over 1000 emergency beds but more than 80,000 people will need to use them if just 20 per cent of the population get coronavirus

The Grattan Institute has also urged Australia to follow the lead of countries like Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore which have introduced radical social distancing measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Chief executive John Daley said Australia needs to close the borders, shut down schools and universities and cancel mass events.

Even though this can hurt the economy in the short term it will reduce the number of virus cases and reduce the long-term impact.

Mr Daley warned if Australia keeps up 'non-stringent measures like Italy', our fatality rate would skyrocket.

Daily Mail Australia has filed a Government Information Public Access (GIPA) request with NSW Health to find out what the department's modellers predict will be the peak numbers of coronavirus cases and how many hospital beds there will be to treat them.

Epidemiologists say a worst-case scenario would mean far more people infected than just 20 percent.

Professor Booy said it is possible that half the population could catch the coronavirus, the Daily Telegraph reported.

University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay said the virus could infect up to 80 per cent of the population.

'We're all susceptible to the infection as we have no herd immunity,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

Professor Raina MacIntyre, the head of Biosecurity at the University of New South Wales's Kirby Institute, said the doubling time of the pandemic worldwide is six days.

'So it's going to get worse very, very quickly,' Professor MacIntyre told The Australian.

If it becomes widespread, there is the potential for the health system to be overwhelmed.'

Italy has become the world's petri dish example of what happens when too many people need treatment at the same time.

People line up outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital for coronavirus testing on Tuesday. Experts say if too many people get sick at the same time, the system will be overwhelmed

The Mediterranean nation has a population of 64.5 million people.

Although it only had just over 12,450 cases of coronavirus confirmed as of Thursday night, it's health system is already teetering on the brink of collapse.

Italy's government has had to place the entire country under quarantine and has closed shops and businesses to try to slow the spread of the virus.

All shops are now closed in Italy except for food stores and pharmacies in Europe's toughest lockdown, BBC news reported on Thursday.

The Financial Times reported that Sacco Hospital in Milan is barely holding up as coronavirus patients take up an increasing number of intensive care beds.

'Frankly, I don't know for how long the health system can cope, I don't even want to think about how it could end,' said Massimo Galli, head of the hospital's infectious diseases department.

More than 820 people have so far died in Italy and more than 1000 are in a serious condition according to BNO News which has tracked the progress of the virus since its start.

US President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban heavily restricting all travel from Europe to the United States starting at midnight on Friday.

The ban does not apply to US citizens returning home or to the UK or Ireland.

Australia's coronavirus pandemic went national on Thursday with the ACT - the last coronavirus-free jurisdiction - confirming it's first case.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show (pictured) could be cancelled over coronavirus fears. Experts say shutting down large public gatherings can help stop the spread of the virus

New South Wales remained the epicentre of the outbreak with the highest number of confirmed cases at 78 out of a national tally of 158.

The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of covid-19 to be a pandemic on Thursday.

A pandemic describes a disease that is widely spreading between people in multiple countries around the world at the same time.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison made an emergency address to the nation on Thursday evening to reassure people that the government was preparing for the pandemic.

Travellers leave Sydney airport on Thursday. Travel bans may need to be enforced in future to stem the spread of the virus. The US will begin a 30-day ban heavily restricting any travellers from Europe from entering the country in an effort to slow the spread of the virus

People walking through Sydney's CBD on Thursday

'Now I know, many Australians are anxious about this and we do still have a long way to go,' Mr Morrison said.

'We will get through this together, Australia. We all have a role to play.'

The Prime Minister earlier announced $2.4 billion would be spent on health including producing pop-up clinics to reduce the burden on hospitals.

It would also fund public hospitals, support for aged care and boost the national stockpile of medicines and masks, he said.

The Prime Minister also announced $17.6 million for an economic stimulus plan to subsidise the wages of apprentices and give cash support for small and medium sized businesses.

Tax incentives would be given to businesses and one-off payments of $750 for more than six million people including pensioners.

The measure is part of a huge stimulus plan - the first of its kind since the 2008 financial crash - to save thousands of jobs and companies as coronavirus pushes Australia towards recession.

Economist Steve Keen had instead called for a one-off cash payment for every citizen of $7780 to encourage them to stay home in isolated quarantine, so they could afford to pay their bills and rent.

This is especially important for those whose income would be cut by the virus such as the nation's three million casual workers who don't have sick leave.

Mr Keen said the aim was not to stimulate the economy but to help people pay their bills while staying at home and to prevent bankruptcies.
The insolvency and bankruptcy law has resulted in recovery of just 10 percent of defaulted loans in case of companies other than the seven big ones referred for resolution, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday

New Delhi: The insolvency and bankruptcy law has resulted in recovery of just 10 percent of defaulted loans in case of companies other than the seven big ones referred for resolution, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Speaking on a bill to further amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code to give protection to new owners of a loan defaulter company against prosecution for misdeeds of previous owners, Ramesh said of the 970 cases referred to IBC, 780 have been liquidated, indicating a mortality rate of 80 percent.

The first objective of the IBC was to save companies but with a mortality rate of 80 percent it is not life saving, he said.

Ramesh said against admitted claims of Rs 3.51 lakh crore, Rs 1.50 lakh crore has been recovered by way of auctioning defaulting firms to new buyers.

The recovery was 43 percent, implying that banks took a hair cut of 57 percent on their loans, he said.

If the big seven firms -- Electrosteel, Bhushan Steel, Monnet Ispat, Essar Steel, Alok Industries, Bhushan Power & Steel and Jyoti Structures are excluded then the total recovery is 10 percent, he said, "This means banks took hair cut of 90 percent."

"That is matter of great concern," he said.

Ramesh also sought revisiting provision in the amended IBC that gives power to resolution professional to order other firms such as small and micro enterprises to continue supplying goods and services to the defaulter firm.

Under the law, a resolution professional oversees the insolvency process.

This raises the risk of default for MSME firms, he said seeking revisiting of the provision in the bill on supplying to defaulter firm.

"You should not sacrifice interest of MSME sector," he said.

He went on to advocate a special regime for MSMEs by amending the 2006 MSME Act by allowing them to list accounts receivable above Rs 1 crore so they can invoke IBC to recover due amounts.

MSMEs face cash flow issues mostly due to delayed payments, he said.

Earlier, introducing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC) was brought in 2016 as desired results were not coming from prevalent laws to resolve defaults.

Since 2016, several amendments to IBC have been brought to keep pace with developments in the outside world and orders passed by courts and tribunals on their interpretation of the law, she said.

She said the bill was brought in the previous Winter session of Parliament but couldn't be passed and so an ordinance was promulgated. The present bill is to convert the ordinance into a law.

Mahesh Poddar (BJP) said the amendment to the IBC will protect current management from past mistakes of previous owners.
T ommy Robinson is preparing to face the next round in a libel case against him over comments he made about a Syrian refugee who was filmed being attacked in a school playground.

Footage showing Jamal Hijazi, then 16, being pushed to the ground and waterboarded at Almondbury School in Huddersfield sparked a public outcry after it was shared online in November 2018.

Robinson, 37, who founded the English Defence League and whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, later commented on the video in a series of Facebook posts.

High Court judge Mr Justice Nicklin will be asked to determine the meaning of Robinsons statements at a preliminary hearing in London on Thursday.

At a previous hearing in November, Jamals barrister Ian Helme told the court his client lodged the claim following the viral publication of a video in which Jamal was horrifically bullied at school.

Mr Helme added that Robinson, who he described as a right-wing provocateur, then published two videos making very serious allegations against Jamal.

The lawyer said the teen was a schoolboy and a Syrian refugee who has faced horrific bullying at school, adding that the effect of the videos was that he now has his nascent reputation trashed to one million people.

At that hearing, William Bennett QC, for Robinson, said the case would come down to the oral testimony of one witness against another.

He added that his clients defence would focus on those people who say they were assaulted by the claimant and the claimants denials that he assaulted them.

In documents filed with the court on Robinsons behalf in June, he alleges that the attack on Jamal shown in the video was in retaliation for a threat made earlier that same day.
The Houston region, long used to coordinating a regional response to hurricanes and floods, is piecing together a response to the COVID-19 coronavirus  a threat for which there is no tried-and-true playbook, and where local officials, organizations and individuals must make decisions without much guidance from federal authorities.

Anna Coffey, CEO of The Womens Home, turned to the Centers for Disease Control website for answers to her organizations questions: What are best practices for quarantining someone who is mentally ill or has substance-abuse issues? What should be done for low-income housing?

Coffey, who has a background in public health, is an old hand at using the CDCs website, and expected practical advice, such as how often to take a quarantined persons temperature, and what sort of protective equipment her staff should wear. But she found nothing  not from the CDC, the usual source of such information; and not elsewhere, either.

Im looking all over the place for guidelines, she said, and I havent found much beyond wash your hands.

At a joint news conference Wednesday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced declarations of emergency and measures such as closing the Houston rodeo  with the goal not of containing the virus, which is now likely impossible, but of slowing its spread, so as not to overwhelm the regions hospitals.

This virus does not recognize political boundaries, said Hidalgo.

Houston-based disaster-response expert Angela Blanchard says that to deal with the coronavirus, Houston needs a unified regional command structure similar to the one we use for hurricanes. In those disasters, she said, officials use the same data and communicate in similar ways. That structure is needed for the virus as well, she said - the equivalent of telling people about the size and windspeed of a storm when talking about the disease outbreak That structure is needed now, so that officials can offer the public the equivalent of the size and windspeed of the disease outbreak.

But given the Houston areas size and complexity  its agglomeration of cities, counties, health authorities, nonprofits, hospitals, businesses, universities and more than 80 school districts  central command and control will not be easy.

There are already signs of crossed wires and differing approaches to release of information. Earlier Wednesday, the Montgomery County Hospital District held a separate press conference announcing the first local transmission case in Texas. But a crucial piece of information about that case  that the man had attended the Houston rodeos barbecue cookoff  was revealed not at the Montgomery County press conference, but by the Houston mayor.

What we really need now are guidelines from the local health departments, said Peter Hotez, one of the worlds leading experts on contagious disease, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and co-director of the Texas Childrens Hospital Center for Vaccine Development.

People need specific advice about what to do, said Hotez. Its clear were not getting it from the White House.

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The U.S. government has been slow to deal with previous outbreaks as well, said Hotez, noting that prior administrations bobbled responses to Ebola and anthrax. But here in Houston and Harris County, we have great local health departments, he said hopefully.

Among the local organizations anxious for guidance Wednesday was the Houston Swing Dance Society, which was trying to decide whether to cancel its annual Great Southwest Lindyfest. The sweaty, skin-contact-filled dance event is expected to draw hundreds of people, some from overseas, to the Houston Marriot Westchase March 19-22.

Canceling the event would cause a major financial hit to the little swing-dance society, said board president Buddy Steves. The group stands to lose tens of thousands in revenue, as well as the money for its hotel reservation. And since its Houston Arts Alliance funding is based on the previous years revenue, canceling this years event could scotch that grant for the coming year.

Opinions in the swing-dance group were divided, Steves said, but he leaned toward canceling the event. The real issue is, its social dancing, he said. When we lead, we use our hands. At the rodeo, you dont touch.
A Lehigh County man with a diaper fetish was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in federal prison for collecting and sharing child pornography.

Ryan Antrim, 29, of Salisbury Township, had more than 100 images and 71 videos of child pornography on his phone, according to a pretrial motion filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Stephan.

Antrim specifically has a fetish with diapers, Stephan wrote. This includes wearing diapers and diapers being depicted in his sexual abuse images. His collection is nothing short of horrifying, containing young babies and toddlers being sexually abused.

Antrim previously pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography, possessing child pornography and three counts of distributing child pornography. He was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith in Easton.

He traded child pornography and discussed it with others between July and November 2017 in private online groups on the messaging app called Kik, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys office.

Sentencing documents filed by defense attorney Kathleen Gaughan were sealed, but a sentencing memorandum filed by Stephan says Gaughan asked for sentencing leniency. Gaughan argued that sentencing guidelines for child pornography are Draconian, not based on empirical evidence, arbitrary and unreasonable. Gaughan didnt return a message seeking comment.

Stephan argued Antrim deserved significant prison time.

Antrim is a dangerous child predator, who masturbates while watching very young children, bound and restrained  while their abuse is documented and shared online for other deviant like-minded men to derive pleasure, she wrote.

In Antrims collection was a photo of a 7-year-old child who was tied up, blindfolded and being sexually abused, court records show.

Distributing sexually explicit videos and photos of young children is reprehensible behavior that demands swift justice, said U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain in a press release. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these types of crimes in order to deter this repulsive behavior and protect children.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (HKG:168).

Over the last twelve months Tsingtao Brewery has recorded a ROE of 9.8%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each HK$1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made HK$0.10 in profit.

View our latest analysis for Tsingtao Brewery

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for ROE is:

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

Or for Tsingtao Brewery:

9.8% = CN2.0b  CN21b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

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

What Does ROE Mean?

ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the yearly profit. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses.

Does Tsingtao Brewery Have A Good ROE?

One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. The limitation of this approach is that some companies are quite different from others, even within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Tsingtao Brewery has a superior ROE than the average (7.3%) company in the Beverage industry.

SEHK:168 Past Revenue and Net Income, March 12th 2020

That is a good sign. In my book, a high ROE almost always warrants a closer look. One data point to check is if insiders have bought shares recently.

Story continues

Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At ROE

Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Combining Tsingtao Brewery's Debt And Its 9.8% Return On Equity

Tsingtao Brewery has a debt to equity ratio of just 0.023, which is very low. The combination of modest debt and a very respectable ROE suggests this is a business worth watching. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities.

In Summary

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

Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. It is important to consider other factors, such as future profit growth -- and how much investment is required going forward. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer 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.

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.
How are communism and Islamism similar? Muslim reformer explains

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland  Speaking on a panel discussion at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference, Muslim reformer Asra Nomani offered her thoughts on the similarities between communism and Islamism as both ideologies try to squash religious freedom.

So when you think of communism, it's an ideology, right? Nomani asked. And so, from my vantage point, there is another ideology that we call Islamism, which is the ideology of political Islam.

So what that means is many of you might have heard of organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood or a lot of the theocracies like in Iran that are running the state. Those are all not just about a religion of Islam, which my parents taught me was how to practice. [It] is about control over people. And that's where I think communism and Islamism are very similar.

Nomani, a founder of the Muslim Reform Movement who made headlines in 2016 when she announced she voted for Republican President Donald Trump despite being a liberal Muslim, was among several panelists who participated in a CPAC breakout session in late February titled Without Religious Freedom, Whats Left?

Joining her on the panel were U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, conservative commentator Todd Starnes, Epoch Times Senior Editor Jan Jekielek and Sander Gerber, a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

With America vs. Socialism being the theme of CPAC 2020, much of the discussion focused on the threat to freedoms posed by communist China as the government has pushed the idea of social transformation to restrict the freedoms of different religious minority groups over the last several decades.

It is deeply disturbing and I think the Chinese are probably the very best in the world at it, Brownback, the former governor of Kansas, said. They have started it in several places. In Christianity, for instance, in China, they want to rewrite the Bible to make it with Chinese characters.

They're also taking crosses down on the front of churches, taking down a picture of Jesus and putting up a picture of Xi Jinping, taking down Scripture from the wall and putting up statements for the Communist Party. And then you gotta sing patriotic songs and not hymns, he added. That sounds like trying to change thinking behavior.

Brownback contended that Chinas war on faith wont work because these sorts of things have been tried throughout human history.

The Kingdom of man has often tried to take over the kingdom of God, he said. Its never worked. It may be successful for a little while: tanks are stronger than somebodys human flesh standing there. But ultimately the Roman Empire switched when they were killing Christians earlier.

Nomani, a former Wall Street Journal reporter born to Sunni Muslim parents in India, said that what Brownback described happening in China is one of the fundamental reasons we shouldn't allow a man to use God to govern our laws of our states.

What is being branded as transformation in China  the ideology of communism  is the law in too many countries, she contended.

For example, if you leave the religion, people can have faith or not have faith in a real free society, she said. But what we face in countries like Bangladesh is attacks on people who leave the faith. The UAE  is now finally making breakthroughs and having relationships with even the State of Israel. But there was a point when all the countries would not even allow a conversation to be had with somebody from Israel because that violated their idea of what the kingdom of God sanctioned them to do as human beings.

To me, that is the most inhumane way to be practicing your faith because you're essentially saying, This human being who is from a nation that you oppose, you will not even give that person the simple respect of recognizing their humanity.

That's fundamentally flawed and that's where I think we can really use our critical thinking to evaluate whether something is transformation or tyranny.

Nomani stated that any transformation that demands people think the same way as ruling leaders is really tyranny.

I think that is how we can tell the difference, Nomani explained.

Starnes, a former Fox News columnist who often writes about domestic religious freedom issues, warned the panel that people also need to keep a pretty close eye on what's happening here [in the U.S.] when it comes to attacks on religious liberty.

You know, just a few days ago, there was a CNN town hall meeting. And Don Lemon asked Mayor Pete Buttigieg about whether or not religious organizations like Christian colleges and charities should lose all federal funding if they discriminate against LGBT Americans, Starnes said.

And Mayor Pete said, Absolutely. You also had former Congressman Robert ORourke from Texas say just last year that churches that discriminate against LGBT should lose all their tax-exempt status.

Starnes stressed that there could be an effort if Democrats were to reclaim control in 2020 to dictate what churches believe in their church houses.

That is absolutely unacceptable here in the United States of America, where we are free to practice our religion without government intrusion and interference, Starnes contended.

He also objected to an effort from Democrats in California to dictate what Christian colleges and universities [teach] regarding doctrine on their campuses.

They wanted to dictate the kinds of people Christian colleges and universities could employ on their campuses, Starnes said.

This is, quite frankly, unconstitutional. The lawmakers, under pressure, brought back that legislation. But, again, when we're looking at what's happening across the world, we need to pay very close attention to what's happening here in this country because religious liberty is under attack. And we have to be diligent.

Gerber told those in attendance about the dangers of the spread of the BDS movement  a Palestinian-led boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israel  in the U.S.

It's spreading like wildfire, Gerber said. And the BDS movement is denying the existence of the Jewish state.

Gerber said the BDS movement misportrays Israel is racist and apartheid.

At [New York University], 51 student groups signed a letter banning two pro-Israel groups from having anything to do with the other student groups, he said. At the University of California, there are Jewish students being excluded from certain activities because they're pro-Israel. It's happening actually across the country.

All of this has been propagated by political Islamic movements that are pushing these falsehoods. So when it comes to the liberal college campuses, it's ended up restricting Jewish students freedoms on those campuses. And that's why President Trump signed the Title VI executive order to force protection.

Although the BDS movement is based in Palestine, Nomani warned that the BDS movement has hubs at American universities like Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where Nomani used to teach.

Money has flowed in from Islamist movements that want to ultimately deny people their fundamental rights and deny Israel's right to exist, Nomani said. They use political issues in America, then claim Islamophobia and then oppress others in their own tyranny.


The Duchess of Sussex's outfits for her final royal engagements were a 'masterclass in revenge dressing', according to Vanity Fair.

Meghan Markle, 38, dazzled in a string of vibrant ensembles as she carried out her final outings as a member of the royal family, including an azure blue Victoria Beckham dress for the Endeavour Fund Awards last Thursday night and a sweeping scarlet Safiyaa gown for the Mountbatten Festival of Music over the weekend.

The looks culminated in a bespoke emerald green dress with caped detailing by Emilia Wickstead as she stepped out in public for the final time on Monday at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

Meghan Markle, 38, dazzled in a string of vibrant ensembles as she carried out her final outings as a member of the royal family, including this scarlet gown by Safiyaa, which she wore to the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall over the weekend

The Duchess's farewell wardrobe, is comparable to Princess Diana's 'revenge dress', pictured, according to Vanity Fair. Princess Diana made headlines when she wore this dress by Christina Stambolian on the same night Prince Charles gave his infamous interview about Camilla

Vanity Fair told how these carefully constructed outfits were designed to show the Royal Family 'what they'll be missing' once Meghan and Harry, 35, give up their royal titles and step back from their duties at the end of the month.

The article reads: 'Over the past few days, Meghans spate of bright, body-hugging, almost-achingly glamorous looks during her and Harrys proverbial farewell tour are a master class in revenge dressingexcept instead of an ex-boyfriend, the entity that should be sad to lose her is the British monarchy.'

The Duchess's farewell wardrobe, which promoted independent labels, women-run brands and big-name British designers, is comparable to Princess Diana's 'revenge dress', the article continues.

'Not since Princess Diana emerged in an iconic black, off-the-shoulder Christina Stambolian cocktail dress and pearl choker on the very same day in June 1994 when her ex-husband, Prince Charles, admitted on national television hed cheated on her, has a royal woman in transition sent such a potent message: youre going to miss me when Im gone.'

The Duchess of Sussex chose outfits that championed British designers and women-led brands. Pictured, in a 950 Victoria Beckham dress at the Endeavour Awards last Thursday

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex carried out a mix of private and public engagements in the UK over the last week.

Many were linked with their patronages and causes close to their hearts.

They are now thought to be back in Canada with their son, Archie, who will celebrate his first birthday in May.

Yesterday the couple shared details of private events they had attended during their most recent stint in the UK, including a meeting with global young leaders in their roles as President and Vice President of the Queen's Commonwealth Trust.

The Duchess also hosted an event at Buckingham Palace in her role as Patron of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
The heads of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, have decided to postpone this year's launch of the ExoMars rover until 2022 due to technical issues.

"This is a very tough decision, but it's, I'm sure, the right one," ESA Director General Jan Worner said in a news conference at ESA's headquarters in Paris today (March 12) after speaking with Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin.

"We agreed together it's better to go for success than just to go for launch at this time," Worner said. "Although we are close to launch readiness we cannot cut corners. Launching this year would mean sacrificing essential remaining tests."

"We have made a difficult but well-weighed decision to postpone the launch to 2022. It is driven primarily by the need to maximise the robustness of all ExoMars systems as well as force majeure circumstances related to exacerbation of the epidemiological situation in Europe which left our experts practically no possibility to proceed with travels to partner industries," Rogozin said in a statement. "I am confident that the steps that we and our European colleagues are taking to ensure mission success will be justified and will unquestionably bring solely positive results for the mission implementation."

Related: Europe's ExoMars missions to Mars in pictures

The ExoMars parachute deployment sequence for the Rosalind Franklin rover. (Image credit: ESA)

Named Rosalind Franklin, the ExoMars rover was scheduled to launch to the Red Planet in July. But Worner said the mission leaders would not have enough time before then to troubleshoot issues related to the parachutes and mission-critical electronic equipment.

"Appreciate @esa and @roscosmos for making the tough decision to postpone @ESA_ExoMars to 2022," NASA's Thomas Zurbuchen, head of the Science Mission Directorate, said in a statement posted to Twitter . "Launching & safely landing a spacecraft on Mars are extremely demanding and require many technologies & systems to function perfectly. Your work is inspiring everyone to do hard things."

The Russian Proton rocket and the European carrier spacecraft are "complete and ready to go," and the rover has demonstrated good performance in its environmental test campaign, Worner said. However, the agency is still waiting for upcoming high-altitude tests of the huge parachutes that are essential to ensure a safe landing for the rover.

Passing these tests would be an especially important milestone for the mission, as previous drop tests of a 50-foot (15 meters) supersonic parachute and a 114-foot (35 m) subsonic parachute both failed in May and August 2019.

An artist's depiction of the European Space Agency's ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin. ESA and Roscosmos have delayed its launch from 2020 to 2022 due to parachute problems. (Image credit: ESA/ATG medialab)

Worner also said that there were bugs found in the descent module's electronic equipment, which is needed to fulfill critical functions, such as depressurization at liftoff, power and thermal control, propulsion and parachute commanding. The equipment had to be returned to suppliers, Worner said, and it will take some time for these fixes to be reintegrated into the spacecraft.

"Due to the troubleshooting of these anomalies at system level, the final version of the flight software has been delayed and there is not enough time to fully test it before a 2020 launch and gain the confidence we need," Worner said.

The rover represents the second phase of the joint ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars mission. The program began in 2016 with the launch of the Trace Gas Orbiter, which is still circling Mars and is in good health, and the Schiaparelli lander, which crashed during its touchdown attempt .

Even if the problems associated with the new lander are worked out in the next few months, the launch would still have to be delayed by more than two years because of the position of Mars relative to Earth. Missions are typically only scheduled when the planets are close enough to use the least amount of fuel for the journey, which lasts about six months. Such alignments last only a few weeks and occur every 26 months. The 2022 launch window is between August and October. Once the rover passes its final tests and is ready, it will be stored in a superclean environment, with periodic awakenings and equipment checking.

A closeup view of a parachute bag containing one of the two test parachutes of the ExoMars mission using a NASA test rig powered by compressed air. The image shows the new configuration of the parachute bag, which releases the parachute from the center outward, with the bag opening in a petal-like fashion. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Worner was supposed to meet with Rogozin in Moscow to decide the fate of ExoMars 2020, but the trip was canceled due to precautions regarding the spread of COVID-19 , forcing the two leaders to teleconference instead. Worner said it's possible that the coronavirus outbreak could have interfered with the launch, regardless of the technical issues, because of the new restrictions on travel.

The Rosalind Franklin rover's landing site will not change with the new launch date. In a dried-up Martian lakebed that's more than 3 billion years old, the rover will search for signs of life, past and present, and collect data that could help resolve Red Planet mysteries, such as what's happening to methane in Mars' atmosphere .

"We have waited for centuries to find out if Mars is something like the early place of life in our solar system," Worner said. "To find an answer to our question, we will have [to have] some more patience for a couple of years."

Follow Megan Gannon @meganigannon. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
Formula 1 can still be exciting even if Lewis Hamilton continues to dominate.

That is the message from former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, even though he admitted to the Dutch broadcaster NOS that he hopes Max Verstappen can challenge in 2020.

"I think there will be some good fighting," said the 89-year-old.

"There's Hamilton and the young guys Verstappen and Leclerc, and also Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull can be fighting. That's what we need."

Ecclestone also thinks 22-year-old Verstappen is finally ready to win a title.

"Max has learned a lot," he said. "Five years ago he was always over the limit, but he's calmer now with a lot more experience. He's now on the limit and that is a big difference."

However, Ecclestone acknowledges that six-time world champion Hamilton must be considered the favourite.

"He is very motivated to win his seventh world title," he said. "But someone who can and will beat him at some point is Max."

Of course, Mercedes could also simply continue to dominate, Ecclestone also admitted.

"That has positive and negative sides," he said.

"It can be boring - 'Mercedes always wins' is what people often think. But it has always been the case that the best car usually wins.

"It's also good that we have someone like Lewis Hamilton. I compare him to Muhammad Ali. People want to be there when these big champions are beaten. Just so they can say they were there," Ecclestone added.

(GMM)
N ew York City mayor Bill de Blasio has declared a state of emergency to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The decision will allow de Blasio to use new powers as the number of confirmed cases rose to 95 cases in the city.

He did not immediately issue new rules but said he supported an announcement by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier on Thursday that banned gatherings of more than 500 people in the state.

"The last 24 hours have been very, very sobering," he told at a news conference. "Literally yesterday morning feels like a long time ago."

The guidelines came into effect at 5pm on Thursday.

Broadway's 41 theatres all have at least 500 seats, most have more than 1,000 / AP

The limit on large gatherings is predicted to hit the city's theatre industry hard, as a main tourist attraction Broadway brought in $1.8 billion last year alone.

Other cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum, the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall, announced they would be suspending visits and performances.

Broadway theatres are expected to suspend performances until at least April 12.

Governor Cuomo said smaller gatherings would be allowed but that venues with 500 occupancy or less would be required to halve the number of people they admit.
Concerns over the coronavirus pandemic have led Western Mass News to cancel the live studio audience and limit visitors for the upcoming Senate primary debate between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy.

The candidates may only bring three guests who must remain in the green room during the Tuesday, March 18, televised debate. Outside media may not attend and protestors and supporters may not gather on the outside sidewalk, according to a statement from Western Mass News. An overflow room for sponsors has also been eliminated.

Western Mass News said it made the decision to change visitor policies because the health and safety of our guests and employees is our utmost concern as we respond to the rapidly changing COVID-19 (coronavirus) developments.

We believe we can still deliver a quality product that reaches voters on multiple platforms while maintaining the safety of all involved, news director Patience Hettrick said in an email.

Kennedy and Markey previously debated on WGBH in February. A third debate will be held in Boston on Aug. 18, respectively. Both the March and August debates will feature Spanish-language translation via Univision stations WUNI Boston and WHTX Springfield.

Markey, 73, was a Congressman for three decades before winning his Senate seat in a special election after John Kerry became Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. He has focused his campaign on a track record of advancing progressive causes along with bipartisan legislation on infrastructure, telecommunications and combating the opioid crisis. Hes garnered support from several major Democrats, his commonwealth colleague and presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren and his progressive Green New Deal partner, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Kennedy, a 39-year-old prosecutor in his fourth term serving the states 4th District, entered the primary in September with a lead in multiple polls and strong fundraising chops. The grandson of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and grand nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, the congressman has pushed against the notion of waiting his turn and campaigned on health care, mental health, climate change, inequality and civil rights. Kennedy, who delivered the Democratic response to Trumps 2018 State of the Union address, has called the fight against the president the fight of my generation.

The protective measures come as state and local governments, and private organizations like the NBA, have canceled events as reported coronavirus cases rise in Massachusetts and throughout the country.

Politico reported that this week, the Massachusetts Democratic Party canceled its remaining state caucuses, where local Democratic committees elect delegates to attend the May state convention. But its possible the party holds virtual caucuses" before the states March 22 deadline.
Asiyah and Jawad Javed are giving away hand sanitiser to people over the age of 65 (SWNS)

Coronavirus

The kindhearted owners of a local shop have started giving away hand sanitiser gel to pensioners in an effort to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

Shopkeeper Asiyah Javed, 34, stocked up on hand gel at a Cash and Carry, before Covid-19 had reached Scotland.

See latest coronavirus news and updates

But on 7 March, she and husband Jawad, 35, decided it was time to help out elderly shoppers.

Customers over the age of 65 can pick up a goody bag containing a facemask, antibacterial hand gel and cleaning wipes at Day Today Express, in Stenhousemuir, Falkirk.

Anyone over the age of 65 can have a free coronavirus health pack (SWNS)

The couple stocked up on hand sanitiser before coronavirus hit Scotland (SWNS)

Elderly and infirm shoppers can also have the bag delivered to them for free.

The act of generosity is costing the business nearly 2,000, as each bag costs 2 to put together and so far 500 have been delivered.

Read more: Greta Thunberg speaks out on coronavirus

Another 300 are ready to be collected in the shop.

Mother-of-three Mrs Javed said: "We have given away 500 bags.

"On Saturday I was out, and I met an old woman, she was crying because she had been to the supermarket and there was no hand wash.

The bags contain a facemask, antibacterial hand gel and cleaning wipes. (SWNS)

"I feel it is not fair on elderly people, some can't get out the house.

"We are delivering 30 packages to a care home where there are 30 people living, and we've got another couple of hundred in the shop.

"Some people are asking for them to be delivered as they're old, or disabled, or don't drive.

"We are just trying to help people who can't get out the house."

She said the gesture had provoked ridicule from some people, adding: "Other shoppers are calling us stupid, and saying 'why are you giving them away for free?'.

"But money is not everything, there will be the opportunity to make money in future.

Elderly and infirm shoppers can also have the bag delivered to them for free. (SWNS)

Mrs Javed said she decided to act after thinking about how her late grandparents would have struggled.

Read more: Denmark becomes latest country to impose coronavirus lockdown

She said: "My grandparents have passed away, but we still think of them when we see all this.

"We spent a lot of time with our grandparents and we feel that if they were alive we wouldn't want them to be struggling.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
Across Europe on Thursday, Americans scrambled to make sense of conflicting messages from Washington about if and when they would be allowed to return to the United States.

They awoke to the news that President Trump had announced a 30-day suspension of most travel from Europe in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days, Mr. Trump said. The travel restrictions would start at midnight Friday, he added.

[Read: Italys coronavirus victims face death alone, with funerals postponed.]

Alex Sarnow of San Diego was one of many Americans alerted by family members in the early morning. My phone started buzzing and ringing off the hook at 3 a.m., said Mr. Sarnow, who was vacationing with his wife in Malta.
Saudi Arabia has decided to temporarily suspend flights to countries currently facing the threat of the spread of COVID19, said a report.



According to an official source at the Ministry of Interior, the kingdom has decided to suspend flights to the European countries, Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia, said a report in Saudi Press Agency.



The source also said that border crossings with Jordan would also be closed, but open for goods and humanitarian and exceptional cases.



Citizens and those with valid residency wishing to return to the kingdom have a 72-hour period to return.



Furthermore, the suspension decision exempts medical workers from India and the Philippines, the report said.
Lodha Developers International Limited on March 12 said that it has repaid Rs 2,550 crore towards redemption of its March 2020 US dollar bonds, along with accrued interest.

The company had to refinance its $324 million (Rs 2,404.4 crore) debt maturing on March 13.

Last week, the company raised $200 million (approximately Rs 1,470 crore) in Senior Secured Notes due 2023 last week, which was managed by JP Morgan, UBS and CLSA. On Monday, the size of the new bond was further increased by $25 million (approximately Rs 180 crore) due to the increased demand from investors, it said.

"We were always confident of being able to meet our $325 million bond repayment obligations and have completed all requirements and payments for the bond to be repaid in full along with accrued interest. Despite the economic slowdown in India which has been further compounded by factors like Coronavirus and the oil price shock, we are pleased that we have successfully completed this obligation, said Abhishek Lodha, MD & CEO, Macrotech Developers Limited.

Last month, realty firm Lodha group's UK subsidiary had raised over $200 million by issuing bonds in Singapore market to refinance part of its outstanding debt, sources said. The issue opened on February 27.

Lodha Developers International, a subsidiary of Mumbai-based Lodha Developers (which has been renamed as Macrotech Developers), had proposed to offer $225 million (around Rs 1,611 crore) aggregate principal of senior secured notes maturing in 2023.

Moody's analysis on Macrotech Developers Limited on March 4 had said that the proposed bond, which would partially settle the March 13 US dollar bond maturity, remains uncertain and subject to condition precent. It had said that the completion of the proposed bond will address immediate refinancing risk but the credit quality will remain weak.

To proceed with its proposed bond transaction, Macrotech Developers Limited must first raise $118 million and deposit the funds in an escrow account. This is a condition precedent for the issuance of the proposed bonds. Funds in the escrow account ($118 million) together with expected proceeds of $225 million from the proposed bond will be used to repay the principal ($324 million) and the interest ($19 million) on MDL's existing backed senior unsecured bonds maturing on March 13, 2020, Moodys Investors Service had said.

"The new bond from Lodha Developers International Ltd will be key for it to refinance its existing $324 million note maturing March 13. The company also needs to meet conditions involving setting aside cash before it can tap the proceeds of the bond. Lodha may fend off its near-term debt maturity, but refinancing risks remain high," said Moodys Investors Service.

Selling the new note is key because Macrotech has no alternate financing arrangements, and if the new issue were derailed or if Lodha were to fail to meet the conditions, it would likely slip into a default, Moodys said. Some of those conditions were unmet as of February 28, Moody's had said.

Lodha group had made a foray into the London market in 2013 with the acquisition of the landmark MacDonald House at 1 Grosvenor Square in prime Central London for over GBP 300 million (Rs 3,100 crore).

Macrotech Developers is India's largest residential real estate developer by sales and construction area.

The company has clocked net new sales of over Rs 7,000 crore in 2018-19 with collections of over Rs 9,000 crore. It delivered over 10,000 offices and homes in FY 18-19.

In the first nine months of 2019-20 fiscal year, sales have reached around Rs 5,000 crore, up 15 per cent from the corresponding period of the previous year.
By Azernews





By Akbar Mammadov

Two more Azerbaijani citizens have been diagnosed with coronavirus infection, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers reported on March 11.

One of the patients is a woman (51) who has returned from Iran. Her condition is moderately-severe. Another person infected with COVID-19 is a student (23) returning from Italy. His condition is stable.

Thus, the total number of persons infected with coronavirus in Azerbaijan reached 12 on March 11.

It should be noted that 15 coronavirus infection cases were recorded in Azerbaijan from 28 February to 11 March. Three of the infected persons have been released after recovering in the special treatment hospitals.

The first COVID-19 case in the country was recorded in a Russian citizen visiting Azerbaijan on February 28.



Meanwhile, 312 Azerbaijani citizens who were placed in quarantine have tested negative for the COVID-19 and released following the medical check-up and laboratory tests, the operational headquarters under the Ministry of Health reported on March 10.

On March 4, the country evacuated 276 of its citizens from neighbouring Iran, which is at the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East. Three of the evacuees tested positive for the infection.

President Aliyev has allocated 10 million manats [$5.8m] to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
Opinion Article

12 March 2020

An extensive study of theft among restaurant workers was conducted recently by three researchers from the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. The results  based on transaction and theft data from 83,153 servers at 1,049 restaurants from 34 chains across 46 states in the U.S. over seven years  are a must-read for restaurant owners, managers and investors regarding theft prevention practices.

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Among the findings:

Restaurant employees who engage in unethical or illegal behavior influence others to participate in similar misconduct. Interestingly, "theft peer effects on new employees are strongest in the first month of employment and disappear after the fifth month." Although servers are more likely to steal when working with high-theft peers, as their peers steal more on any given day, the servers tend to reduce theft accordingly to avoid the threat of detection by point-of-sale software designed to alert managers to the risk of theft. The "costs of employing unethical workers is higher than the direct cost of those workers' misconduct because their behavior spills over into coworkers' actions and amplifies through reflection effects.  An unethical employee may affect many peers simultaneously, who in turn will affect others. It is this contagion or normalization of corruption that can generate astounding levels of misconduct within organizations."

These findings, added to the National Restaurant Association's current estimates that restaurant theft accounts for 4% of restaurant costs make a compelling case that restaurant executives and investors should take a hard look at their current theft-prevention efforts. This is especially true since the industry's average profit margins range from 3% to 5%.

Restaurants have recently become heavily reliant on technology in their fraud and theft prevention efforts. Indeed, inventory management, POS, scheduling and other software systems have made advances in fraud detection. However, such technology is not enough, because two important factors are not considered when relying solely on software for fraud prevention:

First, employees who engage in unethical activity can be clever, learning how to avoid detection by trial and error and from their peers. As noted in the Olin Business School study, restaurant workers learn to respond to the increased threat of detection of higher daily restaurant losses and software alerts by reducing theft accordingly on a particular day.

Second, restaurant managers have a myriad of responsibilities during their shifts and do not have time for real-time monitoring of suspicious activity. Interviews with managers conducted by the Olin researchers showed that "[restaurant managers'] use of and response to the monitoring system varied, although most indicated that they intervened when theft was repeated or substantial."

Intervening when theft is repeated or substantial is too little, too late.

Given this extensive (and expensive) behavior, what are restaurant companies large and small to do to prevent serial theft at their restaurants? Three basic fraud prevention techniques that cost far less than most restaurant software and do not require 24/7 monitoring by managers can be implemented:

Review your onboarding and training materials. Do you have a Code of Ethics and Conduct that every new employee must sign before working their first shift? Or do they simply follow another server or bartender from day one? We now know that the newest employees are the most susceptible to learning unethical behavior. A strong message about the restaurant's desired culture, including what behaviors will not be tolerated, should be sent by the restaurant company's leadership. A thorough review of this code with all employees  front and back of house  should be conducted by a senior manager or member of the human resources team. Give each employee a variety of options for reporting witnessed misconduct or theft as part of the onboarding process and at least annually. The Code of Ethics and Conduct should state this information clearly and unequivocally: not "you CAN report theft to your supervisor," but "you MUST report theft using one of the following reporting options if you do not feel comfortable reporting it directly to your supervisor." It should be clear that an employee who witnesses theft or misconduct and doesn't report it can also be subject to disciplinary action. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners' (ACFE) 2018 Report to the Nation included a section on Occupational Fraud in the Foodservice and Hospitality Industry and noted that one issue specific to the restaurant industry is a lack of a reporting hotline for employees to report their concerns about theft and fraud. An ACFE survey also found that the median loss per case in the industry was $90,000 and lasted 15 months before being detected. Ensure that no issue reported is allowed to fall through the cracks. This means that every hotline report, every complaint shared with HR, and any other reports of unethical or illegal behavior, regardless of how they are communicated to restaurant management, must be addressed swiftly and appropriately. This approach has several benefits. First, there is an opportunity to address a potential issue that could incur significant loss of revenue and possible reputational damage if left unchecked. Second, a swift response to complaints of unethical or illegal behavior sends a message to every employee that the restaurant's leaders are committed to operating in an ethical environment. And third, this "tone at the top" acts as a deterrent to future unethical behavior by providing a solid foundation for the culture that ethical leaders want to develop, inspire and maintain.

These techniques, if properly and consistently implemented, can be most effective in preventing and detecting employee misconduct. They can also help reduce the risk of other misconduct, such as harassment. Anyone who works or has worked in a restaurant knows that nothing goes unnoticed by coworkers on the floor or in the kitchen, so let your employees be your eyes and ears by providing them with a zero-tolerance culture and a safe way to blow the whistle on the "bad apples."

Originally published at Restaurant Dive in November 2019. Published here with updates and permission from author.
By Alexandra Alper and Deborah Bloom WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - The Trump administration was set on Wednesday to discuss new restrictions on travellers 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

By Alexandra Alper and Deborah Bloom

WASHINGTON/SEATTLE (Reuters) - The Trump administration was set on Wednesday to discuss new restrictions on travellers 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 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.

"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."

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.

DISRUPTIONS TO DAILY LIFE

Daily life in the United States has been increasingly disrupted, with concerts and conferences cancelled 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 cancelled 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.

(Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, David Lawder, Andrea Shalal, and Richard Cowan in Washington and Maria Caspani and Michael Erman in New York; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien, Lisa Shumaker and Cynthia Osterman)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Was it necessary for a South Whitehall Township police officer to open fire on an erratic man near Dorney Park?

That question is what a Lehigh County jury is considering in the trial of Jonathan Roselle on a voluntary manslaughter charge in the July 2018 killing of Joseph Santos.

Opening statements were made Thursday morning in the trial, following two days of jury selection. The trial is expected to last until the end of next week.

Santos was a man in crisis, and police officers are trained to identify and deal with people in crisis, Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff Dimmig said. As he spoke, a slide with the words Was it necessary, was on a screen in front of the jury.

Thats a reality in our community, that people in crisis are in contact with police, he said.

For voluntary manslaughter, prosecutors must prove Roselle had the intent to kill, and a key issue of the trial will be use of force by law enforcement.

For an officer to use deadly force, they must know the other person is trying to kill them, Dimmig told the jury. Roselle had other options, including de-escalation, pepper spray, a baton or stun gun, the prosecutor said.

The defendant, acting as a trained police officer, did something that was not necessary, with someone who did not pose a deadly threat, Dimmig said. He killed Joseph Santos, a man who was at all times unarmed and who was in crisis.

Dimmig plans to show video and audio, from Roselles body camera and his dashboard camera, from responding officers and from witnesses. Facebook videos from witnesses both before and during the shooting have been widely circulated.

Its all on HD video, Dimmig said of the officers videos.

The 34-year-old Roselle, who is from Carbon County, has been free on $75,000 unsecured bail since he was charged in August 2018. He no longer works for the South Whitehall police department.

Roselles attorneys have said their client believed at the time there was a genuine threat of harm from Santos. Gavin Holihan told the jury Roselle shot Santos to stop the death or serious bodily injury to other people.

The day of the shooting, Santos, of Paterson, New Jersey, was at Dorney Park with his family. His fiancee previously said he left to get cigarettes.

What followed were reports of an attempted car jacking, and Santos broke a car window with his bare hands and was bleeding when Roselle arrived, Holihan said.

Santos jumped onto Roselles police SUV and pounded on the windshield, covering it with blood, Holihan said. He tried to open the SUV door, and then walked away.

Santos was repeatedly told to stop and get on the ground, which he refused to do, Holihan said.

(Roselle) did what he had to do, the defense attorney told the jury.

Santos began walking toward Roselle, till he was within about 15 to 12 feet of the officer. Before he was shot, Dimmig said Santos told Roselle," Dont do it."

Santos was shot five times by Roselle.

Thursday morning jurors saw video and heard audio of the incident after Santos was shot, from when fellow South Whitehall officer Kevin Smith heard Roselles initial call to when Smith arrived at the scene and started CPR.

Smith, a patrolman at the time, was promoted to sergeant.

In the video, Smith races from near Route 309 to Dorney Park, and on the way hears the call for shots fired.

Smith drives up, and Santos is seen lying face down on Hamilton Boulevard/Route 22 near the back left side of Roselles police SUV.

He wouldnt stop, man, Roselle tells Smith in the video.

What did he have? Smith asks, referring to Santos possibly having a weapon. Santos was unarmed.

Santos is turned over, his bloody face on screen, as Smith begins giving commands to do CPR, when Roselle says Hes done.

The officers put on gloves, and Smith does CPR while Roselle grabs an automated defibrillator. It is a clear, sunny day and traffic can be seen passing in both directions on Hamilton Boulevard.

He just kept coming at me, Roselle says before the video ended.

Santos family, who have been in the courtroom audience, sobbed as soon as Santos body was visible in the video, their crying sometimes the only sound in the courtroom.

The jury is expected to see the entirety of Roselles body camera footage after lunch.

Seats for the trial are at a premium - first come, first served for spectators and the media. One woman Thursday morning who said she was saving a seat for an attorney was told she could not do so, and he would need to wait in line like everyone else.

The courthouse has also ramped up its response to the coronavirus. There are more hand sanitizers and tissues in the courtrooms, and on Thursday an employee with a dolly of disinfectant spray and wipes was making his way through the courtrooms, dropping off supplies.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email her. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (March 12, 2020) committed yet another faux pas when he called himself ''the Leader of Opposition'' and referred to Yes Bank as Axis Bank while sharing his concerns on the current monetary crisis with the former. I am the leader of the Opposition, I am bringing the attention of people of India to a very serious problem. The central problem is that our biggest strength which was our economy has now become a huge weakness, Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a press conference here.

It may be noted that Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, who is the Member of Parliament from Berhampore, West Bengal, is currently serving as the Leader of Indian National Congress in the 17th Lok Sabha.

The Gandhi scion also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over his handling of the economy and the Coronavirus outbreak, claiming that there is no preparation regarding the deadly virus.

"There is no preparation with respect to Coronavirus. The Indian government is sleeping. They do not realise that coronavirus is spreading in this country. And it is going to have devastating consequences. Our Prime Minister is sleeping," Rahul said.

Slamming the PM Modi over the present condition of the economy, Rahul urged him to speak to the country regarding the same.

Everyone can see the state of the economy. India's strength was its economy, Narendra Modi's ideology and policies have destroyed it. The problem of Coronavirus is very serious but the government has not taken action the way it should have, Rahul said.

Attacking the government further, Rahul alleged that PM Narendra Modi is "sleeping at the wheel".

On the current state of the economy, Rahul said it is just the beginning of a "Tsunami" and things would be worse going forward. "We can see what is happening to stock market. The economy has been destroyed by the Modi government," Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.

"What we have seen is only the beginning of a Tsunami, things will be worse," he said.

The Prime minister is not speaking a word on the economy and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman does not understand the economy, the former Congress chief alleged.

He also said that coronavirus is seriously affecting the economy and it is already too late, but the government should take measures to minimise damage.

During his press conference, he also mistakenly referred to Yes Bank as Axis Bank while expressing his concerns regarding the former.

Shifting his focus to his former party colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia, Rahul said that he abandoned his ideology and "went with RSS" because he was "worried about his political future".

Speaking to reporters, Rahul said, "This is a fight of ideologies. On one side is Congress and on other side is BJP-RSS. I know Jyotiraditya Scindia`s ideology, he was with me in college, I know him well. He got worried about his political future, abandoned his ideology and went with RSS. But the reality is that he won`t get respect there. What he is saying and what is in his heart is different."

When asked why he`s not sending his core team members to Rajya Sabha, the Congress leader said, "I am not Congress President, I am not taking decisions on Rajya Sabha nominees. I am informing the youth of the country about the economy. Who is in my team, who is not in my team is irrelevant. Millions and millions of people in India are going to suffer like they have not suffered before."

Scindia was formally inducted into the BJP fold on Wednesday. Earlier, he had resigned from Congress party.
LAKE CITY, FL -- The president of Florida Gateway College in Lake City has issued a statement concerning the worldwide Coronavirus outbreak.



"Florida Gateway College continues to closely monitor the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The health and safety of our students is our highest priority as college leadership work closely with local, state and federal agencies to share the most updated information. We will continue to update this website as changes occur and notify our students and faculty/staff through our protocols.

As we near a much-anticipated spring break, we know many of our students and faculty/staff are planning to travel for rest, relaxation or recreation. Travel is currently prohibited by the U.S. government to any countries at a Level 3 or Level 4 risk assessment. As of today, these include China, Italy, Iran and South Korea. However, the situation with the COVID-19 coronavirus is fluid; any country could become a Level 3 country at any time, including while you are visiting. If that should occur while you are in the country, understand that:

You could find it difficult to access health care services or to acquire health-related supplies.

You could find it difficult to secure transportation out of the country.

You could be subject to local quarantine in the country you are visiting.

You could be subject to U.S. quarantine upon your return.

You could be asked to self-isolate before returning to campus.

For health related information please refer to the following resources for up-to-date information, and use your best judgment before traveling:

Stay safe and healthy over the Spring Break and I will see each of you back on campus on Monday, March 23, 2020.

President Barrett"

For more info, visit https://www.fgc.edu/
China has managed to ensure peoples wellbeing while making all-out efforts to fight the COVID-19 outbreak, as the Chinese government has always made the safety and health of the people its top priority.

People buy vegetables in a supermarket in Changchun, Jilin province. (Photo/Xinhua)

Since the epidemic began, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee has adopted a specific plan to ensure the supply of staple and non-staple foods, while local governments have found workable means to ensure the supply of daily necessities for residents.

Wei Bangqing, a vegetable grower from Xingbin district, Laibin, south Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has been extremely busy this month as a result of the district opening up a green channel. This channel allows vegetable dealers to drive their vehicles to farms after reporting and disinfection to purchase farm produce, and then directly distribute them to communities. Thanks to this measure, Wei is able to deliver 3,000 to 4,000 kg of vegetables to rural areas every day.

In east Chinas Jiangxi province, e-commerce platforms have sold over 3.3 million orders of unsold agricultural products in half a month, including vegetables, oranges and mushrooms, while Beijing has adopted measures to ensure that every family can buy pork.

According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, the wholesale price of grain, edible oil, vegetable, eggs and pork at 100 large farm product wholesale markets across the country dropped to varying degrees on March 4 compared to the end of January.

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com and express delivery giant SF Express operated normally during the Spring Festival holiday, meeting the demand for last mile delivery services.

In addition, China has rolled out measures to bring about stable employment and ensure enterprises can successfully resume production.

Working together with enterprises, human resources and social security departments across the country have sent over 800,000 migrant workers back to their posts through point-to-point transportation using chartered buses, planes and trains.

As of March 1, over 90 percent of large industrial enterprises in 11 provinces had resumed production. By the end of February, 80.6 percent of 2,552 foreign trade companies had resumed work.

The country has also released policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises in their drive to resume work and production, including the easing of value-added tax and social security payments.

With life now gradually returning to normal, and consumption, investment, as well as imports and exports gradually rebounding, China is able to further improve peoples wellbeing, said Chi Fulin, head of the China (Hainan) Institute for Reform and Development.
The return-to-work (RTW) rate for employees in the Texas workers compensation system who received temporary income benefits (TIBs) for their injuries increased by 5% over the decade from 2007 to 2017.

Thats the finding of a report recently released by the Workers Compensation Research and Evaluation Group at the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation.

Using quarterly employee wage information from the Texas Workforce Commission, the report  Return to Work in the Texas Workers Compensation System, March 2020  analyzes the percentage of injured employees who initially return to work after their injury; the percentage who remain at work; and the average days away from work.

Both initial RTW and sustained RTW outcomes were studied.

Initial RTW is the percentage of injured employees who returned to work for the first time after their injury. Sustained RTW is the percentage of injured employees who returned to work and remained at work for three consecutive quarters (nine months) after their injury.

Key findings of the report include:

Initial RTW

More injured employees are returning to work in Texas. The initial RTW rate steadily increased for injured employees in Texas between injury years 2007-2017  from 78 percent of injured employees returning to work within six months post-injury in 2007 to almost 83 percent returning to work in 2017.

About nine out of 10 injured employees return to work within one year of their injury, and about 95 percent of injured employees return to work within three years of their injury.

Injured employees who receive impairment income benefits (IIBs) have lower initial RTW rates than other types of income benefit recipients. Injured employees who receive IIBs have more severe injuries than TIBs recipients.

Large employers have the highest initial RTW rates within six months post-injury, averaging at roughly 82 percent. Larger employers tend to have more robust RTW programs than smaller employers.

Initial RTW rates differ by industry sector. Public administration has the consistently highest initial RTW rates within six months post-injury at an average of roughly 87 percent. Employees in the mining/utilities/construction and agriculture sector have, on average, the lowest initial RTW rate at roughly 75 percent. Almost all sectors, except arts and accommodation, saw improvements in initial RTW rates over the decade.

Sustained RTW

Almost two thirds of injured employees who return to work within six months post-injury remain at work in Texas.

The sustained RTW rate focuses on injury years 2007-2016. More injured employees who RTW are remaining at work in Texas. In 2016, almost two-thirds (65 percent) of injured employees who went back to work within six months post-injury remained at work for at least three consecutive quarters, compared to about 60 percent in 2007. The sustained RTW rate has increased over time for all claim maturity levels.

Injured employees who receive IIBs also have lower sustained RTW rates than other types of income benefit recipients. The average sustained RTW rate for TIB recipients within six months post-injury was the highest among the three benefit types at roughly 62 percent (see Figure 2.2).

Injured employees who work for larger employers have the highest sustained RTW rates. More than two-thirds of injured employees working for large employers who return to work within six months post-injury remain at work.

Injured employees who work in public administration also have the highest sustained RTW rates. The industry with the lowest sustained RTW rates at six months post-injury was agriculture at roughly 56 percent.

Wage Recovery

Those returning to work within six months of injury, on average, show a recovery to pre-injury wage levels in about two years.

Days Away

Injured employees who return to work within six months of injury have the fewest days away from work.

Overall, the median days away from work is slightly lower in 2017 (24 days) than it was in 2007 (27 days), which means less lost income for injured employees and fewer disruptions to employer productivity. The mean days away from work shows a stable overall trend at roughly 42 days.

Older injured employees tend to be away from work longer than younger injured employees. Injured employees who are 60 and over have, on average, 10 more days away from work than employees who are 16-29 years old.

Employees with more severe injuries, as measured by an injured employees impairment rating, tend to be off work longer than employees with less severe injuries. Generally, the number of days away from work after injury increases as the employees impairment rating increases.

Employees in the mining/utilities/construction and agriculture industries experienced the highest average and median number of days away from work.

Conrado Garza managed the project, analyzed the data, and authored the report. DC Campbell, Amy Lee, Botao Shi, and Dr. Soon-Yong Choi contributed valuable editorial comments. The full report is available online at: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/regulation/roc/rtw2020.html.

Source: Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation

Topics Trends Texas Workers' Compensation Agribusiness Pricing Trends
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France now has 2,281 confirmed coronavirus infection cases -- nearly 500 more than a day before, with 48 deaths and 105 patients hospitalized in intensive care, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday evening.

"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.

"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.




Iran asks financial support from IMF to curb coronavirus

Iranian Foreign Minister said that the country's central bank is seeking IMF's support immediately.

Iran on Thursday sought financial support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to curb the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

"STAND ON RIGHT SIDE"

In a Twitter post, Javad Zarif recalled that IMFs Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated that countries affected by the coronavirus will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument.

Our Central Bank requested access to this facility immediately," the minister said, calling on IMF to "adhere to Fund's mandate, stand on right side of history and act responsibly."

On March 4, the IMF announced allocating about $50 billion through its rapid-disbursing emergency financing facilities to help countries with low income and emerging markets address the coronavirus.
March 11 (Reuters) - The mayor of Omaha, Nebraska said on Wednesday that Warren Buffett would prefer to wait until one month before Berkshire Hathaway Inc's annual shareholder weekend to decide whether to change its plans because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking at a news conference, Mayor Jean Stothert said she spoke with Buffett on Monday, and he expressed a preference to wait until April 1 to decide on plans for the May 1-3 weekend, including the meeting on May 2.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
BLENHEIM  Everyone who was in North Blenheim on March 13, 1990 remembers that horrible morning.

Anne Mattice-Strauch was a sixth-grader on the school bus. When we went through town, I remember how foggy it was, she said. That fog turned out to be propane gas leaking from a broken pipeline that exploded and incinerated a good part of this Schoharie County village, just minutes after Mattice-Strauchs bus passed through.

Liz Arrandale was in sight of the blast when the windowpanes on her familys 1820 farmhouse cracked. Her husband peered out the window. He said the whole hill is on fire. Both she and her husband were fire department volunteers so they rushed to the firehouse, knowing they had to get to work.

Friday marks the 30th anniversary of the blast. And while its an indelible part of the communitys history, the controversy over pipelines in this area has continued unabated.

Instead of debates over safety, however, the fights have been between oil and gas firms that want to run new pipelines through the area and environmentalists who want to halt any new use of fossil fuels due to worries about climate change.

Robert Connors, a co-founder of the Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline group, didnt live in New York in 1990 and he hadnt heard of the Blenheim explosion. But he has been involved in opposing new lines over worries about carbon use. In 2016 the Kinder Morgan company dropped plans for a $3.3 billion pipeline that would have cut through part of Schoharie County on its way to New England. The project was shut down amid a lack of customers and heavy opposition by environmentalists.

And in February, the Williams Companies dropped plans for the Constitution Pipeline, which would have run from Pennsylvania to Schoharie County.

Unlike Blenheim, the two abandoned projects would have transported natural gas rather than propane. And since 1990, the development of hydrofracking technology, where fossil fuels are squeezed under high pressure from underground shale formations, has created a boom in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Constitution line would have transported that fracked gas to points east. But environmentalists like Connors believe that needs to end in order to speed the switch to renewables like solar and wind power.

Our opposition is mostly environmental, Connors said. The group is also battling plans by the National Grid utility company to build a 7-mile gas line between Albany and Rensselaer counties under the Hudson River.

Moreover, many of todays climate activists are college and high school students who worry about global warming more than fire hazards.

They may oppose gas lines, but the Blenheim blast was years before they were born. And they may know of Schoharie County through other disasters, the flooding that swept through there during Hurricanes Irene in 2011.

The connection between fossil fuel use and climate change and storms like Irene isn't lost on people like Mattice-Strauch and Arrandale, but the blast will remain foremost in their minds on Friday.

Mattice-Strauch recalls how as they approached the Gilboa-Conesville school, her school bus driver, Adelbert Vroman, heard on their two-way radio that the town was on fire. They initially thought the creamery that was in the village was burning. As she entered the school, Mattice-Strauch saw a classmate running down the hall in tears yelling that Bobby has been burned real bad. That was volunteer fireman Robert Hitchcock, who with contractor Richard Smith, turned out to be the two fatalities that day. They had stopped in the village to determine where the fog, which they realized was gas, was coming from. The school kids gathered around TV sets in the classroom and watched the tragedy unfold as Albany news crews had rushed to the scene.

As that was happening, Arrandale left the firehouse and was driving the badly-burned Hitchcock toward the nearest hospital in Cobleskill.

Her husband, who worked at the Blenheim-Gilboa dam/power plant complex, had safety training and he told Arrandale to wrap Hitchcock up in a blanket and keep the windows up. She was racing toward Cobleskill when they finally spotted an ambulance coming their way  she almost had a head-on collision trying to get the ambulance to stop since they didnt realize she was transporting one of the burn victims. Her daughter Rita May was on the same bus that Mattice-Strauch was on and she hadnt gotten word yet as to whether the kids were alright.

Gail Shaffer was New York secretary of state at the time and was driving to work in Albany when she heard about the explosion on the car radio.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

As soon as she got to Albany, she grabbed the state fire administrator, who worked in her office, and they started heading back to Blenheim. We put the siren on and drove immediately to the scene, said Shaffer whose family has a farm in Blenheim. The village itself was like a war zone. The whole western half of the village was like it was hit with a flamethrower, Shaffer said.

Investigators after the blast found that workers had improperly prepared the ground under the pipe during a repair which caused the leak.

Since then, the pipeline has changed hands from Texas Eastern to the Enterprise company. And there have been extensive developments in pipeline monitoring and safety, such as devices that actually travel through the lines to detect leaks and corrosion.

The National Petroleum Institute, a trade group that includes pipeline companies, noted that it has issued over 70 standards or guidance documents for pipeline safety since 1990.

Still, Mattice-Strauch to this day doesnt like to use propane  she cooks and heats her water with electricity and their home is heated with an oil system.

And Arrandale says she gets rattled when the bi-monthly flood alarm goes off as a practice drill in the village. The alarm is a steady reminder of the flood problems this area has had beyond Irene.

Its not a happy memory, she said of that day 30 years ago.

rkarlin@timesunion.com  518-454-5758  @RickKarlinTU
A District Reserve Guard jawan was



killed by suspected Naxals in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, a police official said on Thursday.

The body of assistant constable Kadti Kanna was found near his village Argatta under Dornapal police station area on Thursday morning, the official said.

On Wednesday evening, Kanna accompanied his wife, who is a ward panch in Argatta village panchayat, for a gram sabha meeting in the village during which a group of men, dressed as villagers, took him along with them, he said.

His body bearing injury marks of sharp-edged weapons was found in the adjoining forest in the morning, he said.

After being alerted by some locals, a police team rushed to the spot.

"Prima facie, it seems to be the handiwork of Maoists," the official said.

Search operation has been launched in the area to trace the assailants, he added.

The District Reserve Guard (DRG) is a specialised anti-Naxal unit of the state police.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran urges JCPOA parties to save accord, restore balance between rights and duties

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 5:55 PM

A senior Iranian diplomat has underlined the need for the remaining parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to save the historic agreement by restoring balance between their rights and duties and keeping their side of the bargain.

Iran's permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharib-Abadi made the remarks as he addressed a meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the latest report by the IAEA chief on Iran's compliance with the landmark nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

He blamed the US' withdrawal from the nuclear agreement for the challenges facing the deal.

While the root cause of the current situation is the unilateral withdrawal of the US from the deal and threatening countries, companies and banks who are willing to work with Iran with punishment, he said, "One shall not ignore the responsibility of the remaining parties. They should learn the necessary lessons and build upon the past experience to offset the damage incurred and level up again the ground for further continuation of the deal."

Therefore, it is essential to restore the lost balance between the rights and responsibilities of all signatories, which are enshrined in the JCPOA, he added.

The future of the JCPOA has been in limbo since the US' unilateral withdrawal from the accord in 2018 and Washington's re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran.

Iran gradually reduced its commitments to the accord in retaliation for the US move, but stressed that the measures were reversible upon effective implementation of reciprocal obligations by the other parties.

The Iranian diplomat took swipe at the European parties to the JCPOA for commenting that Iran's nuclear measures carried out in retaliation for the US acts are irreversible, asking them,"Is the damage incurred on Iran due to the sanctions and the Europeans' inaction reversible? Are they ready to make up for billions of euros in loss which Iran has sustained in different sectors and which are the outcome of the US administration's illegal measures?"

Gharib-Abadi also pointed to the "inhuman" sanctions imposed on the country by the US, saying the bans have "directly targeted the lives of the ordinary people, including by preventing provision of medicine to the people in need."

"Imposition of restrictions or sanctions of any kind on the provision of medicines, especially in this critical situation when the whole world, including Iran, is encountering coronavirus, is a clear violation of the right to health and the right to life," he noted.

He said that contrary to the US, the Islamic Republic of Iran's approach in the past four years is "clear evidence of its determination to implement the commitments under the deal, and proves its ardent willingness to find a rational and practical solution" to the issues facing the deal.

'Iran only obliged to answer technical, legal questions'

In separate comments on Wednesday on the IAEA's latest report, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Iran is not supposed to answer any IAEA questions that have no technical or legal grounds.

Mousavi said the IAEA should maintain its credibility and not be swayed by baseless allegations and political machinations of certain regimes.

"Iran is working with the Agency within a clear framework. The Agency needs to maintain its credibility and not pursue any allegation raised by anyone or a fake regime," he said.

The remarks came two days after the IAEA chief again confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments as per the JCPOA but repeated his past claim that Iran has been barring the Agency's access to two out of three locations about which "the agency has identified a number of questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities."

"To date, the agency has not observed any changes to Iran's implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA in connection with this announcement, or in the level of cooperation by Iran in relation to agency verification and monitoring activities under the JCPOA," Rafael Mariano Grossi said while addressing the IAEA's Board of Governors on Monday.

He, however, said the "agency sought access to two of the locations. Iran has not provided access to these locations and has not engaged in substantive discussions to clarify the Agency's questions."

Iran argues that the IAEA's concerns about those sites, which have nothing to do with the country's nuclear program, emanate from false reports provided to the nuclear agency by Israeli spy agencies, as a result of which the country is under no obligation to address those concerns.

Last Thursday, Iran said it will not allow Israeli allegations, which Tel Aviv claims are rooted in findings of a so-called secret operation, to form the basis of the Islamic Republic's cooperation with the United Nations nuclear agency.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that merely forwarding some papers based on the Intelligence Services' fabricated information is not consistent with the Agency's Statute, Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and the Additional Protocol," Iran's mission to the IAEA said.

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Beijing, March 12 : Efforts to develop a vaccine were underway in China in partnership with researchers from other countries, with work focusing on five main types, a media report said on Thursday.

As of Thursday, the overall coronavirus death toll in the Chinese mainland was 3,169, with a total of 80,793 cases. Globally, there were 123,825 confirmed cases, with 4,620 fatalities.

Wu Yuanbin, the head of the bureau of social development at the Ministry of Science and Technology, told the media last week that the situation in China has improved, though the epidemic was gaining momentum in other countries, the China Daily said in the report.

"The virus knows no borders, and since the outbreak began, it has become a global concern," Wu said. "As the epidemic is worsening in some countries, it is more important now than ever for the international community to strengthen scientific cooperation." Zheng Zhongwei, director of the Development Center for Medical Science and Technology of the National Health Commission, said that China has nine ongoing research projects on vaccine development, and some will hopefully enter clinical trials in April.

The main types of vaccine that China is working on include inactivated, nucleic acid-based and vector vaccines.

The US biotech company Inovio Pharmaceuticals and its partner Beijing Advaccine Biotechnology are developing a "DNA vaccine" called INO-4800, the China Daily said in the report.

This nucleic acid-based vaccine is in preclinical trial and involves directly injecting genetic material into a person to trigger a strong immune response.

In January, US biotech company GeoVax partnered with Chinese vaccine developer BravoVax to develop a vector vaccine, which uses a weakened virus to transport pieces of the pathogen into the human body. This vaccine is also in pre-clinical trial.

As for drug development, Chinese scientists have expanded clinical trials for favipiravir, a Japanese antiviral drug that showed promise against the virus in clinical trials in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, according to the China Daily.

The expanded trials would cover patients in Wuhan, said Sun Yanrong, deputy director of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development.

Tocilizumab, a drug that suppresses over-reactions of the immune system, has recently been added to the treatment and diagnosis guideline of the National Health Commission, she added.

The Swiss-made anti-inflammation drug helps to inhibit a deadly medical condition called a cytokine storm-an overproduction of immune cells that damages healthy tissues-which is also one of the main causes of death for critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Sun said around 270 severely ill patients were being treated with tocilizumab.

Cao Bin, the head of clinical trials for the antiviral medicine remdesivir in China, said last week that the experimental US drug had been administered to more than 230 severely ill patients, but their results would take time to collect and analyze.

Remdesivir, developed by US biotech company Gilead Sciences, is not currently approved for any indication globally, but clinical trials in China, the US and other countries with high numbers of diagnosed cases are being conducted to test its efficacy against COVID-19, the drug maker said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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WeWork founder Adam Neumann has sold his luxury Hamptons getaway for $1.25million, just months after he was ousted from the firm amid a failed IPO attempt and claims of his erratic behavior.

The eccentric co-founder of the global co-working firm parted ways with the Water Mill farmhouse, based in the Hamptons, New York, in a secret deal last month.

Neumann has taken a hit from the property, losing around $500,000 in the sale after it went for $1.25 million, significantly less than the $1.7 million he bought it for back in December 2012.

An aerial view of the Water Mill farmhouse, based in the Hamptons, New York, which WeWork founder Adam Neumann sold for $1.25million last month

The luxury Hamptons hideaway boasts a large heated swimming pool and small cottage, a previous listing shows

A Google Earth image shows the luxury Hamptons getaway which Neumann sold in a secret deal last month

The entrepreneur appears to be frantically offloading his real estate portfolio, after he also put his luxury Manhattan home on the market in February.

Reports are circling that his wealth has plummeted after he stepped down from WeWork back in September amid allegations that he had cashed out more than $700 million from the company shortly before the IPO and subjected staff to his eccentricities including trying to become immortal.

Details of the deal on his Hamptons property were kept under wraps, with a listing never hitting the open market.

The sale comes just months after Neumann (pictured) was ousted from the firm amid a failed IPO attempt and claims of his erratic behavior

The mystery millionaire buyer is said to be a limited liability company, Mansion Global reported.

It's easy to see what first drew the entrepreneur to the hideaway, with an aerial shot of the retreat revealing a large heated swimming pool and the sprawling home surrounded by trees and woods, offering some privacy for the billionaire set.

A previous listing on Zillow.com describes the farmhouse as 'just the right fit for those in search of seclusion and tranquility yet with easy convenience to villages and ocean beaches'.

The entrepreneur appears to be frantically offloading his real estate portfolio, after he also put his luxury Manhattan home on the market in February. The entrance hall is pictured in an old listing

The property seems to boast a large dining room leading onto the sprawling 1.42 acre lot

A bedroom in the property seen in an old listing: Neumann has taken a hit from the property, losing around $500,000 in the sale after it went for $1.25 million, significantly less than the $1.7 million he bought it for back in December 2012

Another of the four bedrooms in the old listing: Details of the deal on his Hamptons property were kept under wraps, with a listing never hitting the open market

Built in 1994, the property is said to boast a 1.42 acre lot, four bedrooms, a large vaulted sky-lit kitchen with informal dining area and fireplace, open living and dining rooms, secluded den and 3 full bathrooms.

Then there's the breathtaking views overlooking 170 acres of agricultural reserves and scenic easements and an adorable guest cottage.

It is not clear to what extent Neumann and his wife Rebekah, 42, have revamped the property during their seven-year ownership.

The images of the previous listing show traditional, old-fashioned decor (including the traditional farmhouse-style kitchen above) - a far cry from the minimalist, modern spaces that WeWork has become synonymous with

A previous listing on Zillow.com describes the farmhouse as 'just the right fit for those in search of seclusion and tranquility yet with easy convenience to villages and ocean beaches'

Built in 1994, when the Neumanns bought the property it boasted a 1.42 acre lot, four bedrooms, a large vaulted sky-lit kitchen with informal dining area and fireplace, open living and dining rooms, secluded den and three full bathrooms

Another bedroom pictured in the old listing reveals old hardwood floors. The mystery millionaire buyer is said to be a limited liability company

It is not clear to what extent Neumann and his wife Rebekah, 42, have revamped the property (from the above images) during their seven-year ownership

However, the images of the previous listing show traditional, old-fashioned decor - a far cry from the minimalist, modern spaces that WeWork has become synonymous with.

The Neumanns are also no stranger to extensive renovations after they completely redesigned their apartment in Manhattan's elite Gramercy neighborhood.

The couple bought four apartments in the 1920s condo building, including its penthouse, in 2017 and have merged them into a massive three-story apartment.

It's easy to see what first drew the entrepreneur to the hideaway, with a large heated swimming pool and the sprawling home surrounded by trees and woods, offering some privacy for the billionaire set

Then there's the breathtaking views overlooking 170 acres of agricultural reserves and scenic easements and an adorable guest cottage

Neumann's offloading of his real estate comes after he has faced something of a fall from grace in recent months and his wealth is reported to have plummeted

This property is now also on the market for $37.5 million with real estate agent Nick Gavin of Compass.

Neumann's offloading of his real estate comes after he has faced something of a fall from grace in recent months and his wealth is reported to have plummeted.

The entrepreneur co-founded WeWork along with wife Rebekah and Miguel McKelvey in 2010, and in less than a decade the co-working firm had become the most valuable start-up in the US.

The large living room at the property boasted floor to ceiling windows and wooden floors when Neumann bought the property

The entrepreneur co-founded WeWork along with wife Rebekah and Miguel McKelvey in 2010, and in less than a decade the co-working firm had become the most valuable start-up in the US

Reports are circling that his wealth has plummeted after he stepped down from WeWork back in September amid allegations that he had cashed out more than $700 million from the company shortly before the IPO and subjected staff to his eccentricities including trying to become immortal

A hammock among the trees offers a relaxing break - the perfect getaway from the chaos of New York where WeWork is headquartered

The home also featured a small but adorable cottage - matching the exterior of the main home - in the grounds for guests to stay in

But Neumann's reign started to unravel last year when he filed the company's hotly-anticipated IPO paperwork.

Reports then surfaced that Neumann had cashed $700 million out of the company shortly before the IPO and employees spoke of his eccentric behavior - including smoking marijuana on private jets and trying to become immortal.

This saw the companys value plummeted to less than $8billion from $47billion.

IPO plans were shelved and Neumann stepped down as CEO in September, amid claims the board was planning to oust him.

Hurun Global Rich List said that Neumanns wealth had plunged by 80% or $100 million each week between January 2019 and January 2020.

Neumann has also put his apartment (above) in Manhattan's elite Gramercy neighborhood on the market for $37.5 million

Neumann and his wife Rebekah completely redesigned the space (above). They bought four apartments in the 1920s condo building, including its penthouse, in 2017 and have merged them into a massive three-story apartment
All kinds of leaked reports have been coming out about Vivo's new smartphone Vivo V19. Recently Vivo V19 smartphone has been launched in Indonesia. But Vivo V19 will be introduced in Malaysia with many changes and only the variant of Malaysia is going to be launched in India. A promo video has also been shared from Vivo's Malaysia Twitter handle.

According to the leaked report, Vivo V19 will be introduced in India with the iVue display. Apart from this, Vivo V19 will have a dual punchhole selfie camera. Apart from this, it is also being said that Vivo V19 is to be launched in two color variants which include pink and blue color variants. Apart from this, Vivo's phone will get Qualcomm's Snapdragon 730G processor and the phone will be launched in 8 GB RAM and 128 GB stores. A 6.44 inch full HD Super AMOLED display can be found in the phone.

Change the way you see at night. Its coming.#V19 pic.twitter.com/vLE718CZE3  Vivo Malaysia (@vivo_malaysia) March 9, 2020





Talking about the camera, then there will be a quad-camera setup on the rear panel of the phone, out of which the main camera will be 48 megapixels, the second 8 megapixels, the third 2 megapixels and the fourth will also be 2 megapixels. This phone will get a 4500mAh battery which will support dual engine fast charging.

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Before prison, John Adkins, 43, didnt care about politics. He watched the news regularly but said he mostly wanted to see reports about the ongoing gang violence in Southwest Detroit, where he lived. Now, after 23 years in a Michigan prison for murder, Adkins is an ardent Republican and supporter of Donald Trump.

He credits conservative media for his political education. In prison, Adkins began watching the news again but soon grew sick of the demonization of straight, white, Christian men on CNN and MSNBC and just about all mainstream media, he wrote, using the email system at Macomb Correctional Facility, where he is incarcerated. So he found himself drawn to right-wing shows such as The OReilly Factor and Tucker Carlson Tonight. The hosts positions on key issues such as abortion (against) and gay marriage (also against) won him over. But above all, Adkins says, he identifies as a conservative because he feels under attack by the left.

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I am so tired of the double-standard of the left in the country, Adkins wrote in a letter. Their rhetoric is what is divisive in this country, not Donald J. Trumps!

It is widely believed that the majority of people in prison are Democratsand some Republicans who oppose restoring voting rights for released prisoners have expressed fears that they would vote Democratic. Black people, who consistently favor Democrats, are in fact overrepresented in prisons. Although white people are 64 percent of the total population, they only account for 39 percent of people in state prisons.

In a first-of-its-kind political survey of the incarcerated, the Marshall Project and Slate found that a significant share of white respondents called themselves Republicans and would vote to reelect Trump in 2020if given the chance. Forty-five percent of white respondents backed Trump, about 30 percent picked among Democratic candidates, and the remaining 25 percent said they did not know or would not vote.

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The survey is the most comprehensive snapshot of currently incarcerated peoples politics to date, but it has limitations. Respondents skewed whiter than the overall prison population, and many respondents are incarcerated in red states. As a result, it is not representative of the overall prison population. Instead of only focusing on the respondents as a whole, we looked for trends across race, gender, and other demographic differences to ensure our reported results were meaningful.

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Inside prison, reasons for supporting Trump vary. Some of the reasons reflect the particular circumstances of prison life: Most prisoners share a cell, making it difficult to tune out conservative cellmates or right-wing media, or to even control which channel is on. Prisons are also notoriously segregated and can be a breeding ground for white nationalists.

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Others are ideological: Some respondents are attracted to Trumps tell-it-like-it-is personality and feel targeted by what they call political correctness on the left. And some are drawn to his policies, citing the presidents record on criminal justice and the economy.

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Many survey respondents said they now spend significantly more time consuming news and following politics than they ever did before they entered prison. Some credited their political development to listening to Rush Limbaugh on a personal radio or watching Fox News on a shared television.

Christopher Shelton-Jenkins, 27, picked up his political views from a Trump-supporting cellmate. They would often discuss the news or the legal cases his cellmate had reviewed in his work at the prison law library. I remember he talked about the Democrat and Republican stances on the wall on the borderthat Democrats wanted to be all open arms, which was nice, but the Republicans thought it was just not practical in terms of managing our economy and social systems, Shelton-Jenkins wrote in a letter. He considered his cellmate very intelligent and respected what he had to say. He broke some things down to me.  Thats when I realized I had wrong and ignorant impressions.

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Before he was incarcerated, Shelton-Jenkins, who has a white mother and a black father, didnt spend much time thinking about politics. But he felt loosely affiliated with the Democratic Party, only because my mom labeled all Republicans racists who want to keep the rich rich and the poor poor.

In the six years hes been in prison in Kansas as a result of a murder conviction, his understanding of politics has changed. A lot of incarcerated, poor, and black people identify as Democrat because were told that Republicans want to keep us poor and incarcerated, he said. But now I believe the opposite: that Democrats want to keep us spoon-fed by the government and Republicans want to wean us off.

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Criminal justice reform is broadly popular among Americans across the political spectrum, though Democrats are more likely than Republicans to support substantial changes to the current system. While some incarcerated Trump supporters dont know or care what the president is doingor not doingon the issue, others applaud his pardoning of people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses and his signing of the bipartisan First Step Act.

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The 2018 law 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, among other changes. Thousands of federal prisoners have been released as a result of the law, and more could see their sentences reduced in the future.

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William Robinson, a 39-year-old black man who has been incarcerated in Arkansas since 2012 for negligent homicide, points to the contrast between the punitive crime bill signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and the First Step Act as evidence that Trump is doing more for incarcerated people than Democrats have. Robinson also praises the Trump administrations support for expanding the Second Chance Pell Grant program, an Obama-era initiative that allowed Robinson to earn an associate degree. He was delighted that Trump commuted the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, whod served two decades of a life sentence for a nonviolent drug crime.

These things matter, Robinson wrote in a letter. Trump is a leader that makes hard decisions, sets trends, while Democrats keep playing politics. Thats exactly the message Trump has been broadcasting as he seeks reelection. Politicians talk about criminal justice reform. President Trump got it done, said a campaign commercial that aired during the Super Bowl earlier this month. The ad also showed Johnson thanking Trump through tears on the day of her release.

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Like many Americans, some incarcerated Trump supporters are motivated by the way hes handled the economy. Neal Stephen, a 44-year-old white man whos been in an Oklahoma jail for less than a year on a domestic assault and battery charge but has spent more time incarcerated on other charges, hopes the First Step Act will help the economy by saving taxpayers the cost of lengthier prison sentences. I really cant tell you anything that the Democrats have done in recent years, as far as criminal justice reform is concerned, that has had an impact comparable to President Trump passing these new laws, he wrote in a letter.

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Before Derek Bedford, 46, was convicted of murder, he didnt think politics affected his life. I was living a carefree lifestyle, he said in a phone interview. Once he entered a Kansas prison, he started paying more attention to the newshe prefers the Wall Street Journal and Fox Newsand soon became concerned that his work hours might get cut if companies that employed prisoners began sending jobs overseas.

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Bedford has watched presidents come and go during his more than 20 years in prison, at times feeling disillusioned by their performance. I was thinking that Obama was gonna do some things positive for the country, and he turned out to be a puppet for big businesses and for the rich, he said. I dont see Donald Trump as being anyones puppet. From what Ive been seeing and hearing, hes given businesses some tax cuts for bringing jobs back, so thats helping the small people in this country.

Still, respondents enthusiasm for Trump doesnt translate into optimism about the government as a whole. Four out of 5 Republican respondents say politicians rarely, sometimes, or never act in their interest.

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While some survey respondents call Trump a hero and the best president theyve seen in their lifetimes, others temper their praise with caveats. Many who indicated that theyd vote to reelect Trump clarify that they dont love everything about him, especially if their politics are more moderate. They still credit the president with trying his best to change the country for the better, even if his rhetoric is too extreme. I would vote for president Trump again, but not because I like him. To be honest, I think he is kind of a fool, wrote William True, a 26-year-old white man whos been in prison in Maine for a little over four years.

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True, who was convicted of murder, believes the Republican Party is less inclined to make strides on criminal justice reform but identifies with the party anyway, in part because the Democrats demonize white males. If some Trump policies, such as the border wall, seem a little radical to True, he still approves of their underlying principles: If we get to the nitty gritty, he is right. Illegal immigration is a problem.

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Stephen isnt so concerned about the brash comments and confrontational tweets that give some of his fellow incarcerated Trump supporters pause. A former member of the Army National Guard, he thinks Trump is more apt to use economic incentives and sanctions to advance U.S. interests, without projecting weakness, than to carelessly rush into war. A strong country like the U.S. needs strong leaders that wont back down from a fight, he said. I also appreciate his honesty, not being afraid to speak his mind. At least you know where you stand when you deal with a man like that.

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.

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.

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.

Series produced by Nicole Lewis and Lawrence Bartley.
Its hard to remember a time before Queen Elizabeth was seated on the throne. As the longest-serving monarch in British history, Her Majesty has seen Prime Ministers, U.S. presidents, popes, and other world leaders come and go. But as they say, all good things must come to an end.

The most fascinating aspect of Queen Elizabeths reign is that she was never destined to become queen in the first place  it was only because her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson that Elizabeths father ever became king.

Once Queen Elizabeth dies, the throne will go to her son and heir apparent, Prince Charles. And then it could be decades before we see another woman take the throne.

Queen Elizabeth | Sean Gallup/Getty Images

British laws of succession used to favor male heirs

Growing up, Elizabeth was never considered the heir apparent or called the Princess of Wales even though she was her fathers eldest child. Thats because traditional laws favored male children in the line of succession and if her parents would have had a son, he would have immediately moved to the first in line position. Elizabeth never received her proper title even years after it became clear that King George VI would never have another child.

Ultimately, King George VI only had two daughters, Elizabeth and her younger sister Margaret. Elizabeth became the Queen Regnant when her father died in 1952.

Queen Elizabeth made sure female heirs retained their spots in line

Prince George and Princess Charlotte | Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images

The Succession to the Crown Act of 2013 ensured that female heirs would be treated equally to males, at least when it came to succession. That means Princess Charlotte maintained her position in line even after her younger brother Prince Louis was born. Under the old rule, that would not have happened.

But it doesnt matter because Princess Charlotte has an older brother who is ahead of her in the line of succession. Right now, it appears the British monarchy will consist of kings for many more decades.

Who will be the next queen of the United Kingdom?

After Queen Elizabeth dies, Prince Charles will become the king and Camilla could become Queen Consort or Princess Consort  its unclear which she will choose. After Charles dies or retires, Prince William will become king and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge will become Queen Consort. Next Prince George will rule. So when will a woman sit on the throne again?

That will depend on several factors. If Prince George marries and has a daughter, she would remain next in line for the throne even if he had sons afterward thanks to Queen Elizabeths progressive new law. But thats a long way down the road and anything can happen between now and then.

Its worth mentioning that the last female ruler before Elizabeth was Queen Victoria, who served from 1837 until her death in 1901. Elizabeth didnt become queen until more than 50 years later.

Queen Victoria of Great Britain | Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The British monarchy is in jeopardy

The future of the British monarchy is uncertain for so many reasons. With a constant barrage of bad press, including Prince Andrews fall from favor in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal, some citizens are questioning if the monarchy is even necessary anymore. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex also retired and further compromised the family reputation.

But Prince William still enjoys a high popularity level and the public seems enamored by his children, too. If he continues on his current path, theres no reason to believe the monarchy wont be around decades from now. Abolishing the ancient institution would be a shocking move.

It will be decades until another woman rules the United Kingdom

The British royal family | Dominic Lipinski-WPA Pool/Getty Images

However, that doesnt answer the important question at hand: when will the people have another queen? If Prince George has no children, then his sister Princess Charlotte would be next in line behind him. He could also give up the throne in a myriad of other ways.

No matter what, it will likely be many decades before another woman sits on the throne. Long live the queen!
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Assisted living facilities in Grand Rapids are beginning to limit visitors in an effort to protect senior residents from the spread of coronavirus, COVID-19.

Provision Livings senior assisted living community and memory care facility at 730 Forest Hill Ave. SE adopted a new policy Wednesday, March 11, that will limit non-essential visits for at least 14 days.

Todd Spittal, president and CEO of Provision Living, said the decision was made with the guidance of state and local officials, the American Health Care Association and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Grand Rapids facility had no confirmed cases of coronavirus or pending tests for the virus as of Thursday, according to Spittal. In addition, no positive tests for the virus have been reported in Kent County as of Thursday.

The idea behind this is finding ways to limit access for this virus to get into the building, he said. Its not punitive; its a partnership and its for protection."

The novel coronavirus has higher fatality rates among adults older than 60 or with pre-existing health conditions, according to the CDC.

Other senior care and residential facilities in West Michigan are putting similar visitation restrictions in place to protect residents from the spread of coronavirus. Family members of residents have notified MLive of policy changes at various other facilities, but officials havent returned calls seeking confirmation.

Manistee County Medical Care Facility, which offers long- and short-term care to residents averaging an age of 83.4 years old, announced Thursday that it is suspending all non-medical visits to nursing homes.

We understand this will be difficult for our residents and their families, the facility said in a prepared statement. We are currently working on a plan to keep families informed of how their loved one is doing. We will also try to arrange phone calls and Skype or Facetime visits as appropriate.

At Provision Living, Spittal said staff at the facility will work with families if there is a necessary and unique circumstance for a visit. Otherwise, theyre asking people to stay away.

Staff can come and go, but they must go through a signs and symptoms screening on each re-entry. That includes filling out a form identifying where they traveled over the last 24 hours, and having their temperature taken.

We think its imperative for everyone to stop and think not about I, but we, Spittal said. There are people in our population who cannot get this virus and if they do it might mean an end of life. Were encouraging people to stop for a minute and realize you can take risks, but your risk might affect people around you.

The assisted living home has canceled or postponed all social events in which residents are bused to events, or students are brought in to the facility.

Spittal said family members have been notified of the policy by letter and phone calls. He hadnt heard of any residents being taken out of the facility since the policy was enacted, and said its allowed but not recommended.

Families can do their own research but what were finding is the uncertainties of the virus floating around towns, schools and restaurants are different than what we try to contain in our senior living buildings, Spittal said. We consider ourselves a safe haven.

Laurie Masco, a Chicago resident who has a family member at the Grand Rapids facility, said she was initially freaked out when she heard the facility was under lockdown. She said her mothers daily life hasnt changed following the policy change.

In Washington, nearly all of the 26 deaths in the state are associated with nursing homes or long-term care facilities in the Seattle-area, according to The Washington Post.

For the latest news on the coronavirus in Michigan visit MLive, here.

Read more on MLive:

Thursday, March 12: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

CDC warns those over 60: stock up and stay home as coronavirus spreads

Senior Services of Southwest Michigan closes offices as coronavirus precaution
Security camera placement to continue around Isla Mujeres

Isla Mujeres, Q.R.  The placement of surveillance cameras will continue around the municipality, seeing that all areas are eventually connected to the C2 centre.

Jamie Alberto Ongay Ortiz, general director of Public Safety, says that the continued installation of the cameras will strengthen security efforts. He said that now, the Mexican Navy is offering assistance in the field of intelligence and operations, noting that the project should be finished this month.

He added that with the placing of surveillance cameras, safety will be improved as will the response time of police.

Municipal president Juan Carrillo Soberanis added that first, the cameras are being installed in 20 points around the island of the municipality which will consist of a 360-degree camera in addition to three fixed cameras to cover all the perimeters needed and cover approximately 100 meters with high-resolution images.

Once installed, the surveillance cameras will be monitored from the Isla Mujeres Public Security Directorate, which will be the C2 as well as from the C4 in Cancun, simultaneously.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Bridge Market Research in a New Report suggests that the Smart Hospital Market will rise at a whopping CAGR of 20.2% during the forecast period, 2020-2027. The rising awareness among the physicians and patients regarding the benefits of smart hospital has been directly impacting the growth of the market. The analysts in the report predict that the global Smart hospital market is anticipated to reach US$ 102.31 Billion by 2026.



Smart Hospital Market 2020 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Smart Hospital industry with a focus on the International market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Smart Hospital key players and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Overall, the report provides an in-depth insight of worldwide Smart Hospital market covering all important parameters. This Report presents an in-depth assessment of the Smart Hospital including enabling technologies, key trends, market drivers, challenges, standardization, regulatory landscape, deployment models, operator case studies, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents forecasts for Smart Hospital investments from 2020 till 2027.

Get Exclusive Sample Copy of Global Smart Hospital Market Report@ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-smart-hospital-market

Competitive Analysis: Global Smart Hospital Market

The key players are highly focusing innovation in production technologies to improve efficiency and shelf life. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be captured by ensuring ongoing process improvements and financial flexibility to invest in the optimal strategies.

Company profile section of players such as Koninklijke Philips N.V., GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Medtronic, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Honeywell International Inc, STANLEY Healthcare, SAP SE, Microsoft, Allscripts Healthcare, LLC, Cerner Corporation., McKesson Corporation, Advantech Co., Ltd, Proteus Digital Health, AdhereTech., Enlitic, Inc., Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Welltok, Inc, among other domestic and global players.

Highlights of the Report

Detailed research and analysis of key aspects, namely, Smart Hospital market trends, opportunities, challenges, growth drivers, and barriers.

Comprehensive information about the key revenue pockets of the market.

Recent developments, such as strategic collaborations, investments, new product launches, mergers and acquisitions, agreements, and contracts.

List of all the short-term and long-term strategies adopted by the prominent companies operating in the market.

Global Smart Hospital Market Definition:

Prevalence of improved healthcare infrastructure, growing need of cost-effective solutions, introduction of internet of things (IoT) enabled devices and technologies, surging number of cases of chronic diseases and adoption of connected devices and instruments are some of the factors that will accelerate the growth of the smart hospital market in the forecast period of 2020-2027. On the other hand, increasing investment by the government and growth of emerging economies will further create new and ample opportunities for the growth of smart hospital market in the above mentioned forecast period.

Rising cost of connected devices and lack of awareness regarding internet of things enabled solutions and products are acting as a market restraint for the growth of smart hospital in the above mentioned forecast period.

For More Information, Query, or Customization before Buying ask here https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-smart-hospital-market

List of the Leading Companies that are operating in the global Smart Hospital Market are:

Koninklijke Philips N.V., GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Medtronic, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Honeywell International Inc, STANLEY Healthcare, SAP SE, Microsoft, Allscripts Healthcare, LLC, Cerner Corporation., McKesson Corporation, Advantech Co., Ltd, Proteus Digital Health, AdhereTech., Enlitic, Inc., Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Welltok, Inc, among other domestic and global players.

Global Smart Hospital Market In-depth Segmentation:

By Component (Hardware, Systems and Software, Services)





By Services Rendered (General, Specialty, Super Specialty)





By Application (Remote Medicine Management, Electronic Health Record & Clinical Workflow, Outpatient Vigilance, Medical Connected Imaging, Medical Assistance),





By Connectivity (Wired, Wireless)





By Artificial Intelligence (Offering, Technology)





Global Smart Hospital Market Regional Analysis:





North America (United States, Canada & Mexico)

Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia etc)





Europe (Germany, UK, France etc)





Central & South America (Brazil, Argentina etc)





Middle East & Africa (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc)

The report has been gathered by making use of both primary and secondary research methodologies. A list of the major industry participants has also been mentioned in this research study, after which a primary research study has been undertaken with the enlisted key players.

The primary research methodology also studied the service offerings, M&A, distribution and manufacturing channels, and all major partnerships and collaborations worldwide, while the secondary research methodology identified all the major suppliers, distributors, and service providers functioning in the target Smart Hospital market. While interviewing, the respondents were also inquired about their competitors.

Browse Full Report with Details TOC @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-smart-hospital-market

North America dominates the smart hospital market due to the prevalence of improved healthcare infrastructure and increasing adoption of artificial intelligence enabled products, while Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest growth rate in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027 because of increasing number of hospitals and surgical centres and provision of improved healthcare infrastructure.

The Smart Hospital Market report highlights the key players and the latest strategies including company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, company strengths and weaknesses, new product launches, partnerships, joint ventures, product width and breadth, application dominance, technology lifeline curve, segmentation in terms of region and industry competition, profit and loss ratio, and investment ideas.

Global Smart Hospital Market Scope and Market Size

Smart hospital market is segmented on the basis of component, services rendered, artificial intelligence, connectivity and application. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries, and provide the users with valuable market overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core market applications.

On the basis of component, smart hospital market is segmented into hardware, systems and software, services. Hardware has been further segmented into medical devices. Medical devices have been further sub segmented into wearable external medical devices, implanted medical devices, stationary and supportive medical devices and semiconductor components. Semiconductor components have been further sub segmented into processors, sensors and connectivity ICS. Services have been further segmented into professional services and managed services. Professional services have been further sub segmented into consulting and integration services, support and maintenance services.

Smart hospital market has also been segmented on the basis of services rendered into general, specialty and super specialty.

On the basis of application, smart hospital market is segmented into remote medicine management, electronic health record & clinical workflow, outpatient vigilance, medical connected imaging and medical assistance.

On the basis of connectivity, smart hospital market is segmented into wired and wireless. Wireless has been further segmented into Wi-Fi, RFID, bluetooth, zigbee, near field communication (NFC) and others.

On the basis of artificial intelligence, smart hospital market is segmented into offering and technology. Offering has been further segmented into hardware, software and services. Services have been further sub segmented into deployment and integration, support and maintenance. Software has been further bifurcated into AI platform and solutions. Technology has been further segmented into natural language processing (NLP), contextaware processing, deep learning and querying method.

The Smart Hospital report has been produced with the systematic gathering and analysis of information about individuals or organizations conducted through social and opinion research. With the studies, insights and analysis mentioned in the report, you get a comprehensible idea about the marketplace with which you can take business decisions quickly and easily.

The Global Smart Hospital Market report comprises all the organizational profiles of the key players and brands. Market definition covered in this Smart Hospital report studies the market drivers and market restraints with which businesses can get an idea of whether to increase or decrease the production of a particular product.

Get Full Access of Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/singleuser/global-smart-hospital-market

Reasons for Buying Smart Hospital Market Report

This report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics

To understand the outcome of the end-user applications on the Global Smart Hospital Market .

. In-depth assessment of the revenue generation information, market size, share, value, volume, price, and cost.

It provides a forward-looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining the Smart Hospital market growth

Key regions and countries that are likely to lead and witness the fastest growth of the global market.

It helps in understanding the key product segments and their future

Smart Hospital Market Report includes Major Detailed Table of Content Points: Table of Content

Introduction



Market Segmentation



Market Overview



Executive Summaries



Premium Insights



Regulatory Procedure



Global Smart Hospital Market, By Type



Global Smart Hospital Market, by disease type



Global Smart Hospital Market, By Deployment



Global Smart Hospital Market, By End User



Global Smart Hospital Market, By Distribution Channel



Global Smart Hospital Market, By Geography



Global Smart Hospital Market, Company Landscape



Company Profile

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We can also customize this report and provide individual chapters or a region-wise breakdown report such as North America, Europe or Asia. Also, if you have any special requirements, ( Corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com ) please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.

About Data Bridge Market Research:

An absolute way to forecast what the future holds is to comprehend the trend today!

Data Bridge Market Research sets forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with an unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiate an effortless decision-making process.

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Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of top news as of 12.03.2020:

 The total number of coronavirus cases in Armenia has reached 4; another three cases have been confirmed. All these patients are hospitalized. One of the three people is a resident of Armenias Etchmiadzin.

The countrys health minister Arsen Torosyan noted three out of four patients have no symptoms, the fourth one has pneumonia and fever, and receives symptomatic treatment.

He added classes and social events in Armenia may be canceled.

The minister also told reporters that given the difficult epidemiological situation in Italy, citizens who are due to return on March 15 may be quarantined for two weeks immediately upon arrival in Armenia.

According to the health ministry, to date, 262 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Armenia. And 57 persons have been isolated so far.

As Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan in turn noted, they may stop the campaign for the forthcoming referendum on constitutional amendments amid the latest developments.

 Meanwhile, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has tweeted that the COVID-19 outbreak is a pandemic.

According to him, the WHO expects to see the rise of infections and deaths over the next couple of days.

Currently, nearly 130,000 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus. The death toll has reached 4,749, and 68,661 people have recovered globally as of 5.23 pm Yerevan time.

 On March 8, a 23- to a 25-year old woman with pneumonia was transferred to Armenias Martuni town MC. On the same day, she was transferred to a Yerevan hospital where she died.

There was no suspicion of coronavirus, she had intense pneumonia; there was a tumor on her lungs, Andranik Harutyunyan, director of Martuni medical center, told Armenian News - NEWS.am.

 Seventy-five US Representatives from 23 states have sent a bipartisan Armenian Caucus letter to fund de-mining and rehabilitation services in Artsakh and expand US aid to Armenia.

The letter particularly included: $1.5 million for Artsakh demining and robust funding; $100 million for economic, governance, rule of law, and security aid to Armenia; State Department and USAID lift any official or unofficial restrictions on US travel, communication, or contacts with Artsakh government officials; the suspension of US military aid for Azerbaijan until it has been verified to have ceased all attacks against Armenia and Artsakh.

 The US State Department has issued 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

According to the report on Armenia, significant human rights issues included: torture; arbitrary detention, although with fewer reports; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary interference with privacy; significant problems with the independence of the judiciary; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) persons; and use of forced or compulsory child labor.

Meanwhile, as the report said: the government took steps to investigate and punish alleged abuses by former and current government officials and law enforcement authorities.

The report also mentions deaths in the army. It is noted that human rights NGOs voiced concern regarding the Defense Ministrys classification of military deaths and the practice of qualifying many noncombat deaths as suicides, making it less likely that abuses would be uncovered and investigated.
Airplanes of German airline Lufthansa and U.S. carrier United Airlines land and take off at Frankfurt Airport, Germany, on March 2, 2020. (Kai Pfaffenbach/File Photo/Reuters)

Airline Stocks Plunge as US Puts Europe in Coronavirus Quarantine

LOS ANGELES/PARISEuropean airline stocks already battered by the coronavirus plunged again on Thursday, as a U.S. travel ban on much of continental Europe deepened the sectors misery and piled pressure on governments to offer emergency support.

Shares in European carriers, some of which have fallen by more than half since the virus outbreak first halted flights to China, suffered further double-digit declines as markets opened.

The 30-day U.S. curbs on travel from the 26-country Schengen Areawhich excludes Britain and Irelandare similar to those that went into effect targeting China on Feb. 1 and do not apply to U.S. residents or their immediate family.

The impact of the ban will be more substantial for major European carriers than the earlier China flight suspensions, Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska saidbecause the North Atlantic accounts for a large share of their long-haul profits.

The ban effectively stops travel from the Schengen Area to the USA, Roeska said.

Air France-KLM shares were down 15 percent, with Lufthansa and British Airways parent IAG almost 11 percent lower as of 08:33 GMT. Norwegian Air, which was struggling to avert a cash crunch even before the coronavirus crisis, was down 18 percent.

Lufthansa said it was assessing the impact of the changes on its U.S. operations, while Air France KLM did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Critical Time

The news also sent Asian airline shares sliding during the regions trading day, with analysts warning of a big impact.

It came as airlines, tourism, and airport operators were already scrambling to respond to a global slump in travel that is increasingly likely to require government aid to tide companies through the crisis. The European Union will publish new state-aid guidelines on Friday.

ADP declined to comment on a Thursday report that it was preparing to close terminal 3 at Roissy Charles de Gaulle, the French capitals biggest airport.

Norway is considering whether to close down several airports as part of its efforts to curb the spread of the virus, airport operator Avinor told the public broadcaster NRK.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the ban was needed because the country was entering a critical time in the fight against the virus, which has spread across the United States and killed at least 37 people and infected 1,281 there.

U.S. airlines had already cut flight schedules to Italy, facing the largest European outbreak, and will take another hit from lower demand for flights from major destinations such as France and Germany.

An Airbus 319 operated by American Airlines approaches for landing at Baltimore Washington International Airport near Baltimore, Md., on March 11, 2019. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Nicholas E. Callio, president of airline trade group Airlines for America, said the ban would hit U.S. airlines, their employees, and travelers extremely hard.

He said his group respected the need to take the unprecedented action, but Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sarah Nelson called the ban irresponsible.

There is no explanation for how this will help fight the spread of the virus, she said. It makes little sense when the virus is already in the United States.

The move is set to decimate spending by European tourists in the United States. In March 2019, European visitors to the country accounted for 29 percent of arrivals and $3.4 billion of spending, the U.S. Travel Association said.

Temporarily shutting off travel from Europe is going to exacerbate the already-heavy impact of coronavirus on the travel industry and the 15.7 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel, U.S. Travel Association President Roger Dow said in a statement.

Combined with a fresh U.S. State Department advisory asking citizens to reconsider global travel plans, the move could create chaos at European airports as passengers attempt a last-minute rush to fly before the United States ban takes effect.

Enormously Disruptive

William Reinsch, a former senior U.S. Commerce Department official and fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the restrictions would be enormously disruptive to airlines, hotels, and restaurants already taking a hit because many Americans are staying home.

I think the administration will be forced to provide some relief to the airlines, he said.

Among U.S. carriers, American Airlines could be relatively spared because of its alliance with British Airways and higher share of UK traffic.

Air France-KLM partner Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa ally United Airlines are bound to suffer more, independent aviation analyst Mike Boyd said. But the fact is that with the news of the spread of the virus in Europe, the flights would be empty anyway.

American Airlines said it was in contact with the U.S. government to understand and comply with the directive.

Delta said it would waive reservation change fees for customers traveling to, from, or through Europe and Britain through May 31. United did not respond to requests for comment.

By Lisa Baertlein and Laurence Frost
Commissioners closing in on final OK for $65 million HHS project

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to take up the final piece of the most expensive school project in county history next week.

Last week, when county Finance Director Samantha Reynolds presented an agreement to take on $65.75 million in debt for the Hendersonville High School construction-renovation plan, Commissioner Bill Lapsley noted the momentous occasion.

"It's the largest single borrowing that Henderson County has made in its history," he said. "This is a significant event in the history of Henderson County and I just would like to recognize that."

The borrowing plan for HHS would appear to be the largest for a single project and is $10 million more than the $55 million the county borrowed in the early 2000s to finance the Historic Courthouse renovation, human services building and an elementary school.

Commissioners have approved the first two contracts for the HHS job. They take up the third "guaranteed maximum price" contract next week, by far the largest. County officials opened bids for the third phase last month.

"When those bids come in, those are significant numbers," county construction manager David Berry told commissioners last week. "We lean on our construction company because they are the contractor at risk. Right now, what theyre doing is vetting those numbers because once they accept those bids and theyve given those numbers to us then we hold them accountable. After last weeks opening of those bids, right now we are still within budget but thats not official until we bid it out and get the word from our construction company and bring that to you at next meeting."

Commissioners asked questions about what the $65 million included and whether the construction cost might ultimately exceed that. Reynolds said the goal was to keep the cost under $60 million. Responding to Commissioner Michael Edney's question about underground water and sewer line the contractors have seen, Berry assured the board that those problems would be resolved, too. The contracts, he said, have a higher contingency amounts than usual to cover unforeseen problems. I firmly believe the unknowns are covered in the $60 million we talked about, he said.

The agreement "includes water and sewer (work) including toilet paper in the toilet paper rolls," John Mitchell, the county's director of business and community development, told commissioners. The designers and lead contractor, Vannoy Construction, are committed "to bring a fully functional high school up to and including all those items."

Commissioners were also unclear about whether the $65 million included a new track, bleachers and artificial turf. It does not, although commissioners will be shown an option next week to add a press box.

"There are alternatives this board will see which includes a press box, which was also presented to this board by the architectural team," Mitchell said.

Commissioners asked about whether it might be possible to piggyback the turf and track onto the end of the main construction job.

"The board is committed to doing the artificial field basically when the projects through, County Manager Steve Wyatt responded. The track or that facility is not part of the project. ... What you say is doable but weve got a lot of work to do before we get to that point to say yes or no. But youve committed to the artificial surface."

Commissioners will have ample opportunity next week, Mitchell said, to ask questions and air any concerns.

Its our intention at your mid-month meeting to bring the contractor here and the architect here to give this board the opportunity to be sure this is what you folks are intending to," he said. "We are bringing you a project which will be delivered on time and under budget.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 21:08 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a2eb69 1 National WORLD-DREAM-CRUISE,Sebaru-Island,coronavirus,COVID-19,quarantine,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia Free

The 188 Indonesian crew members of World Dream cruise ship will soon leave Sebaru Island in the Thousand Islands regency of Jakarta after completing their 14-day quarantine for COVID-19.

The World Dream suspended operations after docking in Hong Kong in early February. It spent days in quarantine at the Kai Tak Cruise terminal after three Chinese nationals who had been aboard the ship between Jan. 19 and 24 tested positive for COVID-19.

The Indonesian Navy evacuated the 188 crew members from the virus-stricken cruise ship on Feb. 26 and transferred them to Sebaru Island for quarantine.

The commander of an Integrated Joint Task Command (Kogasgabpad) handling the quarantine, Rear Adm. Yudo Margono, said on Thursday that the quarantine would end on Friday.

All of the crew members will be transported to mainland Jakarta on Saturday using naval ship KRI Semarang-594, before returning to their homes. Each member will receive a certificate from the Health Ministry declaring they are free from COVID-19, Yudo said as reported by Antara news agency.

He added that around 60 percent of the crew members were from Bali and had mainly worked as cooks.

"The latest test results show that all of the crew members are healthy, he said. (vny)
A man in his 50s has been arrested as part of the investigation into the abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney.

The Quinn Industrial Holdings director was abducted near his home in Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh, in September of last year.
Bollywood as a film industry has originated in India but has gotten recognition all over the globe. The film industry churns content that is viewed by a huge number of masses in India and all over the globe. The viewers get influenced by the film scenes and imagine themselves to be in that place as well. Well, a number of people have been successful in doing that with some iconic spots like the one in Yash Chopras Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. The film has managed to bring a number of Indian tourists to witness the beautiful location themselves. Here is how Bollywood has shown its love for Switzerland.

Also Read | Irrfan Khan And Other Bollywood Actors Who Got A Style Makeover; See Pictures

Also Read | Irrfan Khan's 'Angrezi Medium' Wins Hearts Of Bollywood Celebs Including Kriti Sanon

Bollywood has influenced its viewers by portraying Switzerland beautifully

There was a very strong influence on the Indian audience that got them attracted to the beautiful hills of Switzerland. The famous spot, Interlaken was a favourite spot for the renowned Yash Chopra and was featured in a number of his films. The director successfully increased Switzerlands popularity amongst the Indian audience and managed to become the ambassador of Interlaken. There is also a mountain lake in the area that is nicknamed as the 'Yash Chopra Lake'.

Also Read | Rangoli Openly Challenges Bollywood, Claims Kangana Ranaut Will Stop Acting If She Loses

Also Read | Neena Gupta, Ratna Pathak Shah, Seema Pahwa Are Bollywood's Cool, New-age Mothers

The industry has shown its influence as a number of tours have been started to take the tourists to popular Bollywood spots. Spots like Zermatt, Gstaad, the churches of Montbovon (canton of Fribourg), and Rougemont (canton of Vaud), bridge of Saanen, and Zurichattract around 500 tourists to see Bollywood hotspots. Places like Zurich and Zermatt have been great locations for filmmakers who are in search of some beautiful landscapes.

Also Read | When Kiara Advani And Other Bollywood Celebs Gave Major Fashion Goals In Pink Sarees
Lucknow, March 12 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision-making body of the saffron outfit, to be held in Bengaluru from March 15 to 17, the first after the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya temple, will have a special focus this time on the construction of the Ram temple. The meeting will begin with a special 'prasad' from Ayodhya.

"For the first time, Ram Lalla's prasad will be distributed in this meeting. Delegates will be given the same prasad which has been offered to the infant god in Ayodhya for years. The prasad will have cardamom seeds, 'mishri' (crystallised sugar) along with some dry fruits and 'Makhana'," said Anil Jain, a member of the Ramjanmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust and RSS leader.

He said, "Our association with the temple has been there even before the movement began. The Ram temple has always been a Sangh issue. This is not new." "The RSS Pratinidhi Sabha will begin after Ram Lalla's prasad distribution," said Mishra, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of taking the offerings from Ayodhya to the meeting venue.

Mishra told IANS, "Ram Lalla's prasad will be given to every member taking part in the meeting." Sources in the Sangh said that this forum, which decides the strategies of the Sangh, meets once a year around Holi. The outline of programmes for the year is decided in this meet.

An RSS office bearer said, "A day before the meeting, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini will meet to chalk out the agenda. This meeting is not for the general public. The meeting will start at 8.30 a.m. on March 15. It will be attended by representatives from across the country." The meeting will end on March 17.

He said that the work of the Centre for the period 2019-20 will also be reviewed in the meeting. The upcoming Sangh Shiksha Varg and other schemes will also be discussed in detail.

A resolution is likely to be passed on the current state of the country.
Amid the ongoing five-day Holi celebrations in Manipur, works minister Thongam Bishwajit Singh on Thursday appealed to people to "avoid mass gatherings" till the time Covid-19 is contained.

Singh's appeal came two days after authorities shut the India-Myanmar border in the state "till further notice", with assistance from the Assam Rifles.

"There is no confirmed case of any individual affected by the virus in Manipur, but precautionary measures have to be taken, especially in the border areas," the minister said, adding that the government was keeping a watch on the state's lone airport in Imphal as well as other entry points.

Holi, locally known as Yaoshang, involves mass gathering in every locality, with people taking part in cultural events and sporting activities over a period of five days.

Earlier, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, too, had urged the people of the state to "scale down" celebrations in view of the Covid-19 outbreak.

"Safety and health of people are of primary concern," the CM had said, urging everyone to put a united fight against the disease.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FILE PHOTO: Airplanes of German Carrier Lufthansa and United Airlines land and take off at Frankfurt Airport

By Tracy Rucinski and Laurence Frost

CHICAGO/PARIS (Reuters) - Airlines on Thursday appealed for urgent government financial support as U.S. carriers rushed to cut flights to Europe in the wake of new U.S. travel restrictions aimed at combating the coronavirus outbreak, while United Airlines warned of U.S. travel disruption as the virus spreads domestically.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global industry group representing airlines, called on governments to consider extending lines of credit, reducing infrastructure costs and cutting taxes.

U.S. travel curbs on much of continental Europe announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening deepened the sector's misery that began after the virus emerged in China late last year and reduced traffic.

"Without a lifeline from governments we will have a sectoral financial crisis piled on top of the public health emergency," said IATA Director-General Alexandre de Juniac.

And with more cases emerging in the U.S., United's CEO and President told employees they expect "the need to mobilize an effective response in more places will increase."

United will continue flying its U.S.-European schedule through March 19, but in April it will only run 34 daily flights versus 63 planned initially, a spokeswoman said.

Stock markets battered airlines amid growing concerns about the sector's financial viability.

Norwegian Air <NWC.OL> said it would cut 4,000 flights and temporarily lay off up to half of its employees due to the coronavirus outbreak, while Delta Air Lines <DAL.N> said it would cancel flights on eight U.S. routes to Europe after Friday.

U.S. airports told the White House they expected to lose at least $3.7 billion this year - an estimate made before the latest European restrictions.

The 30-day U.S. restrictions will badly disrupt transatlantic traffic key to the earnings of major European carriers and their U.S. airline partners, analysts warned.

Story continues

Those routes account for 20-30% of large European operators' revenue and a majority of profit, Credit Suisse analyst Neil Glynn warned, "highlighting the damage to revenue lines for the coming weeks and potentially well into the summer."

Glynn added that airlines would likely be forced to make heavier cuts than the drastic capacity reductions ordered as airlines scrapped flights - first to China and then to other destinations including Italy as the virus spread.

Shares in European and U.S. airlines slumped in turn to new lows, with Delta <DAL.N> falling 15% and United Airlines <UAL.O> 18%, while American Airlines <AAL.O> was 9% lower.

Air France-KLM <AIRF.PA> closed down 12.7%, British Airways parent IAG <ICAG.L> down 16% and Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> 14% lower. Troubled Norwegian Air <NWC.OL> fell 33% and U.S.-dependent Icelandair <ICEAIR.IC> fell 23%

Icelandair said it would cancel some flights but pledged to continuing flying between Europe and the United States.

The U.S. curbs on travel from the 26-country Schengen Area - which excludes Britain and Ireland - are similar to restrictions on China that took effect on Feb. 1 and do not apply to U.S. residents or their immediate family.

Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska predicted a "more substantial" earnings impact than European carriers had suffered from the earlier China flight suspensions.

U.S. airlines had already cut flight schedules to Italy and will take another hit from lower demand for flights from major destinations such as France and Germany.

Among them, American Airlines could be relatively spared by its alliance with British Airways (BA) and higher share of UK traffic, while Air France-KLM partner Delta and Lufthansa ally United Airlines are likely to suffer more, analysts say.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence defended the travel curbs on Thursday, after the European Union complained they had been imposed "unilaterally and without consultation".

The virus has taken root in the United States after spreading from China to Italy, South Korea, Iran and elsewhere.

'TOTAL MELTDOWN'

The global travel slump looks increasingly likely to require government aid to avoid widespread insolvencies. The European Union will publish new state-aid guidelines on Friday.

Germany may extend loans and other support to airlines, a government official said on Thursday. The French government also stands ready to help Air France-KLM, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said.

"There is a need for measures from many governments," said Norwegian pilots' union president Yngve Carlsen. "This could lead to a total meltdown."

Scandinavian carrier SAS <SAS.ST> is in talks with the Swedish and Danish governments about potential support measures, a company spokeswoman said.

EU airlines have seized on the crisis to push back on green taxes designed to help the bloc meet climate goals - including proposals to end current tax exemptions on jet fuel.

"New fiscal burdens should be postponed until the industry is back on a sound operational and financial footing," lobby group Airlines for Europe said.

CRITICAL TIME

The latest travel clampdown could make coronavirus worse than previous aviation crises including the 9/11 attacks of 2001, UK-based consultant John Strickland said.

"It's coming at the end of the northern hemisphere winter, which is a weak period for airline finances (when) they should be sowing seeds of a strong summer season by getting the bookings in," he said.

There were panicky European airport scenes as travelers scrambled to fly to the United States before the restrictions take effect late on March 13.

The fallout is also spreading fast from travel and tourism to aerospace and other industries.

Safran <SAF.PA>, the world's third-biggest aerospace group, sees a growing threat to aircraft and engine order books, Chief Executive Philippe Petitcolin said on Thursday, adding more cost cuts were now being drawn up.

ADP <ADP.PA> declined to comment on a report it was preparing to close Terminal 3 at Roissy Charles de Gaulle, the French capital's main aviation hub. Norway may close several airports, operator Avinor said.

Italy announced the partial closure of Rome's main airports to commercial aviation in response to its own travel lockdown. Near-empty airports in Milan and elsewhere may follow, a government source told Reuters.

(GRAPHIC: European airlines crater - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/13/3299/3260/airlines.png)

The travel curbs will also decimate European tourists' spending in the United States. In March 2019, European visitors accounted for 29% of arrivals and $3.4 billion in spending, the U.S. Travel Association said.

"Temporarily shutting off travel from Europe is going to exacerbate the already-heavy impact of coronavirus on the travel industry and the 15.7 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel," U.S. Travel Association President Roger Dow said.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Laurence Frost in Paris, David Shepardson in Washington, Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Additional reporting by Sarah Young in London, Jamie Freed in Sydney, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam, Victoria Klesty in Oslo, Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, Sayantani Ghosh in Singapore, and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell, Tim Hepher, Mark Potter, Cynthia Osterman and Christopher Cushing)
[March 12, 2020] Castle Unveils Industry's First Identity-Aware Bot Detection

SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Castle, the consumer identity protection company, today announced Identity-Aware Bot Detection, an industry-first product for protecting organizations against advanced bot attacks while maintaining the optimal customer experience. Technology advancements have made it easier for organizations to identify conventional botnet attacks that use large-scale denial of service (DDoS). As a result, bot attacks have grown increasingly more complex and stealthy by mimicking legitimate user behavior, bypassing traditional perimeter technology, such as DoS security vendors. According to the 2019 Data Breach Quickview Security Report , there were more than 7,098 breaches reported in the past year that exposed over 15.1 billion records: most of which were access credentials. Bots are increasingly targeting user accounts and credentials because of the wider variety of fraudulent activities that can be performed with this data. Unlike traditional bot detection vendors that struggle to distinguish legitimate user behavior from bot attacks, Castle protects organizations against the most advanced techniques by bringing together analytics about a user's identity with traditional bot risk signals. While other anti-bot offerings are parsing through web traffic and attempting to understand attack signatures and patterns, Castle offers higher accuracy by analyzing these risk signals in conjunction with real-time identity behavioral analysis. As a result, Castle is able to stop attacks like account takeovers, fake account creations, and credit card stuffing, while reducing false positives by tying users to their devices and application activity, regardless of location  mobile, web or API



"As a fast-growth fintech company, we are offering innovative ways for our investors to help generate wealth with alternative investment products. This involves large transactions in investors' accounts, so securing every investor from compromise is a top priority," stated Marcus Brito, Director of Engineering at Yieldstreet. "Our user base is a collection of accredited investors and a single compromise could undermine investors' trust and loyalty. However, too much security friction could make it difficult for our investors to get any functionality out of our web and mobile applications." Brito continues, "Working with Castle has been a breeze, docs were very easy to navigate, and the integration was fast and painless, allowing us to protect against bot attacks on both web and mobile. Castle's approach to stepping up security challenges based on both bot signals and dynamic behavioral context of each investor event made them the obvious choice in protecting against small- and large-scale automated attacks."

Castle brings together security, fraud, and customer experience by giving organizations the ability to see user risk and exercise control over all account activity. Castle helps address the risk of botnets committing identity fraud at every stage of the customer lifecycle: from assessing risk at account creation to verifying user identity at login to requiring strong identity verification at password reset. Many of Castle's defenses are continuous and invisible to end-users, allowing for fraud mitigation that is as seamless as it is secure. "Fraud and security teams are being tasked with not only reducing high-friction fraud screening, but adding strong remediation methods when attacks are discovered on user accounts," stated Sebastian Wallin, CTO and Co-Founder of Castle. "Previously this has left many organizations with a difficult choice of providing security or usability. With Castle Identity-Aware Bot Detection, organizations  for the first time - have the ability to address all identity protection blind spots while providing frictionless remediation. We are giving our customers the ability to dramatically improve bot detection accuracy without compromising the user experience." To learn more about Castle's new approach to protecting organizations from advanced bot attacks, please see the latest blog and data sheet , and register for the "Beating Bad Bots by Knowing Good Users" webinar on April 8, 2020. About Castle Castle redefines consumer security by protecting a user's identity from account takeovers, fake account creation, and other types of identity threats throughout their entire journey with your digital business. Instead of focusing exclusively on the threat, Castle puts user experience at the center of the security model by enabling good behavior as well as stopping bad behavior. With risk-based authentication, bot detection, and custom risk policies, Castle offers real-time consumer identity protection that optimizes the customer experience. Castle is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with offices in Malmo, Sweden and Krakow, Poland. For more information, please visit https://castle.io . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/castle-unveils-industrys-first-identity-aware-bot-detection-301022241.html SOURCE Castle, Inc.

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Halfway up the stairs of a remote Exmoor cottage is a cupboard where a young Boris Johnson liked to hide himself away from the world.

The pictures he drew on the walls of the snug at Nethercote Cottage are there to this day  a poignant reminder of the happy times he spent at his grandmothers home, when thoughts of becoming Prime Minister were but a dream.

Last week, he placed Granny Butter on a list of his five most inspirational women, to celebrate International Womens Day. She sat with the likes of Iceni Queen Boudicca and Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.

Johnson cited his grannys sheer unconquerable optimism as his main reason for including her.

Boris Johnson cited his grandmother Yvonne Eileen Irene Johnson (pictured), among his five most inspirational women

The 55-year-old praised the way she survived life on a rainswept hill farm in the Exe Valley in Somerset, managing for years without electricity or central heating and raising four children, a gaggle of grandchildren and a menagerie of animals, while maintaining what the PM describes as the greatest human gift of all: of being overjoyed to see you.

It didnt matter what you had done, he recalled.  Darling, she would cry, how wonderful to see you. 

But delve beneath the surface of the PMs memories and its clear Granny Butters influence went further than just showing a young Boris how to eat crisps with a knife and fork, or teaching him to swim in the river near her home.

Long before he was born, Yvonne Eileen Irene Johnsons indomitable spirit had already earned her the nickname Buster at Cheltenham Ladies College, where she excelled in lacrosse.

And behind the Johnson family snapshots of a woman who rescued orphaned lambs and churned butter by hand in a kitchen converted from a cow byre, is a remarkable story stretching back  as she once told a wide-eyed young Boris  to the crowned heads of Europe.

It was only later, long after her death in 1987, aged 80, that he discovered she had been telling the truth.

The biggest clue to Granny Butters extraordinary past lies in the PMs full name  Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson. Growing up, he was aware that the de Pfeffel came from his grandmothers side, but he didnt take seriously her claim that she was descended from French nobility, or that the oak chest in her kitchen contained the de Pfeffel silver.

But Granny Butter was indeed related to the French baron Charles de Pfeffel.

Boris (pictured, aged five) had no idea of his royal connection, although his grandmother could trace her ancestry back to King George II

She was born in 1907 at the height of the Parisian Belle Epoque in a house at Versailles  and she could also trace her ancestry back to King George II.

As a child, Boris had no idea of his royal connections, believing his grandmothers most obvious legacy was the beaky noses, the fair hair, the sturdy proportions.

In a foreword to her posthumous memoir, Alas Poor Johnny, published in 2015, Johnson recalls Granny Butters risotto, the dish she liked to called her meisterwerk, made from Uncle Bens rice, chopped tomatoes, onions and tuna. One of his memories is of the day she dropped a giant bowl of it. While the rest of the family watched in horror as their lunch smashed on the floor, she scooped it up for them to eat, saying: Never mind! I am sure it will be delicious.

It was her ever-smiling, can-do attitude that Johnson found so alluring. Despite her rudimentary kitchen, Granny Butter always managed to get by, creating simple but loving feasts for her four children and, later, grandchildren.

Much of his admiration appears to have stemmed from the fact that Granny Butter didnt bat an eyelid when things went wrong  as they did when once she forgot to pierce the lid of a Fray Bentos pie before putting it in the Rayburn. The stove door was ripped off its hinges by the subsequent explosion.

She raised her family without a washing machine, dishwasher or central heating. The stove often took half a day to heat up. The familys temperamental Land Rover was parked on a slope so it could be bump-started.

Boris (pictured) was taught by his grandmother how to swim, in the river Exe in Somerset

As well as teaching Boris to swim in the river Exe, where he and his siblings, Rachel, Leo and Joe, had made a dam, she showed him how to skim stones and climb trees. She also taught him to read.

Given her high birth and education  she read French and Russian at Oxford  she might have expected more from life. As she put it in her memoir few people can have been less qualified than I was to be a farmers wife.

Irene, as she was known to her French family as a girl, was born in the Pavillon du Barry in the Avenue de Paris. Her early life was one of upper middle-class splendour.

Her French mother was Marie Louise de Pfeffel, the last of a long line of de Pfeffels.

But, despite these regal beginnings, Irenes childhood home was a villa in Bromley, Kent. She lived with her mother and her English father, Stanley Williams, a Harrow and Oxford-educated underwriter at Lloyds of London.

Irene and her three younger sisters were cared for by a penniless Russian princess who became their nanny after fleeing the Russian Revolution.

Irene recalled in her memoir: My mother had secret hopes that I would marry an ambassador because of my languages.

After getting caught up in unsuitable romantic entanglements she was dispatched to work in Cairo. It was here she met her future husband, Wilfred Johnny Johnson. They returned to England and wed in 1936.

Boris's grandmother (pictured) who died of cancer, didn't live to see her grandson fulfil his ambition of becoming Prime Minister

Her first child, Peter, was born in 1937; her daughter, Hilary, in 1939. When war broke out, her husband joined the Civil Air Guard, while Irene and her family lived in Cornwall, where Boris Johnsons father Stanley was born, and then Devon, where a fourth child, Gillian, completed the family.

After the war ended, they returned briefly to Surrey, before moving to Exmoor in 1951.

In October 1986, the Johnsons celebrated Buster and Johnnys 50th wedding anniversary at Nethercote with a cake in the shape of a Land Rover.

Sadly, she didnt live to see her grandson fulfil his ambition to be Prime Minister. She died from cancer in 1987. When her memoir was published in 2015, Johnson spoke at the book launch.

I certainly think that Granny Butter has been immensely influential on all our family with her general optimism and dynamism, he said.

In her view, there was no such word as cant  youve got to try everything.

He went on to share some of her pearls of wisdom in his tongue-in-cheek Grannifesto, which included a call to make Scrabble an Olympic sport and to bring back manners in young people.

The Johnson family still own the farm Irene made her home for more than 35 years. As for the de Pfeffel silver  it was sold at Sothebys in 1977 when Granny Butter and Johnny needed to pay for flights to Australia to see their eldest daughter, Hillie.

This week, Hillie paid tribute to her mother from her home in New South Wales. She was always extremely positive, and even in the face of adversity she looked on the bright side of life, she said. These are all qualities that you can see in Boris.
LIMERICK is bracing itself for a potential lockdown in the coming weeks as the cases of coronavirus continue to rise across the country.

Schools, colleges and businesses are all on alert in the event of the government triggering a large-scale lockdown in a bid to slow down the spread of the disease.

THE Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland has written to the HSE advising a lockdown in Ireland to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

In a week when Italy has restricted movement for all its citizens, the influential group says it's time for Ireland to do likewise.

Eoghan de Barra, an infectious diseases physician at Dublin's Beaumont Hospital and secretary of the group, told the Limerick Leader they are "advocating" a lockdown "in a timely fashion".

"Certainly, the society and its members some of whom are on the expert advisory panel have increasingly taken the strong view that the containment measures should be escalated. A statement was sent to them earlier this week which outlined this view of physicians specialising in infection across the country.

"We've seen what's happened to our colleagues in other countries. We accept its a public health and a wider political decision to trigger these tighter restrictions. But in terms of controlling infection, they are amongst the most effective intervention.

"We realise although it has other implications on society, but advising how to manage infection, that is the effective route," he added.

He said: "Everyone is aware of social distancing. I think it's widely accepted in wider political circles that more stringent measures will be taken in time. It's a very difficult decision to make when. But we are certainly advocating the use of [lockdown] in a timely fashion."

Due to an increase demand for Covid-19 testing across the country, the Department of Health now plans to significantly increase testing capacity by expanding to regional laboratories, with a testing lab in Limerick tipped to come on stream over next couple of weeks.

As of this Wednesday there were four patients with coronavirus being treated at University Hospital Limerick.

Meanwhile, the two-week self-isolation period for the 75 healthcare workers at University Hospital Limerick who were in contact with a confirmed case on February 26, expired this Wednesday. It is understood that once the individuals get two negative swabs they can return to work from this Thursday.

The Covid-19 outbreak looks likely to have a devastating impact on the hospitality trade in Limerick, with hoteliers thousands of euro out of pocket.

With the disease prompting the cancellation of this years St Patricks Day festival, along with other events across the city and county, there have been a number of bookings cancelled.

One hotelier, David Fitzgerald of Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel in Adare, has reported that he has had about 25,000 worth of cancellations in the last week alone, while trade is down at the Limerick Strand Hotel in the order of 20%.

Local pharmacy businesses have been unable to satisfy the demand for hand washes to keep the disease at bay. Abbey Allcare Pharmacy in Kilmallock has been sold out of hand sanitiser since February 20 with no sign of them being able to restock in the near future.

We have tried every single supplier but with no luck. People are now making their own using two different recipes. Surgical spirit is being used and that too is now in short supply, said pharmacist Natasha Horvat.

On Wednesday evening, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre confirmed nine new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland bring the total in the Republic to 43.

The HPSC was also informed on Wednesday that a patient diagnosed with Covid-19 in Ireland had died. This is the first recorded death relating to Covid-19 reported in Ireland.

It is understood that of the confirmed cases in Ireland, three are receiving treatment in ICU.

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," said Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, Department of Health. Mr Holohans mother Bridget Ryan Luke is originally from Cappamore and Mr Holohan lived in Annacotty for a period of time.

In a statement issued on Tuesday the Department of Education and Skills said that any decision to close schools will be made on public health advice and there is no such advice at this point.

It is understood that a number of schools and colleges across Limerick have taken measures to ensure the continuation of study for students and staff in the event of them being asked to stay at home.

A total of 11 patients were on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick this Wednesday, a stark contrast to the 92 patients that were on trolleys two months ago, on January 6.

The daily figure for people on trolleys over the past week has been consistently lower than the recent average rates prompting the question, are people staying away from the ED department as a result of the rising number of confirmed cases of coronavirus across the country?

A spokesperson for University Limerick Hospital Group said that the necessary absence of these staff (the 75 staff who have been in self-isolation) has resulted in the redeployment of other staff to keep essential services running. In de-escalating the site we have also increased discharges and transfers and this has freed up additional bed capacity in UHL, contributing to relatively low numbers of admitted patients waiting in ED.
Northampton Community College is joining other area colleges by extending its spring break until Monday, March 23, although online classes will resume March 16 as planned.

College President Mark Erickson sent a letter to the campus Thursday announcing the change out of an abundance of caution. The postponement only applies to face-to-face instruction.

This will allow our faculty to prepare for possible remote instruction while ensuring the college undergoes substantial cleaning of surfaces and common areas, Erickson said in the letter.

NCCs academic affairs team is working with staff to assess the feasibility of moving all coursework online.

As of March 12, there are no suspected or reported cases of coronavirus on any of NCCs campuses. The schools main campus is in Bethlehem Township, but it also has sites in Easton, Monroe County and South Bethlehem.

We understand that this is a challenging situation and new information emerges on a daily basis, Erickson said. Please know we are monitoring it closely and doing everything we can to protect the health and well-being of our community members.

The community college has temporarily suspended all college-related and sponsored international travel.

NCCs developed a response plan for its residence halls, including precautionary steps, student care and a quarantine protocol. Students who live on the Bethlehem Township campus will receive information directly about when they can return to campus.

The college is asking any students who have traveled abroad or been diagnosed with any contagious disease since March 1, 2020, to contact its student health center on the main campus, regardless of which campus they regularly attend.

Lehigh Carbon Community College, which is also on spring break, has not extended break or canceled classes, but the school warns on its website that it may need to transition to online instruction.

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.
What is even worse is that people like me, the political leaders, are not even seeing that we are in crisis and behaving and conducting ourselves as if we are in crisis. We are still moving around with our long robes, long convoys, having all sorts of parties as if things are normal.
Police are searching for a man who shot his wife three times Thursday on the Southwest Side, according to the San Antonio Police Department.

A side window near the rear of a No. 62 VIA bus was struck by one bullet during the incident. No one onboard the bus was injured.

Javier De Hoyos, 52, pulled up alongside for his estranged wifes vehicle as she drove to work near the 3500 block of South Gen. McMullen on Thursday. He fired several shots into her car, striking her three times, police said.

The 41-year-old woman fled and sought refuge inside the gates of what was Kelly AFB.

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She was fortunate enough to be able to drive onto base here and when she did that, he turned around and went the other way, SAPD Police Chief William McManus said.

The woman was transported to a hospital in stable condition.

De Hoyos, who already had a felony warrant out for his arrest for threatening to kill his wife, fled the initial scene. Police said he eventually crashed his car near the intersection of Saint Anne Street and West Ashby Place on the Northwest Side and then fired several rounds into the air.

Police said he then attempted to set a nearby house on fire and then fired more rounds into the air.

Witnesses last saw him on St. Ann Street. Police, along with the SWAT team, were searching for De Hoyos in that area. He has ties to a home on Cincinnati Avenue, and police believed he may have been barricaded inside. Neighbors were ordered to evacuate or shelter in place.

Around noon, police learned De Hoyos was not in the house but continued the search. They released his photo, noting he was last seen driving a 2000 black Ford F150 Harley Davidson truck with a Texas license plate: GMC0010.

If you see him or know his whereabouts, police ask that you do not make contact with him and call 9-1-1.

San Antonio police served De Hoyos with a protective order for his wife on March 5. The following day, he waited for her to leave work, then threatened her with a gun. She screamed and was able to escape. A felony warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was issued for his arrest on March 6.

On Thursday afternoon, as police pulled down yellow tape on St. Ann Street, Oscar Vasquez recalled the chaos that had erupted in his neighborhood northwest of downtown.

Vasquez said he heard two bursts of three gunshots fired into the air. He said the suspects daughter lives in the neighborhood.

The Mexican Mafia used to operate in the area, Vasquez said, noting that residents have to know how to dodge bullets. Vasquez pointed out St. Anns Catholic Church and Beacon Hill Academy, both of which are located steps away from where the police set up their cordon.

He said he was glad the students at the school were on vacation. Although he heard the shots, Vasquez did not see De Hoyos fire into the air or attempt to set a house on fire.

I was too far, he said. Im glad I was too far.

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
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the government over its handling of the economy and in tackling coronavirus, and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sleeping at the wheel

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the government over its handling of the economy and in tackling coronavirus, and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "sleeping at the wheel".

On the state of the economy, he said it is just the beginning of a "tsunami" and things would be worse going forward.

"We can see what is happening to stock market. The economy has been destroyed by the Modi government," Rahul told reporters outside Parliament.

"What we have seen is only the beginning of a tsunami, things will be worse," he said.

The prime minister is not speaking a word on the economy and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman does not understand economy, the former Congress chief alleged. He also said that coronavirus is seriously affecting the economy and it is already too late, but the government should take measures to minimise damage.
Akamai estimated that there were more than 2.4 million victims of phishing attacks over a four-month period (October 2019 to January 2020), but the firm suspects that the actual number could be even higher.

The firms research also discovered that the number of phishing attacks surged during the holiday season, particularly during Thanksgiving. Most of the phishing URLs were abusing media and ecommerce brands  they accounted for 84% of the URLs. Other notable URLs utilized for phishing included the financial, high tech, and dating industries.

In terms of victims, South America had the greatest number of individuals scammed by phishing. Akamai also found that the region with the next highest number of victims was South Asia, accounting for 28% of all phishing victims worldwide.

Phishing isnt going away any time soon, and the first and most fundamental step would be to better educate our peers, colleagues, and families to be suspicious and think twice before giving away sensitive information or downloading unknown files, the firm concluded in its report.
Sanders, a democratic socialist, also has promoted his campaign as a way to end high levels of income inequality in the nation. But among the 21% of Michiganders who said they were falling behind financially, they split virtually equally between the two men. And of the 74% of voters who said they thought the nations economic system was unfair, 50% backed Biden to 40% supporting Sanders.
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Chief Medical Writer

The new coronavirus can live in the air for several hours and on some surfaces for as long as two to three days, tests by U.S. government and other scientists have found.

Their work, published Wednesday, suggests people can get infected through the air as well as from touching things that were contaminated by others who have it, in addition to direct person-to-person contact.

Since emerging in China late last year, the new virus has infected more than 120,000 people worldwide and caused more than 4,300 deaths -- far more than the 2003 SARS outbreak caused by a genetically similar virus.

For the study, researchers used a nebulizer device to put samples of the new virus into the air, imitating what might happen if an infected person coughed or made the virus airborne some other way.

They found that viable virus could be detected up to three hours later in the air, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

Similar results were obtained from tests they did on the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak, so differences in durability of the viruses do not account for how much more widely the new one has spread, researchers say.

The tests were done by scientists from the National Institutes of Health, Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles, with funding from the U.S. government and the National Science Foundation.

The findings have not been reviewed by other scientists yet and were posted on a site where researchers can quickly share their work before publication.

"It's a solid piece of work that answers questions people have been asking," and shows the value and importance of the hygiene advice that public health officials have been stressing, said Julie Fischer, a microbiology professor at Georgetown University.

"What we need to be doing is washing our hands, being aware that people who are infected may be contaminating surfaces," and keeping hands away from the face, she said.

Marilynn Marchione can be followed on Twitter: @MMarchioneAP

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
WASHINGTON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Official 2020 White House Easter Eggs are now available for sale at shop.whitehousehistory.org. The limited-edition eggs will be given to children attending the White House Easter Egg Roll on April 13, 2020 and are available to the public for purchase while supplies last.

The Association is the exclusive retailer of the wooden American-made eggs and is honored to donate more than 26,000 to the White House for this year's annual Easter Egg Roll, as they have done in previous years.

The Official 2020 White House Easter Eggs

The 2020 Official White House Easter Eggs feature the White House North Portico on the front and the imprint of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's signatures on the back. The eggs come in four spring colors: blue, green, pink, and yellow. The special edition metallic gold egg features the presidential seal.

Individual eggs, in blue, green, pink, and yellow, retail for $8.50 each; the metallic gold egg retails for $14.95. The full set of five eggs retails for $34.95.

Eggs are available for purchase online at whitehousehistory.org and in the Association's Washington, D.C. retail stores.

Additionally, the Association will sell the eggs near the exit of the Easter Egg Roll on April 13, located near the Ellipse Visitor Center (closest intersection 15th and Pennsylvania Ave.).

Other NEW Easter Items!

The Association is also pleased to offer an assortment of new items in its 2020 Easter Collection.

About The White House Historical Association

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $50 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org.

SOURCE The White House Historical Association

Related Links

http://www.whitehousehistory.org


PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, the St. Maarten Chinese Community Foundation donated

140 individual boxes of assorted foodstuff to several community Foundations on Sint Maarten who provide assistance to vulnerable persons. These Foundations routinely provide food packages to assist those in our community who need this assistance.

As a proud member of the Sint Maarten community, the St. Maarten Chinese Community Foundation wanted to give back in the best way possible. We love Sint Maarten and because this is our home, we want to help out however we can. And now it is by helping to provide foodstuff to those that need it the most, stated Foundation President Johnny Mo.

Because distributing of food donations is not in the day-to-day operations of the St. Maarten Chinese Community Foundation, the board reached out to Emil Lee as former Minister of VSA who had the network to organize this donation. He contacted workers within the Department of Community Development, Family and Humanitarian Affairs (CDFHA) of the Ministry of VSA to assist. This department has extensive networks of relationships with Non-profit organizations and foundations that provide assistance to the vulnerable within the community.

According to Emil Lee, CDFHA is one of the most instrumental departments within Government and they provide boots on the ground assistance to the Community. After being notified, CDFHA came up with a plan for distribution in order to spread the

donation to those most in need. They settled on the 8 following organizations plus some of Social Services & CDFHAs clients. The Foundations that received the donation are The Methodist Church (Cole Bay & Philipsburg), Meals on Wheels, Belvedere Community Center, Christian Faith Ministry, Bible Baptist Church, South Reward Community Collective and the Seventh Day Adventist Church (Cole Bay). All the Foundations expressed appreciation when they received this donation to better assist the vulnerable in the community.

The St. Maarten Chinese Community Foundation would like to thank the Foundations for continuing to provide assistance to the community of Sint Maarten. We need to continue to work together to make Sint Maarten better, stated Foundation Secretary Kenneth Wong.
Professor Karin Keefe (on screen) teaching Introduction to Academic Discourse to a student who was using the wifi in the student lounge. Read more

Before spring break, Mark Rimple, who teaches a historical music class at West Chester University, collected his students Renaissance-age instruments for maintenance, assuming he would return the lutes, viols, recorders, and sackbuts (funny-looking trombones) when the students returned.

But they wont be coming back for class. Rimple will have to come up with another mode of instruction.

Its not going to be ideal for the students, he said. But its the only option we have right now.

Professors and instructors across the country are grappling with how to teach courses to thousands of students who will spend the next few weeks learning exclusively online after dozens of schools ranging from small schools to major universities have announced theyre asking students to leave campus and finish courses online as the coronavirus spreads.

Universities are now working to drastically scale up their online offerings using technological platforms that have never been tested at such high usage levels, all while trying to accommodate students without access to high-speed internet or unlimited data.

 READ MORE: Philly schools bought hand sanitizer with no alcohol to fight coronavirus. Teachers are concerned.

West Chester, the largest school in the Pennsylvania state system, was the first major university in the region to announce it is moving to virtual learning for the remainder of the semester. Temple, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Delaware followed suit Wednesday as officials in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware announced new cases of the coronavirus and the World Health Organization designated the spread as a global pandemic.

Some schools, including Villanova, Penn State, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore, will move learning online and reevaluate at a later date. The campuses will remain open, but all students who can go home are being asked to do so. Earlier this week, Rutgers, Princeton, Rowan, and Stockton also announced transitions to remote learning.

In an email to the Haverford community, school president Wendy Raymond acknowledged officials are traversing uncharted territory.

Though we have endeavored to anticipate likely problems and questions, she wrote, the operational plan is a work in progress and will no doubt require refinement and modification over the coming weeks.

Most schools already use a variety of tools to deliver education online, including learning-management systems that allow for instructors to communicate with students, post assignments, archive notes, and manage discussion forums.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus makes public events and even private gatherings risky, experts say

One of the most popular tools is Canvas, a cloud-based platform used by major schools including Rutgers and Penn State. Some other colleges self-host, meaning they manage their own server. Among the most popular platforms is Blackboard, which has both self-hosted and cloud-based offerings.

Schools that self-host are more likely to see glitches in the coming weeks, said Phil Hill, an education technology consultant and partner at the California-based firm MindWires. Hill said cloud-based platforms like Canvas are built for scalability," but any campus that is hosting these systems" could face challenges related to heavy usage.

He also warned that even cloud-based platforms arent a panacea  some schools are recommending instructors communicate with students using Zoom, the videoconferencing platform. Zoom is also popular for people who work from home, another group thats skyrocketing in size as communities work to limit social contact amid the spread of the coronavirus. [Zoom] is getting such heavy usage, he said.

Officials at Blackboard said any institutions ability to rapidly scale up their systems depends on what was in place before. The biggest concern is the pace with which these institutions are moving online, said Brent Mundy, senior product director of Blackboard Learn. He said the platform can handle the influx, but the biggest problem for schools will be their ability to train faculty, reorient students, [and] retool their help desk.

Instructors should avoid simply moving their courses online by posting videos of lectures and keeping assignments largely the same, higher-education experts said. Cathy N. Davidson, founding director of the Futures Initiative at the Graduate Center CUNY, said instructors should try to offer synchronous" learning, in which students in a class are online at the same time and responding to material in real time.

She warned the next few weeks wont be perfect. But offering additional collaboration for students is one simple thing you can do with very limited technology to make it a little better and a little more human so [students] dont feel alienated.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus leads hospitals to plan for surge in patients while urging sick doctors to stay home

As for the technology? The systems arent remotely designed for this quantity of response, she said.

Amy Slaton, a professor of history at Drexel University whose scholarship focuses on equity in education and technology, said online learning can easily default to a very top-down kind of model, where faculty provide material as if students are empty vessels."

She recommended instructors offer telephone and Skype office hours in addition to being reachable online.

Rimple, president of the faculty union at West Chester and a professor of music theory, history, and composition, said the university is working through how to offer some learning experiences, including clinicals, choir, and science labs.

Were going to have to meet these one-by-one and come up with solutions the best we can, he said, noting that the school has given professors two weeks to prepare. He estimated more than half of professors at West Chester have done some form of online teaching in the past.

John Baker, CEO of D2L, a Canada-based company that owns the cloud-based learning-management platform Brightspace, said the company has no trouble" scaling to meet the needs of 100% of our clients going 100% online, but theyre working now with clients to develop more advanced methods of instruction, including proctoring exams online.

Penn announced it plans to conduct final exams online, as will Drexel, which is on a quarter calendar and has final exams next week. Emma Frandsen, a freshman at Drexel, said her biggest concern about moving exams online is that professors will anticipate cheating and make the tests more challenging.

 READ MORE: Philly St. Patricks Parade organizer is 100% at peace with cancellation (even though he thinks people are overreacting) by Anna Orso, Updated: March 11, 2020- 2:05 PM

Miranda Russo, a junior, agreed, saying, Ethically, I dont think its right to make all exams online because that encourages students to utilize outside sources, and gives them an unfair advantage as opposed to students in other quarters.

But any unfair advantage has less to do with testing and more with access, some experts said. Slaton said we tend to assume online education is more democratic," but, she said, there are a lot of ways the coronavirus emergency is going to make those inequities more pronounced.

She said colleges must accommodate students without access to high-speed internet or unlimited data plans. Some platforms, like Brightspace, have off-line modes that would allow a student in theory to use public internet access to download lectures or assignments and then view them later while theyre off-line.

Slaton also noted students with disabilities could have additional challenges, as some platforms dont automatically have features like closed captioning or audio transcription.

She encouraged institutions of higher education to reflect on notions of rigor in a time of such mass community uncertainty.

One possible approach is just to really encourage thinking that says, Its not the amount of content that we provide, its the quality of the pedagogy,  she said. If the school covers less, that is really OK. We do not need to disadvantage students with conventional notions of what counts as rigor. We can be more flexible than we tend to be.
LONDON and NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MeiraGTx Holdings plc (MGTX), a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company, today announced financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2019 and provided an update on recent progress.

During 2019, the MeiraGTx team reached meaningful milestones, including the initiation of two new clinical trials and our entry into a collaboration with Janssen to develop and commercialize our pipeline of inherited retinal disease treatments, said Alexandria Forbes, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of MeiraGTx. We have treated patients across five gene therapy clinical trials in the last year and remain committed to developing cutting-edge science that we can translate into treatments for patients affected by severe diseases. Over the next year, we expect to move inherited retinal disease programs into late-stage studies, share preliminary data from our xerostomia program and file an IND to initiate the next clinical study of AAV-GAD for Parkinsons disease.

As of December 31, 2019, MeiraGTx had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $227.4 million. The Company believes this capital will be sufficient to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2022.

Recent Clinical Development Highlights and Anticipated 2020 Milestones

AAV-AQP1 for the treatment of Grade 2/3 Radiation-Induced Xerostomia:

MeiraGTx continues to activate clinical trial sites in the Companys recently initiated Phase 1/2 AQUAx study, with patients now being enrolled at three of five expected study sites. Dosing in the first cohort was completed in the first quarter of 2020.

The Companys single center Phase 1 dose-finding study of AAV-AQP1 also continues to enroll patients at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Enrollment in the fourth dose escalation cohort is now ongoing.

MeiraGTx expects to report preliminary data from the AQUAx clinical trial in the second half of 2020.

Story continues

Janssen-partnered investigational gene therapies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases:

In 2019, MeiraGTx and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Janssen), part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, entered into a worldwide collaboration and license agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize gene therapies for inherited retinal diseases, including MeiraGTxs ongoing Phase 1/2 studies of AAV-RPGR for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) and AAV-CNGB3 and AAV-CNGA3 for achromatopsia (ACHM).

In the first quarter of 2020, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted Priority Medicines (PRIME) and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) designations to AAV-RPGR. PRIME designation was granted based on clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial. To be awarded PRIME, a medicine must demonstrate potential to benefit patients with unmet medical needs based on early clinical data. MeiraGTx expects to engage with global regulatory authorities in 2020 with the goal of optimizing and accelerating the development of AAV-RPGR.

MeiraGTx expects to report data from the ongoing clinical trial of AAV-RPGR in 2020.

MeiraGTx continues to advance the Companys ongoing Phase 1/2 studies of AAV-CNGB3 and AAV-CNGA3 for the treatment of ACHM associated with mutations in the CNGB3 and CNGA3 genes.

AAV-GAD for the treatment of Parkinsons Disease:



MeiraGTx anticipates that the Company will file an Investigational New Drug application (IND) in the second half of 2020.

AAV-RPE65 for the treatment of RPE65-Associated Retinal Dystrophy:

In 2019, MeiraGTx presented data from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial which demonstrated that, in addition to meeting its primary endpoint of safety, AAV-RPE65 demonstrated statistically significant improvement across several assessments of visual function. MeiraGTx expects to meet with global regulatory authorities in 2020 to determine the regulatory pathway for AAV-RPE65.

For more information related to our clinical trials, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov

Recent Corporate Development Highlights and Anticipated 2020 Milestones

Second Viral Vector Manufacturing Facility and Plasmid Production Facility

MeiraGTx has completed feasibility studies for a second cGMP viral vector manufacturing facility and a cGMP plasmid production facility.

The Company anticipates that its plasmid production facility will be operational by the end of 2020 and expects to initiate construction of its viral vector facility in mid-2020.

Expanding Clinical, Regulatory, Manufacturing, MSAT and Preclinical Development Teams

MeiraGTx continues to substantially increase key personnel across functional areas to support the Companys broad pipeline of optimized investigational gene therapies. The MeiraGTx team now includes more than 155 full-time employees.

Financial Results

Cash and cash equivalents were $227.4 million as of December 31, 2019, compared to $68.1 million as of December 31, 2018.

Research and development expenses were $24.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $33.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease of $8.7 million was primarily due to research funding provided to us under the Janssen collaboration agreements in the amount of $27.9 million and an increase in the research and development credit in the United Kingdom of $8.6 million. These were partially offset by increases in costs related to our ocular and xerostomia clinical trials, clinical trial material manufacturing, restructuring of certain licenses, payroll, share-based compensation and rent.

General and administrative expenses were $46.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $44.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase of $2.2 million was primarily due to increases in legal fees, rent, insurance, consulting fees, travel expenses, director fees and other general and administrative expenses, which was partially offset by decreases in share-based compensation and payroll.

Foreign currency gain was $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to a loss of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The change of $7.6 million was primarily due to a strengthening of the pound sterling against the U.S. dollar in 2019.

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $54.8 million, or $1.65 basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share, compared to a net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of $84.7 million, or $4.47 basic and diluted net loss per ordinary share for the year ended December 31, 2018.

About MeiraGTx

MeiraGTx (MGTX) is a vertically integrated, clinical stage gene therapy company with six programs in clinical development and a broad pipeline of preclinical and research programs. MeiraGTx has core capabilities in viral vector design and optimization and gene therapy manufacturing, as well as a potentially transformative gene regulation technology. Led by an experienced management team, MeiraGTx has taken a portfolio approach by licensing, acquiring and developing technologies that give depth across both product candidates and indications. MeiraGTxs initial focus is on three distinct areas of unmet medical need: inherited retinal diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and severe forms of xerostomia. Though initially focusing on the eye, central nervous system and salivary gland, MeiraGTx intends to expand its focus in the future to develop additional gene therapy treatments for patients suffering from a range of serious diseases.

For more information, please visit www.meiragtx.com .

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our product candidate development and anticipated 2020 milestones regarding our pre-clinical and clinical data and reporting of such data and the timing of results of data, as well as statements that include the words expect, intend, plan, believe, project, forecast, estimate, may, should, anticipate and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our incurrence of significant losses; any inability to achieve or maintain profitability, acquire additional capital, identify additional and develop existing product candidates, successfully execute strategic priorities, bring product candidates to market, expansion of our manufacturing facilities and processes, successfully enroll patients in and complete clinical trials, accurately predict growth assumptions, recognize benefits of any orphan drug designations, retain key personnel or attract qualified employees, or incur expected levels of operating expenses; failure of early data to predict eventual outcomes; failure to obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for product candidates within expected time frames or at all; the novel nature and impact of negative public opinion of gene therapy; failure to comply with ongoing regulatory obligations; contamination or shortage of raw materials or other manufacturing issues; changes in healthcare laws; risks associated with our international operations; significant competition in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; dependence on third parties; risks related to intellectual property; changes in tax policy or treatment; our ability to utilize our loss and tax credit carryforwards; litigation risks; and the other important factors discussed under the caption Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. These and other important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent managements estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, unless required by law, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. Thus, one should not assume that our silence over time means that actual events are bearing out as expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contacts

Investors:

MeiraGTx

Elizabeth Broder

(646) 860-7983

Investors@meiragtx.com

or

Media:

W2O pure

Christiana Pascale

(212) 267-6722

cpascale@purecommunications.com





MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 2018 License revenue - related party $ 13,291,956 $  Operating expenses: General and administrative $ 46,684,297 $ 44,483,938 Research and development 24,875,659 33,620,223 Total operating expenses 71,559,956 78,104,161 Loss from operations (58,268,000 ) (78,104,161 ) Other non-operating income (expense): Foreign currency gain (loss) 3,199,774 (3,824,383 ) Change in fair value of warrant liability  (1,514,775 ) Other income  83,075 Interest income 370,603 53,408 Interest expense (48,612 ) (33,429 ) Loss before income taxes (54,746,235 ) (83,340,265 ) Benefit for income taxes  474,391 Net loss (54,746,235 ) (82,865,874 ) Other comprehensive (loss) income: Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $0 and $474,391 in 2019 and 2018, respectively (2,087,708 ) 2,316,143 Total comprehensive loss $ (56,833,943 ) $ (80,549,731 ) Net loss $ (54,746,235 ) $ (82,865,874 ) Accretion on convertible preferred C shares and warrants  (1,806,512 ) Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders $ (54,746,235 ) $ (84,672,386 ) Basic and diluted adjusted net loss per ordinary share $ (1.65 ) $ (4.47 ) Weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding 33,161,860 18,948,520





MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 13:45:43|Editor: mingmei

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Local people select goods at a supermarket in Beirut, capital of Lebanon, March 11, 2020. Lebanon's Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 61 and a second death case caused by the virus was registered. With the spread of COVID-19 in Lebanon, Lebanese began to rush to buy food and other daily supplies. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)
GARDAI will patrol shops and pharmacies as part of crowd control measures in the wake of Coronavirus restrictions.

Senior management in Dublin have directed gardai to focus on the environs of supermarkets and chemists following widespread bulk buying in stores across the city.

The measure is being taken to provide comfort and reassurance to communities that Gardai will maintain order to engage with members of the community to reduce any fears.

The directive was issued by the Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) yesterday.

Gardai will also help with facilitating the resupply of shops and should be employed to facilitate this if necessary.

All resources should be used to optimise and reassure the communities by providing a uniformed presence on the street, it adds.

Sources have also told the Herald that Garda public order units will be deployed on a 24/7 basis across the six Dublin divisions over the coming weeks.

The measures are all part of an effort to increase high-visibility policing.

Earlier Ministers appealed to people not to panic-buy insisting supply chains are secure and saying were better than that.

There are already reports of long queues at supermarkets as people seek to stockpile due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Shops will remain open despite the restrictions on schools and universities.

Health Minister Simon Harris said of the rush on supermarkets: The reason this is presumably happening is that people in our country are worried, and they want to make provision for themselves, for their family and particularly perhaps for their older and vulnerable relatives.

Meanwhile, Irish soldiers have been instructed to be packed and ready for deployment by their commanders as the country tries to get to grips with the Coronavirus.

All non-essential activities have been suspended under a move to support the authorities in a raft of measures to try to contain the spread of the virus.

In a letter send by the Herald, members of the Defence Forces have been instructed to have their back-pack in barracks from next Monday, and to be packed and ready for deployment with an immediate notice to move.

They have been instructed to have their packs to be prepared for 72 hours in the field.

This includes wet gear, warm clothing, 72 hours of rations, water, sleeping bag and bivvie bag, a change of clothing and hygiene and first aid kit.

The Defence Forces confirmed that it has notified personnel of the impending changes to our force posture.

All non-essential activities have been suspended. Our focus now is to maximise our preparedness to respond to requests for assistance from the Civil Authorities, it said in a statement.

Protecting our personnel is our priority and is key to maintaining our capability to provide support to communities and civil authorities, when requested, it added.

The statement said that for operational security reasons, it would not comment on specific dispositions of troops or on internal unit procedures.

While no specific role was identified in the instructions in relation to Coronavirus, security expert Declan Power said it the move to ready the Defence Forces was not unusual when you consider the situation we are now in.

In general this is a standard enough approach, to be on hand to give support to the State, said Mr Power.

He anticipated that the army could fulfill functions such as transport of medical and other supplies if the capacity of existing transport networks gets pressurised.

In a sense that would be like the operations they undertake in harsh weather conditions, said Mr Power.

He said the Defence Forces would be a capable force to work in adverse or difficult conditions and could adapt to many roles including logistics and admin support.

Public order is not something that we expect to be a problem, but people can get panicked like we have seen with bulk buying in shops. We are not on lockdown like China or Italy, but if things went in that direction the Defence Forces may be required in implementing quarantine zones, said Mr Power.
SPRINGFIELD- A fire that started in a couch in a Quincy Street home caused $20,000 damage and killed a dog that was trapped inside, a fire official said.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Drew Piemonte said firefighters were able to rescue two other dogs and one cat from the home at 199 Quincy St. but were unable to revive the third dog.

No one else was injured.

The fire was reported just before noon, minutes after firefighters were also dispatched to a house fire on Hawthorne Street in Six Corners.

Investigators determined the fire started in a sofa, due to the careless disposal of smoking materials.

A photo of the interior provided by the fire department shows two heavily burned sofas and the walls blackened by smoke.

3/12/2020 - A fire department photo of the interior of 199 Quincy St. A sofa fire caused $20,000 damage

The home, a single-family, 1-story wood frame, is owned by Deluca Development Corp. of West Springfield, according to city records. It has a total assessed value of $86,000.

The home is located on a section of Quincy Street between Hancock Street and Eastern Avenue.
You may assume that your salary is enough to make you eligible for a sizeable home loan. But there are many other factors that come into play.

Kalpesh Kapoor, a 32-year-old Pune resident, works as an Information Technology consultant with a multi-national company (MNC). He has a masters degree and has a net annual salary of Rs 13 lakh (approximately). In November 2019, he had applied for a home loan of Rs 1.2 crore, expecting it to get sanctioned smoothly. But, the financial institution only sanctioned a home loan of Rs 70 lakh (approximately) to Kalpesh.

This was because he had a history of frequently switching jobs. Also, he had gaps (being unemployed) for two to three months a couple of times in his seven years of work experience. Until now, he has changed six jobs. The banks representative had stated that his frequent moves meant that his income and the ability to consistently pay the EMIs was strained.

Here are some important factors to note to judge your loan eligibility.

Banks calculation methodology

Earlier, some public sector and private banks had indicated to Kalpesh that he could get a home loan of up to 15 times of his net annual income. This got him excited. Then he, applied at public sector bank in November 2019 which was offering repo-rate linked home loan. He submitted the requisite documents such as three months salary slips, past employment details, bank statements, last three years income tax returns (ITRs), etc. But as mentioned earlier, his loan eligibility was scaled down. The primary reason was inconsistent employment history as discussed above. The other reason that reduced his home loan eligibility was the break-up of net income given in his salary slip. There were some allowances that were excluded as per the banks terms.

Kalpeshs pay-slip from his present employer included the basic salary, house rent allowance (HRA), medical allowance, leave travel allowance (LTA), performance bonus, special allowance, provident fund, food coupons and other allowances. But, financial institutions consider only a few of these components when it comes to net income calculation for deriving home loan eligibility. This is the other reason why loan eligibility reduces.

Shalini Gupta, Co-founder and Chief strategy officer of MyLoanCare.in says, Financial institutions exclude LTA, medical allowance and food coupons. Its because these are reimbursement mechanisms which can be claimed only after submitting bills of expenditure. These are not fixed monthly income. Thus, the net income to calculate home loan eligibility is total income, less (LTA + medical allowance + food coupons).

The cost to company (CTC) will have annual bonus as another component. Different banks have different policies for considering bonus while calculating the home loan eligibility. Sukanya Kumar, Founder and Director of home loan advisory firm, RetailLending.com says, Some banks consider 50 per cent bonus received in the previous year to calculate home loan eligibility. Whereas, a few banks consider the average of the last two years bonus received and take 50 per cent of that amount. However, in case you changed the job during the financial year, then last year bonus is broadly not considered by the bank in the calculation for loan eligibility.

Age and remaining years of service

When you apply for a home loan, the lender checks for two things, your willingness to repay the loan and your ability to repay it. Home loan eligibility is directly related to the loan tenure. The tenure is based on your age, and your ability to repay within a certain period. For a salaried person, the retirement age of 60 years is taken into account, while for self-employed borrowers, the lenders consider a retirement age of 65 years. So, a borrower in her 40s will have a maximum of 15-20 years to repay the loan. Adhil Shetty, CEO of an online aggregator of financial products BankBazaar.com says, The situation, wherein years of service are less to repay the loan, can reduce your home loan eligibility since you have to shell out larger monthly instalment closer to retirement.

Other conditions that reduce home loan eligibility

There are instances of employees taking loans from their employers for education or medical emergency, etc. These loans are not reflected in the credit report, but are mentioned in your pay-slip. Kumar says, The 'deduction' section in your pay-slip will show the monthly amount payable by you against the loan; this will be captured by the credit evaluator of the bank and reduce your home loan eligibility.

A higher number of dependents can also reduce home loan eligibility. A lender expects higher monthly expenditure on dependents than a standard nuclear family, reducing the eligible loan amount.
Lots of people love ranch dressing. But some people really, really, really love it.

And for those people, Hidden Valley  the company that invented ranch dressing is about to offer it on tap.

For one day only, the brand is debuting actual beer taps that will pour not ale or lager but thick, creamy, tasty ranch dressing at several bars in New York City.

Pour a glass! For one day only, Hidden Valley is debuting actual beer taps that will pour not ale or lager but ranch dressing at several bars in New York City

VIP: Fans can buy tickets for $54, which will get then into four different locations

According to the brand, March is 'National Ranch Month'  and in honor of the occasion, they've announced the first-ever Ranch on Tap Tour.

On May 13, Hidden Valley is teaming up with comedian Fortune Feimster to crash 'American Craft Beer Week.'

The brand will bring tapped kegs of ranch dressing to four bars and restaurants in lower Manhattan: Emmy's Squared, Central Bar, Sweetwater Social, and The Wren.

Fans can buy tickets for $54, which will get them one drink at each of the four stops  plus bar bites that go well with ranch dressing, like fries, pizza, and wings.

What's more, proceeds will be donated to the New York Food Bank, which distributes free food to 1.5 millions of New Yorkers ever year.

Chug, chug, chug! Hidden Valley previously sold kegs of ranch online for $50

Some party: They also had a ranch fountain, which was sold with a festive skirt for $110 around the holidays; like the keg, it came with a 'year's supply' of dressing (12 bottles)

While the tour is new for Hidden Valley, the brand actually sold kegs of ranch for the holidays in 2018.

The five-liter keg cost $50 and was filled with the creamy salad topper

With a height of 9.7 inches and a diameter is 6.3 inches, the keg also had a special coating to keep the dressing tasting fresh.

Perhaps most importantly, though, the $50 price tag included a year supply of Hidden Valley Ranch, which made it quite a bargain for people who go through a lot of it  even if the keg itself might only be appropriate for a party catered entirely with crudites and chicken wings.

The keg was sold at Flavour Gallery, which also has plenty of other swag.

Fancy: In honor of Prince Harry's wedding, they gave away a comissoned bottle of ranch dressing valued at $35,000 to a lucky winner on Twitter

This sauce is rich! It was covered in 18k white gold set with diamonds and sapphires

Bling bling: In March of 2017, Hidden Valley and Flavour Gallery released this rhinestone-covered ranch dressing bottle for $50 (it has since sold out)

Previously, they sold a Hidden Valley-branded ranch dressing fountain for $110, which held 2lb. of dressing and also came with a year supply.

Most expensive of all, though, were the two special jewel-encrusted bottles the brand had comissioned in honor of the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Valued at a whopping $35,000 each, one bottle was 'sent on a journey overseas' while the other was given away to a lucky winner.

The bottle looked a bit like a fancy glass decanter, except for the Hidden Valley Ranch logo on the front. Sapphires crawled up the sides and around the neck, and the stopper was made of 18k white gold set with diamonds.

'Hidden Valley Ranch is honoring the great pairing of a fellow famous American with British royalty, as well as those who royally love ranch, with a diamond, sapphire and 18 carat white gold encrusted glass bottle  the only way to serve America's favorite ranch to royalty,' read a press release.

For those looking for a similar design and a lower price, there was also a rhinestone-covered version that was sold  and sold out  for $50.
DENVER, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PDC Energy, Inc. (PDC or the Company) (PDCE) announced today an operational update and changes to its 2020 guidance and 2021 outlook.



The Company expects to reduce its full-year capital investments by 20 to 25 percent compared to its original guidance range of $1.0 to $1.1 billion and projects free cash flow(1) in excess of $150 million for the year. Production is now expected to average similar levels as pro forma 2019 volumes of approximately 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, while oil production is expected to average approximately 73,000 barrels per day. Both total production and oil production estimates reflect the mid-January closing date of the Companys merger with SRC Energy.

The Company will continue to monitor the near and long-term commodity price environment and has short-term contracts with further flexibility to adjust its development plan should it deem necessary. Given the current conditions, PDC expects to slow its pace of previously planned share repurchases while prioritizing its financial strength and liquidity. Additionally, the Company continues to scrutinize its cost structure with a goal of maintaining its peer-leading metrics. PDC plans to provide a detailed update to its 2020 guidance in the coming weeks.

Operating Plan Changes:

Upon completion of the current pad, the Company plans to release its Delaware Basin completion crew for the remainder of 2020, deferring ten to 15 previously planned wells into 2021.





The Company plans to operate one drilling rig in the Delaware Basin for the remainder of 2020, opting not to deploy a second drilling rig in the second half of 2020, as originally planned.





In the Wattenberg Field, PDC plans to reduce its activity during the second quarter of 2020 from three drilling rigs and two completion crews to two drilling rigs and one completion crew.

Consistent with current strip pricing, PDCs updated operating plan considers a WTI oil price of $35 per barrel for the remainder of 2020 and approximately $40 per barrel in 2021. Similarly, it assumes NYMEX natural gas prices of approximately $2 per Mcf for the remainder of 2020 and $2.40 per Mcf in 2021 with NGL realizations between $7 and $9 per barrel in both years. The Company has swaps and collars in place for nearly 60 percent of its updated projected 2020 oil production at a weighted-average floor price of approximately $58 per barrel.

Story continues

President and CEO Bart Brookman commented, We have taken immediate action in response to the current and expected price weakness to prioritize our balance sheet and liquidity. We are well-prepared for this scenario as the resilience and strength of our assets are on full display as we project to generate free cash flow while maintaining our production base. Meanwhile, our ability to return capital to shareholders through both debt retirement and opportunistically buying back stock in this environment is truly differentiating. Im extremely proud of our team for demonstrating the hard work, commitment and flexibility needed to thrive in this volatile market.

PDCs updated 2021 outlook assumes maintaining a two rig, one completion crew pace in Wattenberg while operating one rig and a part-time completion crew in the Delaware Basin. Utilizing the price assumptions outlined above would result in full-year capital investments similar to the updated 2020 plan and free cash flow in excess of $200 million. Production and oil production for 2021 are expected to increase modestly on a daily basis compared to the updated 2020 plan.

About PDC Energy, Inc.

PDC Energy, Inc. is a domestic independent exploration and production company that acquires, produces, develops, and explores for crude oil, natural gas, and NGLs, with operations in the Wattenberg Field in Colorado and in the Delaware Basin in West Texas. Its operations are focused on the liquid-rich horizontal Niobrara and Codell plays in the Wattenberg Field and the liquid-rich Wolfcamp zones in the Delaware Basin.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") regarding our business plans, outlook, financial condition and other prospects. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are "forward-looking statements." Words such as expect, anticipate, intend, plan, believe, seek, estimate, schedule and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements herein. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future: production, costs and cash flows; commodity prices and differentials; capital expenditures and projects; cash flows from operations relative to future capital investments; our stock repurchase program, which may be modified or discontinued at any time.

The above statements are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements herein. Although forward-looking statements contained in this report reflect our good faith judgment, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to us. Forward-looking statements are always subject to risks and uncertainties, and become subject to greater levels of risk and uncertainty as they address matters further into the future. In this release and accompanying materials, we may use the term outlook or similar terms or expressions, or indicate that we have modeled certain future scenarios. We typically use these terms to indicate our current thoughts on possible outcomes relating to our business or the industry in periods beyond the current fiscal year. Because such statements relate to events or conditions further in the future, they are subject to increased levels of uncertainty.

We urge you to carefully review and consider the cautionary statements and disclosures, specifically those under the heading Risk Factors, made in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 27, 2020, and our other filings with the SEC for further information on risks and uncertainties that could affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, which are incorporated by this reference as though fully set forth herein. We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect any event or circumstance occurring after the date of this press release or currently unknown facts or conditions or the occurrence of unanticipated events. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

(1) As used in this news release, free cash flow, a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, means net cash from operating activities, excluding changes in working capital, less oil and gas capital investments. We are unable to present a reconciliation of forward-looking free cash flow because components of the calculation, including fluctuations in working capital accounts, are inherently unpredictable. Moreover, estimating the most directly comparable GAAP measure with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. We believe that forward-looking estimates of free cash flow are important to investors because they assist in the analysis of our ability to generate cash from our operations in excess of capital investments in crude oil and natural gas properties.

Contacts: Michael Edwards

Senior Director Investor Relations

303-860-5820

michael.edwards@pdce.com

Kyle Sourk

Manager Investor Relations

303-318-6150

kyle.sourk@pdce.com
(Hedgeco.net) The Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

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 Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Sections 206(1), 206(2), 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-8 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act). The SECs complaint also charges Williams, in the alternative, with aiding and abetting Kinetic Groups violations of Sections 206(1), 206(2), 206(4) and Rule 206(4)-8 of the Advisers Act. The SEC seeks injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains, with pre-judgment interest, and financial penalties against the defendants.
New Delhi, March 12 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has hit back at former Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim ONeill for criticising India over steps to tackle coronavirus.

Vijay Chauthaiwale, BJP Foreign Affairs Department in-charge, in a letter to O'Neill said he needed to "re-evaluate" his opinion.

"I deplore the remark made by you, underestimating the proactive efforts and efficiency of the Indian government in countering coronavirus outbreak and evacuating Indians from the affected areas of the world," he said.

Stating that India is a democracy, Chauthaiwale said "free flow of information acts as a catalyst in such unfortunate eventualities" and asked O'Neill to re-evaluate the Indian health system "with an open mind".

Chauthaiwale also suggested that China might have suppressed real facts.

O'Neill had said, "Thank god, this didn't start in India," as he praised the Chinese efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Narendra Modi government quickly acted and announced a host of measures, including temporary suspension of tourist visas and mandatory quarantine for people arriving from abroad.

Earlier in the day, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba wrote to Secretaries of all ministries suggesting specific instructions to deal with the situation.

So far, coronavirus has infected 73 people in India.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Rome closes Ciampino airport as Italy goes into total shutdown.

Italy has shut down Rome's Ciampino airport, home to several low-cost airlines, as well as the main terminal at Fiumicino, the capital's main airport.

The decision comes as Italy battles to contain the spread of a worsening Coronavirus outbreak that has led the country to declare a total shutdown.

The COVID-19 crisis has also devastated air traffic, particularly in Italy, with a string of international carriers pulling out of the country over the last 10 days.

Ciampino, best known for hosting Ryanair, will close on 14 March while Terminal 1 at Fiumicino will cease operations on 17 March.

All check-ins, security checks and baggage reclaim will now be carried out at Terminal 3.

"The decision has become necessary due to the multiple flight cancellations to and from Italy announced by many airlines that normally operate at both Rome airports," said airport authority Aeroporti di Roma (ADR).

Cargo aviation activities will remain unchanged and ADR stated that the passenger terminals at Fiumicino and Ciampino would "resume normal operations as soon as the current state of emergency is over."

The move comes as Italy's Coronavirus crisis registers 827 deaths with more than 12,000 people infected since the outbreak began less than three weeks ago.

Photo credit: bellena / Shutterstock.com
Palpable fear gripped Ekiti State on Thursday as strong indications emerged Governor Kayode Fayemi was allegedly making moves to dethrone the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe and 10 other aggrieved prominent traditional rulers in the state otherwise called pelupelu Obas.

The affected Obas include Ewi of Ado-Ekiti Oba Rufus Adejugbe; Oloye of Oye Oba Oluwole Ademolaju; Elekole of Ikole Oba Adewumi Fasiku; Elemure of Emure Oba Emmanuel Ogunleye; Ajero of Ijero Oba Joseph Adewole; Alara of Aramoko, Oba Adegoke Adeyemi.

Others are: Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti Oba Samuel Adejimi; Olomuo of Omuo Oba Noah Omonigbehin; Alaaye of Efon Oba Emmanuel Aladejare; Ologotun of Oguntun Oba Samuel Oyebade and Olujudo of Ido-Faboro, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro.



The monarchs, according to a reliable source in the Government House, Ado-Ekiti, might be dethroned for their absence at Government functions and Obas Councils statutory meetings.

There has been an intractable crisis between Fayemi and the most prominent traditional rulers over the rejection of Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, as the new chairman of Ekiti traditional Council.

The prominent monarchs had on August 9 instituted litigation with registration number HAD/76/2019 before an Ado-Ekiti High Court, challenging the appointment of Oba Alabi by Governor Fayemi.

In a writ of summons file, the 17 Obas urged the court to reverse Fayemis action on the premise that Alawe was not recognised by statute to chair the council.

They claimed they had the exclusive rights to head the council, among the 22 members, in line with the extant tradition and the State Chieftaincy Laws.

The aggrieved 17 monarchs said they were opposed to the appointment and threatened they wont attend the inauguration of Alawe as Council Chairman and any meeting of the council where he presides.

However, five out of the 17 aggrieved prominent monarchs- Onisan of Isan Ekiti Oba Gabriel Adejuwon; Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, Oba Abdulmumin Orisagbemi; Onitaji of Itaji-Ekiti Oba Idowu Babalola; Owa of Oke-Imesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji and Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, Oba Ajayi Adetunji back-pedaled and have been attending the council meeting presided over by Oba Alabi.

But, since the appointment was made on July 31, the other 11 aggrieved Obas, shunned the council meeting and government function owing to the impression that Alawe was politically promoted to that rank and that he was not qualified to occupy the exalted seat.

The source noted the monarchs might be dethroned soon for allegedly desecrating the proper administration of chieftaincy matters and taking dissident actions and inactions against the Fayemi-led administration.

I think Mr. Governor has directed the ministry of local government and chieftaincy matters to issue a query to them demanding explanation on their absence at the statutory Council meeting and government function they were invited to.

As things stand now, the affected 11 prominent traditional rulers might be dethroned if they failed to respond to the query issued them.

Since the crisis began, different reconciliation moves has been made by Governor Fayemi, the Minister of Trade, Investment and Commerce, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and particularly the Ekiti State Council of Elders. But all efforts to broker peace were obviously rejected by the warring obas.

The Governor at different meetings told them that his actions on the appointment of Oba Alabi were based on the existing Ekiti State chieftaincy records.

And that officially there are 22 Pelupelu obas in the record. And that he didnt elevate any Obas to Pelupelu status.

But could you believe, the remaining 11 monarchs because of their backers have refused to attend Council meetings, Mr Governors first year anniversary, the turning of sod of the council chambers, budget presentation and other engagement they were invited since August last year.

They even requested for out- of- court settlement on the litigation instituted against Governor Fayemi and His Excellency agreed. But they have not made any overtures to the government for out of court settlement.

So, the Government has now rejected it since it has been uncovered that the aggrieved monarchs are just using out-of court settlement plea as delay tactics to frustrate the two years tenure of Oba Alabi, which has spent 8 months.

So, in view of that the government is not ready for dilly-dally anymore. And the Government can no longer fold its hands when this people keep desecrating the administration of Chieftaincy matters in the state.

The governor has been quite tolerant and amiable. How many Governors can accept that for six months?

Former Emir, Lamido Sanusi didnt do up to that before he was deposed. And one of the accusations levied against Sanusi was that he shunned official state functions.

And it was learnt from good authority that Ewi of Ado-Ekiti has provided sanctuary for them.

Ewi is holding illegal meeting of dissident Obas in his place and plotting against the government. The governor has been very tolerant for their actions and inactions.

Source: The Nation

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Orlando Bloom has announced that production on series two of his hit Amazon Prime series Carnival Row has been halted amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The actor posted a video on Instagram on Thursday from the Prague set of the show, surrounded by his castmates as he said: 'It's farewell from us as we go home to be quarantined.'

The British actor, who is expecting his first child with fiancee Katy Perry, added that production had shut down to allow cast and crew to head home to the US before President Trump's travel ban from Europe comes into effect from midnight on Friday.

Shut down: Orlando Bloom has announced that production on series two of his hit Amazon Prime series Carnival Row has been halted amid the coronavirus outbreak

'We're coming home to the States, at least I'm coming home to the States because we want to get in before the quarantine,' he explained as his co-stars toasted the news with shots in the background.

'Big love everybody, stay safe out there. Self quarantine. It seems really crazy actually this whole corona thing but do the right thing by you and your family and stay safe.'

The actor, who looked in good spirits, ended the video by declaring: 'A few weeks, we'll beat this bad boy.'

Coming home: The actor posted a video on Instagram on Thursday from the Prague set, surrounded by his castmates as he said: 'It's farewell from us as we go home to be quarantined'

Orlando stars in the Amazon series with Cara Delevingne, with filming taking place in Prague and Dubrovnik among other European locations.

The first nine-episode series, created by Travis Beacham, is set in a Victorian-era fantasy world where mythological immigrant creatures have been driven from their homelands by humans.

Despite the struggle for the groups to coexist, Cara and Orlando's characters are set to embark on a forbidden romance.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he was ordering an immediate shut-down of all travel from Europe to the United States from midnight on Friday to try to stop the spread of coronavirus in the US.

'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced, conceding that world health officials had now declared the health crisis a pandemic after insisting for days that it would 'go away' and urging Americans not to panic.

Cheers! 'I'm coming home to the States because we want to get in before the quarantine,' he explained as his co-stars toasted the news with shots in the background

The ban will apply to travelers who have visited 26 countries in the EU's Schengen border-free area in the last 14 days, but not travelers from the UK or Ireland, or to US citizens, American permanent residents and their immediate family members.

Vice President Mike Pence said on Thursday morning that all Americans returning from Europe would be asked to quarantine when they return.

While Orlando has been filming in Europe, his pregnant fiancee Katy Perry has been working in Australia, performing at a bushfire recovery concert in regional Victoria, on Wednesday night.

Last week, Katy revealed via her new music video Never Worn White, that she and Orlando are expecting their first child.

Stocking up for coronavirus! While Orlando has been filming in Europe, his pregnant fiancee Katy Perry has been working in Australia, performing at a bushfire recovery concert in regional Victoria, on Wednesday

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson became the first high profile Hollywood stars to reveal they had tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday evening.

The Forrest Gump actor and his wife, both 63, announced the positive test results on Instagram urging the public to 'take care'.

The couple are currently in the Gold Coast, Australia where the Oscar winner is filming an untitled Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis Presley film produced by Warner Bros.

Hanks revealed he and his wife experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.
Five of the country's largest industry funds are backing companies that use fracking, a controversial resource extraction technique that has divided governments and communities over the potential contamination risk it poses to land and water.

Major superannuation fund AustralianSuper has more than $891 million invested in companies that use fracking, over half of which is invested in three major players leading a mission to use the technique in large basins in northern Australia: Santos, Origin and Inpex.

Moves to lift bans on fracking in Australia has been met with fierce community resistance.

The $172.4 billion fund also offers a sustainable investment option that screens out companies that directly own fossil fuels. But this fund option does not extend to private equity and was revealed to have millions invested in fossil fuel producers, including two American resource companies that frack for oil and gas  Jonah Energy and Chaparral Energy.

Chaparral Energy and Chesapeake, another company AustralianSuper invests in, have been on the receiving end of court action, with landowners alleging fracking had caused a spike in the number of earthquakes in Oklahoma which caused insurance premiums to jump 260 per cent in three years.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and state cabinet minister Nawab Malik on Thursday said that there is a difference between Union Home Minister Amit Shah's words and actions with regard to the Delhi violence.

"Amit Shah said people who died in Delhi riots were Indians and not Hindus and Muslims. What he speaks and what he does, there is a difference. Every BJP leader speaks on the floor of the house in a different manner and works in a different way. People have died; temples and mosques have been burnt," Malik told ANI.

"Amit Shah is saying that the situation was controlled in 72 hours. Why was there silence for three days? Why the police did not take any action? He said that he was busy while Trump visited his constituency. The home minister is not for their own constituency but for the country. He said that people came from outside which means that it was pre-planned. It was the Gujarat model. Nobody is convinced with his reply, "he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Amit Shah said that there was "a deep conspiracy" behind the Delhi riots and no one will be spared who is guilty of violence irrespective of his religion, caste or party.

Replying to the debate in the Lok Sabha on Delhi violence, Shah said that there was a provocation to indulge in communal violence during the visit of US President Donald Trump.

At least 53 persons died, including IB officer Ankit Sharma and Constable Rattan Lal in the violence that took place in North-East Delhi last month.

Malik also emphasized that his party will not support NPR. "We have decided that in the format of 2020 we are not supporting the Population Register (NPR)," he said.

On the issue of containing the spread of coronavirus, malik said, "We have decided that we will not hold any public rallies or meetings. We appeal to everyone not to hold any large gatherings to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. We have to follow government guidelines.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Phuket Town gold necklace thief chased down, caught in citizens arrest

PHUKET: Local people made a citizens arrest yesterday after a 21-year-old man stole two necklaces from a Phuket Town gold shop. The man stole the necklaces from the shop after had pawned his girlfriends gold necklace to a different gold shop and she had nagged him to get it back.

crimepolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 12 March 2020, 01:11PM

Taveesuk was taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged. Photo: via Eakkapop Thongtub

Taveesuk was taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged. Photo: via Eakkapop Thongtub

The men chased down Taveesuk and finally caught him some 500 metres away. Screenshot: via Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuket City Police Chief Col Theerawat Liamsuwan said his officers were called to a vacant lot beside a building in the Soi Hap Ek area at around 1pm yesterday (Mar 11), where they were handed over Phuket native Taveesuk Pliaoket, 21, who had been chased down and arrested by three men.

The men explained that Taveesuk had stolen two gold necklaces from a gold shop opposite the Robinson Department Store on Tilok-U-Thit 1 Rd some 500 metres away.

Col Theerawat said he did not even know the mens names. They were just people who were near the gold shop when the staff raised the alarm, he said.

The necklaces together were valued at just over B100,000, Col Theerawat added.

At Phuket City Police Station, Taveesuk told police that he had pawned his girlfriends gold necklace at gold shop, but later his girlfriend asked him to get it back.

Taveesuk didnt have the money to buy back his girlfriends necklace, and so decided to go to the

Yaowarat G2 Gold Shop opposite the Robinson store and ask to see several necklaces, before running away with two necklaces in hand.

Staff at the gold shop set off the alarm and shouted out for Taveesuk stop, prompting the three men to chase after him, Col Theerawat said.

Two of them chased Taveesuk on foot, and one of them was on a motorbike, he added.

Col Theerawat confirmed that Taveesuk has been charged with theft.

Id like to take thank the men who chased down and caught Taveesuk, and the gold shop for following our suggestion for having an alarm installed, he added.
This is the moment a man was rescued by the crew of an American commercial ship in the Caribbean Sea, after he spent 48 hours in the water after falling off a boat.

The 37-year-old Costa Rica national said he had picked up a free ride from his native country to Panama on Sunday to report for work, according to the Colombian Navy.

The man said he sought help from the boat's crew when he went overboard due to rough weather conditions.

However, the change of being rescued were dramatically reduced as the weather worsened in the Caribbean Sea.

The Costa Rica man said he was traveling on a boat from his native country to Panama for work on Sunday when he was tossed off the vessel by the rough weather conditions. He spent 48 hours in the Caribbean Sea and drifted all the way to Colombia, 47 nautical miles off the coast of the Cartagena Bay where he was spotted by an American merchant ship

The 37-year-old Costa Rican hangs on to a lifebuoy that was tossed to him

Doctors diagnosed the Central American man with hypothermia and dehydration after he spent 48 hours in the Caribbean Sea after he fell off a boat that was transporting him from Costa Rica to Panama

The passenger, whose name was withheld by Colombian authorities, was eventually spotted Wednesday by a South Carolina merchant vessel that was was traveling 47 nautical miles north of the Cartagena Bay.

Images show him hanging on to a lifebuoy moments after the American crew answered his cries for help.

The ship's crew brought him aboard and alerted the Colombian Maritime Traffic Control Tower.

A member of Colombia's Navy along with the Costa Rica man is lifted into a helicopter after he spent two days in the Caribbean Sea

A South Carolina merchant ship that was traveling via the Caribbean Sea saved a Costa Rican man who fell off a boat Sunday and spent 48 hours floating in the sea

The Costa Rican man was diagnosed with hypothermia and dehydration, and remained hospitalized at the Cartagena Naval Hospital as of Thursday

A navy helicopter was dispatched to the zone and airlifted the sick man to the Bolivar ARC Naval Base before transporting him to the Cartagena Navy Hospital.

The Costa Rican man was diagnosed with hypothermia and dehydration, and remained hospitalized as of Thursday.

'The Colombian Navy will continue with the development of search and rescue operations that will safeguard human life at sea, while thanking the community of sailors who in a timely manner alert the maritime authority about emergencies on the high seas, contributing to the operation that guarantees safety in the rivers, coasts and seas of the Colombian Caribbean,' Colombia's Navy said in a statement Thursday.

The Costa Rican man was flown to Bolivar ARC Naval Base and later transferred to the Cartagena Navy Hospital
Easyjet has been accused of cashing in on FlyBe's collapse by charging more for some domestic routes than flying to Australia.

The airline is charging customers up to 860 for a return flight from Birmingham to Belfast next weekend.

But long haul flyers can currently get to Australia and back for just over 600.

Easyjet has been accused of cashing in on FlyBe's collapse by charging more for some domestic routes than flying to Australia

The airline is charging customers up to 860 for a return flight from Birmingham to Belfast next weekend. But long haul flyers can currently get to Australia and back for just over 600

FlyBe went into administration last week and passengers have since taken to social media to complain about EasyJet's price hikes on many of Flybe's former routes.

A one-way flight from the Isle of Man to Liverpool has rocketed to 470, despite the flight only being in the air for around 20 minutes.

A flight from Glasgow to Belfast for this weekend will set customers back 354, and a return from Edinburgh to Bristol could set passengers back by up to 563.

Long haul flyers can currently get to Australia and back for just over 600

FlyBe went into administration last week and EasyJet were among airlines quick to snap up their routes between regional UK airports

A Bristol to Glasgow return this weekend will cost up to 331, and a one-way flight from Manchester to Belfast this week is on the market for as much as 310.

One social media user posted a picture of a price hike online, captioning: '860 to fly from Birmingham to Belfast.

'Way to stick the arm in @easyJet following the collapse of @flybe. Travelling to Northern Ireland is going to get very expensive!'

A one-way flight from the Isle of Man to Liverpool has rocketed to 470, despite the flight only being in the air for around 20 minutes

A flight from Glasgow to Bristol for this weekend will set customers back 330, and a return from Edinburgh to Bristol could set passengers back by up to 563

British Airways will fly tourists from London Heathrow to Sydney, Australia, with one connection flight in Singapore, on Friday for a week from just 627.

They will also fly passengers from Heathrow to the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean on the same dates, with just one stopover, for 613.

For the same week, Lufthansa is selling flights to Cape Town, South Africa, from 436 - with just one stop off in Munich.

Another furious customer said they bought Flybe tickets from Belfast to Birmingham for 65 two weeks ago, which easyJet have now hiked up to 535.

He posted a screenshot on Twitter, writing: 'I appreciate costs go up due to demand. But I booked these flights two weeks ago (before Flybe close) for 65 return.

'But can EasyJet really get away with charging this now people have no other choice?'

One angry social media user wrote: 'EasyJet, how can you justify the price of a flight from Manchester to Belfast at costing that? Seriously? Capitalising off Flybe going out of business much?'

Another angry person on Twitter said Easyjet was engaging in 'profiteering'

A third social media user posted a snap from easyJet's website, saying: 'Look at the effect the demise of Flybe has had on Island communities and the profiteering by @easyJet - 382 for a 20 min flight from the Isle of Man to Liverpool mid-week and 151 return as the cheapest.

'Flybe had the contract to fly cancer patients to/from LPL. Profiteering and holding Island communities who rely on these links to ransom is completely unacceptable.

'I know. Some of the fares I have seen are over 500 from the Isle of Man to Liverpool at short notice on an Island Facebook page. No shame.'

Another furious customer said they bought Flybe tickets from Belfast to Birmingham for 65 two weeks ago, which easyJet have now hiked up to 535

Sharing a screenshot of a one-way flight for 310, a fourth social media user added: 'EasyJet, how can you justify the price of a flight from Manchester to Belfast at costing that? Seriously? Capitalising off Flybe going out of business much?

An Easyjet spokesman told MailOnline: 'As with all airlines, our pricing is demand-led, which means that as more seats are booked on a flight the price will rise so our fares start low and increase the closer it is to the date of departure.

'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 the Isle of Man to Liverpool starting from 24.99 from Birmingham to Belfast from 49.99 and Manchester to Belfast from 56.99.'

Flybe went into administration after a bid for fresh financial support failed.

The Exeter-based airline, which operated almost 40% of UK domestic flights, collapsed as the Government stalled on a controversial 100m loan.

Manchester, Southampton and Birmingham airports had the highest number of Flybe departures, with more than 200 flights each a week.

Around 80 percent of the flights from Belfast City airport were operated by Flybe.

The firm's collapse last week saw around 2,300 people lose their jobs and left thousands of passengers stranded across Europe.

The firm's collapse last week saw around 2,300 people lose their jobs and left thousands of passengers stranded across Europe

Some holidaymakers told how they were kicked off planes after hours of waiting on the tarmac waiting for take-off.

Flybe went into administration after a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus 'made a difficult situation worse'.

The firm had been in financial difficulties and was saved from going bust by the Government earlier this year.

CEO of Flybe Mark Anderson tells of his 'enormous sadness' as he tells staff of closure Its with enormous sadness and a deep feeling of sorrow that I share the upsetting news that Flybe is shortly being put into Administration. Despite every effort, we now have no alternative  having failed to find a feasible solution to allow us to keep trading. I expect Ernst & Young (EY) to be appointed as Administrators and once official they will be in contact to explain the situation and next steps. I do appreciate how distressing this news is and the shock and numbness that you will be feeling. Despite your hard work, commitment and some amazing results which we have delivered, and have been achieving up to the last day of operation  particularly for our customers who depend on us across the country, we have come to the end of the road. While our shareholders and the Leadership Team have worked with the Government and key suppliers to try to get the funding and support needed, this has not materialised. The coronavirus has impacted both our shareholders and ourselves and has put additional pressure on an already difficult situation. I am very sorry that we have not been able to secure the funding needed to continue to deliver our turnaround plan. Although I have only had the honour of being your CEO for 8 months, its been an incredible privilege to lead such an amazing team of people and the Flybe family. I could not have asked for more  your unwavering commitment, support and resilience to deliver for our customers has been truly inspiring. I am just so sorry that we have not been able to see this through. I feel so proud of you and want to take this opportunity to thank you and wish you the very best for the future. Advertisement

A series of issues had affected the airline's finances, including rising fuel costs, falling demand, competition from road, rail and other airlines, plus a weakening of the pound.

It was bought by a consortium comprising Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital in February 2019, but continued to make losses.

As part of the January rescue deal, it agreed an arrangement to defer tax payments of 'less than 10 million' with HM Revenue and Customs.

Ministers also agreed to hold a review into Air Passenger Duty (APD).

APD adds 26 to the price of most return domestic flights such as those operated by Flybe.

Flybe served around 170 destinations and had a major presence at UK airports such as Aberdeen, Belfast City, Manchester and Southampton.

It flew the most UK domestic routes between airports outside London.

Cabin crew working on one of Flybe's last ever flights told passengers they hoped to take-off before authorities 'change their mind' during the carrier's chaotic final hours.

Confused staff were heard apologising for delays over the on-board loud speaker as it emerged the airline had plunged into administration while others were told they had lost their jobs as planes sat on the runway.

Final flights were either grounded minutes before take-off or diverted to the nearest airport in mid-air so the planes could be impounded.

Passengers were sent texts at 2am informing them of cancellations.

One air hostess was recorded on a Belfast bound flight as it sat on the tarmac at Manchester airport thanking passengers 'for their patience' while they worked through a 'difficult situation with the airport authorities and the airlines management.'

She added: 'We are so sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you and we thank you very much for your patience.

'We are getting ready to go now, so please make sure all your phones are back off, seatbelts are back on, and we shall get moving as soon as we possibly can before they change their mind.'
Members of farmers' body detained in Lucknow for trying to burn effigies of PM Modi, Shah

Anti citizenship law posters: Is there a law to back UP governments action

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 12: The Supreme Court told the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday that as of now, there was no law that could back their action of putting up roadside posters of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests in Lucknow.

An apex court bench refused to stay the March 9 Allahabad High Court order directing the Yogi Adityanath administration to remove the posters.

The top court, which grilled the Uttar Pradesh government for putting up such posters in public, described the plea as a matter that needed "further elaboration and consideration".

A vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose said a "bench of sufficient strength" would consider next week the Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against the Allahabad High Court order directing the state administration to remove the posters of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests.

It directed the court registry to put up the case file before Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde so that a "bench of sufficient strength can be constituted at the earliest to hear and consider" the case next week.

Blast at Lucknow court, several lawyers injured

During the hearing, the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, that it was a matter of "great importance".

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

It asked Mehta whether the state government had the power to put up such posters.

The top court, however, said there was no doubt that action should be taken against rioters and they should be punished.

Mehta told the court that the posters were put up as a "deterrent" and the hoardings only said that these persons were liable to pay for their alleged acts during the violence.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for former IPS officer S R Darapuri whose poster has also been affixed in Lucknow, told the bench that the state was duty-bound to show the authority of law backing its action.

He said the action of the Uttar Pradesh government amounted to a "mega blanket" approach of naming and shaming these persons without final adjudication and it was an open invitation to common men to lynch them as the posters also had their addresses and photographs.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 16:14 [IST]
New York state banned public gatherings of 500 or more people which is effective from Friday afternoon amid the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Thursday (local time).

"No gathering with 500 people or more," Cuomo said at a press briefing.

"Those new rules will go into effect five o'clock on Friday, except for the Broadway theaters in Manhattan, where it will go into effect, five o'clock today," he added.

The new measure exempts schools, hospitals, nursing homes and mass transit and will remain enforced for the "foreseeable future," Cuomo said. Additionally, nursing homes across the state will prohibit entry of all visitors for the time being.

The restriction will help to reduce occupancy by 50 per cent and, therefore, surge the number of people in a contagious environment, the governor explained.

Meanwhile, Cuomo said that the state needs to plan an emergency health management system and increase the reserved medical staffing capacity, including by employing medics from the National Guard and identifying health care professionals at medical schools.

"We are asking former doctors and nurses to reconnect with your old hospital, old healthcare employer, to be on an on-call basis," he added.

The state is also in the process of assessing temporary hospital facilities to expand physical space in case if such action is needed.

On Thursday, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New York has reached 328, making the state the second most impacted one in the United States after Washington with 338 cases.

On Wednesday, New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade was postponed, for the first time in more than 250 years that the event was held, to stop the spread of the virus.

The number of people who tested positive for the COVID-19 in New York City has climbed to 95.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Portland police rescued an unresponsive baby from a home in the citys Lents neighborhood on Wednesday night.

Someone called 911, screaming for help, and officers found an unresponsive baby who was blue in the face, according to police.

Officers gave back blows to the baby and performed mouth sweeps, police said. They cleared rice from the babys airway, and the baby started breathing again.

The baby was taken to a hospital and is doing well, police said.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
THE City of Winnipeg will further reform its planning, property and development department  a branch thats faced intense scrutiny in the wake of municipal inspectors being accused of devoting work hours to extended breaks and personal chores.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE City of Winnipeg will further reform its planning, property and development department  a branch thats faced intense scrutiny in the wake of municipal inspectors being accused of devoting work hours to extended breaks and personal chores.

The city found merit to the claims last fall, which led eight staff to be fired, seven to be suspended, and five others to face less serious consequences.

Now Winnipeg will invest millions, through funds included in the preliminary 2020-23 budget, to further revamp the department and improve customer service, said John Kiernan, planning, property and development director.

"This really, for us, is about reimagining how we do business and how private developers get approvals from the City of Winnipeg," Kiernan said Wednesday.

The spending would include $4.2 million to digitize the permit process, making all permits available online within about three years. The city expects that process to reduce 10 full-time staff positions by 2023, likely with employees moving to new roles, and spark $1 million of annual savings.

Kiernan warned the early digitization price estimate is subject to change, but hes confident the process would cut much of the wait for homeowners who wish to complete small renovations.

"It means that people dont have to come in and wait in our office for two hours if they dont have an appointment. Theyll be able to do it online We want to reduce pain points to be able to get a permit," the director said.

While some online services are already offered, Kiernan said the expansion should make it more accessible.

A civic report says city hall is already addressing worker productivity concerns by adding mileage claim audits and more daily oversight.

Winnipeg has ruled out switching key staff to city fleet vehicles from personal ones, however, after estimating it would cost $650,000 per year. Staff now wear uniforms, display city placards on vehicles and carry technology that tracks location and appointments.

"Were not using (tracking) to monitor staff on a day-to-day basis If there is a complaint, weve had some (who say), The inspector wasnt there on time, we can go back and pull the information," said Kiernan.

New investments will also include $823,000 of added operating costs in 2021, which would rise to $1.4 million per year in 2022 to support the digital changes. Another $50,000 per year is earmarked in the chief administrative officers budget for external reviews of city departments, beginning in 2021.

The city also plans to spend $135,000 each year, starting in 2021, to help create a leadership training program.

The original allegations against staff came after a concerned citizens group hired a private investigator to track 16 inspectors in early 2019. The resulting report was released to media in April, prompting a city hall investigation.

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John Prystanski, a lawyer who represents the anonymous group that commissioned the surveillance report, said hes "cautiously optimistic" about the citys plan.

"Theyre using this as an opportunity to make systemic change," he said Wednesday.

The lawyer said hed still like greater detail on how the city will resolve disputes between inspectors and clients, since the group accused some inspectors of abusing their power.

Meanwhile, a union leader confirmed penalties for "most" of the staff who were fired or suspended are still being grieved. Gord Delbridge, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500, said the union referred the matter for arbitration.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
News flash: Politicians of all parties are finally uniting to face what they view as the biggest challenge to humanity today.

But what about tomorrows challenge? Imagine if the above headline applied not merely to the viral pandemic declared Wednesday, but to the contagion of global warming that lies ahead  and demands urgent action now?

While its reassuring to see the world rallying over the novel coronavirus, its depressing to see so little worrying about carbon. Why are we commendably vigilant against viral loads of aerosolized droplets but lamentably oblivious to greenhouse gas emissions?

Both have the potential to ruin our lives. But only one of those vectors has resonated with people across the political spectrum and crossed all geographic boundaries.

As a thought experiment, its worth examining how our instinct for self-preservation as a species inspires us to come together against an imminent menace emanating from our own bodies, but not the carbon boomeranging from our factories

We need to learn from that cognitive dissonance and political disconnect. How to analyze our laser focus on coronavirus and blind spot on global warming?

It comes as no surprise that politicians latch on to short-term threats versus long-term planning horizons, for they are prisoners of the perennial election cycle. But is there a way to energize political leadership and attenuate partisanship?

In our little corner of our interconnected world, politicians from all four parties in the legislature huddled in the premiers office Wednesday to discuss Ontarios current health-care challenges and future plans. Doug Ford hosted the NDPs Andrea Horwath, the Liberals John Fraser, and the Green partys Mike Schreiner for a civilized COVID-19 conversation.

What if they were also on the same wavelength on climate change rather than at cross-purposes? Why cant politicians of the left and right reunite on a prescription they once agreed on  notably carbon pricing to influence market behaviour?

Most politicians know better. They just assume the rest of us dont  or wont engage on global warming because its too remote, too far away or far off in the future.

We need to rethink the way we think about future peril versus present-day danger. Only then can we galvanize more people  and ultimately more politicians  into action.

It is slowly sinking in that natural disasters, or acts of God, are increasingly man-made disasters. News coverage now routinely connects weather events to global warming, from the raging fires in Australia to the flood zones of North America.

Yet the abstraction of global warming cant compete with rising death tolls in nursing homes, quarantines in cruise ships, cancellations of conferences, disruptions to supply chains (or food chains) and panic buying. Images of loved ones in body bags, patients in surgical masks and health workers in haz-mat suits cant compare to diplomats in business suits droning on about global temperatures rising to the next decimal point .

Despite that mismatch, there will still be spillover and cross-pollination between our coronavirus pandemic and our carbon peril, for better or for worse:

First, the chain reaction of infection reminds us of how interconnected we are in a globalized world. Problems in China affect people in Iran and Italy, South Korea and Canada  and require solutions both global and local, whether the problem is medical or environmental.

Second, the economic disruptions from quarantines and travel restrictions have dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions in China and other countries where factories are shutting down and airplanes have been grounded. Thats a reminder of how much carbon we spew in the best of times, but also how costly decarbonization can be in the worst of times.

Third, we may adapt new behaviours for outdated habits. Business travel is being dialed down, forcing interlocutors to dial into teleconferencing and log onto FaceTime; in time, we may reassess the need for global conferences that can be transacted long distance.

Fourth, its not just just-in-time delivery and business travel but discretionary travel that will be reassessed. Are all those Caribbean vacations and European jaunts justifiable or sustainable? Theres no easy answer (my own carbon debt is irredeemable), but the global tourism boom will boost carbon emissions just as it bolstered coronavirus transmission.

The threats from carbon and coronavirus are different yet similar. The challenge is to realize how differently we perceive them, and how similarly we must respond to them.

By some estimates, 50 to 70 per cent of the worlds population may be infected by the virus. By every estimate, 100 per cent of the worlds population will be affected by global warming.

Different threat perceptions. Dramatically different responses.

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[March 12, 2020] Alibaba Cloud Supports Retailers with E-commerce Solutions to Fight Against Coronavirus Impact

HANGZHOU, China, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Cloud, the data intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, is to deliver a series of e-commerce solutions to businesses that are adversely impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. These tailored solutions will enable retailers to launch a B2C e-commerce platform as quickly as within five days. The Alibaba Cloud e-commerce solutions provide a set of plug-and-play Alibaba Cloud products and solutions in the computing, databases, multimedia and video livestreaming, collaboration, and security and data analytics to help retailers rapidly launch an e-commerce business. "The global retail industry has been hit hard by the widespread outbreak of the novel coronavirus, with businesses encountering a variety of challenges including limited access to supplies, decreasing consumer demand and foot traffic. Retailers are in urgent need of a digital enterprise platform and ready-to-deploy e-commerce system to continue growing their businesses despite the uncertainty. Alibaba Cloud is committed to supporting retailers amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Our suite of solutions is to facilitate this process quickly and securely, making e-commerce a sustainable option for offline retailers to carry on with business as usual," said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. The core benefit of Alibaba Cloud's e-commerce solutions is the ability for retailers to upgrade to omnichannel shopping experience within days. Alibaba Cloudexperts with rich experience in e-commerce will provide remote hands-on training with a focus on time to market. The solutions support three business models: business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C), and online-to-offline (O2O). Businesses can launch a B2C platform in five days and a B2B2C or an O2O platform in less than 25 days.



Lin Qingxuan, a cosmetics company based in China, was one of many brands severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Having to temporarily close half its store locations, coupled with a drastic decline in physical store traffic, Lin Qingxuan's sales plummeted by 90% during the 2020 Chinese New Year shopping season. However, with the help of Alibaba Cloud's e-commerce solutions, Lin Qingxuan was able to transform its business model. The company began hosting livestreaming sessions to recommend products on e-commerce channels. The livestreaming on Valentine's Day attracted over 60,000 viewers and sold out more than 400,000 bottles of camellia oil. By leveraging collaboration tools like DingTalk, Lin Qingxuan's shopping advisors can offer personalized customer service online.

"Alibaba Cloud's e-commerce solutions helped us quickly kick off digital transformation when the traditional retail environment was no longer viable due to the coronavirus outbreak. With hands-on training from Alibaba experts, we were able to quickly pick up livestreaming skills, conduct resource planning and implement omnichannel customer service, which helped us achieve great accomplishments during this unusual time. It helped us realize that business can be easily conducted in this new digital path," said Sun Laichun, founder of Lin Qingxuan. Alibaba Cloud launched a dedicated campaign to support businesses to fight against the coronavirus through technology. Eligible organizations will be offered $1000 cloud credits and can sign-up e-commerce solutions for free for 3-months. For more information, please visit https://www.alibabacloud.com/campaign/supports-your-business-anytime. About Alibaba Cloud Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com), the data intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, is among the world's top three IaaS providers, according to Gartner. It is also the largest provider of public cloud services in China, according to IDC. Alibaba Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of cloud computing services to businesses worldwide, including merchants doing business on Alibaba Group marketplaces, start-ups, corporations and public services. Alibaba Cloud is the official Cloud Services Partner of the International Olympic Committee. SOURCE Alibaba Cloud

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated the appeal to stop the custom of shaking hands at funerals as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus disease [COVID-19].



In a televised national address Wednesday evening, President Akufo-Addo insisted there was the need to revisit the custom of shaking hands and stop doing so completely.



Reiterating his call of 6th March, and as advised by the Ministry of Health, the President appealed to Ghanaians to revisit the custom of shaking hands, and stop doing so completely, and added that all Ghanaians must cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.



This fight, fellow Ghanaians, cannot be that of Government alone. It is for all of us. I urge the media to join this cause fully, and help disseminate effectively information on the dos and donts of the disease. The information to be put out, however, must be that approved by health authorities, and not just from any piece of literature found on the internet, as false materials are already being spread from other jurisdictions, he said.



Touching on the production of the logistics required to prevent and combat the virus, the President revealed that the government has begun to engage with the domestic pharmaceutical industry to assist in this regard.



Indeed, we must take advantage of this crisis to strengthen our domestic productive capacity, so we can advance our self-reliance, and reduce our dependence on foreign imports. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, he added.



President Akufo-Addo extended his appreciation to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and friends of Ghana for the assistance they have, so far, provided, and for the pledges made in support of Ghanas fight against the virus.



We shall continue to work with them to defeat the spread of the virus. I am confident that, together, with all hands on deck, we will be successful in weathering this storm, he added.



Background



The new strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019 and has since spread to 109 countries and territories.



WHO figures show that it has affected 113,702 people and killed 4,012.



Italy, with a population of over 60 million, where there is a large population of Ghanaians, has locked down the entire country, while the Chancellor of Germany, Ms Angela Merkel, has expressed fears that the virus would affect up to 70 per cent of the German population.



There are reported outbreaks in all of Ghanas neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire and Togo.



Entry points



President Akufo-Addo, who recently visited the Kotoka International Airport and some hospitals designated for the management of the disease to assess their readiness, said Ghanas entry points, such as the airports and land borders, continued to show satisfactory preparedness.



He said they were ready to screen all entrants into the country, with the Ministry of Health designating facilities that could hold infected persons, while regional hospitals were preparing isolation centres for holding suspected cases.



Research institutions



He gave the assurance that the countrys two main research institutions, the Noguchi Memorial Institute and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, which had the capacity to investigate and confirm or otherwise suspected cases of coronavirus infections, had been very supportive in that regard.



President Akufo-Addo noted that so far those two institutions had found that the 57 suspected cases, as of yesterday had all proved negative.



Travel ban



President Akufo-Addo last Tuesday ordered the suspension of all international travels by public officials, except for critical assignments which would have to be authorised by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President.



He also asked all public officials to remain within the jurisdiction, until further notice.



Addressing the nation, he urged appointees and others to resort to video conferencing facilities and other technological tools whenever possible for international engagements.



Protocols



The President disclosed that he had instructed further improvements of the protocols for in-bound traffic from already affected countries and urged Ghanaians to, as much as possible, desist from all foreign travels, except the most critical ones, until there was a firm grip on the spread of the virus.



Education



President Akufo-Addo announced that the Ministry of Information had been tasked to lead a nationwide public education campaign on preventive measures to ensure the control of the spread of the infection, should the country record any.



He reiterated his March 6 call on Ghanaians to heed the advice by the Ministry of Health for citizens to revisit the custom of shaking hands, and stop doing so completely, adding that all Ghanaians must cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing.



The President appealed to civil society organisations, schools, universities, faith-based organisations and places of large public gatherings, such as classrooms, lecture halls, meetings, parties and funerals, to put in place mechanisms to caution and assist patrons on basic preventive measures.



Appeal



This fight, fellow Ghanaians, cannot be that of the government alone. It is for all of us. I urge the media to join this cause fully and help disseminate effective information on the dos and donts of the disease.



The information to be put out, however, must be that approved by health authorities and not just from any piece of literature found on the Internet, as false materials are already being spread from other jurisdictions, the President urged.



President Akufo-Addo also urged Ghanaians to continue to observe the basic preventive behaviour such as washing of hands regularly, using alcohol-based sanitisers, stopping shaking hands, and avoiding unnecessary close body contacts.



Economy



The President gave the assurance that the government was analysing the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the local economy and would trigger the relevant responses to minimise it.



Touching on the production of the logistics required to prevent and combat the virus, the President revealed that the government had begun engaging with the domestic pharmaceutical industry to assist in that regard.



Indeed, we must take advantage of this crisis to strengthen our domestic productive capacity, so we can advance our self-reliance, and reduce our dependence on foreign imports. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, President Akufo-Addo added.



He extended his appreciation to the WHO, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and friends of the country for the assistance they had so far provided, and for the pledges made in support of Ghanas fight against COVID-19.



We shall continue to work with them to defeat the spread of the virus. I am confident that, together, with all hands on deck, we will be successful in weathering this storm, he added.

Source: Daily Graphic









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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
Four men have been arrested for allegedly killing four other persons and dumping their bodies in drains during the communal violence in northeast Delhi's Gokalpuri area last month, police said on Thursday.

The accused were identified as Pankaj Sharma, Lokesh, Sumit and Ankit, they said.

Four bodies were fished out of Bhagirathi Vihar and Johripur drains by the Delhi police on February 27, they said.

According to police, on February 23 as the situation turned tensed in the area, brothers Amir Ali (31) and Hashim (19) went to their maternal home for safety. After two days, their father Babu Khan, a tailor, asked them to return as the situation had apparently become normal.

Both Amir and Hashim reached Gokalpuri area at about 9.30 PM on a motorcycle and asked their brother Sheruddin to come out in the lane, as they were terrified. But they never reached their home.

On February 28, when the family reached Gokalpuri police station, they learnt that Amir and Hashim were killed and their bodies and burnt motorcycle thrown into the Bhagirathi Vihar drain by rioters.

In another case, on February 25, Musharraf was dragged out of his second floor house in front of his wife and children by rioters. He was beaten to death and his body thrown in the Bhagirathi Vihar drain.

The body was identified by his wife Malika. They have three minor children and lived in a rented house, a senior police officer said.

In another case, Aqil Ahmed, a car mechanic by profession, left his house at Loni in Ghaziabad to meet his brother-in-law at New Mustafabad but he never reached there, the officer said.

When his wife Zahira could not contact him over the phone, she along with her husband's relative came to Delhi where, with the help of police, she identified her husband's body at the GTB mortuary, he said.

Ahmed is survived by his wife and four children, he added.

The four cases have been sent by the police to the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA) for compensation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) many of us have had to alter our routines in order to reduce the potential spread of the virus. While the immediate health risk of COVID-19 is considered low for workers in non-health care settings and other places where there is a decreased risk of exposure, we want to make you aware of some of the resources and information about what your business can do to prepare should any sort of pandemic affect your workplace.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidance for businesses and employers to plan and respond to COVID-19. There is a lot of helpful information on CDCs website (cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html) including a prerecorded conference call with a health professional from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. During this call, a question is raised about what to do when there is a suspected or confirmed case in shared spaces like the workplace. The doctor responded by saying that so far this virus is thought to be spread mainly via respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes) from people who are in close contact. The doctor recommended that employers encourage sick employees to stay at home and to separate sick employees in the workplace. Although surfaces are not thought to be the main mode of viral transmission, performing basic, routine cleaning of touched surfaces was recommended as well.

What about that conference overseas? The CDC recommends taking precautions when traveling. You can check the CDCs Travelers Health Notices page for current guides and recommendations for each country to which you are traveling. This page has a tool for travelers and clinicians that provides detailed information about travel health notices, vaccines and health and safety advice for specific foreign destinations. What if you have travel plans within the continental U.S.? Is it safe to travel by air in the U.S. even though the coronavirus is not here in large proportions? The CDC says there is no reason for people to change their travel plans within the United States and recommends the usual precautionary measures when traveling:

 Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

 Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

 Wash your hands frequently.

Of course, these are the things we should always be doing to prevent the spread of illness.

If neither you nor your employees plan to travel, theres still work to do to keep your place of business healthy. Flu season, a more common reality here in Cayuga County, remains a concern for all employers each year. Widespread illnesses like influenza can impact attendance and performance in the workplace, and no business owner wants to contribute to the spread of viruses in your front lobby, retail space, workshop, etc. The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration lists guidelines to reduce workers exposure to seasonal flu virus on their website (osha.gov/dts/guidance/flu/nonhealthcare.html). The list includes much of the same advice, including detailed information and suggestions about promoting vaccination, hand-washing and cough etiquette, educating workers about the flu, and perhaps most importantly, developing a policy for workers and clients who become ill in the workplace. OSHA keeps this page updated, and there are also links to useful CDC resources on the page.

This impact of this virus can be seen as a wake-up call to businesses to look at their own policies and guides for dealing with infectious diseases so that your business will be ready when community transmission of illness can affect your workplace. You dont want to be trying to figure out these specific issues when an employee comes down with the first case. Now is the time to make sure you have a plan in place for how to continue operations if a large percentage of your workforce takes a sick day. You should also take a look at sick leave and cleaning policies to ensure that they are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and communicate with your employees about those policies. Like I always tell my kids at home, you are never too busy to wash your hands.

Devon Roblee is marketing coordinator for the Cayuga Economic Development Agency. Contact her at (315) 252-3500 or droblee@cayugaeda.org. For more information, visit cayugaeda.org or stop at the agency's offices at 2 State St., Auburn.
Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday arrested Editor-In-Chief of Jang and Geo Media Group Mir Shakil-ur Rehman in connection with a case pertaining to the purchase of a 54-kanal piece of land 34 years ago.

Rahman appeared before the NAB's investigation team in Lahore on Thursday but reportedly failed to give satisfactory answers to the questions, following which he was arrested.

Rahman will be produced before an accountability court by the NAB on Friday to seek his physical remand as per a report by ARY News.

Meanwhile, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif have condemned Rehman's arrest, with the latter saying that he "can smell revenge" in the action.

Geo News quoted Bilawal's spokesperson Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar as saying, "We have been pointing out NAB's attitude of exacting political revenge since day one. Imran Khan is using NAB to target people he does not like."

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed its "deep concern" over the arrest, saying that there remains a strong suspicion that "such actions by NAB are selective, arbitrary and politically motivated."

"The journalist community sees this as yet another attempt to gag a beleaguered independent press. HRCP demands that the government should immediately take steps to address this issue and prove its commitment to #pressfreedom,' the HRCP tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Wang Ying, China Daily | Mar. 11, 2020

Airline pilot Fabio Andre De Carli, 53, finally returned to Wuhan, Hubei province, to join his family on Feb 15-25 days after he left the city for work.

"I am so glad that I can be home with my family and healthy," said De Carli, a Brazilian who works for China Eastern Airlines.

Despite Wuhan's status as an epidemic hotspot, De Carli and his family decided to stay when the Brazilian government evacuated Brazilian nationals last month.

"Wuhan is our city, and China is our country now. We're living here," said the veteran pilot, who joined the Shanghai-based carrier's Wuhan division in April 2018.

In December, De Carli learned about the outbreak in the city, but he said he and his wife did not worry.

"The authority is doing their best to overcome the epidemic, and the number of confirmed cases is decreasing, too. I think maybe in the near future we can go back to work," he said.

De Carli was assigned to fly from Wuhan to Qingdao, Shandong province, and return on Jan 23, but he said he did not think the return trip would take so long.

After arriving in Qingdao, De Carli was told that Wuhan's airport was closed for epidemic containment, so he stayed in Qingdao overnight and flew to Shanghai on the second day, waiting for available flights to Wuhan.

But on Jan 26, De Carli was required to be quarantined in the hotel in Shanghai for 14 days because one passenger on their flight from Wuhan to Qingdao was suspected of having caught the virus. He said his family, friends and colleagues helped him stay strong.

"Quarantine was the most memorable experience I've had," De Carli said. "I tried to keep calm."

He said he spent an hour exercising daily, such as walking in circles in the 15-square-meter hotel room, and hours on the phone with his wife and two boys in Wuhan as well as taking calls from friends.

"As the day went by, I gained more control of my anxiety," he said.

To De Carli's surprise, he was able to have a small birthday celebration on Feb 3 after his colleagues ordered a cake for him.

China Eastern, which had 67 foreign pilots from 20 nations as of the end of January, has been exploring more international destinations.

China Eastern's foreign pilot division, a team of captains from various nations, has contributed in their own way since the outbreak.

Australian pilot David Honner gave up his holidays and volunteered to fly to any destination if needed. Filipino Elgin Siasat Medina helped bring disinfectant and medical protection items to China Eastern, and asked his wife to look for face masks in the Philippines.

At the company's Wuhan base, "there are 14 foreign pilots from five nations -- Brazil, the US, Italy, Sweden and New Zealand. All of them have been extremely supportive. They want to return to their cockpits as soon as possible," said Xu Xiaolin, director of China Eastern's Wuhan foreign pilot's division.

Xu said that when Italian pilot Diego Benedetto was in quarantine in Shanghai, he told his wife and 5-year-old son in Wuhan that everything would be fine.

After completing a flight to Chicago from Shanghai on Jan 31, pilot Jogrim Grotmol, a United States citizen born in Norway, sent the following message to his colleagues:

"Flew to Chicago today, full aircraft! I must say I'm really impressed with all the workers at the airport, and everyone is taking this seriously and at the same time keeping calm! The flight attendants really impress me, being the front-line representatives from China Eastern to our passengers, and they are the most exposed in this situation. They continue to do their job professionally without any complaining! I am proud to work with our team!"
J. Seward Johnson Jr., a sculptor who may be responsible for more double takes than anyone in history thanks to his countless lifelike creations in public places  a businessman in downtown Manhattan, surfers at a Florida beach, a student eating a sandwich on a curb in Princeton, N.J.  died on Tuesday at his home in Key West, Fla. He was 89.

His family said through a spokesman that the cause was cancer.

Mr. Johnson had another distinction besides his art. As a member of the family that founded Johnson & Johnson, the pharmaceutical and consumer products giant, he was one of six siblings who, in a high-profile court case in the 1980s, sought to overturn his fathers will, which left his vast fortune to a former maid, Barbara Piasecka Johnson, whom the senior Mr. Johnson had married late in life. A settlement was reached just before the case went to the jury, giving the children a share of the estate but leaving most of it to Mrs. Johnson.

But more enduring were the sculptures, which often caught passers-by unawares; many would pause for a closer look and, in the cellphone age, a picture. One sculpture in particular became something more than a curiosity. It was a work Mr. Johnson called Double Check: a seated businessman reviewing the contents of his briefcase.

The sculpture was in Liberty Park near the World Trade Center when the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, left the area in ruins. Many other artworks in the buildings and outside were destroyed that day, but the man with the briefcase, though knocked off his perch, survived, covered in debris.
Today, at 1:02am, the national crisis management center of Armenia received a report that a grassy area was burning in Vazashen village of Tavush Province.

It turned out that the fire had broken out at the neutral zone of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

At 7am, the fire spread onto Armenia.

The fire was extinguished at 9:26am.

But about 5 hectares of vegetation was burned down.
Human Interest, a San Francisco, CA-based provider of 401(k) for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), raised $40m in Series C funding.

The round was led by Oberndorf Enterprises, LLC.

The company intends to use the funds to enhance the customer experience through investments in product and technology, including integrations; more regional and national partnerships; and continuing to grow its team of professionals.

Led by Jeff Schneble, CEO, Human Interest is a full-service 401(k) provider built for small and medium-sized businesses. The company currently provides retirement savings plans to over 2,000 companies and ongoing support to more than 60,000 employees.

FinSMEs

12/03/2020
ChartIQ, a financial technology company that delivers software to help the finance world work smarter, announced today the appointment of Rajiv Shah as Global Head of Institutional Sales. In his role, Mr. Shah will spearhead the company's sales strategy globally, and help to expand ChartIQ into new channels of business across finance and other industries.

Mr. Shah brings a breadth of international technology and software sales experience, as well as industry knowledge that will be critical to ChartIQ's expansion into new markets. As the head of global sales, he'll be responsible for establishing the company's business development team in key markets London, Asia, and New York and will help implement a robust sales engagement model that can provide ChartIQ customers with the best-in-class tools to help them significantly improve workflows.

"There is no doubt as to the value Rajiv adds to ChartIQ's growing leadership team," said Julie Armstrong, Chief Commercial Officer of ChartIQ. "His prowess for devising business development strategies, driving engagement, and breaking into new markets is exceptional, and will be critical for our growth in the next few years."

Over the last 25 years, Mr. Shah has exponentially grown businesses to over ten times their revenue, and brings strong operational and field depth to ChartIQ. Previously, he served in leadership roles for Fidessa, where he devised the management enterprise operating model and opened up the mid-tier market that doubled consulting revenue for the company during the financial crisis. As a deft strategist in the field, he also led a number of Fidessa's key strategic wins across new markets, including the first global multi-asset electronic execution service with Major Dutch Securities Clearer and the initial global derivatives service with a major U.S. tier one bank.

"I'm excited to join a rapidly growing company like ChartIQ and look forward to working closely with our leadership team and customers," said Rajiv Shah. "This company is truly innovating the financial industry on a global scale. I'm proud to be joining in a key leadership role and helping the business grow."

Since ChartIQ's inception in 2012, the fintech firm has experienced rapid growth in the U.S. and has since expanded into new markets across the globe. The addition of Mr. Shah in London is part of the company's long-term strategy to bolster its presence in Europe, and will provide significant value to stakeholders and customers alike.

About ChartIQ

ChartIQ provides software to help the finance world work smarter. The maker of the industry's most powerful HTML5 financial charts, ChartIQ also delivers Finsemble, a desktop integration platform that links any application together to create modern, smart desktops. ChartIQ's solutions are built-in current web technology to help firms innovate faster, saving them time and money. Founded in 2012, ChartIQ is a fast-growing firm based in Charlottesville, VA with offices in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Some of the largest financial institutions are among their 300 global customers. For more information, please visit: https://www.chartiq.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005160/en/

Contacts:

Trish DaCosta

(619) 955-7759

chartiqpr@kcdpr.com
A clash broke out between two groups in Malakhpur village here on Thursday over playing of songs by DJ, resulting in injuries to eight people, police said.

The incident took place when one of the groups requested for not playing the songs to facilitate morning prayers, they said.

Though playing of songs was stopped, one person was beaten up leading to clashes between the groups, SHO Shashimauli Pandey said.

Eight people, including a woman, were injured in the clashes, he said.

Five persons have been taken into custody in this regard, the official said, adding the situation is under control.

Additional force has been deployed as a precautionary measure in the village, police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has proposed a multimillion-dollar package of legislation designed to control spring flooding, hoping to convince Republicans to reconvene the state Assembly to pass them.

Assembly Republicans adjourned their two-year session in February and arent expected to return to Madison until the 2021-2022 session begins in January. The Senate is scheduled to meet one last time this month before adjourning its two-year session but Republicans who control that chamber almost certainly wont spend the floor session voting on anything coming from Evers office.

Kit Beyer, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, said in an email to The Associated Press that the chambers floor session is over but that Vos might consider the bills next session if legislators from both parties can work together on them. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgeralds aide, Alec Zimmerman, had no immediate comment.

A Republican refusal to consider the bills could play into Evers hand; if flooding strikes the state hard this spring he could blame Republicans for not doing enough to stop it, scoring points with his base.

Evers spokeswoman, Melissa Baldauff, was already on the attack on March 10. Asked how the governor might persuade the GOP to take up the bill, she answered by blasting Republicans for adjourning.

Their constituents deserve to know they have decided to stop working and dont want to answer questions about where they stand on policy, Baldauff said. Again, this is a self-imposed work stoppage. Nothing is preventing them from coming back in and getting things done.

Evers declared a statewide state of emergency due to widespread flooding in March 2019. The National Weather Service on Monday warned of possible minor flooding this week along the Kickapoo River in southwestern Wisconsin. The Brown County Sheriffs Department said that rising water levels along the East River in Green Bay and its suburbs has closed some roads.

I visited homes across our state last year and heard from the families who are asking us to help them prepare and prevent flooding, and to keep families and their homes, farms and businesses safe, Evers said in a statement. The state needs to start leading on this issue, and these bills are an important step at giving families and communities peace of mind and the tools they need to not only recover and rebuild, but to prevent flood damage in the future.

The bills would create a new flood mitigation program within the Department of Transportation that would reimburse local governments up to half of their cost of modifying, replacing or relocating culverts and bridges at risk of flood damage. The Department of Natural Resources would get another $10 million to bolster its municipal flood program, which helps local governments build structures that collect storm water and groundwater.

Other bills in the package would give local governments more state aid for rebuilding flood-damaged highways, allow people to deduct the cost of flood insurance premiums from individual income taxes, and reduce local governments matching requirements for state disaster assistance.

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection would be authorized to borrow an additional $7 million for its soil and water resource management program, which funds grants to counties for land and water conservation work. The programs total authorized debt would increase to $82 million.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Flood Wisconsin
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:40:43|Editor: huaxia

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Medical workers pose for photos after seeing cured patients off at the Wuchang temporary hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday said the peak of the current outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country is over, hours after the World Health Organization declared the epidemic outbreak as a pandemic.

New cases keep declining and the overall epidemic situation remains at a low level in China, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the National Health Commission said at a press conference in Beijing.

Mi said the number of new confirmed cases in Wuhan, the epicenter in central China's Hubei Province, has dropped to a single digit, with only eight cases reported on Wednesday. No new cases had been reported in other cities of Hubei for a week in a row, Mi said.

Only seven new cases were reported on the Chinese mainland outside Hubei, but six were imported from overseas, he added.

Mi said the top priority should be given to treating patients and vowed no relaxation or loose efforts in the epidemic prevention and control work.

This developed as the WHO announced that the COVID-19 outbreak can be characterized as a "pandemic" as the virus spreads increasingly worldwide.

There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions, and 4,291 people have lost their lives, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference in Geneva, noting that the number of coronavirus cases, deaths and affected countries is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.

The WHO's characterization of the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic" was to call on its members once again to make further political commitment and put in more resources to turn things around in the battle against the disease, Mi said.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China has taken the most comprehensive, strictest and most thorough prevention and control measures, gaining precious time for itself and other countries and regions in setting up their own epidemic prevention and control, he added.

"China is paying close attention to the current rapid global spread of the epidemic, and can empathize with other countries in terms of the pressure in prevention and control," Mi said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 22:30:55|Editor: huaxia

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ANKARA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkish and Russian military delegations who have been discussing the ceasefire in Idlib since Tuesday have reached an agreement "to a large extent," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said Thursday.

"The attacks have halted, and the ceasefire continues at the moment. We are carefully and sensitively following the field," Akar said during a visit to Turkey's defense company ASELSAN.

There is no change about the presence of the Turkish troops in Idlib province of Syria, he said.

"Withdrawal is out of the question, our troops, our elements remain in place," the minister stated.

He noted that the joint patrols with Russia are set to start on March 15, yet details are currently being discussed between Turkish and Russian military delegations.

The delegations are in discussions in Turkey's capital Ankara for the details of the ceasefire agreed on March 5 between Turkish ad Russian leaders.

The protocol envisages the establishment of a security corridor 6 kilometers north and 6 km south from the M4 highway in Idlib.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 20:32 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a2cc66 1 National COVID-19,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,Diamond-Princess,Foreign-Ministry,RS-Persahabatan-hospital Free

Eight out of nine Indonesian citizens who had tested positive for COVID-19 in Japan have completely recovered, the Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

"Eight have recovered, one is stable," the ministry announced on its official Twitter account, @Kemlu_RI.

The nine Indonesians are crew members of the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship that was docked in the port of Yokohama.

#SahabatKemlu, berikut update Perkembangan COVID-19 di Dunia dan Pelindungan WNI per 11/03 pukul 18.00 WIB. 8 WNI telah dinyatakan sembuh dari COVID-19 di luar negeri.#IniDiplomasi #NegaraMelindungi pic.twitter.com/9BQyjzBCiv  MoFA Indonesia (@Kemlu_RI) March 11, 2020

The remaining 68 Indonesian crew members who have been tested negative in Japan have returned to the country.

However, one of them later tested positive for COVID-19. He has since recovered after being treated in Persahabatan Hospital's isolation room in East Jakarta for several days.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Health Ministrys disease control and prevention director-general, Achmad Yurianto, said the patient, known as Case 6, had been allowed to go home.

Read also: We didnt know: Bali authorities in the dark as COVID-19 patient dies on resort island

"Case 14, a 50-year-old woman, and Case 6, a Diamond Princess cruise ship crew member [were discharged]. They were tested twice. The results came back negative, Yuri said.

According to data from the Foreign Ministry, 16 Indonesians abroad have tested positive for COVID-19 as per Thursday.

Besides the nine Diamond Princess crew members who are currently in Japan, five Indonesians are being hospitalized in Singapore. One has recovered, three are in stable condition and one is being treated in the intensive care unit.

Two other Indonesians infected by the novel coronavirus are currently hospitalized in Taiwan and Australia; both are in stable condition.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially categorized COVID-19 as a pandemic.

As of Thursday, real-time data from the Foreign Ministry showed 118,326 confirmed cases worldwide. Italy reported the highest number of infections outside of China, with 10,149 cases, followed by Iran with 8,042 and South Korea with 7,755.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 34 as per Wednesday. (nal)
12.03.2020 LISTEN

A leading contender in the upcoming NPP Parliamentary Primaries, Ambassador George Kumi has indicated that he would not contest in the April elections.

Ambassador George Kumi is among three contenders who were vetted to contest in the upcoming NPP Primaries in the Sunyani East Constituency, though the final list is yet to come out he has bowed out of the elections.

During the sale of forms, he had a challenge in getting a form at the Constituency Level and has to purchase the form at the National Headquarters of the NPP in Accra.

Ambassador Kumi was to contest the incumbent MP, Akwasi Ameyaw Cheremeh and Lawyer Alfred Tuah-Yeboah.

Ambassador Kumi has indicated in a letter that he would not contest the elections again.

However, twenty- seven persons out of the 33 who were vetted in the Bono Region to contest in the NPP Parliament Primaries have sailed through to contest in primaries in April.

Renowned Broadcast Journalist, Kojo Frimpong and the only female contesting in the Bono Region, Professor Tina Abrefa-Gyan who are both contesting in the Wenchi Constituency all sailed through.

The Bono Regional Communication Director of the NPP, Seth Asare Bediako in an interview with First1News said those who were disqualified would have the opportunity to present their petition to the National Appeals Committee to be headed by Mr. Mac Manu.

He indicated that those affected could submit their appeal by 13th and 14th of March 2020 to the National Appeals Parliamentary Committee which is expected to sit on the petitions they would receive by March 21, 2020.
Rio De Janeiro, March 13 : A Brazilian official who met US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, just days ago, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

The Brazil government confirmed on Thursday that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's press secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, has tested positive for the coronavirus, Xinhua reported.

Wajngarten accompanied Bolsonaro on a trip to the United States over the weekend, where he met with Trump, Pence and other White House officials at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Bolsonaro's medical team "is adopting all the preventive measures necessary" to ensure the president and his delegation on the trip, as well as other aides, are in good health, the government said, adding it had notified US officials about Wajngarten.

The White House said on Thursday that Trump and Pence had no plans to undergo testing.

Earlier in the day, Bolsonaro cancelled his attendance at an event in Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte state, reportedly due to concerns over the pandemic.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship has been 'forever changed' and the once close brothers will never 'get back to the way they were', according to a royal source.

The Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38 returned to the UK last week for their final engagements before quitting as senior members of the Royal Family on March 31.

Prince Harry and brother Prince William, 37, reunited on Monday for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, with royal watchers branding their interaction 'frosty'.

A source told People magazine the once-close relationship between the brothers had been 'forever changed', saying: 'They wont get back to the way they were. Harry is looking straight ahead at his future with his family.'

Prince Harry, 35, and Prince William's, 37, relationship has been 'forever changed' and they 'won't get back to the way they were', a royal source told People magazine

Meanwhile the insider added that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex now plan to focus on spending time in Meghan's home of California, as well as Canada, with their 10-month-old Archie.

They added that Prince Harry was focused on his relationship with Meghan and Archie and wouldn't 'look back'.

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'.

The source went on to say that Prince Harry is not 'looking back' and is planning to focus on Meghan and Archie (pictured, the Sussexes and the Cambridges with The Queen, 93, in July 2018)

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.

An insider revealed yesterday that the Sussexes are in no rush to mend their fractured relationship, despite the fact Harry, 35, 'misses' his brother, 37.

'They're cordial, but that's about as far as it goes,' they told Us weekly.

'Harry misses his brother and Kate, but there's too much mud under the bridge at this point for any meaningful communication.'

Prince Harry and Meghan took part in their final royal engagement on Monday before stepping back from royal duties on March 31 (pictured, at the Commonwealth Day Service on Monday)

Meanwhile royal expert Omid Scobie revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan wanted to find places where they 'feel safe, heard and respected' now they've left the UK because 'there hasn't been enough of that recently'

Speaking on the Heirpod podcast, Omid said the Duke and Duchess would focus on being with people 'they trust and like to be around' after stepping down as senior royals.

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.

Meghan is believed to have already returned to Canada to be with Archie, while Prince Harry has stayed on in the UK for a few days (pictured, with Archie in September)

Body language expert Judi James said it was 'not exactly the warm reunion we were hoping for', and Prince Harry's tension 'was palpable'.

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 to finish royal engagements.

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.
New Delhi: Bollywood actress Kim Sharma recently took to Instagram and shared an old picture with friend and actress Preeti Jhangiani. The post caught attention on social media - all thanks to Kim's epica caption.

Kim Sharma wrote: #throwback to a night in Bangkok, when we were young and carefree and corona meant a fancy beer #tbt @jhangianipreeti

She shared a post which dates back to 2005 from Bangkok with BFF Preeti Jhangiani. Both the lovely actresses made their big-screen debut in late director Yash Chopra's 'Mohabbatein'.

Meanwhile, Coronavirus which first emerged in China's Wuhan city has now spread across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared the Coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, prompting the governments worldwide to take extraordinary measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

Kim took a break from silver screens and it's been a long time since we saw her on the 70 mm screens. Sometime back, she was in news for allegedly dating handsome hunk Harshvardhan Rane. The duo was spotted hanging out together on multiple occasions but lately, it was reported that the two have called it quits.

The actress won a million hearts with her innocent face in Yash Raj Films' 'Mohabbatein'. The movie made her an overnight star and soon she was everywhere. She then featured in a number of films and was last seen in a special role in 'Magadheera'.
The enemy attacked the suburbs of the villages of Pisky and Hnutove

Donbas conflict Open source

Over the past day, March 11, militants violated the ceasefire regime in Donbas twice and fired at Ukrainian positions from grenade launchers of various systems, large machine guns and small arms. press service of Ukraines Ministry of Defense reported this.

All the attacks were spotted in Donetsk region, namely:

- near the village of Pisky  from hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, large machine guns, and small arms;

- near Hnutove village - from automatic grenade launchers and large machine guns.

One serviceman of the Joint Forces was injured as a result of hostile shelling of our positions.

Since the beginning of March 12, the enemy troops did not show any fire activity, there are no casualties among our servicemen.

Earlier it was reported that OSCE would create an advisory council for solving the situation in Donbas. According to OSCE Special Representative Heidi Grau, the council's tasks will be developing policy recommendations within its competence.

OSCE noted a significant increase in the number of Donbas conflict victims in the past two weeks.
[March 12, 2020] Coronavirus: Accelerate Your Secure Remote Access

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's PortSys blog examines the significant business continuity challenges organizations face in ramping up secure remote access for end users in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the blog, Michael Oldham, CEO of PortSys, points out that such outbreaks can not only damage a company's reputation, but also seriously hurt its bottom line. In worst-case scenario, the World Health Organization estimates annual economic losses from a global pandemic such as Coronavirus could exceed $500 billion.



More than half of companies around the world don't have business continuity plans in place for such healthcare emergencies, which could create significant financial and operational consequences if employees stay home. Of those with business continuity plans, 92% intend to have employees work remotely during a healthcare crisis. In similar crises in the past, Oldham writes, organizations that did have business continuity plans relied on RDP or VPN connections to handle a short-term emergency increase in remote access, often at great financial and operational costs. The problem is that hackers increasingly exploit attack vectors through these connections  leading to phishing, malware, ransomware and brute force attacks, business email compromises, and well-publicized data breaches.

Oldham explains in his post how Total Access Control (TAC) from PortSys allows organizations to quickly and securely ramp up the same rich experience remote users have in the office. He outlines how PortSys' reverse proxy technology even protects RDP and VPN connections that sit behind TAC, making them invisible to the outside world. Since these connections are no longer visible through the Internet, attackers can no longer exploit those gaps. You can read the blog post in its entirety here: https://portsys.com/coronavirus-how-ready-are-you-for-remote-access/ ABOUT PORTSYS, INC.

PortSys, Inc., a privately funded company, is a global innovator in information security and Zero Trust access control. Some of the world's largest enterprise organizations rely on PortSys' scalable Total Access Control solution to significantly strengthen, simplify and unify IT security across the enterprise. PortSys serves customers from its U.S. headquarters in Marlborough, MA, offices in the UK, and distributors throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For more information, visit www.portsys.com. Media Contact

Tim Boivin

[email protected]

+1-781-996-4899 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coronavirus-accelerate-your-secure-remote-access-301022346.html SOURCE PortSys, Inc.

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CAIRO, March 11 (Reuters) - Egypt has registered seven new coronavirus cases bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 67, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

Of the total number, at least 45 cases have been detected on a River Nile cruise ship in the popular tourist destination of Luxor, and a German tourist who died in a hospital in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

Twenty-seven people of the registered cases have recovered and eight of them were released from a quarantine hospital, including six Egyptians and two foreigners, the health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Egypt took several measures to reassure travellers that it is safe to visit after the virus outbreak on the Nile ship, including testing hundreds of tourists and tourism workers for coronavirus, and sanitising hotel facilities and cruise ships in Luxor and Aswan.

The tourism sector is an important source of hard currency for Egypt.

Sixty-three tourists on board the infected Nile ship travelled to their home countries on Tuesday and Wednesday after spending a period in quarantine and testing negative, the tourism and antiquaries ministry said on Wednesday.

The government also decided to suspend events that include big gatherings such as religious festivals, concerts, exhibitions and concerts.

On Wednesday, the education ministry ordered schools to suspend activities like sports and music events, but insisted study would not be stopped, the state news agency MENA said.

In an apparent move to prevent public panic, security services detained three people over spreading false information about coronavirus on their Facebook account, MENA said.

(Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad and Hesham Abdul Khalek, editing by David Evans)
[March 12, 2020] UPCOMING DEADLINE ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Qudian Inc. and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm

The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Qudian Inc. ("Qudian" or "the Company") (NYSE: QD) for violations of securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Qudian's financial results for fiscal year 2019 were under threat due to regulatory changes in China. The Company was completely unprepared to mitigate risks associated with these changes. The Cmpany's loan portfolio suffered from a growing delinquency rate as a result. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Qudian, investors suffered damages.



If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005619/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
With the government imposing travel restrictions, and state governments adopting preventive measures to checked the spread of virus, the tourism sector hopes the coronavirus outbreak is contained soon

The announcement by the government to suspend all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas until 15 April is expected to impact the travel and tourism sector in India. However, the silver lining is that the month of March is a slack period for travel in India and hence the impact on domestic tourism may be limited provided the current ban does not prolong.

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring coronavirus as a pandemic, the government has suspended tourist visas to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India continued to rise. The curbs go into effect at 1200 GMT on 13 March at the port of departure.

On Thursday, airline stocks faced heavy headwinds as concerns over enhanced travel restrictions amid the spreading of coronavirus infections rattled investor sentiment.

Shares of IndiGo, SpiceJet and the defunct Jet Airways were deep in the red in the morning trade, with SpiceJet slumping over 18 percent, PTI said. The broader market crashed as the benchmark 30-share Sensex plunged over 3,100 points during intraday trade.

The tourism sector is among the largest employer in the country. The governments decision to suspend travel visa will adversely affect the industry and it stands to lose several billions of dollars, said Ramesh Vaidyanathan, corporate lawyer at Advaya Legal, a Mumbai-based law firm.

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. Waivers can be availed only if tickets are re-booked 14 days before departure.

Terming the ban a serious blow to the tourism industry, Kapil Kaul, CEO & Director, CAPA South Asia, centre for aviation, said travel restrictions will cripple the industry. It will have a 'very serious impact' on airlines with a weaker balance sheet, he said.

"Q1 which was likely to be a period peak travel has already got significantly compromised. A further demand slump is expected in the domestic sector at least in the next few weeks," he added.

The other sectors in India wont be affected much due to the travel restrictions as some sectors like tech, for instance, are working with the latest technical inputswork from home policy, e-meetings Skype, etc.

The impact of the suspension of the travel ban will be marginal for the tech industry, said Mohandas Pai, Chairman, Manipal Global Education and former director Infosys.

The major businesses for the tech industry are with the US. People have made contingency plans and the sector won't be much affected, he said.

With the outbreak of coronavirus in China, Iran, Italy, Korea and later the rest of the globe, the immediate impact was felt in India as far as inbound tourism was concerned. With travel restrictions announced by the government, the number of international passengers arriving at the country's airports has reduced to around 62,000 per day from 70,000.

According to Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the count might further come down to around 40,000 following the travel advisory issued on Wednesday. There are 30 international airports in the country and on an average, these aerodromes receive about 70,000 international passengers daily.

The impact was not very evident even prior to the 11 March visa restrictions, said Alan D'Mello, hotelier, XE Hospitality. Tourists, especially to India, book in advance and are hesitant to cancel/reschedule due to the high fees associated with it. Also, India was considered a 'safe' destination, hence most tourists did not change their plans, he said.

Not many experts and analysts in the sector were willing to put a number to the impact of the latest restrictions on travel. They said that since March is the year-end for some travel firms, the impact would not be much, as long as the epidemic was contained soon in the country.

When things do recover, said Manav Thadani, Founder, Hoteliviate  a hotel consulting firm, it would be with a vengeance. The next three months will be challenging but it is hoped the epidemic is short-lived in the country, he said.

Some analysts expect a 15 percent drop in business in the tourism industry annually due to the coronavirus scare and the travel restrictions. The month of March will take a beating and parts of April will do but hopefully it may not last, said an analyst.

One of the popular destinations for domestic and foreign tourists in India is Goa. The state has been impacted ever since the epidemic spread through some countries in Asia.

Though there is not a single case of coronavirus in Goa, the travel restriction by the government will impact our business heavily, said Savio Messias, President, Goa Hotel Association.

Goa would get three flights a day from UK and Russia, he said. But now chartered flights are not flying into India. The hotel industry in Goa has been having no fresh booking for the last few days. People are afraid to travel, said Messias.

"We have had some calculations. No fresh booking from the last few days. People are afraid of travelling. There have been a number of cancellations of FIT, MICE cancellation. Goa as a wedding destination too is losing its charm due to the coronavirus scare, he said.

With the government imposing travel restrictions, and state governments adopting preventive measures to checked the spread of virus, the tourism sector hopes the coronavirus outbreak is contained soon. The sector is geared up for a 3-month lull. If the coronavirus outbreak is contained, monsoon tourism is the next season the tour operators are looking forward to.
While referring the matter to a larger bench, the Supreme Court on Thursday did not interfere with the Allahabad High Court's order for removal of hoardings depicting names, addresses, and photographs of those who were accused of violence during anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh.

The vacation bench of the top court further observed that the matter be placed for detailed hearing before a three-judge bench.

Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, represented the Uttar Pradesh government. The right to privacy has several dimensions, as far as K Puttaswamy judgement is concerned, Mehta said, opposing the plea of the accused persons that their right to privacy is violated as their names and address are put up in hoardings and banners.

Mehta further submitted to the Supreme Court that the Allahabad High Court had erred in passing the order directing it to remove hoarding. He further stated that if a person, wielding gun during a protest and allegedly involved in violence, cannot claim the right to privacy.

There is no law which can back your action, the apex court said.

SC observed and questioned the way the Uttar Pradesh government had taken this "drastic" step of putting names and photographs of alleged arsonists through hoardings, and said, it can understand the anxiety of the state but there is perhaps no law to back its decision.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior lawyer appearing for accused SR Darapuri, noted that his client is a 1972 batch IPS officer and retired as an IGP.

"Where is our system of naming and shaming a person of accused," Singhvi stated. He added that on December 30, Darapuri was asked to reply to the notice sent to him by the authorities. And on January 10, he replied to them.

This is a sub judice case and the matter is going on in court, Singhvi said.

Singhvi later cited an example and said that please take the case of child rapists and murderers cases.

Since when and how do we have in this country a policy to name and shame them, Singhvi said and added that if such a policy exist, a man walking in the streets or roads may be lynched.

Senior lawyer, Colin Gonsalves, appearing for another accused Mohammad Shoaib, stated that this is the grossest form of violation which I am facing now.

Somebody can come to my home and kill me, Gonsalves said.

"It is the grossest form of violation of my human rights," Colin Gonsalves submitted to the Supreme Court and added that it is an open invitation to the public to lynch me.

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.)
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Convicted child sex offender and former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes will remain in a New South Wales prison after his bid for parole was denied.

The State Parole Authority on Thursday determined that Hughes 'presents an unacceptable risk to community safety'.

Hughes was jailed for a maximum of 10 years and nine months in 2014 after a jury found the actor guilty of 10 charges relating to sexual and indecent acts against four young girls in the 1980s and 1990s.

Convicted child sex offender and former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes' (pictured) bid for parole has been denied

Former co-star Sarah Monahan played Hughes' on-screen daughter (pictured on Hughes' lap) and said he should not be released until he takes responsibility for his crimes

A 2017 High Court challenge against his conviction was dismissed.

Former co-star Sarah Monahan, who played his onscreen daughter on the hit sitcom, says she and his other victims fear 'reprisal' once Hughes is released.

'Since he has said that we're horrible people for doing this to him, we don't know if he's going to want revenge,' she told A Current Affair.

Ms Monahan said she believes Hughes should only be released back into the community if he finally takes responsibility for his crimes.

'If he's going to get out early it should be because he's admitted guilt,' she said.

'The question is whether he admits he's guilty, or if he still think he's the innocent victim here.

'If he still thinks he's innocent, then he probably should spend some more time in prison thinking about it.'

Eighteen women testified against Hughes, but he was only convicted for the abuse of four of them - including his own niece.

'Robert Hughes grabbed me, tickled me and touched me inappropriately, including on my breasts and genitals on a number of occasions,' his niece said during trial.

'He also exposed himself to me on a number of occasions and touched his genitals in front of me.'

Eighteen women testified against Hughes, including Ms Monahan (pictured), but he was only convicted for the abuse of four of them

One of the four woman Hughes (pictured) was convicted of abusing was his own niece who said he 'grabbed' and 'tickled' her before touching her 'inappropriately'

During the trial, two women said Hughes had entered their rooms naked during sleepovers with his daughter, and exposed himself or sexually assaulted them as they lay in bed.

Former colleagues who worked on set with the former Hey Dad! star also gave evidence, testifying that Hughes would repeatedly expose himself.

During Hughes's 2015 sentencing at the Sydney District Court, Judge Peter Zahra said the actor had not expressed remorse.

'His conduct continued over 20 years. [Even] after he was questioned by police in 1986 it continued,' he said.

'The offender took advantage of when he was with victims in social settings in his home or at victims' homes.

'He lacks insight into his offending and he is unlikely to access treatment programs.'

Hughes denied all the allegations, screaming 'I'm innocent' in court when he was found guilty.

Hughes was originally placed in Goulburn Maximum Security Prison, where authorities had to build a wall to stop him being pelted by faeces thrown by the other inmates.

It's understood he has since been moved to Long Bay Correctional Centre.
This brings the number of confirmed cases to three.

Two new cases of Covid-19 coronavirus have been confirmed in Ukraine.

The relevant information about the two lab-confirmed cases in the country was reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine via their official Telegram channel.

Cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in a woman of retirement age from Zhytomyr region and a man from Chernivtsi region, whose wife had been in Italy for the past 14 days.

At the moment, both patients have been isolated. They are undergoing symptomatic treatment.

Read alsoCoronavirus: Ukraine announces nationwide quarantine as prevention measure

UPDATE:

Zhytomyr regional authorities held a briefing, noting that the infected woman, born in 1949, returned from Poland to the town of Radomyshl on March 1, and did not immediately consult a doctor.

The authorities have identified and isolated four persons with whom the woman had been in contact upon her return  two residents of Radomyshl and two persons from Kyiv.

None of them has had any health complaints so far.

In Chernivtsi region, the infected man, 64, had been only in contact with his wife during the recent period after she returned from Italy. Her test results have not arrived yet, while she has reportedly not had any health complaints.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the first case of Covid-19 coronavirus was recorded in Chernivtsi on March 3. The infected man had just returned from his trip to Italy.
India on Thursday handed over 600 tonnes of rice and relief material to flood-hit Madagascar, the Navy said.

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shardul, carrying 600 tonnes of rice, entered Port Antsiranana, Madagascar on Tuesday.

"The ship was carrying 600 tonnes of rice as per directives of Govt of India," a statement said.

An official ceremony for handing over the rice from Government of India to Government of Madagascar was held onboard INS Shardul on Thursday.

The ceremony was attended by the Madagascar Foreign Minister Tehindrazanarivelo Djacoba and various high ranking officials from the Madagascar defence forces and civilian organisations.

The Indian side was represented by Ambassador of India to Madagascar Abhay Kumar and the ship's Commanding Officer, Cdr Abhishek Pathak.

"The foreign minister of Madagascar appreciated the assistance provided by India and the Indian Navy. He described India as a true friend who is always there during the time of need," the statement added.

Heavy rains hit the island nation in January affecting thousands.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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A one-mile containment area is now in effect in New Rochelle, a city of nearly 80,000 people where 148 of New York's 328 coronavirus cases have been reported.

The National Guard was seen handing out food and supplies to residents on Thursday morning as the containment efforts began.

The area will remain on lockdown for the next two weeks, affecting all 'major gathering places' including schools and places of worship.

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.

President Donald Trump addressed the containment zone at a press conference Thursday, saying: 'You have see what they are doing in New Rochelle which is good, frankly. It's the right thing.'

'It's not enforced, it's not very strong, but people know they are being watched,' he added.

A one-mile containment area went into effect in New Rochelle, New York, on Thursday. Members of the New York National Guard are seen handing out food to residents under quarantine

The containment zone 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

Ten-year-old Selvin Jimenez wears a protective mask as he leaves the Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc (WestCOP) with food distributed by the National Guard on Thursday

A woman smiles as she chats with National Guard members distributing food at New Rochelle High School

The National Guard crews were stationed at various distribution locations across the one-mile containment zone

A woman wears a somber expression as she collects a trash bag filled with nonperishable groceries

An officer is seen delivering food supplies to being in their cars outside New Rochelle High School

As of Thursday afternoon there are 1,484 confirmed coronavirus cases in the US and 39 deaths

Coronavirus cases in New York State Westchester County - 148 New York City - 95 Nassau County - 41 Suffolk County - 20 Rockland County - 7 Ulster County - 4 Saratoga County - 3 Orange County - 2 Albany - 2 Monroe - 2 Broome - 1 Delaware - 1 Dutchess - 1 Herkimer - 1 New York State Total - 328 Advertisement

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the quarantine on Wednesday.

'New Rochelle at this point is probably the largest cluster in the US 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.'

He made a point to mention that the decision was 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,' he said.

'In a situation like this, whether you're president, mayor, governor, let the experts decide and let the science decide the situation.

'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 state Health Department will grant $200,000 to a food bank in New Rochelle.

The state and a private health system, Northwell Health, are also setting up a testing facility in the area.

Eleven 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.

The schools that will close include New Rochelle High School, Albert Leonard Middle School and William B. Ward Elementary.

President Trump called the containment efforts 'the right thing' at a press conference Thursday (pictured)

A steady stream of people stopped by distribution centers to pick up food from the National Guard

Gov Andrew Cuomo announced the quarantine on Wednesday and said the National Guard would be brought in to distribute food to residents and to clean up public spaces

New Rochelle will be locked down for two weeks, affecting all 'major gathering places' including schools and worship centers

An officer is seen organizing a mountain of supplies as residents line up to receive their portions

Ten-year-old Selvin Jimenez receives food donations from the National Guard at WestCOP

Officials are seen consulting with National Guard members at one of the food distribution centers

The number of coronavirus cases in the US has risen at an alarming rate over the past week

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.

His office didn't immediately have a number of how many National Guard troops are being deployed but said some have already arrived.

Crews at New Rochelle's 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.

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said state and federal health officials decided the parameters of the zone with little input from city officials

Some residents of New Rochelle have expressed concern that the containment zone is too narrow to be effective in curbing the spread of the virus

Most of the people who stopped by food distribution centers were not wearing face masks despite the outbreak

The stash of food quickly depleted as residents flocked to the distribution centers

The bags of food varied in side, some holding a range of products and others with single meals enclosed

HOW NEW YORK CORONAVIRUS CASES ARE LINKED TO ONE MANHATTAN ATTORNEY Lawrence Garbuz 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

Some residents of New Rochelle have expressed concern that the containment zone is too narrow to be effective in curbing the spread of the virus.

Joy Malone, a photographer in the city whose children attend two of the three public schools included in the initial containment plan, said shutting just three of the city's 11 public schools made no sense.

'There are children in all three who have siblings in the other seven,' Malone said.

'It's a huge mistake, especially with the severity of what is happening.'

Kelly Ann DeCola, whose children's schools were not affected, called the decision 'astronomically illogical' because children from across the city congregate for various activities and may even spend more time together now without the confines of a school day, heightening the risk of the virus spreading.

'Children from all over the city join together for basketball, soccer, karate, after-school programs, dancing school,' DeCola told Reuters.

'Now we're going to have teenagers congregating in areas that they would have not been before.'

Denise Logan, who lives in the containment zone, disagreed with the other moms.

She said her children have so far enjoyed the novelty of completing their school work remotely.

'I thought that closing the schools was going to be inevitable,' she said.

'It seems like a very good idea to me.'

New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said state and federal health officials decided the parameters of the zone with little input from city officials.

'All of those factors were considered by the state, and they judged the containment zone to be a sensible way of proceeding,' Bramson told Reuters.

'For a locality like New Rochelle to independently freelance without the expertise to back up our local judgments I think would be a very serious mistake,' he added.

Crews at New Rochelle's commuter rail station are disinfecting turnstiles, handrails and other surfaces twice a day

Transit worker wipe down a trash can at the New Rochelle Metro-North train station

The town was eerily quiet after Cuomo's announcement as photos from inside the containment zone showed deserted streets, empty restaurants and closed schools.

Officials had said the closures will not effect smaller businesses and grocery stores but images taken Wednesday show many of them patronless.

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.'

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

Chairs were empty Wednesday morning at The Dugout barbershop, 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.'

The city in Westchester County where the main cluster of coronavirus have been reported and accounts for more than 120 of New York's 240 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

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'

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 240 statewide as of Wednesday.

New York City has more than 60 cases, while its population is more than 100 times that of New Rochelle.

Garbuz - who commutes to a law firm in Manhattan - was among the first to be diagnosed with coronavirus in New York 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 a medically-induced coma.

The New Rochelle containment came as:
Pregnant youth pastor killed in crash after singing Aint No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down)

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Just hours after singing "Aint No Grave (Can Hold My Body Down)," Alabama youth pastor Breanna Brown Eaton and her unborn daughter died and her husband Jacob was left critically injured in a grisly crash late Saturday.

She was singing her testimony and we didnt even know it, Alisha Stokes, whose husband pastors Lynn Church of God, told AL.com. But God knew it.

Both Breanna Eaton, 24, and her husband served as beloved youth pastors at Lynn Church of God at the time of the crash. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the crash that killed Breanna who was about eight months pregnant, as well as her unborn daughter, Adelaide, occurred on AL 69 North at approximately 10 p.m.

Breanna was traveling in a 2016 Kia Forte with her husband when their vehicle was struck by a 2008 Ford Taurus, driven by James Long of Columbia. She died on the scene while Jacob was rushed to the hospital for treatment where he is recovering.

Alisha Stokes and her husband, Chris Stokes, told AL.com that they were returning home in separate cars from a womens conference in Cullman where they had joined the Eatons in leading their churchs praise and worship team.

Alisha and Breanna, who were both passengers in their respective cars, had been texting during the ride home when the Stokes suddenly got caught in traffic. They tried calling their youth pastors but they did not answer.

They later learned that it was the crash involving their youth pastors that that had caused the traffic jam after Alisha walked to the crash site.

We ask that you all join us in prayer as we are all hurting right now. Pray for their families, pray for our church family and our youth group. They Pastor 40+ youth who love them dearly. The impact this precious couple has made on their lives and ours is remarkable. They are our spiritual Son and Daughter. Our hearts are hurting, but we are strong in Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!! Satan gets NO glory for this, our God is faithful and we trust his plans and we are leaning on him for our understanding, the church said in a statement on its Facebook page after the accident.

The Stokes told AL.com that their youth pastors had a great relationship and were looking forward to welcoming their first child after struggling to get pregnant.

They were truly one flesh and they had a love for one another that only God could give, Alisha Stokes said. They had a beautiful marriage. He worshiped her and she worshiped him.

Pastor Chris Stokes said after wrestling with their fertility issues one night in a church service, God just moved, and they went home that night and conceived their miracle.

Earlier on the day Breanna Eaton died, prior to attending the conference, she joined her husband for a maternity photo session.

She (Adelaide) was a miracle baby, Pastor Stokes said.

For a while, after the accident, Jacob Eaton was not informed of his wife and unborn daughters passing. He reportedly suffered two broken shins, broken upper left arm, broken tail bone, shifted pelvic, [as well as] a collapsed lung. There is also a hole in his diaphragm.

When Chris Stokes tried to inform him recently, Jacob reportedly told his pastor that God had already broken the news to him and he worshiped on his hospital bed through his grief.

Were just in the grieving process. We know the Word of God says to everything there is a season and right now we are in a season mourning but I believe we will transition into a season of joy, Chris Stokes told AL.com. God is going to turn it into something that will be triumphant.

A GoFundMe campaign is now seeking to raise $100,000 to help Jacob Eaton with funeral and medical expenses.
More than 7.5 million of suspected counterfeit clothing, watches and perfume has been seized by police during raids in Manchester.

The operation, which involved 100 police officers and staff, saw three premises in Cheetham Hill searched and 15 people arrested on Wednesday.

Inside the interlinked premises in the road known as 'counterfeit street', were clothes with logos from brands including North Face, Nike, Boss and YSL, as well as bottles of perfume and aftershave.

Of those arrested, 11 were detained for offences relating to the distribution of counterfeit goods and four for immigration offences, the City of London Police said.

More than 7.5 million of suspected counterfeit clothing, watches and perfume has been seized by police during raids in Manchester

Officers worked through the night to clear the three units, with shoes, handbags, wallets and sunglasses also among the items seized, police said.

The operation was led by City of London Police's intellectual property crime unit (PIPCU) and Greater Manchester Police.

It marks the latest plan to fight back against criminals in Manchester, which has been dubbed the 'counterfeit capital' of the UK.

The street where the roads took place, Bury New Road, reportedly received its nickname because of the number of shops which have been found to sell fake goods.

The operation, which involved 100 police officers and staff, saw three premises in Cheetham Hill searched and 15 people arrested on Wednesday. Pictured: Police try to break down a door

Inside the interlinked premises in the road known as 'counterfeit street', were clothes with logos from brands including North Face, Nike, Boss and YSL, as well as bottles of perfume and aftershave

The operation, which involved 100 police officers and staff, saw three premises in Cheetham Hill searched and 15 people arrested on Wednesday

The search warrant was carried out following a previous operation involving the sale and distribution of counterfeit items online, police said.

Detective Superintendent Pete Ratcliffe, of City of London Police, told Manchester Evening News: 'What we are trying to do is get beyond the immediate foot soldiers - and get to the Mr Bigs behind this.

'The intention is to follow up the hierarchy and make a big impact on the people who are making serious money out of this.'

Of those arrested, 11 were detained for offences relating to the distribution of counterfeit goods and four for immigration offences, the City of London Police said

Officers worked through the night to clear the three units, with shoes, handbags, wallets and sunglasses also among the items seized, police said

The operation was led by City of London Police's intellectual property crime unit (PIPCU) and Greater Manchester Police

PIPCU's police staff investigator Charlotte Beattie, who is leading the investigation, said: 'The counterfeit goods business regularly helps to fund other types of serious organised crime.

'An individual may think that when buying counterfeit goods they are only affecting a multi-million pound brand, but in reality they are helping to fund organised criminal activity. '

Counterfeit goods can pose a health risk to consumers as they usually do not go through legal health and safety checks, she added.

It marks the latest plan to fight back against criminals in Manchester, which has been dubbed the 'counterfeit capital' of the UK

The search warrant was carried out following a previous operation involving the sale and distribution of counterfeit items online, police said

The street where the roads took place, Bury New Road, reportedly received its 'counterfeit street' nickname because of the number of shops which have been found to sell fake goods

Police also seized mobile phones and cash from those who were arrested during the raid

Mobile phones and cash were seized from those arrested during the raid, with the investigation still ongoing, police said.

Chief inspector Kirsten Buggy, of Greater Manchester Police's North Manchester division, said: 'Yesterday's operation is one of the largest of its kind ever carried out in the area and has taken a meticulous amount of planning and preparation.'

Phil Lewis, director general of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, said: 'These Manchester traders selling counterfeit goods are blatantly defrauding consumers.

'They're harming legitimate businesses and making absolutely no contribution toward public services or the UK economy.'

He added: 'We urge consumers to stop buying goods from these types of premises and think twice about the goods they buy online, because counterfeit goods are often of poor quality and, more worryingly, can be unsafe and even dangerous.'
Sanders also noted that he was winning a greater percentage of young voters while Biden continues to run up the score with older ones

Burlington: 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.

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.

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 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.

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.
Former Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison for sex crimes.

Last month, a New York jury found him guilty of raping an actress in a hotel room in 2013 and sexually assaulting a former production assistant at his home in 2006.

The 67-year-old Weinstein has been accused of sexual wrongdoing by more than 90 women, including Hollywood actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Uma Thurman.

Weinstein has said that any sexual activity was consensual, or agreed to by both people involved.

Although this is a first conviction, this is not a first offense, Judge James Burke said before announcing the prison sentence. Weinstein faced up to 29 years in prison.

Before the sentencing was announced, Weinstein told the court he felt remorse for the situation. But he also added that men are being accused of things that none of us understood.

Im totally confused, Weinstein said. I think men are confused about these issues.

Weinstein added that he remembered having wonderful times with his accusers.

His lawyers have promised to appeal the courts guilty finding.

Weinstein was once one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. He and his company produced Oscar-winning films such as Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction.

Accusations against him became public in October 2017. That month, stories published in The New York Times and The New Yorker magazine described Weinsteins mistreatment of women.

The stories helped give rise to the #metoo movement on social media, in which women and some men told their stories of sexual assault and harassment.

Weinsteins lawyers had sought a five-year sentence, the least severe punishment for his crimes, because of his age and poor health. Government lawyers had asked for a long sentence that would take into account the many accusations against Weinstein.

Weinstein is also facing charges of rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles, California. He faces up to 28 years in prison for those crimes. Police in California are also investigating three additional sexual assault cases that involve Weinstein.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

assault  n. the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically

conviction  n. the act of proving that a person is guilty of a crime in a court of law

remorse  n. a feeling of guilt

confused - adj. unable to understand or think clearly

sexual harassment  n. behavior such as making unwelcome sexual remarks or physical advances in a workplace or other professional or social settings
Linda who is a beautician closes the shutter of her beauty center, which has been closed by new government regulations on March 11, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Marco Di Lauro

Italy has tightened its nationwide lockdown further in response to the rising death toll from coronavirus, ordering all non-essential shops and services to close. Announcing the measures Wednesday evening, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said supermarkets and pharmacies will be the only retailers to remain open in Italy. The latest restrictions come as the virus death toll surged over 30% on Wednesday to more than 800  the biggest daily jump since the start of the outbreak. Italy is already under a national lockdown restricting citizens' movement and activities until April 3. Conte said it was time to "go one step further" as he announced the closure of most commercial and retail activities with bars, restaurants and beauty salons among those ordered to shut. Public services remain in place and industrial production is allowed to continue, on condition that companies adopt safety measures to protect workers and prevent contagion.

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

The prime minister said the world was watching to see how Italy, now the country worst hit by the virus outside China, responds: "At this moment the whole world is certainly looking at us for the numbers of the contagion, they see a country that is in difficulty, but they also appreciate us because we are showing great strictness and great resistance," Conte said in a Facebook address. "I have a deep conviction. I would like to share it with you. Tomorrow not only will they look at us again and admire us, but they will take us as a positive example of a country that, thanks to its sense of community, has managed to win its battle against this pandemic."

As of Wednesday evening, Italy recorded 12,462 confirmed cases of the virus, and 827 deaths, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University and Italy's Civil Protection agency. The death toll from the virus a day earlier had been 631 people.

Pandemic plans

Conte had already announced earlier on Wednesday that the government will set aside even more money to tackle the outbreak, raising spending to 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion)  up from 7.5 billion euros announced last week. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday. There are at least 118,381 confirmed cases of the virus worldwide, according to the latest figures from the WHO. At least 4,292 people have died globally, the WHO said.
By Express News Service

NELLORE/VISAKHAPATNAM: A post-graduate student, who returned from Italy to Nellore recently tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. It is the first case of coronavirus reported in Andhra Pradesh.

Confirming it, the Department of Health in a press release said that youth has been kept in the isolation ward at Nellore Government General Hospital. The patient is stable and all his vitals are normal. He has recovered from symptoms, is keeping good health and will be discharged after completion of 14 days when the retesting of the sample will take place, the release said.

Meanwhile, all the five contacts of the student have been identified and were brought under hospital quarantine as per protocol.

FOLLOW CORONAVIRUS INDIA UPDATES HERE

The patient tested positive for COVID-19 has returned to Nellore from Italy, where he was pursuing MS. As he had developed a dry cough and other symptoms of coronavirus after his return from Italy, first he got admitted himself to a private hospital and later was shifted to an isolation ward in Nellore GGH on March 9.

His samples were sent to Virology Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), which confirmed that samples tested positive, after receiving the reports from the National Institute of Virology, Pune.

On the other hand, two suspected cases of COVID-19 were admitted to isolation ward at Chest Hospital in Visakhapatnam. While one of them has come from Italy, the other one recently visited Singapore.

The first person from Sarada colony at Anakapalle was studying in Italy and came back following the outbreak of coronavirus. He had no symptoms on his arrival during the screening test at the airport. However, he developed a cough on Wednesday and approached Anakapalle NTR Hospital and after initial treatment was shifted to Chest Hospital in Visakhapatnam.

The other person also did not have any symptoms during screening at the airport, but he developed dry cough later. He too had approached Ananakapalle Hospital and was later shifted to Chest Hospital.

Meanwhile, GVMC Health personnel led by CMOH visited Sarada Colony and cleaned the surroundings of the house of Italy returnee with bleaching powder and inquired about the health condition of his relatives.
Stephen Sondheim has been the composer and lyricist of 15 stage musicals and the lyricist for three others. Our chief critics weigh in on all of them, dated by the approximate year of their composition or first Broadway performance.

Saturday Night (1955)

The start of Sondheims Broadway career was inauspicious. In his early 20s he wrote the songs for a musical with a book by Julius J. Epstein about a bunch of date-starved Brooklyn bachelors hoping to make a killing in the stock market. Charming and small-scale, with no chorus or other signs of Golden Age grandeur, Saturday Night exemplified the changing texture of musical theater  or would have, had its lead producer not died. Though the show would not be staged in New York until 2000, two of its songs became cabaret standards in the meantime: So Many People (a lovely ballad) and What More Do I Need? (a left-handed tribute to the city, where even the falling snow looks used). But it was the title song that introduced Sondheims genius for compressing a worldview into a quatrain: I like the Sunday Times all right,/But not in bed./Alive and alone on a Saturday night/Is dead. JESSE GREEN

West Side Story (1957)/Gypsy (1959)/Do I Hear a Waltz? (1965)

Though he thought of himself as a composer first, or at any rate liked writing music more than lyrics, Sondheim served a grudging apprenticeship as the word man to three musical geniuses: Leonard Bernstein on West Side Story, Jule Styne on Gypsy and Richard Rodgers on Do I Hear a Waltz? His mixed emotions showed up in the mixed (if always exceptionally polished) results. For West Side Story he wrote poetic lyrics that Bernstein loved but that embarrassed their author  yet also produced, as the collaboration matured, lacerating lines that never cloy. (One of his best came straight from Arthur Laurentss libretto: A boy like that, whod kill your brother.) More confident with Styne, he began to produce words that turned songs into complex scenes (Roses Turn). Rodgers required a relapse into a Golden Age style that no longer suited the ambitious young Sondheim  or the musical theater he was about to change forever. J.G.
Talos Energy (TALO) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.31 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.48 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.91 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 172.92%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this independent oil and gas company would post earnings of $0.64 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.81, delivering a surprise of 26.56%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Talos Energy, which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, posted revenues of $233.24 million for the quarter ended December 2019, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.26%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $258.66 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Talos Energy shares have lost about 71.4% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's decline of -10.8%.

What's Next for Talos Energy?

While Talos Energy has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Story continues

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Talos Energy was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.26 on $224.16 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.47 on $1.05 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States is currently in the bottom 40% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.



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Democratic White House hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, accompanied by his wife Jane Sanders, speaks during a campaign rally at the Convention Center in Los Angeles, California on March 1, 2020.

Sen. Bernie Sanders will win California's democratic presidential primary, NBC News projects.

The Golden State, home to nearly 40 million people, was the biggest prize of Super Tuesday's 14 state contests, awarding 415 delegates, or nearly a third of the day's total. With just over three-quarters of the vote in, Sanders is projected to win 200 delegates, while Biden will collect 145, according to NBC News.

But the projection comes more than a week after voting and after the trajectory of the race has been reshaped. Biden's impressive performance on Super Tuesday, following a decisive win in South Carolina, effectively catapulted the former vice president to front-runner status and transformed the race into a two-person contest between himself and Sanders.

California is notorious for its slow counting of election results and warned that final results could take weeks to come in.

In addition to California, Sanders notched victories in his home state of Vermont, Utah and Colorado on Super Tuesday. Biden won Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Minnesota, Maine and Massachusetts.

Biden had another successful showing on Tuesday, when six more states cast ballots.

Biden was projected to win in Michigan, the most important state of the night, as well as Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho. Sanders was projected to win in North Dakota. Washington state remains too close to call.

Biden has also collected endorsements from many of the race's former moderate contenders, including former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a progressive who dropped out after a disappointing showing on Super Tuesday, has yet to endorse.

Democrats must win at least 1,991 delegates by the Democratic National Convention in July to secure the nomination. As of Thursday, Biden had won 848 delegates and Sanders had 695.
Highlights The coronavirus outbreak has caused decrease in air travel demand Airlines have taken to Twitter to assure the flyers They are dropping different posts

Due to coronavirus outbreak, several travellers around the world are dwelling on the decision of whether to cancel their upcoming trips or not - pushing the aviation industry towards a big slump. The panic of the infection has already taken a bite out of the industry with demand of air travel decreasing with passing days.

To reassure the flyers, the airlines have now taken to social media to share varied posts  ranging from announcements on revised fares to spreading awareness about the novel coronavirus. In normal circumstances, most airlines charge an amount for rescheduled trips. However, amid the crisis many have waived off the change fees. Also, some have posted the videos showing how they clean their aircraft to maintain proper hygiene.

IndiGo took to Twitter to share that people who have existing bookings between March 12 and March 31 can reschedule their trip one time without paying any excess fee.

#6ETravelUpdate: To know more about your flight or change bookings, please visit our website https://t.co/7UGOtouYYS, for cancelled flights, visit Plan B link https://t.co/utMoqvFLDs and to check flight status, please visit https://t.co/TQCzzy2a2s. pic.twitter.com/QIQalmQKMA  IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 9, 2020

Air India, the flag carrier airline of India, also shared a tweet about one free change in tickets with travel date till April 30. They have also extended the service for new bookings done till March 31.

#FlyAI : In view of Corona Virus situation & travel advisory issued , One Free Change permitted for pax to postpone any international or domestic bookings on AI Network on all existing bookings with travel date till 30thApril '20, & on new bookings till 31stMarch '20. (1/2) .  Air India (@airindiain) March 9, 2020

Tickets must be re-issued on or before 31st May, 2020. In case of re-routing, applicable difference of fare will be charged. Passengers are requested to contact our customer care number for further assistance. (2/2) .  Air India (@airindiain) March 9, 2020

Addressing its customers who are having seconds thoughts about travelling, SpiceJet tweeted that have got everyone covered and announced that it will not charge any change fee. Its applicable for people travelling between March 12 to March 31 and on new bookings done between those dates.

Just like the other airlines, GoAir too announced a fee waiver on rescheduled flights. They also shared a release detailing the steps taken by the airlines to contain panic and stop the spread of the virus.

No rescheduling fee = No worries! 

Fly Smart with GoAir and pay zero charges when it comes to rescheduling your flights!

Fares starting 955*

Book now - https://t.co/Fu4JzYwApQ pic.twitter.com/FboTZo8F9j  GoAir (@goairlinesindia) March 12, 2020

Cathay Pacific, the airline from Hong Kong, China, shared a video showing the thorough clean-up of an aircraft where a case of coronavirus was confirmed. They wrote that the professionals performed a 5-hour-long clean-up to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.

Along with cleaning measures taken in between each flight, upon a confirmed case of #COVID19 on our aircraft, professionals implement a 5-hour deep clean. Out of an abundance of caution for our customers and crew, every area is disinfected thoroughly. Watch how. pic.twitter.com/ddZc2AYhTV  Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) March 12, 2020

Virgin Australia, the largest airline of the country its named after, also shared a post assuring travellers that they wont charge any fee to reschedule pre-booked tickets. Further adding, the same is applicable for re-booking for same destination.

Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier airline of Turkey, dropped two tweets regarding coronavirus for its travellers. In one tweet they shared how they disinfect their aircraft following the procedures approved by international authorities. In another post, they shared a public service announcement video to create awareness on COVID-19. Its a comprehensive clip detailing the symptoms and precautions about the pandemic.



We make sure to disinfect our aircraft using procedures approved by international authorities and proven to be effective. Your safety is always our primary concern.#TurkishAirlines pic.twitter.com/w0aDeAbJfG  Turkish Airlines (@TurkishAirlines) March 7, 2020



Protect both yourself and loved ones using correct and comprehensive information regarding the coronavirus.#TurkishAirlines pic.twitter.com/VNfKS1NtKQ  Turkish Airlines (@TurkishAirlines) March 11, 2020

With different countries implementing travel bans, several airlines worldwide have also announced deep cuts.

Also Read | Peppy song and dance videos go viral to spread awareness about coronavirus
A Pakistani media mogul was arrested on Thursday by the country's anti-graft body on charges that he got lands on a prime location in Lahore at a throwaway price in 1986 from then Punjab chief minister Nawaz Sharif.

Mir Shakilur Rehman, the editor-in-chief of Jang/Geo media group, was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau, after he failed to submit a satisfactory answer to the bureau's questions, officials said.

A NAB official told PTI that it arrested Rehman during his appearance before a joint investigation team of NAB in its Lahore headquarters.

"Rehman was arrested for receiving 54 plots each measuring one kanals land on a prime location in Lahore from former prime minister Sharif on a throwaway price," the official said.

He said the 54 plots in Jauhar Town H block were illegally allotted to Rehman in 1986 by Sharif, who was then chief minister of Punjab.

"Nawaz Sharif had obliged Rehman to have his media's support in return," the official alleged, adding that he will be presented before an accountability court on Friday.

The Jang/Geo group said in a statement that the property in question had been acquired from a private party and all evidence of this was provided to NAB including the legal requirements fulfilled like duty and taxes.

"In the past 18 months, NAB has sent our reporters, producers and editors, directly and indirectly, over a dozen notices, threatening for a shutdown of our channels (via Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) due to our reporting and our programmes about NAB. In its defense, NAB has in writing said it is a constitutionally protected institution that cannot be criticised. NAB also has through several means tried to persuade us to go slow, to stop stories and to do others in its favour at the expense of the full truth.

"We will not stop any reporter, producer or anchor from any story that is on merit and at the same time will try to include NAB's version as well. In this case, NAB denies all allegations and claims they are independently pursing all cases and have not been asked to do by the democratically-elected Government in Islamabad," the statement said.

During his election campaign in 2018, Imran Khan had said he would put Rehman behind bars for blackmailing and tax evasion. Media has been facing 'severe curbs' since Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf came to power after July 2018 polls.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Yorker John Eckard, 66, was sleeping soundly at his son's home near Frankfurt, Germany when he was startled by a 3:00 am call from his wife saying he "had to fly back now." "I was half-asleep but went straight on the Singapore Airlines website," said Eckard after he landed in the United States on Thursday. "I think I must have got the last ticket because I was sitting in the last seat in the last row." President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a ban on entry into the United States of people coming from continental Europe to diminish the spread of the new coronavirus. Travelers who had hurried to leave Europe before the travel ban is implemented on Friday braced themselves for chaos at New York's JFK but on their arrival found the airport calmly serene. Eckard said he was "very sad" to be cutting short his visit to see his grandson, but was concerned that Trump's month-long measure to combat the coronavirus spread would be extended. "I could have stayed for another 30 days but I was thinking that would have probably turned into 60 days and that I could still be here come New Year's Eve," he told AFP at JFK's Terminal 4. Travelers milled around and check-in queues were short, with the only hint that something was out of the ordinary being the few passengers wearing surgical masks. "On the plane, there were rumors that we would be swabbed and have our temperatures taken when we landed but it's quiet. I was expecting to turn up at a mad house," added the semi-retired deli store manager. - 'Uneasiness and anxiety' - Peter Stults, a 37-year-old graphic designer from New York, was on the same flight as Eckard. He ended a business trip and vacation to Germany two days early following Trump's shock announcement late Wednesday. "I wanted to stay longer but it (the ban) didn't come as a surprise. The theme over there (in Germany) was it was coming, not if but when," he told AFP. Newly-arrived German tourists Niklas Schliesmeier, 25, and Sabrina Schwichtenberg, 23, were determined not to let any travel restrictions ruin a week's holiday in the Big Apple. "When we heard the announcement we were extremely nervous, so we checked our flights. "When we saw that they weren't cancelled we're like, let's try to go there and until we came out from immigration we were still not 100 percent sure that we would be allowed to enter," said Schliesmeier. He added that the couple were "relieved" and "looking forward to a nice week in New York City." They may not be able to do everything they had hoped to do, however. "We are worried about closed museums but are hopeful we will have a nice week. We didn't think about cancelling." New York's theaters and many museums were closed from Thursday, and most gatherings of over 500 people have been banned, including the annual St Patrick's Day parade. The pair laughed when asked if they were worried whether they could make it back to Germany. "That's our next problem. We'll face it in a week," said Schliesmeier. But over at Terminal 1, Oskar and Juliane, also from Germany, were feeling anxious about whether they would get back home. They came to JFK to see if they could get on an earlier flight than their booking next week. "We came here to get information because the hotline is always blocked," 28-year-old Oskar told AFP, declining to give his surname. "There is a feeling of uneasiness and anxiety not knowing what might happen." At Washington's Dulles airport, John Gover, a British pensioner who lives in the south of France with his wife, was hoping for a last-minute seat on a flight back to Nice. "We have a flight next week, but because there aren't many flights coming over, we assume there won't be any planes going back," he said.
SpendEdge, a leading provider of procurement market intelligence solutions, has announced the completion of their latest success story onidentifying improvement opportunities with the help of a TCO analysis for a commodity petrochemicals manufacturing company.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005414/en/

Project background

The company wanted to better manage their procurement and sourcing activities across the operating units. The key objectives of the engagement are mentioned below.

Objective 1: The company wanted to conduct an in-depth total cost of ownership analysis to analyze organizational cost factors.

The company wanted to conduct an in-depth total cost of ownership analysis to analyze organizational cost factors. Objective 2: They also wanted recommendations to effectively manage suppliers to control spend.

They also wanted recommendations to effectively manage suppliers to control spend. Interested in gaining comprehensive insights? Request a free demo to gain actionable insights to perform TCO analysis and identify improvement opportunities.

"Oil and gas companies must perform TCO analysis to identify opportunities in order to address procurement issues and establish their presence in the global landscape," says a procurement expert from SpendEdge.

Key findings and solutions offered

In collaboration with SpendEdge, the client a commodity petrochemicals manufacturing company - consolidated spend and strategic sourcing activities. The solution offered helped them to:

Institute a formal spend review program to minimize additional expenses.

Reduce associated losses and realize $6 million in savings.

in savings. Are you looking for insights to devise an effective spend and sourcing strategies? Request a free proposal to access our customized solutions today!

Outcome: The experts at SpendEdge performed a detailed analysis of spend across all categories of the supply network. They conducted an in-depth total cost of ownership analysis and uncovered an unclear organizational structure consisting of fragmented sourcing activities. This helped them to identify spend reduction opportunities. The solution offered also helped the client to collaborate with specific MRO suppliers and reduce the procurement costs.

To access the complete case study on how we helped a commodity petrochemicals manufacturing company to realize $6 million in savings, read the complete case study here!

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005414/en/

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Pippa Middleton cut a stylish figure in a brown military coat as she was spotted riding her bike through West London today.

The Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister, 36, was spotted wearing a grey helmet as she cycled along roads near her Chelsea home today, with her brown hair swept back into a chic up do.

Mother-of-one Pippa wrapped up warm in the double breasted coat and opted for a pair of dark brown leather gloves which she paired with a pair of simple black cigarette trousers.

Pippa Middleton braced this morning's chill in a brown military coat and gloves as she cycled near her home in leafy West London

The mother-of-one donned leopard-print plimsolls as she pedaled down the quiet road with a black bag jutting over the edge of her wicker basket

Despite cutting a typically stylish figure, Pippa put her safety first and tucked her hair underneath a sturdy helmet

She looked fresh faced and added some flair to the outfit with leopard print plimsolls and a pair of oversized black sunglasses.

Pippa has been keeping a low profile since returning from a family holiday in St Barths with brother James Middleton and his fiancee Alizee Thevenet in January.

However, the mother was spotted out and about with one-year-old son Arthur earlier this week in West London.

She was pictured taking her son for a stroll on his pushchair wearing a stylish checked grey coat and mustard turtleneck top.

Since her sister's wedding to Prince William in 2012, Pippa has become famous in her own right. But this does not stop her from going on solo public outings, and she is regularly spotted around West London

While Pippa cycles around West London, many of the Firm have descended upon the annual Cheltenham horse-racing festival

Firm grip! Pippa clutches the handlebars as she whistles past parked cars on a sunny but chilly morning in the capital toda

Arthur, who was born in October 2018, is Pippa's first child with husband James Matthews.

Pippa and husband James Matthews welcomed their baby boy weighing 8lb and 9oz at the private Lindo Wing, at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in October last year.

She is regularly spotted balancing her motherly duties with her gym routine, often pounding the pavements with his pram in-tow.

The socialite wrapped up warm in her elegant full-length belted coat, which she wore over a black polo neck sweater and dark grey jeans

Arthur has the middle names Michael and William. The name Michael is a touching tribute to Pippa's father and her husband's younger brother who died while climbing Mount Everest in 1999.

Michael Matthews went missing on the mountain's infamous Death Zone while he was trying to become the youngest Briton to climb the worlds highest peak.

Following his tragic death brother James Matthews accompanied by wife Pippa have become committed to fundraising for poverty-stricken areas in Africa and Asia through the Michael Matthews Foundation.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin came up short of agreement Thursday night on a sweeping aid package for Americans affected by the coronavirus, although the two sides hope to reach a deal by Friday morning.

"We have, or are near, to an agreement, subject to the exchange of paper. We hope to have an announcement tomorrow," Pelosi told reporters following a Democratic leadership meeting.

Were close to a deal. Obviously, it takes time to write it up, make sure its right, make sure its comfortable, added House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in a brief interview. Hopefully, hopefully, we will have it done by tomorrow.

The final sticking points involved complex talks led by Mnuchin and Ways and Means Chairman Richie Neal (D-Mass.) over sick leave for employees impacted by the coronavirus as well as their family members, said multiple Democratic and GOP aides.

Pelosi and Mnuchin held several conversations throughout Thursday. Pelosi then tapped Neal to try hammer out an accord over the paid leave issue with Mnuchin, said Democratic aides.

The multibillion-dollar House proposal  which aims to shore up safety-net programs like food aid and unemployment insurance  represents Washington's most aggressive response to the growing coronavirus crisis, which has sent financial markets into a panic as it quickly spreads across the globe. Schools across the United States announced closures throughout the day. The NCAA canceled its annual college basketball tournament, while businesses and state and local governments ordered their workers to stay home.

With so much at stake, Democrats and the White House are wrestling over two initiatives to help workers directly impacted by the coronavirus.

First, Democrats want to permanently require businesses to offer 14 days of paid leave directly to workers in the event of a public health emergency. But it also would include a refundable tax credit for employers with 500 employees or less to help offset those costs, reimbursed by IRS.

Story continues

The second is a proposed temporary federal sick leave program. Workers suffering from the coronavirus, or with family members who have it, would receive some portion of their current wages for up to three months.

Both of the programs would be tied to the length of the coronavirus outbreak, which makes it hard to predict their cost.

Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and other lawmakers drafted the initial proposals.

Early Thursday, Republicans and the White House raised strong objections to the Democrats initiative, which was unveiled close to midnight on Wednesday. But Pelosi told reporters that Democrats have agreed to most of the GOPs proposed changes.

The two sides had earlier reached agreement on a Medicaid cost-sharing provision, as well as a temporary liability waiver to mask manufacturers, according to sources in both parties.

Some progressive Democrats are concerned about concessions made by party leaders on paid sick leave. DeLauro, a vocal advocate on the issue, has continued to push for a provision that would allow permanent paid sick leave, despite objections from Republicans who want only temporary benefits.

Asked whether Democrats would need to drop their push for a permanent sick leave provision amid GOP resistance, DeLauro sought to downplay the controversy.

This is all focused on coronavirus. This is what the emergency is, DeLauro said. Progress is being made. ... Were trying to button it all up. Still, even some of DeLauros Democratic colleagues have lost patience, with several privately complaining that her refusal to relent is a key obstacle to a bipartisan deal.

Even as Pelosi and Mnuchin continued their talks on the House bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared his chamber would cancel next week's recess to continue work on dealing with the outbreak. If the House passes the bill Friday, the Senate could approve it next week and send it to President Donald Trump's desk.

"Notwithstanding the scheduled state work period, the Senate will be in session next week," the GOP leader tweeted. "I am glad talks are ongoing between the Administration and Speaker Pelosi. I hope Congress can pass bipartisan legislation to continue combating the coronavirus and keep our economy strong."

Senior Democrats had initially been hopeful  some, even confident  that their bill would immediately win support from Republicans.

By Thursday morning, however, GOP leaders said they would oppose the plan over the paid leave plan and changes to Medicaid, which would help hospitals cover swelling costs of uninsured patients.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Republicans on a conference call Thursday morning that the GOP is going to oppose the Democratic coronavirus bill as currently constructed, according to sources on the call. At a press briefing shortly after, McCarthy said both chambers should remain in session until a bill can be negotiated, repeatedly emphasizing that they want to work with Pelosi.

I think we stay here, we get it right, McCarthy told reporters. I think we can get this done in the next 48 hours."

Republicans have specifically taken issue with language in the bill that requires paid sick leave for all businesses with no exemptions or end date, puts the Social Security Administration in charge of the paid emergency leave program and increases Medicaids Federal Medical Assistance Percentage.

Trump also said Thursday that he did not support the measure, even as his Treasury chief took part in multiple conversations with Pelosi to discuss changes to the bill.

"No, there are things in there that had nothing to do of what we are talking about. It is not a way for them to get some of the goodies they have been able to get for the last 25 years," Trump said, without offering specifics.

Trump outlined his own proposals in a prime-time Oval Office address on Wednesday night, which included paid sick leave, small-business loans and delaying tax payment deadlines. Democrats say they plan to address any tax-specific measures in a later package, focusing instead on families with low incomes and and vulnerable populations.

McConnell, for his part, called the House measure an ideological wish list.

The Kentucky Republican insisted the Senate was willing to consider a compromise package if it can be negotiated by Democrats and the White House, but said, left-wing political messaging may have taken priority over the needs of our country.

The negotiations come at a dramatic moment on Capitol Hill, with senior Democrats and Republicans acknowledging that they had never before seen such a crisis, with no way of knowing the eventual scale in the U.S.

The uncertainty has been compounded by rising frustration among members of both parties about their inability to get clear answers from the Trump administration about the government's capacity to test individuals for the virus.

Conservative Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.) said Trump administration officials left "a lot of questions that are still not being able to be answered" after a Thursday morning briefing. "[There's] frustration among members as a whole," he said, particularly about why the United States can't replicate successful testing regimes implemented elsewhere.

"I believe the CDC struggled to give a really strong answer on being able to duplicate some of the places like South Korea," he said.

The Capitol is also grappling with its first case of the coronavirus in its complex. An aide to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has tested positive for the virus, and multiple congressional offices are now working remotely.

The response on Capitol Hill has been escalating rapidly in the past 24 hours, with party leaders and building security officials deciding to clamp down on public tours.

The sweeping package  crafted in about 72 hours by a handful of Democratic chairmen  took even some Democrats by surprise.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Col.) told Democratic chairmen at a middle-of-the-night meeting of the House Rules Committee that he didn't understand why the vote couldnt be slowed down slightly for all members to digest the package.

"This is about as far from regular order" as Congress gets, Perlmutter said early Thursday morning, challenging House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone.

Kyle Cheney, Marianne LeVine and Jake Sherman contributed to this report.
Photos and social media posts made by a passenger while on board the fatal Lockhart River crash will become evidence in the investigation, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed today.

The social media content, obtained by Tropic Now last night, includes a photo that captured the wild weather outside the plane as it circled above Lockhart River airstrip.

The first photo and comment was posted to Facebook by a passenger from inside the plane at 7.10am, just before take off from Cairns Airport.

The second Facebook post was made at approximately 9.30am while the plane was circling over the Lockhart River airstrip, just moments before the crash.

Following feedback from Tropic Now readers about the story, we decided to remove the article from our site and apologised for any distress caused.

It comes as ATSB investigators reveal the light plane was making its second attempt at landing on the Lockhart River airstrip when it crashed on the beach nearby, killing all four passengers and the pilot.

ATSB investigators are today travelling to the accident site of the Cessna 404 Titan aircraft, registration VH-OZO, which crashed near into dunes near Lockhart River at about 9.44am on Wednesday morning.

"After conducting a missed approach at Lockhart River aerodrome, the aircraft impacted a beach while conducting a second approach to land on runway 30," the ATSB said in a statement today.

"The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured. Three ATSB transport safety investigators with experience in aircraft operations, aircraft maintenance and aeronautical engineering will begin the on-site evidence collection phase of the investigation on Friday.

"On-site tasks will include surveying and mapping the wreckage distribution and gathering relevant wreckage, materials and avionics instruments for further analysis at ATSB technical facilities.

"In addition, two other transport safety investigators with aircraft operations and human factors expertise were due to arrive in Cairns on Thursday to begin the process of interviewing involved parties and witnesses, and obtaining operational records and technical documentation.

"The ATSB notes the aircraft was not required to be fitted with a cockpit voice recorder, but other recorded data may be available to investigators including ADS-B data which is broadcast from the aircrafts Mode S transponder, as well as any mobile devices with flight planning apps installed."

Investigators will also gather relevant weather information from the Bureau of Meteorology.

A preliminary report will be released in about a month after the on-site phase, while the investigations final report can be expected to be released in about 18 months time.

The ATSB has asked any witnesses who may have seen or heard the aircraft to contact them via the website www.atsb.gov.au/witness or by calling 1800 992 986.

But the ATSB noted that if a "critical safety issue" is identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will "immediately notify relevant stakeholders so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken."
Those who can afford the ride flood private jet companies with requests for travel between the US and Europe.

Airlines are still digesting the implications of President Donald Trumps restrictions on travel from Europe but some wealthy Americans are already looking for ways to get home quickly.

The private jet industry has received a surge in inquiries from Americans currently in Europe, even as operators themselves scramble to clarify how the travel ban will impact their own operations.

This situation is unprecedented, said Adam Twidell, chief executive officer of private jet charter provider PrivateFly. Were seeing a significant number of requests in the past few hours from Americans currently in Europe, looking to fly back to the U.S. And others from U.S. citizens wanting to fly from other parts of Europe to the U.K., as it is currently exempt from the ban.

Trump said Wednesday that he will significantly restrict travel from Europe to the U.S. for the next 30 days.

The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots, the president said in a televised address. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.

The development is expected to boost demand for private aircraft among individuals even as corporate jet travel tumbles, with companies restricting travel to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The precise impact on transatlantic airline schedules isnt clear and the restriction doesnt apply to legal permanent residents and immediate family members of U.S. citizens. Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said in a statement that U.S. citizens arriving from Europe will travel through specific airports where they can undergo screening for the virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also raised its travel warning for Europe, advising Americans to avoid nonessential travel to certain countries.

Travelers returning from the specified countries in Europe must stay home for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health and practice social distancing, the CDC said in a statement on its website.

While private jets still have to adhere to these restrictions and immigration rules, theyre better able to navigate disruptions than commercial jet operators.

Private jets are still flying, said Toby Edwards, a managing director at charter company Victor. U.S. citizens are allowed to return to the U.S. and those who have not passed through a Schengen country in the 14 days prior to entry into the U.S. are also currently permitted.

For those who meet the requirements  and can afford the extra expense  private jets offer the quickest way to the U.S. The cost to charter a long- range jet such as a Dassault Falcon 7X or a Bombardier Global to New York from Paris one-way would be about $90,000, according to PrivateFly.

Overall the inquiries were getting are from people very concerned to get their families back together as soon as possible, given how rapidly the situation is developing, Twidell said. One client is flying his daughter home to the U.S. from university in France, and several of her fellow students  who are also U.S. citizens  are sharing the flight back with her.
TORONTO, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unisync Corp. (TSX: "UNI") (Unisync") is pleased to announce that Public Works and Government Services Canada has awarded a long-term Managed Clothing Solution Contract (MCSC) to its wholly owned subsidiary, Unisync Group Limited (UGL), for the provision of uniforms and related accessories to the Canadian Coast Guard, a Special Operating Agency under the umbrella of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This contract involves the provision of uniforms and related accessories, and management services including but not limited to uniform design, manufacturing, inventory management and warehousing, ordering, distribution and on-line web-based ordering and program data management services. The MCSC, which is for an initial term of three years with two two-year extension options, is estimated initially at $1.6 million per annum.



The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) helps ensure the security and prosperity of Canada by providing essential services to the marine community. These services include waterways management, aids to navigation, search and rescue, environmental response, icebreaking (escort and flood control) and marine communications and traffic services. The CCG also plays an important role in maritime security and provides and operates the federal governments civilian fleet. It is a significant symbol of Canadian Sovereignty, especially in remote northern areas. The CCG carries out its responsibilities with a workforce of approximately 6,000 employees, including approximately 3,500 uniformed personnel who provide services at approximately 107 staffed shoreside locations, aboard 118 ships and 4 Air Cushion Vehicles, numerous smaller vessels and 22 Helicopters.

ABOUT UNISYNC

Unisync is a broad-based vertically integrated North American enterprise with exceptional capabilities in garment design, domestic manufacturing, and off-shore outsourcing, including state-of-the-art web based B2B ordering, distribution, and program management systems. Unisync operates through two business units: UGL and Peerless Garments LP (Peerless).

UGL provides full-service, managed apparel programs for major corporations and government-related entities through operations across Canada and has recently expanded into the US marketplace through the establishment of a 45,000 sq. ft. distribution and service facility in Henderson, Nevada, and a sales and service facility in Lakewood, New Jersey. The Nevada facility is now staffed and distributing new uniforms for the launch of its first major US based airline account which is currently rolling out its new designs to employees. UGLs customer base includes a broad list of North American iconic brands as well as municipal and provincial agencies across Canada.



Winnipeg based Peerless specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of highly technical protective garments, military operational clothing, and accessories for a broad spectrum of Federal, Provincial and Municipal government agencies in Canada.

For more information on our capabilities, products and services please visit the Unisync website at www.unisyncgroup.com .

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Matthew Graham, CEO

Investor relations contact:

Douglas F Good 778-370-1725 or Email dgood@unisyncgroup.com



Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risk and uncertainties that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such forward-looking statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
Amidst ongoing concerns regarding whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) will go ahead as planned or not, sources within a franchise of the tournament on Thursday said they will abide by whatever the BCCI decides.

The Central government has suspended all visas to India till April 15 as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus and this has put IPL's scheduling in doubt.

"It's really a tricky situation right now, I don't know what to say. There is a special IPL governing council meeting on Saturday, then the BCCI will take a call on the tournament, as of now huge investment has been done for the tournament, many states are also saying no to IPL. It's tough situation. What the BCCI decides, we will follow, sources within a franchise told ANI.

Earlier in the day, sources within the IPL's governing council had said that the foreign players would not be available for the tournament due to the visa restrictions.

"Yes, foreign players will not be available. We will discuss this and other issues at our governing council meeting scheduled for March 14," a source in IPL governing council told ANI.

The 13th edition of IPL is scheduled to commence from March 29, with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings meeting at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the first match.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the IPL should happen behind closed doors or it should be postponed after 10 positive cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the state. He further stated that the final decision will be taken by the government on Thursday.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday had declared the coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' and expressed deep concern.

Coronavirus which originated in the Wuhan city of China has so far spread to more than 90 countries infecting over 1,10,000 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 11:27:34|Editor: Xiang Bo

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LOS ANGELES, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Oscar winner Tom Hanks announced on Wednesday that he and his wife Rita Wilson both have tested positive for the COVID-19.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the American actor wrote "Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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."

"Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires," he added.

"We'll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!" the actor wrote.

Hanks is the first Hollywood celebrity to publicly confirm a COVID-19 diagnosis. He is one of the most popular Hollywood stars and has been honored with two consecutive Oscars for 1993's "Philadelphia" and 1994's "Forrest Gump."

Hanks has been in the Gold Coast, Australia for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley film from Warner Bros, according to online news site Deadline Hollywood.
OAKLAND, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced this week new protocols and requirements for minimizing the continuing spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Brown & Toland has developed communications to support member awareness and physician preparedness.

"Helping our 350,000 members and 2,700 physicians navigate this confusing time and doing all we can to keep them healthy is our highest priority," says Kelly Robison, CEO of Brown & Toland Physicians.

Brown & Toland members can visit www.brownandtoland.com to find more information on:

How to minimize the risk of exposing themselves or others to illness based on guidelines issued by the CDC.

Understanding the symptoms and differences between COVID-19 and other strains of cold and flus.

What to do if they suspect they have been exposed to COVID-19.

Brown & Toland's network of physicians are receiving direct communications that compile critical information and instructions from the CDC, CDPH and DMHC regarding:

High intensity patient triage and referral to emergency medicine

Telephonic healthcare options

COVID-19 testing options (non-emergent)

Waiver of cost-sharing amounts (co-pays) for medically necessary COVID-19 screening and testing

COVID-19 quarantining, reporting and maintaining Access to Care standards

Personal protective equipment usage

Limiting/Rescheduling wellness visits to minimize exposure to "at risk" populations

Increased office hygienic practices and sanitation protocols

"Brown & Toland proudly partners with other Bay Area community healthcare providers in doing all we can to best support our physicians in delivering care to their patients as we collectively work through this challenging situation," says Dr. Joel Klompus, president and acting Chief Medical Officer for Brown & Toland Physicians.

Brown & Toland Physicians will continue to keep its members and network of physicians informed of the changing directives from public health entities throughout the duration of this cold and flu season.

About Brown & Toland Physicians

Brown & Toland Physicians is a leading network of independent doctors focused on delivering personalized and high-quality healthcare to the San Francisco Bay Area. Its network of more than 2,700 physicians, serving more than 350,000 HMO and PPO patients, is dedicated to improving care and reducing costs through innovative care management and care coordination programs, use of healthcare technology, and population health management strategies. Brown & Toland collaborates with leading hospitals and health plan providers to help improve the health of our Bay Area communities. To learn more, visit www.brownandtoland.com.

SOURCE Brown & Toland Physicians

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New Jersey officials announced six new coronavirus cases Thursday, increasing the statewide total to 29 positive tests with 1 death as the outbreak continues to expand, prompting unprecedented closures, cancellations and rescheduling of events throughout the state.

Gov. Phil Murphy also issued a recommendation against any public gatherings of 250 people or more in the state. New Jersey declared a state of emergency Monday to deal with the unfolding outbreak.

Today, based on guidance we have received from the Commissioner of Health, we are recommending the cancellation of all public gatherings throughout New Jersey of more than 250 individuals, including concerts, sporting events, and parades," Murphy said. These measures are being taken as part of our coordinated response to the continued outbreak and to aggressively mitigate the spread of the virus.

The six new cases include:

A 16-year-old girl from Englewood. This positive test was performed through Labcorp, rather than at the state lab. She is being treated at Englewood hospital.

A 66-year-old woman from Montclair. She is hospitalized at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center.

A 51-year-old man from Bulter Borough. He is being treated at Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains.

A 23-year-old man from Bridgewater. He may have been exposed through close contact with a Pennsylvania resident who has coronavirus.

A 53-year-old man from Manalapan. He is being treated at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold and had exposure to a confirmed case.

A woman, age unknown, from Teaneck. She was exposed to a confirmed case at a synagogue carnival on March 1.

The new positive tests include the first cases for Somerset, Essex and Morris counties. New Jersey now has coronavirus cases in 11 of 21 counties. Bergen County has the most cases with 13 and is considered a moderate risk for exposure to coronavirus, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said during a news conference in Ewing.

All other counties are considered a none to minimal risk with the exception of Monmouth County, which has five cases and is considered above minimal," Persichilli said.

Theres another 37 possible cases under investigation. Those will be tested at the states lab, Persichilli said.

COVID-19  the illness caused by the virus  has sickened more than 1,300 people nationwide and led to at least 38 deaths, according to statistics maintained by Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.

New Jerseys first death from coronavirus was identified Tuesday as John Brennan, 69, a horse trainer from Little Ferry in Bergen County. He suffered from multiple pre-existing medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and emphysema, officials said.

State health officials said Wednesday theyve identified two new positive cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey that could possibly be a result of community spread."

Community spread is defined as person-to-person transmission without exposure to a confirmed case, health officials said. People in areas where there is community spread are at elevated risk of exposure, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.

The coronavirus outbreak in New Jersey has moved most 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. Princeton University expanded its precautions, telling students not to return for the rest of the semester.

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 127,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus and the death toll has climbed above 4,718, according to CNN.com.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar is all set to celebrate his 45th birthday on March 17. In order to make the stars birthday a special one for the fans, the makers of Yuvarathnaa have decided to drop a dialogue teaser on March 16.

The much-awaited teaser of Puneeths highly anticipated Sandalwood biggie will be released online on the eve of his birthday. Yuvarathnaa is the actors first release of 2020 and has been in the making for quite some time now.

The official Twitter handle of the production house- Hombale Films confirmed the sweet news by writing, The birthday celebrations start early. A power-packed dialogue teaser from #Yuvarathnaa for all the Powerstar @PuneethRajkumar fans on March 16th. Stay tuned to @hombalefilms for more updates. #HBDPowerstar #YuvaratnaaDialogueTeaser." (sic)

The birthday celebrations start early. A power packed dialogue teaser from #Yuvarathnaa for all the Powerstar @PuneethRajkumar fans on March 16th. Stay tuned to @hombalefilms for more updates.#HBDPowerstar #YuvaratnaaDialogueTeaser pic.twitter.com/ll1VpaqkXG  Hombale Films (@hombalefilms) March 9, 2020

For the uninitiated, Appu was all set to head to Slovenia to wrap up the shoot of Yuvarathnaa. The actor was supposed to shoot for a romantic number with leading lady Sayyeshaa during the four-day schedule. But owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the world, the team decided to cancel their international shooting schedule.

Yuvarathnaa is directed by Santhosh Ananddram and produced by Vijay Kirgandur of Hombale Films. The movie, as we speak, is in its final stages with just two songs remaining to be completed. Besides Puneeth and Sayyeshaa in the lead roles, the family entertainer also stars Dhananjay as the antagonist along with Vasishta Simha, Prakash Raj, Diganth and Sonu Gowda in pivotal roles.

The teaser and posters of the film have already created massive curiosity amongst the audiences. The music for the movie has been composed by S Thaman coupled with Venkatesh Angurajs cinematography.

ALSO READ: Mayabazar 2016 Movie Leaked On Kannada Rockers, Producer Puneeth Rajkumar Files Police Complaint

ALSO READ: Puneeth Rajkumar To Head To Europe For The Last Schedule Of Yuvarathnaa


My fellow Americans: Tonight, I want to speak with you about our nations unprecedented response to the coronavirus outbreak that started in China and is now spreading throughout the world.

Today, the World Health Organization officially announced that this is a global pandemic.

We have been in frequent contact with our allies, and we are marshalling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people.

This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.

I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus.

From the beginning of time, nations and people have faced unforeseen challenges, including large-scale and very dangerous health threats.

This is the way it always was and always will be. It only matters how you respond, and we are responding with great speed and professionalism.

Our team is the best anywhere in the world.

At the very start of the outbreak, we instituted sweeping travel restrictions on China and put in place the first federally mandated quarantine in over 50 years.

We declared a public health emergency and issued the highest level of travel warning on other countries as the virus spread its horrible infection.

And taking early intense action, we have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than are now present in Europe.

The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots.

As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.

After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and wellbeing of all Americans.

To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground.

There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings, and these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval.

Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.

These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom.

At the same time, we are monitoring the situation in China and in South Korea.

And, as their situation improves, we will reevaluate the restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening.

Earlier this week, I met with the leaders of health insurance industry who have agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing.

We are cutting massive amounts of red tape to make antiviral therapies available in record time.

These treatments will significantly reduce the impact and reach of the virus.

Additionally, last week, I signed into law an $8.3 billion funding bill to help CDC and other government agencies fight the virus and support vaccines, treatments, and distribution of medical supplies.

Testing and testing capabilities are expanding rapidly, day by day. We are moving very quickly.

The vast majority of Americans: The risk is very, very low. Young and healthy people can expect to recover fully and quickly if they should get the virus.

The highest risk is for elderly population with underlying health conditions.

The elderly population must be very, very careful. In particular, we are strongly advising that nursing homes for the elderly suspend all medically unnecessary visits.

In general, older Americans should also avoid nonessential travel in crowded areas.

My administration is coordinating directly with communities with the largest outbreaks, and we have issued guidance on school closures, social distancing, and reducing large gatherings.

Smart action today will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow.

Every community faces different risks and it is critical for you to follow the guidelines of your local officials who are working closely with our federal health experts -- and they are the best.

For all Americans, it is essential that everyone take extra precautions and practice good hygiene.

Each of us has a role to play in defeating this virus.

Wash your hands, clean often-used surfaces, cover your face and mouth if you sneeze or cough, and most of all, if you are sick or not feeling well, stay home.

To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action, which is unprecedented, to provide financial relief.

This will be targeted for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus.

I will be asking Congress to take legislative action to extend this relief.

Because of the economic policies that we have put into place over the last three years, we have the greatest economy anywhere in the world, by far.

Our banks and financial institutions are fully capitalized and incredibly strong. Our unemployment is at a historic low.

This vast economic prosperity gives us flexibility, reserves, and resources to handle any threat that comes our way.

This is not a financial crisis, this is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.

However, to provide extra support for American workers, families, and businesses, tonight I am announcing the following additional actions: I am instructing the Small Business Administration to exercise available authority to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the coronavirus.

Effective immediately, the SBA will begin providing economic loans in affected states and territories.

These low-interest loans will help small businesses overcome temporary economic disruptions caused by the virus.

To this end, I am asking Congress to increase funding for this program by an additional $50 billion.

Using emergency authority, I will be instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments, without interest or penalties, for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted.

This action will provide more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy.

Finally, I am calling on Congress to provide Americans with immediate payroll tax relief.

Hopefully they will consider this very strongly.

We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus. We made a life-saving move with early action on China.

Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay.

I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health, and safety of the American people.

I will always put the wellbeing of America first.

If we are vigilant -- and we can reduce the chance of infection, which we will -- we will significantly impede the transmission of the virus.

The virus will not have a chance against us. No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States.

We have the best economy, the most advanced healthcare, and the most talented doctors, scientists, and researchers anywhere in the world. We are all in this together.

We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family.

As history has proven time and time again, Americans always rise to the challenge and overcome adversity.

Our future remains brighter than anyone can imagine.

Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before.

God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you.
A man, who claimed he had been wrongly and maliciously accused of spooning with his girlfriend in a hospital bed, has lost a 75,000 damages claim for defamation against Beaumont Hospital and one of its staff nurses Anna Hughes.

19-year-old Ryan Tobin, of The Grove, Skerries Rock, Skerries, Co Dublin claimed in the Circuit Civil Court Thursday that a reference by Staff Nurs Hughes in her nursing notes that he had been witnessed by staff spooning in bed with his girlfriend carried a defamatory innuendo of sexual misconduct.

Judge Cormac Quinn told Shane English, counsel for Beaumont and Ms Hughes, that the court considered staff had acted appropriately and were entitled to speak sternly if they had to.

The judge said that words spoken to Mr Tobin by Nurse Hughes were not defamatory nor was her reference in the nursing notes to their spooning in bed. He awarded costs of the hospitals defence to his claim for defamation and negligence against Tobin.

Tobin told the court that on February 12, 2018, when he was 17, he was being treated in St Gabriels Ward in Beaumont Hospital and his mother and father and girlfriend were with him behind his bed screen. His girlfriend had been half-lying half-sitting on the bed and he had been comforting himself by leaning his head against her shoulder.

Suddenly the bed curtain had been pulled back and Nurse Hughes had said: This behaviour is completely inappropriate. There are young children present. Have some respect. Get off the bed now. He said she had later included in her notes that patient was witnessed by staffwith girlfriend (spooning in bed.)

Mr English, who appeared with Corrigan and Corrigan Solicitors, put it to him in cross-examination that it would be preposterous for anyone to suggest that he had been involved in any sort of sexual act with his girlfriend with his parents watching them. Mr English said his girlfriend had been lying on the bed fully clothed and with her shoes on. Nursing staff would have been entitled to tell her to get off.

In his claim Tobin said he had been frightened and distressed by Nurse Hughess words and actions. His mother, Mrs Mary Tobin, had told her she would be lodging a complaint against her.

His father Ray Tobin, told the court Nurse Hughes had come storming in, aggressively pulled the curtain aside and directed her remarks at his son. She had stormed out again in the manner she had stormed in.

Nurses Hughes said the bed curtain had been closed and for safety of the patient it was necessary that he be observed at all time. She had pulled the curtain back but had no reason to be aggressive.

I observed Ryans girlfriend lying flat. Her torso was across the back of his pillow and her legs were lying to the side of the bed, she told Judge Quinn. I said such behaviour was inappropriate in a childrens ward and I did not mean to imply there was sexual activity going on in Ryans cubicle.

Nurse Hughes told Mr English that if she had seen two people in a patients bed having intimate or sexual relations it would cause her considerable concern and would have reported it to management.

Ms Hughes told barrister John Maher, who appeared with Michelle Synnott of Lawline Solicitors for Tobin, that Ryan was in the bed and she was in behind him on the bed. She had written on his chart that his girlfriend was lying in the bed.

Mr Maher said that in a letter to Ryan and his parents the hospital had apologised and had stated that on any such future occasion alternative words than spooning would be used. Nurse Hughes agreed with him she had been told afterwards she should not have used that word.

Tobin had claimed that with the note on his medical records the alleged defamation would be ongoing.

Mr English applied for and was granted legal costs for the defendants who had always denied there had been any defamation or negligence on their part.
Weeks before he officially cut ties with the royal family, Prince Harry is facing yet another controversy. It is after he falls victim to two notorious Russian pranksters, who made him believe he had a phone interview with climate change activist Greta Thunberg and her father.

Pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov -- famous for their alias as "Vovan and Lexus" -- got the chance to talk to the 35-year-old Prince via phonecall in two separate occasions: (1) on New Year's Eve and (2) last January 22, 2020.

Vovan and Lexus called the Duke through a landline while he was staying in a luxury mansion in Vancouver Island in Canada with his wife, Meghan Markle, and son Archie.

Prince Harry Spills the Tea on 'Megxit'

During the prank call, the sixth in line to the throne opened up about their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family.

At first, Harry declined to talk about their controversial royal exit, saying there ia a lot of "layers and pieces to the puzzle." However, he eventually started talking and explaining to the supposed 17-year-old activist that their decision was not made easy.

"I can assure you, marrying a Prince or Princess is not all it's made up to be," Harry joked.

"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."

The Duke of Sussex believes that a lot of families will be able to relate to his decision to put his family on top of his priorities.

The Prince also revealed that living a normal life is much better than the life he was born into as a royal.

"You forget, I was in the military for ten years, so I'm more normal than my family would like to believe," Harry said.

"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."

The Truth About Harry and Meghan's Royal Titles

The pranksters also quizzed the Duke about the news that both he and Meghan will be "stripped" of their royal titles after "Megxit," to which Harry told them not to believe everything they read online.

Harry explained that the technicalities within the royal family only prevent them from using the titles to make money out of it.

"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 Prince explained.

Harry also blamed the media for coming up with such a conclusion and made it look like The Firm is stripping off their titles.

Dream Foundation Crushed

Prince Harry also revealed to the pranksters that he and his wife already ditched the dream of creating a foundation that will support climate change and other humanitarian works.

The Duke said there are lots of organizations already, and they do not think the world needs another foundation from the Sussexes.

Instead, Harry said that they are looking into using their platform to encourage real change in the world.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:13:33|Editor: huaxia

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by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in great fear of the possible spread of COVID-19 in their camps given the increase in infection cases in the country and the lack of medical attention and proper precautions in their camps.

Khaled Ismail, a 56-year-old refugee in Minye camp in the north of Lebanon, told Xinhua that nobody has guided them on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"We are afraid of the virus spread because our children live together and if one of them gets infected, the rest will surely be exposed," said Ismail, a father of six.

Mohamed Tarek Jamal, a 40-year-old Syrian refugee, told Xinhua that the living conditions in refugees' camps are highly susceptible to the spread of the virus.

"It is hard to control the spread of the virus in the camp here because it hosts around 300 people, mostly children. Also, the tents are adjacent and they constitute the only shelter for refugees in the camp without a proper sewage network but with exposed drainage channels, a primary cause for health problems," Jamal explained.

The number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon stands at about 1 million registered at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while the Lebanese authorities estimate their number at about 1.3 million, most of whom reside in more than 1,400 random camps in various Lebanese regions.

The UNHCR announced that no cases of COVID-19 have been recorded so far in the Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon despite the surge in the number of the infected to 71 with three deaths.

Lisa Abou Khaled, spokeswoman of UNHCR, told Xinhua that volunteers will conduct awareness sessions in Lebanon, including refugee camps across the country.

UNHCR and partners are also planning to distribute more hygiene products and step up preventive measures to protect refugees in informal settlements and communal buildings, according to Abou Khaled.

"We have made awareness materials visible and available in refugee reception centers and community centers, with UNHCR staff available for any questions refugees might have on the virus," she said.

The UNHCR has intensified its online and social media information to ensure that refugees can easily find information on hygiene precaution, prevention and response measures, the spokesman noted.

Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs announced that the UNICEF will train a team at the ministry's development services centers about preventive measures to limit the spread of the virus.
The father of one of the four death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case moved the Delhi High Court on Thursday challenging a trial court order rejecting his plea to lodge an FIR against the sole witness in the matter for allegedly charging money to give interviews to channels.

The petition by Heera Lal Gupta, father of Pawan Kumar Gupta, is an appeal against the sessions court's January 27 decision dismissing his plea challenging a magisterial court's January 6 order rejecting his complaint to lodge an FIR against the sole eye-witness in the case.

The sole eyewitness, a friend of the 23-year-old victim, was accompanying her in the bus when the gruesome incident took place and he too was physically assaulted by the culprits.

Gupta, in his plea, has claimed that actions of the witness resulted in a media trial of the case and his son was, therefore, not provided a proper hearing.

The petition refers to tweets by a journalist of a media house who had claimed that the witness had charged money to give interviews to various channels.

The plea claims "it is clear from the tweets that his (witness) testimony was false and fabricated" and therefore, it calls for an independent investigation into the alleged perjury committed by him.

A Delhi court on March 5 issued death warrants for execution of the four convicts -- Vinay Sharma (26), Akshay Kumar Singh (31), Mukesh Kumar Singh (32) and Pawan (26) -- on March 20.

Nirbhaya is the name given to the December 2012 victim, a physiotherapy intern, who was raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus in South Delhi by six people.

She had boarded the nearly vacant bus in Munirka in South Delhi along with her male friend on her way back home on December 16 that year. After raping and brutalising the woman and beating her friend, the assailants had thrown them out of the bus.

After receiving initial treatment in New Delhi for a few days, she was shifted to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where she succumbed to injuries on December 29, 2012.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Members of the Syracuse Common Council put forth a legislative agenda for 2020, the first time in more than a decade that city lawmakers have formalized their ambitions as a whole.

Eight of the 10 members of the council spoke to reporters after a meeting Wednesday afternoon to outline their core goals for the year. The announcement comes just weeks before Mayor Ben Walsh is expected to release his proposed budget, which will reflect the priorities of the administration.

The councils agenda includes implementing redistricting, passing a new lead paint ordinance, reviewing business license fees, putting a moratorium on the sale of vacant land to non-for-profits and hiring an outside attorney to represent the council. Many of those efforts are already in the works.

The council also plans to push state and federal lawmakers for changes. Theyll ask for an amendment to the states public officers law that would separate New York City from upstate. Doing so would allow lawmakers to require cops, firefighters and sanitation workers to live in the city. Currently, those employees are exempt from residency requirements based on a law meant help NYC employees who were being priced out of Manhattan by skyrocketing real estate prices decades ago.

Other state and federal issues including convincing state lawmakers to sell the land under Interstate 81 to the city and getting Congress to ban recreational use of embalming fluid, which is often used as a narcotic.

Councilor-At-Large Khalid Bey said hes been trying to establish a legislative agenda for years, but has always been met with resistance. Now, he said, the current council had the will to organize and establish its goals.

For a long time I have made an issue about the fact that the legislature was unsuccessful in previous years of having an agenda, Bey said. This is a collaboration of ideas between all the councilors of priorities.

Council President Helen Hudson described the agenda as a good first step.

I just think this is a good first step for us as a council to basically look at how were gonna work legislatively and how were gonna actually work as councilors...to move the city forward, Hudson said.

The agenda is the latest in a series of steps the council has taken to flex its independence and organize itself. Earlier this year the council established standing committee meetings to review legislative items up for consideration.

The council has also taken a harder line with Walshs administration than it did in Walshs first year, pushing back often on the mayors legislative efforts.

All these changes come just after the council voted to give raises to its members, along with the mayor and the city auditor. With those raises came discussions of ways to improve governance in both of city halls branches of government.
Business leaders have called for calm after the Australian share market shrugged off the federal government's stimulus package to record its biggest one-day fall since the global financial crisis.

The S&P/ASX200 plunged 7.4 per cent yesterday shedding as much as $120 billion as panic selling reigned amid growing concerns of the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy. The fall took the exchange to 5304.6 points to close at the lowest level since November 2016.

The ASX suffered its worst day in more than a decade. Credit:Louie Douvis

The sharemarket opened the day down around 3 per cent following a weak overnight lead from Wall Street, with the S&P 500 diving 4.9 per cent. The morning dive was initially tempered by the federal government announcing a stimulus package of $17.8 billion aimed at pensioners and small business that was largely well-received by fund managers.

However, panic crept back into the market after US President Donald Trump banned travel from Europe to the US for 30 days, with analysts at stockbroker Bell Potter describing the move as "a free fall".
Workers have begun returning to shuttered factories and offices, but restarting the Chinese industrial machine has proved to be more difficult than shutting it down.

Beijing has taken a top-down approach to the recovery. Regulators have told bankers to be lenient about debt payments. The national education ministry has opened more graduate school spots for students who face unemployment this spring. And cities are offering loans to residents and businesses.

The hurdles: Cash-strapped consumers who missed paychecks may spend less, while businesses may have lower overseas demand. And as people leave isolation, officials could face a new crop of infections.

Details: More than 50 million migrant workers have not yet returned to their jobs, according to official data. And signs of fraud have already emerged  like business owners trying to burn enough electricity, even with no output, to qualify for subsidies.

Amid a market meltdown: Global stocks fell sharply again on Thursday, as President Trumps attempt to address the coronavirus outbreak failed to ease concerns. The S&P 500 Index was down nearly 7 percent in afternoon trading.
Africas richest man Aliko Dangote on Wednesday lost more than N240 billion in five hours as the effect of the coronavirus hit harder on the Stock Exchange.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday declared coronavirus a pandemic.

A pandemic is a disease that is spreading in multiple countries around the world at the same time.

Some of Dangotes firms under the parent-company, Dangote Group, suffered big losses at the market.



Investors have suffered a total of N1.41 trillion loss in the last three days to the pandemic which is wreaking havoc across the world.

Benchmark equities indices indicated an average decline of 3.4 per cent on Weednesday, which is equivalent to net capital depreciation of N426 billion. The equities lost N985 billion between Monday and Tuesday.

Dangote Cement Plc, the flagship of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), led the decline with the maximum daily allowable drop of 10 per cent or N17, which is equivalent to net depreciation of N289.68 billion. Dangote Cement is Nigerias most capitalised quoted company and accounts for more than 20 per cent of the total market capitalisation.

Two other members of the Dangote Group, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Plc and NASCON Allied Industries Plc lost N1.8 billion and N3.05 billion. Dangote Cements share price dropped by N17 from N170 to close at N153. NASCON Allied Industries declined by N1.15 to close at N3.05 while DSR lost 15 kobo to close at N9.75 per share.

Culled

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The government of India said on Friday that the popular belief that coronavirus doesnt survive higher temperatures and may not spread in India during summers was unverified.

Health ministry officials said in a press briefing that the facts about virus behavior were still under study and there was no confirmation for the general expectation that it gets destroyed in higher temperatures.

All facts about it are still being studied. There are no confirmatory studies. It is generally expected that the virus, if it is in higher temperatures may have difficulty in surviving, but it is not confirmed, said Luv Aggarwal, joint secretary with the health ministry.

Also Watch: No lapse in screening at airports: Health Minister in Lok Sabha

Ministry officials have only confirmed what some health experts had said earlier while cautioning against nurturing false hope.

A recent study done in China had claimed that the number of cases decreased after average temperatures crossed 8.72 degrees Celsius, leading to conclusions that the virus couldnt withstand warmer climates.

Epidemiologists say that while rising temperature and humidity could lead to a decline in the potency, it was not guaranteed to kill it. The new virus, they say, may not respond to seasonal changes like other viruses causing flu and common cold do.

Its a false hope to say it will disappear like the flu (in the summer)  we cant make that assumption. And there is no evidence, Mike Ryan, executive director of World Health Organistaion Health Emergencies Programme, was quoted as saying recently.

The study in China, which has not been peer-reviewed yet, had said that there may be a temperature range that could be best suited for the virus growth and rapid transmission and it may struggle in warmer countries during summer. The study had analysed coronavirus cases from around the world reported between January 20 and February 4 and related it with January weather data from China and other capitals of the affected countries.

Contrasting deductions were made by a study done by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, which said Covid-19 transmission took place in diverse climate conditions, including cold and dry regions to tropical locations within China.

This is a modified virus that has started infecting humans. We dont know how these changes will affect the survivability of the virus with changes in temperature or humidity, said Dr Lalit Kant, former head of epidemiology at Indian Council of Medical Research.

Other experts have pointed out that Kerala, where Indias first coronavirus cases were reported along with further transmissions this week, has humid weather and the maximum temperature hovers around 32 degrees Celsius.

The health ministry panel made a similar point on Friday during the briefing.
Scott Morrison has been slammed for his rare address to the nation over the coronavirus crisis, with viewers accusing the prime minister of putting a 'marketing spin' on the outbreak.

In a television address on Thursday night, Mr Morrison started his speech with a smile, before assuring Australians the country is 'well-prepared and well-equipped' to cope with the spread of COVID-19.

He detailed his government's $22.9billion economic stimulus package, dividing his government's strategy into three goals.

'One, protect Australians' health; two, secure Australians' jobs and livelihoods; and three, set Australia up to bounce back stronger when the crisis is over,' he said.

The words 'bounce back' were a prominent theme in Mr Morrison's speech as spruiked the government's economic performance, but it didn't sit well with hundreds of voters.

'Very little confidence after that speech which started with a grin,' one viewer wrote on Twitter.

In a television address on Thursday night, Mr Morrison started his speech with a smile, before assuring Australians the country is 'well-prepared and well-equipped' to cope with the spread of COVID-19

'Morrison only does marketing, spin and lies. He has no honesty, integrity, accountability or competence,' another said.

'PM's address could not have been more pathetic. Like he's talking to little children, with no content whatsoever. In the meantime, the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix is going ahead like it's no big deal?,' a third wrote.

Others labelled Mr Morrison's address as 'uninspiring' and likened it to his response to the bushfire crisis.

'A bit like the bushfire response ad. It's all about spin,' one tweet read.

'What a pointless address to the nation by Scott Morrison. No new information offered. Clearly he's only interested in making himself look good after what happened during the bushfire crisis,' said another.

Scott Morrison has been slammed by the public for his 'pathetic' coronavirus address to the nation which offered 'no advice' to panicked Australians

Others backed the prime minister's address and his response to the crisis, which has claimed the lives of three Australians and infected 151.

'Good on your Scomo! Fantastic to have a Prime Minister who understands business financials and quickly respond to the issues,' one person wrote on social media.

'Were with you in all this Scott. Thank for doing your best for our Australia. Thinking of you and your family and reassure you of my prayers,' said another.

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 the address, Mr Morrison said the government has a plan to protect the virus from spreading.

'Our plan has three goals,' he said. 'Protect Australians health, secure Australians jobs and livelihoods, and set Australia up to bounce back stronger when the crisis is over.'

'I want to assure you and your family tonight that while Australia cannot and is not immune from this virus we do have a clear plan to see Australia through.

'We were one of the first countries to recognise the seriousness of the coronavirus.

'Be assured, we are taking action and we have a clear plan. The months ahead have many challenges but we will respond to them.'

But he also sought to rally Australians, saying there were challenging months ahead as the world dealt with the fallout from the virus.

'Now I know, many Australians are anxious about this and we do still have a long way to go,' Mr Morrison said.

Scott Morrison also sought to rally Australians, saying there were challenging months ahead as the world dealt with the fallout from the virus. Pictured: People line up outside the Royal Melbourne Hosital for coronavirus testing

'We will get through this together, Australia. We all have a role to play. Employers, nurses, doctors, teachers, scientists, friends, family and neighbours. I know well all do our bit.

'As our economy bounces back, which it will, so will our Budget, because we have not loaded up spending off into the future.

'We can take this action now because we have worked hard to bring the budget back into balance, to maintain our AAA credit rating and work with State Governments to provide a world-class health system.'
Amidst the rise in the Coronavirus cases in India which have shot up to 73, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke about the measures taken by the Foreign Ministry in ensuring the safe return of the Indian nationals that were stranded abroad due to the novel disease.

Read: 'We Have Been Vigilant, 820 Isolation Beds Ready': Uttar Pradesh Health Min On Coronavirus

"As the House would have noticed, where specific interventions are required - as in the case of Wuhan in China, the Diamond Princess crew in Japan or now the pilgrims in Iran, we will take necessary action. But these are exceptional situations that require an exceptional response. At this time, travel in itself is not recommended as it only heightens risks," said EAM Jaishankar.

EAM on Indians in Iran

Jaishankar spoke about how the main focus of evacuation of nearly 6,000 Indians in Iran would be on Indian pilgrims followed by Indian students who have gone to the country to study medicine. He also revealed that about 1,000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Kerala & Gujarat and others were on longer-term stay visas in Iran for pursuing their livelihood. "Direct flights between India and Iran stand suspended. As per initial samples, 229 out of 529 samples of Indians stranded in Iran have tested negative for coronavirus," he said.

Read: WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak As A 'Pandemic', Implores Nations To Take Action

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in Lok Sabha on #Coronavirus: As per available information there are about 6000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran, including 1100 pilgrims mainly from Ladakh, J&K and Maharashtra, nearly 300 students primarily from J&K... (1/2) pic.twitter.com/0crwwIdDTr  ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

"There are operational constraints in evacuating Indians as the Iranian system is strict. We will continue to track welfare of all Indians stranded in Iran. We appreciate their corporation. We will do whatever we must to check the spread of coronavirus."

'India ahead on the curve'

He also spoke about the updated visa and travel guidelines stating that in terms of other countries, India was ahead on the curve. In a move to contain the rapid spread of Coronavirus cases in the country, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare yesterday issued an advisory stating that all existing visas, barring diplomatic, UN/International Organisations, employment and project visas, will stand suspended till April 15, 2020. This move will come into effect from 1200 GMT March 13, 2020, at the port of departure.

The EAM also announced that all incoming travellers including Indian nationals having visited China, Italy, Iran, Korea, Germany, France, Spain after February 15 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: CPI's Binoy Viswam Gives Notice In Rajya Sabha Over Prevention

Coronavirus declared as a pandemic

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) as a global pandemic after the deadly virus spread to 114 countries, resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 people worldwide. Taking to Twitter, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom finally declared the disease as a global pandemic, calling all nations to get very serious over the issue and take all necessary measures to contain the virus from spreading at this rate.

Read: Supreme Court's Vacation Bench Declines Hearing PIL Seeking Stay On IPL Amid Coronavirus
By PTI

DUBAI: The mortal remains of a third Indian national, who was killed in a fire on board an oil tanker off the coast of Sharjah on January 29, have been sent to his home in India.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai on Wednesday tweeted that the mortal remains of Mohammad Abbas Ansari from Bihar was sent to his hometown in Patna after identifying him through a DNA test.

Mortal remains of late Mr Mohammed Abbas Ansari who dies in the fire accident on vessel MT SAM on 29.01.2020, were sent to Patna, India yesterday. His body was identified by matching of his DNA with that of his son," the Indian mission tweeted. Authorities had to resort to DNA tests to identify his mortal remains because the last two bodies that were retrieved a couple of days after the fire were charred beyond recognition, the Gulf News reported.

Ansari is the third Indian victim of the fire whose mortal remains have been repatriated.

The bodies of two other Indian nationals -- Shiva Naga Babu from Andhra Pradesh and Basudeb Haldar from West Bengal -- were repatriated on February 13 and 20 respectively.

Another Indian, Kolangi Thankavel from Tamil Nadu, remains missing till date.

Mortal remains of late Mr. Mohammed Abbas Ansari who dies in the fire accident on vessel MT SAM on 29.01.2020, were sent to Patna, India yesterday. His body was identified by matching of his DNA with that of his son. https://t.co/3tzkse9syM  India in Dubai (@cgidubai) March 11, 2020

DNA test would be conducted on the remaining body to verify if that is Thankavel as two people of two other nationalities had also reportedly gone missing after the fire.

"We are in the process of getting the DNA test done on the remaining body. We have called Thankavel's family for this. His son will be brought to Dubai with the assistance of the consulate," Neeraj Agrawal, consul (Press, Information and Culture) told Gulf News on Wednesday.

They were aboard the Panamanian-flagged tanker, MT Sam, which was about 30 kilometres off the country's coast between Sharjah and Abu Musa Island in the Arabian Gulf, when a fire broke out on January 29.

The oil tanker had 12 crew members and 42 technicians on board when it caught fire, 21 miles off the coast of Sharjah.

They included Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Ethiopian and other undisclosed nationalities.

All Indian victims were technicians who were hired by a third party company handling the dismantling of the ship while it was bound for India for scrappage when the fire took place.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 11, 2020. Doug Mills/Pool via REUTERS

President Donald Trump has announced the suspension of all travel to the US for the majority of Europe in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

In a televised address on Wednesday night, Mr Trump said all travel from Europe would be suspended for the next 30 days. But he said the "strong but necessary" restrictions would not apply to the UK.

We made a lifesaving move with early action on China, Mr Trump said. Now we must take the same action with Europe.

The US Department of Homeland Security later issued guidance which said that the ban applied to members of the Schengen travel area which comprises of 26 European countries.

Ireland is not a member of the Schengen area which means it would appear not to be on the list of banned countries.

Homeland Security officials later clarified the new travel restrictions would only apply to most foreign nationals who had been in the Schengen area at any point for 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States. The area includes Italy, German, Greece, Austria, Belgium and others.

It doesnt apply to legal permanent residents, immediate family of US citizens or others identified in the proclamation.

The president said the US would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier than the 30-day period.

He said we are marshalling the full power of the government and private sector to protect the American people.

Mr Trump said he was also directing agencies to provide unspecified financial relief for for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus, and asked Congress to take action to extend that relief.

Read More

He said the US would defer tax payments for some individual and business filers for three months to lessen the financial impacts of the virus outbreak. He said the Small Business Administration would also make low-interest loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm.

This is not a financial crisis, he said. This just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.

The president also reiterated his call on Congress to pass a cut to the federal payroll tax in order to stimulate the economy.

Mr Trump had been reportedly considering new travel advisories, a national disaster declaration and a delay in the tax filing deadline.

Congress, for its part, unveiled a multi-billion dollar aid package that was expected to be voted on by the House as soon as Thursday.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was forced to leave the Ireland Funds gala dinner he had been attending in Washington DC on Wednesday night in order to get a full briefing from his officials.

Within moments of Mr Trump's announcement, Mr Varadkar was whisked away from the dinner by his secretary general Martin Fraser for a briefing.

His spokeswoman later said he had left the event to get a full briefing from officials and would address the media on the implications for Ireland of President Trump's announcement at 11am Irish time.

Meanwhile, the planned St Patrick's Day reception and traditional shamrock presentation at the White House has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.

A range of St Patricks Day parades in cities including New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia have also been cancelled.

It is the first time the New York parade has been cancelled in its 258-year history.

That parade, honouring Irish heritage, dates back longer than the United States and draws tens of thousands of marchers and throngs of spectators to Manhattans Fifth Avenue each year.

The White House reception includes a shamrock ceremony and takes place every year ahead of St Patricks Day on March 17.

Irish leaders travel to Washington DC annually to take part.

The White House said the St Patricks event, would not be going ahead out of an abundance of caution.

Mr Varadkar is still, as it stands, due to meet separately with Vice President Mike Pence and President Trump on Thursday morning.

With additional reporting from PA
SYDNEY, March 12 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks plummeted on Thursday, with the major indexes at three-year lows and in bear market territory, as the United States rattled markets by announcing a ban on all travel from Europe and world health officials declared the coronavirus a pandemic. The benchmark Nikkei average sank 5.2% to 18,412.24 points by the midday break, its lowest level since April 2017, to fall into bear market territory. If sustained through to the end of the day, it will be the biggest one-day fall since November, 2016. The Nikkei's volatility index , a measure of investors' volatility expectations based on option pricing, jumped more than 10% to 52.09, its highest level since November 2011. The World Health Organization described the new coronavirus as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday, adding that Italy and Iran were now on the frontline of the disease and other countries would soon join them. U.S. President Donald Trump said late Wednesday that Washington will suspend all travel from Europe, except from the United Kingdom, to the United States for 30 days starting on Friday. Trade with Europe, however, won't be affected by the curb. He also announced some other steps, including instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments for entities hit by the virus. But investors were hardly convinced those measures will turn around the global economy as concerns grew that the number of infections could quickly snowball in many countries. "I think markets are sending a clear signal to the White House that the measures announced today were too little too late," said Mick McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney.

The broader Topix shed 4.8% to 1,318.96, its lowest since November 2016, to dive deeper into bear market. All of the 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo Stock Exchange traded lower, with sea transport , real estate and precision machinery being the worst three performing sectors, while the TSE REIT index plunged 6.7%. Among major names, Toyota Motor Corp lost 4.0%, SoftBank Group Corp dived 9.0% and Yaskawa Electric Corp tumbled 7.9%. Elsewhere, the index of Mothers start-up shares tumbled 5.2% to a seven-year trough.

(Reporting by Tomo Uetake; Additional reporting by Alun John; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

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.
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The first thing to look for is the spout, a faint jet of mist at the surface of the ocean. Keep watching and you might see a fluke  the tip of a whale's tail that comes out of the water as it dives deeper into the ocean. This spring means the return of migrating gray whales on the Oregon coast, and there's no better place to see them than Depoe Bay, a town that advertises itself as "the whale watching capital of Oregon." Gray whales can be seen for most of the year in Depoe Bay, thanks to a resident population that feeds in the kelp beds just offshore. They're a big draw for visitors, but so are the many local restaurants, attractions and oceanside vistas around town. Depoe Bay balances the barnacle-crusted coastal reality with the neater tourist lifestyle better than most towns on the Oregon coast. Here, a creaky old restaurant serves up classic clam chowder only two blocks from a bright, modern cafe serving locally roasted pour-over coffee. You can dine at a restaurant on the edge of the ocean, or hang out with locals eating fried fish at the pub.

READ MORE: The 10 best beach towns on the Oregon coast Beachgoers may be disappointed to see the dark, rocky shoreline that surrounds the small town, but just down the road are sandy beaches  not to mention a collapsed sea cave, tidepools and several sweeping viewpoints  offering starkly different ways to enjoy a day at the beach. There's a lot to love about Depoe Bay, but the love of gray whales is what truly makes it a special destination on the Oregon coast. While you're out there scanning the ocean for a spout, here are 20 things to see and do around Depoe Bay. The spring gray whale migration for 2020 is expected to occur March 21-29. Whales will return for their winter migration at the end of December. You can see them from most good vantage points on the coast, or you can stop by one of the 24 state park sites designated for Whale Watch Week, where volunteers will be on hand to help you spot them.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

OUTDOORS 1. Boiler Bay Boiler Bay is a popular spot for bird watchers, whale watchers, storm watchers and anyone who wants to get a look at a small, scenic vista near town. It's named for an old shipwrecked boiler that you can still visit when the tide is extremely low.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

2. Fogarty Creek

The closest stretch of sandy beach to Depoe Bay is Fogarty Creek, a small state park site just north of town that can get busy on a sunny day. Two parking areas offer access to Fogarty Creek, both taking you to the same beach, where waves crash against a big rock in the surf and colorful stones line the bottom of a trickling creek.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

3. Devils Punchbowl

Devils Punchbowl is a great destination in all seasons. Stop by when it's stormy to see some spectacular crashing waves from a viewpoint above. Go when the tide is extremely low and you can head down to the beach and walk inside the collapsed sea cave, getting a view like no other on the Oregon coast.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

4. Otter Crest Beach

On the north side of Devils Punchbowl, Otter Crest Beach is a spectacular destination in its own right. Small caves can be found in the sandstone cliffs, with an ocean view dominated by Gull Rock in the distance. Atop the cliffs is the Inn at Otter Crest, home to hotel rooms, condos, a restaurant and a bar.

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5. Rocky Creek

Found just south of Depoe Bay, Rocky Creek is a beautiful state park site with no shortage of views. Cross the grassy hill for a look at the ocean from a black basalt shoreline, then hike north to find a small viewpoint tucked into a cove, followed by a viewing platform at the edge of Whale Cove.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

6. Cape Foulweather

Offering a spectacular vista of the Pacific, Cape Foulweather is a good spot to watch for migrating gray whales, or to sit and relax as waves roll into shore. The cape is also known as Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint, not to be confused with the nearby beach.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

7. Gleneden Beach

Gleneden Beach is found just north of Depoe Bay, where the rocky shoreline gives way to the sandy Salishan Spit. It's a perfectly beautiful beach with plenty of room to find your own private slice of coastal paradise. The developed state park site is the primary public beach access point for what is otherwise a residential area.

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Terry Richard/The Oregonian

ATTRACTIONS 8. Whale watching tours Whether it's migration season or not, there's a good chance you'll be able to see a whale in Depoe Bay, courtesy of four whale watching tours that operate in town. Whale Research EcoExcursions offers educational tours in smaller Zodiac boats, Dockside Charters runs tours on larger 50-foot boats, Tradewinds Charters offers shorter and longer tours on its bigger boats, and Whale's Tail Charters runs small charter trips to see whales and other wildlife. Whale watching tours are seasonal and weather dependent. Prices run from $20 to $45 a person, depending on the company and length of tour. For more information, or to book tours, visit EcoExcursions at oregonwhales.com, Dockside at docksidedepoeby.com, Tradewinds at tradewindscharters.com or Whale's Tail at whalestaildepoebay.com.

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Lori Tobias/The Oregonian

9. Whale Watching Center

Run by Oregon State Parks, the Whale Watching Center is always a good place to learn about whales off the Oregon coast, though it's especially popular during the spring migration season. Designed for tourists of all ages, the building bustles with curiosity and the thrill of discovery when a whale spout is spotted just offshore. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (Wednesday through Sunday in the winter) at 119 S.W. Highway 101. For more information, call 541-765-3304 or visit oregonstateparks.org.

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10. Spouting horns

Not to be confused with the spouts of gray whales, spouting horns are vertical sprays of ocean water, created as waves crash into narrow openings in the rocky shoreline. The best spouting horn is found in downtown Depoe Bay, where water is known to spray clear across the highway during storms.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

11. Depoe Bay Harbor

Billed as the worlds smallest navigable harbor, the harbor at Depoe Bay sits at the center of the small town, visible above from the Depoe Bay Bridge or by boat aboard a whale watching or fishing charter. If you get lucky, you can watch a boat navigate the narrow bay entrance.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

12. Whale, Sealife and Shark Museum

Whether you book a whale watching tour with Whale Research EcoExcursions or not, you can stop by their Whale, Sealife and Shark Museum, a labor of love from marine biologist, boat captain and business owner Carrie Newell. The museum houses hundreds of marine artifacts, including bones, birds and shells. Educational exhibits teach all about the marine life of the Oregon coast. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily (closed in the winter) at 234 Highway 101. For more information, call 541-912-6734 or visit oregonwhales.com/museum.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

FOOD AND DRINK 13. The Horn The Horn Public House and Brewery opened in 2016, taking over the old Spouting Horn building in downtown Depoe Bay. The Horn serves up great chowder, fish and chips, and other pub fare, alongside beer brewed by the in-house Depoe Bay Brewing Company. Its spacious upstairs dining room boasts ocean views, a bar and a game room. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 110 S.E. Highway 101. For more information, call 541-764-6886 or visit thehorn.pub.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

14. Gracies Sea Hag

An institution in Depoe Bay, Gracie's Sea Hag practically oozes with history. Established in 1963, the Depoe Bay restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering seafood dishes and classic diner fare. Grab a booth decorated with stained glass ocean scenes, and admire the old, faded photographs on the walls. Open 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily at 58 Highway 101. For more information, call 541-765-2734 or visit theseahag.com.

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15. Depoe Baykery

Known for their scratch-made doughnuts and bread, Depoe Baykery is becoming a must-stop morning spot on U.S. 101 just north of Depoe Bay. Helmed by baker Ray Degele, the bakery makes mouth-watering fritters and maple bars, and was recently named the best bakery in Oregon by Taste of Home magazine. Open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday at 3830 N. Highway 101. For more information, call 541-764-3553 or visit depoebaykery.com.

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Michael Russell/The Oregonian

16. Restaurant Beck

One of the very best restaurants on the Oregon coast, Restaurant Beck is also the most upscale dining option in town. Since 2009, the restaurant has been run by chef Justin Willis, who offers a rotating menu that tends to include dishes made with fresh fish, pork belly, foraged greens and an array of desserts. Open 5 p.m. to close, Tuesday through Sunday at 2345 S. Highway 101. For more information, call 541-765-3220 or visit restaurantbeck.com.

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17. Tidal Raves

For more upscale dining in downtown Depoe Bay, you can make a reservation at Tidal Raves, which offers a few bolder takes on seafood with dishes like mac and cheese made with Dungeness crab or wild shrimp barbecued with red curry. It's also a nice place to grab a cocktail and watch the sunset over the ocean. Open 11 a.m. to close, daily at 279 N.W. Highway 101. For more information, call 541-765-2995 or visit tidalraves.com.

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18. Left Coast Coffee Co.

A coastal coffee shop with an urban vibe, Left Coast Coffee Co. is designed for the Pacific Northwest coffee snob who wants the good stuff while touring Depoe Bay. The coffee shop does pour-overs in addition to espresso, and encourages more of a community experience with its one, long communal table inside. Open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 26 N. Highway 101. For more information, call 541-614-4228 or visit leftcoastcoffeeco.com.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

19. Pirate Coffee Company

A more traditional coastal coffee shop, Pirate Coffee Company is a classic local haunt that's full of whimsy. Pirate decorations greet you at every turn, with a menu full of themed specialty drinks like Blackbeard's Ghost and The Scallywag. The establishment is also serious about coffee, roasting its beans in-house. It's a good spot to hunker down during a storm. The cafe is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 10 Vista St. For more information, call 541-765-4373 or visit piratecoffeecompany.com.

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20. Beachcrest Brewing

One of the newest breweries on the Oregon coast, Beachcrest Brewing holds down a spot at the Salishan shopping center in Gleneden Beach, serving up a wide variety of interesting brews. It's run by owners Amy and Matt White, former jazz musicians who brought their love of creative experimentation to beer. Instead of setting up yet another brewpub, they decided to establish a community gathering spot that hosts events year-round. Open 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2 to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at 7755 N. Highway 101, Gleneden Beach. For more information, call 541-234-4013 or visit beachcrestbrewing.com.

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--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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Women were stopped from working alone with Alex Salmond in Bute House - the first ministers official residence - after an alleged sexual assault, a court has heard.

A complainant, known as Woman G, told the High Court in Edinburgh today that she had raised concerns about the alleged incident in 2014 and this led to a change in staffing rules.

Salmond, 65, the former first minister of Scotland, is on trial over several accusations of sexual assault, including an attempted rape. He denies all the charges.

The woman, a Scottish Government official who is the fifth complainant to give evidence at the trial, said she felt like a 'plaything' after she was allegedly smacked on the behind by Salmond in a previous incident in Glasgow.

Woman G said: 'Women were not to be alone with Mr Salmond in Bute House and he was not to receive any civil service private support' in the evening 'unless there was specific Government business to attend to'.

Alex Salmond, 65, pictured arriving at the High Court in Edinburgh for the fourth day of his trial over accusations of sexual assault. He denies all charges

It was heard Salmond made 'inappropriate comments' during the alleged incident at the official residence, such as 'what I would do to you if I were 26'.

She added: 'I thought it meant that he would try to have sex with me, to have sexual relations with me.

'He had his arm around me and at that point I started to feel panic and he leaned in to kiss me,' she added, before claiming she got up and said she had to go, leaving Salmond looking 'defeated'.

Gordon Jackson QC, cross-examining the witness, asked why she did not contact police about the alleged incident.

The woman said this was 'not an option' because she felt there would be ramifications if it became public, including having an impact on the Scottish independence referendum.

Mr Jackson also put it to her Salmond had been 'playful' with the previous alleged incident in Glasgow.

The court heard that women were stopped from working alone with Alex Salmond in Bute House - the first ministers official residence - after an alleged sexual assault

Earlier today as the trial continued, another complainant - a civil servant - claimed Salmond had apologised to her after getting on top of her on a bed, kissing her 'sloppily and haphazardly' and murmuring she was 'irresistible'.

She said that the alleged assault happened one evening at Bute House - the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Government official, who was the fourth complainer to give evidence, said she had thought he was going to 'take things further'.

The prosecution witness, known as Woman F, said: 'The first minister told me that he was sorry for what had happened, it had been unacceptable.

'He said that he had been drinking more than usual, not just that night but in general due to stress.

Earlier, a fourth complainant alleged that she was assaulted at Bute House - the first minister's official residence in Edinburgh - where Salmond 'kissed her "sloppily and haphazardly" and murmured she was "irresistible"'

'He said something along the lines that he wanted to keep being able to be working together and apologised.

'I accepted the apology, confirmed that I wanted to keep working together.'

The woman, who was being questioned by advocate depute Alex Prentice QC, told the court the pair had been working one evening in late 2013 when Salmond had brought out a bottle of a spirits.

She said while she had drunk a little, Salmond had drank 'steadily' and kept trying to top up her glass.

The witness added: 'I had a little, the first minister had had rather more.'

When she got up to leave, she said Salmond told her 'firmly' but not 'aggressively' to get on the bed.

She added: 'I felt quite panicked, this was very much within a working environment and culture where we do whatever it is that the first minister asks of you.'

The Scottish Government official, who was the fourth complainer to give evidence, said she had thought he was going to 'take things further'

After sitting on the edge of the bed, the woman said Salmond got on top of her and began to kiss and touch her and murmured that she was 'irresistible'.

She added: 'I don't recall exactly what happened for those first few seconds but then I was lying with my feet, I think, still on the ground but lying across the foot of the bed.

'The first minister was lying on top of me, he had his hands under the skirt of my dress and ran them over my thighs and my bottom.

'He was also running his hands over the bodice of my dress and over my breasts.

'He was kissing me around my face, quite sloppily and haphazardly, and he was repeatedly murmuring a phrase - it was something like 'you're irresistible'.'

The woman said when Salmond was on top of her she thought he was going to 'take things further'.

She added: 'That there would be progression, progression in the sense of trying to remove his own clothes or taking things further.

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

'For example, I thought that he was going to remove my tights and my underwear, that he would be pushing the encounter physically further.'

The woman also told the court about a previous incident at Bute House when Salmond had allegedly kissed her.

She said: 'I was preparing to leave and the first minister kissed me on the mouth, then smiled at me and said 'goodnight'.'

When asked if she had invited him to kiss her or agreed to him kissing her, she added: 'No, absolutely not.

'I was not given the opportunity to agree but had I been given the opportunity, I would not have done so.'

She later said it would have been 'unthinkable' to report him to police due to the upcoming Scottish independence referendum.

Gordon Jackson QC, cross-examining a fifth witness, put it to her that Salmond had been 'playful' with a previous alleged incident in Glasgow

She told the court that she was concerned any police proceedings might get into the 'public sphere'.

She said: 'That would have been unthinkable, partly because of the political context.

'Our job involved protecting the first minister and his reputation.'

She added: 'Going to anyone outside seemed completely unthinkable.

'This was a run-up to a referendum on independence, everything we did outward-facing had potential ramifications.'

Later, a woman, the firth complainer to give evidence, said she felt like a 'plaything' after Alex Salmond 'smacked her on the bottom' when they were leaving a restaurant.

The Scottish Government official told the High Court she had been leaving a restaurant in Glasgow with Salmond and others when the incident happened.

She said: 'He gestured for me to go ahead of him, as he did that he smacked my buttocks, he touched my buttocks, and carried on leaving the restaurant.'

The woman, known as Woman G, added: 'I remember feeling like I had to ensure that I didn't react visibly, I didn't want to look embarrassed so I carried on leaving the restaurant.

'It made me feel like I was a plaything to him.'

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.

Salmond's lawyers previously lodged special defences of consent and alibi.

Consent was given as a defence for three alleged sexual assaults and an alleged indecent assault against three women.

The trial, before judge Lady Dorrian, continues.
LAGUNA BEACH, Calif., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Laguna Residents First (LRF), a residents' advocacy organization, officially submitted a ballot initiative to the city on Friday which, when voted into law, would give Laguna Beach voters the right to approve or deny the development of major commercial projects in the city. This is the same type of protection that residents in many California cities are using to better manage redevelopment of the commercial districts in their towns.

According to the ballot initiative, commercial projects, for example, those larger than the Hotel Laguna, or combining together building lots as large as the Hotel's, or providing less on-site parking than is currently called for in the zoning laws, would require voter review and approval. Under the provisions of the initiative, a simple majority vote of residents would be required to give final approval for these large commercial projects.

"The Ballot Initiative would not change or restrict any of the current commercial zoning provisions nor does it absolutely prohibit anything. We are only adding a layer of protection so that proposals for truly large commercial projects have to be brought before the voters for review and approval," said George Weiss, a cofounder of the organization.

"Laguna is in a unique location, at the mouth of a canyon opening onto the ocean, with only Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon as access points. That unique location calls for special environmental considerations when looking into the future," said David Raber, another of the organization's cofounders. "Residents should have a say in what happens in their town that can affect their safety, property values, ability to commute, and the town's ambiance."

A full copy of the text for the ballot measure is available at www.lagunaresidentsfirst.org .

Laguna Residents First is a Political Action Committee by and for Laguna Beach residents State of California PAC No. 1421491

SOURCE Laguna Residents First

Related Links

www.lagunaresidentsfirst.org


Melania Trump (R) greets her husband Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after the town hall debate at Washington University on October 9, 2016 in St Louis, Missouri. This is the second of three presidential debates scheduled prior to the November 8th election. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

At Paris Fashion Week last week, designers cemented the return of the French bourgeois look. It has slowly reemerged over the past couple of seasons: the tall leather boots, the culottes, the boxy bags, the neat waist belts, the brooches and, of course, the pussybow blouse. The shape never really disappears for long, but this was the most notable appearance outside of the Trump family in years. And in contrast to the flash and brash of Melania and Ivanka, the Parisians espoused a far more refined, sophisticated interpretation.

Celine's creative director Hedi Slimane has been leading the charge, delving into the fashion houses' archives and drawing on the bourgeois dress codes of the 1970s. For next season, that means serving up the classics: horsebit hardware, ruffle-yoke dresses, more culottes, and the pussybow blouse, rendered in muted shades of cream, rust, navy and black. Worn under a blazer with culottes, a suede skirt or super-skinny velvet trousers, the effect was insouciant yet polished, and very grown-up.

The demure look was on show at Saint Laurent, too - but only from the waist up. Models were dressed in pussybow blouses with beautifully tailored blazers or feather chubbies, on top of seriously skintight latex leggings, a slick riff on bourgeois style.

Elie Saab also welcomed the return of the pussybow, with an oversized take splashed across a series of black, white and red outfits. It was feminine and very romantic, with bows peeking out from beneath lush velvet suiting, tweed coats and a luxurious trench.

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It served as confirmation that designers are sticking with the pussybow for 2020. Celine and Saint Laurent championed the blouse for spring, too: the former with boho paisley printed tops tucked into culottes; the latter with sheer blouses under black shorts suits, another sexy spin on the French staple. Plus it's the quickest way to inject some effortless Parisian chic into your wardrobe, without having to splurge on a whole new outfit.

Whether you prefer a sleek, prim little knot or a giant, ostentatious bow bouncing under your chin, there are bountiful options to choose from. Kate Middleton is a great fan of the pussybow, and she tends to favour a print, from rustic checks such as the Barbour number she wore on her walk at Howth Cliff last wee to subtle polka dots to '70s-style chevron stripes. The Tabitha Webb blouse was surprisingly vibrant for the usually modest Kate, and all she needed to let it shine was a pair of wide-leg trousers and pumps, ensuring the loud, busy print was business-appropriate.

Jodie Comer meanwhile, managed to make a standard black trousers-and-blouse formula fantastically eye-catching by choosing a top that really packs a punch, thanks to its vivid hue, preponderance of ruffles and the pussybow. With a blouse like that, designed by Prabal Gurung, the styling becomes a breeze, though it helps that she had some killer heels in precisely the shade to match.

If you fancy something a little quieter but still pretty, take your cue from Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who looks like she just stepped out of a rom-com in a gorgeous mix of polka-dot blouse, pink pinafore and camel coat. A pussybow blouse makes a clever layering piece underneath low-cut dresses, and offers a fresh alternative if you've been relying on polo necks all winter.

The pussybow blouse is elegant yet easy to wear, and wherever you get yours from, it almost always looks expensive, lending that bourgeois feel to even your everyday jeans and trainers.
A BULLET was posted through the letterbox of a Sinn Fein councillor in County Antrim last night.

Sinn Fein's South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney described it as a cowardly effort to intimidate Lisburn and Castlereagh City councillor Gary McCleave.

Mr McCleave, his wife and young children were all in their Glenavy home at the time.

Sinn Fein and Councillor McCleave will not be deterred, stated Mr Kearney. Gary will continue to carry out his duties on behalf of the people who elected him without fear or favour.

The cowards responsible for this act of intimidation have no politics. They are clearly in conflict with their own community.

This is the latest in a series of despicable threats and attacks against Sinn Fein activists and elected representatives at a time when the debate on Irish unity is centre stage.

There is absolutely no justification for these actions. Those responsible should get off the backs of ordinary people.

I am saying very clearly that anyone with information on these threats and attacks, including now against Gary McCleave, to immediately contact the PSNI.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said that it does not discuss the security of individuals and no inference should be drawn from this.

However, if we receive information that a persons life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly, continued the spokesperson.

We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk.
Shares of Yes Bank on Thursday gave up all gains made in recent sessions, plunging over 39 per cent to Rs 17.45 on the NSE.

The stock had surged over 77 per cent in the last two trading sessions.

On the NSE, the stock was quoting 12.67 per cent lower at Rs 25.15. It hit a low of Rs 17.45, shedding more than 39 per cent.

On the BSE, it was trading at Rs 25.10, lower by 12.85 per cent. It touched an intra-day low of Rs 22.55, down 21.70 per cent.

The stock had rallied after State Bank of India (SBI) said it will pick up 49 per cent stake in the lender for Rs 2,450 crore.

Last week, the Reserve Bank has imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account.

Yes Bank has been struggling to raise capital amidst its dwindling financial health. It sought to raise USD 2 billion initially during this fiscal, which was then pruned to USD 1.2 billion as it could not rope in any investor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Thursday set aside the government's plea to supersede the board of 63 Moons Technologies (formerly known as Financial Technologies (India) Limited).

An NCLAT bench headed by Chairperson Justice S J Mukhopadhaya, however, upheld the directions of the Chennai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to appoint three government nominees on the board of 63 Moons.

The appellate tribunal also dismissed the plea of the company's three directors, which include Jignesh Shah and Divang Narela, challenging their disqualification.

"The directors (including govt nominees) would remain on the board," the NCLAT said.

Earlier, on June 2018, the NCLT had set aside the Centre's plea to supersede 63 Moons.

The NCLT has, instead, allowed the government to nominate three directors to the board of 63 Moons Technologies to take care of the interest of all stakeholders as well as protect the company's investments in its subsidiaries.

It had also barred Jignesh Shah and nine others from holding directorship in 63 Moons.

The government had moved to the NCLT to take over the board of the company under section 397 and 398 of the Companies Act after Rs 5,600-crore NSEL scam came out. NSEL is a subsidiary of 63 Moons.

Commenting on the development, 63 Moons MD & CEO S Rajendran said, "We are extremely happy to note that the NCLAT has rejected MCA's prayer to supersede the board of 63 Moons in connection with the payment default crisis that occurred at one of our subsidiaries, National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) in 2013.

"The order has also given a clean chit to the current Board of 63 Moons of any alleged misconduct or wrongdoing against the interest of its shareholders," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RFI

Cameroon skipper Vincent Aboubakar converted two penalties on Sunday night as the hosts came from behind to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in the opening match at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Burkina Faso, shorn of five players due to the coronavirus, took the lead mid way through the first half with a clinical strike from Gustavo Sangare.The 25-year-old volleyed home Bertrand Traore's cross from the right to notch up his first international goal on his eighth appearance.Cameroon president Paul Biya a
Lucknow: The Bhim Army led by Chandra Shekhar Aazad is all set to take its political plunge on March 15, the birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram- founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party. Aazad's new political party will be launched in the national capital amid senior post holders of the Bhim Army and politicians from other political parties.

The launch date for the new political party has been carefully and strategically chosen by the Bhim Army in order to woo the Dalit community. As of now, there are three names under consideration for the party names including Aazad Bahujan Party, Bahujan Awaam Party and Azad Samaj Party. Out of these names, the final name of the party could be Azad Samaj Party, revealed sources.

Speaking to News18, Spokesperson of Bhim Army, Kush said, The preparations are being finalised for the party's launch on March 15, 2020. It is also the birth anniversary of Kanshi Ram, who had given a new ray of hope to Bahujans of the country. Leaders from other political parties are also coming to join the party that will be floated by Bhim Army. Soon after the launch, a membership drive will be launched in several parts of the country and the manifesto pf the party will be finalised soon, he added.

Meanwhile, the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party is keeping a close eye on the activities of Bhim Army and a key meeting has been called in this regard in April first week. Sources revealed that the major cause of concern for the BSP was the Bhim Armys appeal among youngsters and some leaders from the Dalit fraternity. To overcome Bhim Army's growing popularity, a new strategy is also being discussed in the BSP to counter the affect on youngsters from the Dalit community.

BSP has also allegedly asked its workers to celebrate the birth anniversary of the BSP founder Kanshi Ram across the state with much fervour. The launch of Bhim Armys political wing has been in pipeline as, during a recent visit to the state capital on March 2, Chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad had hinted that he will be launching a new political party soon. He added that his party will be contesting the upcoming 2022 state assembly polls.

Aazad had also met former BJP ally and Chief of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Om Prakash Rajbhar which speculated the possibility of him joining the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha ahead of 2022 state assembly polls.
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Linkedin Defri Sofyan (The Jakarta Post) Gorontalo  Thu, March 12, 2020 18:09 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a27e97 1 Books culinary,Gourmand-World-Cookbook-Awards,Gorontalo,Indonesia,books Free

Gourmand World Cookbook Awards has announced its Best of the Best list, comprising of winners from 1995 to 2020.

Six books and one publisher from Indonesia are included in the list, which has 11 categories such as Food, Countries - Regions, Lifestyle and Drinks.

The books are 100 Makanan Tradisional Indonesia (100 Indonesian Traditional Foods) by the late Bondan Winarno (2013) in the Special Awards category; Wonderful Indonesia by Sumantri Endang (2016) in Hotels; Rendang: Minang Legacy to the World by Reno Andam Suri (2014) in Local - Region; Flavors of Indonesia by William Wongso (2016) in Asian and Best in All; Jakarta Bites by Petty Elliott (2016) in Street Food; and Trailing the Taste of Gorontalo by Omar Niode Foundation (2015) in Food Heritage.

The Jakarta-based Gramedia publisher is included in the General Trade Publishers category.

The Best of the Best list includes 785 culinary publications from 106 countries, with France receiving the most awards, as its books make up 11 percent of the list.

Gourmand World Cookbook winning books will be exhibited at the Paris Cookbook Fair, which will be held on June 3 to 7 as part of the Village International de la Gastronomie event.

Read also: From kecap to rendang: Indonesian cookbooks win Gourmand Awards

Trailing the Taste of Gorontalo was awarded the 2015 Gourmand World Cookbook Award for Best in the World in Asian Cuisine from the Asian Books category.

In 2016, the book was included in the Gourmet Authors Center exhibition at the 2016 Frankfurt Bookfair in Germany.

In a statement, Amanda Katili of Omar Niode Foundation said that the authors of the book originated from Gorontalo, the United States, as well as other regions in Indonesia. "Gorontalo has not made itself known globally as a culinary destination, even though the area has culinary potential," she added.

Founded in 1995 by Edouard Cointreau of Spain, the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards honor the best food and wine books, printed or digital, as well as food television shows. It has been likened to the Oscars of the culinary literature genre.

In 2019, three culinary books by independent publisher Afterhours Books won the 2019 Gourmand Awards, namely Kecap Manis: Indonesias National Condiment by Bondan Winarno, Leaf It to Tea: Exploring the Fascinating Culture of Indonesian Teas and Herbal Infusions by Santhi Serad and Rendang: Minang Legacy to the World by Reno Andam Suri. (dpk/wng)
Representative image

Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested the top echelon of the Popular Front of India (PFI)  an Islamist group that has alleged links with militant organisations and activities.

PFI President Parvez Ahmed and Secretary Mohammad Illiyas were arrested on March 12 for allegedly inciting communal violence in Delhi that had led to the violent clashes in the northeastern part of the national capital.

The arrests were made on the basis of FIRs registered under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 147 (punishment for rioting) of the Indian Penal Code, reported the Indian Express.



Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested Popular Front of India (PFI) President Parvez (pic1) and Secretary Illiyas (pic2), in connection with alleged PFI-Shaheen Bagh link. #Delhi https://t.co/EAau7Wq8wZ pic.twitter.com/ZjkLgRSxmf

 ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

The Special Cell also arrested PFI member Mohammed Danish for hatching a conspiracy to incite violence in northeast Delhi, and the police claimed he would be confronted with incriminating evidence in court.

Earlier, the Islamist group was found to be funding the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests that rocked the country for almost two months.

Recently, Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain was booked by the Enforcement Directorate along with some members of the Islamist group on charges of funding the riots that killed 53 people and injured more than 300.
New Delhi, March 12 : Centre has decided to evacuate Indians stuck in Iran due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the Middle Eastern country by allowing the operation of two special ferry flights.

According to the plans for evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran, the government will allow flight services of Iran Air and Mahan Air to New Delhi and Mumbai.

Presently, only Mahan Air and Iran Air operate flight services between India and Iran, however, last month, the services of these two airlines to India were discontinued to prevent the spread of coronavirus outbreak.

The plan envisages to ferry only those Indians back, who have tested negative for the coronavirus. Iran announced the first cases of viral infection in the central Qom city on February 18.

Currently, many Indian pilgrims and students are stranded in the middle eastern country.

There are many Indians mostly from Kargil area of Kashmir stranded there. They had gone to visit a religious shrine in Iran but got stuck as regular commercial flights were suspended between the two countries following the spread of the virus.

Similarly, many Iranians are currently in India who would be flown back to their country by the ferry flights.

A team of Indian doctors has already been sent to Iran for ensuring that stranded citizens there are thoroughly examined before boarding the evacuation flight.

"These airlines will bring Indians stranded in Iran back to Mumbai and Delhi," Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola told IANS.

"From Mumbai and Delhi airports, these evacuated Indians will be transferred by Air india to Jaiselmer for quarantine." As per plans, the first flight of Iran Air will evacuate Indian from the middle eastern country to Mumbai on March 13th, while the second flight will be operated by Mahan Air on March 15th to New Delhi.

On Thursday, Kharola chaired a meeting with different government agencies and stakeholders to review preparedness for evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran.

Earlier in the month, Iranian carrier Mahan Air brought back blood samples of 300 Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit country and while returning, its aircraft flew back Iranian nationals in India.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Late Wednesday, House Democrats introduced a multi-billion dollar bill designed to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, but hopes of bipartisan support dimmed Thursday when House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) expressed his opposition.

The bill "focused on guaranteeing aid programs like food assistance, unemployment insurance, and temporary sick leave" reports Politico, and "would also make free coronavirus testing widely available in a bid to address one of the nation's major struggles in containing the outbreak." But by Thursday morning, McCarthy had tweeted that House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) plan, "written by her staff and her staff alone  is not only completely partisan. It is unworkable."

The White House also opposes the legislation, which came after President Trump announced his own emergency measures, including placing restrictions on travel from the European Union. "Alarmingly, the president did not say how the administration will address the lack of coronavirus testing kits throughout the United States," Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) hit back in a joint statement following Trump's press conference.

McCarthy, though, slammed their bill for "[forcing] permanent paid sick leave for all businesses, without exemptions and no sunsets," as just one example of his issues with the legislation. "Instead, we are committing to get this right," he announced, adding "we should not just take a rush just because there's a bill. We want to make sure it works."

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The Raspberry Pi Camera Module is one of the ecosystem's most popular accessories, and is compatible with other SBCs too. Based on the Sony Exmor IMX219, the 8 MP sensor is marketed primarily as a 1080p camera that can shoot at 60 FPS. However, someone has discovered that the module does not get the best out of the IMX219.

Cited by Hackaday, Gaurav Singh realised that while the module operates on two MIPI lanes, the IMX219 is capable of operating at double that bandwidth. Singh circumvented this restriction by connecting the IMX219 to a Raspberry Pi via a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and USB 3.0. Singh goes into depth across two blog posts about how achieved this, but the result is that the IMX219 can now shoot at up to 1,000 FPS.

Shooting at such a high frame rate does impact resolution, though. Accordingly, the IMX219 can only reach 1,000 FPS in 640 x 80. The sensor can also record in 640 x 128 at 682 FPS or 640 x 480 at 200 FPS. Additionally, the IMX 219 can reach 3,280 x 2,464 but only at 15 FPS.

Singh has also published a YouTube video on the project, which you can watch below.
Health ministry officials said on Thursday the decision to administer a combination of anti-HIV drugs -- lopinavir and ritonavir -- on a coronavirus-infected elderly Italian couple at a Jaipur hospital was "initially taken locally".

The hospital has been asked to inform the health ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) before administering the drug combination on COVID-19 patients in future, officials said.

It was the first time that a combination of the two drugs was used to treat Covid-19 patients amid mounting coronavirus cases in India. The Italian couple are currently undergoing treatment at SMS Hospital in Jaipur.

"The decision to administer lopinavir and ritonavir combination initially was taken locally as they thought it was a severe disease and started the medicine. But we should not draw more conclusions from the same because single patient experiments do not reveal the truth more often. We need to have a structured study," Raman R Gangakhedkar, the head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases-I at ICMR, said.

"Until we have a large data that come from such experiments we won't be able to infer more. But since the drug was administered we have pressed into a study mode where the samples are being regularly collected in order to see if the drug was efficacious," he said.

Dr S Meena, the medical superintendent of SMS Hospital, said the decision to administer the combination of lopinavir and ritonavir was taken after the Italian man and his wife had developed severe respiratory problems.

The Italian man, who himself is a doctor, is in ICU and on oxygen support, Meena said, adding his condition is stable.

"Even before he acquired the infection, he had some respiratory issues. Also, he is a chronic smoker. His condition had deteriorated and he developed severe respiratory problems after getting the coronavirus infection and thus was given these drugs. his condition is stable.

"His wife who also had tested positive for coronavirus has recovered and has been shifted to a different hospital," Dr Meena said.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved the 'restricted' use of the combination of medications, lopinavir and ritonavir, which are second-line HIV drugs, before they were administered to the elderly couple. The DCGI had given the approval after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had sought an emergency approval for using the drugs for treating COVID- 19.

The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 74. The figure includes 17 foreigners -- 16 Italian tourists and a Canadian. It also includes three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month following recovery.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked state governments not to transfer their deposits out of private sector banks saying apprehensions about the safety of deposits in private lenders are highly misplaced

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked state governments not to transfer their deposits out of private sector banks saying apprehensions about the safety of deposits in private lenders are highly misplaced.

In a letter written to chief secretaries of all states, the central bank said moving deposits out of private sector banks could have implications for banking and financial sector stability.

The letter came after reports suggested that some state governments have advised government bodies and other entities under their jurisdiction to transfer their funds held with private sector banks to public sector lenders. This follows the crisis at Yes Bank where the RBI has superseded the bank's board and placed restrictions on withdrawals.

"We strongly believe that such a move can have banking and financial sector stability implications," the RBI wrote. "We feel that apprehension on the safety of deposits in private sector banks is highly misplaced and will not be in the interest of stability of the financial system in general and the banking system in particular."

It requested state governments to reconsider any decision they might have taken in this regard or are in the process of taking such decision.

"The Reserve Bank has adequate powers to regulate and supervise the private sector banks and by using these powers, it has ensured that the depositors' money is entirely safe," the letter said.

The RBI said the resolution of weak private sector banks in the past has been done in a manner that the depositors are not put to loss.

"It is precisely with a view to retaining depositors' confidence in private sector banks and mitigating their hardship that, after the imposition of a moratorium on Yes Bank Ltd, the RBI has drawn up a draft scheme without any delay and we are making every effort to expedite the finalisation of the scheme," it added.
A new generation of Algerian women are finding inspiration in female freedom fighters from the countrys past.

A year ago, Algerian newspaper El Watan published a message delivered by one of the countrys best-known revolutionary figures, Djamila Bouhired: It is up to you all to draw your future and shape your dreams. Do not let them ruin your noble fights. Do not let them steal your triumph.

The now 84-year-old heroine of the Algerian war of independence was speaking to protesters taking part in the continuing anti-government hirak movement, but her words specifically targeted the youth.

Those words were echoed last month by actress Lyna Khoudri, who quoted Bouhired when she won the Cesar award for Best Female Newcomer at the Cannes Film Festival. The 27-year-old was recognised for playing the lead role in Mounia Meddours film, Papicha, which is set during Algerias civil war.

Lyna Khoudri received a Cesar award for her role in the film, Papich, on February 28, 2020 [Reuters]

For Nahla Naili, a close relative of Bouhireds, this demonstrates that the spirit of the countrys female revolutionaries  whom she said were the backbone of the liberation movement  lives on today.

I am extremely proud of how [their] combat has been recognised across the younger generation, she told Al Jazeera. But that being said, Id also like to put forward and recognise the battles that are being fought by other extraordinary [Algerian] women, who have stayed anonymous.

Naili, 33, was raised in Algiers before she moved to Paris to complete a doctoral thesis in art sciences. Having grown up surrounded by prominent female figures  such as her own grandmother, Fatiha Bouhired, a rebel during the battle of Algiers and aunt of freedom fighter Djamila Bouhired  Naili has always had an undying passion for her country.

She also serves as the secretary-general of the Save the Casbah Association of Algiers. The initiative focuses on the preservation of the Casbah quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where 1966 Academy Award-nominated film, The Battle of Algiers, was filmed. The group is hosting an exhibition over the summer to display the works of Algerian artists.

Nahla Naili attending the 2019 Arab World Heritage Young Professionals Forum [UNESCO]

Art contributes to the saving of the collective memory of [Algerias] culture, said Naili.

Our generation wants to rehabilitate our culture, simply because it is attracted by the truth  and film also plays a big role. For instance, when we see movies like Papicha win prestigious awards, it evokes a [feeling of] optimism, that our stories are being heard across the globe.

The Black Decade

Although the film has been banned in Algeria, Papicha encompasses a pivotal moment in history. It is set during the civil war of the 1990s that erupted nearly three decades after a revolution brought about the end of French colonialism.

The civil conflict began in 1992 after the Algerian military staged a coup detat to stop the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) from winning the second round of what would have been the first democratic elections. Violence became widespread when various armed rebel groups waged a war against the government. They would often issue death threats to women for reasons such as the refusal to comply with strict dress codes, or working in professional careers.

Often referred to as the Black Decade, the civil war era still haunts Algerians today. Some 200,000 civilians were killed  thousands of them women.

Three of them were 21-year-old Karima Belhadj, assassinated by members of an armed group in April 1993 while on her way home from work; Katia Bengana, 17, whose life was cut short after she was shot on her way to school in February 1994  she had earlier refused to wear a hijab; and 30-year-old Nabila Djahnine  a prominent feminist  who was killed in a drive-by shooting during a protest march in 1995 in the town of Tizi Ouzou, where she had studied, earned a degree and begun her career.

But the threat of violence and oppression pushed many women of the era to fight back, Naili said.

During the Black Decade, my mother took part in the resistance with a group of other women, because theyd been convinced to continue the legacy of our freedom fighters from the revolution.

Women protesting in Algiers on December 27, 1990 [File: AFP]

Saliha Heddaji, 42, recalls those years as being like a nightmare. I was a student back then. I remember people began to threaten young girls who would go to class without wearing a hijab, she said.

And one day I came home, I heard screaming in the whole building. I went upstairs and found my apartment door open, and saw my mum on the floor crying. Id been told that my oldest brother  who was my whole life  had been shot and killed at just 23 years old, while he was helping my uncle at our familys store.

Who had him killed is still unknown. Heddaji, the second-oldest in her family, would regularly visit the police station to check on her brothers case, but said she was never given any information. The family believes the armed groups were responsible for his death.

I had my final exams just three days after [he was killed], Heddaji said. I dont know how I did it, but I still went and passed all my exams, because education has always been very important for me. I ended up being in the top five of my class, and that was my first year in pharmacy school.

Striving for female literacy

Rabea Kerzabi, who used to work as Algerias minister of national solidarity and family in the 1990s, fought to promote womens education and literacy throughout her career.

In the 1990s, I co-founded IQRAA [the Algerian Literacy Association]. Ive always believed that literacy is a critical foundation of womens rights  We opened up classes for women everywhere across the country, Kerzabi said.

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, less than half of the female population over the age of 15 were literate during that time. By the year 2015, that number had grown to more than 70 percent of women.

Rabea Kerzabi during her days working in Algerias government in 1996 [Photo courtesy Rabea Kerzabi]

The daughter of revolutionary figure Mohamed Kerzabi, Rabea was inspired to follow in her fathers footsteps.

He spoke to me about his life, how hed been tortured by the French, how he was electrocuted to speak out against his fellow [freedom fighters], said Kerzabi. All of his stories shocked me. But he made me realise theres still more that needed to be done.

Algerian women especially deserve a lot of credit. Weve inherited everything weve learned from the mujahidates [an anticolonial term for female freedom fighters] who saved our traditions. Its thanks to them that we are where we are today, she added.

Women are the future. [Algerian scholar] Ibn Badis once said that if you educate a girl, you educate a nation. But if you educate a boy, you only educate one person  It is she who preserves our values; it is she who preserves an entire society.

The battle continues

Last year, an unprecedented wave of protests swept through Algeria, forcing then-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign. Protesters have since kept up their calls for a complete overhaul of the countrys political system, rallying across several cities every week. Women have played a significant role throughout.

Heddaji, who moved to the United States to pursue her career as a pharmacist in the years that followed the Black Decade, takes note of a shift in attitudes towards women.

The hirak allows everyone to express their own thoughts  especially women, who were mostly victims from the civil war. I feel that things have changed since, and women are being treated with more respect.

Demonstrators in Algiers during a protest against the ruling elite, in November 2019 [File: Reuters]

Freedom fighter Djamila Bouhired was also seen marching alongside demonstrators, which Naili believes to be symbolic: The dream that these revolutionaries once had [for Algeria] was not really achieved as theyd hoped it to be. Its almost like a broken promise.

Amel Boubekeur, a visiting fellow in the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the hirak has shaped a new era for women.

It has allowed those who have been excluded from the revolutionary official narratives to create their own revolutionary lineages, and the mujahidates have played a major role here, she told Al Jazeera.

But for Naili, the battle is far from over.

It continues, she said. Think of the women who keep fighting on a daily basis, those we dont know. Those who did not have the chance to study, but still made sure her children got an education. The teachers in small villages, or even female bus drivers; they all deserve recognition.
With the reaching tech parks, campuses of multinational companies and even schools and colleges in Bengaluru, the IT city is gearing up to shoot the trouble with the help of technology. The city has so far reported four positive cases.

As more employees opt for work from home in this time of crisis, start-ups are launching a suite of products to support collaboration and communication among workers. Ozonetel, a city-based start-up, for example, has rolled out a cloud-based solution for call centre companies to switch to work-from-home, in order to contain the spread of the virus. Using the solution, a company can route calls to mobile phones or even landlines, instead of them taking calls via desktop.

Human resource management software start-up Kredily has started providing its attendance management app for free to companies. Unlike a contact-based biometric system, the web-based authentication system rules out the possibility of spreading the virus through human contact, said the company.

This restricts attendance to a specific location and comes in handy for companies where work-from-home is not being practised, said Devendra Khandegar, founder & CEO of the start-up.

Chennai-based company Zoho which has clients such as Ola, MedLife and OnePlus in Bengaluru, has decided to offer its newly-launched remote work toolkit Remotely for free to everyone. Remotely includes 10 applications that create a comprehensive communication system including virtual meetings, showtime for conferences, and online file management. Our CEO (Sridhar Vembu) has been working from a remote farm in Tenkasi, a village in Tamil Nadu, and encouraging employees to go back to their home towns if they have internet connectivity, said the company.

As primary schools have been closed to safeguard the health of students, edtech start-up BYJUS is providing free access to its complete app to school students across classes 1-12. They can download and access BYJUS learning programs for free until the end of April.

While several IT companies such as Dell and Intel have put in place a work-from-home policy for a few days, many parents are struggling to maintain work-home balance as all pre-primary and primary schools have been shut indefinitely in the city.

"Even though we are allowed to work from home for 3-4 days as per the company policy, if the issue continues for a longer period, a working mother like me will have to find out an alternative unless my company allows parent like me to work from home for a longer period till the crisis subsides," said an IT professional who works with a large Indian conglomerate, in the city.

Some companies such as e-commerce major Flipkart are encouraging work for home for such parents. In light of primary schools in declaring holidays on the directive of the government, we are encouraging parents with young children to work remotely to balance their commitments. We are promoting the use of video conferences for meetings, including job interviews, and are temporarily avoiding events and training programs that require large gatherings as a precautionary measure, said a Flipkart spokesperson.

Paytm too is promoting work from home. "We are sure that in the current situation, working from within the safe confines of their homes, the efficiency and productivity of our colleagues would increase. Having said that our offices are being thoroughly sanitised and we have also distributed masks as well as InfraRed (IR) thermometers as a necessary precaution," said a company spokesperson.

Karnataka government has advised all hospitals to set up flu corners for screening of suspected cases. Hospitals have also been directed to record the travel history of the person during such screening. The state has also cancelled all international conferences until further notice.
The sister of actor Matthew Broderick, Rev. Janet Broderick, has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Janet, 64, is a reverend at the Beverly Hills, California-based All Saints Episcopal Church; the church said she was hospitalized in stable condition after the test, and battling severe pneumonia.

Janet recently traveled back from Louisville, Kentucky where she was at the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, according to the church.

The latest: The sister of actor Matthew Broderick, 57, Rev. Janet Broderick, 64, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The two were snapped in New Jersey in 2018

'As you may know, our Rector, Janet Broderick, took ill shortly after returning from the annual conference ... which was attended by more than 500 Episcopalians from around the country,' the church said in a statement, according to CBS LA. 'As you also may know, it was reported last Sunday that the rector of Christ Church Georgetown in Washington, D.C., an attendee of the conference, was diagnosed with the Covid-19 coronavirus.'

The church said that Janet assessed, then 'moved to the ICU and placed under isolation,' when the positive test came back Wednesday.

Rev. Nathaniel Katz, the senior associate rector with the religious institution, said that some activities at the facility, which sits at 504 N. Camden Drive, have been suspended, with health officials asked to advise on how to move forward.

Janet penned a letter to the church's parishioners, writing, 'I am sorry for you to hear this news,' and 'I am so thankful for your prayers as I have been ill.'

She said that she's been 'through the worst of this and very very much on the mend,' sharing a lighthearted anecdote to illustrate her calm state of mind.

Focused: In a letter, Janet said she's been 'through the worst of this and very very much on the mend'

Devout: The sibling of the actor referred to her faith amid her recovery from the virus

'I asked my kids to bring me a coloring book and a LEGO set if that is any indication,' she wrote. 'What I really want is Colorforms but they dont make that anymore.'

The devout sibling of the actor referred to her faith amid her recovery from the virus.

'Jesus has been so close to me the whole time and scriptures have upheld me no kidding,' she said. 'Even at my worst, I felt his hand on me. My family have been so so loving and cared for me so well.

'We so look forward to being together again in worship, to praying with you and singing a hymn.'

In 2018, she took part in a reading of A Christmas Memory with her brother at her former church, Morristown, New Jersey's St. Peters Episcopal Church.

'I love my brother so much,' she told The Daily Record. 'I'm excited about being able to work with him.

'I communicate from the pulpit and in liturgy all the time, for 30 years, and to have the opportunity to communicate with him about something so real, so loving and giving, is very pleasing to me, very fulfilling.'
Americans must love sleeping.

Why else are there so many mattress stores? Along with Starbucks, drug stores and cellphone carriers, mattress retailers gobble up prime real estate.
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.
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has just announced a range of new restrictions for Ireland in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic.

From 6pm this evening 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

There will be a Cabinet meeting later today and the government will deploy all resources, human and financial, to tackle this crisis.

The Taoiseach added that emphasis should be placed on helping healthcare workers so that they can help those who need the help the most.

He said that while this news will come as "a shock" and "lead to major changes in the way we live our lives" but, by acting together we can save lives. Our economy will suffer, he added, but it will bounce back and "in time, our lives will go back to normal".

"We have overcome many trials in the past with our determination and spirit and we will prevail," he concluded.
Some 11 anti-graft public institutions have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop protocols that would aid in combating corruption and crime.

It is in line with the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) which highlights the need for strong collaboration among anti-corruption agencies towards conducting effective investigations and prosecuting such conducts.

The key accountability institutions are Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Ghana Police Service, Bureau of National Investigation (BNI), Internal Audit Agency, Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and the Financial Intelligence Centre.

The remaining institutions are Parliament of Ghana, Office of the Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Audit Service.

Parties to the agreement are to exchange information on activities that are geared towards enhancing capacities of institutions and also minimizing the potential for mandate overlaps.

The agreement which comes into effect after one month of the MoU requires that mechanisms for case referrals be developed, periodic engagements for the public are held, joint anti-corruption activities investigated are conducted while strategies for effective collaboration between private organisations and civil society are developed.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday which was attended by heads of some public institutions, the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Richard Quayson, indicated that lack of coordination and collaboration has weakened the potential for institutionalizing a culture of transparency and accountability in public life.

The need for collaboration among public institutions, he said, had been strongly emphasized at the international level where the first cycle review of the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption has recommended Ghana to adopt strong collaboration measure among public accountability institutions.

Representing the Speaker of Parliament, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso South, Ben Abdallah Banda, who is also the Chairperson of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, said the collaborative agenda spearheaded by CHRAJ with support from the EU needed to engage the citizenry and civil society towards the fight against corruption.

Also present was the Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Linda Ofori-Kwafo, who assured the accountability institutions of the commitment of the civil society groups to monitor how the agreement would be executed in the coming years.

We will not only criticize you but we will also encourage you to ensure the collaboration has to a very large extent been able to investigate and sanction corruption, she added.

---Daily Guide
Washing hands to prevent the spread of viruses View Photo

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Sonora, CA  Mother Lode health officials update the current coronavirus conditions while the Superintendent for Copperopolis Elementary gives Clarke Broadcasting an update on the schools closure.

Just today health officials in Stanislaus County announced two cases of coronavirus. County health officer, Dr. Julie Vaishampayan, reports they have confirmation that two adult male residents have tested positive. One man had exposure due to travel on the Grand Princess cruise ship to Mexico, but how the other person became infected is still under investigation. The Stanislaus County Health information page is here. The current local most updates are here.

As reported here there are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Calaveras County. Superintendent of the Mark Twain Union Elementary District, which includes Copperopolis Elementary School, Julia Tidball tells Clarke Broadcasting she was informed that one of her students was infected Tuesday during a call with all Calaveras County school superintendents and the Calaveras County Health Dept. She was shocked to hear the school needed to be shut down but sprung into action to notify parents via email. Tidball says she is concerned about the rumors spreading on social media and updates, I am really happy to report that the child is recovering. I think there is a lot of discussion on social media and I understand families fears but I hope they know that we are taking every precaution possible and to show some sympathy for this family and to show some sympathy for this family and its really important to remember that we are talking about a child.

Tuolumne County has no reported cases of Covid-19. Local schools have sent out assurances that they have increased normal cleaning routines as a precaution. Also, Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Cathy Parker authored a new mymotherlode.com blog, click here.

Mariposa County is also posting updates and their March 11 update states Mariposa County Public Health Branch continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation in California. Currently, there are no cases of COVID-19 in Mariposa County. Mariposa County Public Health Officer Dr. Eric Sergienko details how Covid-19 exposures are being and will be handled in general in his second update in the video box. Additionally, Mariposa County manages Yosemite Medical Clinic located in Yosemite Valley.

Amador reports as of March 10th there are no confirmed cases. Their information page is here.

Alpine County has no reported cases, their Coronavirus information is here.

Mono County has no reported cases, their Coronavirus information is here.

As of Mar 11th, there is one confirmed case of COVID-19 in San Joaquin County. They are posting their information here.

Merced County reported, no case as of March 1th, their Coronavirus information is here.

Sabrina Biehl contributed to this report.
An American soldier and a British soldier, as well as one US contractor, were killed Wednesday when rockets hit an Iraqi military base north of Baghdad, a US military official said.

It was the deadliest attack on an installation hosting foreign troops in several years and comes after a spate of rocket attacks targeting US troops across Iraq as well as the US embassy in Baghdad.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Washington has blamed Iran-backed factions for similar attacks.

The Iraqi army had earlier said the attack against the Taji base did not wound anyone or cause any damage, in what was the 22nd attack against American military interests in the country since late October.-

Previous rocket attacks targeting US soldiers, diplomats and facilities in Iraq in recent months have killed one US contractor and an Iraqi soldier.

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 armed faction Kataeb Hezbollah.

Tensions then rose further between arch foes Washington and Tehran, leading to the assassination in Baghdad on January 3 of the powerful Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and an Iraqi paramilitary commander in a US drone strike.

Iran retaliated by launching a volley of missiles at an Iraqi base hosting US soldiers days later.

The US leads an international coalition  comprised of dozens of countries and thousands of soldiers  formed in Iraq in 2014 to confront the Islamic State, a jihadist group that Baghdad declared defeated in late 2017.

While IS has lost its territory, 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 must be executed by the government.

The outgoing government, which resigned in December in the face of mass protests, has yet to be replaced due to a lack of agreement in parliament  one of the most divided in Iraqs recent history.

SOURCE: AFP
Boris Johnson has warned of many more coronavirus deaths as the government announced its plans to delay the peak of the spread.

The UK has officially escalated its coronavirus response to the delay phase, with the government now telling people who suffer any symptoms to stay at home for seven days.

It comes after an emergency Cobra meeting held by Johnson in Downing Street on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking at a Number 10 press conference afterwards, Johnson:

Warned families are going to lose loved ones before their time

Called the outbreak the worst public health crisis for a generation

Asked people with coronavirus symptoms, however mild, to stay at home for at least seven days

Ruled out the closure of schools for the time being, as he stressed the most draconian measures must not be triggered too early

Boris Johnson at the Downing Street press conference on Thursday (AFP via Getty)

The prime minister said: This is the worst public health crisis for a generation. Some people compare it to seasonal flu, alas that is not right. Owing to the lack of immunity, this is more dangerous.

We have a clear plan that we are now working through.

If we delay the peak even by a few weeks, our NHS will be in a stronger state as the weather improves and fewer people suffer respiratory diseases.

It is going to spread further and I must level with you, I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of Covid-19 cases in your local area

Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu

The governments escalation comes after the number of UK cases reached 590, up 134 from Wednesdays figure of 456. There have been 10 deaths.

Delay is the second of four phases in the governments coronavirus action plan.

It focuses on slowing the spread across the country and pushing it away from the winter season, when the impact is higher.

Story continues

As well saying people showing symptoms  a persistent cough or fever  should stay at home for a week, Johnson urged people over 70 not to go on cruise ships, and for schools not to take pupils on international trips.

He warned of severe disruption across our country for many months, though the government will not yet ban large-scale public events such as sporting fixtures.

Meanwhile, it has no plans to close schools, Johnson added.

The UK had previously been in the contain phase, which aimed to prevent coronavirus taking hold for as long as possible.

The escalation to delay had been announced by Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon before the press conference, to the reported fury of Number 10.

Govt figures scathing over Sturgeon preempting UK Cobra announcement  then announcing Scottish-only measures that she admits are not based on science



Source: "She is a total disgrace. This is a nationalist politician playing populist politics with a global crisis"  Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) March 12, 2020

Why is the delay phase important?

The government has said in its action plan: 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.

People can take many measures themselves, including washing their hands more and ensuring they stay at home if they are showing any symptoms.

However, other actions could eventually be enforced on the public, including school closures, reducing large-scale gatherings and encouraging greater home working.

The delay phase also buys time for drug testing and development of vaccines.

What are the next phases after delay?

The third phase is research. his will seek better understanding of the virus and the actions that will lessen its effect on the UK population and include further development of drugs and vaccines.

The fourth is mitigate, where the authorities key focus will be on caring for those who become ill and supporting hospitals.

An increase in deaths is likely during this stage, particularly among vulnerable and elderly groups.

Minimising the impact of the disease on society, public services and the economy is also a priority. However, the government has warned key public services could be affected by staff absences.
An aircraft operated by British low cost airline Easyjet moves past other aircrafts as a rainbow is seen at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on March 9, 2020 in Schiphol, Netherlands.

President Donald Trump's surprise announcement to ban visitors from most of Europe amid the coronavirus pandemic is going to add to airlines' financial pain and potentially drive some carriers out of business, an industry group warned Thursday.

Airlines are reeling from the spread of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 100,000 people and forced airlines around the world to slash service and freeze hiring or lay off workers in a bid to preserve cash.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents most of the world's airlines, earlier this month forecast that the virus could cost carriers worldwide more than $100 billion in revenue this year.

"That scenario did not include such severe measures as the U.S. and other governments (including Israel, Kuwait, and Spain) have since put in place," the group said in a statement.

Trump on Wednesday announced travel restrictions from most of Europe to the U.S. for 30 days as COVID-19 continues to spread. The new rules, which take effect Friday just before midnight, don't ban flights outright but rather prohibit foreigners who have been in Europe in the last two weeks from entering the country. The ban applies to the 26 countries in the so-called Schengen Area of Europe, which does not include the U.K. and Ireland.

The measure sowed confusion among airline crews, and carriers scrambled to respond by canceling flights and capping airfares for travelers trying to get back to the U.S.

"The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation," European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

Last week, British regional carrier Flybe collapsed. On Thursday, Norwegian Air Shuttle, a budget European carrier that has expanded aggressively with trans-Atlantic flights in recent years, said it would lay off half of its employees and slash thousands of flights.

The European ban is set to strain the carriers further.

"This will create enormous cash-flow pressures for airlines," IATA's director general Alexandre de Juniac said in a statement. "We have already seen Flybe go under. And this latest blow could push others in the same direction."

He said airlines will need emergency measures and that governments should consider extending lines of credit, lowering infrastructure costs and tax cuts.


Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexicos top state health official imposed a temporary ban on public gatherings of 100 people or more Thursday  one of the most aggressive measures of its kind in the country, intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The ban, effective immediately, came just a few hours before the state announced all K-12 public schools will be closed for three weeks starting Monday, and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe moved to cancel its church services and its schools.

The ban on large public gatherings will apply to stadiums, arenas, conference centers and other gathering spaces.

It was issued shortly before Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams office announced two more New Mexico residents had tested positive for COVID-19  bringing the states total number of confirmed cases to six. The latest cases involved a Santa Fe County woman in her 50s and a Bernalillo County woman in her 40s, both of whom are at home in isolation, the Governors Office said.

I will say it again: New Mexicans need to be prepared and proactive, and avoid large public gatherings, Lujan Grisham said in a statement. I regret that this will affect previously planned and even ongoing events, but right now public health is the first consideration.

For now, the ban on large public gatherings will not apply to airports, public transportation and shopping malls. Also exempt from the order are weddings, funerals, restaurants, bars and hospitals.

We said yesterday morning the situation would evolve, Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel said Thursday in announcing the ban on large public gatherings. It will continue to evolve. New Mexicans can expect their health officials to make the best decisions possible as we move through this public health challenge day by day.

The governor declared a public health emergency Wednesday after New Mexicos first three cases of the coronavirus were confirmed. A fourth presumptive positive was announced later in the day.

The states first four cases all involve individuals in their 60s or older with recent travel histories. Of the two additional cases confirmed Thursday, at least one involved recent travel to Italy. In the other, state officials were investigating a possible travel link.

More concerts, conferences and other events were also canceled or put on hold Thursday, a day after Lujan Grisham announced the postponement of the Gathering of Nations, the worlds largest powwow, which had been scheduled to take place next month in Albuquerque.

The Democratic governor has faced some criticism for her aggressive response to the COVID-19 outbreak, though many lawmakers and local officials have expressed support.

We have seen what has happened in other states; we have seen what organizations such as the NCAA and many others have decided; we want to be as safe and secure and preventive as we can be, Lujan Grisham said. New Mexico is not going to wait as long as some other states to make the hard decisions about this pandemic.

New Mexicos ban on large public gatherings was announced on the same day Utahs governor unveiled a similar plan. The governors of Washington, Oregon and California have also announced such policies in recent days, though the bans on large public gatherings in those states apply to gatherings of 250 people or more.

Order may be extended

New Mexicos temporary ban on public gatherings of 100 people or more prompted immediate questions about enforcement and practical impact.

A Governors Office spokeswoman confirmed the order does not require movie theaters to close, for instance, but it is intended to ensure that no more than 100 people are in close proximity to one another in a single theater.

In addition, churches and other houses of worship are exempted from the order, though Lujan Grisham did say Wednesday that New Mexicans should think twice about attending religious services. However, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe issued an announcement late Thursday that it would cancel services until further notice.

The Lujan Grisham administration cited a state law that gives the health department the authority to close any public place and forbid gatherings of people when necessary for the protection of the public health.

The same section of the law also stipulates the agencys director can maintain and enforce regulations aimed at controlling the spread of communicable diseases deemed to pose a serious public threat.

The temporary ban on large public gatherings is tied to the governors public health emergency order. That order is slated to last through April 9, but could be extended.

Meanwhile, the Governors Office clarified comments made by Lujan Grisham on Wednesday that suggested all non-essential state employees were being ordered to work remotely.

While many employees will temporarily work remotely from home, each state agency has been tasked with coming up with its own plan, Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said.

Were trying to lock down unnecessary risks, Stelnicki told the Journal.

For instance, the states Motor Vehicle Division offices remained open to the public Thursday, but state officials were reminding customers they can also renew their registration and drivers licenses online.

Charlie Moore, a spokesman for the Taxation and Revenue Department, which includes the MVD, said the department is evaluating which employees should work from home and how many laptops are available.

Travelers asked to self-isolate

The state Department of Health also issued new travel recommendations Thursday, urging anyone whos traveled outside the state to self-isolate for 14 days on their return to New Mexico.

The agency also discouraged future travel and warned residents that they run the risk of not being able to return to New Mexico as travel bans can be implemented.

Lujan Grisham earlier this week advised people to avoid travel, but the recommendation for self-isolation is new.

Given that our knowledge of high-risk areas changes every day, the Department of Health said on its COVID-19 website, and that airports provide possible exposure to hundreds of people whose travel histories are not known, we are also recommending that individuals who have traveled outside of the state be in self-isolation for a period of 14 calendar days.

State health officials Thursday also announced expanded testing capabilities for the COVID-19. TriCore Reference Laboratories is now performing coronavirus tests.

Other impacts were also being felt as all New Mexico State Parks will close for overnight camping starting today due to the states ban on large public gatherings.

Meanwhile, both of New Mexicos U.S. senators  Democrats Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich  said they were temporarily reducing staffing in their Washington, D.C., offices.

Udall temporarily closed his office and most of his staff will be working remotely from home in response to the coronavirus outbreak, with just a small number of staffers continuing to work in the nations capital.

The senators New Mexico offices will remain open in order to help constituents.

Journal staff writer Scott Turner contributed to this report.
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.
Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam has given a zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha over demand for free supply of masks and sanitisers in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

As COVID-19 cases in the country reached 60 as of Wednesday, the government has announced that 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.

During the Zero Hour, parliamentarians can raise matters of great importance without the mandatory ten days notice.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinas National Health Commission said the peak of the Coronavirus outbreak in the country has passed, as it reported the lowest number of new infections in seven weeks.

The number of new Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continues to decline while the epidemic maintains a lower level overall, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for the health commission, said on Thursday.

The commission earlier reported its lowest count of new Coronavirus infections since it started providing daily updates seven weeks ago.

Fifteen new Coronavirus infections and 11 deaths were reported across mainland China over the past day, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 80,793, including 3,169 deaths.

The announcement came after President Xi Jinping on Tuesday for the first time, visited the industrial hub of Wuhan, which is considered the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Xi struck a triumphal tone as he declared the virus basically curbed in Hubei province, home to Wuhan, and a victory nationwide, according to Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, South Korea reported its lowest number of daily infections of the novel Coronavirus in two weeks, with figures on Thursday showing 114 new cases and six more deaths, according to Yonhap news agency.

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This brings the total number of cases to 7,869 and the death toll up to 66, according to the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

The majority of the cases including 73 of the latest ones were concentrated in the south-eastern city of Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province.

In Japan, the number of confirmed cases of the Coronavirus infection has steadily increased to 1,337, including about 700 on the Diamond Princess Cruise ship in the port of Yokohama.

A total of 23 people have died of COVID-19, the government said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an economic stimulus package worth 17.6 billion Australian dollars (11.4 billion U. S. dollars) to counter the financial impacts of the virus pandemic.

The Australian government said the country has 126 cases, including three deaths as of Thursday morning.

Also in Australia, U.S actor Tom Hanks said on Twitter that he and his wife have tested positive for Coronavirus in the countrys Gold Coast region and are in isolation.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte was due to be tested for COVID-19 after being exposed to an official who tested positive for the virus last week, presidential spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, said.

The president did not have symptoms, the spokesperson added.

The Asian Development Bank decided on Thursday to temporarily close its headquarters in Manila after receiving information that a recent visitor has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

All staff were working from home while the headquarters was being cleaned and disinfected, the bank said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the bank said it was making available 200 million dollars in financing for companies manufacturing and distributing medicines and other items needed to combat the outbreak.

Shoppers in Taiwan placed 35,000 orders for surgical masks in two hours after they became available to buy online on Thursday, the government said.

The new system aims to provide fair distribution of surgical masks and will reduce long lines at drug stores.

Amid fears of supply shortages due to the spread of COVID-19, the Taiwan government banned surgical mask exports in January and February implemented a rationing system of two masks per person per week.

The government and private sector worked together to set up 60 new surgical mask production lines to meet local demand.

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The average daily domestic production reached 10 million this week, according to the Taiwanese governments executive branch.

In Cambodia, about 60 people on a river cruise ship docked in the country remain quarantined after three British passengers tested positive for COVID-19, local media reported.

According to the Cambodian Health Ministry, a British couple had tested positive on Wednesday, after another 65-year-old British woman on the Viking cruise ship was hospitalised with the virus earlier this week, government-aligned media portal Fresh News said.

The couple raised Cambodias total confirmed COVID-19 cases to five.

Coronavirus case numbers in Malaysia and Singapore remain, by a distance, the highest in south-east Asia, at 149 and 178, respectively, as of Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, Malaysias Health Ministry urged the postponement of all mass gatherings after it emerged that an estimated 5,000-10,000 people met at an Islamic ceremony in Kuala Lumpur in late February that was also attended by a Bruneian who subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Thailand has reported 70 cases of the new coronavirus infection. Of the 70 cases, 35 people have been already discharged while 34 others are receiving treatment in hospital, according to information provided by the Public Health Ministry on Thursday.

(dpa/NAN)
NASA astronauts have started growing human cells aboard the International Space Station to help understand the production of human tissue in low gravity.

250 test tubes containing adult human stem cells were sent aboard the SpaceX CRS-20 resupply mission that arrived at the ISS this week.

Scientists say that due to the weightlessness on board the ISS, newly formed cells will naturally 'organise themselves' into three-dimensional tissues.

It is hoped that the stem cells in test tubes will eventually grow into bone, cartilage and other organs during a month-long stay in space.

Part of the 250 test tubes carrying human stem cells, ready for differentiation into organ-like tissue structures on board the International Space Station

We are using weightlessness as a tool, said Dr Cora Thiel, researcher at the Department of Anatomy at the University of Zurich, which worked with aerospace comapny Airbus for the project.

The experiment is taking place in a mini laboratory  a CubeLab module from company Space Tango  aboard the ISS as it orbits 250 miles from Earth, before possibly being up-scaled up to a larger facility.

The small module consists of a closed and sterile system, in which the stem cells can proliferate and differentiate at a constant temperature.

Space Tango CubeLab on board the International Space Station ISS - a mobile mini laboratory in which the stem cell experiment is taking place

WHAT ARE STEM CELLS? Stem cells are special human cells that have the ability to develop into many different cell types, from muscle cells to brain cells. In some cases, they also have the ability to repair damaged tissues. Stem cells are divided into two main forms  embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells can become all cell types of the body because they are pluripotent  they can give rise to many different cell types. Adult stem cells are found in most adult tissues, such as bone marrow or fat but have a more limited ability to give rise to various cells of the body. Meanwhile, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to be more like embryonic stem cells. Advertisement

The lack of gravity on the ISS should encourage the growth of 3D tissue, as opposed to the monolayer flat tissue that is grown on Earth, without any supporting matrix.

The process can be used to generate tissue transplants such as cartilage or new liver cells in space from stem cells that have been harvested from patients during routine procedures on Earth.

The resulting grown organs could also be used to test new medical products or replace animal organs used in scientific testing.

'Artificially produced autologous human tissue could be used to determine which combination of drugs is the most suitable for the patient in question, said Professor Oliver Ullrich at the UZH Space Hub, the universitys innovation centre.

In addition, human tissue and organ-like structures produced in space could help to reduce the number of animal experiments.

After a month, the experiment will be concluded and researchers will observe any formation of organoids  small versions of organs  in the test tubes.

Housing of the mobile CubeLab containing 250 test tubes for the production of human tissues in weightlessness

The test tubes were launched with stem cells and are expected to return to Earth with organ-like tissue structures inside, Professor Ullrich told the Independent.

The SpaceX CRS-20 spacecraft that carried the experiment, launched last Friday, delivered more than 4,300 pounds of NASA cargo and science investigations.

Another experiment on the CRS-20, developed by University of Washington School of Medicine researchers, has also kicked off on the ISS.

The Tissue Chips in Space project will observe how the low gravity conditions there affect heart muscle.

The experiment involves small compact devices, a bit larger that cell phone cases, comprising of rows containing heart tissue samples grown from stem cells.

The heart muscle is supported between two flexible pillars that allow it to contract freely, in contrast to the constraints of a petri dish.

The devices automatically sense and measure the contractions of the heart tissues and send these updates to Earth  freeing up time for astronauts.

Launch of the International Space Station re-supply mission Space X CRS-20 from Cape Canaveral, USA on March 6 carrying more than 4,300 pounds of NASA cargo and science investigation equipment

This model will recapitulate, on a miniature scale, what may be happening to the astronauts heart muscle cells and tissues during a space mission.

This could aid NASAs efforts to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon and ultimately put humans on Mars during the 2030s.

The space program is looking at ways to travel longer and farther, said Nathan Sniadecki, a professor in mechanical engineering at the University of Washington.

Guarding against cardiac problems would be especially critical during space travel at distances never attempted before, such as a mission to Mars.

This opportunity to really kind of push the frontier for space travel is every engineers dream.

As well both stem cell projects, CRS-20 sent into low gravity a new science facility scheduled to be installed to the outside of the station this spring.

The Bartolomeo facility, created by the European Space Agency and Airbus, attaches to the exterior of the Columbus laboratory module, with potential applications including Earth observation, robotics, material science and astrophysics.
The global edge computing market is expected to grow by USD 9.14 billion during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005247/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Edge Computing Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Centralized computing systems have a geographically distributed infrastructure with high latency. It does not help in minimizing the response time in many time-sensitive applications such as autonomous vehicles and wearables. This is propelling the need for and adoption of decentralized edge computing solutions because they speed up the decision-making task by enabling low-latency in computing. Edge computing nodes involve reduced round-trip time as they are located much closer to the user or device. Thus, such benefits of decentralized edge computing solutions will boost the growth of the edge computing market during the forecast period.

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/report/edge-computing-market-industry-analysis

As per Technavio, the growing limitations of front-end devices will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024.

Edge Computing Market: Growing Limitations of Front-End Devices

Front-end devices have relatively limited battery life, computational power, and hardware resources in comparison to dedicated servers or data centers. As a result, they are rather used to forward the collected data to dedicated servers. However, there are times when the cloud servers cannot use the data generated by these front-end devices. This is leading to an increase in the utility of edge computing solutions. Edge node hardware present in these solutions speedily interprets a significant amount of data and immediately sends the response to the end-user or device. Thus, with growing limitations of front-end devices, the market for edge computing is expected to showcase a positive outlook during the forecast period.

"The optimization of network traffic for sustainable energy usage is another major factor that will boost market growth during the forecast period," says a senior analyst at Technavio.

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Edge Computing Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the edge computing market by end-user (industrial manufacturing, telecom, mobility, government, retail, healthcare, finance, and other end-users) and geographic segmentation (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA).

The North America region led the edge computing market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA. During the forecast period, the North America region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to factors such as the growing emphasis on improving efficiency in IT infrastructure within commercial and industrial environments. Moreover, the increasing adoption of big data analytics and IoT by end-users will also contribute to the growth of the market.

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report

Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

End-user

Industrial manufacturing

Telecom

Mobility

Government

Retail

Healthcare

Finance

Other end-users

Geographic Segmentation

North America

APAC

Europe

South America

MEA

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

About Technavio

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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CLEVELAND, Ohio  The state will ban large gatherings, effective today.

During a press conference, Gov. Mike DeWine said any gatherings involving 100 people or more are prohibited. That includes events at arenas, large conference halls, theaters and other confined indoor or outdoor spaces, as well as parades, festivals and fairs.

It does not include voting locations, schools, shopping malls, public transit locations or airports, the governor said. Religious gatherings, weddings and funerals also are not included. The full list of exceptions is available here.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness with symptoms similar to those of the flu  fever, cough and shortness of breath  that has sickened thousands and killed more than 4,100 globally, according to the World Health Organization. There is not yet a vaccine for COVID-19, nor are there any medications approved to treat it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Latest COVID-19 statistics, as of 2 p.m. Thursday:

Countries, territories and areas with confirmed cases: 114

U.S. states reporting cases: 42 and Washington, D.C.

Total cases in U.S.: 1,215

Total deaths in U.S.: 36

Worldwide information is from the WHO, and U.S. numbers are from the CDC.

Read more coronavirus coverage:

Clinic, UH to begin in-house coronavirus testing

4th coronavirus case is in Stark County

Clinic limits visiting students, residents

Coronavirus in Ohio nursing homes
CORALVILLE, Iowa, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- VIDA Diagnostics, Inc. ("VIDA"), the leader in AI-powered lung imaging analysis, today announced an $11M initial close of its Series C financing. The investment was led by First Analysis Corporation with initial equity participation from Blue Heron Capital and UnityPoint Health Ventures. Existing investors including Next Level Ventures, Chartline Capital Partners, Rural Vitality Fund, Rittenhouse Ventures, Iowa First Capital Fund, and The Angels' Forum also participated. VIDA will use the funds to address market deficits in the early assessment, monitoring, and treatment of lung disease by accelerating the commercialization of its leading LungPrint solution suite and by expanding LungPrint's clinical portfolio.

"We are driven to continuously raise the standard of care for patients with or at risk of lung disease. By equipping care teams with LungPrint, patient care and quality of life can be positively affected," said Susan A. Wood, Ph.D. and CEO for VIDA. "VIDA is endlessly thankful for the extensive support of the people, resources, and programs from the State of Iowa leading to this expansive funding. VIDA can now accelerate LungPrint's market access, further connecting its benefits to the many millions of patients with lung disease."

"VIDA is an outstanding corporate citizen. The company's commitment of employing and training Iowa-based engineers and scientists not only contributes to our economic growth, but also reinforces our skilled, productive workforce. The State of Iowa is proud of VIDA's accomplishments, its worldwide recognition and to be a partner with them through robust economic development programs," said Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

Lung disease impacts over 500 million people globally1, yet access to precise, personalized information for early detection and optimal treatment planning is not readily available. The development of AI (Artificial Intelligence)  driven lung analysis, like VIDA's LungPrint helps advance the standard of lung care by uniquely evaluating patients with or at risk of lung diseases, including emphysema and airway obstructive diseases (COPD), asthma, interstitial lung disease, and lung cancer. Using a chest CT scan, functional and other patient data as input, LungPrint provides care teams with a rich set of precise quantitative insights useful at all points in the care path, from detection through treatment.

Expanded volume and complexity of information contributes increasingly to radiologist task overload and burnout. Chest CT scans are particularly tedious to interpret due to the extensive and complex search field. LungPrint improves radiology efficiency by AI-driven automation and visualization paradigms, and quality evaluations. VIDA is well positioned to address physician overload and burnout through a cadre of industry leading distribution partners, including Blackford, IBM Watson Health, Nuance Healthcare and TeraRecon, through the enhanced integration of LungPrint into the radiology workflow enabling diagnostic accuracy and workflow efficiency.

Pulmonology and radiology are severely underserved areas of healthcare  the need is expanding and the number of clinicians is limited. VIDA is in an optimal position to deliver innovation and increase access, said Tracy Marshbanks, Managing Director and General Partner at First Analysis. This investment will enable VIDA to meet the growing call for precise AI-driven lung analysis solutions that can help improve the quality of diagnosis and life for patients impacted by lung disease.

About VIDA

VIDA provides the new standard of pulmonary care by using AI-powered CT imaging software and services to aid the early detection, evaluation, and treatment planning of patients with or at risk of lung diseases, including emphysema and airway obstructive diseases (COPD), asthma, interstitial lung disease, and lung cancer. VIDA's software and services are FDA cleared, CE-marked, Health Canada licensed and TGA registered for clinical use in the US, European Economic Area, Canada and Australia. More at vidalung.ai.

About First Analysis

First Analysis is a leading venture capital investor, having invested more than $800 million over four decades. With our integrative research process, we aim to invest in the best, established rapid-growth companies in the targeted sectors where we are acknowledged experts and where our success benefits not only our investors, but also our broader society and environment. The integrative research process combines 1) dynamic investment research on thousands of publicly traded and privately held companies with 2) thousands of relationships among executives, investors, and other key participants in our focus areas, yielding a deep, comprehensive understanding of each sector's near-term and long-term potential. We help companies become profitable leaders in large markets, funding growth plans, working closely with management in areas including strategy, recruitment, sales and marketing, and corporate development, and typically investing $3-10 million as lead investor or as a syndicate partner who brings valuable perspective.

About Blue Heron Capital

Blue Heron Capital is an operationally focused private investment firm based in Richmond, Virginia. The firm invests in small-cap growth equity companies in the healthcare and tech-enabled business services sectors. Blue Heron supports portfolio companies with a team of industry experts, including C-level executives and successful entrepreneurs with decades of experience building and managing vibrant businesses.

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.

1 World Health Organization (link)

SOURCE VIDA Diagnostics, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.vidadiagnostics.com


Medical workers meanwhile asked respective bodies for adopting measures to handle the current situation and stop the further spreading of the infection.

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The Slovak government has no plan in case of a rapid increase in the number of people infected with coronavirus, said Igor Matovic, who is likely to become new prime minister after his Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO) movement won the February 29 parliamentary election.

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He is also critical of the approach of outgoing PM Peter Pellegrini (Smer) to the measures adopted in connection with the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Prime Minister, your approach is like come what may, Matovic told the press conference.

Pellegrini has rejected the criticism and called Matovics actions political loutishness.

He also asked Matovic and other politicians not to interfere in the processes related to the fight against the coronavirus with their theatrical performances.

What does Matovic propose?

The to-be prime minister has proposed several measures. He, for example, wants telecom operators to send a text message every day to all people who returned from risky countries in order to stay in 14-day home quarantine. He has already discussed the possibility with Orange.

Related article

Related article Emergency situation applies from Thursday morning Read more

According to his information, about 100,000 Slovaks have visited Italy in the past three weeks.

We have to force people to act responsibly, Matovic said, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

As he explained home quarantine is not about being shut up at home, but to avoid places with a high concentration of other people.

Medical staff launches petition

Medical workers in Slovakia meanwhile are calling on all respective bodies, namely President Zuzana Caputova, PM and acting Health Minister Pellegrini, the Health Ministry, the Public Health Authority and the crisis staff, to quickly adopt further measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.

They even launched an online petition. More than 11,000 people signed it by noon of March 12.

Its hard to predict the extent and impact of the disease outbreak; and this will depend on how politicians and people respond, the petition reads. This depends particularly on whether there are enough financial means and the support of state.

They consider it important to manage the increasing demand for health care, calm the public, and provide necessary finances to efficiently control the spread of the infection.

The petitioners stress the fact that moderating COVID-19's impact will be costly, and warned against the disproportional redistribution of money that may result in unnecessary suffering and deaths.

Related article

Related article Three new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Slovakia Read more

Apart from dealing with urgent cases, the treatment of patients with chronic diseases should be secured too. If they fail to do so, it may have catastrophic consequences for patients.

The coronavirus epidemic will be a big test for our health-care system, particularly its material and personnel capacities, but will also test the character and discipline of people, the petitioners continued, stressing the importance of medical workers. Every measure may contribute to the improvement of the situation in Slovakia and the prevention of a catastrophic scenario that has occurred in other countries, like Italy.

They also proposed 25 measures whose adoption they consider necessary, including securing masks for medical staff, strengthening capacities on the helpline and training them, establishing a helpline for doctors, intensifying tests for coronavirus across the country and secure so-called quick tests; introducing mandatory testing of all people coming from abroad and people they were in contact with, as well as asylum seekers, spreading awareness through media, keeping schools closed and canceling large public events.
CLEVELAND, Ohio-- The novel coronavirus is spreading in Ohio, with the first case of community transmission reported in Stark County on March 11. Check back here for updates on whats happening in our area.

March 5  Ohio receives its first coronavirus test kit. The kit takes a couple days to validate in order to ensure its accuracy.

March 9  The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH) announce the states first three cases of coronavirus were detected in Cuyahoga County. The three people, two men and a woman, had all traveled internationally or been in contact with a suspected case. They are in their 50s and self-quarantined at home; none were hospitalized, according to officials.

One of the people diagnosed is an employee at the Jewish Education Center. The people were seen at University Hospitals, leading to the testing and home quarantine of six healthcare workers who were in contact with them.

Gov. Mike DeWine declares a state of emergency.

March 10  Widespread cancellations of large events begin, with many local colleges moving to online classes.

March 11  Ohios fourth case, the first with community transmission, is reported in a man in his 50s in Stark County. The man is hospitalized.

The WHO declares the novel coronavirus a pandemic due to its geographic spread around the world. Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish declared a state of emergency, and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson on Wednesday also issued a proclamation of civil emergency.

Clevelands St. Patricks Day parade and the Cleveland International Film Festival are canceled.

A fifth case is reported in Trumbull County, where Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital treated a patient who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to the Warren City Health Department.

March 12--ODH confirms the fifth case in Trumbull County.

University Hospitals announces it has ordered materials to perform in-house testing for the virus, though it may take weeks before theyre able to begin.

Cleveland Clinic announces the health system has the capability to perform in-house coronavirus testing.

Gov. DeWine bans large gatherings of 100 or more people in the state and announces closure of Ohio K-12 schools for an extended three-week Spring break.
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 little over a century ago, the U.S. Army embarked on a little-remembered but ill-fated adventure that left the remains of 129 American servicemen on a frozen battlefield in the nascent Soviet Union.

Ten years later, the Veterans of Foreign Wars did what the U.S. government could not: Bring their war dead home.

One of the biggest recurring lessons from military history is not to invade Russia in the winter, but the United States did just that. In September 1918, American troops disembarked on the shores of the White Sea, 700 miles north of Moscow, to fight the Red Army on its home turf.

They were joined by contingents from Britain, France and nine other nations, hoping to defeat the Bolshevik Revolution in its infancy after the Russian Empire collapsed during the First World War.

It did not go the way the Allied Powers had hoped.

Now known as "The Polar Bear Expedition," the invasion of Russia was a disastrous departure from the muddy trenches of the Western Front. Some 13,000 U.S. soldiers fought Russian Red Armies on three fronts, cutting trenches into the permafrost holding the ports of Arkhangelsk and Vladivostok -- about 4,000 miles apart.

When the tsar's government fell, the Red Communists controlled only part of the former Russian Empire in Europe. Western liberals, capitalists and other democratic forces formed the White Russian Army to push the Red Army back into Asia and retake Moscow. It was on the side of the White Army that the tsar's former allies intervened.

The intervention had a military purpose for World War I. The Allies believe that restoring the Russian government would bring Russia back into the war and reopen the Eastern Front, forcing Germany to once again divide its forces.

U.S. troops march into action in Russia, 1919. (U.S. Army)

But the war ended before the Polar Bear Expedition even came close to reaching its goals. After little more than a month fighting the Red Army, the Armistice was signed. Yet American and allied forces remained in Russia, even as the dreaded winter began to set in. Their lines were overextended by their British commander while guarding a railway that was vital for delivering coal to White forces.

Russian troops under the command of Leon Trotsky were able to wreak havoc on the stretched-out Americans and force their 130-mile retreat northward toward the White Sea. When they finally departed in June 1919 -- eight months after World War I ended -- no one in the unit knew exactly why they had been sent there.

What they did know is that more than 400 of them had died in Russia, and 129 of their fellow soldiers' remains were unaccounted for.

By 1929, the commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars was Eugene Carver Jr., a veteran of the Western Front. Polar Bear veterans approached Carver to find out what he could do to bring those 129 men home to rest. The VFW has always advocated for the return of fallen veterans' remains, but this would be the first time members of the group would personally travel to bring them back.

Carver and Secretary of War Patrick Hurley officially petitioned the government of the Soviet Union to repatriate the fallen remains, but that request was denied. The United States did not recognize the USSR as the official Russian government, and wouldn't until 1933. Relations between the two remained as frosty as the battlefields of Arkhangelsk.

But Carver would again approach Moscow with his request. This time, he did so as a private citizen on behalf of the VFW. The Soviet Union granted the VFW's request. After arriving in Moscow in August 1929, the USSR gave the VFW roughly 10 weeks to repatriate the remains.

The recovery team consisted of VFW members, archaeologists and former members of the Polar Bear Expedition, men who volunteered to go dig up their battle buddies and bring them home.

"We made our way up the rivers in wood-burning, flat-bottomed boats, drawing about a foot of water, a red-and-yellow VFW pennant flying from the mast," VFW National Legislative Chair and leader of the expedition Charles Bettelheim wrote. "A number of times, we slept on the banks of the river where we built bonfires -- it was better to sleep on the banks of the river than it was to attempt to sleep in the vermin-infested houses in the villages or cramped in our small boat."

The team found 88 of their own buried in swamps, cliffs and forests. They were even able to identify most of them. After departing from Leningrad on Oct. 27, 1929, 11 of the bodies were dropped off to be buried at American military cemeteries in France. The other 77 were taken to the U.S., landing in Hoboken, New Jersey, a month later. They arrived to a 17-gun salute.

There, 17 sets of remains were interred at Arlington National Cemetery. The rest were put aboard a funeral train on their way back to Michigan. "Detroit's Own" were finally home.

According to the VFW, 88 members of the Polar Bear Expedition were returned to the United States. Another 14 were recovered by the Army in 1934. The others were never found.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com.

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And when it comes to the economy, Trump seems to fluctuate day to day  even hour to hour  between assertions that everything is fine and demands for enormous, ill-conceived stimulus.

His big idea for the economy is a complete payroll tax holiday. According to Bloomberg News, he told Republican senators that he wanted the holiday to extend through the November election so that taxes dont go back up before voters decide whether to return him to office. That is, he apparently said the quiet part out loud.

This would be an enormous move. Payroll taxes are 5.9 percent of G.D.P.; by comparison, the Obama stimulus of 2009-2010 peaked at about 2.5 percent of G.D.P. Yet it would be very poorly targeted: big breaks for well-paid workers, nothing for the unemployed or those without paid sick leave.

Why do it this way? After all, if the goal is to put money in peoples hands, why not just send out checks? Apparently Republicans cant conceive of an economic policy that doesnt take the form of tax cuts.

Trump also reportedly wants to provide aid to specific industries, including oil and shale  a continuation of his administrations efforts to subsidize fossil fuels.

Democrats, by contrast, have proposed a package that would actually address the needs of the moment: free coronavirus testing, paid sick leave, expanded unemployment benefits and an increase in federal matching funds for Medicaid programs, which would both help states meet the demands of the crisis and sustain overall spending by relieving the pressure on state budgets.

Notice, by the way, that these measures would help the economy in an election year, and therefore arguably help Trump politically. But Democrats are willing to do the right thing anyway  a stark contrast to the behavior of Republicans after the 2008 financial crisis, when they offered scorched-earth opposition to anything that might mitigate the damage.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 07:07:49|Editor: huaxia

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SAN FRANCISCO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced Thursday that all K-12 schools in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties will close for the next six weeks as the coronavirus continues to spread.

"We do not take these decisions lightly and I am fully aware of the various impacts this has on families and communities," Inslee said during a press conference Thursday. "Today's decision has a full range of implications... I anticipate this will cause ripple effects throughout our state. But we can't afford not to do it. We must ensure that we slow the spread of this virus."

Across the three counties, nearly 563,600 students attend public or charter schools. Under the executive order, schools will close from Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, April 24. The earliest possible day that schools can reopen will be April 27.

"Our systems need to be prepared for a potentially longer closure... We have to be prepared that this is back in the fall or still with us in the fall," Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said.

Dave Somers, Snohomish County executive, expressed his full support for the decision. "Closing schools has been shown to disrupt transmission and flatten the curve. We need consistency across the region, and these closures will give schools time to plan, ensuring our kids all have access to nutrition and instruction."
Experts urge more screening

Global Times

By Zhang Han Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/11 22:53:41

Imported virus case from US sounds alarm

Beijing reported six imported COVID-19 cases, including the first from the US, on Wednesday, which prompted experts and residents to urge stricter screening and management of people arriving from the US as the country seems lax in epidemic control and management.

Beijing has reported 20 imported cases and the country 79 as of Wednesday. The authorities did not release details about the six new cases, five of which were from Italy and the other from the US.

However, analysts said that the US' limited number of reported cases possibly resulted from a lack of tests rather than reflecting the real situation.

South Korea and the US reported the first infection on the same day, but the former had tested 189,000 while the latter fewer than 2,000 as of Monday, media reported Monday.

All countries should be cautious of the US exporting cases as the country's response to the epidemic is quite slow and there might be a large number of unknown infections, which pose great danger to the world considering the high mobility of US people, said an anonymous Beijing-based public health expert.

According to US government data, Americans made more than 83 million trips abroad in the first 10 months of 2019, of which 5 million were to Asia.

A white-collar worker in Beijing surnamed Zhou told the Global Times that the danger of imported cases from the US is even bigger than virus-stricken countries like South Korea or Italy.

"We know the situation in hard-hit countries and will be careful not to come into contact with them. But some might be careless if they thought a traveler was from a place where the infection is not serious."

More than 118,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported around the world with more than 37,000 outside China as of 11 am on Wednesday, according to media reports.

Facing a worsening global epidemic situation, Beijing authorities ordered all people entering the capital from overseas - no matter whether they're from epidemic-stricken areas or not - to undertake a 14-day quarantine after landing.

Those traveling to Beijing for short-term business purposes need to stay at designated hotels and take nucleic acid tests before being allowed to leave the hotels, according to a press conference on Wednesday.

Local communities also stepped up managing overseas returnees and foreign residents.

The Beijing Public Security Bureau said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Wednesday that it has sent 38 officers who speak foreign languages to communities to help in promoting epidemic control information, residence registration and door-to-door health check and contact history investigation.

It's not only Beijing. All international travel hubs globally should be alarmed at the danger of imported cases, the anonymous expert warned.

Besides Beijing, imported COVID-19 cases were also found in other countries and regions such as a 49-year-old American female tourist who was confirmed to be infected in Costa Rica last week.

India also announced on Tuesday that most of the confirmed cases in the country have a history of travelling to the US or the Middle East.

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The Parliamentary panel urged the civil aviation ministry to provide adequate funds to enable facial recognition technology to be used at sensitive airports

New Delhi: A parliamentary panel on Thursday recommended introduction of facial recognition technology at sensitive airports this year and urged the civil aviation ministry to provide adequate funds for the project.

Flagging concerns over shortage of pilots in the country, the panel also said the government should seriously think about setting up of new institutes for pilot training as well as revamping the existing ones.

The suggestions have been made by the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture.

"The committee desires that the facial recognition technology be introduced at the sensitive and super-sensitive airports by this year and airports catering to larger traffic be taken up subsequently," it said in a report.

In its report tabled in Parliament on Thursday, the panel also urged the ministry to provide adequate funds at the disposal of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), so that this project is not delayed further.

Among other issues, the panel said it was a matter of "grave concern" that the country needs about 1,000 pilots a year but only around 200 to 300 pilots are trained, which leads to shortage of type-rated commanders in the country.

"... the ministry should give serious thought to setting up of new institutes for pilot training and to revamp the existing ones and also augment the capacity intake of students in the existing institutes," the report said.

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In the face of mounting concerns about social distancing in this COVID-19 pandemic, tours, fundraisers and happy hours on Capitol Hill were reportedly being canceled one by one on Wednesday.

But not Laredo Day. The City of Laredos annual celebration, where city officials rub elbows with members of Congress and their staff over Mexican food, went on as planned. A short video taken by the citys public information officer showed a large group of attendees packed tightly in the Ways and Means Committee Room about 30 minutes into the event.
A Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper made a traffic stop that yielded marijuana, MDMA and methamphetamines in Lamb County on Tuesday afternoon.

A news release from Texas DPS says the stop was conducted at 3 p.m. near the 288 mile marker (between Anton and Littlefield) on U.S. Highway 84 in Lamb County. The vehicle stopped was driven by 39-year-old Amy Liu, of California, traveling from California to Dallas.

A search of the vehicle revealed about 105 pounds of marijuana, 474 grams of MDMA and 23 grams of methamphetamines.

The woman was arrested and transported to the Lamb County jail.

The case remains under investigation.
OTTAWAFormer Liberal leader Bob Rae is being named Canadas special envoy for humanitarian and refugee issues.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is appointing Rae to the new role to continue the work he started as the special envoy to Myanmar two years ago.

Rae spent seven months in 2017 and 2018 assessing what drove upwards of 600,000 Rohingya out of their homes in Myanmar and into neighbouring Bangladesh, creating a humanitarian crisis.

He made 17 recommendations for Canadas response including ramping up humanitarian aid and welcoming more refugees from the region.

Trudeau says the new job for Rae will including continuing to lead Canadas diplomatic efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

But hell also work with the United Nations, the international community and Canadians to address other humanitarian and refugee issues.

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In early 2003, a group of Iranian scientists began scouring the country on a secret quest for a place to dig an unusual tunnel. They searched Irans vast Lut desert until they finally found what seemed to be the right spot, a Mars-like dead zone regarded as one of the hottest and driest places on Earth.

Conditions in this stretch of salty desert are so extreme that almost no animal or plant can survive there. But it was ideally suited for what Iran wanted  an underground chamber for the countrys first nuclear detonation. Photos and measurements were taken and then stashed away, to await the time when a bomb was nearly ready for testing.

The tunnel was never constructed, but 17 years later the images and surveys still exist, part of a recently unearthed trove of secret Iranian nuclear documents. The records, now being studied in major Western capitals, are drawing fresh attention as weapons experts seek to answer a suddenly timely question: how quickly could Iran build a nuclear bomb if it decided to do so?

Last week, the UN nuclear watchdog reported that Iran is accelerating its production of enriched uranium amid rising tensions over the Trump administrations withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The growing stockpile potentially gives Tehran a crucial ingredient for a future bomb  fissile uranium. And the long-hidden papers, stolen from Iran two years ago by Israeli spies, are offering new insight into how far Iran has already come in acquiring other critical components needed to build a nuclear weapon.

Newly released records from the document trove are testaments to the depth and scale of Irans past nuclear research, showing how Iranian scientists have raced to master key technical challenges. Summary reports show that Iranian officials were conducting scores of complex experiments across a network of secret laboratories while also seeking to answer practical questions, such as where in the country they could sink an underground shaft for a future nuclear test.

The results of that work are still available to Iran, giving it a head start in the event its leaders decide to make a dash towards becoming a nuclear-weapons state, say US and Middle Eastern weapons experts.

In 2003, Iran had a nuclear weapon design and it was building things  doing the whole gamut of activities, says David Albright, a nuclear-weapons analyst who has reviewed hundreds of pages of the documents while researching a book, preparing several draft analyses. But are they truly ready to start producing a weapon? We still dont know, but we may soon have to figure it out.

Iran has dramatically shrunk its theoretical breakout time  the span of months it would need to acquire a bombs worth of weapons-grade uranium  to less than four months

Since the Trump administrations unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Islamic republic has renounced many of the nuclear restrictions and limits it had accepted under the landmark international accord, including a 300kg cap on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium. A report issued last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that Iran has blown past those restrictions, amassing more than 1,020kg of low-enriched uranium and activating new centrifuge machines so it can produce even more nuclear fuel faster. Low-enriched uranium is used in nuclear power plants, but with additional processing it can be converted into highly enriched uranium for nuclear bombs.

With the bigger stockpile, Iran has dramatically shrunk its theoretical breakout time  the span of months it would need to acquire a bombs worth of weapons-grade uranium  to less than four months, according to some independent calculations. Under the 2015 agreement, Iran had disconnected most of its centrifuges, exported the bulk of its uranium and dismantled a nuclear reactor. US officials at the time estimated Irans breakout threshold at about a year. Iran also agreed to extensive international oversight to guard against cheating, and many analysts believed that a nuclear crisis had been averted until at least until 2030, when many of the provisions were due to expire.

That changed when US president Donald Trump, who repeatedly blasted the deal as shortsighted and a disaster, walked away from the accord and reimposed sanctions against Iran. Since then, Iran has quickly gone from having a modest stockpile of about 200kg of enriched uranium  far less than what is needed for a single nuclear device  to a large and growing mass of fuel that could soon allow it to make several bombs, if it decided to.

Supporters of the deal have criticised Trump for trying to scuttle an accord that, whatever its flaws, appeared to be working, as the presidents own advisers acknowledged in congressional testimony. But several of them also noted in interviews that Irans actions so far are reversible, and Iranian leaders appear to be more interested in sending signals than building weapons.

To date, Irans steps have not been irretrievable  the Iranians have been relatively calibrated in their response, says Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group and an adviser on Middle East policy in the Obama and Clinton administrations. If youre Iran right now, the tools you have in your arsenal are an ability to expand your nuclear arsenal, roil markets or threaten regional countries and the US presence within them. And if those are the tools they have, those will be the ones they will consider using in response to US pressure they view as tantamount to economic warfare.

A Shahab-3 missile displayed at a weapons exhibition at Tehrans main fairground (Getty)

One of the architects of the 2015 deal, then-US energy secretary Ernest Moniz, says the Iranians have so far refrained from actions that would clearly signal an intention to make weapons, such as throwing out IAEA inspectors or withdrawing from the international Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Whats very important is that the verification regime continues to confirm that they are not in breakout mode, Moniz says, which would mean going all out.

The new disclosures from Irans nuclear archives are a portrait of what all out looks like. Since at least 2007, US intelligence agencies have known that Iran launched a covert programme called Project 110  part of a bigger initiative known as the Amad plan  in the late 1990s with the goal of quickly building up to five nuclear bombs.

US officials believe that Iranian leaders suspended the programme shortly after the US invasion of neighbouring Iraq in 2003. But the trove of nuclear documents, stolen from a Tehran warehouse by Israeli operatives in 2018, have provided an enormous amount of new details about the abandoned nuclear project, showing how Iranian agencies and laboratories worked feverishly to master critical technologies and skills on a highly compressed schedule.

The documents, consisting of tens of thousands of printed pages and computer disks, were shared with the Vienna-based IAEA, the United States and several other governments. IAEA officials confirmed in interviews that they are continuing to dig through the records and that they have confronted Iranian officials about several alleged research programmes and facilities that were previously unknown.

The forbidding climate means the desert is reliably empty  and thus ideal as a nuclear test site

We take information very seriously, but we dont take it at face value, Rafael Grossi, the newly appointed IAEA chief, said last month. Grossi cited a very painstaking, meticulous effort to verify the credibility of the information.

The documents show how Iranian nuclear researchers worked in tandem to try to solve several complex technical challenges in building a weapon. One of Albrights summaries shows how Iran conducted nearly 200 tests over a span of seven months, mostly aimed at mastering physics problems related to constructing an array of explosive charges around a core of uranium metal. With precision timing, the explosions cause the uranium core to implode, triggering a nuclear chain reaction.

According to a spreadsheet prepared by Project 110 supervisors, an average of 32 tests were conducted each month, a surprising figure indicating more tests than previously known publicly, Albright and coauthor Sarah Burkhard wrote in one of the analyses.

Other documents show Iranians researching uranium metallurgy and warhead designs and also conducting computer simulations of nuclear explosions  systematically tackling each of the key bottlenecks on the difficult path towards a weapon, Albright says.

A separate batch of records details Irans efforts to find a prospective site for the underground test chamber. It was known that Iran had looked at five potential sites, but new documents suggest that Irans scientists had settled on a likely location  the Dasht-e Lut in southeastern Iran, near the Afghan border.

The Bushehr nuclear plant on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf (STR/AFP via Getty) (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

The documents show that Iranian officials were gathering geological and water-table data and taking photos of sites in the desert where they could potentially sink a shaft deep into the ground for weapons testing.

The hellish Lut desert is one of the hottest places on the planet. Satellites passing overhead have recorded temperatures on the sandy surface of up to 70C, or hotter than a well-cooked steak. The forbidding climate means the desert is reliably empty  and thus ideal as a nuclear test site.

Its unclear from the documents how much of the testing equipment and components Iran managed to preserve after the programme was shelved. At least some of the nearly two-decade-old materials and facilities would have to be recreated or reengineered, but Albright says other aspects of Project 110 almost certainly survived intact and are probably warehoused somewhere in the country.

Any valuable equipment  explosives chambers, [ultra-high-speed] cameras  they would have been preserved and probably moved someplace else, Albright says. Whether theyre ready to move [into new tests] is something that now has to be factored in. It enriches the discussion of how quickly they could take weapons-grade uranium and turn it into a nuclear weapon.

Obtaining answers from Tehran appears unlikely. Iran has never acknowledged its previous efforts to build a bomb, and in recent months it has blocked IAEA inspectors from visiting three sites identified in the document trove, according to an agency report this week. Olli Heinonen, a former top IAEA official who led inspections of Irans facilities in the early 2000s, says Tehran must open up its facilities and fully explain its past work if it wants to avoid suspicions that it is doing more than adding to its uranium stockpile.

After 17 years, the IAEA has not been able to conclude that Iran is in compliance with its safeguards agreement, Heinonen says. This is not good news.

 Washington Post
The rapid spread of the coronavirus has created a worldwide public health crisis, but its effect will be most devastating on some of the most vulnerable and powerless  those being held in our prisons.

As a deputy public defender who has practised for more than 10 years in Riverside, California (where, as of today, they have at least two confirmed cases of coronavirus), I am among those on the front line.

I practise incompetency law, representing clients who have difficulty understanding legal proceedings or who cannot assist a lawyer with their case due to the severity of their mental illness or cognition issues. These are the most powerless of all clients; they are sometimes so impaired that they often cannot even speak on their behalf.

In addition to visiting clients who are in custody in county jails and state hospitals, I interact with my clients in court. I typically have court two days a week and can see as many as 15 clients in custody in one day.

I am one of the five attorneys in my unit. The volume of cases we handle is huge. I am required to fully represent my clients so I lean in and talk to them and explain to them the process and see how they are doing. They are in chains and in orange or red jumpsuits (red signifies that they have a special classification) and are often dishevelled.

My goal is always to represent them with integrity and grace, leading them through a strained system.

Often, they have no idea what is happening to them. So I must be both their advocate and their voice.

Frankly, I am terrified about how this coronavirus crisis will affect them.

The risk factors for the imprisoned are patently obvious. Inmates are confined in close proximity to one another and come from high-risk communities. They have high rates of trauma, chronic illness, abuse, experience of homelessness and mental illness. These issues often result in crime as they are just looking for a place to sleep or stealing to eat or reacting to the voices in their head.

In addition, they have high rates of substance abuse and drug addiction (estimated by some at 50 percent and poverty  to qualify for our services, you must be below the poverty line) making them particularly susceptible and vulnerable.

Once the coronavirus enters, the jails will be a petri dish for the spread of the virus. In fact, it has been reported that in some jails the virus is already suspected.

While the media and the government have focused almost exclusively on the high risk that coronavirus poses to elderly people, there has been no focus at all on those people jailed in our state prisons and county jails.

There are more than 2.3 million people being held in prisons, jails and state psychiatric facilities in the United States.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has placed the mortality rate for coronavirus at 3.4 percent  it is likely to be higher for this at-risk group. We could, therefore, be talking about a massive number of infections and many deaths within prisons.

Prisoners are already at a higher risk of respiratory infections such as tuberculosis, which has been documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the flu. There are estimates that tuberculosis is 17 times more prevalent and Hepatitis C nine times more prevalent among jailed people. About 40 percent of all imprisoned people have at least one chronic health condition, such as asthma or diabetes.

Poor nutrition and sanitation are also at play; county jails and state prisons are notoriously dirty. This is something I have witnessed first-hand  there is often no access to running water or proper ventilation.

County jails are bad, and even worse than prisons when county funds are stretched thin, with no outdoor time for inmates. As a result, sometimes, our clients would prefer state prison. Jails and prisons are also woefully understaffed, overcrowded and in disrepair with broken-down air conditioners and staff shortages creating safety issues.

Overcrowding and staff shortages are problems faced in most, if not all, states: in Delaware, such problems resulted in a prison takeover and the death of a prison guard in 2017.

Moreover, many jails and prisons lack sufficient healthcare under normal circumstances, much less at a time of a potential pandemic. While funding has recently increased in certain areas, there are still complaints that resources are lacking.

Riverside County settled a lawsuit in 2015 alleging that it failed to give adequate care to the inmates.

How local, state and federal authorities should react in times of crisis to address these risks and protect prisoners is not an easy question to answer. But finding an answer is crucial, especially in the US, which has the largest prisoner population in the world.

Such answers must come top-down, from state governors, from state and local officials and institutions and from the federal government (I am not holding my breath on that one).

One question is, should we release some inmates? It is not unthinkable; some countries are doing just that.

I have personally witnessed that these jails are utterly unprepared for any kind of mass contagion. In fact, I was shocked when I visited a county jail in California last week.

After arriving at the jail at 9am, I went to wash my hands, but was dismayed to see that the visitation centres toilet was without hand soap or sanitiser and that the toilets soap dispenser had a sign on it reading the soap dispenser is broken.

When I questioned the deputy on duty, he said the issue was the janitors job and that he would inform the janitor in the afternoon. When I asked if I could bring my sanitiser bottle inside with me for my contact visit, the deputy informed me that it was not allowed. If the outside visitation centre is without soap and hand sanitiser, it is unlikely that the picture is any better for prisoners themselves  they may have nothing except, if they are lucky, a small bar of soap and perhaps water.

Once the virus enters the facility, as it most certainly will, it will spread like wildfire unless protective measures are taken.

In California, a new law passed in 2011, allowing prisoners to be moved from state prisons to county jails to decrease prison populations, has created a perfect storm in which this pandemic can flourish. That is because all the new law has done is create overcrowded and under-resourced jails which are ill-equipped to handle the influx of inmates staying for longer sentences. The jails are ill-equipped because counties simply do not have the funds to house all of the inmates, ones that previously went to prison as the jail was reserved for pretrial detention and probationers serving less than one year.

I fear that these institutions are not equipped to protect my clients. The jails are routinely unable to address a clients health concerns, such as diabetes and epilepsy, until I or the court intervenes.

It often takes a court order to guarantee that my clients see a doctor at all and I am lucky that I work in a court with a judge who is dedicated to protecting safety and wellbeing.

The reality is that jails simply cannot handle any more stressors than they already have and coronavirus could be the breaking point.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Letting developers ditch car bays for new apartment buildings is one radical measure Perths peak property industry body is proposing to triple the city's residential population.

On Friday, the Property Council WA will launch its Project 90K report at an event at which City of Perth, state and federal government representatives will discuss the Perth City Deal.

Perth city doesn't just need a funding deal  it needs some serious liveability planning, says the property industry. Credit:Lauren Pilat

Perth is one of the last cities to secure and announce how it will use the federal funding jackpot termed a city deal.

The deal and the Project 90K report will focus on a goal to triple Perth citys population to 90,000 by 2050, from a base of 30,000.
People walk through a sparse international departure terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) as concern over the coronavirus grows on March 7, 2020 in New York City.

U.S. airline stocks plunged Thursday after President Donald Trump announced sweeping travel restrictions, including an unprecedented 30-day ban on foreigners arriving from most of Europe, a measure he said was necessary to stop new cases of coronavirus "from entering our shores."

Trump in a televised address called the new coronavirus "foreign" and attacked Europe for not taking the same actions to control the disease that he had.

"As a result" of Europe's inaction, Trump said, "a large number of clusters" of coronavirus "were seeded by travelers from Europe."

Trump mischaracterized the restrictions in his national address, sowing confusion among airline employees, travelers and fears among investors about the additional financial hit the ban poses to carriers.

American Airlines shares were down 15% in premarket trading, United fell 15% and Delta dropped 13%.

Savanthi Syth, a Raymond James airline analyst called Trump's travel restriction "a baffling move that appears to be based on political theater rather than facts."

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, last month said travel restrictions are "irrelevant" if the coronavirus becomes a pandemic, which is how the World Health Organization characterized it on Wednesday. "When you have multiple countries involved, it's very difficult to do; in fact, it's almost impossible," he said.

Airlines were already scrambling to cut costs by reducing flights, offering employees unpaid, voluntary leave and freezing hiring, as the virus spreads and new travel restrictions are implemented, sapping demand.

Trump in a televised address called the new coronavirus "foreign" and attacked Europe for not taking the same actions to control the disease that he had.

"As a result" of Europe's inaction, Trump said, "a large number of clusters" of coronavirus "were seeded by travelers from Europe."

Trump's order bars most foreigners who have been in Europe in the last two weeks from entering the U.S. for 30 days. While it stopped short of a flight ban, the measure would likely further diminish demand for trans-Atlantic travel, prompting more flight cuts. It leaves it up to airlines to cut flights, similar to the entry restrictions on U.S.-bound travelers who were in China that the administration announced. The U.K. is exempt from the new order.

"This action will hit U.S. airlines, their employees, travelers and the shipping public extremely hard," Nicholas Calio, president of Airlines for America, a trade group that represents airlines including American, Delta, United and delivery giants FedEx and UPS, said in a statement. "However, we respect the need to take this unprecedented action and appreciate the Administration's commitment to facilitate travel and trade."

The State Department has also issued a Level 3 warning that recommends U.S. citizens to reconsider all travel abroad, "even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice."
The powers lapsed briefly once before  in 2015  because of a similar stall in the Senate. The impact of a short-term gap may be small. Any existing court orders for business records and special types of wiretaps, for example, will still be valid during the lull. And the F.B.I. can most likely use other authorities, like grand jury subpoenas, from its criminal investigative toolbox as a workaround.

Still, the lapse could cause some operational headaches, and the spectacle of governing dysfunction arising from Congress in the national security arena and a measure for which there is very likely majority support was striking.

Mr. Trump and his supporters are invested in promulgating a conspiracy theory that the F.B.I.s counterintelligence investigation into Russias efforts to manipulate the 2016 presidential election was actually a politically motivated attempt to sabotage his presidency, not a legitimate attempt to understand a foreign powers interference in American democracy.

An investigation by the Justice Departments independent inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, concluded that the Russia investigation  including efforts to understand the nature of numerous links between Russia and the Trump campaign  had a lawful basis, and found no evidence that its opening was politically motivated.

Mr. Horowitz did, however, uncover serious errors and omissions in one aspect of the inquiry: investigators applications for permission from the FISA court to wiretap Carter Page, a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser with many links to Russian officials.

None of the expiring tools were involved in the Page applications. But the legislation to extend them has become a vehicle for Congress to respond to the inspector generals findings. The House bill, for example, would push the FISA court to appoint an outsider to critique the governments arguments when a wiretap application raised serious issues about First Amendment activity, which could include political campaigns.
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the world, people are turning to the 2011 movie Contagion for a glimpse of the future. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the movie eschews the hyperbole of typical disaster movies for a chillingly logical progression, which screenwriter Scott Z. Burns based on extensive research about the nature of real pandemics. (One of his consultants, Ian Lipkin, recently spent two weeks in self-imposed quarantine after visiting China to investigate the viruss origin.)

The movie starts with the sound of a single cough over a black screen, and within 15 minutes, Gwyneth Paltrow is lying on an autopsy table with her skull cut opena terrifying reminder of just how fast and how far a novel infection can spread. The movies invented virus is far deadlier than COVID-19, but watching it is an unnerving reminder of what might be in store, especially if we dont act to stop it. Slate talked to Burns about what its been like to watch his predictions become reality, how its felt to watch his movie rise up the iTunes rentals chart, and what steps we can take to stop the worst of his predictions from coming to pass.

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Slate: Theres been a surge in people rewatching Contagion, and some of the parallels with whats going on now are positively eerie. What does it feel like to watch a script you wrote 10 years ago more or less coming true in real time?

Scott Z. Burns: Well, obviously, you know, its very upsetting to see people getting sick and dying. The part of me that is a human being is more struck by this than the part of me that is a filmmaker.

Right.

That being said, it has been very strange to me, whether on social media or in conversations with friends, that people will say to me, This is uncanny how similar it is. And I dont find it to be that surprising, because the scientists I spoke to, and there were a lot of them, all said that this was a matter of when, not if. So, I guess my feeling as someone who believes in science is that when scientists tell us those things we would do well to listen.

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Which is unfortunately still an issue right this minute.

It is incredible to me that we are not letting the really amazing public health people in this country lead the responsethat we are finding out that we dont have enough test kits and have for some reason disbanded our pandemic-preparedness teams. When I was at the CDC researching the movie in 2009 and 2010, those people were extraordinary. It was no different than the feeling you might get if you went to a firehouse and saw how committed those first responders are to keeping people safe. Slashing the budgets of those things is something I would have never contemplated as a screenwriter. When people tell me that the movie seems to be coming true, I say to them that I never contemplated that we would have leadership in this country that would gut our defense. This administration and this Republican Party talk about protecting people with a wall, and we cant even make test kits.

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Trump has been talking about closing the border with Mexico, but theres absolutely no evidence thats how the virus is spreading.

There was an article that I read in the New York Times yesterday where a public health official in Seattle had said that theyd been aware of community spread for a long time. So its already in our country. The issue isnt playing games with our borders; its how we take care of people now. Its stunning to me that our administration cant put out a clear message on how people can stay safe and what our tools are for understanding the current spread. Theres a video on YouTube of a song they did in Vietnam about hand-washing and how important it is. Why isnt our government putting out public service messages about how to stay safe? That isnt that hard.

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I did have that uncanny feeling watching Contagion this week, where the characters are talking about social distancing and fomites and R0slike, how did they know? But then you stop and think its because this is just the science of how epidemics spread, and its no different now than it was 10 years ago.

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Until we have a pharmaceutically generated or a scientifically generated cure, we are the cure.

I mean, yeah. And we were in a better place to deal with this when I was doing research on the movie. We had a Department of Homeland Security that had a pandemic-preparedness team in place. There were people who understood how public health works. I listened to a press conference that the president gave where he described himself as a businessman who didnt like it when people were just sitting around. Well, I wonder how he feels about the fire department. I live near a firehouse, and those people spend some time sitting around when theres no fire but you cant build a fire department once your house is on fire. Unfortunately, this administration has decided that is what it wants to do, and it puts people way behind. When you look at the amount of testing this country has done compared to other countries, thats the part that is scary to me.

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The virus you concocted for the movie is much deadlier than COVID-19: One of the characters estimates the fatality rate at 25 to 30 percent. But the truly scary thing is where the movies scenario seems to be more optimistic than real life. The heroes of the movie are the scientists and bureaucrats at CDC, Homeland Security, and WHO, but the institutional response in the U.S. thus far has been underwhelming to say the least.

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One of the beautiful things I learned while doing my research is what public health really means. What I came to understand it to be was an obligation we have to each other. Right now, as our country is so divided, this is actually a moment to build bridges and to say, regardless of your differences with your neighbor, we can keep each other safe if we do the right things. And that means social distancing. That means washing your hands a lot. That means staying home if you are sick. Those are three really good first steps to take. If you talk about it with people in public health, until we have a pharmaceutically generated or a scientifically generated cure, we are the cure. We can be the cure. It means listening to public health officials and being conscious of your obligation to your fellow humans.

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The title Contagion has an obvious plot connotation, but the movie also stressed that other things can spread like a virus: panic, misinformation.

If you go back and look at the poster, the tagline for the movie was Nothing Spreads Like Fear. When Steven and I talked to public health officials, that was always their biggest concern. There is profiteering, like with the Jude Law character. We are seeing that.

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I just bought a thermometer on Amazon that was $40 more than it was last week.

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Right. So, where is our attorney general to stop people from price gouging? Where is law enforcement when people are getting on the internet and selling false cures? I know it is against the law to yell fire in a public movie theater if there is no fire, but it should also be against the law to be yelling calm! in a movie theater if it is on fire. I think we have to be really nuanced and responsible with each other about what is really important information for people to have to keep themselves safe, and what is inflaming panic. Those things are these knock-on effects that we felt were important to put in the movie.

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Based on the research you did and the way you gamed out this fictional scenario, what in your opinion is the gravest mistake we are making right now?

I know it is against the law to yell fire in a public movie theater if there is no fire, but it should also be against the law to be yelling calm! in a movie theater if it is on fire.

I think the gravest mistake is not giving the space and the microphone and all of the support to the public health officials who can help guide us through this. We have really good people in this country. They need to get together and be allowed to speak to us clearly and not be filtered. I have read accounts in the press that Dr. [Anthony] Fauci isnt really allowed to speak until Mike Pence has approved his messaging. That is concerning to me. If we are going to get through this in the best version, it is by empowering those people and giving them the resources that they need. One thing that makes this even more complicated is that this is an election season. The voters in this country get to decide what is an election issue and what is not an election issue. The leaders in this country get to decide how to take care of people. And it concerns me very much that anybody on either side would use this moment to advance any sort of political agenda or edit the story to make themselves look good, because that is not helping.

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Unless you consider Just let the government do its job a political agenda, which some people do.

I mean, look, I think at this point it is going to take most likely a combined effort between the private and the public sector to get through this. It has happened before. We need people to join handsfirst, wash them, then join themand figure out the best course of action. If you dont stop these things early in the spread, it gets much harder as time goes on. So, if youre really concerned about the stock market, then you take aggressive public health measures right now so that we can get ahead of this. If you take half-measures because you want to protect the market now, that is going to cause so much more long-term damage. I think that policymakers need to think about that.

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One of your first screen credits was as a producer of An Inconvenient Truth, and as if worrying about the coronavirus werent enough, the response to this threat has ominous implications for how we respond to even slightly non-immediate threats. Experts were warning months ago this would happen, and we did almost nothing because we couldnt as a society think that far ahead. How can we think 50 years into the future? Earlier today, James Inhofe, one of the Senates most notorious climate change deniers, was asked if he was concerned about the coronavirus, and he offered to shake the reporters hand.

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Jesus.

So, has that parallel between the coronavirus response and climate change occurred to you?

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You sound like the voice in my mind right now, because thats what I think about every day. We have a very odd relationship to science in this country. We rely on it for so many things. Science makes it so your car can get to work. Science is how you know to cook your food so you dont get sick. It is what keeps airplanes in the air. Our entire society and our computers and all this stuff is so reliant on science. And the only time that certain political leaders seem to turn on science is when it gets in the way of making them some fucking money. I dont understand why the people in this country dont wake up and see that. The scientists who are telling us, and have been telling us for 40 years, that climate change is a real problem, arent doing that because they want people to lose money. They are doing that because they are trying to save our planet. There are opportunities to actually make money based on a changing planet. But someone like James Inhofe, who Im sure takes a lot of money from oil companies, wont be candid with the people hes supposed to protect.

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The only time that certain political leaders seem to turn on science is when it gets in the way of making them some fking money.

And I dont understand this other than that it seems that people, elected officials, are afraid that if the economy slows down, they will lose their jobsinstead of being afraid of the fact that if we dont pay attention to this, people who are not elected officials are going to lose their lives. And that is so cynical of some of our leaders that, you know, we really need to start calling them out on it. Everyone knows someone who is over 70. To say My experience of this virus might not be that bad, OK, thats great if youre in your 20s or 30s. But you probably love someone who is over 70. Where is your compassion for them?

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So that we dont end on a note of utter despair, is there anything about the current situation that gives you reason for hope?

This will sound really naive and silly, but I really do believe this. I have incredible confidence in the scientists that I know, and I have unbelievable faith in American ingenuity. Knowing that there are people in every sector right nowwhether it is microbiology or tech or whateverwho are trying to come up with ideas that will keep us safe is very heartening. I am encouraged by the ability of scientists to sort these things out, and I am grateful that the mortality rate of this virus is not like the one in the movie. I do believe that we will sort this out. But it is really up to our government leadership to decide how fast we sort it out, and how many people need to suffer before they pull their heads out of their asses.

To listen to Sam Adams and staff writer Rebecca Onion discuss Contagion in full spoiler-filled detail, click the player below or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
US lawmakers on Wednesday proposed a ban on most imports from China's Xinjiang region, charging that goods produced by Uighur forced laborers were easily making their way into the United States. The United States already bans products made through slavery. but with China holding more than one million Uighurs and other Muslims in camps in Xinjiang, lawmakers said that forced labor was interwoven into the region's economy. "These practices in Xinjiang are one of the world's largest human tragedies. It remains unimaginable, frankly, that this is happening in 2020," Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican sponsor of the bipartisan measure, told reporters. Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat who leads the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, which looks at human rights, said that witnesses, surveillance photos and leaked documents all showed the existence of forced labor. "We know that many US, international and Chinese companies are complicit in the exploitation of forced labor involving Uighurs and other Muslim minorities," McGovern said. "Audits of supply chains are simply not possible because forced labor is so pervasive within the regional economy," he said. The act would ban import of any goods from Xinjiang unless US Customs and Border Protection has "clear and convincing evidence" that no forced labor was involved. Uighur activists say that China is conducting a massive brainwashing campaign in internment camps aimed at eradicating their separate culture and practice of Islam. China describes the camps as vocational training sites and says it is trying to reduce the allure of Islamic extremism. - Xinjiang cotton reaches world - In an accompanying report, the commission said it had seen "credible reports" that goods involving forced labor have come into the United States, including textiles, cell phones, computer hardware, shoes and tea. It listed a number of companies that allegedly benefited from forced labor, including fashion brands Calvin Klein and H&M, beverage giant Coca-Cola and Campbell Soup. The Fair Labor Association, a collaborative that aims at protecting workers' rights, said this week it was "deeply troubled" by reports of forced labor in Xinjiang and asked its affiliates to look at alternative sourcing options. The association covers companies that were also listed as touched by forced labor from Xinjiang, including shoemakers Adidas and Nike. One major source of concern has been cotton, as Xinjiang -- like the American South two centuries ago -- supplies the world. Scott Nova, the executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, which monitors factories, said that China has made a concerted effort to make Xinjiang a global hub for cotton and yarn. Of the 10 billion garments imported each year into the United States, around 20 percent are believed to contain at least some material from Xinjiang, Nova said at a panel of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Xinjiang cotton "feeds not just garment factories in China but factories around the world -- from Bangladesh to Vietnam to Central America," Nova said. "For apparel brands and retailers, the risk of complicity in forced labor is enormous," he said. The Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act, if approved by Congress, would also require the secretary of state to produce a report on whether coerced labor is taking place and outline steps to combat it. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized China's treatment of minorities Wednesday as he released the State Department's annual report on human rights. "As I've said before, the CCP's record in Xinjiang is the stain of the century," Pompeo said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. The State Department report took note of reports by the media and non-government organizations of forced labor in Xinjiang.
San Franciscos 113 public schools  serving 54,000 students  will shut down for three weeks starting Monday to curb the spread of the coronavirus as the city struggles to prevent a surge in cases, the district announced Thursday.

The district was the first of six Thursday in the Bay Area to announce the closing of schools serving tens of thousands of students  and there were almost sure to be more in the coming days, along with other measures across the region reflecting the rapidly expanding response to the COVID-19 crisis.

On Friday, Oakland officials confirmed the district would also shut down as of Monday and several school districts across the Bay Area scheduled emergency meetings Friday as the pressure mounted to shut down to combat the spread of the coronvirus.

District officials in Orinda, Fremont, Dublin and Pleasanton were considering closure as well.

Also on Friday, the two largest districts in the state  Los Angeles and San Diego  issued a joint statement saying they too would shut down for three weeks.

The closures so far affect more than one million students in California who will be out of school in the coming weeks.

West Contra Costa Unified will close to more than 30,000 students for three weeks starting Monday. Berkeley Unified will close to 9,800 students for three weeks, and Tamalpais Union High School District, San Mateo Union High School District and Catholic schools run by the San Jose Diocese will close for two weeks.

Earlier in the week, San Franciscos archidocese announced closures of 90 schools in the city and the counties of San Mateo and Marin.

In San Franciscos public schools, the threat of the pandemic intensified Thursday night when officials announced that Glen Park Elementary would shut down immediately because seven students had respiratory illness and were being tested for COVID-19 by county health officials. The entire schools students, families and staff were asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to a statement by the district.

The school closures in the Bay Area came as school districts across the country also shuttered to slow the spread of the pandemic.

Were watching the world around us as you are, said Superintendent Vincent Matthews. This is an evolving situation and we know its going to continue to evolve.

The San Francisco decision followed the closure of Lakeshore Elementary School late Wednesday night after officials learned that four students there had respiratory illness, including pneumonia, and most likely have COVID-19, said school board President Mark Sanchez. Their family members were also showing similar symptoms.

The move shows how public officials are scrambling to react to the swift-moving situation.

We are making the decision in the interest of keeping our students and families safe, West Contra Costa Unifieds Superintendent Matthew Duffy said in a statement. This was not an easy decision, but the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak has increased the confusion and anxiety in our community. .... The uncertainty around testing protocols and the availability of tests has heightened community concerns and fears.

There are now 251 confirmed coronavirus cases in California, including 142 in the Bay Area, with 18 of those in San Francisco.

District officials noted that in recent days teacher and student absences dramatically increased, another factor in the decision.

A lot of things came together to make this decision, Sanchez said.

While the move to close schools may be prudent for public health, it will also present incredible hardships to families, and likely hurt disadvantaged families the most. Families will have to scramble for child care or juggle working from home while caring for their kids.

Officials urged families to avoid public places to reduce the possibility of exposure.

This disruption should not be viewed as an opportunity to head to the nearest amusement park or movie theater, Duffy said. The only way that school closures can be helpful in arresting the spread of this disease is if everyone continues to follow the recommendations from our health experts.

In San Francisco, the district will also start preparing teachers and staff for long-term plans to limit contact once school resumes.

The three-week closure, which includes spring break, will allow the district to more adequately prepare to deal with what will likely be many more cases of COVID-19 in the coming months, Matthews said.

Closing one school at a time as cases cropped up was not sustainable, the superintendent added.

This will require a sustained effort, Matthews said. The board and staff determined to become preemptive and we know that we need time to prepare for this new world that were in right now.

The closure will give the district time to stock up schools on supplies to deal with the virus, including hand sanitizer and tissues, and other products that are on back order.

Matthews said the districtwide closure would give principals and staff time to put in place additional procedures to limit personal contact in classrooms and on the playground.

Some staff would be required to report to work next week to put the new rules in place, then the next week teachers will return to school to undergo training and get ready for school to resume.

That is the current plan, Matthews said, noting how quickly a decision can become moot given the rapidly changing landscape surrounding COVID-19.

District officials said they are working on how to address the distribution of school meals and helping families with child care issues during the closure. More guidance would be coming, Matthews said.

The district will also provide information in the coming days on how families can help students learn during the closure. Online learning is not possible for all students because some have limited access to computers.

Given the anticipated lost learning time, district officials said they would ask the state superintendent to cancel annual standardized testing this year.

Its also possible that the district could extend the school year by two weeks, said Sanchez.

The districts teachers union supported the districtwide closure as cases across the city increased, said Susan Solomon, president of the United Educators of San Francisco.

The amount of feedback and emails and calls have been growing, really in the last 24 hours, she said.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Closing schools, however, requires many considerations, Solomon said, including ensuring paychecks continue and students can still access meals, which total 34,000 served daily.

The Lakeshore closure followed a Wednesday news conference with Mayor London Breed explaining why the district made the decision to keep all schools open despite calls from some parents and community members to close them for student and staff safety.

District officials have stressed that parents could keep their children home for any health reason, and their absences would be excused.

Schools across the region for the most part have remained open despite local decisions to limit large gatherings and Gov. Newsoms recommendation Wednesday that Californians postpone or cancel all gatherings of 250 people or more.

On Thursday night, San Mateo County became the first county in the state to turn Newsoms recommendation into a legal madate, issuing an order forbidding most gatherings of 250 people or more, effective at 11:59 p.m. Friday. The order is to remain in effect until April 3. The county had 20 reported cases of COVID-19 by Thursday.

The order by county Health Officer Scott Morrow said failure to comply with the ban on public or private mass gatherings above 250 people would constitute a misdemeanor punishable by fines or jail time. The directive is aimed at stadiums, theaters, meeting halls and the like, the order said  but exceptions are allowed for locations such as churches, shopping malls and other locations where people can maintain 6 feet of separation from each other.

San Francisco officials were expected on Friday to also issue an order banning all non-essential public or private gatherings of 250 people or more. On Wednesday, they issued an order banning gatherings of 1,000 people or more.

Schools are exempt from the mandates, and left to determine their own closures, because they are considered an essential service.

Education officials across the Bay Area, like their counterparts around the country, have struggled to balance the concerns over community health and the serious impact to families when schools close.

Dr. George Rutherford, head of the division of infectious disease and epidemiology at UCSF, said he has been advising San Francisco public health officials specifically about school closures, which included poring over studies on how they can effect disease outbreaks. School closures are especially challenging decisions during epidemics, Rutherford said, because they seem like such obvious sources of infection, but the fallout from shutting them down is among the most harmful interventions.

In the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, shutting down schools was less problematic than now because the outbreaks hit in California in May, toward the end of the school year.

Private schools as well as public districts across the region appeared poised to follow San Francisco and the other districts.

Some private schools have already shut down. 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, a decision made without the advice of local health officials.

Officials at Seattle Public Schools closed all their campuses this week to prevent the spread of the virus.

Oakland officials sought to calm nerves after two high school students had potential exposure to a confirmed case of the virus. The schools, Oakland Technical High School and Oakland High School, remain open.

In San Francisco, the superintendent praised district and school staff for their professionalism and dedication.

All staff  teachers, principals, administrative assistants, custodians, cafeteria workers, substitutes, administrators, para-educators, central office leaders, and more  are already going above and beyond to support our students and families, Matthews said in a statement. I am immensely grateful for their commitment to their school communities.

Staff writers Erin Allday and Dominic Fracassa contributed to this report.

Jill Tucker and Kevin Fagan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com, kfagan@sfchronicle.com
Thousands of people dismayed at the murder of an 18-year-old man in a mob beating gathered in front of Congress in Buenos Aires on Tuesday to demand justice and urgent measures against violence in Argentina.

The demonstration was called by Fernando Baez Sosa's parents just one month after his death in the beach town of Villa Gesell, some 370 kilometres (230 miles) south of the capital. The teenager had travelled there to spend the summer holidays with his friends. According to the case's prosecutor, he was with friends at a concert staged in a nightclub when he pushed into another group of youths.

Security personnel threw most of them out of the club.

Once outside, Baez Sosa and his friends were set upon by the other group and the 18-year-old died as a result of blows to the head and body. Ten people between the ages of 18 and 20, most of them players for the Arsenal Zarate Yacht Club rugby team, were charged in connection with the crime.

Eight of the defendants were detained as "co-perpetrators" of a deliberate murder, and the others were freed but indicated as "necessary participants". "What they did to my son is terrible, it's terrible, they didn't give him a chance to defend himself", the victim's mother said during Tuesday's rally, adding she wanted justice for her son.

Argentina recorded a murder rate of 5.3 per 100,000 population in 2018, the latest official number reported by the national criminal information system.
| By Mary T. Phelan

Leaders in the fields of emergency management, infectious disease, human resources, and employee/student health will participate in a virtual town hall on Friday, March 13, at 10 a.m., focusing on the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Maryland and beyond.

Members of the UMB community are encouraged to join Interim President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, who will moderate the event via Facebook Live. He will preside over a panel of experts, including:

Jonathan Bratt, MS, executive director of emergency management, UMB

executive director of emergency management, UMB Wilbur Chen, MD, MS , infectious disease expert, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)

, infectious disease expert, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Matt Lasecki, SPHR , associate vice president of human resources, UMB

, associate vice president of human resources, UMB Mario Majette, MD, director of student health, UMSOM

director of student health, UMSOM Alana Kyriakakis, JD, university counsel

The virtual town hall provides an opportunity for experts to share the latest information and guidance while adhering to social distancing guidelines in the midst of a rapidly evolving situation. To watch or participate in this virtual town hall, go to https://www.facebook.com/pg/universityofmarylandbaltimore/.

Faculty, staff, and students are invited to submit questions to the panel via text message using a phone number that will be provided during the livestream.

The health of the UMB community remains our top priority, so please join us online for this important event, Jarrell wrote in a letter to the UMB community.

As a reminder, please visit UMB's COVID-19 website to stay informed on the latest updates, policies, and guidelines.
A passenger on a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City to Palm Beach, Florida, has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

The plane landed around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The crew and 114 passengers were stuck on the tarmac for hours as health officials spoke to everyone on board.

MORE: Coronavirus live updates: Drastic measures issued globally as pandemic takes hold

Passengers who were near the infected person were given instructions on how to monitor their health over the next few days. They were allowed to leave the airport without seeing a doctor.

PHOTO: A newly developed SARS CoV-2 detection kit by University of the Philippines scientists is shown during a press conference in Quezon city, Philippines, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (Aaron Favila/AP)

"At this time passengers in the vicinity of the positive patient were advised of monitoring procedures," Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said in a statement. "The rest of the passengers were released to go home" and given directions to call the health department with any medical concerns.

JetBlue said the infected passenger flew on the plane despite "knowing he was awaiting results for a coronavirus test" and that he didn't disclose this to any airline officials.

The passenger, the airline said, is permanently barred from all JetBlue flights.

"Last nights event put our crewmembers, customers, and federal and local officials in an unsettling situation that could have easily been avoided, and as such, this customer will not be permitted to fly on JetBlue in the future," the company said in a statement Thursday.

Customers who are not feeling well, or who believe they may have COVID-19 should not travel until cleared by a medical professional, JetBlue said in a statement.

Airline workers in Florida sterilized the "limited containment area" where the passengers deplaned, which officials said is a separate area from the airport's main terminals.

The Florida Department of Health said the coronavirus positive patient is in isolation at this time and that those who were in close contact with him will be monitored and contacted by county health officials.

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Back in New York, airline workers conducted their usual twice daily "enhanced cleaning protocols ... of all common and high-touchpoint areas with EPA-approved and CDC-endorsed antiviral disinfectants, in addition to overnight deep cleaning of all terminal areas," according to a statement from the Port Authority on Thursday.

Additionally, "JetBlue immediately commenced additional cleaning of the Gate 7 area, where the flight departed, as well as surrounding gates, the security checkpoints, check-in counters and kiosks, elevators, restrooms and any other area the passenger went through based on security camera footage," Port Authority said.

"The health and safety of our customers and crew members is our top priority," JetBlue said in a statement on Thursday. "Were asking customers who do not feel well or are concerned they may have coronavirus to not fly until cleared to travel by a doctor or health professional."

At least 127,000 people have been diagnosed with the coronavirus globally with at least 4,717 deaths reported. In the U.S., there are 1,663 confirmed cases and 40 coronavirus-related deaths.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that he was severely restricting air travel for 30 days from most of Europe as Italy and other countries battle to contain the outbreak. The new regulations begin Friday.

The European Union issued a statement Thursday, saying Trump's Europe travel ban is wrong and won't work.

"The coronavirus is a global crisis not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," the E.U. said in a statement Thursday. "The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation. The European Union is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus."

JetBlue is currently waiving change and cancellation fees to allow customers the opportunity to change or pause their travel plans if needed.

JetBlue passenger diagnosed with coronavirus flew 'knowing' he could have virus, airline says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A hard drive belonging to a sex offender could not be used as evidence against him because it was kept in a police chief's safe for 14 years.

The storage device containing indecent images of children belonged to ex-Lord Mayor of Leeds Neil Taggart and was stored in a safe in 2003 after his employment with the West Yorkshire Police Authority came to an end.

The hard drive was 'rediscovered' later in June 2017, just as Taggart's trial ended.

The West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner's (PCC) office did not disclose the existence of the hard drive until after Taggart admitted child sex offences but denies a cover up.

Neil Taggart was a respected member of the community, being Leeds Lord Mayor and a councillor before he pleaded guilty to eight child sex offences charges in 2017

Neil Taggart pleaded guilty to eight child sex offences charges on the 5th June 2017.

An employee at the PCC's office remembered the storage device existed on 6th June 2017.

PCC Mark Burns-Williamson said he was unaware the images existed until then.

He apologised for the 'embarrassing' mistake but added: 'There's been no intentional cover-up with this.'

A police whistleblower flagged up the hard drive's existence to the BBC in September 2017.

Taggart's offences were committed between 2010 and 2016.

When officers had searched Taggart's home in September 2016 they discovered 36,003 indecent images and videos of children on his computer equipment.

The BBC later learned that when Taggart left the police authority in May 2003 his hard drive was 'retained and stored'.

PCC Mark Burns-Williamson is pictured arriving to give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry at the High Court in central London in 2012. Burns-Williamson denies a cover up

Mr Burns-Williamson, who became the authority's chairman a month later, said: 'I think it was within a secure safe within the police authority.

'That transferred over to the Police and Crime Commissioner's office but, certainly, I was not aware that it existed.

'Subsequently some images have been found on there, much later on, of course, and I can only assume he [Taggart] knew full well that was the case, and that's why he asked for it to be stored.

'Of course, I'm sorry and I absolutely regret the fact that this hard drive existed and wasn't discovered until 2017.'

The whistleblower said: 'I can't think of any reason why they would have kept the hard drive. It was expensive equipment.

'On a high-profile investigation for very serious offences of child sexual imagery, why have they not brought it forward?

'I don't know if he [Mr Burns-Williamson] withheld evidence, but given that it took so long to disclose this evidence, it does seem suspicious.'

But Mr Burns-Williamson said: 'As soon as the member of staff recalled that something had been stored, West Yorkshire Police were immediately notified.

'I was notified on the same day, and I was as shocked as anyone that that was the case.

'It's embarrassing, yes. There have been errors made, so, yes, I absolutely do apologise for that.'

The former Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West of England and former Association of Police and Crime Commissioners chief executive, Nazir Afzal, said it was 'staggering' the PCC did not know the hard drive was in a safe in his office.

'This particular individual [Taggart] was extraordinarily high profile. He was the head of the [police] authority.

'They had that material apparently in the office from 2003, going back 14 years, before the sentencing hearing. Why suddenly did they think it was relevant to bring it forward two days after he pleaded guilty?

'We're talking about serious criminal material. The abuse of children, digital or video, is the abuse of children.

'It's not an image. It's a child being abused in real time.

'If that material is sat somewhere for the best part of 14 years questions need to be asked.'

Following a Freedom of Information request to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the BBC has learned the CPS was made aware of the existence of Taggart's hard drive on 13 June 2017.

The CPS said it did not form part of the evidence in Taggart's case because he had pleaded guilty a week earlier to the existing indictment and was awaiting sentence.

The hard drive was examined by the police and was found to contain six images - four unique images and two duplicates.

The CPS decided on 28 September 2018 not to charge Taggart with any offences relating to the four indecent images.

A spokesperson said: 'These images were of a level of seriousness that had already been reflected within the charges that he had previously been convicted of and would not in our assessment have altered the sentence that the judge imposed.'

The former chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, Jim Gamble, called for an independent review of the case.

'There needs to be a fundamentally independent review of... the circumstances surrounding the retention of this hard drive in the first instance, the issues around the delay in it being provided to the police, and ultimately the approach the police took in the investigation of the hard drive - what steps they took to identify, locate and safeguard who may have been in them, or young adults who are now suffering.'

West Yorkshire Police said the four images had been investigated by its Victim Identification Officer but there was insufficient information to identify the children.

Taggart died in December 2019.
A complex storm system is expected to bring an elevated threat for severe weather across portions of the Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys into Thursday night, including the risk for tornadoes.

The threat comes amid the ongoing cleanup efforts after deadly tornadoes swept through the Nashville metropolitan area less than two weeks ago.

Warm and humid air building in from the Gulf of Mexico will set the stage for severe thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon and into Thursday night from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, eastward into Louisville, Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; and Cincinnati.

The initiation of showers and thunderstorms will likely focus along a warm front draped across eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

This radar image, captured at 1:20 p.m. CDT Thursday, March 12, 2020, shows individual thunderstorms erupting along the middle portion of the Mississippi River Valley. (AccuWeather)

All modes of severe weather will be possible as the severe thunderstorms erupt, including large hail, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes.

Around 2:20 p.m., traffic was stopped on I-57 due to wind-driven hail about two inches in diameter falling near Johnston City, Illinois, according to a preliminary NWS report. This was one of several preliminary hail reports to come from southern Illinois in Jefferson, Perry, Franklin and Williamson counties during the early afternoon.

The greatest threat for tornadoes seems likely from the northeastern corner of Arkansas and the southeastern part of Missouri to central Kentucky and southern Indiana, but includes northwestern Tennessee and southern Illinois.

The highest threat for thunderstorm activity around St. Louis will continue through 6 p.m. local time.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Shower and thunderstorm coverage will expand eastward heading into the evening and overnight hours. Beginning around the afternoon rush hour and continuing into the evening hours, a good chunk of real estate across the Ohio River Valley will face the threat of severe weather.

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Thunderstorms may not arrive in cities such as Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, until after nightfall.

While there will continue to be a risk for severe thunderstorms after sunset across the mid-South, the threat will begin to diminish across the region after midnight.

With the threat of severe thunderstorms lasting after sunset across the region, it is important for people living in the potential path of these storms to have the means to receive any severe weather warnings that are issued. By downloading the AccuWeather app, you can receive these warnings directly on your smartphone.

One person that was in the Nashville area during last week's deadly tornadoes told AccuWeather that these severe weather alerts literally saved his life.

If warnings are issued in your neighborhood, especially at night, seek shelter immediately and do not attempt to go see what kind of activity is going on outside. It is important to have a plan of action ready in case severe weather strikes in your area.

One item not commonly thought of in the midst of chaotic severe weather is a good pair of shoes or boots to wear. Often times if homes are damaged, glass and other sharp objects can be scattered all over, posing a health threat even after storms have passed.

The storm system will clear out of the mid-South and Ohio Valley by Friday morning. In the wake of the storm system, a much colder air mass will filter into the region. Dry and tranquil conditions will be rather short-lived, as the next storm system to bring a steady rain to the region will arrive on Saturday.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images

President Donald Trumps Oval Office address Wednesday evening was supposed to calm concerns about the spread of the coronavirus. Instead, it sparked panic and confusion. Not just among the markets, U.S. travelers, and international leaders but within his own administration as well.

Two officials in the U.S. State Department told The Daily Beast that foreign service officers and diplomats were unprepared for the presidents announcement and spent the early hours of Thursday scrambling to figure out how their work and travel would be affected in the short term.

It is just total chaos, said one official currently abroad, adding that they did not know if they would have to return to the U.S. immediately or if they would need to quarantine for two weeks upon arriving. Diplomats and other U.S. staff overseas did not know if theyd be able to even visit their families back in the States, and they frantically searched for answers that werent immediately available from Foggy Bottom or the West Wing.

In his Oval Office address Wednesday night, President Trump announced that he was banning travel from Europe to the U.S. but did not specify the details of how that plan would be rolled out or if Americans could still travel to the region. He also did not give European officials a heads up, saying the situation required him to move with haste.

The result was confusion. Another U.S. official said they received calls from their European counterparts asking for clarification on exactly what the president was restricting in regard to travel to and from European countries. As of Thursday night, U.S. officials abroad said they were still unclear exactly how Trumps proclamation would be implemented in real-time. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had not updated embassies with any guidance or notes on preventive measures.

Im used to it with this administration that we wouldnt know anything until the morning after, another U.S. official said. But now basically a full work day later? Thats surprising even for these times.

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That lack of clarity extended to within the walls of the White House. Shortly after President Trump's speech on Wednesday, White House aides and administration officials were already scrambling to walk back, clarify, or straight-up correct key portions of his high-stakes Oval Office address, furiously communicating with one another and inquisitive media outlets trying to figure out what had just happened.

During Wednesdays address, the president asserted that new travel restrictions would apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, a claim administration officials almost immediately clarified would not apply to individuals or trade outright. Trump also mentioned that health insurance companies had agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments, a claim that was news to befuddled health insurers. And Trumps travel ban was widely interpreted as applying wholesale to continental Europe, only to have White House communicators clear up that the intended policy exempted several countries beyond the UK.

We are wasting time playing mop-up on something we absolutely should not have to do right now, said a senior Trump administration official working on the communications clean-up since Wednesday evening. And it goes without say[ing] that we arent allowed to admit that any of it is the fault of the president.

The corrective blitz went late into the night and then continued well into Thursday, as senior officials held several closed-door meetings into the early afternoon gaming out how to finish cleaning up for the misinformation and inaccurate assertions that President Trump made in his prepared remarks, which were largely co-authored by the White Houses immigration policy adviser Stephen Miller and the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Seven Trump administration officials described to The Daily Beast a mad dash to contain fallout from Trumps delivery that could further spook the markets or stir panic in Americans, at home and abroad, and international trade partners and allied nations.

The chaos only added to the frustrations that the upper ranks of the Trump administration have felt this week as top officials have scrambled to control the fallout of a growing pandemic. And its been complicated by the fact that part of their efforts have been devoted to making sure that Trump himself doesnt feel under siege.

Trump Is Seething Over Having to Work With Pelosi on a Coronavirus Response

In the midst of this maelstrom, administration officials and top Republicans have gone out of their way to insist that the president has been doing an unimpeachable job at managing the crisis, mainstream media and Democratic politicos be damned.

President @realDonaldTrump has taken bold action in response to the #Coronavirus. The steps the President announced in regard to Europe protect the American peopleour highest priorityand are part of the most comprehensive effort to confront a virus in modern history, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gushed on Twitter Thursday.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos tweeted, From day one, @realDonaldTrumphas taken an aggressive, unprecedented approach to combating coronavirus. His decisive actions, including the additional steps announced tonight, will help prevent the spread of this virus and keep more students, parents and communities safe.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar released a statement lauding Trump's bold new steps, while blasting those who've criticized the President's decisive steps early on in this outbreak. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross similarly rushed to applaud the president's unprecedented whole-of-government approach.

The marshaling of the federal governments communications resources to provide a near-constant stream of statements, social-media posts, and press releases coddling the presidents ego was treated internally as business as usual inside the administration. But for veterans of past White Houses, it was both remarkable and dispiriting.

[President Barack] Obama would never have allowed us to host a North Korea-style press conference where he was lavished with praise [in a public-health crisis]. He wanted his team to regularly release factual, science-based information, even when it was bad news, said Tommy Vietor, who served as a White House spokesman during the 2009 swine-flu crisis, a pandemic that Trump, as well as various Republican figures and conservative-media stars, have frequently cited as a "whatabout" in defending the current administrations response.

We were never told to put out information about how great Obamas response effort was, Vietor added. His focus was on managing the actual problem, and if we were able to do that, public opinion about the response would follow.

Pandumbic: Daily Show Gives Trump the Disaster Movie Treatment

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The office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that he is in self-isolation along with his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, after she began exhibiting flu-like symptoms upon return from a trip to the United Kingdom.

In a statement, Trudeaus office said Sophie Gregoire Trudeau began exhibiting the symptoms, including a low fever, late Wednesday night after returning from a speaking engagement in London.

She immediately sought medical advice, and is being tested for the COVID-19 virus, the statement said. She is self-isolating at home awaiting test results, and her symptoms have since subsided.

The doctors advice to the Prime Minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given he is exhibiting no symptoms himself, it continued. However, out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophies results.

A meeting Trudeau had planned with provincial and territorial premiers will be postponed, the office added, citing the evolving coronavirus situation across Canada.

Canada has seen more than 100 cases of the novel coronavirus, 42 in Ontario, 46 in British Columbia, eight in Quebec and 19 in Alberta.

More than 4,600 people have died and over 126,000 infected globally, according to the WHO. About 68,000 victims have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the virus.
The Financial Reporting Council said it uncovered a raft of accounting errors by the construction group, some dating back to 2015/16, as part of its probe (Chris Radburn/PA)

Construction group Galliford Try has wrongly inflated its net assets by more than 94 million after a series of accounting errors uncovered by Britains audit watchdog.

An investigation by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) found the firm overstated its revenues from the Aberdeen bypass project by 80 million, which meant pre-tax profits were pumped up in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

Shares in Galliford also plunged 12% as half-year results showed it pushed back a key profit target.

We will continue to hold companies to account when they do not comply with the requirements of relevant financial reporting standardsDavid Rule, FRC

The FRC said it uncovered a raft of accounting errors, some dating back to 2015/16, as part of its probe.

The total effect of all the errors identified was to overstate net assets by 94.3 million at June 30 2018, according to the FRC.

But it said Galliford had since corrected its mistakes.

David Rule, executive director of supervision at the FRC, said: The FRC found that Galliford Try overstated its revenue in 2018, which the company has now corrected.

We will continue to hold companies to account when they do not comply with the requirements of relevant financial reporting standards.

This has been a period of significant change with the successful strategic disposal of the group's housebuilding divisions transforming Galliford Try into a well-capitalised, UK construction-focused businessBill Hocking, chief executive of Galliford

The accounting errors came to light as Galliford revealed it was pushing back its target for a 2% divisional profit margin to 2022.

It swung to a statutory pre-tax profit of 16.6 million in the six months to December 31 from losses of 24.7 million a year earlier.

But on an underlying basis for continuing operations, it slumped to a 5.6 million pre-tax loss from profits of 2.2 million a year ago.

It comes after the sale of its housing arm to Bovis Homes, which has since been renamed Vistry Group, late last year.

The move left Galliford with its building division, which represents about two-thirds of earnings and focuses on the education, defence and health sectors.

Its infrastructure arm, which accounts for the final third, works on highways and environmental projects.

Galliford said its order book stood at 3.2 billion in the first half.

Bill Hocking, chief executive of Galliford, said: This has been a period of significant change with the successful strategic disposal of the groups housebuilding divisions transforming Galliford Try into a well-capitalised, UK construction-focused business.
First Coronavirus case officially confirmed in Wrexham  One case in Wrexham local authority area

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 12th, 2020

The Chief Medical Officer of Wales has officially confirmed there is a case of Coronavirus in Wrexham during his usual daily update.

Prior to this afternoons regular update there had been no public confirmation of the local case.

The local case has no history of travel to a country where the virus is circulating, and are not known to have had contact with another confirmed case.

UK wide figures show an increase of +134 cases day on day with a total of 590.

Wales NHS have launched a online symptom checker for those worried about coronavirus. People who think they may have symptoms of COVID19 are being urged to use the new service as a first port of call. You can find it here. They added, 111 is very busy so bear with us especially if youre awaiting a call back. While waiting the best idea is to stay home

Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: From today (12 March), updates on the number of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Wales will be provided by Public Health Wales, and not by the Chief Medical Officer. These updates will occur at 11am daily from now on.

We can confirm that six new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Wales to 25.

The process of identifying and contacting close contacts of the new cases is underway, and we are taking all appropriate actions to protect the publics health.

One case is in the Monmouthshire local authority area, and is associated with travel abroad.

One case is in the Cardiff local authority area, and is also associated with travel abroad.

Two of the new cases are in Neath Port Talbot local authority area, and are contacts of a previous case.

One case is in Blaenau Gwent local authority, and one is in Wrexham local authority area. These two cases have no history of travel to a country where the virus is circulating, and are not known to have had contact with another confirmed case.

The six patients are being managed in clinically appropriate settings based on the assessment of a specialist infectious disease consultant.

Public Health Wales has a responsibility to protect individuals tested and patients being treated for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). For this reason no further details regarding these individuals will be released.

We ask those reporting on the situation to respect patient confidentiality, and to understand our efforts to protect their privacy.

785 people in Wales have been tested for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). 760 results were negative, and 25 results were positive.

The public can be assured that Wales and the whole of the UK is prepared for these types of incidents. Working with our partners in Wales and the UK, we have implemented our planned response, with robust infection control measures in place to protect the health of the public.

We would encourage people to check the advice for returning travellers, which includes guidance for those returning from Italy, China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Iran.

Members of the public can help protect themselves and others by always carrying tissues, and using them to catch coughs or sneezes. They should bin the tissue, and to kill the germs, wash their hands with soap and water, or use a sanitiser gel. This is the best way to slow the spread of most germs, including Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Public Health Wales trained scientists are now conducting the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnostic test in Wales. Over 90 per cent of the individuals who have been tested in Wales have been offered testing in their own home, making it as convenient as possible for them, as well as protecting our ambulance and hospital resources for those who need it most. We are not able to comment on individual cases for reasons of patient confidentiality.

Welsh Government have said today, The WHO has now declared coronavirus a pandemic. We are continuing to plan and co-ordinate our response so that NHS Wales is prepared as far as possible to respond to the situation.

Earlier today ITV Wales and the Daily Post carried confirmation stories of the case, and suggested more cases, however noted that Public Health Wales had not confirmed it. Locally, rumours of confirmed cases have stepped up over the course of the last two weeks with the last four days seeing multiple claims of a range of issues in the area. As before, Wrexham.com are working off Public Health Wales information which is currently being updated daily, with all queries on confirmed cases to any health board in Wales are being put upwards to them.
Families and individuals donate about 2,800 bodies to Texas higher education institutions every year so medical, dental and physical therapy students can learn anatomy by seeing and handling actual human tissue. The universities say they handle the corpses with dignity, keeping strict track of the remains to return them to the family for burial. They strive to follow the individual wishes of donors.

We assume that everyone who donates a body to A&M wants to be at A&M, said John Hubbard, a physical therapy professor who directs Texas A&M Universitys willed-body program. These Aggies want to stay Aggies, and we respect that. As a precaution, one recent donor clarified that his remains not be used under any circumstances by the University of Texas.

By law and tradition, the schools recover only the costs of handling the cadavers and use them strictly for education or research. For more than a century the states body-donation business has existed as a closed system, its clubby academic feel exemplified by the agency that oversees it. An unpaid panel of academics, the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas has no administrative or regulatory staff.

Now, however, the entrance of a for-profit company into the Texas dead-body business is upending the states legacy system of collecting and distributing donated corpses. Unlike the schools, Phoenix-based Science Care actively solicits corpses, partnering with funeral homes and hospices to sign up potential donors. Families receive free cremation services in exchange.

Instead of distributing whole corpses to medical schools, Science Care typically parts out donations to research facilities and medical device companies. Most people imagine a cadaver in a lab with medical students and nurses, said Barbara Kemmis, executive director of the Cremation Association of North America. But it can be very different.

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A torso may be shipped to one place, a knee to another, with parts often never fully reunited for cremation. According to the companys lengthy disclosure, in addition to dissection, Exposure of the donated tissue to destructive forces may be involved, including simulated injury, trauma, impact, crash, ballistic or blast.

In filings and correspondence, the company says donated cadaveric material is used strictly for medical science. Even though it earns money, its executives say Science Care discloses everything to donors and operates with high medical and ethical standards.

Yet university professors and medical school administrators have strenuously objected to its Texas plans. In letters to Attorney General Ken Paxton, they have argued no one should earn money off human remains.

Life is sacred, and an individuals decision to altruistically donate their body to science is an important decision, wrote Kerry Gilbert, co-director of the Institute of Anatomical Sciences at Texas Tech, which is opening a state-of-the-art anatomy lab. The [willed-body programs] of the State of Texas understand this sacred gift  Commercializing this process for profit is, in my opinion, inherently wrong, egregious, insensitive, and immoral.

Three months ago, however, Paxton concluded for-profit tissue companies such as Science Care violated no Texas laws. The companys 24,000 square-foot cadaver receiving, processing and training facility in Coppell is scheduled to open next month .

Few laws for buying, selling dead people

Universities say they prefer to be passive recipients of bodies, maintaining a respectful word-of-mouth approach to donations. Science Care grew quickly thanks to its strategy of showing up at deaths door.

When I started Science care in 2000, [I] was figuring out which funeral homes and which hospices and which social workers and which clergy member in an office down a hallway in some big hospital would be receptive to our message, an executive told Reuters for a 2017 article.

Although the company has processing facilities in six states, it solicits willed bodies nationally. It partners with local funeral service providers, whose state licenses typically are necessary to receive and transport the cadavers. Frank Seddio, general manager of Mesquite-based aCremation, said he receives no direct compensation for promoting Science Care to customers.

But he said the alliance pays off when Science Care hires the company to handle and deliver a donation to one of its facilities. Seddio added that while some families wish to contribute to better the future of mankind, many others are swayed by the promise of the free cremation service  worth $700 and up.

The ability to pay for a funeral nowadays is difficult for anyone, he said.

As in many states, Texass rules for buying and selling dead people are surprisingly vague. The handling of organs for transplant  hearts, kidneys, livers  is strictly regulated; profiting from them is a crime.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

But there are few rules for simple tissue and whole bodies. Hubbard said the State Anatomical Board has maintained a gentlemans agreement that schools only recoup direct costs. But he conceded nothing in the law expressly prohibits profit: While it may be unethical or immoral, it is not illegal.

In correspondence with state officials, Science Care stressed it does not buy or sell body parts. Rather, it charges fees for their processing, care and handling. It charges a fee to researchers and medical professionals for their use  Like renting audio-visual equipment, said Kemmis, of the Cremation Association of North America.

Science Care did not respond to multiple interview requests. In press releases, it described itself as the biggest whole-body donation entity in the world, with tens of thousands of online cadaver commitments. It has said Texas is its fastest-growing market.

Kemmis said relatively few Texas residents donate their bodies  about 1.7 percent, half the national rate. In states where for-profit companies have operated for several years  Arizona and California  the rates are in the double digits, she said.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, about 3,500 Texans willed their bodies to science each year. The State Anatomical Board reports it received about 2,500 to 2,900 of those - meaning that as a rough estimate, companies such as Science Care already may be receiving as many as a third of the states annual corporeal bequests.

Guy hosing off a torso

Members of the State Anatomical Board and body-sale critics cast the divide between academic body-collection programs and for-profit enterprises as a stark choice. It is the educational institutions mission to ensure sufficient cadavers to train future Texas doctors and dentists, treat them with due respect, and diligently track even detached body parts to reunite them into a single cremation for the comfort of their families.

With for-profit body brokers, The families have no idea that these bodies are being dismembered and sold for a profit, said Carissa Hughes, assistant vice president for government and industry relations for Service Corporation International, one of the countrys largest funeral service providers. Its big business, and theyre not disclosing to the families.

For subscribers: Horrific car crash leads Montgomery County on hunt for doctors who cause the most mayhem

This isnt about service to the medical industry, and its not about the education of our next generation of health care professionals, added Jason Jones, who heads Texas Techs willed-body program, but stressed he was commenting only as a long-time funeral director. Its about maintaining the status quo on a profit margin. He pointed to the schools collective response following Hurricane Ike, which destroyed the anatomy lab at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. The State Anatomical Board shifted bodies between schools to ensure student cadaver work continued.

Yet in basic ways both versions are similar. While anatomical board members showcase the use of donated bodies by Texas medical students, records show state educational institutions receive many more than they use, distributing some for purposes very much like Science Care.

Last year the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the states largest cadaver-user by far, received 1,742 bodies. About 560 went toward medical education. Another 145 were passed on to private medical device companies for research and development; 155 more were sent out of state for use at non-Texas institutions. The university refused to answer any questions about its willed-body program.

Both for-profit and nonprofit versions of the body business also have had their dark moments.

We had a nightmare case, recalled Jennifer Kandt, executive director of the Nevada Board of Funeral and Cemetery Services. The one with the guy who was seen hosing off a torso outside, letting blood and fluid and little bits of hair into the gutters.

Southern Nevada Donor Services eventually closed. Grisly cases of shady body brokers in Hawaii, Arizona Michigan, Colorado and Oregon also have alarmed local residents and on occasion drawn the attention of police.

Would you do it?

University body programs havent been immune from scandal, however. In 2004, UCLA discovered an employee harvesting parts from willed bodies and selling them.

Two years earlier, an audit discovered the willed-body supervisor for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston sold body parts received by the school, as well as co-mingled donors ashes before returning them to families. The program was shuttered, reopening only in 2017 when the State Anatomical Board reinstated its certification.

Hubbard said the attorney generals green light to Science Care to open a Texas body shop has, at the very least, illuminated the states outdated laws. When the current code was written, none of this was heard of or imagined, he said.

In a recent report to the Sunset Advisory Committee, the states Anatomical Board warned it would be virtually impossible for the members of the SAB to oversee the activities of a commercial entity. Without staff, members would be unable to inspect all the facilities receiving tissue from Science Care and not equipped to regulate the business transactions of such companies to prevent overcharging.

Texans donating their bodies to science, too, may have to update their ideas of the afterlives of their mortal shells. If you knew you had donated your body to me, and you knew I was going to partition and sell it, would you do it? said Hubbard. Thats the million-dollar question.

eric.dexheimer@chron.com
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with representatives of the US-ASEAN Business Council last week Photo: VNA

The largest-ever group of 19 healthcare and pharmaceutical titans among the 45 members of the US-ASEAN Business Council took a trip to Vietnam last week to work with the government and local partners on new projects and co-operation programmes.

Some of the giants represented on the trip included Abbott, 3M, GSK, Herbalife Nutrition, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, and Pfizer.

There are many opportunities in the healthcare industry. Many US-ASEAN companies have made plans and are working on procedures for some projects, and are awaiting approval from the Vietnamese government, said Michael W. Michalak, senior vice president and regional managing director of the US-ASEAN Business Council and a former US ambassador to Vietnam.

Vietnam, where drug imports increased 8.8 per cent on-year in 2018 to $3.7 billion and which is seeing increasing per capita drug spending, is on the radar of US-ASEAN businesses. If potential projects and co-operation agreements are approved, US investment in Vietnam will increase to new figures, Michalak told VIR.

Stronger investment shifts

Pharmaceuticals and healthcare are grabbing the attention among US-ASEAN businesses in Vietnam, closely followed by energy, manufacturing, logistics, finance and banking, and fintech. Groups are working with Vietnamese companies to form joint ventures, while many others are looking to shift supply chains to Vietnam.

For instance, in energy, GE has increased investment in its factory in the northern port city of Haiphong, and is planning to expand further, while AES Corporation has received a license to develop a liquefied natural gas complex in the south-central province of Binh Thuan.

Meanwhile, Novartis, GSK, and Pfizer  the leading producers of medicines and vaccines  have acted as important players in the medicine supply chain. Novartis posted good performance in 2019, with the value of the groups medicines in the country reaching more than $120 million. It also inaugurated its new legal entity, Novartis Vietnam Co., Ltd., in order to expand further.

Vu Tu Thanh, chief Vietnam representative of the US-ASEAN Business Council, elaborated that many tech corporations in Silicon Valley have plans to shift their electronic manufacturing investment to Vietnam, probably via direct investment or through a third party. In addition, leading US retailers are also looking to increase imports of Vietnamese goods in their supply chains. The shift in manufacturing will lead to the expansion of logistics businesses to meet the demands, and new investment in logistics will be made in the coming time, Thanh noted.

The investment shift among American corporations to Vietnam has ratcheted up in recent times, driven by the US-China trade tensions. Many companies have been investigating the potential of investing in Vietnam, particularly as the trade dispute inspired the shift in supply chains away from China and into the ASEAN. The trend is being somewhat reinforced currently, with China being hardest hit by the global COVID-19 epidemic.

The US-ASEAN trip went ahead despite the current outbreak, reflecting their strong determination to explore business and investment prospects in Vietnam. With Vietnam curbing new cases of the virus for several weeks, and with all previous cases recovered, the country is maintaining its status as a secure and safe environment for members of the council to make long-term investments.

Alexander C. Feldman, president and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said that the COVID-19 has made impacts on US-ASEAN businesses, especially those in the tourism industry. Sales of related businesses in Vietnam reportedly fell 50 per cent in February alone  however, Feldman has yet to hear of US companies considering delay of funding decisions within the country.

Echoing Feldmans view, Michalak of the council said, The government efforts to control the epidemic have won much confidence from US-ASEAN businesses. Many American investors are planning to expand operations to and in Vietnam.

Recommendation focus

To support its members current operations and future plans in Vietnam, the US-ASEAN Business Council held 32 meetings with the Central Economic Commission, and many ministries, such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Health (MoH) during a four-day trip last week. Focus involved the proposals on supporting policies for its members while giving recommendations towards a number of plans that the government is taking to streamline procedures, open market access, and make trade and investment easier, putting those into practice as soon as possible.

At the meeting with the MoIT, the two sides agreed to deal with trade barriers to strengthen bilateral trade ties. US-ASEAN members also sought for favourable drug imports and tenders at the meeting with the MoH.

While highlighting the countrys efforts to further improve the business climate, Michalak also proposed that Vietnam improves its regulatory environment and digital economy regulations so that it will be better prepared for the end of COVID-19.

The challenge for Vietnam is to make sure that when this episode ends, and as we know from past experience, Vietnam should be prepared with the policies that facilitate trade policies that restructure the open markets and provide a welcoming environment for investment to show that it has sprung back, said the former US ambassador. Opportunities for Vietnam to lure more US-ASEAN investment are expected to widen this year with the country holding the role of bloc chair. Accordingly, Vietnam will take measures to become an effective bridge to connect the ASEAN with other countries worldwide.

This year will be also an important one for Vietnams trade and investment with the upcoming landmark enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which will help the country enjoy increased attraction from the ASEAN  a common market of 600 million people and total GDP of nearly $3 trillion.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam attracted over $42 million of US investment in the first two months of 2020, ranking 11th among countries and territories with investment in the country, thus raising the US accumulated total to over $9.3 billion.

Feldman noted that a bilateral free trade agreement between Vietnam and the US could happen, which would further facilitate bilateral investment and trade ties.
Editors note: This story has been updated with information from Spirit and a link to an apology from the company.

As airlines, cruise operators and other travel-related industries continue to consider their options as the coronavirus expands its spread, many are offering deep discounts and waiving various fees to entice customers to use their service. On Thursday, Spirit Airlines sent an email to customers on their list encouraging them to check out an ongoing sale.

However, several customers took issue with the subject of the email which read: Never a Better Time to Fly. Many criticized the company for the sales tactic as a lot of Americans have expressed concern or downright fear of traveling while the virus continues to spread globally.

.@SpiritAirlines Y'all might want to chill with your "Never a better time to fly" emails pic.twitter.com/blW8q19K73  Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 12, 2020

Spirit Airlines very on brand pic.twitter.com/t7teoSOvsK  TBlake (@therealtblake) March 12, 2020

The wording of the email is questionable to many who pointed out the tone of the email while a pandemic is ongoing. However, Spirit Airlines has apologized for the email blast in a post on social media, explaining that it was a mistake.

We apologize for the email that was sent earlier today. It was written prior to the current situation and unfortunately sent. We are closely monitoring COVID-19 and taking precautions to keep our Guests & Team Members safe. pic.twitter.com/6SGdfghAe9  Spirit Airlines (@SpiritAirlines) March 12, 2020

A spokesperson for the company went on to say staff has been working diligently since the email was accidentally sent out and prevented it from being sent to approximately 75% of those on the list. The company says it immediately realized the mistake, but was unable to stop the initial emails from going out. The email was created well before the coronavirus was listed as a pandemic, according to a spokesperson and was not intended to be sent out Thursday.

Princess Cruises announced Thursday it is suspending all cruises through May 10. The company serves more than 50,000 people daily, according to a statement from Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world, Swartz said.

Earlier in the week some customers reported finding rooms on Carnival Cruises for $10 per night. Other cruise lines were offering rooms for a three-day Bahamas cruise for as low as $100 per person.

Southwest Airlines launched a $49 one-way flight sale earlier this week, months ahead of the regularly-scheduled promotion for the same price. Other airlines have announced lower rates and are waiving change fees if passengers feel it is too unsafe to travel.

Related news: Keep phone, wallet, keys out of airport security bins as coronavirus precaution, TSA says

Hotel chains across the country are taking similar actions. In Las Vegas, the MGM brand of hotels -- which owns the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and New York, New York -- is allowing any customer to cancel or change their reservation with no charge through the end of April.

Amtrak announced this week it will slow down the number of trains operating throughout the country for the time being. The company reported a drop in sales of 50% and cancellations of 300% in recent days.

Adding to the travel concerns, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that a travel ban is in place for Europe for the next 30 days in an effort to slow down the spread of coronavirus in the U.S.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

More of MLives coverage of the coronavirus:

Whitmer urges Michigan residents to slow the spread of coronavirus by following new guidelines

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Staying home because of coronavirus? Heres everything youll need

CDC warns those over 60: stock up and stay home as coronavirus spreads
A third Melbourne high school has closed for coronavirus testing, students and staff at a La Trobe University department are isolating, and contact-tracing has begun after one of the 12,000 people who attended the Golden Plains Festival was also confirmed to have caught the virus.

As the number of people in Victoria diagnosed with coronavirus rises to 27, the Department of Health has released a list of places the infected people visited, including the MCG, South Melbourne Market, VLine and metro trains.

Elsewhere, the Country Fire Authority has confirmed that firefighters at Tarneit Fire Station in Melbournes west are self-isolating after potentially being exposed to coronavirus on Thursday morning.

Victorias chief health officer Brett Sutton said he expected the number of cases to keep growing.
The Shiv Sena's move of



nominating Priyanka Chaturvedi for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election in Maharashtra has apparently left party veteran and former Aurangabad MP Chandrakant Khaire sulking.

After Chaturvedi's candidature was announced, Khaire took aim at the party leadership saying that the Shiv Sena of Aaditya Thackeray perhaps does not need



old guards like him.

He also needled the Sena leadership saying that as Chaturvedi speaks good English and Hindi, she will be able to project the issues in Parliament in a better way.

Talking to reporters here, Khaire said, "The Shiv Sena of Aditya Thackerey may not need old colleagues now."



"Chaturvedi has command over English and Hindi languages. She will speak good English and Hindi in the House. She will be able to project the issues more effectively there," he added.

The Sena leader said that he had worked as a Member of Parliament for two decades.

"My candidature for the Rajya Sabha was the demand of the Marathwada region and the party would have got more power in this region had I got the candidature," said Khaire, a four-time MP, who had lost to AIMIM's Imtiaz Jaleel from Aurangabad in the last year's Lok Sabha elections.

"I had a word with the party high command and leaders of Shiv Sena also told the party leadership that the Rajya Sabha candidature should be given to me. But Aaditya Thackeray insisted on Chaturvedi's nomination," he said.

"I have been a Shiv sainik since the beginning and have worked with party founder Bal Thackeray and president Uddhav Thackeray. I will continue to work for the party till my last breath," Khaire added.

Chaturvedi had quit the Congress and joined the Shiv Sena in April 2019. She took the decision as she was upset with the Congress's decision to reinstate some party workers, who had allegedly misbehaved with her in Mathura.

Uddhav Thackeray had then said that the Sena workers have got a "good sister" in Chaturvedi.

Election for the seven Rajya Sabha seats in Maharashtra will take place on March 26.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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 the price paid by the Iranians who have opposed the Iranian regime for the past 41 years.

Maryam Rajavi began by speaking about how the Iranian Resistance spent two years peacefully opposing the new dictatorship and all its wrongful laws, including absolute clerical rule (velayat-e faqih), which gave all the power to the Supreme Leader. However, there came a point where voting against things and civil disobedience was not enough to stop the mullahs.

She said: The regimes suppression intensified by the day until [Ruhollah] Khomeini, the founder of the theocracy, ordered the mass killing of opponents, starting by shooting young girls as young as 15 or 16 who had refused to give even their names to the executioners. During the summer of 1981, tens of thousands of members and sympathizers of our resistance were arrested. It was the beginning of the reign of terror, mass executions and medieval tortures. Some days, one hundred, two hundred, or up to four hundred resistance members were shot every 24 hours.

The numbers were not recorded by the regime, but by other prisoners who ended up being released or escaping. Sadly, this was just the start.

In 1988, Maryam Rajavi recounts, Khomeini was desperate to prevent his regimes overthrow after the Iranian Resistance forced him to sign a ceasefire with Iraq and end the disastrous Iran-Iraq war. So he turned on the Resistance again and, in a 230-word fatwa (religious decree), ordered the massacre of 30,000 political prisoners. Most of these prisoners were members and supporters of the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK).

This crime against humanity took place in secret over just a couple of months, with many victims have already served their jail sentence and being subjected to show trials. Even some Resistance members who had been released were arrested.

Their bodies were buried in mass graves and their families were not told the location of their loved ones grave (or in some cases, even that their relative had died). The regime has never given information on the burial sites, the number of victims, or the identity of the victims. When information does trickle out, the regime hides it and punishes the people who leak it.

Maryam Rajavi said: In a climate of absolute terror, our resistance movement has managed to collect the names of thousands of people who have lost their lives during this episode. Last year, at a conference in the European Parliament, I presented for the first time a book containing the names of 5,000 [Resistance] supporters massacred in 1988.

She lamented that Western governments and the United Nations have remained silent over the massacre, which is the worst of its kind since World War Two.

Maryam Rajavi said that the UN Security Council should refer this massacre to the International Court of Justice to bring the perpetrators to justice, including:

supreme leader Ali Khamenei

judiciary head Ebrahim Raisi

justice minister Alireza Avaei

She said: Overall, more than 120,000 political opponents have been executed throughout the theocratic regimes time in power.

Read More:

Maryam Rajavis Conversation With El Espanol: Part 2
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday said one 'Arogya Mitra' each will be deputed at all primary health centres in the state to inform people about health-related schemes being run by the government.

Adityanath was addressing a gathering after inaugurating 'Kaushal Satrang' programme organised by the Department of Vocational Education and Skill Development and Labour and Employment Exchange Department at the Lok Bhawan here.

He said the programme is dedicated to generating employment and self-employment opportunities for the youth of the state.

"The government will deploy one Arogya Mitra at each PHCs to inform people about the schemes run by the government," the chief minister said.

He said the government has found a means for the prosperity of the state through the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.

"Through ODOP, 5 lakh youth got employment in a year. Due to immense popularity of ODOP in the country and the world, a separate budget has been arranged for it for all the states in the Union Budget this time. With the employment of potters through the Matikala Board, there has been a big change in their life," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pennridge to vote on one textbook; further review on other one
A man was sent to hospital with life-threatening injuries after being shot in Scarborough Wednesday night.

Toronto police said the call about the shooting came in just after 10 p.m. and said the man was losing consciousness when he was found outside in the Victoria Park Avenue and Finch Avenue East area.

No information has been released regarding a suspect.
Evacuees who tested negative for the novel coronavirus pose for a group photo at the ITBP quarantine facility in Chhawla, New Delhi. (Image- PTI)

A day after the Indian government declared coronavirus a notified disaster, the number of cases in India had limbed to 107. There have been 1,50,000 cases recorded from acrorss the world with death toll touching 5700 in 137 countries.

Over 450 stranded Indians were flown back from Italy and Iran, the two worst affected countries after China, and quarantined.

Mumbai cops invokes section 144 to ban group tours

Mumbai Police on Sunday invoked section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prohibit tour operators from conducting any kind of group tours to foreign or domestic destinations till March 31

117 put in home isolation in Mizoram

A total of 117 people with novel coronavirus-like symptoms have been put in home isolation in Mizoram. Though Mizoram has not yet reported any positive case of coronavirus, 117 people have been home quarantined as a precautionary measure, Health department principal director F Lallianhlira.

Jammu medical official suspended for disclosing identity of suspected coronavirus patient

A medical superintendent of a hospital was placed under suspension for disclosing the identity of a suspected coronavirus patient in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

Tourism industry badly affected due to coronavirus spread

Travel and tourism industry is one of the biggest sectors to suffer most from the global outbreak of the coronavirus.

Mysore Palace to remain closed till March 22

Karnatakas Mysore Palace will remain closed for tourists for a week from March 15 to 22, Palace committee said.

Coronavirus-infected man in Kerala visits mall, theatre

The 21-year-old man who tested positive for COVID-19 in Kerala's Thrissur district visited a shopping mall, watched a movie and even participated in an engagement ceremony.

Schools, universities to remain shut in Assam till 29 March

"All school, colleges, universities, gyms, swimming pools and cinema halls will remain closed in the state till 29 March," said Assam Chief Secretary Sanjay Krishna.

He also said that exams have been postponed but only state board and CBSE examinations will take place as per scheduled in view of coronavirus.

Coronavirus scare in Kolkata: 500% jump in airfares keeps students away from home

Students returning to Kolkata from the coronavirus-hit Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi have been grounded by airfares that have escalated 300%-500% in 24 hours. While a one-way ticket from Bengaluru to Kolkata on Sunday touched Rs 25,000, the fare from Mumbai and Delhi to the city rose to Rs 34,000 and Rs 17,000 respectively.

India suspends travel to Kartarpur gurdwara

The government has also suspended movement of all types of passengers through international border points with Pakistan from March 16.

Indian pilgrims cannot visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan for now

India sets up special cell to ensure safety of Indians abroad

The MEA in India has pulled out all the stops to ensure the safety of Indians abroad and set up a special cell to coordinate the issues related with the response to the pandemic that has claimed more than 5,000 lives worldwide.

MEA on mission to evacuate Indians stranded in virus hit countries

US couple who fled Kerala hospital traced at Cochin airport

Two foreigners, who escaped from the Alappuzha Medical College after doctors suggested them to test for Covid-19 coronavirus, have been located.

American couple escape from Kerala hospital at Cochin airport

Coronavirus: Do not kiss Holy Cross, says Archbishop Goa

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Roman Catholic Church in Goa on Saturday issued an advisory, directing people not to kiss the Holy Cross and urged priests to purify their hands with sanitisers.

Wife of Bengaluru techie booked for fleeing quarantine

Wife of Covid-19 infected Bengaluru techie has been booked by Agra police for not following quarantine instructions, after she reportedly fled to Agra via Air and train, where her parents live. All eight of her family members are also moved to quarantine.

Wife of Bengaluru techie booked by Agra police for fleeing quarantine

Woman tests positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra

A 59-year-old woman tests positive for coronavirus in Maharashtra's Aurangabad: Officials

Tirupati temple cancels major services over coronavirus

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) decides to cancel some daily and weekly rituals and restrict congregation of pilgrims for religious events.

Bombay HC, Supreme Court restrict functioning

Bombay high court directed that court hearing be restricted to only matters of urgency for a week.

Karnataka postpones class 7, 8 and 9 exams till March 31

Karnataka Education Minister has instructed to postpone the examinations of class 7, 8 and 9 until March 31, 2020. However exams for class 10 students and pre-university students will continue as scheduled.

Delhi Police extends quarantine facility at two training centres

Delhi Police has extended quarantine facilities at two of its training centres, located at Jharoda Kalan and Wazirabad.

Andhra Pradesh local body elections postponed in view of coronavirus threat

The Andhra Pradesh election commission announced that the local body elections will be postponed for six weeks.

India evacuates stranded citizens from coronavirus-hit Italy

218 Indians who landed in India from coronavirus-hit Italy will be shifted to Indo-Tibetan Border Police's Chhawla camp

218 Indians stranded in coronavirus hit Italy arrive in India

Delhis first coronavirus patient recovers, will be monitored at home

The capital's first Covid-19 patient, a 45-year-old man from Mayur Vihar Phase II, has recovered fully from the viral infection.

Central, Western Railway withdraw curtains, blankets from AC coaches

The Central Railway has also instructed its personnel to intensively clean coach fittings as they are touched by thousands of passengers every day.

No blankets, curtains In AC coaches

A special Air India flight carrying 211 Indian students, who were stuck in Italy after flights were cancelled due to coronavirus outbreak, departed for India on Saturday.

Special Air India flight with 211 Indian students takes off from Milan

Two Air India flights carrying over 230 Indians from coronavirus-hit Iran landed here on Sunday morning. The passengers were taken to a quarantine camp at the Indian Army Wellness Centre at Jaisalmer.

Over 230 Indians evacuated from Iran, quarantined in Jaisalmer

Covid19 cases in India touch 107

The number of coronavirus positive cases in the country has risen to 107 which includes the two deaths in Delhi and Karnataka, the union health ministry said.

Coronavirus cases in India: Maharashtra has 31 and Kerala 22

Several states across India went into battle mode to contain the spread of COVID-19, shutting down schools, theatres and colleges, and many public events, including the IPL, were postponed as the Union Health ministry on Friday put the number of cases at 81.

Several Indian states mull shutdown as coronavirus cases touch 81

Maharashtra count 17; One more tests positive in Pune, 2 in Nagpur

One more person was confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus in Pune on Friday, taking the number of Covid-19 cases in the city to 10 and that in Maharashtra to 17. The person who tested positive for the virus in Pune had travel history to the US.

India-SA ODIs called off

The two remaining ODIs between India and South Africa in Lucknow and Kolkata were on Friday called off owing to the COVID-19 threat as the country's sports calendar continued to go haywire because of the global pandemic.

India-South Africa series cancelled over coronavirus scare

PM Modi's Gujarat visit put off

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Gujarat from March 21 has been put off due to the coronavirus scare. In view of the current situation which has arisen due to the coronavirus and a recent central government advisory asking states to avoid organising any large gatherings or seminars, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Gujarat on March 21 and 22 has been postponed, said deputy CM Nitin Patel.

Maharashtra govt orders closure of theatres, gyms, malls

In a drastic step to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Maharashtra government ordered closure of cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools and malls in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur cities from Friday midnight.

Making the announcement in the state Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said the government was invoking the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 from midnight.

112 released from ITBP quarantine facility in Delhi

An ITBP-run quarantine centre here released 112 people, comprising 76 Indians and 36 foreigners, on Friday after they all tested negative for coronavirus, a senior official said. They were evacuated last month from Wuhan in China and admitted on February 27 to the special centre of the border guarding force in Chhawla area of south-west Delhi, one of the biggest quarantine centres in the country set up to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

FDA cracks down on sale, manufacture of substandard sanitisers

The FDA has seized such products worth lakhs during raids on local manufacturing units in western suburbs of Mumbai selling substandard hand wash products and sanitisers.

Kottayam man died of heart attack, says post-mortem

An elderly man, who was a neighbour of a coronavirus patient at Chengalam and under home quarantine has died. Authorities who got the post-mortem report said that test results of samples were negative for coronavirus.

Kerala tense after death of coronavirus patients neighbour in Kottayam

DGCA asks airlines to forego cancellation charges

In light of hardship faced by passengers, airlines may like to consider and take an appropriate call, accordingly, said DGCA

Waive cancellation charges due to coronavirus situation: DGCA to airlines

Yediyurappa orders total shutdown of Karnataka for a week

In the wake of India's first coronavirus death in Kalaburagi, the Karnataka state government has decided to close down all activities for one week.

Karnataka shutdown for a week

2 Manipal students have been quarantined for suspected Covid19

Students of Manipal University and Kasturba Medical College show symptoms of Covid-19.The suspected patients have been moved to isolation.

Manipal students quarantined

900 people under observation in Kerala

Around 900 people are still under observation in Pathanamthitta after the district administration released a route map identifying places visited by the three-member family from Ranni which returned to Kerala from coronavirus-hit Italy last month.

AP to implement Epidemic Diseases Act to contain coronavirus

The Andhra Pradesh government decided to implement the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, as a precautionary measure to curb the possible spread of the novel coronavirus. The decision follows a directive from the Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba to all states to invoke the provisions of the Act.

Rahul slams Govt for not doing enough

I will keep repeating this.



The #coronavirus is a huge problem. Ignoring the problem is a non solution. The Indian economy will be destroyed if strong action is not taken. The government is in a stupor. https://t.co/SuEvqMFbQd  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 13, 2020

SAARC leadership could chalk out strong strategy, says PM Modi

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.

Let's work together: Modi to Saarc leadership

112 Indians who returned from China quarantined

All 112 people admitted to an ITBP quarantine facility for over a fortnight have tested negative for coronavirus and are expected to be released on Friday, a senior official said. All of them were evacuated last month from Wuhan in China. "After 14 days of quarantine at ITBP facility in Chhawla, 112 inmates, including 36 foreign nationals, have tested negative for coronavirus," an Indo-Tibetan Border Police spokesperson said.

Mehbooba Mufti protests against 4G ban in J&K

Coronavirus outbreak has been declared as a pandemic by WHO. Yet J&K admin continues its cruel crippling ban on 4G. It would have helped people to work from home & provided access to crucial information. This despite no incidents of violent protest since 2G was resumed.  Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 13, 2020

All schools, colleges in UP to be shut till March 22: Yogi Adityanath

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday declared closure of all schools and colleges where examination process is not going on till March 22 in view of coronavirus scare and asserted that all precautions are being taken to check the spread of the disease. "All schools and colleges associated with the basic, secondary, higher education and vocational colleges, where examination process is not on, have been closed till March 22," Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.

Health ministry issues quarantine guidelines

Goa govt to issue circular to hotels, industries

The Goa government will issue a circular asking hotels and industries to take preventive measures in the wake of the coronavirus scare. No positive case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been reported so far in Goa, which receives a large number of tourists, including those from abroad, every year.

Iran Air plane carrying Indians lands in Mumbai

An Iran Air flight carrying Indians stranded in coronavirus-hit Iran, landed at the airport here on Friday afternoon, according to an official. Iran is one of the worst-affected countries by the coronavirus outbreak and the government has been working on plans to bring back Indians stranded there.

Indians stranded in Iran brought back to Mumbai

Karnataka will quarantine co-passengers of Kalaburagi man: Yediyurappa

The Karnataka CM said the government was unaware whether the deceased person was infected with Covid-19 coronavirus or not

Yediyurappa: Co-passengers of Kalaburagi man will be quarantined

Hyderabad nurse who attended to Kalaburgi victim quarantined

Health authorities in Hyderabad have quarantined a nurse in the emergency section of a private hospital who came in contact with a 76-year-old patient from Kalaburagi who died on Tuesday and was subsequently confirmed to have been coronavirus positive.

Hyderabad nurse who attended on India's coronavirus victim quarantined

Jamia Millia suspends classes

After JNU, the Jamia Millia Islamia on Friday suspended classes with immediate effect till March 31 and advised students to avoid large gathering in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Kalaburagi man's kin rejected isolation ward for patient

he Kalaburagi man who tested Covid-19 coronavirus positive after he died was discharged against medical advice (DAMA) from a hospital in Bidar on the demand of patients attendees, said a statement issued by the Central government.

Kalaburagi man's relatives rejected quarantine for patient

IPL will be banned in wake of coronavirus threat, says Sisodia

Delhi govt to ban sports activities in wake of coronavirus threat, said deputy CM Manish Sisodia. He also said all district magistrates instructed to ensure that all directives on coronavirus are implemented.

BCCI explores alternatvie venues after Delhi shuts doors on IPL matches

Kerala has maximum number of virus cases

Two more confirmed cases of Covid-19 novel coronavirus have been reported from Kerala on Thursday, in Kannur and in Thrissur district. The total number of confirmed cases in the state now touches 19, including the three medical students who have been discharged.

Covid19 highest in Kerala as cases reach 19

Sebi ready to battle market volatility

Sebi said the regulator and stock exchanges are prepared to take any action as required to deal with market volatility, hours after trading was halted for 45 minutes. Over the last few days, the Indian stock market has been moving in tandem with other global markets due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. This has also resulted in fear of an economic slowdown and recent fall in global crude prices

Sebi ready to tackle market volatility

JNU suspends classes till March 31

The Jawaharlal Nehru University on Friday ordered suspension of classes with immediate effect till March 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Odisha govt earmarks Rs 200cr to combat coronavirus threat

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said the government has earmarked Rs 200 crore to combat the coronavirus threat in the state. All educational institutions will remain closed in the state till March 31 except for holding examinations, the chief minister said.

Indian Embassy in US sets up helplines to address queries

Helpline numbers are being operated at the embassy in Washington DC and consulates at Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Houston and San Francisco

Helplines for Indians in US

India has not banned foreigners' entry, says Jaishankar

The government today informed Lok Sabha that India has not imposed a total ban on the entry of foreign nationals as part of efforts to check the spread of coronavirus.

No total ban on foreigners' entry

All swimming pools in Delhi shut

The Delhi government has ordered the shutting of all public swimming pools in the city with immediate effect till March 31 in wake of coronavirus outbreak

Rupee rout deepens, slips 16 paise to 74.44 against USD

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.

120 Indians to return home from virus hit Iran

About 120 Indians, being evacuated from the coronavirus-hit Iran in an Air India flight, will reach Jaisalmer in Rajasthan on Friday and will be quarantined at an Army facility, a defence spokesperson said on Thursday.

120 Indians from virus hit Iran will reach Jaisalmer today

Air India cancels flights to international destinations

Air India on Thursday decided to cancel all its flights to Kuwait till April 30 and curtail services to various other countries, including Spain, France and Sri Lanka. The move comes a day after the national carrier announced temporary suspension of its services to Rome, Milan and Seoul, amid the coronavirus pandemic which has triggered imposition of travel restrictions by various countries across the globe.

India Part Of US-Led Initiative To Share Virus Data

India is part of a US-led global initiative to share information on integrating science into coronavirus response, according to a White House statement.

Besides the US and India, the UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea are part of the initiative.

7-Year-Old tweet on Covid-19 baffles people

An old tweet from the year 2013, that predicted the Coronavirus outbreak is going viral, is going viral on social media.

The tweet was posted by an account named Marco with the username @Marco_Acortes.

The user had tweeted, "Coronavirus....its coming" on June 3, 2013.

As the tweet resurfaced on the Internet, netizens were taken by surprise over the post predicting the virus seven years ago.

No foreign trips for netas: Modi

"No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel," said PM Modi.

PM Modi says no ministers will travel abroad

India sets up 15 labs to test coronavirus

Union health minister on Thursday said in Lok Sabha that 15 laboratories have been set up to test for the virus."National Institute of Virology in Pune is our central reference lab. After this we started with 15 labs because this is not a routine test, it can't be tested in every laboratory," the Minister said.

Revealing identity of covid19 patient could land you in jail

Police to monitor social media posts after taking cognisance of a complaint from a relative of a Pune-based patient who was tested positive

Revealing identity of coronavirus patients a punishable offence

Indians stranded in Iran plead for help, want to return home

Two Indians who had gone to Iran for some business purposes are now stuck in the country that is among the worst-hit by coronavirus as all civil aviation routes have been closed in the wake of the deadly virus outbreak.

Kerala streets deserted over coronavirus scare

In the wake of increasing number of coronavirus cases, people are stepping out of their homes only for unavoidable needs

Kerala resembles a ghost town after total shutdown over coronavirus

NRI patient in Mangaluru tests negative for covid19

The man who arrived here from Dubai with suspected symptoms of Covid-19 coronavirus has shown no signs of the disease following tests

Suspected NRI patient in Karnataka tests negative for Covid19

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the initial focus is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran, which is grappling with cases of coronavirus.

Bringing back Indian pilgrims from Iran is priority: Jaishankar

India has 73 confirmed cases of covid19, Kerala has highest

Ladakh records another coronavirus case

1 more person with travel history to Iran tests positive for coronavirus in Ladakh, number of confirmed cases in UT rises to 3: Officials.

Supreme Court won't hear IPL postponement plea urgently

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea seeking postponement of Indian Premier League (IPL)-2020 amid the coronavirus scare.

SC refuses urgent hearing on plea to postpone IPL-2020 amid coronavirus scare

Covid-19 a pandemic, says WHO

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic and urged aggressive action from all countries to fight it, as U.S. stocks plunged into bear market territory and several American cities joined global counterparts in banning large gatherings

Coronavirus a pandemic, needs urgent action: WHO

India suspends visas

India suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of novel coronavirus

Coronavirus: India suspends visas till April 15

Keralites stranded in Italy airport

Hundreds of Keralites including pregnant women and infants are stranded at airports in Italy as the airline companies denied permission for boarding.

Pregnant women, toddlers among hundreds of Keralites stranded in Italy airport

Centre directed to contact Indians in Iran immediately

The Delhi High Court directed the Centre on Thursday to ensure that the Indian embassy in Iran gets in touch with the Indian students stranded there in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

High Court asks Centre to evacuate Indian students in coronavirus-hit Iran
Chief Commissioner Graham 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. Police are now searching Ibrahim's home, 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. Forensic police inspect the scene in Walpole Street, Kew. Credit:Jason South Ibrahim was noticed by two PSOs at Jolimont station after making a loud noise at the end of the platform. They had a short conversation and the officers offered to help him with directions before he stabbed one of them with a kitchen knife. The PSO was due to have surgery on Thursday. Ibrahim ran off 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 to reach Hawthorn.

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 them with a knife. One woman, 30, died at the scene. The scene at Coppin Grove in Hawthorn where two women were stabbed, one fatally. Credit:Jason South The other woman, 31, screamed, alerting neighbours who called police, but Ibrahim had already fled. Soon after, Ibrahim approached a 59-year-old man walking along Cotham Road in Kew. Similar to his two earlier attacks, Ibrahim struck up a brief conversation with the 59-year-old man before stabbing him.

The victim staggered to a tram stop where he dialled triple zero, which Mr 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," he said. "I think it's a tremendously brave act." The 59-year-old man died in hospital. Police at a tram stop in Kew, near where a 59-year-old man was stabbed to death. Credit:Jason South

Critical Incident Response Team officers found Ibrahim walking on nearby Walpole Street a short time later and used a Taser to try to subdue him, before three of the elite officers shot him 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. Forensic police inspect the scene in Walpole Street, Kew, where police found the attacker. Credit:Jason South Georgia Sassi, 21, was about to fall asleep when she heard aggressive shouting. "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."

Two men, believed to have witnessed part of the attack on Coppin Grove, returned to the crime scene late on Thursday morning and were comforted on the street by police. Two men who lived in the same unit block as the two woman attacked overnight return to the scene. Credit:Jason South Mr Ashton said Victoria Police's Counter-Terrorism Command had combed through their intel and had not found any links to terrorism. "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 Ibrahim was drug-affected.
A photo posted to the WeChat account of the Xinjiang Judicial Administration shows Uyghur detainees listening to a 'de-radicalization' speech at a re-education camp in Hotan prefecture's Lop county, April 2017.

Organs for sale on Chinas transplant market are most likely illegally sourced from ethnic Uyghur and Falun Gong practitioner prisoners of conscience, according to a new report by a Washington-based rights group.

The report by the Victims of Communism (VOC) Memorial Foundation said evidence of blood testing and medical examinations in custody suggests extrajudicial organ sourcing from these populations is the most plausible and parsimonious explanation for what it called rapid availability of organs and extraordinary growth of Chinas market.

As such, readers should adopt it as empirically adequate until either a better explanation or reliable data inconsistent with the hypothesis emerges, said the report, entitled Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in China and released Tuesday.

VOCs report compiled nearly 800 data points from more than 300 hospitals it said showed rapid growth of Chinas transplantation system just after 2000, and examined several hundred original, primary sources on practices in the countryincluding documents, internal speeches and Communist Party circulars, handbooks, and websites.

From 2000-2004, China more than tripled the number of hospitals performing transplants, the report said, leading to volume growth in kidney transplants of 510 percent, in liver transplants of 1,820 percent, in heart transplants of 1,100 percent, and in lung transplants of 2,450 percent.

Initially, officials claimed that the tens of thousands of annual transplants had used organs willingly donated by civilians, according to the report, but when the volume could no longer be explained, they stated in 2005 that the organs came from death row prisoners.

According to VOC, however, the well-established decline in death row executions from 2000 onwards could not account for what it said were at least several times more transplants than even the largest estimates of death-row prisoners, indicating that some other organ source  must have been utilized.

If death row prisoners were not the source of the majority of transplants, the only remaining plausible explanation for a substantial portion of the organ sourcing since 2000 is prisoners of conscience, it said.

Targeted populations

VOC noted the coincidental timing of the anti-Falun Gong campaign in China, which began in July 1999six months before the rapid growth of the transplant industryand cited reports by those targeted of blood tests and physical examinations it said were consistent with those required for organ procurement.

After international pressure, China in 2015 began to claim that it was sourcing organs from voluntary donors only, but the report said that relevant data has been falsified, with the number of transplants revised downwards, as part of an attempt to deceive the global medical community.

Given that transplants continue both at scale and on demand, it appears that a secondary concealed organ source is now also being exploited, it said.

During the same period, since April 2017, authorities in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are believed to have detained as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in internment camps, with reports of blood-testing, DNA typing, and the shipment of detainees to the Chinese interior by rail.

Former Uyghur detainees now in exile have reported blood tests and physical examinations consistent with those necessary to establish organ health, the report said.

The coincidence of the mass internment in Xinjiang, ongoing rapid organ availability in Chinese hospitals, and blood and physical tests consistent with assessing organ health, is readily explicable by the exploitation of Uyghurs for their organs.

VOC noted that with limited access, only the Chinese authorities are in a position to put these allegations to rest, but instead of doing so, they have co-opted international medical elites, issued propaganda denials, and falsified data, to create a Potemkin voluntary donation system while continuing to offer organs on demand to paying clients.

The report urged global governments to challenge China on the sourcing of its organs, and for international medical and rights groups to raise concerns over the scale of the transplant market and real source of organs.

VOC China Studies Research Fellow Matthew P. Robertson, who produced the report, warned at an event in Washington Tuesday that if all do nothing, that creates a self-reinforcing effect that maybe [extrajudicial organ sourcing] is not a thing.

Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFA's Uyghur Service. Translated by Alim Seytoff. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
In an interview with "Axios on HBO," Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez flatly denied that he was even entertaining the idea of canceling July's Democratic convention in Milwaukee and replacing it with an online convention due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Driving the news: In the interview, which was taped Monday in Florida and will air Sunday night at 6pm ET/PT, I asked Perez whether he would cancel the Democratic convention given that major companies are canceling events across the country because of the virus. "No," Perez replied.

"We are working with our state and local partners, and I'm confident that we work a plan that will enable us to have our convention," he said.

He added that the DNC was in touch with local, state and federal public health officials and monitoring the situation "every single day."

I asked Perez whether, if he had to, the DNC could pull off an online convention  where delegates would have to vote remotely. Perez indicated that an online convention wasn't something he was contemplating.

"We'd have to change the rules," he replied. "We're not contemplating rule changes."

Perez said he was very confident "in the competence of our team."

Between the lines: Section 11 of the DNC's charter and bylaws states that "voting by proxy shall not be permitted at the National Convention." Hence Perez's comment about an online convention requiring rules changes.

Why this matters: Public health officials are advising elderly people to stay at home as much as possible and to avoid crowds. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders canceled rallies this week out of concern for public safety.

So it's not crazy to think this year's political conventions  where thousands of politicians, activists and journalists mingle in close quarters  would be at risk of cancellation.
Two children are among four bodies found in a Texas hotel room with 'obvious gunshot wounds' in what is thought to have been a murder-suicide.

The bodies of Charles Schoenfeld, 41, and Brittany Howard, 31 were found alongside two brothers aged nine and 12 inside a room at Staybridge Suites in Dallas yesterday.

The reservation on the bedroom ended Tuesday morning and when staff knocked on the door at around 3pm they heard a single gunshot.

The bodies of Charles Schoenfeld, 41, and Brittany Howard, 31 were found alongside two brothers aged nine and 12 inside a room at Staybridge Suites (pictured) in Dallas yesterday

Those nearby claimed to have heard gunshot-like noises earlier in the day but put it down to a car backfiring, Fox4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported.

Hotel staff immediately backed away and called police.

The brothers, Charlie and Noah Schoenfeld, both went to school in the Richardson Independent School District, according to NBC.

The reservation on the bedroom ended Tuesday morning and when staff knocked on the door at around 3pm they heard a single gunshot. Pictured, a bystander watches as flowers are laid

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall revealed police are investigating the possibility of a murder-suicide, and it is not known who fired the final shot.

She said: 'This is the hardest part of the job, to see lives lost, and especially children.

'So it's a tough day. It's a tough day whenever we lose a life, and today is no different. The sadness continues.'

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall revealed police are investigating the possibility of a murder-suicide, and it is not known who fired the final shot. Pictured, police tape is laid

Charlie was in seventh grade at Park Hill Junior High and Noah was in fourth grade at Bowie Elementary School.

'Today has really been shocking, it's obviously tragic,' Richardson ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeannie Stone told NBC. 'It's been a day of a lot of sadness, heavy hearts and grieving.'

Charlie was supposed to compete in a track meet on Thursday and Superintendent Stone added: 'I spent the day with all of the teachers that Noah and Charlie had in class and it was a wonderful day of hearing just loving sentiments about two wonderful wonderful special boys.'

Those nearby claimed to have heard gunshot-like noises earlier in the day but put it down to a car backfiring, Fox4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported. Pictured, police at the scene

A single gun was recovered from the room and people who were near the hotel at the time are being interviewed. Pictured, police at the scene

The boys' mother is grieving their loss.

A single gun was recovered from the room and people who were near the hotel at the time are being interviewed.

'According to witnesses, there were some sounds that sounded like gunshots earlier in the day. But no one could confirm,' Hall said. 'They thought that maybe it was backfire from traffic.'
COVID-19 fear pushes University classes online

THAILAND: Universities in Thailand have begun to move their classes online to help limit the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

CoronavirusCOVID-19healthSafetytechnology

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 12 March 2020, 09:13AM

Chulalongkorn University has suggested its faculty members shorten teaching periods and supplement classroom instructions with online lectures and assignments. Photo: Bangkok Post

The move is in line with an instruction by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, which recommends all universities provide appropriate methods of instruction that can help limit risks associated with the disease.

Chulalongkorn University (CU), for instance, has suggested its faculty members shorten teaching periods and supplement classroom instructions with online lectures and assignments.

The university has also asked its teaching staff to prepare digital learning materials, such as slideshows and lecture recordings, for students to access online through platforms such as Echo360, MyCourseVille and Microsoft Team.

Lecturers at CU have also been asked to adapt their syllabus into an assignment-based study programme which requires no physical attendance.

For the 2019 academic years final examinations, instructors should consider various forms of assignments which could also be effective for evaluating students progress, such as in-depth reports or take-home exams, CU rector Bundit Euaarporn said.

Mr Bundit said in the case of qualifying exams, dissertation proposals and theses defence for graduate students, an online exam may be conducted, supplemented by a video conference.

The university has set up a system to assist and support all instruction programmes mentioned above. Meanwhile, the university will closely monitor and assess the situation regarding the spread of COVID-19, he said.

Thammasat, Mahidol, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat and Walailak universities have all announced similar measures.

Dhurakij Pundit Universitys College of Innovative Business and Accountancy has also cancelled examinations for its Chinese students and modified its syllabus as an assignment-based programme that requires no class attendance.

King Mongkuts University of Technology Thonburi, meanwhile, has also cancelled mid-term exams scheduled from March 2 through 10.

The university is also considering switching to online teaching.

Many Thai universities have already barred their students and staff from travelling to countries heavily impacted by COVID-19. Students and university staff who have visited countries with confirmed coronavirus cases have been asked to stay away from campuses for at least 14 days.

Meanwhile, in the US, several colleges and universities have cancelled in-person classes and switched to teaching online, as the battle against the virus outbreak there intensifies.

The cancellations are mainly in states hardest hit by COVID-19, including, California, New York and Washington.

On Tuesday (Mar 10), Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, asked its students not to return to campus after its spring break and said it would move to virtual teaching via the internet by March 23.

Columbia University, Princeton University, Stanford University, the Ohio State University, the University of Southern California and the University of Washington have all announced similar measures.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, whose endorsement became highly coveted in the Democratic presidential race after she dropped out last week, is unlikely to endorse her ideological ally Senator Bernie Sanders

Senator Elizabeth Warren, whose endorsement became highly coveted in the Democratic presidential race after she dropped out last week, is unlikely to endorse her ideological ally Senator Bernie Sanders, according to several people close to her, even though Sanders is looking for political lifelines as he struggles against former vice-president Joe Biden.

Warren is expected to withhold her endorsement from Sanders as well as Biden at this point, choosing to let the primary play out rather than seek to change its course, according to several people familiar with Warrens thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss her considerations.

Even before Sanders lost four states in Tuesdays primaries, dealing a huge blow to his presidential hopes, Warren was reluctant to support him, these people said. The spirited presidential campaign caused some rifts between the two liberals, including their clash in January over whether Sanders once told her that a woman couldnt be elected president in 2020, an episode that deeply troubled her. Her camp also viewed Sanders electoral standing as fading in recent weeks, raising doubts about whether an endorsement would be a lost cause.

Warren has spoken to Biden once since Super Tuesday but multiple times to Sanders, as she and her team have fielded overtures from Sanders supporters seeking to coax her to his aid.

Some of the Vermont senators prominent online supporters have clamoured for Warren to get behind his campaign, given how closely the two politicians are aligned on policy matters.

But Sanders highest-profile surrogate, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, said she understood Warrens hesitation, and suggested it was a teachable moment for the Left.

I always want to see us come together as a progressive wing, Ocasio-Cortez said. I think thats important and where we draw strength from. But at the same time, I come from the lens of an organiser, and if someone doesnt do what you want, you dont blame them  you ask why. And you dont demand that answer of that person  you reflect. And that reflection is where you can grow.

The lopsided results on Tuesday, when Sanders lost every county in Michigan, Missouri and Mississippi, further hardened Warrens decision, according to a person close to the Massachusetts senator.

Those close to Warren say her foremost reason for not endorsing Sanders is simple: Since her exit from the race, his path to victory has looked unlikely. They doubt that Warren, even as the most prominent former candidate to have not backed another primary contender so far, could reverse Sanders 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 Warren might have made in addressing Sanders glaring vulnerability with black voters, with whom Warren had shown little sway herself.

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, who endorsed Warren in her personal capacity, was among those who spoke with Warren after Super Tuesday.

It made tremendous sense for her to stay on the sidelines so she could play the role of unifier, said Weingarten, who declined to discuss her private conversation with Warren.

Brian Fallon, who worked for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and is now a progressive strategist, was doubtful that Warrens backing would have significantly helped 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? Fallon asked.

Four years ago, Warren stayed neutral in the Democratic primary between Sanders and Clinton, and during the General Election she used her influence among liberals to push Clinton to make more Left-leaning personnel choices in her transition team. That was the template that she designed in 2016, Fallon said. Wait back, hold until the nomination is settled and then be very practical and hard-boiled about what your asks are.

Most of the progressive groups and individual leaders that backed Warren do plan to support Sanders in some form, including the Working Families Party and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which emailed its members encouraging them to support Sanders before the Michigan primary.

Around 30 former staff members of Warrens signed an open letter supporting Sanders. One former staff member tweeted that Warrens unwillingness to support Sanders made her really sad.

Warren and Sanders have never been completely aligned as politicians, however, even if they broadly agree on the ills of unfettered capitalism and the need for major change within the Democratic Party. More than labels  Sanders identifies as a democratic socialist while Warren is a self-described capitalist  the two differ in political styles and tactics, which has become apparent in their presidential bids.

Warren has made a priority of forging a cordial tone with Democratic Party leaders, including a political program that sought to persuade even the most staunch moderates of her platform, often in one-on-one phone calls. Sanders has embraced the call of a political revolution, a far cry from the unity candidate message that Warren adopted before early nominating contests like Iowa and New Hampshire.

Adam Jentleson, who is close to Warrens team and served as a deputy chief of staff to Harry Reid, the former Senate majority leader, said Warren and Sanders could be separated by one thing: Their approach to the Democratic Party.

Being president is about policy but its also about leadership and your approach to people, and thats a big area in which they differ, Jentleson said. She values the Democratic Party. She thinks it has flaws, but is overall a force for good. She doesnt want to be on board with efforts to villainise or alienate many people who were the lifeblood of the party.

However, the current distance between Warren and Sanders is also the result of a primary that tested their relationship in new ways. In January, reports surfaced that Sanders allegedly told Warren in a private 2018 meeting that a woman couldnt win the presidency in 2020  and he vehemently denied it, leading to a sharp post-debate exchange.

The next month, some of Sanders supporters lodged online attacks against female leaders in the Nevada culinary union who had declined to endorse him. Both instances extended past personal slights for Warren, according to those who were familiar with her thinking, and modeled what she viewed as inadequate leadership and poor coalition building.

Weingarten said she looked back at the January episode between Warren and Sanders as a crucial juncture in their relationship.

There were a lot of really nasty emojis and tweets and other vituperative and misogynistic comments directed toward Elizabeth, and that was a moment Bernie could have stood really clearly and said, Enough!, Weingarten said. Im a pretty tough broad and it affected me. And I dont get affected by this much anymore.

The candidates have a role at that moment to step up and provide moral authority, she added. People took note.

There was a sense of PTSD, Weingarten said, harking back to the 2016 primary campaign against Clinton.

Did it affect Warren?

You cant discount what happened over the last few months, Weingarten said. Let me just leave it at that.

Astead W Herndon and Shane Goldmacher c.2020 The New York Times Company
As cases of coronavirus surge in Iran, the government is now seeking a multibillion-dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Irans Central Bank chief Abdolnaser Hemmati wrote to the IMF requesting $5 billion in emergency funding from its Rapid Financing Instrument, he said on Instagram March 12. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet that Iran requested the money immediately and called on the IMF to stand on [the] right side of history and act responsibly.

The IMF previously said it was available to help member states guarantee that people are not going to die because of a lack of money. Last week, the Washington-based bodys managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, announced a $50 billion aid package for low-income countries.

Irans neighbors are increasingly shutting their land and sea borders, further isolating the Islamic Republic, which had already been grappling with economic sanctions on oil and gas exports imposed by the United States. Tehran has blamed Washingtons maximum pressure campaign for limiting Irans ability to contain the disease.

Since its first reported case in the Shiite holy city of Qoms last month, Iran has emerged as the epicenter of the coronavirus spread in the Middle East. On Thursday it became the worlds third country, after China and Italy, to register more than 10,000 cases of COVID-19.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the number of confirmed cases had risen to 10,075 and the death toll had reached 429.

The coronavirus has impacted the highest levels of government in Iran. More than two dozen members of the political class have contracted the disease, including the countrys first vice president, Eshaq Jahangiri, and two Cabinet members, reported the semi-official Fars news agency. Mohammad Mirmohammadi, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died last week from the disease.

The viral outbreak, which has now spread to every province, has forced Iran to limit travel between its major cities and shutter schools and universities. Earlier this week, the government temporarily released some 70,000 prisoners in an effort to contain the virus.

Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki has also asked Iranians to reduce the use of paper banknotes and encouraged drivers to stay in their cars while gas station attendants fill their tanks.

The office of Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced Tuesday that he will skip his annual address marking the Persian new year, or Nowruz, later this month.
An air strike killed 26 fighters of Iraqi paramilitary group Hashed al-Shaabi in eastern Syria after a deadly attack on US-led coalition troops in Iraq, a war monitor said Thursday.

Updating its toll for the Wednesday strike, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was probably carried out by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

Before the strike near the border town of Albu Kamal, rockets were fired at a military base north of Baghdad, killing two Americans and one Briton.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A photo of Chinese PLA navy fleet taken in April, 2018. [Photo/VCG]

The Chinese military dispatched ships and aircraft on Tuesday to warn off a United States warship that trespassed into China's territorial waters near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, a military spokesman said on Wednesday.

Senior Colonel Li Huamin, spokesman for the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command, was quoted as saying that the USS McCampbell, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the US Navy, sailed into the territorial waters without permission from China. The Southern Theater Command mobilized its naval and air units to follow, monitor and identify the US vessel before warning it off.

The US has used so-called freedom of navigation to repeatedly flex its muscles and make provocations in the South China Sea, he said, noting such acts have demonstrated US hegemonism, its violations of international law as well as its threats to peace and stability in the area.

China has undisputable sovereignty over the islands and its surrounding waters in the South China Sea, and the Chinese armed forces are always ready to take any necessary measure to defend the nation's sovereignty and security as well as the region's peace and stability, Li said.

Last week, China refuted US media reports about a Chinese ship firing a laser at US military aircraft.

Defense Ministry Spokesman Ren Guoqiang said on Friday that the report was not truthful.

He said that in a separate incident on Feb 17, when a Chinese naval flotilla was conducting routine exercises in international waters, a US P-8A aircraft engaged in lengthy reconnaissance, circling at low-altitude despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side.

During the encounter, the Chinese warships' operation was professional and in line with international laws and common practices, while the US aircraft's behavior was unfriendly and unprofessional, severely threatening the safety of the vessels, aircraft and crew of both sides, according to Ren.

"We demand that the US immediately cease such provocative and dangerous acts, and cease making groundless accusations smearing China to avoid damaging overall relations between the two countries and armed forces," Ren stressed.
The Spanish government has announced a ban on all cruise ships stopping over at any of Spain's ports as from tomorrow (13 March) until 23.59 on 26 March. An exception will be made for cruise ships to allow passengers to disembark. This exception will apply until Sunday. Passengers who disembark cannot then return to ship.

There is also a ban on passenger ships coming from Italy for the same two-week period.

The prohibition could be extended beyond the fourteen days, the government saying that this will be dependent on how the coronavirus epidemic develops.
OAKTON, Va., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Immigrants are major contributors to Northern Virginia's economy. A new report from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, in partnership with the New American Economy, finds that immigrants in Northern Virginia contributed $57.7 billion to the local economy in 2017 or 25.7 percent of the region's $224.9 billion GDP.

The One Region Report, released today at the 2020 Shape of Region Conference, is a comprehensive picture of new Americans in Northern Virginia. It highlights the size and rapid growth in the immigrant population in the region and their impact on the local economy including injecting more money into local businesses, property markets, and municipal budgets as consumers, homebuyers, and taxpayers.

"Immigrants are a vital part of the economic and social fabric of Northern Virginia. Their success is our success, and we must continue to be a welcoming community for all to ensure our long-term prosperity," said P. David Tarter, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and Mayor of the City of Falls Church.

Immigrants widen and deepen the labor market with a vast array of skills and levels of expertise. They help businesses, farms, and factories fill workforce gaps at all levels of the labor market, allowing companies to meet market demands and expand their operations, which leads to more job creation.

"As we see the Northern Virginia region continue to grow, the need for workers in industries like STEM and construction will continue to increase," said Mo Kantner, Associate Director of State and Local Initiatives at New American Economy. "By recognizing the unique range of skills that foreign-born residents bring, the region is making an important investment in its future."

Northern Virginia's immigrant population is diverse, growing in number, and is a major contributor to the region's economy. They emigrate from El Salvador, India, Korea, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Mexico and other countries seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

"America offered me all these different opportunities. I stand on shoulders of great mentors. Americans are very generous, "said Zuzana Steen, Academic and Community Relations Director, Micron Technology, Inc.

As Northern Virginia's economy continues to expand, immigrants living in the region are an important part of the region's economy and future.

"We're excited to show, with data, the invaluable contribution immigrants make to the Northern Virginia region," said Bernard Mustafa, Chairman of the Board of the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. "Immigrants help build vibrant and culturally diverse communities and are major contributors to our economic success at all levels, as workers, business owners, taxpayers and consumers."

Key findings:

Immigrants who settle in Northern Virginia are well educated and bring with them varying levels of work and educational experience. In 2013  2017, 44.5 percent of immigrants in Northern Virginia age 25 and older had at least a bachelor's degree and 20.9 percent had an advanced degree, either a master's, professional or doctoral degree. This is much higher than the proportion of immigrants with a bachelor's degree or higher in the U.S. at 31.2 percent.

In 2013  2017, of immigrants in age 25 and older had at least a bachelor's degree and 20.9 percent had an advanced degree, either a master's, professional or doctoral degree. This is much higher than the proportion of immigrants with a bachelor's degree or higher in the U.S. at 31.2 percent. Immigrants are job creators. In Northern Virginia , immigrant entrepreneurs  those who work for their own businesses, incorporated or not  are making their mark locally. In total, there were 47,837 immigrant entrepreneurs or 42.5 percent of all entrepreneurs in the region.

In , immigrant entrepreneurs  those who work for their own businesses, incorporated or not  are making their mark locally. In total, there were 47,837 immigrant entrepreneurs or percent of all entrepreneurs in the region. Northern Virginia's immigrant population is well-suited to maintaining and expanding the region's labor force. In Northern Virginia , less than two-thirds, or 61.6 percent of the U.S.-born population are of working agebetween 16 and 64 years old, the range considered to be working age by the Department of Labor. Meanwhile, more than four out of five, or 83.9 percent of the immigrant population in the region are of working age. While immigrants make up 27.4 percent of the overall population, they make up 34.0 percent of the region's working-age population.

In , less than two-thirds, or 61.6 percent of the U.S.-born population are of working agebetween 16 and 64 years old, the range considered to be working age by the Department of Labor. Meanwhile, more than four out of five, or percent of the immigrant population in the region are of working age. While immigrants make up 27.4 percent of the overall population, they make up 34.0 percent of the region's working-age population. Immigrants are driving population growth in Northern Virginia . Of the 238,000 people who settled in Northern Virginia between 2008 - 2012 and 2013-2017, almost 109,000 were immigrants. The number of immigrants grew from 561,285 in 2008 - 2012 to 670,272 in 2013-2017, an increase of 19.4 percent, accounting for 27.4 percent of the overall population.

Of the 238,000 people who settled in between 2008 - 2012 and 2013-2017, almost 109,000 were immigrants. The number of immigrants grew from in 2008 - 2012 to in 2013-2017, an increase of 19.4 percent, accounting for percent of the overall population. Immigrants in Northern Virginia have above average rates of naturalization. More than half, or 51.3 percent, of all immigrants in the region have earned their U.S. citizenship, a rate higher than the national average of 48 percent.

The full report can be downloaded at: https://www.novaregiondashboard.com/

SOURCE Northern Virginia Regional Commission

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Amid the prevailing political



crisis in Madhya Pradesh, a beleaguered Congress and a buoyed BJP are readying their strategies for the coming days when a part of the drama is likely to be played out in the assembly whose budget session starts from March 16.

The Kamal Nath government, which assumed office in December 2018, plunged into crisis after a rebellion by a section of Congress MLAs earlier this week.

Encouraged by the resignation of 22 rebel Congress MLAs, the opposition BJP will push for a floor test on the opening day of the assembly session, while the Congress, staring at a possible collapse of its government, will seek to buy time to win back some of its legislators.

On Thursday, the Congress Rajya Sabha MP and former advocate general Vivek Tankha told reporters here that they were going to move the Supreme Court against the alleged manhandling and arrest of two state ministers in Karnataka.

"The incident is a direct attack on democracy," said Tankha, a senior Supreme Court lawyer.

The two Madhya Pradesh ministers, Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh, were arrested in Bengaluru, he claimed.

They had gone to the Karnataka capital to arrange a meeting between a rebel Congress MLA and his father, he said.

The Congress has alleged that 19 of its MLAs are being held "captive" in a Bengaluru resort by the BJP, a charge denied by the main opposition party.

The Congress has been accusing the BJP of trying to topple its government with allurements, a charge rejected outright by the saffron party.

The BJP on Thursday made it clear it will seek a floor test in the assembly as the Congress government has been reduced to a "minority" with the resignation of 22 MLAs.

BJP chief whip in the assembly Narottam Mishra and former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters their party will request for ascertaining the strength of the Nath government in the house.

The Congress government had been surviving on a wafer- thin majority in the 228-member assembly.

Before the rebellion, the Congress tally was 114. It also has the support of four Independent MLAs, two of the BSP and the lone SP legislator, but some may now switch sides and back the BJP which is sensing an opportunity to install its government in the state.

If the resignations of the 22 Congress MLAs are accepted by the speaker, the strength of the assembly will dip to 206. The Congress will then be left with 92 MLAs.

The BJP, with 107 MLAs, can give a shot at government formation as the magic number for a majority will be 104.

In such a fluid situation, the governments fate hinges to a large extent on Assembly Speaker N P Prajapati and what decision he takes on resignations.

Despite repeated attempts, the speaker could not be contacted for comments on the resignations of the legislators.

However, according to sources close to Prajapati, he is going to have one-on-one meeting with the 22 rebel MLAs in the backdrop of the Congress charge that their resignations have been taken under duress by the BJP.

Senior journalist Chandrakant Naidu said the speaker was empowered to ask the rebel MLAs about their journey and stay in Bengaluru.

The Congress has accused the BJP of holding the MLAs captive in a Bengaluru resort, a charge denied by the saffron party.

The charge that their journey and hospitality in Bengaluru was sponsored needs a probe as it amounts to corrupt practice, Naidu added.

A source in the assembly said as per the schedule, the budget session will start with Governor Lalji Tandon's address after which the house will be adjourned for the day.

The next day (March 17), the house is going to mourn the death of a BJP MLA, who passed away after the last session, he said.

On March 18, the state's budget will be presented. The next day, there will be a motion of thanks on the Governor's address.

Assembly principal secretary A P Singh said it was the speakers prerogative to take a decision on conducting floor test.

Former Madhya Pradesh advocate general Purushendra Kaurav said the Supreme Court, in the recent Karnataka assembly case, clearly held that the speaker has a limited role in accepting or rejecting resignations.

It (resignation) can only be rejected if an enquiry demonstrates that it was not voluntary or genuine, he added.

The enquiry is limited to ascertaining if the member concerned intends to relinquish his assembly membership out of his our free will. He (the speaker) cannot enquire about any motive (behind resignation)," he said.

"If the speaker wants to do conduct enquiry he has to do it immediately, said Kaurav, who was the state's top law officer during the tenure of the previous BJP government.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Rouhani: Gov't, officials involved in fighting COVID-19

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 11, IRNA -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that government and all officials are involved in fighting coronavirus. He advised to minimize all inter-provincial and intra-provincial voyages to contain the epidemic.

Speaking in cabinet ministers' meeting on Wednesday, Rouhani said these days, people are dealing with new problem which have been unprecedented over the last few decades in Iran and in other countries as well.

Coronavirus is not limited to one country or a region but all countries in the world have been affected.

The president advised the people to modify their lifestyle and take heed of spread of the virus putting aside voyages and stay at home.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rouhani once again appreciated the efforts made by doctors, nurses in hospitals and medical centers.

Today, Iranian armed forces, IRGC and Basij are ready to provide beds for hospitals wherever it is necessary.

Rouhani said that Iranian Foreign Ministry is also active with all its means to help fight coronavirus.

The president said, "We should not let gossips weaken spirit of Resistance, adding that fear and anxiety are more dangerous than coronavirus."

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.

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.

More than 2,300 patients contracted corona have recovered and were discharged from hospitals.

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Celebration of Life: Ivan James Houston 1925  2020

Ivan J. Houston was born in Los Angeles, California, June 15, 1925, the second son to Norman O. Houston and Doris Young Houston. After graduating from L.A.s Polytechnic High School in 1942 Ivan entered the University of California at Berkeley. The country was also engaged in World War II, and in 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the legendary African American 92nd Infantry Division, also known as the famed Buffalo Soldiers. Returning from the war in 1945, he married Philippa, and reentered U.C. Berkeley, then received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1948. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of La Verne.

Professionally, he was a Chartered Life Underwriter, a Fellow of the Life Management Institute and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. Ivan was Chief Executive Officer of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1970 until 1990, an organization his father co-organized. In that capacity, Golden State rose to become the 3rd largest Black life insurance company in the nation with more than $4B of insurance in force. He also served on the boards of several national corporations.

For 16 consecutive years, Ivan was listed in Ebony Magazine as one of Americas most influential Black leaders. Ivan also provided leadership in civic affairs at the local, state and national level. He was president of the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, and sat on the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Board of Directors. He chaired the boards of the Los Angeles Urban League, the United Way of Los Angeles Central Region, and the Southern California Chapter of the National Conference of Christians & Jews (NCCJ). He served on both the National Urban League Board of Directors and the NCCJ National Board of Directors. He was one of the founders of UC Berkeleys chapter for the African American Greek Fraternal organization, Kappa Alpha Psi. In addition, he has headed the Los Angeles chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (also known as The Boule).

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In 1993, Pope John Paul II honored Ivan by naming him a Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great. During World War II, Ivan served as a combat infantryman with the all black 92nd Infantry Division in Italy. In that capacity he was awarded the Combat Infantrymans Badge and the Bronze Star for heroic or meritorious achievement in action. Ivan was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in enemy action; and with three Battle Stars for the following campaigns: Rome to the Arno River, the North Apennines, and the Po River Valley.

Houston is still a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. He ended the war as his battalions sergeant major. In retirement, Ivan published a book based on his combat activities in Italy. Called Black Warriors: The Buffalo Soldiers of World War II, it was also discovered, read and translated into Italian; it helped to motivate him to eight years of travel and reception back to Italy. A 2nd book, The Return of the Buffalo Soldier is with the publisher, chronicling these visits, and a documentary With One Tied Hand has also been completed. Ivans wife, Philippa, transitioned in March 2011.

He is survived by his son, Ivan A. (Leslie), daughters, Pamela Chretien (Paul) and Kathi Berryman (James), 2 grandsons, Barrett Todd (Jennifer) and Jay Christian (Jeanne), 2 great-granddaughters, Sanaa Lauren and Jeanne Kathleen, and 2 great-grandsons, Jay Christian Jr. and Brandon Todd, and a host of other loved ones, family and friends. Service will be at St. Jeromes Church, 5550 Thornburn St., L.A. 90045 on Tuesday, March 10 at 10am. Interment following at Holy Cross Cemetery.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday that all Ohio schools will have a three-week spring break - starting next week - as precaution against the spread of coronavirus.

Ohio K-12 schools will be closed from 3:30 p.m. Monday through at least April 3, DeWine said. The order applies to public, private and charter schools.

We have to do this if we are going to slow this down, DeWine said during his daily coronavirus update.

DeWine acknowledged that unless a child has a medical problem, the risk of death for a child from COVID-19 is not very high. But he noted that children can be carriers.

We are announcing today that children in the state will have an extended spring break. The spring break will be the duration of three weeks and we will review it at the end of that, DeWine said.

This action for K-12 schools is in addition to suspension of in-person classes announced earlier by colleges and universities.

We understand as much as we can, everyone has a different circumstance," DeWine said of concerns parents might have for suddenly changing the school schedules.

We have compassion for that, but we have a responsibility to save lives. We have to take the action that is the best informed action based on what the experts tell us to save lives.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted added: "If you look at employers of this state, many are already taking action. ... This is an unprecedented time. ... Employers have to understand the demands on their workforce as it relates to families.

DeWines announcement came on a day in which he confirmed a fifth coronavirus case in Ohio, that of a Trumbull County man. Three others were reported earlier in Cuyahoga County, and one in Stark County.

DeWine said he understood there were many unanswered questions.

Were going to try to use common sense. We are all in this together. No one is going to impose a crazy regulation that doesnt make sense," the governor said. "This is a crisis.

As for the details, such as normally mandated tests, DeWine said: "If we cant have testing this year, we will not have testing this year. The world will not come to an end.

Likewise, Ohio Schools Superintendent Paolo DeMaria later Thursday pledged to work with Gov. DeWine, the legislature, and other stakeholders to provide as much flexibility and latitude as necessary."

School districts such as Cleveland Heights-University Heights, Chagrin Falls and North Olmsted before DeWines announcement, had closed already canceled classes for Tuesday to allow for staff coronavirus planning. That will now be the first off day for all schools in Ohio.

That changed after the governors order. North Olmsted and Chagrin Falls moved up their closings to Friday. Cleveland Heights-University Heights did so for Monday. Among other schools in the area closing Friday were Twinsburg, Vermilion and Maple Heights.

The Ohio Education Association, a union representing 122,000 Ohio teachers and staff, praised the governors leadership.

"OEA commends Gov. DeWines decision to close schools beginning next week. Although we have not yet seen the official order, OEA understands the sacrifice this is going to entail for all Ohioans but agrees this is the best action at this time, OEA President Scott DiMauro said in a prepared statement.

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For over a decade, both CVR and MVP have been serving the community, providing the highest excellence in vein care... By joining forces, we can collectively serve more patients while moving the needle forward on treating venous disorders.

Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) is proud to announce a new partnership with Maryland Vein Professionals (MVP)  a major vein group in the state of Maryland, founded and directed by Jonathan Calure, MD since 2005. MVP locations in Columbia, Annapolis, and Towson, served by Dr. Calure and his physician team, Jon A. Hupp, MD, FSVS, FACS; Peter Liao, MD, PhD; and David R. Whittaker, MD, FACS, will now join the network of 85 CVR locations nationwide and 17 in the state of Maryland alone. MVP has been long known for its outstanding patient care, board-certified physicians, and clinical expertise. Through this partnership, gold-standard vein care will be available to more Maryland residents than ever before.

Dr. Jonathan Calure was the President and Surgical Director of Maryland Vein Professionals for 15 years. As one of the first physicians in the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis area to perform the Venous Closure procedure, Dr. Calure is a national leader in the technique, performing over 30,000 treatments so far. Dr. Calure has two certifications by the American Board of Medical Specialties; he is board-certified in General Surgery and Thoracic-Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr. Calure is trained in both classic open surgical techniques, and is broadly trained in minimally invasive, video assisted, and catheter-based techniques.

A lifelong resident of Maryland, Dr. Calure has had the distinction of practicing Cardiac Surgery in the hospital of his birth, The Washington Adventist Hospital. Dr. Calure completed his undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering as a Chancellor's Scholar at The University of Maryland. While working part-time as an engineer at The NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, he earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Calure completed his General Surgery Residency as well as his Cardiac Surgery Fellowship at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. Dr. Calure is a member of The American Vein and Lymphatic Society, The International Society of Endovascular Specialists, and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He will be practicing out of the Columbia, MD - Columbia 100 Parkway location.

Of the partnership with CVR, Dr. Calure said, For over a decade, both CVR and MVP have been serving the community, providing the highest excellence in vein care with our board-certified teams, IAC accredited clinics, and dedication to the research and advancement in the field of phlebology, Calure continued, By joining CVR, we can collectively serve more patients while moving the needle forward on treating venous disorders.

Dr. Sanjiv Lakhanpal, CEO; Dr. Khanh Q. Nguyen, Chief Medical Officer; and Ken Abod, CFO at CVR are all pleased to welcome Dr. Calure, Dr. Hupp, Dr. Liao, and Dr. Whittaker, as well as the rest of the MVP team, to the company. We are truly humbled by Dr. Calures decision to join his team with ours. With the MVP team at our side, our vision to to continuously redefine the care of patients with venous disorders seems more in reach than ever before.

The other MVP Physicians joining CVR include:



Jon A. Hupp, MD, FSVS, FACS, a board-certified vascular surgeon with over 25 years of medical experience. Dr. Hupp has practiced vascular surgery in the Annapolis area since 2002. He was the first surgeon in the Annapolis area to perform endovenous ablations starting in 2005 and he has performed thousands of procedures since. Dr. Hupp attended Stanford University and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston. He completed his General Surgery Residency and Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Harvards Massachusetts General Hospital. He also completed and Endovascular Fellowship at Southern Illinois University in 2002. He will be practicing out of the Annapolis, MD  Bestgate Road location.

Peter Liao, MD, PhD, a board-certified General Surgeon with special expertise minimally invasive procedures and over 20 years of medical experience. Dr. Liao obtained his medical degree from the Jefferson Medical College as part of the Penn State/Jefferson combined six-year BS, MD program. During his time at Jefferson, Dr. Liao also completed a PhD in Pharmacology. In 1994, he started Residency in General Surgery at University of Maryland. He continued at University of Maryland with a Fellowship in Surgical Endoscopy and Advanced Laparoscopy. Following his medical education, he had many and prestigious academic and private practice appointments before shifting to focus exclusively on treating venous disorders for the last four years. He will be practicing out of the Towson, MD  Dulaney Valley location.

David R. Whittaker, MD, FACS, a board-certified vascular surgeon with over 20 years of medical experience. Dr. Whittaker graduated from the US Naval Academy with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and completed medical school at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He subsequently obtained his General Surgery residency at Harvards Massachusetts General Hospital. After a tour as the Battle Group Surgeon during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he returned to complete his Vascular Fellowship at Dartmouth in New Hampshire. Dr. Whittaker has published numerous manuscripts in the field of Vascular Surgery and has authored and co-authored several textbook chapters related to Vascular Disease and treatments. He has a particular interest in the advancement of venous disease treatments and is continuously evaluating new and innovative technologies to improve patient care. He will be practicing out of the Columbia, MD - Columbia 100 Parkway location.

Every one of these doctors represents the clinical expertise and values of CVR as a whole, and we are so proud to have them on our team, concluded Dr. Lakhanpal.

###

ABOUT VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY

Venous insufficiency, the cause of significant suffering due to the sequelae of venous hypertension, most commonly arises as achy, tired and heavy legs. It may or may not be associated with varicose veins, spider veins or skin changes including venous ulcerations and indiscriminately affects between 3040 million Americans. Numerous factors including age, weight, prolonged sitting or standing, genetics or a history of DVT (blood clots) can increase the risk of developing this common and often underdiagnosed disorder. Treatment options have evolved to an array of minimally invasive procedures in an office setting.

ABOUT CENTER FOR VEIN RESTORATION

Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) is the largest physician-led practice treating vein disease in the country. Having performed its first procedure in 2007 under President and CEO Dr. Sanjiv Lakhanpal, Center for Vein Restoration has since become nationally recognized as the clinical leader in treating chronic venous insufficiency. With 90 centers and growing, CVR has over 600 employees and conducts over 200,000 patient interactions annually. To learn more about CVR and its mission, visit http://www.centerforvein.com or by phone at 1-800-FIX-LEGS.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 16:08:26|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Patent applications originating from China at the European Patent Office (EPO) grew by 29.2 percent in 2019, the highest growth rate among the ten leading patent filing countries, to 12,247 applications, setting a new record high.

In the past decade, patent applications filed by Chinese companies with the EPO have increased six folds, from 2,061 applications in 2010, and China is now the fourth largest patent filing country at the EPO, advancing from No. 5 in 2018, according to the EPO Annual Report for 2019 published on Thursday.

In the ranking of patent applicants at the EPO, China's telecom company Huawei topped the list of all companies, up from No. 2 in the previous year. Huawei was also by far the largest applicant in digital communication at the EPO in 2019, and the No. 4 in computer technology, up from No. 5.

The top three technology fields with the most European patent applications from China were digital communication, computer technology, and electrical machinery, apparatus, energy.

"In terms of European patent applications filed, Chinese firms were the champions of growth at the EPO last year both in terms of volumes and growth rate," said EPO President Antonio Campinos. "Their contribution to the unprecedented surge in applications in digital technologies demonstrate that China is a driver in technical fields that have become the most important area of innovation."

In 2019, the technology fields with the strongest growth for China were digital communication, biotechnology, audio-visual technology, and organic fine chemistry, indicating that the patent portfolio of technologies coming from China is further broadening.

Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening cooperation on patents in Europe. It is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.
NEW YORK - Edwidge Danticats story collection Everything Inside has won the National Book Critics Circle award for fiction. Chanel Miller was awarded in autobiography for Know My Name, her book about being sexually assaulted by Stanford University student Brock Turner.

The critics circle usually announces its awards during a Manhattan ceremony, but called off the gathering over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. This years honours were announced Thursday through a press release.

Danticats stories  tales of love, family and mortality set partly in her native Haiti  previously won the Story prize for best short fiction. The critics circle praised Everything Inside for narratives that have no forced happy endings, no unearned deliverances.

For biography, the critics chose Patrick Radden Keefes Say Nothing: The True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland. Josh Levins The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth won in biography and Morgan Parkers Magical Negro received the poetry award. Saidiya Hartman Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Stories of Social Upheaval was the winner in the criticism category.

Among the finalists for autobiography was Ronan Farrows Catch and Kill, based on his Pulitzer Prize winning reporting about Harvey Weinstein. The Hollywood producer was sentenced this week to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Sarah M. Brooms memoir The Yellow House received the John Leonard Award for best first book. An honorary award for criticism was given to The New Yorkers Katy Waldman and the poet and novelist Naomi Shihab Nye received a lifetime achievement prize.
French chef Michel Roux, widely acknowledged as helping kickstart modern restaurant dining in Britain with "Le Gavroche" in London, has died at the age of 78, his scholarship fund said Thursday.

"We are deeply saddened to have lost our founding father, Michel Roux OBE," said a statement from the Roux Scholarship, a competition set up by the chef and his brother Albert to identify new talent.

"A humble genius, legendary chef, popular author and charismatic teacher, Michel leaves the world reeling in his wake.

"Michel's star will shine forever, lighting the way for a generation of chefs to follow," it added.

Roux, who had battled pulmonary fibrosis for some time, followed his brother to London in the 1960s where the pair opened the signature restaurant in 1967, at a time when Britain's reputation for cuisine was in tatters.

The restaurant, along with "The Waterside Inn" that they opened in nearby Bray, Berkshire, were both awarded Michelin stars in 1974 and again in 1977, as fine dining slowly began to permeate British culture.

"The Waterside Inn" in 1985 became the first restaurant outside France to win three stars, and still retains its rating under the leadership of Michel's son Alain.

The brothers were also at the forefront of the television cookery revolution in Britain, hosting a show in the early 1980s.

Michel also appeared on popular cooking shows "MasterChef" -- presented by his nephew Michel Jr -- and "Saturday Kitchen".

He founded the Roux Brothers Scholarship along with Albert in 1984.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Immigration was a highly contentious issue in the U.S. long before President Trump took office, but his ascension to power, his predisposition to unilateral action, and his willful ignorance about immigrants and their value to the American economy have made the discussion even more fractious, if thats possible. The situation is especially fraught because of Trumps racially framed view of the world, and because Congress is too ineffectual to stand up to him.

In fact, over the last three years, the Trump administration has simply ignored Congress, and in some cases federal law, to reshape U.S. immigration policy through a series of executive orders, departmental rulings and internal directives. It has been a broad, multipronged assault on decades of U.S. policy that had encouraged immigrants from a cross-section of the world to come to this country. Among those the U.S. had encouraged were aging parents reunifying with their immigrant children, workers with in-demand skills, wealthy entrepreneurs willing to invest their money here, and the lucky  people who won visas in annual lotteries from nations underrepresented in the other immigration categories. And the U.S. lived up to a long-standing commitment to take in refugees from war zones and those who suffer persecution in their home countries.

That has all changed not because of congressional action, but because of congressional inaction. Into the void leapt Trump and his nationalistic minions, who have dramatically redefined the criteria to determine who is allowed to become an American, how they must get here, and where they must come from, and what kinds of reasons are acceptable  all without congressional input. And, in some cases, in flat-out defiance of congressional intent.

Some of the changes have been the subject of high-profile legal challenges, and in some cases, the administration has been rebuffed. But in other cases, the courts have proved willing to let Trumps policies proceed, creating a miasma of confusion over the governments actions. Like a massive ground war, the administrations march against immigration continues.

For example, one of Trumps signature issues has been his misconceived dream of drastically replacing and extending existing walls and fences along the southern border and, infamously enough, insisting that Mexico pay for it (it hasnt, and wont). When Congress refused to provide the funds Trump wanted, he declared a national emergency and ordered the Pentagon to reallocate cash Congress had budgeted for other purposes to boost total wall funding this year to more than $10 billion. That means delayed or canceled purchases of military equipment such as F-35 fighter jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones, and delayed renovations to buildings on military bases deemed hazardous to service members, among other crucial projects. All in defiance of congressional intent, and for an unnecessary wall that will be more useful as a symbol of American isolation and hostility to new arrivals than as a barrier to unauthorized border crossings.

The administration has also effectively sealed off the United States as a haven for the stateless and the persecuted by reducing the number of refugees accepted for resettlement from 110,000 during the last year of the Obama administration to 18,000 in the current year, the lowest cap since Congress approved the refugee resettlement program in 1980. Trump further destabilized the program with an executive order giving local and state governments effective veto power over where refugees are resettled, an unsettling abdication of federal responsibility.

Just two weeks ago, the presidents new public charge rules went into effect, which will in essence slash the number of lower-income and working-class immigrants coming into the U.S. in favor of the wealthy and higher educated, a demographic shift that rights activists says will mean a smaller, richer and whiter pool of immigrants than in recent decades. Again, a decision made by the Trump administration, not Congress. The administration also announced the creation of a new denaturalization office in the Justice Department whose mission will be to target for removal people living here legally who the government believes lied on their applications  something the government already does, but dedicating a new office to it sends yet another signal of inhospitality.

And on it goes here in Trumptopia. The presidents core anti-immigrant supporters clearly are getting much of what they wanted from this president. The question is, given the nations historic reliance on immigrants for economic growth and innovation, how much worse off are we as a nation because of these policies?

 Los Angles Times
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 17:23 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a23098 1 Business Indonesia,Mandiri-Capital-Indonesia,investment,start-up,digital-payment,amartha,Investree Free

PT Mandiri Capital Indonesia (MCI), a subsidiary of Bank Mandiri, is looking to expand its investment portfolio in start-ups as part of its long-term strategy to tap into the rapid growth of the countrys digital business sector, the companys top executive has said.

MCI president director Eddi Danusaputro said the company would provide an initial investment of up to US$5 million for creative and innovative start-ups, particularly those engaged in payments so they could cooperate with its parent company Bank Mandiri.

MCI would give out between $2 million to $5 million to acquire at least 10 percent of the startups shares, Eddi explained.

We have run this business for four years and have invested in 13 startups, he said at the Mandiri Investasi Market Outlook event in Jakarta on March 5. He previously said the company planned to invest in three start-ups this year.

Since 2016, MCI has invested Rp 1 trillion (US$70 million) in 13 startups, including Amartha, a peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform focusing on micro-enterprises owned by women, Investree, which focuses on small and medium enterprises, and Crowde, a P2P platform focused on farmers.

Thirteen startups in four years is a relatively modest number compared to other venture capital companies portfolios.

Convergence Ventures, for example, another Indonesian-based venture capital company with a similar interest in primarily investing in early-stage funding, has invested in 10 startups in the past two years, according to its website.

Investing in startups, according to our experiences, is risky, Eddi said, noting that the investments were somewhat risky because as an equity injection, the company would lose all the money if the companies it invested in failed.

According to research by Shikhar Ghosh, a professor at the Harvard Business School, about 90 to 95 percent of startups fail, with failure being defined as failing short of meeting a declared projection.

As a risk management strategy, MCI looks at several parameters when deciding whether to invest, such as whether the start-ups are involved in providing solutions and have reliable founding teams.

The founding team of a startup is also an important factor in decision making Eddi said, adding that MCI will never invest in a start-up with a single founder, its too risky. Ideally, the team should consist of around three to four people, with a hipster, hacker and hustler all present.

The formula suggests that a good founding team consists of a creative, a tech engineer and a businessperson.

In addition, the venture capital company also looks at whether the startup has the appropriate business model to achieve sustainability and whether the projected valuation can lead to profitability. (ydp)
NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OpenAP, the advanced advertising company bringing simplicity and scale to audience-based campaigns in television, today announced it has assembled an elite class of agency and brand leaders to serve on its inaugural Advertiser Advisory Board. OpenAP designed its board to coalesce around and enact change in areas impacting the future of television. Leaders were selected based on their contributions to advanced advertising and for their shared ambitions of transforming the way advertising is bought and sold on TV.

Members of its 2020 Advertiser Advisory Board will play an integral role in influencing the roadmap of the OpenAP Market, which launched in October 2019, as the company introduces new buying mechanisms that will add more value to agencies and advertisers and further accelerate industry adoption of moving beyond demos to buying on precise audiences at scale across platforms and publishers.

"Since our inception OpenAP has built technology and services on top of publisher-optimized deals, and we've made incredible progress driving consensus in both standardizing and simplifying the buying experience. We believe this is only the first step toward a better future for television, and our advertiser partners are key to the journey," said David Levy, CEO of OpenAP. "With OpenAP serving as the buy- and sell-side connector, the charter of our inaugural advisory board will be to fuel more action across the media ecosystem through greater collaboration, increased transparency, and sophistication of buying that benefits all parties. We're humbled to be joined by this prestigious group and confident that together we'll spark the change needed to really move our industry forward."

To cultivate a balanced view of opportunities and challenges facing today's leading marketers, the board composition includes both agency and brand representation. The following individuals have joined OpenAP's Advertiser Advisory Board in its first year:

Adam Gerber , Global Chief Media Officer at Essence

, Global Chief Media Officer at Essence David Sederbaum , EVP, US Video Investment at Dentsu Aegis

, EVP, US Video Investment at Dentsu Aegis Greg Johns , EVP, Chief Digital Officer at Canvas Worldwide

, EVP, Chief Digital Officer at Canvas Worldwide Helen Katz , SVP, Global Research Director at Publicis Media

, SVP, Global Research Director at Publicis Media Jonathan Anselmo , Chief Operating Officer and President at OMD

, Chief Operating Officer and President at OMD Jonathan Steuer , Chief Research Officer at Omnicom Media Group

, Chief Research Officer at Omnicom Media Group Julie Anson , Director, Strategic Investment, Advanced TV at Magna Global

, Director, Strategic Investment, Advanced TV at Magna Global Karyn Johnson , President of Programmatic Investment at Publicis Media

, President of Programmatic Investment at Publicis Media Laura McElhinney , Chief Data Officer at Horizon Media

, Chief Data Officer at Horizon Media Lisa Schoder , Head of US Media and Multicultural Marketing at Ford Motor Company

, Head of US Media and Multicultural Marketing at Ford Motor Company Louisa Wong , Chief Operating Officer at Carat USA

, Chief Operating Officer at Carat Marissa Jimenez , President at MODI Media

, President at MODI Media Molly Finnerty , SVP Strategic Investment at Magna Global

, SVP Strategic Investment at Magna Global Ritchie Ordonez , Head of Media, Original Series at Amazon

, Head of Media, Original Series at Amazon Samantha Rose , SVP, Video Investment & Horizon Advanced at Horizon Media

, SVP, Video Investment & Horizon Advanced at Horizon Media Sasha Wolfe , Head of Media at Taco Bell

, Head of Media at Taco Bell Susan Schiekofer , Chief Digital Investment Officer at GroupM

Sasha Wolfe, Head of Media at Taco Bell, said on joining the board, "With new standards and technology now available, we're so much closer to being able to connect the right message to the right consumer on any device, which ultimately makes the experience consumers have with ads more enriching, engaging and valuable. But we still have a lot of work to do to bridge the gap in how we activate our audiences and measure the things that matter. Coming together will create urgency to fuel more sophisticated ways of buying, and I'm thrilled to be joining the group of leaders OpenAP has assembled to champion real change."

The board will gather in person twice annually with additional workstreams running throughout the year to enable action across key areas. The first meeting, which took place in January, focused on optimization and measurement heading into the broadcast Upfronts season.

About OpenAP

OpenAP is the advanced advertising company bringing simplicity and scale to audience-based campaigns in television. The OpenAP Market is the only platform to deliver cross-publisher, cross-platform campaigns for both linear TV and long-form digital video across the largest collection of premium advertising inventory in the U.S. Launched in October 2019, the marketplace offers advertisers targeting and independent posting for advanced audiences within a premium video storefront, as well as workflow automation for linear and digital order management. Members of OpenAP include FOX, NBCUniversal, ViacomCBS and Univision. For more information, visit www.openap.tv and follow @OpenAPTV on Twitter and LinkedIn.

SOURCE OpenAP

Related Links

http://www.openap.tv


YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. In a strong showing of legislative support, 75 U.S. Representatives from 23 states sent a bipartisan Armenian Caucus letter today asking Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Ranking Member Hal Rogers (R-KY) of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations to fund de-mining and rehabilitation services in Artsakh and expand U.S. assistance to Armenia, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The letter included the following budgetary requests:

 $1.5 million for Artsakh demining and robust funding for regional rehabilitation services for survivors of landmine injuries and individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

 $100 million for economic, governance, rule of law, and security assistance to Armenia through State Department and USAID accounts.

 The suspension of U.S. military aid for Azerbaijan until it has been verified to have ceased all attacks against Armenia and Artsakh.

The ANCA thanked all Representatives who co-signed this letter for advancing a targeted, forward-leaning aid package for Artsakh and Armenia that invests in peace and democracy.
As the Coronavirus spreads throughout the world, life here in Toronto seems strangely normal.

There is no panic in the streets. Our public health response, from the local to federal levels, is largely coherent and unified, a trusted message with little reason to doubt it.

Thank goodness, this response has not been politicized much, as it has been at the federal level in the U.S., although some here are trying to do that. Resist it! In this calm before the possible storm, a clear sense of cooperation and preparedness is a comfort. Mixed messages and infighting would muddle our understanding of the pandemic and what we need to do to protect ourselves.

Perhaps the GTA is calm, too, because weve been through this before with SARS, but, as reports from cities such as Milan, Rome and Wuhan describe once-crowded public spaces as nearly empty, akin to a vision from some apocalyptic film, our normalcy is under scrutiny.

Should it be normal here?

I write some of these words from the big Northern District branch of the Toronto Public Library near the Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue intersection. Its busy, as Toronto libraries always are, but isnt jammed. I could find a table to myself. Sometimes thats normal on a weekday afternoon, sometimes not. The hand sanitizer at the door is getting regular use. If there is a difference between normal operations, its subtle.

At the nearby Starbucks on Yonge, I asked the barista if its less busy than normal. Not really, he said. Maybe a little, because it got cold. Again, the change to urban life, if any, isnt stark. I ate lunch at a nearby burrito place thats usually crowded at the time I was there. Hand food, I thought. Maybe people dont want to eat food with their hands now. I find myself wondering about things I never much wondered about.

An informal, non-scientific survey of Toronto commuters this week revealed some had trips on transit and by car that seemed less crowded than normal, while others reported their regular subway and bus as crowded as usual at rush hour. On the cusp of March Break, which always alters patterns, it all still seems normal, even as the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Some of the most overt signs are relatively abstract and affect future events, such as cancelling Pearl Jams tour kick-off concert in Toronto and other conventions, book launches, and public meetings. Pausing the NBA and NHL seasons, celebrities testing positive for COVID-19, and extending March Break two weeks for Ontario students is quite real, but the city still feels oddly the same.

The occasional person wearing a face mask on the subway might be a sign of something, but there are always a few people wearing masks.

Photos of bare shelves, emptied of disinfecting wipes, toilet paper and other staples are tangible signs. We wait for more to come, and its all we talk about.

The relative normalcy is a strange sense of precarious reality. Making plans a few days away or next week seems tentative and non-committal, as everything could change. Plans that involve other people, especially, are made in the shadow of calls for social distancing.

Thats a change from even last week, when being out in public was seen as supporting local businesses, especially those facing misplaced and racist backlashes in the Chinese and other communities. Beyond that kind of unfortunate shunning, its a tricky line: nobody wants small businesses to fail, as they are the ones that make our city interesting. Arts groups and other non-profits that rely on now-cancelled fundraisers are going to feel the pinch, too.

Knowing when its the right time to stay home is why relying on and listening to non-politicized experts is so important.

Just like not touching our faces, social distancing is something thats hard to do in a crowded city filled with millions of people. The complexity of it is confounding. The thought of self-quarantine and social isolation at home is a profoundly lonely one. Still, start thinking about it now, if the city is shut down, the change wont be such a shock.

The pandemic has me noticing how many things I touch that other people touch. God bless bathrooms with automatic faucets and doors you can push open with your elbow. Automatic door buttons are being tapped with a lot of wrists and elbows now. Ive found that time-limited faucets, requiring multiple pushes, make it impossible to do the recommended twenty seconds of hand washing in one go. Ive started mentally mapping where public hand-sanitizers are.

The awkwardness of greeting people with elbow-bumping, instead of handshaking, has been a communal moment to talk about all this. Its a relief, really, knowing were all in this together.

And perhaps thats something we can hold on to at this stage. Were all in this together, meaning each of our individual actions will affect the people we know and love and strangers, too.

Never in recent memory has our interconnectedness come more into focus, and never has it been more at risk, and risky.

Shawn Micallef is a Toronto-based writer and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @shawnmicallef
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 11

Trend:

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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  Local carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have announced free rebooking policies amid passengers concerns on the COVID-19 outbreak.

Cebu Pacific passengers traveling to domestic and international destinations from March 10 to April 30, 2020 can rebook their flights free of charge. Those booking flights on the said dates may also avail of CEB Flexi add-on for free, allowing them to change their travel dates up to two times, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Customers can also avail of the Travel Fund feature, which lets passengers store the value of the ticket for future use. The Travel Fund can be redeemed within 180 days and can be used for bookings as far as 12 months out.

Meanwhile, flag carrier PAL said it is also implementing a one-time free rebooking policy for passengers with international flight tickets (except for tickets originating in Japan and Korea) purchased on or before March 31.

The free rebooking feature should be redeemed at least seven days before the original flight departure date. Succeeding rebooking will be subject to penalties and charges.

The policy, however, does not cover domestic flights, PAL stressed.

The COVID-19, now considered by the WHO as a pandemic, has infected more than 126,000 people in 114 different countries including China. More than 4,600 persons have been killed by the disease as of Thursday, according to the Johns Hopkins University's global tracker.

The Philippines has recorded 49 confirmed cases, with several government officials going on self-quarantine amid the diseases outbreak.
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.

Follow latest updates on coronavirus here

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.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police which is investigating alleged scam at Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank on Thursday arrested three more persons including a former director.

With the arrest of Jasvinder Singh Banwait, Vishwanatha Shridhar Prabhu and Shripad Govind Jere on Thursday, the number of those arrested in the case reached 15.

Banwait was a director and member of the bank's Loan, Investment and Executive Committee when the alleged Rs 4,355 crore scam involving Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) took place, an EOW official said.

Banwait was interrogated by EOW officials on Thursday at their office regarding loan facilities awarded by PMC Bank to HDIL group companies and efforts made by him to recover or regularise long-pending dues from the group, he said.

Prabhu and Jere are valuers working with Yardi Prabhu Consultants and Valuers Pvt Ltd, he said.

They were allegedly involved in the inflated valuation of the Bank's properties in 2012 and 2015 to show capital adequacy as required by the Reserve Bank of India.

The two were acting at the behest of then Managing Director of the bank, Joy Thomas, the official said.

All three accused were produced before a court, which sent them in EOW's custody till Monday.

Meanwhile, a special court here on Thursday allowed intervention plea of RBI-appointed administrator on the bank and depositors in a bail case.

They had sought to become a party to the bail application of Waryam Singh, former chairman of the bank.

The plea said that the scam impacted the livelihood of thousands of business owners and individual account-holders, and if Singh was given bail without hearing them, it will cause "irreparable" harm to their interests.

According to the EOW, the bank management, in cahoots with HDIL promoters, concealed from the regulators' scrutiny huge loan defaults by HDIL group firms.

Over 70 per cent of the bank's advances went to HDIL group.
Hubbard Chamber Selling Tickets For Annual Banquet The Greater Hubbard Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has announced plans for its annual awards banquet to be held Saturday, March 28, in the Haralson Family Life Center in Hubbard.



The evening will get underway at 6 p.m. at the center, located at 208 NW Second Street, with the theme Celebrating Texas Style.



The chamber board is pleased to announce the names of those to be recognized at this years banquet.



The Business of the Year Award will go to Sonic, and Mrs. Audrey Johnson has been chosen for the Distinguished Citizen Award. Judge Brad Henley has been selected as this years Hall of Fame honoree.



As in past years, a number of new businesses that opened in 2019 will also be recognized.



Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Foster Properties, Texas Brand Insurance Agency and Ida Pearls Vintage Shop.



If you need more information, contact the chamber office at 254-576-2521.


2020-03-12

Midrand - The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has signed a development loan facility of R480 million with the University of Limpopo (UL).

The funding is for the construction and development of a 3 500 bed student accommodation facility. The balance of the required funding will be provided from contributions from UL, Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and National Treasury Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI). This project comprises Phase 1 of ULs long term student accommodation infrastructure development programme earmarked to construct 15 000 beds over the next 10-15 years which is aimed at addressing long standing backlogs. The development has synergies with existing spatial, policy, and development plans of university, local, and provincial authorities, said Prof Mahlo Mokgalong, UL Vice Chancellor & Principal.

The development loan facility is part of the broader Student Housing Infrastructure Programme (SHIP) being rolled out by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The programme seeks to address the burgeoning housing infrastructure needs of the higher education sector. The programme is aimed at commissioning about three hundred thousand additional student bed capacity in the sector, said Ms Zodwa Mbele , Group Executive Transacting.

"We support the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Blade Nzimandes vision in providing safe, hygienic, accessible, and affordable student accommodation infrastructure, especially in rural and previously disadvantaged institutions," she added.

Ends
College of Fisheries plans initiatives to help local communities, entrepreneurs

March 12,2020 | Source: The Hindu Business Line

To encourage entrepreneurs and to facilitate local communities in various sectors of fisheries, the Mangaluru-based College of Fisheries has chalked out several programmes, including the development of a 22-acre aquaculture farm in Mangaluru. A Senthil Vel, Dean (Fisheries), College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, told BusinessLine that the Centre has sanctioned Rs.7.9 crore for the development and modernisation of the aquaculture farm under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.



He said the area will be developed for growing varieties of freshwater fishes, crabs, molluscs, ornamental fish, aquaponics, and for producing fish feed. Apart from this, the aquaculture farm will also provide space for the conservation and preservation of endangered species of turtles. It will be a demonstration plot for modern fisheries technology including polyculture, mix of agriculture crop and fisheries.



He said the College of Fisheries will also take up community-based livelihood improvement programme for fisher-folk and other agricultural communities along coastal districts of Karnataka. The Rs. 20-crore project is funded by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change. Vel said that the College will also take up modernisation of infrastructure for post-harvest technology. On the importance of these projects, he said the idea is to facilitate the local communities in various activities of fisheries sector and to provide quality education to students who can take up various kinds of entrepreneurship activities in the sector.
Opposition leader Kem Sokhas defense team attempted on Thursday to distance him from the allegedly violent speeches of Sam Rainsy, saying videos displayed in court of the latter was made in his personal capacity and not reflective of the partys ideology.

The prosecution and council of judges have repeatedly attempted to question Kem Sokhas insistence that he only used nonviolent political methods by associating him with the speeches made by exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

The council of judges and prosecution have characterized Sam Rainsys speeches, played in court over the last few weeks, as evidence of his alleged proclivity for violence, though providing little evidence to support the claim.

The defense in an attempt to push back at that allegation, started a convoluted attempt to distinguish Sam Rainsys speeches from the partys official policies. The partys policies, they said, were approved by the party high command or, in the case of campaign messaging, accepted by the National Election Committee.

The defense said there was a difference between political speech, which they claim was what Sam Rainsys allegedly offensive remarks were, and political messages or political programs that were more reflective of the Cambodia National Rescue Partys policy positions.

Kem Sokha said Sam Rainsys speeches played in court were not reflective of the partys political messaging, which was always approved by the partys permanent committee.

For political messages, we give that power to the permanent committee to take decisions, he said in court. So, the speech was based on the individual.

What Sam Rainsy said does not reflect the policy of the party or messages of the party, he added.

However, the defense was unable to address whether Sam Rainsy, in at least one of the allegedly violent videos from their visit to Finland in January 2013, was speaking as co-founder of the CNRP or in his personal capacity.

Defense lawyer Chan Chen eventually asked Kem Sokha if he established the CNRP with the purpose of inciting violence or starting a color revolution.

In my life, I dont have any activity that has the purpose of creating violence, revolution or bloodshed that would cause the country to breakup, Kem Sokha replied.

Halfway through the hearing, U.S. Ambassador W Patrick Murphy observed the proceedings Thursday morning, only to leave a few minutes later to address the media outside the court.

The ambassador said the embassy had closely followed the trial and that he was troubled by the prosecutions use of fabricated conspiracy theories about the United States.

Were troubled to see prosecutors that have introduced into the courtroom fabricated conspiracy theories about the United States, he told reporters outside court.

Kem Sokha is charged with conspiracy with foreign powers, with the prosecution repeatedly linking United States officials or U.S-based organizations to an alleged color revolution attempt in 2013.

Murphy added that the U.S. had invested funds to strengthen all political parties and institutions in Cambodia, and always in compliance with the Cambodian Constitution.

He said that Kem Sokhas credentials were acknowledged world over and that he looked forward to the opposition leaders political rights being restored, as well as all Cambodians being able to freely participate in the political process.

The council of judges ended the hearing early on Thursday, announcing that it would resume on March 25 and 26, without giving a reason for skipping trial next week.
A lot goes into making a city run smoothly day-to-day, much of which many may not know about, which is why the city of Tomball is starting a municipal governance academy.

The academy is a free, seven-week course which takes residents through a series of tours and presentations covering the functions and goals of various city departments.

Related: Construction of direct connectors between Highways 99 and 249 beginning in May

The academy will begin at 6 p.m. April 7 and continue every Tuesday through May 19 with each weekly course running until 8 p.m. Most of the sessions will be held in the Public Works training room at 501 James St., though others may take place at locations like the police department or the fire department.

The academy accepts up to 20 participants who must be at least 18 years old. A link to information and the academy application can be found by visiting the www.tomballtx.gov homepage and clicking News Flash under City News & Events.

Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan said the academy is an idea the city has been talking about for some time to help more people understand what goes on in city government, similar to what theyve done in the past with citizen police and firefighter academies.

Its just to give people better understanding for when it is time to go vote or the city may need X,Y,Z or the city may need to pass a bond that needs voters to voteit gives people an understanding of what that really means to the city, Fagan said.

Related: Lions, tigers, bears and venomous reptiles outlawed in Tomball despite objections

Fagan described some of the topics covered in the academy as basic level things some may not know about the citys courts, or what the city secretary or city manager does, and how various city services work.

The things most people probably dont even think about, they just know they turn on the water and it works, Fagan said. They dont really realize theres a whole department to make sure that works.

Area residents will learn about topics including public works, community development, the police department and economic development, as Fagan said voters chose to vote for the economic development corporation tax about 20 years ago, which comes out of the citys sales tax revenue.

Part of the academy also includes having to attend one city council meeting. Fagan said this is so participants can learn about how the meetings function and gain more insight as to what items on meeting agendas mean.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
By Sam Richards

Bay City News Foundation

CONCORD (BCN)

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District's newest school buses look a lot like their old ones at first glance, or even second glance -- until you notice there isn't an exhaust pipe.

And under their hoods, instead of diesel engines, are batteries.

"I can't wait to drive one," said Sharon Lewis of Oakley, a veteran school district bus driver. "This will be a new experience for me."

It's new for the entire district, which is taking delivery of 16 of these 24-passenger buses. The buses, with no exhaust, will replace a group of diesel buses that are hitting the end of their service lives after 20 years of hauling special-needs kids, and two decades of fumes and soot.

The first four of the 16-unit, $3.5 million group were on hand at a formal dedication of the new EV fleet Wednesday at the district's Concord shops. The buses will soon be making the daily runs shuttling students between their homes and their schools, sometimes multiple schools in a given day.

"This is advancing us into the future, quite frankly," school district Superintendent Dr. Robert Martinez said at Wednesday's ceremony.

Similar buses are operated by school districts in Fremont, Berkeley and Sonoma County.

The Mt. Diablo buses were funded by grants from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's Carl Moyer Program, which funds equipment purchases or upgrades that enable reduced emissions. Similarly, much of the cost of 18 charging stations is being picked up by PG&E.

The new buses -- Micro Bird G5 electrics -- look traditional, with bodies by longtime maker Blue Bird. But they're touted as quiet, smooth and, above all, clean, with no exhaust.

"This will help us live longer," said Mt. Diablo bus driver Tracy Johnson of Concord. "We, the drivers and kids, breathe the diesel exhaust."

The soot, she said, builds up on the interiors of the buses.

"This is a big blessing," Johnson said.

Cris Lepe said these new buses are expected to last longer than their diesel predecessors, as the technology -- which has far fewer moving parts than diesel engines -- is proven.

"The tech isn't new; it's from GM electric cars, and the track record is good," said Lepe, Mt. Diablo's vehicle maintenance manager. "If we're going to take that tech and put it into these buses, it should be good."

The buses will make runs of between 75 and 100 miles a day in the school district that encompasses 52 schools in Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek and parts of Martinez, Pittsburg and Bay Point.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 16:17:29|Editor: huaxia

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CHENGDU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Standing in front of his house, Chen Longli signs an employment contract with a ceramic tile making company.

"I would like to apply for the position of a mechanic," said Chen, a resident of Wannian Village in southwest China's Sichuan Province. "I have a certificate in this area, and I used to work as a mechanic."

A "recruiting bus" came to the village on Tuesday with employers of 18 companies from the county of Danleng, which administers the village. The employers brought with them about 500 job vacancies across 60 professions. The bus attracted almost 200 migrant workers from the village and its vicinity.

"We have tight prevention and control measures against the coronavirus," said Wu Yujiao, head of the county's employment bureau. "All the recruiters and the applying villagers need to have their temperatures taken and wear masks."

Using buses to take employers to townships and villages, authorities want to enhance the connection between companies and workers, Wu said.

"We especially want to help impoverished residents find jobs near their hometown," Wu said.

Sichuan Province has a big number of migrant workers, and authorities have taken a variety of measures to "send jobs to their doorsteps."

Besides recruiting buses, local governments in Sichuan tried to find job vacancies in different companies and connected the companies with migrant workers they learned of.

In the village of Luobo, for example, the village officials found about Huang Hongjun, a jobless resident who had to take care of his mother and his daughter. The officials reported his information to the county authorities, who then arranged the resident to a new material company in need of workers.

"Governments at various levels have employment staff that record job vacancies in different companies," said Huang Xiaodong, with Sichuan's provincial department of human resources and social security. The governments then recommend suitable villagers to the companies.

Huang Hongjun soon started working at the company.

"I can take care of my family while working near my hometown in the future," Huang said.
South Africa: School deaths: communities must come together

The first term of the 2020 academic year will draw to a close soon, bringing an end to a term that has brought trauma and grief for several Gauteng parents, learners and teachers alike.

While the brief school holidays will grant some relief from the manic rush of school mornings, for some the time will be used to reflect on the unexpected passing of a friend or what others would call a familiar face from school.

On the other side of the coin, the maxim that no parent should have to bury their child, has now become a reality to contend with on a daily basis.

Among the names that have become synonymous with the tragedies of the first term across Gauteng schools, is that of Parktown Boys High School pupil, Enock Mpianzi.

The 13-year-old drowned during a river rafting exercise while on a school excursion at Nyati Bush Camp in Brits, North West.

In a shocking series of events, various safety measures were flouted by the school, the provincial department, teachers and facilitators at the bush camp.

An investigation into the teenagers death, conducted by Harris Nupen Molebatsi Attorneys, listed a whirlwind of mistakes that sent the entire trip down the rabbit hole of tragedy.

Inaccurate roll calls, a lack of life jackets issued for water activities at the facility as well as no appropriate authorisation for the trip being granted by the provincial education department are among the things that went wrong on that school excursion.

Overall responsibility for the well-being and safety of learners was found wanting.

In another incident over the course of the school term, the loss of lives took place outside the school grounds where two learners travelling in a minibus taxi, as well as a motorcyclist, died in an accident near Tembisa.

With the death of pupils and teachers not always confined to the school grounds, the sentiment that childrens safety and education is a societal matter, has been cast into the spotlight.

This as Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS), Paul Colditz condemned the deaths.

What we have seen in Gauteng is the unnatural death of children and even in some instances violent deaths. What we have seen here is unacceptable behaviour from people. Where an unnatural death takes place, the community must take responsibility, said Colditz.

Colditzs comments come as a principal from a school outside Orange Farm was gunned down in what seemed to be a plot by some teachers and members of the School Governing Body (SGB).

The school principal was said to have stood in the way of the SGBs chances of obtaining a lucrative contract to deliver textbooks to the school.

Clinical Director at the Teddy Bear Clinic, Dr Shaheda Omar, said the trauma experienced by learners, could lead to survivors guilt where one feels guilt by surviving a traumatic experience when others have not.

When we look at the most recent deaths where learners have maybe not known their fellow learners very well, they have seen them before and it could trigger past trauma [and a] previous history of victimisation.

It might also trigger feelings of survival guilt that I was with this person, we went together but I came back alive. Im okay my parents are happy to have me [and] Im relieved to be back home but look at that other family [who have been] shattered, says Omar.

The range of emotions experienced can vary, while it can also have long-term effects on the wellbeing of those involved.

Depression, said Omar, could replace the enthusiasm that children once had for activities they previously enjoyed.

These are things that one needs to consider and factor seriously. I think the post-traumatic factor is a critical one in the lives of children and the lives of everybody [else], she said.

With the death toll of Gauteng learners seemingly on the increase, the deaths have also affected Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

Lesufi, who bears the brunt of delivering bad news to parents and affected families, said he too was experiencing trauma and has recently developed what he coined phonephobia.

Every morning, Im scared. When one gets a call that comes from the spokesperson or office, you panic because you dont know what it is that they are saying this time, he said.

With the entire school community affected, it is apparent that child protection, and by extension school safety, is not just the business of schools but of communities across the country as well.

While psychosocial unit after psychosocial unit has been dispatched as social workers rushed to offer comfort to the various affected schools, parents and affected communities, Omar is of the view that much more still needs to be done.

She said government alone cannot address the issue.

These crises are opportunities for us to look at what can we do and how can we prevent this violence. This is not just the responsibility of government, it is not the responsibility of communities only. We need to work collectively. Currently we are working in silos, she said.

Meanwhile, in the report into the circumstances that led to Mpianzis death, Harris Nupen Molebatsi Attorneys have made several recommendations.

Among these recommendations is that Nyati Bush Camp be held liable for negligence; that educators face disciplinary action and that amendments be made to the safety regulations in the South African Schools Act on supervision.

These however, only address transgressions by the school fraternity.

Additionally, these measures do not take into consideration the trauma and psychosocial impact of those left behind.

Omar has suggested that communities look into programmes such as Adopt-a-Cop, an initiative that connects police officers to schools in an effort to improve local safety and security.

Ideally, social workers should be placed at every school but with capacity constraints, Lesufi says other measures have been devised to address these issues.

We have also established a system where there is a teacher at every school, so learners can have someone to talk to, said Lesufi.

The impact of these tragic incidents will be felt for years to come by those who have experienced the trauma of seeing a school mate die or those who receive the news that their child who left for school in the morning will never return.

By joining hands and returning to the ubuntu proverb: it takes a village to raise a child, the psyche of societies can be changed to one where the life of a child is valued and the protection thereof is everyones responsibility. -SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
In the wake of coronavirus outbreak in India, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that all movie theatres will remain shut till March 31, according to ANI. The Delhi government also declared the coronavirus an epidemic.

Schools and colleges where exams are currently not being conducted will also remain shut in Delhi.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal and top government officials.

As a precautionary measure to control coronavirus spread, all the public places in Delhi will be disinfected. Whereas the vacant flats owned by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board will be used for quarantine, Kejriwal said.

Disinfecting all public places, including government, private offices and shopping malls, has been made compulsory, Kejriwal added.

Delhi so far has recorded six positive cases of coronavirus. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases across India, including foreign nationals, shot to 73. Out of these 73 people, 56 are Indian citizens.

As a measure to tackle the spread of COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that no central government minister will travel abroad in the coming days.

Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings, PM Modi tweeted on Thursday.

On Wednesday evening, India 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.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, reserved judgement in an appeal filed by a sacked senator, Ifeanyi Ubah, of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), asking it to set aside a judgement that sacked him as a lawmaker.

A three-member of the appellate court led by Justice Stephen Adah had reserved judgement in the appeal after parties in the matter adopted their written addresses.

The court said the date for the judgment in the appeal will be communicated to the lawyers.

While adopting their addresses, the lawmakers lawyer, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the lower court, which sacked his client as senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

The respondents, Anani Chuka, YPP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Obinna Uzoh, through their lawyers, while adopting their written addresses, urged the court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety.

Justice Bello Kawu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Kubwa, Abuja, had on January 17, nullified the election of Mr Ubah as the senator representing Anambra south.

In the judgement on January 17, the court also ordered the INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Mr Ubah and to issue a fresh certificate to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Uzoh  who came second in the election, as the senator-elect of the district.

Not satisfied with the lower courts decision, Mr Ubah approached the appellate court to set aside the judgement which he insisted was a grave miscarriage of justice against him.

Four grounds

In the appeal predicated on four grounds, the lawmaker insisted that he was denied fair hearing by the trial court.

He added that he was neither served with the originating processes nor hearing notice with respect to the suit that led to his sack from the senate.

Mr Ubah further argued that the FCT high court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to hear and determine a pre-election matter that arose from an election that held in Anambra State.

However, in his further affidavit in support of his motion on notice filed on March 6, the lawmaker is asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment of Justice Kawu, on the grounds that the entire proceedings and the judgment emanating from there are incompetent being a nullity.

According to him, the proceedings amount to a nullity on the grounds that, As at the time the judgment in the suit number: FCT/HC/CV/3044/2018 was purportedly delivered, the suit had not been filed as filing fees had not been paid.

That as at the date of filing of this action the appellant/ applicant had been duly elected as the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District and his election has been affirmed on September 9, 2019, by the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State.

That having regard to the date of payment of filing fees, suit numbered: FCT/HC/CV/3044/2018 was a post-election matter and the lower court had no jurisdiction to entertain same.

That by the above, the suit, the entire proceedings and the judgment emanating therefrom are manifestly incompetent being a nullity.
Harvey Weinstein was taken to hospital suffering from chest pains shortly after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sexual assault and third-degree rape, his spokesperson said.

Juda Englemayer said the disgraced producer experienced chest pains at Rikers Island and was transferred to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.

He said: "We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections officers and staff." Weinstein was expected to remain in hospital overnight.

Hours earlier he was sentenced to 23 years in prison in a New York courtroom after being convicted of two felony sex crimes. It was 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 who 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. I'm 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".

Weinstein was taken straight to hospital with chest pains after hearing the verdict against him on 24 February. His lawyers argued in court that his ill health  with heart and back problems  meant he deserved only a short jail sentence.
Last week Zoe Foster Blake flew to the U.S. to promote her skincare line, Go-To.

On Wednesday, the 39-year-old revealed on Instagram she was lucky enough to meet with magazine editors in New York, before parts of the city prepared to go into lockdown.

'Well heck, I think we got to the US just in the nick of time,' she wrote.

Lucky girl! Beauty guru Zoe Foster Blake (pictured) reveals she got to New York to meet with influential magazine editors about her skincare line Go-To just one day before they were sent home due to risk of coronavirus

'Yesterday we were meeting editors at Conde Nast who were saying they would probably be asked to work from home soon,' she continued.

'Today: all working from home, no meetings. We just scraped through. If wed arrived today the whole press trip would have been a fail.'

Zoe had been lucky enough to meet with editors at the publishing company which produces some of America's most influential beauty magazines - including Vogue, Allure and Glamour.

'If wed arrived today the whole press trip would have been a fail': Zoe revealed if she'd gotten to New York a day later she would not have been able to meet with editors at Conde Nast, the magazine company which publishes Vogue, Allure and Glamour

The mum-of-two also revealed she's been taking precautions to protect herself from coronavirus, sharing a picture to her Insta stories of her enjoying a coffee and cake with a side of hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes.

The former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan branched out to launch her own skincare company in 2014.

Meanwhile, in Australia, the beauty gurus husband, comedian Hamish Blake, said he's found the solution to the nation's toilet paper shortage.

Precautions: Zoe revealed she's taking precautions, using hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes, to help keep safe during the coronavirus pandemic

Hamish, 38, joked in an Instagram post that he's been forced to wear jumbo nappies after anxious shoppers emptied the nations shelves of everyday items.

'Really great, uncomfortable, super expensive, bad value hack for if you can't get toilet paper at the moment,' Hamish wrote in the post's caption.

'Stay strong. Stay creative,' the father-of-two added, alongside a photo of himself holding up a jumbo packet of nappies in his local supermarket.
Interim Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu conveyed to his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio a solidarity message with the Italian people in the context of the measures to combat the COVID-19 epidemic and underscored the importance of observing the rights and benefits stipulated by the EU legislation for the Romanians living in this country.

"Amid the developments related to the COVID-19 epidemic in the Italian Republic, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Bogdan Aurescu, has conveyed to his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio, through a letter, a solidarity message with the Italian people, including in the context of the measures taken by the Italian Government in order to combat the epidemic. Equally, taking into account the constant concern of Romania's Government for the Romanian community in Italy, the Foreign Affairs Minister used this occasion to convey to his Italian counterpart that, including in such circumstances, the observance of the rights and benefits stipulated by the EU and Italian legislation is important for all categories of citizens, including for those Romanian workers in Italy, whose activity has been affected by the current context of Italy," the MAE release informed.According to the quoted source, Bogdan Aurescu also brought to mind the contribution of the Romanian community to the economic development of Italy and "addressed his request that the Italian authorities grant the necessary assistance to the Romanian workers, with the full observance of European legislation in terms of mobility and employment."
FELTON, California, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With reference to the report published by the experts the scope of the global Home Textiles Market was appreciated at US$ 94.73 billion in 2018. It is estimated to touch US$ 133.4 billion during the forecast period with a CAGR of 5.01% during the period of 2019 to 2025.

Drivers:

Development in end-use segments, for example residential and hospitality, together with the increasing attentiveness regarding altering inclinations of home-based interior decoration is expected to motivate the global home textiles industry. Increasing sector of real estate and refining criterions of living style have caused in an augmented expenditure on homebased beautification and interior. Similarly, this expected to be one of the important features boosting the development during the years of forecast. Furthermore, altering inclinations in home-based furnishing is estimated to additionally increase the development for home textiles.

In 2018, North America was the biggest local market and is projected to uphold the supremacy during the period of forecast. Nations, for example India, China, the U.K., the U.S.A and Germany, observed an augmented demand for home textiles owing to growth in per head earnings and speedy development. In 2017, in the U.S.A, the normal spending on home textile was US$ 115. Furthermore, better number of retail openings and online portals are backing to the development of the market for home textiles.

There are numerous issues motivating the global home textile market. Increasing concentration by governments and promising supervisory strategies are likely to be one of the most important motives for the development. Such type of backing has come across with growth in funds within the market. It is additionally boosting the development. Improvement in inclinations of style and thoughtfulness concerning domestic furnishing is furthermore projected to enhance the development.

Get Sample PDF and read more details about the "Home Textiles Market" Report 2025.

Restraints:

On the other hand, there are, some reasons those are detaining the development. The global home textiles industry is estimated to face substantial challenge from the higher prices of logistics. The leading manufacturers of the products of home textiles are situated in emerging nation state those have weak organization and logistics chains. This is likely to appear such as the most important issue restricting the development of the market for home textiles.

These economies possesses plenty of raw material but of low-quality in addition to face scarcity of high-quality raw materials. These are important for the production of high quality products of global standard. Furthermore, the time-consuming cycle of the replacement of home textile products is estimated to hamper development of the market for home textiles.

Classification:

The global home textiles market can be classified by Sales Network, Product, and Region. By Sales Network, it can be classified as: Online, Retail Outlet. By Product, it can be classified as: Bedroom Linen, Floor Coverings & Carpets, Bathroom Linen, Upholstery, and Kitchen Linen.

Regional Lookout:

By Region the global home textile industry can be classified as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa. In 2018, North America funded to the biggest share of the market. It was almost 43.15%. For example, because of rich style of living with greater power of purchasing and due to the better demand for home textiles, the U.S.A, motivated the regional development. Furthermore, increasing sum of manufacturing companies and the retailers within this province has headed to an augmented diversity and easily obtainability of the luxury products of home textile. As a consequence, continuous improvements in the arena will additionally increase the development of the local market. For illustration, New Saga Home Textile, approached up with an idea of bed-in-a-bag. Europe is estimated to track North America by means of the share of the market.

One of the principal exporter of these products is Asia Pacific. Similarly, due to the increasing levels of per head earnings of the customer and the development in the segment of real estate, within the region, is expected the speedy development for home textiles.

Companies:

Owing to increasing demand for contemporary and well-furnished spaces of living, the manufacturing companies are concentrating on R&D activities for the manufacture of progressive products.

Some of the important companies for home textiles market are: Hunan Mendale Home textile Company Ltd., Shanghai Hometex, Trident Group, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Springs Global, Honsun Home Textile Co.LTD, Marvic Textiles, Shenzhen Fuanna, New Sega Home textiles and Wels pun Group.

Additional notable companies are: Luolai Home Textile Co. Ltd., American Textile Company Inc., Sun vim Group Co. Ltd., Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Headlam Group, Tapis Saint, Shaw Industries, Maclou, Mohawk Industries Inc. and Bombay Dyeing.

Browse 80 page research report with TOC on "Global Home Textiles Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/home-textiles-market

Market Segment:

Home Textiles Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025)

Bedroom Linen



Bathroom Linen



Carpets and Floor Coverings



Others

Home Textiles Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025)

Retail Outlets



Online

Home Textiles Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2025)

North Americ



U.S.



Europe



U.K





Germany



Asia Pacific



China





India



Central & South America



Middle East & Africa

Browse reports of similar category available with Million Insights:

Heated Jacket Market

Synthetic Fibers Market

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Market

Waterproof Breathable Textiles (WBT) Market

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ROMULUS, MI  A gas station clerk was injured after she was assaulted by a person with firewood and a hammer during a robbery, according to police.

On March 10 around 4:15 a.m., officers from The Romulus Police Department responded to an open 911 call coming from the Amoco gas station on 9999 Middlebelt Road, WXYZ Detroit reports.

According to police, the woman was held hostage. She was able to lock herself in the bathroom where she was later rescued by Romulus police officers.

The suspect, a state of Missouri resident, was arrested on the scene, WXYZ Detroit reports.

The victim suffered multiple injuries, was taken to Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn and is now in stable condition.
OTTAWA - Defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance says he is worried about anything that would give China easier access to the Canadian military's computer networks, but says there are ways to manage any security risks from Huawei's participation in building Canada's new 5G networks.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (669 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Chief of Defence Staff Jonathan Vance attends a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Latvian President Egils Levits in London on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. Canada's top general says he is concerned about anything that would give China easier access to the Canadian military's computer networks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance says he is worried about anything that would give China easier access to the Canadian military's computer networks, but says there are ways to manage any security risks from Huawei's participation in building Canada's new 5G networks.

Vance's comments in an interview with The Canadian Press come amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to bar the Chinese telecom giant from having any role in Canada's fifth-generation wireless networks due to security concerns.

The U.S. believes letting Huawei sell equipment to the companies building Canada's upgraded data networks will make them more vulnerable to Chinese spying, and the U.S. has warned it might hold back secret intelligence if Canada does not ban the company. Huawei has denied being a national-security threat.

Canada is the only member of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network that has not made a decision on Huawei. Australia and New Zealand have followed the U.S. in banning the company while Britain has limited its involvement.

The Five Eyes network is "monumentally important" to Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces, Vance said, adding the government takes seriously U.S. warnings about Huawei and the potential impact on the intelligence-sharing relationship.

"I've made it clear that I have concerns about China and China's cyber efforts," he added, "and clearly if there was to be an avenue, an easier avenue, for China to get into our digital networks then I would be concerned about that."

During a major defence conference last week, the chief of the defence staff specifically singled out China for its "malign activities in cyberspace," an assessment echoed by several other Canadian and allied military officers.

Yet Vance also expressed confidence in the government's ability to "mitigate" such a threat, and would not say whether he had recommended Huawei be banned from Canada's 5G networks.

"There are ways to mitigate it," he said. "So it is very much an active file discussion at the highest levels of government and therefore entirely inappropriate to comment on the advice I have given. But it is of concern."

The development of 5G, or fifth-generation, networks will give people speedier connections and provide vast data capacity to meet the ceaseless demand for emerging applications, like virtual reality and autonomous driving, as more and more things link to the internet.

In Canada, Huawei Technologies, Sweden's Ericsson and Finland's Nokia are among the leading candidates to help telecommunication firms such as BCE and Telus build their 5G networks.

A top Trump administration adviser on telecommunications met Monday with officials in Ottawa, the latest in a growing list of U.S. government envoys to visit Canada as the Liberal government continues working on what to do about Huawei.

Robert Blair "discussed the importance of a secure and reliable next-generation telecommunications infrastructure that will support and sustain economic prosperity, data privacy, interoperable energy infrastructure and the defence partnership," the U.S. Embassy later said in a statement.

In January, Britain granted Huawei partial access to its next-generation 5G network, but it still considers the Chinese telecom company a security risk that requires special attention.

British officials have said there are not enough companies to serve the country's 5G needs, so the government opted to limit Huawei's participation to 35 per cent of its less sensitive parts.

The Trudeau government has said it is studying the British decision as part of a broader review that includes a strategic look at how 5G technology can foster economic growth, but has given no indication about whether its own long-awaited decision is coming any time soon.

Given the scope of the review, several agencies  Public Safety Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Communications Security Establishment, Global Affairs and Innovation, Science and Economic Development  have been taking part.

Pointing to the British decision, Vance said of the federal government: "Whatever decision they take, they'll also have to do the mitigation necessary to ensure that the Five Eyes architecture is not compromised."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2020.
Irans Health Ministry on Thursday said the new coronavirus has killed 75 more people, raising the death toll to 429 amid over 10,000 cases as the Islamic Republic revealed it had asked for a multibillion-dollar loan from the International Monetary fund to fight the virus.

Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the latest virus figures in a televised news conference.

Irans Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati said Thursday that the country had requested an emergency $5 billion loan from the IMF to combat the outbreak. He said made the request last week in a letter to IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. The international lender has said it stands ready to support countries through a Rapid Financial Instrument.

Irans economy has been battered by U.S. sanctions, which have choked Tehrans ability to sell its oil. The recent outbreak of the virus there has compounded its economic woes, with all of Irans neighbors closing their borders to Iranians and multiple nations cutting travel links with Iran, including shipping in some cases, which is affecting imports, as well.

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 and the COVID-19 illness it causes.

Because there is still no vaccine for the infectious disease, countries are implementing tough measures to restrict its spread, as well as the impact an outbreak could have on emergency rooms and intensive care units.

A spike in cases in the Gulf Arab states helped push infections in the Middle East for the new coronavirus past 10,000 cases on Thursday, with most infected people either in Iran or having recently traveled there.

Countries in the region have imposed their own varying levels of travel restrictions, from wholesale halting of all commercial flights in Kuwait, to Saudi Arabia banning travel to 39 countries.

Regional stock markets were also down, reflecting investor concerns and nerves felt globally as oil prices plunge and tourism revenue is eroded by the virus. The World Health Organization on Wednesday officially designated the outbreak a pandemic.

Multiple top officials in Iran  from its senior vice president to Cabinet ministers, members of parliament, Revolutionary Guard members, health workers and health ministry officials  have contracted the virus. Some of those officials have died.

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.

A third Lebanese man died from the coronavirus, state-run National News Agency said Thursday. It said the mans immune system was impaired because he had cancer. Local media reported the man was 79 years old and that the virus was transmitted to him from the first man who had died in Lebanon earlier this week.

Outside of Iran, only Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon have recorded deaths from the virus in the Middle East. Iran has one of the worlds worst death tolls outside of China, the epicenter of the outbreak.

This week, Qatar reported a massive jump in cases of the new coronavirus late Wednesday with 262 now infected. The more than 200 new cases had been found in quarantine. In the Gulf Arab island nation of Bahrain, confirmed cases also rose by nearly 70% this week to 189 confirmed cases, after some 77 new cases were confirmed on a returning flight of Bahrainis from Iran.

Kuwait on Thursday closed all workplaces and non-essential business for two weeks, including restaurants, cafes and health clubs. Schools and universities have already been suspended. All commercial flights are being halted to Kuwait starting Friday. The country has over 70 confirmed cases of the new virus.

Egypt, the Arab worlds most populous country, reported seven more cases late Wednesday, bringing the countrys total number of cases to 67. In the southern tourist-driven city of Luxor, 70 Egyptian workers and guides remained in quarantine on a Nile cruise ship called the Asara. Earlier this week, 83 foreign tourists left quarantine on the ship and flew home week after testing negative for the virus.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, announced a jump in cases from 21 to 45 late Wednesday, among them 12 Egyptians under quarantine in Mecca. The government has suspended pilgrimage to Islams holiest sites, barring entry of all pilgrims to Mecca and Medina to curb the virus spread. It has also cordoned off the eastern province of Qatif, where more than a dozen cases are confirmed among its mostly Shiite population from people who recently visited Iran.
The Supreme Court on Thursday (March 12) told the Uttar Pradesh government that there is now law to back its action of putting up hoardings in different parts of Lucknow naming those accused of violence during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the city on December 19, 2019.

The top court, however, did not pass any order and said the matter would be heard by a three-judge bench next week. "We will refer the matter to a 3-judge bench which will be heard in the regular sitting the coming next week", the bench said. The SC bench requested the Chief Justice S A Bobde to recommend the matter to a larger bench soon.

While hearing a petition by the Yogi Adityanath government, a vacation bench of Justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented Uttar Pradesh government in the apex court, whether the state government has the power to put such posters. The SC, however, said that the state government has full authority to take action against rioters and punish them.

SG Mehta told the court that removing the hoardings is not a big issue as they were put up as a "deterrent". The decision is well within the contours of law . The contours are laid down sufficiently, he added. SG Mehta also argued that a person wielding guns during protest cannot claim right to privacy.

Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for retired IPS officer Darapuri who is also an accused in the case, said that since when is it allowed in India to name and shame accused persons. Singhvi stressed that even in cases of extreme and severe offences, naming and shaming is not allowed.

Since when do we have in this country - that we can name and shame alleged rapists ? Alleged accused? He is liable to be lynched in such a scenario, Singhvi said.

Another lawyer Colin Gonsalves, appearing for accused Mohammad Shoaib, stated that this is the grossest form of violation which I (Shoiab) am facing now. He added that somebody can come to my home and kill me.

On Monday (March 9), the High Court had ordered Lucknow's District Magistrate and Police Commissioner to remove the name-and-shame hoardings with immediate effect. The HC had also ordered the concerned officials to submit its report on the matter by March 16.

"In the present case, the cause is not about personal injury caused to the persons whose personal details are given in the banner but the injury caused to the precious constitutional value and its shameless depiction by the administration. The cause as such is undemocratic functioning of government agencies which are supposed to treat all members of public with respect and courtesy and at all time should behave in manner that upholds constitutional and democratic values," the Hiigh Court had said in its judgment.
Smith & Wollensky Welcomes the Return of Their Annual Steak & Whiskey Event

The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc.(SWRG), a collection of iconic American steakhouses, is celebrating the spirit of the Irish with the return of their ultimate Steak & Whiskey Event, taking place March 17 (St. Patricks Day) through April (while supplies last). This year during the Steak & Whiskey Event, Smith & Wollensky will showcase Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey inspired cocktails and a specialty 30-day whiskey-aged Double R Ranch USDA Prime Bone-In New York Cut Sirloin.

Known for its on-site dry-aging process, the steakhouse team is taking one of Smith & Wollenskys most popular cuts, wrapping it in a Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey-soaked cheesecloth, and aging it for 30 days to create a unique whiskey-infused flavor within this signature dry-aged cut.

Charring is an age-old method for invigorating barrels to intensify the taste and with Jameson Black Barrel, bourbon barrels receive an additional charring. The select double charred barrels produce a whiskey with even richer flavor and intense smoothness.

The team is excited to partner with Jameson Irish Whiskey this year for our annual Steak & Whiskey Event, said Vice President of Culinary Operations Matt King. Now in year four and back by popular demand, this is a dining experience that our team looks forward to creating each year and has become an annual tradition for our guests as well. And since we are launching our specials on St. Patricks Day this year, its also a festive feast for our guests to enjoy while celebrating the luck of the Irish.

Now aging in Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey, this select Double R Ranch USDA Prime Bone-In New York Cut Sirloin is priced at $68 and will be available in a limited quantity. In addition to the whiskey-aged steak, Smith & Wollensky will also feature the following Jameson Black Barrel beverage specials:

Whiskey Smash (Jameson Black Barrel, mint, mixed berries, lemon, simple syrup), priced at $17.

(Jameson Black Barrel, mint, mixed berries, lemon, simple syrup), priced at $17. Peach Ginger Cooler (Jameson Black Barrel, Creme de Peche liqueur, peach puree, lemon, simple syrup), priced at $17.

The Steak & Whiskey Event offerings are available at Smith & Wollensky locations in the following cities: Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Las Vegas, Miami Beach and Wellesley, MA. Guests are encouraged to reserve their steaks ONLINE or by phone, noting Whiskey-Aged Steak in the reservation request.

To learn more about the Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, visit www.smithandwollensky.com.
Maison Louis Roederer, the French Champagne company, has announced that it will acquire Diamond Creek Vineyards, one of Napa Valleys best-regarded wineries. The deal includes the 79-acre property on Diamond Mountain in Calistoga, including about 20 acres of vineyards, plus the winery and inventory. A purchase price was not disclosed.

Purchasing Diamond Creek is a longtime dream for the Roederer family, said Xavier Barlier, vice president of marketing and communications. In fact, he added, the two families were friends. Al and Adelle Boots Brounstein, the late founders of Diamond Creek, became friendly with the Rouzaud family, which owns Roederer, in 1997 when the Rouzauds invited them and other vintners on a trip to Paris.

Boots Brounstein had initiated the talks about a possible sale with company President Frederic Rouzaud before she died last summer at age 92. (Al Brounstein died in 2006.) Her son, Diamond Creek Managing Director Phil Ross, said it was important to know that his mother had approved of the idea.

The family had been discussing this, Ross said. Im in my 70s. Theres not another generation that wants to take over the winery operations.

Roederer has had roots in California since 1982, when it acquired the property in Mendocino Countys Anderson Valley that would become Roederer Estate, its sparkling wine house. It later acquired nearby Scharffenberger Cellars. In 2012, it developed another Anderson Valley winery called Domaine Anderson, and in 2019 purchased the famous Pinot Noir producer Merry Edwards Winery in Sonoma County.

But having a California Cabernet brand had long been a goal for Roederer, Barlier said. In 1995 and 2007, respectively, it bought the Bordeaux estates Chateau de Pez and Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, both specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Maison Louis Roederer

The Brounsteins purchased the property that would become Diamond Creek Vineyards in 1967. Arguably more than any other vintners of their era, they were leaders in terroir-driven wines from Napa Valley. At a time when it was rare to identify a single vineyard name on a wine label, the Brounsteins subdivided their property into four separate vineyard areas, each distinguished by its unique soil type  Red Rock Terrace, Gravelly Meadow, Volcanic Hill and Lake  and bottled each wine separately. They chose to plant their grapes on the steep, hard-to-farm hillsides of Diamond Mountain rather than in the more forgiving valley floor.

The initial Diamond Creek release, from the 1972 vintage, cost $7.50 a bottle, higher than the typical $5 price of Napa wines then. Later, the winery would become the first in Napa to charge $100 for a bottle of wine. It produces only about 2,000 cases a year.

Stylistically, Diamond Creek has always stood apart from the rest of Napa Valley. It has long been known for hewing closer to a lower-alcohol, French model of Cabernet than the opulent profile that has characterized many California wines in recent decades.

Phil Ross will remain at the winery during a transition period, and longtime winemaker Phil Steinschriber plans to keep his job, Barlier said. No major changes are expected at the moment, though Barlier added that Roederer hopes to invest in improvements to the property.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

When asked whether Roederer has more moves planned in California, Barlier said, I think were good for now. Were taking a pause.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob
New Delhi, March 12 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Centre to contact Indian students in Iran and assure them of their safety following coronavirus pandemic.

Justice Naveen Chawla also directed the government to submit a status report mentioning if any policy has been formulated and steps taken to evacuate Indians from Iran. The court also observed that issuing an advisory will not work and people who stayed abroad need proper assurance.

The directions were passed while the court was hearing a petition filed by parents of Indian students studying in Iran through social justice lawyer Fozia Rahman.

The plea stated that though the Indian students in Iran have not been affected, there is a threat to life due to coronavirus spread, necessitating measures to enable the students' return to their home country.

The petitioner has sought to ensure safety of Indian Students studying in Iran.

The petitioner has sought adequate travel arrangements for these students through any mode of transport. It also sought appropriate directions to provide humanitarian assistance to the students.
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President Donald Trump's decision Wednesday to impose a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the United States has sparked 'bedlam' at airports across the continent, with some travelers paying as much as $20,000 for plane tickets home.

Tourists from the U.S., who were left shrouded in confusion by the details of the proposal, scrambled to airports in the early hours of Thursday morning uncertain about how the ban would impact their attempts to fly back home.

With President Trump declaring the ban would come into effect at 'midnight' on Friday, confusion reigned over exactly how it would be implemented - including how the cut-off would apply across time zones and which routes Americans would be allowed to use to get home.

Vice President Mike Pence fueled the coronavirus chaos on Thursday by saying all Americans returning from coronavirus 'epicenter' Europe will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and be funneled through one of 13 airports, without confirming if they would receive COVID-19 tests or saying where those ports were.

Trump then raised fresh questions by saying that Americans in Europe will be tested for before they are allowed to board flights and that they will not be allowed to come home if they test positive - a direct contradiction of Mike Pence's claim hours earlier that all Americans can come home 'regardless' of their condition.

Journalist Mike McIntire tweeted from Charles de Gaulle airport: 'Bedlam at U.S.-bound airlines at CDG in Paris early this a.m., as Americans pay as much as $20,000 for last-minute flights.'

He later added: 'Just arrived at JFK from Paris. Zero screening, testing or even questions related to coronavirus (and the Global Entry scanner spit out someone elses entry receipt for me, and the guy behind me got mine, and so on). My wife went through regular customs and was asked if shed been to China, but that was it. No one asked me a single question, and any other screening was nonexistent.'

'It caused a mass panic,' said 20-year-old Anna Grace, a U.S. student at Suffolk University who was on her first trip to Europe and swiftly changed her booking to fly back home from Madrid's Barajas airport instead of going on to France.

The White House has also not yet explained what will be done, if anything, to stop people traveling from other countries in Europe to the UK or Ireland then boarding flights to the US to work around the ban.

There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died.

Brussels International Airport: People wait to check in to a flight to Chicago at the United Airlines counter in the main terminal of Brussels International Airport in Brussels on Thursday

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France: People wearing protective face masks line up at the Air France ticketing desk inside Terminal 2E at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy on Thursday

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France, Thursday: For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France, Thursday: President Donald Trump's decision Wednesday to impose a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the United States has sparked 'bedlam' at airports across Europe

Barcelona airport, Spain, Thursday: President Donald Trump, who had downplayed the coronavirus for weeks, suddenly struck a different tone, announcing strict rules on restricting travel from much of Europe to begin this weekend

The State Department also warned Americans against all non-essential travel abroad, raising the prospect of mandatory quarantines and further bans that could leave people stranded.

Trump's announcement has disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of people and hit airlines already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak, which has now been branded a pandemic and has killed more than 4,600 people worldwide.

In a series of interviews to follow on from the President's stunning Wednesday night announcement that 'all travel' from Europe to the US would be stopped for 30 days, Pence sought to clear up the many questions it inspired.

He revealed several things including that American citizens and permanent residents - who are allowed to come home even after the ban goes into effect at midnight on Friday - will be asked to voluntarily quarantine for 14 days, whether they have coronavirus symptoms or not, once they land.

He also repeated previous claims that the government had asked private labs including Lab Corp and Quest Diagnostics to speed up the production of their tests, after a wave of criticism over how long the CDC was taking to get theirs off the ground.

But he failed to address some key specifics including how or if the ban will impact trade and imports from Europe, or how many people will likely become infected in America despite the drastic new measures.

World health officials have already undermined Trump's plan. They say it will not stop the virus from spreading and that the administration should be focusing its efforts on the healthcare system, which will likely buckle under the strain of the pandemic if it reaches the proportions seen in China and Italy.

Sharing footage of the chaotic scenes, American passenger Michael Bjork, 22, from Dinkytown, Minnesota, who was scheduled to fly back home next week, took to Twitter to write: '4:30 AM @ El Prat Airport.

'Literally all American tourists and students in here fleeing Barcelona after Trump's travel ban pray for us.'

A Delta crew member said Trump's travel ban had caught the airline off-guard.

'It's going to be a big mess,' said the crew member, who asked not to be named. 'We were not expecting something like that. We don't have all the details to know what it means for us and for the company.'

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France, Thursday: The ban, to begin at midnight Friday, won't apply to Americans trying to return home  though they will be subject to 'enhanced' health screening  or to citizens of the United Kingdom

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France, Thursday: The European Union on Thursday will evaluate President Donald Trump's decision to restrict travel from Europe to the United States amid deep concern over the economic impact of the move

Italian aid worker Andrea Rossi says he was asked to pay 2,000 for a British Airways economy class ticket to New York.

After waiting in line at Heathrow Airports Terminal 5 for two hours, Rossi, works for an international charity in New York and travels regularly to London and Italy for work, was told by BA staff that he would have to pay the eye watering amount if he wanted to get to the US to join his wife and children.

Mr Rossi, 47, told MailOnline: Its an obscene amount of money and more than I pay for my rent. Im desperate to get to the US and told the BA staff that Id be happy to board any flight to any city in the country. But Im furious at how much they want to charge me.

Mr Rossi, who is originally from Naples, was originally scheduled to fly on a late Thursday evening flight from London to the Big Apple, which would have arrived just an hour before the travel ban kicks in on Friday.

After pleading with BA staff that he did not want to take the risk of its departure being delayed, as it could prevent him from entering the US and being with his family, he was told that he would have to cough up 2,000 to board an earlier flight.

Mr Rossi lives in New York with his family but does not have a Green Card, which grants permanent residency in the US. He added: My family is in New York and Im worried that once the travel ban is implemented, I will not be with them. For me, they are the most important people in the world but I cant afford to pay what BA want so will just have to risk getting on the flight I was originally meant to get on.

Its going to be close, anything could go wrong and the plane might land after midnight. Then Im in trouble. Once Im in the US I dont plan to leave until this whole coronavirus epidemic is over.

Speaking to MailOnline Mr Bjork, a student at the University of Minnesota, said: 'I woke up from WhatsApp call from my dad explaining the situation. My dad has been nervous about this holiday for a couple of weeks. I simply told him I would figure it out in the morning.

'Then I proceeded to get the exact same call from my mother demanding I return to the U.S. immediately. After maybe a minute of deliberation I decided to wake up the three other people staying with me at the Airbnb and inform them of it.

'We decided it would be best to go immediately to the airport to try and move our flights.

'We got to the airport fairly quickly whilst it was still open. We woke up about 2am and were there by 3.30am.

'People started to roll in like a wave. Almost all Americans and lots of students. Some here on spring break like my group and others studying here for the semester.'

He added: 'Most people were very confused on what exactly the travel ban meant and honestly we're still a bit confused on the rules. At first we thought we had till Friday to get back home but now it's possible just for foreign nationals?

'It seemed like a deceiving announcement that was poorly communicated by our government and a bit quick.

'Glad to see action is being taken to prevent the spread of the illness but the government scared so many Americans to buying a absurdly priced plane tickets and cluster the airport where the virus could spread more.'

According to Trump's travel ban, American citizens will be able to get back into the country once the ban is implemented and can fly directly from Europe while UK travelers can fly to the US only if they fly direct and cannot fly via Europe.

Once the ban is enforced it is yet unknown which airlines will cancel their flights and how this will impact U.S citizens trying to get back.

It is also unclear if pilots and crews from European airlines will be exempt and be able to get into the U.S.

As an atmosphere of confusion prevails, travel commentators have said it is a chaotic and confusing time for U.S passengers and until airlines reveal what their flying schedules will be, it is unclear how they will be able to travel back from Europe.

WHAT THE MAJOR AIRLINES ARE SAYING IN THE WAKE OF TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN American Airlines Any U.S. citizen or lawful U.S. permanent resident returning to the United States who has traveled to one of the Schengen Area countries within the previous 14 days must enter the United States through an approved airport. American Airlines customers will be rebooked, if necessary, to one of those approved airports by our Reservations and Airport teams. Foreign nationals who have traveled to one of the Schengen Area countries within the last 14 days will be denied permission to travel to the United States. American is committed to taking care of any affected customers by assisting them with rebooking options. Our team is proactively reaching out to customers who may be affected by these travel restrictions to ensure they are accommodated United We will comply with the Administrations announcement. Delta The safety and health of our customers and employees is always our highest priority. Delta has and will continue to quickly make adjustments to service, as needed, in response to government travel directives. More information on Deltas response to the COVID-19 virus is available here. Norweigan We are fully aware of the latest developments concerning travel between certain European countries and the US. Our flights to and from US are currently operating as normal. Finnair Cancelling flights to and from USA between 14 March and 12 April KLM KLM is busy taking stock of the impact of this measure on our passengers, flights, employees and the company. As soon as more is known, we will publish it on our flight update page.' Air France We are currently assessing the impact of the recent US Department of Homeland Security's proclamation guidelines on our operations to the United States. Lufthansa Despite the new travel guidelines ordered by the US administration on passengers from the European Union, Switzerland and other countries, Lufthansa Group Airlines will continue to offer flights to the USA from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. The Lufthansa Group will continue operating flights from Frankfurt to Chicago and Newark (New York), from Zurich to Chicago and Newark (New York), from Vienna to Chicago, and from Brussels to Washington beyond 14 March, thus maintaining at least some air traffic connections to the USA from Europe. The airlines are currently working on an alternative flight schedule for the USA. Passengers will still be able to reach all destinations within the USA via the U.S. hubs and connecting flights served by partner airline, United Airlines. In addition, all other U.S. flights will be suspended until further notice due to U.S. administration restrictions, including all departures from Munich, Dusseldorf and Geneva. The Lufthansa Group will continue to serve all destinations in Canada until further notice. As planned, the Lufthansa Group's airlines are offering 313 connections to 21 destinations in the USA from Europe in the winter schedule, which is still valid until 28 March. Advertisement

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France, Thursday: The disruption to air travel is also certain to ripple through economies, causing widespread damage to hotels, car rental companies, museums and restaurants

Madrid's Adolfo Suarez Barajas airport, Spain, Thursday: Passengers, wearing protective face masks and gloves, wait for checking-in before boarding their flights to the U.S. at Madrid's Adolfo Suarez Barajas airport on Thursday

Barcelona airport, Spain, Thursday: A woman fixes a mask to a child at Barcelona airport, Spain on Thursday

The panic came after Donald Trump addressed the Nation from the Oval Office about the widening crisis of the coronavirus

Nicky Kevin, Director of Content at TPG UK, said: 'Yes, there will be some chaos (and confusion) and no-one knows yet whether airlines will cancel flights (which  unless there is dispensation for crew, all non U.S. airlines will have to cancel as e.g. Lufthansa's pilots and crews won't be able to get into the U.S. as it stands.)

'Whilst airlines could fly the crew straight back, once we are over the initial 'evacuation' (there has been a lot of stories of Americans rushing back to the US last night and Europeans back to Europe), there will be close to zero demand/appetite to travel.

'The actual order/rules say that American citizens are exempt so they will be able to return home (it's banning citizens from the listed countries from entry) though the means may not be there to do so.

Q&A: WHAT IS THE US'S TRAVEL BAN? WHO WILL BE BANNED FROM ENTERING THE US? US President Donald Trump said any foreign citizens who have been to a country in the European Schengen zone within the past two weeks will not be allowed to enter the United States. This applies to people who have been to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. US citizens, their immediate family members, and people who are legal permanent residents are not included in the ban and will still be allowed into the country. People travelling from the UK will be able to fly into the US as usual  as long as they haven't been to an EU country  because Britain is not in the free movement area. Americans who are travelling back from the affected areas will be funnelled through select airports where they will go through 'enhanced screening procedures'. WHAT DID DONALD TRUMP SAY? In a speech broadcast from the White House, President Trump said: 'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.' 'The virus will not have a chance against us  no nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States,' he said. 'This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history... I will always put the well-being of America first.' A statement from the US Department of Homeland Security added: 'While these new travel restrictions will be disruptive to some travelers, this decisive action is needed to protect the American public from further exposure to the potentially deadly coronavirus. 'In January and February, the Administration issued similar travel restrictions on individuals who had been in China and Iran. 'That action proved to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus to the US, while public health officials prepared.' WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO FALL FOUL OF THE RULE? The travel ban will come into force tomorrow, Friday March 1. It is not yet clear what will happen to people who have already booked flights from Europe to the US. Anyone who decides to travel in violation of the new law is expected to be turned away at either their departure airport or at the US border when they land. It is not known whether the US will quarantine people who demand to enter the US or simply force them to fly home. The Department of Homeland Security said it will issue more details about how the rule will be enforced by Friday. HOW BAD IS THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION IN THE US? At least 1,315 people in the US have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and 39 have died. 44 states are known to have infections, with Washington the worst affected (373 cases, 30 deaths), followed by California (177 cases, 4 deaths), Colorado (34 cases) and Florida (29 cases, 4 deaths). No dramatic measures have been put in place nationwide, but some states are making moves ahead of the government. Ohio has limited large gatherings and ordered schools to temporarily close for deep cleaning and so that staff have time to plan for longer-term shutdowns. All 12 of Florida's universities are closing their dormitories and presenting classes online. In Wisconsin, all residents have been told to avoid all non-essential travel. Oregon and California have banned gatherings of more than 250 people, with smaller gatherings only permitted if people are able to stay six feet apart. Washington state has adopted similar rules and has closed all schools in Seattle, with 50,000 children told to stay at home. Advertisement

'And yes, theoretically, the way to potentially overcome this is to route via London anyway. I have copied text below from the Department of Homeland Security. The actual proclamation goes into more detail to say spouses and children of Americans are also exempt.'

Blogger, One Mile At A Time, wrote: 'My gosh, these are unprecedented times. These are all the details we know so far, so I'm sure we'll learn more about the logistics soon.

'But does this mean all flights between Europe and the US will be canceled, with the exception of flights from the UK? Will there be flights from other points in Europe for US citizens? How will US citizens be screened?

'Does this just ban flights from most points in Europe to the US, or does it ban European citizens altogether? In other words, could Europeans choose to fly to the US via Canada? Is there any restriction on non-Europeans who have been in Europe in the past couple of weeks otherwise?'

And Aviation blogger and frequent flier Gilbert Ott, who runs the God Save The Points flight tips site, said the Trump ban would mean 'pandemonium for Americans'.

Meanwhile consumer choice company Which? added that even though the UK is not included in the travel ban, it could still have implications for Brits travelling to the U.S.

American Airlines has said it is working closely with the U.S authorities to comply with the new order and is giving its customers rebooking options.

While United has said they will comply with the announcement and Delta will make adjustments to their service as needed.

Adam Ewart, CEO of Send My Bag, said: 'If travelers weren't panicking about COVID-19 before, they certainly are now. After the US announced its ban of all travel from mainland Europe (in the Schengen Area), our orders for luggage to be shipped from Spain to the US has spiked by 800 per cent.

'And those in Spain are not the only ones getting itchy feet  since the beginning of the month, orders for the route from Italy to the States is up over 3,000 per cent compared to the same time last year.

'As the borders go up, travellers, business people and perhaps even expats are clearly getting their ducks in a row to leave areas with higher cases of infections as soon as they can.

'The travel ban does not impact the shipping of goods, so our luggage shipping service will continue as usual.

'We're continuing to monitor the situation closely to make sure those stuck in areas affected by the virus get all the travel support they need - particularly as we're expecting to see further spikes from other European nations over the weekend.'

The confusion comes after Trump proposed a 30-day travel restriction to start this Friday as he addressed the American public about the worsening coronavirus panic in the U.S. during a prime time Wednesday speech from the Oval Office.

During the rare address, which came hours after the world health officials declared the coronavirus a pandemic, the American leader said the country would counter the virus and defended his plans.

In his speech to the nation he said: 'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.'

He continued: 'The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.

The sudden move, which will not include the United Kingdom and Ireland, has now left Europeans and Americans shrouded in confusion, with some passengers about to board flights turning back around.

The proposed travel ban will apply to foreign nationals who have visited 26 European countries - but excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days.

The United Kingdom and Ireland will not be included in the ban but confusion about what is to come on Friday caused panic for Europeans and Americans alike with some passengers about to board flights turning back around.

The White House said the travel restrictions would apply to foreign nationals who have visited 26 European countries - but excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days.

Trump's move is bound to drastically escalate the upheaval facing global airlines and travelers on some of the most heavily traveled routes.

The disruptions to air travel are rippling through economies in a blow to hotels, car rental companies, museums and restaurants.

Lucrative business travel was already down sharply because conferences have been canceled and companies have instructed employees to skip all but essential trips. And travel from and within Asia has been restricted for weeks as authorities try to stop the spread of the virus there.

Airlines scrambled Thursday to adjust to the new restrictions, with many telling customers they were still assessing options and asking for patience from those trying to contact them.

There are usually about 400 flights a day from Europe to the United States, according to flight tracker FlightAware. Airlines have already been slashing their flight schedules, especially on international routes, to cope with a sharp decline in travel demand among fearful customers.

About 72.4 million passengers flew from the U.S. to Europe in the year ended last June, making it the most popular international destination, according to Transportation Department figures. About one-third of those passengers fly on U.S. airlines, the rest on foreign carriers. Trump didn't mention restrictions on Americans traveling to Europe.

Even before Trump's announcement, the International Airline Travelers Association was forecasting a 24% fall in Europe's passenger traffic this year and $37 billion in lost potential ticket sales. Italy, which is all but closed off as authorities try to control the spread of the virus there, has been particularly hard hit.

In his address from the Oval Office, Trump said U.S. restrictions on people coming from China and other countries with early outbreaks of COVID-19 had held down the number of cases in the United States compared with Europe. He blamed the European Union for failing to immediately stop travel from China 'and other hot spots,' which he said had led to clusters of outbreaks in the U.S being 'seeded by travelers from Europe.'

Heathrow airport, London, Thursday: Italian aid worker Andrea Rossi says he was asked to pay 2,000 for a British Airways economy class ticket to New York

John F. Kennedy airport, New York City, Wednesday: Adriana Dileo and Brian Cardenas decided not to travel to Barcelona on hearing of the ban on travel from Europe while they were already in John F. Kennedy airport

Meanwhile earlier this morning in the U.S. a DailyMail.com reporter who was in John F. Kennedy airport described how airline staff waited for flights to board before removing the luggage of passengers who decided not to continue with their journey.

Adriana Dileo, 25, from Pittsburgh had traveled to New York to take a flight from JFK to Barcelona.

She had originally been due to go to Italy for three months to teach English but changed her travel plans because of the outbreak there. Italy has suffered the worst outbreak outside of Asia.

Dileo then planned a shorter alternative European trip to go to Barcelona for four days and then Amsterdam for three days. On Wednesday evening, she was trying to change her flight and go to London or to a country that is not included in the ban.

'I was already in the airport and found out when my dad called freaking out. I can't believe it. He said if you get on that plane you're not coming back. Get out of the airport,' she said.

'We are trying to go to London now or somewhere else not affected by the ban.

'I haven't been worried about things at all. I believe it's like the flu and I'm healthy.'

Amy Mu, 22, her boyfriend Johannes Pascual and his sister Justine Pascual were due to board a flight to Paris for his cousin Yasmin's wedding.

His parents were already in the air when the ban was announced, traveling from San Francisco to Paris and unaware of the changes.

As of midnight on Wednesday, the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose to 1,315

JFK airport, New York City, Thursday: Trumps announcement has disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of people and hit airlines already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak, which has now been branded a pandemic

JFK airport, New York City, Thursday: Trumps announcement has disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of people and hit airlines already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak, which has now been branded a pandemic

O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois, Thursday: The international terminal at O'Hare Airport is nearly devoid of travelers

O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois, Thursday: A worker staffs an empty security checkpoint in the international terminal

Justine is studying and with her classes are cancelled so she continued to get on the flight. She said it wouldn't affect her too much if she is stuck in Paris.

Amy said she won't go, deciding it was not worth the risk if further restrictions are to come as she will need to return to her job as a researcher in Colombia.

'I'm a green card holder and not a US citizen so am worried I will lose my job if I leave. It's too much of a risk,' she said.

'I haven't been super worried about coronavirus as have been taking precautions and am young. I'm more worried for the rest of the population.

Others who were in airports when Trump made the announcement spoke about the drastic change in atmosphere as confused travelers were unsure as to whether it would affect their plans or their return to the United States.

COUNTRIES WHOSE PEOPLE ARE BANNED Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland WHO THE BAN APPLIES TO M ost foreign nationals who have been in these countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States* AND WHO IT DOESN'T 'Legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.'* * according to Department of Homeland Secur Advertisement

'I was going to be the intrepid traveler with my traveling buddies but the government decided otherwise so I'm putting on a brave face', said one American passenger at Philadelphia Airport who overheard the announcement as they were about to board a flight to Europe and decided not to take the flight.

'I've been in airports during snowstorms, hurricanes, and severe storms... but being in the international departures terminal of an airport after the president announces a 'flight suspension' from Europe was a feeling like no other,' said Sam Sweeney. a reporter with ABC7 News.

'This is uncharted territory.'

Reporter Jennifer Berry Hawes was also in the international terminal at Atlanta airport which was empty an hour before her flight.

'Scene now at the Atlanta airport international terminal right after Trump announced no return flights from Europe for a month,' she wrote.

'One hour to decide what to do. Risk getting stranded?'

Even though Ireland is not included in the ban, one flight boarding from JFK to Dublin was warned about the travel suspension announcement.

'If the leader of the free world is telling you that, you know your travel is being affected I would think that we have to give you your money back,' the airline staff told the waiting passengers.

Despite Trump declaring that American travelers are not included in the ban and will be allowed back into the country with screening through certain airports, several posted to social media about how they were fleeing the continent before the ban intensified.

One U.S. citizen claimed he met a group of students from Washington D.C. in Lisbon Airport as he rushed to find a way home. They told him they had informed the U.S. embassy about the ban when they called panicked about their situation.

'It's 2:12am and I'm in Europe walking to the airport to attempt to buy a plane ticket home to the USA before this travel ban happens in 22 hours. I can't seem to access news in a timely fashion. Anyone know if this applies to US citizens?' wrote Brian Kachinsky.

'I'm at the Lisbon airport. I just talked with a group of college students from DC. The STUDENTS called the embassy and informed THEM of this situation. The US embassy was not informed of this prior to Trump's announcement,' he added.

'My mom woke me up out of dead ass sleep at 320 am just now to say we are gonna be stuck in Europe for a month. It's 410 and we otw to the airport,' another Twitter user wrote.

Others questioned the exact details of the ban, including the time zone that was to be used when it starts.

'What does midnight Friday mean? What timezone would trigger midnight Friday? A half hour of sheer panic for Americans in Europe just now,' said American Melissa Brown.

'It's 4 a.m. in west Europe right now. I think it's likely people are about to start flooding European airports trying to get home amid conflicting information, just as we've been advised to avoid large groups.'

'So irresponsible for the President to not explain this in detail,' added another Twitter user.

'I know people in Europe right now that literally started packing and went to the airport immediately. We elect a President to handle a crisis the right way this guy isn't capable of that.'

The decision to ban travel from Europe came so suddenly that information on how it will be implemented will not be released for another 48 hours.

'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced.

'The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.'

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WHOSE PEOPLE ARE BANNED Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland Advertisement

A statement from Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wold was released after Trump's announcement, confirming that the ban would effect countries in the Schengen Area including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The ban will not apply to legal permanent residents or in most cases, to immediate family members of U.S. citizens.

'Protecting the American people from threats to their safety is the most important job of the President of the United States,' Wold said.

A statement from Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wold was released after Trump's announcement about the ban on travel to the U.S. from Europe

'The actions President Trump is taking to deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in affected areas will keep Americans safe and save American lives. I applaud the president for making this tough but necessary decision.

'While these new travel restrictions will be disruptive to some travelers, this decisive action is needed to protect the American public from further exposure to the potentially deadly coronavirus.'

Wold added that the restrictions would be similar to those placed on individuals who had been in China and Iran in January and February.

'That action proved to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus to the U.S., while public health officials prepared,' he said.

Within the next 48 hours, Wold also announced he would issue a supplemental Notice of Arrivals Restriction requiring U.S. passengers that have been in the Schengen Area to travel through select airports where the U.S. Government has implemented enhanced screening procedure.

The epicenter of the disease in Europe is in Italy, where the government ordered the shutdown of virtually the entire economy as the number of people diagnosed soared and overwhelmed hospitals had to decide who to save from death.

Health officials have warned in recent days about the risk of further spread of the virus from European travelers visiting the U.S. or Americans returning from trips there.

'These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground,' he said. He said there would be exemptions for Americans who underwent 'appropriate screenings.'

Trump also spoke to trade between Europe and the U.S. 'Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing,' he said.

But then the White House had to issue an astonishing clarification - that the president had misspoken and the ban in fact only applies to humans.
U.S. Navy Admiral Craig Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command speaks after touring the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort on June 18, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Joe Skipper/Getty Images)

China Expands Influence in Americas Backyard, Southcom Commander Warns

Chinas influence in Americas back yard is intensifying, according to the U.S. military commander for Central and South America, as he highlighted Beijings investments in infrastructure, military training, and equipment in the region.

Most concerning, certain investments have strategic value for future military uses, said Adm. Craig S. Faller, commander of U.S. Southern Command (pdf).

The aha! moment for me this past year has been the extent to which China is aggressively pursuing their interests right here in our neighborhood, he told the House Armed Services Committee on March 11.

The region represents a vicious circle of threats to the stability and security of the U.S. homeland, Faller said.

He said that the U.S. military presence would be ramped up in the region later this year, to reassure allies and partners.

This will include an enhanced presence of ships, aircraft, and security forces,  he said.

Weak institutions and corruption within young democracies in the region are being preyed upon by transnational criminal organizations (worth $90 billion a year) and by China, Russia, and Iran, he said.

The Pentagon is currently reviewing the different geographical commands to realign them with the needs of the National Defense Strategy, which prioritizes tackling China and Russia.

The militarys pivot away from counterinsurgency has focused on revamping military equipment and strategy to undo the strategic advantages built up by Russia in Europe and China in the Pacific region.

But far away from these military neighborhoods, in places such as in Africa, Pentagon leadership has still underscored that the priority is on tackling great power competition with Russia and China.

In written testimony, Faller said, As the Department of Defense has prioritized the Indo-Pacific region, Beijing has aggressively turned its attention to the Western Hemisphere, exporting corrupt business practices and disregard for international law and standards to countries already struggling with government corruption and weak governance.

Faller described Chinas growing influence in Southcom as a concerning trend, noting the growing impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road)the name given to Chinese leader Xi Jinpings flagship foreign policy and propaganda push.

Last year, the Chinese government absorbed three more Latin American countries into [BRI], bringing the regional total to 19more than half of all countries in the region, Faller said.

The region is home to a quarter of all U.S. exports, he said, as well as key global infrastructure, such as the Panama Canal, sea lanes, and deep-water ports.

Belt and Road Initiative

Chinese infrastructure investments could allow its military to threaten sea lanes vital to global commerce and the movement of U.S. forces, said Faller.

He also noted that fleets of Chinese-flagged fishing vessels routinely violate the sovereign fishing rights of coastal states.

With 19 Latin American and Caribbean nations now participating in the [BRI] and pledges of at least $150 billion in loans, [China] is now the regions largest investor and creditor, practicing the same type of predatory financing and no strings attached largesse it has wielded in other parts of the world, said Faller.

This includes gifts of equipment to regional militaries and aiming to copy our successful military education program.

Beijing is also gaining real-time, street-level situational awareness by selling surveillance technology through its Smart Cities initiative, said Faller. The same technology the Chinese Communist Party uses to monitor and repress its citizens.

A Long March 3B rocket lifts off from the Xichang launch center in Xichang in Chinas southwestern Sichuan province on Dec. 8, 2018. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

South America is also seen by Beijing as a strategic location of immense value for space activity, said Faller, and is pursuing five additional points of access to regional space infrastructure.

They certainly recognize the importance of this part of the world, he told members of the House Committee, and so must we.

Faller also highlighted the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, where almost 5 million people have fled after the economic collapse and crisis under regime leader Nicolas Maduro.

Under Russian and Cuban tutelage, oppression in Venezuela is ever-increasing, he said.

Russia continues to play the role of spoiler, seeking to sow disunity and discredit the United States within our own hemisphere, he said.

Russia once again projected power in our neighborhood, establishing a military footprint in Venezuela; deploying (for the first time) its most advanced nuclear-capable warship; and sending a research ship capable of mapping and cutting undersea cables, as well as two other naval research vessels to operate near our homeland.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has accused the South-East governors of having a secret alliance with men of the Nigerian army and Fulani herdsmen  wreaking havoc in the region.

This was contained in a statement he personally signed in reaction to suspected Fulani attack on Ndegu Orie Umuoguduakpu community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The statement titled: Igbo governors are aiding and abating Fulani terrorists across the East, reads:

On 10/03/2020 about 1430hrs at Ndegu Orie Umuoguduakpu community in Ohaukwu Local Govt Area of Ebonyi State. Armed Fulani terrorists camped at neighbouring Agila community Ado LGA of Benue state, numbering about thirty-five (35), some dressed in military uniform and supported by the Nigerian Army who were already present in Umuoguduakpu village harassing people. These Fulani terrorists in collaboration with the Nigerian Army invaded the community and killed 20 persons.

They include Fidelia Ali 0meh 70yrs, Helen Ali(f) 55yrs, Ogayi Ali 45yrs, James Eze 58 yrs, Eke Ajah (f) 75yrs, Idenyi Agbo 45yrs, Elizabeth obele(f) 65yrs, Ogah Oge 35yrs, Ogba Eze(f)65 yrs.

Also, houses and farm produce storage facilities were burnt and destroyed during the attack. These Fulani terrorists and Nigerian soldiers beheaded their Biafran victims in their trademark Jihadi style. They also destroyed Bethel Methodist Church at Umuoguduakpu.

Those that look up to governors across the east for protection can now see for themselves that Fulani caliphate are the ones in charge.
Mining giant Rio Tinto will pay its ex-chief executive Sam Walsh nearly $7 million in entitlements which were frozen while anti-corruption authorities investigated a payment to a consultant on an iron ore project in Guinea several years ago.

Mr Walsh stepped down from the global miner in 2016 when he was replaced by Jean-Sebastien Jacques, but Mr Walsh and Rio Tinto had agreed to defer his incentive payments while inquires were carried out by regulators in several jurisdictions. The $US10.5 million payment, to French consultant Francois de Combret to secure ownership of the Simandou iron ore deposit, was made in 2011 while Mr Walsh ran the company's iron ore division.

Former Rio Tinto CEO Sam Walsh. Credit:Luis Ascui

Rio Tinto said it had wanted to suspend the entitlements until the investigations were complete. However, Mr Walsh sent the matter to an independent and binding resolution hearing, which has ruled in his favour. He will receive an immediate payment of $6.8 million.

"Rio Tinto felt that a further deferral of the amounts that were payable on 31 December 2018 was appropriate given that the regulatory investigations in relation to the Simandou matter are ongoing," the company said on Thursday. "However, the parties could not agree to extend the deed of deferral."
J immy Kimmel introduced a segment on his talk show last night which tested the American public's knowledge about coronavirus - with interesting results.

On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the 52-year-old claimed that a lot of Americans think they are now experts on the Covid-19 outbreak, and decided to round up their essential knowledge in a vox pop.

Introducing the segment, the ABC host joked: Everybody seems to know at least something about this now and knowledge, as you know, is power.

I get in a group of people. I speak as if I've been a professor of immunology at Stanford for 35 years.

It seems there's a lot of confusion surrounding Covid-19 / Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Stopping people on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one pedestrian said: I know its new. I dont know if you can drink soup and it will go away. It seems to be very popular."

Another unwitting man, whod seemingly must have spent the last few weeks under a rock, replied: I dont know nothing about the coronavirus, what does it do?

The next response seemed somehow more incorrect despite being more informed of the disease. Weve been giving a shot to our cattle for years. Coronavirus vaccine for cattle scours, so its been around forever, he claimed.

A more confident respondent said: Im not too worried about it. The president said it was just going to go away some day so its not really that much of a critical of a deal.

Jimmy Kimmel surprises tourists with a visit to The Oscars Ceremony 1 /10 Jimmy Kimmel surprises tourists with a visit to The Oscars Ceremony The tourists had no idea they were entering the ceremony Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Vicky is shocked to find herself at the Oscars Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Ryan Gosling greets Vicky Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Gary Allan Cole kisses Nicole Kidman's hands Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Denzel Washington 'marries' Gary and Vicky Lucy Nicholson/Reuters There was a lot of photo-taking Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Vicky gets a kiss from Meryl Streep Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Gary kisses Meryl Streep's hand Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

When asked on what she was going to stock up on, one woman said: I like wine and toilet paper and soap.

If youre nasty, you should be scared, one man said. If youre not washing hands, keeping clean then you should be scared.

Naturally, fans of the show were stunned that the general public seemed so clueless about the deadly disease.

Coronavirus has now been declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation, with the US having over 1,200 confirmed cases.

President Donald Trump has now suspended flights from Europe to the US, excluding the UK and Ireland, in a bid to contain the virus - which has drawn criticism from EU officials.
YEREVAN -- The coronavirus pandemic was a latecomer to the Caucasus, seemingly avoiding the region.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have only registered a total of 39 cases as of March 12.

Georgia was the first to confirm the presence of coronavirus on February 26, and now has 24 cases. It arrived in Azerbaijan two days later, where it has infected 11 people, and Armenia has just four infections.

But the virus's minor presence does not mean Armenia has been immune to the contagion's economic effects. Two of Yerevan's top trade partners, China and Iran, have been among the most affected by the spread of the pandemic.

China, where the coronavirus originated, is Armenia's third-largest trading partner, with more than $950 million in trade turnover last year.

There were high hopes of further growing that relationship this year, following numerous high-level exchanges in both Beijing and Yerevan in 2019.

The timing could hardly have been worse for one initiative: a long-planned visa-free regime for China, which came into force on January 19 but was suspended for at least two months just 12 days later.

No Belt, No Road

The interruption was particularly disruptive to Armenia's hope of getting involved in China's much-ballyhooed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to Mher Sahakian, founder and director of the Yerevan-based China-Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research. "China has already invested $90 billion in [BRI] partner countries [around the world], but Armenia has not tapped into this yet," he said.

Sahakian, who used to head ChinaHay -- an organization for the Armenian community in China -- sees the current crisis as another roadblock to underdeveloped Armenia-China relations. "There is very little investment from China in Armenia so far, only $1 million-$2 million," he said. "Armenia has few specialists on China, and China likewise has little understanding...or awareness of Armenia."

Lost growth in China and the negative effects the pandemic has had on the country's economy will also impact Armenia's trade with Beijing. "Hubei [Province, where the coronavirus outbreak started,] is in the center [of China]," Sahakian explained. "It is like the heart and now the heart is not working."

Unlike many countries, Armenia has not yet canceled flights to and from China. Health Minister Arsen Torosian said at a cabinet meeting on March 7 that new coronavirus-related restrictive measures on China would be discussed "within two to three weeks."

Some international businesses operating between China and Armenia have also felt the effects of the restrictions. One such firm is King Long, a Chinese bus manufacturer that sells vehicles to Armenia.

"The timing [of the coronavirus outbreak] was not good," said Anahit Agadzhanian, King Long's sales manager for the CIS region. "This is the high season for tour-bus sales, before the tourist season, and many orders have been canceled."

In Armenia's case, King Long managed to ship "most of their products" for the upcoming season before the end of January, she said, when the coronavirus crisis was not as severe.

Yet the virus still caused complications. "We wanted to bring the bosses [from China] to Armenia for a big showroom opening in February, but they couldn't get visas [because of the coronavirus outbreak]," Agadzhanian said.

Crucial Link To World

And another of Armenia's long-standing, visa-free programs also fell victim to the restrictions related to the coronavirus. On March 2, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced that Armenia's visa-free regime for Iran would be suspended "within four or five days."

No timetable for rescinding the suspension was given and it will likely stay in place, as Iran is among the hardest-hit countries by the coronavirus.

Iran is Armenia's sixth-largest trading partner, with over $400 million in trade turnover last year. More importantly, it is also a crucial link to the outside world, representing one of only two open land borders for the landlocked country: some 80 percent of Armenia's borders -- with Azerbaijan and Turkey -- are sealed due to the long-running conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

This important link with Tehran likely explains why the Armenian government has been hesitant to fully restrict travel and trade with Iran. The February 23 partial border closure by Yerevan with Iran did not include cargo transport, which Pashinian specified would be able to continue "without restrictions" aside from "special monitoring."

Andranik Grigorian, head of the Central Bank's Financial System Stability and Development Department, said the closed border with Iran had not yet had any impact on Armenia's financial system.

"For the time being we do not see any problems here." Grigorian told RFE/RL's Armenian Service. "Our financial system does not have that level of related assets for the closed border with Iran to lead to problems in it."

No Worries At GUM

Armenia's market sellers have thus far seen a muted effect from the virus.

At the GUM market in southern Yerevan, one of the city's largest, most stall owners said they had not experienced major disruptions in trade.

"Most of our stuff is Armenian, so we don't have many problems," said Eduard, 62, who sells produce. "Some citrus fruits, grapefruit mostly, is [harder to acquire] now, but not much else."

And Baregam, 36, had no fears about the quality of the various spices he sells that come from coronavirus-besieged Iran. "Everything is checked thoroughly at the [Armenia-Iran] border," he said.

The full extent of Armenia's border closure with Iran remains unclear. While Pashinian's comments imply that cross-border movement of people is still possible with a visa, other sources say the land border will be fully closed until March 24.

Views at the market on the seriousness of the coronavirus are mixed.

"Of course, I'm afraid of it," Eduard said. "The whole world has it."

Roubina, a candied-fruit seller, had fewer qualms. "We're Armenian, we'll be fine," she said.

Meanwhile, there are hopes in the Armenian business community that China will handle the crisis quickly.

"I'm confident that this will be resolved [in China] in March or April," Sahakian said.

"Frankly, I'm more worried about Armenia or Iran than [I am about] China," Agadzhanian admitted.

Sympathy For China

The pandemic has even had a silver lining of sorts for Armenia-China relations. ChinaHay released a video on February 10 of Armenians exclaiming "jia you!" ("stay strong!" in Chinese), under the hashtag #ArmeniaWithChina.

Volunteers in Yerevan also collected over 10,000 face masks and sets of gloves to send to China.

Many saw this as repayment for China's aid to Armenia in the past. "China has donated many buses and ambulances to Armenia," Agadzhanian noted, while Sahakian said that "China was the first" source of military aid to Armenia following the 2016 "Four-Day War" with Azerbaijan.

"I see a lot of sympathy for them [from Armenians]," Sahakian said. "We have had our own share of catastrophes, like the [1988 Spitak] earthquake, so people have genuine compassion [for the Chinese]."

Meanwhile, Armenia's Health Ministry continues to institute restrictions on countries in an effort to contain the virus's spread. Health Minister Torosian stated in a March 7 Facebook post that France, Germany, and Spain would be added to those destinations requiring "special control," joining China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, and Japan.

Despite that news and the continued spread of the pandemic around the world, spice seller Baregam is not the least bit panicked.

"I don't give a damn about the coronavirus," he declared.
The Georgian government has announced that it is working in an emergency regime after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of Covid-19 virus a pandemic.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said that the emergency mode will help the state to cope with the virus-related challenge more effectively.



"We can say that as of now we are able to cope with the challenge. However, we have no right to slow down our efforts or become self-satisfied," Agenda cited Gakharia as saying.

Georgia has 24 confirmed cases of Covid-19.
The President of the High Court has instructed that existing trials should be completed where possible, a murder trial jury has been told.

Addressing the jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Rafal Karaczyn (34) this afternoon, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said that, in light of health matters unfolding in the community, her instructions from the President of the High Court Mr Justice Peter Kelly are that courts should endeavour to conclude trials already at the hearing unless another announcement is made.

She then asked the jury to return on Wednesday because, she said, she understands that the jury has a difficulty sitting tomorrow and Monday, while Tuesday is a public holiday.

They will then hear closing speeches from the defence and the prosecution, which were originally scheduled to begin this morning.

Mr Karaczyn (34), of Crozon Park, Sligo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his wife Natalia Karaczyn, 30, at their family home in Crozon Park between April 29, 2018 and May 1, 2018.

Ms Justice Creedon told the jury of seven women and five men that all that is remaining in the trial is the closing speeches from the prosecution and defence, for her to give them her charge and for them to carry out their deliberations.

She also told them that the registrar is available to liaise with the jurors if needed between today and Wednesday.

Thank you all very much for your patience, Ms Justice Creedon said.
President Donald Trump once again decided to repeatedly praise his own response to the coronavirus Thursday as he faced reporters on a day when the Dow dropped 2,000 points, U.S. infections continued to rise, and officials scratched public events across the country.

As he has throughout the health crisis that is now a pandemic, the president continued to describe the national response through the prism of the utility of his own actions, while needling European nations on trade and Democrats on their economic ideas.

Trump boasted that his own actions saved 'thousands' of lives and talked up an early decision to halt travel to the U.S. from China, even as his administration was under fire for a hastily announced decision to halt travel from Europe to the U.S. for 30 days.

President Donald J. Trump speaks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, DC, USA, 12 March 2020. He said his own actions had saved 'thousands' of lives

'Weve taken some bold steps. We took the original boldest step of all when we closed very early with China,' Trump said as he sat with Toiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland  absent the traditional handshake due to rising health concerns about spread of the virus.

'That helped us save thousands of lives. And we went very early with Europe. And I think thatll likewise be very good,' Trump told reporters.

The Dow was down more than 2,000 points Thursday afternoon after Trump's prime time response failed to reassure markets and previously hard-to-imagine cancellations of sporting and other events continued.

Trump responded to complaints by European leaders that they were blindsided by his new travel restriction, which Trump announced in a prime time speech to the nation without consulting affected nations.

'We had to make a decision and I didnt want to take time, you know it takes a long time to make the individual calls,' Trump said, 'We are calling,' he added.

'When they raise taxes on us they dont consult us,' he vented about the Europeans. The ban does allow British citizens to visit. The UK is outside of the Schengen group of European unions, although it also has people infected by the coronavirus.

'One of the reasons U.K., basically, its got the border, it's got very strong borders. And they're doing a very good job. They don't have very much infection at this point and hopefully they'll keep it that way,' Trump said of the U.K.

As he and his team have all week, Trump hammered home his decision to restrict travel from China after the outbreak, even as the administration is under fire for testing only about 11,000 people amid a spiraling pandemic.

'If I did not close very very early, we close early with China and I took a lot of heat including from you people. They called me everything from a racist to everythign else,' Trump vented. 'It was terrible.'

Only late Wednesday did Trump decide to cancel his scheduled rally in Las Vegas. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders cancelled their Tuesday night election events. But Trump indicated an upcoming rally in Tampa might be next to go, though he wouldn't commit.

'I think well probably not do it because people would say its better to not do it,' Trump said. 'We need a little separation until such time as this goes away.'

Trump was once again telling the nation things would improve, although health experts have warned things will first get worse. 'I think its going to work out very well for everybody,' Trump said.

'We're in great shape compared to other places,' Trump said.

'You have to remember the stock market, as an example, is much higher than when I got here,' Trump said.

'And It is taking a big hit but it's going to all bounce back and it is going to bounce back very big at the right time,' Trump said.

The president spoke counter to lawmakers from both parties who have expressed frustration about the lack of available testing for the coronavirus.

'"The testing has been going very smooth,' Trump said.

Asked about the prudence of holding campaign rallies, Trump insulted Democratic crowd sizes as inferior. 'The Democrats wont be having rallies, but nobody showed up to their rallies anyway,' Trump said.
Several opposition parties on Thursday spoke against any move to privatise railways and asked the government to revert to the presentation of a separate rail budget in Parliament so that it could get adequate attention.

Some opposition members, including Supriya Sule of the NCP and Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena, acknowledged that railway stations have become cleaner.

Participating in a discussion on demands for grants of the Ministry of Railways in Lok Sabha, M K Raghavan (Congress) said the BJP government has shown consistent apathy towards railways in the last five years and the dismal performance is visible in the high operating ratio, which is the worst in last 10 years.

"Railways is a services sector. BJP is unaware of reasons for establishment of railways. Railway is not an engine to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, it is for poor man's service," he said.

Raghavan said the focus of the Union Budget on railways is cursory and reveals neglect. There is a drive to sell off public assets and a colossal failure in its management, he said.

"This Budget is a call for privatisation and eventual selling off of railways which is the lifeline of Indian people," he said.

S S Palanimanickam (DMK) said the BJP government is moving towards privatisation of railways.

"Air India is on verge of privatisation, land and sea transports have already been privatised. I suggest just give up the idea of privatisation of railways," he said.

Palanimanickam said there should be separate Budget which will encourage the Rail Ministry to discuss demands of various railway zones.

"Earlier there was separate budget for all zones. The rail minister used to hold meeting with MPs to know demands of zones, but now no such meetings take place," he said.

The government had merged Railway Budget with General Budget from 2017-18 onwards, ending a 92-year-old practice of a separate budget for the country's largest transporter.

The presentation of separate railway budget started in 1924, and had continued even after Independence as a convention rather than under constitutional provisions.

Noting that railways is now appointing only contractual labourers, Palanimanickam said, "If you have the mindset to privatise, how can you save railways?"



Tapir Gao (BJP) said the Indian Railways has developed so many facilities that its services are now comparable to those offered by airlines.

"Even 60 years after Independence, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram did not have rail connectivity. It is only under Modi government that railway extended connectivity to every corner of the country," he said.

Before the House took up discussion of the demand for grants of Railways, Speaker Om Birla said the House has to discuss demands for grants of six ministries and sought to know from members if they are okay if Lok Sabha proceedings are held on Saturday and Sunday.

As opposition members and some members from treasury benches were seen not supporting the idea, the speaker suggested that the House will sit late on Thursday and Friday to discuss them.

In her speech, Sule sought to know what is the status of model stations, a proposal that former railway minister Suresh Prabhu had floated, and demanded clarification from the government about details of privatisation.

Though the government has denied any move to privatise railways, it has given some services, including running of a few trains, to private operators.

Sule also wondered how the government plans to fund infrastructure development in the sector when the economy is in "shambles".

Saugata Roy of the TMC hit out at any move to privatise railways and also attacked Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for the move to merge all railway services.

He also said that the Union government is "fooling" people in the name of bullet trains, saying they are unlikely to actualise in India and adding that even if they do run then it will travel at half the speed of a similar train in Japan.

Roy also called for modernisation of the Kolkata metro and lamented that people are packed like cattle in suburban train services.

Krishna Lavu of the YSRCP demanded more Tejas trains in Andhra Pradesh.

Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena said platforms are cleaner now. He also spoke about his experience of receiving poor quality food in a Rajdhani train.

Santosh Kumar of the JD (U) also took part in the discussion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Photo: Google Maps

New York City certainly isnt short on steakhouses. But the city is running distressingly low on restaurants with long histories, especially following the news that the legendary Palm Too Steakhouse has shuttered after 47 years in business.

The Midtown East staple opened directly across the street from the Palm Steakhouse, founded in 1926 by Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi, which became a favorite among New Yorkers and celebrities, many of whom were portrayed in caricature form on the restaurants walls. Warm service, consistent food, and undeniable charm made Palm a huge success, and in the 1970s, Bozzi and Ganzis descendents grew the restaurants national foodprint with locations around the U.S. and even in Mexico and opening Palm Too in 1973. But in 2015, they made the difficult decision to shutter the original restaurant and sell the building that housed it.

Unfortunately, members of both families have been embroiled in disputes in recent years, including a protracted legal battle that led the company to declare bankruptcy last March. And now, as Eater reports, the entire chain has been sold to Landrys, the company behind Del Friscos, for $45 million.

Though locations in Hells Kitchen and Tribeca will remain open, Palm Too was all that was left of the Palm Steakhouses original charm. It will be sorely missed.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel J. Kritenbrink

What are the most significant achievements brought about by the 25-year relations between Vietnam and the United States?

The partnership between Vietnam and the United States today is very broad and deep. We are co-operating in many fields, such as security, trade, energy, and health, which is certainly one of the most promising parts of the whole relationship.

The economic ties between the United States and Vietnam are incredibly strong and we are really excited because if you go back 25 years ago, our trade was almost zero. And today, our annual bilateral trade amounts to $77 billion. US exports to Vietnam were up 13 per cent last year to almost $11 billion. But at the same time, the trade deficit has grown substantially as well because Vietnams exports to the United States have grown so rapidly.

So what we are focusing on is to make sure that we open up the Vietnamese market so that American businesses can compete openly and fairly. We also hope to encourage our Vietnamese friends to buy more American products to help balance out the trade.

At the same time, we support our companies to continue their investment activities and create many world class jobs for locals. So far, US companies in Vietnam have carried out many corporate social responsibility activities, which I think really helped the public.

Even though our economic and trade relationship is incredibly positive, there are some challenges as well. So, we are working to make sure that our trade is also free, fair, and balanced. That involves solving some of the existing market access barriers in Vietnam. However, we see tremendous opportunities in Vietnam and are very optimistic about the future.

What do you believe are the tremendous opportunities for American companies in Vietnam?

The energy sector is one of the most promising examples, where American companies can support developing infrastructure to import liquefied natural gas as well as working on renewable sources and expanding the grid. Moreover, other sectors are offering many similar opportunities, such as healthcare, infrastructure, IT, aviation, and smart cities.

Over the years of our mutually beneficial relationship, the United States has been one of the largest investors in Vietnam. American businesses often tell me that they are impressed by Vietnam, especially because of the stable environment that the country offers. They appreciate the governments leadership in solving problems and ensuring that foreign-invested enterprises can succeed here, and they are appreciating the Vietnamese workforce which is young, dynamic, and increasingly well-educated.

The Vietnamese minister of Industry and Trade and the chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council have just signed an MoU for co-operation. Could you provide more details about the deal?

The MoU is titled Strengthening Industry and Trade Co-operation. Therefore, the priority objectives include to promote co-operation in trade, enhance co-operation in the economical and efficient use of energy, in industry and chemicals, and in consumption of goods in the domestic market.

Moreover, the agreement aims to exchange information in developing and implementing policies to support the development of e-commerce and the digital economy, as well as co-operating on consumer protection and law dissemination. This memorandum will be valid for three years from the date of signing. In an effort to strengthen the trade-investment relationship between Vietnam and the United States in a sustainable manner, the two sides are expected to further develop co-operative relationships to support the business community and investors on both sides.

What are the prospects for Vietnamese enterprises in the US market?

As you know, the United States is Vietnams largest export market. So far, Vietnam has exported everything from agricultural products to textiles and electronics to the United States. Thanks to the MoU, we will export more high-tech goods to Vietnam which support local businesses to improve their products quality.

Our trade is quite diverse, and there are many good prospects for both sides. As long as we keep working, trade can become more balanced and barriers can be broken down. Therefore, I am going to remain optimistic about our future.
Music, Movies & Entertainment, Crime

By Ls Cohen Published: March 12 2020

Film will be released on Netflix streaming service on Friday, March 13th.

The reviews are in for Lost Girls, the highly anticipated movie about the ongoing investigation into the unsolved murders of female sex-workers whose bodies were found at Gilgo Beach.

Critics have mixed feelings about the film.

While the movie will be available for Netflix subscribers to stream starting Friday, March 13th, film critics got a preview of the movie.

The New York Times applauded the filmmakers for shedding light on the victims as individuals and not mere plot points.

It humanizes women often represented as disposable, more props than people. When a mother in the movie laments that her missing daughter, a sex worker, has been forgotten along with other women, her words feel like an accusation. When our girls are remembered, she says, its never as friend, sister, mother, daughter, the reviewer wrote.

The NYT also said that the film captures one emotion succinctly: anger.

There are different ways to describe Garbuss telling of this mystery: its serious, respectful, gravely melancholic. Yet anger best describes the movies atmosphere, its overall mood and its authorial tone.

AV Club said that there was more to the story that could be told than the film touches upon.

Whats both intriguing and frustrating about the screen version, however, is the way that it flirts with a much thornier and potentially richer possibility, only to ultimately back away from that idea in favor of a straightforward plea for justice.

Newsday called the movie a well-intentioned, but uneven feature on Gilgo murders.

The movie stumbles when it attempts to mimic a police procedural or a whodunit, the reviewer wrote.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently has a 55% score with critics. Once the movie is released to the streaming service, viewers will get a chance to weigh in with their opinions.

The movie is based on a true crime literary account of the Gilgo Beach murders written by journalist Robert Kolker in 2014.

The film focuses on Mari Gilbert, the mother of 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert, the woman who Suffolk County police were initially searching for when they stumbled upon the human remains of 10 others, victims of the so-called Long Island Serial Killer or Gilgo Beach Killer.

Earlier this year, Suffolk Police unveiled new evidence in the real-life case. You can read about what they found here.
The Australian Governments major offshore detention centre contractor, Paladin, secretly engaged two politically connected firms to lobby Papua New Guinea officials to grant visas for its workers.

The companys PNG lobbying arrangements, which have not been reported publicly before, are detailed in leaked emails between former director Ian Stewart and chief executive David Saul, who was appointed after the arrangements had been made.

The Shamrock compound on Manus Island. Credit:Refugee Action Coalition

In one email, Mr Stewart refers to Paladin signing a "marketing arrangement" in October 2018 that involved Paladin wiring a significant amount of money to a Singapore bank account linked to a company called Trakpro.

At the time, Paladin was having trouble getting visas for its workers to come to Papua New Guinea. Trakpro, which provides vehicle tracking services for several PNG government agencies, arranged a meeting between Paladin executives and a senior PNG cabinet minister.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation on Thursday removed the hoardings and banners put up across the city by the state BJP unit to welcome into its fold former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who quit Congress and joined BJP a day ago.

The Municipal Corporation workers were seen removing the hoardings and posters erected across the city.

Earlier, some miscreants blackened the posters bearing Scindia's pictures, near Polytechnic Chouraha.

The posters featured Scindia along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda.

In Bhopal, preparations are in full swing by the BJP to welcome Scindia, who will arrive here today.

Before heading to Bhopal, Scindia met Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh in the capital.

On Wednesday, Scindia joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party president JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scindia will file his nomination for Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

The Madhya Pradesh Congress and party leaders have been targetting Scindia for betraying the 18-year-long association with the party since he joined the archrival BJP.

Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh took a jibe at his former party colleague, stating that "may God keep him safe in BJP".

"I pray to God to keep Scindia safe in BJP," Singh tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to the Maryland Department of Legislative Services, as of 2019, there are 21 radical groups that spew hate in Maryland, up from 2018. Among them are neo-Nazis, white nationalists and groups whose members are anti-Muslim. According to the FBI, hate crimes, or attacks motivated by bias or prejudice, reached a 16-year high in 2018. The agency documents an increase in hate crimes against African Americans, members of the LGBTQ community, Native Americans, Jews and Muslims. Also in 2018, the state police published the State of Maryland Hate Bias Report, which says there were 375 hate or bias incidents reported by law enforcement agencies in Maryland.
Print media do not report corporate misconduct - such as environmental offences, corruption, or the violation of social standards - consistently and independently. Instead, the media are often influenced by their own interests, such as advertising revenues. That is the result of a new study by Dr. Marc Fischer, Professor of Marketing at the University of Cologne (Germany), and Dr. Samuel Stabler, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Tilburg University (Netherlands). It will appear in the May issue of the Journal of Marketing, the world's leading academic journal in marketing.

Cases of corporate misconduct, summarized in the term Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSI), are usually newsworthy events with high news value for the media. For the companies and shareholders concerned, such negative reporting can have significant financial consequences.

For the current study, the two marketing experts examined media coverage of 1,054 CSI events in 77 leading media from five countries (USA, Mexico, Germany, Great Britain and France). They wanted to find out when corporate misconduct is reported - and when it is not. To this end, they read, coded and assessed over 50,000 articles.

The results are explosive because, according to the authors, the extent of the reporting is by no means impartial: in general, the examined newspapers and magazines frequently report on the ethical misconduct of popular companies with well-known brands, as well as misconduct by foreign companies. However, if they have close advertising partnerships with a company, for example, they will report significantly less often on its CSI events. In cases where there is a close advertising partnership, the probability of reporting falls to less than 10 percent. However, almost twice as many newspapers report on the misconduct if it involves a foreign brand with misconduct in their country. According to the authors, liberal media moreover report more frequently on CSI than conservative media.

Interestingly, the media seem to be unaware of this distortion. Interviews with editors of leading media in Germany confirmed many findings even before the actual study was conducted. The editors claimed that neither advertising revenues nor the political orientation of the newspaper influenced reporting. However, the statistical results of the Cologne study, which are based on the evaluation of actual reporting on corporate misconduct, show the opposite.

Critical reporting has economic consequences: According to the study, the average financial loss on the U.S. stock exchange due to a CSI event amounts to around 321 million US dollars. The extent of the damage a CSI event does to a company strongly depends on how much media attention it gets. For example, the market only reacted to CSI cases if four or more U.S. media reported on them.

Therefore, it is important for companies to understand the underlying mechanisms by which news media select events in order to predict bad press and find ways to prevent it.

Professor Dr. Marc Fischer remarked: 'Our results call into question the self-proclaimed independence of the media. Among other things, it was astonishing how much more frequently the misconduct of foreign companies is reported, while in comparison, domestic companies are less frequently the subject of CSI reporting. Besides politicians, who sometimes behave opportunistically, the media exert a great deal of pressure and demand compliance with the highest ethical standards and social norms from public figures and companies. Our research on CSI reporting shows that media companies themselves do not always adhere to the high ethical standards they demand of others.'

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Calif. considers bill to allow low income housing on church property

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A California state senator has proposed a bill that would allow religious groups and nonprofits to build affordable housing on their properties regardless of local zoning laws.

Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco announced the introduction of Senate Bill 899 last Friday, which would allow the construction of affordable housing on properties owned by churches, hospitals, nursing homes and other nonprofit organizations if all units go to lower income families.

Wiener said in a statement last week that the proposed legislation was part of an effort to meet the growing need for affordable housing in the state.

California desperately needs housing of all kinds, including affordable housing for our low income residents, Wiener said.

Churches and other religious and charitable institutions often have land to spare, and they should be able to use that land to build affordable housing and thus further their mission.

Wiener added that his bill ensures that affordable housing can be built and removes local zoning and approval obstacles in order to do so.

Eddie McCoven, spokesman for the Clairemont Lutheran Church of San Diego, expressed support for the legislation in an interview with the libertarian news outlet Reason.

In recent times, Clairemont Lutheran has struggled to get approval for an affordable housing project on their church property due to local zoning restrictions.

If this type of legislation was already in place when we were starting this project, we would be a lot further along than we are, McCoven told Reason.

Any congregation that decides this is something they want to pursue, would probably make it a whole lot easier and a much more streamlined.

Across the country, efforts have been made to have developers and faith-based organizations form partnerships to provide affordable housing for low income households.

In New York City, for example, the group East Brooklyn Congregations has been able to provide 6,000 affordable housing units through its real estate arm, The Nehemiah Housing Development Fund Company.

The Rev. David Bowers of Enterprise Community Partners told The Christian Post in an earlier interview that such partnerships can greatly aid the development of affordable housing.

Theres so much land owned by houses of worship across the country in communities of all sorts. Its one of those universal things in America. And so theres tremendous potential with that land, Bowers said.
NORWALK  The citys public schools will be closed for at least two weeks starting Monday in response to the coronavirus pandemic that reached five cases statewide on Thursday.

Surrounding districts and many schools in the state will be closed Friday for what is expected to be a prolonged period. However, Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said the citys schools will be open Friday and will have a two-hour early dismissal. Students will be told to bring home all necessary school materials, including books and musical instruments.

Norwalk Public Schools closed Thursday to prepare for the digital learning. On Friday, elementary students will receive packets to take home that will cover 10 days of instruction, according to the district website. Students in grades 6 through 12 will pick up Chromebooks and chargers so they will be able to access instruction via Google Classroom.

Special Education staff prepared online and at-home learning plans for students with disabilities, as well as plans for providing services, the district said.

More information will be delivered to parents via email.

The schools are finalizing plans for students who need meals during this time and will release more information on Friday.

Superintendent Stephen Adamowski said in a statement that the district will continue to monitor the spread of coronavirus during the next two weeks and determine when in-person classes can resume.

Earlier on Thursday, Gov. Ned Lamont waived the 180-day requirement for schools to be in session in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Norwalk City Hall will also be open until 1 p.m. Friday before scaling back to limited staff and services until at least March 27. The Norwalk Library will also close during this time.

Board and commission meetings over the next two weeks will be canceled or held via teleconference. Teleconference meetings will be accessible to members of the public by dialing in. Members of the public can also submit comments electronically.

There is a growing concern of coronavirus affecting our residents and community spread is likely. Our health experts determined the best course of action is social distancing. We cannot stop government completely, but I made the tough decision to significantly scale back the services we provide and the number of staff who report to city hall, Rilling said. This was not a decision I came to lightly, and I understand it will cause inconvenience, but my top priority is public safety. I appreciate everyones patience and cooperation as we navigate these unprecedented times together.

The city will post updated agenda and information in the coming days. City officials will also release an updated schedule of department hours and services on Friday.

The scaled back schedule and services will continue at least until March 27. City officials will evaluate conditions going forward before making a decision on when to resume full operations.

Given the ever-changing nature of this pandemic, I remain in constant contact with my top staff, the Norwalk Health Department, and local and state officials. The schedule of City Hall is subject to change, and I will be updating the public routinely over the days and weeks ahead with new developments, Rilling said. I ask the public to avoid heavily populated areas and large gatherings. I strongly encourage local businesses to consider taking necessary actions with their employees and customers. We all must take appropriate measures and precautions to help stop community spread.

While there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Norwalk as of Thursday, Adamowski said in a statement that the Norwalk Health Department said to expect transmission in the area. An elderly man from New Canaan has been hospitalized at Norwalk Hospital and a hospital employee who lives in New York have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Adamowski encouraged families to practice social distancing.

As we are seeing worldwide, COVID-19 coronavirus is changing the way that we interact socially, Adamowski said. While school will be closed for an extended time, we urge you and your students to be aware of all health recommendations for social distancing. After classwork is done, many students will want to gather with friends and find activities. At this time, the Centers for Disease Control suggests social distancing as the most effective way to limit the risk of exposure or spreading the virus. According to the CDC, social distancing includes remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance when possible.

Connecticut has five confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Thursday, but state officials predict 10 to 20 percent of the states population could be infected in the coming month.

Members of the public can sign-up for the citys CodeRED Emergency Alert Notification System at norwalkct.org/codered. Rilling will provide updates on the citys website, social media, and CodeRED.

Those who feel symptomatic should call their doctor for guidance and avoid showing up to an emergency room or doctors office. Residents can call 211 for additional guidance. The most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 will also be shared online at norwalkct.org/coronavirus.

erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com
SALT LAKE CITY, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CoNextions Inc. (www.conextionsmed.com) announced today that it received a 510(k) clearance (K200028) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CoronetTM System, a tenodesis product intended for the fixation of tissue to bone and tissue to tissue. The Coronet's novel design improves the soft tissue fixation strength of these repairs compared to conventional suture repairs. A streamlined delivery system allows for the simultaneous placement of the implant in the bone and soft tissue and provides a knotless repair.

"This 510(k) furthers our mission at CoNextions while putting quality first, improving the lives of patients by revolutionizing soft tissue repair with safe, innovative, and easy to use medical devices," said Jeffrey Barnes, CEO CoNextions Medical. "It is a clear example of our unwavering commitment to creating the most clinically effective and technologically innovative tendon repair solutions. We look forward to Coronet being the first of many exciting products to come."

CoNextions Medical will begin marketing the Coronet in the United States in the second quarter of 2020. The device will be marketed by a network of orthopaedic distributors across the United States.

About CoNextions Inc.

Founded in 2011, CoNextions Inc. is a privately-held company located in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are an innovation-based medical device company dedicated to achieving safer, stronger, and more durable tendon repairs worldwide marked by faster rehabilitation, fewer complications, and lower long-term costs. For additional information about CoNextions, please contact Dan Gruppo, Executive Vice President, (385) 645-8380 or at [email protected].

SOURCE CoNextions Inc.

Related Links

https://www.conextionsmed.com


AMHERST, Mass. - Ecologists in England and Scotland, collaborating with ecologists Christopher Sutherland and Joseph Drake at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, report this week on a new method of identifying an "entire community of mammals" - including elusive and endangered species that are otherwise difficult to monitor - by collecting DNA from river water.

"Some mammal species are notoriously difficult to monitor," says environmental conservation Ph.D. student Drake. He adds that traditional survey methods are often tailored to a specific species, and therefore don't guarantee the detection of many other important species that are also present. Camera traps have improved the way conservation scientists study wildlife, but environmental DNA (eDNA) methods may offer a monitoring tool that could revolutionize conservation and ecology research, Sutherland adds, but the method required testing.

He adds, "We knew the potential of eDNA was massive, but when it comes to conservation, it is extremely important that we validate new approaches, and that's what we set out to do in this study." Details of their international collaborative work are in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

Naiara Sales of the University of Salford, U.K. and UMass's Drake led this study, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Troms, Norway, the universities of Aberdeen, Hull and Sheffield, and Liverpool John Moores University in the U.K. The research takes advantage of the fact that DNA shed from animals, either directly in the water or washed into the river, provides a snapshot of the local mammal community.

Mammologist Allan McDevitt of the University of Salford points out, "We currently use many ways of detecting and monitoring mammals, from looking for signs such as footprints or feces, to using camera traps to take photos of them over several weeks. Now, we may just simply need to collect a few bottles of water and take it to the laboratory and look at the DNA we find."

To test this, the researchers collected water and sediment from streams and rivers in Scotland and England. They found DNA from over 20 wild British mammals and compared the results to historical records, field signs such as fecal samples and cameras. They report that eDNA "provided a similar or better performance in detecting water voles, for example, when compared to looking for water voles using field signs or cameras."

They add that accurately assessing the conservation status and distribution of mammals is increasingly important as many species' populations decline worldwide. Further, surveys using traps, trail cameras and fields signs are time-consuming and costly.

Collaborators for several studies, McDevitt's group, collaborating with Sutherland's group at UMass Amherst, as well as at the universities of Aberdeen and Hull, now believe that using water bodies is an effective way of capturing all the mammals present within a watershed. McDevitt says, "We are always looking for ways to improve biodiversity assessments and monitoring, and we need to find methods which can be applied universally and cost-effectively."

He adds, "We have demonstrated that environmental DNA collected from water bodies is effective for providing us with information about the presence or absence of mammals of conservation concern. This could be used at national levels for monitoring declining or recovering populations, or the early detection of harmful invasive species."

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This work was supported by the British Ecological Society, a University of Salford Internal Research Award, a UMass Amherst Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Grant and Spring 2018 Graduate School Fieldwork Grant.
It was 1996 and grape plantings statewide were increasing a lot slower than the long-term market needed. A shortage of grapes  and thus wine  was evidently on the horizon, a fact most wine people saw looming.

There were several causes:

 Consumer sales were rising. Chardonnay still represented one bottle of every four sold in this country, but Baby Boomers, the largest buying group, showed little interest in grapes outside the commonplace.

 Merlot sales were brisk after the late-1991 60 Minutes report The French Paradox spoke of red wines heart benefits.

 Cabernet Sauvignon prices were still fair and the new category of fine red wine, Meritage, a Cabernet offshoot, had created more interest in the upper-echelon Cab market.

 Zinfandel lovers adored their favorite variety regardless of the styles in which they were made.

 Many so-called Fighting Varietals, a competitive lower-priced niche, were still selling for $10 for three bottles.

By late 1996, it all began to change. It was clear that demand was rising rapidly and U.S. companies began scrambling to get grapes from almost anywhere they were growing.

Chardonnay was still so in-demand that it was being planted in hot areas (such as Bakersfield). The wine shortage prompted many large U.S. wine companies to seek out lower-priced varietal wines for their lower-priced brands from overseas suppliers.

By 1997, the country was awash in wines from Chile, Argentina, Spain, Australia, Brazil, the south of France, Italy, and even places like Moldova, some of it shipped here in bulk, in sea-going containers, to be bottled here.

Some of it even went into multi-liter, bag-in-box packaging.

(South Africa began to export wine here after apartheid ended in 1994. Nelson Mandela was freed in early 1990 after decades in prison.)

The huge importation of cheaper wines had two major consequences here. One was short-term: how would the U.S. wine industry deal with the inevitable surplus of such wines when U.S. farmers did what they always do in austere times: they over-corrected by planting a lot more vineyards than eventually would be needed?

Second, Americans soon realized they liked some of the imported value wines they had discovered. Some continued to be regular buyers of imports and didnt return to U.S.-made versions.

Wines from South America and Australia in particular benefited from the good-value reputations they had developed here as a result of the U.S. shortage of wine.

The changes weve seen here since the 1996-2004 imbalance are, in my view, cataclysmic. Some of the consequences of that shortage are still with us in various forms.

Todays adult beverage market, driven largely by millennial buyers with their eclectic interests in many different types of beverages, has roiled the market in unpredictable ways. Wine is still popular with U.S. consumers, but its being challenged by many other beverages.

The wine market itself has fragmented in terms of variety. More consumers now are interested in wines like Barbera, Pinot Gris, Gruner Veltliner, Primitivo, dry Riesling, rose, Tannat plus cold-climate reds, New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, and a dozen more.

Overall, however, case sales of all wines have declined slightly recently because consumers now have so many other choices, not all of them containing alcohol.

There is now consumer interest in some exotic craft beers (sours, flavored); flavored and alcohol-free cocktails; specialty coffee drinks; hard beverages such as lemonade and ciders; specially aged brandies; exotic tequilas; sherry-cask aged whiskies.

All this competition from segments unrelated to wine has made the wine marketplace an obstacle course that has created major headaches for wine marketers. Wholesale companies formerly worked on substantial markups. Today, all profit margins have shrunk, benefiting savvy consumers  if they do their homework.

Many wines that regularly have sold for $30 to $40 in the last few years now are being seen at $23-$25, and deep discounters (called bombers) are selling these same wines for less than $20.

Internet sales and other direct-to-consumer strategies now compete for dollars once found solely inside the three-tier wine distribution system. Profits in all sectors of the industry are down and vintages are backing up in warehouses to the detriment of wineries images.

Meanwhile, consumers are benefiting from slightly better wines than in the last two decades! This is a direct result of the wine glut.

Right now, pink wines from last years harvest (2019) would normally be hitting store shelves now. But I did a quick survey of California wine shops last week and found that just three or four 2019 rose have been released thus far.

One Southern California retailer, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had yet to sell all of his 2017 dry roses (!) and he was dropping his prices on those wines to get rid of them. He had no 2019s yet.

The real benefit to consumers is that many wines are not being sold into the marketplace as quickly as in recent years, and this is a great advantage for consumers. The reason is simply that over the last decade or two, far too many wines have been rushed to market without the time they needed to integrate their aromas and flavors.

Many were still awkward and were released far earlier than was optimum.

Wine is a living product. Soon after fermentations end, most projects can be called wine, but in most cases, much of it is little more than alcoholic grape juice. Holding it at the winery until prior vintages sell helps many wines develop.

Most such held-back wines take on secondary, or even tertiary, characteristics that benefit consumers in more complexity, depth, and personality. Even rose wines that are typically consumed very young are better for a little extra time before being shipped to market.

The wine glut is now forecast to be with us for at least two more years, so many wines wont be shipped until they are in much better condition to be evaluated.

Moreover, in times of grape shortages, many wineries make use of Grade B fruit. Today, with such a huge surplus of grapes and wine, winemakers can be choosy and eschew mediocre options. They can use better-quality fruit for all wines.

Its true that many dark red wines are already being shipped to market from the 2017 vintage. This isnt even 2 from the vintage. Thats far too soon for the wines to be properly evaluated. Decades ago, Napa Valley Cabernet producers would wait four full years (or more) before releasing their regular Cabs, and would wait nearly five for their reserves.

Today, if you shop around, youll still be able to buy many red wines from the excellent 2016, 2015, and even 2014 vintages. All will be in better shape than those same wines showed years ago as infants.

Wine of the Week: 2018 Sonoma-Cutrer Rose of Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($25): This striking pink wine has the classic strawberry/watermelon aroma of the grape variety, and its a bit like a traditional French vin gris, but with hints of a fine blanc de noirs, with faint brioche notes. The wine is dry, but its mid-palate is slightly richer than bone dry, so there is a very light succulence in the mid-palate. And the finish is dry. The 2019 is just out, but this year-earlier version has the benefit of a bit more red-wine personality. It is often seen discounted to about $20.

Dan Berger lives in Sonoma County, where he publishes Vintage Experiences, a subscription-only wine newsletter. Write to him at winenut@gmail.com. He is also co-host of California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon on KSRO Radio, 1350 AM.
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

18-year-old man's swab sample collected to check for coronavirus in Aurangabad

India

oi-PTI

Aurangabad, Mar 12: 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.

45-year-old man tests positive for coronavirus in Nagpur

"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.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

"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.

Bengaluru: 2 Dell, Mindtree employees test positive for coronavirus

Swab of a 29-year-man residing in Aurangabad was collected 2-3 days ago, but his report came negative, Kulkarni said.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 8:58 [IST]
On Wednesday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted a morning tea to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Voice, Interests and Education of Women (VIEW) Clubs of Australia, and the Governor addressed guests.

Following, at Corinda, His Excellency and Mrs de Jersey visited St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School and attended an assembly celebrating International Women's Day, where the Governor addressed guests.

In the afternoon, at Government House, His Excellency received the High Commissioner for South Africa to Australia, His Excellency Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
PARIS - European officials strongly condemned President Donald Trump's decision to severely restrict travel from Europe to the United States on Thursday, a sudden move that took them by surprise and that many saw as politically motivated.

Of all the slights between Washington and Europe in recent years, the new travel restrictions represented a blow beyond previous disputes. In a short statement - rare in its directness - the European Union expressed exasperation.

"The Coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," the statement read, co-signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.

"The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation."

The ire from Brussels was another sign of just how little the two sides appear to be coordinating their response to the pandemic. European officials scrambling to play catch-up Thursday to understand the reasoning behind the ban. The U.S. Mission to the European Union declined to answer questions about how it was explaining the restrictions to European colleagues.

Most of Europe woke to the news shocked by Trump's order, and markets plummeted in the aftermath of the White House announcement.

In Britain, the benchmark FTSE 100 index, which tracks the 100 largest firms on the London stock exchange, fell after Thursday morning on news of Trump's travel ban. The steep drop brought the FTSE to its lowest level in eight years. France's CAC 40 index fell by more than 10%. Germany's DAX index fell by 9%.

Wall Street followed suit. Stocks plunged deeper after days of major losses. As in Europe, the U.S. sell-off was driven in part by fallout from Trump's travel block.

The details of Trump's travel restrictions also confounded many European leaders and policymakers, underscoring the view that the decision was largely political.

Trump's ban on flights covered only the Schengen area, the European Union's border-free travel zone, a 26-nation region that does not include Britain or Ireland. The European Union has been a regular target for Trump's irritation, and he has praised Britain for quitting the bloc. But there are more cases of coronavirus in Britain than in many of the countries covered by the ban.

Across the 26 nations hit by the ban, there were 21,080 active cases of coronavirus as of Thursday morning, and 952 deaths, according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University. Italy was the locus of the pandemic, with more than half of the active cases - 10,590 - and the vast majority of deaths, 827.

Britain had 430 active cases and eight deaths, while Ireland had 42 active cases and one death. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar planned to meet Trump on Thursday in Washington as part of St. Patrick's Day events.

Some in Europe wondered whether Britain and Ireland were exempted because they contain Trump-owned properties.

In any case, the decision appeared to confound even leaders of the British government and former U.S. homeland security officials, who said scientific evidence did not support travel restrictions.

Critics of the ban said travel restrictions - such as those imposed on China early in the crisis - not longer make sense since coronavirus is now global. The energy and resources on the closures would be better spent on expanding U.S. hospital capacity, some experts said.

"With regard to flight bans we are always guided by the science as we make our decisions here. The advice we are getting is that there isn't evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infections," Rishi Sunak, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, told the BBC.

Thomas Bossert, a former U.S. Homeland Security adviser to Trump, also dismissed the value of flight bans.

"There's little value to European travel restrictions. Poor use of time & energy," Bossert said Thursday on Twitter. "Earlier, yes. Now, travel restrictions/screening are less useful. We have nearly as much disease here in the US as the countries in Europe. We MUST focus on layered community mitigation measures-Now!"

In continental Europe, many felt that the White House's decision was another political strike at already enfeebled transatlantic relationship between the United States and some of its closest allies.

"Trump needed a narrative to exonerate his administration from any responsibility in the crisis. The foreigner is always a good scapegoat. The Chinese has already been used. So, let's take the European, not any Europe, the EU-one," said Gerard Araud, France's former ambassador to the U.S., in a statement posted on Twitter. "Doesn't make sense but [it is] ideologically healthy."

In his announcement, Trump specifically referred to what he called a "foreign virus" that "started in China and is now spreading throughout the world."

The move added to the sense that the world's industrial powers were failing to work with one another to contain the virus, and might even be working against one another.

Under previous presidents, the United States has often taken the lead in directing a coordinated global response to world challenges. Trump has sought to minimize the virus, undermine his scientific advisers and blame other countries for the pandemic. He has tangled with European countries for three years on issues of defense spending, climate change and trade.

"Any attempt to contain the #CoronaOutbreak is welcome, but the decision of @realDonaldTrump to exclude the UK from a European travel ban is nothing short of irresponsible," wrote former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, on Twitter. "Viruses do not recognise borders. Decisions should be based on facts, not politics."

Trump's announcement led to panic at various European airports. American travelers scrambled to change their tickets onto U.S. bound flights at the last minute, often at premium prices.

The lack of a coordinated response seemed to extend inside Europe, too. The Czech Republic on Thursday announced limited border restrictions with Austria and Germany. The move came a day after Austria said Italians could only cross its frontiers if they can produce a recent test certifying that they are coronavirus-free.

- - -

Quentin Aries in Brussels, William Booth in London and Rick Noack in Berlin contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) --

Both U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinas Xi Jinping have good reasons to deflect political blame for the coronavirus outbreak. And that has both of them zeroing in on the pathogens name.

As the disease formally designated as COVID-19 expands across the U.S., Trump and other top Republicans have sought to highlight the outbreaks foreign origin and even use it to justify curbs on immigration -- including a wall on the southern border with Mexico. On Tuesday, Trump retweeted supporter Charlie Kirk calling it the China virus -- with the president agreeing we need the Wall more than ever!

In a major prime time television address about the virus Wednesday night, Trump made numerous references to China, referred to the disease as a foreign virus and said sweeping travel restrictions on China imposed by the U.S. had prevented the scale of outbreaks now seen in Europe. It started in China and is now spreading throughout the world, Trump said.

Thats a characterization that Beijing has been fighting since the virus was first discovered in humans in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December. Chinese diplomats and state media have pushed back against terms like the Wuhan flu wherever they turn up, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian arguing last week that no conclusion has been reached yet on the origin of the virus.

By calling it China virus and thus suggesting its origin without any supporting facts or evidence, some media clearly want China to take the blame and their ulterior motives are laid bare, Zhao said.

The World Health Organization named the disease COVID-19 -- short for coronavirus disease 2019 -- in part to avoid stigmatizing any one place or group for a virus that poses risks to everyone. Robert Redfield, the director of the U.S.s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agreed that the term Chinese coronavirus was inappropriate when asked about Trumps tweet at a congressional hearing Tuesday.

Story continues

The term has caught on among some Republicans anxious about the political fallout, as financial markets endure their worst turmoil in a decade and Democrats assail the Trump administrations early response on the campaign trail. Similarly, Xis Communist Party wants to suppress the phrase at home and abroad to minimize its own responsibility for a disease that has infected more than 118,000 people and threatens to push the global economy into recession.

Lose-Lose

The tense back-and-forth over what to call the virus is the latest chapter in a broader clash between the worlds two largest economies that ranges from trade and military competition to network equipment made by Huawei Technologies Co. Its also a continuation of a diplomatic spat that began when the U.S. accused Beijing of delaying visits to China by American health experts, and risks hampering global efforts to combat the rapidly spreading outbreak.

The geopolitical blame game is likely to be lose-lose for China and America, said Rory Medcalf, a professor who heads the National Security College at the Australian National University. This global health and economic crisis began with Chinas suppression of truth domestically. But the world will lose an opportunity to cope with the dangers through honest cooperation, if both Washington and Beijing dont move quickly now to focus on global solutions -- not finger-pointing narratives.

The debate intensified after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo complained during a March 6 Fox News interview that China wasnt being transparent about what he called the Wuhan virus. Asked about the term, he said Chinese officials acknowledged that the disease began there: Dont take my word for it, take theirs. Theyre right on this one.

Despicable

Chinas foreign ministry hit back, denouncing Pompeos terminology as despicable.

Despite the fact that the WHO has officially named this novel type of coronavirus, a certain American politician, disrespecting science and the WHO decision, jumped at the first chance to stigmatize China and Wuhan with it, ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular briefing on Monday. Asked again Wednesday, Geng said such rhetoric was not conducive to a concerted international effort to combat the epidemic.

In China, where most confirmed cases and deaths have occurred, Xi has been struggling to control the political narrative. He replaced top political leaders in Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei last month after a rare public outcry over the governments response to the disease, which was first found in humans near a food market that sold wildlife.

The virus is also now dominating the U.S. political agenda, with former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders criticizing Trumps handling of the outbreak and canceling their own events to avoid worsening it. Several Republican lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, have quarantined themselves as a precaution after coming into contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the chambers top Republican, defended a tweet describing the disease as the Chinese coronavirus. That led Representative Lois Frankel, of Florida, to press the CDCs Redfield whether he would agree that such terminology was absolutely wrong and inappropriate.

Yes, Redfield said. China was the first phase. Korea and Iran was the second phase, with Italy, now all of Europe.

(Updates with Trump remarks in third paragraph.)

--With assistance from Dandan Li.

To contact the reporter on this story: Iain Marlow in Hong Kong at imarlow1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Brendan Scott at bscott66@bloomberg.net, Daniel Ten Kate

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.
Maharashtra's Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday said the cabinet has said that either the Indian Premier League (IPL) should be postponed or it should be played behind closed doors.

"The cabinet discussed the matter regarding IPL and we are of the view that big gatherings should be avoided. We have two options, IPL should be done without spectators or else matches should be postponed," Tope told reporters.

The Central government has suspended all visas to India till April 15 as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus and this has put IPL's scheduling in doubt.

The Health Ministry has also issued guidelines and has asked all federations to avoid large public gatherings.

Earlier in the day, sources within the IPL's governing council had said that the foreign players would not be available for the tournament due to the visa restrictions.

"Yes, foreign players will not be available. We will discuss this and other issues at our governing council meeting scheduled for March 14," a source in IPL governing council had told ANI.

The 13th edition of IPL is scheduled to commence from March 29, with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings meeting at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the first match.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday had declared the coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' and expressed deep concerns.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pennsylvanias state laws, unfortunately, make it hard for the commonwealth to follow what seems to work in other places when it comes to handling coronavirus. Read more

This week, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus a pandemic, Philadelphia announced its first confirmed case, and New Jersey had a first patient die. Meanwhile, countries around the world, like South Korea and China, are controlling the spread through mass testing (for coronavirus and fever) and extreme social distancing. Other places, like Japan, provide assistance for people who cannot work.

Pennsylvanias state laws, unfortunately, make it hard for the commonwealth to follow what seems to work in other places. Harrisburg lawmakers are not known for accomplishing big things for the public good in a bipartisan manner. Considering the urgent need for action, when the state House and Senate reconvene on Monday, the first thing on the agenda should be passing a slew of bills to facilitate Pennsylvanias ability to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

Provide more data on testing and cases

Clear and accurate information is more important than ever in a time of a health crisis. Last week, Spotlight PA reported that because of a 1955 law, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has an impenetrable shield that keeps them from releasing details about coronavirus cases  including the number of people tested, the number under quarantine, the ages of those testing positive, or the municipalities where cases were confirmed.

When a woman tested positive for coronavirus in Delaware County, the Health Department would not disclose in which municipality she was located, frustrating both residents and county representatives  and setting a bad precedent for keeping the public informed. State Sens. Tim Kearney (D., Delaware) and Tom Killion (R., Delaware) sent the Department of Health a letter calling for more transparency. In the absence of official information, speculation rose on social media.

After the Spotlight PA story, the Department of Health published a website with the overall number of people tested in Pennsylvania. It still falls short of the kind of information the public needs.

Striking a balance between protection and transparency is difficult. But there are clear ways for this law to be overhauled (a Joint State Government Commission proposed a rewritten law in 2013 providing more leniency on releasing unidentified data). Legislators should define what data is necessary for local officials and the public to respond to the coronavirus, and require the Department of Health to release it. Tallies of tests with results, the number of people quarantined by county, and the municipality where tests are confirmed should not threaten privacy and would improve local response.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania isnt releasing details on coronavirus cases because of a decades-old law

 READ MORE: Pennsylvanias health department is keeping coronavirus details from local officials

Support isolation and quarantine

Social distancing is the correct coronavirus response. That includes 14 days of isolation for people who are ill or quarantine for people who were potentially exposed to the virus.

Rebecca Katz, director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University, says that isolation and quarantine should be thought of as similar to jury duty: an inconvenience that citizens participate in out of social responsibility. State law protects jurors from loss of employment due to the time they missed. Pa.s isolation and quarantine law, however, does not offer any employment protection  even though it is for the greater good.

Last week, State Sen. Steven J. Santarsiero (D., Bucks) introduced a cosponsorship memorandum for a bill that would provide employment protections during times of public health emergencies. The bill, still being drafted, would give employees job security even if they dont have sick leave  an important step to protect workers acting in the benefit of the publics good.

 READ MORE: A Pennsylvania couple were celebrating their anniversary. Then coronavirus broke out on the cruise ship.

Other changes to help low-income people

Low incomes create major barriers to social distancing. The state should act to remove as many barriers as possible.

State law prevents state regulated utilities  PGW and PECO in Philadelphia  from shutting off service for low-income costumers between Dec. 1 and March 31. The moratorium needs to be extended until the quarantine recommendation is removed.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides low-income families with grants to pay their utility bills. The program should be extended this year beyond the April 10 cutoff. In previous years, the program ended the season with leftover funds. That should allow for an extension without new appropriations.

Last year, the General Assembly killed the General Assistance program that helped some 10,000 people cover basic needs by providing $200 monthly checks. A mechanism like General Assistance to administer small cash grants could help people to stay at home during this pandemic.

Twelve states and D.C. have enacted paid sick leave policies. Pennsylvania is not one of them. The state should enact a paid leave policy immediately.

The coronavirus crisis is an opportunity for lawmakers to find common ground and prove it can take swift action for the common good.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 20:58:59|Editor: huaxia

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ADEN, Yemen, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The newly-recruited southern military forces on Thursday decided to raise its combat readiness in the Yemeni port city of Aden, citing soaring tension with the government forces.

"The newly-recruited southern forces announced the lifting of the combat readiness of some military units in view of the escalating situation in Aden," a senior military official based in Aden said on condition of anonymity.

"High-ranking military commanders of the pro-secession southern forces attended a closed meeting and decided to begin military preparations to defend their lands," he added.

Witnesses said heavy forces backed by armored vehicles were deployed across the streets and around the main entrances leading to the strategic port city of Aden.

The recent tension is set to escalate after Saudi Arabia prevented senior southern political leaders from returning to Aden on Thursday.

Officials of the Aden-based Southern Transitional Council (STC) that signed a Saudi-brokered peace deal last year with the internationally-recognized government to end a power struggle were also blocked from returning to Aden.

The Saudi-brokered deal that included forming a new power-sharing government equally between the two warring rivals was not fully implemented, causing the tension to escalate in the country's southern provinces.

The STC, a key ally of the Saudi-led Arab coalition, released a press statement through their media outlets to protest the Saudi decision to prevent the southern leaders from returning to Aden.

"Blocking the southern leaders from returning to Aden was a dangerous precedent that could trigger a popular uprising in the south which would be devastating," the statement said.

Earlier in the day, Saudi Arabia urged all parties of the Riyadh Agreement to work together for the best interests of Yemenis, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

In a statement carried by the SPA, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the parties should work to implement the agreement giving priority to the higher interests with a sense of their national responsibility.

Last year, Saudi Arabia persuaded the STC and the Yemeni government to hold reconciliation talks, which reached a deal to form a new technocrat cabinet of no more than 24 ministers.

The deal also included the return of the exiled Yemeni government to Aden and the unification of all military units under the authority of the country's interior and defense ministries.

The Saudi-brokered deal excluded the Iran-backed Houthis who are still controlling the capital Sanaa and other northern provinces of the war-torn Arab country.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi rebels overran much of the country and seized all northern areas including Sanaa.
Amsterdam: Italian doctors say the coronavirus pandemic may mean patients over a certain age could be banned from intensive care units and left to die to give others a better chance of survival.

The advice  distributed by the Italian College of Anaesthesia, Analgesia, Resuscitation and Intensive Care amid a rapidly escalating outbreak in Europe  warns of the difficult moral and ethical decisions facing doctors and nurses as COVID-19 spreads and overwhelms public hospitals.

An Italian medico holds a coronavirus test kit outside a temporary medical facility set up to deal with coronavirus cases. Credit:LaPresse

Likening the need to subject infected patients to triage systems set up for wars or natural disasters, the doctors said the "first come, first served" basis of admission to scarce intensive care beds would need to be changed.

"It might become necessary to set an age limit on those entering intensive care," the advice said.
The last few weeks have been humbling for those of us who make prognostications about the direction the oil markets may take. Especially so for the bulls, folks who think for whatever reason, oil should go up in price. Since mid-2014 that notion, with a few brief respites that analysts often call a suckers bounce, has proven to be continuously false. Every buy on the dip, recommendation has turned to compounded losses for energy investors, particularly those who dipped their toes into North American shale.

The failure of OPEC+ (which we will discuss a little later in the article) to come to an agreement on further cuts was the breaking point for many investors resulting in a market looking for price discovery for oil and not finding it until the ~$30 level. On Monday, March 8thoil fell farther than it had ever done so before in a single day, dropping 24 percent before settling at $31.13/bbl.

There is much discussion in the market now as to what effect this will have on shale drillers who seemed to have been dancing a credit, and wells productivity tight-rope the last couple of years. This in a relatively benign market that saw prices in the $55.00-60/bbl, where most agreed they could thrive. Most had seen share prices decline since the heady days of 2017, so surviving on cheap credit to drill new wells is probably a more apt term than thrive. What holds for them now that oil is $25-30 a barrel less in the space of a couple of months?

Being an analytical sort of fellow I like to look back at past indicators of economic trends to help me understand the present and try and forecast the future. In this article we will review highlights of the last Dallas Fed Energy survey.

First a brief Introduction to the U.S. Federal Reserve System

Some background for international and lay readers. The Federal Reserve System is the chief instrument of regulating monetary policy in the United States of America, and is sometimes referred as the Central Bank. It was established in 1913 to control banking panics, by the congressional passage of the Federal Reserve Act. It has two primary remits. Promotion of maximum employment, and stabilizing prices.

In practice it has broad powers to regulate the supply of money and facilitate the stability of the banking system. Its actions were primarily responsible for the U.S. recovery from the market crash of 2008.

It is comprised of twelve regional District Banks, and Region 11 monitors the geographic area that includes the Permian Basin. This region is known as the Dallas Fed.

Source- Federal Reserve site

As part of its remit, the Dallas Fed conducts a quarterly survey of energy executives that participate in the Permian and South Texas oil and gas markets. It is an anonymous exercise, so we don't know who the cohort is that makes up the responses, but its broad enough (161 firms participating) that we can give some credence to it.

We spend time on this in part because of its focus on the Permian which I view as being the only shale play that matters. I've made this point previously due to the quality, extent, and oiliness of the Permian. All the others are gassier, thinner, and don't have the logistical advantages of the Permian. This was discussed in a prior article in OilPrice a couple of months ago.

With this preamble, let's dive in.

Price expectations for WTI

What this first chart reveals is there were some fairly rosy expectations for the crude price for the coming year in about half of the respondents. A lot that optimism was probably the result of the Phase-1 trade deal with China, which although not signed until late Jan, 2020, was pretty much in place by the time of the survey.

It didn't take long for the professional analysts to begin revising their global growth forecasts higher.

On the positive side, market sentiment has been boosted by tentative signs that manufacturing activity and global trade are bottoming out, a broad-based shift toward accommodative monetary policy, intermittent favorable news on US-China trade negotiations, and diminished fears of a no-deal Brexit, leading to some retreat from the risk-off environment that had set in at the time of the October WEO. However, few signs of turning points are yet visible in global macroeconomic data.

IMF

As with all of these its sometimes funny to look back and see what was expected vs what turned out to be the case. "No Deal Brexit," for example, remember that one? As it turned out that's exactly what happened.

Of course, no sooner was the ink dry on that report than news of Covid-19 began to seep in the market, quickly washing away any benefit expectation from the trade deal with China. I imagine the IMF would like to bury this report.

Dallas Fed

With advent of the spat between the Saudis and Russia a new price era is in store for shale. Its early days and we will have to see how this plays out. There are arguments for and against the two countries patching up their differences. Both are persuasive. Time will tell. Related: Crashing Oil Prices Force U.S. Oil Firms To Cut Budgets

Expectations for capital spending in 2020

As you might then expect from the price chart above, projections for capex devoted to shale were tilted to the bullish side, with 60 percent of respondents indicating they would hold firm or increases slightly. Only about 8 percent intended to plow big gobs of new capital into shale drilling.

Dallas Fed

I find this to be moderately encouraging. Most survey takers - 65 percent - were holding firm or decreasing capex somewhat. 22 percent planned to seriously rein in capex, indicating to me that even the near to low $50's were getting for WTI just a few short weeks ago wasn't delivery the kind of returns needed to stay in business long term.

With oil likely to rebound to the mid-$30s and stay there until shale production starts to decline (a topic we will address shortly), or there is some unexpected rapprochement in OPEC+ (something I am starting to doubt after initially leaning that way.)

Price needed to generate Net Positive Cash Flow

This is a little stunning to be honest. 60 percent of the firms that replied to this question need prices higher than $50/bbl. 38 percent need prices over $55.

Dallas Fed

Only about 13 percent said they could make money in the most likely price scenario for WTI, with a bare 5-ish percent below cash flow positive at the present $34-ish price.

My conclusion would be that many of those in the upper 60 percent will be reducing activity dramatically in this new price era. I will have more commentary on this in the "Your Takeaway" section.

DUC's

Drilled but UnCompleted wells have helped to grow production over the last year, even as new drilling has declined. This chart from Rystad suggests that one reason for this is it substantially cheaper to bring these on than drill new wells.

Rystad

To be honest here, the logic of this graph escapes me, although its point is plain-many DUCs are uneconomic at today's crude price. It suggests that for 80 percent of DUCs breakeven pricing is around $25/bbl. That seems awfully low. Perhaps if they are talking about DUCs that have already been fracked, then that might make sense.

One problem with DUCs is how they are classified. The EIA (the main semi-reliable source of hard data pertaining to oil) doesn't provide information on just what was done to a well before P&Aing (Plugging and Abandoning). There is reasonable cause to question whether a completion was actually installed prior to P&Aing. That's because ~70 percent of the cost of the well lies in the completion. Related: Saudi Arabia Strikes Back At Russia In Key Oil Market

If you were operating wells, would you spend ~$6 mm to install a completion and then put into DUC storage? There might be reasons for you to do just that-perhaps the pipeline connection isn't ready for example. There may be others that escape me now. But, more often than not if you've got $6-8 mm tied up in a well, you'd like to turn it around as quickly as possible.

Notions that DUCs will keep the monthly EIA daily oil production tally rolling higher are probably misplaced. Why spend money to lose money? (Although I could be chided for asking this questioning of folks who collectively have managed to never have produced free cash flow, while accumulating 200 bn in debt.)

Food for thought.

Your takeaway

What the Dallas Fed Survey reveals is there was quite a bit of exuberance in the minds of the oil company execs in December, of 2019. Perhaps it was because it was close to Christmas, and no one had heard of Covid-19 yet.

No article on shale production would be complete these days, since OPEC+ fell apart anyway, without a comment on that stalemate. Cutting the way to higher prices was always doomed to failure with shale roaring ahead. What's puzzling is that it took so long to figure this out. After all they'd been doing this for a couple of years, while shale production...just ate their lunch. The point of another cut escaped the Russians who have a bit of a chip on their shoulder toward America to begin with thanks to sanctions on some of their key oil players, like Rosneft and its Nord Stream II pipeline. Now it appears the Saudis are catching on that it's time to apply some tough love to their American shale counter parts.

My bet over the short haul is this is going to happen. Both countries understand who the real enemy is and are taking direct aim at Bubba in the Texas oilpatch.

Longer term, fair questions have to be asked. Do the Russians really want to spend down their ~$570 bn cash reserves selling cheap oil? Theyve been making a killing off relatively high oil prices the last decade, and theres no guarantee they can amass a fortune like this again. On the flip side, can the Saudis maintain this for very long, given their own funding shortfall. They too have a bunch of cash, but are in the same pickle as the Russians, when its gone, its gone.

The answer may lie in just how fast shale production falls.

Taking all of this information into account what can we expect from Permian operators post the OPEC+ debacle?

Drilling will fall off a cliff. The last Baker Hughes survey reported a Permian count of about 404 rigs last week. I think this week it will be down another 50 and likely be cut in half over the next month. Using simple sums a 200 rig drop would take 160 K bopd off the market.

DUCs will remain stagnant if we can believe the Rystad chart noted above. When the decline in drilling, and DUCs remaining in inventory, are added to the natural decline rate for shale it means we might see another half million barrels a day fall in production over the next month or so. Conceivably about -800 K BOEPD in a very short period.

In short low prices, the thing that will kill off about half the shale industry will be the very thing that the rest of shale producers need to get the price back to levels where they can make money.

As I stated in my last article for OilPrice, Whats Next For North American Shale, the future of shale belongs to big companies with; Great rock, naturally advantaged oil-prone reservoirs, Superior technology, the ability to frac in 4D as an example, Logistical advantages, raw material supply chain in basin, Low cost of production, relates to naturally advantaged reservoirs, but includes the ability to drill more wells with less money than competitors, Economy of scale, massive acreage positions that enable multi-well pads for efficient draining of the reservoir.

I think better days lie ahead for the survivals, but expect rough times in the interim.

By David Messler for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
(ANSAMed) - ATHENS, 12 MAR - Migrants and refugees were involved in new violent clashes with Greek forces overnight as they attempted to cross the border from Turkey ahead of the arrival of Frontex chief in the area for meetings with Greece's Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis on Thursday.



Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri arrived at the Kastanies crossing area on the Greek-Turkish border in the Evros region on Thursday morning to meet with Chrysochoidis and monitor the deployment of dozens of guards from the European border agency.



Frontex has teamed up with several other European Union member-states to send reinforcement guards to aid the effort of the Greek police and military personnel to protect the land border with Turkey in the area as thousands of migrants and refugees continue to gather and make attempts to cross from Turkey.



The government's spokesperson, Stelios Petsas, said that the state was not concerned that Turkey would lead Greece into a conflict over the ongoing crisis.



"We are not afraid and we are not worried," Petsas told Greek broadcaster Open TV.



He added: "We are doing everything we can and need to do to protect our borders, which are also Europe's borders. Mr.



Erdogan is ruffled and is trying too hard on far too many fronts. And none of these efforts are turning out well for him, leaving Turkey in a position of isolation. The reason he is in this situation is of his own doing, because of the practices of creating media storms, using propaganda, fake news, and aggressive comments." "We want good neighborly relations with Turkey. And we can't stress this enough. When this provocative behavior ends, the road will be open for him, with the support of Europe and from our side." Meanwhile, just 24 hours earlier, Greek broadcaster Skai TV reported that following two days of relative quiet, a fresh attempt by migrants to cross into Greece from Turkey at the Evros border caused new tensions.



Greek police had to defend themselves against petrol bombs and teargas thrown by migrants and refugees from the Turkish side of the border fences, while the Greek authorities also stopped migrants who had tried to cut a hole in the fence to pass through.



The migrants were dispersed and moved back from the area by Greek police who used teargas and water cannons.



According to figures released by the government, the security forces and the army prevented the illegal entry into Evros of 741 people during the last 24 hours (from 06.00 on Wednesday to 06.00 on Thursday).



At the same time, three arrests were made, with two people arrested coming from Tonga and one from Pakistan.(ANSAMed).
Child care remains ruinously expensive in most Canadian cities, with Toronto parents paying the highest median fees in the country at an eye-popping $21,000 a year for infants, according to the latest annual survey.

In cities where provinces have introduced fee caps and other measures, parents are getting some relief, according to the report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives being released Thursday.

But too often that relief is modest and fleeting, says report co-author David Macdonald, senior economist for the left-leaning think tank.

There have certainly been experiments in policy, but there is a lot of nuance as to whether, in the long term, they will actually reduce fees for parents, he said in an interview.

Over the past two years, parents in Brampton and Mississauga saw median preschool fees drop by an average of 9 per cent and 1 per cent respectively to $955 and $1,042 a month, the report shows.

But those savings will evaporate in May when Peel Region ends a $12-a-day fee reduction program due to recent Ontario child care cuts, Macdonald noted.

In Alberta, Conservative Premier Jason Kenney is expected to cancel the previous NDP governments $25-a-day pilot program that helped to lower fees in some Calgary and Edmonton centres, he added.

Only in Quebec, where programs receive generous provincial funding and fees have been capped for more than two decades at $5-, $7- and now $8.25-a day, is child care truly affordable for most parents, says the survey of 2019 fees.

Toronto mother Carolina Studart has lived the shocking difference. She and her partner Samuel Leclerc moved from Montreal in 2018 where monthly fees for children of all ages amount to just $179 in publicly funded centres and homes, which run about 70 per cent of the licensed spots in that province.

Today, the couple pays their local child care centre $2,058 a month to care for their 2-year-old daughter Eva.

I couldnt believe it when we came here, Studart said. We are considered too rich to get a (child care) subsidy, but after paying for rent and daycare, we are really too poor to have a nice quality of life.

Other provinces should look at Quebec where women are supported to go back to work after having children, she added.

Studart, who is completing her PhD in organizational psychology, says she feels lucky she can rely on Leclercs income as an information technology worker.

If I didnt have this person in my life, I would have to stay home with Eva and I wouldnt be able to pursue my career, she said.

The annual survey, now in its sixth year, found cities in southern Ontario continue to charge the highest child care fees in Canada with Toronto parents still paying the most at $1,774 a month for an infant, or $21,288 a year.

Median monthly fees for Toronto toddlers (age 18 months to 2-1/2) top $1,457, and preschoolers (age 2-1/2 to 4)  the largest age category for licensed spaces in the country  cost $1,207, according to the report, which examined fees in licensed centres and homes in 37 cities across the country last October.

Toronto, Oakville and the Nunavut capital of Iqaluit, which was surveyed for the first time last year, are virtually tied for the most costly preschool care, where parents pay median monthly fees of between $1,207 and $1,213, the report says.

The next highest preschool fees were in Calgary at $1,075 a month.

The report, which for the first time includes information about cities in every province and territory, focuses on what has happened to fees since 2017 when Ottawa announced new child care funding for the provinces based on the goals of accessibility, affordability, quality, inclusiveness and flexibility.

As in previous years, it found fees are lowest when services are supported by public operating funds and fees are capped province-wide.

Fees also tend to be lower in non-profit centres as opposed to those operated by for-profit businesses, the report shows.

In three-quarters of the 25 cities that kept comparable data for both for-profit and non-profit centres, fees for preschoolers were at least 10-per-cent higher in for-profit centres, according to the report.

In Calgary, Richmond, B.C., Richmond Hill, Ont., and Edmonton, preschool fees were 50-per-cent to 60-per-cent higher at for-profit centres, the report says.

In Toronto, preschool fees were 31 per cent more costly in for-profit centres than non-profit centres, the report says.

Between 2017 and 2019, the largest change in preschool fees was in St. Johns, N.L., where median fees dropped by 24 per cent due to a new provincial fee cap.

In Ontario, preschool fees fell in Windsor, Hamilton and Brampton by between 9 per cent and 15 per cent, largely due to municipal fee reduction programs funded through the provinces 2017 bilateral agreement with Ottawa, the report says.

Vaughan and Markham, which didnt introduce fee reduction programs, saw the largest fee increase of all Canadian cities since 2017 at 9 per cent and 15 per cent respectively, it notes.

But fee reductions to parents dont work everywhere, the report cautions, as centres in many B.C. cities hiked fees to match  and in some cases exceed  the amount parents received in rebates. As a result, many parents were no further ahead, despite increased government spending.

Fees remained low only in cities where the province set caps, the report says.

Policy elements like fee regulation, public funding and whether the service is profit-seeking have a significant impact on what parents pay, and how affordable services are, said report co-author Martha Friendly of the Childcare Research and Resource Unit.

But good comprehensive child care policy must be designed to address affordability, quality and accessibility simultaneously because the three are interconnected, she added. We have data about what works. Its time to act.
More than 35 million Americans take statin drugs daily to lower their blood cholesterol levels. Now, in experiments with human cells in the laboratory, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have added to growing evidence that the ubiquitous drug may kill cancer cells and have uncovered clues to how they do it.

The findings, say the researchers, enhance previous evidence that statins could be valuable in combating some forms of cancer. In unrelated studies, other Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have studied how statins may cut the risk for aggressive prostate cancer.

"There have been epidemiological indications that people who take statins long term have fewer and less aggressive cancers, and that statins can kill cancer cells in the laboratory, but our research was not initially designed to investigate possible biological causes of these observations," says Peter Devreotes, Ph.D., Issac Morris and Lucille Elizabeth Hay Professor of Cell Biology.

Results of the new research appeared Feb. 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Devreotes and his team began the new study with an unbiased screen of about 2,500 drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to see which ones had the best kill rate of cells genetically engineered to have a mutation in a cancer gene called PTEN. The gene codes for an enzyme that suppresses tumor growth. Among the thousands of drugs, statins and in particular pitavastatin, emerged as a top contender in cancer-killing ability. Most of the other drugs had no effect or killed normal and engineered cells at the same rate. Equal concentrations of pitavastatin caused cell death in nearly all of the engineered cells, but very in few normal cells.

Devreotes and his team then looked at the molecular pathways that statins were likely to affect. It's well known, for example, that statins block a liver enzyme that makes cholesterol, but the drug also blocks the creation of a small molecule called geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, or GGPP, which is responsible for connecting cellular proteins to cellular membranes.

When the researchers added pitavastatin and GGPP to human cancer cells with PTEN mutations, the researchers found that GGPP prevented the statin's killing effects and the cancer cells survived, suggesting that GGPP may be a key ingredient to cancer cell survival.

Next, looking under a microscope at cells engineered to lack the enzyme that makes GGPP, Devreotes and his team saw that as the cells began to die, they stopped moving. Under normal circumstances, cancer cells are a bundle of moving energy, consuming massive amounts of nutrients to maintain their unchecked growth. They maintain this breakneck pace by creating straw-like protrusions from their surface to drink up nutrients from the surrounding environment.

Suspecting that the non-moving cancer cells were literally "starving to death," Devreotes says, the scientists then measured the statin-treated cells' intake by adding a fluorescent tag to proteins in the cells' environment.

Normal human cells glowed brightly with the fluorescent tag, suggesting that these cells ingested protein from their surroundings regardless of whether the scientists added statins to the mix of nutrients and cells. However, human cancer cells with PTEN mutations took in almost no glowing proteins after the scientists added statins. The inability of the statin-treated cancer cells to make the protrusions needed take up proteins leads to their starvation.

Devreotes says his team plans further research on the effects of statins in people with cancer and compounds that block GGPP.

###

Other researchers involved in this study include Zhihua Jiao, Yu Long, Orit Katarina Sirka, Veena Padmanaban and Andrew Ewald of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Huaqing Cai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This work was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35 GM118177), the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (FA95501610052), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Q:9HR0011-16-C-0139), the Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (S10 OD016374), the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF-18-048) and the National Cancer Institute (U01CA217846, 3P30CA006973).

The authors declare no competing interest.
As we become more aware of how our energy use impacts our environment and our climate, the benefits of solar energy are becoming more apparent than ever. Many, however, cannot take advantage of solar in Pennsylvania, including those who rent or have locations unsuitable for solar panels.

Community solar  a solar array located off-site, from which multiple consumers may purchase electricity  gives consumers the option to go solar. With community solar, local residents, businesses, and schools can sign up to receive part or all of their energy from it and receive a credit on their energy bill.

Sixteen states currently allow for community solar, but Pennsylvania does not. Enabling community solar could provide a significant boost to the state economy and offer high-quality, living-wage employment. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that allowing community solar in Pennsylvania could bring a 75% increase in solar jobs, $2 billion in economic benefits and more than $1 billion in earnings from construction activities.

Allowing community solar could have enormous potential to boost the solar industry and offer more Pennsylvanians high-quality, living-wage employment. In addition, community solar could offer substantial benefits for farmers and rural communities, allowing underutilized or underperforming land to find new economic potential.

House Bill 531 and Senate Bill 705 would allow community solar in Pennsylvania. Both bills have wide bipartisan support, yet still need encouragement. Tell your state legislators to vote yes on HB 531 and SB 705.

Brian Hillard

Bethlehem Township, Pa.
Since this story was published in March, conditions in many parts of the United States have changed as has the advice from public health officials. Please consult the most recent guidance from local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control. For the latest news, sign up for the USA TODAY COVID-19 newsletter here or read some of USA TODAY's more recent coverage with advice on how to protect yourself in public spaces such as this article.

Not on the menu for many these days: dining out.

As our fears of catching the coronavirus grow by the day, so has our hesitation to venture out of the house, especially now that COVID-19 has been officially classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

A party of one, two or four around the kitchen or dining room table is sounding a lot more appealing to many people than communal meals in restaurants. Ill have what theyre having is starting to take on an ominous meaning.

One-third of Americans say they plan to stick closer to home and dine at restaurants less frequently, according to restaurant industry research group Technomic.

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Until a week ago, John Sanger, 40, a software developer and military veteran living in Orlando, Florida, went out to eat almost daily. Now, he's working from home and he's stopped going to restaurants or ordering in food, opting instead for prepared meals.

Im trying to minimize my contact with other people, said Sanger, a keyboardist who shops for groceries at Walmart in the wee hours to avoid crowds and has stopped meeting up with friends or practicing with his band.

Aleka Gurel says she was already an avid home cook but is using the recommendation from public health officials to practice social distancing as an excuse to stay in and cook more.

Story continues

Gurel, who lives in San Francisco and works at HealthSherpa, an online broker authorized to sell Affordable Care Act plans, stocked up on dry beans, lentils and chickpeas and pulled together her favorite recipes that rely on pantry staples which she shared in a blog post on home cooking in the time of coronavirus.

I hope it encourages people without much cooking experience to try new things, especially if they have to self-quarantine and are stuck home for a long time, Gurel says.

Tabitha Banks, 49, an investment operations analyst from Atlanta, decided to stop eating out Wednesday after reading reports that a Waffle House employee and a Walmart employee had tested positive for the coronavirus. She doesnt love to cook so shell be making one-pot meals in her crockpot that can last a couple of days.

That's when it really hit me that this virus is spreading, and I'm going to have to do more than just washing my hands regularly, Banks says. I'm going to have to make other changes to ensure that I protect myself from infection.

Not everyone is ready to start skipping restaurant meals just yet. Is it safe to dine out? Or is eating in the way to go now? We got the lowdown from public health and food safety experts.

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Is it safe to dine out? Yes, but ...

Public health experts say it's safe to dine out as long as you take precautions such as frequently cleaning your hands with soap or hand sanitizer and staying at least 3 feet away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

As things stand today, based on the information we have from the Centers for Disease Control (and Prevention) and information from local and state public health officials, I dont see any basis for recommendations that people not dine out, says food safety expert Benjamin Chapman, a professor at North Carolina State University.

Coronavirus is a respiratory illness spread through droplets, from a cough or sneeze, to someone elses nose or eyes. Theres no evidence that the illness is transmitted through food, says Craig Hedberg, a University of Minnesota professor and an expert on food-borne illness.

Tabitha Banks, 49, an investment operations analyst from Atlanta, Georgia, decided to stop eating out Wednesday after reading reports that a Waffle House employee and a Walmart employee had tested positive for the coronavirus.

One of the concerns that everybody has is if you are out in the public and you are in close proximity with other people, are you going to be exposed to potential respiratory secretions, he says.

Taking precautions, you can continue to dine out with fairly minimal risk, Hedberg says. But that recommendation does not apply to people in high-risk groups who are being advised by the CDC to avoid crowds.

Older people and those with underlying conditions in areas where the virus is spreading should take steps to keep their distance from others and stay home as much as possible, and that includes eating out, says Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington Universitys Milken School of Public Health and a former health commissioner for the city of Baltimore.

Young and healthy individuals can continue to eat out if they take the recommended precautions, public health experts say.

Public health advice could change

If you are unsure whether its safe to eat out, consult the latest information from your local and state public health officials and from the CDC.

"Follow the advice of your local public health official; we cant give blanket advice because communities and people are so different," Wen says.

The more we learn about the coronavirus and the farther it spreads, the recommendations may change.

To dine out or eat in? That is the question on many people's minds.

Public health experts urge everyone to stay tuned to the latest information from local public health officials and the CDC. Recommendations will vary depending on the current conditions in your local community.

As cities and states experience more cases and cases that cant be linked to other known sources of exposure, it increases the likelihood that we will see unrecognized chains of transmission, Hedberg says. Community spread of the virus may increase the need to reduce your exposure in public settings.

Pro tips for dining out

Coronavirus is not known to be transmitted through food, but hard surfaces  utensils, menus, salt and pepper shakers, condiments, door handles, tables  can be contaminated by droplets. So, throughout your meal, each time you touch something the menu while ordering or the ketchup bottle when loading up your burger  avoid touching your face or eating until you wash your hands or rub them with hand sanitizer.

One of the biggest benefits we have with this virus is that hand sanitizer is really effective against it, and hand washing is a good protective measure, Chapman says.

Public health experts say its critical that anyone who is feeling sick should not set food in restaurants to avoid exposing patrons and staff.

Fishmonger Nic Grimmer catches a whole salmon at the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle on Thursday, March 5, 2020, during an outbreak of coronavirus that prompted local authorities to recommend that people temporarily work from home and avoid large gatherings.

One of the main messages I want to send to people is: If you are not well, you should stay home, Hedberg says. If you go out and there are people coughing and sneezing around you, that would make you a little uncomfortable. To be fair to the other people in the restaurant, you should not be there.

What about buffets?

On Tuesday, MGM Resorts International announced it would shut down buffets on the Las Vegas Strip starting Sunday. The buffet closures at popular hotels including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Luxor and Excalibur are temporary and will be evaluated on a weekly basis, MGM Resorts said.

To the extent that one of the features of a buffet is people are queuing up to get access to the food, that means there are a lot more people you could be exposed to, Hedberg says. If youre going to a buffet in a city that has had 100 cases of coronavirus, that would pose potentially more of a risk than a buffet in a city that has had no cases.

Chapman says restaurants don't have to put the kibosh on buffets, but they should take precautions. After all, those protective plexiglass shields are called "sneeze guards" for a reason.

I do think there are ways to manage buffets safely, he says. For example, restaurants could staff buffets with food servers kind of like the cafeteria line in school instead of patrons serving themselves with tongs, he says.

If you are nervous, ask an employee to serve you or ask for protective gloves. And dont handle serving utensils at a buffet and then touch your face until you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.

Is delivery less risky than dining out?

The short answer is yes. The CDC is advising people at high risk in outbreak areas to have food brought to the house by family members, friends or delivery services.

A number of services including Postmates and DoorDash are letting customers request that deliveries be left on the doorstep to limit exposure even more. DoorDash drivers are being advised to clean their cars and hot bags and urged to stay at home if they feel sick, especially if they are suffering from respiratory symptoms.

Larry Lynch, senior vice president of certification and operations for the National Restaurant Association, said his group is advising restaurants to pay closer attention to drivers and make sure they aren't showing any symptoms before they go out on delivery runs.

I think contactless delivery is a good alternative, Chapman says. But, again, be sure to wash your hands after handling the packaging, though we dont really have a good sense that packaging is a good place to transfer this pathogen, he says.

Should you worry about infected food service workers?

Diners are understandably concerned about being exposed to ailing food service workers who prepare and serve so much of the food we eat every day.

As far as we know, the coronavirus is not transmitted by a fecal or oral route, and its extremely unlikely to get the disease from someone with the infection who is preparing food," Wen says. "But its still good to take precautions when dining out."

Restaurant industry groups say they are advising members to make sure their staffers are not coming to work sick. The CDC says 1 in 5 food service workers have admitted going to work at least once in the previous year with symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.

If restaurants are doing their job, the workers serving should be free of symptoms and the kitchen staff should be free of symptoms, Hedberg says.

Restaurants: We've got this

The top two ways that patrons want restaurants to respond to the coronavirus, according to Technomic: Give sick employees time off and follow proper sanitation procedures.

The food service industry is heavily regulated by health officials and has had protocols in place for decades to prevent food-borne diseases such as norovirus, which causes nearly 60% of all foodborne illness outbreaks.

The restaurant industry is really prepared for this. Because of influenza, norovirus, hepatitis A and other viruses, they spend a lot of time thinking about this in the restaurant industry, Chapman says. A lot of thought has been put into regulations and operating procedures.

Coronavirus has my house smelling different...this fine diningeating out 5 days a week woman is cooking at home, and Im pretty good at it. #FindingTheBrightSide pic.twitter.com/UK92wi4o9g  Sasha.C.Tee (@sasha_c_tee) March 9, 2020

Restaurants across the country say they are doubling down on cleaning procedures and instituting new ones to keep customers and employees safe.

In San Francisco, Word. A Cafe has rearranged its dining room to keep tables 5 feet apart wherever possible, and its encouraging diners to take food home or outside. Its also waiving all charges for take-out packaging. Order ahead and staff can deliver your food curbside.

We hope this is taken as a signal to our community that we value the health of everyone who comes through our doors, owners Carl Hall and Kat Anderson said in an email.

Many restaurants are increasing the number of hand sanitizer dispensers, cleaning shared serving utensils more frequently, wiping down chairs and tables after each use with fresh cleaning cloths or disposable towels and disinfectants that the Environmental Protection Agency says are effective against COVID-19, and sanitizing other high-touch surfaces more often.

Lynch says the National Restaurant Association has suggested restaurants provide hand sanitizer and tissues to patrons to add to their comfort level. Concerned patrons should also ask the restaurant manager what additional safety measures are being taken, Lynch said.

If you have any nagging doubts, check the food safety ratings. You can Google it or check out the Food Safety Network.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: How to protect yourself when eating out at restaurants
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 07:11:23|Editor: ZD

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BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic."

The Geneva-based WHO's assessment came as the coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people across Europe, forcing European countries to impose more travel restrictions, among others, to contain the spread of the virus.

UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC SPARKED BY CORONAVIRUS

"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 on Wednesday.

"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," Tedros added.

There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions, and 4,291 people have lost their lives, Tedros said.

He noted that the number of coronavirus cases, deaths, as well as affected countries, is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.

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, Tedros said.

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.

RISING DEATH TOLL ACROSS EUROPE

Four European countries -- Bulgaria, Albania, Ireland, and Belgium -- reported their first deaths from the COVID-19 on Wednesday, with the total number of infected cases in the four countries reaching seven, 12, 43, and 314 respectively, according to health authorities.

Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland saw their biggest daily jump of caseload on Wednesday. With 252, 121 and 21 new confirmed cases, respectively, in just one day, the total infections in the three countries rose to 514, 503 and 61.

In Italy, the hardest-hit country outside China, a total of 10,590 coronavirus infections were registered on Wednesday, up from 8,514 in the previous day, the Civil Protection Department stated.

In the day, 196 new fatalities were also recorded in Italy, bringing the death toll to 827 since the epidemic first appeared on Feb. 21. By far, Italy has reported a total of 12,462 accumulated COVID-19 cases.

France on Wednesday confirmed 2,281 coronavirus infection cases -- nearly 500 more than a day before, with 48 deaths and 105 patients hospitalized in intensive care.

In Spain, the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 2,181, of which 1,024 were in the Madrid region. The country has reported 49 coronavirus fatalities.

As to other parts of Europe, the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 1,567 in Germany, 500 in Stockholm, 456 in the UK, 246 in Austria, 99 in Greece, 59 in Portugal, 31 in Poland, 19 in Croatia, 18 in Serbia, 13 in Hungary, 10 in Latvia, 9 in North Macedonia, seven in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), six each in Cyprus and Malta, according to health authorities.

TRAVEL BAN AND TWO-WEEK BINDING QUARANTINE

A growing number of European countries Wednesday introduced travel bans to and from a selection of virus-stricken countries, as well as compulsory self-quarantine of 14 days for those who had been there.

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela on Wednesday announced a travel ban to and from Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland, starting from midnight.

Flights to and from these countries will be canceled except for those carrying medicine and food or those repatriating people residing in Malta.

Anyone who has traveled to these countries -- plus those arriving from Italy -- in the past 14 days will have to spend 14 days in obligatory quarantine enforced by police with spot checks at different times. Violators will face a fine of 1,000 euros (1,130 U.S. dollars).

BiH introduced an entry ban to all visitors coming from Italy, South Korea, Iran, and the city of Wuhan and Hubei Province of China, starting Wednesday, BiH Border Police (BP) officials said.

All BiH citizens returning from these areas, and all visitors from Germany, Spain, and France will go in a mandatory self-isolation of 14 days.

Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama announced similar measures on Wednesday. Police and military forces will set up roadblocks on the streets of the capital to check all cars, a move to identify anyone who has returned from Italy or Greece in the last 14 days.

Anyone who breaks the self-quarantine of 14 days -- a preventive measure already announced on Monday -- will get a fine of 5,000 euros (around 5,655 U.S. dollars) and will not be allowed to travel abroad without paying the fine.

The Spanish government said on Wednesday that it will ban all flights between Spain and Italy for two weeks.

In other developments, four main Vienna-based United Nations organizations have suspended, in principle, meetings and events with more than 100 participants in the Vienna International Centre (VIC), the building complex hosting the UN Office at Vienna, according to a press release of the UN Information Service (UNIS).

(Xinhua reporters Sheng Zhonghao in Geneva, Ieva Burchik, Li Deping in Riga, Zhang Xiuzhi in Sarajevo, Jesse Wieten in The Hague, Ghislain Zobiyo, Pan Geping in Brussels, Zhao Feifei in Vienna, Marian Draganov, Wang Xinran in Sofia, Paul Giblin in Madrid, Petros Petrides, Zhang Baoping in Nicosia, Etjena Ymerali, Zhang Yadong in Tirana, Matthew Xuereb, Yuan Yun in Valletta, Shi Zhongyu in Belgrade, Zhang Jiawei in London, Elina Xu, Zhuhaochen in Helsinki, Relja Dusek, Juraj Korbler, Gao Lei in Zagreb, Zhang Qi in Dublin, Nathalie Rothschild, Fu Yiming in Stockholm and Wen Xinnian in Lisbon contributed to the story.)
ALTON  True to form, Good Weather Gallery is presenting high art in all forms, including textiles and fashion.

Nationally established Alton-based couture designer Lillian Bates, with Lillian By Design and By Design School of Fashion, spearheads, with her team, the upcoming Renderings to Reality exhibition at Good Weather Gallery, an independent art gallery, curated and co-owned by Brooke Peipert, of Alton. The Edwardsville gallery will hold an opening reception for Renderings to Reality from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at the gallery, 301 N. Main St. Cocktail attire is encouraged and hors doeuvres and cocktails will be served.

As an art gallery, I want to cover all realms of art, whatever that may be, Peipert said. I might consider a design or object as art; another person might not.

This is unlike any show Ive ever done, she said. Its more personal, intimate and interactive.

Bates, whos shown her designs to Project Runway judges in Chicago, specializes in couture-method high fashion. But she doesnt keep all of her knowledge to herself. Bates By Design team of three will present the Good Weather Gallery exhibit with multiple live models designed by her team.

By Designs current intern, Nathan Beilsmith, a senior getting his bachelors in technical theater at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, honed his craft at Altons By Design School of Fashion, 136 Front St., which also offers alterations and instruction in sewing and fabric techniques.

Ive been sewing since I was a little kid, Beilsmith, of Brighton, said, but with Lillian, it was time to make clothes and finish garments.

More Information If you go: What: Opening "Renderings to Reality" exhibition by By Design School of Fashion at Good Weather Gallery When: 6-9 p.m., Saturday, March 14 Where: Good Weather Gallery, 301 N. Main St., Edwardsville Info: Cocktail attire is encouraged and hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served. Open and free to the public. See More Collapse

Beilsmith has worked in costuming for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and, last fall, designed costumes for Opera Edwardsvilles A childrens opera, Pinocchio In addition to modernizing ready-to-wear designs, Beilsmith also designs couture wigs.

Bates, a milliner, understands this aesthetic.

Bates started designing as one of nine brothers and sisters.

I always knew that if I wanted anything for myself Id better figure out how to get that thing, because there was rarely extra money, she recalled. Between eighth and ninth grade I took home economics in summer school. The sewing section, for me, was a fit that I knew would be a large part of my lifes path.

Obtaining fabric with little to no funds was always a challenge.

Thus, she learned to sew, gather fabrics from unlikely sources (curtains, sheets, other clothes) and just kept going.

Bates founded By Design, which also is her personal design studio, 12 years ago.

In the many years of sewing, learning and teaching, Ive had wonderful results and my share of disasters, she said. But teaching a young student make a skirt or pants for the first time, and seeing the joy in their accomplishment, is a great feeling  knowing they will have learned something that is theirs forever, to take as far as they wish.

By Designs third designer, Rhianon Harvey, of Godfrey, who worked in costuming with Eastern Illinois University, will present at Good Weather Gallery, designs based on a poem by Jeannine Hall Gailey, Okay, Ophelia:

Weve heard you were a victim

Stop crouching in shadows, chewing your hair.

You can be graceful, not like a ballerina,

like a hedge of coral,

Built up and eaten and worn down

yet alive, carving the rhythms of the seas.

You can be a threshing sledge,

new and sharp with many teeth.

Harvey also earned a degree in technical theater, with an emphasis in costuming, from SIUE. She works part time at By Design, assisting Bates in numerous endeavors.

The By Design team also will present at Good Weather Gallerys Speaker Series at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 4.

Bates has obtained master level in her chosen craft, a true artist.

My favorite type of project is one that allows me some free reign, like, using imagination to create a Marie Antoinette costume or repurposing moms wedding dress for their daughters wedding, Bates explained.

For me, creating one-of-a kind garments is a service I perform with joy and with confidence.

Bates teaches all levels at her Alton shop and studio, as well as sews for clients, sells fabric, plans shows and invites interns. Visit www.lillianbydesign.com or call the studio at 618-433-1400 for more information.
People wear surgical masks as they walk along Chinatown's Grant Avenue in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

New Coronavirus Recommendations From California Health Officials

Governor Gavin Newsom announced March 11 that public health experts in California suggest canceling events of 250 people or more. The recommendation stands until the end of March to prevent the potential spread of the new coronavirus.

Attendees of smaller events should try to maintain a distance between people of about 6 feet, the officials suggested. People who are at greater risk due to existing health problems or advanced age should only attend gatherings of about 10 people.

Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease, Newsom said in a press release. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effectssaving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now.

On March 11, the Orange County Health Care Agency also issued updated guidelines:
When Pedro Santiago was arrested in 2003, he didnt know how to read or write. He was 30 at the time and had been selling drugs for two decades, first in New York and then in Maine, where he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison in 2005.

It was while he was waiting for his trial that he says his bunkmate sat him down and told him that he needed to learn to read so that he could understand evidence about his case unearthed during the discovery process. While he was in the county jail, a volunteer came in weekly to teach him.

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It was an awakening, Santiago, 46, said in a phone interview. That got me interested in politics. But he says that when he was transferred to state prison after his conviction, he ran afoul of prison rules. His behavior led him to be classified as a security threat, and he was consigned to solitary confinement for about two years. In solitary, he realized he had a choice to make.

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I said, Wait a minute, I can go home when Im 65 or I can die here. That was eye-opening for me.

That turning point led Santiago to politics as an antidote to despair. When he got out of solitary, he focused on his education, and in 2015 he passed a high school equivalency test. Though he entered prison as a registered Republican, his views changed as he spent more time watching the way coverage differed between news stations like MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN: They all want us to believe a certain thing.

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As he learned more about what he describes as a corrupt system, his motivation to participate in politics increased.

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Maine is one of two states that allow all people who are incarcerated to vote (although few exercise that right, often because of low literacy rates and little access to information). Still, Santiago credits his ability to vote from prison as galvanizing, along with Barack Obamas historic candidacy in 2008.

[Obama] coming from a broken home, single mother, and all that, made me realize in a way that you make your own destiny.  To see the first black president up there was a tear-jerker for me, said Santiago, who is Puerto Rican.

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Santiago now identifies as an independent and voted against Donald Trump in 2016. And though he said he would love to see the first female president, he currently supports Sen. Bernie Sanders. I love all his talking points, he said. I believe that this man could make things happen like taxing the rich and Medicare for all. 

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Political arguments in prison, he said, can get heated. He remembered tensions escalating after Trumps comments following the death of a protester during a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. But Santiago also says moments like that are proof that we do care about whats happening out in the real world. It does affect us. It affects us all.

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Spending decades in prison could easily result in a total withdrawal from politics. But in a first-of-its-kind survey, the Marshall Project and Slate found that people who have spent more years behind bars are more politically aware than their peers whove been incarcerated for less than a year. Respondents with long sentences were more motivated to vote, more likely to change their political views, and more likely to discuss politics than those who had spent less time in prison.

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For many, prison is more regimented than the lives they left behind. Others become sober for the first time and use their newfound clarity to follow the news or get an education.

In particular, for people sentenced to life in prison, the interest in politics is pragmatic. Often, legislative changes to their states criminal code are their only hope for release. Incarcerated people in most states cant vote, so they cant elect officials willing to grant some prisoners a second look or to restore parole. Instead, they write op-eds, mail letters to legislators or advocacy organizations, and encourage their family and friends to vote on their behalf.

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Yet if those in our survey whod spent more time in prison tended to be more politically engaged, they were also most cynical about politicians commitment to criminal justice reform.

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Roughly 30 percent of respondents have spent 21 years or more in prison. While this survey is, to date, the best account of their political opinions, it has some limitations. The survey was voluntary and may represent a self-selecting group of people who are already politically engaged and following the news. As such, it is not a fully representative sample of the overall incarcerated population and may not reflect the views of people whose long sentences have deepened their alienation and who declined to respond.

Here are the stories of three other survey respondents who have spent long stretches behind bars.

Joseph Badagliacca, 43, Florida

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In his darkest moments last year, Joseph Badagliacca battled thoughts of suicide. He had served nearly two decades of his life sentence for murderwith no hope of getting out because there is no parole in Florida.

I may never have the opportunity at a real life out there, he wrote. I understand most people would say that my victim never got a chance to complete his life because of my involvement. There are times I agree and wonder if I deserve to get out, or to even live right now.

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Struggling with the prospect of growing old and dying behind bars, Badagliacca found purpose in politics. Hes contributed to a campaign to create a path to reentry for the incarcerated who have demonstrated theyve truly changed.

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Ive lost everyone except my mom as a result of my incarceration and just like anyone else, I dont want to die alone in here. So  I fight, he wrote.

Badagliacca entered prison at 26. It was surreal, he wrote, recalling his initial shock. It was like I was in a dream with everything moving outside of myself.

Over his 17 years in prison, hes learned to speak Spanish while incarcerated, earned a paralegal certification, and is working on his bachelors degree. He says the focus on self-improvement is common for those facing long terms. Emotionally, spiritually, morally, educationally, physically  we are more focused on the things that matter, he wrote.

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Demonstrating rehabilitation has political value, too. The Florida Legislature is working to fix the states overcrowded and expensive prison system, but several reform bills have not gotten much traction. He understands the lawmakers hesitance. With nearly 100,000 people in prison in Florida, many arent getting the programming they need to be productive on the outside. Badagliacca says lawmakers are scared to risk letting some violent offenders out for fear theyd commit new crimes.

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Its political suicide, he wrote.

The public may be cynical about criminal justice reform, he says, but he suspects that attitude stems from misinformation and a fundamental misunderstanding about the purpose of prison.

We were removed from society AS punishment, he wrote. Mistakenly, a lot of people (including some of the officers in here) believe we are here FOR punishment. Some of us are really just regular guys who are defined by the worst mistakes of our lives instead of our innumerable contributions. We want to be better, show others were better and, of course, convince the lawmakers were better.

Vegas Walker, 25, Kansas

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As a kid growing up in Wichita, Kansas, Vegas Walker says she was exposed to prostitution, guns, and drugs at an early age. By the time she was 11, she started smoking weed and hanging out in the streets. By 13, Walker says she was in and out of jail.

Life at home was chaotic. Her mother went to jail when she was 5 years old, and her father was rarely around, forcing Walker to stay with her alcoholic grandmother for several years. Walker says she remembers going to school dirty because her grandmother couldnt look after her.

Nonetheless, shes grateful her grandmother insisted that Walker get a high school diploma.

As much as I couldnt stand my grandma, she had five kids by the age of 18 and still managed to graduate from high school, wrote Walker, who is black and serving time in Topeka Correctional Facility. And thats all she wanted from us. Thats the only thing I managed to do correctly.

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In the chaotic years before Walker went to prison for stabbing an ex-boyfriend during an argument, she says she didnt pay much attention to the news or politics. She was absorbed in selling drugs and trying to stay alive as a woman in an arena typically dominated by men.

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Its hard on the streets for anyone, but for a woman it is ten times harder, Walker wrote. We are viewed as an easy target. I had to fight harder and be 10 times more scandalous than the next person or I would have been eaten alive out there.

It wasnt until she landed in prison that Walker says she first started thinking about how politics shapes peoples lives. Walker says many of her political views are shaped by the unfairness of the criminal justice system. She believes prisons in Kansas are designed for people to fail and return. Practices like stop and frisk, she says, allow police to harass innocent black and brown people. And when a judge sentenced Amber Guyger, the Dallas police officer who shot and killed Botham Jean in his own home, to a relatively short 10 years in prison, Walker says, it felt like there are two sets of rules for people of color and white people.

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Walker is set to be released next March. As that day approaches, shes started to worry about how she will make a living with only a high school diploma. There arent many opportunities for education or skill-building in womens prisons, she says. Walker says she is drawn to Bernie Sanders because of his focus on improving poor peoples lives. But even if he wins, she isnt sure it will make a difference.

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I do believe that its important to vote and have a say, she wrote. But I dont really believe that candidates can actually make half the things they say come true.

Samuel Byrd, 46, Florida

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Samuel Byrd says some of his friends in prison have told him hes too conservative to be black.

He doesnt support illegal immigration, aid to foreign countries, or financing an extravagant lifestyle with credit cards. He does believe in marriage before children, college education, and keeping dollars on American soil. He admires the conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh too, although Byrd does not identify as Republican.

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His political convictions have strengthened during his nine years in Okeechobee Correctional Institution in Okeechobee, Florida. He says hes surrounded by people who only know what they learned in the streets, on the block or at the trap, and that most barely finished high school and arent interested in bettering themselves. Byrd, by contrast, has a few years of college under his belt. Listening to others blame the system for their problems has pushed him further to the right.

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There are very few inmates who I can hold a serious conversation with that dont involve committing felonies or sports, Byrd wrote. Politics, even the ones that directly affect them, are not a major topic. Most blacks hate Trump but cant tell you why. Most whites think hes doing a better job than Obama but cant tell you how. Both groups defend their positions by simply misquoting what they heard somewhere.

Before prison, Byrd says he spent his time being a broke playboy, spending his money on strippers and romancing other mens wives. In 2010, he was charged with attempted murder and ultimately sentenced to life in prison.

Now Byrd works in the law library helping others with their cases. He prefers to focus on people with short sentences, pushing them to admit to what stupid way of thinking landed them in prison and encouraging them to think about what are they willing to change and give up once released.

Byrd cant vote, but he says he would choose Michael Bloomberg to oppose Trump because he, like Trump, is a billionaire businessman. (The survey was distributed in December, before Bloomberg dropped out). Byrd isnt persuaded by the promises made by progressive candidates like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. He believes that education is key to a productive life, but he doesnt support free college education.

Instead, Byrd is in favor of personal responsibility, not government assistance, even when it comes to keeping people out of prison.

This country was built by those who climbed the ladder of success that the forefathers erected, not by those waiting for someone to throw them a rope, he wrote. I believe that we should focus on increased education not reducing mass incarceration. I want to see prevention through education, not treatment by the government.

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.

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.

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.
Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who was jailed last year for refusing to testify before a grand jury that is investigating WikiLeaks, has been hospitalized after she attempted suicide on Wednesday, according to her lawyers.

Ms. Manning, 32, is currently recovering, according to her lawyers, who did not say how Ms. Manning tried to kill herself while at a detention center in Alexandria, Va., where she has been held since May.

The Alexandria Sheriffs Office confirmed only that there was an incident involving Ms. Manning at 12:11 p.m. and said, It was handled appropriately by our professional staff and Ms. Manning is safe.

A statement from Ms. Mannings legal team said she was still scheduled to appear on Friday at a hearing before Judge Anthony Trenga of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
RTHK: Trudeau works from home as wife takes Covid-19 test

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife announced they were self-isolating on Thursday as she undergoes tests for the new coronavirus after returning from a speaking engagement with "mild flu-like symptoms".

Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau's symptoms have subsided since she recently got back from Britain, but as a precaution the prime minister "will spend the day in briefings, phone calls and virtual meetings from home," according to a statement.

Trudeau also cancelled a meeting on Thursday and Friday with Canada's provincial and territorial leaders in Ottawa, but still planned to speak with them and world leaders by phone about measures being taken to curb the spread of the virus in Canada.

Gregoire-Trudeau's symptoms had included "a low fever late last night". She immediately sought medical advice and testing.

Trudeau has exhibited no symptoms, and was advised by doctors "to continue daily activities while self-monitoring."

"However, out of an abundance of caution, the prime minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie's results," said his office.

Canada has so far reported more than 100 cases in six provinces, and one death. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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From a young age, my parents were very clear about the importance of giving to the needy. As soon as we had any source of our own money, they taught my sisters and me the biblical principle of the tithe  giving ten percent of our money to charity (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26). So when we earned babysitting money, we automatically set aside a tenth of what we made for charitable giving.



However, my parents were not interested in merely teaching us to give our money to charity. Their ultimate goal was for us to become generous people  people who looked past our own desires and concerns and saw the needs and challenges of others. There was no better way to teach us this lesson than through their living example.



I remember one particular night, as I lay in bed, there was a knock on our front door. My father was sitting on the edge of my bed, singing me to sleep, while my mother was busy puttingmy sisters to bed. My father got up from our nighttime routine to answer the door, finding a complete stranger who he immediately realized was there to ask for charity. This was actually very common in Jewish communities where the needy felt they could ask for help from fellow Jews. Most people handed the beggars some money, wished them a good night, and got on with their busy schedules.



But not my parents.



My parents would always invite the needy man or woman inside our home, sit them at our dining room table, and serve them a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. One or both of my parents would sit with our guest and listen intently to their story, hearing their problems, sometimes discussing an idea from the Bible. Only afterward did they give whatever we could afford to the person and send them on their way.



My father always said, Its harder to ask for help than to give help. If a person asks, we must give, and we have to make them feel as comfortable as possible in an extremely uncomfortable situation.



This night was no different, and the man was welcomed into our home as an honored guest. My parents put bedtime on hold so that they could tend to our guest, and only after he left did they resume where they had left off.



The fact that my parents interrupted our nightly routine for the sake of an unexpected stranger in need left an indelible impression on me. It taught me that helping a person in need, even a complete stranger, is of utmost importance, and requires our immediate attention.



Not later. Not the next day. Now.



This is an adaptation of Yael Ecksteins upcoming book,Generation to Generation.
Pipeline

12 March 2020

Following the success of YOTEL in cities including New York, Boston and San Francisco, the disruptive hospitality brand will bring YOTEL's smart design and technology to the nation's capital with the debut of YOTEL Washington D.C. this fall. As the brand's firstever acquisition and transition, the hotel will move forward with branding and incorporating YOTEL's signature technology and adaptable design as part of a multi-million dollar full property reconstruction and remodel. The property will remain open through the transition, continuing to offer guests convenient access to both Capitol Hill and the Union Station transit hub.

Set to begin this spring, the transition will include a full modernization and transformation of hotel rooms into signature YOTEL cabins, and the lobby into the brand's staple Mission Control area outfitted with airline-style check-in kiosks for a smarter, more efficient travel experience. With over 21,000 sq. ft. of adaptable meetings & events space, all hotel conference areas and private rooms will undergo design and technology enhancements to provide an even more connected offering.

Highly-regarded as a Capitol Hill staple for its regionally-influenced cuisine, Art and Soul restaurant will see an evolution of both the restaurant space and from scratch signature dishes under the direction of Executive Chef Douglas Alexander. The hotel's rooftop terrace will also undergo a complete renovation, accommodating for greater F&B space atop one of the largest rooftops and pool decks in the area.

YOTEL Washington D.C. will begin construction of the brand's never-before-seen cabins (YOTEL speak for rooms), providing an even greater level of modern hospitality in the signature YOTEL offering. Upon completion, guests will have the choice of 136 Premium King cabins, starting at $199 per night, and 266 First Class cabins in both King and Queen/Queen cabin types, starting at $239 per night. "We are part of a progressive culture and movement here on The Hill and we're incredibly proud to be the first hotel to usher in a new generation of YOTEL travel experiences to compliment this evolving neighborhood," said Shawn Jervis, General Manager. "YOTEL is at the forefront of innovation, hospitality and design and we look forward to showing visitors a fresh way to stay on Capitol Hill."

Currently, the hotel is fully functional, accepting reservations for all room types, and at Art and Soul restaurant where Chef Alexander serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily as well as a popular weekend brunch. The rooftop bar and pool will reopen this summer serving seasonal fare, as it does annually, after which YOTEL will transition the space to become Sky Bar.

"Our rapid global expansion is very exciting and further asserts our prominence in the U.S. and on the world stage. We have a proven track record operating globally with hotels in many of the key feeder markets to Washington - Boston, New York, San Francisco and Europe, "said Hubert Viriot, CEO of YOTEL. "Furthermore, the hotel offering in Washington is fairly traditional and YOTEL is ready to introduce our cleverly designed cabins ideal for short and long stays."

YOTEL Washington D.C. will be a significant hub for co-working, private meeting spaces, and leisure travelers as the hotel is situated steps to Congressional offices and convenient to Washington D.C.'s most significant attractions including: The National Mall, Smithsonian Museums, The Supreme Court, Library of Congress, prominent businesses and 100+ embassies. Regional travelers will find it among the most convenient options to Union Station (Amtrak, MARC, VRE, WMATA) and it is accessible to major thoroughfares, making YOTEL Washington D.C. an easy choice after landing at any of the region's national and international airports.

The transition follows the 2019 YOTEL acquisition announcement of the Liaison Washington Capitol Hill hotel by partners Metrovest Equities and BLDG Management.

YOTEL Washington D.C. marks the YOTEL brand's tenth hotel under development or open in the U.S. with hotels in New York, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, Atlanta and Long Island City and four YOTELPAD properties in Miami, Atlanta, Park City and Mammoth.
Members of the Countryside Fire Protection District in Vernon Hills have been talking to senior living communities in the village about best practices to limit and prevent illness to the higher risk senior population, he said. Police in the village also recently attended a meeting on the different preventative actions communities can take to the limit the spread of coronavirus, Petrillo said.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's press secretary tested positive for coronavirus days after taking part in meetings with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reports and multiple American outlets have confirmed.

The latest: Bolsonaro is currently being monitored, according to Brazilian media. Fabio Wajngarten, the aide, was photographed with Trump on Saturday.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday that he's "not concerned" about Wajngarten's diagnosis.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) both said they will enter self-quarantine after being at Mar-a-Lago with the Brazilian delegation last weekend.

A far-right populist, Bolsonaro had dismissed the alarm around the virus as a "fantasy" spread by the media as recently as Wednesday.

The White House said Wednesday that Trump and Vice President Mike Pence "had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time."

According to CNN, Wajngarten was at dinner with Trump on Saturday and later attended a birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host who is now chair of the Trump campaign's finance committee. Several members of the Trump family attended, including the president.

Go deeper... Coronavirus updates: Stocks plunge despite Trump's reassurance
She's one of the fashion industry's most promising young models with legions of followers on social media.

And Roxy Horner cut a glamorous figure as she attended the Victoria's Secret party at Bloom Kensington in London on Wednesday.

The model, 28, was a sight to behold at the event, arriving in a baby pink dress with a plunging neckline with a sheer detail.

Style: Roxy Horner, 28, cut a glamorous figure as she attended the Victoria's Secret party at Bloom Kensington in London on Wednesday

The catwalk star added height to her frame with a pair of black boots while she wrapped up for the evening in a matching leather jacket.

Styling her blonde locks into voluminous curls, Roxy completed her look for the evening with a pair of hoop earrings.

Also in attendance at the event was Nicola Hughes who showed off her sense of style in a a green blazer and matching trousers which she wore with a white top.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, wore a pair of black ankle boots while she also carried a baby blue clutchbag.

Radiant: The model was a sight to behold at the event, arriving in a baby pink dress with a plunging neckline with a sheer detail

Chic: The catwalk star added height to her frame with a pair of black boots while she wrapped up for the evening in a matching leather jacket

Glamour: Styling her blonde locks into voluminous curls, Roxy completed her look for the evening with a pair of hoop earrings

Joining her was fellow Made In Chelsea cast member Tiffany Watson who nailed casual chic in a white turtle neck jumper and a beige miniskirt.

Tiffany wore a pair of nude ankle boots and added to her ensemble with a white coat and a matching handbag.

The outing comes after Roxy split from her ex boyfriend Jake Bugg after a two-year relationship.

The pair parted ways after struggling to balance their hectic work schedules, and Roxy is said to have taken the split 'incredibly hard.'

Looking good: Also in attendance at the event was Nicola Hughes who showed off her sense of style in a a green blazer and matching trousers which she wore with a white top

Pals: Joining her was fellow Made In Chelsea cast member Tiffany Watson who nailed casual chic in a white turtle neck jumper and a beige miniskirt

Wow: The former Made In Chelsea star styled her tresses into an updo while she also carried a baby blue clutchbag

Attendee: Olivia Cox donned a floral printed minidress and a faux fur coat to the bash

Their split came after Roxy told one of her followers she'd 'had a pretty horrible year' and was staying away from social media.

She responded to a fan on an Instagram story Q&A on Wednesday, asking if she and Jake were still together, saying: 'Does it matter who I date?'

Another Instagram user asked how she were feeling, to which Roxy replied: 'I've had a pretty horrible year to be honest, hence why I've been quiet on social media. But I'm doing okay and I'm looking forward to a New Year.'

Strike a pose: Roxy couldn't resist posing up a storm outside the venue as she showed off her ensemble for the evening

Details: She layered her ensemble with a cropped leather-looking jacket and teamed the dress with biker heeled boots

Gorgeous: Models Edie-Rose, left, and Danielle Peazer, right, looked incredible in their ensembles for the evening

Roxy was previously linked to actor Leonardo DiCaprio, 45, and has dated TOWIE's Joey Essex, 29, and rapper Taio Cruz, 39.

She also revealed that 'due to some major changes in my life' she's decided to go to Australia for a while after originally planning to enjoy Christmas in the UK.

The beauty joked about dogs making her happier than any man as she answered questions from her 160K Instagram followers.

Stunning: Model Jayde Pierce looked incredible in a plunging black trench coat style dress with knee-high boots

Social media stars: Influencers Freddy Cousin-Brown, left, and Ianthe Rose Cochrane-Stack, right, posed outside the venue

Roxy last tweeted about Jake in July 2019 tagging him in a post, saying: 'I love you @JakeBugg' but now the pair have unfollowed each other on social media.

Jake  famed for hit Lightning Bolt  and Roxy were last seen in public when they attended BRIT Awards after-parties together in March.

Roxy shot to fame in 2016 when she allegedly hooked up with DiCaprio after the pair first met in LA.

They were photographed leaving central London venue the Chiltern Firehouse after reconnecting at the BAFTA Awards.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 06:05:28|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. media reported Wednesday that two U.S. troops had been killed in a rocket attack at an Iraq base earlier in the day.
12.03.2020 LISTEN

GUBA Enterprise, a social organization focused on advancing and connecting Africans in the Diaspora with their home countries, has unveiled its new identity to reflect its truly pan-African nature. With a refreshed logo and vibrant images across social media platforms, the new GUBA identity is here to stay.

As part of the brands rebirth, a four-week campaign was rolled out with each week dedicated to put a spotlight on one of the four pillars of the new GUBA brand, namely:

 Grow  By supporting and creating opportunities for Africans in the diaspora and back home, to grow through the advancement of entrepreneurship and innovation for social and economic impact .

 Unite  By providing an engaging network for promoting greater cultural diversity and equality, for unity and peace for development

 Build  By harnessing the resources of diaspora Africans and back home, through public private partnerships to accelerate trade, investments, human capital development and good sustainable governance.

 Africa Enhancing the continent through collective action for sustainable development

GUBA has promoted African excellence for the past eleven (11) years through its six main brand initiatives which are GUBA Awards (UK and USA), GUBA Careers, GUBA Expo, GUBA Foundation, GUBA Tours and the GUBA Diaspora Card. These activities are geared towards bridging the diaspora gap through social-economic programs and initiatives. The ultimate aim of the new GUBA brand is to build a world class identity known for its solid support for the advancement of the African diaspora and Africa prosperity

We at GUBA believe that the African Diaspora must be part of the fabric in growing, uniting and building Africa to become the continent we aspire for , and we must collectively work together to achieve that. Through our new identity we will create programs and projects to help drive Africas sustainable transformation agenda, by working in partnership with governments, development partners , private sector corporations and civil societies in and out of Africa  Says Dentaa Amoateng MBE, President and Founder of the GUBA Enterprise

To learn more about the new GUBA brand, visit www.gubaenterprise.co.uk
In an effort to augment the expertise of local professionals, Eshraqa, the Corporate Social Development Arm of Khimji Ramdas recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Oman for Human Capital Development of various members of the IIA. According to the MoU, 50 IIA members who are Omani nationals will be trained on various Professional Development Programs and International Certifications to develop their skills through Eshraqas Training Initiative for Nationals (Eshraqa Mentors Programme).

With the common goal of facilitating comprehensive professional educational and developmental opportunities, Eshraqa and IIA will work together to identify and then craft custom programmes in line with the Personal Competencies outlined in the IIA Global Framework required for the individual internal auditors. Participants will be trained in the areas of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills such as Communication, Persuasion skills, Critical Thinking, Leadership Skills, critical Business Skills, and the effective use of MS Excel as a Business Intelligence tool amongst others.

Commenting on Eshraqas motivation to develop the leaders of tomorrow, Nailesh Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas said, We are extremely delighted to collaborate with IIA to provide essential training opportunities for their members. These sessions will be designed with utmost care to match the requirements of IIA while providing them with skills required that will help them develop personally and also enhance their careers. We look forward to mentoring them on best practices and techniques that will allow them to add value to their respective organisations.

Successful IIA members will further undergo a 3-day intensive training for ILM UK, Train the Trainer certification programme to mature into effective trainers. This course will impart best-practise standards for facilitation, instructional design and competency framework including

other pertinent subjects that will enable them to take this initiative to the practising Omani Internal Auditors. -- Tradearabia News Service
Lloyds Bank and Halifax customers took to social media to complain after their apps and online banking stopped working on Thursday morning.

Customers of both banks said they'd been receiving error messages when attempting to log in to their accounts since about 10am.

Reports of problems peaked around 10:30am and died down by lunchtime when the issue was reportedly resolved.

Both Lloyds and Halifax tweeted the same message to customers on Twitter who complained about the outage: We know some of you are having issues with viewing your balance online.

'We're sorry for this. We're working to have it back to normal soon.'

Lloyds and Halifax customers will be further disrupted this weekend as online banking and mobile apps undergo maintenance.

Lloyds and Halifax tweeted the same message to users that they are working to have online banking back to normal soon

Neither banks have put out an official statement on Twitter and are simply replying to user complaints.

Complaints from customers from both banks peaked at around 800 for Lloyds and 1,200 from Halifax between 10:30 and 10:45 on Thursday morning, independent outage monitor website Downdetector shows.

Downdetector collates reports of outages from multiple sources, including social media and mobile apps.

The website's live outage map showed outage reports from Halifax customers that were particularly intense in London and around Manchester.

Neither Lloyds or Halifax had reported any issues on their help page immediately after the issues  both said that internet banking and mobile apps had been working 'normally'.

A spokesman for Lloyds Banking Group  which owns both banks  told MailOnline that it 'hasn't found a problem yet'.

It later said at around midday in a statement to MailOnline: 'Were sorry that some of our customers had issues logging into the app earlier today.

'We can confirm this was just for a short period and was resolved quickly.'

Both updated their help pages later in the day to notify customers it would be conducting internet banking and mobile app maintenance work over the weekend.

This means Lloyds and Halifax customers won't be able to access certain services including viewing account balances and making international payments.

Halifax: Customers in London and around Manchester and Liverpool appear to be having the most problems with online banking

Lloyds customer reports of being locked out of their banking app appeared to show a similar pattern, with more reports from Nottingham

Many customers took to Twitter to ask the banks for an explanation as to why they couldn't transfer money, with most of them receiving a similar generic response.

Halifax customer @Choccy31 said on Twitter: 'I can't get any access to my accounts online? I need some money urgently!'

@JoJoSteinbergs, said: 'It says I cant make a transfer online or retrieve my account statement. I need to send money to ensure my direct debit doesnt bounce.'

Another customer posted a shot of the error message they received from Halifax: 'Sorry, we can't show some of the account info you asked for right now. Please try again later.'

Lloyds users, meanwhile, reported that when they try to log in the interface just says 'N/A' instead of where the balance would usually be displayed.

'What is happening with the online banking? tweeted @SW4Stu. 'When I log-in on my PC/iPhone it says N/A for balance on both accounts. I cannot transfer any funds.'

One user snapped a shot of the error message from the Halifax app: 'Sorry, we can't show some of the account info you asked for right now'

Lloyds customers reported seeing the message 'N/A' where their account balance would normally appear

The Halifax app was reportedly preventing its customers from accessing their money at all on Thursday
Saying good night at the end of our first date, the chaste kiss I planted on the cheek of the man I'm now seeing belied the turmoil of sexual longing I felt towards him. Frankly, I wanted to go back to his place and rip his clothes off.

I'd only spent a few hours in the company of this charming, funny and good-looking guy, but already knew I wanted to have sex with him. And yet, I held back.

Partly, that was through a lack of confidence and poor self-image.

I'd only recently come out of a sexless marriage  one that saw my ex-husband, Brian and I, being intimate just once in eight years. I've spoken openly about that in this newspaper; its legacy was crippling sexual self-doubt and an understandably quashed libido.

I found it hard to believe anyone could fancy me. But another issue was that I'd arranged to stay over at a friend's house that night. I felt loathe to call her and say, 'I'm going home with that guy I've only just met, so don't wait up' in case she was appalled.

My pal has since assured me that far from passing judgment she'd have cheered me on, glad that I was finally reviving the absent sex life she knew I'd mourned for so long. Many other friends have echoed her sentiments.

Saying good night at the end of our first date, the chaste kiss I planted on the cheek of the man I'm now seeing belied the turmoil of sexual longing I felt towards him. Frankly, I wanted to go back to his place and rip his clothes off, writes Ulrika Jonsson

But the fact that I worried what she  and, actually, what he  might think of me had I followed my instincts and initiated sex on our first date just shows how the social conditioning women are subjected to from their teens lingers on.

In other words, despite being a woman of 52 who knows her own mind and really shouldn't give two hoots what anyone else thinks of her, fears that going back to his place  quite possibly for a one-night stand  would have seen me branded a slut stopped me from doing what I actually desired.

This was back in November. I'm not ready to identify my new man yet.

Let's just say he's very slightly younger than me and we share a similar sense of humour. Also, he's entirely responsible for the two dress sizes I've recently dropped because, since meeting him, I'm so giddy and excitable that I sometimes forget to eat.

We met in that oh-so-21st century way, via social media, earlier in the autumn. He'd made very innocuous, non-flirty comments on some posts I'd written and we seemed to strike some kind of chord. Then, in October, he sent me a private message and we started chatting.

There was nothing remotely flirtatious, there were no sexual innuendos  we were just two people sharing our thoughts on how much we love our children, and what a powerful entity family, in whatever form that takes, can be.

I'd been incredibly wary of striking up any kind of dialogue with another man since my marriage ended.

After all, Brian and I had been together for 14 years; I felt far from ready for any romantic liaison and wasn't even sure I'd know how to engage in one anyway.

I'd only recently come out of a sexless marriage  one that saw my ex-husband, Brian and I (pictured together in 2013), being intimate just once in eight years. I've spoken openly about that in this newspaper; its legacy was crippling sexual self-doubt and an understandably quashed libido.

But this guy shared my values and the distinct lack of sexual banter made me feel safe with him.

When he suggested that we meet up, I agreed  it seemed a safe, unpressured way of getting myself back out there, something my friends kept urging me to do.

'This'll either be the start of something great, or the dullest evening of my life,' I joked with them. After all, getting to know someone online, where it's so easy to present your best self, is very different to meeting in the flesh.

The idea of us having sex didn't occur to me. Honestly, at that point I was so out of touch with my own sexuality I genuinely worried I'd forgotten how to kiss, let alone anything else.

Despite feeling nervous, when I walked into the restaurant we, clearly, immediately hit it off. Even embracing didn't feel awkward; very quickly seeing him, hearing his voice and the smell of his aftershave seemed to bring my senses to life even my surroundings suddenly appeared in sharper focus.

The conversation flowed, and we laughed endlessly. When he took hold of my hand across the table it felt entirely natural.

I didn't even feel nervous when, as we left the restaurant about to say goodbye, he leaned in to kiss me. It turned out to be a full, and very passionate kiss, and something I was relieved to discover I hadn't forgotten how to do after all.

Ulrika has two daughters and two sons, each by a different father. Pictred: Ulrika with Bo Eva Coeur Jonsson at the One Direction: This Is Us film premiere in 2013

It was a funny thing, after all those years, to be suddenly so intimately connected to another human being. I felt a bolt of electricity jolting through me, stirring up sensations I'd forgotten existed.

And that was the moment I knew I wanted to have sex with him.

He's admitted since that he felt a similar connection and was equally fired up. But to make a move on the first date, he told me, would have seemed ungentlemanly.

So, instead of asking me to go home with him he chivalrously suggested we go for a drink.

At the end of the night  both unnerved by the sexual energy between us  our goodbye kiss really was just a peck on the cheek.

But back home I knew I'd denied myself something that was surely my right to enjoy: to have sex  something that had been absent for so long in my life  and all for fear of what others might think.

It bemused me too that he, despite being of similarly mature years, had somehow bought into that, too.

Over the next few days I felt increasingly cross with myself, appalled that at my age, and with my life experiences, I'd allowed the old-fashioned politics of sex and dating that had held me back from any sense of sexual liberation in my youth to somehow affect me again.

That might sound strange coming from a Swedish woman raised in a sexually open society.

I certainly didn't have any such hang-ups as a child. Growing up I considered sex to be a natural, beautiful and uncomplicated act that was only to be enjoyed. It was also egalitarian, in that either sex could make the first move and without judgment.

But then I moved to England. Here, I was exposed to the kind of sexual politics I'd never encountered before, where it was OK for boys to enjoy sex and pursue one-night stands. Yet any girl openly acting on her own sexual urges was called out and made to feel ashamed.

There were rules when it came to sex, and God help the girl who flouted them.

It didn't help when, aged 14, I had my first sexual encounter  nothing more than snogging, but my God it awoke a sense of desire for more so strong that it frightened me.

That longing felt both right and yet somehow so very wrong and really shameful  that I'd lost control of myself and that was somehow a bad thing.

But then that's hardly surprising when the messages I was internalising  that girls who acted on the urges I was most definitely feeling  were sluts.

And so I repressed those feelings of want and need, meaning that sex  I lost my virginity when I was 17  became unfortunately tinged with a sense of guilt and regret.

That's not to say those strong sexual feelings ever left me. I largely resisted acting on them outside the realms of serious relationships.

The pity of that is I could have enjoyed so much more uncomplicated and uncommitted sex if only I'd been able to let go of that fear of being judged  and perhaps wouldn't have put up with my sexless existence with Brian for as long as I did.

Even today, in 2020, I know some people will find those sentiments shocking. There was a time when I wouldn't have dared speak them, let alone write them down for publication in a national newspaper.

However, now I'm in my 50s I've finally taken ownership of my body, and the fact it's still capable of bringing me great pleasure suddenly feels like something to talk about and celebrate. Why on earth should I feel ashamed of that?

What about your daughters, I'm sure some will ask  doesn't this amount to encouraging them to have one-night stands?

Well no, of course not. But I wouldn't want to discourage either Bo, 19, or Martha, 15 (when she's older) from going down that route if the mood took them as long as they kept themselves safe in the process.

I've had some very frank conversations with my girls about this very subject. Indeed, the fact that my enduring advice to them remains never to feel ashamed of sexual desire  something that's as natural as eating, breathing and sleeping  added to my frustrations with myself.

After all, I'd allowed my own insecurities stop me from having sex with someone I really liked.

No wonder then, by the time our second date came around a couple of weeks later, neither of us resisted the clear sexual tension between us. Whether we would or wouldn't sleep together wasn't something we discussed in advance.

Let's just say the fact I invited him over to my house, letting him know in advance we'd have it to ourselves for the night, helped move things along.

What was it like to have sex again for only the second time in almost a decade? Fantastic, just about sums it up. And I'm not just talking about the physical pleasure  the joy, and I really do mean that, of being touched and held and feeling wanted again was a gift I'd forgotten one person has the power to give to another.

That's not to say my insecurities about my body, which has the natural flaws that time and carrying four children have inevitably stamped on it, disappeared. I still hate my boobs and feel self-conscious about being seen undressed . . . there's excess skin and saggy bits that this guy says he doesn't notice, but I'm afraid I still do.

But the great thing is that sexual enjoyment suddenly seems far more important than any of the negativity I feel about how I look.

I suspect that's because intimacy has been missing from my life for so long, and now I have it back I'm determined to cherish it.

I honestly thought that side of me had died; I'd resigned myself to living the rest of my life without sexual connections and the pleasure of touch.

Now I have intimacy back in my life I feel as though I'm rediscovering myself as a sexual being all over again  it's been a revelation. Again, perhaps you're reading this and thinking: 'Her poor girls.' Don't worry about them  I told them that I'd slept with him soon after it happened.

Too much information, surely? Well, I don't think so.

You see, I'm trying to raise them to have attitudes more in line with their Swedish heritage when it comes to sex  to see it as something a woman can enjoy, celebrate and even initiate, even when they're the age of their wrinkly old mum.

Of course, they made all the predictable retching noises, loudly insisting they don't want to hear about my sex life.

But, as I pointed out to them, being able to speak to your parents about sex should be a two-way conversation. I should be allowed to talk about it, too.

And that's because I want my girls to feel able to by-pass the politics of sex and dating. Because really, what a crazy thing that is  to politicise the most natural thing in the world, the greatest gift our bodies have to offer: physical desire.

I've been seeing my new man for a few months now. He's met the kids, we make each other happy, and sexually we're very compatible.

Where it will lead, I don't think either of us knows just yet. It's far too early to say.

But I do know that having had my sexual re-awakening I've no intention of ever letting it go back into hibernation.

I plan to have plenty more sex, which I'll thoroughly enjoy, and for the first time in my life I really don't care what anyone else thinks.
A woman has been awarded 302,000 in High Court damages over a traffic accident which worsened a neck injury she had sustained a few months earlier when she hit her head off an electricity box.

Jo-Ann O'Sullivan (31), Laburnam Grove, Commons Road, Blackpool, Cork, sued over the accident on August 27, 2016 when a car driven by Agnieszka Brozda, Brookville Estate, Glanmire, Co Cork, collided with the rear of a car in which Ms O'Sullivan was a passenger.

Liability was accepted by Ms Brozda and the case was before the court for assessment of damages only.

Mr Justice Anthony Barr today assessed damages at 302,445. Following an application for judgment in that sum by Ms O'Sullivan's counsel Dr John O'Mahony, the judge adjourned to next month the making of formal orders in the case.

The judge said Ms O'Sullivan, who worked in the human resources department of KBC in Dublin at the time, was a "bad candidate" for involvement in a traffic accident as she had just undergone serious surgery on her neck and skull some weeks previously, June 2016.

This surgery was needed after she had, some months earlier in November 2015, struck her head against an electricity box while she was straightening up as she retrieved mail from her post box.

She claimed she was very vulnerable at the time which meant the soft tissue injuries to her neck and shoulders from the road accident were considerably worse than would have been the case.

She claimed headaches she was also suffering from at the time were considerably exacerbated and she continues to experience severe headaches today.

She also said she suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and despite various treatments has been unable to work since 2016.

Ms Brozda's lawyers denied Ms O'Sullivan was injured to the extent she claimed or that there was a serious exacerbation of her post operative condition as a result of what was a minor impact.

The defendant relied on photos of the two cars which did not, it was claimed, show major structural damage to either vehicle. It had only cost 249 to repair the car Ms O'Sullivan was travelling it, Ms Brozda's lawyers also said.

A 'well-motivated person' who was keen to get back to a normal life

Mr Justice Barr did not think it could be extrapolated from the photos that there was not a significant impact. No engineering evidence was called in relation to the forces that may have been transmitted on the impact.

The only evidence of the actual impact was from Ms O'Sullivan who said she felt her head being propelled forward then backwards and struck her head against the headrest in the accident.

The judge preferred the evidence of doctors who examined her closer to the time of the accident.

He also did not think she had been "deliberately catastrophizing" her injuries or symptoms of pain. He accepted evidence of her GP that she was a well-motivated person who was keen to get back to a normal life and return to work.

He was also satisfied she did not attempt to exaggerate her level of disability and she "did not put on an act for the court" by grimacing, rubbing her neck or back or not turning her neck.

He found she has suffered constant and at times severe pain to her neck, shoulders and lower back and also had knee pain as a result of the accident.

He accepted her evidence she had been unfit for work since the accident and that from January 2017 her inability to work was due to the effects of the traffic accident.

She was a young woman who had her life totally disrupted for the last three years and had been rendered considerably disabled during this period, he said..

He awarded general damages to date and into the future of 146,000, loss of earnings to date and for the next two years at 138,795, and special damages of 17,648, a total of 302,445.
The Ombudsman asks the President of Romania to declare state of emergency over the coronavirus, and Parliament to approve it.

"The Ombudsman, in their capacity as constitutional guarantor of fundamental rights and freedoms, having considered the administrative measures adopted in the past days in efforts to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, requests the President of Romania to declare the state of emergency, and the Parliament of Romania to approve it in accordance with Article 93 paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Constitution of Romania," the institution said in a release on Thursday.The Ombudsman said that "they do not question the timeliness of the measures taken so far, or the need to restrict certain rights, but this is the mandatory thing to do, as provided by the fundamental law in exceptional cases"."These are the exigencies of the rule of law, where rights and freedoms cannot be restricted otherwise but under the terms of Article 53 of the Constitution of Romania. Romania has relevant legislation, specifically OUG No. 1/1999, and the provisions of this regulation must be duly observed," the cited source said.
Nine middle school kids in Colorado were left sickened, bewildered, and hospitalized on Monday after eating marijuana-infused candy.

At about 2:15pm on Monday, nine students at Adams City Middle School in Commerce City, Colorado began vomiting and feeling dizzy after they told the school's health clerk they had consumed marijuana edibles.

In all, 11 kids at the school the marijuana edibles.

'No one was, at any time, in any life-threatening danger,' Adams 14 School District spokesman John Poynton told KKTV.

People who eat marijuana edibles are 33 times more likely to visit the emergency room than those who inhale the drug

9 students at Adams City Middle School in Commerce City, Colorado who consumed marijuana edibles were hospitalized on Monday

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, teen marijuana use has reached its highest point in 30 years.

Also, people who eat marijuana edibles are 33 times more likely to visit the emergency room than those who inhale the drug, the Annals of Internal Medicine says.

One of the unforeseen consequences of legalizing marijuana in Colorado seems to be that more children are visiting the emergency room after using the drug.

One study showed that two years after recreational marijuana was legalized in 2014, the number of kids visiting the ER spiked. Exposure to the drug accounted for nearly half of the visits to the Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora.

'When you take high-THC marijuana-concentrated oil and you combine that with candy, you're asking for trouble,' said Henny Lasley with Smart Colorado.

Smart Colorado is an advocacy group for children founded in 2013 to protect children from the dangers of marijuana.

The students reported feeling nauseous and dizzy before an ambulance crew responded to Adams City Middle School in Colorado
Several years ago, Ilshat Hassan contemplated buying a gun. He was receiving threats over the phone and online from people who took issue with his advocacy for the Uygur people, he says, and feared for the safety of his family.

But his wife objected, and Hassan eventually abandoned the idea. They were both scared of the possibility that the state of his mental health could one day cause him to turn the firearm on himself.

Hurting myself, says Hassan, an IT professional living in Virginia. That was my concern.

Struggling with anxiety and depression, Hassan, 58, is just one of many members of the Uygur diaspora who say their mental health is in crisis, triggered or exacerbated by the situation facing family and friends thousands of miles away in Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Ilshat Hassan speaks at a congressional hearing in 2016. Photo: Handout

There, the Chinese government is almost three years into a systematic campaign to re-educate much of the regions Uygur and other largely Muslim ethnic minority populations, measures that have come under renewed scrutiny in recent months after a series of government leaks documenting the scale, objectives and methods of the crackdown.

Publicly, the government has portrayed the campaign as a humane and legitimate effort to counter religious extremism, setting up vocational training centres where trainees are taught the countrys laws and language and trained in practical skills.

Government documents not intended for public consumption, meanwhile, have detailed the involuntary nature of the internment programme and the political indoctrination that inmates are to receive.

In 2018, the United Nations estimated that some 1 million people had been sent to the internment camps.

That has left many in the Uygur diaspora entirely in the dark about family members whereabouts and wellbeing. Hassan, for one, does not know whether his own mother is alive.

While Beijings measures within China have elicited a wave of castigation from governments and some limited policy responses, Uygurs abroad say their own psychological trauma is also in desperate need of attention, and could in fact be the arena where action is more likely to have a tangible impact.

Story continues

Practically we are not doing much for the people inside East Turkestan, says Zubayra Shamseden of the Uygur Human Rights Project (UHRP), using a term by which many in the Uygur diaspora refer to Xinjiang.

Reports, statements and other forms of verbal pressure by organisations like hers have done little to effect real change in Beijings policies, she says. But at least if you can do something and help people outside of East Turkestan, which is possible a million hundred per cent, thats something that can give hope to [people still there].

The Washington-based UHRP is currently seeking to partner with mental health providers and experts in self-care to produce multilingual materials that members of the Uygur diaspora around the world can access.

The true scale of demand for such support is difficult to quantify.

But across two 2018 surveys of members of the Uygur diaspora, conducted by a medical researcher at a prominent US university, more than 94 per cent of respondents said they experienced some form of mental health disorder, including depression, agitation, fatigue and inability to focus.

While not scientific, the online surveys garnered some 1,900 responses from Uygurs around the world, the majority adults. Fearing that his family members in Xinjiang could face reprisals for his work, the researcher who conducted the canvasing, a Uygur, did not want to be named.

One particular data point stood out to him: across the two surveys, around 1 in 5 respondents reported experiencing suicidal thoughts.

As Uygurs communications with relatives back in Xinjiang have been stymied, they have been stripped of a critical source of moral support, says the researcher, who himself has not spoken with anyone in his family since April 2017.

Some are unable to reach family because of their presumed internment. Some have been blocked on messaging apps or told by relatives not to communicate with them for fear they would face retribution by local authorities. Others, like Shamseden, have proactively made the decision not to attempt communication.

I can ring right now but Im scared, because if I ring, if they answer and if something happens [to them], what am I going to do? she says. The helplessness, the powerlessness, its just the most horrible thing in your life that youll ever experience.

A bruising toll

During a recent visit to Geneva to attend a human rights conference, Uygur activist Jewher Ilham was asked a question that has become a staple of her meetings with government officials around the world: What can we do to help the Uygurs?

I told them: There is one thing that you are definitely able to do, and it wont cost you too much money, it wont cost you a bad relationship with China, Ilham says. You can provide mental [health] support to the Uygurs. Give them free therapy.

Ilham, 25, knows full well the bruising toll that living outside of China while advocating for family within can have on ones psychological well being.

In a coffee shop in Arlington, Virginia, she recounts several episodes in recent years in which she found herself grappling with her mental health. Among the triggering events was the sentencing of her father  the prominent Uygur scholar Ilham Tohti  to life in prison on separatism-related charges in September 2014.

Beijing accused the economics professor, who ran a bilingual Uygur-Mandarin website addressing ethnic, social and political tensions in the restive region, of seeking to split the country and inciting violence, charges Tohti denied.

Pain from the prospect of not seeing her father again was compounded by other anxieties. Would speaking up about his case make his situation worse? Would she be able to continue to fund her studies at Indiana University without her familys financial support?

Then, two and a half years later, Ilham found herself at another nadir after the death of her mentor and close friend, the Tibet scholar Elliot Sperling. Forcibly estranged from her own father, she had come to see the professor as something of a paternal figure.

Jewher Ilham, daughter of jailed Uygur scholar Ilham Tohti, in Geneva on February 18. Photo: AFP

My world collapsed, Ilham says, recounting a period of two weeks when she skipped classes and exams, shut at home lost in tears. Her grief and isolation pushed her to the brink of giving up her advocacy work altogether: I was in serious health problems.

With the attentive company of a new roommate  who brought with her a puppy that became a source of therapy in itself  Ilham was able to recover her health and return to public activism, which last summer included an audience with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

If you cant take good care of yourself, she says now, theres no way you can take care of others.

Though she has not sought it herself, Ilham believes that professional psychiatric care offers the best solution to the problems facing her community. But the stigma around mental health in more traditional Uygur circles is preventing some from speaking out and seeking help, she says, echoing the comments of several people interviewed for this story.

Though such a stigma can be found in cultures the world over, it is compounded by societal norms in China, where much of the Uygur diaspora hails from.

Additional barriers

According to figures from 2015, the most recent World Health Organisation (WHO) data available, China had just 2.2 psychiatrists for every 100,000 people. The US has more than four times the number at 10.5, while Norway, at the far end of the spectrum, has over 48.

When you say, Im feeling depressed, its: Hey, dont say that, youre not crazy, says Ilham, playing out an imagined conversation between Uygurs. People can get offended.

Beyond cultural and social barriers, in a country like the US there is an additional financial burden associated with accessibility to mental health care.

We probably will only see a sliver of the burden of illness that exists because of all sorts of systemic barriers, says New York-based psychiatrist Sunny Patel, who has worked with asylum seekers, refugees and other displaced people dealing with trauma.

Each step, each place, you always have to think about the cost because some places you have to pay a lot, even if you have insurance, says UHRPs Shamseden, referring to the co-payments required of many who have health insurance in the US. Thats how it is. I just hate the system.

The problem is compounded by the fact that many psychiatric practitioners do not even take insurance, placing all the burden on the patient, says Patel, a clinical fellow at New York Universitys Langone hospital.

And while there are public health options for those on low incomes, it can be difficult to secure care that extends beyond one-off treatment, he adds, a critical hindrance for those living with chronic mental health problems.

Whos going to be able to see you on an ongoing basis when resources are limited? he says.

Reliving the trauma

For those whose activism has brought them prominence within the Uygur community, that status often comes with an expectation that they be readily available to listen to others personal predicaments and offer constructive suggestions.

Ilham, for one, estimates that on an average day she expects to meet between 10 to 20 people with their own stories to share.

The constant need to express optimism is a form of psychological torture, says Abduweli Ayup, a Norway-based linguist and activist who runs an organisation providing assistance to displaced Uygurs, including camp survivors, as they settle in new host countries.

For Ayup, originally from western Xinjiangs Kashgar, hearing others stories is in itself a traumatising experience, one that opens old wounds and leaves him grappling with insomnia.

Abduweli Ayup, a Uygur scholar and activist who is based in Norway, during a visit to Washington. Photo: Owen Churchill

In 2013, while living in Xinjiang, Ayup was arrested and imprisoned, accused of misappropriating public funds while operating an educational company that focused on promoting the Uygur language, the ethnic groups Turkic mother tongue.

During his 15 months of imprisonment, Ayup says he was interrogated, tortured and abused  memories that come flooding back when he hears stories of others detention.

I know what they are talking about, says Ayup, 47, his voice audibly pained. I know that cage in that interrogation room  I know what electricity feels [like]. (Faxed requests to the Chinese ministries of Foreign Affairs and Public Security for comment on Ayups detention went unanswered.)

In 2015, Ayup fled China and settled in Turkey, before moving to Norway, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

But despite living abroad and having lost contact with all his immediate family members in Xinjiang, the situation faced by those he left behind remains a painfully intimate subject for him, highlighted most recently by the leak of government documents in which he found a friends name.

The Qaraqash Document, as it came to be known in the international press, detailed authorities evaluation of hundreds of residents and their relatives in the southern Xinjiang county, including determinations of whether they should continue their forcible re-education or could be released. An abridged and redacted excerpt of the list was published widely in February.

Scouring its 137 pages, Ayup came across the name of his friend, identified as the owner of a kindergarten Ayup had visited before. The friends younger brother had been arrested and sent for re-education for violating family planning policies, notes in the document, seen by the South China Morning Post, said.

While the entire family was applauded by authorities for having undergone a significant transformation in their thinking, with the younger brother being released from his internment, the document was nonetheless an indication of how closely the lives of Uygurs in Xinjiang are monitored. It was a heartbreaking read, says Ayup.

Thats my therapy

A polyglot and a linguistic scholar at heart, Ayup has found solace in his volunteer work in Bergen, where he teaches his mother tongue to Uygur-Norwegian children. Thats my therapy, he says, recounting his delight at hearing the words form clumsily and slowly in their mouths.

Ayup, whose family of four lives off his writing fellowship at the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), has been able to access psychiatric care through Norways public health care system. But he says his sessions with therapists did not help.

They asked me to stop, he says, breaking into an incredulous laugh. Stop thinking about that, stop doing [advocacy work] for a while. How can I stop? Its impossible to stop. Its me, I cannot deny myself. (In fact, he doesnt imagine stopping until he dies, which he hopes is years away: I plan to live 80 years.)

Patel, the psychiatrist, says advising people like Ayup to avoid the things that cause them pain is not at all best practice.

Telling people to stop thinking about something is probably the worst thing you could say, says Patel, arguing that the burden is on mental health practitioners to help patients make sense of  not ignore  their trauma and pain.

In severe cases, medication, when paired with psychotherapy, can have helpful synergistic effects, he says.

We are constantly under pressure

But Hassan, who describes himself with a chuckle as too traditional, is reluctant to try medication, despite the disruption his symptoms have had on his daily life.

He used to finish books in a matter of days, but now finds himself reading a single page over and over again. He has come to crave isolation and struggles to concentrate at work. During a check-in with his professional mentor, he broke down in tears when she asked: How is your life, Ilshat?

Hassans company offers counselling, and he acknowledges that he should go. But holding him back is the belief that short of losing his memory, there is nothing that could soothe his psychological torment.

We are constantly under this pressure, its not going away, he says, pointing to the fact he has not been able to contact his mother and sister for several years. I dont know if they are still alive. After I talk to a counsellor, anything changes? No.

Hassans young daughter is a source of hope and a welcome distraction from his pain, he says. But, like anything in his life, even she has the unwitting ability to turn his mind back to Xinjiang.

Sometimes she will ask why her grandparents do not pick her up from school like her classmates. Does she have any extended family at all?

And after Yes, you have to explain to her  why she cant talk to them, says Hassan, heavily. Its a very stressful conversation.

Additional reporting by Mimi Lau

If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, help is available. For Hong Kong, dial +852 2896 0000 for The Samaritans or +852 2382 0000 for Suicide Prevention Services. In the US, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at +1 800 273 8255. For a list of other nations helplines, see this page .

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Some teenagers in custody at the states youth prison in Chicago are participating in the states first accredited barber program for juvenile detainees. The youths are earning credit hours to obtain a barber or cosmetology license through the program given at the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justices Warrenville and Chicago facilities. The barber school is part of a push by the department to provide postsecondary educational opportunities for detainees who have received their GED or completed high school.
In the wake of Jyotiraditya Scindia joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Chandrakant Kavlekar on Thursday said that the Congress must do 'chintan,' (introspection) as to why its leaders are deserting the party.

Interacting with reporters here, Kavlekar said that he had himself quit the Congress last year as he saw no future in the party.

"This is what is happening everywhere, we also did the same months ago. No one sees a proper future in the party; no one listens to anyone there. That is why the exodus is happening," said the minister.

"There is something lacking in Congress. If it stays the same then the remaining people may also leave soon. The party should rectify it; the party should do 'chintan,' as to why this is happening. Madhya Pradesh will also eventually come to the BJP as Karnataka has already come to us. More states could also see a similar turn of events. It is happening on its own, the BJP is not behind it," he added.

On Wednesday, Scindia joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party President JP Nadda. He had resigned from the Congress a day earlier after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the identity politics world of the progressive left, everything is racist. Using the pseudo-concept of intersectionality, all grievance groups overlap, except the groups of white, male, Christian, and heterosexual. The intersectionality of those four groups represents the ultimate in racism and bigotry, the scourge of civilization.

In this mindset, it makes perfect sense for inanimate objects to be labeled as racist. For example, a black hole is now considered by some to be a racist term. Perhaps we should use singularity, since its so much easier for the average person to understand.

Cold weather, air, dogs, solar eclipses, and farmers markets are also considered racist to the woke progressives. So, its no surprise that something so small that it cannot be seen with an ordinary microscope is also said to be racist.

I speak of a virus, the Wuhan virus, to be specific. Or the Chinese Coronavirus to use another term. This virus is busy causing not a mass epidemic, but mass hysteria, leading people to empty store shelves of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Also known as COVID-19, the Wuhan virus, like so many of its predecessors, is named based on where it was first identified, in this case, Wuhan, China.

In an intellectually functional society, claiming a virus name is racist would be nonsensical. But in America, where thoughtful discussion is replaced by cliched outrage and common sense has been relegated to history books, the name Wuhan virus has become the latest trigger for the left.

One of our congressional thought leaders, Rep. Ilhan Omar, tweeted out an accusation of racism after Rep. Kevin McCarthy referred to the virus as Chinese Coronavirus. Isnt that where the virus originated? Its not the Swedish or Bolivian Coronavirus.

Rep. Omar had no similar outrage when a New York Times editorial writer called it the Trumpvirus. President Trump didnt create the virus and it didnt originate from one of his properties, but instead came from China. Whats wrong with calling it what it is?

Speaking of the New York Times, they piled on as well, complaining that conservatives calling it the Wuhan virus is not only racist, but also xenophobic. How long until someone adds homophobic or sexist to the criticism?

Predictably CNN joined the chorus claiming racism and xenophobia. Salon was close behind with their caterwauling, the racist art of naming a virus.

Viruses are tiny inanimate objects, consisting of a few strands of DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat, measuring around 100 nanometers in size.

They dont wear white robes or march for viral supremacy. They infect individuals of all races, colors, sexes, religions, and national origin. Viruses dont care where you were born. They arent concerned over what bathroom you prefer to use. Viruses dont give a whit about your political party membership or whether you believe the earth is flat.

Virus are among the least racist objects in our world. Yet in the lefts wokeness, virus names are racist. How have past viruses and similar infectious diseases been named?

The Spanish flu of 1918-20 did not originate in Spain, but was first reported by Spain as they were neutral in World War I. But the name stuck and wasnt considered racist.

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a viral infection first described by a German physician in 1740, thus the name. Angela Merkel is a woke EU politician, but I havent heard her complain that German measles is racist or xenophobic.

The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was appropriately named after where it was found.

A hemorrhagic fever virus similar to Ebola named Marburg was first recognized in 1967 in of all places, Marburg, Germany.

MERS is the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, first reported in Saudi Arabia. When discovered in 2012 during the Obama administration, I dont recall cries of racism or Islamophobia because the virus was identified with the Middle East, where it first appeared.

The bubonic plague, technically a bacterial, not a viral, infection from the 14th century was called black death because black spots formed on the skin of those infected. Imagine if Don Lemon or Al Sharpton were alive then and how they would howl over the name black death.

Swine flu, also known as H1N1, from 2009, was so named because people who caught it had direct contact with pigs. The animal rights groups were not offended at the time or hollering about speciesism over the use of the term swine. What would they say about bird flu or chickenpox?

Smallpox is another horrific virus called small to distinguish it from syphilis, or the great pox. How long until short people cry heightism and claim the name small is discriminatory?

Remember the Zika virus? This was discovered in 1947 in the Zika Forest in Uganda and named accordingly.

Lyme disease, not a virus but instead a bacterial infection passed on through tick bites, was first recognized in 1975 after a number of children developed arthritis. Where were these children living at the time? Lyme, Connecticut, hence the name Lyme disease.

Lets continue. West Nile virus was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937 and was named as such.

Rift Valley fever is a viral infection affecting humans and animals. It was first identified in 1931 as a sheep epidemic on a farm in the Rift Valley in Kenya, hence the name.

Then there is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, not a virus, but like Lyme disease, a tickborne disease first recognized in 1986 in the Snake River Valley of Idaho -- which just so happens to be in the Rocky Mountains.

Colorodans are sufficiently woke to have selected Bernie Sanders in the Democrat primary, but none are complaining about this infectious disease being named after their home in the Rocky Mountains.

Many diseases and infections are named after who discovered them or where they were discovered. Its as simple as that. Wuhan virus originated in Wuhan, not Tokyo, not Bangkok. To claim the name is racist is silly.

Big media is pushing the story that, Republicans face backlash over racist labeling of coronavirus. But the reality is that this current viral outbreak started in Wuhan, China. The left deserves the backlash over shaming the country over politically correct nonsense.

Calling it the Wuhan virus is accurate and scientifically appropriate, but certainly not racist.

Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a Denver based physician and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in American Thinker, Daily Caller, Rasmussen Reports, and other publications. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and QuodVerum.
Pop star Miley Cyrus has cancelled a trip to Australia for a bushfire relief concert three days ahead of the show, citing recommendations that travel be curtailed to counter the spread of the global coronavirus epidemic.

Cyrus, 27, who rose to fame with global hits like Party in the USA and Wrecking Ball, was set to be the headline act for a concert on March 13 in Australias second-largest city, Melbourne, which the organisers have now called off.

All proceeds from the show were to go to Australian charities aiding relief efforts following a devastating bushfire season which destroyed nearly 12 million hectares (30 million acres) of bushland, killing 33 people and an estimated one billion native animals.

I am so disappointed to not be there, but I have to do what is right to protect the health and safety of my band and crew, Cyrus said in a message on Twitter.

Australia has reported 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, with three deaths.

Cyrus said she was following the recommendations of local, state, federal and international government authorities.

I will still be making a donation to help the victims of the Australian bush fire, she said, without saying how much she would donate.

Also read: Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, wife Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus; to be isolated

World Tour, which organised the concert, said all fans will receive a full refund but encouraged donations to support WWF Australias wildlife and nature recovery fund and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.

While Cyrus cancelled her trip, World Tour said it was going ahead with a concert on March 14 in Melbourne with British pop star Robbie Williams. Robbie is already on his way to Australia, World Tour said on the ticket web site.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
HMD Global has announced that 14 Nokia smartphones will get Android 10 in H1 2020. The company has said that the schedule has been altered a bit due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The Nokia 2.2 is listed to get the update at the end of Q1 2020. On the other hand, Nokia 2.3, 3.2, 4.2, 7.2, 6.2, 3.1 Plus, and 8 Sirocco, are said to get it in late Q1 2020 or early Q2 2020.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus and 1 Plus will get the update in mid Q2 2020, while the Nokia 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, and 1 will be updated in late Q2 2020.

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These are not the first Nokia smartphones to get Android 10, not at all

Now, these are not the first Nokia-branded phones to get Android 10, not even close. The company had already updated six of its smartphones from October to January this year.

The Nokia 8.1, 9 PureView, 7.1, 6.1 Plus, 7 Plus, and 6.1 have all been updated in that timeframe. The devices that are scheduled to get the update in Q1 and Q2 were also originally supposed to get updated sooner.

Android 10 will bring quite a few new features to the aforementioned Nokia devices. If youve already played with a Nokia phone that runs Android 10, you know exactly what to expect.

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The update will bring some new security features to the device, along with a system-wide dark theme. Focus mode will be added as well, along with some new UI tweaks.

Nokias plans are not the only ones that got affected by Coronavirus outbreak

It remains to be seen if Nokia will be able to stick to this schedule, as its hard to predict what will happen with Coronavirus. Ever since breaking out, it has been looming over plans of many tech companies.

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona has been canceled due to the outbreak, while many companies decided to host online-only press conferences. Many other events have been canceled as well,

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Nokia did not really set specific dates for Android 10 updates, so as long as it delivers them within a three-month timeframe, itll fulfill its obligation. That should be doable for the company.

The Nokia 9 PureView is still the companys flagship smartphone. That device already got updated to Android 10, as mentioned earlier. There are still quite a few popular devices form the company on the list that are awaiting that update, though.

Speaking of the companys flagship, dont expect the Nokia 9 PureViews successor to arrive that soon. The phones launch has reportedly been delayed until later this year, were still not sure when will it arrive. The device will be called either the Nokia 9.1 PureView, or 9.2 PureView.
Who won Guyanas general election when the people went to the polls on March 2?

Guyana may be closer to knowing that answer today as the imbroglio surrounding the general election is expected to be decided as Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire will deliver judgment on whether the election process was properly followed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:29:28|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Sitting at home, Wang Nan, a Dunhuang culture enthusiast in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, paid her first visit to the Mogao Grottoes via her smartphone.

"I was deeply touched by the breathtaking cultural relics, and I can chat with other visitors on the online tour. This is quite different from field tour," Wang said.

Amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, many Chinese scenic spots have been closed to avoid public gathering and reduce cross infections. Instead, they provide a satisfactory online touring experience for the country's vast number of stay-at-home visitors.

The Dunhuang Academy, which administers the Mogao Grottoes, in northwest China's Gansu Province, has been offering online exhibitions on various platforms, including its official website, social media platform WeChat, and video-sharing app Douyin, also known as TikTok.

The online grottoes touring programs on WeChat and media tool QQ attracted 5 million views in the first 10 days since their launch on Feb. 20, while short videos uploaded by the academy on Douyin has obtained more than 50,000 likes since Feb. 18.

By visiting the website "Digital Dunhuang," visitors can be immersed in the images of more than 4,430 square meters of murals across 30 caves. In early February, the mobile phone version of "Digital Dunhuang" was also launched.

The Mogao Grottoes are home to collections of Buddhist artwork -- more than 2,000 colored sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals -- in 735 caves carved along a cliff by ancient worshippers.

It was first constructed in 366 A.D. For more than 1,000 years, it was a popular marketplace, travelers' stop, and a religious shrine on the ancient Silk Road.
Auserd (refugee camp), March, 12 2020 (SPS)- The delegations to the First Youth Solidarity Forum with Western Sahara, have unanimously voiced their full support for the right of the Sahrawi people to independence and freedom.

Mohamed Bujruf has expressed on behalf of The Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the Saharawi People his countries with the Sahrawi issue unwavering support with the people of Western Sahara

Mrs. Evrique, AUPSC representative has also emphasized that peace in Africa will not be achieved and there are occupied parts of the Sahrawi Republic," adding that African youth are committed to accompany the Sahrawi people, a founding member of the African Union.

We reiterate once again our firm and unwavering support to the Sahrawi people in their noble struggle to freedom and independence, The Venezuelan Ambassador to the Sahrawi Republic, Mr. Jesus Sojo Reyes, during his official address on the sidelines of the morning session of the Youth International Forum

For her part, The Southern African international human rights activist in, Mrs. Catherine Constantinides, affirmed that the international community is required more than ever to redouble its efforts in order for the Sahrawi people to obtain their legitimate rights to freedom and independence.

A representative of The World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) said that his organization will not be dissuaded by the maneuvers practiced by the Moroccan regime on supporting the Sahrawi people from freedom and liberation.

The First International Youth Forum of Solidarity with Western Sahara, kicked off Wednesday, organized by the UJSARIO in the Saharawi refugee camps from the 11th to 13th March 2020, under the theme: Sustainable future for Saharawi youth, the fair political resolution of the conflict, human rights, natural resources and the Wall of Shame in Western Sahara, with the presence of delegates from numerous international youth organisations. SPS

125/090/TRA
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 02:07:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over phone, urging the international community to take urgent action in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Xi recalled that since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, Guterres has written to him to extend sympathies and express appreciation of China's prevention and control measures, and has publicly voiced support for China's anti-epidemic efforts on multiple occasions.

The Chinese president conveyed his gratitude to the UN chief, pointing out that as Chinese people often say, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Thanks to arduous endeavors, China has been witnessing a domestic trend in which the situation of epidemic prevention and control is making sustained progress and the order of life and production is being restored at an increasing pace, Xi said.

For the next step, he added, China will act as prudently at the end as at the beginning, and carry on its prevention and control efforts in an unrelenting, solid and meticulous fashion, and meanwhile earnestly advance all aspects of work in economic and social development.

The Chinese people will definitely prevail over the COVID-19 epidemic and will also definitely realize its intended targets for economic and social development, Xi said. "I am fully confident in that."

Xi stressed that the Chinese people's hard work has won precious time for and made important contributions to other countries' epidemic prevention and control.

Noting that with COVID-19 having recently occured and spread in a number of countries, the situation is worrying, he urged the international community to take urgent action and carry out effective international cooperation in joint prevention and control, so as to form a strong concerted force to beat the disease.

China stands ready to share its experience with other countries, carry out joint research and development on drugs and vaccines, and offer as much assistance as it can to countries where the disease is spreading, Xi said.

He added that China supports the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) in mobilizing the international community to enhance policy coordination, expand resources input, and particularly help developing countries with poor public health systems prepare themselves for prevention and response.

China, he said, has announced a 20-million-U.S.-dollar donation to the WHO in support of its efforts to organize international actions against the epidemic.

The epidemic has once again demonstrated that mankind is a community with a shared future that shares weal and woe, Xi stressed, adding that in the era of economic globalization, COVID-19 will not be the world's last major emergency, and various traditional and non-traditional security issues will constantly bring about new tests.

The international community has to see humanity as one community with a shared future, look out for one another, and join hands to tackle risks and challenges and build a beautiful planet, said the Chinese president.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Xi said China supports the international community in taking that as an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism, and reinforce and improve the global governance system with the United Nations at the core.

The Chinese side, he added, will continue supporting the work of the world body.
The other 'AOC' - the Architect of the Capitol - asked those who work on Capitol Hill not to make jokes about the coronavirus outbreak.

'We respectfully request refraining from posting joking signs (such as biohazard) on colleagues of cubicles,' wrote Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton in a letter dated Thursday and addressed to the entire Congressional community.

Blanton suggested that such pranks could spook the Capitol complex's cleaning staff.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) fist bump at a luncheon on Capitol Hill Thursday in order to avoid hand contact

A sign on a House committee room's door Thursday asked that visitors not shake the hands of Congressional staff or lawmakers

A worker cleans off a statue in the Capitol Visitor Center on Thursday. The Architect of the Capitol's letter suggested he feared 'biohazard' sign pranks could spook cleaning staff

A sign on the door of Sen. Ted Cruz's office tells visiting constituents that his staff is working from home

Thursday marked the last day that Capitol Hill would be open for tours for the foreseeable future

In a section of his letter labeled, 'Refraining from Jokes,' Blanton wrote, 'Finally, we ask that you consider all of those who are working very hard to clean and disinfect such a large and open campus,' the Architect of the Capitol wrote.

He then made the no-biohazard sign ask.

The letter also contained a number of standard precautions, urging lawmakers and staff to clean and disinfect their personal workstations, wash their hands for 20 seconds and use hand sanitizer when soap is unavailable.

The AOC also advised members of Congress to use 'social distancing.'

As outlined by the Office of Attending Physician 'members should adopt a stance that avoidsx close direct contact with other individuals, such as shaking hands, giving/receiving hugs, taking selfies, etc.'

A sign hanging on the door of a House committee room Thursday informed the public, 'Due to heightened health concerns, we respectfully ask that you refrain from shaking hands with staff or the Members of Congress.'

'Thank you for understanding,' it said.

A letter from the Architect of the Capitol outlined best practices for the Congressional community during the coronavirus outbreak

At the end of the AOC's letter he requests that staff not make jokes about the coronavirus. He then gives the very specific example of not posting signs that read 'biohazard' in the cubicles of colleagues

The letter and signs come after a handful of lawmakers have self-quarantined, first because they came into contact with an individual who had the coronavirus at CPAC - the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.

Just today, Sen. Lindsey Graham announced he would also self-quarantine due to being at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump's Florida resort, last weekend.

The press secretary of the Brazilian president - both of whom were in contact with President Trump - tested positive for the virus.

Late Wednesday the news broke that a staffer for Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, had also tested positive for the virus.

In response, Cantwell's D.C. and Washington offices closed and staffers were told to work from home.

The Architect of the Capitol letter said that some member suites would be targeted for deep cleaning.

Visitors and tourists will no longer be permitted on Capitol Hill after Thursday due to the coronavirus outbreak.
(Photo : Zoom/Facebook) Zoom has a special feature that allows you to use a virtual background. (Photo : Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay) With Zoom's feature, you can easily hide your messy room!

Working from home will seem to be the trend for at least the next few weeks as confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease or COVID-19 continue to increase, especially with large corporations like Apple and Google asking their employees to stay home for a while.

In a recent report by ZDNet, Google has officially advised its employees in North America to start working from home amid the outbreak to reduce the density of workers in Google's offices.

Besides Google, Apple CEO Tim Cook has already permitted its employees to work from home due to the "unprecedented event."

Now, Shopify is following suit.

Zoom to the Rescue!

With these situations, video conferencing software like Zoom is incredibly popular as it lets colleagues work together despite their remote locations.

But, have you been in a situation where you're in your messy room and a colleague or your boss suddenly called? Don't panic. Zoom has you covered.

According to The Verge, Zoom has a special feature known as the Virtual Background feature that allows you to use a still image as your background, so no matter how cluttered your room is, you can effectively hide it and save yourself from the embarrassment--or at least from the exhaustion of cleaning it.

However, it's only possible if your computer can take it.

ALSO READ: Demand for China's iPad Grows as Stocks Dwindle as Kids Turn to e-Learning Due to Coronavirus Outbreak

Zoom has created quite a long list of requirements based on the system you're using, as well as whether you need an image only or a video, and it's available on their support page.

High-end laptops with the latest OS and either a Core i5 or i7 quad-core processor can instantly use the virtual background for images and video conferences. Still, those on the mid-range systems can use the feature but will need a physical green screen for it to work.

How to Set it Up

To set it up, open your Zoom client and click the gear icon on the upper right-hand of the screen. Then, choose the "Virtual Background" on the menu that will pop up on the left.

Zoom has already provided its users with sample images they can use, and you can click the one that you want. However, you can also supply your own background image with the "Add Image" button.

If you're already on a video conference, you can set it up by clicking the up-arrow on the bottom left of the screen, next to the video symbol. Then, click on the "Choose a virtual background..." option.

The software should warn you with a pop-up text if your computer can't handle the feature, and you'll be urged to tick the "I have a green screen" box to continue.

Coors Light Stops Ad

Despite the multitude of remote workers these days, Coors Light has decided to stop its "Official Beer of Working Remotely" ad, which was initially set to be played during March Madness.

The company decided to put it on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak to avoid being deemed "insensitive or be misinterpreted."

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A 55-year-old American woman, who was touring the city, has died after being taken ill, police said on Thursday.

The woman, Thenny Meja, was living in New Delhi for the past several years and arrived in Bikaner on March 10, they said.

She fell ill on Wednesday night and was taken from her hotel here to a hospital where she was declared dead, police said.

"Her friends came from Delhi and the post-mortem was conducted in their presence on Wednesday. The body has been handed over to them," Bichwal Station House Officer (SHO) Manoj Kumar said.

He said the US embassy has also been informed about the incident.

The exact cause of the death will be clear after the post-mortem report, the SHO added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has welcomed the appointment of Mick Mulvaney as special envoy to Northern Ireland saying the administration is committed to peace and increasing investment ties with the country.

In what was seen as a demotion, President Donald Trump appointed his former acting chief of staff to the role which has sat vacant since he took office in 2017.

RTE reports Secretary Pompeo also welcomed the restoration of devolution of power-sharing in Northern Ireland.

He hailed Mr Mulvaney as an accomplished statesman and would draw on his experience to support peace and prosperity. Mr Mulvaney had recently visited Northern Ireland when he took part in a cross-community event in Belfast and met the First and deputy First Ministers.

"His familiarity with the people and leaders in Belfast, London, and Dublin will be instrumental to ensure further progress in Northern Ireland. I look forward to his engagement as he does so with my full trust and confidence," Mr Pompeo said.

Expand Close US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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He added: "US Special Envoys have facilitated the negotiation and implementation of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which had the main goal of bringing an end to violence, and ensuring self-determination, peace, and reconciliation.

"The United States welcomes the re-establishment of the devolved government in Northern Ireland after a three-year impasse and we look forward to meeting with many of the stakeholders this week in Washington."

While the First and deputy First Minister cancelled their St Patrick's day trip to American, the Economy Minister Diane Dodds flew out on Monday to carry out a number of engagements.

The return of devolution in Northern Ireland, Mr Pompeo said, was an opportunity to increase trade and investment ties between the US and Northern Ireland.
(Natural News) Now that the entire nation of Italy is under mandatory lockdown due to the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), officials there are readying to suspend all mortgage payments and even some tax payments to help the nations confined citizens avoid going broke.

Reports indicate that movement has now been restricted for some 60 million Italians, meaning they wont be able to go to work as normal or really do much of anything other than sit at home in isolation. Consequently, many of them will no longer be able to make money in order to pay their bills, which is why authorities are intervening.

Ministers in Italy are also asking the European Union (EU) to increase Romes deficit spending limit beyond 7.5 billion euros (roughly $8.5 billion) in order to help struggling businesses that are being hurt by the sharp drop in tourism thats occurred over the past month.

The measures (will apply) for all of Italy, stated Deputy Economic Minister Laura Castelli.

These new support measures for both families and small businesses throughout Italy were set to be unveiled on March 11, and may include the suspension of the payment of (salary) withholdings and contributions to various Italian tax funds, according to MarketWatch.

It is expected that Italys economy could contract by 1.0% between April and June, according to numerous banks throughout the country that stand to be affected by corresponding losses.

We are worried about this and for this reason we pushed the banking system to give as much as possible (on the) suspension of mortgages, Castelli added. You will see the details in the next few hours.

Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, warns about how failing to close our own nations borders amid the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) crisis will only increase the fallout from this global pandemic:

All it took was a few weeks to infect nearly 10,000 people in the Mediterranean

A far cry from whats happening here in the United States, Italy is taking swift and formidable action not just to protect its people from the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), but also to take care of them with mortgage relief. After all, it only took about two weeks for the virus to sweep the region, infecting nearly 10,000 people that we know of in the Mediterranean country.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has only two things on his mind: propping up the stock market and boosting his own ego. The Commander-in-Chief isnt even taking the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) seriously, and is the only contender in the running for president in 2020 that refuses to cancel his pep rallies.

Unlike in Italy, Americans arent being told to protect themselves with masks, nor are they being formidably advised as to how to keep themselves safe. In fact, those who try to prepare for the worst are actually being mocked by the mindless masses as fools, much like how the throngs of scoffers laughed at Noah as he prepared the ark for the storm that he knew was coming.

Because Americans tend to be proud people who feel as though theyre somehow exceptional, theres this pervasive sentiment across our land that it could never happen here. Jokes about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) persist, even as schools shut down, grocery store shelves run bare, and mandatory lockdowns spread from city to city, and from state to state.

Regardless of how serious the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) actually is, the engineered response to it is what matters. And that response is one thats rapidly leading to total economic failure, whether Americans want to acknowledge that fact or not. The question is: Are you ready for whats inevitably coming?

For more related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

MarketWatch.com

NaturalNews.com
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the challenge posed by the outbreak of coronavirus, and ways to strengthen bilateral relations.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: The Prime Minister spoke to Indian Prime Minister Modi today. They discussed the coronavirus outbreak and emphasised the importance of coordinated international efforts to tackle the spread of the virus.

The Prime Minister raised climate change, welcoming the steps taken by India to increase generation of renewable energy and urging the need for ambitious action to deliver on the Paris Agreement.

More generally, the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation between the UK and India in a range of areas including trade, cultural relations, defence and technology, the spokesperson added.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  President Rodrigo Duterte has extended class suspensions in Metro Manila until April 12.

Duterte previously suspended classes Monday until March 14, and decided to extend it after announcing that the country raised the Covid-19 alert to Code Red Sub-level 2 -- the highest alert level.

Kung wala kang magawa, sabi ng gobyerno mag-aral ka. Pero ito hindi ko inaasahang susundin ninyo, said Duterte, addressing students in his announcement Thursday night.

[Translation: If you cant do anything, the government says that you should study. But I do not expect that you will follow this]

Other cities outside Metro Manila and some provinces also announced class suspensions in their areas.

READ: Walang Pasok: Class suspensions over coronavirus outbreak

For those who want to improve, you better make use of the time to study, Duterte added.

Globally, over 126,000 people have contracted the disease with more than 4,600 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University's global tracking of cases.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 cases in the Philippines has risen to 52, after three more cases were added Thursday.
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

India under lockdown as confirmed cases of coronavirus jump to 73 now

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 12: The total number of confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus, or Covid-19 in India now stands at 73, with two new fresh cases of coronavirus reported in Mumbai.

The number of cases in the country jumped after positive cases were reported from Karnataka, Kerala, and Maharashtra.

The central government has stepped up measures amid rise in the number of coronavirus cases.

Coronavirus a pandemic: What does that mean and what changes now

The Union Health ministry in its latest update had accounted for only two cases from Maharashtra, both from Pune. Six new patients from the city have since been confirmed.

Meanwhile, India on Wednesday suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, according to an official statement.

The government also "strongly advised" Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. The suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure. Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of a group of ministers held under the chairmanship of Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Following the meeting, the Bureau of Immigration in a statement said, "All existing visas issued to nationals of any country, except those issued to diplomats, officials, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas, stand suspended till April 15th, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13th, 2020 at the port of departure of any foreigner for onward journey to India."

Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15, according to a similar official statement.

Coronavirus: India suspends all tourist visas till April 15 in a bid to curb spread of virus

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.

The government advised the incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, to avoid non-essential travel and told them 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," it said. 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, the release said.

WHO declares COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic

Provision for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy to be made 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, the press release said.
Before even entering the theatre to watch Homi Adajanias Angrezi Medium, I was more than happy and really looking forward to watching the movie because it marks the return of Irrfan Khan back on the big screens. There's no denying that its one of the highlights of the movie and will surely attract people to cinema halls.



 Maddock Films

Within the first 20 minutes of the movie, you get a clear idea of what to expect from the film and whats in store for you in the next two hours. In the very beginning, Homi Adjania introduces Champak Bansal (Irrfan) who is a single parent raising his daughter, Tarika (Radhika Madan). She is about to turn 18 and well, parents would agree with us that its a crucial time while growing up, especially because as teenagers, we are all looking out for freedom, raring to step into the big world.



 Maddock Films

The two share this inseparable bond and its quite evident that Champak would go to any extent to make sure that his daughter lives life queen size. Ever since her childhood, Tarika has been fascinated with the idea of shifting abroad and turning 18 gives her the platform to finally pursue her dreams that she has been harboring.



Champak is embroiled in a legal battle with his brother played by Deepak Dobriyal over the name of the sweet shop - Ghaseetaram which will, in turn, jeopardize Tarikas dream of going to London to study. In order to make sure that his daughters dream doesnt get shattered, Champak lands himself in trouble.



 Maddock Films

And that, pretty much, is the plot of the film, in a nutshell. The movie sheds light on how parents deal with the concept of their children becoming independent and seeking freedom at a certain age. And that is very relatable because I am sure we all have gone through a period where we have also wanted to break free of the shackles of our parents being over-protective.



But the film leaves the audience with a rather intriguing question that if your freedom comes at the cost of tarnishing your relationship with your parents, is it really worth it?



Interestingly, Homi Adjania addresses both sides of the coin by highlighting parents' dilemma of coping with their teenagers concept of freedom too. As the script moves from Udaipur to London, a lot of layers of a father and his daughter's relationship unfold.



The first half is crisp and to the point, but there are loopholes in the second half as it wanders off for a bit. Irrfan and Dobriyals characters are deported back to India by British authorities but they sneak in again as Pakistani citizens in the second half. Like seriously? There are a few ups and downs but lets give him the benefit of cinematic liberty.



That aside, all the characters have performed brilliantly according to the screen space they have been allotted by the director of the movie. Irrfan is captivating in every frame as usual. Seeing him on the silver screen after two years made me both emotional from the inside and happy from the outside (you will get this after watching the movie). The actor does his best and its quite evident that he missed the camera way too much. He gives a terrific performance and his performance is single handedly the biggest reason for you to watch the movie.



 Maddock Films

Deepak Dobriyal steals the spotlight entirely with his comic timing and doesnt disappoint even for a single second whenever he is on the screen.



 Maddock Films

Bollywood has now found a gem in Radhika Madan from the TV industry and you would fall in love with how she emotes on the big screen. She has a striking presence and you would surely want to see more of her in future projects.



 Maddock Films

You would also like the characters of Kiku Sharda and Ranvir Shorey and hats off to them for pulling it off well.



 Maddock Films

What disappointed me was the director wasting talent like Pankaj Tripathi. No doubt, he's wonderful during the time he is on screen but I felt like he should have been given a little more space.



Similarly, Kareena Kapoor Khans character didnt really stand out but still a shout-out to her for trying something way too different from what we have seen her doing in the past.



 Maddock Films

Then there is Dimple Kapadia whos also a caricature sort of character, but the relationship between her and her daughter in the movie does have a lot to offer. I cant divulge more detail here as its for you to watch.



 Maddock Films

All in all, the performances of Irrfan, Deepak and Radhika more than make up for the lows of the movie. In a nutshell, its a must-watch for everyone.






Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday spoke out on the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday, underlining that he had known the four-time parliamentarian from his college days and knew about his ideological views. Gandhi also appeared to predict that Scindia, who he described as an old friend would neither get respect in the BJP nor will he be satisfied.

Gandhis comments came around the same time that Scindia landed in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal to a rousing welcome from supporters, new and old. This was his first to the state after joining the BJP.

At the BJP office in the state capital soon after, Scindia thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for opening the partys doors to him. I am feeling fortunate to join the BJP I have brought only one thing with me (to BJP) and that is my hard work, Scindia said.

In Delhi, Gandhi, who launched a sharp attack on PM Modi for the state of the economy, also critiqued Scindias move. This was the first time that Gandhi was speaking in some detail on the exit of one of the Congress most prominent faces.

Gandhi spoke about his long association with Scindia and said there is a difference between what was in his heart and what he was saying.

I know the ideology of Jyotiraditya Scindia ji. He was with me in college. I would keep talking to him, I know him well. Jyotiraditya Scindia feared for his political future and therefore kept his ideology in his pocket and went with the RSS, Gandhi said, according to news agency PTI.

But the reality is that neither will he get respect there, nor will the truth and emotion in his heart be satisfied. He will come to realise it, he said about Scindia, one of his closest political associates.

Asked about Scindias move to the BJP, Gandhi said, This is a clear cut fight of ideologies. On one side is the Congress partys ideology, on the other hand is the RSS-BJP ideology.

Scindias exit from the Congress is believed to have been triggered by the partys failure to keep its promises to the key figure in Madhya Pradesh politics amid efforts to marginalise his supporters in the state and the refusal to take on board his political and governance related concerns by the Kamal Nath government.
Harvey Weinstein, the once powerful film producer, was in good condition on Thursday after being hospitalized with chest pains the night before, only hours after a New York judge sentenced him to 23 years in state prison for sexual attacks on two women, his lawyer said.

Mr. Weinsteins spokesman, Juda Englemayer, had said on Thursday morning that the movie producer had suffered a mild heart attack after his court appearance, but Mr. Englemayer later retracted that statement, saying Mr. Weinstein had been diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure.

One of Mr. Weinsteins lawyers, Arthur Aidala, said Mr. Weinstein was in good spirits at Bellevue Hospital.

Before his sentencing, Mr. Weinstein had been housed at an infirmary on the Rikers Island jail complex because of his health problems. Last week, doctors at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan performed a heart procedure known as angioplasty to alleviate a blockage.
OTTAWAThe federal government is set to table an unprecedented report into efforts to combat foreign states espionage operations in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received a classified review of the governments response to foreign interference in Canada last September. The deadline for releasing an unclassified version of the report to the public is Thursday.

The review was conducted by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), a new, multi-partisan committee given unprecedented access to Canadas intelligence community.

The details of the report remain a tightly kept secret until its unclassified public release. But it marks the first time parliamentarians have been able to study highly-sensitive material related to intelligence agencies efforts to combat foreign espionage in Canada.

Canadian intelligence agencies have been more open in recent years about hostile state actors operating in Canada. In 2018, CSIS Director David Vigneault highlighted the threat in a speech to Torontos business community.

Traditional interference by foreign spies remains the greatest danger, but interference using cyber means is a growing concern, Vigneault said.

The scales, speed, range and impact of foreign interference has grown as a result of the internet, social media platforms, and the availability of cheaper and more accessible cyber tools.

In addition to foreign interference, NSICOPs report will cover diversity and inclusion in Canadas intelligence community, as well as the national security and intelligence operations of the Canada Border Services Agency.

The committee has also submitted a special report to Trudeau on the Department of National Defences collection, use, retention and dissemination of information on Canadian citizens by military intelligence officers.
The severity of the slowdown in the global economy due to the coronavirus pandemic will depend on how long it lasts and how governments respond, the International Monetary Fund said March 12. "Under any scenario, the global growth in 2020 will drop below last year's level, which was 2.9 percent," IMF spokesman Gerry Rice told reporters. But how far will it fall is "difficult to predict, at this point, obviously, given the uncertainty."

"It depends, of course, on the spread, the propagation of the outbreak. It depends on the measures taken to respond and how effective they are." Private economists have been warning of the possibility of a steep decline in US and global economies that could amount to a worldwide recession. IHS Markit this week slashed its forecast for global growth to 1.7 percent.

The IMF is due to release its updated World Economic Outlook next month. In January, the fund was still projecting growth would accelerate to 3.3 percent, but that was before the global disruptions, country-wide shutdowns and plunging oil prices hit.

IMF officials have been urging a strong, coordinated global response, including rolling out spending measures to cushion the blow from the virus.

"International cooperation is essential to effectively address the coronavirus outbreak," Rice 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

"This is not something that stops at national borders, we need to work together." The fund has said it could rapidly deploy up to $50 billion, some in no or low-cost loans, to the world's poorest countries.

Rice said the IMF has received requests from a number of countries, including Iran, and is "proceeding expeditiously with all requests."
Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, chair of the China Tribunal, speaks via video at the Policy Forum on Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in China on Capitol Hill on March 10, 2020. (Courtesy of the China Tribunal and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation)

Forum Reviews the Evidence of Forced Organ Harvesting in China

WASHINGTONThe Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation released a new report that aims to address the failure of institutions and governments to come to terms with 14-year-old allegations of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China.

Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in China: A Review of the Evidence by researcher Matthew Robertson was introduced on March 10 at a forum in Washington. It argues that there has been a polarization among approaches to the subject of organ harvesting in China.

On the one hand, international medical bodies have focused on bringing China into the international system of transplantation. Meanwhile, NGOs, activists, scholars, and private investigators have concentrated on the question of whether prisoners of conscience and other non-death-row prisoners are being killed for their organs.

One group argues for inclusion, the other for sanctions and moratoria.

Meanwhile, international human rights organizations have, for a variety of reasons, mostly not engaged on the topic. The main media outlets and academic studies of China have remained silent.

Amid this state of affairs, Western governments have been confronted by two sharply divergent sets of messaging and have been unequipped and unprepared to adjudicate between them, Robertson said.

Robertsons report seeks to loosen this logjam by reviewing the evidence, taking advantage of the fact that the volume of quality evidence and the sophistication with which it can be analyzed has grown significantly since the allegations were first made.

His review of the evidence, however, is more than just an analysis, as Robertson adds a significant volume of new evidence drawn from Chinese primary materials.

At the same time, Robertson seeks to respond to the strongest versions of the concerns, doubts, and counterarguments raised about the claims of forced organ harvesting from innocents.

In sum, this report marshals what is known and seeks to use this knowledge to persuadeto gain a hearing for the claims Robertson sets forth, and in doing so, ensure that the burden of response should now be far greater.

Robertson, a doctoral student at the Australian National University in Canberra, formerly reported on organ harvesting for The Epoch Times, winning a coveted Society of Professional Journalists award for his work.

Susie Hughes, executive director and co-founder of ETAC (The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China, initiator of the China Tribunal, speaks at the Policy Forum on Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in China on Capitol Hill on March 10, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Tribunal

The first speaker at the forum, attending via a video, was Sir Geoffrey Nice QC of the United Kingdom, who led the Independent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China. That tribunal released its final report on March 1.

Nice, who led the prosecution of Yugoslavias Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes, stated that any person or organization that interacts in any substantial way with the Peoples Republic of China should recognize that they are interacting with a criminal state.

Nices remarks were supported by a 562-page report by the tribunal that references years of research, witness testimonies, and supporting statistical data, submitted as oral accounts or documentary evidence, by more than 50 experts.

The tribunals final report, released March 1, highlights the evidence gathered and conclusions reached by the seven-member international group of experts who made up the panel in their effort to investigate organ procurement and extrajudicial killing in China.

Complementary

Robertsons report complements and supports the tribunals efforts, which also sought to address a failure to address the allegations of forced organ harvesting.

There was a question that needs to be answered, but it isnt being answered for some reason, Nice said.

That central question was whether or not China has been engaging in a wholesale industry of forced organ donations from both living and deceased prisoners, from which it then has made huge profits from domestic, as well as foreign, patients needing transplants.

The question of whether criminal offenses related to organ donation and transplantation in China had happened has been in the public forum for a long time, Nice said.

The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC), an Australian NGO, first approached Nice in 2016 and then other potential tribunal members to form an independent group to determine Chinas culpability in the forced organ trade.

Nice saw that there are certain advantages in a peoples tribunal.

First, he said, it can be composed of people who have no personal interest in the matter at hand. We are completely unpaid, he said, so there is no way we could lose our independence.

ETAC said that there had been significant controversy over the claims against China. They approached Nice in December 2017 to form a group that would hear all the evidence, toward determining whether international crimes had been committed.

Nice made sure there was a clear division between them and us, ETAC Executive Director Susie Hughes said.

When the report and judgment were ready to be announced, we didnt know the result until 24 hours in advance, she said.

Nice said, The conclusion is obvious. Forced organ transplantation has been happening on a significant scale since 1999, and the principal victims have been practitioners of the spiritual discipline Falun Gong, the report says. Uyghurs, an ethnic Turkic people who primarily live in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Province, have also been victimized.

It could be genocide, he said. The report stops short of calling the organ harvesting genocide because of the difficulty in showing that the Chinese regime had the intent to destroy the groups of Falun Gong practitioners or the Uyghurs.

Explosion in Activity

In his remarks, Robertson outlined some of the compelling evidence that points to forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience, including the increase in transplantation after the Chinese regime began persecuting Falun Gong in 1999.

The number of liver transplants performed on an emergency basis  or on demand expanded significantly post-2000, Robertson said. This is an extremely strong indication of a blood-typed pool of living donors able to be executed on demand.

In the year 2000, the transplant system basically exploded in activity, Robertson said. Thousands of doctors and nurses were trained. The number of hospitals that were doing transplants went from less than 199 to up to 1,000 by 2000.

And yet, through the 2000 period, the death penalty is going down.  And then you look at other possible prisoner populations.  So, for example, the evidence is consistent with organ harvesting of Falun Gong, blood tests in detention, including repeated blood tests. Thats very consistent with  cross-matching  with the potential recipients blood.

In other words, living people are being pre-qualified as donors to needy recipients for life-saving kidneys, hearts, livers, and lungs.

The tribunal report cites a conversation with a spokesperson at a Beijing hospital, who said that surgery can be arranged within one or two weeks.

It goes on to say: Such waiting times are not compatible with conventional transplant practice and cannot be explained by good fortune. Predetermining the availability of an organ for transplant is impossible in any system depending on voluntary organ donation. Such short-time availability could only occur if there was a bank of potential living donors who could be sacrificed to order.

Yu Ming (R), Falun Gong practitioner and survivor of Chinese labor camp, speak at the Policy Forum on Organ Procurement and Extrajudicial Execution in China as Donald Clarke, Chinese law specialist at George Washington University, listens on Capitol Hill on March 10, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Hearings in US Congress Since 1996

The forum heard statements from several experts in the field, including Rep. Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey.

Noting that the tribunal in which Nice had led the prosecution against Milosevic had become a model for holding bad players to account, Smith told the audience, In 1996, I chaired the first congressional hearing ever on human rights abuses and organ harvesting in China.

That hearing was bolstered by the evidence of two Chinese doctors who came here and who didnt go back, thank God, Smith said.

Indeed, the record of that hearing shows that Dr. Qian Xiaojiang, a former doctor in Anhui Province, concluded his testimony by saying: To conclude, I believe that without the use of organs from executed prisoners, over 90 percent of Chinas transplant surgeries would be unthinkable. Traditional Chinese conceptions preclude people from donating part of their bodies.

Twenty-four years ago, Smiths hearing focused on the organ-transplant industry as supplied by executed prisoners.

Todays organ atrocities focus on prisoners of conscience, particularly those who practice Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa), a spiritual discipline that involves meditative exercises and teachings based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.

Forced organ donations are also said to have been committed among the Uyghur population, who have been subjected to forced internment and re-education in recent years.

Following the Chinese Communist Partys ban of Falun Gong in 1999, harsh and inhumane measures were takenextrajudiciallyto force adherents to renounce both their beliefs as well as their practice of Falun Gong exercises.

Previously, Falun Gong had enjoyed widespread support throughout society, including among Party members. Official estimates found that by 1999 there were 70 million to 100 million practitioners in China.

Chinese human rights activist Yu Ming, who arrived in the United States last year, gave an account of the abuses he was subjected to while in prison and labor camps.

In secretly recorded video footage, in which he played the role of a patient needing a transplant, he documented conversations with Chinese doctors and medical staff who quoted prices and, most importantly, very short wait times for various organs.

In one clip, the doctor asks repeatedly, Youre not a journalist, are you?

Yu told The Epoch Times that he would like to see the names of his torturers published.

Time to Act

Louisa Greve, director of global advocacy for the Uyghur Human Rights Project, asked if there should be a ban on exchanges and training conferences with transplant doctors from China.

We need to think about the policy responses we need to be working on, Greve said.

Robertson offered a call to arms in his conclusion to his report.

As far as elite opinion is concernedthat is, in human rights organizations, the China field, the medical community, the executive branches of Western governments, and the major media corporationsthese allegations could happily remain in limbo, he said.

We urge observers to examine the evidence  consider our suggestions, reflect on the ethical justification for doing so, and act.
She may have more in common with T-Pain than she would have thought.

Because Eiza Gonzalez is in love with a stripper.

The 30-year-old actress made the sultry revelation during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday night.

Eye-brow raising: Eiza Gonzalez made the sultry revelation that she is in love with a stripper during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday night

She talked about attending a Super Bowl after party in Miami last month where Snoop Dogg was performing as she insisted that she didn't know that it was a strip club.

Eiza explained: 'In Miami it gets crazy. There was this crazy after party that I didnt know where I was going until I got there. It was a stripclub. It was amazing.'

The Baby Driver star goes on to reference 2005 T-Pain hit song I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper) as she discussed her flirty encounter with a pole dancer.

Approved: The 30-year-old actress talked about attending a Super Bowl after party in Miami last month where Snoop Dogg was performing as she insisted that she didn't know that it was a strip club

'Ive always heard like rappers thing about strippers': The Baby Driver star goes on to reference 2005 T-Pain hit song I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper) as she discussed her flirty encounter with a pole dancer

She said: 'Ive always heard like rappers thing about strippers, they all fall in love with them.

'I was there and after an hour I didnt really know what to do so I sat down and there was a stripper giving a lapdance next to me.

'I was just like, "so whats going on?" We started having a full conversation about our lives as she twerked and it was really impressive.'

'We started having a full conversation about our lives': She said there was a stripper giving a lapdance next to her as they shared a nice conversation

'Its like Cirque du Soleil with butts': The Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw was enamored by the dancer's toe touch and moon waltz as she gushed about the experience

The Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw was enamored by the dancer's toe touch and moon waltz as she gushed about the experience.

Eiza said: 'It was really impressive, its like Cirque du Soleil with butts. Athletes, top notch.

'I was like, "can you teach me how to do this?" and she was like, "sure!" We exchanged numbers and were friends.'

Aww: The friendship has seemingly bloomed as she declared: 'I'm in love with a stripper and shes amazing. I made a friend!'

The friendship has seemingly bloomed as she declared: 'I'm in love with a stripper and shes amazing. I made a friend!'

After the interview, Eiza did some head-turning herself as she opted for a rather daring ensemble, going braless under a denim ensemble which had a plunging neckline effect due to her leaving the buttons undone.

Paying close attention to detail, the stunner wore heels in the exact same hue for her sassy entrance on set.

Jean genie: After the interview, Eiza did some head-turning herself as she opted for a rather daring ensemble, going braless under a denim ensemble which had a plunging neckline effect due to her leaving the buttons undone

She added a pop of colour to her ensemble with a slick of ruby red lipstick and hid her eyes behind a pair of designer shades.

Eiza tied her brunette locks up and wore her hair in a centre parting, looking naturally beautiful for the outing.

While on the show, she changed into a one-shoulder style black dress which had a statement shoulder.

Details: She added a pop of colour to her ensemble with a slick of ruby red lipstick and hid her eyes behind a pair of designer shades

She wore it with strappy sandals and flashed her foot tattoo as she chatted to Kimmel.

Eiza later took to Instagram to write: 'Loved hanging with @JimmyKimmel at @JimmyKimmelLive tonight! #Kimmel #ABC.'

The actress is showing off her crime fighting skills while working alongside Vin Diesel as a superhero in a new thriller, Bloodshot.

Mix and match: While on the show, she changed into a one-shoulder style black dress which had a statement shoulder

Vin stars as Ray Garrison, a marine who's assassinated along with his wife  until a team of advanced scientists are able to revive him with the assistance of an advanced nanotechnology, which allows him to heal quickly, making him nearly indestructible.

He takes on a second life as a super-soldier assassin, but once he recovers fragmentary memories from his former life he sets out to find the person who killed his wife, while also learning the program that treated him isn't what it claims to be.

The action film, which is shooting to be the first installment in a series based on the Bloodshot character.

It also stars Guy Pearce, New Girl's Lamorne Morris and Outlander hunk Sam Heughan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

Trend:

The Armenian Armed Forces opened fire on the positions of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army, Trend reports on March 12 referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The Armenian Armed Forces have grossly violated the ceasefire regime with Azerbaijan since morning, shelling the positions of the Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army, the statement said.

The positions of the Nakhchivan Separate Combined Arms Army were mainly shot at with heavy machine guns and sniper rifles from the Armenian armed forces positions located on the slopes of Tejgar and Bagarsig mountains in Armenias Ararat region, the statement said.

The personnel of the Separate Combined Arms Army are taking decisive retaliatory measures, the statement said. The consequences of the shelling are being investigated.
Consumers are being promised goods that last as new laws are drawn up to end the throwaway culture.

Manufacturers are to be obliged to use durable materials and components that can be repaired or replaced to prolong the life of everyday household goods.

A "right to repair" code will be drawn up for shoppers to stop companies refusing to fix items returned to them under warranty.

Rules will also be introduced requiring recycled materials to make up a proportion of the majority of newly produced goods and the destruction of unsold goods will be banned.

The measures are part of the Circular Economy Action Plan formally adopted by the European Commission yesterday as part of the new 'European Green Deal' policy.

Legislating for the new policies will take time, but Sean Cronin of the Zero Waste Alliance said it was a long-awaited step in the right direction.

He warned, however, that a return to the shoe-mender and TV repair shop would require a shift in consumers' mindset.

"There is an entire generation that has grown up without ever seeing a repair shop. They've never been to a cobblers and when something's broken, the only thing they know to do with it is throw it out and buy another one," he said.

He added there was also a need for incentives and supports for companies to get into the repair and reuse business.

"The idea is that products will be designed to be deconstructable from the start, which is great but it has to be financially viable to get into the business of taking products apart, sorting out the various components and repairing them or reconditioning them for further use," he said.

"There will be particular safety issues and new kinds of warranties will be needed. The end product may not command as high a price as one made from entirely new materials. We've called for the establishment of repair parks - like IDA business parks - where you'd get clusters of firms in this line of work and they could be supported together."

Frans Timmermans, Commission official in charge of the European Green Deal, said that only 12pc of materials used were brought back into the manufacturing chain after initial use.

"Many products break down too easily, cannot be reused, repaired or recycled, or are made for single use only," he said. "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."

The European Environmental Bureau, an umbrella NGO with numerous Irish member groups, said the plan "ticks almost all the boxes" but regrettably did not explicitly target Europe's over-consumption habit.

Spokesperson Stephane Arditi said: "Without binding EU-wide targets, governments risk losing momentum and neglecting the fundamental objective of reducing our consumption footprint."
After another strong showing by former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in Tuesdays primary contests, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced that he was staying in the race for president.

But Mr. Sanders will need to do substantially better in the contests that remain to secure enough delegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Here are some possible outcomes for the primaries, and what the candidates will have to do to reach them.

What if: Biden keeps doing as well as he has

If Mr. Biden performs as well as he has in previous contests, he will secure the nomination by late April or early May, according to New York Times estimates of how the candidates might fare in upcoming primaries.

Biden Sanders Est. delegates won Delegates remaining 1,991 delegates to win 0 500 1,000 1,500 Narrow win Clear win

These estimates are based on the support each candidate has received in primaries and caucuses since Super Tuesday. The results make Mr. Biden a favorite in nearly every remaining contest, at least if he maintains the approximately 20-point lead he holds in national polls.

Mr. Bidens lead could be even greater: Our estimates do not assume who will get support from many of the delegates of candidates no longer in the race, though many are likely to back Mr. Biden after all but one withdrawn candidate with delegates endorsed him.

What would it take: For Biden to lose his delegate majority

Mr. Biden could do about 12 percentage points worse than he has and still win a majority. If he fared any worse, Mr. Biden would fall short of a majority and risk a contested convention.

Biden Sanders Est. delegates won Delegates remaining 1,991 delegates to win 0 500 1,000 1,500 Narrow win Clear win

This means Mr. Biden could lose a bit of the support he has gotten so far and still be on track for the nomination. He could still win a majority of delegates even if he loses big states where hes currently favored, like New York, Illinois and Arizona.

However, Mr. Sanders has said that Mr. Biden should still be the nominee if he wins the most delegates, even if he falls short of a majority.

What would it take: For Biden to lose his delegate lead

Mr. Sanders would need to perform about 17 percentage points better to receive a plurality of delegates.

Biden Sanders Est. delegates won Delegates remaining 1,991 delegates to win 0 500 1,000 1,500 Narrow win Clear win

Mr. Sanders would need to win a majority of the vote share in all but a handful of the remaining states to secure a delegate plurality.

Mr. Sanders has said that the candidate who receives the most delegates should be the nominee, even if they do not receive a majority, but other candidates disagree.

What would it take: For Sanders to win a majority of delegates

Mr. Sanders would need to do about 21 percentage points better to win a majority.

Biden Sanders Est. delegates won Delegates remaining 1,991 delegates to win 0 500 1,000 1,500 Narrow win Clear win

More than half of all delegates remain up for grabs, and Mr. Sanders has another opportunity to gain support nationwide during the one-on-one debate with Mr. Biden on Sunday. But Mr. Bidens momentum over the last two weeks will make his decisive lead difficult to overcome. Mr. Sanders would need to perform much better than he has so far to secure a majority of delegates before the convention.
The Amazon headquarters sits virtually empty on March 10, 2020 in downtown Seattle, Washington. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon recommended all employees in its Seattle office to work from home, leaving much of downtown nearly void of people. The Amazon Spheres conservatory, located on the Amazon campus, serves as an employee lounge and workspace. (AFP)

New York: For the Balakrishnans, an Indian American family living in Camden, New Jersey normal life has turned upside down in the last few days--like it has for thousands of American residents.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has drastically changed their daily routine: Doorknobs and kitchen table tops are cleaned several times a day; food is eaten in throwaway plastic plates and cups; kitchen trash is kept out daily; and the family wash their hands with soap more than a dozen times a day.

Even bigger changes have been brought about at the macro level. My 80-year-old mother was to have gone next week to stay with my brother in the Seattle area of Washington state. But the trip is off now. Our trip to India, booked for May, is unsure too as we dont know how things will unfold in the coming days and weeks, S Balakrishnan told this correspondent on the telephone.

Like the Balakrishnan couple, both of whom work, most Indian American couples across the East Coast, Midwest and West Coast are opting to work from home. Indian American families have been visiting supermarkets and Indian stores over the weekend and stocking up on food.

Many Indian Americans are now worried about travel to India in view of the COVID outbreak. Sanjeevini, a software employee who is doing a project at a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey, was apprehensive about her husband Rakeshs plans to go to India. He has an H4 visa interview scheduled in Chennai on March 16. We are worried as to how things will unfold in the next few days and whether he would be able to come back to the US, she said. Finally, Rakesh left for Mumbai en route to Bengaluru on Tuesday night (March 10), and Sanjeevini is still unsure about her husbands safe passage back to America.

With universities, colleges and schools either already closed or on the verge of closure across the US, other activities are also getting cancelled or curtailed. Hindu temples across the US have shortened timings for darshan as well as cancelled several programmes. Ugadi, Sri Ramanavami and Tamil New Year cultural programmes stand cancelled, declared the website of the Venkateshwara Temple at Bridgewater in New Jersey. The Lakshmi Venkateshwara Temple in Redmond, Washington, which is frequented by Indian and Indian American employees of Amazon, Microsoft and other tech companies in the Seattle area, too has curtailed darshan timings. Some temples, like the Sri Venkateshwara Balaji Temple in Aurora, Illinois, have only issued advisories for infected devotees to stay away but are yet to cancel the scheduled Ugadi and other programmes. A few others, like the Ganesh temple in Flushing, New York, have not taken any contingency measures as yet.

With social distancing poised to set in even more intensely in the coming days, Indian Americans, like most other residents in the US, are looking at testing times ahead, with it not being clear whether the uncertainty will last for a few months are a much longer time.
President Donald Trump has announced that he is suspending all flights to U.S from Europe except UK and Ireland for the next 30 days in a bid to reduce the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in America.



Trump made the announcement as he addressed the nation on the coronavirus outbreak from the Oval Office in the White House on Wednesday night.



According to him, the policy goes into effect on Friday at midnight."We have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than are now present in Europe," Trump said, adding that. "The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe."



"We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus," Trump said. "We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay. I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health and safety of the American people. I will always put the well-being of America first."



The president also said that the halt on travel from Europe would not include the United Kingdom, and that there would be "exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings."



After Trump's address, his administration made clear it was not as drastic as the President stated: 'The ban will apply only to foreign nationals and not to American citizens who had been screened before entering the country, mimicking restrictions he applied to China last month.

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Amman: Unidentified jets hit targets south east of the Syrian town of Albukamal along a strategic border crossing with Iraq with only material damage, state media said late on Wednesday.

An Israeli F-16 jet fighter en route to Gaza Strip in an undated picture. The attack force in Syria has not yet been identified. Credit:AP

It gave no details. Western intelligence sources say the border town lies on a strategic supply route for Iranian-backed militias who regularly send reinforcements from Iraq into Syria to aid Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Albukamal along the Iraqi-Syrian border crossing is crucial for Irans bid to cement its growing sway over a corridor of territory from Tehran to Beirut.

Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) captured Albukamal on the Euphrates River from Islamic State toward the end of 2017.
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.
Icelandic English

Enclosed is the final agenda and proposals from the Board of Directors for the 2020 Annual General Meeting.

Eimskipafelag Islands hf.'s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 26 March 2020 at 16:00 (GMT) at the Company's headquarters, Korngarar 2, Reykjavik, Iceland.

For further information, please visit the Company's website www.eimskip.com/investors

Attachments
The Courts Service is consulting members of the judiciary this afternoon to consider whether court sittings should continue in light of the developing coronavirus scare.

A statement on the issue is expected around 6.30pm this evening.

The Bar of Ireland has already sought the suspension of sittings at one of the countrys largest courthouses after a person working there contracted Covid-19.

The Courts Service carried out a cleaning operation at Washington Street Courthouse in Cork this morning, where four civil and 26 family law matters were listed for the Circuit Court today.

Chambers nearby used by members of the Cork Bar were also closed for a period this morning while cleaners were brought in.

Both the courthouse and the chambers reopened after cleaning was completed.

The request to suspend lists at the courthouse was made at a meeting between representatives of the Bar Council and senior management at the Courts Service this morning.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkars announcement on the closure of schools, colleges and childcare facilities and restrictions on the size of gatherings was made while the meeting was ongoing.

In an email to its members, seen by Independent.ie, Bar of Ireland chief executive Ciara Murphy said: The concerns of members in relation to the lists in Cork proceeding today and tomorrow were conveyed in the clearest of terms and we asked the Courts Service to suspend all court sittings while this situation is evolving so that practitioners with particular medical or family concerns feel confident that they need not attend.

She said the Courts Service undertook to liaise with the relevant personnel and are to take a decision and confirm the position in relation to the listings this afternoon.

Separately, a meeting took place between representatives of the Bar and Courts Service officials at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin.

It is understood they are seeking to have those present in courtrooms restricted to people who need to be there so social distancing can take place.

Other issues, including access to hand sanitisers, were also raised.

The management of the building is carried out by a private firm.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 11, 2020) - Magnitude Mining Ltd. (TSXV: MML.P) ("Magnitude" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arrangement agreement dated March 10, 2020 (the "Arrangement Agreement") with Pucara Resources Corp. ("Pucara"), pursuant to which the parties have agreed to complete a business combination (the "Transaction") by way of statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement") that will have the effect of Magnitude acquiring all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Pucara (the "Pucara Shares").

The Transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") approval and is intended to constitute Magnitude's "Qualifying Transaction" in accordance with TSXV Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies. The Transaction will result in Magnitude, as the listed issuer resulting from the Transaction (the "Resulting Issuer"), owning 100% of the securities of Pucara.

Summary of the Transaction

Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, Magnitude will acquire Pucara by way of the Arrangement. Immediately prior to the Arrangement, Magnitude will complete a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of common shares in the capital of Magnitude ("Magnitude Shares") on the basis of one post-consolidation Magnitude Share ("Resulting Issuer Shares") for each two Magnitude Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Consolidation. Pursuant to the Arrangement, holders of Pucara Shares will receive one Resulting Issuer Share in exchange for each Pucara Share held. Holders of options to acquire Pucara Shares ("Pucara Options") and warrants to purchase Pucara Shares ("Pucara Warrants") will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of a Pucara Option or Pucara Warrant for the same aggregate consideration, Resulting Issuer Shares in lieu of the Pucara Shares otherwise issuable prior to the closing of the Transaction, adjusted in accordance with the terms of the agreements, plans or certificates representing such Pucara Options and Pucara Warrants.

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In addition, in conjunction with the Arrangement, Magnitude will change its name to "Pucara Resources Corp." or a similar name acceptable to the parties.

The Arrangement Agreement provides that no party will solicit or negotiate with any other entities in opposition to or in competition with the Transaction.

The completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including but not limited to: (i) the Pucara Financing (as defined below) raising gross proceeds of not less than $3.5 million; (ii) approval of the Arrangement by the shareholders of Pucara; and (iii) receipt of all requisite third party consents, waivers, permits, orders and approvals, including, without limitation, the approval of the TSXV and of the British Columbia Supreme Court. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed on the terms proposed above or at all. For avoidance of doubt, the Transaction is not subject to the approval of the shareholders of Magnitude.

Subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent referred to herein and contained in the Arrangement Agreement, Magnitude and Pucara anticipate that the Transaction will be completed on or before June 30, 2020.

Each of Magnitude and Pucara will bear their own costs in respect of the Transaction except that Pucara will pay all third party costs required to be paid to complete the Transaction, including, but not limited to sponsorship fees and any and all TSXV filing fees.

Pucara Financing

The Transaction is subject to the completion of a non-brokered private placement by Pucara for minimum aggregate gross proceeds of $3,500,000 (the "Pucara Financing"). In the Pucara Financing, Pucara expects to raise funds through the issuance of Pucara Shares.

Pucara expects to pay a cash commission or commission in Pucara Shares on the aggregate combined gross proceeds raised from the sale of applicable Pucara Shares to subscribers introduced to Pucara by qualified finders (the "Finder's Fee").

Pucara intends to use the proceeds of the Pucara Financing for the Transaction, general and administrative expenses for the next twelve months, exploration activities on the Lourdes Property (as defined below), property maintenance costs and general working capital.

There is no assurance that the Pucara Financing will be completed. All sales, exchanges, and issuances of any units, shares, warrants, and securities in connection to the Pucara Financing and the Transaction will be subject to regulatory approval including, but not limited to, the approval of the TSXV and, as applicable, may be subject to the prior approval of the shareholders of either or both of Magnitude and/or Pucara.

Resulting Issuer

It is anticipated that the Resulting Issuer will change its name to "Pucara Resources Corp.", or such other name as may be acceptable to the Resulting Issuer.

The Resulting Issuer will carry on the mineral exploration business conducted by Pucara, and the Resulting Issuer Shares will be listed under a new trading symbol. On closing of the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer anticipates meeting the TSXV's initial listing requirements for a mining issuer.

Concurrent with the completion of the Transaction, Katharine De Witt, Marcel de Groot and Christopher R. Cooper, being all of the current directors of Magnitude, will resign in favour of nominees of Pucara, being Steve Zuker, who will also be appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Resulting Issuer, David Awram, Lynda Bloom and Gordon Fretwell. Steven Krause will be appointed Chief Financial Officer and Gordon Fretwell as Corporate Secretary of the Resulting Issuer.

Information as to the individual shareholdings of each of the current officers and directors of Magnitude is available on SEDAR.

Without giving effect to the Pucara Financing, following completion of the Transaction, holders of Pucara Shares will hold 34,234,460 Resulting Issuer Shares and holders of Magnitude Shares will hold 3,100,000 Resulting Issuer Shares. Magnitude will issue a subsequent news release with additional information regarding the Pucara Financing, including the price and size of the Pucara Financing as well as the holdings of Resulting Issuer Shares after giving effect to the Pucara Financing and following completion of the Transaction.

The following is a short background of each person who will be a director or officer of the Resulting Issuer on completion of the Transaction:

Steve Zuker, age 65, Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director

Mr. Zuker is a geologist and Qualified Person with 30+ years of experience in economic geology and exploration geochemistry in North and South America, and Asia. He has focused on precious and base metal exploration in Peru for the past 22 years during which time he built Pucara's exploration team and project portfolio. Prior to Pucara, Mr. Zuker held senior positions with Esperanza Resources, Harrods/Gallant Minerals, Cominco Chile, Westmont Mining and FMC Gold.

David Awram, age 46, Director

Mr. Awram is a co-founder of Sandstorm Gold and oversees its corporate development team and due diligence process. He has evaluated hundreds of resource projects and has completed on-site due diligence on dozens of mines across the globe. Prior to Sandstorm, Mr. Awram was Director of Investor Relations for Silver Wheaton Corp.

Lynda Bloom, age 63, Director

Ms. Bloom, an exploration geochemist with 35+ years' minerals exploration experience is principal of ASL consultancy & a senior executive/director of public companies. She served the mining industry as director of PDAC, Chair of CIMM-Toronto Branch and now serves on several advisory boards.

Gordon Fretwell, age 66, Director

Mr. Fretwell is a self-employed solicitor practicing in corporate and securities law since 1991. He serves as an officer and on boards of several public mineral exploration companies including: Asanko Gold Corp., Auryn Resources Corp., Canada Rare Earth Corp, and RE Royalties Ltd.

Steven Krause, age 46, Chief Financial Officer

Mr Krause has worked extensively with mining, mineral exploration and development stage companies in Canada and the United States. Mr. Krause is also the CFO of Viva Gold Corp and President of Avisar Chartered Accountants. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Trinity Western University and is a registered CPA in the state of Illinois.

Non-Arm's Length Relationships

The Transaction will not constitute a Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV).

Marcel de Groot, a director of Magnitude, is a shareholder in a company that holds a convertible note and a 0.5% net smelter return royalty (subject to the Pucara Financing) in certain areas of certain properties of Pucara. The note is convertible into Pucara Shares at the same price as the shares issued in the Pucara Financing. Mr. de Groot has disclosed to the directors of Magnitude the nature and extent of his interest in the Transaction and has abstained from voting on matters relating to the Transaction.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship of a qualifying transaction is required by the TSXV unless the qualifying transaction qualifies for an exemption or the Company is granted a waiver, in accordance with TSXV policies. The parties intend to apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements of the TSXV.

Filing Statement

In connection with the Transaction and pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV, Magnitude will file a filing statement (the "Filing Statement") on its issuer profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), which will contain details regarding the Transaction, Magnitude, Pucara and the Resulting Issuer.

About Magnitude Mining Ltd.

Magnitude Mining Ltd. is a capital pool company. The Company's principal business activity is to identify and evaluate opportunities for acquisition of assets or business. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

About Pucara Resources Corp.

Pucara Resources Corp. is a natural resource company which was formed under the laws of the Province of British Columbia on August 10, 2012. As of the date hereof, there are 34,234,460 Pucara Shares outstanding. Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. holds 7,187,500 Pucara Shares (21% of the Pucara Shares), and is the sole holder of 10% or more of the outstanding Pucara Shares.

Pucara's principal business activity is the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties in Latin America, currently with exploration and evaluation properties in Peru. Pucara controls 12 early stage precious and base metals properties in central and southern Peru. Pucara is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Pucara's principal property is the Lourdes Property. The Lourdes Property is an early phase minerals exploration project with epithermal precious-metal drill targets. The Lourdes Property is located in the Department of Ayacucho, Peru, approximately 400 kilometers southeast of Lima and is easily accessible by a paved, single lane road originating in the town of Puquio, 155 kilometers east of the Pan American Highway.

Pucara is titleholder to the Lourdes Property, consisting of ten mining concessions issued by the Government of Peru covering a contiguous area of 2,576 hectares. In 2019, Pucara submitted a petition for an additional mining concession that will bring the total area of the Lourdes Property to 3,176 hectares.

Nine of the 10 mining concessions (the "EPZ Ichupuca Series") which comprise the Lourdes Property were staked by Esperanza Silver Peru SAC ("EPZ") in 2010 following geological reconnaissance through the region. Pucara purchased the EPZ Ichupuca Series from EPZ in 2013. In consideration, EPZ received Pucara Shares and retained a 1% net smelter returns ("NSR") royalty over the EPZ Ichupuca Series. The 10th mining concession (the "Ichupuca Once" concession) is 100% owned by Pucara after staking it and receiving title in 2013.

There is one additional royalty on the Lourdes Property. On October 19, 2017, Pucara entered into an NSR royalty agreement with Sandstorm Gold Ltd. granting a 1.0% NSR royalty over the ten mining concessions comprising the Lourdes Property.

The Lourdes Property lies along a northwesterly structural trend that hosts the Apumayo, Lucanas, Vicunita and El Rubi gold mines. The Apumayo Mine, located 15 kilometers directly south of the Lourdes Property has been in production since 2013. It is a high-sulfidation, disseminated type gold-silver deposit located in a north-south structural trend that includes the Lourdes Property. The Apumayo deposits have similar geology and alteration assemblages to the Lourdes Project. The Apumayo mine is owned by a privately held company with no public disclosures or technical reports. A qualified person of the Company has been able to verify that the general geologic setting, deposit type, and alteration style is similar to the Lourdes Project but is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Lourdes Property.

The Lourdes Property is underlain by a thick sequence of Tertiary-age volcanic rocks that host high-sulfidation epithermal precious metal deposits in the region. Pucara's geological mapping program on the Lourdes Property has identified several prominent diatreme and volcanic vent structures that appear to have played a significant role in the alteration and mineralization found on the Lourdes Property. The diatremes cut through the local volcanic stratigraphy and are infilled with breccias that are comprised of clasts derived from the volcanic wall rock that include pre-existing silicic alteration.

The Lourdes Property contains large areas of pervasive and intense high-sulfidation, epithermal alteration. Diatreme and vent breccias are strongly altered to granular silica with local massive and vuggy silica alteration types at lower elevations as well as within structural zones. Most vent/diatreme structures show evidence of multiple breccia and alteration events. Alteration assemblages are classic high-sulfidation types with zonation from silicic to advanced argillic to argillic and propylitic, and are associated with the vent/diatremes and structural zones. Alteration assemblages are also controlled by the permeability of the host volcanic units and by structural zones having two principal orientations, north-northwest (335 degrees) and northeast (055 degrees). The northeast orientation is exemplified by the Chucllani and Ayani zones that cross the eastern portion of the Lourdes Property.

Pucara has completed a surface sampling program of both rock chip and soil samples across the entire Lourdes Property, a geophysical survey using IP and ground magnetics, and reflectance spectroscopy studies of rock samples from outcrop (PIMA) and from satellite imagery (SWIR, VNIR). The Lourdes Property's lithology, alteration and structures have been mapped on a detailed scale.

The surface sampling program culminated in the collection of 3,086 rock chip samples, 57 drainage sediment samples and 713 soil samples. Interpretation of the geochemical results defined strong Au, Cu and Mo anomalies associated with vent/diatreme related intense silicic alteration and along vertical hydrothermal breccia structures.

Field work completed to date on the Lourdes Property has identified four areas on the Lourdes Property that stand out as primary exploration targets:

Jellopata-Central diatremes with associated low-level gold and strong multi-element anomalies, as well as Cu-Mo geochemical anomalies at the margins of the diatreme structures, Chucllani/Ayani structural trend (Northeast Zone) hosting strong Au-Cu-Mo geochemical anomalies through the Cascada,Chucllani, and Ayani zones, Paccha Hauyco diatreme complex with associated low-level gold and strong multi-element anomalies, North Zone breccia complex with associated gold and strong multi-element anomalies.

Field work completed on the Lourdes Property has defined drill targets that will be pursued as the next step in the Lourdes Property's exploration program. A two-phase drill program is recommended to test nine drill targets in the Jellopata, Paccha Huayco, Chucllani, Ayani, Cascada, and North areas.

A technical report prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the policies of the TSXV has been prepared for the Lourdes Property and will be filed with the TSXV for its review and acceptance. It is anticipated that the technical report will be filed on SEDAR under the Company's profile in conjunction with the filing of its Filing Statement.

The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Ken Balleweg, P. Geo. (CPG - #10972), a "qualified person" for the purposes of NI 43-101.

Based on the audited financial statements of Pucara for years ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, Pucara had no revenue, comprehensive loss of $2,287,973, total assets of $2,382,862, total liabilities of $232,467, and shareholders' equity of $2,150,395 as at March 31, 2019.

Additional Information

In accordance with TSXV policy, the Company's shares are currently halted from trading and will remain so until such time as the TSXV determines, which, depending on the policies of the TSXV, may not occur until the completion of the Transaction.

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including but not limited to, the closing of Pucara Financing, TSXV acceptance, approval by the Supreme Court of British Columbia and if applicable pursuant to TSXV requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Contact Information

Magnitude Mining Ltd.

Marcel de Groot, Director

Telephone: 604-628-1102

Cautionary Statements

Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "will", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the business plans of Magnitude, Pucara and the Resulting Issuer, the Transaction (including TSXV approval, shareholder approval, approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the closing of the Transaction), the timing of the Transaction, the board of directors and management of the Resulting Issuer upon completion of the Transaction, the name change of the Resulting Issuer, the Pucara Financing, the payment of the Finder's Fee and the filing of a technical report. Such statements and information reflect the current views of Magnitude and/or Pucara, respectively. Risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: (i) there is no assurance that Magnitude and Pucara will obtain all requisite approvals for the Transaction, including the approval of the shareholders of Pucara, approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia or the approval of the TSXV for the Transaction (which may be conditional upon amendments to the terms of the Transaction); (ii) there is no assurance the Pucara Financing will be completed as contemplated or at all; (iii) following completion of the Transaction, the Resulting Issuer may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations and financing may not be available when needed or on terms and conditions acceptable to the Resulting Issuer; (iv) new laws or regulations could adversely affect the Resulting Issuer's business and results of operations; and (v) the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies. These fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Resulting Issuer's securities, regardless of its operating performance. There are a number of important factors that could cause Magnitude's and Pucara's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history of Magnitude and/or Pucara; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and general market and industry conditions. The definitive terms and conditions of the Transaction may be based on the Company's due diligence and the receipt of tax, corporate and securities law advice for both the Company and Pucara. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, Pucara, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

Magnitude cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Magnitude's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Magnitude has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Magnitude as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Magnitude does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53325
A group of New South Wales firefighters and their family and friends gather to enjoy a performance by New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts at Sydney's Capitol Theatre in Australia on March 10, 2020. (The Epoch Times)

SYDNEY, AustraliaA Taiwanese-Australian businessman purchased 120 Shen Yun Performing Arts tickets for New South Wales firefighters and their family and friends, in a sincere gesture of thanks for the firefighters sacrifices in recent months when Australia experienced prolonged bushfires.

Hailing from various parts of NSW, firefighters and their loved ones saw the world-class Shen Yun performances at Sydneys Capitol Theatre. Two separate groups of about 60 per group caught the shows on March 10 and March 11, 2020.

The man behind it all, who goes by the surname Lu, reflected on what the firefighters endured in recent months when hundreds of blazes scorched the nation in an unusually prolonged summer bushfire season, exacerbated by three years of drought.

Australian firefighters have invested a lot and worked very hard to fight disasters in the past few months, Lu said on March 10 at the theater. They have sacrificed a lot of their time, such as reuniting with their families, rest time, [and faced] physical and mental exhaustion.

The bushfires killed at least 33 people and scorched more than 10.3 million hectares (103,000 sq km) of landabout the size of South Koreafrom September 2019 to early February 2020.

Lu said he wanted to gift the firefighters an experience that left him uplifted and profoundly moved. March 10 was Lus second time seeing Shen Yun. He said that he was struck by the purity and beauty of the show when he saw it the first time.

I was deeply touched from the bottom of my heart when I first saw Shen Yun, he said. An inexplicable kind of feeling.

I think Shen Yun is a good performance, Lu added. So I took this opportunity to invite [the firefighters] to also enjoy the performances. I think it could be a very good spiritual adjustment for them.

Shen Yun seeks to inspire theatergoers by bringing back to life the spirit of Chinas culture, where harmony is emphasized between heaven, earth, and humankind.

According to the company, the programs include themes that seek to inspire compassion and a sense of hope. Principles such as benevolence and justice, propriety and wisdom, and respect for the heavens, come to life on stage.

Firefighter Michael Harvey was invited and brought his 12-year-old daughter Eliana along to see Shen Yun on March 10.

I really enjoy it, Harvey said. Ive been wanting to come a few times its been here, so its the first time Ive been able to come, so its been really good.

Harveys daughter also said she enjoyed the performance.

Craig Hartley, another firefighter, brought his family to see the performance also on March 10. He said he was happy to have been invited.

My familys really enjoying it, he said. Its nice because youre explaining the culture as well  youre seeing and learning something about arts thats been going for thousands of years. I love it.

Shen Yun Is Reviving Culture

The term Shen Yun translates to the beauty of divine beings dancing.

Lu said, The first time I watched Shen Yun, I thought the group was from China. Later I learned that it wasnt, Shen Yun was from New York.

According to the company, its performers have not been to China in years, because Shen Yun is banned by the Chinese regime to perform there.

Chinas divinely-inspired culture, which spans some 5,000 years, was almost completely destroyed under decades of Chinese Communist rule.

Shen Yuns mission of reviving Chinese culture could only be undertaken outside of China, the company said in a statement, adding that it is because in China, the communist regime has spent the last seventy years trying to systematically destroy traditional culture, values, and the arts.

Lu said he felt that Shen Yun, through dance and music, could truly salvage Chinas rich cultural heritage.

I think this culture cannot be lost, Lu said. [Shen Yun] ensures that Chinese culture can be passed down to future generations. And this is not an easy feat.

The invited NSW firefighters and their loved ones gathered for a group photo after the performance. As they smiled, they said to the camera together, I love Shen Yun!

After seeing the smiles on the firefighters faces, Lu said that he too was very happy.

With reporting by Anne Wang, Loritta Liu, and Mimi Nguyen Ly.

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.
By Mark Torregrossa

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No storm systems are going to pass across Michigan this weekend. That means we won't have to worry about any weather related driving conditions. If you are traveling south you will have some winter weather to dodge.

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Radar forecast Saturday morning to Sunday evening

Just above is the radar forecast from Saturday into Sunday. You see Michigan is dry, but snow will move through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

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Radar forecast 8 a.m. Saturday

Early Saturday morning will have the snow spreading out of Iowa into Illinois. Michigan won't have any precipitation falling out of the sky.

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Radar forecast 2 p.m. Saturday

The radar forecast for early afternoon Saturday shows a solid area of snow across Illinois and Indiana and moving into Ohio. If you are driving south and can get to Cincinnati by 2 p.m. Saturday, you should avoid accumulating snow along I-75 in Ohio.

Michigan will still be dry.

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Radar forecast 8 p.m. Saturday

The radar forecast Saturday evening still shows areas of snow stretching across Indiana and northern Ohio.

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Radar forecast 2 p.m. Sunday

No weather-maker is expected to be around Michigan and the Great Lakes Sunday. This is the day when sunshine will pop out. It's going to be a chilly day still, as you'll see in a few graphics.

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Total snow for the weekend

It's not a mega-snow for areas south of Michigan, but you will run through two to four inches.

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March 14 average high temperatures

It's the time of year when I always feel like we need an update on what the average high temperature is for any location. The image above is the average high on March 14. Most of Lower Michigan would historically warm into the lower 40s by this time in March.

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Saturday morning low temperatures

Just above is the expected low temperature forecast for sunrise Saturday morning. It will be below freezing, with temperatures in the 20s.

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Saturday afternoon high temperatures

Saturday is going to be cooler than the past few days, with temperatures not hitting 40 degrees over most of southern Lower Michigan.

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Sunday morning low temperatures

Sunday morning will be chilly again, with temperatures in the 20s in southern Lower and teens in northern Lower and the Upper Peninsula.

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Sunday's high temperature forecast

Sunday's afternoon temperatures will be influenced by the northeast wind. For eastern Lower Michigan it is going to be quite chilly, with air blowing off Lake Huron. Southwest Lower will be a little warmer with the northeast wind blowing off the land and not off Lake Michigan.
[March 12, 2020] Advantu Medical Device Quality Testing Now Provides Software Engineering Solutions

SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Advantu Inc ( https://advantu.com/ ) The most sought after software quality engineering team in San Diego, is proud to announce that they now solve medical device time-to-market & product quality challenges with software development capabilities. Medical Device Teams will now Benefit from Dedicated Advantu Engineering Experience. Advantu added software engineering services in Q4 2019 because they saw too many medical device clients who were being poorly served by vendors who didn't understand the importance of FDA compliance. Kris Kelly, CEO at Advantu: "We've seen too many horror stories from smaller companies and startups; either the documentation wasn't complete (or compliant), or the released device wasn't reliable. 'One client described having to scrap a 6-month project and start over with a different vendor...because the project was almost completely non-compliant.'" Among other software enineering projects, Advantu is currently creating a software application for their client's Class III medical device product. The critical nature of this solution is an example of their high level of trust in Advantu's capabilities.



Advantu is operated by the most experienced medical device engineers in the industry and this expertise and level of detail is brought to each and every project. Ron Kutsch, Director of Software Engineering at Advantu: "We help our clients build products that their customers can trust their lives with."

There's nothing more important than patient safety and it all starts with an experienced engineering partner. Don Canal, Executive Management at Clarify Medical: "Advantu provided resources for software quality assurance and testing support for a Medical Device & Physician/Patient Portal interface system.' 'Clarify was able to successfully release their product with the highest quality and reliability.'" About Advantu Advantu is San Diego's only end-to-end medical device software engineering company. Our engineers have delivered projects with CareFusion, Medtronic, Becton Dickinson, Hospira, ICU Medical, GenMark, Baxter and more. We help clients build medical devices their customers can trust, with IUV and QMS process support that's fully FDA compliant along with a host of software development & testing services. Advantu also augments our clients' hiring needs with experienced (contract and full time) medical device quality, test & software engineers, saving them time and money. Contact Advantu today to discuss how we can solve your medical device project needs. Advantu Inc.

5755 Oberlin Dr #301

San Diego, CA 92121 Media Contact:

Judy Cirilos

(858) 275.2106

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advantu-medical-device-quality-testing-now-provides-software-engineering-solutions-301022105.html SOURCE Advantu

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Press Release

12 March 2020

IMEX Frankfurt, the largest annual trade exhibition for the meetings, conventions, events and incentive travel industry, has been cancelled, following German federal and state advisories to cancel large events due to the coronavirus outbreak. The event was scheduled to take place May 12-14 in Frankfurt, Germany.

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The move comes three days after German Health Minister Jens Spahn called on organizers of events larger than 1,000 people to cancel them. "Consider also what in your daily life is so important that you can't do without it for the next three months, whether that's an evening clubbing, a family birthday or a club meeting," Spahn tweeted.

The annual event attracted 3,500 exhibitors from 172 countries and about 7,800 visitors and hosted buyers last year; the program also included more than 250 education sessions.

At press time, the organizer's sister show, IMEX America, remains scheduled to take place Sept. 15-17, 2020, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, and Ray Bloom, chairman of IMEX Group, released the following statement this morning:

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of this year's IMEX in Frankfurt (due to take place May 12-14).

We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment, not only to the exhibitors, buyers and industry professionals who were due to attend the show, but also to the global business events community.

This is not a decision we have taken lightly and there are two overriding concerns that have caused us to make this decision at this time.

First is the uncertainty caused by the fact that the German health minister has recently called for the ban on events with over 1,000 people, which some German states have already endorsed, including the state of Hesse where Frankfurt is located. This announcement makes the probability of factors outside our control forcing us to cancel the show at the last minute much higher.

Second, our primary concern is always the responsibility we feel towards our exhibitors and partners, who fund the show - not only by purchasing stand space but also in the considerable additional investment they make in everything from the build of stunning stands to the hosting of buyer events.

Whilst only a short time ago we felt optimistic that May was far enough away to confidently proceed with our plans, as it stands today [March 11] we cannot guarantee the one thing that our exhibitors trust us above all else to deliver - namely a large-scale, high-quality hosted-buyer program.

In an ideal world we would wait and see. But we are in the real world and we cannot, in all good conscience, ask our exhibitors to continue to invest money against which they may not get a return.

Both of these factors - uncertainty around whether IMEX will be allowed to proceed, as well as doubts as to the number of buyers who will be able to attend - have led us to the conclusion that we now have no option but to cancel IMEX in Frankfurt.

A Decision Based on Facts

We want to make it very clear that we have made this decision based purely on the facts as we know them today and, importantly for the whole IMEX team, based on the responsibility and genuine care we feel for all our clients and the global business events community.

IMEX is our family business and the business events community is the only community we serve.

We have tried today to take the best decision for the industry and we are so thankful for the support that has already been shown to us. Quite rightly many of you see yourselves as friends and members of the extended IMEX family. This is precisely why we've thought long and hard in the past few days, consulting in depth with partners and stakeholders across the industry before making this announcement. Our strapline, "We Are All Connected," has never felt more true, nor more important.

Committed to Serving the Industry

Despite the disappointment and impact we know you will feel, we want you to know that we're fully committed to serving this industry that we love. We're already working hard in the background to deliver value and service above and beyond the trade show you were looking forward to and will announce these plans in the near future.

We intend to keep morale high and, together with leaders around the world, to focus on collective efforts to rebuild confidence and advocate for the power of business events to aid economic recovery once this situation is over.

The IMEX team will also be working hard to deliver a successful IMEX America (Sept. 15-17) with plans to recognize the 10th Anniversary of the show already in full swing. We hope that the business events world will join us in Las Vegas to celebrate our great industry.

Once again, we thank the whole industry for the support that has been shown to us and we are here to support others in the industry as we all work through these difficult times.
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Five new positive cases have taken the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients in Vietnam to 44, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday.

The five are all linked to patient No. 34, a Vietnamese woman returning from the U.S. early this month.

The five are residents of Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, located in south-central Vietnam.

Their samples were taken on Wednesday and returned positive one day later.

The patients are two, 13, 28, 47, and 59 years old.

Patient No. 34 was confirmed as Vietnams 34th COVID-19 patient on Tuesday.

She left Vietnam 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 Binh Thuan General Hospital on Tuesday morning and tested positive for the novel coronavirus there.

She is currently quarantined and treated at the hospital.

Patients No. 40, No. 41, and No. 42 had close contact with patient No. 34 while patient No. 43 closely interacted with patient No. 38, who is her daughter-in-law.

Patient No. 44 came in close contact with patient No. 37, who is patient No. 34s employee and was diagnosed on Wednesday.

Patients No. 36, No. 37, and No. 38 were confirmed on the same day after having close contact with patient No. 34.

Sixteen of 44 COVID-19 patients in Vietnam had fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital by February 26.

Patient No. 17, a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman, was diagnosed on Friday last week after the country had reported no infection since February 13.

The woman arrived in Hanoi on March 2 on board a flight carrying 216 passengers and crew members from London.

At least a dozen infected people, mostly Britons, have been linked to this woman, who had visited Milan and Paris before entering Vietnam.

Media reports say that she has two passports, British and Vietnamese, and seemed to hide her history of travel to France and Italy, where there are COVID-19 outbreaks, to dodge quarantine when carrying out immigration procedures at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Vietnamese authorities are tracing the passengers and have isolated those involved, including the crew members.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
What sets Christianity apart from all other world religions? Certainly the divinity and resurrection of Jesus, but what else?

Christianity grounds a respect for all human life, but so do other religions such as Jainism and Wicca. Christianity has a robust moral framework that holds all of us to a high standard of behavior, but so do Orthodox Judaism and Islam, especially when it comes to human sexuality.

But what about forgiveness? Jesus radical command to not only forgive, but to forgive seventy times seven, has no equivalent in any other faith. Add that to the command to love, bless, and pray for our enemies and those who persecute us, and now we have something that only Christianity offers the worldsomething the world would desperately miss if it ever lost it. After all, when Christians forgive as we are instructed to do, the world cant help but take notice.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian who spent eight years waiting execution on a trumped-up charge of blasphemy, recalled her mistreatment, including having her neck put in a brace tightened by a key and pulled on a chain by guards. She described how much of a sham her trial was, and how she was not even allowed to say anything in her own defense. She talked about the pressure she faced to renounce her faith.

And then she said, I am not angry at all. I have forgiven everyone from my heart. And there is no hardness in me. She then offered kind words for the government of Pakistan, saying she was proud of her country for ultimately freeing her.

Also last week, four Nigerian elders gathered together to worship in the charred remains of their church, just two days after terrorists from Boko Haram burnt it and two other churches to the ground, destroyed parts of the village, and kidnapping a few of the women there. During the service, the elders prayed for Gods forgiveness, mercy, and cleansing of the land.

Of course, the idea of forgiveness isnt unique to Christianity. Other religions and even secular worldviews sometimes talk about the need for forgiveness, or at least of letting go of the past.

How Christianity defines forgiveness, however, goes far beyond this. Jesus taught us to pray, Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. In Matthew 18, he told a parable about a man who was forgiven an unimaginably huge debt who then refused to forgive someone a much smaller debt. The unmerciful debtor was thrown in prison for his lack of forgiveness, to which Jesus added: So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.

In other words, radical forgiveness and mercy are not an optional self-help suggestion in Christianity. We dont forgive because its good for us, though it is, but because the central truth of the Christian way of seeing the world is that we have been forgiven much. Being reconciled to God through the death of His Son means being reconciled to others, even our greatest enemies.

In John Grishams recent novel, The Guardians, a man who has spent 23 years in prison for a murder he didnt commit, confronts three people whose false testimony put him behind bars. As he listens to them confess their lies, Grisham writes, he is stunned by the speed with which he forgave [them] . . . something came over him, maybe the Holy Spirit, and he just couldnt hate anymore. He closed his eyes and asked God to take away all of his hate, and in a flash a huge burden left his shoulders.

Grishams novel, which the Washington Post called terrific, points out another thing that sets Christian forgiveness apart. Not only does God demand radical forgiveness from us, He then enables us to do this thing that seems impossible. As Paul told the Galatians, we can only live a forgiven and forgiving life, through faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Just as when Mother Emmanuel Church members forgave Dylan Roof or when the Amish parents forgave and loved the parent of the one who took their children, the world cannot make sense of this kind of mercy. Yet it also cannot help but take notice.

Publication date: March 12, 2020

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Made Suta/EyeEm

BreakPoint is a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. BreakPoint commentaries offer incisive content people can't find anywhere else; content that cuts through the fog of relativism and the news cycle with truth and compassion. Founded by Chuck Colson (1931  2012) in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. Today, you can get it in written and a variety of audio formats: on the web, the radio, or your favorite podcast app on the go.

John Stonestreet is President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and radio host of BreakPoint, a daily national radio program providing thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.
First Derivatives, a global software and consulting company, has appointed Kathy Schneider as Chief Marketing Officer reporting directly to Seamus Keating, First Derivatives' Chief Executive Officer.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005075/en/

Kathy Schneider, Chief Marketing Officer, First Derivatives Plc (Photo: Business Wire)

Schneider will have global responsibility for First Derivatives' marketing strategy, including brand, demand generation and communications. In this role, she will drive the company's global go-to-market approach and brand strategy to support First Derivatives' growth ambitions.

"We are delighted to welcome Kathy to the First Derivatives leadership team as our global CMO," said Seamus Keating, First Derivatives' CEO. "Kathy has robust experience developing global marketing strategies that have helped to achieve growth for established as well as emerging technology businesses. Kathy will drive the evolution of our brand and go-to-market strategy as we expand beyond the financial sector into further industries where our unique Kx data analytics software and consulting services can deliver unmatched results."

Schneider brings extensive marketing leadership experience in the global technology sector, including senior marketing roles at privately-held as well as publicly-traded companies. Prior to joining First Derivatives, Kathy was global CMO at Sungard Availability Services. Before Sungard AS, Kathy was Senior Vice President, Product and Marketing for EMEA at Level 3 Communications. At Criteo, she held a global role on the executive leadership team as Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications. Schneider moved from consumer products to the technology sector in 1999 when she joined Dell Inc., now DellEMC. While at Dell, she led various marketing functions at a country, regional and global level. She has spent the last 16 years working and living in London with her family and will be based in FD's New York office.

"For more than 20 years, First Derivatives has built a customer-centric business serving the capital markets sector with unique IP in consulting and managed services, supporting mission-critical systems," said Kathy Schneider. "With its Kx data analytics software, First Derivatives also addresses the growing challenge of capturing and analysing ever-expanding data volumes to make real-time decisions. It's an exciting time to join First Derivatives since this presents an enormous opportunity beyond the financial markets as other sectors, like manufacturing and energy, utilise real-time data to make rapid operational decisions."

About FD

FD is a global technology provider with more than 20 years of experience working with some of the world's largest finance, technology, automotive, utility, manufacturing and energy institutions. The Group's Kx technology, incorporating the kdb+ time-series database, is a leader in high-performance, in-memory computing, streaming analytics and operational intelligence. Kx delivers the best possible performance and flexibility for high-volume, data-intensive analytics and applications across multiple industries. FD operates from 15 offices across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific, including its headquarters in Newry, and employs more than 2,500 people worldwide.

For further information, please visit www.firstderivatives.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005075/en/

Contacts:

Louise Cunningham

Vice President, Marketing

louise@kx.com

+44 7580 753 918


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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Premier Li Keqiang has said the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on China's economy must not be underestimated, but in any case China must spare no effort to stabilise employment.

A slight fluctuation in China's economic growth this year is not of major significance as long as employment remains stable, Li said in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, according to a statement posted on the government's website on Thursday.

(Reporting by Lusha Zhang, Judy Hua and Kevin Yao; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Small businesses in San Francisco experiencing a slowdown following a citywide ban on large events in response to the coronavirus will get support from the city.

Announced by city leaders on Wednesday, the efforts include deferring business taxes and licensing fees, launching a relief fund, supporting city-funded nonprofits so that workers don't lose income, and working with partners in the philanthropic and private sectors.

The city is also calling for state and federal support for the impacted workers and businesses in the form of regulatory relief around employment benefits, including unemployment, sick leave, disability, and other issues.

"It's important that people follow the public health recommendations to disrupt the spread of COVID-19 in our communities," Mayor London Breed said in a statement.

ALSO: San Francisco restaurants seeing a downturn in business due to coronavirus and travel cancellations

"We know these recommendations are disruptive to the lives of everyone in our City, but they will help slow the spread of this disease. Unfortunately, that means that many of our small businesses are feeling the economic impact of people staying home and not shopping or going out to eat. That's why we are working to provide relief and support for our small businesses and the workers who rely on them for their livelihood. These are just the first steps of what we are doing for our small business community," she said.

"We must support our workers and businesses as they move through this difficult time. Many workers are losing income -- or being laid off entirely -- and many small businesses are at risk of closure," Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said.

"We need to ensure people are aware of all available state safety net resources, and we need financial support for struggling businesses. As we combat this epidemic, we must make clear that we're in this together and that we'll support everyone who needs it," he said.

MORE: Michelin-star restaurant Plumed Horse drops 60% of its tables to give diners more space

Under the new measures being taken, businesses with up to $10 million in gross receipts will now have the option to not pre-pay their first quarter business tax by April 30, and instated defer the payment to February 2021, without interest, fees or fines.

Also, the city will delay the collection of the city's unified license bill for restaurants, bars, convenience stores, small retailers, hotels and tour operators by three months.

The city will additionally establish a fund for the impacted business, with an initial $1 million investment for up to 100 businesses with grants of $10,000 each in immediate relief.

On top of the new measures, the city has also created a website for employers and employees to find all existing resources at www.oewd.org/covid19.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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[March 12, 2020] Tegra118 Wins BISA's Technology Innovation Award

Tegra118, formerly Fiserv Investment Services, a leading provider of wealth and asset management technology solutions, announced it received the 2020 Bank Insurance & Securities Association (BISA) Technology Innovation Award for its managed account technology and front-office financial planning and advice platform. The award recognizes leadership in the advancement of the financial services industry's products, services and platforms through technology innovation. "As an established leader in wealth technology with a focus on innovation, we're honored to be recognized by BISA for our work to advance technology solutions that empower advisors and enhance the wealth management experience," said Cheryl Nash, Chief Executive Officer, Tegra118. "We are investing in innovation like never before, working to deliver an even more powerful, integrated platform and seamless experiences that anticipate and address the needs of our clients, even before they recognize them. We have a relentless mindset to create the platform of the future and reimagine the way the world interacts with wealth." Tegra118's Unified Wealth Platform (UWP) was recognized for providing advisors and financial institutions with easy access to sophisticated unified managed account (UMA) portfolio management and trading capabilities for amore flexible and streamlined experience. Our Financial Advice Management solution offers goals-based and comprehensive financial planning, proposal generation and client onboarding, as part of an ecosystem that includes core middle- and back-office solutions for portfolio management and trading, model management and distribution, portfolio accounting, performance measurement, reporting, and billing services. Tegra118 enhancements to its UMA technology and new advisor tools for retirement income and long-term insurance planning demonstrate its commitment to high value solutions that enable advisors to grow their practice and help prepare investors to plan for and achieve their financial life goals.



"The BISA Technology Innovation Award recognizes leadership in the advancement of the financial services industry's products, services and platforms through technology innovation," said BISA Executive Director Jeff Hartney. "We are pleased to name Tegra118 as one of this year's award recipients in recognition of their commitment to advancing our industry." Tegra118 is a market leader in providing innovative wealth management technology solutions. Together with our clients, we are building the future of wealth management technology. Learn more at www.tegra118.com.

About Tegra118 Tegra118 is an industry leading provider of software solutions to the wealth and asset management industry with a vast network of broker-dealers, asset managers, and custodians and trading interfaces. Its Unified Wealth Platform is one of few scaled wealth technology platforms providing portfolio management, trading, accounting, rebalancing and reporting for managed accounts. Tegra118 also provides modular, goals-based financial planning and fee billing software for financial advisors using modern API-based open technology. Tegra118 is committed to delivering powerful solutions that set a new standard for how people interact with, manage, and grow their wealth. Tegra118 is a portfolio company of Motive Partners, a next-generation investment firm focused on technology enabled companies that power the financial services industry. For more information, please visit www.tegra118.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005824/en/

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Townsip, newly launched company in the real estate segment has come up with an innovative idea of aggregating people from similar professional backgrounds, offering them a residential complex, suited to their specific needs.

The idea was conceptualized by the founder of Townsip, Ravi Kumar, keeping in mind the needs of people to be in a social circle where both mindsets and lifestyles match.

It was also noticed that the application of CxD (customer experience design) was missing in the real estate industry, which led to the need gap, that was filled in by the newly launched company.

The project currently offers an array of ten independent villas in Gazetted Officers' Colony, at Vaarivana, an integrated township project under the ITP Act of Govt of Maharashtra by Pharande Developers.

People from the scientific & defence community who are used to living in government bungalow accommodation are the first customers to have booked their houses in Vaarivana.

The project is located on the Mumbai-Pune expressway at around 25 kilometers from Baner. The project is currently under construction and will be ready for possession by 2023.

The project will have its own school, shopping facility, IT complex and polyclinic, mandatorily being a part of an integrated township under government regulations.

"The uncertainly and incompatibility within a neighborhood can result in very difficult situations and these circumstances lead people to sell and shift residence", said Ravi Kumar, founder Townsip.

"It is important for people to buy properties in societies and localities which provide access to all amenities besides having like-minded people coming in from similar professional and educational backgrounds which enables them to live happily and at ease. We are truly excited about this project offering which amalgamates from the thought of having created a comfortable gated community, which can cater to a shared economy and reduced expenses", he added.

The differentiating factor between offerings from Townsip and from other real estate brokers or firms is that Townsip verifies the property on ten metrics including neighborhood, water, electricity supply, road connectivity among others. With Townsip, a customer has the option of customizing their house and its amenities based on the community demand.

"We liked the property due to its location that is surrounded by beautiful Sahyadri hills and away from the hustle-bustle of city life. The concept of having like-minded neighbors is very interesting and comforting. We are looking forward to moving into our newly acquired property as soon as we get possession of it in the next couple of years", said a senior scientist from Pune, one of Townsip customers.

The company, Townsip is in talks with various developers across Pune and is soon planning to offer exclusive residential colonies to their customers in Wagholi, Hinjewadi and other parts of Pune.

Ravi Kumar and his team intend to build the Townsip Company, based on trust and customer satisfaction, like what he achieved with udChalo in the past eight years.

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.)
Little-known Isabella Branson may not be as famous as sister Cressida Bonas, but the daughter-in-law of Sir Richard recently celebrated her 40th birthday with a getaway in Bali with her glamorous friends and family.

Adventurous-loving Isabella, who is affectionately known as Bellie to her loved ones, leads a jetsetting life with hunky husband Sam, as well as her two children Eva-Deia, 5, and Sam, 3.

But who is the glamorous former actress, who was once tipped to have captured the heart of Prince William?

Close family unit

Isabella Branson, 40, who is sisters with Prince Harry's ex girlfriend Cressida Bonas, celebrated her 40th birthday with friends and family in Bali earlier this month (pictured together)

The daughter of Mary-Gaye Curzon and property developer and former Chairman of the Watermark Group, John Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, Isabella has a large extended family.

She has two full siblings, elder sister Georgiana, an artist, and younger brother Jacobi, as well as four half-siblings, two from her father's second marriage, including actress Gabriella Calthorpe.

She also has another sibling from her mother's first marriage, and one from her mother's third marriage, the actress and former partner of Prince Harry, Cressida Bonas.

The mother-of-two shares a close relationship with her siblings, including Cressida and Jacobi, who shared gushing messages on Instagram to mark her birthday

Cressida was one of those to join Bellie on her recent trip to Bali to celebrate her fourtieth, paying tribute to her sibling in a gushing Instagram post.

Sharing a photograph of Bellie with her two children, as well as another of the two sisters dueting with one another, Cressida said her sister was 'a real life angel with magic in her bones.'

Jacobi also shared a affectionate message as well, saying: 'Happy 40th Bells. Thank you for always being the most incredible sister, daughter, mother and wife. Love you and so proud of you and who you are. I miss you so much.'

Hunky husband

Flora lives with her hunky husband Sam Branson, whose father is Sir Richard, with the two regularly enjoying adventurous expeditions across the globe with one another (pictured)

Society blonde Bellie married Sir Richard Branson's son Sam in a glamorous ceremony on Sir Richards game reserve Ulusaba in South Africa in March 2013.

Bellie wore a beautiful full-length ivory gown, covered with lace, by Los Angeles-based designer Monique Lhuillier.

It would cost a normal client around 10,000, although Isabella may have negotiated a favourable rate, given the publicity surrounding her nuptials.

Not to be outdone, Sam wore an ivory three-piece suit by British designer Ozwald Boateng.

Sam often shares snaps of his adventures with his wife on Instagram, and shared a gushing message about his wife on her birthday as they celebrated in Bali

Sam often shares snaps of his adventures across the world on his Instagram page, including challenges like climbing Mount Everest and snowboarding in Colorado.

He shared a lengthy dedication to his wife ahead of her birthday, saying: 'Darling ever since we met you have seen the light in me and have inspired me to realise my potential.

'We have literally grown up together and stuck by each other through thick and thin. Your unconditional love to me has been my greatest blessing in this life.'

He added: 'I fall in love with you more deeply and honestly every day and I am excited for the many many years to come of more growth, love, joy and freedom!'

Royal connections

The couple aren't lacking in royal connections, attending Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle in October 2018

Bellie has a whole host of royal connections to The Firm, including sister Cressida's former relationship with Prince Harry.

At one stage she was tipped to have caught the eye of Prince William before he went on to marry Kate Middleton.

However, Bellie's concern that the association would impact her career led her to knock Prince William back.

After attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, she became a stage actress in 2005.

She appeared in a series of films, including Stage Beauty and How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, and the television series Harley Street and Trinity.

Her final film appearance appears to have been in 2013, when she appeared in British crime film Fedz, the same year she married her now-husband Sam.

Speaking of her romance with Prince William, a royal source told the Daily Mail in 2007: 'He had fallen for her in a huge way and wanted to be with her.

'He propositioned her several times that summer and although Isabella was single, she knocked William back and said it would be too damaging for her and her career.'

The couple also regularly fundraise for the charity Princess Beatrice founded alongside Sam in 2010

The source went on: 'William was madly in love with her but when he knew there was no chance of them getting together he went back to Kate.'

'Kate was very aware of his obsession with Isabella and she was incredibly threatened by her.

'Isabella is drop-dead beautiful and would leave any girl in the shade. Kate accepted William back again but on the condition that he would not speak to Isabella again.'

And while Bellie may have refuted the advances of Prince William, there were clearly no hard feeling and she was in attendance at his wedding to Kate in 2011.

She has also remained close to other members of The Firm.

She attended Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank in November 2018, with Sam sharing an Instagram post of the couple inside Windsor Castle.

Posting online, Sam revealed the day had been 'heavenly' celebrating 'a wonderful couple'.

Adventurous in-laws

Meanwhile Sam's Instagram reveals his wife has a close bond with father-in-law Sir Richard (pictured together)

While Bellie hasn't revealed the level of her bond with Sir Richard, Sam's Instagram reveals snaps of the two snuggled up under blankets.

He posted: 'Its such a privilege and a joy to spend so much of my life with these two incredible people. They truly have hearts of pure gold and I love them with all that I am.'

The couple regularly join the rest of the family for Christmas on Necker Island for their annual tradition.

Charitable endeavours

The couple regularly take part in fundraising hikes for the Big Change Charity, which Sam co-founded with five school friends and Princess Beatrice in 2010

Alongside husband Sam, Bellie regularly takes part in charity hikes for the Big Change Charity.

The charity was co-founded by Princess Beatrice, 31, alongside Sam and five other friends in 2010 to identify and support charitable projects throughout the UK which will improve the lives of young people.

The organisation has now announced it is set to launch several new projects that will focus of the well-being of those in education.

The adventurous mother-of-two can often be seen taking part in the adventurous expeditions alongside her husband Sam (pictured, climbing Mont Gele in Chamonix in 2019)

Each year the charity invite fundraisers to take part in their Strive Challenge, an endurance hike.

With the charity, the couple have climbed Mont Gele in Chamonix as well as Les Contamines-Montjoie.

Jetsetting lifestyle

And it seems adventurous Isabella isn't afraid to get up close and personal with wildlife during her adventures, including gorillas in Rwanda

Cressida shared several snaps on Instagram, revealing a luxurious villa where Bellie spent her birthday

Friends and family shared a series of glitzy shots of Bellie's 40th birthday celebration in Bali.

Cressida was among them, posting snaps of the sisters relaxing in the sunshine as they marked the occasion.

And, as well as enjoying the birthday celebration with friends and family in Bali, Bellie has enjoyed several holidays over the past year.

Husband Sam has shared snaps of the couple with their children on adventures around the globe, including trips to Colorado as well as regular trips to Sir Richard Branson's island Necker.

For their honeymoon in 2013, the couple went on a series of adventures, including Rwanda, where they trekked for hours into the jungle and came across a family of gorillas.
Just a day after former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party to join BJP, the Shiv Sena on Thursday (March 12) asserted that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government in Maharashtra is not facing any threat of collapse. Notably, CM Thackeray is running a coalition government in Maharashtra in alliance wth Congress and Nationalist Congress Party.

An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' also slammed the Congress for failing to address the concerns of its youth leaders. The editorial also said the BJP in Maharashtra should stop "day-dreaming" about toppling government in Maharashtra. It added that the BJP should not forget the defeat it faced in Maharashtra four months ago and should expect for a "shock experiment" in Madhya Pradesh too.

Scindia resigned from the Congress on Tuesday (March 10) along with 22 Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, putting CM Kamal Nath-led government in the state on the brink of collapse.

Referring to the ongoing political turmoil in Madhya Pradesh, the Shiv Sena said that even though veteran Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh are running the show in Madhya Pradesh Congress, the grand old party had committed a mistake by neglecting a senior leader like Scindia.

"Kamal Nath is also a shrewd and daring politician and will not give up easily. Just like the unexpected political drama in Maharashtra, a shock experiment can take place in Madhya Pradesh," the Marathi daily said.

Shiv Sena also mentioned that the Congress failed to perform well in Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Kamal Nath and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot.

"When seniors fail, the young leadership should be encouraged. This is not happening and that is why (Rajasthan deputy chief minister) Sachin Pilot and Gehlot are at loggerheads. If the matter is not resolved, it is believed that Rajasthan may go the Madhya Pradesh way," it claimed.

Shiv Sena also took a dig at Scindia, saying that eight months ago the former Guna MP lashed out the BJP calling it a "murderer of democracy" for toppling the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka and now he has joined the same party.

"Fifteen days ago, he criticised BJP leaders for making hate speeches and now after joining the BJP, he says Congress is not the party it used to be earlier," it said. "What were Scindia's demands - the state (Madhya Pradesh) unit president's post or the Rajya sabha ticket? Both were denied to him. If at least one demand was accepted, this situation wouldn't have arisen," the Shiv Sena said.
If you have a shelf filled with beauty products, you're not alone. But a South African miracle herb may be just the natural product to replace all those chemicals. Added to your everyday skin regime it will not only leave your skin feeling plush and reduce the effects of skin conditions, it will also restore your confidence. Buchu, found in topical ointments produced by Cape Kingdom Nutraceuticals, treats the 
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive member Mukul Roy was interrogated for more than two hours by the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday morning in connection with the murder of Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Satyajit Biswas in February 2019.

Biswas, an MLA from Krishnagunj in Nadia district, was shot from a close range near a Saraswati Puja pandal in the Hanskhali area. Police arrested four people and the administration suspended the officer-in-charge of Hanskhali police station after the murder.

BJP Lok Sabha MP from the districts Ranaghat constituency Jagannath Sarkar was also named in the police complaint lodged by the victims wife. Sarkar has been questioned twice by the CID.

Last month, the Calcutta high court granted Roy immunity from arrest in this case till March 7. CID had summoned Roy earlier also but he told the police that he would be out of town. On Thursday, he went to the CID headquarters at Bhawani Bhawan in south Kolkata.

While Roy was not available for comment till Thursday afternoon, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, The state government has slapped charges at random against several leaders of our party although they are not connected to any of these cases. Sarkar has also been named as an accused in the murder case.

Ghosh added that Roy was named in several cases only after he joined the BJP.

Roy did not face any charge till he was with the TMC. Soon after he joined the BJP, the government charged him in dozens of cases. The same thing happened to Arjun Singh. If this has become the TMCs culture then it is a matter to be worried about, said Ghosh.

Arjun Singh, the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Barrackpore in the North 24 Parganas district, left TMC a few months before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Gabby Giffords and Joe Biden embrace during a gun safety forum: 2019 The Associated Press

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.

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.

Story continues

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.

Read more

Hillary Clinton receives endorsement from gun survivor Gabby Giffords
Former film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday to 23 years in prison following his recent rape and sexual assault conviction.

The 67-year-old Hollywood mogul was accused of raping one woman in a Midtown Manhattan hotel in March 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on another woman at his apartment in Manhattan in 2006.

He was convicted on two of five charges by a jury of seven men and five women on Feb. 24. The jury acquitted him on three other charges, including two counts of predatory sexual assault charges which could put him in jail for life.

Weinstein had denied all the allegations, saying any sexual activity was consensual.

Before he was sentenced on Wednesday, Weinstein, sitting in a wheelchair in Manhattan criminal court, said he was "confused" about the case and "thousands of men" involved in the #MeToo movement are accused of "things that none of us understood," according to local media reports.

Both women in the two cases were present in court for the proceedings. One of them, a film production assistant, broke into tears while saying the attack scarred her "deeply, mentally and emotionally."

"I believe that if Harvey Weinstein was not convicted by this jury, it would happen again and again and again," she said.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr thanked the survivors "for their remarkable statements today and indescribable courage over the last two years," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

He also thanked the court "for imposing a sentence that puts sexual predators and abusive partners in all segments of society on notice."

Weinstein has been involved in dozens of allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct since investigative reports about his alleged sexual abuse were published on several mainstream media outlets in 2017.

He is probably going to face additional charges as three more sexual assault cases are currently under investigation by police in Los Angeles.
English French

MARKHAM, Ontario, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC), its members, and the Canadian steel industry are very disappointed and disagree with the Supreme Court ruling in BC to dismiss the appeal of using Government reprisal clauses for construction.



The Supreme Court decision permits the continued use of reprisal clauses by Governments in the construction tendering process. Reprisal clauses ban contractors and subcontractors from bidding on government work for a given period if they are involved in legal proceedings against the government.

The use of reprisal clauses by Governments needs to stop now, says Ed Whalen, President & CEO of the CISC. It is essentially extortion and will lead to higher construction prices for the taxpayer with fewer contractors willing and able to bid Government projects. Governments should be demonstrating the best practices in construction and be acting as role models. Blackballing contractors is not fair nor is it right.

BACKGROUND

In December 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the reprisal clauses in the City of Burnabys contract terms that would disallow any contractor from bidding on a project if they were engaged or had been engaged in legal action against the City in the past two years. The settlement process in Prompt Payment legislation would be considered action against the owner and therefore, the reprisal clause would be applicable.

If existing legislation would be eclipsed by clauses such as this, then the effectiveness of legislation is limited or nullified, Whelan added. You cannot punish businesses when they are following the legal process and keep them out for up to 24 months thereafter.

ABOUT CISC

The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) is Canadas voice for the steel construction industry, providing leadership in sustainable design, advocacy, construction, efficiency, quality and innovation. The CISCs efforts aim to advance the use and benefits of steel, increase Canadian market share, as well as advocate for a diverse community made up of manufacturers, fabricators, service centres, erectors, consultants, detailers, industry suppliers, owners and developers.

The Canadian steel construction sector is a vibrant $5 billion industry, which employs over 130,000 people in its supply chain.

Media Contact:

Paul Mikolich

V.P. Operations and Communications

(905) 604-3231

pmikolich@cisc-icca.ca




A Georgia man battling the coronavirus says he could barely stand up after likely catching the disease while singing in a 100-member church choir.

Clay Bentley sang in the choir at the Church at Liberty Square in Cartersville, Georgia, on March 1.

Bentley said the next day woke up feeling horrible and took himself to an urgent care in Rome, Georgia, where they checked his vitals and noticed that his oxygen levels were really low.

'I was coughing and I was having a fever. Sweating. Cold chills. I didn't even have enough energy to stand up,' Bentley said on Wednesday.

'I have had the flu before, but I ain't never felt this bad,' he added.

Scroll down for video

Clay Bentley (pictured) who is currently battling the coronavirus said he could barely stand at one point after likely catching the disease while singing in a 100-member church choir last week in Georgia

Bentley sang in the choir at the Church at Liberty Square (pictured) in Cartersville, Georgia, on March 1

He initially went to an urgent care where they checked his vitals and noticed that his oxygen levels were really low.

Bentley was then sent to the Redmond Regional Medical Center with what he believed was flu-like symptoms.

But he says that after he was tested for the flu, his test results came back negative.

The hospital then sent him home because, according to Bentley, doctors said he didn't fit the criteria required for him to be tested for the coronavirus since he hadn't been out of the country recently.

But Bentley progressively got worse. He said he called the hospital and told them that he felt like they 'had sent me home to die'.

When he went back to the hospital, doctors discovered he had pneumonia in both lungs. He then tested positive for the coronavirus.

Bentley (pictured with his wife) went to a local hospital that sent him home after saying he didn't fit the criteria to be tested for the coronavirus

But Bentley (left and right, with his wife) got worse. He said he called the hospital and told them that he felt like they 'had sent me home to die'. When he went back to the hospital, doctors discovered he had pneumonia in both lungs. He then tested positive for coronavirus

In a Facebook post, Bentley said Vice President Mike Pence even called him to wish him well.

'So you know your living in a great country when the Vice President calls you to tell you that he is personally praying for your recovery....Mike Pence, you sir are such a great leader...and sharing the Love of Jesus with you was an honor!!!' Bentley wrote.

Bentley, who is still being quarantined at the hospital, said he is now feeling a little better since he was initially diagnosed.

His wife, his adult son and their four-year-old grandson are also in quarantine.

Since his performance, Bentley said he's heard that seven other people who were also in the choir are in hospitals now.

It's unclear if that number is accurate, but the Church at Liberty Square did confirm that two people tested positive for COVID-19. That number includes Bentley.

There more than 1,500 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died (depicted above)

The church was forced to cancel services Wednesday night in order to sanitize.

'We received an official word today from the Northwest Georgia Department of Public Health that there were two confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 that attended the Church at Liberty Square Sunday morning services over the last two weeks,' a statement from the church reads.

'Public health officials are asking church members to monitor their health for fever, cough and shortness of breath,' the statement added.

The church said it will resume normal services on Sunday, March 15.

'Our ministry team is being advised to wash their hands, practice good hygiene and stay home if they are sick,' church leaders said.

There are more than 1,500 coronavirus cases in the United States and 39 deaths.

Globally, there are more than 128,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 4,700 deaths.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Thursday that Delhi government schools will resort to "zero paper attendance" from April 1.

"Zero paper attendance to be implemented in Delhi government schools from April 1. The process of digitising exam result tabulation and attendance records is underway. Tablets will soon be provided to all remaining government school teachers," he said at a meeting of officials of the Directorate of to outline further plan of action.

"I would request everyone to not have arrogance. For the recognition that we are receiving today for our dedicated efforts in changing the model of Delhi, people from other states and countries have been reaching out to us to learn from us.

"So we should not be swelled up with arrogance while sharing our educational practices and model with them. It should be a learning experience for us as well, to pick ideas from other states and countries for strengthening our mode," Sisodia added.

The AAP leader also asked the officials to keep a track on the installation of CCTV cameras at schools and classrooms.

"Each deputy director should keep a track of the number of CCTV cameras installed in the schools within their zone, whether they are functional or not, and if passwords have been provided to the parents or not. Passwords have to be provided to parents for those classrooms where CCTVs have been installed so that they can access the classes of their wards," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Natural News) In a surprise announcement, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark said the country is imposing a lockdown to contain its rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases. Frederiksen made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday.

According to Frederiksen, public sector employees who do not perform critical functions will be sent home on paid leave, while those who are employed in the private sector will be encouraged to work from home.

All schools and universities in the Scandinavian nation will also be shut down, Frederiksen said during her address.

In addition, Frederiksen also imposed restrictions on events, with local media reporting that events seen to attract more than 100 participants will be banned  a major decrease compared to the original limit of 1,000.

We need to limit activity in society as much as possible, without letting our society grind to a halt, Frederiksen said.

According to Frederiksen, their decision to enact strict impositions and tough measures will have a significant impact on their economy.

We will not get through this as a country without a cost. Businesses will suffer losses and people will lose their jobs. The government will do what it can to help, Frederiksen said, noting that their current situation necessitated the enactment of such measures.

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, Frederiksen stated.

This will have huge consequences, but the alternative would be far worse, she said, adding that those who are healthy have a shared responsibility to protect the more vulnerable members of their population.

Everyone who is healthy, we have a great responsibility towards the vulnerable, she added. (Related: Coronavirus isnt the flu and its this response that makes the US unprepared, health expert warns)

Those seen to be at high risk for COVID-19  the disease caused by the new coronavirus which originated from Wuhan in China before spreading across other parts of the world  are those who are aged 60 and above, as well as those with compromised immune systems and chronic illnesses.

Sren Brostrm, director of The Danish Health Authority, said that he expects the number of cases to increase rapidly in the coming days and weeks.

As of press time, 514 people, of which two are in critical condition, have been confirmed to be infected with the deadly virus as of Wednesdaya ten-fold increase in the figures they posted Monday. According to Health Minister Magnus Heunicke this is the most dramatic increase seen in Europe.

Sweden, which is separated from Denmark by the Oresund strait, has around 460 confirmed cases, with its first death reported Wednesday. The country has banned public gatherings of more than 500 people to stop the spread of the disease.

Italy, which has 12,462 confirmed coronavirus infections and 827 deathsthe highest in Europe as of press timeenforced a lockdown, Tuesday. However, following the World Health Organizations (WHO) announcement declaring the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced that the nation needed to go another step further.

Conte, through an announcement made on Facebook, said only pharmacies, groceries and other establishments selling essential items will remain open to the public for the entirety of the lockdown. This will be in addition to the existing measures, such as travel restrictions, enforced social distances and mandatory self-isolation for anyone who exhibits flu-like symptoms.

As of press time, the novel coronavirus has infected 126,136 and left 4,630 dead globally.

For more updates on the coronavirus, visit Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

Metro.co.uk 1

ChannelNewsAsia.com

Yahoo.com

TheSun.co.uk

WHO.int

Metro.co.uk 2
Former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning attempted suicide inside a jail in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday and was admitted to hospital just days before a federal judge is scheduled to hear a motion to release her from custody, her lawyers said.

Jail officials responded to an incident involving Manning at 12.11pm local time at the Alexandria Adult Detention Centre, according to a statement released by Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne.

Chelsea Manning in 2018. Credit:AP

"It was handled appropriately by our professional staff and Ms Manning is safe," Lawhorne's statement said.

Manning, who leaked hundreds of thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, has been held for about a year for refusing to testify to a federal grand jury investigating the anti-secrecy website.
South Africa has confirmed its first local transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Free State.

According to the Department of Health, a 32-year-old male came into contact with a Chinese businessman, making it the first case of local transmission, as all other cases have been by patients who had travelled abroad.

The department on Thursday confirmed 17 cases of COVID-19, this is an additional four cases from Wednesday.

Other three confirmed cases are from KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

KwaZulu-Natal

A 38-year-male from Durban who lives in Turkey and was visiting his family in South Africa has tested positive. He had traveled to the UK and returned to SA on 7 March 2020.

Mpumalanga

A 27-year-old female from Mpumalanga who had traveled to the United States has tested positive. She returned to South Africa on 7 March 2020.

Gauteng

A 43-year-old male from Johannesburg who had traveled to New York via Dubai and returned to South Africa on 8 March 2020, has tested positive.

The department said at this stage, all patients are in self quarantine and have mild to moderate symptoms. They are also on symptomatic treatment.

Our tracing teams are now making a list and have started contacting individuals that have been identified as these patients contacts, the department said in a statement.

SANews

Now read: How SAA will deal with passengers that have coronavirus
A suite of supports will be made available to businesses in Laois and Offaly impacted by COVID-19, according to Laois/Offaly TD and Minister for Justice & Equality, Charlie Flanagan.

Speaking from his constituency office in Portlaoise Minister Flanagan said help was at hand for those worried about the impact.

I know that this is a worrying time for businesses and I want to assure them that my Fine Gael colleague, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys, her Department and agencies are working on their behalf to develop and deliver a range of supports to help them through this rapidly evolving situation.

Understandably, many businesses 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," he said.

Minister Flanagan said the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation have put a range of supports in place.

- 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. Applications can be made through the SBCI website https://sbci.gov.ie/

- 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.

Minister Flanagan said 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.

Applications can be made through the MFI website https://microfinanceireland.ie / or through your local LEO.

He said 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.

Minister Flanagan also highlighted the following supports for firms experiencing trading difficulties and short-term shocks.

He said 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 to 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.

The Minister said 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, see https://www.gov.ie/en/service/ c20e1b-short-time-work- support/

He added that the full range of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Office and Udaras na Gaeltachta grant supports will be available to firms to help with strategies to innovate, diversify markets and supply chains and to improve competitiveness.



Minister Heather Humphreys said business would be helped.

We are facing an unprecedented level of uncertainty, and businesses may want to access advice on how best to protect their businesses. A Finance in Focus grant of 7,200 will be available to Enterprise Ireland and Udaras na Gaeltachta clients that want to access consultancy support to undertake immediate finance reviews.

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. I encourage businesses to take advantage of these supports,

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.

Minister Humphreys concluded: 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, he said.

Additional information

- To be eligible for the SBCI COVID19 Working Capital Scheme, businesses must satisfy one of the COVID 19 criteria and one of the innovation criteria set out for the scheme. There is a broad suite of innovation criteria and this offers a wide range of opportunity for businesses to engage in the scheme. Guidelines will be provided on the SBCI website to help businesses determine if they are eligible for the scheme.

- The Department through its development agencies will continue to provide information support and to business on Continuity Planning Checklist, which includes a practical checklist as well as links to relevant COVID-19 advice developed in conjunction with the HSE and Department of Health.

- Enterprise Ireland will provide an online portal of advice and business continuity tools and webinars for business.

Enterprise Ireland with the Local Enterprise Offices will activate advisory clinics and mentoring support for impacted firms.

- DEASP and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) are coordinating information for employees and employers on their rights and responsibilities in the case of employees being absent from work due to isolation and/or infection.

- Minister Humphreys is engaging with business representative bodies through the Enterprise Forum on COVID-19.

- The Department is leading across government and with key stakeholders to ensure continuity of food supply and Minister Humphreys is chairing a forum of large retail multiples, retail representative bodies and grocery distributors and food manufacturers.

- The Department is working with the European Commission on additional changes to State Aid de minimis rules that may be required to ensure the enterprise development agencies can respond effectively.
US President Donald Trump waves upon arrival at Palam Air Force Base in New Delhi on Feb. 24, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

The Year of Vindication, Part 1

Commentary

After more than four years of relentless attacks as part of a carefully managed fraud, I believe that 2020 is the year that a number of corrupt former and present government officials begin to get their comeuppance.

It also will be the year that their victims begin to receive their public vindication, thanks to Attorney General William Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham.

Durham has been investigating for some time now exactly how the Russiagate hoax was begun and kept in operation for so long, even months after President Donald Trump entered the White House.

As I said in my last column, its when Durham reveals the results of his probe that the Spygate scandal will really explode. Until now, the media has had leeway to downplay and ignore Spygate developments. That gets far harder once indictments are returned.

Based on the evidence previously made public, we already know much of what happened: Federal agencies used a fake dossier compiled by a paid former British spy and financed by the Hillary Clinton campaign to launch an unprecedented assault on the rival campaign in the 2016 election.

That assault included surveillance warrants granted through acts of fraud, as Ill be discussing.

As those who perpetrated this fraud on the country are finally brought to justice, there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the mainstream media that these bad cops are victims. But that will be a lie. These leakers and plotters arent victims. Far from it; theyre criminals.

The real victims of Spygate are the innocent people who were the targets of strategic leaks accusing them of being Russian spies and traitors to their country. These false leaks placed these innocent people directly in the crosshairs of federal investigations; they are the real victims of this scandal.

By the end of this year, six people ensnared in this massive and growing Spygate scandal are going to have been completely vindicated.

In this first column in a multi-part series, Ill discuss the first of the six: President Donald Trump.

Trump has insisted from the beginning that his campaign was targeted by a witch hunt in search of mythical Russian agents and spies who didnt really exist. Time has proven the president to be correct.

Were more than four years into this growing Spygate scandal and not even one American has been identified, indicted, or prosecuted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for working with the Russians to influence the 2016 election.

Ponder that for a minute.

Even professor Joseph Mifsud, the foreign academic who was the best candidate for the role of Russian agent in the Russiagate story, has never been officially designated as such.

Special counsel Robert Mueller didnt even say in his final report that Mifsud was acting as a Russian agent in his contacts with Trump adviser George Papadopoulos, something that Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) pointed out to him during his congressional testimony.

The second-best candidate in the Russiagate hoax for being an agent of the Russian government is, of course, Carter Pagethe former Trump campaign adviser.

Didnt the FBI swear to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court that it had evidence Page was a Russian asset? And did the FISA Court not grant the FBI a surveillance warrant to spy on Page, and renew that warrant three subsequent times?

They did. And thats the problem.

Ive followed this story since October 2017, and if the FBI ever had any real, verified, solid evidence that Page was a Russian agent, Ive yet to see it.

I watched media commentators and analysts confidently pontificate for more than three years that there was simply no way the FBI could get approval for a surveillance warrant against a U.S. citizen unless good, solid, verified evidence was presented to the FISA Court.

They were wrong.

The DOJ recently ruled that, based upon evidence presented by Inspector General Michael Horowitz in his detailed and damning FISA abuse report last December, at least two of the four warrants against Page were obtained by fraud. The other two warrants are still being reviewed.

Horowitzs report revealed that FBI officials tampered with documents and deliberately hid exculpatory evidence from the court. So it turned out that not only was Page not a Russian agent, he was, in fact, an asset of the CIA, a fact that the CIA attempted to communicate to the FBI officials running the Crossfire Hurricane investigation.

An FBI lawyer is presently under criminal investigation for tampering with that communication.

How Can You Have Russia Scandal With No Russians?

So if Mifsud isnt a Russian agent, and Page isnt either, isnt the president correct that the Russiagate investigation was a witch hunt searching for witches that didnt exist?

The progressive left has a cherished narrative that Trump stole the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton by cheating with Russian help. But as more time passes, all the evidence that surfaces continues to point in one direction: that this narrative isnt true.

The truth is that Trump won that 2016 election fair and square. Russiagate was always a hoax, exactly as Trump claimed it was. That might be hard for some people to accept, but journalism is about reporting the truth, not catering to peoples feelings.

And by the end of this year, well before hes reelected, Trump will have been completely vindicated.

Brian Cates is a writer based in South Texas and the author of Nobody Asked For My Opinion  But Here It Is Anyway! He can be reached on Twitter @drawandstrike.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Two Nepalese nationals were arrested allegedly with charas worth Rs 9.5 crore from Rupiaydeeh on the Indo-Nepal border here, SSB officials said on Thursday.

On a tip-off, a team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and SSB checked a vehicle entering India and seized 31.37 kg charas from the Nepalese citizens late Wednesday night, Deputy Commandant, 42nd battalion SSB Shailesh Kumar said.

As one of those arrested was living in Panchkula, it was likely that the contraband was being taken to Haryana, Kumar said, adding that the estimated cost of the charas was around Rs 9.5 crore in the international market.
Princeton University on Wednesday said all students, except those who meet specific criteria, must leave campus and stay home for the rest of the semester in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The schools updated announcement came after the Ivy League institution earlier this week said it would provide virtual instruction for students and encouraged students to stay home.

We realize this is not how you want to conduct your Princeton semester. We know youre heartbroken at the prospect of leaving your friends, professors, and other campus colleagues. And we know this is not how you expected to study and participate in campus life at Princeton, Dean of the College Jill Dolan and Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun said in a message to students. Were so very sorry the coronavirus has proliferated and changed everyones lives so dramatically, for now.

The decision was based on information from public health experts, officials said. Some students who meet criteria listed on the universitys website will be allowed to remain on campus, but must register with school officials. Some exceptions include international students with visa issues and students who face homelessness, among others.

Large, highly concentrated numbers of students living on campus will increase the chance of rapid transmission of the coronavirus. Furthermore, our capacity to quarantine those who are sick and those who have been exposed is extremely limited, the message said.

The more students who leave campus, the more we can decrease the potential health risk to the larger community, Dolan and Calhouns statement added. The more students who leave, the easier it will be to care for those who may become ill and to manage the eventual impact of this virus.

#PrincetonU announces all undergrads who are able to must return home and stay for the rest of the semester.



Were so sorry that #COVID19 has disrupted the semester like this. But were all in this together. https://t.co/B0aats40xP  Princeton University (@Princeton) March 11, 2020

Colleges and universities across the country have implemented closures and online learning in response to the fast-spreading coronavirus. New Jersey this week reported 23 cases with one death.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Ireland's outgoing Indian-origin Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Thursday announced a two-week shutdown across schools, colleges and other public facilities to tackle the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Irish Taoiseach, as the PM is known, addressed the nation from Washington DC during his ongoing US tour, even as President Donald Trump announced a ban on travellers from 26 European Union (EU) Schengen zone countries as part of its measures against the virus excluding the UK and Ireland.

I know that some of this is coming as a real shock and it is going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives. I know that I am asking people to make enormous sacrifices. We're doing it for each other, said Varadkar.

Together, we can slow the virus in its tracks and push it back. Acting together, as one nation, we can save many lives. Our economy will suffer. It will bounce back, he said.

From 6pm local time in Ireland on Thursday, schools, colleges and childcare facilities will close as will cultural institutions. The Irish government has also recommended that indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people be cancelled.

People should continue to go to work if they can but those who are able to work from home should do so, said Varadkar, who is serving as a caretaker Prime Minister until a new government is cobbled together following Irish elections last month.

Shops and supply chains as well as cafes and restaurants can remain open but people are advised to minimise social interaction where possible. Public transport in the country will continue to operate.

"The irony is that in order to pull together we are asking people to stay apart. The closures proposed will disrupt the everyday connectivity that makes us who we are, said Simon Coveney, Ireland's Tnaiste or Deputy Prime Minister.

The measures are to be in place across the Republic of Ireland until March 29, where the first death from the virus was reported on Wednesday.

Other European countries are also putting tougher measures in place, including the Czech Republic shutting down its borders to 13 countries hit by COVID-19, Denmark closing down schools and public institutions and Hungary declaring a state of emergency.

Italy, the worst his country outside China where the virus originated, remains under lockdown even as other countries weigh up the best response as the World Health Organisation declared the virus a global pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. Congress Votes To Limit Trump Military Action Against Iran; Veto A Certainty

By RFE/RL March 12, 2020

In a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump, the U.S. Congress has given final approval to a measure to limit Trump's authority to order a military attack on Iran -- a resolution sure to be vetoed by the U.S. leader.

The House of Representatives on March 11 voted 227-186 on the so-called war powers legislative, with six Republicans joining in with Democrats to pass the resolution that had already cleared the Republican-led Senate.

The measure forbids any military action against Iran without an explicit vote from Congress. Such a law would not prevent Trump or future presidents from taking military action if they determine there is an imminent threat from Iran.

Trump previously promised to veto the war, saying that if his "hands were tied, Iran would have a field day." Supporters of the resolution do not have enough votes to override the veto, meaning it would not take effect.

Senator Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat who led the move in Congress, said that "if President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars, he will sign this resolution into law."

Other Democrats said the resolution was in line with the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress the authority to declare war.

The White House had urged that the resolution be rejected "because it attempts to hinder the president's 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.

Texas Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, called the measure "divisive and irresponsible."

"The enemies of our country are watching this debate right now. They need to know darn well that if you kill Americans, you will pay the price," McCaul said to loud cheers from Republicans on the House floor.

Trump has taken a hard line on Iran since taking office in January 2017. Tensions flared after he pulled the United States out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal that Tehran signed with world powers and began reimposing crippling sanctions.

On the same day as the House vote, a series of missiles hit a military base in Iraq housing Western forces, with media quoting U.S. officials as saying two American and one British personnel were killed and several people were wounded.

The Pentagon has in the past blamed such attacks on Iran-backed militia in Iraq. One attack in December killed a U.S. contractor and led to a series of retaliatory military moves by the United States and Iran.

With reporting by AFP and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-congress- approves-measures-limit-trump-military- action-iran-veto/30482891.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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LONDON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The fundamental changes in supply/demand conditions for both the UK gas and global oil markets has prompted several questions by the Company's stakeholders and the media regarding Premier Oil's proposed acquisitions, the likelihood of the Company being able to fund the transaction and management's rationale for digging their heels in. ARCM has previously highlighted its concerns relating to the proposed acquisitions and the recent developments only serve to amplify ARCM's objections to the proposed transactions.

Over the last few months, energy assets have de-rated significantly due to fundamental changes in the UK/European gas markets and global oil markets. Lower forward commodity prices will not only reduce the cash flow available to Premier Oil from the proposed acquisitions but, if sustained, would likely result in the acceleration of decommissioning liabilities. This would put further pressure on the Company's balance sheet and significantly increase the Company's risk profile.

These acquisitions were negotiated in the autumn of 2019 using forward prices of around $70/bbl for Brent and 50p/therm for UK gas[1]. We believed these estimates were unrealistic at the time and are even more unrealistic today.

As per Premier Oil's full-year guidance given on 5 March, it is currently projecting 2020 total production of 72.5 kbpd with approximately 51 kbpd of oil production. On the 2019 results conference call, the Company stated that the 2020 budget is based on $60/bbl. Based on this guidance and taking into account a capex increase to $470 million due to Huntington's earlier than planned decommissioning, Premier Oil was not projecting any meaningful cash flow generation this calendar year.

The current forward curve for the rest of 2020 is $42.7/bbl, $17.3/bbl lower than the Company's $60/bbl estimate. In its full-year presentation on 5 March, the Company stated that every $5/bbl change in the oil price results in a $60 million change in free cash flow. Based on the current forward curve, the Company's cash flow position would therefore be c. $200 million worse than what it projected in its recent full-year results presentation[2]. This compares to cash on balance sheet of $151 million at the end of December 2019[3].

As per ARCM's previous statements, we believe Premier Oil should be focusing on its cash flow position and protecting the balance sheet as a matter of priority. We encourage the Company to engage with its creditors to find a long-term solution which would significantly reduce leverage and provide a stable balance sheet, from which the Company could then prudently pursue growth opportunities.

[1] The three CPR estimates for Andrew, Shearwater and Tolmount used average 2022 Brent price of $69.3/bbl and UK gas price of 49.7 p/therm

[2] The current Brent price of $36/bbl is $24/bbl lower than what the Company used in its budget. Based on daily production of 51 kbpd, that is equivalent to a $1.2 million difference per day relative to the Company's budget.

[3] Excluding cash of US$47.1 million held on behalf of joint venture partners or as security for letters of credit. Based on Company press release on 5 March 2020

Contact:

Greenbrook Communications

arcm@greenbrookpr.com

+44-207-952-2000
Shortly after 5pm yesterday an eerie silence fell over the No 10 briefing room. Out of nowhere the Prime Minister had just lobbed a sobering thought for the nation to digest.

'I must level with you,' he said awkwardly, staring down at his haphazard collection of notes. 'Many families, many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.'

Among the gathered throng, lower mouths plopped open. Alarmed glances were exchanged. Feet shuffled awkwardly. For once, the man we rely on for light relief had all the spark and levity of an undertaker. The clown had got serious.

All the spark of an undertaker: Boris Johnson delivers sobering thoughts to the gathered throng yesterday

To borrow a term from the Prime Minister's own personal collection of colourful exclamations: Yowzers!

Boris and the boffins were back in Downing Street on Thursday. Same room, same lecterns, same facial expressions of mild concern.

On this occasion the Prime Minister had a stark message to deliver, but there was no sugar coating this time.

The coronavirus, he announced, is the worst public-health crisis the country had faced for a generation. As bad as seasonal flu? Fuhgeddaboudit. This is far, far worse. We are now in the grips of a pandemic. The PM's speech was less fluent than usual. At times he stuttered nervously. Banter and bonhomie were absent.

Occasionally, he ran his hands tetchily through his hair. Sagging black bags under his eyes suggested several restless nights' sleep. Perhaps it's me, but he appears to have aged these past weeks.

Can anyone blame him? Half the world seems to be clamouring for the UK to go into some sort of panicked, apocalyptic self-enforced lockdown. For now, however, the PM was sticking resolutely to his guns.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking at a news conference inside 10 Downing Street, London, after the latest COBRA meeting to discuss the government's response to coronavirus crisis

Stay at home. That was the main message. If you have a cough or feel a sniffle coming on, batten down the hatches.

At some point it could be that if even one person in a home is unwell, the entire household could be advised to stay put. 'I want to signal now that this is coming down the track,' he warned.

He did all he could to sound determined and upbeat. 'The country will get through this epidemic, just as it got through tougher experiences before,' he said. He urged people to 'look for each other and commit to the national effort'.

The Government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance had brought along a squiggly graph to illustrate the way the number of cases will rise and fall over time.

The curvature of the graph this formed resembled, the PM suggested, a Mexican sombrero hat. From where I sat, I thought it looked more like a moo-cow's udder.

Alarmingly, the moment when infections are predicted to reach their peak could still be some 14 weeks away. Eek!

Thankfully chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty was a picture of cool. Of course he was.

So little ruffles this man. If Dennis Lillee bowled him a bouncer he'd probably grin back at him and ask for another. He was wearing the same badly arranged burgundy tie he's been sporting nearly all this week. Is it his lucky tie? We must hope so.

A very somber Prime Minister speaking about the status of the pandemic coronavirus outbreak in the UK

The Prof announced we were at the end of the 'contain' period. We were now on to 'delay'. Each week we can delay the virus's spread will give the NHS much-needed breathing space.

He reiterated his belief that shutting down schools would be pointless. Schoolkids must absolutely hate him.

Boris conceded that he was considering banning sporting events. 'The scientific advice is, this has little effect on the spread,' he said, 'but it does place a burden on other public services.' No sport? You could almost hear a collective sigh of disappointment around the country.

Someone asked if Boris was concerned about his own health after one of his health ministers, Nadine Dorries, recently confirmed she had tested positive for the virus.

And who would take over if he did get ill? Boris emitted a tiny cackle. He pledged to keep washing his hands and moved on swiftly.

Whitty signed off in typically upbeat style by insisting they were learning more about the virus as time went on.

'Our understanding of this virus increases week on week,' he chirped, sounding mildly excited about it all.

Boris, meanwhile, attempted a small rallying cry. 'Let us squash that sombrero!' he yelled, in a reference to that graph that had all the cheer of a weatherman's rainfall projections. For a moment, that made us smile. But only for a moment.
Representative image

By Rupal G Shukla

The travel industry has been rocked by the coronavirus outbreak. Airlines, hotels and travel agencies have seen business fall by up to 90 percent.

Massive job losses are taking place with many countries like US even preparing a special emergency rescue package for the travel industry.

During these times, the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) announced by the government in Budget 2020 is an additional burden on the Indian travel industry.

TCS is a 5 percent tax collected at source, imposed on payments made by passengers for foreign travel done via Indian travel agencies, both offline and online.

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

Track this blog for the latest updates on coronavirus

The important thing to note is that TCS is not applicable if a passenger books directly with a foreign travel entity.



a) All foreign bookings diverted to foreign portals or directly with foreign hotel, which is contrary to the Make In India campaign



This will lead to:

b) It will facilitate cash transactions as client can block room using his credit card and then directly pay at hotel using cash



d) The compliance issue created will be unmanageable since there is no way currently to track the Rs 7 lakh limit if remitting via LRS, leading to impossible amounts of paper work for small companies. Not to mention increase in cost and time involved for additional compliances for return filings and payments.



c) It will lead to massive tax loss because a travel company pays 5-18 percent GST. A foreign portal does not pay GST and a foreign hotel is exempt from GST. In addition, Indian travel companies pay Income Tax. Shifting of bookings by Indian clients to foreign players will lead to decrease in their incomes and consequently their tax payments.

Coronavirus declared pandemic: Meaning, definition, history and more

The Indian outbound travel industry expects upto 60 percent of business being diverted to foreign companies, who don't pay taxes to the Indian government. This is expected to lead to job losses across India.

The travel industry has appealed to the Finance Ministry for immediate deferment of TCS tax and thereafter, consider a full rollback. The entire industry has been voicing their concerns actively on Twitter with the hashtag #savetravelindustry and they sincerely hope the government will listen to their Mann Ki Baat.

(The author is founder and CEO, Tierra Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd)
As part of his official visit to Azerbaijan, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held talks with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku.

Berdimuhamedov and Aliyev held a one-on-one meeting that was followed by the talks with participation of the two delegations in Zagulba Residence of the President of Azerbaijan.

The sides discussed issues of mutual interest related to regional and international politics, expansion of cooperation in the trade and economic sphere, transport and energy sectors, as well as the cultural and humanitarian sphere. The sides paid special attention to the Caspian issues during the talks.

The sides emphasized that in the area of international energy cooperation Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are in favor of creating a balanced, multi-variant system of energy supplies to the European markets based on the diversification of routes, clear and transparent schemes of their operation, guarantee of reliability, security and due respect to multilateral interests.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov proposed to seriously consider the issue of establishing a Trading House of Turkmenistan in Baku and a Trading House of Azerbaijan in Ashgabat respectively with the view of increasing trade and economic cooperation.

The sides noted the efficient work of the intergovernmental Turkmen-Azerbaijani commission that offers a platform for exchange of views between representatives of the business communities and the government sectors of the two countries.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov invited Ilham Aliyev to attend festivities marking the 25th anniversary of the neutral status of Turkmenistan, including the international conference Policy of Neutrality and its Importance in Ensuring International Peace, Security and Sustainable Development in Ashgabat in December this year.

The Turkmen leader also invited the President of Azerbaijan to visit Turkmenistan at a convenient time for him. The invitation was accepted with gratitude. The dates of the visit will be agreed through the diplomatic channels.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the entire Turkmen people on the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistans neutrality to be celebrated this year. He emphasized that Turkmenistans neutrality is an effective, positive factor in ensuring stability and sustainable development in the region.

The talks finished with the ceremony of signing bilateral documents. The sides signed the agreements on cooperation in the field of television and radio broadcasting, in the field of migration, on mutual allocation of land for the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Azerbaijan and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Turkmenistan.

The sides also signed the memoranda of understanding on cooperation in the field of librarianship, information and communication technologies, land inventory, state registration of real estate rights, management and privatization of state property, etc.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Ilham Aliyev signed a Joint Statement. At the end of the signing ceremony, the leaders of the two countries made statements for the mass media.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia aims to resolve its palm oil spat with India within a month, the southeast Asian nation's new minister of plantation industries and commodities said on Wednesday.

Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali added that he wanted to send a delegation to India as soon as possible in an effort to improve ties between the two countries.

India, the world's biggest consumer of edible oil, this year set curbs on palm oil purchases from Malaysia in retaliation for comments by then prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, criticising New Delhi's policy on the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

New Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin took office last month after Mahathir's unexpected resignation.

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu)
[March 12, 2020] Higher Logic Announces Plan to Help Organizations Through Coronavirus Concerns with Engagement Platform

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Higher Logic, the industry-leading SaaS engagement platform of associations and B2B organizations with more than 2.7 billion community interactions annually, announced today that it will offer Event Engagement for free to current and prospective customers facing the challenge of delivering meaningful experiences and engagement during the health crisis of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Leveraging its human-focused engagement platform, Higher Logic will support virtual events to assist in driving engagement and connection for attendees. This program is being provided at no charge to anyone with events scheduled from April 1st to December 31st of 2020. Higher Logic recognizes that in-person events are a key driver of enriching the customer experience for many organizations and is recommending a way to maximize the impact of a virtual conference. Due to the health concerns of COVID-19, large in-person events like Protech Fusion, SaaStr, Association of University Technology Managers, Facebook F8, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and Google I/O have already announced cancellations. Higher Logc is using its engagement expertise to offer solutions for those looking to host their events virtually.



This program will offer organizations the solution they need to organize their event online and facilitate discussions before, during and after the event. Included with this offer are pre-built event templates with specific design features and engagement elements to help facilitate the virtual conference. The goal is to enable the same networking and engagement experience that attendees get on-site at a conference while eliminating the health concerns of a large crowd. "We know that many organizations are worried about how to get through this difficult time. As a community focused company, we want to do our part to help the global community," says Chief Executive Officer at Higher Logic, Kevin Boyce. "Offering this program will give organizations the capability to connect and interact with their attendees until they can safely hold large in-person events. It will also demonstrate the value of an online community, connecting customers and members at all times, especially when faced with unforeseen circumstances."

Organizations looking to support their events with the Higher Logic platform can find more information here. About Higher Logic

Higher Logic takes a data-driven approach to engagement communities and communication to give organizations an expanded suite of engagement capabilities. From the initial web visit to renewal and ongoing engagement, we help you track and manage interactions along each stage of the customer and member experience. Higher Logic supports 3,000+ customers across 21 countries worldwide. The company was named one of 2018's 500 fastest growing companies in North America by Deloitte and 2019's fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. by Inc. 5000. Media Contact:

Morghan Cope

[email protected]

PR Communications Specialist

Higher Logic View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/higher-logic-announces-plan-to-help-organizations-through-coronavirus-concerns-with-engagement-platform-301022448.html SOURCE Higher Logic

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Dealers at Hana Bank work at a dealing room at its headquarters in Seoul, Thursday when KOSPI nosedived to close at 1834.33 won, down 3.87 percent from a day ago. The Korea Exchange also issued a five-minute sidecar after the KOSPI fell by more than 5 percent during trading hours. Yonhap



Main bourse activates sidecar for 1st time in over 8 years



By Lee Min-hyung



Korea's benchmark stock index crossed into bear market territory Thursday on investors' selling spree after the novel coronavirus escalated into a global pandemic. The KOSPI opened with a 1 percent drop and closed at 1834.33, down 73.94 points or 3.87 percent from a day ago. The secondary Kosdaq market also finished with a bigger drop, declining by 5.39 percent to 563.49.



The escalating fear of the global spread of COVID-19 has pushed foreign investors to engage in a six-day-long selling spree of Korean stocks. They net sold shares worth 895.2 billion won ($742 million) on Thursday.



The Korea Exchange activated a sidecar for five minutes at around 1 p.m. on KOSPI after it fell by more than 5 percent. The measure was aimed at minimizing shocks amid market turbulence by temporarily blocking investors from trading stocks. This was the first time in eight years that the exchange halted trading.



The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar on lingering concerns over the pandemic. The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,206 won per dollar Thursday, up 13.5 won or 1.26 percent from the previous day.



With the World Health Organization making the pandemic declaration, major overseas stock markets have also taken a dive. Japan's Nikkei 225 index opened with a drop of 1.68 percent and plunged by more than 5 percent at one time Thursday. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was also down, as the pandemic fear weakened investor sentiment.



Market pundits suggested a mixed outlook on the likelihood of the main bourse making a short-term rebound.



"Investors should bear in mind that the KOSPI could fall further next week, as the growing pandemic fear will likely continue to pose a threat to the local economy which has already suffered from the slowdown," Hwang Sei-woon, an economist at the Korea Capital Market Institute, said.



In general, the local stock market has declined by 30 percent from its previous high due to concerns over the pandemic and a resulting global economic slump, according to the expert.



"But the KOSPI has yet to plunge to that level, so my view is the Seoul bourse may suffer additional drops at least during the next few trading days," he said.



Another economist at Meritz Securities, however, remained optimistic about a possible rally of the KOSPI next week.



"The pandemic fear has already been reflected in the recent KOSPI fall, so chances are slim that the main bourse will plunge further to any alarming level in the near future," Kang Bong-joo from the securities firm said.



The brokerage house expected the benchmark index to bounce back to the low- to mid-1,900 range next week unless new confirmed cases of the virus surge in less-affected Western countries.



"Investors are engaging in a selling spree amid concerns that the pandemic impact could be even worse down the road," he said.



The number of new confirmed cases in Korea and China, two of the most-affected countries from the virus, is starting to decline, he said.



"We need to keep an eye on how fast the virus spreads in the United States and Europe, but for now, it appears unlikely the pandemic will cast as bad an economic damage there as it has done in the Asian markets," he said.


WASHINGTON  A federal judge on Thursday ordered the release of Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst who in 2010 leaked archives of military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks, and who was jailed last year for refusing to testify before a grand jury that is investigating the organization and its founder, Julian Assange.

The release came one day after Ms. Manning tried to kill herself and was hospitalized, according to her lawyers.

In a brief opinion, a Federal District Court judge overseeing the matter, Anthony J. Trenga, said that he also dismissed on Thursday the grand jury that Ms. Manning was refusing to testify before after finding that its business had concluded.

The court finds that Ms. Mannings appearance before the grand jury is no longer needed, in light of which her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose, Judge Trenga wrote.
When it comes to the new COVID-19 coronavirus, it's all about flattening the curve, Drew Harris, a population health analyst at Thomas Jefferson University, told The New York Times in an interview. In other words, the U.S. needs to make sure the number of coronavirus cases doesn't peak so high that the health care system reaches a point where it's over capacity.

Important to remember that #Covid-19 epidemic control measures may only delay cases, not prevent. However, this helps limit surge and gives hospitals time to prepare and manage. It's the difference between finding an ICU bed & ventilator or being treated in the parking lot tent. pic.twitter.com/VOyfBcLMus  Drew Harris (@drewaharris) February 28, 2020

Harris said while the "ideal goal" of fighting a pandemic like the coronavirus outbreak is to "completely halt the spread," slowing it down is "critical." In fact, he added that trying to force the outbreak to end quickly is a "recipe for panic, unnecessary suffering, and death." On the other hand, he said trying to slow the disease and spread out the "tidal wave of cases" is the right way to save lives and keep hospitals from getting overwhelmed.

One way to do that, he told the Times, is to encourage "social distancing." Even if people aren't self-isolating or in actual quarantine, taking steps like reducing the number of people on public transportation, staggering work hours, or limiting visitors to nursing homes are ways to mitigate the spread. Read more at The New York Times.

More stories from theweek.com

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State-owned in partnership with State Bank of India launched a UPI-based payment platform, Bharat InstaPay.

According to officials, the new payment facility developed by the company will enable its partners, especially prepaid sellers, to buy service immediately for sale.

"This digital payment platform is an initiative of powered by SBI, which shall enable all types of channel partners of BSNL for doing all their payment transactions digitally on a 24-by-7 basis," BSNL said in a statement.

Before this service, BSNL vendors had to wait for payment settlement to buy various telecom services that they sold in market. This used to get further delayed on non-working days.

BSNL said Bharat InstaPay will help its partners do digital transactions on a real-time basis.

"This will not only improve BSNL's credibility towards partners, it will also help in growth of partners' business at a faster pace. A one-time online verification process has been introduced, which is to be done by the partners themselves by visiting newly designed Bharat InstaPay portal. All transactions, then, can be carried out without any human intervention on a 24-by-7 basis," the statement said.
(Photo : POOL on Reuters ) NO EXEMPTION: Trump Now Prohibits All Travels from Europe to US for One Month Due to Coronavirus! (Photo : SHANNON STAPLETON on Reuters ) NO EXEMPTION: Trump Now Prohibits All Travels from Europe to US for One Month Due to Coronavirus!

Today, Mar. 11, United States President Donald Trump has finally released the order of travel ban to all passengers flying to Europe due to Coronavirus COVID-19. All Americans and citizens are required to follow the law and Trump has cleared himself that no one is exempted from this rule. The travel ban will start on Friday, Mar. 13, and will end after 30 days or one month or as long as authorities see the travel ban fitted on protecting citizens from further spread of the virus.

Trump imposes travel ban to Europe; all Americans are required to follow!

On his late-night speech on public television, President Trump said that all travels from Europe would be temporarily suspended for at least 30 days in order to protect Americans from the wider spread of Coronavirus in the country.

"To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States," said Trump. "The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight."

Though the said implementation is thought to be 'necessary and strong' as reported via BBC, President Trump said that flights from the United Kingdom would not be part of the travel ban. Although the UK already has more than 400 confirmed cases in their country.

Though all citizens are required to follow this new rule, the President also mentioned that there could be exceptions for Americans that will undergo appropriate screenings made by authorities.

China and Europe are now under a travel ban by the US

Aside from Europe, China--wherein the virus was originated-- was the first country that was announced to be imposed with a travel ban as the numbers of victims and carriers continues to increase in the country.

Trump also reportedly laid out his administration's plan today in order to highlight and address the worsening problem of Coronavirus victims in the United States. As of now, there is already over 1,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, and 38 deaths were already reported.

Though this number seemed to be too small compared to other countries affected by the virus around the world, Dr, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that the number would likely increase soon if the government would not act fast against the virus.

"I can say we will see more cases, and things will get worse than they are right now," Fauci said. "How much worse we'll 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."

"Bottom line, it's going to get worse," he added.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

Trend:

Azerbaijani Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with newly appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Azerbaijan Wolfgang Manig on March 12, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The minister congratulated the ambassador on the commencement of diplomatic activity in Azerbaijan and wished him success in expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany.

Touching upon the military-political situation in the region, Hasanov stressed the continuation of Armenias aggression policy.

The minister noted that despite the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, peaceful negotiations are deliberately delayed by Yerevan.

Hasanov expressed gratitude to the ambassador for the recognition and respectful attitude of Germany to Azerbaijans territorial integrity.

Noting that relations in various fields between Azerbaijan and Germany are built on a solid foundation, the minister spoke about the prospects for the development of cooperation both in the bilateral format and within the NATO programs, in particular in the field of military education.

Manig, in turn, expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between the two countries and emphasized that Germany will make every effort to expand relations with Azerbaijan, as well as will contribute to the development of cooperation in the military sphere.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects of service by officers of the Azerbaijani Army at the headquarters of the German Armed Forces to exchange experience, the participation of representatives of the Azerbaijani Army as observers in military exercises involving German servicemen, the organization of mutual visits of military experts, the joint security of regional energy projects and other issues of mutual interest.

The sides stressed that the implementation of new projects in the field of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany will be continued this year.
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Linkedin Rivani Noor (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12 2020

On fire: A National Disaster Mitigation Agency water-bombing helicopter douses a fire in the Merapi Ungup-Ungup conservation area in Banyuwangi, East Java, on Oct. 10, 2019. Disasters cost the country Rp 22 trillion (US$1.57 billion) annually, according to the government.(Antara/Budi Candra Setya)

Over the last few months, we have seen news spreading of natural disasters in both Indonesia and other regions of the planet. Two major countries, the United States and Australia, not only have been hit by fierce storms but also have seen widespread forest fires as a result of the worst-ever heat waves in their histories.

Indonesia itself has seen more floods and landslides happening in shorter cycles. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has statistically analyzed risk changes and chances of rainfall for a period of 150 years. The result shows that Jakarta will see an increase in rainfall of 23 percent. In the past, extreme rainfall used to happen within a period of 10 to 20 years, but it now comes in shorter intervals. The temperature in Indonesia in the last 30 years has also increased by 0.1 to 1 degree Celsius.

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SpaceX founder Elon Musk looks on at a post-launch news conference after the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifted off on an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, March 2, 2019.

Tesla reportedly rushed to send dozens of its employees back to the U.S. from Germany on Thursday after President Donald Trump announced a ban on foreign travelers to the United States from much of Europe for the next 30 days.

Auto industry newspaper Automobilwoche first reported on this development following the travel ban's announcement on Wednesday night. Tesla did not immediately return a request for comment.

The electric-car company was in the beginning stages of building a factory in Brandenburg, outside of Berlin, with hopes to deliver vehicles made there starting in 2021.

In late February, after a standoff with environmental protesters, Tesla obtained approval from German courts to clear 91 hectares (225 acres) of forest to make way for the Berlin Gigafactory.

The company said in a fourth-quarter 2019 earnings update that it had selected Berlin as "the right place to build vehicles for the European market due to a strong manufacturing and engineering presence in Germany."

This week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that he is scouting locations in the U.S. for even more factories, seemingly mimicking Amazon's effort to unearth incentives and subsidies, in different states, before deciding where to build its HQ2.

While many publicly traded companies have warned that they will miss guidance, following the spread of the coronavirus around the world, Tesla has not yet changed its 2020 annual or first-quarter guidance, or warned investors about any major delays to its business plans.

Tesla previously said it would "comfortably exceed" deliveries of 500,000 electric vehicles in 2020, after deliveries reached 367,500 in 2019.

The company successfully built and began delivering cars from a new plant in Shanghai, in under one year. The COVID-19 pandemic, among other challenges, could make that performance hard for Tesla to repeat in Germany.

Tesla shares closed about 12% down for the day, amid a market rout, and after Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas cut his price target for Tesla to $480 from $500. He also slashed his expectations for Tesla vehicle deliveries to hit 452,000 units in 2020  which is down from the 500,000 previously expected.

Tesla was not alone  the Dow Jones Industrial Average nosed-dived and closed down 10% for the day in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and oil price wars.
The largest lender State Bank of India on Thursday announced a Rs 7,250-crore fund infusion into the crippled Yes Bank under which it will pick up to 49 percent equity in the fourth largest private sector lender

Mumbai: The largest lender State Bank of India on Thursday announced a Rs 7,250-crore fund infusion into the crippled Yes Bank under which it will pick up to 49 percent equity in the fourth largest private sector lender.

The fund infusion is part of the Reserve Bank-mandated rescue plan.

SBI said its shareholding in Yes Bank will remain within 49 percent of the paid up capital of the private lender and following the fund infusion, it will pick up 725 crore shares.

"The executive committee of the central board at its meeting held on 11 March accorded approval for purchase of 725 crore shares of Yes Bank at a price of Rs 10 a share, subject to regulatory approvals," SBI said in an exchange filing on Thursday.

SBI: Executive Committee Of Central Board (ECCB) approves purchase of 725 cr shares in Yes Bank at Rs 10/sh. Shareholding in #YesBank will remain within 49% post purchase pic.twitter.com/EdgF1fkT92  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) March 12, 2020

The bank, however, did not mention the exact quantum of stake it will be buying in Yes Bank.

Under the reconstruction scheme, SBI will have to buy 49 percent of Yes Bank and cannot reduce its holding below 26 percent before for the next three years.

The SBI investment of Rs 7,250 crore is much higher than Rs 2,450 crore it had planned initially for 49 percent stake in the private sector lender that began operations in 2004.

Last week, SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar had told reporters that the bank would invest Rs 2,450 crore to buy 245 crore shares of Yes Bank. He had also spoken about roping in other investors and SBI investment would not exceed Rs 10,000 crore.

On 5 March, the RBI imposed a moratorium on Yes Bank, restricting withdrawals to Rs 50,000 per depositor till 3 April.

The RBI also superseded the board and placed it under an administrator, Prashant Kumar who is a former deputy managing director and CFO of SBI.

Since the RBI action, the central agencies ED and CBI have arrested Yes Bank's co-founder and former CEO Rana Kapoor for alleged money laundering and corruption, while his wife Bindu and three daughters are also being quizzed by these agencies for their role in siphoning of public funds.

One of the biggest charges against Kapoor is that he illegally benefitted to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore by lending to certain troubled companies like DHFL, Anil Ambani group and Essel group-- all the loans worth around Rs 20,000 crore that have turned into bad debt.
Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have both tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Deadline reports. The couple are in Australia, where Hanks is playing Col. Tom Parker in an as-yet-untitled movie about Elvis from director Baz Luhrmann.

Hanks sent a statement to Deadline announcing that he and Wilson had tested positive and were in medical isolation, then posted the same message to his Instagram with a photograph of a latex glove in a biohazard waste bag. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires, wrote the actor. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

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According to a statement from Warner Bros., the studio producing Luhrmanns film, they were working with Australian health authorities to track anyone Hanks had come into contact with. The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment, they wrote.

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Here is Tom Hanks complete statement about testing positive for the novel coronavirus:

Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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. Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? Well keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!

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Here is the complete statement from Warner Bros. on the news that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive for the novel coronavirus:
Nancy Mitchell is in a bind.

The Portlander and her sister have plans to take both their families, including four young kids, to Disneyland for spring break  a vacation theyve been dreaming about for years. But their dream vacation has suddenly run headlong into a global coronavirus pandemic that seems to only be getting worse.

Theres a lot of uncertainty, Mitchell said. We dont want to put ourselves, or especially the kids, at risk.

Shes not alone in her anxiety. As the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to spread around the world, Oregonians, like travelers everywhere else, are questioning whether or not to cancel their spring vacations entirely.

READ MORE: Should coronavirus cancel your travel plans?

With Oregon schools set to go on break March 23-27, its almost decision time.

Kate Rubick, also from Portland, said her family had planned a trip to Granada, Spain, for spring break. Rubick, her husband and their teenager had been dreaming of the vacation since last summer, with arrangements to tour the Alhambra palace and the Caves of Nerja.

After days of stressing over the decision, they finally decided to pull the plug, she said, fearing quarantine as much as infection.

I think making the decision made my husband and I both a little relieved, she said. It just sort of felt like the right thing to do.

Rubick said theyll get their money back from the two hotels they booked, but they might end up eating about $4,000 in airfare. They havent canceled their flights just yet, in hopes that a new travel advisory for Europe will be issued, which could help them get at least a partial refund.

For now, well just stick it out here, Rubick said.

Nancy Mitchell and her family pose at Disneyland. This year, the Portland family may cancel their trip because of the coronavirus outbreak.Courtesy of Nancy Mitchell

Vicky Yu will also be staying home this spring. The Beaverton resident had planned a spring break trip to Yosemite National Park with her husband and two kids, but canceled the vacation after the coronavirus outbreak reached the United States.

Were just not sure how to protect ourselves if we go on this trip, Yu said.

Originally from Taiwan, Yu said shes concerned that people in the United States havent been taking the coronavirus seriously enough. In Beaverton, her family is doing everything they can to avoid crowds or social interactions, but on vacation that just wouldnt be possible.

We dont go to restaurants or we dont want to stay in hotels, because were not sure how to protect ourselves if people are carrying it and they dont know, Yu said of the virus. We have to go out to eat if we are traveling.

CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS

Despite the steady stream of warnings from health officials around the world, some remain determined to see their vacations out.

David Moberg of Sublimity said he and his wife will join a group of friends on a Royal Caribbean cruise at the end of March, flying through Seattle to Fort Lauderdale to board the ship.

Moberg said hes read recent reports of coronavirus outbreaks aboard cruise ships, and seen the coverage of quarantined ships stuck out at sea. None of it will deter him and his wife from going on a vacation theyve been looking forward to for more than a year, he said Wednesday.

Unless Royal Caribbean doesnt let us on the ship, were going, Moberg said. Were looking forward to having some fun in the sun.

The CDC has advised travelers to avoid cruise ships, especially older adults and anyone with underlying health issues. Moberg, however, said since hes only 59 and currently healthy, he doesnt feel hes at risk.

He and his wife will be taking some precautions, however. He said hell bring some disinfecting wipes to clean their cabin, as well as hand sanitizer to carry around with them.

We know that people get sick on cruise ships, but we just think its an anomaly, Moberg said. We just hope it doesnt happen to us.

Meanwhile, Nancy Mitchell and her family are still weighing whether or not to go to Disneyland or stay home. Shes not worried so much about the financial hit they would take, but about ruining spring break for her kids.

She and her husband tried explaining the situation to their kids, 6 and 9, she said, but they didnt seem to accept not going as a real possibility.

Were all just worried about disappointing the kids, but we dont want to get sick, or get stuck quarantined, Mitchell said. We are still kind of waiting to see how things play out a little more.

--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Terming the putting up of posters of anti-CAA protesters in Lucknow "an issue of significance", the Supreme Court on Thursday referred the Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against an Allahabad High Court order asking it to remove the posters to a three-judge bench.

The apex court said the appeal required "further elaboration and consideration".

A vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose took note of the issues involved in the matter such as right to privacy and the apex court's earlier directions on compensation for damages from rioters.

"Considering the nature of the matter and issue of significance involved therein, in our view, the matter be placed before a Bench of at least three judges as early as possible and preferably in the week commencing March 16, 2020," the bench said in its order.

It also directed the apex court registry to place immediately the case records before the Chief Justice of India S A Bobde "so that a bench of sufficient strength can be constituted by the Chief Justice of India in the coming week to hear and consider the controversy involved in the matter".

The Supreme Court also granted liberty to those individuals whose names, pictures and addresses have been displayed in the posters to seek to be impleaded as parties in the appeal of the state government.

"Liberty is granted to those individuals whose names and pictures appeared in the hoardings to implead themselves in the present proceedings. If such applications for impleadment are filed, the Registry is directed to list said applications along with the main matter," the bench said.

The top court noted the contentions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, and a battery of senior advocates, including A M Singhvi, Collin Gonsalves and C U Singh, appearing for the alleged protesters whose names and pictures have been displayed in the posters.

During the hearing, the top court told the state government that there is "no law" which backs its action of putting up posters on roadsides with details of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests.

Besides removal of posters, the Allahabad High Court, in its March 9 order, had directed authorities to file 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) in Lucknow on December 19 last year.

Former IPS officer S R Darapuri and activist-politician Sadaf Jafar are among those whose photos have been put up with their personal details at major road crossings in Lucknow.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
We felt there was an opportunity to help build awareness and remind the business community of the importance of insurance brokers, said Ross Hayward, director of Premium Funding. From policy research, to risk advice, through to claims management, the value insurance brokers provide cannot be overstated. With some potential new regulations for the industry on the horizon, we thought it timely to promote the industry and ensure the integral role brokers play is recognised.

Hayward said the campaign used an industry body-like approach and does not display the Premium Funding brand. The broking community can readily use all the creative elements, with the option to co-brand on request.

We wanted to create a campaign that could also be used by our brokers without being attached to our or any other established brand. This was really important to us, Hayward said. The purpose of the campaign is to promote the industry as a whole, not an opportunity for self-promotion.

The campaign starts this March and will run for 12 months and will then be reviewed.

To learn more about the campaign, view the advertisements and download the creative elements for your own use, visit www.premiumfunding.net.au/brokersupport. To view the dedicated campaign website, visit www.insurance-brokers.co.
ROME, N.Y. - A Rome family is pleading for help after they say their dog was stolen from their backyard last Thursday.

When you walk into Rachel Colangelo's home on West Linden Street in Rome, it is obvious how much she loves her dogs.

This past Thursday, Colangelo let her dogs outside in her fenced in backyard, as she does everyday multiple times a day.

"I went out to go let them in and just my one dog was at the door and he was kind of panicked," Colangelo said. "I started looking around for her and of course we couldn't find her."

After searching her home, her yard, and her neighborhood for her dog Leia, Colangelo started to believe someone must have walked by the backyard and took off with her dog.

"Where the garage meets the alley, there's an opening and I have a metal gate there," Colangelo said. "Somebody could have easily bent over and picked her up."

Colangelo was concerned and filed a report with Rome Police.

"There's no possible way she could've gotten out, the dogs go out all the time, she's never escaped the yard, we looked to make sure there were no holes or anything bizarre an there was nothing."

Most people that own dogs know how important and special they are to a family, but for Rachel's family, Leia is a necessity, she is an emotional support therapy dog for her daughter.

"My daughter right now, I mean we're all just devastated, but she is having a very difficult time coping to the point where she's just devastated, she's not sleeping, she's not eating, it's a horrible thing to go through," Colangelo said.

Colangelo says she is doing everything she can to get her dog back. She is offering a $700 reward for anyone with lead-able information or can bring Leia back home.

"We just want her back, we're not trying to retaliate, I don't want to press charges, I just simply want the dog back, zero questions asked," Colangelo said.

Leia is a blonde colored Chihuahua mix, weighs about 10-15 lbs, and Colangelo says shes timid but friendly. She is also micro-chipped, her chip number is #990000001591993. Colangelo says if you have any information, you can call or text her. Her phone number is 315- 338-3560.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trump administration officials have postponed for a second time a critical meeting originally set for Wednesday to discuss potential new U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Trump administration officials have postponed for a second time a critical meeting originally set for Wednesday to discuss potential new U.S. restrictions on sales of technology to Huawei and China, people familiar with the matter said.

The cabinet-level meeting had been set for Feb. 28 but was put off. Reuters was unable to determine when the meeting would take place. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin are expected to attend the meeting, the people said.

Among topics on the agenda for the original meeting were ways to expand U.S. authority to stop more foreign shipments of products with U.S. technology to Huawei Technologies Ltd [HWT.UL]. The possible changes are designed to address frustration by some in the administration that the company's placement on a U.S. trade blacklist in May failed to cut off supplies to the world's largest telecommunications equipment maker.

Deputies from the agencies met in February to discuss the agenda but gave no recommendations on how to handle various proposals tied to China, Huawei's telecommunications equipment and commercial aircraft parts, the people said.

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld, Editing by Nick Zieminski)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi [India], Mar 11 (ANI): 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. (ANI)
Donald Trump avoided declaring a national emergency over the coronavirus outbreak but is shutting down all travel from Europe  with the exception of the UK and Ireland  and going back on his own advice by urging sick people to stay home.

In only his second presidential address from the Oval Office in three years, Mr Trump called for national unity as he laid out a number of steps he is taking or asking Congress to take to defeat Covid-19.

Describing the disease as a "foreign virus", Mr Trump announced a halt on all travel from the 26 countries in the Schengen open borders area of the EU, starting from 20 March.

Lauding his own "early, intense action", including the decision to ban all travel from China, the president boasted that the US has fewer cases than in Europe.

The EU failed to take the same precautions, he said.

The travel ban is just one part of a strategy laid out by the president to halt the spread of the virus, and prevent a complete economic crash. The executive branch and executive office of the president have vast emergency and national security powers, which he is tapping into as he essentially tries to put a blanket on a growing fire.

He backtracked on one of his most controversial statements since the outbreak became serious a few weeks ago, when he several times said ill workers should clock in despite his own public health officials urging them to stay at home.

Mr Trumps strategy is now to contain the spread of the virus, as he essentially described a plan to keep people spread out so infected individuals do not pass it on; he pleaded with Americans to avoid large crowds and suggested large events be cancelled.

If we are vigilant and we can reduce the chance of infection [and] impede the transmission of the virus, Mr Trump said. The virus will not have a chance against us.

A White House release made clear that American citizens would still be able to return home once the European travel ban sets in, albeit to a "limited" number of airports with screening facilities.

The European ban would also include exemptions for items being traded between the US and EU countries  but some final decisions have yet to be made, Mr Trump said.

Anything coming from Europe is what were discussing, the president said, signalling to EU officials he is interested in cutting a deal. He later clarified on Twitter that "trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe. The restriction stops people not goods."

Additionally, he announced what he described as "several strong but necessary" steps, including small business assistance he said will inject extra "liquidity" into the US economy amid a stock market crash and worries about a recession.

Mr Trump is banking on a strong economy to help him win a second term.

He all but challenged the virus to a fight, bragging that the US has the "greatest economy anywhere in the world  by far" and when he said America's "vast economy prosperity gives us resources" to beat coronavirus.

To keep it that way as he hopes warming temperatures and efforts to slow its spread will make a major difference, he announced he is taking "emergency action to provide financial relief" to workers who are sick, caring for a sick loved one or in quarantine.

He also is asking Congress to pass legislation that would extend that tax relief to hourly employees.

"This is not a financial crisis, just a temporary moment in time that we will overcome," Mr Trump said.

 CDC director contradicts Trump over border wall and coronavirus

And despite himself lashing out at Democrats earlier in the day on Twitter, he called for unity in the conclusion of his address, saying: "We are all in this together, stop the partisanship and unify together as one nation and one family."

In a final sign the president is taking the virus more seriously, the White House issued a statement saying Mr Trump has cancelled a planned trip later this week to Colorado and Nevada  two states he wants to win to secure a second term  "out of an abundance of caution."
Harvey Weinstein was diagnosed with dangerously high blood pressure after he was rushed to hospital hours after being sentenced to 23 years in prison Wednesday.

A spokesman for the shamed producer, 67, had said he suffered a heart attack and sources claimed he underwent an emergency angioplasty, a procedure to open clogged arteries.

But they later rowed back on that diagnosis, instead confirming he was suffering from high blood pressure, The New York Times reports.

Weinstein was sentenced Wednesday 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 a 2013 attack on Jessica Mann.

He previously spent multiple days in the hospital after his conviction last month with different ailments. Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno has suggested that he will now die in prison, adding that he 'won't see the light of day' after his sentencing.

He is understood to have stayed at the Bellevue Hospital overnight and continues to be monitored. Lawyers, Arthur Aidala, said he was in good spirits.

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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. He was later taken to hospital

New York correction bus reportedly carrying film producer Harvey Weinstein exits New York Criminal Court after Weinstein's sentencing for sexual assault following his trial

Weinstein was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he will be kept overnight on Wednesday

The disgraced producer was initially brought to Rikers Island Prison after sentencing but has since been transferred to Bellevue Hospital.

'Harvey was having chest pains and the Rikers staff decided for safety to send him back to Bellevue now. He will be evaluated and likely will stay overnight. We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections officers and staff,' his spokesperson Juda Engelmayer said.

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

Weinstein, who is in poor health and will not be eligible for parole for 20 years, was Wednesday 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.

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'.

Defense attorney Donna Rotunno talks to the press after Harvey Weinstein's sentencing

Harvey Weinstein sits in a wheelchair during the sentencing following his conviction on sexual assault and rape charges in the Manhattan on Wednesday. He was later taken to hospital

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

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein arrives to New York State Supreme Court in February. He was sentenced to 23 years today but taken to Bellevue Hospital with chest pains. Throughout the trial, he used a walker because of back injuries caused by car crash last year

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.'

Speaking on Bill Hemmer Reports on Fox News on Wednesday evening, Rotunno added that Weinstein 'won't see the light of day' and is likely to die in prison.

'I think the number is too large,' Rotunno told Hemmer.

'I think it's too large for the evidence that we heard and I think it's too large for the charges that the jury found him guilty of.'

On Wednesday prosecutors in Los Angeles also announced that they have started the extradition process to bring Harvey Weinstein to California, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles filed sexual assault charges against Weinstein in January and have now begun the process of extraditing him from New York to their jurisdiction.

A LADA spokesman said: 'The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office 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 been set. Once a date has been set, our office will notify the public.'

Weinstein was charged with one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint.

His attorney Rotunno claimed she can't see 'how much California really matters' given the 23-year sentence Weinstein received Wednesday and his diminishing health.

Weinstein used a walker throughout his trial and arrived at the courthouse 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.

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 on Wednesday

'I think it becomes ceremonial obviously,' she said.

'If we are successful on appeal, it may make a bigger difference. But with numbers so large and Harvey's health, I don't know how he leaves [prison in New York].

'Even if at this juncture if they offered him a sentence that was concurrent, again I think with the number that has been handed down to him today, he won't see the light of day especially given his health,' Rotunno continued.

'So I don't even know if that's a practical or necessary conversation to have.'

After sentencing, Weinstein was immediately placed under the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He was to be transferred from the city's jail system to the state prison system but has now returned to hospital.

Harvey Weinstein did not apologize to his victims but said he felt remorse for the men and women in the #MeToo fight before he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sex crimes in a landmark case.

The Harvey Weinstein timeline: From studio to courtroom in 40 years 1979 - Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob found independent film distribution and production company Miramax, naming it after their parents, Miriam and Max. June 1993 - The Walt Disney Company buys Miramax for $80 million but the brothers stay on until 2005. May 1994 - Director Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction' starring Uma Thurman and John Travolta and backed by Miramax, wins the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. 1997 - Miramax wins its first Academy Award for best picture with 'The English Patient.' 1999 - Miramax's 'Shakespeare in Love' wins seven Oscars - including best picture and best actress for Gwyneth Paltrow. 2004 - Weinstein divorces his first wife Eve Chilton, with whom he has three daughters. 2005 - The Weinstein brothers leave Miramax to set up their own production company, The Weinstein Company. 2007 - Weinstein marries English fashion director Georgina Chapman. Oct 5, 2017 - The New York Times reports Weinstein settled with eight women who accused him of unwanted physical contact and sexual harassment over three decades. Weinstein in a statement apologized for causing pain to colleagues and said he was taking a leave of absence and entering therapy. Oct 6, 2017 - Weinstein takes indefinite leave of absence from The Weinstein Co. The company later says he is fired. Oct 10, 2017 - The New Yorker reports allegations by 13 women who said Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them, including three who said he raped them. Weinstein again denies non-consensual sex. Oct 10, 2017 - Chapman, Weinstein's wife, says she is leaving him. Oct 14, 2017 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that selects the Oscar winners, expels Weinstein. October 2017 - Actress Alyssa Milano fuels the expansion of the #MeToo movement, founded by Tarana Burke, by writing on Twitter: 'If you've ever been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet.' In the following weeks, #MeToo would be used by millions of women. Jan 1, 2018 - Hollywood celebrities launch the Time's Up campaign to fight sexual harassment in the workplace. May 25, 2018 - Weinstein surrenders to New York police on charges of rape and a criminal sex act involving alleged assaults against two women, in 2004 and 2013. June 5, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to the charges. June 9, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new charges of sexually assaulting a third woman in 2006. Oct 11, 2018 - Weinstein wins dismissal of the charges over the alleged 2004 assault. Charges involving the other two women remain pending. Jan 17, 2019 - Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein's defense attorney, issues statement saying he is quitting. Jan 25, 2019 - Weinstein appears in court to announce new defense team. April 26, 2019 - Weinstein's trial is delayed until Sep 9 to allow defense more time to gather evidence. July 11, 2019 - Weinstein hires third legal team after second team of defense attorneys exits the case. Aug 26, 2019 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new indictment involving the same two women accusing him of two counts of predatory sexual assault, in 2006 and 2013. His trial is pushed back to Jan 6, 2020. Dec 11, 2019 - Weinstein and his bankrupt studio reach tentative $25 million settlement with dozens of women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Jan 6, 2020 - Los Angeles prosecutors announce sexual assault charges against Weinstein just hours after he appeared in a New York court for the start of his trial on rape charge. Jan 7, 2020 - Jury selection at Weinstein's trial begins in New York. Feb 18, 2020 - Jury begins deliberations. Feb 24, 2020: Jury find Weinstein guilty on two of five counts. March 11, 2020: Weinstein sentenced to 23 years. Advertisement

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.

'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 taken to the maximum security Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, New York, before being brought to Bellevue Hospital with chest pains.

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.

Weinstein had begged for mercy prior to his sentencing, telling the court he had been through 'hell on earth' and was 'really trying to be a better person.'

He noted that he hadn't seen his three adult children since the allegations publicly surfaced and that he may never see his two youngest children again.

Weinstein acknowledged going to 'extraordinary lengths' to hide the affairs he had from his two ex-wives, Eve Chilton and Georgina Chapman.

'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,' he said.

At one point, Weinstein started talking about how he had raised millions of dollars for New York City after Hurricane Sandy and September 11.

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 and that he 'really never had a fair shake from day one.'

'We were looking for fairness, and we didn't get it,' Rotunno said.

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.'

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.

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.'

Appearing before the media outside court, attorney Gloria Allred, who represented three of the women who testified at Weinstein's trial, waved a piece of paper saying, 'This is what justice looks like, 20 + 3 years.'

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.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: In the wake of rising coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, the state government as a precautionary measure has decided to curtail the ongoing Assembly session by six days.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that the budget session will conclude on March 14 against its scheduled date of March 20, 2020. Pawar said that for the session, the government officers have come to Mumbai and the numbers are quite big.

"The absence of administrative staff from the local and ground level, tackling the coronavirus is tough. We need to support staff at the ground. In Maharashtra, there are total 11 positive coronavirus patients who are admitted in Pune and Mumbai," Pawar said.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that they have been screening all international passengers at Mumbai airport.

"The source of current coronavirus is not Mumbai. But it has come from Dubai along with other passengers. We have identified all 40 passengers who had come from Dubai. Besides, more 1000 passengers of this tourist company yet to return from Dubai," Thackeray said.

Thackeray also confirmed that they have received the proposal of hosting IPL matches without the crowd at the stadium.

"We are discussing it on this proposal and we are want to inform the people that they should avoid crowded places. We have also received a proposal from Pune to close down the schools. But exams are going on, therefore, we will discuss and take the decisions," Thackeray said.

So far 11 positive cases were reported in Maharashtra including two in Maximum City Mumbai taking the total number of infected persons to 68.

Rajesh Tope, the health minister said that they had screened 1,30,000 passengers at the Mumbai International Airport.

"We have also set up the committee under the head of the chief secretary where other revenue, home, urban and rural development secretaries will be members of this committee. So there will not burden on the health department alone," Tope said.

Thane administration invokes Disaster Management Act

The Thane district administration on Wednesday invoked the 'Disaster Management Act' to effectively deal with any situation arising out of the 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.

(Wit PTI Inputs)
Two cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in Ghana, the Health Ministry has announced.

The Health Minister, Agyeman-Manu confirmed on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

The Ministry in a statement indicated that both individuals returned to Ghana from Norway and Turkey.

According to the ministry, both patients are currently being quarantined.

The Ministry has further initiated the process for contact tracing.

Read the full statement below:
Coronavirus outbreak: India reported its first death due to coronavirus on Thursday night. A 76-year-old man from Karnataka's Kalburgi, who died two days ago, was confirmed as a coronavirus patient in later tests.

Coronavirus cases in India have risen to 73, with states like Kerala, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh recording maximum number of cases. A new case has emerged in Andhra Pradesh. The government has also stepped up its efforts on war footing to contain the deadly virus, which has claimed over 4,000 lives worldwide. India has so far evacuated 900 Indian citizens, along with 48 foreign nationals. The government has operationised 51 laboratories across the country to mobilise the efforts to stop the virus from spreading. As countries scramble for rescue amid the coronavirus crisis, markets across the world have recorded their worst ever falls. Sensex alone has plunged 2,800 points, while Nifty down to 9,508.

Check all the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak on BusinessToday.In live

10.30 PM:India's first COVID-19 death confirmed in Karnataka

A 76-year-old man who died two days ago in Karnataka while being treated for suspected coronavirus has become India's first COVID-19 fatality with his samples taken earlier confirming the infection, the state government said on Wednesday.

State Health Minister B Sriramulu in a tweet said the necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol were being taken.

"The 76-year-old man from Kalbauragi who passed away & was a suspected COVID19 patient has been confirmed for COVID19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol are being carried out," he said.

(PTI)

7.18 PM: "One more person has been tested positive for coronavirus in Pune today, taking the total to 9 positive cases in the city. The person has a travel history of the United States," Pune Collector Naval Kishore Ram told ANI.

Naval Kishore Ram, Pune Collector: 1 more person tested positive for #Coronavirus in Pune today, taking the total to 9 positive cases in the city. The person has a travel history of the United States. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/NPE3RWFwbK ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

5.30 PM: Russian-European Mars mission has been postponed until 2022 due to coronavirus outbreak, reported AFP.

5.27 PM: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal says that schools and colleges where exams are not being held will remain closed. He earlier announced that all cinema halls in the national capital will remain closed till March 31. Vacant flats owned by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board to be used for quarantine, says Kejriwal. He further says disinfecting all public places, including government, private offices and shopping malls, has been made compulsory. (PTI)

5.22 PM: UN Human Rights Council will suspend its session over coronavirus scare, reports suggest.

5.19 PM: McLaren F1 team has pulled out of the Australian Grand Prix after a team member was tested positive for coronaVirus, reports news agency AFP.

5.17 PM: Number of people coming to India dropped by 40 per cent in last 20 days due to coronavirus outbreak and the number is expected to go down even further, says Ministry of External Afffairs.

5.14 PM: Cinema halls in Delhi to remain shut till March 31 due to coronavirus threat, announces Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

5.13 PM: Remaining two matches of India-South Africa ODI series are likely to be played in empty stadiums due to COVID-19 threat, a BCCI source has told PTI.

4.52 PM: Received requests for masks from Bhutan, Italy, Iran: MEA

Ministry of External Affairs has said that India has received requests for masks from other countries. "We have received requests (for protective gear) from Bhutan, Maldives, Iran, and Italy. In China, it has already been dispatched," said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.

4.50 PM: Iran reports 75 new coronavirus deaths, taking death toll to 429

4.42 PM: Iran asks for loan from IMF for first time since 1962

Iran said on Thursday that it has sought financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, which has not lent it money since 1962, to help it combat the novel coronavirus.

"Our central bank requested access" to the IMF's Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter, urging the fund's board to respond to the request "responsibly".

(PTI)

4.34 PM: 'Avoid non-essential travel,' says PM Modi

Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions.



No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel.



We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2020

4.33 PM: 'Government is fully vigilant,' says PM Modi

The Government is fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus .



Across ministries & 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. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2020

4.30 PM: India needs to get into vaccine production in big way: Kiran Mazumdar Shaw

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has said that India should step up its research on communicable diseases and get into vaccine production. "Now we realise that it cannot be contained so easily," she said on the World Health Organisation's assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic. Now that they are responding, they realise that it has spread quite a lot," Mazumdar-Shaw told PTI in an interview.

4.14 PM: New case in Andhra Pradesh

A new case has been detected in Andhra Pradesh, according to India Today.

4.05 PM: Need to test Indians stuck in Italy before they are brought back: EAM

"Bhagwant Mann ji raised issue of 30 students of Punjab who are stuck at Italy airport. I would like to tell you that there aren't only 30 students, there are many more from different parts of the country. I need to find a way of helping them and bringing them back. We're at it. Please understand that we can only bring them back if they are tested. They have to be tested. To test them, we've started sampling today as we can't bring back untested people in very severe epidemic situation as I have responsibility of this country to worry about," stated External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Lok Sabha.

4.01 PM: SC refuses urgent hearing on plea to postpone IPL-2020

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to accord urgent hearing on a petition seeking postponement of the Indian Premier League-2020 amid the coronavirus scare. A vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose told the petitioner that he could mention the matter for urgent listing before the regular bench on March 16, when the apex court will re-open after the Holi break.

"This is not a matter which cannot await till re-opening of the court. You can mention it before the regular court on March 16," the bench told advocate Mohan Babu Agarwal, who has filed the petition.

Agarwal told the bench that the Indian Premier League (IPL)-2020 is scheduled to start from March 29 and would continue for almost two months, but no safety measures have been declared to prevent the spread of coronavirus during the matches, which are likely to witness over 40,000 spectators in each match.

(PTI)

3.53 PM: We have managed to isolate the coronavirus, says Indian Council of Medical Research, adding that there are 11 such isolates. Vaccines will take a minimum of 1.5 to 2 years, the Council says.

Indian Council of Medical Research: We have managed to isolate the coronavirus, we have 11 such isolates. Vaccines will take a minimum of 1.5 to 2 years. pic.twitter.com/eQKNzhZ5m4 ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

3.44 PM: No missing coronavirus cases, says govt

Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry: No evidence to suggest the health ministry is missing coronavirus cases. There could be such speculation but that's not true. Our networking of surveillance is strong. We don't know any case that could have been missed. ICMR will son start a surveillance in order to look at such evidence.

3.41 PM: Focussing on preventive approach: Govt

Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry: "India has been focussing on preventive approach. We are preparing ourselves, because its already in 110 countries, how we can manage the cases."

3.36 PM: Masks are not always necessary, says govt

Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry, says masks are not always necessary if one maintains effective social distance. "Right now, luckily for India we do not have any community transmission. We have only a few cases that have come from outside and they have primarily affected their close family members," he says.

3.28 PM: Visa-free travel for OCI cardholderskept in abeyance

Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) cardholders has been kept in abeyance till April 15, 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13, 2020, at the port of departure.

3.26 PM: Total testing facilities across the country

Luv Aggarwal, Health Ministry, says as many as 52 testing facilities are located across the country. "There are a total of 56 sample collection centres," he says, adding that India has evacuated 900 Indian citizens, along with 48 foreign nationals so far. The government has over 1 lakh testing kits available right now.

Lav Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry: We already have around 1 lakh testing kits available, additional testing kits have already been ordered and they are also in procurement. #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/5KVt1Ce7zW ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

3.09 PM: Global markets take a big bit

Global stocks plunged into a bear market and oil slumped on Thursday after US President Donald Trump banned travel from Europe to stem the coronavirus.

European shares plummeted to their lowest in almost four years.

US S&P 500 futures ESc1 plummeted as much as 4.9% in Asia.

Japan's Nikkei .N225 crumbled 4.4% to a trough last seen almost three years ago.

Australian shares plunged 7.4% to the lowest level in more than three years.

3.00 PM: Govt says 15 labs conducting coronavirus tests

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan: "National Institute of Virology in Pune is our central reference lab. After this, we started with 15 labs because this is not a routine test, it can't be tested in every laboratory. Even now, despite this being such a big task, activities are being coordinated at 51 laboratories across the country and collection centres at 56 locations."

2.56 PM: Sensex tanks 3,200 points; Nifty at 9,508 as coronavirus pandemic infects global indices. All Sensex components were trading in the red on Thursday. Axis Bank, ONGC and Tata Steel dropped 10% each, followed by with Tata Steel was the top loser, tanking up to 9%, followed by SBI, Titan, M&M that fell 8% and L&T, Reliance Industries down 7%.

2.51 PM: Total case in UP: 11

UP State Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh says 11 people who tested postive have been kept in isolation. "About 800 doctors have been trained. Through video conference we are tracking all developments. 11 people have tested positive in Uttar Pradesh. Latest, has been found in Gomti Nagar. They have been kept in isolation," says Singh.

State Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh: About 800 doctors have been trained. Through video conference we are tracking all developments.11 people have tested positive in Uttar Pradesh. Latest, has been found in Gomti Nagar. They have been kept in isolation. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/2yHKanHESP ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 12, 2020

2.46 PM: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray takes stock of the preperation in wake of coronavirus outbreak in India.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray today held a meeting with all-district collectors through video conferencing. State Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta were also present. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/EloiByoVNM ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

2.44 PM: Hotel industry feels the pinch of coronavirus

The Indian hotel industry has been hit hard due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak in India. Ajay Kumar Aggarwal, President of Hotel Association, Paharganj said: "This is a 100% occupancy season, but there is not more than 20% occupancy now due to coronavirus."

Ajay Kumar Aggarwal, President of Hotel Association, Paharganj: This is a 100% occupancy season, but there is not more than 20% occupancy now due to #Coronavirus. We had hopes that we would earn well this season. We are only dependent on Indian tourists now. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/lWUmKV8ycL ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

2.32 PM: The IPL Governing Council meeting is expected to take place on March 14 where the fate of the IPL would be decided. The

2.30 PM: American talk show host Ellen DeGeneres' show to be shot without audience in wake coronavirus fears.

I have some news. For now, Ill be shooting my show with no studio audience. To everyone who was looking forward to coming, I'm so sorry. But Im doing this for the health of my fans, my staff & my crew. (It has nothing to do with a warrant for my arrest in the state of Florida.) Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 12, 2020

2.00 PM: The government is taking action that is coordinated, coherent and comprehensive on COVID-19, British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak.

1/ The government is taking action that is coordinated, coherent and comprehensive on COVID-19.



This thread outlines some of the support in #Budget2020. pic.twitter.com/j7lCFhWaPx Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) March 11, 2020

1.45 PM: Three held for administering fake coronavirus vaccines

Three women were arrested for allegedly administrating fake coronavirus vaccines to villagers in Maharashtra's Jalna district, police said on Thursday. The police on Wednesday arrested Beed residents Radha Ramnath Saamse, Seema Krishna Andhale and Sangeeta Rajendra Avhad, who allegedly posed as doctors and healthcare workers, an official said. -- PTI

1.30 PM: No entry at Delhi airport's duty-free shopping area

Indian customs has barred passengers arriving from 15 nations, including China, the US, Italy and South Korea, from entering duty-free shopping area at the Delhi airport in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With the government already cancelling visas with effect from March 13, this would mean that even Indian nationals returning home from these 15 countries will not be allowed to enter the Delhi duty-free shopping area. The Commissioner of Customs at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, in a notice, said the ban has been put in place "in view of the threat from COVID-19 virus".

1.17 PM: US Department of State: Travellers are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Programme (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. "The department uses these alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc. In an emergency, please contact the nearest US Embassy or consulate or call the following numbers: 1(888) 407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 from other countries or jurisdictions," says the US government.

1.11 PM: S Jaishankar says he visited Srinagar recently and took the initiative to meet the parents of some of the students who are in Iran. "Their anxiety at this time is completely understandable. I shared with them in details, the ground situation and sought their understanding," he says.

1.04 PM: China's National Health Commission has said the country has passed the coronavirus epidemic peak. The country has reported over 3,000 deaths so far.

12.56 PM: Govt issues helpline for Delhiites

The Government of India has issued dedicated helpline number across the country, including Delhi.

State DGHS (HQ)- 011-22307145, 22300012, 22300036

North- 011-27708768

South- 011-29531277

West-011-25195529

North -West: 011-25951182

South-west- 011-25066674

South-East Delhi: 011-26476410

North-East Delhi: 011-22115289

New Delhi: 011-23385743

central Delhi: 011-23270151

Shahdara: 011-22111077

12.47 PM: Will take necessary action: S Jaishankar

As the House would have noticed, where specific interventions are required - as in the case of Wuhan in China, the Diamond Princess crew in Japan or now the pilgrims in Iran, we will take necessary action.

12.44 PM: Where communities are understandably anxious, we should reassure them, says External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

EAM S Jaishankar, in Lok Sabha on #Coronavirus: Where communities are understandably anxious, we should reassure them&encourage the observants of globally recognised precautions & procedures. An excessive sense of alarm would only be to the detriment of those who are really in it pic.twitter.com/4OuciluYMD ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

12.40 PM: Around 6,000 Indians in Iran

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the Lok Sabha says as per available information, there are about 6,000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims mainly from Ladakh, J&K and Maharashtra, nearly 300 students primarily from J&K. He says about a 1,000 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat and other states are on longer-term stay visas in Iran for pursuing their livelihood.

12.30 PM: The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to contact Indian students stranded in Iran. The court has asked the government to present a comprehensive plan to rescue the young students stuck in the Islamic country.

12.23 PM: State-wise list of confirmed cases in India

Kerala 17

Maharashtra 11

UP 10

Delhi 6

Karnataka 4

UT Laddakh 3

Rajasthan 1

Telangana 1

Tamil Nadu 1

Jammu And Kashmir 1

Punjab 1

Indians tested positive 56

Foreigners tested positive 17

12.21 PM: Fresh cases take total number to 73

Total number of passengers screened at airport: 10,57,506

Total number of confirmed COVI19 cases: 73

12.13 PM: New York City St Patrick's Day Parade postponed

The New York City St Patrick's Day Parade has been postponed for the first time in its 258-year history because of coronavirus concerns, Gov Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. The postponement of the March 17 parade adds to the roster of events and holidays upended around the world by the spreading infection. Chicago, Boston, and even the Irish capital of Dublin, have cancelled St Patrick's Day parades. -- AP

12.02 PM: Para Biathlon World Championships cancelled

The Swedish government has announced all events involving the participation of more than 500 persons will be cancelled in the country as a measure to control the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

Para Biathlon World Championships cancelled



The Swedish Government announced that all events involving the participation of more than 500 persons will be cancelled in the country as a measure to control the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.



More: https://t.co/mE3VFjfLjO pic.twitter.com/XIuIrJHyuo Para Snow Sports (@ParaSnowSports) March 11, 2020

11.45 PM: Stock market shock

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty crashed nearly 7% on Thursday. The 30-share BSE Sensex has fallen 2,707 points lower to 32,990.01, its day's low as against the perevious closing value of 35,697.40. Similarly, NSE Nifty, the 50-share index has declined 799 points to the intrday low of 9,648, compared oto the last closing of 10,448.Today's low are also the fresh 52-week lows hit by the equity indices.

11.37 AM: State govt could announce holiday: Maharashtra CM

The state government says the schools are functional at the moment, but if there's a need, the state will issue holiday. "Masks are not necessary at the moment, if you have cold or cough avoid contact, maintain hygiene and wash/sanitise your hands," the government said.

Board exams are on so the schools are functional at the moment, but, if theres a need the State will issue Holiday.



Masks are not necessary at the moment, if you have cold or cough avoid contact, maintain hygiene & wash/sanitize your hands. pic.twitter.com/7mOX2lO3BZ Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) March 11, 2020

11.23 AM: Total 10 confirmed cases in Maharashtra

Two more cases of novel coronavirus confirmed in Mumbai. Apart from this, the number has touched 8 in Pune (though it's not an official number), taking the total number of cases across India to 68.

CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray addressed a press conference today to update on COVID-19(Corona Virus):



2 patients in Mumbai & 8 in Pune have been detected positive for COVID-19(Corona Virus). They've been kept in the hospital under observation. pic.twitter.com/qHQhkhhxt0 Office of Uddhav Thackeray (@OfficeofUT) March 11, 2020

11.15 AM: WHO declares coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. But what's is a pandemic?

Pandemic is declared by the WHO when a disease or an infection spreads on a global scale. Pandemics are associated with the geographical spread and not any characteristics in the disease or the infection itself. WHO for weeks had been saying that may declare COVID-19 a pandemic but that does not mean the term carries any legal significance. The WHO does not have an exact criterion for declaring a pandemic but the term should not be confused with an outbreak and an epidemic.

11.10 AM: Cabinet Secretary issues guidelines to step up response system

The Cabinet Secretary issues detailed guidelines for a concerted and whole government approach to prevent further imposition of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and to build up a comprehensive and robust response system.

Cabinet Secretary issues detailed guidelines for a concerted and whole of Government approach in order to prevent further imposition of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases & to build up a comprehensive & robust response system.

Specific tasks assigned to different Ministries.1/2 pic.twitter.com/U5AIrCeMu3 Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) March 12, 2020

11.06 AM: Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Asia

China: 67,000+

South Korea: 7,500+

Singapore: 160+

Taiwan: 47

Hong Kong: 120

Philippines: 33

Malaysia: 129

Indonesia: 27

Thailand: 53

Sri lanka: 1

Nepal: 1

Cambodia: 2

Vietnam: 31

Macau: 10

Japan: 581

India: 60

11.03 AM: The SC has refused to accord urgent hearing on plea seeking deferment of IPL-2020 amid coronavirus scare.

10.59AM: A woman doctor from Canada has tested COVID-19 positive in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on Thursday. The patient has been admitted in an isolation ward in King George's Medical University, IANS reported.

10.55AM: Rupee weakened to a 17-month low of 74.34 per US dollar as global markets slumped after the WHO declared coronavirus as a global pandemic. It has however, somewhat recovered from the lows to trade around 74.14 per greenback.

10.50AM: No foreign player available for IPL till April 15 due to visa restrictions imposed by government in wake of COVID-19 outbreak: BCCI source

10.40AM: Coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh: 300 patients kept under observation

According to the director of Health and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh, no person has been tested positive for coronavirus, till now. Regular screening of passengers is going at the Visakapatnam airport. As many as 8,339 passengers were screened at Visakhapatnam airport, out of which 57 found symptomatic.

Director of Health and Family Welfare, Andhra Pradesh: Total number of 300 patients are under observation as of today; No persons have tested positive for Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/Tu70gFFORV ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

10.34 AM: The official confirmed cases of COVID-19 in India (as of March 11): 68

Ladakh: 2

Jammu: 1

Delhi: 19

UP: 8

Punjab: 1

Haryana: 1

Rajasthan: 3

Maharashtra: 10

Telangana: 1

Karnataka: 4

Tamil Nadu: 1

Kerala: 17 (three patients have recovered)

10.20 AM: Flipkart asks all its employees to work from home for three days

E-tailer Flipkart has asked all its employees in Bengaluru, which its largest campus in India, to work from home, starting Wednesday, The Times of India reported. Flipkart's Bengaluru campus employs up to 10,000 employees.

10.13 AM: View of a bus stand in Rwanda, which has not registered a single case of coronavirus.

Rwanda has not registered a single case of coronavirus. Look at their bus stop! Everybody has to wash their hands before entering a bus.#CoronavirusPandemic



pic.twitter.com/k1hcDLAhhG Harsh Mariwala (@hcmariwala) March 12, 2020

10.10 AM: 63 people dead in past 24 hours: Iran

Iran urged people to stay at home, avoid unnecessary journeys and spread no rumors about the coronavirus on Wednesday after the death toll from the virus rose to 354 in the Islamic Republic. "We have identified 958 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the last 24 hours, increasing the total number of cases to 9,000 across Iran," Kianush Jahanpur, a health ministry spokesman, said. "Also 63 people have lost their lives in the past 24 hours." -- Reuters

10.04 AM: Italy sees 196 deaths in 24 hours

The death toll from an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy has jumped in the last 24 hours by 196 to 827, a rise of 31%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Wednesday, 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, rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149, an increase of 22.8%. -- Reuters

Also read: Coronavirus death toll in Italy reaches 827

9.58 AM: China's Wuhan tries to come back to normalcy

Some vital industries in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, were told they can resume work on Wednesday, a day after President Xi Jinping visited there for the first time since the outbreak began. The city of 11 million has been in lockdown since late January but Xi's visit signaled the tide was turning in the government's favor as it fights to contain a virus that as of Tuesday had infected 80,778 people in China and killed 3,158. Overall, the 15 new confirmed cases in mainland China on Wednesday was a drop from 24 cases a day earlier. -- Reuters

9.41 AM: IPL governing council meeting will be held on March 14 over coronavirus situation. There are reports that IPL body could cancel or postpone the event in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

9.38 AM: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has given Zero Hour notice in Rajya Sabha over the "impact of high aviation fuel prices and coronavirus on the domestic air services."

9.36 AM: Coronavirus impact on stock market

Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty crashed in early trade today as US markets tanked on coronavirus fears. Top Sensex losers were Tata Steel (9.32%), ONGC (7.68%) and SBI (7.36%). Mid cap and small cap indices were trading 670 points and 674 points lower in early trade. Sensex lost 1,744 points to 33,935 with all components in the red, Nifty lost 519 points to 9,938.

9.11 AM: It's a call for action: UN chief

Secretary-General of UN Antonio Guterres the declaration of a COVID-19 pandemic is a call to action. "It's also a call for responsibility & solidarity - as nations united and as people united. As we fight the virus, we cannot let fear go viral. Let's overcome this common threat together," says the UN chief.

Today's declaration of a #COVID19 pandemic is a call to action - for everyone, everywhere.



It's also a call for responsibility & solidarity - as nations united and as people united.



As we fight the virus, we cannot let fear go viral.



Let's overcome this common threat together. pic.twitter.com/upAda4Lvzy Antnio Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 11, 2020

9.00 AM: Actor Tom Hanks, wife Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have both tested positive for coronavirus in Australia, the actor said on Twitter. The actor, 63, is working on a film in the country.

Also read: Coronavirus update: Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, wife Rita Wilson test positive in Australia

8.54 AM: US suspends all travel from Europe, UK for 30 days

US President Donald Trump has suspended all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for the next 30 days to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus that has claimed 37 lives and infected 1,300 in the country. In a televised address to the nation, Trump said the new rule will be coming into effect from Friday midnight. There will be exemptions for Americans returning to the US after undergoing multiple screenings, he said. The president said the European Union has "failed to take the same precautions" as his administration had implemented to contain the coronavirus outbreak. -- PTI

8.53 AM: Netanyahu speaks to PM Modi over COVID-19 outbreak

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is dependent on "supply lines" from various countries and he has spoken to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. "I also spoke to the prime minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time," Netanyahu told a press conference on Wednesday.

8.48 AM: Lucknow reports first case of coronavirus

Lucknow has reported its first suspected case of coronavirus. A woman who has a travel history to Canada has been tested. Doctors at KGMU Hospital in the city said the woman has been kept at an isolation ward. Her husband was tested negative.

8.45 AM: Suspected patient admitted to Patiala hospital

A suspected coronavirus patient has been admitted to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. The person belongs to Bahadurgarh and had gone to South Korea. Two suspected cases admitted earlier have been tested negative.

8.42 AM: Twitter moves to mandatory work from home globally

In wake the coronavirus outbreak, social media giant Twitter has asked its over 5,000 employees to mandatorily work from home from March 11. "Our top priority remains the health and safety of our Tweeps, and we also have a responsibility to support our communities, those who are vulnerable, and the healthcare providers who are on the front lines of this pandemic. To continue this push, we are moving beyond our earlier guidance of 'strongly encouraging work from home' provided on March 2 and have now informed all employees globally they must work from home."

Today we informed all Twitter employees globally they must work from home to support worldwide efforts to stop the spread of #COVID19. This moves beyond our earlier guidance of strongly encouraging work from home. https://t.co/xQ6Xa4BHg0 Twitter Comms (@TwitterComms) March 12, 2020

8.34 AM: India steps up efforts on border areas

International traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with robust screening facilities.

8.31 AM: Will Indians be quarantined on return from abroad?

Indian nationals have been strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. "On their return, they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days," Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 11:25:21|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating fell this week amid public outcry over a supply shortage of face masks to prevent the spread of the COVID-19, a weekly poll showed Thursday.

According to the Realmeter survey, support for Moon declined 3.1 percentage points over the week to 44.8 percent this week.

The negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs gained 2.6 percentage points to 51.3 percent.

It came as public dissatisfaction with the lack of facial mask mounted recently. Mask supply failed to meet demand as fears grew over the rising number of the COVID-19 cases here that topped 7,800 as of Thursday midnight local time.

The government adopted an odd-even rule on the weekly sale of masks from Tuesday, under which people born in odd-numbered years can buy two masks per week on odd days, and vice-versa. On the weekend, people who fail to buy masks on weekdays can buy them.

Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party slipped 1.5 percentage points over the week to 40.2 percent this week.

The main opposition United Future Party won 32.5 percent of approval score, followed by the centrist People's Party with 4.6 percent and the minor progressive Justice Party with 4.1 percent each.

The results were based on a survey of 1,507 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had plus and minus 2.5 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level.
Uber employees have been told to work from home. (PA)

Uber has urged its employees in countries including the US and Europe to work from home where possible over the coronavirus pandemic.

A message was sent to staff on Thursday night saying the company now strongly recommend remote working for those whose roles allow it, Yahoo Finance UK can reveal.

It comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a pandemic, and US president Donald Trump restricted travel from Europe to the US.

Uber said the decision was based on advice from its own consulting epidemiologist and guidance from public health authorities.

The recommendations apply to workers directly employed by Uber, rather than its drivers who are treated as self-employed.

The company is understood to be trying to provide drivers with disinfectants to protect them too. But supplies are said to be very limited, and will be targeted at the cities with greatest need.

Andrew Macdonald, senior vice-president for global rides and platform, told staff in an email to staff, seen by Yahoo Finance UK.

He wrote: While we dont have any confirmed cases among employees, we believe its our responsibility to follow the latest guidance from authorities and to help slow community spread so that health care systems can cope.

The recommendations are aimed at employees in the US, Canada, all European countries, Japan and South Korea. Office meal provision has been suspended.

Staff in other locations are also allowed to work from home if their roles can be done remotely.

Read more: Markets tank as Trump announces sweeping coronavirus travel ban

Its not lost on us that many of our employees cant work from home due to the nature of their roles, said Macdonald. He added that the company was also accommodating employees who had used up all their sick leave, without giving further details.

The announcement comes shortly after Uber also confirmed it may temporarily suspend the accounts of drivers and riders diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19.

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It said it would provide financial assistance for up to two weeks for such workers, including those asked to self-isolate by public health bodies.

The rights of self-employed workers have come under significant scrutiny in recent weeks. Some face a choice between losing their income for following official advice to self-isolate and risking others health by continuing to work.

The UK government promised on Wednesday to speed up access to the welfare system and loosen requirements for such workers entitled to benefits, but has faced calls to go further.

Uber has been embroiled in multiple disputes globally over its drivers status, including losing a UK employment tribunal case that found they should be classed as workers. It is appealing the decision.

The company also announced a free insurance package for drivers in 2018, including coverage for lost earnings if they cannot work because of illness.
The total number of positive coronavirus cases in India had risen to 73 by Friday and the infected included 56 Indian nationals and 17 foreigners, 13 fresh cases were reported on Thursday, said health ministry officials.

In a major announcement, officials said around 130-150 Indians stranded in Iran will arrive at Mumbai Airport onboard an Iran Air flight at 12:30 pm tomorrow. Two more flights are scheduled to evacuate Indians one on March 15 and the next either on March 16 or March 17.

So far, the Government of India has evacuated 900 Indian citizens along with 48 belonging to other nations like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru, said Luv Aggarwal, joint secretary, health ministry.

Foreign minister S Jaishankar had told the Parliament on Thursday that India has brought back 58 citizens from Iran and was working with Iranian authorities for facilitating the early return of the others.

He had informed that the first batch of 108 samples of Indians in Iran were received in India on March 7 and 529 more samples had been brought back and were being tested at the National Institute of Virolgy, Pune. Those who test negative will be brought back first, he had said.

Over 6,000 Indians are stuck in various provinces of Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims, nearly 300 students and about 1,000 fishermen.

Aggarwal said India was lucky that it didnt have cases of community transmission, which could have led to a sharp increase in the number of infections.

Right now, luckily for India we do not have any community transmission. We have only a few cases that have come from outside & they have primarily affected their close family members, he said and added that the major focus was now on community screening for infections. .

Health ministry officials said the countrys response to coronavirus began on January 8, 2020, well ahead of WHO declaring it a public emergency on January 30.

On the issue of vaccine to prevent coronavirus, an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) official said while 11 isotopes of the virus had been isolated, yet it would not take less than 18 months to two years to create a vaccine ready for human use.

We need to factor the part that it could take a long time and it could also result in hazards, said the official.
2nd former US Marine held in Russia for months on charges his family says are false

A former United States Marine has been in detention in Moscow for eight months and on trial for what his lawyers say are trumped-up charges that he assaulted police officers.

The arrest of 28-year-old Trevor Reed, who is from Texas, is attracting comparisons with the detention of Paul Whelan, the former Marine held in Moscow on espionage charges.

Relatives of both men have expressed fears they might have been targeted as Americans amid tensions between the U.S. and Russia, and when there are heightened concerns they could be viewed by Russian authorities as bargaining chips. They have both appealed to the U.S. government for help.

MORE: Russia extends detention of Paul Whelan, American facing trumped-up espionage charges

Reed's family has only recently gone public with his detention, concerned initially that doing so could make his case political and believing the facts would quickly lead to his release.

"We believed that the evidence spoke for itself," Reed's father, Joey Reed, told ABC News outside his son's latest hearing on Wednesday at the Golovinsky court in northern Moscow.

"But it became evident that the charges against him were going to be maintained no matter what," he said. "We realized that things seemed to be changing and there seems to be a desire to keep him."

Reed is currently being held in Moscow's Detention Center 5 and the court ruled last month to extend his detention by six months and refused bail, despite it previously being granted by an earlier court.

PHOTO: U.S. former Marine Trevor Reed, who was detained in 2019 and accused of assaulting police officers, stands inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing in Moscow, March 11, 2020. (Tatyana Makeyeva/Reuters)

Reed, who left the Marines in 2016 with an honorable discharge, traveled to Moscow last May to study Russian and spend time with his Russian girlfriend, Alina Tsibulnik.

On Aug. 15, a few days before he was due to return to Texas, Reed and his girlfriend attended a party organized by her colleagues. While at the party, he drank a large amount of vodka and became heavily intoxicated, his family said.

In a car going home afterwards, Reed became frantic and demanded to get out. Fearing he was unwell and that he might injure himself in traffic, his girlfriend and her friends called the police, believing they would take him to a hospital or drunk tank to sober up, she told ABC News.

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Inside American Gaylen Grandstaff's 2-year odyssey in Russian prison on apparently trumped-up drug charges

Two officers arrived and agreed to take Reed to a station, while Tsibulnik and the other followed in another car. At the station she said she was told to come back for him in two hours.

When she returned, however, she said she found Reed showing signs he had been beaten up, with bruises on his face. Officers from Russia's domestic intelligence agency, the FSB, then arrived and questioned Reed without an attorney or a translator present, she said.

Reed was arrested and charged with deliberately endangering the lives of the two police officers who had transported him to the station. Investigators accuse him of having attacked the officers while in the police car, shaking the driver by the shoulders, allegedly causing him to swerve into oncoming traffic and putting them in mortal danger.

Prosecutors have brought a serious charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years jail.

PHOTO: Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was detained in Russia and accused of espionage, speaks inside a defendants' cage during a court hearing to consider an appeal to extend his detention in Moscow, June 20, 2019. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters, FILE)

But Reed's family and his attorneys say the evidence doesn't support the charge and police have deliberately exaggerated the severity of the incident.

His attorneys said they will present traffic camera footage to the court that shows the police car never swerved, something Reed's girlfriend and others in the car following have testified.

The police car and the police station were also fitted with cameras, which should have shown what happened. But police have refused to hand over any of the recordings, telling investigators the files have been deleted.

"It's the defense attorneys' belief that if we had those videos we would not be talking with you here today," Reed's father said on Wednesday.

The two officers appeared as witnesses in the hearing on Wednesday, where both struggled to recall the incident in detail and gave descriptions that suggested it had been more minor than portrayed by the prosecution.

The driver told the court that he had felt "him pulling at my shoulders," but that his colleague had almost instantly restrained Reed. The other officer said Reed had hit him around the stomach once with his elbow, leaving a "small bruise." The driver said Reed tore off his uniform's epaulette while pulling at him.

MORE: Russia's parliament opens way for Putin to stay in power beyond 2024

Both nonetheless said they feared their lives were in danger, since the car could have crossed onto the other side of the road. They said the bruise and the tear to the uniform had also caused them "moral damages."

Both were also repeatedly confronted with inconsistencies in their written testimonies, including that the senior officer had falsely said Reed had to be brought into the police station in handcuffs. The two became so confused that the judge more than once laughed at them.

Given the facts in the case, the family said they initially thought it would quickly be dismissed or reclassified with a less serious offence that carries a fine. Instead they said what appeared to be a relatively minor incident was being treated as a deliberate, serious attempt on the police officers' lives.

Other Russian courts have already treated the case skeptically. In September, a Moscow court granted Reed bail, posted at $15,000 -- almost unheard of in a case on serious criminal charges. But an appeal court overturned the ruling, prolonging his detention. Moscow's Supreme Court again rejected that decision in February, Reed's father said, ruling that the decision to deny bail had procedural errors. Yet another court is due to review the decision later this month.

Reed's family have said they still do not understand the motives driving the case. They said they have been told it is standard practice for the FSB to question any American with a military background when arrested.

Whelan's detention has heightened concerns among U.S. officials that Americans in Russia may be at risk from Russia's security services. No evidence has yet been made public against Whelan, and former American intelligence officials have said his case resembles frame-ups once typical of the KGB.

Critics say Russia's criminal justice system is also plagued by cases where prosecutors bring contrived charges, knowing they will face little resistance from judges in a system where fewer than 1% of criminal trials end in acquittal. Another Texas man, Galen Grandstaff, was held for almost two years in pre-trial detention in Moscow after police charged him with large-scale drug smuggling for buying a cleaning product online.

The U.S. embassy sent a consular officer to attend the hearing on Wednesday. It declined to comment on the case.

Reeds family said they still hoped it might be "just how the system works" and that there is no political dimension to the case. But they said they are increasingly worried. His girlfriend on Wednesday said she could see no other explanation for the severity of the charges besides Reed being an American serviceman.

"It seems like that," Tsibulnik said. "I can't know for sure. If it's not, I will be glad, but it seems like that."

2nd former US Marine held in Russia for months on charges his family says are false originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The number of international passengers arriving at the country's airports has reduced to around 62,000 per day from 70,000 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

He said the count might further come down to around 40,000 following the travel advisory issued on Wednesday.

There are 30 international airports in the country and on an average, these aerodromes receive about 70,000 international passengers.

On an average, something like 70,000 passengers come to different airports in the country.

"Since the issue of coronavirus has started, this number has come down from 70,000 to 62,000 or so... with the travel advisory that we have issued yesterday, it is my expectation that it has come down a little from 60,000 to 40,000, and may come down even further," he said.

On Wednesday, the government decided to suspend all tourist visas as part of efforts to tackle coronavirus outbreak.

The Minister of State for Civil Aviation said that every international passenger is screened at airports.

According to him, the screening procedures are completely separate.

"The baggage of those who are coming in from those affected countries is also separately treated. So, that is a major prevention measure so that you do not allow the passengers, who are normal, who may not have the symptoms," he added.

Besides, Puri said the ministry does not allow any carrier to take a slot and then not utilise it.

"There are prescribed rules and procedures to ensure that... if for some reason any carrier which has been allotted a slot is not in a position to utilise it, that will show up and we will rationalise it. This is both in terms of domestic routes as well as our traffic on international routes," he noted.

Responding to a query about charges being levied by passengers at airports, the minister said he has told airport operators to constantly review the charges.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China supports the Russian people's independent choice of a state governance model, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on reports that said the State Duma of Russia passed a bill on constitutional amendments on March 10, allowing the country's incumbent and former presidents to run for the presidency in 2024.

Geng said as Russia's comprehensive strategic partner of coordination for a new era, China sincerely hopes and believes that Russia will maintain social stability and economic development.

China will, as always, respect and support Russia in pursuing a development path that suits its own national conditions and support the Russian people's independent choice of a state governance model.

He said China will continue to work with Russia to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen the two countries all-round strategic coordination and mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields to better benefit the two peoples.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-12 06:56:03

Lochem, 12 March 2020



Results 2019 ForFarmers

Key parameters of results 2019:

Total Feed volume: up 0.7% to 10.1 million tonnes; but like-for-like decline (-2.9%), especially in H2-2019 (-4.0%)

Compound feed volume: up 1.9% to 7.1 million tonnes; but like-for-like decline (-3.2%), especially in H2-2019 (-3.9%)

Gross profit: down 0.6% to 440.7 million; despite further volume decline, recovery in H2-2019 compared to H1-2019 (H1: impact of unfavourable purchasing position and also volume decline)

Underlying EBITDA: down 11.6% to 88.5 million; including positive IFRS 16 effect (5.8 million); recovery in H2-2019 compared to H1-2019 despite volume decline

Underlying earnings per share: down 36.2% to 0.37

Net profit: down by 69.8% to 17.7 million, due to, a.o., goodwill impairment United Kingdom (25.6 million)

Dividend proposal: total of 0.28 per ordinary share (regular dividend of 0.19 and a special dividend of 0.09)

Working capital: improved by 36.2% to 48.7 million due to operational improvements

Net cash flow from operating activities: up 17.1% to 96 million

Yoram Knoop, CEO ForFarmers, about the 2019 results:

2019 was a difficult and turbulent year for us. We were faced with the consequences of an unfavourable purchasing position as a result of which the first-half 2019 result was severely put under pressure. We have since further tightened our purchasing procedure in order to minimise the chance of such a risk recurring. In the second half of 2019, we realised better results despite further like-for-like volume decline due to challenging market circumstances in all countries except for Poland. This was, among other things, due to the implementation of our efficiency plans, which included the closure of five mills. We are well on track with the realisation of the earlier announced 10 million cost saving in 2021 (compared to 2018).





The integration of the four companies which we acquired in 2018 has been completed. Our market positions have been strengthened through these acquisitions. We are pleased Tasomix's volumes are increasing in the growth market Poland. Consequently, our market share in the growing European poultry sector is expanding. Volume development in the United Kingdom is slower than anticipated, which is why a goodwill impairment was required. Finally, we have improved our operational cash flow through our continuous focus on working capital. In addition, we are pleased to have significantly reduced the LTIs (lost time incidents).



A new reality as base for determining the strategy for 2025

We see market circumstances in which we operate changing rapidly. This is mainly the case in our home market the Netherlands where, as of the second half of 2019 the political debate about the necessity to reduce nitrogen emissions, is creating an uncertain outlook for livestock farming. Although the government declared that it was not a goal in itself to reduce livestock numbers, it has become clear that the proposed measures will in due course definitely lead to a small decline in animal numbers. As ForFarmers we support the Agricultural Collective, the group that discusses the necessary measures with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality, such as adjustments in feed and technical innovations in barns. This is in line with our mission For the Future of Farming through which we focus on a future proof, sustainable livestock farming industry. A livestock industry with strong and healthy farming businesses, paying attention to animal health and welfare and to the impact of the sector on nature and environment. With our Total Feed approach - innovative feed concepts, advice and digital tools - we help farmers improve their returns on-farm efficiently and responsibly. Knowledge and innovation are crucial in this respect. Partly due to our scale we can train our advisors in internal academies where they can share knowledge, which can subsequently be deployed on-farm. Wherever possible we use residual flows (co-products), from the food industry and not suitable for direct human consumption, in the formulation of our feeds.

Apart from changing market circumstances we are also facing animal diseases which are having a large impact on the sector for already some time and are a concern for the livestock farming industry. African swine fever has resulted in more export of pig meat and poultry products to China and a sharp rise in pig prices. In the meantime however, the illness has also been detected among wild boars in regions including Poland and close to the German border. Poultry farmers are also on the alert because the contagious version of avian flu has been detected among wild birds in Poland. We are monitoring this closely. During past years important steps have been made in determining hygiene protocols and in collaboration in the sector to combat spreading of animal diseases.

These are turbulent times and a new market reality is appearing rapidly. By implementing strategy Horizon 2020 in the past years, we have positioned ourselves stronger in four countries and made a successful start in the growth market Poland as fifth country of operation. Our market positions and our scale form a solid base from which we can continue to create value for our stakeholders in the current new reality. We will be announcing the strategy for the years 2020 -2025 on 12 May 2020.

This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information in the sense of Article 7 paragraph 1 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.



Read the full press release in the attached PDF (see below)



Note to the editor / For additional information:

Caroline Vogelzang, Director Investor Relations and Communications

T +31 (0)573 28 81 94  M +31 (0)6 10 94 91 61  E: caroline.vogelzang@forfarmers.eu

Company profile

ForFarmers N.V. is an international organisation that offers complete and innovative feed solutions for livestock farming. With its For the Future of Farming mission, ForFarmers is committed to the continuity of farming and further sustainalising the agricultural sector.

ForFarmers is the market leader in Europe with annual sales of approximately 10,1 million tonnes of animal feed. The organisation is operating in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland and the United Kingdom. In 2019, ForFarmers has approximately 2,570 employees. In 2019, the turnover amounted to  2.5 billion. ForFarmers N.V. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

ForFarmers N.V., P.O. Box 91, NL-7240 AB Lochem, T: +31 (0)573 28 88 00, F: +31 (0)573 28 88 99, info@forfarmers.eu, www.forfarmersgroup.eu/en



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains forward-looking statements that can also relate to ForFarmers legally required capital and liquidity positions in certain specific scenarios. Forward-looking statements can include but are not limited to statements that include words such as, intended, expected, based on, focused on, plans, estimate and words with similar meanings. These statements relate to or can have an effect on circumstances that will occur in the future, such as ForFarmers future financial results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from the expected future results or performances that are implicitly or explicitly included in forward-looking statements. Factors that can lead to or contribute to differences in current expectations include, but are not limited to: developments in legislation, technology, taxes, laws and regulations, fluctuations in share prices, legal procedures, investigations by regulators, competitive relationships and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect any forward-looking statement or the actual results of ForFarmers are discussed in the latest published annual report. The forward-looking statements in this document only concern statements from the date of this document, ForFarmers accepts no obligation or responsibility whatsoever to update forward-looking statements contained in this message, irrespective of whether they reflect new information, future events or otherwise, subject to ForFarmers legal obligation to do so.





Attachment
Leading controls technology company Proserv, with facilities across the Arabian Peninsula, including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Dammam, has announced the appointment of Julie Thomson as its new Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Last October, Proserv completed a corporate realignment that saw the formation of two standalone divisions: Proserv Controls, based at the firms Aberdeen Head Office, and Gilmore, a Proserv Company, which operates out of Houston.

Thomsons arrival as Group CFO marks the latest addition to Proservs senior leadership team, which sees David Currie as Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Davis Larssen as CEO of Proserv Controls and David Nemetz, as President of Gilmore.

The companys finance teams, across both Proserv Controls and Gilmore, will have a functional reporting line to Thomson. In addition to overseeing the finance function, the corporate legal, IT and enterprise resource planning teams will also report directly to Thomson.

Proserv Group CEO David Currie said: Following our realignment in 2019, we conducted an extensive international search to secure the right candidate for this crucial role within our business, who will represent, not only the leader of our financial, legal and IT functions, but the clear business partner for the future growth and advancement of our company. Julie meets the very high specification we set for this role and I am excited someone of her proven experience and calibre is joining our leadership team.

Thomson holds a first-class honours degree in business studies from Robert Gordon University and she is a chartered accountant. She has more than 20 years experience in the energy industry, many of which have been spent at Weatherford International, where her most recent role was that of Finance Director, Europe Africa Region.

Speaking of her appointment, Thomson stated: Proserv has an experienced and talented management team and I am delighted to be joining the firm at this exciting time. I look forward to building on the significant progress that has already been made positioning Proserv for profitable and sustainable growth, and positively contributing to the companys strategic priorities.

Thomson replaces Andy Cooksey who has fulfilled the role of Interim Group CFO since last June.

Currie added: As we welcome Julie to the Proserv executive team, we would like to thank Andy Cooksey for his role in supporting Proserv through the transformation process in 2019 and for providing leadership and support to the business globally. We wish him every success for the future. - TradeArabia News Service
Mr. McConnells decision averted what had been shaping up as a remarkable collapse of those talks. House Democrats scheduled a Thursday vote on their own package of paid sick leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, free coronavirus testing and food aid, and Senate Republicans, who oppose that legislation, faced the prospect of leaving Washington having taken no action to address the widening crisis.

Instead, the House postponed its vote as the negotiations appeared to progress on Thursday, and Mr. McConnell said he, too, would allow time for a deal by bringing senators back to Washington next week.

Ms. Pelosi spoke eight times on the phone with Mr. Mnuchin on Thursday, even as President Trump attacked her on Twitter for refusing to embrace the huge payroll tax cut he has proposed, which has drawn bipartisan opposition.

He had some suggestions, Ms. Pelosi said of Mr. Mnuchin. All very reasonable. I dont think that any of them would prevent us from moving forward with the bill.

But some major sticking points were hampering agreement, according to people familiar with the deliberations, who insisted on anonymity to describe them. Republicans balked at a sweeping proposal to provide paid sick leave, something Senate Republicans had already blocked when Democrats sought earlier in the week to bring up a separate bill. And Republicans were insisting on inserting language into the emergency package to ban federal funding for most abortions.
By the decision of the Catholicos of All Armenians, classes at Eurnekian School in Etchmiadzin have been discontinued, as the schools principal Susanna Vardanyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

By the decision of the Supreme Patriarch, we have discontinued classes. The main problem is the absences. The childrens parents were very worried and were taking their children home, she stated.

Today, there were many absences at schools in Etchmiadzin, and parents took their children home during class hours. This comes after a citizen of Etchmiadzin was diagnosed with coronavirus yesterday.

One of the three people diagnosed with coronavirus in Armenia yesterday is a resident of Etchmiadzin. Since last night, there have been many calls from people saying that there are ambulance trucks around the city. The man who was diagnosed with the virus attended his sons engagement ceremony on March 8. Mayor of Etchmiadzin Diana Gasparyan wrote the following: The patient is isolated; the possible circle of people in contact with him/her is being determined. I am always in touch with RA Minister of Health Arsen Torosyan, and I will provide additional information if needed. Please do not panic; just observe the rules of safety and hygiene.

Overall, there are four people diagnosed with coronavirus in Armenia so far.
Gamut Theatre in Harrisburg will postpone all upcoming performances, auditions, classes and rehearsals in the next few weeks, as a precaution against the spreading coronavirus.

The theater company announced on their website that they would be postponing all performances between March 13 and April 3. The affected productions during those 21 days are An Enemy of the People, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Cinderella, Hamlet and the fifth annual Improvapalooza.

Furthermore, the company has canceled all classes for the next 14 days, through March 28, and is postponing the upcoming auditions for their production of Medea.

At this time, there are no official cases of COVID-19 reported in Dauphin County or surrounding counties, the statement reads, however, the virus is in PA and will spread. The best way to slow down the spread of COVID-19 is to limit exposure BEFORE it becomes problematic in your community.

The companys statement goes on to say that the decision to postpone was not made lightly, and is one that will cause financial hardship for the company, but nothing is more important than keeping our community safe and healthy.

We are a very creative bunch here at Gamut, and we are already thinking outside the box on ways we can continue our work through streaming and other online services, the statement reads. We will make every effort to reschedule all of the canceled performances, and address ticket refunds and exchanges. We ask for your patience during this challenging and problematic time.

Earlier today, the Harrisburg St. Patricks Day Parade was canceled. The parade and the theater company join the long list of events and attractions that have canceled, postponed or otherwise altered their schedules in response to the growing coronavirus concerns in Pennsylvania.

Read the full statement from Gamut Theatre below:

COVID-19 PROTOCOL  GAMUT THEATRE

Updated 3-12-20, 2:42 PM Gamut Theatre will be implementing the recommendations of PA Governor Tom Wolf by making the following changes effective Friday, March 13, 2020:

All public performances in the next 21 days are postponed. This includes:An Enemy of the People, March 13-15 Three Billy Goats Gruff, through March 28 5th Annual Improvapalooza, March 27 Young Acting Companys Cinderella, April 3-5 Hamlet student matinees through April 3

All classes and rehearsals are canceled for the next 14 days through March 28. We will contact students, actors, and production staff over the next 48 hours with additional information.

Auditions for Medea are postponed. We will contact actors who are currently scheduled to audition and will post revised audition dates as that information becomes available.

At this time, there are no official cases of COVID-19 reported in Dauphin County or surrounding counties, however, the virus is in PA and will spread. The best way to slow down the spread of COVID-19 is to limit exposure BEFORE it becomes problematic in your community.

This is a difficult decision and was not decided lightly. This decision will cause financial hardship for our company, of which we will feel the ripple effects for some time. But nothing is more important than keeping our community safe and healthy. We are a very creative bunch here at Gamut, and we are already thinking outside the box on ways we can continue our work through streaming and other online services. We will make every effort to reschedule all of the canceled performances, and address ticket refunds and exchanges. We ask for your patience during this challenging and problematic time.

Wash those hands, everyone. And if you get tired of singing the Happy Birthday song, do it up like Lady Macbeth: https://www.thepoke.co.uk/2020/03/06/lady-macbeth-handwash-fight-coronavirus/

Gamut Resources for COVID-19:

PA Department of Health: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Pages/Coronavirus.aspx (Updated regularly and includes information for travelers, businesses, children, and fact sheets, as well as PA counties that are affected.)

Print Resources from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html

Stay CalmDont Panica comprehensive Ars Technica guide to the coronavirus: https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03/dont-panic-the-comprehensive-ars-technica-guide-to-the-coronavirus/

US status of COVID-19 reporting, States Reporting Cases of COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

Mapping for worldwide status of COVID-19 reporting: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
The government's false information has endangered the lives of millions of people. 230 doctors contracted the infection at the central hospital; four died, including Li Wenliang. Between 12 and 17 January, local officials continued to claim that there was no infection in the city. The official announcement only on January 18. Wuhan quarantined on January 23rd.

Rome (AsiaNews) - Doctors from the central hospital of Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic crisis, accuse the Beijing government and local officials of having covered up the truth about the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19). By publishing false information, the regime has endangered the lives of millions of citizens.

The authorities said from the outset that the infection was "controllable" and was not transmitted from person to person. Hundreds of doctors and nurses from the hospital were left in the dark while engaged in treating the sick. And even when they themselves contracted the virus, they could not reveal it, not even to their colleagues.

The hospital saw 230 of its 4,000 doctors contract Covid-19. Li Wenliang, Wuhan's doctor who died on February 7from treating people with the virus, was the first to launch the alert, which cost him a police detention. Since his death, three other colleagues have died: Jiang Xueqing on March 1; Mei Zhongming two days later; and Zhu Heping on March 9th.

The central hospital in Wuhan was the most committed to helping the infected as it is located near the fish market, believed to be the source of the outbreak of the epidemic. In early January, the hospital emergency room was stormed by people with very high fever. Unable to treat all these patients in the infectious disease department, some of them were treated by doctors who were not specialized in infectious diseases, which favored the spread of the disease.

An internal hospital document, published by Caixin, explains that city officials blocked the spread of information about the epidemic, particularly from January 12 to 17, when local officials were engaged in the annual legislative session.

Wuhan's doctors report that on January 12, a public security official prevented them from making the diagnosis public. From that moment on, under official order, the forms relating to infectious diseases could only be filled after "consultations" with specialists indicated by the city and provincial authorities.

According to the district infectious disease control authorities, patients with coronavirus had to be diagnosed with other, milder diseases.

Only on January 16 the city's health officials collected the first samples to be analyzed; the provincial officials collected them up the next day. At the time, the hospital was already treating 48 suspected Covid-19 cases.

Between January 12 and 17, city officials continued to claim that there was no infection in Wuhan. The official outbreak announcement came on January 18. A few days later, on January 23, the city was quarantined.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 01:54:25|Editor: yan

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DAKAR, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action confirmed Thursday the country's first cluster infection and first local transmission, with 5 Senegalese nationals tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the press release of the ministry, all the five infected patients are the family members of the patient confirmed on March 11, a 52 years old Senegalese returning from Italy to Touba via Dakar.

So far, Senegal has reported 10 cases of COVID-19, all are receiving treatment at Fann Hospital.
With the coronavirus epidemic gradually being curbed in China, many tourist attractions have recently reopened and introduced various measures to ensure visitors remain safe amid the outbreak.

Yungang Grottoes (Photo/Zhang Yue)

Yungang Grottoes, located near the city of Datong, Shanxi province, reopened on March 1, receiving a total of 130 tourists that day.

Tourists visiting the scenic spot can buy tickets by scanning a QR code without having to make contact with staff members, according to He Jianguo, deputy director of the managing committee of the Yungang Grottoes.

Meanwhile, tourists temperatures will be taken before they enter the scenic area, and only those with normal temperatures and medical masks will be allowed in.

As well as opening for the public, various tourist destinations have also explored online channels to raise money. Tianzhu Mountain in east Chinas Anhui province held a charity sale of tickets online in February, selling 520,000 tickets in 10 days and raising 5.3 million yuan, all of which was donated to medical workers fighting against the epidemic.

The Chinese government has also made efforts to help scenic spots offset the impact brought by the epidemic. Shanxi province has reduced fees for electricity, water and other utilities for tourist destinations, helped promote attractions, and supported them in developing health- and recreation-oriented routes for tourists.
Irans economy has been battered by US sanctions and now the virus poses an additional threat.

Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency funding to help it fight the coronavirus outbreak that has hit the Islamic republic hard, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday.

The escalating outbreak in Iran  the worst-affected country in the Middle East  has killed 429 people and infected 10,075. It has damaged Iranian businesses and is bound to hit its non-oil exports after many neighbouring countries and trade partners shut their borders.

The IMF managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, has stated that countries affected by #COVID19 (coronavirus) will be supported via Rapid Financial Instrument (RFI). Our Central Bank requested access to this facility immediately, Zarif said in a tweet.

Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnaser Hemmati wrote on his Instagram page that in a letter addressed to the head of IMF, I have requested five billion US dollars from the RFI emergency fund to help our fight against the coronavirus.

Irans economy was already battered by United States sanctions that curb oil and gas exports crucial for government revenues. A slowdown in economic activity caused by the virus outbreak and a sustained closure of its borders are expected to lead to a contraction this year, analysts have said.

As Irans rulers struggle to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Tehran has blamed the US and its maximum pressure policy for restricting Irans ability to respond effectively to the virus.

In a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Zarif repeated Irans demand for US sanctions to be lifted, Iranian media reported.

US officials have said that the sanctions do not target medicine for Iran and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on February 29 that the US had offered to help Tehran face the outbreak. Irans foreign ministry spokesman reportedly said that any US offer to help Iran in its fight against the coronavirus was ridiculous.

US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on the country.
Amid the rabid caste-based politics which Bihar has witnessed since Independence, there is a fresh breeze of politics blowing across the state with a London-educated lass from Bihar challenging the traditional and veteran politicians in a nonconformist manner.

Pushpam Priya Choudhary, an alumna of London School of Economics and Political Science and Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, has floated a political party called Plurals and declared herself as the future chief minister of Bihar after the assembly elections to be held in November 2020. In her early thirties, she talks in terms of development strategies and, for her, the challenge is change.

Pushpam has acquired highest expertise in academics and has world-wide exposure to policy-making. She has studied and worked with some of the best minds of the world and politics, philosophy, economics, public policy, political communication, social policy and rural development are her forte, claimed the first press release of the Plurals issued on March 9.

She is a very capable woman who is trying to involve people in a very substantive discussion on lack of development in Bihar. Supported by people of similar mindset and ideology, she believes that it is high time that the discourse of real development, governance and well-being of people should take centre-stage than irrelevant and unproductive discussions  hence positive politics is what Plurals swears by, said the release signed by Saraswati Padmanabhan, founder member and national spokesperson, and Akash Mehta, CEO and Global spokesperson, of the Plurals.

Pushpam frequently quotes Harold Dwight Lasswell, an American political scientist known for seminal studies of power relations. Politics is who gets what, when and how. Following this, Bihar needs a blueprint and Plurals has a concrete roadmap for 2025 and 2030, she said in her tweet quoting Lasswell.

On Twitter, she follows only Simon Hix, professor of European and Comparative Politics and Head of the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she has studied.

Simon Hix is co-founder and Chair of VoteWatch Europe and an expert on European Union politics, comparative democratic institutions, parliamentary voting behaviour, and parties and elections.

In a departure from the traditional politics, she does not use cliches like social justice, social engineering and inclusive development like her predecessors in Bihar politics has been vouching for since long.

Instead, she talks about Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-2030) and wants people especially the younger generation to control politics. Her development strategy, based on her studies at LSE and IDS and also her experiences in Bihar, is integrating multiple realities as there cannot be a single model of development as every individual has a unique reality.

Bihar needs pace, Bihar needs wings, Bihar needs change. Because Bihar deserves better and better is possible. Reject bullshit politics, join Plurals to make Bihar run and fly in 2020. You focus on climbing the ladder and let us deal with the snakes, she says in her front-page advertisements to mark launching of her political party.

She is unlike Prashant Kishor, who, with his high educational background, has emerged as the political strategist of leaders and political parties. Kishor has been non-committal to any political ideology so far and has been working for and wavering between extreme right ideologies to socialist strain of politics.

Instead, Pushpam has a team of dedicated people and the Plurals  a political party with an unconventional name  will unfold its ideology and agenda one by one in the upcoming days and months. Sources close to her family said they will have VoteWatch Bihar on the pattern of VoteWatch Europe headed by Simon Hix.

It is difficult to predict whether her novel and high-sounding ideas will have any impact on the caste-ridden politics in Bihar, but she has come as a challenge for the established politicians and political parties pursuing conventional mode of politics. Her audacious claims have made many young and old politicians tizzy as they have started digging out her sources of income and trying to know as to who actually are behind her.

She poses threat especially to the young brigade of Bihar politicians like RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan and CPI leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who have so far been the victim of conformism. These young politicians may have the verve but they are definitely guided by the political philosophy and the politics which their fathers and respective parties have followed.

With her entry into the fray for the post of chief ministers, it would be interesting to watch the Bihar politics in months to come as there will now be five chief ministerial candidates contesting each other in the political arena of Bihar.

The incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar has been declared the NDA chief ministerial candidate while the RJD has declared Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate. The Grand Alliance is already divided over the candidature for the CM post as the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party leader Upendra Kushwaha and former Bihar chief minister and head of the Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, too, have projected them for the post.

Pushpam, lovingly called Ruhi by the family, is a Maithil Brahimin by caste and belongs to Basaha-Bishanpur village in Darbhanga district. Her village falls in the Hayaghtat assembly constituency, which was once the epicentre of Maoist violence.

Her grandfather Umakant Choudhary, who was a teacher of Hindi in the Millat College at Darbhanga, had unsuccessfully contested the state assembly polls twice in February and October 2005 from Hayaghat seat as Janata Dal (United) candidate. Her father Binod Kumar Choudhary, a teacher of Sociology in LN Mithila University, was Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from the Darbhanga Graduate constituency. He is seeking re-lection this time but faces tough challenge from Dilip Choudhary, who has the blessings of CM Nitish Kumar.

It is learnt that her father is facing a challenge from his younger brother who has recently been made the JD(U) district president. Her mother Saroj Choudhary was NSUI leader during her student days in the late 1970s in LN Mithila University.

Whether the development-oriented politics pursued by people with modern outlook will replace the hackneyed caste-based politics in Bihar is a moot question now that the highly-educated youngsters like Pushpam are entering the political fray challenging the traditional way of politics.

Only time will tell whether she will make her mark or blow with the wind when the poll pitch reaches its crescendo.
Today, in middle schools across California and the country, many students struggle to balance the weight of rigorous academic coursework, extracurricular commitments, and social obligations with peers, all of which occur after the final bell rings.

This all unfolds amid the significant physical, social, and biological changes that happen during early adolescence.

In the face of these responsibilities and pressures, teens often have no choice but to sacrifice a well-rounded night of sleep. And while you may find yourself saying none of the adults I know get enough sleep either, a lack of sleep has particularly detrimental effects for middle schoolers.

While research on adolescent development stresses that our teens need up to nine and a half hours of sleep a night, just three in 10 middle school students in America are reaching that benchmark.

Among the many evidence-based steps we can take to alleviate the many pressures our early adolescents face, one seems fairly straightforward: make middle school start later.

Legislation would ensure California Lottery fulfills its mission to provide money to benefit education A California audit slammed the Lottery for failing to provide sufficient funds to public schools; now it's time to fix it, Sen. Ling Ling Chang says.

Yet it took until this past fall for California to be the first in the nation to pass legislation that mandated middle schools start no earlier than 8 a.m., a landmark bill that will be closely watched this year.

The potential benefits of this shift are clear to see in the form of higher attendance rates, increased engagement in the classroom, improved memory and retention, and overall rises in quality of life and well-being.

If other states follow Californias lead this year, we can ensure that our adolescents have a stronger foundation from which they can succeed in school and life.

Yet given the growing body of research that illustrates the unique potential of this period in our lives, shouldnt we do more to build on that foundation and transform middle schools to better address our teens needs?

The good news is we can by structuring hands-on, supportive, and culturally relevant opportunities that support middle school students healthy development.

Californias policymakers can set an example for the rest of the nation in harnessing this potential during the current legislative session, proposing policies that reflect the proven promise of the middle school years.

To do so, we need to upend the pre-conceived notions that many adults hold of middle school students, ranging from their capabilities to the support they need to excel.

For example, while people think the brain has already fully developed by adolescence, it is actually experiencing transformative change, home to a rapidly growing network of neurons, especially those that are most important to our teens healthy development.

That evolution hinges on assuring widespread access to stimulating, engaging, and rigorous experiences. And so we must ensure educators have the tools and professional development they need to challenge teens to tackle complex tasks in hands-on settings, whether in makerspaces, fab labs, or their natural surroundings.

Similarly, we must reject the notion that our middle school students are too young to make a difference.

We have seen how young people, past and present, continue to engineer transformative change on issues ranging from civil rights to climate change. That is no accident. At this stage in development, adolescents are particularly driven to exhibit autonomy, demonstrate their independence, and take risks.

Therefore, lets put policies in place to elevate student voices on local issues and inspire new approaches to civic engagement that unfold in the community as opposed to the classroom. A constitutional amendment passed this year by the California Assembly would provide the opportunity to do just that, lowering the voting age to 17.

To realize this groundbreaking potential, though, young people need specific resources and support along the way.

Instead of assuming they are focused only on engaging with their peers, we must increase access to trusted adults who can provide critical guidance, mentorship, and support as they navigate the potentialand pitfallsof adolescence.

In that vein, we can bolster and elevate formal mentoring programs and the naturally occurring relationships that youth have with adults in and out of schools, accounting for the transformative impact that supportive, caring adults can have on students.

Californias legislature passed a far-reaching labor bill. It could make you collateral damage Legislators can avoid the collateral damage that is sure to disrupt businesses and the lives of workers, attorney Chris Micheli says.

And as they wrestle with questions of identity and belonging across their academic and extracurricular activities, we can ensure educators and after-school staff have the training and capacity to develop curricula that nurture students emerging sense of self and align with their lived experiences in their communities. We know that such a step can contribute to success in the classroom.

California can leverage this mounting research on adolescence to fundamentally transform the middle school experience. Ensuring our young people get the sleep they need to thrive is a small, albeit meaningful first step. California should build on that foundation and adopt policies to transform the trajectories of California  and Americas  teens.

Nancy Deutsch is the director of the University of Virginia Curry School of Education and Human Developments Youth-Nex Center, nancyd@virginia.edu. She wrote this commentary for CalMatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias Capitol works and why it matters.
Lawmakers in the state House and Senate are still planning to meet next week  although legislative leaders signaled those plans are fluid. Read more

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.

HARRISBURG  Despite calls from lawmakers to close the state Capitol amidst coronavirus fears, the legislatures session will go on as planned Monday.

Starting Friday, all public events in the Capitol are canceled until further notice, state officials said. That includes tours, school field trips, and rallies.

Yet lawmakers in the state House and Senate are still planning to meet next week  although legislative leaders signaled those plans are fluid.

The coronavirus situation changes daily, the top Republican and Democratic senators said in a joint statement Thursday, adding: Evaluation of circumstances are ongoing and changes to Senate operations will be made if necessary.

Still, some lawmakers were bristling at having to convene in Harrisburg, even as Gov. Tom Wolf encouraged suspending gatherings with more than 250 people.

There are more than 250 lawmakers in the Capitol, and the legislature employs hundreds of staffers on top of that.

Reconvening the #PAHouse for legislative session next week is an aggressively bad idea, state Rep. Chris Rabb (D., Philadelphia) wrote in a tweet Thursday.

Some legislators have said privately they want to convene so they can pass bills related to the coronavirus rapid spread. Already, several lawmakers have circulated bills to address everything from ensuring the public can vote safely in elections to suspending testing in public schools in the midst of the public health crisis.

On the Senate side, lawmakers are heeding advice from the state health department and have measures in place should lawmakers need to work remotely.

In the event of a closure or quarantine, we have taken measures to ensure that essential staff and senators will be able to work remotely and continue all core functions of the Senate, said Brittany Crampsie, spokesperson for Democrats in the chamber.

Five senators instructed their staff to work remotely as of Thursday afternoon, she said, including lawmakers from Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties  all areas with at least one COVID-19 infection.

All state employees who work or live in Montgomery County have been told to work from home, Wolf said Thursday.

The state House is communicating with other state agencies to monitor the situation and working to ensure every decision we make is in the best interest of public health, said Mike Straub, spokesperson for House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster).

At this time, we have not made any changes to session schedule, or for policies regarding our members and district staff, Straub said.

House members cannot vote remotely, but they can place themselves on leave if they think it is necessary, Straub added. The chamber has passed temporary rules in the past to allow ill members to vote from home, he said, and those kinds of rule changes are being discussed at this time."

Such a change would require a vote on the House floor.

Senators can still cast votes on bills even when they arent in the Capitol  they have to take what is called legislative leave, meaning they are working in their districts or are traveling between Harrisburg and their district.

Bill Patton, a spokesperson for House Democrats, said he looks forward to Mondays session, when Philadelphia special election winner Roni Green will be sworn in as a representative.

House leaders are monitoring developments and asking legislators, staff, and Capitol visitors to follow the Department of Healths guidance, notably on washing hands, he 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.
John Turturro as the rabbi speaking out for Charles Lindbergh in The Plot Against America. Photo: Michele K. Short/HBO

Dad, isnt this your homeland?

That question comes from 10-year-old Phillip Levin during an early scene in episode one of HBOs six-part The Plot Against America. Prior to sitting down to Shabbat dinner with his family, Phillip watches his father give some money to a Hassidic Jewish man who knocks on the door and asks for contributions to the Jewish homeland in Palestine. Phillips cousin, Alvin, explains that the money will help Jews in Europe who are looking to settle somewhere while running from Hitler.

Still a little confused, Phillip asks his father again: We dont need another homeland, right?

No, says Herman, Phillips dad. He is certain. Phillip looks relieved.

If youve read Philip Roths novel of the same name, or even if youre familiar with the premise of this limited series based on that novel, you already know that this reassurance doubles as a moment of ironic foreshadowing. In June of 1940, when the first episode of the superb The Plot Against America takes place, through 1942, when the last episode ends, America goes through a transformation that makes the members of the Levin family and other Jews across the country feel like the United States isnt their homeland anymore at all.

In this alternate history of events, Charles Lindbergh  depicted here as not only a famed pilot, as he was in real life, but also a populist presidential candidate  gets elected to the nations highest office, boosted by his promise that U.S. forces will stay out of World War II. In the process, Lindbergh uncorks pent-up anti-Semitism and racism that had once been bottled. These assholes, theyve always been here, notes Hermans brother, Monty (David Krumholtz), of Lindberghs unleashed extremist supporters. Now they have permission to crawl out from under their rocks.

If that sentence sounds like something youve said, verbatim, at least once since 2016, thats part of the point. As adapted by HBO regular David Simon and Ed Burns, who previously worked together on The Wire, The Plot Against America inevitably strikes notes in its fictional, reimagined, 80-year-old world that resonate with whats happening in the actual one right now. Lindberghs rise to power and heavy tilt toward fascism  at one point while president, he holds a state dinner in honor of German foreign minister Herr Von Ribbentrop, complete with Nazi and American flags hanging side-by-side  evolves slowly, and then all of a sudden. Some Americans are very supportive of the perceived American hero while others, like Herman (Morgan Spector) and his wife Bess (Zoe Kazan), are suspicious from the start. In 2020, we dont exist in the same timeline as the show  for starters, the things that happen in ours are often about 85 times dumber  but there are enough parallels to drive home the idea that it cant happen here, as Sinclair Lewiss political novel states and as the series also notes, is just a lie we like to tell ourselves.

To their credit, Simon and Burns, each of whom either wrote or co-wrote every episode, never get too heavy-handed in their attempts to make connections between the story they are telling and the Trump era. They commit to the narrative originated in the 2004 book and, with some key divergences, especially in the finale, stick to its broad strokes.

Episode one, which debuts tonight, takes its time to introduce the characters in what could, at first, be mistaken for a period piece kitchen sink drama. That time is necessary to establish what normalcy looks like for the Levins and how jarring it will be when that rapidly begins to crumble.

Herman is an insurance salesman for MetLife and a diehard supporter of Franklin Delano Roosevelt who regularly shouts his approval at the radio while listening to famous host Walter Winchell. He is extremely vocal about his views. His wife Bess is much more quiet but also more practical. She doesnt rant like Herman, but she understands the real-life implications of whats happening much more quickly than Herman.

The election of Lindbergh impacts every member of the extended Levin family, including Hermans neer-do-well nephew Alvin (Anthony Boyle), whos frustrated by the lack of U.S. involvement in World War II; Sandy (Caleb Malis), the Levins teenage artist son who becomes increasingly fascinated with Lindbergh; and Evelyn (Winona Ryder), the politically naive sister of Bess who enters into a relationship with an older rabbi, Lionel Bengelsdorf (John Turturro), an ally of the Lindbergh administration.

Then theres Phillip (Azhy Robertson, who played Henry in Marriage Story), the stamp-collecting innocent who observes the conflict erupting around him with wide, only partially comprehending eyes. Robertson gives such an open performance, and puts Phillips eventual anxiety on such full display, that you can practically see his trauma settling in and starting to harden into eventual PTSD.

Given the names that have been dropped, it may be redundant to say that the cast of The Plot Against America does committed, convincing work across the board, but they do. All of the performances are worth highlighting but for the sake of brevity, Ill note two standouts: Kazan, who brings a sturdiness and sense of dimension to Bess that establishes her as the backbone of the family, and Boyle, who co-starred in the original production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and pops off the screen in the role of Alvin. As the mischievous fast-talker, Boyle enters every scene like hes bringing an entire life force with him, which makes it that much more heartbreaking in later episodes, when circumstances leech that life out of him.

Minkie Spiro and Thomas Schlamme divvy up the directing duties, with Spiro handling the first three episodes and Schlamme handling the last three. Both do an exceptional job of capturing the period, along with the production and costume designers, with a sense of understatement and grace. Spiro and Schlamme also use light, such a central part of the Jewish tradition, as a running motif and a commentary on contrasts. In the first episode, the camera zeroes in on Bess as the candles she lights for shabbat dinner illuminate her face; the final shot of the same episode captures Sandy bathed in the glow from a flashlight as he sketches an image of Charles Lindbergh while hiding under his bedsheets. In episode four, the best of the series, headlights wash over Phillips face in a moment of horror and grief while, a few moments later, Evelyn is blinded by a spotlight as cameras film her dancing at that aforementioned state dinner with that Nazi foreign minister, a moment of horror of another kind.

As it follows the paths of each character, The Plot Against America demonstrates that politics is personal and can have life-changing effects on relationships and peoples futures. Its a cautionary tale on many different levels, but one of the most elemental messages it sends is that nostalgia can be dangerous. Lindbergh, who became a beloved American celebrity because of his transatlantic flying skills and the tragic kidnapping and murder of his infant son, campaigns based on a reputation he established in the past, as well as an America First mindset that encourages the country to go backward rather than move forward. Every sketch that Sandy draws and every stamp that Phillip pastes into his book represents a desire to hold onto an image of history, to freeze a moment from the past for the sake of posterity. Even the color palette of The Plot Against America, filtered in sepia tones evocative of an old photograph, is at odds with the brutal, devastating things depicted through that lens. Its yet another reminder in this excellent series that the way we see things and the way they actually are do not always line up, and when they dont, it can be incredibly dangerous.
Vice-chancellors of Australia's top universities and the federal education minister may have been exposed to coronavirus after attending a conference with someone who tested positive.

Three days after attendees gathered in Canberra, a delegate was diagnosed with COVID-19. Organisers do not know whether that person was infected when they arrived, or caught it at the conference.

Education Minister Dan Tehan at the Universities Australia conference. Credit:Damien McDonald

It comes as two more universities confirmed cases and one of them confirmed plans for virtual lessons if the virus spreads.

Coronavirus has caused major disruptions to the sector, with the ban on travel from China preventing thousands of high fee-paying Chinese students from reaching campus. Some institutions face losses of up to $200 million.
DUNCANNON, Pa.  Michael Wendt liked what he saw in Bernie Sanders in 2016. An electrician, Wendt thought that Sanders, more than Hillary Clinton, spoke to him and his neighbors in this mostly Republican town 20 miles from Harrisburg. He liked Sanders ideas for the middle class  and still does.

But this time around, Wendt is not even considering Sanders. A more moderate voter, most concerned with defeating Donald Trump, hes worried about what the S word will mean for Sanders in places like rural Pennsylvania.

Sanders has that socialism tag to him, and I think that will stick with him and discourage people to come out and vote, Wendt said at the local pub, where he was one of only two Democrats inside late last month. Here the thought is, everybodys going to get welfare. Everybody gets something for nothing. Right here, thats the Bernie Sanders feeling. They hate him.

Wendts fears in Perry County, a place where Sanders beat Clinton in 2016, have played out in similar rural areas in Texas, Oklahoma, and recently in Michigan  starving Sanders campaign of support that fueled him four years ago. The disappearance of those working-class supporters showed that in contrast to his base of younger, fervent followers, some people who voted for him in 2016 werent so much invested in him as they were averse to Clinton.

Hillary did considerably worse than Obama in those counties.... If anything, I dont think it was so much a vote for Bernie and his policies as much as a vote against Hillary, said Mike Mikus, a Democratic strategist in Pittsburgh.

Perry County spans Pennsylvania hunting ground, swaths of the Appalachian Trail, small towns, and farms. With a countywide population of 45,000, its not a spot presidential candidates flock to.

But it is one of 30 counties where Sanders beat Clinton in 2016. Trump went on to win all but one  Centre County, home to Pennsylvania State University.

That overlap  Sanders wins in more rural, Republican places where Trump won in the general election  is something his supporters have pointed to as a sign of electability, showing he can appeal to rural America and pull in dissatisfied voters.

But so far, it hasnt worked out that way. Results in Michigan showed Sanders doing far worse with white working-class voters, who shifted to Joe Biden.

Democrats who backed Sanders here, and in similar Pennsylvania counties, said in interviews over the last few weeks that they arent necessarily all-in four years later. There are passionate repeat supporters, of course, but there are also people who say they supported Sanders as a protest vote against Clinton. Some went on to vote for Trump and have left the Democratic Party. Others are wary of Sanders ability to accomplish all he promises.

Im really disillusioned about the whole political system, said John Takach, 68, a retired construction manager from Perry County who backed Sanders in 2016. When Clinton won, Takach went into the voting booth not sure what hed do. He voted for Trump.

Id never vote for him again," Takach said. "Hes disgusting, he added, lowering his voice in the bar, where most of his neighbors and friends are Republicans. Takach said he backed Trump because he was fed up with our government. I figured, get somebody in there to make some changes. Hes made some changes, but he just lies too much.

Takach said he wasnt interested in Sanders a second time around. He said he mostly supported him because he didnt want to vote for another Clinton. Hes lukewarm on Biden but said hell probably vote for him.

Nobody really impresses me," Takach said.

The Obama-Trump voter

Its estimated that 12% of voters nationwide voted for Sanders and then Trump in 2016. In Pennsylvania, the percentage was a little higher  about 116,000 people, or 16%. Primary voters backing the other partys candidate in the general election isnt new. More people voted for Clinton in the 2008 primary and then for John McCain than swung from Sanders to Trump eight years later.

But given the ideological differences between the two candidates and how close the election was, its a group that has gotten a lot of attention.

This time around, though, most Sanders-Trump voters have probably joined the Republican Party, said Brian Schaffner, a Tufts University professor who researched the phenomenon.

A lot of this group already had one foot out the door, Schaffner said. They might actually be part of Trumps base now.

Schaffner said the reason Sanders isnt faring as well this time is because the person hes running against is not quite as unpopular.

At the Reading Fairgrounds Farmers Market in Berks County, which Sanders won in 2016, Greg Melcher said he backed Sanders in 2016 because he disliked Clinton. Now that hes heard more about Sanders, hes less interested.

Ive become disillusioned," Melcher said. "I think Trumps insane, Sanders is so far left, and the whole process is a mess. Melcher voted for Jill Stein in the 2016 general election. Hed consider a third-party candidate again if someone came along who spoke to him. The Democrats have not so far, he said. I know people say thats throwing your vote away, but I guess Id throw my vote away again, Melcher said.

The counties Sanders won in 2016 have tiny populations of Democrats. But an erosion of that rural support across the state could make it hard for Sanders to rack up delegates in Pennsylvania, especially given Bidens deep support among elected officials and his Scranton roots. Most of the dozen Sanders 2016 voters interviewed said they like Biden now, citing the former vice presidents appeal among blue-collar workers.

In Michigan, another so-called Blue Wall state Trump captured from Democrats, Sanders lost by 16 points this month. That came after he won the state in 2016, when he appealed to voters who felt left behind by the Democratic establishment.

That was Dwayne Heisler in 2016. The current local party chair in Pennsylvanias Columbia County and head of the state partys progressive caucus recalled the excitement around Sanders last time. Heisler was one of three Sanders delegates from the county  unprecedented for such a small area. (He calls Bloomsburg, where theres a state university and where most Democrats live, the blueberry in the tomato soup.)

I felt he really spoke to people in rural Pennsylvania about the feeling of being left behind, which is kind of the same thing that Trump did, Heisler said.

Heisler, who works for the SEIU labor union, said he thinks Sanders still has a base of support, but it doesnt have that same feel.

In addition to the anti-Clinton vote, rural voters may be more resistant to a self-described democratic socialists approach to politics, or skeptical of plans that overhaul existing systems such as Medicare for All, said Mikus, the political strategist.

In a lot of ways, for these rural voters, Sanders may go too far," Mikus said. Voters are skeptical and when you have a proposal, they like knowing how youre going to get it done. Democratic voters who want Donald Trump to lose think about What would my neighbor think about this candidate? and I cant imagine a lot of them thinking Sanders would be a strong candidate."

Mark Whitmoyer, chair of the Perry County Democrats, has always backed Sanders. He canvassed for him in 2016  a truly daunting task in his hilly hometown, where houses are spread out. He says theres genuine interest in his more populist views then and now. I think there is definitely support in rural areas and generally working-class, middle-class areas  especially the younger you get," Whitmoyer said. "Theyre not scared by this socialist label, which is a red herring anyway.

Shane McQuaid, 32 of Millerstown, an auditor for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Authority, said Sanders recent struggles wont stop him from backing the candidate in Pennsylvanias April 28 primary.

A lot of people, theyre not going to vote for the Democrat regardless of if we put up a moderate or someone else," he said. "Just put up someone who has clearly stated ideas.

Another problem for Sanders, which hes noted himself, is that younger supporters dont turn out at the same rate.

Melanie Wertz, who backed Sanders last time, is vice chair of the Perry County Democratic Committee. She was supporting Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren until Warren dropped out. Now shes at a loss.

Biden is most mentioned in her circle, but shes impressed with how Sanders appeals to younger voters  a demographic the county party is desperately trying to bring in as the areas population continues to decline.

We pretty much have to beat them out of the mountains and hollows to find them," she said of younger Democrats. "But when they do, they do come out for Bernie. They believe in him.
C oronavirus has hit the UK with the Department of Health confirming that thousands of people have been infected.

Public Health England said anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate for seven days. If someone in a household develops symptoms, the rest of the inhabitants need to self-isolate for 14 days.

The first British person to die of Covid-19 was confirmed to be on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan on February 29.

Here's everything you need to know about the virus - including symptoms and NHS guidance.

Sneezes should be caught in a tissue / PA

What is coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

The strain that has recently emerged is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The respiratory disease has been named Covid-19 by WHO.

It is thought to be transmitted in droplets from coughs and sneezes and can survive for a limited time on surfaces.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

According to the NHS, the main symptoms of coronavirus are having a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath.

New research suggests loss of smell and taste may also be symptoms of the disease.

People with the virus will typically show flu-like symptoms, including a fever and a cough, that can progress to severe pneumonia. This can then cause breathing difficulties.

The World Health Organisation has also stated that some patients may also experience aches and pains, as well as nasal congestion, a runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea.

Who is most at risk?

Those with weakened immune systems, the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease are more at risk.

What measures should you take to protect yourself?

Simple steps go a long way to helping people avoid catching and spreading germs, such as coronavirus.

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

Comply with lockdown rules of staying at home and only leaving the house for infrequent shopping trips and for exercise

Catch sneezes and coughs with a tissue, then bin it immediately, making sure you wash your hands afterwards or use antibacterial gel

Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands

Avoid those who are unwell

Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /44 Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures AP Buckingham Palace AP Piccadilly Line tube AP Big Ben AP Millennium bridge AP Wembley Stadium AP St Pancras International train station AP Downing Street AP Victoria Station AP Regent Street AP The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace AP London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square PA Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bath PA Bath PA London's Waterloo station PA London Bridge PA London's Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA London's Buckingham Palace PA London's Tower Bridge PA London's Leicester Square PA London's Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral PA London's Criterion Theatre PA London's Palace Theatre PA London's Phoenix Theatre PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA Bournemouth beach PA Bath PA Bath PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bournemouth beach PA

Hand washing advice:

Public Health England launched an advertising campaign to encourage Brits to wash their hands more effectively.

The Government said this will help slow the spread of the virus.

The nation should wash their hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing and before eating or touching food.

You should wash your hands for 20 seconds each time, using soap and water or hand sanitiser.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said: "Washing hands regularly is the single most important thing that an individual can do."

Is there treatment available?

As the infection is relatively new, there is no specific treatment for coronavirus at this time. Medics try to relieve symptoms and keep the infected alive.

The UK has become the largest contributor in the international effort to find a coronavirus vaccine and Boris Johnson announced a 210 million donation during a virtual summit with G20 leaders at the end of March.

The Prime Minister said the money will help the whole word fight the Covid-19 strain and urged other countries to step up and help defeat the virus.

During a daily press briefing, Cabinet member Michael Gove said thousands of ventilators will be distributed to hospitals across the nation.

How to self-isolate and NHS guidance on calling 111

The latest NHS guidelines state that you should not go to your local GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you are displaying signs of coronavirus.

If you have symptoms like a fever or a continuous cough, you are advised to stay at home for 7 days.

You should only call 111 if you feel you cannot cope with the symptoms, you do not get better after 7 days, or your symptoms worse.

If you are staying at home you are advised to do the following:

Try to keep at least 2 metres from other people, particularly older people or those with long-term health conditions

Ask friends and family and delivery services to deliver things like food shopping and medicines  but avoid contact with them

Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds

Try to sleep alone if possible

Stay away from older people and those with long-term health conditions

Drink plenty of water and take painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to help with your symptom
I recently spoke with a good Spanish friend in Dallas. We naturally discussed the political chaos in his country.

By the way, most Cubans of my generation have a connection to Spain because so many of our grandparents or ancestors came to the island from there. Many of us grew up with Spanish holiday traditions and food. As a boy, I remember pre-Castro Cuba full of Spanish merchants, such as my own grandfather and his three enterprising brothers.

My friend today also remembered the day that terrorism came to Spain, when 191 people were killed and 2,000 injured.

Some call it "3-11" or "11 de Marzo." It happened when 10 bombs exploded in the busy morning rush hour.

Within hours, candidate Rodriguez Zapatero of the left was running around blaming Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and the Spanish government's support of the Iraq war. Zapatero, as we known him in the West, took a shot at everybody but said little about the criminal terrorists who set off the bombs.

Three days later, the left was back in power with a plurality of the vote.

Today, there are no Spanish troops in Iraq. We cannot say the same about terrorist cells in Spain!

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
Let's imagine that someone commits murder, with eyewitnesses present. That someone didn't even try to flee the scene or hide. 'Here I am, here's the weapon, it's mine and it's registered.' But then that person suddenly changes their mind because they realize they killed the wrong person. And despite the dead solid evidence, despite own confession, despite testimonies of many eyewitnesses, they stubbornly deny everything. 'No, it wasn't me ... I don't know who did it... Maybe it was you... See who's the beneficiary... I don't know what you saw there ... I didn't plead guilty' What would you think about that person?

If someone acted this way, we would consider them either a schizophrenic or simply a stupid criminal. After all, that person has nothing to lose and the court will obviously find them guilty. But when a state actor acts this way, it's different.

Despite firm and obvious evidence, the Russians continue to shamelessly lie to the rest of the world

On July 17, 2014, Russian Armed Forces deployed in the Ukrainian territory launched a Buk ground-to-air missile that brought down the Malaysian Airlines Boeing flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. Despite firm and obvious evidence, the Russians continue to shamelessly lie to the rest of the world. But they aren't just lying, they've been conducting  and not to no avail  an information operation aimed at avoiding responsibility for their terrorist act or at least minimizing reputational losses.

There's nothing new in the technique employed by Russian propagandists, and it has been repeatedly applied in similar situations. Conditionally, it can be divided into three stages.

Stage 1  "Not everything is as clear as it seems"  at this stage, the most important thing is to sow doubt about the already established fact, so to speak, to soften the information space, creating gaps and vulnerabilities through which info-ops can be developed. But how? First of all, it's about saturating the information space with "alternative versions". Even the sickest ones. Here, the more, the better. Freemasons, aliens, whatever... Everything will work. Let people discuss, criticize, or ridicule ... The main thing is to divert attention from the truth. Don't let it gain a foothold in people's minds.

At the second stage  "See who's the beneficiary"  the versions have to be substantiated. Here, an important component is the skillful exploitation of stereotypes embedded in mass consciousness. They may vary for different audiences. For the Arabs, it's the Jews who could be blamed, for the European anti-globalists  it's the Americans, for the Russians  it's Ukrainians. It doesn't matter which version dominates different audience, the main thing is to make sure it's not the true version of events.

At stage 3, the guilty one shall be appointed unambiguously And, of course, it will be anyone but the terrorist state. The most common tools applied here are the so-called "leaks of classified information", which will explain everything and be spun by "independent journalists". Although journalists may indeed be independent, they may as well be not really smart. But it's best not to take any chances. Real journalists might start looking for confirmation of that "leak" and  who knows  might even dig up the one standing behind the fake news...

A terrorist states still manages (hopefully not for long) to escape responsibility and even remain a member of the international community

After this stage, there's no reason to keep fooling around. The guilty one has been appointed, the versions are well-grounded, and all trials and investigations are just a global conspiracy against Russia. And this may go on forever, in circles.

These are just the official Kremlin versions of what happened to the MH17:

Rebels shot down a Ukrainian military aircraft (shortly after MH17 crash);

The Boeing was hit by a Ukrainian SU-25 fighter jet;

MH17 was brought down by Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet;

The Boeing was downed by the Buk SAM, although the launcher was operated by Ukrainian forces;

The Ukrainians shot down the passenger jet because they mistook it for Putin's plane;

The Boeing had no passengers on board, just bodies. This is an operation aimed at discrediting Russia; and

The Ukrainians have deliberately chosen to leave their airspace open and brought that passenger jet into the war zone."

Once again, I emphasize that these are only official versions that do not take into account the so-called "leaks of classified information", "expert" opinions, and the rest of the information noise.

Now, add to this the Kremlin's widest potential in disseminating this information. All those TV channels, troll factories, diplomats, experts, foreign influencers, and so on. And we will understand how a terrorist state still manages (hopefully not for long) to escape responsibility and even remain a member of the international community. Although its reputation has been badly tarnished, it's still not a complete outcast.

What should Ukraine do in such conditions? Our message to the world must be clear: Russia is a terrorist state, an aggressor state. Russia committed this crime in Ukraine during a military invasion of Ukraine. This invasion is ongoing, while crimes against humanity are a daily occurrence.

Our position must remain firm and projective  at all levels, at every opportunity to expose the enemy, reminding the world of its crimes. The world needs to know: anyone who cooperates with terrorists shares responsibility for their atrocities.

Yuriy Kochevenko heads the International Center for Countering Russian Propaganda
(Newser)  Saying "this virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration," Joe Biden presented his plan for stopping the new coronavirus while contrasting it point-by-point with President Trump's actions. The Democratic presidential candidate gave his address in Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday, the day after Trump spoke to the nation from the Oval Office about the steps he's taking to slow the spread of the virus. "Downplaying it, being overly dismissive, or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease," Biden said. He added that the nation shouldn't panic or turn to xenophobia, either, NBC reports. "Labeling COVID-19 a foreign virus"as the president did in his speech"does not displace accountability for the misjudgments that have been taken thus far by the Trump administration," Biden said.

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The former vice president called for making coronavirus tests for individuals free and more widely available, suggesting mobile sites and drive-through testing centers in each state, per the Hill. Testing in the US lags behind other countries, which Biden called a "colossal" failure of the Trump administration. Biden's campaign released a statement at the same time saying all cost barriers to preventive care and treatment of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, should be removed. "We will lead by science," Biden said. His campaign has taken the steps of canceling a rally scheduled for Thursday night and making two upcoming events online only. Starting Saturday, per the Washington Post, all Biden campaign employees will work from home. The Trump campaign answered Biden's speech with a defense of the president's decisions. "His every move has been aimed at keeping Americans safe," an aide said, "while Joe Biden has sought to capitalize politically and stoke citizens' fears." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
Will Martin is ready to perform at Worcesters comedy club WooHaHa Thursday night and his show is all about death.

Martin will be performing Total Loss  a feature length show about the suicide of his friend Nick and the death of his brother Caleb, who died in a car accident two months later.

The show is supposed to make people laugh, albeit if it makes them a little uncomfortable.

I say from the top its about death the entire time, get comfortable with it now, said Martin.

The show, Martin points out, is not a form a therapy for him. He went to therapy for six months. Instead, he wants to honor and memorialize his friend and brother through laughter.

Some people want to ignore what happened, Martin said. Its important to think about people weve lost and realize they live in our memories now.

The idea for a show entirely dedicated to death came after trying to perform jokes about the deaths along with his other stand-up material and realizing he did not have enough time to develop larger context for the jokes to land properly.

A whole show dedicated to the topic of death allows for the story and jokes to not come across as jarring as they would in a typical stand-up routine, said Martin.

WooHaHa, he said, is the perfect place for his show.

The location is great, all of the angles are good, the lighting and the sound are good.

Having a space wholly dedicated to comedy makes a huge difference, Martin noted. Barrooms and other places comedy shows take place arent always conducive to a great viewing experience for fans.

Worcester is a stop along the way of Martins Total Loss tour which includes stops in Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Boston.

Martin was driving home after a performance at Ralphs Rock Diner in Worcester on St. Patricks Day when he received a phone call informing him of his brother Calebs car accident. Its only fitting he now returns to tell his story, and his friend Nicks, the only way he can: through laughter.

Will Martins Total Loss starts at 8 p.m. at The WooHaHa Comedy Club. You can purchase tickets here.

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

No budget, no breakfast.

Organizers of a Manitoba Chambers of Commerce breakfast  featuring Finance Minister Scott Fielding as the guest of honour  scrambled Wednesday evening to notify about 250 business people who bought tickets to todays 7:30 a.m. event at the convention centre that the event was off.

The post-budget breakfast with the minister of finance is a longstanding tradition of the lobby group, which represents chambers of commerce throughout the province.

"We have no choice," president and chief executive officer Chuck Davidson said Wednesday, after it was clear the 2020 budget was not going to be introduced in the legislature, due to procedural delays by the New Democrats.

"Until he reads the budget, we cant do an event with the finance minister," said Davidson, referring to it as one of the organizations staple events.

"We have to communicate to all of those people that have bought tickets to attend (todays) event that this event is either postponed or cancelled for the time being."

Davidson said the breakfast could be postponed until Friday, or it may not happen at all.

"Its in jeopardy this year... Im not sure what the rationale for delaying something like this is," he said, after leaving a legislative committee room packed with dozens of representatives from business, labour, universities and other sectors, who had been viewing the budget documents on an embargoed basis.

As with media representatives  who were in a separate lockup Wednesday at the Manitoba Legislative Building  the various stakeholders had to hand back the budget documents and leave without them. They will be able to receive copies once the budget is introduced in the legislature.

Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said the initial mood in the lockup was one of curiosity. But once people realized the NDP filibuster would prevent the budget from being delivered, the mood turned into "disappointment, rapidly escalating into annoyance and anger."

"We understand this is a legitimate part of the process thats available to opposition parties," Remillard said. "This delay does little more than delay the inevitable, and effectively upsetting stakeholder, media  so many that have built their day around today."

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Ralph Groening, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, said he was "very disappointed" his organization did not have the opportunity to disseminate the budget to its members.

"I think this is an embarrassment, I believe that municipal government definitely wouldnt function in this manner," he said.

Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, was more sympathetic towards the NDPs position.

"The only thing I can say is there was a whole raft of legislation that no ones had a chance to look at, no ones had a chance to study or look at the impact, and I think its really important that we, that Manitobans, and the public have a chance to see what implications that legislation has," she said. "And I dont believe that wouldve happened without the delay."

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Carol Sanders

Legislature reporter After 20 years of reporting on the growing diversity of people calling Manitoba home, Carol moved to the legislature bureau in early 2020. Read full biography
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

LATEST, March 12, 10:17 p.m. Effective immediately, Pacific Gas and Electric is suspending all service disconnections for non-payment in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the utility announced Thursday night.

PG&E also said it would offer any customer who experiences financial hardship due to COVID-19 flexible payment options. (See full details here.)

March 12, 8:36 p.m.: A part-time employee who works at the SAP Center in San Jose has tested positive for COVID-19, the Sharks organization said in a statement released Thursday evening.

The employee last worked at the arena on March 3, two days before the Santa Clara County Public Health Department recommended a moratorium on public gatherings of more than 1,000 people.

The person is under self-quarantine and receiving medical treatment.

March 12, 5 p.m.: The number of confirmed cases in San Francisco County has grown to 18, up from 17.

March 12, 4:40 p.m.: The number of cases in Santa Clara County jumped Thursday afternoon from 48 to 66. Of the 66 known cases of COVID-19 in the county, 31 are hospitalized. One person has recovered and one person, a woman in her 60s, died on March 9.

Of those who are not hospitalized, eight contracted the virus through travel, 19 were in close contact with known cases and 16 are presumed to have contracted it through community transmission.

The number of confirmed cases in Alameda County grew to seven, up from three.

March 12, 3 p.m.: San Francisco Unified School District announced all schools are closing for three weeks starting on March 16 in attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Read the full story on Bay Area school closures here.)

The number of COVID-19 cases around the Bay Area continues to climb, with three new cases in San Mateo (bringing the total 20) and seven in Contra Costa County (bringing the total to 17).

Meanwhile, the TSA reported three agents at Mineta San Jose International Airport who have tested positive for the virus were all in contact with travelers. Two performed pat-downs, X-ray operations and handled carry-on luggage. The third was a travel document checker. Their last days on duty were Feb. 21, Feb. 26 and March 2. All three worked the night shift at checkpoint B at Terminal B, which primarily service Southwest and Alaska airlines.

March 12, 2 p.m.: Four San Jose firefighters have tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier in the day, there was just one among the city's 700 firefighters who had tested positive.

Two other firefighters are showing symptoms, KGO reports, and are being tested. More than 70 other SJFD firefighters are on paid leave and self-quarantining.

March 12, 12:30 p.m.: President Donald Trump said shutting down domestic travel to states with large coronavirus outbreaks, like California and Washington, is a possibility.

Is it a possibility? Yes, if somebody gets a little bit out of control, if an area gets too hot," Trump said, according to the New York Times, when asked about whether he'd consider those types of domestic travel restrictions.

The Times says the president didn't elaborate further.

March 12, 10:50 a.m.: At least 50 members of the San Jose Fire Department are being quarantined after a firefighter tested positive for COVID-19. That firefighter is being treated in the hospital, another firefighter is being tested for the virus, while the other 50 or so SJFD employees are monitoring their condition at home.

Three TSA officers at Mineta San Jose International Airport also tested positive for COVID-19. Airport officials said Wednesday 42 additional TSA agents who may have been exposed were also on paid leave.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a Thursday morning press conference the total number of cases of COVID-19 in California jumped to 198. More than half of those cases are in the Bay Area.

Newsom issued an executive order Thursday which:

Directs Californians to cancel gatherings of more than 250 people

Prepares the state to "commandeer property" (including hotels and medical facilities) to use as temporary residences or quarantine areas

Removes the one-week waiting period for those filing for unemployment or disability as a result of COVID-19

Delays state tax deadline by 60 days for individuals and businesses unable to file on time due to the virus

March 12, 10:08 a.m.: As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continued to grow around the Bay Area Thursday, public officials expanded efforts to curb the virus' spread.

Four new cases of COVID-19 were detected in San Francisco, bringing the total number to 18 as of 10 a.m. Thursday. Two of the new patients were being treated in the hospital and two were being isolated at home, reported KRON. Three of them are suspected to have contracted the virus through community spread and one person had close contact with a known case, according to KRON.

Two new cases were also detected in San Mateo County; the public health department updated its website to reflect 17 in-county cases at 9:32 a.m. (up from 15 on Wednesday), but didn't immediately provide details on the two new patients.

Santa Clara County, the county with the most confirmed cases in the Bay Area 48, as of Thursday morning  declared a state of emergency and ordered the cancellation of all mass gatherings for three weeks. San Francisco Mayor London Breed has done the same in San Francisco. So far, the greatest impact of large gathering cancellations has been on sporting events.

Californians can expect more cancellations to come, as Gov. Gavin Newsom issued statewide guidance advising people to cancel even small social gatherings where people can't stand at least six feet apart.

Many private schools around the Bay Area have closed out of an abundance of caution, but public K-12 schools have largely remained open. Lakeshore Elementary in San Francisco is the lone exception thus far; the school will close for at least two weeks after four students and a number of adult family members reported having respiratory illness, the school district said Wednesday night. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Lakeshore.

Most colleges and universities around the Bay Area have made the move to online instruction only for the time being.

ALAMEDA COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 7 residents

Fore more information on Alameda County cases, visit the public health department website.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Confirmed cases: 17 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: 0 residents, 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: 20 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: 66 residents

Related deaths: 1

This county has the most confirmed cases in the Bay Area. As of March 12, health officials have identified a total of 66. Of the 66 known cases of COVID-19 in the county, 31 are hospitalized.

Of those who are not hospitalized, eight contracted the virus through travel, 19 were in close contact with known cases and 16 are presumed to have contracted it through 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.

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:


(TNS)  The Springfield, Mass., 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.
MADISON  Gov. Tony Evers has declared a public health emergency in response to a growing number of cases of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, in Wisconsin.

By Thursday afternoon, the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus had increased to eight, up from three cases just two days prior. One of the people diagnosed has already recovered, and the nearest of the other seven cases to Racine County is in Waukesha County.

State and local officials have been urging residents to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, which has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

The Town of Waterford has encouraged voters to request absentee ballots at www.myvote.wi.gov prior to April 2nd, rather than voting in person. However, in a press release issued Thursday, the Town of Waterford said, Our election workers will assist you along with doing the best they can to keep the election facility as clean and safe as possible. Extra efforts will be taken to wipe down voting booths and election equipment throughout the day. We plan to have a hand sanitizing station set up at the polls and are requesting that you use this prior to entering the voting area.

In a statement, Evers said: We have been working aggressively to slow the spread of COVID-19, and this declaration allows us to get the resources we need to continue to be proactive when it comes to protecting Wisconsinites ... It is the latest step in the work our state agencies have been doing around the clock with our health care partners to prepare for the possibility of COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic.

Under the declaration, Evers has directed the Department of Health Services to use all the resources necessary to respond to and contain the outbreak. That includes allowing DHS to purchase, store or distribute appropriate medications, regardless of insurance or health coverage. The order also authorizes state funds to support local health departments with costs associated with isolation and quarantine and the use of the Wisconsin National Guard.

In addition, the state will pursue extensive contact tracing to contain the spread of COVID-19, according to the statement.

Schools

State and local officials have cautioned residents to prepare for possible school closures and event cancellations in light of the virus, which can be especially harmful to people 60 and over, those with underlying health conditions and pregnant women. The State of Ohio has already planned to cancel school for three weeks, starting Monday.

In a release Thursday, the Central Racine County Health Department stated, At this time Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Racine County health departments are not recommending school closures as part of this guidance ... Decisions about the implementation of community measures will be made by state and local officials based on CDC and DHS guidance, as well as the scope of the outbreak.

This can be a frightening time, but our state has incredible health professionals who are working to contain the spread, Evers said. We cannot do this alone, we need all hands on deck to protect the public from COVID-19.

Also on Thursday, the Department of Administration announced that tours of the state Capitol would be canceled until further notice. Operations within the building will remain functioning normally.

Trips cut short







UW-Madison announced this week it will suspend in-person classes for at least three weeks. The university also asked its roughly 7,800 students living in residence halls to move out when spring break begins this weekend and plan to stay off campus and study remotely at least through April 10.DHS on Wednesday issued new guidance for travelers who have recently been on a cruise in Egypt, although it was not clear whether there was a connection with the new cases.

Under the new advisory, anyone who has been on a cruise to Egypt should quarantine at home immediately. Those who have symptoms like fever or respiratory illness should call their health care provider to be tested. Even those who dont have symptoms but have been on such a cruise should call their local health department, DHS said.

Evers Thursday statement notes that 37 Wisconsin residents are returning to the state from the Princess Cruise Ship and may need to be monitored and self-quarantined for 14 days.

Self-quarantining

State Rep. Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, said in a statement Thursday, Starting today, Im joining public health experts, our universities, the NBA, and communities around the world in social distancing. This means that I will not be participating in or sponsoring in-person public gatherings until at least April 10th (and likely beyond then), and I am urging you all to do the same.

As a community, we take pride in coming together, but now is the time for a new mode of solidarity with our neighbors. Social distancing is one of the best ways we can slow down this virus.

She continued, I want to be clear: this is a time for preparation, not panic. If we all do our part, we can reduce some of the risk vulnerable members of our community face and help to ensure our hospitals are not overwhelmed.
Director General of World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday thanked the efforts of Iran for the measures they are taking to slow the virus and control its epidemic spread, Trend reports citing IRNA.

"We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic," he told the media briefing on COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to WHO official website.

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.

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, Adhanom noted.

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, he said, noting that even those countries with community transmission or large clusters can turn the tide on this virus.
The World Bank has provided a grant of GH26.7 million for the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources to provide decentralised simplified sewerage treatment systems at Ashaiman New Town and Bankuma in Tema in the Greater Accra Region.



The projects are expected to start on March 16, 2020 and end in eight and six months, respectively.



They form part of the governments effort to end open defecation in the country and the World Banks Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) project to improve sanitation and access to water in the metropolis.



Under the project, faecal matter from homes will be channelled directly to treatment facilities, instead of the use of cesspit tanks.



Scope of work



The Ashaiman project includes the laying of more than 24 kilometres of sewer pipeline, the construction of 420 manholes and 4,805 household sewer connections.



Additionally, a pumping station and a waste water treatment plant to handle a projected 1,800 cubic metres of waste a day will form part of the system.



It is estimated that 4,805 households, with at least 37,500 people, within Ashaiman New Town and the TDC Quarters will be supported to have their household toilets connected to the decentralised treatment system.



The Bankuma project will include the laying of 5.1km of 160mm sewer pipelines, the construction of 96 manholes and 1,048 household sewer connections.



Additionally, a waste water treatment plant to handle a projected flow of 600m3 a day will be constructed.



The project is expected to benefit 12,700 people when completed.



Households are expected to pay a token as operational maintenance fees to ensure the sustainability of the systems.



Event



The Minister of Sanitation, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who signed the agreement for the project with the beneficiary municipalities in Accra yesterday, expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its continued support.



She said the two projects would build on some existing but defunct sewer infrastructure, such as the use of septic tanks, treatment plants and the home tension basin.



An added advantage is that the treated water from the plant will be used to aid irrigational farming in the communities to boost agricultural activities, she added.



Open defecation free



Ms Dapaah said the government had put in many efforts and resources to make sure that by 2030, all communities in the country would be open-defecation free to ensure dignity in life for all, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.



She said a number of projects had been introduced nationwide in that regard, and that 103,000 household toilets had been provided in the past three years.



The figures from the field are very encouraging  as of July 2019, we had over 5,000 communities coming out of open defecation, as against 4,010 in 2016, she added.



Gratitude



On behalf of the beneficiaries, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ashaiman, Mr Albert Boakye Okyere, expressed gratitude to the government for the intervention.



He said the projects would bring relief to the people, especially in Ashaiman, which was currently battling with open defecation due to the absence of places of convenience and other sanitation facilities.

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.

Featured Video
New York mayor Bill deBlasio today declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic in the city of New York. The state has already been under a state of emergency.

Mayor deBlasio said there are 95 confirmed coronavirus cases, and 42 new ones just since yesterday  testing has been severely limited, so the presumed number of actual cases is much higher.

"It is time now to declare a state of emergency in New York City," the mayor said, shortly after 4:00PM Eastern time.

"The last 24 hours have been very very sobering."

"We know this will have a serious impact on a number of businesses," concerts, and sporting events, he said in a live address. It's "gonna be a hole in our lives but it's something we have to do."

Mayor de Blasio declares state of emergency in New York City in response to Coronavirus [I'll update with what that means exactly] His tone has changed considerably since even this morning  Yoav Gonen (@yoavgonen) March 12, 2020

NYC: State Of Emergency declared pic.twitter.com/ruy8sCmLk1  Alexa Farrell (@AlexaNFarrell) March 12, 2020

"It is time now to declare a state of emergency in New York City," @NYCMayor says about #CoronavirusOutbreak pic.twitter.com/FdsvHpJp8U  Jeff Mays (@JeffCMays) March 12, 2020

BREAKING: @NYCMayor declares a state of emergency in NYC due to #COVID19 outbreak. pic.twitter.com/J8cd3VR350  Myles Miller (@MylesMill) March 12, 2020

.@nycmayor has just signed a state of emergency order for New York City pic.twitter.com/7rdOPumHSU  katie honan (@katie_honan) March 12, 2020

Mayor Bill de Blasio has just declared a State of Emergency in New York City due to Coronavirus. No gatherings of any sort may exceed 500 people.  Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 12, 2020

BREAKING: New York City has declared a state of emergency for coronavirus outbreak, Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "The last 24-hours have been very very sobering."  Pervaiz Shallwani (@Pervaizistan) March 12, 2020

BREAKING: A state of emergency has been declared in New York City, per Mayor Bill de Blasio. https://t.co/48HCEQI8xQ  Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) March 12, 2020

New York City Mayor de Blasio declares state of emergency to fight #coronavirus outbreak. Live updates: https://t.co/SQBum8hOcY pic.twitter.com/tB68uMjTIJ  Reuters (@Reuters) March 12, 2020
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 02:57:24|Editor: huaxia

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, on March 5, 2020. (Kremlin photo)

The leaders confirmed the importance of continuing close collaboration in order to ensure a stable cessation of hostilities and further stabilize the situation.



MOSCOW, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Thursday expressed satisfaction with a "significant decrease in tensions" in Syria's Idlib, the Kremlin said.

During a telephone conversation, the presidents discussed issues related to an agreement reached regarding Idlib during the Russian-Turkish summit in Moscow on March 5, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The leaders confirmed the importance of continuing close collaboration, primarily through the Russian and Turkish defense ministries, in order to ensure a stable cessation of hostilities and further stabilize the situation, it said.

They agreed to maintain regular dialogue at various levels, including personal contacts, it added.

Last Thursday, Putin and Erdogan after nearly six hours of talks agreed on a ceasefire between Turkish troops and militants they support and the Syrian government troops backed by Russia in the Idlib de-escalation zone. 
President of Philippines Rodrigo Duterte will be tested for the novel coronavirus despite not showing any symptoms, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement as two of his key government officials went into quarantine after they came into contact with an infected person.

In response, the Senate building and Philippine central bank were undergoing cleaning, and several officials announced they would isolate themselves as a precaution.

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Nancy Binay said they were having themselves quarantined after meeting with a witness during a committee hearing on March 5, who was confirmed to be infected by the virus.

The precautions are being taken considering the spurt in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Central bank Governor Benjamin Diokno, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade separately announced of going into quarantine as a precautionary measure after meeting with an infected person, according to South China Morning Post.

An inter-agency task force on emerging infectious diseases will meet on Thursday to discuss urgent measures amid the outbreak.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the Innovation Law Lab case, a divided Ninth Circuit panel upheld an injunction against enforcement of the Trump administrations Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). Under the MPP, non-Mexican asylum seekers who present themselves at the southern border of the United States are required to wait in Mexico while their asylum applications are adjudicated. The MPP must be the most effective measure implemented by the Trump administration to stem the crushing tide of illegals crossing from Mexico.

The Ninth Circuit temporarily stayed its ruling for a few days while it took up additional briefing last week. The court then entered an order (embedded in my post here) reiterating its ruling but limiting the injunction to Arizona and California (the two border states within its jurisdiction). The court further stayed enforcement of the injunction until March 11 pending possible intervention by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has now intervened and entered an order staying the Ninth Circuit ruling pending the Supreme Courts disposition of the governments petition for review. The order is posted here. The stay order lacked only the concurrence of Justice Sotomayor.
In a new memo circulated internally by the leadership of former Vice President Joe Bidens campaign, all campaign employees in both the Philadelphia headquarters and field offices across the country are being instructed to work from home starting this Saturday, due to growing concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

Starting Saturday, March 14, all Biden for President employees both in our Philadelphia headquarters and in field offices across the country will work from home. Department heads will be in touch with teams about tele-work processes and operations, according to a memo obtained by ABC News.

The memo said these policies will be in effect for the next two weeks, after which the campaign will reassess the situation. The changes were announced after consulting with the experts on their newly announced public health advisory committee--which they say they will continue to do throughout the two weeks.

All staff currently in states will be given the option of returning to their permanent residences, or will be provided housing paid for by the campaign in Work from Home, remote office pods across the country. Additionally, all Biden for President offices - including headquarters and field offices - will be closed to the public.

The memo also provided an update on plans for traveling and campaigning going forward, saying that so long as public guidance does not change, the campaign will continue to hold smaller events, though fundraisers would become virtual in nature indefinitely.

The move comes hours after former Vice President Joe Biden laid out the need Thursday to combat the growing threat of the coronavirus and excoriated the Trump administration for its "severe shortcomings," in handling the crisis.

"Unfortunately, this virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration. Public fears are being compounded by a pervasive lack of trust in this president. Fueled by adversarial relationships with the truth that he continues to have," Biden said in a speech Thursday in Wilmington, Delaware.

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Biden called for a rapid increase in the number of tests administered in the coming days and called for a renewed focus on making tests available at senior centers and nursing homes, which house the populations most vulnerable to the disease.

The former vice president also called for an accelerated timeline on the development of a vaccine to treat the virus, as the number of cases across the country continue to increase by the day.

We need to accelerate the development and treatment of the vaccine. Science takes time. And it will still be many months before we have a vaccine that can be proven safe for public use, and produced in sufficient quantities to make a difference. But therapeutics can and should come sooner. This will save lives, Biden urged.

PHOTO: Democratic presidential hopeful former Vice President Joe Biden speaks 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) (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

More than just the health and medical aspect of the pandemic, Biden placed a large focus on the economic impact of the disruption to daily life the outbreak will cause, calling for decisive action to help those who will struggle as a result.

This crisis will hit everyone but it will hit folks who live paycheck to paycheck the hardest, including working people and seniors. Another tax cut to Google or Goldman or millionaires won't get the job done, Biden said, taking aim at another one of Trumps proposals to combat the crisis.

Bidens plan for paid leave would create a federal fund to cover 100% of weekly salaries or average weekly earnings capped at $1,400 a weekthe weekly amount that corresponds with about $72,800 in annual earnings.

The types of leave covered by the federal fund would include paid leave for sick workers, those caring for family members or other loved ones impacted by the virus, and workers unable to do their jobs due to an increased risk of health complications, as well as provide child care assistance for dealing with school closings.

Biden's speech follows a national address by President Trump on Wednesday night, where, in addition to the travel restrictions, he called for the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain impacted individuals and businesses, called on Congress to provide immediate payroll tax relief, and said the government will make low interest loans available to small businesses.

We are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people, Trump said in his address.

As a general election matchup with Trump appears increasingly likely, Biden offered his plan as road map, for the current administration, telling the president he is welcome to adopt his plan.

I offer it as a road map, not for what I will do as president 10 months from now, but for the leadership that I believe is needed and required at this very moment. President Trump is welcome to adopt all of it today, Biden said Thursday.

His proposal includes:" the wide availability of free testing, emergency paid leave for all those affected by the outbreak, mounting an effective national emergency response and rallying the world to confront this crisis"

We will lead by science, Biden said, adding that downplaying the threat of the coronavirus or being overly dismissive or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease.

NEW: We will lead by science, Joe Biden says, adding that downplaying the threat of the coronavirus or being overly dismissive or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease. https://t.co/5cnCpKqWpH pic.twitter.com/UxPzFrBfh9  ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) March 12, 2020

Let me be crystal clear, the coronavirus does not have a political affiliation. It will affect Republicans, Independents and Democrats alike. And it will not discriminate based on national origin, race, gender, or zip code, Biden said.

Banning all travel from Europe or any other part of the world may slow it, but as weve seen, it will not stop it. And travel restrictions based on favoritism and politics rather than risk will be counterproductive, the former vice president continued, taking aim at travel restrictions announced by the Trump administration Wednesday night.

While he conceded that no president can prevent future disease outbreaks, Biden, again leaning into a contrast with Trump, pledged that as president his administration will be better prepared, respond better and recover better, adding Ill always tell you the truth. This is the responsibility of a president.

No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks. But I can promise you this, when I'm President, you will be better prepared, respond better and recover better. We'll lead with science and listen to the experts, we'll heed their advice. And well build American leadership and rebuild it to rally the world to meet our global threats that were...likely to face again. And Ill always tell you the truth. This is a responsibility of a president. That's what is owed to the American people, Biden said.

Amid the ongoing novel coronavirus threat and fears of the virus spreading in the U.S, Biden's campaign announced Wednesday it will be hosting virtual events in place of events on the ground in Illinois and Florida.

The campaigns top priority is and will continue to be the health and safety of the public," the campaign said earlier in a statement. "Members of the committee will provide ongoing counsel to the campaign, which will in turn continue to update the public regarding operational decisions.

Biden campaign instructs staff to telework; lays out plan on dealing with coronavirus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As many as 529 personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have died in the line of duty in the last five years, the Union Home Ministry informed Parliament on Wednesday.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that families of 64 personnel have been provided jobs under the scheme for compassionate appointment in the last five years.

Rai was responding to questions by KJ Alphons who also sought to know the constraint in providing jobs to those who deserve.

All deserving cases are considered subject to their willingness and fulfilling required eligibility criteria for the job, Rai said.

The CAPFs comprise the CRPF, the BSF, the Central Industrial Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Sashastra Seema Bal, National Security Guard and Assam Rifles.

Of the total casualties, most deaths (194) were recorded from the CRPF which has been instrumental in fighting Naxal-led violence in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and is fighting militants up in Kashmir.

ITBP, which is posted in several inhospitable conditions in areas bordering China, has lost 131 soldiers and BSF, the force that faces the brunt of Pakistan-shelling and violence from smugglers at our border with Bangladesh, has lost 92 jawans. SSB, Assam Rifles and CISF have also lost 62, 43 and seven Bravehearts respectively.

Govt okays prosecution in 100 terror cases

The government has granted sanction for prosecution in 100 cases of terrorism in the last three years, the Union Home Ministry said in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said, During the last three years (since January 2017), the Central government has conveyed sanction for prosecution under UAPA Act to National Investigating Agency in 100 cases in respect of 635 accused persons.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

By Samir Ali - Trend:

Over 361,000 farmers have submitted information about the autumn sowing to the Electronic Agriculture Information System of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Agriculture to this date, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Vugar Huseynov told Trend.

Huseynov added that these persons will be given subsidies for the autumn sowing.

The process of issuing subsidies to persons whose documents have been approved has already begun and will last until March 20. Currently, about 110 million manat ($64.7 million) of subsidies has been issued, Huseynov said.

The departments head said that 25 percent of the subsidies farmers receive in cash.

The remaining 75 percent the farmers can use through the electronic system. These funds can be spent to purchase seedlings, fertilizers or to pay for the services of machine operators. Currently, mobile services are available, and six buses were sent to the regions for this reason. The ministry officials in the regions personally hand cards to farmers. At the moment, these services are provided in the villages of Ismayilli district, Huseynov said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva
Whether or not to allow fans into Van Andel Arena for Wednesdays game was an ongoing discussion through the day within the Grand Rapids Griffins office.

The Griffins hosted Iowa Wild before a typical midweek crowd of 5,397 despite the heightened concerns over the coronavirus.

President Tom Gortsema explained what goes into a decision and how the team - and the AHL - will decide whether or not to play or play before fans Friday when the Griffins host Bakersfield.
California Senator Kamala Harris has endorsed Joe Biden in his presidential bid. The Indian American politician was herself a contender for the seat but dropped out last October to the deep disappointment of many of her supporters. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Russian authorities have blocked an opposition website that encouraged the public to speak up against constitutional changes that will allow President Vladimir Putin's to extend his grip on power.

The Russian leader proposed sweeping changes to the constitution in January and this week agreed to a last-minute proposal to reset his constitutional term-limit clock to zero, allowing him to stay in power until 2036.

Russia's opposition groups led by top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny had long accused the 67-year-old leader of trying to cling to power for life.

On Thursday, a website set up to protest the constitutional changes was blocked, an opposition activist said.

"The site of a campaign against introducing changes to the Constitution net2020.ru has just been blocked by Roskomnadzor," Andrei Pivovarov said, referring to the state communications watchdog.

He said the watchdog pulled the plug on the website following a ruling of Moscow's Tagansky district court.

A court spokeswoman confirmed to AFP the site had been blocked but declined further comment.

"Such nervous reaction means we are on the right track," Pivovarov said.

He said the campaign dubbed "Nyet!" -- which means 'no' in Russian -- will continue.

Kremlin critics have called on the public to protest against changing the constitution even before the Russian president revealed his intentions in the speech in parliament on Tuesday.

More than 50,000 people have signed a "manifesto" saying the authorities were pushing through a "constitutional coup".

Both chambers of Russian parliament backed the amendments that also include stipulations banning gay marriages and protecting "historic truth" about Russia's role in World War II.

The amendments will be put to a public vote on April 22.
Xingye Wulian Service, a Henan-based property company, celebrated its HK$200 million (US$25 million) listing in Hong Kong on March 9 after road-testing a new way of gathering investors: over the internet.

Traditionally, IPO underwriters and the company's management make a series of pit stops in financial hubs from New York to Tokyo, pitching the deal to potential investors. During the coronavirus epidemic, companies have switched to making presentations online and via teleconferencing.

Chinese companies have had to adapt earlier than others during the new coronavirus outbreak. So far, they have found that internet roadshows, keeping the IPO relatively small, and bringing in large, anchor investors help them get the deal over the finish line.

Many of these Chinese companies list in Hong Kong, the world's biggest IPO market last year. They may have valuable lessons to offer other market debutantes around the world and point to the new normal for IPO bankers and investors.

The total funds raised in Hong Kong for January and February are down 16 per cent year on year. Photo: Bloomberg alt=The total funds raised in Hong Kong for January and February are down 16 per cent year on year. Photo: Bloomberg

"If the coronavirus drags on, and travel bans and quarantine measures are not lifted soon we would likely continue with using internet roadshow for other issuers we are helping to list," said Han Dong, at Hong Kong-based brokerage Zhongtai International which advised the property company.

Will Akers, senior vice-president for Asia-Pacific at NetRoadshow, a provider of internet roadshows for equities and bond offerings, said his company has seen a 50 per cent year-on-year jump in Asia Pacific revenue in January and February.

The revenue growth was driven by small to medium-sized Chinese banks and brokerages pitching IPOs by Chinese companies to global investors.

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Small is definitely beautiful for Hong Kong IPOs so far this year.

Data from the Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing shows that for the first two months this year, total funds raised by IPOs dropped by 16 per cent to HK$9.24 billion, from HK$11.01 billion a year ago.

As of March 9, there were only six deals that raised over HK$500 million (US$64.4 million) among the 25 IPOs that have been completed. The biggest deal year-to-date was the HK$2.53 billion (US$325.6 million) raised by restaurant chain operator Jiumaojiu International, which was listed in January.

Edward Au at Deloitte China said issuers and bankers for larger IPOs, particularly those from the most affected sectors such as catering, food and beverage, hospitality, travel and leisure, have held back from launching deals.

Some processes must still be conducted physically by intermediaries.

"IPO sponsors, lawyers still need to conduct due diligence on the issuer on-site to inspect original documents. Auditors still need to collect the relevant audit evidence from company's inspect them on site," said Au.

In terms of new business, another banker, who sought anonymity, also said winning an IPO mandate is still a relationship business, especially when several banks are competing for a sizeable US$1 billion IPO deal from a prospective issuer.

For deals already in motion, cornerstone investors are backing smaller deals.

Cornerstone investors are usually sizeable financial institutions or well-known individuals to whom IPO shares are allocated at the IPO price before the deal opening for subscription. Their support helps ensure that there is enough demand for a company's shares, and serves to vouch for the quality of the new issuance.

Among the 25 deals that have listed year-to-date, nine of them have enlisted the support of cornerstone investors, according to data from Refinitiv. Cornerstone investors are usually subject to a six-month lock-up period after listing and act as an anchor of support during times of market volatility. Jiumaojiu, for example, had support from BlackRock Funds and China Alpha among others.

Zhongguancun Science-Tech Leasing, which raised HK$506.7 million and listed in January, had financial software developer and IT firm Yusys Technologies, and United Crystal, a unit of Hong Kong-listed Beijing Enterprises Water Group, as anchor investors.

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.
Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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By John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

and Amy Sherman | asherma2@mlive.com

MUSKEGON, MI -- Since 1972, The Station Grill -- located in a former gas station, which is the theme throughout the restaurant -- has been making some of the tastiest burgers in the area.

The locals love them, and so will you!

We visited on Tuesday, March 3 as part of our search for Michigan's Best Burger.

But it wasn't our first visit.

The Station Grill was a finalist for Best Burger in 2013, and we have made subsequent visits for Best Chicken Wings in 2017 and Best Chili in 2019.

READ: 30 delicious chilis in Michigan to spoon up all year long

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Here's a closer to look at our visit.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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IF YOU GO

The Station Grill

910 W Broadway Ave., Muskegon, MI 49441

231-759-0633

FACEBOOK

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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The History

Owned by Chris and Kelly Meyers since 1998, and in the family since 1972, The Station Grill is "one of those hidden gems that needs to be discovered," we wrote when we were on the search for Best Wings.

On this visit the owners were out of town, but manager Tony Smith, who has worked at The Station Grill for 20 years, was kind enough to tell us a little more about the restaurant and share a few laughs.

"I think it's the longevity of our employees," he said when we asked the secret to their success.

One employee, Dawn, has worked there since 1984. Daisy, the head day grill cook, has 31 years of service. Three waitresses have at least 22 years of experience. They wear their number of employment years on their shirts as a badge of pride.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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It's always busy and lively atmosphere. The restaurant also has a full bar, too.

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Menu:

It's a little nuts at The Station Grill because it's extensive and offers a little bit of everything, including Mexican-inspired favorites like a wet burrito. Everything can be customized. In fact, manager Tony Smith said you can order your fries:

Regular

Soft

Perfect

Crispy

Extra soft

Extra Crispy

"We drive the kitchen a little crazy sometimes, but everything on this menu can be customized. It's what we do, and people are used to it," he said.

Gourmet Steakburgers:

The ground chuck is sourced locally at the Meat Block with an 80-20 blend and delivered fresh and never frozen.

They are grilled on a char broiler.

And they are made with a "secret" seasoning, which is sold at the restaurant.

They get fresh buns from Sysco.

All burgers are served with lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles.

They have close to 20 burgers on the menu, including mini bites topped with American cheese.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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What we tried:

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

The Signature Burger

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The Signature Burger is a lovable burger, especially if you like oozing bar cheddar cheese. Mix that with grilled onions on a grilled, buttered bun, and you have heaven.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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An inside look at the Signature Burger.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

The Big Mouth.

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The Big Mouth is two 1/2 pound patties smothered with Swiss and American Cheese.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

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A closer look at the Big Mouth.

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

The Bacon Cheeseburger.

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The Bacon Cheeseburger comes with a choice of Swiss, American, mozzarella or, as you see here, soft bar cheddar cheese.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

The Olivette Burger.

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The Olivette Burger is topped with a special mayo/olive blend that looks more like a spread. It is an original, house-made mixture. Customers can also ask for Black Olives instead of Green Olives. (See, everything CAN be customized!)

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John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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Head day grill cook Daisy Williams prepares burgers at the Station Grill, 1910 W Broadway Ave, in Muskegon, Michigan.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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We sample - with gusto!

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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Amy Sherman is a big fan of house-made chips, and The Station Grill makes these fresh every day! They're fantastic.

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Thanks to everyone at The Station Grill for a great visit!

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Watch our video from The Station Grill and Hamburger Mikey, another Muskegon finalist for Best Burger.

Video by Alison Zywicki of MLive.

More of her photos:

See photos from day two of the search for Michigan's Best Burger in the Muskegon and Lakeshore areas

The Station Grill PHOTOS HERE

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MLive's Amy Sherman and John Gonzalez continued their search for Michigan's Best Burger 2020 through the Muskegon and Lakeshore Area on Tuesday, Feb.

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Alison Zywicki | azywicki@mlive.com

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READ MORE:

Michigan's Best Burger visits Ann Arbor are and Metro Detroit

Is Michigans Best Burger in Flint, Bay City or the Thumb? See our itinerary

Is Michigans Best Burger at a whiskey and vintage arcade bar in Grand Rapids?

Michigans Best Burger search heads to Kalamazoo to find the beef

Why the Bear Supreme is in the running for Michigans Best Burger

Is Michigans Best Burger between 2 buns in Lansing and Jackson?

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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Burgers and more from the lively little Kozy Korner Saloon in Armada. Wed be happy to stop in anytime for one of their 1/2 pound burgers! #mibest #bestburger @MichiganGonzo @amyonthetrail @MIburgerboys pic.twitter.com/RMimVX1uOh  mlivemibest (@mlivemibest) March 12, 2020

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Follow our Michigans Best adventures on social media:

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Facebook at MLiveMIBest.

Join in by using the hashtags #mibest 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.

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Police in Kano on Wednesday paraded 338 suspects, including Mohammed Sani who specialized in using fake bank alerts to swindle companies and business men.

The spokesman of the state police Command, DSP Abdulkahi Haruna Kiyawa who briefed the Press on behalf of CP Habu Sani, said other suspects were paraded for various offences ranging from armed robbery, car snatching, drug trafficking and kidnapping.

He said Mohammed Sani and Suleiman Umar, who is now at large, bought 15 units of tricycle at N9, 795, 000.00, under false pretence.

According to him, on 28 February, 2020, one David Festus of Rangaza Quarters, Ungogo Local Government Area, Kano, reported at Zango Police station, Kano, that on 13 February, one Mohammed Sani and Suleiman Umar, now at large, conspired and went to their Company, DAG Industries Nigeria Limited, located at No. 9 Nababa Badamasi Road Bompai, Kano where they purchased 15 units of tricycles valued at N9, 795, 000.00.

He said the suspects collected the Companys bank account under false pretence to transfer the said amount, adding that later, Mohammed sent fake alert after receiving the 15 units tricycles from the company.

He added that, also, on February 10, based on credible in formation, the Commands team of Operation Puff Adder arrested two other persons who specialized in duping people with fake bank alerts.

He said they were arrested for duping one Suleiman Mohammed the sum of N50, 000.

Haruna said that the Commands effort in fighting all forms of crimes and criminality in the state, as well as sustaining the Operation Puff Adder, during a raid at various hideouts, over 205 thugs were arrested, while 156 of them were charged to court, with 49 others under investigation.

He said with the unrelenting raids carried out by the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), over 36 armed robbery suspects, 12 kidnapping suspects, and five burglars were all rounded up.

DSP Haruna further stated that six suspected drug dealers were arrested by the police, adding that three other persons were also arrested for giving false information to the police.

He said items recovered include one AK47 Riffle, nine rounds of 9mm live ammunition, 636 knives, seven locally made guns, 87 matchets, 17 bags of expired anti malaria drugs, five cartons of Codeine syrup, 23 mobile handsets, four tricycles, 78 cartons of sub-standard injections, among others.
Irans aviation authority has agreed to send black boxes from a downed Ukrainian jetliner to Kiev for analysis, Irans representative at the United Nations aviation agency told Reuters.

Farhad Parvaresh, who heads Irans delegation at the UNs Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization, said Tehrans civil aviation authority had also invited other interested countries to participate in reading the data, Global News reports.

The move ends a two-month stand-off over the fate of the recordings from the jet, which was shot down by the Iranian military on Jan 8 with the loss of all 176 people on board.

Two sources directly familiar with the matter said Iran had made the announcement to ICAOs governing council.

They did agree  that in the next two weeks or so they will bring the black boxes to Ukraine for reading and if that isnt possible they would go to France, a Canadian government source said. ICAO was not immediately available for comment.
The Sindh government in Pakistan has announced all educational institutions will remain closed till May 31 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, and postponed class nine and class 10 annual exams.

The decision was taken at an emergency Cabinet meeting, held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said on Thursday night.

Educational institutions, including schools and colleges, will reopen on June 1, he said, adding that annual exams for Class nine and Class 10 have been postponed.

The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan is 21, with the deadly virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year, claiming over 4,600 lives and infecting more than 124,330 people worldwide.

Pakistan's National Security Council is expected to meet on Friday, under the supervision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, over the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak.

Special assistant to the prime minister on health, Zafar Mirza, said in the coming days, there will be "some decisions and there will be some news" regarding the coronavirus situation in the country.

Mirza told this to a channel after a meeting at the Prime Minister's House.

The Sindh government has repeatedly said screening and quarantine facilities for passengers at the Jinnah International airport in Karachi and at the Taftan border with Iran was weak which had led to coronavirus cases emerging in Sindh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TORRINGTON  Five Points Gallery, 33 Main St., will open three concurrent exhibitions, Powerful Figures, a group show; Holocaust + 1.5 Million + Children, a mixed-media installation by Harriet Caldwell; and Bed Rest, mixed media works by Rebecca Zablocki. The three exhibits will run from March 13-April 18.

Powerful Figures, a group exhibition in the West Gallery, features works by five artists inspired by the human form. For his After Party paintings, Greg Kessler first drew cartoony, abstract portraits. He sliced them in half and collaged them, using these as sketches to paint from. Brian McClears oil paintings celebrate the world of tattoos, and the people whose bodies become their own canvases. East meets west in Karen Shaws multi-media work, for which she incorporates numerical Chinese ac-upuncture charts, the alphabet and long, lithe acupuncture needles.

In Slaves from a Slave Ship, multi-media artist Michelle Thomas embarked on a personal journey of looking back on life to glean self-knowledge. Positive images are imperative to help people of African descent gain a self-identity of love, respect and dignity. For Lisa Warrens paintings of family and friends, she first photographed her subjects to search for expressions that inspire and collected patterned fabrics as reference ma-terials before starting her highly personal paintings of daily life.

The East Gallery presents Holocaust + 1.5 Million + Children, multi-media artist Harriet Caldwells powerful work that came out of her exploration of Jewish history and her own genealogy. Focusing on the children of the Holocaust, her haunting, life-size cutouts represent those children, specifically twins, who struggled for survival  and perished  during WW II.

In the TDP Gallery, Bed Rest features work by emerging artist Rebecca Zablocki. Chronic health is-sues have always been a part of her life and in her work, the printmaker and multi-media artist juxta-poses objects of comfort with suffering (i.e. pillows filled with prescription pills) along with depictions of pain in her study of the human figure.

Five Points Gallery will hold two events in conjunction with the exhibitions: an opening reception from 6 - 8:30 p.m. Friday; and an Artists Panel Discussion moderated by Tracy Collamore at 6:30 p.m. April 3.

The exhibitions are sponsored by Brooks, Todd and McNeil Insurance.

Gallery hours are Thursdays through Mondays, 1-5 p.m., and by appointment. There is no admis-sion charge. Five Points exhibitions and educational events are free and open to the public. For more information go to www.fivepointsgallery.org Five Points is supported in part by the Connecticut Office of the Arts.
RTHK: EU slams Trump's unilateral travel ban

The European Union has slammed the new anti-virus travel ban announced by US President Donald Trump, lashing out at the "unilateral" decision.

In a joint statement, EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted that the coronavirus pandemic is a "global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action."

"The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to improve a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation," they said.

Given Italy's nationwide travel lockdown and other measures taken by all the bloc's 27 members, Von der Leyen and Michel dismissed Trump's suggestion that the EU has not done enough in fighting the disease.

They say the EU "is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus."

Trump had said that all European travel would be cut off, but US Homeland Security officials later clarified that the new restrictions apply only to most foreign nationals who have been in Europes passport-free travel zone at any point within 14 days prior to their arrival to the United States.

The so-called Schengen area comprises 26 countries including EU members France, Italy, German, Greece, Austria and Belgium, where the EU has its headquarters, but also others like Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

Trump said the month-long restriction on travel would begin late on Friday.

He accused Europe of not acting quickly enough to address the foreign virus and claimed that US clusters were seeded by European travellers. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi/Islamabad, March 12 : Pakistan's anti-corruption watchdog on Thursday arrested the editor-in-chief of one of the major media groups for illegal possession of a piece of land.

Pakistani media reported that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has arrested Mir Shakilur Rehman in Lahore for failing to show that he had bought a 54-kanal land legally.

While the NAB claimed that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had illegally leased the land to Rehman in 1986, the Jang group said the property "was bought from a private party 34 years ago and all evidence of this was given to the NAB." The Jang Group accused the NAB of harbouring a vendetta against the publication. "During the past 18 months, NAB has sent our reporters, producers and editors over a dozen notices threatening to shut down our channels due to our reporting and programmes about the anti-corruption watchdog.

"The NAB has also, through several means, tried to persuade us to go slow, to stop stories and to do other stories in its favour at the expense of the full truth. We will not stop any reporter, producer or anchor from any story that is on merit, and at the same time will include NAB's version," a statement of the media group read.

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz told reporters in Islamabad that this crackdown on the media is an old tactic. "Honest news anchors were targeted and sidelined and today you have arrested the head of a media house. This might block the news but it will not block the truth," she told the media.

Pakistani media quoted NAB spokesperson Nawazish Ali as saying that Rahman appeared in the case before the bureau for the second time on Thursday. However, he failed to satisfy officials with his responses. The anti-corruption watchdog will produce Rahman in front of the court on Friday for his physical remand.
"There's normally a lot of tourists here to feed the monkeys but now there are not as many, because of the coronavirus," a person in Lopburi, Thailand told a News Parliament reporter. As a results hundreds of the ravenous animals are "terrorising" the city "in search of food."

From the article:

Even locals who're used to the animals' behaviour appear stunned through their ferocity.

Onlooker Sasaluk Rattanachai, who captured the scene from out of doors a store the place she works, mentioned: "They seemed extra like wild canines than monkeys.

"They went loopy for the one piece of food. I've by no means noticed them this competitive.

"I believe the monkeys had been very, very hungry.
R esidents in Essex have joined forces to create a cleaning group to battle the spread of the coronavirus around Chigwell.

Volunteers armed with disinfectant and face masks have started scrubbing key germ hotspots frequented by the elderly and children, including Central line stations, bus stops, the library, petrol stations and hand railings around public footpaths.

The group, which now has 66 members, was set up by lawyer Pranav Bhanot, 31, who said he didnt want to sit around and wait for the virus to come to his area.

In one day he raised 350 to buy disinfectant and said he was fortunate that people in the area are willing to put their hands in their pockets".

Residents are cleaning "germ hotspots" / Pranav Bhanot

Globally the Covid-19 strain has infected more than 126,000. Ten UK citizens have died from the stain and 460 have been infected.

Speaking to the Standard, Mr Bhanot said he was previously involved in resident patrol groups aimed at cutting crime in Clayhall, east London.

He said he thought the same idea could be applied to health when he moved to Chigwell.

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. 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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 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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. 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In response to the rising number of coronavirus cases, residents in Chigwell and Chigwell Row in Essex decided that instead of waiting for cases to spread to Chigwell, a proactive stance is taken in an attempt to make our area as safe as possible, he said.

Volunteers have been recruited via social media throughout Chigwell and will be provided with face masks, gloves and cleaning equipment.

"These have been funded through sponsorship primarily through local businesses and entrepreneurs.

"Within the first few hours of launching the campaign, almost 200 has been raised to fund the cost of the detergent and equipment.

Mr Bhanot said the safety of the volunteers is also a primary concern and caution is being taken to make sure they are sufficiently fit.

They will also not clean in one large group but dispatched in smaller groups to different sites, with 15 volunteers working on Thursday.

The targeted areas include, the local Tube Stations (Grange Hill and Chigwell), bus stops, public play grounds in Chigwell and Chigwell Row, the Library, the petrol station and hand railings around public footpaths, he added.

We hope this initiative continues as frequently and on as many days as possible to help limit the risks of coronavirus spreading in our local area.

The aim of the initiative is not to cause panic or undue alarm but simply to be as proactive as possible. 
A has pulled up the Ministry of Planning for under-utilisation of funds in important areas and also flagged the issue of vacant positions in government think-tank

The Standing Committee on Finance, headed by Jayant Sinha, in a report noted that a scrutiny of the budget of the Ministry of Planning reveals under-utilisation of funds in important areas.

The budget estimates (BE) for the ministry for the year 2020-21 stand at Rs 650 crore.

According to the report, under the head Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), out of allocated funds of Rs 11 crore for 2019-20, only Rs 6.18 crore was utilised till December 2019, which is 56.18 per cent of the total allocation.

Similarly, for Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), out of the allocated funds of Rs 120 crore, only Rs 61 crore was utilised, which is 50.83 per cent of allocation.

The committee said it is constrained to note that even after four years of the constitution of DMEO, which comes under the Niti Aayog, more than 100 positions are vacant out of the sanctioned strength of 157.

Noting that a large number of private professionals and consultant firms are being engaged by the ministry, especially for evaluation of schemes, the report said "the Committee expect that the qualifications are well laid down and recruitment are done in a transparent manner and open tendering process be followed for engaging the consultant firms."



Appreciating for bringing out SDG India Index 2019 covering all SDGs, the panel said it would like to recommend the ministry to consider options of bringing out a similar index taking districts as the base.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 10:26:10|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The first COVID-19 case was reported in the Australian capital Canberra on Thursday.

According to Andrew Barr, chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory, a man in his 30s became unwell on Tuesday.

"I regret to inform Canberrans that we have our first case of COVID-19 in the territory," Barr said at a press conference.

A report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said that the man has not been overseas in the past a couple of weeks.

"We are expecting more in the coming weeks," Barr said, while urging the Canberrans to "minimize the spread of the virus" by practicing good hygiene.

Also on Thursday, Hollywood star Tom Hanks and his wife, who are in Gold Coast, tested positive for the COVID-19.

"Rita and I are down here in Australia," said Hanks. "We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too ... We were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive."

So far Australia has recorded over 110 cases of COVID-19, and the diagnosis of the two Hollywood heavyweights takes the total number of confirmed cases in Queensland to at least 20.
Xavier University of Louisiana said Wednesday night that it will cancel in-class instruction and transition its courses online, the latest in a string of similar announcements related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Xavier, which has 3,325 students, said the change will be effective Monday and although the campus will remain open, all large gatherings will be cancelled after the close of business on Friday.

+17 Louisiana's coronavirus cases more than double in 1 day and send state into public health emergency The number of presumed cases of coronavirus more than doubled over 24 hours in Louisiana, reaching 13 patients Wednesday -- including three d

Competitive sporting events will occur, but be closed to spectators.

There were 13 presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Louisiana by Wednesday, when the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic.

Xavier joined Tulane, Loyola, the University of New Orleans, Dillard and the University of Holy Cross in making the decision Wednesday.

Stay with The Times-Picayune|The New Orleans Advocate as this story develops.
Small and medium-sized businesses are expected to bring forward spending after the federal government's "extraordinary" expansion of the instant asset write-off scheme to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

The Morrison government on Thursday confirmed the write-off threshold would be lifted fivefold to $150,000 and extended to businesses with annual turnover of up to $500 million, from $50 million.

COSBOA's Peter Strong said the increase was "extraordinary" and a "clever" policy move. Credit:Pat Scala

Businesses have until June 30 to take advantage of the higher limit. New equipment, computer hardware, office fit-outs and furniture, and vehicles are among the assets potentially eligible for the write-off.

The measure is expected to lower taxes paid by Australian businesses by $2.5 billion over the next two years and have a net cost of $700 million over the forward estimates.
PIBTL likely to become hub of cement/coal handling

12 March 2020

The Directors of Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Ltd (PIBT) has released the detailed financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2019. During the period, Pakistan's only coal and clinker/cement terminal at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim has handled 44.07Mt cargo against 39.66Mt in the same period last year. It depicts a modest growth of 11.1 per cent, with consistent performance.



The management of the company is focussing on strategies to increase the efficiency in cargo handling operations, to provide unparalleled services to its customers, said the terminal's CEO Sharique Azim Siddiqui, in the half-yearly report.

PIBT has earned a net profit of PKR864m (US$5.43m) in 6MFY20 against loss of PKR1.4 bn in the same accounting period of last year.



A local research house expectes the terminal to increase its profitability as soon as it is connected with railway line as per Pakistan railway plans to construct railway track to tie up PIBTL's terminal with railway network, subject to approval from the Planning Commission. Going forward, experts expect this will bode well for terminal utilisation for both coal and cement handling in addition that this will improve terminal use as it provides more cost-effective solution to its consumers.



Coal demand from cement sector likely to improve

Cement demand has increased by 6.5 per cent in 6MFY20, while momentum is likely to continue once construction of Dams and Naya Pakistan Housing schemes start to materialise. Similarly, coal demand from power sector is also likely to increase once electricity demand increases from April onwards. It is estimated that Pakistan's coal demand is likely to reach 32Mta, driven from both power and cement sectors in FY23.

Published under
ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE: AJG) today announced the appointment of Christopher C. Miskel to the company's Board of Directors.

Mr. Miskel is President and Chief Executive Officer of Versiti, Inc. Previously, he served in senior management roles at Baxter International, Inc., Baxalta Incorporated, and Shire plc. Prior to that, he served in roles of increasing responsibility at Eli Lilly and Company, including management positions in Australia and New Zealand.

"We are pleased to welcome Chris to our Board of Directors," said J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. "His senior leadership experience in the healthcare industry and his significant sales and marketing experience will add a valuable perspective to our Board of Directors. Our Board and executive management team look forward to working with Chris and benefitting from his judgment and counsel."

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 49 countries and offers client-service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants.

Investors: Ray Iardella Media: Linda J. Collins VP  Investor Relations VP  Corporate Communications 630-285-3661/ [email protected] 630-285-4009/ [email protected]

SOURCE Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Related Links

http://www.ajg.com


The Cleveland Clinic has developed a coronavirus test that will be able to deliver results in just eight hours.

It will be significantly faster than tests available at other US public health laboratories, which take between two to seven days to confirm results.

Once the medical center, based in Ohio, received approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on March 2 to begin manufacturing a test, it reportedly took just nine days to produce the kit.

Doctors hope it will significantly speed up the testing process so positive patients can be identified and placed in isolation more quickly to prevent others from getting sick.

The Cleveland Clinic (pictured), in Ohio, has developed a coronavirus test that can deliver results in eight hours

Most other tests performed at labs take between two to seven days to confirm a positive or negative test. Pictured: A medical technologist tests a respiratory panel at Northwell Health Labs in New York where the same test will be used on coronavirus samples, March 11

As of Thursday just 11,079 specimens have been tested at CDC labs and US public health laboratories. Pictured: A woman who tested positive with coronavirus is brought to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in an isolation pod, Friday March 6

Cleveland Clinic has purchased equipment to run the tests, but first they must be validated, spokesperson Angie Kiska told News 5 Cleveland.

Validation is a process that makes sure tests are properly identifying positive samples.

Researchers add reagents - a substance or a compound - to the test to determine if a reaction occurs.

'We will essentially be performing the same test that's used by the [CDC] after we complete our validation process,' Andrea Pacetti, another Clinic spokeswoman, told The Plain Dealer.

Once the process is complete, the Clinic will begin in-house testing later this month rather than sending samples to the CDC or Ohio Department of Health.

The medical center said it is also planning different ways to test patients, and is considering doing drive-thru testing.

Worldwide, more than 128,000 people in more than 100 countries have been infected and more than 4,700 people have died

It comes on the heels of criticism surrounding the delay of officials to conduct widespread testing.

Less than week after the CDC shipped its first batch of kits, several state labs said the diagnostic was returning 'inconclusive results.'

This forced the federal health agency to remanufacture components of the kit.

Ever since the CDC started to address this issue, delays have continued.

As of Thursday, just 11,079 specimens have been tested for the virus that causes COVID-19 at CDC labs and US public health laboratories.

At a Monday press conference, Vice President Mike Pence said that one million test kits had been distributed and that four million were expected to go about by the end of this week or the next.

However, he did not specify where the kits were sent to, or would be sent to.

Both Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Vice President Pence said the government currently does not have enough kits to keep up with demand.

One-third of staff at Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, the epicenter of one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the US, are reporting symptoms, but only 30 have been tested so far. Pictured: Lori Spencer visits her mom Judie Shape, 81, who has tested positive for coronavirus at Life Care, March 11

This has particularly been evident at Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, the epicenter of one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the US.

One-third of the long-term care facility'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 128,000 people in more than 100 countries have been infected and more than 4,700 people have died.

In the US, there are more than 1,500 cases and 39 people have died.
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.
A rare, medieval diamond and gold brooch thought to be 600 years old has been snapped up by the Victoria & Albert Museum.

A hobby metal detectorist discovered the flower-shaped brooch, one of only seven known in the world, at a former royal and aristocratic hunting ground.

The V&A has acquired it to sit alongside Queen Victoria's coronet and Beyonce's Papillon ring.

The brooch, which has been described as priceless, is only the second acquisition the V&A has ever made through the National Treasure Act.

The flower-shaped brooch is one of only seven known in the world / PA

The jewelled cluster brooch was cleaned with pheasant and ostrich feathers to limit damage as layers of dirt were removed from the object.

Thought to be around 600 years old, it was found near Brigstock in Northamptonshire in 2017.

But its discovery, during an organised dig on the ex-hunting ground which is now a farm, has remained under wraps until now.

Justin Owens, who was on the dig with his wife Helen, said he only had to search four inches (10cm) into the ground to uncover the treasure.

"Finding the brooch was a complete surprise - I couldn't believe it," said Mr Owens, who has been a hobby detectorist for around four years.

"At best I'd hope to come across a Roman or medieval hammered coin on a dig, but to find something so rare and valuable as this was a total shock.

"When I first found it, it was absolutely caked in mud. I didn't have high hopes, thinking it might be an old bottle top or something.

"But what a discovery! Now I've seen it cleaned up by the V&A's conservators, I can't believe how exquisite it really is.

"The gold work is incredible and the jewels are stunning. It's amazing to think who might have worn this and how it ended up buried underground, undisturbed for so many years.

"I'm excited it's now in the V&A's collection and on display in its jewellery gallery for everyone to enjoy. I'm looking forward to visiting myself very soon."

The brooch goes on display in the V&A's William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery from Thursday.

It also will feature in the final episode of BBC Two's Secrets Of The Museum documentary series.
SAO PAULO, March 11 (Reuters) - Brazil's Economy Minister Paulo Guedes urged both Senate and lower house leaders late on Tuesday to speed up the government's economic reform agenda amid a worsening crisis triggered by the coronavirus outbreak.

"Considering the worsening of the international crisis due to the spread of the coronavirus and the need to shield the Brazilian economy, the Economy Ministry proposes to accelerate the agenda it has been conducting with Congress," Guedes said.

This suggests Brazil's right wing administration is doubling down on its fiscal discipline and commitment to meeting its budget targets. On Tuesday, special secretary to the Economy Ministry Waldery Rodrigues said the government must maintain its "fiscal zeal" despite the growing crisis.

In letters to Senate President Davi Alcolumbre and lower house speaker Rodrigo Maia, Guedes highlighted bills on central bank autonomy, the privatization of state-run utility Eletrobras , and the fiscal balance plan, among other proposals.

Guedes also cited the need to approve other reforms such as the new 'federative pact' framework governing the flow of funding between central and local governments, which is already being analyzed in Congress.

In the letters, he added that President Jair Bolsonaro is likely to submit an 'administrative reform' proposal to Congress "soon." Regarding tax reform, Guedes said its team is still working on the final text.

"Approving these matters above in the first half of this year can protect Brazil from the external crisis," Guedes said, adding his team was closely monitoring how the international and domestic economies were evolving. (Reporting by Marcela Ayres in Brasilia and Pedro Fonseca in Rio de Janeiro; Writing by Gabriela Mello; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
US defense leaders said Thursday they know who launched the rockets in Iraq that killed and wounded US and coalition troops and the Shia militia group responsible will be held accountable.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters at the Pentagon that he spoke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday night and has the authority to do what he needs to do.

We're going to take this one step at a time, but we've got to hold the perpetrators accountable, Esper said.

You don't get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it.

Esper and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, declined to provide any more information about any impending U.S. retaliation for the attack at Camp Taji north of Baghdad.

Two U.S. troops and one British service member were killed and 14 other personnel at the base were wounded when 18 rockets hit the base on Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bansy Kalappa By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: In what seems like an appointment borne out of a crisis, the Congress appointed Shivakumar as KPCC president. As the Madhya Pradesh government totters, the party chose its trusted troubleshooter for the top job, considering that 19 of its disgruntled MLAs from that state are still in Bengaluru. But loyal Shivakumar supporters questioned, Werent they thinking of him before this?



Nevertheless, Congress workers and supporters rejoiced, saying that the appointment is a shot in the arm for the party to get back to power. The Congress vote share, which had gone up by 1.5 per cent in the state in 2018, as compared to the 2013 election, had dipped precariously in the Vokkaliga strongholds where the JDS had reigned supreme. Shivakumars appointment is expected to help the Congress in those segments as the Vokkaliga strongman has considerable clout among the community members.

Pointing out that Shivakumar had been tasked with winning elections in many parts of the state  Ballari, Shivamogga, Kundgol, Gundlupet  his supporters said very few Vokkaliga leaders have a pan-Karnataka appeal. The party too needed a strong leader after 14 of its MLAs left the party and joined the BJP, bringing down the coalition government.

What does his appointment mean for the ruling BJP? With the consolidation of two major caste groups  the Vokkaligas and Kurubas  along with traditional Congress votes, the saffron partys chances, despite enjoying support of the Lingayats, appear blighted.Shivakumar tweeted, We will work unitedly to bring the Congress back to power in Karnataka.

Shivakumar, who turns 58 in about two months, has been through the rough and tumble of politics. He has remained a Gandhi family loyalist, despite the alleged allurements dangled by the BJP central leadership while he was being investigated by the income tax department and Enforcement Directorate. This is not Shivakumars first stint at the helm of party affairs. He served as working president between 2008-10 when RV Deshpande was president. It was during this time that they held a padayatra to Ballari over the mining scandal and went on to win the assembly election. JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy congratulated Shivakumar, but he might see the rise of another Vokkaliga power centre as a threat to his party, which depends solely on the Vokkaliga votes. For starters, Ramesh Babu, who quit the JDS as national secretary, could join the Congress.

What does it mean for BJP?

With the consolidation of two major caste groups  the Vokkaligas and Kurubas  along with traditional Congress votes, the saffron partys chances, despite enjoying support of the Lingayats, appear blighted. Shivakumar tweeted, We will work unitedly to bring the Congress back to power in Karnataka.
(Newser)  "We need to make sure that Latinos who are eligible to vote are registered and we get them to the polls," Mike Bloomberg said Thursday in announcing a $500,000 donation to the effort. The billionaire said the money would go to Voto Latino, a group co-founded by actress Rosario Dawson and political rights activist Maria Teresa Kumar, to help register 500,000 new voters. When asked why Bloomberg recently donated $2 million to Collective Future, a nonprofit aimed at registering black voters, but only a fraction of that amount to Voto Latino, a rep for Bloomberg referred NBC News to Kumar, who said this was just the "beginning of a partnership." She noted "there are 15 million unregistered Latino voters in the country, 4 million that have come of age since the last election."

story continues below

In that time, President Trump has been "attacking and slandering Latino communities, but in November, Latinos will have a chance to make their voices heard," Bloomberg said in a statement. Voto Latino, which received a $1 million donation from Steve Madden in October, is pushing to enfranchise 1 million young Latino voters by November. It says it's already registered more than 81,000 citizens, 75% of whom are aged 18 to 34, per the Hill. While Bloomberg has endorsed Joe Biden, many young and new Latino voters have supported Bernie Sanders in early Democratic primaries, per NBC. The outlet adds "this will be the first year Hispanics make up the largest non-white population of eligible voters," at an estimated 32 million. (Rosario has backed Sanders, while her boyfriend, Cory Booker, picked another.)
The State Of Florida Issues Update On COVID-19 Tallahassee, FL  The State of Florida is responding to COVID-19. In an effort to keep Florida residents and visitors safe and aware regarding the status of the virus, the Florida Department of Health will issue this update every day, seven days per week.

On March 9, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-52, declaring a State of Emergency for COVID-19. By declaring a State of Emergency, Governor DeSantis is ensuring that state and local governments have the resources and flexibility they need to prepare and respond.

COVID-19 UPDATE On March 10, the Department of Health announced eight new cases of COVID-19 in Florida, seven of which are Florida residents: New Positive Cases A 68-year old male in Nassau County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel-related case.

A 68-year old female Georgia resident who is currently in Alachua County, Florida, has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. The Georgia Department of Public Health is leading the epidemiological investigation for this individual.

A 73-year old male in Collier County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel-related case.

A 68-year old female in Collier County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel-related case.

A 64-year old female in Collier County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel-related case.

A 67-year old male in Pinellas County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel-related case.

A 64-year old male in Pinellas County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel-related case.

A 46-year old male in Pasco County has been identified as positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. This is a travel-related case. COVID-19 Cases Florida Residents Diagnosed in Florida

County Age Sex Travel Related* 1 Manatee 63 Male No 2 Hillsborough 29 Female Yes 3 Santa Rosa 71 Male Yes 4 Broward 75 Male No 5 Broward 65 Male No 6 Lee 77 Female Yes 7 Lee 77 Male Yes 8 Charlotte 54 Female Yes 9 Okaloosa 61 Female Yes 10 Volusia 66 Female Yes 11 Manatee 81 Female Yes 12 Broward 67 Male No 13 Volusia 60 Female Yes 14 Broward 69 Female No 15 Nassau 68 Male Yes 16 Collier 73 Male Yes 17 Collier 68 Female Yes 18 Collier 64 Female Yes 19 Pinellas 67 Male Yes 20 Pinellas 64 Male Yes 21 Pasco 46 Male Yes *A known history of exposure to COVID-19 outside of the state. Port Everglades Advisory On March 10, the Department announced a new positive case of COVID-19 in Broward County. The Department, through an extensive epidemiological investigation, identified this new case as the third positive case of COVID-19 associated with Port Everglades in Broward County, Florida. All three cases are connected to or employed by Metro Cruise Services  a company that operates at Port Everglades. The Florida Department of Health recommends that all individuals experiencing symptoms who have recently traveled through Port Everglades immediately contact their County Health Department or health care provider and self-isolate for 14 days.

The Department also recommends employees of Metro Cruise Services at Port Everglades with any association to these cases self-isolate at home.

The Department is working to connect with all employees at Metro Cruise Services who may have come into contact with the three individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 to provide the employees with the appropriate guidance and monitoring.

The Department is working in close consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on this investigation.

CDC recommends that individuals with recent travel history on a cruise monitor their health for 14 days and, if they develop symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact their County Health Department or health care provider. International Travel Advisory The Florida Department of Health is advising all individuals who have traveled internationally to follow CDC guidelines, summarized below: Level 3: CDC recommends 14-day self-isolation and social distancing upon return to the United States. Social distancing includes avoiding going out in public and close personal interactions. If you become symptomatic, immediately self-isolate and contact your County Health Department or health care provider.

CDC recommends 14-day self-isolation and social distancing upon return to the United States. Social distancing includes avoiding going out in public and close personal interactions. If you become symptomatic, immediately self-isolate and contact your County Health Department or health care provider. Level 2 and Cruises: Travelers should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the United States. If you become symptomatic, immediately self-isolate and contact your county health department or health care provider.

Travelers should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the United States. If you become symptomatic, immediately self-isolate and contact your county health department or health care provider. For more information regarding current CDC travel advisories related to COVID-19, visit: htt p s: / / www.cdc. g ov / coronavirus / 2019-ncov / travelers / index.html A person that experiences a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan and any other destination under CDC travel advisory should call ahead to their health care provider or local County Health Department (CHD) and mention their recent travel or close contact. If a person has had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from areas or been in contact with a person with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, they should call ahead to a health care professional and the County Health Department. The health care professional will work with the Department to determine if the person should be tested for COVID-19. Nile Cruise Advisory The Florida Department of Health is advising all individuals who traveled to Egypt for a cruise or tour on the Nile River in February or March 2020 to self-isolate for 14 days following their date of return to the United States. Several passengers in the United States recently developed symptoms and have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, including 10 positive cases in Florida. COVID Public Website and Call Center Please visit the Departments dedicated COVID-19 webpage for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Departments dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling (866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov. What you Should Know COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from COVID-19 without needing special treatment. The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The Department recommends everyday preventive actions to help stop the spread of respiratory diseases, including: Avoiding close contact with people who are sick;

Staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with persons in poor health;

Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;

Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then disposing of the tissue;

Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;

If soap and water 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; and

Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. CDC does not recommend that asymptomatic, healthy people 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). For more information, visit http://columbia.floridahealth.gov/
Babies as young as eight months can understand the basics of grammar before they even start speaking, scientists have said.

Researchers in France found that infants as young as eight months are able to distinguish between so-called function words from content words.

Function words include articles, pronouns or prepositions, whereas content words, include nouns, verbs and adjectives.

The findings show that babies are able to understand grammatical construction much earlier than was previously thought.

Infants do not typically start stringing words together until they reach around the age of two years old.

Scroll down for video

Babies can understand the basics of grammar months before they start speaking, scientists have said. Pictured, in the study, infants listened to a four-minute recording of a made-up language in which frequent words  imitating function words  alternated with rarer ones intended to emulate content words

'It is often believed that grammar is something complicated that babies learn once they know a large number of words,' said neuroscientist and paper author Judit Gervain of the University of Paris.

'Here, we show that they already start learning the grammar at the same time as they start learning words.'

In their study, the researchers recruited 175 eight-month-old babies from French-speaking households.

The infants listened to a four-minute recording of a made-up language in which frequent words  imitating function words  alternated with rarer ones intended to emulate content words.

The babies' word preferences were evaluated by observing how long they looked at circular displays associated with each made-up word.

'We used the head turn preference procedure, which involves a baby sitting on a care-giver's lap and looking at looming circles in front of them and on each side,' explained Dr Gervain.

'We measured how much time an infant spends looking at the circle  which is our indirect measure of how much attention they pay to the sound.'

Researchers in France have found that infants as young as eight months are able to distinguish between function words - such as articles, pronouns or prepositions - and content words, which include nouns, verbs or adjectives (stock image)

The researchers found that their young test subjects understood that function words were more frequent and came before content words.

The results showed that the infants were able to quickly adapt to new content words, but showed little interest for newly introduced function words.

'Our findings suggest that eight-month-old infants are sensitive to frequency and positional information in the language input,' the researchers wrote in their paper.

'Moreover, they use this information to build rudimentary representations of grammar.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Current Biology.
[March 12, 2020] Global InGaAs Camera Industry

NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- InGaAs Camera market worldwide is projected to grow by US$66.1 Million, driven by a compounded growth of 8.7%. Cooled Camera, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 7.9%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$51.2 Million by the year 2025, Cooled Camera will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05819459/?utm_source=PRN - Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 9.9% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$3.1 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$3.1 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Cooled Camera will reach a market size of US$4.5 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 8.4% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$11.4 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific. 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, AC Photonics, Inc.

Allied Vision Technologies GmbH

Cosemi Technologies, Inc.

Discovery Semiconductors, Inc.

Edmund Optics, Inc.

Episensors, Inc.

Excelitas Technologies Corporation

Fermionics Opto-Technology

First Sensor AG

FLIR Systems, Inc.

GPD Optoelectronics Corp.

Hamamatsu Photonics KK

Ircamera LLC.

Jenoptik AG

Kyocera Corporation

Laser Components GmbH

Lumentum Holdings Inc.

Luna Innovations, Inc.

New England Photoconductor Corp.

New Imaging technologies

Photon Energy NV

Precision Micro-Optics Inc.

Princeton Instruments, Inc.

QPhotonics, LLC.

Raptor Photonics Limited

Roithner Lasertechnik GmbH

Sensors Unlimited Inc.

Sofradir Group

Teledyne Technologies Inc.

Thorlabs, Inc.

Voxtel, Inc.

Xenics NV







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05819459/?utm_source=PRN



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE



II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Product Overview

InGaAs Camera: A Prelude

Global Competitor Market Shares

InGaAs Camera Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide

(in %): 2019 & 2025





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Innovations & Advancements





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: InGaAs Camera Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in

US$ by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: InGaAs Camera Market Share Shift across Key

Geographies Worldwide: 2019 VS 2025

Table 3: Cooled Camera (Camera Cooling technology) World Market

by Region/Country in US$: 2018 to 2025

Table 4: Cooled Camera (Camera Cooling technology) Market Share

Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 5: Uncooled Camera (Camera Cooling technology) Potential

Growth Markets Worldwide in US$: 2018 to 2025

Table 6: Uncooled Camera (Camera Cooling technology) Market

Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2019 VS 2025

Table 7: Area Scan Camera (Scanning Type) Geographic Market

Spread Worldwide in US$: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: Area Scan Camera (Scanning Type) Market Share

Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 9: Line Scan Camera (Scanning Type) World Market

Estimates and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$: 2018 to 2025

Table 10: Line Scan Camera (Scanning Type) Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 11: Military & Defense (Application) Worldwide Latent

Demand Forecasts in US$ by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 12: Military & Defense (Application) Distribution of

Global Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 13: Industrial Automation (Application) Sales Estimates

and Forecasts in US$ by Region/Country for the Years 2018

through 2025

Table 14: Industrial Automation (Application) Global Market

Share Distribution by Region/Country for 2019 and 2025

Table 15: Scientific Research (Application) Global Opportunity

Assessment in US$ by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 16: Scientific Research (Applicaton) Percentage Share







Table 17: Surveillance, Safety, and Security (Application)

Worldwide Sales in US$ by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 18: Surveillance, Safety, and Security (Application)

Market Share Shift across Key Geographies: 2019 VS 2025

Table 19: Other Applications (Application) Global Market

Estimates & Forecasts in US$ by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 20: Other Applications (Application) Market Share

Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025





III. MARKET ANALYSIS





GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Facts & Figures

US InGaAs Camera Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 21: United States InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ by Camera Cooling technology: 2018 to 2025

Table 22: United States InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by

Camera Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 23: United States InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and

Projections in US$ by Scanning Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 24: United States InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by

Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 25: United States InGaAs Camera Latent Demand Forecasts

in US$ by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 26: InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown in the United

States by Application: 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Table 27: Canadian InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ by Camera Cooling technology: 2018 to 2025

Table 28: InGaAs Camera Market in Canada : Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Camera Cooling technology for 2019 and

2025

Table 29: Canadian InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ by Scanning Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 30: InGaAs Camera Market in Canada : Percentage Share

Breakdown of Sales by Scanning Type for 2019 and 2025

Table 31: Canadian InGaAs Camera Market Quantitative Demand

Analysis in US$ by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 32: Canadian InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

JAPAN

Table 33: Japanese Market for InGaAs Camera: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ by Camera Cooling technology

for the Period 2018-2025

Table 34: Japanese InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Camera Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 35: Japanese Market for InGaAs Camera: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ by Scanning Type for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 36: Japanese InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 37: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for InGaAs

Camera in US$ by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 38: InGaAs Camera Market Share Shift in Japan by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Table 39: Chinese InGaAs Camera Market Growth Prospects in US$

by Camera Cooling technology for the Period 2018-2025

Table 40: Chinese InGaAs Camera Market by Camera Cooling

technology: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2019 and 2025

Table 41: Chinese InGaAs Camera Market Growth Prospects in US$

by Scanning Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 42: Chinese InGaAs Camera Market by Scanning Type:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2019 and 2025

Table 43: Chinese Demand for InGaAs Camera in US$ by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 44: Chinese InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

EUROPE

Market Facts & Figures

European InGaAs Camera Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario

(in %) for 2019 & 2025

Market Analytics

Table 45: European InGaAs Camera Market Demand Scenario in US$

by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 46: European InGaAs Camera Market Share Shift by

Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025

Table 47: European InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ by Camera Cooling technology: 2018-2025

Table 48: European InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by

Camera Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 49: European InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and Forecasts

in US$ by Scanning Type: 2018-2025

Table 50: European InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by

Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 51: European InGaAs Camera Addressable Market Opportunity

in US$ by Application: 2018-2025

Table 52: European InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 53: InGaAs Camera Market in France by Camera Cooling

technology: Estimates and Projections in US$ for the Period

2018-2025

Table 54: French InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by Camera

Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 55: InGaAs Camera Market in France by Scanning Type:

Estimates and Projections in US$ for the Period 2018-2025

Table 56: French InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 57: InGaAs Camera Quantitative Demand Analysis in France

in US$ by Application: 2018-2025

Table 58: French InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis: A 7-Year

Perspective by Application for 2019 and 2025

GERMANY

Table 59: InGaAs Camera Market in Germany : Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in US$ by Camera Cooling technology for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 60: German InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by Camera

Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 61: InGaAs Camera Market in Germany : Recent Past, Current

and Future Analysis in US$ by Scanning Type for the Period

2018-2025

Table 62: German InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by

Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 63: InGaAs Camera Market in Germany : Annual Sales

Estimates and Forecasts in US$ by Application for the Period

2018-2025

Table 64: InGaAs Camera Market Share Distribution in Germany by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Table 65: Italian InGaAs Camera Market Growth Prospects in US$

by Camera Cooling technology for the Period 2018-2025

Table 66: Italian InGaAs Camera Market by Camera Cooling

technology: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2019 and 2025

Table 67: Italian InGaAs Camera Market Growth Prospects in US$

by Scanning Type for the Period 2018-2025

Table 68: Italian InGaAs Camera Market by Scanning Type:

Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2019 and 2025

Table 69: Italian Demand for InGaAs Camera in US$ by

Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 70: Italian InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Table 71: United Kingdom Market for InGaAs Camera: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ by Camera Cooling technology

for the Period 2018-2025

Table 72: United Kingdom InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Camera Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 73: United Kingdom Market for InGaAs Camera: Annual Sales

Estimates and Projections in US$ by Scanning Type for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 74: United Kingdom InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 75: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for

InGaAs Camera in US$ by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 76: InGaAs Camera Market Share Shift in the United

Kingdom by Application: 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Table 77: Rest of Europe InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ by Camera Cooling technology: 2018-2025

Table 78: Rest of Europe InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown

by Camera Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 79: Rest of Europe InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ by Scanning Type: 2018-2025

Table 80: Rest of Europe InGaAs Camera Market Share Breakdown

by Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 81: Rest of Europe InGaAs Camera Addressable Market

Opportunity in US$ by Application: 2018-2025

Table 82: Rest of Europe InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 83: InGaAs Camera Market in Asia-Pacific by Camera

Cooling technology: Estimates and Projections in US$ for the

Period 2018-2025

Table 84: Asia-Pacific InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Camera Cooling technology: 2019 VS 2025

Table 85: InGaAs Camera Market in Asia-Pacific by Scanning

Type: Estimates and Projections in US$ for the Period 2018-2025

Table 86: Asia-Pacific InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Scanning Type: 2019 VS 2025

Table 87: InGaAs Camera Quantitative Demand Analysis in

Asia-Pacific in US$ by Application: 2018-2025

Table 88: Asia-Pacific InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis:

A 7-Year Perspective by Application for 2019 and 2025

REST OF WORLD

Table 89: Rest of World InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ by Camera Cooling technology: 2018 to 2025

Table 90: InGaAs Camera Market in Rest of World: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Camera Cooling technology for 2019

and 2025

Table 91: Rest of World InGaAs Camera Market Estimates and

Forecasts in US$ by Scanning Type: 2018 to 2025

Table 92: InGaAs Camera Market in Rest of World: Percentage

Share Breakdown of Sales by Scanning Type for 2019 and 2025

Table 93: Rest of World InGaAs Camera Market Quantitative

Demand Analysis in US$ by Application: 2018 to 2025

Table 94: Rest of World InGaAs Camera Market Share Analysis by

Application: 2019 VS 2025





IV. COMPETITION



AC PHOTONICS, INC.

ALLIED VISION TECHNOLOGIES GMBH

COSEMI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

DISCOVERY SEMICONDUCTORS

EDMUND OPTICS

EPISENSORS, INC.

EXCELITAS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

FLIR SYSTEMS

FERMIONICS OPTO-TECHNOLOGY

FIRST SENSOR AG

GPD OPTOELECTRONICS

HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK

IRCAMERA

JENOPTIK AG

KYOCERA CORPORATION

LASER COMPONENTS GMBH

LUMENTUM HOLDINGS

LUNA INNOVATIONS

NEW ENGLAND PHOTOCONDUCTOR CORP.

NEW IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES

PHOTON ENERGY NV

PRECISION MICRO-OPTICS

PRINCETON INSTRUMENTS

QPHOTONICS, LLC.

RAPTOR PHOTONICS LIMITED

ROITHNER LASERTECHNIK GMBH

SENSORS UNLIMITED

SOFRADIR GROUP

TELEDYNE TECHNOLOGIES

THORLABS

VOXTEL

XENICS NV

LAMBDA PHOTOMETRICS LTD.

SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

FIRST LIGHT IMAGING SAS

PHOTON ETC INC.

V. CURATED RESEARCH

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05819459/?utm_source=PRN



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In 2019, the U.S. Patent and Trademark office issued 726 patents with at least one Rochester inventor listed. While that's down from 767 patents in 2018, the Med City still ranks high, with 11.57 patents per 10,000 people.

Depending on how it is calculated, Rochester is usually in the top tier of lists of inventive cities, next to such brainy communities as the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California metro; Burlington, Vermont; and Poughkeepsie, New York.

Med City inventors have been issued more than 12,200 patents in the past 44 years. IBM accounted for 9,424 of those patents. About 1,000 were assigned to Mayo Clinic.

While IBM and Mayo Clinic are the big leaders in Rochester patents, there are plenty of other local inventors with ideas ranging from devices for teaching people how to play the trombone to electric ice rink re-surfacers to toddler place mats.

Faster learning

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Often, the path to a patent starts in someone's living room, where an inventive mind considers a problem and how to solve it.

For Randy Stroetz, the problem was that it's not easy to learn to play the trombone.

As a lifelong player whose father taught the instrument and performed professionally, Stroetz well knows the difficulties of learning how to play the horn with a slide.

The traditional way to teach how to move the slide to the seven positions is for young players to watch the slide. However, watching the slide is considered a bad habit among players and it's a slow learning process.

"It is an old, old, old problem," he said in his Rochester living room. "I don't think teachers have really thought that process through real carefully, because they don't know any other way to teach that."

The end result is that it takes new trombone players a lot longer to learn the basics of how to play a simple song compared to their peers who are picking up instruments with specific buttons for the notes, like saxophones or trumpets.

"New trombone players are going to suck for longer. Learning the slide positions is a foundational thing... It really slows them down," said Stroetz. "That why trombone has such a high attrition rate."

'I like to tinker'

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After he retired from Mayo Clinic, Stroetz thought about the problem a lot. He did a variety of things at Mayo, including working as a registered nurse and respiratory therapist. At the end of his time at Mayo Clinic, he worked in a research lab helping make whatever was needed.

A pulmonologist recruited him to work in the lab, because he saw that "I have a knack for coming up with ways to solve problems with technology," said Stroetz. "I like to tinker."

Given that skill and an inventive mind, in his retirement he focused on finding a solution to the old trombone education problem.

After thousands of hours of work and hundreds of failed prototypes, Stroetz created the TromboneBuddy. It's a small, adjustable device made of carbon fiber, 3D-printed plastic, rubber and magnets.

On July 9, 2019, he was issued U.S. Patent No. 10,347,230 for his invention. While Stroetz has his name on patents for creations made during his time at Mayo Clinic, this is his first independent invention.

The device clamps securely to the trombone slide. The magnets cause a tactile 'notch' feeling at the slide positions to provide a guide for new players. It also prevents young players from accidentally pushing the slide completely off and damaging the horn, as many newbies do.

It makes it easier for a new player to ingrain those slide positions into their brain, like being able to find a light switch in the dark.

He has been selling the TromboneBuddy at music conferences, through local retailers like Music Mart and online through his website, trombonebuddy.com . About 50 to 100 of his educational aids are in use around the country. He hopes that number will grow.

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While the success of the business would make him happy, the big goal is to help others find joy in playing the horn that he loves so much.

"If I can make it easier for new players ... I feel good about that," he said.

Patents can boost a city's economic profile

Having a lot of inventors can be great for a city.

Having a lot of patents is even better.

Patents translate into valuable intellectual property that can be licensed to companies, spur partnerships or, in some cases, turn into local businesses. While patents aren't a direct pipeline for local jobs or even revenue, they certainly can open the door to such economic development.

"It's a great thing for Rochester, because these (patented ideas) will be in Rochester," said Mayo Clinic Ventures Chairman Andy Danielsen. "And some of them will turn into companies that have jobs, pay taxes and build up our economic base here in Rochester."

While the number of local start-ups based on Rochester intellectual property is growing, it is still rare for an idea to turn into profitable business.

"It's darn near magic when it happens. Thank goodness it does happen. That's how we get advancements," said Danielsen.

Rochester has tallied more than 700 patents each year since 2014.

The official database of U.S. patents online only goes back to 1976. In 1976, Rochester inventors were issued 25 patents.

Patents and patients

The early philosophy of Mayo Clinic was that research should further the cause of medicine, but it should not directly enrich the clinic.

Over the years that belief evolved, until Mayo Clinic changed its policies in 2013 under then-CEO Dr. John Noseworthy to encourage doctors and researchers to look for ways to translate ideas into products that can help patients.

{{tncms-inline alignment="right" content="<p>Patents issued with at least one Rochester, Minn. inventor.</p> <p>2019 - 726</p> <p>2018 - 767</p> <p>2017 - 758</p> <p>2016 - 725</p> <p>2015 - 749</p> <p>2014 - 720</p> <p>2013 - 687</p> <p>2012 - 652</p> <p>2011 - 599</p> <p>2010 - 616</p> <p>1990 - 61</p> <p>1976 - 25</p> <p>Source: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office online database.</p>" id="9a5435ac-162b-4560-912d-08c306aa1d98" style-type="bio" title="Rochester Patents" type="relcontent" width="half"}}

That took the number of patents assigned to Mayo Clinic from 24 in 2012 to 101 in 2019.

"The patents increase is the direct result of leadership actively encouraging and intentionally creating a culture of innovation," said Mayo's Danielson. "That is based on our mission. We're here to treat patients, but we're also here to invent the medicine of tomorrow."

Beside speeding the process of bringing Mayo Clinic research directly to patients, this new culture is also generating substantial amounts of revenue. Mayo Clinic Ventures' efforts resulted in $92 million in revenue in 2019, the fifth record-setting total in the last six years.

"It's becoming a fairly substantial revenue generator for us. Other than the small amount that goes back to the inventors, the vast majority of it goes right back into more research and more education at Mayo Clinic," Danielsen said. "It's a virtuous wheel, when we get it turning right. When done right, it's a really nice virtuous cycle."

'The gas pedal is to the floor'

To keep that wheel "virtuous," Mayo Clinic has created a "very robust" collection of conflicts-of-interest rules. Danielson emphasized that treating patients is the primary goal, and that the trust of patients is needed to do that well.

Mayo Clinic researchers, like Dr. Richard Ehman, who created the Resoundant imaging device, and Dr. Kah-Whye Peng, who is a co-developer of the science behind the Vyriad vaccine firm, do get a percentage of the royalties that Mayo Clinic earns from their work. There are many different licensing and partnership agreements, but generally Mayo Clinic owns equity and collects revenue from companies using Mayo research.

However, revenue is not generated if a Mayo Clinic doctor prescribes something that would normally produce a royalty payment.

The popular Cologuard colon cancer screening is based on Mayo Clinic research. When a Sanford Health doctor prescribes Cologuard, it generates a royalty payment to Mayo. When a Mayo Clinic doctor prescribes it, the clinic does not get a royalty payment.

"We don't want to incentivize prescribing things that benefit Mayo," he said.

Mayo CEO Dr. Dr. Gianrico Farrugia is following Noseworthy's lead by encouraging more innovation and entrepreneurship. Mayo Clinic Ventures is a very busy place these days.

"We have a minimum of three ideas per day walking in the door," said Danielson. "The gas pedal is to the floor."

Defense Field

There is no single route to being issued a patent. Some people are the traditional garage workshop tinkerers, but others follow a different route.

One local patent holder, attorney Arthur Handelman, came up with a novel use for a ground heating system developed by a Chicago firm that he works with as a member of its board of directors.

PyroPhase makes a system made up of electrified metal pipes that can be used to heat the ground around oil drilling sites to "lower the viscosity of heavy oil" and help with the extraction of "unconventional" oil.

"One day when I heard on the news of the challenge governments were having with stopping terrorists who were tunneling under protected borders, I realized a reconfiguration of PyroPhases technology could easily create an impenetrable thermal barrier," remembered Handelman. "No terror group or drug smugglers have the ability to tunnel through ground with a temperature in excess of 100 degrees Celsius. With a barrier in place, there is no need to worry about detecting tunneling activity, as the bad guys simply would not be able to tunnel through the extreme temperature."

That idea led to him being listed as the lead developer of an "electric defense field." Patent No. 10,212,795 was issued on Feb. 19, 2019. The patent describes the field as "rows of vertical electrodes installed underground or above ground." In addition to heating the ground to make "human occupation of tunnels untenable," the system can also create a "shock from an electric pulse."

Handelman sees situations like terrorists attacking the Israel border as place where this could be used, as well as the U.S. southern border. He said if someone is tunneling into a secured location, they are almost certainly up to no good.

"While originally conceived for border protection, it would be sensible to deploy around any high-value potential target, from government buildings to power plants to data centers. ... One of the advantages of the system is that it is completely benign unless activated. Further, the system can easily be removed so it would not leave a harmful legacy behind once its protections are no longer needed," he stated. "We have not attempted to formally market the system yet, but through informal contacts have received several indications of serious interest and are currently engaged in discussions with a NATO member country for possible deployment."

Big Blue

The Rochester campus of IBM has long been a city leader in patents, as the company has led the nation. IBM was issued 9,262 patents nationwide in 2019, more than any other U.S. company had ever received in a year.

Out of the 726 Rochester patents in 2019, 527 were issued to IBM. Despite a reduction in the number of local employees, IBM's Rochester patent number has held steadily at more than 500 each year since 2011.

The IBM campus, which opened in 1956, collected its first Rochester patent in 1960. It was for a low-tech "Method for Assembly of Printing Apparatus."

Rochester IBMers went on to develop and patent innovative technology like the legendary AS/400 server. Many of the world's fastest computers -- Blue Gene/L, Roadrunner, Blue Gene/Q Mira, Blue Gene/Q Sequoia and Summit - were conceived here.

The famous Watson computer, which competed on the "Jeopardy" game show in 2011, also owed part of its creation to Rochester engineers.

Many other things, like the Nintendo Wii's unique remote or "Wiimote," also got their start here.

IBM has many "Master Inventors" based in Rochester. One of them is Brian Bakke, an I/O firmware developer, who has 81 U.S. and international patents.

When asked what patent is his favorite, Bakke wrote, "That's a tough question. There are ones that had higher business value, but I'm probably partial to the first patent issued. At that time I was 13 years into my career and had published numerous inventions that were not filed as patent applications. The first one broke the ice and the rest just seemed to follow."

Bakke said many patents and inventions coming out of IBM's Rochester campus are the product of a group effort.

"Most of the patents result from team collaboration. I have been fortunate enough in my career to be on multiple different innovative teams. The broadest patents result from the team probing the edges of the problem space and coming up with creative solutions," he wrote.

The development of cortisone proved the value of patents

Mayo Clinic hasn't always generated revenue directly from medical research, and many people cite the Nobel Prize-winning cortisone discovery as a prime example.

The story is often told that Mayo Clinic didn't patent the research of chemist Edward Kendall and Dr. Philip Hench, who won the Nobel Prize in 1950 with Swiss researcher Dr. Tadeus Reichstein for their work creating "Compound E." Compound E was later called cortisone and used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The truth is much more complicated, though the end result is the same.

Kendall did have patents on the research, along with Merck Co. and three other companies.

Following a path he used in 1921 when he developed a process to produce the thyroid substance thyroxine, Kendall gave his patents to Mayo Clinic. Dr. William Mayo, in turn, "unconditionally" presented the patent to the American Medical Association.

Kendall was quoted as stating, "No physician engaged in the practice of medicine should profit from the exploitation of any drug, vaccine or appliance used in the practice of medicine. This is the time honored statement; it has been the policy of Mayo Clinic from the beginning."

Mayo Clinic, along with the other patent holders, turned over the cortisone patents to a nonprofit organization, Research Corp. of New York, which allowed all of the organizations to mutually use all of the patents.

In his book, "The Quest for Cortisone," Thom Rooke describes the results.

"Dr. Kendall never seemed to regret any of his decisions or actions, and in this case, one suspects, neither did the drug companies that benefited by his noble stand," Rooke writes. "After all, they went on to make billions from his discovery."

Not profiting from research continued to be Mayo Clinic's standard until the policies were changed in 2013.

Another example of Mayo Clinic's magnanimous approach was during World War II, when clinic researchers helped develop the "G-suit" for military pilots.

Mayo Clinic reportedly spent $2 million to develop the flight suit and then "sold" it to the U.S. government for $1.

In 2017, then-Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. John Noseworthy quipped during the annual Rochester Area Chamber Commerce celebration that, "Were never doing that again," causing his audience to explode with laughter.

Mayo Clinic now receives millions annually from contracts with the federal government, including the Department of Defense.

Notable Rochester patents

Here are a few notable patents issued to Rochester inventors at IBM and Mayo Clinic:

* Thyroid Substance and Process of Making it -- Patent No. 1,392,768 issued to inventor Edward C. Kendall of Rochester on Oct. 4, 1921.

Kendall, who was a co-winner of the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1950 for the development of cortisone, turned the patent over to Mayo Clinic. Dr. William Mayo, in turn, presented the patent "unconditionally" to the American Medical Association.

* Method for Assembly of Printing Apparatus -- Patent No. 2,935,018 issued to International Business Machines on May 3, 1960. Inventor John H. Lego, Rochester.

This was the first of what would be thousands of patents that continue to flow from inventors on IBM's Rochester campus.

* Task handling apparatus for a computer system -- Patent No. 4,177,513 issued to International Business Machines on Dec. 4, 1979. Inventors Roy L. Hoffman, Pine Island; William G. Kempke, Rochester; John W. McCullough, Rochester; Richard T. Turner, Rochester; Frank G. Soltis of Rochester.

Soltis, who was called the father of the wildly popular AS/400 computer system created in Rochester, said this patent was the most important one involving the AS/400. This technology provides the tasking structure used in IBM's S/38, AS/400 and iSeries systems.

* Correction of MR images for motion artifacts using navigator echoes and autocorrection -- Patent No. 6,184,682 issued to Mayo Foundation for Medical and Research on Feb. 6, 2001. Inventors Richard L. Ehman of Rochester; Joel P. Felmlee of Rochester; Armando Manduca of Rochester; Kiaran P. McGee of Rochester.

This technology is now found in most MRI scanners.

* Prosthetic elbow replacement -- Patent No. 7,850,737 issued to Mayo Foundation for Medical and Research on Dec. 14, 2010. Inventor Bernard F. Morrey of Rochester.

This is only one of the elbow replacement patents by Morrey, whose work is used by Zimmer Biomet in Coonrad/Morrey Total Elbow products among others.

* Multi-petascale highly effi cient parallel supercomputer -- Patent No. 9,081,501 issued to International Business Machines on Sept. 8, 2011. Of the 75 listed inventors, 20 are from Rochester -- Mchael A. Blocksome, Kristan D. Davis, Matthew Ellavsky, Kahn C. Evans, Thomas M. Gooding, Todd A. Inglett, Brant L. Knudson, James A. Marcella, Mark G. Megerian, Douglas R. Miller, Samuel J. Miller, Adam J. Muff, Michel B. Mundy, Jeffrey J. Parker, Ruth J. Poole, Joseph D. Ratterman, Brian Smith, William M. Stickdell, James L. Oosten, Charles D. Wait and Alfred T. Watson.

This patent represents a piece of Rochester's reputation of one of the top supercomputing sites. Blue Gene/L, Roadrunner, Blue Gene/Q Mira, Blue Gene/Q Sequoia and Summit has been listed among the fastest machines on the planet.

Roadrunner broke an elusive computing speed barrier by clocking a petaflop, or one quadrillion calculations per second, in 2008. It was considered obsolete by 2013.

* Detecting neoplasm (DNA stool test for detection of colorectal cancer) -- Patent No. 9,121,070 issued to Mayo Foundation for Medical and Research on Sept. 1, 2015. Inventors David A. Ahlquist, Rochester; David I. Smith, Rochester; William R. Taylor, Lake City; Patrick S. Quint, Kasson; Harold R. Bergen III, Spring Valley; Jonathan J. Harrington, Madison, Wis.; Hongzhi Zou, Middleton, Wis.

This patent is now licensed to Exact Sciences Corp., which makes the popular cancer test Cologuard. Exact moved to Madison, Wis., in 2009.

Patents issued with at least one Rochester, Minn. inventor.

2019 - 726

2018 - 767

2017 - 758

2016 - 725

2015 - 749

2014 - 720

2013 - 687

2012 - 652

2011 - 599

2010 - 616

1990 - 61

1976 - 25

Source: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office online database.
New Delhi, March 12 : Even as Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that Gwalior royal Jyotiraditya Scindia feared for his political future prompting him to switch sides, former Tripura Congress chief Prodyut Debbarman feels that joining the "BJP is not the right option" and that it's time for Rahul to talk to young leaders to stop desertion.

"I think all of us should sit together and think of the way ahead as all of us belong to the Congress ideology," Debbarman told IANS.

Debbarman, who belongs to the Tripura royal family and is a Scindia cousin, said, "Jumping on to the BJP bandwagon is not the right option. We should sit down and find ways as to how we can contribute for the country in a situation where the Congress leadership seems unwilling to give space to the youth." He said all the young leaders in Congress have worked together and "it's time we should come out with a solution as India needs an effective opposition".

"I think leaders such as Sachin Pilot (Rajasthan), Ajoy Kumar (Jharkhand) and many others have the capability," he said.

Facing neglect, Debbarman himself had resigned as the Tripura Congress chief last year. Former IPS officer and Jharkhand Congress chief Ajoy Kumar, too, stepped down in August last year and joined the Aam Aadmi Party.

Debbarman said if the Congress is not willing to wake up and not ready to fight against the BJP, "then it is important to come out with a new independent centrist party which works for all and without leaning towards one extreme".

When asked about his Facebook post, where he mentioned that Scindia did not get appointment from Rahul Gandhi's office, he said, "Scindia had asked for an appointment with Rahul Gandhi's office five months ago, but he did not get any. And yesterday, Rahul claimed Scindia was one leader who could walk to his residence anytime. He (Rahul Gandhi) should ask his office why Scindia wasn't given time." Debbarman said ever since Rahul stepped down as the party chief, he has not been taking day-to-day decisions, which is known to everyone in the party.

"Another important point that Rahul Gandhi had raised in his resignation letter was that he had felt alone in the party as senior leaders were putting their children first and not the party. He, in fact, referred to the party's old guard. So, what I am saying is nothing different from what Rahul had said," said Debbarman.

When pressed further whether Rahul Gandhi is facing betrayal within the party, the former Congress leader said, "It is not Scindia's son or Pilot's son and we know that. He had spoken briefly about three leaders and we know who they are... problem lies there." His remarks came soon after Rahul Gandhi replied to a question on Scindia joining the BJP.

Rahul Gandhi said, "I know the ideology of Scindia as he was in college with me. Scindia feared about his political future and he moved to the RSS by keeping his ideology in his pocket. But the reality is that in BJP, he will not get respect. He will understand this with time. I have an old friendship with Scindia, but what lies in his heart and what he says are completely different," he said.

When pressed further about the number of young leaders who were promoted in the front row of the party by him, he said, "Who is in my team and who is not and what else is going on is of no consequence as I am here talking about the country's economy." The unceremonious exit of Scindia has put the focus back on the young turks of the party, who have been sidelined since Rahul Gandhi stepped down from his post following the 2019 Lok Sabha election debacle.

Following Rahul Gandhi's resignation during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on May 25, just two days after the Lok Sabha results were out, the old and veteran leaders of the party instantly came into action and started sidelining the young leaders appointed by the Gandhi scion in the last few years.

Besides Scindia and Debbarman, the young leaders who felt slighted included Milind Deora, Deepender Singh Hooda, Jitin Prasada, Sachin Pilot, Ajoy Kumar and Sandeep Dikshit.

The young leaders feel alienated, especially after Scindia was overlooked for the post of Madhya Pradesh Congress chief. Similarly, Sachin Pilot, despite being Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, is being pushed by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to give up the state President's post, a party source said.

Even Prasada is said to be unhappy as he has been denied the top party post for many years, despite commitments being made by the top leadership. He was also upset during the Lok Sabha polls, but was pacified by Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, said a source, adding he was also promised a Rajya Sabha seat.

The former Union minister, Prasada has been a special invitee to the working committee, but one of his close aides said his heart lay in Uttar Pradesh, where the party made Ajay Kumar Lallu the state unit chief.

Meanwhile, calls and messages to Jitin Prasada and Milind Deora remained unanswered. On Wednesday, Congress leader Anand Sharma rejected the "young versus old" rift in the party and said the party combined a blend of youth and seniors.

(Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in)
Ireland on Thursday announced the closure of all schools and colleges, and recommended the cancellation of mass gatherings as part of measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said "schools, colleges and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow (Friday)", as would state-run cultural institutions.

Indoor events of more than 100 people and those outdoor involving over 500 "should be cancelled", Varadkar said in a statement in Washington, where he was on an official visit.

Ireland has 43 confirmed cases of the disease and on Wednesday announced the country's first death. Varadkar said more cases and deaths were expected as the world moved into "uncharted territory".

The premier said the new measures were part of the government's "duty to protect" the public and the restrictions would be in place until March 29.

He said people could still go to work, as public transport was not affected, but recommended home-working, staggered working and break times wherever possible, to minimise contact.

The new guidance follows a meeting between the prime minister and the government's National Public Health Emergency Team on Wednesday night.

In Dublin, foreign minister Simon Coveney told a conference: "This is a phase that we have been planning for some time."



He called them "the right measures, at the right time" and were based on best public health advice.

Varadkar travelled to Washington for St Patrick's Day celebrations on March 17 for Ireland's patron saint.

The annual parades in Ireland, which attract hundreds of thousands of people, have been cancelled because of fears about the spread of COVID-19. Similar parades in Boston and New York have also been cancelled.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Africa: Progress being made to pay NSFAS allowances on time

The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Buti Manamela, says while there are still challenges of student allowances not being paid on time by universities and TVET colleges, he is happy that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has disbursed all the funds on time.

Manamela said this when he briefed media following his visit to the NSFAS office in Cape Town on Thursday.

The Deputy Ministers visit was aimed at getting an update on the 2020 registration process. He also did a walkabout at the call centre to get first-hand experience of queries and challenges faced by students in universities, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

Most of the challenges we have received a report on have to do with what we regard as internal challenges, so we are quite excited with the improvement that has been made at NSFAS.

This year was the first year which we paid allowances before March, which I think is a big leap compared to the past, he said.

Manamela said this year, most institutions have been paid upfront.

In fact, all institutions have been paid upfront for them to be able to disburse allowances to students.

We have had minimal late applications. The idea, as we have always said, would be to reduce [late applications] to almost zero.

We have had minimal appeals... I think all of this is a symbol of stability in terms of the role that NSFAS needs to play.

In the near future, with the lessons that have been learnt over the last two or three years, government will be able to have registrations and academic programmes commencing on time.

Ministry, department to engage students protesting over unpaid allowances

Manamela said despite this, he, together with NSFAS management, will continue to engage with student formations and university management on campuses where protests have erupted over non-payment of allowances, which he said was caused by capacity issues.

Following his visit to the NSFAS office, Manamela was expected to conduct a monitoring visit at the University of Cape Town later on Thursday morning.

He said that unlike over a year ago, most of the challenges that have caused student protests have had very little to do with NSFAS, but with university and TVET colleges, who have been faced with capacity challenges in as far as paying allowances on time.

As late as April or May 2018, there were protests in most of our campuses, and the source of most of those challenges was a result of the challenges here at NSFAS.

I must say that throughout 2019 the situation has extremely improved.

We have to deal with some of the challenges that are there on campus, which are NSFAS related.

I think as we engage with the student leadership and university management, what we are finding out is that part of the solutions, particularly with TVET colleges, would be to ensure that NSFAS pays students directly to their account, as opposed to whats happening now, where most of the campuses are facing problems of incapacity in paying students directly those allowances, said Manamela.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ashameera Aiyappan By

Express News Service

According to a 2018 report on OTT platforms, India is expected to become the second-largest video viewing audience globally by 2020. It doesnt seem very far fetched, considering how digital viewing practices have percolated into our society.

The choice pool just got larger with Viacoms Voot introducing Voot Select, its premium offering that will offer original Indian content along with syndicated international content for premium users.

Taking on popular streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hotstar, Voot Select has stepped into the original content market with four series  Asur, Marzi, The Raikar Case and Illegal  with more shows in the pipeline. Interestingly, Asur will see a senior actor Arshad Warsi, make his digital debut.

Known for his comic roles, Asur will supposedly show Arshad in a new dimension. The plot and storyline are so unique audience will be on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Voot Select will showcase some great stories, the actor shares.

An opportunity to explore newer spaces is what got Shaitan actor Rajeev Khandelwal, excited about Marzi, another of Voot Selects originals. "Nothing about this would remind you of anything I have done before. If I became a mere product of my image, then I will feel like a loser," he says, explaining his reason for taking to the medium.

A popular name on Hindi television as well, Rajeev believes that TV hadnt offered him anything new in recent times. "Times change and you need to pick up things that work the best for you," he feels.

He also adds that the digital space makes room for some exciting collaborations between committed people. In television, I used to do close-ups looking into thin air, but here, Aahana used to remain even after pack-up, for my close-ups. I did the same for her as well," he says.

Aahana Kumra, who shot to fame with her role in Lipstick under my Burkha, is excited by the diverse opportunities. Marzi, her show on Voot select, is a story of a date gone wrong.

"I am glad such content is being made because we have all been subjected to so much social conditioning. Not just women, but men as well. I am glad that such shows and films question all this, and change our stereotypical perspectives," she adds.

She also credits the evolution of the digital realm for bringing varied opportunities for actors. "I loved the script of Marzi the minute I read it. It creates a brave, important conversation. The digital era has brought so many opportunities for actors and with them, so many new stories and concepts to experiment with," she adds.

Actor Barun Sobti, who shot to fame with the Hindi soap, Iss Pyaar Ko Naam Doon, agrees. "It is important that every person capitalises on this space. I have always felt that content created in India lacks good writing. Writing is the hero in Asur, which has given me the most demanding character so far."

Apoorva Lakhia, who made films like Haseena Parkar and Shootout at Lokhandwala, believes that this digital space is more a boon for creators than actors. With storytelling being its primary forte, platforms like Voot Select has given filmmakers and storytellers like us the creative freedom to run with our thoughts, he says.

Writer and senior actor Piyush Mishra, who is making his digital debut with Voot Selects Illegal, shares this sentiment. "I loved working on the show and am grateful for the opportunity. But I believe actors are puppets and OTT platforms are a screenwriters medium. Theres space to explore everything in detail, especially for writers." He draws a parallel between his show, Illegal, and the film, Rustom, when he argues that the former is a fleshed-out version of the latter.

"These platforms are bringing attention to good writers. There are limits here as well. You cant stretch a show unnecessarily. It shouldnt attempt to do too much, and end up being overwhelming, he says, cautioning that the medium must be used judiciously.

Whats the deal?

Voot Select has been priced at Rs 99/- per month and Rs 999/- per year. Apart from originals, the platform will also provide international shows and talk shows including the Elementary, Masterchef USA, and also provide access to Viacoms TV content 24 hours in advance. (30 minutes for non-fiction shows).
Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar arrives for the second day of the European Union leaders summit, held to discuss the EU's long-term budget for 2021-2027, in Brussels, Belgium, February 21, 2020.

Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS

Ireland will close all schools, colleges, and childcare facilities in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, the country's prime minister announced.

Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people will also be cancelled.

It comes after the first death of coronavirus was recorded in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, with a total of 43 confirmed cases.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Ireland will close all schools, colleges and childcare facilities as well as cancelling all large gatherings, the country's prime minister Leo Varadkar announced on Thursday as he moves to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The measures will come into force from 6pm on Thursday, Varadkar said.

Indoor gatherings of more than 100 people will also be cancelled, while a maximum of 500 people will be allowed to attend an outdoor gathering. Cultural institutions will also close.

Varadkar was addressing the media in Washington DC, where he is visiting for St. Patrick's Day.

BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 12, 2020

He said: "From 6pm today, the following measures will be put in place, and they will stay in place until March 29.

"Schools, colleges and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow.

"Where possible teaching will be done online or remotely."

"Cultural institutions will close as well."

"Our advice is that all indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled."

It comes after the first death of coronavirus was recorded in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, with a total of 43 confirmed cases, according to BBC News.

There are a total of 18 confirmed cases in Northern Ireland.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Likee, the pioneering short global video creation platform by Singapore-based BIGO Technology Pte Ltd, had launched exciting campaign #HoliHai2020 to celebrate the festival of Holi.

The campaign came as a boon for those who live far away from their loved ones, or are afraid of colours and getting drenched. #HoliHai2020 by Likee allowed users to communicate and transmit the real feel of Holi colours through mobile phones. Hence, Likee ensured that not just the wishes, but even the gulal on users' palms reached those who they love dearly.

Also, the campaign was launched at the time when playing Holi the traditional way could be dangerous for people in India. #HoliHai2020 was heartily embraced by those who were compelled to cancel their travel plans in the wake of the coronavirus menace.

The fear and the challenges associated with the disease certainly marred the Holi fervour for many, who were forced to cancel their travel plans. While there was no means to get them home physically, Likee ensured that their Holi was full of colours and fun.

The idea behind introducing the campaign was to provide a platform for safe Holi and bring users' near and dear ones closer to them, at least virtually. The special Holi campaign was just another feather in the hat of Likee, which often comes up with unique offerings for its users. With Likee's virtual Holi celebrations, people enjoyed the festivities of Holi without any risk or fear, making it a truly 'happy' Holi for all.

Likee is available in different Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam and Punjabi. In 2019, Likee had also won the Guinness World Record for creating the 'Largest online video album of people waving a flag in India' during its 'No matter where I am, #IAMINDIAN' campaign.

The campaign saw more than 1 lakh Indians participating in celebrating India's 73rd Independence Day. In the recent App Annie's year-end report on app trends for 2019, Likee has emerged as No 1 in the breakout category and is also the 7th most downloaded app in 2019.

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.)
 Flash

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.

The WHO is "deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, as well as by the alarming levels of inaction," he added.

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, stressing "all countries can still change the course of this pandemic."

Thanks to the arduous efforts of the Chinese government and people, China's prevention and control has achieved progress with daily new confirmed cases declining from thousands to 24 on Tuesday. Beijing has also sent medical teams to other countries to help contain the spread of the virus.

However, cases of infection have been rising rapidly in Europe and other parts of the world, with Italy being the hardest-hit country.

The total number of confirmed cases in Italy has surged past 12,000 as of Wednesday, despite its drastic measure of locking down the entire country.

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.

He called on all countries to strike a fine balance between protecting health, minimizing economic and social disruption, and respecting human rights in the midst of the pandemic.

To shore up its economy, the British government on Wednesday pledged 30 billion pounds (39 billion U.S. dollars) in a stimulus plan. Italy also decided to allocate 25 billion euros (28.3 billion dollars) to deal with the COVID-19 emergency in the country.

"This is not just a public health crisis, it is a crisis that will touch every sector," Tedros said at the press conference, urging every sector and individual to be involved in the global fight against COVID-19.

"We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear," he said.
The committee of creditors (CoC) of Jet Airways on Thursday decided to file for an extension of the airlines corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP), given that a plan to revive the company is still not on the table. None of the players in the fray, however, has backed out of the process completely.

An extension of up to 90 days may be sought from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), sources said. It was also discussed in the meeting that perhaps this was not the right time to go for liquidation of the company given weak sentiments prevailing in the economy because ...
WASHINGTON  On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump implored the nations political leadership to stop the partisanship and come together to confront the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday morning, he woke up and immediately issued partisan attacks on Democratic congressional leaders.

Trumps call for a suspension of partisanship lasted just nine hours, at least some of which he was presumably asleep. While some of Trumps allies and advisers have urged him to stop fighting and assert more national leadership, the president made clear that it does not suit him.

The first of the presidents partisan jabs came before dawn Thursday and had nothing to do with the coronavirus or anything that had happened in the past few days. Instead, he reached back to revive a controversy from a week ago when Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, assailed two conservative Supreme Court justices over abortion rights.

Trump retweeted a March 4 message from Jonathan Turley, a law professor who opposed impeachment, condemning Schumer: Schumers threat to the Court that you will pay the price is a direct attack on the integrity of our courts. I criticized Trump for his reckless comments about the courts. Where is the chorus of condemnation of Schumer? Schumer sounded more like a stalker than a statesman.

At 6:15 a.m., Trump went after Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, complaining about her resistance to his proposal to cut payroll taxes to juice the economy as it reels from fears of the coronavirus. Lawmakers on both sides have given the idea a cool reception.

Nancy Pelosi all of a sudden doesnt like the payroll tax cut, but when Obama proposed it she thought it was a brilliant thing that all of the working families would benefit from because if you get a paycheck, youre going to take home more money, he wrote on Twitter, attributing the words to Brian Kilmeade, one of the hosts of Fox & Friends.

In his prime-time address to the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday night, Trump sounded a different note.

We are all in this together, he said at the time. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family.

Trump has spent much of the past couple weeks fighting a partisan battle over his handling of the coronavirus. Democrats have sharply criticized him for making false or misleading statements about the outbreak, not taking it seriously enough, failing to act sooner and undercutting the governments global health apparatus.

After Wednesday nights speech, the Department of Homeland Security and White House were forced to clarify two important points: A ban on travelers from Europe would not apply to U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and it would not impact goods exported to the United States.

Rather than rise above it or reach out to Democrats to provide a unified front, he has aggressively accused them of politicizing the coronavirus and trying to gain political favor by saying a lot of untruths. At a raucous campaign rally, he called the Democratic criticism their new hoax, and was later forced to clarify that he meant only the criticism and was not calling the virus itself a hoax.

When he announced earlier this week that he would meet with congressional leaders to discuss an economic response to the effects of the virus, he meant only Republican leaders. Just last weekend, as the virus spread, the president announced he would skip the annual bipartisan St. Patricks Day lunch on Capitol Hill because of his disdain for Pelosi.

The crossfire indicated how raw the feelings still are following the impeachment battle that ended just last month. Pelosi led the House drive to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, and Schumer was among the most vocal advocates of removing him from office in a Senate trial that nonetheless ended in a near party-line acquittal.

The coronavirus outbreak, designated a pandemic Wednesday by the World Health Organization, has not overcome the sour relations between the president and the Democratic opposition. In his address, Trump announced new travel restrictions on visitors from continental Europe and aid to workers and small businesses affected by the virus while pressing Congress to approve the payroll tax cut he advocated.

Pelosi and Schumer released a joint statement after the speech calling on Republicans to support a bill that included free coronavirus testing, paid emergency leave for workers, a boost in unemployment insurance and other measures.

We have a public health crisis in this country, they said, and the best way to help keep the American people safe and ensure their economic security is for the president to focus on fighting the spread of the coronavirus itself. Alarmingly, the president did not say how the administration will address the lack of coronavirus testing kits throughout the United States.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Iran's Political Prisoners Remain in "Limbo," Untested for Coronavirus Despite Symptoms

03/12/20

Source: Center for Human Rights in Iran

Peaceful Activists in Mashhad's Vakilabad Prison Left Vulnerable to Infection

One week after judicial officials announced they had released tens of thousands of prisoners to prevent more coronavirus outbreaks, peaceful political prisoners in Mashhad's Vakilabad Prison are in limbo and remain untested for COVID-19 even as they exhibit symptoms, according to their relatives.

One political prisoner's relative told the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) that her father was being kept in a ward with other inmates who officials "suspected" had coronavirus despite the prison clinic doctor recommending that he be released on furlough.

Her father and dozens of others kept in the same ward meanwhile don't have access to masks to protect themselves, said Hengameh Vahedian Shahroudi, the daughter of Abbas Vahedian Shahroudi, who has been detained in Vakilabad Prison since August 2019 after signing an open letter with 13 other political activists calling for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's resignation.

"My father called today [March 10] and he was still coughing five days after he went to the prison clinic," she said. "His lungs are infected and he's getting breathing attacks."

She continued: "The clinic doctor told the prison authorities that my father must be sent on medical leave, but the head of prison security told my father that he has an open case and no bail has been set to enable his release. I went to the presiding judge and told him that my father's case has been in limbo for seven months. He was arrested on August 18 [2019]. You neither sentenced him nor granted him furlough and now he's in prison suspected of having the coronavirus. The judge said he had read my father's case but for the time being was not able to make a decision."

She added: "They are not testing the prisoners for the coronavirus. They are holding the suspected cases in one of the wards where previously new prisoners were quarantined for a week before being transferred to other wards. There are about 30 prisoners there and none of them have been tested for the coronavirus. If one of them catches it, they will all be infected. They don't have gloves or masks or anything."

"We are very worried about this situation but when we make inquiries, the authorities respond with threats," Shahroudi said. "When I informed the public about the lack of health products and procedures in prison, the head of the State Prisons Organization accused me of spreading falsehoods. We really don't know what to do."

The brother of political prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri also expressed concern about his sister's condition in the women's ward of Vakilabad Prison.

"When my sister called us [from prison], she said her ward had been evacuated and inmates suspected of having the coronavirus had been transferred there," Asghar Sepehri told CHRI. "My sister and her cellmates were transferred to another ward that is very crowded."

Sentenced to six years in prison in February 2020, Fatemeh Sepehri was among a group of women political activists who in August 2019 signed a letter expressing solidarity with 14 fellow activists who had called for the supreme leader to step down. She is the only person among those 14 who have not been released on bail pending a decision on her appeal.

"The Appeals Court has not issued a decision yet, so we went to presiding Judge [Hadi Mansouri of Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad] to ask him to set bail for my sister," Asghar Sepehri added. "But he said it's not his job to set bail and we should go and ask the Appeals Court judge instead. But the Appeals Court judge is giving us the round around. He told us to bring a property deed worth 1.2 billion tomans ($ 284,647 USD) as bail. They have essentially decided not to release her."

Sources have informed CHRI that at least eight prisoners have contracted coronavirus in provinces located in three provinces: Tehran Province, Khorasan Razavi Province, and West Azerbaijan Province.

In his latest report presented to the Human Rights Council, Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said he was seriously concerned about "overcrowding, poor nutrition and a lack of hygiene" in Iran's prisons and at a press briefing called for all political prisoners to be released to protect them from COVID-19 infections.

Read this article in Persian.
SYDNEY -- Australias government said on Thursday it would pump A$17.6 billion ($11.4 billion) into the economy to prevent the coronavirus outbreak from pushing the country into its first recession in nearly 30 years.

The countrys first stimulus package since the 2008 global financial crisis, which helped Australia avert a recession then, illustrates the lengths the government will take to pare the economic impact of the outbreak.

Despite only affecting about 120 people in Australia so far, economists are expecting the widening epidemic to cause a recession in the second quarter.

The package will subsidize the wages of 120,000 apprentices, offer one-off cash payments for welfare recipients and deliver payments of up to A$25,000 ($16,160) for small businesses, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a news conference in Canberra.

This is a comprehensive, a well-thought-through, a well-targeted plan, which is designed to support the Australian economy and jobs and businesses through the difficult months ahead, Morrison said.

Morrison said more than 6 million welfare recipients, notably pensioners and unemployed citizens will get a one-off cash payment of A$750 from March 31.

Speaking with the Prime Minister, Australias Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the bulk of the package will be spent immediately, offering a boost of up to 1.5 percentage points to the economy in the second quarter.

The package wont super-charge the economy. Neither does it guarantee that the economy wont slip into recession. But it is a good first step, said Craig James, chief economist, Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

Ratings agency S&P said on Wednesday it expected Australia to fall into recession in the first half of 2020, but the governments strong fiscal position allowed for stimulus without threatening its AAA credit rating.

Even with the relatively small number of cases, local health officials are struggling to contain the virus, prompting Morrison on Wednesday to pledge A$2.4 billion to support the health system during the outbreak.

The emergency spending package, parts of which will need parliamentary approval, likely ends Morrisons hopes of delivering Australias first budget surplus.

However, the package did not reduce market nerves, with the ASX 200 falling by 3% after it was announced and then falling by more than 5% after the United States announced a ban on European travel.

The spending was announced after the World Health Organization described the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday.
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

Lata Mangeshkar admitted to ICU in Mumbai Hospital after testing positive for Covid

Coronavirus: Indian Customs at Delhi airport stop passengers from entering duty-free shopping area

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 12: Indian Customs has stopped the passengers who are arriving from 15 nations, including China, the US, Italy and South Korea, from entering duty-free shopping area at the Delhi airport in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

With the government already cancelling visas with effect from March 13, this would mean that even Indian nationals returning home from these 15 countries will not be allowed to enter the Delhi duty-free shopping area.

The Commissioner of Customs at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, in a notice, said the ban has been put in place "in view of the threat from COVID-19 virus".

Beyond the lungs: How Coronavirus can affect your body

Passengers arriving on flights from China, the US, Italy and South Korea, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Spain, France, Vietnam, Nepal and Thailand will not be able to enter the duty-free shopping area due to operational limitations till further orders, it said.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic. Globally, there have been over 4,200 deaths in 114 countries due to COVID-19.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

The number of infected people in India is 73, as per health ministry data. The government on Wednesday suspended all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas until April 15.

India under lockdown as confirmed cases of coronavirus jump to 73 now

Also, visa-free travel facility for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) holders has been suspended from March 13 to April 15.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 14:21 [IST]
Dr. Roberto Velasco Houston Top Dentist

Roberto Velasco, DDS is excited to announce that he has been named Americas Top Dentist for 2020 by the National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB). This annual award honors leaders in the field of dentistry who go above and beyond to provide exceptional patient care and top-notch results. The title of Americas Best Dentist reflects Dr. Velascos long-term commitment to innovative prosthodontic services, consistently helping patients enjoy restored function of their teeth and creating a healthy smile.

The NCAB program uses a meticulous process to determine the most outstanding oral professionals in each state. Throughout the year, respected dentists can be nominated by a healthcare colleague or peer. Each candidates qualifications will then be reviewed and verified. Finally, the NCAB staff take an in-depth look at the dentists education, experience, academic achievements, board certification, professional associations, awards and online patient testimonials. All of the dentists selected for Americas Best Dentist list will:

Have over four years of experience

Care for patients full-time

Average three times the required hours for continuing education

Show great concern for patients

Use magnification for exceptional attention to detail

Not have any suspensions or malpractice issues

Rank nationally among Americas Best Dentists candidates

Be nominated by a peer

Be highly reviewed online

Inclusion as one of Americas Best Dentists is an honor that few dental specialists can boast. For Dr. Velasco, this achievement can be credited to years of hard work and the joy he feels when giving his patients a new smile. The practice that I run is focused on rehabilitating people that are broken downwe see all the ranges of patients,. The goal at Uptown Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry is not only to create functional teeth but to also improve an individuals quality of life. We put (the teeth) back together so their mouth works properly, their mouth looks good, they feel comfortable, and they are healthy, which is super important. They gain back everything that they have lost because they have lost function, aesthetics, and self-esteem. (We are) putting back together a human that is broken down,.

About Dr. Robert Velasco

Dr. Velasco received his dental degree from Xavier University, graduating at the top of his class. His love for dental implants and esthetics prompted him to pursue a post-graduate degree in Implant and Esthetic Dentistry with the specialty of prosthodontics. Dr. Velasco completed a competitive residency in Florida before moving to Texas in 2003 to begin his private practice. He is a member of the American College of Prosthodontists, American Dental Association (ADA), Texas Dental Association (TDA), Greater Houston Dental Society (GHDS), Academy of Osseointegration Implant Society (AO) and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE).

Uptown Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry offers a variety of dental services, from routine exams to full mouth reconstruction. Dr. Velasco is one of only a handful of dental professionals to specialize in the innovative All-On-4 treatment, helping patients with missing and damaged teeth in just one day. Uptown Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry uses in-house 3D CAT Scans and an on-site lab to provide exceptional services all in a single location. Go to Americas Best Dentists for additional information on this years award winners. For more information on the procedures offered or to arrange a consultation with Dr. Velasco, call the Houston-area office at 713.903.2644.


New York state has banned large gatherings of 500 people or more to combat the spread of the coronavirus, governor says.

Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed new measures that will go into effect starting on Friday to help New York state fight the growing number of cases.



These measures include banning events of 500 people or more, which will include Broadway shows. Also, the government is decreasing occupancy at facilities of 500 people or fewer by 50 per cent, Mr Cuomo said.



The ban will take effect for Broadway shows will start Thursday at 5pm and all other venues on Friday at 5pm.



"We have already spoken to the theatres about these new measures and they agreed," the governor wrote.

All Broadway shows will now be suspended through 12 April, according to a statement released by the Broadway League.

Confirmed cases in New York continue to jump as more and more residents are tested, with currently 328 people infected. Of those cases, 148 are in Westchester County and 95 are in New York City.

No one in the state has died from the novel virus.



New York is following in the steps of Washington state, which banned large gatherings of 250 people or more in specific areas.

Washington state has been hit the hardest by the coronavirus, with at least 30 of the 38 deaths. When Governor Jay Inslee made the announcement on Wednesday, he said he believed the ban would be mirrored by other states, and now New York is following with one similar.

The purpose of banning large gatherings is to encourage "social distancing" between people who could be infected with the coronavirus. Banning large gatherings is one measure states can take as a way to limit the spread of the virus.

Other measures New York state is ramping up is its testing state-wide by employing private labs. The state decided to use private labs after delays from the CDC prevented officials from testing people quickly.



With testing increasing across the US, the number of cases is expected to rapidly grow in the coming days.
Thursday, Warren County School superintendent held a press conference to discuss the preparation and possible shut down of Warren County public schools.

Warren County Schools Superintendent, Rob Clayton announced at the press conference that one North Warren Elementary School teacher has made the decision to self-quarantine. Clayton told 13 News that this is only a precaution. School officials tell us the teacher does not have the coronavirus but that they are exercising extra safeguards.

Earlier this week, Governor Beshear announced that if there were to be a shut down for school systems due to the coronavirus that all schools should be prepared to close with a 72-hour notice. Now schools are preparing in case they need to close.

"Moving forward, we will continue to monitor these challenges. We are preparing our staff at both school districts to be prepared for a closure and potential extended closure," said Rob Clayton, Warren County Public Schools superintendent. "We understand how that would send a message to some that we are closing, but unfortunately, at that point in time, we don't have a definitive."

Other schools in the region are looking at what they would do if they needed to shut down.

"We would implement our non-traditional instructional days which means our students would do their work either online," said Tim Schlosser, the superintendent for Simpson County Schools. "We are in the process of completing our online platform for students to complete work each day or they can do it paper and pencil through some type of packet or however that we choose to deliver that instruction through paper and pencil if they don't have access to a computer or internet."

Lacking access to a computer or internet is a concern for rural communities; however, school systems like Simpson and Edmonson counties will offer a paper and pencil alternative to those students if the schools need to shut down.

"We would send paper packets home with those students. We always try to send paper packets home with our elementary students as well. It is an extra cost and extra time and is a consuming process for us, but that has seemed to work great for our county," said Patrick Waddell, the Edmonson County Schools superintendent.

"Remember the three c's with that -- calm, clean, and cooperative," he continued. "So if everybody just doesn't panic and follows and listen to what the authorities are telling them, I think our governor along with the folks at the state health agencies -- our regional health agencies -- they're putting out accurate information and accurate facts."

Schools in South Central Kentucky are prepared for a school shut down if the governor makes it mandatory.
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Gisele Bundchen showed off her fantastic figure while vacationing in Costa Rica this week.

All eyes were on the Brazilian beauty as she frolicked along the sandy shore for a photoshoot.

The 39-year-old stunner didn't miss a chance to display her washboard abs and perky backside as she donned a tiny leopard thong and brown bikini top.

Looking good: Gisele Bundchen showed off her fantastic physique while posing for a photoshoot in Costa Rica on Thursday

Icon: The 39-year-old stunner flaunted her washboard abs and perky backside as she donned a tiny leopard thong and brown bikini top

Though she hung up her Victoria's Secret wings back in 2007, the star still looked ready to strut down the catwalk.

She turned around to offer up a cheeky look at her gravity-defying backside while spreading her arms wide and staring at the ocean.

Facing frontwards once more, it was clear she'd invested plenty of gym time in honing her chiseled center.

Gisele embodied effortless elegance as she twirled around the beach, throwing her hands up in several dancer-like poses.

Bottom's up! She turned around to offer up a cheeky look at her gravity-defying backside while spreading her arms wide and staring at the ocean

All smiles: The model beamed, making sure the cameras caught a hint of her megawatt smile

Model behavior: Though she hung up her Victoria's Secret wings back in 2007, the star still looked ready to strut down the catwalk

Best tressed: The wife of Tom Brady threw back her sea-soaked locks at another moment

Peachy keen: She made sure her famous backside was able to get a tan

The model beamed, making sure the cameras caught a hint of her megawatt smile.

She had plenty of more poses, also seen arching her back as she soaked in the sunshine. And the cover girl wasn't afraid to get a little wet as she ventured into the water for the perfect shot.

Getting a change of scenery, the mother-of-two perched herself upon a nearby stump for some more angles.

And after securing all the perfect shots, Gisele headed off with a colorful sarong in her hands.

Sitting pretty: Getting a change of scenery, the mother-of-two perched herself upon a nearby stump for some more angles

Kick it: Gisele playfully kicked up some sand during the shoot

Careful! Though the epitome of grace, Gisele almost lost her footing while romping around the shallows

Sea you later! Bundchen looked like a mermaid as she sauntered out of the ocean

Making waves: She looked like she was having a blast while in the water

Hard at work: Gisele's photographer made sure to catch all of her moves

Legs get going: The 5foot11 star looked statuesque as ever

Living it up: Gisele kicked up her feet, making a fine display of her toned stems

Fun in the sun: Though taking pictures is her profession, Gisele looked like she was having the time of her life

Gisele and family are spending time in the sun while husband Tom decides his next moves professionally.

The trip comes just days after he announced that he is launching a Hollywood production company as his future with the New England Patriots and NFL career in general remains uncertain.

It looked like the Bradys had some company during their trip. Ben Affleck and new flame Ana de Armas were seen enjoying the beaches of Costa Rica around the same exact time.

It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility, as Ben and Tom's families previously vacationed together back in 2016.

Natural beauty: Bundchen didn't need any makeup to look like a 10

Cover up: After getting all the right photos, Gisele headed off holding a colorful cover up

Strike a pose: The native of Brazil had all the right moves

Scenic: Gisele looked serene while seated on a weathered looking stump

Travel pals? It looked like the Bradys had some company during their trip. Ben Affleck and new flame Ana de Armas were seen enjoying the beaches of Costa Rica around the same exact time

Tom and family are happy to be relaxing before the New England Patriot decides the fate of his career.

The six-time Super Bowl Champion announced via Instagram on Monday that he is launching multi-platform content company named 199 Productions.

He wrote: 'Im excited to announce to the world the official launch of 199 Productions.

'When I was the 199th draft pick in 2000, I knew I needed to work hard every day to prove myself.'

Tom also alluded to his football future as he concluded the statement by writing: 'Stay tuned.. exciting times are ahead, both on and off the field.'

Downtime: Tom and family are happy to be relaxing before the New England Patriot decides the fate of his career

Changing paths? The six-time Super Bowl Champion announced via Instagram on Monday that he is launching multi-platform content company named 199 Productions. Above January 2020

The announcement comes at an interesting time for the sports superstar as he is set to become a free agent for the first time in his 20-year career on March 18 when the NFL's 2020 calendar begins.

In addition to the Patriots, Brady has reportedly drawn interest from the New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Tennessee Titans.

As he is the oldest active player in the NFL, retirement is also not out of the question.

Brady and Bundchen celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary last month.

Tom and Gisele wed in Santa Monica, California on February 26, 2009 with a second ceremony in Costa Rica after they began dating in 2006.
Loading  Loading 

The Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has expressed its readiness to strategically put

in place measures that would alleviate the cost of crude oil production in

Nigeria to create market for Nigerias crude and make Nigeria a choice

destination for Foreign Direct Investment.

Group Managing

Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, made this known at the Central Bank of

Nigeria Round Table discussion in Abuja Wednesday.

Mallam Kyari stated

that at the moment the cost of crude oil production in the country was within

the range of $15 to $17 per barrel, adding that some leaders in the Industry

such as Saudi Arabias cost of production is between $4 and $5 per barrel.

He noted that due to

the uncertainties of the global crude oil market, countries that produce at the

cheapest price would remain in the market while jurisdiction with high cost of

crude oil production would not be able to cope with the competing prices.

He noted that due to

the Coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria has about 50 cargoes of crude oil that have

not found landing, adding that this implies that there are no off-takers for

them for now due to drop in demand.

Today, I can share with you that there are

over 12 stranded LNG cargoes in the market globally. It has never happened

before. LNG cargoes that are stranded with no hope of being purchased because

there is abrupt collapse in demand associated with the outbreak of

coronavirus, Mallam Kyari submitted.

He said that in the

face of the Coronavirus global pandemic, countries like Saudi Arabia have given

discount of $8 and Iraq $5 to their off-takers in some locations meaning that when

crude oil sells at $30 per barrel, countries like Saudi Arabia is selling at

$22 per barrel and Iraq selling their crude at $25 per barrel.

The GMD said the NNPC

was working round the clock to increase the countries daily production to

3million barrels per day and shore up the crude oil reserves to 40billion

barrels.

Mallam Kyari called

on government at all levels, captains of Industries and the organized private

sectors to brace up for the new low regime of global crude oil prices, adding

that realistic estimates must be made to reflect the current realities of the

crude oil market.
After the state government on Thursday declared Covid-19 an epidemic in the state and notified the Haryana Epidemic Disease Covid-19, Regulations, 2020, the district health department officials said it is now mandatory for all private and civil hospitals to set up flu corners for screening suspected cases of Coronavirus.

The district health department held a meeting with the medical superintendents of private hospitals on adherence to the provisions under the regulation, which mentions that all hospitals, private and government, should have flu corners for screening suspected cases. Also, the travel history of the person has to be recorded and shared with the district health department.

If private or government hospital comes across a person with a travel history after February 15, who is asymptomatic or symptomatic, they will have to provide the information of all such cases, said Dr Jaswant Singh Punia.

Dr Ajay Gupta, secretary, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Gurugram, who was aware of the details of the meeting, said, Hospitals have been advised not to create a panic situation, though it has been declared an epidemic by the state. Doctors will have to focus more on the travel history of the patient or those who have come into contact with people who have travelled abroad, if they show flu-like signs or symptoms.

The state government on Wednesday, exercising the powers conferred under the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897, issued the notification on the regulations that would help in containing the Covid-19 spread in Gurugram and other districts of the state.

On Wednesday, the Central government invoked the Act, stating that all the advisories issued by the Union ministry and states are enforceable. The Delhi government also declared the novel Coronavirus an epidemic and announced the closure of all schools, colleges and cinema halls till March 31.

The Gurugram administration, on the other hand, has not issued any such directive yet.

As per the state regulations, if a Covid-19 case is reported from a particular area, the district administration would seal the area, barring the entry/exit of the population from the containment zone. Schools and offices will be closed while public gatherings and vehicular movement will be banned. All suspected cases from the area will be isolated in a hospital.

Health department officials said the decision has been taken considering the vulnerable situation of Gurugram, where people from different parts of the country and the world visit. In the city, no resident has tested positive for Covid-19. Only two confirmed cases of Delhi residents working in Gurugram have been reported. Their offices are currently closed. Also, 14 Italian tourists are in Medanta Hospital, while 83 evacuees from Italy are at an Army camp in Manesar. More than 600 international travellers have also been advised to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The regulations are introduced as a part of the containment strategy. It gives a legal mandate to the district administration to ensure that preventive measures are being followed by citizens, private hospitals and institutes, said Rajeev Arora, additional chief secretary, health department.

He said, The regulations would help the law enforcement agencies to take action as per the guidelines, if a person suspected to be affected panics, avoids quarantine or if any private institution within the containment zone refuses to shut the building.

As per the regulation, if a person exhibiting symptoms of Coronavirus refuses admission or isolation, the district administration or the health department will have the powers to forcefully admit and isolate such cases for 14 days, from the onset of symptoms or until the lab reports are received. Also, no private laboratories in the state are authorised to take samples.

The violation of provisions under the regulation would be considered as an offence punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

When contacted, the private hospitals that were represented in the meeting refused to share details, citing the new regulations, which mention that no person or institution would speak to the media about the Covid-19 virus without permission of the health department. Meanwhile, the chief medical officer has also written to doctors in the Army camp at Manesar apprising them about the Covid-19 state regulations.
Woman in her 30s becomes Taiwan's 48th COVID-19 confirmed case

ROC Central News Agency

03/11/2020 12:11 PM

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) A Taiwanese woman in her 30s, who recently traveled to the United Kingdom, was confirmed on Wednesday as having contracted the respiratory illness COVID-19, making her the 48th case in Taiwan, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The woman, who lives in northern Taiwan, visited the U.K. from Feb. 28 to March 8, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (), who heads the CECC, said at a press conference Wednesday.

After returning to Taiwan, the woman sought medical attention at a clinic on March 9 for dizziness and headache, Chen said.

The following day, after developing a mild fever and coughing, she sought further treatment at a hospital, and testing results on Wednesday confirmed she had contracted the coronavirus disease, Chen said.

The woman is currently being quarantined in a negative-pressure isolation room. So far, none of her family members have shown symptoms of the disease, the CECC said.

The CECC said the patient is likely to have contracted the disease overseas, adding that the center is investigating her travel itinerary in the U.K. and those she may have come in contact with, including friends in the U.K, passengers on her flight to Taiwan and anyone at the clinic and hospital she initially visited.

(By Chang Ming-hsuan and Christie Chen)

Enditem/AW

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Drake hosted a More Life Evening of Well-being in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 5th.

More Life (named after Drake's 2017 mixtape) is a new global wellness brand by the 'God's Plan' rapper.

It's mission is to promote a positive state of mind and physical well-being through education and personal growth.

Uplift: Drake hosted a More Life Evening of Well-being in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 5th

Do good: More Life is a new global wellness brand by the 'God's Plan' rapper. It's mission is to promote a positive state of mind and physical well-being through education and personal growth

Objective: It's mission is to promote a positive state of mind and physical well-being through education and personal growth

The secret event included a variety of activities and retreats, including relaxation stations by non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free brand Osea, adaptogenic treats and tonics, yoga nidra and sound baths.

The evening was hosted in partnership with Dajanas Health Club in Los Angeles.

As nature is organically relaxing and healing, the tranquil setting was made complete with botanicals in the form of fresh cut flowers, palm trees, tropical bouquets and potted plants.

Burning candles created a peaceful environment for attendees to focus solely on themselves and meditating.

Relax: The secret event included a variety of activities and retreats, including relaxation stations by non-toxic, vegan and cruelty-free brand Osea , adaptogenic treats and tonics, yoga nidra and sound baths

Now more than ever, health and personal wellness are incredibly important concepts for the function of any community.

More Life believes that there are many components and factors that play into what we consider a 'healthy' lifestyle.

And that by creating an international community that celebrates alternative and innovative experiences, products and partnerships, the importance of global wellness will get more attention.

Didn't get the invite? No problem. This event was the first of many to come.

Inner peace: More Life hopes to encourage, educate and mobilize personal growth both physical and mental

Conscious decision: More Life believes that there are many components and factors that play into what we consider a 'healthy' lifestyle
A lot of people, not just Democrats, are going to start looking to Mr. Biden and sizing him up. Its a real-time test at some level, said Addisu Demissie, who managed the presidential campaign of Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Even though he doesnt have authority, he can show and not tell what four years of a Biden presidency would feel like.

In particular, Democrats believe the virus will help them hold more moderate, independent suburban voters who dont like the presidents tone but have stayed with him because of the strong economy. The party won control of the House in 2018 largely on the strength of their support among those voters, flipping a number of seats in battleground districts. Exit polling from Tuesdays primaries showed that a majority of voters saw Mr. Biden as the candidate they trusted most to handle a major crisis.

For rural voters, who are more likely to vote for Republicans, the economic ramifications could affect their bottom lines, particularly farmers and oil workers who are already hurting from trade policies.

Yet, the fiercely partisan moment in Washington has scrambled the politics of unity that traditionally kick into place during times of national crisis. The partisan divide is so pervasive that it has affected not only peoples feelings about the presidents response, but also their fears about the virus itself.

Roughly six in 10 Republican voters nationwide said they were not particularly concerned that the coronavirus would disrupt their lives, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this week. Democratic voters were twice as likely as Republicans to say they are concerned.

While privately concerned about the impact on the presidents re-election prospects, Republicans are largely following Mr. Trumps lead in minimizing the worries over the coronavirus and blaming Democrats and the media for focusing on the deaths it has caused.

One thing the press has not covered at all is the people who have really recovered, said Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a Republican ally of Mr. Trumps. Right now all people are hearing about are the deaths. Im sure the deaths are horrific, but the flip side of this is the vast majority of people who get coronavirus do survive.
A number of airline companies in China have recently started providing charter flight services for governments and enterprises across the country to help accelerate the resumption of work and production amid the novel coronavirus epidemic by bringing migrant workers from their hometowns directly to cities.

I never thought that the first time I took a plane, it would be a charter flight to return to work, said a migrant worker surnamed Su, one of the migrant workers who took Shenzhen Airlines charter flight ZH8165 from Yuncheng, north Chinas Shanxi province, to Huizhou, south Chinas Guangdong province.

All 157 passengers on the flight were employees of TCL King Electrical Appliances Huizhou Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Chinas main TV manufacturer TCL. As it was the first time most of the passengers had taken a plane, Shenzhen Airlines provided special services for the flight, arranging dedicated vehicles and security check channels, as well as online services, such as electronic health declaration and electronic boarding passes.

The plane departed from Yuncheng at 4 p.m. on Feb. 27 and arrived in Huizhou Pingtan Airport at 6:50 p.m. the same day. After getting off the plane, all the employees were taken directly to their factory in special vehicles.

This time we were directly taken from home to the factory. It made us feel safe, Su said.

With the arrival of four other charter flights in Shenzhen, Huizhou, and Taizhou on the same day, Shenzhen Airlines had carried out five charter flights on Feb. 27, bringing 720 employees to their places of work.

So far, the airline company has carried out six charter flights bringing 881 people back to their workplaces.

We are holding discussions with nearly 20 more companies on their needs, said an executive of Shenzhen Airlines.

Many other airlines in the country have responded actively to Chinas call for efforts to support the resumption of work and production.

By March 4, China Southern Airlines, headquartered in Guangzhou, capital of south Chinas Guangdong province, had transported 7,257 people back to their workplaces on 43 charter flights.

Shandong Airlines in Jinan, capital of east Chinas Shandong province, has confirmed five charter flights and 13 flights with reserved seats so far, including charter flights to help impoverished migrant workers return to work in the province.

Sichuan Airlines, headquartered in Chengdu, capital of southwest Chinas Sichuan province, has completed five charter flights bringing 399 people to the cities they work in.

Furthermore, 11 airline companies of HNA Group Co., Ltd., a Chinese conglomerate headquartered in Haikou, south Chinas Hainan province, have completed 32 charter flights ordered by governments and enterprises, taking more than 3,000 migrant workers to various Chinese cities.

The price of a charter flight is set according to the variable costs of the flight, such as fuel and labor. The money is usually paid by enterprises, while some governments also provide certain subsidies for companies, disclosed an executive of Shenzhen Airlines.

Charter flight services are being carried out in response to the countrys call for intensified efforts to promote resumption of work and production, said the executive, adding that from a business perspective, the service has not been profitable for airline companies.

Charter flight services aimed at bringing people back to work are a special service being rolled out to help companies during the epidemic, said Shenzhen Airlines, adding that according to guidelines of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the service will last until March 15, after which date the C
President Xi Jinping visits Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- After securing an upper hand in its all-out confrontation with the novel coronavirus on home turf, China is warily repositioning itself to fight the economic fallouts of the outbreak already declared as a pandemic.

In stark contrast to the rapid spread elsewhere in the world, the virus spread has been basically contained in China, with new risks largely coming from imported cases. The National Health Commission said it received reports of 15 new confirmed cases on the mainland on Wednesday, among which six were imported cases.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, China has prioritized the health of people from home and abroad and taken stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus at the expense of short-term economic gains.

Flexibility and agility are what China has learned from its tough fight with the ferocious virus. Shortly before the World Health Organization declared the outbreak as a pandemic, China's State Council unveiled new measures to support foreign trade and investment in case the increasingly severe situations overseas might further weigh down global industrial chains.

The measures in the pipeline include a shorter negative list of foreign investment and more foreign trade loans from financial institutions.

DECISIVE COMMAND

During his Tuesday inspection of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated that the epidemic will not undermine the fundamentals of China's steady and long-term sound economic development despite short-term economic repercussions.

In a speech at a teleconference on Feb. 23, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed the importance of coordinating the prevention and control of the epidemic and economic and social development.

While ensuring sufficient epidemic prevention and control, resumption of work and production in certain regions has a bearing on solid material supply to contain the epidemic, completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects, China's opening up and global economic stability, among others, said Xi.

Xi demanded detailed steps to keep the economy stable, including category-based and region-specific work and production resumption, enhanced macro policy adjustment, doubled-down efforts on poverty alleviation and boosting employment, stepping up agriculture production, ensuring people's livelihood, as well as stabilizing foreign trade and investment.

POLICY TOOLKIT

As the world's second-largest economy, China has much leeway in sustaining steady economic growth. The ample maneuver room comes from the government's rich policy toolkit.

Xi has demanded the right pace and capacity of macro policies to cushion the epidemic's impact and prevent economic growth from slipping out of an appropriate range.

The epidemic has become one of the busiest occasions for China's government agencies, which are in full swing to keep an eye on the economy's well-being amid the epidemic fight and develop support steps.

Liquidity is boosted via open market operations and targeted credit ease. Tax, fee and social security payment cuts are offered to impacted firms. Daily necessity supplies are ensured through national reserve allocation. Logistics is facilitated via fast-track channels and free tolls. Food production is guaranteed by supporting spring farming.

Governments at all levels are responding swiftly to calls for help. Some local authorities arranged chartered buses, trains and flights to bring employees back to work to ease labor shortages.

After reports of some 300 million chickens starving over impeded feed supply in epidemic-stricken Hubei, the government prompted state-owned grain suppliers to send feed and later ordered local governments to refrain from blocking ways key to transport of livestock feed and products.

MARKET FORCES

Besides government aid, the country's businesses have been biting the bullet with grit and wit to survive and thrive. Companies and factories see the hard times as a chance to discover opportunities in the midst of a crisis.

Industrial giants are taking the lead in business adjustments, such as the rollout of non-contact delivery services and promotion of virtual reality salesrooms and online scenic spot tours. Many also lend a hand to prop up smaller players in their business ecosystem, including scraping rent and commission and offering microloans for vulnerable partners.

In one of the hardest-hit sectors, many restaurants take to food delivery to keep business going. Some even put their chefs on livestreaming platforms to pitch dishes or offer cooking tips.

The country's vibrant digital sector further adds to the economy's resilience by enabling millions of people to work, entertain and study from home via telecommuting and livestreaming.

As of the end of February, over 95 percent of companies in petrochemical, telecommunications, electricity and transport industries have resumed operation, while staff in over 80 percent of foreign-funded enterprises have returned to work.

As the rest of the global economy is increasingly gripped by fears of the outbreak, China's getting back to economic normality offers much-needed comfort.

UPHILL BATTLE

Xi said the COVID-19 epidemic will inevitably deal a relatively big blow to China's economic and social development, but its impact is temporary and generally manageable. He pointed out that at such a time it is even more important to view China's development in a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective and to strengthen and firm up confidence.

China's major economic growth targets for 2020 are yet to be announced as the annual session of the national legislature was postponed due to the epidemic, but Xi has reiterated that the country has confidence and capabilities to achieve the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and the eradication of poverty.

Noting that the country has been trying to manage a balancing act between containing the epidemic and reviving the economy, analysts and business insiders of many countries have expressed their cautious optimism that the Chinese economy will be left unscathed in the long run.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in February that she believes the Chinese economy "remains resilient" and will "return to normal in the second quarter" of 2020.

"We believe the coronavirus is a one-off negative shock, which should not alter the long-term growth trajectory of China's economy," UBS economists said in a research note in February. "As the virus outbreak is contained and economic activities normalize, we see pent-up demand being released and businesses recover."

However, experts said worldwide disruptions by the pandemic would pose new challenges to the Chinese economy.

The prevention focus should be shifted to the monitoring of inbound travelers to minimize the impact on business resumption, said Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.
The top U.S. commander in the Middle East said that a rocket attack on Camp Taji, Iraq, that killed two U.S. troops and a British medic was likely carried out by an Iranian-backed militia, and signaled Tehran's continuing activities aimed at driving the U.S. from the region.

Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said the U.S. is still working to identify those responsible for Wednesday's attack on Camp Taji, which is located about 20 miles north of Baghdad.

"It was most likely a Shia group" supported by Iran, he added.

At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday, McKenzie said that the Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah, part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), is the only group in his estimation capable of mounting the multiple rocket launches that hit Taji,

Related: 3 Dead, Including 2 Americans, in Rocket Attack in Taji, Iraq: Official

U.S. and British officials have pledged a response to the attack, but gave no indication of what form it might take.

"[The] deadly attack on Iraq's Camp Taji military base will not be tolerated," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Twitter. He agreed with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab that "those responsible must be held accountable."

The identities of the three killed are being withheld until their families can be notified, but Britain's Ministry of Defense said the U.K. service member was from the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Syria's state-run Syrian Arab News Agency and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitoring group, reported airstrikes in eastern Syria near Al Bukamal, just across the Iraqi border, immediately after the Taji attack.

McKenzie made no mention of airstrikes in his testimony, and there was no immediate confirmation of airstrikes from U.S. or British officials.

The U.S. has blamed Katai'b Hezbollah for several previous rocket attacks on both Taji and Baghdad's "Green Zone," which houses the U.S. Embassy.

In a statement Wednesday night, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve said that 12 coalition personnel were wounded at Camp Taji, in addition to the three killed.

Taji is an Iraqi base that hosts U.S. and coalition personnel for train-and-advise missions.

About 18 of the 107mm Katyusha rockets struck the base in the attack. Iraqi security forces later found a truck rocket launcher a few miles from the base, according to the statement.

The attack came four days after the deaths of two Marine Raiders, Gunnery Sgt. Diego D. Pongo, 34, and Capt. Moises A. Navas, 34, in action against a suspected ISIS stronghold in Iraq's north central Makhmour Mountains.

The Katai'b Hezbollah figured in several attacks that led to a Jan. 3 U.S. drone strike at Baghdad's International Airport that killed Iranian Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani.

On Dec. 26, rocket attacks blamed on Kataib Hezbollah hit an Iraqi compound near central Kirkuk and killed a U.S. defense contractor and wounded several U.S. troops. The U.S. responded with airstrikes on Iranian-backed militia positions on the Iraq-Syria border.

The airstrikes were followed by violent demonstrations in Baghdad and attempts to breach the gates of the U.S. Embassy on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

Soleimani was killed Jan. 3. On Jan. 8, Iran launched at least 12 ballistic missiles at the Al Asad Air Base in Iraq's Anbar province.

President Donald Trump said the next day that there appeared to be no injuries to U.S. troops in the Al Asad attack, but more than 100 have since been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury from the concussive effects of the blasts.

At Thursday's Senate hearing, Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, the ranking member of the committee, said the Taji attacks "seem to challenge the notion that we've re-established deterrence with respect to Iran" and the Tehran regime's destabilizing activities in the region.

In response, McKenzie said there is "ample intelligence" to show that Iran's "malign activities" are continuing through proxy groups such as Kataib Hezbollah.

"They have stood their missiles down -- I don't think that's an imminent threat" since the Al Asad attack, he said, but added that the Iranian regime has "a continued desire to operate through their proxies against us."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read more: Defense Department Orders 60-Day Troop Travel Ban for Virus-Afflicted Countries
India reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus on 30 January. The victim was a student who travelled from Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Sensex on that day ended at 40,913 level after losing 284 points and Rs 1.6 lakh crore in market cap.

The market capitilisation of BSE stood at Rs 157.6 lakh crore on 30 January. A little over a month since then, the market capitalisation of BSE now stands at Rs 125.3 lakh crore. Investor wealth has declined Rs 32.3 lakh crore during the period. To put it into perspective, Rs 32.3 lakh is more than double of Indian government's tax revenue (Rs 15 lakh crore) during FY20 and near 5 times the market capitalisation of India's most valuable listed company Reliance Industries (Rs 6.73 lakh crore).

In points term, Sensex has fallen from 40,913 on 30 January to 32,493 on 12 March. An erosion of 8,420 points or 20.6 per cent.

It's also important to note that on 1 February, the Union Budget was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. During that day Sensex tanked 1,092 points as the budget failed to provide any major benefit to industries. That was the beginning of the trend.

Since the first case of coronavirus in India, Sensex has fallen by more than 1,000 points on five separate trading sessions. In two of these trading sessions, Sensex fell by more than 2,000 points. On 9 March Sensex tanked 2467.4 points or 6.6% and on 12 March Sensex fell by 2,709 points or 7.6%. In the month of March alone investors have lost Rs 19 lakh crore.

These are the five trading sessions in which investors have suffered major losses:

These five sessions alone account for 95 per cent of the fall in Sensex since the first case in Kerala was identified by the Indian authorities. "The shock that coronavirus seems to have wrought on the world markets is unparalleled in recent history. The fact that it has gone on to effect mobility and social interaction has only amplified the sense of panic which is abundantly reflected in financial markets," said Siddharth Mehta, Founder & CIO, Bay Capital.

Till 12 March, the total coronavirus cases in India have risen to 73 and it has spread to 11 states/UTs in India.

Around the world, Coronavirus has spread to 124 countries with 1.27 lakh confirmed cases out of which 4,638 patients have died. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared COVID-19 as a pandemic.
New Delhi, March 12 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member of the Rajya Sabha Sanjay Singh here on Thursday accused the central government for Delhi riots, saying it was "conspired and carried out in a well planned manner". "This is my direct allegation," he said.

He questioned the silence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the government and non-deployment of army and other forces to contain the riots, even when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had sent a written request.

"Humaneness and humanity were killed in riots. It didn't happen in a day. The fire was planned before the Assembly polls, and ignited after that," he said.

Singh said one BJP parliamentarian said during the poll campaign that if the people didn't vote for the BJP, women in their houses would be raped. "It's shameful. You incite people of this country," Singh said.

While for three days Delhi was burning, the Home Minister remained silent. "Police remained silent," he said.

Hindus and Muslims were killed. Their houses were torched. 53 people were killed, including one policeman and one Intelligence Bureau official, and the Home Minister was silent, he said.

"What was he doing? Such kind of the Home Minister has no moral right to be in that place. It (government) started riots," Singh yelled. He also questioned why the Home Minister didn't visit the victims.

"Kapil Mishra says he will destroy Delhi. And the judge who ordered registeration of an FIR against, you transferred him out. The judiciary is under threat," he said.

He also questioned about the identity of 300 people who came from UP. "In UP, you have a government. Why no action has been taken," Singh said.
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.
Christians being persecuted for their faith is a daily reality in contemporary Nigeria. I live in a community where Christians are discriminated against and denied our rights to development, good infrastructure, stable jobs, education, and so on. We also face the danger of being attacked by our Muslim neighbors. I still live with the traumatic memory of the death of my dear cousin who pastored a church in the city of Kaduna. During the religious crises in Kaduna, he was killed in the presence of two of his children.

Christian farmers, in particular, face persecution as Muslim herdsmen migrate into our region and seek to overtake our ancestral land. Guerrilla warfare and raiding tactics are often used to chase rural Christians out of their farmlands. In many cases, herdsmen release their cows to graze on a Christians farmland, destroying the farmers crops and livelihood. Last year, Zinnia (a pseudonym)a Christian mother of four who was the breadwinner for her impoverished familylost four hectares of crops in this manner. Her fields were so destroyed that Zinnia could not harvest a single grain. Zinnia felt she wouldnt be given a fair hearing and that seeking legal justice could instigate more raids against her community. So she decided not to take the case to court. Her family endured this tragic loss because of their faith in Christ. Experiences like Zinnias are shared by many Christians here.

Faith in Christ does not shield us from suffering or pain. In fact, Scripture assures us that our faith in Jesus will often bring suffering. As the apostle Peter wrote, Dont be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very gladfor these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world (1 Pet. 4:1213, NLT). Our natural instinct is to avoid pain, yet when Jesus foretold his crucifixion, he linked his suffering directly to our discipleship: The Son of Man must suffer many things . . . and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. . . . Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:2223).

Jesus wants our idea of suffering and pain to be transformed to such an extent that we begin to see it as a positive way of life. Our human view of happiness as the absence of suffering, sorrow, and pain must give way to Christs perspective. Unlike the Christian symbol of today, Jesus first hearers knew the cross only as the ultimate instrument of torture, humiliation, and suffering. Following Jesus means denying ourselves and allowing Christ to work in both blessings and trials. It means choosing to desire whatever Christ desires. It means bearing suffering and persecution from the world like Jesus did, the Africa Study Bible notes. People who believe that Christians should enjoy life on earth free from suffering or persecution of any kind do not fully understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

To follow our crucified Lord means to willingly follow him into mistreatment, rejection, and suffering. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first, Jesus told his disciples (John 15:18). He also said, You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me (Matt. 24:9). Jesus willingly and resolutely absorbed mistreatment and suffering in his ministry and on the cross. By calling us to take up our cross daily, Jesus wants us to recognize the significance of suffering in our walk with him. If Jesus suffered, leaving us an example to follow, it then is a serious spiritual shortcoming if we try to ignore or reject suffering. In fact, our knowledge of Christ will be incomplete if we arent willing to experience suffering. Consider what Paul said: I want to know Christ . . . I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death (Phil. 3:10, NLT). There is a unique knowledge of Christ that we can gain only as we walk through times of suffering.

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To have a testimony in this life requires the willingness to face pain and persecution. For some, this means enduring severe hardship, trauma, violence, and even death. For others, this means enduring milder forms of mistreatment, such as being mocked, misunderstood, or ostracized. But whatever our context, if we dont cultivate a willingness to suffer with and for the Lord, it is impossible to please God. And without a knowledge of the place of suffering in Gods eternal plan, well be unable to endure that suffering.

If we see suffering only as a terrible thing that we must resist or avoid, we fail to grasp its significance. Suffering is meant to help us find the secret of real joy and true happinessthe kind that can be attained only through persecution. Suffering exposes our vulnerability but also causes us to dare greatly. In this sense, suffering can be an expression of Gods lovea method of pruning, refining, and purifying us. And Jesusthe Son of the Father of all creation, Gods Chosen Onehas majestically displayed the significance of suffering by taking away its pains, curses, and shame and replacing them with blessings, honor, and eternal glory! What Christ has done on the cross can transform our perception of human suffering into a rich experience with far-reaching implications for this life and the life to come.

Of course this does not mean we arent hurt, wounded, or traumatized by persecution. But it does mean we find resilient hope and joy in Gods eternal plan. As one Nigerian Christian expressed, Believers should be hopeful that one day all suffering, persecution, [and] killing by Fulani jihadists [and] Boko Haram will become just a past story. God allows us to suffer, in part because true suffering prepares us to experience eternal, divine joy.

We find a strange happiness as we grow in our willingness to suffer for the Lord: Somehow we are mysteriously participating in the sufferings of Christ. If we are insulted for our faith, we are blessed as the Spirit of glory and of God rests on [us] (1 Pet. 4:14). If we suffer for Christ, we can praise God for the privilege to bear his name (vv. 1219). When we share in his sufferings, we know we will also share in his glory (Rom. 8:1718).

When Zinnia told me about her ordeal, she was happy that she was persecuted because of her faith in Christ. She told me that what happened made her faith even stronger. She was determined to serve Christ, come what may. There can, indeed, be joy in sufferingwhen we know that it is for Christs sake we are being persecuted. It gives us a perfect opportunity not only to read or know about the suffering of Christ but also to participate in it.

Sunday Bobai Agang is an ordained minister with the ECWA and provost of ECWA Theological Seminary in Nigeria. He also serves as an associate research scholar in systematic theology and ecclesiology for Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

This piece is part of The Cross, CTs special issue featuring articles and Bible study sessions for Lent, Easter, or any time of year. You can learn more about purchasing bulk print copies of The Cross for your church or small group at OrderCT.com/TheCross. If you are a CT subscriber, you can download a digital copy of The Cross free at MoreCT.com/TheCross.
Towns in Queensland's far north have recorded more than 200 millimetres of rain in less than a day as a tropical low flooded roads and whipped up strong winds.

The system, now about 175 kilometres east of the town of Coen, north of Cooktown, is expected to develop into a category 2 cyclone at the weekend and continue moving away from Queensland's coast.

The tropical low across far north Queensland is expected to develop into a cyclone by Saturday morning. Credit:Bureau of Meteorology

Forecaster Rosa Hoff said most of the rainfall has been "quite monsoonal", though higher rain totals had been experienced south of the system.

"But then we've also had some higher rainfall totals south of the system because the winds are kind of being squeezed between that low-pressure system and the high-pressure ridge which is going down the coast," she said.
The incumbent has been sending out nearly a dozen of those slick and well-crafted mailers, because to become the next senator from the 30th Senate District, she needs to be re-elected to another two-year term. She would be a lock for the seat currently held by aging Terry Link of Indian Creek when he decides to retire, if she would want the post.
Studying at ILA helps students gain skills, knowledge, and improves their thinking

A serious investment in education

In the late 1990s, Vietnam opened its doors to the world. It was the golden time for the country to develop, there was only one requirement  English for people to be able to communicate with internationally fellows. Small classes taught by Vietnamese teachers with dry and old-fashioned textbooks could not handle the societal needs at the time. ILA established a pioneering international-level English language education model  setting a new standard in education with the first line-up of fully native teachers in Vietnam. This new model quickly received a great deal of attention. From a single tiny classroom, ILA quickly grew and became the leading provider of English language training in Vietnam.

Reflecting ILAs two decades of development, ILA CEO Tran Xuan Dzu shared, We have always taken the time and resources to invest in improving the quality of our curriculum. We deeply understand that success is when we can fully realise the effectiveness of every single ILA class, so that our students can truly learn something new each day and through this, they grow. That effectiveness can only be measured by students' skills, knowledge, and thinking that develops and is proven through interacting with teachers and friends in a safe, communicative, and collaborative environment, which they would not get by themselves.

This explains why ILA is to this day both a leader and a pioneer with an innovative and international-standard curriculum. They are not only focusing on English education but also supporting students to develop 21st century skills and thinking, helping them to be ready for a future-change-fast".

To assure the ongoing professional development of their academic workforce, ILA fly their staff to prestigious international conferences globally to further study and understand the educational systems in Northern European countries, Australia, or the US. Furthermore, ILA is committed to investing in independent feedback from all customers, to ensure feedback is objectively gathered and that they are able to maintain a measured and open viewpoint on their teaching practice. This is not a minor investment, proven through the total expenditure of VND60 billion ($2.6 million) in 2018 for this commitment. ILA does this for their long-standing and never-changing belief: investing in learning programmes forms the core and determines the survival of an educational organisation.

Students are excited to join ILA@Live online classes

20 years of moving forward

In the past month, in addition to health and safety, children's learning has been a great concern for the majority of Vietnamese parents. ILA  a truly passionate educational organisation with many years of experience in the use of technology in teaching  promptly responded to this concern by implementing the Online Learning Ecosystem, including ILA@Home and online classrooms called ILA@Live, exclusively for ILA students.

In this ecosystem, students not only study English directly with their teachers and friends, but also practise self-paced learning and explore activities with family members. This ecosystem has received numerous positive feedbacks: Its been a great support. The kids are still studying with their teachers, there are also many videos, exercises, and activities for children to do all day without getting bored. I can also join my kids and I am learning how to support them from home, a mother of student learning at ILA said.

This has proved that success comes from a high level of professionalism, smart allocation of resources, deep research, and most importantly, empathy with the needs of the students and respect for the first and best teachers any child has  their family.

ILAs teachers play a key role in this ecosystem. Joel Swagman, one of ILA's senior and most experienced teachers, said, The high standards at ILA have constantly made me want to teach better. Because of the continual expectation of high quality, I have grown a great deal in my profession. Only at ILA have I studied specific courses about cultural differences and how to teach Vietnamese children. Were really proud of this ecosystem. At this challenging moment, we are still provided with the best conditions by ILA to focus our expertise where it matters  on our students and for their parents."

Clearly, the calm and thoughtful manner of ILA's implementation of online learning platforms has solved three difficult problems simultaneously: maintaining the joy of learning for students, providing peace of mind for parents, and keeping up the enthusiasm and energy levels of all staff.

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep our balance, we must keep moving, said one of the worlds most respected innovators and compassionate educators, Albert Einstein. ILAs two-decade journey have created meaningful milestones for English education in Vietnam and have contributed to growing young Vietnamese generations who are confident and able to change the world through applying both deep skills and a true understanding of global citizenship.
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Trump has suspended travel from Europe to the US as he is blaming Europe for the spread of the coronavirus in the United States.

Trump said:

And taking early intense action, we have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than are now present in Europe. The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hot spots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.

After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well-being of all Americans. To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

Video:

Trump blames Europe for the coronavirus in the US and suspends travel from Europe to the US for a month. pic.twitter.com/LzBnmSXwP7  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 12, 2020

The reason why the US has fewer reported cases of the virus is that the Trump administration hasnt made working test kits widely available. The numbers dont represent what experts fear is really happening in the country. Trump has been trying to hold down the number of reported cases.

Europe is not responsible for the spread of the coronavirus to the US. The President seems to believe that he can wall the US off from the outbreak.

Instead of reassuring America, Trump just made the anxiety over the coronavirus worse.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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Six newly created Municipal corporations in Rajasthan will go to poll on April 5.

Polling for councillors in 560 wards of six new municipal corporations of Jaipur Heritage, Jaipur, Jodhpur North, Jodhpur South, Kota North and Kota South will be held on April 5 and counting will take place on April 7, State Election Commissioner P S Mehra said.

He said that elections for the post of mayor and deputy mayor will be held on April 16 and April 17 respectively.

There are more than 35 lakh voters in these six municipal corporations and over 15,000 personnel will be deputed in the election duty.

EVMs will be used in the elections, he said.

Notification for elections of ward councillors will be issued on March 19 and the last date for filing nomination papers will be March 23, he said, adding the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on March 24 and March 26 will be the last date for the withdrawal of nominations.

Polling will be held from 7 am to 5 am on April 5.

Mehra said that expenditure limit for candidates contesting election for ward council is Rs 2.5 lakh, which was Rs 80,000 in 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Even as the Centre has imposed



visa curbs to stop the spread of coronavirus in the country, no positive case of the deadly disease has been so far found in Gujarat, where more than 2,600 travellers have been screened at airports till now, said officials on Thursday.

Out of the 65 samples of suspected cases collected so far in Gujarat, 63 came negative for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), while two results are awaited, said a release by the state health department.

The '104' fever helpline is getting over 200 calls seeking information about the deadly virus, it said.

A total of 2,611 travellers have been screened at Ahmedabad and Surat international airports so far, the release said.

Moreover, 1,217 travellers, who were kept under observation upon their return, have completed their 28-day observation period, the health department said.

On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel had informed the Assembly that over 2,300 people, mostly crew members, on-board 55 ships were also screened at major ports in Gujarat.

As a precautionary measure, as many as 576 isolation beds and 204 ventilators have been kept reserved at different government hospitals in the state, the officials added.

On Wednesday, India suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.

The central government has also "strongly advised" Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bengaluru, March 13 : Karnataka Health Minister B. Sriramulu on Thursday confirmed that a 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi in the state's northern region died of Coronavirus.

"The 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi who passed away and was suspected to be a COVID-19 patient has been confirmed for COVID-19," tweeted state Health Minister B. Sriramulu late on Thursday night.

A Government statement from New Delhi late on Thursday night said the old man died due to comorbidity and has also tested positive for COVID-19.

Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department's joint director for Communicable Diseases Prakash Kumar said all the protocols are being followed with regard to the safe disposal of the old man's body.

Kumar said the body has been disinfected completely and disposed as per Central government's guidelines.

He shared the guidelines to be followed on how to handle a corpse in a coronavirus situation, detailing the general principles, tips for corpse handlers, storage or mortuary services, identification and release of body to relatives.

Sriramulu said the health department has initiated the contact tracing and isolation measures.

According to the Central government statement, the old man visited Saudi Arabia on January 29 and returned to India a month later on February 29.

"He was a known case of hypertension and asthma. He reached back to Hyderabad on February 29 and went to Kalaburgi. While he was asymptomatic on his return, he developed symptoms of fever and cough on March 6. One private doctor visited him at his home and treated him there,a said the statement.

However, on March 9, the Kalaburgi man's health deteriorated with aggravated symptoms and a private hospital in the town provisionally diagnosed his case as mid zone viral pneumonia and suspected COVID-19.

On March 9th itself, Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratory, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Kalaburgi collected his sample and dispatched it to VDRL, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru to rule out Coronavirus.

"Without waiting for the test results, the attendees insisted and the patient was discharged against medical advice (DAMA) and the attendees took him to a private hospital in Hyderabad," said the statement.

Kalaburgi is 232 km west of Hyderabad.

Though Kalaburgi District Health Officer met the patient's relatives and requested them to shift the patient to an isolated ward within GIMS, according to the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner of the district, the relatives didn't heed them and moved the patient without the officer's knowledge to Hyderabad.

"The patient was admitted in a private hospital in Hyderabad and treated. Later he was discharged and while he was being brought back he died on the way to GIMS, Kalaburgi on Tuesday,a said the statement.

Currently, all precautionary measures as per protocol such as contact tracing, screening and home quarantine of the contacts have been initiated by the Kalaburgi district health and family welfare department and being monitored continuously.

Sriramulu said the old man was a coronavirus suspect after his death on Wednesday and confirmed the cause of death on Thursday.

Following his death in a private Hyderabad hospital, state health department's Information, Education and Communication (IEC) special officer Suresh Shastri said Telangana government has also been informed of the development.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Customers, some with protective masks, queue at the check out of a supermarket as people begin to stock up on provisions in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Spain's health minister on Monday announced a sharp spike in coronavirus cases in and around the national capital, Madrid, and said all schools in the region, including kindergartens and universities, will close for two weeks from Wednesday. (AP Photo/Paul White)

With the deadly coronavirus wreaking a worldwide financial havoc and disrupting manufacturing cycles as well as supply chains, policymakers across the globe are grappling to find ways to mitigate the impact of the crisis.

In India also, sectors ranging from automobile to pharma are bearing the brunt of the coronavirus outbreak.

Here's a look at 8 sectors that have been affected the most by coronavirus:

1. Travel and tourism

The government on March 11 said it will suspend all tourist visas in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India continued to rise. While the tourism industry has already been affected, aviation sector is likely to suffer further.

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

Track this blog for the latest updates on coronavirus

Business travel to Asia has been the worst hit, with at least three out of every four companies reporting they have canceled or suspended all or most business trips to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Asia-Pacific countries, according to a survey by Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). The global business travel sector is expected to take a revenue hit of about $820 billion, with China accounting for nearly half of the losses.

Coronavirus pandemic: Cannes festival may get cancelled as death toll crosses 4,500

2. Pharmaceuticals

India is the largest provider of generic drugs globally. According to a report by Indian Brand Equity Foundation, Indian pharmaceutical sector industry supplies over 50 per cent of global demand for various vaccines, 40 per cent of generic demand in the US and 25 per cent of all medicine in UK. Thus, the crisis may help the pharmaceutical industry raise it's market share.

However, the government declared a ban on export of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) which has alarmed investors . India has also put paracetamol, antibiotics, vitamins on export ban list to fight the virus outbreak. As per data by India Brand Equity Foundation, India exported about $19 billion in drugs in 2019.

Coronavirus declared pandemic: Meaning, definition, history and more

Additionally, Indian drug manufacturers source almost 70 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for their medicines from China, which has led to an adverse impact on the supply chain for manufacturers.

3. Sanitisers and mask manufacturers

With the rise of coronavirus cases, the demand for masks and hand sanitisers has been increasing. Large retail chains like Reliance Smart, Reliance Fresh, Big Bazaar and Spencers Retail said they have sanitiser stocks and are moving inventory to Delhi-NCR, Kerala, Jaipur and Hyderabad, where demand has jumped multiple times in the last few days. According to the retailers, sales of hand wash has spiked as well.

4. Automobile industry

Vehicle production across all categories is likely to be critically affected due to the coronavirus outbreak. Automakers in India import about 10 percent of their raw materials from China, according to auto industry body SIAM

SIAM said disruption in availability of these parts is likely to critically hamper production across all segments, namely passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three-wheelers and two-wheelers. The disruption may have a larger impact on electric vehicles as China is dominant in the battery supply chain, accounting three-quarters of battery manufacturing capacity.

5. Electronics

Local production of handsets may come to a complete halt in the absence of supplies from China. Industry officials say battery and some camera modules are made in Vietnam, while displays and connectors are majorly made in China. Chips are made in Taiwan but are sent to China for the final build-up. Feature phone sales are set to take a massive hit since the key printed circuit board (PCB) component is imported from China.

6. Shipping

China accounts for a major portion of imports into Indian ports. Chinese imports constitute approximately 55 percent of volumes handled at major ports in India. JNPT port at Mumbai handled 141 ship calls last month, compared with 154 calls in the previous month. The shipments are likely to see decline in the coming months.

7. IT Sector

The extended Lunar New Year holidays in China have adversely impacted the revenue and growth of domestic IT companies, operating out of China. Heavily dependent on manpower, IT sector is finding it difficult to operate due to restriction in movement of people arising from lockdown and quarantine issues. Consequently, they are not able to complete or deliver the existing projects in time and are also declining new projects. Further, the global customers for Indian IT companies in China have started looking for other service providers in alternate locations such as Malaysia, Vietnam, etc.

8. Solar Power

The solar power industry sources around 80 percent of its solar modules from China, making it's clean energy goals heavily dependent on the neighbouring country.

The Coronavirus outbreak has put Indian solar companies at risk of missing deadlines for projects, leaving them facing fines and penalties.

In response to industry concerns, Indias finance ministry in February said that businesses with supply chains disrupted by coronavirus in China could declare force majeure, using the act of God clause that frees them from contractual obligations due to unforeseeable events.
"We were planning to unveil a historic get-out-the-vote campaign at the event because everything is at stake for LGBTQ Americans this election year, and are hopeful that the program and GLAADs ongoing work to fight against anti-LGBTQ discrimination will continue to be supported and funded. Since the event is canceled, our advocacy work will experience a loss of funding and we encourage community members and allies to consider becoming a GLAAD member to ensure this work continues.
Discussions about cladding during the Grenfell Tower refurbishment focused more on "appearance and price" rather than safety, an architect who worked on the project has told the inquiry into the disaster.

Tomas Rek, a former employee of architects Studio E, said budget concerns appeared to bring about the switch from the proposed zinc to the cheaper aluminium composite material (ACM) panel, which was flammable and fuelled the fire's spread.

Mr Rek, who worked on the project between September and December 2013, also said he was unaware of several fire safety requirements for buildings and considered it a "subject outside of my competence".

The architect, who trained in the Czech Republic, said he could not recall talking about the fire safety of materials used to coat the tower, despite helping produce the project's National Building Specification (NBS), a document used by designers to describe required materials, standards and workmanship.

During a meeting in September 2013 with external wall subcontractor Harley Facades, Mr Rek said in a witness statement he thought the focus was "more to do with the appearance and price of the various materials and not their fire performance or fire rating".

Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Show all 10 1 /10 Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Artwork created by some members of the Grenfell community as they prepare to welcome visitors to the Notting Hill Carnival Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Model and artist, 15 year old Malachi Baptiste said Bay 56, the space occupied in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire has proven to be "healing" for the local community Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Model and artist, 15 year old Malachi Baptiste said Bay 56, the space occupied in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire has proven to be "healing" for the local community Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival An artist spray paints Bay 56 entrance doors with graffiti in preparation for the Notting Hill Carnival Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Niles Hailstones who helped open Bay 56 in the aftermath of Grenfell Tower said the space will be a "safe zone" during Notting Hill Carnival for families and the community Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Interior of Bay 56 in Acklam Village. Locals have been preparing the space ahead of Notting Hill Carnival Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Niles Hailstones who helped open Bay 56 said the space will be a "safe zone" during Notting Hill Carnival for families and the community Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Artwork symbolic of the Grenfell Tower fire prepared ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival Exterior off Bay 56, Acklam Village, where locals impacted by the Grenfell Tower fire have been taking part in art, music and holistic workshops and will be welcoming people visiting the Notting Hill Carnival Anu Shukla / The Independent Grenfell community prepare for Notting Hill Carnival A painted sign opposite Ladbroke Grove Tube Station, London, is positioned as a reminder of the Grenfell Tower tragedy that killed 72 people on 14 June 2017 Anu Shukla / The Independent

His evidence on Wednesday came as the government announced a 1bn fund to cover the cost of removing unsafe materials from high-rise residential buildings - 1,001 days after the fire, which killed 72 people.

After the meeting in September 2013, lead Studio E architect Bruce Sounes sent an email to Mark Harris, of Harley Facades, saying his "back-of-a-fag-packet" figure for the cladding had been deemed over-budget, according to disclosed emails.

The next month, Mr Harris emailed Mr Rek regarding pricing, saying from a "Harley selfish point of view our preference would be to use ACM".

Mr Harris added that it was "tried and tested (on many Harley projects), and we are confident in the cost base".

The inquiry has heard that combustible ACM panels were chosen in 2014 over the originally proposed zinc in a bid to save 454,000 on the Grenfell refit.

 Grenfell architect apologises to victims: It shouldn't have happened

Under questioning by the inquiry's chief lawyer, Richard Millett QC, Mr Rek also said he had only a limited knowledge of building regulations and approved fire safety guidance.

Mr Rek said: "I mean, retrospectively looking at it, I think it would help if I had a better understanding, of course.

"We had a fire consultant on the job and I considered fire-related issues a complicated subject outside of my competence."

Mr Rek also said he was unaware of previous high-rise fires involving cladding and did not have an understanding of how a panel with a polyethylene (PE) core would behave in a fire, the inquiry heard.

Describing it as "some sort of plastic", he said he recalled that the panels had already been selected prior to his involvement in the refurbishment.

He added in his witness statement: "I may have assumed that compliance with building regulations had already been confirmed prior to my involvement, since I had simply been asked to obtain samples of these materials and the focus appeared to be on the appearance and cost of the product."

The ACM Reynobond PE panels used in Grenfell's cladding system had a heat combustion akin to diesel and close to lighter fluid and possessed a high-calorific value compared with other construction materials, the inquiry has previously heard.

They were found to have fuelled the fire's rapid spread at the 24-storey west London block in June 2017, which was sparked by an electrical fault with a fridge-freezer.

The inquiry also heard the chief architect of the revamp sought to prevent the London Fire Brigade from obtaining provisional fire strategy plans for the project, saying the service was "likely to support the severe interpretation of the regulations".

Bruce Sounes sent the documents to an official at the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO) in April 2014, writing: "I would not show this to the LFB", the inquiry heard.

Inquiry counsel Kate Grange QC suggested it displayed a "less than transparent" attitude towards working with firefighters.

But Mr Sounes, who was giving evidence again after being taken ill last week, insisted the plans were provisional, were subject to change, and he wanted to be clear "what proposals we were actually going to be making".

He said: "If it was going to be a problem I wanted to be sure. In a sense, you don't get many opportunities to speak to the fire brigade.

"The services strategy was still not clearly resolved and the fire strategy was still evolving.

"I thought it best to be sure what we were proposing before we did so to the fire brigade."

On 1 April 2014, Claire Williams, a project manager at KCTMO, asked Mr Sounes in an email for fire plans and drawings, writing: "We had another meeting with the fire brigade (the next quarterly one), and there was a fire engineer liaison chap there.

"I want to get our fire strategy onto their radar, particularly in terms of understanding any issues they may have over the smoke venting system to the lobbies."

Mr Sounes replied: "Attached is Exova's fire strategy and RBKC's markup of our fire strategy plan. I would not show this to the LFB.

"They are likely to support the severe interpretation of the regulations which Exova believe are unnecessary because this is in an existing building. It is to be superseded too."

Ms Grange asked if it was in the interest of his client, a reference to lead contractor Rydon, to get through the council's building control process without "too many issues being raised".

Mr Sounes replied: "It's not my role as an architect to be devious, I'm sorry."

Additional reporting by Press Association
Coronavirus schools shutdown: what should employers do? -Advice by Alan Hickey, Associate Director of Advisory at Peninsula.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced that schools, colleges, childcare facilities and other public facilities will close in the Republic of Ireland from 6 pm on the 12th March until the 29th March at the earliest. The government has also announced a ban on indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people.

The Health Service Executive likewise updated their advice by encouraging members of the public to take social distancing measures including limiting social interactions, avoiding indoor, crowded spaces, shaking hands and all forms of close personal contact.

These measures represent a significant escalation in government intervention to contain the coronavirus outbreak and look certain to disrupt employers. The principal challenge the shutdown poses for employers is increased short notice absence from work. With schools and childcare facilities closing, many employees will need to stay home to care for their children and make alternative caring arrangements.

This could result in a large number of employees needing time off at once, something that may be difficult for businesses to manage. Assessing how much time should reasonably be allowed will vary from case to case, and it will be essential to maintain contact with staff during any periods of leave during the shutdown.

What should employers do?

Both employers and employees should first check their employment contracts to see if the shutdown triggers any clauses or policies. Certain employers may have included business continuity or contingency policies that may prove useful in the current circumstances.

Depending on the nature of the business carried out by the employer, the following options are available to handle short notice requests for time off for childcare reasons:

 Remote working  where possible, allowing employees to work from home for some time may allow them to manage both their domestic and work responsibilities during the shutdown.

 Time in lieu  employers could agree that the employee uses banked time off in lieu. Lieu time is unlikely to cover an extended absence but may allow the employee enough time to arrange alternative childcare.

 Annual leave  the employee could use their annual leave entitlement for a short period of absence to allow them to make the necessary childcare arrangements.

 Contractual leave  employees may have leave entitlements under their employment contract that may be appropriate in these circumstances. If it is possible to agree a period of paid leave that is not annual leave, employees should avail of this option.

 Unpaid leave  not all businesses will be in a position to provide a period of paid leave, and it may only be possible to agree a period of unpaid leave to cover the shutdown.

 Parental leave  if the employees children are below the age of 12, you could allow the employee to take a period of parental leave to cover absences caused by the school shutdown. Parental leave is unpaid, but the employees role enjoys protected status during a period of parental leave under the relevant legislation.

 Combination - a mixture of the above statutory and contractual leaves could be used to cover an extended absence.

Peninsula is Irelands most trusted employment law and HR consultancy, offering a 24-hour advice service 365 days a year, so clients can consult directly with their employment law and HR expert.
(Alliance News) - Metal Tiger PLC on Thursday said that it has terminated farm-in discussions for the Boh Yai lead-zinc-silver mine located in Thailand and has instead invested an additional AUD1.1 million, around GBP547,665, in Australian miner Sandfire Resources Ltd.

The natural resources investor blamed the current economic environment and the risk-reward ratio for the termination of the farm-in and joint venture talks for the Thai project.

Metal Tiger first entered into farm-in talks for the Boh Yai project with Kanchanaburi Exploration & Mining Co Ltd, Boh Yai Mining Co Ltd and the majority owner of both companies, Pornnaret Klipbua, in August 2016.

The company said the Thai farm-in agreement would have represented a significant capital commitment from Metal Tiger over the next two years and that it was unable to reach terms with Klipbua to accept a deal without an upfront payment.

London-based Metal Tiger will be retaining its intellectual property in respect of the Boh Yai project and remains open to joint venture approaches from third parties to help capture the project's potential value.

Michael McNeilly, chief executive of Metal Tiger, said: "Clearly we are disappointed that we were unable to agree acceptable terms given the amount of work undertaken to demonstrate the investment case. With that said, Metal Tiger must look towards the future and take an optimised and moderated risk approach in the balancing of its allocation of funding."

Separately, Metal Tiger said it has acquired an additional 270,000 shares in Sandfire Resources at an average price of AUD4.03 per share, increasing the company's stake in Sandfire to around 3.7%.

Metal Tiger shares in London were down 6.4% at 1.17 pence each on Thursday afternoon.

By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
On Thursday, a Ukrainian soldier was wounded by a sniper, the report reads.

Russian occupation forces continue violating ceasefire agreements, the Joint Forces Operation HQ reports, adding that the latest enemy attack was recorded near the village of Zaitseve.

"The enemy engaged Ukrainian positions with anti-tank grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Enemy snipers were also active in the area. According to confirmed intelligence data, Russian snipers earlier arrived at this section of the front line from Russia to pass [live fire] exams. The invaders wounded one of our defenders in an aimed shot. The wounded warrior was immediately provided medical assistance," the statement reads.

Read alsoTCG: Ukraine, Russia agree to simultaneously open checkpoints in Zolote, Schastia in Donbas

The JFO Command added that Ukrainian troops returned fire following such actions by the invaders.

Employing authorized weapons, they destroyed enemy firing positions. Enemy losses are being verified.

As UNIAN reported earlier, over the past day, another Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action.
For a while, it seemed as if Russia and Saudi Arabia were building a strong new relationship based on common interests in the Middle East and the oil sector. In December 2016, the joint efforts of Riyadh and Moscow led to the signing of the Vienna Agreement between OPEC and 11 non-OPEC countries (10 now, as Equatorial Guinea joined OPEC in 2017), which aimed at decreasing oil production to prevent the fall of oil prices and ensure their stability.

The initial six-month deal was then extended several times. It also led to the formation of a permanent forum-like structure  the so-called OPEC+  with its own charter signed in July 2019, which allowed participants to coordinate and adjust their production policies.

This format proved to be effective and achieved, at least temporarily, relatively high and stable oil prices. In December 2019, the deal was extended until April 2020 and it was taken for granted that OPEC+ would continue leveraging the market with production cuts beyond 2020.

In the meantime, Russian and Saudi Arabian officials exchanged visits and signed various memoranda of understanding on political and economic issues.

What happened on March 6 surprised many, but not those who had been watching Russia closely. In Vienna, Saudi Arabia tried to push for additional oil production cuts to compensate for the slump in demand for oil due to the coronavirus. Russia not only rejected the move but also announced it will no longer abide by the previous cuts.

This basically led to the end of OPEC+ policies of production cuts. It was reportedly aimed at causing a drop in oil prices in order to hit US shale producers, who have continued to benefit from OPEC production cuts by expanding their market share. A price collapse could put some of these producers out of business as fracking has a high production cost.

This is an argument which Igor Sechin, the head of the Russian oil giant Rosneft and the main opponent of Russias participation in OPEC+, has repeatedly made. In February 2019, he even put it in an official letter to President Vladimir Putin, claiming that the OPEC+ deal to cut oil output was a strategic threat and played into the hands of the US.

Given that Shechin has been opposing production cuts for a while, the question that arises is, why now? The answer has much to do with Russias domestic politics.

When Russia concluded the Vienna Agreement in 2016, the Russian leadership believed that it would help prepare the country for the Russian presidential elections in March 2018. Higher oil prices ensured the Kremlins financial capacity to lead a successful electoral campaign.

In the run-up to the 2018 election, it was important for the regime to demonstrate a strong economic performance and to show that Putin was able to deliver on his promises of economic growth. Higher oil revenue helped pull the country out of the 2015-2016 economic recession and guaranteed stable economic performance through 2019.

It also allowed the regime to extend social security programmes and postpone painful austerity measures until after the vote. Putin was able to secure another six-year term with a high enough turnout and significantly high approval rating.

However, since then, the political goals of the Russian regime have changed, which require a different approach to cooperation with OPEC+. By 2020, the Russian authorities began preparations for the end of Putins fourth term in power in 2024. This changed the regimes priorities  from satisfying the needs of the general population to ensuring the sustainability of the Kremlins alliance with powerful tycoons, including those controlling oil production who would, in the end, either approve a successor to Putin or a constitutional amendment that would allow him to stay in power for two more terms.

And not all of them were happy with Russias participation in OPEC+. In February 2020, Sechin and Aleksandr Dyukov, the head of Gazprom Neft, again voiced their resistance to further production cuts under OPEC+ as it was going against their production development plans.

Unlike the majority of the OPEC+ countries whose oil production is largely concentrated in the hands of government-controlled national oil companies, Russian oil producers enjoy relative market freedom. Consequently, the Kremlin has to use more carrots than sticks to persuade its companies to follow its decisions.

Yet, by the end of 2019, all existing carrots had already been used. The provision of further tax exemptions and financial support to Russian oil producers became economically unjustifiable while all potential loopholes in the Vienna Agreement that allowed the Russian producers to justify their low compliance with OPEC+ obligations had also already been used.

At the same time, ahead of the March meeting, the Kremlins own perception of OPEC+ has changed. It has come to believe that the cartel is losing its ability to shape the global energy market due to the growing oversupply and the beginning of a global energy transition.

The Russian leadership finally accepted that the era of high oil prices was gone and that it will not come back. This new attitude towards the future of oil prices is clearly reflected in the state budget planning that is built on the assumption of prices floating between $50 and $60 per barrel (pb) until 2036 in the best-case scenario. These figures may even be pulled further down following Russias decision to quit OPEC+.

By 2021-2023 Russias oil output will also likely start to fall due to the natural depletion of old oil fields and lack of investment in development and exploration  it is projected that Russias production will fall from 11.4 million bpd to 6.3 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2036. It will try to do its best to prepare for this by developing new oil production projects, which is hardly possible under any OPEC+ production commitments.

In this context, when Saudi Arabia proposed an additional 1.5 m bpd cut on top of the already existing ones, there was no reason for Russia to accept. It had already decided to pursue its own production strategy and no longer saw a reason to maintain its membership in OPEC+. What is more, Russia was not really convinced that such a cut would help the market stabilise given the drop in oil demand growth from 1.1m bpd to 650  800,000 bpd in 2020 and the expected growth in oil production by non-OPEC+ countries of 2m bpd in 2020.

After Russias rebuke, Saudi Arabia and others decided to go all in. Saudi Aramco not only announced that it would increase its crude supplies to the market from 9.7m bpd in January 2020 to 12.3m bpd in April, but also said it received instructions to increase its maximum sustainable oil output capacity to 13m bpd. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), meanwhile, promised to raise its output to 4m bpd in April, and speed up its production capacity development efforts to pass the 5m bpd threshold in the future.

Under these circumstances, Russias response seems to be quite modest: according to its minister of energy, Aleksandr Novak, in the short-term, Moscow is planning to increase supply to the market just by 300,000 bpd with the potential of adding another 200,000 bpd in the long run.

The increase in oil supplies to the market will drive oil prices down and launch an economic war of attrition between oil producers. In the end, the companies that have the capacity to survive a prolonged period of low oil prices will succeed in securing their share of the market and win the war.

Moscows limited capacity to increase oil output means it will be unable to compensate for all losses caused by the reduction in prices by upping its production. However, the oil price Russia needs to keep its budget balanced is lower than the one needed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE ($42 pb compared to $70-80 pb). In other words, to survive the fall in oil prices, Russia will need to draw fewer reserves from its National Welfare Fund compared to its rivals.

For now, both Russia and Saudi Arabia appear to have the economic capacity to sustain a price level of $35 pb for four to five years. The rest will be determined by luck.

So will this move destroy the US shale industry? It is estimated that $40 pb will only slow its production growth, while $30 pb will keep it approximately at the level of December 2019. In order to make the US oil production fall, prices would have to either go below $20 pb or stay in the margin of $30-40 beyond 2020. And this is without taking into account Trumps readiness to provide economic aid to the shale industry to protect it from the worst effects of the reduction in prices.

Moscow made the move to allow OPEC+ to collapse because it believed it could keep a balanced budget amid a drop in oil prices, at least for a while. It also probably expected other participants to get scared and succumb to its demand to not deepen production cuts without taking any major retaliatory action. It never expected OPEC+ countries to start preparations for a fully-fledged trade war.

The unexpectedly harsh response it received scared Moscow.

Despite having a higher budgetary resistance to falling prices than Saudi Arabia, Moscow knows that if the oil price falls below $42 per barrel, it will run a deficit. This will inevitably negatively impact the socio-economic situation in the country  something Putin would rather avoid.

Novak has already started to call upon OPEC+ members to keep their oil output within the January  March 2020 limits. Moreover, Moscow signalled that it may even attempt to reach a new agreement with Saudi Arabia at the next meeting of OPEC+, which is scheduled to take place in May-June 2020. Riyadh, however, said it sees no reason to hold talks in May-June.

While Russia would not mind to back down and return to the status quo, Saudi Arabia appears determined to continue the confrontation. Their next moves will be determined by their readiness to take on further economic losses and their appetite for escalating tensions.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
RING OF HONOR CANCELS 18th ANNIVERSARY PPV WEEKEND, THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY'S PPVS ARE OFF

Ring of Honor issued an announcement that this weekend's events have been canceled. This was a last minute call as a lot of ROH talents are en route via flights to Las Vegas or already in Vegas.

The complete release reads:

Dear ROH Family,

After much consideration and consultation with local officials regarding COVID-19, ROH has decided to cancel this weekends 18th Anniversary (Friday, March 13th) and Past vs Present (Saturday, March 14th) shows at Sams Town Live in Las Vegas.

This extremely difficult decision was made in conjunction with the most recent developments surrounding COVID-19, known as the Coronavirus.

While the marquee "18th Anniversary" and the very special "Past v Present" events were ready to show the world why Ring of Honor is truly the "Best Professional Wrestling on the Planet," the safety and health of our fans, talents and staff are always our utmost priority.

Additional Information will be provided as soon as possible regarding refunds and potential rescheduling of the events that were set to transpire this weekend.

Once again, thank you for understanding and we truly appreciate your continued patronage and support.

***

80s Wrestling Con 3 takes place on Saturday, April 18th at iPlay America in Freehold, NJ from 10 AM to 3 PM featuring appearances by Honky Tonk Man, Zeus, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Lex Luger, Rock N Roll Express, Dr. D David Schultz, The Haiti Kid, Teddy Long, Dutch Mantell, The Conquistadors (Jose Luis Rivera & Jose Estrada), Sean Mooney, Larry Zbyszko, Sam Houston, Polish Power Ivan Putski, Tony Garea, Mike McGuirk, Ted Arcidi, and the daughter of Andre The Giant Robin Christensen-Roussimoff. Also appearances by Dean Malenko, The Ascension, Bill DeMott, Terri Runnels, and more! Tons of vendor tables, attractions, Q&As, and more! For more info visit 80sWrestlingCon.com and Email 80sWrestlingPics@gmail.com. Be a part of the biggest 80s Wrestling Party ever!

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
American, Delta and United on Thursday said they were capping fares on several U.S.-bound routes from much of Europe as travelers race to get home due to President Donald Trump's new travel ban aimed at combating the spread of the coronavirus.

Delta is also planning to start cutting its service between smaller nonhub U.S. airports and Europe starting Friday.

Other airlines are likely to follow suit, based on similar actions in previous crises.

Trump on Wednesday night announced travel restrictions from most of Europe to the U.S. for 30 days as COVID-19 spans continents. He incorrectly stated in his televised address that the government "will be suspending all travel from Europe to U.S.," sowing confusion among travelers and airline crews.

The new rules, which take effect Friday, just before midnight, don't ban flights outright but rather prohibit foreigners who have been in Europe in the last two weeks from entering the country. The ban applies to the 26 countries in the so-called Schengen Area of Europe, which does not include the U.K. and Ireland. Italy has been the hardest-hit by the coronavirus outside of China, prompting drastic measures that essentially shut down most business activity nationwide.

The chaos sparked a rush for flights back to the U.S., causing fares to spike and sparking criticism on social media of what some called price gouging. Listed fares automatically rise when demand climbs. Airlines learned the hard way during the 2017 hurricane season to cap fares after a social media backlash about fares out of Puerto Rico and Florida.

"We are placing caps on our fares for all cabins on flights from Europe to the U.S. that are affected by the government-imposed travel restrictions," said American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein. The spike in demand has limited the number of seats available, however.

Trump in his address called the coronavirus, which has been detected in several major U.S. cities already, "foreign," and blamed inaction by Europeans to stem its spread.

"As a result" of Europe's inaction, Trump said, "a large number of clusters" of coronavirus "were seeded by travelers from Europe."

Airline shares around the world were battered again on Thursday because of the U.S. travel restrictions, which drew a rebuke from the European Union.

The virus "is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. "The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation. The European Union is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus."
TMC MP Saugata Roy 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.
San Francisco, March 12 : New Apple iPhones like iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Max are disappearing from retail stores -- this time due to supply issues appearing after the coronavirus pandemic amid less footfall.

According to KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc analyst John Vinh, Apple's "iPhone sell-through was adversely impacted by supply issues" due to coronavirus, "particularly on the Pro/Max models and by lower foot traffic in outbreak areas." The stores have been running out of iPhones for some weeks now and they have no idea when the new stock will arrive, reports Seeking Alpha.

Apple shares were down nearly 5.5 per cent pre-market to $260 on Thursday.

According to an NY Post report last week, wireless retailers have either run out of stock or are running low on iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models.

"Employees at numerous retail locations around Manhattan contacted by The Post uniformly told the same story of low stock and infrequent shipments," said the report.

"We got a shipment and it didn't have any iPhones in it a" just flip phones and Samsungs," a Verizon store employee on the Upper West Side in New York was quoted as saying.

There is, however, cautious optimism that the worst of the "outbreak in China" is now past.

Factories are beginning to ramp up production slowly, though many are still below normal capacity at this time of year.

Apple supplier Foxconn said it is running at about half its normal low-season capacity -- this equates to about 25 per cent of full capacity, according to Counterpoint Research.

While factories are anxious to ramp-up production, they're also being careful that labour-intensive work does not rekindle viral outbreaks.

Rumours have also been circulating for several weeks that Apple will delay the launch of the yet to be named lower cost iPhone.

This is to be the successor of the iPhone SE, built around the same form-factor as the iPhone 8 series (SE2 or iPhone 9).

"Problems with the launch were initially thought to be because initial volume ramps could be delayed due to Foxconn's inability to start production," said Peter Richardson, Research Director, Counterpoint.

Travel restrictions on Apple's engineers flying to China to supervise pre-production testing might also be a factor.

And if all these were not problematic enough, just holding a launch event at this time is difficult.
Undocumented foreigners line up to make voluntary departure reports at the Seoul Immigration Office located in Yangcheon District, southwestern Seoul on March 6. / Yonhap





By Kim Se-jeong







The worsening coronavirus epidemic here is hitting rural areas hard as a growing number of foreign workers, who have become the backbone of Korea's agriculture and fisheries industries, are returning to their home countries.







According to the Ministry of Justice, Thursday, the number of migrant workers, including those overstaying their visas, leaving Korea has been increasing since the highly-contagious virus wreaked havoc on Asia's fourth-largest economy a month ago.







The ministry said 5,000 undocumented foreigners left Korea in the last week of February alone  the week the number of the coronavirus patients skyrocketed due to the spread among Shincheonji Church of Jesus followers.







Between December and that time, the number was around 1,000 per week. The number of departing legal immigrants wasn't available for the story.







"I overstayed in Korea because I didn't get paid. But, amid the rising number of new coronavirus cases, I decided to work this out from home. I want to go back home soon," an anonymous foreign worker, 48, was quoted as saying by a local newspaper.







The Korean agriculture sector relies a lot on foreign workers. According to the justice ministry, as of the end of last year, 44,000 foreign laborers were working in the agriculture and fishery sectors, almost 3.6 percent of the industries' entire workforce.







The departure of foreign workers is not the only problem  those scheduled to arrive to work in Korea are delaying or canceling their trips.







"A broker in the Philippines got in contact and said they would not send workers because of the new coronavirus," said an official at Seongju County in North Gyeongsang Province.







The county was supposed to receive 39 workers from the Philippines in the first half of this year. "We'd like to work with them but we understand the situation. The farmers who were expecting them aren't so happy with what's happening but there's nothing that can be done."







Chamoe, a Korean yellow melon, is the main farming business for the county, and the farmers are in great need of labor between April and June to harvest the fruit. The labor shortage has been filled with seasonal workers for several years.







An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "In the case of Vietnam, workers can't fly to Korea due to the coronavirus. In the Philippines, some local governments won't let their citizens come to Korea. If the shortage persists, our agriculture sector could be affected a lot."










Photo: Phillip Faraone/WireImage

Take the word horcrux, swap the Rs, the Cs, and the Us for one A, and what does that spell? It spells hoax. Actor Daniel Radcliffe will henceforth be known as the Boy Who Lived Through Fake Coronavirus, after a fake account posing as @BBCNewsTonight tweeted on Tuesday: BREAKING: Daniel Radcliffe tests positive for coronavirus. The actor is said to be the first famous person to be publicly confirmed, with a link to the BBC News Alerts page. While the vague phrase first famous person should have been the first hint that something was amiss, we are all constantly bombarded with so much news wilder than this that it was a conceivable-enough lie to get circulated until the account shut down.

Radcliffe himself has a great explanation for why people believed it. Calling into the Australian radio show Smallzys Surgery on Wednesday, Radcliffe explained how he found out that the world thought he had coronavirus: from his makeup artist for the play Endgame, who heard about it from his 17-year-old niece. I think its just because I look ill all the time, so you can believably say it about me, cause Im very pale, Radcliffe said. Theres a reason why he was cast as a literal corpse in Swiss Army Man.

Theres a rumour going around that Daniel Radcliffe has coronavirus



I got him on the phone to confirm or deny #SmallzysSurgery pic.twitter.com/9BRJ0eRaF2  Smallzy  (@Smallzy) March 12, 2020

Were all happy and relieved that Radcliffe is corona-free, even as hes fittingly acting in an apocalyptic-feeling Beckett play. Radcliffes happy, too. He says hes you know, flattered they chose me to be the first famous person with pretend corona.
US prisons at risk of coronavirus outbreak

Global Times

By Zhang Hui and Zhao Yusha Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/11 17:18:40

Prisons in the US may become the next epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, as they are particularly vulnerable to viral spreading due to the fragmented jail management model in the US, as well as Washington's lax attitude toward prevention work, warned Chinese observers.

In the face of a surging number of infections on US soil, the country's jails and prisons are stepping up preventive efforts, such as "screening, testing, appropriate treatment, prevention, education, and infection control measures," to prevent the virus from spreading, Justin Long, officer of public affairs with the US Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Long said that there are no known cases of COVID-19 among Bureau of Prisons inmates at this time.

Observers, however, warned that US jails are on high alert for an intense coronavirus outbreak, which is likely to put the roughly 2.2 million people under the country's penal system in danger.

Jails are especially vulnerable to the spread of disease, as stuffy spaces dense with strangers and poor hygiene conditions provide prime opportunities for the virus to grow, Diao Daming, an associate professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times.

The US penal system is made up of federal prisons, state-administrated prisons and private prisons, said Diao, noting that the fragmented management model also increases the risk of a coronavirus outbreak.

Each state is currently adopting a different attitude toward virus prevention, and their ability to battle the spread varies; moreover, different states and the federal government are now fighting this battle separately, making it harder to form a unified mechanism to tackle an outbreak in jails, Diao said.

Long said that the BOP updates and refines its recommendations, guidance, and protocols as the virus continues to spread in the US, and will continue to provide helpful information to staff, inmates and federal, state and local partners.

The increasing number of cases of US community infection also points to a higher possibility of an outbreak in prisons, considering the close link between the prison system and community in a country where community correction is prevalent, said Shen Yi, associate professor of international politics at Fudan University in Shanghai.

In Italy, the country with the second largest number of coronavirus cases worldwide, at least seven inmates have died as unrest and protests exploded in the prison system after officials imposed visiting restrictions.

The US government should now make hard decisions in the face of this potential outbreak, such as reducing prisoners' contact with the outside world and putting newcomers under quarantine, Shen advised.

But based on the US' current lax attitude toward virus prevention, it may only step up to the plate after an outbreak occurs, Shen predicted. "By then it will be too late."

The Life Care Center, a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington state, is at the center of the US coronavirus outbreak. During the center's first official press conference since the outbreak, Tim Killian, the public information liaison for the facility, said on Saturday that since February 19, 13 people associated with the center have been diagnosed with coronavirus and died.

The US woke up on Wednesday to find the number of infections had surpassed 1,000, with 31 deaths.

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The Global Peritoneal Dialysis Market is estimated to reach USD 5.58 Billion by 2027, according to a new report by Reports and Data. This can be mainly associated with the growing incidences of chronic diseases, along with technological advancements that are expected to become the most common growth factors globally in the coming years.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a method of dialysis that uses dialysis solution and the inner lining of the abdomen to drain blood when the kidneys are not functioning efficiently. This method is mostly performed at home and principally works to remove excess waste products and fluid from the blood. ESRD (End-stage renal disease), which is generally known as kidney failure, is a significant factor for the growth of the market. Diabetes is the most usual cause of ESRD, whereas high blood pressure is the second most common cause of ESRD. High blood pressure and diabetes are the most common chronic disease among the global population, and a shortage of kidneys for transplantation due to stringent regulations regarding kidney transplantation in several countries are some of the factors that are responsible for stimulating the market growth globally.

Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/1376

However, lack of awareness and limited demand in underdeveloped countries may hinder market growth. The rise in demand for home peritoneal dialysis treatment and increased opportunities in weak and emerging markets can create future opportunities further.

Due to the presence of key players, favorable reimbursement policies, and a rising number of chronic diseases, along with several initiatives undertaken by the government, North America accounted for the largest share of 35.3% of the market in 2019.

Further key findings from the report suggest

Peritoneal dialysis is the cleansing of blood, along with the elimination of extra fluids, by using the peritoneal membrane, the bodys natural filter.

Hemodialysis is a method of pumping out the blood to an artificial kidney system and is returned to the body with the help of tubing accessories.

Peritoneal membrane is the lining that circles the abdominal cavity, including the stomach, spleen, liver, and intestines.

CAPD type segment is expected to grow at the rate of 5.4% during the forecast period, due to portability, low cost, and freedom from machines.

Growing population, increasing rates of chronic diseases, and rising healthcare expenditure are the fundamental factors, which are boosting the growth of the market across the globe.

A growing geriatric population that has long term care requirements, raising awareness about hospital-acquired infections, and growing usage of technologies among patients are few factors that are expected to expand usage rates.

Hospital-based dialysis segment accounted for a market share of around 31.2% in 2019.

Innovative product development and collaborative developments are some critical strategic initiatives taken by the players in this industry to point their mark in the competition.

The presence of unique diagnostic and therapeutic medical technologies that enable quick and accurate diagnosis is the primary factor for the growth of this segment.

The advantages of peritoneal dialysis include no use of needles, minimum clinic visits, and continuous therapy supplies similar to the natural functioning of the kidney.

The peritoneal dialysis solution of the product type segment accounted for the largest share of over 23.3% in 2019.

Europe accounted for a share of 26.3% in 2019 and is expected to grow at a rate of 5.3% during the forecast period.

Key participants include Baxter International, Nipro, B. Braun Melsungen, DaVita Healthcare Partners, Covidien, Dialysis Clinic, Fresenius Medical Care, Diversified Specialty Institute Holdings, Medical Components, Huaren Pharmaceutical, NephroPlus, Northwest Kidney Centers, Satellite Healthcare, NxStage Medical, Renal Services, Sandor, Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical, and U.S. Renal Care.

Order Your Copy Now (Customized report delivered as per your specific requirement)@ https://www.reportsanddata.com/checkout-form/1376

For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data segments the Global Peritoneal Dialysis Market on the basis of Type, End-user, Product, and Region:

By Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD)

Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD)

By End-User Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Home-Based Dialysis

Dialysis Center & Hospital Based Dialysis

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Peritoneal Dialysis Solution

Device

Peritoneal Dialysis Set

Catheter

Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

North America S.

Europe France K.

Asia Pacific China India Japan

Latin America Brazil

Middle East & Africa

To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/peritoneal-dialysis-market

About Reports and Data

Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help clients make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise.

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An arresting black -and-white photo of the Downtown Walking Mall at night.

A handcrafted rifle with ornate silver engraving and hand carved gunstock.

And an ink and mixed-media portrait of a joyous older couple.

These are just a few of the works in a new exhibit, SHIFT, that holds its opening reception 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at the Holter Museum of Art.

SHIFT showcases an array of artworks by 23 Helena College-University of Montana students and faculty.

The show is an attempt to have a dialog between the colleges two campuses to show what were both creating, said Seth Roby, who is the moving force behind the show.

Its also a highly visible public launch of the colleges new Art Department that has expanded its course offerings, starting in August 2019.

Students can now earn an Associate of Arts degree with a focus in fine arts that can be transferred to any Montana University System campus and to art schools nationwide.

We have this dedication for the arts for the first time at Helena College, said Roby, who is the sole full-time faculty member in the department.

The college has not only invested in his position, he said, but also in an art room and equipment.

Roby began teaching at the college in 2015 as an adjunct faculty member and has guided the expansion.

Previously, students could choose from just a handful of art classes, they now have a choice of seven classes, with more planned in the future.

The entire school got into promoting SHIFT, Roby said.

Students went from class to class to urge people to enter works.

It was opened up to really showcase what this college is doing, said Roby.

A committee of faculty and staff from both the Donaldson and Airport campuses made the final selection of 36 pieces that include: drawings, paintings, oils, acrylics, photographs, 3-D, digital art, multimedia, installations, quilts and more, selecting from a field of 92 submissions.

The 23 artists in the show range from self-taught, to those who have taken a few courses, to those pursuing art as a career.

One of the cool things about this art show, said Roby, is it brings out the fact that professors have other lives.

A case in point is John McLaughlin, who builds top-of-the-line custom firearms, but also teaches machining at Helena College.

Roby plans to make the art show an annual event, with a different theme each year.

This years SHIFT works were to evoke ideas about movement, change and temporality, he said, which also reflects whats happening on campus with art.

Students are liking the change.

Roby has 80 students altogether in the five classes hes teaching this semester, 12 of them art majors.

Helena is a very creative town, he said, and the college can be a stepping stone for those pursuing art degrees.

Roby admits he has big dreams for the Art Department. Theyre tied to what the job market needs and what people want.

For instance, Roby sees a demand for and would like to add a media arts class that would teach animation, digital photography and graphic design.

One student whos glad to see both the SHIFT art show and the new Art Department is sophomore nursing student Kelly Bourgeois.

She praised Roby for doing a fantastic job of building relationships with organizations like the Holter that allows students to exhibit their work.

She has three very different pieces in the show -- a watercolor mountainscape, a gouache and watercolor view of Montanas big sky through wheat, and a portrait she calls Odd Couple.

The black ink portrait shows an older couple who are happy and comfortable with each other, she said.

Above them are decorative circles she made using the ancient art of quilling -- coils of thin paper strips shaped into designs that she uses to add color and depth and lightness to the piece.

What I like projecting in my artwork is having fun and just bringing joy.

Although she hasnt taken any of Robys classes yet, I hear excellent things from people who have.

She hopes to take a class from him in linocut printmaking.

Another student artist is Nina Hansen, who will graduate this semester and transfer her art credits to Missoula for a media arts degree.

Of her three works in the show, her favorite is Shoto, -- a pen-and-ink portrait of an Anime character that shows an ever-changing shift of design patterns.

Helena College has been a real boost to her career.

Its a lot cheaper going to Helena College than starting at a four-year program, she said.

When she first started at the college, there werent many art classes, but now shes able to take more of the prerequisites she needs.

I really like the program, she said. Seth allows you to open your creativity, rather than judging students.

He shows you different techniques and helps each student get to where they want.

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On most nights in Uptown Oakland, Jennifer Colliaus Heres How lounge was a laid-back spot where young brown folks like myself could sip cocktails of brandy, lemon juice, ginger soda and port, while vibing out to old-school R&B like DAngelos Brown Sugar.

It was a welcoming space, especially behind the bar, where the staff consisted of women and people of color. In a craft cocktail world that, at times, can feel implicitly white and exclusive, this fact made Heres How a welcome outlier.

The lounge closed in February, nine months after opening.

Residents living above Heres How on Telegraph Avenue, a stretch of Oakland with numerous nightlife spots, had opposed the project since 2017 when Colliau first signed a lease for the space. Seven tenants filed protests against Colliaus liquor license application in 2018.

There are already too many bars in this area (over 10), and we dont need another one, resident Ajay Anand wrote in his 2018 submission to the states Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

As for why it was happening, Colliau last year said: Its just NIMBY, meaning the people who were speaking out against the project had a not in my backyard mentality.

And theres the rub. NIMBYs arent new to the Bay Area. In fact, conflicts between longtime residents and new people over development projects is a staple of neighborhood politics in Oakland and San Francisco.

The NIMBY dialogue is inextricably tied to gentrification, but it doesnt always take the form of a new project moving into an old neighborhood. Sometimes those newer residents are already there and they either chase out, or at least try to chase out, a business catering to locals and minorities.

Before Colliau in Oakland, there was KCs BBQ a few miles away in Berkeley. The family-owned business, run by a black father and daughter, was told to stop using its smoker, which it had been using for decades in the neighborhood. The reason? Some nearby residents didnt like the smell.

KCs BBQ is one of few black-owned restaurants in the Bay Area, and its one of even fewer long-standing black-owned barbecue spots. In all my years writing about food in the Bay Area, I had never seen a barbecue spot get chased out of its own neighborhood for cooking barbecue. It makes you wonder if the business were a little more upscale, and if the owners were not black, would the situation have unfolded the same way?

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.

What makes me somewhat hopeful in Oakland is the fact there are white people actively rooting for black and brown businesses to open near them. In some cases, these are the YIMBYs, or yes in my backyard folks. A group of these people recently turned their attention to Matt Horn, the celebrated pitmaster opening a restaurant in West Oakland.

Horn ran into a permitting issue with the city last month, which postponed his April opening in West Oakland indefinitely. As word of his situation spread, there was an outpouring of support, especially on Facebook, from white West Oakland residents. Some even went as far as saying they would write letters to the city. Overall, it was a refreshing sight.

But that isnt what I think about when Im at a place like Sobre Mesa in Uptown Oakland, an Afro-Latino lounge owned by Oakland chef Nelson German. Instead, whats on my mind is how the drink Im buying, or the food Im eating, could be the last I have at the business. I think about how easy it was for Heres How to be chased out by its neighbors, leaving a void in the local black and brown communitys nightlife scene. The same was almost the situation for KCs BBQ. I wonder whats next?

Its a unique type of anxiety for a black person in Oakland. The city is changing, and if minority-led business have to now contend with NIMBYs, Oaklands food and drink landscape will soon lose everything that currently makes it special.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
Schools across the country are feeling the effects of the spreading novel coronavirus. Some have closed for the next couple weeks, while others have closed temporarily as a precaution or for extensive cleaning. (Education Week is collecting school closures nationwide with this handy tracker .)

Northshore School District in Washington state, which serves nearly 24,000 students north of Seattle, was among the first school districts in the nation to move all of its classes online, beginning March 5 for up to 14 days. Two days before superintendent Michelle Reid announced the closure, though, she closed school in the district for students and staff to practice e-learning. One of the goals, she said, was to emphasize that successful online learning wont happen overnight.

Were going to practice patience, not perfection, and were not going to let perfection be the enemy of progress, Reid said in an interview Friday. With Advanced Placement and International Baccaleurate tests looming, canceling instruction for two weeks simply wasnt an option, she said.

Not all schools have the capacity to continue substantive instruction online. But for those that do, Reids district provides a useful model. Here are some tips she shared:

1. Make sure everyone can log on. Even basic tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Classroom require some legwork to get teachers ready to use them. Its much easier to get that legwork done during preparation than waiting until its time to actually teach. Our staff already know the content theyre teaching, Reid said. This [was] really a day about becoming more familiar and confident with the tools we would use to deliver the instruction.

2. Keep the parents informed. Reid and her team held the first of several planned Zoom virtual meetings with parents on Friday night, answering basic questions about how to log on and whats expected of their children. The more parents are involved, the easier it is to make sure students do whats expected of them.

3. Tap into existing expertise. For the last couple years, district staff members have been introducing e-learning technology in pockets, but not much for the entire district. Even so, one of the big discoveries of the practice day was the amount of expertise some tech-savvy teachers brought to the table, Reid said. For instance, one kindergarten teacher has been using the tech tool Seesaw for the last year to facilitate students creativity. When they got a chance to look at the tool, it was like, Wow, why wasnt I using this before? Reid said.

4. Pursue excellence, not perfection. As the threat of school closures started to increase, Reid realized that the best way to test the districts capacity to implement e-learning was to embrace the inevitability that mistakes would be made. Sometimes when youre looking for a perfect solution, it creates no action, you think of all the things that could go wrong, she said. Were thinking of those, setting them aside, and moving forward with what we could do right.

5. Ask students what they think. Reid sent a note to the student body on Friday afternoon, urging them to treat e-learning days the same as they would regular classroom days. She also hopes theyll offer candid feedback on their experiences with e-learning, and suggestions for how it could improve. Its going to be an interesting two-way learning street, she said.

6. Take e-learning seriously in the long term. Reid expects this prolonged remote learning experience represents a seminal moment that shifts peoples attitudes in a way that makes them more likely to use virtual education once school reopens.

Reid doesnt take for granted that her district has benefited from technology grants that enabled purchases of more devices than other districts may have. I would encourage decision makers at the state and national level to give some thought to the inequity there, she said. Zip code really does determine access to technology and online instruction.

Image: Ken Hawkins/ZUMA Wire
Burning coal as a power source wastes hundreds of billions of pounds because environmentally friendly renewables are a much cheaper option, says a new report.

In big energy markets such as the UK, the US and Australia, it costs less to generate power from installing wind or solar farms than coal plants, Carbon Tracker says.

Globally around 60 per cent of existing coal plants are generating electricity at a higher cost than building and running new renewable schemes, the think tank says.

It could be cheaper to generate electricity by building new renewable facilities than running existing coal power stations in all markets by 2030, it also predicts.

Policymakers should stop new coal investments and revamp power market regulation, it writes in its new report, titled How to waste over half a trillion dollars.

A coal fired power plant. New investments in renewables are cheaper than new investments coal in all major markets today, says think tank Carbon Tracker

'Renewables are out-competing coal around the world and proposed coal investments risk becoming stranded assets which could lock in high-cost coal power for decades,' said Matt Gray, Carbon Tracker co-head of power and utilities and co-author of the report.

'The market is driving the low-carbon energy transition, but governments aren't listening.

'It makes economic sense for governments to cancel new coal projects immediately and progressively phase out existing plants.'

'Investors should be wary of relying on continued government support for coal when a phase-out will save their voters billions and make their economies more competitive,' said Sriya Sundaresan, Carbon Tracker senior analyst and co-author of the report.

The organisation lists more than 30 nations where new investments in renewables are cheaper than new coal investments, including 20 EU countries, the UK, the US, Australia, India, China, Russia and South Africa.

In the UK alone, 82 per cent of the UK's remaining 12 gigawatt of operating coal power costs more than new renewables, Carbon Tracker said.

In the UK, falling coal demand, subsidies for renewables and a government initiative to reduce coal investment  called Carbon Price Floor  has helped push most coal off the system ahead of a phase-out date, recently moved forward to October 2024.

Britain's reliance on coal for electricity has dropped from 70 per cent in 1990 to less than 3 per cent today, the government says, and coal-generated energy will soon be a 'distant memory', according to Business and Energy Secretary Andrea Leadsom.

Carbon Tracker is now urging governments and investors to cancel the vast amount of coal projects announced, permitted or under construction around the world  or waste 638 billion (495 billion) in capital investment.

The cooling towers at the disused coal-fired Didcot power station in Oxfordshire as they're demolished, August 18, 2019. The deadline for the phase-out of coal from Britains energy system has recently been brought forward a year to October 1, 2024

Almost 500 gigawatts of new coal power is planned or under construction, but Carbon Tracker warns governments and investors may never recoup their outlay.

POPULAR RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES Solar - light and heat from the sun. Wind - through wind turbines to turn electric generators. Hydro - captured from falling or fast-running water. Tidal - energy from the rise and fall of sea levels. Geothermal - energy generated and stored in the Earth. Biomass - organic material burnt to release stored energy from the sun. Source: EDF Energy Advertisement

Falling costs of wind and solar power and the investment needed comply with existing carbon and air pollution rules mean coal is no longer the cheapest form of power in any major market.

In the EU, which has a strong price on carbon pollution and years of investment in renewables, almost all (96 per cent) of its operating coal capacity costs more to run than new renewables.

And in China, which is home to half the word's coal generation, seven out of 10 plants already operating cost more to run than building new solar and wind farms.

The report warned that China, whose economy has been hit hard by coronavirus, must avoid costly coal power in any economic stimulus package the government implements in the wake of the outbreak.

In the face of suggestions China is planning to approve new coal plants in the near future, Carbon Tracker urged the country to deploy its stimulus capital 'efficiently and avoid investing in coal power which is economically redundant and environmentally disastrous'.

Emissions have fallen in the UK in part due to a switch to renewables and a huge decrease in the burning of coal

Limiting global warming to 2.7F (1.5C) by the end of this century, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, means global coal use to generate electricity will have to fall by 80 per cent from 2010 to 2030.

To hit this target, as stipulated in the UN Paris Agreement in 2015, effectively one coal plant has to retire every day until 2040, the report said.

A previous report found that UK carbon dioxide emissions have fallen to levels not seen since the 19th century during the reign of Queen Victoria, due to a reduction on the reliance of coal to generate power.

Climate website Carbon Brief said carbon emissions from coal have fallen 80 per cent over the past decade.
After launching an incredible fall 2019 collection, Steve Madden and Winnie Harlow are back at it for one final collaboration.

Their newly launched colorful and bold shoes are guaranteed to pump up your high heel game this spring.

Being of Jamaican descent, Winnies goal this season was to create a warm-weather collection that truly spoke to her heritage.

Dynamic duo: After launching an incredible fall 2019 collection, Steve Madden and Winnie Harlow are back at it for one final collaboration

Her roots: Being of Jamaican descent, Winnies goal this season was to create a warm-weather collection that truly spoke to her heritage

Werk: The 25-year-old models her sexy designs in the campaign shot by famed photographer Steven Klein

'Last season, I named each style in the collection after a loved one; this spring I wanted to expand on that personal touch and tap into my Jamaican heritage.

'Both of my parents are from Jamaica, and I have always felt very rooted in the culture there.'

The 25-year-old models her sexy designs in the campaign shot by famed photographer Steven Klein.

Letting the shoes take center stage, she's dressed in neutral colored separates, including a grey spandex bodysuit and a silver shorts set.

Outfits are accessorized with heavy-handed gold jewelry and a retro boombox.

The 5 silhouette collection uses bright neon colors and interesting embellishments including buckles, rope, and rhinestones.

Something for everyone: Silhouettes range from a square-toe stiletto thong sandal to a stack-heel rhinestone combat boot and PVC pump

Stand out: The 5 silhouette collection uses bright neon colors and interesting embellishments including buckles, rope, and rhinestones

Fave: Winnie credits the DNCEHALL, a stiletto sandal with multi-color rope toe and ankle wraps, as her favorite style this season

Winnie wanted the collection to reflect her personal style beliefs and versatile look.

To do this, silhouettes range from a square-toe stiletto thong sandal to a stack-heel rhinestone combat boot and PVC pumps.

Winnie credits the DNCEHALL, a stiletto sandal with multi-color rope toe and ankle wraps, as her favorite style this season.

'My heritage has always inspired my everyday style and even extends to my looks for red carpet events,' she shared.

'Steve Madden has given me the chance to bring my style and culture to life in a creative way.

'Designing a warm weather collection, I wanted to incorporate as much color as possible and give the styles a lively, fresh feel.'

'Im so excited for the latest collection with Winnie to drop,' said Steve Madden, Founder & Design Chief. She is so much fun to work with and I think our customers are really going to love them.'

Prices range from $119.95 - $141.95

Perfect partners: 'Steve Madden has given me the chance to bring my style and culture to life in a creative way'
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon health officials warned Thursday cases of COVID-19 may actually be much higher than the 21 cases confirmed so far in the state.

Gov. Kate Brown held a press conference Thursday morning in Portland to give an update on what the state is doing to control the outbreak of COVID-19.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger with Oregon Health Authority said if something doesn't change, cases could reach 75,000 by the middle of May. Sidelinger estimated the true number of cases in Oregon is between 150 to 250.

"We find ourselves in an unprecedented public health crisis. A rapidly evolving global pandemic. Most of us have never experienced anything like this," Brown said.

Brown addressed mass gatherings, social distancing, workplace practices and other community-wide mitigation efforts to help slow the transmission of the coronavirus.

"Our strategy now in Oregon is shifting away from one of containing isolated cases of COVID-19. Now we are focused on preventing the worst impacts of a mass outbreak from coming to pass," Governor Brown said.

RELATED: GOV. BROWN BANS LARGE GATHERINGS ACROSS THE STATE

The press conference comes hours after Brown announced a decision to ban large gatherings of more than 250 people until April 8 due to concerns of coronavirus. Brown said the ban only applies to large events, not shopping centers or schools.

Its critically important for our children to remain in school to get the education they need," Brown said.

Brown said the goal now is to slow the transmission of the virus and free up hospital space for those who need it.

The governor was joined by Oregon Health Authority Director Pat Allen, tri-county health officials, and other state and local officials.
Vice President Mike Pence admitted Thursday there has been 'irresponsible rhetoric' on the coronavirus but defended the administration on the testing issue, saying 'real progress' was being made.

During his appearance on NBC's 'Today Show,' Pence was about President Donald Trump blaming Democrats and the fake news for inflaming the coronavirus situation and asked what message he would send to people who thinks the virus is politics and hype.

'Obviously there's been some irresponsible rhetoric,' the vice president said. 'But the American people should know that President Trump has no higher priority than the health and safety and well being of the people of this country. You can go to coronavirus.gov right now to find out what every American can do to keep yourself, your family, your workplace and your school safe.'

Vice President Mike Pence admitted there has been 'irresponsible rhetoric' on the coronavirus

Vice President Pence also defended the administration on the testing issue, but couldn't tell CNN how many coronavirus tests had been conducted in the U.S.

Pence made appearances on five different news networks Thursday morning to double down on blaming Europe for the spread of the disease in the United States, down play predictions millions would be infected and to defend the administration's handling of testing of the disease.

I'm pleased to report every state lab in America can do testing now. Many university laboratories are doing it. Washington state, the university of Washington is doing extraordinary work. But we are literally working hour by hour do expand the testing,' he said on NBC.

But he admitted it would take more time to administer the test to the broader public.

'Making it available to the broader public, that is going to take a few more days. The commercial labs in this country, were confident, are going to be able to produce and distribute on a wide range across the country in the days of ahead of the test, he told CNN.

CNN's Alisyn Camerota tried to pin Pence down on how many people had been tested for the disease, which he did not answer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes on its website that 11,079 people have been tested both in CDC labs and in U.S. public labs.

Pence called those numbers out of date.

'If youre saying the CDC website numbers are wrong, how many tests have been conducted in the U.S.?,' Camerota asked.

'I'm not saying theyre wrong, Alisyn,' Pence said. 'Im saying they may not be complete because we dont necessarily collect today all the information from state laboratories.'

He added that 'our team is working now to make sure that we have a central reporting location.

And when asked how many tests have been conducted, the vice president replied: Well, I would leave that to the experts.

CDC Director Robert Redfield told lawmakers Wednesday, during his testimony on Capitol Hill, that private companies like Laboratory Corp of America and Quest Diagnostics have enough coronavirus tests available that any doctor's office who uses those companies can have their patients tested.

The administration has been repeatedly criticized for not having enough tests available. President Trump has blamed the Obama administration for a federal regulation he claims slowed testing.

Redfield also revealed there was a problem with the first set of testing kits developed by the CDC which set back sending them out to health centers.

The COVID-19 test kit locally developed by University of the Philippines scientists

A medical technologist tests a respiratory panel at Northwell Health Labs, where the same test will be used on the COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus

NBC's Savannah Gutherie asked Pence if it was a mistake for the U.S. not to use a test from the World Health Organization while officials waited for an American test to be developed.

Pence responded that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that wasn't the way the United States handled these issues.

Was it a mistake to not just take that W.H.O. Test while we waited for our own test so the testing could ramp up earlier?

'What Dr. Fauci said was that's actually not the way we do it in the United States. Frankly, we're the world leader in infectious diseases, our CDC and then our FDA produce and approve tests through our incredible health care system in this country. So that's more of a reference of that decision according to what Dr. Fauci said,' he said.

There's also been criticism that the guidelines for Americans to get a test are too strict, meaning health officials may not be getting an accurate count of who has the disease.

Pence said the CDC has issued new guidelines.

'The CDC sent out very clear guidelines so that now if you call your doctor, regardless of your symptoms, a doctor can order without hesitation a test, they can contact the state laboratory, and as I said, we're continuing to expand the availability and literally we're literally going to expand hundreds of thousands of more tests in the days and weeks ahead, all across the country,' he told CBS' 'This Morning.'

The president claimed on March 6 that anyone who 'wants a test can get a test.'

Pence explained what Trump meant by that.

'Well, I think what the president was referring to there was something that governor Jay Inslee of Washington state called to our attention about two weeks ago. And that was that many health professionals interpreted CDC guidance to see that if I were only mildly symptomatic, that a authority to recommend a coronavirus test. We changed that,' he told CBS News.
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
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: An Assam MLA has decided not to eat the food of assembly canteen, for he is apprehensive of death from secret killers.

Under the BJP regime, the secret killers are on the prowl. Secret killings have started yet again in Assam. We all have to be careful. I appeal to people to be careful when somebody offers food, Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi of the Congress told journalists.

I am afraid of eating food in the assembly. I will bring my own food from home, the three-time MLA said.

The assembly has a canteen where lawmakers, as well as others, eat their food.

The second term (1996-2001) of former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta of the Asom Gana Parishad was marked by secret killings. During that period, scores of people, mostly relatives of insurgents belonging to United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), were gunned down by masked men.

Kurmi said his suspicion about impending secret killings got strengthened after the mysterious death of Aditya Hazarika, a local leader of All Assam Students Union (AASU), in Upper Assams Duliajan on March 9. The police picked up three of his friends for questioning. The AASU had taken the lead in the agitation against Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The MLA sniffed a conspiracy over the manner in which the authorities were dealing with the health of ailing and arrested RTI activist Akhil Gogoi who is in judicial custody.

I suspect that a conspiracy is being hatched to kill Akhil Gogoi by giving him slow poison in jail. There is perhaps a plan to take his life through a henchman who will come in the guise of a cop, doctor or prisoner, the MLA said.

Gogoi was arrested by the police in the wake of the violent protests against the CAA in December last year. Subsequently, the National Investigation Agency took his custody for his alleged linkage with the CPI (Maoist). Earlier, a case in this connection was registered with a police station in Guwahati.
Chinese mainland excluding Hubei reports 11 new COVID-19 cases, all but one imported

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 11:26, March 11, 2020

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.

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A perfect trio. Photo: @MattRogersTho/Twitter

The comedy-podcast universe is ever expanding, not unlike the universe-universe. Were here to make it a bit smaller, a bit more manageable. There are a lot of great shows, and each one has a lot of great episodes, so we want to highlight the exceptional, the noteworthy. Each week, our crack team of podcast enthusiasts and specialists and especially enthusiastic people will pick their favorites. We hope to have your ears permanently plugged with the best in aural comedy.

Las Culturistas - Destabilized w/ Nicole Byer

As the internet dives further into a toxic cesspool of despair, let Nicole Byers appearance on Las Culturistas serve as a reprieve from the daily dread we see online. Much like wine and cheese, Byer, Matt Rogers, and Bowen Yang make for a wonderful pairing that only gets better with time. Although this is Byers first appearance on the show, the three display major best-friend vibes from the get-go  sorry, Sasheer! With Rogers and Yangs affinity for all things Disney, it was inevitable that theyd touch on the Star Wars branch of the Nicole Byer extended-podcast universe and discuss her new show Newcomers. As one may expect, this quickly leads to a discussion about Adam Driver: specifically, his unlikely rise from Girls fuckboy to action figure. The more I listen to Byer, the more I appreciate her vast knowledge of the oddest things. As youll see in this episode, she has an unbelievable ability to pull lengthy Ricki Lake and Maury Povich quotes from the early 90s. With Byer, Rogers, and Yang serving as major players in the podcast medium, its great to see them join forces here to create some comedic gold. Dont miss out! Tom Rainey

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Everyday Decisions - Nasty Ass Smoothie, Freaky Ass Straw w/ Connor Ratliff

More podcasts alert! National Lampoon Radio Hour: The Podcast cast member and Dr. Gameshow co-host Jo Firestone has added Comedy Centrals Everyday Decisions to her growing podfolio. Everyday Decisions is exactly what you would expect from a solo Firestone project: a delightful, soothing conversation about the routines and decisions people make on an average day. For the shows second episode, Connor Ratliff (Dead Eyes) joins to discuss his last 24 hours. He mentions stretching his pasta lunch into pasta dinner, which leads to a relatable debate surrounding food texture, penne versus rotini, and a potential spinoff show called Pastabilities. Ratliff goes on to complain about the Bloomberg campaigns characterization of Bernie Sanders as both Statler and Waldorf, and punches up Trumps usual train of thought. Near the end, Ratliff reveals a recent huge decision: that he and The Chris Gethard Show producer J.D. Amato are creating an exciting new streaming service called [redacted]. Finally, when Firestone reacts with disgust to his nasty-ass breakfast smoothie and freaky-ass straw, Ratliff defends his decision with some universal advice: Its better to be healthy and weird than too cool to drink a vegetable smoothie with a glass straw. Everyday Decisions is a solid antidote to quarantine anxiety. Mark Kramer

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Scream, Queen! - The Head Got Popped, Like a Grape

Scream, Queen! launched last year with a strong start, and its streak of consistency continues into 2020. A podcast dedicated to dishing about horror movies from a black/queer/indigenous/perspective while having a damn good time, it delivers thanks to charming and cutting hosts Tommy Pico (Food 4 Thot) and Drea Washington. Set up in three acts  Have Yall Seen, the main discussion, and Scream Queen of the Week  they start by talking about Return of the Living Dead 3, which stars Melinda Clarke as Julie Walker 14 years before she would play Julie Cooper on The O.C. Its a fun trip down memory lane full of absurd humor at the expense of the movies other star, a wannabe drummer ripe for dragging. The main conversation is saved for the new releases The Invisible Man and Im Not Okay With This, two worthy entries in the genre. The funniest are Picos synopses where he says things like Peggy Olson Scientologist to mean the formers star, Elisabeth Moss. They wrap up by giving Reba McEntire her due for her work in Tremors where Ass-Blasters lay an egg to make a Dirt Dragon, which turns into a Graboid before becoming a Shrieker, which will grow into an Ass-Blaster, closing the circle of life. Its wild. Watch it. And tune into Scream, Queen! for more hilarious horror commentary and rad recommendations. Becca James

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Deli Boys - Pico Kosher Deli with Carl Tart

Americas No. 1 Jewish delicatessen review podcast is back. After a successful yet unnecessary Save the Deli Boys campaign, Brooklyn Nine-Nine writers David Phillips and Evan Susser begin season two of their quest to rank Jewish delis in Los Angeles. As part of the Doughboys extended universe, the Deli Boys bring a similar flavor of self-defeating humor while adding their own sides of Russian dressing. Guest Carl Tart introduces Susser as the writer of Fat Albert (close enough to Fist Fight), and season two is underway. Fans of the show will remember Deli Boys standards like the Jewish Moment of the Week, where Philips reveals that during the hiatus he got engaged (mazel tov!). In a rousing round of Guessing For Gelt titled Koufax or Koufiction?, Tart has to guess whether names like Julian Edelman and Tamir Jewish Jordan Goodman are famous Jewish athletes or not. And of course the Two Questions return, where guests must answer What was the theme of your bar mitzvah? or When was the first time you saw an uncircumcised penis? Be sure to stick around for the review of Pico Kosher Deli, despite Phillips admitting, We are a food podcast, and were terrible at describing the food. Mark Kramer

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

The Ron Burgundy Podcast  Female Astronaut

Ron Burgundy, Will Ferrells titular Anchorman character, has kicked off a third season of The Ron Burgundy Podcast. Burgundy and his ever-suffering co-host and producer Carolina Barlow continue where they left off: alternating between real and fictional guests (and sometimes no guests at all, or promised ones who never show). It seems that Burgundy has gotten himself a girlfriend, Lisa, during the shows hiatus, and shes not only an astronaut but also the first guest of the new season. Ferrell seems to relish having his Burgundy character meet the challenge of still being able to remain viable in the #MeToo era. His dimly aware, womanizing, clueless character squeaks by, often creating cringeworthy moments from which he barely rescues himself or, more often, is rescued by Barlow struggling to save her boss from disaster. In this case, although shes only mentioned by her first name, Lisa (she and Ron met while shopping in a San Diego silverware shop) is alluded to be the former astronaut Lisa Nowak, who achieved notoriety by driving cross-country in a jealous rage to confront her ex-boyfriends new girlfriend. Its revealed she and Burgundy have only been on one and, as seems obvious when she storms out of the studio, only one date. The writing on this show is super-sharp and includes one of my favorite lines so far this year: Burgundy tells Barlow that she is constantly grimacing like you just saw something horrible, like two feral dogs fighting over a toddlers dress shoe. Marc Hershon

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Other Podcasts Were Listening To:

Dumb People Town  Paul Poundstone  Trial by Combat

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Keith and The Girl  Shooters Gotta Shoot w/ Erica Spera

Listen: Spotify | Apple | Website

Got a comedy podcast recommendation? Drop us a line at comedypodcasts@vulture.com.
The Hamden school district will indefinitely close all public schools beginning Friday while North Haven announced school closures for the next two weeks.

The towns announced late Thursday afternoon theyre joining other Connecticut school districts in closing schools to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.

North Haven schools dismissed early Thursday after one North Haven resident notified the town they had indirect exposure to the virus, known as COVID-19, and decided to self-quarantine, according to an announcement by First Selectman Michael Freda and Fire Chief Paul Januszewski.

The individual is being tested for the virus, they said.

The health, wellness and safety of our residents and town staff are our top priority and we believe this proactive step will help to ensure we are meeting the goal of protecting our community, Freda said.

All Hamden before-and-after-school and adult education programs have also been canceled and all Board of Education buildings are closed to the public indefinitely.

We understand that closing schools will be difficult for many families, but this is an unprecedented situation that requires a community response, the Hamden school district said in an announcement on its website. As part of our community, Hamden Public Schools will do all we can to support our families during these challenging times.

New Haven also announced it will close schools indefinitely because of coronavirus concerns.

Gov. Ned Lamont waived the 180-day requirement for schools Thursday, making it so the closures will not require districts to cut into scheduled breaks or extend the school year.

Beginning Wednesday, packets of educational materials will be available at the same locations. Anyone is allowed to pick up packets for their children.

Although schools will be closed, the district and school offices will reopen Tuesday for business that can be conducted by phone or electronically, the announcement said.

The Hamden Board of Education is also placing restrictions on large public gatherings and sporting events.

Hamden has also canceled all public meetings and gatherings until further notice and closed all non-emergency public buildings. The town said Legislative Council and BOE will be making decisions about their proceedings with announcements to come.

Freda announced the town is suspending upcoming town events, gatherings and non-essential meetings until further notice, as well as closing schools and several town buildings, for a minimum of two weeks.

Along with closed schools, all North Haven school sponsored events and programs are canceled. The town library, senior center, pool and community services daycare have also been closed.

North Haven School District officials will continue to monitor the situation and proceed in a way that both minimizes the disruption to students learning while ensuring the wellness of the school community, Freda said.

Additional cleaning will take place in all town and school buildings and is following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Connecticut State Department of Public Health, the announcement said.

West Haven schools announced they would be closed as of Monday until March 27, Due to increasing concerns surrounding possible community spread of COVID-19.

East Haven followed suit Thursday evening, with Superintendent of Schools Erica Forti ordering the towns schools closed from today through March 27. Buildings will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized during that time. Additional communication will follow next week, Forti said in a written statement posted on the districts Facebook page.

While schools are closed, East Haven Public Schools in partnership with Sodexo will continue to offer breakfast and lunch to children 18 or younger, beginning Monday, the district said in a later post.

Further, schools in Orange, Bethany, Woodbridge, as well as the Amity Region District 5 were closed Thursday afternoon until further notice, on the recommendation of the Quinnipiack Valley Health District and the Orange Department of Health, a notice on the Orange Board of Education website states.

This step is being taken as a precautionary measure to limit community transmission of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the notice states, going on to say, The closure is effective immediately and will begin Friday, March 13, 2020, without a return date.

At this time, we anticipate schools will be closed until further notice. As this situation is evolving, we ask that you continue to check district websites for information and we will continue to use our communication systems to keep families and staff informed, the notice states.

During the school closure, resources for supplemental learning may be available, the notice states.

mdignan@hearstmediact.com
Will always be with you to fight injustice: Rahul Gandhi to media

Scindia was worried about his political future, abandoned his ideology: Rahul Gandhi

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

New Delhi, Mar 12: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at Jyotiraditya Scindia saying that he has forgotten his ideology as he was apprehensive about his political future and that he would not get respect in the BJP.

Regarding Scindia's joining the saffron brigade after ending his long association with the Congress, Rahul said that there is a difference between what Scindia is saying and what is in his heart.

#WATCH Rahul Gandhi, Congress: This is a fight of ideology, on one side is Congress & BJP-RSS on the other. I know Jyotiraditya Scindia's ideology, he was with me in college, I know him well. He got worried about his political future, abandoned his ideology and went with RSS. pic.twitter.com/YhtNEam29f  ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

While addressing the press outside Parliament, Rahul said that Scindia was an old friend of his and had forgotten his ideology as he was apprehensive about his political future.

The former Congress president also added that Scindia would not get respect in the BJP, nor would he feel satisfied there.

Scindia joined the ruling BJP on March 11, a day after quitting the Congress party, in the presence of BJP national president J P Nadda.

On Wednesday, Scindia slammed Congress for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership.

BJP has chosen Scindia as the Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.
New Delhi: A day after joining the BJP, Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday met Home Minister Amit Shah, who expressed confidence that his induction will further strengthen the saffron party's resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh.

Scindia also paid a "courtesy" visit to senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence here in the morning.

After meeting Scindia, Shah said in a tweet, "I am sure his induction into the party will further strengthen BJP's resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh."

A day after quitting the Congress, Scindia joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (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 has been named as the BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.
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Linkedin Asip Hasani (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya  Thu, March 12, 2020 20:32 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a2be09 1 National sexual-abuse,church,church-minister,pastor,surabaya,East-Java,East-Java-Police Free

A pastor at a Protestant church in Surabaya, East Java, has been named a suspect for allegedly sexually abusing a minor, the East Java police confirmed on Thursday.

The 50-year-old man, identified by the initials HL, is currently in police custody and has undergone a psychological examination at the East Java police headquarters.

East Java police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Trunoyudho Wisnu Andiko said the examination was meant to determine HLs mental state.

"It is a procedure in which police determine if a perpetrator of a crime is mentally sound, Trunoyudho told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. HLs psychological examination is also aimed at uncovering the background of his alleged crime."

Trunoyudho acknowledged that HL had confessed to sexually abusing a minor over a period of seven years but added that obtaining a confession was not the police investigators' goal in carrying out the criminal prosecution.

He said collecting evidence was much more significant for the police in handling any criminal case.

"We have so far questioned at least six witnesses," he said.

The victim, identified as IW, now 26, alleged that HL had sexually abused her from 2005  when she was only 12 years old  to 2011.

East Java police arrested HL on Saturday, two weeks after IW's family filed a report with the police on Feb. 20. HL had allegedly been planning to flee the country at the time of his arrest.

IWs wedding was what caused her family to report the crime. Her family, who are members of HLs church, wanted the wedding ceremony to be held at the church.

"We have also provided psychological counseling to IW, since the investigation must have reignited her trauma," Trunoyudho said.

Trunoyudho declined to say whether there were any other victims, saying that the investigation was underway.
Rana Kapoor used Yes Bank to launder Rs4,300 cr, says ED

Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor used the bank to launder Rs4,300 crore to generate wealth for himself and his family members, the Enforcement Directorate submitted while seeking his custody.

Kapoor used various means to acquire, conceal and launder the money, including through tainted Dewan Housing Finance Ltd and through fraud companies floated in his daughters names and the ED sleuths are still probing the money trail, sources said.

Holiday court judge SR Salunkhe on Monday granted ED three days custody of Kapoor for interrogation.

Earlier, on Sunday, the ED had prevented Kapoors daughter Roshni Kapoor from boarding a flight to London following a look out notice (LOC) issued against the Kapoor family.

One of the channels, DoIt Urban Ventures India Pvt Ltd (DUVIPL), run by Kapoors three daughters, was allegedly used to receive kickbacks of Rs600 crore by pledging highly undervalued assets as mortgage with Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) and its promoter, Kapil Wadhawan and others, according to the ED.

The matter came to light during a parallel investigation into Yes Banks subscription to DHFLs debentures worth Rs3,700 crore between April and June 2018.

As a qid-pro-quo, DHFL sanctioned Rs600 crore loan to DUVIPL, run by Kapoors daughters  Roshni Kapoor, Radha Kapoor-Khanna and Raakhee Kapoor-Tandon  who are equal shareholders of the company.

The ED said that Yes Bank had sanctioned another Rs750 crore loan to a DHFL group company which was corroborated by the companys official Rajendra Mirashie who stated that DUVIPL gave five properties valued at Rs735 crore as mortgage to DHFL.

Investigations subsequently proved that the agricultural land was merely worth Rs40 crore against the inflated amount of Rs735 crore shown for the mortgage.

DUVIPL had no business activities or any revenue and its properties of around 100 acres in Raigad were lying unutilised, though the loan was to be repaid in a single shot after 60 months (in 2023), DUVIPL was only paying the interest so far.

Mirashie said that the Kapoors never interacted with him and all instructions were received by him through two aides  Rana Kapoors Sr. Executive Secretary Lata Dave or Kapil Wadhawans executive assistant S Govindan.

Meanwhile the Economic Offences Wing of the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI-EOW), New Delhi, filed a first information report against Kapoor and others on the morning of Saturday, 7 March, when he was already under the EDs detention.

The CBIs FIR claimed that Kapoor, Wadhawan, and others entered into a criminal conspiracy to extend financial benefits to DHFL through Yes Bank, in return for substantial undue benefits to Kapoor and his family members through their companies.
WASHINGTON  On Wednesday night, President Trump implored the nations political leadership to stop the partisanship and come together to confront the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday morning, he woke up and immediately issued partisan attacks on Democratic congressional leaders.

Mr. Trumps call for a suspension of partisanship lasted just nine hours, at least some of which he was presumably asleep. While some of Mr. Trumps allies and advisers have urged him to stop fighting and assert more national leadership, the president made clear that it does not suit him.

The first of the presidents partisan jabs came before dawn on Thursday morning and had nothing to do with the coronavirus or anything that had happened in the last few days. Instead, he reached back to revive a controversy from a week ago when Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, harshly assailed two conservative Supreme Court justices over abortion rights.

Mr. Trump retweeted a March 4 message from Jonathan Turley, a law professor who opposed impeachment, condemning Mr. Schumer: Schumers threat to the Court that you will pay the price is a direct attack on the integrity of our courts. I criticized Trump for his reckless comments about the courts. Where is the chorus of condemnation of Schumer? Schumer sounded more like a stalker than a statesman.
361 evacuees from China's Hubei province placed in quarantine

ROC Central News Agency

03/11/2020 02:36 PM

Taipei, March 11 (CNA) A total of 361 Taiwanese nationals who returned to Taiwan Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning from China's Hubei province, after being stranded due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease COVID-19, have been placed in quarantine, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

At a news conference held Wednesday morning, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (), who is also head of the CECC, said testing of samples from the 361 Taiwanese is expected to be completed in 48 hours to determine whether they have the virus.

The evacuees have been placed in single rooms and those who test positive for the virus will be sent to hospital, while those who test negative will remain in quarantine for 14 days, according to the CECC.

During the quarantine, the CECC said, the evacuees will have their temperature taken twice a day and if anyone develops a fever or respiratory symptoms they will be sent to a hospital for treatment.

Chen said the evacuees returned on two charter flights operated by Taiwan's China Airlines and Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines, which carried 169 and 192 passengers, respectively. It was the second evacuation since 247 Taiwanese returned on Feb. 3.

During the second round of evacuations, Chen said Taiwan dispatched 13 medical staffers -- four doctors and nine nurses -- to take care of the evacuees.

After the CAL and China Eastern Airlines touched down at Taoyuan International Airport, the passengers received a check-up in a provisional facility at the airport before being sent to quarantine venues in 10 ambulances and 22 tour buses.

At the same news conference, Shih Chung-liang (), director- general of the Department of Medical Affairs under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said 112 of the 169 CAL evacuees were sent to one quarantine venue, and the remaining 57 to another location, while the 192 evacuees on the China Eastern Airlines flight went to a third quarantine facility.

Among the 361 evacuees, those under the age of 18 accounted for about 20 percent, while the oldest was 91.

The CAL charter flight had been scheduled to arrive in Taiwan at around 8 p.m. Tuesday and the China Eastern Airline flight soon after midnight.

However, the CAL flight returned to Taiwan at 11:37 p.m. Tuesday due to a delayed take-off after two passengers were found to have a fever and together with a family member were ordered off the plane. A further 27 passengers were prevented from boarding the flights.

As a result, the China Eastern Airline flight was also delayed and did not arrive in Taiwan until 4:08 a.m. Wednesday.

Chen said the delay was caused by a difference in approach to the prevention of the virus.

The Chinese health authorities thought that as all the passengers tested negative for COVID-19 they could board the plane, but Taiwanese health officials decided to be more cautious.

"The difference in understanding led China to think Taiwan did not trust their medical professionals, but I have to say we just did what we had to do based on our knowledge of the virus," Chen said.

For example, he said, evacuees from the coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess in Japan were released after testing negative twice for the virus.

However, after returning to Taiwan, they underwent more tests and were not released until they had each received a total of five tests, Chen said.

As many people who initially tested negative for the virus were later found to have contracted the disease, it is better to be extra cautious than to regret later on, Chen said.

Following the first charter flight on Feb. 3, the authorities in Taiwan and China blamed each other for hindering efforts to evacuate the remaining Taiwanese.

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 one evacuee who tested positive for COVID-19 was discharged from hospital Feb. 27.

Taiwan had 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.

(By Chang Ming-hsuan, Yu Hsiao-han, Bien Ching-feng and Frances Huang)

Enditem/AW

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Whistleblower Chelsea Manning attempted suicide while in jail today, say her lawyers. She is recovering in a hospital

From Axios:

Manning is still scheduled to appear on Friday for a previously calendared hearing, her lawyers said. "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," [the statement] added. "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.  Ms. Manning has previously indicated that she will not betray her principles, even at risk of grave harm to herself."

After serving seven years in prison for providing documents to Wikileaks, Manning was released in 2017 by then President Obama. In May she was jailed again for refusing to comply with a grand jury subpoena.
A mother has been found guilty of restraining her daughter while men raped her when she was wearing a Playboy costume.

The 41-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of five charges in Southport District Court on the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

The now 15-year-old told the court that she was repeatedly woken with men on top of her when she was wearing bunny ears and a black lace dress 'Playboy' costume.

Her mother's ruling was delayed after she was put into a psychiatric hospital around two weeks ago and she had no support from family or friends in the court room.

Judge David Kent found her guilty of three counts of rape, and one count each of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child, deprivation of liberty and indecent treatment of a child.

A mother has been found guilty of restraining her daughter while men raped her when she was wearing a Playboy costume including bunny ears (stock image)

'It's so wrong,' the woman screamed in the court room, as reported by The Courier Mail. 'This didn't even happen.'

The young girl was molested by her mum's 'friends' at her home every other day over a one-year period between May 2014 and May 2015.

She was nine-years-old when the abuse started and was molested by a different man every time.

The abuse only came to light when the girl wrote a note saying her mum used to 'come in with friends and touch me improperly', to her psychologist, who reported it to the police.

She later told authorities her mum would 'undress her and be naughty' and gave her a drink that made her feel drowsy.

She said on one occasion her mother held her hands while she was being abused and asked the men for money after their attack.

The daughter told the court her mother had held her hands while a man sexually abused her (stock image)

Police have found no evidence that she was taking money for the attacks and no men have been charged with abuse.

The girl's father had been in custody at the time of the abuse.

He previously told the court that his daughter's mental health was suffering and she was on suicide watch in a Brisbane hospital.

'I have to put up with a child who has tried to kill herself three times,' he said.

'If you think this is some kind of con job, I'm the one paying the joke. If I made some story up then the joke is on me.'

The mother is facing life in prison and will be sentenced later this year.


Emily Williams is a business reporter at The Post and Courier, covering tourism and aerospace. She also writes the Business Headlines newsletter and co-hosts the weekly news podcast Understand SC.
In UPs Ballia, 15 year old kidnapped and raped

5 year old raped by uncle in Budaun

Minor girl raped by lover and friends in UP

UP: Body of minor girl found in a pit, days after she went missing

Accused in Saidabad rape and murder case kills self, says police

Man gets lifer for raping minor girl

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Jalna, Mar 12: A court here in Maharashtra has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for 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.

17-year-old girl with boyfriend jumps from window as mother enters her bedroom

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.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 8:22 [IST]
University News

Keyri Ambrocio 21 is devoted to immigrant and refugee rights and policy reform, and her passion has led to her becoming the first University of New Haven student to be chosen as a Newman Civic Fellow, an opportunity that will enable her to join 300 of the most community-minded college students to make a difference. By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications

Ambrocio (right) attended a Model United Nations conference in Germany.

Keyri Ambrocio 21 is passionate about advocating for immigrant rights and policy reform. The daughter of immigrants from Guatemala, she is committed to awareness and advocacy, which she hopes to make a central part of her career.

"I have seen the injustices that marginalized groups face in the community, specifically undocumented immigrants," said Ambrocio, an international affairs and political science double major. "This has made me much more aware of the inequalities that people face and the role I can have in making a change."

Keyri Ambrocio 21

Her dedication to making a difference led to Ambrocio becoming the first University of New Haven student to be named a Newman Civic Fellow . She is among nearly 300 students from 39 states and Washington, D.C., as well as Greece, Lebanon, and Mexico who make up the 2020 cohort.

As part of the fellowship, Campus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, provides students with networking and learning opportunities that encourage personal, professional, and civic growth.

"The Fellowship provides recognition and support for changemakers in campus communities across the United States," said Ambrocio. "It is an honor to have been chosen for such an honorable program, and I am very excited for the opportunities it will bring. Being chosen empowers me to continue to work for social justice."

A yearlong program for students, the Fellowship brings together students who have demonstrated a commitment to finding solutions to public challenges that communities face at the local, national, and international levels.

Chris Haynes, Ph.D., an assistant professor of political science and Ambrocios faculty adviser, recommended her for the Fellowship. He says she has a rare and invaluable skillset  including intercultural awareness, critical thinking, and attention to detail  that will help her to thrive.

"Keyri embodies everything that Frank Newman and the Newman Civic Fellowship stand for," he said. "She continues to demonstrate her tremendous leadership qualities and commitment to serving her community by volunteering for two immigrant-support organizations. I could think of no one else who deserves this recognition more."

Ambrocio visited Washington, D.C., with her "Power Politics" class.

As part of the program, Ambrocio will take part in virtual learning and networking opportunities. She will be invited to attend a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows, and she can apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduation opportunities, including the chance to present at Campus Compact-affiliated conferences.

"Im excited and proud that Keyris social justice work has been recognized on a national level," said Sally Anastos, director of the Universitys Academic Service-Learning program. "Keyri is a natural leader who advocates for immigration reform and empowers those she works with on a daily basis. I look forward to learning about the impact she will have in our community."

"Keyri possesses an unparalleled sense of passion and purpose, and she continuously demonstrates excellence in everything she undertakes." President Steven H. Kaplan

"Committed to civic engagement, Ambrocio is chair of the Universitys Mayors Advisory Commission, a student-led initiative that works closely with the West Haven Mayors office. She has also had the opportunity to travel across the globe as a leader of the Universitys award-winning Model United Nations program, and she has spearheaded WestFest, an annual celebration of the relationship between the University and West Haven.

"Keyri possesses an unparalleled sense of passion and purpose, and she continuously demonstrates excellence in everything she undertakes," wrote President Steven H. Kaplan in a nomination letter. "She truly is an inspiration to her professors, her fellow students, and those she interacts with in the community."

Ambrocio (left) traveled to Thailand to attend the International Diplomacy Forum.

Ambrocio says the opportunities she has had through her internship with the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants and her volunteer work with Apostle Immigrant Services have reinforced her determination to make change and to serve as an advocate. She hopes to eventually work with an international organization, such as the International Organization for Migration or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

"I hope to use the training and resources that this Fellowship will provide me to bring about real change for immigrants and refugees," she said. "I am very excited to represent the University as a Fellow."
(Photo : www.pxhere.com)

Hackers are reportedly using the COVID-19 outbreak to commit cybercrimes that put risks on anyone who uses their software.

This software is infected with malware and is being used to collect important private information.

Read More: Apple's New Releases Could Help The Tech Giant Bounce Back From Coronavirus

Cybercrime Rises Amidst Virus Outbreak

The COVID-19 pandemic is being used by several hackers by sending out documents that are forged to take advantage of their victims. Hackers and cybercriminals are allegedly using important documents and applications to execute the malware on their victims.

These include maps, document reports, and even health websites that monitor the COVID-19. Due to the pandemic spreading throughout the globe, the constant demand for information is putting anyone on pressure. Hackers and cybercriminals see opportunity on this one, however.

Online scams are also being reported, apart from coronavirus.

Vicious Panda is a china based group of skilled hackers. Technology company Check Point stated that the Vicious Panda group is on a high level of threat to web security.

Vicious Panda

The group of hackers is determined to use the coronavirus scare to their benefit. The Vicious Panda was reported to forge believable documents that look like it comes from the Mongolian Health Industry. This believable gimmick allowed them to access thousands of devices. They made it by extracting sensitive and personal information from their victims.

Read More: What We See in Italy Could Offer A Glimpse of The World's Future Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Checkpoint's head of threat intelligence, Lotem Finkelsteen said that the COVID-19 pandemic is more than just a treat to people, but it is also a form of online threat and climbed.

Finkelsteen also added that the public should be concerned about fake coronavirus documents that are being spread online.

Cybercrime Strategies

Hackers are using many ways to let people open their doors to malware. The most popular bait is injecting malware into a document and sending it to so many people. They mask this malware by telling people that it is a document about the coronavirus. In this way, people who are hungry for information would give in and download the modified document.

FireEye reported that Russian hackers are targetting Ukraine. A North Korean, on the other hand, is taking an interest in attacking a South Korean organization

Weeks ago, the U.S. government advised people to be meticulous and be vigilant because of people who are taking advantage of everything. On a similar note, the Department of Homeland helped the people out by telling them to look out for symptoms.

As of the moment, Checkpoint reported that more than 4,000 websites are up worldwide that are relating to coronavirus and public information. 3% of this, however, is infected.

Spearphishing is another cybercrime strategy bring used. Hackers are injecting their emails with malware and viruses. This malware would then start to crawl in your device and infect an even larger part.

Indonesia, Japan, and other Asian countries are being targeted with the World Health Organization reports inside their email. Some.people would be too naive to understand and perceive, so the number of cybercrime cases is still rising.

Cybercriminals and hackers, in particular, are using different.methods to gather personal information from their victims. A more complicated strategy that is even bigger is still out there and is being used to hasten the process.

Read More: History Reapeats Itself! Coronavirus Similar to SARS and Scientists Have The Pictures to Prove it!

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NEW YORKJudge Rachel Freier said she got her ambitious quality from her mother.

Freier went from being a lawyer to becoming the first female Hasidic judge in 2016. She said it was always her dream.

Its part of our family, a part of our genetic makeup, she told NTD News. If I just become very passionate about something, Ill become very ambitious about it.

She gained mainstream recognition after she proposed creating an all-female Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) division in the all-male Jewish medical agency Hatzolah.

Because Orthodox Jewish woman abide by laws of modesty, Freier said the women feel very uncomfortable and embarrassed when being treated by menespecially in the tightly-knitted orthodox community in Borough Park, Brooklyn.

Even physical touch by men other than your husband is prohibited, male EMTs are allowed to do so in times of emergency.

Aside from the fact that its a male responder, its a male responder who they know well; its someone from the community which adds to the level of embarrassment, she said.

However, Hatzolah denied her proposal.

Female Option in the Making

Freier said she doesnt know why they denied the offer. In the 2018 documentary 93Queen, however, she said members of Hatzolah think that women arent fast enough, strong enough, or smart enough.

We asked her to confirm this, and she said it was an assumption.

So for many years Ive answered questions, why do they do this, or why are they saying that, she said, and Ive realized after all these years that I really cant make assumptions.

We reached out to Hatzolah to find out why they turned down the proposal but they didnt respond. However, an unidentified man claiming to be a member of Hatzolah said in the documentary that a womans place in Judaism is the home.

Conversely, EMT agencies from Israel, like United Hatzalah, have female members.

Despite the setback, Freier and her supporters took it into their own hands and founded Ezras Nashim in 2012. For years, she and her fellow EMTs have been dispatched to help the women of Brooklyns Jewish communitiesall for the sake of modesty.

And although there are exceptions for when a man can touch a woman, like during an emergency, Freier said women still need the option to choose whether they want women to treat them.

For a few years now, theyve given an all-female option for emergency births and other medical emergencies.

Ambulance Troubles

EMT Sarah Husney is one of the agencies approximately 60 members.

She gave us a look into one of their vehicles, and inside the van were neatly packed medical supplies and the agencys distinguishable purple vest.

Since their startup, theyve relied on vehicles other than ambulances. However, they were looking to change that and met their initial fundraising goal of $20,000 for an ambulance last year.

The agency has relied completely on donations, yet, in another setback, days before their goal was met, they were denied a license for an ambulance.

The Regional Medical Services Council denied the request in a 12 to 7 vote. And this has slowed down their work.

Because they dont have an ambulance, they have to call the New York City Fire Department to transport the patient.

But they appealed the councils decision to the state, and the case is now pending.

Empowering Women

In an interview last year with the San Diego Jewish Journal, the director of 93Queen Paula Eiselt called the story of Ezras Nashim part of a universal story of womens empowerment and feminism that is erupting stronger than ever all over the world.

Another commonly-quoted Jewish blog apparently accused the agency of amounting to a radical feminist agenda. Freier actually denies being a feminist in the documentary, but told us they are empowering women.

So, I think that what were doing is, yes, empowering woman, she said.I think women have been powerful going back to biblical times, and women in Judaism have always had a special place.

She added that her message is about recognizing that women have always traditionally cared for and looked after other women. And despite the criticism, several rabbis have publicly endorsed the agencybelievers in Freiers cause.

My mother always taught us that you stand up for whats right, you dont buckle down, she said. So if youre doing something thats right, and you believe God runs the world, just keep on going, just keep having faith, and its just a question of time.
A 25-year-old man was apprehended by CISF personnel at a metro station here on Thursday for carrying a country-made pistol, officials said.

The incident took place at the Hazrat Nizamuddin station at around 9 AM.

Arvind Kumar, a resident of Mathura in UttarPradesh, had kept a country-made pistol in his bag and it was detected by the Central Industrial Security Force personnel during checking of his baggage, they said.

The man was handed over to Delhi Police for further probe, the officials added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
He's enjoying the simpler things before going on tour to promote a new book of poetry.

And Cody Simpson Took to Instagram as he relaxed in his backyard at home with Miley Cyrus on Wednesday afternoon.

The 23-year-old musician declared that 'life is good as hell' despite his lady love having to pull out of an Australian bushfire concert due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Blessed: Cody Simpson Took to Instagram as he relaxed in his backyard at home with Miley Cyrus on Wednesday afternoon

Cody looked completely relaxed outside on a lounger while sipping on a beverage before the sunset.

He wrote 'life is good as hell' across a video which featured one of his buddies and a few pet pooches.

Inside the home, fresh-faced Miley cuddled up to her dogs while on the couch with the caption: 'Lol mothers daughter.'

He practiced a few licks on the guitar earlier in the day ahead of his stateside tour to promote Prince Neptune: poetry sessions.

Bliss: Inside the home, fresh-faced Miley cuddled up to her dogs while on the couch with the caption: 'Lol mothers daughter'

Casual: The 23-year-old musician declared that 'life is good as hell' despite his lady love having to pull out of an Australian bushfire concert due to the Coronavirus outbreak

The pair, who've been dating since October, will be staying put at home for the foreseeable future due to fears over COVID-19.

On Tuesday afternoon, Miley sent out a tweet announcing that she had to cancel her bushfire relief concert in Melbourne.

She was scheduled to headline the World Tour Bushfire Relief fundraiser at Lakeside Stadium on March 13 but told fans that she'd been advised not to fly to Australia amid the global health crisis.

She wrote: 'Australia: Due to the recommendations of local, state, federal and international government authorities, including the Center for Disease Control, to reduce potential health risks in response to the current global health crisis, we are no longer traveling to Australia for the show.

Artist: He practiced a few licks on the guitar earlier in the day ahead of his stateside tour to promote Prince Neptune: poetry sessions

'Cleaning day,' Cody wrote across a video of Miley as they embarked on tidying up their home

'I am so disappointed to not be there, but I have to do what is right to protect the health and safety of my band and crew.

'I will still be making a donation to help the victims of the Australian bushfires. I'm sorry to miss everyone in Australia, but I will be back soon.'

Concert promoters TEG Dainty told Daily Mail Australia: 'We are very sad that Miley Cyrus has announced that she will not be travelling to Melbourne and that as a result the World Tour Bushfire Relief concert at Lakeside Stadium on March 13 can no longer go ahead.

'All fans will receive a full refund and will be contacted by Ticketek shortly.
This week we saw the TC TECH Sweden AB (publ) (STO:TCT) share price climb by 20%. But the last three years have seen a terrible decline. To wit, the share price sky-dived 75% in that time. So it sure is nice to see a big of an improvement. Of course the real question is whether the business can sustain a turnaround.

View our latest analysis for TC TECH Sweden

TC TECH Sweden isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. Some companies are willing to postpone profitability to grow revenue faster, but in that case one does expect good top-line growth.

Over three years, TC TECH Sweden grew revenue at 39% per year. That's well above most other pre-profit companies. So why has the share priced crashed 37% per year, in the same time? You'd want to take a close look at the balance sheet, as well as the losses. Ultimately, revenue growth doesn't amount to much if the business can't scale well. Unless the balance sheet is strong, the company might have to raise capital.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

OM:TCT Income Statement, March 12th 2020

Take a more thorough look at TC TECH Sweden's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

The last twelve months weren't great for TC TECH Sweden shares, which cost holders 49%, while the market was up about 1.6%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Shareholders have lost 36% 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. Take risks, for example - TC TECH Sweden has 8 warning signs (and 2 which are a bit concerning) we think you should know about.

Story continues

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SE 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.
Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/12/2020 -- California lemon law attorneys at Consumer Action Law Group settled a case against Superior Kar Company after a claim was brought for vehicle power issues.



California lemon law is a consumer protection law that helps protect consumers from faulty vehicle purchases from dealers.



"There are a lot of misconceptions about what qualifies for a lemon car in California and here at Consumer Action Law Group, we try to educate the public on the consumer rights towards legal representation on a defective car. For the case of our client L. Lopez, our attorneys made a huge effort and received a favorable settlement after the dealer did not take action to help our client fix the car," said Lemon Law attorney Matt Faler. In reality, you cannot rely on the dealership to teach a consumer about California lemon law.



Under the current California Lemon Law, vehicle owners have the right to return a car if the manufacturer has:



- Failed to fix a problem that cannot be repaired after 3 attempts

- Failed to fix the problem or honor the warranty

- Lied that the warranty does not cover the issue



If the case has been awarded to the owner of the vehicle and the car is deemed to be a lemon car, the dealer/manufacturer has to provide two main options to the owner of the vehicle. The first is a California lemon law buyback and the second provision is offering a lemon law replacement vehicle.



Under the lemon law, the consumer can return the car to the dealer and get their money back including all payments processed such as down payment, monthly payments, and money spent on repairs. Some cases may result from the dealer offering money to close the case and keep the car.



Some important factors of the California lemon law:



- Used cars qualify in some instances

- The lemon law applies to leased cars out of the dealer

- Luxury vehicles or vehicles used for business may qualify

- The lemon car has a 4-year statute of limitations for lemon law cases in California from the date that the consumer knew and that the manufacturer was unable to fix the car



Consumer Action Law Group helps consumers who purchased a lemon car. Call 818-254-8413 for a free case evaluation.



About Consumer Action Law Group

Lemon law attorneys at Consumer Action Law Group are dedicated to helping consumers who purchased a lemon car. As the premiere lemon law firm, its attorneys are experienced in successfully representing their clients with their lemon law case. Lawyers on the team are also experienced in auto fraud, lemon law, surplus funds recovery, and credit report errors.



Media Relations



Address: 3700 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065

Phone: 818-254-8413

Email: info@consumeractionlawgroup.com

Website: https://lemonlaw.consumeractionlawgroup.com/
In the week since President Donald Trump asked Vice President Mike Pence to take over the government's response to the coronavirus, there have been two main reactions. The first has been to ask whether this unflappable if somewhat robotic figure with a penchant for bone-dry news conferences and a spotty record as governor of Indiana - including a weak response to an HIV outbreak - was truly the right person to handle this fast unfolding and deadly health crisis. And the second was to wonder if Trump might be intentionally setting up his No. 2 for a fall.

The Daily Beast subtitled its story on Pence's appointment, "Fall Guy?," and Joy Behar of "The View" asked if Pence was about to be Trump's "sacrificial lamb." At a panel at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Conference, the longtime Democratic strategist Paul Begala put the point bluntly, adding a new layer to the theory: "Trump put Pence in charge of the coronavirus to throw him under the bus." He predicted that during the Democratic National Convention, Trump would try to interrupt the narrative by making his own bold announcement: He'd dump Pence for former U.N. Secretary Nikki Haley "to try and get those suburban moms."

Such talk may sound far-fetched, if not a tad conspiracy-minded, but Trump does have a record of casting loyalists aside after presenting them with near-impossible tasks. His very first supporter in the U.S. Senate, Republican Jeff Sessions, whom he appointed to run the Justice Department, is now fighting for his political life in an Alabama campaign to return to his old seat after Trump repeatedly savaged him, blaming him for failing to stop the Russia probe - and then fired him. A slew of aides have been cast from Trump's orbit for such varied sins as trying to grab the spotlight (Stephen Bannon) or trying to reel in the president (John Kelly).

I've covered Pence for a long time - from his first campaign event for governor in 2011 to his return to Washington as Trump's vice president - and I published a biography of him in September. I've learned that he tends to inspire rumors and wild theories precisely because he is such an opaque figure; sometimes they hit the mark, other times they miss badly.

The theory seems to have it that blaming Pence for a poorly planned response to the outbreak, and the social and economic chaos that could ensue, would serve as a kind of two-pronged backup plan - giving Trump a scapegoat for the White House's incompetence while also facilitating the VP switch. It's possible. But if Trump has concocted such a scheme, he's doing a poor job of letting it play out - at least so far. It would be easier to let Pence "take the fall" if the president got out of the way and, well, let him fall. Instead, Trump can't help continually placing himself at very center of the crisis.

Chatter that Trump wants to dump Pence for a more charismatic and electorally useful figure, specifically a woman, has been persistent around Washington, peaking last summer. But Trump has already missed the most logical window for that Machiavellian maneuver: before his reelection campaign started filing for ballot access in the states. When Pence flew to New Hampshire to file the paperwork for the Trump-Pence 2020 campaign, I read it as evidence that the vice president was trying to forcefully put to bed the Dump Pence rumors. Pressed by Fox News host Jeanine Pirro in December on whether he was about to be replaced on the ticket, Pence shook his head a bit, laughed lightly, then said, "You know, I couldn't be more proud to be vice president alongside Donald Trump." Pirro interjected, "What about 2020?" Pence said, "I'm honored that he's asked me to run with him again."

The appointment to the coronavirus position has revived such talk. Throughout his tenure as vice president, Pence has proved himself adept at evading blame by vanishing during politically sensitive moments. During the Russia investigation, he lawyered up (some argued better than Trump himself did), taking Virginia's former attorney general as his counsel. Then he avoided the issue as much as he could, staying out of the White House and away from meetings that tended to draw investigators' attention. During the Ukraine scandal, Trump more closely directed Pence's actions (including dispatching him to meet with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sept. 1). But through months of investigation by House Democrats and weeks of televised impeachment hearings, Pence's name barely came up. And he successfully stonewalled House Democrats, who had demanded testimony from him about Ukraine, plus relevant documents.

Evasiveness is a trait he's often deployed as a survival mechanism. When The Washington Post uncovered the famous "Access Hollywood" tape in 2016, Pence ditched his traveling press corps and hid out until it was safe to announce his support for Trump in public.

In 2012, he tried to tamp down his long-standing reputation as a crusading social conservative to run as a successor to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. But after he got some tough questions about whether he would further restrict abortion access in Indiana, he stopped alerting Indiana media of his campaign stops and advertised them only afterward on social media, with his own write-ups of each event. (He did tighten abortion laws a few years after taking office).

But in this health crisis, there's nowhere to hide. When Trump put Pence in charge of the coronavirus response, the media promptly rediscovered his mishandling of the HIV outbreak in southern Indiana in 2015. State and local health officials had pressed Pence for weeks to approve a limited needle exchange as an effort to curb the outbreak, but he dragged his feet, worsening the outbreak, experts said.

To his credit, Pence does seem to be making some effort to get out facts about covid-19 - even as he lavishes praise on his boss (apparently a requirement for keeping one's job in this administration). The New York Times reports that Pence "has instilled a measure of order in task force meetings," and Gov. Kate Brown, D-Ore., has expressed appreciation for the attention Pence has paid to the crisis in her state - even if he is prone to moments of Trump-like exaggeration (claiming "any American could be tested for the virus," before reversing himself).

Trump clearly feels ambivalent about who should be running the coronavirus show. On Monday, just before their regular press briefing on the coronavirus, White House staff took down the flag of the vice president and removed the VP's official seal from the lectern in the White House briefing room. They were replaced with the president's flag and official seal.

Trump walked out and took the lead on the briefing, mentioning the possibility of a payroll tax cut, as well as help for the travel industry before turning it over to Pence, who praised Trump's performance. The president had deployed "not just a whole-of-government approach" to fighting the virus, he said, "but a whole-of-America approach."

As Trump left, reporters erupted with questions about whether the president had been tested for the virus, given that he may have been indirectly exposed to it at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Trump ignored the questions, and Pence was left saying he'd get back to them with an answer. (No, it emerged, Trump has not been tested.) Then it was back to experts talking about ramping up testing and which populations are most at risk if they contract the disease.

The news conference was a telling spectacle: Pence was nominally in charge, but Trump elbowed him out of the limelight - and wound up generating more negative press. Such a dynamic would hardly stop Trump from blaming Pence if things continue to go badly, but it's unclear, at this point, if the public would buy that story line.

- - -

LoBianco is a political reporter in Washington and the author of "Piety & Power: Mike Pence and the Taking of the White House."
The UK is well prepared to tackle coronavirus but, of course, businesses clearly face challenges in multiple areas.

These vary from giving advice to staff on work-related issues arising from the virus, to putting in place plans to minimise impacts on their operations. And I know that many are concerned about the longer-term effects on investment, cash flow and the future of their businesses.

We want to be very clear  this Government is ready to support businesses of all sizes and the millions of people they employ across the country during this time.

'This Government is ready to support businesses of all sizes and the millions of people they employ across the country during this time', says Business Secretary Alok Sharma (pictured)

Yesterday, the Chancellor announced new measures to do just that. These include 2.2billion in grants for 700,000 of our smallest businesses.

There will be a refund for businesses with fewer than 250 employees which pay statutory sick pay to workers absent due to self-isolating for up to two weeks.

The Government-owned British Business Bank, which is supporting more than 7.3billion of finance to 93,000 small- and medium-size enterprises, will help smaller businesses access finance through the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme.

This will provide up to 1billion to protect and support small businesses. We are also providing vital tax relief by temporarily increasing the business rates retail discount to 100 per cent and expanding it to include leisure and hospitality businesses.

For those who are worried about paying tax on time due to coronavirus, we have set up a dedicated helpline through HMRC to support businesses explore the options.

The Bank of England's decisions mean banks are better able to provide additional credit to meet firms' needs. We want banks to be part of the solution.

This week it was encouraging to see Natwest and Lloyds launch funds of 5billion and 2billion respectively for small and medium firms directly affected by the virus.

In addition, Natwest has pledged to defer mortgage and loan repayments by three months.

This is an important demonstration of support and I urge other lenders to consider what more they can do to help customers through this challenging time.

As Business Secretary, I regularly speak to firms and, in light of coronavirus, I have ramped up that engagement.

Last night I spoke with business groups and trade associations to discuss the measures in the Budget and reassure them of the Government's commitment to support them.

For individual businesses, the first port of call for advice and guidance should still be gov.uk.

And we are scaling up our business support helpline so entrepreneurs can pick up the phone for advice and support from my department.

Supporting companies through this period is a top priority, as demonstrated by the Chancellor's Budget yesterday, and the efforts of the whole Government.

We will keep our response under review as the situation develops. And we will make sure we do everything we can to support business through this turbulent time and keep the economy moving.
New Delhi, March 12 : The BJP has taken strong objection to Chatham House chairman's deprecating remarks about India's healthcare in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which originated in China.

Jim O'Neill, chairman of Chatham House, a London-based international organisation that analyses global affairs, during a discussion on CNBC TV channel had scornfully said, "Thank god this (coronavirus pandemic) didn't start in somewhere like India.." BJP in-charge of foreign affairs, Vijay Chauthaiwale, in a letter written to O'Neill said the statement "criticising the quality of the Indian governance in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak" showed his "sheer ignorance towards the Indian healthcare system." While appreciating the efforts by the Chinese government in its response to the coronavirus outbreak, Chauthaiwale said Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has extended all his support to China to fight the disease.

"At the same time, measures taken by the Indian government to prevent the spread of the pandemic in India cannot be overlooked," he wrote.

India was one of the few countries which responded immediately to the outbreak by evacuating around 650 Indian nationals and some foreign nationals from Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic. The government suspended air travel to China and quarantined the evacuated individuals for 14 days. Besides, several other stringent measures were taken to test individuals for the infection and contain the epidemic.

The BJP officebearer said that he strongly deplored the remarks made by O'Neill "underestimating the proactive efforts and efficiency of the Indian government in countering the coronavirus outbreak and evacuating the Indian citizens from the affected areas of the world." Taking an indirect dig at China's authoritarianism, Chauthaiwale reminded O'Neill that "democracy and the free flow of information" could have helped in "such unfortunate eventualities. Transparency, public trust and government accountability ensures effective response to such critical situations," he wrote in the letter.

The BJP official hoped that O'Neill will "re-evaluate the Indian health system and its response with an open mind."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Tutors International, the leading provider of elite private tuition services worldwide, urges families considering assistance from live-in private tutors to act immediately due to high demand and closing window of opportunity during the coronavirus outbreak

OXFORD, England, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With international travel bans taking effect in multiple countries, global private tuition firm Tutors International has issued an urgent call to action to families seeking live-in private tutors to provide continuity of education throughout the coronavirus outbreak. The company reports an unprecedented sudden burst in requests from prospective clients with immediate tuition requirements, but notes that the window of opportunity to source and relocate qualified tutors is closing rapidly.

Due to mounting time pressures, Tutors International is now only placing tutors who have already completed the company's pre-interview and security screening checks, or those who have worked for Tutors International previously. It is no longer able to meet with new prospective tutors.

Adam Caller, founder and CEO of Tutors International, stated: "Our priority at Tutors International is, as it always has been, the educational welfare of children. We are working round the clock to assist as many prospective clients as possible, however we have limited capacity for further client enquiries and a decreasing supply of pre-vetted and qualified tutors available. For this reason, we urge any families considering private tuition as an emergency measure to act immediately. With increasing US-Europe travel bans coming into effect, further limitations will be placed on our ability to relocate tutors. We do have tutors in location internationally, but with an extraordinary burst of 'money no object' requests coming in daily, the window of opportunity is closing. We will do our utmost to assist any families seeking urgent interim private tuition support, but strongly advise families to act now."

Founded in 1999, Tutors International provides high-net-worth families with a bespoke tutoring service tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. It has offices in the UK, America, and Asia. Tutors International specialise in delivering international curricula, including preparation for examinations and university admissions. To provide peace of mind, the search for a tutor can commence with no commitment required.

Mr Caller added: "Even in challenging and time-pressured circumstances, we pride ourselves on supporting every child's unique interests and educational path. Our elite private tutors work with their environment and their student to create engaging learning activities which the student will enjoy and retain. Additionally, our tutors identify the specific areas in which a child requires support and addresses them directly, enabling students to make vital progress with their studies."

Tutors International has strong motivation for supporting families affected by the outbreak. As previously reported, Muying Shi - a senior member of the Tutors International management team - contracted coronavirus while in Wuhan and is now in isolation.

To find out more about Tutors International and the elite services it provides, including full-time private tutors for families worldwide, visit www.tutors-international.com.



About Tutors International

Tutors International is a worldwide organisation providing experienced private tutors to work with children of all ages and nationalities. Tutors are available for full-time tutoring positions, for major support and tutoring outside school hours, or for home-schooling. Tutors International provides a bespoke service to find the right tutor that suits the child's needs and aspirations, and if a live-in tutor is required, it is essential that the assigned tutor is the right match for the family and fits in the environment.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/699064/Tutors_International_Logo.jpg

Contact details:

Web: www.tutors-international.com

Email: marketing@tutors-international.com

Phone: +44-(0)1865-435-135

Tutors International, Clarendon House, 52 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1 3HJ, UK
Twenty seniors at Ferris High School are self-quarantining after possibly being exposed to the novel coronavirus at their internship in Downtown Jersey City, Superintendent Franklin Walker said.

Walker said the students are interning at Pershing LLC, a subsidiary of the Bank of New York Mellon, where an employee has tested presumptive positive for COVID-19.

All we know at this time is the individual worked for that company and our students were in the same building at this point and time, Walker said. Based upon that indication and in collaboration with the health department that the students should just remain home and self-quarantined.

Pershing LLC did not respond for comment on the employee. Jersey City officials said there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Thursday.

The students are part of a co-op program that allows them to attend classes during the day and spend the afternoon working in the office for credit.

Walker added that six of the 20 students worked on the same floor as the man. The students will not return to school for at least two weeks.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that New Jersey has a total of 29 cases of coronavirus, including one in West New York. Murphy declared a state of emergency Monday amid growing concerns about the spread of the virus throughout the state.

COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, has sickened more than 1,400 people nationwide and led to at least 38 deaths.

The Jersey City school district sent students home for a half day Wednesday so teachers could start preparing three weeks worth of home instruction for the 30,000 students in the event that schools close.

The decision to close schools is made by the districts superintendent in consultation with health officials. Districts can go ahead and close their schools if they receive a written directive from the state Department of Health or the health officer of the jurisdiction to institute a public health-related closure.
"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.

New Delhi: 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.

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.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/11/2020



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Clare Crawley will apparently be dating younger -- much younger, in many cases -- when she's introduced to her bachelors on Night 1 of Season 16.ABC has announced 32 potential suitors who will be vying for Clare's heart when premieres Monday, May 18 at 8PM ET/PT on ABC, and most of the men are still in their twenties.Clare, a 38-year-old hairstylist who has appeared on The Bachelor franchise four times, is the oldest star in the franchise's history -- by far.Prior to Clare, who turns 39 later this month, Rachel Lindsay had been 's oldest lead ever (Rachel was 32 at the time), and Hannah was only 24 years old when she starred on 's fifteenth season last year.However, despite earlier reports that Clare's group of bachelors would be older than typical given Clare's age, a whopping 23 of the 32 possible suitors announced by ABC are under 30 years old -- with the youngest only being 23!Earlier this month, E! News reported Clare's bachelors would all be at least 30 years old, citing a source close to production.In addition, Us Weekly also reported producers had rejected numerous guys in their early twenties for the new season solely because they'd be considered too young.However, Clare shared on Good Morning America when her Bachelorette participation was announced she doesn't really care about the ages of men who are cast on her season."I have been known to date younger guys. So, that's not a problem for me," Clare revealed on GMA."The thing is, I'm wondering if they're ready for me -- for my age. So I feel like that would be more of an issue than me being okay with them. I feel so younger at heart than my actual age."Clare added she is "proud" of her age but simply feels "younger."When asked what she's looking for in her future husband, Clare said she wants a man who is not afraid to express himself."I want a man who is strong, who is willing to take off the body armor, open himself up and be vulnerable. I think that is some serious strength right there... to let someone in," Clare explained."It's all what's on the inside for me. If you line up the guys that I have dated in the past, there's no one thing I'm looking for physically. It's more, if they go out of their way for me and they make me feel special, because this is about me now, and I'm ready for it!"One bachelor among Clare's lineup of contestants is former The Bachelor bachelorette Tyler Cameron 's best friend and new roommate, Matt James, who frequently appears on Tyler's Instagram account, according to Us.Considering 32 men is a slightly larger group of suitors than the show typically starts with, not all of the bachelors ABC has announced are likely to be part of the show when it begins production later this week.As seen in recent seasons, at least a couple of the potential bachelors will probably get cut.Clare was a 32-year-old hairstylist from Sacramento, CA, when she was first introduced to Bachelor Nation on Juan Pablo Galavis ' season of The Bachelor in 2014. She finished as his runner-up.Clare then unsuccessfully continued to search for love on Seasons 1 and 2 of Bachelor in Paradise, which aired on ABC in 2014 and 2015.Clare got engaged to French Canadian bachelor Benoit Beausejour-Savard on the reunion special for The Bachelor Winter Games, which aired in early 2018, but they broke up in April of that year.Below is the list of 32 bachelors who may be appearing on 's upcoming sixteenth season:- Aaron G., a 33 year old from Fort Lauderdale, FL- Alex B., a 28 year old from Dallas, TX- Anthony W., a 27 year old from Huntington Beach, CA- Austin B., a 28 year old from Cut Off, LA- Bennett M., a 27 year old from Orlando, FL- Blake Monar, a 30 year old from Phoenix, AZ- Blake Moynes, a 29 year old from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada- Bret E., a 42 year old from Provo, UT- Cameron D., a 28 year old from Newport Beach, CA- Chris C., a 27 year old from Salt Lake City, UT- Dale M., a 31 year old from New York City, NY- Demar J., a 26 year old from Scottsdale, AZ- Ed W., a 36 year old from Miami, FL- Ellis M., a 26 year old from Dallas, TX- Grant L., a 25 year old from Boston, MA- Greg G., a 26 year old from Edison, NJ- Ivan H., a 28 year old from Dallas, TX- Jake M., a 25 year old from Lafayette, CO- James C., a 23 year old from Chicago, IL- Jay S., a 29 year old from Oakland Park, FL- Jordan C., a 26 year old from New York City, NY- Josh E., a 31 year old from Minneapolis, MN- JP C., a 25 year old from Jacksonville Beach, FL- Karl S., a 33 year old from Miami, FL- Matt G., a 26 year old from Jupiter, FL- Matt J., a 28 year old from New York City, NY- Mike T., a 38 year old from Calgary, Canada- Miles G., a 27 year old from Shreveport, LA- Nick E., a 25 year old from Nashville, TN- Noah E., a 25 year old from Long Beach, CA- Tyler C., a 27 year old from Morgantown, WV- Yosef A., a 30 year old from Daphne, ALInterested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
CORNELIA GUEST (actress) I was 13 when I first went there. I remember Marc in his Norma Kamali coat standing on a hydrant, so handsome. I remember the mai tai bars and the pina coladas upstairs on the balcony. I used to get them without alcohol. I was riding then and would go home afterward to my parents [the socialites C.Z. and Winston Frederick Churchill Guest] apartment. I had to get up in the morning to go to school and out to Long Island and the barn.

NORMA KAMALI Ian Schrager understood right away that the experience was going to be everything and that everyone was going to come back for a different experience and he would make each one different every time. Hes such a detail freak. To him, the details were everything.

Image From the Brooklyn Museum exhibition, Studio 54: Night Magic, Andy Warhols 1978 design for VIP drinks, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen. Credit... The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc., via Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; The Andy Warhol Museum

L.J. KIRBY (bartender at Studio 54) I bartended there the summer of 1979 to February 1980. I remember thinking it was expensive to get in  $12 [roughly $47 in 2020 dollars] on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and $15 on Fridays and Saturdays. It opened at 10 p.m., and served liquor until 4. They never ever closed before 6 a.m. It was an all-cash bar and most people drank vodka  Smirnoff or Stoli, I think. Im a kid from Jersey and it shocked me that people would tip $1 for any drink.

RON GALELLA I was there usually around 11, because that was the best time. Steve Rubell had invited all the celebrities in town to come and get drugs and dance. He was clever that way. He knew the celebrities would come because they liked to meet other celebrities.

SCOTT ROLLINS (biographer of the performance artist Richie Gallo, known as Lemon Boy because he marked the boundaries of his street performances with lemons) Look back at those times and Bowie and the New York Dolls were all putting on an act, dressing up to go out. Richie didnt make any distinction between the street and the clubs. He would dress in fishnet bodysuits with nothing underneath and one sequined glove. He would position himself under the disco ball and raise his hand and the glove would sparkle in a beam of light. Michael Jackson always said he got the idea for the glove from an art director on a photo shoot. He really got it from Richie.
Former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning has been ordered to be released from prison, just one day after she attempted suicide in her Virginia jail cell.

Manning was ordered by a judge to be released from jail Thursday, where she's been held for over a year for refusing to cooperate with a grand jury investigating WikiLeaks and Julian Assange.

Her testimony is 'no longer needed, in light of which her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose,' court filings said.

'Accordingly, is hereby ordered that Chelsea Manning be, and she hereby is, immediately released from the custody of the Attorney General,' court papers said.

Federal judge Anthony J. Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia said the grand jury investigating WikiLeaks is no longer active.

Former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning has been ordered to be released from prison Thursday, just one day after she attempted suicide in her Virginia jail cell

Her testimony is 'no longer needed, in light of which her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose,' court filings said

In her time in jail Manning accrued more than $256,000 in fines for refusing to co-operate with the inquiry. A judge ordered that the fee must be paid in full even though her legal team asked for it to be vacated

In her time in jail Manning accrued more than $256,000 in fines for refusing to co-operate with the inquiry. A judge ordered that the fee must be paid in full even though her legal team asked for it to be vacated.

'It is further ordered that Chelsea Mannings motion be, and the same hereby is, denied with respect to Ms. Mannings request to vacate the conditional fines accrued against her to date.'

She was held in custody at the Alexandria Detention Center for 11 months since May for refusing to testify in the WikiLeaks case.

Hacker Jeremy Hammond, who was also being held in custody in civil contempt for refusing to testify before the WikiLeaks grand jury, was also ordered released on Thursday. He is still serving a ten-year prison sentence.

Manning was previously scheduled to appear in court for a detention hearing on Friday, that was also cancelled on Thursday.

On Wednesday the 31-year-old was found around 1pm in her jail cell where she attempted to hang herself with a bed sheet. Guards were able resuscitate her and brought her to a hospital where she is recovering.

In 2010 Manning, then working as an Army intelligence analyst in Iraq, leaked more than 700,000 classified State and Defense Department documents to WikiLeaks that exposed possible war crimes and internal US communications about other countries.

Manning, a transgender woman whom supporters call a whistleblower, spent seven years in military prison but was released by President Obama.

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 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.

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 uniform

'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.'

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.

Chlsea was found with a sheet around her neck in her cell at the Alexandria Detention Center (above), where she's been held since May, on Wednesday

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.
Four teenage boys were taken to hospital after being stabbed in east London during a fight between youths last night.

Police arrested seven people for the 'multiple' stabbing in Walthamstow, north east London.

The four victims, aged 15 and 16, received treatment in the hospital and none of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

Four teenage boys, aged 15 and 16, were taken to hospital and received treatment after being stabbed in east London during a fight between youths last night

Police cars pictured at the scene last night. Seven people were arrested for the 'multiple person stabbing' in Walthamstow, north east London

Forensic investigators gather evidence after police were called to a 'multiple person stabbing' last night. One witness said they were told to 'get inside immediately'

One witness said: 'Somebody has just been stabbed outside my flat.

'I didn't know what was going on but police told me to get inside immediately as lots of other dangerous people on the estate.'

Roads in and around the area were closed and police have been given additional search powers for Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone following the stabbings.

Waltham Forest Police tweeted last night: 'Officers are currently on scene dealing with a multiple person stabbing in Walthamstow, E17.

'All victims are receiving treatment in hospital and we await an update on their condition.

'This is an isolated incident and we dont believe there is a risk to members of the public.'

One of the investigators takes a picture of an object left at the crime scene. The four victims received treatment in hospital, and none of the injuries are thought to be life-threatening

Three investigators wear protective clothing, face masks and gloves as they search for evidence. Police arrested seven people following the stabbing and slashing attacks

A knife found left at the scene of the incident. Roads in and around the area were closed in wake of the incident, but police said they 'do not believe there is a risk' to the public

A pair of sunglasses left at the crime scene. Police have been given additional search powers for Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone in the wake of the stabbings

Shortly after midnight, the force said: 'Four males, all aged around 15/16, taken to hospital with stab/ slash injuries - none believed to be life-threatening.

'Seven arrests in total for violent disorder, possession of offensive weapon & affray.'

They added: 'Due to the recent stabbing in Walthamstow officers have been given additional search powers under Section 60 of CJPOA for Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone area.'
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the suspension of all travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days starting Friday, further shuttering up the country against coronavirus, which he called a foreign virus, as a leading expert warned lawmakers the situation will get worse.

The restrictions, in addition to travel bans on China (the origin and epicentre of the outbreak), South Korea and Iran, will be extremely disruptive for the US and the world. Cargoes were also covered by the restrictions, Trump had said in his speech before reversing himself with a tweet just minutes after.

The ban wont apply to Americans trying to return home - though they will be subject to enhanced health screening - or to citizens of the United Kingdom.

Watch | Coronavirus: Donald Trump suspends all travel from Europe to US

Indians headed for the United States over the next month would have to either book on direct flights or those that do not transit through Europe.

There are now more than 1,000 cases in the United States and least 38 people have died of the virus.

This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history, the American president said in an address to the national from behind his table in the Oval Office, before he went on to announce the travel restrictions castigating Europe for not being vigilant enough.

The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travellers from Europe, he said in a move seen by his critics as an attempt to shield himself from political fallout of an out-of-control outbreak with an eye on his re-election bid coming November. The Trump administration is being seen by critics to be more eager to play down the outbreak than deal with it.

Officials at the forefront of the US fightback are cognizant of the real threat, however. 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, said at a congressional hearing. 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.

Airlines have been slashing their flight schedules, especially on international routes, to cope with a sharp decline in travel demand among fearful customers. Business travel is slowing as companies impose restrictions on employee travel and major conferences are cancelled.

With air travel and airline revenue plummeting, airlines are losing their appetite for new planes. On Wednesday, Boeings stock fell 18 per cent - its biggest one-day percentage drop since 1974 - and the iconic airplane manufacturer announced a hiring freeze.

In January, the US issued a similar ban on people coming into the country from China. That policy was later extended to people who had been in Iran.

The World Health Organization has labeled Covid-19 a pandemic, citing its alarming spread and severity.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has spread to more than 100 countries, and to contain the virus, many festivities, gatherings, and events that draw large crowds have been canceled. However, in India, Holi, a traditional Hindu festival that celebrates the beginning of spring as well as the triumph of good over evil, still went ahead.

Holi celebrations. Image Credit: Khairur Rijal Pauzi / Shutterstock

The Holi festival is a yearly celebration in India and other areas in Asia, such as Nepal. In this celebration, people throw colored powder and water, but the enthusiasm was subdued compared to previous years amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his decision to sit it out, saying, "I have decided not to participate," in the celebrations.

In most countries, festivals and large gatherings are already canceled to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The virus is highly contagious, with most outbreaks linked to large groups, such as the Wuhan seafood market, where the outbreak started, a Korean church, and the Holy Land in Qom, Iran.

In New Delhi, many events were canceled as the number of confirmed cases in the second most populated country rose to 62.

"Yes, it's a coronavirus that made us cancel our programs. People are scared this year, we have canceled our event," Anshuman Ghulati, festival director of Holi Moo, which is one of the most significant Holi events in New Delhi, with 7,000 people, attended the previous year.

Indonesia reports first coronavirus death

Indonesia has confirmed its first death related to the coronavirus disease, a 53-year-old British woman in Bali. She had many underlying health issues such as hypertension, obstructive lung disease, and hyperthyroidism.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia has increased to 34, as confirmed by Achmad Yurianto, a Health Ministry official who was appointed as the COVID-19 spokesperson.

The ages of the confirmed cases range between 16 to 59 years old, and some had encounters with the nation's first two patients. The patent died at 2 a.m. on Mar. 11, noting that the coronavirus has reduced her immune system, and the condition worsened due to her pre-existing medical conditions.

Further, there were seven new cases, who are from other countries, adding to the eight cases on Mar. 10, and 13 cases on Mar. 9. The number of new cases in the country has been increasing, prompting the government to ramp up efforts to test people for COVID-19. On Mar. 10, an additional 10,000 testing kits arrived in Jakarta, which can supplement the more accurate swab tests. On Mar. 11, about 736 people had been tested.

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populated country, which worries many health experts.

National battle against coronavirus

Indonesia announced the setting up the Muhammadiyah Covid-19 Command Centre (MCCC), with Indonesian physician, Corona Rintawan in-charge.

The organization is designed to help the government stem the spread of the coronavirus, with the concept that prevention, early detection, and rapid handling are crucial steps to contain the outbreak.

"All of the Muhammadiyah Philanthropic Initiative (AUM) outlets will move massively and in an integrated way to provide strategic mitigation against the spread of the virus," Corona Rintawan, said in a statement.

The task force has designated 20-top hospitals on Sumatra and Java for the coronavirus fight.

Currently, the outbreak has taken 4,615 people and infected over 125,000 people worldwide.
CHICAGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, members of the city council, and a coalition of consumer, community, and environmental advocates on Thursday called on state legislators to demand transparency and accountability over reckless spending passed on to consumers by Peoples Gas and other gas utilities in Illinois -- spending that has led to a home heating affordability crisis in Chicago.

"Utility bills that our low income residents can't afford are forcing Chicagoans to make impossible choices," said Mayor Lori Lightfoot. "It's driving many of them, particularly our senior citizens, out of their homes. Chicago must do better."

At a City Hall news conference, the city and state leaders, joined by representatives from AARP Illinois, Illinois PIRG, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC), and Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) urged state legislators to pass a bill aimed at ending surcharges forced on consumers and restoring utility accountability.

"I want people who helped build this city to be able to age in place and to live without constantly worrying about the next utility bill," Lightfoot said.

Peoples Gas has been using the surcharge to recover costs for its mismanaged pipe replacement program, driving heating bills to unaffordable levels for an increasing number of Chicagoans. In 2019, Chicagoans fell $60 million behind on their heating bills and Peoples Gas sent out over 300,000 disconnection notices.

"My constituents are already struggling to pay for basic living expenses, like rent, food and healthcare," said Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez (Ward 25). "They cannot afford to take on added costs, especially ones that are being passed on to them unknowingly by greedy utility companies only interested in making a profit on the backs of hardworking Chicago residents."

The city and state leaders urged the General Assembly to pass the Heating Affordability & Utility Accountability Act (House Bill 5247/Senate Bill 3497). Sponsored by state Rep. Joyce Mason and state Sen. Ram Villivalam, the bill would end the "Qualified (or Qualifying) Infrastructure Plant" (QIP) surcharge on Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas and Ameren Illinois gas bills in 2021.

"Chicago residents who work long hours to make ends meet are the backbone of this city. They shouldn't also carry on their backs the cost of a modernization program that has run amok at the expense of safety and affordability," said Ald. Susan Sadlowski-Garza (Ward 10).

Illinois' major utilities have launched expensive, accelerated and mismanaged pipe-replacement projects, which they fund through delivery charges on gas bills. In 2013, the General Assembly allowed them to add the QIP charge to bills. This regulatory shortcut allows utilities to recover certain costs more quickly and outside a standard Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) rate case proceeding.

The utilities claim the surcharge is a necessity to pay for the pipework. While everyone agrees that old pipes should be replaced, consumer advocates contend that the utilities are already legally obligated to do so, and they did it for decades without slapping customers with an extra charge.

At the news conference, consumer advocates argued the utilities have abused the QIP charge, using it to cover unnecessary, wasteful workgold-plating of the gas delivery systemand then leave customers on the hook for their spending spree.

Peoples Gas' projected cost for its capital program has skyrocketed from about $2 billion to $11 billion, and an analysis by the Illinois Attorney General's office estimated that gas bills could double over the next 20 years. Many customers are already having a hard time affording their bills: Peoples Gas saw a 54 percent jump in uncollectible bills in 2019. In 2018, one in seven Peoples Gas customers got a disconnection notice. As for the QIP charge, last year customers reportedly paid an average of $104 on the fee (up $30 from 2018), and the Attorney General's office has warned it could jump to $750 by 2040.

Similar problems exist with suburban gas utility Nicor and downstate gas utility Ameren.

"With 1.7 million members across the state, AARP Illinois has heard heartbreaking stories from older adults who say the costs of their utility bills are forcing them to make difficult choices between paying their gas bills, or paying for other necessities like food, clothing or necessary medication," said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director. "We are committed to demanding transparency and accountability from utility companies so that Illinois older adults and their families can stay in the homes they love."

"This surcharge gives Illinois' major gas utilities a faster way to put more of our money in their pockets," said Bryan McDaniel, CUB's director of governmental affairs. "In effect, it allows the utilities to treat customers like their own personal ATM machine."

"The Peoples Gas pipe replacement program is a mismanaged, poorly designed, bad deal for Chicago," said Abe Scarr, Illinois PIRG Director. "We didn't give Peoples Gas a blank check, and we can't afford to waste money on upgrades we don't need, especially when we could be investing that money on cleaner, safer energy to heat our homes."

In addition to the groups mentioned above, the coalition fighting for the bill includes Illinois Action Now, LUCHA, the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA), Housing Action Illinois, the Center for Changing Lives, the Heartland Alliance, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Environment Illinois, Faith in Place Action Fund, Blacks in Green, the Northwest Side Housing Center, the Brighton Park Neighborhood Center, Chicago Physicians for Social Responsibility, One Northside, and the Jane Adams Senior Caucus.

SOURCE AARP Illinois

Related Links

http://www.aarp.org


Katoomba High School will be closed on Friday after a member of the school community tested positive for coronavirus.

In an announcement late on Thursday night, the Blue Mountains school said staff and students should self-isolate while health authorities traced anyone who may have had contact with the infected person while he or she was contagious.

The school did not specify if the person who tested positive for COVID-19 was a student or staff member, only saying that it was a "member of the school community".

"To provide time for NSW Health to conduct their contact tracing process, the school will be non-operational Friday 13 March, 2020," the school said on its website and social media accounts just before midnight.
Trump said the United States will suspend all travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days. The restrictions do not apply to the United Kingdom. He also outlined steps to help small businesses and workers affected by the virus.

Following are reactions to Trump's comments:

QUINCY KROSBY, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST, PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC, NEWARK, NJ "The market is not applauding the president's address. Investors were expecting perhaps a more detailed outline of targeted stimulus and I think, according to the futures market at least, it left investors wanting. We could have this going through all the night, but the knee-jerk reaction showed a market that could have a difficult opening if we don't pare some of those early futures losses."

"Investors and traders know there has been a tug of war over the payroll tax cuts, which would certainly put more money in consumer pockets. But obviously there's an issue regarding the democrats. He alluded to that. He alluded to need for bipartisan cooperation."

"At top of this pyramid of uncertainty is the virus and the need to contain it. So perhaps this move to halt traffic from Europe will help, but then again you have that exception to the UK, which is by the way a major transit from other parts of Europe. So obviously, if this is to contain the virus that he characterized as coming in from outside the U.S. he's going to have to do something about that."

"He understands that for the stock market, which for him is a referendum on his performance, you've got to contain this because if you don't it's going to erode confidence and it's going to erode consumer spending which is the key in terms of the economy."

STEPHEN INNES, GLOBAL CHIEF MARKETS STRATEGIST AT AXICORP, SYDNEY

"US President Trump says the US will suspend all travel from Europe for the next 30 days. Travel restrictions equal slower global economic activity, so if you need any more coxing to sell sell sell sell after a massively negative signal from overnight trading in US markets it just fell in your lap.

KHOON GOH, HEAD OF ASIA RESEARCH, ANZ, SINGAPORE "The travel ban from Europe has definitely taken everyone by surprise, hence the market impact.

"Already we know the economic impact is significant, and with this additional measure on top it's just going to multiply the impact across businesses. This is something that markets had not factored in...it's a huge near-term economic cost. "This is the difficulty for any policymakers in this kind of environment. No matter what you announce...there's a feeling that markets will probably always think it's not enough, given that we're dealing with a huge unknown."

JUNICHI ISHIKAWA, SENIOR FX STRATEGIST, IG SECURITIES, TOKYO "The initial reaction in financial markets shows that even after Trump spoke investors feel they need to avoid risk. "Trump has outlined what he considered to be tough measures, but movements in stocks, stock futures, and currencies show that this is not enough to ease investors' concerns. We are in a very difficult situation now."

(Reporting by Stanley White in Tokyo, Alden Bentley in New York, Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Editing by Kim Coghill)
Brizzly, the name associated with a long-gone Twitter client, and later, a goofy project highlighting our addiction to social media, is coming back. And this time, it's focused on serving the needs of Twitter power users in search of features Twitter itself has failed to build -- like an Edit button and an auto-deletion option for tweets, among other things.

These features and more are a part of a new subscription service, Brizzly+, which offers a robust toolset built on the Twitter API.

Brizzly+ offers a simple Twitter client that shows your home timeline and allows you to like and post tweets.

But the most in-demand feature is Brizzly's version of an Edit button for tweets.

Twitter, for whatever reason -- complexity, confusion or just not caring -- has consistently refused to build an Edit button, despite the feature being a top request among Twitter users who want to correct typos in their tweets. That left third-party Twitter apps to step in to meet users' needs. In the third-party Twitterific app, for example, the company worked around the problem by adding a "Delete and Edit Tweet" action that would let you correct a tweet by replacing it with a new one.

Brizzly+ handles the edit tweet feature a bit differently, however. According to Brizzly founder Jason Shellen, former head of Product at Slack, the Brizzly+ "Undo" feature involves the client briefly storing your tweets before posting them. This allows you to go back and make corrections as needed before they go live. You can even configure how long of a delay you need, which can be anywhere between 10 seconds and 10 minutes.

Another feature called "Redo Tweet" will help you to fix your typoed tweets after they've gone live. This works more like Twitterific, as it deletes the old tweet and replaces it with a new one. But Brizzly+ helpfully copies the post into a new field, allowing you to make the changes quickly.

Auto-deleting tweets has become a more in-demand request among Twitter users in recent years. In part, this is because things posted online years ago on the then much smaller social network today may come across as too personal, too oversharing or just embarrassing. But some high-profile Twitter users have also been targeted by critics who dug up old tweets to shame them. One of the more notable examples was the 2018 firing of director James Gunn from the "Guardians of the Galaxy" franchise after Twitter users pulled up a series of past, offensive tweets. Gunn was later reinstated, but the campaign to take him down raised awareness of how older tweets could be problematic.

Story continues

A number of services are available today that focus on mass-deletion or auto-deletion or both. Some even have hundreds of thousands or even millions of users, according to a 2019 story by The New York Times.

With Brizzly+, Twitter users can opt to instead just have their tweets automatically erase themselves after 24 hours. Once enabled, the feature turns Twitter posts into ephemeral instead of permanent content. That's similar to something Twitter itself is now testing with its Stories-like feature, called "Fleets." But Fleets are a part of a separate product, so they don't really address users' concerns over their tweeted content.

There's also a handy addition to the Brizzly+ auto-delete feature called "Fave to Save." This allows you to set a threshold of likes for your tweets in order to prevent them from being auto-deleted. The option may make sense for people who are less concerned with their tweets' content, but want to seem more popular on Twitter by highlighting their best content when you visit their profile.

Finally, for a little fun, Brizzly+ lets you replace Twitter's "What's happening?" prompt in the edit window with a custom phrase of your own choosing.

Brizzly's founder Jason Shellen has worked on a number of top social and communication apps over the years -- most recently, Slack. Earlier in his career, he worked at Pyra Labs, maker of Blogger, which sold to Google in 2003. At Google, he continued to work on Blogger, created Google Reader and helped Google acquire companies like Feedburner, Picasa and Measure Map. After Google, Shellen sold his startup Thing Labs, maker of Brizzly, to AOL in 2010, where he stayed to work on AIM and messaging. His next startup, Hike Labs, sold to Pinterest.

Shellen bought back Brizzly from AOL/Oath (Oath became Verizon Media, which also owns TechCrunch). In 2018, he relaunched it for a joke before developing Brizzly+. That original post-to-nowhere version of Brizzly remains, but is now called Brizzly Zero.

The new Brizzly+ subscription service costs $6 per month, which reduces to $5 per month when billed annually. It's also offering a two-week free trial.

For now, Brizzly+ is only a web client, but the company lists a native iOS app among the ideas it's planning to work on next, along with image upload, dark mode, tweet history deletion and others.

Twitter has had a contentious history with third-party clients, even actively trying to shut them down at times. But interestingly, Twitter has been expressing support for Brizzly+.

Our friends @Brizzly are back! Were excited about their new Tweet compose & auto-deletion tools. They even built...an edit feature! Check them out  https://t.co/p7Hbt4qxPF  Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) March 10, 2020

"We love to see developers building things that improve on a core piece of Twitter -- like Tweet compose. They're helping people do things that weren't otherwise possible," said Ian Cairns, head of Product for Twitter's Developer Platform, in a statement shared with TechCrunch. "This was one of the best parts of the Twitter API in the early days, and we know we haven't always made it easy. We're starting to change that," he added.
Three police cruisers arrived within two minutes, as though they had been responding to a multiple-fatality accident involving cannibalism. The main officer was Sgt. Steve, whom I instantly liked, because he had a sense of irony. He looked at me; my filthy, pathetic, piece-of-crap car; the huge tow truck; the weirdly angry city employee; the lack of apparent damage; and announced his assessment  a collision with a fixed object  then smiled apologetically. I understood the smile. Sgt. Steve knew what he had to do, but was not thrilled with it. He had an angry city employee on his hands, and another officer, whom I will call Officer Schmuck, hulking behind him. Officer Schmuck was 132 feet tall and completely bald, bald like the missile in a ballistic missile silo. He carried himself like Kojak. He trained a flashlight on the front bumper of my car and declared that a scratch on my bumper proved I had injured the tow truck. That scratch is approximately four years old, I said. It was rusted. Still. I am not trying to excuse myself. There had been a tick. I admitted it.
Panaji, March 12 : The Congress does not seem to have learnt from debacles like the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia from its ranks or last year's switch-over of 10 MLAs to the BJP in Goa, Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar told reporters here on Thursday.

Kavlekar, a former Leader of Opposition, who split the Congress in July last year with nine other MLAs and subsequently joined the ruling BJP, also said, that the Congress needs to do "chintan" to understand why leaders are leaving its ranks.

"See, it is happening everywhere. We had done the same thing some months back. We do not see a proper future in the party, where senior leaders seem to do what they want. They do not take people in confidence," Kavlekar told reporters in Panaji.

Kavlekar said, if the Congress' top leadership does not rectify its mistakes, more leaders could quit the party in the coming days.

"There is something lacking in Congress. They are not learning after such debacles. If this continues, leaders who are now left in the party will also quit," Kavlekar said.

"They should rectify this and understand why this exodus is happening. They should do chintan. Madhya Pradesh will eventually come to BJP, Karnataka is already with BJP now. BJP is not overthrowing Congress governments. It is happening on its own," Kavlekar said.

Ever since the 2017 state assembly elections, 13 out of the elected 18 Congress MLAs have switched over to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Goa.
V intage lovers rejoice. An Art Deco house in north London, virtually untouched since it was built in the Thirties, has been listed for sale.

The semi-detached house on the popular Willow Estate in Enfield Town is full of original features that recall the golden age of British house building.

Cheap land and slum clearances led to a housing boom in London during the Thirties and 1934 was the year it peaked with more than 80,000 homes built  including this one on the Willow Estate. By comparison, Savills predict the number of new homes built in London in 2017 will be 46,500.

1934 in numbers 350: the average price of a three-bedroom house 200: the average salary in the UK 80,600: the number of new homes built in London 8.6 million: the population of London (today it's 8.8 million)

However, while almost all the other homes built during the period have since been renovated or extended, the property currently for sale has been decorated with just the lightest of touches in the 83 years since it was built.

As a result, much of the three-bedroom house is a genuine Art Deco time capsule. Original features, from the geometric mantelpieces to the bathroom basin, are littered throughout the property, which has had only two owners since it was built.

My mother hated workmen in the house so its very much unchanged, structurally, explains photographer Elizabeth Whycer, who has lived in the home since she was born in 1958 and is selling up to downsize.

The Art Deco time capsule house 1 /13 The Art Deco time capsule house A vintage treasure trove This time capsule house in Enfield has been virtually untouched since it was built in 1934. Moving in day The house in 1957, when Elizabeth Whycer's family bought it from its original owner. All the houses on the Willow Estate would once have looked like this. Elizabeth Whycer Living room The original fireplace, cornicing and windows are all still in place Styling tips from the Sixties Elizabeth's father in the living room, fitted out to full Mad Men effect. Elizabeth Whycer Cook like Jagger The 1955 gas cooker bought by Elizabeth's mother is still in the kitchen. Apparently Mick Jagger had the same model in one of his flats. Pay attention to the taps... Brillo! ... they're the originals, as seen here in 1958 with Elizabeth's father, plus pinny. Elizabeth Whycer Dine in style Another Thirties fireplace in the dining room, which leads through into the large back garden. Mid-century modern The Whycers entertaining visiting family in the front room, full of mid-century furniture. Elizabeth Whycer The glass doors are one of the only structural changes made by the Whycers. They were added in the late Fifties. Palm prints and open banister The wooden banister and staircase remain from when the house was first built. The modish Sixties palm print wallpaper, seen here in a photo of Elizabeth and her mother, has sadly been replaced. Elizabeth Whycer

Her parents, Boris and June, bought the house in 1958 from a woman Elizabeth believes was the houses original owner.

The property is one of the last houses on the estate to retain the stunning, wide Crittall windows with their distinctive modernist curve.

The living room with its curved Crittall window and geometric fireplace

The staircase with its open wooden banister is also unchanged since the house was built and the doors have their original handles.

In the upstairs bathroom, the pedestal sink with Deco stepped edging like in an old cinema is original and Whycer suspects the fitted glass landing light must be from 1934, too.

In the Fifties  when the family moved in  some changes were made but even these have a vintage charm 60 years on.

The kitchen was handmade by a carpenter and there is a 1955 Main cooker, which still works. Elizabeth was stunned to discover at a recent photographic exhibition of the Rolling Stones that Mick Jagger once had the very same model in his flat. The Thirties larder has also been upgraded to a fridge.

The handmade Fifties kitchen with original windows and rare vintage oven

Boris Whycer was an optometrist who saw patients at the house as well as in his practice until 1979.

Although he had a successful business and was made President of the British Optical Society in 1975, as an East End boy he was not from a wealthy background. As a result he couldn't afford the down payment on a bigger house when June was expecting Elizabeth  a situation which will be all too familiar to todays second-steppers.

Another original fireplace, Seventies carpet and new wallpaper in the dining room

Junes grandmother, the proprietor of a successful grocers store in Bethnal Green, gave the young couple 600 for the deposit on the house, which cost 1,800 in 1957.
A Chennai resident has been



arrested by the Customs authorities here for allegedly smuggling drones and evading import duty of Rs 60 lakh.

Rajkumar Rangnathan, who was arrested on Wednesday, admitted to importing drones of over Rs 2 crore without paying the customs duty of Rs 60 lakh, an official said.

He was produced before a city court by the Marine and Preventive Wing of the Customs Preventive Commissionerate and remanded in judicial custody till March 26.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A former Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, has been advised to self - quarantine when he returns from Nigeria to Ghana because of the Coronavirus disease (COVID -19 ).



The advice was given by state prosecutors at the Accra High Court Thursday [March 12, 2020] after the court approved an application to allow Dr Asiama to travel to Nigeria, reports Graphic Online's Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson who was in court.



Dr Asiama is standing trial on allegation of approving Gh760 million in liquidity to the defunct uniBank and UT Bank without following due process as stipulated by law



He has pleaded not guilty to wilfully causing financial loss to the state and contravention of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612).



Urgent need



Dr Asiama is on bail in the sum of Gh60million with three sureties, two to be justified.



As part of the bail conditions, the court presided over by Justice Bright Mensah also ordered him to deposit his passport at the courts registry



His lawyer, Mr Simon Alimley, moved an application Thursday [March 12, 2020] for the court to release the passport to enable Dr Asiama travel to Nigeria.



Counsel explained that his clients need to urgently travel to Nigeria, adding that the travel had become very necessary.



Quarantine yourself



The prosecutor, Ms Hilda Craig, did not oppose the application but advised Dr Asiama to self - quarantine when he returns from Nigeria owning to the deadly Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).



Nigeria was the first sub Saharan African country to confirm a case of the virus in its territory after an Italian who works there tested positive after returning to Nigeria from Italy.



"When he returns we hope that his passport will be returned to the court and he should quarantine himself for some few days, the senior state attorney said.



Justice Mensah also voiced similar sentiment and said the confirmation of the virus in Nigeria and neighbouring countries was a matter of concern.



He granted the application and ordered the courts Registrar to release the passport and further ordered Dr Asiama to return the passport upon his return and also inform the Attorney- General of his return

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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A Woolworths customer has posted a picture online of staff barricading off the aisle as they stock shelves with toilet paper.

The woman said she was disappointed with how the staff were being treated at the store in Preston, Victoria.

'Just went to Woolworths Northland. They professionally and respectfully put out toilet paper for shoppers. I was expecting them to be thanked but instead they coped so much anger and complaint, for no valid reason.' she wrote.

A Woolworths customer has posted a picture online of staff barricading off the aisle (pictured) as they stock shelves with toilet paper

'People have gone mad. Thank you Woolworths employees, I'm sure this lunacy is taking its toll.'

In the picture a yellow fold-out barricade can be seen fencing customers off from the workers who are loading the shelves from a crate of toilet paper.

Others commenting on the post said the supermarket should go even further and hand out the rolls.

'They should hand them out rather than putting on shelves, makes it easier to make sure everyone gets it.'

'Too right! I just got some from my local Woolies in such an orderly fashion. I praised the workers for distributing it in such a manner and thanked them.'

Supermarkets across the country have been cleaned out of toilet paper in the last week with shoppers panic-buying the item amid fears of a COVID-19 pandemic.

Woolworths, along with Coles and Aldi has implemented a one pack per customer limit in many of their stores.

Supermarkets across the country have been selling out of toilet paper amid COVD-19 concerns

Earlier on Thursday, panicked shoppers were seen queuing outside a factory to buy toilet paper.

A huge queue of customers were captured stretched across the car park at Wallies Lollies confectionery business, which is adjacent to the the Sorbent factory outlet in Box Hill in Melbourne's east on Thursday.

Coronavirus panic buying has stripped store shelves of many everyday essentials around the country - particularly toilet paper, which is racing off the shelves.

Michelle Stapelfeldt is the manger of Wallies Lollies which sells Sorbent products out of their warehouse, and said customers have been lining across the car park for days.

'We've had customers queued outside since Monday a week ago,' Ms Stapelfeldt told Daily Mail Australia.

Panicked shoppers seen queuing across the carpark outside Wallies Lollies confectionery business which is adjacent to the the Sorbent factory outlet in Box Hill in Melbourne's east on Thursday

Ms Stapelfeldt's warehouse receives one delivery truck of toilet paper each morning, which has been selling out within two hours every day for the past two weeks.

She said some customers have been displaying terrible behaviour forcing the warehouse to put strict limits on the number of rolls customers can buy.

'We had to put in limits from the second day, nearly two weeks ago, to be fair so that everyone could get a little bit,' Ms Stapelfeldt said.

The limits brought out the worst in some customers, with some buyers abusing staff and refusing to leave the warehouse.

'People fight when we changed our limits to go down, as in from 48 rolls to 24,' she said.

'We've had customers sneaking in to buy more, people get so upset, asking "why can't I have the 48 I bought the day before?"'

Ms Stapelfeldt said she had seen people fighting in the queue and was nearly forced to call the police on a customer on Thursday.

Coronavirus panic buying has produced awful behaviour from consumers around the country, culminating in physical altercations in several stores.

Ms Stapelfeldt said she has been shocked at the public response to the virus.

'It's been mad, it's like a war. We've been saying with out staff "can you believe this?"' she said.

Toilet paper is mass produced in Australia, but panic buying has forced big supermarket chains including Woolworths, Aldi and Coles to impose a limit on rolls for customers.

Bunnings Australia is selling industrial toilet paper rolls, which are commonly used in public bathrooms and shopping centres and can last customers for a whole year.

For $42, shoppers can get eight giant rolls of Scott Essential Jumbo Tissue Rolls - measuring 2,400 metres or the six-pack of Kleenex rolls which equates to 1,800 metres will cost $75 at selected stores, while stocks last.

The sale comes after the Australian Government and health authorities urged people not to panic buy - but chaotic scenes at supermarket stores from across the country revealed many were not taking notice.

Instead paranoid shoppers decided to fill their shopping trolleys to the brim with toilet rolls, hand sanitisers, cleaning products and pantry staples.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, doctors have urged everyone to practice good hygiene and other measures to product against infections.

Good hygiene includes washing your hands often with soap and water, and using a tissue and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are among seven new coronavirus cases made public in Queensland on Thursday, with the state maintaining its public health approach as the number of cases rise.

Hanks and Wilson confirmed on social media on Thursday that they had tested positive to the disease, with the pair understood to be in isolation in Gold Coast University Hospital.

Queensland Health refused to confirm that a 63-year-old man and 64-year-old woman from the United States who were listed among the seven new cases on Thursday were the high-profile couple.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks photographed in Sydney last week. Credit:KHAPGG/Backgrid

"Its my responsibility not to give away confidential patient details, thats very important," Queensland Health director-general Dr John Wakefield said.
Which is kinda the whole point. Truly, if it was a choice between nominating the reincarnation of George Washington or the candidate most likely to defeat Donald Trump, Democrats would know which way to go.

All Sanders wants now is for Biden to adopt more of his political positions. And for the most part, the two men are on the same wavelength. Its just that Sanderss wavelength is more  intense. For instance, he said hes planning to ask Biden: Are you really going to veto a Medicare-for-all bill if it is passed in Congress? A perfectly fair answer would be to say: Bernie, if I win, the chances that Congress is going to send me a Medicare-for-all bill when I want something less sweeping are approximately the size of an anthill. An anthill constructed for an ant-chihuahua. Dont be a dope.

Forget the part about not being a dope! Exactly where we are trying not to go.

The Biden camp thinks voters have no problem with his tendency to retort creatively. (Like the time a student asked about caucuses, and he wound up calling her a lying dog-faced pony soldier. Which was a joke. Seriously.)

Sure, its unlikely that debate teams of the future are going to be studying his rhetoric. Remember the time an 83-year-old Iowan claimed Biden was too old to be president and Biden challenged him to a push-up competition? But were talking choices here. Who wouldnt rather have a president with a habit of babbling than one whod move into the Oval Office and start deconstructing the governments pandemic control team?

Perhaps you remember a speech to college students Biden gave a couple of years back, in which he semi-ranted about Trumps record on manhandling women  always a perfectly reasonable target. But he then devolved into his dream of going back to high school to beat the hell out of the guy who ended up becoming our national leader. It sorta went downhill from there, with Biden saying that his experience in locker rooms told him that a man who talked like Trump was usually the fattest, ugliest S.O.B. in the room.

He seemed to be getting carried away. Although of course weve been through a lot since then. If he was giving the speech now, Biden could say the guy in the locker room was usually the one whod claim he knew all about medical science because one of his relatives taught at M.I.T.

Im only recalling this since it gives me a chance to point out that after I wrote, rather disapprovingly, about that particular address, Biden called to thank me for showing me what a jerk I was.

Try to imagine Donald Trump doing something like that.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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He's the beloved Sunrise weather presenter who has never been subtle when it comes to his dating life... or lack-thereof.

But Sam Mac revealed that he has a new girlfriend named Elle while presenting the weather on Thursday.

The 37-year-old came clean about the relationship after being forced to wear a sandwich board that said he was 'looking for love' as part of a hilarious segment.

'It's a long term relationship for me': Weatherman Sam Mac shocked the Sunrise team when he revealed his secret girlfriend

'I've got to be honest with you guys. I actually have a girlfriend,' Sam said after he finished presenting the weather.

'This isn't just because nobody is beeping. This isn't a self confidence thing,' he added as he took off the sandwich board.

His producer came to collect the sign, appearing completely shocked by the news.

How sweet! Sam said that he and his new girlfriend Elle have been dating for a week

'Is she imaginary?' the producer asked.

Sam explained: 'It's only very new. I just feel it's disrespectful to her. But you wouldn't have known.'

He went on to reveal they had starting 'chatting on Instagram' through a mutual friend, but wouldn't be putting her on his social media any time soon.

'Her name is Elle, this is literally as of Saturday so I can't do that,' Sam admitted.

'I never thought it would come': The 37-year-old gushed about his new relationship as the Sunrise crew gawked at the surprise revelation. Pictured Sam Armytage and David Koch

'Is she imaginary?' His producer came to collect the sign, appearing completely shocked

He added: 'It's a long term relationship for me.'

Sam went on to gush about Elle, who was from the Central Coast, describing her as 'beautiful'.

'She's a really warm personality. I immediately felt comfortable with her. She's funny. She's very driven with her work. She's got so much going for her,' he said.

'Elle, from of us here on the Sunrise table, I'd like to just welcome you to the Sunrise family,' David Koch greeted from the newsroom.

Move over, kitty cat! Sam previously described his cat Coco as the only 'special girl' in his life

He added: 'It's great to have you aboard and we wish you a long and happy relationship.

'We'll check in, I'm putting it in my diary. This time next week. I never thought it would come.'

Sam previously described his cat Coco as the only 'special girl' in his life.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Sam explained the cats 'seem happy' but he's still on 'high alert', in case they turn on him.

'On the surface, they seem happy for us, but cat's don't play by the rules,' Sam said.

He added: 'I'm on high alert for them attempting to trip me down the stairs in the middle of the night.'
A few tracks into Roman Streets new album, Balcony of the World, theres a cover of The Spinners Ill Be Around that will make you feel better about life. If for some reason the state of the world has left you in need of a little lift, it might do the trick. Just saying.

For a minute or so, brothers Noah and Josh Thompson trace out the melody on their acoustic guitars, in the style that has won the Mobile-area group a nationwide following: Eclectic instrumental music that draws on Latin, Caribbean, classical and Gypsy jazz influences. Its delicate, soothing, wistful. And then right after the one-minute mark the rest of the band comes thumping in. With another set of brothers on bass and drums -- JoJo and Bryan Morris, respectively -- and Gino Rosaria on keys, they propel the song forward with a sense of controlled urgency.

It s a standout track, but its not the only one on in a set that includes one more cover (The Gipsy Kings Navidad) and nine originals. Throughout the collection, the Thompson brothers show that they havent lost their flair for intricate yet accessible musicianship in the years since their last release.

While their work doesnt fall into a mainstream pop genre, Roman Streets accomplishments are noteworthy. Theyve had several songs on Billboards Smooth Jazz Songs chart, including Caravan, which hit No. 7 in 2012. Granted, that may not carry quite the same commercial weight as the Hot 100, but the accomplishment makes Roman Street one of the very few Alabama groups that can legitimately claim a Billboard Top 10 hit.

On Friday, March 13, Roman Street releases Balcony of the World; formats include CD and digital availability on most major online outlets. A planned performance that day as part of Coastal Alabama Community Colleges Live at Five series has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns. Tour plans include stops in Montgomery and Birmingham in June.

The group recently led off the album with the single Find the Light. The track exemplifies the approach the group took on Balcony. The Thompson brothers made a decision to pull back from some things theyve experimented with, like saxophone, that might have distracted from the guitars. But theyve hardly done so at the expense of overall richness: The album includes work by Mobile-area violinist Melody Duncan, Nashville cellist Carole Rabinowitz and Mobile-area vocalist Denise Small.

Vocals are a rarity for Roman Street. The song on which Duncan sings is even more so. Thats the first song Ive ever written lyrics for, said Noah Thompson. Of course I still cant sing. He said the tune was inspired by the bands appearances at the Catalina Island Jazz Festival off the California coast.

The brothers said theyve spent the years since their last album just kind of growing, in Josh Thompsons words.

Josh Thompson said the realization that Roman Street hails from Alabama tends to draw pleasant surprise from new listeners. The brothers have had a lot of practice explaining how a fortuitous meeting with the Swiss duo Tonic Strings led to those artists, Toni Donadio and Nic Niederman, becoming the Thompsons musical mentors.

Noah Thompson said people also get Mobiles heritage as a port city plays a role. Traditionally Mobile has a history of including a lot of different cultures, he said.

Roman Street's newest album, "Balcony of the World," is its first release in several years.Courtesy of Roman Street

This process was different because we worked on this one a long time, said Noah Thompson. On past projects the band usually went into the studio with an albums worth of material and knocked out the principal recording in a short time frame. With Balcony of the World, they stretched the process out, playing more with the arrangements.

But now that the release is at hand, its time to let the music play in real time. And enjoy the view from the balcony.

For more information on the group, visit www.romanstreet.com.

Note: This story has been updated to reflect the postponement of a performance planned for March 13.
A Republican lawmaker who was exposed to a COVID-19 patient during the Conservative Political Action Conference leads a group of children around the Capitol.

Coronavirus continues to swell in the United States as there are an estimated 9,000 individuals who remained not treated due to the lack of access in testing centers or they were told not to be tested because they do not have a travel history.

This problem will lead to a more complicated problem because it raises the risk of a person to be exposed to someone who has COVID-19 symptoms.

Read related article: 9,000 People in U.S. With Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms

According to a recent article, Republican lawmakers Ted Cruz, Mark Meadows, Matt Gaetz, and Doug Collins decided to self-quarantine after they were exposed to a man during the Conservative Political Action Conference who later tested positive for the coronavirus.

It was also reported that before Gaetz and Collins decided to self-quarantine following their exposure, they did a direct contact with President Donald Trump.

However, Texas Representative Louie Gohmert who was also exposed to a man carrying the virus refused to self-quarantine after he was told by his physician that he can go back to work provided that he will observe proper hygiene.

The most alarming part here is Gohmert leads a large group of children which is estimated to be around 100 kids around the capitol. A picture of him leading the children was even posted on social media and was reported in a news outlet. Gohmert claims that he did not shake hands with anyone in attendance.

Even though he was advised by his physician that he can go back to work but the fact remains that he was exposed to a man who was later on COVID-19 positive. It seems that he is not taking the coronavirus outbreak seriously while other Republican lawmakers chose to self-quarantine.

For some, the decision of Gohmert not to isolate himself is not new anymore. It can be recalled that the lawmaker struggled in his scientific consensus position in the past about "Climate Change." He once said that a warmer planet is better because it means "more trees" in 2009 while he also denied that the earth was warming.

Moreover, there is also a great concern because there were at least 5 lawmakers who were exposed during the CPAC. Meanwhile, it was also observed that Gaetz wore a gas mask on the House before he decided to self-quarantine.

If Gohmert will not decide as soon as possible to self-quarantine, it will be riskier in the upcoming days if he will be showing signs of COVID-19 symptoms. It will create a more complicated problem because authorities need to track all persons whom Gohmert made direct contact with.

For some Republican lawmakers who decided to self-quaratine, they are showing how they are taking the problem seriously. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump did not yet take a coronavirus test even though he was exposed to two lawmakers who are now in self-quarantine. Though, Trump is not showing any signs of COVID-19 symptoms.
Shore Line East customers who board Amtrak trains with their Shore Line East ticket from time to time may be affected by upcoming Amtrak schedule changes.

Amtrak says the changes are being made because of track and infrastructure improvements being performed along the Northeast Corridor, as well as customer demand.

Earlier this week, Amtrak announced it was was suspending three trains that operate between New York and Washington, D.C. due to lower demand caused by coronavirus concerns. Those trains are 2401, 2402 and 2403.

In Connecticut, scheduled departure and arrival times of Acela and Northeast Regional trains may change by three to 15 minutes in both directions between Boston and New York.

Amtrak accepts (i.e., cross-honors) Shore Line East multi-ride tickets for only the select Amtrak trains listed on the Shore Line East schedule. Multi-ride tickets are defined as Shore Line East Monthly, Ten-Trip, Ten-Trip UniRail, or Monthly UniRail tickets, but not single-ride tickets.

One-way tickets on Amtrak Cross-Honoring trains will be charged the full one-way Amtrak fare. Only tickets for travel between New Haven-Old Saybrook, New Haven-New London, and Old Saybrook-New London are accepted.

The state Department of Transportation said, please be aware that Shore Line East multi-ride tickets are non-transferable and only valid for 45 days from purchase date to use on Amtrak trains. Also, Amtrak trains do not make all Shore Line East station stops.

Refer to the Shore Line East schedule or the online trip planner at shorelineeast.com to see Amtrak times and stops.

And effective Monday, March 16, Amtrak will discontinue Acela train #2151, previously scheduled to arrive at New Haven Union Station at 7:02 am, on Fridays.

This train will no longer operate between Boston and New York City on Fridays.

Shore Line East customers that used Amtrak train #2151 on Fridays are encouraged to utilize the following trains instead:

SLE #1633 departing New London 5:43 a.m.

SLE #1641 departing New London 6:50 a.m.

Amtrak #95 departing New London 7:43 am (3 minutes earlier with this schedule change)Acela #2151 will continue operating Monday through Thursday, and Amtrak will continue to accept Shore Line East multi-ride tickets on this train.

Amtrak is also making some minor adjustments to other trains with this schedule change, including an increase in the number of trains serving Mystic and Westerly, R.I.

The Amtrak schedule change takes effect Monday and Shore Line East will have additional minor schedule changes effective March 30, 2020.

A new reprint of the Shore Line East schedule will incorporate all the changes. For more information on the changes to the existing service and the most up to date schedule, customers should visit www.shorelineeast.com
European aircraft maker Airbus, which represents 80 per cent of India's order backlog, in its latest report said the country will require 1,880 new passenger and cargo aircraft by 2038 on conservative basis. For the requirement, up to 20 per cent could be wide-bodies while 1,440 aircraft are for growth and 440 needed to replace the aircraft that will be retired during this period, according to the forecast.

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Digital Editor
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkeys export of cement to Azerbaijan has increased from January through February 2020 to make up $5.6 million, which is 18 percent more compared to the same period of 2019, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend.

In February 2020, Turkeys export of cement to Azerbaijan increased by 17.3 percent compared to February 2019, and exceeded $2.6 million, the ministry noted.

During the reported period Turkeys export of cement to world markets has increased by 15.3 percent compared to the same period of the last year, making up $597.8 million.

Turkeys export of cement made up 2 percent of the countrys total export for the reported period.

In February 2020 Turkey exported cement worth $309.7 billion to world markets, which is 16.3 percent more than in the same month of 2019.

Turkeys cement export share in the countrys total export made up 1.2 percent in February 2020.

In the last 12 months, i.e. from February 2019 through February 2020 Turkey has exported cement in the amount of $3.5 billion.

Turkeys foreign trade turnover in 2019 exceeded $374.2 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Coronavirus is probably the #1 concern in investors minds right now. It should be. On February 27th we publish an article with the title "Recession is Imminent: We Need A Travel Ban NOW". We predicted that a US recession is imminent and US stocks will go down by at least 20% in the next 3-6 months. We also told you to short the market ETFs and buy long-term bonds. Investors who agreed with us and replicated these trades are up double digits whereas the market is down double digits. Our article also called for a total international travel ban to prevent the spread of the coronavirus especially from Europe. We were one step ahead of the markets and the president.

Is Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON) a good bet right now? We like to analyze hedge fund sentiment before conducting days of in-depth research. We do so because hedge funds and other elite investors have numerous Ivy League graduates, expert network advisers, and supply chain tipsters working or consulting for them. There is not a shortage of news stories covering failed hedge fund investments and it is a fact that hedge funds' picks don't beat the market 100% of the time, but their consensus picks have historically done very well and have outperformed the market after adjusting for risk.

Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON) was in 55 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of December. HON investors should be aware of a decrease in hedge fund interest lately. There were 58 hedge funds in our database with HON holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that HON isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds (click for Q4 rankings and see the video below for Q3 rankings).

5 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds

Video: Click the image to watch our video about the top 5 most popular hedge fund stocks.

To most stock holders, hedge funds are viewed as underperforming, outdated financial vehicles of the past. While there are over 8000 funds with their doors open at the moment, Our researchers choose to focus on the elite of this club, approximately 850 funds. It is estimated that this group of investors watch over the majority of the smart money's total asset base, and by following their unrivaled equity investments, Insider Monkey has determined a number of investment strategies that have historically beaten the market. Insider Monkey's flagship short hedge fund strategy surpassed the S&P 500 short ETFs by around 20 percentage points annually since its inception in March 2017. Our portfolio of short stocks lost 35.3% since February 2017 (through March 3rd) even though the market was up more than 35% during the same period. We just shared a list of 7 short targets in our latest quarterly update .

Story continues

[caption id="attachment_365194" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

David E. Shaw of D.E. Shaw

David E. Shaw of D.E. Shaw[/caption]

We leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example Europe is set to become the worlds largest cannabis market, so we check out this European marijuana stock pitch. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences, and and go through short-term trade recommendations like this one. We even check out the recommendations of services with hard to believe track records. In January, we recommended a long position in one of the most shorted stocks in the market, and that stock returned more than 50% despite the large losses in the market since our recommendation. Now we're going to analyze the latest hedge fund action encompassing Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON).

How have hedgies been trading Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON)?

At Q4's end, a total of 55 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held long positions in this stock, a change of -5% from the third quarter of 2019. On the other hand, there were a total of 57 hedge funds with a bullish position in HON a year ago. With hedge funds' sentiment swirling, there exists an "upper tier" of key hedge fund managers who were upping their stakes meaningfully (or already accumulated large positions).

Is HON A Good Stock To Buy?

Of the funds tracked by Insider Monkey, D. E. Shaw's D E Shaw has the biggest position in Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON), worth close to $323.1 million, amounting to 0.4% of its total 13F portfolio. The second largest stake is held by Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management, with a $286.7 million position; the fund has 0.3% of its 13F portfolio invested in the stock. Some other hedge funds and institutional investors that are bullish include John Overdeck and David Siegel's Two Sigma Advisors, Israel Englander's Millennium Management and Mario Gabelli's GAMCO Investors. In terms of the portfolio weights assigned to each position Pittencrieff Partners - Gabalex Capital allocated the biggest weight to Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON), around 10.44% of its 13F portfolio. Sandbar Asset Management is also relatively very bullish on the stock, designating 4.07 percent of its 13F equity portfolio to HON.

Seeing as Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON) has experienced falling interest from the entirety of the hedge funds we track, we can see that there were a few money managers that decided to sell off their positions entirely in the third quarter. Intriguingly, Jonathan Barrett and Paul Segal's Luminus Management cut the biggest investment of all the hedgies monitored by Insider Monkey, comprising close to $30.4 million in stock, and Sara Nainzadeh's Centenus Global Management was right behind this move, as the fund dropped about $7.2 million worth. These bearish behaviors are important to note, as aggregate hedge fund interest dropped by 3 funds in the third quarter.

Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks similar to Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON). We will take a look at Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), Sanofi (NYSE:SNY), Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ:AVGO), and Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP). This group of stocks' market caps resemble HON's market cap.

[table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position LLY,43,1493296,-1 SNY,31,1113585,3 AVGO,61,2513808,2 UNP,65,5313051,-4 Average,50,2608435,0 [/table]

View table here if you experience formatting issues.

As you can see these stocks had an average of 50 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $2608 million. That figure was $2282 million in HON's case. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) is the least popular one with only 31 bullish hedge fund positions. Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON) is not the most popular stock in this group but hedge fund interest is still above average. Our calculations showed that top 20 most popular stocks among hedge funds returned 41.3% in 2019 and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by 10.1 percentage points. These stocks lost 12.9% in 2020 through March 9th but still beat the market by 1.9 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on HON, though not to the same extent, as the stock returned -13.2% during the first two months of 2020 (through March 9th) and outperformed the market as well.

Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.

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To show that his administration has been fast and effective in its response to the new coronavirus, President Donald Trump claimed that anybody who wants to get tested for the respiratory disease caused by the virus can do so.

"Anybody that wants a test can get a test. That's what the bottom line is," Trump told reporters March 6 during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

Moments later, Trump added that anybody that needs a test gets one.

"But as of right now and yesterday, anybody that needs a test  that's the important thing  and the tests are all perfect, like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect, right? This was not as perfect as that, but pretty good," Trump said. (Trump's mention of "the letter" and "transcription" was a reference to his recent impeachment.)

As large public gatherings around the United States are being cancelled and some colleges are suspending in-person classes to avoid the spread of the disease, PolitiFact decided to fact-check Trump on his "bottom line" assessment that anybody who wants a test will get one.

He's wrong. Current supply of the test is limited, and it is clinicians who decide whether a patient meets criteria to warrant testing. Testing is not as easy as just calling your doctor or pharmacy, saying you want to be tested for COVID-19 and getting it done.

"Unfortunately, it's not that simple yet," said Christopher Mores, a professor of global health at George Washington University.

There is greater availability of tests, but the number of labs involved in the testing process is still limited, Mores said. Testing is expected to increase as more commercial labs participate, but even they have limits in the number of patients that can be tested daily, Mores said.

PolitiFact found news reports of people who wanted to get tested and couldn't, or of hindrances in the testing process. Here's a sample:

CBS Miami reported March 2 that a woman who had returned from Italy was told at a hospital that she likely had COVID-19 but was refused a test. The woman, not named by CBS Miami, said one of the reasons she wasn't tested for the new coronavirus was because she was not in a high-risk category, since she was in her 30s and otherwise healthy. (She tested positive for earlier coronavirus strains, coronavirus 229E and NL63, according to CBS Miami.) The hospital and state health department did not comment on the case.

Texas Tribune reported March 11 that Texas' largest public health lab can do a maximum of 26 tests per day. Doctors and hospitals did not yet have capability to do tests on their own premises. (An NPR report indicates this issue is not limited to Texas.)

The Mercury News reported that the president of the California Academy of Family Physicians said no one had been trained to do the test. (The story published March 7 and was updated March 10.)

CDC: Health care providers decide who gets tested for COVID-19

The CDC on its website said that if people come in close contact of someone with the respiratory disease and they develop symptoms, they should call their health care provider.

"They will decide whether you need to be tested, but keep in mind that there is no treatment for COVID-19, and people who are mildly ill are able to isolate at home," the federal health agency said.

Elsewhere on its website, the CDC said, "Clinicians should use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested."

Factors to consider for testing include whether individuals were in close contact with a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patient within 14 days of symptoms, or if they traveled from affected geographic areas within 14 days of symptom onset.

Clinicians who want to test a patient should work with local and state health departments to coordinate testing through public health labs, CDC said. That process could be delayed if the labs are running at capacity.

Limited number of tests

The CDC is typically the first one to develop a diagnostic test because they have access before others to clinical specimens and viral samples. The CDC test then becomes the basis for tests developed by others. But there were manufacturing problems with the CDC test at first.

Trump administration officials have provided conflicting information regarding how many people can be tested. Stephen M. Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, acknowledged the confusion on March 7.

Hahn said that production issues were eventually resolved by a third-party manufacturer. That manufacturer is producing tests for state public health labs, academic medical centers, community hospitals and other nonpublic health labs.

The CDC has shipped tests to public health laboratories to test about 75,000 people, Hahn said. Additionally, 1.1 million tests were shipped to nonpublic health labs, and around 1 million more tests were close to being shipped, he said.

But the number of tests shipped doesn't equal the number of people that can be tested. For instance, 2.1 million tests would roughly translate to testing for 850,000 Americans, according to Hahn.

Manufacturers plan to scale up production so they can ship 4 million more tests by mid March, Hahn said, and large commercial and academic labs are also expected to make more tests.

Our ruling

Trump said, "Anybody that wants a test can get a test."

This is wrong. It is health care providers who make the call on who gets tested, based on recommendations from the CDC. There's an increase in the number of tests being manufactured, but an increase in the availability of tests does not mean that "anybody that wants a test can get a test."

Trump's statement is inaccurate and a gross oversimplification of the facts. We rate it Pants on Fire.
The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on March 12.

Russia's hybrid military forces on March 11 mounted two attacks on Ukrainian Army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action.

Read alsoRussia-led forces shell Maryinka's residential areas near school  JFO

"The Russian Federation's armed forces violated the ceasefire five times on March 11. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded as a result of enemy shelling," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said in an update posted on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on March 12.

The enemy opened fire, employing grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms.

Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the villages of Pisky and Hnutove.

The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on March 12.
School holidays could be extended as Australia considers increasingly drastic measures to contain the coronavirus after it was declared a global pandemic.

The nation now has more than 120 confirmed cases and the World Health Organisation has warned more infections and deaths are inevitable without urgent, aggressive action.

In Australia, that could mean forcing the nation's primary and high school students to extend their Easter school holidays, federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has warned on Thursday.

Depending on advice from health authorities Australian school's could be forced to extend the Easter holidays in an attempt to tackle the coronavirus crisis

He says medical advice will guide the decision and the government won't be rushed even though a last-minute call could leave working parents in a bind.

'It might be that school holidays need to be prolonged,' he told ABC television on Thursday.

'We'll listen to that medical advice and we'll act on it. But the most important thing is we've put contingencies in place to be able to deal with it.'

As more confirmed cases emerged overnight, the federal government has outlined its plan to stave off a recession.

The stimulus package is expected to top $15 billion and will deliver tax relief for businesses alongside cash payments of $25,000 to help them weather the economic storm and keep their workers in jobs.

Support for welfare recipients and pensioners is also expected after the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus crisis a global pandemic.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has confirmed this year's budget won't be in surplus. He also admitted the business payments come with no strings attached but urged owners to use the handouts wisely.

'We say to all of those businesses: 'We're doing our bit to support you, we want you to support your staff during this period',' he told ABC radio.

Education Minister Dan Tehan (pictured) said medical advice will guide the decision and the government won't be rushed even though a last-minute call could leave working parents in a bind.

Economists predict Australia could fall into recession, but it won't be known until at least two consecutive quarters of economic data show negative growth.

The March and June quarter numbers compiled by the Australian Bureau of Statistics won't be released until later this 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

The Council of Australian Governments will meet on Friday to discuss the stimulus plans of the states and territories, which will be on top of the federal government's measures.

There were 12 new cases of coronavirus confirmed in NSW overnight, taking the total number to 77.

Four of those 12 were not people who had recently travelled overseas, leaving questions about how they became infected.

NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant has told anyone who is sick, regardless of recent overseas travel, to stay at home and away from any large gatherings.

'The best thing you can do is stay at home if you're unwell. Don't push through, don't go to workplaces, don't go and visit loved ones in aged care facilities, don't go and visit loved ones in hospital, and don't go to public events where you're going to be cheek and jowl,' she said.

In declaring a global pandemic, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was still a chance to limit the spread of the virus but he also pointed to 'alarming levels of inaction'.

'We cannot say this loudly enough, or clearly enough, or often enough: all countries can still change the course of this pandemic,' he said.

'Ready your hospitals, protect and train your health workers, and let's all look out for each other because we need each other.'
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is used to detect electrical activity in the brain in order to evaluate a variety of neurological conditions. However, EEGs are difficult to perform due to an involved setup process that requires technicians to place individual electrodes onto a patients head.

Zeto, a Santa Clara, California company, hopes to simplify the EEG and make it more widely available. The companys flagship product, the zEEG, is an EEG headset that is comfortable, requires almost no preparation to wear, and involves no wires. It also connects to the cloud, allowing for instant upload of data and remote interpretation by neurologists. The headset has 20 dry electrodes that can be positioned as per the 10-20 EEG system.

The technology behind the zEEG is a combination of proprietary electrode materials and innovative electrical techniques such as Active Electrode Technology (AET) and Dynamic Noise Cancellation (DNC), according to the company. Three separate studies across 50 subjects showed that the devices EEG signal quality was not inferior to traditional FDA-cleared EEG systems.

zEEG was FDA cleared for clinical use in April 2018, and is the first true dry electrode EEG headset to have this regulatory green light. Zeto also announced recently that it has raised $7.3 million in Series A financing, which will be used to accelerate commercialization of the zEEG headset and develop new products to expand the companys portfolio.

Since our commercial launch a few months ago, we added several customers who love the product and are utilizing it at high rates. We are glad to validate the strong product-market fit for zEEG, said Aswin Gunasekar, MS, MBA, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Zeto. Our goal is to provide the most seamless and intelligent EEG experience for any clinical need. Current products are far behind what users need and Zeto is building a suite of convenient and intuitive products to eliminate the most time consuming and labor-intensive activities involved in traditional EEG.

Product page: zEEG headset
Parexel International, the US-based global clinical research organisation giant, is looking to ramp up its India operations.

So far, Parexel has utilised Indian talent to support its global functions but now it sees India as a major market.

India has a 17 percent share of global population and 20 percent global disease burden. However, only less than 1.5 percent of clinical trials happen in India.

But things are changing on the ground as Indian drug companies are gradually moving up the value chain by investing in biosimilars, follow-on biologics, specialty drugs and complex generics that require clinical trials to establish safety, efficacy and similarity.

The innovator companies too are making beeline to do clinical trials in India. This is where Parexel, with its expertise in end-to-end clinical trials and regulatory understanding, is sensing a huge opportunity.

"There's an upward trend in the global clinical trials, wanting to conduct studies in India plus the patient population, So if you look at the therapeutic area, the biggest market out here is for oncology, neurology, immunology plus the rare diseases piece. So diabetes is another area as well. So a lot of companies are wanting to come back now, the perception, taking some time to change, but it's in the positive direction," Peyton Howell, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Parexel International, said in an exclusive interaction with Moneycontrol.

Sanjay Vyas, Senior Vice President, India Country Head & Managing Director of Parexel's Clinical Trial Supplies & Logistics Business Unit, said that Indian biopharma companies are making conscious efforts to put in more investment in developing biosimilars and biologics.

"There is also a steady rise in the number of clinical trial application that has come for the novel biologics as well as biosimilars between 2013 and 2019," he said.

Regulatory clarity

The second major change was government's efforts to streamline and speed-up the clinical trial approval process.

In 2019, the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules were revised by the government to include a renewed regulatory pathway.

This was done with the objective of reviving clinical research and bringing global clinical studies to the country. The non-refundability element in the compensation clause was done away with. Earlier draft specified that 60 percent of the compensation is non-refundable even if death or disability wasn't due to clinical trial.

"There was a time when it used to take six to nine months to get a clinical trial approved now it's 30-90 days. It is amazing to see that not only for orphan drugs meant for rare diseases. For biologics and drugs developed here in India. They're even saying that you don't get a response from the DCGI within 30 days you are actually are deemed approved," Vyas said

Vyas also pointed to other positive measures like having Ethics Committee located within a radius of 50 km of the clinical trial site. This helps to expand trial to more centres. The ethics committee reviews ethical standards and scientific merit of research involving human subjects.

Vyas said the headcount in India is the fastest rising averaging about 12 to 13 percent growth. The 5400 employees are distributed across Parexel offices in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mohali, Mumbai and Delhi. Three years back the company had around 800 people.

Indian offices serves more than 15 functions ranging from clinical trial operations, to project leadership to data management, to SAS programming, biostats, pharmacovigilance, medical writing, regulatory compliance, and others.

Parexel had taken a huge space in Hyderabad's Hitech City keeping in mind the expansion plans.

To build talent pool for clinical trial research in India, Parexel is exploring the possibility of launching Parexel Academy in India. The company has similar acadamies in Germany and China. The academy will give certifications to young graduates who want to build a career in clinical trial research. The company will also absorb some of them as interns.
By Kiley Russell

Bay City News Foundation

With the country's decennial effort to count every single person living in the United States set to kick off in earnest this week, one of its fastest growing racial groups -- Asian Americans -- is at risk of going largely overlooked.

Invitations to fill out the U.S. Census questionnaire are scheduled to land in the mailboxes of roughly 143 million U.S. households on Thursday.

The mailers will include information about the census, tips on how to avoid scams and directions on how to complete the forms either online or over the phone.

The goal is to count as many people living in the country as possible in order to help the federal government allocate hundreds of billions of dollars to dozens of national programs and to allocate Congressional representation to the states.

Experts warn that an undercount will result in the loss of political power and serious funding gaps for schools, health care and food assistance, road construction and other federally funded programs.

But according to a January survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, the likelihood of a miscount involving Asian communities appears high.

Only 55 percent of Asians reported that they intend to fill out the questionnaire -- compared to 69 percent of white, 65 percent of Latino and 64 percent of black respondents, according to the "2020 Census Barriers, Attitudes, and Motivators Survey.

The reluctance of Asian Americans to participate in the census stems from two main factors: their unfamiliarity with the effort -- only 22 percent said they were "extremely" or "very" familiar with it -- and widespread fear that the information they provide will be used against them by government agencies -- 41 percent said they were "extremely" or "very" concerned about that possibility.

This compares to the 35 percent of black, 32 percent of Latino and 16 percent of white respondents who reported similar fears, according to the report.

"We have this dual threat of being the group least familiar with the census and being the most distrustful of the census," said Johnathan Stein, staff attorney and program manager for voting rights and the census at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus.

"Asian Americans are a recently arrived population. A much higher percentage of Asian Americans are foreign born than other racial or ethnic groups," Stein said. "Lots and lots have not been through a U.S. Census before and are wondering why the government wants detailed information on everybody.

As of 2017, there were a little more than 20 million people who identified as being of Asian descent in the U.S., according to Census Bureau data.

Many new arrivals are from countries without strong traditions of civic participation where trying to influence government policy or behavior is discouraged and can lead to persecution, imprisonment and even death.

"This all comes in the context of a deeply anti-immigrant environment created by the federal government," Stein said. "ICE is terrorizing families and communities and the president is openly bashing immigrants on a regular basis.

Fears over government tracking or targeting individuals for reprisals is reflected in the survey data, with 10 percent of all respondents, regardless of race, stating they held the mistaken belief that the census is used to find undocumented residents and 37 percent of respondents stating they "did not know" if it's used that way.

Similarly, 6 percent mistakenly believed the data is used by the FBI to keep tabs on criminals and 31 percent weren't sure if that's the case or not.

Clearing that hurdle of distrust is one of the biggest challenges for people working to ensure a robust census count in the Bay Area's Asian immigrant communities, said Lio Meng Saeteurn, local political coordinator for the Asian Pacific Environmental Network.

Based in Oakland and Richmond, APEN has been working since last fall to increase awareness of the census and encourage participation in several local Asian communities and recently kicked-off a statewide outreach plan.

The group's initial efforts centered on hundreds of so-called "hard-to-count" households in West Contra Costa County, primarily in the Laotian community.

"When we do storytelling and hear stories of what happens to family members in Laos who speak out, they end up in prison or they murder you in front of your family," she said.

"It's where their fear comes from and their reluctance," said Saeteurn, who is from Laos and was born in a refugee camp before her mother was able to immigrate to Richmond in 1983.

"Not wanting to make any noise or rattle the cage -- it's how our people survived," she said.

To help overcome that fear as much as possible, Saeteurn and other APEN volunteers have canvassed neighborhoods and knocked on doors in order to have face-to-face conversations about what the census is, why it's safe and why it's important, Saeteurn said.

"We reached over 900 people," she said. "Thirteen percent of the folks said they were committed to filling it out."

APEN organizers have also reached out to churches, temples and other Laotian community groups to recruit trusted leaders in census outreach efforts.

It's a strategy that involves digging down to the deepest roots of the community and finding voices that people are familiar with in order to deliver messages about the census that will resonate with a specific group of people.

It's also a strategy that the state of California has backed up with a $187 million investment that is intended to flow through the state's complex network of nonprofit and community-based organizations.

June Lim, the demographic research project director for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles, is on the front lines of that effort.

Her organization is administering more than $800,000 in state grants and private foundation contributions in the drive to ensure that as many people as possible are counted from specific hard-to-count communities.

"We get the money from the state and we have 11 partners who we work with in different regions across the state to make sure we are reaching the Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island communities," Lim said.

"We're eating, sleeping and breathing this," Lim said.

In addition to the grants, AAAJ has been contributing to the massive and complex statewide census rollout by providing technical assistance, training and translations of census outreach materials to their partners working throughout California.

One of its partner organizations, Chinese for Affirmative Action in San Francisco, has been working on census issues since the 1970s.

CAA, along with the Asian Law Caucus and other groups, has been working with state officials to craft a strategy to reach hard-to-count populations and helped convince the U.S. Census Bureau to hire non-citizens as enumerators to go out into the community in order to physically help people fill out their forms, said Hong Mei Pang, CAA's program director.

Additionally, Pang's group is working with several other community organizations to canvas neighborhoods, organize community workshops and to reach out to schools and soup kitchens and food banks.

And while she acknowledges the survey data about the difficulties of conducting a full census count in Asian communities, Pang says there is a counter-narrative that is largely going unreported.

"Our communities have been so resilient and so courageous, even in the face of a White House that has been hell bent on having us go back into the shadows," Pang said.

The organizational and outreach efforts around the census will help strengthen the same communities that are most affected by anti-immigrant xenophobia, she said.

"These challenges are real and I'm not trying to reduce the anxiety and, I think, fear that comes with this census," Pang said. "We're really asking our communities to take a leap of faith with us."

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 joint Russian-European mission to Mars has been postponed for two years, the Russian and European space agencies said Thursday, citing the novel coronavirus and technical issues.

"We have made a difficult but well-weighed decision to postpone the launch to 2022," said Dmitry Rogozin, head of Russia's Roscosmos agency.

The unmanned ExoMars mission aims to place a robot on the Red Planet to find out whether life is present.

It was scheduled to launch later this year after experiencing several delays.

Officials at the European and Russian spaces agencies said they agreed to delay the mission until August or September 2022 to carry out further tests.

Following recommendations by European and Russian inspectors, "ExoMars experts concluded that the tests necessary to make all the components of the spacecraft for the Mars adventure need more time to complete," the statement said.

European Space Agency director general Jan Werner said both sides wanted to be "100 per cent" sure of a successful mission.

"We cannot allow ourselves any margin of error. More verification activities will ensure a safe trip and the best scientific results on Mars," he said in a statement that did not mention the virus.

Rogozin specifically pointed to the impact of the outbreak of the coronavirus in Europe saying the "exacerbation of the epidemiological" situation had hampered the scheduled launch.

The Mars mission has been marred by a series of technical problems and delays.

In August last year, the ESA identified problems with the mission's parachute system, raising questions over whether the launch would go ahead in 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nigerian government officials, on Thursday, held a meeting with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Abuja.

The meeting is part of the steps by the government to resolve issues that led to the ongoing nationwide strike by the lecturers.

An ASUU delegation led by the national president of the union, Biodun Ogunyemi, arrived the Ministry of Labour and Employment at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

ASUU on Monday asked its members in federal universities across the country to begin two weeks warning strike in response to the governments decision to stop the February salaries of lecturers who have not registered on the salary (IPPIS) payment platform.

READ ALSO:

ASUU is opposed to the IPPIS and has told its members not to register with it.

The union is also protesting poor funding, the proliferation of state universities and non-implementation of previous agreements.

The strike has been on for two days.

Before Thursdays meeting commenced, an official of the labour ministry said the minister of labour, Chris Ngige, held a brief closed-door meeting with members of the federal government delegation.

Officials at that meeting include the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sunny Echono.
Boeing Co 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 US 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 ...
Santee Cooper is prepared to finalize a $520 million settlement, ending a standoff with its South Carolina ratepayers and eliminating a major financial threat to the state-run utility.

The utility's 12-member board of directors gave approval to the hefty settlement that will reimburse Santee Cooper's electric customers and provide a four-year cost freeze for its ratepayers and the state's 20 electric cooperatives, which the utility also supplies with power.

It also eliminates a number of other legal claims that the electric cooperatives and Virginia-based Dominion Energy, the new owner of South Carolina Electric & Gas, filed against Santee Cooper.

"From a board perspective, this is clearly a risk we should get off the table as quickly as we can," Dan Ray, Santee Cooper's acting board chairman, said before the vote. "This is a really good settlement for Santee Cooper, its customers and the state."

The vote on the settlement coincides with a continued debate in the S.C. Legislature, where the state's 170 lawmakers continue to weigh the fate of the 86-year-old water and electric utility.

The proposed settlement, which was negotiated last month, has already given Santee Cooper a slight boost in the halls of the Statehouse.

Members of the state Senate are considering how to reform Santee Cooper instead of selling it to Florida-based NextEra Energy, the largest investor-owned utility companies in the country.

But the pending legal deal has not convinced all of the lawmakers in the House. They are moving forward with their own plan to change the way Santee Cooper is governed, while they continue to renegotiate NextEra's offer to buy the utility.

The class-action ratepayer lawsuit and the Legislature's search for a potential buyer for Santee Cooper all stem from the same thing: the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project.

Santee Cooper was the minority owner of the two unfinished reactors that were abandoned in July 2017. The state-run utility and SCE&G, the majority owner of the reactors, spent more than $9 billion on the project before it was called off due to shoddy engineering, schedule delays and cost overruns.

SCE&G were also party to the ratepayer lawsuit that was filed against Santee Cooper just weeks after V.C. Summer was cancelled. It was potentially liable because it was responsible for oversight of the nuclear construction for Santee Cooper.

As a result, Dominion will be paying $320 million of the full $520 million in refunds and rebates that will be distributed to Santee Cooper customers and co-op members.

"I absolutely believe this is the best course for our customers," said William Finn, a Santee Cooper board member.

Dominion's attempt to get Santee Cooper to pay for millions of dollars in other legal costs tied to V.C. Summer will also be dropped under the deal. And it will end any further litigation between Santee Cooper and Dominion that is tied to the nuclear reactors.

Ray, the acting chairman, ended the meeting by trying to extend an olive branch to the leaders of the state's electric cooperatives, Santee Cooper's largest electric customers. The two groups have had a testy relationship for years, and that animosity has been partly fed by the failed nuclear project.

Santee Cooper is ready to work more effectively with the co-ops moving forward, Ray pledged.

Former S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal, who has overseen the lengthy ratepayer lawsuit, will also need to approve the settlement before it is finalized.
Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram on Thursday confirmed one more positive case of coronavirus in the city.

"1 more person tested positive for coronavirus in Pune today, taking the total to 9 positive cases in the city," he said.

"The person has a travel history to the United States," he added.

The number of people who are COVID-19 positive has gone up to 73, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

Out of the 73 confirmed cases (17 of them foreign nationals) in the country, Kerala has the maximum number of positive cases for novel coronavirus at 17.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday had declared the coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' and expressed deep concern.

Coronavirus which originated in the Wuhan city of China has so far spread to more than 90 countries infecting over 1,10,000 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Agence France-Presse (Singapore)  Thu, March 12, 2020 09:38 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069fea1c 2 Business oil-price,coronavirus,COVID-19,travel-ban,US,trump,market Free

Oil prices plunged about six percent Thursday after US President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban on all travel from Europe to the United States over the coronavirus pandemic.

West Texas Intermediate slipped 6.2 percent to US$31 a barrel while Brent crude was off 5.8 percent at under $34 a barrel.

Both contracts extended heavy losses from a day earlier, which came after Saudi Arabia and Gulf partner the UAE stepped up a price war by vowing to pump millions more barrels of crude.

Crude markets have been in turmoil since the start of the week, when they suffered their biggest one-day drop in a generation after Riyadh slashed prices following a row with Moscow about output cuts.

Brent crude oil prices collapse by most since 1991 as 'OPEC+' disintegrates. (Reuters/-). Usage: 0 (Reuters/-)

Prices briefly bounced after Trump began addressing the nation on the virus outbreak, which is now hitting the world's top economy hard -- but then quickly slipped into the red.

The travel restrictions, which do not apply to Britain, will go into effect Friday at midnight, Trump said.

The move came after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Following Trump's announcement, AxiCorp market strategist Stephen Innes said that "if this doesn't get Saudi and Russia back to the table, I don't think anything will".

This week's collapse of oil prices came after OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia had led a push to reduce output further to shore up prices amid slumping demand.

But the move was blocked by Moscow, the world's second-biggest oil producer, prompting Riyadh to slash prices.
Lombardy provides a grim picture of how the viruss danger grows when a health system is overburdened. The region accounts for about one-sixth of Italys population but nearly 60 percent of its coronavirus cases and 75 percent of its coronavirus deaths. Among those treated in Lombardy, the fatality rate is more than twice as high  8.5 percent, compared with 4 percent elsewhere in the nation. And the problem is snowballing: The region has reported nearly half of its 617 coronavirus deaths in the past two days.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police on Thursday asserted that the law-and-order situation in the national capital is normal now and said it has registered 712 FIRs and arrested over 200 accused in connection with last month's violence in northeast Delhi.

At a press conference, Delhi Police PRO M S Randhawa said face-recognition software is being used to identify those involved in the riots and the incident is being probed from all angles.

"Law-and-order situation normal in Delhi now. We are closely monitoring all PCR calls from northeast Delhi," he said.

"712 FIRs have been registered so far in connection with violence in northeast Delhi and over 200 accused arrested," Randhawa said.

Seven people have been arrested in connection with the death of a Delhi Police head constable during clashes over the new citizenship law in the northeast district last month, police said on Thursday.

Head constable Ratan Lal died of bullet injuries in the clashes in Gokalpuri on February 24.

"Seven people have been arrested in Ratan Lal's case. It emerged during investigation that the spot where the incident took place was the venue for an anti-CAA protest. In the fateful day, a conspiracy was hatched to attack police," a senior Delhi Police official said.
(Bloomberg) --

Joe Biden had (another) good night. For Donald Trump, the last few days have been a challenge.

The former vice president now enjoys an all-but-insurmountable lead over Bernie Sanders in the race to become the Democratic presidential nominee. Party supporters increasingly view him as the best person to take on Trump in November.

Biden logged convincing victories in party primaries in Missouri, Mississippi, Idaho and  most importantly  Michigan, the biggest prize last night and a key general election battleground.

Trump, in turn, is finding out what its like to be president at a time of crisis. The coronavirus outbreak has roiled global markets. An oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia threatens Americas bid for energy dominance. Theres now significant risk the U.S. economy teeters into recession.

Investors meanwhile are still awaiting details of a Trump-promised stimulus package that were expected yesterday.

U.S. virus cases have surpassed 1,000, according to one tally, and a top health official said some parts of the country are beyond containment efforts. The National Guard has been enlisted to help lock down one New York suburb thats become a virus hot spot.

Election Day is still eight months away, an eternity in political terms, and its too soon to know the extent to which the virus could hinder Trump. But things are not trending in his direction at the moment.

(Michael Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, also sought the Democratic nomination. He endorsed Joe Biden on March 4.)

Global Headlines

Worse to come | European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde warned that without urgent coordinated action on the coronavirus, Europe will see a scenario that will remind many of us of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis, according to a person familiar with her comments.

Italy is preparing to increase its fiscal stimulus program for the fourth time in a month, officials said, after the European Union agreed to stretch its budget rules to the limit to help member states fight the virus. Turkey confirmed its first case of the virus, saying the person contracted it from Europe.

Story continues

On the defensive | China has expanded its clout under President Xi Jinping, with new international organizations and a global infrastructure program. But as Peter Martin explains, with the coronavirus outbreak prompting nations to shun Chinese visitors and reassess supply chains, diplomats are focused not just on outward reach but on protecting the home front, in particular the Communist Partys hold on power.

Read how Trumps move to retweet supporter Charlie Kirk calling it the China virus could fuel tensions with Beijing.

Spending spree | U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak will use his first budget today to promise record spending on infrastructure, as the government uses a huge increase in borrowing to end the era of austerity. The money will target roads, railways, housing and digital connectivity and is critical to Prime Minister Boris Johnsons pledge to revive economically left behind regions of the U.K.

The Bank of England today cut rates 50 basis points to a record low after an emergency meeting. Junior Health Minister Nadine Dorries becomes the first British lawmaker to test positive for coronavirus.

Ruler for life? | Vladimir Putin paved the way to remain in power until potentially 2036, when he will be nearly 84. The Russian president yesterday endorsed a last-minute proposal by lawmakers to reset term limits as part of a package of constitutional amendments, allowing him two more six-year terms once his current one ends in 2024.

Slow unraveling | Dollars are in such short supply in Lebanon the central bank will only give them to importers of wheat, medicine and fuel. Banks that kept their doors open through the countrys civil war are closing early and imposing strict withdrawal limits. As the nation heads toward its first default, Lin Noueihed reports the crisis has laid bare what Lebanese have long suspected: Politicians and their business partners have bled the country dry.What to Watch

The White House will today host a meeting with tech giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook to coordinate responses to the coronavirus. Mozambique suffered the biggest increase in attacks by Islamist militants globally last year, with violence centered around the gas-rich Cabo Delgado province, a new security report says. Venezuelan police detained an opposition lawmaker hours after supporters of National Assembly President Juan Guaido were tear-gassed during a protest in Caracas against Nicolas Maduros government.

Tell us how were doing or what were missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.And finally ... As Air Force One sped toward Washington on Monday, the coronavirus outbreaks impact became inescapable for Trump. Televisions tuned to Fox News broadcast dire graphics illustrating the single worst day for markets since 2008. A congressman whod accompanied Trump to fundraising events had self-quarantined in an empty cabin. By the time Trump touched down, hed decided to act. Our Washington bureau has the inside story on how he came to that decision.

--With assistance from Ruth Pollard and Anthony Halpin.

To contact the author of this story: Kathleen Hunter in London at khunter9@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Rosalind Mathieson at rmathieson3@bloomberg.net, Karl Maier

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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[March 11, 2020] Lost Money in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Ltd.?

Norwegian Cruise Line shares dropped nearly 27% after the Miami New Times published an article accusing Norwegian management of directing sales team employees to lie about COVID-19 risks to potential customers. Gibbs Law Group is investigating a potential Norwegian Cruise Line Class Action Lawsuit on behalf of investors who lost money in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NYSE: NCLH). To speak with an attorney regarding this class action lawsuit investigation, click here or call (888) 410-2925. On March 11, 2020, the Miami New Times published an article entitled "Leaked Emails: Norwegian Pressures Sales Team to Lie About Coronavirus." The article quotes internal emails from a Norwegian Crise Line employee purportedly showing that sales representatives were instructed by management to lie about COVID-19 risks to increase cruise bookings. According to the article, employees were allegedly told to provide false and misleading information to potential customers to book a cruise, including for example, "The coronavirus can only survive in cold temperatures, so the Caribbean is a fantastic choice for your next cruise."



On this news, Norwegian Cruise Line shares plummeted nearly 27% on March 11, 2020 to close at $15.03 per share, causing significant harm to investors. What Should Norwegian Cruise Line Investors Do?

If you invested in Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, visit our website or contact our securities team directly at (888) 410-2925 to discuss how you may be able to recover your losses. Our investigation concerns whether Norwegian Cruise Lines has violated federal securities laws. About Gibbs Law Group Gibbs Law Group represents individual and institutional investors throughout the country in securities litigation to correct abusive corporate governance practices, breaches of fiduciary duty, and proxy violations. The firm has recovered over a billion dollars for its clients against some of the world's largest corporations, and our attorneys have received numerous honors for their work, including "Best Lawyers in America," "Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California," "California Lawyer Attorney of the Year," "2019 Class Action Practice Group of the Year," "Top Class Action Attorneys Under 40," "Consumer Protection MVP," and "Top Cybersecurity/ Privacy Attorneys Under 40." This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005827/en/

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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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:28:27|Editor: huaxia

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LHASA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- More than 2,600 technicians will be mobilized to the front line to provide technical services for farmers and herdsmen and help solve practical problems in agricultural and animal husbandry production this year, according to the agriculture and rural affairs department of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

The technicians, from the regional agriculture and rural affairs department, the Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences and Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University, aim to help improve quality and efficiency of the agriculture and animal husbandry, based on science and technologyand increase local farmers and herdsmen's income.

The regional agriculture and rural affairs department said these technicians involve in 48 specialties, covering seven major industries in Tibet, such as highland barley, yak, pig, sheep, dairy industry, vegetables and forage. They are also expected to provide training for local farmers and herdsmen and introduce practical technologies.

Nyima Zhaxi, dean of Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, said they have combed more than 100 practical technologies, issued 18 Chinese-Tibetan bilingual technology guidelines and made training videos, which can be obtained from WeChat and other distance education platforms.
Questex today unveiled keynote speakers for the 2020 Sensors Expo & Conference (#Sensors20) and Embedded Technologies Expo & Conference (#EmbTech20) events. Featuring Dr. Kathleen Gallagher Boggs, Exploration Capabilities Development Team Lead for NASA, and Gregory Travis, Managing Director, Supporwell LLC, this years presentations will highlight the critical role of sensing technology in extending the opportunities for deep space exploration and the software development approaches that todays organizations can use to build safer systems. The two insightful keynotes will kickstart the 2020 events, giving attendees a unique opportunity to learn more about todays applications and future trends and discover new approaches to evergreen challenges. To view the 2020 Sensors Expo & Conference schedule, please visit HERE. To view the 2020 Embedded Technologies Expo & Conference schedule, please visit HERE.

Keynote sessions include:



Tuesday, June 23rd | Gregory Travis, Supporwell LLC

From airplanes and automobiles to the latest electronic devices and wearable technology, software is an increasingly important part of most products today, delivering gains in flexibility, speed-to-market, cost advantages, and features that would not be achievable in hardware alone. In fact, at the core of it many modern systems are really just networks of computers and software. But along with the exponential growth in software code has come added complexity and risk that can be difficult to manage in even some of the seemingly simplest of systems. Using the example of what went wrong with the Boeing 737 MAX, this keynote examines the engineering, cultural, systems design and software development approaches that can lead to negative outcomes and what todays organizations can do to build safer systems.

Wednesday, June 24th | Dr. Kathleen Gallagher Boggs, NASA

This keynote presentation discusses NASAs current exploration plans and the challenges associated with human voyages to the Moon and Mars. It describes key human spaceflight capabilities that must be advanced to enable NASAs exploration goals, including sensors and avionics that can survive extreme environments, systems that enable crew and vehicle autonomy, and highly reliable environmental monitoring systems that require minimal maintenance. The keynote presentation will also address the importance and application of these capabilities to deep space human spaceflight, and the activities required to advance critical exploration capabilities, the means of demonstrating system performance, and implementation planning, including selection of flight test location based upon the unique environments and characteristics of the International Space Station, exploration-class vehicles, and lunar surface habitats.

To register for Sensors Expo & Conference during Early Bird Rates, click here. To register for Embedded Technologies Expo & Conference during Early Bird Rates, click here. Press registration for the events is also available here.

About Sensors, IoT, and Embedded Week

Sensors, IoT, and Embedded Week is set to take over Silicon Valley with four co-located events that will take place June 22-24, 2020 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. These events will host the largest gathering of design engineers in North America at the flagship 2020 Sensors Expo & Conference, Embedded Technologies Expo & Conference, Autonomous Technologies Conference, and the inaugural IoT Implementation Forum. Collectively, these events will showcase the design, application, and disruption brought on by these new and emerging technologies.

About Questex

Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy  connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.
The ex-president of Jackson State University has pleaded not guilty to prostitution charges after he was allegedly caught in an undercover sting at a motel.

William Bynum Jr. was absent in court Wednesday as his lawyer pleaded not guilty on charges of procuring a prostitute, false statement of identity and simple possession of marijuana, according to news reports.

The attorney also entered pleas of not guilty on charges of procuring services of a prostitute and possession of marijuana while operating a motor vehicle for Shonda McCarthy, 46, the schools former arts galleries director.

A trial for Bynum is scheduled for July 8, and a trial for McCarthy was is for June 24.

Bynum immediately resigned following the arrest on February 9 after police say he solicited prostitutes on the dark web

Following his prostitution bust in February, Bynum, 57, immediately resigned from his post as president at the Historically Black College in Jackson, Mississippi.

He and McCarthy were among 17 people arrested during a prostitution sting in early February at a hotel in nearby Clinton, Mississippi.

Byrnum and McCarthy drove to a Fairfield Inn hotel after answering an ad posted by an undercover officer soliciting prostitution services on the dark web. When they arrived they were 15 other people were arrested for offering prostitution services and promoting prostitution.

According to authorities, Bynum gave police a fake name when he was asked his identity.

Bynum was released from jail on February 10 on a $3,000 bail, while McCarthy was released on a $2,000 bail.

Four people from Memphis were also charged with promoting prostitution in the sting. Police said the suspects may have been running a multi-state prostitution ring.

In response to the arrest, Jackson State's Student Government President Jordan Jefferson told WAPT: 'Students are very upset about the situation,'

Jefferson added, 'We love Dr. Bynum. He was a great personable person. Very outgoing and was a great person overall, so everybody's sad about the situation.'

William Bynum and his wife, Deborah Bynum has reportedly been married to his wife for four decades

Bynum has six children with his wife of at least four decades, according to the Clarion Ledger.

Bynum's biography, which has since been scrubbed from the Jackson State University website, read that his personal and professional motto is, 'Look back and thank God. Look forward and trust God. Look around and serve God. Look within and find God.'

Prior to his resignation, Bynum had served as president of the 5,300-student university since 2017.

Thomas Hudson was appointed acting president of the school when Bynum stepped down.

Thomas Hudson was named acting president of JSU. Hudson served as special assistant to the president and chief diversity officer. Jefferson said he is pleased with the choice.
Homw Minister Amit Shah in the Rajya Sabha said there would be no need to show documents for NPR and nobody would be marked doubtful. People may leave questions blank if they don't want to answer any question.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament on Thursday, March 12, said there would be no need to show documents to register for National Population Register (NPR) and no one would be declared doubtful or D. The big statement from Home Minister came during a discussion on the Delhi violence in Rajya Sabha. Amit Shah said one can share the information he/she wants has or they may leave questions blank. There would be no compulsion on documents and people may provide whatever documents they have.

Replying to Congress query about doubtful names list, Shah said no one needs to fear about NPR. There would be no D marking in the updating process. He also asked senior Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad to visit him to clear all doubts.

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

To which, Congress Kapil Sibal said if no document would be asked then what is the point of this whole exercise?

Notably, several states including Kerala, West Bengal, Telangana have announced not to implement NPR already. Not just the states ruled by Oppotion, even BJPs ally JDU-led Bihar has refused to carry out the exercise.

The Modi governments announcement to carryout NPR exercise resulted in countrywide protests along with contentious Citizenship Act.

The protestors have been accusing that NPR, NRC and CAAs combination would be used to target and leave a particular community in stateless.

A few social media users called Amit Shahs statement a big victory for people who have been protesting on roads since December 15.

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
A parliament of tears, or at the very least, a chamber of parliamentarians keen to shed tears. It all seemed that a feeling of genuine empathy was streaming forth in Australias national capital in February. A mother, Hannah Clarke, and her three children (reciting their names is now political ritual: Aaliyah, Laianah, Trey), had been killed by a former partner and their father. The ingredients of cruelty, and their cataclysmic denouement, were there: incessant harassment, stalking, nursed thoughts of pre-meditative violence. Then came the car, the incineration of Clarke and the children, and the perpetrator taking his own life.

How such stages of ceremony preserve their solemnity, and sincerity, is a difficult thing. Do you ham it up, remain stoic or seek that slim middle ground of balanced sorrow? Australia has a domestic violence problem on both the levels of reality (it is colossal) and the way solutions are put forth (often inadequate). Then there is the hypocrisy that comes with political appropriation. To elevate an act of incessant barbarity to a representative podium can serve to singularise it. For the Australian context, domestic violence is neither singular nor infrequent. It patches the landscape of interactions between the countrys citizens.

The deaths have prompted the squirrelling types of the academy to ponder how perpetrators are portrayed. Those wishing to see things in terms of gender frames take issue with a media that, in Denise Buitens words, fails to provide domestic violence resources such as 1800Respect in their reporting of these cases. The Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, for instance, tweeted on the Clarke killings but finished it with a Lifeline support number. Even in a message with 280 characters, he was scolded for not providing a list of sources on domestic violence.

Buiten falls into that classic analytical trap: the either-or school of reference, the temptations of a convenient demonology. Presumption dictates all: the father behind the killings could not have been mentally ill, she implies, but was gendered in his approach, a natural born woman hater caged by convention. The point that he might have been mentally unstable and misogynistically muddled is simply a step too far, the very sort of holistic appraisal that is championed yet rarely applied. Domestic violence, like the Holocaust, is an absolute that resists understanding. Wide-ranging efforts to do so will be condemned, if not quashed altogether.

The prime minister is not exempt from this categorising tendency either. Being obsessed by a country near infallible, an Australia beyond comparison to other countries, he asked parliamentarians how such evil happened on our land. The actions of the estranged husband Rowan Baxter were those of a depraved and evil man.

Thinking of the perpetrator in terms other than pre-allocated categories dominates the reaction to such horrendous violence. Leader of the Opposition, Labors Anthony Albanese, for instance, inadvertently made the case against interpretation by suggesting that the murderous conduct of Baxter was quite frankly  just beyond comprehension. The nagging sense behind such comments is that explanation constitutes excuse, not reasoning. Best not make an effort to understand; the darkness excludes.

Sharon Claydon, Labor member for Newcastle, was adamant in her tribute that the slayer was a cowardly criminal, and anyone who says otherwise is part of the problem. An aspect of this came through with the fury against the loose-tongued Bettina Arndt, long known as the female face of male rights Down Under. Arndts colossal faux pas was to suggest that the Queensland police were keeping an open mind and awaiting proper evidence, including the possibility that Rowan Baxter might have been driven too far. For Claydon, her Order of Australia needed to be removed.

The Arndt intervention gave politicians a chance to rage about the granting of honours rather than an explication about the causes of domestic violence. Labor Senators Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally moved a motion that Arndts comments were reckless and abhorrent and inconsistent with her retaining her Order of Australia. A luminous alibi for a social ill had been found.

The approaches to such instances of violence become heavy with information kits, attachments for support, ideas that behaviour can be ringed, medicated and domesticated. The purse is open for more programs on inducing behavioural change. Social Services Minister Anne Ruston made an announcement in the immediate aftermath of the Clarke deaths that $2.4 million would be made available for four programs. But even in the tributes, there was a feeling among politicians that money, and community awareness programs, are blunt, poorly evaluated instruments. Tim Watts, Federal Labor member for Gellibrand, recalled the murder, in plain view of a main street in his electorate, of constituent Fiona Warzywoda. Sometimes it feels like we have made very little progress since then.

An overview of such behaviour change programs, specifically directed at men, is delved into by Rebecca Stewart and Breanna Wright. The authors note that a minimum standards manual, developed by NTV [the No to Violence initiative], has been highly influential nationally. While the object here is to shift attitudes and beliefs that are well-established drivers of mens violence against women, so as to change their behaviour, the material on whether they actually do so is scarce.

Some political representatives are keen to use the law, whatever its limitations, to influence the family structure. Parliamentarian Graham Perrett of Moreton suggested to his fellow lawmakers that the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility outlined in the Commonwealth Family Law Act be removed. Call it, he suggested, Hannah Clarkes amendment. Its existence incentivises violent men to litigate and is dangerous to women and children escaping domestic violence. The law, as ever, supplies a normative cord that is hard to sever.

Legislation and law makers are limited in terms of altering human conduct, as they should be. The historical record is heavy with governments and regimes that have insisted on the social engineering imperative, the mechanisms so troublingly depicted by Anthony Burgess in A Clockwork Orange. Much like humanitarianism and charity, an industry has developed around understanding the insidious presence of violence in the home and behind closed doors between the familiar and the intimate. The key questions remain stubbornly unanswered, leaving opinion making spoilers and theoretical speculators to earn currency and plaudits. Moral cant and outrage is often a poor substitute for treatment and healing.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
DURHAM, N.C. - Tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz can decline for up to two years after a piracy attack, a new Duke University study finds, but the adverse effects of the slowdown are far greater on some Persian Gulf countries than others.

"Large exporters of crude oil, such as Saudi Arabia, see little significant long-term impact. But for smaller countries such as Bahrain or Kuwait that rely on exports of refined petroleum products in addition to crude oil, it's a different story," said Lincoln F. Pratson, Gendell Family Professor of Energy and Environment at Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment.

These countries export much less energy than their larger neighbors, so their exports - though smaller in magnitude - make up a proportionally larger share of their gross domestic product, Pratson explained. "Even a marginal slowdown in energy shipping will therefore be more significant to them," he said.

If outgoing tanker traffic from Bahrain drops by just one vessel a year following a piracy attack, that country may experience a 1.6% reduction in its gross domestic product (GDP), the new study suggests. Kuwait may see a .67% drop in its GDP if its annual export traffic drops by one vessel.

Their reliance on exports of gasoline, diesel fuel and other refined petroleum products adds to the countries' vulnerability.

"Crude oil is a more resilient export commodity because only a few regions produce it. If prices rise because of security concerns, demand remains strong. But there are nearly 700 refineries worldwide, so when costs for refined petroleum products from the Persian Gulf rise due to piracy, importers can turn to other sources or opt to increase their own domestic production," said Jun U. Shepard, a PhD student in Earth and Ocean Sciences at the Nicholas School and an Energy Data Analytics Fellow at the Duke University Energy Initiative.

"In either case, Bahrain and Kuwait risk losing market share that may not be recovered for years," Shepard said.

Reducing the impacts of piracy on Bahrain and Kuwait's energy exports is important, she added, "not only because we still very much rely on these products, but because the Persian Gulf countries are petrostates that rely on their energy exports as a source of revenue to buy food and other goods that they can't produce on their own."

"If Bahrain and Kuwait can't continue doing this, it could trigger geopolitical instability and civil unrest in the region, which we want to avoid," Shepard said. "It could also increase the volatility of the global transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources."

She and Pratson published their peer-reviewed paper March 3 in the journal Energy Policy. They based their findings on a statistical analysis of seven years of data, from 2010 to 2017, on energy exports transported from Persian Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz.

Roughly a third of the world's annual supply of energy exports flows through the Strait of Hormuz, which provides the only passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Bordered by Iran to the north and the United Arab Emirates to the south, the 22-mile-wide strait is a flashpoint for geopolitical conflict and a hotbed of maritime piracy.

More than 750 hijacking attempts occurred in and around the strait from 2010 to 2017, the new study shows. Shipping traffic through the strait declined by 7.5 vessels a year, on average, for up to two years following each incident.

"Maritime piracy in the strait is a kind of low-grade chronic impact on the flow of energy sources to the rest of the world. Past studies have looked at its effect on trade, but this is the first study to examine its impacts on the Persian Gulf countries themselves," Pratson said. "And what we find is that its impact is selective."

###

The paper was supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Defense Minerva Program and the Office of Naval Research.

CITATION: "Maritime Piracy in the Strait of Hormuz and Implications of Energy Export Security," Jun U. Shepard and Lincoln F. Pratson; March 3, 2020, Energy Policy; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111379
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Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya and Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 07:26 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069ee8d9 1 National COVID-19,SARS-CoV-2,British,UK,Achmad-Yurianto,Bali-tourism Free

With cryptic updates on the coronavirus situation and a refusal to reveal the nationality and location of the first fatality in Indonesia, the government has kept the public guessing about the invisible threat.

On Wednesday, the governments spokesperson for COVID-19, Achmad Yurianto, who is also the Health Ministrys director general for disease control and prevention, said the patient in Case 25 had died at around 2 a.m. on Wednesday after three days of treatment. He said the patient was a 53-year-old foreigner, but he stopped short of disclosing the nationality and location.

Since Monday, beginning with Case 7, Yurianto has refused to divulge the location of each patient and their nationality if they were foreigners, saying he would remain consistent in not naming locations.

This communication policy has raised questions from experts, journalists and the public. The opaque manner of providing information on Case 25 has created particular confusion. After the central government announced the first death in the country, the chairman of Balis COVID-19 task force, Dewa Made Indra, said a suspected COVID-19 patient had died at Balis Sanglah Hospital, and the patient was a foreigner. He said at first he did not know whether that patient was Case 25.

"Today, early in the morning, at 2:45 a.m., a foreign national under observation at Sanglah Hospital died," Dewa said at a press conference in Denpasar on Wednesday.

"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."

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.

Also on Wednesday, the government announced seven new cases of infection, all Indonesians who had returned from abroad, but Yurianto did not reveal the countries the patients had come from, nor their current whereabouts.

Yurianto said the public did not need to know where COVID-19 patients lived, arguing that only the tracing team needed that information.

Some people and experts disagree.

The Public Information Commission (KIP), which monitors how the government meets the publics right to information, said that, in cases that threaten the lives and interests of many people, it was the governments duty to convey the information to the people.

Article 12 Verse 2 of KIP Regulation No. 1/2010 on standards of public information stipulates that the public agency has the obligation to immediately inform the public on any situation that could threaten peoples lives and public safety. One of them pertains to the strain, distribution and location of potentially infectious diseases.

The optimal dissemination of information would reduce the risk of virus spread and increase people participation, Arif Kuswardono, a KPI commissioner, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

A well-informed and well-educated community will not panic easily. The [people] can also understand how to take care of themselves, their families and their surroundings when facing virus threats, he said.

Syahrizal Syarief, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia, said he did not understand the governments reasoning in concealing the location of COVID-19 patients. Syarief said revealing the countries or locations such patients had been in was not a privacy violation.

The public, Syarief said, needed to be informed and included in tackling the epidemic.

To achieve this, the government should be open-minded, so that the people can play a role in the process or at least make decisions for themselves. The government's policy of not sharing information regarding the geographical locations of case and the travel history of patients in imported cases [amounts to] a lack of openness [] that will cause distrust toward the government.

Singapore, by contrast, has provided details on dates and locations of places or neighborhoods visited by coronavirus-positive patients. The data is updated daily and can be accessed by the public on the governments website at moh.gov.sg.

An expert staff member at the Executive Office of the President, Dany Amrul Ichdan, said in a discussion on Wednesday that the government had been doing its best to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 cases. However, he said, it needed a specific approach in its information management.

We cannot be as transparent as other countries. [] We have to be realistic about the behavior of Indonesians. When the first two cases were announced, people started panic buying, the [stock market index] dropped. [] There are many factors that make us different, our psychographic, lifestyle, character, mindset. And thats our challenge, Dany said.

Dany said a matter of concern was not just a nations health but also a nations economic conditions.

Im not saying that Indonesians are less wise, but people in other countries, when they are informed about the location of the coronavirus patients, they are wiser in how they react. When it happens in Indonesia, we tend to see more panic, we have seen it in Depok, so we want to do it without creating a negative domino effect, he said.

Nila Moeloek, the former health minister who took part in the discussion, reminded the government to prioritize the health of citizens.

Health is fundamental, Dany, but we always talk about the economy, she said to Dany.
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough signed a declaration of local disaster for Montgomery County Thursday in light of the COVID-19 crisis canceling all public events with more than 250 people including the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo.

Commissioners also urged residents to follow the countys lead and cancel large private events as well.

Conroe Mayor Toby Powell also signed a declaration of disaster for the city during the councils regular meeting Thursday. The declaration will expire in seven days, however, the council will meet for a special meeting at 2 p.m. March 19 to potentially extend the declaration unless it is needed before then.

Montgomery County Hospital District Chief Operating Officer Melissa Miller, which also manages the Montgomery County Public Health District, said as of Thursday the county had 20 people under monitoring who are at home checking temperatures twice a day and reporting the health officials, 11 people of interest who have symptoms and have been tested and six people whose tests have come back negative.

What we are aiming for from a public health standpoint is to slow down the virus and allow health care facilities and others not to be overwhelmed with a tsunami of patients all at one positive, Miller said. As more people are tested, we are going to see more positives results, that does not mean they will be sick, hospitalized or pass away.

That is what we are looking at to slow down exposure at mass events.

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack echoed Miller.

It is urgently important for us to contain and minimize the spread of this virus in our community and that is the impetuous of our response today, he said.

While declarations are typically in effect for not more than seven days, Keough asked the declaration be extended for 30 days per state law.

The action followed the announcement of the county second presumptive positive case Thursday morning. The woman in her 40s is a south county resident with her only travel history being to New Orleans.

The first case, a 40 year old northwest county man, was announced Wednesday. The man is a officer with the city of Patton Village, according to Patton Village Chief Shannon Sharp. Sharp said the officer holds an administrative role with the department but had been out of the office and has had no contact with the public as far as citations or calls for service.

We have been in constant contact with the Montgomery County Public Health Department, Sharp said. None of us are in any danger, none of us are symptomatic. We are following regular protocol the CDC put out.

Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, also spoke to commissioners regarding the current situation.

I appreciate the action you are taking; it is appropriate and I full support it, Creighton said adding containment and mitigation is critical. I know all of us in agreement that we dont want anyone to panic, we dont want any unnecessary hysteria.

Commissioners struggled with the handling of the fair and rodeo acknowledging the financial implications by canceling the week-long event but agreed there was little options to ensure public safety.

While Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador and Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley were supportive of the action, both asked about options to allow the students to still show and auction animals since many rely of those funds for college.

This was not an easy decision to make, Keough said. Its unfortunate but we must do this to beat the peak and will adjust as quickly as we can understanding there are enormous financial implications.

Executive Director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Jason Millsaps said if county and fair officials could develop a plan to avoid a gathering of more than 250 people, they would be willing but as of Thursday all the fair events would be canceled.

Its too hard to police, Millsaps. Its better to urge caution and include all events.

Noack suggested rescheduling the fair instead of canceling but Meador said that is difficult since timing is everything when you are raising and showing animals.

Keough said the order does not extend to law enforcement activities, emergency responses, court operations to include jury operations and to all school districts or private school facilities within the jurisdiction of Montgomery County. He added, all county employees will continue to report to work per their supervisors, however, all work related travel was canceled.

Late Thursday, Montgomery County Sheriff Rand Henderson suspended visitation for the Montgomery County Jail until further notice. Family and friends of those being housed in the county jail may still communicate with them via phone or written correspondence. Notice will be given once visitation in the jail has been reinstituted, MCSO officials stated.

The declaration canceled the following: all sponsored or permitted county events; all events with more than 250 people at public facilities; all events of more than 250 people in the county of at risk population; specifically events for those over 65 or those with severe medical conditions; all nursing homes and senior living centers urged to limit visitation.

Keough said the situation is changing rapidly adding the county was working closely with local and state officials to keep the public update.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
A major government report on cybersecurity that warns the nation is seriously underprepared for cyber attacks calls for the creation of a federally-funded center to develop cybersecurity insurance certifications and a public-private partnership on cyber risk models.

The report, A Warning from Tomorrow, also calls for consideration of a government reinsurance program to cover catastrophic cyber events.

Our country is at risk, not only from a catastrophic cyberattack but from millions of daily intrusions disrupting everything from financial transactions to the inner workings of our electoral system, says the report from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

The commission advocates a strategic approach to cybersecurity that it refers to as layered cyber deterrence, which has the goal of a reduced probability and impact of cyberattacks of significant consequence.

It organizes its proposals around what it calls six pillars: reforming the U.S. governments structure and organization for cyberspace; strengthening norms and non-military tools; promoting national resilience; reshaping the cyber ecosystem; operationalizing cybersecurity cooperation with the private sector; and preserving and employing the military instrument of national power.

According to the report, the country is dangerously insecure in cyber and increasingly relies on networks of digital devices that are vulnerable, if not already compromised.

The status quo is inviting attacks on America every second of every day. The status quo is a slow surrender of American power and responsibility, says the report.

Heres U.S. Cyberspace Commissions Thinking on Insurance The commission says the government needs to step in because the insurance industry is failing to provide financial incentives for better cyber risk management. Learn more.

The commission says the country has lost hundreds of billions of dollars to nation-state-sponsored intellectual property theft using cyber espionage and that a major cyberattack on the nations critical infrastructure and economic system would create chaos and lasting damage exceeding that wreaked by fires in California, floods in the Midwest, and hurricanes in the Southeast.

The bipartisan commission was established by the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) are co-chairs. Its members include cyber experts, private sector representatives, members of Congress and senior government officials. These strategists, technologists, economists and policymakers were charged with coming up with a comprehensive strategy for how the United States should defend itself in cyberspace.

In addition to its insurance proposals, the commission also recommends a new cybersecurity bureau in the State Department and a national data privacy protection law.

Another recommendations is that the government institute an economic continuity plan to ensure that the country can rapidly restore critical functions across corporations and industry sectors and get the economy back up and running after a catastrophic cyberattack.

It also calls for cloud security certification or modernizing corporate accountability reporting requirements. We do not want to saddle the private sector with onerous and counterproductive regulations, nor do we want to force companies to hand over their data to the federal government, the authors say.

It further emphasizes a need for steps to secure elections from foreign intervention. If we dont get election security right, deterrence will fail and future generations will look back with longing and regret on the once powerful American Republic and wonder how we screwed the whole thing up, the executive summary warns.

Insurance Certifications

The commissions more than 75 recommendations include several in the area of insurance.

First, the report calls on the Department of Homeland Security to launch a federally-funded research and development center to work with state regulators in developing certifications for cybersecurity insurance products as well as for underwriter and claims adjuster training. According to the report, this center and certifications are necessary in part because the insurance industry lacks the talent and pricing tools to improve the cyber risk management practices in the private sector:

A robust and functioning market for insurance products can have the same positive effect on the risk management behavior of firms as do regulatory interventions. Although the insurance industry plays an important role in enabling organizations to transfer a small portion of their cyber risk, it is falling short of achieving the public policy objective of driving better practices of risk management in the private sector more generally. The reasons for this failure are varied but largely come down to an inability on the part of the insurance industry to comprehensively understand and price risk, due in part to a lack of talented underwriters and claims adjusters and the absence of standards and frameworks for how cyber risk should be priced. This has had the combined effect of creating an opaque environment for enterprises attempting to purchase coverage and undermining the effectiveness of insurance as an incentive to push enterprises toward better security behavior.

Thus, Congress should direct DHS to resource a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) to develop the following models in coordination with state insurance regulators:

Underwriter Training and Certification: For underwriters to effectively evaluate and analyze risk in a given industry, they must understand it, the report says, citing certifications now available for underwriters in other areas of insurance, including homeowners, flood, life and health. The FFRDC should work with insurers, state regulators, and experts in cybersecurity risk management to develop curricula and training courses for cyber insurance underwriters required under a cyber insurance underwriter certification.

Claims Adjuster Training and Certification: Like under-writers, claims adjusters are crucial in ensuring that insurance policies can adapt to changing conditions, the report says. The FFRDC should work with insurers, state regulators, and cybersecurity risk management experts to develop training and certification models for cyber claims adjusters.

Cyber Insurance Product Certification: State insurance regulators can and often do set minimum standards that insurance products must meet in order to be offered in their state, thereby ensuring that insurance policy provisions comply with state law, are reasonable and fair, and do not contain major gaps in coverage that might be misunderstood by consumers and leave them unprotected. The FFRDC should develop cybersecurity product certifications based on a common lexicon and security standards.

Cyber Risk Modeling

The report continues in the area of insurance, calling for a public-private partnership on cyber risk modeling.

For insurance to act as a de facto regulator of organizational behavior, the market for insurance must accurately price risk. Premiums and limits on insurance products must also drive firms that have bought insurance to invest in improving their cyber risk posture. Today, insurance companies lack quality data sets and models to understand, price, and mitigate cyber risk. Although bad or incomplete data is a major barrier to accurately pricing cyber risk, insurers are not incentivized to pool and aggregate their data to build more robust and accurate pricing models, the report says.

Under this proposal, a DHS public-private working group of insurance companies and cyber risk modeling companies would collaborate in pooling available statistics and data for use in developing better, more accurate cyber risk models. This group should identify areas of common interest so that these entities can benefit from one anothers risk modeling efforts, particularly with regard to dependency mapping and the consequences of cyber disruptions.

Cyber Reinsurance

A third recommendation in the area of insurance calls for the exploration of government-backed reinsurance to cover catastrophic cyber events.

The authors note that currently the federal government plays a role in cyber via the Treasury departments authority to indicate cyber events that trigger Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) protections. Also, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been authorized to assess the current state of cyber insurance.

However, the commission believes, the federal government is in a position to do more. The commission supports having the GAO work with relevant departments and agencies, including the Department of Commerce, DHS, and Department of the Treasury, to also study:

Current exemptions for property and casualty insurance policies, including act of war exemptions, and complications of including them in cyber insurance policies.

The existing scoping of the TRIA to assess whether it is sufficiently broad to cover cyber events perpetrated by nation-states, which most general property and casualty insurance policies currently exclude or attempt to exclude.

If the triggering threshold for the TRIAa loss of $200 million, as of the 2020 reauthorizationis the appropriate size to trigger a similar backstop for catastrophic cyber events.

Comparative models of federal share percentage of a cyber insurancerelated backstop.

What types of cyber events constitute certified acts of terrorism and whether this provides a sufficient backstop for insurers, as many major cyber events particularly those perpetrated by nation-statesmay not fit squarely under the definition of certified act of terrorism.

What events and which entities would be covered by a backstop, given that terror attacks generally take place in and affect a confined area, while some cyber incidents are not bounded by geography. For example, the study should address whether a cyber- attack on an American company affecting only assets in another jurisdiction would qualify.

The commission members urged the public to demand that government and private sector leaders act with speed and agility to address the cyber threats.

Source: A Warning from Tomorrow

Topics Catastrophe Cyber Claims USA Underwriting Market Training Development Risk Management
Innovator of lightweight materials honored by global engineering society

BROOKLYN, New York, Monday, March 9, 2020 - Nikhil Gupta, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, received the prestigious Brimacombe Medalist Award, presented each year to an elite group of researchers by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS), a professional organization with nearly 14,000 members worldwide.

The society, one of the largest in the field of materials sciences, presented the award to Gupta and five others at the group's annual meeting in San Diego on February 26, 2020, which was attended by over 5,000 members.

The mid-career award recognizes individuals with sustained excellence and achievement in business, technology, education, public policy, or science related to materials science and engineering and with a record of continuing service to the profession. Gupta was honored for innovations in the development of lightweight porous materials and for commitment to educating the public about the impact of materials research on society.

Highlights of Gupta's work over the past decade on lightweight syntactic foams -- an eco-friendly material that finds a useful home for fly ash, a toxic by-product of coal combustion -- in collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and others, includes:

A partnership with researchers in India that led to the first process to 3D print parts made of strong, lightweight syntactic foam composites that will enable manufacturers to print complex components capable of surviving stresses at greater depths, a boon for submarine manufacturers.

He also demonstrated that syntactic foams can be produced with economies of scale by smaller companies for automotive and consumer products sectors. The lightest metal based syntactic foam produced in collaboration with industry was finalist for R&D 100 Awards.

To make that process easier for smaller operators, he collaborated with chemical manufacturers to develop an online tool that simplifies, accelerates, and improves syntactic foam material design.

"I am deeply humbled to receive the Brimacombe Medalist Award," said Gupta. "The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society has been a big part of my professional life since I became a student member in 1997. I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the professional development opportunities, connecting with my peers in the Composite Materials Committee, and developing programming and content for the conferences and journals over the past several years."

"This award, from one of the largest, most prestigious societies in materials engineering is a fitting tribute to a researcher whose efforts have propagated a dazzling array of innovative materials and processes for marine, automotive and aerospace applications," said Jelena Kovacevi?, Dean of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. "Additionally, his focus on renewable feedstocks is just one example of how researchers at NYU Tandon are making industrial chemistry more sustainable."

Nikhil Gupta's research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

###

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly). A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within NYU, one of the country's foremost private research universities, and is closely connected to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates Future Labs focused on start-up businesses in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering. nyu. edu .

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The meeting was attended by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak.

The regular meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Peaceful Settlement of the situation in Donbas was held in Minsk on March 11, during which Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak agreed to simultaneously open the checkpoints in the towns of Zolote and Schastia.

Read alsoOne Ukrainian soldier wounded amid two enemy attacks on March 11

The sides also reached an agreement on the exchange of detained persons, the disengagement of forces and assets, as well as the establishment of the Advisory Board, according to the official website of the president of Ukraine.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Yermak on March 1 met with Kozak in Minsk, Belarus, to discuss a swap of prisoners in the all-for-all format.

This was agreed by greed by the Normandy Four leaders (Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany) at their summit in Paris in December 2019.
(Photo : Joshua Roberts on Reuters) Coronavirus Hack: Delta Air Lines Flies With EMPTY Seats; Where Should You Seat on a Plane to Prevent COVID-19? (Photo : Photo by Marc Schiele on Unsplash) Coronavirus Hack: Delta Air Lines Flies With EMPTY Seats; Where Should You Seat on a Plane to Prevent COVID-19?

Traveling from countries to countries nowadays is like a death trap for most people around the world due to the widespread of Coronavirus COVID-19. In fact, people are now refusing to travel, just like what was seen on a viral video of Delta Air Lines flying with an almost empty airplane. However, if you really wish to travel despite the viral disease, what are the things you must remember? First, book your plane tickets located on window seats.

[WATCH] Delta Air Lines flies with almost GHOST plane after Coronavirus warnings

In a video captured by Delta Air Lines plane passenger Dr. Scott Anderson from Utah, it was seen that the airplane that was about to take off had almost no passengers inside to board with him. According to Anderson, his flight starts from Utah, traveling to Florida.

The video was posted on Twitter on Monday, Mar. 9, which went viral since authorities in the United States already strictly recommended for all businesses and citizens to prevent getting inside airplanes where virus easily be transmitted-- due to its close and cold compartment.

"This does not happen very much anymore. Flight to Orlando mostly empty. Over 100 seats unused," posted by Anderson.

Back in Jan., Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, British Airlines, and other international carriers already paused their travel to China, wherein the virus originated to protect their passengers and crews.

It was said that over $100 billion are now at risk for airline companies since most flights are currently canceled, and many passengers would not take risks to fly as Coronavirus continues to spread worldwide.

However, just like Anderson, there are still several people that are obligated to fly outside of the country-- whether personal reasons or business-- if this is the case, how can you prevent being a COVID-19 carrier on a plane? The secret lies with where you should sit on a plane.

This is the safest place to seat on a plane to prevent Coronavirus

According to the National Geographic, time and distance are two of the very most important factors that determine whether you'll be infected with the virus or not. Since Coronavirus can be spread through droplets coming from a carrier's cough or sneeze, choosing a place on a plane wherein this is least possible to happen is crucial.

As said on a study made by Emory University's Vicki Stover Hertzberg and Howard Weiss, seating on window seats are the best place where the virus can be least transmitted.

For example, most people that board on a plane always move on their seats whether to go to the bathroom or check the overhead bins. If you are sitting on the aisle, the probability of catching a virus is higher since every person that will walk on the aisle would be in closer contact with you.

However, if you're sitting on window seats, it is too far from the carriers to spread their virus on your side.

"Accordingly, window seat passengers had far fewer close encounters than people in other seats, averaging 12 contacts compared to the 58 and 64 respective contacts for passengers in middle and aisle seats," explained by National Geographic.

So next time you travel, you now know where to sit on a plane.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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The UKs Global Navigation Satellite System vital to the nations interests is being thrown into doubt by Whitehall inertiaLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Of the unexpected consequences of Brexit, being forced out of Galileo the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is perhaps the one with the greatest potential to cause catastrophic problems for Britains security, military, political, commercial and economic interests, let alone the effect on day-to-day life for the general public.Until leaving the EU Britain had been the leader in the Galileo project, a vital competitor to the US GPS and Russian GLONASS systems. Now we are in the unenviable position of either having to pay our way to be allowed to use one of these systems, or to take control of our own destiny by creating the UK GNSS.Up until a few weeks ago we were forging ahead with the latter option. In 2018 a feasibility study was announced by then Prime Minister Theresa May while new PM Boris Johnson has reiterated his support for the project time after time, announcing it in the Queens Speech in December 2019 and reportedly giving it his full backing in Cabinet as recently as 28th February.But why do we need UK GNSS at all? Id like to say its simple but in fact its very complex, which is perhaps one of the reasons that Whitehall seems to be running scared right now.Access to GNSS signals is vital for modern economies and the UKs reliance on it continues to grow as new applications are developed. The UK Governments own Blackett Review in 2018 identified a reliance on GNSS across critical national infrastructure including time-location based systems, communications and military requirements for location, surveillance and weapons delivery.The overall effect of the loss of GNSS timing signals on the UK infrastructure, such as ATM machines, power and utilities distribution, cargo handling, timing for various communication systems, transport and rail systems has been estimated at 1b per day. In fact 11% of the UKs GDP is directly supported by satellite navigation systems.Any loss, or even restriction, of GNSS services to the UK would be disastrous for the economy but also for national security. The UK military has a critical requirement to access an encrypted system. It can access GPS via a NATO agreement and may able to buy into Galileo but crucially it would not control the encryption codes, leaving the defence of the country open to the political will of either the US or French governments.At a time when the UK needs to step up and assert its place on the global stage being at the behest of a foreign government for vital defence requirements seems to fly in the face of our current reality. There is no doubt that a UK GNSS would eliminate any political risk and reduce the military risk.With all this in mind the Government elected in December has been understandably supportive of the UK GNSS project, identifying three key policy aims for it:CapabilityDeliver a new, UK-controlled space capability that will strengthen national resilience and provide secure and assured position, navigation and timing services anywhere in the world to support a wide range of UK strategic objectives (e.g. humanitarian aid missions, trade deals).Global StandingDemonstrate the UKs role as a major global actor with global reach and influence, boost our standing as a credible international partner for allies, and affirm the UKs status as a Tier 1 military power.ProsperityBoost UK prosperity by providing new high-tech economic opportunities in the UK space sector, and stimulating innovation in sectors such as security, CNI and defence which rely on space-based position, navigation and timing services.So why now are various departments involved, (BEIS, MOD and Cabinet Office) seemingly either at loggerheads or running scared and trying to back away from investing in a crucial piece of Britains infrastructure?Can it be the cost? A budget of 5bn has been identified; 3bn to build and launch 24 satellites by 2025 and a further 2bn to operate the system for a further five years. Compared to a potential loss of 1bn per day it seems a tiny price to pay. And putting it in context with the infrastructure spend on HS2 for example, now estimated at well over 100bn or Crossrail at over 18bn, it looks like incredibly good value for money.Its not the technology, the UK was at the forefront of Galileo and has 50 leading edge companies ready to start work including Inmarsat, CGI, SSTL and Airbus.Indeed, industry and the UK Space Agency have already been working closely with the MOD on a potential design that would be significantly less complex than Galileo. The UK GNSS system is planned to have 24 satellites in Medium Earth Orbit to provide an open navigation and timing service as well as an encrypted position and time service designed for public service authorities or the military.Does the sudden reluctance to take the next step therefore come down to either a lack of confidence within the Cabinet Office or the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, in their capability to deliver a complex project?Or is the issue one of traditional civil service inertia, being unwilling to step away from the status quo that would see the UK sign up to whatever the Americans thought best for us. After all it could be a bargaining chip in forthcoming trade talks.The Cabinet Secretary has recently talked about a cheaper alternative to UK GNSS, but no such alternative exists. It is just a delaying tactic introducing chaos with proposals and counter proposals for a variety of systems that have previously been discarded as not meeting user requirements for a global robust system.We are at a crucial time for the future of the UK as an economy and as a major player on the global stage. We cannot afford to retreat into a bunker mentality reliant on other nations to supply us with vital technology which could be denied to us at any time.UK GNSS is a stepping-stone enabling a robust future for Britain, it ensures our hands and our actions for both business and the military are not tied to a foreign power. UK GNSS is at a vital stage, where delay by Whitehall could kill the project, however to give the country the freedom of action it has been looking for during the whole Brexit project it
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Undoubtedly, almost everyone in this world has suffered from a mental illness or simply anxiety and distress at some point in their lives. At such a time, there is only one thing that helps: therapy.

There are many different types of therapy, with the most widely known being talk therapy. Therapy is a scientifically proven treatment that is intended to help you understand how your mind works. It is supposed to help you eliminate negative thoughts, resolve problematic behaviors and enforce positive behaviors with the help of a therapist who works with you to set goals, track progress and measure results.

Unfortunately, talk therapy doesn't always work for everybody. It's not uncommon for people to spend years and even decades in talk therapy and never really be "cured." And although the stigma around mental health is finally changing, and more and more people are seeking aid from a therapist, spending years in therapy with minimal results causes many to reinforce the beliefs that "therapy doesn't work" or that "talking to someone about my problems won't help me."

But this doesn't have to be true as not all therapy is created equally, and specialized EMDR therapists like Robert Grigore have helped people from all over the globe to quickly resolve their issues so they can lead a happy life.

A certified EMDR therapist and a published author, Robert Grigore is a well-known psychotherapist and the founder of Grigore Counselling. He is famous for his unique take on the accelerated form of therapy called, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Growing up, Robert suffered from anxiety and depression. Even though he had everything he ever wanted, he felt like there was a void that couldn't be filled by any material thing. After spending years in traditional talk therapy he experienced an incident that made him realize that he was unconsciously repeating negative situations because he was emotionally wounded. That's when Robert sought help in the form of EMDR therapy. It was then that his life turned around.

After experiencing EMDR therapy personally, and beginning to use it with his clients, Robert realized the potential it had. He thought he found the "Holy Grail of therapy," because EMDR actually allows people to completely let go of their negative thoughts, beliefs, and stop repeating unwanted behaviors. He said, "I truly believe that everyone can become their true authentic selves and be happy, what stands in the way are old emotional wounds-heal them, and anyone can be free."

As he stepped into this new direction in his psychotherapy career, Robert observed that certain people did not continue their EMDR therapy because of time constraints. Although EMDR therapy is considerably faster and has more fruitful results than talk therapy, it can still take months to show results. For this reason, many people such as entrepreneurs and business executives cannot commit to EMDR therapy even though they really need it. That's why Robert came up with his "One & Done - Total Immersion Package," to help these individuals for whom he believes are marginalized, and end up falling through the cracks.

Grigore Counselling's "One & Done - Total Immersion Package boasts complete resolution of an issue in as little as a single weekend-and they have loads of testimonials to back this up. Although their testimonials are disguised for privacy reasons, it's easy to see that Robert specially designed this format of EMDR therapy for CEOs, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and other busy professionals who have their battles with anxieties, fears, and other insecurities that keeps their happiness hostage. Common complaints of his clients are fears of failure, what others think of them, and burnout due to the constant burden of responsibilities they face every day.

Over the course of as little as three days, Robert helps his clients eliminate negative thoughts, emotions, and beliefs that act as hurdles in their paths of success. He also teaches them effective ways of dealing with stress that may come after they graduate into their new level of being, because as he says, "Life happens, and there's always situations that will bring us stress. My clients won't be dealing with the same stress they came in with, because that will be eliminated, but it's always good to have a few techniques in the back pockets to deal with stress in a more effective way."

Robert's accelerated format of EMDR Therapy is a game-changer for busy professionals from all over the world. Seeing that his clients travel to Vancouver, BC from different parts of the globe to work with him is proof of how effective his treatment is.

Therapy does not have to last forever; it should have an end date. When you conclude therapy, you shouldn't have the same problems as when you started. A good therapist will work on your problems with you and will give you tools that will last a lifetime. Robert believes that an investment into one's mental health should be an incredible experience unlike any other, that elevates the individual for the rest of their lives--and that's exactly what he does.

Contact:

Robert Grigore

info@grigorecounselling.com

SOURCE: Mogul Press

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580354/How-Robert-A-Grigores-One-Done--Total-Immersion-Package-is-Helping-People-from-all-over-the-World
Kuldeep Singh Sengar was convicted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of the Unnao rape victim's father

New Delhi: In an unusual argument, expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar on Thursday told a Delhi court that if he has done anything wrong, he should be hanged and acid poured in his eyes.

He was convicted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of the Unnao rape victim's father.

Sengar, who himself argued during the hearing on quantum of sentence, claimed before District Judge Dharmesh Sharma that he has no involvement in the murder of the victim's father who died in judicial custody on 9 April, 2018.

"Give justice to me or else hang me, put acid in my eyes if I have done something wrong," he told the judge.

Sengar, who was convicted by the court along with seven others on 4 March in the case, denied any involvement in the death of victim's father and asserted that he has done no wrong.

On 20 December last year, Sengar was sentenced to jail for "remainder of his natural biological life" in a separate case for raping the woman in 2017 when she was a minor.

During the arguments on Thursday, the judge told Sengar that he has already been held guilty and he cannot deny his involvement as the records clearly suggested that he was on call with the police officials when the victim's father was being beaten up in custody.

Sengar said he has two daughters and requested the judge that he be let-off.

"You have a family. Everyone has. You should have thought all this while committing the crime but you went on to break all the laws. Now will you say no to everything? Till when will you deny?" the judge observed.

The CBI sought maximum punishment for Sengar and others, including the two convicted policemen in the case, the then in-charge of Makhi police station Ashok Singh Bhadauria and then sub-inspector KP Singh.

The CBI's counsel argued that being public servants, it was the duty of these two police officers to maintain law and order but they did not fulfil their duties and did not give timely treatment to the victim's father.

These police officers were involved in the conspiracy and deserve stricter punishment, the CBI counsel told the court, which would continue hearing arguments on quantum of sentence on Friday.

The court had on March 4 convicted Sengar and seven others of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, saying he had no intention of killing the victim's father.

Along with Sengar, Bhadauria and Singh, the court had held, Vineet Mishra, Birendra Singh, Shashi Pratap Singh, Suman Singh and Atul (Sengar's brother), guilty of committing offence under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The other sections read with it are 166 (public servant disobeying law to cause injury to a person), 167 (public servant framing incorrect document to cause injury), 193 (false evidence), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 211 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record to save person from punishment), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint) and section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC.

The court, however, had acquitted other accused, constable Amir Khan, Shailendra Singh, Ram Sharan Singh and Sharadveer Singh, giving them the benefit of doubt.

The CBI had examined 55 witnesses in support of the case and the defence had examined nine witnesses.

The court had recorded the statements of the rape victim's uncle, mother, sister and one of her father's colleague who had claimed to be an eyewitness to the incident.

According to the CBI, on 3 April, 2018, there was an altercation between the rape victim's father and one Shashi Pratap Singh.

The charge sheet filed on 13 July, 2018, said the victim's father and his co-worker were returning to their village, Makhi, when they asked Shashi for a lift.

Shashi denied them the lift, triggering an altercation among them, the CBI had alleged adding that Shashi called his associates, following which Kuldeep's brother Atul Singh Sengar reached the spot along with others and beat up the woman's father and his co-worker.

The woman's father was subsequently taken to the police station by them where an FIR was lodged against him and he was arrested.

The charge sheet said that all this while, Kuldeep Sengar was in touch with the district police superintendent and Makhi police station in-charge Ashok Singh Bhadauria. Later, he also spoke to the doctor who examined the rape victim's father.

The case was transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on 1 August last year.

In July, 2019 a truck had rammed into the car the rape victim was travelling in with some family members and her lawyer. Two of her aunts died in the incident. She was airlifted from a hospital in Lucknow and brought to AIIMS in Delhi.

The victim has been provided accommodation in Delhi and is under CRPF protection.
New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati on Thursday (March 12) issued notices to the 22 Congress MLAs who have resigned to appear before him by Friday (March 13), said a PTI report, adding that they have been asked to clarify if they have quit voluntarily or under pressure.

However, the BJP in Madhya Pradesh has stated that it will seek a floor test on March 16 in the wake of 22 Congress MLAs resigning in the state.

BJP's chief whip in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Narottam Mishra told reporters in Bhopal, "Since the government is in minority, we are going to request the governor and the Assembly Speaker for a floor test on March 16 when the state budget session begins."

Meanwhile, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "This government has lost majority."

The resignation of Congress MLAs has put the 15-month-old Kamal Nath-led government into deep crisis after former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party on Tuesday. 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 will then be left with 92 seats, while the BJP has 107 seats with the magic number for a majority being 104.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh reportedly said that Speaker Prajapati has issued notices to the 22 MLAs, including six ministers, who have resigned. Digvijaya Singh also sought to know why the MLAs were not meeting the Speaker to submit their resignations.

On Wednesday, the MP Speaker said that he would follow due procedure, examine evidence, and only then decide on the resignation issue of rebel Congress MLAs.
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.
SOUTHWICK  A driver, missing for hours after crashing into a utility pole on Tannery Road early Wednesday, was taken to Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield for treatment, police said.

Police Chief Kevin Bishop told WWLP officers were summoned to Tannery Road shortly after midnight and discovered a vehicle had crashed into a utility pole. The driver could not be found.

Police learned the driver had medical issues and had not been heard from since the crash. A search by Southwick police and fire personnel, along with the state police air wing and troopers from the Russell barracks, ensued.

The driver was located at a Mobil gasoline station on College Highway about 7 a.m. and taken to the Noble for treatment of undisclosed injuries. Additional information was not available.
[March 11, 2020] JD Digits Named to Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2020

BEIJING, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JD Digits had been named to Fast Company's prestigious annual list of the World's Most Innovative Companies for 2020 as the only Chinese company under the Data Science category. The award honors businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture. JD Digits' effort in using data technology, AI and IoT as a competitive tool to energize Chinese agricultural industry was recognized by the magazine. The company's digital solutions also have been deployed across multiple sectors, including financial services, agriculture, intelligent cities, and digital marketing. For instance, JD Digits is helping financial institutions to achieve digital transformations through its one-stop financial digital solution T1 and credit card digital operation solution and intelligent asset management technology plaform JT.



In addition, JD Digits has launched new digital breeding projects for the agricultural sector, such as AI-powered solutions for cattle raising and intelligent container fish farming to improve the efficiency of production and quality of agricultural and animal husbandry products while also helping to facilitate the sector's sustainable development. In marketing, the company has succeeded in making digital advertising and outdoor media much more accurate and effective in reaching their audiences. Leveraging AI as core technology capability and other pillars including data, Io T, and blockchain, JD Digits is fully committed to driving forward the digitalization of industries.

In 2014, JD Digits first started using AI in financial risk management. Today, the company is moving rapidly towards the broad-based deployment of AI across many different areas. Examples of recent R&D breakthroughs include: 1) JD Digits' pioneering development of asynchronous federated learning, which does not require the use of synchronized data among different servers, thereby enabling much higher levels of efficiency in large-scale data processing; 2) JD Digits' ground-breaking feature replay in deep learning which significantly boosts the speed and efficiency of computing by over 33%. Over the years, JD Digits has continuously expanded its R&D investments. More than 60% of the company's global employees are technical personnel while over 95% of its projects are focused on achieving smart and highly automated operations. JD Digits' Silicon Valley-based AI lab has a team of 40 scientists, who are working closely with the corporate headquarters in Beijing to integrate the lab's cutting-edge solutions  across 3D machine vision, text synthesis, man-machine conversation and deep learning  with the best industry practices. JD Digits is a leading Chinese digital technology company that connects the real economy through world-class digital solutions. First established under JD.com, China's largest retailer, it later began operating as an independent business group in October 2013. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jd-digits-named-to-annual-list-of-the-worlds-most-innovative-companies-for-2020-301022037.html SOURCE JD Digits

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Google's parent company Alphabet has asked its North American staff to work from home to reduce the potential spread of the coronavirus.



Last week the tech giant sent a memo to staff recommending that employees in Washington state work from home.



It has now expanded that request to all of its almost 100,000 workers across 11 offices in the US and Canada.



Alphabet is the latest company to make such an announcement as US coronavirus cases have risen to almost 1,000.



"Out of an abundance of caution, and for the protection of Alphabet and the broader community, we now recommend you work from home if your role allows," Chris Rackow, Google's vice president of global security, wrote in an email to workers.



Alphabet said its offices in North America will remain open for those whose jobs require them to come in.



Last week, Google, along with many of the world's other major tech companies, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook, began recommending that staff in Seattle should work from home as the coronavirus spreads in Washington state.



The state had more than 160 cases as of Monday night. California and New York, where Alphabet has large offices, are also experiencing spikes in the number of cases.



An employee at Amazon and an employee at Facebook have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.



On Sunday, Apple chief executive Tim Cook asked employees at several of its global offices to work remotely this week "if your job allows".



Last week Twitter told its employees to work from home to help stop the spread of the virus. In a blog post, the social media giant said it was mandatory for staff in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea to work remotely.



Twitter also said it was "strongly encouraging" all of its 5,000 employees around the world to not to go into their offices.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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A guest at Bute House, the Scottish first minister's official residence, has said a former government official was at a dinner there on the evening Alex Salmond is alleged to have tried to rape her.

The former first minister of Scotland is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh over accusations of sexual assault.

The woman has spoken about two alleged incidents, including one charge that the 65-year-old tried to rape her in June 2014.

Mr Salmond's lawyer had previously suggested she had not been at the dinner that night.

But a recording of a police interview taken via Skype in 2019 was played in the courtroom yesterday when the guest claimed he had met the complainant at the dinner.

Under questioning from Detective Chief Inspector Graeme McLachlan, the man said the evening's atmosphere was "jovial".

It was heard one bottle of wine was shared between a few people and no one was overly intoxicated.

Giving evidence, the woman denied she had a consensual encounter with Mr Salmond.

Shelagh McCall QC, representing Mr Salmond, claimed yesterday the prosecution witness had a consensual sexual encounter with Mr Salmond at Bute House in August 2013. She said the woman had kissed Mr Salmond and he had kissed her back and she had unbuttoned his shirt and pulled down his trousers.

Ms McCall added: "Mr Salmond says he did have an encounter with you, of a sexual nature with you, but it was in August 2013."

But the woman said: "I have never been a willing participant of Alex Salmond's advances towards me."

Ms McCall said the encounter ended when the woman said to Mr Salmond that she had not "meant this to happen" and they realised they had got "carried away".

But the woman said: "Absolutely not, it sounds a much better ending of an evening than what actually happened."

Mr Salmond faces 14 charges of alleged offences against 10 women, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to. The trial continues.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday reviewed the measures and preparation to tackle the spread of coronavirus and directed that schools and colleges in the state will remain closed till March 31.

In the meeting held at the residence of Baghel after his return from New Delhi, a decision was taken to close all the schools and colleges till March 31 in line with the Centre's advisory.

The schools and colleges, where examinations are underway, have been allowed to remain open, according to official statements from the state's School and Higher departments.

The Chief Minister also directed the Health Department to keep a close eye on the situation and take appropriate actions to prevent the spread of the infection in the state.

Baghel also directed the administration to raise awareness about coronavirus and advertise the advisory issued by the health ministry.

Several state ministers and government officials were present in the meeting, which comes after at least 73 people were tested positive for coronavirus in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A phone call from a concerned citizen and an alert bank employee resulted in Collegedale Police arresting four people allegedly involved in a major identity theft and fraudulent check cashing scheme.

A local citizen contacted the Collegedale Police Department at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 6, stating that he had received a call from an employee from Unify Credit Union on Apison Pike. The employee noticed a black sedan with three males and one female had been sitting in the parking lot for an extended amount of time without conducting any business. One male was spotted urinating outside the car and scattering torn pieces of paper in the parking lot.

Officers located the vehicle with only the three male suspects inside. One officer was informed that the woman was across the street at the Suntrust Bank on Apison Pike. After locating the woman and questioning her, officers discovered that she possessed multiple fake IDs along with drug paraphernalia. A manager with Suntrust Bank confirmed that the woman had attempted to cash a forged check for $2,000.

Officers detained the female along with the three males as all were suspects in an apparent fraudulent check cashing scheme. The men were identified as Kenneth Harris, who was found to have a full extradition warrant out of New York, Marcus Moore-Robinson and Daquon Evans.

After searching the vehicle, Collegedale officers located a bag containing marijuana, a black ski mask, drug paraphernalia, notebooks with numerous names and dates of birth, multiple checks and other documents with none of the suspects names on them, and registrations.

All four suspects were transported to the Collegedale Police Department where they were interviewed by Detective ODaniel and the United States Secret Service. In addition to criminal conspiracy, each suspect was charged with fabricating or tampering with evidence, identity theft, and criminal littering. The suspects are currently being held at the Hamilton County Jail.

A bond hearing has been set for April 22.
The Mumbai Police have urged



their personnel to greet people with namaste instead of handshakes in wake of the coronavirus outbreak in Maharashtra.

Police personnel have been instructed to avoid shaking hands with people while interacting with them, an official said.

"In an attempt to keep our personnel safe during the coronavirus outbreak, we have asked our men to avoid shaking hands with people and instead greet them with namaste," deputy commissioner of police and spokesperson Pranay Ashok said.

Masks have been given to personnel at police stations and traffic policemen, who work in crowded places, he said, adding that the department is following the state government's guidelines on the pandemic.

The Mumbai Police, on their official Twitter handle, posted a message saying, "A smile and folded hands are the best way to keep #coronavirus at bay."



The police have also urged people to not believe in rumors about the outbreak and get their information from the authorities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, March 12, 2020.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has canceled a big money Democratic fundraiser scheduled for Thursday night in New York out of concern over the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

Pelosi was set to hold a high-profile "Speakers Cabinet" VIP event at Del Posto restaurant in Manhattan on Thursday. But she recently informed attendees that the event would be canceled as the coronavirus spreads through New York and the United States, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. The people declined to be named because the decision has yet to be made public.

The event was charging up to $35,500 to gain entry. Most of the funds from these events have often gone to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, while some have gone to Pelosi's Victory Fund. Democrats are looking to maintain and expand their majority in the House of Representatives in addition to attempting to take back the White House and Senate.

The development could be a dire harbinger for politicians' fundraising efforts this year. Pelosi's office recently announced that she helped raise more than $87 million for Democrats, more than $75 million directly for the DCCC.

Former Vice President Joe Biden has at least three money-making events scheduled next week in New York and New Jersey. Organizers are privately discussing the postponement of the events. While the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's winter retreat in Florida is not canceled, senators and candidates will not be attending, according to an aide. That event was scheduled for this weekend.

There have been at least 1,323 cases in the United States of the coronavirus, including more than 200 in New York. On Thursday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings of more than 500 people.

Representatives for Pelosi did not return a request for comment.

Pelosi's caucus and the House Republicans spent most of Thursday working on ball that will help combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Pelosi has been in touch with President Donald Trump's Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, about the ongoing negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Iraqi protesters are seeking to form a political movement to participate in parliamentary elections to be held in 2022. After holding sit-ins, blocking roads and rallying citizens against other political parties, protesters believe that forming a political movement is the next step.

Iraqi activists and protesters say that a popular movement would create real opposition in the Iraqi parliament. Change would be affected not only by taking to the streets but by forming a movement without a religious, sectarian or national agenda.

Al-Monitor learned from activists that protest leaders and civil society activists, who have opposed the Iraqi governments formed since 2003, are discussing the need to form a political movement to participate in upcoming elections.

The popular protests that broke out after 2003 did not produce any sustained political movements. Even the alliance formed between the Iraqi Communist Party and the Sadrist movement in 2015 did not emerge from the protests. In 2020, however, the opportunity is ripe for political action.

Abdel Rahman al-Jubouri, an activist working on establishing a political movement, told Al-Monitor, The movement continues to build different political currents, some of which turn into parties, and others remain social currents exerting political pressure and change, and so far there are almost six main groups led from within the protest squares.

He added, Of course, these six groups do not all agree on one thing, and each of them has different goals and visions, but they agree on the demands for which protesters took to the streets.

Among the prominent figures working with Jubouri is Basra activist Kazem al-Sahlani, whose name was put forward as a candidate for the transitional government, and legal expert Muhannad Naim, who had earlier presented himself as a candidate to form a transitional government.

Also working on this political movement is journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi, a former candidate with Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoun Alliance, who is also known for throwing a shoe at former US President George W. Bush in 2008. Also involved is controversial cleric Ghaith al-Tamimi, who currently resides in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Tamimi told Al-Monitor, We are working on the necessity of having a political current, but it is not easy. Those in power are trying to suppress us in every way and send their followers to kill everyone looking for change. Our opportunity is very big, but it is almost impossible with this political system, whose parties came to power following fraudulent elections and by using the force of arms and money.

Also involved in forming a political movement is the controversial deputy in the Iraqi parliament, Faiq Sheikh Ali, who has vowed that if he heads the government, he will "eliminate" armed Shiite factions close to Iran and execute some of their leaders, such as Hadi al-Amiri, head of the Fatah Alliance.

An activist in one of the six groups, which work in secret, told Al-Monitor, The squares are ready to form a political current. We are working to establish a youth current that does not include any of the figures that have previously been part of any party, and it does not have any figures above the age of 40.

He added, Our movement has groups in Baghdad and the central and southern provinces, as well as the Sunni western provinces, and we actually began communicating with the youth in those provinces to announce our current in the coming period. We aim to participate in the upcoming elections and work to create a new party environment that would be different than the existing ones.

In an article for al-Hurra, Iraqi writer Mushreq Abbas noted, All conditions in Iraq appear, at first glance, to serve the birth of an inclusive, effective and capable political current, but the reality on the ground needs more careful consideration of this option.

However, he noted that there are challenges facing forming such a current. All the repression, abuse and kidnapping that have been practiced against the Iraqi protesters during the past five months of continuous popular demonstrations were targeting this specific option, he said.

Al-Monitor learned from activists that their movement also includes the provinces of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). This means that the KRG might witness attempts to form a new political current unrelated to that area's preexisting opposition, represented by the New Generation Movement, which is led by young businessman Shaswar Abdulwahid.

However, any new political movement will face difficulties and challenges under the KRG. The two major parties  the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, led by the families of former KRG President Massoud Barzani and former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, respectively  may not accept the existence of a new opposition.

Ziad al-Talqani, head of al-Rafidain Center for Dialogue, told Al-Monitor, Figures from the protests are yet to establish real parties with a specific vision and ideology, but the protesters can form an electoral list and exercise their right to nominate and vote. The revolution will end if it turns into a political project, and [the revolution] must remain a strong pressure factor on political parties.

Protesters could form one or several political movements, but no movement will bear fruit without awareness among the population of the importance of electoral participation, and even this alone is not sufficient. Despite a good chance of accessing parliament, the movement would not succeed unless there are fair elections under UN supervision.
Photo: Peter Thoeny/Flickr

Missed the most recent top news in Sacramento? Read on for everything you need to know.

Pickup truck crashes into work zone barrier on I-5 in Sacramento

No workers were hurt after a pickup truck crashed into a work zone barrier along Interstate 5 late Wednesday morning, authorities say.

Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento.

Moped driver dies after being hit by car in South Sacramento

A man who was hit while riding a moped-style scooter in South Sacramento has died.

Read the full story on CBS13 CBS Sacramento.

CHP looking for Sacramento-area suspects in road rage assault and robbery on I-5

The CHP said the injured Stockton man remained hospitalized this week.

Read the full story on The Sacramento Bee.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Ahead of the civic polls in West



Bengal, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Thursday asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to guard against becoming an "extension" of the state government.

In a letter to Saurabh Kumar Das, the State Election Commissioner, Dhankhar, who is locked in a running feud with the Mamata Banerjee government, recalled how the civic polls in 2013 and 2018 were "marred by violence and democratic fabric was tainted".

The governor's missive to the SEC came days after he faced criticism by TMC minister Firhad Hakim, considered close to Banerjee, for summoning Das to the Raj Bhavan to convey his concern about possible violence during the municipal elections.

"The governor should not be worried about any possible violence in the upcoming polls since law and order is a state issue. If as a person he feels deeply about crimes against human beings, then he should feel pained at the recent Delhi riots which took several human lives while more dead bodies might be recovered," Hakim was reported to have said after the meeting.

Unfazed by the criticism by the TMC, whose leaders have often accused him of being a 'BJP man', Dhankhar wrote that the State Election Commission was akin to the Election Commission of India.

Referring to provisions of the Constitution, Dhankhar wrote,"....The SEC is constitutionally invested with the authority and jurisdiction similar to that of the Election Commission of India. It is neither extension of the State Government nor subordinate to it."



He said, to avert any "unwholesome scenario" and "sabotage of election process by violence, undue governmental impact or otherwise" the state's top election official can seek assistance of additional forces, other than the state police.

Dhankhar referred to the constitutional provision which says the governor of a state shall, when so requested by the SEC, make available such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of the functions conferred on the poll body.

He also reminded that like the Election Commission of India, the State Election Commission was the 'de facto boss' of bureaucracy during elections.

"...a constitutional provision has overriding impact and non-compromising primacy.

"It will be a glaring breach of constitutional provision if on account of any other provision in statute or directive otherwise eclipses or dilutes constitutional provisions. Such an act would be a serious breach of Constitution generating serious consequences for the concerned," he said.

The governor assured that all timely request for additional security forces will receive his "highest priority and consideration as purity of elections is at the heart of democratic process".

"The SEC must take all steps to dispel fears and impressions that it is an extension of the government and must engage in effective dialogue with all stakeholders with an open mind, including on fixing the dates for polls," he said, adding a contingency plan be made to ensure that "unwholesome spectacle of past is not revisited".

The dates for polling to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and 107 municipal bodies are yet to be announced, but these are likely next month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Advertisement

Hundreds of shoppers joined a huge line in a parking lot outside a Californian Costco on Thursday as panic buying continued across the United States amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Aerial footage taken at around 10am shows eager members of the public in Santa Clarita with empty shopping karts rushing to stock up on toilet paper, bottled water, disinfectant wipes and sanitizer.

It forces the sheriff's department to tweet: 'Please dont call 911 because people are cutting in front of you in line at the store. It ties up valuable resources for real emergencies!'

They later added: 'All is calm over at Costco. Deputies checked it out. Yes, there are long lines but contrary to what a 911 caller said, there are no fights.'

And there were similar scenes in a Costco in Queens, New York where customers were filmed in long lines Thursday snaking round the entire store.

Draven Sin, who filmed the shoppers, wrote on Facebook: 'Just went to Costco pharmacy to pick up meds....This is the line currently at Costco Rego Park.'

Hundreds of shoppers joined a huge line in a parking lot outside a Californian Costco on Thursday as panic buying continued across the United States amid the coronavirus outbreak

Aerial footage taken at around 10am shows eager members of the public in Santa Clarita with empty shopping karts rushing to stock up on toilet paper, bottled water, disinfectant wipes and sanitizer

There were similar scenes in a Costco in Queens, New York where customers were filmed in long lines

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic Wednesday and urged aggressive action from all countries to fight it.

'We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear,' WHO's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday.

There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died.

And the recent boom in numbers has brought chaotic scenes to supermarkets across the country with anxious shoppers stockpiling food and medical and cleaning supplies.

Shoppers have been pictured lining up with shopping carts overflowing with bundles of toilet paper, crates of bottled water and dozens of cans of tinned food.

As the situation escalates President Donald Trump's announced a ban on all travel from Europe to the US for 30 days starting from Friday at midnight apart from the UK.

Trump also urged elderly Americans to take great caution, urged cutting off visitors to nursing homes, and told Americans to wash their hands diligently.

Shoppers emerge from a Costco in Everett, MA Wednesday after waiting in a line that snaked around the interior of the store on the day that Coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the WHO

Shoppers emerge from a Costco in Everett, MA. The recent boom in cases has brought chaotic scenes to supermarkets across the country with anxious shoppers stockpiling food and medical and cleaning supplies

Shoppers have been pictured lining up with shopping carts overflowing with bundles of toilet paper, crates of bottled water and dozens of cans of tinned food

Shelves lie empty across the country as concerned families stock up on emergency supplies in anticipation of a potential lockdown situation similar to that seen across the whole of Italy over the weekend.

Demand for hand sanitizer, disinfectant sprays and wipes and similar goods has especially increased as people desperately try to keep the deadly coronavirus at bay.

Sales of hand sanitizer in the US rocketed 73 per cent in the four weeks to February 22, according to Nielsen data, with analysts predicting this won't slow down 'for some time'.

Several stores have turned to rationing the volume of certain products in efforts to spread the supply among community members.

Costco stores were forced to tighten rationing rules further in the last week - reducing the number of packets of flour, sugar and rice each customer is allowed to buy from five to two per customer.

Kroger too has placed limits on the number of sanitizers and cold and flu products shoppers can buy online.

Costco store on Saturday morning in Miami Florida; Several stores have turned to rationing the volume of certain products in efforts to spread the supply among shoppers

Costco store on Saturday morning in Miami Florida; Shelves lie empty across the country as concerned families stock up on emergency supplies in anticipation of a potential lockdown situation similar to that seen across the whole of Italy
WASHINGTON (AP)  Congress is shutting the Capitol to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the coronavirus, officials announced Thursday, a rare step that underscores the growing gravity with which the government is reacting to the viral outbreak.

In a statement, the House and Senate sergeants at arms said congressional office buildings and the Congressional Visitor Center, through which tourists enter the Capitol, were also being shuttered.

In an email to lawmakers' offices, the sergeants at arms said the Capitol will be closed to all tours, including special ones led by House and Senate members and their aides. No tours will be permitted in the Capitol Visitor Center, the massive three-level underground structure, which opened in 2008 and had greeted more than 21 million visitors through 2018, the email said.

Lawmakers' offices will be required to meet any official visitors at building entrances, and they were asked to escort them out after the meetings.

Only lawmakers, staff, journalists and visitors with official business will be permitted to enter the buildings. The closures begin at 5 p.m. EDT Thursday, and the buildings are scheduled to reopen on April 1.

The officials said they were acting on the advice of District of Columbia health officials and of Congress' own doctors.

We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public," they wrote. We appreciate the understanding of those with planned visits interrupted by this necessary but prudent decision.

Congress is scheduled to be on recess next week.

President Donald Trump's administration and Congress have struggled over how to react to the virus and COVID-19, the disease it can cause that in some cases can be deadly. Congressional leaders have had to balance conflicting desires of protecting lawmakers and staffs from getting sick with keeping one of the country's most visible public buildings open. At the White House, tours have been temporarily suspended.

In the fall of 2018, the Capitol was closed briefly to visitors as the Spanish flu spread around the world, killing an estimated tens of millions of people. Around 1,000 people died in the Washington, D.C., region along with at least three members of the House, according to the chamber's historians' office.

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 62,000 have 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.
DALLAS, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, February 19th MYCON General Contractors, Inc. (MYCON) donated $35,000 to the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum (DHHRM) in honor of its new exhibition, The Fight for Civil Rights in the South.

Pictured: Charles R. Myers, Mary Pat Higgins, and Mark Zoradi MYCON partnered with Cinemark Theatres to build the new Cinemark theatre auditorium in the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. The 4,100 SF theatre features a 45.6-foot screen with an enhanced sound system, 250 seats on stadium risers, and a lecture stage with AV systems.

"It is MYCON's honor to present the museum with a donation that helped fund a powerful photo exhibition for its guests to experience and reflect upon," said MYCON President and Chief Executive Officer, Charles R. Myers. "The Fight for Civil Rights in the South is presented by the Cinemark Theatres and the MYCON team is proud to support it along with the Carl B, and Florence E. King Foundation." The Fight for Civil Rights in the South covers the African American struggle for civil rights and social equality in the 1960s.

MYCON partnered with Cinemark Theatres to build the new Cinemark theatre auditorium (completed in August 2019) in the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum. The 4,100 SF theatre features a 45.6-foot screen with an enhanced sound system, 250 seats on stadium risers, and a lecture stage with AV systems. "We were very pleased to be part of the team building this culturally significant project in the heart of Dallas," says Justin Jeffus, senior vice president MYCON. OMNIPLAN Architects of Dallas designed the new building and Austin Commercial is the general contractor.

"We are grateful to MYCON for generously donating their services to build our beautiful Cinemark Theatre and for their tremendous financial contribution to our exhibition," said Mary Pat Higgins, DHHRM President and Chief Executive Officer. "The theatre plays a vital role in enabling our mission of teaching the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference throughout year-round education programming speaker and movie series."

About MYCON

Founded in 1987, MYCON is an award-winning general contractor serving diverse market sectors, including industrial, commercial office, retail, healthcare, hospitality, religious, and financial services, among others. With annual revenues of approximately $300MM, MYCON has completed hundreds of commercial construction projects in the North Texas region. For more information, visit www.mycon.com.

About Cinemark Theatres

Cinemark is a leading domestic and international motion picture exhibitor, operating 547 theatres with 6,051 screens in 41 U.S. states, Brazil, Argentina, and 13 other Latin American countries as of March 31st, 2019. For more information, go to investors.cinemark.com.

About the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

The mission of the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum is to teach the history of the Holocaust and advance human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference. For more information, please visit DHHRM.org.

Contact: Jenifer Batchelder, MYCON General Contractor, Inc.

(O) 469.678.3324

[email protected]

SOURCE MYCON General Contractors, Inc.

Related Links

https://mycon.com


State Bank of India is prepared to invest Rs 7,250 crore in Yes Bank. In a recent meeting, the Executive Committee of Central Board (ECCB) of the state-run lender approved purchase of 725 crore shares at Rs 10 per share. The purchase is subject to regulatory approval.

SBI has assured that its shareholding in Yes Bank will remain within the 49 per cent limit mandated in the reconstruction scheme for the beleaguered private lender.

"Executive Committee of Central Board (ECCB) at its meeting held on 11.03.2020 accorded approval for purchase of 725 crore shares in Yes Bank Ltd at a price of Rs 10 per share subject to all regulatory approvals. Our shareholding in Yes Bank Ltd. will remain within 49 per cent of the paid up capital of Yes Bank," SBI said in a filing to the stock exchanges.

ALSO READ: 'Yes Bank gave enough notice, there was enough time for rescue plan': Raghuram Rajan

ALSO READ: Fall of an ace banker! Who's Rana Kapoor, the brain behind YES Bank

SBI is expected to lead a consortium of lenders and financial institutions to buy stake in Yes Bank. The reconstruction scheme originally stated that 245 crore shares at Rs 10 per share would be issued to SBI for an investment of Rs 2,450 crore.

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 central bank has also superseded the private lender's board and appointed former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar as administrator.

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.

ALSO READ: Cabinet may take up Yes Bank revival plan on Friday

ALSO READ: 'Was in talks with RBI, Finance Ministry to takeover Yes Bank': Rana Kapoor
Lead poisoning is most likely to affect African American children, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. It is for this reason the local chapter of the NAACP is working to test children in Indianapolis for lead poisoning.

Since 2017, the chapter has been raising awareness of lead in schools, homes and the local environment, a cause executive committee chairman Garry Holland said was championed after mentoring in schools.

We were mentoring at a school, and there was a kindergartner having an issue in the hallway while the teacher was trying to bring 30 other kids in the classroom, Holland said. We went out to help the teacher, and the child was sliding down the wall, and we noticed she had something yellow in her mouth.

The yellow item was a paint chip. Paint chips, which Holland said taste sweet, pose a significant risk to young children if the chips contain traces of lead. According to the Mayo Clinic, contaminated paint chips were the most common way for children to get lead poisoning.

Beyond paint, lead in water can lead to many detrimental effects in the short and long term. A 2016 study conducted by the Marion County Public Health Department found 54% of 295 schools tested positive for lead in their water supplies. By the time the report became public earlier this year, every school had fixed or eliminated the contaminated water supply.

But because this was the first comprehensive test for lead in schools water supplies, its difficult to tell how many children  and now adults  were contaminated, and how it may be affecting them now.

According to Karla Johnson, who conducted the lead-in-water study for the health department, said the short-term effects of lead exposure include difficulty learning and comprehending information. Lead can also cause difficulties with impulse control.

Along with the Marion County Public Health Department, the local chapter of the NAACP is conducting lead testing for kindergartners and first graders in Indianapolis Public Schools and the metropolitan school districts of Washington and Pike townships, among others. The groups are also helping pair children who test positive for lead with neural psychologists.

Once lead is in the blood, it mimics calcium, Holland said. In an undeveloped brain  it can lead to damage, and you can have emotional outbursts, oratory or comprehension problems. Neural exams can pinpoint what area of the brain was injured.

Holland believes disabilities such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could really be symptoms of lead poisoning.

Long-term exposure to lead can cause kidney disease, high blood pressure and mood disorders.

Studies show it can also cause violent behavior.

For decades, experts have hypothesized lead exposure can lead to violent outbursts because it can cause mood disorders and a lack of impulse control. Holland agrees, and thinks testing could curb the rate of violent crime in Indianapolis.

Science is right now looking at zip codes and looking at homicide rates in different zip codes, tying lead poisoning into some of these violent acts, Holland said. After a while, lead seeps into bones and some of the symptoms become irreversible. If people have trouble communicating, a situation could lead straight to someone grabbing a gun. Some of these people cant help it because theyve been poisoned.

And while the health department and the NAACP continue to educate the public about lead through testing services and public forums, Holland hopes legislation will pass to make it easier to test children in schools throughout the state.

House Bill 1265 just passed, which was initially the testing of lead in school buildings throughout Gary and Hammond, Holland said. While Holland thinks testing buildings is a good first step, he believes children should be tested, as well.

HB1265 was amended for statewide implementation, and it is expected to go back to the House for passage of the amendments before going to the governors office. A spokesperson for Gov. Holcomb said he will review the bill when it gets to his desk.

Holland looked to Senate Bill 286, sponsored by state Sen. Jean Breaux, as an example of placing children first. While the bill never made it to the Senate floor, Breaux said her bill would have require[d] testing in children for lead levels and prevent[ed] landlords from renting to families with young children if the property has a lead hazard.

Now in its third year of advocacy for lead testing, Holland said the effort is just getting started.

This is the beginning of the process for the NAACPs advocacy as it relates to the healthiness of children, he said. African American children are the most vulnerable.  Were looking at the disproportionality when it comes to the mental health of our community and how these services and therapy can heal us so we  can move forward in a movement that will help us come out of the things we are in.

Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper.
KAMPALA  A tours and travel consultant in Kabale District has been arrested for allegedly helping Rwandan nationals to acquire Ugandan national identity cards.

Denis Tukamushaba, aka, Chicharito, the Proprietor of Eagle Tours and Travel, was picked by operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence on Monday after he had been summoned to appear at Kabale Central Police Station.

His lawyer Bruno Kukundankwe Beitwenda is quoted by Uganda Radio Network (URN) as saying that police accused Tukamushaba of working as an agent between Rwandan nationals and some employees of the National Identification and Registration Authority-NIRA in Kabale to secure the national identity cards.

Kukundakwe says police claimed that his client was pinned by a female Rwandan national he allegedly helped secure a National Identity card. The Rwandan national only identified as Josian was arrested in Kisoro district last week while processing a passport to exit Uganda and was found with both the Ugandan and Rwandan national identity cards.

According to URN, Josian, who is believed to be a wife to a Security Officer in Rwanda, spent some time working as a waitress at Mist bar and lounge in Kabale before she relocated to Bunagana in Kisoro district where she was arrested

Kukundakwe told URN that he is liaising with security officials to secure the release of his client on bond or ensure that he is produced in court.

Kigezi Regional Police Commander Dan Byaruhanga said Tukamushaba confirmed the arrest.

Related
As of this writing, the COVID-19 coronavirus has officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, and can be positively identified in 42 states and the District of Columbia. It's about the only thing most people are thinking about right now. While its important to take the virus seriously and respond appropriately, an important part of that response should be managing your anxiety.

Managing anxiety associated with the epidemic is like managing chronic stress, said Dr. Melissa Hagan, the Lab Director for the Stress Trauma and Resilience Lab at San Francisco State University. Though its trickier, because youre supposed to maintain social distance, and social activity is such an important part of managing stress levels.

So what are we to do? Based on her advice and a our own creativity, weve put together tips to help make the upcoming weeks or months easier.

When following the news, focus on what's practical

Theres a lot in the news about how fast the disease is spreading, Dr. Hagan said. A lot of that information is not important for people to be ruminating on.

Its easy to find yourself reading iterations of the same stories about China, Italy, or other places where the virus has spread quickly. At a certain point, youre not getting new information; youre just dwelling on fear.

Instead, you should monitor and modulate your access to news, said Dr. Hagan. Knowing just enough about how to mitigate your own risk is best.

In the case of coronavirus, most of what you can do is simple: Maintain social distance, and practice proper hygiene (like you would during a bad flu season). This basically comes down to limiting your time spent on the internet  particularly social media sites, where misinformation and scare-mongering run rampant.

Talk to friends and family

As Dr. Hagan notes, coronavirus fears come with a built-in complication of depriving us of our most important source of comfort: Friends and family. Luckily, there are other ways to keep in touch with people.

We encourage people to engage in social activity online, she said, talking on the phone with friends or family can do a lot to relieve anxiety.

In addition to calling up your close family and friends, call up the more distant family and friends, like that cousin who lives in one of the infected hotspots or the friend from school that you lost touch with. Thats good advice in any context, and in this situation can do a lot to take your mind off things.

Exercise

Physical activity is so important, Dr. Hagan said, Even though youre not supposed to gather in crowds, theres nothing wrong with going out for a walk around the block. The dangers of infection dont come about from being out in the open air.

Youre not on lockdown  you can see the sun, take a walk in the park. If thats not strenuous enough, but youre hesitant about going to the gym, there are plenty of options for streaming at-home exercise classes. ClassPass Live is basically the Netflix of fitness, and exercise will build up your immune systems strength while bringing your anxiety down. Think of it as a two-fer.

Get enough sleep

Sleep is really important, Dr. Hagan said, so its good to avoid reading too much news before bed, and be extra cautious of your caffeine input. If anxiety is keeping you from getting enough rest, the dangers could compound, because less sleep will make it more difficult to manage your general anxiety.

Non-prescription sleep aids include Melatonin (though its safe, this writer would recommend you start with a small dose), a heavy meal, and any variety of sleep apps or appliances that produce white noise, pink noise, or natural sounds to help you drift off.

And speaking of a heavy meal

Cook something elaborate

Despite what you may think of your own cooking ability, theres no reason you cant have a delicious, elaborate meal in the comfort of your own home. Sure, you might screw up a few times, but if you put in the work, you might come out the other end of this crisis able to absolutely crush your favorite meal  and thats a skill youll have forever.

To get started, just check out your grocery delivery options for The Bay Area.

Splurge on something fun to do alone or with your family

Whether youre fully self-quarantined or just being prudent, youre probably going to be spending less money at bars and restaurants over the next few weeks. Consider putting some of those savings into fun activities you can do at home to make this time more engaging, and less bottled-up.

That can entail small things, like a new board game or art supplies, or something fancier like a new video game or your favorite movie. Or maybe you just want to check out a program to help you write that novel you have kicking around your head. It could even be new toys for your dog or cat. Something special to balance out everything else on your mind.

Provide context to the younger members of your family

Despite the advice to avoid social environments, Dr. Hagan thinks its good if kids, particularly younger owns, have the situation theyre in carefully explained by an adult who can provide context. Its heartening that public schools have stayed open, and that families can continue to support each other by talking about the virus, she said.

I hope that parents are being careful in monitoring childrens intake of the news and talking to them practically about what this infection means In terms of social distancing and travel bans, all these things that sound really scary are just to make sure people dont get sick all at once. Were not worried about killing everyone, were worried about the health system getting overwhelmed.

Your first responsibility is to yourself and your family. If you take care of that, you're doing your part.

In addition to these tipes, the CDC has a guideline available for coping with disasters or traumatic events that includes guides on taking care of your mental health and talking to children, and SAMHSA has a packet on supporting children during infectious disease outbreak..

Hearst Newspapers participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.

Joshua Sargent is an editor for Hearst Newspapers. Email him at josh.sargent@hearst.com.
- Raphael Tuju returned to The Karen Hospital to meet medical staff and thank them for saving his life when he got involved in a nasty road accident

- Tuju's car hit a matatu at Kijabe along Nairobi-Nakuru highway while he was traveling to attend Moi's burial and the vehicle was extensively damaged on its rear

- The former Rarieda MP gave intricate details of his treatment both in Kenya and the UK where his lungs would collapse occasionally

Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has given status update on his health for the first after being involved in a car crash along Nairobi-Nakuru highway on Wednesday, February 12.

Speaking at The Karen Hospital where he had gone to thank the staff on Thursday, March 12, Tuju disclosed he was recovering well and had been able to stand on his own and walk without any support.

READ ALSO: Gideon Moi, KANU leaders visit recovering Raphael Tuju at Nairobi home

Raphael Tuju (left) being received by The Karen Hospital founder Dan Gikonyo when he visited the hospital to thank its medical team for saving him. Photo: The Karen Hospital.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Kampeni ya kumtimua DP Ruto ofisini na taarifa zingine zilizozua gumzo

He was admitted to the intensive care unit from where he was later on moved to the ward before being flown to the UK for specialised care

The former Rarieda MP gave intricate details of his treatment both in Kenya and the UK where his lungs would collapse occasionally prompting doctors to put him on life support machine.

The Karen Hospital CEO Betty Gikonyo greeting Tuju. The Jubilee Party official was admitted to the hospital. Photo: The Karen Hospital.

Source: Facebook

"I only looked at Karen Hospital as the place which only takes care of young children with heart diseases. I didn't know they will be taking care of me when I had a collapsed lung. For very many days, those lungs collapsed because of the brain injury and they had to make life and death decisions to remove life support machine," he said.

In his own words, the Cabinet Secretary with no portfolio, said it was by God's grace that he survived the accident albeit with a lot of excruciating pain.

Raphael Tuju speaking to media at The Karen Hospital on March 12. He said it was by God's grace that he survived. Photo: The Karen Hospital.

Source: UGC

Apart from suffering 13 rib breakages, brain injuries, multiple chest injuries, the CS' intestines also had bleedings.

"Things you take for granted like waking up going to take breakfast, now with this experience you need help to go to the bathroom. To come out of that is a miracle from God. Young people have a lot to thank God for, waking up to go to bathroom, brush your teeth and do things for yourself," he said calling on the youth to be thankful to God.

It was understood President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered Tuju be flown to the UK having undergone successful surgery at the Nairobi hospital where he had been receiving medicare for six days.

He jetted back to the country on Saturday, March 7.

"I want to thank my president who made the decision that I be evacuated together with my doctor. The most wonderful of all is to be back home. Home sweet home Kenya.

This is the third day I have been able to walk without support. My muscles are becoming stronger, my faith is stronger. I look forward to joining Kenyans in nation building," he added.

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.

Where is our son? Our only child after six miscarriages is missing, help us find him |Tuko TV.

Source: TUKO.co.ke
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Health officials in Colorado put the breaks on one of the first drive-through coronavirus testing labs in the US on Thursday after a high volume of patients created a three hour wait for the ten minute procedure.

The drive-through lab at the Lowry State Health Department in Denver had to close only an hour after it opened at 11am, officials said.

'Due to an extremely high volume of people seeking COVID-19 tests at the drive-up testing site in Lowry, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is working to establish and communicate a cut-off point for the line,' officials wrote in a statement posted online.

The facility, on only its second day of operation, was jammed with such a high volume of patients, it had created a three hour wait for the testing, which only takes about ten minutes.

Health officials greet patients at one of the first drive-through coronavirus testing labs in the US set up at the Lowry State Health Department in Denver Thursday. So many patients turned out on the facility's second day that it closed by 11am, only an hour after it opened

Health workers are seen checking patients in as they drove into the drive-through testing lab Thursday. So many patients showed up on its second day that it created a three-hour wait

Health care workers in body suits and face masks speak with patients seeking testing at the drive-through lab set up at the Lowry State Health Department in Denver Thursday. The test only took ten minutes, but patients waited up to three hours to be seen

Those already in line after the facility closed were given notes so they could return Friday with high-priority status, state officials said

Officials in Denver said the drive through's wait time when it first opened on Wednesday had been about 84 minutes on average, allowing the treatment of 160 patients. Health care workers are pictured standing under a tent in between the tests on Thursday

Healthcare workers are pictured suiting up in protective gear they needed to interact with patients who showed up to the Denver drive-through testing lab

Patients who receive positive test results at the testing lab may be issued isolation orders, state health officials said. Two health care workers are seen preparing to work the drive-through line

Patients who end up receiving positive test results may be issued isolation orders.

'Depending on test volume, we aim to contact individuals directly with their results within 72 hours, state officials said in a statement.

A drive-through testing lab also was being operated in Indiana, as officials said they hoped the facilities will help contain the coronavirus pandemic, which has afflicted more than 1,400 people in the US and left 39 people dead.

Officials in Denver said the drive through's wait time when it first opened on Wednesday had been about 84 minutes on average, allowing the treatment of 160 patients.

Any motorist who was already on line Thursday was given a note to return on Friday with priority status, health officials said.

There more than 1,500 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died (depicted above)

The number of cases has dramatically increased in the US in the last two weeks

Patients cannot just show up to the testing lab at the Lowry State Health Department, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said earlier this week, reminding that a doctor's note is required

Patients cannot just show up to the testing lab at the Lowry State Health Department, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said earlier this week, reminding the public that a doctor's note is required.

'In order to minimize wait times,anyone who is symptomatic or who believes they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should call or email your physician first for guidance, a doctor's order for testing, and information about private providers where you can get tested. Always call first before reporting to a healthcare facility for testing,' state officials said in guidelines for the testing.

Health officials said the Denver lab will reopen tomorrow and again Monday.

'We may keep it open through the weekend depending on supplies and demand,' the said in a statement posted online.

Care seen waiting intraffic to get into the drive-through testing lab. Health officials said the facility will reopen Friday and again Monday
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, are in self-isolation as she undergoes testing for the novel coronavirus after coming down with mild flu-like symptoms.

I have some personal news to share today. Sophie recently returned from a speaking event in the UK, and last night she was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms, Trudeau, 48, wrote Thursday on Twitter. Shes feeling better, but following the advice of our doctor she is self-isolating as we wait on COVID-19 test results.

Trudeau does not have any symptoms, according to Reuters.

Out of an abundance of caution, I too will be self-isolating & self-monitoring until we get Sophies results back, Trudeau wrote on Twitter. But Ill be busy working from home. Today, Ill be speaking with some world leaders and joining ministers for a Cabinet committee discussion on COVID-19.

RELATED: Brazilian Official Who Took Photo with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago Tests Positive for Coronavirus

SEBASTIEN ST-JEAN/AFP via Getty From left: Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau

I have some personal news to share today. Sophie recently returned from a speaking event in the UK, and last night she was experiencing mild flu-like symptoms. Shes feeling better, but following the advice of our doctor she is self-isolating as we wait on COVID-19 test results.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 12, 2020

I was looking forward to sitting down with premiers and Indigenous leaders later today, but given the circumstances well be postponing our meeting. In the meantime, well speak on the phone about how we can mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19 and keep Canadians safe.  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 12, 2020

Trudeau did not say whether his three children are in self-isolation, too.

Story continues

Canada had more than 100 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Thursday and one death had been reported in British Columbia.

There have been some 1,300 confirmed cases and 38 deaths in the U.S.

RELATED: Donald Trump Bans Travel from Europe for 30 Days in Response to Coronavirus Outbreak

President Donald Trump said Thursday morning that he isnt concerned after learning that he was in direct contact last weekend with a Brazilian official who has tested positive for the virus.

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said, Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time, though the Brazilian official posted a photo of himself with Trump, 73, and Vice President Mike Pence, 60, on Instagram over the weekend.

To reiterate CDC guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine, Grisham said. We are monitoring the situation closely and will update everyone as we get more information.

Grisham also said the White House is working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy.

To prevent the spread of the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages maintaining basic forms of hygiene including careful hand washing, avoiding touching the face, moving away from people who are coughing or sneezing and staying home at signs of illness.
The Best Sex I Ever Read A Vulture series in which authors and readers dissect the literary sex scenes theyll never forget. Photo: Vulture

The poet and novelist Garth Greenwell, author, most recently, of Cleanness, has been known to write explicit sex scenes that are crucial to the understanding of his characters. For our Best Sex I Ever Read column, he selects a passage toward the end of Philip Roths 1995 novel Sabbaths Theater, a scene that has been vilified as vulgar but one that he finds beautiful. In it, a dying woman recalls with her lover how wonderful it was to experiment sexually with him. To Greenwell, this is one of the most romantic scenes in literature.

The passage, from Sabbaths Theater:



It came down, and as it came upon me, I realized that it was warm. Do I dare taste it? And I started with my tongue to lick around my lips. And there was this piss. And the whole idea that you were standing above me, and at first you strained to get it out, and then suddenly came this enormous piss, and it just came into my face and it was warm and it was just fantastic; it was exciting and everywhere and it was like a whirlwind, what I was feeling, the emotions. I dont know how to describe it more than that. I tasted it, and it tasted sweet, like beer. It had that kind of taste to it, and just something that made it so wonderful. That I could be allowed to do this that was so forbidden. And I could drink it and I wanted more as I was lying there and I wanted more, and I wanted it on my eyes and I wanted it in my face, I wanted lots of it in my face, I wanted to be showered by it in my face, and I wanted to drink it, and then, I wanted it all the way then, once I allowed myself to let go. And so I wanted everything of it, I wanted it on my tits. I remember you were standing over me, and you did it on my cunt also. And I started playing with myself as you were doing it, and you made me come, you know; I was coming while you were just squirting it over my cunt. It was very warm, it was so warm, I just felt totally I dont knowtaken by it. Then I come home afterward and I was sitting in the kitchen, remembering it, because I had to sort it throughdid I like it or notand I realized that yes, it was like we had a pact; we had a secret pact that tied us together. Id never done that before. I didnt expect to do it with anyone else, and today I was thinking I never will. But it really made me have a pact with you. It was like we were forever united in that.

We were. We are.

Both crying now.

This scene requires a bit of context because its near the very end of Sabbaths Theater. Sabbaths Theater is the story of a 60-something man, a former puppeteer who can no longer do his work because of devastating arthritis. He is a miserable man in a miserable marriage, and his primary motivation in life is to cause other people discomfort, which is a fascinating thing to meditate on as an artist, especially an artist like Philip Roth. He was clearly a writer who was interested in provoking and who enjoyed the discomfort provided by provocative art. Mickey Sabbath is all of that times one thousand. The book follows a few days in which Sabbath blows up his life  the reason hes doing so is that his longtime lover, a Croatian woman named Drenka, has died of cancer and hes overwhelmed with grief. They had a decades-long affair.

The primary action of the novel is just a few days, but sifted into the action of those days is Sabbaths whole life and the entirety of his relationship with Drenka. In the last of these recollections at the end of the book, we see Mickey at Drenkas bedside. Shes in the hospital with terminal cancer. They know shes dying, and Mickey has been sneaking into the hospital with the nurses blessing after visiting hours when Drenkas family has gone home. They spend hours together. Shes on morphine, so sometimes hes just holding her hand and sometimes theyre talking. And in their last scene together, they remember an erotic moment from their past.

This is a sex scene thats very mediated because its being retold. Theres a sense that the great grace in his very cursed life was that Mickey had met this woman whose perversity equaled his own. Their sex life contains these incredible escapades  experimentation and play. Its an experience of sex that is joyful and full of love. Theyre in a situation where they cannot have sex and so they talk about sex, and thats what gives them access to this physical intimacy that has been the basis of their relationship. Its also unclear how far in the past it is  I was trying to figure it out. But its clear that its deep in their relationship and they have a lot of trust.

When I think about sex scenes, which I write a lot and teach a lot, there arent very many that contain mature or aging bodies. Theres very little that I know of in the way of sex scenes involving disabled or infirm bodies. The present-tense intimacy theyre creating by talking about their past also involves very sick bodies. Its also fascinating because its a scene of kink. Rereading Sabbaths Theater, I was shocked by how shameless it is and by how wide-ranging the versions of sex Roth thinks about are.

This is a scene in which theyre remembering a day when they pissed on each other. First he pisses on her and then she pisses on him. It goes into great detail about the experience: Theyre outside, theyre lying in a stream. Each of them is resistant at first  theyre both doing it to please the other. But then Drenka especially finds real rapture in this. She loves it when he pisses on her, and she loves drinking it. I love the fact that Roth is not demure about it. He writes it in full explicitness, full sense-data glory. Whats amazing about it is the emotional work it does in the moment theyre remembering as they go from resistance and shyness to achieving a real kind of rapture, and its astonishing to me the emotional work it does in the present moment of the novel. They are re-experiencing the tenderness and the intimacy that this moment created between them.

Drenka says this wonderful thing  she says it was an experience of commingling. It was a more intense intimacy than she had ever experienced before. The section ends with a return to the real present day, where Mickey is grieving her. Her last words to him are I give my heart, I give myself in my fucking. And he says to her, You do indeed. The last words of that section are To co-mingle with you, Drenka. To co-mingle with you now. Its just devastating. What so many other writers might use just for shock value, Roth uses in a way that encapsulates these two peoples love for each other and the grief he feels when shes gone.

I became obsessed with Roth long before I ever thought of writing fiction myself. I read every single book of his when I was an undergraduate, just for fun. I wasnt studying them, I wasnt thinking that I was going to write a novel like Roth. I read them early and I loved them. Its very different from my own writing. I could never write like him! But this scene is such a good example of the amount of work that sex can do in a novel. The mainstream American reader might find the act outrageous or shocking, and Roth knows that. Part of his craft is to play with that.

He also knows when he puts this scene in that a lot of people are just going to be disgusted. There is a much less involved moment of pissing in a larger sex scene in my book, Cleanness, and I remember the first group of people who read it  I workshopped it at the Iowa Writers Workshop, which was terrifying  said they couldnt get past the peeing. Id lost them there. So Roth knows hes playing with that. But then he brings in these warmer affects. If people think about pissing as an erotic act, they often think of it in terms of BDSM where the point is sexual pleasure through degradation. There is nothing degrading about this scene. It is not a BDSM scene. So Roth has to carry the outrageousness and the disgust and then bring readers around to a place where they can understand that this is a scene of comfort and intimacy. Its one of the most tender moments in all of literature, and its a gold standard for what a sex scene can do.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 12, 2020 - 12:51 | All, Japan

A total of 1,991 minors in Japan aged under 18 were victims of child abuse last year, marking a 42.8 percent jump from the previous year and hitting a record high, the National Police Agency said in a report on Thursday.

Of the victims, 54 died, including 10-year-old Mia Kurihara in a high-profile case. Her parents have been indicted for physically abusing her and depriving her of sleep and nutrition. Mia was found dead in the bathroom of their home in Noda near Tokyo on Jan. 24, 2019.

A record-high 98,222 minors were referred to child welfare centers nationwide on suspicion of being abused, up 22.4 percent, and a record-high 5,553 minors were taken into protective custody by police, up 21.5 percent, according to the report.

The police act to protect children whose lives are in imminent danger or in cases where child welfare centers cannot immediately take them in, particularly at night.

The police launched investigations into 1,972 suspected cases of child abuse, up 42.9 percent, which targeted 2,024 suspects, up 42.6 percent, according to the report.

Related coverage:

Domestic violence cases in Japan reach new all-time high in 2019

Mother of child abuse victim says father gave daughter "hell"

Japan needs foster care rather than institutions: U.K. experts

Of the suspects, 71.5 percent were men -- 913 of them biological fathers and 302 stepfathers or adoptive fathers. Among female suspects, 550 were biological mothers, and 10 were stepmothers or adoptive mothers, it showed.

Of the 1,991 child abuse victims, 1,654 were subjected to physical abuse, followed by 248 who were sexually abused, 53 who were verbally and psychologically abused and 36 who were neglected.

Of the 54 child abuse deaths were 21 children who were forced to join family suicides, 11 who were assaulted to death, eight who died immediately after birth, six who were murdered, six who were fatally neglected, and two who died as a result of serious negligence.

To counter child abuse, the NPA has been dispatching police officials and retired officials to child welfare centers to help them with their work and has been holding joint training with the centers.
New Delhi, March 12 : Cinema halls in the Capital are waiting for an official government directive before shutting shop in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced in a tweet that all movie theatres would remain shut in the city till March 31.

"Delhi govt has declared Coronavirus an epidemic. We need to exercise abundant caution to contain the disease. All cinema halls, schools, colleges in Delhi will be shut until 31st March, but exams will continue as scheduled. People are advised to stay away from public gatherings," tweeted @ArvindKejriwal.

"We are continuing the ongoing measures to check the spread of coronavirus in Delhi. Along with that, we have decided to close all the cinema halls and schools which are not having examination till March 31," Kejriwal told media on Thursday.

When IANS reached out to some of the major theatres in Delhi, they seemed aware about the development but said they are waiting for an formal communication from the government before taking an official stand.

"We are closely following all the advisories from the relevant government authorities at local, state and national levels. With regards to Delhi, we will surely follow the advisory the moment we receive it," read an official statement by INOX.

RK Malhotra, manager at Delite Cinemas, Daryaganj, told IANS: "We are yet to receive any official notification from the government, but whatever the government decides would be abided by. It would be for the best of the people."

Talking about the impact on the business, Malhotra continued: "As of now 'Baaghi 3' is doing fabulous business despite the threat, and as of today the film looks like it could become Tiger Shroff's biggest hit at our theatre. Around 10 to 12 films are doing good business in the city right now. Shutting down the halls will affect business of all these films. By a rough estimate, if halls are asked to shut down till the end of the month, it could even pile up a cumulative loss of around Rs 100 crore in this territory."

Online ticketing platform BookMyShow also issued an official statement, saying: "We recognise the ongoing health concerns due to coronavirus and are committed to working with the regulatory authorities and the government on all precautionary health advisories issued across Indian states. BookMyShow fulfils the role of a ticketing aggregator for all movies listed on the platform and will follow all due procedures to ensure no inconvenience is caused to our valued consumers, incase of any cancellations or rescheduling of movie releases. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and request all consumers to stay safe."

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Syndicated from IANS
Global expansion will continue with 15 additional countries in 2020 starting with the UK

CINCINNATI, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- VNDLY, a leading cloud-based workforce management systems provider, announces its global expansion with a new office located in Toronto. The company, founded in 2017, is recognized by industry experts as a top-ranking technology provider in the vendor management systems category (VMS). The company raised $46 million in external funding in 2019 and supports many Fortune 500 companies as clients to help manage their non-employee workforces.

VNDLY's Canadian entity will be headed by Kyle Hodgson, VNDLY's director of engineering and operations, three-time start-up CTO, and published technical author. VNDLY chose Toronto because the city has a large high-tech talent pool, offers affordability that supports rapid scaling, and was recently ranked as North America's third-best tech city behind San Francisco and Seattle. "We're thrilled to share the good news about our Toronto office, which is the beginning of our strategic global expansion," said David Weiss, VNDLY's executive vice president of sales. "We know that our move into the global arena will allow us to scale and support our clients' growth initiatives and workforce objectives."

This is VNDLY's initial global expansion, with 15 additional markets scheduled to go live over the next 12 months. The application will include localization, currency, and language support to ensure fully-compliant solutions for clients, regardless of region. On June 14, VNDLY will launch its first client in the UK, with complete currency support and GDPR compliance.

"Our global expansion is an indicator of the trust and confidence our customers have shown. Our last five RFP wins require a global rollout of our software, and our solution was always built keeping global functionality in mind. We're excited to move our solution beyond the US market, giving VNDLY's global clients access to the modern cloud-native platform that is successfully providing innovative solutions beyond what is available through legacy VMS tools," said Shashank Saxena, VNDLY's co-founder and CEO. "We know with Kyle's experience at the helm, our Toronto office is poised to bring VNDLY to the world. His experience providing large enterprises with engineering, architecture, and digital transformation strategies is the perfect resource for us and our clients."

Contact:

Dominique Castle

(513) 572-2512

[email protected]

About VNDLY

Founded in 2017, VNDLY is transforming how companies manage their non-employee workforce. With its SaaS Work Management System, companies can manage their entire non-employee engagement lifecycles through talent acquisition, onboarding, credentialing and compliance management, invoicing, payments, and offboarding. The company serves as the enterprise resource planning system of record for many Fortune 500 companies, managing their entire non-employee workforces on a single platform. VNDLY's cloud-native platform helps simplify the implementation, integration, and change management aspects better than most legacy VMS solutions across industries including financial services, healthcare, retail and consumer goods, automotive, oil and gas, energy and utilities, manufacturing and distribution, and higher education. The VNDLY platform has four modules: contingent workforce management, statement of work management, independent contractor compliance, and total talent acquisition. For more information, please visit VNDLY.com

SOURCE VNDLY

Related Links

https://vndly.com






Charoen Pokphand Foods to acquire 20% stake in Tesco Asia Group

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co. Ltd. (CPF) of Thailand, through its wholly owned subsidiary C.P. Merchandising Co. Ltd. (CPM), has resolved to acquire shares or economic interest of up to 20% of total issued shares in Tesco Asia Group, a leading retailer under Tesco Lotus brand in Thailand and Malaysia.

Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, chief executive officer, said that CPF's investment in Tesco Asia is aimed at further strengthening its value chain in terms of distribution channels in Thailand and Malaysia and enhancing the range of consumer options in this space.

CPF plans to modernise its distribution channels of meat products to better suit consumers' behaviour. CPF said it is confident that the investment presents exciting opportunities for enhancing Thai and Malaysian consumer experiences in an already highly competitive sector.

This joint investment is expected to boost sales of both Tesco and CPF. "Given the fact that Tesco Asia has been enjoying the strong operating results consistently, coupled with its highly experienced management and operating teams capable of adapting to changing business and market environment, CPF firmly believe that this investment with Tesco Asia will further enhance the already impressive operating results". CPF said.

The investment is subject to several conditions including obtaining the approval by shareholders of Tesco UK, as well as the approvals of the Thai Trade Competition Commission and of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs of Malaysia.

The transaction is expected to be concluded by the end of 2020.
[March 12, 2020] TeleHealth Services is Helping U.S. Hospitals Educate Patients and Visitors about COVID-19

The Client Outcomes Team at TeleHealth Services has responded to the COVID-19 outbreak by producing a video message campaign to help hospitals inform patients and visitors about the virus using their Tigr Interactive Patient Education and Engagement System. Many U.S. hospitals are broadcasting this video message about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). The video, available on-demand, is being displayed on patient room televisions and in other locations throughout hospitals and clinics including waiting rooms, lobbies, and cafeterias. The message is designed to be easily updated if more information about the outbreak needs to be communicated, and has already been posted to the websites of numerous hospitals nationwide. The brief two-minute video created by TeleHealth Services' Client Outcomes Team uses guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and federal "plain language" guidelines for clarity. View the video at: www.telehealth.com/responding-covid-19-outbreak



North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency Tuesday to prevent further spread of the disease in TeleHealth Services' home state. "We provide hospital patients and visitors with educational health information every day," said TeleHealth Services General Manager Kevin Colores. "Our Outcomes Team did a tremendous job responding quickly to help our hospital customers share information from the CDC experts about the virus, symptoms, how it is transmitted, and best practices to prevent spreading the disease."

About TeleHealth Services TeleHealth Services is driven to enhance the patient experience and positively impact health outcomes using innovative patient engagement and audiovisual technologies. With 60 years of patient-centered expertise and 2,500+ healthcare clients, the company designs and delivers turnkey solutions that increase patient satisfaction, improve quality of care, and maximize clinical and operational efficiencies. TeleHealth is a division of Telerent Leasing Corporation (TLC). TLC creates unparalleled customer experiences in the use of collaborative communication solutions serving the healthcare market through TeleHealth Services; the corporate market through Avidex; and the public and education markets through Digital Networks Group. TLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITOCHU International Inc. For more information about TeleHealth Services, please visit www.telehealth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005106/en/

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World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global "pandemic". The declaration from WHO came at a time when COVID-19 cases are steadily increasing across the world.

The WHO declared that Iran and Italy are currently at the frontline of the disease and other countries would soon be joining them if coronavirus spread isnot halted.

"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," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus while addressing a press conference.

Ghebreyesus urged the entire global community to double down on the efforts to contain coronavirus. "We have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action. We have rung the alarm bell loud and clear," Ghebreyesus said.

What is a Pandemic

A pandemic is declared by the WHO when a disease or an infection spreads on a global scale. Pandemics are associated with the geographical spread and not any characteristics in the disease or the infection itself.

The WHO for weeks had been saying that it may declare COVID-19 a pandemic but that does not mean the term carries any legal significance. The WHO does not have an exact criterion for declaring a pandemic but the term should not be confused with an outbreak and an epidemic.

How's pandemic different from epidemic

The main difference between a pandemic and an epidemic is of the area in which the disease or infection is spread. In an epidemic, a fewer number of people are affected and the spread is contained to a certain region. While in an epidemic the number of cases is huge and they are spread across multiple countries and regions.

An outbreak is classified as the initial stages of an epidemic when the number of cases increases rapidly.

The word epidemic originates from the Greek word 'epidemia', while the word pandemic originates from the word 'pandemos', which denotes "all people".

An example of an epidemic is the Ebola outbreak, which affected Western Africa and claimed the lives of thousands of people across a few years. The SARS outbreak of 2003 in China was also an epidemic that killed over 800 people.

Recent examples of a pandemic include the Spanish Flu or Influenza, which started in 1918 and took lives of at least 50 million people according to the New York Times. More than 120,000 cases of coronavirus have emerged across the world and over 4,500 people have died because of the deadly virus.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: 'Govt fully vigilant, urge countrymen to avoid travel,' says PM Modi

Also read: Coronavirus update: Here's a list of 52 test centres for COVID-19

Also read: Indian airlines shares tumble as govt suspends visas to halt coronavirus spread
Popular UW Saturday University Program Returns to Cody March 28

International research at the University of Wyoming, with links to Wyoming issues, is the focus of UWs popular outreach program Saturday University in Cody March 28.

UW will bring three members of its award-winning faculty to the Buffalo Bill Center of the Wests Coe Auditorium to share global research with Wyoming relevance. The Saturday University program will lead participants on a journey around the world, looking at womens suffrage, armaments and habitats -- all issues that resonate on the Wyoming landscape.

Doors open at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts. A free lunch will follow the presentation, with a roundtable discussion with the programs speakers. The program is free and open to the public.

In its 13th year, Saturday University is a collaborative program that connects popular UW and Wyoming community college professors with lifelong learners. Offered 10 times this year -- twice each in Jackson, Gillette and Sheridan, and once in Cody, Green River, Pinedale and Rock Springs -- Saturday University is sponsored by the university, Wyoming community colleges and local communities.

The Cody program is sponsored by UWs Office of Engagement and Outreach, UWs Global Engagement Offices Center for Global Studies, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation.

Listed below are program times, topic descriptions and professors lecturing:

-- 9 a.m.: The Visual Propaganda of Womens Suffrage: Legacies in Wyoming, New Zealand and Australia, Colleen Denney, Gender and Womens Studies Program professor.

Denney will discuss womens suffrage monuments around the world. She will share students service-learning experiences on womens activism and the advancement of womens rights.

-- 10 a.m.: The Armed Man: A Figure in Mexican Cultural Politics, Nicholas Crane, Department of Geography assistant professor.

Since the 1910 revolution, Mexicans in multiple sectors have revered the armed man as an embodiment of authenticity and masculinity.

In the drug war, that figure remains prominent and problematic, Crane says.

As American armaments flow south from the United States, and drug-war migrants flee north, Crane will discuss the circulation of this figure for what it shows about cultural dynamics in greater Mexico, including the borderlands.

-- 11 a.m.: Fragmenting Habitats and Human-Elephant Conflicts in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, Ramesh Sivanpillai, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center senior research scientist.

In the burgeoning manufacturing and economic hub of Coimbatore -- a city in Tamil Nadu, India -- development encroaches on wildlife corridors.

Now, elephants raid crop fields, resulting in infrastructure and economic losses, and in human and elephant deaths, Sivanpillai says.

From his work with stakeholders, Sivanpillai will discuss the measures available to protect investment and minimize casualties.

For more information about Saturday University, visit the website at www.uwyo.edu/saturdayu/index.html.
Press Release

March 12, 2020 WE ARE SAFE WHEN THOSE AROUND US ARE SAFE

Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on the First Local Death of a Filipino due to COVID-19 The Department of Health has just confirmed the first local death of a Filipino due to COVID-19. Kagaya ng marami, hindi ko itatago ang aking lungkot at pangamba. At this crucial moment, I ask that the government demonstrate the leadership that the public needs in order to shepherd ourselves out of this crisis. I also ask the public to religiously follow the protocols and guidelines set by our health authorities, practice social distancing if capable, and conduct self-quarantine if needed. It cannot be emphasized enough that proper hygiene, especially frequent and proper handwashing, is still the best weapon against the virus. Hoarding of protective gear like face masks, tissue rolls, and alcohol will limit the supply for those who need them the most. Our frontline health workers, as well as the immunocompromised, such as the sick, elderly, and the pregnant, should have ample access to these essential supplies. COVID-19 has become a real danger to our institutions. It is testing our public health system. But worse yet, it is testing our faith in each other. However, let us remember that we will get through the threat of this outbreak, not as individuals trying to save ourselves, but as a community saving each other. We will recover by how we take care of each other. We are safe when those around us are safe.
Im very much concerned about what the next few months will look like for Park Ridge, Maloney said. I know there are a number of people who think this is much to do about nothing, and if it turns out to be that, Ill be very happy. But the city is going to follow the events and make sure we are in a position to respond, however we have to respond.
US Ambassador to Cambodia Patrick Murphy (L) shakes hands with former opposition leader Kem Sokha (R) at his home in Phnom Penh, Nov. 11, 2019.

The U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia issued a rare statement Thursday on the ongoing treason trial of opposition leader Kem Sokha, praising the veteran politician and denouncing what he said were fabricated conspiracy theories about the United States introduced by the prosecution.

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 with a foreign country.

Ambassador Patrick Murphy, who took up his post last October, attended the trial, which resume this week after a series of postponements.

We are very troubled to see that the trial prosecutor has introduced into the court room fabricated conspiracy theories about the United States, he said in a statement after the hearing at Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

The court proceedings have potential implications for rule of law and due process in Cambodia and for Cambodias foreign relations, said Murphy.

Mr. Kem Sokha has a very well-deserved reputation around the world as a champion for human rights and freedoms. We look forward to seeing his political rights restored, just like we look forward to seeing the potential and the possibility for all Cambodians to participate in the political process here in Cambodia, the envoy added.

Murphys statement followed remarks Tuesday by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who threatened to revoke Kem Sokhas bail and send him to jail for trying to avoid punishment for crimes the prosecution says are proved by a heavily edited 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.

The United States has contributed almost 3 billion dollars in recent decades in assistance to Cambodia including transparent assistance to strengthening institutions and political parties in line with Cambodia constitution. Our assistance has been available for all political parties including the governing CPP party and many government institutions, said Murphy.

My government has made abundantly clear that the United States has never sought to interfere in Cambodia's governance. We fully respect Cambodias independence and sovereignty, he added.

Responding to Murphys remarks, a spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Municipal Courts Prosecution Office issued a statement saying that that the prosecution has made no accusation against Washington.

The prosecutor accused only Kem Sokha on both legal and factual bases as fully backed up by all components of the offense in accordance with Cambodias law.

Kem Sokha maintains his innocence and his lawyers have all along said that prosecutors lack evidence to convict.

Political commentator Em Sovannara told RFAs Khmer Service that he thought Murphys remarks represented a statement to prove its irrelevance (in the case) and that it is not complicit in this conspiracy.

The Kem Sokha case, which also saw his Cambodian National Rescue Party disbanded under a court order, has not helped Cambodias already poor reputation for rule of law and judicial independence.

In a report released on Wednesday by the World Justice Project, Cambodia placed 15th out of 15 countries surveyed in the East Asia and Pacific region for adherence to rule of law. The WJP Rule of Law Index also placed Cambodia 127th out of the 128 countries surveyed for their rule-of-law performance.

The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, in its annual report on human rights around the world, cited Kem Sokhas case as an example of the governments violation of laws prohibiting arbitrary arrest and detention.

The government in some cases did not respect these prohibitions, notably with the arbitrary detention of former CNRP leader Kem Sokha well beyond the legal limit, said the report.

As of November, Kem Sokha had spent 26 months in pretrial detention before the government partially lifted judicial restrictions, effectively releasing him from house arrest, but not allowing him to travel abroad or engage in political activity. In addition, the charges of treason against him still stand and he remains under court supervision, it said.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Paul Eckert.


Well known Longford Chartered Physiotherapist, Miranda Moran, is urging everyone to become more aware of the dangers and early signs of skin cancers.

Miranda, who has a practice in Newtownforbes, recently shared post-op images in a bid to increase skin cancer awareness.

A harmless looking mole on her face proved to be a malignant melanoma and she had to have a large amount of tissue removed requiring numerous stitches down her face.

In twitter posts shared with the www.leitrimobserver.ie she said: "Pre and post malignant melanoma excision taken this morning by my dermatologist Benvon Moran, Hermitage.

"can you share Im trying to raise skin cancer awareness after having surgery yesterday! So innocent looking & yet so potentially dangerous".

The following shows the results after she had this tiny mole surgically removed (warning: graphic content).

Many skin changes are harmless but if you do have skin cancer spotting it early could save your life.

Start by getting to know what is normal for your skin advise the Irish Cancer Society. After that it will be easier to spot change. Aim to check it every month. You could also see your doctor each year for a skin exam.



About moles and skin cancer

A normal mole is usually an evenly coloured brown, tan or black spot on your skin. It can be either flat or raised and also round or oval. It is usually less than the size of the top of a pencil.

Moles can be there from birth or can appear during childhood or adolescence. Once a mole appears it will usually stay the same size, shape and colour for many years. It may fade away in older people. Most people have moles and almost all are harmless. But it is important to spot changes in a mole. These changes could be a sign the mole is becoming a melanoma.



Skin changes to look out for

Skin cancers do not all look the same. They can appear in a number of ways including any of the following:

- A small lump

- Flat, red spot

- Firm, red lump

- A lump or spot that is tender to touch

- An ulcer that will not heal

- A lump with a scaly or horny top

- Rough, scaly patches

- A new or changing mole

Non-melanoma often appears as one of the following:

- A new growth or sore that does not heal in a few weeks.

- A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab or bleed.

- A skin ulcer not explained by other causes.

Melanoma mainly develops from a new mole or a change to an existing mole. The changes to watch out in existing moles are:

Change in shape: From a round and regular shape to ragged edges or an irregular shape with one half unlike the other.

Change in size: From the size of the top of a pencil and getting bigger.

Change in colour: From one colour to many shades of tan, brown or other colours. Some melanomas can also lose colour

- The mole looks red or inflamed around the edges

- The mole is bleeding, oozing or crusting

- The mole starts to feel different, for example, slightly itchy or painful.

As not all melanomas develop from moles it is important to speak to your doctor if you spot other skin changes that are unusual for you.



How to check your skin

If you have difficulty checking your skin you could ask your doctor or a friend to check those hard to see places. You could also use two mirrors to check your entire body.

Self examination for melanoma

Check yourself regularly - remember, early detection and treatment offers an excellent chance of a cure. If you are unsure, speak to your GP immediately.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
After the finalists for the 2020 World Press Photo awards were announced in February, Iranian photographer Solmaz Daryani felt a flash of deja vu. German photographer Maximilian Mann was nominated in the prestigious photo contest for his series titled Fading Flamingoes, which captured scenes of life from the edges of Lake Urmia. The lake in northwestern Iran has been drying up for decades, largely as a result of farmers who tap its inflowing rivers.

Its a slow-motion environmental crisis, similar to the drying of Central Asias Aral Sea, which Daryani knows intimately. Her grandfather once ran a thriving motel on the shores of Lake Urmia and much of Daryanis childhood was spent splashing in its salty water.

Beginning in 2014, the Iranian photojournalist began documenting the plight of Lake Urmia in a heartfelt picture story that links her childhood memories of the lake with its situation today. Several of her photographs are strikingly similar to the award-nominated images shot by Mann.

'This Hurts So Much' On March 10, Tehran-based photographer Kaveh Rostamkhani wrote a blog post about the similarities between the two picture stories. The blogger quoted Daryani as saying, As a female Iranian photographer, I have been facing so many obstacles and difficulties to carry on my work and to make it seen. Now a male photographer from Germany parachutes in and remakes a part of my project without any acknowledgement. Even worse, he manages to deprive it from its personal context. But the [World Press Photo Awards] are supporting his approach. This hurts so much. Eye Of The Earth is a very personal story of my family and people around the lake, and I share so many personal bonds with it, she said. Now it is hijacked.

But Mann, in remarks to RFE/RL, said he did not use Daryanis photographs for reference in his own work. Mann told RFE/RL: I was traveling with my [Iranian fixer Mahdi Zavvar]. He showed me the location. He knows the places very well. Mann said that he has received a lot of messages with a lot of hate since the award nominations were announced. The Dortmund-based photojournalist also pointed RFE/RL to several images made by other photographers from the same locations as Daryanis that are highly similar to her work.
Ask not what the federal government is doing for you about the COVID-19 pandemic, but ask instead what you are doing to keep Canadians healthy.

Justin Trudeau didnt exactly borrow from John F. Kennedys immortal lines about civic responsibility at his news conference on Wednesday, but the prime minister also, very deliberately, cast the virus crisis as a crash course for all of us in good citizenship.

Often there are global crises or events when the average citizen does not feel particularly powerful to affect the fate of the economy. We are in a situation where the choices our citizens make will have a direct impact on the health of Canada and on the Canadian economy, Trudeau said in French toward the end of his morning appearance in the National Press Theatre.

It was billed as a high-level update on what the Canadian government is doing for citizens as the novel coronavirus spreads its damage throughout Canada and the world. We get it and were on it, Trudeau said.

But slipped into all the talk of government having our backs  another new, favourite phrase from Trudeaus team this year  was a gentle reminder or two that citizenship is a two-way street. The government is in a giving frame of mind, but a taking one too, in terms of what its asking of average Canadian citizens to keep the virus contained.

Canadas chief public health officer, Theresa Tam, spoke at the news conference of how citizens  not the state or even the health-care system  would ultimately determine the trajectory of this virus.

The advantage of being in the Canadian system is that people will be supported to do what public health has asked them to do but everyone can change the dynamic of that curve, Dr. Tam said. That`s such an important message that I dont want people to lose sight of. Individual physicians cant do it, public health units on their own cant do it. Everyone has to contribute.

The prime minister followed up with reinforcement. At this point our strongest recommendation is for Canadians to be involved in keeping themselves and their families safe, Trudeau said.

Asking people to change their behaviour for the sake of the country is a very 20th century concept in North America, when war, duty and sacrifice were part of the political lexicon. In this century, political appeals to peoples selflessness is usually framed as: do it for your kids, or the next generation.

But governments are still keenly interested in what they can do to change individuals behaviour to align with national or state goals, especially when it comes to climate change, for instance. Britain set up its famous nudge unit within its cabinet office in the early 2000s to study how behavioural-economic insights could be turned into public policy. And Canada, for its part, has something called the impact and innovation unit inside government, inspired in part by the British example.

The COVID-19 virus, now a pandemic, could well become a laboratory into how governments nudge their citizens into different behaviour. Certainly that old British unit, now a separate company called the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) has been having thoughts in that direction.

In a recent blog post, BIT laid out some thoughts on how do we encourage the right behaviours during an epidemic? Its not easy, BIT acknowledged: the incentives for changed citizen behaviour are neither clear nor immediate. People have no way of knowing if taking preventive steps will actually stop them contracting the virus. Youll never know what didnt happen.

The blog post talks about the importance of public-health officials being front and centre to cultivate trust and why governments should be transparent, but also sparing about details,

In some cases, less rather than more information leads to more accurate judgments, BITs blog post states. Communicating simple instructions that are easy to remember makes it more likely that people will follow them.

I dont know whether anyone inside the government is reading the BIT blog, but Trudeaus news conference on Wednesday revealed a high degree of interest in the social science  as well as the medical science  of managing a pandemic.

This is on all of us, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu told reporters later on Monday.

Canadian citizens have been asking a lot of their federal government in the past few months  from requests to fix snarled train traffic to the rescue of Canadians in trouble abroad. COVID-19 has turned that equation upside down. As Kennedy might have put it, this pandemic is forcing citizens to ask not what the country can do for them, but what they can do for the country.

Susan Delacourt is a columnist covering national politics based in Ottawa. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt

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The new coronavirus outbreak can now be characterised as a pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said on 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 characterised as a pandemic," he told reporters in Geneva. A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

The WHO boss said he expected the number of cases and deaths would grow in the coming days and weeks, declaring "we have never before seen a pandemic sparked by a coronavirus."

Ghebreyesus said that several countries had demonstrated that the virus could be suppressed and controlled.

He said the challenge was not whether many countries dealing with large clusters could do the same, but whether they would.

Ghebreyesus said hard-hit Iran was trying its best to control the outbreak but needed more supplies.

Meanwhile in Europe, figures suggest the number of Coronavirus cases in Europe is now over 22,000 with 930 deaths.

The WHO said this week it was "normal and understandable to feel anxious" in these days, "especially if you live in a country or community that has been affected" by the coronavirus.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron is to address the nation tomorrow evening about the subject.

Gatherings of more than one thousand people are now banned in France and Macron could announce new measures tomorrow.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by traders' body CAIT against CCI nod to Walmart's $16-billion acquisition of Flipkart

New Delhi: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by traders' body CAIT against CCI nod to Walmart's $16-billion acquisition of Flipkart.

A two-member bench of the appellate tribunal headed by Justice S J Mukhopadhaya said CAIT failed to establish its allegations against CCI granting approval for Walmart-Flipkart deal.

NCLAT also said Flipkart was not even made party by CAIT in its plea.

"We find no merit in it, accordingly the appeal is dismissed," said NCLAT, upholding the CCI nod to the deal.

The appellate tribunal also observed that the deal would add value to the Flipkart platform.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 8 August, 2018 had said it has approved US retail giant Walmart's acquisition of Flipkart.

NCLAT had reserved its order on CAIT's plea in January last year.

In August 2018, CAIT had filed a petition in NCLAT asking for reversal of the Walmart-Flipkart deal. Orders passed by CCI can be challenged before NCLAT.

On 18 August, 2018, Walmart announced that it has completed a deal with Flipkart and holds 77 percent stake in the Indian e-commerce major. The deal size was $16 billion.

In the following month, NCLAT asked Walmart International Holdings Inc to file a reply before it explaining the way of doing business in India.

CAIT was also asked to file its understanding over Walmart's business model in India.

In its petition, CAIT mentioned that CCI in its order has ignored the predatory activities carried out by both Flipkart and Walmart in the past.
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Trump is refusing to declare a national emergency on the coronavirus until after his son in law Jared Kushner, has finished researching the subject.

Politico reported:

At the White House, some of Trumps closest aides have debated whether an emergency declaration is needed to ensure those resources are available. But they have yet to make a recommendation to Trump, according to two the people familiar with the situation.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is pushing for the designation. But Vice President Mike Pence, who Trump tapped to lead the administrations coronavirus response, is wary it could trigger an economic tailspin, they added.

Theres no deadline for a decision, but one of the people familiar with the talks said the task force will not give Trump its final verdict until Jared Kushner, the presidents senior adviser, and son-in-law, finishes his research and comes to a conclusion himself.

There should be zero debate. A national emergency should have already been declared. States need the funds to combat the spread of the virus in local communities, but Trump is more worried about political optics and his reelection campaign than taking steps that could save American lives.

Donald Trump is revealing his weak-minded feebleness by waiting for his son-in-law to finish Googling so that he can be told what to do.

A declaration of emergency is not a political stunt. It is an administrative tool that, if declared, has real power to help provide states and communities with the immediate resources that they need.

The health of potentially millions of Americans is in the hands of Jared Kushner and his research. Trumps mishandling of the coronavirus is getting to the point of being nearly criminal. A pandemic is raging across the country, and Trump is sitting on his hands while waiting for his son-in-law.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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[March 12, 2020] MISUMI to Relocate North American HQ to Schaumburg Corporate Center

MISUMI, a global supplier of configurable components, is excited to announce the relocation of its North American corporate headquarters to Glenstar's Schaumburg Corporate Center located at 1475 E. Woodfield Road. Located adjacent to Woodfield Mall, the total property is a 1 million-square-foot, three-building office complex. MISUMI plans to take occupancy in June 2020. MISUMI is set to undergo a renovation of nearly 48,000 square feet spread over 2 floors of occupancy space and the relocation will allow a more expressive treatment of the MISUMI brand throughout the space. "We are very excited to be moving our North American headquarters to a wonderful new office space, complete with newly redeveloped amenities," says Randy Yu, VP of Human Resources for MISUMI, "we feel that this new space will be a positve experience for our employees and will encourage growth for the future." Some of the new amenities include LED lighting upgrades, new energy efficient machinery, and updated finishes throughout.



Headquartered in Japan, MISUMI manufactures and distributes products to a wide variety of manufacturing industries including automotive, medical, consumer packaging, semiconductor, and aerospace. MISUMI is relocating from 1717 Penny Lane, also in Schaumburg, where it leased 32,000 square feet. About MISUMI

MISUMI is the most comprehensive and user-friendly resource for factory automation components. With a vast selection of 80 sextillion standard and customized parts, MISUMI is an unmatched, one-stop shop to meet customer specifications. MISUMI is committed to empowering customers to do incredible design work incredibly fast. For more information, visit the MISUMI website at misumiusa.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005683/en/

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Surgical Science Sweden AB (publ) (STO:SUS), which is in the medical equipment business, and is based in Sweden, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the OM over the last few months, increasing to kr460 at one point, and dropping to the lows of kr282. 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 Surgical Science Sweden's current trading price of kr290 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 Surgical Science Swedens outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

View our latest analysis for Surgical Science Sweden

What's the opportunity in Surgical Science Sweden?

Great news for investors  Surgical Science Sweden is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is SEK515.61, but it is currently trading at kr290 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because Surgical Science Swedens beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

What does the future of Surgical Science Sweden look like?

OM:SUS 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. Surgical Science Swedens earnings over the next few years are expected to double, indicating a very optimistic future ahead. This should lead to stronger cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

Story continues

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? Since SUS is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on SUS 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 SUS. 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 Surgical Science Sweden. You can find everything you need to know about Surgical Science Sweden in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Surgical Science Sweden, 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.
The mayor of a small French town has defended hosting a record-breaking gathering of 3,500 people dressed as Smurfs at the weekend, after accusations that the event increased the risks of spreading the coronavirus.

"We must not stop living...It was a chance to say that we are alive," mayor Patrick Leclerc, mayor of Landerneau, told AFP.

The gathering came a day before France banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, which had infected 1,784 people and killed 33, as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Smurf rally drew criticism particularly from the media in Italy, which is battling Europe's worst outbreak, where La Repubblica newspaper described the rally as a "potentially very dangerous viral bomb".

Fans of the hit Belgian cartoon descended on Saturday on the Breton town to break the world record for a gathering of Smurfs.

Leclerc insisted that the revellers, who painted their hands and faces blue and sported white pointy hats, had violated no ban and were a necessary antidote to an "ambient gloom".

"We've been preparing for a month," one of the Smurfs, who gave her name as Isabelle, told AFP at Saturday's event.

"We got our costumes from all the shops in the area and we figured that a bit of fun would do us all good at the moment."

Italian media disagreed, with Il Secolo XIX newspaper calling it an "irresponsible move" that could significantly increase the risk of contagion.

(with AFP)
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
New Delhi, March 12 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the state authorities were fully prepared to tackle coronavirus threat.

Sawant said that all precautions were taken and suspected cases at airport and inter-state borders were referred to apex medical college hospital here.

So far, four suspected cases have tested negative in Goa whereas samples of other suspected cases were being tested.

Earlier, the Chief Minister called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Parliament House and appraised him of various issues pertaining to the state's development.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Police in St. Petersburg and several other Russian cities have detained activists during and ahead of protests against sweeping constitutional amendments that open the possibility for President Vladimir Putin to remain in power for another 16 years.

The March 12 demonstrations were held while local lawmakers discussed the amendments, a day after parliament's two chambers both overwhelmingly approved the changes.

In St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, an RFE/RL correspondent reported that police had detained two activists of the Peaceful Resistance group.

Dmitry Negodin and Yevgeny Musin rallied in front of the Legislative Assembly with posters urging local lawmakers to reject the amendments.

Two female protesters, Olga Smirnova and Marina Ken, were also detained.

Earlier, a coordinator with the opposition organization Open Russia, Sergei Kuzin, another member of the group, Larisa Kucherova, and municipal lawmaker Vasily Kunin, were held by police as they tried to leave their apartments.

In the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, police detained the local leader of the opposition Yabloko party, Sergei Khorenzhenko, as well as activists Sergei Tiunov and Yelena Pary while they were protesting in the city center.

OVD-Info, a group that monitors protests and arrests in Russia, said one activist, Sergei Ryabov, was detained in front of the Tula city parliament.

Two other protesters, Alik Shashayev and Azamat Shormanov, were detained in Nalchik, the capital of the North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria, it said.

The protests were sparked by an amendment setting Putin's previous presidential term count back to zero because of the other sweeping changes to the constitution.

Putin's current term, his second consecutive six-year term, was slated to end in 2024. The previous rules forbade him from running for a third consecutive mandate, but that changes with the provisions of the amendments, meaning he can seek a fifth overall presidential term in 2024, and conceivably a sixth in 2030.

The constitutional changes now must be approved by at least two-thirds of regional parliaments and confirmed by the Constitutional Court.

Final approval will come if more than half of the country's voters support it in an April 22 referendum.

Putin, a 67-year old former KGB officer, has ruled Russia as a president or prime minister for more than 20 years.
BOUQUETS >> To Bethany Bucci, the 37-year-old general manager of the McDonalds at 1725 Henderson Drive in Lorain, who recently was named a Ray Kroc Award winner.

Buccis award is special because its issued annually to the top one percent of McDonalds restaurant general managers in the world.

An elated Bucci, said, They told me I had a really good chance at winning it, and I didnt know if I really did. I came in one day, and I was told I won. I was super excited. I won a trip to Florida and $2,500 cash, so its pretty exciting.

The McDonalds award is given to a general manager based on certain criteria. such as guest count increases, sales increases and community involvement.

In the past year, Bucci has increased the number of patrons visiting her restaurant, has donated money and time to the Haven Center, a homeless shelter in Lorain, the Mary Lee Tucker Clothe-A-Child program and reached out with the McTeacher nights in her store with Lorain Preparatory Academy.

Bucci will be recognized during McDonalds 2020 World Wide Convention in April in Orlando in front of 15,000 people.

We congratulate Bucci for the special honor.

BOUQUETS >> To Camillo Jack Tocchi, the 89-year-old Lorain native who is the 2020 recipient of the Dr. Alex and Maria Zolli Living Angel Award at the Life Savers Ball on March 7 at the Emerald Event Center in Avon.

Tocchi, a father of six, grandfather of 19 and great-grandfather of four, had cancer three times in his life, and beat it.

Zolli told the story of how Tocchi, worked throughout his life and dedicated his time to his family and his religion.

Zolli said Tocchi walks a path perfectly balanced by his lifes passions of faith, family and service.

Tocchi is an active member of the community having taken part in Ohio IAV, American Legion 30, Knights of Columbus, the Board of UAW Retirees, the American Cancer Society and attends St. Anthony of Padua Church.

Since 2016, Tocchi has dedicated three days per week to spending time with cancer patients.

Although hes currently in good health, Tocchi hopes he will be remembered as a caring, loving man.

Tocchi said,  I hope that people will say I was a good man, mild mannered, loving and caring.

Tocchi is very deserving of this award.

BRICKBATS >> To the 26-year-old Elyria woman facing two misdemeanor counts of endangering children after her two children were left alone March 4 in her apartment for two hours.

An Elyria police report said at 8:19 p.m., officers responded to the 1800 block of Middle Avenue for a child heard crying for an hour by neighbors.

After numerous knocks and attempts to get someone to open the door, officers knocked open the door of the apartment and found dirt all over the unit and an unbearable smell from old food, dirty laundry and other items.

Officers made their way to the crying child and found a room in the northeast corner of the apartment that was tied shut with a shoelace wrapped around the door knob and a nail that was nailed to the adjacent wall.

An officer cut the shoelace, opened the door and found a 3-year-old and a 2-year-old in the room; one was crying and the other one was sleeping on a bed.

One of the children had the flu, an ear infection and was dehydrated.

LifeCare arrived to treat the child.

Paramedics transported the siblings to UH Elyria for further medical treatment.

Lorain County Children Services arrived at the apartment and told police the mother had a prior case with the agency but was given another opportunity with her children.

This woman has some serious issues and needs help, but she still must be punished for her actions.

BRICKBATS >> To the 15-year-old boy who was playing with a BB gun March 5 and pointed it at another teen and someone thought it was a real firearm.

We have to ask, what was the boy thinking?

An Elyria police report said officers were called at 5:13 p.m. to the 100 block of Chase Street for a boy who was pointing a rifle at another juvenile.

Police found the teen with multiple guns in his hands.

With guns drawn, officers told the teen to drop the guns and lie flat on the ground and he instantly complied.

Police approached him and found the guns he was holding had orange tips on the barrels.

The teen was detained for officer safety while they grabbed the five BB guns.

The boy said he and his friend were playing with the guns and shooting each other with them.

This incident could have ended very badly.

Hopefully, he learned a lesson from this.
Two more cases of coronavirus



were confirmed in Maharashtra on Thursday evening, one of them in Mumbai and other in neighbouring Thane, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said here.

It took the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state to 14.

The new coronavirus patient in Mumbai was a 65-year- old man who had returned from Dubai and his condition was somewhat critical, Tope told reporters.

The patient in Thane had traveled to France, he said.

Earlier in the day, test of one person in Pune had come out positive.

There are now nine confirmed coronavirus patients in Pune, three in Mumbai, one in Thane and another in Nagpur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Doo Holding is working with mask producers and non-profits worldwide to obtain and donate medical-grade PPE to Hubei hospitals

HONG KONG, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial technology and services conglomerate Doo Holding Group Limited has donated medical-grade PPE to hospitals in the Province of Hubei to help in the fight against the coronavirus.

In a bid to help Hubei hospitals as they work to contain the coronavirus, Doo Holding Group APAC COO Marc Grand has allocated US$20,000 for the purchase and distribution of 30,000 N95 respirator masks to frontline medical personnel.

Company staff have been following developments closely and are attuned to the needs of the affected areas. Grand said staff at all levels are actively promoting the implementation of disease prevention and control protocols as part of its commitment to social responsibility.

Doo Holding Group is coordinating efforts with its international business network for the acquisition and distribution of PPE to hospitals in Hubei, and has formed a donation programme. Grand said: "We are very concerned about the situation nationwide particularly in hospitals in Wuhan and other cities in the Province of Hubei. We are coordinating with our business network and friends overseas to purchase available masks to be delivered directly to Hubei hospitals as soon as possible.

Shortly after the announcement of the quarantine of Hubei Province, in addition to following news developments, Doo Holding has been taking steps to safeguard the well-being and safety of its staff. Following Beijing's issuance of a nationwide delay in resuming work, Doo Holding delayed its company-wide work resumption schedule in accordance to the date and time specified by the government, and made provisions for staff to work from home as needed.

Grand reminded his staff in an email following the delay of work notice to take adequate precautions and wished good health to all.

"The consequences will be very grave if nothing is done. We must all play our part in providing humanitarian assistance to medical personnel as they fight the virus.

"The coronavirus has affected billions of people in the Chinese nation. Doo Holding Group and its subsidiaries stand by our collective commitment to social responsibility and are dedicated to working with the people of China to overcome these difficulties," said Grand.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1123193/Doo_Holding_Masks_Coronavirus.jpg
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Thu, March 12, 2020 13:42 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a19046 2 World #SaudiArabia,#coronavirus,travel-ban,Europe Free

Saudi Arabia has extended flight and travel bans over coronavirus fears to include the European Union and 12 other countries after announcing 24 new cases overnight to bring its total to 45, state media reported on Thursday.

Citizens and residents in the affected jurisdictions have 72 hours to return to the kingdom, state news agency SPA said, citing an official source at the Interior Ministry.

Passenger traffic through all land crossings with Jordan was also suspended, while commercial and cargo traffic is still allowed.

The kingdom had already banned travel to some 19 countries, including neighbouring Arab states, and said it would impose a fine of up to 500,000 riyals ($133,000) on people who did not disclose health information and travel details at entry points.

Other preventive measures include locking down the oil-producing region of Qatif, where many of its cases are centred, suspending the Umrah pilgrimage, closing schools and cinemas nationwide, cancelling conferences and sporting events, and postponing a G20 ministerial meeting scheduled for next week.

As well as the EU, the latest decision includes Switzerland, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, and Somalia.

Millions of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia come from many of those countries.

The decision excludes health workers in the kingdom from the Philippines and India as well as evacuation, shipping and trade trips involving necessary precautions, the SPA report said.
Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks has revealed that he and wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

IMAGE: Actor Rita Wilson and husband Tom Hanks embrace during a ceremony honoring Wilson with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in Los Angeles US. Photograph: Reuters

The actor couple, currently in Australia to shoot for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley film as per Deadline, decided to get tested after they felt "a bit tired".

"Hey folks Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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," Hanks said in a tweet.

The Academy-award-winning actor said the medical team had already taken over.

"The medical officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires," Hanks said.

"Not much more to it than one-day at a time approach, no? We will keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!" Hanks tweeted.

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, with the World Health Organisation on Wednesday describing the outbreak a pandemic.

China remains the hardest-hit with more than 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.
Brits are being urged not to eat cuttlefish as populations of the mollusc in UK waters have sunk to perilously low levels.

The enigmatic marine creatures have joined the Marine Conservation Societys fish to avoid list after a steep decline in populations in the English Channel in 10 years.

Between 2008 and 2017, catches of cuttlefish more than doubled, meaning numbers reported in their natural habitat in 2017 could be the lowest on record.

The new classification rings alarm bells for the future of the species in UK waters, which are now attached with big price tags, encouraging even more catches.

UK fish-eaters should instead switch to locally-farmed mussels and oysters, Atlantic halibut, herring from the Irish sea, plaice from the north sea and European hake.

Cuttlefish caught on Chesil Beach in Dorset, England. Of real concern to the society is that the vast majority (over 90 per cent) of the cuttlefish that are being caught havent yet had the chance to breed

The dramatic increase in catches, alongside several reports identifying a rapid decline in cuttlefish populations in the English Channel, has led to a red rating in the update to the Good Fish Guide, said Charlotte Coombes, Good Fish Guide Manager.

Marine Conservation Society urgently wants to see management keeping up with the growth of this fishery to protect cuttlefish during their spawning season, and to ensure the population can stay healthy from one year to the next.

Unusually high catches of cuttlefish were observed in the northwest party of the English Channel in late summer 2017 and are likely to indicate overfishing, says International Council for Exploration of the Sea.

Growth in cuttlefish catches over the last decade has seen more than a twofold increase in value, from around 1.50 per kilo in 2008 to about 3.60 per kilo in 2017.

Cuttlefish catches brought to UK land in 2018 were worth 14.9 million, the charity says, and scarcity can drive up the worth of a single catch.

The Marine Conservation Societys Good Fish Guide provides updates with the health of commercial fish populations, including which could be threatened by extinction.

The society said that while some of UK-caught cuttlefish is exported to other countries, theres a growing interest in the mollusc as a food source due to its similarity in taste to squid.

Squid is a more sustainable option than cuttlefish, according to the annually-updated Good Fish Guide, in particular European squid captured in the North East Atlantic.

But the MCS said the most sustainable option for mollusc fans is UK rope-grown mussels.

There's growing interest in cuttlefish, shown here served with garlic, parsley and lemon, in the UK due to its similarity in taste to squid, and it may well start to appear more on local restaurant menus in the near future, MCS says

MCS says there are also poor regulations in place concerning the fishing of cuttlefish, including no catch limits, restrictions on where or when they can be caught or plants to ensure populations stay at sustainable levels.

More than 90 per cent of cuttlefish that are being caught havent yet had the chance to breed, damaging populations further.

A smaller proportion of cuttlefish are caught inshore, in pots and traps, when they come inshore to breed.

When they're caught at the end of their lives after theyve bred makes for a more sustainable fishing model, says MCS.

Some forms of bottom trawling  when a large net with heavy weights is dragged across the seafloor  also cause habitat damage, not just for cuttlefish.

Cuttlefish are in the red list, while brown crab, caught in creels (pots) around Shetland, has bounced back following a reduction in fishing pressure and tighter control rules on harvesting and is now green rated by MCS, joining the Best Choice list

The Marine Conservation Society's guide's traffic light system classifies red-rated stocks as the fish to avoid, while those rated green, or the best choice, are considered the most sustainable options.

Also now classified as red are Queen scallops from the Isle of Man, while Atlantic wolffish in Iceland has moved off the fish to avoid list and is now amber rated  meaning fish eaters should think and seek alternatives where they can.

Non-certified pole and line-caught skipjack tuna from the Indian Ocean has moved off the 'best choice' list and is now amber rated.

Meanwhile, brown crab caught around the Shetland Islands has bounced back following tighter controls on harvesting and is now green rated.

The conservation charity says urgent action is needed to recover red populations such as cuttlefish to healthy levels.

Members of the public can sign their say no to red pledge in an attempt to lobby businesses and governments to take these red species off of restaurant menus.

Cuttlefish are one of the most intelligent invertebrates with a large brain that allows them to learn and remember.

The mollusc has been found to eat less during the day if their favourite meal is on offer during the evening.

Cuttlefish, which are colour-blind, are capable of camouflage to help hide from predators including sharks, seals and birds.

When they feel threatened they produce colours of ink, which, along with an increase in commercial value, gives them the nickname black gold.
Bengaluru, March 12 : A 26-year-old man returning from Greece tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the fifth positive case in Karnataka, a health official said on Thursday.

"A 26-year-old male patient who came from Greece has tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. The patient is admitted and isolated at hospital and is stable," state health department's Information, Education and Communication (IEC) special officer Suresh Shastri told IANS.

According to the department, all the primary contacts of the new case have been traced which proved to be asymptomatic but advised home quarantine and follow up.

Similarly, all the primary contacts of the other four positive cases continue to be under medical surveillance amid no symptoms.

On Thursday, the state government identified 20 procedure codes under central government health scheme Ayushman Bharat and Arogya Karnataka scheme to cover hospital expenses for patients.

As on Thursday, the number of persons admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases and other city hospitals for selected isolated observation stands at 12.

In the district hospitals, two people are being monitored at Hassan, three in Dakshina Kannada and one in Ballari.

"As many as 579 samples of symptomatic persons were collected for testing and 460 samples have returned negative," said an official statement.

Nearly 906 people are going through home quarantine across the state while 1,220 people have enrolled for observation.

Across the state, 1.01 lakh 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.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru regional centre of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts cancelled a lecture for Saturday.

Similarly, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) suspended employee fingerprint biometric attendance system as a preventive measure to counter coronavirus threat.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

OAKVILLE, Ontario, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corp. (EMM.V) (FRANKFURT:KT9) (WKN:A2DUU8) (Giyani or the Company) is pleased to announce the appointment of consultant Mr. Thomas Horton as a Vice President Business Development with immediate effect.



Mr. Horton started his career in the mining industry as project engineer with AMEC and Fluor Corp in North America. There he worked in engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) on various greenfield and brownfield projects, including two solvent extraction electrowinning (SX/EW) projects for Freeport McMoran and KORES.

Since 2010, Mr. Horton moved back to the UK where he has held various roles in corporate development, corporate broking and private equity.

Mr. Horton has a masters degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Manchester and an MBA from London Business School. He joins Giyani from Pembridge Resources, where he worked on the financing, acquisition, and 4-months following the acquisition, the restart of the Minto mine in The Yukon, Canada.

Robin Birchall, CEO of Giyani commented:

Thomas brings a wealth of experience in mining and corporate development to the Giyani team. He, not only, has relevant engineering experience in SX/EW, the processing technology that will be used at K.Hill, but also commercial experience in project financing and deal structuring. We are very excited by his addition to our team and look forward to his contribution to the development of Giyani and the growth of our shareholder value.

In connection with the above appointment, Giyani has granted Mr. Horton 500,000 options exercisable at a price of $0.12 per share in accordance with the Companys stock option plan. The options have a five-year term and vest immediately.

About Giyani

Giyani Metals Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value by accelerating the development of its high-grade manganese project in the Kanye Basin, Botswana, Africa. Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedar.com and on Giyani Metals Corp. Website: https://giyanimetals.com/.

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On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp.

Robin Birchall, CEO

Contact:

Giyani Metals Corporation

Robin Birchall

CEO, Director

+447711313019

rbirchall@giyanimetals.com

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



The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. persons, as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act (U.S. Persons), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Companys securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Giyani expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words expects, does not expect, plans, anticipates, does not anticipate, believes, intends, estimates, projects, potential, scheduled, forecast, budget and similar expressions, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could, should or might occur.

All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the relevant management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to certain assumptions, important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Giyanis ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In the case of Giyani, these facts include their anticipated operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, and plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. This information relates to analyses and other information that is based on expectations of future performance and planned work programs.
Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. Buying under-rated businesses is one path to excess returns. To wit, the Rogers Communications share price has climbed 37% in five years, easily topping the market return of -6.0% (ignoring dividends).

View our latest analysis for Rogers Communications

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During five years of share price growth, Rogers Communications achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 8.9% per year. The EPS growth is more impressive than the yearly share price gain of 6.5% over the same period. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

TSX:RCI.B Past and Future Earnings, March 12th 2020

We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Rogers Communications'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. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Rogers Communications, it has a TSR of 62% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

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A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 13% in the twelve months, Rogers Communications shareholders did even worse, losing 15% (even including dividends) . 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. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 10% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. 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 1 warning sign with Rogers Communications , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Rogers Communications 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.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on CA 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.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is drawing praise from bipartisan quarters as hes emerged as a major public voice calling for aggressive action to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

DeWine in recent days has used his office as a bully pulpit, via daily news conferences at the Ohio Statehouse. Hes cleared his schedule to sound the alarms on the seriousness of the virus. Hes also announced sweeping, potentially unpopular changes that will disrupt Ohioans daily lives  like ordering limits on public gatherings and announcing an impending closure of all K-12 schools  moves he says are necessary to keep Ohios medical resources from being overwhelmed.

And unlike President Donald Trump, a fellow Republican whos muddled his administrations official pronouncements by sharing his hunches about the virus, DeWine has leaned heavily on medical experts advising him on how to handle the crisis.

A highly visible fixture at DeWines briefings has been Ohio Health Department Director Amy Acton, a medical doctor who also has a masters degree in public-health administration. Some of the news shes shared has been sobering  after officials announced on Wednesday the a Stark County man had become infected without having contact with a known carrier, Acton said shes inferred that as many as 117,000 Ohioans could already be infected.

I want Ohioans to come to terms with the fact that we do have this virus amongst us in Ohio, Acton said Wednesday. Were all dawning into the awareness that life as we know it is going to be disrupted and changed for a period. Were also all going to pull together and take collective actions.

The daily news conferences have been carried live online by The Ohio Channel, a state video service that has been struggling to keep up with demand of tens of thousands of viewers.

Among those who have been watching is Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, a Democrat, who said DeWine has been doing a terrific job leading the state response to the crisis, in contrast to the federal government. She said she learned last summer, while leading her citys response to tragedies that included a mass shooting in August, the importance of providing real-time, factual information to the public during a crisis.

He had a call yesterday at 9:30 with [Ohio] mayors, and he and Amy went into how serious this is, she said Thursday. I think he did a great job at getting our attention as well. So, weve had a really good relationship, and its really more of, what can we do to amplify and line our messages up.

She added: We certainly are getting our direction from the State of Ohio, and not the federal government, and thats very difficult for a national crisis."

Ive been really impressed by both the governor and Director Acton, said John Corlett, executive director of the Center for Community Solutions, a nonpartisan think-tank in Cleveland that advocates for greater funding for social services. I think theyve been so measured and so calm. I think thats what the public needs. I think they set a good example, and I wish our federal government could set the same example.

The DeWine administrations approach  consistent, full of stark warnings and deferential to medical experts  has been a contrast with the approach from the Trump administration which at times has sought to downplay the seriousness of the virus, described the public-health response as close to airtight and said the virus has been contained.

Just on Monday, Trump in a tweet compared the coronavirus to the common flu. Hes previously suggested the virus may not spread much and said a vaccine could be ready in months when experts have said it will take more than a year.

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!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2020

Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Trump administrations top infectious disease expert, has emphasized that COVID-19 is actually believed to be 10 times more deadly than the flu, and is particularly dangerous for the elderly.

Things will get worse, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading expert on infectious diseases says on coronavirus https://t.co/LLr3TrIIit pic.twitter.com/orpg3WS76u  CBS News (@CBSNews) March 11, 2020

Bottom line: Its going to get worse, Fauci told members of Congress on Wednesday. If we dont do very serious mitigation now, whats going to happen is were going to be weeks behind.

The Trump campaign has emphasized Trumps March 6 signing of a $8.3 billion spending bill to fight the spread of coronavirus  of which $15.6 million is headed to Ohio  and his action in January to close travel with countries deemed as high-risk, including China, where COVID-19 originated.

"Bottom line: President Trump is leading the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to stop the spread of a foreign virus in modern history. Downplaying these efforts for political gain is inexcusable, Dan Luschek, a Trump campaign spokesman in Ohio, said in a statement.

DeWine likes to avoid commenting on the Trump administration by saying hes focused on Ohio. But in a Thursday appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe, he praised Trumps televised national address from the night before, saying the federal government was right to restrict international travel.

I thought the president had the right tone. Its time for us to put politics aside and come together, he said.

But DeWine also has said he doesnt think Ohioans grasp the scope of the challenges the emerging virus and the efforts to contain it will pose.

While I have been candid and tried to explain the danger, I feel from talking to people that most Ohioans just dont get it yet, DeWine wrote in a note to political supporters Wednesday. I am sending this letter to friends and family to emphasize the danger and to repeat what I have said in public in the hope that you will help me get the word out -- and that YOU will take this seriously.

If he wants people to get it, hell have a tougher sell with members of his own party, recent polling has shown.

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted from March 5-8 found that 58% of Americans were at least somewhat concerned the coronavirus would disrupt their daily life. But the poll found that Republicans viewed the virus with less urgency  only 38% of Republicans said they were concerned, while 30% said they werent concerned at all.

Another poll conducted by Survey Monkey from March 5-9 found that 62% of Republicans, or double of what Democrats said, thought news reports of the risk of the coronavirus were exaggerated.

A third poll, conducted from March 2-3 by Ipsos, found that 54% of Republicans said they hadnt altered their daily plans over coronavirus, compared to 40% of Democrats. Republicans also were less likely to say theyd begun washing their hands more often.

On Jan. 28, in the early days of coronavirus presence in the United States, the DeWine administration held a news conference at Miami University in response to news that two students there had possibly been exposed to the virus after traveling to China. After testing came back negative, the state said little publicly for weeks, releasing rote data on suspected cases.

But DeWine on March 3 turned to a favorite approach as it became clear the risk from the spread of the virus likely was intensifying  he formed an advisory group. The panel of public health and medical experts includes Andrew W. Thomas, the chief medical officer at Ohio State Universitys Wexner Medical Center who like Acton has been a regular fixture at daily Statehouse briefings. He also turned to history, reading a book about the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak.

And he began scheduling daily briefings when the state got its confirmed cases, providing the media and the public with continually updated information.

DeWine has said his time in the 1990s as then-Gov. George Voinovichs lieutenant governor informed his approach to dealing with crises. He said he particularly learned from Voinvovichs handling of a 1993 riot at a state prison in Lucasville during which one corrections officer and nine inmates were killed.

A lot of people were familiar with Georges ability to manage, but what was less obvious was his ability not to micromanage, he told The Plain Dealer in 2016, while he was state attorney general. He was diligent about selecting the right people for the right jobs and allowing them to do their work. That was a big part of his effectiveness.

Responding to a question on Morning Joe on Thursday about whether schools should be closed, DeWine said hes leaning on his advisers. He ended up announcing later in the day that all Ohio all Ohio schools would be closed March 16 through April 3.

I consult the experts. Im not the science expert. Im not the medical expert. But we put the best people we can in, and this is the toughest decision, according to the experts, he said.

Jim Luken, a retired public-health commissioner who worked at the Greene County health department in the 1980s while DeWine was a local elected official there, credited DeWine with trusting Acton to help the state chart its course through untested waters.

I think theyre handling it as well as they can be, said Luken, who also attended Ohio State University with Acton. Mike likes to get out in front of things. Thats the way hes been his whole life. He likes being in control. He likes being out there. And I think hes got a good person with Amy doing what shes done.

Read other recent Ohio political news:

Advocates launching text campaign to reach Ohio voters whose polling places were moved over coronavirus concerns

36 Cuyahoga County polling places moved for March 17 primary election; new locations TBD

Joe Biden touts gun control record during Columbus stop a week before Ohio primary

Ohio moving polling places, urging early voting, for March 17 primary over coronavirus concerns

New Ohio program would expand mental-health treatment for rural students through virtual visits

After paying $500k in settlement, medical marijuana company can open three Ohio dispensaries
Senior lawyer and Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Thursday said Jyotiraditya Scindia was a dear friend and he is saddened that he left the party.

Speaking to ANI he said, "He was a dear friend of mine, his father was a dear friend of mine. I'm really saddened that he's gone and I wish I knew. If he had talked to me I would've known but I'm really really saddened that he has left."

On Wednesday, Scindia joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party president JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier after meeting Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scindia will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Is Media 6 SA (EPA:EDI) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments.

With a 2.4% yield and a five-year payment history, investors probably think Media 6 looks like a reliable dividend stock. A low yield is generally a turn-off, but if the prospects for earnings growth were strong, investors might be pleasantly surprised by the long-term results. The company also bought back stock equivalent to around 1.2% of market capitalisation this year. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Media 6 for its dividend, and we'll go through these below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

ENXTPA:EDI Historical Dividend Yield, March 12th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. Media 6 paid out 28% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. This is a middling range that strikes a nice balance between paying dividends to shareholders, and retaining enough earnings to invest in future growth. One of the risks is that management reinvests the retained capital poorly instead of paying a higher dividend.

In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. Media 6 paid out 21% of its free cash flow as dividends last year, which is conservative and suggests the dividend is sustainable. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

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With a strong net cash balance, Media 6 investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective.

Consider getting our latest analysis on Media 6's financial position here.

Dividend Volatility

Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. Media 6 has been paying a dividend for the past five years. During the past five-year period, the first annual payment was 0.15 in 2015, compared to 0.24 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.9% a year over that time.

The dividend has been growing at a reasonable rate, which we like. We're conscious though that one of the best ways to detect a multi-decade consistent dividend-payer, is to watch a company pay dividends for 20 years - a distinction Media 6 has not achieved yet.

Dividend Growth Potential

Dividend payments have been consistent over the past few years, but we should always check if earnings per share (EPS) are growing, as this will help maintain the purchasing power of the dividend. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Media 6 has grown its earnings per share at 157% per annum over the past five years. Earnings per share have rocketed in recent times, and we like that the company is retaining more than half of its earnings to reinvest. However, always remember that very few companies can grow at double digit rates forever.

Conclusion

When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. Firstly, we like that Media 6 has low and conservative payout ratios. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the company has not been paying dividends as long as we'd like. All things considered, Media 6 looks like a strong prospect. At the right valuation, it could be something special.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. As an example, we've identified 2 warning signs for Media 6 that you should be aware of before investing.

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.
India recorded its first coronavirus-related death late on Thursday after a 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi in Karnataka passed away and was confirmed positive for the COVID-19 disease, the state government said, adding that contact tracing, isolation and other measures are being taken.

India recorded its first coronavirus-related death late on Thursday after a 76-year-old man from Kalaburgi in Karnataka passed away and was confirmed positive for the COVID-19 disease, the state government said, adding that contact tracing, isolation and other measures are being taken.

The state health department also said that the Telangana government had been informed because the patient had gone to a hospital there.

Cases of the novel coronavirus in India rose to 74 on Thursday after 14 fresh cases were reported from several states, including nine from Maharahtra.

The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi declared COVID-19 as an epidemic and announced shutting down of schools, colleges, and cinema halls till 31 March. The Delhi government also made it compulsory to disinfect all public places, including government and private offices and shopping malls, daily. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Kejriwal, Delhi lieutenant general Anil Baijal, and top government officials.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Kejriwal said that his government was making arrangements for quarantine facilities at vacant flats owned by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and under-construction hospitals.

"All cinema halls will remain shut till 31 March. Also, all schools and colleges, except those where exams are being held, will remain shut till 31 March due to coronavirus. The government has declared coronavirus an epidemic," he said.

Kejriwal said that his government is fully prepared to deal with COVID-19, asserting that more than 500 beds in hospitals are ready to admit coronavirus patients if needed.

The MEA also advised against conducting the IPL 2020 tournament, scheduled to begin on 29 March, in wake of the spread of coronavirus.

MEA Additional Secretary Dammu Ravi, who has been appointed as the nodal officer to coordinate efforts to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, said, "I think it is for the organisers 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."

The Centre also said that three planes will be sent in the next three days to bring back Indians stranded in Iran, one of the worst coronavirus-hit countries, a day after the government suspended all visas.

Narendra Modi says Centre is 'fully vigilant'

As the Centre and the states ramped up their efforts to tackle the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed at least 4,600 lives globally and affected nearly 1,25,293, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the countrymen not to panic and asserted that the government was "fully vigilant".

Apart from directing Union ministers not to travel abroad in the upcoming days, Modi also urged people to avoid non-essential travel, saying, "We can break the chain and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings."

Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2020

Health ministry says vaccine will take about 2 years to develop

Asking people not to panic, the Union health ministry said no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there has only been cases of local transmission so far.

With the novel coronavirus being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, Raman R Gangakhedkar, the head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases-I, a division of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said even though the virus is difficult to isolate, scientists at the National Institute of Virology in Pune have been successful in finding about 11 isolates, but developing a vaccine will take at least one-and-a-half to two years.

The total number of 74 patients in India includes 16 Italians and one Canadian. The figure is inclusive of three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month following recovery.

Giving a state-wise breakup, the ministry said Delhi reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh reported ten. Karnataka has four cases, Maharashtra has 11 and Ladakh has three.

Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month.

Lav Aggarwal, the Joint Secretary in the ministry, said 1,500 people who came in contact with these 74 infected people were under rigorous observation while over 30,000 people across the country were under community surveillance.

Defence ministry sets up 7 quarantine facilities

On its part, defence ministry has set up seven more quarantine facilities, especially for Indian citizens being brought to back from the coronavirus-hit countries, an official said. The facilities have been set up at Jaisalmer, Suratgadh, Jhansi, Jodhpur, Deolali, Kolkata and Chennai.

The Army is already operating a quarantine facility in Manesar while the one in Hindon, near Ghaziabad, is being operated by the Indian Air Force.

Asserting that the focus is on preventive approach, and adequate testing facilities have been made available, Aggarwal said India presently has around 1 lakh testing kits and more testing kits have been ordered.

About evacuation measures undertaken so far, Aggarwal said till now, India has evacuated 948 people from the coronavirus-affected countries.

Of these, 900 were Indians and 48 belonged to different nationalities including from the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, the USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, he said.

Aggarwal said the government has made 52 laboratories functional for testing samples while 57 labs have been designated for helping in sample collection to enhance diagnosis and detection capacity of the disease.

The health officials also said that India's efforts to deal with coronavirus are in consonance with WHO and the focus is on preventive approach.

The government has stepped up vigil and following a strong contact tracing system to ensure anyone who has come in touch with the infected are not missed out, they said, adding till now, 11,14,025 people have been screened at 30 designated airports in India.

Asked whether high temperature kills the coronavirus, officials said there was no study or evidence till now to suggest that.

States, UTs should invoke Epidemic Disease Act: Health ministry

As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spread across the globe, the cabinet secretary on Wednesday said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.

India has suspended all visas, except for a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till 15 April in a bid to contain the spread of respiratory virus, according to a revised travel advisory. Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till 15 April, according to the advisory issued on Wednesday.

It said, any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission and that all incoming 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 minimum 14 days.

Donald Trump suspends travel from Europe, Tom Hanks tests positive

In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump announced the US will suspend all passenger travel from Europe, except the UK, on Friday for the next 30 days to stop the spread of coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 4,500 lives, including 37 in America, and sent global markets into a tailspin.

In a televised address to the nation from his Oval Office in the White House on Wednesday, President Trump said the new restrictions will come into effect from Friday midnight and there will be exemptions for Americans returning to the US after undergoing multiple screenings.

"To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight," he said. Trump said the European Union had "failed to take the same precautions" as his administration had implemented to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The president said he was monitoring the situation in China and South Korea, and asked citizens to suspend all non-essential travels. He urged them to adopt best hygiene, wash their hands and stay away from large gatherings to reduce the chance of infection. "This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment in time that we will overcome as a nation and a world," Trump said.

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, both tested positive for coronavirus in Australia, the actor said on Twitter. The actor, 63, said that he and Wilson, also 63, were tested in Australia, where he is working on a film, after they felt tired with slight fevers.

"To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus and were found to be positive," Hanks said in the tweet.

Iran's Health Ministry on Thursday said the new coronavirus has killed 75 more people, raising the death toll to 429 amid over 10,000 cases as the Islamic Republic revealed it had asked for a multibillion-dollar loan from the International Monetary fund to fight the virus. Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced the latest virus figures in a televised news conference.

Iran has asked for an emergency $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to combat the outbreak there, which has killed more than 360 people and infected some 9,000 people in the Islamic Republic.

With inputs from agencies
SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ModSquad , the global leader in on-demand digital engagement services, announced the company is a 2020 winner of the Silver Stevie Award in the Sales & Customer Service category for Contact Center or Customer Service Outsourcing Provider of the Year.

The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world's top honors for customer service, contact center, business development, and sales professionals. The Stevie Awards organizes eight of the world's leading business awards programs.

More than 2,600 nominations from organizations in 48 nations of all sizes and in virtually every industry competed this year. Over 180 worldwide professionals in seven specialized judging committees determined the winners. The competition included more than 90 categories for customer service and contact center achievements.

Founded in 2007 by CEO Amy Pritchard, ModSquad has garnered a client list of leading global brands through its pioneering concept of ModSourcing  outsourcing, modernized. The Stevies judges lauded the company's customer support, moderation, social, and community services as "a great model of business." They also cited ModSourcing as a "modern outsourcing system which, due to its multilingual capacity, has achieved great success with  a strong global impact."

"Once again, we're thrilled and proud that the Stevie Awards recognized the quality of the work ModSquad provides to customers on a daily basis," said Pritchard. "The feedback from the judges was highly encouraging, as they made special mention of the ROI we provide to our clients. We were also delighted that they were supportive of our charitable efforts, calling our fundraising for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals through our participation in Extra Life 'tremendous.'"

"Stevie Award winners from around the world should be very proud of their achievements. The judges were impressed with the vast range of nominations submitted for 2020 and have agreed that their accomplishments are worthy of public recognition," said Stevie Awards executive chairman Michael Gallagher.

About ModSquad

ModSquad is a global provider of on-demand digital engagement services, known as ModSourcing: outsourcing modernized. Our experienced professionals engage your customers and communities on a personal level across online, mobile, e-commerce, in-game, application, and social media channels. ModSquad offers expert-level service in customer support, moderation, social, and community. We've strategized, designed, and delivered digital initiatives for clients in 70+ countries, in 50+ languages and dialects. We are the Mods!

About The Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. http://www.StevieAwards.com .

Contact:

Amy Kennedy

916.913.4465

[email protected]

SOURCE ModSquad
First prosecution witness in the case of the Republic versus Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and another, Benjamin Osei Ampofo Adjei, a staff of Multimedia Group (Adom FM), says he stands by his witness statement which has been adopted by the Court because after reading same, he can confirm that it captures exactly what he told the police.



The prosecution witness took this position when he answered questions under cross examination by lawyers of the accused persons.



The witness of the state was used by the prosecution team to tender an audio recording in which the second accused person is heard confirming to the interviewer that the alleged leaked audio recording of the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo is truly the voice of the first accused person and that it was a meeting between Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and members of the communications team the NDC.



He further indicated that the NDC identifies with the submissions of their National Chairman in the alleged leaked recording and agree with same without any reservations.



Cross examination



During the cross examination, Lawyer Tony Lithur sort to discredit the witness as well as the audio recording that has been tendered.



Tony Lithur asked the witness, are you suggesting to this Court that the first time you yourself listened to this tape was during the programme?



The witness answered, "Yes my lord.



After the programme, did you subsequently hear that tape or similar tapes circulating elsewhere?



The witness answered saying, yes my lord, I heard a number of radio stations playing it.



Lawyer Tony Lithur further asked, In hearing those radio stations play those tapes, can u tell the court whether you noticed if there where different versions of the tape?"



No my lord, the only difference I noticed is that it is a long tape but some of the stations played only portions of it the witness stated.



The defence lawyer further suggested to the witness that there was in circulation different versions of the tape?"



My Lord, that I am not aware the witness answered.



Because you said during your testimony that you hadnt read what was sent to you to sign. It will be fair to say you do not stand by what you signed, true?" Lithur suggested to the witness.



No my lord. I stand by it since I have read it and they are indeed what I said to the police the witness Benjamin Osei Ampofo Adjei, said.



Absence of first accused person



The National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, was today absent from Court. He however informed the Commercial High hearing his case that his doctors have instructed him to take a ten (10) day bed rest for which reason he is unable to attend Court.



Defence lawyer



His lawyer, Tony Lithur, who was expected to cross-examine the first Prosecution Witness of the State, Benjamin Osei Ampofo Adjei, a staff of Multimedia Group (Adom FM) today the 12th said in Court that his preference would be to have the case adjourned so his client can be Court to participate in proceedings.



By court



Justice Samuel Asiedu, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, acknowledged receipt of the excuse duty of Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo but indicated that the cross-examination of the first Prosecution Witness can continue in the absence of the first accused person.



After the cross examination of the first prosecution witness, the court discharged him and adjourned sitting to the 18



Background



Two NDC officials have been charged with three courts of conspiracy to cause harm contrary to section 23 (1) and 69 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1969 (Act 29), Assault on public Officer contrary to section 205 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1969 (Act 29), in respect of the infamous leaked tape and are being tried at the Commercial Court in Accra presided over by Samuel Asiedu.



The tape is said to have captured how the NDC is allegedly planning to commit crimes in the country and lay blame for same on the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Amongst the alleged strategies are the creation of a general state of insecurity in the country through kidnappings and arson, and verbal attacks on public officials like the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Prof. Emmanuel Asante, and the Electoral Commission chair, Jean Mensa.

Source: kasapafmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The profit of Vietnam Airlines Corporation will be strongly affected by the spread of COVID-19 in countries around the world, according to the preliminary report of the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC).

A worker sprays disinfectant on a plane.  Photo Vietnam Airlines

The report was released as the corporation has had to cancel many flights to its key markets in Asia and Europe and spend money sterilising its service system to ensure safety for passengers.

It is predicted that the corporations revenue could drop 16 per cent, or VND12.5 trillion (US$538 million), compared with its plan this year, marking a loss of VND4.3 trillion (while the profit plan is nearly VND1.6 trillion). Therefore, it is difficult to complete the production and business plan previously approved by the CMSC.

It said that 17 companies, which contribute to the corporations capital, will also have a sharp decrease in revenue and corresponding profit. These companies pre-tax profit is estimated to fall by at least VND320 billion, dividends profit sharing for the corporation will also drop by at least VND250 billion.

CEO of Vietnam Airlines Duong Tri Thanh said the corporation is being directly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, which is unprecedented in aviation history.

The key markets of Viet Nam aviation are all affected by the coronavirus. China has now closed, while South Korea and Japan, where are the two most important markets of Vietnam Airlines in Northeast Asia, are also suffering the spread of the COVID-19. The outbreak in Italy makes the European route very difficult, Thanh said.

Reduced ticket prices and increased operating costs due to sterilisation to ensure safety for passengers will erode the profit of Vietnam Airlines in 2020, he added.

Thanh said the outbreak of COVID-19 has caused 40 per cent of Vietnam Airlines aircraft to be exposed to the sun. Its 20,000 domestic and foreign employees are affected by the epidemic as the corporation applies unprecedented solutions including senior leadership salaries reduced by 40 per cent and subordinate officials reduced by 30 per cent, meanwhile employees rotate to be off work, foreign pilots take temporary leave and some representative offices are closed.

The goal of Vietnam Airlines now is no longer about profits but cash flow and how to survive in the current context, Thanh said.

Coping the on-going COVID-19 epidemic, Vietnam Airlines said it would conduct sterilisation of all international flights to Viet Nam. Flights that record passengers with abnormal health are also reported to the authorities and disinfected immediately.

Disinfection is carried out after the aircraft arrives at the apron. The entire cabin area, cockpit and flight attendant preparation area are disinfected. The most important areas for disinfection are places where there are many people contacting by hand such as luggage compartment locks, armrests on the seats and toilet door handles. Disinfection spray CH2200 is used according to the standards of functional health units, approved by the aircraft manufacturers for use on aircraft and does not affect passenger health.

To limit the spread of COVID-19 virus, Vietnam Airlines takes body temperature measurements of all passengers departing from Europe before boarding and provides passengers with masks to use during the flight. Passengers are encouraged to stabilise their seats, limit movement and communication during the flight.

For domestic flights, Vietnam Airlines has conducted disinfection spray immediately after each flight at places where passengers are usually in manual contact. Used headsets are disinfected with Chloramin B solution. The equipment to serve passengers at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat international airports include ladders and passenger cars are also frequently cleaned with disinfectant solutions.  VNS

All Vietnam Airlines aircraft disinfected for international flights Vietnam Airlines has moved to thoroughly disinfect all aircraft that operate on international routes to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and ensure the safety of passengers, flight crews, and the wider community.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks and takes questions during a press conference in Downing Street regarding the coronavirus outbreak, on March 9, 2020. in London, England.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a change of strategy to tackle the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, moving to delay the spread of the virus rather than containing it.

Johnson said the most dangerous period for the country was some weeks away, telling citizens that they should stay at home for seven days if they have symptoms, however mild. He said schools would not be closed at this stage and the government was considering the question of banning of major public events.

"We are now getting onto the next phase," Johnson said. "This is now not just an attempt to contain the disease as far as possible, but to delay its spread."

It comes shortly after the WHO said the fast-spreading virus can now be described as a pandemic.

Global cases of the coronavirus climbed above 127,000 Thursday afternoon, with 4,717 deaths reported worldwide.

The U.K. has the 10th-highest number of COVID-19 infections in Europe, with 596 cases and 10 deaths to date.

Earlier in the day, Ireland announced it would close schools, colleges and other public facilities as the coronavirus continues to spread.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the measures would come into force from 6 p.m. London time on Thursday, remaining in place through to March 29.

Mass indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor gatherings of over 500 people should also be canceled, Varadkar said.

Ireland has reported 43 infections of COVID-19, with one death.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump abruptly announced plans to suspend travel to the U.S. from most of continental Europe on Wednesday, with exemptions to the U.K. and Ireland. The travel order sent financial markets tumbling Thursday morning.

Britain's FTSE 100 index slipped more than 10% on Thursday, with travel and leisure stocks down around 13%.

On March 3, Johnson warned that up to one-fifth of the U.K. workforce might be off sick during the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.

He also warned the police may need to prioritize the most serious crimes and focus on maintaining public order if the virus spreads.
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RENTON  Service King Collision Renton, at 4000 E. Valley Road, has sold for almost $3.5 million, according to King County records.

The seller was a member of the family that acquired the property in 1990 for $550,000, and has operated the business since then.





. . .
Trade talks between the EU and UK scheduled for London next week have been cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis.

The face-to-face meetings in Whitehall offices may now be replaced with discussions via video conference-call.

The meeting between Boris Johnson's envoy David Frost and chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier was the second round of negotiations on a proposed free trade deal which is intended to be completed by the end of this year.

The cancellation puts additional pressure on the prime minister, who has so far insisted he will not budge from his ultra-tight self-imposed deadline of 31 December to end the transition period to a new post-Brexit relationship with the EU.

He has already threatened to walk out of talks and take the nation to a no-deal Brexit if sufficient progress is not made by June, leaving Britain with the prospects of new trade barriers and tariffs under World Trade Organisation rules.

Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31 Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament EPA

The decision to call off the meeting - which would have involved around 100 officials from each side - was taken jointly by the EU and UK.

Discussions are now underway on the option of replacing the face-to-face meeting with talks via another means, such as video-conferencing.

In a joint statement released by 10 Downing Street, the UK and EU negotiators said: Given the latest Covid-19 developments, UK and EU negotiators have today jointly decided not to hold next weeks round of negotiations in London, in the form originally scheduled.

Both sides are currently exploring alternative ways to continue discussions, including if possible the use of video conferences.
There are bigger issues facing beef producers than alleged collusion, but the lack of transparency just exacerbates the issue, according to the recently published Power report into the beef sector.

The report, by economist Jim Power, states that the country's suckler herd is worth preserving for a social, natural and economic perspective.

However, it also says that if policy-makers want to preserve a suckler herd, interventions will be required to subsidise production, or two-thirds of suckler farmers could go out of business as just one-third have the scale and efficiencies to survive without interventions.

The Power report, commissioned by IFA in early 2019, set out to examine the challenges facing beef production in Ireland.

Given the importance of the suckler herd to certain regions, such as the west, and the multiplier impact of direct payments in the beef sector, strong targeted payments are justified, it says.

Driver

The suckler herd is a key driver of economic and social stability in regions of the country where the land is not conducive to dairy farming.

The reality, the report says, is that beef production is a very challenging sector in general, but in Ireland in particular, due to the nature of the supply chain.

The report says it is essential that in the next CAP funding round, Irish beef farmers are given increased support to help offset the damage done to the sector since decoupling.

The Irish government, Power says, should seek to get Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status for Irish suckler beef.

PGI would designate a product originating in a specific place, region or country, whose given quality, reputation or other characteristic is essentially attributable to its geographical origin - and at least one of the production steps takes place in the region.

Irish suckler beef could fulfil the criteria, which would help create a strong brand and a higher value-added product.

Supply chain

The distrust that exists in the supply chain - which is leading to a very adversarial industry - has to be addressed, Power says.

"Greater transparency on all aspects of the supply chain and responsible behaviour from all actors in the supply chain have to be insisted upon, through regulation if necessary," he writes.

He also says a serious impediment to understanding the price mechanism in the market is a lack of data on the prices paid to the processors by the retailers.

"The absence of transparency just serves to nurture the view that there is collusion in the processing sector," he says.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has stated that there is no evidence of a cartel at work in the beef industry.

"Despite this assertion from the CCPC, many farmers are convinced that there is collusion. Indeed, in the compilation of this report, the author heard many assertions about collusive behaviour, but they were not able to produce hard evidence."

The report also stats that if there is collusion, it is clear that the pricing impact is marginal, as Irish prices are not significantly out of line with international prices.

"There are bigger issues facing the beef producers than alleged collusion, but the lack of transparency just exacerbates the issue."

To address the deep suspicions of farmers in relation to collusive behaviour, it would be worthwhile for the CCPC to launch a full investigation into the processing industry to clarify the situation beyond all doubt, Power says.

This would help restore trust in the overall beef sector.

However, while there are calls from many sources for the setting up of some form of regulator for the retail sector, Power says it is not clear what this might achieve or how it might operate.

The retail grocery sector already has a transparent pricing structure, Power says, and more transparency on how much the retailer is paying the processor for beef would be beneficial, and is arguably a pre-condition for restoring trust to the whole supply chain.

He says a ban on below-cost selling should be explored as it is unacceptable that farmers are paid below the cost of production because retailers are using beef as a loss leader.

"Unsustainable discounting should not be allowed as it is not in the interests of farmers, processors or consumers," Power writes.

Processors, he says, must realise the importance of the high quality of the product they buy from farmers and which is essential to their success.

"Processors need to press for higher prices for the product that they sell and work more closely with farmers to achieve this.

"Irish suckler beef is a premium product and processors should be able to achieve a price that would make beef production viable for farmers."

Further, the report says that for a farmer, covering the cost of production is essential to stay in business.
The sentence of 23 years in prison imposed on film producer Harvey Weinstein by Justice James A. Burke of the New York State Supreme Court is a savage conclusion to a travesty of a legal process. In a case in which a mountain of doubt, in the words of one journalist, was raised by Weinsteins defense team, Burke handed out nearly the maximum possible sentence. Weinstein was found guilty February 24 of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree.

After experiencing chest pains Wednesday, Weinstein was taken from Rikers Island prison to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.

Weinsteins sentence is longer than that given to numerous former Nazi officials convicted of horrifying war crimes at the Nuremberg trials. US government leaders, responsible for illegal, aggressive wars in the Middle East and Central Asia, resulting in more than 1 million deaths and tens of millions of refugees, have never been charged with any crime. Executives of corporations that murder workers or civilians, out of profit concerns, such as Boeing and General Motors, likewise escape without punishment.

Harvey Weinstein departs a Manhattan courthouse, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in New York (Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Burkes brutal action was an obviously and overtly political one. The judge had no intention of coming under fire like Judge Aaron Persky, who sat on the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara. Persky handed down a relatively humane decision in the Brock Turner sexual assault case in 2016 and was turned out of office in a recall vote.

At an impromptu press conference following the sentencing hearing, defense attorney Donna Rotunno correctly pointed to the obscene character of the sentence, to the total unfairness of the trial and noted that many convicted murderers would leave prison sooner than her client.

A partial guilty verdict was achieved through subjecting the jury pool to a torrent of media filth and creating an intensely hostile climate in the courtroom, aided and abetted by a trial judge who manipulated the proceedings in such a manner as to prejudice the jury and ensure Weinsteins conviction.

The testimony of the three principal witnesses, Annabella Sciorra, Mimi Haley and Jessica Mann, was full of inconsistencies, gaps and implausibilities. Each of these women maintained long-term and friendly relations with Weinstein for years following the alleged attacks, asking him for jobs and favors, not indicating in a single email or text they were his victims.

At the sentencing hearing Wednesday, Weinsteins accusers had the opportunity to denounce him and demand the harshest possible sentence.

Mann first attacked the defense attorneys, claiming that she had been grilled on the stand by lawyers who twist the truth. In fact, Weinsteins lawyers, as was their obligation, merely pointed to the fact that Mann had sworn her love and friendship for Weinstein in the years following his alleged attack on her.

Bizarrely, Mann described Weinstein as a senior citizen who is literally crumbling before our eyes. Behind bars, Harvey can have the chance to rehabilitate while being held accountable for his crimes, Mann said, while asking for the judge to throw the book at her former lover.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi delivered the prosecutions sentencing statement. Illuzzi asserted that Weinstein got drunk on the power. He saw no authority over him, no limit to what he could take. He could take what he wanted knowing that there was very little anybody could do about it. He held all the cards and played them well.

Arthur Aidala, a member of Weinsteins defense team, indicated he did not intend to rush. This is a man's life here, he said. Aidala argued for the minimum sentence of five years, observing that eight and a half years is the average sentence in New York for these offenses. Aidala went on, He has no criminal history, hes almost 70, hes a broken-down man. He said a longer sentence would be a death penalty.

Donna Rotunno asked that Weinsteins career as a movie producer and creative person should be considered, along with the impact of a sentence on his family, including his grown and young children. No matter what happens here today, judge, no one really wins, Rotunno told the court. Even if the producer received the minimum sentence, considering his health issues, there's a good chance that Mr. Weinstein wont live to see the end of that sentence, which is very sad.

In his own speech to the court, Weinstein explained that he thought the relationships with the various women were consensual and suggested, in the words of the New York Times, that he was the victim of a rush to judgment.

He argued, according to the Times, that the #MeToo campaign 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.

Addressing his accusers, Weinstein remarked that he had re-read his correspondence with them and still saw their relationships as a serious friendship, and thats what I thought I had with you. He continued, Im not going to say these arent great people. I had a wonderful time with these people. Im confused, and I think men are confused, he continued, turning once again to the #MeToo campaign. I think about the thousands of men and women who are losing due process, and Im worried about this country.

Judge Burke ignored the appeals of the defense and Weinsteins own comments. Although this is a first conviction, it is not a first offense, he said. There is evidence before me of other incidents of sexual assault involving a number of women, all of which are legitimate considerations for sentence.

Weinstein, in fact, has never previously been charged, let alone convicted, of any crime. By the evidence before me, the judge presumably is referring to the so-called Molineux witnesses, i.e., witnesses permitted to testify about prior uncharged crimes by the defendant, a legally and constitutionally dubious practice. Burke allowed the testimony of several women whose alleged attacks fell outside the statute of limitations. In essence, by this logic, Weinstein received the lengthy sentence because of testimony relating to crimes that could not be proven or disproven.

Burke gave Weinstein 20 years for the alleged attack on Haley and an additional three years for the alleged rape of Mann.

Outside the courtroom, an obvious irate Rotunno addressed the media. That sentence that was just handed down by this court was obscene, she said. That number [of years in prison] was obnoxious, there are murderers who will get out of [prison] 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.

The sentence, the lawyer continued, showed total unfairness, and a complete lack of acknowledgement of what the facts and evidence of this case actually showed. I think the judge took things into consideration that never should have been taken into consideration, especially when we know in a prior case recently, the judge gave someone in a much worse circumstance, seven and a half years.

Turning to the journalists, Rotunno pointed out that most of you that Ive spoken to privately have been very candid with me about the fact that you were surprised by this verdict.

Referring to the victims statements, Weinsteins lead attorney suggested it was very easy to say all these horrible things about him, but I think if you look at the circumstances, in real time, you say, wait a minute, what was really going on?  We dont know what happened in those rooms, but what we do know is all of the circumstances that surrounded it, and I will never be able to reconcile that all of those circumstances are what normal, regular rape victims do.

Fellow Damon Cheronis spoke bluntly, insisting that Weinstein wasnt treated fairly at all, lets just call it what it is, not by the court, not by the jury, not by a lot of you, thats what happened. The evidence in this case, we firmly believe, did not establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and thats what were talking about. Were not talking about anything else [other] than whether there was reasonable doubt in this case. And to say that there wasnt, based on the defense we put forward, is outrageous. The pressure came from everywhere, from you, from the public  Every single step of this case was engineered for this moment right here. And for people not to accept that, I find pretty disingenuous.

Weinstein faces extradition to California to face four charges there. Rotunno indicated that the defense would file its appeal in July.
From incredible landscapes to touching portraits to memorable wildlife photography, the winners of the Sony World Photography Awards showcase it all!

The 2020 competition proved to be the most competitive yet, with more photographs entered than ever before.

The overall winner of the Photographer of the Year 2020 title will be announced during the Sony World Photography Awards 2020 ceremony in London on April 16. The winners of the Sony World Photography Awards' open contest and youth contest will also be announced at the same event.

Scroll down and prepared to be wowed...

Video to Jacks The photo was taken at Sipadan on 8-9-2019. I saw a School of Jack fishes swimming towards to the diver who was taking video for them. At such moment I took this photo. Photograph: Kam Moon Lai/Sony World Photography Awards

Afrocentripeta This work illustrates the narrative of union between black peoples, who were trafficked and enslaved in Brazil for 3 centuries. It is a portrait of the symbiosis and metamorphosis, which occurred here in Brazil, between the black people of the most different regions and cultures of Africa. Despite all the cuts and lashes, there is an afro-centripetal force that changes us, but also keeps our ancestral ligature. Photograph: Matheus Leite/Sony World Photography Awards

Sunset The photo was taken in one of the excavated tunnels and galleries during the First World War. Most of them can be seen on Via Ferrata De Luca-Innerkofler, but it is advisable to go with the Via Ferrata kit. Photograph: Atanas Chulev/Sony World Photography Awards

Descend From Above Hundreds of horses are galloping when the sun is about to shine its last ray. It is traditionally said that a Mongol without a horse is like a bird without a wing, this is how strong the bond between human being and animal that we should appreciate. Photograph: Tien Sang Kok/Sony World Photography Awards

Young Eagle Hunter Lady This photo is taken in Olgii Provinces, Mongolia. They are hunting with eagles and normally they stay at the border of Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Each October, Kazakh eagle hunting customs are displayed at the annual Golden Eagle Festival. Although the Kazakh government has made efforts to lure the practitioners of these Kazakh traditions back to Kazakhstan, most Kazakhs have remained in Mongolia. Photograph: Kyaw Bo Bo Han/Sony World Photography Awards

Wondering monkey I was amazed by this creature while traveling through Indonesia. When I was in a place called Monkey Forest, I spotted this monkey just sitting there and wondering about the world. It's incredible, how same we are. Photograph: Jan Simon/Sony World Photography Awards

Mating Rhinos Taken this image at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam India in Dec 2019. It was early winter morning and we were on a jeep safari. And suddenly we encountered this mating Indian one horned Rhino pair. Needless to say, a unique and rare opportunity. Light was just right and we have an opening on the edge of this grass field. Moving around taken some shots from different angle and distance. Here the pair was indifferent to the Egrets sitting along. Photograph: Abhijeet Kumar Banerjee/Sony World Photography Awards

Dreamy Mountains It was impossible for my senses to ignore the wonder of the Huangshan mountains in China as if they were posing for my lens and allowing me to capture their splendour. That sunset showed me a beautiful orange light and let me see many viewpoints, endless stairs, bridges to cross from one mountain to another. Photograph: Karem Apaza Lopez/Sony World Photography Awards

Light Shadow and the Guards From the hard and dusty journey of sheep herd in Bitlis Turkey. I went to Bitlis to take photos in that city and take this in that period. Sheep has a great importance in Bitlis. It was really hard to take these photos. This photo is like a pastoral symphony. Photograph: F Dilek Uyar/Sony World Photography Awards

Master This shot is a stitch panorama character portrait of a friend. Photograph: North Gevero/Sony World Photography Awards

Mount Elbrus Bermamyt Plateau. The best place with a view of Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain peak in Russia and Europe, included in the list of the highest peaks of the world "Seven Peaks". Photograph: Sergey Savenko/Sony World Photography Awards

Spread 'em I had spent several days in a hide in Onguma Private Reserve, near Etosha, Namibia, initially hoping to see elephants or big cats, but enjoying all the visitors that came to the waterhole nearby. I knew if I was patient enough I would have a good chance of photographing giraffes as they came in to drink, but I never imagined any of them would squeeze in between the hide and the waterhole! This presented me with a different perspective than I had envisioned. Patience, and a willingness to sit quietly in nature is often reward in itself - although in this case I was delighted to leave with an image like this. Photograph: Marcus Westberg/Sony World Photography Awards

I'm Here This water buffalo peeked out at us from the dense foliage. It had a look as though it wanted us to help it. So many people around the world rely on these amazing creatures for survival, and yet few help to protect its natural environment. Photograph: Will Venter/Sony World Photography Awards

Splasher As I spent a whole night photographing a heron in a small pond, close to Bourne in Lincolnshire, this handsome hunter popped up all of sudden, right in front of me and started swimming and diving for fish, at an unbelievable pace. I could not get a proper shot for some time, due to the speed and the unpredictability of this skillful night hunter. After good half an hour of hunting, it took a break and shook the water off and I did not miss that moment where the Eurasian Otter is stand-still and the tiny water drops could be seen all-over the mammal. Photograph: Lakshitha Karunarathna/Sony World Photography Awards

Dance and urbex Ballet dance inside an old building. Photograph: Alejandro Cifuentes/Sony World Photography Awards
The mother of a boy with a serious heart defect has asked for people to stop stockpiling and panic buying.

Her appeals comes as as Retail Excellence revealed they have spoken with all of major grocery multiples and forecourt operators in Ireland and received assurances they are prepared to continue to supply all grocery outlets for the coming months.

"There is no reason for Irish citizens to have any concern in that regard.

"The industry has never been more prepared having planned for a hard Brexit over the past number of months. Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister of Business and Enterprise, has done a tremendous job in monitoring this matter and please be assured that we have more than adequate contingencies in place.

"Social media images of empty shelves are simply sensationalizing the matter. These shelves are restocked every evening and restocking will continue into the future.

"We echo An Taoiseachs comments when this morning he confirmed that the shops will remain open and we have plans to ensure supply chains will not be interrupted.

Hysteria and panic buying have ramped up. @Aldi_Ireland in Galway ran out of toilet roll and pasta. Is this really necessary... Do people plan on going into hibernation until we have a #COVID19 solution? pic.twitter.com/7MEKvZByhj  Olwyn Grennan (@OlwynG) March 11, 2020

Retail Ireland Director Arnold Dillon went on to say that depsite increased demand supply chains are functioning as normal and were well-placed to respond.

However, retail distribution networks are not designed to deal with bulk buying on a widespread basis. It is important that consumers behave responsibility and dont buy more than they need.

Retailers are working with their suppliers and monitoring consumer behaviour to avoid any shortages.

Musgrave CEO Noel Keeley saidthe group were taking every step possible to ensure that the food supply chain continues to function as normal.

"We are experiencing high volumes of demand but our advice to the public is that there is no need for panic buying. Panic buying is an inconvenience to other customers, so we would reiterate the call to remain calm.

We continue to work to maximise availability and are working with suppliers to keep products flowing through the system."

Currently in Tescos on Baggot Street Lower getting lunch, as the food stalls in Merrion Square were not there today.



Staff have closed the doors as yes, people are panic buying. There's been a run on bread, rice and toilet paper.



Feck sake Ireland. Calm down like.#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/lH4NzTXum1  Ciaran O' Driscoll / O Drisceoil (@bearaboi) March 12, 2020

These assurances were echoed by government who said retailers have reassured them there is enough food available so there is no need to panic buy with Health Minister Simon Harris urging people to think of others.

"We should all continue to buy what we need to provide for ourselves and our families and our loved ones but we shouldn't stockpile," said Minister Harris.

"Stockpiling could have the unintended consequence of taking something that somebody else could require.

"We are better than that.

"We do need to acknowledge, however, that people are concerned."

Reflecting on the panic buying Andre Carolan said her family have always taken the precautions we are now being asked to make part of everyday life due to Covid-19.

Bobby (aged 3) was born with Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome which essentially means he was born with only half a heart.

With husband Mal and Bobbys siblings Byron (aged 14), Rosie (aged 11) and Ruby (aged 5), Andre says they have always washed hands, avoided coughs and cold and done all in their power to keep Bobby as healthy as possible.

This (precautions) is what we have been living with since he was born; we dont take him into crowded supermarkets we instead go at the quiet times. We always wash our hands.

These are all quite normal for us but the only thing is everyone has run out of hand sanitiser now.

The family from Co Louth use hand soap at home but say the hand sanitiser is always with them when they are in the car and the children take them in their school bags.

Andre said she could not get either handwash or sanitiser earlier this week. She said, there will be people with a stockpile of hand sanitiser and they will never use it. Please dont stockpile it.

Andre Carolan and her son, Bobby, who has a serious heart defect

She went online to try and source sanitiser and found one company charging 7 for 100 mls. Up to now she had been able to source 500 mls for 1.99.

Her message about stock piling was reiterated by Jimmy Norman of the childrens cancer charity Aoibheanns Pink Tie who said the charity has managed to purchase hand sanitiser direct from a wholesaler.

It will now prioritise providing it to the families of sick children.

Jimmy, who lost his beloved daughter Aoibheann to cancer and set up the charity in her memory, said, we have sourced some face masks but are going to try and source more.

Can people please stop stockpiling hand sanitisers and nappies and toilet paper?

People should care about each other and the sick and the elderly and not be selfish in this time.

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Additional reporting by Elaine Keogh
Getty

Transat A.T. Inc.s (TRZ) said it will consider grounding planes and laying off employees as it grapples with a significant drop in bookings due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Transats chief executive Jean-Marc Eustache told analysts on a conference call Thursday that the company is ready to make all necessary adjustments to deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has impacted the global aviation industry.

If we have to put planes on the ground, we will put the planes on the ground. If we have to lay off people, its not something we want to do, its something I like to do, but we will do it, Eustache said, adding that the travel company is on solid financial footing to deal with the issue.

We have never (gone) through financial problems at the end of the day. We are very agile.

Shares of the Montreal-based travel and tour operator closed Thursday at $10.59 per share, a decline of nearly 17 per cent  and down more than 41 per cent lower than the share price Air Canada offered to take over the airline.

Still, Eustache said the stock market collapse will not effect the Air Canada deal, which was overwhelmingly approved by Transats shareholders last summer.

The condition of the market has nothing to do with (the deal.) Even the pandemic right now, its outside of the deal with Air Canada, Eustache said.

Theres nothing material happening right now that can change the deal or the price of the deal. The deal is there, we will be there in the end.

Canadian airline stocks were pummelled on Thursday after the U.S. administration banned travel from Europe in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, sending markets around the world tumbling. When the markets closed on Thursday, Air Canadas stock was valued at $24.90, a decline of 9 per cent. In January, shares of Canadas largest airline were as high as $52.90.

WestJet Airlines announced on Wednesday that it would be cutting capacity, instituting a hiring freeze and offering voluntary buyouts as passenger demand plummets due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Story continues

Transat has also seen demand drop significantly, particularly in recent days, as travellers opt to stay home because of the coronavirus outbreak.

If we take a snapshot of our bookings today, the situation has certainly deteriorated, the drops in booking in recent days of around 50 per cent, Denis Petrin, Transats chief financial officer, said through a translator, adding that the company will refrain from offering an outlook on financial results because of the uncertainty.

Considering the average booking window, there is reason to fear today that the months of April and May will be difficult, but it is utterly impossible to make a longer term forecast.

Petrin said the company is currently re-evaluating its flight offering, and has already begun reducing flights and cutting back on some destinations. The travel and tour operator is also implementing several measures aimed at cutting costs, including suspending all discretionary spending and launching a voluntary reduced-working time program for employees.

This week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the chief executives of Air Canada and WestJet Airlines to discuss the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak, but it remains to be seen if the government will offer assistance to the aviation industry.

Eustache said that the government has to help the airlines.

When we see the taxes that we pay, when we see how much we pay to use the airports... tomorrow, (were) not going to have the customers that we have today, Eustache said.

Its a very, very hard time and were taking this very, very seriously... We are going to do everything in our power to get through it.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief.
(Corrects to reflect that company says it was purchased by investor Felipe Henriquez, not venture firm Mountain Nazca, after Grow issued a corrected statement)

SAO PAULO/MEXICO CITY, March 11 (Reuters) - Investor Felipe Henriquez has acquired a controlling stake in unlisted Latin American scooter firm Grow Mobility, the parties said on Wednesday, without disclosing financial details.

Under terms of the deal, in which no cash was exchanged, Grow investors will retain about 20% of the company, according to a person with direct knowledge of the transaction.

As part of the change in its shareholding structure, Grow said mobility vice president Roberto Alvarez Cadavieco will become its global chief executive.

"My focus now is the following: to offer the best experience to our users and have a profitable business model that allows the company to grow in a sustainable way," Cadavieco said in a statement.

Grow, formed from the merger of Mexican scooter startup Grin and its Brazilian counterpart Yellow last year, was among Latin America's most prominent startups, attracting interest from top venture capitalists in Silicon Valley.

But it has struggled in recent months to find a sound business model, according to people close to the company.

Henriquez said he and a business partner are also controlling shareholders in e-commerce platforms Peixe Urbano and Groupon LatAm, as well as Mobike. (Reporting by Gabriela Mello in Sao Paulo and Julia Love in Mexico City Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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 on Wednesday by 227-186 votes, sending it to Mr 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 Senator Tim Kaine, declares that Mr Trump must win approval from Congress before engaging in further military action against Iran.

Mr Kaine and other supporters say the measure is not about Mr Trump or even the presidency, but instead is an important reassertion of congressional power to declare war.

If President Trump is serious about his promise to stop endless wars, he will sign this resolution into law.Tim Kaine

Six Republicans joined 220 Democrats and independent 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 authorised war with Iran, said Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

While tensions with Iran have abated since a US drone strike that killed Irans top general in early January, the resolution clarifying Congresss power to declare war is still important, Mr Engel said.

Congress doesnt have to wait until the President alone decides to use military force again, Mr Engel told House members during floor debate on 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.

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, Mr McCaul said.

If the US military launches strikes in Iran, I believe that the President would need to come before this body to ask for a new authorisation for the use of force, Mr 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 US involvement with the Saudi-led war in Yemen last year after US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in a gruesome murder at Saudi Arabias consulate in Turkey. Mr Trump promptly vetoed that measure.

The Democratic-controlled House passed a separate, non-binding resolution on Iran in January, a few weeks before the Senate approved Mr Kaines resolution. Two-thirds votes in the House and the Senate would be needed to override an expected Trump veto.

Mr 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, Mr 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 US 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.
Aquilla Water Supply Board To Meet Thursday The Aquilla Water Supply Board of Directors will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 12, to consider several agenda items.



The board is expected to cancel the May election and declare unopposed candidates Paul Baker, Charles Hamilton and Nicole Crain as directors.



The district's audit report for fiscal year 2020 will be reviewed with Pattillo, Brown & Hill, and a engagement letter with the firm for fiscal year 2021 will also be considered.



A resolution authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement between the district and the Texas Coalition for Affordable Power and a commercial electricity service agreement between the district and Gexa Energy will be considered.



A closed session for attorney consultation is also on the agenda.



The meeting will be held in the community room of First National Bank of Central Texas, located at 300 East Elm Street in Hillsboro.






People wearing protective face masks arrive at a supermarket on the second day of an unprecedented lockdown across all of the country, imposed to slow the outbreak of coronavirus, in Pioltello, near Milan, Italy. Photo: REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo

A team of scientists in Milan believes Italy's coronavirus epidemic might have come to the country via Germany and not directly from China as many experts initially assumed.

Scientists have been hunting for the so-called "patient zero" ever since the contagion first came to light in the prosperous northern region of Lombardy on February 21.

After extensive analysis, the Milan team has not yet identified the individual at the root of the worst outbreak in Europe, but they have matched the Italian genetic sequencing of the virus here to a case that emerged in Germany in January.

"The sequence closest to the base of the branch, which is the one that probably precedes the others, came from a person infected in Munich in all likelihood between January 19 and 22," said Massimo Galli, head of the university research group and of the infectious-diseases department at Milan's Sacco hospital.

Mr Galli added the German patient had caught the virus after contacting someone who came from Shanghai.

He said their analysis showed that the Italian outbreak must have started between January 25 and 26, well before the first patient was officially diagnosed in the northern town of Codogno.

"We can imagine that a person who contracted the virus in the context of those infected in Munich came to Italy and the area where the virus first spread without showing any symptoms," Mr Galli told Reuters.

Italy is the worst-affected country in the world after China, with 827 deaths and 12,462 confirmed cases in almost three weeks.

Doctors initially believed the Codogno patient, a 38-year-old man named only as Mattia, had been infected by a colleague who had returned from a business trip in China. However, that man tested negative, meaning the hunt was on for the origin of the contagion.
Farmers and landowners will help deliver a national forest running the 'length and breadth of Wales', the Welsh government has announced today.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said the plan, which includes 10m of Glastir woodland grants, would help safeguard nature and increase tourism.

The scheme is described as a 'connected ecological network' running throughout Wales, which would help protect nature and address biodiversity loss.

The national forest would see existing woodland connected with newly planted areas.

Mr Drakeford said the Welsh government wants to work with farmers and experts to 'translate ambitions into immediate action'.

There is no escaping the huge environmental challenges the world is facing  the February floods have brought that home to us in Wales in the most devastating way," he said.

We have a responsibility to future generations to protect nature from the dangers of our changing climate but a healthy natural environment will also offer protection to our communities from the dangers we ourselves face."

The scheme will be supported by 5m of new funding  this includes 1.5m to support community woodlands.

And a further 10m of funding for Glastir woodland creation and restoration is being announced today  applications for funding open from 16 March.

Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths, said: Accelerating the rate of tree planting in Wales requires a whole range of measures and the significant increase in Glastir funding announced today is a major step forward.

I know Welsh businesses, communities and, particularly, our farmers and foresters, will want to help create the national forest."

While the Farmers' Union of Wales has welcomed the new funding, it warned that too many new trees could have a 'devastating effect on agriculture and rural life'.

Glyn Roberts, president of the FUW, told BBC News: "If you take away the agricultural aspect of the land you take away the backbone of our rural areas - that creates an economy and allows people to live in these areas.

"We have to look at the broad picture and not focus on one element when we're talking about a complex issue like climate change.

"As farmers we have much more of an answer to the problem than people realise."

It comes as the union recently expressed concerns over the implications of a widespread tree planting plan on tenant farmers who work on National Trust-owned land.

The Trust is looking to spend around 90m creating 18,00ha of woodland, increasing the proportion of land that is forest from 10% to 17% by 2030.

But the FUW said dozens of farm tenancies are to be altered as they come up for renewal to cut sheep and cattle numbers.
Coronavirus has mostly impacted Italys northern regions, but many anticipate more cases in the south.

Sicily, Italy  The usually bustling entrance hall of the Department of Agriculture Food and Environment at the University of Catania, Sicily, is deserted.

All academic activities are temporarily suspended, says a sign hanging on the main gate.

Since three professors tested positive for coronavirus after returning from a university conference in northern Italy on March 2, the department became one of the first in the country to cancel classes.

The professors went into self-isolation and none experienced any more serious symptoms.

Weeks later, the entire country is now in a state of lockdown.

Now declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has so far killed 631 people and affected more than 10,000 in Italy  the hardest-hit country outside China.

The virus is much more widespread in the north, but the island of Sicily, in the south, has 83 confirmed cases, and Catania  the second-largest city after Palermo, is the most affected city with 41 positive cases.

The distance from the epicentres of the outbreak, the so-called red zones in the norths Lombardy and Veneto regions, meant locals in the south have been taking a light-minded approach because of the islands apparent geographical safety, according to Martina Di Leo, 22, a communications student at the University of Catania.

I think many young people have not taken this seriously enough yet. Some claimed [life] is too short to spend it in quarantine, and began believing in conspiracy theories about the governments propaganda to create panic.

People have been panic buying in Sicily [Stefanie DIgnoti/Al Jazeera]

Italy initially locked down northern areas. When the draft of this plan was leaked, hundreds of young people rushed to train stations in the middle of the night, heading south to avoid being trapped before the plan was enforced.

That sudden night exodus could now represent a threat to the souths health infrastructure, which is not as advanced as the one you may find in the north, Antonio Fusco, a junior emergency-room doctor at Catanias Polyclinic, one of only two hospitals in the region in charge of COVID-19 swab tests, told Al Jazeera.

Fusco said it was simply a matter of time before the virus spread south.

In Sicily, where the first coronavirus-related death was reported on March 11, about 19,000 people  mostly students and workers in the north with family roots in the south  have registered their return on an online platform to track peoples movements in and out of the region.

The south had about two weeks advantage to get ready to face the crisis, Fusco said. The real challenge begins now.

With fewer intensive-care beds and medical staff in the region, there are fears that the coronavirus emergency could drag the souths health system to the edge of collapse.

Fusco and a group of fellow colleagues have launched an online funding campaign to try and bridge some of the financial difficulties expected.

We are a community; we all need to cooperate, Fusco said. Despite the north-south gap, we have some [talented figures] here in the medical field that didnt emigrate and will become crucial heroes during the peak of the contagion, which I expect to impact us in the next week or two.

So far, the campaign has raised tens of thousands of euros and inspired similar fundraisers at six other general hospitals in the city.

But Di Leo, who has previously volunteered in the hospitals pediatrics department, said that while helping one another in a crisis is admirable, it is important to follow the governments guidelines and keep a physical distance where possible and not crowd emergency rooms.

After seeing peoples lack of responsibility in the past days, Im worried about a possible human crisis scenario here.

As part of the national lockdown, people in Italy can only travel throughout the country if their journeys are essential, justified with certificates that prove medical or work reasons.

I can stand not going out to party for a few weeks, but being physically unable to visit my grandma has revealed to be the hardest part. I worry about her and her health. I havent seen her since early March as a precaution, since shes in her 80s. I miss her so much, said Leo.

Shoppers approach a supermarket wearing masks in an attempt to protect themselves and others from coronavirus in Sicily [Stefania DIgnoti/Al Jazeera]

Elderly people and those with pre-existing conditions are most vulnerable to the virus.

In the view of the anticipated overcrowding, and with fewer than 500 intensive-care beds across the island, triage tents have been placed outside hospitals in Sicily.

We have to be prepared for all scenarios, including those we dont wish for, such as choosing whos more likely to survive, Fusco said.

In Sicily, an island with more than one million people aged over 65, most of the elderly are living in quarantine in complete isolation, away from relatives and with poor access to services.

This inspired Francesca Ricotta, a doctor and a city councilor in Catania, to launch an initiative providing free shopping deliveries to the most vulnerable sections of society.

I thought it was necessary to cater to the most impacted and paradoxically, most forgotten category in these hard times, even with simple acts of care and kindness, she told Al Jazeera.

About a dozen supermarkets in the city of Catania have signed up.

This is a test to our sense of humanity, and I hope more solidarity initiatives will keep spreading across the country, Ricotta says.
Senior IIS officer Nitin D Wakankar, who became the media face of the CBI when it was battling negative perception in the aftermath of a turf war between an agency chief and his deputy, has been promoted as Director General, Bureau of Outreach and Communications, a government order said on Thursday.

Wakankar with support from new agency chief R K Shukla successfully managed to calm the troubled waters by sticking to the books, officials in the agency said.

He has served in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Defence Ministry and headed Mumbai region in various capacities during his career.

An Indian Information Service (IIS) group-A officer, Wakankar was appointed as the CBI spokesperson close on the heels of the removal of Alok Verma as the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation by a high-powered selection committee, they said.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an order on Thursday announcing his promotion as Director General, Bureau of Outreach and Communication, New Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The 50thwhich, as currently drawn, extends from San Diegos suburbs out into some beautiful but unforgiving desert country where two friends of mine once got marriedwas once represented by Republican Duke Cunningham, who resigned in 2005 after pleading guilty to having received more than $2 million in bribes from defense contractors. Other parts of the San Diego area that are now included in the district were once represented by Republican Duncan L. Hunter, who was found to have written 399 checks for money he didn't have during the 1980s Rubbergate scandal. (He was never charged with a crime.) Hunter was succeeded in Congress by his son, Republican Duncan D. Hunter; Hunter won reelection in the 50th in 2018 despite being under indictment for egregious personal misuse of campaign funds but accepted a plea agreement and resigned this January. In Californias March 3 jungle primary, one of the two candidates who qualified for Novembers runoff to fill the seat was Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar, who lost to Hunter by just 3 percentage points in 2018. The other ... was longtime San Diegoarea congressman Darrell Issa, who was once convicted of carrying an unregistered handgun, indicted (but not convicted) for stealing a car, and suspected (but never charged) of burning down a car alarm factory for the insurance money. Campa-Najjar should probably consider robbing a bank just to show his potential constituents that he means business.

Correction, March 12, 2020: This piece originally misstated that Steve Bullock did not qualify for a debate. He qualified for one debate.
Royal Thai Navy in Phuket marks 28 years of the Third Area Command

PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy yesterday (Mar 11) commemorated the 28th anniversary of the establishment of the Third Area Command, which is based at Cape Panwa, on Phukets east coast.

militarymarine

By The Phuket News

Thursday 12 March 2020, 06:14PM

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

The Navy commemorated 28 years since the founding of the Third Area Command, now based at Cape Panwa on Phukets east coast. Photo: Royal Thai Navy

Vice Admiral Cherngchai Chomcherngpat, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, presided over a ceremony at the Navy base yesterday to mark the occasion, which included blessing ceremonies dedicated to honouring Prince Abhakara Kiartivongse, Prince of Chumphon, who was known as revered as The Father of Royal Thai Navy.

Present at the ceremony were Vice Governor Pichet Panapong and other relevant officers.

The Third Area Command, often referred to simply as 3AC, is responsible for all Navy operations along the Andaman coast, from the border with Myanmar in Ranong to the border with Malaysia in Satun.

The 3AC was initially established at Tub Lamu in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, on March 11,1992, but was later relocated to Phuket, where the base at Cape Panwa officially opened on Jan 1, 1997.

In addition to conducting naval military patrols and exercises, the Navy personnel at the 3AC also perform a range of activities to support government projects and community needs, including air-sea rescues, disaster support, enforcing fishing laws and environmental conservation, and even delivering water supply to homes in need.
The University of Oregon and Oregon State University on Wednesday announced they are instituting new social distancing policies, canceling in-person final exams and requiring classes to be taught online. The institutions join a growing nationwide shift to online-only class instruction in higher education amid concerns over the rapidly spreading coronavirus pandemic.

University officials said the colleges would allow classes to continue March 12 and 13. Effective Sunday, all non-essential events and gatherings of more than 50 people are canceled. Attendance at university sporting events will be restricted to athletes, essential personnel and the media.

No final exams for winter terms will be offered in person. When the spring term begins March 30, the universities will deliver classes remotely, reevaluating their plans for the rest of the term by April 10.

Portland State University announced that most of its spring term classes would be held remotely and said it was encouraging faculty to offer final exams remotely next week.

The decisions are sweeping, affecting more than 75,000 students in the three universities, making clear that educators are beginning to take the threatened rapid spread of the novel coronavirus more seriously.

In a sign of just how fast-moving the response to the public health crisis is, the universities had on Sunday endorsed the Oregon Health Authoritys decision to minimize disruptions and keep campuses operating normally.

But by Wednesday, it was clear to university officials that they needed to move more aggressively. The Oregon Health Authority was not involved in drafting Oregon States plan, university spokesman Steve Clark said, though both the agency and Gov. Kate Browns staff did review it. Neither objected, Clark said.

Quite simply, we are learning by the day how to manage the COVID-19 response, Clark said. We have successfully managed numerous infectious disease emergencies at Oregon State. The scale and the rapid nature of COVID-19s impact is challenging and requires nimbleness and the willingness to act prudently.

The universities acknowledged uncertainty about the path forward and what effect it would have on thousands of students.

Many of the steps we are taking will be disruptive to our institution and to many of you individually, University of Oregon president Michael Schill wrote in a campus-wide message. We do not take these actions lightly, and even though the UO campus will remain open, we recognize and appreciate that many of these measures will have a significant impact on our operations. We also do not have answers to all the questions that will come from these decisions.

Clark said the goal was to continue university operations while helping to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by engaging in social distancing. Students and faculty are also being urged not to engage in personal travel over spring break, Clark said.

Winter term finals week exams and activities will be delivered remotely where possible. Where remote teaching, coursework and testing is not possible, maximum social distancing measures will be utilized.

The states guidance had drawn a backlash from some university professors, including three University of Oregon professors living in Italy, which has been locked down in an attempt to staunch the rapidly spreading virus. And it left Oregon as the only state on the West Coast with a public university system holding in-person classes amid a nearly unprecedented outbreak.

The Oregon Health Authority had 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.

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, wrote the three UO professors, Melissa Graboyes, Alfredo Burlando, an economics professor and Eleonora Redaelli, a public policy professor.

Portland State University will continue classes as scheduled this week while encouraging faculty to move to a remote format for finals next week. Spring term classes will be offered as scheduled and most classes will be taught remotely, Portland States interim president, Stephen Percy, said in a campus-wide message.

The threat of the coronavirus known as COVID-19 is presenting daunting challenges for all of us," Percy said. We are committed to making decisions that promote the success and well-being of our campus community.

A concert at the universitys Matthew Knight Arena by the band Tool will still be held Thursday night, a university spokesman said, with extra cleaning being done at the venue before the event. The university said anyone considered at high risk from COVID-19, per CDC guidelines, should not attend the event.

 Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657; @robwdavis

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The School of Business is committed to continuing our legacy of providing superior business education to minority students and diversifying the global workforce, said Barron H. Harvey, dean of the School of Business.

The Howard University School of Business (HUSB), whose MBA has ranked #1 Greatest Resource for Minority Students for 16 consecutive years, announced its partnership with Noodle Partners to launch an Online MBA and invest in the growth of its online Executive MBA (EMBA). HUSB will enhance its globally recognized programs by implementing a flexible online format with the goal of expanding accessibility to the University's high-quality learning environment and close-knit community. Both the Online MBA and the EMBA are now accepting applications for the summer 2020 term.

The School of Business is committed to continuing our legacy of providing superior business education to minority students and diversifying the global workforce, said Barron H. Harvey, dean of the School of Business. We chose to work with Noodle Partners because of their innovative approach, commitment to efficiency, and transparent practices. With their help, we have broadened our capacity to meet students wherever they are in their careersand in the worldand we could not be more excited.

Howard University School of Business, the only HBCU ranked Best Business School by Bloomberg Businessweek, collaborated with Noodle Partners, the fastest-growing online program manager, to further the Universitys mission of preparing the next generation of global business leaders. HUSB will focus on leveraging this new partnership to better meet the needs of their current online students, while increasing accessibility to unique and diverse student populations across the country.

For the last 50 years the School of Business has been a leader in global business education, Harvey continued. Our MBA and executive education programs provide training to diverse business leaders who not only lead in their industries and a variety of sectors, but who also champion the creation of more diverse and culturally aware businesses that can better serve diverse populations.

This marks the first HBCU partner for Noodle Partners, which has already contributed to the changing demographics of graduate degree programs nationally and internationally. Fifty percent of graduate students in Noodle Partners programs are from underrepresented ethnic groups a full 16 percentage points higher than the national average.

We admire Howards commitment to academic excellence, service to the global community, and continued leadership in education. Most notably, HUSBs dedication to preparing and fostering a strong community of business leaders, said John Katzman, CEO of Noodle Partners. These flexible online programs significantly increase access to Howards business school, mobilizing an entirely new range of qualified candidates from across the country and around the world.

Howard University School of Business which is commemorating its 50th anniversary has a long reputation of cultivating the top managers and executives in business, government, and nonprofit organizations globally; it was the first business school in D.C. to be AACSB accredited. Howard University is the only HBCU to be ranked in the top 100 on U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list.

Students in the Online MBA will learn to lead, manage, train, network and work with people of culturally diverse backgrounds in a globally socio-economic business environment. Now equipped with even more efficient program management tools, the Online EMBA will continue to prepare experienced business professionals for high-level leadership positions throughout the business world, focusing on executive readiness and strategic thinking.

The online Executive MBA program has proven to be a great success in past years, helping to propel students to another level in their careers, said Kim Wells, Howards director of Executive Education Programs. Taking this step to expand and improve online management of the program speaks to our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our students.

About Howard University School of Business

Howard University has been offering management and business education since 1870. Coveted accreditation by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International has been consistently awarded to the Howard School of Business. In fact, it became the first in Washington, D.C. to achieve that world-recognized distinction. While todays students benefit from the tradition of excellence that has long set Howard University apart, they also profit from the Business Schools continuous efforts to update its programs to prepare students to meet the complex challenges of the global marketplace.

About Noodle Partners

Founded by a team of education and technology veterans, Noodle Partners creates innovative online and hybrid programs while improving traditional classroom models. Noodle Partners has the capability to work with universities on every aspect of building a certificate or degree program that they choosemarketing, student recruitment, enrollment, curriculum design, student engagement, support services, graduate placement, and alumni engagementand provides a high level of fit and finish. For more information, visit noodle-partners.com or follow us on Twitter @Noodle_Partners or LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Alyssa Miller

alyssa@ammediaworks.com

973-615-1292
The Management of African Cashless Payment Systems (ACPS) says all is set for the 2020 conference scheduled for May 31 to June 2 in Accra.

According to the organisers, the conference which will be on the theme 'Building a Cashless Africa' seeks to underscore the need for African countries to embrace the new era of cashless system.

Addressing the media in Accra, the Director of Communication at Foreign Investment Network (FIN), Myke Uzendu said "The Conference will be the largest Fintech gathering in the region. This is because all eyes are on Africa now as she currently hosts some of the fastest-growing economies in the world and the entire continent is set for a huge economic transformation"

He added that according to a report from Bloomberg, the contribution of the financial-technology industry to sub-Saharan Africas economic output will increase from $40 billion to $150 billion by 2022.

The Director of Communication also noted that the upcoming conference will facilitate the latest technology demonstrations, knowledge sharing, high-level networking, and most importantly, one-to-one business meetings between decision-makers and top-tier solution providers transforming the digital future of the financial firmament in the region.

All over the world, the use of paper money is becoming obsolete. It has a lot of risks and leaves less trail and also very expensive to manage. This conference will provide the window for Africa to key into the future of financial transactions which is now cashless, paperless and digital" he said.

Mr. Uzendu also revealed that other nuances of the conference will be to interrogate other currency substitutes and technologies like Block-chain and Crypto-currency Systems, Artificial Intelligence etc.

He was of the view that African Entrepreneurs must key into the conference to become competitive.

This conference will attract over USD$5 billion investment in digital financial infrastructure into Africa. It will interrogate some of the challenges militating against cashless transactions in Africa including cross border transactions, transaction security and technology deficit" he noted

The FIN says it will honour His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana at the event.
The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer finds that cancer death rates continued to decline from 2001 to 2017 in the United States for all cancer sites combined.

The report is published in the journal Cancer.

These decreases were seen in all major racial and ethnic groups and among men, women, adolescents, young adults, and children. Rates of new cancers (cancer incidence) for all cancers combined leveled off among men and increased slightly for women during 2012 to 2016.

In a companion paper to the report, researchers looked at progress toward Healthy People 2020external icon objectives for four common cancers: lung, prostate, female breast, and colorectal.

The annual report is a collaborative effort among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the National Cancer Institute (NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health); the American Cancer Society (ACS); and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR).

This years report showed that overall cancer death rates decreased 1.5% on average per year from 2001 to 2017, decreasing more rapidly among men (by 1.8% per year) than among women (1.4% per year). The report found that overall cancer death rates decreased in every racial and ethnic group during 20132017.

The United States continues to make significant progress in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment, said CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D. While we are encouraged that overall cancer death rates have decreased, there is still much more we can do to prevent new cancers and support communities, families, and cancer survivors in this ongoing battle.

National Status of Cancer Report Findings

The data analyzed in the report combines cancer incidence data collected by CDCs National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and NCIs Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, as well as mortality data from CDCs National Center for Health Statistics.

The report found that from 2013 to 2017:

Among men, death rates decreased for 11 of the 19 most common cancers, were stable for four cancers (including prostate), and increased for four cancers (oral cavity and pharynx, soft tissue including heart, brain and other nervous system, and pancreas).

Among women, death rates decreased for 14 of the 20 most common cancers, including the three most common cancers (lung and bronchus, breast, and colorectal), but increased for cancers of the uterus, liver, brain and other nervous system, soft tissue including heart, and pancreas. Rates were stable for oral cavity and pharynx cancer.

Overall cancer death rates among children ages 0 to 14 years decreased an average of 1.4% per year. Among adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 39 years, overall cancer death rates decreased an average of 1.0% per year.

Melanoma death rates decreased 6.1% per year among men and 6.3% per year among women.

Lung cancer death rates decreased 4.8% per year among men and 3.7% per year among women. However, lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for about one-fourth of all cancer deaths.

The drops in mortality were seeing are real, sustained, and a strong indication of what we can do when we work to prevent and treat cancer, said William G. Cance, M.D., ACS Chief Medical and Scientific Officer. But we can and must do more, particularly to ensure everyone in the United States has access to the resources that are all too often benefitting only the most fortunate.

For cancer incidence, notable findings include that from 2012 to 2016, incidence rates for all cancers combined were stable in men and increased slightly in women. In addition, rates of new cancers were stable among white men and decreased among black, Asian/Pacific Islander (API), American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), and Hispanic men.

Thanks to advances brought about by basic research, we are making remarkable progress against cancer, said NCI Director Norman E. Ned Sharpless, M.D. This report provides further evidence that cancer death rates continue to decline. But we must not be complacent. The cancer incidence dataespecially the increase in cancer among womenis a clear reminder that there is more work ahead.

For the first time, the report provided rates and trends for the most common cancers among children (younger than 15 years) and among adolescents and young adults ages 1539 years. Among children, overall cancer incidence rates increased an average of 0.8% per year during 2012 to 2016. The most common cancer types among children were leukemia, brain and other nervous system cancers, and lymphoma, with increasing incidence trends for each of these cancers during 2012 to 2016.

Among adolescents and young adults, overall cancer incidence rates increased an average of 0.9% per year from 2012 to 2016. The most common cancer among adolescents and young adults was female breast cancer; rates were highest among young black women.

We look forward to improving surveillance of childhood cancers in the future by establishing specific databases for children to study these rare cancers. There are many unanswered questions in the realm of pediatric cancer and improving our tools to study them is essential to their ultimate prevention, said NAACCR Director Betsy Kohler.

Progress Toward Cancer-Reduction Targets

In a companion paper to the report, researchers measured progress toward the federal governments 10-year national objectives for improving Americans health, an effort known as Healthy People 2020. Specifically, researchers examined progress in four common cancers: lung, prostate, female breast, and colorectal.

Healthy People 2020 targets for reducing death rates were met for all cancers combined as well as for lung, prostate, female breast, and colorectal cancers overallalthough not in all individual sociodemographic groups. Despite some progress over the past decade, the report shows the need to address disparities in cancer screening and in certain risk behaviors.

Healthy People 2020 targets were not met for adults to decrease cigarette smoking; to increase smoking cessation success; to reduce excessive alcohol use; or to reduce obesity prevalenceall behaviors linked to cancer risk.

Other findings on Healthy People 2020 targets include:

From 2008 to 2015, breast cancer screening rates increased slightly among Hispanic women but dropped among other groups, particularly Asian women, women in rural areas, and women with public or no health insurance.

The target for breast cancer screening of 81.1% was not met in any group except those with advanced educational degrees. Breast cancer screening rates were lowest among uninsured women.

There was some improvement in colorectal cancer screening rates, which increased about 20% overall between 2008 and 2017 but did not reach the target of 70.5%, except among those with advanced educational degrees.

Colorectal cancer screening increased by 35% or more in some groups, including AI/AN and Hispanic men and women, and men and women without health insurance.

To view the full Report, go to

https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.32802external icon

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, Part I: National Cancer Statistics

https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.32801external icon

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, Part II: Progress Toward Healthy People 2020 Objectives for 4 Common Cancers
Calls for President Rouhani to take helm of Iran committee fighting coronavirus

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 8:04 AM

Calls have been growing for Iran's President Hassan Rouhani 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 Rouhani 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.

They highlighted the need for Rouhani, 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.

Meanwhile, an Iranian lawmaker said Tuesday that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei is said to have called for President Rouhani 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.

The epidemic has so far killed 354 people in Iran and infected 9,000 others. Some 2,959 people have also recovered.

'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.

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With fresh cases reported from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Ladakh, the number of people who are COVID-19 positive has gone up to 73, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

It also said that a total of 10,57,506 passengers have been screened at airports, the ministry said.

Out of the 73 confirmed cases (17 of them foreign nationals) in the country, Kerala has the maximum number of positive cases for novel coronavirus at 17.

Uttar Pradesh reported 10 cases while the Union Territory of Ladakh reported 3 while Maharashtra reported 11 cases till Thursday.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in Lok Sabha today said as per available information there are about 6000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran, including 1100 pilgrims mainly from Ladakh, J-K and Maharashtra, nearly 300 students primarily from J-K and the government is taking all steps to ensure their earliest possible return.

Earlier on Wednesday, WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and expressed deep concern both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.

As on Thursday according to estimates compiled by the John Hopkins University, there has been over 1,21,564 positive cases of novel coronavirus globally with the over 4000 deaths due to the virus.

India has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the WHO declared coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz Bin Salman sign documents during a ceremony following a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 14, 2019. ALEXEY NIKOLSKY | SPUTNIK | AFP via Getty Images

An intensifying oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia has created "very painful" market conditions for the world's largest crude producers, analysts have told CNBC, with many braced for sliding revenues over the coming months. International benchmark Brent crude traded at $32.97 Thursday, down almost 8%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $30.40, around 7.8% lower. Oil prices have almost halved since the start of the year. The downturn for crude futures comes shortly after talks between OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC leader Russia broke down. Markets had been hoping for an agreement between Riyadh and Moscow, as well as other OPEC and non-OPEC producers, in order to deepen oil output cuts and prop up prices. The group's unexpected failure to reach a consensus on production policy led oil prices to crash on Monday. President Donald Trump's surprise announcement Wednesday to ban travel from continental Europe following the WHO's declaration that the coronavirus can now be described as a pandemic also acted as a catalyst for further oil price losses Thursday morning.

What does a price war mean for US shale?

Most energy analysts have dismissed the idea that Saudi Arabia and Russia's price war has been specifically designed to target U.S. shale, but the industry is expected to bear the brunt of the pain. Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), a think tank that advocates for reducing U.S. dependence on oil, believes the American oil industry is the loser from the current price war. "Saudi Arabia claims to be the swing producer to stabilize the market, but mostly they just cause swings that hurt the free market and the ability to compete," Robbie Diamond, president and CEO of SAFE, said via email shortly after OPEC and non-OPEC allies failed to reach an agreement. "Our industry and the U.S. economy has no choice but to watch once again as Saudi Arabia tanks the price of oil to suit its domestic priorities," he added. Trump initially welcomed the declaration of a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia, hailing lower oil prices as good news for U.S. consumers. Saudi Arabia has since signaled its intent to flood the market with crude, unveiling plans Wednesday for state-owned Saudi Aramco to ramp up production to 13 million barrels per day (bpd). It is thought such a move could prompt a wave of bankruptcies and investment cuts in the U.S. which, in turn, would have a noticeable impact on shale production.

IEA says OPEC allies are in a 'very, very difficult situation'

Some believe the worst hit from a sharp drop in oil prices will be long-time allies of de facto OPEC leader, Saudi Arabia. "My main worry today is not on shale," Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Agency (IEA), told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick earlier this week. "It is mainly on some of the major oil-producing countries who have not  despite the calls from the IEA many, many times  diversified their economies."

Birol suggested countries like Iraq, Algeria and Nigeria  all OPEC producers  were in a "very, very difficult situation" and would require support from the rest of the world. "They are facing major fiscal strains. Many of them will have difficulties to pay the salaries for the public sector, spending for health, for education, which in turn may provide social pressures in those countries. Iraq, OPEC's second-largest producer, is thought to be particularly exposed to an all-out price war because it has one of the least diversified economies of the producer group  despite relatively low production costs. Iraq's oil ministry said Tuesday that it will keep in touch with other OPEC and non-OPEC members in an effort to prevent an oil price collapse, Reuters reported.

What about the instigators of the price war?

Shortly after talks broke down with Saudi Arabia late last week, Russia claimed it could withstand lower oil prices for as long as a decade. Yet, while many believe Moscow is in much stronger financial position to cope with a protracted period of lower oil prices than in previous years, it is not thought to be in the best interests of Russia or Saudi Arabia. "If you assume that the price difference between agreeing and rejecting last week's recommendation is $25 (a barrel) then Russia stands to lose a considerable amount of money by not endorsing the proposal," Tamas Varga, senior analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said in a research note. "There will come a point when the negative consequences of Russia's decision will become unbearable for the instigator," he added.
To access a PDF version of this newsletter, please click here http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNCGeneric_CA_03112020.pdf You can read Morning News Call Canada via TOPNEWS Canada page. If you would like to receive this newsletter through your email, please register at: http://solutions.refinitiv.com/MorningNewsCallENsubscriptionpage ECONOMIC EVENTS 0830 Capacity utilization for Q4 : Expected 80.7%; Prior 81.7% 1200 TR IPSOS PCSI for Mar: Prior 53.97 COMPANIES REPORTING RESULTS March 11: Altius Minerals Corp (ALS). Expected Q4 earnings of 10 Canadian cents per share American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP (HOT_u). Expected Q4 earnings of 1 cent per share Baylin Technologies Inc (BYL). Expected Q4 loss of 4 Canadian cents per share CanWel Building Materials Group Ltd (CWX). Expected Q4 earnings of 2 Canadian cents per share Conifex Timber Inc (CFF). Expected Q4 loss of 32 Canadian cents per share CRH Medical Corp (CRH). Expected Q4 earnings of 4 cents per share Dorel Industries Inc (DIIb). Expected Q4 earnings of 4 cents per share Evertz Technologies Ltd (ET). Expected Q3 earnings of 26 Canadian cents per share Fortuna Silver Mines Inc (FVI). Expected Q4 earnings of 6 cents per share IPL Plastics Inc (IPLP). Expected Q4 earnings of 8 cents per share Linamar Corp (LNR). Expected Q4 earnings of  C$1.23 per share Painted Pony Energy Ltd (PONY). Expected Q4 loss of 2 Canadian cents per share Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc (RME). Expected Q4 earnings of 8 Canadian cents per share Stella-Jones Inc (SJ). Expected Q4 earnings of 39 Canadian cents per share March 12: AutoCanada Inc (ACQ). Expected Q4 earnings of 17 Canadian cents per share Cervus Equipment Corp (CERV). Expected Q4 loss of 19 Canadian cents per share CES Energy Solutions Corp (CEU). Expected Q4 earnings of 3 Canadian cents per share Docebo Inc (DCBO). Expected Q4 loss of 6 cents per share Empire Company Ltd (EMPa). Expected Q3 earnings of 44 Canadian cents per share Ero Copper Corp (ERO). Expected Q4 earnings of 17 cents per share High Arctic Energy Services Inc (HWO). Expected Q4 loss of 6 Canadian cents per share KP Tissue Inc (KPT). Expected Q4 earnings of 19 Canadian cents per share Medical Facilities Corp (DR). Expected Q4 earnings of 21 cents per share Neo Performance Materials Inc (NEO). Expected Q4 earnings of 14 cents per share NFI Group Inc (NFI). Expected Q4 earnings of 66 cents per share PFB Corporation (PFB). Expected Q4 earnings of 31 Canadian cents per share Pipestone Energy Corp (PIPE). Expected Q4 earnings of 1 Canadian cent per share Premium Brands Holdings Corp (PBH). Expected Q4 earnings of 75 Canadian cents per share ProntoForms Corp (PFM). Expected Q4 loss of 1 cent per share Quebecor Inc (QBRb). Expected Q4 earnings of 60 Canadian cents per share STEP Energy Services Ltd (STEP). Expected Q4 loss of 25 Canadian cents per share Transat AT Inc (TRZ). Expected Q1 loss of 50 Canadian cents per share Valeura Energy Inc (VLE). Expected Q4 earnings of break even per share CORPORATE EVENTS 0800 Titanium Transportation Group Inc (TTR). Q4 earnings conference call 0900 Airboss of America Corp (BOS). Q4 earnings conference call 0900 Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd (TGOD). Q4 earnings conference call 1000 Bird Construction Inc (BDT). Q4 earnings conference call 1000 Conifex Timber Inc (CFF). Q4 earnings conference call 1000 Greenbrook TMS Inc (GTMS). Q4 earnings conference call 1000 Morneau Shepell Inc (MSI). Q4 earnings conference call 1000 Stella-Jones Inc (SJ). Q4 earnings conference call 1000 Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd (WDO). Q4 earnings conference call 1100 Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc (RME). Q4 earnings conference call 1130 Parex Resources Inc (PXT). Q4 earnings conference call 1300 Timbercreek Financial Corp (TF). Q4 earnings conference call 1700 Evertz Technologies Ltd (ET). Q3 earnings conference call 1700 Linamar Corp (LNR). Q4 earnings conference call 1800 IPL Plastics Inc (IPLP). Q4 earnings conference call EX-DIVIDENDS Canadian Western Bank (CWB). Amount C$0.29 Cascades Inc (CAS). Amount C$0.08 Enerflex Ltd (EFX). Amount C$0.11 Franco-Nevada Corp (FNV). Amount $0.25 Gildan Activewear Inc (GIL). Amount $0.15 Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc (PL). Amount C$0.15 Velan Inc (VLN). Amount C$0.03 For Morning News Call U.S. -- a preview of market-moving news for the trading day: - type US/MNC in a news browser if you are an Eikon user, or type RT/US/MNC in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For The Day Ahead -- a recap of the day's events and preview of the next trading day: - type DAY/US in a news browser if you are an Eikon user or type RT/DAY/US in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For an index of our newsletters click on
Epidemiologists and physicians were able to search for patterns in the queries, discussions and comments across millions of Brazilians. This was a 21st-century version of the famous Ghost Map of 1854, in which John Snow (an anesthetist) and Henry Whitehead (a clergyman) identified the source of a horrifying cholera outbreak in London and terminated the outbreak by shutting down a community water pump.

As with the Zika outbreak, decentralized Internet data are being aggregated to track the spread of coronavirus and to predict its onset in other locales. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, algorithms ply vast quantities of Google searches, social media posts, and other internet data to identify patterns that no human being would ever detect.

Medical Regulation and Contagion: The above accounts suggest that more flexible regulations for telemedicine, information systems and drones would be beneficial. Coronavirus should also raise questions about regulatory oversight over other areas of health care. Should it be easier for doctors licensed in one state to offer services in other states? Should non-physician providers (e.g., nurse practitioners, pharmacists) have greater latitude to offer unsupervised services  particularly where there are few if any doctors? Should public and private insurers reimburse physicians for phone calls, emails, video conferences, etc.? Should hospitals and clinics have greater leeway to expand services without going through expensive, cumbersome certificate-of-need processes? Should the Food and Drug Administrations drug and device approval processes operate more rapidly and less expensively?
Business Minister Heather Humphreys has urged people not to stockpile or panic-buy due to the Covid-19 / coronavirus outbreak.

Many shoppers have been repeatedly purchasing groceries such as pasta, rice and milk as well as toilet tissue.

Minister Humphreys was speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings in Dublin which took place after the Taoiseach announced the closure of colleges, schools, public facilities and cultural institutions from 6pm tonight.

On the issue of stockpiling or panic-buying in supermarkets, Minister Humphreys said that she has met with retailers and distributors and they have assured her that there is sufficient strength in the supply chain.

"If people go out and buy products that they dont need to stockpile theyre going to cause a problem. So I would say, there is no need to do that."

She said that stockpiling certain goods such as toilet paper and pasta should not be necessary.

Read also: TRUCKERS WARN ABOUT STOCKPILING

Minister for Health Simon Harris said that he understood that people in our country are worried and they want to make provisions for themselves, and perhaps vulnerable relatives.

But he added: We should all continue to buy what we need to provide for ourselves and families and loved ones [but] we shouldnt stockpile.

He added that there can be unintended consequences of taking something someone else could require.
Taking further action to contain the spread of the coronavirus to the United States from other countries, President Donald Trump has restricted the arrival of foreign nationals who have been residing in 26 European countries, apart from the United Kingdom, with open borders agreements since the last 14 days.

"The travel restriction applies to foreign nationals who have been in 26 European countries with open borders agreements, in the last 14 days," the White House tweeted.

"Those exempt from these restrictions, such as US citizens, will be directed to limited airports where screening can take place," the thread added.

There is extensive travel back and forth between Europe that heightens the risk here in the United States, the President said while addressing the nation from his Oval office on Wednesday evening.

"Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom," he stressed.

The President has also announced an economic assistance package to help support businesses and workers who have been harmed by this outbreak.

Trump is calling on Congress to immediately pass payroll tax relief. The President announced that he will soon be taking emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to the coronavirus.

In January, Trump acted quickly to restrict travel from foreign nationals traveling from China.

In February, the President restricted travel for individuals recently traveling from Iran.

The administration put into place mandatory screening for all travelers coming into the country from Italy and South Korea.

Travel advisories for severely impacted areas like Italy and South Korea have been raised to their highest level.

While addressing, the President further directed his administration to make general-use face masks available to our healthcare workers.

The development comes forth keeping in view the concerns over the spread of the coronavirus that has killed dozens of US citizens and infected more than 1,200 Americans.

The Health Organization has also officially announced the viral infection to be a global 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the COVID-19 outbreak sweeps across Europe, royal families around the continent have had to revise how they greet people during official engagements.

Whether following the example of Prince Charles who has been performing a 'namaste' bow with clasped hands or sticking to a smile, the matter of greeting people appropriately is particularly relevant to royals who may be introduced to dozens of new people on a daily basis.

124,500 people worldwide are now suspected of having contracted the coronavirus since the start of the outbreak, with Italy experiencing 12,462, the biggest number of cases for a country outside of Asia. In total, 48 European countries have been affected to varying degrees.

As a result, Queen Letizia of Spain, 47 and King Felipe VI, 52, did not shake hands yesterday with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte during a visit to Paris, opting for bows and air kisses instead.

Meanwhile, the King and Queen of the Netherlands have decided not to shake hands on an official tour of Indonesia, but Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has continued regardless.



Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, royal families around Europe are taking steps to avoid contagion. Queen Letizia, 47 and King Felipe VI of Spain, 52 did not shake hands with Emmanuel Macron, 42 and his wife Brigitte, 66 during their state visit to France yesterday (pictured)

KING FELIPE AND QUEEN LETIZIA OF SPAIN

With Coronavirus having reached 2,281 cases and nearly 50 deaths in France and 2,140 cases and 28 deaths in Spain, the Spanish royals smiled warmly but kept a polite distance as they arrived at the Elysee Palace to mark the European Day of Victims of Terrorism.

Brigitte Macron, 66, greeted Queen Letizia by sending her kisses with her hand, as the two women laughed.

President Macron made light of the situation and said: 'Apparently, we literally have to [do this],' before bowing to his guests and also sending air kisses to Letizia.

However, perhaps out of habit, the French president could not help give Felipe VI's arm a friendly squeeze, as did his wife to Letizia.

Official guidance in France is to avoid shaking hands amid the outbreak.

Letizia and King Felipe were greeted by their host from a polite distance, with Emmanuel MAcron bowing and his wife sending her air kisses (pictured)

KING WILLEM-ALEXANDER AND QUEEN MAXIMA OF THE NETHERLANDS

During their own state visit to Indonesia, Queen Maxima, 47, and King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, 52, also refrained from shaking hands.

They made an exception for a few occasions thrown by local officials in their honour, including a reception thrown by President Joko Widodo in Bogor on Tuesday.

The Netherlands is the seventh country with the most cases in Europe, counting 503 so far.

Queen Maxima has been seen waving and keeping a polite distance with onlookers during walkabouts in Yogyakarta, while her husband greeted officials with the Hindu namaste greeting, with hands clasped together in prayer, accompanied by a small bow.

The royal family of The Netherlands explained that King Willem-Alexander, 52, and Queen Maxima, 48 would not shake hands during their visit to Indonesia this week (pictured: King Willem-Alexander doing a Namaste greeting)

CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SWEDEN

Is it safe to shake hands? Guidance varies from country to country, but in the UK there is no official advice saying that you should not shake hands. The guidance remains that regular handwashing is the best way to protect yourself. Advertisement

Meanwhile in Sweden, the royal family has taken some steps to avoid contagion, including cancelling official events.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia cancelled a formal dinner due to take place last Wednesday 4 March 'out of consideration' for the 150 meant to attend.

However, the Crown Princess Victoria, 42 was seen warmly shaking hands with locals during a visit to Overkalix on Tuesday 10 March.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Sweden recorded 462 cases of Coronavirus as of today, 12 March.

The Crown Princess's own daughter Princess Estelle, eight, is reportedly studying from home after it was confirmed one of the pupils at her Stockholm school was diagnosed with the coronavirus last week.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, 42, shook hands with locals during a visit to Overkalix on Tuesday (pictured)

How the British royals are adjusting their greetings Prince Charles was seen getting into a slight fluster yesterday he met members of the Prince's Trust today. The royal, 71, was pictured offering up his hand as he arrived at the London Palladium for the annual Prince's Trust Awards 2020. Charles was seen quickly remembering to give a Namaste gesture, before swiftly slipping back into old habits as he went onto greet further members of the organisation. The first-in-line to the throne soon got into the swing of things, and was pictured giving Ant and Dec the Namaste sign as he greeted the presenters inside the venue The Queen doled out handshakes at Buckingham Palace today, despite an aide claiming she had decided to stop shaking hands with members of the public for the foreseeable future as a matter of 'personal preference' Meanwhile it was business as usual for the Queen, who doled out handshakes at Buckingham Palace yesterday. This is despite the fact an aide confirmed to the Mail she had decided to stop shaking hands with members of the public for the foreseeable future as a matter of 'personal preference'. At Cheltenham the Duchess of Cornwall took precautions to protect herself against the virus, wearing a pair of leather gloves to shake hands with people she met. But the Queen's granddaughter Zara Philips didn't seem to have let the threat of the outbreak faze her, as she dished out hugs at the racecourse. At the Commonwealth Day service earlier this week, Prince William could be seen on television making his own way down the same line and saying: 'Thank you can't shake hands, but thank you.' Later Prince Harry said farewell to singer Craig David, who also performed during the service, in his own indomitable way, 'elbow bumping' the star as the pair laughed. The Queen's granddaughter Zara Philips didn't seem to have let the threat of the outbreak faze her, as she dished out hugs at Cheltenham (pictured) At Cheltenham the Duchess of Cornwall took precautions to protect herself against the virus, wearing a pair of leather gloves to shake hands with people she met (pictured) Elbow bump: The Duke of Sussex could not resist breaking ranks at the end of his last formal engagement as he was introduced to one of the performers, pop singer Craig David. Sticking out his right arm, he gave him an elbow bump greeting and then cracked a joke Advertisement




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The John F. Kennedy International Airport was nearly deserted Thursday morning as only a few passengers waited for their flights out of New York City.

Daigo Takayama, 35, who was visiting the Big Apple, shared photos with the DailyMail.com showing empty terminals at the airport.

'I have been traveling my entire life, in and out of airports constantly. I have never seen JFK airport so empty,' Takayama told DailyMail.com.

'It feels like I am in a small town airport. Only about 30 per cent of people are wearing masks and the others don't seem stressed by the possible danger of the situation,' he added.

Takayama shared a photo of himself wearing a mask as he waited for his flight with Japan Airlines on Thursday.

His photos showed about eight people standing and sitting in JFK's Terminal 1. Restaurants and shops were abandoned and there weren't any long lines at the Starbucks.

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Daigo Takayama, 35, who was visiting the Big Apple, shared photos with the DailyMail.com showing an empty Terminal 1 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on Thursday morning

Restaurants (left) were abandoned and there weren't any long lines at the airport's Starbucks (right) Thursday morning

The airport's shops were also empty Thursday morning as the fear of catching the coronavirus spreads through the US

There were no long lines at the check-in counters (pictured, check-in and self check-in) for most of the airport's airlines

Takayama wasn't supposed to leave New York until next Monday, but out of fear of being stuck in the US due to the more than 600 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 16 deaths that have been reported in Japan, he hopped on a flight to Nagoya, Japan, a few days early.

He said he went to the airport on Wednesday hoping he wouldn't be charged for changing his flight after making the decision to leave early because he wasn't sure how Japan's handling of the virus would progress in the next few days, referring to the US travel ban and Italy's lockdown.

Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, placed the entire country on lockdown on Monday in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, the international terminal at Chicago's O'Hare Airport was nearly devoid of travelers on Thursday morning.

Photos showed similar imagery of empty terminals, no long lines and nearly deserted shops and restaurants.

Meanwhile, the international terminal at Chicago's O'Hare Airport was nearly devoid of travelers on Thursday morning (pictured)

Photos showed similar imagery of empty terminals (pictured Thursday morning), no long lines and nearly deserted shops and restaurants

The international terminal at O'Hare Airport had very few travelers on Thursday morning in Chicago, Illinois

Trump bans visitors from Europe from entering the US for 30 days starting at midnight on Friday - but excludes the UK and Ireland - in effort to staunch coronavirus pandemic.

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday night that flights from Europe, excluding the UK and Ireland, would be suspended for 30 days beginning midnight on Friday.

Trump's decision to impose the ban on most Europeans entering the US sparked 'bedlam' at airports across the continent, with some travelers paying as much as $20,000 for plane tickets home.

Tourists from the US, who were left shrouded in confusion by the details of the proposal, scrambled to airports in the early hours of Thursday morning uncertain about how the ban would impact their attempts to fly back home.

Confusion reigned over exactly how it would be implemented - including how the cut-off would apply across time zones and which routes Americans would be allowed to use to get home.

Vice President Mike Pence fueled the coronavirus chaos on Thursday by saying all Americans returning from coronavirus 'epicenter' Europe will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival and be funneled through one of 13 airports, without confirming if they would receive COVID-19 tests or saying where those ports were.

Oval Office address: Trump finally addressed the nation about the coronavirus crisis from the White House on Wednesday and banned all travel to Europe

There more than 1,500 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died (depicted above)

Journalist Mike McIntire tweeted from Charles de Gaulle airport: 'Bedlam at U.S.-bound airlines at CDG in Paris early this a.m., as Americans pay as much as $20,000 for last-minute flights.'

The White House has also not yet explained what will be done, if anything, to stop people traveling from other countries in Europe to the UK or Ireland then boarding flights to the US to work around the ban.

There are already more than 1,500 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died.

Trump's announcement has disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of people and hit airlines already reeling from the coronavirus outbreak, which has been branded a pandemic.

The State Department also warned Americans against all non-essential travel abroad, raising the prospect of mandatory quarantines and further bans that could leave people stranded.

It's unclear what travel restrictions, if any, will be imposed on Americans who wish to continue their domestic travels in the US.

But medical experts don't believe that domestic travel restrictions will stop the virus from spreading.

Vice President Pence has even said that there has been no talk of limiting travel in the United States.

EU condemns Trump's decision to restrict travel from Europe to the US over the coronavirus

On Thursday, the European Union lashed out at Trump's 'unilateral' decision to restrict travel from Europe to the United States over the coronavirus, saying that the illness doesn't respect borders.

Trump has called the disease a 'foreign virus' and claimed that US clusters were 'seeded' by European travelers.

He announced that all European travel would be cut off, but US officials later said that restrictions would apply only to most foreign citizens who have been in Europe's passport-free travel zone at any point in the 14 days prior to their arrival in the US.

'The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation,' European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement.

'The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation,' European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) said in a joint statement

'The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent, and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action,' the EU said. A man wears a protective mask as he checks in at a kiosk in the main terminal of Brussels International Airport in Brussels on Thursday

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, France: People wearing protective face masks line up at the Air France ticketing desk inside Terminal 2E at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in Roissy on Thursday

People wait to check in to a flight to Chicago at the United Airlines counter in the main terminal of Brussels International Airport in Brussels on Thursday

'The coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent, and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action,' the two said.

They rejected Trump's suggestion that Europe is not doing enough to combat COVID-19, saying that the 27-nation bloc 'is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus'.

The so-called Schengen area comprises 26 countries including EU members France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria and Belgium, where the bloc has its headquarters, but also others like Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.

The restrictions announced by Trump don't apply to the United Kingdom, where the number of confirmed cases has reached almost 460, with eight deaths, or Ireland, which isn't part of Schengen, and has 43 cases.

According to flight tracker FlightAware, around 400 flights cross the Atlantic from Europe to the United States each day.

JetBlue's CEO says the plummet of global travel and airlines sales is 'probably worse' than the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks

On Wednesday, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said 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 per cent 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 CBS This Morning.

JetBlue airlines has seen a 20 per cent drop in sales since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the US back in January.

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 CEO Robin Hayes says the coronavirus outbreak is 'probably worse' than the 9/11 terror attacks aftermath where the airline industry lost 30 per cent of business

As a precautionary move the airline (file image) 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

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.'

COVID-19 has killed more than 4,700 people worldwide and there are still more than 128,000 confirmed cases globally.

Pence repeated previous claims that the government had asked private labs including Lab Corp and Quest Diagnostics to speed up the production of their tests, after a wave of criticism over how long the CDC was taking to get theirs off the ground.

But he failed to address some key specifics including how or if the ban will impact trade and imports from Europe, or how many people will likely become infected in America despite the drastic new measures.

World health officials have already undermined Trump's plan. They say it will not stop the virus from spreading and that the administration should be focusing its efforts on the healthcare system, which will likely buckle under the strain of the pandemic if it reaches the proportions seen in China and Italy.

Also on Wednesday night, the NBA suspended its season indefinitely in light of the president's announcement, postponing all games.

The decision - the first of its kind - came after it was revealed that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the virus.

On Thursday, the Jazz confirmed that Gobert's teammate, Donovan Mitchell, has also tested positive for the virus.

Mass gatherings have not yet been banned in the US but in Europe, football games have all been scrapped until further notice.

In Italy, group gatherings like weddings and funerals are not allowed and even stores are closing to try to contain the virus.
The San Jose Peace and Justice Center would like to emphasize the importance of community care during this distressing time.

The spread of COVID-19 is traumatizing for everyone, including but not limited to:--those with chronic illnesses who are vulnerable and immunocompromised--those with infants and school-aged children--those with families in hot spot countries and those traveling globally--victims of racism and xenophobic attacks surrounding outbreak-related stereotyping--people who are experiencing homelessness with compromised health due to stress, chronic sleep deprivation, and exposure--those who work in highly trafficked areas such as airports, grocery stores, and restaurants without proper paid sick leave that cannot afford to not work--all hospital workers who have a high likelihood of exposure to contagious, infectious disease for the sake of caring for public health--all community members that are unable to escape from the constant stream of televised and online media surrounding the pandemicSanta Clara County has issued a mandatory order to cancel all mass gatherings, defined as any event or convening that brings together one thousand (1,000) or more people in a single room or single space at the same time, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, cafeteria, theater, or any other confined indoor or confined outdoor space, for the rest of the month. In addition to a significant number of offices and universities closing, many grassroots organizing events have been cancelled.The Center for Excellence in Nonprofits has compiled a useful list of resources: http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/  The CDC website has up-to-date information on the disease and ways to mitigate risk of exposure. You can also visit your local countys website for more targeted information about the virus. http://www.apalanet.org/covid19  Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) reminds employers that they must include a protocol against racial discrimination in their responses to COVID-19. http://www.siliconvalleycf.org/coronavirus-fund  SVCF is leading an effort with our other Bay Area philanthropic partners on a regional response to this public health crisis. Our COVID-19 Coronavirus Regional Response Fund provides the community an opportunity to help our region meet the developing challenges linked with COVID-19 Coronavirus.Healing Justice released an informative podcast featuring medical information, invocations, grounding practices and dialogue from their March 7, 2020 webinar COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Preparation for People Living with Chronic Illnesses in the United States. You can listen to the podcast and review their resources at this link: https://www.healingjustice.org/podcast/corona Community care must be extended to those who are experiencing homelessness. Street Sheet, a publication of the Coalition on Homelessness San Francisco, laid out some recommendations to San Francisco city officials to support the unhoused and unsheltered individuals of their community: http://www.streetsheet.org/what-if-you-cant-stay-home/ From all of us at the San Jose Peace and Justice Center, we encourage you to take care of your personal and public health during this time.
[March 11, 2020] AARON'S SHAREHOLDER ALERT by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Reminds Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Aaron's, Inc. - AAN

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until April 28, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 2, 2018, and February 19, 2020, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased shares of Aaron's and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-aan/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by April 28, 2020.



About the Lawsuit Aaron's and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On February 20, 2020, the Company disclosed that an agreement in principle had been made with its Progressive segment and the Federal Trade Commission regarding the regulator's investigation that, if approved, would require the Company to "make a payment of $175 million and enhance certain compliance-related activities, including monitoring, disclosure and reporting requirements." On this news, the price of Aaron's shares plummeted. The case is Shiva Stein, et al. v. Aarons, Inc., et al., No. 20-cv-01796. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005789/en/

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A Brandon senior who had waited seven months to see a specialist was told to go home after she coughed in the waiting room, her son said Wednesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Katherine Oman holds the mask she was told to put on in the waiting room of the Brandon Clinic while her son, Brian Chaboyer, holds her new appointment slip Wednesday. Oman's appointment to see a specialist was cancelled after a seven-month wait. (Bud Robertson/The Brandon Sun)

A Brandon senior who had waited seven months to see a specialist was told to go home after she coughed in the waiting room, her son said Wednesday.

"It was so awkward and so weird," said Brian Chaboyer, who accompanied his mother Katherine Oman, 74, to Brandon Clinic Wednesday morning to see a specialist about a medical condition.

"My mother had not had a cough and hasnt been coughing," Chaboyer said, adding she had not been exhibiting any flu-like symptoms before the appointment.

She coughed while waiting to see the doctor, however, and was given a mask before being led into the specialists office, he said.

Chaboyer said the doctor came into his office and told Oman he was cancelling the appointment and she would have to rebook to a later date.

Chaboyer said the specialist told her she shouldnt be there and to go home.

"I thought he was joking. He wasnt," Chaboyer said. "He was so dead serious about getting us out of there."

The doctor escorted them back to the waiting room, Chaboyer said, and made another appointment for early April.

"My mother is distraught," he said, adding she has lupus and is visually impaired.

"She broke down right then and there."

Sitting in her home Wednesday afternoon with her son, Oman said the experience was embarrassing as well as disappointing.

"I was very angry," she said. "I waited a long time for this appointment."

Now, she said, she has to wait even longer to find out whats going on with her medical condition.

"The way he (the specialist) kind of brushed it off it was like it wasnt important, and it is important to me because of what is going on with some parts of my body and my leg," Oman said.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, a global pandemic.

As of last Thursday, 97 tests have been completed for COVID-19 in Manitoba. There have not been any laboratory-confirmed cases here, Manitoba Health, Seniors & Active Living reported Tuesday on its website.

While Chaboyer said he understands the severity of the virus and why people are frightened by it, paranoia is also setting in. He had taken the day off from work to accompany his mother to the appointment.

"Today was just unbelievable."

The specialist who saw Oman, Dr. Ricardo Cartagena, said new protocols were implemented at Brandon Clinic Wednesday morning, and patients are first screened by a clerk to see if they have travelled overseas recently and if they are experiencing any flu-like symptoms.

If so, they are given a mask before seeing the physician who makes the final call, Cartagena said.

Oman said she has not travelled and was not asked either question.

While speaking with her in his office, Cartagena said, Oman said she had begun to cough that morning and touched her throat.

"Hearing that this patient (symptoms) was unfolding, I didnt know if she was going to go into full-blown respiratory infection of whatever nature," he said.

He said he suggested she go home, and if the symptoms worsen to contact the hospital for advice.

"What I did was to offer her a courtesy," Cartagena said, adding he made an appointment to see her two weeks later during his lunch break "in such a way that she wouldnt have to wait again."

He added he has a months-long waiting list of patients.

"All that I did was protect her and protect the next patient and the many other patients that were going to come during the rest of my day."

Chaboyer said thats not what transpired.

"No. Thats false," he said when informed of the doctors comments.

Brandon Clinic Medical Corp. chief executive officer Darcy Bell could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

 brobertson@brandonsun.com
President Donald Trump speaks at an evening Keep America Great Rally at the Wildwood Convention Center on January 28, 2020 in Wildwood, New Jersey.

President Donald Trump canceled his upcoming events in Colorado and Nevada "out of an abundance of caution from the coronavirus outbreak," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Wednesday.

The cancellations came shortly after Trump announced in a televised address to the nation that the U.S. would bar travelers coming from Europe for 30 days in the latest attempt to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

That rare Oval Office address followed a harrowing day for markets, which saw one major index plunge to bear-market levels, and U.S. officials, who at every level of government introduced their own coronavirus response measures. Dow futures dropped 1,000 points Wednesday night after the president concluded his speech.

"Out of an abundance of caution from the Coronavirus outbreak, the President has decided to cancel his upcoming events in Colorado and Nevada," Grisham said, NBC News reported.

Trump was scheduled to appear as the featured speaker at the Republican Jewish Coalition's national meeting this week in Las Vegas. After Trump decided to abandon his travel plans to Nevada, the conference itself was postponed until further notice.

"In light of the COVID-19 epidemic, in consultation with the White House and our outside experts, we have regretfully decided to postpone the RJC Annual Meeting," the RJC said. "We will look for dates in the near future when we can reschedule and when the current health crisis allows."

The COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, , Johns Hopkins University data shows. The World Health Organization , a significant step informed by a belief that the death toll and global reach of the fast-spreading virus will continue to grow.

In the U.S., the numbers are smaller, with more than 1,000 cases and at least 35 deaths confirmed so far, according to Johns Hopkins. But Trump administration officials warned earlier Wednesday that the worst is yet to come, and those grim expectations have prompted Congress, state officials and corporate leaders to take major action.

With markets fluctuating wildly, the White House has put forward possible economic stimulus measures. Trump and his top economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, this week floated a series of actions, . That plan has been met with reluctance even by some Republicans.

In his address Wednesday night, Trump reiterated his call for Congress to provide payroll tax relief, and announced other measures for several groups impacted by the virus.

In addition to legislation, Trump said he would instruct the Small Business Administration to "provide capital and liquidity" to small businesses. Trump also he was asking the Treasury Department to allow tax payments to be deferred for some people and businesses.

Democratic leaders unveiled their own plan Wednesday, proposing more than a dozen "critical measures" intended to provide relief to local communities. The plans come less than a week after Trump signed an $8.3 billion emergency aid bill that sailed through Congress with bipartisan support.
Indias Neighbourhood First policy recently achieved many successes, focused on infrastructure investment. But while a focus on such physical infrastructure is critical, it often also misses the softer and cultural dimensions.

The capacity to attract students is one of the strongest indicators of soft power. Educational links can influence diplomatic relations. Surveys show that student mobility facilitates knowledge transfer and research collaboration, besides being a key source of foreign exchange. After returning to their home countries, students often become brand ambassadors for the foreign country that hosted them.

By using this soft power technique, after 1947, India quickly established itself as the regions educational, scientific and intellectual centre. Nepals former Prime Minister BP Koirala, Afghanistans former President Hamid Karzai and Myanmars Aung San Suu Kyi are among the most prominent alumni of Indian educational institutions.

Given this history, and geographic and linguistic ties, one would assume that India today continues to be a natural destination for students from the region. The official numbers, however, tell a different story. In our recent study for the Brookings Sambandh Initiative, co-authored with Geetika Dang, we discovered that India is quickly losing its attractiveness. Based on the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) and comparative figures from the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs, we focused on students from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and found two worrying trends.

First, while students from South Asia still constitute half of the total foreign student population in India (49% in 2019), their numbers have been stagnating. The annual growth of students in India from the neighbourhood has decreased from 30% to just 9% in the last seven years. Mostly due to fee waivers and thousands of scholarships from the ministry of external affairs, one in four foreigners studying in India hails from Nepal.

Second, even if one excludes Pakistan, China now receives approximately the same number of students from South Asia as India. In the last six years, the number of inbound students from Indias neighbourhood to China has increased by 176%. Almost every country in the South Asian region now sends the same number, or more, students to China as to India. In 2016, for example, there were three times more Bangladeshis studying in China (4,900) than in India. In the case of Myanmar, there were 17 times more students in China than in India.

Looking ahead, it is increasingly likely that the future academic, business, diplomatic, military and political elites of Indias neighbouring countries will have been shaped by Chinese education. This is an overlooked aspect of the softer dimensions of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative, which, beyond just big-ticket infrastructure, also silently invests in educational exchanges and regulatory harmonisation.

Why would young Nepalis go to China if they can cross the open border to attend Indian colleges? Why would Sri Lankans prefer expensive institutions in Singapore to south India? And why are more Bangladeshi students not coming to Kolkata?

We found a mix of reasons, including regulatory and visa hurdles, but none is more significant than the quality of higher education. China now has 22 universities in the global top 500, against just nine from India. China also spends three times more than India on research and development, including infrastructure and innovation. While Indias educational reforms are a work in progress, there are a few things Delhi can do to enhance educational connectivity in South Asia. It can invest more in the Study in India promotion campaigns, in closer collaboration with universities that tend to neglect the immediate region. After completing their studies in India, citizens from neighbouring countries should also get preferential employment visas.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations could engage with its international counterparts to offer scholarships with trilateral exchanges. Also, the University Grants Commission should prioritise joint research projects and academic partnerships with universities in neighbouring countries. Hard infrastructure is urgent but not sufficient for India to win over hearts and minds in neighbouring countries. Enhancing educational connectivity should be a key priority if India wishes to retain its role as the regions intellectual hub.

Constantino Xavier is fellow, Foreign Policy and Security Studies, Brookings India. Aakshi Chaba studies at Yale University and interned with Brookings Sambandh Initiative

The views expressed are personal
The official start of spring is next week, prompting many to ask if warmer weather could help curb the new coronavirus outbreak that is cropping up across the county, closing events and wreaking havoc on the economy.

President Donald Trump said COVID-19 would go away with Aprils warmer weather during his White House address to governors in February. But Maria Van Kerkhove, a technical consultant with the World Health Organization, said in a press conference last week that there was no reason to believe the virus would behave differently in different temperatures. Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organizations Health Emergencies Programme, was also speaking at the news conference and said the disease has been seen in a number of different climates, including Singapore which is hot and humid.

The bottom line: We dont yet know.

Read the full article: Does climate change play a role in infectious diseases like COVID-19?

This is a new virus, so we have no idea, Dr. Peter Hotez, professor and dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, told the Chronicle. Some people are conjecturing that it may diminish on the basis of what the flu does, which is another respiratory virus.

He said the flu peaks in the winter for the northern hemisphere and in the summer for the southern hemisphere (it can be year round in the tropics), but researchers dont really understand what makes the flu seasonal.

Sometimes in the U.S., cases will come to an abrupt end. Other times, as experts expect this year, the flu extends into spring.

Theories on why the flu is seasonal include people being more likely to be crowded inside together during colder weather. And then, in theory, the warmer air in spring and summer can accommodate higher humidity. These larger microdroplets of water fall to the ground faster, maybe carrying the viruses to the ground before they can come into contact with a persons face or hands, Hotez said.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Centers three-month outlook for March, April and May, the Houston area has a roughly 50 percent chance of above-average temperatures for the three months ending in May. Looking at precipitation, there isnt any indication that rainfall would be above or below average.

When just looking at March, there is a slightly greater than 50 percent chance for higher-than-average temperatures and a 33 percent chance for lower-than-average rainfall.

Hotez said a full year of seasons would be required to truly understand COVID-19. It may not be seasonal, it may decline in the warmer months, it may decline in the summer but not go away entirely and then come back in the fall. It could also have a regular seasonal pattern every year, like the flu, or it could be one-and-done.

It could be like the first SARS virus in 2003, which was a one-time deal and it never reappeared, Hotez said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: This is going to hurt a lot of people: Millions lost to economy as Houston Rodeo cancels

But if COVID-19 doesnt decline before spring, then there could be a triple whammy: COVID-19, an extended flu season and the measles. The measles, he said, historically peaks in early spring and is one of the most contagious viruses. Tracing one or two measles cases can occupy all of a health department.

There is no way we could fight all three, he said. Thats why its really important to get your flu vaccine and your measles vaccine.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

Twitter.com/a_leinfelder
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Linkedin Michael Martina, Simon Lewis (Reuters) Detroit, United States  Thu, March 12, 2020 14:26 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a19959 2 World US-election,USA,Democrat,Democratic-party,Joe-Biden,Bernie-Sanders Free

Michigan voter Monique Dooley believed in Bernie Sanders forceful message of support for Americas working class.

So she cast a ballot Tuesday in Detroit for the Democratic candidate she believes can win back the White House: Joe Biden.

If we are going to be unified, I think we should go with him, said Dooley, an African-American fifth-grade teacher.

Millions of Democrats across the country agreed with Dooley during Tuesday's nominating contests, adding to the momentum and delegate count that has resurrected the former vice president's campaign. Biden won at least four of the six states that voted, including the biggest prize of Michigan, dealing another blow to the "political revolution" promised by 78-year-old Sanders.

Many voters said they admired the Vermont senator's authenticity and consistent message, and like his policies, but had cast ballots strategically for Biden, the candidate they think can beat President Donald Trump in the November general election.

This isnt the time for extreme, said Kurt Nortin, a 55-year-old substitute teacher who saw Biden speak in St. Louis on Saturday.

Sanders fell short of his primary performances against Hillary Clinton in 2016 when he pulled off an upset in Michigan and lost by a whisker in Missouri. On Tuesday he lost handily in both those states, places where he hoped to demonstrate his strength among Midwestern voters. Sanders only pulled off a win in North Dakota, a small state with few delegates. In Washington state, Biden and Sanders were in a virtual tie with more than two-thirds of the votes counted.

"Last night obviously was not a good night for our campaign," Sanders told reporters in his hometown of Burlington on Wednesday. He insisted he was staying in the race and would draw a sharp distinction with Biden in a televised debate scheduled for Sunday in Arizona.

Sanders said he was winning "the ideological debate" on issues such as universal healthcare that are popular with many Americans, as well as the "generational debate" with his appeal to younger voters. Yet he acknowledged many Democrats were still choosing Biden because they believe the former vice president is the best candidate to defeat Trump.

"Needless to say, I strongly disagree with that assertion," Sanders said. "But that is what millions of Democrats and independents today believe."

Sanders had promised his platform of ambitious social programs and raising taxes on corporations and the wealthy would expand the electorate. Instead Americans of all stripes turned out for Biden: women and men, white and black voters, those with or without college degrees, and self-described liberals and moderates. Sanders only dominated among young voters and Latinos.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders announces that he will be continuing his campaign for U.S. president at least through his March 15 debate with former Vice President Joe Biden as he holds a news conference in Burlington, Vermont, U.S. March 11, 2020. (REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

State after state, voters by roughly 2 to 1 said they would rather pick a candidate who can beat Trump than one they agree with on major issues, according to Edison Research exit polls in the states that voted on Tuesday as well as last week's Super Tuesday contests.

The overwhelming majority of these voters who cited beating Trump as the top priority - 61% in Michigan, 67% in Missouri, and 82% in Mississippi - voted for Biden, the polls show.

It was a stinging setback for Sanders, who just two weeks ago was riding high with back-to-back strong showings in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.

Wall Street investors fearful of a government takeover of healthcare dumped shares in health insurers, while Democratic Party insiders sounded the alarm that the self-described democratic socialist would not only lose to Trump in November but would also hurt the party's chances down-ballot.

Biden, the moderate former vice president under Barack Obama, was helped in part by a wave of endorsements from moderate Democrats and former rivals, including Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar who ended their own presidential bids and rallied behind him. On the eve of the pivotal Michigan primary, former rivals Kamala Harris and Cory Booker stumped for Biden at a Detroit rally.

But progressives, whose loyalties had been split between Sanders and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who dropped out of the race on Thursday, have yet to close ranks around Sanders.

While nearly all of Biden's moderate rivals endorsed Biden after ending their own presidential bids, Warren has yet to throw her support behind her longtime progressive ally.

Some Warren supporters said they were unable to overcome concerns about Sanders electability or the perceived divisiveness of his supporters, despite agreeing with much of his policy platform.

Dooley, the Michigan teacher who voted for Biden, said she liked the platforms of both Sanders and Warren. But when Warren dropped out, Dooley said her personal admiration for Sanders could not bring her to vote for him. She said she was thinking about November.

For the general population, I feel that (Sanders) might be a little too liberal, Dooley said.

On Tuesday, even voters describing themselves as liberal broke for Biden in Missouri and Mississippi and were evenly split between Biden and Sanders in Michigan, according to exit polls.

At the same time, many of the ideas Sanders has been taking around the country for the better part of the last five years appear popular among voters. Even in Mississippi, where Sanders was routed by a 66-point margin, 60% of voters said they favored the idea behind Sanders' Medicare for All bill, replacing private healthcare with a single government plan for everyone.

Democrats right now arent necessarily voting on policies, said Andrew Feldman, a Democratic political consultant in Washington.

The reality is they're prioritizing electability because of the unique threat of Trump, and they're saying that Biden is across the board more electable," he said.

Bernie Sanders closed campaign headquarters sits empty in Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 11, 2020. (REUTERS/Kyle Grillot)

TAKING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT

After losing the Democratic nomination to Clinton in 2016, Sanders built a formidable campaign apparatus for his 2020 run, bolstered by an army of devoted supporters who contributed small donations to his campaign in unprecedented numbers.

It all seemed to be paying off when he emerged out of Nevada's Feb. 22 caucuses as the clear delegate leader after three states had voted.

But exuberant crowds of 10,000 people or more at Sanders' rallies masked his narrow coalition of voters. His mostly young supporters did not turn out to the polls in large numbers, while Biden dominated among the older voters who did show up.

In Michigan, even as turnout surged from 1.2 million in 2016 to an estimated 1.7 million in 2020, Sanders' core base - voters between the ages of 18 and 29 - made up just 15% of the Democratic primary electorate, down at least 4 percentage points from four years ago.

Sanders showed little interest in reaching out to the Democratic Party's moderate wing, fueling criticism that he, and his fiercest supporters are sowing intra-party division ahead of a bruising general election battle against Trump.

When Sanders campaign on Monday held a call with former Warren supporters to get their input on how to court those who have yet to back him, it did not go well, according to a person familiar with the call.

The Warren supporters suggested adopting some of her policies and addressing the abusive language of some Sanders backers online, but found the campaign unwilling to take responsibility for the behavior, the person said.

The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment about the call.

When Sanders emerged as a front-runner, Republicans began casting November's vote as "America vs. Socialism." Sanders' Democratic rivals warned that his history of positive comments about left-wing governments like Cuba and Venezuela would damage the party and play into some Americans' fears of a socialist takeover.

Gary Williams, a 64-year-old physical therapy assistant from Detroit, said he did not see Sanders as a socialist, but that he had a "message for the people."

Still, Williams said he feared that with what he called the establishment of the Democratic Party against Sanders, Biden was a better bet to beat Trump.

If you were to ask what Bidens message is, I dont even know, said Williams. He said he voted for Biden anyway.

That kind of singular focus among Democratic voters was on display at Biden's St. Louis rally.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden hugs his wife Jill after a primary night speech at The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., March 10, 2020. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid )

Nortin, the substitute teacher, showed up wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with AOC, the acronym for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive lightning rod who has challenged the partys Old Guard and supports Sanders.

But 55-year-old Nortin said he's casting his lot with Biden with one thing in mind: We gotta get (Trump) out."
Heres The Oregonians weekly look at the numbers behind the states economy. View past installments here.

Where were you in 2008?

Stocks cratered, falling more than 20% in one week in October as Wall Street absorbed the implications of a great financial crisis gripping the banking industry. It became clear many banks wouldnt survive the bursting of the housing bubble and the markets ultimately fell by 50% over 17 months.

This was the start of the Great Recession, the nations sharpest economic downturn in decades.

The signals coming from Wall Street now suggest investors expect something similar. The markets are down 27% in the past month as the coronavirus outbreak spread and fell 9.5% Thursday, Wall Streets worst since 1987.

Oregon companies are falling even faster.

The Oregonian Index of regional stocks fell 11.4% Thursday and now is down more than 34% since February 13.

 Infrared camera company Flir Systems has lost nearly half its value

 Umpqua Bank and Greenbrier are down more than 40%

 Oregons two biggest companies  Intel and Nike  are both down about 30%.

Few companies have issued detailed forecasts since the coronavirus outbreak began and there havent been any Oregon layoffs announced related to the outbreak (though theyre surely happening, quietly, at small restaurants, hotels and many other places.)

The stocks decline reflects investors overall anticipation of the broader economic outlook.

That outlook is bleak and its not hard to figure out why. With travel and trade grinding to a halt, with workers staying home, with schools into April, the mechanisms of industry are teetering.

If factories cant operate, if people cant go to work, if companies cant make money, then everyone from big manufacturers to your typical consumer wont be earning money and wont be spending.

Its a vicious cycle, compounded by the uncertainty of how long the coronavirus impact will be and how deep it will go. Theres no close analog to this in recent U.S. history.

In past downturns Oregons economy has been more volatile than the nations  in part because of the states reliance on a handful of industries, especially natural resources and manufacturing.

The states economy is more diversified now, which could make it more resiliant if the coronavirus hits any one segment (travel and tourism, for example) especially hard.

And by virtue of Oregons record economic expansion over the past decade, the state government has accumulated a rainy day fund approaching $3 billion -- nearly 14% of Oregons general fund.

That should cushion the blow to the state and keep more public employees on the job, providing a more stable foundation for Oregons economy whenever it begins to rebound.

-- 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 Syrian regime insists that there are no cases of coronavirus in Syria, however a number of Pakistanis, travelling from Syria, have tested positive reports Alsouria Net.

The Assad regime Health Ministry continue to deny the presence of the coronavirus in the country, despite cases being found in Pakistanis who had travelled from Syria.

The health directorate in the Sind region in southern Pakistan said on Twitter on Tuesday that a case of the virus had been found in Karachi, which arrived from Syria via Qatar.

The directorate said on Monday that six cases were found reaching Karachi coming from Syria via Qatar.

This comes as the Assad regime continues to deny that coronavirus is present in Syria, as stated by Health Minister Nizar Yaziji.

Yaziji told SANA on Tuesday that, There are no coronavirus cases in Syria so far. He added that the ministry had taken, precautions and the necessary preventative measures at the border crossings and airport to confirm the health of people coming into the country.

Regarding the preparations, Yaziji said there were 1,126 health centers in Syria, and that there were isolation rooms in hospitals.

Despite the outbreak in most Arab and neighboring countries, the Assad regime has not yet announced any coronavirus cases.

The regime has taken several measures over the past two days, including suspending visits and trips to Iraq and Jordan, but not Lebanon.

In recent days, activists have said there are cases in Syria, but the Assad regime says the test came back negative.

The Director of General Laboratories at the Ministry of Health, Shibl Khoury, told SANA that the laboratories conducted tests for 40 suspected cases, but the tests proved that they were negative.

The Syrian Observatory said that the coronavirus had spread widely in the governorates of Damascus, Tartous, Lattakia and Homs in recent days, amid the regimes secrecy.

The Observatory said that the virus had led to dozens of infections and deaths, while others were placed in quarantine, pointing out that the Assad regime had circulated instructions to hospitals that there was a need to keep quiet and refrain from talking about the spread of the virus.

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.
Algeria on March 12 reportedly announced its first death from the novel coronavirus and another four new cases have also been confirmed, bringing the total in the country to 24. The Algerian health ministry also informed that the 25th case, who was the first registered in the country, concerned an Italian who tested positive in February but now has left Algeria. Furthermore, out of the four new cases, two are Algerian who had recently travelled to France.

According to reports, the other three cases are now being treated in a hospital in Blida area, southwest of Algiers. The Algerian health ministry has reportedly urged people to defer their trips to virus-hit countries. The ministry has also asked Algerian returning from those countries to postpone 'family visits unless absolutely necessary'.

READ: MEA Advises Against IPL 'at This Time'; Leaves Decision To Organisers, Amid Coronavirus

READ: Coronavirus: Quarantined US Congressman's Tweet On Life And Death Triggers Memes

'Controllable Pandemic'

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus as a global pandemic after the virus spread to more than 100 countries, resulting in the deaths of more than 4,500 people worldwide. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom further even urged all nations to get very serious over the issue and take all necessary measures to contain the virus from spreading at this rate. Tedros said, that the word "Pandemic" cannot be used lightly or carelessly due to its strong connotation.

READ: Poland Confirms First Coronavirus Death

However, Tedros also said that the coronavirus outbreak is a controllable pandemic. According to a statement released by the World Health Organisation, Tedros outlined two main reasons as to why the decision was taken to describe the epidemic as a pandemic. Tedros said that one reason was the speed and scale of transmission and the others was because "countries are not approaching this threat with the level of political commitment needed to control it".

READ: Kashmir University Suspends Classes Till March 31 In View Of Coronavirus Pandemic

READ: Coronavirus In Spain: Real Madrid Football And Basketball Teams Placed In Quarantine
"California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) is grateful for the support from Optimum Seismic Chief Operating Officer Ali Sahabi. His generous sponsorship for the 11th annual Leadership Education & Advocacy Days (LEAD) Summit provides an opportunity for students, community members and faculty to advocate for access to education and higher education," said Robert J. Nava, vice president for University Advancement.

"We are fortunate to have Ali Sahabi as a special friend of CSUSB whose long-time personal commitment and support has focused on increasing the number of Mexican American and Latino students who aspire to attend college," adds Nava. "His continued philanthropy in support of the Latino community and other communities of color sets an example of best practice in bringing people together for the common good."

"Optimum Seismic is strongly committed to advancing educational opportunities for students from all backgrounds in many disciplines, and we are very pleased to support the excellent LEAD program at California State University San Bernardino," says Sahabi.

LEAD works to attain educational equity and achievement by encouraging Latino students to attending college and beyond. Positive educational outcomes in college and beyond by Latino students directly impacts the competitive strengths of the nation.

In recent decades, Latinos have emerged as the largest minority in the nation, with majority populations in many states and regions, and in some cases, the majority demographic among school-age children.

To address these critical issues, and to ensure a strong future, the LEAD organization at California State University, San Bernardino houses several national and international projects that provide a means to maximize the promotion, outreach and relations with key audiences.

About Optimum Seismic

The Optimum Seismic team has been making California cities safer since 1984 by providing full-service seismic retrofit engineering and construction services on multifamily residential, commercial and industrial buildings throughout the state. Optimum experts have completed more than 3,000 projects. Optimum Seismic's earthquake retrofit services include work on soft-story multifamily apartment buildings, unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings and tilt-up, non-ductile concrete and steel moment frame commercial buildings. For information, contact Optimum Seismic at (323) 678-4686 or visit OptimumSeismic.com.

Contact:

Andrea Aguilar

Optimum Seismic

323.605.0312

[email protected]

SOURCE Optimum Seismic, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.optimumseismic.com


AUSTIN, Texas, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SmallCapVoice.com (SCV), Inc. and International Spirits & Wellness Holdings, Inc. soon to be ISW Holdings, Inc., (OTC: ISWH) (ISWH or the Company), an emerging diversified leader in the health and wellness space, announced that Alonzo Pierce, President of ISW Holdings, Inc., is featured in a new audio interview at SmallCapVoice.com.



The interview can be heard at: https://www.smallcapvoice.com/international-spirits-wellness-iswh/

Alonzo Pierce called in to SmallCapVoice.com to go over the business model and the markets that his Company operates in. In addition, he discussed the upcoming corporate name change to ISW Holdings, Inc., the plans to up-list its shares onto the OTC.QB exchange, his Companys work in the home healthcare market that currently services several major cities in Texas, including Houston, San Antonio, and El Paso. ISWH has now begun the process of establishing home healthcare operations in Nevada (Las Vegas and Reno), New Mexico (Santa Fe), Arizona (Phoenix), and Florida (The Villages). Pierce delivers a personal message of gratitude and encouragement to his shareholders making this interview a must listen.

Pierce stated, We could not be happier with how 2020 is playing out for us. The quarter to quarter growth and recently announced expansion into New Mexico is proof of that and why we were so excited to be speaking with SmallCapVoice.com. We are extremely optimistic about our future with the foundation we have built. Once again, we are thankful for the opportunity to share our story with our shareholders and the SmallCapVoice.com listening audience.

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.

About SmallCapVoice.com, Inc.

SmallCapVoice.com, Inc. is a recognized corporate investor relations firm, with clients nationwide, known for its ability to help emerging growth companies, small cap and micro-cap stocks build a following among retail and institutional investors. SmallCapVoice.com utilizes its stock newsletter to feature its daily stock picks, podcasts, as well as its clients' financial news releases. SmallCapVoice.com also offers individual investors all the tools they need to make informed decisions about the stocks in which they are interested. Tools like stock charts, stock alerts, and Company Information Sheets can assist with investing in stocks that are traded on the OTC BB and Pink Sheets. To learn more about SmallCapVoice.com and its services, please visit https://www.smallcapvoice.com/small-cap-stock-otc-investor-relations-financial-public-relations/

Socialize with SmallCapVoice and their clients at;

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SmallCapVoice/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/smallcapvoice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallcapvoice/

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

For SmallCapVoice.com:

ssmith@smallcapvoice.com

512-267-2430

SOURCE: SmallCapVoice.com
In any normal week, pensioner PJ Gallagher would take the bus from his home in Baldoyle into Dublin city centre three or four times. Once in town, he does the shopping, runs a few errands or meets up with a few friends. But the threat posed by COVID-19 means that his usual routine is now a thing of the past.

"Until all this is over, I'll only go once or twice a week," says the 72-year-old, who does not own a car. Although he will miss his outings, PJ has diabetes, and recognises that because of his age and his medical condition, he is at a greatly increased risk of developing complications should he contract the virus.

His trips to town aren't the only thing that will change. PJ, a retired health sector worker, is also introducing changes to his local Men's Group meetings, of which he is chair - from now on, members will have to sit two metres apart, in compliance with public health safety recommendations. And PJ himself is washing his hands seven or eight times a day, just to be on the safe side.

As one of the nation's nearly 700,000 pensioners, PJ is part of a cohort who are at increased risk of complications from the virus. We know that the risk increases the older you are, and medical conditions like heart disease, lung problems and diabetes - which are all common in the elderly - also increase your risk of becoming seriously ill. Although there is no official advice to do so yet, many over-70s are considering self-isolating, or at the very least, minimising contact with other people. While keeping well is of course the priority, there are growing concerns about the impact of isolation on our elderly community.

Octogenarian Joan Harrington rarely misses her weekly dancing and crafts clubs, and is a regular Mass-goer. However, the mother-of-five is now pulling back for fear of contracting the potentially deadly coronavirus. Joan has an underlying health condition, which further heightens her risk. "I usually go to my crafts club on a Thursday morning, and every Monday afternoon I attend a social club for dancing and singing," says Joan, who lives in the Cork suburb of Bishopstown:

"However, I have a blood condition which means I'm more at risk of the coronavirus than someone who's healthy. I didn't go to the social club at all this week because of the coronavirus, because it involves dancing, so there is some physical contact and as well as that you're in a room with 19 or 20 people.

"The chances of getting infected could be relatively high. I didn't go to Mass on Sunday for the same reason, and I won't be going to my clubs or to Mass for a few weeks now. I wouldn't stay away from my grandchildren, but if they call to see me I will be asking them to wash their hands correctly."

She will miss her regular outings, she says, particularly the two-hour Monday social session, which she's enjoyed for several years.

Expand Close Joan Harrington has also limited her activities due to Covid-19. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision / Facebook

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Whatsapp Joan Harrington has also limited her activities due to Covid-19. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Celine Clarke of Age Action, the support group for older people, says that some pensioners are pulling back from group events like local history talks or classes in tai chi, stress management and digital literacy.

Age Action is "anxious to ensure that older people do not become isolated," says Clarke, who adds that the organisation is encouraging people to make contact with an older person, particularly those with health issues or disabilities and if appropriate, link them in with local support services.

"Check if they need any errands run and that they have what they need," she urges, adding that it is also important to provide seniors with the official information about how to protect themselves, supply telephone numbers they can call and simply talk through the situation.

The fact that some older people are choosing to temporarily stay away from regular social activities is behind last Monday's decision by elder support agency Alone, in conjunction with the Department of Health and the HSE, to launch a support line (0818-222024) for people to call. CEO Sean Moynihan says it's a source not just for coronavirus-related health information but an important touch-point for social contact.

"Callers get the reassurance they need to deal with the anxieties that are coming up," he observes, adding that he believes that as the incidence of coronavirus increases around the world, there is a growing tendency for older people to stay indoors:

"We're getting calls from people trying to work out the best thing to do. We're giving out advice and emotional support," he said, adding that "if things change" and the situation worsens significantly Alone will ensure older people have access to food, medication and any other supports they may need.

"We can arrange to ring someone every day for a few weeks - we have 2,500 volunteers who visit and support and we have phone services in place to help combat isolation and loneliness. It's important to remember that the number of people who have Covid-19 in this country is very low, so we have not stopped our volunteers from visiting or staff from giving support, and neither have the other agencies.

"This is about solidarity and people working together. We will be able to respond to old people if they need extra social support," he said, adding that while younger adults should be conscious of following public safety advice, they should reach out to older people in need of supports. The public health advice currently does not advice against visiting others in the community, he added.

Although retired school principal Noreen Minihan is continuing with her work across the range of community activities with which she is involved, she has abandoned her usual practice of shaking hands and hugging people, is washing her hands assiduously, and for the first time in decades, will not be participating in her local St Patrick's Day parade.

President and secretary of the local Tidy Towns group, Noreen, who is in her eighties, runs weekly fundraising bingo and lottery nights for local causes, and acts as chairperson of the board of management of Scoil na mBuachailli in Clonakilty, where she lives. On top of that she attends daily Mass and she trains and supervises the church's pool of 70 altar servers from four local parish schools.

She says the threat of the virus has suddenly become very real. "This week it has really come home; it has come to Ireland. Our local St Patrick's Day parade in which the Tidy Towns participates, has been cancelled and so we'll not be participating.

"As of now I'm not really thinking of changing my routine, but I am being very careful about not shaking hands or hugging people the way I normally do.

"They say you should wash your hands for as long as it would take you to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice - and I'm doing this several times a day.

"I'm taking the recommended precautionary behaviours very seriously. My sons have also warned me to stock up on pasta, rice, soups and frozen foods in case we are all asked by the government to stay indoors and not to interact outside at all."

The advent of coronavirus has discouraged mother-of-10 adult children, Eileen Kingston, a resident of the nearby picturesque Inchydoney Island, from making her usual regular visits to friends and neighbours with compromised immune systems. For now, Eileen is continuing her work as a member of the board of Clonakilty Community College, the Inchydoney Lifeboat committee and her local residents' group, but the 78-year-old is increasingly cautious about social interaction and has decided not to meet with her youngest grandchildren for the time being.

"I am currently avoiding visiting friends or neighbours who have compromised immune systems. I am staying in contact with them via the telephone and social media. I'm also keeping my distance from people generally in terms of shaking hands or kissing people and I've just cancelled a planned visit to see my youngest grandchildren. I will also be avoiding large social gatherings from now on."
This is a man of advanced years.

Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister Viktor Liashko has said another Ukrainian was hospitalized with suspected coronavirus.

"When we went to the briefing, we were informed about one person who had arrived from Poland. He's suspected of being infected, he already has pneumonia," he said at a briefing on Thursday, the RBC-Ukraine media outlet said.

Read alsoCoronavirus: Ukraine announces nationwide quarantine as prevention measure

According to Liashko, the doctors have already taken samples for testing.

"This is a man of advanced years, a risk group. This is a new suspicion, the most recent... and most likely it will be a case of coronavirus disease," he added.

As UNIAN reported earlier, on March 3, the first case of coronavirus infection was confirmed in Ukraine's Chernivtsi. The patient arrived from Italy, the country with the fastest pace of coronavirus spread outside China to date.

The man was hospitalized, while his wife, who had also traveled along with the Chernivtsi-based man, was also admitted to a hospital a few days later after a short period of isolation at home.

The woman has no symptoms of coronavirus, health officials report.

On March 11, the Cabinet of Ministers approved restrictive measures amid the Covid-19 coronavirus threat to prevent the disease from spreading. Measures include a three-week lockdown of all educational institutions.
MADRID, March 12 (Reuters) - Spain's cabinet has approved the creation of a 2.8 billion euro aid package to help regional authorities mitigate the economic impact from coronavirus, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday.

Speaking after an extraordinary cabinet meeting, Sanchez also announced a 1 billion euro contribution to the health ministry's budget, as well as 14 billion euros in liquidity for small and medium companies.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro, Clara-Laeila Laudette; Writing by Nathan Allen; Editing by Jesus Aguado)
A man wearing a mask to protect against the spread of coronavirus walks past flower sellers (Brian Lawless/PA)

The UK has moved onto the next stage of its response to the coronavirus outbreak as experts and politicians accepted it could no longer be contained.

The shift, which could see restrictions imposed in an effort to delay the spread of the disease, was confirmed by Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon following a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee chaired by Boris Johnson.

The move came as two more deaths were announced in British hospitals and the number of people who had tested positive for coronavirus reached almost 600.

(PA Graphics)

Ten people have now died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19 and 596 people are known to have contracted the virus.

The latest deaths were of an 89-year-old at Charing Cross Hospital in London and a woman in her sixties at Queens Hospital in Romford. Both had underlying health conditions.

Ms Sturgeon said: The decision has been taken that we have now moved from a contain phase into the delay phase where the objective is to seek to slow down the spread of the virus, to reduce the numbers who will be infected at the peak, the number infected at any one time.

From Friday, anyone with symptoms indicative of coronavirus should self-isolate for seven days, she said.

(PA Graphics)

From Monday, mass gatherings in Scotland are set to be restricted as Ms Sturgeon said it is inappropriate that we continue as normal.

She acknowledged the move, which will apply to some events involving crowds of 500 or more, will not have a significant impact on the spread of the virus but it will ease pressure on frontline emergency services.

It comes as Ireland announced the closure of schools and tourist attractions until the end of the month.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said schools, colleges and childcare facilities will close until March 29 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, which is now regarded as a global pandemic.

Museums, galleries and other tourist destinations will also close as a result of the action.

Together, we can slow the virus in its tracks and push it back.

Acting together, as one nation, we can save many lives. Our economy will suffer. It will bounce back. Lost time in school or college will be recovered. In time, our lives will go back to normal.  Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) March 12, 2020

Mr Varadkar said: I know that some of this is coming as a real shock and it is going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives.

I know that I am asking people to make enormous sacrifices. Were doing it for each other.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in the Republic stands at 43 and there has been one death.

The developments came as:

 The FTSE 100 lost more than 10% of its value, the biggest intraday fall since the 2008 financial crisis, with nearly 150 billion wiped off Londons top index

 Princess Cruises said it will keep its 18 cruise ships in dock for the next two months as it deals with the global spread of coronavirus

 Hollywood star Tom Hanks announced he and wife Rita Wilson have been diagnosed with coronavirus

 Barchester Care Homes, which runs more than 200 homes in the UK, sent a letter to residents, patients and visitors saying it was stopping routine visits to its homes, although it later said it meant visits should be minimised.

 Twitter informed all staff globally they must work from home as the social media platform heightened its response to the coronavirus outbreak

 A paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service tested positive for coronavirus

 Disney cancelled the red carpet for the European premiere of the live action version of Mulan in an abundance of caution over the outbreak of coronavirus

Meanwhile, the UKs chief medical officers and officials from the General Medical Council and NHS England wrote to doctors saying they may need to work outside their usual area of expertise and in unfamiliar circumstances as they deal with a very abnormal emergency situation in the peak of an epidemic.

The letter said GP practices, hospitals, trusts and health boards should support doctors as clinicians may need to depart, possibly significantly, from established procedure in order to care for patients in the highly challenging but time-bound circumstances of the peak of an epidemic.

As COVID-19 puts pressure on services doctors will have to work differently for their patients. The UK CMOs, medical director NHS, Royal Colleges and GMC are clear that in emergencies doctors must be supported to work in new and unfamiliar ways. This letter is for all doctors. pic.twitter.com/jDVvZR0iLs  Professor Chris Whitty (@CMO_England) March 12, 2020

In Washington, Donald Trump dramatically escalated the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, slapping a travel ban on continental Europe.

The suspension of travel between the United States and Europe, excluding the UK and Ireland, will last for 30 days starting on Friday and has been widely criticised.

Within the Government a Cabinet minister, who has not been named, was self-isolating while awaiting a test result after coming into contact with health minister Nadine Dorries.

Ms Dorries is self-isolating at home after being diagnosed with the illness.

Fellow health minister Edward Argar is also self-isolating at home as a precaution after having lunch with Ms Dorries on Thursday, the day she started to feel unwell.

In a sign of increased concern about the virus, data published on Thursday suggests the NHS 111 system is coming under increasing pressure.

There were 1.6 million calls to NHS 111 in England in February, an average of 56,000 a day.

This is up from 1.4 million calls in February 2019, which was an average of 50,000 a day.

Only 70% of calls were answered within 60 seconds, the lowest for any calendar month on record, and down from 74% in February 2019.

The proportion of calls abandoned after waiting longer than 30 seconds was 8%, up from 5% in February 2019.
President Donald Trump has said that everyone who wants to get tested for the coronavirus can  but thats just not the case in New York.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said several times since the coronavirus outbreak began that he wants the state to process 1,000 tests per day but it hasnt been able to meet that goal yet. On Sunday, Cuomo slammed the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for not giving private labs within the state the clearance to test for the virus. However, the governor announced on Wednesday that 28 private labs throughout the state will soon be able to test for the virus, increasing the states testing capacity. At a press conference, Cuomo said that the state is continuing to prioritize ramping up testing capacity because the more people you identify as having the virus, the better you can contain it.

New York Citys public health laboratory is currently only able to process samples for 60 people each day, according to Dr. Oxiris Barbot, the citys health commissioner  though she hopes theyll soon be able to bump that number up to 100. Despite the citys limited testing capabilities, Mayor Bill de Blasio has been urging the citys residents to pursue testing as quickly as possible. So, we want to keep telling parents, keep telling school personnel  get tested immediately, the mayor has said. That is the ballgame. So, were continuing to pump out that message.

However, those who suspect that they may have contracted the virus are being turned away from doctors and hospitals, The New York Times reports, as tests are being rationed for only the sickest and most vulnerable patients. Given that we have now crossed into community spread, its not a good use of scarce testing resources to test thousands of people who are asymptomatic just because they were in the same room of someone who tested positive, City Councilman Mark Levine told the Times.

Many individuals have probably already contracted the virus but are either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms, which means they dont necessarily meet the CDCs testing criteria. In order to qualify for the coronavirus test, individuals need to have either a fever, acute respiratory symptoms such as coughing or difficulty breathing, have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus or have travelled to one of the most affected areas such as Italy, China, Iran, and so on.

But New York isnt the only state coming up against testing issues. Public health labs all over the country are concerned that theyll soon run out of chemicals and materials required to test for the virus. When they do the retrospective on this one, they are going to say, 'Why did it take the United States so long to bring up the testing capacity?' Cuomo said on the TODAY" show, Wednesday. China did something like 200,000 tests per day. South Korea did about 15,000 tests per day. The United States has only done about 5,000 tests to date.

Without testing people its hard to know whats working and what isnt, as well as what measures should or need to be taken to prevent further spread of the virus, which is part of what makes testing paramount to fighting the virus.

South Korea has been especially proactive when it comes to testing and is currently testing around 20,000 people per day and has even launched drive-through testing areas to screen as many people as possible. South Koreas death rate is currently .07%. The U.S., has only tested about 3,800 people across the country to date and as of March 6 had a 6% death rate, which probably indicates that many Americans with coronavirus but less severe symptoms havent been tested. Some suspect that South Koreas extensive testing has been key to keeping its death toll at a minimum.

"I think that early patient detection with accurate tests followed by isolation can lower the mortality rate and prevent the virus from spreading," Professor Gye Cheol Kwon, chairman of the Laboratory Medicine Foundation a genomic testing company, told the BBC. "To learn from the past (Middle East Respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2015) and prepare systems in advance that might be the true power to overcome this new kind of disaster."
Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger emphasized the fact that, as of today, there are no positive reports of the COVID-19 virus (known as the coronavirus) in Hamilton County.





"We suspect that some time in the future, that won't be the case and we will have a case in Hamilton County." "I said before that we would only have this conference in the event that we had a positive result. We do not have a positive confirmation on anyone with a COVID-19 virus," said Mayor Coppinger."We suspect that some time in the future, that won't be the case and we will have a case in Hamilton County."





"At that time, we will call you back together and give you as much detail as we can. That information information comes to us through the Tennessee Department of Health, which is in constant contact with our local health department on a daily basis."





Nakia Towns Edwards, representative for the school system, said that Hamilton County schools have been suspended from March 16 through March 20, and that the school system was discussing moving spring break from April to March 23 through 27. She said learning packets have been prepared with a week and a half's worth of material for students to go through.





Ms. Towns Edwards also said that while the salaried teachers will not be affected salary-wise, the school board was looking into how to financially assist hourly employees during this time.





Hamilton County Administrator of Public Health Becky Barnes urged residents to do as much as they could to avoid the virus by following a few steps.





"Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water is unavailable," said Ms. Barnes. "Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Stay home when you are sick, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing with your elbow or a tissue, which you should throw away immediately. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects. And I would add, please cooperate completely with public health with any contact tracing, isolation, or quarantining."
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

New Delhi: 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 24 February, 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 24 February when he had stepped out to buy milk.

A total of 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.
Behind closed doors, Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of the US Congress and Supreme Court, informed the senate staff that he expects a staggering 70 to 150 million people in the United States to become infected with COVID-19, according to NBC.

In Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stated a similar figure, that up to 70 percent of Germany, some 58 million people, could become infected.

The report from NBC came amidst data showing a sharp increase in total cases worldwide to at least 126,000 and more than 4,600 deathsa 50 percent increase in new cases internationally, compared to a 30 percent increase the previous day. The number of cases outside of China has increased 13-fold in the past two weeks to more than 40,000, and the number of countries where infection has been reported has tripled.

At the current rate, there will be a million cases outside of China by the end of this month and one million cases in the United States alone sometime during the second week of April.

Monahans comments were made public just hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) formally declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and cited alarming levels of inaction by governments to prevent the spread. At the same time, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that it wasnt just some countries lacked capacity or resources but that [s]ome countries are struggling with a lack of resolve.

Judie Shape, center, who has tested positive for the coronavirus, blows a kiss to her son-in-law, Michael Spencer, left, as Shape's daughter, Lori Spencer, right, looks on, Wednesday, March 11, 2020, as they visit on the phone and look at each other through a window at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., near Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

This was seen most clearly during US President Trumps prime time presidential address last night. During his remarks, Trump, visibly rattled, announced no new measures to fight the expanding health crisis. He instead invoked a reactionary ban on all travel from Europe for 30 days, excluding the United Kingdom, as well as using emergency powers to provide economic relief to small businesses and large corporations.

In a comment directly contradicting Monahan, Trump reasserted his lie that for the vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low. At the same time, the conflicting stances between the claims of the president and the admission by a top US official that nearly half the country might fall victim to the pandemic highlights the paralysis of the Trump administration and the entire political establishment in the face of the most perilous public health crisis since the Spanish flu in 1918.

In what presumably was an attempt to provide a silver lining to the congressional staffers, Monahan reportedly touted that 80 percent of those who contract the virus will recover. While there are so far no reports indicating what he thinks will happen to the other 20 percent of COVID-19 patients, the virus progression through China and internationally gives some indication.

At the height of the epidemic in Wuhan, during which the health care system essentially collapsed in the face of several thousand cases, the mortality rate sharply spiked. In the US, a similar progression, if aggressive containment measures are not instituted, will result in millions dead.

The chief cause of the spike in Wuhan was not the virus itself, but the lack of available medical equipment and personnel to provide care for critically sick patients. Data collected since January indicates that somewhere between 15 and 20 percent of coronavirus patients suffer from severe respiratory problems that require an intensive care unit, oxygen or both, in order to give their own bodys immune system time to fight off the disease.

As hospitals in Wuhan were flooded with those ill or worried that they were ill, it became virtually impossible for those with a severe case of COVID-19 to receive the necessary medical assistance to survive. They ultimately suffocated, gasping for breath as their airways steadily closed.

At the same time, as has been seen in China as well as in South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong, strict testing, monitoring and quarantine measures can effectively halt the spread of the virus. In China, the epicenter of the virus, the number of new cases has continued to be under 100 for several days. In South Korea, the total mortality rate is less than one percent, despite having to deal with almost 8,000 total cases.

Without immediate and far-reaching measures to curb the spread of the infection, the United States will face a catastrophic scenario.

Even if the quarantine measures implemented in China were imposed on the US population today, the number of infected would likely rise to between 150,000 and 200,000 by early April. Upwards of 30,000 will require serious medical intervention in order to live. There are not enough hospital beds in the country to provide life-saving care for such a number of critical cases, much less the millions predicted by Monahan.

While the United States was not explicitly named, the total inability of the US health care system to meet the demands of the coronavirus were spelled out near the end of yesterdays WHO briefing.

Executive Director Dr. Michael Ryan stated: Some countries clearly, and youve seen this through the infection of health workers, have not yet got in place necessary measures to stop infections transmitting. Our hospital systems are designed to deliver at 99 percent efficiency. They dont have any space to deliver more.

This is most true in the United States, where decades of for-profit health care has resulted in the provision of the bare minimum of empty hospital beds, as well as forcing doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to work longer and longer shifts.

The indifference towards the lives of the American and international population expressed by Trump, Merkel and every representative of the worlds ruling elites is not incompetence, but political criminality. Like every major crisis, the financial aristocracy sees this as an opportunity to eliminate the surplus population and absorb billions of social security, Medicare, Medicaid and pension funds into their pockets.
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Thursday rejected the plea of promoters of challenging insolvency proceedings against the debt-ridden company. A two-member NCLAT bench headed by Chairman Justice S J Mukhopadhaya rejected the promoters plea contending "existence of dispute" with the creditors.

The appellate tribunal said that it "cannot sit in appeal on commercial wisdom of the Committee of Creditors", which has already approved Rs 650 crore bid from Adani Ports and SEZ (APSEZ).

The NCLAT was further informed that the Mumbai bench of the NCLT on March 5 has already approved the decision of lenders of to handover the company to following its directions. NCLAT observed that CoC had approved plan with 99.68 per cent voting share on September 19, 2019 and the promoters were highlighting a pre-existence of dispute' with the creditors

"However, as more than one and a half year has passed and as the matter remains pending since long because of the Appellant Vishal Vijay Kalantri', the Promoter' would have settled the matter with the creditors and also sought time, we are not inclined to determine the initial issue whether there was a pre-existing dispute' or not," said the NCLAT.

"Even if, the proceedings are quashed on the pre-existing dispute', as admittedly there is a default of payment and it will regenerate other proceedings, which is not desirable," it said.

The NCLAT said that the matter was already pending before the NCLT for passing the order.

"In the circumstances, we are not interfering with the impugned order dated March 25, 2018 passed by the NCLT Mumbai Bench and dismiss the appeals preferred by Vishal Vijay Kalantri' and declare both the appeals preferred by as infructuous," it said.

On March 25, 2018 NCLT had directed to initiate corporate insolvency resolution process' and number of claims were filed by different financial creditors' and the operational creditors, amounting to Rs 3,000 crore.

Earlier, NCLAT while hearing the plea of the promoters and suspended directors of the company had given a go ahead to NCLT to decide over the bid but had said that the outcome would be subject to its final order. The NCLAT had directed the CoC to approve a resolution plan and also to evaluate the proposal submitted by its promoters.

went into insolvency proceedings in 2018 after the Mumbai bench of the NCLT allowed a recovery plea by DBM Geotechnics and Constructions Pvt Ltd, one of its operational creditors, for non-payment of dues.
A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide for the establishment of State Police and to ensure effective community policing in Nigeria and for other related matters. Surajudeen Ajibola read
Getting along with ones in-laws can play a big part in any marriage but its never been a concern for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Even before she and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex married in May 2018, Meghan has been on good terms with Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall too.

The Duchess of Sussex and Charles have been seen at numerous official engagements in good spirits together. Ahead, check out four photos of Meghan and Charles that show just how well they get along.

Prince Charles walked Meghan Markle down the aisle at her and Prince Harrys royal wedding

Charles walked Meghan down the aisle (below) at her and Harrys royal wedding on May 19, 2018. Meghan, following a series of events  some of which played out in public  with her father, Thomas Markle, neared her wedding day without anyone to walk her down the aisle.

Prince Charles walks Meghan Markle down the aisle at her and Prince Harrys royal wedding on May 19, 2018 | Jonathan Brady  WPA Pool/Getty Images

When asked to step in, the Prince of Wales didnt hesitate. Such a kind gesture shows Charles really wanted to do whatever he could to welcome Meghan into the family.

They chatted at the Royal Ascot in 2018

On the first day of the Royal Ascot on June 19, 2018, just one month after Meghan officially became a member of the British royal family, she attended the event with the Duke of Sussex.

During the days festivities, photographers caught royals mingling. Amongst them were the Duke and Duchess of Sussex chatting with Charles (below). Meghan can be seen smiling at her father-in-law, who has his back to the camera. Obscured by his top hat is Harry.

Meghan Markle stands with Prince Harry and Prince Charles at Day 1 of the Royal Ascot on June 19, 2018 | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

We dont know what they were discussing but by looks of Meghans warm smile, the conversation proved to be pleasant.

They shared a laugh together

As Meghans first official event as a full-fledged member of the British royal family just three days after marrying Harry, she attended the Prince of Wales 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration on May 22, 2018.

While the Duke of Sussex gave a touching speech about his father, a bee happened to come a little too close for comfort, causing a funny but brief interruption. Harry made a joke about it to the crowd, which elicited laughter not only from them but Camilla, Meghan, and Charles too (below).

Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles, and Meghan Markle on May 22, 2018 at the Prince of Wales 70th Birthday Patronage Celebration | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

Watching the moment now, it appears Meghan felt relaxed and comfortable around her new in-laws, especially when she gracefully explained what happened to Prince Charles.

Prince Charles and Meghan Markle had a friendly conversation on Commonwealth Day in 2019

Although the atmosphere at the 2020 Commonwealth Day service appeared to be full of tension, the same scene just a year earlier looked very different.

At the same event on March 11, 2019, Meghan, then pregnant with her and Harrys son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, was all smiles talking with Prince Charles as she cradled her baby bump (below). The two had the moment to themselves because just out of the frame stood Harry and his brother, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Meghan Markle and Prince Charles talk while attending the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, 2019 | RICHARD POHLE/AFP via Getty Images

Clearly, Prince Charles and Meghan get along well with each other. After all, Meghan is credited with bringing Charles closer to Harry. And, according to reports, the Prince of Wales gave his daughter-in-law the nickname Tungsten, referring to a type of metal known for its strength.

While Prince Charles might currently be upset with Harry and Meghan for not giving him much notice before they publicly announced their decision to step down as senior members of the British royal family, its evident he has a strong bond with not only Harry but with Meghan too.


Q. If we lease a car in Florida and are charged taxes on a monthly basis, do we have to pay taxes on the car to New Jersey, which is our home state?

 Driver

A. Its a good question.

New Jersey assesses a tax when you purchase certain goods or services.

This tax is called the sales tax, said Bernie Kiely, a certified financial planner and certified public accountant with Kiely Capital Management in Morristown.

Forty-four other states also have sales taxes, he said. Only Alaska, Delaware. Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon do not.

Want more personal finance news? Enter your email address to be the first to know:

New Jersey also has a use tax, he said.

This tax is assessed on goods or services obtained out of state that were not subject to any sales tax.

The use tax applies if you use the goods or services in New Jersey, Kiely said. You report and pay New Jerseys use tax on your NJ-1040 income tax return.

Enter out-of-state purchases on worksheet K: Use Tax Calculation, he said.

In your question you state that you are charged Florida taxes on a monthly basis when you make your auto lease payments.

Because you are paying sales tax to Florida, you are not required to pay New Jersey use tax, he said.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
World Bank amplifies accountability to communities affected by its projects

March 12,2020 | Source: ICIJ

The World Bank is beefing up its accountability to communities who say they were harmed by World Bank-funded projects.



The development lender will give new powers to its internal watchdog, the Inspection Panel, and create a parallel body to mediate grievances from local communities, the World Banks Board of Executive Directors announced on March 9.



The reforms adopted by the bank include:



-- Empowering the Inspection Panel to monitor whether bank management delivers promised assistance to communities that the Panel finds to be harmed by projects that violate the banks social and environmental rules





-- Creating a Dispute Resolution Service that offers mediation to communities with grievances related to bank projects





-- Extending the time limit for communities to submit complaints to the Inspection Panel to 15 months after a projects closure.





The new policies seek to address the banks long-standing problems with protecting local communities living in the path of bank-funded development projects.



Between 2004 and 2013, an estimated 3.4 million people were physically or economically displaced by World Bank-financed development projects, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists revealed in its 2015 Evicted and Abandoned investigation. ICIJ discovered that the bank often failed to follow its own rules for resettling these communities and ensuring that they were protected from violent evictions and other human rights abuses.



Reports by the Inspection Panel provided crucial evidence of harm to communities, but ICIJ also found that the bank sometimes took little or no action to assist these communities even when the Panel reported serious breaches of the banks internal rules.



Last year, the United States Supreme Court stripped the World Bank of legal immunity in relation to its lending activities, allowing lawsuits against the bank by an Indian fishing community and Honduran palm oil workers to be heard in U.S. courts.

 2020  The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. All rights reserved.

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
Canada is set to welcome more than 1 million new immigrants over the next three years, with an annual intake that could reach as high as 390,000 in 2022.

On Tuesday, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino released the much anticipated multi-year immigration plan, which will see the country usher in as many as 1.14 million newcomers between 2020 and 2022.

Despite fears of a global recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto-based immigration policy analyst Kareem El-Assal said the high immigration intake is justified with more than 9 million Canadians reaching retirement age in the next decade.

We need to be proactive in immigration policies. New immigrants are not here just to fill immediate job vacancies. With baby boomers retiring in the next 10 years, we need to put ourselves in healthy economic standing by increasing the immigration level, said El-Assal, director of policy and digital strategy at CanadaVisa, an immigration website run by a Montreal-based law firm.

According to the plan, Canada will bring in about 341,000 newcomers this year, 351,000 in 2021 and 361,000 in 2022. The majority will come under one of the economic immigration streams, which make up about 58 per cent of the intake; followed by those sponsored by Canadians as spouses and parents/grandparents (about 26 per cent); with the remaining 16 per cent as refugees or on humanitarian grounds.

In response to the labour market needs of an aging population, especially in remote communities, Ottawa will also raise the annual intake of caregivers, agri-food workers and immigrants willing to settle in smaller communities in Canadas north, from 5,200 in 2020 to 9,500 in 2022.

However, the overall targets will remain the same for family-class immigration, meaning only 70,000 spouses and children and 21,000 parents and grandparents will be admitted in each of the next three years.

Mendicino said the plan strikes a balance between meeting Canadas economic needs and obligation to reunite families and shelter refugees in need of protection. The increased annual immigrant intake also allows him to turn a pilot project to attract immigrants to the Atlantic provinces into a permanent program.

Its vitally important that we continue to leverage immigration as a way of creating economic opportunity and growth, Mendicino told the Star in an interview. The vast majority of Canadians support immigration. My message to the doubters is to believe in immigration because it has proven to be a net positive to our economy and to our country.

Canada also slightly raised the number of refugees the federal government is sponsoring from 10,700 this year to 11,450, while the target for those sponsored by church and community groups remains unchanged at 20,000 a year.

Canada continues to demonstrate leadership at a critical time when refugee needs are growing worldwide, said Rema Jamous Imseis, the representative in Canada for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This is great news not only for the Canada of today, but also for future generations to come, as refugees make essential contributions to our countrys economy and our communities.

In 2019, Canada welcomed the highest number of new immigrants in more than a century last year, opening its doors to 341,180 people from 175 different countries, exceeding Ottawas initial target of 330,000. A whopping 45 per cent  or 153,340 newcomers  settled in Ontario, followed by British Columbia (50,845), Alberta (43,685) and Quebec (40,545).
New Delhi, March 12 : Amid fear of spread of coronavirus, Parliament on Thursday cancelled the visitors passes in general so as to avoid any contact with outsiders.

When asked about any proposal of adjourning the House, the Speaker said: "NO".

Speaker Om Birla was asked after he arrived in Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi did not comment on the issue. The cases in the country has crossed 60 with the largest jump in casesreported on Wednesday.
Iran said Thursday it has asked the IMF for its first loan in decades to combat a coronavirus outbreak that has claimed 429 lives and infected more than 10,000 people.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced the request on Twitter, calling on the International Monetary Fund to stand on the right side of history.

In a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Zarif also called for an end to US sanctions, which he said were undermining our efforts to fight the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran.

If Iran does get a loan from the IMF, where its arch foe the United States has a virtual veto on decisions, it would be its first since the early 1960s.-

News of the request came as Iran reported another 75 deaths from the illness  the highest single-day toll since the Islamic republic announced its first casualties last month.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Iran is one of the deadliest outside China, where the disease originated.

In his appeal for an IMF loan, Zarif cited a joint statement dated March 2 in which the IMF and World Bank said they would use our available instruments to the fullest extent possible, including emergency financing to help countries fight the virus.

Our central bank requested access to this facility immediately, Irans top diplomat tweeted.

Zarif said the IMF and its board should adhere to funds mandate, stand on right side of history and act responsibly.

Iran has not received assistance from the IMF since a standby credit issued between 1960 and 1962, according to the funds data.

According to the IMFs website, a Rapid Financial Instrument is available to all member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need.

 Economic impact 

In an Instagram post picked up by state news agency IRNA, Irans central bank governor Abdolnasser Hemmati claimed to have formally requested access to the RFI by letter on March 6.

Given the widespread prevalence of coronavirus in our country and the need to continue to take strong measures to prevent and cure (the disease), and to address its economic impact, Iran was asking for about $5 billion in assistance, Hemmati wrote.

The United States is currently pursuing a policy of maximum pressure aimed at crippling the finances of Irans government.

President Donald Trump launched the campaign in 2018 after unilaterally withdrawing the US from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposing sanctions on the Islamic republic.

In a separate tweet, Zarif slammed restrictions on access to medicine and equipment needed in the coronavirus fight, in a clear reference to the US sanctions.

Iranian care personnel are courageously battling #COVID19 on frontlines, he wrote.

Their efforts are stymied by vast shortages caused by restrictions on our peoples access to medicine/equipment.

His tweet was accompanied by a document listing Irans medical needs, including millions of face masks, gloves and coronavirus diagnostic kits.

In theory, humanitarian items are exempt from the US sanctions, but in reality banks tend to turn down transactions involving Iran to avoid being exposed to potential litigation.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday called for Iran to be given greater assistance in its fight to bring the outbreak under control.

Iran is doing its best We are trying to mobilise more support for Iran, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding the country needed more supplies.

Iran announced its first coronavirus deaths in the Shiite holy city of Qom on February 19.

It is yet to officially impose any lockdowns 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 movement.

SOURCE: AFP
Chennai: Kollywood superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday clarified that he has no aspirations to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and that he instead plans to appoint an educated youth who has compassion and self-respect.

However, other details regarding his entry to politics, such as the name of his upcoming party, or an estimated launch date, still remains in the dark.

The actor did not take any names either while talking of appointing someone else for the chief ministerial position.

With a two-leadership system for party and the government, the former would stay as the party chief and act as an opposition to highlight issues with the governance and would not even hesitate to remove the head of the government, if it fails to perform, he said.

His prospective party would focus on including a substantial amount of youngsters in the age group of below 45 years while the rest would comprise retired judges and IAS and IPS officials among others.

I myself would reach out to them and invite them (to join), the 69-year-old actor said.

In the first official press conference since December 31, 2017, when he announced to take the political plunge, he hadnt made any concrete statements regarding the party, but called for an uprising by youth, after which he would make his formal political entry.
[March 12, 2020] Foundry College Offers Forge Learning Platform to Educational Institutions

SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Foundry College, a new kind of college offering live, face-to-face classes in an online environment, today announced that it will begin offering its learning management technology platform, the Forge, and its innovative teaching methods as a managed service to educational institutions. Purpose-built for higher education, the Forge online classroom replicates and improves upon a physical classroom experience by engaging students in active learning, providing faculty with real-time data to support student learning, and facilitating a sense of community between students and facultysomething that asynchronous online learning platforms cannot do. Its becoming increasingly clear that live, face-to-face instruction in an online environment has a vital place in modern educationand not just due to recent global events, said Stephen M. Kosslyn, CEO and President of Foundry College. The Forge platform provides a better learning experience than is possible in asynchronous online courses. Both faculty and students actually feel as though they are sitting together in a classroom and engaging with the material and each other. Its the closest thing to 'being there' without being in the same physical space. Live video feeds for all participants means that students have direct access to the instructor and their classmates throughout classthey are part of a conversation, not passive recipients. The Forge uses cutting-edge forms of active learning to promote student success by engaging students dynamically with the lesson. A scrolling video grid allows all students to be seen on video and to engage with the professor by raising their hand, answering a question in the in-class chat window, or engaging with a poll that the professor has lanched. Faculty can also spotlight a student, moving them into position to address the full class. The nature of the platform guides and encourages instructors toward effective active learning methodseven if they were not previously aware of them.



A key feature of the Forge is that it can automatically create breakout groups of 2-8 students during class. The Forge uses data, both collected in real time (e.g., from an in-class quiz) and from the database (e.g., compilation of all prior quiz scores) to put students into breakout groups. Students can be automatically grouped together by comparable knowledge/abilities or by a range of knowledge/abilitiesdepending on what would be most useful for the particular activity. Faculty can also configure breakout groups by hand, if desired. Students can engage in debates, role-playing and other experiential learning in the breakout groupsall at the touch of a button. Faculty (and support staff) can monitor these student breakout groups via heat maps to gauge how much of some variable (e.g., talking, cursor engagement in the group document, etc.) is occurring in each group. Faculty can engage live with a single breakout group or all groups simultaneously to provide guidance, answer questions or make an announcement. The Forge back end also provides faculty and student support staff with useful data dashboards that note student attendance, engagement and progressionall in service of facilitating student learning and success.

I like that Foundry College classes are interactive, said Markela Harrington, a current student at Foundry College. I can raise my hand at any time and get immediate answers to questions and support from the professor. Harrington also enjoys the community aspect of the live online classes. The student community at Foundry College is great. I expected to learn new skills but I did not expect to meet a friendand now I have made several! Those interested in exploring Foundry Colleges platform, curriculum or pedagogyfor upcoming sessions of classes or orientation activitiesshould contact [email protected]. About Foundry College

Foundry College is a new kind of college that offers live, face-to-face classes in an online environment that promotes the community of a traditional classroom experience. Every class combines live, instructor-led lectures with small-group active learning sessions to ensure that new skills and knowledge are effectively integrated, retained, and can be put into immediate practice. Foundry Colleges proprietary learning management system, the Forge, can host up to 200 students and uses performance data to facilitate student learning and success. Created by a team led by Dr. Stephen M. Kosslyn, Foundry College launched in 2018 and is headquartered in San Francisco. www.foundrycollege.org. Press Contact: Jim Boyle Boyle Public Affairs [email protected] 571-213-3979

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BRISTOL, Va.  When The Sessions Hotel opens in downtown Bristol next month, it will be a member of the Marriotts upscale Tribute Portfolio hotels.

The $23 million Sessions is scheduled to open April 2 near the intersection of State Street and Commonwealth Avenue, according to developers Creative Boutique Hotels, a Virginia group comprised of Cornerstone Hospitality, MB Contractors and architect Hal Craddock.

It will offer 70 unique guest rooms, the Southern Craft restaurant and bar, Vision Salon and Day Spa, the Star Barbershop, The Rooftop Bar, Simply Grand music and event venue and the outdoor Music Lawn featuring a performance stage, according to a statement.

The restaurant held a soft opening Wednesday.

As we developed the project, we felt strongly that an affiliation would be important for the hotels success. We considered several affiliations, but the Marriott Tribute Portfolio felt most like the independent brand, style and culture of property we were creating, said Kimberly Christner, president and CEO of Cornerstone Hospitality.

Tribute Portfolio includes nearly 50 hotels in North and South America, Europe and Asia, according to the Marriott website.
New South Wales Disabilities Minister Gareth Ward had to be escorted back to his apartment twice by police after neighbours found him naked and wandering the streets in the middle of the night.

The Liberal MP for Kiama and Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, who is blind and has albinism, attempted to open the front door to the wrong apartment at his unit block in Potts Point at about 11.30pm on Wednesday.

Police found Mr Ward naked and confused late at night outside the unit block after he became 'disoriented' at home following surgery.

An hour later - after escorting Mr Ward inside - police were again called to the apartment following reports he was wandering around outside in his underwear.

New South Wales Disabilities Minister Gareth Ward had to be escorted back to his apartment twice by police after neighbours found him naked and wandering around in the middle of the night

The Liberal MP for Kiama, who is blind and has albinism, attempted to open the front door to the wrong apartment at his unit block in Potts Point at about 11.30pm on Wednesday. Pictured with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian

Mr Ward, 38, declined to be transported to hospital on both occasions after officers called paramedics because he 'appeared to be disoriented', NSW Police said in a statement.

'Given the man's state of confusion during the evening, officers attended about 7.30am today to discuss the incidents and advised the man to discuss further with his general practitioner,' a police spokesperson said on Thursday.

Mr Ward said he became disoriented on Wednesday night after being placed under general anaesthetic earlier that day for a medical procedure.

'Last night I became disorientated while at home,' he said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.

'I would like to thank emergency services for returning me to my residence safely.'

In 2017, Mr Ward said he was targeted by blackmailers after trying to arrange 'a normal massage' at his hotel in New York.

He said he opened his hotel room door to find two men who told him they were filming, were underage and wanted money.

'When it became clear that more was on offer, I asked them to leave and then they became aggressive demanding money,' he said at the time.

'The ordeal was frightening.'
School children, police, city officials and fellow veterans lined the streets to pay tribute to Nathaniel Marshall, a WWII vet who died without family.

Police discovered Marshalls body Feb. 9 during a well-being check, according to WCVB.

Police encouraged people to pay respects to Marshall at the Conley Funeral Home in Brockton, the news station reported. Police then escorted him to the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

Mr. Marshall lived alone and died alone," said a Brockton police sergeant, WCVB reported. We want to make sure that he isnt buried alone.

Police, firefighters, city officials, community members and fellow veterans came out to Conley Funeral Home in #Brockton this morning to pay tribute to Nathaniel Marshall, a WWII vet who died with no known family. pic.twitter.com/lI3Tk3sRRt  Marc Larocque (@Enterprise_Marc) March 12, 2020

Arnone Elementary school children are lining Belmont St for the funeral of WWII veteran Nathaniel Marshall Posted by The Enterprise of Brockton on Thursday, March 12, 2020

Related Content:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkey's export of steel to Turkmenistan has increased by more than 105 percent from January through February 2020, amounting to $13.3 million, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend.

In February 2020, Turkeys export of steel to Turkmenistan made up $9.9 million, which is 68.8 percent more compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry noted.

From January through February 2020, export of steel from Turkey to world markets dropped by 9.5 percent compared to the same period of the last year, amounting to $2.1 billion.

Turkeys steel export amounts to 7.4 percent of countrys total export for the reported period.

In February 2020 Turkey exported steel worth more than $1 billion to world markets, which is 15 percent less than in the same month of 2019.

Turkeys steel export share in the countrys total export made up 6.9 percent in February 2020.

In the last 12 months, i.e. from January through February 2020 Turkey has exported steel in the amount of $13.6 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:07:13|Editor: huaxia

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China, where the COVID-19 cases are trending downward, is lending a helping hand to the world's worst-hit countries, returning the kindness that they have offered when China was at its nadir in the fight against the novel coronavirus.



by Xinhua writers Xu Ruiqing, Yin Xiaosheng

HANGZHOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- As cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are trending downward in China, other countries now have a major battle on their hands.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 110 countries and regions had reported 118,326 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, including 37,371 cases outside China.

When the COVID-19 outbreak began in China, goodwill offers of support and medical supplies from foreign countries, international organizations and people around the world poured in to help the country combat the epidemic.

Now China is returning the favor.

CONTINUED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

China has been joining hands with the world to fight COVID-19 by donating medical supplies as well as sharing information and experience, among others.

Starting March 3, the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the National Health Commission and the Red Cross have held video conferences with health experts and government officials from Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Italy, and 10 Pacific island countries to share China's anti-epidemic experience.

China has 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.

A video screenshot shows supplies to be sent to Iran in east China's Shanghai, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua)

According to the National Health Commission, China has so far shared such epidemic prevention and treatment guidelines with more than 100 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations around the world.

More than 20 technical exchanges have been held between China and those countries and organizations through teleconferences and other means to share China's anti-epidemic experiences in a timely manner.

Meanwhile, since March 7, China has sent a number of teams consisting of voluntary medical experts to Iran, Iraq, and Italy to support local epidemic prevention and control.

China has also provided some countries with detection kits and donated anti-epidemic supplies through the Red Cross and other channels.

As of March 11, the Chinese government has donated 1.1 million masks and other medical materials to the Republic of Korea, a batch of detection kits, 5,000 sets of protective suits and 100,000 masks to Japan, and 5,000 detection kits and 250,000 masks to Iran, as well as 12,000 detection kits to Pakistan.

While holding a phone talk on March 10 with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that even though China still needs a large amount of medical supplies, China, despite its difficulties, stands ready to provide Italy with medical supplies and accelerate the export of supplies and equipment to meet Italy's urgent need.

Photo taken on March 5, 2020 shows a batch of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to be sent to Italy in Qingtian, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua)

"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," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a news briefing Wednesday.

"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."

GOODWILL GESTURES OF CHINESE PEOPLE

A cargo plane loaded with 3.86 million pieces of disposable masks, N95 respirators, goggles, latex gloves, and other protective clothing left east China's Zhejiang Province for Italy Wednesday to help overseas Chinese in Italy fight the novel coronavirus.

"Since the outbreak, overseas Chinese of Zhejiang origin have tried every means to purchase epidemic prevention materials and support their hometown to fight the epidemic," said Zhang Weiren, vice-chairman of the Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. "Overseas Chinese are now in difficulty, and their relatives in the motherland should give them the utmost support."

While holding a phone talk with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Tuesday, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said that the overseas Chinese living in Italy have played an active role in the fight against the epidemic, and Italy will continue to take full care of their health and safety.

On March 4, experts from Wuhan Tongji Hospital shared with doctors from Nicuarda Hospital in Milan, Italy, the experience of treating COVID-19 patients in Wuhan via video conference.

In the over one-hour exchange, Wuhan experts shared in detail the key points of prevention and control, the protective measures of medics and the Tongji treatment plan for patients.

Photo taken on March 1, 2020 shows medical supplies, including masks, gloves and protective suits, donated to Italy by Lishui City, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua)

In the meantime, Chinese non-governmental organizations are moving to help hard-hit regions across the world combat the epidemic.

The Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation have donated millions of masks and other medical supplies to hard-hit countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Iran.

"We have received tremendous help from many countries over the past month when we were in urgent need of supplies," said Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba in an open letter. "We've just been through this, and we know what we should do at the very moment."

On Wednesday, Ma said on the Chinese social media platform of Weibo that the two foundations will donate another 1.8 million masks and 100,000 testing reagents to Italy, Spain and some other European countries that have seen rising cases of COVID-19.

"It's lucky that our eWTP smart logistics hub at Liege Airport, Belgium, still operates well at this difficult time. More medical supplies can get to where people need them the most through this lifeline," Ma said.

Jack Ma Foundation has also allocated a scientific research fund of 100 million yuan (about 14.29 million U.S. dollars) to support Chinese and overseas research institutes to expedite the creation of a vaccine against COVID-19.

Alibaba Group announced that free access would be offered to its artificial intelligence computing power for public research institutions around the world to develop COVID-19 vaccines and new drugs.

Medical supplies donated to Piemonte of Italy are loaded up at Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 11, 2020. (Xinhua)

ONLINE EFFORTS

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise and spread around the world, China is also gearing up to offer online help for overseas Chinese.

Chinese embassies in Italy and Japan have opened free online medical consultation services at Alibaba Health to assist overseas Chinese.

East China's Zhejiang Province is home to over 2 million overseas Chinese all over the world, half of whom are in European countries.

On March 10, the internet hospital platform of Zhejiang launched health consultation services for overseas Chinese. Nearly 70 hospitals at the platform provide services for overseas Chinese in hard-hit countries, including psychological counseling assistance.

Zhejiang has also launched such services on China's social media platforms. Wencheng County has set up 24 WeChat groups to provide health consultation services to more than 10,000 overseas Chinese.

Chinese medical doctors have also reached out to help overseas Chinese that are stranded in European countries through WeChat counseling.

Zhao Hong, a doctor at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University in east China's Anhui Province, was invited to a WeChat group consisting of overseas Chinese from Anhui by her husband, who currently works at Anhui Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

A doctor provides online consultation service to overseas Chinese in Italy, at Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 8, 2020. (Xinhua)

"My husband asked me to share knowledge of the virus with and offer counseling to the stressed-out overseas Chinese who are trapped in Italy due to the epidemic," said Zhao.

After a brief self-introduction, Zhao spent two hours explaining the symptoms and course of the disease as well as the prevention and control measures. Despite the 7-hour time difference between China and Italy, Zhao answered everyone's question in the group with patience.

"Thank you so much for your information. It really reassured us," said a member of the group.

Zhao has been invited to two more WeChat groups composed of Chinese nationals in Belgium, continuing her spreading of virus-related information.

(Video reporters: Yin Xiaosheng, Li Tao, Wang Junlu, Zhang Xuan, Wei Yijun; video editor: Wei Yin)

(Xinhua reporters Qiu Lihua, Duan Jingjing, Liu Fangqiang also contributed to the report.)
Welcome to another week of financial learning. I had the privilege of engaging business students at Central University last year on how they could survive financially after school.

I would, therefore, like to reshare a few tips on how graduates can prepare themselves for the job market.

Many students always have this desire for a dream job after school.

Some dream of that bank work, accounting firm, well-furnished hospital, highly recognized International School to mention a few.

Others also work on their business proposals while in school for that big breakthrough.

Whichever path a student chooses to come with tough decisions and sacrifice.

Year on year, we have tons of graduates coming out of our tertiary institutions.

The Private and Public Universities, Technical Universities and training colleges churn out thousands of graduates yearly onto the working market.

The growing number of unemployed graduates in the country keeps on increasing day by day.

Security experts have labeled the growth of unemployed graduates as a security threat that needs to be addressed.

Out of frustration, many graduates' first point of call after school is to apply for further studies outside the country because there is no hope for them on the job market.

The above dark picture, unfortunately, is not peculiar to just Ghana and Africa.

It has become a global problem!

A report by Forbes in 2013 showed that Greece has the highest percentage of graduate unemployment standing at 19.4%, followed by Spain at 14.9%, Turkey at 7.7% to mention a few.

The unemployment rate in Ghana as estimated by Trading Economics is around 6.8% as of 2019.

Despite these damning statistics, students and graduates need to understand that the world is a global village now with technology driving success.

Graduates come into a world full of other job-seeking people.

Without any verifiable data gathered, I can confidently say that the least number of applicants one will possibly receive from an advertisement can range from 1,000 to 5,000.

Tertiary education especially University education has therefore gone beyond guaranteed job opportunities after school.

Students will have to start conditioning their minds while in school to either enrich their knowledge base beyond the classroom or come up with an exciting business proposal that can easily be funded after school.

University education has moved from just classroom teaching and learning to an avenue of social connectivity.

Business partners and potential employers can be found on campus.

Studying hard is very important and crucial to the final grade of the student. However, one's ability to knit ties and expand his or her social network is equally important on campus.

In effect, the average university student has only two options to focus on after school.

Be Employed Self Employed

If one decides to be employed, there are some basic things that you will need to know and perfect to be ripped for the job market.

COMMUNICATION AND PRESENTATION SKILLS FOR INTERVIEWS

Communication is part of our daily lives. We express our thought and ideas through communication.

According to Interview Success Formula Inc., it is one of the most basic skills needed in life and the most important during an interview. You can have the perfect resume and credentials, but if you are unable to communicate properly during your interview, you still will not be hired.

Research by NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) called Job Outlook 2011, in which employers were asked to rate the importance of certain skills/qualities when hiring job candidates, showed verbal communication as the most important one, followed by a strong work ethic, teamwork skills, analytical skills, and initiative.

A student, therefore, need to boost his communication skills whiles on campus with seminars, role-playing, and communication lessons, etc

ACQUIRING THE NECESSARY CERTIFICATES BESIDE YOUR DEGREE

It is okay to study banking, accounting, sociology, nursing, mathematics, physics, English to mention a few.

You are however going to compete with others who have that first degree in accounting in addition to Level 2 of ICA or ACCA.

Professional courses in banking, marketing, accounting, management, insurance, etc are very necessary. They add additional weight to the first-degree holder.

Other short courses and certificates are also very important.

These courses should be taken whiles on campus or on vacation.

This places you above your peers whiles having excellent communication skills.

BASIC INDUSTRY UNDERSTANDING

Having basic information about the industry you want to work in after school is an Achilles heel for most students.

It will surprise you to meet a banking and finance graduate who does not know the difference between Universal banks and the other classes of financial institutions.

This embarrassment should never be your portion.

Whiles on campus, take particular interest in whatever goes in and around the industry, you aspire to work in after school.

Employers perceive this industry information to be basic and hence, easily disqualify candidates who show gross ignorance!

PERSONAL GROOMING AND ETHICS

When you meet someone for the first time, they will make their minds up about you based upon your appearance, body language, smile, eye contact, stance and posture and how you sound.

Personal grooming has become essential in our daily life.

In todays competitive and modern business world, it is highly essential to adhere to professional appearance and grooming for the workplace and interviews.

A well-groomed individual stands out amongst the crowd.

Graduates need to acquire the basic skills to care for their skin and learn makeup tips to enhance their personal appearance.

Wear business suits in basic colors.

Always be neat and clean including your teeth, fingernails, face, hair and even your shoes.

Keep your pockets empty and as much as possible avoid tinkling coins or keys and bulges.

These are some basic grooming tips, which will be needed during the interview session and your working life.

DIVERSIFICATION OF IDEAS

In the introduction, I stressed the point that we live in a globally competitive world.

In a competitive world, you may not always be employed based on your field of study.

I always use myself as an example when I talk about the diversification of ideas.

I studied Sociology at the University of Ghana.

I took up a professional banking course with the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana at level 300.

By the time I graduated from the University of Ghana, I had a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Level 3 completed for the banking professional.

I had at this stage a deep knowledge about banking and human behavior.

This did not mean I had to settle on a banking job at all costs.

I applied to varied types of the industry because I believe I had more to offer than working in a financial I institution.

That is how diversification works.

There fact that you are studying, as an accountant does not mean your focus should just be with an audit or accounting firm.

You need to widen your scope of knowledge to other fields of study via articles, blogs, and short courses to mention few.

Beyond the points listed above, there are a lot that graduates can do to position themselves in the competitive job market.

I will tackle the second option of graduate survival in my next financial epistle.

I wish everyone a wonderful and memorable week!

Gratis!!!

My Profile

Patrick Baah Abankwa is a chartered banker with over 6 years experience in main stream banking having worked in various capacities. He is currently at the Branch Manager Position of his institution.

He has been a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana with a good membership standing since the year 2013.

He also holds EMBA and BA from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science, Technology, and the University of Ghana respectively.

Patrick is the originator of the daily epistle dubbed Savings Tip of the Day which has been running for over a year on WhatsApp and Facebook.

Patrick has also been teaching on the Topics Savings, Investment and Financial Independence for over 2 years and a research fellow for ILAPI Ghana. He runs a financial channel on Youtube by name Patrick TV Gh and has appeared a couple of times on the business segment of TV3 News 360.

Patrick is into youth facilitation and counseling. He can be contacted via [email protected]

Follow Patrick on the various platforms for more education:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PatrickTVGh/

Instagram: @PatrickTVGH
WENDYS WINDOW: Sowing a Legacy of a Good Education

I remember the day I received my confirmation in the mail that I was accepted into the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). I was not the first in my family to attend college, but as the eldest sibling, I would be the one to encourage my brother and sisters that it was possible for them as well. My grandmother, who was my primary caregiver, was a graduate of an Historical Black College (HBCU) called Bishop, located in Texas. She made sure we knew the importance of getting an education; so, for me, college was not an option. It was not a matter of if I would go to college, but rather where I would go.

Ive heard some people say that they do not believe going to college after high school is even necessary to be successful in the world. When Ive had these discussions, the people that believe this always give examples of people that did not graduate from college who are successful. While this may be true, those individuals are in the minority, and usually come from money and wealth or they invent something that brings them financial success. I believe that attending college provides more than just a pathway to obtaining a good job; it also provides an opportunity to get a well-rounded education, meet some fantastic people and gives young people time to mature and grow up.

Growing up, I was always told that I had an old soul. I believe this is true and it took years for me to catch up to myself. But when I think about my years at UCLA, I met people that I am still friends with to this day. When my daughter went away to attend Spelman in Atlanta, my friend and UCLA classmate, Deanna instantly became her Atlanta family. While I was at UCLA, I also became an intern in Washington, D.C. with Congressman Julian C. Dixon. I became exposed to a world in DC that I would have never known had I not had that opportunity as a college student. I could go on about the various doors that opened to me while at UCLA, but the bottom line is the opportunity to go to college changed my life in a positive way.

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What about all the students that dont get the opportunity to go to college? I sit on the Board of Directors for the UCLA Black Alumni Association (UBAA) and one of our goals is to not only encourage students to attend UCLA, but to also help them get in, stay in and graduate. As UCLA continues to celebrate their centennial, UBAA is celebrating 100 years of Black Bruin Excellence. We are doing this by keeping the life and legacy of Winston C. Doby alive. Winston Churchill Doby was one of UCLAs vice chancellors. He was Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for 20 years, making him the longest-serving Vice Chancellor in UCLA history, and then served as the Vice President of Student Affairs for the UC system.

While I attended UCLA, Winston C. Doby touched my life and I am grateful to be part of a group of alumni that want to keep his desires going and growing for future generations. On Saturday, March 14, UBAA will hold a dinner honoring nine distinguished individuals who are also committed to educating students. We will raise money to give scholarships to worthy students. A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Lets encourage everyone to maximize any opportunity to expand their education  no matter where it may be.

Healing Without Hate: Its a choice. Its a lifestyle. Pass it on!

Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is an international coach, consultant, trainer, author and speaker.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A former Staten Islander was among 14 suspects charged Wednesday with having roles in a major narcotics-trafficking network that boldly peddled drugs out of a South Bronx bakery, said officials.

Damon (Roc) Ellis, 47, was one of three individuals who supplied the groups kingpin, Jack (Tone) Acevedo, 41, said authorities.

Members of Acevedos network sold the narcotics in the Bronx and Manhattan, officials said.

Authorities said Ellis, who once lived in Stapleton, currently resides in Barnegat, N.J.

The operation was dismantled through a long-term wiretap probe into a conspiracy to sell heroin and cocaine, said officials.

Acevedos organization controlled drug activity near Third Avenue in the Bronxs Mott Haven section, authorities said.

We hope these arrests bring relief to the beleaguered residents and business owners of Mott Haven who have endured brazen drug-trafficking in this area for far too long, said city Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan in a statement.

Brennan announced the arrests along with the Manhattan and Bronx district attorneys, Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea, and officials from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations and state police.

The conspiracy ran from last Aug. 21 to Feb. 12, said officials.

Authorities said they launched the investigation in response to community complaints about the open sale and consumption of drugs on a busy commercial stretch of Third Avenue.

The bakery was a legitimate business which Acevedos group took over and used as a hub to peddle the drugs, said officials.

He stashed narcotics at his apartment in a nearby city public housing development, authorities alleged.

Acevedo was charged with operating as a major drug trafficker.

An indictment said Ellis and two others supplied Acevedo with narcotics from locations in the Bronx, Manhattan and elsewhere.

Conspirators stayed in touch with each other via cell phone, said officials, communicating cryptically and in code to try to avoid detection.

Ellis was caught on a wiretap on Sept. 9 talking with a co-defendant, Eugene (Gene) Shepherd, 54, the indictment said.

They discussed Ellis supplying Shepherd and Acevedo with drugs, said the indictment, which was filed in Manhattan state Supreme Court.

Previously, on July 25 and Aug. 25, Ellis had sold heroin to an undercover cop, the indictment said.

Ellis was charged with felony counts of first- and second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Hes also accused of a felony count of conspiracy.

The defendant faces significant prison time if convicted.

Ellis has prior felony convictions in four states - New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina  said a law enforcement source.

His lawyers name wasnt immediately available.
The coronavirus outbreak isnt just having an immediate effect on travel, prompting a surge of cancellations not seen since

9/11. It also couldnt have come at a worse time for travelers finalizing their summer vacation plans. Many need to make a final payment on a tour or cruise and are wondering: Should I go  or not?
Ukrainian police say 15 people were arrested on March 12 after a group of right-wing activists disrupted a presentation in Kyiv regarding a possible political settlement in the war in eastern Ukraine.

Some were members of National Corps, a nationalist group founded by Andriy Biletskiy, who established the controversial Azov volunteer battalion at the start of the conflict with Russia-backed separatists in 2014.

They are being investigated for hooliganism and face a maximum prison sentence of four years if found guilty.

The event, National Platform for Reconciliation and Unity, was led by Serhiy Syvokho, a former stand-up comedian who is an adviser to the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.

Its goal is to end the six-year war, which has killed more than 13,000 people, and bring back the parts of easternmost Donetsk and Luhansk regions that Kyiv doesnt control back into its fold.

When Syvokho stopped speaking, Serhiy Tamarin, a war veteran and National Corps member, accused the security adviser of betraying Ukraines national interests and of wishing to engage in "dialogue with collaborators who invited the enemy" to eastern Ukraine.

Tamarin also accused Syvokho of describing the conflict as a civil war and criticized him for not mentioning Russias alleged role in it.

"We are ready to jointly develop a workable policy of reintegration for the Donbas," Syvokho said before a dozen National Corps activists pushed him from the podium.

Footage taken by RFE/RL show one activist pushing Syvokho to the floor as he was being shoved from the hall.

Syvokho later blamed the incident on those who profit from the war and said he would continue efforts aimed at a political settlement.

"Some people don't need peace," Syvokho said on Facebook. "They want war, because war is business that brings big money. They derailed our presentation, but they won't stop our steps toward peace."

National Corps later said it had reported Syvokho to the Security Service (SBU) for "treason."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ran on a campaign promise last year to end the fighting in the east and since his election in April, he has brokered two prisoner exchanges.

Russia, which invaded and occupied Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, has rejected accusations of involvement despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

With reporting by AP
A company logo is pictured outside a branch of WH Smith in Manchester northern England.

LONDON (Reuters) - Sales at WH Smith's <SMWH.L> stores in British airports have slumped by 35% as the coronavirus outbreak curbs travel, potentially denting its profit by up to 40 million pounds ($51 million) this year, the British retailer said.

Shares in the company fell to the lowest level since June 2016 on Thursday after it warned of the impact on both revenue and profit from the outbreak.

WH Smith's airport and railway station stores have driven growth for the company by offsetting declining sales at its High Street stores.

Airlines globally have canceled flights to and from China, where the outbreak originated, and more recently to the other regions such as Italy.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping restrictions to travel from Europe to the United States on Wednesday.

WH Smith said airports in Asia Pacific, which account for about 5% of its travel division, had been significantly impacted since February.

Over the last two weeks it has also seen a material downturn in passengers in Britain, the United States and Europe, it said.

"For UK Travel, we expect revenue for the six months (to end-August) to be down approximately 15% on expectations which include airports, our most affected channel, down 35% in March and April," the company said.

It said revenue in the United States and the rest of its international business was expected to be about 20% lower than expectations.

As a result it currently estimates an adverse impact on its top line of between 100 million and 130 million pounds for the year to end-August and between 30 million and 40 million pounds on underlying pre-tax profit.

The company said like-for-like revenue in the six months to end-February fell 1%, while total revenue rose 7%, and as a result it was confident profit for the first half would be in line with market expectations.

(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Sarah Young and Jan Harvey)
Frenchman faces hefty fines for dropping anchor on protected corals

PHUKET: A 67-year-old Frenchman is facing serious fines for dropping anchor on protected corals off Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket.

marinetourismenvironmentnatural-resources

By Khunanya Wanchanwet

Thursday 12 March 2020, 11:26AM

DMCR officers met with Frenchman Jean Girard to explain what he had done. Photo: DMCR

DMCR officers met with Frenchman Jean Girard to explain what he had done. Photo: DMCR

DMCR officers met with Frenchman Jean Girard to explain what he had done. Photo: DMCR

The yacht dropped anchor in Patok Bay, on the northwest side of Racha Yai Island. Photo: DMCR

Somnuek Boonyai, Chief of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Region 6 offices Preservation of Marine Life Section, told The Phuket News that he was notified by a member of Marine Rangers (see here) last Friday (Mar 6) that a yacht named Cotinga had dropped anchor anchor in a protected coral area, causing damage to corals.

DMCR officers filed a complaint with the Chalong Police and contacted Dream Yacht Charter (Thailand) Co Ltd, which had chartered the yacht out to Jean Girard, 67, from France.

Mr Girard confirmed that he had rented the yacht on that day to have a trip with his family, Mr Somnuek said.

Mr Girard was taken to Chalong Police Station last Sunday (Mar 8) and faces two charges, Mr Somnuek confirmed.

One charge is to breach of a regulation introduced by the DMCR under Section 17 of the Act on the Promotion of Marine and Coastal Resources Management B.E. 2558 (2015), which can incur a penalty of up to one year in prison or a fine of up to B100,000, or both.

The second charge is for breach of Section 12 of the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act 2019, which can incur a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to B1 million, or both.

Asked how much Mr Girard will be fined, Mr Somnuek explained yesterday (Mar 11), At this stage, police have not yet fined him as they are still waiting for a report confirming how much damage was done to the corals.

Mr Somnuek confirmed that the yacht charter company will not face any charges.

The protected area where the corals were damaged are located at Patok Bay, the northwest side of Racha Yai Island, Mr Somnuek explained.

The reef there is a designated protected area. Boats are allowed to pass through the area, but not allowed to drop anchor there, he said.

There is a sign on the beach to explain about the protected coral area, but there are no buoys on the water to indicate where the protected zone is, Mr Somnuek confirmed.

Asked whether the area will be marked on the water as a protected zone, Mr Somnuek said, Having signs out there is not sustainable, they can be damaged easily by the wind and waves. However, I will find a good solution later.

Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub
A Kremlin envoy to the talks on the conflict in eastern Ukraine said Wednesday that another exchange of prisoners is being negotiated.

Dmitry Kozak, Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide on Ukraine, said the lists of prisoners to be exchanged by Ukrainian authorities and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine should be verified until March 18. He added that there is a hope that the deal will be made later this month.

Speaking after a round of talks with the Ukrainian president's chief of staff Andriy Yermak in Minsk, Belarus, Kozak said that they also discussed ways of political settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The conflict in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland flared up in April 2014 weeks after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The fighting has killed more than 14,000.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was elected in April, made the conflict settlement his top priority.

In December, leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany made a deal to exchange prisoners and take new steps to ensure a lasting cease-fire in fighting between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists.

They made no immediate progress, however, on key contentious issues a timeline for local elections in eastern Ukraine and when Ukraine can get back control of its borders in the rebel-held region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Market worries were compounded by the threat of a flood of cheap supply as Saudi Arabia promised to raise oil output to a record high in its standoff with Russia.

Oil prices sank again on Thursday along with the broader market after the United States banned travel from Europe following a World Health Organization declaration that the coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic.

Market worries were compounded by the threat of a flood of cheap supply as Saudi Arabia promised to raise oil output to a record high in its standoff with Russia, as reported by Reuters.

Brent crude LCOc1 was trading down $1.91, or 5.3%, at $33.88 by around 0339 GMT, slightly above earlier lows. The contract fell nearly 4% on Thursday.

U.S. crude CLc1 was down $1.74, or 5.3%, at $31.24 after dropping 4% in the previous session.

Oil is down around 50% from highs reached in January.

Read alsoRecord decline in oil prices: what this means for Ukraine

Global shares also crumbled after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States will suspend all travel from Europe as he unveiled measures to contain the coronavirus epidemic.

The travel ban, which excludes Britain, will hit U.S. airlines "extremely hard," their industry association said.

The surprise move is likely to mean a further drop in demand for jet and other fuels in an already battered oil market though, for now, just how much is hard to quantify.

"A WHO declaration of global emergency and U.S.-EU traffic ban is dampening the global energy demand outlook, in conjunction with an intensified price war between Saudi and Russia," said Margaret Yang, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore.

"Bears are dominating the oil market and there might be more downside before a bottom can be reached," she added.

The United Arab Emirates followed Saudi Arabia in announcing plans to boost oil output after the collapse last week of an agreement between OPEC, Russia and other producers, a grouping known as OPEC+, to withhold supply and buttress prices.

UAEs national oil company, ADNOC, said it plans to raise crude sales to more than 4 million barrels per day (bpd) and accelerate a push to boost capacity by a quarter to 5 million bpd.

"Without OPEC+, the global oil market has lost its regulator and now only market mechanisms can dictate the balance between supply and demand," said Espen Erlingsen, head of upstream research at Rystad Energy, which estimates that oil will need to fall to the low $20s to achieve equilibrium.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have slashed forecasts for oil demand because of the coronavirus outbreak and now expect demand to contract this quarter.

Still, weekly data on U.S. inventories showed minimal effects from the coronavirus pandemic. Crude stocks increased by 7.7 million barrels, but inventories of gasoline and diesel fell sharply, as refining runs remain at seasonally low levels.
A mother accused of injecting her sick daughter with urine and poisoning her with laxatives has been found not guilty on all counts.

The Crown had alleged the 47-year-old former nurse, from NSW's Hunter region, injected urine into her immune-deficient daughter's central venous line while the girl was in Sydney's Westmead Hospital for acute renal failure in March 2015.

She was also accused of twice using laxatives to poison with intent to injure her daughter in 2014.

Pictured: Sydney's Westmead Hospital. A mother had been accused of injecting urine into her immune-deficient daughter's central venous line while the girl was in hospital. The mother has been found not guilty of all counts

Medical supplies including a urine sample container and syringes were found in the woman's bag in March 2015 (stock image)

But after a two-week trial, NSW District Court Judge Christopher Robison on Wednesday found the woman not guilty of all counts.

Medical supplies including a urine sample container and syringes were found in the woman's bag in March 2015.

But the mother, whose identity is suppressed to protect her daughter, told police she had gathered the medical supplies when her child was transferred to Westmead from another hospital.

She told police she missed being a nurse and liked being involved in her daughter's care.

The woman's solicitor said the criminal proceedings had cost his client 'dearly'.

'Her daughter was removed from her care in 2015,' he said in a statement.

'Her house had to be sold to fund previous legal representatives. She lost her ability to carry on in her profession of nursing and midwifery.'
Arkansas Department of Health officials on Thursday said that states first patient presumed to have the new coronavirus likely contracted the illness during a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

During a telephone interview, department spokeswoman Meg Mirivel declined to elaborate on the information but said it was based on the agencys investigation into the movements of the patient, a resident of Pine Bluff whose presumptive COVID-19 positive test result came Wednesday.

Louisiana coronavirus presumptive cases increase to 14, LDH says The Department of Health is reporting another presumptive case coronavirus in the state, bringing the total number of illnesses in Louisiana t

Dr. Nathaniel Smith, Arkansas secretary of health, told reporters in that state earlier in the day that the patient in question then came into contact with four other people who have since tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, including a medical school trainee who is a resident at two hospitals.

The suspicions expressed by Smith and Miravel would suggest COVID-19, a respiratory virus, was circulating in New Orleans well before Monday, when Louisiana reported its first presumptive positive patient.

Mardi Gras was on Feb. 25. And many people colloquially refer to the two weekends of Carnival parades preceding Fat Tuesday as Mardi Gras.

7 New Orleans first responders quarantined after coronavirus exposure, Cantrell says Seven New Orleans first responders have been quarantined after they aided a person later confirmed to have coronavirus but were not wearing pr

Miravel said she couldnt say exactly when the patient was in New Orleans for its Mardi Gras celebrations, discuss what areas the patient may have moved around in, or with whom the patient may have traveled to the city.

Neither New Orleans nor Louisiana officials immediately responded to a request for comment on Smith's comments.

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At least 14 people have tested presumptive positive in Louisiana for COVID-19 as of Thursday afternoon, according to Louisianas public health office. Eleven are residents of New Orleans, and a 12th is a resident of adjacent Jefferson Parish.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said the numbers indicate there is "community spread" of the virus in the New Orleans area, meaning the virus is being transmitted locally rather than through travel.

Jefferson Parish declares state of emergency due to coronavirus concerns Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng has declared a state of emergency to improve the parish's response to the rapidly spreading coronavirus.

All presumed positive test results are awaiting confirmation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. But authorities have repeatedly expressed confidence in the state-level testing that produced them.

Nationwide, COVID-19 had infected more than 1,200 people and killed at least 36 as of Thursday. The number of cases is expected to grow for the foreseeable future, according to officials, and events of all sizes are being canceled en masse.

Worldwide, estimates are more than 134,000 cases with nearly 5,000 deaths.

Are you a Louisianan who has sought testing for the coronavirus? We want to hear from you. In our reporting on the coronavirus, we are trying to better understand who is being tested in Louisiana, who isn't, and why. If you are or ha

Ochsner Health hospital opens 3 coronavirus test sites in Southeast Louisiana; see locations Ochsner Health System is designating three urgent care locations for testing for the new coronavirus, the hospital system said Thursday.
The Ukrainian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Infrastructure have started preparations for another evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from China.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated this at a briefing on March 12, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The Foreign Ministry, together with the Infrastructure Ministry, is launching preparations for the second evacuation of our citizens from China," he said.

The minister has said that according to the information provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in China, 10 of 41 Ukrainian nationals in Wuhan have requested evacuation from China.

Kuleba has also called on those Ukrainians who wish to leave Wuhan to address the embassy, which will approve the final evacuation lists.

As Ukrinform reported, the Ukrainian government spent UAH 4.5 million in budget funds for the evacuation of Ukrainians and their families from Wuhan, which took place on February 20.

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Convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalized with chest pains hours after receiving a 23-year sentence for sexual assault and rape.

Weinstein, 67, 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.

He 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.

According to NBC News, the convicted rapist was on his way back to Bellevue Hospital within hours of his sentencing after he started having chest pains.

He previously spent multiple days in the hospital after his conviction with different ailments.

Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno has suggested that he will now die in prison, adding that he 'won't see the light of day' after his sentencing.

Scroll down for video

Harvey Weinstein is seen leaving a Manhattan courthouse Wednesday afternoon after being sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. He was later taken to hospital

Weinstein was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he will be kept overnight on Wednesday

Weinstein's defense attorney Donna Rotunno claimed he 'won't see the light of day'

The disgraced producer was initially brought to Rikers Island Prison after sentencing but has since been transferred to Bellevue Hospital.

'Harvey was having chest pains and the Rikers staff decided for safety to send him back to Bellevue now. He will be evaluated and likely will stay overnight. We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections officers and staff,' his spokesperson Juda Engelmayer said.

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

Weinstein, who is in poor health and will not be eligible for parole for 20 years, was Wednesday 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.

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'.

Defense attorney Donna Rotunno talks to the press after Harvey Weinstein's sentencing

Harvey Weinstein sits in a wheelchair during the sentencing following his conviction on sexual assault and rape charges in the Manhattan on Wednesday. He was later taken to hospital

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

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein arrives to New York State Supreme Court in February. He was sentenced to 23 years today but taken to Bellevue Hospital with chest pains. Throughout the trial, he used a walker because of back injuries caused by car crash last year

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.'

Speaking on Bill Hemmer Reports on Fox News on Wednesday evening, Rotunno added that Weinstein 'won't see the light of day' and is likely to die in prison.

'I think the number is too large,' Rotunno told Hemmer.

'I think it's too large for the evidence that we heard and I think it's too large for the charges that the jury found him guilty of.'

On Wednesday prosecutors in Los Angeles also announced that they have started the extradition process to bring Harvey Weinstein to California, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said.

Prosecutors in Los Angeles filed sexual assault charges against Weinstein in January and have now begun the process of extraditing him from New York to their jurisdiction.

A LADA spokesman said: 'The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office 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 been set. Once a date has been set, our office will notify the public.'

Weinstein was charged with one felony count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by use of force and sexual battery by restraint.

His attorney Rotunno claimed she can't see 'how much California really matters' given the 23-year sentence Weinstein received Wednesday and his diminishing health.

Weinstein used a walker throughout his trial and arrived at the courthouse 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.

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 on Wednesday

'I think it becomes ceremonial obviously,' she said.

'If we are successful on appeal, it may make a bigger difference. But with numbers so large and Harvey's health, I don't know how he leaves [prison in New York].

'Even if at this juncture if they offered him a sentence that was concurrent, again I think with the number that has been handed down to him today, he won't see the light of day especially given his health,' Rotunno continued.

'So I don't even know if that's a practical or necessary conversation to have.'

After sentencing, Weinstein was immediately placed under the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. He was to be transferred from the city's jail system to the state prison system but has now returned to hospital.

Harvey Weinstein did not apologize to his victims but said he felt remorse for the men and women in the #MeToo fight before he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for sex crimes in a landmark case.

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.

The Harvey Weinstein timeline: From studio to courtroom in 40 years 1979 - Harvey Weinstein and his brother Bob found independent film distribution and production company Miramax, naming it after their parents, Miriam and Max. June 1993 - The Walt Disney Company buys Miramax for $80 million but the brothers stay on until 2005. May 1994 - Director Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction' starring Uma Thurman and John Travolta and backed by Miramax, wins the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival. 1997 - Miramax wins its first Academy Award for best picture with 'The English Patient.' 1999 - Miramax's 'Shakespeare in Love' wins seven Oscars - including best picture and best actress for Gwyneth Paltrow. 2004 - Weinstein divorces his first wife Eve Chilton, with whom he has three daughters. 2005 - The Weinstein brothers leave Miramax to set up their own production company, The Weinstein Company. 2007 - Weinstein marries English fashion director Georgina Chapman. Oct 5, 2017 - The New York Times reports Weinstein settled with eight women who accused him of unwanted physical contact and sexual harassment over three decades. Weinstein in a statement apologized for causing pain to colleagues and said he was taking a leave of absence and entering therapy. Oct 6, 2017 - Weinstein takes indefinite leave of absence from The Weinstein Co. The company later says he is fired. Oct 10, 2017 - The New Yorker reports allegations by 13 women who said Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them, including three who said he raped them. Weinstein again denies non-consensual sex. Oct 10, 2017 - Chapman, Weinstein's wife, says she is leaving him. Oct 14, 2017 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that selects the Oscar winners, expels Weinstein. October 2017 - Actress Alyssa Milano fuels the expansion of the #MeToo movement, founded by Tarana Burke, by writing on Twitter: 'If you've ever been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet.' In the following weeks, #MeToo would be used by millions of women. Jan 1, 2018 - Hollywood celebrities launch the Time's Up campaign to fight sexual harassment in the workplace. May 25, 2018 - Weinstein surrenders to New York police on charges of rape and a criminal sex act involving alleged assaults against two women, in 2004 and 2013. June 5, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to the charges. June 9, 2018 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new charges of sexually assaulting a third woman in 2006. Oct 11, 2018 - Weinstein wins dismissal of the charges over the alleged 2004 assault. Charges involving the other two women remain pending. Jan 17, 2019 - Benjamin Brafman, Weinstein's defense attorney, issues statement saying he is quitting. Jan 25, 2019 - Weinstein appears in court to announce new defense team. April 26, 2019 - Weinstein's trial is delayed until Sep 9 to allow defense more time to gather evidence. July 11, 2019 - Weinstein hires third legal team after second team of defense attorneys exits the case. Aug 26, 2019 - Weinstein pleads not guilty to new indictment involving the same two women accusing him of two counts of predatory sexual assault, in 2006 and 2013. His trial is pushed back to Jan 6, 2020. Dec 11, 2019 - Weinstein and his bankrupt studio reach tentative $25 million settlement with dozens of women who accused him of sexual misconduct. Jan 6, 2020 - Los Angeles prosecutors announce sexual assault charges against Weinstein just hours after he appeared in a New York court for the start of his trial on rape charge. Jan 7, 2020 - Jury selection at Weinstein's trial begins in New York. Feb 18, 2020 - Jury begins deliberations. Feb 24, 2020: Jury find Weinstein guilty on two of five counts. March 11, 2020: Weinstein sentenced to 23 years. Advertisement

'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 taken to the maximum security Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, New York, before being brought to Bellevue Hospital with chest pains.

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.

Weinstein had begged for mercy prior to his sentencing, telling the court he had been through 'hell on earth' and was 'really trying to be a better person.'

He noted that he hadn't seen his three adult children since the allegations publicly surfaced and that he may never see his two youngest children again.

Weinstein acknowledged going to 'extraordinary lengths' to hide the affairs he had from his two ex-wives, Eve Chilton and Georgina Chapman.

'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,' he said.

At one point, Weinstein started talking about how he had raised millions of dollars for New York City after Hurricane Sandy and September 11.

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 and that he 'really never had a fair shake from day one.'

'We were looking for fairness, and we didn't get it,' Rotunno said.

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.'

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.

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.'

Appearing before the media outside court, attorney Gloria Allred, who represented three of the women who testified at Weinstein's trial, waved a piece of paper saying, 'This is what justice looks like, 20 + 3 years.'

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.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) welcomes the additional Canadian support to improve security in Ukraine.

Canada will provide USD 2.2 million over three years to the Police Assistance Project on Strategic Reform Capacities of the National Police of Ukraine, according to a statement on the UCCs website.

At a time when the Ukrainian people face increasing political and economic instability, and Russia continues to escalate its war on Ukraine, it is vitally important that Ukraines western allies continue to support the Ukrainian people. The UCC applauds Canadas leadership role in the international communitys support for Ukraine, UCC National President Alexandra Chyczij said.

According to her, the recent visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada Francois-Philippe Champagne to Ukraine allowed him to see the implementation of important reforms. "It is crucial that Minister Champagne was able to see first-hand the complex reform challenges which Ukraine faces and hear the perspectives of Ukrainian civil society leaders, Chyczij noted.

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Danai Guria cant stop laughing. She has only a few days left ever filming on The Walking Dead, so you would expect one of the shows supreme slicer and dicers of zombies to feel a bit mournful about leaving the show that made her a star. And she is. But right now, on this sunny June afternoon in Griffin, Ga., the actress is in the midst of a pure guffaw. Blame it on a hallway barricade she and actor Kevin Carroll (who is guest-starring as desperate scrounger Virgil) just had to squeeze through while avoiding a ravenous member of the undead with a phone cord wrapped around her neck.

Gurira  who has spent the past eight seasons playing Michonne  mock-stabbed the tele-walker with ease, but sliding through that barricade proved a bit more problematic. One slight nudge from Carroll has sent the entire structure of desks and chairs tumbling to the ground around them, causing a thunderous crash as well as a look of genuine terror on the face of Carroll  and a look of absolute glee on Guriras. That was awesome! she bellows before proceeding to playfully rib her costars momentary dread. So funny! And the cacophony as everything falls! Perfect!

These are the good times, the ones Gurira will miss the most moving on from AMCs record-breaking drama. I had a lot of great belly laughs per day on that set and amongst those people, she tells EW while reminiscing a few months after wrapping her final episode (which will air in this last run of season 10 installments, although we cant reveal exactly when). It was incredibly hard to even imagine leaving. I loved that show. I loved the family that I had there. The beauty of coming to work and loving the people youre around and the work that youre doing and the things you get to do and call it your job is like nothing I could have imagined. Its been a true gift to my life to have been part of it.

Eliza Morse/AMC

But now Gurira has a new gift to open. The 42-year-old playwright-actress is returning to her behind-the-scenes roots to serve as showrunner of a 10-episode adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies novel Americanah for the new streaming service HBO Max. The project  which is scheduled to begin filming this spring in Nigeria, London, and the United States  will reteam Gurira with Black Panther costar Lupita Nyongo, who also went from understudy (in 2009 at Yale Repertory Theatre) to headliner (in 2016 on Broadway) in Guriras Eclipsed. We have a great ability to communicate and to collaborate, says Gurira of her former and future leading lady, because at the foundation of it all we are in the exact same place.

Story continues

Gurira is ecstatic to once again work with Nyongo and continue their mission of telling stories spotlighting women both in and from Africa, yet it was still difficult to leave the place she has called a professional home since 2012. Its always hard to accept that its time to allow yourself to go in another direction, she says of the change. And so it was incredibly hard to come to that place, but I had to. I had to start articulating it to myself and then to others, and it took a while to do that.

Her former TWD family members have no problem articulating the respect and love they feel for their departing friend. The thing that shes always brought is so much passion, says showrunner Angela Kang. This was her first series-regular gig, and she threw everything into it. Her work ethic is incredible, and she also knows how to have a good time.

As someone who has shared powerful onscreen moments with Gurira for eight seasons, Norman Reedus has experienced the full emotional gamut from his costar and friend. She attacks every scene with a ferocity and a grace thats really inspiring to work with, Reedus says. Ive seen her in the most vulnerable state and also the most aggressive. Weve gone through it together. So its more than just losing a cast member. Youre losing somebody that you have such a tight bond with.

The man who plays Daryl Dixon also has no doubts that Gurira has the tools to succeed as a showrunner: Shes not a follower. Shes a natural-born leader, that girl. Im happy for all the things that are going on in her life, but Ill miss her every day. That didnt stop Reedus from surprising his costar with a farewell gift in the form of a private fireworks display on her next-to-last day of filming.

It was very emotional, says Gurira about her final days on The Walking Dead. I was really blown back by how much love I received from everybody. Of course, on a set known for some pretty epic practical jokes, the cast and crew could not resist one final prank at Guriras expense. I go back to my trailer after having this amazing reception, and there were about 50 zombies in my trailer! she says, laughing. They were all over  lying on my couch, on my chair, in the shower. They were everywhere!

Dennis Leupold for EW

While Gurira received a grand send-off from the cast and crew, Kang was responsible for making sure the character got one as well. Kangs first step in arcing out Michonnes last stand was to get plenty of input from the woman playing her. It was a lot of conversations over many months with Danai about what can be a fun and satisfying way to try to send off this character and pay her tribute, says Kang, as well as put her in a story that has impact to the season at large.

For her part, Gurira appreciated the voice she was allowed to have in mapping out Michonnes final chapter. Youre carrying your characters soul at this point of the show, she explains. And Angela embraces that about those of us who have been on the show a long time  the knowledge and the nuance and understanding of everything the character has gone through. And that just made it even more special that I got to be a part of it that way.

Gurira may have physically already left The Walking Dead, but the show will never truly leave her. And the lessons she learned during her eight years deep in the woods of rural Georgia are now embedded in her soul as she begins her new adventure running Americanah. I want to be a person who brings that type of environment to a workplace wherever I go, says Gurira. I witnessed how beautifully it works, and I want that to be what I bring forth as I help create other environments. Even if those environments just happen to include 50 zombies chilling in your trailer.

To read more from the April issue of Entertainment Weekly, pick up a copy on newsstands beginning March 17, or buy it here now. Dont forget to subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.

Related content:
Pawan Kalyan is all set to return to acting with a full-blown historical costume drama directed by period specialist Krish Jagarlamudi.

The film will not only be the costliest thus far in Pawans career, with an estimated budget of `150-170 crore, it will also showcase the actor in a number of intricate fight/action scenes.

Says a source, Pawan has not done such slick Avengers/Marvel-style stunts before in his career. It is one thing to do the gimmicky action that Telugu cinema specialises in. But for him to carry off the Thor-Ironman kind of action, Pawan needs to seriously get into shape.

The actor, who took a longish sabbatical from acting to concentrate on politics, is not in the best of shape physically speaking. It was Krish who suggested that a fitter Pawan Kalyan would be more agile on screen. Pawan has already started on his weight-loss strategies, says the source.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he expects the PM to announce a feasibility study on an Irish Sea road crossing (PA)

Boris Johnson is poised to announce a feasibility study into a new road crossing between Scotland and Northern Ireland, according to his Scottish Secretary.

Alister Jack said the UK should be ambitious in its approach to new infrastructure, claiming the country is lagging behind other nations.

Asked why there had been no money for the project in Chancellor Rishi Sunaks Budget, Mr Jack said: Watch this space.

We are lagging behind in this country and we believe we should look at all optionsScottish Secretary Alister Jack

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: The Prime Minister I expect will announce a feasibility study into the link to Northern Ireland, I hope the Scottish Government will back it.

Mr Johnson has repeatedly spoken about the prospect of a bridge linking the south of Scotland with Northern Ireland  although Mr Jack suggested it could instead be a tunnel, or a combination of the two.

He said: I think we should be ambitious. If we think about HS2, from London Euston to Birmingham Airport on HS2 will take only 38 minutes, there is huge improvements in transport infrastructure around the world.

We are lagging behind in this country and we believe we should look at all options.

Experts have warned the depth of the Irish Sea and the presence of dumped munitions would cause problems for any crossing.

The project could cost a reported 20 billion, although Mr Johnson has previously said it would only cost about 15 billion.

Boris Johnson has repeatedly spoken about the prospect of a bridge linking Scotland and Northern Ireland (Alberto Pezzali/PA)

The Scottish Government has insisted better uses could be found for the funds  with Transport Secretary Michael Matheson making this point in a recent letter to his UK counterpart Grant Shapps.

Meanwhile economic experts at the Fraser of Allander Institute said a new crossing would neither boost the economy nor improve connectivity.

In a damning assessment of the proposal, it stated: In short, it wont deliver the economic boost some claim, it isnt a priority, it would go to the wrong location, it wouldnt be consistent with climate change objectives and the money could be better spent on other things.

Apart from that, its a cracking idea.
There was a 25-30 per cent drop in inbound international air travellers to India the imposition of restrictions on cross border movement of people in the wake of new coronavirus pandemic, according to Usha Padhee, joint secretary in the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. There has been a drastic reduction in the number of international travelers. I was told that it has come down by 25-30 per cent.

Because of the quarantine measures taken by every country to contain the spread the virus, both inbound and outbound traffic have got severe impact," she said. The impact on the inbound ...
The 144Hz phone is here! Nubia's new addition to its mobile gaming line-up is its first 5G model, and has flagship specs as usual. It is equipped with the Snapdragon 865 SoC, a 16GB RAM variant and a spinning fan as expected. The new Red Magic can be pre-ordered from today, but only in China.

Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here

Nubia has finally unleashed the Red Magic 5G, which can now be called 2020's first phone with the long-touted spec of a 144Hz refresh rate in its display. It is now likely to draw comparisons with the Black Shark 3 series that has also recently leaped into its gaming-focused category.

However, this latest contender can distinguish itself with its new screen tech, which is also likely to exceed that of every other flagship phone to launch in at least this half of the year. In addition, the sub-brand's unique spinning fan makes a return in this generation. It is combined with a heat-sink in this inaugural 5G variant, which may help deal with the demands of gameplay or charging, which, as it turns out, goes at a rate of 55 watts (W).

The Red Magic 5G's AMOLED panel has an FHD+ resolution (an area where the Black Shark 3 Pro does have the edge) and is 6.65 inches in length. It features a 240Hz touch-sampling rate (which is, again, slightly pipped by the new Xiaomi alternatives), and also has capacitive shoulder triggers, in which the same applicable rate shoots up to 300Hz.

The '5G's battery has a 4500mAh capacity - hopefully Nubia's choice of screen quality will help it last the course. Its rear cameras have increased to 3 compared to last year's 1 (as rumored), although their housing retains the hexagonal esthetic of the Red Magic 3 series. The main shooter is a 64MP Sony IMX sensor, which is joined by 8 and 2MP lenses for ultra-wide and macro duty respectively.

The Red Magic 5G's chassis has a wildly different look compared to last year: its back features a vague X, partially picked out by inward-facing triangle accents. They were shown in contrasting colors on the phone's TENAA certification: this option is called Cyber Neon. There is also a Black colorway, (for which the accents are also this color) and Mars Red (in which they are gold).

Furthermore, there is also a Transparent Edition of this new phone, although it cannot be said if its effect is genuine yet. These finishes can be paired to a 16GB RAM top-end variant, which also has 256GB of internal storage. These options are now available to pre-order for 4999 yuan (~US$712) for the first 3 styles, or 5199 (~$740) for the Transparent limited-edition model.

The Red Magic 5G also has 8 and 12GB RAM options, which are priced at 3799 (~$540) and 4099 yuan (~$585) respectively for 128GB internal storage SKUs. Finally, the phone's 12/256GB SKUs go for 4399 yuan (~$625), or 200 more (~$30) for its own Transparent version.

These prices are for the Chinese market only at present. However, Nubia has also stated that international customers may only have to wait until April 2020 for a more global launch of this new Red Magic 5G.
Oil industry representatives have pitched for discussion to the U.S. Administration the idea that Washington buy cheap crude oil to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which would also remove millions of barrels of oil from the heavily oversupplied market and may help U.S. producers that could turn out to be the first victim of the Saudi-Russian oil price war.

Oil industry lobbyists have told the Trump Administration that it might be a good idea to buy the dip with oil prices in the $30s this week compared to $50 last week, in order to fill the SPR, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, quoting three people with knowledge of the matter.

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve, set up in the 1970s when the Arab oil embargo created a fuel crisis in the United States, held a total of 635 million barrels of crude oil as of March 6, 2020, including 250.3 million barrels of sweet crude and 384.7 million barrels of sour crude oil.

The SPR has been typically used in times of emergencies with Administrations releasing crude oil from it to relieve price spikes in events such as hurricanes or wars. Now the idea goes the other way round  buy the dip to fill the SPR and remove some tens of millions of barrels of oil from the market, to ease the glut which is set to become even greater in the coming months as Saudi Arabia and Russia are each determined to see who will blink first in this oil price war.

The SPR has authorized storage capacity of 713.5 million barrels, so it still has the capacity to hold another 78 million barrels before it is full.

On Tuesday, the Department of Energy said that it was suspending an upcoming sale from the SPR.



Related: Chinas Refiners Love The Saudi-Russia Oil Price War

The sale was designed to raise revenue for SPR facility maintenance and upgrades. Given current oil markets, this is not the optimal time for the sale. The Department continually monitors and evaluates global oil markets and will provide updated information as market conditions change, DOE Spokeswoman Jess Szymanski said.

Apart from a possible buying for the SPR, the Trump Administration is considering other relief measures for U.S. oil producers, including tax relief.

According to Bloomberg, the Administration is also weighing the idea to cut royalty rates for oil and gas production on federal land, but this idea will likely meet opposition not only from Democrats but also from some Republicans who have said that federal royalty rates are too low.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
San Francisco: Facebook and Twitter have taken down a network of Russian-linked fake accounts operated out of Ghana and Nigeria which targeted the United States.

An example of the posts from the network in Africa that was taken down by Facebook. Credit:Facebook

Facebook told reporters on Thursday, US time, that the network, which it removed from Facebook and Instagram for engaging in foreign interference, was in the early stages of building audiences and was operated by local nationals, some wittingly and some unwittingly.

Facebook said its investigation found links to an NGO in Ghana called EBLA, or "Eliminating Barriers to the Liberation of Africa," and individuals associated with past activity by Russia's Internet Research Agency (IRA), a St Petersburg-based "troll factory" that US intelligence officials say aimed to interfere in the US presidential election in 2016.

The accounts in the new takedown managed Facebook pages posing as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or personal blogs, or posting in Facebook groups. They focused on topics such as black history, black excellence and fashion, celebrity gossip, US news and LGBTQ issues. They also shared content about oppression and police brutality.
Two days after Iran declared its first cases of the novel coronavirus - in what would become one of the largest outbreaks of the illness outside of China - evidence of unusual activity appeared at a cemetery near where the infections emerged.

At the Behesht-e Masoumeh complex in Qom, about 80 miles south of Tehran, the excavation of a new section of the graveyard began as early as Feb. 21, satellite images show, and then rapidly expanded as the virus spread. By the end of the month, two large trenches - their lengths totaling 100 yards - were visible at the site from space.

According to expert analysis, video testimony and official statements, the graves were dug to accommodate the rising number of virus victims in Qom.

Iran, a nation of about 80 million people, has suffered a particularly deadly surge of coronavirus infections, including among its top leadership. Iran's Health Ministry says that 429 people have died of the virus, which causes the disease known as covid-19, and more than 10,000 have fallen ill. Among the dead are members of parliament, a former diplomat and even a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader. At least two dozen other officials, including a vice president, have been infected.

In Qom, the spiritual center of Iran's ruling Shiite clerics, more than 846 people have contracted the virus, officials say. Iran's government has not released an official death toll for Qom, however, where about 1.2 million people live. But videos, satellite images and other open-source data from the cemetery - a vast complex six miles north of the city center - suggest that the number of people struck down by the virus there is significantly higher than the official figure.

A senior imagery analyst at Maxar Technologies in Colorado said the size of the trenches and the speed with which they were excavated together mark a clear departure from past burial practices involving individual and family plots at the site. In addition to satellite imagery, videos posted on social media from the cemetery show the extended rows of graves at Behesht-e Masoumeh and say they are meant for coronavirus victims.

The imagery analyst, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of his work, also pointed to an image showing what appears to be a large white pile of lime, which can be used to manage decay and odor in mass graves. Iranian health officials have in recent weeks confirmed the use of lime when burying coronavirus victims.

In the following video, shared by the BBC's Persian service March 3, the narrator describes the scene at Behesht-e Masoumeh cemetery as men carry a casket toward a trench with multiple graves. Qom, like other parts of Iran, is grappling with the coronavirus outbreak that has sickened thousands of people and overwhelmed the public health infrastructure.

"This is the section for coronavirus victims," the narrator says, as the camera pans across a small portion of the trench, showing mounds of dirt and small, simple markers. People wearing blue protective suits are seen standing nearby. "More than 80 [people] have been buried in this section so far, and they say only 34 deaths," he says, citing the official death toll on Feb. 28.

Fabian Hinz of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who reviewed the preceding video and the one that follows, said that unique geographical markers in the videos match landmarks found near the cemetery.

In the next video, another narrator says that he is at the Behesht-e Masoumeh cemetery on March 3, about two weeks after Iran reported its first cases. By that time, at least 77 people had died of the virus, according to official figures, and more than 2,000 people were infected, though information from Tehran hospitals reviewed by The Washington Post strongly suggests the outbreak is far larger.

"A worker told me that they must have buried more than 250 coronavirus victims so far," the caption reads. As the narrator walks across the cemetery grounds, he points the camera down to highlight what he says are new burials. "These are all graves and they are fresh," he says, at one point using a gloved index finger to direct the viewer to the plots on the horizon. "These are all from the last few days," he continues. "And as you can see, it goes on until the end."
At the risk of sounding like one of those people who writes articles in January with headlines like "20 predictions for Michigan's offensive line in 2020" (which definitely aren't occupying half the tabs in my browser at the moment), I would like to suggest that it is worth talking about the election. Not the primaries that will continue through June, but the one in November that will pit an incumbent Donald Trump against Joe Biden, the now-inevitable Democratic nominee.

What's going to happen in the fall? Here are five scenarios arranged in order of, well, I won't say plausibility but how far removed they are from what happened last time.

Scenario 1: The map looks the same

I think it's worth starting here because, well, it's familiar. The biggest obstacle to this taking place is that Trump would need to hold on to Wisconsin (very doable, especially with hundreds of thousands of voters newly purged from the rolls), Michigan (possible but likely to be a damn near-run thing), and Pennsylvania (ditto). Biden's strong showing in Michigan on Tuesday is already being taken as confirmation that he will be a strong candidate there in November. He probably will be, but this will depend upon strong turnout from African-American voters, whose participation in this year's primary did not scale with other Democrats in the state. Getting black voters to the polls will be the single most important issue for Biden in Michigan. The same will be true in Pennsylvania, the state in which Trump's victory surprised me most in 2016. Electoral College result: Trump 304, Biden 227.

Scenario 2: The Rust Belt turns blue again (sort of)

Here we have another re-election scenario for the president. Much of the discussion of the 2016 election results focused on Trump's historic reclamation of states like Michigan and Wisconsin. But the truth is that it was Arizona and, especially, Florida, with its 29 electoral votes, that really cemented his victory in 2016. If he had won Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania but lost both these two states, Hillary Clinton would be president right now. Fortunately for Trump, it is much easier to imagine a world in which Michigan and Pennsylvania go back to the Democrats but Wisconsin and Ohio remain red, along with Arizona and Florida. It would be an exceedingly narrow victory, mind you, but like Robby Bobby said, "If you ain't first, you're last." Electoral College result: Trump 270, Biden 268.

Story continues

Scenario 3: The Rust Belt turns blue again (for real this time)

Above I mentioned the possibility that Trump could still win if Michigan and Pennsylvania go for Biden. This is true, but not if Wisconsin reverts as well. Since these are widely considered the three most competitive states in 2020, it's certainly not unthinkable. It would have to be all three, for Biden though, if he doesn't break through elsewhere: the defections of any two of these three would not cut it. Electoral College result: Biden 278, Trump 260.

Scenario 4: The red tsunami

This is probably a right-wing fever dream, so I'm going to be brief: Imagine that Trump wins all the states he did in 2016, plus Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Nevada, all of which were very close last time. What exactly is the path here, though? I don't know, maybe The New York Times gives Biden a 90-percent chance of winning and a lot of voters in these places stay home. Or maybe Trump fulfills his ambition of suspending payroll taxes for a year and people are really happy. Electoral College result: Trump 326, Biden 212.

Scenario 5: Building the blue wall and making Mar-a-Lago pay for it

Basically the mirror-image of the former. In this scenario, the Democrats return the map to what it was in 2012, plus Arizona, with the exception that Ohio, which is essentially a red state now, sticks with the GOP. Again, this seems fairly unlikely to me, but it is definitely what the party that nominated Biden as an Obama-era throwback candidate is hoping to achieve. Good luck! Electoral College result: Biden 318, Trump 220.

Bonus scenario: The pundit special

Okay, this is one of those things like "brokered convention" or "Evan McMuffin wins Utah" that is so dumb only a pundit could even entertain it as a possibility  right? Well, it turns out that there are 64 different ways of arriving at an Electoral College tie. Many of the technically possible combinations are absurd and many involve the weirdness inherent in Nebraska and Maine splitting their electoral votes, but late the other night I found one that struck me as not only plausible but at least as likely as some of the scenarios sketched above. Unfortunately I can't remember what it was. The closest thing I can suggest now is that if Trump loses Michigan and Wisconsin up north while managing to hold on to Pennsylvania, but Arizona turns blue for some reason, boom: 269-269, baby.

As you might recall from high-school civics (or your no-doubt exhaustive study of the 1824 presidential election), when there is a tie in the Electoral College the president is chosen by the House of Representatives. But instead of a straight vote by the current membership, the House delegations of each state would be asked to vote. This would give Republicans a slight edge because they control 26 states to the Democrats' 23 (Pennsylvania is currently tied). As an added bonus, the Senate would pick the vice president separately.

Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here.

More stories from theweek.com

The entire country of Norway is 'shutting down'

Girl Scout sets up libraries at hospitals so parents can read to their premature babies

Betty White's representative reassures fans she's 'fine' amid coronavirus outbreak


Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 06:13:17|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Local media reported two U.S. soldiers and a British national were killed and some 12 people wounded Wednesday in a rocket barrage on a military base in north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

A U.S. official confirmed that two U.S. soldiers and a British were killed in the rocket attack on al-Taji Camp in north of Baghdad, al-Sumaria TV channel said without further details.

Earlier in the evening, the Iraqi military said in a statement that 10 rockets landed on al-Taji Camp, some 20 km north of Baghdad, where some U.S. troops are stationed, without causing casualties.

The Iraqi security force found a truck, carrying a rocket launcher with three unfired rockets, left in the nearby al-Rashdiyah area, the statement said.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, as the military bases housing U.S. troops across Iraq and the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad have been frequently targeted by insurgents' mortar and rocket attacks.

Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against Islamic State militants, mainly providing training and advising to the Iraqi forces.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 06:36:59|Editor: huaxia

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Members of a Chinese aid team arrive at Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, on Match 12, 2020. A charter flight carrying a nine-member Chinese aid team, along with tonnes of medical supplies, arrived at Fiumicino Airport on Thursday night, in part of China's efforts to help Italy contain the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting)

ROME, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A charter flight carrying a 9-member Chinese aid team, along with tonnes of medical supplies, arrived at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on Thursday night, in part of China's efforts to help Italy contain the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The Airbus A-350 wide body airliner, from China Eastern, landed around 22:30 local time at the cargo zone of the airport, greeted by a crowd of local experts from the Italian Red Cross and delegates from the Chinese Embassy to Italy.

The team was organized by the National Health Commission and the Red Cross Society of China. It is the third expert team sent abroad by Chinese authorities following previous teams sent to Iran and Iraq.

The expert corps departed Shanghai earlier Thursday, and all the team members and flight crew had passed health checks before they boarded the plane, according to the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission.

They took with them more than 700 pieces of equipment and goods prepared by the Ruijin Hospital of the School of Medicine at Shanghai Jiaotong University, including ventilators, monitors and defibrillators.

"It's for setting up an intensive care unit for patients infected with COVID-19," said Chen Haitao, deputy head of the hospital. "According to the requirements of the Italian side, we selected equipment proven to be useful during clinical practices."

The Chinese experts and equipment arrived two days after the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Italy topped 10,000.

Hardest hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, Italy has toughened its measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, and the whole country has been under quarantine for three days.

"Quite a lot of Italian doctors and medical experts want to come and show their gratitude to their Chinese colleagues, but not everyone could be allowed to go out of the town at this special moment," said a source from the Italian Red Cross.
Both chambers were scheduled to start a 10-day-long spring break on March 19, but those plans came under scrutiny this week as the spread of the coronavirus transformed into a global pandemic.

The Missouri Legislature meets annually from January until mid-May. The House and Senate are constitutionally required to approve a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, but are not mandated to make other changes to state law.

Illinois lawmakers also on Wednesday canceled their scheduled session for next week over the same concerns about the safety of meeting in a large group.

Although the spread of COVID-19 has roiled the stock market, Gov. Mike Parsons budget office is still predicting revenue to grow by 1.9% in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The decisions by the House and Senate came as worries about the transmission of the disease exploded in the Capitol. A group of University of Missouri journalism students, who cover state government, had earlier been at a conference in Texas where one attendee not affiliated with the university tested positive for coronavirus.

Haahr and Rowden issued statements Wednesday saying there was no known threat in the Capitol.
Phuket, Thailand  11 March 2020: JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa will go dark for one hour on March 28th to shine a light on climate action in support of Earth Hour 2020. The hotel will join millions around the world in turning off its lights at 8:30 p.m. local time to illuminate a powerful message about environmental awareness and action. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) created the annual global environmental awareness event 13 years ago to emphasize the threat of climate change.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa will participate by hosting the Earth Hour ceremony to build environment awareness and drive real positive changes to protect our planet which activities include: turn off exterior signage lighting; dim or turn off non-essential interior lighting; use candlelight in appropriate public areas such as lobby, restaurants and bars; and invite hotel guests to gather together at the hotels lobby; lit the candles in the symbolic of 60+ Earth Hour on Mai Khao beach.

The resort also offers Earth Hour Specials. Guests can enjoy the spa treatment at Mandara Spa, receive 20% discount on 60-minute Balinese massage or organic facial treatment between 8.30 pm  10.00 pm. Plus 10% off when purchased the natural and eco-friendly skincare or body products at Mandara Spa. For reservations, drop an e-mail to mhrs.hktjw.spa.mgr@marriott.com

Our Food & Beverage team offers a candlelit dinner at the Andaman Grill, select either 3-course or 5-course set menu created by 100% sustainable and locally sourced produce intentionally to reduce carbon footprint in collaboration with the Earth Hour. Price is starting from THB 888++ per person, the earth hour set menu is available from 23  29 March. For more information or reserve your table, contact our Food & Beverage dining experience team, call +66 (0)76 338 000 or Email: fbdiningexperience@marriotthotels.com

Marriott International is proud to continue celebrating Earth Hour as it is a great opportunity to engage with our guests and raise awareness about environmental issues across the world, says Denise Naguib, Global Vice President of Sustainability and Supplier Diversity. We have a responsibility to address environmental concerns throughout our operations, and have launched a platform to do exactly that. Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, our sustainability and social impact platform, guides our efforts to deliver continuous positive results and affect global change, and Earth Hour is a chance for our hotels to share this important message.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa will also participate in Marriott Internationals drive to raise funds for WWF and posts our Earth Hour efforts on Twitter and Instagram with hashtags #MIEarthHour and #Serve360 #earthhour. Marriott International will donate US$ 3 to WWF.

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is located at 231 Moo 3, Mai Khao, Talang, Phuket, Thailand. Online: www.jwmarriottphuketresort.com / facebook and Instagram @jwmarriottphuket and twitter @JWMarriottHKT.
By Alex Ho

Investing.com - The Japanese yen gained against the U.S. dollar on Thursday in Asia as the new coronavirus continued to spread in Europe.

The USD/JPY pair lost 0.6% to 103.85 by 11:34 PM ET (03:34 GMT).

Overnight, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ban on travels to the U.S. from Europe for 30 days in an attempt to stop the virus from spreading further.

The ban would apply to countries in the Schengen economic and travel zone, while UK and Ireland would be exempted. Also, goods are not included in the ban.

The news came as the World Health Organization officially declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic.

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 on 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 U.S. dollar index that tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies dropped 0.1% to 96.360.

Meanwhile, the AUD/USD pair lost 0.4% to 0.6458 even after Australia announced an $11.4 billion stimulus package that includes wage subsidies and cash payments to small businesses.

The EUR/USD pair gained 0.2% to 1.1290 as markets await to see how aggressively the European Central Bank moves when it meets later on Thursday.

The GBP/USD pair was little changed at 1.2817. The Bank of England slashing rates by half a point earlier today.

The U.K government, meanwhile, revealed a 12 billion pound ($15.43 billion) fund to combat the coronavirus.

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NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KWT Global, an MDC Partners Inc. agency, announced today that with confirmed cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) on the rise, it is making its Special Situations/Crisis Communications team available to nonprofits in need of communications support on a pro bono basis. KWT Global will provide communications advice, guidance and content support on a first come, first served basis to help these organizations effectively communicate key health and safety messaging to critical stakeholders.

Effective immediately, KWT Global's team of crisis specialists are available to help a nonprofit:

Determine what and when to communicate to key audiences

Share information about changing policies and procedures on events, meetings, travel and business continuity operations and best practices

Ensure consistency of information shared, both in content and tone, in a rapidly-changing situation

Build confidence among key audiences that the situation is being managed effectively

Prepare for media inquiries about impact on business operations and potential risk factors within the organization

Maintain personal privacy while supporting organizational and employee health

"We understand the challenges that many organizations, especially nonprofits, are facing in the wake of COVID-19," said Aaron Kwittken, CEO, KWT Global. "Many of these organizations have limited resources and in-house capabilities to manage an unprecedented situation like COVID-19. As a purpose-driven agency, we feel compelled to offer our support to a nonprofit in need of communications services, from messaging guidance to determining the best ways to convey difficult decisions such as delays, closures or cancellations."

For a nonprofit that needs immediate assistance, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

KWT Global is a purpose-driven agency that offers retained clients "purpose dollars" allocated towards a client's cause-related endeavor. To date, KWT Global has provided more than $500,000 in time and resources toward more than 100 charities, nonprofits and sustainable causes. Each member of KWT Global's staff is also "voluntold" to take two Purpose Days off every year to donate their time to a cause of their choosing.

About KWT Global

KWT Global is a global brand strategy agency that employs an interdisciplinary, design-thinking approach to marketing and communications. We synthesize the most impactful elements of PR, influencer engagement, social and digital media, and content marketing to help our clients identify and demonstrate their best 'selves.' Headquartered in New York City with offices in London and Toronto, we are a multi-specialist agency serving clients across dozens of industry sectors. For more information, visit www.kwtglobal.com.

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China has shut down permits for Mt. Everest amid the coronavirus epidemic, as the ruling Chinese Communist Party's propaganda message focuses on 'imported cases' of COVID-19.



Beijing has canceled permits for the Chinese side of the mountain, although the Nepal side remains open for the time being, although the country has suspended arrivals from countries worst-hit by the coronavirus.



The authorities are meanwhile focusing media coverage -- all of which is tightly controlled by Beijing -- on other countries that are struggling with outbreaks of COVID-19.



Unconfirmed reports on social media said local and regional health authorities are being told to stop reporting new cases unless they are in recent arrivals from overseas.



While, RFA was unable to verify the content of those reports, health officials have reported COVID-10 cases in recent arrivals from the U.K., Italy and Iran in recent weeks.



Guangdong-based rights activist Wang Aizhong said that the authorities, at the very least, appear to be emphasizing imported cases in official media reports.



"The goal is still to make much of the superiority of China's [authoritarian] system and the decision-making abilities of its government," Wang said. "Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that there could be a resurgence of the epidemic in China, so they will be able to blame other countries for that."



Shifting the narrative

The Chinese Communist Party typically argues that its authoritarian rule is better in time of crisis, because it enables the government to act decisively to shut down huge swathes of the country.



There are also signs that Beijing is seeking to shift the narrative away from the fact that the first outbreak of COVID-19 was in its central city of Wuhan, in spite of there being no trace of it recorded outside China before that time.



Zhong Nanshan, director of the Chinese Medical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, told a news conference on Feb. 27: "We can say that the epidemic first appeared in China, but it didn't necessarily originate in China."



Official media is also focusing on aid and humanitarian assistance to Italy, where services are struggling to cope with a sudden and overwhelming surge in COVID-19 cases amid a nationwide lockdown.



China on dispatched a brand new A350 Eastern Airlines jet with nine medical experts and 31 tons of medical supplies from the Chinese Red Cross to Italy's anti-epidemic expert group.



The plane flew directly from Shanghai to Rome, and carried supplies including ICU equipment, protective equipment and antiviral agents, reports said.



Media reports also highlighted a video conference call between health minister Ma Xiaowei and World Health Organization (WHO) officials, during which he "shared China's experience in resisting the epidemic."



Promoting traditional Chinese medicine

Beijing-based freelance writer Wang Zang said the truth is that the pandemic was caused by local officials who tried to cover up what was known about the virus at the start of the outbreak in Wuhan in mid-December.



"The truth is becoming clear and the eyes of the world are being opened," Wang said. "Any attempt to blame others or avoid responsibility will end in failure, and the rest of the world will eventually hold [China] to account."



Top Chinese medical adviser Zhong Nanshan, a pulmonologist who discovered the SARS coronavirus and helped manage the outbreak in 2003, told the WHO on that if countries work together, the COVID-19 pandemic could be over by June.



But reports were emerging of a rift on the panel of experts in charge of managing the coronavirus outbreak in China, with Zhong reportedly dissenting from President Xi Jinping's decree that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) should be used in tandem with mainstream medical approaches to tackle the virus.



The People's Daily on published a signed opinion article reiterating the need to integrate TCM with western medicine that has been widely reprinted by other publications and institutions.



Zhong, on the other hand, has been quoted as saying: "We do not expect TCM to have a strong antiviral effect."



An unconfirmed social media post said on that Zhong has since been replaced as director of the department of healthcare reform at the National Health Commission by Liang Wannian, who will lead a team that includes TCM specialists.



The post was deleted soon after it appeared online.



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Fok Leung-kiu and Fong Tak-ho for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
YEREVAN.  Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: According to Zhoghovurd dailys information, the situation is not very calm inside the Yerevan Municipality, whereas Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan is on vacation these days.

() the mayor has decided to depart for a short vacation to the Czech Republicto his father-in-law.

Zhoghovurd daily tried to find out from mayors spokesperson Hakob Karapetyan what the reason is for the mayor's vacation? It turned out that Karapetyan is also on vacation, but he replied: "The vacation is conditioned by the RA Labor Code". However, he declined to say where Hayk Marutyan is spending his vacation.

According to Zhoghovurd dailys information, the situation in the municipality is not calm, and even inside they do not rule out that Hayk Marutyan will leave his post after the referendum on constitutional amendments to take place on April 5.
FLINT, MI -- General Motors facilities in North America are turning away visitors if theyve had cold or flu-like symptoms within the last 14 days, part of new visitor protocols at all its facilities in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

A GM spokesman said Thursday, March 12, that at plants like Flint Assembly, preventative measures like cleaning of common touchpoints throughout the plant are also increasing, but the company said precautions against the disease have not caused production disruptions in North America.

The comments come on the same day that the United Auto Workers said coronavirus has been identified at a Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plant in Kokomo, Indiana.

Our thoughts and support are with our UAW members and their family, friends and community in Kokomo ...," UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada said in a statement issued by the union Thursday. The UAW has been actively monitoring and reacting to issues related to the spread of COVID-19. We are working closely with FCA on this first discovery of the virus at one of their facilities as well as on the precautions and measures necessary to protect our UAW FCA members and everyone who works in our facilities.

GM has factories in Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Indiana and Kansas, but its operations are most concentrated in Michigan, where the company has plants in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Bay City, Orion Township, Brownstown Township, Romulus, Warren and Lansing.

The new visitor protocol at all GM sites includes a health screening questionnaire.

Visitors are being asked if they have returned from any of eight countries -- China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea or Spain -- in the past 14 days, had close contact or care for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days or experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days, including fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory illness or difficulty breathing in the last 14 days.

If visitors answer yes to any of those questions, access will be denied, GMs website says.

The company issued a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal in response to questions about production and other GM facilities affected by the coronavirus.

We are implementing new visitor protocols at all GM sites to keep our employees and all those who visit our locations safe, the statement says. As the coronavirus disease outbreak continues to evolve and spreads globally, GM medical and security are monitoring the situation closely and will periodically update guidance based on the recommendations from the (Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization).

The statement says employees may bring in their own sanitizing wipes or solution but restrictions apply for widespread use in manufacturing operations.

The CDC has said there is little to no risk of acquiring COVID-19 by handling parts or packing materials shipped from China or other areas where COVID-19 is present.

In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures, the CDC website says. Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread most often by respiratory droplets. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with imported goods and there have not been any cases of COVID-19 in the United States associated with imported goods.
All Irish retail banks are being asked to follow the lead of Bank of Ireland and publish details of their gender pay gap.

The bank revealed this week that women are paid more than 24% less than men blaming the imbalance of men over women at senior levels in the bank.
At the end of a programme on RTE the other night, this message appeared. In its correspondence with RTE and survivors, the Residential Institutions Redress Board has always referred to the implications of breaking section 28(6) of the Redress Act. The programme was Redress  Breaking the Silence. It set out to prove  and did so persuasively  that there is no closure without justice. In its moving and harrowing interviews with survivors, a simple truth emerged. Ireland decided that if it gave people who had suffered beyond endurance a few bob, it was safe to turn our backs on them.

Nothing exemplified this more than a couple of pretty disgusting interventions by Bertie Ahern. He gets great credit for having issued the famous state apology to survivors of institutional abuse, but when he was asked about the resignation of Judge Laffoy as the first head of the inquiry, he sneered at her. She just walked away, he said. No reason at all because his government was doing nothing except helping.

Yet it was abundantly clear  it has always been clear  that she felt she had no choice but to resign after three years of Department of Education stonewalling. Three years when they made every effort they could to undermine the authority and independence of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. She spelled out all her reasons in a lengthy letter to Bertie Aherns government in September 2003. Yet years later he claimed that she had no reason at all.

In another section of the interview he gave the programme, Ahern completely poo-pooed the idea that survivors might feel any sense of grievance at all. Nobody ever gets 100% of what theyre looking for, he said. The innuendo in everything he said was clear. A bit more money would have sorted it out.

Whats 100% of justice, I wonder? Is there a proportion at which justice become injustice? And what has it got to do with money?

Bertie Ahern wasnt asked, and certainly didnt offer to explain, the basis for that warning notice at the end of the programme. Maybe he couldnt explain it, because its a mystery.

Heres what section 28(6) of that act says: A person shall not publish any information concerning an application or an award made under this Act that refers to any other person (including an applicant), relevant person or institution by name or which could reasonably lead to the identification of any other person (including an applicant), a relevant person or an institution referred to in an application made under this Act.

As the programme made clear, this is a gagging order. Its an offence under the Act to break the gagging order. That means its a crime for any survivor to say how much they got in redress and why they got it. Under pain of criminal sanction they cannot say anything that names the institution where they were abused, or of course the name of the abuser or the religious order that ran the institution.

The mystery is where this gagging order came from. I have yet to meet a survivor who believes the gagging order was put in place to protect them  indeed Ive yet to meet a survivor who wants to be gagged.

And Ive read the entire Dail debate on that Act. It was debated in the Dail on four separate occasions in November 2001 before being referred to a committee. After the committee stage, and a lot of amendments, it was then debated over two days in February 2002. More amendments were discussed.

Then they ran out of time. Right at the end of the final stage, this motion was put to the Dail and passed: That the amendments set down by the Minister for Education and Science and not disposed of are hereby made to the Bill, Fourth Stage is hereby completed and the Bill is hereby passed.

In other words, amendments proposed by the Minister (Michael Woods) that hadnt been reached, were all now declared passed without ever being debated. They included the gagging order. This invidious and punitive piece of legislation was never placed on the Dail record at all, and is now the law of the land. Thats disgraceful in its own right. But whats even more disgraceful is that there has never been an opportunity to ask why. Its clear from reading the act that the section is designed only to protect the identity of abusers and the religious orders that wanted to protect them. Weve actually passed a law to protect abusers and punish the people they abused. And weve done it without a single word of debate.

And then the system went on to deprive people of justice even more. In 2019 the government started debate on another bill, the Retention of Records Bill.

It quickly became clear that the purpose of this Bill, irrespective of what any survivor might want, is to ensure that all records and documents associated with the Inquiries into Institutional Abuse, and all the stories told by survivors themselves, are to be buried in the national archives for 75 years.

This isnt just disgraceful, its inexplicable. The only question worth asking is whose interests are served. Whose interests are served by not allowing the name of a dead abuser into the public domain? Whose interest are served by not allowing religious orders to be named, or their accounts to be published, or their records to be open for scrutiny? Whose interests are served by not allowing the records of official inspections public?

When he was moving the Bill in the Dail, the Minister for Education (Joe McHugh) said: When the draft scheme of this Bill underwent pre-legislative scrutiny, the substance of concerns raised related to: the right to privacy; the right to a good name; and the issue of legitimate expectations of confidentiality. That sort of explains it, doesnt it?

The good news, insofar as there is any good news, is that the Retention of Records Bill died when the Dail was dissolved. But there is little doubt that it will be seen as an urgent piece of legislation when a new government is formed.

If it is passed in its present form, it will be another piece of injustice against the survivors of institutional abuse. For many of them, giving their testimony involved agony and stress. We know what they suffered in the process. Now, for some at least their testimony is all they have.

If they want it buried, so be it. If they want their own records, they should be seen as having an absolute right to them. If they want to publish, they should have access to advice on whether or not some names should be redacted, in their own interest.

But I will join any campaign, any protest, any demonstration, if the right of any survivor to own his or her own story is trampled on in this arbitrary way. There is no closure without justice and there can be no justice if the state continues to protect everyones interests except those of the survivors. The systems of the state have done enough damage. Its time for it to stop now.
Slovenia will not close border with Italy but will start performing health checks there to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Health Minister Ales Sabeder told a news conference on Wednesday, Trend reports with reference to Reuters.

The number of confirmed cases in Slovenia rose to 47.
A TTC subway train is cramped with people ready to go to work. Many Torontonians prefer to use the public transit for its convenience, but it does mean being in close-quarters with strangers. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Yahoo News Canada is committed to providing our readers with the most accurate and recent information on all things coronavirus. We know things change quickly, including some possible information in this story. For the latest on COVID-19, we encourage our readers to consult online resources like Canadas public health website, World Health Organization, as well as our own Yahoo Canada homepage.

People who regularly use public transit in their commute to work or school might be feeling anxious about whether theyre at greater risk of contracting the coronavirus. While the risk in Canada remains low, Health Canada has encouraged people to consider changing their behaviours and routines to reduce the risk of infection. This includes reducing exposure to crowded places. One suggestion includes getting places by public transit outside of rush hour, when theres a large increase in crowds.

Many transit systems across the country are closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak, which was recently labelled a pandemic, and remain in constant contact with regional health authorities.

In Vancouver, TransLink spokesperson Ben Murphy said in a statement that when it comes to the companys response to COVID-19, they are following the lead of health officials. While they havent been directed to make any operational changes, the transit company is taking steps to keep things clean to reduce any potential risk of viral spread.

Murphy noted that stations and bus loops across the system are cleaned once a day, detailing the many surfaces that are wiped down with disinfectant. These include stair and escalator handrails, elevator buttons, door handles, fare gates, vending machines, garbage handles, benches, seats, emergency cabinets and emergency phones. SkyTrain cars are cleaned overnight and receive a disinfectant wipe down of poles, seats, ceilings, handles, windows, sills, and other surfaces within the cars. The systems entire bus and SeaBus fleet are being sprayed using a strong disinfectant each week, which comes in addition to daily cleaning schedules, while shared ride service HandyDART vehicles are disinfected twice per week in addition to daily cleaning schedules.

Story continues

In Toronto, TTC spokesperson Hayley Waldman says extensive cleaning is done on all vehicles daily, though she admits they have stepped up their cleaning since late January.

We pay special attention to areas that are considered high touch, like areas youd grab onto, she tells Yahoo Canada. We are also providing special cleaning for our operator areas.

They are also encouraging customers to practice all the health suggestions advised by public health organizations and professionals, like washing hands frequently, coughing or sneezing into your elbow and staying home if youre feeling sick.

Tom Koch, an adjunct professor with the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia says at the present time, commuters should not be overly concerned about their daily trips since the level of viral incidence in the population-at-large is still not high.

People are being cautious about sneezing or coughing into their sleeves, washing their hands when they get home, not rubbing their eyes if they can refrain from it, he says.

Alison Thompson, an associate professor in the faculty of pharmacy at the University of Toronto says during the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918, an ad appeared in a local newspaper promoting bicycles as an alternative to streetcars.

It read: Get away from stuffy, overcrowded streetcars with their danger of contagion. Ride a bicycle through the pure, fresh air.

People have been trying to avoid mass transit in these kinds of situations for a long time, she says.

She says that social distancing, by keeping at least a meter away from other people is a good idea if possible, but admits that can be challenging during rush hour. It helps if a window on a bus or streetcar can be left open to circulate fresh air.

Outside of that, she says masks arent terribly effective unless youre already sick, but avoid touching your face and keep your hands clean.

Wash your hands after being on public transit, before you do anything else, or use hand sanitizer as a backup, she says. Gloves are ideal but were getting into warmer weather so it might look a little strange.
10.9% of all U.S. international flights and 16.9% of scheduled U.S. international seats will be affected

OAG, the world's leading provider of travel data and insight, released its latest analysis on the global impact of the coronavirus on the air travel market.

The Europe to United States travel ban will have far-reaching implications for the global aviation industry. The ban will affect 10.9% of all international flights and 16.9% of all scheduled international seats between the United States and Schengen countries. Overall, 6,747 flights and roughly 2 million seats will be affected each way over the next four weeks.

Delta and United Airlines are the most affected U.S. carriers. Together, they account for 31% of the affected flights. Lufthansa is the most affected European airline (13%). The most affected European countries are Germany, France and the Netherlands-which service 57% of all flights between the Schengen Area and U.S.

"COVID-19 has caused the single largest disruption to the air travel market ever," said John Grant, senior aviation analyst at OAG. "The situation is extremely fluid, with travel restrictions, capacity and airline schedules changing by the day. Expect a significant amount of cancellations from U.S. and European carriers in the coming days."

Looking ahead to scheduled capacity for April 2020, as of March 12, 2020, there are currently 13,169 scheduled, one-way flights from Europe to the U.S., including the United Kingdom. The countries with the most scheduled flights include the UK (4,121 flights), Germany (1741 flights), France (1,570 flights), Netherlands (1,212 flights) and Spain (851 flights).

For more information, visit OAG's dedicated page: https://www.oag.com/coronavirus-airline-schedules-data

About OAG

OAG is a leading global travel data provider, that has been powering the growth and innovation of the air travel ecosystem since 1929.

Headquartered in the UK, OAG has global operations in the USA, Singapore, Japan, Lithuania and China.

For more information, visit: www.oag.com and follow us on Twitter @OAG Aviation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005629/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

UK ROW

Katy Ludwell

Marketing Manager

pressoffice@oag.com
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany underscored their commitment to break infertility stigma and build healthcare capacity in Namibia during their high-level meeting held at the State House between the Head of State of Namibia, Hage Geingob, the First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos and Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.

The objective of the meeting was to explain and discuss the programs of Merck Foundation, which were launched in partnership with Namibia First Lady and Ministry of Health & Social Service and Ministry of Education.

"Namibia needs the programs of Merck Foundation to break infertility stigma and train media to sensitize communities about health and sensitive issues. Moreover, the training programs for specialized doctors are very critical for our people and their social and economic well-being. I wholeheartedly support Merck Foundation in our country, to enable the success of all their programs", emphasised Hage Geingob, the President of Namibia.

The First lady of Namibia and Ambassador of Merck More than a Mother, Monica Geingos emphasized the importance of this campaign to break the silence of the Namibian women who suffered from the stigma of infertility. She also emphasized the critical role her office is going to play to be the voice of these women to empower them through advocacy, access to information and change of mindset.

"I am very happy and proud of the partnership with the First Lady of Namibia and Ambassador of Merck More than a Mother. This partnership will help us to break the stigma of infertility and empower childless women through access to information, health, and change of mindset. It will also help us to train specialized doctors in the fields of diabetes, oncology and fertility care which will contribute significantly towards social and economic development in Namibia. We are committed to lead Africa to a better future through changing the landscape of healthcare in the continent", emphasised Dr Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation also plans to introduce other unique initiatives in the country to create the desired culture shift with regard to breaking the stigma around infertility.

"Few initiatives include announcing the 'Merck More than a Mother' Media Recognition Award and Health Media Training for the first time in the country in partnership with the First Lady of Namibia together with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education. Also, the launching of an inspiring children's storybook of Paulus and Limbikani to strengthen family values of love and respect since young ages which will reflect on eliminating the stigma of infertility and resulted in domestic violence in the future. Also, involving the fashion industry to deliver the message of breaking the stigma of infertile women to the community in day to day life which will be achieved by out 'Merck More Than a Mother' Fashion Awards for Namibia and rest of Africa. We will also be launching our special project 'Education Linda', which helps young girls who are unprivileged but brilliant to continue their education", added Dr Rasha Kelej.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Defence Secretary Mark Esper's visit to India on March 15-16 has been called off due to the coronavirus threat, Defence Ministry officials said on Thursday.

The trip, during which Esper was supposed to meet his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, is among the several events being postponed because of the coronavirus infection.

A two-day conference organised by the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), which was to start from Thursday, has also been postponed due to the COVID-19 threat.

The defence minister and Home Minister Amit Shah were scheduled to attend the conference, which included seminars on a range of security issues in Asia.

"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 Ministry of Defence think tank said in an email to the participants.

The conference organised by IDSA, now rechristened Manohar ParrikarInstitute 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.

Besides this, Milan-2020, the largest multilateral exercise hosted by the Navy to be held from March 18 to 28 in Visakhapatnam, was indefinitely postponed as a precaution.

Another military drill -- India Egypt Joint Special Forces exercise 2020 -- which was scheduled to be held at Jodhpur from March 11 to 13, has been postponed as well.

The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharahtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union Health Ministry said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

LUDHIANA: The president of the labour wing of Shiv Sena (Hindustan), Narinder Bhardwaj, has been arrested for falsely claiming an attack on himself to get security cover, said police.

Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Aggarwal told reporters that Narinder Bhardwaj had lodged an FIR with Ludhiana Police on March 7 alleging that some unidentified men attacked him while he was in his car in Kohara area a day earlier.

The complainant, Narinder Bhardwaj, 45, had claimed two bike-borne men, of which one was turbaned, stopped in front of his car and slammed an iron rod onto his vehicle's windscreen.

Bhardwaj had stated in his complaint that he could not identify the assailants because both of them had their faces covered with a piece of cloth, Aggarwal said.

He had claimed that he managed to escape unhurt in the alleged attack, the CP added.

Aggarwal said later during investigations, Bhardwaj could not prove his location at the spot.

When police questioned him intensely, he spilled the beans and confessed that he had faked the attack on himself to get police security cover.

Police has arrested him and further investigations were under progress, Aggarwal said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison talks to the media at a press conference in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 12, 2019. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Scott Morrison Reassures Australian Public in National Address Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison reassured the Australian public in a national address late Thursday, saying that the government is well prepared to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.

I want to assure you and your family tonight that while Australia cannot and is not immune from this virus, we are well-prepared and we are well-equipped to deal with it and we do have a clear plan to see Australia through, Morrison said in a televised address at 7 p.m. AEDTthe first prime minister to do so since Julia Gillard laid out her governments climate plan in 2011.

The prime minister acknowledged that the new coronavirus is highly transmissible and that the risks are more severe for people who are more vulnerable, especially the elderly. He also acknowledged that there are very real and significant economic impacts from the viral outbreak.

We have been taking the coronavirus very seriously, he said.

Morrison outlined three goals of the Australian government, which are:

To protect Australians health To secure Australians jobs and livelihoods Set the country up to bounce back stronger when the crisis is over

Morrison recounted the actions his government has taken so far to prepare for the viruss impacts, including the recently-announced A$2.4 billion national health response plan and the A$17.6 billion economic stimulus plan.

The A$2.4 billion health response plan will set up more than 100 pop-up clinics and provide extra support for aged-care facilities, increase funding for public hospitals and boost our medical stockpile, for essential medicines and masks, Morrison said.

Morrison also noted that Australia had set up travel bans from the most-affected countries, and increased screening at the nations borders. The government also evacuated Australians from virus hotspots and set up quarantine facilities.

Were subsidizing half the wages of 117,000 apprentices in small businesses, Morrison said of the economic stimulus plan. Were providing one-off $750 payments to more than 6 million Australians to spend in our economy now. Almost 2.5 million pensioners will receive this support.

Theres direct cash support of up to $25,000 for small and medium-sized businesses that employ over 7 million Australians to boost their cash flow. And were backing businesses to keep investing by increasing tax incentives to help them buy new equipment now.

The prime minister also said that the government has prepared an A$1 billion fund to support targetted local recovery plans for the most affected regions and industries like tourism and upper-north Queensland, once the coronavirus has run its course.

As our economy bounces back which it will so will our budget because we have not loaded up spending off into the future, Morrison asserted. We can take this action now because we have worked hard to bring the budget back into balance, to maintain our triple-A credit rating and worked with the state governments to provide a world-class health system.

He acknowledged that many Australians are anxious about this and that the country still have a long way to go, but reiterated that the government is acting on its clear plan.

The months ahead will present many challenges but we will respond to them, Morrison said. Well get through this Australia, we all have a role to play  I know well all do our bit.

The new coronavirus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, causes the disease COVID-19. It has killed thousands worldwide, with experts estimating a mortality rate of between 0.1 and 1 percent.

The virus was reported to have emerged in Wuhan, a city in Chinas Hubei Province in late 2019, and notable outbreaks have since been reported in Iran, Italy, and South Korea.

As of late Thursday, Australia has at least 128 cases of the virus and has seen three deaths, involving people aged 95, 82 and 78.

Read More Australia to Consider Europe Travel Ban
A Florida Keys man suspected of selling drugs from inside a popular Key Largo bar early Thursday morning hopped off a boat ramp to get away from a deputy, and the two struggled submerged under water before he was eventually arrested, according to a police report.

Enrique Blasco, 59, is in Monroe County jail on charges of possession with intent to sell cocaine, evidence tampering, smuggling drugs into a detention facility and resisting arrest. His bond information was not immediately available.

Enrique Blasco

Deputies received a tip around 2 a.m. that Blasco was inside the Caribbean Club bar at mile marker 104 on the bay side of Key Largo selling cocaine. The tip came from the Largo Police Department in Pinellas County, which got a call from inside the bar, according to Deputy Joel Torres report.

Torres went inside and saw Blasco, who he said has an extensive criminal history, and asked him to step outside because the music was too loud to talk. However, as soon as the two exited the bar, Blasco ran away from Torres, clearly substantiating the tip that criminal activity was afoot, the Monroe County deputy wrote in his report.

Blasco jumped off a boat ramp on the bar property into the bay. Torres went in after him, and the two fought underwater, according to the report.

I could feel Blasco rummaging through his pockets frantically until he came back up for air, Torres said.

Torres and tree other deputies pulled Blasco out of the water and placed him in handcuffs.

The deputies looked in the water and saw a clear plastic sandwich bag floating on the surface. Torres wen back in the water and grabbed it. Inside the bag were five smaller plastic bags containing what turned out to be cocaine, according to the report.

The deputies searched Blascos clothes and found another small bag of cocaine, Torres said. And, when he was booked into Plantation Key jail, detention deputies found another small plastic bag in his front pocket, according to the report.

Story continues

Torres said his department-issued equipment sustained significant and irreparable damage from being submerged in the saltwater during the struggle. He wrote in his report that the cost of the gear was around $3,000.

The Caribbean Club is a bar popular among locals and tourists alike, and is supposedly the inspiration for the hotel where the 1948 classic John Huston film Key Largo, starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, was set.

The bar still bills itself as the movies film location, but historians say, save for some exterior scenes, the bulk of Key Largo was shot on a Warner Brothers studio lot in California.

Key Largo is home to piece of memorabilia from another John Huston-directed Bogart film, however. The African Queen boat, from the eponymously named 1951 film ,is docked at the Holiday Inn Key Largo at mile marker 100.
Find all our Lessons of the Day here.

Lesson Overview

Featured Article: When the Ocean Gives You Plastic, Make Animals by Alex V. Cipolle.

The Washed Ashore nonprofit collects garbage on the Oregon coast and creates sculptures of animals whose health is endangered by the trash they are made of.

In this lesson, you will learn about the organizations efforts, and in a Going Further activity you will examine and respond to various examples of political art.

Warm Up

What do you know about ocean pollution?

In her winning 2019 Student Editorial Contest essay, Nothing Gets Between Me and My Sushi  Except Plastic, Maybe, Sophie Lee writes:

As an Asian-American self-proclaimed millennial foodie, imagine the shock I experienced when I discovered a horrifying truth  plastic cuisine. Ubiquitous plastic extends beyond our surroundings  and invades our guts  through what we eat and drink. I first learned that sushi is chock-full of microplastics. Theres so much plastic in the water, churned down to the size of rice grains or smaller, and fish gobble it up. When the fish end up on our dinner plates, guess what? Our bellies receive an unsettling supplement that wasnt on the menu. In fact, a National Geographic study found microplastics in 114 marine species  with over half of them regulars in restaurants  meaning that my tummy acquires some uninvited non-digestible additives. Even water isnt safe! My parents often tell me to drink more water to wash down my food  but did they know that I was ingesting plastic too? A 2017 study by Orb Media found microplastic contamination in 83 percent of global tap water  with the highest amount, 94 percent, found in the United States!

What is your reaction to this student essay excerpt? Does it make you more concerned about the problem of ocean pollution? What questions does it raise? How do you think we as individuals and as a society can help alleviate the problem? How can we better educate ourselves and others on the issue?

Questions for Writing and Discussion

Read the featured article, then answer the following questions:

1. The article begins, Angela Haseltine Pozzi stands shoulder to shoulder with Cosmo, a six-foot-tall tufted puffin, on a cliff overlooking the blustery Oregon coast. Who is Cosmo and what is he made of?
Business Minister Heather Humphreys has urged people not to stockpile or panic-buy due to the Covid-19 / coronavirus outbreak.

Many shoppers have been repeatedly purchasing groceries such as pasta, rice and milk as well as toilet tissue.

Minister Humphreys was speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings in Dublin which took place after the Taoiseach announced the closure of colleges, schools, public facilities and cultural institutions from 6pm tonight.

On the issue of stockpiling or panic-buying in supermarkets, Minister Humphreys said that she has met with retailers and distributors and they have assured her that there is sufficient strength in the supply chain.

However, she added: "If people go out and buy products that they dont need to stockpile theyre going to cause a problem.

So I would say, there is no need to do that."

She said that stockpiling certain goods such as toilet paper and pasta shouldnt be necessary.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said that he understood that people in our country are worried and they want to make provisions for themselves, and perhaps vulnerable relatives.

But he added: We should all continue to buy what we need to provide for ourselves and families and loved ones [but] we shouldnt stockpile.

He added that there can be unintended consequences of taking something someone else could require.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump, in a nationwide address Wednesday night, proposed a broad menu of economic aid for individuals and companies battered by the coronavirus pandemic.

In the Democratically controlled House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., hopes to vote on a separate economic stimulus proposal Thursday.

The proposals run the gamut, including quick tax cuts and tax holidays, government-financed paid sick leave, aid for small businesses, and targeted bailouts for industries especially hard-hit, such as the airlines and cruise ship operators.

Here's a look at several key proposals, and their pros and cons:

PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY

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The "most important, powerful piece" of Trump's relief package, in the words of the president's economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, is a payroll tax holiday.

Congressional leaders in both parties were cool to the proposal, but Trump late Wednesday repeated his call for it.

Besides the hefty cost - it would add several hundreds of billions of dollars to the federal debt - a suspension of the payroll, or social security, tax isn't seen as particularly well-targeted or fast-moving enough to turn things around.

For an employee making $25,000 a year, it would amount to an extra $60 in take-home pay every two weeks.

Moreover, if you're not in the labor force, like many elderly and long-term unemployed, you won't get anything. And if you are not covered by federal withholding taxes, like those in the gig economy, you won't see any immediate benefit. Nor does it help those who may be temporarily idled or see a cut in their work hours due to the economic disruptions caused by the virus.

Harry Holzer, a public policy professor at Georgetown University, described a payroll tax cut as "general stimulus for people who aren't hurt."

EXTENDING THE TAX DEADLINE

The plan to extend the April 15 tax filing deadline, said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin, would apply to most everyone except for the "super rich."

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He called it a "big stimulus" that would pump more than $200 billion into the economy. That figure - compared with more than $300 billion of taxes paid last April - appears to be the amount that taxpayers would hold onto until sometime later.

It's not clear how stimulative that would be, however, at least not to economists and small business owners like Seth Weiner.

Weiner is chief executive of Sonic Promos, a firm in Gaithersburg, Md., that specializes in selling promotional products such as hats, stress balls and memory sticks. His business customers use them for their marketing and internal company functions and events.

But since the coronavirus outbreak, he's had trouble getting merchandise from China on time, and now many companies are canceling events, which means less need for branded goods.

Weiner said that his company would only see a small benefit from the tax deferral. "It just means I could hold what's left of my tax dues for a little while," he said. "And maybe we get paid a bit faster on some invoices."

Experts say the real beneficiaries of a tax date delay would be higher-income households. As Oxford Economics notes, "While the tax deferment would provide important relief to individuals owing taxes during this virus outbreak, we note that 80% of those liabilities are owed by workers with income above $100,000, over 50% of workers with income above $250,000 and 25% of workers with income above $1,000,000."

FEDERAL MONEY FOR MEDICAID, FOOD STAMPS

Most experts agree that helping states pay for needed testing and medical care is the first thing the federal government should do.

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Jay Shambaugh, an economist at the Brookings Institution, said Washington could, for example, pick up an additional $50-60 billion in costs for Medicaid, the federal-state medical program for low-income individuals.

With the rapid increase in coronavirus cases, he said, some states are feeling budget strapped and looking to cut other programs like education, which would only do further damage to the economy.

Similarly, the federal government could loosen rules on work requirements for individuals to qualify for SNAP, also known as food stamps, which would help workers who suddenly find themselves quarantined or idled. A growing number of companies are telling employees to not come to work if they have symptoms.

"You don't want people to have to make a choice: Do I go to work to meet the threshold (to qualify for SNAP) or do I stay home?" said Shambaugh.

EXPANSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

During the Great Recession in 2007-09 and the slow recovery that followed, the bipartisan stimulus package included support for states to extend the maximum length of jobless benefits.

Unlike the European system, the U.S. unemployment insurance program provides benefits for only those who are available for work and looking for a job, not for workers who have their hours cut - a distinct possibility as businesses respond to shrinking traffic.

In a letter to Congress this week, more than 50 labor and community groups urged lawmakers to include so-called work-sharing benefits, allowing full-time workers to move to part-time status while they get compensated through the program for reduced hours.

Economists say extending the duration and amount of unemployment benefits paid also would better protect workers, expanding a program that's been a common form of stimulus during hard economic times.

PAID SICK LEAVE

One in four workers in private industry do not have access to paid sick leave, and that jumps much higher for part-time workers and employees in the service industry.

Other workers who have paid time off when they're sick often get just a few days.

Workers in low-wage services are thus among the most vulnerable to the economic fallout from the health crisis. Trump said Wednesday that he would soon announce emergency action to provide financial help for workers who get sick or need to be quarantined, but he didn't give details, and he also called for Congress to take action.

Some congressional Democrats want all wage earners to have 14 days of sick pay to meet the quarantine time frame. The Democratic bill would cover at least 14 days of sick pay, covering two-thirds of salary, to workers at companies that don't provide the benefit.

Another idea to cover the extra cost to businesses is to offer tax credits to employers providing paid sick days to affected employees, including those taking care of an ill family member.

Expanding or loosening tax credits would certainly help, said Holly Wade, director of research & policy analysis at the National Federation of Independent Business, the leading small-business lobby.

She added that small employers also need relief on the administrative end of this issue. "Record-keeping and paperwork are increasingly burdensome for small businesses," she said.

COMPANY BAILOUTS

Administration officials have talked about direct support for companies in such struggling industries as transportation services. There's a lot of worry also about how U.S. energy firms will survive an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia amid the virus pandemic.

During the Great Recession, the auto industry was hammered by falling demand, and car makers didn't have access to a type of financing in which loans are available to bankrupt companies that allow them to operate through a restructuring.

That meant any vehicle manufacturer that went into bankruptcy would have been shuttered, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. "Given that the vehicle industry was critical to all of manufacturing, and failure of the industry would result in tens of millions more job losses, the federal government bailed it out," he said.

Even though the government took ownership stakes in the auto firms and ultimately were able to recoup the cost of the bailout, it nonetheless caused a public uproar.

"Bailing out specific companies should only happen if failure of those companies can't be handled using the bankruptcy system and their failure would do serious damage to the broader economy," Zandi said. "Providing financial support to specific industries and companies should be the last thing on the list of fiscal stimulus measures."

SMALL-BUSINESS LOANS

Trump said he planned to ask Congress for $50 billion more for the Small Business Administration so it could offer low-interest loans to smaller firms to help them through financial hardship.

But surveys of small businesses show access to credit isn't a problem for most of them right now, so it's unclear how helpful such a measure would be.

---

(c)2020 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
South Africa: Prevention best strategy to curb GBV, says Zulu

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu says the best way to tackle gender-based violence is to dedicate efforts towards prevention strategies.

The Minister said this when she responded to oral questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

The best way to end violence against women and children is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Prevention should start early in life, educating young boys and girls, and promoting respectful relationships and gender equality. However, I do want to say that while I speak about this being done in schools for young people, I do note that in the South African context, it is important for us to do more work on this amongst adults.

We have to do this in homes, in the workplace, churches and in the streets so that we can prevent violence against women and children.

Zulu said it was unfortunate that the country usually deals with a disaster after it has already happened and it is for that reason that government believes there is a need for education for prevention, which should start right in this House.

It is in the manner in which we [raise] our own children, in how we relate to the boy child at home, and how we relate to the girl child at home.

I want to thank those parents, especially men, who have stepped up to say no to violence against women and children, and those men who have done so in places where nobody can see them.

Zulu said, meanwhile, that in partnership with the Department of Social Development and the SA National Aids Council, the Mens Centre has served to elevate the gravity of gender-based violence, and the central role men and boys can play in mitigating the scourge.

Our men and boys Championing Change programme serves not to resolve issues of gender-based violence in isolation, but also addresses issues of HIV prevention and abuse of alcohol and drugs.

By the end of March 2020, we would have held Mens Parliaments and Boys Assemblies in the nine provinces.

The sessions that we have held to give a voice to men and boys fears and hopes also address various stereotypes and harmful beliefs and practices, which have contributed to the perpetuation of violence against women and children, said Zulu.

Help resources

South Africa is in the process of establishing more safe homes for survivors of GBV across all its provinces. Funds are being allocated by National Treasury to establish the national council to combat gender-based violence and femicide.

The Social Development Department also operates the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC). The centre operates a national 24/7 call centre facility.

The facility employs social workers, who are responsible for call-taking and call referrals. The centre operates an emergency line number  0800 428 428.

This is supported by a USSD, please call me facility, which can be accessed by dialing *120*7867#.

A Skype Line -- Helpme GBV -- is also available for members of the deaf community.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
- The conversation on the dethronement of the Emir of Kano is still ongoing

- Senator Shehu Sani has given his thoughts on the issue

- Sani, a political rival to Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai gave his thoughts on the appointments given to the Emir

Senator Shehu Sani has reacted to the appointments given to Emir Muhammad Sanusi II by Kaduna state governor, Nasir El rufai.

Within 24 hours, Governor El rufai announced the dethroned Emir as the chancellor of the Kaduna State University (KASU) and vice-chairman of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).

While many have praised the Kaduna state governor for identifying with his long term associate, Senator Sani does not seem impressed.

Senator Shehu Sani is a political rival to Governor El rufai

Source: UGC

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He said on Channels Television: If I were an Emir in Kaduna I could have been deposed within one week and banished to Madagascar and later to Kabul with an instruction to the Taliban to never allow me grow my hair.

Sani, however, urged the deposed Emir to challenge the action of the Kano state government in court, a move the legal team of the Emir have already started.

Governor El rufai and Senator Sani are arch political rivals.

Sani represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate from 2015 to 2019.

Meanwhile, investment banking guru, Mr Atedo Peterside, has said he will not attend a forum organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) because he is displeased with the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as Emir of Kano.

Peterside, the founder of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, made his stance known in a letter sent to the governor of CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Peterside who also sits on the board of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Nigerian Breweries and Unilever Nigeria said he cannot hide his displeasure at Sanusis deposition and eventual banishment from Kano state.

Whilst thanking you for the invitation, I believe the correct thing for me to do is to respectfully decline to participate, he wrote.

In a related development, the widow of late Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, Graca Machel, has expressed solidarity with the dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.

In a letter she personally signed and addressed to Emir Sanusi on Tuesday, March 10, Machel said she was saddened to learn of his dethronement.

She described Emir Sanusi as a bold inspiration for leaders and offered to help him during this challenging time.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng: Same great journalism, upgraded for better service!

Lamido Sanusi: Kano residents react to arrival of Ado Bayero | Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
The number of international passengers arriving at the country's airports has reduced to around 62,000 per day from 70,000 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in Lok Sabha on March 12.

He said the count might further come down to around 40,000 following the travel advisory issued on March 11.

There are 30 international airports in the country and on an average, these aerodromes receive about 70,000 international passengers.

Puri, who is the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said every international passenger is screened at airports.

On March 11, the government decided to suspend all tourist visas as part of efforts to tackle coronavirus outbreak.
Decided to undertake six-month US Dollar sell/buy swaps to provide liquidity to the foreign exchange market: central bank

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank on thursday announced measures to infuse liquidity in the foreign exchange market, including the US dollar swaps worth USD 2 billion, as markets crashed amid mounting concerns over coronavirus pandemic.

The first buy/sell swap auction will take place on monday.

On a review of current financial market conditions and taking into consideration the requirement of US Dollars in the market, it has been decided to undertake six-month US Dollar sell/buy swaps to provide liquidity to the foreign exchange market, the central bank said in a statement.

The swaps will be conducted through the auction route in multiple tranches. The auctions will be multiple price.

To begin with, an amount of USD 2 billion would be offered on March 16, it said.

Under the swaps, banks will buy US dollars from the RBI and simultaneously agree to sell the same amount of the American currency at the end of the swap period.

The RBI said financial markets worldwide are facing intense selling pressures on extreme risk aversion due to the spread of COVID-19 infections, compounded by the slump in international crude prices and a decline in bond yields in advanced economies.

Flight to safety has led to a spike in volatility across all asset classes, with several emerging market currencies experiencing downside pressures. Mismatches in the US dollar liquidity have become accentuated across the world.

According to the market data, foreign investors have withdrawn more than Rs 21,000 crore this month from Indian capital markets so far amid growing concerns over the virus hitting the global economy.

The RBI noted that forex reserves of USD 487.24 billion as on March 6, 2020 are comfortable to meet any exigency.
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CHELYABINSK, RUSSIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Mechel PAO (MOEX:MTLR; NYSE:MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, reports launching two upgraded key facilities at Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant (part of Mechel Group) - blast furnace #4 and converter #1. Investment totaled 4.5 billion rubles.Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in Russia's Urals Federal District Nikolai Tsukanov, Chelyabinsk Region's Governor Alexei Texler, Chairman of Mechel PAO's Board of Directors Igor Zyuzin and Mechel PAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov took part in the official ceremony. MechelPAO's honored guests and top officials pressed a symbolic button launching the upgraded blast furnace #4 and converter #1. Their upgrade is a large-scale project that is part of the quadripartite ecological agreement signed by Mechel, Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service and Chelyabinsk Region's government, and are listed among ecological measures of the federal Clean Air program."Last year Chelyabinsk Region's government, Federal Supervisory Natural Resources Management Service, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Mechel signed an ecological agreement. Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant's reconstructed facilities that we saw today were the result of that. The converter's upgrade will certainly make a positive impact on Chelyabinsk's ecology, with its waste emissions down by a third while its output is up by 15%. I would like to wish the plant to continue with its development," Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in Russia's Urals Federal District Nikolai Tsukanov noted."Today is a great and important event for our region. One of our key producers - Mechel - reconstructed one of its blast furnaces and a converter. The upgrade of these facilities makes the plant more environment friendly and brings down waste emissions. My congratulations with this important event,"Chelyabinsk Region's Governor Alexei Texlernoted.Both facilities were practically rebuilt as part of the technical upgrade. It included full dismantling of the blast furnace and all equipment, assembly of a new jacket and cone, replacement of the furnace brickwork and cooling system, installment of a new equipment for loading iron ore and coke, as well as a modern automated operating system - now all of the furnace's parameters are subject to computer control and are displayed on a monitor. Improving environment friendliness was a particular concern during the revamp, with a new three-step gas cleaning system installed. It is fully leak-proof and prevents combustion gases from escaping into the atmosphere. Blast-furnace gas that is formed during pig iron smelting is then used as fuel. The blast furnace #4's capacity is 1.1 million tonnes of pig iron a year. Investment in its upgrade totaled 1.5 billion rubles. Mechel now launched the second stage of its upgrade - construction of a suction system for the casthouse, which will completely prevent leaks of any solids from the blast furnace #4 into the atmosphere.Works at the converter #1 included replacing the converter's vessel shell, cooling stack and flux handling route for smelting weight increase and steelmaking efficiency. The upgrade also tackled one of its key tasks, providing the converter with a modern three-step gas cleaning system, which enables the plant to minimize emissions of waste produced in the steelmaking process. The converter's annual capacity is 1.3 million tonnes. Investment in its upgrade totaled 3 billion rubles, with 1.5 billion of those funding ecological measures that will decrease the converter's waste emissions by more than 30%.After the converter #1's upgrade and once the second stage of the blast furnace #4's technical upgrade is complete, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant's total waste emissions will go down by 116 tonnes a year."We are grateful to Mechel for their trust in our ability to handle such technically complicated works. Our company invested maximum effort to complete the upgrade ahead of schedule. The upgraded facilities will be more efficient, with environment friendliness improved," Andrey Deineko, Chief Executive Officer of contractor MetPromcompany, noted."Blast furnaces and oxygen converters are key facilities for Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant. Three blast furnaces provide the plant with pig iron for further steelmaking handled by converters. Reconstruction of the blast furnace #4 and converter #1 are the most large-scale projects implemented at Mechel Group's Chelyabinsk production site since 2013. After this upgrade, both facilities will increase their capacity by 15%, which will enable us to increase the load on the next stages of our technological chain - the steelmaking and rolling facilities. At the same time, it is important that the ecological measures we have taken will minimize these facilities' impact on the environment," Mechel PAO's Chief Executive Officer Oleg Korzhov noted.***Mechel PAOEkaterina VidemanTel: + 7 495 221 88 88***Mechel is an international mining and steel company. Its products are marketed in Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, steel, rolled products, ferroalloys, heat and electric power. All of its enterprises work in a single production chain, from raw materials to high value-added products.***Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial performance of Mechel, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We wish to caution you that these statements are only predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. We do not intend to update these statements. We refer you to the documents Mechel files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 20-F. These documents contain and identify important factors, including those contained in the section captioned "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our Form 20-F, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements, including, among others, the achievement of anticipated levels of profitability, growth, cost and synergy of our recent acquisit
In a precautionary move to check spread of deadly coronavirus, state-owned Software Technology Parks of India on Thursday issued advisory that enables around 18-20 lakh employees of IT units registered with it to

IT industry body NASSCOM had urged the government to relax restrictions regarding allowing employees to work from home, amid the outbreak.

Currently, there are restrictions on WFH (work from home) under the OSP (other service providers) regime.

"There are rules that allow employees to in certain situation. We have issued those enabling clauses and will motivate all units registered with us to implement it. There are around 3,000 exporters registered with us and around 18-20 lakh employees work with them," STPI Director General Omkar Rai told PTI.

The urgent advisory issued by STPI, which overseas facilities and rules for software exporters, said in the wake of the outbreak, units may require employees to using the laptop or desktop provided by the unit to them.

"In this connection, para-6.07 of HBOP (handbook of procedures) of FTP, inter-alia, permits employees of STP/EHTP units to take duty fee laptops/computers, etc, out of premises of unit for working upon by authorised employees," the advisory said.

STPI mentioned another rule which permits authorised employees of STP (Software Technology Parks)-ETHP units to work from a place outside the unit.

"Keeping in view of the outbreak of coronavirus, it is advised to make the industry/industry associations aware of this rule position enabling to make aforesaid precautionary measures in this regard for continuity of business operations in a seamless manner," the advisory said.

ALSO READ: Investors should stay away from firms in sectors impacted by coronavirus

The outbreak, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday, has led to more than 4,000 deaths so far globally. The government on Wednesday suspended all visas, barring a few categories like diplomatic and employment, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India rose to more than 70.

Companies across sectors are asking their staff to work from home and adopting technologies like telepresence and video-conferencing to ensure business continuity.

However, companies continue to struggle in operationalising WFH for their employees, owing to the onerous compliance and technical requirements under the prevailing OSP regime. These requirements include establishing PPVPN connectivity, sharing pre-defined locations of extended agents (employees), and providing high monetary security deposits, among others.

PPVPN (Provider Provisioned Virtual Private Network) is generally used by companies to ensure secure communications for employees working from remote locations.

Nasscom, which represents IT and BPO companies as well as start-ups, has written to Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on the issue.

In its letter, Nasscom urged that requirements pertaining to WFH under the OSP regime be relaxed for a period of one month as an interim emergency measure.
We were told the governor is currently not in town, and his vehicles are currently parked at the state house.
(L-R) Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks attend the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 05, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California.

Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus, Hanks revealed Wednesday.

Hanks and Wilson are in Australia for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's currently untitled Elvis Presley film from Warner Bros. Hanks is set to play Presley's longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker.

Hanks announced the couple's diagnosis on social media accounts, including Instagram and Twitter.

"Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia," he wrote. "We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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."



"Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?"



"We'll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!"

Both Hanks and Wilson are 63.

Tweet Tom Hanks

Warner Bros. said that it was made aware that a company member on the Elvis film had tested positive for COVID-19.

While the untitled Elvis film isn't due into theaters until October 2021, Hanks has three movies slated for release in 2020. "Greyhound," a World War II film that will be distributed by Sony, "BIOS," a post-apocalyptic film from Steven Spielberg's Amblin, and "News of the World," a western from Universal. All three films are currently in post-production.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said there was one upside to film star Tom Hanks and wife, actress-singer Rita Wilson, testing positive for coronavirus in the south-east Queensland city.

"Tom, being who he is  I mean it is already being reported in The New York Times and it has gone around the world that he is filming on the Gold Coast, around Australia," he said.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will remain in hospital at the Gold Coast until they are cleared of symptoms. Credit:AP

Cr Tate said that in itself was a boost to the Gold Coasts film industry.

"While I am sorry he has tested positive here, I think if the Gold Coast film industry is good enough to attract him here, it should be good enough for others."
(Newser)  Harvey Weinstein was back in the hospital before the end of the first day of his 23-year sentence for sex crimes. The 67-year-old, who was sentenced in New York Wednesday, was transferred from the Rikers Island jail complex to Bellevue Hospital hours later after experiencing chest pains, a rep tells Page Six. Juda Engelmayer says Weinstein will probably be kept in the hospital overnight for treatment for "ongoing heart problems" and "a complication related to his back surgery." After he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault last month, Weinstein was taken directly to the hospital, where doctors inserted a stent, CNN reports. He was later transferred to the Rikers infirmary unit. (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.)
[March 12, 2020] DVCon U.S. 2020 Announces Stuart Sutherland Best Paper & Best Poster Winners

LOUISVILLE, Colo., March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2020 Design and Verification Conference and Exhibition U.S. (DVCon U.S.), sponsored by Accellera Systems Initiative (Accellera), concluded its 32nd annual event last week. The 2020 Best Paper and Poster winners, as voted on by attendees, were announced at the closing reception.

The Steering Committee adjusted the conference and exhibition schedule to three days from the traditional four-day program to accommodate schedule changes. To honor the work that all session, tutorial, poster, short workshop, panel presenters and exposition partners put into the conference, and to connect with registered attendees who were unable to participate in person, the DVCon U.S. Steering Committee is exploring plans for an online experience, details of which will be announced later. Id like to congratulate all of our paper and poster winners this year, stated Vanessa Cooper, DVCon U.S. Technical Program Committee Chair. "There were many quality papers presented so attendees were once again treated to excellent content. I'm excited that we get to continue the program through a virtual offering with the presentations that were not able to be represented. Id also like to thank those who were able to fill in program gaps as it serves to highlight the quality of our attendees and their depth of knowledge, which DVCon U.S. has come to depend on and respect. The award for the Stuart Sutherland Best Paper Presentation, as voted by conference attendees, went to: Heath Chambers, HMC Design Verification, Inc. & Sunburst Design, Inc.; Clifford E. Cummings, Sunburst Design, Inc. and Stephen DOnofrio, Paradigm Works, Inc. & Sunburst Design, Inc. for their paper, UVM Reactive Stimulus Technique. Second place was awarded to: Chris Spear and Rich Edelman, Mentor, A Siemens Business, for their paper, UVM  Stop Hitting Your Brother Coding Guidelines. Gabriel Jonsson and Lars Viklund of Axis Communications AB took third place honors for their paper, A SystemVerilog Framework for Efficient Randomization of Images with Complex Inter-Pixel Dependencies. Top honors for Best Poster went to Kubendra Kumbar and Ken Joseph Kannampuzha, Samsung Semiconductor India R&D, Bangalore; Sandeep Vallabhanen, Shim Hojun and Byung C. Yoo, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. for their poster, SoC Firmware Debugging Tracer in Emulation Platform. Second place was awarded to Mark Eslinger, Jeremy Levitt and Joe Hupcey III, Mentor, A Siemens Business for their poster, Deadlock Verification fr Dummies - The Easy Way Using SVA and Formal. Third place was awarded to Brandon Skaggs, Cypress Semiconductor Corp. for his poster, Addressing the Challenges of Generically Specifying Power Intent with Multi-Rail Macros.



New to DVCon this year was the ability for attendees to track the conference schedule and communicate with each other through the Whova App. The app proved invaluable to keep attendees up to date as the schedule was adjusted to accommodate last-minute alterations to the program. Attendees were also able to vote for their selections for Best Paper and Best Poster through the app. Highlights of the Week:

The conference hit the ground running on Monday with Accellera Day featuring a full morning tutorial on the upcoming new version of the Portable Test and Stimulus Standard (PSS). The Accellera-sponsored luncheon began with the presentation of the Accellera 2020 Technical Excellence Award. Philipp A. Hartmann was honored for his contributions to the advancement of the SystemC language standard. Most recently, Hartmann was Chair of the SystemC Language Working Group. He has been an active member of Accellera for many years, driving the evolution of the SystemC standard as well as being one of the most crucial contributors to the code development of the SystemC reference implementation. The Monday luncheon continued with a lively panel discussion on PSS which gave the audience a chance to interact with members of the Portable Stimulus Working Group to find out more about the process behind the development of this exciting new standard. The panel on Tuesday, New Chip Designs Create Tidal Wave of Change provided a town hall discussion for attendees on the need for a more thorough verification methodology as complexity converges with open source initiatives such as RISC-V. The panel covered everything from methodologies to start up opportunities, and provided insight from users, vendors and Jim Hogan, a leading EDA investor. Short workshops continued to be well-received by attendees this year. The workshops give attendees an opportunity to learn from a broader set of vendors, including smaller companies. This year there were eight short workshops to choose from. Accelleras sponsored tutorial and short workshops will be available online shortly. An announcement will be made when they are posted to its website for public access. The DVCon Steering Committee values all feedback regarding the conference. DVCon U.S. attendees have been given a survey and are asked to provide input and feedback on how we can improve and continue to make DVCon the industrys must-attend conference for design and verification engineers. Save the date: DVCon U.S. 2021 will be held March 1-4 at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose, California. About DVCon

DVCon is the premier conference for discussion of the functional design and verification of electronic systems. DVCon is sponsored by Accellera Systems Initiative, an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating design and verification standards required by systems, semiconductor, intellectual property (IP) and electronic design automation (EDA) companies. In response to global interest, in addition to DVCon U.S., Accellera also sponsors events in China, Europe and India. For more information about Accellera, please visit www.accellera.org. For more information about DVCon U.S., please visit www.dvcon.org. Follow DVCon on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DVCon or @dvcon_us on Twitter or to comment, please use #dvcon_us. For more information, please contact: Nannette Jordan Barbara Benjamin MP Associates, Inc. HighPointe Communications 303-530-4562 503-209-2323 [email protected] [email protected]

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45-year-old man tests positive for coronavirus in Nagpur

India

oi-PTI

Nagpur, Mar 11: 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.

Bengaluru: 2 Dell, Mindtree employees test positive for coronavirus

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

An official of the IGGMCH said that the man underwent tests at the hospital, which confirmed the infection.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 8:54 [IST]
After Microsoft gave all customers control over when they upgrade Windows 10, the majority of users decided they didn't need a twice-annual refresh, data shows.

According to metrics vendor AdDuplex, once Microsoft let users of Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro determine the cadence of OS upgrades, each upgrade's increase siphoned more users from the version of 12 months before than it did from the upgrade's immediate predecessor.

For example, Windows 10 version 1903 climbed from 11.4% of all versions in July 2019 to 33% in August. Of the 21.6-percentage point increase, 20.6 points  representing 95% of the total  came at the expense of Windows 10 1803, the feature upgrade issued a year earlier. Just 1 percentage point, or about 5%, of the declines that fueled the increase of Windows 10 1903 originated with Windows 10 1809.

The implication: Left to their own devices, users left Windows 10 alone for a year, the maximum time Microsoft allowed them to run any individual Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro version.

Given a choice, Windows 10 users rejected Microsoft's longtime contention that operating systems should be updated on an aggressive tempo  necessary, the Redmond, Wash. firm said, to keep up with constant technology change.

[ Further reading: How to handle Windows 10 updates ]

First, a brief recap of what Microsoft did last year

AdDuplex's numbers were no surprise. Computerworld  and many other media outlets, as well as analysts and pundits  had predicted that Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro users would, given the chance, reject the twice-annual upgrade cadence Microsoft had established.

That cadence was established in April 2017 and committed Microsoft to releasing two Windows 10 upgrades each year, one in March, another in September. Prior, the tempo had been unpredictable  Microsoft delivered only one upgrade the year before, for instance  which enterprise customers found untenable.

Under that scheme, Microsoft decided when each Windows 10 Home PC and each unmanaged Windows 10 Pro PC was upgraded to a new version. (By unmanaged, we mean devices not handled by IT administrators.) Those machines, especially the ones running Windows 10 Home, went through the refresh process at six-month intervals because their users were not able to defer, much less decline, an upgrade.

However, 11 months ago Microsoft threw that practice out the window. Instead, it let users of Home and Pro decide when to pull the upgrade trigger through a new "Download and install now" option. Each release would be publicized, but users would choose when to migrate to a new version.

There would be one catch: Citing the need to keep PCs up to date, Microsoft announced that when "Windows 10 devices are at, or will soon reach, end of service, Windows Update will continue to automatically initiate a feature update." At some point, then, Microsoft would revert to its earlier behavior of automatically downloading and installing a feature upgrade.

It became apparent that Microsoft would begin these forced upgrades  labeled that to differentiate them from those the user initiated  approximately four months before the version in question was due to exit support. (Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro were allotted 18 months of support, with the clock starting at release.) Microsoft would replace the version then powering the PC with the most recent Windows 10 release.

Because of this timing, if users didn't call on the "Download and install now" option, Microsoft's mandated upgrades resulted in a once-a-year refresh.

Here's an example: A PC that ran Windows 10 1803, which launched in April 2018 and received support until November 2019, was not upgraded by its owner. Instead, Microsoft began to forcibly refresh 1803 systems in July 2019. By that time  and through the end of Microsoft's we'll-upgrade-that-for-you campaign in November  the newest version, the one with the most support remaining, was Windows 10 1903. That version debuted in May 2019 and is slated to exit support in December.

When Windows 10 1903 gets close to retirement  say, four months prior, or around mid-August  the latest version will be Windows 10 2004, the upgrade that will release at any moment.

The data highlights how upgrade practice changed

The pattern of versions' increases and decreases changed dramatically when Microsoft modified its upgrade policies.

Windows 10 1803, for example, like the upgrades that preceded it, grew its share of the total at the expense of its immediate forerunner, Windows 10 1709.

From November 2017 to December, Windows 10 1709 increased from 20.4% to 53.6%, a jump of 33.4 percentage points. The vast majority of that gain came from Windows 10 1703, which plummeted from 63.5% to 33.7%, for a fall of 29.8 percentage points, representing 89% of 1709's increase, during the same stretch. The version two back from 1709, 2016's Windows 10 1607, contributed just 2.9 percentage points, or only about 9% of 1709's growth.

That had been the original framework when Microsoft compelled upgrades every six months. Each Windows 10 refresh gained share by cannibalizing the version prior; as the former grew, the latter shrank.

Giving users control of upgrade timing, though, made the majority of them lazy: They let Microsoft do its forced upgrade a year later. Like the earlier example of Windows 10 1903, the most recent version, Windows 10 1909, also illustrated the new normal. Rather than drain the immediate predecessor (1903), 1909 assembled most of its growth from the year-before's 1809.

From January to February, Windows 10 1909 went from 15.2% to 22.6%, a 7.4-point boost. Most came from Windows 10 1809, which slumped from 22% to 16.4%, a fall of 5.6 percentage points, or about 76% of the total in the same month-to-month period. The upgrade just one back from 1909 (last May's 1903) declined just eight-tenths of a percentage point from January to February. Assuming 1903's slip went to 1909, the former represented a paltry 11% of the latter's increase.

There's no reason to think the next upgrade, Windows 10 2004, will be any different. When it gains users, they'll largely be yanked from 1903 by Microsoft, especially from mid-August to the end of the year, the last four months of 1903's support.

It's unclear if Microsoft anticipated this shift when it changed the upgrade rules for Windows 10 Home and unmanaged Windows 10 Pro; the company has not as much as hinted at its expectations. That's understandable, as to do so would be to acknowledge that its rapid development and release rhythm, core to its Windows-as-a-service mantra for Windows 10, has not been completely accepted by customers.

True, annual upgrades remain approximately three times more frequent than pre-Windows 10 editions of the OS. But they're only half that of the intended pace.

To come up with its Windows 10 version numbers, AdDuplex mined data from third-party Windows Store apps that used the Lithuanian company's SDK.
The Czech Republic will close its borders to travelers crossing from Germany and Austria and also ban the entry of foreigners coming from other risky countries, in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Thursday.

Czechs will also be barred from traveling to those countries, and to and from and other countries deemed risky, effective starting Saturday (2300 GMT on Friday).

The full list includes other European Union members Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Denmark, and also Britain, Switzerland, China, Korea, and Iran.

International public transport vehicles with more than nine seats will also be banned from crossing borders.

Under a state of emergency declared for 30 days, the Prague government also banned international passenger transport, but kept freight business open.

Babis told a news conference the government would also ban public events of more than 30 people and impose closures of places such as sport centers, spa services, and galleries.

Restaurants must close by 8 p.m. and refreshments at shopping malls will be banned altogether.

It is clear there will be economic impacts. But now we have to do everything for the virus not to spread, to avoid having it here without control, Babis said. If we see the measures do not have sufficient effect, we will take more.

Some border crossings were to be shut while others would be manned by police. Exceptions will be given to foreigners with residency in the Czech Republic and to cross-border workers.

The Czech Republic reported 96 cases of the coronavirus on Thursday. There have been no known deaths from the disease in the central European country.

By Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller
Political activists, experts and European parliamentarians here discussed deplorable conditions of people in Balochistan on Wednesday (local time).

The 'Save The Baloch' campaign has been launched by the Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC) where the participants discuss human rights abuse in Balochistan at a conference titled "Genocide in Balochistan: the role of the international community".

The Baloch political activists highlighted the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army as they have launched operations in Balochistan, killing civilians and destroying their houses.

Razzak Baloch, organiser, USA Chapter of Baloch Human Rights Council, said, "Every 10 miles there is a check post, Balochistan has become a bigger jail. People cannot move around. You cannot even question them as to why you are stopping us? Why are you searching for our bodies? Why are you searching for our women? Why are you searching for our children?"

"Life is very miserable. You cannot move around in Balochistan. Anybody talks and he's vanished. Is this freedom? We want to be free. We want to breathe freely. It is the duty of our neighbours also to see what is going on in Balochistan," he added.

Taha Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist, who is now living in exile, said, "In Balochistan, currently the biggest issue is that for a very long time there was abuse. There was a lot of atrocities by the Pakistani state, but now it is not just about these missing persons actually. What is the problem is that there are missing stories, there is an information black hole and things are not being reported independently or not even reported at all."

He added, "So, the worst thing that is going on in Balochistan is that we do not even have an idea of what is going on and that is worse than being able to report about it and talk about it. So in that sense, the way there are secret military operations going on, the abduction is going on, there is religious radicalisation going on and all of this is not being reported."

Taha, who escaped his abduction in Pakistan by secret agencies told ANI, "The media is not being allowed and we are seeing that this is intensifying ever since China has come into the equation."

He said that ever since China has invested in Balochistan, "the crackdown by the military and Pakistani state has worsened and they do not want to talk about Baloch issues, the human rights abuse or whatever is happening in Balochistan."

"Nothing negative can be reported from the country because China does not want it, so the Pakistan military does not want it," the Pakistani journalist added.

The event was also attended by a member of the European Parliament who talked about the persecution of people in the mineral-rich but the poorest province in Pakistan.

Ryszard Czarnecki, a Member of European Parliament (MEP) told ANI, "You have a very active (Baloch) diaspora, especially in Europe. Representatives of this diaspora inform us, the members of European Parliament about the real situation in Balochistan and about Pakistani violations and lack of respecting human rights in this region."

"Obviously, we should make an intervention at different international levels. The people in Balochistan should feel that they are not alone. I would like to express my solidarity with our brothers and sisters in this region," the MEP said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leaders from across the political divide have united to pay tribute to the mother of murdered journalist Lyra McKee, and some laid the blame for her death with the New IRA.

Joan Lawrie died peacefully in hospital surrounded by her family on Tuesday night. Lyra had been the main carer for her disabled mum.

The mother-of-six passed away just weeks before the first anniversary of her daughter's murder.

Joan's health deteriorated further after the death of her youngest child.

The 29-year-old journalist was shot dead by a dissident republican gunman in Londonderry on April 18.

Justice Minister and Alliance leader Naomi Long said: "My deepest sympathies are with the loved ones of Joan and I am dreadfully sorry for their loss.

"Joan and other members of her family lived with their bereavement and pain since the day Lyra died.

"Those who so callously murdered Lyra are ultimately responsible for another life being lost, this time as a result of the heartbreak they caused."

Read More

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "This is heartbreaking news. Joan should never have had to suffer the loss of Lyra.

"I would appeal again to anyone with information about Lyra's murder who has not yet come forward to bring it to the police.

"This family has been torn apart by a horrific crime and they deserve justice."

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said: "This is another terrible blow to the whole McKee family. They have been caused untold and unwarranted suffering by criminals. It is well past time for those who stole Lyra's life away as a daughter, sister, aunt and partner to stop causing more pain and tragedy."

DUP leader Arlene Foster said: "No pain can compare to that felt by Lyra's family and particularly her mother in having her young daughter taken.

"I did not have the privilege of meeting Joan, but I know she will have carried that pain until her own sad passing.

"I hope the family can take some comfort from knowing that Joan's pain has now ended, but that her memory and the memories of Lyra will remain alive with many, many people from all backgrounds across Northern Ireland."

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said: "Joan Lawrie was a mother who raised a beautiful family.

"They were her world and last April that world was turned upside down with the brutal murder of Joan's daughter, Lyra McKee. I met Joan alongside President Higgins, the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister in the side chapel of St Anne's Cathedral and she told us all she had 'lost her baby'.

"It is a moment I will never forget. All of our hearts broke for an innocent young woman and her innocent mother and family."

Joan's daughter Nichola McKee Corner announced her mother's death in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

"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 Joan's 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."

In a statement issued through their solicitor, Niall O'Murchu, the McKees appealed to the media "to respect and honour their deep grief and request privacy at this time".

Joan is survived by her children Gary, Joan, Nichola, David and Mary. Her funeral will remain private.
Despite the rule, Suu Kyi holds executive power in the government of Myanmar, also known as Burma, because of a legal loophole that allowed the creation of the post of state counselor, to which she was appointed. Under the arrangement, the actual president  a member of her party  defers to her.
Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg on Wednesday called on fellow climate change activists to move their Friday rallies online in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. Thunberg, the founder of Fridays for Future, took to her official Twitter handle and asked fellow activists to keep the numbers low and listen to local authorities. Thunberg urged her followers on Twitter to join the digital strike instead and post a photo of themselves striking with a sign and also asked them to use the hashtag #ClimateStrikeOnline.

Read: Britisher Dies In Indonesia From Coronavirus, Marks Country's First Death

Thunberg's decision to move the rallies online came after the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. Many countries around the world are banning large public gatherings and as Thunberg's rallies attract massive crowd she decided to move her Friday rally online and also urged fellow activists to do the same in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

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. 3/4  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) March 11, 2020

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 4/4  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) March 11, 2020

Read: Road Safety World Series: Entire Pune Leg Called Off Amidst Coronavirus Threat

Coronavirus outbreak

The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 has so far claimed more than 4,600 lives across the world and has infected over 1,26,000 people globally. According to reports, the virus outbreak has affected more countries and more people than SARS, which broke out in 2002-2003. Media reports suggest that the virus originated from a seafood market in China's Wuhan city, where animals were reportedly being traded illegally. China is the most affected country where over 3,100 people have lost their lives so far.

Read: Tom Hanks And Wife Test Positive For Coronavirus, Son Provides Update

Italy, Iran and South Korea are the most affected countries outside mainland China, where a combined death toll stands at 1,247 as of March 12. Spain, France and the United States are also battling to tackle the outbreak as 55, 48 and 38 people have died in the following countries respectively, which are again most affected countries after China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea. As per reports, health experts around the world are estimating that a vaccine to fight coronavirus could take around one year to develop.

Read: Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Washington DC Mayor Declares State Of Emergency
Person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurred between two people with prolonged, unprotected exposure while the first patient was symptomatic. Despite active monitoring and testing of 372 contacts of both cases, no further transmission was detected

New research published in The Lancet, describes in detail the first locally-transmitted case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, in the USA, from a woman who had recently travelled to China and transmitted the infection to her husband. No further transmission was detected, despite monitoring contacts for symptoms and testing all those who developed fever, cough, or shortness of breath, as well as a sample of asymptomatic healthcare professionals who had come into contact with the patients.

On January 23, 2020, Illinois reported the state's first laboratory-confirmed case (index case) of COVID-19 in a woman in her 60s who returned from Wuhan, China in mid-January, 2020. Subsequently, the first evidence of secondary transmission in the USA was reported on January 30, when her husband, who had not travelled outside the USA but had frequent, close contact with his wife since her return, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Public health authorities conducted an intensive epidemiologic investigation of the two confirmed cases. This study describes the clinical and laboratory features of both patients and the assessment and monitoring of several hundred individuals with potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

In total, 372 individuals were identified as potential contacts--347 of these people were actively monitored after confirmation of exposure to the woman or her husband on or after the day of symptom onset (including 152 community contacts and 195 healthcare professionals). There were 25 people that had insufficient contact information to complete active monitoring. A convenience sample of 32 asymptomatic healthcare personnel contacts were also tested.

These 347 contacts underwent active symptom monitoring for 14 days following their last exposure. Of these, 43 contacts who developed fever, cough, or shortness of breath were isolated and tested for SARS-CoV-2, as well as asymptomatic healthcare professionals. All 75 individuals tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.

On December 25, 2019, the female patient travelled to Wuhan where she visited a hospitalised relative and other family members with undiagnosed respiratory illness. On her return to the USA on January 13, 2020, she experienced six days of mild fever, fatigue, and cough before being hospitalised with pneumonia and testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (figure 1). Prior to hospitalisation she was living with her husband who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic cough. These conditions made it difficult to determine the timing of his symptom onset related to COVID-19. Eight days after his wife was admitted to hospital, the husband was also hospitalised with worsening shortness of breath and coughing up blood, and also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Both patients recovered and were discharged to home isolation, which was lifted 33 days after the woman returned from Wuhan, following two negative tests for SARS-CoV-2 taken 24 hours apart.

"This report suggests that person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 might be most likely to occur through unprotected, prolonged exposure to an individual with symptomatic COVID-19", says Dr Jennifer Layden, Chief Medical Officer of the Chicago Department of Public Health, USA, who co-led the research. "Our experience of limited transmission of SARS-CoV-2 differs from Wuhan where transmission has been reported to occur across the wider community and among healthcare professionals, and from experiences of other similar coronaviruses. Nevertheless, healthcare facilities should rapidly triage and isolate individuals suspected of having COVID-19, and notify infection prevention services and local health departments for support in testing, management, and containment efforts." [1]

The authors emphasise that individuals who think they might have been exposed to COVID-19 and experiencing a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should call their healthcare provider before seeking help so that appropriate preventive actions can be taken.

"Although further detailed reports of contact investigations of COVID-19 cases could improve our understanding of the transmissibility of this novel virus, the absence of COVID-19 among healthcare professionals supports US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations around appropriate infection control", explains co-lead author Dr Isaac Ghinai from the Illinois Department of Public Health, USA. [1]

Co-lead author, Dr Tristan McPherson from the Chicago Department of Public Health, USA adds: "Without using appropriate facemasks or other personal protective equipment, individuals living in the same household as, or providing care in a non-healthcare setting for, a person with symptomatic COVID-19 are likely to be at high risk of infection. Current CDC recommendations for individuals with high-risk exposures to remain quarantined with no public activities might be effective in reducing onward person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2." [1]

The researchers acknowledge that these data are preliminary and note several limitations, including that the report describes only one known transmission event, therefore the findings may not be generalisable or representative of broader transmission patterns. They also point out that this investigation might not have identified all individuals with potential exposure to COVID-19 as it was dependent on the couples' recall of the places they visited, the people they met, and the time of symptom onset. Finally, the investigation into these cases took place prior to updated CDC guidance on classifying exposure risk among contacts of patients with COVID-19. For example, updated guidance suggests that a sore throat should be included as a possible symptom of COVID-19 when evaluating healthcare workers, and indicates that a single PCR test, as used in all the contact tracing in this study, might not be sufficient to definitively rule out infection over a 14-day incubation period, and as a result some cases of COVID-19 might not have been detected.

###

NOTES TO EDITORS

This study was conducted by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA; Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago, USA; Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, USA; Cook County Department of Public Health, Oak Forest, USA; DuPage County Health Department, Wheaton, USA; Metro Infectious Disease Consultants, Burr Ridge, USA; Premier Primary Care Physicians, Carol Stream, USA; Cook County Health, Chicago, USA; Northwestern University, Chicago, USA; Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, USA; and Wright State University, Dayton, USA.

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] Quotes direct from authors and cannot be found in text of Articles.

Peer-reviewed / Observational study / People
A riverside restaurant planned in Orange is close to passing possibly its last hurdle to start construction after the Orange City Council approved a resolution surrounding its lease on the waterfront property.

The Boardwalk Grille, currently run by owner and chef Jake LeMoine on Fifth Street, received a 25-year extension clause in its lease agreement for the riverland proposed for its new location. LeMoine had already received a 25-year agreement with the city earlier in the development phase but said more time was required in the lease to finance the project.

In the appraisal business, they usually appraise things for 50 years, he said. We couldnt finish the loan with a 25-year lease unless we could ensure we could re-sign for another 25 years.

With the extension clause, LeMoine said the paperwork should be finished and the long-awaited loan closing should happen within the next few weeks. Once that is completed, construction should follow shortly after.

LeMoines new Boardwalk Grille will feature 4,000 square feet of indoor dining space, 2,000 square feet of outside seating and a dedicated bar for each area. He said he plans for the inside to be sealed with glass to allow for a comfortable experience during the Southeast Texas summer without obstructing the water view.

The current location has 13 tables where diners are served almost every night.

The development comes at a time when the city is making progress on the Riverside Pavilion planned on Simmons Drive. Crews started moving dirt and completing utility work early last week.

During a special called meeting at the end of February, Orange City Manager Mike Kunst updated the council and public on the pavilion design.

At a review of that meeting included during the Tuesday regular meeting, Kunst said contractors were on track to complete the pavilion by the end of May, well before fishing tournament season.

Probably the highest priority project  or visible, anyway  that we have going on right now is the Riverside Pavilion, Kunst said during his presentation.

The city has also accepted a $100,000 donation from Orange County to construct a fence around the pavilion and progress has been made on discussions with the Sabine River Authority on potentially building a floating boat dock adjacent to the venue.

While what the riverside may soon hold for Orange in terms of tourism and appeal is still being developed, LeMoine said hes starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

He said hes been running kitchens for more than 13 years now, and his own shop isnt an exception. He is both chef and cook, leading the charge for the five days and three nights a week the restaurant is open to patrons.

That has meant he has spent his spare time each day before the daily preparation handling paperwork and taking calls to make the big move happen.

This will really be the first (restaurant) Ive made my own and it will be one of the biggest restaurants in Orange, he said. Its something worth working for.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jdickjournalism
Finland recommends cancelling public meetings of more than 500 people until the end of May due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Thursday, Trend reports with reference to Reuters.

The announcement came after the Nordic countrys confirmed coronavirus cases jumped by 50 in a day to a total of 109, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare said, and after the Finnish Foreign Ministry recommended citizens avoid traveling anywhere in the world now.
Former Vice President Joe Biden has canceled a planned appearance in Hartford next week.

Biden notified Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday that because of the current concerns related to COVID-19 coronavirus, he would not travel to Connecticut for the planned fundraiser and public rally scheduled for March 19, according to a source close to the governor.

The Biden campaign did not offer immediate plans to reschedule. Details for the private lunchtime event and a public rally had not yet been settled.

Biden won big in four primaries Tuesday night, extending his lead against U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders as the clear frontrunner in the Democratic primary for president.

Lamont was among the first to endorse Biden and held a fundraiser for the former Delaware senator at his Greenwich home in mid-October that raised more than $450,000  one of the most successful fundraisers for the Biden campaign.

In remarks delivered Thursday afternoon in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden slammed President Donald Trumps response to the coronavirus outbreak. On Wednesday he formed a public health advisory committee for his campaign.

He has released a plan to combat the virus and prepare for future global health threats on his campaign website. Sanders delivered similar remarks Thursday.

kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt
While Lalmalani said he believes red-light cameras in almost all cases are not about safety, but rather are used to generate revenue from fines for violations, the response from the DMMC stated that a recent survey of member communities shows that accidents in intersections with red-light cameras have dropped by 42% since they have been installed at those locations.
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.
RABAT, March 12 (Reuters) - Morocco suspended all flights and passengers ship traffic to and from Spain over fears of the coronavirus outbreak, Morocco's state news agency said on Thursday.

Morocco, which reported six coronavirus cases and one death, suspended flights with Italy earlier this week. (Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; Editing by Alison Williams)
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Ahead of his address on the coronavirus, Trump attacked the media for reporting the truth on the spread of the pandemic in the United States.

Trump tweeted:

The Media should view this as a time of unity and strength. We have a common enemy, actually, an enemy of the World, the CoronaVirus. We must beat it as quickly and safely as possible. There is nothing more important to me than the life & safety of the United States!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2020

Trump is still blaming the press for the declining stock market. The President has convinced himself that the press is causing the stock market to drop by reporting coronavirus news as part of a conspiracy to get him.

When Trump mentions unity, he is not talking about unifying around stopping the spread of the coronavirus, because every American already agrees on that point. Trump wants unity and praise for himself. Trumps definition of unity is that no one criticizes his presidency.

The President through his combination of inaction and bumbling has made the crisis in the United States worse. Trumps Oval Office address is expected to focus on the economic steps he will take to reassure the stock market, as Donald Trump is more worried about the Dow than the potentially millions of Americans who could be infected with the coronavirus.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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Iran Announces 63 New Coronavirus Deaths, Amid Concern Over Jailed Foreign Nationals

By RFE/RL March 11, 2020

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 117,000 people globally and killed over 4,200.

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.

Iran's 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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-announces-63- new-coronavirus-deaths-amid-concern-over-jailed- foreign-nationals/30481808.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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Buffalo joins several Upstate New York cities in canceling their St. Patricks Day parades due to the coronavirus pandemic.

WGRZ reports that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown announced the cancelation of the parades today after meeting with parade organizers and Erie County health officials.

Buffalo has one of the largest St. Patricks weekend celebrations with two parades. Neither the neighborhood parade in the Old First Ward or the citys official one down Delaware Avenue will take place this weekend.

This was a difficult decision for the organizers, but they made that decision keeping the health and safety of this community in mind and wanting to make sure that there was no opportunity for these two great events to spread coronavirus in Buffalo and Western New York, said Brown.

WIVB reports that in recent years police estimated 50,000 people attend the OFW parade and Brown said the Delaware Avenue parade has attracted some 100,000.

Syracuse, Utica, Rochester, and Albany also canceled their parades today because of COVID-19. Rochester and Albany also announced that they have confirmed cases of coronavirus. The Buffalo News reports that one of their employees is currently being tested for coronavirus.

St. Patricks Day celebrations are not the only gatherings to take the hit. Concerts and community events are also being canceled or postponed. Live Nation has suspended all concert tours and will reevaluate at the beginning of April. Governor Cuomo has banned gatherings of more than 500 people after Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m.

See our complete coronavirus pandemic coverage here.

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Success On The Way, Ask Dr. Jeanette: Reparation-Restitution

The idea of reparation-restitution is not a new one. Exodus 22:1 requires pay back of five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep stolen. If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it or sells it, must pay back. When the wealthy Jewish chief tax collector Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming, he was so excited that he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore-fig tree to get a clear view of Him. He was a short man. Perhaps Zacchaeus had been holding a guilty conscience all along and this was his opportunity to cleanse his conscience for his wrong doing. He was hated among all; the Jews because tax collectors would collect taxes and give to the Romans; exacting taxes from whomever he could; defrauding them and getting over and above what was required to fill his pockets and feed his greed. Maybe he was trying to make up for his short stature to make himself feel bigger (my thoughts). Surely at some point, he had to feel guilty. When Jesus looked up and saw him up the tree, that in itself is worthy of noting. Zacchaeus had run ahead so he could see Jesus. You have heard the saying, Hes really up a tree. As my mother would say, Zacchaeus conscience whipped him. Jesus knows where everyone is and knows us by name. My sheep hear my voice and will only follow me and not the voice of an impostor. Zacchaeus is called a sinner. There were so many people trying to see Jesus that Zacchaeus had to press his way through weaving through the crowd and running ahead and climbed up into a tree. Jesus used this opportunity of curiosity to carry out His mission, The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) Jesus was seemingly also excited to speak to Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at your house. (Luke 19:5) The people around most likely had mixed emotions; some being jealous and some angry, murmuring and criticizing. Hes going to the house of a sinner. Zacchaeus was jubilant and received Him hospitably and kindly. This was a momentous and exciting event of his life. Being a tax gatherer (called publicans) he was regarded as an especially wicked person. Perhaps, they never suspected Zacchaeus was penitent; gouging taxes fraudulently and falsely accusing. They did not have the vision that the most guilty might and possibly could be the most repentant.

Wouldnt it be wonderful if those who enslaved and who are enslaving the minds and bodies of those having least resources that they too could repent. How long has the thought been floating around that ancestors of former slaves rightfully should gain restitution and be restored status. You know restitution doesnt have to be money, it could be restoring of usurped rights. Reparation is defined as anything paid or done to make up for a wrongdoing, or the act of making up for a wrongdoing. (YourDictionary) Well, that seems clear enough. We could start with clearing the jails of the prisoners who are there for minor marijuana offenses, which were perhaps at that time were illegal, BUT NOW, no longer illegal. Dont we have more than enough innocent people locked up? Dont we have enough prisoners shut up, wrongfully convicted, over sentenced? Havent we become more intelligent of how to deal with our societal problems and learned that locking up people right and left is not the answer. And expelling and suspending children is not the answer either. The cost of imprisoning people is exorbitant! It just seems to me that in this society, there are ways to solve problems. But, laws keep on being made to exact, deprive, diminish and deplete our educational system. This is a long term problem. We already have seen our current old education system doesnt work. Organizations which were posing to help have now been bought out. Their emphasis has changed. Greed and quest for power and comradery have taken its place. People are let out of prison and practically no company hires them. So a prison sentence may be over, but society extends it by depriving the former prisoner and making that person a prisoner in another way. Its a spiral effect. I have been called the eternal optimist. I like that designation. I do believe theres nothing impossible. That there are answers; but it takes courageous fearless people to make change by looking into the detrimental consequences which the system encures. We could go on and on. What then do we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? We must persevere more and more. Never give up! We need a THINK TANK. Be more mindful of who is elected. And the persons elected we need to carefully consider.

Thanks for reading! Happy Year!!!

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Ask Dr. Jeanette Parkertm Ask Dr. Jeanettetm www.AskDrJeanetteParker.comtm; Articles copyright  Inquiring Minds Want To Know Jeanette Parker Founder-Superintendent:Todays Fresh Start Charter School www.todaysfreshstart.org [email protected] Ref: Barnes Commentary.
President Donald Trump on Thursday did not respond to multiple shouted questions in the Oval Office about whether he would get tested for coronavirus after reports a Brazilian official he met last weekend had tested positive.

But he did say he is "not concerned" as he awaits an update on the test results from Brazil concerning a press aide to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who who attended a dinner with Trump at his Florida resort.

MORE: Coronavirus live updates: White House stops tours, over 1,300 cases in US

I did hear something about that," Trump said when asked about Bolsonaro himself being tested.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, March 12, 2020, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP)

"We had dinner together in Florida, at Mar-a-Lago, with the entire delegation, the press aide was there, he was there but we did nothing very unusual. We sat next to each other for a period of time, Trump said of his time with Bolsonaro over the weekend.

PHOTO: In a photo posted to Instagram, Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump pose with Brazilian PresidentJair Bolsonaro's communications secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, right, during a visit to Mar-a-Lago over the weekend of March 7-8, 2020. (Fabio Wajngarten/Instagram)

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham backed up the president's claims, saying in a statement Thursday that both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had "almost no interactions with" Fabio Wajngarten, the press secretary for Bolsonaro, who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, and that they "do not require being tested at this time."

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 White House is aware of public reports that a member of the Brazilian delegations visit to Mar-a-Lago last weekend tested positive for COVID-19; confirmatory testing is pending," Grisham said. " Exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps. Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time."

However, in a photo posted by Wajngarten on Instagram, it clearly shows Trump side-by-side touching the Brazilian president's press secretary who tested positive for COVID-19 days after their meeting. It also shows the Brazilian president side-by-side and touching VP Pence.

Story continues

He made the comments in a photo op with Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, noting the two did not shake hands.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump meets with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office of the White House, March 12, 2020, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP)

Well find out what happens, I guess they are being tested now," Trump said, apparently unaware that Bolsonaro's aide had tested positive at that time.

Lets put it this way Im not concerned," Trump said when a reporter followed up to ask whether he has anything in the way of an update.

What to know about Coronavirus:

How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained

What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms

Tracking the spread in the US and Worldwide: Coronavirus map

Earlier this week, Trump said he did not feel a need to get tested since his White House physician has said it wasn't necessary since he had had no direct contact with anyone who had tested positive and was having no symptoms.

Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott on Thursday became the eighth member of Congress who is self-quarantining, doing so, he said, out of an abundance of caution because he potentially came in contact with the same member of Bolsonaros delegation. Scott says he feels healthy and is not exhibiting symptoms.

"After consulting with the Senates attending physician and my personal doctor, I have been told that my risk is low, and I dont need to take a test or quarantine," Scott said in a statement."However, the health and safety of the American people is my focus and I have made the decision to self-quarantine in an abundance of caution."

Later Thursday, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, who also was at the Mar-a-Lago dinner last weekend, said he, too, would self-quarantine. "He has no recollection of direct contact with the President of Brazil, who is awaiting results of a coronavirus test, or his spokesman who tested positive," his office said in a statement.

However, in an abundance of caution and upon the advice of his doctor, Senator Graham has decided to self-quarantine awaiting the results of a coronavirus test." the statement said. This is a precautionary measure. He will continue to work from home.

Trump says he's 'not concerned' that Brazilian official he met with tested positive for coronavirus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
(Photo : REUTERS/Carlos Barria ) U.S. President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as he departs to attend a briefing at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Vaccine Research Center from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 3, 2020.

The White House on Wednesday, Mar. 11, sought the help of Silicon Valley to help tackle coronavirus. Reports claim that technology companies were urged to fight misinformation and other harmful content related to the outbreak.

According to Politico, the government asked Silicon Valley to augment efforts to track the outbreak, disseminate accurate information, and help Americans who are out of work or school.

The requests came to a roughly hour-long meeting between top Trump administration aides, federal health authorities, and various tech representatives. Washington sought to leverage the tech enterprise's powerful tools to connect workers and analyze information to combat an epidemic that has already infected more than 1,000 in the United States.





ALSO READ: [BREAKING] WHO Confirms COVID-19 Outbreak is Now a Pandemic!





Tech giants, online platforms play key roles to contain coronavirus





In a statement, the White House's chief technology officer Michael Kratsios said tech giants and significant online platforms play a critical role in the effort in eradicating coronavirus.

During the consultation, White House officials advised the tech industry to coordinate their efforts to prevent the unfold of coronavirus conspiracy theories on major social media sites. The officials also urged the tech companies to trade data about dangerous hoaxes before it goes viral, the three sources named said.

The sources had a "collegial brainstorming" during the private phone-and-video conversation. Most tech companies in attendance, however, either did not respond or declined to comment.





Unpublished State report discovers thousands of fake tweets regarding the outbreak





The Washington Post reported that nobody was singled out or played the faultfinding game during the meeting. However, the requests for a better collaboration came weeks after an unpublished State Department report found thousands of tweets that peddled hoax on the deadly outbreak.

In the report, State Department blames 'swarms of online, false personas' from Russia for the wave of coronavirus misinformation online.

In a statement sent to Washington Post, Twitter spokesman Trenton Kennedy said the company's goal is to elevate and amplify authoritative health information on its service.

According to the three participants, top White House aides said the government might soon allocate more research on coronavirus, which Kratsios urged tech groups to analyze.





ALSO READ: Coronavirus Isn't a Chinese Bioweapon! Here Are The Most Popular Coronavirus Youtube Hoaxes, Rumors, and Lies You Should Ignore





White House hopes Silicon Valley would deploy engineers to crunch information





The hope, U.S. Officials stated, is that Silicon Valley would deploy its engineers - and tap its effective systems for crunching and understanding the disease more.

Tech corporations take a tight line against coronavirus myths. But what about other sorts of misinformation?

The government's efforts to enlist Silicon Valley's resource got here in a week. White House officials also consulted with pharmaceutical giants, healthcare providers, airline executives, and Wall Street leaders in an attempt to fight a fast-spreading pandemic. The novel coronavirus has erased economic gains, canceled events, and sent students home.





Tech giants explored various approaches to fight the virus





A few tech giants explored ways to maximize their sky-high income and useful technologies in supporting health officials battling a pandemic on the verge of an epidemic.

Fake treatments and different coronavirus conspiracy theories are flooding WhatsApp, leaving governments and customers with a 'sense of panic'

Facebook chief officer Mark Zuckerberg, for example, said the agency has tried to supply facts to researchers monitoring coronavirus. His private nonprofit organization additionally has funded efforts to collect its genome and enhance testing at a moment when patients are struggling from getting diagnosed.

IBM supercomputers have aided government scientists reading capability drug compounds that can fight coronavirus, the business enterprise has stated. Others, including Microsoft and Amazon, are behind multi-million greenback relief funds in their home nation of Washington, which has been hit toughest domestically.













 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on organisers of non essential events gathering hundreds of people to cancel them to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

"That is a call to all," she said, noting that "where possible, social contact must be avoided".

Merkel said all events of under 1,000 people should be cancelled. The German government had previously recommended the cancellation of events gathering more than 1,000 people.

But with Germany reporting increasing COVID-19 cases reaching 2,369 including five deaths on Wednesday, Merkel's government has ramped up its response.

While acknowledging that developments in coming days could lead to more closure of kindergartens or schools in Germany, Merkel fell short of announcing a blanket closure.

The regional governments of Germany's 16 states will decide if they want to shutter school gates according to the local situation, Merkel said, adding that an option could be to bring forward April's Easter school holidays.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Hanoi is smudging coals prospects.

Battered in green-minded Europe, thermal coal producers have been leaning instead on appetite from fast-expanding emerging economies, particularly in Southeast Asia. A change of direction in Vietnam suggests that support may be fading.

An energy strategy for the decade through 2030, outlined last month, reduces the role of the dirtiest fossil fuel in favor of wind, solar and gas. Thats a huge step for a country of nearly 100 million thats growing at 6% to 7% annually, and anticipating a power shortage starting 2021  not to mention one that until recently had planned to roughly triple its fleet of coal-fired power plants. Vietnam forecasts power demand will more than double in the coming decade.

The change of heart reflects a financing squeeze, cheap gas and U.S. pressure on Vietnam to reduce the trade surplus with its largest export market. Combine that with decreasing costs for renewable energy, and growing domestic concerns about air pollution. Then add in the fact that, in the short term, the urgency for extra power may cool as the country gets over the direct and indirect impact of the coronavirus on manufacturing investment. Coals sell-by date just moved a lot closer.

Its hard to overstate Asias role in coal. The region has, alone, kept the single-largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions from falling off a cliff. Its extra consumption has helped global coal demand grow marginally in recent years, despite sharp drops in demand in the U.S. and Europe. The region now accounts for almost 80% of global coal power generation, and most of that boost has come from Southeast Asia, led by Vietnam and Indonesia. Vietnamese coal imports almost doubled in 2019.

Hanoi isnt turning away altogether from the fuel that provides about 40% of its electricity. Its national energy development plan backs large-capacity and high-efficiency units, plus so-called ultra-supercritical technology, which is less polluting. Yet it advises spending is targeted elsewhere, including on the grid, on gas and on renewable energy. The National Steering Committee for Power Development has recommended scaling down coals share in power generation to 37% by 2025 from half. That eliminates 15 gigawatts of planned projects  significant for a country with about 20 GW of installed coal capacity.

Story continues

The final update to the power development plan isnt due for a few months, but these signals should already be ringing alarm bells for miners.

Consider that it comes alongside increasing financial strain for the coal-fired power sector, under pressure even before recent market ructions. Even the likes of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. are slowly edging away from the fuel, along with international peers. According to BloombergNEF, out of more than 41 GW of private-sector projects in Indonesia and Vietnam, roughly half had yet to achieve financial closure as of the end of last year. Some will probably fall by the wayside.

Asia still has state backers such as Export-Import Bank of Korea  a heavyweight thanks to the outsize role South Korea plays in Vietnamese foreign direct investment  plus Chinese institutions like Export-Import Bank of China. That support may be cooling too, though, with Japan considering stepping away from its role financing coal-fired plants abroad.

Meanwhile, Washington is pressuring Hanoi to close a trade gap that widened to $47 billion last year, according to Vietnamese data, by buying more cheap gas. Regional governments have been among those pressing for permission to swap out coal for gas. Absent a substantial increase in gas prices, that trend will accelerate.

Besides other incentives to change, coal also threatens Vietnams energy security: The country has been a net importer since 2015, and could have to bring in 100 million metric tons a year to keep the lights on if it expands as planned through 2030.

None of this spells an abrupt end for coal. Vietnam and Indonesia can still provide guarantees that reduce risk for investors, or long-term purchase deals. China and India may push green concerns to the back as they scramble to keep economies moving.

Yet circumstances in this corner of Southeast Asia have swiftly conspired against a dying fuel. If even Politburo members can turn from tripling plants to considering carbon taxes, theres no reason others wont follow.

To contact the author of this story: Clara Ferreira Marques at cferreirama@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Matthew Brooker at mbrooker1@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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A special court here has dismissed the application of the (ED) seeking the cancellation of bail of accused-turned-witness Rajiv Saxena in the AgustaWestland chopper scam case.

Special Judge Arvind Kumar, while passing the order, observed that the failure of the accused to comply with the conditions on which the pardon is tendered makes the accused liable to be tried.

"Rajiv Saxena is yet to enter into the witness box to depose before this court. The status of Rajiv Saxena, as on date, is of a witness and he has ceased to be an accused. Therefore, there is no question of cancellation of bail of Rajiv Saxena," the court observed.

The court had recently refused to revoke the approver status of Saxena, sought by the ED through an application.

The Dubai-based businessman was extradited to India on January 31 last year in connection with the Rs 3,600-crore alleged scam relating to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland.
A newly-married youth and his brother-in-law were killed while five others sustained injuries when their car rammed into a stationary truck on GT road here near Salem Tabri, police said on Thursday.

The deceased, who were identified as Rahul and his brother-in-law Raju, were residents of Bhattian village of the district, police added.

Additional DCP G S Sikand said Rahul got married on Wednesday morning and was among seven people who were returning home in a car after the wedding.

The accident took place around 11 pm on Wednesday night, he said.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital where the condition of two of them was said to be critical, Sikand added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Sheridan woman who tested positive for the novel coronavirus is isolated at her home and is doing well, health officials said Thursday. Meanwhile two people in a nearby community college district are under quarantine for at least two weeks.

The middle-aged woman  the first person in Wyoming to test positive for the disease caused by the virus  has not been identified. She said that she was feeling somewhat better at the time of her positive test result, said Dr. John Addlesperger, chief medical officer for Sheridan Memorial Hospital.

At this point in time it looks like a pretty mild infection, he said.

She came to the hospitals urgent care because she was concerned about a number of symptoms: fever, cough, aching and a runny nose. She was treated, diagnosed and initially tested at the facility. Then, because she was not significantly ill, she was sent home and told to self-isolate.

Addlesperger said her exposure to others in the hospital was limited. In a previous statement, the Sheridan hospital said it was closing its cafeteria and cafe until further notice.

We have a triage station in the emergency room that triages patients with suggestive symptoms for COVID-19, he said. So the people were wearing personal protective equipment.

It took around 30 hours to get the test back from the state lab.

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a respiratory illness, symptoms of which include fever, cough and shortness of breath. It comes from the broader family of coronaviruses, which causes illnesses like SARS and the common cold.

On Wednesday evening, the Health Department announced that the woman had tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling within the United States. Neighboring states have had larger caseloads, including more than 40 in Colorado and one death in South Dakota. The Wyoming Health Department has declined to provide additional details about the patient, including where she traveled to. Addlesperger also declined to say where she had been, other than she had traveled locally and within the country over the last couple of weeks.

Kim Deti, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department, said Thursday health officials have identified close contacts and they are being quarantined. She said the individuals were cooperative and she didnt believe an order was necessary to enforce the isolation.

We arent recommending additional steps, she added. The close contacts will be tested.

Two under quarantine

Two people in the Northern Wyoming Community College District  a student and a faculty member  are being quarantined, according to a Thursday afternoon statement from district President Walter Tribley. They were placed under quarantine Thursday and will remain there for a minimum of 14 days, he said.

The district included Sheridan College, Gillette College and Sheridan College in Johnson County. When asked which college the quarantined people attended and worked at, a representative for Sheridan College said no additional information could be provided.

Addlesperger of Sheridan Memorial Hospital did not know if there were more people quarantined.

We are in contact with local and state healthcare officials and incorporating information from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help determine our best course of action, Tribley said. We are keeping the safety of our students, employees and communities at the forefront of our decision-making, however our core mission is education and we will do everything possible to ensure students reach their goals.

A crisis management team for the district was set to meet Thursday evening to discuss next steps. The school has canceled all college-sponsored travel.

Negative tests

As of Wednesday evening, the state had run 16 negative tests for the disease, which causes respiratory issues and is characterized by a fever, cough and shortness of breath. Deti said she didnt have updated numbers or results from Thursday. Gov. Mark Gordon also said there had been 17 tests  one positive, 16 negative  in a Thursday evening news conference.

Sheridan Memorial Hospital had conducted two negative tests before the woman tested positive, Addlesperger said.

He said the 24- to 48-hour range has been the norm for receiving results, but that that number could soon shrink.

Its an evolving process, he said. I know the state and the labs are looking at different ways to speed that up and consolidate samples, so were thinking thats going to improve over time. Also, private labs are coming online now and offering the test. So were going to have other testing resources other than just the state lab.

Despite a national shortage, the Sheridan hospital is currently well-stocked on the culture medium that is used to send swabs to the state lab for testing. A hospital spokesman said the facility has a complete inventory of the culture kits, but that he could not say how many were in the inventory.

However, the number of tests being conducted in Sheridan could soon be on the rise.

We have had to make adjustments to deal with the volume, certainly everyone is quite concerned and so theyre calling us frequently, Addlesperger said. A lot of people are coming to be screened, not clearly understanding really who needs to be tested. So were really working on community communication. Were working with our health department and our county to develop public information systems that will help communicate.

Even so, he said things havent changed much for the hospital since the positive test.

Weve been working for weeks getting our infection prevention protocols (prepared) and assure that theyre all in place and that we have the equipment and the facility structure to take care of patients safely, Addlesperger said. And weve been saying in our community conversations that we need to assume that there is virus in our community and we need to take all the precautions that are recommended by the state health department and CDC. So, we havent significantly changed our approach, our protocols.







Photos: Empty shelves and shuttered events as coronavirus reaches Wyoming

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Brandon Foster Managing editor Brandon Foster is the Star-Tribune's managing editor. He joined the Star-Tribune in 2016 as the University of Wyoming sports reporter after graduating from the University of Missouri and covering Mizzou athletics for two years. Follow Brandon Foster Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Three days after Oregon declared a state of emergency because of the coronavirus outbreak, governor Kate Brown has announced she is banning all gatherings of more than 250 people for two weeks in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The declaration comes as California Department of Health issued guidance that all public gatherings should be postponed or cancelled until at least the end of March.

Announcing her states measures, Ms Brown called for calm and caution.

We cant let fear and anxiety stigmatise people. We are seeing cases across multiple counties and age groups, and in people exposed through different circumstances, she said.

Its time for us all to do what we can to slow its spread and take care of one another.

Oregon has continued to identify new cases, most recently at a veterans home, where two men over 80 years old tested positive. It is not known how they contracted the virus, indicating that community spread may already be underway. Their cases brought the states total to 21.

California governor Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, told his states citizens that the recommended steps were a matter of life or death.

Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know, he said in a statement.

Thats the choice before us. Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects  saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now.

The people in our lives who are most at risk  seniors and those with underlying health conditions  are depending on all of us to make the right choice.

California has been in a state of emergency since March 4, a move precipitated by the death of a man who had returned there from a cruise holiday. His was the first death outside Washington state.

Washington has now reported more than 300 cases of coronavirus; its governor, Jay Inslee, has banned large gatherings in three counties that between them are home to nearly four million people.

Other states and major cities across the US are starting to block public events of their own, including St Patricks Day parades in Chicago, Boston and New York.

On the same night Ms Brown made her announcement, President Donald Trump used a televised address from the Oval Office to announce his administration is banning travel from most of Europe by all except American citizens.

He continues to praise his own administrations response to the virus despite widespread criticism and reported problems.
NinjaRMM, a San Francisco, CA-based modern remote monitoring and endpoint management solution provider, closed a $30m growth equity funding.

The round was led by Summit Partners.

The company intends to use the funds to continue increasing its development capacity to release more features and platform improvements and further accelerate its pace of innovation.

Led by Salvatore Sferlazza, CEO, NinjaRMM provides cloud-based remote monitoring and management software to managed service providers, SMBs, and mid-market companies. It increases business efficiency by combining monitoring, alerting, patching, antivirus, backup, and IT automation all within a single platform. The company, which has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Tampa, and Berlin, Germany, currently supports more than 4,000 customers, with some customers managing nearly 20,000 endpoints.

FinSMEs

12/03/2020
A Mid North Coast man, who was fascinated with the disappearance of toddler William Tyrrell, spoke endlessly about a "strange smell" after the toddler vanished and said police were looking for the missing boy in the wrong spot, a coronial inquest has heard.

William, 3, disappeared from the front yard of his grandmother's property in Benaroon Drive, in Kendall on the Mid North Coast, in September 2014.

William Tyrrell, who vanished in 2014, dressed in his Spider-Man suit.

In the past six months, police have searched the Herons Creek property where Frank Abbott was living in a caravan in the hunt for evidence about what happened to William.

Abbott is representing himself at a coronial inquest into William's disappearance via video link from a prison in the Hunter Valley.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have only run 70 coronavirus tests within the last week, new figures reveal.

The federal heath agency ran 54 tests on March 5 and 16 tests on March 6 - and no tests between March 7 and March 10.

What's more, only eight tests were completed by US public health laboratories on March 10 - a 97 percent drop from the day before.

This is despite promises from the Trump administration that America would be ramping up testing and that more than one million kits would soon be distributed to all 50 states.

New figures have revealed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have only run 70 tests in the last seven days. Pictured: The CDC lab kit for the virus

The CDC completed just 54 tests on March 5 and 16 tests on March 6 - and no tests between March 7 and March 10 (center column)

This is despite promises from the Trump administration that millions of test kits would be distributed by next week. Pictured: President Donald Trump (left) speaks to reporters at the Capitol after attending the Senate Republicans weekly policy luncheon with Vice President Mike Pence (right), March 10

Since January 18, just 11,079 specimens have been tested for the virus that causes COVID-19 at CDC labs and US public health laboratories.

This is notwithstanding comments from Vice President Mike Pence at a Monday press conference that one million test kits had been distributed and that four million were expected to go about by the end of this week or the next.

However, he did not specify where the kits were sent to, or would be sent to.

Both Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Vice President Pence said the government currently does not have enough kits to keep up with demand.

It's also lower than the 75,000 'cumulative' kits available for testing across all 50 states, according to Dr Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Worldwide, more than 128,000 people have been infected and more than 4,700 people have died

Yahoo News reports that only a single private lab is currently performing tests despite the administration stressing that the private sector would help cover the deficit.

'This is not a problem we can test our way out of,' Dr Stephen Redd, head of the CDC's Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, testified before Congress on Wednesday.

His comments seemed to imply that it would be impossible to test every single one of the nearly 330 million people living in the US.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, CDC director Dr Robert Redfield told Congress that a lack of funding was the reason America's response to the outbreak has been slow.

'The truth is we've underinvested in the public health labs,' Dr Redfield said.

'There's not enough equipment, there's not enough people, there's not enough internal capacity, there's no search capacity.'

There is reportedly just one single private lab is currently performing tests. Pictured: A patient is loaded into an ambulance at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington - the epicenter of one of the largest outbreaks in the US - on March 9

The CDC has suffered several testing delays stemming from manufacturing errors to lack of funding. Pictured: Medical personnel help load passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship onto airplanes at Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California on March 10,

Less than week after the CDC shipped its first batch of kits, several state labs said the diagnostic was returning 'inconclusive results.'

This forced the federal health agency to remanufacture components of the kit.

Additionally, tests can take anywhere from two to seven says to return results.

It's why states filed emergency requests to conduct their own testing and why institutions like the Cleveland Clinic have developed a coronavirus test that will be able to deliver results in just hours.

Worldwide, more than 125,000 people have been infected in more than 100 countries and more than 4,600 people have died.

In the US, more than 1,500 cases have been confirmed in at least 46 states and the District of Columbia and 39 people have died.

However, health experts have warned that these numbers are probably much lower than the actual figures due to a lack of testing.
Riverdale The Locked Room Season 4 Episode 16 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next  Photo: Courtesy of The CW

For the last two weeks, Jughead has been self-quarantined in a bunker, avoiding contact with his loved ones and devoting most of his sunlight-free waking hours to considering his mortality.

Too real, Riverdale.

But now, Jughead barges into Duponts seminar with a big smile and strong this GIF energy. (I do feel like he should be wearing a helmet around these people, just in case.) Betty manages to lock the door and collect everyones cell phones, with basically zero protest, which is awfully romantic. I cant tell you the last time my husband trapped a group of people in a room so I could shout my theories about how they murdered me at them.

Moose, Jughead explains, was supposed to be a sacrificial lamb. Well, sacrificial moose. But maybe, Chipping  who, per his wife, expressed before his suicide that he wished hed never gotten the Baxter Brothers contract  pushed him into leaving school for the Army because he couldnt go through with it. At least not this time. Betty and Jughead have discovered that a Stonewall student has disappeared (and we know that Stonewall students, historically, love to disappear; its like their No. 2 extracurricular activity, between mock trial and varsity douchebaggery) every time a new Baxter Brothers has taken over the series. Nothing proves you can write a perfect murder like committing one, which is an interesting idea in theory, although Im not sure Americas most horrifying serial killers are uniformly churning out thrilling volumes of cerebral crime fiction from behind bars. That Jughead was awarded the contract at first only served to put a target on his back.

There is no I in murder, but there is a team in head trauma. Bret led Jughead into woods, Joan hit him with the rock (he remembers smelling her perfume), Donna distracted Betty then Devils Breath-ed her into looking like the likeliest suspect. It turns out it was Jonathan (who is MIA due to, allegedly, food poisoning) who was supposed to check Jugheads pulse and confirm he was really dead. But he couldnt bring himself to do it.

We finally see how the scene in which Archie and Veronica stumble upon Betty holding a rock over Jugheads body plays out. Betty commands Archie to pound on his chest and Veronica to stanch his bleeding with the beanie while she gives him mouth-to-mouth. Jughead opens his eyes and mumbles not to take him to the hospital (to protect Betty, apparently, but for the record, girls and boys, this is an unequivocal should-have-taken-him-to-the-hospital situation), but he wont fully regain consciousness for another 36 hours. Betty dials 1-800-FBI-PALS and Charles appears at the edge of the woods with an FBI medical van (staffed with other agents, how deep does this thing go?) to take Jughead away. Seen in its full context, Bettys fireside speech about the only way we wont get caught has a big if Jughead doesnt make it disclaimer tacked onto it.

When Betty and FP shared this theory about vanished Stonewall students with the other Baxter Brothers ghostwriters, they all asked for their lawyers. Well, no, no, no, how dare you, responds Dupont, though for what its worth, he never explicitly directed anyone to do anything criminal, okay?

But this goes all the way back to the very first members of the Quill & Skull society: Duponts classmates knew hed purchased Forsythes story for only $5,000, an exploitatively low sum, given the publishing cash cow that the Baxter Brothers series has proved to be. Thatd sure be terrible PR for the brand if it got out, huh? Funny, then, how all Duponts classmates  who knew this secret, too  have died in mysterious, inexplicable accidents over the years, isnt it?

That is, almost all of them. Enter Charles, FP II, and  FP I. Theodore Weisel (ha, ha) came to see him shortly before he died under sketchy circumstances, Jugs grandfather explains, and told him that Dupont had killed their other classmates. Thats why FP went out for that fateful pack of cigarettes and never came back: He knew he was next. (Not sure that explains the rest of his abusive parenting, but I digress.) And this is why Jughead was recruited  as bait to lure his grandpa into Duponts clutches.

Charles, by the way, has already searched Duponts house and found trophies from his victims hidden inside, delightfully, a hollowed-out Oxford English Dictionary. I am a man of honor to the end, Dupont ruh-rohs, before plunging out the window (to think, they just had that gorgeous stained glass repaired!) and onto the concrete below. Not a single O Captain! My Captain! marks his death.

Charles interrogates the Stonewall kids, but it doesnt go super great. Joan has diplomatic immunity, via her fancy-job dad. Donna cries and lies her way out of any real culpability. Bret doesnt feel much like disclosing the location of his trove of sex tapes, at least not until Charles invites FP and Jughead (and their brass knuckles) into the interview room. Just a few weeks ago we saw one of our main characters laid out supposedly dead on a morgue table, and I feel like this beatdown is supposed to be cathartic, given that Bret is a full diaper with a jawline, but its actually a strong contender for darkest scene in the entire season. Lo and behold, Brets face is reduced to a bloody pulp, and the tapes are excavated from a hidden compartment behind the school crest.

Quill & Skull has been disbanded, but the mastermind, it seems, has gotten away scot-free. Donna is transferring to a new school, and worse, she gets to take over the writing contract, though the Baxter Brothers are relaunching as Tracy True books.

Not if Betty can help it, though. She reveals the dirt Hermosa dug up: Donnas grandmother is one of the classmates Dupont killed  and from whom he stole the character of Tracy True  and shes been seeking not just to exact revenge against him, but to reclaim her family legacy. (I mean, fair.) If Donna doesnt walk away from the contract, Betty will send the medical file that for some reason reveals her grandmothers identity, like all medical files are known to do, to newspapers nationwide.

Cheryl is skeptical that Betty and Archie were entirely faking their romance, but otherwise  Things are back to normal? Real-life normal, which I suppose is actually far from the Riverdale status quo. Principal Honey is legally obligated to readmit Jughead to Riverdale High, even if its increasingly doubtful he and Archie will graduate along with the rest of their class. (Betty and Veronica seem as perturbed about that fact  which is, like, fine, take a summer course  as they were when their respective boyfriends have been in moral peril.)

The elder two FPs are hanging out and talking, which is nice. Jughead, Betty, Archie, and Veronica toast over milkshakes at Pops, which is also nice. And Kevin demands they all sign up to perform at his upcoming variety show, which is the nicest of all.
Israel confirms 100 coronavirus cases

As part of efforts to contain the outbreak, many governments have closed borders and suspended land and air travel with the worst-hit countries.

Three fresh cases of coronavirus in Israel have pushed the number of cases up to 100, the Health Ministry said Thursday.

MINISTRY BANNED EVENTS

On Wednesday, the ministry also banned events of more than 100 people amid fears of widespread local transmission, according to guidelines on its website.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared coronavirus a global pandemic.

The global death toll from the virus known has surpassed 4,600, with over 124,500 confirmed cases.

The virus originated in China but has reached more than 100 countries.
The Russian and European space agencies have postponed their joint mission to Mars, citing technical difficulties and the coronavirus pandemic.

Russian space agency Roscosmos and the European Space Agency (ESA) "made a difficult but well-weighed decision" to postpone the launch of ExoMars to 2022, Dmitry Rogozin, director general of the Russian agency, said in a statement on March 12.

Rogozin said the decision was "driven primarily by the need to maximize the robustness of all ExoMars systems as well as force majeure circumstances related to exacerbation of the epidemiological situation in Europe, which he said "left our experts practically no possibility to proceed with travels to partner industries."

ESA Director General Jan Worner said that "more verification activities will ensure a safe trip and the best scientific results on Mars."

The ExoMars mission to study the Red Planet has been repeatedly postponed and was most recently scheduled for this year.

Worldwide, more than 118,000 people have been infected by the coronavirus and nearly 4,300 people have died, most of them in China, where the disease originated.
By Alex Pomerantz and Peter Smulowitz

One of us recently cared for an uninsured patient. Lori (we changed her name for privacy) believed she was healthy despite recent shortness of breath. It was soon discovered that she suffered from a previous heart attack. Unable to afford the cost of her care, she had not seen a physician in years. Consequently, when she presented to the hospital she was in preventable distress from heart failure.

Our current system fails patients like Lori every day. More than 27 million Americans remain uninsured, and with the repeal of the individual mandate penalty that number is likely to rise. The current system does not just fail in coverage, it fails in affordability. Americans spend far more on health care than citizens of other nations.

Single payer is a commonly proposed solution to extend coverage to all Americans. Yet it remains a polarizing issue that is opposed by most relevant lobbying groups. If passed (unlikely with a Republican Congress), the legislation might be in jeopardy of repeal if the majority in Congress changed. The loss of choice inherent to single payer is unacceptable to the majority of Americans who want private health insurance preserved.

Despite recent attention, single payer is not the only road to achieving the fundamental goals for health reform: expanding coverage, improving affordability, and maintaining choice. These basic tenets of healthcare reform are presumably shared by most Democrats and Republicans. Reforming the current system based on these principles will achieve what both parties desire  lasting health reform.

While there are many roads to reform, we present two key changes to Obamacare as a guide for the American people, similar to those proposed in the Colorado State Legislature. We encourage these reforms to be judged with a policy rather than political lens based on coverage, affordability/cost containment and preservation of choice.

Once considered by the Obama administration, the public option has received increased attention in the past year. Under this plan, all Americans could purchase Medicare in the private insurance marketplace. Many variations exist, but one could expand coverage by providing the public option at an income-subsidized rate. Such a plan would benefit the uninsured millions who suffer in states that chose not to expand Medicaid and those with expensive insurance coverage.

Theoretically, Medicare would provide an affordable option for all, likely forcing private insurers to optimize their offerings. The cost savings of this reform would be felt most in areas of low competition where there may be only one or two insurers offering plans. Increasing competition would likely drive down the premiums associated with all insurance plans. The public option would preserve the consumers choice of private health plans, all the while expanding coverage and reducing premiums.

Another reform option is inspired by the German model, a universal private health insurance system. In this system, consumers are required to buy insurance from one of many nonprofit insurance plans, with subsidies according to income. Those who want even more freedom of choice (such as private hospital rooms) may purchase alternative coverage from for-profit insurers.

While nonprofit health insurance seems unlikely in the U.S., there are variations that could benefit all Americans. To capture the benefits of affordable premiums and cost containment but without mandating that insurers become nonprofit, the medical loss ratio could be further manipulated. This concept was built into Obamacare and restricts the amount of premiums that insurers may spend on anything other than medical care reimbursement. A secondary insurance market that allows greater freedom of choice at the cost of higher premiums could also be offered with decreased regulations. The private insurance market would thus be preserved with universal coverage, lower costs and freedom of choice.

On basic principle, what was once Obamacare achieves many fundamentals espoused by conservatives and moderates: a private insurance system built on economic competition, freedom of choice and innovation. While no system is perfect or agreeable to all, going back to Obamacares key principles with some modifications would go a long way in ensuring affordable medical care. Opinion polls suggest Medicare-for-All is less popular than private insurance, but applying the basic principles of healthcare reform to whats left of Obamacare could achieve universal coverage with affordable private and public insurance options.

Alex Pomerantz, a rising fourth-year medical student at Harvard, is a resident of Wildwood Crest.

Peter Smulowitz, M.D., M.P.H is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School, chair of the emergency medicine department at Beth Israel Deaconess - Needham Hospital, and a health care delivery system researcher.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
The US House of Representatives voted Wednesday to extend key provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and reauthorize government spying on the public. The legislation is now headed for the Senate for approval and is then expected to be signed into law by President Trump sometime prior to the expiration of the previous rules on March 15.

The vote came by a margin of 278 to 136, with majorities of both Democrats (152-75) and Republicans (126-60) supporting passage. House Democratic leaders backed the bill, as did the two former CIA agents in the Democratic caucus, Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.

The legislation continues the procedure by which the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can surveil US citizens with approval from a secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) upon completion of a special application. Since the FISA law was first established in 1979in the aftermath of the Watergate crisis which exposed the criminal activities of the Nixon administrationmore than 40,000 FISA applications have been submitted to FISC judges, with all but a minuscule two-tenths of one percent given approval.

FBI headquarters in Boston [Photo credit: fbi.gov]

In the year 2018, for example, the FISA court received a total of 1,080 requests from law enforcement to spy on Americans, and there was only one instance in which the request was denied. It must also be kept in mind that the targets of such surveillance are not permitted legal representation before the court, or even to know that their fundamental right against unreasonable searches and seizures is being transgressed.

Although much media emphasis has been placed on the new laws official ending of the program utilized by the National Security Agency to collect metadata from all phone calls and text messagesoriginally exposed by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden in 2013it still permits such surveillance to proceed with judicial approval.

Three other surveillance powers set to expire on March 15 were renewed without change. At immediate issue are three vanishing aspects of the surveillance state erected after 9/11. These are part of Section 215, known as the business records provision, which allows the FBI to compel companies to provide customer data without a warrant. The roving wiretap allows the FBI to wiretap the same individual on multiple phones, while the lone wolf provision allows the FBI to designate an individual unconnected with any organization to be targeted for surveillance as a terrorist.

From the beginnings of the mass electronic surveillance program that was started in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, US law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been systematically violating the constitutional rights of the population. With the renewal of the FISA laws, these violations will continue and become even more aggressive.

A major consideration in the negotiations over the final bill was that the Justice Departments independent inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, and his team uncovered the fact that the FISA process is riddled with violations and errors by the FBI. These were exposed by Horowitz in analyzing the way that surveillance of Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser, was approved and reauthorized in 2016 and 2017.

According to the published details, FBI agents presented one-sided and tendentious material to the FISA court supporting their contention that Page was a conduit between the Russians and Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, and systematically suppressed more substantial evidence that discredited their theory.

While this particular exposure arose out of the conflict between the White House and congressional Democrats, who were backed by US intelligence, during the impeachment of Donald Trump, there is no doubt that the same kind of violations and far worse are happening on a daily basis within the clandestine world of government surveillance operations.

The critical push to get the renewal billcalled the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act of 2020to the floor of the House came from leading Democrats. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California worked late Tuesday to reach a deal with leading Republicans over objections from Democrats in the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

In a joint statement Nadler and Schiff said, Along with the House Leadership, we have engaged in bipartisan negotiations with input from many members to get to a deal on reforming FISA while reauthorizing important national security provisions set to expire this weekend. In other words, the national security interests of US imperialism outweigh the protection of fundamental democratic rights protected by the US Constitution.

Attorney General William Barr said of the legislation, I have reviewed the House FISA bill and support its passage, and a White House representative said that Trump is pleased with the direction that were headed. It was also praised by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican from Kentucky) who said, We applaud the bipartisan House passage of this legislation and look forward to voting to pass it in the Senate as soon as possible.

While the exact schedule is not known at the time of this writing, the Senate has a recess beginning next week and it is expected that a vote will take place before the Sunday expiration date. Senate Republican leaders have urged support for the House bill and pledged to move forward with a vote as soon as possible this week.

Two interrelated issues came together on the rapidly proceeding FISA law renewal that expose the priorities of US ruling establishment. Despite the appearance of divided government during the House impeachment and Senate acquittal of President Donald Trump six weeks ago, there is virtual unanimity within both capitalist parties that laws authorizing surveillance of the public must not be allowed to lapse.
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 girls 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.Stephens 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 girls 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 wont 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.
Thousands of trainee nurses will be called up to help treat patients in the coronavirus crisis.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said some of the 18,000 students who are now in their final year of training would be invited into clinical practice.

They are in their last 12 months of a three-year degree and would start practising on hospital wards up to six months early without finishing their full training.

Mr Stevens explained that the NHS was working with the Nursing and Midwifery Council to see how many of the 18,000 undergraduates are available.

He told the Chief Nursing Officers summit in Birmingham: Over the next month, three months, five months, our lives are going to be dominated by the response to coronavirus. It is going to be the single biggest challenge facing all European health services.

Thousands of trainee nurses will be called up to help treat patients in the coronavirus crisis. Pictured, people are swabbed at a drive-thru coronavirus testing station in Wolverhampton on Wednesday

We are going to have to respond flexibly and pragmatically in the way the NHS always does.

Meanwhile, doctors are going to be told to get ready to work outside of their normal area of expertise.

A letter will be sent out by the General Medical Council, which regulates doctors, urging them to be flexible and embrace new ways of working.

The details have not been specified so far but one possible scenario is that doctors who normally work in the areas of outpatients or elective surgery would be moved on to intensive care or other wards.

The letter from GMC chiefs will also attempt to reassure doctors that they should not fear any reprisals from the regulator for practising outside their normal area of specialism.
The estranged brother of the alleged murderer Robert Durst who is on trial for killing his best friend at her Beverly Hills home has revealed he was 'fearful' of his sibling.

Thomas Durst, 70, who took to the stand at Los Angeles County Superior Court to give evidence at his brother's murder trial, described feeling 'humiliated' to stand before the court and speak about his brother, 76.

The younger brother of Durst, who was subpoenaed to take the stand, described his older brother's violent demeanor and spoke about the multimillionaire's volatile relationship with his first wife, Kathleen McCormack Durst.

According to The New York Post Thomas told jurors: 'I'm humiliated to be here. This is a horrible experience and I'm fearful of my brother.'

The younger brother of Robert Durst (pictured during murder trial), 76, who is on trial for killing his best friend, described his terrifying character

Durst (pictured with his defense attorney Dick DeGuerin) is on trial for murdering his long-term friend

Durst is accused of murdering his friend Susan Berman (pictured) in 2000 in her Beverly Hills, California, home

The estranged brother of Durst was asked to recount what he witnessed between Kathleen and his older brother before she disappeared in New York in 1982.

It comes after lead prosecutor John Lewin told the court last week that Durst murdered three people  his first wife Kathleen McCormack Durst, his longtime friend Susan Berman and a neighbor who discovered his true identity after he went into hiding.

Jurors were also told that Durst had a 'hit list' of people he wanted to kill, including his younger brother, Douglas, who was chosen over the real estate heir to assume control of the family's New York-based property empire.

When asked by the prosecutor how generous he thought his brother was on a scale of zero to 100, Thomas continued: 'I believe about minus 50 if the scale goes that low.'

During the trial, Thomas went on to explain that his brother had made his first wife resort to food stamps despite having a trust fund that would be able to finance for her needs.

Last week the prosecution team said investigators had long suspected that Durst also murdered his first wife Kathleen Durst (left), who disappeared in New York in 1982

Pictured: The New York real estate heir appears in court during the opening statements in his murder trial in Los Angeles, California

He recalled visiting Kathleen at the couple's Upper East Side apartment and being told by the 'extremely upset' wife that the couple were getting a divorce.

After writing a check for the distressed wife, Thomas went on to describe how Durst found out about the money he had offered her and confronted him.

He added: 'He said, ''I know she asked you for money!'' I felt like I was about to die.'

Robert Durst is on trial for the 2000 murder of Susan Berman, his close friend who was found shot to death in her Los Angeles home on Christmas Eve.

She was killed just days before she was to give an interview to New York investigators looking into the 1982 disappearance of Kathleen Durst, Robert Dursts first wife. Her body has never been found.

On Monday, jurors were told the alleged murderer Durst 'effectively admitted' to the killing of his friend Susan Berman in interviews with police, by Los Angeles prosecutor John Lewin.

Lead prosecutor John Lewin (pictured) makes his opening statements in Robert Durst's murder trial

Lewin played the jury a videotape of himself and Los Angeles Police Department detectives interviewing the multi-millionaire in 2015.

In the interview, Lewin asked Durst: 'When you killed Susan, that was not something you wanted to do. Do you want to know how I know that?

Durst replied: 'I'm going to stay away from killing Susan.'

Lewin seized on the response, telling the jury that when given an opportunity, Durst failed to deny the killings.

He added that Durst hinted he had details about the crime that only the killer would know.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's daughter and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Thursday broke her nearly four-month-long silence, saying she was silent for "personal reasons" and asserted that she could not be threatened or intimidated.

Maryam was the fiercest critic of the Imran Khan government, but had been keeping mum since November after given bail in a corruption case, raising speculation that she had struck a deal with the government and the powerful establishment.

Talking to media in Islamabad after meeting former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and other leaders of her Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam said she could not be threatened or intimidated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The UAE (United Arab Emirates) recently revealed it had imported Chinese built 6x6 truck mounted SR5 MRLs (Multiple Rocket Launcher). It is unknown how many SR5s the UAE bought but it appears to be about a dozen. The SR5 can carry and fire two pods of twenty 122mm unguided or guided rockets with a range of 40 kilometers or six King Dragon 60 220mm unguided or guided rockets with a range of 70 kilometers. Guided versions use laser/INS/GPS (GPS and Beidu). The truck can also carry pods with a single 610mm King Dragon 300 guided rocket with a 300 kilometer range and INS/GPS guidance. Each pod can also carry a single C705 anti-ship cruise missile with a range of 170 kilometers and INS/GPS guidance. Using laser guidance the cruise missile can hit ships offshore.

For the smaller rockets, the unguided versions cost less than half what the guided versions do. The largest rockets/cruise missile cost about half a million dollars each. The unguided 122 mm rocket cost less than $200 each. Unguided rockets are still adequate if large area targets are being fired at. This would include military bases, urban areas or large troop formations deployed for combat. The cruise missiles are slower, but come in lower and are more likely to avoid anti-missile defenses. For laser-guided versions, there would have to be either troops on the ground or aircraft available using the laser designators, which usually have a range of 10-15 kilometers.

The SR-5 truck has a double cab and a crew of five. The truck carries a digital satellite navigation system and computerized fire control system for handling unguided or guided rockets. Rockets can be fired from a pod singly or in salvos. A member of the crew gets the target coordinates by radio, or an existing target location list, and enters the target destination for each guided rocket. The truck can halt and be ready to fire in five minutes and after that be ready to move again in one minute to avoid return fire. Resupply trucks carry four pods and the SR5 can replace an empty pod with a loaded one in about ten minutes. SR5 vehicles can operate in groups or individually.

SR5 entered service in 2013 and has already been exported to Algeria, Bahrain, Venezuela and Thailand. Other nations are apparently interested because the SR5 is inexpensive and uses tech known to be reliable because the similar American HIMARS vehicle has been in use for over a decade using guided 227mm rockets fired from pods. Several Middle Eastern nations are already using HIMARS.
STOCKHOLM (dpa-AFX) - Ericsson (ERIC) announced signing of an agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in Barcelona, Spain-based Genaker, a provider of Mission Critical Push-to-talk solutions. Genaker was founded in 2004 and employs around 30 people. Genaker's employees will transfer to Ericsson as part of the acquisition. Ericsson expects this acquisition to strengthen its MC-PTT offering and that it is a building block in its focus on strengthening service providers' capabilities towards mission critical users. Monica Zethzon, Head of Solution Area Communication Services, Ericsson, said 'We have worked with Genaker as a partner in Mission Critical Applications for many years and we are now taking this step to further strengthen our end-to-end offering. We're really excited that the Genaker team is joining us and that we can bring the value of their expertise to our customers.' 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.
As concern over the spread of coronavirus increases, Donald Trump has announced a 30-day ban on travel from Europe.

The restrictions, which the president announced from the Oval Office on Wednesday, sparked near-immediate confusion and chaos among US citizens and foreigners alike.

According to the president, the ban - which will start on Friday 13 March and last for 30 days - will decrease the spread of what he called the foreign virus.

If we are vigilant and we can reduce the chance of infection [and] impede the transmission of the virus, Mr Trump said. The virus will not have a chance against us.

However, shortly after the presidents remarks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement attempting to clarify key points of the ban.

Today President Donald J Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation, which suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States, the statement reads.

In addition to stating the ban will not affect flights from the United Kingdom and will only apply to countries known as the Schengen Area, the DHS also said the ban does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of US citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.

But for travellers, the statement did little to clarify confusion over the ban, with many taking to social media to question what will happen to their travel plans.

While the majority of airlines have not yet issued public statements regarding the ban, many were already attempting to answer customer enquiries on Twitter.

Recommended Trump just made the biggest move of his presidency

The US authorities are setting restrictions for travel from Europe due to the coronavirus situation. We are addressing the impacts of this to our flights today and will then communicate to our customers. We are sorry about the uncertainty this is causing to our customers, Finnair tweeted Wednesday night.

According to a response from Lufthansa, customers whose flights get cancelled because of the ban may request a full refund of the unused flight segments, with calculation of the refund amount done by its refunds department.

Maybe US citizens can board flights from Europe back to the US. Who knows? one customer asked amid the confusion. But if Europeans cant fly to the US for at least the next month, are airlines going to continue operating those flights?
ANKARA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Embassy in Turkey announced Wednesday the launch of the first Chinese language training course for Turkish Armed Forces personnel.

Ten Turkish soldiers will participate in the full-time course, which lasts for five months, with the help of Chinese teachers from the Confucius Institute of the Middle East Technical University.

Chinese military attache in Turkey Chen Qingsong, who attended the launching ceremony, hailed the development of Chinese-Turkish military ties, adding that the Chinese language course will allow Turkish soldiers to learn more about China.

It will also promote mutual trust and boost the friendly relations between the two countries, said Chen.

Shi Ruilin, Chinese cultural counselor in Turkey, pointed out that language is an important tool and foundation for cultural exchange, and China is willing to continue to provide support and help to the Chinese language course for Turkish army.
TEMPE, Ariz., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arizona State University, named the most innovative university in America for the past five years by U.S. News & World Report, has launched a new partnership program offered by the highly ranked Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts, W. P. Carey School of Business, and Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. The Master of Science in Innovation and Venture Development (MS- IVD) is a one-year program offered on ASU's Tempe campus and will prepare leaders with the mindset, skill sets, and practice needed to launch successful ventures in any industry or sector, inside existing organizations, or as new entities.

Designated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security as a STEM-eligible degree program, the MS-IVD provides greater opportunities for international students to find employment in the U.S. for up to 36 months beyond graduation, as compared to 12 months for non-STEM degrees.

The longer work authorization term can help international graduates gain additional real-world skills and experience in the U.S. The designation also benefits employers, who do not have to sponsor OPT (optional practical training) candidates.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that demand for STEM jobs will grow by 13% by 2027, with higher wages than non-STEM jobs: The national average for STEM salaries is $87,570, while non-STEM jobs earn roughly half as much, with an annual average of $45,700. The certification means international graduates of the MS-IVD program, which launches in fall 2020, can enter the U.S. job market and pursue the OPT extension immediately. Learning from design, business, and engineering  three critical disciplines in venture design  is integrated into a single, studio-based program that provides students with the experience of launching a venture, preparing them to lead innovation and new businesses within large companies or at their enterprises.

"This is a ground-breaking program developed to provide graduates with the knowledge, experience, and leadership skills they need to be successful  while they are still in school," said Cheryl Heller, director of design integration and director of the MS-IVD program. "Our goal is to develop the next generation of disruptive leaders of innovation. This STEM designation is an important part of that."

Students interested in pursuing the Master of Science in Innovation and Venture Development are encouraged to visit MSI-ventures.asu.edu to learn more about the program's curriculum and application deadlines.

About ASU

Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence, and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social, and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

For more information, media contacts:

Deborah Sussman, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

[email protected]

480-965-0478

Kim Steinmetz, W. P. Carey School of Business

[email protected]

480-965-5464

Lanelle Strawder, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering

[email protected]

480-727-5618

SOURCE W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. Only one of the latest three coronavirus (COVID19) patients in Armenia is from Etchmiatsin (Vagharshapat), Mayor Diana Gasparyan said, denying reports on all three being from her city.

She said the patient is isolated and the direct contacts are being traced. She said she is in constant contact with Minister of Healthcare Arsen Torosyan.

On March 11, authorities announced three novel coronavirus infections in Armenia, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
The Drug Enforcement Agency has posted billboards throughout Los Angeles in hopes the public will help them catch the world's most wanted cartel kingpin.

The anti-narcotics agency has paid for adverts along two highways offering a $10million reward for information that leads to the arrest of Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

El Mencho is believed to be sick and hiding out in Mexico's Pacific coast mountainous region from where he is directing the transnational organization.

One of the billboard is located on 5 Freeway near Slauson Avenue and the other went up on Freeway 10 near Paramount Boulevard.

El Mencho, 53, is charged with conspiring to distribute massive amounts of drugs 'for illegal importation into the United States' and using a gun 'during and in relation to these drug trafficking crimes', according to an October 2018 indictment presented in a Washington court.

The San Francisco-born drug lord is also charged with drug trafficking in the state of Mississippi and was designated as a 'kingpin' under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act in April 2015.

The DEA has unfurled two billboards in two different California highways as it seeks any type of information that could lead the agency to the capture of Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, the most wanted drug capo

Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes founded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in 2010

It is believed that El Mencho, a former ally of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, is suffering from kidney problems and is frequently receiving dialysis for his sickness, according to a Mexican government official who spoke to Union Jalisco newspaper in December.

El Mencho's organization operates in 24 of 32 states in Mexico and has shipped cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced heroin to the United States.

The cartel, is known to be in control of between one-third and two-thirds of the U.S. drug market.

On Wednesday, the DEA announced the arrest of more than 600 members of the cartel who were mostly operating in the states of Texas, California, New York, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Colorado. The organization also has a presence in New Mexico, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

El Mencho, formed his syndicate in 2010 with members of the now-defunct Milenio Cartel, and extended its influence throughout Europe, Asia and Australia, and neighboring countries in Central America, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has reigned terror across Mexico, dumping piles of bodies in streets and hanging them from overpasses, while filling the city of Guadalajara with mass graves.

Members are at times seen aboard SUVs and pickup trucks patrolling the streets of some of the towns they control with machine guns and hand grenades. They once used rocket launchers to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter.

Jessica Johana Oseguera (left) and Ruben 'El Menchito' Oseguera Gonzalez are being held by the U.S. government. Their father, Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes,the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, is wanted by the DEA

Very little is known of El Mencho's personal life except that he was an aficionado of cockfighting events before coming a top target of the Mexican government.

Two of El Mencho's three children are being held by the United States government.

Jessica Johana Oseguera, 33, was arrested last February 26 inside a D.C. federal courthouse while appearing at a hearing for her brother, Ruben 'El Menchito' Oseguera Gonzalez, 30, who was extradited from Mexico on February 20 to face drug charges.

Oseguera, a mother of two American-born children, is charged with five counts of violating the Kingpin Act by allegedly laundering money for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

El Menchito has multiple charges relating to conspiracy to distribute narcotics.

El Mencho's wife, Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, posted a $67,000 bail bond in September 2018 after spending three months in prison following her arrest over money laundering charges.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

As the scholar Karin Wulf points out, some people think history is this known and knowable thing, a fixed quantity of information. Instead, she said, its a continual process of discovery, and it develops over time.

How big a role slavery played in the founding and early identity of America is one chapter of history that has evolved in recent decades and remains the subject of debate. Historians discussed that topic as well as how they examine evidence in a conversation moderated last Friday by Ms. Wulf, the executive director of the Omohundro Institute for Early American History & Culture, and organized by The New York Times Magazine.

The forum, 1619 Project Live, at TheTimesCenter, featured four scholars and professors who have focused on the American Revolution and slavery in early America: Annette Gordon-Reed of Harvard University, Eliga H. Gould of the University of New Hampshire, Gerald Horne of the University of Houston and Alan Taylor of the University of Virginia.
BJP leader Vinay Varshney, who was booked in an attempt to murder case during violent clashes in the city over the new citizenship law, was arrested on Thursday.

Varshney was arrested from his residence, police said.

He was booked under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) in connection with an attack on Mohamed Tariq, who was shot at and seriously wounded on February 23, when violence erupted at Upper Kot locality in the city after the police evacuated some anti-CAA women protestors.

Superintendent of Police, City, Abhishek Kumar said two more persons named in the case are still at large.

Besides Varshney, five other persons who were booked for the violent incidents at Upper Kot were also arrested on Thursday.

Those arrested include Mustaqeem, Anwaar, Famhimuddin, Sabir and Imran, police added.

Trouble broke out at the Upper Kot locality last month when police were trying to evict women anti-CAA protestors who were squatting on the Mohamed Ali Road near the Kotwali police station. Some people protested, leading to a scuffle and within minutes, brickbatting started from neighbouring areas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Officials with the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command said Thursday they have suspended liberty leave off and on base for new Basic Military Training graduates.

"The trainees are no longer allowed off base or given base liberty," spokeswoman Marilyn Holliday told Military.com on Thursday. "They'll proceed to their tech training location on Saturday, the day after graduation."

Holliday explained recruits will not be given an opportunity to venture around the base and will return to their dorms with the expectation they will proceed to their respective tech school the following day. The base hosts 50 graduations per year, she said.

Officials made the call Wednesday, just one day after AETC announced it is suspending family-attended graduation events at BMT at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19.

Related: Air Force Blocks Families from Attending Recruit Training Graduations

BMT graduations occur weekly. Each class graduates the program following an eight-and-a-half week course.

"Each year, about 40,000 airmen march across the parade field with up to 7,000 family members in attendance each week for the momentous occasion," Maj. Gen. Andrea Tullos, 2nd Air Force commander, said in a release Tuesday. "Gatherings of this size increase the possibility that the virus could be transmitted to our training population.

"We realize families want to show support to their loved one and they will be disappointed they can't participate in the graduation events, but we have a responsibility to protect not only our airmen but those citizens they will come into contact with as they travel to their follow-on training locations," she added.

Lackland officials said they will monitor and discuss appropriate protocols with medical experts "to determine when guest attendance at graduation events will resume," the release states.

"This is a prudent decision to protect our people and the community in which we live and work," said Maj. Gen. John DeGoes, 59th Medical Wing commander. "Infectious diseases don't respect the fence line, and these actions make sense to protect us and our neighbors."

The U.S. Navy made a similar call earlier this week.

The service on Facebook said it is canceling all public recruit graduations at its boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, out of an abundance of caution, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Recruit Training Command said liberty leave off-base is prohibited and new sailors will report directly to their follow-on assignments.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: Defense Department Orders 60-Day Troop Travel Ban for Virus-Afflicted Countries
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. EBS announced that it has initiated the development of two product candidates for the treatment and prevention of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. The company is developing the two candidates, leveraging its hyperimmune platforms, which have a well-established safety database.

Per the company, the hyperimmunes are polyclonal antibody therapies derived from plasma that leverage the immune response in humans or animals and can provide immediate protection from infection.

Notably, human polyclonal hyperimmune with antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease (COVID-HIG), is being developed as a potential treatment for severe hospitalized patients and protection for individuals who are at high risk of contracting the disease. Meanwhile, equine-derived polyclonal hyperimmune with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-EIG) is being developed as a potential treatment for severe hospitalized patients.

Importantly, Emergent already started collecting plasma for both human and equine platforms and has set a target of manufacturing clinical material within the next four-five months. The company plans to begin a clinical study in the third quarter of 2020.

Shares of Emergent have inched up 1.8% in the past year against the industrys decline of 12.1%.

Earlier this week, Emergent entered into a collaboration agreement with Novavax, Inc. NVAX to support the latters development of a vaccine candidate to protect against COVID-19. Per the agreement, the company will use its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services to advance Novavaxs COVID-19 vaccine candidate into clinical stage.

We note that COVID-19 already infected more than 125,000 people and the death toll crossed 4,600, globally. In the United States, the virus infected more than 1,200 people and claimed 37 lives. Although new cases of coronavirus significantly dropped in China, the epicenter of the outbreak, the infection is spreading rapidly to other countries. Cases of coronavirus infection in Italy, Iran and South Korea rose to 12,462, 9,000 and 7,869, respectively, per the latest update in a Bloomberg article.

Story continues

Several pharma/biotech companies are actively engaged in developing a vaccine for COVID-19 including J&J JNJ and Inovio Pharmaceuticals INO. With the menace of global coronavirus outbreak on the rise, faster development of vaccines is the need of the hour with the WHO recently declaring the disease as a global pandemic.

The accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccine will help save more lives and stop the spread of this dreadful disease across the globe. We remain optimistic as several companies along with global authorities are working closely to introduce a treatment as early as possible to check this deadly virus.

Zacks Rank

Emergent BioSolutions currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

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New Delhi, March 12 : The government could hope to get much better valuation for its share in Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), if the current trend of low global oil prices continues well into 2020 as it will positively impact the marketing margin of the oil marketing company (OMC).

As per the market assessment By Reliance Securities, for every $1 a barrel fall in crude price, the OMCs' marketing margin is expected to improve Rs 0.45 a litre. If we factor in that since mid-January crude prices have fallen by over $25 a barrel, the OMCs gains would be manifold. But in doing direct calculation, the value of rupee also plays a big factor and it has fallen sharply, lately.

Net marketing margin on diesel stands at Rs 5.5 a litre (as on March 7), while the average for Q4FY20 till date stands at Rs 3.53 a litre up 71 per cent QoQ (Q3FY20 - Rs 2.06 a litre). The net marketing margin on petrol stands at Rs 1.83 a litre against negative margin during Q3FY20.

The brokerage firm said HPCL would be the biggest beneficiary of lower crude prices resulting in higher marketing margin for the refiner. The company's net marketing margin on petrol and diesel of Rs 1 a litre can raise its net profit by 41 per cent in FY21, while $1 a barrel change in GRM will potentially increase/decrease its net profit by 17 per cent.

Public sector oil refiner and retailer BPCL would be the second biggest beneficiary as its net profit would be impacted by 31 per cent in FY21 for every Rs 1 a litre rise in net marketing margin on petrol and diesel. Also, $1 per barrel change in GRM would increase/decrease BPCL's net profit 16 per cent, Reliance Securities said.

OMCs have also started importing more crude from Saudi Arabia after the US sanctions on Iranian exports. In 2019, Saudi Arabia remained the second biggest oil seller to India. It increased 19 per cent of overall crude purchase of India (4.6 million bpd) from 17 per cent in 2018.

The OMCs (BPCL+HPCL+IOCL) import crude oil from Saudi Arabia. In January 2019, they purchased 24 per cent of total crude from Saudi Arabia. "The OMCs could be the largest beneficiary of sharp cut in official selling price to Asian countries by Saudi Arabia," it said.
I have been asked by a number of our industry members if REIA intends to make a statement or provide direction in regards to Corona Virus.

I don't intend to make any comment about what precautions you, your employees and your families should take. The best advice to follow is that being provided by local, state and federal health authorities. Obviously, care should be taken in the workplace which also extends to open homes, auctions, corporate travel and the like.

Representing the real estate industry, I attended a large gathering of business and government people in Sydney last night. Rest assured the necessary precautions were being taken. Corona Virus was obviously the main topic of conversation and it was abundantly clear the situation is yet to truly unfold in Australia.

With this in mind, we should be aware of what impact the virus will have on our property markets across the country. It is more likely our markets will be affected by reduced consumer sentiment than the actual virus itself. I am already hearing of many stories whereby potential vendors are deciding not to sell at this time, preferring to wait until things normalise.

Whilst such a notion is completely understandable, it doesn't make sense as we all know it is better to sell in a market with less competition and I have no doubt that our buyers will continue to purchase regardless of how the seller may be feeling. I suspect any reduced consumer sentiment is likely to be magnified in the larger cities than in regional parts of Australia, just as the nonsensical rush to buy toilet paper has been.

I have no doubt that once this situation is managed and under control our markets will return to normality just as they did after the bushfires earlier in the year.

If REIA receives any messages from government to be disseminated to the property industry we will do so. Aside from that, let's continue to follow the advice of the health experts and keep ourselves, friends and families safe.

ADRIAN KELLY is the REIA President
Experts, sources say reports of crackdown point to Saudis crown prince trying to ensure compliance in royal court.

Saudi Arabias reported detention of senior royals and top officials earlier this month has raised myriad questions on what prompted the crackdown and whether it was the aftermath of an attempted coup in the Saudi royal court.

To many observers, the detentions appeared to be Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans (MBS) latest effort to consolidate power by targeting two of the royal familys most influential members, Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, the youngest brother of King Salman, and Mohammed bin Nayef, the former crown prince and interior minister.

The two senior royal family members were detained on Friday, according to the New York Times and other US media reports. There was no official comment from Saudi authorities.

Saudi experts and observers, including sources with connections to the royal palace, told Al Jazeera it remained unclear whether there had been a plot against MBS.

But what was apparent, they said, was that Prince Mohammed, who has been tightening his grip on power since he was appointed as crown prince in 2017, felt increasingly threatened by his two main rivals: Prince Ahmed and Mohamed bin Nayef, the man he replaced.

With both appearing to be alternative centres of power or legitimate successors to the throne, their presence  and rejection of MBS as the future king  made him fearful that other members of the royal family may rally around them.

200310140851178

Saudi analysts have cast doubt that a coup attempt, in its traditional sense of an army takeover, would have occurred.

But one analyst said the arrests might have been the result of the uncovering in recent months of a plot to remove Prince Mohammed.

Others pointed at King Salmans old age and possible ill-health as a trigger, compounded by the upcoming US elections and the possibility of US President Donald Trump  one of MBS main international allies  not being re-elected.

Allegiance and compliance

A former adviser to the late King Abdullah, who still has connections to the royal court, told Al Jazeera the biggest reason behind the crackdown was Prince Ahmeds refusal to pledge allegiance to Prince Mohammed.

King Salman has summoned Ahmed to the palace every year to convince him to accept his sons ascent to the throne, said the former adviser, who wished to remain anonymous. The last time this happened was last month.

But Ahmed refused to give baya [pledge allegiance] to MBS, saying the throne was his rightful place, based on their fathers will.

He added: Prince Mohammed feels that if he does not take the throne during Trumps reign, he will never get the chance.

Prince Ahmed was one of three members of the Allegiance Council, the royal body that endorses the line of succession, to oppose MBSs appointment as crown prince in place of his cousin Mohammed bin Nayef in 2017.

As the youngest of the seven Sudairi brothers from whom King Salman also hails, 78-year-old Prince Ahmed has been seen a legitimate successor to the throne. He has been publicly critical of MBSs policies, including the kingdoms role in Yemen.





Saad al-Faqih, a Saudi dissident and head of the Movement for Reform in Arabia, who described the culture of coup attempts in Saudi Arabia as non-existent due to the scattered nature of the army and heavy surveillance of Saudi royals, confirmed the narrative.

Prince Ahmed was summoned twice to the royal court in recent months, in an attempt to coerce him to accept MBSs ascent to the throne. But he refused, said Faqih, adding that Prince Ahmed may have also been in conversation with other members of the royal family, prompting the latest crackdown.

Ahmed may have been speaking to his nephews about his rejection of MBS as king, looking for them to do the same. Even though all his communication is monitored because he is under MBSs surveillance, these conversations may have been regarded by the palace as a coup attempt or amounting to treason, al-Faqih told Al Jazeera.

Al-Faqih added that Prince Mohammed is worried that if Trump doesnt win the elections this year [he] will find less support because, apart from Trump, the US administration doesnt support him.

Even after accusations were levelled against MBS over the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, Trump vowed to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia.

According to Glen Carl, a former US intelligence officer and an expert on the Saudi royal court, if the US administration changes, Washingtons approach to Saudi Arabia will likely change too.

There will be more open pressure or possible isolation of MBS in international settings and a change in policy to temper some of Saudi Arabias actions, said Carl, referring to regional conflicts, including the civil war in Yemen.

King Salmans health

A source, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, said speculations generated by a recent visit to the hospital by King Salman was an emergency situation that forced MBS to take that move.





The detentions had sparked widespread rumours that the 84-year-old kings health was failing, but state television aired video footage of him accepting oaths of office from two new Saudi ambassadors and attending a weekly cabinet meeting.

If the king has been unwell, MBS must be nervous. He needs Ahmeds pledge of allegiance while the king is still alive. Thats his only way to an automatic ascent to the throne after the kings death, said the source.

Carl, the former US intelligence officer, agreed: Once the king dies, it becomes harder for MBS to take the throne because others can contest that by saying the tradition succession is different.

Who are MBSs rivals?

While Prince Ahmed is seen by some as the legitimate heir to the throne, Mohammed bin Nayef is another strong contender, regarded as a committed ally of the US, a respected figure in the war on terror and former interior minister and crown prince.

200308205252897

Nayef had good relations in the British and American intelligence services. He was a rival power  where there arent many power structures beyond MBS, said Carl.

For the US and UK, Nayef was considered a good successor to the throne  [seeing] that Saudi policies were congenial to the US and UK on the whole [during his time as crown prince], he added.

According to Ali al-Ahmad, a Saudi scholar and expert on Saudi political affairs, Mohammed bin Nayef is not only a strong contender for the throne, but he also has connections inside and outside the kingdom.

There may have been a plot by Nayef to get rid of MBS. Nayef is the most experienced security individual [in the kingdom] with strong allies and a patronage network, said Al-Ahmad.

He also has external support from former CIA officials  who are working with him and his aide to plot against MBS.

Yayha Assiri, a Saudi dissident and former member of the Royal Saudi Air Force, told Al Jazeera that disapproval of MBS is not only in Saudi Arabia but is also growing overseas.

Many forces both inside and outside the country dont want MBS, said Assiri.

Whether they are members of the US administration or EU officials, everyone is worried that MBS [as king] would create more instability in the region. He comes across as rash and dangerous due to his role in the war in Yemen, the blockade on Qatar and the assassination of Khashoggi.

These actions make allies wanting to find a replacement for him, he added.
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People who extoll the influential dishes of Western Europe  paella, bouillabaisse, bolognese, strudel, goulash  rarely pay attention to the food of Portugal. It's a strange oversight. During more than 500 years of trade and colonialism, the Portugese left bites of their cuisine on almost every continent. One of these calling cards is pao doce, a simple leavened bread sweetened with milk and sometimes sugar. Portuguese laborers and traders brought pao doce to the world and the world has brought it to Los Angeles.

Here are seven great variations on pao doce in Southern California.

The Hawaiian breakfast at King's Hawaiian. (Christian Letourneau for LAist)

Hawaii

Several classic Hawaiian dishes originated with immigrants who came to labor in the kingdom's lucrative sugarcane plantations during the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1876, King Kalakaua and a consortium of American plantation owners incentivized the immigration of European workers. Soon after, Portuguese residents of the Azores began making the four-month journey. They brought with them a four-stringed guitar that would become the ukulele and a leavened bread known as pao doce, which would become widely known as Hawaiian sweet bread.

In 1963, Robert Taira opened King's Bakery in Honolulu, where his sweet bread was a top seller. Twenty-five years later, he moved the business to Southern California (Torrance, to be precise) and King's Hawaiian went on to dominate grocery store shelves across the United States. The business remains a Torrance institution, with a bakery and two full-service restaurants. At the outpost on Sepulveda Boulevard, you can find a full range of sweet breads including classic domed loaves, sliced pullmans, sliders and hamburger buns. Need food now? Order the Big Island Breakfast with two eggs, coins of Portuguese sausage and three thick slices of French toast, made with King's Hawaiian bread, of course.



King's Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant: 2808 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance. 310-530-0050.

Brazil

A pao de queijo and a cafezinho is a quintessential Brazilian breakfast. Before the dish was part of the national identity, it was a product of slavery. In the state of Minas Gerais, people forced to work at Portuguese-controlled mines and plantations began baking small buns with leftover yucca starch and water. As Minas Gerais became a hub of agriculture and dairy production, cheese became a regular addition to the dish. At Brasil Kiss, pao doce is made fresh daily with imported cassava (also known as mandioca) flour. Other Brazilian snacks include coxinha, a teardrop croquette of chicken and spices, and "Romeu e Julieta," a savory-sweet grilled sandwich of guava paste and catupiry cheese.



Brasil Kiss: 1010 Wilshire Blvd., downtown L.A. 213-785-5131.

Brasil Kiss: 6350 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. 323-498-6099.

The flavors of Minas Gerais have no better ambassador than Natalia Pereira, whose disarming DTLA restaurant, WOODSPOON, serves several specialties from her home state. Here, pao de queijo sits beside fresh biscuits and a sweet, flourless cornbread. Dig into the carby trinity as you sip the house sangria during one of the most charming brunches in the neighborhood.



Woodspoon: 107 W. 9th St., downtown L.A. 213-629-1765.

Vada pav at Mumbai Ki Galliyon Se. (Christian Letourneau for LAist)

India

Portugese contact with the west coast of India began when Vasco da Gama reached the Malabar coast in 1498 and returned to his homeland with a lucrative cargo of spices. Portuguese colonialism in India finally ended in 1961, when the Indian government seized control of the state of Goa, but remnants of Portugal's influence linger. Over the centuries, pao doce, referred to as "pav," became integral to Indian street food, particularly in Goa and Maharashtra. In the city of Mumbai, a spiced potato fritter is pressed between sweet, hot, buttered bread then dressed with sweet and spicy condiments to create vada pav. Pav bhaji is a slick of comforting tomato-based curry accompanied by heavily buttered sweet rolls to sop it up.

To find them here, head to Southern California's epicenter of Indian fare, Artesia. "Pav bhaji is a lifestyle," says Sailesh Shah, standing in the sparely decorated dining room of his restaurant, Mumbai Ki Gallyon Se. Shah sees pav bhaji as the great unifier, beloved by Mumbai residents across lines of caste and taste. Although usually served with thick pats of butter, his version is so dense and complex you won't need it. Shah decorates his vada pav with an array of handmade chutneys. He'll dress it Gujurati style, Mumbai style or to your particular tastes and spice tolerance. All you have to do is ask.



Mumbai Ki Galliyon Se: 17705 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia. 201-844-1515.

Vada pav and pav bhaji at Surati Farsan Mart. (Christian Letourneau for LAist)

Surati Farsan Mart, less than a mile down the street, makes the sweet bread for their pav bhaji and vada pav in-house. Here, you can adorn your vada pav with a slice of American cheese, which might make traditionalists balk but somehow kind of works.



Surati Farsan Mart: 11814 186th St., Artesia. 562-860-2310.

Pao doce at Portugal Imports. (Christian Letourneau for LAist)

Portugal

You could sail across the Indian Ocean and round the Cape of Good Hope, or you could turn off Pioneer Boulevard and drive three blocks to Portugal Imports, a pastry shop, bakery and grocery store specializing in Portugese flavors. Marco and Melissa Costa bake a few different types of old world pao, which customers can pre-order or pick up in the shop. When asked about the distinctions between different types of pao, Marco suggests not getting too caught up in the semantics. "The Portugese love to have a million different words for the same thing," he says. The Costas have been running their bakery for 15 years, offering Portugese pastries while importing salt cod, packed sardines, vinho verde and linguica. Many of their clients are part of a Portugese community that traces its heritage to San Diego's whaling industry. The bakery specializes in pastel de nata, a custard-filled two-bite luxury ubiquitous across Portugal. Place a large order and pay cash, and they'll throw in one for free.



Portugal Imports: 11655 Artesia Blvd., Artesia. 562-809-702.

Custard tarts at Nata's Pastries in Sherman Oaks. (Christian Letourneau for LAist)

If you live at the other end of L.A. County, Nata's Pastries in Sherman Oaks also offers loaves of pao doce and cuts of salt cod to take home but you should stay for lunch. A kaleidoscope of pastries and cakes fills two cases in the tiny front room. The full menu features franceshina, a luxurious sandwich of various sausages, melted cheese and a tomato-and-beer gravy, and caldo verde, a simple soup built around collard greens. Nata's is suitable for a quick work lunch but you could also linger with a glass of white wine, then maybe another and a slice of lemon cake.



Nata's Pastries: 13317 Ventura Blvd., Suite D. Sherman Oaks. 818-788-8050.
Pushkar Banakar By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Even as the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh has plunged into a crisis, the Congress top brass has not reacted, nor has it sent any senior leader to reach out to the rebels.

Political analysts are divided over why the Grand Old Party has chosen to do so. Some attributed it to leadership vacuum while a few others said the party knew it was futile to try reconciliation with the miffed MLAs.

There is a huge vacuum in the Congress national leadership. Hence, both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi could not take any concrete decision to depute a senior leader to handle the crisis. Even if the government is saved in MP, it will only be due to the efforts of Chief Minister Kamal Nath and not due to their national leadership, political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay said.

Jai Mrug, the founder of Voter Mood Research, said that the leadership did not see any value in solving the crisis.

Once an MLA has resigned, he cannot be coaxed to take back his resignation. Also, there had been dissent from Scindia for a long time. The leadership did not feel surprised that the Scindia scion chose to leave the party. Hence, there was no leader deputed to handle the crisis, like in Maharashtra or Karnataka, he said.

Professor Yashwant Ranjan from Delhi University, on the other hand, said the Congress leadership was clueless and that the tussle between the old guard and the new generation had come back to bite the party.

The old guard versus new guard issue had been lingering in the party. They (congress leadership) chose Kamal Nath over Scindia in MP and Ashok Gehlot over Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan. This miffed a lot of young leaders and today we saw the crescendo of the same. Rahul and Sonia are clueless about solving this long-standing intra-party issue, he said.

All the analysts, however, agree that Scindia is not a mass leader and his entry into the saffron camp may not reap big electoral dividends for the BJP.

No poll dividends

All the analysts, however, agree that Scindia is not a mass leader and his entry into the saffron camp may not reap big electoral dividends for the BJP.
Gambias President Adama Barrow has replaced the head of the army, the presidency said in a statement.

The President decided to relieve Lietenant General Masanneh Kinteh of his duties as Chief of Defense Staff of The Gambian Armed Forces, the statement read.

Gen. Kinteh hands over to Deputy Chief of Defense Staff, Major General Yakuba A. Drammeh.

Kinteh has been the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) since February 2017, when he replaced Ousmane Badjie, the last CDS under former President Yahya Jammeh.

Masanneh Kinteh had previously served as chief of defense staff under former president Yaya Jammeh between 2009 and 2012, before he was redeployed to Foreign Service to serve as The Gambias Chief of Mission in Havana, Cuba.

President Adama Barrow has been trying to solidify his position ahead of general elections next year. He is facing opposition from some Gambians and the coalition that brought him to power.

Last month, police used tear gas and rubber-coated bullets in the country to disperse thousands of protesters calling President Adama Barrow to step down.

When Barrow came to power in a deal with the opposition coalition, he had promised to step down after three years. But now he wants to stay on to complete the five-year presidential term.
Students at Little Cypress Intermediate School participated in a visual experiment Wednesday, showcasing how easily germs can spread and cause sickness, as the World Health Organization designated the rapid spread of the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus a global pandemic.

Fourth-grader Taylor Bean said the exercise reinforced the importance of good hygiene and healthy habits.

It is important for us to be learning this lesson right now, because of a sickness that is going around, Bean said. And you need to keep clean so you dont get it. And dont forget to take your vitamins.

The importance of the exercise is underscored by the quickening spread of the disease, which has multiplied 13-fold over the last two weeks to more than 118,000 outside of China, where the pandemic is believed to have begun according to the WHO.

Officials have said that Europe has become the new epicenter with Italys cases soaring again, to 12,462 infections and 827 deaths  numbers second only to China.

Related: WHO declares virus crisis a pandemic, U.S. stocks plunge

The experiment was sponsored by Walgreens. Local store manager Brandon Stacey said the experiment allowed students to easily digest an issue of global importance.

I think the recent conversation about the coronavirus makes this lesson much more relevant for the students, Stacey said. I think it is good for them because it is much more practical because they can wrap their heads around the experiment and very simple things that you can do to stay safe like washing your hands when you come into contact with other people.

School nurse Kelly Meadows, also the Little Cypress-Mauriceville ISD director of health services, led the experiment. She said it was not directly related to the outbreak, but it highlights the importance of keeping clean.

This is actually an experiment that I have been doing with the students on and off for more than 15 years, Meadows said. The idea behind it is to demonstrate to the students how quickly germs can spread through a crowd.

Related: LC-M sends student home amid virus concern

Students cycled through the gym throughout the day, doing an experiment that used pill vials donated by Walgreens.

Some of the students will have flour in their vials, and one will have baking soda, Stacey said.

Students shook hands by pouring some of their powder into their neighbors vial.

At the end we mix vinegar in to see how far the germs made it, by which vials bubble with the chemical reaction, Stacey said.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

Fourth-grader Addison Lasaloe said the exercise taught her to be careful before going to parties or other gatherings.

Before you go to a party make sure that you dont already have something, and that way you dont spread it to someone else, she said. And if you start getting used to good hygiene now, once you get older it will become a habit.

The Little Cypress-Mauriceville district sent a student home last month as a precautionary measure because of a line of potential exposure to someone who was being tested for COVID-19, although the student didnt exhibit any symptoms and hadnt recently traveled, district community relations coordinator Sherry Combs said.

A similar procedure was followed at West Orange-Cove ISD, when school administration was made aware an employee may have been exposed to COVID-19. The district has since received the all-clear from the local health department.

That student and other suspected employees have since been cleared, and Meadows said the district is continuing contact with local authorities.

We are continuing to monitor the situation at this point, she said. We are in constant contact with the CDC, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, as well as Orange County administrators.

Related: Precautions in place, SETX watches coronavirus from afar

Meadows and Stacey both underscored the importance of basic preventative hygiene to the students, and for parents at home as both flu and the other disease continue to spread.

If they demonstrate and practice good personal hygiene, that is a great preventative measure for all disease, she said.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
Seventh grader Luke Bonnes types on his personal computer during a class at Peirce Middle School in West Chester Area School District on Jan. 21, 2020. West Chester is preparing to deliver online and remote instruction if schools have to close due to coronavirus. Read more

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.

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: Penn moves all classes online for rest of semester due to the coronavirus; NCAA tournament to be played without fans

The potential for closures is forcing districts to confront a variety of challenges without clear answers. Public schools provide free meals for poor students, and services for children with special needs. Many are grappling with how they would continue to fulfill those roles in the event they had to close for prolonged periods.

Were struggling with how were going to meet those needs, said Wagner Marseille, superintendent of the Cheltenham School District, which closed this week for deep cleaning and planning for remote learning. The district hasnt determined which families might lack internet access  You cant send an online survey asking if you have online access, Marseille said  or how it might provide free meals, or special-education services required in students individualized education plans.

Were calling anyone and everyone to see what theyre doing and what their ideas are," Marseille said. The district has been in touch with families and houses of worship that want to help make sure students have access to meals, he said.

In Lower Merion, administrators announced middle and high schools would dismiss early Friday to allow teachers to work on remote lesson plans. Similarly, schools in Collingswood and Oaklyn in Camden County said they would send students home early Thursday and Friday.

 READ MORE: Philly St. Patricks Parade organizer is 100% at peace with cancellation (even though he thinks people are overreacting)

In Delaware County, where many districts are canceling school either Friday or Monday for planning, Garnet Valley Superintendent Marc Bertrando said school leaders were trying to plan lessons for students that can be completed at home independently.

We dont want parents to have to sit all day home-schooling their children, Bertrando said.

Garnet Valley, which already offers eSchool as an option, is in a really fortunate position as it plans for remote learning, Bertrando said. All students have access to iPads or other technology to take home in the event of closures, and lack of internet access is not a huge issue for the district, he said.

Others predict more complications. In Pottstown, where all students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch because of the share of low-income families, closures become much more problematic than they would be in some other districts, said John Armato, the districts community relations director.

Besides lack of internet access among some families, and students needing meals, we have a lot of families that are two-income earners," Armato said. With younger children suddenly home, he said, that could be a challenging issue."

Surprise school breaks can really throw things off for families, said Caroline Watts, director of school and community engagement at Penns Graduate School of Education.

Schools are stuck in the position of having to make choices they know will disadvantage some of their families, Watts said. It highlights the need for structural change in our system, which is nobodys short-term answer.

Can administrators provide grab-and-go meals that families who arent quarantined pick up? Can they find a way to encourage families to support one another by pooling child-care resources?

Theyre going to have to be extremely creative in terms of how kids are going to be assessed in terms of making up work," said Watts. "We cant penalize kids who dont have resources.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia says avoid large gatherings, but Wells Fargo Center says sporting events and concerts are still on

While Pennsylvania passed a law last year allowing school districts to develop a flexible instructional day program and meet the requirement for 180 days of learning, fewer than 80 of the states 500 school districts have been approved for the program, according to a state list.

A number of districts said they didnt apply for the program because they didnt think they could meet its requirements, including for providing online learning to special-needs students.

Rick Levis, spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, said: The department recognizes that school districts have questions about offering classes online during a school closure and about providing meals to students if schools are closed. Additional guidance to school districts on these issues will be provided by early next week."

Schools cant expect to simply set classes up with video chat software and have children listen to teachers lecture, said Ryan Baker, associate professor at Penns Graduate School of Education and director of its Center for Learning Analytics.

There are, however, good resources online  particularly for math curricula  where students can be meaningfully engaged, Baker said. And for subjects that dont lend themselves as easily to online programs?

I would encourage them to think about project-based learning  where students are talking to each other on small groups. The teacher might be able to stay in touch with a program like Google Classroom, Baker said.

Switching very young students  preschoolers, kindergartners  to wholesale online learning will be more difficult, Baker said.

If the West Chester Area School District had to close for two weeks  the incubation period for the coronavirus  the district would provide online and remote instruction on some days and treat others like snow days that would be made up at the end of the school year. Superintendent Jim Scanlon said students in upper grades have experience taking classes that are partly online, but the experience would be more challenging for younger students.

Were going to deliver materials for them  I dont see that as instruction, Scanlon said. He said the goal is to still try to maintain some semblance of education going on.  Its not like you can just flip the switch, and suddenly were doing online learning and its just as good as face to face in our schools."

Staff writer Melanie Burney contributed to this article.
New Delhi: In a major development, Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (March 12, 2020) said that no documents will be required for the National Population Register (NPR) and no one will be declared "D" (doubtful). "No document needs to be submitted. You can give whatever information you have and leave the other questions blank," the Home Minister said this while replying to a debate on the recent Delhi riots in Rajya Sabha.

When the Congress leaders questioned whether "D" would be removed, the Home Minister replied, "No one needs to fear about the NPR. No one will be marked doubtful in the updating process."

Shah also asked the Leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress, to visit him along with other opposition leaders to clarify doubts on NPR.

However, the Congress-led Opposition was sceptical about the Shahs clarification. "It is not correct of the Home minister saying they will not be asking for these documents, what is the use of this exercise then," questioned the party's Kapil Sibal.

Several states, ruled by the opposition Congress, Left-ruled Kerala, Trinamool-ruled Bengal and even Bihar, ruled by BJP ally Nitish Kumar, have refused to carry out the NPR exercise, which has seen by many to be a precursor to the controversial National Register for Citizens (NRC), which has provoked protests nationwide along with the citizenship law CAA.

Those objecting to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NRC and NPR believe that a combination of the three will be used to leave thousands of Muslims stateless.

The CAA provides for Indian citizenship for non-Muslims who fled neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh due to religious persecution and entered India before 2015.

Replying to the debate on Delhi riots, Amit Shah asserted that those responsible for the recent riots in Delhi will be brought to book irrespective of their caste, religion and political affiliations.

Replying to a short duration debate in Rajya Sabha on the riots, he said over 700 FIRs have been registered and more than 2,600 people arrested based on evidence.

Those who are responsible for the violence and those who conspired to trigger the riots will be punished irrespective of their caste, religious and political affiliations, he added.

He also said that the government was not running away from a debate on this issue but wanted a peaceful Holi. Giving details, Shah said that a detailed scrutiny of videos of the riots is being done and driving licence, voter ID data are being used in facial identification software.

He said that no Supreme Court guideline on privacy has been violated and no Aadhaar data has been used. He added that 1922 faces have been identified using facial identification software.

He informed that 50 serious cases of murder, attacks on religious places, hospitals, and educational institutions being handed over to three SITs.
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.
OTTAWA - The Department of National Defence reported all Canadian service members safe following a rocket attack on a military base in Iraq Wednesday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 11/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Coalition forces train Iraqi soldiers improve their skills during a military exercise at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, March 20, 2017. The Department of National Defence says all Canadians are safe following a rocket attack on a military base in Iraq this evening that reportedly killed at least two Americans and a British soldier. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP -Hadi Mizban

OTTAWA - The Department of National Defence reported all Canadian service members safe following a rocket attack on a military base in Iraq Wednesday.

The attack killed at least two Americans and a British soldier and left another dozen military personnel wounded.

The strike was on Camp Taji, one of the bases that have been home to Canadian military personnel involved in a NATO mission to train Iraqi soldiers as part of the effort to defeat the Islamic State of the Iraq and the Levant.

"The Canadian Armed Forces is aware of the rocket attack in Taji," Defence Department spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said in a statement.

"All Canadian Armed Forces members in the area are confirmed safe and accounted for. For reasons of operations security, we will not provide any specific details about the numbers or location of Canadian Armed Forces personnel in the area."

Canada has around 500 military personnel in Iraq to help train local forces and assist them in the fight against ISIL.

U.S. officials said one of five service members injured in the attack was 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 Camp Taji, which is north of Baghdad. 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.

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 Jan. 3 by a U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's most powerful military officer, Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member.

A senior Canadian general this week identified Iranian-backed Shia militia groups as a greater threat to Canadian soldiers than ISIL.

"I am more concerned about that swath of Shia militia groups than I necessarily am about Daesh because Daesh has been defeated militarily," Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau, commander of the Canadian Joint Operations Command, told a parliamentary committee on Monday.

"These Shia militia groups that we're concerned about are very well-equipped. They have tube artillery. They have multiple-launch rocket systems and armed UAVs. ... They are a proto-state entity equipped like a state military, and so yes, I'm very concerned about them."

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.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2020.

With files from The Associated Press
MUMBAI, March 11 (Reuters) - Indian sugar mills have so far contracted to export 3.5 million tonnes of sugar the in 2019/20 marketing year, mainly to Iran, Malaysia, Somalia and Sri Lanka, a trade body said on Wednesday.

The exports will help the world's biggest sugar producer in bringing down stockpiles and supporting local prices of the sweetener, crucial in ensuring millions of farmers get government-mandated price.

Out of the 3.5 million tonnes sugar, mills have already dispatched 2.67 million tonnes, according to data compiled by the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA).

"Iran, Malaysia, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan were key buyers of Indian sugar," said Praful Vithalani, president of the AISTA.

India, hoping to reduce its vast surplus stocks of sugar, in August approved an export subsidy of 10,448 rupees ($142) per tonne of the sweetener for the marketing year ending on Sept. 30. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Maju Samuel)
Chinas online education sector booms as epidemic keeps students out of schools

Online education in China has seen robust growth as schools and universities begin to explore online education options as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

A teacher with a vocational school in Anshan, Liaoning province, teaches online. (Photo/Xinhua)

According to recent research on the epidemics impact on the internet sector issued by the Internet Society of China, prospects for online education are promising.

Data from the countrys leading search engine Baidu shows a sharp increase in searches for the keyword online education, reaching about 5,000 on Feb. 10 compared to 300 on Jan. 17.

According to QuestMobile, a mobile Internet big data company in Beijing, the number of daily active users on education apps rose from 87 million to 127 million during the epidemic, an increase of 46 percent. In addition, daily active users of K12 education grew by 23 million.

The value of the countrys online education market was expected to surpass 310 billion yuan in 2019, according to a report on Chinas online education industry in the third quarter of 2019 issued at the end of 2019.

There is great demand for education, and online education platforms provide strong support for people who want it, said Zhou Feng, CEO of Netease Youdao, an online education giant in China.

Both the penetration rate and user numbers of online education will increase as more people embrace online education during the epidemic, said Yu Changjiang, executive dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School.

Furthermore, data from QuestMobile shows that new users of online education apps outside first- and second-tier cities accounted for about 70 percent of the total in China since the Spring Festival.

The countrys online education market will continue to grow, as China has 180 million primary and secondary students, said Liu Xingliang, an official with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

In order to promote the high-quality development of Chinas online education, online educational institutions should give top priority to quality, recruit qualified teachers and give users a better experience. At the same time, the country should provide better internet services for online education, especially in rural areas.
The impact of coronavirus was seen during the first ODI match between India and South Africa as the stadium witnessed low footfall at the HPCA Stadium here on Thursday.

South Africa are touring India for a three-match ODI series. The weather also played a spoilsport and forced the toss to be delayed.

Earlier in the day, the Uttar Pradesh government released a bulletin in which it said that there have been nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 affected patients in the state.

"There are nine confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state while the results of 77 samples are awaited. 12 lakh persons have been scanned for coronavirus infection on the international border adjoining the state. 15,000 people have been checked at the airport," the government stated in the bulletin.

As the concerns over coronavirus are rising in the country, Indian Premier League's (IPL) fate is also yet to be decided. IPL governing council will meet on March 14 to discuss the current situation.

The 13th edition of IPL is scheduled to commence on March 29 and the first match will be played between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and expressed deep concern both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MILAN, Italy  Normally packed tourist sites, shops and restaurants stood deserted across Italy on Thursday, a day after authorities drastically tightened a nationwide lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Milan, the countrys financial capital, was a ghost town as residents woke up to an order to close all shops except supermarkets, food stores and pharmacies. In a city center normally bustling with shoppers, a handful of people mingled at a street market that had just one stand open.

In the university area of the city, almost all shops were closed and people, most wearing masks, lined up to get into a drug store.

Image: A deserted street in downtown Milan, Italy, Thursday, March 12, 2020 (Luca Bruno / AP)

Inside, pharmacist Andrea De Leo, 26, said they were running out of masks but were expecting a new delivery at the end of the week.

Despite the most severe restrictions since World War II, De Leo said that the city would persevere.

We are getting used to this, he said. We will resist.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte unveiled the heightened restrictions on Wednesday night. The country of 60 million is the worst-hit in Europe by the coronavirus.

The new measures left Rome, the capital, eerily quiet on Thursday, with its iconic streets almost empty and restaurants shut for business. The city's Spanish Steps stood empty Thursday morning, with only a few passers-by at the plaza below.

"The situation started to feel a lot more tense, Natalie Kennedy, a travel blogger from San Diego who lives in Rome, told NBC News. People are starting to limit their travel outside of their homes. We're staying home a lot more."

Police were also stopping people from walking the streets unless they were clearly on business, telling them to go home after the government is urged the public to limit its activities. Those that were allowed out were told to stand at least 3 feet apart to maintain the social distancing necessary to help stop the spread of the virus.

Violators could face fines, even a few months in jail.

Story continues

In Sicily, a video shared on social media showed authorities using loudspeakers to tell people to stay at home and to only leave to get food or medicine or for work.

Despite the tough tactics, the virus is still spreading. Italy has nearly 12,500 cases of coronavirus, second most after China where the virus is believed to have originated, and 827 deaths.

On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump imposed sweeping restrictions to prevent people from 26 European countries, including Italy, from traveling to the United States for a month.

The epidemic was changing people's habits, said Francesco Corti, 49, in Florence.

Its pretty funny because you know Italians love to stay very close to each other, but its not happening these days, software product manager said.

Everyone is trying to change their way of life to solve this problem, he added.

Matt Bradley and Bill O'Reilly reported from Rome, Michele Novaga from Milan and Yuliya Talmazan and Caroline Radnofsky from London.
Scott Taylor hasnt been this plugged into the news since Hurricane Sandy.

Taylor, superintendent of the Highland Park School District, is closely following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey, he said Wednesday. And his new ritual goes like this: Check email. Check nj.com. Check hyperlocal news sites. Click. Close. Repeat.

I am monitoring the situation literally hour by hour, said Taylor, who oversees a district of 1,600 students. At a moments notice, if I had to close schools temporarily, I will.

On Thursday, that moment came. Highland Park announced it will close Friday for sanitizing of schools after a student came in contact with someone with a presumed positive case of the virus.

New Jerseys number of presumed positive COVID-19 cases is rising. The states colleges have shifted to online classes. And all eyes are focused on K-12 schools, the vast majority of which remain open because no one in their communities is known to have the coronavirus.

Some health experts say schools should shut down immediately to limit community spread of the potentially fatal virus. But others say theres no reason to panic yet  schools instead should wait for evidence of presumed positive test results or definitive exposure before taking drastic steps.

Caught in between are school leaders like Taylor, hoping state and local health officials will tell educators when its time to act.

We know whats going to happen with a storm, Taylor said. Its going to come. Its going to go. Its going to wreak havoc. We dont know a lot about infectious diseases, who has it, who doesnt have it...

Its unprecedented.

Ideally, schools would close before their first confirmed case of the coronavirus because thats the best way to limit the spread of a disease, said Stephanie Silvera, a professor of public health at Montclair State University.

Schools can be breeding grounds for community spread, with hundreds of people in close quarters, brushing up against each another, eating in communal spaces and not necessarily washing their hands. Even though children appear to be less affected by the coronavirus than adults, they could be passing it along to teachers, elderly relatives or parents with pre-existing health conditions, Silvera said.

The evidence has shown that for infectious disease spread, closing the schools earlier really is one of the best methods, said Silvera, who cited University of Michigan research on how cities responded to the Spanish Flu in 1918.

New Jerseys major colleges, including Rutgers University, have already taken unprecedented action, canceling in-person classes and asking students to leave campus for at least two weeks, if not longer. But the states K-12 schools have closed only for presumed positive cases, like one in the Red Bank Regional School District  which closed after a high school student tested positive  or likely exposure that requires a closure for deep cleaning.

If schools want to shut down to prevent the potential spread of the virus, they would likely need to stay closed for 14 days, which is how long symptoms could appear after exposure, Silvera said. But that would be an extreme hardship for many families, knocking over a domino that would alter daily life across the state for parents and their employers.

I think a lot of schools are trying to balance how much do we disrupt everyones lives versus how much of a risk might this be, Silvera said. Part of the issue here is that this is now new. For any new condition or illness there is a bit of a guessing game.

The state Department of Education last week authorized all public schools to offer home instruction days that can count toward the mandatory 180-day school year. But those days only count if schools are directed to close by state or local health officials. That guidance apparently has not come for precautionary social distancing to prevent community spread.

Some infectious disease experts have cautioned that there is not yet enough evidence to know that closing schools will prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

If schools close ahead of a presumed positive test, they would also need to stay closed after one, which creates the possibility of a month-long closure. Districts this week have been developing plans for as long as 30 days without in-person classes.

Its important that decision-makers set aside emotions when deciding when to close schools, said Suzanne Willard, associate dean of global health at Rutgers School of Nursing.

There is a lot of panic out there, and it is best not to make any kind of decisions with panic, Willard said. This is a novel thing. This is new, but you cant stop living your life.

In Highland Park, Taylor said he would first use the remaining snow days built into the school calendar to temporarily shut down schools while allowing health officials to assess the situation.

I wouldnt do anything until I consulted health officials, he said. I recognize that I am not an expert in this.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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With more than 1.5 million votes still left to count, turnout for Californias March 3 primary looks like it will be good, but not approaching record territory.

When everything is counted, it looks like the percentage of registered voters will be about 47, 48 or 49%, said Paul Mitchell of Political Data Inc., which tracks voting information for campaigns and other political groups. Thats about the same as in 2016.

That would be well below the 57.7% turnout in 2008, when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton squared off in the Democratic primary. And that total fell short of figures in the 1976 primary (72%) and 1980 (63%).

The number of late votes can mean delays in determining the winners and losers. For example, it wasnt until Wednesday, more than a week after the election, that the Proposition 13 school bond measure was declared a loser, with 54% of the voters opposed.

Although the turnout percentage wont be in record territory, the sheer number of voters is still impressive.

There were a record 20.7 million registered voters in the state this year, up from 17.9 million in the June 2016 presidential primary. That registration boost, along with the growth in Californias population, means that far more ballots were cast this year than four years ago.

There were 8.5 million voters in 2016, but this years count was already 8.1 million as of Wednesday morning, with uncounted ballots likely to push that number closer to 10 million.

Who those new voters were is impossible to tell just yet, Mitchell said.

Well know a lot better in six to eight weeks, when the counties release their final totals, he said. But not all those new voters are the result of increased registration. A good amount came from voters already on the rolls, but who hadnt voted in the past.

Political enthusiasm is a major factor in California. A February poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 63% of the states adults were unhappy with the job President Trump was doing and 58% wanted him impeached and removed from office. Democratic leaders were confident that those strong feelings would bring out anti-Trump voters.

An exit poll conducted by Edison Research found that 10% of California voters interviewed on Super Tuesday had never before cast a ballot in a Democratic primary.

The 38% turnout for the June 2018 election also stoked hopes for a surge of voters this year, since that was the strongest showing by voters in a nonpresidential primary since 1998.

Although the early vote returns were disappointing to Democrats, particularly in a number of tough congressional races, votes counted since election night have swung the Democrats way. Party leaders are confident that the inevitable higher turnout for the November election will provide the partisan increase they had hoped for in the primary.

In 2018, many Republicans running for the House prematurely declared victory, only to find themselves at home when Congress started, said Andy Orellana, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Now ... theyre willing to make the same mistakes by spending millions crowing about primary votes that are still being tabulated.

Republicans, although heavily outnumbered in the state, believe their showing on March 3 proves they can take back at least some of the seven House seats the Democrats took from the GOP in 2018.

You would think Democrats already had a greater incentive than Republicans to show up in March, given the contested presidential primary, said Torunn Sinclair, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. But, hey, whatever the Democrats have to tell themselves to sleep at night.

Theres no doubt the numbers will swell in the November election, as occasional voters and those without a party preference historically have shown up for the presidential contest. Since 2000, the turnout for each of those elections has been 70% or better.

One thing Republicans will have to deal with has been the tendency of the late-arriving ballots to skew heavily Democratic. In 2018, Republicans led in four of the seven targeted House seats on election night. When those late ballots were counted, the GOP had lost every one.

Theres a real leftward tilt to those late voters, Mitchell said, noting that early voters tend to be older and more conservative.

You dont have 65-year-old homeowners in the hills of Orange County doing same-day registration, he said. You do have that for 25-year-olds who may be sleeping on their sisters couch.

One record that is likely to be broken this election is the number of uncounted ballots left after election day. Although the first report from the state on the day after the election suggested that slightly more than 3.1 million ballots remained to be tallied, the actual number was probably much higher.

Those first numbers provided by counties are often estimates, sometimes provided by weighing bags of ballots rather than actually counting them, Mitchell said. It also didnt include all the ballots that arrived after the election but were postmarked by election day.

That final number cant be determined until the final results are released next month, but it may turn out that as many as 4.5 million ballots were counted after the election, which would be better than 45% of all that were cast.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
STOCKHOLM, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After five years of successfully integrating sustainability deeper into our business through our framework called Sustainovate, we begin our next phase. With Sustainovate 2025, we have a clear aspiration to lead our industry in the transformation to a resource-smart economy

"We have made significant progress, especially in reducing our absolute CO 2 emissions, achieving a 25 percent reduction since 2015. However we cannot stop here. We need to accelerate our actions to address the urgency of the sustainability challenge. That's why we are launching Sustainovate 2025. In this next phase, we aim to pioneer products and services that are fit for the future - delivering step-change efficiency and smarter use of resources," says Kai Warn, President and CEO of Husqvarna Group.

Sustainovate 2025 will focus on driving transformation in our industry through three opportunities - Carbon, Circular and People - each with distinct aspirations on the difference we want to make. New targets to 2025 will help us measure our progress:

Carbon: To drive the transition to low-carbon solutions.

By 2025, we will reduce absolute CO 2 emissions by 35 percent across the value chain, reflecting our commitment to reducing our fair share of CO 2 , in line with society's ambition to limit a global temperature rise of 1.5 C

Circular: To rethink and redesign for a resource-smart customer experience

By 2025, we will launch 50 circular innovations

People: To inspire actions that make a lasting difference

By 2025, we will empower 5 million customers and colleagues to make sustainable choices

Husqvarna Group has a strong track record of demonstrating the business case for sustainability. As reported in our Sustainovate Progress Report 2019, we are decoupling business growth from our CO 2 emissions. Over the last four years, we have reduced our absolute CO 2 emissions by 25 percent while increasing sales by 17 percent. This is largely supported by the shift to battery-powered and robotics technologies.

About Sustainovate

Sustainovate is Husqvarna Group's strategic approach to driving sustainability transformation in its industry. The Group aims to pioneer solutions for step-change efficiency and smarter use of resources. The five-year framework covers three opportunities and associated targets to 2025. This goal-based approach focuses on long-term value creation and engaging others in Group efforts. For more information and the Sustainovate Progress Report 2019 visit: www.husqvarnagroup.com/sustainability

For additional information, contact

Asa Larsson

Global Media and Sustainability Manager

+46-700-032-333

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/husqvarna-ab/r/husqvarna-group-launches-the-next-phase-of-sustainovate-with-a-strong-focus-on-carbon--circular-and-,c3057719

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Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhra Raje has welcomed her nephew Jyotiradtiya Scindia's entry into the saffron party claiming that he has followed the high ideals of his grandmother Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia. Vasundhra Raje is the sister of Jyotiradityas father, the late Madhavrao Scindia who died in a plane crash in 2001.



Now a national Vice President of the BJP, Raje said in a statement, "Jyotiraditya Scindia took the decision to join the BJP, saying he has followed high ideals of the legecy of Vijay Raje Scindia and took the decision in the interest of the country, I welcome this decison personally and politically."



Vasundhra Raje also tweeted that it was good to have her nephew 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."

Political buzz about Vasundhra's future



But the buzz in the political circles is that Jyotiraditya's paternal aunt and the stalwart of the Rajasthan BJP may end up as a likely looser after her nephews entry, specially in view of her strained relations with the Modi-Shah duo.

Many say his entry could make it further difficult for Raje to stage a comeback in the mainstream of BJP politics.

There are also other arguments that once Jyotiraditya gets a Cabinet rank in the Modi government, accomodating one more Scindia (Raje or her son Dushyant Singh) in the union cabinet will be impossible.

Though Raje has been reluctant to take over any responsibility outside Rajasthan, she has always been keen on getting some crucial protfolio in the union cabinet for her son, Dushyant.



In fact, many still remember that the Raje-Modi tensions had begun soon after the BJP victory in 2014 when Vasundhara as CM had demanded a cabinet berth for her son Dushyant who was a four-time MP from Jhalawar but was ignored.

With the BJP in power both at the Centre and in Rajasthan, the lack of a dialogue between Modi and Vasundhara was also much in focus. Later, Raje also had quite a battle with BJP Chief Amit Shah when he wanted to make Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the President of Rajasthan BJP, a Member of the Parliament from Jodhpur the move that was opposed by Raje.



After the BJP lost the Rajasthan elections in 2018, Raje was gradually sidelined. She was not made the leader of the Opposition in the rajasthan Assembly and most important posts were filled up by RSS-backed leaders who had always opposed Raje in the past.

These included Gulabchand Kataria who was made LOP, to Satish Poonia who was made BJP state chief, to Gajendra Singh Shekhawat being made a senior Cabinet Minister at the Centre to Om Birla being made Lok Sabha Speaker.

These were all huge setbacks to the Raje camp though she is still making all efforts to return to power in 2023.



But Rajes hopes after Jyotiradityas entry may only get tougher to turn into reality. Once his cousin gets a major portfolio in the modi Cabinet, Dushyants chances of ever becoming a Union minister will be virtually over.

Even Rajes chances of coming back as CM face in Rajasthan for 2023 elections are likely to now suffer a jolt.



A senior critic of Vasundhra says that till now Rajes stature was built around being a popular BJP face, a two-time CM and on being the tallest claimant to the political legacy of her mother Rajmata Vijaya Raje Scindia. But with Jyotiradiyas entry, the BJP has found a glamorous and younger face to carry forward Rajmatas political legacy.



As such, though Raje, like most in the BJP, is currently happy over Jyotiradiyas entry into the BJP, in the long run, her own political future may now seem even more uncertain.

But the Vasundhara camp insists that Jyotiradityas entry will not create any problems for his aunt. As a Raje loyalist remarked, "She is still the tallest leader of BJP in the state and nobody can replace her. Even the BJP high command will realize this reality, sooner or later. Amit Shah is now not averse to the idea of a Vasundhra comeback if some suitable opportunity arises in Rajasthan, provided she also mends her ways in some directions."



Given the changed scenario within BJP, in recent times Vasundhra is trying to patch up with the local powerful RSS looby and has held a crucial meeting with Organizational General Secretary Chandrashekar and BJP party president Satish Poonia to sort out the internal differences and present a united face.
Xinhua Photo

Two major powers with two different systems on two sides of the Pacific Ocean have seen very different results in their efforts to prevent and control the coronavirus outbreak.

It did not take long for China to get the outbreak under control. Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, reported eight new confirmed cases on Mar. 12, dropping into the single digits for the first time. As the World Health Organization pointed out, 70 percent of the more than 80,000 confirmed cases in China have recovered and been discharged from the hospital, and the outbreak in China may be ending.

However, as the number of cases of coronavirus in China continues to drop, the number of cases in the United States continues to rise. As of Mar. 11, at least 1,240 people in 42 states and Washington, DC, have tested positive for coronavirus, according to a New York Times database, and at least 37 patients with the virus have died. In addition, states are struggling to contain the virus and multiple states have declared a state of emergency.

As one of the most developed countries in the world, the situation in the United States should not be like this. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Jan. 20 announced the United States first confirmed case of coronavirus in Washington State, but the US government until recently was dragging its feet.

The US government had ample time to prepare, but the response has been downright embarrassing. Trump and senior officials held a White House press conference on US preparedness on February 26, 2019, reassuring the public that the threat to America is low. No one at the conference seemed to know that the virus was spreading in the United States. At that time, the global spread of the virus was also accelerating and as of Feb. 27, the virus had spread to 46 countries outside of China, infecting more than 82,200 people globally, according to the WHO. Two days after the conference, the WHO raised the global risk level to its highest level.

Obviously, the US government has been slow to respond to the outbreak and this has wasted precious time. Dr. Kurt Campbell, the former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, bluntly stated at a Hudson Institute event, We were given some time by the unbelievably draconian steps that the Chinese have taken, and then added, Im not sure we used that time effectively.

In addition to missing the golden period for epidemic prevention, the US government is unprepared to deal with an outbreak of any significant size. Dr. Matt McCarthy, an infectious disease physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the busiest hospitals in the United States, complained on television that he did not have access to rapid diagnostic test kits and even pleaded with the health department to test people for coronavirus. At the same time, Democrats and Republicans are politicizing the outbreak to smear China and blame the other political party for the crisis.

The Chinese government put the lives and health of people first as it sought to prevent and control the outbreak, and being able to bring the whole system together for this purpose is an advantage of the Chinese system. Different countries have different systems and how to respond to an epidemic will be different for each country, but putting ideology or agenda above the lives and health of people is irresponsible.

As the number of coronavirus cases around the world continues to rise, more people might wonder, How did China stop the virus? What should we do? According to Dr. Bruce Aylward, the WHO assistant director-general, other countries can replicate Chinas counterattack, but it will require speed, money, imagination, and political courage. The different results on the two sides of the Pacific Ocean might also make them wonder why China can pull together the imagination and courage needed to deliver a blow to the virus while the United States struggles to handle the outbreak.
I n the same way that it was once unfathomable to shop for shoes or clothes in any other way than in person, the same revolution has quietly been taking place when it comes to buying eyeglasses.

Once a lengthy, drawn-out process that would involve squinting at an eye test chart followed by trying on the couple dozen frames under stark lighting, before collecting your new glasses up to a week later - but often more.

Optician visits as a child were loathsome. I never felt comfortable enough to try on styles properly, instead hastily choosing a pair in a price bracket pre-determined by my parents. I wound up resembling Deirdre Barlow; a less than ideal look for a nine year-old girl growing up in Wembley.

Is it any wonder I switched to contact lenses as soon as I could? These days I wear them all day, but switch to specs in the evenings and at the weekend to give my eyes a break.

My eyesight has long settled  most opticians agree it starts stabilising by around age 21  so I havent shopped for a new pair of glasses for yonks. However, the ones I have are scratched and scruffy, very much on their last legs. Time for a replacement.

Thankfully, glasses have become so much cooler since I first started wearing them, with celebrities capitalising on the silver lining of poor vision with statement frames. Think comic genius Alan Carr, acting heavyweights like Bill Nighy and Gary Oldman, and royals such as the Duke of Cambridge and HRH the Queen. Even Becks has been papped in glasses. Some folk wear them even though they dont need to, a trend that would have left my schoolgirl-self bewildered. These days, specs equals style.

On the digital high street, you can find a new wave of e-opticians and eyewear brands showcasing stylish frames at competitive prices. Without the overheads of a bricks-and-mortar store, Internet retailers can pass on the savings to customers without compromising on quality. Many are using AI to let you try the frames on virtually to make sure theyre perfect.

Theres no need to feel blindsided by the choice out there; Ive scouted the nicest looking specs below, as well as companies offering the finest customer service and best UK delivery options.

From strong bookish frames to curved styles in block colour shades, here are the best places to buy glasses online.

Best for: the modern spectacle wearer

Average prices: spectacles start at 125.

The look: Handmade designs from aviator frames to oval silhouettes, theres probably a Cubitts store or stockist near you. Theres 10 in central London as well as a workshop in Brighton. Choose from 55 spectacle frame designs, many of which come in sunglasses counterparts. The selection is gender-neutral and theres also the option of choosing small, regular and large sizes as well as varying colour choices for each frame.

The process: Add transition or blue light filters to your chosen frames as well as your prescription, then hit the check out. You can opt for home delivery or to collect your new specs from a Cubbits store  thats it. One of the most streamlined processes around.

Trial run: A Try At Home service is offered by Cubitts; four pairs to experiment with for five days, sent free of charge. To return simply drop them off at one of 2000 stores around the country. If you want a quicker look at your glasses without the faff of waiting for delivery, try Cubitts Speculator service. The augmented reality technology lets you try on their specs without leaving your computer or device. However it only works on iOS devices using the Safari browser  sorry to disappoint, Android and Chrome users.

Shipping, delivery and returns: delivery is offered free worldwide.

Special features: As Cubitts has so many physical stores, one of their standout offers is 25 for an eye test as long as you buy one of their frames - it's 40 otherwise.

Best for: the fashion-focused

Average price: 95 for one pair of spectacles.

The look: With a slick website that looks like a boutique shopfront, you see straight away that style is a big focus at Bloobloom. All frames, which come in various shades, are part of the in-house collection and share a bold yet elegant aesthetic that youll feel instantly drawn to. They're divided into gender-specific sections, but could just as easily be unisex and a clear infographic breaks down the price so you can see how it compares to high street prices.

Prescription glasses comes with anti-scratch, anti-reflective and superhydrophobic (water-repellent) coatings on the lens. They are also 100 per cent UV protected. There's no extra charge for thin lenses, a relief to anyone with a particularly strong prescription.

BlooBlom

The process: Bloobloom will need a prescription that's no less than two years old - and contact lenses won't do as they sit on your eyeball so your numbers could vary. They also need your pupillary distance (PD), the distance between your pupils. This is so they can make sure both lenses sit centrally on your eyes. You can get all this from an optometrist following an eye test. Both single-vision and varifocal prescriptions are accepted.

Try before you buy?: Yes. The brand offer a home try-on service where you can test-drive five frames for free. Just select your desired frames and click the Free Trial button in the bottom right corner of the screen. Once you've chosen, fill in your delivery and billing info (for a returnable deposit) and they will be in your hands in 48 hours. Send them back in the pre-paid box within five days. Home Try On doesn't extend to sunglasses.

Shipping, delivery and returns: UK postage costs, including for the free trial, are covered by Bloobloom. Shipping charges may apply to selected countries.Not happy? Return or exchange within 30 days, no questions asked.

Anything special to note?: Bloobloom runs charity initiative Pair for a Pair, in which it donates a pair of specs to someone in a developing nation for every sale it makes. Right now theyre working with local distributors in Rwanda, but have plans to move on to other African countries and southeast Asia.

When you consider 2.5bn of the worlds population dont have access to proper eyecare (which affects education, jobs and poverty levels), initiatives like this make all the difference.

Best for: part-time spectacle wearers

Average price: glasses start from less than 30 a pair for both mens and womens styles

The look: The high street chemist has a sizeable selection of spectacles that would suit a range of tastes. Pick from thick, bold designs to metallic half-rimmed frames, plus plenty more besides. Shop by gender, style, material or frame shape.

Alongside their in-house selection, Superdrug Glasses Online also offer a range of brands including Cavalli, Diesel, Guess, Gant, Helly Hansen, Hackett and Marciano so if its a designer look youre going for, theres plenty of choice here.

Prescription and non-prescription sunglasses are offered on the site, as well as reglazing services for spectacles you already own, and options to buy daily disposable contact lenses from a wide range of brands.

Superdrug Opticians

The process: Theres a huge range of filters to narrow down your selection, from frame style, colour and material to finer details like nose bridge width and the length of the arms either side of the lenses, so you can really whittle down your choices  helpful when there are close to 500 styles to choose from in the womens section alone.

Once you have your desired selection, inspect them further in 360 view, as well as how they sit on a womans face or a mans with pre-loaded images on the site. Heres where youll also find a virtual mirror, where you can either load a static image of yourself of switch to video mode (if you have a webcam) to see how the specs look in real time.

If your selected frames tick all the boxes, youll move through to pages that pinpoint your use (single vision, reading, computer use, varifocals, etc) before choosing your lens package. From Bronze to top-end Platinum, each package comes with varying features with prices climbing to match, topping out at a maximum of 80 on top of the cost of your frames. Then enter your prescription or send a photo or scan of it later in an email and get your bank cards ready for check out.

Prefer PayPal? Superdrug Glasses Online accepts this too. And if youre a Superdrug health and beauty card holder, you can add your number here and spend points too.

Trial run: You cant try before you buy, Im afraid. But with the Virtual Mirror, you can cut down the chances of you returning your frames once theyre delivered. Try video mode for the true test on how each design will look on you.

Shipping, delivery and returns: It will take up to a week to receive your custom-made glasses (free for orders over 30) but the beauty of Superdrug is that you can also pick them up yourself from any of the 800 physical stores around the country  so no need to worry about missing the postie.

Superdrug prides itself on complete customer satisfaction and to that end, offers 14 day returns or exchanges.

Special features: All prescription glasses come with scratch resistant coating on the glass, as well as a hard case and cleaning cloth to keep them properly stored and looking spick and span.

Best for: designer brands all under one digital roof

Average price: at the top end, youre looking at 752 for a pair of Bvlgari branded specs.

The look: For those with the cash to splash on a branded pair of prescription specs, head to SmartBuyGlasses. While the name may not scream luxury, its offering certainly does; think designs from the likes of Armani to Zac Posen to window shop. Scroll through the options, narrowing your search through the filters on the left-hand side (by gender, brand and special features) allowing you to go as bouji as you like.

They definitely have star quality  the styles offered by SmartBuyGlasses has been spotted on the likes of Ryan Gosling, David Beckham and even Kim K West.

The process: Once youve found the specs of your dreams, click Buy and youll be taken through to pages asking the type of lenses you need (distance, progressive, reading or non-prescription), after which you can upload or manually enter your prescription. Dont worry if you dont have them to hand  you can always email them later. While basic lenses are free, there are extra costs for having your lenses thinned or adding extra coatings like anti-scratch and UV400. Finally you can choose extras for transition lenses, polarizations, mirror effect or digital blocks.

If you go for all the bells and whistles, costs will add up - but consider them a valuable investment if youre someone who wears specs all the time.

Trial run: Like many other online retailers, SmartBuyGlasses has harnessed the power of technology with Virtual Try-On. You can record a five-second video and use a bank or membership card to help work out measurements.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Shipping and handling charges are on the company. In extreme cases, glasses can take up to a fortnight for delivery so factor this in if you need them in a hurry. You can make returns within 100 days  the most generous return policy of any company on our list - and all products comes with an exclusive 24-month warranty too.

Special features: SmartBuyGlasses work with a social initiative Unite for Sight, a non-profit organisation that aims to eliminate preventable blindness across the globe. They also work with the Eden Reforestation Project and Orbis International, another non-profit helping preventable blindness is developing nations and rural China.

Best for: clean design and transparent prices

Average prices: from 44 - 440.

The look: Armani, D&G, Kate Spade and Prada: these are just some of the eyewear names youll find at Mister Spex alongside cheaper frames from the in-house collection.

Based in Berlin, this is a retailer that combines high quality design with the latest trends, boasting more than 150 brand names. Its been going across Europe since 2007 and has a selection of physical stores scattered across the north part of the Continent.

Mister Spex

The process: Unless you know exactly the type of glasses you want, its wise to use Mister Spexs try-on services. Once youve made your selection, youll need to input all your info  from lens type to prescription numbers, pupillary distance and tint finishes  all on one form before completing your payment.

Trial run: You can run the Virtual Try-On programme or test the glasses in person with four pairs delivered to your home, which you can try for 10 days for free.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Get your money back within 30 days from the date of receipt on any products at Mister Spex  even prescription glasses.

Best for: elegant eyewear for the discerning millennial

Average prices: From 30 to a couple of hundred.

The look: Another online department store offering myriad designers, Fashion Eyewear offers frames from heritage British labels like Mulberry alongside surprising names like Nike and Polaroid (who knew either offered prescription lenses?)

The process: Choose your frames in the colour that speaks most to your heart, then add in prescription and tint and lens coating preferences before hitting buy. It couldnt be simpler.

Trial run: Surprisingly no trial run options are offered, but their returns and exchanges policy makes it easy to swap for something more your speed, should you need it.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Free delivery on orders over 180 in the UK. If you need to return any glasses youll have to bear the cost yourself.

Best for: the all-rounder

Average price: 20 - 120

The look: From basic to boutique, youll unveil a world of spectacles at Glasses Direct. The site is easy to navigate with sections clearly marked and filters to narrow down the huge selection.

Prescription glasses are available with single vision, bifocals, varifocals, blue reflect and as sunglasses. Extra costs apply for blue light coating and transitions lenses.

The process: Youll need a two years or younger prescription so if its been a while since your last eye test, get one booked in pronto. Opticians are legally obliged to give you your prescription without you buying anything in store, so dont feel awkward about asking for a copy.

Trial run: Choose four from the 400+ frames online collection and have them sent to your address for free. Return everything within seven days using the pre-paid postage label and original letterbox-sized box.

If you like a pair, you still need to send them back and order online so they can be delivered with your prescription. You can order a Home Trial as many times as you like, but you must return a box before the next is sent off.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Spend more than 85 to qualify for free UK delivery. Orders are normally sent within 7 days of the order via Royal Mail. Exchange or return for a refund within 30 days of the original dispatch date.

Special features: As one of the biggest eyewear brands online, Glasses Direct offer a range of promotions and discounts. For instance, at the moment theres half price on selected frames with a second pair free, and you can get two for one on glasses priced 49 and over. If youre brand new, youre eligible for a welcome offer.

Best for: style hunters on a budget

Average prices: from 98 including prescription lenses.

The look: Made in just over the North Sea in Amsterdam, Ace & Tate is all about cool effortlessly stylish eyewear. They offer sunglasses and accessories too, but the glasses are where they really shine. Alongside trad shapes like oval and square theres an odd octagon frame thrown in (named Elton, natch), offering something a bit more standout than other offerings in this list.

There are stores all over Western Europe and three in London alone (no doubt youve seen one of their ampersand emblazoned totes on a fellow commuter) so if you work or live near one, its worth popping in to handle the frames for yourself or get your eyes checked by a professional optician for free (more info below).

Ace + Tate

The process: Choose from the pop-up menu if you need Single Vision, Multifocal, Screen only or non-prescription glasses, then pick add-ons like a blue light filter or a cleaning kit (which comes with an all-natural cleaning fluid that you can refill for free in any Ace + Tate store). Other add-ons include The Box, a four-shelf mini glass wardrobe designed to organise and display your specs collection. Fill in prescription details once youve completed shipping and billing info.

Trial run: Ace + Tate offer a virtual try-on service  just make sure your web cam is open and you can start trying on their range of stylish specs online. If youd rather the real deal, an at-home option is also available: four frames to be returned in five days with return packaging and labels provided. As well as frames, the home try-on package comes with a pupillary distance ruler so you can measure accurately at home. Everything comes packed in a box crafted from 80 per cent recycled materials.

If you need feedback thats more unbiased than your mums, hashtag your selfies with #aceandtatehometryon on Instagram and the experts will give you their professional opinion.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Ace + Tate promises to have your new glasses in your hands within 10 days, max. Delivery and returns are free for UK and Irish residents as well as selected other European countries and the USA, but paid returns may apply to certain other countries  check the full list here. Returns within 30 days

Special features: Ace + Tate is one of the few opticians out there to offer free eye tests, no questions asked. The store offers same day glasses too, but its only available on select stores and an in-person service only.

Best for: anyone fretting over blue light exposure

Average prices: from 48 for clear glasses to 165 for a pair with prescription lenses.

The look: Specialist eyewear for anyone working with computers and digital screens for a frequent, prolonged period  office workers, raise your hands. Ambr Eyewear fills a gap in the market for stylish blue light protection glasses and even those with 20/20 vision can wear them to protect their peepers from computer-related health issues such as eye-strain, headaches and sleep problems.

They look and feel just like normal glasses and can be fitted with your prescription if youre a specs wearer.

Wildly popular amongst tech professionals, Ambr offers frames with clear-lensed blue light filter lenses, Ambr Ultra filter (which will help you sleep better thanks to the stronger protection, but might make you look a bit like Bono  hey, swings and roundabouts), transition glasses which change colour depending on if your indoors or outside, and UVA and UVB protected sunglasses.

Worried about your little ones eye health? There are options for children aged 5  13 years old on their site too.

The process: First select your frame shape  all are unisex and the collection is refreshingly concise with just 12 styles to choose from in the Screen category. Theyre popular rounded or square shapes and each come in different colours so youre sure to find a fit for you.

Once chosen, select your lens type (no prescription, ready readers or prescription - single vision, bifocal or progressive). Every frame is designed to fit most head shapes so theres no need for measuring tapes and if you dont have your prescription to hand you can still put the order through  an Ambr associate will email you afterwards for the info.

Trial run: No home trials but as a tech-minded start-up, the brand does offer a virtual mirror that allows you to try the glasses  well, sort of. Upload a picture of your face, pick an Ambr style from the drop down menu and your selection will then be placed over your eyes so you can see what you look like en specs.It may not be an exact art, but I was impressed at how the glasses changed position over my face when I uploaded different pictures, the arms of the frame tucking into my hair and even adding ceiling light reflections on the lens to make the mirror as realistic as possible. If you cant try them on for yourself, this is the next best thing.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Based in Dublin, Ambr Eyewear offers free delivery and returns across the world.

Best for: Boys and girls with eye-catching style

Average prices: around 220 for top end specs

The look: MONC has a capsule collection of eight template styles that you can make yours by picking various patterns and colours. The frames are named after some of the worlds most innovative and creative design districts - think Gracia and Sodermalm. London is represented by a retro-looking pair called London Fields. All glasses appear to be unisex and come with the cost of standard single vision lenses built in to the price. Prescription and non-prescription sunglasses are included in MONC's offering.

The process: Once youve chosen your favourite frames designed by the team in Notting Hill, add your prescription and if you want blue filter added. You can even have your leather case personalised with your initials, a nice treat for yourself or a friend if youre planning to give these as a gift.

Payment options include Google Pay or Amazon Pay. Your order will be sent to a small Italian village where skilled craftspeople will make the spectacles precisely to your specifications.

Trial run: Home try-ons are offered (but on a deposit basis of up to 1 each) with up to four pairs of lens-free glasses yours to try within five days. MONC will even cover the cost of return postage for you.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Returns are accepted within 30 days of the original dispatch date and must be sent back in their original condition with all accessories.

Special features: MONC is big on sustainability and #DesignForChange. The company uses sustainable materials across its product offering, from phthalate-free bio-acetate frame structures, Italian-made glass lenses instead of plastic and cleaning cloths made from Cupro, a cotton waste material thats totally recyclable. With an eye also on carbon footprint, MONC also tries to source all suppliers from the UK.

Best for: Gallic chic at wallet-friendly prices

Average prices: 99

The look: This cool independent eyewear brand is based in France, arguably the home of timeless style. Feted by the likes of Vogue and GQ, mens and womens collections are eye-catchingly fashionable at wont-believe-your-eyes prices. Mind you, while anti-scratch coating comes free of charge, youll have to pay extra for anti-glare and dirt repellent finishes. More fees are incurred if youre looking for thinner glass and blue light filtering.

Jimmy Fairly

The process: Find the frames that tickle your fancy and select your preferences from the menu at the side of the page. Youll need your prescription to hand including figures for your pupilliary distance (PD) so make sure youve got everything to hand before checking out. Your glasses will be made in Jimmy Fairlys Parisian workshop before theyre packed and sent with free delivery. PayPal, Visa and Mastercard accepted.

Trial run: Because the brand prides itself on lower costs and cutting out the middleman, it doesn't offer home trials or virtual try ons.

Shipping, delivery and returns: Shipping is largely to European countries only  see the full list here. Delivery is estimated to take around a week from the time you complete payment. Returns should be made 30 days from the original payment but contact the brands customer service first.
Seeking to allay fears over the National Population Register (NPR), Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said no citizen will be marked 'D' or 'doubtful'

Seeking to allay fears over the National Population Register (NPR), Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said no citizen will be marked 'D' or 'doubtful' during the updating exercise and no documents need to be furnished to prove citizenship.

Also, it is not compulsory to provide any information not available with an individual, he said.

Shah gave the clarification during his reply to a debate on communal riots in Delhi which he said were triggered by alleged hate speeches made after passing of the new citizenship law that gave non-Muslim illegal migrants from neighbouring nations Indian citizenship.

The updating of the NPR is to be done during six months beginning 1 April with enumerators seeking demographic and other particulars of each family and individuals.

However, it is important to note that Shah made the statement on marking people's citizenship status as 'doubtful' in the context of the NPR, and not the National Register of Citizens. As pointed out in an article in Scroll, the NPR is merely a list of all residents of the country and the component of identifying people with 'doubtful citizenship' is expected to be a part of the NRC (if it is implemented nationwide.)

The Citizenship Rules, 2003, which are presently in force, also provide for marking people as 'doubtful' citizens. Section 4 of the Rules deal with the preparation of the National Register of Indian Citizens. In this provision, sub-rule 4 states, "During the verification process, particulars of such individuals, whose Citizenship is doubtful, shall be entered by the Local Registrar with appropriate remark in the Population Register for further enquiry and in case of doubtful Citizenship, the individual or the family shall be informed in a specified proforma immediately after the verification process is over."

Further, sub-rule 5 (a) states, "Every person or family specified in sub-rule (4), shall be given an opportunity of being heard by the Sub-district or Taluk Registrar of Citizen Registration, before a final decision is taken to include or to exclude their particulars in the National Register of Indian Citizens."

In December 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said at a rally in Delhi that there have been no discussions on a nationwide NRC. However, in the previous month, Shah had said the NRC process will be carried out across the country, and said that there would be no discrimination on the basis of religion.

The D-voter category was first introduced in Assam in 1997 to identify people with doubtful citizenship status. People in this category are mentioned in the electoral rolls, but have a D marked against their name, which means they cant vote.

With inputs from PTI
The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharahtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Giving a sate-wise breakup, the ministry said Delhi reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10. Karnataka has four cases, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three.

Besides, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month after they recovered from the infection declared a global pandemic.

The total number of 73 confirmed cases includes 17 foreigners, 16 Italian tourists and one more foreigner whose nationality cannot be immediately ascertained, the ministry said.

As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spreads across the globe, the cabinet secretary has said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 so all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.

An Indian team of doctors will leave for Italy on Thursday to collect and bring swab samples of Indian students stranded there so that they can be tested before being brought back to the country, Health Ministry officials had said on Wednesday.

It also said the government 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, the ministry 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) are stationed in Iran and have so far have collected swab samples of over 400 Indians stranded there.

"The first batch of 58 evacuees from Iran has arrived on March 10 with 25 men, 31 women and 2 children on board. All evacuees are asymptomatic at present," the ministry said.

India has evacuated 948 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries. Of these, 900 are Indian citizens and 48 from different nationalities, including from Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, it said.

India has also suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the coronavirus spread, according to a revised travel advisory.

The suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Flipkart is the latest company to temporarily shut office due to coronavirus. The online giant has made it mandatory for all its staff in Bengaluru to work from home for three days, starting Wednesday. The company's Bellandur office campus has about 8,000-10,000 employees who have been asked to work from home.

According to a report in Times of India, this shutdown of its office is being done as a precautionary move. There are no confirmed COVID-19 cases from Flipkart yet. The report stated that this exercise is being undertaken to ensure that Flipkart's critical functions and technology operate effectively in case of emergency.

The company in a memo had also asked its executives with recent international travel history and flu-like symptoms to stay away from office for 14 days. PhonePe, the group's payments arm would also see half of its staff working from home starting on Thursday for at least a week, the report stated. PhonePe has around 1,200 people in its office.

Also read: Shut offices, work from home, travel ban: India Inc takes coronavirus safety measures

"Our BCP (business continuity plan) takes into account the potential risks a situation like Covid-19 can have on our strategic operations and our customer obligations. This trial is mandatory and we request your cooperation in helping us implement the same," Flipkart told its employees. The company has asked employees to not reschedule meetings and other commitments but to use digital tools to ensure regular work.

The report stated that the customer experience team will work from partner locations.

This move comes a day after two employees in Dell and Mindtree were tested positive for coronavirus. The Dell employee had returned from the US, while the Mindtree employee had also returned from abroad. Paytm had also shut its Gurugram and Noida offices after an employee was tested positive last week. Cognizant too shut its Hydserabad office after an employee from another company in the same building was tested positive. Nearbuy also decided to shut office for 14 days as precautionary measure. TCS, HCL, Wipro also asked its employees in overseas offices to work from home.

Also read: India Inc on coronavirus: Anand Mahindra sees silver lining, Harsh Mariwala warns against rumours

Also read: Mindtree employee infected with coronavirus did not visit office or meet staff
Bayonne schools will close Friday and will likely remain closed through March 30, Superintendent John Niesz announced Thursday.

There will be no virtual learning Friday, he said. It was unclear in an initial community letter what day virtual learning would begin, but the district has provided detailed instructions to parents for how it will be conducted.

There are a small percentage of students without Internet and devices at the elementary level that will require a secondary plan. An Off-Line Plan has been created to keep those students on task during a closure providing reinforcement to already acquired skills, Niesz said. We are fortunate at the Bayonne Board of Education that we made the investment to provide 1:1 Chromebooks for all students in grades 3 through 12.

Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis declared a citywide state of emergency at 1:30 p.m.

Clubs and other student activities are canceled from Friday to March 29, Niesz said.

Bayonne becomes the first school district in Hudson County to announce an extended closure. Jersey City Superintendent Franklin Walker told The Jersey Journal on Wednesday the district is compiling learning packets with three weeks worth of material for its 30,000 students in the event of a school closure.

The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has infected 29 people in New Jersey, including a 32-year-old man from West New York.

Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency Monday amid growing concerns about the spread of the virus throughout the state. COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, has sickened more than 1,300 people nationwide and is responsible for at least 39 deaths in the U.S.

The virus, which has officially been classified as a pandemic, has led to nearly 5,000 deaths worldwide.

For digital learning, Bayonne students will be expected to be present online for four hours of instruction a day, beginning at 10 a.m., Niesz said.

Parents with students in pre-K through grade two will use the ClassDojo digital platform to connect with teachers and receive assignments. Students in grades three through 12 will use Google Classroom.

Students without internet access will be expected to learn with printed packets.

I appreciate the understanding and flexibility of everyone in our community during this difficult and rapidly changing time, Niesz said. I am especially grateful to the faculty, staff and administrators who are working tirelessly to safeguard our community and stay true to our academic mission.
The confirmed exposure comes after Trump was in repeated contact with people who themselves had contact with people who tested positive for the virus. Trump's newly named chief of staff, Mark Meadows, emerged from self-quarantine Thursday. Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida traveled back to Washington with Trump on Air Force One on Monday but isolated himself on the flight after being informed that he had been in contact with a person who later was confirmed to have had the virus.
Italy announced an unprecedented lockdown as the number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 40,000 and the death toll reached 3405. Shops and restaurants are closed, flights are cancelled and the streets remain deserted. The government has informed residents to stay at home and avoid all non-essential travel. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

An empty street in Naples, Italy, after an unprecedented lockdown across Italy was imposed to slowdown the outbreak of coronavirus. (Image: Reuters)

A worker sprays disinfectant as sanitisation operations against Coronavirus are carried out in the museum hosted by the Maschio Angioino medieval castle, in Naples, Italy. (Image: Alessandro Pone/LaPresse via AP)

Personnel of a special ambulance for the transportation of the new coronavirus patients finish dressing up before intervening in Rome. (Image: AP Photo/Paolo Santalucia)

A woman walks at the subway in Milan on the second day of an unprecedented lockdown across all of the country, imposed to slow the outbreak of coronavirus in Italy. (Image: Reuters)

A prelate walks outside St. Peter's Square after the Vatican erected a new barricade at the edge of the square in Rome after government extended restrictions on movement of people to prevent the spreading of coronavirus. (Image: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Medical personnel leaves one of the emergency structures that were set up to ease procedures outside the hospital of Brescia, Northern Italy. (Image: Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)

Two people walk in Rome's Piazza Navona, deserted after coronavirus outbreak. (Image: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A policeman checks cars entering Milan, Northern Italy following the measures to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus. People moving from one place to another for work or health reason must have special permission. (Image: AP photo/Claudio Furlan/LaPresse)

Few people walk at the Naviglio Grande canal, one of the favorite spots for night life in Milan, Italy. (Image: AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Amid high drama, a minister in the crisis-stricken Kamal Nath government was on Thursday allegedly stopped by police from entering a resort near Bengaluru where 19 of the 22 rebel Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh were believed to be holed up.

IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Education mister Jitu Patwari met KPCC chairman DK Shivakumar at the latter's residence at Sadashivanagar. Photograph: ANI Photo

The minister, identified as Jitu Patwari, was briefly detained along with a few Congress supporters as he sought to enter the resort in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Karnataka, police sources said.



A video purportedly showing the minister engaged in a heated argument with the police has surfaced.

Patwari later called on newly appointed Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar, considered a troubleshooter of the party, and alleged the MLAs at the resort were made to release videos stating that they had voluntarily decided to resign.



Talking to reporters, both Patwari and Shivakumar claimed one of the MLAs had telephoned his father and asked him to take him back to Bhopal.



Another MP minister Lakhan Singh, the father of the MLA and his brother went to the resort along with Patwari to meet him (the MLA) when they were "manhandled", Shivakumar said.



Patwari alleged police forcefully took them to a police station and was starting the process of arrest when Shivakumar

intervened and "saved us".



The police action was condemned by the Karnataka Congress which demanded an apology from Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.



Nineteen Madhya Pradesh MLAs, including six ministers, who are staying put in the city, had earlier this week written to Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police seeking protection and police escort.



According to sources, the Minister had come with an intention to convince the MLAs, who have sent in their resignations, to return to the party fold.



Karnataka Congress alleged the minister was arrested and condemned the police action.



"Karnataka police action of arresting the Madhya Pradesh minister, who had come to convince the Madhya Pradesh Congress legislators who are in Bengaluru is condemnable.



"Goonda behaviour of Karnataka BJP government is not right, they should be released immediately, and Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has to apologise for the mistake," the state Congress tweeted.



The 19 legislators, said to be loyalists of Jyotiraditya Scindia who has joined the BJP, in their letter to the DGP had said they have come to Karnataka "voluntarily" on some "important work".



All 19 had announced their resignation on Tuesday, pushing the Kamal Nath government into a crisis.



It is not clear whether all the 19 are staying at the resort where Patwari had gone.



Shivakumar said MLA Manoj Choudhary had telephoned his father to take him back to Bhopal.



"They had gone there (to resort) to meet the son who wanted to go along with them.in some time I was informed that some problem had arisen, police had harassed and manhandled them, and I had to intervene," he added.



Asked will he take any lead on the rebels issue, now being the KPCC President, Shivakumar merely said, "I don't want to comment right now on the issue. They are my guests, my friends....



"When they have come here it is my bound duty to help them -- whatever help they ask. I don't want to disclose the next action. Time will reply to everything," he said.



Patwari claimed that a few among the MLAs here had called him to inform about the real situation.



He said Choudhary was his cousin and as soon as his father who came with him tried to approach his son at the resort, some "anti social elements" there stopped and took him away. "Police also tried to harass us.



"This is nothing but BJP's conspiracy for their undemocratic activities," he alleged.



"We just want to meet them (MLAs) and go, why are we being stopped? Why a father is not being allowed to meet his son?" Patwari asked.
Heijmans and the Stadgenoot housing association have signed a partnership agreement for the construction of rental homes in Oostenburg, Amsterdam. This includes 160 studio homes for young people and 30 social rental homes for senior citizens. The project is valued at more than 20 million.

With this project, Stadgenoot creates additional living space and a healthy living environment to the east of Amsterdam's city centre for diverse target groups. Both parties jointly will work out the project in further detail over the coming months. The project will provide ample consideration to greenery and the layout of outdoor spaces for common use. Construction of the 190 homes is expected to start in the second quarter of 2021.

Heijmans and Stadgenoot previously signed another agreement for the construction of 151 rental homes in Oostenburg. The completion of these homes is planned for the end of 2020.

About Heijmans

Heijmans is a listed company that combines activities related to property development, construction & technical services and infrastructure in the fields of Living, Working and Connecting. We create added value for our clients by focusing on continuous quality improvement, innovation and an integrated approach. Heijmans realizes projects for home buyers, companies and government entities and, together with them, builds on the spatial contours of tomorrow. For additional information, please visit www.heijmans.nl .

For additional information/not for publication:

Media

Rik Hammer

Communications

+31 73 543 52 17

rhammer@heijmans.nl

Analysts

Guido Peters

Investor Relations

+31 73 543 52 17

gpeters@heijmans.nl

Attachment
Rights groups concerned about arbitrary detention, crackdown on freedom of speech and lack of access to information.

China is a country in lockdown.

About 60 million people have been in forced quarantine in the central province of Hubei for nearly two months, as the government tries to fight the coronavirus outbreak that began in its provincial capital of Wuhan late last year.

By taking drastic and what some have called draconian measures, China appears to have slowed down the coronavirus, but experts and advocacy groups worry it has come at a high cost.

The case of Li Wenliang is a tragic reminder of how the Chinese authorities preoccupation with maintaining stability drives it to suppress vital information about matters of public interest, Amnesty Internationals Regional Director Nicholas Bequelin said in a statement.

China must adopt a rights-respecting approach to combating the epidemic. Nobody should face harassment or sanctions for speaking out about public dangers, just because it may cause embarrassment to the government.

Doctor who died

Li, a 34-year-old eye doctor, was one of the first to raise the alarm about what was then a mysterious new virus, expressing his concerns with other medics in a private online chat.

After the post was shared more widely, he was reprimanded by police.

Last month, he died from the disease, triggering a public outcry and demands for freedom of speech.

A makeshift memorial for Li Wenliang at an entrance in the Central Hospital of Wuhan [File: Reuters]

The virus that causes the disease, also known as COVID-19, is thought to have emerged in one of Wuhans food markets late last year, but even as Dr Li wondered about the new illness with his friends, the local government appeared to downplay what was happening.

It was only a few days before the Lunar New Year in January that decisive action was taken.

Transport links were cut, roadblocks appeared, and the provinces 56 million residents were effectively sealed off from the outside world. They were ordered to wear masks, stay indoors and report their body temperatures every day.

The measures were unprecedented in public health history, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

But in the name of protecting health, China has gone much further.

A facial recognition system that identifies masked people has been developed, apparently with 90 percent accuracy, and apps that decide whether a person poses a contagion risk and should be allowed into malls, subways and other public spaces have extended the governments already extensive system of surveillance and tracking.

Political commentator Einar Tangen says such moves are essential for a government facing such a crisis, even if they might appear unpalatable to people in Western democracies.

He believes the Chinese expect their government to take control of the situation.

Policemen patrol the quiet Wangfujing shopping district in Beijing [Andy Wong/AP Photo]

The government has also sought to control the narrative of the outbreak  showcasing health professionals toiling against the odds, hospitals built in hyper-speed and smiling patients cured of the disease.

Those who try to tell a different version of the story risk trouble.

Disappeared

Sharon Hom, executive director of China Human Rights in China, an international NGO, says access to information along with restrictions on content and dissemination of information, remain as key tools of social control in China.

Since the outbreak began her organisation has tracked a number of cases where people who posted critical reporting of the authorities inadequate responses to the handling of the epidemic appear to have been disappeared.

The Chinese human rights lawyer, Chen Qiushi, was taken away on February 7 and apparently put under quarantine for 24 days. There is no publicly available information on his situation. Quishi became well known for his coverage of the Hong Kong protests as well as the coronavirus outbreak.

Another citizen journalist, Fang Bin, a businessman from Wuhan, has not been heard from since he disappeared in February, while Li Zihua, a former CCTV7 journalist, disappeared on 26 February when a group of unidentified men came to his home and took him away.

Quarantine becomes arbitrary detention when there is no doubt or legal reason a person is forced to be in a particular place and not allowed to apply for judicial review, said Ford Liao, professor of law at the Academia Sinica in Taiwan.

A man walks past a national flag outside a traditional medicine hospital in Beijing [File: Ng Han Guan/AP Photo]

Such tight control over information can also make it more difficult for citizens to navigate their way through a difficult time, and undermine their trust in the authorities.

The Chinese government is not providing people with the information they need to help them in this crisis, said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch.

Richardson says that Chinese officials have defaulted to past practice, covering up worrying information and going after whistleblowers rather than swiftly providing accurate information to allow people to make decisions that could help efficiently limit the spread of the virus.

We may never know the full toll the virus took as censors work to silence those affected and prosecute peaceful critics.

Criticism blocked

A recent report by the Toronto-based cyber-research group Citizen Lab found that Chinese messenger app WeChat and the video streaming app YY blocked keyword combinations that included criticism of President Xi Jinping and policies related to the virus, part of the tightening of media control under Xi.

Internet platforms are obliged to provide information to the Chinese government to facilitate the crackdown on dissent and social movements.





There is no law protecting access to information in China, Liao said.

Tangen argues that the Chinese understanding of human rights is fundamentally different from the understanding held by people in Western countries. For people in China, the governments strong measures are simply a state doing what it is supposed to do, he says.

According to Tangen, in China the welfare of the community is more important than individual rights.

The idea that the Chinese government is trampling on human rights in the management of the virus is nonsense, he told Al Jazeera.

Ambassador Zhou Jian, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Qatar, said in a statement: Every measure we take is to prevent the people from the virus, and save peoples lives to the best we can. The only principle is that nothing is more important than peoples lives and interests. Prevention and control became the top priority of all levels of governments.

The statement further said: The WHO has said that China has adopted the most ambitious, agile and aggressive disease containment effort in history. UN Secretary General Guterres also praised the Chinese people for sacificing normal lives and contributed to the world.

A woman collecting her access card at a registration kiosk for people who are returning at a residential apartment building in Beijing [File: Andy Wong/AP Photo]

In theory, the Chinese legal system does provide for the protection of certain rights and freedoms.

The second chapter of the 1982 Chinese Constitution  The Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens  includes freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of demonstration, the right to education, freedom of religious belief. The privacy of correspondence is also respected.

Article 38 of the Constitution states: The personal dignity of citizens of China is inviolable.

But according to Amnestys Bequelin, the Chinese constitution, unlike other constitutions, is not a bedrock document. Constitutional law cannot be invoked in judicial proceedings, he says.

Whereas it could be legitimate to suspend rights in a public health emergency or because of national security considerations, governments would generally justify such rights-suspension, but the Chinese government does not engage in such a justification process, he said.

According to the Chinese government, the declaration of an epidemic is all that is needed to justify human rights violations flowing from the management of the outbreak, he says.

Teng Biao, a legal academic and human rights activist currently based at Hunter College in New York, says that human rights exist only on paper in China.

According to Biao, human rights have occasionally been recognised by the lower courts in China but only in matters that are not political in nature and that do not threaten the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Medical workers celebrate the shutting down of Jianghan Fangcang temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients in Wuhan as the number of patients drops [Li Ke/EPA]

The courts play an important role in upholding the position of the Chinese government. According to Bequelin the absence of judicial independence in China is a major obstacle to the recognition of human rights by the courts.

Crackdown continues

China has continued a crackdown on critics that had been accelerating under Xi.

Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai was given a 10-year jail term at the end of last month for providing intelligence overseas.

Gui, a Swedish citizen, published and sold books critical of Xi from his shop in Hong Kong before he was disappeared from Thailand in 2015, appearing in China a few months later to confess his alleged crimes on state television. After being freed he was then taken from a train on which he was travelling with two Swedish diplomats.





If there is one thing Xi Jinping will be remembered for it will be his targeted efforts to eradicate independent civil society, said Human Rights Watchs Richardson.

China Human Rights Hom says that as a UN member state and signatory to human rights conventions, China is bound to international standards and reporting to international expert bodies.

On Sunday, the UN subcommittee on prevention of torture issued an advisory on the treatment of people who have been put under compulsory quarantine because of the coronavirus.

The committee says that while quarantine is for the public benefit, it should not result in the ill-treatment of those affected or restrictions on movement that appear to have no end.

Fewer cases are being reported in Hubei with each passing day.

But while the time was considered right on Tuesday for Xi to make his first visit to Wuhan, the people of Hubei still do not know when the quarantine that has governed their daily lives for nearly two months will be eased.
The escalating coronavirus crisis is presenting President Donald Trump with a challenge for which he appears ill-equipped, his favorite political tactics ineffective and his reelection chances in jeopardy.

A rare crisis battering the White House that is not of the president's own making, the spreading coronavirus has panicked global financial markets and alarmed Americans, many of whom have turned to the Oval Office for guidance and reassurances.

But what they have found is a president struggling for a solution, unable to settle Wall Street and proving particularly vulnerable to a threat that is out of his control.

In an address to the nation Wednesday night, Trump announced a sweeping travel ban for much of Europe as well as a package of proposals to help steady the teetering economy. But he continued to play down the severity of the situation, painting it as a foreign threat that soon will be banished rather than focusing on managing the growing number of cases at home.

'This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history,' Trump declared.

Addressing the economic costs, he added, 'This is not a financial crisis, this is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world.'

But the virus has appeared impervious to the Republican president's bluster.

The escalating coronavirus crisis is presenting President Donald Trump with a challenge for which he appears ill-equipped, his favorite political tactics ineffective and his reelection chances in jeopardy. Pictured: Trump on Thursday

The virus does not have a Twitter account and, unlike so many previous Trump foes, is resistant to political bullying or Republican Party solidarity.

It has preyed on his lack of curiosity and fears of germs while exposing divides and inadequacies within senior levels of his administration. It has taken away Trump's favorite political tool, his rallies, from which he draws energy and coveted voter information.

And eight months from Election Day, it has endangered his best reelection argument - a strong economy - just as Joe Biden, the candidate emerging from the Democratic field, seems poised to take advantage of a political landscape upended by the virus.

'Crises of varying degrees produce fascinating and often consequential elections: Think 1860, 1932, 1968, 2008. Such races turn on questions of chaos versus order and favor the candidate who seems to offer the best chance of bringing order to the country in times of uncertainty,' presidential historian Jon Meacham said. 'Whats interesting about those examples is that incumbents, or candidates of the incumbent party, lost all of them.'

One of Trumps most potent political assets is his ability to read a room, or a moment, often eschewing long-term planning for instantaneous reaction.

But he was slow to come to grips with the threat posed by the coronavirus as it exploded in China, distracted by impeachment and unwilling to scare the markets by stirring panic or upsetting his trading partner in Beijing, Xi Jinping.

The virus first spooked Trump while he was in India two weeks ago, as a 1,000-point drop on Wall Street caused him to pepper aides with questions about the markets even as he was feted in New Delhi.

But after he returned to the states, Trump continued to play down the virus, lashing into officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, for talking up the possible severity of the threat.

Trump was slow to come to grips with the threat posed by the coronavirus as it exploded in China, distracted by impeachment and unwilling to scare the markets by stirring panic or upsetting his trading partner in Beijing, Xi Jinping. Pictured: A woman in a face mask in Moscow

He urged other aides, including Kellyanne Conway and senior economic adviser Larry Kudlow, to go on television and preach confidence, according to five White House officials and Republicans close to the White House. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss private conversations.

And as he has so often done before, Trump believed that through his force of will and ability to dominate a news cycle, he could alleviate the crisis, taking to Twitter and the White House briefing room podium to dismiss the threat.

'The markets are going to be just fine,' Trump claimed Thursday, as he welcomed Ireland's prime minister to the White House the morning after his Oval Office address.

But Wall Street, unlike traditional political foes, has not listened. The markets opened down again Thursday morning, plummeting so quickly that automatic safeguards were triggered to temporarily halt trading.

And while Trump deemed the media coverage of the virus 'a hoax' meant to create hysteria and tank his poll numbers, it is a harder sell to ask his supporters to dismiss media reports when they see people in their own communities getting sick, schools closing and local drugstores unable to keep hand sanitizer on the shelves.

Infighting erupted within the administration, as Trump blamed and then sidelined Azar, relegating the health secretary to a secondary role behind Vice President Mike Pence on the coronavirus task force.

But while Trump empowered Pence and respected medical professionals to take the lead on briefings, he ignored his advisers advice to let the vice president be the public face of the administrations response, according to the officials.

Unable to cede the spotlight, Trump spoke extemporaneously to reporters at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on Friday, requiring the vice president, who addressed the media in Washington moments later, to correct the presidents misstatements about the availability of testing kits and the fate of a cruise ship filled with coronavirus patients.

It was only on Monday, as he was flying from Florida back to Washington, that the economic severity of the crisis hit home for Trump, according to three of the officials and advisers.

In one cabin on Air Force One, Matt Gaetz, a Florida GOP congressman who had accompanied Trump to a series of Orlando fundraisers, had isolated himself after learning hed come into contact with someone infected by the virus. And on the TV in Trumps aircraft office, Fox News was broadcasting dire graphics illustrating the single worst day for stock markets since the 2008 financial crisis.

The virus has taken away Trump's favorite political tool, his rallies, from which he draws energy and coveted voter information. On Wednesday, Trump canceled his events scheduled for this week in Nevada and Colorado. Pictured: Trump at a rally on March 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina

By the time the plane touched down at Joint Base Andrews, Trump told aides he would change tactics and propose a broad economic stimulus to reassure investors. But the fate of his plan, which included a suspension of the payroll tax, remained unclear as the week went on and the markets roller coaster ride continued.

'I think that in many ways this has made Trump a wartime president,' said former campaign communications director Jason Miller. 'This virus has no borders, doesnt discern between allies and foes and attacked the nations health security and economic security. It is going to take continued bold action from the president.'

After surviving impeachment, Trump has in earnest remade his White House staff to focus on reelection, prioritizing loyalty over experience. Increasingly focused on his campaign, Trump pushed aides to continue scheduling massive rallies, even as his Democratic foes had begun canceling theirs.

But late Wednesday, the White House announced that a trip to Colorado and Nevada had been cancelled. At least for now, no rallies were scheduled as a means to blunt the momentum of his likely general election foe, Biden, who offers himself as someone uniquely positioned to respond to the coronavirus.

As vice president, Biden helped manage the Ebola outbreak and has long shown an ability to comfort rattled voters. Moreover, the Trump campaign believes that scuttling normal political activity benefits Biden, who tends to draw small rally crowds and has had some eyebrow-raising moments when interacting with voters.

'This is something that doesn't hurt and probably actually helps Joe Biden,' said Eric Trump, the presidents son and frequent campaign surrogate. 'This works for him on all fronts.'

Biden, now in command of the Democratic race after a series of primary wins Tuesday, has drawn a clear comparison between how he would handle the crisis and the president's scattershot approach from the Oval Office.

'At this moment, when there's so much fear in the country and so much fear across the world, we need American leadership,' Biden said. 'We need presidential leadership that's honest, trusted, truthful and steady, reassuring leadership.'
Ilana Halina Oren, PhD is a marriage and family therapist who has been recognized for her years of service in counseling and substance abuse rehabilitation, former member of the Israeli Defense Force, mother of three, and grandmother of five currently residing in Tempe, Arizona. She has published her latest book Insanity and Grace: a candid account of her challenges, sorrows, and triumphs in a life spanning seven decades and three continents.

For the last thirty years, Dr. Ilana Oren was honored to work with patients who trusted her with their secrets and were willing to heal the emotion of shame engulfing their lives. The experience of shame keeps one in a state of perpetual wonder: Am I good enough?

In this book, she is willing to look at the skeletons in her own closet.

Her experience as a child of survivors of the Holocaust, the last remnant of the Polish Jews, who immigrated to Israel in 1957; her grief of losing friends in the Six-Day War; and her proud experience of serving in the Israeli Defense Force.

Dr. Oren writes, Throughout my life, I was perplexed by the myth of the chosen people. If we were the chosen people, what were we chosen for? My search for meaning led me to trust my higher power, Emanuel the Lord. My story forms a fabric of a gripping new chapter in the history of the Jewish people.

Published by Page Publishing, Dr. Ilana Halina Orens engrossing book is the stirring autobiography of a well-lived and eventful life.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Insanity and Grace 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.
Garvan Walshe is a former national and international security policy adviser to the Conservative Party. He runs TRD Policy.

ConHome readers will remember the grammar schools row of 2007. David Willetts had persuaded the Conservatives to oppose new grammar schools, on the grounds that they were bad for social mobility. Many Tory members and MPs disagreed, however. I remember heated arguments at the Conservative Research Department, where I then worked, and getting incensed when told that evidence-based policy meant that a Conservative government should abandon its long-held principle of being in favour of academic selection.

In the grammar schools case, the evidence indeed was that they reduced social mobility  according to a definition created and popularised by opponents of grammar schools. The first response is to criticise the definition, and say it concealed matters of value behind matters of fact. Social mobility can be thought of in two ways. If it is derived by measuring the average collective attainment of children from different social backgrounds, then grammar schools work against it. If, instead, it is derived by considering the attainment of pupils who, thanks to academic selection, can get an education they would not otherwise have been able to afford, grammar schools boost social mobility.

Neither of these claims are actually pure fact (like the speed of light in a vacuum being 299,792,458 metres per second) or pure value (adultery is morally wrong). Theyre conditional propositions: if you define social mobility in this way, grammar schools are bad for it; if you define it in the other way, theyre good for it. Most claims in public debate are like these, but seldom presented as such, because a policys advocates understandably prefer clarity over complexity.

This use of social science to reach firm policy conclusions, and shut down further debate by appealing to the authority of the evidence, as though political life were a form of mathematics, perhaps had its golden age between the collapse of the Soviet Union and 2016. Its exhaustion was evident in the Remain and Hillary Clinton campaigns. Clear messaging, it turned out, doest need to be based on social scientific facts to be effective.

Vote Leave and Trump and also  very relevantly for the coronavirus  both Matteo Salvini and the Five Star movement in Italy understood how to defeat the tactic of presenting policy conclusions as evidence-based. Expose the sleight of hand, pump out clarity of your own and play to emotions. This is what Michael Gove was doing when he said the British people have had enough of experts.

Raising the tempo and heightening emotions, while disregarding evidence as tainted, is now mainstream across the political spectrum. Witness the speed with which edited footage of the Prime Minister which purports to have him say the coronavirus should be taken on the chin, whereas the full clip has him making the opposite point.

Salvini, unsurprisingly began by blaming migrants, and is now demanding the entirety of Europe subject itself to Italian-style lockdown measures. In reality, Italys outbreak occurred because there was insufficient testing and isolation in the early stages of the epidemic. Social distancing measures were applied in a manner that was both draconian and haphazard. Hospitals in the prosperous north of the country, where the outbreak is concentrated, are now under extreme pressure.

This contrasts sharply with South Koreas high tech testing-focused strategy that stresses focused intervention, the use of technology to understand peoples movements and therefore trace potential infection routes, as well as aggressive testing. Early reports suggested Italys numbers were due to similarly high testing levels. This turns out to have been false. Italy has the same (low) testing level as the UK. Seoul also benefited from higher readiness because of their exposure to several epidemics originating in China, including SARS and bird flu, and so it was able to plan a modern response. Public health not being my expertise, it is better for me to focus on the politics. Whats been effective is South Koreas approach to communication (as exemplified by this briefing to the foreign media), which is calm, sober, serious and detailed. It is designed to build up the trust necessary to limit an epidemic in an open society.

Unlike evidence-based arguments from authority, the South Korean approach explains not only the results, but how they were arrived at. And unlike Salvini, it is not looking to gain attention for itself by attributing blame (and though Beijing deserves blame, now is not the time to pin it on them). The contrast with Trump, whos putting his own supporters in danger by minimising the risk, couldnt be starker.

This should give us pause for thought about the importance not specifically of facts in political debate but of empiricism. An epidemic sits at the boundary between the physical science of the virus and the social science of the epidemics. Social science doesnt produce the results that physical sciences can, only pieces of evidence that have to be assessed in the round.

How we assess evidence and governments communicate their assessment  in a way that both builds and deserves public confidence  is a matter of culture. Aided by social media that prioritises the quantity of engagement over its quality, the empiricism of our political culture has been declining sharply. News programme producers prefer famous commentators to those who know what theyre talking about (but who nobodys heard of). Headline writers want attention, so they spread panic. It applies to politicians and communications directors across the entire spectrum. Centrist Matteo Renzi immediately echoed Salvinis call for a Europe-wide shutdown. Rory Stewart has got himself into the headlines by calling for the same in the UK. This is part of our comms-dominated political culture: focus on getting your message out, and winning, and if mistrust needs to be stirred up in this process so be it.

This a much bigger deal than this epidemic. It affects our whole political culture in Western democracies.

Politicians and their advisers need to understand that this isnt House of Cards; people can die because of this culture.

Journalists need to think before accepting Twitter narratives, which encourage polarisation, as the only sort of politics. But most people are firmly pragmatic and middle of the road.

Finally, voters: being a citizen isnt like buying washing powder. Take steps to inform yourself properly about the decisions you want your elected representatives to make. Thats going to take work. Youll have to read stuff youll find boring, concentrate it and understand perspectives youre uncomfortable with.

From the time Berlusconi was first elected, Italians thought the answers were easy, now theyre learning they are not. Its a warning the rest of us need to heed. Democracy is hard work. This epidemic will give us an idea of whether were up to it.
NAEs first minority president to focus on reconciliation amid evangelical identity crisis We are a spiritual, not political, movement

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The National Association of Evangelicals inaugurated Virginia pastor Walter Kim as its first-ever minority president last week as he hopes to foster reconciliation and spiritual renewal for the 45,000-church network amid what he believes is an identity crisis in a politically divisive culture.

By identity crisis, I certainly mean this discourse that seems to be happening right now and our inability to engage meaningfully and charitably in conversation with one another, Kim, who was inaugurated in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C. last Thursday, told The Christian Post.

It's an opportunity for us to remember the essentials of the Good News to come together in our belief that we as evangelicals are not a political movement. We're not a social movement. We are a spiritual movement. In the public discourse right now, that often is forgotten, where evangelicalism is often presented as a political movement or a cultural enclave.

Kim replaces the associations longtime president Leith Anderson, who announced his retirement last year after serving as the NAE head since 2006. NAE is an association of churches from over 40 denominations with millions of constituents along with dozens of schools and nonprofits worldwide.

Kim was born in New York City to a Korean immigrant family. But throughout his life, he has moved around to various places such as Western Pennsylvania, Chicago and Vancouver.

He spent about 20 years of his life in Boston where he served as the pastor of Bostons historic Park Street Church, a church that played an influential role in the NAEs conception during the first half of the 20th century.

But for the past three years, Kim has served as the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, a congregation of about 1,500. He has served on the NAE board since 2013.

He told CP that as the new head of the NAE, he wants to focus on spiritual renewal and reconciliation because he is concerned about todays politically polarized society where people on opposite sides of the spectrum find it increasingly difficult to engage with each other in meaningful ways even if they are fellow Christians.

So that work of reconciliation, it could be in polarized discourse, he explained.

Amid a growing racial and ethnic diversity in the United States and within evangelicalism, he wants to focus on ways to build bridges between various "communities of color in the network that NAE represents.

We are at a point of distrust, he said. That distrust makes us dismissive of people who are different from us, who may approach the issues differently but ironically have the deepest core convictions about faith in Jesus. So that dismissiveness is very challenging at this particular point.

We're so prone to want to talk and explain our position and justify and advance our position and a lot of times the first instinct that we need to have is the instinct of curiosity and humble listening to the concerns of others. Even within the evangelical community, there's just not enough of that mutual engagement within the various facets of evangelicalism.

As evangelicalism is growing in places like Asia, Latin America and Africa, immigrants across the world are planting their own churches. As a result, cultural diversity in the NAE has grown over the years.

But Kim said that there is definitely a barrier.

That's been demonstrated through sociological studies that have shown the increasing divide between communities that actually don't even have meaningful relational connections anymore, he said. This is precisely what Christianity had to deal with in the early years of its existence: How to bring the Greek and Jewish communities of the faith together. And so the Gospel of Christ has always been about that work of reconciliation.

Kim is hopeful that things will get better.

The Gospel was introduced in a world of great chaos when Jesus came. The modern evangelical movement when it arose in Britain and in America in the 18th century, there was also tremendous upheaval. And in all those moments since then, certainly in American evangelicalism, every time that there was a period of tremendous upheaval, where it seemed like evangelicalism might be seeing its final days, there was a resurgence that saw God work in fresh ways. And I'm expecting that again.

As media attention has been so heavily focused in recent years on conservative evangelical support for President Donald Trump, many in todays culture are being misled as to what the true theological definition of evangelicalism is.

For many, the term "evangelical" has taken on the connotation of white conservatives who support Trump despite the realities of evangelisms increasing diversity.

In 2015, the National Association of Evangelicals created a four-pronged theological definition explaining exactly what evangelicals believe regarding the Bible, Jesus, salvation and outreach.

I think it's less about [evangelicalism] being reclaimed, and for us to maintain fidelity and focus on that, Kim said. If you go to churches throughout the country and hear whats being preached in a pulpit and are engaged in the work of communities being transformed by the proclamation of the Gospel. There's a lot of spiritual vitality in evangelical churches.

Right now in the U.S., although there is a decline in the overall population of Christianity in America, that decline seems to be more related to declines in mainline churches, he pointed out.

Many evangelical churches and denominations are experiencing some growth or are certainly maintaining their growth, he said.

When you look at the vitality of immigrant churches, the African-American church, Hispanic church, Asian-American churches, many of them may not in terms of their name say that they are evangelicals. But they are theologically evangelical. They actually represent a very strong vitality of the evangelical movement. And I would hope that as the NAE continues its work of bridge-building with those communities that the evangelical church more broadly will benefit.

Kim believes that evangelical churches are faring better than their mainline counterparts for two reasons.

The first reason, he said, is that evangelical churches are missional-minded and take seriously the challenge to present the Gospel in fresh ways and a fresh context.

I think evangelicals recognize that the American context has changed, he said. So we want the Gospel to be presented in a new way. And If the new America is becoming more and more diverse ethnically, then the Gospel and churches need to reflect that.

The second reason is that evangelicals are eager as a grassroots movement to do effective things.

When there is a sense that God is on the move in certain areas of His Kingdom, we want to participate in that, he stressed. So it is both a missional mindset and a practical mindset that evangelicals are inclined toward this work of growth and diversity.



Kim plans to stay on as pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church and will serve as NAE president bi-vocationally.

Certainly, there have been many presidents of the NAE in the past that have held the position bi-vocationally and I see the tremendous benefits, he explained. By being involved in a local church, I keep myself very much in touch with what followers of Jesus are struggling with or concerned about and how local churches are dealing with various issues. That really helps inform what I do at the leadership level of the NAE.

NAE also inaugurated the Rev. John Jenkins of First Baptist Church of Glenarden, Maryland, as its new board chair and longtime Wesleyan Church leader Jo Anne Lyon as NAE vice-chair.
Statistically speaking, long term investing is a profitable endeavour. But along the way some stocks are going to perform badly. For example the China Yuanbang Property Holdings Limited (SGX:BCD) share price dropped 68% over five years. That's an unpleasant experience for long term holders. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 43%. Unfortunately the share price momentum is still quite negative, with prices down 41% in thirty days. This could be related to the recent financial results - you can catch up on the most recent data by reading our company report.

Check out our latest analysis for China Yuanbang Property Holdings

Because China Yuanbang Property Holdings 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. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth.

Over five years, China Yuanbang Property Holdings grew its revenue at 25% per year. That's well above most other pre-profit companies. Unfortunately for shareholders the share price has dropped 21% per year - disappointing considering the growth. It's safe to say investor expectations are more grounded now. If you think the company can keep up its revenue growth, you'd have to consider the possibility that there's an opportunity here.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

SGX:BCD Income Statement, March 12th 2020

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here..

Story continues

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that China Yuanbang Property Holdings shareholders are down 43% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 9.5%. 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 21% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. 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. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for China Yuanbang Property Holdings that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on SG 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.
As coronavirus cases spread in Oregon, TriMet saw significant ridership declines, and transit officials say they are prepared for more big drops during the coming weeks following a state ban on large events.

According to five weeks of ridership figures provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive, the transit agency saw a notable decline in ridership in the most recent week of data available, which ended March 6, when compared to the previous month.

On March 6, one week to the day after the states first presumptive case of the coronavirus was detected, TriMet saw trips decline 13% compared to the previous week. When compared with the average weekday from the previous month of trip data, every day of the week saw ridership declines. Monday and Friday, in particular, saw the steepest dips.

The transit agency isnt alone in seeing people cancelling work or travel plans. This week, Port of Portland officials estimated air travel had declined 10%.

Roberta Altstadt, a TriMet spokeswoman, said with the Portland Trail Blazers and Timbers seasons now suspended, along with Portland State University and other large institutions urging remote learning or working, ridership will continue to go down.

We will see a big drop, she said.

That will translate to less revenue for the tri-county transit agency, which registers an average of 300,000 transit trips every day. It is important to note that while the revenue TriMet earns from fares covers more than $124 million in current annual operating costs, or 17% of our operating expenses, Altstadt said in an email, TriMets concern at this time is the health and wellbeing of our riders, our employees and our community as a whole.

During a Thursday morning news conference, state health officials said they were working with TriMet to keep people three feet apart on public transit, a measure intended to reduce the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

Health officials didnt offer any specific guidelines on what that looks like in practice. Altstadt said that anyone who has ever been on a full bus or train knows that level of distancing may not be possible.

That could change if fewer people are riding the rails or buses. With more people working remotely, there is more space on buses and trains, so riders may be able to space themselves out, she said.

In the meantime, she said, the agency will continue to encourage riders to follow the direction of federal, state and local health officials, including when possible to keep space between them and others.

The transit agency continues to disinfect all touch points on trains and buses used across Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah counties every day. The cleaning regimen applies to paratransit vehicles and the agencys commuter rail line between Wilsonville and Beaverton as well.

Altstadt reminded riders that surfaces are only clean until someone sneezes, coughs or touches them. Riders should stay home if they are feeling sick, she said.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen

Staff writer Mike Rogoway contributed to this story

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
US forces start constructing airport near Iraq's Ain al-Asad base: Source

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 2:54 PM

An Iraqi security source says American military forces have started the first phase of constructing an airport near Ain al-Asad air base, which houses US and other foreign troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar.

"American forces have embarked on the first stage of establishing an airport near Ain Al-Assad air base and in the Hit district of the province following the arrival of professional experts on the matter," the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Maalomah news agency on Wednesday.

The source added, "The first stage included locating the airport, breaking ground, spreading layers of gravel, surrounding the place with a security fence, installing closed-circuit television cameras and tightening security measures inside and around the site as US military aircraft flew overhead."

He pointed out that American forces have recently intensified their air patrols to include all cities and regions in Anbar province.

On Monday, an unnamed Iraqi security source said an unspecified number of soldiers from the US-led military coalition, which is purportedly fighting the DaeshTakfiri terrorist group, had arrived at Ain al-Asad air base.

The source told Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network that the soldiers had left their former base south of the Iraqi town of al-Qa'im, located nearly 400 kilometers northwest of the capital Baghdad and near the Syrian border, and landed at the base aboard military cargo aircraft.

The source added that the soldiers were of Norwegian, Danish and American nationalities, and that their munitions and military equipment had been transported to Ain al-Asad as well.

On January 8, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) fired a number of ballistic missiles at Ain al-Asad air base. The missile attack was in retaliation for a US airstrike authorized by President Donald Trump that assassinated Lieutenant General QassemSoleimani, the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, along with the deputy head of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and their companions near Baghdad International Airport on January 3.

Trump initially said "no Americans were harmed," but subsequent reports revealed that troops were injured in the attack, largely with concussions from the missile blasts.

On February 21, the Pentagon raised to 110 the number of US service members, who suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI) following Iran's retaliatory strike. It alleged that all of the wounded in the base attack were diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury and that 77 of them had already returned to duty.

The Pentagon further claimed that 35 others had been transported to Germany for further evaluation, 25 of whom had been sent on to the United States.

Two days after the US attack, Iraqi lawmakers unanimously approved a bill demanding the withdrawal.

Later on January 9, former Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi called on the United States to dispatch a delegation to Baghdad tasked with formulating a mechanism for the move.

According to a statement released by his office at the time, Abdul-Mahdi "requested that delegates be sent to Iraq to set the mechanisms to implement the parliament's decision for the secure withdrawal of (foreign) forces from Iraq" in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The 78-year-old politician said that Iraq rejects violation of its sovereignty, particularly the US military's violation of Iraqi airspace in the airstrike that assassinated General Soleimani, Muhandis and their companions.

The US State Department bluntly rejected the request the following day.

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Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) has launched as -a-Service 5G Portfolio in the UAE. This new portfolio of as-a-service offerings is to help telecommunications companies build and deploy open 5G networks.

The portfolio will accelerate telcos path to revenue growth with 5G and enable them to rapidly deploy 5G services to deliver dynamic, personalised, and real-time experiences to employees, customers and citizens.

HPEs open strategy and commitment to the 5G market aligns with the interests of the Administration and the Federal Communications Commission, who are encouraging US companies to demonstrate leadership in 5G innovation.

HPE's edge-to-cloud, platform as-a-service strategy is uniquely positioned to help telcos capitalise on the 5G opportunity, by leveraging a cloud-native software stack for 5G core, optimised telco core and edge infrastructure blueprints, and Wi-Fi 6 enabled services.

Built on open and interoperable platforms combined with carrier grade infrastructure and modular software components, the portfolio of offerings allows telcos to incorporate more automation, become more agile, and deploy new 5G services faster across the telco core, the telco edge and into the enterprise.

At the telco core  a new HPE 5G Core Stack. This open, cloud-native, container-based software stack provides telco customers with the core network capabilities required to rapidly deliver new 5G services to subscribers and enterprise customers.

At the telco edge  HPE continues to innovate with the most dense, ruggedised general-purpose platform enabling Virtual Radio Access Networks (vRAN) and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC). These purpose built offerings from HPE provide telcos with an IT service environment at the cellular network edge.

At the enterprise edge  innovative Aruba Central services, including Air Pass WiFi/5G roaming and Air Slice SLA management. These services help telcos extend the 5G footprint to the enterprise edge  where people, devices and things interact to drive positive business outcomes  by allowing seamless access to Wi-Fi connected users and IoT devices.

Infrastructure delivered as-a-service with HPE GreenLake - available via a pay-as-you-go, managed services and elastic model, these offerings provide telcos with an attractive, fast ramp for rolling out 5G services by enabling them to reduce upfront capital investments and reduce risk by leveraging specialised and proven telco and enterprise edge hardware and software.

Openness is essential to the evolutionary nature of 5G and with HPE 5G Core Stack telcos can reduce operational costs, deploy features faster and keep themselves open to multiple networks and technologies while avoiding being locked-in to a single vendor approach, said Phil Mottram, vice president and general manager of the Communications and Media Solutions business unit at HPE.

HPE has one of the broadest 5G portfolios in the market and is uniquely positioned to help telcos build an open multi-vendor 5G core, optimise the edge with vRAN, and deliver connectivity and new compute services to the enterprise using MEC and Wi-Fi 6.

5G promises to revolutionise the technology landscape, but the journey to pervasive 5G is in its early stages. To fully realise the benefits and power of 5G, a standalone 5G core needs to be combined with the nascent 5G radio access networks. Previous generation networks have often depended on proprietary vertically integrated systems from a single vendor, but 5G offers the opportunity to move to open, cloud-native platforms that utilise commercial off-the-shelf servers along with modular software components from different vendors, allowing telcos to monetise innovative new 5G services faster.

At the edge of the telco network, legacy network infrastructure in the RAN also uses proprietary network technology that results in high operational costs and limited agility. Furthermore, the higher frequencies of 5G have issues penetrating buildings, therefore telcos will need to be able to utilise both 5G RAN and Wi-Fi 6 networks in the enterprise in order to provide uninterrupted service to their customers as they enter shopping malls, campuses and office buildings.

HPEs open 5G portfolio offers the solution to these 5G challenges at the core, at the edge, and in the enterprise and promises to unleash the potential of 5G, enabling a host of new applications across a range of industries, including automotive, education, financial services, government, manufacturing and utilities.

These edge-to-cloud 5G-ready technologies are available on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis via HPE GreenLake to help accelerate the rollout of 5G infrastructure without upfront capital outlays and to help manage the uncertainty of timing and sizing their 5G deployments.

With HPE GreenLake, telcos can grow and expand their network as new users come online and pay monthly based on measured utilisation. Through HPE GreenLake, the 5G infrastructure can be operated on behalf of the customer to free up resources to focus on innovation at the network and enterprise edge.

The true value of 5G can only be realised when radio access networks are combined with a 5G core network. This will enable holistic management, data sharing, and slicing into virtual 5G networks with dedicated usage and characteristics.

The promise of 5G will be unleashed through open, modern platforms, interoperable with existing networks to allow telcos to bring new 5G services to the market quickly while bridging from previous generation networks.

HPE 5G Core Stack is a cloud-native, containerised 5G core network software stack that accelerates the journey to new 5G revenue streams, seamlessly integrates with previous generation networks and is future-ready for upcoming advancements in 5G standards.

The HPE 5G Core Stack will be available as an integrated software and hardware platform, based on validated HPE Telco core and edge blueprints, and supported within HPE GreenLake. By deploying a truly open, cloud-native 5G core, telcos can swap out network functions as needed, enabling them to respond to market developments and avoid vendor lock-in.

To streamline new services at the telco edge, HPE continues to innovate at the 5G edge and is developing new infrastructure solutions designed to power both vRAN and MEC solutions at the telco edge or on the enterprise edge.

At the boundary between the telco and enterprise edge, telcos need to be able to offer new edge compute services, and enterprises need an efficient way to consume them.

Today, when subscribers enter a building and manually switch to the enterprise Wi-Fi network to maintain high-performance connectivity inside, subscriber access and visibility can be lost, limiting the telco operators ability to deliver services. Using Passpoint technology and the new Aruba Air Pass service, cellular subscribers can now securely and automatically roam onto participating Aruba enterprise customer Wi-Fi networks using their SIM credentials and be visible to mobile network operators.

This technology extends the 5G footprint into the enterprise while allowing telcos access to Wi-Fi connected users and IoT devices, and is essential for maintaining high service levels and the ability to create and monetise new services.

HPE will partner to accelerate opportunities building on Aruba Air Pass and Air Slice to further enhance the integration of the network and customer edges by enabling subscribers to seamlessly roam from 5G cellular to Wi-Fi networks along with guaranteed quality of service, all cloud-managed by Aruba Central. Aruba Central is a unified network operations, assurance and security platform that simplifies the deployment, management and service assurance of wireless, wired and SD-WAN environments.

5G has the potential to revolutionise our digital lives and the combination of 5G and Wi-Fi 6 presents telcos with an unlimited array of possibilities for offering subscribers new and compelling services that can transform the user experience, said Keerti Melkote, president of Intelligent Edge at HPE and founder of Aruba Networks. With a broad portfolio of innovations that span from the telco core to the enterprise edge, HPE is the only platform as-a-service company that can deliver the infrastructure, software solutions and the technical expertise to support global telcos in their quest to fully realise the promise of 5G.

HPE has over 30 years of experience in the telecoms industry, with more than 300 telco customers in 160 countries. In the core, 700m subscribers across 82 carriers depend on HPE Mobile Core software, and HPE was recently recognised by Frost & Sullivan with the 2019 Leadership award for Global 5G Infrastructure Enabling Technology.

The full HPE 5G Core Stack will be available globally in the second half of 2020 through HPE GreenLake as-a-service.

HPEs telco optimised edge and core blueprints, and the telco edge optimised platform HPE Edgeline EL8000 are available today, directly or through HPE GreenLake. Aruba Air Pass and Aruba Air Slice are generally available today. -- Tradearabia News Service
A 26-year-old man who returned



from Greece has tested positive for coronavirus, making it the fifth case in Karnataka, the health department said on Thursday.

The patient has been admitted and isolated at a hospital and his condition is stable, a department media bulletin said.

"All (his) primary contacts have been traced and are asymptomatic. Home quarantine has been advised and being followed-up," it said.

According to sources, the patient is from Mumbai.

He travelled from Greece to Mumbai on March 6, and came by flight to Bengaluru on March 8, they said, adding that he had been to office on March 9, during which he is said to have spoken to four of his close friends and gone back home after a few hours.

"He was hospitalised the same day. One brother of his is staying with him in Bengaluru..parents and wife are in Mumbai," sources said.

The man used an autorickshaw to commute in Bengaluru.

Information has been collected about the driver and three members of his family and all precautionary measures have been taken.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu also tweeted confirming about one more COVID-19 positive case in the state.

The department also said all primary contacts of previously reported four people who tested positive for the virus are under surveillance and no symptomatic cases have been reported.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
O ne in four London pubs wont see the benefits of an improved business rates discount unveiled in the Budget, new research showed on Thursday.

The government will up a planned 1,000 business rates discount for pubs with a rateable value below 100,000 in England to 5000 for one year from April.

However, owing to high property values in the capital, 937 out of Londons 3665 pubs have a rateable value above the threshold.

Alex Probyn at rates expert Altus Group, which compiled the research, said the changes appear to overlook the plight of higher rateable value pubs.

Pub owners largely welcomed other updates from the Chancellor, including scrapping a planned increase in duty on beer and spirits.

Nick Mackenzie, the chief executive of Greene King, said: The actions announced will enable pubs across the country to invest more, offer better prices and protect jobs.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Vincent DiCarlo, Private Wealth Financial Advisor, of Wells Fargo Advisors in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized on the 2020 Best in State Wealth Advisors list by Forbes.

This accolade represents a list of professionals that come to work with one goal on their mind - helping their clients succeed.

Vincent has more than 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Vincent is a graduate of Santa Clara University and earned a CFP from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. He is also a CPA from the California Board of Accountancy.

The Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors ranking algorithm is based on industry experience interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors of their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.

About Wells Fargo Advisors

With $1.4 trillion in client assets as of April 11, 2019, Wells Fargo provides investment advice and guidance to clients through nearly 14,000 full-service financial advisors and 5,000 licensed bankers. This vast network of advisors, one of the nation's largest, serves investors through locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Wells Fargo Advisors is the trade name used by two separate registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company: Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (members SIPC). Statistics include other broker-dealers of Wells Fargo & Company can be found at www.wellsfargoadvisors.com.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,800 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 37 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 259,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune's 2018 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Media Contact:

Joy Ogbunamiri?

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SOURCE: Wells Fargo Advisors

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580388/Vincent-DiCarlo-Named-as-Forbes-Best-in-State-Wealth-Advisors-in-2020
CLEVELAND, Ohio  To make sure children who rely on free breakfast and lunch at school still receive meals during an extended coronavirus spring break, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District applied for the same kind of federal grant that pays to keep students fed during the summer.

On order of Gov. Mike DeWine, all K-12 schools in the state will close Monday at 3:30 p.m. through at least April 3 to slow the spread of the deadly virus.

Details about how Cleveland students will receive those meals was currently unavailable, a spokesman said. The school system has at least a weeks worth of food stocked in every school, and 30,000 meals in its Central Kitchen to continue food service during the closures.

The school district during the school year serves 41,500 meals a day: 15,500 for breakfast and 26,000 for lunch.

It provides 7.5 million meals in a year. Read more about Cleveland Schools response to coronavirus.

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank in a statement Thursday said its working to ensure all children receive meals in the coming weeks. Its trying to figure out the best way to get these meals to children and families.

We are in contact with our many partners trying to determine the most effective ways to distribute food in a safe and efficient manner, the statement read. As details are finalized, we will share our plans with the community.
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.
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Linkedin Kusumasari Ayuningtyas (The Jakarta Post) Sleman, Yogyakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 13:58 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a1942e 1 World dutch-royal-indonesia,Yogyakarta,Central-Java,state-visit,King-Willem-Alexander,Queen-Maxima,Netherlands,Sultan-Hamengkubuwono-X Free

Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima joined an interfaith discussion on religious tolerance, among other issues, during their meeting with members of the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) in Yogyakarta, Central Java, on Wednesday.

Throughout the discussion, which took place at Prambanan Temple Museum, the king and queen listened to stories about the real-life dynamics of various religious groups in Yogyakarta.

Event committee member Dicky Sofjan said the discussion, which carried the theme Religious Freedom and Harmony in Indonesia: Promise and Peril, was vital to deepen mutual understanding among people of different beliefs across Indonesia.

This interfaith dialogue is really important because it brings together different religious communities based in Yogyakarta and the surrounding areas. In this dialogue, we openly and honestly discussed various problems and challenges confronting the communities with respect to religious freedom and harmony, Dicky said.

Read also: Prince Diponegoros kris returned ahead of Dutch royal visit

The Dutch monarchs were also given the opportunity to directly speak with representatives of several religious communities in Yogyakarta to learn more about the relationship between differing beliefs in the region.

Uti Suprapti, a Hindu, voiced her concerns regarding the problems her community had faced in the region before the Dutch royalty. She said she hoped minority religious groups would no longer experience oppression in the near future.

Among representatives of religious groups who joined the discussion were individuals affiliated with the Ahmadiyah religious sect  a minority Muslim group that has long been persecuted for its beliefs.

Your existence is very important here. Keep up the good work, keep it together. Thank you very much for this opportunity, Willem told discussion participants at the end of the event.

Read also: Religious harmony index up but intolerance remains

The Dutch king and queens visit to Yogyakarta was part of the itinerary of their four-day state visit to Indonesia, which began on Tuesday when the monarchs were welcomed by President Joko Jokowi at Bogor Palace in West Java.

The royal couple also visited the Yogyakarta palace on Wednesday and was welcomed by Sultan Hamengkubuwono X  who is also Yogyakarta governor  and his wife Hemas along with princesses Mangkubumi, Bendara, Candrakirana and Maduretno. (rfa)
But there are more cases of coronavirus in Britain than in many of the countries covered by the ban. Across the 26 nations hit by the ban, there were more than 21,000 active cases of the novel coronavirus as of Thursday morning, and more than 900 deaths, according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University. Italy was the locus of the pandemic, with more than half of the active cases  10,590  and the vast majority of deaths, 827.
If you're a city council member or a county commissioner, you've taken a pledge to support the Constitution of the United States as well as the Constitution of the State of Minnesota.

That, said Jerry Fossum, is what he's asking Olmsted County commissioners to do as he works to make Olmsted County a Second Amendment sanctuary.

"The premise of a Second Amendment sanctuary is the power for cities, townships and counties to uphold our Constitution," said Fossum, a Stewartville resident. "The goal is to impede enforcement of any gun-control legislation that is not constitutional."

Seven Minnesota counties have passed Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions  the movement is now changing its language for counties to pass resolutions saying they are "Second Amendment Dedicated Counties." Another roughly three dozen counties are home to groups pursuing a dedication to the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, said Rob Doer, vice president of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus. The resolutions would allow a county board to restrict resources  particularly tax dollars  from being used to prosecute or support gun laws that the board deems unconstitutional.

In Southeast Minnesota, both Olmsted and Wabasha counties have groups pursuing Second Amendment dedication resolutions. In both counties, individuals have started Facebook pages supporting Second Amendment sanctuary status. The group in Olmsted County attracted more than 2,000 members in about 10 days.

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Fossum said that number is low.

"There's a silent majority," he said, adding that many individuals have reached out to him personally to offer support, but said they cannot join the Facebook group due to a potential for public backlash. "I know three Rochester police officers who joined then backed out."

Where The Law Stands

Not everyone in law enforcement supports the movement. Wabasha County Sheriff Rodney Bartsh said in a post on his office's Facebook page that the sanctuary resolutions "cross some boundaries that the Sheriff or County Boards shouldnt pursue." While Bartsh might not support the sanctuary movement for gun owners, he does believe current gun laws are working, saying his county has more than 2,000 carry-permit holders "with very little trouble."

"I have the ability to revoke or suspend someones permit if something happens that disqualifies them," Bartsh said. "We have a lot of responsible gun owners in Wabasha County."

Part of Bartsh's complaint is that the sanctuary resolution would have him ignore a state law, whether he personally agrees with that law or not.

The legality of that, said Julie Ring, executive director of the Association of Minnesota Counties, is still in question.

"We're really all eagerly awaiting some advice from the lawyers," she said. Part of her concern is the conversation over gun regulations is usually a state-level discussion. "This is the kind of conversation I'm used to hearing at the state legislature not the county board room level."

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Ring added that the way Minnesota's county governance is structured, counties "don't have a lot of autonomous authority."

Olmsted County Commissioner Matt Flynn agreed with Ring, saying he's waiting for more details from the AMC and from attorneys on whether the county can withhold resources on any new gun control legislation.

What's The Problem

Right now, the state and federal governments have several laws that limit gun ownership. Those range from background checks to bans on automatic weapons.

However, Fossum said two laws that have been considered this year in the Minnesota Legislature are examples of laws that do "infringe" on citizens' rights to keep and bear arms. One is the red-flag law that would empower law enforcement to take a person's guns based on statements from others that the person might be a danger to him or herself, or others. Another is a universal background check law that would require any firearms transaction, even those from one private person to another, to utilize a background check.

"The red-flag law is a gun confiscation law," Fossum said. "That gun confiscation comes from hearsay, not broken laws."

Universal background checks, Doer said, amount to a gun registration law, meaning the government would have records on every gun owned by every citizen.

Not Everyone's A Fan

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The sanctuary Second Amendment movement is being met with some resistance. Alisha Eiken, co-lead of the Rochester chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said people like Fossum are just wrong.

"I strongly support the Second Amendment," Eiken said, adding that she grew up hunting and currently has guns in her home. "Saying common sense gun legislation is unconstitutional is a gun lobby and gun extremist talking point, designed specifically to spread misinformation and spark fear."

Eiken said it's just common sense to require a background check on all gun sales. Furthermore, she said red-flag laws "have been ruled constitutional in court over and over again."

"Folks that ask the sheriff and local elected officials to ignore democratically passed legislation, legislation that reflects the will of the vast majority of Minnesotans, are not standing up for the Constitution, they are trampling on it," Eiken said.

The real concern, Eiken added, is the 400-plus gun deaths in Minnesota each year. About two-thirds of those gun deaths are from suicide, while the rest are either homicide or accidental deaths.

"These deaths are preventable, and its up to our lawmakers to take action," Eiken said. "Our children currently live in a world where they have to practice hiding from one of their peers shooting them."

Next Steps For Sanctuary

Jason Risch of Wabasha, who started the Second Amendment sanctuary movement in Wabasha County, said his group is going to get a petition started to show what kinds of numbers support the movement. He also hopes to bring the issue before the county's board of commissioners at its next meeting on March 17.

"We just want our constitutional rights to be backed by the people we elected in the county," Risch said. "Criminals aren't the ones going to the gun shops and gun shows."

In Olmsted County, Fossum has planned an April 11 meeting to be held at Heartland Gun Club & Range for his group, and hopes to start planning on how and when their resolution will be presented to the county board.

Doer said the best way to fight gun laws is to do so in the state Legislature. While the House has passed both red-flag laws and universal background checks, "There's no traction happening in the Senate. Neither one of those bills had a single Republican vote for them."

The text of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as ratified, reads: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
MARCY, N.Y.  Several state troopers and sheriffs deputies were searching an area off of Route 49 eastbound in Marcy Wednesday afternoon.

Oneida County Sheriffs Office says they are investigating a report of suspicious activity in that area.

There is no threat to the public, according to the sheriffs office.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Robots that use cloud technology to help medical workers treat patients with the coronavirus are tested by a developer in a lab in Beijing this month. The smart devices are being used in hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan, Hubei province. JIANG WENJIE/FOR CHINA DAILY

Smart science is playing a growing role at the epicenter of the epidemic. Wang Xiaodong reports from Wuhan.

Last month, Tang Zhouping, a professor of neurology at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, was assigned to take charge of a temporary hospital built specifically to treat patients with the novel coronavirus.

When he started the job, Tang's thoughts revolved around ways to minimize the patients' mortality rate and reduce the likelihood of the doctors and nurses contracting the virus.

His solution was to transform Guanggu Fangcang Hospital, an exhibition space in Wuhan that was converted into a makeshift medical center in just seven days, into a "smart" facility by adopting technologies already being used at Tongji Hospital, a top facility in the city. The cloud technology-based smart system at Tongji Hospital was extended to the makeshift hospital in 10 hours.

"Using the system, experts from Tongji Hospital can share information related to patients in the temporary hospital and provide guidance for treatment," Tang said.

"With its database, the system can also help epidemiologists conduct research to constantly improve treatment methods for patients."

The use of the smart platform means patients do not have to undergo the usual lengthy registration procedures to enter the hospital. Moreover, they can immediately be transferred to designated brick-and-mortar facilities for treatment if their condition worsens, thus reducing the odds of medical staff members being infected, he said.

"Building the 'smart hospital' has greatly improved the patients' treatment," Tang said. "None of the 865 patients received by the hospital so far has died, and no doctor or nurse has been infected."

A robot delivers medicine in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in January. CHINA NEWS SERVICE

In Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak that has caused China's biggest health crisis in seven decades, new technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence have already been adopted in many temporary hospitals.

At Leishenshan Hospital, a 1,600-bed makeshift facility in Wuhan that was built in just 12 days, an online remote diagnosis center equipped with 5G technology came into operation on Feb 27.

The platform allows senior medical experts with different specialties who work at major hospitals in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, to help treat dangerously ill coronavirus patients at Leishenshan Hospital.

Dong Jiahong, vice-president of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, said the online platform will run 24 hours a day, so doctors at the hospital can seek help online whenever they have difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. With the help of 5G technology, images and other data can be transmitted between Wuhan and other major cities at high speed, which enables high-quality online discussions.

Yuan Yufeng, the hospital's vice-president, said, "The online platform is very helpful in ensuring treatment of difficult cases, and we may frequently use multidiscipline resources via the platform to diagnose and treat critically ill patients."

About 2,500 medical workers dispatched from 236 hospitals across China are working at the hospital, he said.

In Guanggu Hospital, which is affiliated to Tongji Hospital, robots are being used in wards instead of humans to help safeguard medical staff members from infection.

The robots are equipped with devices such as cameras, ultrared sensors and radar so they can move in isolation areas while controlled remotely by doctors via mobile phones, according to Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai, which has sent a medical team to Tongji Hospital to aid patients.

The devices also save resources, as unlike doctors and nurses, they do not need to wear protective clothing, which is in short supply in quarantine areas, the hospital said.

Driverless vehicles are being used at Guanggu Fangcang Hospital to transport medical materials, said Tang, who has been appointed president of the hospital.

"After loading materials from trucks, some volunteers are afraid to move the items to the hospital for fear of infection," he said. "The vehicles have solved the problem."

A smart device delivers goods in a hospital in Wuhan this month. CHINA DAILY

Huang Yang, a patient, said that although the hospital was built for temporary use and the facilities are simpler than those in regular brick-and-mortar facilities, internet technologies have been applied well.

"For example, my doctor told me the computed tomography images of my lungs have been seen by another doctor online in Tongji Hospital as a double check," she said. "I think this will be very reassuring for patients."

In other areas, scientists are developing new diagnosis and treatment methods for the coronavirus.

At Fudan University in Shanghai, researchers have developed an automatic system that reads images of patients' lungs to aid diagnosis of the virus.

The tool, which will enter clinical trials soon, uses artificial intelligence technology that can read a computed tomography image of the lungs in just a few seconds. The same procedure could take a human doctor at least five minutes, said Xue Xiangyang, a professor of computer science at the university.

However, despite the greatly improved efficiency of diagnosis, the doctors' skills and experience are still necessary when images are difficult to interpret and a final decision has to be made, he said.
Chief among the promises the country makes to its veterans is that they will have access to health care following their service. But a new report from the Legal Services Center at Harvard University details how the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly turns away veterans who qualify for care. It is a problem occurring right here in Connecticut.

At the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center, or CVLC, our mission is to help veterans recovering from homelessness and mental illness overcome the legal barriers to housing, health care and income. Often the biggest barrier to health care for veterans is their discharge status.

The military characterizes most discharges occurring after service members first six months in five ways: honorable, general (under honorable conditions), other than honorable (OTH), bad conduct and dishonorable. Although Congress has stated that VA benefits are available to veterans as long as they were discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, the VA presumes other than honorable and bad conduct discharges to be dishonorable. To gain access to health care, veterans with those discharges have two options. They must either prove to the VA that they are honorable for VA purposes through a characterization of discharge process or prove that their initial discharge was incorrect by applying for a discharge upgrade with the Department of Defense.

However, even when veterans meet the VAs stringent guidelines, the VA may still unlawfully turn them away. CVLC represents a small fraction of Connecticuts veterans, but over the course of four months, we had four different clients unlawfully turned away by VA staff.

John Rios is a Navy veteran who served during the conflict in Bosnia. He struggled for over 20 years with the post-traumatic stress disorder that contributed to his OTH discharge. He was eventually successful in obtaining a discharge upgrade. He went to VA seeking health care, his new honorable discharge papers in hand. His paperwork conflicted with the hospitals computer system and they turned him away.

William Daigle was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a platoon sergeant. Daigles requests for transfer were never responded to and, suffering from trauma, he went AWOL. The Army gave him an OTH discharge and Daigle began a prolonged struggle with substance abuse. Wanting to stabilize his life, he petitioned for a characterization of discharge and the VA officially found him honorable for VA purposes. However, when he went to obtain health care from the VA, he was told that his characterization was not listed in the VAs system. When his attorney presented VA staff with his letter showing his characterization, she was told that she was misreading the letter, and that Mr. Daigle wasnt eligible for VA care. Another VA employee incorrectly stated that Mr. Daigle needed to apply for a discharge upgrade.

Robert Morales is another OTH veteran who survived sexual assault in the military. Although he would ordinarily not qualify for health care without proving his case in a characterization of discharge, Sen. Chris Murphys Honor Our Commitment Act extended behavioral health care to sexual assault survivors and combat veterans regardless of discharge. The eligibility desk correctly told Morales that he could get the mental health care he was seeking. However, when he arrived at triage, another employee told him that his discharge barred him from receiving assistance. Morales would have left without the care he needed had his attorney not intervened. Yet few veterans have the benefit of a lawyer.

To some, these incidents might feed the broad anti-VA narrative that arises in public discourse. This takeaway is incorrect. The VA provides incredible care for struggling veterans across the country. Studies have shown that on average VA health care is as good or better than private health care. Every day, CVLC sees the heroic work of VA clinicians.

However, there is a need for widespread reform of the VAs front door. Not only is health care important by itself, it is one of the social determinants that can greatly reduce the likelihood of veteran suicide. At minimum, VA staffers need to have an expanded understanding of the varied ways that veterans with varying discharge characterizations may qualify for care.

But on a more philosophical level, VA leadership needs to institute a clinicians mindset in the departments policies and among its administrative staff. The institutional mindset that expects veterans to first prove that they are worthy of care directly results in overly guarded gatekeepers that err on the side of excluding needy veterans. Instead, the VA leadership should adopt a culture that trains its administrative staff to approach veterans with an attitude of assistance  disposed to search every avenue to provide care, rather than searching for the first disqualifying factor. Veterans have given their physical and mental well-being to the country; they deserve to access the health care they were promised.

Liam Brennan is executive director of the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center in West Haven.
Public invited to help shape Manx Care Bill

Members of the public are invited to give their views on a new organisation which is set to transform the way health and care services are delivered in the future.

The creation of a body to provide health and care services to the population was one of the key recommendations of Sir Jonathan Michaels final report, following his extensive review of the current system. If the public are in favour, it will be named Manx Care.

New legislation is required to create the body, which will operate at arms-length from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). A new Bill sets out the design of Manx Care as a statutory board, similar to the Isle of Man Post Office and Manx Utilities, adjusted to meet Sir Jonathans recommendation.

A consultation on wide-ranging proposals to establish Manx Care is now open.

The consultation outlines proposed areas of responsibility for DHSC and Manx Care, with the DHSC setting policy and strategy and remaining ultimately responsible for the provision of services.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has sent seven trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas, according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

"Seven trucks carrying humanitarian aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine crossed the Novotroitske checkpoint," reads the report of March 12.

The State Border Guard Service added that the total weight of humanitarian cargo consisting of food and hygiene kits made up 137.5 tonnes.

ish
Meghan Markle who, by now will have arrived back in Canada, completed one, final royal engagement in private before attending the Commonwealth Service in striking green Emilia Wickstead.

38-year-old Markle met with scholars from 11 Commonwealth countries and opted to wear a quirky cravat dress by Australian designer, Scanlan Theodore for the occasion (shop it here for 330.)

Scanlan Theodore was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 1987.

The brand describes the dress as "a contemporary take on a knitted dress" and is the quirky cravat necktie "offers a bit of feminine flirt".

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex / Chris Allerton

Australia is one of the founding member countries of the commonwealth and was the destination for Harry and Meghan's first overseas tour as members of the royal family.

Markle pinned her hair from her face and carried a co-ordinating navy clutch bag and heels.
Opinion Article

12 March 2020

They used to say that the sun never set on the British Empire, and I would hope the same for your hotel! Despite being a relative backwater island rife within internal struggles during the Middle Ages, somehow the United Kingdom rose up to a global seafaring empire for hundreds of years backed by the might of its navy and the meritocratic system underpinning this military branch.

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Putting aside the revisionist evidence that takes into account the numerous atrocities that the British Empire committed in the name of conquest - specifically during the Raj Era and the Scramble for Africa - we can all nonetheless learn a ton about how to grow any organization into our own veritable empire by following some examples from Her Majesty's Naval Service.

Specifically, as a history buff myself, we can look more granularly at three prominent individuals in chronological order who served in this time-honored institution to see how naval lessons might apply to a business in the hospitality industry.

Example One: Admiral Byng

John Byng was a lifer in the Royal Navy, entering the service in his adolescence while his father was an admiral and rising through the ranks during the time when the British were ascending to the top echelon of worldly nations. However, it was his perceived failure to reinforce the garrison against the French during the Battle of Minorca for which he is remembered in that he was the only man of his rank to be court-martialed then executed.

While Byng did indeed have a worthy argument in his favor about not being provided enough resources for his fleet to secure the Mediterranean island, his actions nonetheless reveal a person who gave up before committing every ounce of strength. And the government chose to make an example of him in order to galvanize other officers of rank into being more aggressive in achieving their objectives.

While I would never advocate that you make any sort of toxic sacrifice within your organization in order to instill the sense of fear into the other executives, the bottom line is that the qualities of a leader reverberate throughout a company's culture. If an admiral isn't willing to see a battle through to the bitter end, then neither will any of the supporting officers.

When you go about choosing a new member for your team, we often say we want passionate individual, but really we want a scrapper; someone who will dog it out through the long, hard days without giving up then still have enough ambition left over to be proactive about pushing the needle an inch a day.

Example Two: Captain Cook

We all know James Cook as the sailor who 'discovered' Australia and claimed the continent for the British Empire, but there are many other factors behind his coincidental landing in Botany Bay that history seldom mentions.

For context, understand that Cook's ship, The Endeavour, was terribly equipped for battle - small and fast but mostly crewed by noncombatants such as artists and botanists, and definitely nowhere near a match for a Spanish, French or Dutch man-o-war out on the open ocean. Thus, his primary mission was not one of conquest but to test the efficacy of a new piece of technology, the sextant, for use in accurately measuring latitude. It was more of a secondary footnote in his briefing to claim any newly discovered lands for the British, for which high command was expecting something more akin to Tahiti in size.

The lesson from the story of Captain Cook is that of the critical need for experimentation. You never know what lucrative opportunities you will uncover through new initiatives and investing in technology.

Moreover, historians would gladly note that if the British hadn't landed near Sydney then the French or Dutch would have likely claimed the continent within the next couple years. For you this means that while it's all well and good to talk about technological innovation, you do in fact have a proverbial gun to your head at this very moment because if you don't act now then your competitors will.

Example Three: Viscount Nelson

Like Byng, Horatio Nelson was lifer in the Royal Navy, having started his seafaring career at the prime age of 13 as an ordinary seaman. Unlike Byng, however, he didn't come from means - having to share his modest, small town family upbringing with ten other siblings - nor did he have a father in a high-ranking position to ease his upward trajectory through pure nepotism.

Nelson is thus a quintessential success story, right up until his untimely yet heroic death from a sniper's bullet at the climax of the Battle of Trafalgar. One of the most prominent figures to stand against Napoleon Bonaparte, Nelson is in part remembered as the product of a very finely tuned meritocratic naval system that rewarded hard work, intelligence and commitment to serving a higher cause.

As it relates to hospitality, it is so often said that you cannot train for passion and that you must instead seek out and nurture those youth in your organization who already have this internal drive. But, taking Nelson's example into account, I ask which came first, the career or the passion? When he joined the navy in his adolescence, I doubt that it was a vigorous affection for such a dangerous line of work guiding his decision rather than a more primal need for some form of income to support his family. From there, the passion grew within him, with the transparent system of compensating good work with promotions serving to perpetuate his core motivation.

Think about this in terms of how you retain top talent and how you mentor new recruits. For all you know, your hotel may already have its own Horatio Nelson in its midst, but if you don't have a solid system in place to continually move these individuals up the chain of command then you are going to lose them. Ambition is a double-edged sword in this regard as said employees are what will propel your business goals forward and yet they will inevitably leave you for more prosperous career pathways if they are not constantly satiated with increased responsibilities and monetary recompence.
1. 207 People Who Came In Contact With Tom Hanks & Wife Rita Wilson To Be Screened For Coronavirus

hearstapps.com

As per the latest development, the couple is kept in isolation at an Australian hospital. They are both in stable condition, as per reports.



For that, Nanjiani turned to Bollywood and took inspiration from Roshan, the Indian actor who has played the superhero Krrish in a film series. I went to my trainer and said, I want to look like this guy (Roshan), Nanjiani told Mens Health magazine.



3. Too Long & Complex! Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over Akon's Real Name Consisting Of 12 Words

What's Akon's full name? It's "Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam".



"He was having chest pains and the Rikers staff decided for safety to send him back to Bellevue now. He will be evaluated and likely will stay overnight. We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections officers and staff," a spokesperson for Weinstein was quoted as saying by PIX11 News.



5. Sonali Bendre Chose To Not Use A Wheelchair & Wig During Cancer Battle, Proves She's Courageous

I remember when I landed, I had my wig and everything planned. By the end of that flight, I was so exhausted. It was awkward to be in a wheelchair, and I said, I dont want to be in a wheelchair. I said, Chuck it, I dont want to wear it now. This is what it is now, let me just go. I didnt expect so much press outside, but I knew it would be there. When I stepped out, I said, Now Im gonna walk out bald, its okay.
English French

Suresnes  March 12, 2020

6.45 pm

The Bel Group and the founders of All in Foods today signed an agreement under which Bel will acquire All in Foods, a French startup that produces the Nature & Moi brand. Bel will become the majority shareholder with an 80% stake, while the All in Foods' founding family will own the remaining 20% interest.

The acquisition is in line with Bel's strategy unveiled in 2015 aimed at expanding the company's activities beyond cheese products to become a major player in the healthy snack market. After acquiring Morocco-based Safilait, a dairy producer, and MOM, the maker of the Materne, GoGo squeeZ and Montblanc brands, Bel today confirms its strategy to diversify its product offering through growth in dairy, fruit and plant-based products, three complementary food segments.

Founded in 2013 by the Jouault family, All in Foods is a French startup based in Saint-Nazaire, in France's Loire Atlantique region. The company has applied its recognized knowhow in plant-based foods to develop a wide range of plant-based alternatives to cheese, available in slices, blocks, bloomy rind, grated, and spreads, as well as plant-based sauces, under the Nature & Moi brand. In just a few years, All in Foods has become a key player in the plant-based foods sector, with its products sold primarily in hypermarkets and supermarkets, food service and B2B in France and internationally.

The fast-growing All in Foods anticipated consumer expectations early on and stands out in its market for the organoleptic profile of its products. The acquisition constitutes a particularly relevant innovation accelerator in the drive to meet sustainable food challenges.

Bel has thus gained recognized knowhow and a broad range of 100% plant-based products to enhance its existing product portfolio. The newly acquired savoir-faire will also help speed up the development of plant-based products across Bel's entire brand portfolio, which includes such as brands as The Laughing Cow, Kiri, Mini Babybel, Boursin, and others, by offering wholly plant-based alternatives, as well as products that combine both dairy and plant-based raw materials.

Bel will self-finance the acquisition. The financial details of the transaction will not be disclosed. A liquidity agreement will allow Bel to acquire 100% of All in Foods' share capital by 2024. The deal is expected to be completed at the latest by the end of May 2020.

Antoine Fievet, Chairman and Chief Executive Office of the Bel Group, said, "The Bel Group has enhanced its entry into the plant-based era and confirms its strong ambitions. We continue to diversify our product offering to meet new consumer expectations, and we are guided by our mission to champion healthier and responsible food for all. We believe in the excellence and potential that All in Foods has to offer, to meet the challenge for more sustainable food."

Bertrand Jouault, All in Foods' founder, said, "The All In Foods story is one of passion and family. We share common values with the Bel Group and the belief that plant-based foods offer enormous possibilities for our food of tomorrow."

About Bel

The Bel Group is a world leader in branded cheese and a major player in the healthy snack market. Its portfolio of differentiated and internationally recognized brands include such products as The Laughing Cow, Kiri, Mini Babybel, Leerdammer, Boursin, PomPotes, and GoGo squeeZ, as well as some 20 local brands. Together, these brands helped the Group generate sales of 3.4 billion in 2019.

Some 12,400 employees in some 30 subsidiaries around the world contribute to the deployment of the Group's mission to champion healthier and responsible food all. Bel products are prepared at 32 production sites and distributed in nearly 120 countries.



www.groupe-bel.com

------------

Public relations

Bel Group  Agence BCW

Alice Dalla Costa / Cecile Pochard

alice.dalla-costa@bcw-global.com / cecile.pochard@bcw-global.com

+33 (0)1 56 03 12 26 / +33 (0)1 56 03 12 95

Attachment
Consumers shopping for a car expect used vehicles offered for sale to be branded when they have been involved in an accident serious enough to require an insurer to declare the vehicle a total loss.

Many buyers looking to purchase a reliable used car specifically avoid buying a car with a salvage title, knowing that the salvage brand indicates significant past damage to the vehicle. Minnesota and a handful of other states do not require that insurance total loss vehicles be branded as salvage when the vehicles are older than a certain age. Minnesotas loophole in branding cars six years and older or less than $9,000 robs consumers who may be looking for a reasonably priced but reliable used car of the ability to know a vehicles past damage history.

Legislation introduced in the Minnesota statehouse would close that loophole. Consumers dont have the expertise or education to know when a clean-title vehicle has been badly damaged and cosmetically repaired, and their state government shouldnt remove their right to know a vehicles total loss history before they purchase it. As vice president of the board of the Automotive Recyclers of America, an organization and industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of automotive parts, I urge Minnesotas lawmakers to pass SF2224/HF2307.

Derek Haluptzokis board vice president of Automotive Recyclers of Minnesota and owner, A-Abco Fridley Auto Parts
L abour is heading for a record vote haul in this years elections for the London Assembly, but it will fall just short of a majority, research indicates.

Polling by YouGov for Queen Mary University of London put Labour up five points since the 2016 contest in the party list vote, at 45 per cent. In the constituency section, the party was up three, to 47 per cent.

The Conservative shares were unchanged, at 29 per cent for the list section and 31 per cent in the constituency battlegrounds.

On May 7 Londoners will cast two votes for the Assembly, one for a local representative and another for a party list of spare candidates. Under a complex proportional representation system, the list seats are used to top up each partys share of seats to match their overall vote.

Professor Philip Cowley, of Queen Marys Mile End Institute, estimated that Labour would win Havering and Redbridge on a uniform swing, but lose one of their list seats to remain on 12 out of the 25 seats  one seat short of a majority.

Professor Cowley said: For Labour these figures would mean record vote shares  indeed, they would set a record for any party since the Assembly was created. By contrast, the Conservatives have stood still on their position four years earlier.

The Liberal Democrats and the Greens were both up overall in the poll. The Greens had a 12 per cent share in the London-wide vote, which Professor Cowley said would be their best-ever performance if replicated on the night.

The Brexit party is on two per cent overall  in 2016 Ukip was around seven per cent.

The study found Labour enjoys a markedly bigger lead among women, at 22 percentage points, compared with 11 among men. They are ahead in the critical outer London battleground which the Conservatives regard as their best territory.

The composition of the Assembly after the election will most likely look very similar to how it does now, albeit with slightly more Green and Lib Dem members, Professor Cowley added.
If you heard about Spanish Fly, you know it's an aphrodisiac. If you are like others, you have already discovered how it was used for sexual arousal since time immemorial. But is the modern Spanish Fly same as the old one? Does Spanish Fly really enhance your libido?

Turns out, the new Spanish Fly product has capabilities that you'll love, for more reasons than one.

The top Seven Things You Didn't Know About Spanish Fly

We will find out all you need to about Spanish Fly in 7 crispy facts!

1. Spanish Fly is Actually an Insect

Spanish Fly refers to some species of the blister beetle family. The beetles secrete a substance called cantharidin that has some medical uses. Cantharidin has also been used as the main ingredient in love potions for ages. If you went to a witch doctor or shaman and asked for a love potion, they would most probably give you potion made from cantharidin.

The substance was also common in libido enhancers sold in the market. But the products had serious safety concerns as ingesting cantharidin can lead to poisoning and death. That's why you won't find any product with cantharidin- all Spanish Fly products in the present time use other ingredients with aphrodisiac properties.

2. Modern Spanish Fly is Natural and Safe

Today, you can buy Spanish Fly to increase your sex drive without worrying about safety. Modern Spanish Fly products use natural ingredients that are known to increase libido. The clever combination of ingredients allows you to enjoy other benefits like intense orgasms, easy arousals, and extended sexual performance.

For instance, Spanish Fly Pro blends various herbs to create a potent libido booster. You will find things like maca root extract, arginine hydrochloride, Tribulus Terrestris fruit extract, guarana seed extract, Panax ginseng, and caffeine. All these ingredients are sourced from nature and are 100% without any adverse effects.

So you can now bring back the excitement in your sex life without worrying over side effects.

3. Both Men and Women can Benefit from Spanish Fly

Spanish Fly works like a wonder on both men and women. It offers the same benefits to both sexes and helps couples, men, and women experiencing a loss of sex drive. Some couples also take it to make their sexual experience more exciting and long-lasting.

Spanish Fly facilitates full-body arousal, preparing you for a great sex ahead. In men, it can help achieve quicker and longer erections and assist in enhancing your performance. Women can also feel a strong appetite for sex and get turned on naturally. Spanish Fly also increases natural vaginal lubrication and helps you have great sex

.

4. A Few Drops Work Like a Charm

You don't need to gulp down bottles of potions or strips of tablets to increase your sex drive. A few drops are all it takes!

For instance, you just need 5 drops of Spanish Fly Pro to enhance your libido. You can take it with any beverage you like, except hot drinks like coffee or tea. Maybe you can put 5 drops of Spanish Fly Pro in your wine and wait for just- 10 minutes for the results to take effect.

That's right! You just need 10 minutes, and then you are ready to have some exciting lovemaking.

Spanish Fly is also an on-demand aphrodisiac. You don't need to take it every day- just use 5 drops, 10 minutes before you plan to have sex.

5. It Doesn't Taste Yucky

Many people think love potions are meant to make you puke! But not so for Spanish Fly.

The manufacturers have made it sure that you don't have to worry about your taste buds when taking Spanish Fly. Made from natural ingredients, you can use the formula with any drinks.

Spanish Fly Pro, for example, tastes like grapefruit. You can mix it with any beverage without changing the flavor of the drink. So, whether it's a glass of whiskey or some orange juice, Spanish Fly will ideally blend with it.

6. Spanish Fly can Have Permanent Results

Spanish Fly is a safe and tested aphrodisiac and has been proved to be without side effects. You can use it when you want or take it daily without any concern. If you take it daily, you can experience an all-time high in sexual activities and maybe, get more sexual ideas and fantasies.

You don't need a doctor's prescription and can order a bottle online in a matter of minutes. So if you want to bring back the missing "oomph" in your sexual life, Spanish Fly can fit your bill!

Look for Spanish Fly products in the market that meet FDA requirements and are made from natural ingredients. Such products are safe and without side effects, and can be used with peace of mind.

It's better to stay away from artificial or lab-made chemical aphrodisiacs.

7. Evidence-Backed Spanish Fly Properties

The aphrodisiac properties of Spanish Fly has been proven in studies. The manufacturers of Spanish Fly Pro conducted a study with 40 couples who experienced a loss of sex drive. They received a bottle of Spanish Fly Pro and took 5 drops before having sex. The results?

87% people who took Spanish Fly Pro for the first time experienced a better sexual arousal

The benefits were visible after the first dose

72.5% women had orgasms for the first time in at least two years

Both men and women felt more engaged and passionate during intercourse

You can find out the potential of any Spanish Fly in the market very easily. Just get a list of the ingredients and do a Google on each to determine if they are effective.

Wrapping Up

Spanish Fly is a safe and easy-to-use aphrodisiac to ignite the lost flame in your sex life. It works fast, and you can take it on an on-demand basis whenever you want to have sex. Are you sure you don't want to make your sex life more exciting?
The number of deaths from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reached five in Germany on Thursday (local time), as a resident of Bavaria passed away, local health authorities reported.

"Per the data from the Wurzburg University Hospital, we are talking about an 80-year-old patient with a previous disease, who required constant care," a representative from the regional health ministry said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, a 67-year-old male passed away in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. The rest of Germany's fatalities occurred in the North Rhine-Westphalia.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Thursday that the country has registered its first COVID-19 related death.

"Tonight, we learned about the first death caused by the coronavirus. An elderly man, who was ill, passed away," Solberg said in an interview to the NRK broadcaster.

According to Johns Hopkins University, as of Thursday, Germany has more than 2,000 coronavirus cases on its soil, while Norway has 702.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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BURIEN  An apartment building at 11600 Military Road S. in Burien has sold for a bit over $2.3 million, according to King County records.

The seller was 11600 Military Road LLC, which acquired the property in 2014 for $746,000.





. . .
Members of Myanmar's national parliament cast votes on proposals to amend the country's 2008 constitution at the Union parliament in Naypyidaw, March 11, 2020.

Myanmar lawmakers on Thursday failed to pass constitutional amendments proposed by Myanmars ruling National League for Democracy party to reduce the power of the countrys military chief during states of emergency.

The current charter, drafted in 2008 by a military junta that previously ruled the country, grants sovereign power to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in times of emergency.

Voting a day after de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to keep advancing constitutional reform, legislators rejected NLD proposals that would have changed sections of the charter allowing military coups during national emergencies and permitting the military commander-in-chief to take control of the country.

NLD lawmakers wanted a repeal of Article 412(a) which lets the president declare a state of emergency in situations that threaten Myanmars sovereign power or in the case of insurgencies, but requires the countrys leader to coordinate plans with the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council (NDSC).

If all NDSC members are not available, the article says, the president must consult the commander-in-chief, deputy commander-in-chief, and ministers of defense and home affairs.

The NLD also had proposed a revocation of a constitutional requirement for the president to obtain the approval of the NDSC for state of emergency declarations.

NLD lawmaker Tin Maung Win, who voted in favor of the amendments, said that despite the military votes against the measures, legislators from ethnic parties had voted in favor of constitutional reform.

Over 40 MPs from other parties are supporting the cause, he said, based on the results of the voting. Im very happy about that, though we lost the ballot. It shows us that ethnic parties are supporting constitutional reform.

Partisan voting

Soe Thein, a lawmaker from the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said the votes reflected the partisan nature of the parliament.

It doesnt depend on the issue, he said. The NLD MPs will always votes in favor of every issue they have brought up. The military MPs will support the issues their MPs have raised. Rakhine, Shan, and other ethnic parties will do the same. Thats how it works. The votes are not decided by the logic.

He also said that engagement prior to the vote may have produced a different outcome.

If they had held negotiations beforehand, the results could have been different, Soe Thein said. If they had negotiated, we could have found common ground on amending these clauses.

During a meeting with locals in the town of Shwebo in northwestern Myanmars Sagaing region on Wednesday, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said she would keep pushing for constitutional reform despite the challenges.

As for when and under which conditions constitutional reform will succeed, it is obvious that when those who have the right to object stop objecting, it will succeed, she said.

From March 10 through the end of the month, lawmakers are voting on dozens of amendments, many of which have been submitted by the NLD to curb the militarys political power and make the charter more democratic.

During the third day of voting on Thursday, all the NLDs proposals failed to win the required approval of 75 percent of lawmakers because military lawmakers, who control a quarter of parliamentary seats, and have an effective veto over proposed charter changes.

On Tuesday, a proposed constitutional amendment that would have allowed Aung San Suu Kyi to become president was rejected by military lawmakers, who essentially vetoed the measure.

The civilian-led NLD headed by Aung San Suu Kyi made constitutional reform one of its key campaign promises during the last nationwide election five years ago.

Of the 43 proposals that lawmakers have voted on so far, only two  pertaining to changes to the written term for disabled  have passed.

Legislators will cast ballots for a dozen more constitutional amendments proposed by the NLD on Friday, including one to strike down the militarys veto on changes to the charter.

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi attends a Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee meeting with leaders of ethnic armed groups in Naypyidaw, March 12, 2020. Credit: RFA video screenshot Progress on peace talks

Also on Thursday, Aung San Suu Kyi and representatives from ethnic armed organizations that have signed the governments nationwide peace accord agreed on Thursday to hold the next round of peace negotiations in April in Shan state, a government spokesman said.

Government delegates led by the state counselor at the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) meeting in the capital Naypyidaw said they and representaties from the ethnic armies will hold national-level peace talks in the Shan town of Laihka.

We agreed to hold the peace talks in Laihka, said Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay, who also serves as director general of the State Counselors Office. We talked about the timing.

Those who attended the meeting discussed the prospect of holding the negotiations in western Myanmars conflict-ridden Rakhine state, where the Myanmar military is fighting the rebel Arakan Army.

It would be challenging to hold national-level peace talks in Rakhine state, Zaw Htay said.

Instead of holding them there at the national level, we agreed to hold an event like a forum or meeting in Yangon, he added.

The UPDJC is instrumental in convening periodic peace talks, known as the 21st-Century Panglong Conference.

Peace negotiations under this mechanism have been put on hold because of ongoing armed conflicts in Rakhine and Shan states.

Accept these trade-offs

Though Aung San Suu Kyi has been spearheading efforts to end Myanmars decades-long civil wars and to build a build a democratic federal union that includes ethnic minorities, only three Panglong Conference meetings have been held since the NLD came into power in 2016.

It takes only one group from a negotiating party to destroy the ongoing peace process, so only with the coordination of all groups will this process succeed, Aung San Suu Kyi told the meeting attendees.

I want you to be aware that not all groups will have their wishes and demands fulfilled completely, she added. You cannot come to the negotiation table with the attitude that your demands are to be fulfilled completely. Only by compromising will you be suitable for sitting at the negotiation table, and you will need to accept these trade-offs at the negotiation table.

Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic army leaders called Thursdays meeting a success, though military delegates did not speak to the media about it.

Ten ethnic armed organizations have signed the Nationwide Cease-fire Agreement (NCA), which forms the foundation of the government's peace talks. But about a dozen others, several of which are engaged in hostilities with Myanmar forces, have not.

Following the signing of the NCA in October 2015, a Union-level Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JCMC) was created later that year to monitors the implementation of the pact.

The body comprises representatives from the government, military, political parties, parliament, and the 10 ethnic armed organizations that have signed the NCA. The JCMC held its last meeting more than a year ago.

UPDJC vice chairman Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong, who is also vice chairman of the Chin National Front, one of the NCA signatories, said the next peace conference will go as planned as long as the coronavirus pandemic does not disrupt it.

The working committees concerned are working on the plan, and it will succeed unless it is interrupted by the coronavirus outbreak which has now been declared a pandemic, he said.

Reported by Thet Su Aung and Thiha Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Kolkata, March 12 : The principal of a B.Ed college in West Bengal was arrested on Thursday for allegedly making racial slur on a girl student and slapping a teacher who protested against the comment.

Kalyani Sahoo, the principal of Nandalal Ghosh B.Ed College at Bhatpara of 24 Parganas (North) district, was taken into custody by the police after students and teachers began an intense protest against her behaviour, resulting in soaring tension.

The trouble started over a final semester student's allegation that she was not being given the marksheet by the college despite clearing all her dues and producing the receipts.

On Wednesday, when she went to Sahoo's room with her complaint, the principal allegedly took pot shots referring to her caste.

A lecturer Shanta Moulik then went to Sahoo's chamber and backed the student's statement that she had cleared all her dues and so there was no ground to withhold her marksheet.

Moulik alleged that the principal then slapped her hard.

"This is not the first time that our principal misbehaved with the girl, who comes from a financially weak background. But despite that she has not kept any college fees pending. But the college is dilly-dallying against issuing her the marksheet," said Moulik.

On Thursday, the students and teachers began a joint protest against the principal. They staged an angry demonstration outside the college, following which personnel from Bhatpara police station arrived at the college and detained the principal. She was later arrested.

A police picket has been posted at the college.

Sahoo, however, refused to make any comment.
Gambias former president Yahya Jammeh had some of the characteristics of a benevolent dictator. In his 22-year rule, he would tour the country at least once a year, giving out hundreds of thousands of dalasis, the national currency, to his supporters.

Ebou Jarju testifies before the TRRC.  Mustapha K. Darboe

But the people closer to him did not see that generous side of the dictator, Jammehs former steward Ebou Jarju told the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) on February 27. The 54-year old is a former hotel worker. In March 2001 he took a job at State House, Gambias seat of power. I thought Jammeh was a good person but when I started to work at State House, it was as if being truthful meant a whole different thing to him, Jarju said. When Jammeh would go out and give out money to people, he would be very happy and when he comes back to State House, it is totally different. He would frown and start insulting people. He would insult peoples mothers. He frequently called people bastards.

Jarju, a member of Jammehs Jola tribe, hails from Kombo Darsilami, a village about 1,5 hour drive from Banjul. As a steward, he was responsible for the food and water of the president. He would serve food at State House, state banquets and other gatherings, serving the President alone or with guests. Also among Jarjus responsibilities was to make sure that food was cooked on time and all ingredients were intact.

Three years in prison without charge

In March 2008, Jarju said the behavior of the former President towards him began to change for the worst. Jarjus phone was seized by members of the State Guard who were authorized to print out the list of people he called. Jammeh wanted to know who he talked to. The phone was never given back to him.

A few weeks later, Jammeh issued an instruction that this idiot, referring to Jarju, should vacate the residence given to him when he became a steward at State House. The flat he occupied at the time was at the Marina Parade, the central district of Banjul where the State House is located.

After Jarju had left to his native village Darsilami, a vehicle being driven by one Sergeant Sambou Barrow arrived at his home. Jarju learned that he was now under arrest. I was detained for 9 months at the Banjul police station without charge, he told the TRRC.

They said to me: we were told that you attempted to poison the President. I laughed. One of them told me that the accusation was serious and I was laughing. I told them I laughed because this could not have happened. Anything the President ate, I tasted it first, said Jarju. It was only after 3 weeks that my people knew I was in Banjul and they brought me some clothes.

The investigations, according to Jarju, exonerated him. But the truth did not matter. They moved him to the countrys notorious Mile 2 Prison, in the outskirt of Banjul, where he would spend another 3 years without charge. Both his parents died while he was in detention.

Bad temper

Jarjus appearance before the Gambias TRRC relates to a new series of public hearings on the abuse of civil and public servants. Since the TRRC began its public hearings more than a year ago, several witnesses have spoken of the bad treatment State House workers suffered in Jammehs hands. The orderlies, protocol officers and stewards particularly paid a high price for their proximity to Jammeh. Jammehs longest serving chief protocol officer, Alagie Ousman Ceesay, and Yusupha Sanneh, his former orderly, testified about such bad treatment of the State House staff.

Jammeh, according to Jarju, had very odd eating and sleeping habits. He would at times have his lunch at 6 p.m. and his dinner at 3 or 4 a.m. Sometimes, you have to sit and wait until 1 or 2 a.m. when he would bring geese and say: slaughter them. If you slaughter geese at 2 a.m., when would you finish preparing them? asked Jarju. Jarju thinks the president didnt sleep because he has hurt too many people and he is afraid they will revenge.

Because of the dictators unusual behavior, stewards and orderlies would sleep while on duty. Jammeh would come with a mosquito repellant and spray it on their faces, said Jarju. Sometimes, he would pour very cold water on them, he added.

Recommended reading Gambia: Witnesses testify of rape by Yahya Jammeh

The closer the riskier

Jarju said their woes were exacerbated by Jammehs erratic behavior and paranoia. I knew the worst they could do was to kill me. I was used to people being arrested. People were arrested all the times from State House, he claimed. It was scary to work at the State House. You would see people taken to National Intelligence Agency and you would not even know why. Jarju was released in 2012, after which he went into exile in Senegal to return only in 2017 after Jammeh had fled the Gambia.

So far, evidence before the TRRC has shown no one endured the wrath of ex-dictator more than those closed to him. Haruna Jammeh and Merci Jammeh, his cousins, were murdered by him, according to Omar Jallow, one of the former rulers hitmen who testified before the Commission last year. Evidence before the Commission also indicated that his former spy chief, Daba Marenah, and a number of soldiers close to him have disappeared on Jammehs orders.

Work, no pay

Ensa Keita testifies before the TRRC.  Mustapha K. Darboe

Another witness before the TRRC, Ensa Keita was a laborer who supplied gravel and sand for construction works. In 2005, he took a job to supply about 2,600 U.S. dollars worth of gravel and sand for Jammehs residence in Kanilai, the presidents home village, about 2 hours drive from Banjul.

The go-between for Keitas contract with the presidency was Aziz Tamba. Work was done but Tamba would not pay Keita. Keita launched a stubborn pursuit of his payment until 2006 when both Tamba and president Jammeh had enough of it. The big man [Yahya Jammeh] said he would not pay, Tamba told Keita in one of their meetings in Kanilai. I told him that is not true, said Keita. Keita insisted that his money must be paid. He would even complain to the village head and the imam. Then he received a call. Come to Kanilai. The big man has given me your money, said Tamba. At 10 a.m the following day, Keita was in Kanilai. Upon arrival, he was directly taken to a holding cell and tortured. There, he would endure illegal detention without charge for nearly two months. He lost several of his front teeth and one testicle, he told the Commission.

Barbaric acts

Junglers operated on orders of Jammeh. One of their bases was in Kanilai. According to Keita, the holding cell he was kept in was in a building opposite to the presidents residence. When I asked the soldiers, I was told I was locked on the orders of one Musa Jammeh, said Keita. Musa Jammeh  who died in 2007  was a senior Jungler who nicknamed himself Maliyamungu after the notorious right-hand man of the former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin Dada. At the time he was the operational commander of the Junglers.

The day after Keita was arrested, Musa came to see him. He greeted him with a slap. I should say that I am a rebel. He said if I did not agree, they will feed my flesh to the crocodiles, said Keita. Former Gambian leader had a crocodile pool at his residence in Kanilai. Despite daily torture and starvation, Keita said he was lucky. A few days into his detention, the soldiers brought one man who identified himself as Kajally Jammeh. According to Keita, Sanna Manjang, another feared commander of the Junglers, told the new prisoner: I am going to kill you, cut your throat and feed your body to the crocodiles. One night, said Keita, Kajally Jammeh was taken out and slaughtered in front on his cell.

A crocodile pond belonging to the former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh.  Romain Chanson / AFP

Forced disappearances to be investigated

Keitas testimony was so shockingly graphic that the TRRC lead counsel Essa Faal advised that children should be prevented from watching it. Manjang reportedly put the victims head into a polythene bag and took it to the ex-Presidents residence. Helping Manjang in this barbaric act was Sulayman Sambou, Keita testified. Sambou was a member of the Junglers who has been named in several hits. Both of them, Keita said, wore a military uniform. According to Keita, another prisoner, a woman by the name of Yama Colley, would also be killed there on that day, strangled to death before his own eyes.

For years, Gambians have speculated on the involvement of the ex-president in human sacrifices. Keita said the two killings which occurred near his prison cell were done in sacrificial manner and their heads were taken away. He also name six others who were brought to his prison cell before being disappeared. The Commission is yet to established the profile of the alleged disappeared victims. This is also the first time the story of Kajally Jammeh and Yama Colley were mentioned before the Commission.

After one month and 21 days, Keita was escorted our without further harm, although he claimed that the guard accompanying him out informed him that Musa Jammeh had instructed for Keita to be killed. After his testimony before the TRRC, people have started to raise money for him, like they did for a number of other victims who appeared before the Commission. Eventually, Keita might get his money back
[March 12, 2020] SecureKey Technologies and Onfido Join Forces to Offer Real-Time Photo ID Verification

SecureKey Technologies Inc., a leader in identity and authentication solutions, today announces an innovative partnership with global identity verification provider, Onfido. Benefitting from the expertise of two industry leaders, the forthcoming offering will combine Onfido's physical identity document verification and AI expertise with the real-time authentication and verification capabilities that SecureKey offers over the coming months. "We're thrilled to leverage Onfido's best-in-class technology as a complement to our existing technology stack. Our partnership demonstrates positive market movement towards a more secure digital future for consumers," said Greg Wolfond, CEO, SecureKey Technologies. "At SecureKey, we believe strong, privacy-based digital identity requires the collaboration of multiple players and are pleased to continue our track record of developing market-leading digital identity services and offerings alongside like-minded organizations. We're excited to plan our global expansion, using our digital identity services as interoperable solutions across markets." This enhanced offering is unique in its breadth, it will allow users to scan their physical identity documents, such as passports or drivers' licenses, and have other personal information verified in real-time from trusted sources, such as financial institutions, credit bureaus, telecommunication companies and government. By bringing together the strengths of these different parties and leveraging the combination of financial institution and telecommunication-grade credential login and document validation, this solution is the critical next step to increase the digital capabilities globally by making identity verification more secure and safe for all consumers. Onfido's award-winning technology assesses whether a user's government-issued physical identity documents are genuine or fraudulent, drawing upon unique expertise in over 4,500 document types from 195 countries, before comparing against facial biometrics. Comparisons are drawn between selfie and physical identity documents to ensure users are who they say they are. To draw these comparisons, Onfido uses an AI hybrid approach.



The first available documents to be authenticated in this forthcoming offering will be passports and drivers' licences, with provincial healthcare and residency cards expected to follow. "At Onfido, our mission is to create a more open world, where identity is the key to access. SecureKey clearly shares this same drive to build a more secure landscape where customers can have privacy, security and consent all in one easy-to-use process," said Husayn Kassai, CEO, Onfido. "We're excited to watch how our technology will continue to make customers' lives easier within the SecureKey networks and bring the future of digital identity closer."

About SecureKey Technologies SecureKey is a leading identity and authentication provider that simplifies consumer access to online services and applications. SecureKey enables a next generation privacy-enhancing identity and authentication network for connecting people to online services using a digital credential they already have and trust. SecureKey is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.securekey.com and www.verified.me. About Onfido Onfido is building the new identity standard for the internet. Our AI-based technology assesses whether a user's government-issued ID is genuine or fraudulent, and then compares it against their facial biometrics. That's how we give companies like Revolut, Zipcar and Orange (News - Alert) the assurance they need to onboard customers remotely and securely. Our mission is to create a more open world, where identity is the key to access. Recognized as a global leader in artificial intelligence for identity verification, we're backed by Salesforce Ventures, SBI Investment, M12 (Microsoft (News - Alert)) Ventures, and others. With 350 employees spread across 6 countries, we've raised $100m in funding and power verification for 1,500 customers. www.onfido.com

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www.twitter.com/onfido SecureKey Technologies Inc. All rights reserved. Proprietary and Confidential. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005727/en/

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Quality Insurance Company Limited, a leading general insurance provider in Ghana organized a Two-day Seminar and an Awards Ceremony for over One Hundred (100) Sales Agents operating its Agency Offices across the country.



The event which was held at Best Western Hotel in Takoradi aimed at appreciating the Agents for their enormous contributions towards the growth of the company for the year 2019.



The agents were heavily involved in the sale of general insurance products in the many QIC outlets across the country. Notable amongst these insurance products are QICs enhanced motor comprehensive insurance policies Kingly Queenly and Go Girl which offers customers add-on services including free vehicle services and a courtesy vehicle.



Seven (7) awards were presented to top performing Agents at the exciting awards night. There were awards for the Best three (3) Performing Agents, Best Female Agent, Up-and-Coming Agent, Most Dedicated Agent and Longest Serving Agent.



The 2nd and 3rd Best Performing Agents were Mr. Anthony Kudjordzi and Mr. Simon Baba Salifu who won fully paid trips to Dubai with spending money of $1,500 and $1,000 respectively.



Kumasi-based Joseph Adarkwah Yiadom who emerged the Best Performing Agent for 2019 also walked away with a fully funded trip to Dubai with spending money of $2,000.



There were special awards for Ms. Beauty Galley (Best Female Producing Agent), Messrs. Raymond Zuzie (Longest Serving Agent), Reuben Fuseini Issah (Up-and-Coming Agent ) and John Baptist Mensah (Most Dedicated Agent).



The programme was climaxed with an Agents Day Out at Maaha Beach Resort located in Atuabo, where the Agents had an opportunity to socialize and interact with each other and management.



Speaking to the media, Mr. Joseph Adarkwah Yiadom, Best Performing Agent thanked QIC for recognizing their hard work and putting together an exciting programme for them.



Its been a great experience working with QIC. I look forward to my trip to Dubai and I must say I appreciate their support and recognition. My colleagues and I are ready to do more this year an elated John Adarkwah Yiadom said.



The top three (3) Best Performing Agents are expected to leave Ghana for Dubai later this month.

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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(Newser)  Six guys scammed people out of $50 millionby calling them and asking for it, the New York Times reports. A French court found them all guilty Wednesday of an elaborate scheme to defraud wealthy political, religious, and business figures. It seems Gilbert Chikli, 54, and Anthony Lasarevitsch, 35, masterminded the plot to impersonate a French official over the phone and request money to release hostages in Syria. One sometimes made Skype calls wearing a silicone mask custom-made to resemble the official, former Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, per the BBC. The targets were told that taxpayer money couldn't be used and time was running short. Amazingly, the Franco-Israeli pair pulled it off.

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Among the victims: Turkish businessman Inan Kirac (who gave $47 million), Muslim spiritual leader Karim Aga Khan IV (over $20 million), and wine magnate Corinne Mentzelopoulos ($6 million). Luckily several of the 150 targets smelled a rat and contacted French officials. Some payments were blocked in time, but $50 million has vanished in a maze of shell accounts. Chikli and Lasarevitsch got 11 and 7 years, respectively, and face nearly $3.5 million in fines; the others received lesser punishments. There's a movie about Chikli's earlier plot to scam people out of money, for which he got seven years but fled to Israel. This time, he didn't take it well: "It's a scandal," he shouted in court. "You should be ashamed." (Read more fraud stories.)
STAMFORD  Stamford school officials are preparing for a possible shutdown due to COVID-19 and are developing a distance learning approach to maintain the number of school days.

Amy Beldotti, associate superintendent of teaching and learning, said the department is working feverishly to provide schools with possible curriculum to send home with students across all grade levels.

Teachers can provide online lessons through Google Classroom, a free website that allows teachers to create and distribute assignments to students.

But not all teachers have used the service, and some feel uncomfortable using it, Beldotti said at a Tuesday Board of Education meeting.

She added that technology professional development leaders are in schools helping such teachers get a Google Classroom set up.

Theres still work to be done, but we are every day making progress in the event that we are closed for an extended period of time, Beldotti said.

The school system has also distributed a survey to parents in grades 6-12 to figure out how many have a computer or laptop for their child to use if school buildings are closed.

Beldotti said the survey had 3,500 responses in just 24 hours after it was posted. She said the district has enough Chromebooks to send home with students.

Because of the outbreak of the coronavirus, there has been increased cleaning through school facilities using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended cleaning supplies.

While the number of cases in Connecticut remains low, a significant outbreak in nearby Westchester County has many cities and towns on high alert.

Hand sanitizer stands are now placed throughout Stamford schools, though officials are working to add more.

Josephine Carpanzano, order management system administrator, said the school system is ordering hand sanitizer and is expecting an additional shipment to arrive later in the week. Because of the outbreak of the virus, sanitizer is becoming harder to acquire as demand is incredibly high.

We might run out, she said.

Carpanzano said elementary and middle schools have about seven or eight sanitizer stations, while the high schools have 10.

What we want to focus on is getting it to those essential locations in every school and ensuring that they have enough quantity because we dont know how long this is going to go, she said.

Olympia Della Flora, associate superintendent for school development, is on a daily call with representatives from the city, police and fire departments to discuss plans related to the coronavirus, and she said another concern is food insecurity.

She said the school district could apply for permission to run its summer meal program if schools were to be closed. The program allows for food to be made available for students to pick up at different locations. Della Flora said the food would be available in grab-and-go fashion to make sure people do not congregate in lines or around the food.

In the short term, all school field trips have been canceled as have sporting events. Any events that involve outside groups coming to schools have also been canceled. Parent-teacher conferences scheduled for this week will be done over the phone, Della Flora said.

Superintendent of Schools Tamu Lucero said the idea is to keep outside contamination to a minimum.

If we can keep just the germs we have in our schools, and not additional germs, that would be helpful for us, Lucero said.

In case school buildings are closed, Lucero said the district would likely have to make up all of the missed days, according to conversations with State Department of Education officials.

The school district is in the process of applying for waivers, which would allow it to be exempt from the minimum 180 days of instructional time required per school year, even if the prospect of getting one is slim.

The chances of getting a waiver are not that great, she said.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
Those at the top of income are reaping ever greater rewards, while endemic low pay, insecure work and hefty childcare costs are preventing those at the bottom of the scale from closing the gap, according to a new report.

The Tasc economic and social think-tank says its research indicates that the top 1pc in the State receive as much as 12pc of pre-tax national income, based on tax data receipts - far more than the 5.6pc share that is indicated by survey data used as the basis for inequality comparisons across countries.

"What really makes Ireland stand out from many other countries is its high levels of wage inequality, often between sectors, and the high concentration of low pay in specific sectors such as the hospitality and retail sectors," the report's author, Robert Sweeney, said at its launch yesterday.

"At 23pc, Ireland has the third-highest prevalence of low pay in Europe."

While the official unemployment rate here stands at around 5pc, that number rises to almost 15pc when the under-employed, for example part-time workers who want full-time jobs, and 'discouraged' workers are included in the number, according to newly published data from the OECD.

Thanks to transfers from wealthier people via the tax system, on a post-tax basis, Ireland is one of the least unequal societies in the EU.

Rather than taxing more to achieve more equal outcomes, the report said Government needed to tackle the problem at its root.
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Ron Klain, the former Ebola czar in the Obama administration, pointed out that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson wouldnt have gotten tested for coronavirus if they were in the US.

Hanks tweeted that he and his wife Rita Wison tested positive for coronavirus:

Klain said on MSNBCs The Rachel Maddow Show:

I look back on this, Rachel and what we will see, we knew this was coming in December, we knew it was coming in January, the president talked tough on travel and in the meantime we werent getting ready on testing, we werent getting our health care facilities ready. We werent doing the things we needed to do knowing this was coming. We had the warning. That is the real tragedy here.

We had a warning that this was coming and the kind of numbers that were coming and we are still sitting here having a conversation here about testing. Tom Hanks got tested because he is in Australia. If Tom Hanks was in New York, it would be almost impossible for him to get tested.

Klain is one-hundred percent correct. The United States has been monitoring the coronavirus since December 2019. The Trump administration had ample time to prepare test kits, and distribute them as soon as health officials realized that the virus was going to reach the US.

Trumps coronavirus Oval Office address was a disaster. He is still doing nothing to address the public health side of the crisis. If Hanks and Wilson would have been anywhere in the US, they may not have been able to get tested, even if they wanted it.

Tom Hanks tweet illustrated how big the severity of Trumps failure to protect the American people has become.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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President Donald Trumps administration is leading the response to the novel coronavirus pandemic in the U.S.

After contact with a coronavirus patient or others who were exposed, however, Trumps own health is in the spotlight.

On Thursday morning, a Brazilian official who visited the president last week and took a photo with him on Saturday reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus, though its unclear when the official contracted the virus.

Late last month, Trump was in proximity to several people who had been around a coronavirus patient at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

The White House maintains that Trump does not need to be tested; and he has said he feels fine. (Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said Thursday he was in self-isolation with his wife as she was tested for coronavirus after experiencing flu-like symptoms.)

As of Thursday afternoon, about 1,420 cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the U.S. and 38 reported people had died, most of them in Washington state, which is one of the epicenters of the outbreak in America.

Worldwide, more than 4,710 deaths have been reported and about 128,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed.

Heres everything President Trump and the White House have said about his health and his preparedness amid coronavirus concerns.

RELATED: A Map of the Spread of the Coronavirus in the U.S.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty President Donald Trump

Trump Isnt Concerned About Coronavirus Contact

Trump told reporters Thursday morning at the White House that he isnt concerned about having been in close contact with Fabio Wajngarten, the communications director for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who interacted with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, over the weekend.

The White House said later that same day that both Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had almost no interactions with Wajngarten.

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In the photo Wajngarten posted of himself and Trump on Saturday, they are standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement on Thursday. To reiterate CDC guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine. We are monitoring the situation closely and will update everyone as we get more information.

I Feel Extremely Good

I feel extremely good, Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

Last last month, he shook hands with Matt Schlapp, the chairman of CPAC, while at the conference. Schlapp and a number of Republican lawmakers were exposed to a person there who later tested positive for coronavirus.

Sen. Ted Cruz and Reps. Mark Meadows, Matt Gaetz and Doug Collins all self-quarantined themselves following the conference, in a precautionary move.

Meadows was recently named Trumps new White House chief of staff. (He tested negative for the virus.)

President Trump was photographed over the weekend standing alongside a man (to his left) who is communications director for Brazil's president.

That man's name is Fabio Wajngarten. He tested positive for coronavirus.



President Trump says he isn't worried about it. pic.twitter.com/LqaezxImW7  David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) March 12, 2020

First and Second Families are Being Monitored

Grisham, the White House press secretary, said in a statement Thursday afternoon that the Trump and Pence families are being monitored for symptoms of coronavirus.

As stated before, the White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy, Grisham said, adding that the White House was monitoring the situation closely and will update everyone as we get more information.

Trump Says His Doctor Advised Him Not to Get Tested

Trump told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday that his White House doctor advised him not to get tested for the coronavirus after shaking hands with Schlapp at the CPAC conference, even given the link to the coronavirus patient.

I guess its not a big deal to get tested and 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, Trump said Tuesday. Theres no symptoms, no anything.

The coronavirus incubation period  the period of time in which an infected person will begin to show symptoms  is believed to be up to 14 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a statement on Monday, Trumps press secretary said he remains in excellent health, and his physician will continue to closely monitor him.

Grisham also recently announced that the billionaire president had donated his most recent quarterly paycheck of $100,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services to support the federal governments response to the virus.

RELATED: Donald Trump Shook Hands with CPAC Chairman Exposed to Attendee Infected with Coronavirus

The White House Is Conducting Business as Usual

Grisham said Monday in a statement that reports about White House staff limiting in-person interactions and meetings were completely false.

While we have asked all Americans to exercise common-sense hygiene measures, we are conducting business as usual, she said then.

On Wednesday night, in a rare Oval Office address to the nation, Trump announced a 30-day ban on most non-Americans traveling to the U.S. from much of Europe.

Congress last week also passed an $8.3 billion spending bill to allocate funds to coronavirus prevention and research.

The president has been under mounting scrutiny for his contradictory tone about the virus seriousness, including last month when he downplayed concerns about the spread as the CDC warned Americans to prepare for an outbreak.

No matter how well we do  the Democrats talking point is that we are doing badly. If the virus disappeared tomorrow, they would say we did a really poor, and even incompetent, job. Not fair, but it is what it is, Trump tweeted on Feb. 25.

The spread in other countries has raised our level of concern and raised our level of expectation that we are going to have community spread here, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, told reporters last month. Were asking folks in every sector as well as people within their families to start planning for this, because as weve seen from the recent countries that have had community spread, when its hit in those countries it has moved quite rapidly so we want to make sure that the American public is prepared.

To prevent the spread of the virus, the CDC encourages maintaining basic forms of hygiene including careful hand washing, avoiding touching the face, moving away from people who are coughing or sneezing and staying home at signs of illness.
The crisis continues to unfold across the globe as the World Health Organization uses the term "pandemic" for the first time.

Sweeping travel bans accelerated around the globe Thursday, walling regions apart, keeping people inside their homes, and slowing the engines of commerce to try to slow the unfolding coronavirus pandemic.

* As of Thursday, there are more than 129,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,750 people have died, WHO said, with the numbers expected to climb.

* China has seen nearly 81,000 infections but some 61,000 of them have already recovered. Over 3,000 virus victims have died in China, the worlds hardest-hit nation.

* In Italy, the European country hardest hit by coronavirus, total number of cases, rose to 15,113 from a previous 12,462, an increase of 21.7% and the death toll has jumped in the last 24 hours by 189 to 1,016, a rise of 23%, the Civil Protection Agency said on Thursday.

* Iranian Health ministry announced today that in the past 24 hours 75 people had died and more than 1,000 new cases had been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 429 and confirmed cases to 10,075.

* Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications director Fabio Wajngarten tested positive and Bolsonaros office says measures are being taken to protect the presidents health.

* Greece has announced a 15-day shutdown of courts, theatres, cinemas, gyms, cultural centers and nightclubs, as cases of the new virus climbed to 117 on Thursday. Officials say 34 infected people have been hospitalized and three are in intensive care. One person died earlier Thursday  Greeces first death from the new virus.

* Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday the states first death from coronavirus.

* Britain likely has between 5,000 and 10,000 people infected with coronavirus, the governments chief scientific adviser said on Thursday. The number of confirmed cases across the UK rose 29% percent to 590 over the past 24 hours. Ten people have died since the outbreak.

* Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said religious leaders have agreed to cancel weddings, baptisms, funeral services and other ceremonies in the coming weeks, the measures were part of efforts to enforcing social distancing that also includes closing middle schools and high schools beginning Monday to help prevent spread of the new coronavirus. Austria has 302 confirmed cases.

* Argentina has temporarily stopped issuing visas to travelers from countries hardest-hit by the coronavirus outbreak, including the United States, China and countries in Europe. The decree also suspends visa issuance to people from South Korea, Japan, Iran, Britain. Argentina has so far registered 21 confirmed coronavirus cases and one death.

* Bolivia has barred flights to and from Europe, in a bid to stem the spread of the virus within the region. The Interim president Jeanine Anez on Thursday said all schools would be suspended until the end of the month and public gatherings of more than 1,000 people banned. Bolivia has three confirmed cases of the coronavirus so far.

* India has 74 confirmed cases of coronavirus and a single death.

* The Czech Republic government declared a state of emergency Thursday due to coronavirus and was renewing border checks at its borders with Austria and Germany. People will be banned from crossing in at any other place.

* Ireland is closing all schools and cultural institutions until March 29, in a major escalation of its response to the new coronavirus. So far 43 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ireland and one person has died.

* US Congress is shutting the Capitol and all House and Senate office buildings to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the new coronavirus. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that many foreign travelers from most of Europe will be banned over the next 30 days amid the growing outbreak, which has sickened more than 1,000 people and killed at least 33 in the United States.

*Norway on Thursday recorded its first death from coronavirus, PM Erna Solberg told broadcaster NRK. The total number pf confirmed cases had risen to 621 as of Wednesday.

* Princess Cruises has announced, due to the new coronavirus, it will voluntarily pause global operations of its 18 cruise ships for 60 days, affecting trips departing March 12 to May 10. Under normal operations, the company handles more than 50,000 passengers a day.

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Two years ago historians marked the 100th anniversary of the Spanish Flu, a worldwide pandemic that seemed to be disappearing down the memory hole. Not so fast, said historians, we need to remember the horror. Happy belated anniversary, said 2020, hold my beer. And so here we are. As I write this, the President wheezed through an Address to the Nation which calmed no fears and sent Dow futures tumbling. I scrolled down my news feed to see that Tom Hanks and his wife both have it. Our god is an amoral one, and its noodly appendages touch all.

So lets put our current moment into perspective with this 10+ minute history on the Spanish Flu from Cambridge University. Here are the numbers: it killed 20 million people according to contemporary accounts. Later scientists and historians revised that number to somewhere between 50 to 100 million.

This virus killed more people in the first 25 weeks than HIV/AIDS has killed in 25 years, says historian of medicine Dr. Mary Dobson. And unlike our current COVID-19 strain, this strain of flu went after 20 to 40 year olds with a vengeance. The symptoms were graphic and unpleasantpeople drowning in their own phlegm, blood shooting out of noses and ears, people dropping down dead in the street.

Where did it start? Certainly not in Spainit gained that nickname because the first cases were recorded in the Spanish press. One theory is that it started in Kansas and found its way overseas, from barracks to the frontlines. It might has come from birds or pigs, but scientists still dont know how it jumps from species to species and how it quickly evolves within humans to infect each other.

Right now, it seems like COVID-19 can subside if countries can work quickly, like in China. But history has a warning too. As Europe and America celebrated Armistice Day at the end of the war, the flu seemed to be going away too. Instead it came roaring back in a second wave, deadlier than the first.

Some famous folks who got the virus but survived included movie stars Lillian Gish and Mary Pickford, right at the height of their fame; President Woodrow Wilson, who was so out of it (though recovering) that some historians blame the weaknesses in the Treaty of Versailles on him. Artist Edvard Munch contracted it (which seems fitting, considering his obsessions) and painted several self-portraits during his illness. Raymond Chandler, Walt Disney, Greta Garbo, Franz Kafka, Georgia OKeeffe, and Katherine Anne Porter all survived.

Others werent so lucky: painter of sensuous, gold leaf paintings Gustav Klimt died from it, as did poet and proto-surrealist Guillaume Apollinaire, and artist Egon Schiele. (And so did Donald Trumps grandpa).

The Spanish Flu never really went away. There were still cases in the 50s, but we humans evolved with it and it became a seasonal type of flu like many others. Flu viruses constantly evolve and mutate, and thats why it is very difficult to create vaccines that can stop them.

If youve read this far, one last thing: GO WASH YOUR HANDS AND STOP TOUCHING YOUR FACE!

Related Content:

Bill Gates Describes His Biggest Fear: I Rate the Chance of a Widespread Epidemic Far Worse Than Ebola at Well Over 50 Percent (2015)

Hear the Sounds of World War I: A Gas Attack Recorded on the Front Line, and the Moment the Armistice Ended the War

Peter Jacksons New Film on World War I Features Incredible Digitally-Restored Footage From the Front Lines: Get a Glimpse

Ted Mills is a freelance writer on the arts who currently hosts the artist interview-based FunkZone Podcast and is the producer of KCRWs Curious Coast. You can also follow him on Twitter at @tedmills, read his other arts writing at tedmills.com and/or watch his films here.
From a spring break bash to a scavenger hunt to a benefit for Australia's bushfire recovery, there's plenty to enjoy in Tampa this week. Read on for a rundown of ideas for how to fill your calendar.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

Day of Hope ' Spring Break Bash 2020

From the event description:

When: Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: 3540 N 20th St, 3540 N. 20th St., Phase II

Admission: Free

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

Yoga Dance Party

From the event description:

When: Saturday, March 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Where: Kodawari Studios, 3965 Henderson Blvd., Suite C

Admission: $22

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

Fourth Annual Mayor's River O'Green Scavenger Hunt & Race

From the event description:

When: Saturday, March 14, 4-10 p.m.

Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive

Admission: $5 ($5 Raffle Drawing for St Paddy's Day Package); $10 ($10 Raffle Drawing); $20 (Single Entry - Scavenger Hunt (1 Person). More ticket options available.

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

Racing for Our Friends Down Under

From the event description:

When: Sunday, March 15, 7 - Monday, Aug. 31, 10 p.m.

Where: Tampa, YOUR CHOICE

Admission: $9 (BIB ONLY (Worldwide); $22 (Medal and BIB - U.S. Participants); $32 (Medal and BIB - Participants Outside the U.S.)

Click here for more details, and to get your tickets

This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. Two new cases of the novel coronavirus have been diagnosed in Armenia, bringing the total number to 6, Healthcare Minister Arsen Torosyan said.

He said the two persons are among the 57 people who were quarantined after coming in contact with a citizen of Ejmiatsin who tested positive for the virus earlier.

They tested positive after showing symptoms, namely fever.

At this moment they are feeling well, they dont have fever, Torosyan said, adding that the patients are at an infectious diseases hospital.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Kymera Therapeutics Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company pioneering targeted protein degradation to invent breakthrough protein degrader medicines for patients, closed a $102m Series C financing.

The round was led by Biotechnology Value Fund (BVF) and Redmile Group with participation from Wellington Management Company, Bain Capital Life Sciences, funds managed by Janus Henderson Investors and BlackRock, Rock Springs Capital and a large US-based, healthcare-focused fund.

Kymera also received a strategic investment from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Societys Therapy Acceleration Program (LLS TAP) directed toward advancing the companys work to treat blood-based cancers.

Led by Nello Mainolfi, PhD, co-founder, President and CEO, and Bruce Booth, DPhil, co-founder, Chairman of the Board (and partner at Atlas Venture), Kymera Therapeutics provides Pegasus, a proprietary protein degradation platform to improve the effectiveness of targeted protein degradation and generate a pipeline of novel therapeutics for previously undruggable diseases. The platform consists of informatics driven target identification, novel E3 ligases, proprietary ternary complex predictive modeling capabilities, and degradation tools.

The lead program targets IRAK4, a protein known to play a significant role in inflammation mediated by toll-like and IL-1 receptors. The company is planning to advance its IRAK4 degrader program in a variety of autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as in precision-medicine targeted oncology indications. It is also developing novel protein degrader therapies to target STAT3, an un-drugged oncogenic transcription factor as well as a driver of inflammation and fibrosis, in a range of cancers and chronic diseases.

FinSMEs

12/03/2020
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OTTAWALiberal MP Marcus Powlowski is a rookie MP from Thunder Bay, new to Ottawa, new to politics, but not new to a medical crisis.

A trained emergency doctor, he worked through the SARS and H1N1 epidemics in emergency rooms, and has practised in remote First Nations communities, Africa and the South Pacific.

Powlowski, 60, holds two law degrees and has an expertise in global health law. He wrote health law and policy for the World Health Organization for two years. He worked with and was a friend of Dr. Carlo Urbani, the first World Health Organization officer who identified SARS as a new and lethal disease.

So Powlowski is watching the unfolding pandemic with a keen eye on the past and on what the COVID-19 outbreak could become.

He hopes for the best, says maybe well get lucky, and it will wane.

But in an interview on his way to a Liberal caucus briefing on the novel coronavirus, Powlowski says the pressing question for him is how well prepared are we? The answer, in his view: maybe not so much.

I think everybody ought to be concerned as to whether were prepared, he said.

I dont think any country in the world is prepared for a possible large epidemic, so its no knock on our government, our system, to question whether were prepared or not, he said. Certainly, if we have any sizable epidemic its going to require a lot of resources, financial and health-care personnel. And the health care system is already, as it stands, fairly stretched.

Two weeks ago, Powlowski grilled federal officials about Canadas response to the spreading outbreak crisis.

He has a rumpled, bemused style of asking questions  uncannily reminiscent of the TV detective Lt. Frank Columbo  and so it pays to pay attention to where hes going.

Back on Feb. 26, he pushed the Public Health Agencys deputy chief Dr. Howard Njoo about why Ottawa had issued a limited warning to avoid-all-travel to Hubei province.

Why not the rest of China? I mean, clearly there are numerous other provinces with thousands of cases of coronavirus. Why not them? Why not South Korea? Why not people whove specifically come back from Qom in Iran or the Lombardy region of Italy, places where we know there have been outbreaks? he asked.

It would be several days later that federal officials expanded their advisories to those places, as all three countries became global hot spots for the epidemic racing around the world.

At the same meeting, Powlowski asked whether the federal agency and the broader health system were ready for what he called the massive burden that could come.

When he got a vague answer from bureaucrats, Powlowski wryly persisted: Canada doesnt have the capacity to build a 1,000-bed hospital in a week like China, he said.

After the Trudeau government unveiled its $1 billion COVID-19 federal package on Wednesday, Powlowski told the Star he welcomed the measures, especially the aid for hospitals and equipment.

He said he was still hopeful the virus could be contained: Who knows? And it may be totally confined but I dont think we can, and nobody can, predict where this is going to go. And I think we have to be prepared for all eventualities.

Hours later he pressed federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu, whose Thunder Bay riding borders his, for more answers, following up on Opposition questions about gaps in critical care capacity.

He asked, as the Conservatives and NDP had, if the potential for severe illness is borne out, would there be enough ICU beds? Would there be enough ventilators? How would Ottawa respond? Using the federal governments own scenario numbers, he said: If we had epidemic in Thunder Bay of 1,000 cases, thats less than one per cent of our population, not that many really, but that still means 50 people might need ICU or a ventilator.

Powlowski pointed out there are only 22 ventilators in his hometown now. So what are we gonna do in order to ensure that people who need a ventilator are going to have a ventilator? Would Ottawa look at setting up ICU beds in hotels, as the U.S. was contemplating, in a former psychiatric hospital? Would it tap the resources of the militarys Disaster Assistance Response Team if there was a concentrated outbreak somewhere?

Hajdu said money for new equipment like ventilators would come out of the $500 million aid package for provinces and territories announced Wednesday. And the feds will help place bulk-purchases of more equipment, if necessary.

She said, however, thats why the federal government hopes to stave off the spread of infections, so there is no surge in hospitals all at once.

Powlowski persisted: So $500 million for 10 provinces and territories, that doesnt seem like maybe a lot of money. Depends what happens with the epidemic, he said. Is there any extra money available and are we prepared to spend it?

Hajdu replied: The short answer is yes, this is the down payment for provinces and territories to make sure they are equipped for any potential surge they may see. Should there need to be more we will not hesitate to ensure that the money is there to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

It was an answer Powlowski, finally, was happy to hear.
Lata Mangeshkar, hospitalised after testing COVID positive, has pneumonia: Doctor tells media | In talks with Congress, TMC for alliance ahead of Goa polls: Sharad Pawar | UP Minister Swami Prasad Maurya quits BJP, joins Akhilesh's SP ahead of state polls | Delhi private offices asked to operate in full work from home mode amid COVID-19 surge | Union Minister Kiren Rijiju slams actor Siddharth for his 'sexist' comment on Saina Nehwal
They got robbed blind by Bernie Madoff  but they still support the Ponzi scheme kingpin's request to get out of prison early so that he can die a free man.

"I forgive Mr. Madoff, and I'd like him to be released," a Madoff victim wrote the judge who is considering whether to free the notorious fraudster from his 150-year prison term because he is terminally ill from kidney disease.

Another victim wrote U.S. District Judge Denny Chin in a letter: "Even though we lost a lot of our savings, we favor Mr. Madoff being released to die on his own turf."

"We believe he has had enough opportunity to come to regret his actions," wrote that victim, one of thousands of people who lost billions of dollars to the now-81-year-old Madoff.

"Even if he hasn't, we think there is no need for the taxpayers to provide his end of life are in prison. Certainly he can get more compassion elsewhere."

A third victim wrote, "[W]e are practicing Christians who believe in Mercy, first, and Forgiveness, always! We are sure he has had to bear unbelievable hardship in prison, and that he no longer represents any kind of threat to society; therefore, we are in favor of his release."

The supportive letters, sent by just a handful of Madoff victims, were quoted in a new filing by his lawyer in federal court in Manhattan, which replies to prosecutors' recommendation that Chin deny compassional release.

In a related filing, Madoff's lawyer Brandon Sample asked Chin to grant him a court hearing so that Madoff can speak, in his own words via telephone, about his remorse for his crimes.

"Allowing Mr. Madoff to give what is, in effect, a final dying personal personal plea is eminently reasonable," Sample wrote.

"Mr. Madoff's live, personal statement could also help the Court in reaching its weighty decision on whether to grant Mr. Madoff compassionate release," the lawyer wrote.
ALL confirmations have been postponed and weddings, funerals and masses are to be significantly downsized, according to the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference.

The Catholic Communications Office has advised that confirmations are cancelled, while weddings, funerals and masses are attended by less than 100 people as per the taoiseachs advice.

Physical attendance of Sunday mass is also no longer an obligation.

Every Catholic is entitled to a dignified Christian burial, reads a statement from the Bishops Conference.

Attendance at funeral services and masses should be limited to close relatives and must not exceed 100 attendees within the church building."

This also applies to weddings and baptisms.

Similarly, Church weddings and baptisms may be celebrated on condition that the attendance in church does not exceed 100 people.

All non-essential retreats and seminars and gatherings have also been cancelled as well as confirmations, most of which take play between March and May each year.

Theres also no obligation to "physically attend" Sunday mass - the group says: "Parishes should inform parishioners of the local possibilities to participate in Mass via local radio and online".

It may be possible for some parishes to facilitate attendance at Mass while still observing the health authoritys limit of 100 people, the group states.

However, churches will remain open.

In these difficult and uncertain times, people find strength, consolation and hope in prayer. Churches should remain open for prayer each day.

The advice was issued by the Irish Episcopal Conference and Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop Kieran OReilly SMA and Archbishop Michael Neary and remain in place until March 29.
Britons who feel unwell have been warned not to contact NHS 111 unless their condition deteriorates as no one will be tested for coronavirus until they are hospitalised.

The NHS is set to alter its approach to the rapidly-spreading pandemic after the UK Government announced it was moving into the second phase of its action plan earlier today.





Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared that anyone with a cough or fever should stay at home in self-isolation for at least seven days.

And now those in quarantine have been urged not to call NHS 111 unless their condition severely deteriorates.

Britons who feel unwell have been warned not to contact NHS 111 unless their condition deteriorates as no one will be tested for coronavirus until they are hospitalised (stock image)

Additionally only those admitted to hospital exhibiting severe symptoms will be formally tested for the virus.

Professor Whitty, England's Chief Medical Officer, said: 'It is no longer necessary for us to identify every case and we will move from having testing mainly done in homes and outpatients and walk-in centres, to a situation where people who are remaining at home do not need testing.

'We will pivot all the testing capacity to identify those in hospitals who have symptoms so we can pick them up early, make sure we treat them well and ensure they don't pass on the virus to other people in hospitals.

'So there will be a change in hospital and other testing systems.'

He added that from now on people would be tested 'irrespective of their travel history' if they are showing severe symptoms.

It is thought that the NHS could cancel all non-urgent activity to focus on treating those affected if the outbreak runs out of control.

If the situation becomes extreme troops could even be deployed to shore up the police and essential public services.

Recently-retired doctors and nurses would also be brought back to help plug gaps in the NHS with many health workers expected to be infected along with regular members of the public.
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 riot".

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.
BALLSTON SPA --A Saratoga Springs woman has pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in a Route 9 crash last summer that killed her fiance and injured two other people, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said.

Kelly Leonardi also admitted to two counts of misdemeanor assault before County Judge James A. Murphy III on Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, Leonardi had been using heroin and Xanax at her Saratoga Lake-area home on the afternoon of July 14 just before the crash. She headed north on Route 9 near the Malta Drive-In Theater. Between Hearn Road and Callaghan Boulevard she drifted out of her lane, crossed over the median and into the southbound lane then collided head-on into a pickup truck driven by Michael DeFile of Valley Falls, with Mario Gonzalez of Ballston Spa in the passenger seat. Leonardi's passenger, her fiance John Stevens, 49, was killed in the crash. DeFile and Gonzalez were injured.

Heggen said it was later determined that Leonardi had morphine, fentanyl and alprazolam in her bloodstream at the time, which affected her her reaction time and ability to maintain control of her car. Witnesses said she never used her brakes or tried to avoid the collision. Leonardi was also seriously injured and was flown to Albany Medical Center Hospital for treatment.

State Police recovered heroin, Xanax, cocaine residue and numerous items of drug paraphernalia from Leonardi's car. Investigators worked for eight months on the investigation, Heggen said.
All tourist visas suspended until April 15 and incoming travellers to be quarantined as COVID-19 cases double to 73.

India on Wednesday suspended all tourist visas until April 15 and said it would quarantine travellers arriving from seven virus-hit countries as it attempts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

The move comes as the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic, and as countries worldwide scramble to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Indias visa suspension is to begin on March 13 at 12:00 GMT at the port of departure, the governments Press Information Bureau said.

Diplomatic visas and visas for international organisations, employment and projects are exempt.

While the majority of COVID-19 cases have been in China  which shares a border with India  the number of new infections has steadied there. Hotspots, however, have emerged in Italy, Iran and Spain.

In China, where the pandemic originated in December, more than 3,000 people have died, with the total number of infections at 80,924.

14-day quarantine

All 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 read.

The number of COVID-19 cases in India  which has a population of 1.3 billion  has doubled to 73 in the past four days, increasing public fear and the governments state of alert.

Many of the cases have been blamed on Indians who have travelled or worked in badly hit countries in Europe and the Middle East.

The visa decision was reached following a meeting of ministers led by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, the statement read.

The government also strongly advised Indians against non-essential foreign travel, warning that they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

Muted Holi celebrations

Holi celebrations in India was muted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would not celebrate the spring festival of colours.

Visa-free travel granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders  some three million people, not nationals but from ethnic Indian families living abroad  was put on hold until April 15.

And land border traffic will be funnelled through designated checkpoints with robust screening facilities.

Foreign nationals who plan to travel to India for compelling reasons can contact their nearest Indian mission, the statement said.

Separately, Indias Bureau of Immigration said that all visas and e-visas granted to French, German and Spanish nationals before Wednesday and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect.

And Italian, Iranian, South Korean and Japanese nationals who have visas issued before March 3 who have not yet entered India remain suspended.

Visas granted to Chinese nationals before February 5 also continue to be suspended, the statement read.

Foreigners already in India with valid visas are unaffected by the new requirements.

After the visa announcement, national carrier Air India said it was temporarily suspending flight services to Rome, Milan and Seoul, the Press Trust of India reported.
The Taliban rejected the Afghan government's attempt to resolve a spiralling crisis over the release of insurgent prisoners Wednesday, as Kabul warned it was ready to resume offensive battlefield operations. The decree issued earlier by President Ashraf Ghani had raised hopes that Kabul's offer to free 1,500 insurgents as a "gesture of goodwill" before talks begin, would prompt the Taliban to come to the negotiating table. But Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told AFP that "5,000 prisoners should be released as a trust-building measure, and ... this should be before the intra-Afghan talks", refusing to budge from a longstanding demand of the insurgents. Any changes amounted to "a violation" of the deal struck between the insurgents and Washington in Doha last month, he added. Even though Kabul was not a signatory to the deal, that accord stated that up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by Afghan authorities "will be" released before talks, prompting an angry reaction from Ghani. Ghani's decree said the government would release 1,500 captives starting Saturday -- but only if the insurgents cut violence -- with plans to free another 3,500 prisoners after negotiations begin. It was an attempt to resolve one of the long-running spats that has stymied peace talks between the insurgents and the Afghan government. The Taliban announcement throws everything into doubt again, and each day of delay to negotiations brings more bloodshed, with the insurgents carrying out dozens of attacks across the country. On Wednesday, the government warned it would resume offensive operations against the militants next week if violence continues, ending a unilateral partial truce put in place ahead of the talks. "The failure of this process will be on the Taliban," Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said, adding: "We have taken necessary political steps but the other side still insists on violence". "Our forces are on active defence status but starting from next week if the Taliban keep violence on, we will retaliate," he warned. In Afghanistan, the new week starts on Saturday. - 'Playing hardball' - Ghani's decree had signalled a softening of his stance, with the proviso that none of the released prisoners would return to the frontlines. US negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the decree and urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to meet "immediately" in Qatar to sort out prisoner details. Analyst Michael Kugelman from the Wilson Center think-tank said the prisoner dispute offered an early glimpse of the challenges facing Afghan government negotiators and US mediators. "The Taliban are playing hardball here because they have a lot of leverage," Kugelman told AFP. "They are in no hurry to make the peace process work because they know they are winning on the battlefield," he said. "They can simply walk out if necessary." The insurgents already control large swathes of Afghanistan and have repeatedly referred to Ghani's government as a US puppet regime. The political chaos in Kabul has complicated matters further, with Ghani's former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah also claiming the presidency following last September's election, which was marred by delays and allegations of voter fraud. On Monday, Abdullah swore himself in as president minutes after Ghani took the oath of office. The row deepened Wednesday, with Ghani dissolving the office of chief executive and Abdullah in turn dismissing Ghani's decree as "invalid". The decree was issued hours after the US said its forces had started pulling out of two bases in Afghanistan, in line with their agreement to withdraw from the country within 14 months in exchange for Taliban security guarantees.
* 203 more deaths from COVID-19 have been reported worldwide in the past 24 hours as of Tuesday (March 10) morning, lifting the global death toll to 4,012, according to a daily report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday evening.

* The Republic of Korea (ROK) 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.

* Japan's health ministry and local governments said that the number of COVID-19 infections increased by one on Tuesday to stand at a total of 568 infected people in Japan as of 10:30 a.m. local time. The death toll in Japan from the virus currently stands at 31, according to the health ministry, with the figure including those from the Diamond Princess.

* The total number of COVID-19 cases in India rose to 50 on Tuesday, India's federal health ministry officials said. Indian authorities have sounded an alert and are screening passengers at all the airports and ports in the country.

* 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.

* Italy's Civil Protection Department 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 on Feb. 21.

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.

* 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.

* Thirty-eight percent of employees in Germany would like their companies to offer better options for working from home, according to a survey published on Tuesday by Strategy&, the global strategy consulting team at PwC. Germany has 1,139 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within its borders. There are two reported fatalities from COVID-19 within Germany.

* The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the UK increased to 382 as of Tuesday evening, and six patients who tested positive for COVID-19 have died, according to UK's health authorities.

* Pakistans Sindh provincial authorities on Tuesday evening confirmed two more COVID-19 cases in the province, increasing the countrys overall tally to 18, a statement said.

* COVID-19 cases continue to climb up in Latin America, with the region's biggest country, Brazil, reporting Tuesday that its number of confirmed cases rose from 25 to 34.

* All meetings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be suspended until March 20 after a WTO staff member has been infected by COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo announced on Tuesday.

* Several Australian schools and a university have temporarily closed after COVID-19 was detected in students and staff, as cases across the country rose to well over 100. 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 death toll from the devastating mudslides that occurred one week ago in southeast Brazil's Sao Paulo state has reached 44, local authorities said Tuesday.

* Latin America on Monday continued to keep a close watch on COVID-19 as the caseload in the region topped 100.

* A total of 20 Israelis tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 70, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health.

* The death toll from the novel coronavirus epidemic in Iran rose to 291 on Tuesday, while Lebanon and Morocco registered their first death from COVID-19 infection.

* Jordan on Tuesday banned the entry of passengers from Germany, Spain, France, Syria and Lebanon to curb the spread of the COVID-19. Jordanians are also prohibited from travelling to the five countries, said Health Minister Saad Jaber at a press conference in the capital Amman.

* 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 Canadian province of British Columbia confirmed seven new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, taking the total to 39 in the province. So far, Canada has reported at least 93 cases across the country, including 36 in Ontario, 14 in Alberta and four in Quebec. In addition, Quebec has one presumptive case.

* Finnish Finance Minister Katri Kulmuni said on Tuesday that the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 in Finland do not, at this time, require extraordinary recovery measures. Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) said on Tuesday that seven new cases of COVID-19 infection confirmed in Finland, bringing the total number of such cases to 40.

* Polish President Andrzej Duda appealed to citizens to follow all instructions given by the authorities and behave in line with common sense regarding the COVID-19 epidemic on Tuesday evening. So far, the country has confirmed 22 COVID-19 cases.

* Sweden's Public Health Agency on Tuesday raised the country's risk level of COVID-19 spread to "very high." On Tuesday, 90 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Sweden, bringing the total number of the cases to 350.

* The confirmed cases of coronavirus infection have increased by 372 in a day to 1,784, Director-General of Health Jerome Salomon said on Tuesday evening. So far, 33 people have died of the virus, with 25 of them aged over 75 or suffered from other illnesses, said Salomon at the daily update of the outbreak of the virus.

* Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec announced on Tuesday that he has ordered the closure of the border with Italy. The total number of coronavirus cases in Slovenia has increased to 34 by Tuesday afternoon, according to Sarec.

* Danish business and employees will be offered DKK125 billion (US$19 billion) as part of three-pronged economic initiatives to strengthen the economy from the impact of COVID-19, said Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen at a press conference on Tuesday. There have been 262 confirmed infections of COVID-19 across the country, according to the website of the Danish Patient Safety Authority.

* The recovered cases of COVID-19 in Egypt rose to 26 out of the total 59 cases discovered in the country, Egyptian Health Minister said on Tuesday. Egypt's 59 coronavirus cases include 33 Egyptians and 26 foreigners.

* The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Austria rose to 182 as of Tuesday afternoon, with no deaths reported, according to health authorities.

* Tunisia said on Tuesday that 268 passengers who returned from Italy by ship were placed in quarantine.

* Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that he may participate in the 2024 presidential race if the country's Constitutional Court approves it.

* 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.

* 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.

* Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed measures to stabilize the situation in Syria's Idlib with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar during a phone conversation at the initiative of the Turkish side, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

* Turkey will host a summit with European Union (EU) leaders over refugee crisis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday. Erdogan will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron in Istanbul on March 17 and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson may also join the meeting, Erdogan told reporters traveling with him on the plane from Brussels to Ankara after he had meetings with the EU officials.

* Greek security forces have been seen on Tuesday putting a new barbed-wire fence along a stretch of a river, naturally separating Turkey and Greece, to prevent illegal border crossings of migrants, said eyewitnesses.

* The Pentagon said on Tuesday that U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper will delay his trip to Central and South Asia to help manage the Pentagon's response to coronavirus outbreak. Pentagon's Press Secretary Alyssa Farah tweeted that Esper had decided to postpone his travel to India, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan, adding that the trip would take place at "a later date."

* Bangladesh's highest economic policy-making body on Tuesday approved nine development projects worth BDT241.13 billion (US$2.83 billion), including a BDT177.77-billion (US$2.09-billion ) program to build a deep-sea port. The projects were approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

* An Israeli court rejected on Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to postpone the opening session of his corruption trial. A panel of judges with the Jerusalem District Court decided that the trial will begin on March 17.
UnionBank was also recognized as the Best Digital Bank for the third straight year while fintech projects such as the Virtual Currency ATM and Project i2i were also awarded.

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 11 March 2020 - Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) bagged seven awards at The Asset Triple A Digital Awards 2020, including Digital Banker of the Year - Asia Pacific for the bank's President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista, who also won Digital Bank of the Year -- Philippines for the third year in a row.





Fintech projects were also recognized such as Project BitBox which ushered in the Philippines' first central bank approved Virtual Currency ATM and was awarded by The Asset as the Best ATM Project. Meanwhile, Project i2i which connects rural banks to the country's main payment network using blockchain technology won the Best Digital Financial Inclusion Project award.





Bautista launched UnionBank 's digital transformation which introduced revolutionary initiatives including the first "selfie-banking" in Asia, the first fully digital bank branch in the Philippines, and the first bank chatbot in the country, among others.





UnionBank is regarded by partners as a leader in enabling fintechs and an ardent champion for blockchain-based solutions that contribute to financial inclusion.





"We applaud UnionBank's vision and transformational impact on the industry as a whole here in the Philippines--a direct result of the quality of its leadership," said Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager Andres Ortola. "We are privileged for the opportunity to work alongside [Mr. Bautista] and his team as we drive towards a more financially inclusive and empowered nation," he added.





Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of Mynt - a fintech backed by Ant Financial, Globe Telecom and Ayala Corporation, also offered his congratulations. "UnionBank clearly stands out as one of the most progressive banks in the Philippines in driving the shift to digital," said Thomas. "We value our partnership and the openness of the bank to work with fintech players in solving pain points to enable a better customer experience for Filipinos," he added.

Story continues





Several other UnionBank initiatives were also lauded by The Asset which includes the Retailer Financing Program as the Best Digital Collaboration, Mobile Check Deposit which received the Best Digital Upgrade award and UnionBank GlobalLinker Trade Connect recognized as the Best Social Media Project.




While awaiting results Tuesday for North Dakota's Democratic presidential caucuses, a Bismarck Democrat announced his bid for North Dakota treasurer.

Democratic-NPL District 32 Chairman Mark Haugen told the Tribune that he will run for the state office. He planned a formal announcement for Thursday in Bismarck.

"After a phone call from the state party, they asked me to consider a run for state treasurer. After consulting with my family, we're throwing our hat in the ring," Haugen said.

Republican State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt is not seeking a fifth four-year term, telling the Tribune in December "it's just time for a new chapter." She has served since 2005.

Haugen said he is concerned about millions in oil tax revenue he described as "misallocated" from three state constitutional funds.

The 2019 Legislature moved to address the issue, backfilling a state school aid fund with $64.37 million in Legacy Fund earnings and increasing by 0.5% the oil tax allocation to a fund for water projects and programs until it's repaid $128.74 million. Another fund for school aid was not specifically addressed for repayments in a bill for clarification on the oil tax allocations.

Schmidt said her office sought clarification from the Legislature in previous years, and she cited a 2012 email from an assistant attorney general that "told us to continue doing what we were doing until we got clarification of the law."

Haugen, 58, works for the University of Mary as a graduate student adviser. He's a past president of the North Dakota EMS Association. He mounted unsuccessful bids for state House in 1996 and 1998 and state Senate in 2000.

Two Republican state lawmakers are seeking the party's endorsement for the office: Rep. Thomas Beadle of Fargo and Rep. Dan Johnston of Kathryn.

North Dakota's Democratic-NPL Party meets March 19-22 in Minot for its state convention to endorse candidates. The GOP meets March 27-29 in Bismarck for its state convention.

North Dakota's treasurer is custodian of the state's funds and sits on several state boards. The treasurer's annual salary is $107,885. It's set to go to $110,582 on July 1.

The deadline is April 6 to file for the June 9 primary ballot, when voters determine nominees for the Nov. 3 general election.

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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The first New York City St. Patricks Day Parade took place in 1762.

At that time, the Declaration of Independence had not yet been signed. The founding celebrants were Irish soldiers who served in the British Army.

Now, for the first time in the parades 258-year history, the procession has been postponed due to concerns about the coronavirus, The New York Times reports.

As recently as Wednesday afternoon, parade organizers maintained no decision had been made to cancel the event, planned for St. Patricks Day on March 17. Even as news emerged about the cancellation that night, the parades website still said authorities had not communicated any information about a postponement.

The annual procession, which is broadcast on NBC, was to have stepped off at 11 a.m. on Fifth Avenue and run from 44th Street to 79th Street.

The cancellation of the countrys longest-running parade follows a change of plans for many other events, including the Morris County St. Patricks Day Parade and the Union County St. Patricks Day Parade, which were canceled; the South Amboy St. Patricks Day Parade, which was rescheduled for May 16; the West Orange St. Patricks Day Parade, which was rescheduled for September; and the Bergen County St. Patricks Day Parade, which was rescheduled for Sept. 12.

NEWS: The organizers of the St. Patricks Day Parade in NYC have agreed to postpone the parade given the evolving #Coronavirus situation.



I thank the parade's leadership for working cooperatively w/ us.



We believe postponing the parade is in the best interest of public health.  Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 12, 2020

The 85th Newark St. Patricks Day Parade, originally scheduled for Friday, was also postponed Wednesday night. A new date in September is forthcoming. The Freehold St. Patricks Day Parade has been moved to Sept. 13, the Hackettstown St. Patricks Day Parade has been postponed, and both the Jersey City St. Patricks Day Parade and the Somerville St. Patricks Day Parade have been canceled (Somerville may reschedule at a later date).

Trustees and board members of the United Irish Associations of West Hudson are set to weigh whether or not to cancel or postpone the West Hudson St. Patricks Day Parade, which is set for Sunday in Harrison, East Newark and Kearny. (Update) The Atlantic City St. Patricks Day Parade was canceled on Thursday.

Other parades were canceled in Chicago and Boston.

As of March 12, a total of three St. Patricks Day parades are scheduled for this weekend in New Jersey.

The New York parades cancellation comes at a time when social distancing is being used to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

I thank the parades leadership for working cooperatively w/ us, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tweeted. We believe postponing the parade is in the best interest of public health.

New Yorks 259th parade is due to be rescheduled for a later date.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
The closure of schools could extend beyond March 29  and run into the Easter holidays, which are due to start the following Friday April 3.

Education Minister Joe McHugh flagged the uncertainty about a re-opening date when he said that while the blanket closure is planned for two weeks, the situation would be kept under ongoing review.

Any change to that date will be communicated widely, he said.

He said pupils should take their books and learning materials home with them this evening.

The Department of Education has asked schools to prioritise supporting exam classes to continue to prepare for the State exams.

However, disruption to the 120,000 Leaving Cert and Junior Cycle exam students is inevitable.

Todays announcement will force the postponement of orals and practicals, which are scheduled to run between Monday March 23 and Friday April 3.

If schools re-open on March 30, orals and practicals may still go ahead, but arrangements made with schools for the week of March 23-27 will have to be abandoned, for those dates least.

It remains to be seen what alternative arrangement can be put in place if the written exams in June cannot take place.

Read More

About 46,000 of this years Leaving Cert candidates have applied to the CAO will be depending on exam grades and the points they deliver to secure a college place

The Department has urged schools to minimise the impact on teaching and learning and to continue to plan lessons and, where possible, provide online resources for students or online lessons where schools are equipped to do so.

Schools were also asked to be conscious of students that may not have access to online facilities and to consider this actively in their response.

Physical classes in universities and higher education facilities will not be held during the closure, and the Department said institutions could make other arrangements for teaching and learning and other activities in line with their business continuity plans and contingency planning.

Meanwhile students and teachers have been advised to collect books and other resources they need before the closure of schools at 6pm this evening.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, left, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testifies before a House Oversight Committee hearing

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top expert on infectious disease, on Thursday said the US needs to admit it's "failing" in terms of testing for the novel coronavirus.

"That is a failing. It is a failing. Let's admit it," Fauci said in comments to House lawmakers.

The scarcity of testing has been the most heavily scrutinized aspect of the US government's response to cornavirus.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The nation's top expert on infectious disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci, on Thursday said it is a "failing" that the US is not in a position to "easily" provide testing for the novel coronavirus.

"The system is not really geared to what we need right now  what you are asking for," Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told House lawmakers. "The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it, we're not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes. But we're not."

"That is a failing. It is a failing. Let's admit it," he added, after being questioned by Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida about the nation's capacity to carry out testing for the virus.

Fauci's comments came about a week after Trump visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and falsely said "anybody that needs a test gets a test."

"Anybody that needs a test gets a test. They're there. They have the tests. And the tests are beautiful," Trump said.

The US has been outpaced by other countries in terms of testing for the virus.

Story continues

The CDC has told congressional lawmakers it's tested about 3,800 people to date, while the total number of people tested in the US is around 7,800 when you factor in other labs, Politico reporter Kyle Cheney reported on Thursday, per comments from Republican Rep. Mark Walker of North Carolina. Meanwhile, kits to test about 800,000 more have been disseminated.

But Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Tuesday signaled the US doesn't know exactly how many people have been tested.

"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 CDC," Azar said.

Comparatively, nearly 20,000 people are being tested for coronavirus in South Korea per day, according to BBC News.

The lack of testing in the US is linked to faulty test kits sent out by the CDC last month, and the government has struggled to handle the pace of the outbreak because of it, which Fauci alluded to in his comments to lawmakers on Thursday.

The US has reported at least 1,358 cases and confirmed 38 coronavirus deaths: 30 in Washington state, four in California, two in Florida, and one each in New Jersey and South Dakota. Globally, more than 127,000 people have been infected and over 4,700 have died.

Read the original article on Business Insider
U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has called on Afghan leaders to end their standoff over a disputed presidential election and seize a "historic opportunity for peace.

Speaking to RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan by telephone from Kabul on March 12, Khalilzad said the time had come for all Afghans, including the Western-backed Kabul government and the Taliban, to "join hands and learn from the terrible lessons" of decades of conflict.

Khalilzads remarks come days after President Ashraf Ghani and his main election rival, former Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, held dual and competing inauguration ceremonies on March 9.

Last month, Ghani was declared the winner of a bitterly disputed September 28 election, which was marred by voting irregularities, historic low turnout, and militant attacks. Abdullah called the result a "coup" and vowed to create a parallel government.

Last-minute shuttle diplomacy by Khalilzad failed to resolve the dispute and prevent the parallel inaugurations.

Khalilzad told RFE/RL that he was hopeful of an agreement "that is accepted by both sides."

"Its a very bad thing that two governments or two presidents exist in Afghanistan," he said. "This poses a great danger, not only to the peace process, but to the future of Afghanistan."

Khalilzad, a former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, said U.S. officials were "very active" in trying to mediate an agreement between Ghani and Abdullah on the "creation of a cabinet that is broadly accepted in Afghanistan" and which includes Abdullah and his allies.

The election dispute was one of the key issues that prevented the start of intra-Afghan negotiations on March 10.

Observers have warned that the dispute could descend into violence and derail a historic deal between the United States and Taliban militants aimed at ending the nearly 19-year war.

As part of that agreement, direct peace talks between the Western-backed Kabul government and the Taliban were scheduled to begin on March 10. But the political crisis in Kabul has thrown those plans into disarray.

Khalilzad said Washington was trying to start the intra-Afghan talks "as soon as possible."

Those talks have also been delayed because of the Taliban's demand that Kabul release 5,000 of militant group's fighters before the start of negotiations. Ghani issued a decree on March 11 for the phased release of the prisoners, starting with 1,500, a proposal rejected by the militants.

'Positive Steps'

Khalilzad said the government decree "opened the door for progress on that issue," hinting at a possible compromise.

The election dispute has further complicated the government's naming of a delegation to negotiate with the Taliban, a process already mired in delays and disputes.

But Khalilzad, who is currently in Kabul, said "positive steps have been taken towards establishing an inclusive team to negotiate with the Taliban."

"Im hopeful that this will be finalized in the coming days," he said.

Khalilzad said intra-Afghan negotiations over a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing arrangement with the Taliban was key to ending the conflict.

"This war is killing more than 100 Afghans every week," he said. "Sometimes, 700, 800, or even 900 Afghans are killed every month. We want there to be peace in Afghanistan and for the world not to feel threatened by Afghanistan."

As part of its deal with the Taliban, the United States has 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.

Khalilzad said the United States would only complete its full withdrawal if the Taliban held up its end of the bargain.

Under the deal, the Taliban have made various security commitments and promised to hold talks with the government in Kabul -- which it so far has refused to do.

"If the Taliban, for example, doesn't adhere to its commitments, then the United States will be freed from its own commitments," said Khalilzad.
The case of 112 Ukraine journalist Oleg Reshetnyak beaten in August 2019 is passed to the court. During the investigation, five persons were identified and notified on suspicion in the attack and preventing of the legal professional activity of the journalist and production unit of 112 Ukraine. On February 19, the indictments were sent to the court as Chair of the National Union of the Journalists of Ukraine Serhiy Tomilenko reported on Facebook.

According to Tomilenko, such information was provided by the Chief Department of the National Police in Kharkiv region signed by acting head of the investigation department Yevhen Masliy: In facts of the events on August 28, 2019, in Zolochiv village, where unknown attacked the production unit of 112 Ukraine filming the story about illegal production of lumber in Kharkiv region and grabbed the camera of journalist Oleg Reshetnyak, the Investigation Department of Zolochiv police unit of the Chief Department of the National Police in Kharkiv region put data on the united register of pretrial investigation. During the pretrial investigation, five persons were identified who were notified on suspicion in the commitment of the criminal offenses against journalist Oleg Reshetnyak and the production unit of 112 Ukraine. Following the investigation, the indictments against the persons of interests were filed to the court on February 19, 2020.

Related: Arson of Radio Liberty journalists car: three persons informed of suspicion

The affected journalist stated at the comment to the National Union of the Journalists that the preparatory meetings take place.

The prosecutor, in this case, is pretty smart. I plan to come to the court on the merits soon, Reshetnyak said.

On August 28, 2019, the unknown thugs attacked the production unit of 112 Ukraine TV channel; the team was filming a story about illegal production of lumber.

The incident took place when journalist Oleg Reshetnyak went live on the air and described the situation, but they noticed him and took his camera.

"We were shooting one of the local households; we used a quadrocopter to get the clear idea of the size of the lumber production. Then, workers and some aggressive lawyer rushed here. We've got flat tires now, and the car is blocked, he said.

The TV channel's shooting unit called KORD, the special police force to arrive at the site.

The attackers demand that we give them the USB drives that we used to save our videos; we refuse to five them. They threaten to deal with us; they are swearing. There's a car with EU license plates standing by, it blocked the road, and the tires are flat...", the journalist added.

After the attack, Oleg Reshetnyan commented about his state:

I will live but it hurts to walk and talk on the third day. The doctors say that it is fine. I passed a thorough medical examination. There were moments, which raised the concern. That is why the doctors held extra examination.

Totally, the investigators, prosecutors and workers of the operative units questioned 48 people as witnesses during the first days after the attack. 22 regulations were issues to gather the fingerprints of 19 witnesses and three victims.

The National Union of the Journalists of Ukraine underlined that only precedents of the strong punishment of the attackers on the journalist might stop new expressions of the physical aggression against mass media representatives.

The fact that the beating of Oleg Reshetnyak took place on live has not stopped the attackers. The total impunity for the crimes against the journalist is the reason of such brutal attacks. That is why, the court over the attackers on the production unit of the national TV channel in Kharkiv region should be illustrative for whole Ukraine, Tomilenko noted.

After the incident, 112 Ukraine TV channel asked the law enforcement bodies to urgently intervene in the situation, which occurred in Zolochev village, Kharkiv region.

Interior Ministrys employees detained over 30 people who attacked 112 Ukraine crew.

One of the most active partakers of the attack at 112 Ukraine crew at forestry in Kharkiv region was served with charges in the commitment of the criminal offense, preventing of legal professional activity.
The rush among OCI cardholders to return to India before the March 13 deadline has sent air fares soaring in less than 12 hours on many routes.

Some flights saw fares jumping nearly 70 percent within hours of the government's announcement on March 11.

"Fares were cheap on March 11, it was just Rs 46,000 for a round trip from Chicago to Delhi and back. It rose to Rs 56,000 and later to Rs 76,000 on March 12. Now, the flight is sold out," said an industry executive.

The Indian government on March 11 suspended all tourist visas in a sweeping attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India continued to rise. On March 12, the number of confirmed cases in the country climbed to 73.

The order will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13. The suspension was also for overseas citizen of India, or OCI, cardholders.

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



United 82, Newark-Delhi, tonight March 12, is getting booked full with Indian students who are OCI holders and whose parents live in India, as colleges close in the US. This is one of the last flight options before the gate closes for Overseas Citizens of India to enter India.

 Sanjiv Kapoor (@TheSanjivKapoor) March 12, 2020

Many took to Twitter to talk about the rush. Sanjiv Kapoor, an industry veteran said:

Most OCI cardholders who are rushing back home are students whose parents reside in India. The rush also brought forth the debate if the government should have had exempted OCI cardholders from the ban.

"Just think. If an expat and I were travelling abroad right now (with the expat holding an Indian work visa and me as an OCI), the expat would be allowed back after the deadline on March 13, but I would be stuck," said an executive, who didn't want to be named.

"All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till April 15," the health ministry said in a tweet on March 11.

Kapoor added that the government could perhaps take a leaf out of its US counterpart. He shared another Tweet that said the US government has exempted US residents and immediate family members from the travel ban from Europe.
This article was produced in partnership with ProPublica. AL.com was a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network in 2019.

When a sheriff's deputy pulled Emmanuel Pullom over on a suburban street near Birmingham the night of Dec. 1, 2018, he suspected that Pullom had stolen the black Ford pickup he was driving.

The deputy handcuffed Pullom, searched the truck and then took him to the Jefferson County Jail in downtown Birmingham, according to the incident report.

But Pullom wasn't charged with stealing the truck, which he says he had recently purchased from a friend. Instead, he was charged with failing to possess a piece of laminated paper that identified him as a felon.

The cop said, Wheres your felon card? Pullom recalled in an interview last month. I said, What kind of card? He said, If youve got three felonies, youve got to get a felon card.

More than 300 people in Alabama have been charged since 2014 under a little-known, but long-standing state law requiring people with more than two felony convictions to register with their local sheriff's offices and carry cards identifying them as repeat felons, according to arrest data analyzed by AL.com and ProPublica.

Violations carry the threat of jail time and fines. A man in north Alabama served a one-year sentence for failing to register as a felon and obtain a felon registration card.

While some other states have felon registration requirements, criminal law professors said they believe Alabama is the only one with a law requiring registration cards.

Legal experts say the law is likely unconstitutional and reminiscent of slavery-era restrictions that required black people in many parts of the South to present identification to white people on demand.

The card is reminiscent of the cards Jews were forced to carry in the ghettos, John H. Blume, a criminal law professor at Cornell Law School, said via email.

It will also give police the ability to stop people they know are felons to see if they have their cards and  to avoid things like reasonable suspicion and probable cause.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, which arrested Pullom, did not respond to requests for comment.

Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran, the top law enforcement official in Alabama's second-largest county, defended the requirement. He said the charge gives you a good stepping stone for jailing someone suspected of other crimes, when there otherwise isn't enough evidence to make an arrest.

This guys a five-time felon or something, Cochran said in an interview. And you say, Hey, wheres your convicted felon thing? And he says, Well, I dont have one. You say, Well, hey, bud, I [didnt] have nothing to arrest you on, but now I do.

So now Im gonna arrest you, now Im gonna inventory your car and tow it in. And if I found 5 pounds of pot in your car, then youre gonna be arrested for trafficking marijuana.

Emmanuel Pulloms felon ID card, with certain identifying information blurred out. (Connor Sheets | AL.com)

Repeat felon Derrick Rhodes has a different take. In 2016, he was arrested in Henry County and charged with failing to possess a felon ID card. Rhodes, 41, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 days of suspended confinement and two years of probation and ordered to pay hundreds of dollars of fees, fines and court costs. He has since obtained a felon registration card that he carries everywhere he goes

What's the use of having a card on you when you're a free man? he said. I'm not their prisoner no more.

'It Shall Be the Duty'

Beginning in the 1930s, jurisdictions across the U.S. instituted so-called criminal registration laws in response to rising concerns about organized crime and other illegal activity.

In 1935, Birmingham became an early adopter of such restrictions when it passed a city ordinance requiring that felons register with law enforcement upon their arrival in the city, The New York Times reported at the time.

Police officials hope that the law will give them an accurate check upon the criminal element.  It also is expected that it will result in an exodus of a great many known criminals.

Many such laws and ordinances have since been invalidated or repealed, but the federal government and individual states have instituted a series of increasingly restrictive sex offender registry laws since the 1980s. And many states and localities across the U.S. have approved narrower registration laws that apply to people convicted of specific crimes, such as arson, serious drug crimes and gun violence.

Florida, Mississippi and Nevada have felon registration requirements, but they do not require felons to have or carry registration cards, sometimes referred to as ex-felon cards. In fact, Nevada law specifically bars such requirements: The sheriff of a county or the chief of police of a city shall not require a convicted person to carry a registration card.

In 1966, a special session of the Alabama Legislature approved the Alabama Felon Registration Act, which instituted the statewide felon registration requirements that remain in place today.

Lawmakers passed the legislation to aid the law enforcement agencies in detecting and preventing and reducing recidivistic behavior, according to an article about the law published in the 1966-67 edition of the Alabama Law Review.

The law requires that anyone who resides in Alabama and has been convicted more than twice of a felony anywhere in the U.S. must register within 24 hours after his arrival in the county and obtain a registration card from the sheriff's office.

It shall be the duty of such person to carry the card with him at all times while he is within the county and to exhibit the same to any officer of a municipality, a county or the state upon request.

The maximum penalty for failing to obey the felon registration law is 30 days in jail and a $50 fine per day spent in violation, which can add up to lengthy and expensive sentences over time.

From 2014 to 2018, there have been 235 arrests in Alabama on state charges of not having a felon ID card and 53 arrests for the separate charge of failure to register with the local sheriff. Police also made nine arrests of felons who failed to notify the local sheriff of a change of address. Individual law enforcement agencies across the state have reported dozens more arrests on the charges in 2019 and this year.

Of those arrested on the charges between 2014 and 2018, about 61% were white and 38% were black, according to the state data. As of July 2019, the U.S. Census estimated that 69% of Alabama residents were white and 27% were black.

Such arrests are made in large urban counties like Jefferson, Montgomery and Baldwin, as well as in more rural counties like Franklin in Alabama's northwest corner and Henry in the southeast.

Public records show that some local jurisdictions in Alabama have additional requirements. Arrest reports show that people have been charged in recent years in Alabama towns including Gadsden and Dothan with violating local ordinances requiring felon registration and identification.

A limited number of places outside Alabama, such as Zanesville, Ohio, and the Borough of Berlin, New Jersey, also have felon identification laws or ordinances on their books.

One-Year Sentence

Sometimes people serve serious time for failing to carry their felon IDs.

Quincy Tisdale says that at the time of his arrest in August 2014, he was the only black man living on Sand Mountain, a low ridge in north Alabama. So I stuck out like a sore thumb. He was also dating a white woman, a fact that he says drew the ire of some white residents of the largely rural area, which has a long history of racial tension.

So the 38-year-old father of three says he was regularly pulled over and searched by Marshall County sheriff's deputies and local police officers, but they never had cause to arrest him.

One morning a Marshall County sheriff's deputy stopped Tisdale in his silver Kia sedan as he drove through the small town of Grant and informed him that he had found a reason to lock him up.

When he pulled me over, he said, Didnt I tell you I was gonna get your black ass one day? Tisdale recalled during a January interview in the living room of the friends home in Scottsboro, where he is currently staying.

He said: I know you dont got your felon ID card. Come on, get out of the car.  When they arrested me that day, thats the first I heard I had to have a felony card or Id go to jail.

Tisdale, who had previous felony convictions for crimes including burglary, theft and assault, was arrested and booked into the Marshall County Jail and charged with failure to register with the sheriff's office and failure to possess an ex-felon card. It is the only time Tisdale has been arrested in the county, according to state court records. His bond was set at $1,500, court records show.

Quincy Tisdale pleaded guilty to not registering with the sheriffs office and not carrying a felon ID card. (Joe Songer | AL.com)

Tisdale pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2014 and was sentenced to 365 days in the Marshall County Community Corrections work release program  a residential jail alternative in which inmates earn money to pay down fines, fees and restitution by working for contracted companies. Tisdale says that while he was at the work release, he worked long hours deboning and loading chickens at a poultry processing plant.

In February 2015, after breaking the rules of the community corrections facility and getting into an argument with an employee, Tisdale was moved to the Marshall County Jail, where he served out the remainder of his sentence, court records show. He says that the punishment upended his life.

When you take me away from my family, and I'm supporting my family, you're pushing them out onto the streets, he said.

Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims, who became sheriff in January 2019, said his office does not actively seek out people violating the state's felon registration and identification law.

It's not one of those things where we're going out banging on doors or I've got someone assigned to look for people who haven't registered, he said. It would generally be a secondary charge where there's some other type of law enforcement contact like a domestic violence call or something.

But he said that the law serves a valuable purpose, kind of like the sex offender registry, and that he would enforce it if his office were notified that someone in Marshall County had failed to register as a felon or obtain a registration card. Neither Sims' predecessor, J. Scott Walls, who was sheriff at the time of Tisdale's arrest, nor Walls' attorney responded to requests for comment.

Tisdale says it's an indignity to be forced to carry a felon ID card for the rest of his life: It reminds me I'm a criminal, day in and day out.

Scarlet Letter

Like each of the criminal law professors interviewed for this story, Pullom said he never knew that Alabama required people with more than two felony convictions to carry registration cards.

He said that he only found out about the requirement when he was arrested for violating it, and that he believes the charge was little more than a pretense to apprehend him.

Did I have drugs on me? Did I do anything wrong? No, said Pullom, who has been convicted of several felonies including shooting a gun into an occupied building, drug possession and theft. They were just trying to come up with something to arrest me for.

In fact, the arresting deputy wrote in the incident report that the felon ID card charge would allow the sheriff's office to hold Pullom in jail and follow up with a property crimes detective  on any other charges. The felon ID charge was dismissed two months after his arrest and no additional charges were filed.

Lynneice Washington, district attorney for Jefferson County's Bessemer Division, said that you're marking a person by requiring them to carry a felon registration card. She added that she does not recall having ever heard of felon registration or ID charges being brought in her division, which is a subsection of the county that does not include Adamsville, where Pullom was arrested.

Just to stop a person because you know them and know their history and to ask them if they have a felon identification card and that's an automatic charge if they don't have it, I don't agree with that, she said.

In the 1957 case Lambert v. California, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on the issue of felon registration. A woman named Virginia Lambert had been found guilty of violating a Los Angeles municipal law that made it unlawful for any convicted person to be or remain in Los Angeles for a period of more than five days without registering. The conviction was upheld on appeal.

But the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the California ruling. The majority wrote that Lambert's constitutional right to due process had been violated because she most likely had no actual knowledge that not registering as a felon was a crime.

So the question would be whether Alabama has done a better job giving notice to someone that they need to register and/or get the ID card, Rachel E. Barkow, a law professor and faculty director of the Center on the Administration of Criminal Law at New York University School of Law, said via email.

The piecemeal enforcement of Alabama's felon registration and identification law also raises concerns, according to Alvin Bragg, a visiting law professor at New York Law School and co-director of the school's Racial Justice Project.

Two-thirds of the state's 67 counties saw no such charges brought between 2014 and 2018.

Ultimately every law has got to be rational and not arbitrary and that's the standard of review, Bragg said. I think this comes perilously close to being irrational and excessively arbitrary.

Michele Deitch, senior lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Law and Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, said it would be difficult to argue that a year in jail is not a disproportionately harsh punishment for failing to carry a felon ID card.

It would be challenged as an 8th Amendment violation, she said. It's disproportionate to the underlying offense. And cruel and unusual  is there another locality that would sentence you to a year for that? Probably not. So that's pretty unusual.

Moving Violation

Sometimes simply failing to change an address can land a person behind bars.

That's what happened to Michael Kelsay, who has been on law enforcement's radar in Baldwin County for years. The father of three says that he sold his pickup this winter because he was tired of being pulled over nearly every time he left his trailer park.

A self-described former drug addict and petty criminal, he has a rap sheet spanning two decades, during which time he has been convicted of crimes including drug possession, negotiating a worthless instrument and receiving stolen property. The 39-year-old has also been arrested on two separate occasions for crimes related to felon registration.

Michael Kelsay was twice arrested and charged with failing to register a change of address on his felon registration card. At the time of the first arrest, he was temporarily living at his mothers house, three miles away from the address on his card. (Christopher Harress | AL.com)

The first arrest took place one morning in August 2014, when Baldwin County sheriff's deputies banged on the door at Kelsay's mother's house looking for him. When he came to the door, he says they informed him they had heard he was the last person seen with a criminal suspect they were trying to find.

After searching the area and determining the suspect was not there, Kelsay says one of the deputies ran his name through an electronic system, saw he was a repeat felon and asked him for his felon identification card.

I show it to him. Im like, Boom, got it. Theyre just grasping at straws, I feel like. Like, Im good now, Kelsay said during an interview in his kitchen last month.

And then he hit me with, Well, you dont live at this address anymore, because I told him I was staying at my moms. I didnt see the trap coming.

Kelsay was arrested and charged with failing to register, within 24 hours, his/her change of address or place of residence with the sheriff of Baldwin County, according to court records. He says he was temporarily living at his mother's house, 3 miles down the same road in Bay Minette from the address listed on his felon ID card.

Kelsay posted $5,000 bond and was released from jail three days after the arrest.

He was arrested a second time a month later and charged with failing to possess a felon registration card  he said the sheriff's office had seized his card at the time of the first arrest because the address was incorrect and he had not replaced it  and again failing to notify the sheriff's office that he had changed addresses. He pleaded guilty to the three charges that resulted from the two arrests and was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 30 days in jail and ordered to pay three $50 fines.

Anthony Lowery, chief deputy of the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, defended the arrests.

He was knowingly, willingly violating the law, he said. Obviously anytime you have a known convicted felon  like in this case Mr. Kelsay has been convicted multiple times of different crimes  [felon registration] does help. It's a tool to protect the public.

Lowery added that the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office pursues people who break the state's felon registration law:

If you're asking if we're just going out searching for these people, on occasion yes.  We're charged with enforcing the law and if you're a felon and you're required to register and you're violating the law then we're going to enforce that.

What sticks with Kelsay to this day is the idea that he was arrested because the law forever puts him in a separate category.

I was flabbergasted by it. I couldn't believe they took me to jail for that, he said. That's what really bothers me about it is I feel like they charged me with that because they wanted me to go to jail.

Agnel Philip of ProPublica contributed data reporting.
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During an Oval Office address, President Donald Trump claimed that health insurers will waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, and the industry was quick to correct him.

Earlier this week, I met with the leaders of health insurance industry who have agreed to waive all co-payments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing, Trump told the public.

Almost immediately afterward, a spokesperson for Americas Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a leading trade association of health insurance companies, told a reporter that the president had misspoken.

For testing. Not for treatment, the individual told Politico reporter Sarah Owermohle.

Trump's claim tonight that health insurers "have agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments" seems to be news to them. For testing. Not for treatment. a spokesperson for the major insurance lobby AHIP says.  Sarah Owermohle (@owermohle) March 12, 2020

The president has garnered heated criticism for statements his critics say are reckless, misleading, or downright untruthful, noting that his own words sow doubt that he can successfully lead the nation through the public health crisis.

Trump lied about health insurance waiving copayments for Covid treatments. In a time of crises, he is still unable to be truthful to the American people. This is not leadership. He needs to go.  Billy Shoes (@BillyShoes01) March 12, 2020

Which is worse: Trump lied about this or insurance execs not willing to waive copayments for treatment of corinaviros? https://t.co/Xh4B0pD6J3  Judi Meyer (@JudiMeyer17) March 12, 2020

Insurance industry lobby has already corrected .@realDonaldTrump on waiving copayments for treatment. They will only be waiving for testing, NOT for treatment. Trump really sucks at this. Could he not secure the deal so he is trying to publicly force their hand?  Adam (@mycroft16) March 12, 2020

Those of us in the #insurance industry knew immediately that Trump was speaking in error. Waiving copayments for testing, not treatment, is more in line with expectations. https://t.co/b9vJLTfS3W  Pat Speer (@Pspeer) March 12, 2020

The presidents latest flub came after the World Health Organization (WHO) officially reclassified the coronavirus outbreak to a pandemic; the virus has claimed 4,749 lives worldwide according to the most recent count, including 38 in the United States alone. 1,197 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., but the figure is likely to be significantly higher due to testing shortages.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Ashley Schafer.

March 10

1:06 a.m.  Officers responded to a report of domestic assault in the 3900 block of Todd Street.

2:37 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Lee Township residence in reference to a 29-year-old woman who reported a 31-year-old Mount Pleasant woman and a 20-year-old Coral Woman were knocking on her front door and walking around her residence. The 31-year-old female was at the residence looking for her ex-husband and recently had an altercation with the caller. The deputies advised the 31-year-old and the 20-year-old females that they were no longer allowed on the caller's property in the future.

5:37 a.m.  A deputy and two Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched to a Sanford business referencing an alarm. Prior to the deputy's arrival, the MSP troopers arrived on scene and advised the deputy's response was no longer needed.

7:21 a.m.  Officers responded to a suspicious situation in the 2200 block of Cleveland Avenue.

7:33 a.m.  A deputy checked on a false alarm at the Homer Township Hall. The hall was secure.

7:55 a.m.  Officers responded to a suspicious situation in the area near Milford and East Ashman streets.

8:25 a.m.  Officers issued a traffic license violation for driving-while-license-revoked in the area near Bay City Road and Dick Street.

8:37 a.m.  Officers responded to a traffic hazard in the area near North Saginaw Road and West Meadowbrook Drive.

9:23 a.m.  Deputies were sent to a Porter Township group home in regard to a 42-year-old woman resident shouting threats at a 39-year-old woman resident. The threats were verbal in nature and there was no physical contact between the residents. Both residents agreed to stay separated.

9:46 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township government building regarding seven headstones found behind their building. It was discovered the headstones were found several years ago, being used as a sea wall, and they stored behind the government building after they were found. The headstones were originally used as a sea wall because they were rejects from the engraving company, as there were grammar errors on the engraving.

10:28 a.m.  Officers issued a traffic license violation in the area near Eastman and North Saginaw roads.

11:41 a.m.  Officers responded to a suspicious situation in the 4900 block of Hidden Pines Court.

11:43 a.m.  A deputy located the vehicle and followed it for several miles. Nothing reckless or illegal was observed.

12:25 p.m.  Officers responded to a crash on private property in the 1800 block of North Saginaw Road.

12:46 p.m.  A 26-year-old Minden City woman was arrested for driving-while-license-suspended after a traffic stop in Homer Township. She was lodged at the Midland County Jail.

2:21 p.m.  A deputy spoke with a 62-year-old man in reference to his 65-year-old neighbor who was parking and leaving junk vehicles on his property near the property line. The deputy spoke with the 65-year-old man, who stated he is in the process of moving it off of the new neighbor's property. The deputy advised both parties of the right to a private property impound if the matter cannot be handled in a timely manner.

2:59 p.m.  A 55-year-old Lincoln Township man called 911 to report the road commission was harassing him. He was upset over the condition of his road. He then went to their office to complain about it. When the deputy told him he failed to see any form of harassment, the man admitted he wasn't being harassed, but was hoping the deputy knew who to contact about his road condition.

3:11 p.m.  Officers responded to a report of a traffic hazard in the area near Jefferson Avenue and Adams Drive.

5:27 p.m.  Officers responded to a suspicious situation in the 1300 block of West Main Street.

5:41 p.m.  A 38-year-old Jerome Township man was arrested for driving-while-license-revoked following a traffic stop. The man was lodged at the Midland County Jail where he posted bond.

7:16 p.m.  Officers responded to a report of larceny in the 1500 block of Carolina Street.

7:37 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Midland Township residence in reference to a trespass complaint. A 73-year-old Midland Township woman reported a neighbor appeared to have been hunting on a farm field belonging to her. She requested the deputy make contact with the neighbor and advise him that he is not allowed on her property. Contact was made with a 27-year-old Midland Township man who advised that he was on the field without permission. The deputy advised him of the complainants wishes. The man advised that he will not return to the field.

7:57 p.m.  Officers responded to a crash on private property in the area near Mark Putnam and South Saginaw roads.

8:27 p.m.  A deputy checked US-10 for a possible reckless or intoxicated driver. The suspect vehicle was not located.

8:45 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a 54-year-old woman who called to report her 74-year-old friend with dementia had walked off. The 70-year-old woman returned prior to the deputy's arrival. The deputy provided the 54-year-old complainant with information about the Angel Program in Midland.

8:51 p.m.  A deputy checked a Geneva Township Neighborhood in reference to gun shots. The deputy did not hear any gun shots or see anything suspicious.

9:09 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Ingersoll Township.

9:30 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence for a report of an argument between a 31-year-old man and his estranged 30-year-old wife. The couple was arguing about who is allowed at the home. The man provided signed court documents that state he has exclusive rights to the home and full custody of their children. The woman was subsequently asked to leave and not come back until further notice. The 30-year-old woman left without incident to stay at her family member's home.

10:01 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Ingersoll Township.

11:39 p.m.  Officers responded to a report of domestic assault in the 1200 block of Baldwin Street.

11:56 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Lincoln Township location in reference to a 52-year-old Beaverton man who was walking on the side of the road. The deputy made contact with the 52-year-old man who advised he was walking home from work. The deputy gave the man a ride to his residence in Beaverton.
IT was hard to ignore the apocalyptic tone this week, with constant headlines about the coronavirus (COVID-19). People are stockpiling toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and Costco has stopped handing out food samples. Large-scale gatherings are being cancelled daily, including the St. Patricks Day celebrations in Ireland and SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

IT was hard to ignore the apocalyptic tone this week, with constant headlines about the coronavirus (COVID-19). People are stockpiling toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and Costco has stopped handing out food samples. Large-scale gatherings are being cancelled daily, including the St. Patricks Day celebrations in Ireland and SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise.

The news became even more grim on Tuesday with the report of Canadas first virus-related fatality, an elderly British Columbia man who died after becoming infected in a care home in North Vancouver. He was in his 80s.

While there is a lot of hype and exaggeration, the evolving COVID-19 situation will certainly reveal how vulnerable this country is as a result of cuts to health-care infrastructure and a lack of investment in our health-care system. No matter how many lessons public health officials learned after SARS, the investment in our front-line resources  hospitals, health-care professionals and long-term care homes  did not follow suit.

In 2003-04, SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, killed 44 people in Toronto. In its aftermath, a national advisory committee was formed to understand what could be improved to better deal with future pandemics. In the wake of SARS, the committee identified weaknesses in Canadas public health system, such as an inability for health-care facilities, including emergency rooms, to deal with a sudden influx of patients.

It also found that during the SARS crisis there were difficulties getting access to laboratory testing and results; there wasnt enough sharing of information and resources between federal and provincial public health bodies, and weak linkages existed between personal and public health systems for sharing information.

In response to these concerns, the Canada Public Health Agency was created in 2004 to co-ordinate information and to act independently from government.

Fast-forward to 2020 and the COVID-19 outbreak, and officials say many of the lessons from SARS have been put into action. But this is a very different health-care crisis than SARS, which makes it much more difficult to respond. First, there are already more than 121,000 confirmed cases worldwide, in more than 110 countries, with the death toll at more than 4,300 and rising.

By comparison, from 2002 to 2004 SARS had slightly more than 8,000 confirmed cases and 774 deaths. COVID-19 is becoming such a public health issue that on Tuesday, Air Canada suspended flights to Italy, one of the hardest-hit nations with in excess of 10,000 confirmed cases and more than 600 deaths.

The federal public health agency has asked Canadians to avoid cruise ship travel. And because this outbreak is no longer limited to one region, it will be difficult to take precautions or quarantine based on geographic information. Indeed, in B.C., two new cases earlier this week involved individuals returning to Canada after visiting different regions  one from Italy, and another from Iran.

With SARS, screening passengers on flights that originated from Asia made it easier to track and quarantine. Another challenge is that COVID-19 can present with no apparent symptoms and yet still be contagious, infecting those who are most vulnerable.

Unlike SARS, cases of COVID-19 in Canada are not just limited to the Toronto region. Instead, cases have been diagnosed in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, further underscoring the need for interprovincial responses and communication. B.C. and Ontario are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, with the largest caseloads in Canada  around 40 confirmed cases each.

The lack of communication between federal and provincial governments was the impetus behind the creation of the Canada Public Health Agency in 2004; now, that framework for interprovincial communication will be tested, and it must perform at a very high level.

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.

Of paramount concern in this crisis is the ability for our health-care system to withstand more pressure than its already under  and there are reasons to doubt that its up to the challenge. Statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information released in November suggest wait times for emergency room visits remain high across provinces  patients in ERs waited an average of 3.9 hours in 2018-19, up 22 per cent over the previous year (in Manitoba, the average ER wait time decreased slightly, to 4.4 hours).

The national wait-time numbers continue to rise. If Canadian ERs and long-term care facilities are buckling under the weight of a typical annual flu outbreak, what will they do as COVID-19 continues to spread across the western world?

Because this is not your average flu.

The World Health Organization, which labelled it a pandemic on Wednesday morning, reported the fatality rate for COVID-19 is 3.4 per cent of those who are infected (by comparison, the flu is fatal for 0.1 per cent). In those who are over 70 years of age, the COVID-19 mortality rate rises to eight per cent; over 80 years of age, the fatality rate is 14 per cent.

The death toll from COVID-19 is the price Canadians will pay for politicians not heeding the lesson from SARS and properly investing in health care. Forget the toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Start hiring nurses.

Shannon Sampert is a retired political scientist who runs the communications consulting company Media Diva.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Zincore Metals Inc. (NEX:ZNC.H) ("Zincore" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the business combination and reverse takeover (the "Transaction" and "RTO", respectively) of Zincore by Mines & Metals Trading (Peru) PLC ("MMTP"), as originally announced January 21, 2019. The Company has now been informed by MMTP that the Transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020. The Company also reports that MMTP has acquired an additional property package near its Recuperada silver lead-zinc mine and processing plant, located in Huancavelica, Peru, from Peruvian Metals, a Canadian processing and mineral exploration company.

MMTP President and CEO, Jose Maria Garcia commented, "With this acquisition we will increase the potential resources for our currently producing Recuperada processing facility. As importantly, we will further consolidate and strengthen our position as one of only two polymetallic processing facilities in the Huachocolpa Mining District".

MMTP is acquiring Peruvian's Metals 100% owned subsidiary, Corongo Exploraciones, ("Corongo") which holds concessions totaling 2420 hectares located in the Huachocolpa Mining District in South-Central Peru. The Huachocolpa Mining District is host to several producing and past-producing vein-hosted polymetallic, base metal (silver-zinc-lead-copper plus or minus gold) mines. Polymetallic mining and milling continue to be the dominant formal economic activity in the district with Compania Minera Kolpa S.A and MMTP's Recuperada Mill being the two largest operations currently in production in the area. With the Corongo acquisition, MMTP will now control a large land package totaling in excess of 15,000 hectares with many of the acquired Peruvian Metals' concessions being contiguous with MMTP concessions.

In exchange for Corongo and its concessions, Peruvian Metals will receive US$200,000 from MMTP and 45,008 shares of MMTP valued at C$17.33 per share or an aggregate of C$780,000. Upon completion of the RTO with Zincore, each share of MMTP will be exchanged for approximately 73.2 Zincore shares and Peruvian Metals will receive approximately 3,294,540 shares in the resulting TSX-Venture listed issuer.

Details of the RTO Transaction

The Business Combination Agreement between Zincore and MMTP, as announced December 24, 2019, provides that Zincore will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of MMTP (the "MMTP Shares") by way of a three-cornered merger (the "Merger") between Zincore, MMTP, and Zincore (IOM) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zincore ("Subco").

Pursuant to the Merger, each [post-split?] MMTP Share will be exchanged for one common share of the Resulting Issuer (a "Resulting Issuer Share"), and each ordinary share in the capital of Subco will be exchanged for one preferred share in the capital of Subco, following which the MMTP Shares and Subco Shares will be cancelled, and Subco will be dissolved. All outstanding MMTP warrants will be exchanged for warrants of the Resulting Issuer.

Upon closing, the Resulting Issuer is expected to be renamed "Latitude Base Metals Inc.", and will continue the businesses of MMTP and Zincore.

The Transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of conditions set out in the Business Combination Agreement, including:

MMTP Split and Zincore Consolidation. MMTP shall have subdivided the issued and outstanding MMTP Shares on a one to 73.1990851585 basis (the " MMTP Split "), and Zincore shall have consolidated the outstanding Zincore Shares on a four to one basis (the " Zincore Consolidation "), in each case subject to adjustment as agreed by the parties.

MMTP shall have subdivided the issued and outstanding MMTP Shares on a one to 73.1990851585 basis (the " "), and Zincore shall have consolidated the outstanding Zincore Shares on a four to one basis (the " "), in each case subject to adjustment as agreed by the parties. Debt Settlement. The debt settlement agreement dated August 8, 2019, between Zincore and its CEO, Jorge Benavides, providing for the settlement of debts owed by Zincore to Mr. Benavides in the amount of US$482,234 (the " Debt Settlement "), shall remain in effect. The Debt Settlement was approved by the shareholders of Zincore at the annual general and special meeting of Zincore shareholders held on September 5, 2019, and is expected to be completed immediately after the Merger. Further information is provided in Zincore's press release of August 14, 2019.

The debt settlement agreement dated August 8, 2019, between Zincore and its CEO, Jorge Benavides, providing for the settlement of debts owed by Zincore to Mr. Benavides in the amount of US$482,234 (the " "), shall remain in effect. The Debt Settlement was approved by the shareholders of Zincore at the annual general and special meeting of Zincore shareholders held on September 5, 2019, and is expected to be completed immediately after the Merger. Further information is provided in Zincore's press release of August 14, 2019. Financing . MMTP shall have completed a concurrent financing for minimum gross proceeds of C$7,500,000.

. MMTP shall have completed a concurrent financing for minimum gross proceeds of C$7,500,000. Shareholder Approvals . All required shareholder and regulatory approvals shall have been received by each of MMTP, Zincore, and Subco for the Transaction, including the Debt Settlement, the MMTP Split and the Merger.

. All required shareholder and regulatory approvals shall have been received by each of MMTP, Zincore, and Subco for the Transaction, including the Debt Settlement, the MMTP Split and the Merger. TSXV Approval . The TSX Venture Exchange (" TSXV ") shall have approved the Transaction, subject only to the satisfaction of customary conditions.

. The TSX Venture Exchange (" ") shall have approved the Transaction, subject only to the satisfaction of customary conditions. General. Other conditions that are customary for a transaction of this nature.

MMTP currently intends to complete a concurrent private placement financing of equity securities, or securities convertible into equity securities, for gross proceeds of at least C$7,500,000 (the "Financing"). The structure of the Financing and price per security offered will be determined in the context of the market.

Zincore intends for trading in the Zincore Shares to remain halted until completion of the Transaction. Further details of the Transaction and the concurrent financing will be provided in a further press release, and in the disclosure documents (which will include business and financial information in respect of MMTP) to be filed by Zincore in connection with the Transaction. For further details on the Transaction, please see the Company's news releases dated January 21st, August 14th and December 24th of 2019.

Listing

An application has been made to list the common shares of the Resulting Issuer on the TSXV upon completion of the Proposed Transaction. The listing will be subject to satisfying all of the TSXV's listing requirements.

Sponsorship

Zincore intends to apply to the TSXV for a waiver from the requirement to obtain a sponsor for the Transaction. There can be no assurance that a waiver will be obtained. If a waiver from the sponsorship requirement is not obtained, the identity of the sponsor will be disclosed in a subsequent press release.

About MMTP

MMTP, a company incorporated under the Companies Act (2006) (Isle of Man), is a young and dynamic mining company with a vision to extract full value from undervalued projects across Latin America. MMTP's primary asset is the Recuperada silver-lead-zinc property, located in Huancavelica, Peru, which consists of 178 concessions covering a total of 11,261.32 hectares hosting a network of mineral-bearing veins, advanced infrastructure from historical underground mining operations, and an ore processing plant with processing capacity of 600 tonnes of ore per day and 210,000 tonnes of ore per year. For more information on MMTP, please visit http://latitudebasemetals.com/

About Zincore

Zincore is a Vancouver-based mineral exploration company focused on zinc and related base metal opportunities in Peru. The Company's common shares trade on the NEX Board of the TSX-V under the symbol ZNC.H.

For more information please contact:

Zincore Metals Inc.

Adam Ho, CFO, Director

(604) 669-6611

aho@zincoremetals.com

Cautionary Notes

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSX-V acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Zincore should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX-V has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

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

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or does not expect", "is expected", anticipates" or "does not anticipate" "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking information". This forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, without limitation, information concerning the Transaction, the Financing, the Debt Settlement, expectations regarding whether the Transaction will be consummated, including whether conditions to the consummation of the Transaction will be satisfied, the timing for completing the Transaction, expectations for the effects of the Transaction or the ability of the Resulting Issuer to successfully achieve business objectives, expectations regarding whether the Financing will be consummated, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Zincore to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information contained in this press release, Zincore has made certain assumptions. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: the ability to consummate the Transaction and the Financing; the ability to obtain requisite regulatory and securityholder approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions to the consummation of the Transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; the ability to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Financing; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial and commodities markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with government regulation; and the diversion of management time on the Transaction and the Financing. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors 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 Zincore believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Statements containing forward-looking information that are contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Zincore assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Zincore Metals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580472/Zincore-and-Mines-Metals-Trading-Peru-Provide-Update-on-Business-Combination-and-Announce-Additional-Property-Acquisition
Large ferry docked in Genoa port being transformed into floating hospital as coronavirus cases spike in Italy.

Rome, Italy  A large passenger ship docked in the port of Genoa is currently being transformed into an equipped floating hospital, set to welcome hundreds of coronavirus patients.

The vessel could offer essential services including intensive care and resuscitation units, officials and ship company representatives told Al Jazeera.

After Italy tightened its coronavirus quarantine on Wednesday  ordering bars, restaurants and hairdressing and beauty salons to close  efforts are now being made to take pressure off struggling hospitals.

All over the country, intensive care departments are hosting 1,028 infected patients, while the national capacity is 5,395 beds.

On Thursday, the death toll in Europes worst-affected country jumped by 189 in 24 hours to 1,016. Confirmed cases across the country rose to 15,113 from a previous 12,462, according to the Civil Protection Agency.

Italian daily Il Secolo XIX reported on Wednesday that a flagship of global cruise operator MSC Cruises was ready to intervene in case of further needs, making up for the lack of places inside hospitals in the countrys north.

Giovanni Toti, president of the Liguria region, where Genoa is located, confirmed the undertaking of the measure during a news conference.

We are studying with Genoas local health unit, our epidemic task force and specialists  the possibility of arranging a ferry boat or a cruise ship as a unit that could serve patients who are gradually recovering [from COVID-19] and convalescents who leave the hospitals but that are in a situation of fragility, like those living on their own, said Toti.

If our medical specialists confirm that technical conditions are met, patients will be able to find hospitality on this naval unit where a few hundreds of beds will be put at the disposal of the most fragile categories of people, he added.

Three options

A task force including technicians, engineers and civil protection experts are working on a blueprint to implement the plan. Three options are currently on the table.

Giacomo Giampedrone, council member of Ligurias civil defence, told Al Jazeera the first option would be transforming the ship into a support unit for people in need of spending the two-week compulsory quarantine after having had contacts with infected patients.

The second option would be using the ship as a quarantine location for patients who have tested positive to COVID 19; the third, whose feasibility is still being evaluated by the National Institution of Health and epidemiologists, aims to use the ferry as a field hospital for patients with full-blown COVID-19 infection.

We are thinking about the first two options at the moment, Giampedrone said. This would create 400 bed places. For the third option, we are thinking of using the ships garage as a field hospital. This weekend will be crucial to understand the feasibility of the whole project.

If everything goes well, we will be able to organise the ship within 48 hours, meaning we could have places available as of next weekend, Giampedrone said, who is expecting the peak of the infection to be reached in the next few weeks.





But a complete overhaul of the ferrys ventilation system to isolate each cabin and prevent the spread of the virus is crucial.

According to the plan, each room will have a window or a small private terrace in order to get natural air, while work on providing each cabin with its own ventilation system is being carried out.

200311110233444

This is why we shifted from a cruise ship to a ferry boat because the latter gives us this option, Giampedrone said.

If this works, the model could be replicated. Other regions in Italy are already thinking about this model. They are all waiting for us now.

Public health expert Nino Cartabellotta told Al Jazeera any measure of social and distance and containment are an optimum at the moment.

Still, Cartabellotta said he was worried about the adjustments to the ventilation system, which are crucial both for the safety of patients and the medics in order not to repeat the mistake of the Diamond Princess case, in Japan.

A total of 696 people on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama had tested positive for the virus. Seven people who were on the ship have died.

No modification of the ventilation system was done in that case and passengers should have been disembarked immediately or at least provided with high protection masks.
A health worker was seen spraying commuters with disinfectant as they queued for a bus in Bangkok, Thailand on Wednesday (March 11). The practice was carried out by volunteer health worker Somsak Sripetch, who has been travelling around the capital with a team amidst the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. However, government officials have complained about the over-zealous volunteer. District boss Rujira Arintr has now ordered the well-intentioned volunteer to stop his actions immediately. She said: "We have received reports that he has been there spraying people for five days but he did not officially ask for permission from the district office. "We want him to stop his spraying immediately not just because he has no permission but also because we do not know what disinfectant he uses, perhaps it was not standardized." Seventy people have been infected with coronavirus in Thailand with one death since the outbreak began. Earlier today it emerged that 11 Thais have been diagnosed with the disease after they shared a glass for drinks and passed around the same cigarette at a recent party. Health Ministry Secretary General Sukhum Kanchanapimai said the revellers were part of a group of 15 people, including a Chinese national from Hong Kong, who were partying in the capital. Officials said they did not know if the traveller who arrived from Hong Kong had the virus but they confirmed it was the largest group infection of the virus reported in Thailand so far. The country yesterday cancelled visa on arrivals for 18 countries and visa exemption for three others to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The 18 places are: 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, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said.
Gurugram A 25-year-old man was found murdered near the railway tracks located near a flyover in Dhanwapur village on Wednesday night. The police have registered a case of murder against unidentified persons.

According to the police, the victim was identified as Chandan Kumar, a ragpicker, of Katihar in Bihar, who stayed in Basai village of Sector 9 with his family.

The police said that prima facie, it seems the victim was beaten to death. A police official privy to the investigation, requesting anonymity, said that his body, without a shirt, was found in a vacant area near the railway crossing. The police said he was wearing a shirt when he had gone from his house on Tuesday morning.

He had injuries to his face, possibly inflicted with a heavy object or a weapon. According to his family members, he had gone to celebrate Holi on the morning of March 10 and did not return, the police official said.

The police said his family did not report him missing, assuming he stayed at a friends house. On Wednesday around 10.30 pm, a passerby noticed the body and informed the police.

The police are questioning people who celebrated Holi with the victim to identify the suspects.

A case was registered under Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code at Rajendra Park police station on Wednesday.
HADDAM  Members of Haddam Volunteer Fire Co. participated in a rapid intervention team exercise March 9 at the companys training facility.

In the event a firefighter is trapped, low on air or possibly unconscious, his or her personal alert safety system alarm would activate, officials announced this week on their Facebook page. The device creates a loud electronic beeping sound that helps the RIT locate the downed firefighter.

During the drill, firefighters worked in teams of three. They entered a dark, smoke-filled building and began searching for the downed firefighter whose PASS alarm was sounding. Once the team located the unconscious firefighter, they employed a RIT pack, which quickly refills a firefighters air pack. The team then worked together to remove the downed firefighter from the structure, according to the post.

While some members participated in the training exercise, others tested multiple standpipes in the Haddam area to ensure they were working properly. Standpipes connect to underground reservoirs which hold up to 20,000 gallons of water, and provide firefighters access to water where hydrants are scarce.

In other news, aspiring firefighter Ian Young, 11, a sixth-grader at Haddam Killingworth Middle School, visited the station Monday night to learn more about firefighting. After gearing up in his personal protection equipment, Ian toured the station, spoke with firefighters, observed a training exercise, and learned about the companys various apparatus and rescue tools, officials said.

He especially enjoyed sitting in the drivers seat of Engine 6-13 and Marine-13. Theres a lot more to firefighting than I had thought, he said. I would like driving a fire truck.
A Delhi court on Thursday sent Popular Front of India's (PFI) Delhi unit president Parvez and state secretary Ilyas to seven days police custody in connection with alleged PFI-Shaheen Bagh link.

Special Cell of Delhi Police produced them in the Patiala House Court of Delhi where Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushottam Pathak sent them to seven days police custody. Both were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

The Enforcement Directorate has also registered a case against PFI in connection with the Delhi violence.

A PFI member, Danish, who was arrested in connection with Delhi violence, has said that the organisation was "deeply involved" in protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), police sources earlier said.

According to the Delhi Police sources, Danish has revealed that the organisation provided logistical and financial support to the protesters. He has been working with PFI since 2018 and is the general secretary of Trilokpuri area in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 11, 2020] AlphaCredit Announces Successful Results Of The Consent Solicitation For Senior Notes

MEXICO CITY, March 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Summary Alpha Holding, S.A. de C.V., ("AlphaCredit" or the "Company"), a technology-enabled financial platform specialized in consumer lending and financial solutions for small and medium enterprises ("SMEs"), communicated today the successful results of its previously announced consent solicitation involving its international senior notes. The Company recognizes and acknowledges the cooperation of the international investment community in ensuring a successful outcome for this transaction, and looks forward to a continued mutually beneficial relationship with all its noteholders. The Consent Solicitation As of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 11, 2020 (the "Expiration Date") holders of US$208,710,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10.000% Senior Notes due 2022 (the "Notes"), or approximately 69.6% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, had validly delivered their consents pursuant to the consent solicitation (the "Consent Solicitation"), upon the terms and conditions described in the Company's Consent Solicitation Statement, dated March 4, 2020 (the "Statement"). Based on the number of consents delivered pursuant to the Consent Solicitation on or prior to the Expiration Date, holders of at least a majority of the outstanding principal amount of Notes have validly delivered consents to certain proposed amendments as described in the Statement (the "Proposed Amendments"). As a result, the Proposed Amendments are expected to become effective on or promptly following the date hereof upon the execution of the supplemental indenture to the indenture governing the Notes. The revocation deadline for the Consent Solicitation has passed and therefore consents that have been validly delivered cannot be revoed. The settlement date on which the Company expects to pay consenting holders the consent payment of US$2.50 per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes for which consents were delivered and accepted in the Consent Solicitation is expected to be March 13, 2020.



The supplemental indenture reflecting the Proposed Amendments will be effective immediately upon execution thereof but will not become operative until the consent payments are paid with respect to the Notes. Holders of Notes for which no consent was delivered will not receive the consent payment, even though the Proposed Amendments, once operative with respect to the Notes, will bind all holders of such Notes and their transferees. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC was the solicitation agent in the Consent Solicitation and D.F. King & Co., Inc. was retained to serve as the tabulation, information and paying agent. Persons with questions regarding the Consent Solicitation should contact Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC at (toll free) (800) 828-3182 or (collect) (212) 357-1452. Requests for the Statement should be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (toll free) (800) 591-8238 or by email to [email protected] .

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Neither the Statement nor any documents related to the Consent Solicitation have been filed with, and have not been approved or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Statement or any documents related to the Consent Solicitation, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason. About AlphaCredit AlphaCredit is a leading and one of the fastest growing technology-enabled financial platforms in Latin America, providing consumer loans and financial solutions for individuals and SMEs in Mexico and Colombia through innovative solutions and cutting-edge technology. Contact: Juan Jose Sainz

CFO

[email protected] Maria Isabel Munoz

Head of Funding and Investor Relations

+52 (55) 4170-4251

[email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alphacredit-announces-successful-results-of-the-consent-solicitation-for-senior-notes-301021963.html SOURCE Alpha Holding, S.A. de C.V.

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Security forces in Mahdia Governorate have arrested five people suspected for links with subside bomb attack that rocked capital Tunis, close to the US embassy, last week.

The suspects, Tunisie Numerique reports, were nabbed Tuesday in the town of La Chebba. The men according to security sources, allegedly made and shipped the explosives used in the attack.

Two subside bombers riding motorbikes blew themselves up on March 6 in the Berges du Lac district of Tunis, outside the US embassy.

The attackers targeting a security post, blew themselves up after being stopped by a security officer. The attack left one security officer, Lieutenant Taoufik Mohammed El Nissaoui, dead after succumbing to wounds, the interior ministry said.

Four other security forces and a civilian were also wounded in the attack which has not been claimed by any organization.

Interior minister Hichem Mechich said the explosive used in the attack was homemade.
The restrictions begin at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Eastern time.

By midnight Friday, the new restrictions will be in full force.

But they will not apply to anyone aboard a flight to the United States that left before that time.

Hours after the announcement, it was still unclear how flights that operate regularly between Europe and the United States would be affected, and airlines were scrambling to create contingency plans.

American Airlines said that customers holding U.S. passports or Green Cards attempting to re-enter the United States from Europe would be rebooked, if necessary, to one of the approved airports. But the carrier added that any other passengers who had traveled to one of the Schengen countries within the past two weeks would not be allowed to travel to the United States on its flights.

Air France said it would announce on Thursday whether it would adjust flights as a result of the restrictions. But Norwegian Airlines, a low-cost carrier with several routes between Europe and the United States, said its flights would continue as normal in the short term.

Not all foreign travelers will be subjected to the travel restrictions. The spouses, parents or siblings of American citizens or permanent residents, will be exempt, as will members of the U.S. military and their spouses and children.
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. Armenia Airline made a decision to suspend most of its flights until April 16 due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, the companys deputy CEO Gevorg Khachatryan said on Facebook.

Armenia Airline suspends majority of its flights until April 16 due to the wide spread of the coronavirus which led to the mass return of the tickets. As of now more than 1500 tickets have been returned, all passengers have been refunded or a day change has been made free of charge. The security of the flight crew and passengers is a priority for the Armenia Airline, despite the huge financial losses, he said.

Gevorg Khachatryan informed that all flights en route Yerevan-Lyon-Yerevan are cancelled until April 16, and Yerevan-Tel Aviv-Yerevan flights until April 9.

Armenia confirmed three new coronavirus cases on March 11. As of now the total number of the confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country is 4. The first case was reported on March 1.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
Apropos the editorial Question marks remain over YES Bank rescue by T T Ram Mohan (March 12), it is probably time the regulator reviews its licensing guidelines and the concept of having individual promoters for setting up banks. Many new-generation banks in the private sector with one promoter have failed.

As long as the promoters have the freedom to choose and pick directors, banks will not be safe. Directors should be chosen like the way regulators approve the choice of CEOs and statutory auditors under the joint purview of the Sebi and the RBI. Resignation or sacking of ...
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard(HMD) has won orders for 6 mid-sized PCs(Product/Chemical Tankers).

HMD signed a contract with a European shipowner for the construction of six 50,000-ton class PC ships (including two ships in options) worth about $250 million in January.

The construction of the ships will begin in the first half of this year and will be delivered by the third quarter of 2020.

The Vessel is 183 meters long, 32.2 meters wide, and 19.1 meters high, and can respond to the increasing international environmental regulations by applying HP-SCR system and Scrubber, which are developed by the Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Dart also clarified how testing is being handled. Although the perception is that anyone can be tested for the virus, health officials are testing based on a persons exposure to the virus and his or her symptoms, he said.

There is no reason to test everybody right now, unless there is widespread community penetration, he said.

Reports that the state has the ability to do 300 tests a day are not accurate, Dart told councilors.

It takes six hours to set up each test kit, so we are not doing 300 tests a day, he said.

There has been no community spread of the virus, but Dart said he expects that it will eventually spread throughout Oklahoma.

We are telling people that have been in endemic areas where we know there is a virus to self-quarantine when they come back, Dart said.

Dart suggested that people who believe they need to be tested should call their health care provider or the Tulsa Health Department.

Dart told city councilors the best thing they can do to help the situation is to do everything in their power to provide accurate information to the public.
The (IPS) Association on Thursday strongly condemned an article published by New York Times (NYT) on the conduct of police in Delhi riots, terming it "a combination of biased reporting, dangerous innuendo and outright lies".

In a series of tweets, the IPS Association said, "We strongly condemn the article in on the conduct of Police in Delhi riots, which is a combination of biased reporting, dangerous innuendo and outright lies. The article is clearly a concerted effort to denigrate and defame Indian Institutions."

"Indian Police forces are professional bodies that do their duty without fear or favour. Our personnel are neither Hindus nor Muslims. They are Indians, serve Indians and during critical times they have also sacrificed their lives for Indians, the IPS body said in a subsequent tweet.

The IPS' statement came after the NYT carried a story title 'How Delhi's Police Turned Against Muslims' on its website.

"India's policing culture has long been brutal, biased, anti-minority and almost colonial in character, a holdover from the days of British rule when the police had no illusions of serving the public but we're used to suppressing a restive population," the newspaper reported.

At least 53 people including Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma and a Police Head Constable Rattan Lal died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries in the violence that raged North-East Delhi last month.
New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday (March 12) that over 700 FIRs have been registered and more than 2,600 people arrested based on evidence, while replying to a debate in Rajya Sabha on Delhi riots.

The Home Minister said that those responsible for the recent riots in Delhi will be brought to book irrespective of their caste, religion and political affiliations, adding that 1922 faces have been identified using facial identification software.

He further informed that 50 serious cases of murder, attacks on religious places, hospitals, and educational institutions being handed over to three SITs.



Amit Shah said that the Modi government was not running away from a debate on this issue but wanted a peaceful Holi, adding that no Supreme Court guideline on privacy has been violated and no Aadhaar data has been used.

Earlier, the BJP issued a whip to all its Rajya Sabha members to remain in the House during the important discussion.

In the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Home Minister Amit Shah said that no incident of rioting took place in the national capital after February 25, and added that there was "a deep conspiracy" behind the Delhi riots. Shah had also vowed not to spare anyone nvolved in the Delhi violence irrespective of their religion, caste or party affiliation.

Despite opposition's criticism over alleged inaction by the Delhi Police during the violence last month, the Home Minister appreciated the police for not allowing the riots to spiral. He also complimented the Delhi Police for controlling the riots within 36 hours.

He said that a case of conspiracy was filed after looking at how the riots spread in such a short span of time, adding that more than 300 people apparently came from Uttar Pradesh.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives and conveying his condolences to the bereaved families, Shah said he wants to assure them that no one who was involved in the riots will be spared.

Shah also said he didn't attend various events related US President Donald Trump's visit to Delhi as he was busy with Delhi police in formulating strategy to control the violence. He also said it was on his request that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited the riot-affected areas to raise morale of the Delhi police.

Giving details of the casualties due to riots, he said, "52 Indians lost their lives during the violence", adding "I won't give figures in 'Hindu-Muslim'. 52 Indians have died, 526 Indians have been injured. Shops of 371 Indians were set ablaze and houses of 142 Indians were burned."
Phuket airport readies to roll out COVID-19 entry requirements

PHUKET: Officers at Phuket International Airport today held a series of urgent meetings ahead of implementing the new requirements to be applied to people arriving in the country to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

CoronavirusCOVID-19

By The Phuket News

Thursday 12 March 2020, 05:52PM

Areas at Phuket airport where passengers will have their details checked were bring prepared today. Photo: AoT Phuket

Areas at Phuket airport where passengers will have their details checked were bring prepared today. Photo: AoT Phuket

Areas at Phuket airport where passengers will have their details checked were bring prepared today. Photo: AoT Phuket

All passengers must provide personal and travel details via an app or by paper form before they will be allowed to enter the country. Image: AoT

Phuket International Airport General Manager Thanee Chuangchoo told The Phuket News today that the new requirements will be brought into effect at Phuket airport tomorrow (Mar 13).

Under the new requirements, all people arriving from the six identified risk areas  China, South Korea, Macau, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran  must present medical certificates in order to be allowed into the country.

Meanwhile, all international travellers arriving at Phuket airport will be required to provide personal and travel details so that health officials will be able to track down any potential infections.

An officer at the Phuket Airport Health Control Division explained that after passengers disembark, they will have their body temperatures checked as usual and then be asked to move to an area set up just before the Immigration counters where the medical history checks will be made.

We will check that all people arriving from the six risk areas of China, South Korea, Macau, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran have valid medical certificates, the officer said.

The medical certificates must confirm that the holder is not infected with COVID-19 and must be issued by a hospital, the officer added.

At the same area in the airport, officers will check that each passenger has entered their medical history in a T.8 form by using the AOT Airports app for mobile phones.

The AOT Airports app is available for download at the App Store (click here) and on Google Play (click here).

Travellers must provide personal details such as their nationality, age and career as well as how long they will be staying in Thailand and where they will be staying, the officer said.

The form also requires each traveller to provide their passport details and travel flight details, including their seat number on their flight, as well as the countries visited during the 14 days before arriving in Thailand and any health issues experienced in the two weeks before arriving.

Any persons not carrying a mobile phone with them will be able to complete a paper version of the T.8 form, Airport Director Mr Thanee confirmed.

Passengers who refuse to complete the form adequately will not be allowed to enter the country.

Any persons arriving from any of the six risk areas who fail to present a valid medical certificate also will not be allowed to enter the country, Mr Thanee confirmed.

Asked whether the medical certificate requirement applied to travellers who only transited via any of the six risk areas, Mr Thanee said, All transit [passengers] from risk countries also must have certificate.

Asked how that was possible while the passengers were in transit, Mr Thanee replied, That is the passengers responsibility. My responsibility is to protect against the spread of the virus.
Britain's biggest banks pledged last night to immediately make available 20billion of emergency cash to small and medium-sized enterprises brought to their knees by coronavirus.

The commitment was made at a high-level meeting called by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak at the Treasury, attended by the governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, his successor Andrew Bailey and the chief executives of the major banks.

At the follow-up session to his coronavirus budget  at which the Chancellor committed 12billion to combat disruption caused by the virus  Sunak said the Government would do 'everything it takes to support businesses through this difficult time'.

At a meeting called by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, banks pledged to make available 20bn of emergency cash to small and medium sized enterprises brought to their knees by coronavirus

His Budget stimulus package includes a 'Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme', which provides lenders with a guarantee of 80 per cent on each loan, extending statutory sick pay, business rates relief, and small business grant funding.

The Bank of England also unleashed emergency stimulus on Wednesday worth up to 290billion, designed to boost lending to struggling firms and homes.

Carney declared the Bank would be 'monitoring closely how the banks use the enormous resources to help keep firms in business.'

Stephen Jones, boss of UK Finance, which represents the banking industry, noted the banks were already responding to the crisis through repayment holidays, invoice-free extensions and fee-free emergency loans.
The National Transport Authority has announced funding for a new community transport service in Longford, one of only six around the country.

Providing a decent public transport option for people in rural areas is a critical element of what the NTA is about, said Anne Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the NTA.

Also read: 'Stay calm, the panic is more toxic than the virus itself'

The community transport operates to support the work of Rath Mhuire & Dolmen Community Resource Services which is based in Granard.

It was selected to receive funding after a closed call for applications was made to the network of Local Link Offices throughout the country.

It is hoped that it will help to connect people living in remote and isolated rural areas to their community and services.

Being able to get out and about is a vital way to stay part of the local community, and having access to local amenities can make a real difference to a person living in an isolated or rural area, said Margaret Malone, Rural Transport Programme Manager.

Also read: Longford/Westmeath TDs frustrated as government talks still no nearer to reaching successful outcome

The scheme provides grant aid for 12-month period, with the key aim of providing a community transport service that is accessible to all service users and that addresses rural social exclusion, explained Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon Chairperson Tom Farrell.

The grant aid, of up to 6,000 per project funds activities directly associated with providing a community transport service. To date, six community car schemes in five counties have been approved.

Local Link provides a nationwide bus service in rural areas around Ireland with a significant focus on providing accessible transport options for passengers.

This project represents continued investment in rural transport by the state, said Cllr Farrell.

Local Link is already a great success story and has become a permanent part of Irelands public transport system. The Governments Ireland 2040 Plan makes a commitment to the future funding of Local Link, which means that the programme will not only survive, but will thrive and develop at the heart of rural communities in the years to come.

Also read: Blow to Longford economy as Pamela Scott is set to close
Experts have warned that the epidemic would lead to increased risk in asset quality.

Bad debts are expected to increase from borrowers in production and trade fields.



In its latest report released on March 2, Moodys warned that the asset quality of the banks in Vietnam may be at risk because of the interruption of supply chains. If the epidemic lasts a long time, the bad debts in the production and business will increase because Vietnam is heavily relying on global supply chains.





Standard Chartered Bank has recently announced its assessment of the impacts of Covid-19 on Asian economies. The major impacts include the direct influences to economies, the interruption of material supplies and the sharp fall in tourism demand from China.



The bank said China provides over 20 percent of total goods used for production. As for Vietnam, the imports of materials account for more than 30 percent.

The impact may be strongest in Q1 with the growth rate predicted to slow down to 4.5 percent compared with the same period last year, and the recovery would be seen only in the second half of the year.

As such, the epidemic will have the biggest impacts on production, which was the key driver for Vietnams economic growth in recent years.

The impact may be strongest in Q1 with the growth rate predicted to slow down to 4.5 percent compared with the same period last year, and the recovery would be seen only in the second half of the year.



The production growth rate is predicted to decrease to 8 percent this year from 11.3 percent in 2019, which may cutem 0.4-0.6 percentage points of GDP growth rate.



On February 24, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) released a document requesting credit institutions to restructure debt payments and apply measures to help borrowers overcome the difficulties caused by Covid-19.



This helps ease bad debt increases in the short term. However, if the epidemic persists, this measure may delay the recognition of bad debts at many banks, thus degrading the asset quality of these banks.



According to Maybank Kim Eng Securities, only a few commercial banks, including Vietcombank, ACB, MBBank and VP Bank, are capable of coping with shocks in short term, thanks to the provisioning against bad debts.



Of these, Vietcombank and ACB reportedly have high asset quality and good provisioning against risks. The banks are expected to be able to maintain high profit growth in 2020 (20-26 percent) and ROE at 21-23 percent.



Thoi Bao Kinh Doanh quoted experts as saying that the goal of the banking sector to reduce the bad debt ratio to below 3 percent this year may be unattainable, because of Covid-19 presence internationally.

VP Bank estimated that 1,000 of its clients have been affected by the epidemic and the figure may increase.

Mai Lan

Epidemic causes credit growth to slow significant in first two months Credit growth of the banking system in the first two months of this year reached only 0.06 percent, slowing significantly against the 1 percent rate in the same period last year, due to impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The Congress on Thursday condemned the police action against its two ministers who had gone to meet the MLAs lodged in Bengaluru amid the political developments threatening the survival of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh.

"Our two ministers Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh, along with the father of a party legislator who is kept at a resort in Bengaluru, had gone to meet the MLAs but they were taken to a police station," AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik told reporters at a Jaipur resort where Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh are lodged since Wednesday.

Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh are ministers in the Kamal Nath-led Madhya Pradesh government.

Alleging the "misuse of power" by the BJP, the Congress leader said the saffron party was conspiring to topple the MP government.

He said the party will launch an agitation if they were not released.

"It is very unfortunate. Such an attempt to shatter the democracy did not happen before," he said.

The Congress leader alleged that the MLAs kept in Bengaluru have not been allowed to carry mobile phones.

A Congress MLA lodged at one of the two Jaipur resorts said the BJP was trying to "murder the democracy", which will not be tolerated.

He also informed that a meeting over the Rajya Sabha elections was held in the resort.

Nearly 90 MLAs from Madhya Pradesh are lodged in the two Jaipur resorts since Wednesday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Several new coronavirus patients have been reported in South Korea after their trips to European nations, particularly virus-hit Italy, prompting the health authorities here to raise their guard against further imported virus cases.



The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said starting Sunday, they will apply strict quarantine measures against entrants from Germany, Spain, Britain and the Netherlands.



Also subject to the enhanced quarantine measures are those who arrive here via Dubai and Moscow if they have been to Europe in the previous two weeks.



A total number of COVID-19 patients in Europe surpassed 18,000, with Italy reporting 2,313 new cases, the largest daily increase. The country's total number of infections increased to 12,462, with the death toll at 827.



Beginning Thursday, all people who arrive in South Korea after visiting Italy and Iran are required to get fever checks and submit papers on their health conditions, officials said. Such requirements have been applied to people who have visited mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong.



The strict measures came as some South Koreans were infected with the novel coronavirus after trips to Europe.



A 28-year-old male, living in Uijeongbu, just north of Seoul, has tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting London and Paris, city government officials said.



The patient, who had traveled to the two European countries between Feb. 27 and Saturday, entered South Korea via the country's main gateway, Incheon International Airport, on Sunday, they said.






A relocation services industry conference to be held May 13-15 in Houston has been rescheduled because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Worldwide ERC, a trade association, announced Thursday it would host a "virtual summit" and said it would reschedule the planned Advance 2020 in-person event as it monitored recommendations of health organizations.
Photo: Simon Allardice/Flickr

Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in New York City.

Report: Trump Organization allegedly paid bribes to lower property tax bill

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Read the full story on The Daily Beast.

CBS News shutters office after two employees get coronavirus

CBS News shut down its New York City headquarters for cleaning and disinfecting on Wednesday after two of its employees tested positive for coronavirus.

Read the full story on Fox 11 Los Angeles.

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison on rape, criminal sex act convictions

Harvey Weinstein, 67, was sentenced in New York City on Wednesday to 23 years in prison for third-degree rape and a criminal sex act, as he mainted he simply had consenual "extramarrital affairs" with the victims.

Read the full story on Fox News.

Mayor says that healthy people should still be dining out

"If you're not sick, you should be going about your life," Bill de Blasio said Wednesday

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Read the full story on www.fbherald.com.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 01:58:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has shared its experience from China's fight against COVID-19 with political parties around the world, bolstering its efforts to aid countries in stemming the virus' spread.

In a letter sent to more than 60 countries on Wednesday, the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee briefed 110 leaders of political parties on the current anti-virus situation in China while expressing gratitude for their support in China's anti-virus efforts.

The letter said that the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has prioritized ensuring the life, safety and health of the Chinese people in its response, and adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough-going measures to curb the virus' spread.

The department said Xi has guided China's anti-virus battle by making vital and timely decisions, and leading the containment arrangements.

Thanks to arduous endeavors nationwide, China has basically arrested the spread of COVID-19, with the overall anti-virus situation improving and the order of life and production being restored at an increasing pace, it said, stressing that China has the confidence, capability and determination to win the final victory over the epidemic.

The department said China's efforts in the anti-virus battle have illustrated the effectiveness of the measures taken by the CPC and the Chinese government in coping with COVID-19, which the World Health Organization (WHO) and political party leaders in a majority of the world's countries have lauded.

It said leaders of over 300 political parties and groups from over 120 countries have sent messages to General Secretary Xi and the CPC Central Committee to express their support to the CPC-led battle against the coronavirus, while lauding Xi's wise decisions and strong leadership as well as the unprecedented speed and scale of China's response.

The leaders said China has worked diligently to protect people in and beyond China from the virus, and made important contributions to the global anti-virus efforts by buying time and accumulating experience for the world to better prepare.

According to the department, the leaders in their messages said China's anti-virus efforts have showcased the strong leadership of the CPC with General Secretary Xi at the core and the governing concept of placing the people's interests at the center.

China's efforts to stem the virus' spread are indicative of a traditional culture of people coming together to help one another hit by disaster, the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and the Chinese nation's indomitable courage and patriotism, they said.

The department also said in the letter that China has been open, transparent and responsible in its anti-virus fight, timely releasing information related to the virus and playing an active part in international efforts to fight the disease.

Moreover, while being engaged in its own fight against the virus, a sympathizing China has shared with virus-hit countries the valuable experience from its own fight, and provided necessary support and assistance to those severely hit by donating test kits, protective suits and other medical supplies, despite its own difficulties, said the department.

It added that Chinese medical experts are now working in some countries to help them fight the virus.

Currently, many countries are threatened by a further spread of COVID-19, it said, adding that the CPC is willing to work with the political parties of other countries to jointly defeat the virus globally.

In the letter, the department said the virus outbreak shows how in an era of globalization, countries are increasingly becoming an inseparable community defined by a shared future.

It said that global public health security calls for countries to work together and that the CPC stands ready to work with political parties around the world to defeat the outbreak and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humankind.
After a "dead on arrival" Coast Guard budget request last year, the president's proposed fiscal 2021 budget for the service had a better reception from lawmakers Tuesday.

However, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Chairwoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-California, told Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz that she is concerned the request does not include enough to tackle the service's maintenance backlog.

"It really concerns me that, despite the nearly $2 billion backlog of crumbling shore infrastructure, which you just described, 40% of which is over -- my understanding -- 50 years or older, that the president's budget request proposes deep cuts to last year's enacted level for all the lines that fund infrastructure," she said.

Congress appropriated about $12.2 billion for the Coast Guard in fiscal 2020, allocating roughly $1.8 billion for the service's procurement, construction and improvement fund. While next year's overall budget request is for a similar amount, it decreases this capital fund by about $135 million.

Related: 1,000 Coast Guard Kids May Get Kicked Out of On-Base Care as DoD Reorganizes

Schultz assured the congresswoman he is optimistic about the progress the Coast Guard is making to address the backlog of repairs needed to the cutter piers, base facilities, training centers and military housing units.

Subcommittee members' other focus in the hearing was on efforts to replace the Coast Guard's aging fleet.

Roybal-Allard said committee staff toured a small inland cutter in Alabama that is so old, its boiler has not worked for 12 years, its engine is "obsolete" and replacement parts are no longer made. She added that lead paint contamination on this ship is so bad, the crew's lead levels are monitored.

The proposed budget would allocate $546 million for the Offshore Patrol Cutter program and another $555 million to fully fund construction of the Polar Security Cutter, which would replace the 44-year-old icebreaker Polar Star around 2024.

"I'm incredibly proud of [the Polar Star crew's] efforts, but I remain concerned that we're only one major casualty away from being a nation without any heavy icebreaking capability or capacity," Schultz said.

Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger, D-Maryland, echoed those concerns, pushing Schultz to explain to the committee the competition the service faces in the Arctic with Russia and China.

"By 2025, arguably China will have more icebreaking capacity than the United States government, not just the Coast Guard," Schultz said, adding that the service is the "face of the nation up there" because the Navy doesn't conduct many operations in the Arctic.

Russia is interested in using the Arctic as a "toll road," Schultz said, as an alternative to ships traveling via the Suez Canal.

"I think long-ball, you know, that [there are] some areas up there where potential freedom of navigation disputes that happened today in the East and South China seas might be happening in the northern route," Schultz said.

The budget also includes more than $30 million to update the service's electronic infrastructure and $13 million for modernizing its training system and implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives -- an investment the Democratic lawmakers said they support.

-- Dorothy Mills-Gregg can be reached at dorothy.mills-gregg@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DMillsGregg.

Read More: Defense Department Orders 60-Day Troop Travel Ban for Virus-Afflicted Countries
Hong Kong: 2 COVID-19 cases announced

The Centre for Health Protection today announced it is investigating two additional confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The first case involves a 37-year-old man who is the husband of the 31-year-old female patient of the 130th case confirmed on March 11.

The patient with good past health arrived in Hong Kong with his wife and son from the UK on February 29 and stayed at his parents-in-laws flat at iPlace on Castle Peak Road in Kwai Chung.

He developed a fever on March 3 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment during contact tracing by the centre on March 11.

His son has developed a runny nose and was sent to the same hospital.

His parents-in-law are asymptomatic and have been arranged for quarantine.

The second case involves a 31-year-old man with underlying illness who lives at Serene Court in Kennedy Town.

He developed fever, myalgia and diarrhoea since March 8 and attended a clinic on March 11 and then attended the Accident & Emergency Department at Queen Mary Hospital.

He tested positive for the virus today and has been arranged for management at Tuen Mun Hospital.

The patient had been to Boston in the US between February 22 and March 1. He then travelled from Boston to Manila in the Philippines on March 2 via Tokyo, Japan. He returned to Hong Kong from Manila by Cathay Pacific flight CX930 on March 8.

His wife, who lives with him, is asymptomatic and will be quarantined.

The centres epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi, March 12 : The opposition members in the Lok Sabha on Thursday turned down a request by Speaker Om Birla asking for the House members to be present on Saturday and Sunday to discuss demands of grants.

With the Lower House being frequently adjourned for several days over Delhi riots debate issue, the Speaker wanted weekend session during the second leg of budget session to complete all business that were disrupted due to the ruckus.

The House runs from Monday to Friday and remains close on the weekends during working session.

The Speaker said: "The House has remained adjourned for days, so it would be wise if we run the the House on Saturday and Sunday. But I will take the consent of the House on the issue." Om Birla was a bit disappointed when the opposition members said that they would not be able to be present during the weekends.

Usually MPs return to their constituencies on weekends to take care of electorate related assignments. As the members of the treasury benches remained silent, the Speaker then accepted the mood of the house and said that if the House did not wish to sit on weekends then he has no issues.

After a pause, the Speaker added: "However, I would suggest we should sit late till evening if we have to deal with budget related discussion." The House agreed to working late.
Kathmandu: Nepal's government said it was suspending climbing permits for Mount Everest and all of the other peaks in the country due to concern over the spread of the coronavirus.

The decision effectively shuts down the world's tallest mountain since China already closed its side of Everest over similar fears.

A photo of climbers lining up at the summit of Mount Everest in May 2019. Credit:AP

Shutting down the popular spring climbing season across the country was a precautionary measure to block any possibility of the spread of the virus, said Surendra Thapa, an official with Nepal's Department of Tourism, which issues climbing permits.

The government also said it was cancelling all visas on arrival for tourists and that those arriving after Saturday would be subject to 14 days of self- quarantine.

Visitors will also no longer be able enter through land borders and must travel through the only international airport, which is situated in the capital, Kathmandu.

Nepal has eight of the highest peaks in the world and the adventurers who head to the country to climb them are a significant source of revenue for the government and the thousands of workers who support the expeditions. So are trekkers and other tourists who flock to the Himalayan nation.

Even before the closure, expedition operators in Nepal had said cancellations for the spring climbing season had been pouring in.

There had been concerns about the new virus and how it could spread among climbers living for weeks on the mountains in shared tents in extreme temperatures. Fever, coughs and colds are already common among climbers.

Nepal so far has had one confirmed case of the virus. The Nepali student who returned home for a holiday from China has already recovered.

AP
A British military medic has died alongside two Americans following a rocket attack on a joint airbase in Iraq, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Twelve other people were injured when 18 small rockets hit Camp Taji near Baghdad on Wednesday, according to US officials, who warned the death toll could increase.

The British victim was a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps, the MoD confirmed.

The service persons family have been informed and have requested a period of privacy before further details are released, it said in a statement released early on Wednesday morning.

Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends at this sad time.

Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq Show all 6 1 /6 Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq Oil spills in Qayyarah, northern Iraq Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq Plumes of black smoke from burning oil wells hung over Qayyarah for several months Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq The burning of oil wells and oil spills have caused long term damage to the environment in Iraq Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq Experts still do not know the extent of the damage from Isis's burning of oil wells and polluting of rivers Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq Soil and water pollution is high in northern Iraq and impacting agriculture Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX Isiss scorched earth tactics damaged northern Iraq There are fears if environmental damage is not taken seriously agriculture in northern Iraq could be destroyed Wim Zwijnenburg/PAX

Defence secretary Ben Wallace called the attack a cowardly and retrograde act.

He added: The men and women of the UK armed forces are in Iraq to help that country establish stability and prosperity. The people that did this are not friends of Iraq.

My thoughts are with the families of those whose loved ones have been killed or injured. We shall not forget their sacrifice and will ensure those who committed these acts face justice.

Taji airbase is used as a training site by forces who are part of the US-led military coalition in Iraq.

One witness told of hearing screams of panic at the camp as sirens rang out.

Ali Al Dulaimy, a 28-year-old Iraqi journalist, filmed the attack from the town of Balad to the north of Taji.

Speaking to PA news agency, he said: I heard screams and panic at the American forces inside the camp, and they were rushing to extinguish the fires that devoured the camp.

There were soldiers shouting and sirens. It was in an agricultural area 10km near the camp.

He added the rockets appeared to have been fired at precise targets.

Approximately 18 Katyusha rockets struck the base, according to a statement issued by Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. Iraqi security forces found a rocket-rigged truck a few miles away.

Prime minister Boris Johnson labelled the attack deplorable.

He said: Our servicemen and women work tirelessly every day to uphold security and stability in the region  their presence makes us all safer.

The foreign secretary has spoken to the US secretary of state and we will continue to liaise with our international partners to fully understand the details of this abhorrent attack.

American officials said it was too early to assign blame for the rocket attack, but any indication that Iran-backed militia were responsible could spark a new round of confrontations between Washington and Tehran.

Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi Shia paramilitary group supported by Iran, carried out a rocket attack that killed a US contractor at a military base in Kirkuk in December, prompting American military strikes in response.

That led to protests at the US embassy in Baghdad which were followed on 2 January by a US airstrike that killed Irans most powerful military officer, General Qasem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

Kataib Hezbollah has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation by the US State Department since 2009.

About 400 British military personnel remained deployed in Iraq across three main bases  Camp Taji, Union III in Baghdad, and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Additional reporting by agencies
A close aide to Brazils president who attended a dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend tested positive for coronavirus.

Fabio Wajngarten, President Jair Bolsonaros communications secretary, had his diagnosis confirmed by a second test on Thursday, according to a statement from the presidential palace. He was part of the presidential entourage during a trip to Florida earlier this week. Pictures posted on social media show him side-by-side with Trump, wearing a Make Brazil Great Again hat.

Bolsonaro cancelled his official agenda on Thursday and remains at the official residence, under medical observation.

The presidential medical service is adopting all preventative measures to protect the health of the president and all those who accompanied him during a recent trip to the U.S., the statement read.

Asked about the news, the U.S. president said he was not concerned.

We did nothing very unusual, we sat next to each other for a period of time, he told reporters at the White House.

Three other high-ranking authorities accompanied Bolsonaro during his dinner with Trump: Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo; Foreign Affairs Minister Ernesto Araujo, and Institutional Security Minister Augusto Heleno.

Before returning home, Bolsonaro minimized the coronavirus crisis in a speech to the Brazilian community in Miami. We have a small crisis at the moment, he said on Tuesday. Coronavirus isnt all that the media is talking about.
Sources in the know said the amount was being paid to show Nuvocos commitment to finalise the agreement, which it signed with Emami last month for acquisition of the cement assets. A source said Nuvoco had already applied to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for its clearance to take forward the acquisition plan and the deal can be ...

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Lawyers for the courageous whistleblower Chelsea Manning have confirmed that the 32-year-old was rushed to a hospital on Wednesday after an attempted suicide while incarcerated in a federal detention center in Alexandria, Virginia.

Manning has been subjected to solitary confinement and punitive daily fines for one year as of today, for refusing a subpoena to testify in a secret grand jury against Wikileaks founder and publisher Julian Assange.

Assange is currently being held in Londons maximum security Belmarsh Prison as he awaits possible extradition to the US, where he faces up to 170 years in prison for charges under the Espionage Act for publishing documents exposing imperialist war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan that had been leaked by Manning in 2010.

Chelsea Manning

Manning previously served seven years of a 35-year sentence in a military brig after she was convicted of violating the Espionage Act and other laws for releasing the documents that would become known as the Iraq War Logs, Afghan War Diary and a video dubbed Collateral Murder by WikiLeaks, which showed the murder of Reuters reporters in Baghdad by US helicopter gunships. Her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama in one of his last acts as president, but Manning was not pardoned, leaving her with a criminal record.

The Daily Mail reported that Manning was found unresponsive in her cell by guards with a bed sheet wrapped around her neck. Manning was being housed in a special housing unit, or SHU. SHUs, also known as administrative separation, solitary, segregated housing, the hole or administrative confinement, are roughly 80-foot cold, concrete, windowless cells in which the imprisoned are forced to remain alone for 22-23 hours a day.

Inmates in this status are typically given one hour to shower, before being permitted to go outside for the remainder of their allotted time. Reading material is heavily restricted, as are visitation hours. That Manning would be put in this status in light of her past suicide attempts, as recently as 2016, is a blatant disregard for her well-being and proof that the US government is indifferent to her safety.

Far from serving a rehabilitative purpose, SHUs are used as a form of punishment and have been described by those unfortunate enough to experience them as a slow death. Effects from prolonged exposure to solitary confinement, include depression, psychosis, panic attacks, paranoia, diminished impulse control, hypersensitivity to external stimuli, and difficulties with thinking, concentration, memory and suicidal ideations.

Manning has not been charged with a crime, but instead is being imprisoned for refusing to comply with a grand jury subpoena. Under these legal conditions, incarceration is meant to be coercive, not punitive; however, it is clear that the US government is using the indefinite prison term as a means of punishing Manning again for her exposure of their war crimes. If Manning dies in prison, the responsibility will lie with the war criminals which she bravely exposed.

In a 2019 letter to Judge Anthony J. Trenga, Manning defended her principles, making clear that incarceration would never force her to testify and made clear her fundamental objection to the secretive grand jury process.

Manning stated, I object to this grand jury  as an effort to frighten journalists and publishers, who serve a crucial public good. I have had these values since I was a child, and Ive had years of confinement to reflect on them. For much of that time, I depended for survival on my values, my decisions, and my conscience. I will not abandon them now.

In a November 2019 report, Dr. Nils Melzer, the United Nations special rapporteur on torture, argued that Mannings continued imprisonment fulfilled all the constitutive elements of torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

In a statement posted by Mannings legal team on sparrowmedia.net, Mannings lawyers confirmed that she is recovering in a local hospital and is still slated to appear on Friday before judge Trenga, who 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.

Mannings lawyers assert that Chelsea remains unwavering in her refusal to participate in a secret grand jury process that she sees as highly susceptible to abuse.

Manning has honorably and bravely stood up against the US government, which is torturing her in an attempt to force her to renege on her 2013 testimony regarding Assange. Manning has maintained that she released thousands of classified diplomatic, along with the the infamous Collateral Murder video and hundreds of thousands of US army war logs on Iraq and Afghanistan to Wikileaks on her own accord and without assistance or persuasion from the former Wikileaks editor.

Melzer has written and spoken powerfully in defense of both Assange and Manning in the face of obstruction and silence from the governments of the US, UK, Sweden, Ecuador and Australia. Melzer has repeatedly warned the public about the gross violations against Assange and Mannings due process rights, as well as the arbitrary detention both have faced for revealing war crimes committed by the imperialist powers. The collective gang-up by these powerful states against Assange and Manning has had a devastating impact on their mental health, from which neither may ever recover.

Manning has spent a majority of the past decade behind bars for exposing the murderous criminality of the US state. The vindictiveness and cruelty that have been inflicted on her and Assange, beginning with the Democrats under the Obama administration, and continuing under Trump, testify to the fear and disdain the ruling class has for truth and free speech.

Manning has been abandoned by the Democratic Party, with not a word said about her during the debates or in campaign speeches made by the prospective candidates.

If Manning survives her 18-month detention, which is far from a guarantee, she will have been fined nearly half a million, $440,000. She has already lost her apartment and as the latest events illustrate, she is under severe psychological stress and torment.

If Manning, Assange and other brave antiwar activists such as Jeremy Hammondwho, like Manning, is being arbitrarily detained in the same Alexandria prison for refusing to testify before a secret grand jury aimed at the WikiLeaks founderare to be freed, it will be up to the international working class. There is no constituency in the ruling class for the defense of democratic rights, as Jeremey Corbyn's cowardly silence while leader of the UK Labour Party over Assanges imprisonment testifies.

This is in stark contrast to the Socialist Equality Party, which has organized rallies and defense committees in support of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning around the globe. Their lives depend on workers and youth standing up, independent of the parties of capital who have overseen their torture, and joining with the SEP to fight for their freedom.
[March 12, 2020] Control of Money Transportation and Patch Management via Infotecs Encrypted Mobile Network Connection

BERLIN, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Apprich Secur GmbH is one of the leading manufacturers and vendors of money transportation and special vehicles. To protect the transported goods and vehicles, Apprich Secur needs innovative solutions. The company's clients are major banks, security companies, organizations, and logistics providers from across Europe. Clients of Apprich Secur appreciate the company's long-term experience and the way Apprich Secur manufactures vehicles according to individual requirements and equip the vehicles with innovative technologies that provide the best possible protection. At Apprich Secur, everything is focused on the protection of the driver, goods, and vehicle, as well as on methods of protecting money and goods vehicles in a more intelligent way. "To access the money vehicles remotely via a mobile data network, we use the encrytion technology by Infotecs GmbH, Berlin, in our vehicles," says Mr. Friedrich from the Electronics Development Team at Apprich Secur. With the Always-On functionality of the ViPNet Software Defined VPN solution, it is possible to connect to the vehicles securely via a mobile data network at any time. As the vehicles constantly move across cells of mobile network providers, the manufacturer of special vehicles was looking for a solution that will allow staying connected to the vehicles with the Always-On technology  and has found it in the ViPNet Technology implemented with MICA in a container. Other VPN solutions require re-establishing a secured connection after every connection loss or after changing the mobile network provider.



The solution by Infotecs shows a very low latency in data transfer. Thus, it is possible to seamlessly install software updates on the vehicles remotely. MICA Wireless Hardware with an e-SIM is built-in into the vehicles. With a global roaming agreement, it is not necessary to enter into separate mobile service agreements with each mobile provider in different countries where the vehicles are used. MICA Hardware also offers the possibility to transfer the telemetry data of a specific vehicle manufacturer's bus system and then assess it for the predictive and preventive maintenance analysis. The mobile network technology also offers new vehicle monitoring options. Although GPS location tracking of vehicles is impossible in tunnels etc., the operators can now track the vehicles continuously via a mobile network, which is available in each tunnel. This significantly increases the security according to the requirements for money and goods transportation companies.

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Air France, which operates 121 flights weekly between the United States, said on Thursday that it would fly only a handful of routes from Friday until March 28 and was working on a plan to operate beyond that. The French government said it was ready to provide state aid  an extraordinary step normally forbidden under European Union rules.

The impact will multiply very rapidly in the hours and days to come, said Roland Heguy, president of the Umih, the French trade association of hotels and restaurants. Many countries will be hit, he said, adding that 95 percent of hotels, cafes and restaurants in France were already suffering revenue declines of up to 40 percent because of the coronavirus.

Given how much economic damage has already been done in Europe from the epidemic, some economists said the travel ban, while shocking, would not meaningfully deepen the downturn  and might even help hasten a recovery.

Considering all the other restrictions on movement already in place in Europe, in and of itself the ban is not a huge economic event, said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank. You could even argue that it is a blessing in disguise if it has the effect of slowing the spread in the United States, he said.

Because the epidemic is a medical emergency, he added, the most important thing governments can do to to ensure economic recovery is to prevent the virus from spreading more widely, even if it inflicts financial pain on companies.

At the moment, significant short-term economic costs should be incurred if it helps with the medical emergency, he said. If it slows the spread of the epidemic to give us enough time to cope, that would be very valuable.

Nonetheless, the abrupt travel ban threatened a further blow to tourism-dependent industries on both sides of the Atlantic, and added to the problems of world leaders trying to preserve jobs in the face of the relentless coronavirus outbreak.
Up to 1.6 million people in New South Wales could be hit by the first wave of a statewide coronavirus outbreak, health authorities warn, with up to 80,000 people likely to require intensive care simultaneously.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant says preparations are underway for 20 per cent of the state's eight million residents to catch COVID-19.

If 20 per cent of the total population were to catch the disease, up to five million Australians could be infected.

Dr Chant expects every person who becomes ill will pass it on to 2.68 others on average - although this could be reduced through self-isolation, social distancing and handwashing.

Health authorities are warning up to 1.6million people in New South Wales could be infected by coronavirus (pictured: People waiting outside Royal Melbourne Hospital to be tested)

'We're anticipating 20 per cent of the population in the first wave to be affected,' Dr Chant told a NSW budget estimates hearing on Thursday.

She said forecasts showed five per cent of residents affected by coronavirus - or up to 80,000 people - would require intensive care.

The World Health Organisation overnight declared the global crisis a pandemic, sounding the alarm about mounting infection rates and slow government responses.

Dr Chant said NSW Health was planning to double the state's intensive care unit capacity and double the availability of ventilators.

The response is in relation to both COVID-19 and the start of the flu season.

'We think doubling is prudent in the first stage,' Dr Chant said.

'But if we have to do more, that's fine.'

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (pictured) says preparations are underway for 20 per cent of the state's eight million residents to catch COVID-19

Authorities have not yet finalised plans for so-called 'drive-through' coronavirus testing sites.

The number of NSW cases has reached 77, the origin of four of them unclear.

Dr Chant implored anyone flying into NSW from overseas - not solely from banned countries China, South Korea, Iran and Italy - to distance themselves.

'Practically, you should attempt to keep ... 1.5 metres between yourself and others, avoid crowds, mass gatherings,' she said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday will meet with state and territory counterparts at COAG to discuss the possibility of mass closures of schools, universities and large events.

She encouraged residents to stay home if they felt ill.

'There's no need to panic, to massively change what you're doing, but it's not business as usual,' Ms Berejiklian told reporters.

As many as 80,000 people are likely to require intensive care simultaneously, health authorities warn

The Lismore campus of Southern Cross University reopened on Thursday after an overseas-based staff member attended a series of workshops before returning to the Philippines.

Vice-chancellor Adam Shoemaker said 45 people were believed to have come into contact with the man.

NSW Health on Wednesday said COVID-19 clinics will be opened in all local health districts to diagnose patients with symptoms.

Royal North Shore, Royal Prince Alfred, John Hunter and Nepean hospitals will soon have the capacity to test for COVID-19.

Currently, only Prince of Wales, Westmead and Liverpool hospitals are able to.

Authorities are investigating a virus cluster in Sydney's northwest centred on Ryde Hospital and the Dorothy Henderson Lodge nursing home.

The Transport Workers' Union, meanwhile, has demanded NSW bus drivers be given more information and resources to protect themselves.
Express-News file photo

The 51st annual Queen of Soul Pageant will still go on as scheduled Saturday, despite coronavirus fears, the Fiesta Commission said Thursday.

"The 51st annual Queen of Soul Pageant will go on as scheduled this Saturday, March 14, at the Carver Community Cultural Center at 8:00 p.m.," the organization said via Twitter. "We will be sure to update all if there are any changes to the event here on our social media accounts."
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed concern at the slowdown of the Indian economy and said that the nations economy had been destroyed by the BJP government in power at the Centre.

In 2008, there was a similar shock wave. The Indian economy was protected by our policies. We can see what is happening to the stock market. The economy has been destroyed by the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi told reporters outside Parliament.

Referring to the Yes Bank crisis, the Congress leader said, Youre taking legitimate money from the State Bank of India and trying to save Yes Bank. I am seeing a monumental tragedy unfolding here.

Watch | Like a tsunami: Rahul Gandhi blames PM Modi for Indias economic slowdown

What we have seen is only the beginning of a tsunami, things will get worse. Prime Minister Modi is not speaking a word on the grim shape of the economy, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman does not even understand the economy, Gandhi said.

The Congress leader also accused the Prime Minister of not doing enough to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus as the number of infected cases climbed to 73 on Thursday. Coronavirus is seriously affecting the economy. It is already too late and the Central government should take measures to minimize the damage caused due to the pandemic, he said.

Narendra Modi is sleeping at the wheel, Gandhi said on the governments reaction and efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.

The Congress leader demanded to know what kind of action the BJP-led government would take to mitigate the damage caused by the disease. The PM should explain what his strategy is to get us out of this mess. I have tweeted in the past few months regarding coronavirus, post which the government got into some action. Its too late but we need to start taking some action to prevent any further damage that is likely to happen, he said.

A day after former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party; Gandhi said that Scindia had forgotten his ideology and had moved on since he was apprehensive about his political future. He also added that the former Congress leader would not get any respect in the BJP.

Jyotiraditya Scindia is an old friend of mine, but he forgot his ideology as he was apprehensive about his political future. There is a difference between what Jyotiraditya Scindia is saying and what is in his heart, Rahul Gandhi said.

A day after quitting the Congress, Scindia joined the ruling BJP on Wednesday in the presence of its president JP Nadda and took a dig at his former party for denying reality and not acknowledging new thoughts or new leadership.

Scindia has been named the BJPs Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - The Zimbabwe government has cleared two new cases of travellers suspected of having the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) that was on Wednesday classified a global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO)
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has suspended out-of-state travel for state employees, with his chief of staff citing a need to control spending amid oil market volatility.

Concerns with the new coronavirus have roiled markets along with a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia over oil. Alaska relies on oil revenue and earnings from its oil-wealth fund, the Alaska Permanent Fund, to help pay for government expenses.

Dunleavy Chief of Staff Ben Stevens, in a memo dated Monday, said a hiring freeze also will be in effect but would not apply to positions essential for pro...
Censorship takes many forms, but even the most restrictive countries can't block every single path for information they'd rather not get in (or out). Reporters Without Borders has identified a surprising new platform for hosting banned content: Minecraft.

The organization, collaborating with reporters, Minecraft pros and, of course, a creative agency, has produced an enormous in-game "Uncensored Library" that hosts a variety of suppressed reportage from places like like Saudi Arabia, Russia and Vietnam.

The structure is a giant neo-classical complex hosted on its own server, which Minecraft players can access freely by pointing their game toward "visit.uncensoredlibrary.com" in the server browser.

The library has a handful of wings, each dedicated to a different country, and each with a series of articles banned in those places, or their authors chased out or even killed. They're presented in plain text inside Minecraft's craftable books  not exactly the easiest way to take in these important essays and reports, but better than nothing.

There are documents from Nguyen Van Dai in Vietnam, Mada Masr in Egypt, Javier Valdez in Mexico, Alexander Skobov in Russia and arguably the most high-profile casualty to murderous, oppressive regimes in recent history, Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia. There are only a handful of recent articles at present, but there are also numerous documents describing the state of press freedom and oppression in 180 countries  the RSF Freedom Index.

Of course, this is not secure and private like an end-to-end encrypted chat group. A user accessing the library map might have their nickname, tied to a Minecraft account, be visible to other users, and their logs would reflect the visit. It seems unlikely Microsoft would give up that information to a curious government, but there is a certain risk involved. Fortunately, private duplicate servers can be and are already being established, as well as local copies.

As it stands, the Uncensored Library stands more as a proof of concept that information need not be delivered by traditional means in order to have a potential impact. Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the world, and can be used as an informational and promotional platform as well as just a fun place to hang out and build stuff. What other ways exist to get around the restrictions of governments that would rather their citizens not know the truth?
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.

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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara  Thu, March 12, 2020 06:33 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069ec64b 1 National rabies,rabies-infected-dogs,West-Nusa-Tenggara,Dompu Free

Rabies has killed at least 15 people in West Nusa Tenggaras Dompu regency to date with more than 2,000 dog bites reported since the outbreak of the animal-transmitted disease began in the province last year.

A 46-year-old resident of Riwo village in the regencys Woja district became the latest fatality after she died while receiving treatment at Dompu General Hospital on March 5.

The head of the Dompu Animal Husbandry and Health Agencys Animal and Veterinary Health Department, Mujahidin, said the woman had been admitted to the hospital at 6 p.m. on March 4.

He said the victim had suffered from disorientation with symptoms of excessive salivation, breathlessness, excessive sweating and extreme pain all over the body.

She also showed tell-tale signs of rabies, such as hydrophobia, photophobia and anemophobia.

According to the record, the woman was bitten by a stray dog in the thigh as she was clearing a plot of land for corn crops in October last year.

"She never received the rabies vaccine after the incident," Mujahiddin said.

Dompu Health Agency head Iris Juwita Kartianti confirmed to The Jakarta Post that, up until March 8, at least 2,097 people in the regency had reported being bitten by dogs since the rabies outbreak began last year.

However, she said most of the cases had been handled properly with fast response and immediate vaccination.

The health agency also vowed to enhance its capacity in handling rabies in Dompu by providing more rabies vaccines and serums licensed by the Health Ministry at health facilities across the regency.

"Local officials have formed rabies mitigation teams that will be placed at districts and villages," Iris said, adding that the Dompu General Hospital had prepared isolation rooms to treat rabies patients.

The regencies of Dompu and Sumbawa declared emergency status for rabies in February last year following an outbreak of the disease via dog bites, followed by Bima regency, which declared the emergency status in June.

West Nusa Tenggara Health Agency head Nurhandini Eka Dewi said on Monday that the emergency status for rabies in Sumbawa, Dompu and Bima was still in place.

"The status will remain in place as long as there are cases of dog bites. It will only be lifted if there is no report of dog bites within two years," she said in the provincial capital of Mataram.

Although no dog bites had been reported in Sumbawa over the past two months, Nurhandini said rabies remained a threats in the province, since the stray dog population was still high.

"For cases of rabies in humans, we can directly inject rabies vaccines or serums. However, it's different in the case of stray dogs with rabies. It is much more complicated, as there are many of them," she said.

She added that the administrations of Bima and Dompu had formed teams to reduce the number of stray dogs but that was an ongoing struggle as the dogs were moving around the cities.

Rabies infection was hard to detect as clinical symptoms may appear only months or even two years after a person was bitten by a dog, cat, monkey or other animal carrying rabies, she said.

After the entry of the virus through an animal bite, the virus travels in the blood circulation along the nerves to the spinal cord. With no immediate treatment, the virus could end up at the brain and at this point, it would be deadly.

"Once [the virus] attacks the brain, respiratory organ disorders will follow. That's why there should be immediate action after an animal bite," she said.

Furthermore, the health agency vowed to keep spreading information on first-aid to treat wounds after being bitten by an animal, which would decrease the risk of rabies infection.

"Right after we are bitten, we have to wash our hands with flowing water and soap for 15 minutes. After that, 80 percent of the virus will be gone and the rest can be taken care of by medical treatment," she said. (trn)
The scare has abruptly cut short the charter tourism season in midway with visas for international travellers getting suspended from March 13 midnight onwards.

India on Wednesday suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of novel The suspension will come into effect from March 13 midnight.

With this, the already struggling state tourism industry is staring at huge losses as it depends on foreign travellers to a large extent for revenue generation.

Airport Director Gagan Malik said the actual situation on chartered flights, which bring tourists to the state, will be clear only in the wee hours of March 14.

Those who are flying before 5.30 am of March 14 will be allowed to enter in the country. But considering the current situation, it looks difficult that any charters will come now, he said.

Malik said the airport was expecting 60-70 more chartered flights to arrive till end of the May, when tourist season ends.

Now, empty charters will arrive to take back the tourists to their destinations in the days to come, he said.





The continued efforts at Airport to fight the CoVID 19. Duplicate declaration forms, sufficient Medics,expeditious clearence, 3 screening counters and highest standards of precautions at all the times,for safe journey. @AAI_Official @MoCA_GoI @MoHFW_INDIA @DGCAIndia @visrane pic.twitter.com/K0z6TXc2wD  Goa Airport (@aaigoaairport) March 11, 2020

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa President Savio Messiah said the chartered season will come to an early end with the ban on visas.

We want to approach the government seeking exemption for Russian travellers from the visa ban. Russia is not affected by the coronavirus, he said.

But it looks unlikely that the Centre will listen to the request as scare is widespread. We have to look at the issue from broader perspective, he added.

During the last tourist season, 250 chartered flights had arrived from different countries, including Russia and the UK. The collapse of travel firm Thomas Cook in the UK last year had severely affected chartered flights to Goa.
FORT EDWARD  Washington County officials are working with SUNY Adirondack to bring in nursing students to help answer phones at the Public Health Department, which has been inundated with calls concerning the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Personnel Committee decided Thursday that employees wont be forced to use their accrued benefit time to cover absences from work that are no fault of their own.

The county is also preparing its department heads for employees to work remotely.

The idea here is to make it so our employees can comply with any public health orders or requests for quarantine, and they will be held harmless for those actions, said County Administrator Chris DeBolt.

If employees choose to self-quarantine, they could be terminated. The quarantine would have to be authorized by a qualified public health entity.

A doctor does not qualify as that, said DeBolt, who added the county is trying to be proactive and not alarmist.

Department heads  on a case-by-case basis  will be authorized to allow employees to work from home on a temporary basis. DeBolt admitted there are some jobs that cannot be performed from home, such as snow plowing. Sensitive material will not necessarily be able to be accessed from a remote area.

Some of our employees deal with very sensitive information, he added. Some of the stuff in public health, obviously is HIPPA protected. A lot of the stuff in DSS is very protected.

The county will bring in some temporary per-diem staff to help answer phones at the Public Health Department and is working with SUNY Adirondack to bring in some nursing students.

They have the medical background to be able to just triage phone calls, DeBolt said.

The full Board of Supervisors will take action on these resolutions at its March 20 meeting. The cost of implementing these changes is being tracked.

We dont know enough yet of how any of this funding is going to work, said DeBolt, who added that the county has a $200,000 annual state public health grant that is for emergencies.

The committee also amended the employee handbook to allow employees to go into areas for up to three days of sick time.

Hebron Supervisor Brian Campbell questioned whether the county should prevent people from entering the municipal center.

We are not there yet, DeBolt said. I hope we never get there.

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T he UK and US have vowed to hold to account those behind an attack on a coalition military base in Iraq which killed a British soldier last night.

Two American soldiers were also killed in the rocket attack on Camp Taji and a dozen more personnel were wounded.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab branded the act cowardly.

We will defend against these deplorable acts & hold those responsible to account, he added. My thoughts are with the families of those killed.

Mr Raab spoke by telephone with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last night about the attack.

Mr Pompeo said they had agreed that those responsible must be held accountable.

Todays deadly attack on Iraqs Camp Taji military base will not be tolerated, he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement: My thoughts go out to their loved ones at this extremely difficult time.

We will continue to stay in close contact with our coalition partners to establish exactly what happened."

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace called the attack a cowardly and retrograde act.

"The men and women of the UK armed forces are in Iraq to help that country establish stability and prosperity. The people that did this are not friends of Iraq," he said in a statement.

My thoughts are with the families of those whose loved ones have been killed or injured. We shall not forget their sacrifice and will ensure those who committed these acts face justice."

Taji air base, north of Baghdad, is used as a training site for coalition forces.

US military spokesman Colonel Myles Caggins said 12 more people from the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve were injured when more than 15 small rockets hit the base on Wednesday.

The death marks the first time a British serviceperson has been killed by enemy fire since the UK and allies launched their operation against Islamic State in 2014.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Calition and Iraqi forces said about 18 Katyusha rockets hit Taji base. Iraqi security forces discovered a "rocket-rigged truck" a few miles away from the camp.

The nationalities of the injured personnel have not been revealed.

28-year-old Iraqi journalist Ali Al Dulaimy, filmed the attack from the town of Balad and shared the video on Twitter.

He told PA news agency through a translation tool that the rockets seemed to be fired at precise targets.

I heard screams and panic at the American forces inside the camp, and they were rushing to extinguish the fires that devoured the camp, he said.

There were soldiers shouting and sirens.

In January, the Ministry of Defence said there were roughly 400 personnel in Iraq across three main bases: Camp Taji near Baghdad, Union III in Baghdad, and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Kataib Hezbollah or another Iranian-backed Shia militia group is likely to be behind the attack.

Kataib Hezbollah was responsible for a rocket attack on a Kirkuk military base in December that killed a US contractor, and prompting American military strikes in response.

The strikes led to protests at the US embassy in Baghdad. These were followed in January by the air strike that killed Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, leaders of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, which count Kataib Hezbollah as a member.

Since 2009, the US State Department has designated Kataib Hezbollah a foreign terrorist organisation.
5 things to know about Bernie Sanders

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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has made a name for himself as one of the most successful Independent and most left-leaning politicians in recent history.

His presidential campaign in 2016 gained the support of many Americans  especially younger voters  who favor his progressive calls for a $15 minimum wage and free college education. Some believe Sanders 2016 campaign was undermined by the Democratic National Committee in the nomination process.

Although the 78-year-olds first presidential campaign did not go as well as he and those who feel the Bern might have hoped, Sanders is giving former Vice President Joe Biden a run for his money in 2020.

Sanders is one of just three candidates left vying for the Democratic nomination after five candidates dropped out of the race last week.

Billionaire hedge fund investor Tom Steyer exited the race after South Carolina's primary, followed by former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., both of whom publicly backed Biden during a campaign rally in Dallas, Texas, last week. The next to bow out was former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg who also threw his support behind Biden. Lastly, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who did not throw her support behind either Biden or Sanders, dropped out after Super Tuesday when she failed to even win her home state.

The following pages list five interesting facts about Sanders' background and political views.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is quarantining himself at home after his wife exhibited flu-like symptoms.

Trudeaus office said Thursday that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau returned from a speaking engagement in Britain and had mild flu-like symptoms, including a low fever late, Wednesday night.

She is being tested for the COVID-19 disease and is awaiting results. Her symptoms have since subsided.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Prime Minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophies results, the statement said.

His office said the doctors advice to the prime minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring, given that he is exhibiting no symptoms himself. He is spending the day in briefings, phone calls, and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining a special cabinet committee discussion on the new coronavirus.

Trudeau has also cancelled an in-person meeting with Canadas provincial premiers.
[March 12, 2020] Pennexx Begins Working With Social Media Agency "LEVERAGE"

Clearwater, FL, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- In Clearwater Florida, Pennexx secured an agreement with LEVERAGE. They bring a combined, 70 years of expertise to the Pennexx team in social media, reputation management, SEO and marketing strategy.

LEVERAGE was founded by its Managing Director, Jay Taylor, in 2008 and has worked with over 200 organizations in that time, including Fortune 500 companies and nationally recognized franchise brands. They have an extensive portfolio available at https://leveragedigitalmedia.com. Vincent Risalvato, CEO of Pennexx, said, I knew immediately that Jay and his team would elevate Pennexxs social media talents to a whole new level! The energy in the room during our first meeting was incredible. Jay was immediately on board, clearly understood us and began laying out amazing ideas. LEVERAGE has many awards and accolades, including being honored in 2018 by the University of South Florida as a Top 10 fastest growing business. The agency is also a Google Certified Partner, and has won over 50 international and national industry awards since its inception from organizations including the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), and the American Marketing Association (AMA) to name a few. This new contract with LEVERAGE will help create and grow YourSocialOffers social media presence. Working with LEVERAGE enables Pennexx to offer new srvices and generate additional revenue while doing a better job for its clients.



After seeing Pennexxs beta portal and discussing its future products, Jay Taylor, the Managing Director at LEVERAGE, stated, I love the portal and concept of bringing social media products like this to market. They will be a powerful tool in LEVERAGEs toolkit. Pennexx believes LEVERAGEs focused approach to position its clients as an authority, create unique strategies to attract customers, ability to generate targeted leads and increase customer lifetime value can both accelerate Pennexxs growth as well as the growth of both LEVERAGEs and Pennexxs clients.

About Pennexx Foods Inc. (PNNX: OTCMKTS US). Pennexx, through its wholly owned subsidiaries is a holding company within the Software/Internet Industry that is focused on social media, prepaid debit cards, BitGiftTM, artificial intelligence, targeted marketing and consumer rewards. About LEVERAGE. LEVERAGE is a Florida for profit corporation located at 4111 W. Cypress St., Tampa FL 33607. LEVERAGE is an award-winning digital marketing agency that partners with brands to help them become the authority and dominate their market. The agency is a Certified Google Partner, and its work has garnered numerous industry accolades over the years, receiving honors from the International Davey Awards, Hermes Awards, W3 Awards, and Communicator Awards. In 2018, LEVERAGE was named the 9th fastest growing company owned or led by a University of South Florida alumnus. Learn more at https://leveragedigitalmedia.com . Safe Harbor Act: This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report. For additional information, visit our website at www.pennexx.net or call 866-928-6409. Please follow us on Twitter @Pennexx.

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Opposition parties on Thursday panned the government as well as the police over the Delhi violence last month that claimed over 50 lives, and warned that the spread of the "communal virus" would eventually pose to a threat to democracy.

Taking part in a short-duration debate in Rajya Sabha on the recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi, some Opposition members said the "communal virus" being unleashed by the BJP was "no less harmful" than the coronavirus.

If the "virus" is spread among the youth, democracy will be destroyed, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, initiating the discussion.

The Opposition also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged when riots were raging in the nation capital he and Shah were busy "entertaining" the visiting US President Donald Trump.

They also questioned the Home Minister on "inaction" against leaders who gave public speeches to instigate riots in northeast Delhi.

Condemning the "delay" in action to curb the riots and alleging intelligence "failure", several Opposition members demanded a probe by a Supreme Court judge.

The violence in northeast Delhi last month claimed 53 lives and left over 200 injured. The riots were triggered by clashes between those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and those supporting it.

Accusing the ruling BJP of unleashing a "communal virus" in India that wreaked havoc, Congress leader Sibal asked Shah why registration of FIRs was delayed against perpetrators of hate speeches which he claimed amounted to "a licence to kill".

He alleged that while the national capital was burning, Prime Minister Modi was silent on the matter for 70 hours and the police machinery was busy destroying evidences and supporting violence or rioters.

Sibal, a former Union minister, said the riots were "orchestrated" just as the celebrations to welcome the US President. The riots in Delhi had taken place during Trump's visit to India.

Mentioning the spread of coronavirus, he said "we know the roots of the virus" and "we know" who were the "collaborators" of the riots. "The Home Minister must have seen footages of policemen destroying CCTV cameras," he said.

He said of the 53 who lost their lives, 34 were of one community and questioned the delay in registration of FIRs against those who gave hate speeches.

"This was a license to kill...," he alleged, adding that if the government wanted to control the situation it could have easily done so.

He also warned against communalising the youth. If the "virus" is spread among the youth, democracy will be destroyed, he said.

"We understand there was a Balakot strike but why have surgical strikes on our own people," Sibal said, referring to India's action against terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot following the Pulwama terror attack.

"Everyone knew what was happening, but the Delhi Police knew nothing," he alleged.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien said, "Yesterday we heard from the Home Minister that all social media accounts that spread hate speeches will be brought to book. Mr Prime Minister, Mr Home Minister you start...lead by example, first stop following all those handles which are spreading bigotry and hate." "Tell us today on the floor of the house, assure us," he added.

He said if Delhi Police had done so well, as was being claimed, "why was the chain of command superseded and the NSA deployed...Or is the new role of NSA is to control riots".

He was referring to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval's visit to riots-hit areas.

He termed CAA, NRC and NPR a "toxic combination", and also questioned if facial recognition technology was being used to identify people in a crowd.

He said, "Can you assure on floor of the Parliament. 50 people have died, who is responsible. the HM has to take responsibility. The PM has to be responsible."



He said, "2002...2020...if you change the number then it is same...blood on the hand, same man, same trauma, same cover up, same model."



Taking part in the debate, Sudhanshu Trivedi of the BJP said it was wrong to blame the Delhi Police for everything saying.

"The situation of the Delhi Police has become like Iraq. They are being attacked for every wrong that is happening," he said.

He also said, "Everybody knows Gandhi's political vision was Ramrajya, favourite bhajan was 'Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram', last words were 'Hey Ram'... and the day in 2007, it was said that Ram never existed, Gandhi was killed on that very day."



Tripathi took a dig at the Congress saying the riots during its reign were "secular".

AIADMK member S R Balasubramoniyan said, "The entire responsibility of the violence is on the Home Minister...it was called a conspiracy as US President was here."



Javed Ali Khan of the Samajwadi Party asked the government to give heed to SAD leader and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal who commented that there is no democracy in the country except in Parliament and State assemblies, in view of recent incidents of violence in Delhi.

He said, "I am not giving clean chit to the Delhi Police." He was of the view that rioters were being controlled by their handlers and acted as per their wishes.

SAD member Naresh Gujral said it is a mystery as to who instigated these riots. He demanded that action be taken so that no such incident happens again.

He further said irrespective of party lines the guilty must be punished and affected people should be given compensation immediately by the central and Delhi governments.

He also sought the government's assurance to assuage the fears of NRC among people.

CPI(M) member Elamaram Kareem demanded a judicial probe into the incident. He said that the official investigating the matter was tainted and a Supreme Court judge should probe the matter.

"Government, you have blood in your hand...so you have to take stringent action," Kareem said.

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said, "...the lives of the people are so demeaned. There are apprehension about NRC."



He further said Delhi Police should be accountable. "Police was a mute spectator. It is fear being created among people protesting against CAA...What has the government done...Home Minister should have given suo motu statement. neither Prime Minister nor Home Minister gave any statement (during the violence)," he said.

He demanded that there should be an independent enquiry by a retired SC judge.

Banda Prakash of the TRS said, "We demand the government take whatever steps needed to arrest the guilty who propagated and instigated these riots. Please take necessary steps."



He associated himself with Sibal on his view that this communalism was no less harmful than COVID-19.

BJD's Prasanna Acharya said, "You (govt) said that it is pre-planned conspiracy. Why Government did not get to know about it...Then it is worst intelligence and Government failure."



He also questioned why hatemongers were not arrested and asked, "Who is responsible for that.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/11/2020



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

's prior couples apparently believe Taylor Dunklin and Brandon Reid 's marriage was beyond repair after Taylor posted her Instagram Stories video claiming to be single and searching for Mr. Right.Former couples called it like it is while watching expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz meet with Taylor and Brandon to discuss their failing marriage on the March 6 broadcast of : Couples Couch, which features commentary on encore broadcasts of 's Season 10 episodes.The couples who were featured in the Couples Couch broadcast were AJ Vollmoeller and Stephanie Sersen Anthony D'Amico and Ashley Petta Elizabeth Bice and Jamie Thompson , and Kristine Killingsworth and Keith Dewar "This should be interesting," Ashley noted of Pepper's session with the strained couple."Oh boy, when sh-t gets salty, call the pepper!" Anthony joked."Okay, something about Brandon though, he just walks in... he's got, like, a demeanor or something that I don't like," Ashley said.Taylor and Brandon were shown meeting for the first time after Brandon moved out of their shared apartment in Washington, D.C. because of the video Brandon had deemed "disrespectful" and "disgusting."Taylor told her Instagram followers in the video she couldn't find a soul who met her minimal requirements -- a guy who's 6'3" or taller, "fine as hell," has "no record," and has his "sanity in check."When the pair sat down, Brandon and Taylor bickered over who should explain him or herself first."Oh, look, they're already disagreeing and they didn't even start the conversation yet!" Stephanie observed.Brandon tossed the conversation over to Taylor to talk, but Pepper wanted to hear an explanation from Brandon as well."Yeah, it's not just her Brandon," Kristine pointed out.But Ashley argued, "I do feel Brandon has already explained. He's apologized, like, we've talked about the honeymoon thing a lot."On the last day of Brandon and Taylor's honeymoon in Panama, Brandon lashed out at production for following him around all the time, and his frustrations eventually escalated to yelling and swearing at his wife."She knows the video was wrong; everyone knows the video was wrong. But it was also caused by stuff he was doing wrong," Stephanie claimed. "The answer is: the both of them are wrong.""They fight like a married couple, that's for sure!" AJ joked."Yeah they do," Stephanie agreed.Although Kristine insisted Taylor should have apologized to Brandon, she seemed to sympathize with how Taylor was "still hurting" from Brandon's outburst on the honeymoon and his alleged lack of effort in their relationship once they returned home."I'm wondering -- how can you move forward?" Kristine asked.Pepper suggested in a recent episode Brandon and Taylor should try to figure out how they can better understand each other since both of them had been guilty of wrongdoing."Reel is back in, Dr. Pepper," Elizabeth proudly stated. "Reel it back in.""I mean, the damage is done at this point. I don't think they can repair," Stephanie said."I don't understand how Dr. Pepper thinks there's still a repairable aspect to it," AJ noted of Taylor and Brandon's relationship."Yeah," Stephanie agreed.Brandon said no one in a marriage would think what Taylor had done is okay because it was disrespectful and "about as bad as it gets," with the exception of cheating, "which we don't know."Jamie laughed at Brandon's comment and called it "unnecessary but funny.""That was a bit dramatic, Brandon," Elizabeth laughed. "It was a bit of a reach. That was such a reach."Stephanie then boldly stated, "It's over."AJ said Taylor and Brandon were going "tit for tat" and "back and forth.""Instead of working on it, they started going, 'Who can one-up? I've got to have the last word. He disrespected me, so I've got to do something worse,'" AJ explained. "It's how can we even it? Like, how can I get even?""And that's now how you treat someone you care about," Stephanie added. "But they don't care enough."AJ said marrying a stranger will result in a spouse doing a lot to make his or her partner mad -- but couples should never try to "get even" for things."Yeah. Yeah," Stephanie agreed.Pepper asked Taylor and Brandon to forgive each other and move on because they both were at fault for some ugly and things."You both did some sh-t," Anthony said."You're both sh-t!" Ashley joked."You need Jesus," Anthony told the couple on his TV screen. "Okay?"Anthony later commented "what a mess" on the pair's relationship after Taylor refused to apologize because she wasn't even sure she was sorry for posting the Instagram Stories video."They both lost faith in the process," AJ observed."And each other," Stephanie noted."And each other," AJ echoed.Brandon also called Taylor out for having random guys call her phone in the early morning hours.But Ashley sided with Taylor on this one."Well you've got to give it time because it took a couple months before people stopped calling me. They didn't know I was married... They still showed up for a good six months. I didn't respond, but I had a dating life and was dating people before this," Ashley told her husband.Considering Brandon also accused Taylor of signing up for just to be on TV, Ashley asked her husband if he thought Taylor went on the show for the right reasons."I think that she did the show for the right reasons," Anthony shared."I think that she did try initially when Brandon was pushing her away and he was upset, and I do think she hit her breaking point and stopped caring, and that's where the video started."Jamie and Elizabeth seemed to think Brandon and Taylor's relationship was a goner as well."Damn social media," Jamie said."Social media will ruin it," Elizabeth noted.Brandon chose to end the discussion prematurely by asking production to remove his microphone, before walking out on Taylor and Pepper.Brandon insisted his relationship was over and he was "done" because Taylor refused to apologize and didn't even seem genuine.Once some time had passed, however, Taylor confessed she still had feelings for Brandon, so she planned to invite him to a friend's party. Taylor said she was willing to do whatever it takes for her marriage not to end in divorce., which currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime, also stars Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd Meka Jones and Michael Watson Mindy Shiben and Zach Justice , and Katie Conrad and Derek Sherman Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group
Residents of Awe in Nasarawa State have described the presence of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, as a blessing as it has brought the community into limelight.

A cross section of those interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Awe, headquarters of Awe Local Government Area (LGA) said they were happy hosting the deposed emir.

Dauda Muhammad-Awa, a resident said although he was initially shocked by the sad news of the emirs removal, he considered himself lucky living in the same community with him.

We were saddened by the news of his dethronement, but we consider ourselves lucky hosting him.

His coming is a blessing to the community, he said.

Muhammad-Awa said since the arrival of Mr Sanusi, people have been visiting from all parts of the country to see him.

People have been visiting from different parts of the country trying to see him, although they were prevented by security agents guarding him.

Awe is in the news on a daily basis because of the banishment of the emir to the town, he said.

Dauda Ibrahim, another resident corroborated Muhammad-Awas claim saying that the presence of the deposed emir has improved security in the town.

We have been witnessing enhanced security in the town since the arrival of Sanusi, we thank God for that.

I want to appeal to the State Government to explore the possibility of improving the road network and other infrastructure in the town, Mr Ibrahim said.

READ ALSO:

Fatima Kande, another resident said that the community would do everything to make Mr Sanusis stay memorable.

The people of Awe are peace loving people and we like receiving visitors from every part of Nigeria because we hospitable people.

We will do everything possible within our power to make the deposed emirs stay memorable, we hope that one day he would decide to stay with us on his own forever, Mrs Kande said.

Mr Sanusi, who was deposed by the Kano State Government on Monday, was initially banished to Loko before he was moved to Awe all in Nasarawa state on Tuesday.

(NAN)
(Newser)  A mountain lion attacked a Colorado resident and then a sheriff's deputy before it was shot dead Wednesday afternoon. The initial attack was reported around 1:50pm in a remote area west of Loveland, which is 45 miles north of Denver, per NBC News. Representatives of the Larimer County Sheriffs Office and Colorado Parks & Wildlife responded and were trying to contain the animal at a trailer park when it attacked a deputy around 2pm, the sheriffs office said. A 9-year-old resident of the park says he was playing when deputies, with guns drawn, ordered him to get inside. "I ran like Forrest Gump to my trailer,'' Logan Lebleu tells the Coloradoan. "When I peeked behind my camper, I saw that mountain lion on top of a female officer  I never thought that would happen.''

story continues below

Another park resident, Gregory Scott Paul, says the mountain lion had taken shelter under a trailer when it began "creeping towards" deputies, per the Coloradoan. "They took three or four shots at it,'' then "it lunged at the lady deputy from about 10 feet away," Paul says. "She put her arm up and it got her on the right shoulder." Tim Satterly, who was staying at the park, later spoke with the deputy. "She was OK, pretty shaken up," he tells KUSA. The mountain lion escaped the area but was shot and killed by a game warden about a half-mile from the park. The two injured parties were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. CPW says the mountain lion was taken to a lab in Fort Collins, where a necropsy will be performed. (Read more mountain lion stories.)
The government on Thursday informed Lok Sabha that India has not imposed a total ban on the entry of foreign nationals as part of efforts to check the spread of coronavirus.

Responding to a series of questions by members in Lok Sabha following his statement on COVID-19, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar clarified that "India has not imposed a ban."



"India has said that if people from certain countries who are coming here, they have to go through quarantine -- in certain cases compulsory quarantine and in some cases discretionary quarantine -- and Indian citizens who are coming back will obviously come back to quarantine conditions if that is required," he said.

He was responding to a remark by N K Premchandran of the RSP that "the only country which is imposing a total ban is India."



According to the Union Health Ministry, the number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including one foreign national.

Earlier, in his statement, the External Affairs Minister said that in view of the further spread of coronavirus, the government had on Wednesday decided to take "more stringent" measures regarding international travel.

"The reason for this is obvious -- all the cases so far have come directly from those who have a travel history. In doing so, we are clear that we will do whatever must be done to ensure that the spread of coronavirus is restricted and the health security of India ensured," he said.

He said the measures approved by the Group of Ministers on Wednesday include suspension till April 15 of all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas.

Visa-free travel facility granted to OCI card holders has also been kept in abeyance till 15 April.

"All incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15, 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days," he said.

It was also decided that any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason will have to contact the nearest Indian mission.

"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," he said.

He also said that international traffic through land borders will be restricted to designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by the Union Home Ministry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan



on Thursday likened Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath to demon king Ravan and former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to Vibhishan, a key character in the epic Ramayan.

Chouhan said to demolish Lanka (kingdom of Ravan) one needs Vibhishan, the younger brother of the demon king who deserted Ravan and sided with Lord Ram in the battle in the ancient Hindu epic.

The BJP national vice-president claimed his party workers were harassed ever since Nath took charge in November 2018.

I have told Nath that I will take revenge for each and every tear of my workers. BJP workers were harassed, their properties demolished, tribal lands were snatched, FIRs filed against them, the NSA (National Security Act) was invoked...

"If you had ruled well we would not have to come down on roads, Chouhan said, addressing a meeting organised to welcome Scindia at the state BJP office here.

Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday and joined the BJP in Delhi the next day. The 49-year-old former Union minister was given a grand welcome by the BJP when he arrived here on Thursday.

We will take a vow today that till we set afire Lanka of your sins, injustice, atrocities, corruption and terror, we will not relax and sit quietly, Chouhan asserted.

But you need Vibhishan to set afire Ravanas Lanka, the former chief minister remarked amid laughter by people present at the gathering.

Chouhan said the Congress which used to address Scindia as "Maharaja" is now calling him mafia.

"Just in a day, he (Scindia) has turned mafia for them (the Congress) from Maharaja, he remarked.

However, taking a jibe at Chouhan, state Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja said, First they (BJP) called him a traitor and now Vibhishan. It is the biggest insult for any person.

But state BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal defended Chouhans remark, saying he was praising Scindia.

Addressing BJP workers, Scindia recalled that even his father (the late Madhavrao Scindia) was framed by the then Congress government in the hawala scam.

Promising to work hard for BJP workers, the former Lok Sabha member from Guna said, For your every drop of sweat, I will shed 100 drops of sweat and if needed I will give my blood for you.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At Rush, the tented space is separate from the rest of the hospital, isolating folks who might have coronavirus from other hospital patients, particularly those who are more at-risk such as the elderly or individuals with underlying medical issues, Casey said. Air inside the tent is also exhausted outside, further limiting exposure for the rest of the hospital.
Most public schools do not have hand sanitiser stations, said Phil Seymour from the Primary Principals Association. "They have soap in toilets, some classrooms will have sinks in them, but hand sanitiser? Not that I'm aware of."

Epping Boys High is one of the schools that has been closed temporarily after a student tested positive for coronavirus. Credit:Getty

It comes as private schools increase their cleaners' hours, cancel open days and run large-scale trials of online learning programs in case schools shut.

Health and education experts have also called on public schools to cancel assemblies, stop excursions, and stagger lunch times to reduce contact between students, saying there had been a worrying lack of direction to schools over steps to slow the spread of the disease.

An adviser to the World Health Organisation has called on the NSW Education Department to provide public schools with hand sanitiser stations to protect against coronavirus.

University of NSW Professor Mary Louise McLaws, an epidemiologist and adviser to the WHO COVID-19 preparedness advisory group, said governments should provide it, as it could be difficult to get large numbers of children to a sink to wash their hands.

"The [WHO] has asked for countries to invoke a whole-of-government approach to the control, and that would include the Department of Education in providing the hand hygiene sanitiser stations," she said. "Until they get around to doing that, I think it's a great activity to get the parents to provide some in the meantime. Soap and water is best, [but] if you can't get 100 kids to the sink, hand sanitiser works. It shows we are taking these things seriously."

William Mude, a lecturer in public health at Central Queensland University, said there were extra steps schools could take to reduce contact between students and maintain good hygiene, such as cleaning surfaces like hand-rails and playgrounds.

"It's something that's within the school jurisdiction, [as are steps such as] postponing school assemblies, incursions and excursions," Dr Mude said.

Evidence from previous disease outbreaks also showed the spread of viruses could be slowed by staggering lunch hours, so children were not all playing together. "Year one and year two can play, then year three and year four," he said.
A Louisiana Girl with California Wine

Dawna Jones, Ph.D., remembers having an amazing childhood in Opelousas with her parents, Randolph and Priscilla Darjean, and three siblings. But one distinct memory may have unintentionally guided the 43-year-old plant pathologist into the winemaking business.

My mother dabbled in making various fruit wines when I was very young, but I do not remember assisting in the process aside from picking the fruit, usually pears, from the trees that grew in our backyard. I do distinctly remember the smell of the fermenting fruit. I loved that smell, she said.

That fermentation science would fascinate Jones who loves science deeply and has been interested in agriculture since she was a teenager in public school.

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Today, Jones is a first-generation winemaker and owner of Darjean Jones Wines.

As a student, she researched plants and plant diseases at Southern University and A&M College, University of California  Davis, and the US Department of Agriculture. Her dissertation research focused on Pierces Disease of grapevine, requiring her to spend countless hours in California vineyards.

I kind of fell into wine gradually, she told HelloWoodlands. I do remember tasting a Merlot grape one day while walking through the research vineyards and thinking that if wine tasted half this good, it must be fantastic.

Dawna Jones researcher

Dawna Jones studied plant science at the University of California Davis

Following graduate school, she worked as a diagnostic plant bacteriologist for the government while her husband, Chauncey, completed fellowships in anesthesiology. (Dr. Chauncey Jones is also an SU grad who studied animal science.)

While in Maryland, she tested plant material brought into the country, developed testing methods, and investigated outbreaks of plant disease. For seven years, she was a national security analyst. Then, his career required them to settle in Texas. That move nearly 10 years ago was the impetus for her career shift back to grapevines and a new adventure in winemaking. It was then that her husband asked, What would you do if you could do anything you want? and she answered, Id make wine!

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Winemaking, for me, seemed a natural progression, said Jones who is now a mother of two with an international WSET Level 3 Certification for grape growing and winemaking. Through partnerships with six California vineyards, she has created and produced eight boutique Darjean Jones Wines that are spirited, adventurous and possess a charisma that will seduce wine lovers of all kinds.

Since 2010, her wines have won 34 competition metals and debuted in Tyler Perrys Nobodys Fool. Darjean Jones Wines are served at top restaurants in Texas, sold at wine cellars in California, and have a national wine club following. The website features wines that are available for direct order and recipes perfect for pairing with her wines. The love of good food and drink is coded in my DNA, Jones said.

When asked about the future of agriculture, Jones said, I would like others to understand the limitless number of careers that fall under agriculture, including economics and technology. I would like more children to consider careers in agriculture. From organic farming to high tech laboratories, there is a place for all of us to assist in feeding our growing world.

It is so important for our youth, SU students and alumni to see the homegrown talent and successes of Dawna and Chauncey who share their racial identity and are both graduates of the Southern University College of Agricultural, Family, and Consumer Science, said Renita Marshall, DVM, associate dean of the College. Having Dawna as a role model is vital to signaling a sense of belonging for women of color. Her continued pursuit of excellence in ag research and business are definitely not going unnoticed in the African American community nor the Southern University Ag community. 

Jones said, I hope that people remember me as a good friend. I am not looking for a spot in anyones history book.
Singapore has launched a probe to identify 95 of its citizens who took part in a religious gathering in Malaysia after Brunei's first coronavirus case was detected in a person who attended the same three-day congregation held last month, a top minister said on Thursday.

Coronavirus probe

The 95 Singaporeans were among over 1,500 people, including almost 700 Indonesians and more than 200 Filipinos, who attended the gathering held between February 28 and March 1 at the Seri Petaling Mosque in Selangor state on the outskirt of Kuala Lumpur.

Brunei's first case was a 53-year-old man who returned from Kuala Lumpur on March 3 and started showing symptoms four days later, the Sultanate's Health Ministry said. Malaysia reported 20 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its toll of infections to 149.
Coronavirus in India: Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar called Coronavirus a matter of concern and said exceptional problems need exceptional solutions in Lol Sabha today. The number of positive coronavirus cases in India has gone up to 73.

Coronavirus in India: Minister of External Affairs (MEA) S Jaishankar in Lok Sabha raised the noval coronavirus issue on Thursday, March 12, stating it a matter of concern as the number of infected cases has shoot up to 73.

In Lok Sabha, Minister said exceptional situations require exceptional responses. He also informed the house that traveling abroad would only heightens risks of getting infected, hence the government advises people not to travel out of the country.

A day ago, authorities suspended all existing visas till April 15 except diplomatic, official, UN/International organisations, employment and project visas. The government made the announcement after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus a pandemic.

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

Till now, more than 1,00,000 people have been infected by the Coronavirus and it has claimed over 4,500 lives globally.

Foreign Minister also reported about 6,000 Indians stranded in Iran. He said Indian includin pilgrims and students from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir are stranded in Iran and government is making every possible effort to evacuate them at the earliest. The initial focus is on bringing back pilgrims, mostly stranded in Qom, said Foreign Minister.

Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modis last weeks message to avoid mass gatherings to curb spreading, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan urged Mermbers of Parliament and people of the country through the chair to co-operate in fight against Coronavirus. The Centre has also invoked Section 10 of the Disaster Management Act and asked all state to invoke Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act and cooperate I setting up check points and hospitals for treatment.

In the wake of infection, the Delhi government also directed all schools, collages and cinema halls to be shut till March 31.

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Headline indices of the Hong Kong stock market finished session near three-year low on Thursday, 12 March 2020, with investors sharply growing risk-averse in the wake of U. S. stocks plunged overnight after US President Donald Trump announced a ban on travel from Europe and the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. At closing bell, the benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 3.66%, or 922.54 points, to 24,309.07, its lowest close since April 2017. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index slipped 3.52%, or 344.75 points, to 9,725.72.

The coronavirus outbreak, which originated in China, has cast a shadow over the global economic outlook. The coronavirus has infected more than 124,000 people and claimed nearly 4,600 lives worldwide, with market experts fearing that pandemic could disrupt global supply chains and drive the global economy into recession.

The World Health Organization described the new coronavirus as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday, adding that Italy and Iran were now on the frontline of the disease and other countries would soon join them.

The risk-off mood accelerated its downswing after Trump announced a 30-day ban on all travel from Europe excluding Britain swelled concerns that business activities between the United States and Europe will be badly affected.

Trump announced other steps to support U.

S. businesses and promote growth but some investors were unconvinced the global economy can quickly recover as worries grow that the number of infections could rapidly snowball globally.

CHINA MOBILE smothered 3.6% to HK$55.45. The stock once hit HK$54.65, the lowest point since the 2008 financial crisis.

Exporters nosedived on the COVID-19 spread in Europe and the US. TECHTRONIC IND plummeted 9.6%. SHENZHOU INTL and TEXHONG TEXTILE eroded 6.4% and 6.6%, respectively.

Handset equipment players were under heavier selling pressure. AAC TECH and SUNNY OPTICAL tanked 7.1% and 7.3%.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have revealed that they have tested positive for coronavirus.

The actor posted a message on his Instagram  alongside a picture of a surgical glove in a bin  that the couple had felt ill while in Australia before being tested.

His message read: Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

Well keep the world posted and updated.

Take care of yourselves! Hanx!

Hanks, a two-time Oscar-winner and one of the worlds best loved actors, had previously posted pictures from Bondi Beach in New South Wales.

The Forrest Gump, Philadelphia and Saving Private Ryan actor has been shooting an untitled Elvis Presley biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann. Hanks plays Presleys manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The film is currently slated for release in October 2021.

Hanks and Wilson, both 63, were married in 1988. In 2013, Hanks disclosed that he has type 2 diabetes.

For most people, the 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 Organisation, 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 1,100 cases have been identified in the US and at least 37 people have lost their lives.

On Wednesday Donald Trump gave an address to the nation from the Oval Office in which he outlined measures designed to contain the spread of the virus, including a ban on all travel from Europe  with the exception of the United Kingdom  for 30 days.
Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd, QC, told the High Court on Thursday that Monsignor Charles Portelli's evidence could cast a shadow over Pell's conviction.

Prosecutors have conceded that the testimony of a senior church figure who accompanied George Pell when he presided over Sunday mass could raise a reasonable doubt about whether the former Melbourne archbishop sexually assaulted two choirboys.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction. It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

But Ms Judd cautioned the court against taking parts of Monsignor Portelli's evidence in isolation, saying that once all his testimony was weighed against conflicting witness accounts and the rest of the evidence, it did not cruel the Crowns case.

Ms Judd was taken by High Court Justice Virginia Bell to a crucial part of Monsignor Portellis testimony at Pells County Court trial when he testified to the archbishops practice of meeting and greeting parishioners after mass on the steps of St Patricks Cathedral in East Melbourne

It is common ground that if Pell spent 10 minutes or longer talking to worshippers on the day in 1996 he is alleged to have assaulted the choirboys in the priests sacristy, he couldnt have committed the offences.

Monsignor Portelli, who served as the master of ceremonies at St Patricks, testified to Pells usual practice of talking to parishioners after mass and specifically recalled him doing so after his first mass as archbishop due to the large number of people who gathered to meet him.
A son of Policing Board member and DUP MLA Mervyn Storey has been fined 300 after he admitted he told police at last year's Lundy's parade in Londonderry that he didn't want "to walk past Fenians".

Co Antrim man Philip Storey pleaded guilty at the city's Magistrates' Court yesterday to a charge of disorderly behaviour.

A solicitor for the Public Prosecution Service told Deputy District Judge Anne Marshall that at 5pm last December 7 Storey (24), a quarry worker from Seacon Road in Ballymoney, approached officers on duty along the route of the parade in Bishop Street and asked them for directions to the Waterside Railway Station.

"He said he didn't want to walk past Fenians and he made several other sectarian comments in the presence of the officers," the prosecutor said. "He was advised to keep quiet and to walk on, but he ignored the advice and continued to swear at the police. Members of the public, among them a seven-year-old child, were alarmed at his behaviour."

Defence solicitor Sam Barr said Storey had apologised to the officers.

"He accepts his behaviour was totally unacceptable. Last December he was struggling with some difficulties in his life and was consuming alcohol to excess. He has now addressed those difficulties through working with members of his family and through his church," he said.

The solicitor said when his client returned home by train to Ballymoney after the parade, he went to a local bar and started drinking again. He was arrested after wandering into the middle of traffic. That case is being dealt with at Coleraine Magistrates' Court.

Ms Marshall said it went without saying that Storey's behaviour was totally unacceptable.

"It was absolutely atrocious that as a visitor to this city your behaviour was such that it caused a seven-year-old child to flinch backwards in fear. The police have a difficult enough job without having to deal with people like you," she said.
NBC's hit reality series America's Got Talent has made the move to film auditions without an audience, due to fears of the Coronavirus spreading.

New York Magazine and Huffington Post journalist Yashar Ali tweeted on Thursday that, 'Americas Got Talent joins other shows and says it will be taping auditions without an audience.'

The news comes just days after Heidi Klum left an AGT taping after coming down with an illness, reportedly a common cold, with Eric Stonestreet replacing her as a guest judge on Wednesday.

No auditions: NBC's hit reality series America's Got Talent has made the move to film auditions without an audience, due to fears of the Coronavirus spreading.

No audience: New York Magazine and Huffington Post journalist Yashar Ali tweeted on Thursday that, 'Americas Got Talent joins other shows and says it will be taping auditions without an audience'

Replacement: The news comes just days after Heidi Klum left an AGT taping after coming down with an illness, reportedly a common cold, with Eric Stonestreet replacing her as a guest judge on Wednesday

Another fan on Twitter, Annabelle Norman, confirmed the news, revealing the AGT taping she had tickets to was canceled, while providing a screenshot of the cancellation notice.

'Out of an abundance of caution, America's Got Talent is suspending all tapings with a studio audience until further notice,' the notice reads.

'We are sorry for any inconvenience; however your health is our top priority. We will notify you as soon as the show resumes with an audience so that you can reschedule and get tickets,' the notice concluded.

Screenshot: Another fan on Twitter, Annabelle Norman, confirmed the news, revealing the AGT taping she had tickets to was canceled, while providing a screenshot of the cancellation notice

Just before a Tuesday taping of America's Got Talent, Klum, 46, fell ill and left the set, with that day being filmed with just the remaining judges Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell and newcomer Sofia Vergara.

Klum was apparently still ill on Wednesday, with Vergara's Modern Family co-star Eric Stonestreet stepping in to serve as a guest judge.

Ironically, the day that Klum fell ill and left the set was the same day that Howie Mandel, a longtime germaphobe, arrived on the set in a full hazmat suit.

Ill: Just before a Tuesday taping of America's Got Talent, Klum, 46, fell ill and left the set, with that day being filmed with just the remaining judges Howie Mandel, Simon Cowell and newcomer Sofia Vergara

Hazmat: Ironically, the day that Klum fell ill and left the set was the same day that Howie Mandel, a longtime germaphobe, arrived on the set in a full hazmat suit

In related news on Thursday, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell released a company-wide memo on Thursday, suggesting employees work from home.

'The company strongly encourages all employees globally to begin working remotely if possible, effective immediately,' Shell said.

He also suggested employees to cease any 'non-essential business travel' while also being smart about personal travel as well.

Work from home: In related news on Thursday, NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell released a company-wide memo on Thursday, suggesting employees work from home

America's Got Talent is coming off a controversial 14th season where new judges Julianne Hough and Gabrielle Union were both let go.

Heidi Klum returns after taking Season 14 off, with Sofia Vergara rounding out the judges table.

The show is coming off America's Got Talent: The Champions, which brought back Mandel, Klum and Cowell along with Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon.
MAYFIELD, Ohio -- Mayfield High School Principal Jeffrey Legan has been named the 2020 Ohio Principal of the Year by the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA).

Legan, a 1994 Mayfield High graduate, began at the school as a math teacher, was later made chairman of the MHS Math Department then, in 2007, assistant principal. He became principal in 2014.

He is truly the quintessential high school principal, Mayfield Schools Superintendent Keith Kelly said in a news release. I cannot think of anyone more deserving, who represents the innate values of an educational leader and who is one of the most dedicated, resourceful and enthusiastic high school principals I have ever had the pleasure to work with than Jeff Legan.

Kelly further stated that Legan has devoted himself to building a school team dedicated to the ambitious vision of personalizing each Mayfield students learning experience.

Legan, a Chardon resident, said he first learned of his award via a phone call from OASSA Executive Director Tim Freeman.

I was completely shocked by the news, said Legan, 43. When I was on the phone with him, I questioned if this was actually happening. It was a very surreal moment for me.

Legan was nominated for the award by the schools human resources director, Andy Fetchik, who won the same award in 2014. Although Legan did not know how many principals from throughout Ohio were nominated, he said he was told that this year there were a record number of nominees.

Each year, the OASSA and the National Association of Secondary School Administrators (NASSP) sponsor an award for Ohio Principal of the Year. The state recipient is selected by a panel of judges representing the OASSA Board of Directors. The Ohio Principal of the Year is recognized at the OASSA Fall Conference and is given the opportunity to compete for the NASSP National Principal of the Year award.

Legan grew up in Mayfield and said it is a special place.

'Mayfield Family defines this community. It is hard to articulate. It is intangible -- you can feel it. Overall, the community has a tremendous sense of pride and supports each other in so many different ways," he said.

The principals family consists of his wife of 16 years, Kelly, and daughters Grace, 14, and Claire, 12.

When asked about his philosophy as principal, Legan said: I want to create a positive atmosphere for all who enter our doors. It is about the whole child -- get students involved in clubs and other extracurricular offerings, challenge the students academically, foster positive relationships and help students to identify their passion before graduation.

"I want our students to develop the soft skills necessary to be successful in our global society -- self-regulation, problem solving, critical thinking, building resiliency, communication, collaboration and empathy.

Speaking about his future at the high school, Legan said" I want to be principal of Mayfield High School as long as I have the energy to continue to support our students every day. Our students deserve the best.

Read more from the Sun Messenger.
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.

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 a suspect in the death of the child.

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.

From The Epoch Times
A member of the British military has been killed alongside two Americans in a rocket attack on Taji air base in Iraq.

At least 12 others were injured in the blasts at the Camp Taji base north of Baghdad.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said the the UK fatality was a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Tension has been high since the US killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in January.

And a retaliatory Iranian strike on al-Asad, another base hosting US troops, then left more than 100 soldiers injured.

Coalition forces and Iraqi soldiers install a floating bridge at the Taji camp, north of Baghdad (file image) / AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister Boris Johnson labelled the latest attack as "deplorable".

In a statement on Wednesday night, he said: "Our servicemen and women work tirelessly every day to uphold security and stability in the region - their presence makes us all safer.

"The Foreign Secretary has spoken to the US Secretary of State and we will continue to liaise with our international partners to fully understand the details of this abhorrent attack."

The MoD said in statement: "The service person's family have been informed and have requested a period of privacy before further details are released."

It added: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends at this sad time."

US military spokesman Colonel Myles Caggins said 12 more people from the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve were injured after more than 15 small rockets had hit the base.

One witness said he heard screams of panic at the base as sirens rang out.

Ali Al Dulaimy, a 28-year-old Iraqi journalist, filmed the attack from the town of Balad to the North of Taji.

Speaking through a translation tool, he said: "I heard screams and panic at the American forces inside the camp, and they were rushing to extinguish the fires that devoured the camp.

"There were soldiers shouting and sirens. It was in an agricultural area 10 km near the camp."

He added the rockets appeared to have been fired at "precise" targets.

A statement by the task force public affairs office added: "Three Coalition personnel were killed during a rocket attack on Camp Taji. The names of the personnel are withheld pending next of kin notification, in accordance with national policies.

"Approximately 12 additional personnel were wounded during the attack. The attack is under investigation by the Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces. Camp Taji is an Iraqi base that hosts Coalition personnel for training and advising missions.

"Approximately 18 107mm Katyusha rockets struck the base. The Iraqi Security Forces found a rocket-rigged truck, a few miles from Camp Taji."

In January, the MoD that there were around 400 personnel in Iraq across three main bases - Camp Taji near Baghdad, Union III in Baghdad, and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

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 rocket attack on a military base in Kirkuk in December that killed a US contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

It led to protests at the US embassy in Baghdad which was followed on January 3 by a US airstrike that killed Iran's most powerful military officer, General Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of the Iran-backed militias in Iraq, of which Kataib Hezbollah is a member.
At the start of the new year, the Hilliards were still moving into their new residence. Severing the rent-to-own contract with HPA presented no major challenges, said Stephen Hilliard. Yet, there were some specifics the family had not realized earlier  like the fact that the lease automatically renews at the end of each one-year term. Unlike conventional leases, it does not roll into a month-to-month rental that bears flexible end dates when the initial contract expires.
HOUSTON - (March 12, 2020) - It's not enough to take antibiotic-resistant bacteria out of wastewater to eliminate the risks they pose to society. The bits they leave behind have to be destroyed as well.

Researchers at Rice University's Brown School of Engineering have a new strategy for "trapping and zapping" antibiotic resistant genes, the pieces of bacteria that, even though theirs hosts are dead, can find their way into and boost the resistance of other bacteria.

The team led by Rice environmental engineer Pedro Alvarez is using molecular-imprinted graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets to absorb and degrade these genetic remnants in sewage system wastewater before they have the chance to invade and infect other bacteria.

The researchers targeted plasmid-encoded antibiotic-resistant genes (ARG) coding for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM1), known to resist multiple drugs. When mixed in solution with the ARGs and exposed to ultraviolet light, the treated nanosheets proved 37 times better at destroying the genes than graphitic carbon nitride alone.

The work done under the auspices of the Rice-based Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) is detailed in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science and Technology.

"This study addresses a growing concern, the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria known as superbugs," said Alvarez, director of the NEWT Center. "They are projected to cause 10 million annual deaths by 2050.

"As an environmental engineer, I worry that some water infrastructure may harbor superbugs," he said. "For example, a wastewater treatment plant in Tianjin that we've studied is a breeding ground, discharging five NDM1-positive strains for each one coming in. The aeration tank is like a luxury hotel where all bacteria grow.

"Unfortunately, some superbugs resist chlorination, and resistant bacteria that die release extracellular ARGs that get stabilized by clay in receiving environments and transform indigenous bacteria, becoming resistome reservoirs. This underscores the need for technological innovation, to prevent the discharge of extracellular ARGs.

"In this paper, we discuss a trap-and-zap strategy to destroy extracellular ARGs. Our strategy is to use molecularly imprinted coatings that enhance selectivity and minimize interference by background organic compounds."

Molecular imprinting is like making a lock that attracts a key, not unlike natural enzymes with binding sites that only fit molecules of the right shape. For this project, graphitic carbon nitride molecules are the lock, or photocatalyst, customized to absorb and then destroy NDM1.

To make the catalyst, the researchers first coated the nanosheet edges with a polymer, methacrylic acid, and embedded guanine. "Guanine is the most readily oxidized DNA base," Alvarez said. "The guanine is then washed with hydrochloric acid, which leaves behind its imprint. This serves as a selective adsorption site for environmental DNA (eDNA)."

Rice graduate student Danning Zhang, co-lead author of the paper, said carbon nitride was chosen for the base nanosheets because it is nonmetallic and is thus safer to use, and for its easy availability.

Alvarez noted all catalysts are efficient at removing ARGs from distilled water, but not nearly as effective in secondary effluent, a product of sewage treatment plants after solids and organic compounds are removed.

"In secondary effluent, you have reactive oxygen species scavengers and other inhibitory compounds," Alvarez said. "This trap-and-zap strategy significantly enhances removal of the eDNA gene, clearly outperforming commercial photocatalysts."

The researchers wrote that conventional disinfection processes used at wastewater treatment plants, including chlorination and ultraviolet radiation, are moderately effective in removing antibiotic-resistant bacteria but relatively ineffective at removing ARGs.

They hope their strategy can be adapted on an industrial scale.

Zhang said the lab has not yet run extensive tests on other ARGs. "Since guanine is a common constituent of DNA, and thus ARGs, this approach should also efficiently degrade other eARGs," he said.

There is room to improve the current process, despite its extraordinary initial success. "We have not yet attempted to optimize the photocatalytic material or the treatment process," Zhang said. "Our objective is to offer proof-of-concept that molecular imprinting can enhance the selectivity and efficacy of photocatalytic processes to target eARGs."

Qingbin Yuan of Nanjing Tech University, China, is co-lead author of the paper. Co-authors are Rice graduate students Ruonan Sun and Hassan Javed, and Gang Wu, an assistant professor of hematology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston's McGovern Medical School. Pingfeng Yu, a postdoctoral researcher at Rice, is co-corresponding author. Alvarez is the George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering.

###

The National Science Foundation and National Natural Science Foundation of China supported the research.

Read the abstract at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.9b06926.

This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/03/11/new-nano-strategy-fights-superbugs/

Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.

Related materials:

New spheres trick, trap and terminate water contaminant: http://news.rice.edu/2018/10/05/new-spheres-trick-trap-and-terminate-water-contaminant-2/

Alvarez Research Group: https://chemistry.rice.edu/people/pedro-alvarez

Rice Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: https://cee.rice.edu

George R. Brown School of Engineering: https://engineering.rice.edu

Images for download:

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/03/0316_WATER-1-WEB.jpg

A schematic shows the three-step method to produce molecular-imprinted graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets. The process developed by Rice University researchers could help catch and kill free-floating antibiotic resistant genes found in secondary effluent produced by wastewater plants. (Credit: Illustration by Danning Zhang/Rice University)

https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/03/0316_WATER-2-WEB.jpg

At left, a scanning electron microscope image shows the mesoporous structure of molecular-imprinted graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets. At right, a transmission electron microscope image shows the sheet's edge and its crystalline structure. Rice University researchers imprinted the nanosheets to catch and kill free-floating antibiotic resistant genes found in secondary effluent produced by wastewater plants. (Credit: Alvarez Research Group/Rice University)

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

Jeff Falk

713-348-6775

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Mike Williams

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The rainfall pattern is getting erratic by the day, where dry spells are widening and days of torrential rains increasing, which exposes people who live close to the rivers to further flooding.

Editor's note: This is the second in a three-part series on Maharashtras water management process. Read Part I here

An L-shaped, half-baked, brick-walled structure stands amid a pile of debris and a worn-out plant. Three construction workers are busy plastering the structure with cement. Sitting right across, Vijay Patil supervises the revival of the house that was his fully functional home only about eight months ago.

The budgeted expense is around Rs 30 lakh, he said, wearing a track pant and a t-shirt. The house was entirely underwater for almost a week in August. It collapsed after the water receded and we could not recover anything from inside. After managing to put together some amount via loans and borrowings, we began constructing the house recently.

Patils story mirrors the story of his tier two town of Sangli, which is limping back to normalcy after ravaging floods ruptured peoples lives in the first week of August 2019. Cracks on the floor of homes, dampened walls of the cafes and the flood levels daubed in blood red on a school building testify that this town in western Maharashtra is still reeling from the aftermath.

Between 5 and 8 August last year, western Maharashtra witnessed unprecedented rainfall, which led to the overflowing of rivers Panchganga, Bhogavati, Koyna and Warna. These rivers are basically tributaries of Krishna, the largest river in Maharashtra that flows through Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur before meeting the Bay of Bengal. The three towns and around 600 villages located along Krishna were worst affected with 50 deaths. It even rendered more than 2 lakh people displaced, 10,000 families homeless. The then chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, had asked for an aid of Rs 6,813 crore from the Centre to carry out the rehabilitation process.

Recollecting the horrors of those days, Patil, a sugarcane farmer, said he swam through the lanes to rescue some of the cattle owned by him and his neighbours. My wife and kids stayed with her parents, he said. And I stayed at a friends house that was located up the hill. The devastation and the force of nature still give me nightmares. It is something I have never seen before.

The last time western Maharashtra experienced severe flooding was back in 2005. People who lived through thought that they had seen the worst. In the village of Padmale, merely 4 kilometres from Sangli town, residents said when the water levels started rising, they moved their precious belongings to the safe elevated level, which the 2005 floods had not breached. But the 2019 floods made a mockery of it.

Yasmin Mulla, a resident of Padmale, located along the river Krishna, said they had to take a boat to get out of the village to a safer place. When we came back, the pungent odour had spread across the village because of the death of livestock, she said. It took us 15 days to merely clean the house. Our onion harvest had been floating around, the sewage water had entered the kitchen, and dead rats had been hanging on the gate. We even found little crocodiles and snakes in the water that had ruptured our house.

The green walls of her tin-roofed, one-room apartment are still damp. The brown floor has cracks like an old mans palm. By the time we had done cleaning up, our feet had injuries because of constantly being under dirty water, she said. The smell did not leave the shack for a month.

After touring the affected areas post the floods, Fadnavis had held a press conference in which he virtually blamed nature for the disaster.

In 2005, Sangli experienced 200 percent rain in 31 days. In 2019, 750 percent of rainfall occurred in nine days alone. In Kolhapur, 31 days of 2005 recorded 160 percent rainfall while in 2019, Kolhapur saw 180 percent rainfall in nine days. The rainfall all over was unprecedented. The combined effect of the Krishna, Koyna and Panchaganga rivers caused the current flood situation, he told reporters.

The torrential rainfall did play its part, largely owing to climate change. But experts believe it was a human-made disaster, exacerbated by shoddy dam management and urbanisation along the rivers that minimise the capacity of catchment areas to hold and absorb rainwater.

Also Read: Mumbai's burgeoning water needs leave nearby villages parched; city's wasted and free supply more than Nagpur's daily need

Shortly after the flooding, the South Asian Network for Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRAP) released a report stating that the disaster could have been averted with better dam management since the spells of heavy rainfall came with a warning.

The floods in Sangli and Kolhapur transpired at a time when water from three major dams of Koyna, Warna and Radhanagari in the upper Krishna basin was released. The report noted that the irrigation department might say they had no choice but to release the water since the dams were full, but the moot question is why the dams were full when the IMD had predicted heavy rainfall in the coming days.

After the 2005 floods, the SANDRAP report pointed out, the government had appointed a committee but its conclusions were never released in the public domain. We need to ensure that the water stored in dams is judiciously released to make way for possible high rainfall incidences and release schedules should be strictly followed. The information needs to put in public domain so that accountability can be fixed, it said.

The report further blamed our obsession with development, which reduces the rivers water carrying capacity. We need to focus on creation of local water harvesting systems, wetlands, forests and other groundwater-recharging, it said.

Elaborating that point further, some of the activists in Maharashtra held a press conference on 20 August 2019, stating how Fadnavis allowed the builder lobbys access to the no development zone by ignoring the flood lines around Panchganga river in Kolhapur. The claim was made after an RTI query revealed that the authorities had been using the flood levels as flood lines in Kolhapurs development plan since 1999 when the two are supposed to be different markers.

Flood levels refer to the levels attained by excessive water at the time of flooding. As far as Kolhapur is concerned, it had recorded the flood levels for the deluge of 1984, 1989, and 2005 based on a social survey.

Flood lines are of two kinds: blue and red. The red line refers to the maximum water level possible once in 100 years. Blue line, on the other hand, is the maximum flood discharge in an average of 25 years. The lines essentially demark the no development zone.

In February 2015, the National Green Tribunal asked the irrigation department to come up with flood lines for all the rivers in Maharashtra. In June 2018, when the department surveyed Panchganga  the river near Kolhapur that flooded the city  the flood lines turned out to be further than what Kolhapurs development plan had been assuming.

Because they had been using the same marker for flood levels and flood lines, 500 hectares of land, or 1,250 acres, were therefore considered as a development zone when it was actually a prohibitive zone for construction, said architect Sarang Yadwadkar, who, along with seven others, brought out the information under RTI. Floods that ruptured Kolhapur did not have any space to flow and disperse because of the constructions. Obstructions in the river are like the cholesterol in our arteries. It compounds the flood levels.

Because substantial investments had already been made in that no development zone, the developers got nervous, for they realised many of their investments suddenly fell in the no-development zone.

In October 2018, the Contractors and Real Estate Development Association of India (CREDAI) took note of it. Its Kolhapur division wrote to the then chief minister protesting the expansion of no development zone. The letter pointed out that the work carried out by the irrigation department is being done through a private company.

All the development projects have been cleared based on the flood lines used in Kolhapurs development plan, the letter read. It uses the flood levels of 1989 as a benchmark. It does not seem prudent to draw new flood lines. It can create panic within the citizens of the city.

Soon after, in April 2019, a new proposal regarding the marking of the flood lines came into being. The estimated water discharge for the blue line, which was 2,14,395 cubic feet per second, was brought down to 97,186 CuSecs. Regarding the red line, it was pegged at 1,22,400  down from 3,14,088 CuSecs. The following month, IIT Bombay approved the proposal.

IIT runs a software, which looks at the assumed water flow, and determines if the flood lines are drawn accordingly, said Yadwadkar. It does not look at whether the water flow was scientifically decided. It is obvious that the no-development zone would shrink once you lower the estimated water discharge during floods. The contested 500 hectares were kept out of the flood lines. The same area was submerged in these floods.

Experts believe that such skulduggery only worsens our chances of dealing with a climate disaster. The rainfall pattern is getting erratic by the day, where dry spells are widening and days of torrential rains increasing, which exposes people who live close to the rivers to further flooding.

Back in Sangli, Sindhu Sakhare, living in Matang wada located 200 feet from Krishna River, had to see her house collapse during the 2019 floods. She now lives in a rented place just a few blocks away. It is only a few months before the monsoon begins, she said while washing clothes not too far from her collapsed house. I make my living by doing household chores. And I now have to set aside Rs 1,500 a month for the rent. Last years floods cost me a lot financially. I cannot afford another one of those.

The author is a WASH Matters 2019 Media Fellow. Reporting for this story was supported by WaterAid Indias WASH Matters 2019 Media Fellowship Programme
Bernie Sanders called out the Trump administration for its 'incompetence and recklessness' as he demanded Thursday that the president declare the coronavirus outbreak a national emergency.

The democratic socialist also argued that Americans needed to receive healthcare treatment related to the disease for free.

'Unfortunately in this time of international crisis, it is clear to me, at least, that we have an administration that is largely incompetent, and whose incompetence and recklessness have threatened the lives of many, many people in our country,' the 2020 hopeful said in a speech delivered Thursday afternoon from his adopted hometown of Burlington, Vermont.

Bernie Sanders said that medical treatment for coronavirus should be free in the United States, as he also demanded that President Trump declare a national emergency. So far Trump has resisted taking that step, which would free up FEMA money to the states

SOCIAL DISTANCING: Bernie Sanders hasn't held true campaign events since Tuesday and instead addressed reporters from a hotel in Burlington, Vermont. Both he and Joe Biden stopped holding campaign rallies before President Trump pledged to do so

Bernie Sanders criticized President Trump's administration for its 'incompetence and recklessness' in dealing with the coronavirus scare and said Congress needed to fill the leadership vacuum created by the president's actions

Echoing his Senate Democratic colleagues, Sanders called on President Trump to declere the outbreak a national emergency.

'We are dealing with a national emergency and the president of the United States must understand that and declare that emergency,' the 2020 hopeful urged.

Earlier Thursday, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow had told Republicans that an emergency declaration was on the table, but later Thursday Trump was noncommittal.

The Vermont senator - who continues to run for the White House despite rival Joe Biden's delegate lead - said his branch of government, Congress, needed to step into a leadership rule, blaming Trump for the vacuum.

'Next, because President Trump is unwilling and unable to lead selflessly, we must immediately convene an emergency bipartisan authority of experts to support and direct the response that is comprehensive, compassionate and based first and foremost on science and fact,' Sanders said.

'In other words, Congress, in a bipartisan manner, must take responsibility for addressing this unparalled crisis,' the senator added.

Sanders - of course - also had to bring up Medicare-for-all.

While it's a key policy difference between he and Biden, he glossed over that point during his speech Thursday afternoon.

'So while we work to pass a Medicare-for-all, single-payer system, the United States government today must make it clear that in the midst of this emergency everyone in our country, regardless of income or where they live, must be able to get the healthcare they need without cost,' Sanders said.

'Obviously when a vaccine or other affective treatment is developed it must be free of charge,' the senator continued. 'We cannot live in a nation where if you have money you get the treatment you need to survive, but if you're working class or poor you get to the end of the line.'

Sanders' remarks came two hours after Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner, also gave a speech, imploring, like the Vermont senator, that the administration's response be grounded in science.

President Trump's campaign shortly after Sanders finished making comments.

'Bernie Sanders is the wrong prescription for fighting an outbreak like the coronavirus,' said Tim Murtaugh, the campaign's communications director. 'Like Joe Biden, Sanders advocates a government takeover of healthcare, which would close hundreds of rural hospitals.'

Murtaugh also took issue with Sanders for not mentioning border closures as a way to protect Americans from the virus.

'Hes just another Democrat candidate for president trying to score political points by recklessly provoking anxiety and fear,' Murtaugh said.

Both Democratic 2020 hopefuls started taking coronavirus precautions before Trump.

On Tuesday, as voters from six states headed to the polls, both candidates canned planned Cleveland, Ohio rallies. Ohio Democrats vote next Tuesday.

Since then, Biden has also announced his own coronavirus task force. And he's changed campaign events in Illinois and Florida to virtual town halls.

Sanders has been in Vermont since Tuesday and has only campaigned so far as addressing reporters from a Burlington hotel.

Meanwhile, it wasn't until Wednesday night - and after he addressed a national audience - that Trump called off planned travel to Nevada and Colorado.

In the Oval Office Thursday he said that he's likely cancel a planned Florida rally.

'We have a big one in Tampa, all sold out. We have over 100,000 requests for tickets, but I think well probably not do it because people would say its better to not do,' Trump said.
(Newser)  Chicago on Wednesday canceled this year's St. Patrick's Day parade due to the coronavirus outbreak, joining many other cities around the world in doing sobut not, notably, New York. Despite reports coming out that NYC would be canceling its annual eventthe holiday's largest gathering anywhere in the world, with more than 2 million attendeesorganizers quickly shot those down, per Fox 29. "At this point in time contrary to the media outlets and social media no decision has been made to cancel the NYC St Patricks Day Parade," organizers tweeted Wednesday. "Please continue to check this page for updates."

story continues below

"We have received no notice from the authorities about postponement at this point," notes an announcement on the official parade website. "We recommend checking with your local health officials, government, and where appropriate, your personal physician for guidance." That despite the fact that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday, "If you listen to the experts, they would say you should not be having a St. Patrick's Day convening at this time, which I believe makes sense." In addition to Chicago, the AP reports parades have recently been canceled in Boston, Philadelphia, Denver, San Francisco, and even Ireland. Many were wondering why NYC hasn't followed suit. Its parade is scheduled for St. Patrick's Day itself, coming up Tuesday. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
The length of DeAndre Arnolds dreadlocks didnt keep him from walking the red carpet as a guest at the Academy Awards.

But his shoulder-length hair, which he has grown since he was in middle school, will keep him from receiving a diploma from the Texas school district he has attended since kindergarten.

Earlier this year, a social-media swarm enveloped DeAndre and Barbers Hill Independent School District, a school system of some 5,400 students in Mont Belvieu, 30 miles from downtown Houston. The districts dress code bans male students from having long hair. It also states that they cannot wear their hair in a style meant to skirt the rule that hair cant grow below the eyebrows or earlobes or touch a T-shirt collar.

Cut your hair, DeAndre was told, or face the prospect of not participating in the May graduation ceremony.

That is where the situation remains, even as DeAndre was feted by celebrities and professional athletes for refusing to cut his hair.

The social-media glare has dimmed on this particular dust-up, but its all but certain a similar controversy will flare soon in another school district, when dress codes clash with a growing number of students, parents, and researchers who see such rules and their enforcement as rife with racism and sexism.

At Barbers Hill, they say we hold our students at a really high level, DeAndre said in an interview with Education Week. He has withdrawn from the districts high school and is now enrolled in another district. If were students of such a high caliber, I dont think hair would be such a distraction for us. Its kind of ridiculous.

Greg Poole, the Barbers Hill superintendent, did not respond to a request for comment from Education Week. In other interviews, he said the restriction was never about DeAndres hairstyle, just its length, which applies to all male students regardless of race. In an opinion piece for a local newspaper, Poole said his district is being wrongly condemned by outsiders.

This issue isnt an attempt to provide fair or equal treatment to all students, which was a cornerstone of the civil rights movement in the last half century. This is an attempt to force unfair or unequal treatment based on race or culture such that a child is given preferential treatment based on his ethnicity, Poole wrote in the Baytown Sun.

He concluded: We will continue to strive to be correct, not politically correct.

Other Controversies

Almost monthly, a school dress-code issue pops into the public eye. Last September, a Texas grandmother was told by a public school principal that her 4-year-old grandson, who is African American, would have to cut his hair or wear a dress. In 2018, a 17-year-old Florida student was told by administrators at her public school that she needed to put bandages over her nipples. Her breasts, they said, were distracting other students.

In yet another Texas district, two African American students said that when they came to school with abstract designs shaved into the sides of their heads, administrators colored in the lines with a black Sharpie, rather than calling their parents. A federal lawsuit is pending against the Houston-area district, Pearland ISD, for those two incidents.

The design was not something that was gang-related or offensive to another race or religion or women or anything like that. What difference does it make? said Randall Kallinen, the lawyer representing the two students. I dont see how theyre disruptive, either. Its just, Ive defined that as bad, so its bad. 

In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, Pearland spokeswoman Kim Hocott said that while specific details cannot be discussed, we remain confident the outcome will be favorable for the district.

Its not a surprise that many of the dress-code controversies that make the news involve girls and African American students, some researchers said. Their bodies are particularly under scrutiny by school officialsand the students know it.

When we look at whats happening to kids in school, its a lot of policing of black and brown bodies, said Rachel Roegman, an assistant professor of education policy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She and co-author Alyssa Pavlakis, a graduate student at the university, interviewed students in a Midwestern high school and discussed their findings in an article that ran in Phi Delta Kappan.

We dont always give kids credit. Kids are aware that different kids, because of their race and gender, get different consequences based on the same offense, Roegman said in an interview. Teachers and students at the school said black males are more likely to be disciplined for dress-code violations than white males, even though their violation rates were similar, according to the Kappan article.

But the act of policing is nuanced: Sometimes black or female administrators are the ones who are coming out in favor of such codes.

In April 2019, a Houston high school principal made national news when she banned parents from coming on campus wearing leggings, ripped jeans, minidresses, and hair bonnets, among other forbidden clothing items. The school is predominantly black and Hispanic, and the principal, Carlotta Outley Brown, is also black.

Theres respectability politics. I think we need to start addressing that, said Adaku Onyeka-Crawford, the director of educational equity and senior counsel for the National Womens Law Center.

To start, black girls are not going to be able to dress their way to freedom. You have to wrestle with the fact that anti-black messages have been handed down from generation to generation. People start to internalize those things, and its more harmful than it is helpful, she said. We should allow black students to be confident in themselves in school.

The NWLC has produced two publications, Dress Coded and Let Her Learn, that explore the disparate impact of dress-code enforcement, sexual harassment, and other practices that they say impede girls success in school.

Lisa Frack, a former president of the Oregon chapter of the National Organization for Women, said she was tired of seeing story after story about girls running afoul of student dress policies. What if the organization, instead of criticizing problems after the fact, created a model policy that schools could adopt or work from?

So, it did. The model policy, which was adopted by the Portland, Ore., district in 2016, says students must cover their private parts and wear shoes, and thats about it. There are no restrictions on hair length, width of tank-top straps, or whether underwear waistbands or bra straps must be covered. Students can wear hats or hoodies, as long as teachers can see their faces and if they are wearing earbuds.

People were saying, Oh, theyre going to wear bikinis and macrame jumpsuits'nobody has, Frack said. What has happened, she said, is that teachers no longer feel like they have to enforce dress codes, and students are no longer subject to enforcement that varied depending on the whims of different teachers and administrators. People from around the country have reached out in support.

What are you trying to create in your school? Frack said she would ask of school leaders. You want kids to feel motivated and excited about learning in an open-ended way. There is no one way of looking that reflects the things they can go and do. To tell them theres one way to bethat makes the grown-ups less credible.

Frack is aware that what may work in liberal Portland, however, might not pass as easily in other parts of the country. But, she said, parents can still boss their kids around as much as they want to. Do you really want the government telling your kids what to wear?

Dorinda Carter Andrews, a professor of race, culture, and equity at Michigan State University, also said that school administrators should look closely at their dress codes and what they want them to accomplish.

Does the policy in any way serve to police or surveil student bodies? And if so, how do we redress the policy? Carter Andrews said. I think the second question people do have to ask is, Does our dress code further marginalize students who are already further marginalized by school culture? These are basic questions that need to be on the table before policies even get created.

Traditionally, the dress-code policies are cloaked in white-normed, Eurocentric framings of what is professional, what is good, she said. And its troubling, she said, that lawmakers are now passing bills to prevent discrimination based on hairstyles associated with black culture.

That ought to cause us all to step back, Carter Andrews said.

On March 4, Virginia became one of four states, along with California, New Jersey, and New York, to enact a law banning discrimination based on hairstyles traditionally associated with black people, such as braids, dreadlocks, and twists. Lawmakers in Texas and several other states are working on similar laws.

But changing mindsets may be challenging.

Safety and Compliance

Permian High School in Odessa, Texas, immortalized in the book, film, and television show Friday Night Lights, is 500 miles from the Barbers Hill district. But it has a similar dress-code policy. Girls cant wear spaghetti straps or tube tops. Extreme modes of hair design and color are forbidden. Piercings can only be in the ear. (Barbers Hill forbids male students from wearing earrings at all.)

Danny Gex, the principal of the 3,600-student school, said dress codes are not the most important issue he faces on a day-to-day basis. Still, he understands and supports such policies.

First, Gex said, its a safety issue. Though all Permian students are required to wear student IDs on a lanyard, a long-haired male student or a person with multiple piercings would quickly stand out as not belonging on campus, he said.

But also, he said, its about learning how to comply with rules, just as students will be expected to do once they leave school.

You can say we force them to go to school, we shouldnt force them to cut their hair. But what are you going to do when your job forces you to do something? My question is, were just going to allow kids to make whatever choice they want, whenever they want, and just hope that whenever they graduate ... theyre going to start complying then? I think thats a silly argument.

Gex said he gives students a chance to comply. We try to use common sense, he said. But if they refuse, then its not about the dress code, he said. Its about insubordination.

Two students recently came to Gex with over 1,000 signatures opposing the districts prohibition on extreme hair colors. He told them he was proud of their work and showed them how to get on the school boards calendar to present their request to district officials.

Theres nothing wrong with that. You have to teach kids how to stand up for themselves, he said. But you need to comply with the policy thats set forth first, and then go through the changes.

Back at Mont Belvieu, the whirlwind that surrounded DeAndre has died down. Earlier this year, he attended the Oscars, as a guest of a team that developed an award-winning animated short film called Hair Love that celebrated African American hairstyles. He also appeared on The Ellen Show, where host Ellen DeGeneres implored the district to relax its policy, right before presenting Arnold a $20,000 scholarship check.

But DeAndre is now attending school at neighboring Goose Creek ISD, as is his cousin Kaden Bradford, a sophomore whose hairstyle also ran afoul of Barbers Hills dress code. Goose Creeks dress code requires only that hair be neat, clean, well-groomed, and out of the eyes.

Looking Forward

DeAndre is remarkably calm about leaving behind the district that educated not only him but many of his family members. His mothers late uncle, M.Q. Bradford, served on the districts school board from 1970 to 1984.

Were just looking at the positive. As long as Im getting my diploma, I dont just want to focus on the negative, he said.

But the events have prompted him to become more politically aware. This has kind of opened my eyes. I see now I have to stand up even more for everybodys cause. I wouldnt want anybody to have to go through this alone. Im focused on trying to be there for others.

But mostly, hes said, hes thinking about graduation and his dream of becoming a veterinarian. Recently, he had to say goodbye to two beloved dogs that died; one was older, the other relatively young. But the vet told him nothing could be done to cure the dogs ailments.

DeAndres goal, he said, is to be able to do something.
Oil prices plunged more than three percent Thursday after US President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban on all travel from Europe to the United States over the coronavirus pandemic. West Texas Intermediate slipped 3.7 percent to under $32 a barrel while Brent crude was off 3.3 percent at $34 a barrel. Both contracts extended heavy losses from a day earlier, which came after Saudi Arabia and Gulf partner the UAE stepped up a price war by vowing to pump millions more barrels of crude. Crude markets have been in turmoil since the start of the week, when they suffered their biggest one-day drop in a generation after Riyadh slashed prices following a row with Moscow about output cuts. Prices briefly bounced after Trump began addressing the nation on the virus outbreak, which is now hitting the world's top economy hard -- but then quickly slipped into the red. The travel restrictions, which do not apply to Britain, will go into effect Friday at midnight, Trump said. The move came after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic. Following Trump's announcement, AxiCorp market strategist Stephen Innes said that "if this doesn't get Saudi and Russia back to the table, I don't think anything will". This week's collapse of oil prices came after OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia had led a push to reduce output further to shore up prices amid slumping demand. But the move was blocked by Moscow, the world's second-biggest oil producer, prompting Riyadh to slash prices.
Health officials have moved to bust some of the myths swirling around coronavirus (Getty)

Coronavirus

As concerns grow across the world about the spread of coronavirus  now classed as a pandemic  authorities have found themselves constantly battling myths around the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a list of mythbusters on its website in order to counteract some of the claims going viral online.

Here are some of the myths that have gone viral about Covid-19 that experts have said arent true:

Taking a hot bath will stop you from catching coronavirus

Taking a hot bath will not prevent you from catching coronavirus, the WHO has said.

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of Covid-19 cases in your local area

Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu

On its website, the organisation reminds you that your body temperature remains around 36.5C to 37C, regardless of the temperature of your bath or shower.

Actually, taking a hot bath with extremely hot water can be harmful, as it can burn you, it says, reminding people that the best way to protect against coronavirus is by washing your hands regularly.

Cold weather and snow can kill coronavirus

The WHO says there is no reason to believe that cold weather can kill the new coronavirus or other diseases.

Similarly to hot baths, it reminds people that the normal human body temperature remains around 36.5C to 37C, regardless of the external temperature or weather.

Hand dryers can kill coronavirus

In response to what is presumably a rumour abound about hand dryers, the WHO says: No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV.

No, hand dryers can't kill coronavirus, the WHO says. (Picture: Getty)

To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.

Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kills coronavirus

Story continues

The WHO points out that spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body.

Read more: Schoolboy 'suspended for selling hand sanitiser at 50p a squeeze'

It says: Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth).

Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.

Regularly rinsing your nose with saline will prevent you catching coronavirus

Another social media rumour suggests that regularly rinsing your nose with saline could protect you from getting infected with coronavirus.

The WHO says: There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common cold.

However, regularly rinsing the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.

Countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus. See story HEALTH Coronavirus. Infographic PA Graphics

Eating garlic can help prevent you catching coronavirus

Another myth busted by the WHO is that eating garlic might help stop you from contracting Covid-19.

In answering such a suggestion, its mythbuster says: Garlic is a healthy food that may have some antimicrobial properties.

However, there is no evidence from the current outbreak that eating garlic has protected people from the new coronavirus.

Holding your breath can test for coronavirus

According to AFP Factchecker, Facebook posts claiming that holding your breath for more than 10 seconds is an effective test for the novel coronavirus, and drinking water regularly can prevent the disease, have been shared thousands of times.

The claims arent true. The WHO and other experts said there was no evidence to support them.

Youll know youve got coronavirus because you wont get a runny nose

Facebook posts have suggested that if youve got a runny nose youve actually got a common cold, while coronavirus manifests itself as pneumonia with a dry cough and no runny nose.

Thats not true either, according to AFP Factchecker.

Read more: Nurse in Italy shares picture of bruised face after gruelling coronavirus shift

Brandon Brown, a professor at the University of California Riversides Center for Healthy Communities, told AFP that coronavirus can cause a runny nose and sputum, because the symptoms are first similar to a common cold.

Pneumonia vaccines will protect you against coronavirus

No. Vaccines against pneumonia, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine, do not provide protection against the new coronavirus.

The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine against 2019-nCoV, and WHO is supporting their efforts.

Although these vaccines are not effective against 2019-nCoV, vaccination against respiratory illnesses is highly recommended to protect your health.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Protesting against the BJPs alleged role in destabilizing the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, Youth Congress members on Wednesday staged a demonstration outside the resort where the party MLAs are camping for the last few days. Youth Congress workers, who raised slogans against the BJP and its leaders, were detained by the police.

Some protesters allegedly tried to enter the resort, but were stopped by police. The Congress MLAs from MP had on Tuesday sent in their resignations, pushing the Kamal Nath government to the brink. The Congress leaders have accused the BJP central leaders and state leaders of trying to pull down the democratically- elected government in Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, MLAs from Madhya Pradesh had sought police protection and have written to the state police chief.
The total number of coronavirus positive cases stayed put at two in the state, said Rajasthan health authorities, pegging the total number of suspected COVID-19-hit patients, kept in isolation in hospitals, at 25.

An Italian couple and a man, who had recently returned from Dubai had been found Corona-positive, but the Italian man's wife, who was initially tested positive, had later turned negative following treatment, said Additional Chief Secretary (Medical & Health) Rohit Kumar Singh.

The 25 isolated patients include the Italian couple and the Indian, who had returned from Dubai, he added.

Out of the remaining 22 isolated patients, 19 have been found negative while the results of three are awaited, he said, adding 15 patients have been kept in isolation in three hospitals of Jaipur, four in Kota, three in Jhunjhunu, two in Udaipur and one in Bharatpur.

Besides those kept in isolation at various hospitals, 576 persons in the state have also been asked to stay in isolation at their homes, he said, adding that the state Health Department personnel have screened over 3.08 lakh people tioll date, out of which the samples of 357 were collected.

Of them, whose samples were tested, including the 25 kept in isolation, three -- Italian couple and a state native -- were found positive, 351 negative, while the results of three samples are awaited.

Meanwhile, a doctor who was on duty in coronavirus control room has been suspended for dereliction in duty.

Dr Sanju Meena has been suspended for dereliction in duty, he said.

On the other hand, the state government issued Rajasthan Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 regulations, 2020 and asked all the chief medical and health officers to follow the regulations.

The regulations are related with the arrangements for handling the situation related with the coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jaipur, March 12 : Buena Vista Resort which once proved lucky for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot last November when he hosted 40 Congress MLAs to help the Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena to form the Maharashtra government, might not prove lucky this time.

Political leaders believe the Madhya Pradesh crisis is far too deep and strong and shall leave the Congress red-faced in the long run as Maharashtra and Rajasthan shall be the next two states to see Operation Lotus blooming. BJP leaders believe anything is possible in politics.

The resort which hosted Splitsvilla shoot earlier and is now hosting Madhya Pradesh MLAs shall soon see Congress splitting in Maharashtra and then in Rajasthan, confirmed BJP sources.

A total of 41 MLAs are camping in this resort to escape horse trading while 38 MLAs are camping in plush Tree Resort. Three MLAs arrived midnight in Jaipur.

Now political sources in Rajasthan claim the resort shall go with its branding as in 'Splitsvilla' and will see the splitting happening in Maharashtra government soon which was formed with the tie up between Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena.

"Operation Lotus shall not limit itself to MP, but shall soon be making its impact felt in Maharashtra. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray has met senior BJP leaders in this regard. The fight there was on Chhota Bhai and Bada Bhai. When Uddhav is already CM, we won't have any issues of forming the government there and will be ok to see Thackeray working in his present capacity as the chief minister which he is unable to do presently as his present alliance partners have different ideologies," a senior BJP worker told IANS.

"Then shall come Rajasthan's turn. Around 30 MLAs are already in touch with us and MP story will be repeated in this state too with deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot being ignored by the government." Pilot in Rajasthan, like Scindia in MP, has been speaking against the government. When over 100 kids died in Kota, Pilot questioned the state government's working. Similarly, in the recent cases of Dalit atrocities been reported in state, he sent a report to Congress high command hard-hitting the government's failure.

Soon after the formation of the Congress government in December last year, the rift between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot widened even more with Pilot being denied the CM chair after the assembly elections in December 2018.

Meanwhile Pilot on Wednesday termed Scindia's departure unfortunate. In his tweet, he said, "Unfortunate to see @JM_Scindia parting ways with @INCIndia. I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party." Similarly Gehlot termed Scindia as opportunist and said: "Opportunist like Scindia should have left Congress much earlier." He further said: "Entire nation is watching, how shamelessly #HorseTrading is being done. What has happened in #MadhyaPradesh, it is murder of democracy." BJP too attacked Gehlot on his horse trading comment and said that the Chief Minister who has twice snatched six BSP MLAs in both his tenures via horse trading has no right to give such comment.

"Six months back, six BSP MLAs joined in the Congress under Gehlot's watch. In his earlier tenure too, he did the same. When he had no shame repeating it twice, then he has no right to give such comment," said Satish Poonia, State president, BJP.

When IANS questioned him if Rajasthan can repeat MP, he said: "Yeh siyasat hai, yahan sab ho sakata hai."
Montgomery County officials have confirmed a third presumptive positive case a day after Houston officials canceled the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo due to a northwest Montgomery County man testing presumptive positive for the new coronavirus after attending the events kick-off barbecue.

According to information from the Montgomery County Public Health District, the three cases are a Patton Village police officer in his 40s; a woman in her 40s who resides in South Montgomery County and traveled to New Orleans recently; and the third a man, who is also in his 40s, resides in Northwest Montgomery County whose only travel history was to Florida.

All three patients are being treated at local hospitals.

We are still awaiting CDC confirmation of the positive result, health officials stated in a release Thursday. This case is still under investigation, and the information is limited at this time. MCPHD has confirmed she traveled to New Orleans recently, but she has not traveled abroad. No other information about the woman was provided.

MCPHD is also continuing to monitor the northwest county man and as of Thursday morning, officials are still awaiting CDC confirmation of the positive result. The man, who is in his 40s, is still currently hospitalized in a hospital in Montgomery County.

At this time, there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19, and no medications approved to treat it. Non-pharmaceutical interventions like hand-washing, disinfecting surfaces around your home, and staying home when you are sick are the most important response strategies.

Montgomery County Judge Mark Keoughs Chief of Staff Jason Millsap said the countys first case tested positive for COVID-19 around 4 p.m. Wednesday 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.

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.

Although the risk for the general public in Texas remains low, the Texas Department of State Health Services is urging health care professionals to ask patients with respiratory symptoms about their travel history and contact their local or regional health department if they think a patient may have COVID-19. DSHS is working with local health departments to monitor and assess people with recent, relevant travel history and others for possible COVID-19 testing.

All travelers who have returned from flagged countries should stay home and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days. They should consult with a health care provider if they develop fever, cough or shortness of breath within that period. Local health departments across the state are in contact daily with returned travelers to verify that they remain symptom-free.

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others within about six feet through respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; and rarely, fecal contamination.

Patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. The CDC believes that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

For more information, please see https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
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Under the lens: A sample from the first United States case of COVID-19 is seen in a transmission electron microscopic image released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, the US, on Tuesday.(CDC/Hannah A Bullock and Azaibi Tamin/Handout via Reuters)

Could Indonesia's tropical climate prevent it from descending into a major COVID-19 outbreak as seen in South Korea, Iran and Italy? It is possible, scientists say, but they caution that governments should not rely on weather to fight the virus.

At least two newly published studies have suggested that the viral transmission rate of the 2019 novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, may be linked to temperature and seasonal fluctuations across different regions.

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CHICAGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Composite Film Market by Resin Type (Epoxy), Curing Type (Autoclave, Out-of-autoclave), Function (Lightning Strike Protection, Surface Protection), End-use Industry (Aerospace & Defense, Automotive), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Composite Film Market size is expected to grow from USD 245 million in 2020 to USD 328 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period. Due to the increase in the demand for high-performance materials with properties such as high strength to weight ratio, good tensile strength, electrical conductivity among others, the global composite film market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.





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Epoxy resin film comprises a major share of the composite film market in terms of value and volume.

Epoxy resins are thermoset resins known for their excellent mechanical, electrical, and high-heat resistance properties. They are available in a wide range of curing-agent variations. They have better physical, mechanical, adhesion, and low shrinkage properties in comparison to other resin films. High strength and resistance to moisture are obtained when these epoxy resin films are applied to composite panels.

The autoclave curing type accounted for the largest market share in the global composite film market during the forecast period in terms of value and volume.

Autoclave curing type produces denser, and void-free molding because high heat and pressure are used for its curing. Autoclaves are in high demand as it helps in producing high-value composite films and are widely used in the aerospace industry to fabricate high strength-to-weight ratio parts for aircraft. This curing type method generally uses high-temperature matrix resins, such as epoxy, which has higher properties than conventional resins. Thus, autoclave curing is widely used in aerospace & defense, automotive, and other end-use industries.

The lightning strike protection function holds a significant revenue share in the global composite film market during the forecast period.

The aerospace & defense end-use industry caters to the high demand for lightning strike protection composite film. Every airplane in the US commercial fleet gets struck by lightning more than once a year, according to Lightning Technologies Inc., which increases the demand for the lightning strike protective composite film on composite panels. Also, Airbus and Boeing's forecast for the next two decades has clearly stated that there would be an increase in passenger traffic, resulting in the manufacturing of new aircraft, which would require a huge amount of composite film.

The aerospace & defense end-use industry accounted for the largest market share in the global composite film market during the forecast period in terms of value.

The aerospace & defense industry is a major consumer of composites, which in turn increases the demand for composite films. Leading aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus are increasing the use of carbon composites, and composite films in their commercial aircraft. Composite films are also used in fuselage, wings, tail, tail fin, wing box, trailing edge, engine nacelles, engine, and other structural parts of an aircraft. Growing environmental concerns and search for high strength lightweight materials to increase fuel efficiency has put composites and simultaneously composite films under the limelight in the automotive industry. As, the composite structures used on automotive would require Class A protection from extreme climates, and scratches.



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North America accounted for the largest market share in the composite film market during the forecast period.

North America holds the largest market for the composite film market. The key reason for this includes the demand for composite films in the aerospace & defense industry in the region. The demand for composite film in aerospace & defense, automotive, and other industries is projected to improve due to product innovation and technological advances made in this sector. According to the 24/7 Wall St. a Delaware corporation, in the US, parts of Florida experience an average of 100 thunderstorm days annually, making Florida the most likely place in the country for lightning strikes. Also, along the US West Coast, annually, an average of 10 thunderstorms is experienced. These factors drive the demand for composite films during the forecast period.

Key players in the market include 3M(US), Henkel AG Co. KGaA(Germany), Hexcel Corporation(US), Gurit (Switzerland), Solvay(Belgium), Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan), Socomore(France), Park Aerospace Corp.(US), and Axiom Materials Inc.(US), among many others. These companies are involved in adopting various inorganic and organic strategies to increase their foothold in the composite film market.



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Carbon Fiber Market by Raw Material (PAN, Pitch, Rayon), Fiber Type (Virgin, Recycled), Product Type, Modulus, Application (Composite, Non-composite), End-use Industry (A & D, Automotive, Wind Energy), and Region - Global Forecast to 2029 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/carbon-fiber-396.html

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Rome, March 12 : Italy on Thursday began a new phase in its coronavirus fight with the closure of non-essential businesses, except pharmacies and grocery stores, aimed at containing the outbreak that has infected 12,462 people and killed 827 in the country.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday night called for "another step" to stem the spread of the virus, reports Efe news.

On Monday, Conte extended the lockdown measures already in place in the north of the country to nationwide, including movement restrictions and the closure of public spaces.

On Wednesday he declared further measures, as requested by the most-affected northern region of Lombardy, which will be in force until March 25.

From Thursday, all non-essential retail and commercial activity has been suspended, with the opening of food stores given the go-ahead as long as they allow the orderly entry of people that facilitate customers being able to keep one meter away from each other.

Other businesses, including factories and agriculture, the public sector and transport, as well as banks remained open, as long as they could guarantee their security measures.

Restaurants, bars, ice cream parlours, patisseries, hairdressers and barbershops were closed, joining other spaces shuttered in recent days such as cinemas, theatres, museums, churches, schools and universities.

Conte asked the companies remaining open to utilize teleworking as much as possible, encourage paid leave for employees, the disinfection of their facilities and the suspension of non-essential company activity.

Earlier Wednesday, Conte announced an increased emergency stimulus package worth up to 35 billion euros ($28 billion) to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, since declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

In a statement, the Italian government said the emergency funds would be allocated to the healthcare system, the civil protection department, and businesses and families affected by the virus.

Italy's health services is under pressure to cope with the rising numbers of cases.

In about three weeks, the coronavirus outbreak in the country has already left 827 dead and the number of cases totals 12,462, which includes those cured, sick and dead, according to official data.

As of Thursday, the overall coronavirus death toll in China, the epicentre of the outbreak, was 3,169, with a total of 80,793 cases.

Globally, there were 123,825 confirmed cases, with 4,620 fatalities.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The travel restrictions which were issued by the Government of Sint Maarten have now been increased from 14 to 21-days, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs disclosed on Wednesday.



The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be meeting on Thursday and a meeting will be held with Members of Parliament (MPs) to provide them with an update on national preparations for COVID-19.



Jacobs said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared that the coronavirus COVID-19 is now an international pandemic. Such a declaration calls on all countries to speed up their response and containment measures and to be prepared to take any additional measures that are required to protect public health.

The Government continues to work closely with the Government of French Saint-Martin and Kingdom counterparts in order to prepare and plan to mitigate the spread.



Prime Minister Jacobs added that the business community, as well as Government, will have to look at ways of allowing workers to work remotely from home, especially for persons who have traveled to COVID-19 hotspots including those who are not mentioned in the countrys travel restriction lists.



Persons should self- isolate for 14-days at home; contact their family physician (GP) and provide a list of their flu-like symptoms to their GP if they develop any. The family physician will determine if the Collective Prevention Services (CPS) should be contacted. For more information, you can call the 914-hot line during business hours.



Children with flu-like symptoms should remain home; self-isolation is the best way to contain communicable diseases. Special attention should be paid to senior citizens, especially those with pre-existing health (respiratory) conditions.



Passengers and airline crew who have been in China (Peoples Republic), Hong Kong (SAR China), Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Macao (SAR China) or Singapore in the past 21 days, are not allowed to transit or enter Sint Maarten.



This does not apply to nationals of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (being from Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Netherlands, St. Eustatius, Saba and Sint Maarten); and this does not apply to residents of Sint Maarten.



All passengers must fill in the embarkation card in order to know where the passengers are coming from before the aircraft/ship arrives in Sint Maarten.



There are zero cases of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 on Dutch Sint Maarten at this time. Our screening processes at our ports of entry have been stepped up in cooperation with the airlines who are also following their own screening protocols based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.



There is no reason to panic; stay calm and take preventative hygiene measures at home, on the job, in school that have been promoted by the Ministry of Public Health for the past several weeks via the Governments Department of Communication.



Persons should refrain from hugging and touching each other when visiting family or friends. We have to get back to the No touch rule in order to protect ourselves at this point in time with the global COVID-19 outbreak.



The Government continues to work diligently to increase capacity within the public health sector, but this will take some time.

Listen to the Government Radio station  107.9FM - for official information, statements and news updates or visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus or and Facebook Page: Facebook.com/SXMGOV
The President of the High Court has instructed that existing trials should be completed where possible, a murder trial jury has been told.

Addressing the jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Rafal Karaczyn (34) this afternoon, Thursday, March 12, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said that, in light of health matters unfolding in the community, her instructions from the President of the High Court Mr Justice Peter Kelly are that courts should endeavour to conclude trials already at hearing unless another announcement is made.

She then asked the jury to return on Wednesday because, she said, she understands that the jury has a difficulty sitting tomorrow, Friday, and Monday, while Tuesday is a public holiday.

They will then hear closing speeches from the defence and the prosecution, which were originally scheduled to begin this morning.

Mr 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.

Ms Justice Creedon told the jury of seven women and five men that all that is remaining in the trial is the closing speeches from the prosecution and defence, for her to give them her charge and for them to carry out their deliberations.

She also told them that the registrar is available to liaise with the jurors if needed between today and Wednesday.

Thank you all very much for your patience, Ms Justice Creedon said.
New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday (March 12) arrested Popular Front of India (PFI) secretary Ilyas in connection with alleged PFI-Shaheen Bagh link.

PFI used to put up to Rs 6000 small amounts in different accounts. In whose account money came. Some used to give a small amount from 3000 to 4000. And used to take the rest in cash. So that it could not come under scrutiny. A PAN card has to be deposited with the bank after a transaction of 50 thousand.

PFI used to deposit small amount of sums up to Rs 49,000 to avoid scrutiny because a PAN card has to be deposited with the bank for a transaction of Rs 50,000. In whose account the money was transferred a small amount is given and the remaining is taken out in cash.

Mohammad Ilyas was detained by Special Cell of Delhi Police in connection with Shaheen Bagh funding case.

Mohammad Ilyas is a resident of Shiv Vihar and had also contested from Karwal Nagar.

Earlier, a PFI member Danish during interrogation had revealed that the organisation was "deeply involved" in anti-CAA protests and riots that broke out in the northeast district of Delhi last month, sources said on Wednesday.

It has come to light that the organisation provided logistical and financial support to the rioters.

Danish was recently arrested by a special cell of Delhi Police and was sent to four days police remand by a court on Monday.

The special cell is prominently investigating inflammatory speeches at many places in the country.

Raids are being conducted to identify PFI suspects, there may be some more arrests soon.

The ED too has been questioning PFI for its alleged involvement in Shaheen Bagh and anti-CAA protests link.

At least 53 people had lost their lives while over 200 others sustained injuries in the violence that rattled the national capital last month.
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.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In a state where vote tallying frequently goes deep into the night, or sometimes extends over many days, Florida officials have long sought to shed the Sunshine States reputation as the national poster child for elections gone wrong.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who himself won by a razor-thin margin in 2018, will soon decide the fate of a bill now on his desk that would allow local elections officials across the states 67 counties to use a secondary system meant to speed up recounts and more quickly verify the accuracy of election results.

Elections in Florida are extremely close. They tend to decide the outcome of presidential elections, or the balance of power in Congress, said Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley, who helped pushed the measure through the Florida House and Senate. Both chambers approved the legislation earlier this week, even though opponents argued that the bill prioritizes speed over election security.

The measure would give all 67 supervisors of elections the option of using auditing systems, also known as automatic tabulating equipment, to process ballots in a recount. The machines would be separate  and different  from the machines and software used for the initial ballot counts.

While some local jurisdictions now employ similar systems, Florida could be the first to deploy a statewide network that employs a dual ballot-counting system.

Its imperative we get it right in Florida, Earley said. We have close elections, therefore we have recounts.

But despite the promise of faster election night results, there are concerns about how secure the added system might be  particularly at a time when the state is under scrutiny over possible breaches.

Last year, DeSantis ordered his secretary of state  Floridas chief elections officer  to launch a review of election security amid revelations that Russian hackers infiltrated election systems in at least two Florida counties.

The state has declined to release any of its findings to protect against further vulnerabilities.

Since then, the state has pumped millions of dollars into beefing up staffing to strengthen cybersecurity.

Patricia Brigham, the president of League of Women Voters Florida, urged the governor to veto the legislation, saying she remains concerned about the possibility of tampering because only one vendor  Clear Ballot of Boston  is currently eligible to supply the machines and software for the secondary system.

We think there could be possible election security risks, Brigham said. If youre looking at a recount process, that is something that is extremely serious and has to be done effectively and in a timely manner of course. But it shouldnt be done with the idea that speed is the utmost importance.

Also of concern is how Clear Ballots system relies on digital images of the original paper ballots for its recounts or audits.

That could lead to possible mischief, according to Dan McCrea, the president of Florida Voters, an advocacy group.

This image check is quick and it provides a sense of security. But its a false sense of security and leaves Florida elections more vulnerable to hacking, he said.

We call on Governor DeSantis not to sign it to protect Florida election security and national security both, McCrea said.

McCrea and Brigham said recounts should involve the original physical ballots, instead of what they asserted are hackable electronic images.

But Earley, the Leon County elections supervisor, downplayed the security risks. He noted that the dual system would rely on machines independent of each other. Paper ballots, he said, would continue to be preserved.
Cash position of approximately 44 million as of December 31 st , 2019, compared to approximately 40 million as of December 31 st , 2018

Subscription of a 15 million bond loan from IPF Fund II, in 2019

Revenue of 2.1 million related to Tonghua Dongbao partnership

Regulatory News:

ADOCIA (Paris:ADOC) (Euronext Paris: FR0011184241 ADOC the "Company") announced today its full year 2019 financial results as of December 31st, 2019. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors Today and will be submitted for shareholder approval at the next General Shareholders' Meeting on May 28th, 2020.

"During 2019, Adocia made remarkable progress on its two flagship products, BC Lispro and BC Combo, in collaboration with our Chinese partner Tonghua Dongbao (THDB). THDB is preparing to file the Phase 3 submission for BC Lispro in China for mid-2020, after having successfully completed production scale-up. In Europe and the United States, the bridging study to validate THDB's lispro insulin should begin in the coming months. Our Insulin Pramlintide combination program is also very promising, with two different formulations in development; we await the next clinical results in March", commented Gerard Soula, CEO of Adocia.

"This year also saw the conclusion of the arbitration procedure that we had initiated against Eli Lilly. With the receipt of damages and the obtaining of the loan granted by IPF, Adocia has the financial means to carry out its ambitious development plan for the next 18 months. Finally, signing new partnerships is always our priority and we are pleased to welcome Ashley Nagle to Adocia as Director of Business Development

Financial Highlights

The following table summarizes the financial statements under IFRS for the years ended December 31st, 2019 and December 31st, 2018:

In () thousands, Consolidated financial statements, IAS/IFRS FY 2019

(12 months) FY 2018

(12 months) Revenue 2 143 47 389 Grants, Research tax credit, others 5 992 6 541 Operating revenue 8 134 53 930 Research and development expenses (23 307) (25 760) General and administrative expenses (6 848) (18 463) Operating expenses (30 155) (44 223) OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) (22 021) 9 707 FINANCIAL INCOME (LOSS) 455 2 051 Tax 2 963 (4 144) NET INCOME (LOSS) (18 603) 7 615

The consolidated financial statements on December 31st, 2019 as well as detailed explanations on the evolution of accounts are presented in the Appendix.

Key Company Results for Full Year 2019:

Net loss of 18.6 million in 2019, compared to a net gain of 7.6million in 2018, mainly consisted of:

Revenue of 2.1 million in 2019, compared to revenue of 47.4 million in 2018, resulting from the recognition of a part of the upfront payment by Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd (THDB) in April 2018;

Other operating income of 6 million, resulting mainly from the research tax credit (CIR) generated on 2019 expenses;

Total operating expenses of 30.2 million, a 14 million decrease compared to 2018. Excluding expenses related to the legal proceedings, which impacted 2019 and, more significantly, 2018, other operating expenses remained at a similar level compared to 2018;

Tax income of 3 million, as the Company claimed an income tax reimbursement related to an upfront payment by Eli Lilly in 2014.

Cash position of 43.7 million as of December 31st, 2019, increasing by 3.8 millioncompared to December 31st, 2018 impacted by the subscription of a bond issue from IPF Fund II, a fund managed by IPF Partners, for 15 million and by the $14.3 million, or 13 million, payment from Eli Lilly, corresponding to damages awarded after the first part of the arbitration completed in September 2019:

Over the full year 2019, excluding expenses of 4.5 million related to the legal proceedings and non-recurring collections, the net amount of cash needed to finance operations was 26.7 million, compared to 23.1 million over the same period in 2018.

Financial debts as of December 31st, 2019 totaled 21.2 million, compared to 7.1 million as of December 31st, 2018, consisted of the bond issue subscribed to IPF Fund II and of bank loans for 7 million contracted to finance the acquisition and renovation of the building in which the headquarters and the research center of the Company are located.

"The year 2019 was marked by the strengthening of our cash position, with in particular the receipt of 13 million from Eli Lilly following the outcome of the arbitration proceedings, the reimbursement of lawyers' fees up to $4 million from insurance and the financing from IPF Fund II for 15 million", commented Valerie Danaguezian, CFO of Adocia. "With 43.7 million in cash at the beginning of January 2020, we are continuing the sustained development of the Company while maintaining rigorous management of expenses

Key Events in 2019 and Perspectives for 2020:

In 2019, Adocia continued development activities for the two licensed products, BioChaperone Lispro and BioChaperone Combo, with its Chinese partner, Tonghua Dongbao (THDB), in order to support the planned Phase 3 programs in China for both programs.

The Company also continued to develop its other projects independently, particularly M1 PRAM (ADO09), a combination of two complementary and synergistic hormones, pramlintide (an amylin analog) and prandial insulin. M1 PRAM (ADO09) was developed to improve postprandial glycemic control and long-term outcomes for people requiring treatment with prandial insulin.

In April 2019, Adocia announced the first positive clinical results of M1 PRAM (ADO09), obtained in a study of people with type 1 diabetes. In this study, the treatment with M1 PRAM (ADO09) resulted in a significant 85% reduction in glycemic excursions during the first two hours after the meal, compared to a treatment with Humalog (lispro insulin, p <0.0001) and led to a postprandial glycemic control similar to that of separate injections with Humulin (human insulin) and Symlin (pramlintide).

Following these very encouraging clinical results, in June 2019 the Company launched a new Phase 1b clinical study to assess the safety and efficacy of M1 PRAM (ADO09) in subjects with type 1 diabetes over a 24-day treatment period. The study results are expected in March 2020.

From a financial perspective, in October 2019 the Company obtained a bond issue from IPF Fund II to finance its growth.

The IPF loan consists of the issue, in two equal tranches, of a total number of 15 million bonds, to each of which is attached a share subscription warrant (BSA), for a maximum amount of bond issue in principal of 15 million. The first tranche (Tranche A), amounting to 7.5 million, was subscribed on October 11th, 2019, at the signing of the contract. The second tranche (Tranche B) was subscribed on December 10th, 2019.

In terms of the organization, Adocia announced the departure of Dr. Remi Soula, Director of Business Development and Legal Affairs to pursue other professional objectives. As a co-founder of Adocia, Remi Soula contributed with talent and energy to the development of the company for 14 years.

Finally, from a legal perspective, 2019 was marked by the conclusion of legal proceedings initiated against Eli Lilly Company in October 2017.

In August 2019, the Court of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) dismissed additional claims submitted by Adocia, valued at approximately $1.3 billion, for Eli Lilly's appropriation and misuse of confidential information and discoveries belonging to Adocia, as well as for the violation by Eli Lilly of several collaboration and confidentiality agreements. Eli Lilly's counterclaims, which totaled $188 million, were also dismissed by the Tribunal. On September 30th, 2019, Adocia announced that it had received payment of $14.3 million from Eli Lilly corresponding to the $11.6 million in damages, plus interest, which had been awarded to Adocia in August 2018 by the AAA, as payment for a contractual milestone payment disputed by Eli Lilly.

In September 2019, Adocia and Eli Lilly jointly filed a consent judgment to conclude the civil litigation initiated by Eli Lilly at the Court of the Southern District of Indiana in October 2018. The consent judgment was registered by this very same Court on October 6, 2019, each party bearing its own legal fees and costs, with no other financial consequence.

Arbitration proceedings and civil action in the District Court of the Southern District of Indiana are concluded and final.

About Adocia

Adocia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that specializes in the development of innovative formulations of therapeutic proteins and peptides for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. In the diabetes field, Adocia's portfolio of injectable treatments is among the largest and most differentiated of the industry, featuring five clinical-stage products. Adocia aims to expand its portfolio towards the treatment of other metabolic diseases and their comorbidities.

The proprietary BioChaperone technological platform is designed to enhance the effectiveness and/or safety of therapeutic proteins while making them easier for patients to use. Adocia customizes BioChaperone to each protein for a given application. Adocia's clinical pipeline includes four novel insulin formulations for the treatment of diabetes: two ultra-rapid formulations of insulin analog lispro (BioChaperone Lispro U100 and U200), a combination of basal insulin glargine and rapid-acting insulin lispro (BioChaperone Combo) and a combination of a prandial insulin with amylin analog pramlintide (M1 PRAM ADO09). It also includes an aqueous formulation of human glucagon (BioChaperone Glucagon) for the treatment of hypoglycemia. Adocia preclinical pipeline includes a combination of insulin glargine with GLP-1 receptor agonists (BioChaperone Glargine GLP-1) for the treatment of diabetes and a ready-to-use combination of glucagon and a GLP-1 receptor agonist (BioChaperone Glucagon GLP1) for the treatment of obesity. Adocia is also exploring in preclinic the potential of its M1 PRAM combination to treat people with type 2 diabetes suffering from neurological comorbidities, including Alzheimer's disease.

In 2018, Adocia and Chinese insulin leader Tonghua Dongbao entered a strategic alliance. In April 2018, Adocia granted Tonghua Dongbao licenses to develop and commercialize BioChaperone Lispro and BioChaperone Combo in China and other Asian and Middle Eastern territories. The licensing agreements included USD 50 million upfront and up to USD 85 million development milestones, plus double-digit royalties on sales. In June 2018, Tonghua Dongbao agreed to manufacture and supply active pharmaceutical ingredients insulin lispro and insulin glargine to Adocia globally, excluding China, to support Adocia's portfolio development and commercialization.

Adocia aims to deliver "Innovative medicine for everyone, everywhere."

To learn more about Adocia, please visit us at www.adocia.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Adocia and its business. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Adocia considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that the estimates contained in such forward-looking statements will be verified, which estimates are subject to numerous risks including the risks set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of the Reference Document filed with the French Autorite des marches financiers on April 12, 2019 (a copy of which is available at www.adocia.com) and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Adocia operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Adocia or not currently considered material by Adocia. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Adocia to be materially different from such forward-looking statements.

This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy Adocia shares in any jurisdiction.

APPENDIX: Full year results for the year ended December 31st, 2019 IFRS standards

The following table summarizes the Company's income statement under IFRS for the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2019 and provides a comparison with fiscal year 2018.

In () thousands FY 2019

(12 months) FY 2018

(12 months) Revenue (a) 2 143 47 389 Research and collaborative agreements 0 0 Licencing revenues 2 143 47 389 Other revenue (b) 5 992 6 541 Research tax credit 5 861 6 368 Grants, public financing, others 131 173 Operating revenue (a) (b) 8 134 53 930 Research and development expenses (23 307) (25 760) General and administrative expenses (6 848) (18 463) Operating expenses (30 155) (44 223) OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) (22 021) 9 707 FINANCIAL INCOME (LOSS) 455 2 051 Tax 2 963 (4 144) NET INCOME (LOSS) (18 603) 7 615 Base earning per share () (2,7) 1,1 Diluted earning per share () (2,7) 1,0 GROUP NET PROFIT (LOSS) (18 603) 7 615

Operating income

The Company's operating income resulted from collaboration and licensing agreements and public funding of research costs. In 2019, operating income amounted 8.1 million compared to 53.9 million in 2018, based on the following breakdown:

In () thousands FY 2019

(12 months) FY 2018

(12 months) Revenue (a) 2 143 47 389 Research and collaborative agreements 0 0 Licencing revenues 2 143 47 389 Grants, public financing, others (b) 5 992 6 541 OPERATING REVENUE (a) (b) 8 134 53 930

In 2018, revenue resulted in 37.1 million from the partnership and licensing agreement with Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd (THDB) for the development, production and marketing of BioChaperone Lispro and BioChaperone Combo in China and other territories.

In 2018, revenue also included $11.6 million, or 10.3 million, corresponding to a contractual milestone payment contested by Eli Lilly, for which Adocia obtained a favorable arbitration judgment in August 2018. The Company received $14.3 million, or 13 million, from Eli Lilly in September 2019 relating to the milestone payment plus interest.

In 2019, the Company recognized revenue in the amount of 2.1 million corresponding to a partial upfront payment of the $50 million, or 41.1 million, that was received in April 2018 upon signature of the two licensing agreements with Tonghua Dongbao. The revenue recognized in 2019, is related to research and development services provided by Adocia to Tonghua Dongbao, and recognized based on progress, in accordance with IFRS 15, by comparison between the costs incurred by Adocia and the total budget estimated to date over the duration of the contract.

As of December 31st, 2019, the portion of the upfront payment still to be recognized as revenue amounts to 1.9 million and is accounted for as unearned income.

Other operating income in 2019 included a research tax credit for 5.9 million, compared to 6.4 million in 2018. The decrease of 0.6 million is in line with the reduced amount of eligible research and development expenses recorded in 2019.

Operating expenses

The table below shows a breakdown of operating expenses by function for the fiscal years ended December 31st, 2019 and December 31st, 2018:

In () thousands FY 2019

(12 months) FY 2018

(12 months) Research and development expenses (23 307) (25 760) General and administrative expenses (6 848) (18 463) OPERATING EXPENSES (30 155) (44 223)

Research and development expenses mainly consisted of the payroll costs of research and development employees, subcontracting costs (including preclinical studies and clinical trials), intellectual property costs and purchases of materials (reagents and other consumables), and pharmaceutical products and other raw materials. In 2019, these expenses amounted to 23.3 million compared to 25.8 million in 2018.

The activities in the 2019 financial year focused mainly on the support for the partnership with Tonghua Dongbao as well as the development of the Company's portfolio, including the clinical development of the M1 PRAM (ADO09) project with two clinical studies conducted during the year.

General and administrative expenses mainly included payroll costs of non-research and development employees, as well as the cost of services related to the management and business development of the Company and its subsidiary in the United States. These expenses also included fees and expenses related to the arbitration procedure against Lilly, which had a significant impact in 2018. In 2019, these expenses were lower and offset by insurance reimbursements in the amount of $4 million (3.6 million) in November 2019 resulting from the absence of a gain in the second stage of the arbitration.

General and administrative expenses amounted to 6.8 million in 2019 compared to 18.5 million in 2018. This decrease of 11.7 million is explained by the wind-down of expenses related to the legal proceedings against Eli Lilly, which ended in September 2019.

Research and Development expenses represented 75.3% of the operating expenses in 2019 compared to 76.4% in 2018, when restated for the costs related to the arbitration proceedings against Lilly.

The table below shows a breakdown of operating expenses by type of expense for the fiscal years ended December 31st, 2019 and December 31st, 2018:

In () thousands FY 2019

(12 months) FY 2018

(12 months) Purchases used in operations (1 706) (2 188) Payroll expense (13 054) (13 327) Share-based payments (890) (1 574) External expenses (13 110) (25 537) Taxes and contributions (235) (553) Depreciation, amortization provisions (1 159) (1 044) OPERATING EXPENSES (30 155) (44 223)

The cost of consumed materials, products and supplies decreased to 1.7 million in 2019 compared to 2018, as a result of additional purchases of raw materials needed for the manufacturing of clinical batches in 2018.

Payroll expenses totaled 13.1 million in 2019 compared to 13.3 million in 2018. Given the recruitments conducted in 2019, the average workforce rose from 129.4 full-time equivalents (FTE) in 2018 to 133.4 FTE in 2019, an increase of 3%. In 2019, personnel expenses remained at a level comparable to 2018.

The share-based payments line of 0.9 million in 2019 reflects the impact of the plans implemented in previous years. The 0.7 million decrease is related to the vesting of several share-based plans in 2018 and driven by a lower valuation of the plans granted in 2018 and 2019. In accordance with IFRS 2, these expenses correspond to the fair value of the equity instruments granted to managers and employees. These elements had no impact on the Company's corporate financial statements nor cash position.

External charges include the costs of preclinical studies, clinical trials, subcontracting expenses, intellectual property costs, professional fees and administrative expenses and totaled to 13.1 million in 2019, decreasing by 12.4 million compared to 2018. This is mainly due to the lower legal fees incurred for the proceedings against Eli Lilly as well as insurance reimbursements obtained in 2019. External expenses restated for these fees and reimbursements thus amounted to 14.1 million in 2019, compared to 15 million in 2018.

Taxes totaled 0.2 million in 2019 compared to 0.6 million in 2018.

Depreciation and amortization increased by 0.2 million to 1.2 million in 2019.

Net financial income/expense

The net financial income amounted to 0.5 million in 2019, compared to 2.1 million in the previous year, due to the following:

Recognition of 0.8 million, compared to 1.6 million in 2018, for the accrued interest calculated on the contractual milestone payment of $11.6 million. Eli Lilly made a total payment of $14.3 million or 13 million in September 2019;

An increase in interest of 0.3 million on borrowings related to the subscription of the bond issue with IPF Fund II;

Revaluation of the fair value of the warrants granted to IPF Fund II of 0.2 million, with no impact to the Company's cash position, in accordance with IAS 32.

The Company's investment policy focuses on liquidity, the absence of capital risk and, to the extent possible, guaranteed performance.

Corporation tax

In 2019, the Company was successful in its claim for corporate income tax related to the tax treatment of the upfront payment for a contract signed with Eli Lilly in 2014. In September 2019, the Company received 3.4 million including 0.1 million in interest in arrears. As a result, the Company cancelled its carry-back receivable of 0.3 million and recognized a tax income of 3 million.

The carryforward tax losses, after allocation of the fiscal deficit subject to the standard tax rate for the 2019 financial year, was 136.4 million. This carryforward loss is not limited in time. Since the company cannot determine with sufficient reliability when it will be able to absorb its accumulated tax loss, it did not recognize a deferred tax asset for this loss.

Net profit/loss

The net loss for 2019 totaled 18.6 million compared to a net profit of 7.6 million in 2018. The net loss per share for 2019 amounted to 2.68 per share, compared to a net profit of 1.10 per share in 2018.

Balance sheet analysis

Non-current assets

Non-current assets amounted to 9.7 million at the end of 2019, compared with 9.1 million in 2018. The investments in 2019 of 2 million are mainly for the completion of the renovation work on two 450 m platforms intended for the activities of the Analysis department (1.8 million including external fittings and furniture) and the purchase of scientific and IT equipment (0.2 million). These investments are partially offset by depreciation for the year amounting to 1.2 million.

Current assets

Current assets amounted to 52.2 million at December 31st, 2019 compared to 61.0 million at December 31st, 2018, consisting of the following items:

"Cash and cash equivalents" increased from 39.8 million at December 31st, 2018 to 43.7 million at December 31st, 2019. The 3.8 million increase in 2019 reflects (i) the subscription of a bond issue from IPF for a total of 15 million, (ii) the collection of $14.3 million, or 13 million, from Eli Lilly for the first part of the arbitration proceedings completed in September 2019, (iii) a level of expenditure similar to that of last year, after restating expenses related to the legal proceedings against Eli Lilly.

Other current assets amounted to 8 million at December 31st, 2019 and consisted mainly of the receivable related to the research tax credit (CIR) of 5.9 million. At December 31st, 2018, this item amounted to 21 million. The 13 million decrease is mainly due to the collection of the receivable resulting from the favorable outcome of the first part of the arbitration proceedings initiated by Adocia against Eli Lilly, amounting to 11.9 million at the end of 2018, and the decrease in the research tax credit, which amounted to 6.4 million in 2018.

Current and non-current liabilities

Liabilities consisted mainly of four items presented on the balance sheet according to their maturity:

"Trade payables" under current liabilities amount to 5.3 million at December 31st, 2019, compared to 7.5 million at December 31st, 2018, which reflect the intense activity at the end of the year 2018 and legal fees incurred in connection with the proceedings against Lilly.

"Financial debt" totaling 21.2 million at December 31st, 2019, increasing by 14.1 million compared to the previous year. This increase is mainly due to the subscription of a bond issue in two tranches in October 2019 and December 2019, with warrants, for a total of 15 million from IPF Fund II. The Company also subscribed to a bank loan for 1.2 million for building renovation. The short-term "current financial debts" amounted to 2.6 million as of December 31st, 2019 compared to 2.2 million for the previous year.

"Long-term provisions" mainly comprise provisions of retirement benefits, which totaled 3.1 million for fiscal year 2019 versus 2.8 million for fiscal year 2018.

"Other liabilities" for 2019 included tax and social security liabilities which amounted to 2.4 million, a decrease of 0.3 million from the previous year due to the absence of a provision, at the end of 2019, for the added value contribution. In 2019, other liabilities also included 1.9 million, versus 4 million last year, in deferred revenue related to the agreement signed with THDB in April 2018.

Cash and financing

Debt financing

As of December 31st, 2019, the outstanding amount of the loans receives from BpiFrance were 0.5 million and relates solely to the repayable advance of 0.8 million received in 2012 for the development of a formulation of fast-acting "human" insulin and the Phase 2a clinical study. In 2015, the Company noted the end of the program and proceeded with the reimbursements provided in the event of commercial failure of the program in 2017 and 2018. An expertise commissioned by BpiFrance is planned for 2020 and should make it possible to close this dossier.

In addition, the Company uses other financial liabilities to finance the acquisition of lab equipment and materials. Future obligations under these leasing contracts amounted to 0.4 million as of December 31st, 2019.

The Company contracted its first bank loan, in 2016, to finance the purchase of the building that it has occupied since its creation as well as adjoining parking and a second loan, in 2019, to finance building renovations. At the end of 2019, the outstanding capital of these bank loans amounted to 5.5 million.

In 2019, the Company subscribed to a bond issue, with warrants, for a total of 15 million from IPF Fund II, through two tranches of 7.5 million each, on October 11th, 2019 and December 10th, 2019.

As of December 31st, 2019, Adocia's financial debt was 21.1 million, with a short-term (less than a year) component of 2.6 million.

Cash flows

In () thousands, Consolidated financial statements, IAS/IFRS FY 2019

(12 months) FY 2018

(12 months) Net cash flow generated by operating activities (9 655) 6 313 Net cash flow in connection with investment transactions (2 054) (1 034) Net cash flow in connection with financing transactions 15 529 (216) Changes in net cash 3 820 5 063 Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the year 39 841 34 778 Cash and cash equivalents at year-end 43 661 39 841

Net cash flow from operations

For fiscal year 2019, net cash outflows related to operations amounted to 9.7 million compared to a net cash inflow of 6.3 million in the previous year.

Net cash flow in 2019 included:

Collection of $14.3 million, or 13 million, from Eli Lilly following the favorable outcome of the first part of the arbitration proceedings,

Reimbursement of insurance of $4 million, or 3.6 million, following the absence of a gain in the second part of the arbitration against Eli Lilly,

Collection of 3.4 million relating to the corporate income tax claim for year 2014 and the treatment of the upfront payment paid by Eli Lilly.

In 2018, the collection of an upfront payment from Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd amounted to 37.2 million, or $45 million, net of withholding tax in China.

Net cash flow from investments

Cash consumption related to investment transactions was 2.1 million in 2019, compared to 1 million in the previous year.

In 2019, the Company renovated two 450 m platforms intended mainly for the activities of the Analysis department, including exterior fittings and furniture for 1.8 million.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005588/en/

Contacts:

Adocia

Gerard Soula

Chairman and CEO

contactinvestisseurs@adocia.com

Ph.: +33 4 72 610 610



Adocia Press Relations Europe

MC Services AG

Raimund Gabriel

adocia@mc-services.eu

Ph.: +49 89 210 228 0

Adocia Investor Relations USA

The Ruth Group

Tram Bui

tbui@theruthgroup.com

Ph.: +1 646 536 7035
A traveler with a face mask passes by other standing in front of screens displaying flight schedules at the Paris airport after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a travel ban over the new coronavirus, on March 12, 2020. (Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images)

EU Disapproves of Trump Banning Travel From Some European Countries

European Union leaders said they dont approve of U.S. President Donald Trumps banning travel from some European countries, adding they werent consulted about the decision before it was announced late Wednesday.

The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel said in a statement.

The leaders claimed the union, comprised of most countries in Europe, is taking strong action to limit the spread of the new coronavirus.

The Coronavirus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action, they added.

Trump announced the ban in an address to the nation.

European Council President Charles Michel participates in a videoconference call with EU leaders at the European Council building in Brussels on March 10, 2020. (Stephanie Lecocq, Pool Photo via AP)

To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days, he said. The European Union, Trump asserted, failed to take the same precautions as the United States, which restricted travel from China, where the virus started, in late January.

As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe, the president said.

Multiple countries within the Schengen Area, which is comprised of 26 European countries, are experiencing sustained person-to-person transmission, Trumps proclamation stated, citing the World Health Organization. The number of cases in the area topped 17,000, with 711 deaths, as of March 11, with high continuous growth in infection rates, the proclamation stated.

The countries in the area include Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland.

Exemptions from the ban include permanent U.S. residents, any immigrants who are married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and immigrants who are the parent or legal guardian of a citizen or resident if that citizen or resident is unmarried and under 21.

President Donald Trump addresses the nation from the Oval Office about the new coronavirus, in Washington on March 11, 2019. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Some travelers are rushed to fly to the United States before the ban goes into effect as airports and airlines scrambled to arrange enough flights.

Mike McIntire, a journalist with The New York Times, said he and other Americans paid as much as $20,000 for last-minute flights from Paris. He said he only realized later that Americans were exempt from the ban.

Amsterdams Schiphol airport said in a statement that it and airlines are working together to see how this will impact flights to the USA.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok said that the decision was potentially very drastic, adding that he would look at whether travel to the U.S. from the Netherlands would need to be adjusted.

Dag Falk-Petersen, chief executive of Avinor, Norways largest airport operator, said that the country was considering shutting down runways after Trumps decision.

Our goal is to be able to continue operations through this scenario. Then it is important to have resources in reserve for when our people get sick. It is important that we take these steps early, he told NRK. I have been in aviation for many years and have never seen anything similar. This is very special.
The Supreme Court on Thursday did not stay the March 9 judgement of Allahabad High Court ordering removal of hoardings in UPs capital Luckow which contained personal details of people alleged to have indulged in rioting as part of protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

A bench of justices UU Lalit and Aniruddha Bose, however, said that issue requires further elaboration and consideration and referred the case to a larger bench.

Let the papers be placed before the Chief Justice of India so that a bench of sufficient strength be constituted to hear and consider the matter, the court said.

During the hearing, the court remarked that there is no law which empowers the state to resort to such action.

An individual can do anything not prohibited by law, but a state can do only what law empowers it to. In this case, is there a law? Justice Bose asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared for Uttar Pradesh government.

The high court bench of chief justice Govind Mathur and Justice Ramesh Sinha had on Monday ruled that the state governments action to erect banners at various places in Lucknow with personal details of alleged anti-CAA protesters amounted to infringement of privacy of such persons.

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 with the same, it had said directing the District Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police to remove the banners immediately and submit a compliance report to the court on or before March 16.

The Uttar Pradesh Police had, on March 5, put up several hoardings across Lucknow, identifying those accused of violence during the protests that took place against the CAA in December last year.

The names, photographs and residential addresses of the accused were on the hoardings leading to safety concerns among those who figured on the hoardings. 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.

The high court had, on March 7, registered a suo motu public interest litigation in this regard and asked the district magistrate and police commissioner of Lucknow to give details about the law under which such posters/hoardings were put up.

During the hearing which followed on March 8, the court had pulled up the state government for putting up such hoardings and termed it as an insult of state and its public, highly unjust and an encroachment on the personal liberty of the persons concerned.

Advocate General Raghvendra Pratap Singh, appearing on behalf of the state government, had argued that the court should not interfere in such matters by taking suo moto cognizance.

The high court, however, did not take states argument questioning its jurisdiction favourably.

Courts are meant to impart justice and no court can shut its eyes if a public unjust is happening just before it, the order said.

When constitutional values are at stake, it said, the high court can take suo motu cognizance and need not wait for some person to come before it and ring the bell of justice.

The high court, while arriving at its decision, had also taken note of the fact there was no law which entitled the state government to resort to such an action.

So far as legality part is concerned, suffice to state that no law is in existence permitting the State to place the banners with personal data of the accused from whom compensation is to be charged, the court said.

The high court had also brushed aside the governments argument that the hoardings were meant to act as a deterrent so that such acts are not repeated in the future.

The court said that while the state is entitled to take actions for maintenance of law and order, it should not come at the cost of fundamental rights of people.

No doubt the state can always take necessary steps to ensure maintenance of law and order but that cannot be by violating fundamental rights of people, the high court had said.
NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jensen Partners, an executive search and corporate advisory firm for the alternative investment management industry, was named "Best Recruitment Company for Investor Relations & Asset Raising" by the readers of Private Equity Wire, a leading source for PE news and features. This is the first time that Jensen Partners has won the title in the European award set and follows its win in the 2019 U.S. awards.

This win comes as part of the publication's annual set of awards, honoring the best managers, investors, consultants, advisers and service providers in a range of categories in the private equity space for the year prior. The 2020 Private Equity Wire European Awards were celebrated on March 11 in London.

"This award win could not have come at a better time as we continue celebrations around our own recent expansion of two senior hires in Europe, Peter Mayer and George Lewis," said Sasha Jensen, Founder and CEO of Jensen Partners. "Thank you to the readers of PE Wire. We look forward to an exciting year ahead as we continue to enhance and promote our practices to better serve our clients in the alternative investments space."

Jensen Partners specializes in the sourcing and placement of capital raising professionals for the alternative investment industry by leveraging its extensive investor relationships as well as its proprietary market mapping and big data recruitment model. Jensen Partners' model is based on the firm's global database of more than 22,000 global alternative capital raisers, which includes professionals from private equity firms, private credit firms, real estate investment firms, real asset investors, infrastructure investors and hedge funds.

Since 2014, Jensen Partners has tracked more than 11,000 marketing moves across the alternative investment industry. In 2016, Jensen Partners began publishing a quarterly newsletter that highlights key trends and capital raising hiring activity across the alternative investment industry. Jensen Partners became the first executive search firm to track diverse candidates in the alternative investment space in 2019 and will begin tracking the movement of marketers specializing in ESG and impact investing in 2020.

Jensen Partners is also the recipient of awards for its executive search and recruiting work from industry trade publications HFMWeek, Alt Credit Intelligence and The Drawdown for the firms' expertise in hedge funds, private credit and private equity, respectively.

About Jensen Partners

Jensen Partners is a global advisory, corporate development and executive search firm that leverages its extensive relationships in the investor and alternative asset management community to source and recruit leading capital-raising candidates. The firm takes a data-driven approach, combining quantitative and qualitative insights to source and place the ideal human capital. In addition to executive search, Jensen Partners offers LP/GP referencing, proprietary 360 Investor Referencing methodology, and compensation benchmarking and analysis. To learn more, please visit www.jensen-partners.com.

Media Contact:

Samantha Foley

646-818-9140

sfoley@prosek.com
She rarely puts a foot wrong when it comes to her sense of style.

And Gemma Arterton was on top form as she attended the On Blueberry Hill press night at Trafalgar Studios in the West End, London, on Wednesday.

The former Bond girl, 34, looked effortlessly chic as she donned a pair of black flared trousers which she teamed with a high-neck chiffon blouse and a statement navy blazer.

Effortlessly chic: Gemma Arterton, 34, was on top form as she attended the On Blueberry Hill press night at Trafalgar Studios, London, on Wednesday

She finished the look with a simple black handbag and a pair of leather shoes.

Gemma let her brunette tresses flow loosely and accentuated her features with a rouge make-up palette with cat eyeliner.

The Murder Mystery actress gazed directly at the camera as she strutted down the red carpet before heading into the venue to watch the theatre play.

She was later spotted at the after party at Walkers of Whitehall where she posed alongside fellow actress Denise Gough.

Strike a pose: The former Bond girl looked effortlessly chic as she donned a high-neck chiffon blouse and a statement navy blazer

Sophisticated: Gemma let her brunette tresses flow loosely and accentuated her features with a rouge make-up palette with cat eyeliner

The outing comes after Gemma graced the cover of Harper's Bazaar in December.

In an accompanying interview the actress explained that she believes women have been 'pitted against each other' in the film industry because of the 'fewer opportunities' afforded to them.

She said: 'I think the film industry has definitely changed for the better  it's generally very supportive.

'I've always said, the only reason women are pitted against each other is because they have fewer opportunities, so they feel threatened.

'There's more opportunity today, and in my experience, when there are lots of women together in a crew or cast, it's great.'

The starlet also addressed her childhood after growing up in Gravesend.

She said: 'It's such a taboo to talk about but I still feel very working-class. Of course, I'm not any more  I've moved up to London and I have nice stuff  but I am in my soul.'

Gemma will soon be seen in action-comedy film The King's Man - a prequel to Kingsman, starring alongside Ralph Fiennes.
Rana Kapoor, founder of Yes Bank said that he was in talks with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Ministry of Finance to takeover and revive the bank. He said that this took place a week before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at his residence. The banker was produced at a special PMLA court on Wednesday. He was placed under arrest on March 8.

Kapoor said that the management of the bank was responsible for its condition. Advocate Satish Maneshinde who represented Kapoor said that he was made a scapegoat.

The banker told media, "New management of the bank who took over from me made false statements abundantly and those lies have ruined the bank, the bank I built. Go and talk to Ravneet Gill. All this has triggered because of that."

Also read: Infographic: What is the ED case against Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor?

Kapoor has been remanded to ED custody till March 16. Advocate Maneshinde informed the court that Kapoor was in London for four months and was trying to sell all his properties to repay the debts of the companies owned by his family. He stated that Kapoor had paid Rs 1,900 crore worth of debts till date.

The advocate also alleged that the case registered by ED was an after-thought. He said that the case was registered after the searches were conducted at his residence on March 6 in connection with an earlier case with DHFL.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: ED alleges Rana Kapoor bought properties in India, US, UK with Rs 5,000 crore kickbacks

ED officials said that while conducting searches for the DHFL case, details of loans between DHFL and Yes Bank and loans given by DHFL to DoIT Urban Ventures Ltd were uncovered. CBI on March 7 registered an FIR at around 9 pm when Kapoor was being questioned at ED office, a day after searches were conducted at his residence. After the CBI FIR, ED registered an ECIR against him and DHFL promoters in connection with the suspicious transaction of Rs 4,300 crore. Yes Bank had bought debentures worth Rs 3,700 crore between April 2018 to June 2018 from DHFL, while DHFL gave loans worth around Rs 300 crore in February 2017 and Rs 300 crore in 2018. The two loans were repaid with another loan of Rs 600 crore given to DoIT Urban Ventures Pvt Ltd. Maneshinde claimed Kapoor has till date paid Rs 130 crore interest on the loan amount. The advocate also claimed that the first loan was given to DoIT Urban Ventures Pvt Ltd in 2017 much before Yes Bank bought debentures from DHFL, which was an AAA rated company and hence not a kickback as claimed by ED.

ED officials pointed out that out of the Rs 30,000 crore bad loans granted by Yes Bank, Rs 20,000 crore were during the tenure of Kapoor. Over 78 companies owned by Kapoor and his family members are under the scanner.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the special PMLA court sent Kapoor to custody till March 16.

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: ED puts Rs 20,000 crore NPAs blame on Rana Kapoor

Also read: Yes Bank crisis: Will ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank also invest?
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Last week, I saw a patient who may have contracted COVID-19. The patient had come into the emergency department overnight due to respiratory distress and overseas travel history. While his clinical picture and history were cause for concern, due to limited testing reserved for highly suspicious cases, the initial decision was to hold on testing for COVID-19, and the patient was removed from isolation precautions. Several hours later, I was called to consult on the case as the infectious disease physician working that day. After my exam, and keeping in mind the risks of exposure and rapidly changing guidelines, I realized we couldnt ignore the need for testing in this patient.

Current testing for COVID-19 takes a large amount of time, personnel, and resources. Once I had raised my concerns to the appropriate colleagues and hospital administrators, they understood my argument and supported my decision to request testing again. After several hours of phone calls and discussions, at least 12 hours after the patient initially presented, sending the test was finally approved, and it is now with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Im under quarantine now after seeing this patient, as he had been taken off of isolation precautions prior to my evaluation; Im off of the front line while we await his results. I am in communication with my infectious disease colleagues who, despite what the government and media have portrayed, have to decide daily who will undergo testing and make a case for it, often delaying care of any suspected infected patient. Their clinical judgment is being stifled by the delays in testing and lack of resources to meet the growing demand of this dynamic situation.

Not only has the short supply of tests affected our ability to fight this epidemic, it is now taking physicians and health care providers out of the fray when their clinical acumen is needed most. While the government has seemingly tempered its response on testing availability  vice-president Mike Pence admitted on Friday that it might be a matter of weeks before Americans have better access to testing  the effect of these mixed messages on our health care workers is, in some ways, demoralizing. We shouldnt have to be fighting for and demanding testing for the patients we are legitimately concerned about. Our health departments should not be swamped with requests and overworked. Our quarantined nurses and health care workers should not have to worry about delays in testing if they are concerned about their health.

With how rapidly COVID-19 is affecting the world, the system for testing needs to change, fast. We should not have to be asking to have people tested when we are concerned about their travel history and symptoms. We should have the availability to do it rapidly and promptly  early detection is necessary to understand and address the impact of this public health issue. Broad community testing cannot solely depend on centralized labs, hours of arguments and approvals, and expensive equipment. Recent models suggest controlling coronavirus within one year depends on 80 percent of symptomatic patients being tested and isolated within a day of symptom onset. As of yesterday, the Gates Foundation pledged an additional $5 million in funding to provide at-home testing kits to the Seattle area, although the timing of availability of these kits is unknown.

I know I am not the only physician quarantined right now. There are many others who have had to remove themselves from patient care duties and had to call upon their colleagues to cover an influx of patients with shrinking resources. In medicine, we are taught to fight and fight hard for the timely and appropriate care of our patients. We are not a profession that retreats willingly. However, this is a fight we cannot win without more support and help from our country.

Through the time of my quarantine, I do want to thank and show my support to my partners, colleagues, health care workers, and hospital administrators who continue to stand on the front line and help provide the best care they can to our patients.

Aabha Jain is an infectious disease physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Trusted clinician commentary on COVID-19 coronavirus from the KevinMD community:
Companies, operating in Ukraine, with the purpose of preventing the spread the coronavirus COVID-19 limit international business trips and trips inside the country, introduce restrictions to the access of visitors to the offices and production facilities and working on the organization of remote work.

"We recommended restricting the stay of external visitors in our offices and at the workplace, and restricting international business trips. In addition, our employees should inform their managers about their departure or the departure of their family members to a country that is classified as a country where the virus is spreading. We introduced flexible working hours a long ago, so people can use this opportunity," Director of the People & Culture department at Philip Morris in Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and Moldova Emel Mordo said

She told Interfax-Ukraine that the company in Ukraine additionally cleans all rooms, provides antiseptic liquid in reception rooms, kitchens, conference rooms, as well as medical masks.

"The sales team has special mobile hygiene kits for visits to points of sale," Mordo added.

Globally, Philip Morris has created a cross-functional emergency management team in the cluster, which goal is to continuously monitor the situation, implement preventive measures and an action plan in accordance with further developments.

Corteva Agriscience also has crisis management teams at global and regional levels. The company told Interfax-Ukraine that it introduced a travel restriction for employees.

In addition, Corteva Agriscience as a global company makes donations and other in-kind contributions to the regions of the world most affected by COVID-19  Europe and Asia.

Nestle also shares global concern over the spread of COVID-19. It urged employees to refrain from international business trips until April 15, 2020, and business trips within the country, if possible, suggested replacing them by alternative communication methods.

"We asked employees who had traveled to the regions where quarantine measures had been taken in the past 14 days to inform the direct supervisor and, if possible, to work from home for two weeks. Various biosecurity measures have been introduced in factories, offices and distribution centers," Nestle told Interfax-Ukraine.

Since last week, JTI Ukraine offices have taken measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in particular, business trips abroad (until the end of March) and in Ukraine (for two weeks) are temporarily prohibited. The company also introduced self-quarantine for 14 days for workers who came from business trips or vacations from countries where the virus is raging. In addition, JTI Ukraine has restricted unauthorized visits to the office (and couriers' visits), they are allowed only in case of emergency.

"Office is disinfected every 15 minutes. Hand disinfectors are installed at the reception and kitchens, disinfectant rugs are placed at the entrance to the office. All employees were given masks and a hand disinfector. In case of symptoms of SARS, not only the workers, but also their relatives were recommended to work from home," the company said.

JTI Ukraine said that on March 12 a trial day of remote work outside the office for all employees will be held (in the event that COVID-19 cases are detected in the office or in the business center and all employees are transferred to work from home).
Australia's High Court on Thursday delayed judgement in Cardinal George Pell's appeal against child sex abuse convictions, with a decision now not expected for months.

The court adjourned after two days of dense legal argument over the case of the 78-year-old former Vatican treasurer, who is trying to overturn a six-year sentence for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s.

Pell, who once helped elect popes, is the highest-ranking Catholic Church official ever convicted of child sex crimes.

He was not present for the two-day hearing and will remain behind bars while seven of Australia's top judges consider his fate.

A court official told AFP it typically took between three to six months for a decision in cases where judgement had been reserved.

Pell's lawyer, Bret Walker, on Thursday urged them to quash the conviction rather than order a retrial, saying it was "the power and duty of this court".

He also accused the prosecution of an "inappropriate and over-engineered attempt at improvisation to make matters fit that won't fit".

The defence has argued Pell would not have had the time or opportunity to molest the boys in the sacristy, which would have been a "hive of activity" after Mass.

Judges pressed prosecutor Kerri Judd on many of her arguments, including when she suggested the time it would have taken Pell to abuse the boys was "not precise" or "clockwork", despite lower courts previously hearing the offending took place in a five-to-six minute period.

In stark contrast to Wednesday's hearing, when Walker was largely able to speak uninterrupted, the judges grilled the prosecutor at length.

University of Melbourne law professor Jeremy Gans said the questioning was notable for being "mostly directed at arguments that support Pell's argument for acquittal and were not particularly sympathetic to the prosecution".

"It's always difficult to know why they ask those questions but, to the extent that you can read anything into those questions, every single judge at some point was asking questions that seemed to be indicating a possible view of acquittal," he told reporters outside the courtroom.

The case relied solely on the testimony of Pell's surviving victim, as the other -- who is not known to have ever spoken of the abuse -- died of a drug overdose in 2014. Neither man can be identified for legal reasons.

It has proved highly divisive in Australia, attracting protesters and supporters on Thursday to the High Court in Canberra, where they carried rival signs that read "Criminal Pell: pedophile icon" and "We love you, Cardinal George Pell and genuine victims." Local media reported a Melbourne man was charged Wednesday with threatening to kill Pell and making a bomb threat.

Pell has been removed from top Church bodies by the Vatican but remains in the priesthood.

The Vatican previously said it would avoid launching an investigation into his conduct until after all legal avenues are exhausted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Author, professor, historian and filmmaker Jean-Pierre Isbouts has two main passions: the message of the historical Jesus and the artists who shared and represented those sentiments.

Im not a theologian; Im not a priest, he said. What Im interested in is the Jesus who lived and breathed. I felt there was a gap, a chasm between the historical Jesus and the Christ in worship.

To learn more, and to share his discoveries, Isbouts turns to whatever medium best suited to the job.

Sometimes, thats in front of a classroom as doctoral professor at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, and often, its on the screen. He has written and directed a number of historical features, including Walt: the Man behind the Myth, Charlton Hestons Voyage through the Bible, and Van Gogh Revisited. As a musicologist, he has produced a number of recordings for his films.

Isbouts has also written a number of books, including National Geographics In the Footsteps of Jesus, Archaeology of the Bible, and Ten Prayers that Changed the World.

Isbouts will be in Houston this month for a number of events and a book-signing at St. Martins Episcopal Church, 717 Sage.

His visit begins with The Search for the Last Supper, an evening of dinner, film and discussion, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 27 at Bagby Parish Hall.

In the documentary, Isbouts follows a trail of clues across Europe in search of a legendary copy of da Vincis Last Supper that he was rumored to have painted for King Louis XII. Along the way, Isbouts explains how da Vincis work brings revolutionary ideas to the interpretation of the Gospel story. After the documentary, Isbouts will be available for discussion and questions.

On Saturday, March 28 at 3 p.m., the church will host a discussion and book signing for Isbouts, Building Bridge of Faith between Judaism, Christianity and Islam.In this talk, based on his book From Moses to Muhammad, Isbouts will identify areas of common ground in faith and practice.

His Book Kings of the Bible will be available in softcover form and for signing.

Isbouts was born in Eindhoven, Holland and studied Attic Greek and Latin before pursuing graduate studies in archaeology, art history and musicology at Leiden University. He completed his doctoral research on the 19th century architectural firm of Carrere & Hastings at Columbia University in New York. In the 1990s, he founded the ArtSpace studio in Los Angeles, a unit of American Interactive Media, and produced a number of programs on Renaissance and 19th century art as part of the Great Art Series, many of which were subsequently translated into seven languages.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

He has directed stars including Leonard Nimoy, Charlton Heston, Dick van Dyke and Morgan Freeman, working with Hollywood studios such as Disney and Hallmark, as well as TV networks like the History Channel and ABC.

His first book, Charlton Heston's Hollywood, was published in 1998. Based on many hours of interviews with Heston, the book chronicles the astonishing transformation of post-war American cinema through the eyes of the only actor whose career spanned from Cecil B. DeMille to James Cameron.

In 2007, National Geographic Books published The Biblical World, which became a worldwide bestseller, and the first of several books for National Geographic Society. The success of Biblical World was followed by the 2012 publication of In the Footsteps of Jesus, which sold over a 100,000 copies in its first eight weeks.

Isbouts is doctoral professor in the Social Sciences PhD program at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara. In his spare time, he likes to discover new places in Asia and the Middle East with his wife Cathie, a production executive at Pantheon Studios. The father of four grown children, and grandfather two four boys, Isbouts lives in Santa Monica.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Robots and artificial intelligence are being deployed across the globe in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Robotics are being used to sanitize hospitals, some of which use ultraviolet to clean, in a bid to minimize health workers' exposure to the coronavirus.

In China, ground zero of the viral outbreak, robots are being used in hospitals to deliver food and medication and take patients' temperatures. Drones are deployed to transport supplies, spray disinfectants and do thermal imaging.

Police officers were also recently issued smart helmets with facial recognition technology and an infrared camera that automatically detects body temperature.

Beyond checking body temperature, artificial intelligence is being used to diagnose SARS-CoV-2. Infervision, software that automatically detects symptoms via CT scan images, can make diagnoses quicker and reduce the risk of human error.

This system helps doctors save valuable time and increase accuracy of judgment." Ming-Ming Cheng, professor at Nankai University's College of Computer Science, China

In addition to engineering innovations, data science is contributing to the efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johns Hopkins University has a global map showing the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across the world, based on official reports.

Healthmap, an initiative of organizations such as Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital and Northeastern University, takes a similar approach, although it also factors in social media posts when data mining.

Event Horizon features a mathematical model that predicts where the virus may spread based on international flight routes.

"Data can help in managing population movement, and contact and detect and quickly isolate sources. Big data and information engineers have been playing an important role in this regard," Gong Ke, president of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), tellsSciDev.Net.

Fears about the spreading coronavirus forced the inaugural World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development event, proposed by the WFEO, to be postponed.

Gong says engineers are working with scientists and doctors to develop more efficient methods for diagnosing the coronavirus, as well as in testing potential treatments.

"Solving the world's problems is an enormous collaborative undertaking involving both the public and private sectors and extending across disciplines, borders and demographics," says Kathy Renzetti, executive director of engineering advocacy group DiscoverE, based in the United States.

The internet has made collaboration significantly easier among key players. The sequencing done by Chinese scientists, which was made publicly available just weeks after the outbreak in Wuhan, is being studied by medical researchers and doctors around the globe, in a bid to develop COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.

Breakthrough genome sequencing carried out in Brazil was shared on virological.org, a forum for the analysis and interpretation of virus molecular evolution and epidemiology.

Other researchers have made their work publicly available via online databases, such as DrugVirus.info, a free platform that features information on existing compounds that may potentially be used for the treatment of COVID-19.

Drug repositioning, or drug repurposing, which seeks to find new therapeutic uses for existing drugs, is also being explored.

"It will take time to develop drugs against COVID-19. However, [the] drug repositioning approach will shorten it," explains Denis Kainov, associate professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology's department of clinical and molecular medicine.
LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Discussions are taking place over how the spread of coronavirus could impact the second round of trade negotiations between the European Union and Britain next week, senior British minister Michael Gove said on Wednesday.

Asked by British lawmakers whether negotiations could be hit by the spread of the coronavirus and whether face-to-face meetings would continue, Gove said: "It is a live question ... We have had indications today from Belgium that there may be specific public health concerns."

A spokesman for the European Commission said the second round of talks was still scheduled to go ahead.

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. In Brussels, the bloc's negotiating team was due to do the same on Thursday.

Time is scarce as the two sides say they want to seal a deal on their new relationship on everything from trade to fisheries and security before the end of the year, when their current, status-quo transition period after Brexit is due to end.

"We have just started. It's important to pursue these negotiations in good spirit and mutual respect," David McAllister, a German member of the European Parliament, who chairs the chamber's Brexit committee, told Reuters on Wednesday.

The EU is pushing to keep Britain in closer alignment with the bloc after than London wants. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he was ready to default to World Trade Organization rules, which include tariffs and quotas.

He also refuses to negotiate a specific defence and security treaty with the EU, saying Britain prefers to rely on NATO. Both sides have said they will assess progress in June.

"June will be crucial. The British will have to finally decide if they want to stick to their 'no' to prolongation of the transition period," McAllister said of a line that Johnson has repeatedly vowed to maintain.

Story continues

A lawmaker in London's parliament from the small Northern Irish Social Democratic and Labour Party said the coronavirus outbreak called for an extension to the talks, which both sides would need to agree to by June.

"It is reckless to suggest that in these circumstances, negotiations about future trading relationships can continue at the level required to secure a comprehensive resolution," SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, whose party strongly favoured the United Kingdom staying in the EU, said in a statement.

"The British government needs to swallow its pride and prepare the ground for an emergency extension to the transition period."

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan in London and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels; Additional reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Elizabeth Piper and Alison Williams)
OTTAWAThe deadly coronavirus pandemic is now affecting Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus own home, where his wife is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.

Trudeau himself is now working from home, after the first ministers summit slated to begin Thursday in Ottawa was cancelled in the face of the pandemic.

In a statement, the Prime Ministers Office said Trudeau has no symptoms of illness and is choosing to self-isolate out of an abundance of caution.

The release said Sophie Gregoire Trudeau started exhibiting flu-like symptoms late Wednesday night, after she recently returned from a speaking engagement in the United Kingdom. She immediately sought medical advice, but was feeling better Thursday morning, the PMO said.

Trudeau will also stay in isolation for 14 days. He will address Canadians about the outbreak Friday morning and his office says he plans to continue to carry out duties from isolation.

Gregoire was in London for a WE Day event on March 4, where she was a featured speaker. Trudeaus mother, Margaret Trudeau, and daughter Ella-Grace were also travelling with the prime ministers wife, according to her Instagram posts.

Trudeau took to social media to deliver the news himself, writing on Twitter that he is monitoring for any signs of illness while he awaits his wifes COVID-19 test results.

Ill be busy working from home. Today, Ill be speaking with some world leaders and joining ministers for a cabinet committee discussion on COVID-19, he wrote.

Moments after the stunning news that Trudeau and his wife are in self-isolation, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh revealed he, too, is feeling unwell and staying at home. In a post on Twitter, Singh said he has been in contact with a doctor and does not believe he has contracted COVID-19.

But their advice is for me to limit contact with the public until I am feeling better, he said.

All of us come into contact with many people who may be vulnerable to illness  we have to make sure we are taking measures to limit the chance that we infect them.

Seamus ORegan, the federal natural resources minister, is also self-isolating this week after attending an international mining conference in Toronto, where Ontario health officials confirmed a man from Sudbury contracted the virus in the first instance of transmission within the province. ORegan wrote on Twitter Wednesday that he had possible symptoms after attending the conference, which is why I was tested and then told to self-isolate.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather told the Stars Susan Delacourt this week that he is also staying at home out of an abundance of caution after he attended a pro-Israeli policy conference in Washington, D.C., where attendees reportedly tested positive for the virus after leaving the event.

This weeks first ministers meeting, scheduled to take place in Ottawa, came as all levels of government grappled with the coronavirus outbreak that was declared a pandemic Wednesday by the World Health Organization. The spreading illness was expected to dominant discussions, as stock markets continued their downward spiral after an oil shock sent equities crashing Monday to their worst single-day drop since 1987.

The Prime Ministers Office said the meeting between the premiers and Trudeau will be postponed, but that the prime minister will speak with his counterparts over the phone to discuss our collective action to limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep Canadians safe.

The prime minister will spend the day in briefings, phone calls, and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining the special COVID-19 cabinet committee discussion, Trudeaus office said.

With files from Susan Delacourt

Read more about:
The Algerian Health Ministry on Thursday said a woman has died from Coronavirus, becoming the first such fatality in the North African country.

The ministry said the woman died in a hospital in the province of Blida, near the capital Algiers.

According to the ministry, she is among 24 confirmed Coronavirus infections recorded in Algeria.

They include five cases announced on Thursday, two of whom recently came from France.

On Tuesday, Morocco, a neighbour of Algeria, reported its first death from the virus.

Egypt, another North African country, announced its first such fatality on Sunday.

Experts consider Africa to be at high risk due to its close links with China, the epicentre of the Coronavirus epidemic and the weak health systems in many African countries.

READ ALSO:

But the continents Coronavirus outbreak has so far been limited compared with those in Asia or Europe.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation had recorded 107 cases in 11 of Africas 54 countries.

Ivory Coast on Wednesday became the 12th country to report its first confirmed case of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Egypt and Algeria have had the highest number of cases on the continent, while South Africa has the most in sub-Saharan Africa. It announced four new cases on Thursday, bringing its total to 17.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said in a statement that they include South Africas first case of local transmission, involving a 32-year-old man who came into contact with a Chinese businessman.

All other patients in South Africa had travelled to countries with Coronavirus outbreaks.

The three other new cases announced on Thursday are a 38-year-old man who lives in Turkey, had travelled to Britain and was visiting his family in South Africa; and a 27-year-old woman and 43-year-old man who had been in the United States.

At this stage, all patients are in self-quarantine and have mild to moderate symptoms, the institute said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had on Wednesday appealed for calm.

South Africans should not panic. We should be alert, so that if people show signs of some of the symptoms, they immediately are able to get medical assistance.

(dpa/NAN)
A top United States general said on Thursday that the Taliban had to significantly reduce the number of attacks it is carrying out, after an accord it signed with the US earlier this month.

I would not consider what the Taliban is doing as consistent with any path to going forward to come to a final end state agreement with the current government of Afghanistan, US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of the militarys Central Command, said during a Senate hearing.

Those attacks are going to have to come off considerably  we need to get way below where we are now, he said.

The Afghan government said on Wednesday it would free 1,500 Taliban prisoners, while delaying the release of another 3,500 that the Taliban say must be set free for talks to begin under an agreement reached with the US.

The Taliban promised to open talks with the Afghan government as part of the accord reached with the US last month to end 18 years of US involvement in war in Afghanistan.

The Taliban said 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.

Conditions?

Sources have told Reuters news agency the dispute arises in part because of different wording about the prisoner release in separate agreements the US 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, Ghanis 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 news agency that 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 US 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 US special envoy who was the key negotiator in talks with the Taliban, has urged both sides to sit down for talks.

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.

Political obstacles

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 Abdullah Abdullah, who has refused to recognise Ghanis re-election in last years presidential polls.

Abdullah, the runner-up who disputed the outcome in each of Afghanistans last three presidential elections, has 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 US Department of State said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Ghanis spokesman announced that a decree had been issued to dissolve Abdullahs chief executive post. Abdullah issued his own statement saying Ghani was no longer president and his decrees were not valid.
A man with reported mental health issues is accused of stabbing his mother and sister to death Thursday morning on the South Side, police said.

Jose Heriberto Mojica Hernandez Jr., 19, is facing charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to San Antonio police.
An Australian tourist died after he fell down some stairs and banged his head after a night out with his family.

An inquest into the death of Raymond Martin heard how the 62-year-old from Adelaide had come to Ireland with his wife Ruth and family in July last year.

Mr Martin had been staying in Ardara, Co Donegal and had enjoyed a night out in nearby Doherty's Bar on the Portnoo Road on the evening of July 14th.

Mr Doherty's daughter Kayleigh told the inquest at Letterkenny Courthouse how she was awoken by a loud thud.

She found her father at the bottom of the stairs of the house and he had blue all over his eyes but his eyes were shut.

"I called out to him but there was nothing. I tried to get a pulse but I couldn't because I was panicking. I screamed out for my mum," she said.

Ms Grant, from Christies Beach, Adelaide, managed to waken her mum and they tried to use a number of tea-towels to stem the bleeding.

An ambulance arrived a half an hour later and Mr Grant was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital but passed away the following morning.

Pathologist Dr Hajmalka Gyorffy said Mr Grant has two lacerations to his scalp and also had a lot of bleeding on the brain.

She added that alcohol was also a factor in Mr Grant's death.

Detective Garda Grainne McLoone said she had investigated the death and there was nothing suspicious about the circumstances.

Coroner Dr Denis McCauley said this was a particularly sad case as it happened when the Grant family were so far from home.

"We had a family out for an evening and something happened that resulted in the death of their husband and dad. But we also have an inquest that is taking place when the family is not here and that adds stress to the situation," he said.

He found that death was due to a bleed on the brain caused by a fall and returned a finding of death by misadventure.
Two more people in



Kerala have tested positive for coronavirus, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday.

With this, the total number of infected people in the state have gone up to 16.

The two are fresh cases of infection and not connected with the three-member family, who had returned from Italy on February 29, he said.

"One person is admitted to the Pariyaram Medical college in Kannur and has a travel history from Dubai.

The other person is in the isolation ward at Thrissur General Hospital and has travelled to the state from Qatar," Vijayan told reporters after the daily review meeting.

The chief minister said 270 people are under observation in isolation wards at various hospitals across the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Transgender actor Kate ODonnell has pulled out of high-profile musical Breakfast on Pluto after the main role of a trans woman Patrick/ Pussy Braden was given to a cisgender man, Fra Fee.

ODonnell was set to play the mother in Breakfast on Pluto, but felt she could not continue with the role for she believes the casting decision perpetuates the idea that trans women are men.

She continued: They are dressing up and misleading people. Also, creatively, it is just not interesting. To see a man in a dress, which is kind of what it will be, it reminds people of blacking up.

The sad thing is to cast a trans person and me, having a trans mother having a go at their trans child  I think it could have been electric. It could have been quite magical.

I think the arts world dont get that  We are actually very interesting and when you put us in things, people see stories differently. That is what art is about  art is about helping people to see the world differently, and when you do this, nothing changes. [sic]

This show will not change anything.

Since the news of ODonnells decision broke on Wednesday afternoon (March 11), the artistic directors of Derby Theatre and Londons Gate theatre followed 650 others in signing an open letter condemning the casting decision.

The shows producers have responded to opposition by claiming that they reached out to the Irish transgender community using multiple channels, and auditioned a number of transgender performers for the role.

ODonnell told The Guardian that they could have looked harder: I know at least five people who could be Pussy who would be great.

The actor also acknowledged that there was a relatively small number of trans performers, but said that there were reasons for that. Theatre and performance is very gendered. A lot of trans people dont feel comfortable even going for an audition. Because it is so gendered, what do you read?

In a statement, the shows producers responded: We acknowledge that we all need to do more to support the trans community and the development of trans artists and we are looking to amplify and celebrate trans voices in other ways as part of the production.

They also pointed out that a core member of the creative team were trans and that trans actor Rebecca Root was a consultant.

The musical tells the story of a trans womans escape from rural Ireland at the height of the Troubles. It is an adaptation of a Booker Prize-shortlisted novel written by Patrick McCabe.

In 2005, Neil Jordan adapted the book into a film which starred Cillian Murphy in the lead role of Patrick/Pussy Braden.

Cillian Murphy as Pussy in Breakfast at Pluto (Panthe)

The musical adaptation is set to be premiered in Galway in July before transferring to Dublin, the Birmingham Rep and the Donmar Warehouse in London.

The casting of cisgender people in trans roles remains a contentious issue. In 2018 Scarlett Johansson pulled out of Rub and Tug after her casting as trans male Dante Tex Grill received widespread backlash for the casting decision.

In 2015, Eddie Redmayne received an Oscar nomination for his role as a transgender pioneer in The Danish Girl. In more recent interviews, he has acknowledged years of cisgender success on the back of trans stories.
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With the growing concerns about the novel coronavirus now spreading rapidly in the U.S., its understandable that anyone who develops a cough or fever might wonder if they have COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

There are going to be many individuals who think they have the disease, even if theyre unlikely to have been exposed and their symptoms are more consistent with other other health problems, like the cold or flu, says Gary LeRoy, M.D., a family physician in Dayton, Ohio and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Contributing to the confusion is that this is a rapidly evolving situation, where what is known about the disease changes by the day, even hour, say LeRoy and other experts.

The result: Minor respiratory symptoms that otherwise people would dismiss are causing a lot of anxiety," says Michael Hochman, M.D., director of the Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation at the Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles.

In addition, testing for the virus is still not widely available, making it difficult for people to know for certain when they are infected.

But at this point, some facts are clear: COVID-19 is a viral respiratory illness, with common symptoms of fever, dry cough, and sometimes, shortness of breath. These range from mild to severe, and the most serious cases are potentially fatal, particularly in people who are older or have underlying medical conditions.

And, like other viral respiratory illnesses, its thought this new disease spreads primarily through close contact with an infected person, through the droplets produced during coughs or sneezes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This is definitely a situation we should be taking seriously, we shouldnt dismiss it, but panicking isnt helpful, Hochman says. Carefully evaluating your symptoms, risk factors, and known exposure, can help you decide when you can treat at home, when you should be tested, and whether you should reach out to a doctor.

Story continues

Cold, Flu, or COVID-19?

Currently, three respiratory diseases caused by viral infection are circulating in the U.S., according to LeRoy: the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19.

It can be hard to distinguish between them, since some symptoms overlap and others can vary substantially from person to person. Still, each of those infections tends to have certain defining characteristics that may give you some helpful clues.

Colds. These viral infections typically come on gradually, according to LeRoy, with runny nose, congestion, sore throat, and cough usually at their worst three or four days after onset. Colds can sometimes also cause headaches, body aches, and fever, but they're generally milder than those associated with the flu.

Flu. This infection is notable for coming on fast and causing high fever, severe body aches, and extreme fatigue. Often, it has a very sudden, abrupt onset, says LeRoy. Its like a train hit you. Occasionally, the flu can cause vomiting and diarrhea, but this is more common in children.

COVID-19. Fever, dry cough, and less often, shortness of breath, are the major tip-offs. According to a World Health Organization analysis of 55,924 patients, people infected with the new virus developed a fever in 88 percent of cases, a dry cough in 68 percent, and shortness of breath in 19 percent. The cough may be persistent, without easing at all throughout the day, LeRoy says. People sometimes report being unable to catch their breath or to breathe or talk easily, or may feel out of breath after minor exertion, like walking around the house.

When to Seek Testing and Treatment

Most cases of COVID-19 are relatively mild and can be treated at home. And, as with the flu and the common cold, there is no cure. While certain antiviral drugs, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), can sometimes limit the duration and severity of the flu, those drugs have not been shown to help with COVID-19, though at least one antiviral, remdesivir, is being tested.

Instead, as with the cold and flu, treatment typically focuses on easing symptoms by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and using over-the-counter pain relievers for fever or accompanying discomfort.

When to pursue testing or get professional medical care can be more complicated, and depends on whether you've likely been exposed, the severity of your symptoms, and your age and underlying health.

Below, advice on when to reach out for medical care, based on those factors:

You have no symptoms, dont think youve been exposed, and are at low risk. People in this group who are under the age of 60 and in good health don't need to get get tested, Hochman says. Instead, simply practice basic infection prevention protocols. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if you cant wash your hands; avoid sick people; and listen to recommendations from your local health department.

If you are age 60 or older, or have a weakened immune system or underlying medical conditions such as lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes, experts also recommend that you try to avoid large gatherings and nonessential long flights.

You have no symptoms but have had contact with someone who has COVID-19. Currently, the CDC does not recommend that you be tested for COVID-19. But check with your local health department to see if its guidance differs. Monitor your health carefully, and try to avoid public settingsif you can work from home, for instance, do so. It's especially important to stay alert for symptoms if you are older than age 60, immunocompromised, or have an underlying medical condition such as asthma.

You have mild to moderate symptoms but are at low risk and are unsure whether youve been exposed. If you fit this group, and are under age 60 with no other medical conditions, you can monitor and treat yourself at home, Hochman says. Isolate yourself as much as possible, as you would with the flu. You can consider asking your primary care doctor or health department about testing, but it may not be available, depending on where you live. And call your doctor if symptoms worsen.

You have mild to moderate symptoms and are at high risk. If you're over the age of 60 or have underlying health problems, contact your health department or doctor to see about getting tested, even if you are unsure whether you've been exposed to the virus. But note that testing may or may not yet be available in your region.

You have mild to moderate symptoms and know you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19: Contact your doctor or local public health department to see about getting tested, Hochman advises. Call by phone; don't just show up at a doctors office, or other healthcare setting, such as a clinic or emergency room, he saysthe staff may want you to take special precautions, such as using an alternative entrance and wearing a mask upon arrival. Otherwise, you may expose others to the disease, or may be exposed yourself by other sick people.

You have severe symptoms: If you have a high fever, a persistent cough that continues to worsen, or shortness of breath that makes it hard to talk, contact a doctor immediately, no matter what your age or risk level. And if it feels like a medical emergency, with significant difficulty breathing for example, call 911, says Hochman. Tell the dispatcher you may have COVID-19 when you call, and if you have a face mask, put it on before emergency personnel arrive.





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Top pick tires for 2016

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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 Reserve Bank will sell USD 2 billion worth of American currency to banks in a bid to infuse liquidity in the domestic forex market roiled by mounting concerns over coronavirus pandemic and crash in global oil prices.

The central bank also stressed it is closely and continuously monitoring the rapidly evolving global situation and spillovers.

Also, it stands ready to take all necessary measures to ensure that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Indian economy are mitigated, and financial markets and institutions in India continue to function normally.

The level of forex reserves at USD 487.24 billion as on March 6, 2020 remains comfortable to meet any exigency, the central bank added.

As part of its efforts to sooth the forext market, the RBI will undertake 6-month US Dollar sell/buy swaps. The swaps will be conducted through the auction route in multiple tranches. The auctions will be multiple price based -- successful bids will be accepted at their respective quoted premiums.

"On a review of current financial market conditions and taking into consideration the requirement of US Dollars in the market, it has been decided to undertake 6-month US Dollar sell/buy swaps to provide liquidity to the foreign exchange market," the RBI said in a statement.

In the first tranche, the RBI will sell American dollars worth USD 2 billion on Monday.

The swap will be in the nature of a simple sell/buy foreign exchange swap from the Reserve Bank side.

A bank will buy US Dollars from the RBI and simultaneously agree to sell the same amount of US Dollars at the end of the swap period.

Financial markets worldwide are facing intense selling pressures on extreme risk aversion due to the spread of COVID-19 infections, compounded by the slump in international crude prices and a decline in bond yields in advanced economies.

"Flight to safety has led to spike in volatility across all asset classes, with several emerging market currencies experiencing downside pressures," the RBI said.

Mismatches in US dollar liquidity have become accentuated across the world.

The RBI also said the minimum bid size for the swaps auction will be USD 10 million and in multiples of USD 1 million thereafter.

The benchmark BSE Sensex plunged over 2,919 points, its biggest one-day fall in absolute terms.

The Indian rupee plunged to a 17-month low of 74.24 against US dollar due to heavy dollar demand.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

The global microinjection polymer molding market is expected to reach USD 897.3 million by 2020; according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing demand for small sized components mainly from the medical industry is expected to be a key driving factor for the market. Microinjection molding is used to manufacture highly valued micro medical components such as sensors, implants, tubes, catheter tips and microoptics among some other components; the growing demand for these has had a positive impact on the market. The report further observes that shift in trend towards adoption of micromolding over micromachining, owing to its cost efficiency and development of microoptics and microfluidics technologies, particularly in North America and Europe is also expected to play a major role in the market growth.

Medical and healthcare emerged as the leading application markets for microinjection molding and accounted for just over one-third of the total market in 2012. Along with being the largest market, these are also expected to be the fastest growing market for microinjection molding at an estimated CAGR of 15.2% from 2013 to 2020. Growing demand for small sized components on account of increasing number of minimally invasive surgeries is expected to drive the market over the next six years. Automotive industry trailed medical and healthcare industry in the overall demand for microinjection polymer molding. The global market for microinjection polymer molding in automotive industry is expected to exceed USD 200 million by 2020.

To request a sample copy or view summary of this report, click the link below:

http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/polymer-microinjection-molding-industry

Further key findings from the study suggest:

North America emerged as the leading market for microinjection polymer molding, accounting for more than 40% of the total market in 2012. Rapid technological advancement, mainly in the U.S. has been a key factor for market development. In addition, increasing healthcare expenditure is also expected to fuel the demand for microinjection molding market. North American micro molders gained the advantage of moving early into a high growth market eyeing a sustainable future

Rapid development of various micro technologies including microoptics and microfluidics mainly in Western Europe is expected to drive the market for microinjection polymer molding in Europe. Germany holds a major chunk in the European market for microinjection molding on account of increasing medical expenditure and countrys lead position in automobile manufacturing. European market for micro injection molding is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2013 to 2020. Asia Pacific is still a large untapped market and hold immense opportunities in the years to come. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.9% from 2013 to 2020

However, lack of awareness regarding the benefits offered using micro molded polymers mainly in under developed countries of Middle East, Africa, Latin America and South Asia is expected to hinder the market growth over the forecast period

Production of microinjection molded polymers is concentrated mainly in Europe and North America. Some of the major companies operating in the global market include Accu-Mold LLC, ALC Precision, American Precision Products, Makuta Technics, Micromolding Solution Inc., Precimold Incorporation, Rapidwerks, Stack Plastics Inc., Stamm AG and Sovrin Plastics among some other companies.

Grand View Research has segmented the global polymer microinjection molding market on the basis of product and region:

Microinjection Molding Application Outlook

Medical & Healthcare

Automotive

Telecom Fiber Optics

Micro Drive Systems & Control

Others

Microinjection Polymer Molding Regional Outlook
(Bloomberg) -- The Inter-American Development Bank postponed its annual meeting in Colombia scheduled for next week over coronavirus fears.

The Washington-based bank, the top development institution dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean, announced the decision with Colombian President Ivan Duque on Tuesday evening. The decision to push back the meetings scheduled for Barranquilla to the first half of September was responsible and taken after a frank conversation between the bank and Colombia, Duque said.

Colombia will continue as the host of this important international event, but well do it making sure that all our visitors have the guarantee that theyll be able to go to home afterward, Duque said in a speech at a university on a trip to Mexico City.

The move follows the decision last week by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to use a virtual format to convene their spring meetings next month, instead of holding the conference in Washington. Numerous other events around the world have been postponed or canceled over the coronavirus outbreak.

The rescheduling means that the next IDB president will be elected at the meetings, according to a statement from the IDB. The decision previously was expected to be made sometime between July and September. The bank provides billions of dollars in loans and technical assistance to a region with chronic infrastructure and financial shortages.

Argentinas Gustavo Beliz is poised to vie for the IDBs top job against a Brazilian, possibly Marcos Troyjo, the Economy Ministrys Special Secretary for Foreign Trade and International Affairs. Paraguay also intends to launch Finance Minister Benigno Lopez as a candidate, a government official said last week. Backing of the U.S. is crucial to win the position, given its 30% share of the bank and de-facto veto power over its leadership decisions.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eric Martin in Washington at emartin21@bloomberg.net

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To contact the editors responsible for this story: Scott Lanman at slanman@bloomberg.net, Robert Jameson

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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BEIJING, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Autonomous vehicle delivery startup Neolix recently completed an A+ round of funding, raising nearly RMB 200 million. Li Xiang's Lixiang Automotive and ADDOR Capital were the investors in this round of funding, while existing shareholders Yunqi Partners and Glory Ventures injected more funds.

Previously, Yunqi Partners was the lead investor in the A round funding, committing close to RMB100 million, and has always stood by and supported the company.

Since its founding, Yunqi has been focused on investing in early and mid-stage startups concerned with "technology-enabled industrial upgrading", and the autonomous driving vehicle sector is a priority in its investment direction. Chen Yu, Managing Director of Yunqi Partners, said that Neolix has years of experience in the logistics industry, autonomous driving technology R&D as well as mass production capacity. In terms of business model, the company has rapidly iterated and evolved, and has continued to expand service scenario applications in autonomous vehicle delivery, mobile retail, patrol, and epidemic prevention and disinfection. It has also continued to form partnerships with major customers locally and abroad. We believe that Neolix can further achieve large-scale launches, and create a brand new autonomous vehicle service ecology.

01

Autonomous vehicle delivery enhanced and made more efficient, with rapid development of launch scenarios

Neolix, founded in 2018, began as a autonomous driving vehicle company focused on autonomous vehicle delivery, and now has more than 160 employees. Its initial intent was to be engaged in end-delivery automation, but they soon realized that replacing couriers and delivery people with autonomous driving vehicles would be difficult in the short term, and far from cost-effective. Hence, Neolix transformed in 2019. Its launch scenarios now include:

Autonomous vehicle delivery , which supplements manual delivery, is focused on developing delivery of group meals which are heavier ;

, which supplements manual delivery, is focused on ; Mobile retail : uses autonomous driving vehicles to sell fast food, coffee and other retail products;

: uses autonomous driving vehicles to sell fast food, coffee and other retail products; Neolix Patrol: this model requires collaboration with local governments.

During the epidemic, 18 Neolix autonomous driving vehicles took part in the battle against the epidemic, and were deployed in Leishenshan Hospital, other hospitals as well as in communities. Elsewhere, dozens of autonomous driving vehicles were working at the frontline in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen for the purpose of epidemic prevention, spraying, disinfection and autonomous vehicle delivery.

02

Having completed funding in a bear market, Neolix is committed to becoming the first self-financing autonomous driving vehicle company

This round of funding commenced in Q4 2019, and was finalized in January 2020 and completed in February. It is understood that the decision to seek funding at this time could be attributed to two major reasons: 1) the realization that capital markets, including USD funds, were cooling, and the company had to ensure that it had adequate cash flow; and 2) Neolix had made impressive progress in mass production, and the proceeds would be used to accelerate the pace of expansion. The company is expected to have another round of fundraising in 2020.

Earlier, Neolix built the world's first Level 4 autonomous driving vehicle smart manufacturing plant in Changzhou, with an annual capacity of 10,000 vehicles. The company has entered into partnerships with numerous renowned local enterprises such as Baidu, JD.com and Meituan, as well as local governments, and officially went abroad last year. A comprehensive partnership with JD.com's e-commerce platform, Noon, has seen Neolix autonomous driving vehicles for retail, express delivery and various other products deployed in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. These vehicles will also be deployed in phases to Saudi Arabia and other Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, establishing the world's largest autonomous driving service array.

Founder and CEO Yu Enyuan said that Neolix had produced and delivered 225 autonomous driving vehicles over the last two years. Their goal this year is to fulfill an order of 1,000 vehicles so that they can break even for the year. Neolix aims to become the first self-financing autonomous driving vehicle company.

SOURCE Yunqi Partners
The number of coronavirus cases across the globe is on the rise. More than 100,000 people have been infected by the virus ever since its outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year. Globally, more than 4,000 people have been killed but theres a flipside to the coronavirus crisis which no one seems to be talking about.

The rate of recovery from coronavirus infection is worth looking into. According to Chinas National Health Commission, of more than 80,000 confirmed cases in the country over 60,000 have been recovered. This translates into more than 70 per cent recovery rate for the coronavirus patients in China.

Now looking at the global picture, the Johns Hopkins University estimates 68,219 coronavirus patients of the total 126,136 global cases to have successfully recovered and discharged - which is over 50 per cent of the those infected across the globe. The universitys coronavirus resource centre tracks the latest statistics and shares them as an interactive map compiled by its Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The figures were last updated on March 12.

Also read: Visit the clinic or self-isolate? What to do when you suspect coronavirus

On March 9, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of the WHOs health emergencies programme, said that 80 per cent of coronavirus patients across the globe will recover.

Also Watch | Coronavirus: What we know and what we dont

Last week, a leading Indian researcher and scientist said that four of five people who have tested positive for coronavirus will get better on their own. Gagandeep Kang last year became the first Indian woman to be elected fellow of the Royal Society in London.

Also read: Dont simply walk into any clinic or hospital for coronavirus, say doctors

She said four of five people will get better on their own and may need nothing more than drugs like paracetamol for fever and cough, news agency PTI reported.

For everyone, there is no need to worry too much or panic. We are exposed to viruses every day. Make sure you wash your hands well, wipe down or use disinfectants on surfaces. Avoid touching your face, she said.
Nafoods has polled shareholders on the planned private placement to the existing foreign shareholder

Nafoods Group has just sent shareholders a letter to gather opinions on its proposed sale of 905,950 shares to Endurance Vietnam Capital I Limited, a major shareholder currently holding 6.92 per cent in the company. The additional shares issued would account for 2.04 per cent of the voting shares in circulation.

This morning, NAF traded at VND24,200 ($1.05) a share. However, the private offering price for Endurance Vietnam is proposed at VND13,043 (57 US cents), which is only 54 per cent of the current market price.

The purpose of this private placement is to supplement Nafoods' working capital. Individual shares offered for sale this time will be restricted from transfer within a year. The offer will be made within 2020, after approval is secured from the State Securities Commission.

Nafoods also asked shareholders to authorise the Board of Directors to proactively deploy, develop, and adjust the content of the offering plan as well as the plan to use the proceeds and set a time for the offering.

Earlier, in 2019, Nafoods also signed with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on the sale of preferred stocks. Accordingly, IFC will fund Nafoods $8 million in exchange for preferred stokc with the option to convert them into ordinary shares.

This capital is used to expand the factory in Long An and build a fruit packing facility located in the Central Highlands region as well as develop a new business of fruit trees.

In 2019, the export market has seen favourable developments, boosting the sales of Nafoods sharply to VND1.04 billion ($45,220) compared to the VND600 million ($26,090) in 2018, an increase of 73.6 per cent. However, expenses increased sharply. For example, sales expenses increased by nearly 2.4 times and interest expenses nearly doubled, resulting in after-tax profit of only VND48.9 billion ($2.13 million), up 21.3 per cent compared to a year before.
Photo credit: .

From Popular Mechanics

Its undeniable that our devices are getting smarter. With more Internet of Things products available than ever before, we can operate almost anything with the press of a smartphone button without getting off the couchincluding the light switch. Although smart lighting has been around since the late 90s (looking at you, Clapper), its advanced in recent years to include remote app and voice control. These systems are also becoming increasingly affordable, but youll still want to ensure that something so prominent in your daily life is also reliable, effective, and energy-efficient. The reviews here will help determine the best individual light bulbs and complete systems for your needs and price range.

Check out quick reviews below of the top five smart light bulbs and systems, then scroll deeper for more buying info and full reviews of these and other high-ranking options.







How to Operate

Depending on the smart light, youll either be able to control it from your phone and virtual assistant through built-in Wi-Fi connectivity or it will require a hub, through which you can sync the bulbs and control by voice or an app on your phone. A hub can be a smart speaker such as Google Home, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomeKit, but some systems come with their own. Even given that, some connect directly to your Wi-Fi for app control and only require a hub if you want access to voice control. CNET advised that if you already use a smart home speaker, adding in lights that your assistant of choice can control is almost a no-brainer, and youll be able to use them alongside things like cameras, thermostats, and smart security systems.

If you plan to use smart lights throughout your home, its best to stick to one brand to use the same app, whether it be the manufacturers or another smart home system. Even if you just want to dip your toes into the world of smart lights by purchasing one or two bulbs, we recommend going with a brand that offers more complete systems if you ever want to add more later. Within these apps, you will be able to set timers, dim the lights, and potentially even change the bulbs colors.

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What to Look For

Lumens: Measuring the brightness of a bulb, lumens are usually around 800 for the average 60-watt old-fashioned incandescent. Most smart and LED bulbs provide the same amount of light but use less wattage. (All of the top-performing bulbs that made the cut here are LEDs.)

Watts: All light bulbs consume power, but smart lights are generally more economical in the respect that they only use around eight to ten watts for about 800 lumens. Note that since smart lights are technically always on even when the light is turned off, they will use up slightly more electricity than typical LED bulbs, though the difference is negligible.



Bulb type: Almost every bulb in this article is an A19. This is the standard pear-shaped lightbulb, which will fit into the majority of light sockets and lamps. Most smart light kits come with standard A19 bulbs as theyre most common and compatible.

How We Selected and Rated Them

We consulted ten sources and publications with experience reviewing smart lights and other tech, such as Digital Trends, Consumer Reports , and CNET , and averaged their ratings out of 100 to come up with the Total Expert Score. Then we looked at 9,800 consumer reviews. Our Consumer Score represents the percentage of customers who rated the product at least four out of five stars on retail and review sites like Amazon , Walmart , and manufacturers webpages. Here are the most highly rated smart light bulbs and systems.



FANCIEST

Nanoleaf Canvas Starter Kit

Total Expert Score: 91/100 | Consumer Score: 88% gave it 4 stars or more



Turns your walls into illuminated works of art

Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit | Hub required: No | Lumens: 50 | Watts: 1

These certainly arent the most conventional smart lights available, but they are some of the most inventive. Nanoleafs Canvas system is made up of flat, tile-like lights that stick to the wall and allow you to create colorful, light-up designs. Each square measures six inches across, and this kit comes with nine squares. Once you set them up in the design you desire, you can control them through a virtual assistant, the Nanoleaf app. And they even respond to toucha light tap turns them on and off, and a long press creates a ripple effect, for example. Whats more, you can program them to synchronize their color changes and effects to music, which makes them a great party focal point or entertainment for a child's room. If youre looking to cover a significant amount of space however, it will get pretty priceythese run $200 for just one set of nine.

BEST BUDGET KIT

Sengled Smart LED Soft White Starter Kit

Total Expert Score: 82/100 | Consumer Score: 73% gave it 4 stars or more

Smart lighting that isnt stupidly expensive

Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant | Hub required: Yes | Lumens: 800 | Watts: 9 | Bulb type: A19



Since smart lighting is still relatively young, its understandable if youre wary of spending a lot of money on something that you arent convinced will work for your home. But at under $40, this two-pack kit doesnt require much of a monetary commitment. And its garnered some great reviews. For the price, I admit I didnt have high expectations, wrote an Amazon customer. I was wrong! This is a great bulb! It paired quickly and was recognized with full functionality natively. The bulb is super responsiveswitches off and on quickly with the SmartThings app as well as via Alexa. Sengled also offers four different packages with one, two, four, and eight LED bulbs, all of which connect to both Alexa and Google Assistant.

VERSATILE

Yeelight Smart LED Bulb

Total Expert Score: 89/100 | Consumer Score: 77% gave it 4 stars or more

Luxury is cheap(er) with these dimmable, colorful bulbs

Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant | Hub required: No | Lumens: 800 | Watts: 10 | Bulb type: A19

Whether youre looking for a way onto the smart lighting bandwagon or need some quality bulbs to add to your collection, Yeelights Smart LED is a great option. Each bulb is capable of connecting right to your Wi-Fi, no hub needed for app control. They can dim, with different lightings such as warm white and daylight depending on your mood and the time of day. Control the lights with either the Wyze app or through Alexa and Google Assistant.



HIGH-END COLOR-CHANGING

C by GE A19 Bulb

Total Expert Score: 70/100 | Consumer Score: 96% gave it 4 stars or more

Choose light from almost any hue

Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit | Hub required: No | Lumens: 760 | Watts: 10 | Bulb type: A19

Smart lights can be practical, but they can also be the highlight of a party. This C by GE bulb allows you to choose from all the colors of the rainbow as well as warm and cool white. A hub isnt needed, but the bulb is compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. Since it was particularly designed for Google products, you will have the fastest response when using Google Assistant. And you can use a Google Home unit as a hub for controlling the lights from your phone via the Google Home app when youre out.

SMALL SMART LIGHT

Lifx Mini White Smart LED Bulb

Total Expert Score: 98/100 | Consumer Score: 73% gave it 4 stars or more

Small and white, green and bright

Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home | Hub required: No | Lumens: 800 | Watts: 9 | Bulb type: A19

Smart lights arent just for overhead ceiling lightsthese little guys can be placed in smaller places like desk or nightstand lamps. While they may not be as large as your average bulb, they still pack a punch with 800 lumens at full brightness, same as the full-size Lifx bulbs. Theyre compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa, and Apple HomeKit, have full dimming capabilities, and dont require a hub to operate.

EASY ON THE EYES

Harth Sleep-Shift Sleep Ready Bulb

Total Expert Score: 94/100 | Consumer Score: 76% gave it 4 stars or more

Put down the phone and turn on this light to get to sleep

Works with: None | Hub required: N/A | Lumens: 600 | Watts: 7 | Bulb type: A19

While this bulb cant dim or change color, its smart in another way: It may help to improve your sleep by emitting less harmful blue light, which LEDs and electronic screens emit. Its meant to simulate a sunset, giving you end-of-day vibes and lulling you into sweet dreams. One reviewer commented: As a bona-fide night owl, it is always hard for me to wind down at the end of the day. After reading up on the ways that yellow/amber light better trains our brains to sleep, I bought this and swapped it for the low-watt bright white bulb I had in my bedroom. Its much easier to fall asleep without a bright blue-white light keeping me up.



RETRO

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi LED Bulb

Consumer Score: 90% gave it 4 stars or more

An elegant industrial-style bulb thats still eco-conscious

Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant | Hub required: No | Lumens: 600 | Watts: 7 | Bulb type: A19

Interior decorating has co-opted industrial style in the past decade, especially in factories-turned-luxury-apartments. And while the old-school look is coveted, the dated technology is not. This light gives you that vibe while staying modern. Its compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, fully dimmable, and doesnt require a hub. And despite the feel, this bulb is an eco-friendly LED. It uses only seven watts to give of a bright 600-lumen glow.



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An interstate gang of car thieves has been busted with the arrest of five people and seizure of nine stolen high-end SUVs, police said on Thursday.

Investigation was launched after police came to know that some people were selling high-end vehicles at throwaway prices, raising suspicion that these might have been stolen.

A case was registered at Parimpora Police Station and the investigation led to the arrests and seizure. The vehicles, allegedly stolen from different states, were sezied from Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla and Bandipora districts of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

The accused would steal a vehicle in one state and look for a similar vehicle in terms of make model and colour operating in another state, the spokesman said.

"Then they would get a duplicate registration number plate of the genuine vehicle fixed on the stolen vehicle to pass them off as a a genuine registered vehicle," he added.

During investigations, police found that vehicles -- with same registration plates as those of the seized vehicles -- were with their genuine owners.

The arrested people were identified as Mohammad Ayub Dar, Mohammad Ayub Khan, Sameer Ahmad, Liyaqat Ali Dar and Mohammad Younis Rather, police said, adding efforts are on to nab other members of the gang.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
External Affairs Minister S



Jaishankar on Thursday said the initial focus is to bring back Indian pilgrims stranded in Iran, which is grappling with cases of coronavirus.

The outbreak of coronavirus is a "matter of concern" and "we need to respond responsibly", he told Lok Sabha as he spoke on the current situation.

He said around 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

There are also around 300 students there, he added.

The "initial focus is on bringing back pilgrims, mostly stranded in Qom", he said, adding the government is also working with Indian authorities to look at the possibility of operating limited commercial flights.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jyotiraditya Scindia, who reached Bhopal on Thursday for the first time after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), expressed his gratitude towards the party for "opening the doors" for him.

On reaching the party office, Scindia addressed the BJP members, saying, "Today, it is a very emotional day for me. I consider myself fortunate that this family (BJP) opened the doors for me and I received the blessings of party president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah."

"I have brought only one thing with me (to BJP) and that is my hard work," he added.

The former Congress leader, who landed in Bhopal with Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, was accorded a grand welcome by party members.

At the Raja Bhoj airport, Scindia was greeted by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state BJP president VD Sharma, leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava, former ministers Rampal Singh, Bhupendra Singh and Narottam Mishra. Scindia's paternal aunt and BJP MLA Yashodhara Raje Scindia, who reached the airport earlier, also welcomed him.

"The organisation and family in which I have spent 20 years, the organisation where I have put my hard work and efforts, I am leaving all that behind and handing myself over to you," said Scindia.

Hoardings and BJP flags were put up by Scindia's supporters and BJP leaders along the 15-km route of his rally from the airport to the state BJP headquarters.

The former Union minister sat atop an open vehicle and travelled to the BJP office along with a grand procession comprising thousands of BJP workers.

The BJP office was also decked up and workers were hired to showers flowers on him. A picture of his late father Madhav Rao Scindia was placed at the BJP office initially but later removed.

Scindia will file his nomination papers for the March 26 Rajya Sabha polls on Friday, a party spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, unimpressed by his rebellion, Congress workers showed him black flags at the airport and at Roshanpura square in the city.

Earlier in the day, black paint was thrown at one of Scindia's posters while other banners were torn by unidentified persons at several places. Congress workers also burnt his effigy at places to protest his move of deserting the party when it needed him the most. The municipal corporation had also seized banners put up in his support from the city.

(With inputs from PTI)
A war of words has broken out between China and the US over the novel coronavirus pandemic with Beijing on Thursday alleging that it could have been the American military that brought the virus to the outbreak epicentre, Wuhan.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian tweeted the allegation late on Thursday night, referring to the US Centres for Disease Control director, Robert Redfields statement that some Americans who had died apparently died of influenza could have been infected by the novel coronavirus.

Zhao, spokesperson and deputy director general of the information department of the foreign ministry, tweeted: CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!

In an earlier tweet, Zhao referred to Redfields statement made during a meeting in Washington.

Zhao didnt elaborate on his allegation.

Earlier in the day, the Chinese foreign ministry reacted sharply when asked to respond to the allegation made by Robert OBrien, the White House national security adviser, that China covered up the virus outbreak in Wuhan, and this likely cost the world two months of time to prepare.

The US official accuses China of covering up the disease. Well, the world knows better that China released information in an open and transparent manner. It identified the pathogen within a record short period of time and shared the genetic sequence of the virus with WHO and other countries including the US, spokesperson, Geng Shuang said at the regular ministry briefing.

Not long ago, China hosted a WHO mission including US experts for a nine-day visit, after which they highly commended Chinas transparency. Here we do not comment on whether the US response is open and transparent, but obviously, someone in the US still turns a deaf ear to international appraisal on China, he added.

Geng said: To quote an ancient Chinese saying, Turn inward and examine yourself when you encounter difficulties in life. We urge the US official to respect facts and the common understanding of the international community.

Meanwhile, the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet has published a study detailing the first known person-to-person transmission of the novel coronavirus in the US.

On January 23, 2020, Illinois reported the states first laboratory-confirmed case (index case) of covid-19 in a woman in her 60s, who returned from Wuhan, China in mid-January, 2020. Subsequently, the first evidence of secondary transmission in the USA was reported on January 30, when her husband, who had not travelled outside the USA but had frequent, close contact with his wife since her return, tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the study said.

On December 25, according to the study, the female patient travelled to Wuhan where she visited a hospitalised-relative and other family members with undiagnosed respiratory illness.

On her return to the USA on January 13, 2020, she experienced six days of mild fever, fatigue, and cough before being hospitalised with pneumonia and testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the study said.

The couple has since recovered.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in the Senate subway area of the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. Paul wants to see more extensive changes in any reauthortization of the FISA court. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

FISA Reauthorization May Not Be Done Deal as Critics Rally, Trump Sounds Cautionary Note

WASHINGTONWhen the House of Representatives approved a bipartisan compromise measure on March 11 to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, including the court at the center of the Spygate scandal, it appeared supporters were headed to a quick victory.

Even Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and one of President Donald Trumps fiercest defenders during the Democratic impeachment drive that developed out of Spygate, called the measure real reform, although he acknowledged he wanted more FISA changes.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.C.), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) announced they support upper-chamber passage of the measure, known officially as the USA Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2020.

Attorney General William Barr added his voice to support for the bill that passed the House on a 278136 vote, with most of the opposition coming from Republicans.

The present FISA law ends March 15, so the Senate must pass some version of the House bill and then have it signed by Trump to avoid a lapse in authorization.

But as Congress grappled March 12 with the coronavirus crisis while hurrying to finish up work before leaving town for next weeks recess, angry critics of the last-minute reauthorization were encouraged by a Trump tweet:

Many Republican Senators want me to Veto the FISA Bill until we find out what led to, and happened with, the illegal attempted coup of the duly elected President of the United States, and others!

Trump was referring mainly to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who have been stalwart opponents of reauthorizing FISA without making substantial changes to protect against repeated abuses like those documented by Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

Horowitz told Congress in 2019 that there were 17 instances of serious abuses by the DOJ and FBI in 2016 of FISA procedures designed to ensure against violations of individual Americans civil liberties.

The significant errors and omissions included failing to disclose to the FISA court, in requests for surveillance authority against former 2016 Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, that the requests were based almost entirely on a document that was compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele and paid for by the Democratic National Committee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trumps Democratic presidential opponent.

Lee retweeted Trumps declaration, then Paul issued a tweet of his own, declaring: Senate Republican leaders are trying to ram through fake FISA amendments without real changes. I will object. I continue to stand with @realDonaldTrump.

The biggest challenge now facing FISA renewal critics rests in that McConnell, a masterful legislative operator, controls the Senate. But McConnell cant know with certainty what Trump will do and the March 15 deadline hasnt gone away.

Theyre going to have to steamroll the dissenters, so even if its a done deal, even if they get something passed, they cant get it passed in time to get it reauthorized by the 15th unless theyre going to keep the Senate in all weekend, former Paul senior adviser Brian Darling told The Epoch Times on March 12.

Darling said Trumps March 12 tweet was reasonably favorable towards the Rand Paul-Mike Lee position, so that might throw a monkey wrench in what the leadership wants to do. They may be worried that Trump will change his mind and go from support to oppose.

Darling said the last-minute push for FISA reauthorization is characteristic of Republican congressional leaders in recent years on many significant issues.

It seems like this happens every couple of years, Darling said. They basically run right up to the deadline and then make some last-minute changes to these bills and then try to railroad them through, saying, Oh, this is the best deal we can get. We dont really like it, but its the best deal we can get.

Darling said none of the changes in the House-passed bill would have prevented the abuses documented by Horowitz.

The reforms arent significant, they may help a little bit but they are window-dressing, he said.

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton agrees, telling The Epoch Times on March 12 that its irresponsible for Congress to authorize these agencies who so abused the rule of law without knowing the full details of the crimes that have been committed.

Fittons nonprofit government watchdog has used the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to force exposure of many of the documents and details of both the Spygate scandal and the related controversy over the FBIs handling of Clintons use of a private email system, in violation of multiple laws and regulations, while serving as secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.

Look, what we need to do is start prosecuting people, Fitton said. The idea that you can extend FISA penalties to eight years instead of five and that will show them is meaningless if no one goes to jail, ever.

Fitton said the ultimate solution to the FISA problem is to end FISA.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
A former NHS doctor trapped in coronavirus-hit Italy has begged the UK Government to 'shut down everything' in the fight against the killer infection.

Professor Mohamed Abu Hilal, who now works in Brescia, north Italy, urged officials to prepare more beds, doctors and nurses in the NHS in light of the fiasco happening in the worst hit country of Europe.

He warned it's not only the elderly who are dying of COVID-19, although figures suggest they are the most vulnerable.

Italy put full-scale lockdowns nationwide in place on Monday, with court action and fines threatened for people breaking imposed curfews.

Schools, cafes, hairdressers and restaurants have been closed as 60million residents are told to stay in their homes in 'social distancing' measures in order to curb the escalating crisis there.

Mounting pressure has built on the Government to move quickly to impose similar rules because it's feared the UK is heading the same direction as Italy, where 15,113 cases and 1,016 deaths have been confirmed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today hold an emergency meeting and is expected to move the 'battle plan' into the next stage.

It follows a surge of 85 in the UK cases yesterday. Now, a total of 460 people have tested positive for COVID-19 nationwide, an eight-fold increase in a single week.

Professor Mohamed Abu Hilal, writing from Brescia, north Italy, warned officials must prepare more beds, doctors and nurses in light of the fiasco happening in Italy

Italy has put full scale lock downs in place, with court action and fines threatened for people breaking imposed curfews. Pictured, sanitary workers disinfecting the streets in Naples

Professor Abu Hilal, a former NHS doctor who now works in Italy, said: 'Beds are full. Goverments must shut down everything, prepare beds, ventilators , antivirals, doctors and nurses. People should stay at HOME! [sic]'

This combination of images shows Rome's ancient Colosseum, top, on Sunday April 8, 2018, and bottom, on March 11, 2020. Italy's grave outbreak of coronavirus has emptied landmarks

Pictured top, Rome's Spanish Steps on November 14, 2019, and top, on March 10, 2020

This combination of images shows tourists sitting in front of the Pantheon, in Rome, on June 7, 2019, top and bottom, on March 11, 2020

Total confirmed infections in Europe has topped 23,000 with 951 deaths, according to a new tally which is compiled from official sources.

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.

In drastic moves overnight, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced the latest wave of restrictions would see all shops except pharmacies and food outlets closed in response to the country's coronavirus outbreak.

Italy's grave outbreak of coronavirus has already emptied landmarks and tourist hotspots, leaving streets eerily quiet, and halted flights between the UK and various other countries.

Professor Abu Hilal, who used to work for Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, is now chief of the department of surgery at Poliambulanza Institute Hospital Foundation, Brescia.

He penned: 'Form Brescia north of Italy : to my friends accross the glob !COVID19 is serious, feels to be in a war! People are dying, not only elderly.

'Beds are full. Goverments must shut down everything, prepare beds, ventilators , antivirals, doctors and nurses. People should stay at HOME! [sic]'

Medics on the frontline in Italy have spoken about their health service struggling to cope with the strain of extra hospital admissions, despite the World Health Organization ranking it second globally for overall performance after France.

It is now being considered to admit patients on a 'first come first served' basis, and to use 'catastrophe medicine' guidelines - typically used in war zones and during natural disasters - where those with the greatest chance of survival are given priority.

Giorgio Gori, Bergamo mayor, tweeted: 'It seems that the increase [in the number of cases] is slowing down, but its only because we have no longer beds in intensive care (few are added with great effort). Patients who cannot be treated are left to die', the Financial Times reported.

Leading UK doctors have already expressed their concern the the NHS will cripple under the pressure of a full-scale coronavirus outbreak.

The Government have acknowledged the UK will see thousands more diagnosed with COVID-19 and have said they are 'following the science' in terms of appropriate restrictions to limit the spread.

But Professor Abu Hilal's thoughts echo those of other leading medical figures who have criticised the Governments response, such as Richard Horton, chief editor of the prestigious Lancet medical journal.

Writing on Twitter last night, Mr Horton said: '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.'

Pictured, 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

A deserted square outside the Duomo in Milan yesterday. The Italian government has imposed unprecedented restrictions on its 60million people

A cyclist travelling down an empty street in Rome as locals and tourists stayed indoors

Boris Johnson (pictured in the Commons yesterday) is chairing the emergency Cobra committee later where the strategy is expected to shift from 'containing' the killer disease to 'delaying' its inevitable spread in the UK

Boris Johnson swipes at leaders who don't 'follow the science' on coronavirus Boris Johnson has swiped at political leaders who don't 'follow the science' on coronavirus. The PM said many leaders were 'under a lot of pressure to be seen to act', as he suggested the UK will not impose dramatic restrictions yet. The comments - which pre-date Donald Trump's ban on travellers from mainland Europe last night - came in a video posted on the No10 Twitter feed yesterday shows Mr Johnson chatting with Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries. Mr Johnson said: 'It's noticeable that there are some countries where they have banned big sporting events and stopped mass gatherings of one kind or another. Tell us why so far the medical advice in this country is not to do that?' Dr Harries replied that 'expert modellers' had looked at what would happen with the virus. 'In general those sorts of events and big gatherings are not seen as something that is going to have a big effect. So we don't want to disrupt people's lives,' she said. Mr Johnson said: 'There's obviously people under a lot pf pressure - politicians government around the world under a lot of pressure to be seen to act. So they may do things that are not necessarily dictated by the science.' Dr Harries said: 'I am absolutely delighted that we are following the science and the evidence.' She added: 'We have got very clear advice about when we should intervene and that is exactly what I think we should do.' Advertisement

Good Morning Britain's resident doctor, Dr Hilary Jones, said the government should have 'banned mass gatherings' a week ago.

Speaking of the significant surge in UK COVID-19 cases, Dr Hilary said: 'Well I think this was predictable. We were always running containment and delay concurrently in reality, we always knew numbers were going to increase probably double every three to four days.

'We are on the same trajectory as Italy, if you look at the Italian situation overnight two hundred deaths nearly, so clearly this is very serious.

'Having said that the delay phase is critical, people need to socially distance, we should have banned these mass gatherings probably a week ago'.

He added that he didn't think the Cheltenham Festival should have gone ahead.

It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the crisis a global pandemic after an 'alarming spread and severity' of cases across the globe.

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.

UK ministers have - so far - stopped short of shifting the official strategy from the 'contain' phase.

Mr Johnson claims that 'scientific advice' suggests the draconian measures are not yet necessary to stop big sporting events and mass gatherings in public places.

But there are reports that schools have been ordered to prepare for closures from March 20 that could last a month, which could cause havoc for millions of parents.

More than 320,000 people signed a petition to urge school and college closures across the UK to prevent the spread of COVID-19 - with 100,000 signatures being the minimum required to secure a debate on the matter in Parliament.

Ministers have already confirmed Britain will not follow Donald Trump's dramatic overnight move of closing the borders to travellers from mainland Europe.

Mr Trump blames the EU for failing to stop the killer virus in its tracks - but has exempted the UK and Ireland from his 30-day travel moratorium from midnight on Friday.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who yesterday unveiled a huge Budget package to 'vaccinate' the economy from the impact of coronavirus, today dismissed the prospect of the UK following the US example. He told the BBC he doesn't think stopping European flights is the 'right thing'.

'The advice we are getting is that there is not evidence that interventions like closing borders or travel bans are going to have a material effect on the spread of the infections,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'That is why we have taken the decisions that we have.'

Critics including Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage have been arguing for weeks that without a wider travel ban, EU freedom of movement is making the UK far more vulnerable to coronavirus.

Yesterday the Budget handed hospitals a 5billion fighting fund. As well as this, thousands of firms will be given a business rates holiday to help avert the risk of bankruptcy.

It followed Parliament facing chaos after five MPs and a cabinet minister went into self-isolation. Health minister Nadine Dorries was diagnosed with coronavirus, she announced yesterday, leading to a frantic search of anyone that came into close contact with her in the days previously.

'This tsunami has overwhelmed us': Doctors reveal the horrors of Italian hospitals where coronavirus 'war has exploded' and dying patients have to be left untreated as medics work 'day and night' - while experts warn UK and US public are not SCARED enough

Italian hospitals are so 'overwhelmed' by coronavirus that strokes are going untreated and elderly patients are not even being assessed, a doctor at the centre of the crisis has said - while another medic said people in the UK and US should be panicking more.

Doctors in Italy have been forced into life-or-death decisions over who should receive intensive care, with virus cases piling up around the country.

One Italian medic warned that the public may be underestimating the 'epidemiological disaster' because of warnings not to panic.

Daniele Macchini said he 'understands the need not to panic' but said he 'shuddered' because the 'message of the danger of what is happening does not reach people'.

'The war has literally exploded and battles are uninterrupted day and night,' Daniele Macchini said in a lengthy Facebook post.

'Cases are multiplying, we arrive at a rate of 15-20 hospitalisations per 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.'

Medics treat a patient at a hospital in Schiavonia, in northern Italy which has been worst-affected by the coronavirus outbreak in the country

A coffin is taken out of a hospital in the presence of two relatives and a funeral home employee in Venice today, with funerals banned because of the nationwide lockdown

The surgeon in Bergamo in northern Italy said that doctors on the front line were 'part of a single team to face this tsunami that has overwhelmed us'.

He also urged people to abide by Italy's stringent new quarantine measures.

'So be patient too, you can't go to the theater, museums or gym. Try to have mercy on that myriad of older people you could exterminate,' he said.

'It is not your fault, I know, but of those who put it in your head that you are exaggerating - and even this testimony may seem just an exaggeration for those who are far from the epidemic, but please, listen to us - try to leave the house only to indispensable things.

'Do not go en masse to stock up in supermarkets: it is the worst thing because you concentrate and the risk of contacts with infected people who do not know they are higher. You can go there as you usually do.'

Despite his warning, many Italians have done exactly that today with long queues forming outside supermarkets.

The virus is spreading so fast in Italy that doctors are making comparisons to wartime triage medics deciding who lives, who dies and who gets access to intensive care.

Another medic in northern Italy told a friend in the UK that hospitals were running at '200 per cent capacity' with operating theatres hurriedly converted into intensive care units.

Non-coronavirus cases are being sidelined with some medics being given a 'leaflet' and told to perform specialist tasks for which they are not qualified, while some patients over 65 are not even being assessed, the doctor said.

The medic's comments were published in a Twitter thread by UK-based friend Jason van Schoor (pictured), an anaesthetist and clinical fellow at University College London

Part of the Twitter thread in which a UK-based anaesthetist relays a message from a doctor in northern Italy. ITU means intensive treatment unit and OR means operating room. NIV means non-invasive ventilation

In full: Chilling message from medic in northern Italy 'I feel the pressure to give you a quick personal update about what is happening in Italy, and also give some quick direct advice about what you should do. 'First, Lombardy is the most developed region in Italy and it has extraordinary good healthcare, I have worked in Italy, UK and Australia and don't make the mistake to think that what is happening is happening in a third world country. '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 per cent capacity. 'We've stopped all routine, all ORs [operating rooms] have been converted to ITUs [intensive treatment units] and they are now diverting or not treating all other emergencies like trauma or strokes. 'There are hundreds of patients with severe respiratory failure and many of them do not have access to anything above a reservoir mask. 'Patients above 65, or younger with comorbidities, are not even assessed by ITU, I am not saying not tubed, I'm 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. '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 [non-invasive ventilation]. PLEASE STOP, READ THIS AGAIN AND THINK. 'We have seen the same pattern in different areas a week apart, and there is no reason that in a few weeks it won't be the same everywhere, this is the pattern: 1) A few positive cases, first mild measures, people are told to avoid ED [emergency department] but still hang out in groups, everyone says not to panic. 2) Some moderate respiratory failures and a few severe ones that need tube, but regular access to ED is significantly reduced so everything looks great. 3) Tons of patients with moderate respiratory failure, that overtime deteriorate to saturate ICUs [intensive care units] first, then NIVs, then CPAP [continuous positive airway pressure] hoods, then even O2 [oxygen]. 4) Staff gets sick so it gets difficult to cover for shifts, mortality spikes also from all other causes that can't be treated properly. 'Everything about how to treat them is online but the only things that will make a difference are: do not be afraid of massively strict measures to keep people safe. 'If governments won't do this at least keep your family safe, your loved ones with history of cancer or diabetes or any transplant will not be tubed if they need it even if they are young. By safe I mean YOU do not attend them and YOU decide who does and YOU teach them how to. 'Another typical attitude is read and listen to people saying things like this and think 'that's bad dude' and then go out for dinner because you think you'll be safe. 'We have seen it, you won't be if you don't take it seriously. I really hope it won't be as bad as here but prepare.' Advertisement

In addition, medical staff themselves are becoming 'sick and emotionally overwhelmed' and left 'in tears' because they cannot stop people dying, they said.

The medic's comments were published in a Twitter thread by UK-based friend Jason van Schoor, an anaesthetist and clinical fellow at University College London.

The doctor also issued a warning for the UK, saying that the Italian chaos would repeat itself in Britain 'if you don't take it seriously'.

His warning was echoed by a second doctor who suggested people should be more scared, saying that overzealous warnings to remain calm meant 'the danger of what is happening does not reach people'.

Experts have suggested that the UK outbreak is around two weeks behind that in Italy, meaning Britain could be heading for a similar nightmare within a fortnight.

Mr van Schoor said he was passing on a message from a 'well-respected' friend who worked as an intensive care medic and A&E consultant in northern Italy.

'The current situation is difficult to imagine and numbers do not explain things at all,' the unnamed medic told Mr van Schoor.

'Our hospitals are overwhelmed by Covid-19 [the disease caused by coronavirus], they are running 200 per cent capacity.

'We've stopped all routine, all operating rooms have been converted to intensive care units and they are now diverting or not treating all other emergencies like trauma or strokes.

'There are hundreds of patients with severe respiratory failure and many of them do not have access to anything above a reservoir mask.

'Patients above 65, or younger with comorbidities, are not even assessed by [intensive care], I am not saying not tubed, I'm saying not assessed.'

The medic added: 'Staff are working as much as they can but they are starting to get sick and are emotionally overwhelmed.

'My friends call me in tears because they see people dying in front of them and they con only offer some oxygen.'

The medic added that Lombardy, the area of northern Italy at the centre of the crisis, was 'the most developed region in Italy and has extraordinary good healthcare'.

'Don't make the mistake to think that what is happening is happening in a third world country,' they said.

Offering advice for the UK, the doctor said: 'We have seen the same pattern in different areas a week apart, and there is no reason that in a few weeks it won't be the same everywhere.'

Describing the pattern, the medic said it would start with a few cases - as the outbreak did in the UK - before spiralling into a major crisis where intensive care units are 'saturated'.

They warned that staff would 'get sick so it gets difficult to cover for shifts' while mortality would 'spike from all other causes that can't be treated properly'.

'We have seen it, you won't be [safe] if you don't take it seriously. I really hope it won't be as bad as here but prepare,' the doctor said.

Experts have warned that the UK is following the same trajectory as Italy, and could end up in a similar situation within two weeks.

University College London biology professor Dr Francis Balloux said: 'The trajectory of the epidemic in the UK is so far roughly comparable to the one in Northern Italy, but with the epidemic in Northern Italy two to three weeks ahead of the situation in the UK.'

Dr Balloux said that it was possible the UK could face a similar lockdown to the one which has brought Italy to its knees.

Adam Kay, the bestselling British author and former doctor, warned in a tweet about the crisis in Italy: 'This is us in a fortnight'.

Italy has suffered the worst outbreak in Europe and one of the heaviest outside China.

Healthcare workers wearing protective suits, masks and gloves are pictured at work in the Amedeo di Savoia hospital in Turin

The death toll from the outbreak in Italy has jumped by 168 to 631 today, an increase of 36 cent, the Civil Protection Agency said. The total number of cases in Italy rose to 10,149 from a previous 9,172, an increase of 10.7 per cent.

Northern Italy has been worst affected, but the government's drastic quarantine measures have now been extended to the entire country.

The Italian society of anesthesiology and intensive care has published 15 ethical recommendations to consider when deciding on intensive care admissions.

The criteria include the age of the patient and the probability of survival, and not just 'first come first served.'

'It's a reasoning that our colleagues make,' said Dr Guido Giustetto, head of the association of doctors in northern Piedmont.

'It becomes dramatic if, rather than doing it under normal situations, they do it because the beds are so scarce that someone might not have access to medical care.'

One doctor in Lombardy, Christian Salaroli, told Il Corriere della Sera: 'If a person between 80 and 95 years old has severe respiratory failure, it's likely we will not go ahead.

'If they have multi-organ failure, with more than two or three vital organs, it means that their mortality rate is 100 per cent.'

The Lombardy government has been scrambling to increase its capacity, converting operating and recovery rooms into isolated wards.

It has cobbled together 150 more beds in the last two weeks and expects another 150 in the coming week.

'Unfortunately we're only at the beginning,' said Dr Massimo Galli, head of infectious disease at Milan's Sacco hospital.

Speaking to SkyTg24, Galli noted that the numbers of infections registered in Lombardy last week were similar to those in Wuhan, China in late January.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now officially done with their royal duties. After weeks of reports of their eventual leaving of their royal posts, it has now officially happened.

It may be their decision to do so, but a royal expert claimed that it was not something they made wholeheartedly.

In fact, the expert, Omid Scobie claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would not have reached the decision to leave the palace had they been treated differently in the palace. Even just by one palace member, the expert says. However, no one did; hence the decision.

The top royal expert claimed that to say the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were crushed is an "understatement." Allegedly, the two experienced being isolated and unsupported during their darkest times, which the expert described as being "unnecessarily cruel."

According to Scobie, who is also Bazaar.com's royal editor and someone who works closely in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's inner circle, these ex-royals did not think Megxit was even necessary, despite the struggles they were having living on the spotlight like that, Markle more so. However, they were forced to do it because palace members themselves or the people who were supposed to be at their side, left them to fend for themselves "against impossible circumstances - even during her pregnancy."

It is no surprising therefore that Markle cried when they said goodbye to their team or that Prince Harry was devastated to give up his military honors. They formed their bonds to their team and their obligations, after all.

Scobie wrote, "While recent tabloid coverage has made it seem like the Sussexes' half-in-half-out bid was about wanting it all, the reality was a couple who were left with no other choice but to create their own change after being left to fend for themselves against impossible circumstances - even during her pregnancy."

Looking back, it can be remembered how the two truly struggled with intense media scrutiny, especially Meghan Markle, from the day they got married, to bringing baby Archie to the world, up until they decided to give up their royal status. The two even participated in a documentary interview back in October to talk about the difficulties they are facing. Meghan Markle cried and said no one bothered asking if she was okay. She also said that even though she never thought it would be easy, she at least thought her life as a royalty would be "fair." This suggested that it was not.

She also said that she tried hard to adopt the "British sensibility of a stiff upper life" but she knew it was going to be really damaging.

Both personalities, even if they have not married, were used to being on the spotlight. Markle was previously in "Suits" and was a known Hollywood star. However, she said that the scrutiny she experienced in the UK was not really fair. She said her friends warned her about British tabloids destroying her life and she unfortunately, did not believe them.
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Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 10:42 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a085eb 1 Business bank-indonesia,BI,perry-warjiyo,monetary-policy,economic-growth,GDP-growth,coronavirus,COVID-19,fiscal-stimulus Free

Bank Indonesia (BI) has vowed to maintain the countrys financial market stability amid expectations that economic growth will slow due to the COVID-19 spread.

We are committed to remaining in the market to stabilize the rupiah by selling dollars through cash or through domestic non-deliverables forwards, said BI Governor Perry Warjiyo, adding that the central bank bought government bonds amid the selling spree.

We bought Rp 130 trillion worth of government bonds since the beginning of the year, around Rp 110 trillion we spent since the spread of the coronavirus in late January, he added.

The central bank recorded a foreign outflow of about Rp 31.76 trillion (US$2.19 billion) worth of government bonds and Rp 4.87 trillion worth of stocks so far this year as foreign investors flock to safe-haven assets such as the United States 10-year Treasury.

Read also: Disappearing act: Market braces for volatile March after $2.4b vanishes in a week

The spread of the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 119,000 people worldwide with around 4,200 death tolls as of Wednesday, has disrupted business activity in various countries and global supply chains. Indonesia reported 27 confirmed cases and one death.

BI now expected the countrys economy to further slow.

We saw a V-shaped effect last month with a baseline rate of 5.1 percent of growth and could further reach 5.2 percent with fiscal stimulus [] but now we need to recalculate it, Perry said, adding that the central bank would reassess its projection during this months policy meeting.

During the BIs governor meeting in February, the central bankers projected Indonesias economy to grow between 5 percent and 5.4 percent this year amid the virus risk. Recently, Perry said he expected the gross domestic product (GDP) to expand by just 4.9 percent in the first quarter, slower than three-year-low 4.97 percent recorded in 2019s last quarter.

Read also: BI expects Q1 economic growth to drop to 4.9% as virus hurts tourism, trade

The government has launched a fiscal stimulus package worth Rp 10 trillion to support the tourism industry and boost consumer spending to counter adverse economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. A second stimulus package with more tax breaks already in the pipeline.

Previously, BI has also announced measures to stabilize the rupiah exchange rate, including by cutting banks dollar reserve ratio to free up billions of dollars to support the rupiah.
A protest which had halted work on a social housing scheme in West Dublin has ended the High Court has heard.

K&J Townmore Construction Ltd, which has been contracted by Cluid Housing Association to build 65 social houses and apartments at Ladyswell Road, Mullhuddart, Dublin 15, had brought proceedings against protesters it claimed had been unlawfully blockading the site since mid-January.

On Thursday afternoon, when the case returned before the High Court Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds was told the protest, which had prevented Townmore's workers and subcontractors from accessing or leaving the site, had ended.

Gary McCarthy SC for Townmore said the proceedings, which had been taken against Ms Alice Woods as she was the only identified protester, had been resolved following discussions.

Counsel said Ms Woods was consenting to the making of orders prohibiting her and any other person who has knowledge of the making of the order restraining the protesters from trespassing at or interfering with the access to the site.

Lawyers for Ms Woods said she was consenting to the orders sought by Townmore, but did not accept Townmore's claim that she was the protester's ringleader.

The action was taken when protestors, who had claimed they want some of the new houses allocated to local people, began to physically obstruct and stand in front of vehicles trying to enter or leave the site.

The protesters used placards stating "Local Houses for Local People", "More Social Housing for the Irish" and "Make the Social Housing List Fair", Townmore, represented by Mr McCarthy and solicitor Tom Casey claimed.

This action had impacted on the firm's ability to comply with its contractual obligations to complete the works on time, and damaged its reputation, it claimed.

The firm also claimed the dispute was between Cluid and the residents and that it was "caught in the middle."

The company further claimed the protests have resulted in costs over 1.5m.

It sought injunctions against the protesters when talks between those involved in the action and Cluid failed to resolve matters.

Ms Justice Reynolds who had previously granted the construction firm permission to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on the protesters, welcomed the news that the protest had ended.

The judge also welcomed the fact that Ms Woods was consenting to the orders, but said the court "would take a very serious view" if the orders were breached and the matter had to return before the court.

The Judge also wanted to convey her serious concerns over the participation of school children, during school hours, in the protests.

"Serious health and safety issues" had been raised in the proceedings arising out of the fact that the protesters had prevented heavy vehicles from accessing the site, the judge added.
In some former Soviet bloc countries, men often die early due to alcohol abuse. Alcoholism-related mortality varies considerably from one region to another, according to a study in the European part of Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Poland. The most problematic regions in these terms are north-western and western Russia, eastern and north-western Belarus, south-eastern Lithuania, and eastern and central Poland, say an international team of demography researchers that included scholars from HSE University.

Tragic Practices

Heavy drinking often turns out to be fatal. It either leads to death directly, for instance due to acute alcohol poisoning, or provokes serious diseases of the liver (cirrhosis and fibrosis), heart and blood vessels (cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease), and brain (blood stroke), as well as some types of cancer. Deaths from external causes, such as car accidents, murder, falling, burns, drowning, and frostbite, are also often related to excessive drinking.

Official statistics show that the share of deaths directly related to alcohol is not high. For example, in Russia in 2015 it was 3.1% of total deaths, or over 58,000 people. But among the able-bodied population, this share was higher at 8.8%.

But even this share is lower than the real one, experts say. Some alcohol poisonings and diseases caused by drinking are registered as 'non-alcohol-related causes of death,' while in reality, alcohol abuse has led to the fatal outcome.

Dangerous levels of alcohol consumption largely explain early mortality of men in European Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Poland, according to a study conducted by an international team of demographers, including HSE researchers Evgeny Andreev and Sergey Timonin.

These regions share a common past, as well as similar cultural practices and consumption patterns. The researchers believe that this largely determines mortality due to alcohol consumption, which is similar in the four countries.

That said, generalizing can be problematic. The situation with alcohol-related early mortality varies considerably not only by country, but by region inside a given country. There are relatively safe regions and problematic hot spots.

Mortality Hot Spots and Glimmers of Hope

From 2006 to 2014, demographers studied mortality among males ranging in age from 20 to 64 in four economic regions of European Russia: central, north-western, central Black Earth, and Kaliningrad (23 oblasts including Moscow and St. Petersburg), as well as regions in Belarus, Poland, and Lithuania. The total number of geographic areas studied was nearly 1,180.

The study revealed the following:

There are more alcohol-related mortality hot spots in Russia and Belarus, and fewer in Lithuania and Poland.

The most troubled territories are north-western Russia, eastern and north-western Belarus, south-eastern Lithuania, and eastern and central Poland.

Within Russia, the lowest alcohol-related mortality rates are in Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Central Black Earth regions (Lipetsk, Kursk, and Voronezh oblasts), while the highest rates are in north-west and west (Leningrad, Novgorod, Smolensk, and Bryansk oblasts).

Alcohol-related male mortality rates largely explain early mortality among men in general.

Other studies have already shown that peaks in mortality coincide with alcohol consumption peaks. This means that the contribution of drinking in mortality is high.

'Alcohol-related mortality, particularly mortality from acute alcohol poisoning, had defined the general trends of life expectancy in Russia for several decades,' said Sergey Timonin. But today, the situation is changing, and there is a reason for certain optimism. According to the new study, 'the forecasting power of alcohol-related mortality is weakening.' This may mean that alcohol is finally playing a smaller role in early mortality in Russia, the scholar explained.

Hypnotized by the Past

Demographers calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for alcohol-related mortality in these countries (number of deaths per 100,000). This average indicator has been taken as a unit.

Relative SMRs by region within the countries were then calculated. Any indicator of the coefficient that is higher than one means that the mortality is higher than the average. On the contrary, SMRs less than one indicate lower alcohol-related mortality.

Standardized mortality ratios across the combined territory of Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and European Russia.

Study by S. Timonin, E. Andreev et al.

Demographers say that alcohol-related mortality across the four countries is homogeneous in some parts and mosaic in others.

All these countries face a problem of excessive alcohol consumption, which researchers explain by pointing to their common history. This includes both the socialist past (Poland was long influenced by the Soviet Union, while Belarus and Lithuania were Soviet republics) and history more than a century ago under the Russian Empire, which included a considerable part of Poland along with Belarus and Lithuania.

But risky alcohol consumption practices that formed over a century ago have persisted up to the present.

For example, in central parts of Poland (around ?od?) and in the east (in areas bordering Belarus), mortality data show that heavy drinking is more widespread than in the other parts of the country.

On the contrary, in regions that have not been impacted by a shared past, such as in southern Poland, which used to be part of Austria-Hungary, alcohol-related mortality is lower. The culture of drinking is obviously less risky there.

'Barrier-free' Environment and Internal Contrasts

Russia demonstrates the highest heterogeneity of regions in terms of alcohol-related mortality.

In the north-west, SMR often exceeds 1.6, and sometimes goes off the scale, breaking the 2.4 barrier. On the other hand, in the southern part, in the Central Black Earth region, this indicator is often just a little higher than 0.5.

In Belarus, on the contrary, the landscape is more homogeneous, and almost hopeless. In most regions, the alcohol-related standardized mortality rate exceeds average levels (higher than one). Only regions bordering Poland in the southwest is the situation better.

The situation is better in Lithuania and Poland: in most regions, SMR is low. In Poland, hot spots are in the central part of the country, as well as in several eastern areas bordering Belarus.

The culture of drinking is obviously 'barrier-free' and crosses national borders. Patterns of alcohol abuse in border regions are almost identical. This is true, for example, for border regions of Russia and Belarus, or Belarus and Lithuania.

In Lithuania, almost all regions close to the border with Belarus have higher alcohol-related mortality.

The safest regions in Belarus are located in the southwestern part of the country closer to the Polish border.

The Kaliningrad oblast, on the contrary, is high in contrast to its neighbours. The 'alcoholic' SMR there is considerably higher than in Poland and Lithuania.

Remote and Rural Regions Fall behind

In addition to shared history, other factors impact alcohol-related mortality. These include a region's socio-economic situation: real household earnings and unemployment levels.

Another important factor is migration from the country's remote regions to its centre: the healthiest and most active people usually migrate. Finally, the illegal alcohol trade is also a factor.

For example, the relative safety of Moscow and St. Petersburg may be explained by higher living standards and cultural habits of the population. Other 'sober' territories are university towns and some closed administrative territories, such as related to defence industry (Zhukovsky, Korolev, Obninsk, Dubna, Protvino, etc).

'The advantage of university towns and closed territories is in the more favourable educational background of the population,' Timonin explained. 'The share of the population with a university degree is considerably higher in these communities as compared to other areas.'

Socio-economic factors largely determine the situation with alcohol-related lethality in the north-western economic region.

Its areas are located between the key centres that attract migrants: Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Baltic countries.

North-western areas suffer from poor agricultural conditions and have depressed agriculture. This leads to an outflow of the most active populations.

The situation in Belarus is similar: the least developed eastern regions are prone to depopulation.

Finally, when alcohol-related mortality is analysed by the type of settlement, rural areas perform worse than urban ones. The researchers believe this is due to worse access to medical aid, weak leisure infrastructure, and uncertainty regarding the future. Rural areas lack attractive jobs. Younger, healthier and ambitious people leave for the cities.

###
The 2nd Runner up at the 2019 Miss Commonwealth Ghana, Miss Sheidelle Annor joined President Akufo-Addo and other government officials at the 2020 Ghana Investment Opportunities Summit in London few weeks ago.

The Ghana Investment Opportunities Summit, which is in its second year, is an annual event that the President and government officials including diplomats use to engage businessmen, entrepreneurs and investors on the wide investment opportunities across various sectors in Ghana.

This years edition was opened by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana and well attended by state officials including sector ministers, High commissioners and more.

The 2020 Ghana Investment Opportunities summit had over 500 entrepreneurs from all sectors including business, arts, tourism, housing, industry, agriculture and more from the United Kingdom, Ghana and the diaspora.

Beauty Queen, Sheidelle Annor who emerged 2nd Runner up at the 2019 Miss Commonwealth Ghana beauty pageant was there to grace the occasion with her beauty as well as interact with stakeholders on support for the creative arts industry especially beauty pageants.

The event was hosted by the Ghana High Commission in the UK.

Check photos of Miss Commonwealth Ghana 2019 2nd Runner Up, Miss Sheidelle Annor at the 2nd Ghana Investment Opportunities Summit 2020.
The Teacher of Your Nightmares

Noemi Zeiglers latest short movie "Mrs. Sanders," a collaboration with her film students, combines horror and comedy to capture a teacher's desperate scheme to finance her medical procedure. As Jeffrey Katzenberg's upcoming video platform Quibi demonstrates, high quality ten minute streamable movies are your go to #QuarantineAndChill.

And Mrs. Sanders, doesn't disappoint.

WATCH THE MOVIE THAT'S HORRIFICALLY ENTERTAINING IN TEN MINUTES:

Mrs. Sanders / Movie

THE MOVIE HAS ITS OWN HORRIFICALLY ENTERTAINING TRAILER:

Mrs. Sanders / Trailer

Zeigler describes Mrs. Sanders as a political horror about a college professor who discovers her insurance has declined to cover her medical procedure. Things go awry when Mrs. Sanders discovers that her hero Bernie Sanders presidential run is being squashed by the political establishment and her hopes of getting Medicare for All are dashed. She kisses Bernie Sanders on her computer screen and apologizes for what she is about to do before she is rudely interrupted by her students filing into class. Mrs. Sanders zeros in on Charlie in the front row. A creepy soundtrack hints that she is about to get her medical needs taken care of at Charlies expense.

Zeigler, an adjunct professor of film and media communications in the San Francisco Bay Area, credits Jordan Peeles breakout movie "Get Out" for inspiring her to play with the horror genre. Peele describes Get Out as a social thriller, because it asks the viewer to look at the real life horrors and oppression that African Americans face in everyday life. With Mrs. Sanders, Zeigler endeavors to make a political horror which critiques in sharp terms the poor and working class lack of access to universal healthcare in a country with an $800 billion dollar military budget, corporations that pay zero taxes while their minimum wage workers need food stamps to eat, and health care and pharma industries driven by profit while average people resort to rationing their insulin and other meds. And with the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic gripping the globe, the approximately 27 million Americans who live without any form of health insurance will delay getting tested for Coronavirus which many experts say will likely contribute to the virus spreading more rapidly. Mrs. Sanders brings to light that in the richest country on the planet, lack of medical care is a travesty, unethical and a real life horror.

Mrs. Sanders makes the case for Medicare for All, Bernie Sanders signature bill which boldly presumes that healthcare is a right and not a privilege. With Zeigler's real life students participating in the production of the short film (including writing, acting, cinematography, editing and sound design), she feels this is evidence of a new awakening where young people are increasingly using media as a tool to promote social justice.

ABOUT NOEMI ZEIGLER

Noemi aka Madeline Minx is an award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, musician and performer. She earned her MFA in Film Directing from the American Film Institute and teaches film and media production at several colleges in the SF Bay Area. She's currently developing several TV and streaming projects including a political horror series consisting of short 10 minute long episodes that delve into the horrors of our society's lack of social safety net, touching on healthcare, homelessness, climate change, unfettered capitalism and racism. She is excited to take Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman's phone call as soon as they discover this Quibi length project is perfect for their platform, launching on April 6. Noemis full bio as well as more Mrs. Sanders is available at: https://madelineminx.com/mrs-sanders-movie
Published: 12 March 2020

Share of employed students unchanged

According to Statistics Finland's Education Statistics, employment among students remained unchanged in 2018 compared to 2017. Over one-half of students aged at least 18 were employed during their studies. Working was most common in connection with university and university of applied sciences studies. Fifty-six per cent of university students had an employment contract while studying and 59 per cent of university of applied sciences students. Fifty-two per cent of students attending vocational education were employed during their studies.

Shares of employed students aged at least 18 of all students in 20092018

Women worked while studying more frequently than men: 57 per cent of women and 49 per cent of men had an employment contract while studying. Thirty-seven per cent of women and 25 per cent of men in upper secondary general education were working alongside studies. Sixty per cent of women and 51 per cent of men in university of applied sciences education were working alongside studies. Fifty-four per cent of women and 48 per cent of men in vocational education worked alongside studies.

There were differences in employment during studies among students of different ages. Twenty-nine per cent of students aged 18 were working, and correspondingly, 39 per cent of students aged 21 and 52 per cent of students aged 24 had an employment contract. Among students aged 25 or over, 65 per cent were employed during their studies.

Employment of students during studies varied by field of education. Sixty per cent of students in the fields of social sciences, journalism and information, 59 per cent of students in the fields of health and welfare, and 47 per cent of students in the fields of arts and humanities had a valid employment contract at the end of 2018.

Employment during studies was more common than average for the whole country in the regions of Uusimaa, Ostrobothnia and Southwest Finland and in Aland.

More information on the employment of students can be found from the Tables in databases. More information related to the progress of studies is available from statistics describing Progress of studies and Discontinuation of education .

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Vesa Hamalainen 029 551 2594, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (223.2 kB)

Updated 12.3.2020

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Employment of students [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-0017. 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 11.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/opty/2018/opty_2018_2020-03-12_tie_001_en.html
Twenty-one superior Gaddi breeding bucks have been distributed to 21 different progressive goat farmers here.

While distributing the goats, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor A K Sarial said goat farming has a bright future in Himachal Pradesh and it can help in doubling the farmers' income.

He said the bucks were provided to the farmers with an objective to bring about overall improvement in the existing breed of Gaddi goats.

He also added that the bucks are free from any disease which can be transmitted to the progeny which ultimately leads to abortions and heavy economic losses to the farmers.

While interacting with goat farmers, he said that goat farming has a bright future in Himachal Pradesh owing to vast high altitude pastures.

He advised the farmers to fully utilise the potential of these breeding bucks being provided to them because it will pass on desired productivity traits in the progeny.

Y P Thakur, director (extension education) at College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (COVAS), highlighted the role of breeding bucks for improving the overall productivity of the flock.

Mandeep Sharma, Dean of COVAS, emphasised on the utility of the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement to the farmers.

"The ongoing All-India Coordinated Research Project on Goat Improvement was being implemented under the umbrella of Central Institute for Research on Goats located at Makhdoom, Mathura," P K Dogra, principal investigator of the project, said.

Dogra added that during the past five years, 129 such superior breeding bucks had been provided to the farmers and all of them were performing well in the field.

He also said that about 1,000 pure Gaddi goats were being monitored under the project.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Area schools are exploring virtual learning and monitoring student travel amid global coronavirus concerns.

Midland ISD Superintendent Orlando Riddick said in a statement to the Reporter-Telegram that parents will receive a phone call berfore returning from spring break with steps to take if they traveled to areas identified by the CDC.

He said they will monitor student and staff travel for the reminder of the school year. Theyre also preparing for virtual learning as the situation evolves, he said, and considering having families who are enrolling in the district complete a survey related to the coronavirus.

The district has not yet implemented a policy that addresses coronavirus, Riddick said.

University of Texas Permian Basin has asked all students to report travel to any location outside the U.S., President Sandra Woodley said in a statement. She said theyve also prohibited any university travel to level two or level three countries.

Japan is classified as a level two country by the CDC and China, Italy, South Korea and Iran are classified as level three countries.

Woodley said they have not received any reports of international travel and have not had any instances in which they deemed quarantine was necessary.

Additionally, UTPB is expediting more detailed planning that will encompass other scenarios, including preparing for online learning for all programs if needed in the coming weeks or months, she said.

Alexa Dunson, UTPB communications manager, said the university has canceled a study abroad program in Italy that was scheduled for this summer. She said upcoming programs in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic are still scheduled at this time.

The CDC issued a guideline for universities that states, Given the global outbreak on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), institutes of higher education (IHE) should consider postponing or canceling upcoming student foreign exchange programs.

Two Texas school districts have temporarily canceled classes over concerns of coronavirus exposure, according to the Texas Tribune. Montgomery ISD near Houston closed after a man in the county contracted the virus, and Alvarado ISD in the Dallas area closed after a school community member was exposed to the virus and told to self-quarantine, the article states.

There have been 32 confirmed cases in eight Texas counties as of Wednesday. There have been no cases reported in Midland or Ector counties. Midland College did not respond to requests for information on their policies. Ector County ISDs communications department was closed for the spring break holiday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 00:51:22|Editor: huaxia

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Container port in Taicang, east China's Jiangsu Province on Oct. 30, 2019.(Xinhua/Li Bo)

Financial institutions will be encouraged to increase foreign trade loans, fully deliver the policy of loan deferment in both principal and interest, and consider further rolling over, through consultations, the loans made to smaller firms deeply affected by the outbreak yet hold promising prospects.



BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China will work to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and encourage financial institutions to increase foreign trade loans to cope with the impact of the epidemic and keep steady progress in foreign trade and investment. Sound preparations will be made for the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) this spring. These were decided at the State Council's executive meeting on Tuesday presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

"Keeping foreign trade and foreign investment stable is vitally important as the Chinese economy has been deeply integrated into the world economy. Given the severe impact of the epidemic on foreign trade, we must implement targeted policies to arrest the slide in foreign trade and foreign investment, to forestall damage to the wider economy," Li said.

It was decided at the Tuesday meeting that all export tax rebates must be made in full without delay except for energy intensive, polluting, and resource products.

Financial institutions will be encouraged to increase foreign trade loans, fully deliver the policy of loan deferment in both principal and interest, and consider further rolling over, through consultations, the loans made to smaller firms deeply affected by the outbreak yet hold promising prospects.

Commercial insurance companies will be supported in offering short-term export credit insurance services and lowering premium rates.

The meeting called for sound preparation for the China Import and Export Fair this spring to bolster cooperation on foreign trade.

Efforts must be intensified to shorten the negative list on foreign investment and expand the catalog of industries where foreign investment is encouraged, so that foreign investors in more sectors get to benefit from the tax and other incentives.

Recent tax and fee relief policies designed to help companies in difficulty should equally apply to both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises.

"All companies, regardless of size or type of ownership, should get to benefit from the recent policies designed to ease their difficulties. We must swiftly work out a further shortened negative list on the access of foreign investment to more clearly demonstrate our firm resolve on opening-up," Li said. 
BLOOMINGTON  Bloomington District 87 has meetings scheduled for next week as it joins other K-12 schools in deciding how to react to the COVID-19 pandemic and keep educating children.

District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly told school board members Wednesday night, Its a moving target that were working with.

Illinois State Universitys two laboratory schools  University High School and Metcalf Laboratory School  announced Wednesday that their current spring break will be extended for another week.

District 87 and McLean County Unit 5 have their spring breaks March 23-27.

With spring break looming, thats a good thing that provides time for planning, Reilly said.

The district has developed e-learning plans that have been approved to provide alternative education methods when schools are closed for events such as bad weather, but Reilly said, It wasnt intended to be for long extended periods of time.

At Wednesday's Unit 5 school board meeting, Superintendent Mark Daniel said the district is considering all options when it comes to continuing education for the students, keeping safety at the forefront.

"We are going to ramp up the process of e-learning," Daniel said. "It may happen by the time its needed, if its needed, or it may not."

Reilly said administrators and teachers are already working real hard on this, and a meeting of administrators is planned for Monday.

Another meeting, involving representatives of teachers as well as administrators will take place Wednesday. Reilly said that was the earliest everyone could get together. On Tuesday, the Illinois State Board of Education is offering a webinar to school districts regarding the coronavirus.

Dayna Brown, spokeswoman for Unit 5, said the administration is sending updates to the district community every few days.

"Things are changing as we speak," Daniel said. "We are trying to stay very much current. We are tapping into the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); were tapping into the ISBE, in regards of state guidelines."

Colin Manahan, District 87s chief financial and facilities officer, told the board that school buses are being wiped down daily.

Daniel said hand-washing education has been implemented at Unit 5 and while students are on spring break, the custodial staff will undertake a deep cleaning of all 24 buildings giving extra attention to high traffic areas, doors and restrooms.

"We are seeing things now that we have never experienced before," he said. "So well cross those bridges; well use our best information we can find and our primary contact is CDC."

No cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in District 87, Unit 5 or elsewhere in McLean County.

At this point the ISBE has made no recommendation that we close, Brown said. Could that change? Anything could change.

Reilly said District 87 knows of a family that traveled to Italy and is due back Monday. However, with Italy virtually shut down, its not clear when they will actually return. In addition, President Donald Trump on Wednesday suspended travel between the United States and Europe for 30 days.

When they do, Reilly said, they will be asked to follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and self-quarantine for 14 days. The same recommendation will be made to anyone who travels to a country with a Level 3 warning from the CDC. Those countries include Italy, China, Iran and South Korea.

Such absences would be considered "excused," according to the ISBE.

We do not have the authority to exclude students, said Reilly.

Guidance from the State Board of Education said students can only be excluded by state or local public health officials.

Reilly asked for patience and understanding during his rapidly changing situation and advised everyone to take a deep breath  maybe not around too many people.

Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota

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Michon Kessler, owner of Haven Salon Studios in Reno, Nev., said she has discontinued the use of glassware and instead will be using paper cups. She has placed hand sanitizer at the entrance of the salon and has also been suggesting that stylists wipe down their cellphones. A lot of us here in the West are independent contractors, and our clients pay us on a Square app on our phones, she said. Phones are one of the most bacteria-ridden devices we all own, which is why I have provided all of my stylists with a Clorox disinfectant wipe dispenser for their stations.
OAKLAND (BCN)

A day after John Lee Cowell was convicted of first-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of Nia Wilson at an Oakland BART station in Oakland in 2018, the attorneys in his trial argued on Wednesday afternoon about whether he was legally sane at the time.

The sanity phase of the trial for Cowell, a 29-year-old transient man with a history of mental illness, was unusually short because defense attorney Christina Moore didn't present any witnesses on his behalf.

Moore sought to present the testimony of a mental health expert, but Alameda County Superior Court Judge Allan Hymer, who is presiding over Cowell's case, ruled at a hearing outside of the presence of jurors on Wednesday morning that the expert couldn't testify.

In the afternoon session in front of jurors, Moore and Alameda County prosecutor Butch Ford proceeded directly to present their closing arguments to the same jurors who delivered their guilty verdicts against Cowell late Tuesday afternoon after deliberating for only a few hours.

Cowell was convicted of first-degree murder for fatally stabbing Nia Wilson, 18, at the MacArthur station in Oakland at about 9:35 p.m. on July 22, 2018, and 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. But if jurors rule that he was insane at the time of the attack, he would serve his sentence in a state mental hospital instead of prison.

Hymer told jurors on Wednesday that the defense has the burden of proof in the sanity phase in trying to establish that Cowell has a mental disorder or defect and that he was incapable of understanding the nature of his act and that it was morally or legally wrong.

Moore said the record in the guilt phase of Cowell's trial shows that "he was disconnected from reality and was unable to understand that his act was morally wrong."

Moore said, "The act was senseless and unprovoked and speaks to what was going on his mind."

The defense lawyer said Cowell has a history of mental disorders, suffers from schizophrenia and wasn't taking his medications at the time of the stabbing because he was hearing voices telling him that his pills were poisonous.

Moore said Cowell is "paranoid in nature" and because of that he has refused to meet with doctors who could help him better demonstrate the seriousness of his mental illness.

Ford admitted that Cowell suffers from mental health issues but argued that the defense failed to prove that Cowell didn't understand that the stabbing was morally and legally wrong.

Ford said Cowell's actions after the stabbing indicate he knew what he had done was wrong because he misdirected police who responded to the scene, discarded his knife and change his clothes.

Ford said, "If you believe what you're doing is right, there's no reason to flee."

Cowell was absent from most of his trial, either because of outbursts or because he's refused to come to court, but he was present during the sanity phase arguments.

Jurors began deliberating late Wednesday afternoon.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
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.
A man wearing a face mask as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus walks outside of a shopping mall in Beijing on March 11, 2020. China reported a fall in the number of domestic coronavirus cases but an increase in imported coronavirus cases on March 11, fuelling concerns that infections from overseas could undermine progress in halting the spread of the virus. (AFP)

Beijing: The number of fresh infections at the epicentre of China's coronavirus epidemic dropped to a new low on Thursday but the country imported more cases from abroad.

Another 11 people died, the lowest daily increase since late January, bringing the toll in China to 3,169 deaths, according to the National Health Commission.

There were only eight new cases in Wuhan, the city where the virus first emerged in December before growing into a national crisis and a pandemic.

It is the first time that new cases in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, have fallen to single-digits since figures started to be reported in January.

With cases falling dramatically in recent weeks, authorities this week began to loosen some restrictions on Hubei's 56 million people, who have been under quarantine since late January.

Healthy people living in low risk areas of the province can now travel within Hubei. While Wuhan is not included, some of the city's companies were told they could resume work.

Only one other non-imported case was recorded elsewhere in the country.

But as global hotspots emerge elsewhere, China fears that cases arriving from abroad could undermine its progress.

On Thursday there were six more imported cases reported, bringing the total of infections from overseas to 85, health officials said.

Beijing has ordered a 14-day quarantine for everyone arriving in the city from any country.

Travellers flying into Beijing Capital International Airport from high-risk countries are now handled separately from other passengers.

A total of 80,793 people have now been infected in China.

President Xi Jinping said this week during his first visit to Wuhan since the crisis erupted that the spread of the disease has been "basically curbed" in China.
FILE - This Dec. 31, 2019, file photo shows a view of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington. Congress is shutting the Capitol and all House and Senate office buildings to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) Read more

WASHINGTON  Congress is shutting the Capitol to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the coronavirus, officials announced Thursday, a rare step that underscores the growing gravity with which the government is reacting to the viral outbreak.

In a statement, the House and Senate sergeants at arms said congressional office buildings and the Congressional Visitor Center, through which tourists enter the Capitol, were also being shuttered.

In an email to lawmakers' offices, the sergeants at arms said the Capitol will be closed to all tours, including special ones led by House and Senate members and their aides. No tours will be permitted in the Capitol Visitor Center, the massive three-level underground structure, which opened in 2008 and had greeted more than 21 million visitors through 2018.

Lawmakers offices will be required to meet any official visitors at building entrances, and they were asked to escort them out after the meetings.

Only lawmakers, staff, journalists and visitors with official business will be permitted to enter the buildings. The closures begin at 5 p.m. EDT Thursday, and the buildings are scheduled to reopen on April 1.

The officials said they were acting on the advice of District of Columbia health officials and of Congress' own doctors.

We are taking this temporary action out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public," they wrote. We appreciate the understanding of those with planned visits interrupted by this necessary but prudent decision.

Congress is scheduled to be on recess next week.

President Donald Trump's administration and Congress have struggled over how to react to the virus and COVID-19, the disease it can cause that in some cases can be deadly. Congressional leaders have had to balance conflicting desires of protecting lawmakers and staffs from getting sick with keeping one of the country's most visible public buildings open. At the White House, tours have been temporarily suspended.

In the fall of 1918, the Capitol was closed briefly to visitors as the Spanish flu spread around the world, killing an estimated tens of millions of people. Around 1,000 people died in the Washington, D.C., region along with at least three members of the House, according to the chamber's historians' office.

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 62,000 have recovered.
Did Meghan Markle fail as a mother after choosing to follow her desires instead of providing her son Archie with the life he deserves?

After officially making their bombshell announcement in January, Prince Harry and Meghan convinced themselves and everyone else that the reason behind their departure were reasonable enough.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex aim to live a more private life -- away from the constant criticisms of British tablods and doubters -- while also working to become financially independent. However, a royal expert believes that Meghan pushed their intentions without thinking about the future of their son, Archie.

Royal expert Angela Mollard attacked the Duchess during her appearance on New Idea's ROYALS podcast.

Her criticism stemmed from Meghan's selfish decision, neglecting Archie's supposed opportunity to build a lifelong friendship with Prince Louis and his other royal cousins.

According to Mollard, even the Sussexes' idea to split their time between the U.K. and North America is useless. She explained that it will lead to the separation between the cousins -- which is a shame.

"The royals have all these amazing play opportunities that if they want to put up a bouncy castle, they're not having to think, 'will it fit?' It will fit!" the royal expert blurted out after comparing Meghan to Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge.

Mollard added that unlike Kate, Meghan does not give importance to the idea of having a close-knit family, and it is a massive embarrassment that Archie's mother refuses to provide him with that.

Archie, Louis Could Have Been Best Friends

Mollard also imagined a wonderful picture of George, Charlotte, Louis, and Archie growing up close together. she also emphasized that Archie and Louis would click if only they would be able to grow close together.

"[Archie] is fairly close in age to Louis that could be a friendship throughout his life, and he's being denied that because of the falling out between William and Harry," Mollard described.

To recall, the royal siblings Princes William and Harry sparked their royal rift when the Duke of Sussex continuously defended Meghan and their marriage from royal critics.

The rift continued and got worse when the Sussexes made an appearance on ITV's documentary "Harry & Meghan: An African Journey." In the interview, Harry broke his silence and said that they will always be brothers even when they take different paths at the moment.

The royal expert went on and took note of how Harry would want Archie to experience playing with the Cambridges, but Meghan would not realize that since it is not in her background.

"I think it's a real sadness Archie won't be involved in that, and in every opportunity, they should be taking him back to the U.K. to form those friendships and relationships with those cousins," Mollard continued.

Prince Harry and Meghan is set to bid farewell to the royal family after they attended their final royal engagement during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 9. This also marked the end of what could have been a happy and bright future of Archie with his cousins.
A new cross-border project which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of disabled people living in Northern Ireland and the border regions will be launched in Derry today.

At the project launch in the Millennium Forum, attendees will hear how the ONSIDE project aims to increase participants social and digital involvement in the community.

The project is supported by an award of 5.56m by the European Unions INTERREG VA Programme, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding has also been provided by the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Northern Ireland Minister for Health Robin Swann MLA said: The ONSIDE project clearly aligns with our Health and Wellbeing 2026 healthcare transformation strategy, with a strong emphasis on co-production, community-based services and reducing social isolation.

"In the current challenging financial climate, the substantial European funding contribution which is helping to facilitate this project is greatly welcomed.

"It will deliver significant benefits through improving access to support services for disabled people living in remote and rural areas, ultimately yielding positive outcomes for its participants in terms of improved social engagement, independence and wellbeing.

The Republic's Minister for Health, Simon Harris, said: Irelands citizens have benefited greatly from European funding through the INTERREG Programmes over the last number of years.

"The ONSIDE Project, with INTERREG VA funding is contributing to the achievement of almost 53,000 citizens directly benefitting from INTERREG VA projects by the end of the programme. This contribution is indeed valuable not only for beneficiaries, but also in supporting strong North South co-operation.

The ONSIDE project, which supports persons with disabilities in the border areas to access technology and training, is a great example of how we can harness the potential of technology in realising individual lifestyle choices.

"The core objective of disability services policy is to support persons with a disability to live a life of their own choosing in their community, and to enjoy the widest possible choice in how they spend their time, and the ONSIDE project is a very practical support in this regard.

"The interactive nature of the tailored supports offered by the ONSIDE project focus on the achievement of meaningful personal outcomes for persons with disabilities."
A third major international conference due to take place in Belfast has been cancelled as a result of fears over the spread of coronavirus.

Tourism NI confirmed it had axed the Meet the Buyer event which was due to take place on March 24 at the ICC Belfast, with 162 international buyers to attend.

A spokeswoman for the agency said cancelling the event had become the only realistic option after a review and a number of parties who'd been expected to attend had already pulled out.

Tourism NI said it "continues to closely monitor the situation regarding coronavirus (Covid-19)".

"We are working closely with our stakeholders to monitor the impacts on the ground, conduct ongoing research and link to the Department for the Economy and the Executive to inform a wider governmental response," the spokesperson added.

"We will be working with our partners in Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland and will seek to replace Meet the Buyer with virtual networking opportunities over the coming months as well as exploring future events."

Tourism NI said full refunds for registration fees for the event will be issued over the coming weeks.

Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said he fully supports the decision.

"Whilst it is disappointing that the Meet the Buyer event has been cancelled, we recognise that Tourism NI will have taken this difficult decision after fully considering all available information and taking into account people's willingness to travel," he said.

"We fully support their decision and believe this is the correct action in a developing situation.

"We wish to reassure both visitors and locals that our industry is taking every precaution and has increased our already high standards of hygiene.

"We will continue to act on all Government advice and our pubs, restaurants and hotels remain open for business."

It's the third big event to be cancelled in two days. On Tuesday it emerged that the Royal Economic Society and e-commerce organisation eComm had also cancelled events due to take place in April.

The Royal Economic Society said the decision followed constant monitoring of the situation by Royal Economic Society officers and staff and had taken into account the latest available information.

It added that the 2021 annual conference would be held at Queen's University.

Meanwhile, the organisers behind e-commerce event eComm Live 2020 have rescheduled it to September 23 and 24.
Seven pupils were injured when this kombi veered off the road and plunged into a canal at Vuvulane. (Courtesy pic)

SITEKI  Seven pupils were injured and two other passengers escaped unhurt when a kombi they were travelling in veered off the road and plunged into a canal.



The accident happened at around 7am on Tuesday near Vuvulane, an agricultural town in the north-eastern part of this country.

The driver of the kombi escaped unhurt and there were no casualties from the accident, a police spokesperson said.



Three injured passengers (pupils) were first rushed to Vuvulane Clinic before they were transferred to Good Shepherd Mission Hospital. The other four passengers were treated for minor injuries at Vuvulane Clinic and were later discharged. All the injured passengers have since been discharged, said Phindile Vilakati, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer.



She said Tshaneni traffic police were still investigating the cause of the accident. She stated that preliminary investigations suggested that the driver may have lost control of the kombi thus it veered off the road and plunged into the canal.



Vilakati mentioned that police would charge the driver only if investigations revealed that the accident was caused by negligence and or reckless driving.



Comment



Meanwhile, the driver of the kombi was not immediately available for comment at the time of compiling this report yesterday afternoon.



Police identified the driver as a 25-year-old man of Nyangombili area in Lubombo.

The kombi was reportedly driving towards Vuvulane town and it was ferrying mainly pupils, who were rushing to schools around the small town.



According to the police, two of the pupils who were injured are aged four years and the eldest is 22 years old.

Meanwhile, people who visited the accident scene told this publication that the vehicle could have experienced brake failure hence it plunged into the canal.



We saw the kombi plunging into the canal and we rushed there to help the passengers. Looking at the terrain near the accident scene, it is possible that the kombi may have experienced brake failure, said a person who visited the accident scene.

Last Saturday, there was a near fatal accident at Malindza when a bus overturned, injuring several passengers.



Subsequently, 15 passengers were rushed to Good Shepherd Mission Hospital in Siteki, reportedly in a critical condition.

Some of the injured passengers were discharged the following day while others are reportedly still admitted to the facility.

The bus was reportedly driven by a Mozambican national and it was destined for Mozambique.
We will be building out every team here, Biden senior adviser Anita Dunn said Wednesday, after making clear that the primary mission of the campaign remains acquiring enough delegates to win the nomination. She suggested that would be done at least in part by embracing aides to former candidates, many of whom have endorsed Biden in recent days. We are seeing an enormous amount of talent from people on other campaigns. We would hope that we would be able to have some of those people joining this campaign.
Home Minister on Thursday said that "D" (doubtful) will not be marked in any column during the Population Register exercise as he accused the opposition of misguiding the main minority community about Citizenship Amendment Act and noted that anti-CAA protest gradually took the shape of communal riots.

Replying to debate on the Delhi violence in Rajya Sabha, the minister said that time has come to remove apprehensions about CAA and NPR which will begin next month.

Shah said no documents would be sought from people during the NPR enumeration.

He said Delhi riots were a conspiracy and no one responsible will be spared irrespective of his party, religion or caste.

Shah began his speech by expressing his pain for the loss of life and property in the riots that began in northeast Delhi on February 24 and were controlled in 36 hours.

He said the police will ensure the strictest punishment to the guilty so that it acts as a deterrent and a lesson for the future.

Noting that investigations will be done in a transparent and scientific manner, he said over 700 FIRs had been registered and 2647persons have been arrested or were in custody.

Refuting opposition allegations, he said the police were taking down statements of anyone who is approaching them.

The minister said 1922 people, who had taken part in riots had been identified on the basis of face-identification software and 336 of them were from four districts of Uttar Pradesh.

He said the borders of the northeast district were sealed on February 24.

The minister said there was a conspiracy behind the riots and money was distributed both through foreign and domestic channels.

Shah said they had prior information about such money being sent and while the police were probing it riots started.

The minister five persons have been arrested for sending and receiving money and for hawala transactions and added that Delhi police will come out with details.

Shah blamed opposition parties of misguiding minorities, especially Muslims, that CAA will impact their citizenship and said it was done for political interest.

Congress member Kapil Sibal asked the minister that people have apprehension about NPR that "doubtful" will be written against additional questions in the form being asked by the government during enumeration and an inquiry will be conducted subsequently.

"No document will be sought during NPR. You do not have information, the amount of information you want to give, you are free. It is optional. If information is not available, you cannot give, there will be no 'D'. No one needs to be afraid of NPR," he said.

"D will be marked against vacant space. This will not happen. 'D' will not be used," he said.

Shah also invited Azad to meet him with a delegation of opposition leaders to seek any clarity on NPR.

"Time has come to remove apprehensions about CAA and NPR," he said and added that there should be no confusion and no harm can come to anyone.

With the opposition parties accusing some BJP leaders of hate speech, Shah hit back and referred to speech of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on December 14 in which she had talked of "aar paar ki ladai".

He said the protest at Shaheen Bagh started a day later and there were some clashes earlier.

Shah said people have a democratic right to protest but it should not be done in a manner that people are put to inconvenience.

He referred to remarks made about taking to streets and show "power" during the visit of US President Donald Trump and protests started in different places of northeast Delhi on February 23 as a result of hate speech.

He said provocative remarks were also made by an AIMIM leader on March 19.

"Protests started at nine-ten places in northeast Delhi and these kept increasing and the anti-CAA protest slowly got converted into communal riots," he said.

The minister said no hate speech should not be spared.

He said there were hate speeches, the conspiracy to send money, remarks to hit the streets during the visit of US President, social media were set up which vanished in three days and the riots spread fast.

Shah also referred to opposition criticism about the transfer of a judge and said it had been done according to the laid down procedures. "What is this thought that only one judge can give justice. Why a particular judge. Why no faith on the other judge?" he asked.

The minister said three SITs (special investigation teams) have been formed to probe 50 serious crimes such as killings, attacks on places of worship, hospitals or schools and added that investigation in such cases is being supervised by the senior officer of DIG or IG rank.

He said 49 cases have been registered under the Arms Act, 52 persons have been arrested and 125 weapons seized.

The minister said 40 teams have been formed with the specific task to arrest those who had indulged in riots.

He said public prosecutors have been appointed in all 12 police stations impacted by violence.

"Twenty-five computers are being used to look into video footage with police," he said adding that the police had sought footage from various channels including the media.

Referring to concerns about a breach of privacy in using face identification software, he said no privacy provisions or Supreme Court guidelines were being violated.

The minister said the government had not used Aadhaar data for face identification and data relating to driving license and voter i-card had been used.

Shah said hundreds of social media accounts were closed but there were some accounts that were opened ahead of riots and closed immediately afterwards. "Those responsible will not be able to escape," he asserted.

He said police have also arrested two persons with links to IS who were translating inflammatory material in Indian languages and those responsible for killing police and IB official.

The minister said Delhi Police should be complimented for not allowing the riots to spread to a wider area.

Responding to points made by AAP member Sanjay Singh, he said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had not given suggestion for the deployment of Army at the meeting held on February 25.

Slamming those who had accused the government of "state-sponsored riots," he said they should at least use common sense before making such an allegation.

He said the US President was in the country when riots started.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak,



two students from Maharashtra's Amravati district are stranded in Italy, prompting their parents to urge the local MP to facilitate their safe return to India.

Pranav Vairale, who is pursuing civil engineering from Polytecnico Di Milano university, and Suraj Bundele, studying at the University of Marangoni Rovereto, have been stuck at the Milan airport in Italy since Wednesday.

Pranav's grand uncle Govind Vairale, who lives in Nagpur, told PTI on Thursday that in view of the current coronavirus scare, both the students booked their tickets with Air India on February 2, and were supposed to board the flight from Milan on Wednesday.

He said while booking the tickets, the students were not told anything by the airline authorities, but when they went for the check-in at Milan airport on Wednesday, they were asked to produce the 'coronavirus negative certificate'.

Before going to the airport, the students had tried for a test at a hospital at Lecco in Italy, but they were denied the test, he claimed.

"On the day of their travel, it was mentioned on the official website of the Government of India that such passengers would be screened at all airports and are required to produce self-declaration forms, but Air India authorities denied check-in to them and nearly 150 other passengers," the relative said.

The parents of both the students have written a letter to Lok Sabha member Navneet Rana to take steps to bring them back to India safely.

Rana is an independent Lok Sabha member from Amravati.

In the latest wave of restrictions, Italy on Wednesday shut all stores except for pharmacies and food shops in a desperate bid to halt the spread of coronavirus that has killed 827 in the European country in just over two weeks.

Italy has witnessed nearly 60 per cent of the deaths recorded outside China since the epidemic first started spreading from the Asian giant's central Hubei province in January.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thiruvananthapuram, March 12 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed on Thursday that two fresh cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state. With this, the total number of positive cases in Kerala has touched 19, of which three have recovered and discharged from the hospital.

"One person who came from Dubai and was in isolation at Kannur has turned positive. The second case that turned positive today was a person who came from Qatar and is in Thrissur now," Vijayan told the media.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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By Bill Hughes

Mar. 11, 2020 | WEST KENTUCKY

By Bill Hughes Mar. 11, 2020 | 07:13 PM | WEST KENTUCKY

After Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear urged churches across the Commonwealth to cancel services for the foreseeable future to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, many area churches have not complied - at least not yet.



Beshear's request was made in his Wednesday update on the virus, which the World Health Organization had declared a pandemic by afternoon.



Beshear has also closed state prisons to visitors and said non-essential out-of-state travel has been suspended for state employees. He's recommending that businesses do the same. On Tuesday, Beshear announced visitation restrictions at state-run nursing homes.



Todd Gray of the Kentucky Baptist Convention wrote a response article for Kentucky Today, saying most church leaders will take the request seriously and consult their leadership, but will likely continue with services as planned.



Locally, Reidland Baptist Church announced on Facebook that they were canceling their services on Wednesday and Sunday.



After some consideration, Christian Fellowship Church in Draffenville announced that they would have only one brief service at 10 am Sunday, and would cancel their 3 pm, "Gathering," service. They also said they would suspend visits to nursing homes and jails.



Other churches, while planning to meet, said they were taking extra care to thoroughly clean their facilities. They all told West Kentucky Star the same thing: if you feel sick of don't feel safe attending, stay home.



Rev. Joey Reed of Mayfield First United Methodist Church told West Kentucky Star all of their normal ministries and services will still take place.



Reed said, "The only one we're looking at real closely is the Easter Egg Hunt, because that's a lot of hands on a lot of different items that could be passing some things around. But we're gonna wait and see, and not make any calls on that just yet."



Reed reminded members that if they don't want to take Holy Communion, that's OK. He said they won't be taking Communion to nursing homes because of visitor restrictions, but would contact shut-ins to learn if they want a visit.



In Paducah, Heartland Church, First Baptist Church, Twelve Oaks Baptist Church and Broadway Church of Christ said they are having normal services. Calls to several other churches were not returned.



Most churches who spoke to West Kentucky Star use local TV, radio, or live-stream their services for members who don't attend. Others create online video that could be seen in a day or two.



See our related article for a list of churches that have canceled upcoming services.



If you are in leadership at a church that is altering their schedule due to the coronovirus, let us know by emailing news@wkyx.com or by calling 270-444-6397.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 15:33 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a1e3b8 1 Science & Tech Gojek,international-womens-day,aman-bersama-gojek,women-empowerment,Women-Empowerment-and-Child-Protection,hollaback-jakarta,sexual-harassment Free

Ride-hailing giant Gojek has launched the #AmanBersamaGojek (#SafeWithGojek) initiative as the company seeks to improve security measures for its female customers.

The initiative was also launched to commemorate International Womens Day, which fell on March 8.

The company announced that it had tightened its security measures in three aspects: technology, defense and education.

In technology, it has added the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Gojek SHIELD feature that ensures customers safety before and throughout the trip and in emergency situations.

The feature includes keeping drivers and customers contact numbers hidden, sharing customers trip information to their family or friends and an emergency button that is connected to Gojeks 24-hour customer care and emergency unit.

Weve also worked extra hard to exceed the industry standards on womens safety, especially at night, said Monita Moerdany, Gojeks senior vice president of transportation marketing, in a statement. Its important considering 55 percent of GoRide and GoCar trips at night are ordered by female customers.

Gojek has also established female-friendly spaces in several shelters and pick-up points in Indonesia as part of its "defense" measures. Dubbed zona aman (safe zones), these spaces are located near public places, such as Sudirman station in Central Jakarta, Bekasi station in West Java and Lebak Bulus MRT station in South Jakarta. The company plans to build zona aman in other cities soon.

Read also: Gojek to improve user experience, seeks new opportunities for expansion

Codirector of Hollaback! Jakarta Anindya Restuviani (left), Gojek's senior vice president of transportation marketing Monita Moerdani (center) and public participation deputy head at the Womens Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry Indra Gunawan during the launch of #AmanBersamaGojek on March 11 in Jakarta. (Gojek/File)

The zona aman are based on the study After Dark: Encouraging Safe Transit for WomenTraveling at Night by UN Women and Pulse Lab Jakarta. The study was conducted to understand how to ensure womens safety and mobility in cities, especially at night.

In its education aspect, Gojek has collaborated with womens rights organization Hollaback! Jakarta since 2019 to train its drivers. Named Bengkel Belajar Mitra (Partner Learning Workshop), the training encourages both GoRide and GoCar drivers to be active bystanders, meaning to actively step up and take action in cases of emergency.

Gojek has also teamed up with the Womens Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry and non-governmental organizations to ensure the security and safety of its female customers.

We understand that sometimes people are hesitant to help victims of sexual harassment in public places as they dont understand how, Monita said. Weve published a guide on how to fight it through educational materials at zona aman, our website and our social media. Hopefully, these initiatives will create safe and secure public places for women. (wir/wng)
The AIADMK government's stand came amid demands by the main opposition DMK that the state should not take up NPR.

Chennai: The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu on Thursday said it has put on hold the National Population Register exercise, saying the Central government has not responded to its concerns over some new features.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami had written to the Centre seeking appropriate amendments to the provisions to allay the fears of minority communities, especially Muslims, over queries like Aadhaar and details of parents and the Centre was yet to respond, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar said.

AIADMK is the second ally of BJP to raise concerns over NPR after the assembly in NDA-ruled Bihar passed an unanimous resolution that it would be carried out strictly according to the 2010 format.

Udhayakumar said the Tamil Nadu government was clear it will begin the exercise only after getting clarification from the Centre.

"Till now there is no reply to the state's letter seeking clarification and hence the NPR exercise is put on hold," he told reporters.

The AIADMK government's stand came amid demands by the main opposition DMK that the state should not take up NPR, which has also been stayed in opposition ruled states, including Kerala and West Bengal.

He refuted the claim of DMK chief MK Stalin that people would be forced to submit documents during the NPR exercise. "We are repeating again that people need not submit any documents for NPR... During the NPR exercise, if the officials ask questions, whatever answers you are giving, it will be taken. No need to submit any documents", he said.

Hitting out at the DMK, he said the NPR was introduced in 2010 when the party was part of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and did not oppose the move then.

"Even during the DMK rule, NPR was implemented in the state. But now, you all know that there has been a series of discussions on the NPR", he said.

The minister said NPR applies to all religions and does not single out any particular religion.
The communications chief for Brazils president has tested positive for the new coronavirus just days after flying with his boss to Florida where he also met U.S. President Donald Trump.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications director Fabio Wajngarten tested positive and Bolsonaro's office says measures are being taken to protect the president's health.

Wajngarten joined Bolsonaro on a three-day trip to the U.S.. On Saturday, he was at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort and posted a photo of himself posing beside Trump. A video from the event also showed him standing directly behind both presidents as they spoke to the crowd.

Wajngarten initially denied a report on Wednesday that he had been tested for the virus, saying on his social media account that his health was fine. He is now in self-quarantine at home, according to the statement.
Summit Lofts Rendering Novak and Trinity will bring another game-changing 'first of its kind' project to a market hungry for lifestyle living experiences.

Novak Brothers Development has begun construction on the Summit Lofts within the award-winning, Summit at Rivery Park mixed-use community in Georgetown, Texas. The Summit Lofts is the last phase of construction in the master plan and is situated upon 3+ acres of the most prominent tract of The Summit at Rivery Park. Upon completion, it will contain 256 luxury lofts, ground level retail, a seven-story tall 494-car parking garage, state of the art fitness facility, topped off with a rooftop pool and patio area equipped with cabanas and indoor/outdoor gathering spaces. The Summit Lofts will be the premier rental product in a rapidly growing submarket currently devoid of high-density, high-end amenities within an integrated live-work lifestyle experience.

Trinity is very excited both to partner with Novak Brothers for the first time and to be an investor in this final piece of The Summit at Rivery Park development, said Sanjay Chandra, Managing Partner of Trinity Private Equity Group. We appreciate the work done by Novak in this development over multiple years, and believe Georgetown continues to be a wonderful location drawing from the immediate area and North Austin.

With immediate proximity to 25 miles of hike and bike trails, beautiful parkland, convenient access to major highways, shopping, historic downtown Georgetown, and all of the heavy-weight North Austin employers, The Summit at Rivery Park and Summit Lofts in particular are primed for success in this exceptional project that will stand the test of time.

Developed by Novak Brothers, The Summit at Rivery Park mixed-use development is located on 32 acres overlooking scenic Rivery Park and the North San Gabriel River. The Summit is a fully integrated master-planned development anchored by a 4-Star Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center and includes office, retail, luxury multifamily, as well as 121 Texas Brownstone homes, building upon one another to create a truly unique experience for the City of Georgetown and surrounding areas.

We could not be more excited to have Trinity as our partner," said Andy Heard, President of Novak Commercial Development. "Our vision to develop high-quality, experiential living makes this partnership a perfect fit. Novak and Trinity will bring another game-changing 'first of its kind' project to a market hungry for lifestyle living experiences."

Novak Brothers is a best in class real estate operating company with industry-leading capabilities across residential, office, multifamily, retail and hospitality. We are owners and investors known for pioneering urban mixed-use developments who are trusted for our financial strength, stability and vision. We remain committed to selective acquisition, management and development of innovative, high-quality properties that create long-term economic and civic value.

Trinity Private Equity Group is an alternative asset management firm providing a world class experience for individuals seeking above average risk adjusted returns through direct investment in real estate and operating companies utilizing partners who share their values.
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, an RFA-affiliated online news service, 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.

Richard Ragan, the resident representative for World Food Program Bangladesh, gestures during an interview with BenarNews in Washington, March 4, 2020. Credit: BenarNews 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.

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.

Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service.
Nigerians should buckle up and prepare for real tough times in at least the next three months, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, warned on Wednesday.

Mr Kyari gave the warning amid the global gloom trailing last Mondays slide in crude oil prices to close to $30 per barrels following the growing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the world economy.

The NNPC boss, who spoke at the Consultative Roundtable on the economy organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said this warning is based on his experience on how the global oil market works.

Prepare for trouble for at least three months, Mr Kyari said in his statement at the event. Even if the price of crude oil goes back to $58 per barrel, the situation will still be tough, because there is a backlog of production hanging that has to be resolved.

What that means is that we are going to have the impact of this low crude oil price for some time. The oil market is highly unpredictable. Nobody knows what is going to happen tomorrow.

There are many forecasts. We said oil will be sold at about $60 per barrel this year. But we are already having $22 per barrel. Nobody knows what will happen next tomorrow, he said.

Oil Crash

The anxiety generated by the sudden crash of oil prices, Mr Kyari noted, is as a result of the importance of oil in the global economy, such that when crude oil prices collapse in the international oil market, everything else collapses.

Nigeria, he said, has the capacity to meet the expectation of raising her oil production to three million barrels per day as well as increase her reserve from the current average of 36 and 37 billion barrels to 40 billion barrels in the next two to three years.

However, he said much as these are very high expectations that are very possible, Nigeria must continue to produce even at low prices.

Mele Kolo Kyari, NNPC GMD

The market operates in such a way that nobody knows what tomorrow will be. The assumption this year was that $60 per barrel as an average. Now, we are facing a declining situation we have not even seen the bottom.

It is a huge challenge that creates a cycle of problems for the country that is so difficult to manage, as it involves a huge deficit that will radiate to all sectors of the economy, including the financial sector.

Today, there are over 12 stranded LNG cargoes globally that have no hope, because there is an abrupt collapse in demand in the oil market associated to the coronavirus. It has never happened.

This is also affecting other sectors, including liquid crude oil. Today, we have about 50 cargoes with Nigeria crude oil that have not found landing. This means traders have purchased them, but do not know where to take them, he said.

Global glut

He said the crisis is affecting operators in other jurisdictions, citing Saudi Arabia and Iraq, which have already crashed their prices by $8 and $5 respectively in response to the crisis.

The two countries, he said, could afford to do that because their production cost is low, unlike Nigeria which belongs to the group whose production processes involve about $15- $17 cost per barrel.

So, when countrys crude oil is selling for $30 per barrel, and circumstances are forcing the country to drop the price by $8, it means in the market the country will be selling for $22 per barrel. Thats a massive problem.

That can be tolerated in some production environment, like Saudi Arabia where their average production cost is about $4 to $5 to the barrel. But, not in Nigeria.

Today, the best of our production processes allows about $15- $17 cost per barrel. Some others are as high as $30. Nigeria is one of those jurisdictions.

When crude oil price has gone down to $32 per barrel and you are producing at $30, you dont need a soothsayer to tell you, you are out of business already, he said.

Beyond challenge

Beyond low prices, he said competition will ensure those producing at lower cost will continue to have patronage from buyers, which is why the depression as a result of the impact of the coronavirus will be felt for a long while to come, at least three months.

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The Roundtable, which had as its theme: Going for Growth 2.0, was hosted by the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele and attended by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, along with her counterparts in the ministry of transportation, Chubuike Amaechi, and ministry of power, Babatunde Fashola.

Others in attendance were the Managing Director of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji and the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as well as chieftains of banks and industries.

Meanwhile, in his introductory remarks, the CBN governor said the roundtable, which is the second in the series, was organised to allow Nigerians from all sectors to come together to pull ideas together to find the solution to the challenge posed by the global crisis.

President Muhammadu Buhari during the inauguration of an Advisory Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

He said resolutions from the different syndicated groups formed to discuss the crisis would be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari later today.

The syndicated groups include Power and Energy Networks; Roads, Rails Port, and Airports; Broadband and Technology; Unlocking the Agriculture Value Chain; Financing the Plan; Monetary and Fiscal Policy; Coronavirus and the Economy and Promoting Economic Growth through Lending and Financial Inclusion.
Xiaomi has finally unveiled the much-awaited Redmi Note 9 series. The new Redmi series has brought along two smartphones- the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max.

The smartphones were launched at an online event on March 12 in India. Xiaomi had planned to host an on-ground event for 2000 people but had to cancel the on-ground event due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Contrary to the rumours that Xiaomi will launch three phones under the Redmi Note 9 series, the company has launched only two phones--Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max. The devices will be available for sale across various platforms on March 17 and March 25 but before buying here's everything that you need to know about the phones.

Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max Specifications

Display: Redmi Note 9 Pro Max and Redmi Note 9 Pro will feature a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2400x1080.

Chipset: Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Redmi Note 9 Pro will come with 8nm chipset, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G.

RAM: Redmi Note 9 Pro Max will sport two different variants such as the 6GB and the 8GB RAM variants. The Redmi Note 9 Pro too will come in two different variants such as 4GB and 6GB.

Storage: Both the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max will come with two different storage options such as the 64GB and 128GB, expandable up to 512GB.

Rear cameras: Redmi Note 9 Pro Max has a quad-camera setup on the rear that comprises of a 64-megapixel primary camera, 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, 5-megapixel macro camera, 2-megapixel Depth sensor, raw photography support, pro colour for raw photographers. Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with a 48-megapixel primary sensor, 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, 5-megapixel macro camera, 2-megapixel depth sensor. Video pro mode support available for raw videographers

Front cameras: Redmi Note 9 Pro Max has 32-megapixel in-display front camera whereas the RedmI Note 9 Pro features a 16-megapixel in-display front camera.

Battery: Redmi Note 9 Pro Max houses a 5020Mah battery, the largest battery ever on a Redmi phone. It comes along with a 33W fast charging support. The Redmi Note 9 Pro, on the other hand, too houses a 5020Mah battery with an 18W fast charging support.

Operating System: Both the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max run on Android 10.

Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9 Pro Features

In terms of features, the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro have pretty similar things to offer. Both the phones come with support for ISRO's NavIC technology and are driven by Snapdragon 720 G. The phones feature a 3.5mm headphone, an IR blaster along with USB-C port for charging.

The makers have beefed up the video quality and introduced many features such as the image stabilisation. Many features have been packed up with the camera such as the AI Portraiture mode, raw photography support which allows photographers to click unadulterated pictures and other pro-modes for enhanced picture quality.

Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9 Pro Price

Redmi Note 9 Pro 4GB variant is priced at Rs 12,999 while the 6GB variant costs Rs15, 999. It will be available for sale on mi.com, Amazon, Mi.home store on March 17.

Redmi Note 9 Pro Max 6GB/64GB variant is priced at Rs 14, 999, while the 6GB/128GB storage variant costs Rs 16,999 and the top 8 GB variant is priced at Rs 18,999. The device will be available for sale on March 25 across Mi.com, Amazon.in and Mi.home stores.
(Natural News) After weeks of worsening news about the US handling of the coronavirus pandemic, we finally have some good news to report. President Trump reportedly just announced a 30-day travel ban from all European countries (except for the UK), which will halt new incoming infections from Italy, Spain, Germany and France, among other smaller European nations.

In his address to the nation this evening, Trump reversed his previous denialism and characterized the coronavirus as a horrible infection that demanded decisive action.

Tonight, Trump began to take that action by banning flights from Europe. At the same time, mayors and governors all across America are accelerating their cancellation of public events such as conferences and rodeos. Public schools and universities are being rapidly shut down, halting the spread of the coronavirus across educational institutions.

These actions introduce significant new social distancing factors into our pandemic projections.

This means that Trump, state governors and local mayors have now altered the trajectory of this epidemic.

We are updating our pandemic projection model to incorporate a 30% social distancing suppression factor here are the new projections

Because of these actions by Trump and other government officials, we are now estimating that a 30% social distancing suppression factor has been achieved.

Plugging that number into the Adams model pandemic projection model spreadsheet  which you can download from this Natural News article  we see that the number of US deaths from the coronavirus plunges from 1.1 million by July 4th to just 283,000 by July 4th thanks to these new actions.

The RED column shown here represents aggregate deaths from the coronavirus in the USA, based on current projections (green indicates aggregate recoveries):

(Note: These numbers will continue to drop as more aggressive actions are taken to halt flights, shut down social events and increase coronavirus testing and isolation measures.)

In other words, these recent decisions by Trump and other local officials just saved about 800,000 American lives who would have otherwise died this summer if nothing was done to alter the trajectory of this coronavirus.

Still, 283,000 deaths is a lot of casualties, so we urge President Trump and state-level officials to continue to get aggressive with social distancing factors, shutting down large-scale public events, blocking commercial air traffic, ramping up testing and isolating those who test positive.

Trump must now deploy the military to stop all illegal traffic across the US southern border

At the same time, Trump obviously needs to deploy the US military to the southern border and block all illegal migration across the border. That needs to happen right now.

Nevertheless, we have now begun to see Trump finally take this seriously and take on a more presidential response to this unprecedented crisis. This means Trump might actually survive this and remain viable for the November election.

So we are headed in the right direction on this, and Trump is starting to gain traction on beating this virus (after which he will beat Joe Biden and then the deep state traitors who set all this into motion in the first place).

In other words, we finally have some optimism to report here, and thats something we havent had in a while.

Watch this interview recorded yesterday with Stewart Rhodes, where both Stewart and I were predicting the end of the Trump administration if he didnt take decisive action. Today, he has begun to take action, which means Trump may have just saved his own presidency and prevented the worst case scenario from emerging in the months ahead.

Read Pandemic.news to stay informed and stay alive.
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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

Trend:

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on approval of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy and the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The Memorandum of Cooperation between the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy and the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection, signed on January 31 in Kiev city, has been approved upon the decree.

After the memorandum mentioned in this decree enters into force, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy must ensure the implementation of its paragraphs.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has been instructed to send a notification to the Ukrainian government regarding the implementation of the domestic procedures necessary for the memorandum to enter into force.
Tunde Ednut, a popular social media commentator has shared the story of a popular king of beggars in Ajegunle area of Lagos who has 5 houses, a transport company, a sachet water company, and 18 children.

According to the story which was shared on his official Instagram page on Thursday, the popular beggar can easily pass for the richest among his group in Nigeria.

Read the full story below:

Alhaji Umar Dikko is not the regular day to day beggar you see in the streets of Lagos begging for alms from public-spirited Nigerians who take pity on their conditions and hand out stipend to them.

Read Also: Demand Money From Govt Not Individuals, Emir Sanusi Tells Beggars

Alhaji Umar may be a beggar but he is a beggar with a difference as he is not only the Sarkin Maroka (King of Beggars) in the Ajegunle area of the state but has also carved a niche for himself as one of the richest beggars in Nigeria.

Though physically challenged, Alhaji Umar, is a wealthy man in every sense of the word, with four wives and 18 children to boast of, a thriving transportation business, a sachet water factory and five houses he built in his home state of Kano.

He wrote:
Looking good: Joe Biden and his wife Jill enjoy the moment at a gathering of supporters in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Photo: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Decisive primary victories in Michigan and three other states have put Joe Biden in a powerful position towards seizing the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

The emphatic victories cast doubt on the future of rival Bernie Sanders's fading White House bid.

Mr Biden (77) is on the front foot to face President Donald Trump in the November 3 election, and the former vice president quickly looked ahead with a call for party unity and an appeal to supporters of Mr Sanders.

"We share a common goal, and together we are going to defeat Donald Trump," Mr Biden said in Philadelphia, thanking Mr Sanders and his supporters for their energy and passion.

Mr 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.

Two other states, Washington and North Dakota, were still too close to call, but the results narrowed the path forward for Mr Sanders (78), who had hoped for an upset win in Michigan to keep his White House hopes alive.

Expand Close Battleground: Donald Trump surprisingly won Michigan in 2016. Photo: AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp Battleground: Donald Trump surprisingly won Michigan in 2016. Photo: AP

The loss in a state he won during his 2016 White House campaign will increase the pressure on the democratic socialist senator from Vermont to exit the race and help Democrats prepare for a bruising campaign against Mr Trump.

With 91pc of the precincts reporting, Mr Biden had 53pc of the vote in Michigan, well ahead of Mr Sanders's 37pc. He also won Missouri and Mississippi with 60pc and 81pc of the vote, respectively.

Mr Sanders, who returned home to Vermont on Tuesday night, did not make a public statement after his losses, a departure from his usual practice on primary nights.

Voters across the states that voted on Tuesday said they trusted Mr Biden more to handle a major crisis by roughly two-thirds over Mr Sanders, exit polls showed, a possible sign the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak helped increase Mr Biden's appeal as a steady and experienced hand.

Both candidates cancelled planned rallies on Tuesday night in response to the outbreak, citing recommendations from public health officials to avoid assembling large indoor crowds.

Mr Biden's campaign also cancelled a get-out-the-vote event today in Florida, one of four states that will hold nominating contests next week. Mr Biden said he would instead deliver an address on the US coronavirus response in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware.

"This whole coronavirus is a matter of presidential leadership," said Mr Biden, the former vice president under Barack Obama.

After the victories, there was a growing sense of inevitability surrounding Mr Biden's candidacy.

Former rival Andrew Yang endorsed him, joining other Democratic candidates that have dropped their own presidential bids and now support Mr Biden, including Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris.

"The math says Joe is our prohibitive nominee. We need to bring the party together," Mr Yang said as he endorsed Mr Biden. One of Sanders' most influential supporters, liberal US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, acknowledged the depth of his defeat. "There's no sugar coating it," she said on Instagram. "Tonight's a tough night."

Michigan was the biggest and most competitive of the six states. It also is a crucial battleground Mr 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 Mr Sanders to overcome, with the contest shifting to large states including Florida, Ohio and Georgia where Mr Biden is seen as a clear favourite.

By the end of March, about two-thirds of the nearly 4,000 delegates to July's Democratic nominating convention will be allocated.

Mr Biden had won 134 delegates to Mr Sanders' 74 by early yesterday, giving him an overall lead of 762-619 in the race for the 1,991 dele- gates needed for the nomination, according to Edison Research.

His big margin of victory on Tuesday - including a stunning 66-point victory in Mississippi - was fuelled by strong support from the state's African-American voters.
Reviewer Marques Brownlee in his latest video reveals Escobar Fold 2 has a Samsung logo underneath the gold material on the cover. Escobar Fold 2 costs one-fifth of what Samsungs Galaxy Fold costs.

Escobar Fold 2, a foldable phone named after the late Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar, is essentially a Samsung Galaxy Fold with a gold sticker on it, reveals a new video by popular reviewer Marques Brownlee.

The Escobar Fold 2 looks identical to Samsung Galaxy Fold but is priced at $399. Samsung's first foldable phone was priced around $1,980. The "Escobar Inc." on its website described the phone as the "real Samsung killer phone."

It went on to say "rest in peace Samsung, Pablo always wins." "This is an incredible phone. At a competitive price. Free shipping worldwide! works worldwide on all networks. Unlocked," it adds. It even has a RIPSamsung.com website that redirects to the company page.

Brownlee's video, however, shows the Escobar Fold 2 has a Samsung logo underneath the gold-like material on the cover.

"It's a really poor rebranding job. If you're reviewing an Escobar Fold 2, you're really just reviewing a Samsung Galaxy Fold with a gold sticker on the back and some weird pre-installed mug shot wallpapers," he said in the video.

Brownlee also alleged that Escobar Inc. wanted him to send the video to them before publishing. He also pointed out that some hands-on videos surfaced on YouTube even as he had turned down Escobar Inc's demand.

"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," he added.
Alabama may lift ban on yoga classes in public schools

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Alabama is considering a bill aimed at ending a ban on yoga in public schools, though some believe that lifting the prohibition would constitute a government endorsement of religion.

Known as House Bill 235 and introduced last month by Democratic Representative Jeremy Gray of Opelika, the proposal was approved by the House education policy committee last week.

The bill would allow local school boards to approve yoga classes under certain conditions, among them making the class an elective rather than a requirement.

All instruction in yoga shall be limited exclusively to poses, exercises, and stretching techniques, reads the bill in part. Chanting, mantras, mudras, use of mandalas, and namaste greetings shall be expressly prohibited.

At present, the State Board of Education Administrative Code prohibits the practice of yoga as part of a broader ban on the use of hypnosis and dissociative mental states.

School personnel shall be prohibited from using any techniques that involve the induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, meditation or yoga, stated the Code.

The Code defines yoga as a Hindu philosophy and method of religious training in which eastern meditation and contemplation are joined with physical exercises, allegedly to facilitate the development of body-mind-spirit.

Republican Rep. Will Dismukes of Prattville spoke in support of the bill and felt that it did not represent the endorsement of a specific religion, noting that he knew of churches that do yoga.

We talk about prayer and meditation a lot. I think you can pray to God and do yoga, or you can think about whatever you want to, stated Dismukes, as reported by al.com.

Joe Godfrey, executive director of the conservative Christian group the Alabama Citizens Action Program, spoke out against the proposed legislation, arguing that allowing yoga involved the government establishing a religion.

You can't separate the exercises from the religious meditation aspect of it. This is Hinduism, straight up, said Godfrey, reported al.com.

What you're doing is blatantly teaching a religious exercise that would violate the Establishment Clause.

A practice that derives from the Far East, yoga has garnered widespread popularity in western nations, with churches offering diverse reactions to the practice.

In 2018, Missouri megachurch pastor John Lindell of the 10,000-member James River Church in Ozark preached a sermon claiming that yoga will "open you up to demonic power."

Let me say this, yoga positions were not designed by your local fitness instructor. They were designed and they were created with demonic intent to open you up to demonic power. Because Hinduism is demonic, stated Lindell at the time.

Every false religion is demonic. Hinduism is not a mild, gentile, pacifist religion. Anybody who says that has not visited India  Neither is Buddhism. We may have a sanitized view of it in our Western culture but it is not pacifist. It is demonic. It is idol worship.

Serita Jakes, wife of televangelist Bishop T.D. Jakes, spoke positively of the practice in a social media post from 2018, which spotlighted a class at The Potter's House of Dallas.

Today, we aspired to inspire #health mentally, emotionally, and physically. Our ladies even got a taste of #yoga from @Mrs_BrittHall, she said in an Instagram post at the time.

Health goes beyond what you eat. It's in the way you think, speak, and live. Thank you to all of the lovely sister girls that came to play with us! I love you.
Brazils far-right president Jair Bolsonaro is being monitored for coronavirus days after meeting Donald Trump during a visit to the US, Brazilian media has reported.

The news came as it was revealed that Mr Bolsonaros communications secretary, who travelled to meet Mr Trump last week, had tested positive for Covid-19, the presidency's communications office said.

Mr Bolsonaro had dinner with the US president on Saturday at Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where they discussed the political crisis in Venezuela.

In the statement, Brazil said it had already notified US authorities of the positive test.

Mr Trump, who posed next to Mr Wajngarten in a photo over the weekend, has said he is "not concerned" by the news Mr Bolsonaro is being monitored.

The newspaper Folha de S Paulo said the information had been revealed by Mr Wajngarten's wife Sophie, who told a WhatsApp group of mothers at her daughters school that her husband had received a positive test.

Brazils health minister said earlier today that Mr Bolsonaro would be monitored for symptoms if the communications secretary tested positive.

The Brazilian president cancelled his trip to Rio Grande do Norte state on Thursday, with Brazils regional development minister, Rogerio Marinho, citing health security reasons for the cancellation.

The World Health Organisation's decree yesterday of a global pandemic requires us to be safe with the health of the president and the people around him, Mr Marinho said on Twitter,

President Donald Trump shakes hands before a dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (AP)

On Wednesday, Mr Wajngarten said he was well but did not deny he had been tested for coronavirus.

Despite what the rotten media have already said about my religion, my family and my company, now they are talking about my health. But I am well, he said.

Mr Bolsonaro had previously downplayed the threat posed by coronavirus after Brazil saw its biggest fall in stocks since 1998 earlier this week.

During the past year, obviously, we have had moments of crisis. A lot of that is fantasy. And coronavirus, which is not all the mainstream media makes it out to be, the president said, as he blamed the media for fuelling a crash in global oil prices.

Additional reporting by Reuters
- Freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi was sentenced to death by hanging at Kamiti Maximum Prison in February 18, 1957

- Samuel arap Toroitich said he was among the people tasked with burying the late Kimathi having been transferred there in 1956

- It is believed the Mau Mau hero was laid to rest in one of the cemeteries at the prison but his grave has not been located

It is now 63 years since he was buried and the remains of the late Field Marshall and Mau Mau veteran Dedan Kimathi are yet to be found.

Many questions remain unanswered and his family has been living with the unresolved puzzle.

READ ALSO: My muscles are becoming stronger, my faith is stronger - CS Tuju

Toroitich back in the days. He was transferred to Kamiti and met Kimathi already in custody. Photo: TUKO.co.ke.

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Hatimaye Jowie aondoka rumande baada ya kulipa dhamana ya KSh 2 milioni

The family has, however, been seeking to have the remains of their loved one and accord him a descent send off all in vain.

It is believed that Kimathi was laid to rest in one of the cemeteries at the Kamiti Maximum Prison but his grave has not been located.

As the mystery remains, a 90-year-old former prison warden is willing to assist the family of the late Kimathi trace his remains though at a cost.

Samuel arap Toroitich said he is among the people tasked with burying the late Kimathi having been transferred there in 1956. Photo: TUKO.co.ke.

Source: Original

Samuel arap Toroitich said he was among the people tasked with burying the late Kimathi having been transferred there in 1956.

Torotich who lives in Nakuru said he served as a police reservist during the colonial times before being deployed to man prisoners in various cells across the country.

The old man said he was transferred to Kamiti and met Kimathi already in custody.

Kimathi, a tall and well-built man, Torotich said, was manned by five armed police officers.

It is in February 18, 1957 that the Mau Mau hero was sentenced to death by hanging.

Kamiti prison had a hanging room where those condemned to death faced the hangmans noose.

Kimathi was not hanged, he was shot and his lifeless body taken to the hanging room at around 4PM, the same day he was sentenced to death, he said.

Later that day, all the prison wardens were assembled and put in groups as per their tribes.

Six non-Kikuyus, he said, were picked that evening and were informed that they would sleep in the armory room and would be woken up at around 2am.

Toroitich said they were informed there would be a special assignment for them that night.

The order, he said, was clear and that day they took their evening meal by 6pm, picked their few belongings and went to sleep at the armory room as directed.

They were all in the dark and never knew what transpired.

It is on February 1957 that they were woken up at exactly 2am and directed to the armory where they were informed that they were going to bury Kimathi.

He said Kimathis lifeless body had handcuffs on both his arms and legs.

The colonial masters feared that he might resurrect even in his death so he was handcuffed, he said.

The journey began, there were so songs, no wailing and the wardens had to tiptoe least they wake up others.

Kimathi, the old man revealed, was laid between pits of human waste within Kamiti.

A pit was dug, his body lowered into it and covered. No marks were let to indicate that there was a grave there.

The former officer said the assignment happened under tight security and they were asked never to reveal the secret.

The colonialists, he said, had vowed to kill anyone who attempted to reveal the secret grave.

It is after the secret burial that the officers for six months took turns to man the site which is approximately 40 metres from the prison main gate.

We kept close watch of the site, we would not be allowed to interact with others and always under close watch of our seniors, said the old man.

Toroitich said the secret has been haunting him for many years and it is time he reveals it.

His wish is that he be allowed to access the prison and reveal the secret grave.

He added those who participated in burying Kimathi with him died.

This has been haunting me for many years, I, however feel, it's time I get it off my shoulders before I die," added Toroitich.

What remains of the old man is a photo of him during the days as a warden.

He retired in 1974 and the photo as well as the Kenya Prisons Staff Co-operative Savings and Credit Society membership card are the only memorabilias he has to date..

Story by Ben Kerich, TUKO.co.ke correspondent.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke
Maharashtra Chief Minister



UddhavThackerayon Thursday saidthat the 11 coronavirus positive patients in the state were showing only mild symptoms of the viral infection and there was no need to panic.

He, however, urged people to take adequate precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

Maharashtra has so far reported 11 coronavirus positive cases- eight in Pune, two in Mumbai and one in Nagpur.

Thackeray on Thursday held a meeting with the district authorities in the state via video-conferencing, in which he took a review of the situation.

"As per the guidelines of the central government, those who havetravelled to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany shouldbe quarantined," Thackeray was quoted as saying in an official statement.

There should be crowd control at tourist places and pilgrimage points. Official programmes and yatras should be stopped completely, the chief minister asked the authorities.

He said that those who have returned from abroad should stay at home for 14 days.

Thackeray also said that isolation and quarantine facilities in cities having international airports should be increased.

The chief minister asked the district authorities to ask the tour operators to provide the list of tourists, who have returned from abroad and who are currently overseas.

Thackeray asked them to set up coronavirus control room in every district of the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has justified the 2003 imprisonment of the former oil tycoon and one of his main opponents, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, calling him "a swindler" whose firm, former oil giant Yukos, was involved in fraud and murder.

In a video interview with TASS news agency, a portion of which was published on March 12, Putin also said that Russian laws must take priority in the case of U.S. investor Michael Calvey, who is currently under house arrest in Moscow for alleged financial fraud.

"Do you think the employees of [Yukos's] security service were killing people on their own initiative, on their own whim? I think that is not the case. It never happens like that. But as it was not proven, then it is not proven. But his other illegal activities were proven and therefore he received a corresponding prison term," Putin said.

Putin was likely referring to Yukos's former security chief, Aleksei Pichugin, who is serving a life sentence on murder charges stemming from the 1988 murder of the mayor of Nefteyugansk, a Siberian city where some of Yukos's biggest pumping facilities were located.

In 2015, the Federal Investigative Committee -- the Russian equivalent of the FBI -- filed charges against Khodorkovsky, accusing him of ordering the murder of the mayor, Vladimir Petukhov, and another official.

Russian prosecutors alleged two other Yukos employees were involved in the killings: Leonid Nevzlin and Pichugin. Pichugin has been labeled a political prisoner by Western rights groups. Nevzlin, who lives in Israel, was tried in absentia by a Russian court and convicted in 2008. Israel has refused Russias request to extradite him.

Once Russia's largest company, Yukos was dismantled after the 2003 arrest of Khodorkovsky, its chief executive officer. He was convicted of financial crimes at two trials that he and his supporters contend were engineered by the Kremlin to punish him for challenging Putin and as a way to increase the Kremlin's control over oil export revenues.

The main production assets of Yukos were sold at auction and ended up in the hands of state oil company Rosneft.

Khodorkovsky, who spent 10 years in prison before he was released and left Russia after being pardoned by Putin in 2013, currently resides in the West.

He wrote on Twitter after the last portion of Putin's interview was released that the president himself committed "a scam" by initiating amendments to the constitution that would allow him to run for a fifth presidential term in 2024 after his current second consecutive term expires.

"I heard that Putin called me a swindler... It is a rare case when I let the winner's title go to Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]. Such a scam like he committed with the Constitution and his [presidential] terms is impossible to outbid," Khodorkovsky wrote in the tweet.

Talking about the case against Calvey and his associates, Putin said the last word in the case will be made by a court.

"We must begin with our domestic legislation and give priority to Russian law," Putin said.

Calvey and several other executives and employees of the Russia-based private-equity group Baring Vostok were detained in Moscow last February and charged with financial fraud.

They all deny any wrongdoing and say the case is being used against them in a corporate dispute over the control of a Russian bank. Calvey was released under house arrest in April.

The arrests stunned many Western investors and drew complaints from high-level Russian business leaders and government officials, who questioned the motivation of the courts and prosecutors.

Baring Vostok is one of the largest and oldest private-equity firms operating in Russia. It was founded in the early 1990s and manages more than $3.7 billion in assets. The company was an early major investor in Yandex, Russia's dominant search engine.

Calvey is one of two Americans currently facing potential trial in Russia on charges supporters say are groundless. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, has been behind bars since December 28, 2018, when he was arrested on an espionage charge he denies.
The suspension also affects all of Dickinson Halls off-site programs. Officials will continue to monitor the situation over the next few weeks and reassess whether to resume activities at the hall later in the month, Pandaleon said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Officials hope the federal government takes the steps necessary to approve more testing for coronavirus in New York as the disease continues to spread.

Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) said the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration need to make approvals for two private companies so they can increase the citys testing capacity.

We have got to push the federal government -- the FDA and CDC -- to, as quickly as possible, allow these tests to begin in New York City, he said. This is so important right now.

In identical letters to the FDA and the CDC, Rose and Rep. Tom Reed (R-Upstate New York) urged the agencies to make the approvals so testing can increase. Rose also questioned Dr. Stephen Redd, Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response and Deputy Director for Public Health Service and Implementation Science for the CDC as to whether the approvals would be a top priority for the centers.

Rose said the approvals could increase New Yorks testing capacity tenfold. Currently, there are over 320 virus cases confirmed in New York, and over 90 in the five boroughs. Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a Thursday evening press conference that Staten Island had five confirmed cases.

Right now, labs process each test individually, the two Congressman wrote to the agencies. It is estimated that one of our labs can manually process about 80 tests a day right now but if they were authorized to use automated testing, they could dramatically increase capacity.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn) also told the Advance Thursday that she had written to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director Anthony Ferreri to urge his agencys assistance in getting the FDA approvals.

During this time of concern, the city and state must be able to conduct more widespread testing, she said.

At a press conference on Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he hopes the states testing capacity will reach 5,000 per day by the end of next week, but that it is currently inadequate.

As early as next week, Cuomo said the addition of recently-contracted labs and possible FDA approval for automated testing via a national lab could increase New Yorks daily capacity by the thousands.

Testing is not about figuring out how many people have the disease, he said. As far as Im concerned, we are way behind in testing.

He also restricted gatherings of over 500 people as of Friday at 5 p.m., and severely restricted visiting protocols for nursing homes across the state. A ban on Broadway theaters will go into effect at 5 p.m. today.

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S.Korea's COVID-19 cases rise to 7,755, death toll at 61

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:04, March 11, 2020

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.

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Hundreds of Queensland Treasury officials will work on the state budget from their homes if there is a widespread outbreak of novel coronavirus.

Testing is under way to figure out how Treasury staff will collate highly sensitive information from more than a dozen government agencies from their living rooms and home offices.

Treasurer Jackie Trad is set to hand down her third budget on April 28.

Queensland has not declared a state of emergency or put schools and workplaces into lockdown, with Health Minister Steven Miles insisting on Wednesday the disease was still well contained and the virus was not freely spreading in the community.
A Colombian student poses for a picture wearing a face mask made with recyclable and biodegradable materials, as a form of protest against the shortage of face masks in pharmacies, in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, at Julio Cesar Turbay school, in Soacha, Colombia, on March 11, 2020. - The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Coronavirus a pandemic with 118,000 cases in about 120 countries, and 4000 deaths. (Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP)



The new coronavirus outbreak is now a pandemic. So what does that mean?



''Pandemic'' has nothing to do with how serious the illness is. It just means a disease is spreading widely.



The head of the World Health Organization, which made the declaration Wednesday, said the U.N. health agency is deeply concerned about the alarming levels of spread.



But at the same time WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made clear the declaration didn't mean that countries should give up trying to contain the virus, which has infected more than 120,000 people around the world and killed more than 4,300.



''We should double down and we should be more aggressive. That's what we are saying,'' Tedros said.



Some questions and answers about the declaration:



WHAT DOES THE DECLARATION DO?



The label triggers governments to activate preparedness plans and possibly take emergency procedures to protect the public, such as more drastic travel and trade restrictions.



WHO already had declared COVID-19 an international emergency. And where the virus hasn't yet spread, hospitals and clinics around the world have been preparing for a surge of coronavirus patients on top of the everyday illnesses they treat.



Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHO emergencies chief, cautioned that use of the word pandemic to describe the outbreak ''is not a trigger for anything other than more aggressive, more intensive action.''



The term also is likely to stoke global anxiety, something the U.N. health agency was sensitive to. Previously, Tedros acknowledged the word itself ''may certainly cause fear'' without preventing any infection or saving a single life.



WHAT GOES INTO THE DECISION?






Fears are mounting for some of the most vulnerable people in Northern Ireland after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus a pandemic.

Staff at nursing homes and care in the community workers have not been provided with specialist face masks, despite the fact they are in close contact with the most at-risk group.

Six UK patients and one person in the Irish Republic have so far died as a result of coronavirus. All were elderly and had pre-existing health conditions.

Despite this, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has said people over 60 with the likes of lung disease or diabetes can continue with their normal routine, advising that they wash their hands regularly and avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

Read More

But it is not known at what stage a person with coronavirus becomes infectious, meaning they can inadvertently pass the virus on to others - including those who are at more risk of serious complications if they become ill. It comes as:

The Department of Health revealed two more presumptive positive cases in Northern Ireland;

The total number of people here now diagnosed with coronavirus stands at 18;

246 people here have been tested for coronavirus; and

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a 12bn package for coronavirus measures.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was "deeply concerned" by "alarming levels of inaction" over the virus.

Expand Close World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus AFP via Getty Images / Facebook

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He said the number of cases outside China had increased 13-fold in the past two weeks and urged governments to change the course of the outbreak by "urgent and aggressive action".

Health trusts in Northern Ireland have so far applied different approaches to stemming the spread of coronavirus. Earlier this week, the Western Trust asked people to avoid visiting patients in its hospitals, care homes and day centres, and to attend outpatient appointments alone.

However, it is the only trust that has so far put in place formal measures to limit visitor numbers to trust facilities.

At the same time, the PHA is not providing care homes with up-to-date guidance on how to protect residents from Covid-19. Instead, staff are expected to monitor the PHA website for changes in official guidelines.

Read More

On Tuesday night, recommendations were changed so that now a person should seek medical advice if they have face-to-face contact, including talking to someone for any length of time, with a person with Covid-19.

The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, Eddie Lynch, said: "I'm aware health officials are working very hard on contingency plans in the midst of this outbreak, however older people are becoming increasingly concerned about the impact of coronavirus.

"It's important that details of contingency plans are shared as soon as possible so that older people and their relatives can be reassured. I am meeting with senior health officials later this week and this is one of many issues I will be raising."

Mr Lynch said it is important to check on older neighbours and relatives and follow advice to avoid spreading the virus.

"Everyone has a role to play in helping to look after our older people during what is a very worrying time for them," he said.

Read More

Alliance Party health committee member Paula Bradshaw said it is important advice does not cause confusion. She said: "I would re-state my concern that advice here is not as thorough as it is on the NHS site for Great Britain, and that different trusts appear to be advising different things."

DUP health committee member Alex Easton also said it is imperative that health officials issue consistent advice.

"I do think people working in care homes and home help should be given all of the proper protective equipment that will help reduce the spread of the virus and keep people more at risk of coming to harm safe," he said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Robin Swann has said dozens of elective procedures may be cancelled to free up bed space for those who contract coronavirus. He said: "I suppose we need to be clear that at some point in Northern Ireland we will be looking at a fatality as well."

Mr Swann also welcomed news that public sector union Nipsa is immediately suspending industrial action in hospitals. It had been the only union carrying out action in the healthcare sector after a deal over pay and staffing was hammered out in January.

"This is the right and responsible decision, particularly as we prepare to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. I do not underestimate how tough a decision this was for NIPSA to take, and I respect the importance that its members - indeed, all of our workers and trade unions - place on safe staffing," he said.

A spokeswoman for the Health & Social Care Board said guidance was issued to care homes in February and this was followed up by a letter from the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority on Wednesday. She added: "We are also carrying out a series of engagements with the domiciliary and independent care home providers and older people's representative groups."
IAN Bailey (62), who is fighting extradition to France over the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier (39), has appeared in court charged with drug driving.

The poet and journalist appeared before Judge Carol Anne Coolican at Bantry District Court on a total of four charges arising from an alleged incident in west Cork last summer.

Mr Bailey will shortly fight an extradition hearing in the High Court where the French have issued a European Arrest Warrant seeking his extradition to Paris.

He was convicted in absentia last year of the murder of film executive and mother of one Sophie Toscan du Plantier (39) in west Cork in December 1996.

Mr Bailey, who described the Paris proceedings as "a farce" and "a show trial", has vehemently protested his innocence in relation to Ms du Plantier's death and claimed that attempts were made to frame him for the crime.

He appeared today before Bantry District Court on four charges.

The counts all arise from an alleged incident on August 25 last year outside Schull.

Mr Bailey was stopped by Gardai while driving at Skull town land outside Schull and was later taken to Bantry Garda Station.

He was subsequently released without charge.

Mr Bailey issued a statement 24 hours after the incident in response to media reports.

"I can confirm that on Sunday evening last, I was stopped at a garda checkpoint outside Schull," he said.

"I failed a roadside breathalyser test."

"At that point, I was taken to Bantry Garda Station where I subsequently passed the electronic (alcohol) test. The treatment by gardai towards me was courteous at all times," he said.

Mr Bailey declined to comment further.

The alleged incident occurred in Schull around 9pm on Sunday, August 25.

Mr Bailey appeared before Bantry District Court today on four summonses on the basis of samples which were taken by gardai and sent for further analysis.

Mr Bailey faces one summons over allegedly driving while under the influence of cannabis, two summonses over the alleged possession of cannabis and one summons for allegedly allowing his vehicle to be used for the possession of drugs namely cannabis.

Solicitor Ray Hennessy applied for all Garda documents in relation to the matter to be supplied to the defence team.

He also applied for free legal aid for his client.

A statement of means will be submitted to the court.

Mr Hennessy applied for the matter to be adjourned and Judge Coolican listed it for April 23 when a hearing date will be set.

Mr Bailey left the court without comment.

The journalist, poet and law graduate has lived in west Cork with his partner, Welsh artist Jules Thomas, for almost 30 years.

He sued the State for wrongful arrest after claiming his life had been destroyed through the wrongful association with the du Plantier murder investigation.

Mr Bailey also insisted that "sinister attempts" were made to frame him for the crime.

He also lodged a complaint with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) over his alleged treatment by some gardai.

The French mother of one was found beaten to death by her holiday home outside Toormore on December 23 1996, just hours before she was due to fly back to France for Christmas.

Mr Bailey was arrested for questioning by Gardai in respect of their investigation in 1997 and 1998.

He was released without charge on both occasions.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later ruled out any prosecution in Ireland over the killing.

However, following a lengthy investigation launched in France under Magistrate Patrick Gachon in 2007, Mr Bailey was tried in absentia before a Paris court last May.

He was convicted before the non-jury trial and sentenced to 25 years in prison for Ms du Plantier's killing.

The French have twice previously failed in attempts to have him extradited from Ireland under European Arrest Warrants.

A third extradition hearing is due before the High Court within weeks.

Mr Bailey was also ordered by the Paris court last May to pay over 225,000 in compensation to Ms du Plantier's family and the French State.

He has consistently denied the charges, and did not attend the week-long trial in Paris.

Mr Bailey warned that he was convicted before the trial even opened.

The journalist previously confirmed he has "absolutely no intention" of paying anything on foot of the French court order.

He has repeatedly insisted that his poetry helps him cope with the stresses of the situation he has found himself in over the past 24 years.

His latest book of poetry, 'A John Wayne State of Mind', was launched last week.

A documentary film on the 1996 tragedy is being finalised by Jim Sheridan and will have its world premiere later this year.
The City International School at Cairos Zamalek district has been closed as a precautionary measure after a parent of one of the school students has contacted a foreigner, who then tested positive for coronavirus, the Ministry of Education said in a statement Thursday.

The ministry added that the school students, teachers and headmasters were required to self-isolate for 14 days.

This measure comes in light of the health and education ministries keenness to ensure the safety of students as well as of the education ministers declaration of a plan to combat the spread of coronavirus, the statement said.

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Embassy of Ukraine in Greece and shipping company held negotiations, after which the hostages were released

Ukrainian diplomats and a shipping company have returned sailor Dmytro Holianenko, who was captured by pirates along with the crew of the ship Alpine Penelope off the coast of Nigeria, to Ukraine. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced this on his Twitter page.

"The Embassy of Ukraine in the Hellenic Republic and the shipping company have worked. After the negotiations were held, the crew was released. Our Dmytro Holianenko is already in Ukraine with his family. I congratulate you on your return!", Kuleba wrote.

On February 20, 10 members of the crew of Alpine Penelope, including a Ukrainian Holianenko, were abducted by pirates off the coast of Nigeria.

As we reported earlier, on February 25, four Ukrainian fishermen, who were detained by the Russian special services in the Azov Sea, were released, as MP Pavlo Melnyk wrote on his Facebook page.

I have just received information that Ukrainian fishermen: Serhiy Hoha, Oleksiy Ivanov, Vasyl Tyurkedji, and Maksym Terekhov, detained in the Sea of Azov on February 15, 2020, were released, he reported.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today labelled an attack on an Iraqi military base that killed one British soldier as 'deplorable'.

One British soldier and two American troops were killed, and about a dozen people were wounded when 15 small rockets hit Iraq's Taji military camp north of Baghdad on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Defence said the deceased was a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Mr Johnson said: 'It is with deep sadness that I learned that a UK soldier was killed in the attack at the Taji military base last night. My thoughts go out to their loved ones at this extremely difficult time.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured above on Wednesday during Prime Minister's questions) today called the attack deplorable

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

'Our servicemen and women work tirelessly every day to uphold security and stability in the region - their presence makes us all safer.

'The Foreign Secretary has spoken to the US Secretary of State and we will continue to liaise with our international partners to fully understand the details of this abhorrent attack.'

This is while defence secretary Ben Wallace called the attack a 'cowardly and retrograde act'.

'The men and women of the UK armed forces are in Iraq to help that country establish stability and prosperity. The people that did this are not friends of Iraq.

'My thoughts are with the families of those whose loved ones have been killed or injured. We shall not forget their sacrifice and will ensure those who committed these acts face justice.'

US officials last night 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.

US officials last night 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.

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 that more than 15 small rockets hit Iraq's 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 US forces and the area around the US 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 US 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 US 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.
Moscow Bans Large-Scale Events Over Virus Fears, Ukraine Receives Rapid Test Kits

By RFE/RL March 11, 2020

Moscow authorities have banned all mass public events of more than 5,000 people for a month to fight the coronavirus.

The announcement came 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 a new term in 2024, a move that could spark the opposition to rally.

Moscow said it will ban all such large-scale assemblies until April 10. Russia has 20 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease as of March 10 and no recorded deaths.

In neighboring Ukraine, Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko announced that the nation's capital received rapid test kits for the new virus, which originated in China late last year.

"Right now, there are 1,200 [kits], by the end of the week we'll have 5,000. The test kits will be distributed to seven designated hospitals that will accept patients suspected of being ill with the coronavirus," said Kyiv's mayor in a social-media post.

Seven people have been hospitalized in Ukraine's southwestern region of Chernivitsi over illness concerns, six of whom have tested negative for COVID-19.

Four Ukrainians aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship docked off the coast of Japan have recovered from the illness, the Ukrainian Health Ministry said on March 10.

In total, there are 47 Ukrainian crew members and two passengers, according to the Ukrainian Consulate General in San Francisco.

Cases of the virus have surpassed 117,000 worldwide and deaths have exceeded 4,200.

Russian low-cost airline Pobeda also suspended flights to Italy amid the outbreak in the Mediterranean country.

One of the biggest virus clusters outside China, 631 people have died in Italy, the Civil Protection Agency said on March 10.

The EU member state has more than 10,000 cases.

China, the epicenter of the outbreak, reported 24 new cases over the past 24 hours on March 11, along with 22 more deaths.

That brings China's totals to 80,778 cases and 3,158 deaths since the outbreak began in December 2019.

Iran, where another outbreak cluster exists, has seen its death toll rise to 291 and the number of cases reach 8,042.

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 outbreak.

The United States saw its known coronavirus cases surpass 1,000 on March 10, signaling the virus was spreading widely in communities on both the western and eastern coasts, and in the center of the country.

Thirty-seven states and Washington, D.C. have reported confirmed cases and at least 31 patients with the disease have died.

Clusters have emerged in California and Washington state, as well as in a New York community.

With reporting by Bloomberg, The New York Times, AP, Reuters, TASS, and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-bans-large-scale -events-over-virus-fears-ukraine-receives -rapid-test-kits/30480994.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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School and pedestrian safety was the focus for both major parties in the Brisbane City Council election campaign on Thursday.

Labor pledged $500,000 to upgrade a dangerous crossing at a school in the marginal ward of Enoggera in Brisbane's north-west and the LNP extended more than $12 million on pedestrian and school safety citywide.

Both the LNP and Labor have pledged to upgrade a pedestrian crossing near a school on Pickering Street in Enoggera. Credit:Lucy Stone

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said a new Move Safe Brisbane initiative for seniors of $1.6 million went alongside $2.8 million for 100 speed awareness monitors at schools, $1.8 million for a joint state and council travel program and a further $6.4 million to connect up school footpaths.

The $6.4 million safer paths to schools program was announced in the 2019-20 budget.
Bhopal: Jyotiraditya Scindia who resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP on Wednesday, receives warm welcome on his arrival at the Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal on March 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK

Bhopal, March 13 : Former Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia who ended his 18-year association with the Congress to join the BJP was given a rousing reception by his new party on his maiden visit to Bhopal on Thursday.

BJP workers thronged the Bhopal airport. Most senior leaders of the Party, Union Minister Naaendra Singh Tomar, state unit president VD Sharma, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and ministers Narottam Mishra, Bhupendra Singh and leader of the opposition Gopal Bhargava joined the road show that wound its way from the Airport to the BJP state headquarters in two hours.

The BJP's enthusiasm matched the occasion to celebrate a major acquisition like Scindia.

In response to his reception, Scindia said that politics is just a means of public service for the Scindia family. Whenever the Scindia family was challenged, it did not has hit back tellingly. It was an emotional moment for him to be joining the party that "my grandmother Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia founded." The family has sacrificed everything to build the party family. "I can assure that I will work hard. I will not hesitate to shed my blood wherever you shed even a drop of your sweat. I'm handing myself over to you.

Chaohan welcomed Scindia and vowed to overthrow the state government. Shivraj compared Scindia with the character of Vibhishan in Ramayana. He said Scindia is with us in the same way as Vibhishan was needed to destroy Ravana's Lanka.

Scindia said, "When my grandmother was humiliated by the then ruling party leadership she chose to hit back in 1967 and the then government fell. After this, my father, the late Madhavrao Scindia was falsely accused in the Hawala case in 1990s. You all know what followed. Similarly, when I raised the issue of non-fulfilment of promises made in the manifesto about guest scholars, farmers' loans and Mandsaur farmer firing, I was also challenged. Now I will work with you to achieve the objective of public welfare." He was delayed by two hours. Scindia who has been nominated as BJP candidate will file his nomination papers for Rajya Sabha on Friday the closing day for nominations.

BJP workers who were missing no opportunity to criticise Scindia till a couple days ago went to welcome him with great fanfare. He was taken from Airport to the BJP office for the state Working Committee meeting for the modalities of nomination. Strangely most slogans were hailing Chouhan, Tomar and Narottam Mishra. The apparent message was to safeguard the old guard of the party in the wake of the new entry.

Scindia garlanded the statues of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia, Kushabhau Thackeray and father Madhavrao Scindia before filing his nomination.

On Friday, Scindia will file papers for the Rajya Sabha with senior BJP leaders. At the same time, in support of Scindia. More than 10,000 activists including many Congress district heads of Gwalior, Guna, Shivpuri have resigned from the party.

Posters put up near Polytechnic square in Bhopal were either smeared with ink or partly torn by some activists. Congress members who were offended by his joining the BJP, burnt his effigies and defaced billboards erected to welcome him.
Tourism minister Iago Negueruela said on Wednesday that the 'tourism of excesses' decree is "not against tourists" but about protecting tourism quality.

Negueruela had attended the Tuesday meeting of the nightlife working party that has been established by Calvia town hall, at which he explained that the government and town hall are acting together in improving tourist product quality in Magalluf and in advancing sustainable tourism.

The decree had been "necessary" for tackling drunken tourism. In the process, he added, employment will be improved and the profitability of establishments will increase.

Mayor Alfonso Rodriguez emphasised Calvia's "leadership" in the fight against tourism of excesses and in favour of a sustainable, economic and social tourism. The mayor informed the meeting on Tuesday that the town hall will be taking part in the promotional activities organised by the Council of Majorca because of the cancellation of the Berlin ITB tourism fair.
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The United States Department of Agriculture, after conducting an infrared deer count earlier this month, estimates that there are between 130 and 167 deer in the city.

Two USDA deer counters each used hand-held thermal imagers while driving down each city street between 6 and 9:50 p.m. on the day of the survey. During that time, 130 deer were actually seen. The counters covered about 78 percent of the city.

It was found that 54 percent of the deer were seen on the north side of Mayfield Road, which includes land adjacent to Euclid Creek Metropark. The counters noted that the weather during the count was very favorable for deer movement, and that deer that are active are more likely to be seen and counted.

The USDAs recommendation, included in its report summary, states that the city should undertake further study of its records to learn more about the risks brought on by its deer population.

White-tailed deer population estimates/counts should be interpreted in context with other units of measure for deer damage, such as deer-vehicle accident (DVA) records, deer carcass collections and property damage complaints, the report states.

It is recommended that the city further evaluate DVA records, deer carcass collections and property damage complaints as population indices. These indices may be used to identify specific geographical areas within the city that support higher-than-recommended numbers of deer, or deer that may pose an elevated risk to public safety.

Speaking about the reports results, Mayor Georgine Welo said in an email reply to cleveland.com: "I personally have four to five deer trot through my yard daily. I never imagined that the USDA would visibly see 130 deer, as our city is largely comprised of residential and commercial properties.

"With more deer populating the community, there is a growing concern amongst our residents regarding safety issues and foliage damage to their yards. Because of the public reaching out to both our City Council members and the administration, the South Euclid City Council Recreation Committee began investigating the issue and holding public meetings. In fact, the study by the USDA was born out of those meetings.

Once City Council wraps up their meetings and a recommendation and/or decision is made regarding the deer population, I, as mayor, will administer it," Welo said.

Ward 3 Councilwoman Sara Continenza chairs councils Recreation Committee. In her newsletter to constituents emailed March 10, Continenza stated: "One note from the (USDA) survey takers on our deer issue to be noted: Survey observers did see deer behavior in some areas of the city that was indicative of deer that are being fed by people.

"It was noted that deer were observed standing on front porches, and in one instance it appeared that a resident was opening their front door to hand-feed the deer.

In general, it is recommended that people do not intentionally feed deer, as it will congregate deer and leads to deer becoming more tolerant of people. Because of this, the feeding of deer typically results in increased conflicts with deer (property damage, negative interactions with humans/pets and deer vehicle accidents), and increases the potential for disease transmission.

"Oftentimes, education and the enforcement of ordinances against the feeding of wildlife in the community can mitigate/reduce some deer conflicts.

She concluded by adding, Please dont feed deer!

The city paid the USDA $1,038 to conduct the count. South Euclid followed the footsteps of neighboring city Highland Heights which, late last year, paid for a USDA infrared count. Highland Heights was found to have 55 deer per square mile, for a total of 280.

If all of South Euclids 4.7 square miles were counted, the average number of deer within the city on the day of the count averaged 27.7 to 35.5.

Highland Heights recently used USDA sharpshooters to cull 40 deer.

Councils Recreation Committee will hold a meeting to discuss the USDA report at 6 p.m. March 23 at City Hall, 1349 S. Green Road. Welo said residents can either attend the meeting or contact a council representative to relate thoughts about the deer population.

Council members contact information can be found on the citys website, cityofsoutheuclid.com. In addition, results of the deer survey the city conducted last fall can also be seen on the citys website.

Read more from the Sun Messenger.
G reenland and Antarcticas ice caps are melting six times faster than they were in the 1990s due to global warming conditions, new analysis shows.

The most comprehensive analysis to date of satellite data from both poles leaves no doubt in its assessment of accelerating trends, scientists said.

Greenland and Antarctica collectively lost 6.4 trillion tonnes of ice between 1992 and 2017.

The ice loss from both poles is tracking the worst-case climate warming scenario set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), according to scientists. The analysis suggests that 400 million people could be exposed each year to coastal flooding by 2100 owing to a rise in sea levels, unless global carbon emissions rapidly decrease.

Melting ice caps will lead to sea levels rising by 70cm in the next century / REUTERS

Rising sea levels are one of the most damaging long-term effects of climate change. Greenland and Antarcticas contribution is accelerating. The new analysis predicts that when the latest data is processed, it will show that 2019  with its summer Arctic heatwave  has been a record-breaking year.

"That's not a good news story," Professor Andrew Shepherd from Leeds University told the BBC.

"Today, the ice sheets contribute about a third of all sea-level rise, whereas in the 1990s, their contribution was actually pretty small at about 5 percent. This has important implications for the future, for coastal flooding and erosion.

Professor Andrews co-leads a team of experts in a project called the Ice Sheet Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise (Imbie).

The project has reviewed polar measurements acquired by observational satellites which have tracked the changing volume, flow and gravity of the ice sheets for over three decades.

Imbie published its Greenland summary this week in the journal Nature.

The teams studies show that ice losses are now meeting the upper end of the IPCCs expectations. The IPPCs mid-range predictions suggested global sea levels might rise by 53cm in the next century. But Imbies studies show that ice losses are greater than this forecast, and sea levels will likely rise by 70cm by 2100.

Every centimetre of sea level rise leads to coastal flooding and coastal erosion, disrupting peoples lives around the planet, Professor Shepherd said. These are not unlikely events with small impacts. They are already under way and will be devastating for coastal communities.

On average, Greenland and Antarctica lost 81bn tonnes of ice each year in the 1990s. In the 2010s, they lost on average 475bn tonnes  six times as much. 60 percent of ice losses came from Greenland, and 40 percent came from Antarctica. About a third of the total sea level rise now comes from the two polar ice caps.
CARACAS, March 12 (Reuters) - Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro said that all flights from Europe and Colombia would be suspended for a month over Coronavirus concerns during a live televised press conference on Thursday.

Venezuela has not yet confirmed any cases of the virus, Maduro said. (Reporting by Sarah Kinosian)
Considering the coronavirus outbreak all over the world, it is important to keep your family and your home protected against the pandemic virus.

There have been various news stories about stores running-out of hand-sanitizer, alcohol, surgical masks, and some basic medical supplies that would potentially help protect a person against coronavirus.

However, most forgot that the best way to control the spread of the virus is to start disinfecting the house most especially if most of your family members came from a crowded place like school and office place.

According to the chief of infectious diseases and director of global health at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse Dr. Stephen Thomas that it is not possible to disinfect every surface that a person touches throughout the day and best protection against coronavirus is through hand-washing.

READ NEXT: Cleancult: Sustainable Cleaning Products Developed in Puerto Rico

Dr. Thomas also added that if one member of the family is showing coronavirus symptoms like respiratory infection or your area has a confirmed case of COVID-19 patient, then it is important that you need to clean the area in your house where it is frequently touched. The two common areas are the kitchen counters and the bathroom faucets. It is recommended that you have to clean the surfaces three times a day.

The good news is that COVID-19 is one of the easiest viruses that are easy to kill using appropriate products. You also don't need to go to a store anymore to buy disinfectants because some of the products that deactivate this virus are just around your house.

In a recently published article, here are some of the products that help destroy coronavirus:

Soap and Water

According to Richard Sachleben, an organic chemist and member of the American Chemical Society, "Scrub like you've got sticky stuff on the surface and you really need to get it off."

Scrub the surface using the soap and water. Make sure also that after using the towel, you have to dip it in a bowl of soapy water to make sure that any living virus particles will be destroyed.

Bleach

Sachleben says that bleach works great against the virus. The CDC recommends that 1/3 cup of bleach for every 1 gallon of water or 4 teaspoons of bleach for every 1 quart of water. It is also important to note that never mix anything to the bleach except water and wear gloves also while using bleach.

However, there are some limitations in using bleach. Never use this to metal over a long period because bleach is corrosive. In using bleach in a meatal like faucet, make sure to rinse it immediately with water to avoid discoloration.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Make sure that the one that you have contains 70 percent alcohol. Sachleben says that alcohol is generally effective against the virus but it can cause discoloration to some plastic.

There are also products that you should not use in disinfecting your place. These are some common products that are mistakenly used.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

You might be one of the persons who is searching on the internet about how to make homemade hand-sanitizers. There are also many videos about it circling around social media. But, don't get deceived with it.

According to Dr. Sachleben that even he is a chemist, he does not make his own homemade sanitizer. Remember also that companies are spending thousands of dollars to pay a chemist in developing a hand-sanitizer that has an equal ratio in it.

Vodka

Vodka is also circling around social media as the best product to combat COVID-19 because of the alcohol content that it has. Tito's and Smirnoff already released a statement and they said that their products do not contain enough ethyl alcohol. It has 40 percent only compared to the 70 percent required amount to kill the bacteria.

Distilled White Vinegar

The use of white vinegar to disinfect a surface is very popular online however there is no scientific proof yet or any evidence that supports the claim that it can kill the bacteria.



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CHAOYANG University of Technology in Taiwan has opened its doors to Lapu-Lapu City senior high school graduates to apply for slots of its scholarship program.

This after Mayor Junard Ahong Chan signed a commitment with the university representative Chih Yuan Huang on March 4, 2020, at the City Hall. Vice Mayor Celedonio Sitoy and the city councilors witnessed the event.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our gifted students to go and study in Taiwan under this scholarship, Chan said.

The Lapu-Lapu City senior high school graduates may apply and qualify for the universitys scholarship program for free, said Sto. Nino Mactan College executive director Sunshine Lim.

Chan thanked Chaoyang University and Sto. Nino Mactan, Chaoyangs partner in the Philippines, for sharing the opportunity with promising students.

Lim also thanked the mayor and his first lady Cindi Chan, who chairs the City Tourism, Cultural and Heritage Affairs Commission (CTCHAC) for supporting the scholarship program.

Lapu-Lapu City Schools Division Superintendent Wilfreda Bongalos and CTCHAC will help spread the scholarship program to all public and private schools in the city. S
SIOUX CITY -- A growing number of nursing homes, retirement communities and assisted living facilities in Siouxland are limiting visitors, locking building entrances and canceling group outings in order to protect residents from COVID-19.

Holy Spirit Retirement Home will temporarily close its doors to the public, effective Monday, in an effort to protect residents from the potential spread of the coronavirus.

Alyssa Rusch, a registered nurse who serves as the retirement community's staff development coordinator and infection preventionist, said residents' family members are being asked not to come to the facility unless their visit is absolutely necessary. She said alternative communication methods, such as FaceTime and Skype, will be adopted so that residents can still see their family members.

"If their family member is ill and at the risk of passing away, they will be screened upon entry," Rusch said Wednesday morning. "If they've been ill, if they've traveled, we will have somebody posted at our front door screening any of those visitors that do need to come for that reason."

Outside vendors will be prohibited from entering the building and residents' doctor's appointments will be limited to only those that are urgently needed, Rusch said. Holy Spirit's chapel has also been shuttered to the public.

"We're trying to be as proactive as possible to try and keep it out of our communities, given the population that we do care for are all considered high-risk," she said. "Our feeling is that if we wait until it's in our community, we're already behind the eight ball."

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health's website, as of Wednesday morning, 13 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the state, 27 tests were pending and 112 people were being monitored by the department. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says older adults and people who have chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

Sunrise announced in a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon that the Sioux City retirement community is not allowing visiting in its nursing and assisted living facilities until further notice. Only hospice patients' families and caregivers are allowed, according to the post.

Casa De Paz asked the public on Facebook on Wednesday not to visit its nursing facility on Sioux City's west side "unless it is an immediate circumstance," which should be discussed with administration in advance. All visitors must report to the main entrance to be screened by staff.

Whispering Creek, which is owned by Dial Senior Living, is also taking precautions.

In a statement on Whispering Creek's website, Dial Senior Living noted that it is closely following the direction of the CDC regarding COVID-19. Visitors are being limited to one adult immediate family member, as well as health care professionals who are considered to be "essential for the resident's well-being."

"All visitors must be healthy. No person who is displaying signs or symptoms of an influenza-like illness, which includes a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, a cough or sore throat, will be admitted to a community," the statement read. "Out of respect to our residents and team members, visitors with other symptoms including but not limited to a runny nose, shortness of breath, fatigue, chills, vomiting or diarrhea should postpone visits to a community."

All visitors, including health care professionals, are to go directly to the apartment of the resident that they are visiting and avoid community common areas. Group outings have also been suspended and cleaning procedures have been "enhanced," according to the statement.

Christy Nikkel, executive director of The Heritage at Northern Hills, said Wednesday morning that the Sioux City assisted living facility's home office has enacted a pandemic committee, which is meeting daily and providing updates.

"For now, what we're doing is we're limiting visitors, and we also have a sign-in sheet at our front doors before we allow entry," she said. "We are encouraging family members, unless it's an essential visit, that they do stay home. The residents' health and wellness is our No. 1 priority."

Across the globe, nursing homes have been on high alert since the outbreak of coronavirus, which causes cough, fever and shortness of breath. In China, where the outbreak began, the disease has been substantially deadlier for the elderly. In Italy, the epicenter of the virus outbreak in Europe, the more than 100 people who died were either elderly, sick with other complications, or both.

Of the 21 deaths across the U.S. as of Sunday, at least 16 had been linked to a Seattle-area nursing home, along with many other infections among residents, staff and family members.

"For people over the age of 80 ... the mortality rate could be as high as 15 percent," said Mark Parkinson, president of the nursing home trade group American Health Care Association.

The federal government is focusing all nursing home inspections on infection control, singling out facilities in cities with confirmed cases and those previously cited for not following protocol.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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The United States will suspend all travel from European countries except Britain for 30 days in a new measure faced with further spread of the COVID-19.

These restrictions will go into effect Friday at midnight and "will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground," President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night in his 11-minute address.

The president urged Americans to take proper precautions and called on Congress to take further action on payroll tax relief.

"We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus," Trump said.

The virus has infected more than 1,000 Americans and at least 38 people have died of the virus nationwide.

The Trump administration has earlier restricted travel from China and Iran.
Jyotiraditya Scindias exit from the Congress has led to some churn within the party, especially from the young brigade that is sending messages to the leadership on the top.

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is the latest to react to Scindias exit, calling it unfortunate. Unfortunate to see @JM_Scindia parting ways with @INCIndia. I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party, he said on Twitter on Wednesday.

Unfortunate to see @JM_Scindia parting ways with @INCIndia. I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party.  Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) March 11, 2020

Another young Congress leader, Kuldeep Bishnoi from Haryana, had earlier said that party leadership should have done more to convince Scindia to stay.

ALSO WATCH | How Jyotiraditya Scindias induction will help the BJP

@JM_Scindias departure is a big blow to @INCIndia. He was a central pillar in the party & the leadership shouldve done more to convince him to stay. Like him, there are many other devoted INC leaders across the country who feel alienated, wasted & discontented. Indias oldest party needs to empower young leaders who have the capacity to work hard & resonate with the masses, Bishnoi had tweeted on Tuesday, shortly after Scindia posted his resignation letter.

.@JM_Scindias departure is a big blow to @INCIndia. He was a central pillar in the party & the leadership shouldve done more to convince him to stay. Like him, there are many other devoted INC leaders across the country who feel alienated, wasted & discontented. 1/2 https://t.co/oTLXuqTAui  Kuldeep Bishnoi (@bishnoikuldeep) March 10, 2020

Scindia quit the Congress party after 18 years, blaming his decision on the inertia and denial mode it is living in. Todays Congress party is not the same as it used to be, Scindia said as he jouined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday.

The Harvard and Stanford University-educated Scindia has been the Congress pillar of strength not just in Madhya Pradesh but in the Centre as well. He was one of its top assets in Parliament as well as the organisation.

During the UPA government, Scindia was inducted in the Union council of ministers first as the minister of state for communications and information technology in 2008. A year later, in the second UPA government, the young Scindia was given the charge of Commerce and Industry as the minister of state.

On October 28, 2012, Scindia was made the Union minister of state (independent charge) for power. Among the young Turks of the Congress, he was the first to be given an independent charge as a minister of state.

In Parliament, Rahul Gandhi, Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Milind Deora and Jitin Prasada were seen as a close-knit group that sat next to each other and often led the partys attack against the political rivals. A fiery orator, Scindia was later made the chief whip of the party in the 16th Lok Sabha when Narendra Modi came to power at the Centre in 2014.
Public health officials are recommending people keep their distance from one another as the first positive tests for coronavirus in Manitoba were confirmed Thursday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (669 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Public health officials are recommending people keep their distance from one another as the first positive tests for coronavirus in Manitoba were confirmed Thursday.

While social distancing may be simple way to help minimize the virus spread, avoiding public spaces is easier said than done for some residents.

Jerson Salas relies on Winnipeg Transit; he doesnt have any other way to get to and from his construction and casino jobs. Waiting for a No. 15 bus downtown and wearing a moustache-print medical mask after a medical appointment, Salas said hes keeping to himself amid virus fears.

"I stayed home for a couple days and don't really go out as much  I just go pretty much to where I need to work and then go back home," he said.

Manitobas chief public health officer, Dr. Brent Roussin, announced the provinces first presumptive COVID-19 case  a 40-year-old Winnipeg woman who recently travelled to the Philippines  Thursday morning.

Jerson Salas needs to use the bus to get to work, but has been keeping to himself otherwise. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Two additional positive test results  two men in their 30s believed to have contracted the virus while travelling  were announced by the province in a late-afternoon statement. There was no information provided on whether those cases were connected.

"All Manitobans have a role in protecting ourselves and our communities," Roussin said, adding residents should start applying "social distancing" strategies.

Social distancing involves minimizing prolonged, close contact with others in public, avoiding handshakes and other touch-centric greetings, disinfecting surfaces, avoiding large gatherings and thinking carefully about travel plans.

Manitoba Health defines prolonged, close contact as more than 10 minutes within two metres of other people  conditions that are difficult to avoid on public transit.

"If you're forced to, and you have to go somewhere, then you really don't have a choice, do you?" Salas said.

Some people waiting in bus shelters downtown were taking some basic precautions, but most arent ready to panic yet.

Tanya Thind isnt more worried about COVID-19 than about any other viruses just yet, but is prepared by carrying hand sanitizer and not touching things on the bus. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

"For the most part, I feel like people aren't really coughing in my face, so it's fine," said student Tanya Thind, who was waiting for a bus outside the University of Winnipeg.

Thind said she has to go to school and cant avoid crowded spaces, but added that she isnt more worried about COVID-19 than about any other viruses just yet.

"I have a whole bunch of hand sanitizer with me all the time, and I try not to touch too many things on the bus," she said.

But 90-year-old Susan Burns, who just returned from a family trip to California, is concerned about being out in public.

"I do believe it really is frightening," she said, waiting at a bus shelter. "It's worse for children and old people, and I'm old people."

(Based on available evidence, children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults. While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, adults make up most of the known cases to date.)

Susan Burns is being cautious by wearing gloves in public spaces, washing and sanitizing her hands often and practising good cough hygiene. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press)

Burns was out and about Thursday for the first time since returning from the U.S. last weekend. Shes being cautious by wearing gloves in public spaces, washing and sanitizing her hands often and practising good cough hygiene.

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"I'm not too worried about Winnipeg, but like I said, I wear my gloves and I'm not going to touch anything until I get home now," she said.

For its part, Winnipeg Transit hasnt taken any precautionary measures yet, but that could change as the city looks to the province for guidance on best practices.

Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service assistant chief of emergency management Jason Shaw told a press conference Thursday the city is studying its operations to decide how to respond to provincial social distancing policies.

"That may include some of the things that have been mentioned already in terms of additional cleaning inside city properties," Shaw said.

The city plans to provide further updates as information becomes available.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca
Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, launched its first creative campaign for 2020 to mark the debut of their flagship SUV - Audi Q8 in India. Conceptualized by BBH India, the campaign - #8thDimesionReimagined is a collaboration with eight eminent artists curated in association with Kunal Anand Curator, Art and Design director of Mumbai - based collective - Kulture Shop.

A combination of a four-door luxury coupe and a versatile SUV, the Audi Q8 is equipped with a powerful yet efficient 3.0 TFSI engine. The Q8 is big on customization with 54 exterior colors, 11 interior colors and 9 wooden inlays to choose from, leading to Infinite personalization possibilities. Richly equipped, comprehensively connected and tough enough to take on off-roads, the Audi Q8 is a perfect companion for business, lifestyle and performance.

Extending the global Audi campaign, Welcome to the 8th Dimension the idea was to bring to the fore the Audi Q8s avant-garde design language, imposing road presence, impressive performance and exclusivity. By contextualizing the global brief to meet the nuances of the Indian market, the creative team at BBH conceptualised #8thDimensionReimagined  a world of limitless possibilities, fuelled by imagination straight out of the 8th dimension. Theres no one solitary image that can do justice to this boundless concept, thus the team looked towards the world of visual art to bring to life the concepts myriad possibilities with the Audi Q8 as the stimulus. The team sought out 8 extraordinary artists, avant-gardists, new-media obsessives, whore leaving a strong imprint with their distinct aesthetic and design language. The following 8 artists were chosen: Priyesh Trivedi, Johnny Ganta, Pavan Rajurkar, Price Lunawara, Prateek Vatash, Yogesh Bhusare, Sawant Sanskar and Rajeev Thakkar. Once briefed, they applied their ingenuity and imagination to create far-out visual representations of the 8th Dimension with the Audi Q8s impressive colour palette as a base.

Commenting on this initiative, Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head Audi India commented, With the Audi Q8, we are targeting individuals who want their car to match their personality. Each Audi Q8 is made-to-order, available with a plethora of customization options to choose from; we want every Q8 in the country to look different, from the outside and the inside. The Audi Q8 is imported to India as a fully built unit and there will be only 200 units on offer. We have entered a new segment with the Audi Q8 but the guiding principles remain the same  bold design, cutting edge technology and exciting performance. The 3.0L TFSI engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology, progressive steering and air suspension make every drive in the Audi Q8 memorable. The launch of our new flagship SUV marks the beginning of a power-packed year for us and we are confident that the Audi Q8 will attract enthusiasts who enjoy driving.

Russell Barrett, CCO and Managing Partner, BBH India added, Most people pay to avoid advertising, we wanted to create work that people might pay to own. This idea allowed us to blur the lines between culture and advertising and thats something we try to do in different ways all the time. We collaborated with eight exciting, experimental artists who applied their imagination and ingenuity to create representations of the 8th dimension. We worked closely with the artists and Kulture Shop to mould the ideas into pieces of art that actually communicated a single point. The interpretation of the 8th dimension of course differed from artist to artist depending on their style and perspective. What we came out with through this collaboration are eight stunning pieces of art that are also ads.

Credits

Agency: BBH India

Chief Creative Officer & Managing Partner: Russell Barrett

CEO & Managing Partner: Subhash Kamath

Managing Director & Managing Partner: Arvind Krishnan

Head of Strategy and Managing Partner: Sanjay Sharma

Executive Creative Director: Nivedita Agashe

Creative Partner (COPY): Rohan Mathew, Jugal Joseph

Creative Partner (ART): Akshay Keluskar

Jr. Creative Partner (ART): Jharna Sukhani

Head of Production: Rahul Kulkarni

Strategy Partner: Nikhil Chinnari

Business Director: Chetan Mane

Business Partner: Shaily Parmar, Nikita Wadhwa, Mihir Amrite

Production House: Mothership Productions
Kim Kardashian shared a book excerpt to Twitter on Wednesday that she claimed predicted the coronavirus outbreak years earlier.

The 39-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star posted a photo from the 2008 book End Of Days, written by the late Sylvia Brown, an author who claimed to be psychic.

The excerpt claimed that a 'severe pneumonia-like illness' would occur globally in 2020.

Spooky: Kim Kardashian, 39, shared a book excerpt to Twitter on Wednesday from self-styled psychic Sylvia Browne that she claimed predicted the coronavirus outbreak years earlier; shown February 9

Kim shared a photo of the circled passage to Twitter and copied it to her Instagram Stories.

'Kourtney just sent this on our group chat,' she wrote.

Browne wrote that the illness 'will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments.

'Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later, and then disappear completely,' she wrote.

Close: Browne wrote that the illness 'will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments' in her 2008 book End Of Days

Weird coincidence: Some users connected it to a passage from Dean Koontz's 1983 thriller The Eyes Of Darkness, which describes a 'strain of man-made microorganism,' called 'Wuhan-400'

Browne wrote the book with Lindsay Harrison, and it was published five years before her 2013 death at age 77.

Fact-checking website Snopes.com points out that the SARS virus had occurred a few years before she published the book and might have inspired the passage.

Her description of a 'pneumonia-like illness' that attacks the 'lungs and bronchial tubes' seems to describe the respiratory illness fairly well.

However, most people who contract the COVID-19 disease well experience fairly mild symptoms, though people over 60 and those with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of complications or death.

Browne's paragraph also goes far beyond this current outbreak.

The passage was quickly spread around social media, and some users connected it to an eerie passage from Dean Koontz's 1983 thriller The Eyes Of Darkness, which describes a 'strain of man-made microorganism,' called 'Wuhan-400.

The COVID-19 illness caused by the novel coronavirus was first reported in China's Hubei province and it's capital city Wuhan, although the virus was not man-made.

Not quite: Browne's unnamed virus sounds far more severe than the COVID-19 illness, and her prediction that it will quickly disappear then return 10 years later is unlikely; shown in 2010

Poor track record: Brown infamously helped with many kidnapping investigations and often gave false or discredited information to law enforcement or families; pictured in 2010

Browne was best known in her lifetime for writing over 40 books and was a frequent guest on talk shows, during which she would do psychic readings with guests or callers.

But she was nearly as infamous for her repeated false or discredited predictions.

In 2002, she claimed that the kidnapped 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck was abducted by a Latino man with dreadlocks and dark skin, but when Hornbeck was found alive in 2007, it turned out he was kidnapped by a white man.

In 2004, Browne told the mother of Amanda Berry that her kidnapped daughter was dead, going as far as to suggest her body had been disposed of in water and that DNA from the killer might be found on her jacket.

Berry's mother died two years later, and Berry was found alive with two other abducted women.

Browne made numerous other significant errors while predicting the outcomes of abductions, and she even got the age she would die at wrong by 11 years.

Safety first: Kim shared what she called the best way to greet people without shaking hands to her 162 million Instagram followers earlier on Wednesday while at her sister Khloe Kardashian's house; shown March 1 in Paris

First things first: Kim and Khloe had a doctor and a friend visiting who decided to demonstrate her preferred method of greeting in order to keep down disease transmission

Earlier on Wednesday, Kim revealed her preferred method of greeting people while keeping disease transmission low.

She filmed a friend and a visiting doctor bumping their feet against each other as a greeting, rather than shaking hands or elbow bumping.

'So you should not do elbows, because you cough into your elbow,' she explained. 'So no more elbows!' she said.

However, the World Health Organization's DirectorGeneral Adhanom Ghebreyesus recommends staying 1 meter (3ft) away, so Kim's method may still keep people too close to prevent the spread of coronavirus or other illnesses.

Tap dancing: They faced each other and tapped the side of the shoes together diagonally like a handshake, first one foot then the other
He's just days away from saying goodbye to Weatherfield for a new life in a retirement home.

But Coronation Street fans have been venting their fury on social media, as it was revealed that Ken Barlow is planning to leave his beloved dog Eccles.

Viewers took to Twitter to vent their frustration as it was revealed that Ken wouldn't be bringing his pet pooch to the Still Waters home, where he is planning to move with partner Claudia Colby.

What? Coronation Street fans have been venting their fury on social media, as it was revealed that Ken Barlow is planning to leave his beloved dog Eccles

During Wednesday's show, Ken (played by William Roache) remained conflicted about the prospect of living in a retirement home, after it was first confirmed he'd be leaving the cobbles last month.

The soap veteran struggled to confide in Claudia (Rula Lensky), who is thrilled about their new living arrangements.

But in a tragic twist, it seemed that Ken would have to leave his beloved pet terrier Eccles, who has been a staple on the Street for many years.

Of course it's likely that the pooch will still be cared for by one of the Barlow clan, but that didn't stop fans taking to Twitter to vent their fury.

Shocking: In Wednesday's show, Ken revealed that he'd agreed to leave Eccles behind to move into the Still Waters retirement home with partner Claudia Colby

One wrote: 'To leave the Street is bad enough to leave Eccles don't do it Ken.'

Another penned: 'Can't believe Eccles isn't able to go to Still Waters, don't go Ken! #Corrie.'

A third tweeted: 'Seriously, can't believe Ken's prepared to leave Eccles behind #Corrie.'

'Hold on... eccles being left behind? big sad :( #Corrie.' another upset viewer penned.

Outraged: News that Ken would be abandoning his beloved pet at home left many viewers devastated, and they took to Twitter to share their upset

Departing: Next week Ken will finally say goodbye to his home on Coronation Street to move into Still Waters, despite his doubts about leaving Weatherfield behind

Next week Ken will finally say goodbye to his home on Coronation Street to move into Still Waters with partner Claudia.

But it appears that all is not as it seems, as Ken is reunited with old friend Norris Cole, who is desperately trying to escape after seeing his partner Freda's true colours.

It remains to be seen whether Ken will be sticking around on Still Waters, after news of his exit left from the Street left many soap fans devastated.

The tragic news was revealed during Corrie's 10,000th episode, though actor William Roache insisted he has no plans to leave the soap, and would be sticking around for the soap's 60th Anniversary later this year.

Coronation Street continues on Friday with an hour long episode at 7:30pm on ITV.
The BBC is the worlds most well-known and widely used public-service media organization, reaching more than 400 million people globally every week, and by far the most widely used source of news in the United Kingdom, but it currently faces two existential threats. The first threat, which is urgent and political, concerns how public-service media such as the BBC are funded. The second threat is less overt but more fundamental; it concerns the role of public-service media in a digital environment where people have more choices than ever.

As set out in its Royal Charter, the BBCs mission is to act in the public interest in ways that serve all audiences. Its independence is enshrined in the charter as well as its governance; the BBC Board is tasked with upholding and protecting the independence of the BBC, and is expressly prohibited from seeking or taking government instructions.

The BBC is funded primarily through a licence fee of 154.50 (about $200) a year that every household in the UK is required to pay in order to watch live TV or programs on catch-up services such as BBC iPlayer. In the fiscal year that ended in March 2019, this licence fee provided a total of 3.6 billion (more than $4.5 billion).

The urgent threat is to the licence-fee model of funding. Like all other public-service media, the BBC is fundamentally a political creation, and its existence depends on continued broad-based political support. While it is widely used, trusted, and liked by the public, it is not clear that the BBC has broad political support in the UK today.

The 2019 general election gave Prime Minister Boris Johnson a solid majority. While our research shows Conservatives find the BBC to be one of the most trustworthy news-media outlets in the UK, some Conservative politicians and political operatives regard it with considerable skepticism. At best, they see it as an inefficient and outdated statist intervention in the marketplace; at worst, as politically biased.

ARCHIVES: Boris Johnson and the limits of journalism

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What might they do? Dominic Cummings, Johnsons chief advisor, allegedly wants to whack the BBC, and unnamed sources from the Prime Ministers office have suggested scrapping the license fee and forcing the BBC to adopt a subscription model akin to Sky and Netflix. Such a move would greatly reduce the resources available for public-service coverage, force the BBC to focus on serving paying subscribers rather than all audiences, and put it in direct competition with domestic and international commercial competitors. (A less controversial step to weaken the BBC would be to de-criminalize non-payment of the licence fee or just reduce funding.) It would fundamentally transform public-service media, essentially replacing the current model with something narrower, and more elite- and niche-oriented.

At first, the idea to ditch the license fee met with resistance even from within the Conservative Party, with MP Huw Merriman calling it an unedifying vendetta against this much-admired corporation. Other sources suggest the Prime Ministers own approach to the BBC is more likely to be reform than revolution. But even if the drastic option of moving to a subscription model seems off the table, it illustrates the existential political threat to the BBC as we know it.

Such a threat is not without precedent. In New Zealand, the public broadcasting fee was abolished in 1999, leaving public service media dependent on funding from general taxation, and subject to frequent changes in government priorities. In Denmark, the public service provider DR, as widely used and broadly trusted as the BBC, saw a right-wing government push through a 20-percent reduction in its funding in 2019, which has led DR to close several channels with a combined viewership of more than a million in a country of just over 5.5 million.

Neutralizing this political threat will require more than just creative elites with liberal and leftist sympathies expressing their love for the BBC. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyns supporters have their own grievances against the BBC, but they are far from power. Fundamentally, the political legitimacy of public-service media requires that a broad majority of elected officials feels that the BBC is not politically biased, and agrees that it delivers public value for public money. Given who is in power and where the most pointed political attacks on the BBC are coming from right now, retaining that majority requires showcasing the specifically conservative case for public-service media.

Offline, the BBC remains the biggest UK broadcaster in terms of audience engagement. Online, it is bigger than its domestic commercial competitors, but far smaller than some of its international commercial competitors.

Such a case might stress that the BBC is one of the few institutions in British society that brings together the four nations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It could point out that the BBC might help counter the growing disconnection between metropolitan London and the rest of the country. It could stress that the BBC can help define, represent, and share British values for citizens old and new in a world where much of the media we consume is international, rather than locally and nationally rooted. It could point out that the Conservative Party, in its election manifesto, pledged to work with the BBC to expand British influence and project British values as the UK seeks a new geopolitical role in the wake of Brexit.

Will conservatives who care about community and cohesion really want to dismantle one of the few institutions that bring the British together? The new Conservative Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden does not seem to think so. In his first speech on the BBC, he said, We would be crazy to throw it away, but it must reflect all of our nation, and all perspectives.

This leads us to the second threat, the erosion of the attention and trust that connects the public and the BBC. While it remains the most widely used and most broadly trusted media organization in the UK, both trust in the BBC and attention to its output seems to be eroding. During the 2019 campaign, a plurality of 43 percent said they thought the BBC did a good job covering the election, but a large minority of 14 percent said it did a bad job, and especially the far left and the far right are sceptical of its work. Attention too is in decline, especially among younger people. Though its Royal Charter still presents the BBC as a broadcaster, we increasingly live in a digital-, mobile-, and platform-dominated media environment where radio and television are niche media for older people. In early 2019, according to our research, the BBC still accounted for 63 percent of all radio listening in the UK, and 31 percent of all linear scheduled television viewing, but just 1.5 percent of all time spent with digital media. By comparison, Googles various products and services made up 22 percent of all time spent with digital media, and Facebooks 14 percent.

Offline, the BBC remains the biggest UK broadcaster in terms of audience engagement. Online, it is bigger than its domestic commercial competitors, but far smaller than some of its international commercial competitors. Such dynamics will only become more pronounced. Every time someone passes away in the UK, it is someone who has spent most of his or her life listening to and watching hours and hours of BBC output via television and radio. Every time someone comes of age, it is someone who primarily relies on their smartphone and often has only a few brief encounters with the BBC on a weekly basis, compared to hours spent with American platforms like Instagram, Netflix, YouTube, and maybe Chinese platforms like TikTok. The BBCs 2019 Annual Plan committed 69 percent of UK public-service spending to television, 21 percent to radio, and 10 percent to online services. For comparison, on average, adults in the UK spend 23 percent of their time with media watching television, 15 percent listening to radio, and 55 percent online, across smartphones, tablets, and personal computers in 2019, according to eMarketer, a media research agency.

Even if the BBC finds a way through the urgent political challenges, the more fundamental question of whether it can retain and renew its connection with the public in a changing media environment remains. How can the BBC fulfill its mission to inform, educate, and entertain all audiences in the UK and deliver public value if younger people spend just minutes with it via their phones, and not the hours older people lavish on its broadcasts? Given growing disparities in use, will the public continue to accept the licence-fee model, in which everyone pays the same flat fee no matter how much they use the BBC, or what they earn, as legitimate? To ensure its future, the BBC needs to demonstrate what truly impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services look like in a digital, mobile, and platform-dominated media environment not just to politicians, but also to the public.

ICYMI: Public radio rethinks its approach to journalism

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Rasmus Kleis Nielsen is Director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and Professor of Political Communication at the University of Oxford. (Full disclosure: the Reuters Institute works with more than thirty different funders, including the BBC.)
Bread for the World President Eugene Cho urges Christians to stop being political 'jerks'

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Eugene Cho wants Christians to stop being jerks, especially in todays increasingly contentious political climate.

In his new book, Thou Shall Not Be a Jerk: A Christians Guide to Engaging Politics, Cho urges readers to stop demonizing those they disagree with and instead follow Jesus and reflect His teachings.

Cho draws on personal stories, pastoral experience, and biblical examples to encourage Christians to vote their convictions while remembering that hope already arrived in the person of Jesus Christ.

This book is meant to encourage and exhort readers with practical things, yet remind that God is still in control, he told The Christian Post. Thats not a license to disengage, but we need to remember that our hope rests in the good news that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and He will accomplish what He says He will do.

Cho founded Quest Church in Seattle in 2001 alongside his wife, Minhee, and served there for 18 years before stepping down in 2018.

Passionate about the pursuit of Gods Kingdom here on this earth, the Korean-American pastor also founded One Days Wages, a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating extreme global poverty. Last week, he was announced as the new president of Bread for the World, a leading Christian anti-hunger and poverty organization.

Read CPs interview with Cho below.

CP: In your book, you say you felt called to write Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk. However, youve also expressed some trepidation about it. Why is that?

EC: Theres always a little nervousness anytime you write a book, but the topic itself in todays cultural climate seems a little more contentious. Like Paul or Jesus, you want to be mindful of the context of the world you live in. I care about people; Im shaped by the bookends of loving God and loving people. Yet were called to engage politics. Its one expression of our discipleship.

As a follower of Jesus, Ive been burdened by this chaotic and confusing time. About 10 years ago, I gave a sermon on the Ten Commandments of how Christians ought to engage politics. The genesis of this book came out of that sermon back then. As I wrote this book, fear enveloped me. There were at least four occasions where I stopped writing it, thinking it was too difficult and messy and there would be too much pushback. But I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to keep going and write this book as an important resource for Christians at this time.

CP: Your first chapter is titled Thou Shalt Not Go to Bed with Political Parties. This can be a counterintuitive idea for many Christians in particular. What are some dangers with blindly backing any one party?

EC: Im not suggesting we cant be behind a particular candidate or give to a party, but theres a borderline obsession that were seeing today. I wrote this book for three groups: those who have disengaged with politics for whatever reason, those who are engaged in politics but have become byproducts of what I would call cultural Christianity, but also for those who are obsessed with politics and allow politics to inform their theology as opposed to the other way around.

When we allow that to take place, it feels like weve gone to bed with political parties, that weve lost a sense of discernment and loyalty. Were so behind a political candidate or party that it becomes idolatry. I believe politics are one of the main idolatries of our time.

CP: You talk about how being a Christian means embracing tension. What do you mean by that?

EC: If were human, if we live in this world, on this side of Heaven, we have to acknowledge that were resurrection people living in a broken Good Friday world. As a result, while we believe in the truth and beauty of the Gospel, we understand that the Kingdom has not yet fully arrived. The word to describe that is tension. Oftentimes, we want a black-and-white, binary perspective of everything. To be a Christian is to acknowledge we never relinquish the hope of the Gospel and resurrection, yet were living in this world. We need to learn what it means to be faithful in times of conflict.

CP: How can Christians engage in politics and be informed without sliding into fear or, conversely, pride?

EC: We have to acknowledge that no political party monopolizes the Kingdom of God. In my pride, I think Im right, but I have to acknowledge my blind spots and imperfections. Im not God and theres no way my thoughts and views encapsulate the Kingdom of God. I think it begins with humility. Now, convictions are important, Im not endorsing being soft. Its good and important to have convictions about our views, our thoughts, and about the Gospel.

We need to be informed. There are lots of new sources, lots of headlines and clickbait on the internet. We need to make a commitment to be informed and stay informed so what moves me in my decision-making process isnt fear or pride, but wisdom.

CP: You stress the importance of relationships for building bridges and for listening. Talk to me about why thats important.

EC: While we live in this tension, its important to remember that the Great Commandment that encapsulates all laws is to love God and love people. To love people, we have to acknowledge it doesnt mean were called to just love those who think like me and vote like me. Jesus gave us the beatitudes to be a guiding light for us. Theres a difference between being political and partisan. Sometimes, we become so enamored with a political party that we become fundamentalistic in our views, forgetting that parties change over time.

We need to have a commitment to listen and make sure were not surrounding ourselves with a bubble or echo chamber. That means breaking bread with people we disagree with. It may not change our views, but it helps us humanize those who disagree with us on passionate issues.

CP: How has your work with One Days Wages influenced your political views?

EC: One Day's Wages is a grassroots humanitarian organization that my family started over 10 years ago. What compels us is our faith. Its the most important thing in our work, marriage and family. And as imperfect human beings who love Jesus, we dont just want to have a theological concept of what it means to love Jesus, we want to live this out in our community and have it impact everything we do.

Faith isnt just about me and myself. My faith informs my politics, as opposed to the other way around. One Days Wages is about followers of Jesus loving their neighborhoods and cities and defining what it means to be a good neighbor to those who dont share my zip code, facial features and religious affiliation. As followers of Jesus, we need to remember Imago Dei. We are all made in the image of God.

CP: How should Christians navigate the 2020 election?

EC: Thats the quintessential question a lot of people are asking me. Im not going to tell people who to vote for, but I think we should be reminding ourselves: What are we about? What are the values were about? What are the ethics that guide and shape and inform us? Are we caring for the vulnerable and marginalized?

Its a very complex question because I have a Gospel-conviction about the sanctity of life, from womb to tomb. I believe the sanctity of life goes beyond American life to around the world. Thats why I mentioned theres no possible way a single party can encapsulate my convictions. Its about being informed, prayerful, discerning, doing due diligence to vote and to engage, but also reminding ourselves that if we reduce our civic engagement as citizens and Christians to one vote every two or four years, were part of the problem. This isnt something we just do every two or four years. To love our neighbors means to be light and salt every day.

My prayer is that this book will encourage and challenge the church, and that means people on all sides of the political spectrum.
External Article

12 March 2020

OYO's Chinese rival H Hotel, a budget hotel chain backed by Shanghai-based hospitality group Huazhu and venture capital firm IDG Capital, has now been merged with Huazhu's economy hotel brand Elan, according to an announcement by the Huazhu Group on March 9.

Separately, Huazhu Group agreed in 2017 to make a USD 10 million equity investment in OYO to become a minority shareholder (with a less than 5% stake), according to Huazhu's 20-F filing to the SEC in 2019. The Indian budget hotel chain is heavily funded by Japan's Softbank.

H Hotel completed its series A funding led by the Huazhu Group and IDG in 2019. Since its establishment in November 2018, H Hotel has made quick moves franchising a total of 2,500 small hotels in Chinese cities of the top three tiers as of 2019. Elan Hotel, on the other hand, has more than 600 hotels in its portfolio.

The merger between the two brands did not come as a surprise amid the coronavirus outbreak.
A subway collision which occurred shortly before midnight in Mexico City killed a male passenger and injured 41 others

The two-train collision disrupted service on the metro service which serves over 20 million people.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum announced the accident via her Twitter. Sheinbaum said the incident, which occurred around 11:37 in the evening, was caused by one of the trains accidentally reversing into the other at the central Tacubaya station.

Me reportan el impacto de dos convoys del Metro en la estacion Tacubaya. Bomberos me informa de 41 heridos y una persona que lamentablemente perdio la vida. Me dirijo en este momento al lugar.  Claudia Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein) March 11, 2020

One train was said to be heading for the garage to prepare for Wednesday's morning service when the accident occurred.

Emergency institutions responded to the scene immediately.

Twenty-five people received light to medium injuries and were treated at the scene. 16 others were immediately taken to hospitals nearby to receive proper medical care. Sheinbaum said none of the injuries sustained by victims were life-threatening.

Hours later, Rosa Icela Rodriguez, Sheinbaum's chief of staff, announced only four remained in hospitals.

Authorities reported the two unnamed drivers of the train were among those injured.

Mexico City Metro director Florencia Serrania said both black boxes were turned over to the city prosecutor's office and will be used in further investigations. Both black boxes were reported to be intact.

Serrania said the line is expected to be ready for service by Thursday morning after workers finish clearing the track.

Video footage of the accident showed rescuers and civilians trying to rescue people stuck in the jammed Mexican subway cars.

Witnesses near the collision said they heard a loud boom that resembled a transformer's explosion that was quickly followed by burned odor. They also said people who emerged from the station a moment later looked dazed and in shock.

Metro director Florencia Serrania said five cars were damaged on each train.

Emergency officers arrived at the scene 10 minutes later.

Tacubaya Station

The Tacubaya station is one of the most vital stations for Mexico's Metro system. It hosts three of the metro's 12 lines. The recent accident left hundreds waiting for buses outside the station.

Metro Authorities said service on Line 1 will be reduced until further notice. 45 buses were deployed to accommodate affected commuters.

According to official figures, Mexico City's Metro system served more than 1.6 billion passengers in 2018. Official figures said it currently serves about 4.4 million a day.

Other Accidents

The Mexico City Metro System is one of the largest and most transited metro systems in the world. It has also been the site of two grave accidents since it opened five decades ago.

In 2015, a metro train accidentally ran into a parked train at the platform at Oceania Station. The accident left 12 people injured. The accident was found to be caused by "double human error." No fatalities were reported.

In 1975, a train crashed into a parked train at the Viaducto station when it did not stop in time. 31 people were killed in the accident while 70 were left injured. The accident is still considered the worst railroad accident in Mexico City. The driver, Carlos Fernandez, was held responsible for the accident and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran on Thursday alleged that the state government has failed to put effective surveillance at the airport, which led to fear and scare among the people with regards to coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to media persons, he demanded that the state government should immediately call an all-party meeting to discuss the current situation.

"A panel of medical experts should be formed, who should come up with medical bulletin on a daily basis. Instead of the Health Minister briefing the media, it will be better if experts do it," he said.

Ramachandran said the government should alleviate the fear that has gripped the state over the outbreak of COVID-19.

"The government is planning to cut short the ongoing Assembly Session. This will only add to the panic and send out a wrong message," he said.

He said the state government should bring back Keralites stranded in Italy.

"Hundreds of Keralites who came for vacation from the Middle East are now unable to go back to join duty due to travel restrictions. Kerala government should interfere to extend their visa and ensure they don't lose their jobs. Also, the government should bring back Keralites stranded in Italy," he added.

The KPCC chief also demanded that the liquor outlets be closed considering the current situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Why did Aissa Maigas speech calling out racism in the French film industry receive no support at the 2020 Cesar Awards?

Imagine televisions in this country exclusively transmitting images of Black people, telling stories of Black people, for Black people  Imagine, our dear compatriots, being absent, invisible  But rest assured, it is us who are absent. And this is not a fiction.

In February 2000, actor/director Luc Saint-Eloy and novelist Calixthe Beyala gate-crashed the 25th annual Cesar Awards Ceremony in Paris and walked on stage to deliver a powerful speech on the lack of black representation in French cinema and television.

The unexpected disruption to the stream of pleasant, congratulatory speeches left the predominantly white audience of the French Oscars speechless. They were all frozen in surprise and discomfort.

A lot has changed in French cinema in the two decades that followed, at least on the surface. We see many more black and brown faces in French movies and television shows these days. Saint-Eloy and Beyala are no longer in the mainstream public sphere, but the problem they highlighted in that landmark speech 20 years ago is still not resolved. The few black actors and actresses active in the industry struggle to find parts that do not reduce them to racial stereotypes.

This is why another person of colour felt the need to call out the lack of diversity on French screens once again this past February.

Aissa Maiga took the stage at this years Cesar Awards to present the best female newcomer award looking every part the elegant, beautiful and smiley actress she is expected to be. As she walked towards the stage, the audience enthusiastically applauded her, expecting to hear an ordinary introduction complimenting the nominees and perhaps stealing a few laughs with stale but polite one-liners. When she started her speech by greeting the few black faces in the audience (just 12 in a total of 1,600), however, it became clear to everyone in the glamorous venue that she was not there to make them feel good about themselves.

The black woman stood tall and alone on the empty stage for almost five minutes and addressed the elephant in the room with surgical precision. We survived whitewashing, blackface, tonnes of dealer roles, housekeepers with a Bwana accent, we survived the roles of terrorists, all the roles of hypersexualised girls, Maiga told the attendees. But we are not going to leave French cinema alone.

As the camera spun across the room, actors, directors, producers and TV personalities were all seen shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Even when Maiga tried to engage them by declaring inclusion cannot happen without you, the reception was incredibly icy.

The sea of impatient, unresponsive and even hostile faces staring back at her was proof that not much has changed, really, since Saint-Eloy and Beyala took that very same stage 20 years ago.

Maigas speech immediately caused a media storm, demonstrating the impact her words had on the wider French society.

One major national newspaper, Le Monde, described her speech as aggressive while right-wing MEP Nadine Morano suggested the actress should go back to Africa if she is unhappy to see so many white people.

There we are. The angry black woman has no place in France. She should behave and show gratefulness, or go back to where she came from.

This was not the first time Maiga spoke about the lack of diversity in her profession. Just two years ago, she was one of the 16 black actresses who took over the Cannes Film Festivals famous red-carpet-clad steps, wearing matching black and white Balmain dresses, to call out lack of representation in French cinema. The reaction she received back then, however, was visibly different. As the actresses, who had all signed the book-manifesto Black is not my profession, danced and posed in front of the cameras, the spectators were nothing but supportive. The consequent media reports on their protest also only talked of their beauty, style and courage.

So why was her speech last month, highlighting the very same issues, received so negatively?

Because black people in France, especially the ones in the public eye, are allowed to call out racism as long as they are not being overtly political and forcing the rest of society to accept their part in the problem. They are allowed to speak out as long as they do so using humour, music and dance. They need to be reassuring in order to be heard.

Nevertheless, there is an awakening in the French film industry. When Roman Polanski, who fled the United States after being charged with drugging and raping a 13-year-old child, was named best director at this years Cesar Awards Ceremony, for example, many did not hesitate to call the decision shameful. When the prize was announced, actress Adele Haenel, who recently revealed that she was sexually assaulted by a film director when she was a minor, walked out. Several actors and directors, including Maiga, immediately followed suit. There were crowds outside chanting Polanski is a rapist.

The criticism the Cesars received for honouring someone like Polanski is a sign that things are changing in Frances film industry. People are finally prepared to take those in positions of power to task. But real change can only be achieved when this reaction is intersectional. The same power structures that allow a sexual predator to be celebrated as a great director also ensure that the widespread racism in the film industry remains unchallenged.

Adele Haenel received widespread support for standing up to the patriarchy, but when Maiga asked for some help in the fight against white supremacy, she received condemnation and was ignored by many commentators. At that historic ceremony, both Haenel and Maiga defiantly said enough to the old world controlling their lives and careers, and they both deserve respect and recognition. The only way to defeat oppression and discrimination is through solidarity, even in the movies.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:11:24|Editor: xuxin

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ALGIERS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Health Ministry on Thursday announced the first death from the COVID-19 in the North African country, local media reported.

The victim, a 67-year-old man in the province of Blida, 50 km southeast of the capital Algiers, died overnight on Wednesday, a ministry statement was quoted as saying.

With five new patients, Algeria has so far reported 24 coronavirus cases, the statement noted, citing the latest figures.

The new cases were detected in the three provinces of Blida, Tizi Ouzou and Souk Ahras, according to the statement.

The Algerian government has taken several measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, including suspending flights to the affected countries, banning fans from attending sport events, and postponing training programs abroad for local athletes.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 12:17:33|Editor: Xiaoxia

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CANBERRA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The proportion of Australians working after the age of 65 has doubled in 10 years, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday.

Four percent of all people employed in Australia were aged 65 and over in 2016, up from 2 percent in 2006.

Older Australians were most likely to work in the agricultural industry, which accounted for more than 25 percent of workers over the age of 65 and only 3 percent under that age.

Almost three quarters of those who continued to work past 65 were male, though two thirds reduced the number of hours worked.

The data was contained in the ABS' Australian Longitudinal Census Dataset (ALCD), which compares the findings of the Australian Censuses taken in 2006, 2011 and 2016.

"The ACLD allows us to develop unique insights from three censuses going back to 2006," Michael Beahan, the ABS Program Manager of Data Integration Operations, said in a media release.

"By exploring this longitudinal census data, we can better understand the characteristics and transitions for people approaching retirement age, exploring changes in employment, living arrangements and geographic location."

The pension age for Australians born between mid-1952 and December 1953 is 65 years and six months but is gradually being increased to 67 for those born from the beginning of 1957 onwards.

Those aged 65 and over can access their superannuation, the compulsory system established by the government under which a percentage of a person's income is placed into a retirement fund, while also working.
Mayur Resources moves closer to new cement and lime project go-ahead

12 March 2020

Mayur Resources' vision to build Papua New Guineas first cement project is becoming clearer after the company announced it had signed all the landholder compensation agreements required for the development of its flagship Central Cement and Lime project, near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.



Ongoing due diligence is continuing with potential strategic funding partners for the US$350m project which has a target annual production of 1.65Mta cement/clinker and 200,000tpa of quicklime for supply to Papua New Guinea, Australia and Pacific markets.



The backing of 35 local landholders emphasises the significant community support for the project while providing major impetus for the company's mining lease application currently being assessed by the Mineral Resources Authority.



Memorandum of Agreement negotiations have also commenced that will complement a granted mining lease, whereby PNG State fiscal incentive regime, landowner spin off businesses and other central province and PNG state support arrangements will be captured.



Mayur's Lime & Cement CEO Kevin Savory, who hosted the signing ceremony in Port Moresby, said the project provided immense value to all stakeholders. "We are grateful for the support of our Central Cement & Limestone Project which will dramatically improve the socio-economic outcomes for local communities as well as Papua New Guinea which has declared a strongly focussed agenda for nation building and import displacement amid a rising economic trajectory," Mr Savory said.



"It not only serves Papua New Guinea's future cement and lime requirements but also responds to Australia's increasing shift to imports of clinker and cement brought about by ageing cement plants and rising costs."

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(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @XboxSeriesInfo)

Ubisoft's management and Xbox' Phil Spencer promises to host digital events as a substitute to 2020's E3 convention. The annual E3 event was canceled due to the COVID-2019 threat.

Via Twitter, Spencer told everyone that they would be celebrating the next generation of gamers. He also stated that E3 is very important for them.

Read More: No 4K for Doom Eternal! Is Stadia Losing Their Grip?





Xbox and Ubisoft Announcement

Ubisoft also announced something similar to what Xbox is on the mind. This is also something that the ESA has recommended for developers and publishers as they say that they are exploring alternative things for E3 to happen even on a small scale.

ESA finally confirmed that they are hosting an online variation of E3 to emulate the experience that the event is supposed to imply. Although there are still no words of confirmation whether the Xbox and other significant tech companies will join, Xbox 's announcement is more than enough for people to get excited.

E3 2020 cancellations aren't an easy thing to do, and in fact, everything is not decided by only one person. Instead, all members of the organization partake in the decision.

E3 and Coronavirus Threat

Everyone on E3's organizing team is sad about the said decision, but they should put the safety of anyone at a pedestal.

E3 organizers have also gathered a lot of data to look through to come up with a reliable and correct decision. Upon thoughtful suggestions and enough data collected, they finally decided to cancel everything on E3.

E3's statement is directed towards its fans and everyone involved in the media and video game industry. The organizers have also promised to make E3 2021 a re-imagined and polished event due to insistent public demand.

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Affected Delays

The coronavirus is also expected to be changing more than just E3, but rather also does who are near or related to E3 by any chance. GDC and SXSW have canceled its music, media, and arts festival due to similar reasons. Music festivals are usually overcrowded, and those who are famous are experiencing more than hundreds of thousands of attendees. Considering this huge number, the virus can easily travel from one place to another.

Another delay is the most-awaited Playstation 5. The next-generation console of Sony will arrive Holiday 2020, but since even the E3 got canceled, there's a slight chance that the full reveal and launch may also be affected.

The Xbox Series X, Microsoft's answer to the Sony PS5, may also face delays like its competitor. There is also a very high chance that a PS5 reveal may come on E3, but since it got canceled, players might need to wait even further.

One more thing that fuels the delay of the next-generation consoles would be their manufacturing and their production equipment and materials since the COVID-19 may also live in these places.

E3 is an annual event and gathering of gamers, companies, and developers around the world. But even if the most anticipated gaming event of the year got canceled, there are still a lot of ways to celebrate gaming.

Read More: Cash is OUT: Contactless Payment is IN Due to Coronavirus













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The coronavirus is dominating headlines at the moment, leaving a lot of us wondering what some of the related words actually mean. (Getty Images)

Latest coronavirus news, updates and advice

Live: Follow all the latest updates from the UK and around the world

Fact-checker: The number of Covid-19 cases in your local area

Explained: Symptoms, latest advice and how it compares to the flu

The coronavirus outbreak is continuing to make headlines in the UK, as more people are tested and more cases revealed.

With coverage of a new virus such as this one comes a wealth of rarely-used terms, from epidemic to pandemic and social distancing, which can cause confusion.

These are words we need to get familiar with.

Coronaviruses

Most of us are describing this particular strain of illness as the coronavirus rather than Covid-19.

In fact, coronaviruses refers to a group of viruses that cause a whole host of illnesses. These include illnesses from the common cold to more serious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses are zoonotic which means they can be transferred from animals to humans.

Common signs of all coronavirus infections include: fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome and even death.

This chart shows how the symptoms of cold, flu and coronavirus differ. (Yahoo UK)

Covid-19

Covid-19 is the official name given to the type of coronavirus we are dealing with at the moment. This strain of coronavirus originated in Wuhan City, China, at the end of 2019.

This disease was named by the World Health Organisation on 11 February 2020 and it officially stands for Corona Virus Disease 2019.

Self-isolation

Self-isolation is a term that has been used a lot recently. Simply put, self-isolation means staying in your home and avoiding contact with other people as much as possible in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.

People who are told by the NHS to self-isolate are asked to stay indoors for 14 days.

The NHS recommends that people who have been asked to self-isolate should not invite visitors over, shouldnt go to work, school, use public transport or spend time in any other public areas. They also should not share dishes, plates and glasses with anybody else in their home.

Story continues

Social distancing

This is another example of limiting the spread of the disease by reducing contact with other people.

Social distancing, which means maintaining one-metre space, measures might include closing schools, home working and the reduction of large-scale public gatherings.

Unlike self-isolation, it doesnt require people to stay in their homes and instead just take necessary precautions to reduce human contact.

Some of the terminology around the coronavirus might seem confusing. (Getty Images)

Community transmission

When this strain of coronavirus first arrived in the UK, it was mostly contracted by people who had travelled to an affected area such as China and later Italy.

Many people also contracted it through friends and relatives who had the disease.

Community transmission refers to the group of people who have contracted Covid-19 having never been to an infected country or been in contact with somebody who has the virus.

Epidemic

An epidemic is a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease in a geographical area. Before the coronavirus spread to the rest of the world, it was described as an epidemic within Wuhan, China.

Pandemic

A pandemic is a disease that is spreading across multiple countries at the same time. Ultimately, its when an epidemic spreads.

The coronavirus outbreak has recently been upgraded to a pandemic based on its prevalence in so many countries.

WHO chief, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, made this call after cases outside of China increased 13-fold in two weeks.

Upgrading a disease to a pandemic doesnt change the way that countries should manage diseases, per se, its simply a name to describe the current situation.

Endemic

An endemic is a type of disease that exists permanently in a particular location. An example of an endemic is malaria within certain parts of Africa.

Unlike an epidemic and a pandemic, its an ongoing issue with no end date.

Outbreak

An outbreak is a term used to describe how many cases of the coronavirus there has been. When something is described as an outbreak, it means there are more cases than expected of a particular virus.

Containment phase

The UK has three main phases of managing the coronavirus outbreak; containment, delay and mitigation. These will all progress alongside a fourth phase; research into how and why the disease is spreading.

The containment phase refers to steps to stop the disease spreading across the UK for as long as possible.

This phase includes tracing who infected people have come into contact with as well as detecting cases of Covid-19 as early as possible.

Delay phase

The second phase of the UKs action plan is known as the delay phase.

This phase will aim to reduce the peak impact of the disease and might include certain measures like social distancing - the restriction of public gatherings being an example of this.

Mitigation phase

At this stage the government will ensure that support is directed towards hospitals so that they have everything they need to maintain essential services.

This stage is more about reducing the impact of the disease on the overall society by giving citizens everything they might need to recover as quickly as possible.

Category one traveller

People who have travelled to and from certain areas since the outbreak are split into two categories; one and two.

People who fall into category one should self-isolate immediately whether they are feeling symptoms or not.

These places include: the Hubei Province in China, Iran, northern Italy, or Daegu and Cheongdo in South Korea.

Category two traveller

People who fall into category two are people who have visited the following countries: Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

These people should only self-isolate if theyre feeling unwell and call NHS 111 if they develop symptoms.

Additional reporting PA.
Supermarket giant Woolworths has announced it would pay casual staff required to self-isolate due to the coronavirus for shifts they would have otherwise worked during the isolation period.

In a memo sent to staff on Thursday, Woolworths - which is Australia's largest private employer with around 55,000 casual employees - said it wanted to ensure workers who have to be absent due to the outbreak would not be disadvantaged.

Woolworths will pay casual workers who have been affected by the coronavirus. Credit:Patrick Scala

Team members who cannot work due to a Department of Health requirement to self-isolate, or are confirmed as having the virus, would be supported by the company. Workers who are required to care for others who have been isolated, such as children, would also be supported, the company said.

Full- or part-time workers have been directed to take personal or carer's leave where possible, with Woolworths topping up leave for a maximum of two weeks if the worker has already used up their personal leave.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 15:39:23|Editor: huaxia

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HAIKOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Hainan Airlines plans to resume all domestic flights into and out of Hainan, southern China's tourist island, starting Sunday, according to the company.

The airline said it is expected to offer nearly 500 flights on more than 110 air routes each week.

The resumption of domestic air services is expected to bring more tourists to the tropical island as it helps connect Hainan with 39 big and medium-sized cities across the country.

The airline has launched charter flight services for government and enterprise customers since Feb. 19 to fully support work and production resumption all over the country.
The Irish Prison Service has issued a statement asking visitors to prisoners to exercise caution over the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

"In the interests of the health and safety of your family member, friend and the general prison population, the Irish Prison Service are requesting that members of the public are conscious of the dangers of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the community.

"To that end, we are appealing that visitors carefully consider visiting the prison and exercise precaution, following the guidelines, as recommended by the HSE and the Government," they said.

"If you are visiting and have flu like symptoms the Governor of the prison may refuse a visitor entry to the Prison to ensure safe and secure custody to those in his/her care".

They are not restricting visitors from coming to the 11 Irish prisons, which include Portlaoise Prison and Midlands Prison in Portlaoise.

"We are not imposing visitor restrictions at the moment however to prevent the spread of the disease, restrictions such as reduced access may be introduced. The situation is being monitored closely and we will keep the public informed at the earliest notice of any measures that may have to be introduced to prevent the risk of infection entering the prison," the prison service has said.

"Thank you for your understanding and cooperation," they end.

The public is asked to check their website for further updates.
Leaks have finally surfaced for Googles next device -- The Pixel 4a. Just like last year, Google plans to bring in a budget-friendly Pixel device with the stellar camera that is seen on its flagships for a slightly affordable price. While the Pixel 4 wasnt able to achieve the success it hoped it would, looking at the leaks Pixel 4a surely does seem promising.

@evleaks/ Technolike

Display

Pixel 4a is expected to sport a 5.8-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2340x1080 pixels. The display has minimal bezels with a hole punch camera to the top left, which means this phone isnt coming with the LIDAR sensors as the Pixel 4. This also means this phone could come to India. One sad thing, however, is that the display is locked at 60Hz.

Design

According to a hands-on video, courtesy of YouTuber TechnoLike, the device feels like metal but is made of a polycarbonate body, unlike the glass back that we saw on the Pixel 4. Also at the back is a fingerprint sensor. The phone is also retaining the headphone jack.

Under the hood

Under the hood, this mid-range device is rocking some mid-range specs. Leaks hint that the device could be rocking Qualcomms Snapdragon 730, paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It surely isnt a lot, looking at budget smartphone makers offering a whole lot more at a more competitive price. Powering the device could be a disappointing 3080mAh battery.

onleaks

Camera

Google Pixel phones are known for their camera and even last years Pixel 3a, no matter how slow it was performance-wise, it very well compensated that in the camera performance. Leaks indicate that the hole punch front camera is an 8-megapixel shooter, whereas there is a single 12-megapixel camera at the back with an LED flash, housed in a square camera unit -- synonymous to Pixel 4s design language. Looking at the similar megapixel count, it wont be surprising to see the same camera as last years Pixel 3a on the Pixel 4a.

Pricing and availability

According to leakster @evleaks, he stumbled across an image of a Pixel 4a hoarding by Google -- before the phone even officially launched. The leaks show the device is priced at $399 which is approximately Rs 30,000.

If Google were to launch Pixel 4a at this price point to India (which I strongly believe they wont, considering last years Pixel 3a was at a similar price tag in the US but in India, it came to Rs 40,000), the phone will more likely be dead on arrival, with smartphones with much better specs and hardware being sold at a similar, price point.


The "French Fries Market in Russia: Research and Forecast 2024." report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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Our rating of the largest french fries producers in the Russian market is based on the assessment of the financial parameters of french fries producers. The publisher annually creates a rating of french fries producers on the basis of data from french fries manufacturers in Russia. The largest producers are chosen by their performance, or by their output of french fries in the market.

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For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1eacoi

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005562/en/

Contacts:

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A special court here will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Friday in connection with the custodial death of Unnao rape victim's father involving Kuldeep Singh Sengar and others.

Special Judge Dharmesh Sharma, while hearing the arguments on Thursday, said: "It was on his (Kuldeep Singh Sengar) command that the incident happened."

"Everywhere he was present. No one can deny that. Everyone has a family. You should have thought about it during committing the crime. You have made a mockery of the system," observed the judge.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel sought maximum punishment to convicts as an innocent man was beaten.

The rape victim's father died in judicial custody on April 9, 2018.

Police officers are more liable as it was their duty to stop it. They did it intentionally. They should be given maximum punishment, submitted the CBI counsel.

Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar is also convicted in the case. This is his second conviction in the matter related to Unnao rape case.

His lawyer submitted that he has 35 years of political career and served the people. He didn't have any intention to commit this offence, Sengar's lawyer said.

Sengar's brother, who was also convicted in the case, cited several grounds and sought lesser punishment in the case.

The fast track court recently convicted seven accused including Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who is already convicted in the rape case, in the case and acquitted the other four accused.

The court convicted Kuldeep of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of the victim's father.

CBI in its charge-sheet said all this while Kuldeep Sengar was in continuous touch with the district police superintendent, and the police station's in-charge Bhadauria.

CBI filed a charge-sheet in the case on July 13, 2018. Thereafter, the charges were framed against Sengar, his brother Atul, Makhi police station's in-charge Ashok Singh Bhadauria, Sub Inspector Kamta Prasad, Constable Amir Khan and six others in the case.

On August 1 last year, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh. In December 2019, Sengar was convicted and jailed for life for raping the woman in Unnao in 2017 when she was a minor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Queensland's Premier has assured fans of Tom Hanks that that they would not contract coronavirus from taking a selfie with the star.

Annastacia Palaszczuk said that fans who encountered Hanks while he was filming in the Gold Coast were not in danger.

'From what the chief health officer has told me it's over fifteen minutes of being in very close proximity and a selfie wouldn't count as that,' she said.

Queensland's Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that fans who had taken selfies with actor Tom Hanks (pictured left) were not at risk of contracting his coronavirus

'Our experts will work very closely with... all of the cast and crew and then they will self-isolate those people who have been in that close proximity,' Ms Palaszczuk said on Thursday afternoon.

She explained that she was 'very confident' in the physicians that would be treating Hanks and his wife Rita.

'People who have come in very close contact with him in recent days will be getting the best treatment in our hospitals, just as we provide to everybody else,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

She confirmed that health officials would be working to trace back to where Hanks and his wife picked up the virus.

Ms Palaszczuk also extended her well wishes to the couple and said 'I know the thoughts of Queenslanders and all of Australians are with Tom and Rita during this time.'

The premier warned Australians that, 'this coronavirus can happen to anyone, it is not known to any particular postcode or any particular country.'

'It is really important that everyone does the right thing if we are going to beat this,' she said.

Hanks and his wife Rita announced via Instagram on Thursday afternoon that they had tested positive for coronavirus. The actor was shooting a film with Baz Luhrmann on the Gold Coast

Hanks and his wife, both 63, announced the positive test results in an Instagram post on Thursday.

The Oscar-winner is currently filming on the Gold Coast for an untitled Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis Presley film.

The actor revealed that he and his wife experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.

His Instagram post read: 'Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.'

Hanks said that the couple would be will be tested and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires.
California is long overdue for a world-class transportation system that can support a growing economy, help expand economic opportunity to long-underserved areas of the state and support our ambitious carbon reduction priorities. The high-speed rail network currently under construction in the Central Valley can deliver on those bold objectives, but we must remain committed to fully funding its completion.

Today, thousands of workers at more than 30 construction sites are making great progress on the 171-mile initial operating segment that will connect Merced and Bakersfield and provide service to an area with some of the fastest growing cities and counties in the country. Important early investments are also being made in Los Angeles and the Bay Area to fund critical improvements and upgrades to existing rail mass transit systems like Caltrain that will eventually support the arrival of high-speed trains.

The benefits to California of building a modern high-speed rail will be immense. For too long, a lack of strong transportation connections has separated our coastal metropolitan regions from our rural communities in the Central Valley. This has created a two-tier state that diminishes opportunity and quality of life for millions of Californians.

High-speed rail can play a significant role in eliminating the barriers that have created an uneven playing field across California.

Already, skyrocketing housing costs along the coast are forcing growing numbers of workers  many of whom fill important middle-wage jobs  to commute longer and longer distances from regions like the Bay Area to Central Valley cities. Not only is this reducing economic productivity, its imposing steep transportation costs on workers and families least able to afford it and hurting their quality of life. Long, polluting commutes by car undermine Californias ability to reach its carbon reduction goals, which are heavily tied to getting people out of automobiles. High-speed rail will provide a clean, electrified travel option through communities with some of the worst air quality in the country and who pay for it in poor health, often for life.

High-speed rail combined with strong connections to local and regional transit systems can help alleviate these problems. It will also take pressure off our constrained airports as our population grows and provide a speedy alternative  traveling between Los Angeles and the Bay Area in less than three hours.

Lets build out high-speed rail in the Central Valley, and lets not stop there. High-speed rail has attracted significant funding since voters approved Proposition 1A in 2008, yet will require much more to build out the entire system. The state will need to commit more resources to make that happen, and all innovative financing options should be explored. The vision to build out a 500-mile rail system to grow the states economy, avoid a climate catastrophe and reconnect Californias cities is an ambitious one.

Lets see how far and how fast we can really go.

Laura Tolkoff is regional planning policy director for SPUR and Kelli Fallon is policy manager for the Bay Area Council.


Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison after addressing his accusers in court
Kansas City Loves The Troops

Kansas City Welcomes Renowned Veterans' Groups Veterans' organizations The Rosie Network, National Veterans Transition Services, Inc. (NVTSI) and Veteran Business Project have selected Kansas City as their new home and are creating the Center for Military and Veterans Reintegration (CMVR). CMVR will serve as a hub for service members, veterans

Local Survivor Story

This Parkville girl knows the lasting effects of a pandemic after getting H1N1 more than a decade ago PARKIVLLE, Mo. - More than a decade later, a Parkville mom says the H1N1 virus continues to affect her daughter's life. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The last pandemic was the H1N1 virus in 2009. But unlike the novel coronavirus, younger people were more susceptible to swine flu than [...]

Library Conversation

Driving While Black Perhaps no one took more meaning from the advent of the automobile-and its promise of freedom and adventure, power and self-expression-than African Americans. With the aid of the famed Green Book and other travel guides, black-only businesses, and informal communication networks, they could navigate the mid-20th century's Jim Crow landscape.

Can't Take It With You

Home of Former K.C. Royals Owner and Walmart CEO David Glass Is Listed for $3.85M The Kansas City, MO, home of David Glass is now on the market. The former owner of the Royals and Walmart CEO died in January. Claudine Zap, provided by The Kansas City, MO, home of David Glass, the former CEO and owner of the Kansas City Royals, is now on the market.

Pam's Pricey Legacy

Most profitable celebrity sex tapes - from an MTV Mom to a Playboy Bunny There are many celebrities who have got jiggy on video and some of the tapes have proved extremely profitable for the people starring in them, Daily Star Online has looked at the celebs who were laughing all the way to the bank

Stock Crisis Continues

US stock futures fall after Trump suspends travel between the US and Europe US stock futures fell Wednesday evening after President Donald Trump announced that travel from Europe to the United States will be suspended for 30 days, beginning Friday at midnight.

Vital Industry Grounded

Trump's Europe-US travel ban is another blow to airlines reeling from coronavirus President Donald Trump issued sweeping travel restrictions on Wednesday evening that included an unprecedented 30-day ban on foreigners arriving from most of Europe, a measure he said was necessary to stop new cases of coronavirus "from entering our shores."

Saudi Principal Player Pushes Global Markets Into Corner

Saudi crown prince gambles on an oil price war. His latest brash move could sink the world economy Inside oil-rich Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman is both feared and loved. in the past few days, the world has witnessed what his subjects have come to know.

Real Life Lesson

The coronavirus pandemic is closing schools. How will kids eat? Across the United States, millions of students rely on school lunches. If classes are canceled, figuring out how to provide those meals to students is a challenge, with a confusing web of federal rules governing it.

Kansas City Epic Monologue

Kansas City : Belafonte's Greatest Political Lecture on Film 'Movies. White people sit around all day thinking up that s**t. And then they believe it!" That's Harry Belafonte speaking in the most powerful film role of his career, playing a lethal black gangster in Robert Altman's Kansas City (1996, now back for timely viewing on Blu-Ray from Arrow Releasing).

Hipster Skeleton Crew Debut

Announcing our new film and music editors; whomst are good A bit of exciting housekeeping: we have two new editors here at The Pitch. They both rule, and you'll be seeing a lot more of them in the future. This Abby Olcese. She's good: I've been reading The Pitch since high school, and I used to fantasize about how cool it would be to write here.

Adorbs Weather Despite It All

Your StormTrack5 Daily Forecast Today is a StormTrack5 Weather Alert Day. We are tracking a 50% chance for showers and thunderstorms today with a high near 63.

Once again we find solace inas we take a peek at pop culture, community news and info from across the nation and around the world.is the #TBT song of the day and this is thefor right now . . .
The new government of Ukraine has confirmed the main criteria of the new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved in December 2019 in the Staff Level Agreement, and expects that it will be launched before May 2020, Finance Minister Ihor Umansky has said.

"The government is interested in the new program. We suggest that the dynamics [preparation of the program] will not change with the reset of the new government. Thus, we will come to the final approval of both the text and the program," the minister said at a meeting with reporters.

Umansky reported that on March 10, he participated in a conference call of Head of Government Denys Shmyhal and Head of IMF Mission in Ukraine Ron van Rooden, where they discussed issues that need to be finalized for the program to be submitted to the session of the IMF Executive Board.

According to the minister, two main preliminary measures are the adoption of the law on the land market and amendments to the law on banks, "which makes it impossible to harm public finances from the former owners of the banks that were withdrawn by the National Bank [from the market]". Umansky expects that the law on the land market can be adopted as early as next week, and then the final draft of the document on banks will be ready. The minister said that he considers manipulative the opinion that the bill on banks is directed against one person [ex-owner of PrivatBank Ihor Kolomoisky], since this is a common norm for more than a hundred banks that have already been withdrawn from the market and possible new cases in the future.

The Head of the Finance Ministry said that now, this bill is being finalized by a group of lawyers under the leadership of Minister of Justice Denys Maliuska.
Dr. Ibrahim Imoro Anyars Founder of Repairer Foundation and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2020 Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the Tamale Central Constituency, has pledged to support Tamale West Hospital and the Tamale Central Hospital.

According to him, these hospitals lack Hot Water Facilities in the delivery of healthcare services to patients.

Against this background, Dr. Anyars has promised to provide hot water facilities for the two hospitals.

The two public health facilities which are situated in his constituency serves over thousands of constituents in the area. Dr. Anyars is also popularly known as 'Barhama'.

He is also the CEO of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), made this statement while addressing his loyalist group of young ladies named Barhama Ladies.

This was after a thorough cleanup exercise and donation to the Tamale Central Hospital by the group. From my childhood days till now, I see caretakers of hospitalized patients commute every morning to these hospitals carrying flasks filled with hot water. I want to save them the stress by providing hot water facilities in the hospitals as soon as possible, Dr. Anyars promised.

He, however, thanked the Barhama Ladies for their hard work and dedication towards his campaign, urging them to continue with the good work in their activities and spread his campaign messages in order to come out victorious after this years December 7 general elections of Ghana.

Barhama Ladies, led by Hajia Mutiatu Sayibu Dinnani embarked on a thorough cleanup exercise at Tamale Central Hospital and also donated sanitary pads, baby diapers, among other items to the maternity wards of the facility last Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Hajia Mutiatu said the group took the initiative to demonstrate to the public the need for a clean environment and to drum home their parliamentary candidates dream of making Tamale Central the cleanest constituency in Tamale.

She, however, stated that as a group of young ladies, their understanding of the vulnerability and plight of women during pregnancy and labor is the reason they chose to donate to the maternity wards of the facility.

Pregnant women and mothers of newborn babies who were beneficiaries of the items expressed joy and appreciation for the gesture and thanked the Barhama Ladies team. They also prayed for victory for Dr. Barhama Anyars to become the next Member of Parliament for the Tamale Central Constituency on the ticket of NPP.

On his part, Medical Superintendent of the Tamale Central Hospital, Dr. Mahamadu Mbiniwaya expressed appreciation, praying Dr. Barhama Anyars emerges victorious and continue the good work for the Tamale Central Hospital and good people of the area.

Barhama Ladies is a political loyalist group which was instituted in May 2019, to campaign towards attaining victory for Dr. Barhama Anyars, NPPs Parliamentary Candidate for the Tamale Central constituency and the New Patriotic Party as a whole. The group has an active membership of over 150 young ladies. They go by a slogan in Dagbani, Bobgu N-nye Yaa, literally meaning Unity is strength.
People queued outside Lyra McKee's north Belfast home to pay their respects at the wake for the young murdered journalist.

Inside the house, there was one woman who barely noticed all the visitors arriving.

Joan Lawrie sat in her wheelchair - as close as she could get to her beloved daughter's coffin - and never left her side for hours.

Friends and strangers would shake her hand or try to share a few words with her about Lyra. But the mother-of-six didn't seem to see them or take in anything they said.

Joan's heart was broken by the murder of her youngest and favourite child, and it couldn't be fixed.

She looked so frail and distraught that the only wonder is that she lived for another 11 months. It was only ever a matter of time before Joan joined Lyra in the grave.

They had something so special and sacred between them. To describe it as a close mother-daughter bond doesn't even begin to do it justice.

Lyra lived for Joan, and Joan lived and died for Lyra.

They were best friends, confidants, and partners in crime. They always had each other's back.

Relationships between mothers and daughters, no matter how loving, can sometimes be fractious. Not this one. In my five-year friendship with Lyra, I never heard her once say anything less than adulatory about Joan.

They were inseparable from the start. Lyra was born tiny and premature in 1990. She was sick most of the time.

She had a hearing and speech impediment which made learning difficult.

She hated school. Homeworks took hours, and Joan was a single parent with five other children. "My poor wee mummy, all she had to put up with over the years," Lyra would often later say. She went through huge emotional turmoil before she came out as gay to her mum.

While some friends' parents had reacted negatively to news of their son's or daughter's sexuality, Joan just joked to the anxious 14-year-old standing before her: "Thank God you're not pregnant."

And as Joan was there for Lyra in childhood, her daughter was there for Joan after she lost a leg.

Lyra was not a natural behind the wheel to put it politely. But she persisted with years of driving lessons until she passed her test and could take Joan out shopping or on wee trips.

Any store or restaurant which didn't treat its disabled customers decently were on the receiving end of Lyra's ire.

Amazingly, she combined her journalistic career with being her mum's full-time carer. There were countless hospital visits at all hours of the day and night.

At 2am on February 21, just weeks before she was killed, Lyra messaged me: "In hospital. Mum brought in. Waiting on a bed. Kept collapsing and falling. We don't know why."

But it would be wrong to characterise their relationship as one of only suffering and pain.

Joan and Lyra had the best of times together too. Photo after photo shows how they lit up in each other's company.

On Joan's last birthday before her daughter was killed, Lyra wrote: "Happy birthday to the best Mum in the world, Joan Lawrie. My Mum is the definition of selfless. I'm proud to be your daughter, Mum. I love you so much."

On Mother's Day, she posted how Joan had to be "mum and dad" to her and was "the best in the world at both".

Lyra wouldn't entertain any career opportunities abroad because they meant leaving her mother.

The New IRA gunman who opened fire in the Creggan on April 18, 2019 didn't just kill Lyra. Bullets travel. He took away Joan's life as well.

She kept on breathing, but she was never really here. Soon, they will open up the grave and lie her beside Lyra - where she belongs.
The State Theatre of Ithaca announced this morning that O.A.R. is postponing their March 12 concert due to COVID-19 concerns.

In a post on social media on March 11, O.A.R. said the health and safety of their fans is their number one concern and is why they will be postponing the show. They have asked that fans hold on to their tickets for the Ithaca performance as they hope to reschedule the concert for a later date. No new date has been set yet.

This concert is just one of many events around Upstate New York and the country that have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Other Central New York events which have been postponed include a talk with author Cheryl Strayed, a sold-out performance of Adam Sandler, and a concert with rapper Everlast.

Coronavirus has infected more than 127,700 people in 116 countries, including over 1,300 in the U.S., and killed more than 4,700 worldwide. Monroe County declared on March 11 the third patient in Upstate New York which has tested positive for COVID-19.

See all of our coverage on the coronavirus pandemic here.

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Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said Thursday morning that the state should be prepared for thousands of cases of COVID-19 as coronavirus continues to spread throughout the state.

My first order of business is to protect the health of Oregonians, Brown said in a press conference in Portland. Second, she said, is helping businesses across the state of Oregon and she is bringing together business leaders to determine how to do so.

Late Wednesday night, Browns administration announced a statewide ban on gatherings of more than 250 people. The governor clarified Thursday that only applies to organized events, not places such as stores, shopping centers or schools."

Schools are not covered by the ban but large meetings, assemblies and competitive events such as athletics must stop and sick students and employees should stay home, the governor said.

Dr. Jennifer Vines, lead health officer for Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties, said health and elected officials face an ongoing challenge in deciding how far to take social distancing policies, including the question of whether to close schools.

"I have no illusions about the bitter pill this is to swallow for our communities, Vines said at the press conference. You hear public health saying education is important, business opportunities are important, social connections are important. And unfortunately we have to look ahead at whats happening in Washington and Italy ... If we start seeing crowded emergency departments and full intensive care units, by then its too late for these social distancing measures to have much impact.

Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, reiterated the states warning to people most at risk of severe health effects from the virus, older Oregonians and those with underlying medical conditions. You should stay home as much as possible," Allen said. We cant emphasize enough how dangerous this is for people who are at risk.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the states epidemiologist, said that without taking such measures the state could reach as many as 75,000 cases of COVID-19 by mid-May. That figure was based on the number of Oregon cases, which Sidelinger estimated at 150 to 250, doubling every week, he said. Only 21 Oregonians are known to have tested positive so far, but very limited testing means most cases have gone undetected, he and other experts say.

As reporters pressed public health officials about Oregons very limited capacity to test people who may have the virus, Brown initially said she would like to have more testing available but my understanding, at least according to public health professionals, is that we have an adequate amount. Minutes later, Brown revised her position, saying, We are concerned, frankly, about our testing capacity ... The federal government is only one who can expand our testing capacity and we are calling on them to do that.

Sidelinger said the state public health lab can perform 80 tests per day and will stick with testing only people who are hospitalized and seriously ill and people exposed to others confirmed to have the disease. Labs generally test two samples from each person. He said commercial laboratories are able to test additional Oregonians but said he does not know even a rough estimate of what private labs capacity is. He said multiple hospital systems in Oregon will begin testing, but he said that will take time and predicted it would start within a week.

Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said a state strike force has been deployed to the veterans senior care facility in Lebanon where two patients in their 80s have tested positive for COVID-19. But he said the approximately 150 residents and nearly 225 employees and others associated have not yet been tested for the virus.

He said the testing at the veterans home began Wednesday and might be completed over the next couple of days." With the state only able to run 80 tests per day, the Lebanon testing could mean no one else in Oregon can be tested by the states public health laboratory for days on end.

Sidelinger said the state is counting on commercial labs, not its own public health lab, to expand the capacity to test the many, many Oregonians who want to know if they and those they live and work with have coronavirus. Public health officials do not know how many tests the private labs can process on a daily basis; Sidelinger suggested a reporter contact the diagnostic company LabCorp with that question.

Questioned repeatedly about the state labs limited capacity, Sidelinger and Allen emphasized the planned reliance on commercial labs, which he characterized as normal during an epidemic. Allen said the state needs to preserve its capacity for surge testing potential clusters of cases, such as at the veterans home.

The governor called the situation a rollercoaster and emphasized that she and other state and local officials are moving swiftly.

In response to a reporters question about whether large weddings with more than 250 attendees are banned, Brown said they are. Allen was less clear when asked whether other large outdoor gatherings, such as the Portland Saturday Market. Thats one that were going to have to see how it plays out in practice, Allen said.

36 Governor Brown addresses coronavirus concerns, initiatives

Brown, state Sen. Lew Frederick of Portland and state health officials were joined at the press conference by Portland area officials, including Multnomah County commissioners, Portland Public Schools Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. The mayor announced the citys own emergency declaration, which allows the mayor to assume centralized control and authority over all city bureaus and departments, and said he is working with the citys economic development agency Prosper Portland to develop a stimulus plan. Wheeler said city officials have not yet decided whether to cancel public meetings. Multnomah County declared an emergency Wednesday.

Officials cut off their news conference after less than an hour, leaving many questions unanswered as concerns mount in Oregon, nationally and worldwide about the pandemic.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com
URBANA, Ill. - Like most invasive species, when the soybean aphid arrived in the Midwest in 2000, it brought none of its natural enemies along for the ride. So, naturally, finding itself in the soybean capital of the world, the tiny insect went bonkers. Taking advantage of a nifty ability to reproduce without mating, populations exploded and the soybean aphid quickly became the number one insect pest affecting the crop.

Scientists from the University of Illinois got to work almost immediately to track the pest's movement. They have been collecting soybean aphids throughout the Midwest for the past 18 years, but along the way, they learned a lot more than they expected. In a new report published in American Entomologist, the researchers share their insights.

In 2001, David Voegtlin of the Illinois Natural History Survey set up the first in what would become a regional network of suction traps: PVC pipes extending 20 feet into the air above agricultural fields. Inside, a fan whirls and directs sucked-in insects down into a solution of water and antifreeze, which turns out to be an excellent preservative for bugs, microbes, and genetic material.

For many of the past 18 years, 30-odd traps across the Midwest have been running continuously during daylight hours. And weekly, the contents of the trap are collected and sent to the USDA research lab at the U of I for analysis. That's where Doris Lagos-Kutz comes in.

"There is so much we have learned about the soybean aphid, including spatial and temporal patterns of migration, and about other bugs found in the traps," says Lagos-Kutz, research associate in the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Department of Crop Sciences at the U of I, suction trap analyst, and co-author on the report. "Ultimately, data from the suction traps will help explain the factors that affect insect population dynamics on a continental scale."

Glen Hartman, report co-author and soybean pathologist for the department and USDA-ARS, adds, "The pattern of aphid outbreaks often differs from year to year. By learning where the aphid outbreaks occur, we can associate that back to weather patterns, which could help us project the distribution of these insects under various weather and climate change scenarios."

Because the traps don't discriminate, the scientists have been able to identify many other insects, including some that appear to be expanding their range due to climate change or habitat suitability. For example, in 2015, the traps allowed Lagos-Kutz to detect sugarcane aphid in Kansas and northern Wisconsin for the first time. Detection of the insect, usually only found in southern coastal regions in the U.S., could signal an early threat to sorghum, Miscanthus, and other economically important crops outside the sugarcane growing region.

The traps have also captured cannabis aphids near industrial hemp operations; thrips, which can be vectors for crop-damaging viruses; and mosquitoes, an important vector of human diseases.

Lagos-Kutz notes that the contents of the traps are preserved and available for investigation by other scientists, and hints that there's an untapped mine of information in the collection. "Using next-generation sequencing, we could potentially discover previously unknown organisms in these samples."

Hartman says the traps could also provide information about the air microbiome and air pollutants. "We have a goldmine here. The traps collect all kind of things in the air, inert and biological. Who knows what other biological and chemical entities could be pulled out of these samples?"

The ultimate aim is to find funding and collaborators to spread the suction trap network nationwide, and keep it going indefinitely. There's already a set of traps in the Pacific Northwest, but the two networks aren't formally linked.

"We'd certainly like to have a bigger footprint. This is an extremely valuable source of information that extends well beyond agriculture," Hartman says. "It's the monitor for life in the air."

###

The article, "The soybean aphid suction trap network: Sampling the aerobiological 'soup,'" is published in American Entomologist [DOI: 10.1093/ae/tmaa009]. Authors include Doris Lagos-Kutz, David Voegtlin, David Onstad, David Hogg, David Ragsdale, Kelley Tilmon, Erin Hodgson, Christina Difonzo, Russell Groves, Christian Krupke, Joseph Laforest, Nicholas Seiter, Emily Duerr, Benjamin Bradford, and Glen Hartman. The suction trap network has been supported by the Illinois Consortium for Food and Agricultural Research (CFAR), the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA), the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center (NCIPMC), the North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP), and USDA-ARS.

The Department of Crop Sciences is in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois.
PHOENIX  Arizonas community colleges wont be offering four-year degrees.

On a 6-3 vote Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee quashed legislation that would have allowed these colleges to start offering baccalaureate degrees. The vote came despite the same measure having gained bipartisan House approval last month on a 42-18 vote.

Rep. Becky Nutt, R-Clifton, the bills prime sponsor, argued that the current system requires rural students who want four-year degrees to leave their homes. That not only affects families, she said, but undermines efforts to promote local economic development.

Nutt said House Bill 2790 would not force any community college to expand its reach. But she said many already have buildings and other infrastructure in place that would allow them to start offering four-year degrees without new investment and without raising local taxes.

Larry Penley, president of the Arizona Board of Regents, told lawmakers there is no real need. He said the states universities already have working relationships with community colleges around the state, partnering in ways to offer four-year degrees. There is reduced tuition for university courses that are taught on community college campuses, he said.
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Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Badung, Bali  Thu, March 12, 2020 19:37 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a2a776 1 National COVID-19,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Four-Seasons-Bali-at-Jimbaran-Bay,Jimbaran-Bali Free

Four Seasons Resort Bali in Jimbaran has decided to quarantine 54 hotel staff members, following the death of a British woman from COVID-19 on the resorts island on Wednesday.

The resort took the precautionary measure because the womans travel partner had stayed there, although the woman herself had never stayed at the resort.

Fifty-four people out of 596 of our staff are quarantined. This is just a precaution because the [womens] travel partner was not identified as positive [for COVID-19]. The travel partner is currently healthy and in a good condition, Joseph Ong, assistant public relations manager of Four Seasons Resort Bali, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The hotel is in operation as usual, he said, adding that the health and safety of guests and employees are the hotels top priority.

A COVID-19 patient identified as Case 25, reportedly a 53-year-old British woman, died in Sanglah Hospital on Wednesday.

Several media publications claimed that she had stayed at Four Seasons Resort Bali, which the hotel has refuted.

The woman did not stay at Four Seasons Resorts Bali during her time on the island. She became ill prior to her reservation at Four Seasons and went to the hospital directly from her previous hotel in Bali. Her traveling partner subsequently checked into Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, on his own. This guest was on the property on March 4-8, Marian Carroll, Four Seasons Resorts Bali senior director of public relations and communications, said in a statement on Thursday.

Due to previous contact with the woman, he went to the hospital on March 8 for observation and was placed in isolation as a precautionary measure. We are saddened by this news [of the womans passing] and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family.

Read also: COVID-19: Mr. President, you need professional help

Carroll said the resorts management had notified all guests whose stay had overlapped with the patients travel partner.

We have also asked employees who had any interaction with the individual to self-quarantine at home, she said.

The Four Seasons is in full cooperation with the Ministry of Health and local health officials in Bali.

Prior to notification of this case, Four Seasons Resorts Bali heightened our already stringent practices around food handling, as well as sanitization, disinfection and cleaning of guest rooms and public areas. Antibacterial hand sanitizers have been placed in areas across the property and face masks are also available for guests should they need them, Carroll said.

Temperature checks for all employees are also conducted. All employees have been provided with additional tools to ensure they use the most up-to-date hygiene protocols and guidance.

We are regularly reviewing the latest information, protocols and tools from the worlds leading health experts and government authorities to ensure the effectiveness of our response, Carroll added.

The British woman's partner is now being isolated at Sanglah Hospital.

He is one out of 12 patients under observation for COVID-19. Swab samples of the man have been sent to Jakarta for testing.

"He is in good condition and shows no symptoms. He is in an isolation room because he had contact with a [COVID-19] patient," said Sanglah hospital director Wayan Sudana.
Even as he gears up for the much awaited project, Homi Adajanias Angrezi Medium, actor Irrfan Khan is all set for yet another release soon. Dimple Kapadia, Deepak Dobriyal, Kareena Kapoor and Radhika Madaan also feature in Angrezi Medium.

A Mid Day report said that Apno Se Bewafai, which has been awaiting release for past two years, will now hit theatres on April 2. The films director [Prakash Bhalekar told the tabloid, It is a family entertainer with Irrfan as the lead. He has done an excellent job in the movie. The supporting cast is made up of new actors. We completed the film before Irrfans health deteriorated, but the release was pushed due to lack of funds.

Also read: Rashami Desai confirmed for Naagin 4, watch BTS video from Holi shoot featuring Bigg Boss 13 star

However, the director is yet to inform Irrfan. We are not in touch as Irrfan is not talking to anybody right now.

About making Angrezi Medium with Irrfan and delaying the film, because of the actors availability, Homi recently told Hindustan Times. While the making of the movie, Irrfan was undergoing treatment, so there would be good days and bad days. There was an uncertainty about his energy levels, considering how difficult shoots can be. I did put everything on hold and decided to wait for him to make this. Dinoo (Dinesh Vijan, producer) and I were very clear that Angrezi Medium would be made with Irrfan only. And I took the risk, knowing that it would be an experience that my crew and I would cherish.

While Kareena plays a cop in the film, Dimple essays the role of her mother. Irrfan plays dad to a teenager, played by Radhika. Angrezi Medium hits theatres on March 13 and trade pundits expect an impressive opening for the film. As per trade analyst Girish Johar, the film may make an opening collection of 4 crore.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 11:33:32|Editor: Xiaoxia

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CANBERRA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- An official from Australian Taxation Office (ATO) said the agency will "knock on every door" to chase tax cheats as the richest people are avoiding tax to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Deputy Commissioner of the ATO Tim Dyce said the agency was ready to "knock on every door" to recoup the significant shortfall on tax.

"Our research does also show that a small number of high-wealth private groups are deliberately engaging in risky behavior," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"This includes seeking to engage in artificial and non-commercial arrangements that are intentionally designed to avoid paying tax."

A report released by the ATO on Thursday found that private groups who control the wealth of more than 50 million Australian dollars (32.4 million U.S. dollars) underpaid tax by 770 million AUD (499.2 million U.S. dollars) in financial year 2016-17 alone.

That group, which consisted of 5,000 high-wealth private groups, paid 9.3 billion AUD (6.03 billion U.S. dollars) in tax but there was a 7.7 percent gap between what they paid to the ATO and what they owed.

The ATO has begun hiring more than 100 staff for its Tax Avoidance Taskforce on order to crackdown on high-wealth private groups, including individuals, companies, partnerships and trusts.

"We are especially targeting this population as a key focus area," Dyce said. "We now have the resources to knock on the door of nearly every taxpayer in this population.

"Those seeking to obtain an unfair advantage by avoiding their tax obligations will attract our full attention and will be the subject of strong enforcement action."

The maximum penalty for tax fraud in Australia is 10 years' imprisonment.
Equity benchmark Sensex plummeted over 1,800 points and the broader Nifty gave up the 10,000 level in opening session on Thursday as worsening rout in world markets, after WHO declared coronavirus a pandemic, flared up fears of a global economic recession.

The rupee too plunged 82 paise to 74.50 against US dollar in morning session.

The selloff picked pace after the World Health Organization (WHO), late Wednesday night, termed the the new coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, and expressed deep concern over the "alarming levels of inaction".

Following the announcement, US President Donald Trump suspended all travel from Europe, excluding the UK, to the US for the next 30 days to stop the spread of the virus.

Brent crude oil futures plunged over 5 per cent to USD 34 per barrel, after the travel ban.

Continuing its downward spiral, domestic BSE Sensex sank 1,821.27 points at open. The 30-share index was trading 1,652.54 points, or 4.63 per cent, lower at 34,044.86 in morning session.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty cracked 486.75 points, or 4.65 per cent, to 9,971.65.

In the previous session, the 30-share BSE barometer settled 62.45 points or 0.18 per cent higher at 35,697.40, and the Nifty closed 6.95 points or 0.07 per cent up at 10,458.40.

On a net basis, foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 3,515.38 crore, while domestic institutional investors bought shares worth Rs 2,835.46 crore on Wednesday, data available with stock exchanges showed.

All Sensex components were trading in the red. Tata Steel was the top loser, tanking up to 9 per cent, followed by ONGC, SBI, Titan, Axis Bank, M&M, UltraTech Cement, L&T and Reliance Industries.

According to traders, volatility peaked in global markets after WHO's announcement describing the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.

Besides selloff in global equities, massive plunge in international oil prices and depreciating rupee added to investor concerns, they added.

Incessant foreign fund outflow also spooked market participants, traders said.

Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Shanghai dropped over 1.34 per cent, Hong Kong 3.66 per cent, Seoul 4.29 per cent and Tokyo cracked up to 5.32 per cent.

In overnight trade, US equity benckmarks also plunged nearly 5 per cent, intensifying the global rout.

The new 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 over 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BRIDGEPORT  Jayvell Washington was convicted Thursday of killing his ex-girlfriends brother during a shootout at a Reservoir Avenue gas station last year.

After seven hours of deliberation, the jury of 10 women and two men discounted Washingtons inference that he acted in self-defense when he fired four shots at Eugene Rogers and convicted him of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm, criminal possession of a pistol and carrying a pistol without a permit. He was found not guilty of murder.

Washington, who has a prior manslaughter conviction and was waiting trial for attempting to murder Rogers when he killed him, later pleaded no contest to being a persistent felony offender.

He faces 75 years in prison when he is sentenced April 24 by Superior Court Judge Alex Hernandez.

Senior Assistant States Attorney Michael DeJoseph later credited the investigative work by members of the Police Departments Detective Bureau for the verdict.

The jury work conscientiously to arrive at an appropriate verdict, he said.

Because of ill feeling between the Rogers and Washington families that previously led to a courthouse melee, security was tight in the Fairfield County Courthouse. A dozen judicial marshals ringed the inside of the courtroom while state police patrolled the hall and front of the courthouse.

Washington made ticking noises with his mouth as he was led into the courtroom leading one spectator to quip, times up.

I can see the sadness on the faces of the representatives of the two families, Judge Hernandez told the assembled crowd in the courtroom.

There will be no demonstrations from anyone, he warned.

The 40-year-old Washington is accused of fatally shooting 50-year-old Eugene Rogers on Jan. 27, 2019.

Video from the gas station played for the jury during the trial showed Rogers approach Washingtons car. 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.

In his final argument on Tuesday, 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, contended the jury could find his client acted in self-defense but mainly argued 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.

According to trial testimony, at one point Washington had been part of the Rogers family and had a daughter with the victims sister before they parted ways.

But the breakup had been messy, according to court papers, and she got a restraining order against him.

Police said members of the Rogers family took shots at Washington and he returned the attention.

On July 1, 2017, Chaz Rogers was shot to death on Stratford Avenue. His older brother, Hassan Boobie Rogers, was later arrested for allegedly shooting at a friend of Washingtons whom he blamed for killing his brother. That case remains pending.

Mayor Joseph Ganim was nearly hit with gunfire while visiting the Rogers home on Trumbull Avenue to console them for Chaz Rogers death.

Then on July 23, 2017, Eugene Rogers was walking on Trumbull Avenue when, police said, he was shot twice in the abdomen by Washington.

Washington was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, illegal use of a firearm and criminal use of a firearm. He was released after posting $500,000 bond and was wearing a GPS anklet when he killed Rogers.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.  Young Israel of New Rochelle had an online Purim party because its members couldnt gather at their synagogue this week.

The congregants check in on one another. They get plenty of takeout food that is simply left at the door.

Some make meals for one another. They check in on their neighbors and have stayed isolated since March 3, as the state prescribed, when the first of its members was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus that has now spread to 108 confirmed cases tied to the temple or the city.

The synagogue put a form on its website for anyone who needs help.

"We have been model citizens. We shut down our synagogue and our entire membership after one case. We didnt wait for a cluster," said one congregant, who declined to use his name for concerns about stoking dissension.

'Deeply disruptive': Orthodox synagogue copes with coronavirus quarantine

There is also some growing frustration about why they have been the focal point in New York, as well as what they view as a lack of clear answers over an edict Tuesday that put them in the middle of a one-mile containment area.

Schools, houses of worship and other large gathering places within the containment area will need to be closed through March 25, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's directive. That includes schools in New Rochelle and neighboring Tuckahoe.

A New Rochelle synagogue copes with coronavirus quarantine

Some synagogue members question why a blanket quarantine of more than 1,000 people in the community remains, even for those who have tested negative, didn't come into contact with a coronavirus patient and have not been sick.

The same mandates have not been applied to other neighboring communities where some cases have been found, they said. Some tests have taken days to get back results; others came in more quickly, adding to their frustrations, some members said.

Ribbons outside of Young Israel In New Rochelle March 9, 2020.

"No one who has been asymptomatic has been requested to self-quarantine except for Young Israel of New York, unless you were in very close contact with someone who was positive," said another congregant, who also refused to use his name.

Story continues

Local officials said they recognize the frustration: The congregants' lives have been upended.

US coronavirus map: Tracking the outbreak

"I think that we have not gotten a good explanation as to why them, especially if (it's) someone who has not been in contact" with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who represents the community.

"Maybe theres a public health reason, but we are unaware of it because no one is explaining to them or me."

But Paulin and other officials said they have been overwhelmed by the roughly 400-family synagogue's resolve.

"Considering the stress and the obvious difficulty of being essentially captive in your own home, they have been remarkable," Paulin said. "I have a never seen a group of people really come together as well as this group in such a hard situation."

A containment area puts a community at the center of coronavirus

The concern started last Tuesday, March 3, when the state announced a congregant who had become gravely ill had tested positive for coronavirus. He had spent four days in NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in neighboring Bronxville.

After the member, a Manhattan attorney, was transferred to NewYork-Presbyterian in Manhattan, the Westchester County health department said there would be a precautionary quarantine of about 1,000 people associated with the temple who may have come in contact with him at the events the week prior.

This is the area that will be part of the New Rochelle coronavirus 'containment area,' where large gathering spaces like schools and temples will be closed through March 25, 2020.

The number of cases in the community has since skyrocketed, leading Cuomo to announce the containment area Tuesday and order the National Guard to assist residents and disinfect the public areas in the neighborhood.

Cuomo stressed the area isn't on lockdown, just large public facilities will be closed and major gatherings will be canceled.

"We have 108 cases in New Rochelle. I think you get an idea, New York City only has 36. New York City is 100 times the size of New Rochelle, OK?" Cuomo said Wednesday on MSNBC.

"So what the containment means is just large gatherings in that area are postponed. People can go and come, etc. It's not a quarantine area, but no large gatherings because that's where it's spreading, obviously."

State Sen. Shelley Mayer, , whose district includes the New Rochelle containment area, praised Young Israel for its response to the outbreak.

"They have conducted themselves with tremendous calm and dignity and responsiveness to the science," Mayer said.

She said the disruption to her district has left her with a "heavy heart," but she understands why the Cuomo administration took the action it did.

"I defer to the science and I think (state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker) took what I think he believes is the correct scientific position," Mayer said. "I defer to that and I understand why the governor did, because we have to be ruled by science."

What happens next for a synagogue and a community coronavirus hot spot

Cuomo said he hopes the containment zone through March 25 will keep the virus from spreading further within New Rochelle and beyond.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the number of cases in New Rochelle accounted for 62% of the states 173 cases and about 13% of the total across the U.S.

He said the effort is literally a matter of life and death. No one has died in New York from coronavirus yet, but Cuomo has repeatedly expressed concern for the elderly and those with existing respiratory issues.

Young Israel of New Rochelle, right, and Wykagyl Country Club, left, on North Ave. in New Rochelle March 4, 2020.

Northwell Health on Long Island is setting up a satellite testing area in New Rochelle to more quickly identify who is positive or negative for coronavirus.

"Containment strategies focus on geographic areas," Cuomo told reporters Tuesday. New Rochelle "is the single greatest public health challenge we have in this state right now."

The wife of the first case at the synagogue wrote Tuesday on Facebook that her husband was still hospitalized.

"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.

These cleaners kill coronavirus: Lysol, Clorox, Purell products make EPA's disinfectants list

"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."

Young Israel synagogue in New Rochelle in March 4, 2020.

The woman's comments are indicative of the strength the congregation has shown, said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, who lives in the containment area.

"I think some frustration is certainly understandable," Bramson said.

"And yet, my sense is that the great majority of congregants understand the public health stakes of abiding by the quarantine and recognize that this is one of the significant hot spots in the entire country."

Coronavirus myths, debunked: A cattle vaccine, bioweapons and a $3,000 test

The synagogue's rabbi, who also tested positive for COVID-19, has offered spiritual guidance to congregants, allowing them to continue to rely on their faith to get through the difficult period, said Elliot Forchheimer, CEO of the Westchester Jewish Council.

Forchheimer sent an email to congregants praising them for the adherence to the quarantine and their resilience.

He said they have had "enormous spiritual leadership and counseling by their rabbi in keeping them focused that this too will pass, and as citizens we do the right thing and we follow the guidelines and that is the best thing to ensure that we get healthy and everybody else will get healthy as soon as possible."

Follow Joseph Spector on Twitter: @GannettAlbany

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: Coronavirus: How a New York synagogue is coping as a hot spot
Ontarios Catholic teachers have reached a tentative deal with the province, becoming the first teachers union to do so in the current round of contract negotiations.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) said the agreement was reached with the Ontario Catholic Trustees Association and the Government of Ontario on central terms for a new collective agreement.

Details of the agreement remain confidential pending ratification. In accordance with the Associations ratification procedures, should the OECTA Provincial Executive and local unit presidents recommend approval, Catholic teachers will participate in a province-wide vote on April 7 and 8.

Effective immediately, all OECTA strike action is suspended during the ratification process.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce told reporters at Queens Park that the provisional agreement is good for teachers, students, parents and the government.

Lecce expressed optimism that it could be a roadmap toward settlements with the other three teacher unions.

We believe that it hopefully will build momentum for further deals that ensure stability for every child, he said.

The Catholic teachers, province and school boards were called back to the bargaining table last week by the provincial mediator and had kept up talks since.

The teachers have been engaged in a work to rule, and had been holding frequent one-day, province-wide strikes, though those were recently put on hold.

The province has also held talks with the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario as well as the AEFO, representing French-board teachers.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation is the lone teachers union that has not been called back to restart talks.

The province has committed to full-day Kindergarten and more funding for special education. It had also offered larger class sizes in high school  from last years average of 22 students to 23, but down from its original proposal to jump to 28.

Lecce has also said that instead of mandating four online courses in high school, the province would require two, but giving parents an opt-out provision.

Sources have told the Star that the tentative deal also waters down Regulation 274, a hiring provision that gives preference for long-term contracts and new positions to teachers who have been on the supply list the longest  a rule brought in to curb nepotism.

Lecce has repeatedly said the government wants merit-based hiring so principals can choose the best fit.

The Catholic deal is said to allow roughly one-third of new hires not to have to be among the most senior supply teachers.

Sources told the Star that the province is close to an accord with the French-language teachers and making progress with the elementary teachers.

However, the situation with high school teachers remains tense.

The rotating teachers strikes combined with the COVID-19 pandemic closing Ontario schools for two weeks after March Break moves the province closer to a situation where the Education Relations Commission could rule the school year is in jeopardy given the amount of time students will have been out of class.

In that case, teachers unions without contracts could end up with imposed settlements.
The facade of the former Trump Plaza, where the shadows of MP PLAZ can still be seen. Read more

ATLANTIC CITY  One of Atlantic Citys most iconic symbols of the ruined Trump casino empire, Trump Plaza, has been shedding chunks of its tower, endangering passersby on the Boardwalk, and must be demolished, city officials said Thursday.

The crumbling former casino, now owned by billionaire Carl C. Icahn, has been an eyesore  and occasional political backdrop  since it shut down in 2014.

Mayor Marty Small Sr. announced Thursday that the city was going to court to force Icahn to demolish the white tower that once was the centerpiece of Donald Trumps Atlantic City holdings.

A part of my vision is to have a clean city and a safe city, Small said in a news conference at Boardwalk Hall, held there because we didnt feel safe enough to stand near Trump Plaza.

Right now, Trump Plaza isnt clean or safe.

Small said the city had video that showed chunks of the buildings stucco and concrete facade falling down onto Columbia Avenue minutes before thousands of people arrived for an event last Saturday at Boardwalk Hall. City Licensing and Inspections chief Dale Finch called the building an imminent hazard.

We could have had a fatality, Small said. Things will not be tolerated in the city of Atlantic City.

There was no immediate response from Icahn.

The building, which opened in 1984, no longer has Trumps name on it, besides the outlines of MP PLA and part of "Z" visible on the black Boardwalk facade.

In 2016, Hillary Clinton used it as a backdrop for a political rally.

City officials, including the head of Licensing and Inspections and the fire chief, said Thursday that they had identified five large holes in the tower using a drone, and breaches in the seams of the building, where water is destabilizing the tower. They said debris regularly falls from the building, including onto the Boardwalk.

Today were saying to Carl Icahn, we want this building torn down, Small said. We are negotiating in good faith. But it changes when we have to dispatch emergency police and personnel 24 hours a day around the building.

When it opened, it was a state-of-the-art high-rise, Fire Chief Scott Evans said. We were very proud of it at the time. Thats no longer the case now. The maintenance has pretty much disappeared.

Evans showed pictures of the side of the building, between the 15th and 19th floor, with large holes in the facade and seams that he said are separating. Up by the penthouse, he said, soffits are falling down in pieces, leaving debris around the building.

Steve Perskie, an adviser to the mayor and former Superior Court judge, said the city does not have the power to tear the building down itself. Condemning it would be cost-prohibitive, he said.

The city said it was asking a Superior Court judge to order Icahn to tear down the building immediately.

Small said Icahn agrees it should be torn down, but the city and Icahn disagree on what should replace it, and if it ends up being a parking facility, on who should get the revenue. Icahn also wants to use $5 million in so-called IAT money, a 1.5 percent tax on casinos that is supposed to be used for Atlantic City redevelopment.

The cost of demolition is estimated by Icahn to be $14 million.
Miriam Estefany Giron Luna, from Guatemala, fell on her back from the top of the wall while trying to cross into the US.

A pregnant 19-year-old migrant from Guatemala died after trying to climb over a border fence in Texas, authorities said on Thursday. Doctors were not able to save her child.

United States media, quoting a statement from Guatemalas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported that the woman, Miriam Estefany Giron Luna, fell on her back from the top of an 18-foot-high (5.5-metre) span of steel mesh fencing while trying to cross with the childs father. Giron Luna, who was 30 weeks pregnant, died from her injuries on Tuesday.

Tekandi Paniagua, a Guatemalan consular official based in the state of Texas, told the Washington Post that new restrictions imposed by US President Donald Trump have been causing asylum seekers to take more risks and that since October, at least five other Guatemalans have suffered broken bones and other serious injuries after falling from the border wall.

This is a very worrisome trend, he told the Washington Post. People are taking more and more risks, and theyre losing their lives.

Trump, who has made a crackdown on immigration a central focus of his presidency and his re-election campaign, has put in place measures that have made it increasingly more difficult for migrants to apply for asylum in the US. At least 60,000 asylum seekers have been sent back to Mexico to wait while their cases are processed in the US under the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico programme.

Meanwhile, during the 2019 fiscal year, US authorities took into custody more than 470,000 migrants who arrived amid a record influx of Central Americans who are fleeing violence, poverty and political persecution in their countries.

Those measures have led to a 75 percent drop in border detentions since May, US authorities say, even as the latest figures show a slight uptick in the number of single Mexican adults and unaccompanied minors attempting to cross.

With the addition of taller and more formidable barriers along the border, including more than 135 miles (217km) of new 30-foot-tall (nine-metre) border fencing the Trump administration has installed, smuggling organisations have been using improvised ladders to take migrants over the top.

The tactic requires migrants to cling to the top of the structure, then climb a ladder down the other side or slide down by wrapping their arms and legs around the steel.

According to the Washington Post report, Giron Luna was a social worker and a beauty pageant winner in her hometown in her countrys Quetzaltenango department. She reportedly slipped while trying to descend from the top of the barrier, landing on her back. The womans partner, Dilver Israel Diaz Garcia, 26, carried her away from the scene to seek help and encountered US Border Patrol agents, who radioed for an ambulance.

According to the newspaper, doctors in El Paso tried to deliver the child via Caesarean section, and Giron Luna underwent multiple surgeries before dying. Her partner, Diaz Garcia, remains in US Border Patrol custody, where he faces deportation.
Algeria could be one of the countries whose economy could crash on the back of low oil prices as a result of the price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia escalated its oil price war with Russia on Tuesday as its state-owned company pledged to supply a record 12.3 million barrels a day next month, a massive increase to flood the market.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have stockpiled enough foreign reserves to wither the impact of oil prices sinking to as low as the production cost of 20 dollars per barrel.

In contrast, Algeria and other oil dependent countries could face tough choices of cutting spending that could undermine social peace.

Algerias reserves dwindled to 62 billion dollars in February 2020, down from 97 billion in 2017. The stockpile is expected to further drop in view of the expanding trade deficit, which hit 10 billion dollars in 2019.

The government is so far resorting to time buying measures such as spending cuts and import restriction leaving the economy hinging on oil price and sales.

The government would need crude prices nearer $100 a barrel to balance its budget, a target denoting a bygone era according to analysts as US continues to pump and export crude while renewable energy use is on the rise globally.

If Algeria managed to eschew the turmoil of the Arab Spring 2011 thanks to handing out oil money through salary hikes and subsidies, today it seems unable to buy off protesters who perceive the current ruling elite as a recycled from a corrupt but also inefficient regime.

The mass protests which are still ongoing though at a lower scale have exacerbated Algerias unfriendliness to investments adding to an underdeveloped banking system, unfriendly laws and an energy sector plagued by ageing fields, misguided economic policies, project delays, and infrastructure gaps.

The political crisis puts the country on the same course as Angola, Iran, Libya, Nigeria and Venezuela, referred to by OPEC as the shaky six that suffer involuntary production cuts.

Besides, Algeria risks becoming a net gas importing country as its domestic production continues to be devoured by a rising consumption that could turn the country into a net gas importer in ten years, an Algerian official had said.
Liverpool, March 12 : Atletico Madrid benefited from a brilliant performance in goal by Jan Oblak -- and mistakes by Liverpool keeper Adrian -- to defeat the Champions League holders 3-2 (4-2 on aggregate) and advance to the quarterfinals.

The Reds were leading 2-0 (2-1) in the first extra time on Wednesday night when Adrian botched a clearance and Atleti's Marcos Llorente scored to turn the tie on its head, reports Efe news.

The away goal put the Colchoneros in the driver's seat, but Llorente, a late sub, victimised Adrian again at the end of the first extra time, all but shutting the door even for a team with the talent Liverpool has.

Atletico had the first chance of the night under a steady rain at Anfield, as Joao Felix filtered the ball behind the Liverpool defence to Diego Costa, whose shot went wide.

Aside from an effort by Felipe that grazed the near post, the remainder of the first half was all Liverpool.

Though the Reds, who ended the contest with 72 per cent possession, had to work hard for their chances, Oblak was tested by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sadio Mane (twice) and Roberto Firmino, while Mohamed Salah sent a shot over the cross-bar.

As half-time approached, Oxlade-Chamberlain delivered a fine cross to Georginio Wijnaldum, whose header bounced off the pitch and into the Atletico net to level the tie at 1-1.

The hosts started the second half with a relentless onslaught and Oblak did well in the 54th minute to deny Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Felix interrupted the Reds' monologue with an ambitious play on the counter that forced Adrian to come off his line to snatch the ball away from the onrushing Angel Correa.

Liverpool's Andy Robertson inexplicably hit the cross-bar on a golden chance in the 67th minute before Oblak thwarted Trent Alexander-Arnold and both Mane and Salah missed the mark.

With the match clock closing in on 90 minutes, Alexander-Arnold fouled Felix and Atleti won a free-kick.

Renan Lodi's found Saul Aiguez unmarked and the midfielder scored. But the offside flag went up and the goal was disallowed, sending the contest to extra time.

Four minutes in, Firmino headed into the cross-bar, but the ball ended up at his feet and he hammered home to put the home side up 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate.

The joy of the Anfield crowd was cut short in the 97th minute with Adrian's fatal blunder and the keeper -- playing for injured starter Alisson -- must also share blame for Llorente's second goal.

Atletico's Alvaro Morata scored in the final seconds to add additional sting to Liverpool's first home defeat in 18 months.
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will self-isolate after his wife began showing symptoms of coronavirus.

The decision was made after Mr Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, returned from a trip to London, according to a statement.

Ms Trudeau then displayed "mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever late last night," the Thursday statement said.

While her symptoms have since subsided, Mr Trudeau has gone into self-isolation, and will conduct in-person meetings by phone.

"The prime minister will spend the day in briefings, phone calls and virtual meetings from home, including speaking with other world leaders and joining the special COVID-19 cabinet committee discussion," the statement reads.

Mr Trudeau's self-isolation comes amid concerns around the impact the virus would have if it spreads to world leaders.

On Thursday, Brazil announced that its president, Jair Bolsonaro, was being monitored for the virus after it was determined that a top aide of his had tested postive for COVID-19.

Mr Bolsonaro and that aide were both with American president Donald Trump over the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, and a picture of the aide shows the man standing alongside Mr Trump and vice president Mike Pence.

Mr Trump has said he is not concerned that he might contract the virus, even as his administration has been criticised for its response to the outbreak.

The US president on Wednesday night also announced that he would be implementing a travel ban on Europeans coming to the US, excluding the United Kingdom.
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A New Jersey physician assistant who was the states first COVID-19 patient is speaking out from his hospital bed, calling his illness severe and raising concerns about his treatment.

James Cai, a 32-year-old non-smoker with no other health conditions, has been at Hackensack University Medical Center for about a week and says his illness has worsened significantly over that time.

In the beginning, they just treat me like normal flu. They say Im young, Im not going to die, but they dont know the truth about corona[virus], Cai said during an interview posted to Twitter over the weekend.

Cai didnt respond to MedPage Todays request for an interview, but he told CBS New York that his illness progressed rapidly. Hes now having trouble breathing and will likely need to be placed on a ventilator soon. Hes one of 15 cases in New Jersey as of press time. On Tuesday, the state reported its first death: a 69-year-old man with underlying conditions.

His story came to light over the weekend when Bill Pulte, a self-described Twitter philanthropist, posted a live interview with Cai that garnered social media attention. (Pulte is the grandson of William Pulte, founder of the large U.S. home construction company.)

Pulte said in a tweet that Cais family reached out to him for support, and he took up the cause because Cai needs a patient advocate right now. He said he wanted to help amplify Cais request to transfer to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where his brother works, and to get into a clinical trial of the antiviral remdesivir, first developed to treat Ebola but now repurposed as a potential coronavirus therapy.

Hackensack University Medical Center confirmed Cai is a patient there, but would not comment further. Gilead, which makes remdesivir, told MedPage Today it couldnt comment on individual patient cases.

During the interview, Cai appeared at times to be struggling to breathe, and Pulte halted the interview at one point to give him time to catch his breath.

For the last one week, its been hell, Cai said during the broadcast. His symptoms have included dyspnea, chest pain, high fever, watery eyes, and diarrhea. A repeat CT scan performed over the weekend showed evidence of disease worsening, he said.

At one point, he said his oxygen saturation dipped below 80%.

I dont think they really understand whats going on here, he said. My brother at Mount Sinai main campus, he understands. He can advocate for me.

In addition to going to his brothers hospital, he said he hopes he can start taking remdesivir soon.

I need those two things, he said. I dont know how many days I can last.

Cai worries for his 90-year-old grandparents, his wife, and his 9-month-old daughter, and confirmed his family is currently in isolation.

He believes he contracted the virus during a medical conference he attended at a Times Square hotel in New York City the weekend prior to his hospitalization on Tuesday, March 3.

Cai urged on CBS New York that people should take coronavirus seriously. Its very serious.

His pleas come as experts sound alarms that the U.S. health care system isnt prepared for a substantial influx of COVID-19 patients and may quickly be overwhelmed.

Update 3/12:

Encouraging news: It appears that Mr. Cai is recovering.

Kristina Fiore is director of enterprise & investigative reporting, MedPage Today.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Trusted clinician commentary on COVID-19 coronavirus from the KevinMD community:
RTHK: Rodrigo Duterte to have 'precautionary' virus test

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will be tested for the new coronavirus, an official said on Thursday as two key government buildings were being disinfected over an exposure scare.

The Philippines has seen a jump this week in cases, including people who recently attended events with Senate lawmakers and government officials, potentially exposing them.

In response, the Senate building and Philippine central bank were undergoing cleaning, and several officials announced they would isolate themselves as a precaution.

Duterte, who at 74 is in a vulnerable age group for the virus, will be tested because he has been in regular contact with some of those officials.

"It is just prudent for us to take precautionary measures in compliance with the advice of our health officials," said Duterte ally and Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, adding he too was to be tested.

Hours after the news, trading in Manila's stock market was halted for only the second time ever as it plunged 10 percent in the latest rout to hit global equities over the virus.

The Philippine Stock Exchange reopened 15 minutes later and ended 9.7 percent, or 616 points, lower at 5,736, its lowest level in more than six years.

The cutoff mechanism was adopted over a decade ago, and until Thursday had only been used on October 27, 2008, the exchange said on Twitter.

Duterte's health has been a recurring source of speculation in the Philippines since in 2016 he became the oldest person elected as the country's president.

Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and central bank head Benjamin Diokno were two of the officials who were isolating themselves.

The Philippines has a relatively small number of confirmed cases compared to hotspots like China and Italy, but its tally has risen from 24 to 49 since Monday.

Health authorities also announced the nation's second death, the first since an infected Chinese tourist died last month. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Will the share price of Australias largest travel agency fall further?

The $2.4 billion dollar travel agency, Flight Centre has continued to fall in share price with the corona virus becoming a global pandemic.

Source: Optuma

The last decade has seen some truly great growth for Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd [ASX:FLT], being as low in price as $3.39 in 2009 through the GFC to becoming the go to company for travel with a share price of $70.53 in August 2018 to reflect their status as one of Australias most trusted travel companies.

Flight Centre has recorded a 1,980%-plus rise in share price from the days of the global financial crisis with more people wanting to travel for business and pleasure. After such a rise, a natural correct wasnt too much of a surprise.

The case of the price correction and Coronavirus

Flight Centre reached its peak of $70.53 in August 2018 before starting to fall away into a correction and finding support around $37.59 before moving sideways for the remainder of 2019.

In January 2020, the Chinese government announced the emergence of the novel coronavirus being found in the city of Wuhan with a large number of people quickly becoming infected and the virus moving globally at an excelling rate to now be classed as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Coronavirus has now caused a wide-spread slowdown or cease in national and international travel with some countries closing their boarders and many major sporting events in jeopardy or being cancelled altogether, so what dose this mean for Flight Centre?

With a core business consisting of booking flights, hotels car hire and many more travel related needs it makes sense that Flight Centre earnings and therefore share price will be affected by the global lockdown stemming from coronavirus.

Flight Centre Managing director, Graham Turner recently stated that while it was to early to predict the overall impact of the virus, it would make 2H earnings more difficult to deliver.

Source: Optuma

Taking a closer look at the weekly movements of Flight Centre hit the peak price of $70.53 before falling just past 46% to the level of $37.71.

Price retraced to the upside 33.3%, which happened to coincide with the natural resistance level of $48.55, before heading down again, as seen in the chart below.

Source: Optuma

With the outbreak of coronavirus and the global slowdown in travel at the start of 2020, Flight Centre experienced a significant fall in price.

At time of writing price closed at $23.98 after three weeks of heavy falls and had moved down past the 75% extension level of $24.43 from the peak of $48.55. With no slowdown to be seen in the near future of coronavirus, how far could Flight Centre fall?

With historical levels of support and resistance being evident at $24.43 and $16.20 will either or these levels be enough to hold price steady or can it fall further?

Interesting to note, other travel and tourism centric companies such as Crown Resorts Ltd [ASX:CWN] and Webjet Ltd [ASX:WEB] are experiencing similar declines in price.

In this free report, Money Morning analyst Lachlann Tierney reveals two assets set to benefit as the corona crisis worsens. Click here to claim your copy today.

Regards,

Carl Wittkopp,

For Money Morning
The federal government on Thursday assured diplomats living within the nation that there was no need to panic over the confirmation of coronavirus in Nigeria.

Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, while briefing diplomats and the press at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abuja said this was not a time to spread fear.

He said the first case, which was confirmed on February 27, when an Italian man came into Lagos from Milan via Turkish airline and later travelled to Ogun State, is being taken care of at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Lagos and is faring well.

He is doing very well and we are ready to discharge him as soon as the viral load is within acceptable limit, he said.

Concerning the second confirmed case, a direct contact of the index case in Ogun State who had been under quarantine prior to being diagnosed with Covid-19, the minister said he had no significant clinical symptom and was identified, following routine screening. He is also receiving care at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Lagos.

Although most people who had contact with the index case have been quarantined, the health minister added that few are still being traced.

Preventive measures

In terms of precaution and preparedness against the virus, the government is mainly focused on surveillance at point of entry, infection prevention and control, risk communication, laboratory diagnosis, case management and coordination, he said.

In this respect we will work closely with border control agencies like Immigration and Customs, he said. We are leveraging on our public health security infrastructure which has been strengthened in the past four years through the upgrade of laboratory diagnostic capacity. This upgrade is still ongoing and for which we shall always welcome support.

READ ALSO:

He further said that Nigeria has not placed any travel bans or restrictions. He urged Nigerians to avoid travelling to countries with high level of transmission which he listed as China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, and Iran.

Travellers from affected countries are expected to exercise self-isolation for 14 days after entering Nigeria, and if travelers from other countries have symptoms, they are to report immediately to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), he said.

The minister also provided the contact information to reach NCDC anytime in the day (08097000000).

Mr Ehanire advised other countries to pay attention to screening travellers before departure as the lack of it puts a weight on Nigerias resources which are scarce.

In Africa, according to the World Health Organisation there are more than 100 confirmed cases.

Egypt has the highest number of cases with 59, followed by Algeria with 20.

Nigeria has two reported cases, Tunisia 5, Senegal 4, Morocco 3, South Africa 13, Cameroon 2, Togo 1, Burkina Faso 2, and DRC 1.
(Photo : Screenshot From Beyond Bedtime Facebook Page) ISIS Rocket

Two Americans as well as one British personnel were killed after 18 Katyusha rockets were fired into an Iraqi housing where the United States troops were staying. The happening was so sudden that proper counter-terrorist measures were not able to be completely observed while fighting against ISIS in Iraq. The unfortunate troops who died on foreign soil should be a reminder that the coronavirus or Covid-19 is not the only enemy we are dealing with.

The strike was intentional and even though there were three unfortunate deaths, the 18 Katyusha rockets could have caused more damage if they were not able to respond as quickly as possible to this attack. The lives of these soldiers was an unfortunate loss not just to the United States or the United Kingdom but a loss to the world in the battle against terrorism.

Col. Myles Caggins addressed the matter on Twitter

The Operation Inherent Resolve or OIR spokesperson known as Col. Myles Caggins said in a tweet, "The Coalition @CJTFOIR confirms more than 15 small rockets impacted Iraq's Camp Taji base hosting Coalition troops, March 11 at 7:35 p.m. (Iraq Time)," to give proper confirmation of the situation. The whole situation happened during the cover at night making the ISIS rockets harder to detect.

Read Also: After Launching Three Missiles, North Korea's Kim Jong Un Claims Superiority against Coronavirus!

According to the United States Central Command, after more investigation, the Iraqi Security Forces were able to come across a rocket-rigged truck located just a few miles outside Camp Taiji which was where the Coalition personnel were staying for training and advising missions. The impact of the rockets were thankfully not as massive as they should have been.

The attack came as a follow-up to previous deaths

About a few days ago, United States service members died in a clash accompanying the Iraqi Security Forces on a mission to eliminate the whole ISIS terrorist stronghold which was a mountainous area located at north-central Iraq last Sunday. The attack left two United States service members dead but was mildly successful in terms of overpowering ISIS

The United States military is still skeptical about the attack

The United States military has not yet confirmed if the recent attack was really done by ISIS or could there have been other powers at play to launch those rockets towards the Iraqi housing. In a tweet by Jennifer Griffin, it is suggested that ISIS does not have the capability of launching such an attack.

2 Americans and 1 Brit were killed when 15 Katyusha rockets landed at Taji Base in Iraq at about 7:52 pm local time today. "ISIS doesn't have this capability," I am told by a US military source. The US military is still treating the wounded right now, which number more than 11.  Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) March 11, 2020

The whole camp is still under investigation

A proper investigation has been launched to asses other clues which could lead towards the true attackers behind this rocket ISIS or not. So far, the most likely suspect is ISIS but the truth might surprise us if ever the investigation points out another enemy in play.

Red Also: It's a Drone War After All! Turkey Introduces Drones to the Battlefield

The 12 wounded are slowly recovering

There have been 12 other soldiers that were wounded during this rocket attack which is a significant number to take this matter with utmost sincerity. The coronavirus or Covid-19 has definitely been the focus of the world today but terrorism should not be forgotten no matter what.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
- Heart Evangelista, who is known for her wealthy and luxurious lifestyle, shared her stylish way of combating the coronavirus threat

- She showed on social media the process of transforming her spare face masks into Hermes and Chanel masks

- Heart said she is giving away the creative face masks to her friends and relatives to help them prevent the disease

- One lucky Twitter user also scored one of the designer masks from the Kapuso actress

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed

Heart Evangelista, who is known for being a luxury fashion icon, has a stylish way of protecting herself and her loved ones from the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a series of posts in her Instagram story, the Kapuso actress showed the process of designing her spare masks with old Hermes and Chanel ribbons.

The creative actress crafted her own fashionable masks with the help of her friends.

We are coming up with masks that are (prettier), Heart said amid the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Because life goes on and theres work, and wala akong choice.

We are making ourselves fashionably safe, she shared.

Were using all of our old ribbons to make it work. Were gonna make this happen.

Shortly after Heart tweeted a photo of her wearing one of their handiworks, people on Twitter had wondered where to avail those designer masks.

She then explained, Naku po! DIY po yung masks ko. Wala pong mask ang Hermes! Ginamit ko lang po ang ribbon ng mga paper bag! Check my ig stories for ideas!

You can use any ribbon! Some are from perfume boxes! Heart responded.

One lucky Twitter user even scored one creative face mask from the actress.

You want me to send you one? I have been making masks for my family while at home using old ribbons :) meron kasi ako mga extra masks na bigay lang. I can make one for you, pls check dm, she told to a netizen.

Heart said she is giving away the designed face masks to her friends and relatives.

PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news!

In a previous report by KAMI, the price of Hearts luxury watch went viral after its whopping cost got revealed.

Heart Evangelista has established herself as one of the most classy showbiz personalities in the Philippines. She is married to Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero.

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!

Actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith shared with KAMI that having a K-drama fan sister like Anne Curtis adds pressure to her to better portray her role in Descendants of the Sun. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
The Kyiv District Administrative Court has ruled to sustain the claim on securing the lawsuit filed by former deputy head of Viktor Yanukovych's presidential administration Andriy Portnov, and suspended the decision of the Kyiv City Council regarding the celebration in 2020 of memorable dates, anniversaries of some individuals, the press service of the Kyiv District Administrative Court reports.

"The Kyiv District Administrative Court considers reasonable Andriy Portnov's demand to suspend this decision (in part), taking into account the existing signs of its obvious wrongfulness, in connection with the violation by the Kyiv City Council of the development and adoption of the appealed decision," it said.
B oth Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus while out in Australia.

Hanks, 63, confirmed the news on his Instagram page last night after both himself and Wilson, also 63, were displaying flu-like symptoms.

The Forrest Gump star wrote that both himself and his wife were a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches, as well as slight fevers.

Wilson also suffered from chills, that came and went.

The pair were tested for Covid-19 in a hospital on the Gold Coast, with Hanks filming for Baz Lurrmans currently unnamed Elvis Presley biopic, and Wilson touring the country.

Currently, the NHS website lists the symptoms of coronavirus as a dry cough, a high temperature and a shortness of breath, however, the website does add that Covid-19 does share similar symptoms to other more common illnesses, such as colds and seasonal flu.

While it is not known when Hanks and Wilson entered Australia, the pair were first spotted by a fan in Queensland on the February 29.

During their time in the country, the pair have visited The Emporium Hotel in Brisbane, the North Bondi RSL and the Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney Harbour, Bondi Beach and Channel Nines Today Extra studio were also visited by either Hanks or Wilson.

The premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has since said that people who came into contact with the pair will now need to self-isolate.

Tom has been having a wonderful time on the Gold Coast and we are so lucky to have Tom in Queensland, she said.

But what it is, is people who have come in very close contact with him in recent days [our] experts will now work very closely with him with Baz [Luhrmann] and all the cast the crew and then they will isolate those people who have been in that close proximity.

From what the chief health officer has told me its over 15 minutes of being in very close contact, so a selfie wouldnt count as that.

She added: Im very confident with the physicians that we have that will be treating Tom and his wife and like I said we wish them all the very best for a speedy recovery.

Australia currently has 156 cases of coronavirus. Upon news of Hankss diagnosis, Lurhmann has halted production on the film.

The virus has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
Panic emerged Wednesday for Europeans planning travel to the United States in the coming month as President Donald Trump announced a 30-day travel restriction to start this Friday.

The proposed border closure was revealed as Trump addressed the American public about the worsening coronavirus panic in the U.S., instantly causing confusion in U.S. airports and leaving travelers in limbo over their plans.

In a rare address from the Oval Office, Trump claimed the European Union 'failed to take the same precautions' and suspended the entry of foreign nationals who have been in most European countries at any point in the past 14 days.

The United Kingdom and Ireland will not be included in the ban but confusion about what is to come on Friday caused panic for Europeans and Americans alike with some passengers about to board flights turning back around.

The White House said the travel restrictions would apply to foreign nationals who have visited 26 European countries - but excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days.

It will not apply to US citizens, their 'immediate' family members or legal permanent residents. But confusion remained over how exactly the rules would apply and in what time zone the deadline would be introduced.

US President Donald Trump addresses the Nation from the Oval Office about the widening novel coronavirus on Wednesday revealing a ban on foreign nationals from Europe

Adriana Dileo and Brian Cardenas decided not to travel to Barcelona on hearing of the ban on travel from Europe while they were already in John F. Kennedy airport

According to a DailyMail.com reporter who was in John F. Kennedy airport as the ban was announced, many people continued to travel but airline staff waited for flights to board before removing the luggage of passengers who decided not to continue with their journey.

Adriana Dileo, 25, from Pittsburgh had traveled to New York to take a flight from JFK to Barcelona.

She had originally been due to go to Italy for three months to teach English but changed her travel plans because of the outbreak there. Italy has suffered the worst outbreak outside of Asia.

Dileo then planned a shorter alternative European trip to go to Barcelona for four days and then Amsterdam for three days. On Wednesday evening, she was trying to change her flight and go to London or to a country that is not included in the ban.

As of midnight on Wednesday, the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. rose to 1,315

I was already in the airport and found out when my dad called freaking out. I cant believe it. He said if you get on that plane youre not coming back. Get out of the airport,' she said.

We are trying to go to London now or somewhere else not affected by the ban.

I havent been worried about things at all. I believe its like the flu and Im healthy.

Amy Mu, 22, her boyfriend Johannes Pascual and his sister Justine Pascual were due to board a flight to Paris for his cousin Yasmins wedding.

His parents were already in the air when the ban was announced, traveling from San Francisco to Paris and unaware of the changes.

Justine is studying and with her classes are cancelled so she continued to get on the flight. She said it wouldnt affect her too much if she is stuck in Paris.

Amy said she wont go, deciding it was not worth the risk if further restrictions are to come as she will need to return to her job as a researcher in Colombia.

Im a green card holder and not a US citizen so am worried I will lose my job if I leave. Its too much of a risk,' she said.

I havent been super worried about coronavirus as have been taking precautions and am young. Im more worried for the rest of the population.

Travelers in JFK airport after the announcement were left unsure of their travel plans

People check in to a British Airways flight at the international terminal at LAX airport in Los Angeles on March 11. The United Kingdom is not included in the travel ban

Others who were in airports when Trump made the announcement spoke about the drastic change in atmosphere as confused travelers were unsure as to whether it would affect their plans or their return to the United States.

'I was going to be the intrepid traveler with my traveling buddies but the government decided otherwise so I'm putting on a brave face', said one American passenger at Philadelphia Airport who overheard the announcement as they were about to board a flight to Europe and decided not to take the flight.

'I've been in airports during snowstorms, hurricanes, and severe storms... but being in the international departures terminal of an airport after the president announces a "flight suspension" from Europe was a feeling like no other,' said Sam Sweeney. a reporter with ABC7 News.

'This is uncharted territory.'

Reporter Jennifer Berry Hawes was also in the international terminal at Atlanta airport which was empty an hour before her flight.

'Scene now at the Atlanta airport international terminal right after Trump announced no return flights from Europe for a month,' she wrote.

'One hour to decide what to do. Risk getting stranded?'

Even though Ireland is not included in the ban, one flight boarding from JFK to Dublin was warned about the travel suspension announcement.

'If the leader of the free world is telling you that, you know your travel is being affected I would think that we have to give you your money back,' the airline staff told the waiting passengers.

Despite Trump declaring that American travelers are not included in the ban and will be allowed back into the country with screening through certain airports, several posted to social media about how they were fleeing the continent before the ban intensified.

One U.S. citizen claimed he met a group of students from Washington D.C. in Lisbon Airport as he rushed to find a way home. They told him they had informed the U.S. embassy about the ban when they called panicked about their situation.

'Its 2:12am and Im in Europe walking to the airport to attempt to buy a plane ticket home to the USA before this travel ban happens in 22 hours. I cant seem to access news in a timely fashion. Anyone know if this applies to US citizens?' wrote Brian Kachinsky.

'Im at the Lisbon airport. I just talked with a group of college students from DC. The STUDENTS called the embassy and informed THEM of this situation. The US embassy was not informed of this prior to Trumps announcement,' he added.

'My mom woke me up out of dead ass sleep at 320 am just now to say we are gonna be stuck in Europe for a month. Its 410 and we otw to the airport,' another Twitter user wrote.

Others questioned the exact details of the ban, including the time zone that was to be used when it starts.

'What does midnight Friday mean? What timezone would trigger midnight Friday? A half hour of sheer panic for Americans in Europe just now,' said American Melissa Brown.

'Its 4 a.m. in west Europe right now. I think its likely people are about to start flooding European airports trying to get home amid conflicting information, just as weve been advised to avoid large groups.'

'So irresponsible for the President to not explain this in detail,' added another Twitter user.

'I know people in Europe right now that literally started packing and went to the airport immediately. We elect a President to handle a crisis the right way this guy isnt capable of that.'

The decision to ban travel from Europe came so suddenly that information on how it will be implemented will not be released for another 48 hours.

EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WHOSE PEOPLE ARE BANNED Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland Advertisement

'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced.

'The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight.'

A statement from Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wold was released after Trump's announcement, confirming that the ban would effect countries in the Schengen Area including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The ban will not apply to legal permanent residents or in most cases, to immediate family members of U.S. citizens.

'Protecting the American people from threats to their safety is the most important job of the President of the United States,' Wold said.

A statement from Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wold was released after Trump's announcement about the ban on travel to the U.S. from Europe

'The actions President Trump is taking to deny entry to foreign nationals who have been in affected areas will keep Americans safe and save American lives. I applaud the president for making this tough but necessary decision.

'While these new travel restrictions will be disruptive to some travelers, this decisive action is needed to protect the American public from further exposure to the potentially deadly coronavirus.'

Wold added that the restrictions would be similar to those placed on individuals who had been in China and Iran in January and February.

'That action proved to be effective in slowing the spread of the virus to the U.S., while public health officials prepared,' he said.

Within the next 48 hours, Wold also announced he would issue a supplemental Notice of Arrivals Restriction requiring U.S. passengers that have been in the Schengen Area to travel through select airports where the U.S. Government has implemented enhanced screening procedure.

The epicenter of the disease in Europe is in Italy, where the government ordered the shutdown of virtually the entire economy as the number of people diagnosed soared and overwhelmed hospitals had to decide who to save from death.

Health officials have warned in recent days about the risk of further spread of the virus from European travelers visiting the U.S. or Americans returning from trips there.

'These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground,' he said. He said there would be exemptions for Americans who underwent 'appropriate screenings.'

Trump also spoke to trade between Europe and the U.S. 'Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing,' he said.

But then the White House had to issue an astonishing clarification - that the president had misspoken and the ban in fact only applies to humans.
Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on March 11, 2020, rescued four NYSC corps members who were kidnapped on March 9, 2020, along Funtua-Gusau Road on their way to NYSC Orientation Camp, Gusau in Zamfara State.

The successful rescue operation came as a result of diligent and intense intelligence gathering and sustained coordinated operations.

The corps members: Oladehin Paul, Ojo Temitope, Ojewale Elizabeth and Adenigbuyan Adegboyega have since been handed over to the Zamfara State Director of the National Youth Service Corps, while Mohammed Ardo, a co-travellers from Gusau who was also kidnapped along with the corps members has also been rescued and successfully reunited with his family.



The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu while commending the Commissioner of Police in charge of Katsina state CP Sanusi Buba, his operatives as well as good citizens of the state who supported the police operations assured Nigerians of the unrelenting determination of the Force to rid the nation of all forms of crime and criminality.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Surging shale production and growing global demand for light low-sulfur oil helped U.S. crude exports to soar by 45 percent year on year in 2019, reaching an average of 2.98 million barrels per day (bpd), the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Thursday.

The United States exported crude oil to 44 different destinations last year, compared to 41 export destinations in 2018. Canada was the biggest buyer of American crude with a 15 percent share, closely followed by South Korea with 14 percent of all U.S. crude exports.

Due to the U.S.-China trade war, American exports of crude oil to China slipped by 100,000 bpd on average in 2019 from 2018 and averaged just 133,000 bpd last year. This sent China down the list of the biggest buyers of U.S. crudefrom third in 2018 to seventh in 2019, as per EIA estimates.

Americas crude oil exports to China dropped in 2019, but exports of crude to other destinations jumped, most notably to South Korea, the Netherlands, and India, the EIA said.

The top ten buyers of U.S. crude oil in 2019 were Canada, South Korea, the Netherlands, India, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, China, Italy, Thailand, and Singapore.



Related: Will Trump Bail U.S. Shale Out?

Growing U.S. crude oil production and exports have resulted in America selling oil to more destinations around the world than the number of countries from which it imports crude oil, the EIA said in October 2019. A decade ago, the United States was importing crude oil from as many as 37 foreign sources per month, and its exports were restricted almost exclusively to Canada. After the lifting of those restrictions at the end of 2015, U.S. crude oil exports have been on the rise and reaching more destinations.

The United States was a net exporter of crude oil and petroleum products last month, with the four-week average net imports at a negative 907,000 bpd in the last week of February, the lowest imports level in EIA data dating back to 1973.

Despite the net petroleum exporter status, the U.S. continues to be a net importer of crude oilit continues to import more volumes of crude oil than it exports. In November 2019, the latest monthly data, America imported 5.8 million bpd of crude oil and exported 3.0 million bpd of crude, the EIA said last month.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A bitter mum has been found guilty of trying to have her ex husband killed so she could win back custody of their daughter, with friends claiming she bore a grudge about him for more than a decade.

Victoria Breeden tried to persuade three different men to murder Rob Parkes after their relationship broke down and he won custody of their daughter.

The 'bitter and angry' 39-year-old offered one of the men 5,000 to kill Mr Parkes.

'Bitter and angry' Victoria Breeden has been remanded in custody after a jury found her guilty on three counts of soliciting a murder. She is pictured leaving Chelmsford Crown Court on March 4

Rob Parkes with his new wife Victoria on their way to hear the verdict against his ex-wife, Victoria Breeden. Between 2014 and 2019 Breeden tried to have Parkes killed on three separate occasions

A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court unanimously found Breeden guilty on three counts of soliciting to murder Mr Parkes between 2014 and 2019.

One friend told the Mirror she was so obsessed with her ex-husband she still moaned about him a decade later.

They said: 'Victoria is clearly a very manipulative woman. We had a number of conversations where she was complaining about her ex.

'She bore this grudge for years... she should have just moved on with her life.'

Christopher Paxton QC had told the jury Breedens determination to carry out the attacks was borne out of a desire to get revenge on Mr Parkes after he won custody of their teenage daughter following the breakdown of their marriage.

He said: 'The defendant had both the motive and means to solicit others to killer or murder Mr Parkes on her behalf.

'It is through good fortune along that her plans have not been fulfilled.

'The defendant was in a relationship with some of the men who she sought to help her with this deadly plan, others were just friends.

'These were not empty words she spoke in a pique of temper, she had the financial means to fund her plan.

'Each of the solicitations to murder had or concerned one target and that was her ex husband.'

Breeden, who uses a wheelchair, was cleared on a fourth count of plotting to kill her former partner.

On one occasion she was recorded discussing the prospect of arranging a killer to take Mr Parkes' life.

Mr Paxton told the court: 'It is through good fortune that her plans have not been fulfilled.

'The defendant was in a relationship with some of the men who she sought to help her with this deadly plan, others were just friends.

'These were not empty words she spoke in a pique of temper, she had the financial means to fund her plan.

'Each of the solicitations to murder had or concerned one target and that was her ex husband.'

Breeden and her ex husband met at university in 1999 before marrying in 2004.

Their marriage broke down between 2006 and 2008 and in 2014 Mr Parkes won custody of the couples only child, the jury heard.

Graham Wall leaves Chelmsford Crown Court after giving evidence at the trial of Victoria Breeden. In October 2018 Breeden asked her then partner, Graham Wall, to help to arrange to kill Mr Parkes

Mr Paxton told the jury the loss of the court case appeared to cause 'bitterness and anger' in Breeden, who has two more children from other relationships.

He said: 'This drove her, or drove her in part to seek retribution against Mr Parkes.

'The fact that he lived does not mean the defendant was not serious in what she sought to do.'

Breeden first asked a friend Hamish Martin, to sort out her ex husband, whom she described as 'a b******'.

Mr Paxton said: 'She said she could get together 5,000 if he knew someone who could do it for her.'

Breeden repeatedly asked him about arranging something and he then had to tell her he did not want to have any more conversations about the matter.

In October 2018 Breeden asked her then partner, Graham Wall, to help to arrange to kill Mr Parkes, describing her ex as a 'dangerous, deceitful and influential,' man.

She told him that with Mr Parkes 'gone', she would have access to her daughter again.

'If you cant do that, then you are of no use to me', she told him.

Mr Paxton added: 'Mr Wall believed that if he had said yes the defendant would have gone through with it.'

Last year Breeden asked a third man called Earl Gernon to kill Mr Parkes.

Mr Wall captured the alleged instructions in a mobile phone recording he made because he was suspicious that Breeden was cheating on him with Mr Gernon.

She did not name her ex hubby to Mr Gernon who did discuss what details would be required in order for an attack to take place.

Breeden, of Littleport, Cambridgeshire, has denied four counts of soliciting to murder her ex husband.

She was convicted on three counts and cleared on a fourth count.

The attempts took place during a five-year period between 2014 and last year.

A decision on when sentencing will take place is set to be made this afternoon.

Breeden was remanded in custody.
Confusion about Medicare can have serious consequences, such as extra costs or gaps in coverage, says Anthony P. Solazzo, CEO of e-TeleQuote. Making these resources available to the general public is a critical element in our mission to make navigating Medicare easier for everyone.

easyMedicare.com (https://www.easyMedicare.com), an affiliate of e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc., published more than 100 Medicare resources in 2019. All of easyMedicare.coms educational resources are available at no cost.

The new Medicare resources published in 2019 include 100 instructional articles, six videos, a Medicare Annual Election Period toolkit, and a guide to Medicare and Turning 65. Article and video topics cover a wide range of Medicare concerns, including enrollment periods, benefit options, changes to Medicare, finding help with costs, dual eligibility for both Medicare and Medicaid plans, and healthcare options for working past the age of 65. The company expanded their educational efforts on social media as well, sharing articles and Medicare tips on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

In 2019, easyMedicare.com also launched the Medicare Online Enrollment Portal, where people can find, compare, and enroll in Medicare Advantage Plans fully online. This self service tool enables people to research and choose plans at a time and place that is convenient for them.

Confusion about Medicare can have serious consequences, such as extra costs or gaps in coverage, says Anthony P. Solazzo, CEO of e-TeleQuote. Making these resources available to the general public, using mediums and platforms on which people are comfortable accessing them, is a critical element in our mission to make navigating Medicare easier for everyone.

The Medicare resources created in 2019, as well as other resources, can be viewed at http://www.easyMedicare.com.

About e-TeleQuote and easyMedicare.com

e-TeleQuote Insurance, Inc., the owner and operator of easyMedicare.com, is an independent digital insurance marketplace providing individuals the ability to purchase Medicare insurance from the comfort of their homes. The company diligently researches available plan options from multiple insurance carriers, helping people choose a plan that best suits their needs. e-TeleQuote provides personal consultation through experienced licensed Medicare advisors who suggest plan coverage options based on an individuals particular needs. The company has proudly served tens of thousands of people across the United States.
A high school in Sydney's Blue Mountains has been closed after a person tested positive for coronavirus while the NSW premier prepares for talks with her national counterparts about how to contain the infection.

Katoomba High School will be closed on Friday after a member of the school community was diagnosed with COVID-19, the school said on its Facebook page on Thursday.

The state's health department is working to identify any people the confirmed case has been in contact with.

Katoomba High School will be closed on Friday after a member of the school community was diagnosed with coronavirus

Students and staff have been told to self-isolate for the next few days and will later be advised if the school will re-open on Monday.

Gladys Berejiklian will on Friday attend a Council of Australian Governments meeting in western Sydney, where measures such as mass school closures and shutting down large events or gatherings will be on the agenda.

NSW is ramping up efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, which authorities warn could infect as many as 1.6 million in the first wave of a statewide outbreak.

By Thursday evening there were 78 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in NSW, including a barista who worked at Pastadelli in Wahroonga on Sydney's upper north shore.

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says preparations are underway for 20 per cent of the state's eight million residents to catch COVID-19.

Staff and students are currently in self isolation as the date the school will reopen remains uncertain

Oscar-winning US actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were on Thursday confirmed to be infected and were hospitalised on the Gold Coast.

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

Wilson last Saturday performed in front of more than 200 at the Sydney Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House is getting in touch with anyone, including patrons and staff, who came into contact with the couple during the performance.

Dr Chant expects every person who becomes ill will pass it on to 2.68 others on average - although this could be reduced through self-isolation, social distancing and handwashing.

The World Health Organisation has declared the global crisis a pandemic, sounding the alarm about mounting infection rates and slow government responses.

NSW Health is planning to double the state's intensive care unit capacity and double the availability of ventilators.
Cannabis has been touted as a therapy for just about everything from anxiety to cancer, but even the well-affirmed feel-good effects of the now broadly legalized drug arent immune to the caustic impact of an unfolding international pandemic.

Joining the growing ranks of political rallies and sporting events temporarily shutting down  and large insurance conferences being canceled or postponed  the usually booming business of cannabis conferences is seeing one major event cancellation after another over fears of the spread by COVID-19, or the Coronavirus.

The National Cannabis Risk Management Association announced this week it was postponing NCRMA2020, its upcoming conference in Las Vegas at the Ballys hotel and resort on March 22-24.

Our responsibilities as a risk manager transcend our passion and desire to bring our membership together, Rocco Petrilli, chairman of the NCRMA, said in a statement announcing the cancelation. Though we are disappointed to have to postpone our event, as our leadership continued to monitor the developments, it became abundantly clear that this was the correct course of action. Our hearts go out to families and communities that have been affected by the COVID-19. We hope our decision will help reduce the spread of this virus.

Organizers of the event, which was expected to draw up to 500 attendees, are looking at dates later this year for NCRMA2020. They plan to announce dates and the venue at a later date.

SXSW set for Austin, Texas, later this month, which includes a massive multiday cannabis track called Cannabusiness, was canceled over COVID-19 fears. The popular trade show Natural Products EXPO West in Anaheim, Calif., which had numerous cannabis sessions scheduled, was also postponed.

One event touted as Hazy: Friday the 13th in Los Angeles this week, which features live DJs, a tattoo bar, fresh tacos, and a curated cannabis menu from The Pottery retail dispensary, is going on as planned  with a few precautions.

We will have silicone joint tips for you at the door  and plenty of hand sanitizer, water, and kombucha throughout the party, an updated invite to the event states.

Other cannabis events that were recently canceled include The American Herbal Products Associations Hemp-CBD Supplement Congress, which was scheduled for March 14-15 in Portland, Ore., and Cannabis Cover in Denver, Colo.

While event organizers have been getting the jitters over the Coronavirus, the sponsors who provide monetary and logistical support to make these events happen are also being highly cautious.

Weedmaps, a large tech company that sponsors cannabis events across the country, is feeling the impact, according to Travis Rexroad, director of communications at the Irvine, Calif.-based company.

As with most every industry, there are obviously both short- and long-term implications that were currently navigating as various conventions and events are being postponed or canceled altogether, Rexroad said. There are a lot of unknowns at this point, but the safety and health of our organization and the cannabis community at large will always be prioritized.

Michael Sampson, a partner in the insurance recovery group and co-vice chair of the cannabis law team for in the Pittsburgh, Penn., office of ReedSmith, is spending much of his time lately advising his clients to meticulously document their losses.

The idea is  for those clients who believe they will be able to submit a claim  to have documentation and receipts to show lost revenue, which sponsors or vendors pulled out of an event, a letter from a local government declaring large events cant go forward, or anything to prove tangible losses.

Even for those clients who are doubtful theyll be covered, his advice to them is to go over their policies with himself or their brokers.

Dont just assume theres not coverage, because the losses here are likely to be significant enough to take the time to see if coverage is there, Sampson said.

Despite the optimism of coverage, he believes that while many insureds will look to business interruption coverage for relief, more likely than not that there wont be coverage.

Thats because the language in most BI policies requires direct physical damage, or they may have a communicable disease exclusion, which has become more common over the years.

Paul White, an insurance litigation attorney at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, said hes been hearing from numerous clients with coverage questions about event cancellations.

I am aware of clients expressing interest in event cancellation, he said, adding that the sectors hes been hearing from are primarily businesses in the hospitality industry.

One of the misconceptions policyholders have is they should covered by the impacts of a cancellation because people have lost interest in attending these events over a fear of catching COVID-19.

Event cancellation coverage usually outlines a specific peril  such as death, accidental illness, travel delays, venue delays, inclement weather, he noted.

Fear alone is typically not going to justify collecting your insurance for cancellation of an event, White said. A lot of these policies exclude coverage due to a communicable disease.

Sampson, who is also advising his clients that an ordered shutdown by a government entity could trigger civil authority coverage, which may be found in some property policies, believes the widespread losses are motivation enough for businesses to take the time to closely examine all possible coverages.

Were getting a lot of questions, Sampson said. Anybody who has suffered a loss should talk to council or their brokers and look for potential coverage. Any coverage that would provide any relief to the cannabis industry or any industry right now would a good thing.

Related:

Topics COVID-19 Cannabis Training Development
Lakeshore Elementary School in San Francisco will be closed for 14 days starting Thursday after the school district learned Wednesday evening that four students and some of their family members each have a respiratory illness, school district officials said.

The students are being tested for COVID-19, a coronavirus, and public health officials are investigating the situation.

So far, no one in San Francisco schools has tested positive for COVID-19.

Families and staff members of the school are being asked to stay at home for 14 days and monitor their health during that period. School district officials are working on ways to help students learn during the school closure and they will be in touch with families in the near future.

"We know this information is cause for concern," Vincent Matthews, superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District, said in a statement. "We will continue to work closely with health experts to inform these important decisions."

Members of the board of education will be meeting Thursday morning with San Francisco public health officials to talk about the school district's response to the coronavirus.

San Francisco schools are allowing students to stay home from school with an excused absence if parents believe that is best, Matthews said in a letter Thursday to families.

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.
12 March 2020

Patent statistics published today by the European Patent Office (EPO) show that for the first time in more than a decade digital technologies have taken the lead in patent applications filed. According to the EPO Patent Index 2019, the surge in the fields of digital communication (+19.6%) and computer technology (+10.2%) is fuelling the sustained growth in patent filings: In 2019, the EPO received well over 181 000 applications in total, 4% more than in 2018 and a new all-time high.

"The rapid rise of digital technologies is the most striking trend from our 2019 index," said EPO President Antonio Campinos. "The digital transformation of the economy is now fully reflected in the patent applications reaching the EPO. With our well-established and globally recognised approach to examining applications in the digital field, the EPO is well placed to support inventors, and foster innovation in Europe and beyond. It is important that companies and researchers in Europe seeking to protect their inventions find a level playing field with their competitors from Asia and the US, and are able to maintain a strong position in the global technology market."

5G and AI as drivers of growth

Among the top technical fields at the EPO, digital communication and computer technology saw the steepest growth, highlighting their key role in driving the digital transformation that is permeating all sectors and industries. Patent applications in digital communication grew by +19.6% in 2019, overtaking medical technology (+0.9%), which had been the most patent-active technology since 2006. This field, which lies at the intersection of telecommunications and computers, includes technologies that are crucial to implementing 5G wireless networks.

With an increase of 64.6%, Chinese companies contributed most to the growth in digital communication patent applications, with US (+14.6%) and South Korean firms (+36.1%, albeit from a smaller base) following suit. By comparison, filings from Europe grew moderately (+3.1%). In terms of share, China, the US and Europe are now the joint leaders, each accounting for roughly a quarter of all patent applications filed with the EPO in this field. The top three applicants in 2019 were Huawei, Ericsson and Qualcomm (Fig.: Leading applicants, digital communication).

The second fastest-growing field at the EPO in 2019 was computer technology (+10.2%). Here the driving factor for growth was the increase in patent applications related to artificial intelligence, especially in the areas of machine learning and pattern recognition, image data processing and generation, and data retrieval.

US companies (+13.6% over 2018) accounted for nearly 40% of all patent applications in computer technology, followed by EPO member states (+9.3%) with almost 30% of the total. Applications from China (+18.7%) made up just over 10%. The leading applicants in 2019 were Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, Samsung, Huawei, Intel and Siemens (Fig.: Leading applicants, computer technology). A significant proportion of the growth in 2019 also came from smaller applicants, and from new players.

European companies lead in transport

Other technical fields with solid growth at the EPO in 2019 were: transport (+6.6% over 2018), which includes the automotive sector; electrical machinery, apparatus and energy (+5.5%), where many inventions for clean energy technologies are filed; and pharmaceuticals (+4.4%). European companies held the largest share of patent applications in transport, measurement, organic fine chemistry and "other special machines" - an area covering a range of technologies including machine tools for various industries and 3D printing.

Growth from nearly every region, surge from China

The technology trends were also reflected in the country data. The top five countries of origin for applications in 2019 were the US, accounting for 25% of total filings, followed by Germany (15%), Japan (12%), China (7%) and France (6%) (Fig.: Origin of applications). The increase in applications at the EPO in 2019 was mainly fuelled by the strong increase in filing volumes from China (+29.2% over 2018), the US (+5.5%) and South Korea (+14.1%) (Fig.: Top 50 countries for applications). In the past decade, patent filings from China with the EPO have increased nearly sixfold (12 247 applications in 2019 vs. 2 061 in 2010). In 2019, the general upward trend in filings continued from nearly every major industrial region, with only Japan experiencing a small drop (-2.3%) after two years of growth.

Patent applications from the 38 EPO countries grew modestly (+1.1%) in 2019, the third year of increase. In relative terms, the share of patent applications from Europe continued to slide, however, falling from 51% in 2009 to 45% in 2019, as more players from outside Europe, and especially Asia, seek to protect their inventions in the European market.

Other countries with notable increases in filings with the EPO include Canada (+14.5%), Israel (+6.8%), and - from lower levels - Saudi Arabia (+38.3%) and Brazil (18.8%).

European trends: Germany stable while Sweden, the UK and Spain show solid growth

Patent applications coming from the EPO member states developed stably overall, with most firms filing more patent applications than in 2018. Sweden (+8.0%) was the growth champion, boosted by increases in applications related to digital communication and computer technology. Patent filings from the UK (+6.9%) and Switzerland (+3.6%) continued to increase significantly, too, while filings from Italy advanced by +1.2%. After two consecutive years of growth the number of patent applications coming from Europe's top filing country, Germany, remained stable (+0.5%), while France (-2.9%) and the Netherlands (-2.6%) saw decreases last year. The drop in patent filings from France was due to fewer applications in fields such as digital communication and automotive, while in the Netherlands, lower numbers of applications were filed in a number of sectors, including medical technology and biotechnology.

Among the European economies with mid-range patenting volumes, applications from Spain (+6.0%) grew solidly. Belgium (+3.2%), Austria (+2.6%), and Denmark (+0.8%) achieved similar filing levels to 2018, while patent applications from Finland fell further (-1.4%).

There were also significant increases from countries with smaller patenting volumes, such as Ireland (+6.3%) and Norway (+3.6%). Portugal (+23.1%) and Greece (+15.8%) also both saw their third year of consecutive growth, albeit from a smaller base.

Huawei heads list of applicants

The company ranking also reflects the rapidly growing importance of digital technologies. Huawei topped the table of patent applicants at the EPO in 2019 with 3 524 applications. Samsung moved up to second place and LG gained a position to take third. The two South Korean firms were followed by US company United Technologies and the top applicant of 2018, Siemens at No.5.. Sony is Japan's highest ranking applicant (jumping from 11th to 9th), while Ericsson (moving up to 7th), Philips and Robert Bosch ensure that European companies account for the majority of the applicants in the ranking: The top 10 includes four companies from Europe, two from South Korea, two from the US, and one from each of China and Japan.

Every fifth application at the EPO filed by an SME

A breakdown of applications originating from European countries shows that 72% of them were filed by large companies, 18% by small and medium-sized enterprises and individual inventors, and 10% by universities and public research organisations. This confirms that a significant proportion of EPO applicants are smaller entities (Fig.: Breakdown of applicants by category).

For detailed statistics, see the EPO Patent Index 2019 at www.epo.org/patent-index2019.

Further information
Parents push back against Wash. state sex ed bill; gov. expected to sign

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Despite considerable public pushback, Washington state lawmakers have approved a comprehensive sex education curriculum in legislation for public school students some parents say is tantamount to grooming.

According to MyNorthwest, Republicans in the Evergreen state strongly resisted the measure, at one point even attempting to add more than 200 amendments to impede the bill from advancing. Conservative legislators contended that the material was not age-appropriate and that it usurps the parent-child relationship.

"I'm not sure why we're rushing to remove the innocence of our youth," Rep. Mike Steele, R-Clehan, said in a house floor speech last week.

"We put so much on them. I don't know why we think it's appropriate to put more, to put such weight upon their backs at such young ages. This is heavy, heavy material."

Democratic defenders of the legislation maintained that the bill is vital for children.

The hard work that we put into this bill  in both the House and Senate  is well worth it because it will improve safety for children statewide, said the bills sponsor, Democratic Sen. Claire Wilson.

We must ensure that our kids have the tools and knowledge they need to recognize and resist inappropriate behavior."

Around the country, particularly in politically liberal states, sex-ed curriculum and recommended resources that feature explicit descriptions of various sexual acts and cartoon images that appear pornographic have been contested by parents who do not want their children exposed to it, prompting activism, including sit-outs where children are withdrawn from school in protest of graphic sex ed. Also included in the controversial lessons is the promotion of the idea that some people might be born in the wrong body and that biological sex exists on a spectrum.

Beth Daranciang, a Seattle resident who was a Republican candidate for state senator and an activist for the protection of children and women, commented in an email to The Christian Post Monday that influential interest groups appear to be calling the shots.

"The Democrats in Washington are heavily funded by Planned Parenthood and their allies. Planned Parenthood helped develop the curriculum and is frequently mentioned in the curriculum as a resource," Daranciang said.

"Planned Parenthood benefits when teens and young adults get contraceptives, STI testing and abortions from them. A new program of PP provides hormone therapy for transgender patients. Those hormones are expensive and life-long, which is a huge benefit to Planned Parenthood's business model," she added.

Kim Wendt, a Tacoma-area mom and co-founder of Informed Parents of Washington, told The Christian Post in a phone interview Monday that the curriculum is being presented as necessary and full of vital tools for children.

Her parent group believes, however, that this is all part a larger more nefarious agenda to sexualize children.

"Backed by Planned Parenthood and my guess would be the porn industry," she mused, noting that this is a worldwide movement being fought at the smallest, most rural school districts in the United States all the way to the United Nations.

"It's well-funded and it's meant to sexualize our children all the way down to kindergarten."

Wendt recounted that Seattle-area police officers have gone on local radio stations and, having viewed some of the content in the CSE lessons, said that with their work in the human trafficking division, the material mirrors how traffickers groom their child victims to enter the sex trade.

Wendt and Daranciang were both present in the room until approximately 2 a.m. early Thursday morning when the bill was finally voted on.

"To me, it was just obvious that it was an agenda. There were very reasonable amendments put forth and every one of them was shot down and it was on party-line and there was no negotiation."

"So it was obvious that there was something pushing the Democrats to push this through," she reiterated. "So there's a lot of power behind it and money. They didn't get it through last year, they took a lot of flack so they made sure it went through this year."

She urged parents to get involved at the school board level.

While a provision exists that teachers do not have to teach every lesson specifically set forth in the curricula, parents need to be engaged locally because truth and transparency coming from the state as to what is being taught is scarce, particularly given how sex ed lessons are being integrated with other subjects where students cannot opt out, she noted.

"Parents really need to wake up and pay attention to what is being put in their schools," she stressed. "They need to engage at the school board level to make sure they know fully what is being taught."

When the bill was being considered, members of the local Satanic Temple, dressed in head-to-toe black, rallied at the state capitol to support the bill.

Gov. Jay Inslee, a liberal Democrat, is expected to sign the legislation.

Washington House Republican leader J.T. Wilcox and Senate Republican leader Mark Schoesler announced in a Sunday joint press release obtained by CP that they were forming a committee called Parents for Safe Schools, which is committed to having the governor veto the bill and should he refuse, rally Washington parents to overturn it through a referendum at the ballot box.

Rep. Wilcox said: I am a father and a grandfather. These are young children. The youngest are still learning to tie their shoes. The state is going to take away parental rights and force a curriculum that is not age appropriate. That is outrageous. Nothing we do in Olympia is more important than protecting our kids. We will fight this with every tool at our disposal.

For a referendum to appear on the November ballot, 129,811 signatures will have be to gathered by June 10.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday asserted that those responsible for the recent riots in Delhi will be brought to book irrespective of their caste, religion and political affiliations.

Replying to a short duration debate in Rajya Sabha on the riots, he said over 700 FIRs have been registered and more than 2,600 people arrested based on evidence.

Those who are responsible for the violence and those who conspired to trigger the riots will be punished irrespective of their caste, religious and political affiliations, he added.

He also said that the government was not running away from a debate on this issue but wanted a peaceful Holi.

Giving details, Shah said a detailed scrutiny of videos of the riots is being done and driving licence, voter ID data are being used in facial identification software.

He said that no Supreme Court guideline on privacy has been violated and no Aadhaar data has been used.

He added that 1922 faces have been identified using facial identification software.

He informed that 50 serious cases of murder, attacks on religious places, hospitals, and educational institutions being handed over to three SITs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fourteen Princeton residents were told to self-quarantine after they attended a private party at a residence in the town with several out of state residents who tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Wednesday.

Three Pennsylvania residents, who presumptively tested positive for the fast-spreading respiratory illness in their home state, attended the Feb. 29 private function at a Princeton residence, according Princeton Health Officer Jeffrey Grosser.

Two people from the Boston-area were also at the event and later tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home.

Officials confirmed 47 people in all were at the party, with 14 of them being from Princeton, the health department said in a statement.

Of those fourteen residents, all have been contacted: nine complain of one or more symptoms and are being evaluated, the statement said.

Four of the nine residents have tests pending while the remaining five were seeking testing, according to Grosser.

The self-quarantine will continue for the immediate future, the department said. All are being followed for the development of signs and symptoms.

Two South Brunswick residents were also at the Princeton event, township officials said Wednesday night. The two residents complained of one or more symptoms and were being evaluated.

While we await further testing and answers the residents have self-quarantined. Our goal in the guidance we are providing is to slow any potential spread of the virus, said South Brunswick Police Chief and Emergency Management Director Raymond Hayducka.

It was not clear how the out of state residents at the event became infected. Grosser, Princetons health officer, said the Pennsylvania residents were from Bucks County.

Bucks County spokesman Larry King said the county only had two of its residents with presumptive positive tests, not three as was reported in Princeton. He would not confirm if the two Bucks County cases were linked to the Princeton event.

If there were a medical or public health reason to do so, we would, but at this time our two presumptive positive cases are experiencing only mild symptoms, are confined to their home and are reportedly doing well, King said in an email.

The two people from Bucks County lived together and attended out-of-state gathering recently, according to a statement from the county released Tuesday.

Presumptive positive tests mean a sample is awaiting final confirmation from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

New Jersey officials on Wednesday said the statewide total cases of the virus reached 23, with one death.

Speaking at a news conference, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said two newly-identified cases could be from "community spread, meaning a person-to-person transmission without exposure to a known confirmed case.

"Community spread indicates that the coronavirus is amongst us, Persichilli told reporters. We have an expectation that that may be the case.

COVID-19  the illness caused by the virus  has sickened more than 1,000 people in the U.S. and left at least 32 dead. Health experts have warned that elderly people and those with weakened immune systems should take extra precautions as the pandemic is expected to grow.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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[March 12, 2020] Blue Ridge Global Launches Price Optimization Solution

ATLANTA, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blue Ridge announced today the launch of its cloud-based Price Optimization solution, which leverages advanced science to quickly identify opportunities and simulate pricing strategies for peak margin, profits, revenues and sales.

Blue Ridge Price Optimization quickly identifies both overpriced and underpriced products while providing accurate recommendations for aligning prices across products, channels and price points including wholesale, list and customer segment. The solution provides daily alerts on competitive price changes, as well as recommendations on reducing excess inventory to increase revenue and profit margins up to 30 percent. Retailers, distributors and manufacturers have a unique challenge in that manual or cost-plus approaches to pricing lack the flexibility required to compete and are disconnected from customer willingness-to-pay, said Cliff Isaacson, Blue Ridge Executive Vice President of Product Strategy. Price Optimization analyzes both fast-selling key items and infrequently sold, long-tail assortment items across all channels to help determine the max profit point and make pricing decisions with confidence. Click here for a short video summary on Blue Ridge Price Optimization . Blue Ridge Price Optimization provides:



Comprehensive Pricing Strategy: Simulate different pricing scenarios and predict the impact of a price change before implementing it.





Simulate different pricing scenarios and predict the impact of a price change before implementing it. Competitive Positioning: Respond immediately to price changes from competitors, as well as supplier rules, segmentation, positioning and price change frequency.







Respond immediately to price changes from competitors, as well as supplier rules, segmentation, positioning and price change frequency. Intelligent Analytics: Purpose-built for the distribution and retail industries, Price Optimizations intelligent science learns from price changes and results over time to steadily improve price recommendations.



Purpose-built for the distribution and retail industries, Price Optimizations intelligent science learns from price changes and results over time to steadily improve price recommendations. Customer Segmentation: Identifies customer performance, discounting and pricing opportunities based on willingness-to-pay and past performance.



Identifies customer performance, discounting and pricing opportunities based on willingness-to-pay and past performance. Rapid Results: In under 90 days, businesses can have intelligent Price Optimization recommendations for achieving both short-term and long-term S&OP goals, continually refined year after year. Price Optimization joins Blue Ridges suite of Supply Chain Planning solutions , which help customers increase forecast accuracy, improve customer satisfaction, and assure product availability to customers without creating a costly inventory surplus. Price Optimization combined with Supply Chain Planning solutions creates a huge financial game changer for retailers, distributors and manufacturers in todays volatile market, said Jim Byrnes, Blue Ridge Chief Executive Officer. It uniquely blends science and synchronization to solve our customers biggest problem  what they dont know. With Price Optimization, our customers have the insight to pivot quickly and grab significant near-term savings; shape and align longer-range S&OP processes; and consistently deliver pricing thats both competitive and profitable. To learn more about Blue Ridge Price Optimization solution, visit www.blueridgeglobal.com/price-optimization-software-solutions-by-blue-ridge/ . In addition, Price Optimization will be a topic at the companys annual user conference, BLUEPRINT, to be held in Atlanta on April 26-28, 2020. Learn more and register for BLUEPRINT 2020 here . About Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge Supply Chain Planning and Price Optimization solutions empower distributors and retailers to tap into undiscovered margin through enterprise-wide inventory intelligence, automation and synchronization. Blue Ridge uniquely combines demand forecasting with pricing strategy, so that businesses can proactively understand the unpredictable and allocate the right inventory  right-priced across the entire mix  to accelerate top- and bottom-line results. In a world where the only constant is change, Blue Ridge provides more certainty, more speed, and more assurance  so companies can see the why behind the buy, and respond faster to the unexpected. Thats why major retailers and distributors rely on Blue Ridge for a more foreseeable future. For more information, go to www.blueridgeglobal.com . Media Contact: Will Haraway

Backbeat Marketing

[email protected]

404.593.8320

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The Taji military base north of Baghdad was hit March 11 by 18 Katyusha rockets, killing one British and two American soldiers and injuring dozens. No one has claimed responsibility so far, but many fingers are pointed at the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) factions in Iraq.

Soon after the attack, unidentified jets hit the Imam Ali military base of Kata'ib Hezbollah, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Saraya Ashura and other Iraqi Shiite militias in Albukamal near a strategic Syrian border crossing with Iraq, killing about 25 and wounding dozens. No party has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Iraqi officials including the president, prime minister, parliament speaker and many heads of political parties were quick to condemn the strike. President Barham Salih called it a "terrorist attack."

Kata'ib Hezbollah slammed the Iraqi officials and politicians who condemned the attack on US troops, calling them cheap politicians who defend the killers.

Hezbollah has not claimed responsibility but has praised the perpetrators of the attack on Taji in a statement on its website, offering them support and calling upon all national forces to resume jihadi operations against US to kick them out of the country, adding, The attack was planned at the best possible time. Hezbollah also asked the perpetrators to reveal themselves and record this great dead in their history.

Other PMU factions have remained silent.

Although the Iraqi government has formed a committee to find the perpetrators, no one expects results, as it was the case in all other previous attacks against US troops in Iraq.

Interestingly, the US-led coalition to combat the Islamic State in Iraq has also formed an investigative group, according to a statement by the coalition.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in a phone call that those responsible for the attacks must be held accountable. His words suggest that the United States is planning an operation against the militias that would most likely target Kata'ib Hezbollah and its close allies at Imam Ali and its Iraqi bases.

Regardless of who was behind the attack, the perpetrators seem to be exploiting the coronavirus crisis and the recent US bill to limit President Donald Trumps ability to wage war against Iran for two goals: forcing US troops to leave Iraq and preventing Trump from being reelected for a second term.

Many Iranian officials including Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said following the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani that the end of the US' malign presence in West Asia has begun. Iran is clearly aware that a second Trump term means more maximum pressure of the kind that has already destroyed the Iranian economy and significantly affected Iran's regional presence.

This all is taking place in conjunction with a wave of attacks against the militias' offices in the southern provinces. Several offices belonged to Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and other pro-Iran militias were burned in Maysan and Dhi Qar provinces in the last few days after activists and coordinators among the protesters were killed or abducted.
TULLAMORE resident, Vanessa Shorthall and her close friend, Tracey Dooley are about to embark on an amazing journey together to one of Europes most historic routes, The Camino de Santiago.

We will be joining Ronan Scully and a group of happy walkers on this beautiful 120km Pilgrim Trail from 22nd-29th September to help raise much-needed funds for Self Help Africa, Vanessa told the Tribune this week.

She added:  With public support, we can make this journey possible. We have set up a personal Fundraising Donation Page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/donate/838858656629554/?fundraiser_source=external_url"

Vanessa and Tracey will also be running a series of exciting fundraising events over the coming months and sponsorship cards are available from us both.

The work that Self Helf Africa does each year can only be achieved because of the generosity of its supporters. The work they carry out is life-changing to those less fortunate than ourselves & our children. With their help Children have a Future, they can access Education, provide training to young people and give incredible support to Women's Rights.

For further information on this wonderful organization, you can visit www.selfhelpafrica.org , she outlined.
A gang of young girls has been filmed vandalising a cafe by throwing rocks through the front window and abusing staff.

The video, uploaded to Facebook on Thursday, shows the group of four teenagers outside Mosko's Market cafe in Darwin screaming abuse at employees.

One of the youths can be seen throwing something and glass can be heard shattering as cafe staff film the attack.

A gang of girls has been filmed vandalising a cafe by throwing rocks through the front window and abusing staff

Mosko's Market cafe in Darwin was vandalised with the front glass being smashed

The camera then swings around to show the smashed front window of the business as the youths push in the remaining glass and cheer.

'A bunch of lost kids, without law... destroy a business of hardworking people. It is really upsetting,' the caption to the video reads.

People commenting on the video were shocked and called for strict punishments for the alleged offenders.

'Law enforcement has gone too soft to do anything, courts just let them go without so much as a slap on the wrist,' one person said.

'I don't feel safe here anymore, I feel scared, this is out of control,' a second person added.

One woman claimed she knew two of the girls and that her community was disappointed with them.

'I know these two young girls. I'm embarrassed and family back home are just angry with them but sadly they will never go back. We are all shocked but we are not surprised by our teenagers behaviour,' the woman said.

Northern Territory Police confirmed they responded to a disturbance in the Darwin suburb of Palmerston on Wednesday and arrested four female youths.

Officers said the alleged criminal and anti-social behaviour affected several businesses and the library and also the alleged assault of a security guard.

Four female youths, three aged 14 and one aged 13, will be considered for youth diversion for the offences of assault worker, damage to property, and going armed in public.

Commander Matt Hollamby said the behaviour of the group was distressing and unacceptable.

'Businesses and their customers should not be subjected to the criminal behaviour exhibited by this group,' Commander Hollamby said.

'Police have increased patrols in the area and will maintain a presence to reassure the public that their daily activities will not be affected by behaviour witnessed yesterday.'

'These youths are being considered for diversion and NT Police will work with the NT Government agencies to try to ensure there is not a repeat of yesterday's incident.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mosko's Market for comment.
Though todays Napa is known worldwide for its Cabernet, rolling hills filled with vineyards and, now, the caves used by a former presidential candidate for a campaign fundraiser, its history began long before wine became its economic backbone.

People have no idea that this whole valley was developed prior to evidence of how powerful the wine industry was going to be, said Sarah Van Giesen, the vice chairperson of Napas Cultural Heritage Commission.

Van Giesen said she believes its critical that the importance of the cities and towns that helped the valley grow be recognized, which is why shes helped spearhead a nine-year-and-counting effort to increase the number of historic districts in Napa and physical markers to commemorate the distinct character of each.

Calistoga Avenue sprang up more than a century ago when the installation of an electric streetcar line made building houses away from downtown more attractive. Homes from the early 1900s line the street, making it one of the spots in Napa where the citys nearly two-century history can still be felt and the only locally designated historic district.

Its also the first to receive new signage that will pay homage to its unique past and provide visitors and residents alike with context and way-finding to navigate the neighborhood.

On Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m. Mayor Jill Techel will unveil one of nine new pole signs in the area, each adorned with a brick-colored electric streetcar icon. The signs have been up for about a month, but have been covered with plastic.

Because of the importance of this program and continuing this program, we thought it would be better to give it credit and honor where its due with a ceremony and a little celebration, she said. People have seen them up but theres been no mention publicly that theyre and why theyre there.

Designed by Amy Linn, the creative director and owner of Linn Design Studio, this icons inspiration comes from the districts origins. The streetcar was key in the Calistoga Avenue build-up, and the image notes that importance.

I developed icons that were inspired by the people who lived in the area when that district was developed, Linn said, referring to the seven total areas that the Heritage Commission hopes the city will ultimately designate as historic districts and approve the installation of similar signage.

Another example is Linns creation of an anchor icon for Napa Abajo/Fuller Park, a federally designated historic area thats not yet recognized locally, because of the ship captains who built mansions along the river in the late 1800s. She also chose a pick ax for St. Johns to memorialize the Chinese and Italian laborers who lived in the area, she said.

Saturdays unveiling comes after nearly seven years of discussion about how to attract more visitors to downtown Napas historic attractions. The Cultural Heritage Commission approved the plan in January 2017 and City Council followed suit a few months later, endorsing the package of decorative markers to be installed throughout the city and approving Calistoga Avenue as the first site.

In addition to the nine pole signs and bronze sidewalk plaques denoting the historic streets, that approval package included the creation of a monumental centerpiece that would include a street map, historical descriptions and possibly a bar code for visitors to scan with their phones for more detailed information.

However, the location of the latter remains unknown and has yet to be permitted. Both Van Giesen and Linn emphasized the importance of this element in the overall design plan, both from an aesthetic and from an informational point of view.

I just want to say how important it is we get this built. People are going to be walking around and seeing signs with an electric car but theres no electric car anywhere, Linn said.

Next steps for the project include gaining approval for the rest of the proposed historic districts, Linn said.

People seek travel experiences where the destinations, buildings and surroundings have retained their historic character . Its part of their learning and their becoming more excited about the area, Van Giesen said. She believes making a push for this kind of tourism could bring in a lot of money to the region, too.

Linn also said she believes this benefits locals too, not just tourists. People are surprised that we have these districts, and people want to know what the history is, where the districts are. The people that live here really benefit from it as well, she said.

You may reach Carly Graf at cgraf@napanews.com; 713-817-4692; or via Twitter @carlykgraf.

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Dont be surprised if you spot a fox at Gallery 92 West next week.

A mask of the crafty animal will be among works of art featured during an upcoming event.

Area residents still have a chance to see student artwork at Gallery 92 West in downtown Fremont. The gallery is closed due to self-quarantine recommendations for COVID-19 but plans to reopen March 17.

A reception, originally planned this weekend, has been postponed until March 22. The rescheduled event, which is free and open to the public, is set from 1-3 p.m. at 92 W. Sixth St.

Artwork will remain on display until March 28. Teachers will take down the artwork on March 29.

In celebration of National Youth Art Month, the Fremont Area Art Association has partnered with Fremont Public Schools to host kindergarten through 12th grade artwork in both the Hinds and Dugan galleries of the FAAA building.

A variety of artwork is featured.

In one cut-paper project, a man with glasses appears to have a thoughtful look.

A brightly colored kitsune mask of a fox greets visitors from a small table. In a written explanation near the mask, eighth-grader Linda Gruenewald explains that these are popular festival masks in Japan and the fox is a highly respected animal of Japanese culture.

There are many types of kitsune masks.

I chose the kitsune mask because I love how simple yet complex kitsune masks are, Linda wrote. They have bold, striking colors and I love how you can make it so unique.

Youth Art Month is a time of promoting art and art education in the United States.

Thousands of American schools across the nation participate, often involving local art museums and civic organizations.

This month is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our local artists  including our students. Its also a nice time to come and support our local art teachers and their programming, said Angie Olson, FAAA interim director.

At the same time, area residents will be able to meet illustrator and author Gris Grimly, a West Point native.

Grimly will speak at the reception and the Third Thursday luncheon and will have books and prints at both events.

I thought it was a good time for him to come. It might inspire some of the kids who are making art at school to continue and see that there are many different jobs in the art industry, Olson said.

Grimly was born in a small Nebraska farming community in 1975, an FAAA newsletter states.

Although Grimlys father was a conservative farmer, his parents encouraged his interest in the arts and enrolled him in art classes locally and in Omaha.

After high school, he continued his education at Concordia University. He graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree and moved to Los Angeles to find work as an illustrator.

Grimly got his first childrens book job for Hyperion, illustrating Monster Museum by Marilyn Singer.

That same year, he began designing T-shirt graphics for Hot Topic stores nationwide.

He started with a series called Wicked Nursery Rhymes, featuring twisted versions of famous Mother Goose characters. He followed with parodies of Grimms Fairy Tales, The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.

In 2004, Grimly released Edgar Allan Poes Tales of Mystery and Madness, which he said schools began using to help young adults understand the otherwise difficult Victorian text. Other interpretations followed, including Mary Shelleys Frankenstein and Washington Irvings The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Grimly said these interpretations have been implemented into school curricula worldwide. More information about Grimly is available at www.madcreator.com.

The Third Thursday Luncheon is set from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 19 in the art association building. The menu is a vegetable meat pie, cucumber salad, a roll and an apple dumpling.Cost is $12 per person. Luncheon reservations are requested March 15 by calling 402-721-7779 or emailing gallery92west@92west.org. Regular gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

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Germany is getting a lot of rain in these days of March. Farmers who want to cultivate their fields are therefore faced with an important question: How wet is it in the fields? Can they be driven over with heavy equipment or is it better to wait and see?

In this case it would be ideal to send a drone with special sensors across the field. And to quickly generate maps from the data obtained, which the farmer can then use on his cell phone or laptop to assess the soil moisture on his fields on a small scale.

This is just one of the scenarios that the new AgriSens research network is working on. Together with farmers, the scientists involved have defined various applications in which digital technologies would be helpful. These include planning irrigation or making harvest forecasts using satellite data.

The starting signal for the network was given by the German Minister of Agriculture, Julia Klockner, on March 9, 2020 in Berlin: She presented the funding decisions to the project managers. This is because the ministry is supporting AgriSens with 3.7 million euros over the next three years.

Processing and managing huge amounts of data

165,000 euros of this will go to the Remote Sensing Department of Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU) in Bavaria, Germany. Here, Dr. Christian Huttich is the project manager: "We are working towards exploiting the full potential of the huge amounts of data coming from Earth observation satellites. We want to create an infrastructure with which these data can be processed as quickly as possible so that they can be used by farmers".

Some satellites send data to earth once a week, others even daily. It is important to steer this flood of information into the right orbit and combine it with data collected on the ground. Structure and system must be brought into this process. In doing so, the JMU team is also breaking new ground: "For the first time, we want to bring the remote sensing data into a cloud in which it is also available to all other project participants", explains Huttich.

Research and agriculture: The partners in the network

The research association "AgriSens DEMMIN 4.0 (Remote Sensing Technologies for Digitisation in Crop Production)" is coordinated by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam. Other participants are the German Aerospace Center DLR at the locations Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen and Jena, Julius Kuhn Institute Braunschweig, German Weather Service, Martin-Luther-Universitat Halle-Wittenberg, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg and the University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg.

Also on board are farms from the Demmin area in the region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and other partner farms in Germany. In Demmin, GFZ and DLR maintain experimental fields where they develop and test new technologies together with farmers.

Creating low-threshold services for farmers

Dr. Daniel Spengler coordinates the AgriSens project at GFZ Potsdam: "Remote sensing data provide rich data treasures that can give farmers important information as a basis for decisions on measures such as fertilisation, sowing or soil cultivation. At present, the hurdle to use these data is unfortunately far too high for many farmers. This applies above all to access to the data, its use in a wide range of software solutions and confusing market offerings. We would like to offer low-threshold solutions here."

About the person: Dr. Christian Huttich

Christian Huttich studied Geography, Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing at the University of Jena. As a PhD student he did research at JMU from 2007 to 2011. Afterwards he worked for seven years again in Jena - at the university and in an aerospace company. He then returned to JMU in 2018. Here he first was a substitute for a professorship for remote sensing, and is currently a research assistant. With the funds from the AgriSens project he can fill another scientific position.

###
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, US 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 US military spokesman in Iraq, confirmed that three personnel from the US-led coalition were killed and about 12 were wounded, but did not provide details about what country they were from.

The US 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 US official said that as many as 30 rockets were fired from the truck launcher, but 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 US 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 US contractor, prompting American military strikes in response.

That in turn led to protests at the US embassy in Baghdad. They were followed January 3 by a US airstrike that killed Iran's 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 been designated a "foreign terrorist organisation" 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.

US 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Megachurch fired pastor Victor Couzens after bank said his moral failures were no good for business

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More than a year after pastor Victor S. Couzens of Inspirational Bible Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, was confirmed to have engaged in multiple extra-marital relationships, the church finally took action to remove him earlier this year just weeks after its lender, Union Bank &Trust in Lincoln, Nebraska, insisted on his firing because his leadership was affecting the churchs ability to repay their $4.7 million mortgage.

The revelation was made in a lawsuit reviewed by The Christian Post that was filed by the church last week in the Hamilton County Municipal Court seeking a temporary restraining order against Couzens and two church elders, Ronald Todd and Glenda Nix, who church leaders allege have been helping Couzens to unlawfully maintain his presence on church property.

In the lawsuit, Inspirational Bible Churchs attorney William D. Bell Sr., shared communication between Charity Kuehn, vice president of church lending at Union Bank &Trust and church officials, in which she insisted that Couzens be removed in order to continue a working relationship with the congregation also known as Inspirational Baptist Church.

I am writing to you to address some concerns UBT has as we move forward in the coming months. The interest payments the last two months have been tardy, which is a violation of the forbearance agreement that was put in place back in September but is also a concern that the church is struggling to improve the financial situation, Kuehn wrote in an email to Elder Tracy M. Lee on Dec. 10, 2019.

Over the last two years, as ICB (sic) has experienced some very difficult times, I have expressed my concern regarding the leadership of the church in regards to cost as well as the incidents that have occurred which have cause[d] the church to be damaged publicly. It is UBTs current position that in order to continue to work with ICB in the coming months, a leadership change must occur prior to any consideration of a future lending relationship going forward, Kuehn continued.

She further stated that: This email does not waive any of UBTs rights and remedies under the loan documents and is not approval of any terms change or future lending but simply making the consideration contingent on the retirement of Bishop Victor Couzens, including the discontinuation of any salary or benefits payments.

The lawsuit noted that just weeks later on Jan. 3, 95% of the congregation voted by secret ballot to remove Couzens from his position in line with the churchs constitution and bylaws. He was then officially asked to leave the church on Jan. 27.

While we are grateful for your tenure serving as our pastor for the last 19 years; it is with profound sadness that we issue this formal notice but do so with hopes that we as a church cam move forward with the mandate and mission that God has established IBC to accomplish. We love you and wish you and your family all the best as you move forward in life and walk in the destiny God has for you, the leadership, staff and partners of the church noted without explicitly stating the reason behind their decision.

Couzens refused to accept his termination, forcing the church to deliver another letter to his home on Feb. 6 in which they were more explicit about why he needed to leave.

According to elders, Martin Jones, Alandes Powell and other church partners, during the 4th quarter of 2018 and early 2019, Couzens personal behavior caused a public scandal which resulted in 90% decline in membership and a 65% decrease in revenue.

As a result, the church was unable to meet their financial obligations or pay staff. They noted that despite keeping him on as pastor, Couzens was unable to re-engage the church nor increase the membership.

They revealed that Union Bank expressed a lack of confidence in his leadership abilities and therefore no longer wanted to work with you in developing a feasible solution to repay our mortgage, which is now in foreclosure.

In September 2019, CP reported that the church, located at 11450 Sebring Drive in Cincinnati, Ohio, was listed for sale for $8 million on the commercial real estate platform LoopNet.com. The listing remains.

In their second termination letter delivered to Couzens home, the church also revealed that Couzens had told his congregation that he would forgo his $3,200 bi-weekly salary in 2019 but asked the church to give to him personally.

Unknown to the church at the time, Couzens was still being paid $10,000 monthly for housing expenses along with $2,600 in child support.

Days later, however, police had to be called to the church to remove Couzens.

On or about February 9, 2020, the defendant Couzens was escorted out of the Church by police officers of the city of Forest Park, Ohio. Shortly before that date, the locks of the church were changed to make certain the Defendant Couzens would not return to the property, the lawsuit notes.

Couzens fired back on Feb. 10 and the church alleged that he had the locks changed and unlawfully gained entrance to the building.

He has refused to abide by the directives of the plaintiff and its membership that he is no longer employed by the plaintiff. His comment was that he had the Forest Park Police Department Chief, in his pocket, so he could do whatever wanted, the church added in their lawsuit.

The church is seeking the temporary restraining order to prohibit Couzens and the offending elders from removing any personal property or property belonging to the church, spend or solicit funds on their behalf and from entering upon the real estate property of the plaintiff or coming within  5,280 feet or 1 mile of its real estate property lines.

Inspirational Bible church did not immediately respond to calls for comment from CP on Thursday.

Bishop Paul S. Morton, founding presiding bishop of The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, which encompasses some 5,000 churches and 1 million members, confirmed in November 2018 that Couzens, whom he described as his "spiritual son," had engaged in "multiple" sexual relationships while he ran his then 5,000-member church.

Morton apologized after Andrea Garrison, a 31-year-old New York City model, went public about a long-term sexual relationship she had with Couzens after she discovered he was also seeing other women and lied to her about it.

Another unidentified woman, who is an educator, shared a story similar to Garrison's experience and alleged that Couzens paid for her education with "church checks" and took her on trips to places like Paris, France, during their time together.

Couzens later apologized to his congregation for the affairs, but insisted to members who had stopped giving to the ministry as a result of the scandal that he did not use their donations to fund his lifestyle.

Any check you have seen belongs to me, it does not belong to the church. Your tithe and your offering goes in the churchs bank account. I dont have access to that account. Im not a signer on that account. My understanding is that some have not been giving because they were concerned about where the money is going. If you need an excuse not to give, any excuse will do, the embattled pastor said.
A 23-year-old man was arrested



for allegedly kidnapping and raping a 13-year-old acquaintance in South Goa district on Thursday, police said.

The incident took pace on Wednesday when the accused allegedly accosted the victim while she was heading home from school and offered her a lift, superintendent of police (South) Arvind Gawas said.

The accused then took the minor to the forests near Quepem village and raped her, he said.

The victim later confided in her parents, following which a complaint was registered at Maina-Curtorim police station, the senior official said.

The accused has been booked under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Goa Children's Act and Indian Penal Code.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
12 March 2020

G4S PLC

(the Company)

Notification and public disclosure of transactions by persons discharging managerial responsibilities ('PDMRs').

The Company announces that it has been notified that on 11 March 2020, Mr Almanza, Chief Executive Officer and Mr Weller, Chief Financial Officer, both PDMRs in the Company purchased 100,000 ordinary shares and 85,000 ordinary shares respectively in the Company.

The attached notifications, which have been made in accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulations, provide further detail:

1. Details of PDMR / person closely associated with them (PCA) a) Name Ashley Almanza 2. Reason for Notification a) Position/status Chief Executive Officer/PDMR b) Initial notification/ amendment Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name G4S plc b) LEI 549300L3KWKK8X35QR12 4. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of

instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place

where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the

financial instrument

Identification code Ordinary shares of 25 pence each



GB00B01FL62 b) Nature of the

Transaction Purchase of 100,000 ordinary shares in the Company through a nominee, HSBC Client Holdings Nominee (UK) Limited.



c) Price(s) and

volume(s)



Price(s) Volume(s) 1.05251 100,000 d) Aggregated

Information

Aggregated volume Price N/A single transaction



105,251







GBP - Pound Sterling e) Date of the transaction 11 March 2020 f) Place of the transaction London Stock Exchange, Main Market (XLON)





1. Details of PDMR / person closely associated with them (PCA) a) Name Tim Weller 2. Reason for Notification a) Position/status Chief Financial Officer/PDMR b) Initial notification/ amendment Initial notification 3. Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name G4S plc b) LEI 549300L3KWKK8X35QR12 4. Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of

instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place

where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the

financial instrument



Identification code Ordinary shares of 25 pence each











GB00B01FL62 b) Nature of the

Transaction Purchase of 85,000 ordinary shares in the Company through a nominee, Interactive Investor Services Nominees Limited.



c) Price(s) and volume(s)



Price(s) Volume(s) 1.05776 85,000 d) Aggregated

Information







Aggregated volume Price N/A single transaction







89,910







GBP - Pound Sterling e) Date of the transaction 11 March 2020 f) Place of the transaction London Stock Exchange, Main Market (XLON)

Name of authorised official of issuer responsible for making notification:

Celine Barroche,

Company Secretary
The steps taken by the government in dealing with coronavirus were 'inadequate', Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged

New Delhi: The government has "completely failed" in tackling coronavirus, the Congress said on Thursday and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "negligent" towards the health of the people.

The steps taken by the government in dealing with coronavirus were "inadequate", Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged.

"The government has completely failed in tackling coronavirus, in preventing it, in identifying people (affected by the virus), in quarantining them, and in taking important steps," he said.

"This government runs on knee-jerk reactions, whether it comes to taking economic steps to revive or stabilising the economy and to prevent economic corona from affecting the investors' lifetime savings, or preventing coronavirus from spreading in this country," the Congress leader told reporters outside Parliament.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharahtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national.

Surjewala claimed the truth was that "knee-jerk reactions and unthoughtful decisions" are the the only two things governing the country.

"I dont think a pandemic like coronavirus can be dealt with in this casual fashion. It is really sad the Union health minister is himself a doctor. The prime minister is also a doctor of entire political science," he said.

"At least both of them should have known that such reactions will not prevent coronavirus. Prevention is the key for stopping the spread of coronavirus," he said and asked whether adequate steps being taken for prevention of coronavirus.

Follow LIVE updates on Coronavirus Outbreak

Hand sanitisers are being black marketed in Delhi at Rs 500, the Congress leader claimed.

"There are no masks available in the national capital of Delhi. What will happen to the rest of India? I think the prime minister should re-calibrate his strategy. We will, as a responsible opposition, support every step taken to prevent the coronavirus from spreading," Surjewala said.

"The prime minister is being casual, actually negligent towards the health of the people of India," he charged.

Asking how people were allowed to enter the country only by checking their temperature, Surjewala said does the health minister even know that if a person is infected with coronavisrus then according to WHO he/she does not show any symptoms of the virus for six days.

"All they were doing was to make you (people) fill a form at the airport that you don't have coronavirus and checking your temperature. Is that the way to deal with a pandemic of this nature?" the Congress leader posed.
Will technicalities prevail when rebel Congress MLAs meet Speaker on Friday

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 12: The Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will take a decision on the MLAs who have resigned after Friday. The Speaker has asked the 22 MLAs who resigned to appear before him on Friday.

On the other hand, Congress will push for the rejection of the resignations of its MLAs in Madhya Pradesh.

The party would cite technical grounds while pushing for the rejection. The resignations are identically worded and do not mention state assembly. Further, the MLAs had not submitted the resignations in person, the Congress says.

Madhya Pradesh Crisis: Speaker issues notices to 22 rebel MLAs, seeks reply by Friday

Citing these technicalities, the Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly will reject the resignations. The Congress also filed a petition before the Speaker and demanded the disqualification of the MLAs citing anti-party activities. The 22 MLAs who have submitted their resignations also include six ministers.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

The role of the Speaker would come into play and it would be extremely crucial. The 19 MLAs who are staying at a resort in Bengaluru sent their resignations to the Speaker via email. The resignations were also sent to the Governor of Madhya Pradesh. Later on, original copies of the letters were handed over to the Speaker by a delegation of the BJP.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 16:32 [IST]
(The Chicago Department of Public Health), the mayors office will meet today again, and if we come to that decision, thats the decision well make, Cardenas said. I think we want to be cautious. We want to avoid large crowds, obviously. We asked all the seniors not to come down. But to some extent, government has to run. Some of the things we have to do have to get done.
The Amazon headquarters sits virtually empty on March 10, 2020 in downtown Seattle, Washington. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon recommended all employees in its Seattle office to work from home, leaving much of downtown nearly void of people.

Amazon is telling all of its employees globally to stay home through the month of March, as the COVID-19 coronavirus spreads.

"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 told CNBC in a statement. "As a result, we are now recommending that all of our employees globally who are able to work from home do so through the end of March."

The decision comes as the coronavirus continues to spread. As of Thursday evening, there were more than 127,800 confirmed cases of the virus worldwide and at least 4,718 deaths. There were at least 1,323 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. and at least 38 deaths.

Amazon said it's encouraging all employees who can work from home to do so to enable greater social distancing and lessen the impacts on public transportation. The directive applies to all employees whose work requires them to be in an office, store, fulfillment center or in vehicles making deliveries.
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Bandhan Bank Ltd will gradually lower exposure to microcredit in percentage terms over the next three to five years, its MD and CEO Chandra Sekhar Ghosh said on March 12.

When the private lender started operations in August 2016, microcredit constituted 85 percent of its total loan portfolio.

"The bank's exposure to microcredit at present is 61 percent. Over the next three to five years, the bank's ratio of micro and non-microcredit will be 50:50," Ghosh told PTI.

Housing loans make up for 30 percent of the credit portfolio and MSME 9 percent, he said.

As of December 2019, the bank's total exposure stood at Rs 65,456 crore, with a deposit base of Rs 55,000 crore and CASA level at 34 percent, Ghosh said.

"We are expecting a secular growth in terms of credit offtake in the current financial year despite the slowdown in the economy," he said.

"Though there is a slowdown due to multiple factors, the impact on the credit growth of Bandhan Bank will not be very much. Due to good rabi crop, spending by low-middle income consumers will be at a good level," Ghosh said.

He said the bank is working hard towards meeting regulatory compliance due to which restrictions on the opening of new branches have been lifted by the RBI.

"Bandhan Bank is fully committed about meeting RBI compliance in respect of bringing down the stake of non- operating holding company to the stipulated level of 40 percent from the present 61 percent," he said.

Following its merger with Gruh Finance, the promoter holding in the bank has come down from 80 percent to 61 percent.

The Kolkata-based bank has 1,013 branches and other forms of banking outlets across the country.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has been mocked by liberals after the White House released a photo of him in his White House office leading a prayer before commencing a meeting with his coronavirus task force.

The White House's official Flickr account released the photo showing Pence and 15 others in his West Wing office, all with their heads bowed in prayer.

Pence has been asked by President Donald Trump to lead the federal government's response to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.

The author of the "Friendly Atheist" on the Patheos website, Hemant Mehta, responded to the photo by mocking: "It's not a joke when people say these Republicans are trying to stop a virus with prayer."

He continued, "What else did anyone expect? Science? Reason? Something sensible? Of course not.

"If this virus truly becomes a pandemic, we're at the mercy of people delusional enough to think their pleas to God will fix the problem."

Mehta even went on to mock God, saying: "The same God who presumably created the virus, at least in their minds, will somehow make sure it hurts only a handful of Americans  and a ton of Chinese people."

New York Times Magazine contributor, Thomas Chatterton Williams, responded to the photo saying, "We are so screwed."

In a Twitter post, he said: "They're treating this disease with the seriousness and urgency they bring to gun violence. While some are taking solace in the thought that this administration  which disbanded the CDC pandemic team in 2018  performatively prays for the camera, this is a chilling window into their actual epidemiological unpreparedness and incompetence."

The Trump administration is not the first U.S. administration to turn to prayer in times of crisis, however. Many will remember that in the 1990s Democrat President Bill Clinton insisted that his speechwriter amend one of his speeches from "No president makes decisions like this one without deep thought" to "No president makes decisions like this one without thoughts and prayers."

President John F. Kennedy was a devout Roman Catholic, and is it well documented how he often prayed in St Matthew's Cathedral next to the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

President Jimmy Carter is probably the most famous Sunday School Teacher in the world, and he has often spoken about turning to prayer for wisdom and guidance in his life.

Responding to those criticizing Pence for his prayers, contributing religion writer for The Atlantic, Jonathan Merritt, wrote: "Criticize Mike Pence all you want for being inept in his strategy to dealing with this. But mocking him for praying  like 79 [percent] of Americans have done in the past 3 months  is why so many regular Americans despise wine-and-cheese liberals."

Meanwhile, Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, called the photo "touching" and "powerful."

He tweeted: "Let's join them in asking God for His wisdom, direction, & help in the response to this virus."
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.
President Trump unveiled a powerful strategy to defend America from the coronavirus in last night's speech, with a realistic plan of action that's certain to save lives.

It was spare and credible, buttressed by the foresight he showed in protecting the country early with a travel shutdown from China.

But then there was...CNN's Jim Acosta, the self-regarding, pious, self-pitying, pompous chief White House correspondent, complaining that the whole thing was...xenophobic.

According to the Washington Examiner, he actually said this:

"[A]t one point during the address," said Acosta, "the president referred to the coronavirus as a 'foreign virus.' ... Now why the president would go as far as to describe it as a 'foreign virus,' that is something we'll also be asking questions about." He added, "But it should be pointed out that Stephen Miller, who is an immigration hardliner, who advises the president, is one of the top domestic policy advisers and speechwriters, was a driving force in writing this speech. And I think it is going to come across to a lot of Americans as smacking of xenophobia to use that kind of term in this speech."

Just put "Dear Diary" in front of that blather, and it all comes into focus.

Rather than grasp the authentic picture of a terrible disease from abroad, Acosta prioritizes taking umbrage at the fact  that's right, fact  that the disease is coming from another country.

"That is something we'll also be asking questions about," he sniffs.

Oh, really?

Does he mean to say he "questions" whether it really is coming from China, supposing that it might be a domestic virus instead? That China isn't culpable here, and every nation's guilty? He doesn't seem to read the news, or worse still, he doesn't seem to think we read the news.

Or like China itself, is he so angry at Trump for personal reasons that he's willing to mouth the Chicom propaganda line? Oh, hey, don't look to China for the origins of this global disaster  it's not coming from anywhere, actually, so everybody let's pretend?

Is it a matter of him not wanting the matter brought up at all, the better to spare the Chinese government any scrutiny for its mismanagement of affairs over there, something that has enabled the virus to spread like wildfire, hitting nations across the world, some worse than others?

Like Tom Wolfe's Victorian Gentleman, for Acosta, some things are just too, too delicate to bring up. Cover the piano legs lest anyone think anything improper.

The Examiner's Becket Adams points out that dissociating the virus from China is pretty much the Chicom propaganda line, howling as they are at world opprobrium at their record of denial, cover-up of evidence, and jailing of doctors who first sounded the alarm. That bad behavior is exactly what enabled the virus to spread, putting the whole industrial center of that country in quarantine.

If Acosta doesn't think this thing originated in China, maybe he needs to take a trip to China to see for himself. Somehow, he's not booking any trips.

This leaves the matter most likely a toxic mix of grievance-identity politics, personal grudges, and Trump hate. Dear Diary, indeed.

Meanwhile, Trump's swift action to contain the spread of the virus is precisely why the U.S. has been hit by the virus with far less intensely than Europe's nations, which, like Acosta, just didn't want to seem xenophobic by shutting down travel with China.

Italy, a nation of vulnerable old people to start with, reported nearly 200 deaths just yesterday. Now it's under a nationwide lockdown, and a very bad one, with all commercial and public establishments shut down and just groceries and pharmacies left open. With more than 12,000 cases and nearly a thousand dead, its casualty rate is second only to China's. But rest assured: in Acosta's book, Italy's government can't be called xenophobic.

It's something worth considering next time Acosta tells us we all need to be worried about Trump's xenophobia and ignore the serious news in front of us.

Image credit: TVO / YouTube screen shot.
Yesterday, in a statement of staggering indifference to the fate of millions, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared in a press conference that her government expects 60 to 70 percent of the population to become infected with Covid-19.

She stated: If the virus is present, the population has no immunity to the virus, and there are no vaccines or cures, then a high percentage of the populationexperts say 60 to 70 percentwill become infected as long as this situation remains.

With basic facts about the virus still not widely known, Merkel chose not to spell out the chilling implications of her statement. Five to 20 percent of coronavirus patients develop acute pneumonia, requiring intensive care and artificial ventilation to survive. If 48 to 56 million Germans contracted Covid-19, up to 11 million would require intensive care. With fewer than 500,000 hospital beds and one million nurses, Germanys medical system would be overwhelmed, and millions of desperately sick patients left untreated to die. Across Europe and the world, the death toll would rise into the tens of millions.

A person wearing a facemask behind door of the corona diagnostic centre in Dusseldorf. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Medical experts have repeatedly stressed that estimates that up to 70 percent of humanity might catch the disease is not a prediction, but a scientific warning of the dangers of a situation if prompt and aggressive action is not taken to prevent such massive loss of life.

Thus, after warning that 50 to 70 percent of humanity could contract the disease, coronavirus expert Dr Richard Hatchett told Britains Channel Four: I dont like to make predictions. Talking about the potential of the virus is important so you can understand how dangerous the threat is. Its up to societies how they will respond to the virus.

Pointing to the fall in the number of new cases in China, Singapore and Hong Kongafter strict testing, monitoring and quarantine procedures halted the spread of the disease by isolating and treating the sickHatchett stressed it was possible to fight coronavirus: The virus is here, it has tremendous potential to be disruptive, to cause high rates of illness and even high rates of death. But that is not a future that is locked in.

Directly contradicting such expert advice, however, Merkel called for accepting the certainty of a continued, uncontrolled and devastating spread of the virus. Significantly, she did not call for a massive, international infusion of resources, industrial capacity and trained personnel into a global fight against the pandemic. Rather, she said, Germany should avoid overloading its medical system with coronavirus patients.

She stated: We know there are special groups in the populationthe elderly and those with pre-existing conditionswho suffer more severely from the virus, so our policy must be determined by the goal of not overloading our health system.

Merkel did not say how this would be done. In France, however, hospitals turn away younger coronavirus patients to focus on at-risk elderly patients. In Italy, hospitals now only use ventilators on younger patients, leaving seriously ill patients over 80 to die. If 70 percent of humanity were infected, a policy of not overloading hospitals would mean denying care to tens of millions in Germany alone.

The alarm must be sounded in the working class. Only the implementation of quarantines and pouring massive financial resources into the health sector can prevent a disastrous pandemic. This requires the independent political mobilization of the working class in struggle. Currently, it is not being done largely because it would cut across the financial and political interests of the ruling class, which over decades have amassed vast wealth and built up a military-police machine based on relentless austerity that has particularly targeted health care and other key social services.

These reactionary policies are Merkels essential priorities, which she listed later in the press conference. She stated: It is important that all levels of government can work. This applies to the police, the Bundeswehr (armed forces), critical infrastructure, political decisions, so medical possibilities can be used Then, its a matter of maintaining economic life, to some extent.

What such statements reveal is not incompetence, but political criminality. Seventy-five years after the downfall of the Nazi Third Reich, a fascistic attitude towards the working class prevails in the financial aristocracy, mirroring that of Ancient Rome to its galley slaves: work until you die.

Having organized economic life since the 2008 Wall Street crash around austerity and trillion-euro bailouts of their own bloated stock portfolios, the corporate oligarchy is prepared to let countless millions of workers die so long as their own lives and vast paper wealth are preserved. In the article headlined Super-rich jet off to disaster bunkers amid coronavirus outbreak, the Guardian reported that the wealthy are chartering private jets to holiday homes or specially-prepared disaster bunkers, fleeing Europe to evade the introduction of nationwide quarantine measures following Italys lead.

No doubt, significant sections of the ruling class consider the coronavirus to be a gift from God. The deaths of millions of the old and sick would allow new cuts to social spending, flushing billions more into their pockets. This underlay financial commentator Rick Santellis fascistic outburst that we should just give everyone the new coronavirus because prolonged market uncertainty over how widely it will spread is wreaking havoc on global and domestic economies.

Workers in Europe and internationally cannot leave their fate in the hands of a ruling class that is historically bankrupt. They need a program on which to fight to prevent a pandemic catastrophe. Critical demands include:

*Free and equal, high-quality treatment for all! Resources must be made available to provide the most advanced medical care for all, regardless of their income or insurance coverage. The elderly, prisoners, refugees trapped in unsanitary camps, and the homeless need urgent special protection.

*Quarantines to contain the spread of the virus! To prevent millions from becoming infected and possibly dying in the coming weeks and months, all necessary quarantines must be enforced, while respecting democratic rights and the personal dignity of all. Workers, small businessmen and their families staying at home due to quarantines must receive social support, food and all necessities.

*Build independent factory and neighbourhood committees! Workers must organize themselves independently to coordinate and mobilize their collective strength to ensure the necessary measures are taken. The fate of humanity cannot be left to the police-state machine of the financial aristocracy, whose only goal is to protect the stock markets and its wealth.

A social system that not only fails to ensure public health but also coolly calculates the deaths of millions must go. The capitalist ruling class is beyond reform. For the working class, the socialist transformation of society is now a matter of life and death.
Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/11/2020 -- The global rocket and missiles market size is set to enlarge as a result of heightened pace of build-up of ballistic missile systems around the world. The Arms Control Association (ACA) provides a list of 31 countries who have active ballistic missiles in their arsenal. Of these, the ACA reports, 9 countries, including India, China, and Pakistan, have produced and tested ballistic missiles ranging 1,000km and beyond in the past couple of decades. For instance, in 2018, India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable long range ballistic missile (LRBM), Agni-5, which has a strike range of 5,000km.



Request a Sample Copy of the Market Research Report:



https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/rocket-and-missiles-market-101822



List of Key Players Profiled in the Rocket and Missiles Market Report:



Safran S.A.

General Dynamic Corporation

Roketsan

Saab AB

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Bionic Power

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

Raytheon Company

MBDA Inc.



Similarly, China announced in December 2019 that its Type 055 cruisers have the capacity to carry and launch land-attack cruise missiles. In addition to this, non-UN members, mainly North Korea, have increased the frequency of testing its rockets and missiles. For example, between 2017 and 2019, North Korea tested two ballistic missiles that flew over Japan. Such incidents have compelled other countries to upgrade their defense systems, which is fueling the rocket & missiles market growth.



In its report, titled "Rocket & Missiles Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Ballistic Missile, Cruise Missile), By Rocket Type (Artillery Rocket, Air-launched Rocket), By Launch Mode (Surface-to-surface, Surface-to-air, Air-to-surface, Air-to-air, Subsea-to-surface), By Propulsion (Solid, Liquid, Hybrid) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026", Fortune Business Insights provides valuable market information in the following manner:



Segmentation of the market and worm's eye-view study of the individual segments;



Meticulous research into the drivers and factors shaping the market;

Comprehensive understanding of the market restraints; and

Detailed assessment of the regional and competitive developments that will influence the market in the given time period.



High Cost of Developing and Maintaining Ballistic Missiles to Hinder Growth



Ballistic missiles are a costly undertaking, posing a massive burden on a nation's economy. A study called the Atomic Audit, published in 1998, found that the US alone had spent close to $5 trillion since 1940 in building and maintaining its nuclear arsenal. In January 2019, the US Congressional Budget Office revealed that the US government plans on spending $500 billion to upgrade its current nuclear weapons system; in the next 30 years, this number is slated to reach $2 trillion. Furthermore, analysis by the South Korean government pegs nuclear spending by North Korea at approximately $3 billion. Such astronomical expenses of upgrading and maintaining advanced defense systems has drawn flak from various corners of the world. This criticism is set to get even more heightened owing to the global movement towards nuclear non-proliferation, thus impeding the growth of this market.



Browse Report Summary:



https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/rocket-and-missiles-market-101822



North America to Remain the Center of Gravity of the Market



North America is projected to dominate the rocket & missiles market share in the forthcoming years on account of a sky-high defense spending and rapid adoption of next-generation military technologies. Moreover, increasing pace of joint military and naval exercises and rising investment in R&D will further propel the regional market. Asia-Pacific will showcase remarkable growth owing to increasing military expenditure and introduction of hypersonic cruise missiles in the defense arsenal of India and China. Besides this, historical border conflicts between India & Pakistan and India & China have created an explosive situation in the region, boding well for the market.



Enhanced R&D Capacities to Broaden Competition Outlook



The rocket & missiles market analysis finds that the market's competitive landscape will be dotted by major companies increasing their investment to elevate their R&D capacities. Along with this, many players are collaborating with other regional competitors to expand their geographic presence in this market.



Industry Developments:



July 2019: Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and India-based Kalyani Group's joint venture, Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS), received its first big order worth $100 million from its parent company, Rafael, to make Barak 8 MR-SAM missile kits. The kits will be supplied by India's state-run manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited.

April 2019: Raytheon Company successfully conducted a static test of its new DeepStrike missilerocket motor. The product is an advanced surface-to-surface weapons system, slated for its maiden flight in late 2019. The missile rocket will become part of the US Army's Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program, which will replace the soon-to-be-defunct Army Tactical Missile System.



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 Close Rishi Sunak wrangles with Kay Burley as he admits he has not had a coronavirus test

Junior health minister Edward Argar and Tory backbencher Sir Charles Walker are among several MPs self-isolating over concerns about contact with Nadine Dorries, who tested positive for the coronavirus this week.

It comes as Boris Johnson is set to move the UK into the delay phase. Criticising the governments staggered response, former regional director of Public Health England John Ashton accused the superficial prime minister of having no grasp of public health.

Rishi Sunak has defended his Budget amid warnings of a recession, and questioned the usefulness Donald Trumps move to shut down travel from Europe. The chancellor said the UK would not impose a similar ban, saying there was no evidence such measures work.
A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet crashed in Islamabad Wednesday, killing the pilot, during a rehearsal for a national day military parade, officials said. Footage on social media showed a plume of smoke billowing into the sky after the plane hit the ground having apparently attempted a loop. A Pakistani Air Force spokesman said the pilot, Wing Commander Nauman Akram, died in the crash. "Pakistan Air Force reports with regret that a PAF F-16 aircraft crashed near Shakarparian, Islamabad during the rehearsals of 23rd March parade," the air force said in a statement. The rehearsals were for the annual military parade in Islamabad this month to celebrate Pakistan Day. The F-16 jets are among the most valuable hardware in the Pakistani military's arsenal and the country has a fleet of about 50 -- each worth at least $40 million. Pakistan has a chequered military and civilian aviation safety record, with frequent plane and helicopter crashes over the years. Wednesday's incident comes just months after a fighter jet crashed during a training mission near Mianwali in Punjab province, killing both pilots. In July last year at least 18 people were killed when a small army plane crashed in Rawalpindi. And in 2016, a Pakistan International Airlines plane burst into flames after one of its two turboprop engines failed while flying from remote northern Pakistan to Islamabad, killing more than 40 people. Pakistan's powerful military consumes a large portion of the country's budget -- spending millions on sophisticated hardware in the impoverished nation -- which critics say has come at the expense of investment in other sectors.
By Allison Lampert and Stella Qiu

MONTREAL/BEIJING March 12 (Reuters) - New U.S. restrictions on Europeans entering the United States are fueling additional bookings for business jet flights, which were already in higher demand this year because of coronavirus, executives said on Thursday.

Travelers are rushing to return to the United States before a 30-day U.S. ban starts on Friday on foreign citizens entering the country if they have traveled to Europe in recent weeks.

The U.S. order, announced Wednesday to curtail the coronavirus outbreak, applies to citizens of 26 European countries but excludes Britain and Ireland as well as American citizens.

"We're seeing a significant number of requests in the past few hours from Americans currently in Europe, looking to fly back to the U.S.," said Adam Twidell, chief executive of Private Fly, a global booking service for charter flights.

While airlines hit by the outbreak are bracing for a further blow from the new restrictions, Private Fly and others have seen higher demand this year from affluent customers keen to avoid commercial flights and potential coronavirus exposure.

Given market turmoil, it is not yet clear whether demand for private flights will translate into new orders for planes from jet makers like France's Dassault Aviation, Canada's Bombardier and Gulfstream.

"Business aviation follows the economy. If the economy does well, we sell more business jets. If the economy performs badly, we sell less," Dassault Aviation Chief Executive Eric Trappier told reporters earlier this month in Montreal.

But given the outbreak, "one would think that its safer to fly in a plane where there are fewer passengers than in a large plane with a lot of passengers," he said.

VistaJet said on Thursday that its total number of flights year-to-date have grown 16% on an annual basis, while private jet operator GlobeAir said on Wednesday its bookings jumped nearly 30% since the coronavirus started spreading widely in Italy and other parts of Europe.

Story continues

Air Partner said on Thursday it has seen more requests for corporate shuttles due to coronavirus, while Canadian fractional charter company AirSprint has seen a 31% increase in flying in February, compared with the same month in 2019, said Chief Operating Officer James Elian.

Jackie Wu, president of Hong Kong-based JetSolution Aviation Group, said she is seeing more requests from companies and for longer-range travel from the United States.

"People were used to taking the bus. Theres a virus outbreak and now they say they will take a private car." (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and Stella Qiu in Beijing. Additional reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney Editing by Marguerita Choy)
TOMBALL, Texas, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Proximity Systems and ENS Group announce a collaborative partnership in the development of self-disinfecting point of sale (POS) products. The innovative solution leverages Proximity's next-generation UVC disinfection technology, UV-CLEAN, combined with ENS's tablet, kiosk, payment terminal, self checkout and POS solutions.

Proximity VP OEM Sales, John Deutsch, explains they have engaged with ENS as their primary partner for UV-CLEAN technology in the POS and retail environments.

Proximity Systems and ENS Group announce partnership in the development of self-disinfecting point of sale (POS) products that will leverage Proximitys next-generation UVC disinfection technology, UV-CLEAN, and ENS best in class mounting solutions.

"I'm very enthusiastic about the opportunity to partner with ENS as we expand UV-CLEAN into new markets," explained Deutsch. "We really believe in the combination of our thorough understanding of UVC disinfection and ENS' unmatched reputation for developing innovative, unique solutions across all industries."

While disinfection is a hot topic in the healthcare industry, with more than 1.7 million cases of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals each year, high touch public surfaces are also a source for dangerous, infection-causing bacteria. The conversation is expanding to the cleanliness of these other public surfaces, like payment terminals, mobile payment tablets, touchscreen devices and self-service kiosksall which have become an integral part of daily lives.

Recent studies have proven more needs to be done to protect individuals from germs on high touch public surfaces. Studies conducted in common public places like grocery stores, airports, restaurants, pharmacies and healthcare facilities, demonstrate people are at risk of exposure to harmful bacteria, including antibiotic resistant viruses (including Coronaviruses SARS and MERS), Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus (VRE), as well as E. coli, C. difficile, Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp. and Listeria spp.

"By utilizing the products we're developing with ENS that leverage our UV-CLEAN technology, retailers will show customers and employees they care about their wellbeing," said Deutsch. "They will be providing the end-user customer a healthier experience while supporting employees' health and helping reduce sick days."

ENS Group President, Joe Mach, explained, "Retailers are focused on enhancing their customers experience by crafting a digital interaction. Over eight hundred million is spent annually by retailers on touchscreen technology. As we focus on the retail experience, we also have to ensure the safety and health of customers and store employees. UV-CLEAN uniquely balances the customer experience with wellbeing."

Coupled with ENS-designed innovative solutions, Proximity's automated UVC disinfection will support technology optimization while eliminating germs from high touch surfaces.

Proximity CEO, Jeremy Goza, explained, "The clinical study and NSF International testing validated what we already knew about our product, that UV-CLEAN technology is effective at killing harmful pathogens found on high touch surfaces. We're hoping retailers are just as excited about this innovation as we are, since our UVC disinfection technology will provide employees and customers peace of mind."

Co-developed ENS and Proximity products are rolling out this year. Retailers interested in custom solutions should contact ENS Group at www.ens-co.com/contact-us/

About Proximity Systems, Inc.

The leading provider of wall-mounted workstations, secure medication storage stations and UVC self-disinfection technology and devices, Proximity Systems serves more than 1,500 healthcare facilities nationwide. For more than 25 years, Proximity has maintained its commitment to build products in the United States. Go to www.proximitysystems.com for more information. Contact [email protected] or call 800.437.8111 to schedule a product demonstration.

About ENS Group

From the front of your store to the back of your warehouse, ENS designs solutions for your technology to seamlessly secure, pair, charge and communicate. For the past 20 years ENS has been and continues to be the global leader in designing payment terminal stands. Building on this pedigree, and with a design first focus, we offer a portfolio of tablet enclosures, mobile technology solutions, kiosks, self check out, carts and custom solutions. When you work with ENS we put our knowledge and passion in action to create unique, innovative products that enhance the experiences of both our partners and their end users. ENS. Better by Design. For more visit: ens-co.com.

Media Contact:

Rebekah Maurin

Director of Content Marketing

832.200.8246

[email protected]

SOURCE ENS Group; Proximity

Related Links

https://proximitysystems.com/


(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of@chris_writes)

Yahoo! Is set to return as Yahoo! Mobile, a monthly subscription-based service that is an all-around communication application. It is reported that subscribers may enjoy unlimited talk and even text and data. The mobile app utilizes the 4G LTE network that almost any phone these days has.





READ ALSO: Looks Like The Amazon Echo Show 5 Black Friday Buzz Isn't over yet!





Relevant Yahoo!





Despite being an obvious old-timer, Yahoo! Still manages to compete with its rivals that are much smaller than them. Guru Gowrappan also believes that a lot of people said that they have at least trusted Yahoo!

Verizon, the owner of and service provider of Yahoo! Mobile, also commented that having the two as a pair could result in so many good things.

Yahoo! Made this all possible due to the rising of instant messaging tracks and the desire to expand them and show off their capabilities.





Yahoo! Userbase





Comscore confirmed that Yahoo! penetrates 182 million unique US visitors in February, which puts Yahoo on the most popular websites list. Despite having a lot of contemporaries that are bigger and faster, Verizon still bought Yahoo! Because, according to them, it can always be profitable due to technical details.

Yahoo! Services and mainly its ability to go neck and neck with Google are what convinced Verizon to take custody of Yahoo! However, Yahoo!'s search capabilities differ from Google, which makes them produce different outputs with the same keywords.

Although still on its early stages, Yahoo! Mobile is actively planning on their next move and whether or not they should add more features. This includes the speculation that a mobile phone would be included with the premium service provided.





Throwback





Yahoo! Was sold to Verizon in 2017 and was added to a branch media manager that is named Oath. Verizon then made a change to its name into Verizon Media but since then struggled financially.





Yahoo! Mobile Userbase

The premium subscription feels that Yahoo introduced to the market is pretty expensive for a primary and standard application protocol. There is, however, a directed age demographic and people who have the same interest that would enjoy having Yahoo! Mobile installed on their device. Although not budget-friendly, Yahoo! Mobile applications can be used by many, especially those who are financially stable. The unlimited talk and online chatting are also more than enough, especially for those who are very lazy to top-up their accounts with the consumable load.

The new Yahoo! Introduction will face several challenges, according to Alex Besen, a reliable and trusted source when it comes to anything about mobile. He further stated that the Yahoo! Mobile projects lack plans, features, and will also face limited distribution circumstances. Besen also compared this new Yahoo! service to Google Fi, a similar application with a premium subscription that is affiliated to Sprint and T-Mobile.

Verizon enters the market as a direct competitor to a new premium communication platform. Michelle Toh from CNN business also remarked that this type of service is hard to maintain, which is evident when Google faced several problems when it comes to inviting subscribers to have a try on their brand new facilities.





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A city councillor wants to review Winnipegs practice of devoting the bulk of new spending to roads, to free up money for other priorities.

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A city councillor wants to review Winnipegs practice of devoting the bulk of new spending to roads, to free up money for other priorities.

During a property and development committee meeting on Wednesday, Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) told delegates road renewal investment is a key reason so many other cuts are proposed in the 2020-2023 budget.

"I think we have a bit of an imbalance in the way were funding roads versus community services, quality-of-life items," Lukes told reporters after the meeting.

The budget proposes to spend $130 million on roads in 2020, $151 million in 2021, $161 million in 2022 and $136 million in 2023.

Lukes said that construction should create jobs, boost the economy and does reflect a top priority for Winnipeggers. Yet she believes its time to consider freeing up some of that money for other priorities.

"Were really seeing flat budgets on many other areas that are quality of life  (issues) to the citizens of Winnipeg," said Lukes.

For example, the councillor said shes interested in diverting some of that cash to avoid a major cut to the downtown enhancement grant.

The preliminary budget proposes to cut that grant from $333,000 in 2019 to nothing for 2020 and 2021. The budget would rise to $100,000 in 2022 and $228,000 in 2023, if the budget passes as is.

Lukes comments followed calls to reverse that cut and others. Two business leaders asked the committee to avoid the downtown grant cut, since the grant is meant to enhance accessibility, safety and the environment of the citys core.

The BIZ representatives suggested Winnipeg should devote parking revenues raised downtown and in the Exchange District to investments within those neighbourhoods instead.

"(This idea is) not an unprecedented thing, in fact its becoming the norm throughout North America," said David Pensato, executive director of the Exchange District BIZ.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Arts Council argued a public arts cut, which is slated to reduce that budget from $200,000 in 2020 to nothing in each of the following three years, would hinder culture and quality of life.

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), chairman of the downtown development committee, said the call to restrict parking revenue to a few specific communities would create new budget woes.

"If they keep all of the revenue for themselves, then that just creates a hole somewhere else," he said.

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Mayes also questioned the call to consider a shift of roads funding to other priorities, noting Winnipegs 2.33 per cent annual property tax hike comes with a promise to dedicate two per cent to roads and 0.33 per cent to rapid transit.

"The tax increase that we put in was designed to go toward the roads, so it would be a pretty big change in our commitment if we reversed that," said Mayes.

At the end of the meeting, the property and development committee opted to pass its departments budget as is, which only Lukes voted against.

The budget can still be changed before council casts a final vote on March 25.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

@joyanne_pursaga
THE ISSUE:

The U.S. Supreme Court weighs an anti-abortion law similar to one it rejected just a few years ago.

THE STAKES:

Justice must transcend politics if citizens are to have faith in the courts.

None of the things that should matter in the legal debate over abortion have changed in the four years since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law that sought to make abortions harder to get.

The Constitution hasn't changed.

The way legal medical abortions are performed hasn't changed.

The safety record of legal abortions hasn't changed.

One thing, however, has changed  the makeup of the court. And that has given abortion opponents hope that a majority of justices will reject the court's ruling in 2016 that a virtually identical statute in Louisiana was, in fact, constitutional.

It is a dangerous course, not just for a woman's right to make her own health care choices, but for the public's respect for the Supreme Court and for the rule of law in America.

This is a pivotal moment for the Supreme Court. Will it be merely a political tool whose interpretation of the Constitution and the law can so abruptly shift with the political winds? Is the revocation of women's constitutional right to decide for themselves whether to have an abortion as "almost automatic" as President Donald Trump predicted it would be if he could pick a couple of new justices?

The case before the court, June Medical Services LLC v. Gee, stems from one of many attempts in certain states to chip away at abortion rights through laws that limit, if not eliminate, access to abortion. In this case, a Louisiana law requires any doctor who performs abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.

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The Supreme Court in 2016 struck down just such a law in Texas as imposing an undue burden on women. It was feared the law would force abortion clinics to close, since admitting privileges can be difficult for abortion doctors to get. It's not just that some hospitals don't want the controversy. Many grant admitting privileges only to doctors who bring in a certain amount of business  which abortions do not.

Which goes to the heart of the fiction behind this law: There is no credible health reason for it. Legal abortion, studies have found, is statistically safer than childbirth. A 2018 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found the mortality rate from legal abortions is less than one in 100,000, compared with 8.8 per 100,000 births. Nor did the study find any of the other dire claims about the effects of abortion on women's health  or mental health  to be founded.

There's an issue here for the court itself, too  and for citizens who care about respect for the judiciary and the rule of law. As the American Bar Association notes in an amicus brief in the Louisiana case, interpretations of laws should not be seen as arbitrary according to the prejudices of judges; otherwise, people have no real assurance that justice is consistent and applicable to everyone equally.

Nothing has changed  yet. But if an ideological majority of the court so easily and arrogantly revokes a constitutional right of half the people in this country, it changes everything.
By Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News

President Donald Trump said he is not concerned after a Brazilian official who dined with him at Mar-a-Lago last weekend tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

If they say he was there, he was there, Trump said with a smile. Im not concerned.

Fabio Wajngarten, the communications chief for President Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive after he came down with flu-like symptoms upon returning to Brazil. He is awaiting the results of a second test to confirm the diagnosis, according to Brazilian newspapers.

We did nothing very unusual, Trump said, without explaining what he meant. We sat next to each other for a period of time and had a great conversation.

Health officials say coronavirus can be spread easily by close contact like Trump had with Wajngarten.

The White House has not said whether Trump would be tested after Wajngartens positive test.

Trump joked with reporters about coming into contact with many people, a key risk factor for contracting the virus.

Bolsonaros office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bolsonaro and several senior officials who were in the delegation are being monitored for symptoms.

Wajngarten posted a photo of his meeting with Trump. Bolsonaro is a far right-wing ally of Trump.

This picture was taken last weekend at Mar-a-Lago. The guy in the hat standing next to Trump is Fabio Wajngarten, press secretary for the Brazilian government.



He just tested positive for #coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/dzc75rFqle  Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) March 12, 2020

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" " Attorneys George E.C. Hayes, Thurgood Marshall and James Nabrit, Jr., smile in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building after the Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Bettman/Getty Images

Roe v. Wade. Brown v. Board of Education. Citizens United. These Supreme Court cases are cited often by name in news articles and everyday speech but do you know what these (and other) landmark cases were really all about? Here are seven that reshaped America's understanding of the Constitution and became household names.

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1. Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857

Denied citizenship to all African Americans

On the eve of the Civil War, the Dred Scott decision dealt a painful blow to both free and enslaved African Americans. Dred Scott was born a slave in Missouri. Later, he was sold to a U.S. Army surgeon, who moved Scott and his family around to several free states and territories. After the surgeon died, Scott asked the man's second wife, Eliza Irene Sanford (whose name was misspelled in court documents as Sandford), to let Scott buy his freedom, but she refused. Scott sued in Missouri court and lost, since Missouri considered him a slave, never mind that he had resided in free territories.

" " Dred Scott was the plaintiff in a case to determine whether or not slaves were citizens of the United States. Library of Congress

Scott appealed his case all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled 7-2 to deny Scott his freedom. In the landmark decision, Chief Justice Roger Taney said that first of all, Scott had no right to sue in federal court because he was black, and therefore not a citizen. Second, individual states didn't have the power to make black people free, because slaves weren't part of the original "political community" at the writing of the Constitution. Lastly, the Court ruled that Scott was Sanford's property, and could not be deprived by the government under the Fifth Amendment.

The Dred Scott decision emboldened slave-owning states to spread the practice into more U.S. territories and angered the opposition, strengthening support for the Republican Party. After the Civil War, the Dred Scott decision was overturned by the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. Scott was formally freed just a few months after the Supreme Court decision but he died a year later in 1858 of tuberculosis.

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2. Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896

Upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine justifying racial segregation

In 1890, Louisiana passed the Separate Car Act requiring all passenger trains to provide separate and equal accommodations for black and white passengers, and forbidding people from sitting in the rail car of the opposite race. A civil rights group in Louisiana decided to challenge the constitutionality of the law under the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment and recruited Homer Plessy, who was 7/8ths white (and therefore still considered a "negro" in Louisiana) to take a seat in a whites-only car. He was arrested and the case made it all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. (John H. Ferguson was the judge who ruled against Plessy in the Louisiana Supreme Court.)

The Court ruled 7-1 against Plessy, arguing that the separate but equal accommodations were acceptable under the 14th Amendment and did not imply that blacks were an inferior race. Justice John Marshall Harlan, the lone dissenter, believed that segregated public facilities effectively created a racial caste system, writing that "Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens."

With the Plessy decision, Southern states had a powerful legal precedent for doubling down on racial segregation, which remained separate and far from equal for another half-century. The decision was overturned by the next case on our list.

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3. Brown v. Board of Education, 1954

Ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional

Brown v. Board of Education is one of the best-known cases in Supreme Court history and deservedly so. The case, brilliantly argued by Thurgood Marshall, who later became the first African American Supreme Court justice, was one of the first major legal breakthroughs of the Civil Rights era, and paved the way for full integration of all public facilities.

Oliver Brown filed a class action suit against the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, after his daughter Linda was denied entrance to any of Topeka's all-white elementary schools. Brown's lawsuit stated that the schools for black children were not equal to the schools for white children, which violated the "equal protection clause" of the 14th Amendment.

In a unanimous 9-0 decision authored by Chief Justice Earl Warren, the Court rejected the separate but equal doctrine as it applied to public schools. Even if the segregated facilities for black and white students were "substantially" equal, as the lower courts had ruled, the institution of segregation effectively branded young black students as inferior and denied them full participation and success in American civic life.

Even after this landmark decision, some states were slow to desegregate, with full integration not achieved until the early 1970s. But the Brown decision marked a paradigm shift in the Court's interpretation of the 14th Amendment and set a precedent that would be used to protect other groups against discrimination.

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4. Miranda v. Arizona, 1966

Guaranteed basic rights to people who are arrested by the police

"You have the right to remain silent." Those seven words, now a staple of TV cop dramas, weren't part of standard police procedure until this groundbreaking Supreme Court decision. In Miranda v. Arizona, the Court had to decide whether the Constitution's Fifth Amendment protected criminal suspects from self-incrimination during police interrogations.

For Miranda, the Court addressed four separate cases in which suspects were arrested, interrogated for hours by police, and ultimately confessed to crimes without the presence of an attorney. The lead plaintiff was Ernesto Miranda who was arrested and charged with rape, robbery and kidnapping. He was not read his rights and confessed to the crimes during a police interrogation. Miranda had no lawyer present and a history of mental illness. Based on his confession, a judge sentenced him to 20-30 years. While he was in prison in Arizona, the American Civil Liberties Union took up his appeal.

In a tight 5-4 decision, the justices ruled that people in police custody have the same Fifth-Amendment right against self-incrimination as witnesses called to testify in court, and they also have a Sixth Amendment right to legal counsel.

In its ruling, the majority wrote that prior to any questioning, "the person must be warned that he has a right to remain silent, that any statement he does make may be used as evidence against him, and that he has a right to the presence of an attorney, either retained or appointed."

Those words, now repeated during every arrest, became known as the "Miranda Warning" or "Miranda Rights."

As for Ernesto Miranda, he was retried and sentenced to prison anyway in 1966. He was released in 1972 but died in 1976 after a stabbing in a barroom fight. Ironically, his suspected killer was read his "Miranda Rights" and so never answered police questions. There was no conviction in Miranda's death.

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5. Roe v. Wade, 1973

Legalized some types of abortion in the U.S.

Jane Roe was a pseudonym for Norma McCorvey, a pregnant woman in Texas who was unable to get an abortion because state law barred all abortions except when the mother's life was at risk. McCorvey's life was not in danger but she could not afford to travel outside of Texas to have an abortion. She claimed that the Texas law violated her constitutional right to privacy. ("Wade" referred to Henry Wade, Dallas County district attorney.)

" " Attorney Gloria Allred and Norma McCorvey (R), the plaintiff in Roe v. Wade, attend a pro-choice rally in 1989 in Burbank, California. Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images

The Court reviewed the case for two full years, weighing biological, ethical and religious arguments in addition to constitutional issues. Ultimately, the justices ruled 7-2 in favor of Roe, arguing that the Constitution's first, fourth, fifth, ninth and 14th Amendments combined to create a "zone of privacy" around certain personal decisions like marriage and contraception, and that banning all abortions violated that right to make a personal and private decision about whether or not to have a child.

Perhaps most controversially, the Court ruled that fetuses before the third trimester had no rights as "persons" under the Constitution or the law. The ruling allowed states, if they wished, to ban third-trimester abortions (because a fetus was "viable" at this point, based on medical advances) and to consider cases in which they could be outlawed in the second trimester, as long as exceptions were carved out to save the life or health of the mother. But the Court barred states from revoking a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy in the first trimester for any reason.

Before the case was decided, McCorvey gave birth and put her child up for adoption. She later changed her views on abortion and joined the "pro-life" side (though in a documentary released in 2020, McCorvey says she only did that for the money). This Supreme Court case remains one of the most culturally divisive ones in the U.S.

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6. Lawrence v. Texas, 2003

Decriminalized homosexuality and expanded the constitutional right to privacy

In 2003, there were still 12 states in which it was a crime for men to engage in homosexual sex, and Texas was one of them. When police arrived at the apartment of John Geddes Lawrence in response to a weapons disturbance, they found him having sex with another man, Tyron Garner. They were arrested for "deviate sexual intercourse" under the Texas "homosexual conduct" law.

Lawrence appealed and the case landed before the Supreme Court, which had ruled in 1986 that the Constitution doesn't protect a homosexual individual's right to privacy because sodomy doesn't fall into the "zone of privacy" surrounding marriage and family decisions. In a 7-2 decision, the justices reversed that earlier ruling, arguing that the "due process" clause of the 14th Amendment extends to privacy in the home.

" " The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force holds a rally in Boston, in 2003 to celebrate the Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas. The words on the sign are from the Court's ruling. Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images

In his dissenting opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia angrily warned that striking down sodomy laws would lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage. He was absolutely right. In 2015, the court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that state laws barring same-sex marriages violated both the equal protection clause and the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.

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7. Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 2010

Allowed corporations and other organizations to pay unlimited amounts of money for political ads

Citizens United is a conservative activist group that produced a documentary called "Hillary: The Movie," which was critical of Hillary Clinton during her run for president. The company was barred from receiving corporate funding for the movie by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), which aimed to stop the flow of "big money" into "electioneering communications," aka political ads. For a variety of reasons, including the First Amendment protection of free speech, Citizens United argued that the BCRA was unconstitutional.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court agreed. The landmark ruling recognized corporations, labor unions and other for-profit and nonprofit entities as having the same free speech rights as individuals to fund "independent political broadcasts" during elections. While Citizens United allowed unlimited corporate funding of independently produced political ads, it upheld the ban on direct corporate contributions to political candidates or their campaigns.

The Citizens United ruling ushered in the era of super PACs (political action committees) in American elections. Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited sums of money to advocate for or against political candidates, but they can't donate money directly to those candidates. Super PACs do have to report their donors to the Federal Election Commission. Critics contend that Super PACs are usually made up of a small group of wealthy individuals and corporations who can have an outsized influence on general elections.

Now That's Cool Supreme Court cases make great fodder for Hollywood movies. "Gideon v. Wainright," which enshrined the right of a criminal defendant to have an attorney for free if he could not afford one, became the basis of the 1980 TV movie "Gideon's Trumpet." "Loving v. Virginia," the 1967 Supreme Court case decriminalizing interracial marriage, was dramatized in the 2016 film "Loving."
The Kullu police has arrested a man from Rajasthan's Alwar for allegedly duping a resident of Chamba of over Rs 1.10 lakh after putting up an advertisement on an online portal for selling a car, police said on Thursday.

The accused, Irfan, was arrested on Wednesday from his village, Ghati Baas Chandoli in Rajasthan's Alwar district, by a police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Prakash Chand, Kullu Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Singh said.

The accused would be produced before a chief judicial magistrate's (CJM) court on Thursday for obtaining his police custody, he added.

In a complaint lodged at the Bhuntar police station on November 28 last year, complainant Suresh Kumar, a resident of Chamba's Pangi, stated that he struck a deal to purchase a car from the accused for Rs one lakh after coming across the advertisement put up by the latter on online portal OLX.

The accused had sent the registration certificate and photographs of the car to him on WhatsApp, the complainant had stated.

The accused told the complainant on WhatsApp that the car would be sent to him in Kullu through the Army postal service for which he would have to pay Rs 5,120 as the postal charges which would be refunded, the complaint had stated.

The complainant sent the said amount to the accused through a mobile application after receiving the receipt of the Army postal service on WhatsApp, the former had alleged.

The next day, the accused called him from another number, claiming that he was speaking from the office of the Army postal service and the car would soon be handed over to him, but he would have to pay a refundable amount of Rs 15,550, the complaint stated.

The complainant further alleged that the accused received a total of Rs 1,10,300 from him through the mobile application in the name of service charges stating that the same would be refunded, but neither the money was paid back to him nor the car delivered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ANN ARBOR, MI - Multiple school districts in Washtenaw County plan to cancel classes amid growing concerns surrounding the spread of the new coronavirus.

Ann Arbor Public Schools will cancel classes following a half day of school Friday, March 13, with plans to return on April 6, after the end of the scheduled Spring break, Superintendent Jeanice Swift said in a message to the community.

During this time, we will continue to monitor this unprecedented situation and we remain committed to keeping you updated with any significant information, Swift said.

Swift said the districts decision to close was part of an overall critical community prevention and mitigation strategy, flattening the curve - to avoid overwhelming the health care system.

During these upcoming two weeks, we will be working alongside our excellent teachers, staff, and administrators to ensure learning opportunities will continue in the Ann Arbor Public Schools, Swift said. Like many other things in our lives, this will look a little different. These plans are still developing, and though they will not be the same as what we enjoy now, students in our classrooms with our teachers, learning will continue in the AAPS."

Swift said the district is committed to providing meals to our students who count on our schools for food each day as well as making devices and expanded wifi available to support all our students in continuing their learning.

The specifics of this plan are still coming together, but we know this necessary closure adds stress on families that already are facing hardships, and we are committed to ensure necessary support for our families to get through this time, Swift said.

Swift noted all staff, both full- and part-time, will be paid for their time away from school.

Saline Area Schools Superintendent Scot Graden said the district, under guidance from the Washtenaw County Health Department and in alignment with other Washtenaw County school districts, will close at 6 p.m. Friday, March 13.

Graden said the school intends to resume school on April 6.

This is an unprecedented emergency school closure and a public health situation that is rapidly evolving, Graden said. We will continue to update you as we get more information. In the meantime, we want to provide you with some broader guidance for you to keep in mind.

Graden said the district recommended that students take home belongings they will need for the next three weeks. He noted students are not required to remotely complete lessons or assignments, but online courses remain active and students should continue working.

Dexter Community Schools announced it was closing at the end of the school day Friday, March 13, until April 7, Superintendent Chris Timmis said. The district will provide an update on how to address challenges for families on March 17.

Timmis said two of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers recommendations directly impacted the districts decision to shut down operations: The need to cancel or postpone events with more than 100 people in a shared space, and for organizations that serve high-risk communities, cancel gatherings of more than 10 people whenever possible.

Timmis said after-school care programs will continue Friday in order to provide parents with time to make alternative plans. No after school events will be held starting tomorrow until further notice.

As a school district, we regularly have over 100 people in a shared space (i.e., lunches, etc), serve high-risk students, and have employees who are increased health risk," Timmis said. We have an obligation to protect the safety of our students and staff.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District Superintendent Scott Menzel said the operations for the intermediate school district will close down at noon Friday, with the expectation of resuming operations on April 6. Menzell said the district is working on a plan to make sure students who need school lunches are able to receive them.

School districts in Washtenaw County are stressing efforts to balance the social good of educating students with the impending complications the novel coronavirus could present in the coming weeks.

While all 15 of the states public universities have made the decision to cancel classes and begin offering online instruction for the remainder of the academic year, the decision is more complex for local K-12 districts, administrators say, including accounting for students who arent able to access online-only learning and their reliance on school lunches.

The cancellations came after two COVID-19 cases were reported out of Oakland and Wayne counties, one of which was being treated at the University of Michigan Health System. It led Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency, stressing the importance of preventative measures such as thorough hand-washing with soap and water, and residents avoiding touching their faces with unwashed hands.

Update: Whitmore Lake Public Schools on Thursday evening announced plans to remain open.

It is the intent of Whitmore Lake Public Schools to maintain normal operations until such time that it is not considered safe by health experts to conduct regular classes, Superintendent Tom DeKeyser announced in a letter to parents. The district will continue to provide timely updates using our regular means of communication.

DeKeyser said building cleaning patterns were being adjusted, any events expected to gather more than 100 would be cancelled, field trips would be evaluated case-by-case and the district would stay in contact with public health officials.

READ MORE:

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Michigan monitoring 124 residents potentially exposed to coronavirus

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

$25 million for coronavirus preparedness, response approved in Michigan Senate

Jackson beer festival still on despite warnings against large gatherings due to coronavirus
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SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 /A leading remodeling company in San Diego has launched an important campaign to help people avoid being scammed. After recent news that a Chula Vista man who cheated at least five San Diego County residents - three of them elderly - out of thousands of dollars in a remodeling scam, GBC Remodeling Inc. has warned that residents in San Diego should only employ licensed contractors.The San Diego remodeling company was shocked but not surprised at the news that people in San Diego were conned out of thousands of dollars by a scam artist. GBC Remodeling, who believes the sentence of a year in jail and five years-probation does not send a clear message wants residents in San Diego to understand what to look out for.The company that is licensed and who offer free quotations and guarantee their work has put together some tips to spot a scam unlicensed contractor.1. Unlicensed contractors go door to door and claim they have just finished a job down the street." 2. They may try and convince you to use their service by claiming they can offer a big discount if you have the work done now.3. Unlicensed contractors dont display construction permits or they will ask you to do it for them. If a resident in San Diego does, then they are assuming liability for the project and their mistakes.4. Always check the contractors license number to make sure it is not a fake number.5. If a person claiming to be a licensed contractor cannot offer a work address then dont use their service.6. A lot of Unlicensed contractors ask for a lot of money upfront.7. Unlicensed contractors will not provide you with a legal contractWhen looking to have work done on the home it is important to research the company you wish to use. Make sure that they are licensed. When the contractors come to your property then ask to see their paper license, explained a spokesman for GBC Remodeling Inc.GBC Remodeling Inc. who has become one of the most recommended in their field hopes these tips will help residents in San Diego avoid being scammed by unlicensed contractors.To learn more about GBC Remodeling and the professional services they provide, please visit https://www.gbcremodel.com About GBC RemodelingGBC Remodeling is a San Diego Roof Repair and Emergency Roof Repair Expert, we can provide San Diego Window and Door Replacement, and a go-to source for any of your San Diego Exterior Coating needs.SOURCE: GBC Remodeling Inc.
[March 12, 2020] eDynamic Learning Announces New Workplace & Internship Readiness Course to Support Industry Partnerships

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- eDynamic Learning, the largest publisher of online Career and Technical Education (CTE) and elective courses for middle and high schools in North America, today announced it is launching a Workplace & Internship Readiness Course in time for back to school 2020/2021. With eDynamic Learning's dedicated emphasis on career-focused courses, the demand of Perkins V, and state requirements for work-based learning, this course will complement their Career Ready Program? announced last year and support a high need for high schools all across America. The Workplace & Internship Readiness Course will help prepare students with the employability and soft skills needed to go right into the workforce, and assist schools who are seeking to work with corporations to gain the necessary hours required by their state or industry certification requirements. This can include placing students in internships, apprenticeship opportuniies, or satisfying service hours. "To develop long lasting relationships with industry partners, it's important that schools provide students that come consistently prepared with a level of professionalism that recruiters are looking for and businesses expect. Our goal is to help schools instruct students on best practices so they can maintain those industry partnerships and help students feel confident and ready to take this next step towards their future," said Jerry Wooden, President of eDynamic Learning.



Course modules will include workplace behavior, self-awareness, adaptability, empathy, communication, teamwork, money management, and job safety, and will end with a capstone project. "We know in talking with our educator advisory board that we are meeting a real need for states all across America," said Wooden. "We are thrilled we can help provide a workplace readiness resource that will not only help schools and their students, but can assist corporations in developing these students into the next generation of talented, skilled professionals." About eDynamic Learning

With offices in Southlake Texas and Kelowna, BC, eDynamic Learning is a teacher-founded company with a mission of helping students find their passion offering over 150 CTE and elective courses for grades 6-12. It is dedicated to developing programs of study in pathways which lead to industry-recognized certifications. eDynamic Learning's rigorous online digital curriculum is used in a variety of online and blended learning environments, meets WCAG 2.0AA guidelines, and is available on all technology platforms and devices. To learn more, visit www.edynamiclearning.com

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eDynamic Learning

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That line is set to a musical phrase that coils in on itself for the first clause and leaps in joy for the second. If no one has ever exploited the thousand colors and astonishing coincidences of English to greater effect than Sondheim, thats in part because no truly great lyricist, save possibly Cole Porter and Frank Loesser, has been his own composer.

But even more than for those showmen, Sondheim twins and twines the two elements like DNA. Sometimes that means letting the music support the words, intensifying them, as in the song Color and Light from Sunday in the Park. While the pointillist painter Seurat dabs dots of pigment on his canvas, the lyric (Red red red red/red red orange) underlines the action and is, in turn, underlined by the musics bristly staccato.

Other times the music sends a coded secondary message, contradicting the lyric. Take In Buddys Eyes, from Follies, in which the accompaniment turns reedy and sour whenever the despondent wife, who sings what she thinks is a tribute to her husband, starts lying about her ducky life. (Jonathan Tunick has orchestrated many of Sondheims great works, with the daring and inerrancy of a sherpa.)

And sometimes, most thrillingly, Sondheim will double-team the drama, pitting both music and lyrics against the story. In the song Pretty Women from Sweeney, as the voluptuous tune and ethereal lyrics (dancing and glancing rhyme with how they make a man sing) pulse toward what feels like erotic release, the vengeful barber is stropping the blade that will soon kiss his customers neck. The gasp is in the gap between what we hear and what we know.

Conflict like that is the essence of drama, which is why musicals too often seem thin when they try to approach the density of plays. Their emotional states are usually monaural, offering only one channel of perception at a time. The cowboy is happy, so he sings Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin. The couple are either in love and say so, or in love but pretending not to be. The music may be delicious, the lyrics clever, but the situation is flat and generally inert; the songs are the release from the story instead of being the story itself.
Two women were shot to death and a man wounded Tuesday night near Stevensville, and a suspect was arrested after a high-speed chase that ended with a crash in a Missoula neighborhood, according to Ravalli County Sheriff Steve Holton.

Logan Dallas Christopher is being held in the Ravalli County Detention Center on charges of deliberate homicide, attempted deliberate homicide, assault with a weapon and criminal endangerment. His initial court appearance was expected Thursday.

The Ravalli County Sheriffs Office is currently investigating the tragedy as a domestic violence incident and there is evidence the suspect was under the influence of narcotics, Holton said in a news release.

Holton did not identify the victims, pending notification to family members. The man injured in the shooting was taken to an area hospital.

After Ravalli County deputies responded to a 911 call northeast of Stevensville, the description of the suspects vehicle was broadcast to area law enforcement agencies, Holton said.

Montana Highway Patrol Capt. Jim Kitchen said Wednesday troopers were advised of a shooting in the Bitterroot Valley shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday night. A trooper located the suspect vehicle and began following it just south of Lolo as agencies formed a plan to mitigate any further harm, Kitchen said.

"He had just killed somebody, we take all of that into consideration," Kitchen said.

The driver was able to evade spike strips laid near the weigh station north of Lolo, Kitchen said, as well as additional law enforcement set up near Blue Mountain Road. The driver pushed a high-speed chase into Missoula city limits and into a residential area, eventually crashing the vehicle near the intersection of Eaton Street and West Sussex Avenue, Missoula Police Sgt. Travis Welsh said. No residents or officers were injured in the chase, nor was the suspect.

Holton said in a second statement released Wednesday afternoon that investigators worked through the night and into Wednesday. Three search warrants were served and the scene will remain secured as investigators process evidence and interviewe people connected to the shooting, Holton said.

"We are thankful for the great working relationships with our neighboring law enforcement agencies," Holton said. "Those partnerships played a big role in safely taking the suspect into custody so quickly. The fast and professional assistance of the Missoula County Sheriff's Office, Montana Highway Patrol and the Missoula Police Department were instrumental in stopping this dangerous situation before further tragedies could happen."

The Ravalli County Sheriff's Office asks that anyone with information regarding the crime contact Detective Lt. Jesse Jessop at 406-363-3033

Ravalli Republic reporter Perry Backus contributed to this story.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison (C) with (L-R) Minister for Health Greg Hunt, Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert and Minister for Aged Care Richard Colbeck speak to media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Nov. 25, 2019. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Australia to Consider Europe Travel Ban

Travelers who visited Europe may be banned from Australia due to coronavirus concerns after the United States implemented a similar travel ban.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the prime minister asked cabinets national security committee on Thursday to review all travel from Europe after instigating a ban on travelers from Italy on Wednesday.

It comes as the government lays out a multi-billion stimulus package to stop the economy tanking in the wake of the virus.

Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have been confirmed as two of Australias 128 cases.

They have been hospitalized in Queensland after being confirmed to have the virus, with Hanks issuing a statement on Thursday saying he and Wilson had gone to hospital for testing after showing cold symptoms.

The Hollywood superstar is on the Gold Coast filming a biopic on Elvis Presley.

Of the 128 cases, 24 have been cleared while Prime Minister Scott Morrison says almost half are close to clearing the virus.

Australia has recorded three deaths, involving people aged 95, 82 and 78.

Morrison will address the nation on Thursday night to talk about the countrys response to the coronavirus.

The government has laid out an A$22.9 billion economic stimulus package to prevent Australia entering a recession, including giving welfare recipients and pensioners a A$750 cash payment.

Employers will get wage subsidies to keep 117,000 apprentices employed, with businesses earning up to A$50 million per year to cash boosts of up to A$25,000.

The instant asset write-off will also be expanded from A$30,000 to A$150,000, with the government hoping for it to go towards cars, trucks and even tools.

Small businesses earning up to A$50 million per year will get an up to A$25,000 cash boost as well as wage subsidies to keep 117,000 apprentices in work.

Many of Australias biggest private employersincluding Woolworths, Telstra and Commonwealth Bankhave agreed to pay casual workers who need to isolate themselves or look after loved ones.

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan warned school holidays may be extended, saying medical advice will guide the decision.

It might be that school holidays need to be prolonged, he told ABC television.

Hunt told reporters in Melbourne existing travel bans to China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy had been extended by another week.

The Council of Australian Governments will meet on Friday to discuss the stimulus plans of the states and territories, which will be top of the federal governments measures.

The ACT recorded its first confirmed case of coronavirus on Thursday, a man in his 30s testing positive after visiting a nurses clinic the day before.

Victorian officials are still weighing up whether to cancel this weekends Australian Formula One Grand Prix, with eight members of international teams testing for the virus.

Pop-up clinics are being set up across Australia to help keep infected people away from hospitals.

From Friday, patients will be able to entirely bulk bill telehealth sessions with GPs to get diagnosed.

The World Health Organisation has officially declared coronavirus a global pandemic.

Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said there was still a chance to limit its spread but pointed to alarming levels of inaction.

By Tracey Ferrier and Finbar OMallon
President Donald Trump should have asked Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates to assist the U.S. government with its response to the coronavirus, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman told CNBC on Thursday.

Friedman, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, said the U.S. has a logistics problem and a "cure problem" for the disease, and the founders of Amazon and Microsoft have the expertise to help.

"If I had a chance to write the president's speech, I would have begun by saying, I'm actually asking Jeff Bezos of Amazon to take a leave from Amazon and take over the effort to get test kits manufactured and distributed everywhere in America," Friedman said on "Squawk Box.

Friedman said he would have tapped Gates, whose charitable foundation focuses on improving global health care and reducing poverty, to "oversee all efforts to come up with a rapid cure for this virus."

In a address Wednesday, Trump announced he was suspending travel from most of Europe for 30 days in an attempt to slow the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump also said he will be asking Congress to provide payroll tax relief for Americans and instructing the Small Business Administration to "provide capital and liquidity" for small businesses.

Friedman said he watched the speech hoping to gain confidence in the government's response to the global pandemic.

"I was not reassured, and the market clearly was not reassured," Friedman said.

U.S. stocks sank Thursday morning as investors remained concerned about an economic slowdown due to the coronavirus.
South Africa: US suspends all travel from Europe due to Coronavirus

The declaration of the Coronavirus as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has prompted the United States to suspend all travel from Europe to the US for the next 30 days.

US President Donald Trump made the announcement on Wednesday evening after the declaration.

WHO made the declaration as the number of cases of COVID-19 outside China increased 13-fold in the past two weeks.

There are now more than 118 000 cases in 114 countries and 4 291 people have lost their lives.

Itay announced a national lockdown on Monday as cases surged in the country.

Of the 118 000 cases reported globally in 114 countries, more than 90% of cases are in just four countries, and two of those are China and the Republic of Korea.

After consulting with our top government health professionals, I have decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well-being of all Americans.

To keep new cases from entering our shores we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect on Friday at midnight, said Trump.

The suspension, the US President described, is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.

I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens and ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus, he said.

Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings, will be exempt from the suspension.

During the early stages of the outbreak, the US banned travel to China and other hotspots.

These restrictions will not apply to the United Kingdom. At the same time we are monitoring the situation in China and the South Korea and as their situations improve we will re-evaluate the restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening, said the US President.

While the restriction stops people, Trump emphasised that it does not stop goods.

He further assured all countries and businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Geng Shuang: Chinese Government Sent Epidemic Response Experts to Italy

2020/03/12

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang announces:

To help Italy combat the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese government has decided to send a team of experts on epidemic response put together by the National Health Commission and Red Cross Society of China. The team has left for Italy on March 12.
Two Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying off the Alaskan coast were intercepted by U.S. and Canadian jets.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said in a tweet that the two Russian TU-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft were intercepted on Monday after they entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone.

The Russian jets came as close as 50 nautical miles to the coast of Alaska and never entered United States or Canadian airspace.

The aircraft entered the zone north of Alaska and flew in international airspace over the Beaufort Sea, according to the organization.

The Russian jets remained in the zone for about four hours and were escorted by NORAD fighter aircraft the entire time.

NORAD continues to operate in the Arctic across multiple domains, NORAD General Terrence J. OShaughnessy said in a statement on Twitter.

As we continue to conduct exercises and operations in the north, we are driven by a single unyielding priority: defending the homelands," he added.

The Russian aircraft were intercepted by U.S. F-22 stealth jets and Canadian CF-18 fighter jets.

The Royal Canadian Air Force said in a statement on Twitter that it worked with the U.S. Air Force to do "what we do best" and keep North America safe.
Shimla, March 12 : As the coronavirus continues its attack both domestically and globally, favourite resorts of Himachal Pradesh have been experiencing a tourism drop of 20 to 30 per cent, tourism industry representatives said on Thursday.

They say the cancellation of bookings can be severely impacted further if any positive case is reported in the state. They have asked the local authorities to step up coronavirus vigil to prevent its epidemic in the state.

Officials of the state-run Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) said the occupancy in most of their hotels in major tourist destinations is nearly 50 per cent on normal days and this goes up to 70 per cent during weekdays.

"Some of our bookings have been cancelled due to coronavirus fears with the current occupancy rate 50 per cent on normal days and 70 per cent on weekdays, which is less than the normal," HPTDC General Manager Poonam Bhardwaj told IANS.

"Of course, our information centres are getting enquiries from the tourists about the coronavirus scare," she added.

Tourism Industry Stakeholders Association President and Shimla-based hotelier Mohinder Seth said as per their estimates the arrival of tourists across the state has fallen by 30 per cent in February and March, losing millions of Rupees in the tourism revenue.

The maximum cancellation was of corporate tourists and destination weddings, another hotelier added.

After the peak tourists' season of December and mid-January, it is the Chaitra Navratri festivity that every year attracts a stream of domestic holidaymakers from West Bengal and Maharashtra to the hill state in March and April.

The foreigners start descending by June-mid for adventure tourism with the opening of high mountain passes after winter snowfall.

Corporate executive Sonal Kapoor from Chandigarh said she had cancelled her this month's bookings in Dharamsala and Palampur towns owing to coronavirus epidemic and now is planning her visit during the Dussehra holidays.

Hotelier and travel agent M.C. Thakur, who is based in Manali, some 250 km from the state capital, said adventure tourists, mainly foreigners, one of the major attractions start arriving in June.

"If the coronavirus epidemic continues for a few months globally, its impact will be felt here too," he said.

"Most of the foreigners generally prefer to drive down the 475-km-long Manali-Leh highway. From Leh, they travel towards Srinagar. If they won't come this time, it will severely impact the tourism industry of Manali," he said.

Backpackers, especially from the US, Britain, Italy, France and Germany, come to Manali from June to December for adventure-related activities like trekking, rock-climbing and mountain biking.

Hoteliers, however, expressed concern over lack of precautionary measures being taken by the state to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.

"Most of the tourist destinations are connected by road and the state shares porous borders with Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Kashmir. The state authorities should set up flu screening centres at the state entry points to screen suspected coronavirus patients," a Shimla-based hotelier told IANS, requesting anonymity.

He said the screening and quarantine centres need to be strengthened to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Expressing concern over its epidemic, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday appealed in the Assembly to reduce mass gatherings to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

In a suo moto statement, he said he expected every resident to cooperate to prevent its spread.

Himachal Pradesh's economy is highly dependent on tourism, besides hydroelectric power generation and horticulture.

State's tourist footfall last year increased to 172.12 lakh, which included 3.83 lakh foreigners, from 164.50 lakh in 2018.

The highest arrival in 14 years was at 196.02 lakh in 2017.

(Vishal Gulati can be reached at vishal.g@ians.in)
Earnings at manufacturing group IPL Plastics jumped 17pc last year to CA$ 91.5m (58.7m).

The improvement in performance, at the group formerly known as One51, was delivered on the back of strong margin improvements across all divisions of the business, the company said in its annual results.

The earnings increase was achieved despite an 8pc fall in revenue to CA$605m (388m).

The fall income was partially offset by the contribution from the acquisition of Loomans, price increases, and volume growth in the consumer packaging solutions (CPS) division in North America.

Net cash inflow from operating activities increased by 376pc to CA$89.3m (57m).

Alan Walsh, CEO of IPL Plastics said: Our ongoing focus on rebuilding margins and enhancing operational performance is continuing to pay dividends for the company.

While our results for the last calendar year reflect a very strong improvement in profitability and cash generation, we expect to sustain that progress into 2020 with further improvements in performance.

Looking to this year, Mr Walsh said trading across all the companys divisions is satisfactory to-date.

He added that the company expects top line revenue growth in fiscal 2020, underpinned by new contract wins and a broadly stable resin outlook.
2020 is Nepal's year. As part of an attempt to boost tourism in a country still reeling from the 2015 earthquake, Nepal is celebrating Nepal 2020 which means there will be more to see and do. Importantly, as of today, India has removed Nepal from its Coronavirus watch list.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The airplane cabin goes silent. Its not that its a noisy cabin to begin  there were no crying babies nor loud passengers  but silence has a way of making its presence felt. Its one of those things that you can, somewhat paradoxically, hear. Even if its a soft hum that fades out, you tend to instinctively turn around and look. But how do you trace the source of the silence? It takes a bit; youre disoriented and then you realise that the reason why the soft hum of passengers chatting behind you has died out is the view outside of your window.

Before we took off from New Delhi on the inaugural Vistara flight to Kathmandu, I joked with my co-passenger that the pilot would probably fly over Everest. With a straight face, I assured her that he would circle over the tallest peak in the world and tell us exactly when wed pass it by. She believed me. Some 45 minutes into the flight when the cabin fell silent and I looked out of the window, even I believed my own fib. I may not admit this again but for a brief second, I thought to myself: Could I have been right?!?

Of course I wasnt. Everest isnt on the flight path from New Delhi to Kathmandu; I had looked it up before we left. But there was something even more mesmerising. Peaks after snowy peaks, sticking out of the clouds, like a crumpled sheet of white against a deep blue of the sky, the kind of blue you almost never see. I half expected the captain to make a short announcement, asking passengers to look out and behold the sight of the majestic Himalayas but the PA remained mute. Not even a crackle. We passed by the greatest mountain range in the world in the way one should  in complete, almost reverential, silence.

Story continues

Ive occasionally wondered what it must seem for someone looking at this scene from the outside  the aircraft with its Royal Aubergine and Pale Gold Vistara logo on its tail, roaring past an abyss of white. On the inside though, its just white noise, the kinds you can tune out and drift into an easy slumber. Its what Ive always loved about airline travel  the quiet and sanitised predictability of a pressurised cabin. You know the drill from the moment you step in  the flight attendants polite welcome as you board, the safety demonstration, the anticipation of the take-off as the aircraft gains speed on the runway and then that one swift movement with which the wheels leave the ground. Youre off on an adventure.

Ariel view of New Delhi

Much has been said about the golden age of airline travel, a time when most of us werent born. And in the crowd of low-cost airlines, its easy to assume that its well behind us. Certainly it is true for most part. But every so often, when youre flying an airline like Vistara you tend to imagine what it mustve been like  dignified cabin crew, top class service and meals that defy all cliches of airline food.

In-flight meal on board Vistara

And so it is, after a happy meal and a smooth landing at New Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport, Im on Vistaras inaugural flight to Kathmandu. We leave behind the sunny plains of Delhi, fly past the Himalayas and soon enough find ourselves looking over a cluster of tiny colourful buildings that signal our arrival in the capital of Nepal.

What to see and do in Kathmandu:

For most part, Kathmandu has been a haven for high rollers and hippies alike. The countrys obsession with Bollywood isnt difficult to miss. Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Dev Anands cult hit from the 70s, is still very fresh in Nepals collective conscious as you find yourself listening to the guide talk about his nations brief but romantic tryst with the hippie culture at our first stop:

1. Explore the Bastanpur Durbar Square

Temple of the Living Goddess

The ancient city of Kathmandu is set around this Durbar Square, which was also the official residence of the Nepalese royal family until the 19th century. In 1979, this Durbar Square was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Home to several Hindu and Buddhist temples as well as the home of the living goddess of Nepal, the square can tend to be quite crowded. Several of the temples were destroyed in the earthquake of 2015 and are still being restored. It is easy, however, to spend a few hours here, photographing the many buildings in this square, shopping and walking down Freak Street, the erstwhile hippie abode that now houses cafes and stores.

2. Party at Thamel

Jazz Upstairs

Kathmandus tourist district has all the trappings of one. Rows and rows of shops with selling bright clothes, hiking gear, lanterns, thangka paintings, bronze statues etc. Make sure you bargain down to a third of the price quoted by the shopkeeper. When the sun goes down, Thamel turns into a cool party district with nightclubs, restaurants and bars playing everything from techno to Bollywood. Although not in Thamel but certainly a place worth visiting is Jazz Upstairs, Kathmandus only jazz club that has live performances every night.

3. Circumambulate Boudhanath

Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath (also known as Boudhnath) is the largest Buddhist Stupa in Nepal and an important centre of Tibetan Buddhism. The stupa lies at the heart of Kathmandus Tibetan community. Like the Durbar Square, Swayambunath is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join the Tibetan monks, and fellow tourists as you circumambulate the stupa chanting Om Mani Padme Hum. Most locals arrive here sundown when it can get quite crowded. You can also arrive here early mornings when the crowds are much lesser. There are several monasteries around Boudhnath where you can learn more about Tibetan Buddhism and its philosophy.

4. Offer your respects at the Pashupatinath temple

Pashupatinath Temple

Nepals most sacred Hindu temple is dedicated to Shiva and attracts thousands of devotees every day  from curious tourists to ascetics. Expect a long queue to pay your respects to the deity but you can give that queue a pass in case you dont mind just a peek into the sanctum sanctorum from a short distance away. The Pashupatinath temple complex has several other smaller shrines and overlooks a lake where Hindus perform the final rites of their near and dear ones. Note that entry into the temple complex is restricted only to Hindus and photography is not permitted.

5. Take a half-day trip to Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Located about an hour away from Kathmandu, Bhaktapurs Durbar Square isnt unlike Kathmandus. The temples and monuments in squares such as these were a result of a competitive spirit between the local rulers whod commission architects to construct grand buildings as an exercise of one-upmanship. Bhaktapurs square holds several temples and cultural monuments. Its also in a significantly better shape since the 2015 earthquake didnt affect it as much as it did Kathmandus square. From erotic carvings to religious monuments, Bhaktapur is a photographers delight. It also houses an art gallery and museum that are worth a short visit but youll likely be transfixed by the sheer number of monuments and their diversity.
New Delhi: In a bid to create greater international awareness about near-extermination of the people of Balochistan, a campaign is being launched by activists under the banner of the Baloch Human Rights Council. A pavilion is also being set up outside the UN Office in Geneva, adjacent to iconic broken chair named Save the Baloch.

The council activists demand that the UN must launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the Pakistani governments actions in Balochistan, and must hold Pakistan accountable for its egregious human rights abuses against the people of Balochistan.

Save the Baloch initiative marks an effort to amplify the voices of the people of Balochistan and usher in the restoration of their most basic human rights  social, cultural, political and economic autonomy.

Currently, the Baloch faces an unending saga of humiliation, destruction, and grief. Mass graves have been discovered across Balochistan; death squads kidnap social and political activists and human rights defenders, who are then murdered and thrown into these mass graves. Military oppression is the key tactic Pakistan has employed in order to sustain its unjust rule over the Baloch.

The people of Balochistan were never asked whether they wanted to be part of Pakistan. Also, they never gave their consent to have their territory annexed into the fundamentalist hotbed that is Pakistan. The Pakistani government has denied their right to self-determination.

Pakistan pushes the narrative that the people of Balochistan are happy that they want to be part of Pakistan. This narrative is baseless and demeaning to the actual lived experiences of the Baloch.

Defending the rights of the people of Balochistan is not an option it is an obligation. In the words of one of the protestors, Freedom for Balochistan has been long-delayed, but it cannot and will not be denied.

Because of these transgressions and the lack of UN counteraction, the UN has failed its own mandate to protect and fight for human rights across the globe. Silence from the UN on this matter is essentially an endorsement of this cultural extermination of genocidal proportions.
The central government may approve Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) revival plan for Yes Bank by Friday. After examining the comments on RBI's reconstruction scheme, the RBI may modify the provisions and send it for the central government's approval. The Centre might also approve the scheme without any modification.

According to a report in Business Standard, RBI's reconstruction scheme will be up for approval of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The apex bank has also invited comments from State Bank of India (SBI) and other stakeholders by Monday. According to the reconstruction scheme, SBI is expected to hold 49 per cent stake in the troubled bank.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had also met SBI chief Rajnish Kumar on Friday to discuss the way to rescue the bank.

Also read: Rs 50,000 cap on Yes Bank withdrawals to go 'much much much' before Apr 3: SBI chairman

The apex bank has put moratorium on the troubled Yes Bank till April 3. However, Rajnish kumar said to BusinessToday.In that the restrictions will be lifted "much, much, much" before the deadline. He also said that Yes Bank will continue as a separate board-run entity and will not be merged with SBI. "It is a strategic investment decision by State Bank of India where as per the draft scheme which has been circulated and put in public domain by Reserve Bank of India the boundaries for this investment have been set. What it does say is that State Bank of India will invest minimum 26% that will be locked in for 3 years," said Kumar.

He had also said that many investors have reached out to SBI and that they have reached out to a lot of investors. "Many investors have reached out to us and we have reached out to many investors. We will have clarity within next 24 hours and will be able to give all those names and outline to RBI," said Rajnish Kumar.

Also read: 'Was in talks with RBI, Finance Ministry to takeover Yes Bank': Rana Kapoor

Also read: Depositors' money safe, Yes Bank in talks with investors: RBI
As coronavirus infections accumulate across America, hospitals are facing new urgency to keep their workers safe.

In China, where the virus was first discovered, protecting health care workers was a serious challenge. More than 3,300 nurses, doctors and other hospital staff members across the country were infected, many because of insufficient protective equipment.

In the United States, many hospitals are already struggling with limited supplies of masks, gowns and goggles, as health officials figure out the best way to protect workers. On Thursday, the U.S. surpassed China in total reported cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

We need to think about what the right thing is for patients, but also for our caregivers, to make sure theyre not exposed, said Amy Compton-Phillips, chief clinical officer at the Providence St. Joseph Health, a hospital network headquartered in Washington State that is currently treating more than 400 confirmed coronavirus patients across seven states.

That means shoring up supplies of protective gear and making space to isolate and treat patients as cases mount.

Protective equipment: gowns, gloves, goggles and respirators

Current C.D.C. recommendations for health care workers Eye protection Goggles or face shield Respirator or medical mask N95 respirator, if available Gown Closed securely at the back Gloves Pulled up over gown sleeves Current C.D.C. recommendations for health care workers Eye protection Goggles or face shield Respirator or medical mask N95 respirator, if available Gloves Pulled up over gown sleeves Gown Closed securely at the back Current C.D.C. recommendations for health care workers Eye protection Goggles or face shield Respirator or medical mask N95 respirator, if available Gloves Pulled up over gown sleeves Gown Closed securely at the back

There is still some uncertainty about how the new coronavirus spreads, but experts agree it is most likely passed through close contact with people who are infected, and specifically the viral droplets they expel when they cough or sneeze.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised health care workers to wear protective gowns, gloves, goggles and masks while treating potential and confirmed cases of Covid-19, to avoid exposure. But there has been some disagreement over which masks are needed.

Initially, the agency advised the use of respirator masks that fit tightly over the nose and mouth to filter out virus particles before they are inhaled, such as the N95. (Health care workers could also wear devices known as PAPRs, or powered air-purifying respirators, which cover the entire head.)

But with respirators in short supply across the country, the C.D.C. updated its recommendations in early March to allow the use of standard medical masks for most coronavirus patient care. These looser-fitting masks protect against droplet transmission from coughs and sneezes, but do not filter out airborne pathogens.

The change puts the agency in closer alignment with World Health Organization guidelines, which only require respirator masks during special procedures that may result in the spray of tiny viral particles. But it drew sharp rebuke from a national nurses union.

N95 respirator Surgical mask Tight fit; must be specially fitted. Filters out 95% of small particles. Loose fit around edges. Provides protection from large droplets. Surgical mask N95 respirator Loose fit around edges. Provides protection from large droplets. Tight fit; must be specially fitted. Filters out 95% of small particles. N95 respirator Tight fit; must be specially fitted. Filters out 95% of small particles. Surgical mask Loose fit around edges. Provides protection from large droplets.

A global surge in demand for protective gear and supply chain disruptions in China have led to dire shortages of both kinds of masks in many U.S. hospitals. Supplies of gowns, gloves and eyewear are also low.

We have significant limitations on our high-level N95 masks, and even surgical masks are in short supply, said Dr. Compton-Phillips of Providence St. Joseph Health.

I cannot ask people to go into battle unarmed, and thats what we would have to do if we ran out of PPE, she said, using the acronym for personal protective equipment.

Representatives from hospitals across the country said they were taking steps to preserve their protective equipment supplies, including limiting the number of people who enter a patients room to essential personnel only, and grouping Covid-19 patients together so doctors and nurses dont need to put on new gear for every interaction. Some health care workers are reusing disposable masks over multiple days. Under normal circumstances, masks and other equipment are discarded between patients.

This pandemic is not a sprint, its like a marathon, and were trying to keep as many people as healthy as long as we can, said Dr. Teresa Amato, chair of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, a hospital in Queens that is currently treating more than a 100 coronavirus patients.

Major manufacturers, like 3M, have increased mask production, and local companies have converted factories to join the effort. Governors in several states have tapped the nations safety net of emergency preparedness equipment: the Strategic National Stockpile, which contained about 13 million N95 respirator masks and 30 million surgical masks at the beginning of the outbreak. But some governors reported receiving less protective gear than they requested.

The U.S. surgeon general, Jerome M. Adams, last month urged the public to stop buying masks to lessen the strain on supply. Masks are not very effective for protecting casual wearers from Covid-19, he said, but are crucial for health care workers who are in close contact with infected patients.

Isolating patients with Covid-19

The C.D.C. recommends coronavirus patients be isolated in single rooms, behind closed doors, away from other patients. But more severe cases may require the use of a special room with negative pressure, which allows air to move inward but not escape back into general circulation.

Outside Air vent Bathroom HEPA filter Area of lower air pressure Hallway Anteroom Negative pressure allows air to flow inwards, but not out of the room. Outside Air vent Bathroom HEPA filter Hallway Area of lower air pressure Anteroom Negative pressure allows air to flow inwards, but not out of the room. Outside Air vent Bathroom HEPA filter Hallway Area of lower air pressure Anteroom Negative pressure allows air to flow inwards, but not out of the room. Outside Air vent Bathroom HEPA filter Hallway Area of lower air pressure Anteroom Negative pressure allows air to flow inwards, but not out of the room. Outside Air vent Bathroom HEPA filter Hallway Area of lower air pressure Anteroom Negative pressure allows air to flow inwards, but not out of the room. Outside Air vent Bathroom HEPA filter Hallway Area of lower air pressure Anteroom Negative pressure allows air to flow inwards, but not out of the room. Note: This is one possible layout for a negative pressure isolation room; an anteroom is optional, and air flow systems may vary.

Negative pressure isolation rooms are recommended for special procedures that may result in the spray of tiny viral particles, like intubation for patients who need help breathing, or bronchoscopy, a procedure that allows doctors to examine a patients lungs. Respirator masks are required during these procedures, too.

Most people infected with the new coronavirus do not require hospitalization, but medical systems in many cities and states are already straining as the outbreak accelerates. Many hospitals are cancelling nonessential procedures to free up beds as they anticipate an influx of new patients.

Patients with mild coronavirus infections and no underlying medical conditions are also being asked to quarantine at home. If you are healthy  even if you have Covid but are not ill enough to be in a hospital  we dont want to treat you in the hospital, said Dr. Compton-Phillips.

According to the W.H.O., 80 percent of Covid-19 patients in China experienced a mild or moderate form of the illness, 14 percent had a severe form, and 6 percent became critically ill. Older people and those with prior health conditions were at the highest risk.

Hopefully most of the people who are sick can be cared for at home and only those with serious respiratory conditions and the elderly who need I.C.U. care are the ones who get admitted to a hospital, said Dr. Gabor D. Kelen, the director of the Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response and the emergency medicine department. But if we really get inundated the way they did in some parts of China, you get to the point that you cant operate normally.

Determining the proper precautions

The gear health care workers need to protect themselves and how they isolate patients depends largely on how an illness is transmitted.

Airborne spread up to 100 ft Measles, tuberculosis Smaller, lighter aerosol droplets can linger in the air. Influenza, whooping cough, and most likely Covid-19, per W.H.O. Larger, heavier viral droplets fall to the ground after being expelled. DROPLET SPREAD Up to 6 feet Influenza, whooping cough, and most likely Covid-19, per W.H.O. Larger, heavier viral droplets fall to the ground after being expelled. AIRBORNE SPREAD Up to 100 feet Measles, tuberculosis Smaller, lighter aerosol droplets can linger in the air. Airborne spread up to 100 ft Measles, tuberculosis Smaller, lighter aerosol droplets can linger in the air. Influenza, whooping cough, and most likely Covid-19, per W.H.O. Larger, heavier viral droplets fall to the ground after being expelled. DROPLET SPREAD Up to 6 feet Influenza, whooping cough, and most likely Covid-19, per W.H.O. Larger, heavier viral droplets fall to the ground after being expelled. AIRBORNE SPREAD Up to 100 feet Measles, tuberculosis Smaller, lighter aerosol droplets can linger in the air.

Some illnesses, like measles and tuberculosis, can spread far and wide through the air. Their ability to linger in the air for hours and travel long distances after a sneeze or cough makes them highly contagious.

These illnesses are treated at a high level of precaution that requires health care workers to wear respirator masks and patients to be isolated under negative pressure to keep the germs from spreading.

But experts think that other respiratory illnesses, like the flu, do not stay airborne for long. Instead, the viral droplets that leave a persons mouth or nose end up falling to the ground within six feet or less. Think of it more like a sprinkle of rain than a cloud of mist.

The W.H.O. has said Covid-19 is most likely spread through this droplet route.

Such illnesses are usually transmitted through close contact, within family groups or during large gatherings, and can also be transferred by touching infected surfaces.

Health care workers routinely treat droplet-borne illnesses at a lower level of precaution than fully airborne ones, using medical masks rather than respirators. But for new diseases, like Covid-19, health authorities may recommend higher-level protections while the transmissibility question remains unsettled. And those guidelines can evolve over time.

During the outbreak, youre going to see changing guidance for hospital workers, said Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Where the new coronavirus falls in terms of mortality and risk perception will change as we start to get more data within the United States, he said.

The most recent C.D.C. guidelines  which suggest the use of medical masks while treating coronavirus patients when respirators are not available  drew criticism from some health care professionals, notably nurses.

Now is not the time to be weakening our standards and protections, or cutting corners, said Bonnie Castillo, a registered nurse and executive director of National Nurses United, a union that represents about 150,000 nurses across the country. If nurses and health care workers arent protected, that means patients and the public are not protected, she said.

Other medical experts said the new recommendations did not go far enough to clarify how health care workers dealing with the outbreak should be protected.

We want health care workers to be confident they are being kept safe, Dr. Adalja said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 15:15:22|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China has released a series of guidelines on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention and control in kindergartens, primary and middle schools and higher education institutions, according to China's Ministry of Education (MOE).

The guidelines cover basic knowledge of the virus, the construction of schools' epidemic prevention and control systems and the epidemic prevention and control work in schools before and after reopening.

Initiated by the MOE with an aim to scientifically and accurately guide schools to prevent and control the virus, the guidelines were released by the People's Medical Publishing House and can be downloaded online for free.

The guidelines are also available on MOE's portal website (www.moe.gov.cn) and its official WeChat account (jybwb).
As the coronavirus COVID-19 spreads across the US and around the world, reports are mounting which expose the woeful unpreparedness of government and employers to deal with this emergency. The highly infectious disease can be transmitted easily in closed spaces such as factories and offices, putting workers at high risk of infection.

The official declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization underscores the danger facing workers and their families. While major school districts and universities in the US have closed or transitioned to online classes, there has been no similar action in the auto industry.

The shutdown of wide sections of the industry, which is or will quickly become a public health necessity, will pose additional challenges to workers and their families, who would face severe hardship from missing even a single paycheck.

Autoworkers in Detroit

The criminal indifference and stupidity of the Trump administrations response to the pandemic, focused primarily on propping up the stock market and using the cover of a public health emergency to launch trade wars, is the clearest sign of the complete incapacity of the capitalist ruling class to respond to the crisis in a measured and rational way.

The Socialist Equality Party, which publishes the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter, urges workers to form rank-and-file workplace committees to mobilize their collective strength to demand that sweeping action be taken in response to the pandemic. These committees should monitor the health conditions in the plants and demand rapid improvements in sanitation and other measures to prevent the spread of disease. If a facility has a confirmed case of coronavirus, these committees should demand that the plant be immediately closed, with all workers fully compensated for lost hours.

Finally, they should demand that the full resources of society be used to prevent and treat outbreaks. This includes free and universal access to testing and treatment and emergency measures to protect refugees, prisoners, the homeless and others of the most vulnerable sections of society.

By contrast, autoworkers contacted by the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter reported that neither the United Auto Workers or corporate management were informing workers of the gravity of the situation or proposing serious countermeasures, including demands for waiving of penalties for absences.

They have just told us to wash our hands, the usual stuff, a veteran worker at Fiat Chryslers Jefferson Assembly Plant in Detroit told the Autoworker Newsletter.

She said the main concern of management with COVID-19 was the potential disruption to production due to parts shortages from China. The response of management to the coronavirus pandemic was on par with its general indifference to workers health and safety, she said.

Right now we have a bad virus going around the plant. But we cant afford to take off work. Unless you take off four consecutive days you get a point for each day off. If you miss four days you need a note from your doctor to return to work. That makes doctors angry, forcing them unnecessarily to take up their time.

Several years ago we had cases of tuberculosis at the plant from drinking the water. One person almost died, he was throwing up blood, but FCA doesnt encourage you to get help.

A GM retiree with connections to the Delta Township Plant outside of Lansing, Michigan, said, GM has not announced any plan yet. They did, however, put up signs telling workers to wash their hands. I went on Facebook and posed the question to my former committeeman and I am awaiting his response. Not holding my breath. He was a company stooge.

I can only guess that they will pay lip service to anything that is favorable to continued production. They will downplay the science, as is the vogue, until forced to take any proactive measures. Predictable behavior and crisis management is the curtain they hide behind.

The coronavirus crisis is a major topic of discussion of workers on Facebook. On the UAW Facebook page for the Kentucky Truck Plant, workers reacted angrily to a letter posted from UAW Local 682 on the coronavirus crisis. The letter detailed only a few inadequate measures and then offered prayers.

One worker wrote, I read the letter about the coronavirus and top level preparations and this is the breakdown... Were going to sit in the office talking about it while you all die.

Another responded bitterly, Cleaning house of some of their elderly legacy employees and their pensions so they can hire more stss [Supplemental Temporary] at $15 an hour.

A third said, Ever since they outsourced cleanup back in 2008  that place has not been clean since. Outsourcing and temp workers has divided the union. I am not saying the workers themselves, but the division of pay...

Workers showed reporters for the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter a memo from UAW Local 682 at the Louisville Assembly Plant. The memo failed to mention any preparations to deal with the coronavirus threat while complacently boasting of the insourcing of additional work. Towards the end the memo blandly noted, Plant is still filthy inside and out restroom[s] are in horrible shape...

A Louisville Assembly worker commented, We get parts from everywhere. Our 6.7 diesel goes in [the] F-250 [that] comes from Mexico  Engines for the Escape come from U.K.  Global parts from all countries  there are 13,000 workers at [Louisville Assembly and KTP]. [What happens] if one of the people at our plant has the virus or their close family member does? A lot of us are older and we touch vehicles on the lines. Were like a huge cruise ship, touching doors, railings in the plant. Ford has Quarantine [measures] in China and now in Germany at some of their plants.

Another Louisville Ford worker told the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, The bathrooms at KTP have been a problem for quite some time. A couple of weeks ago, the shop chairman Todd Dunn got them to do a thorough cleaning of the bathrooms. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Where Im at the company has a problem stocking paper towels, and the trash cans are constantly running over.

They do not clean the line where we work. If there is any trash, it just stays there. The worst is that people spit on the floor and it just stays there. Its disgusting. Its like the broken windows theory. If you clean up a neighborhood and fix the windows, people are more likely to take pride in it and keep things nice. On the other hand, if you let it get run down, they quit caring. Ford has been running us into the ground for years.

A worker at the Fort Wayne Assembly Plant observed, I think it has the possibility to be devastating to workers, employers and the economy. Once it hits manufacturing it could shut down facility after facility. If that happens workers and employers could eventually see a major impact from lost wages and lost production and if it progresses long enough the local and larger economy will be impacted. I am sure employers will fight any preemptive shut downs, not wanting to lose production, creating the possibility of a larger outbreak.
Winston Watusi

Music Plus

Jazz is not dead - that's what Frank Zappa famously said; he added It just smells funny. It's a good line.

I almost hesitate to repeat it since it has been so frequently quoted. But this week's column is jazz-centric so thanks Frank, I'll recycle it one more time.

The main jazz event in Tauranga is of course the Easter festival. The Fifty Eighth National Jazz Festival. The longest-running single venue jazz festival in the Southern Hemisphere.

Or the world. Certainly the longest-running something or other.

That's not to be sneezed at (especially now  go straight to quarantine for sneezing in public). Whatever the true legend, it's pretty impressive for a little town so far from the world's centre that the country it's in doesn't even feature on CNN's COVID-19 virus map.

But, come rain, come shine, come pandemics, the New Zealand National Jazz Festival has taken place at Easter since the early 1960s. There are even jazz musicians still active here, who will probably perform at this years iteration, that played at and were instrumental (Boom-Boom!) in the creation of that first inchoate festival.

Programme

This year's programme is on line at: www.jazz.org.nz and I'll get back to it  only one month to go! - but, in the meantime, let's spend this week on a jazz-related ramble.

Tauranga has long been associated with jazz, not purely because of the annual festival but because more than a few players around the country originate here. Understandably, if your interests centre round playing jazz you might not stay in Tauranga. The usual route is to Auckland or, more likely, Wellington to study jazz, then join or form one of the very many jazz-inflected bands in either of those cities.

There is certainly a regular migration of the Bay's young jazz achievers, with many of them going on to become high achievers. I was struck by this recently when a video hit YouTube of The Rodger Fox Band's latest foray to America, playing at a festival in New Orleans and then dates in New York and a recording session at New York's Bunker Studio.

Unlike many New Zealand bands, whose overseas profile people tend to overestimate, The Rodger Fox Band is the opposite: I don't think most people here realise how esteemed he and they are in worldwide jazz circles.

What struck me about the band's latest line-up is that it includes no fewer than four Tauranga players.

Tauranga musos

Longest-standing member is trombonist Damian Forlong, who has been with Rodger for some years.

He also leads Wellington swing outfit Shaken Not Stirred and was once President of the Tauranga Jazz Society. Then there's fellow Shaken Not Stirred alumnus Deanne Hunter on guitar, as well as fabulous bass player Rory Macartney. Rory is also a top class luthier and, most impressively, received an endorsement from Aguilar Amplification while he was in the States.

Last but not least there's sax-playing multi-instrumentalist Oscar Laven who also performs with the fabulous Shake 'em On Downers and a bunch of other outfits in the capital.

Rodger is actually coming to town towards the end of the month: you can catch him at the Mount Social Club Jazz Jam on Wednesday, March 25  no charge!  though he's mainly here in an educational capacity, running a Youth Jazz Workshop at Tauranga Boys' College on Thursday 26 for secondary school big bands and combos in preparation for the National Youth Jazz Competition being held April 8-9.

Prior to that, Sydney's 10-piece Hot Potato Band - including three drummers and a sousaphone - are coming to Totara Street next Thursday (March 19). They're not strictly a jazz band but they do have a lot of horns and are essentially a brass band, one modelled on the classic instrumentation of New Orleans brass bands. And if it's from New Orleans it's gotta be jazz of some sort.

It's hard to pin them down, with all sorts of pop, funk, ska and reggae touches thrown in, but live on-line clips are absolutely sensational.

The musicians all come from street performer backgrounds so expect dancing, interaction and, above all, brilliant music. Tickets are $35 from Eventfinda.
The day after being sued by her former brand president, The Row co-designer Ashley Olsen was spotted bundled up smoking a cigarette while chatting on her cell phone in Manhattan on Wednesday.

David Schulte filed a lawsuit in New York Court against the 33-year-old former child star, her fraternal twin Mary-Kate Olsen-Sarkozy, and their company Dualstar following his abrupt exit from The Row in October - according to WWD.

Schulte is likely seeking financial damages from the Cali-born New Yorkers, who founded their minimalist label in their NYU college dorm back in 2006.

Legal woes: The day after being sued by her former brand president, The Row co-designer Ashley Olsen was spotted bundled up smoking a cigarette while chatting on her cell phone in Manhattan on Wednesday

The twin tycoons have expertly managed to amass a combined $300M fortune since they collectively played Michelle Tanner on ABC sitcom Full House (1987-1995).

Ashley and Mary-Kate's other brand Elizabeth and James has partnered with Kohl's department stores to sell their apparel, handbags, accessories, and beauty.

The lifestyle clothing company was named after their younger sister Elizabeth Olsen and brother James Trent Olsen.

The 31-year-old Independent Spirit Award nominee was pictured in Los Angeles on Wednesday sporting black Nike capri leggings, a matching sweater, and purple sneakers.

Resigned: David Schulte (L) filed a lawsuit in New York Court against the 33-year-old former child star (2-L), her fraternal twin Mary-Kate Olsen-Sarkozy (R), and their company Dualstar following his abrupt exit from The Row in October (pictured in 2017)

Court battle: Schulte is likely seeking financial damages from the Cali-born New Yorkers, who founded their minimalist label in their NYU college dorm back in 2006 (pictured December 18)

Twin tycoons: Ashley and Mary-Kate's other brand Elizabeth and James partnered with Kohl's department stores (pictured November 2)

The Avengers: Endgame action star styled her flaxen locks into cute braided pigtails.

Curiously, Elizabeth was not wearing her emerald engagement ring from fiance of eight months, Robbie Arnett, during her solo stroll.

Ominously, Olsen hasn't been photographed with the 28-year-old Milo Greene rocker since attending the Rape Foundation Annual Brunch in Beverly Hills on October 6.

The NYU: Tisch grad will next reprise her role as telekinetic Avenger Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch for the six-episode series, WandaVision.

Sibling: The company was partly named after their younger sister Elizabeth Olsen, who was was pictured in Los Angeles on Wednesday sporting black athleisure attire

Curious: The 31-year-old Independent Spirit Award nominee was not wearing her emerald engagement ring from fiance of eight months, Robbie Arnett, during her solo stroll

It starts streaming in December on Disney+.

Filming wrapped March 1 on creator Jac Schaeffer's MCU miniseries.

WandaVision will also feature Paul Bettany, Kat Dennings, Randall Park, Kathryn Hahn, and Teyonah Parris.

Everything okay? The Avengers: Endgame action star hasn't been photographed with the 28-year-old Milo Greene rocker (L) since October 6
While China Metal Resources Utilization Limited (HKG:1636) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 19% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that shareholders have received really good returns over the last five years. It's fair to say most would be happy with 111% the gain in that time. We think it's more important to dwell on the long term returns than the short term returns. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean it's cheap now. Unfortunately not all shareholders will have held it for the long term, so spare a thought for those caught in the 30% decline over the last twelve months.

Check out our latest analysis for China Metal Resources Utilization

While China Metal Resources Utilization made a small profit, in the last year, we think that the market is probably more focussed on the top line growth at the moment. As a general rule, we think this kind of company is more comparable to loss-making stocks, since the actual profit is so low. For shareholders to have confidence a company will grow profits significantly, it must grow revenue.

In the last 5 years China Metal Resources Utilization saw its revenue grow at 48% per year. That's well above most pre-profit companies. Meanwhile, its share price performance certainly reflects the strong growth, given the share price grew at 16% per year, compound, during the period. So it seems likely that buyers have paid attention to the strong revenue growth. To our minds that makes China Metal Resources Utilization worth investigating - it may have its best days ahead.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

SEHK:1636 Income Statement, March 12th 2020

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on China Metal Resources Utilization's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

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What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

Investors should note that there's a difference between China Metal Resources Utilization's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Its history of dividend payouts mean that China Metal Resources Utilization's TSR of 115% over the last 5 years is better than the share price return.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 11% in the twelve months, China Metal Resources Utilization 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. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 17%, each year, over five years. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. 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. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 5 warning signs for China Metal Resources Utilization (of which 1 makes us a bit uncomfortable!) you should know about.

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.
Jersey City restaurants and bars reacted with dismay to Mayor Steven Fulops announcement of a 10 p.m. curfew intended to slow the potential spread of coronavirus.

Fulop announced Thursday that he was taking executive action to impose a curfew on all Jersey City establishments with a liquor license.

Yes we are being more aggressive than anyone in the state, the mayor wrote on Twitter Thursday afternoon. Why? There is so much uncertainty around testing, who carries the virus, and how quickly it spreads so we want to be overly cautious until we have some answers.

But the citys late-night eateries and bars expressed concern about the move, saying it would cut into their business.

Anthony Sharperson, the owner of Cherrys Lounge in the Greenville section of the city, said the curfew could have a significant effect on his business.

Im more of a slow down and wait and see what happens kind of person, he said, but the news of the curfew did cause me to raise my eyebrows a little bit.

The mayors 10 p.m. curfew would have a big impact on Cherrys, especially on weekends, he said. It would definitely affect us some, he said. That would be a huge dropoff in business.

Cherrys usually closes around midnight or 1 a.m.

But Sharperson said he was prepared to follow the rules.

Obviously, as a nation, weve dealt with things in the past that were horrific, he said. If thats what the powers that be say needs to be done, Ill definitely adhere to it.

The executive order is one of several actions Fulop has taken with the hopes of containing the coronavirus. Jersey City has also canceled all upcoming city meetings and events, and visitors to city buildings must make appointments.

The order also requires establishments with capacities for 25 people or over to make a record of all people in attendance.

No case of COVID-19 have been reported in Jersey City, officials said.

Michael Casalinho, chef at Jersey City Portuguese restaurant Broa, called the mayors curfew a little disappointing.

This is a big deal here, Casalinho said. People need to make money to pay rent.

Most concerning, Casalinho said, was the possibility that European imports could be restricted. In an Oval Office address Wednesday night, President Trump announced that goods from Europe would be banned to combat the virus, but quickly walked the statement back, saying that the prohibitions would only affect travelers.

But Casalinho said the possibility of such a restriction worried him. I get a lot of stuff from Portugal  salt, vinegar, olive oil, he said. I could potentially be at a disadvantage with my business model.

Im super concerned about everything at this point, he added.

Mars Ramia, the manager of Jersey Citys Iron Monkey, said she was already reorganizing bartenders schedules in response to the curfew.

Its hard to really think about," she said. Thats where we reach our most business, at night." The Greene Street gastropub normally closes at 2 a.m.

Iron Money was already seeing fewer customers than normal, she said.

People dont really want to go out anymore, she said Thursday afternoon. Right now we would be basically having a lunch rush and theres no one downstairs in the bar."

Hopefully by the summer, everyones okay and were over this, she said.
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs announced on Wednesday the cancellation of all religious gatherings, locally known as moussems, to avoid the spread of the covid-19.

The ministrys decision actually came in response to the mounting fears of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The ministry confirmed the events are canceled regardless of the size of the gatherings. However, the ministry did not mention Friday prayers at mosques.

The ministry underlined that this decision was taken in accordance with the instructions of Sharia (Islamic Law) relating to the protection of souls and bodies against any damage, and in line with medical warnings and advice against large gatherings.

The ministry called on the Ulema (theologians), preachers as well as imams (religious leaders) to raise the awareness of people to the means of preventing contamination, mainly by respecting hygiene rules.

Morocco has confirmed six cases of the virus so far.

The two first coronavirus cases reported concerned two Moroccans, a 39-year old man and an 89-year woman, who 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.

The four other cases are three French tourists, a couple and their daughter, who arrived in Marrakech and a French-Senegalese woman who arrived in Fez.

Part of the measures adopted to avoid the spread of the virus, Morocco formally banned all gatherings of more than 1,000 people in confined spaces, prompting the cancellation of several sporting, cultural and artistic events, such as the International Agricultural Exhibition of Meknes (SIAM) and the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla.

Morocco also decided to halt temporarily all flights and maritime links with Italy, currently under lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In January, the Moroccan carrier suspended direct flights to Beijing.

Globally, more than 4,616 people have died so far from the coronavirus and over 126,000 cases have been confirmed, according to the World Health Organization.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump has authorized the U.S. military to respond to Wednesday's rocket attack in Iraq that killed two American troops and a British service member, the Pentagon said on Thursday, blaming Iran-backed militia.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stopped short of blaming Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah or naming any specific militia.

But they were clear that they believe Iran backed the fighters who carried out the attack, and warned that all options were on the table - language suggesting the United States, Iran and the forces Tehran backs were again on a path toward renewed confrontation inside of Iraq.

"I have spoken with the president. He's given me the authority to do what we need to do, consistent with his guidance," Esper told reporters at the Pentagon.

Asked if a U.S. response could include strikes inside Iran, Esper hinted that strikes against the militia itself were the priority.

"I'm not going to take any option off the table right now, but we are focused on the group - groups - that we believe perpetrated this in Iraq, as the immediate (focus)," he said.

Trump told reporters at the White House it was not "fully determined it was Iran" and declined to say what the United States might do.

"We'll see what the response is," he said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack and Iran has not commented.

The United States has repeatedly and publicly warned that killing Americans overseas constituted a red line that would trigger a U.S. response.

"We gotta hold the perpetrators accountable. You don't get to shoot at our bases and kill and wound Americans and get away with it," Esper said.

Washington blamed Kataib Hezbollah for a strike in Iraq in December that killed a U.S. contractor, leading to a cycle of tit-for-tat confrontations that culminated in January's U.S. killing of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and a retaliatory Iranian missile attack that left more than 100 U.S. troops with brain injuries.

Story continues

Wednesday would have been Soleimani's 63rd birthday.

In the latest attack, some 14 U.S.-led coalition personnel were wounded, including American, British, Polish and others. Private industry contractors were among the wounded. Milley said five of the wounded were categorized as "urgent," suggesting serious injuries that could require rapid medical evacuation.

Britain named its fallen service member as Lance Corporal Brodie Gillon, a 26-year-old with the Irish Guards Battle Group.

The United States has not yet identified the U.S. service members killed.

LIKELY CULPRIT?

Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, head of the military's Central Command, noted that only Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah had been known to wage such an attack in the past.

"While we are still investigating the attack, I will note that the Iranian proxy group Kataib Hezbollah is the only group known to have previously conducted an indirect fire attack of this scale against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq," McKenzie told a U.S. Senate hearing.

The U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq says 18 107 mm Katyusha rockets struck Iraq's Taji military camp.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a total of 30 of the rockets were fired from a nearby truck and that only 18 of them landed at the Iraqi base.

Milley said the truck yielded evidence about those responsible.

"We have good indication based on forensics of where (the attack) was fired from, who did the firing and so on and so forth," Milley said, adding that "we have pretty good confidence we know who did this."

In a sign of concern that tensions between the United States and Iran could be headed toward open conflict, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday to limit Trump's ability to wage war against Iran.

The Republican president has been engaged in a maximum-pressure campaign of renewed sanctions and near-constant rhetoric against Iran, after pulling the United States out of the international nuclear deal reached during the administration of his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have mostly played out on Iraqi soil in recent months.

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.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali: Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Editing by David Gregorio and Peter Cooney)
DENVER, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Welltok, a data-driven, consumer activation company, announced its international expansion into Latin America today with Seguros SURA Colombia, a leading insurance company in Latin America that promotes healthy living through the management of trends and risks in the region. Seguros SURA Colombia selected Welltok to power its new wellbeing initiative and provide millions of Colombians with a holistic health experience that supports financial, mental, physical and social health in a personalized and rewarding way.

"Our mission of empowering our members in the practice of healthy habits through information, motivation, support and rewards is perfectly encapsulated by Welltok's technology," said Juan David Escobar, CEO, Seguros SURA Colombia. "Rather than spending years and millions building the technology in-house, we are able to partner with Welltok to bring this innovative, and essential, offering to our members. Welltok's offering perfectly supports our goals and research on keeping and maintaining a healthier population. Together, we are bettering the lives of the people of Colombia."

Seguros SURA Colombia is committed to giving its members a best-in-class care experience at every point in their journey. It selected Welltok's data-driven platform to serve as the primary destination for members and dependents to conveniently access SURA's wellbeing programs and engage in health-related activities. Each member will receive a Personal Health Itinerary with highly relevant programming such as learning about financial planning, joining a stress management program or getting a flu shot.

"The importance of driving consumer actions and connecting people with the resources and programs that matter for them translates across all regions and nationalities," said Jeff Margolis, Welltok CEO and chairman. "We look forward to helping SURA achieve its mission-driven goals of improving lives, managing healthcare costs and increasing productivity. This is a tremendous growth opportunity for both parties and we are honored to be innovating with such a great industry leader."

Similar to Welltok's existing clients, SURA was attracted to the personalization capabilities of the platform. It features proprietary consumer data on millions of consumers, including social determinants of health variables like household composition, education level and car or home ownership. By applying machine learning and artificial intelligence, individual risk, needs and preferred communication channels can be revealed for specific populations globally. Success will be measured by the completion of recommended activities, increased satisfaction and health outcomes.

About Welltok

Welltok is a consumer activation company that drives individuals to take actions that optimize their total wellbeing. Only Welltok leverages advanced analytics and machine learning to engage consumers with timely and relevant multi-channel, personalized resources and incentives. Our solutions integrate data driven SaaS software, curated resources and professional services to help health plans, employers, providers and public entities drive growth, build longitudinal relationships and improve healthcare value. Follow us on Twitter @Welltok.com

About Seguros SURA Colombia

With 75 years of experience, this is the largest subsidiary of Suramericana S.A., offering a broad portfolio of insurance solutions and services that deliver sustainability, wellbeing, and competitiveness to more than 12 million clients in the country through the management of trends and risks. Its core business lines include the Life and Non-Life segments, both voluntary insurance (Seguros SURA) and mandatory (EPS SURA - Health Maintenance Organization and ARL SURA - Workers Compensation). The companys value proposition is complemented by the provision of health services (IPS SURA), diagnostic imaging and clinical laboratory, as well as technical advice and assistance in risk management. It is the country's leading company in the insurance industry with 24.3% market share at the end of 2019.

Media Contacts

Welltok

Erica Sniad Morgenstern

415.697.3496

[email protected]

Seguros SURA Colombia

Maria Isabel Orozco Duque

[email protected]

SOURCE Welltok

Related Links

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If necessary, we will stop the campaign. Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this in a conversation with journalists during the YES campaignin the forthcoming referendum on constitutional amendmentsin Jermuk town.

According to him, their referendum campaign continues because there is no need to stop it, but if necessary, due to the coronavirus outbreak, they will stop their campaigning.

Commenting on the remark that people were being isolated in Ejmiatsin on suspicion of coronavirus and perhaps more number of people have actually been infected with this disease in Armenia, Pashinyan said: "If the number of people infected with the coronavirus is higher, the government will be the first to announce it. (...) if there will a greater risk, I'll tell about it. "

The Prime Minister noted that the circle of people who were in contact with these coronavirus patients in Armenia was being determined and necessary actions were being taken.

Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier that three more confirmed cases of coronavirus were recorded in Armenia on March 11. One case was recorded on March 1. There are four cases, and 41 others are under quarantine in the country.
President Trump said he is not concerned after a Brazilian official who dined with him last weekend tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday.

If they say he was there, he was there, Trump said with a smile. Im not concerned.

Fabio Wajngarten, the communications chief for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, tested positive after he came down with flu-like symptoms upon returning to Brazil.

He is awaiting the results of a second test to confirm the diagnosis, according to Brazilian newspapers.

We did nothing very unusual, Trump said, without explaining what he meant. We sat next to each other for a period of time and had a great conversation.

Health officials say coronavirus can be spread easily by close contact like Trump had with Wajngarten.

The White House has not said whether Trump would be tested after Wajngartens positive test.

Wajngarten joined Bolsonaro on a three-day trip to the U.S. and on Saturday was at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort, where he posted a photo of himself posing beside the president. A video from the event also showed him standing directly behind both leaders as they addressed a crowd.

The meeting also included Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Brazils foreign minister Ernesto Araujo, and Bolsonaros son Eduardo, who is a federal lawmaker, among others.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Trump joked with reporters about coming into contact with many people, a key risk factor for contracting the virus.

Bolsonaros office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Bolsonaro and several senior officials who were in the delegation are being monitored for symptoms.

Bolsonaro is a far right-wing ally of Trump.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

David Goldiner is a New York Daily News writer.
The police officer was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

The police officer was fired in 2014 for fraud. Part of his sentence is suspended on the condition that complete psychiatric or psychological treatment for gambling disorder. He is also required to pay back a minimum of 2,000 in damages per month to the victims. S

even plaintiffs were awarded slightly more than 66,000 in damages.

The defendant had been accused of repeatedly attempting to defraud other people between 2009 and 2016. He reportedly owed 260,000 to his creditors.

Man sentenced to 6-month suspended sentence for possession of child pornography



Another defendant was sentenced to a 6-month suspended prison sentence and a 1,000 fine for looking at and possessing child pornography. He reportedly took a USB stick containing 121 images depicting 5 to 16-year-old girls to the prison.
Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault, and the women who accused the disgraced Hollywood mogul welcomed the verdict, terming it as the victory of the justice system and the "power of people who speak up".

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.

The producer behind Oscar-winning films as "Shakespeare in Love" and "Pulp Fiction" was the first prominent Hollywood name to be accused for his alleged predatory behaviour in the bombshell expose by The New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey on October 5, 2017, followed by Ronan Farrow's piece in The New Yorker on October 10.

The report sparked off the #MeToo movement, which empowered survivors of sexual assault, abuse and rape to raise their voice and hold the perpetrators responsible.

Actor Mira Sorvino, who was one of the first to go on record to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment, said she cried "tears of amazement and gratitude" after the sentence was pronounced.

"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," Sorvino tweeted Wednesday.

The Silence Breakers group, which has spoken out against sexual harassment and assault and includes several Weinstein accusers like actors Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd, released a statement after his sentencing.

"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 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 statement read.

Farrow tweeted about the power of those who speak up.

"A lot of 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.

"The Weinstein sentence reminds us of the importance of those sources and of leaders at organizations who refused to kill the story-including the editors at the New Yorker who published the first allegations of rape and assault about Weinstein," he tweeted.

More than 90 women, including Hollywood A-listers Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Lupita Nyong'o, Lea Seydoux and Uma Thurman, eventually came forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault and sexual harassment after the expose.

Rosanna Arquette, another member of The Silence Breakers, paid gratitude to McGowan, one of the first women to call out Weinstein, among scores of other "brave" women who broke their silence.

"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," she wrote on the microblogging site.

After the sentencing, Kate Beckinsale recounted a 2001 incident with Weinstein that left her in tears. In 2017, the "Underworld" star accused the producer of inappropriate advances when she was a teenager.

In a lengthy Instagram post, the actor detailed a meeting with Weinstein that occurred a day after the New York premiere of "Serendipity".

"These photos were taken at the premiere of Serendipity on October 5, 2001. We all refused to go because holding a premiere mere weeks after 9/11 with the city still smoking felt like the most insensitive, tone deaf, disrespectful idea possible," she said.

Beckinsale said Weinstein "insisted" on the premiere, and the morning after, Beckinsale and her toddler daughter Lily were invited to his home for a playdate with Weinstein's daughter.

She said the producer rained profanities at her for "ruining" the film's premiere by not wearing a short, tight dress.

The actor said Weinstein's sentencing was "a huge relief to me on behalf of all the women he sexually assaulted or raped, and I hope will be a deterrent to that sort of behavior in this and any other industry."



Actor Olivia Munn, who was one of six women who came forward with sexual harassment and assault accusations against filmmaker Brett Ratner in the wake of #MeToo, hailed the Weinstein accusers for creating a "huge shift" in the world.

"To the women who bravely testified against Weinstein + the Silence Breakers who courageously told their stories unsure of what repercussions might unfold: Your strength & resilience created a huge shift in the world and empowered millions of people. Myself included. Thank You," the "X-Men: Apocalypse" star said in a tweet.

Time's Up, the organisation which was born out of the Weinstein expose, thanked all the women who testified in court against the producer for their courage.

"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," Tina Tchen, president and chief executive officer of the foundation, said in a statement.

Weinstein was acquitted of the more serious charges against him of first-degree rape and two counts of predatory sexual assault.

Now that the executive has been sentenced, his lawyers can move forward with a promised appeal.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Investment in manufacturing capacity

Regulatory News:

Novacyt (EURONEXT GROWTH: ALNOV; AIM: NCYT), an international specialist in clinical diagnostics, is pleased to provide an update regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test developed by Primerdesign, its molecular diagnostics division, and announces it has invested in a significant increase in manufacturing capacity to support the growing demand for its COVID-19 test.

As of 11 March 2020, Primerdesign has sold and received orders for over 2.3 million (2.6 million) of its CE-Mark and research use only (RUO) COVID-19 tests, which represents approximately five months of sales for the division under normal circumstances. This is additional revenue to the core Novacyt business, which has also started the year strongly. In the past two weeks, the number of countries the Company is selling its COVID-19 test into has doubled to over 50, which is expected to increase further as the virus continues to spread. Currently, the Company is seeing significant sales from Europe and from a number of new and existing distribution partners across the Middle East.

Due to the high level of interest in the Primerdesign COVID-19 test and evolving nature of this outbreak, the Company cannot predict sales with any certainty as the pipeline continues to change daily. However, it is clear that the demand for, and interest in, the Company's tests remains very high and the Directors' key focus is on ensuring Primerdesign can service the demand from as many customers as possible.

Manufacturing capacity

During the past two weeks, Primerdesign has scaled up its manufacturing capacity for the COVID-19 test and is currently meeting demand. The Company has purchased enough raw materials to manufacture 3.5 million COVID-19 tests. In addition, the Company has significantly increased its manufacturing capacity by appointing a third-party manufacturer, which specialises in high quality, GMP pharma and molecular diagnostic outsourcing and is based in mainland Europe. It is expected that the combination of the two manufacturing operations will support production of up to 2 million COVID-19 tests per month, which increases capacity by a factor of 10. This increase in output will be available within the next two weeks. The purchase of further raw materials and a further scale up of manufacturing capacity is possible under this outsourcing agreement.

Regulatory approvals and Public Health England

The Company is working closely with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to meet the stringent requirements for Emergency Use Approval (EUA) of its COVID-19 test and is hopeful its application will be successful. A number of other national health agencies continue to review Novacyt's test, but the Company is unable to indicate when these approvals might be granted. As soon as an approval is granted, the Company will communicate this.

Novacyt is pleased to report the completion of a formal evaluation of its COVID-19 test by Public Health England (PHE) and is very satisfied with the performance assessment of its test. The Company believes this data represents an important endorsement of the claims made to date in relation to the quality and performance of its COVID-19 test. It is understood this report will be shared with the NHS to support their decisions for general COVID-19 testing across the UK. The Company therefore expects to see an increase in the number of NHS hospitals purchasing Primerdesign's COVID-19 test.

Primerdesign continually reviews all publicly available COVID-19 genome databases to ensure its test remains effective in identifying all known strains of the COVID-19 virus. Consequently, the Company remains confident in the continued performance of its COVID-19 test as the virus continues to spread.

Graham Mullis, Chief Executive Officer of Novacyt, commented:

"We believe the commercial demand for and interest in our COVID-19 test could continue for several months as the virus continues to spread from country to country. We are therefore ensuring we are fully prepared to meet the increasing demand for the product, as we continue to position Novacyt to support the global response to monitor and contain the COVID-19 outbreak. The sale of our COVID-19 test has already generated significant revenue for the Company, which we expect to continue given the increasing demand for the test.

"In addition, we believe interest in our COVID-19 test will have a positive, long-term impact on Novacyt as new customers look to purchase our broader product range. We are already seeing an increased demand for our B2B capabilities as customers look to utilise our molecular design and development capabilities.

"We will continue to update shareholders regularly with the Company's progress, but we also ask shareholders to be patient as we try to respond to an ever-changing situation."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014.

About Novacyt Group

The Novacyt Group is an international diagnostics business generating an increasing portfolio of in vitro and molecular diagnostic tests. Its core strengths lie in diagnostics product development, commercialisation, contract design and manufacturing. The Company's lead business units comprise of Primerdesign and Lab21 Products, supplying an extensive range of high-quality assays and reagents worldwide. The Group directly serves microbiology, haematology and serology markets as do its global partners, which include major corporates.

For more information please refer to the website: www.novacyt.com

About COVID-19

Researchers at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and their collaborators have sequenced the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pathogen from patient samples and have found it to be genetically distinct from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus that caused an epidemic in 2002 and 2003, as well as from the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) virus that was detected in 2012.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005133/en/

Contacts:

Novacyt SA

Graham Mullis, Chief Executive Officer

Anthony Dyer, Chief Financial Officer

+44 (0)1276 600081



SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Adviser and Broker)

Matthew Johnson Charlie Bouverat (Corporate Finance)

Vadim Alexandre Rob Rees (Corporate Broking)

+44 (0)20 3470 0470



FTI Consulting (International)

Victoria Foster Mitchell Mary Whittow

+44 (0)20 3727 1000

victoria.fostermitchell@fticonsulting.com mary.whittow@fticonsulting.com



FTI Consulting (France)

Arnaud de Cheffontaines

+33 (0)147 03 69 47

arnaud.decheffontaines@fticonsulting.com
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, observes a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off Japan's northeastern coast nine years ago, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. (Yoshitaka Sugawara/Kyodo News via AP)

Japan Marks Tsunami Anniversary, No Govt Memorial Amid Virus

TOKYOSome residents along the Japanese northern coast stood on roadsides overlooking the sea, offering silent prayers for their loved ones lost in a massive earthquake and tsunami nine years ago Wednesday. But in Tokyo and many other places around Japan, the day was being remembered without a main government ceremony due to the coronavirus outbreak.

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated large swaths of Japans northern coast and triggered a meltdown at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima, contaminating large areas and dislocating many residents.

Visitors pray at a makeshift altar to mourn for victims of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami during a special memorial event in Tokyo Wednesday, March 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

For the past eight years, residents and officials have gathered at local town halls to pray, while in Tokyo, the government held a main memorial attended by the Imperial Family members, televised live nationwide. This year, memorial events have been called off following Prime Minister Shinzo Abes request to cancel, postpone or downsize gatherings as part of measures to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

In Tokyo, Abe and his ministers gathered at the Prime Ministers Office and offered a silent prayer at 2:46 p.m., the moment the offshore earthquake struck nine years ago. At the outset of his speech, Abe apologized over the cancellation of the government ceremony. Japan has confirmed more than 1,200 cases of the coronavirus, including 696 from a cruise ship and 19 deaths.

Abe said reconstruction of the disaster-hit areas is now at its finishing stage.

I would like many people from around the world to experience the reality of the disaster-hit areas on their way to recovery through upcoming Olympics, Paralympics and other occasions, Abe said. His government has said the 10th anniversary next year will be the last it will organize.

Many residents, however, especially those in Fukushima, are far from recovery. The two towns that are home to the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant are still off-limits and unlivable, while many residents in the surrounding areas had to provide their land to build facilities to store nuclear waste for decades-long storage.

A man offers a prayer for the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, on the coastal area in Iwaki, northern Japan, Wednesday, March 11, 2020. (Naoya Osato/Kyodo News via AP)

The quake and tsunami left more than 18,000 people dead and destroyed many houses and businesses. The meltdown at the Fukushima plant sent more than 160,000 people fleeing the region. More than 40,000 are still unable to return home due to radiation contamination and concerns.

In disaster-hit towns in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima, desks were put out for visitors to sign messages and lay flowers. Residents visiting their family graveyard, parks and towns all stopped, bowed and prayed in silence.

Hundreds of people gathered at Tokyos Hibiya Park to mark the anniversary with musical performances. In Tokyos posh shopping district of Ginza, pedestrians, and visitors, many of them wearing face masks, stopped at an intersection of a clock tower and bowed in silence.

Kiminari Suzuki, a 44-year-old evacuee from Fukushima who was at the memorial event at the park, said he feels that the community of disaster-hit residents is shrinking and the memories are fading nine years after the disaster.

I came here because I had nowhere else to go to share our feelings, said Suzuki, who had to abandon his damaged home and move into a shelter before ending up in Tokyo recently.

The time has still frozen at that moment when the quake hit, and I often think of the nuclear power problem, he said. My life still hasnt returned to normal, and I wonder if its because of the disaster or because of my own fault.

By Mari Yamaguchi
Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, adviser to Obama and Bush, pleads guilty to fraud

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After denying any wrongdoing on his part for nearly two years, prominent Houston pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, who served as a spiritual adviser to former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, has admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection to his role in a multimillion investment scheme that preyed on the elderly.

Last summer, Caldwell, who was indicted in 2018 for defrauding investors  including elderly members of his Windsor Village United Methodist Church  of more than $1 million, maintained his innocence as his co-defendant, Gregory Alan Smith, pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

These defendants used their positions as religious leaders and investment advisors to defraud Louisiana residents  many of whom are elderly and retired, U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph said in a release Wednesday. In doing so, the defendants abused the trust and respect of their victims for the sole purpose of stealing their money. This type of deceit can be devastating for victims, especially when life savings are lost. My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who use confidence schemes to prey upon the elderly and people of faith.

Caldwell and Smith, who is an investment adviser based in Shreveport, Louisiana, were both charged with 13 counts, including conspiracy to commit money laundering when they raised around $3.5 million in Historical Chinese bonds from 29 investors between 2013 to 2014.

Caldwell and Smith reportedly tricked investors into believing that they were buying the Historical Chinese bonds through a Shreveport-based company called Smith Financial Group LLC. The Department of Justice noted that the bonds were issued by the former Republic of China prior to losing power to the communist government in 1949.

They are not recognized by China's current government and have no investment value. Smith and Caldwell promised high rates of return, sometimes three to 15 times the value of the investments. Instead of investing the funds, the defendants used them to pay personal loans, credit card balances, mortgages, vehicle purchases and other personal expenses," the DOJ said.

Caldwell received $760,000, which he used for personal expenses, including mortgage payments. His limited liability company also received $1 million, of which $175,000 was transferred to the pastor. Smith received $1 million of the funds invested which he splurged on luxury vehicles, the DOJ said.

According to a KTBS report, a woman who was a victim of the pastors scheme lost her entire life savings of $200,000 and is now living as a "hovel." She is so destitute she struggles to pay her utilities.

In court on Wednesday, Caldwell entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Maurice Hicks who allowed him to remain free on bond until sentencing on July 22.

He reportedly showed no outward emotion as he admitted he was guilty.

The megachurch pastor had attempted to get a continuance for his case but it was denied and his trial was set for April 6.

Caldwell, pastor of the 16,000-member Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, had previously pleaded not guilty. Earlier this month, his request for a third continuance in his case was denied. His trial was set for April 6.

And some of these victims have been without hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2013. For many of them, it represents their life savings, and the dragging out of this prosecution compounds their loss, the government argued in opposing the continuance request.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Caldwell faces between five and seven years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release, the DOJ said. The pastor, who has already made partial restitution to the victims, has agreed to pay the remaining balance, $1,951,478.00, before sentencing.

The DOJ further noted that Caldwells case was included in their largest-ever nationwide elder fraud sweep in 2019, which included hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors.

A recently launched National Elder Fraud Hotline provides services to seniors who might be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers.

When applicable, case managers will also complete a complaint form with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the FTC on behalf of the caller. The Hotlines toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Israel. Syrias five neighboring countries have all reported coronavirus cases, but Damascus strongly maintains that no such cases have been registered on its soil. However, alarming rumors have been circulating for several weeks on social media networks and in some media, prompting the Syrian regime to publish denials very regularly through SANA, its official information agency.

The coronavirus is (spreading) in all neighboring countries, but it hasnt crossed the Syrian border? Theres an increase in deaths from lung infections. The national airline transports hundreds of passengers between Iran and Syria every day. And a little genius asks me what my sources are to say that the coronavirus is here! Rafic Lutf, a pro-regime journalist, tweeted a few days ago. He claimed that 400 people died, most of them living in Latakia, Tartus and Damascus; areas controlled by the regime. After tweeting for more than 10 days on the subject, Lutf wrote on March 10 that he no longer wanted to talk about the coronavirus. Why? Are you afraid of ending up like the doctor? wrote back an internet user, who was apparently referring to the director of al-Moujtahid Hospital in Damascus, Dr. Samer Khodr, who might have alerted the authorities about coronavirus cases before being silenced and possibly ar-rested.

On February 29, Hani al-Lahham, Assistant Director of Communicable and Chronic diseases at the Syrian Health Ministry, told the local Melody FM radio station, that two suspected cases arrived from Iran and were transferred to the same hospital, where they were immediately quarantined and monitored on a daily basis. He didnt specify their arrival date.

However, the Health Ministry continues to assert that no Covid-19 cases have so far been registered in Syria and claims to be taking strict preventive measures in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommenda-tions. Because its extremely difficult to obtain information from the regime, the OLJ contacted officials at two Lebanese border crossings to inquire about any coronavirus cases among Syrian visitors.

A busload of Syrians was sent back on March 2, because a girl was suspected of having contracted coronavirus, told the OLJ a source within the municipali-ty of al-Qaa, a town where one of the Lebanese border crossings is located.We immediately sterilized the premises and installed security barriers and a medi-cal post, the source said. The Lebanese General Security at the Arida border crossing, which leads to the Tartus Governorate, said that no suspicious cases has been detected from Syria.





"The Iranian Factor"

Its unlikely that Syria, which is facing a severe humanitarian and economic crisis after nine years of a destructive war, could have been spared, given that many Iranian soldiers are stationed there. Iran, an ally of Damascus that re-mained tightlipped about coronavirus infections in the first few weeks, is now officially showing a record of 429 deaths and more than 10.000 cases, but the figures could be much higher.

Hiding the truth is part of the Syrian regime's mindset. Scientifically, its al-most certain that the virus has entered Syria, especially because flights from Iraq and Iran continue. If Damascus admits that the coronavirus is present, it would be forced to close its doors to Iranians; something it doesnt want to do and cant do, said Dr. Ziad Alissa, Franco-Syrian president of "Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations" (UOSSM), who was contacted by the OLJ.

A Pharmacist in the city of Aleppo, who requested not to be identified, told the Qatari "ArabicPost that the sale of surgical masks has substantially surged. He said people are afraid of contamination because of the large presence of Irani-an forces in the northern city.

Dr. Alissa, on his part, warned that the healthcare system across the country is in such a state that it will be very difficult to cope with a coronavirus epi-demic.

The Syrian authorities are conducting an all-out information campaign and claim to be prepared in the event of contagion. According to SANA, thermal scanners were installed on March 10 at Damascus Airport, and a new emer-gency department was opened with a capacity for up to 1,200 patients on the same day at al-Moujtahid Hospital in the capital.

Dr. Chebel Khoury, the laboratory director at the Health Ministry, told SANA on March 10 that the laboratory has tested 34 suspected coronavirus cases to date and that the results have been negative. The OLJ attempted, in vain, to contact the laboratories department at the Syrian Health Ministry for com-ment.

World Health Organization spokesman Hedinn Halldorsson told AFP on March 8 that no case of Covid-19 has been reported so far in Syria, but warned that its "fragile health system may not be able to detect (an epidemic) and respond to it.

The risk of the virus spreading is particularly worrying in Idlib, where some three million people are trapped and medical facilities are regularly targeted by the warplanes of the regime and its Russian ally.

"We have not seen any cases in Idlib," a doctor from the city's main hospital told the OLJ. "Thank God, there have been no cases here, and I hope there will be none because we are confined to a very small area due to the offensive car-ried out by the regime and our hospitals, when they still exist, have almost no means," said Miran al-Hassan, a journalist in Idlib.

"An epidemic in northwest of Syria would be terrible because millions of peo-ple there are already living in extremely precarious conditions and there are no authorities to apply healthcare measures in the event of the virus spread," con-cluded Dr. Ziad Alissa.





(This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour on the 11th of March)




Doctors in China have urged male coronavirus patients to test their fertility as soon as they recover because the infection may damage the function of their testicles.

No study has proved that the virus will reduce men's fertility or sexual potency.

But medics in Wuhan have suggested the likelihood that the disease can affect the production of sperm and the formation of male sex hormones.

Medics from a hospital in Wuhan have suggested the likelihood that the novel coronavirus can affect the production of sperm and the formation of male sex hormones (file photo)

Although the coronavirus mainly targets one's lungs and immune system, it can, in theory, impair a man's abilities to reproduce, according to Wuhan's Tongji Hospital.

The comments were made yesterday by Prof Li Yufeng and his team at the hospital's Centre for Reproductive Medicine.

Tongji Hospital, affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, is one of the hospitals designated by the government to treat coronavirus patients since an outbreak started in Wuhan in January.

Coronaviruses are so named because their structure has jagged edges which look like a royal crown - corona is crown in Latin (Pictured, an illustration of the COVID-19 virus released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The comments were made yesterday by Prof Li Yufeng at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine from Wuhan's Tongji Hospital. The picture shows medics working in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital designated for COVID-19 patients in Wuhan on February 24

According to the experts, the new coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, enters human cells and causes tissue damage by binding its spike protein to cell membrane protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

ACE2 is known to be present in other human organs apart from the lungs and can especially be abundant in a man's testes. It can be concentrated in several cells which are directly related to the male reproductive abilities, including the germ cells, supporting cells and Leydig cells, the team claimed.

They added that during the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003, medics observed serious immune system damage in the testicles of some male patients.

Even though doctors did not detect the SARS coronavirus, or SARS-CoV, in patients' testicles, they could suffer inflammation in their sexual organs, the study said.

In a report released by the hospital, Prof Li and his team showed a graphic (above) illustrating the cells in a healthy testicle. They studied the impact of SARS coronavirus on male patients

Another image released by the team shows the cells in a patient's testicle after he recovered from an infection caused by the SARS coronavirus. The medics have warned of similar inflammation to men struck down with the novel coronavirus, which has killed at least 4,718

Since the new coronavirus is highly similar to the SARS coronavirus and the two share the same host cell receptor ACE2, the team concluded that, in theory, the new coronavirus could cause damage to men's testicles.

'Therefore, for men who have had the infection, especially those who need to reproduce, it is best to undergo relevant fertility tests, such as sperm quality and hormone level tests, upon recovery to detect possible problems as soon as possible,' a hospital report wrote.

More than 100 countries are now fighting the fast-spreading contagion, which was first detected Wuhan in central China.

China today declared that 'the peak of the coronavirus in the country has passed'. Pictured, people wearing face masks ride an escalator at the High Speed Railway Station in Guangzhou

The World Health Organization yesterday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic after blaming 'alarming levels of inaction' by governments across the planet for fuelling the crisis.

While China today declared that 'the peak of the coronavirus in the country has passed'.

The disease has killed at least 4,718 people and infected more than 126,000 across the world.
A leading London doctor today criticised the pace and scale of the UKs response to coronavirus, saying the Government must wake up and heed the advice of frontline staff.

Dr Simon Ashworth, clinical director for critical care at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said schools and universities should be closed, non-emergency operations cancelled and large public events axed.

In a furious online salvo, he railed against the decision not to step up activity immediately in response to the unfolding crisis in Italy, and accused the Government of squandering the time when we could halt [the] spread.

Downing Street says it is acting on expert scientific and medical advice and is in the initial contain phase of a four-stage response. It is expected to move to delay today and will seek to prevent cases overlapping with the end of the flu season.

A sign for a UK coronavirus pod / AFP via Getty Images

Mr Ashworth, who is based at St Marys hospital in Paddington, said he had been exposed three times in 24 hours to patients known or suspected to have coronavirus, including one who came into A&E. Nurses were at greater risk due to closer contact, he added.

He said test results were taking a week or more, and said the classification of Covid-19 as a high-consequence infectious disease was unhelpful as it meant masks could not be reused, creating a dire shortage.

Mr Ashworth, who oversees 72 intensive care beds, tweeted: This isnt a joke  we need the Government to wake up.

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

He told the Standard: They need to take the advice of senior hospital and medical staff and listen to experts. This means closing schools and universities, stopping mass events, cancelling elective surgery to allow all hospitals to upscale preparations and release staff to train and organise our precautions.

They need to upscale advice [NHS] 111 are giving to test all people with the compatible symptoms and ramp up testing. We need to have sufficient proper masks to protect our staff. Our staff need support with childcare and accommodation near work.

We need money to set strategies used by China for diagnostics. We need cash for equipment to help with isolation of suspected patients. NHS England yesterday announced plans to increase testing capacity from 1,500 to 10,000 a day.
(Photo : Screenshot from Twitter of @monkey_viral)

Scientists discovered an amber way back in 2016 that is a time-capsule of what looks like tiny dinosaurs. The fossils that were found in northern Myanmar possessing a bird-like skull gives several scientists a hypothesis that it is a dinosaur, a very tiny one. When it is compared to our most miniature birds known, the dinosaur fossil is no doubt smaller. The researchers have figured out the dinosaur date, and they say that it is inside the Mesozoic era.

Read More: Rare White Giraffe Mother and Calf Killed in Kenya: Could Anti-Poaching Drones Have Saved Them?

A paleontologist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences named Jingmai O'Connor says the discovery is mind-blowing and is something that none has seen before.

Mysterious Fossil

More details about the mysterious fossil unfold as researchers discover that the species had been alive 100 million years ago. The alleged dinosaur is said to have a length of 15 millimeters and has almost the size of a penny in the US.

Additional features that the fossil possesses is that it has a lot of teeth, which are mostly small. The particular fossil that has been preserved is also believed to be mature.

The newly found fossil has been awarded the name of "Oculudentavis khanga," which the first word means "eye-teeth-bird."

Specimen Research

The power of technology is now aiding researchers in the highest heights. Although it doesn't entirely mean that researchers won't do anything anymore, they are still required to do something for results to get out accurately.

The scanner used on the fossil enables the researches to see every tiniest bit of the sample even on a millimeter scale.

Oculudentavis' habit would also consist of insects, and despite having very small yet a large number of teeth, they are very strong biters.

Read More: Coronavirus Doesn't Just Affect Humans; Lab Animals Also Face Danger

Further assessment of the skull itself also pointed out that the Oculudentavis is a predator, O'Connor stated. O'Connor is also calling this bird-like creature as weird, yet it is still the oldest and tiniest flying predator the world has seen through fossils.

Gerald Mayr of the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt, Germany, also voiced his sentiments regarding the particular event. He said that the weirdness and uncertainty of the creature offer more different angles to the story. Mayr suggests that our years of avian understanding isn't just enough, and we are yet to discover more things about avian capabilities and their evolution.

Amber as a Time Capsule

The yellow resin that has been used by so many scientists and researches for years as a reference is a very useful time-capsule. Different paleontologists have also discovered many wonders while studying amber resins. It is more than just a time-capsule for them, but rather a gateway for opportunities and more scientific advancements.

Amber seems to have mastered the art of preserving any animals inside it, although anyone should understand that Amber cannot store bigger ones.

A biologist at the W.M. Keck Science Department named Lars Schmitz praises amber because of its contribution to humankind.

To improve the quality of amber fossil, it requires more time. However, what our current technology is offering right now is more than enough for paleontologists and researchers to deal with each discovery they come across.

Read More: This Video Shows How Robots are Not Perfect Just Like Humans

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The company said there has been no closure at the unit.

Hikal clarified on Wednesday (11 March 2020) that the Mahad unit, which received the closure notice from Maharashtra Pollution Control Soard (MPCB), contributed Rs 260 crore, translating to 16% of turnover of the listed entity for entire financial year 2018-19.

"There has been no closure at the said unit and the unit has been operating normally. We are working with the MPCS to resolve the matter amicably and are confident of a positive outcome," Hikal said in a release.

Hikal being a responsible care certified company stands by its commitment to long term sustainability and ethical way of doing business, it added.

On 6 March 2020, Hikal announced that it received a notice from MPCB for closure of Mahad unit based on a complaint received from the local community in Taloja. The complaint mentioned that a tanker of an authorised transporter, carrying by-product of Hikal was found near the river Kasadi in Taloja. This material was en-route for further processing to a MPCB approved manufacturer located in MIDC Dhule.

Following the order, Hikal said it was representing to MPCB for withdrawal of the closure notice and submitted all relevant documents proving that the company is not responsible for any pollution and or polluting activities in or near the river. The company also filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court for a stay.

It, however, said that there is a possibility of some impact on the company's operations at Mahad site until this matter is resolved.

Shares of Hikal slumped 10.97% to Rs 89.25. It hit 52-week low at Rs 87.20 during intraday trade.

Hikal's consolidated net profit fell 3.5% to Rs 28.36 crore on a 3.2% slip in net sales to Rs 392.51 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018.

Hikal is engaged in the manufacturing of various chemical intermediates, specialty chemicals, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and contract research activities. The firm offers pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Its segments include crop protection and pharmaceuticals.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced strict immigration curbs and a halt on domestic land, sea and air travel to and from Manila, in what he called a 'lockdown' of the capital to arrest the spread of coronavirus on Thursday.

Rodrigo approved a resolution allowing a raft of measures - including bans on mass gatherings, a month of school closures and community quarantining, and threatened to jail local officials who defied government orders.

The firebrand leader, who underwent a test himself this week due to possible exposure, said the measures would include banning foreigners travelling from countries with domestic transmissions from entering the Philippines.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced strict immigration curbs and a halt on domestic land, sea and air travel to and from Manila to arrest the spread of coronavirus on Thursday (firefighters pictured spraying water at a school yard in the capital on Wednesday)

The Philippines has appeared to follow in the footsteps of Italy as the European country implemented a nationwide lockdown in a desperate bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 earlier this week.

The news follows confirmation on Saturday of the Philippines' first domestic transmission of the virus, and a subsequent rise in cases daily to 52, among those five deaths, resulting in the Manila lockdown.

'We do not want to use that (term). But it is a lockdown,' Duterte said in a televised announcement.

'There is no struggle of power here. It is a matter of defending and protecting you from COVID-19.'

Inmates are seen wearing face masks to protect against COVID-19 inside Manila City Jail on Thursday

Rodrigo (pictured last May) approved a resolution allowing a raft of measures - including bans on mass gatherings, a month of school closures and community quarantining

The curbs on travel and scope for mass quarantining would be among the strictest domestic coronavirus restrictions outside China and Italy, which have combined more than 90,000 confirmed cases.

Last week, the politician attended the same event as an official who later tested positive for the coronavirus, and will know his result on Saturday.

Six cabinet ministers, 16 lawmakers, six Manila mayors and the central bank governor were undergoing self-quarantine as a precaution.

Despite having relatively few confirmed infections, health authorities are keen to halt the spread of the virus, having last year dealt with major outbreaks of dengue and measles, and the first cases of polio in two decades.

The politician has threatened to jail local officials who defied government orders (prisoners pictured attempting to protect themselves from COVID-19)

The biggest concern is Manila, an urban sprawl of 16 cities fused together, known for its overcrowded slums, limited open spaces and horrendous traffic congestion.

Its population is officially nearly 13 million, but the real number is believed to be far greater due to unchecked migration and millions of informal settlers.

The resolution advises quarantining urban communities where there are confirmed cases in two separate households, and extending that to municipalities and cities where there are outbreaks in different districts.

Duterte said it was possible the measures 'could create public disturbances or disorder', but hoped people would see sense.

'It is a serious one, it is true,' he said. 'Do not kill yourself with worry because government is doing everything possible to make it at least controllable.'
The first-known employee of a Detroit automaker to be diagnosed with the coronavirus in the U.S. works at a Fiat Chrysler plant in Indiana, company and union officials confirmed Thursday.

The unnamed male employee at the Kokomo Transmission Plant, located about 50 miles north of Indianapolis, is currently quarantined and receiving medical care, according to Fiat Chrysler and the United Auto Workers union, which represents workers at the plant.

A Fiat Chrysler spokeswoman said the company was notified of the employee testing positive for the disease on Wednesday. Production at the plant continues as normal, she said.

Officials with the company and union said they are working with local representatives at the plant to support the treatment of the employee and taking measures to monitor and protect other workers.

An undisclosed amount of the others who may have come into direct contact with the person also have been quarantined, according to the company.

"Consistent with CDC guidelines and the company's own protocols, the company has placed into home quarantine his immediate co-workers and others in the facility he may have come into direct contact with," Fiat Chrysler said in an emailed statement. "Additionally, the company has deep cleaned and disinfected his working area and is deploying additional sanitization measures across the entire facility, retiming break times to avoid crowding and deploying social spacing."

UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, who oversees Fiat Chrysler workers, said the union "will continue communications with FCA on measures that may need to be taken as this very serious situation changes daily and hourly."

"Our thoughts and support are with our UAW member and their family, friends and community in Kokomo, Indiana," she said in a release. "The UAW has been actively monitoring and reacting to issues related to the spread of COVID-19."

Ford Motor has identified three non-domestic employees with the disease. Two were located in China, another was in Germany, according to a company spokesman.

A spokesman for General Motors said Thursday that the company is not aware of any of their workers contracting COVID-19.
Seoul, March 12 : Reopening a now-shuttered inter-Korean industrial park in North Korea for mask production is not realistically plausible as Pyongyang was blocking its border as part of its fight against the coronavirus, an official here said on Thursday.

Calls have grown from some lawmakers and experts for the resumption of the operation of factories in the industrial zone in the North's border city of Kaesong to address shortages of masks, reports Yonhap News Agency.

"Our stance remains unchanged... Opening the Kaesong industrial park is a realistic matter that needs to be considered comprehensively and pushed for. Among other things, it should be considered that the North has completely blocked its border and focused on preventing its outbreak," the official from the South's Unification Ministry said.

With regard to claims that the industrial park could produce 10 million masks a day if they are in operation, the official said that 70 factories and some 35,000 workers should be mobilized to churn out that number of masks, suggesting that it is not a plausible idea.

On Wednesday, the Unification Ministry handling inter-Korean affairs said that there were "realistic challenges" to restarting the complex, including the need to check the long-abandoned facilities there and the issue of bringing in necessary materials across the border, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Launched in 2004, the Kaesong industrial park 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 labour from North Korea.

Seoul closed the Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2016 in retaliation for the North's nuclear test.
Juveniles involved in a suspected gun burglary ring admitted to selling the stolen weapons, at least one of which was found with its serial number obliterated, a sheriffs investigator wrote in a sworn statement to a judge.

A sheriffs spokesman when asked about the case Wednesday said that because the investigation  which spans multiple jurisdictions, including the city of Casper  is ongoing, he could not speak directly to many of its details. Sgt. Taylor Courtney, the spokesman, said however that approximately a dozen guns had been recovered and nine juveniles had been arrested in connection with the case.

It was in mid-February that the Natrona County Sheriffs Office announced it had arrested four people suspected of involvement in the theft of guns from parked vehicles and the theft of a truck itself. Days later, the agency said it had arrested another three juveniles and recovered at least a half-dozen guns thought to be stolen. Because court cases alleging criminal activity by people under the age of 18 are typically held in Wyomings juvenile court system, which is closed to the public, sheriffs officials declined to identify the people arrested.

Around the same time as the agencys announcements, two investigators filed requests for search warrants that provide greater detail surrounding the initial arrest and the extent of the investigation. Those requests were in late February and early March made publicly available in Natrona County Circuit Court. According to the first request, after an Edgerton man called law enforcement Feb. 17 and reported the theft of two semi-automatic handguns from his two trucks, teens admitted to the theft of three handguns in total. The search warrant was issued, but according to a deputys note on the paperwork, the evidence was recovered before authorities searched an Edgerton house where the guns were thought to be.

Then, days later, a sheriffs investigator requested another search warrant. In that request, the investigator states that on Feb. 18, a Chevy pickup was stolen from outside a Bar Nunn-area home. That pickup  the same that sheriffs officials described last month  was spotted by a private citizen the same day it was reported stolen. Two people  whose names are redacted in the court documents, apparently due to their ages  left the truck and went into a Casper house, according to the documents.

When law enforcement arrived outside the Casper home where the pickup had been parked, two teenagers ran from the houses back door, according to the investigators statement. A Casper police sergeant chasing the boys through an alley saw one boy throw a gun. When police arrested him, according to the documents, he showed officers where he had thrown the gun. Its serial number was obliterated.

Gun manufacturers are required to stamp a serial number on guns; such numbers can be used to determine if a gun is stolen. It is illegal under federal law to remove such a number from a gun or to possess a gun that has had the serial number removed.

After law enforcement went through the pickup, according to the investigators filing, officers found spent casings as well as live ammunition inside. One of the teens said in an interview that he did not know the truck was stolen. He likewise said that he did not know the guns serial number was removed. The boy said, though, that he had tried to sell one of the stolen handguns. Another teenager told a sheriffs investigator that he and other people  whom the boy did not identify  sold and traded stolen guns.

According to the documents, at least one of the guns recovered was stolen from a Casper house in December. When the warrant was returned to the court  where it was filed in early March  the investigator stated that a search of the house from where the teens ran turned up an ammunition magazine and drug paraphernalia.

Authorities also arrested three teens in February near Beverly and Farnham following a traffic stop that turned up multiple stolen guns, according to a sheriffs office statement issued last month.

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With government advisory to prevent large gatherings in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, auto industry body SIAM and German car maker Volkswagen have cancelled their planned press conferences.

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), which usually holds press conference for its monthly sales data release, said it will not hold such conference this time.

The auto industry body is slated to release sales data for February on Friday.

"Keeping in mind the current situation and the need to take precautions due to the ongoing coronavirus threat, SIAM is not organising formal meetings. With this background, SIAM will not be convening a formal press conference on data release this month, as has been the practice," it said.

The sales data will instead be e-mailed, SIAM said.

Similarly, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, which had planned to hold a press conference here to launch its SUV T-Roc, has decided to go digital for the same.

"In view of the COVID-19 outbreak and advisories by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation to avoid large gatherings, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India has decided to launch the Volkswagen T-Roc, our second SUV for 2020, through our digital platforms on Wednesday, March 18, 2020," the company said in a statement.

The company further said, "We have consulted all the stakeholder groups and have taken this decision as a precautionary measure to ensure safety of our employees, partners, vendors, media colleagues and patrons."



On the other hand, Hyundai Motor India is going ahead with its planned press conference for the launch of the all-new version of its popular SUV Creta on March 16.

A company spokesperson, however, said it will be a very scaled-down event with only a small group of people in batches to be shown the vehicle.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ellen Burstyn with James Lipton. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

James Lipton, who died this month at 93, was a true renaissance man, working variously as an actor, writer, director, dancer, and bordello manager before settling into his long-standing association with The Actors Studio, a membership organization dedicated to the development of actors, playwrights, and directors. Lipton joined the studio in 1992, then went on to become a board member and create the studios first masters degree program, which included interviews with accomplished actors and other artists that discussed their craft in detail and invited questions from students in the audience. Starting in 1994, these talks aired on Bravo under the title Inside the Actors Studio, with Lipton as host and executive producer.

Liptons probing, cheerful demeanor, quick wit, penetrating questions and exhaustive research made him a star in his own right, as well as the object of parodies on Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, and Mr. Show. The programs 24-year run with Lipton at the helm ended in 2018 with his retirement; it now airs on Ovation, with guest hosts replacing Lipton in the interviewers chair.

I spoke with Actors Studio co-president and acclaimed actress Ellen Burstyn about her long friendship with Lipton  Jim to those who knew him best  from his pre-studio gigs through his two-plus decades as TVs most famous acting teacher. There were many, many sides to him, she says. To know Jim was to constantly encounter more.

Do you remember the first time you met James Lipton?

It was at the Actors Studio. I was familiar with him already because I had his book on my shelf, An Exaltation of Larks. Its a book that gives the plural word for groups of things. Not one or two, but a whole group.

Like a murder of crows?

Yes. And for larks, its an exaltation. And so on.

Then Jim came to the Actors Studio to the playwrights and directors unit, and we met. Then we filled out the board and invited Jim to be on it. Now, you see, when [Actors Studio director] Lee Strasberg was around, he really was the board. A few of us, like Paul Newman and Shelley Winters, were on the board, but the decisions were made by Lee, and we were a cheerleading team. If we wanted something and Lee said no, then it was a no.

Well, one of the big topics in the period following Lees death was the financial responsibility of the studio, because Lee had always taken care of that. None of us had ever had to think about how to maintain it, even though the studio was free to its members, because Lee had friends whose donations kept it alive. Occasionally we did a gala, but on the whole, money was never something the board was responsible for. But now we were.

Then Jim came up with the idea that we have a masters degree program. He said, You know, many ballet companies will have the company, and then theyll also have a school, which supports the company and trains future members, ensuring that the organization continues over time. We thought that was a good idea, so Jim went and sold it to the New School, and then Jim and Paul Newman and myself and Arthur Penn and some other members of the board went to work on the idea. Once we got it together, Jim became the dean of the program for the New School.

How did Inside the Actors Studio come out of all this?

The original idea was that we would start having master classes featuring some of our well-known members, who could come in and be interviewed by Jim. Somewhere along the way, somebody, probably Jim, said, I think we should be taping these. And then once we were taping them, Jim said, I think we should put these on the air. And so, Inside the Actors Studio was formed and sold to Bravo. It became a very successful source of support for us and made us better known for people outside of theater.

What role did Jims interviewing style play in the success of the show?

He was so wonderful as an interviewer that we quickly found that people all over the business wanted to be on the show. They loved bantering with Jim. But more than that, they loved focusing on their craft. That was the most important thing, dont you think?

Absolutely. It set him apart from everyone else who interviewed actors. Other peoples questions tended to focus on funny stories about being on-set, rumors about whom they were dating, that kind of thing.

Thats right. This show wasnt a gossip show. It was actually about the craft of acting, a discussion of technique with trained actors. And that was something that, until that point, hadnt had a national platform.

What was the public response?

It was so positive that the show became the backbone of our support for the next 20 years. Jim remained as dean for ten years when we were at New School, and then we transferred to Pace University, and after being dean for several years there, he decided he didnt want to do it anymore and preferred to concentrate on the show.

What was it like getting to know him over the course of several decades?

He was a wonderfully interesting, unusual person. He was very funny, very droll, and very erudite. He was knowledgeable not just about the theater but about a great many things. I had originally brought him into the studio as a writer. Then I discovered that he was an actor, too. And then I found out he had studied dance and had even been a ballet dancer. And then I found out he had been the producer of Jimmy Carters inauguration special. He wrote another book, this one about the show, called Inside Inside.

How else did Jim surprise you?

There are so many examples I could give you, but one that stands out is the time I was visiting him and his wife at their home in East Hampton, and he said, Im going to the stables, do you want to come with me? And I said, Sure. I had owned a horse in the past, so I was very interested, but I didnt anticipate that Jim would turn out to be a truly expert horseman. [Laughs.] He was expert at so many things.

On the 200th-episode special, when he was the guest and Dave Chappelle was the host, he revealed that after he got out of the Air Force, he managed a bordello in Paris. Did he ever talk to you about that experience?

No. But you also have to remember that Jim was a performer. He had a rather fanciful sense of humor and a colorful way of telling a story in order to make it more entertaining.

Are you suggesting that Jims account of this period in his life was embellished?

I cant attest to his bordello years. [Laughs.] There were many, many sides to him. To know Jim was to constantly encounter more.

I guess I shoudnt be surprised to learn that the information on those blue cards that he was famous for carrying onstage were researched and written entirely by him, not by a staff or by backstage pre-interviewers, as is usually the case with talk show hosts.

Thats right. And thats one of the reasons he was so easy for guests to talk to  he had personally done the research.

You are also a person who does a lot of research before an interview  as I discovered last year when I interviewed you and ended up being interviewed by you  so I wonder if you can speak to the difference between doing your own research versus having someone else do it?

Oh, my God, its hugely different. There are things that might interest you because your research uncovered something that sparked your curiosity or inspired you or tickled your fancy, and its those pieces of information that lead to a memorable interview. Its so very different from just going into an interview with a list of facts about a person. Doing your own research allows you to really go into a question and follow it up. It gives you a deeper understanding of who the subject is, and a wider playing field in talking to them. And its so much more interesting than just going down a list of facts, asking a question, getting an answer, and moving on to the next fact.

Whats your favorite interview that Jim did for the show?

Its hard to choose. Robin Williams, for sure. I was in the audience for that one. It was truly amazing.

How did it amaze you?

First of all, Robin Williams was such an extraordinary talent. That thing where he took the ladies stole, and he improvd with it? That was extraordinary.

When I interviewed Tracy Morgan for the Vulture Festival a couple of years ago  another brilliant comedian with a mind thats all over the place  I thought of James Lipton interviewing Robin Williams, because he was so much better in that situation than I was. I wanted to give the conversation a semblance of shape, but it was trying to fit a tornado into a Tupperware container.

Youre probably being hard on yourself. How long was your interview?

About an hour.

Well, you know, Jim had several hours of footage to work with in each interview  sometimes more, in the case of somebody like Robin  and then he edited it down. That might be where the sense of shape came from. The final product was shaped by Jim and expressed who he was. He produced the show, he directed it, he wrote it, he performed it, and he oversaw the editing.

The one thing he did get criticized for was being too chummy and flattering. What do you think about that? Is there a possibility that, as deep as he got with his subjects, he might have gotten even deeper if hed been more critical or adversarial, or spent more time on failures?

I think people opened up to Jim because they didnt feel they were in danger. I dont know if he would have gotten the results he got if hed gone into the failures of their lives or work. It might have closed them down.

Can you name a quality that Jim had as both an interviewer and a person that stood him apart from everyone else?

His memory. He had a fabulous memory. He said something to me once that sounded like a quote, and I said, what was that? And he said, You said it. It came from an interview that I had done ten, possibly 15 years before. I had no idea how he could possibly know or remember something like that. I never would have remembered had he not quoted it to me.

Are you referring to the answer that you gave to his question, What sound or noise do you love?

Yes!

Bird songs in the morning and Rachmaninoff at night.

How do you know that?

Research.

Why did that phrase stick in your mind?

Because whenever Jim asked that question of his guests, they gave a single answer. You gave two  one for day, one for night.

Interesting. And you know, except for that one answer, I dont recall anything else from that interview, except that it was 150 years ago!

Whats the most important thing for interviewers to remember when theyre talking to actors about their process?

Realizing that most of it is internal. A lot of people make the mistake of assuming that its all about what you see the actor doing. But what you see the actor doing is the result of an internal struggle, and its hard to talk about because so much of it is mysterious. You go inside yourself. Youre looking for something. You dont know what youre looking for, and then something pops up and you dont know where it came from. You may not know exactly why you did it.

The last time I interviewed you, you compared the benefits of acting to the benefits of therapy.

Yes, and I think thats true, in that you have to go down, deep down, into your  [pause] I dont know why the word watery comes to mind, but the watery depths of yourself. Thats an intimidating place. You have to have a reason to want to go down there. The questions that are posed in therapy give you permission to go down there. Thats where the richness is. And in acting, thats where the surprising answers come from.

In what way were James Liptons interviews like therapy?

He asked deep questions that got revelatory answers.
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.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In February, automakers in China sold 15,323 locally-produced new energy PVs (NEPVs) in total, a year-on-year plunge of 70%, according to Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

Of those, the wholesale volume of PHEVs nosedived 84% to around 1,897 units, and the BEV sales tumbled 65% from a year ago to 13,426 units.

The slump was the common fate for most types of NEV brands during the virus-hit month, while China's indigenous brands seemed to face a much severer situation as the CPCA said they need supports from all walks of industry due to the surging pressure in demands of both private cars and mobility services.



Photo source: BYD)



The data can explain the majority of the fact. Last month, BYD sold 2,803 NEVs, suffering a year-on-year plunge of 80.57%; BAIC BJEVs sales tumbled 65.05% to 1,002 units; JAC Motors saw its all-electric PV sales plummeted 67.61% to 758 units; Geely Auto's NEEV (referring to BEVs, HEVs, MHEVs and PHEVs) sales reached only 1,659 units.

However, there was still an expection. GAC Group said its NEV arm defied the gravity with its Feb. NEPV sales soaring 51% to 1,630 units, of which the number of GAC NE skyrocketed 100% to 1,619 units.

It is easy to understand why private use demands collapsed. After all, consumers staying indoors to avoid the virus put multiple obstacles in the channels connecting users, dealers and OEMs.

In the meantime, mobility service business largely waned due to the frozen people flow. If a man without cars has to go outside, he would rather go on foot or ride a bicycle than use public transportation tools like buses or taxis. Besides, the demands from ride-hailing platform operators were also decreased, because some of them switched to long-term car rental model so as to lessen financial losses. As over 60% demands of A-segment NEVs are used for the car-hailing & taxi services, according to the CPCA, it makes sense for China's local NEV brands to suffer gloomy downturn in mobility service area.

Aside from the current plight, the prospect for indigenous brands is not that optimistic as well. To boost auto spending, some local governments have been easing the purchase restriction on fuel-burning vehicles and increased license plate quota, and the trend is likely to be significantly followed by more cities as the central government has convey the encouragement. Thus, it may be harder for manufacturers to promote family-use NEVs if the cost performance shrinks because of the growth in conventional vehicles.

The PHEV field may feature the similar situation. Locally-born brands have to compete head-on joint ventures, while the weaker brand awareness and supply chain resources will probably put them in a more unfavorable place.



(Photo source: Tesla China)



The U.S.-based EV manufacturer Tesla was hardly hit by the coronavirus. Cui Dongshu said 3,958 consumers in China took delivery of Tesla's vehicles in February, accounting for roughly 30% of the country's total.


From the Archive U Win Tin's Lasting Legacy

U Win Tin, pictured in 2013. / The Irrawaddy

U Win Tin, who died in 2014, would have been 90 today. On his birthday, The Irrawaddy looks back on the enduring legacy of the beloved democracy activist, journalist and long-time political prisoner, who lives on as an emblem of persistence and bravery for those seeking true democratic change in Myanmar. He spent 19 years in prison for his opposition to the former military regime, but his principles never wavered. In particular, his call for an entirely new constitution to be writtena stance that distanced him from many in his partyresonates with current events, as the NLDs efforts to amend sections of the charter are blocked by the military. With this article from The Irrawaddy archives, originally published on April 22, 2014, we reexamine what U Win Tin stood for and his continued relevance.

Burma has much to learn from the life of veteran journalist and pro-democracy activist Win Tin, a man of courage and integrity who passed away on Monday morning while seeking care for several health ailments at a general hospital in Rangoon.

The 84-year-old was a founding member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. She called him a man of courage and integrity and said he was instrumental in spearheading the countrys democracy movement.

But for any oppressive government, Win Tin was a great enemy. Due to his political activities, the former regime put him in jail for nearly two decades, tortured him, withheld medical treatment and confiscated his home. When they eventually released him in 2008, they demanded that he remain on parole. Still, despite their pressure, he never backed down from his principles.

While in prison, Win Tin created a motto, known in Burmese as Suu Hlut Twe, which laid out a simple and suitable path toward democracy. If Burmas ruling leaders are even remotely serious about their current reform process, they would do well to take his message to heart.

Suu stands for Suu Kyi and the release of all political prisoners. Hlut, a shortening of the Burmese word Hluttaw, or parliament, refers to the assembly of a national legislature with representatives who were chosen in the 1990 election, which the NLD won by landslide. Twe, the Burmese word for meeting, refers to political dialogue between the ruling government and opposition groups.

This motto was quickly embraced by political prisoners and opposition politicians, but calls for Suu Hlut Twe fell on deaf ears within the former military regime, led by dictator Snr-Gen Than Shwe. Today under President Thein Sein, the dictators hand-picked leader for a reformist government, some progress has been made on the first of Win Tins three principles. Since 2011, nearly 2,000 political prisoners have been released from jail, although some remain behind bars.

The second principle, Hlut, has never fully come to fruition. The results of the 1990 election were nullified by Than Shwes regime, which subsequently rigged the 2010 elections to ensure that the majority of seats in Parliament were filled by representatives of the ruling party. Still, free and fair by-elections in 2012 saw Suu Kyi and other NLD members earn 43 seats in the legislature, moving somewhat closer toward Win Tins vision.

Political dialogue, the last principle, is the most important. Opposition groups have called repeatedly to negotiate with ruling leaders over the past two decades, with support from the United Nations and others in the international community, but political dialogue has yet to occur. In dealing with ethnic groups, Naypyidaw continues to delay substantive talks about political issues, saying it must first secure a nationwide ceasefire. Meanwhile, Suu Kyis requests for four-way talks with Thein Sein, the army chief and the speaker of Parliament have been ignored, in an embarrassing show of the governments shaky commitment to reform.

Perhaps we should look elsewhere for advice on these matters. In particular, the Burmese today can learn from South Africas struggle to dismantle the apartheid system. During a speech in 2012 at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, former South African President F.W. de Klerk shared how he and Nelson Mandela worked to adopt their countrys first fully democratic constitution in late 1993. He offered five lessons for transitioning to democracy.

First, if you want to break out of the cycle of violence, if you want to lay the foundations for a more prosperous society, if you want to democratize, then the departure point is that leaders must become convinced that fundamental change is necessary, he said.

The movement to end apartheid eventually won support from both black and white leaders in South Africa. But in Burma, despite some progress over the past three years, the government does not seem convinced that fundamental change is necessary, especially since limited reforms have already won praise from the international community.

Secondly, de Klerk said, any new dispensation will best succeed if it is based on agreements forged in inclusive negotiations. Why do I put the emphasis on inclusive negotiations? In most conflicts there are many parties involved in the conflict, with different agendas, with different concerns, with different fears and different aspirations.

And only if you reach an agreement based on a broad consensusone that is inclusive of an overwhelming majority of the population, who then say, We take ownership of this new constitution, of the principles of this agreement reached in negotiationscan you be sure that it will last.

In a third and related point, the former president said, Such negotiations, and the agreements reached as the result of negotiation, must accommodate the reasonable concerns and aspirations of the parties to the conflict. This means sacrifice from all sides. It means that the negotiation process should not end with victor and vanquished. The point I want to make is the negotiations must be on a give-and-take basis. Everyone has to have some pain, but everyone also has to get some satisfaction out of the negotiations.

In Burma, inclusiveness is scant. There is no give and take in negotiations, as the government allows only limited input from opposition and ethnic groups.

Fourth, de Klerk said it was necessary to strike a balance between unity and diversity.

The challenge is how to accommodate diversity, how to manage diversity. And if you want to resolve the problems, if you want to bring peace to those countries in transition, you need to strike a balance between unity and diversity, he said. Important minorities need to feel that they are not marginalized, that they are recognized as important constituent parts of the whole.

This is a complicated issue for Burma, a country comprising many ethnic minority groups which have fought against the government for several decades. The ruling party remains unwilling to establish a federal system, as ethnic groups have requested.

Finally, de Klerk spoke about finding a formula for dealing with past political crimes.

In many countries there is one big stumbling block to successful negotiation. It is one that prevents leaders from taking initiative to change the situation, to move toward democracy, toward greater freedom. It can be summed up in two questions: But if I lose power, will I go to jail? Will there be retribution against me? he said.

Burmas former generals definitely live in a similar state of fear, as do the countrys current military leaders, government officials and lawmakers from the ruling party. In this regard, the option of a mass amnesty might be discussed during political dialogue between the government and opposition groups, following in the footsteps of negotiations in South Africa. Opposition leaders here would likely be willing to let go of desires for retribution in exchange for full inclusion in a genuine reform process.

But again, this can only happen if political dialogue occurs, which brings us back to the third principle of Win Tins motto: Twe. Without dialogue, this country will never reach democracy. And unless the ruling leaders, including military leaders, believe that fundamental change is necessary, dialogue will never take place.

Unfortunately, although the ruling leaders who viewed Win Tin as hard-liner might shed crocodile tears on his death, they will likely not take his political suggestions seriously. The past three years of reform have offered little indication that the countrys military leaders believe in fundamental change.

As a pragmatist, Win Tin understood this, which is why he did not trust Thein Seins government. During an interview at his home in 2012, the veteran journalist told me that leading members of the current government could be seen as a bunch of thieves.

He added, All of us, including journalists, are still in the tunnel. Journalists must break out if there is no exit.

Living alone for many years, even before his arrest, Win Tin seemed to have just one attachment in life: the fight for democracy. I will try to dismantle the military dictatorship until my final breath, with all my remaining strength and power, he told The Irrawaddy before the 2010 elections.

Until the very end, he stayed true to that promise. With his passing, Burma has lost a great man.
On Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence announced that any American can be tested for coronavirus as long as a doctor approves it.

The move appears to expand upon previous criteria needed for testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

But how do you determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and when you should see a doctor?

We break down everything you need to know about being tested for the virus that has infected more than 120 Americans and killed at least nine.

WHAT ARE THE LATEST GUIDELINES FOR BEING TESTED?

There are three groups of people that the CDC recommends get tested.

1. People with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath who have been in 'close contact' with someone confirmed to have coronavirus

2. Patients with symptoms who have traveled to areas affected by the virus within the last 14 days

3. Those with symptoms who need to be hospitalized and no other cause for their illness is found. They don't need to have a travel history or exposure to another patient

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM THE PREVIOUS CRITERIA?

When the CDC first began testing, only those with a travel history to China - where the outbreak emerged - or those who had been exposed to a confirmed coronavirus patient were tested.

However, the agency says its criteria for testing is always 'subject to change as additional information becomes available.'

WHAT TO DO IF YOU NEED A TEST?

Health officials strongly advise that anyone who believes they may be infected not show up unannounced at their doctor's office in case they expose others to the highly-contagious disease.

Instead, the CDC suggests immediately calling your physician or healthcare provider.

'Your healthcare professional will work with your state's public health department and CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19,' the CDC's website states.

If you are suspected of having the virus, you will most likely get tested at a hospital.

The test involves getting a swab of the patient's nostril and throat. If the patient has a wet cough, a sample of sputum (a mixture of saliva and mucus) will also be collected.

WHY HAS IT BEEN DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO GET TESTED?

There have been multiple reports of people not having accessing to get tested.

The first batch of test kits that the CDC sent to state and local health departments were faulty, which led to a delay.

Secondly, the CDC had strict criteria for testing, which led to missed diagnoses of people who caught the virus from so-called 'community spread,' meaning it's unknown how they were infected.

A third reason is that some health departments did not leave the decision to test up to doctors as the CDC suggested.

For instance, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health initially required doctors to call a hotline to determine if their patients met CDC criteria for testing.

Then, before the test could be administered, it had to be authorized at the State Public Health Lab.

WILL IT BE EASIER TO GET TESTED NOW?

Since the CDC's testing fiasco, several health departments have either received new kits from the federal agency or made their own.

Additionally, the US Food and Drug Administration expanded its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) policy so allow more labs can apply for approval to test for the virus.

The CDC that 75,000 test kits are currently available and more are being manufactured.

FDA Commissioner Dr Stephen Han told reporters on Monday that close to one million people would be tested by the end of the week.

But figures from the Association of Public Health Laboratories show that likely no more than 100,000 people would be tested by week's end.
The ire from Brussels was another sign of just how little the two sides appear to be coordinating their response to the pandemic. European officials scrambled to play catch-up Thursday to understand the reasoning behind the ban. The U.S. Mission to the European Union declined to answer questions about how it was explaining the restrictions to European colleagues.
Getty Images

A group of nearly 40 staffers who worked for Elizabeth Warrens presidential campaign has endorsed Bernie Sanders in an open letter, calling on their supporters to "persist together" in the battle for the White House.

In a letter published to Medium.com on Tuesday titled Team Warren for Bernie Sanders, the group of organisers and campaign directors stated their goals included working to consolidate those who are ready to jump from Warren to Sanders immediately and build a community to facilitate the transition.

The campaign staffers also said they wanted to reach out to Ms Warrens supporters and urged them to support the Vermont senator in his bid against former Vice President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination.

Those new forms of outreach, the letter stated, would use the foundation built by Ms Warrens campaign and the grassroots networks that we have cultivated throughout the Democratic primaries.

The letter comes just five days after Ms Warren, once considered a potential frontrunner in the Democratic primaries, dropped out of the race. It was published as voters in six battleground states participated in primaries across the country following last weeks Super Tuesday  with Mr Sanders fighting to maintain his campaign against Mr Bidens newfound frontrunner status.

Elizabeth ran a campaign on intersectional policy issues like Medicare for All, a Wealth Tax, a Green New Deal, cancelling student loan debt, providing universal free college, expanding Social Security, legalising marijuana at the federal level and erasing convictions, and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, the letter read. Now that Elizabeth has told us that her campaign is concluded, we know that she is considering how to best continue the fight for big, structural change. We respect that process and trust that she, as she always does, will do what is best to advance this movement.

It continued: We also understand and respect that many Warren supporters are still processing their feelings as well. We urge them to take care of themselves first and we stand ready to welcome them back into the fight when they are ready.

Story continues

The organisers said they ultimately made the decision to endorse Mr Sanders after Ms Warren dropped out of the race, writing: We know that we wont beat Donald Trump by simply talking about a return to business as usual.

Ms Warren herself has declined to endorse anyone since dropping out of the race. If she were to choose Mr Sanders, her support could be seen as a boost of energy to his campaign after the former vice president raked in endorsements from previous Democratic presidential hopefuls just before last weeks vote.

If she chooses Mr Biden, that could potentially signal Mr Sanders campaign is dead in the water, according to some analysts.

35 former Warren staffers (and counting) just officially endorsed @BernieSanders and its honestly the most #NotMeUs thing Ive even seen! 



Read their endorsement letter here: https://t.co/Agv8GHwaq2



h/t @People4Bernie for this wonderful solidarityforever graphic pic.twitter.com/S5bLVSnUga  Bhavik Lathia (@bhaviklathia) March 10, 2020

In announcing the end of her campaign, Ms Warren said she would need time before potentially making an endorsement during a press conference with reporters outside of her home in Cambridge.

"I need some space around this," she said, "and I want to take a little time to think a little more."

Read more

Warren attacks Sanders supporters over organised online bullying
By Chen Hanghui and Fei Yuchun

Afghanistan has passed an eventful period recently. The US and Taliban finally signed a peace deal on February 29 after tens of rounds of negotiations, but only one day later, the Taliban attacked the Afghan government forces for divergences over the release of prisoners. The US President Donald Trump tweeted on March 3 that he had conducted a good conservation with Taliban leaders, who, however, made clear their position through a string of attacks several hours later, forcing the US to respond with an airstrike. Even though nobody put much hope on the US-Taliban peace deal, they didnt expect it to be so fragile.

But it seems the US defense secretary Mark Esper didnt plan to stop withdrawing the troops, and Trump has emphasized over and over again that the US cannot be the cop in Afghanistan forever and cannot stay there for another 20 years. According to the agreement, all American troops will be pulled out of Afghanistan in the coming 14 months if everything goes well.

Is the US really going to take all of its troops home from Afghanistan? The answer would probably be no.

The US military has to maintain its presence in Afghanistan to sustain its anti-terrorist efforts. One of the purposes why the US launched a war against Afghanistan was to uproot al-Qaeda and keep the country from becoming again the base camp where terrorist organizations plot attacks against the US. However, although al-Qaeda has been severely battered in the past 20 years or so, it has never been annihilated either as an ideology or a terrorist entity.

In addition to al-Qaeda, the US also faces threats from the emerging Afghan branch of the Islamic State (IS), which has taken root in Afghanistan after sending the first batch of backbone officers there in early 2015. Facing mounting pressure from the US troops, Afghan government troops and Taliban in the past few years, the IS organization has displayed amazing resilience.

According to data from the US National Counterterrorism Center, the country has designated about 100 terrorist organizations around the globe, nearly 20 of which are active in Afghanistan. This means after eradicating al-Qaeda and IS, it has to continue fighting more than ten terrorist organizations in the region. Its foreseeable that Americas anti-terror warfare in Afghanistan will last a long time, and it wont withdraw its troops before the anti-US forces in the central Asian country are wipe out. Professor Stephen Biddle at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University believed its hard for the US to get out of Afghanistan completely.

Furthermore, the underlying reason behind US military footprint in Afghanistan lies in its national strategy. The 2017 National Security Strategy of the US listed three sets of challengers - the revisionist powers of Russia and other countries, the rogue states of Iran and North Korea, and transnational threat organizations. As both Russia and Iran are located around Afghanistan, the US, by continuing to station troops there, will be well-positioned to reach north into central Asia, which is traditionally Russias sphere of influence, and to pose a direct threat to its nemesis Iran in the west. The Afghan war waged by the Bush administration wasnt just a revenge on al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime, but also an important geopolitical move to shape a strategic landscape in Americas favor and help it maintain the global dominance.

If the US pulled its troops out of Afghanistan, an important link would be missing in its strategic containment of Russia and other countries, and its military deterrence to Iran would be largely weakened. More importantly, it wont be able to find an excuse to justify a second invasion of the country. That the Pentagon and American strategic circle would be willing to give up such a favorable position would be unimaginable.

While attending the signing ceremony of the peace deal, the US Secretary of State Pompeo said in an interview that Washington doesnt have unrealistic illusions about the deal. The international community should adopt the same attitude when it comes to Americas withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar.12

Trend:

The sharp drop in oil prices hasn't significantly impacted either the trade or the balance of payments of Azerbaijan, Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBAR) Chairman Elman Rustamov said at the Cabinet of Ministers' meeting, Trend reports.

The situation in the global energy market and its impact on the economy were discussed at the meeting in the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by Azerbaijans Prime Minister Ali Asadov.

The chairman made the statement touching upon the tension felt in recent days in the exchange market due to oil prices drop.

Azerbaijani economy is dynamically developing. Today our country is fully ready for such challenges. We have sufficient crisis management experience. On the other hand, during the period of high oil prices, our strategic foreign exchange reserves have been increased, he emphasized.

Today's growth is about $10 billion. This affords us to possess the means and tools for impacting such situations. The shock comes from outside. That is, it is not caused by the economic, social or political processes in Azerbaijan. On the other hand, a sharp drop in oil prices in a short time on the world market hasnt much impacted either the trade or the balance of payments of our country," said the chairman.

Answering to the prime ministers questions on whether any restrictions are applied in connection with the foreign currency sale and what measures can be undertaken to mitigate the negative impacts, Rustamov noted that in such cases the demand for currency in foreign exchange auctions and market grows.

To meet this demand, the Central Bank held an auction on March 10. Today extraordinary auction was held. At these and other auctions, we have fully met all the needs of the market, he said.

"Also, a sufficient amount of cash currency was imported into the country in advance and all the needs of banks in cash and non-cash currency were fully met. At the same time, there are no restrictions for intra-bank conversion or conversion of physical and legal entities deposits to the extent possible for the banks," the chairman noted.

Despite this, we observe queues in banks. It was decided to extend the daily working hours of banks by an hour. Besides, the Central Bank and entities of the financial and banking sector will be open on both Saturday and Sunday in usual working regime. Therefore, our citizens, using these opportunities, can exchange their money at currency exchange points in non-working days, too. On the other hand, following the Governments instructions, we will plan our work schedule for holidays as well, Rustamov added.
David Meredith, CEO, Everbridge Scott Mlyn | CNBC

With tech stocks plunging alongside the broader market, software-maker Everbridge has emerged a rare profitable bet for investors. Everbridge, whose technology helps companies manage public safety emergencies like the coronavirus reached an intraday record of $116.21 as the S&P 500 sank 4.9%. Over the past three-plus weeks, with the broader market mired in its worst slump since the 2008 financial crisis, Everbridge was up 17% as of Friday's close. For the year, it was up 17%, while all of the most valuable tech names and subscription software companies are down. Everbridge was trading at 17 times revenue Friday, well above its average of 11.2 since debuting on the public market in 2016, according to FactSet. Everbridge was built for crises. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the company was formed to develop a notification system so "messages are received without fail when life safety is at risk," according to its website. Nearly two decades later and with a market cap approaching $4 billion, Everbridge's mission is to protect institutions during public safety emergencies like active shooter situations, terrorist incidents, natural disasters and cyberattacks. The company's software pulls together all of the various threats to a business or city at a given time using a variety of data sources. Energy producers can use the technology to get people out of dangerous areas, hospitals count on it to respond to patient emergencies and prepare staff for a flood of patient activity and airports use it to get alerts out quickly. In October, the company, which is located outside of Boston, signed its biggest contract ever  a $25 million, five-year deal with the state of California to upgrade the 911 system for emergencies and natural disasters. Given the regularity of catastrophic wildfires in California and hurricanes in Florida, where Everbridge also has a statewide contract, demand for its technology is soaring. The company also won recent deals with countries including Australia, Singapore and Peru. Whatever concerns investors have about the coronavirus leading to economic challenges and a decline in corporate spending, they're not extending those fears to Everbridge.

'Our system is lighting up'

These deals all happened before the recent coronavirus outbreak, which began in China and has now killed at least 38 people in the U.S., with over 1,300 cases confirmed. Analysts at Raymond James wrote in a brief to clients last week that, based on "C-level interest in protecting employees/assets," Everbridge will see "potential bookings tailwinds in 2020." "Our system is lighting up with a tremendous amount of activity like we've never seen before, and on a persistent basis," Everbridge CEO David Meredith said in a phone interview. "With critical events, they happen and then they're over pretty quickly. In this case, it's persistent and ramping up across our customer base. And it's everywhere; it's global." For the COVID-19 outbreak, Everbridge is bringing in all its historical data and pattern recognition and combining it with a real-time communications system that lets cities and states get information to the right people. In the weeks since the coronavirus hit the U.S., the cities of New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Houston and Tampa, Florida, have all deployed Everbridge's messaging system, allowing residents to text a phone number for updates, while also reaching people through digital signage and location-based targeting. tweet Cities are using Everbridge's data to determine when to cancel public events, and companies are relying on it to tell employees if they should work from home. The company says it has sent more than 15 million messages on behalf of customers related to the coronavirus in recent weeks. tweet Meredith said it's too soon to predict how the coronavirus will impact the company's financials. Revenue last year climbed 37% from 2018 to $200.9 million, and the stock rose 38%, beating the S&P 500's 29% gain. But Meredith said one noticeable difference now is that his sales team is meeting with the very top executives at companies, not just the heads of security. "My salespeople would say the chief security officer loves what we're doing, but it's hard to get the attention of the CEO and board," Meredith said. "Now the CEO is thinking about it, and the board."

Everbridge
a2 Milk is a registered trademark of, and brand of A1 protein-free milk from a2MC, a global organization with proven success in growing the dairy industries in the markets in which it operates including Australia where it has now achieved over 11% market share. Under the exclusive Canadian a2 Milk brand license, the A1 protein free milks produced by Canadian dairy farmers and marketed by Agrifoods will be the first and only milk certified as A1 protein free under the a2 Milk brand in Canada.

"Our partnership with a2MC will help solidify our cooperative's position as an innovative 'disruptor'," says Tim Hofstra, Chair of Agrifoods Cooperative. "In addition, it provides a tremendous opportunity to grow Agrifoods' overall market leading positions in specialty milks by offering consumers more choices for authentic, farmer owned, Canadian dairy products."

With the exclusive Canadian license, Agrifoods will leverage the a2 Milk brand's global success to create & grow consumer and retailer demand for these products in Canada.

"Agrifoods' proven expertise and experience combined with their infrastructure, established Member network of dairy farmers and focus on long-term growth makes this an excellent partnership," said Blake Waltrip, CEO of a2MC. "Signing on with Agrifoods will allow a2 Milk brand products produced by Canadian dairy farmers to rapidly gain exposure in Canada."

a2 Milk brand milks give every consumer the chance to enjoy the nutritious benefits of real, high quality milk that is easier on digestion.

"In addition, a2 Milk branded milks will give lapsed milk drinkers the reason needed to come back to the dairy case. These market segments will be able to 'love milk again!'," says Hofstra. "and bringing consumers back to the dairy case brings excitement and speaks to a positive future outlook for Canadian dairy farmers."

"We're thrilled with Agrifoods Cooperative obtaining the Canadian licensing rights for the a2milk brand," says Ben Janzen, Chair of the BC Milk Marketing Board. "Bringing a proven successful global brand such as a2 Milk to the Canadian market is a big win for Canadian dairy, highlighting both the future focus and innovation of our industry."

About Agrifoods Cooperative

Agrifoods Cooperative has proudly been in business for over a century and has grown to become one of Canada's leading cooperatives with over 2,900 members. The traditional values upon which Agrifoods was founded underlie its commitment for continual innovation in order to serve its valued customers' and consumers' changing needs. Agrifoods' premium family of brands  Organic Meadow, Rolling Meadow, Meadowfresh, Earth's Own and Happy Planet  employ over 400 people and have become leaders in the health and wellness industry, producing a wide range of premium, on-trend, wholesome foods and beverages available from coast to coast. www.agrifoods.ca

About a2 Milk Company

The a2 Milk Company was founded in 2000 in New Zealand by Dr. Corran McLachlan after a scientific research showed that proteins in milk affect people differently. a2 Milk comes from cows that naturally produce only the A2 protein. Published research suggests a2 Milk may help avoid stomach discomfort. a2 Milk products include Whole, 2% Reduced Fat, Chocolate 2% Reduced Fat, Fat Free, Sweet Cream Coffee Creamer, and Creamy Vanilla Coffee Creamer. For more information on The a2 Milk Company, its products, and location availability, please visit www.a2milk.com

SOURCE Agrifoods Cooperative

For further information: Agrifoods Cooperative: Ursula Klein, Manager, Member Services, Agrifoods International Cooperative Ltd., 604-296-3272, [email protected]

Related Links

https://agrifoods.ca/


BEIJING/SHANGHAI -- Chinas coronavirus epidemic has passed its peak, its top health commission said on Thursday, as it logged just eight new infections in Hubei province, the first time the epicenter of the outbreak recorded a daily tally of less than 10.

With the marked slowdown of the spread of the virus, more businesses have reopened with authorities cautiously easing strict containment measures.

Hubei province, where the coronavirus emerged late last year, announced on Thursday a further loosening of travel restrictions and will also allow some industries to resume production in two of its cities and two counties.

Broadly speaking, the peak of the epidemic has passed for China, said Mi Feng, a spokesman for the National Health Commission.

The increase of new cases is falling, he said.

Hubeis economy, driven by manufacturing and trade, including a sizable auto sector in the provincial capital of Wuhan, had been virtually shuttered since Jan. 23.

While the virus is spreading quickly globally, its progress in China has slowed markedly in the past seven days, a result of strict measures imposed to control the movement of people and traffic, including the virtual lockdown of Wuhan, a city of 11 million people.

Wuhan accounted for all of the new cases recorded on Wednesday, the National Health Commission said. Outside of Hubei, mainland China had seven new cases, six of them imported from abroad.

Of the six imported cases, Guangdong province accounted for three, while Gansu province and Henan province were responsible for two and one, respectively.

In all, 15 new cases were recorded in mainland China on Wednesday, down from 24 the day before.

That brings the total number of cases recorded in mainland China to 80,793.

As of Tuesday, 62,793 people had recovered and been discharged from hospital, or nearly 80% of the infections.

As of the end of Wednesday, the death toll in mainland China had reached 3,169, up by 11 from the previous day. Hubei accounted for 10 of the new deaths, including seven in Wuhan.

The ruling Communist Party newspaper, the Peoples Daily, warned in an editorial that while the number of new virus cases in China was falling, conditions were still difficult and there were risks of more outbreaks.

Enormous strain

China is focusing on restarting factories and businesses hit by the containment policies that prevented millions of people from traveling and returning to work after an extended Lunar New Year holiday.

Factory activity plunged to its worst level on record in February, and while more businesses have reopened in recent weeks as containment measures have been eased, analysts do not expect activity to return to normal until April.

Airlines have been hit particularly hard. Chinas airlines reported total losses of 20.96 billion yuan ($3 billion) in February.

The total number of airline passengers fell 84.5% year-on-year last month, compared with the same time last year, Chinas aviation regulator said.

Local governments must do their utmost to ensure people return to work as soon as possible, the official China Daily said in an editorial.

Many businesses are still facing labor shortages and supply-chain disruptions, the China Daily said.

The epidemic control measures have put an enormous strain on Chinas enterprises, especially the small and medium-sized ones in the service sector, it said.

Any further delay in their return to normal operations will entail widespread bankruptcies and job losses, which will threaten social stability.

The Hubei government on Wednesday said Wuhan would allow some key industries to resume work.

On Thursday, it said containment measures would be relaxed in two other cities in the province - Qianjian and Shishou - and in the counties of Gongan and Zhuxi.
March 12 (Reuters) - Wirecard AG said on Thursday auditing firm KPMG did not find any discrepancies in its audit of the company's operations in India and Singapore as well as the Merchant Cash Advance and Digital Lending division.

The largely completed special investigation has "not produced any substantial findings" that would require any correction to the company's annual financial statements for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 investigation periods, the statement said. The German payments company had hired KPMG last year to conduct an independent audit to address allegations by British newspaper the Financial Times that it manipulated its accounts. (Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Nine political parties, among the 12 legally recognised, have submitted their applications with the National Electoral Commission (NEC), to take part in the local, communal and municipal elections of 17 May in Benin
Hong Kong, March 12 : China has declared that the peak of the coronavirus epidemic has passed, a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a pandemic.

While cases of coronavirus have been declining in China in the last few days, they have shot up in the rest of world and the covid infection now covers more than 100 countries.

Chinese officials said on Thursday that the country has passed the peak of the coronavirus outbreak that has put millions under lockdown.

A spokesperson for the country's National Health Commission and the Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity held a press conference Thursday to say that the peak of the epidemic has now passed and that the number of new cases is declining, Xinhua news agency reported.

Global Times reported that the National Health Commission (NHC) announced on Thursday that the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in China has passed, with many improving signals including the fact that the number of new cases in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, declined to a single digit for the first time.

The tally of daily new confirmed cases in epidemic-stricken Wuhan declined to eight on Wednesday while in the other places in Hubei Province, no new cases had been reported in the past week as of the same day, Mi Feng, spokesperson for the NHC said at a press conference on Thursday in Beijing.

Meanwhile, seven new cases were reported outside Hubei among which six were imported cases, Mi said, noting that these facts indicated that the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic in China has passed.

Chinese epidemiologists are also making positive predictions on the end of the epidemic. Li Lanjuan, a renowned Chinese epidemiologist, said in an interview with the media on Tuesday that she hopes no new local cases will be reported in China by the end of March.

She said there are two vital criteria to judge whether the epidemic really ends: first, no new cases for a continuous 28 days; second, all infected cases have been hospitalized, according to the Global Times.

The outbreak has spread across the globe with more than 126,000 infections and more than 4,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 68,000 people have recovered so far.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the outbreak a pandemica -- the first since the H1N1 swine flu in 2009.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Maura Higgins celebrated the launch of her new swimwear edit with Ann Summers in style as she held a special meet and greet at the lingerie retailer's store at The Brunswick Shopping Centre in London on Wednesday evening.

The Love Island star, 29 - who postponed the event 'out of respect for Caroline Flack on the day of her funeral' on Tuesday - was the picture of confidence as she promoted her collection, featuring sizes ranging from UK 6 to UK 24.

Former grid girl Maura has brushed aside recent drama by throwing herself into work following claims her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou's marriage to Carlotta Edwards has 'collapsed', as well as her shock split from Curtis Pritchard.

In work mode: Maura Higgins celebrated the launch of her new swimwear edit with Ann Summers at the retailer's store at The Brunswick Shopping Centre in London on Wednesday

Cutting a racy figure, the media personality turned heads in a sheer black bodysuit, tied in with lace trimmings throughout.

The brunette bombshell borrowed style tips from the 70s as she teamed her see-through top with a pair of flared trousers.

Nailing the biker chic look, the TV star styled a leather jacket with a baker boy hat and pointed heels.

Maura looked as glamorous as ever as she opted for a full face of dewy make-up to highlight her stunning features, which were framed with straight tresses.

Thinking of her: The Love Island star, 29, postponed the event 'out of respect for Caroline Flack on the day of her funeral' on Tuesday

Commanding attention: The former grid girl was the picture of confidence as she promoted her collection, featuring sizes ranging from UK 6 to UK 24

Brave face: She brushed aside recent drama by throwing herself into work following claims her Dancing On Ice partner Alexander Demetriou's marriage to Carlotta Edwards has 'collapsed'

A progression of her 2019 campaign, Be More Maura Swim boasts a range of swimsuits and bikinis designed using the Irish beauty's own input.

On her new collection - which is available online and will be available from March 19 in stores - the model shared: 'Confidence comes from loving yourself and embracing your body, no matter what your shape or size.

'I want all women to feel sexy and beautiful what ever the occasion, so it has been a dream come true for me to design this seasons swimwear in collaboration with Ann Summers for SS20!'

Catching the eye: Cutting a racy figure, the media personality turned heads in a sheer black bodysuit, tied in with lace trimmings throughout

All in the details: Nailing the biker chic look, the TV star styled a leather jacket with a baker boy hat

Working it: The brunette bombshell borrowed style tips from the 70s as she teamed her see-through top with a pair of flared trousers

Maura's appearance comes after she and Ann Summers cancelled the event on the day of Caroline's funeral.

Caroline - who presented Love Island during Maura's 2019 stint - took her own life aged 40 at her home in Stoke Newington last month.

Explaining the decision, the social media influencer shared on her Instagram account: 'Dear customers, we were looking forward to welcoming you to the Brunswick store today to launch Maura's swimwear collection.

'However, having been in close contact with Maura, and out of respect to the funeral also taking place later today, we have decided to postpone the even to tomorrow at 5pm. We hope you understand and look forward to seeing you there. Team AS x.'

Friends: Maura's appearance comes after she (far left on Love Island in 2019) and Ann Summers cancelled the event on the day of Caroline's funeral (far right)

Respect: The social media influencer explained the decision on her Instagram account

Back on screen: Earlier in the month, Maura reunited with her Dancing On Ice professional partner Alexander, 28, after he was accused of becoming 'besotted' with her

Over? It has been claimed that the couple are close to announcing their separation, after Carlotta, 29, 'grew jealous' of Alexander's relationship with Maura (pictured last month)

Earlier in the month, Maura reunited with her Dancing On Ice professional partner Alexander, 28 - for the first time since he was accused of becoming 'besotted' with her - during the show's finale, which saw Joe Swash scoop the crown.

The reports have allegedly caused reported off-screen drama with Alexander's fellow-pro wife Carlotta - with rumours circulating that their marriage is over.

Two weeks ago, a source confirmed to MailOnline that Maura and professional dancer Curtis, 24, had officially split, just eight months after they met in the Love Island villa.
A total of 123 countries and territories were restricting entry or enforcing tougher quarantine measures for people from South Korea over coronavirus concerns on Thursday, the foreign ministry said.



As of 10 a.m., 47 countries and territories were planning to impose or enforcing an entry ban on people who have been in Korea at least in the past two weeks.



Malaysia was moved to this list as it was expanding the scope of its entry ban from parts of Korea to the entire country, effective from Friday. Guatemala, Montenegro in the Balkans and Moldova in Eastern Europe also joined the list, with some exceptions applied to foreigners with residential permits.



Serbia now bars the entry of travelers from Korea's Daegu city and North Gyeongsang Province -- two epicenters of the COVID-19 outbreaks -- putting the number of countries and territories imposing such restrictions at six.



Eighteen countries and territories, including 21 Chinese provinces, were enforcing stricter quarantine programs on people from Korea and other virus-affected nations.













East Timor has been newly added to this list as it began to require a 14-day quarantine for incoming passengers who have been in Korea and a few other countries in the past four weeks.



The number of countries and territories imposing stricter immigration controls and requiring or recommending isolation for travelers from Korea came to 52, joined by the Czech Republic and Niger in West Africa.



The Czech Republic requires visitors from Korea to report their arrival to health authorities and strongly recommends a 14-day self-quarantine.



South Korea's infection caseload stood at 7,869 on Thursday morning, with 66 deaths linked to the virus. (Yonhap)
Photo: The Canadian Press

A daycare in a downtown Calgary office tower has closed after a child tested positive for COVID-19.

Suncor Energy spokeswoman Erin Rees says the Pump-Kin Patch Child Care Centre is closed until March 23.

She says families of children there have been told to self-quarantine until March 20.

Suncor doesn't operate the daycare, but the centre is located in Suncor's office building, and Rees says many employees have children that attend.

She says the company is responding to the pandemic by cleaning more often, restricting business travel to high-risk areas and preparing for remote working.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Alberta had 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases, which are all travel-related.

Meanwhile, Manitoba has announced its first confirmed case of the virus.

Health Minister Cameron Friesen says a woman who recently travelled to the Philippines tested positive and is isolated at home.

Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said it's time for people to begin social-distancing strategies  such as not shaking hands and avoiding crowded events  to limit chances of being exposed.

Saskatchewan has also reported its first case.

The province's chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said in a news release that the person recently travelled to Egypt.

Shahab said the person was experiencing symptoms and underwent testing in Saskatoon earlier this week and a positive result came back Thursday.

The person, who is in their 60s, has been self-isolating at home.
[March 12, 2020] Harbour BioMed Raises $75 Million Series B+ Venture Capital Financing to Accelerate Its Innovative Pipeline

Harbour BioMed (HBM) today announced successful completion of its Series B+ round financing of $75 million to accelerate the advancement of its clinical-stage compounds and growing portfolio of next generation biotherapeutics for treating cancer and immunological diseases. New investors participating in the financing - SK Holdings, Greater Bay Area Fund, Efung Capital, Zheshang Venture Capital and Zhejiang University Future Capital and JT New Century - joined existing investors, including Legend Capital, AdvanTech and GIC Pvt. Ltd. The company previously completed an $85 million Series B financing in August 2018. The funds from the Series B+ will help drive these programs towards key clinical and development milestones. This round of financing further underscores both company's existing and new investors' confidence in HBM, and the team's ability to execute with conviction and commitment. "Over the past several months, HBM has made great progress in advancing two leading assets towards mid-late stage clinical trials in China, and we began international clinical studies with our first internally-discovered biotherapeutic, a next generation, fully-human anti-CTLA-4 antibody (HBM4003) for the treatment of advanced solid tumors," said Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Harbour BioMed. "Our discovery efforts have also been extremely productive, both internally and in collaboration with leading organizations around the world. In addition to HBM4003, our innovative discovery platform HBICETM has rapidly generated a robust portfolio of differentiated, fully human antibodies, including next generation bi-and multi-specifics. More recently, we have leveraged the power of our antibody discovery platform in select other areas of great unmet medical needs, such as in coronavirus disease (COVID-19), where we have entered a collaboration with Mount Sinai Heath System in New York."



The Company recently reported on major progress in its clinical development programs, including: Start of Phase 1 clinical studies with HBM4003 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. HBM4003, a next generation anti-CTLA 4 therapeutic, is the first fully human antibody based on HBM's heavy chain only (HCAb) antibody discovery technology. The trial, underway in Australia, is the first in an international development program that will inaugurate trials in the US, EU and China. HBM recently received IND approval from the FDA to initiate its trial in the US. HBM4003 has shown potential in preclinical studies for increased anti-tumor activity based on enhanced antibody dependent cell toxicity mediated Treg depletion and a favorable safety profile.

Start of Phase 2/3 clinical trials of HBM 9161, an anti-FcRn antibody, for the treatment of multiple severe, autoimmune diseases, including myasthenia gravis, adult immune thrombocytopenia, Graves' ophthalmopathy and other related indications. Phase 2/3 studies for several of these indications are expected to begin in the first half of 2020 in Greater China.

Successful completion of a Phase 2 trial of HBM 9036 for Dry Eye Disease. HBM is preparing to start a Phase 3 registration trial in Q2 2020 in China.

Start of Phase 2 clinical program of HBM9167, its humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). The US FDA granted HBM9167 Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the development in treating NPC. HBM has built a powerful drug discovery engine based on its patented HCAb platform for generating novel, fully human heavy chain only antibodies, including bi- and multi-specifics. The technology is integrated with other advanced approaches - e.g., single cell analysis and deep profiling - to dramatically reduce the time to candidate selection from months to days.

About Harbour BioMed

Harbour BioMed is a global, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics in the fields of immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases. The company is building its proprietary pipeline through internal R&D programs, collaborations with co-discovery and co-development partners and select acquisitions. The company's internal discovery programs are centered around its two patented transgenic mouse platforms (Harbour Mice) for generating both fully human monoclonal antibodies and heavy chain only antibodies (HCAb) and HBICE immune cell engager technology for developing bispecific antibodies. Harbour BioMed also licenses the platforms to companies and academic institutions. The company has operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Suzhou & Shanghai, China. For more information, please visit www.harbourbiomed.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005029/en/

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In this week's interview, Rachel Dean talks to retired British Army Colonel Tim Collins OBE (59), who's from east Belfast but splits his time between Canterbury and London. He's married to Caroline (57) and they have five children, Charles (29), Patrick (27), Timothy (25), Olivia (21) and Henry (18).

Q. Tell us about your childhood.

A. I was very lucky. I grew up in east Belfast and to begin with it was a tranquil time.

My father, Cyril, worked for the railways and started his own printing business. My mother, Mary, was a housekeeper.

My mother's sister - my auntie Margaret - lived with us. She worked as a personal assistant for one of the professors at the Ashby Institute at Queen's University Belfast in the engineering department. Being a single lady, she and her friend used to travel all over the world, so she used to bring a bit of glamour into it.

I remember they went twice - in 1971 and 1972 - to Russia and on the second occasion they got pulled in. The Russians basically said to them, "Why are you here? We notice you work in the Ashby Engineering Institute. Are you a spy?" My auntie said, "No, we just like it here", and the Russians were like, "You like it? You like the food here?" and my auntie was like "Yep! We're from Belfast", and they basically replied, "Oh, fair enough".

I have three sisters. My eldest sister, Alicean, is retired now. She was a food chemist and worked for Baileys Irish Cream, amongst other jobs.

My second eldest sister, Honor, is a teacher. My younger sister, Tracey, is a doctor.

Up until the age of nine, Northern Ireland was quite a pleasant place to live in. I can only have pleasant memories of the usual things like Easter, Christmas and summer holidays to Ballywalter. Then obviously after 1969 things got grimmer and I went to school in the centre of town - to Inst. You couldn't miss the Troubles going on around you, but luckily, between school activities, the church's youth club and Scouts on a Friday night, I was always busy doing something.

Q. What are you most proud of?

A. Commanding my battalion in war and bringing them all home again alive is the thing I can't not be proud of.



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Q. The one regret you wish you could amend?

A. There are many people who I've either been a leader of or I've known who have taken their own lives. I always wish I'd had a chance to have a conversation with them because I always know they'll have regretted doing it. And of course, you'll always wish that before they did that, they'd have given you a call or you'd had a chance to meet up with them.

Q. Any phobias?

A. None. Darkness, tight spaces, heights - none of them bother me.

Q. The temptation you cannot resist?

A. A good pint of Guinness. I'm very discerning. I'd rather not have it than have a bad pint of Guinness.

Q. Your number one prized possession?

A. I've got all sorts of interesting things that I've picked up along the way and I don't think anything is more prized than anything else. I'm a great believer in that we don't really own possessions. Many of the things I have are things I've acquired and I'll eventually pass on to someone else. So, you only really borrow things for a while.

I do have a 1944 Volkswagen Schwimmwagen, which is a German amphibious car, and I've got a 1945 Ford Jeep, both of which I spend a lot of time tinkering with. I suppose they take up most of my time.



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My plan is to drive them more than I fix them.

Q. The book that's most impacted your life?

A. There are lots of books that bring different realities to different stages of your life, but one that I've dipped into most over years is Machiavelli's The Prince. It's a book about the use and abuse of power.

Q. If you had the power or the authority, what would you do?

A. In many respects, what we need is to regulate society. When I think of growing up, I think of how fortunate we were with a lot less. I think we need to reset society, so that those who genuinely need help get help and those who think they need help realise they just want more stuff. The problem is we can't discern between the two.

I was reading recently that with coronavirus and the planet disaster happening and threat of imminent war, there's a group protesting to have gender taken off birth certificates. My view is that there is a lot more in the world that needs attention.

In Canterbury at the local cathedral when they bring the various ministers and bishops together, the Church of England wants to discuss gender issues and homosexuality. And when I speak to the African bishops they're just like, "Do we share the same planet? You should see where we live. We haven't got enough to eat. People are dying from HIV."

So, if I had the power or authority, what I would do is smack heads together and make people sit in the naughty corner if they come up with stupid things that are going to distract us from saving the planet and saving humanity.

Q. What makes your blood boil every time without fail?

A. Stupidity and people who have a sense of entitlement.

Q. Who has most influenced you in life?

A. I think when you're growing up, your parents influence you until you go to school, then it's your teachers, guides and mentors. And then throughout my time I suppose the leaders and commanding officers I've worked with and admired are the people who inspired me. Since I've left the Army I'm actually inspired by the people around me because what I've discovered in life is that the secret to success is to know what you want to achieve, surround yourself with good people, let them get on with it and when they succeed, you take all the credit!



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Q. Your top three dinner party guests, dead or alive, and why?

A. I'd love to talk to Napoleon because he was such a polymath. He was a politician, a military commander and he had vast vision and albeit came from humble beginnings. I'd love to understand - and you could only get a spark of it - what his whole vision for mankind was.

I'd also love to sit down and talk to Shakespeare and understand how, as someone who lived in 17th century England, he could create plays that went to ancient Rome, to Venice and to family disputes in northern Italy. How did he know this stuff? It's just astonishing. His understanding was huge. And one thing he was able to do in his plays was cast up a story and bring an audience in with words and without the props and visual effects that we rely on in today. How did he do that? I'd love to know that.

And if I could possibly have Jesus present, I'd ask, "What are we meant to be doing here?" Of all the religions in the world, somebody has got this badly wrong ... where did it go wrong?

Q. The best piece of advice you ever received?

A. "No matter what happens, be thoroughly honest about it." We can fix mistakes. When ruts get very deep is when you try to disguise a mistake and then that gets discovered. "Be honest" is the best piece of advice I've ever had, and I've stuck by it.

Q. The unlikely interest or hobby that you love?

A. I suppose fixing Schwimmwagens. The thing about a 1944 Schwimmwagen, which was made on February 26 and delivered to the German Army on February 28, is that it was made in two days and there's no manual that comes with it. It spent most of its life in the Second World War in east Germany. When you're working on one, you are guessing your way forward because there's no manual telling you how it works or how to dismantle it. You have to figure it out yourself. That can be hugely rewarding, but it can also be hugely frustrating.

Q The poem that touches your heart?

A. I love Frost's poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening because it's evocative. At the end he says, "And miles to go before I sleep" and life can be like that. Sometimes you get ready to stop and retire and sit down, then you remember the people who you're responsible for and the things you still have to do. That's when you have to give yourself a shake and get on with it.

Q. The happiest moment of your life?

A. The births of my children have been my happiest moments and every time has been different. Children are the real joy in life.



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Q. And the saddest moment of your life?

A. Losing a parent is always a sad moment. When my auntie Margaret died it was like losing a mother. My mother is still alive, but losing my father in 2001 was difficult. When you lose your parents, it's a big shake-up for anybody because suddenly you're more alone and more in charge. It's turning moment.

Q. The one event that made a difference in your life?

A. Being given command of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. I was interviewed for command for other regiments, but I was ultimately given command of my own. For good or for ill, that changed my whole future in ways I could have never imagined.

I just happened to take command of the battalion when it was at an all-time low after the Sierra Leone debacle.

At the end of my time in command we went to war in the liberation of Iraq and the events of that saw me both becoming known and also leaving the Army. After my 2003 eve-of-battle speech in Iraq, I fell out with the Army, which was something I couldn't have ever conceived. When that happened, it was like a divorce - the Army and I couldn't get rid of each other quick enough.

Q. What's the ambition that keeps driving you onwards?

A. To provide for my family.



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Whatsapp Tim with his wife Caroline as he received an OBE at Buckingham Palace

Q. What's the philosophy you live by?

A. To add value to every day.

Q How do you want to be remembered?

A. Now I've left public life, I would like to be remembered as good father and hopefully - though I have no grandchildren right now - a good grandfather.

Colonel Tim Collins is chairman of specialist security company Pinpoint Corporate Services, which offers training, mentoring and capacity building, and he is also a motivational speaker. For details of public speaking services, email Alice Saunders at alice@lawagency.co.uk
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Every spring, New Mexico farmers and water managers keep an eye on mountain snow, runoff and rain to prepare for irrigating crops during the hot, dry summer.

The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District manages irrigation and flood control for most of northern and central New Mexico.

Water operations manager David Gensler told the board of directors Monday that the irrigation season, which officially started March 2 for the district, is off to a smooth start.

The district is allowing limited irrigation as water begins to flow from reservoirs and the river into the main canals, small diversion ditches and acequias throughout central New Mexico.

The March 1 forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service predicts streamflow will be down this summer, thanks to a dry late February in the mountains. Water flows into El Vado Reservoir are forecast to be at about 64% of average.

Gensler said as long as it continues to rain and snow through March and April, he would be cautiously optimistic that the district will have enough water to last the year. The district anticipates a full allocation of San Juan-Chama water.

Im confident we have learned in the past 20 years how to operate the district with very little water, Gensler said. Should things continue to tighten up on us, well stretch every drop out to make sure our farmers stay in water this year.

Gensler was less optimistic about the forecasts implications for sensitive species along the river.

Last year, heavy runoff from a good snowpack meant river flows were high for most of the summer. That created abundant spawning habitat for the Rio Grande silvery minnow, an endangered fish recovering from a debilitating 2018 drought.

With the downtick in (this years) forecast, while it looks like its enough for us, it doesnt leave much excess for the river beyond normal consumptive use, Gensler said.

Other agencies help keep the river healthy for the fish when water demand exceeds supply. MRGCD works with the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Interstate Stream Commission to target reservoir releases and keep stretches of river wet for silvery minnow habitat.

The Bureau of Reclamation will host a public meeting next month to discuss its annual operating plan for the Rio Chama and Middle Rio Grande. The meeting will be at 2 p.m. April 16 at the Albuquerque Reclamation office, 555 Broadway NE, Suite 100.

Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that a very detailed tracking procedure was in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus and untested people cannot be brought back to the country in a very severe epidemic situation as the nation's health security has to be ensured.

The minister, who was replying to queries of members on his statement concerning Indians stranded in Iran due to COVID -19, said that India has not imposed a ban on foreign nationals coming to the country, but added that if people from certain countries come, they have to go through quarantine."I want to clarify that India has not imposed a ban. India has said that if people from certain countries who are coming here, they have to go through quarantine. In certain cases, compulsory quarantine and in some cases, discretionary quarantine - and Indian citizens, who are coming back, will obviously come back to quarantine conditions if that is required," he said.

Referring to the issue of tracking those who come in, he said that there is a very detailed tracking procedure.

"In fact, the group of ministers has seen every patient who was tested positive and has tracked hundreds of people who have been in contact with that patient. It is not that we are only quarantining. There is a very detailed tracking procedure in place and it is because of that we have been able to keep it to the limit that we have," he said.

Responding to concerns of DMK member TR Baalu, he said there were no coronavirus cases so far among any of the Indian fishermen in Iran but stated that they have difficulty in getting food and other things.

"Our consulate is in touch with them and will continue to be in touch with them. We are monitoring the situation and we are setting up a nodal centre to check their welfare and welfare of the other people," he said.

The minister said that the government was helping the people who were stranded at airports. "We are preventing a sense of panic," he added.

Jaishankar said that the government has kept in abeyance certain categories of visas for certain countries where there is a prevalence of coronavirus.

"Ours is not the only country that has done that. There are a lot of other countries that have also done that. We were among the earliest to do it," he said.

The External Affairs Minister also said that steps taken were decided on the basis of situation in different countries, adding that the central government has to prioritise.

"We have to see where the problem is more severe and what kind of people are affected. For example, pilgrims are affected because they live in conditions where the spread of disease is very possible, students are affected because the dormitories are closed," he said.

"We have to see where we should give the attention and where the resources should be given," he further said.

Referring to concerns raised by Conference member Hasnain Masoodi about delay in evacuation of Indians from Iran, Jaishankar said, "There has been a very difficult situation in Iran because their own system is under severe pressure."

"We first tried to get everybody help in Iran. When we realised that this was not happening, we were required to send our medical team. We had to actually establish a clinic at Qom. We had to shift even that to Tehran and ask the people to go from Qom to Tehran because that was the compulsion on us there. So, there has been no lack of sensitivity to the situation of people but please understand that it is a very difficult situation in Iran and we are working on it," he said.

He said that 58 people have come back.

"I expect, maybe, another more than 200 would come back soon and the numbers will keep increasing," the minister said.

Jaishankar said that one medical team was operating at Tehran.

"We are asking people to come to Tehran for testing. If there is a problem, we will find a way of reaching people in Mashhad. We will not leave them out there. I can give you that assurance," he further said.

Referring to the issue raised by AAP MP Bhagwant Mann about 30 students of Punjab stranded at Italy airport, he said that there are not 30 students but there are many more students from different parts of the country.

"For me, I need to find a way of helping or bringing all of them back. We are at it. We can only bring them back if they are tested. They have to be tested and to test them, we have started the sampling today. We cannot bring back untested people in very severe epidemic situation because I have the security of this country to worry about as well," Jaishankar said.

He also said that the government has identified a large number of possible quarantine centres.

"Till now, most of the quarantine is taking place in Manesar and close by, but if the quarantine numbers mount, we have already initiated an exercise in cooperation with different ministries and state governments. We have a much bigger contingency plan for quarantining," the minister asserted.

Referring to a query of Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Jaishankar said that the government was sensitive to the condition of Indians in the Gulf in the wake of concerns of the spread of coronovirus.

"So far in the Gulf, the cases have been very limited. But we are very much on alert because we totally share the member's concern that if the situation becomes worse there, they will have to be a priority area. So, it is very much on our radar," he said.

In his suo moto statement, Jaishankar stated that the situation in Italy is now emerging as a cause of great concern and steps in this regard have already been initiated.

"It has been decided to make provision for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy and collect samples for testing. A medical team is being sent there from India. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days. The challenge is growing by the day in Europe and we will respond accordingly," he said.

Jaishankar informed that a senior official has been appointed in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to coordinate the coronavirus response internationally.

"A nodal office is being established to speedily process requests for assistance that are naturally expected to increase from different parts of the world. Their details will be made available very shortly," he said.

He said that the government remains fully committed towards "the welfare of Indian nationals in any part of the world as well as ensuring the safety and security of our homeland".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OREGON -- With three new cases announced Thursday, there are now 24 people in Oregon who have tested positive for novel coronavirus, the Oregon Health Authority said.

One of the cases is Clackamas County's first and is a man between the ages of 35 and 54 who's had close contact with a previous case. The other new cases are in Washington County and involve women older than 55 with no close contact with confirmed cases and so are considered community spread.

RELATED: TWO CORONAVIRUS CASES IDENTIFIED AT LEBANON VETERANS HOME

On Wednesday, two cases were identified at a veteran's home in Lebanon. This is the first outbreak at a senior-style living center in Oregon. The cases involve men over the age of 80. They are also considered to be community spread.

An Infection Control and Specimen Collection Strike Team will deploy to Linn County to assess the facility. Visiting restrictions are being put in place.

One case is in Douglas County.

MORE: OFFICIALS IDENTIFY CORONAVIRUS CASE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY

The first Oregon case was announced Feb. 28.

For more coronavirus coverage, click here.
As alleged, this defendant waved a loaded gun in the faces of Rite-Aid employees simply doing their jobs and got away with $600, Williams alleged.
Burma Myanmar Military Chief Retains Special Powers as NLD Charter Reforms Stymied

Myanmar military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONMyanmars military chief will continue to wield special powers during states of emergency after a series of constitutional amendments proposed by the National League for Democracy (NLD) party failed to pass on Thursday.

The military-drafted 2008 Constitution grants sovereign power to the commander-in-chief in emergencies, including the rights to exercise the powers of the legislature, executive and judiciary.

The ruling NLD party, led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, has sought to amend and repeal these provisions but on Thursday, during the Parliaments third day of voting on constitutional amendments, all of the NLDs proposals failed to gather the required support of 75 percent of lawmakers.

Under Article 412 (a) of the Constitution, the president may declare a state of emergency in any situation that could lead to the disintegration of the country or a loss of sovereign power, or if there is an attempt to take power through force, including an insurgency.

The president must coordinate with the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) and if all 11 members of the NSDC are unable to attend, the president must at minimum coordinate with the commander-in-chief, deputy commander-in-chief and the ministers of defense and home affairs. The president is also required to submit the state of emergency declaration to the NDSC for approval as soon as possible. The NLD proposed to repeal both provisions.

The NLD also proposed to reduce the militarys dominance on the NDSC, which 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 ministers of defense, home affairs and border affairs. That proposal was also rejected on Wednesday.

Currently, the NLD holds 59 percent of seats in Parliament, ethnic parties hold 11 percent, the Union Solidarity and Development Party holds 5 percent and the military holds a constitutionally-mandated 25 percent.

Some say Myanmars 2008 Constitution is among the most rigid charters in the world, as it requires the militarys approval for any amendment, even if all elected representatives in Parliament endorse the change.

The Union Parliament began voting on constitutional amendments on Tuesday. Among the 43 proposals voted on so far, only two proposals received the required support of more than 75 percent of lawmakers. The two proposals that were approved are changes to the written term for disabled in Burmese.

NLD Upper House lawmaker U Aung Kyi Nyunt said he had anticipated that the attempt to change the charter might fail but that the failure was very telling.

Not a single amendment could be made and I interpret this as a very significant finding, he said on Wednesday. We dont feel downhearted. If we are to establish real democracy and federalism, there is great potential if we succeed, and if [the military] can accept amendments step by step. But now, we have an answer: that [the military] does not want even

gradual changes.

On Friday, the Parliament will vote on 12 more constitutional amendments submitted by the NLD, including an attempt to revoke the militarys power to veto constitutional changes.

Additional reporting by Htet Naing Zaw from Naypyitaw.

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BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th March, 2020) Bolivia declares a state of emergency in connection with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the head of the presidential administration, Yerko Nunez, said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Bolivia confirmed first two coronavirus cases on its soil. The individuals in question are women who have recently returned from Italy, the country with the largest COVID-19 outbreak outside of China.

"The government declares a state of emergency in the country, which will allow the authorities to accelerate the allocation of funds to fight the virus," Nunez said.

Nunez added that Bolivia had no plans to close borders at the moment, but urged all those arriving from worst-hit countries to self-isolate.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide has exceeded 124,000, with nearly 4,600 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Over 66,000 people have recovered. The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that the coronavirus situation can be now characterized as a pandemic.
Alabamas Senate passed a bill last week that could make it the first state in the U.S. to ban gender-change therapy for children.

The bill, known as the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, would establish criminal penalties for doctors who prescribe drugs intended to alter the minor child's gender or delay puberty. It also would ban gender-change surgeries on minors and prohibit schools from withholding information to parents if a child perceives his or her gender or sex is inconsistent with the minor's sex.

The bill passed the state Senate, 22-3, and now moves to the House of Representatives. South Dakotas House passed a similar bill earlier this year, although it subsequently was killed by a Senate committee.

Alabama state Sen. Shay Shelnutt, a Republican, said the bill is needed.

I just dont think and others dont think that kids should be given experimental drugs or surgeries that could have irreversible consequences for the rest of their life, Shelnutt said, according to AL.com. Kids are not fully developed until later in life. I think we can all agree that kids arent capable of making certain decisions until certain ages. And so, we want to just stop these procedures from happening in Alabama.

The bill says the long-term effects and safety of puberty-blocking medications and cross sex hormones to children has not been rigorously studied.

Further, the bill says, many children who identify as transgender change their mind about gender as they mature.

Studies have shown that a substantial majority of pre-pubescent children who claim a gender identity different from their biological sex will ultimately identify with their biological sex by young adulthood or sooner when supported through their natural puberty, the bill asserts.

There is no psychological or medical test that can differentiate between the majority of children who will desist from their gender incongruence and the minority who will not, the bill adds before noting that research suggests that the administration of puberty-blocking medications or cross-sex hormones forecloses the possibility of a natural recovery from this condition.

Related:

S.D. House Passes Landmark Bill Banning Transgender Treatment on Children

Former Transgender Teens: It Was the 'in' Thing to Do

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Alexmia

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
ExxonMobil has pledged large funds to support the work of Survive to Thrive and Operation Smile Vietnam

ExxonMobil today said it pledged $80,000 to help improve childrens healthcare in Central Vietnam in 2019. Accordingly, the company contributed $50,000 to VinaCapital Foundations Survive to Thrive programme, which funds critical care medical equipment and training for rural and mountainous districts of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai, and $30,000 to Operation Smile Vietnams dental care mission for primary students in Quang Nam province.

ExxonMobil is committed to supporting the communities where we live and work, said Greg Smith, president and country manager of ExxonMobil Vietnam. Our continued investment in childrens healthcare over the past nine years has made a significant impact to help the central provinces improve neonatal and paediatric care and health education.

An ExxonMobil-sponsored newborn incubator

ExxonMobils 2019 contribution to Survive to Thrive funded 14 pieces of medical equipment that have a profound and measurable impact on child mortality in some of the poorest districts in the provinces. The district hospitals receiving the equipment included South Tra My, Phuoc Son, Tien Phuoc in Quang Nam province and Duc Pho and Binh Son in Quang Ngai province, and benefitted more than 3,000 newborn babies per year.

In November 2019, Operation Smile Vietnam provided dental check-ups, consultations, and treatment for nearly 4,500 students from 13 elementary schools in Dien Ban district.

The medical team from nationwide hospitals such as National Hospital of Odonto  Stomatology, Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital, Hanoi Medical University, and Thu Duc Hospital were joined by international experts from Operation Smile Inc. to complete nearly 9,300 dental procedures.

Operation Smile Vietnams dental care mission for primary students in Quang Nam province

Over the past nine years, ExxonMobil Vietnam has invested $600,000 in the local community through its long-term partners of VinaCapital Foundation and Operation Smile Vietnam. Nearly two million children in Danang, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai and northern provinces, including the capital city of Hanoi, have benefited from ExxonMobils contributions.

ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Vietnam Ltd., an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation, together with partners PetroVietnam and PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation, is engaged in development activities in several technically and commercially challenging blocks offshore Central Vietnam in the Ca Voi Xanh field. This project has special meaning for fuel supply, power generation, and ensuring energy security for Vietnam.
A woman was forced to flee a bus in east London after a man sat behind her and exposed himself.

The victim, 22, boarded the 175 bus from Romford to Dagenham just after 2am on November 9 last year.

She was sitting on the upper deck of the bus, near the front, when a man got on and sat behind her.

He then indecently exposed himself for some time, police said.

Once the woman realised what was happening she exited the bus.

The man then got off at the next stop.

He is described as being of Asian appearance, medium build around 5ft 8ins tall and aged in his early twenties.

He has stubble on his face and dark, slightly curly hair described as messy.

He was wearing a red hooded jacket, blue jeans, black trainers and a black bag on his right shoulder.

Detectives have released an image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the number of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) grows by day worldwide, so do the risks for doctors and nurses, state nurses union leaders said Wednesday during a Manhattan press conference.

*** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Forty nine percent of nurses said healthcare facilities do not have enough N95 respirators for all staff who might need them while helping patients who have tested positive or might test positive for COVID-19, said Staten Islander Pat Kane, executive director of the New York State Nurses Association, while sharing survey data.

We are your public health army, but we cant defend people if we are not properly armed, she said.

N95 respirators are considered the best masks to be used while dealing with patients with infectious disease, as they filter 95% of very small particles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

N95 are capable of filtering out all types of particles, including bacteria and viruses, according to the CDC.

Additionally, 39% of the nurses included in the survey declared that facilities are forcing or expecting staff to reuse N95 respirators after caring for confirmed or possible coronavirus cases.

Yet, CDC regulations allow for extended use of N95 respirators by wearing the same N95 for repeated close-contact encounters with several different patients, without removing the respirator.

Healthcare professionals can also re-use N95 respirators, defined as removing them between encounters, according to the CDC.

For pathogens in which contact transmission is not a concern, non-emergency reuse has been practiced for decades, the CDC states.

The NYSNA is asking New York City, New York state and the federal government for mandatory standards for the protection of healthcare workers, the increase of staffing and the addition of needed equipment and supplies.

Nurses are also asking all levels of government to support the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act introduced by Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn).

I know our local hospitals are prepared and doing all they can to protect patients and staff, but the fact is we need clear leadership and guidelines from the federal government to ensure those on the front lines are protected, Rose said. Healthcare workers are some of the most selfless public servants, and particularly in times of public health emergencies, we have to make sure we have their backs and are ensuring their safety.

STATE CASES RISE TO 212; CITY CASES TO 12

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday that the total number of confirmed 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 a 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.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

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Second confirmed coronavirus case on Staten Island

Man with coronavirus on Staten Island is an EMS worker, source says

Coughs, sneezes, surfaces. Heres how coronavirus is and isnt spread.

Broadway ticket prices discounted amid coronavirus outbreak

Can I get my money back? Travel insurance, airline changes in wake of coronavirus.

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

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First coronavirus case confirmed on Staten Island
A person who attended a major music festival with 12,000 others has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.

The Golden Plains music festival was a sold-out event held near the town of Meredith, west of Melbourne, over the weekend of March 7, 8 and 9.

It is believed the person had recently returned from an overseas trip and felt sick on Sunday - the second day of the festival, ABC reported.

The Golden Plains music festival was a sold-out event held near the town of Meredith, west of Melbourne (pictured)

Alternative rock band The Pixies was a main act. The band has cancelled its remaining Australian tour (pictured: revellers watching a band at the festival)

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the case but told Daily Mail Australia more information would be available on Friday.

'We are aware of a case associated with the Golden Plains Music Festival. However, contact tracing is still underway.

'Due to the outdoor nature of the festival the risk of transmission is low. More information about this case will be available tomorrow when the details of Victorian COVID-19 cases will be updated.'

Alternative rock band The Pixies was a main act. The band has since cancelled its remaining Australian tour.

Festival organisers sent an email to ticket holders before event reminding people to wash their hands (pictured: revellers ta Golden Plains music festival in March)

'Out of caution for current public health concerns, Pixies are postponing the remaining Australian shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth,' the band said in a statement.

'This was an extremely difficult decision, but the wellbeing of our fans is always our top priority. Rescheduled dates for all of these shows will be announced soon.'

Festival organisers sent an email to ticket holders before event reminding people to wash their hands.

They also encouraged anyone feeling sick to stay home.

Festival organisers declined to comment.
Trump bans travel from Europe to US in bid to combat coronavirus spread

Donald Trump has ordered an immediate shutdown of all travel from mainland Europe to the US in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The US Presidents sweeping new restrictions are set to last for 30 days but will not apply to the UK, where 460 cases of the virus have now been confirmed.

He blamed the EU for not acting quickly enough to address Covid-19, saying US clusters were "seeded" by European travellers.

PM to escalate UKs Covid-19 response as he holds emergency Cobra meeting

Later today, Boris Johnson is expected to escalate the UKs coronavirus response to the delay phase after the outbreak was declared a pandemic.

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra meeting at lunchtime.

Moving to delay would mean social distancing measures could be brought in, such as restrictions public gatherings and more widespread advice on staying at home and not going to work or school.

Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson have coronavirus

Elsewhere, Tom Hanks has announced he and wife Rita Wilson have coronavirus.

The Oscar-winning actor has been in Australia filming an upcoming Elvis Presley biopic and said he started experiencing symptoms of the virus.

The couple are the first major US celebrities known to have contracted Covid-19.

British soldier among three killed in Iraq rocket strike

A member of the British military has been killed alongside two Americans following a rocket attack on Taji air base in Iraq.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed said the deceased was a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace called the attack a "cowardly and retrograde act".

Taji air base is used as a training site for Coalition forces.

Rare '600-year-old' medieval diamond snapped up by V&A

A rare, medieval diamond and gold brooch discovered by a metal detectorist has been snapped up by the Victoria & Albert Museum.

It is thought to be around 600 years old.

The flower-shaped brooch, one of only seven known in the world, was found at a former royal and aristocratic hunting ground which is now a farm.

The V&A has acquired it, to sit alongside Queen Victoria's coronet and Beyonce's Papillon ring.

On this day...

1904: The first main-line electric train in the UK left Liverpool for Southport.

1941: The original incident used in Compton Mackenzie's Whisky Galore occurred in the Hebrides when a cargo ship ran aground with her holds full of whisky. Islanders hid the quarter of a million bottles from Customs officers.

1969: Beatle Paul McCartney married photographer Linda Eastman, while George Harrison was arrested for illegal possession of cannabis.

1977: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat said he would not allow a single inch of Arab land to remain under Israeli occupation.

1987: The Government gave the go-ahead to the Sizewell B nuclear processing plant in Suffolk.
The Hardin County Fire Department has recovered a third unidentified body from the Tennessee River. Search crews recovered the body of a John Doe around 7 a.m. near Shiloh National Military Park on the Tennessee River. The body has been sent to the Medical Examiners office in Memphis for an autopsy and identification. The third body was recovered within the same area as the two previous bodies. Hardin County has suspended search and recovery operations pending results from the Medical Examiners office.

TWRA would like to thank all the agencies and volunteers that have assisted with the search and recovery operations over the last three weeks. The Hardin County Fire Department worked diligently searching 19 days straight for the missing boaters. Gratitude is expressed to Sumner County EMA, Decatur County Rescue, Hardin County Sheriffs Department, Henry County Rescue, Henderson County Rescue, and EMA, Lake County Sheriff, Humphreys County Sheriff, Carroll County Rescue, Chester County Rescue, Samburg Fire Department, Finger Fire Department, Obion County Rescue, Fayette County Sheriffs, TEMA, TVA Police, and Pickwick State Park staff, Jackson Police Department Aviation Unit, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol Helicopter for assisting with search and recovery operations.

The Hardin County and Obion County communities should be commended on assisting the families and search crews during the three weeks. Appreciation is expressed to the large congregation providing supplies to the search crews along with the overwhelming support for the family during the search and recovery.

The preliminary investigation indicates that a Stratos boat containing Kenneth Driver, 43, and two 15-year-old boys was last seen on Saturday, Feb. 22, between 8 and 8:30 a.m. The three occupants and the 20-foot bass boat went through the floodgates at Pickwick Dam. Search efforts were concentrated on a 14 mile stretch the Tennessee River for the missing boaters. The three people were reported missing on Sunday, Feb. 23, after the fishermen failed to return from an Obion County club bass tournament. Water and air searches were conducted for 19 straight days in the attempts to locate the missing boaters. All three of the missing bodies were recovered within the same area approximately nine miles from the dam.
Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 11th March 2020.

Here are the major headlines.

Leave Buhari Out Of Sanusis Dethronement  Presidency

The presidency has washed President Muhammadu Buhari hands off any involvement in the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi II from as Emir of Kano.

How Emir Sanusi Was Forced Into Exile In Nasarawa Against His Will  Legal Team

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.

New Bill Proposes Jail Terms For Sellers, Users Of Generators

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.

SERAP Demands Immediate Release Of Sanusi

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for the immediate release of former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from detention. Recall that Sanusi was dethroned on Monday by Governor Umar Ganduje-led administration and he was banished to Awe village in Nasarawa State where he will not be allowed to have visitors until further notice.

How Sanusis Rift With Ganduje Started Three Years Ago

Salihu Yakasi, the special assistant to Kano state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on media and publicity has revealed that the deposed Emir of Kano state, Sanusi Lamido fell out with the state government three years ago.

Coronavirus: CBN Urges Nigerians To Go Cashless To Avoid Spread

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged Nigerians to use payment methods like electronic transfers in order to avoid the spread of coronavirus.

Sanusis Banishment, Dethronement Is Illegal  Femi Falana

Human right activist, Femi Falana has stated that the dethronement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano and subsequent banishment is illegal.

Coronavirus: MURIC Calls For Postponement Of NYSC Excercise

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.

Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has pointed out that most State Governors in Nigeria dont tolerate criticisms.
(Photo : Deepanker Verma from Pixabay) Google Maps issued an update to business owners regarding any changes made due to coronavirus outbreak. (Photo : Ann San from Pixabay) Changes made, such as operating hours, should be updated on your business profile, says Google.

Google Maps has recently issued updated advice to entrepreneurs and business owners to ensure their customers are well-informed about any changes in their business amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Google Maps Makes an Announcement

According to a report by the Daily Express, the update is created to keep both loyal and potential customers in the loop of any changes a business might have due to the COVID-19 scare.

Google has published its update advice on its support page, encouraging business owners to "provide accurate information" to its customers.

Among the possible changes are hours of operation, or whether the establishment is temporarily closing its doors--as with several businesses in the US, such as big dim sum parlors in New York as well as universities and colleges.

Any changes you make will be shown on your profile, both Google Search and Google Maps, but are subject to possible reviews for quality by the company.

The tech giant also advised a few changes that businesses can do.

Many large companies, including Google, have been permitting their workers to work remotely for now to avoid further spread of the disease.

Customers Should Be Made Aware

Businesses that have done this are likely to have shorter operating hours, and customers must be made aware of these changes so they can schedule their visits and avoid going out unnecessarily.

Additionally, Google Maps also wants business owners to provide further information about any changes, especially precautions they are taking if there are any--if they are experiencing delays, or they are offering any extra services for their customers.

If they are affected in any way by the novel coronavirus outbreak, Google Maps encourages them to share the information they can.

They are also advised to update their contact details where customers can reach them.

Lastly, Google encouraged business owners to create and share posts to communicate with their customers regularly.

"Share more detailed and timely updates about what's going on with your business through Posts. For example, add information about what products and services you have available, and link to other resources," the company wrote.

Following Apple's Announcement

Google Maps' move comes after Apple has made its own coronavirus-related announcement to iPhone users, stating that they can now use disinfectant wipes to clean their smartphones, Mac laptops, computers, and iPads.

Apple has also allowed its employees to work remotely for now.

As of writing, there are over 100,000 cases around the world, with China and Italy on the lead, as well as more than 4,700 COVID-19 death-related cases confirmed in the first three months since it was discovered in Wuhan, China.

ALSO READ: Apple Was Battered By Coronavirus. Could 5G iPhones, New MacBook Line Help the Tech Giant Bounce Back?

Businesses around the world are affected, driving low sales from lockdowns and people's fear of coming out.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the best way to avoid infecting the disease is to properly wash your hands for 20 seconds on a regular basis, disinfecting "high-touch" surfaces such as doorknobs and table surfaces, as well as social distancing.

Recently, WHO has officially announced that the novel coronavirus is a pandemic.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 13:37:14|Editor: Liu

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BRUSSELS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Wednesday launched an investment initiative worth several billion euros to cushion the economic impact of COVID-19, while some members have acted in this regard for days.

Since the novel coronavirus has emerged in all 27 EU members after Cyprus reported its first two cases, the bloc has been ramping up responses.

MEASURES TAKEN

Some EU states have taken actions to minimize the economic impact of coronavirus.

Italy, the hardest-hit EU member with more than 10,000 infections reported by Wednesday morning, has decided to extend its quarantine to the entire country.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte indicated Monday that the government would adopt a "massive shock therapy" as a sort of economic stimulus, in case the disease throws the country into a tailspin.

Last week, the Italian government pledged 7.5 billion euros (8.5 billion U.S. dollars) to overcome negative consequences of the epidemic.

Apart from Italy, Germany, with nearly 1,600 COVID-19 cases by Wednesday afternoon, is also bracing for economic shocks.

On Monday, Germany's governing parties of the conservative union CDU/CSU and the Social Democratic Party agreed on various measures to support the country's economy.

Expanding agreed investment paths and enabling new priorities, the coalition committee announced an "investment offensive" with an additional expenditure of 12.4 billion euros (14 billion dollars) until 2024 to offer liquidity support to affected German companies.

With the European Central Bank (ECB) to meet this week for its latest monetary policy decision, ECB President Christine Lagarde said that the central bank stands ready to "take appropriate and targeted measures, as necessary and commensurate with the underlying risks."

COORDINATED PLAN

Following a video conference of the European Council on Tuesday evening, German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised that the European stability and growth pact would be handled "flexibly," which means that governments in the bloc could be allowed to stop cutting deficits and public debts and address the challenge at hand.

On Wednesday, the EU announced a response investment initiative of 25 billion euros (28.3 billion dollars) to support the economy.

Some European analysts believe that the ECB's monetary tools may have only a limited effect on the eurozone economy, as the coronavirus fear cuts not only capital liquidity, but also consumer demands. Therefore, some EU members, represented by France, have been calling for a coordinated massive plan of financial stimulus at the eurozone level.

France's Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire said Monday that Europe needs "a strong, massive, coordinated response" to cope with the economic fallout due to the coronavirus.

"We must have general mobilization. We have to work on a recovery plan based on fiscal measures and budgetary measures, tax cuts, so that as soon as the epidemiological crisis is over, we can revive the economic machine," Le Maire told France Inter Radio recently.

"Giving the potential impact on growth including the disruption of supply chains, we will coordinate our responses and stand ready to use all appropriate policy tools to achieve strong, sustainable growth safeguard against further materialization of downside risks," said Eurogroup President Mario Centeno in a statement earlier this month.

SOLIDARITY COUNTS

However, the epidemic seems to alienate EU states, while some figures have been calling for solidarity.

After Germany banned the export of masks and other medical supplies, followed by France which decided to requisition all mask stocks and production, Belgian Health Minister Maggie De Block criticized the two neighbors, saying the restrictions violate the spirit of solidarity in the bloc.

Coincidentally, German customs authorities blocked the export of a truck loaded with 240,000 protective masks to Switzerland, while Swiss authorities said the move is a broader export ban on protective gear.

Both Switzerland and Belgium produce few masks.

EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides said member states should make sure that protective equipment is available across the continent," saying "solidarity is the key."

French President Emmanuel Macron also told his European partners that "unity is strength," inviting them to "act together now."

"In order to face COVID-19 ... I call on our European partners to take urgent action to coordinate health measures, research efforts and our economic response," Macron tweeted Monday.
WASHINGTON  Four nations that are among the Trump administrations top diplomatic adversaries were singled out on Wednesday for rampant human rights violations, raising questions of whether the State Departments annual review of civil liberties protections worldwide was being politicized.

In previewing the 2019 human rights report  an assessment of 199 countries and foreign territories  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo named China, Cuba, Iran and Venezuela as among the worst violators, saying their governments had systematically attacked political protesters, oppressed free speech and journalists and, in some cases, spied on their citizens.

All four are targets of pressure campaigns by the Trump administration to install sweeping political, economic or military change by the ruling governments.

But Mr. Pompeo did not publicly mention violations  as detailed in the report  by governments whose authoritarian leaders President Trump recently has been reluctant to criticize, including in North Korea, Turkey and Russia.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijan has cancelled traditional Nowruz celebrations held in March to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, the Operational Headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers said in a statement published on March 10.

The decision comes after consultations with experts and by taking into account recommendations of the World Health Organization, the operational headquarters statement reads.

The operational headquarters also said that it is recommended to postpone weddings and these kinds of banquets and not to hold mass funeral ceremonies in forthcoming months as the infection risk of the virus in crowded places is high.

It further recommended the citizens to stay away from crowded places, indoor spaces, to postpone their visits to foreign countries, at the same time, to the countries of the risk group, and to show maximum compliance with protective measures during the important trips (protective medical mask, special protective glasses, use of disinfectant means and etc.).

In the meantime, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies is implementing a number of urgent measures to prevent the spread of (COVID-19).

The State Road Transport Service under the Ministry, jointly with carriers engaged in international and domestic passenger transportation in 56 bus terminals and bus stations, provides daily disinfection of vehicles, as well as territories of bus terminals, waiting rooms, office rooms, cultural and social and sanitary-hygienic facilities.

The State Road Transport Service has instructed the Baku International Bus Terminal Complex to do disinfection work in vehicles, on platforms, in ticket offices, waiting rooms, information centre, sanitary facilities, transport centres and public catering facilities, hostel, hotel, gas-filling station, technical inspection rooms, first aid rooms and Shebeke service centre.

In addition, to raise awareness of coronavirus, the information centre of the Baku International Bus Terminal Complex operates around the clock to receive requests for delayed flights due to coronavirus and resolve other issues that may arise. Disinfection work carried out in buses carrying out intercity and international flights every 3 days, is carried out daily in connection with the situation.

Appropriate measures are also taken by Azerpost LLC. Disinfection work is carried out in the Mail Delivery Center, Shebeke service centres, branch post offices and post offices. The Mail Delivery Center, communications agency Azerexpresspost, branch post offices in Astara, Bilasuvar, Gazakh, Balaken, Khachmaz, Gusar, Aghstafa are provided with masks, gloves and alcohol.

Disinfection work is carried out in the central administrative building of Aztelecom LLC four times a day. Additionally, it is planned to purchase the necessary virus protection products for use in 57 telecommunication centres subordinated to Aztelecom LLC.

Disinfection measures are regularly taken in vehicles of the Baku Taxi Service LLC, meaning that everyday taxi vehicles of the company are disinfected in Baku.

At night, day shift vehicles are disinfected, and night shift taxis are during the day.

The Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies has also taken necessary measures and disinfection work on all taxis operating at Heydar Aliyev Airport, and have started to monitor the sanitary and hygienic situation on a daily basis.

The ministry provides taxi drivers with antiseptic solutions and other virus preventive tools.

Recently, the government allocated $5.8m to fight the spread of novel coronavirus infection COVID-19.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Springfield College announced Wednesday night that it is extending spring break  originally scheduled for March 14-22  until March 29 as it weighs whether to offer remote online classes in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Likewise, Bay Path University in Longmeadow said in a statement on Wednesday that it would explore remote delivery of classes for all of our programs.

Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper said that extending spring break an additional week will allow faculty time to prepare course content both at the undergraduate and graduate level to be delivered on-line in the event it becomes necessary

It also provides the College with the opportunity to understand more fully the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak, especially now that the World Health Organization today declared the outbreak a pandemic, acknowledging what has seemed clear for some time  that the virus will likely spread to all countries on the globe, and of news yesterday that Gov. (Charlie) Baker has declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts over the concerns surrounding the outbreak, Cooper said in a statement on the college website.

Bay Path University President Carol Leary urged faculty and students to monitor emails and the college website for updates on the situation.

The Universitys leadership team and our COVID-19 working group are meeting numerous times daily to monitor the quickly evolving Coronavirus outbreak, Leary said. I would like to emphasize again that the health, safety, and well-being of our community remains our top priority."

Colleges across the state have reacted to pandemic and announced plans to protect students and staff.

Related:
Antony Fernando By

Express News Service

NAGAPATTINAM: Over five tonnes of sea cucumbers worth crores of rupees were seized in three places near Nagapattinam in the past two days. Two illegal preservation centres were also busted for processing the sea cucumbers.

In the latest catch on Tuesday, the Marine Police raided a house in Keechankuppam near Nagapattinam district and seized over three tons of sea cucumbers (Kadal Attai) in 56 boxes. The house owner named N Ramadoss (37) fled after learning about the raid. "The house owner was processing sea cucumbers somewhere. He had brought all his stock to his house in Keechankuppam to hide it after learning about the raids by the forest department on Monday. we are investigating and looking our for more suspects." said P Raja, the Marine Police Inspector from Nagapattinam

Earlier on Monday, the forest department officials busted the illegal preservation centres near Nagapattinam, which were processing sea cucumbers (Kadal Attai) illegally. They are located in Thideerkuppam and near Mariamman Kovil, close to Akkaraipettai. "We found out about these illegal facilities through our informants. We learnt those running these places were smuggling the processed sea cucumbers to Ramanathapuram and then to Tuticorin and then abroad. We will initiate a detailed investigation to find the links of the suspects," said S Kalanithi, District Forest Officer, Nagapattinam.

Marine Police arrested P Senbagam (60), owner of the centre near Mariamman Kovil and his accomplice R Chandrasekar (45) from Ramanathapuram. A person named Muruganandham, who was running the other facility in Thideerkuppam fled the spot after learning of the arrival of officials. The suspects were charged under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The seized sea cucumbers were handed over to Forest department officials in Nagapattinam. It is learnt they would be destroyed after seeking permission from a magistrate.

Sea cucumbers are marine animals with leathery skin and an elongated body that dwell at the bottom of the sea. It is illegal to catch these echinoderms. However, there is a big demand for sea cucumbers smuggled to countries like China, Thailand, Korea and Japan. Officials seized processed, and under-processed sea cucumbers left to dry in the sun.
Signage in favour of resource development is seen along Yellowhead Highway near Telkwa in northern British Columbia on Jan. 10, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Chad Hipolito)

Cancellation of $4 Billion Investment in Canadas Energy Sector the New Normal, Says Former Energy Exec

The man who built Encana into one of Canadas largest energy companies says blows to the nations resource sector, such as Berkshire Hathaways decision against investing $4 billion in Quebecs LNG project last week, has become the new normal.

Weve had symptoms of companies, including the one I founded, leaving the country and the oil industry, said Gwyn Morgan in an interview.

We basically have a country where you cant get anything done to do with the development of resources requiring any infrastructure. And the irony is, every competitor we have in business internationally is saying this is greatCanada used to compete with us and now we dont have to even worry about them.

As Energie Saguenay is short nearly half of the $9 billion required to complete the 750-kilometre pipeline from northeastern Ontario to pump Alberta natural gas to an export terminal outside Quebec City, its the latest example of money fleeing Canada for more predictable locales.

Canadas current political context was the reason provided by Energie Saguenay for the Warren Buffett-owned Berkshire Hathaways decision to pull out of the project as the spectre of rail blockades and freight delays continued over protests related to opposition of the $6.6 billion Coastal GasLink pipeline.

When I was in business, if I had people who are totally opposed and entrenched against somethingI didnt try to talk to them. I went around them. I went to the supporters, Morgan said, contrasting how Ottawa handled dissent over the 670-kilometre pipeline in northeastern B.C. backed by 20 First Nations communities on its right-of-way, including the Wetsuweten elected band councils.

[Ottawa] has the built-in support of 20 tribes and most of their members, so why didnt they go there and say, well we want to have this pipeline and we need your help. Instead theyre giving the farm away to five or six unelected Wetsuweten leaders and they havent even told us what the deal is.

While construction on the pipeline moves ahead between blockades and negotiations, most recently adding to the pile of over $100 billion in abandoned energy plays under the federal governments watch was Tecks February bombshell that it was pulling the plug on its $20 billion Frontier oilsands mine.

Foreign direct investment has collapsed, and on top of that, Canadian foreign investment has skyrocketed; in other words, Canadians are sending their money elsewhere to invest, said Morgan. So that is a toxic mix.

Last October, barely a year after Encana spent $7.7 billion to acquire Texas-based Newfield Exploration, the company moved its headquarters from Calgary to Denver and rebranded itself as Ovintiv.

The list of recent capital exodus from Canadas resource sector includes the $15 billion Energy East (abandoned by proponents), the $8 billion Northern Gateway (cancelled due to an Ottawa-imposed ban on oil tanker traffic), and Petronass $36 billion LNG project (scrapped in 2017).

I lived through the National Energy Program  which was a horrible time. A lot of companies went bankrupt and it was just survival, said Morgan. I guess we always knew it couldnt continue, but ultimately the comparison between the two situations is the same.

The NEP, established by former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, essentially nationalized Canadas energy reserves by setting a national price below the global markets in an attempt to give the federal government more control of the wealth produced.

Petro-Canada and Western resentment are the tangible NEP remnants, the latter of which has seen a resurgence as Alberta sheds more oilpatch jobs and succession from the Canadian federation percolates in the province.

Albertans are resilient and resourceful and Ive never seen them give up, even in the worst situations. But now when I talk to people I know in the industry, theyve pretty much given up hope, Morgan said.

In his view, the project cancellations are a result of an intrinsically socialist approach to the economy.

He says if Canada restricts itself in energy production, then the Chinese, the Venezuelans, the Saudis, the Iranians, and the Nigerians will reap the benefits.

Our countrys based on resources, its our number one advantage. Weve managed to kill our number one advantage.
Authorities in a central Chinese city close to the epicentre of the

have discovered that getting back to normal after weeks of living under lockdown is far from easy.







At 8.30am on Wednesday, the government of Qianjiang  which lies about 150km (90 miles) east of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province  said that all restrictions on the movement of people and traffic would be lifted at 10am. They were.







Then, at 10.30am, they were reinstated.







"The city will continue its restrictions on the movement of traffic and residents," the government said, without elaborating.







About two hours later, the Hubei government issued a statement outlining the different restrictions that applied to each city within the province based on their particular situation.







And unfortunately for the people of Qianjiang, despite having the lowest number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 of any city in Hubei, the provincial authority classed it as "high risk" and ruled that all public transport would remain suspended.







It also said that only a handful of businesses in key sectors were permitted to resume their operations.







Ahead of

's visit to Wuhan on Tuesday, many cities in Hubei  though not the provincial capital  had gone several days without reporting any new infections.







As a result, provincial leaders had ordered cities to make preparations to get their economies back in business, while rolling out a new electronic system for monitoring the public's health.







Xi said on his visit that officials should continue to strengthen disease prevention and control measures, but where possible also get businesses back up and running.







The Qianjiang government, which was praised by some Chinese media for its swift action in implementing a citywide lockdown and other measures when the epidemic began in January, was also among the keenest to get things back to normal.







Before being overruled by the provincial authorities, the Qianjiang government told local companies they could decide for themselves when to reopen and did not have to fill in any paperwork to do so.







A district official, who gave only her surname Xiang, said Qianjiang had been harshly treated.







"[The city] did the best in Hubei in containing and controlling the outbreak. The policy was changed too fast and damaged the government's credibility and made our work harder. The public already doesn't trust officials," she said.







"Everyone is at the emotional tipping point as the lockdown has lasted for more than a month. Many people have lost income because they've been unable to go to work. They asked us officials to give them jobs, but how can we get jobs for them in the current situation?"







Wen Kejian, a political commentator based in the east China city of Hangzhou, said the situation in Qianjiang highlighted the difficulties governments faced in trying to get their economies back online while continuing to fight the epidemic.







"Low-level officials shoulder the most pressure and have the least power. They are aware of the local situation and capable of making reasonable policies, but are subject to rulings made by their bosses," he said.







"Although [the officials know that] the epidemic is damaging to the economy, one little slip could end their career, so most choose the more conservative options."







Besides specific arrangements for Wuhan, Hubei's new back-to-business guidelines classified all other jurisdictions into one of three categories based on their perceived risk level.







As of Tuesday, 45 counties and cities were classed as low risk, 19 medium risk, and 12  including Qianjiang  high risk. Since the outbreak began, Wuhan has reported almost 50,000 confirmed cases, and Qianjiang 198.







In low and middle risk regions, construction sites, and legal and accounting firms can gradually resume operations, but businesses that involve large gatherings of people, like cinemas, shops, bars, karaoke and gyms, must remain closed for the time being.







Traffic restrictions would be gradually lifted, and public transport, including domestic flights, would be phased back in, the Hubei government said.







In Wuhan, only public utilities, agricultural firms, and companies that support the disease control effort or provide essential supplies are allowed to resume operations.







However, manufacturers considered key to national or global supply chains can also resume operations if approved to do so by the government. Japanese carmaker Honda said on Wednesday it would partially resume production at its Wuhan facility.


National carrier Air India on Wednesday night announced the temporary suspension of its flight services to Rome, Milan and Seoul.

Mumbai: National carrier Air India on Wednesday night announced the temporary suspension of its flight services to Rome, Milan and Seoul.

While services to Rome (Italy) are being discontinued from 15 March to 25 March, flight operations to Milan (Italy) and Seoul in South Korea will remain suspended between 14 March and 28 March, an airline official said.

The decision came following the government suspending all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till 15 April 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) cardholders is also kept in abeyance till 15 April, it said.

All incoming 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 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.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis man was found guilty Wednesday in the 2017 murder of a woman whose body was dumped in a Metro East landfill.

After more than three hours of deliberation, jurors found Paulren Stepter, 54, guilty of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the Jan. 27, 2017, shooting death of Brandy Morrison, 23, of St. Louis.

Authorities said Stepter shot Morrison in the head, killing her in his home in the 6100 block of Laura Avenue, before dumping her corpse in a bin nearby. Police tracked the trash collection route to a landfill in Marissa, about 30 miles southeast of St. Louis, where police found her body a few days later.

Jurors on Wednesday acquitted Stepter of abandoning Morrison's body and evidence tampering.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Taking dramatic action, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday he is sharply restricting passenger travel from 26 European nations to the U.S. and moving to ease the economic cost of a viral pandemic that is roiling global financial markets and disrupting the daily lives of Americans.

Trump, in a rare Oval Office address to the nation, said the month-long restriction on travel would begin late Friday, at midnight. After days of playing down the coronavirus threat, he blamed Europe for not acting quickly enough to address the foreign virus and claimed that U.S. clusters were seeded by European travelers.

We made a lifesaving move with early action on China," Trump said. "Now we must take the same action with Europe.

Trump said the restrictions won't apply to the United Kingdom, and there would be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings." He said the U.S. would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.

The State Department followed Trump's remarks by issuing an extraordinary global health advisory cautioning U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the virus and associated quarantines and restrictions.

Trump spoke after days of confusion in Washington and in the face of mounting calls on the president to demonstrate greater leadership. At times, though, his remarks contributed to the uncertainty.

While Trump said all European travel would be cut off, Homeland Security officials later clarified that the new travel restrictions would apply only to most foreign nationals who have been in the "Schengen Area" at any point for 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States. The area includes France, Italy, German, Greece, Austria, Belgium and others, and the White House said the zone has the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside of mainland China.

The restrictions don't apply to legal permanent residents, immediate family of U.S. citizens or others "identified in the proclamation" signed by Trump.

And Trump misspoke when he said the prohibitions would "not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things." The official proclamation released after Trump spoke made clear it applies to people, not goods and cargo.

The Oval Office address represented an abrupt shift in tone from a president who has repeatedly sought to play down the severity of the virus outbreak. Many Americans shared a similar mindset in recent weeks, but the grueling events of Wednesday changed the mood: Communities canceled public events nationwide, universities moved to cancel in-person classes, and families grappled with the impact of disruptions to public schools. The number of confirmed cases of the infection topped 1,000 in the U.S. and the World Health Organization declared the global crisis is now a pandemic.

Even as Trump spoke from behind the Resolute Desk, the pandemics ferocious rewriting of American daily life continued. The National Basketball Association suspended its season, and Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, had tested positive for COVID-19. The first confirmed case on Capitol Hill was reported in a legislative staffer.

After Trump spoke, the White House cancelled a planned trip by the president to Nevada and Colorado this week, out of an abundance of caution." Trump's re-election campaign also postponed a planned March 19 event in Milwaukee that was set to feature the president.

After a week of mixed messages and false starts, and as government officials warned in increasingly urgent terms that the outbreak in the U.S. will only get worse, Washington suddenly seemed poised to act.

Congress unveiled a multibillion-dollar aid package Wednesday that was expected to be voted on by the House as soon as Thursday.

"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 Disease, said in testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. He said the virus is "10 times more lethal than the seasonal flu.

S&P 500 futures went from a loss of about 0.4% before Trump spoke to a decline of 1.5% afterwards. The decline in the futures market followed a steep 4.9% drop in regular trading Wednesday. Wall Street investors are increasingly concerned that the Trump administration and other governments wont be able to do enough to prevent the virus outbreak from causing significant damage to the global economy.

After Trumps address, Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced a series of moves, including restrictions for 60 days on travel by servicemembers, Defense Department civilians and their families to, from and through the four counties currently designated by the Centers for Disease Control as the highest risk COVID-19 counties  China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.

In his remarks, Trump focused more on the threat of travel continuing to bring in illness when, in fact, in parts of the country there already is community spread  meaning people who don't have a known travel exposure are becoming infected.

In an omission that Democratic leaders called alarming," Trump left unaddressed the testing backlog that is hampering efforts to learn just how many Americans already are infected. And while he warned the elderly to avoid risky crowds, advised nursing homes to suspend visitors and told sick people to stay home from work, he didnt address one of the biggest concerns  whether hospitals are equipped to handle the sick or will be overwhelmed.

Georgetown University public health expert Lawrence Gostin tweeted in reaction to Trump's speech, "Most of Europe is as safe as US," and COVID-19 is already here; germs don't respect borders.

Trump said he was also directing agencies to provide unspecified financial relief for for workers who are ill, quarantined or caring for others due to coronavirus," and asked Congress to take action to extend it. White House aides declined to provide details on Trump's announcement.

Trump said the U.S. will defer tax payments for some individual and business filers for three months to lessen the impacts of the virus outbreak. He said the Small Business Administration will also make low-interest loans available to businesses to help them weather the storm.

"This is not a financial crisis," he said. "This just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world."

Trump also reiterated his call on Congress to pass a cut to the federal payroll tax in order to stimulate the economy, though that idea has been dismissed by many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. He remained silent on his previous calls to provide assistance to industries hard-hit by the pandemic like airlines and cruise ships.

On Capitol Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled an economic assistance plan that was gaining bipartisan backing. Central to the package is free coronavirus testing nationwide and emergency funding to reimburse lost paychecks for those self-quarantining, missing work or losing jobs amid the outbreak.

The draft legislation would create a new federal emergency sick leave benefit for people with the virus or caring for a coronavirus victim. It would provide two-thirds of an employee's monthly income for up to three months.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, whom Trump tapped to negotiate with Pelosi, urged Congress "to pass legislation quickly."

The administration had floated several other strategies, including the rare idea of declaring a national disaster that could potentially unlock funding streams, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity. But Trump ultimately opted against taking that step Wednesday.

Trump, 73, is considered at higher risk because of his age and has repeatedly flouted the advice of public health experts, who have advised the public to stop hand-shaking and practice social distancing. But that didn't stop him from calling on fellow citizens to help combat the virus' spread. "For all Americans, it is essential that everyone take extra precautions and practice good hygiene. Each of us has a role to play in defeating this virus," he 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.

Congress' attending physician told staff there could be 70 million to 100 million coronavirus cases in the U.S. That's on par with other estimates. A Harvard official has estimated that 20% to 60% of adults will get the virus, noting it's a pretty wide range.

In Washington, tourists still arrived at the U.S. Capitol, but an official unauthorized to discuss the situation and speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that tours would soon be shut down.

___

By Lisa Mascaro, Andrew Taylor, Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller.Lauran Neergaard, Marty Crutsinger, Laurie Kellman and Kevin Freking contributed.
He was "the King" of rock 'n' roll, but Elvis Presley also loved land. The late legend's prized mansion, Graceland, sits on over 13 acres of land in Memphis, TN. Living surrounded by nature was his reprieve from a life of fame, and he often retreated to the woods to reconnect and relax.

"The King" was also well-known for taking care of his family, friends, and fellow musicians. He purchased a farm for his father and often helped family members and close friends with jobs, property, or money. Although his generosity was often quiet, hes one of the most well-researched rock stars ever to have walked the Earth. That would typically mean that no scrap of information about the properties he purchased would have been left uncovered.

Until now.

It has recently been discovered that a large plot of land in Coldwater, MS, was probably purchased by the rock legend back in the mid-1960s. Now, the property with that Presley legacy is on the market for $485,000.

Gate to property realtor.com

The listing agent Brandie Todd told us she had a hunch that the property was more than it appeared to be when she started examining the deed and documents associated with the 33-acre parcel.

It occurred to me that this piece of land might have belonged to the Presley family in some way, she says.

To confirm her suspicions, she contacted Stephen Shutts, a rock music historian and expert on Elvis Presley. After looking at the documents and conducting his own research, Shutts was able to confirm what Todd had believed might be true: The property did indeed belong to the Presley family.

House realtor.com

Barn and workshop realtor.com

Woods on property realtor.com

Shutts, the owner of a rock 'n' roll memorabilia shop called Rockology, has long studied Presley and said that he had imagined that he was aware of every piece of property the King had ever purchased.

There are a few of us diehards that know Elvis inside and out, says Shutts. And nobody knew about this one. Nobody.

In 1965, the Mississippi land was purchased under the name Vernon E. Presley, Elvis father. Vernon then signed a quitclaim deed to transfer the land to Johnnie and Lois Smith, the brother and sister-in-law of Gladys Presley, Elvis mother.

What happened was that Johnnie probably needed money, so Vernon went to Elvis to ask about purchasing the property, and Elvis likely said it was fine, says Shutts.

So, you might be thinking, the Elvis connection to this Mississippi land is tenuous. In a way, youre right. The paperwork showed the property belonged to his uncle. But Elvis was associated with the land in more than one way.

The property was purchased in Vernons name and then given to Johnnie, true, said Shutts. It wouldnt have been put in Elvis name because of business reasonsor potentially, tax or financial reasons as well. But it was Elvis who purchased the property. It was his money that was used.

The land remained in the extended Presley family for some time. In 1972, the Smiths sold the property to a man named William M. McGregor, a name that should strike a chord with Elvis aficionados.

Fans will know (McGregor) as Mike, Shutts said. He was a ranch hand at the Circle G Ranch [a ranch once owned by Elvis] in Mississippi. He then went to work at Graceland, after that property was sold. McGregor also made leather goods and jewelry for Elvis.

The property isnt currently owned by anyone in the Presley circle, but it comes with a rich rock 'n' roll pedigree.

On the property, theres a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home, a barn, and a workshop wired and ready to go.

It's a great place for all manner of outdoor activities, according to Todd. From hunting to riding ATVs, there's space for everything. Theres also a mysterious, blue-and-white 1955 Buick, peppered with bullet holes.

1955 Buick on property realtor.com

The rumor is that Elvis used to come out to the property and shoot at the car, Todd said. He had a thing for shooting.

However, Shutts shot that rumor down. He said its unlikely that Elvis ever laid eyes on the car.

The car probably belonged to Gladys family. Elvis was known for giving away cars, but he gave away new ones. He came into money around 1957, and this car is a 55. He wouldnt have given a used car to someone.

The post A Secret Elvis Presley Property Has Surfaced in Mississippiand It's for Sale appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
The Supreme Court told the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday that as of now, there was no law that could back their action of putting up roadside posters of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests in Lucknow.

An apex court bench refused to stay the March 9 Allahabad High Court order directing the Yogi Adityanath adminstration to remove the posters.

The top court, which grilled the Uttar Pradesh government for putting up such posters in public, described the plea as a matter that needed "further elaboration and consideration".

A vacation bench of justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose said a "bench of sufficient strength" would consider next week the Uttar Pradesh government's appeal against the Allahabad High Court order directing the state adminstration to remove the posters of those accused of vandalism during anti-CAA protests.

It directed the apex court registry to put up the case file before Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde so that a "bench of sufficient strength can be constituted at the earliest to hear and consider" the case next week.

During the hearing, the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government, that it was a matter of "great importance".

It asked Mehta whether the state government had the power to put up such posters.

The top court, however, said there was no doubt that action should be taken against rioters and they should be punished.

Mehta told the court that the posters were put up as a "deterrent" and the hoardings only said that these persons were liable to pay for their alleged acts during the violence.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for former IPS officer S R Darapuri whose poster has also been affixed in Lucknow, told the bench that the state was duty-bound to show the authority of law backing its action.

He said the action of the Uttar Pradesh government amounted to a "mega blanket" approach of naming and shaming these persons without final adjudication and it was an open invitation to common men to lynch them as the posters also had their addresses and photographs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.

Ankit Sharma's killer to be revealed soon

Investigative agencies have received a video of the killing of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma from the people of the locality and soon the name of his killer will be revealed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.



Shah said that after the riots the government put up advertisements in newspapers asking people to share the videos and photos to identify the rioters. "We have received a number of videos from the public and all those videos are being analysed with the data of the northeast Delhi residents with the help of their voter cards and driving licences through a software," he said.



He also said that the agencies have also taken the data from Uttar Pradesh to identify the people who indulged in the riots in February in which 52 people lost their lives and over 263 were injured.



Commenting on the murder of Sharma, Shah said, "We have also received the video of the killing of the IB staffer and soon his killer will be arrested."



Sharma was stabbed over 400 times during the Delhi riots and his body was thrown in a sewer in northeast Delhi's Chandbagh area. His body was recovered a day later. The forensics team also collected samples from the site from where his body was recovered. The Delhi Police has booked suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and others for their role in the murder of Sharma on the complaint of his father.



Hussain surrendered in court after which the police arrested him. Shah further said that the software which has the details of the people doesn't recognise the people on the basis of their clothes or religion. "It works through facial recognition system," he added.

300 rioters identified through face recognition tech

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.
Louie Edward Mayberry moved to San Antonio in September 1918.

A few days after he started school, with World War I raging, a flu epidemic in the city canceled his classes.

"I hadnt gone to school but a few days  in just a few days they had a flu epidemic in San Antonio and they turned the schools out. That was during World War I in 1918, and we stayed out for quite a while," Mayberry recalled in a 1987 interview with Baylor University.

Mayberry was 11 years old.

"And then school started again, and it went for a couple of weeks, and they turned out again," he said. "We didnt get much schooling before Christmas."

The Texas native's recollections shed some light on what it was like to live in San Antonio during that turbulent time. Today, the Alamo City faces the prospect of canceled classes once more amid the coronavirus pandemic.

READ ALSO: Mayor Nirenberg: 'Well have Fiesta this year'

In 1918, San Antonio was the largest urban center in Texas, with a population that would exceed 160,000 by 1920. Even then, the city had a large military presence at a number of bases, including Camp Travis and Fort Sam Houston.

Throughout the month of September, residents read reports of Spanish influenza cases spreading across the northeastern United States.

Local officials were confident the city could escape the epidemic. A headline that month in the San Antonio Light shared Dr. W. A. King's claim: "NO CONTAGIOUS DISEASES HERE." King, the city's health officer, called the city the nation's cleanest.

San Antonio native Ana Martinez-Catsam, an academic at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, details what happened next in an article titled "Desolate Streets: The Spanish Influenza in San Antonio."

The Associated Press reported influenza had struck Camp Travis in late September. Col. Alexander Wetherill denied the report, but medical authorities announced influenza cases at the base a week later.

By Oct. 1, Camp Travis and Fort Sam Houston reported hundreds of troops with influenza. San Antonio officials prohibited soldiers from visiting the city.

READ ALSO: Alamo Colleges and UTSA extend spring break, move to online classes

Another decision they made might have echoes for our current leaders. Concerned a large gathering might facilitate the spread of disease  even though there had not been an abundance of cases in the city  officials denied Barnum & Bailey Circus the permit to hold a performance.

Schools, churches, and theaters were closed on Oct. 16. A public service announcement advised residents to "keep away from other people. Do not kiss anyone."

Contemporary newspaper accounts provide a fascinating glimpse at daily life.

Workers toiled all day in the local Red Cross workroom making face masks. Every able-bodied San Antonio woman was urged to assist that effort, while the governor appealed for women throughout Texas to care for soldiers.

The San Antonio Express carried the story of a San Marcos mother who could not attend her daughter's funeral because she too had fallen ill. Two days later, the paper described a scene from Boston where caskets containing bodies of influenza victims were piled high on top of each other while they waited for burial.

Cases declined in late October and the public gathering ban was lifted on Nov. 11. Louie Edward Mayberry returned to school. But another rise in new cases forced officials to re-institute the ban in early December.

New cases continued to appear throughout the following year, but never equaled October 1918.

All told, the influenza epidemic killed an estimated 550,000 Americans and 21 million people worldwide.
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Linkedin Gisela Swaragita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 15:41 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a1eefd 1 News Sriwijaya-Air,Makassar,Yogyakarta,Balikpapan,Semarang,Kendari,budget-airlines,yogyakarta-international-airport Free

Budget airline Sriwijaya Air plans to operate more routes from and to Makassar, South Sulawesi starting in late March.

The airlines vice president of networking and revenue management, A. Yani Azwar, said in a statement that Sriwijaya Air would open a new route connecting Makassar and Yogyakarta on March 29  the same day the airline plans to move its operations from Yogyakarta's Adi Sucipto Airport to the new Yogyakarta International Airport.

The first flight [on the route] will depart that day [March 29] from Makassar to Yogyakarta at 8:20 p.m. Central Indonesian Time [WITA], while the next flight is from Yogyakarta to Makassar at 10:15 p.m. West Indonesian Time [WIB]. The flight will be available every day, he said on Wednesday in the statement.

Apart from the route to Yogyakarta, the budget airline also plans to reopen a number of old routes on the same day, namely Makassar-Kendari, Makassar-Balikpapan and Makassar-Semarang.

Read also: Sriwijaya Air increases free baggage allowance

Flights from Makassar to Kendari are to depart at 3:05 p.m. WITA, while the Kendari to Makassar flights depart at 4:55 p.m. The route is to be available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Sriwijaya Airs maiden flight between Makassar and Balikpapan is scheduled to depart at 3:30 p.m. local time every Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Balikpapan-Makassar flights are to depart at 6:50 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The Makassar-Semarang flights are to depart at 3:10 p.m. local time, while the Semarang-Makassar flights depart at 4:45 p.m. The route is to be available on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Makassar, one of the biggest cities located at the center of the Indonesian archipelago, has become a hub connecting flights to the eastern parts of the country. The city also has considerable tourism and business potential for domestic and foreign tourists and business people. (gis)
The setting sun reflects off One World Trade Center and the skyline of lower Manhattan in New York City as the moon rises on March 7, 2020 as seen from Jersey City, New Jersey.

The mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, implemented a 10 p.m. curfew Thursday for any of the city's establishments that carry a liquor license. The new measure is an effort to reduce large crowds and limit the spread of the coronavirus.

"We're trying to be more proactive than most," Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in an interview with CNBC.

Jersey City has not reported any confirmed cases of COVID-19, but Fulop said that people with the virus have probably passed through the city and that there may be unconfirmed infections.

New York City, which lies just across the Hudson River from Jersey City, has at least 62 cases as of Thursday afternoon.

The mayor's executive order also requires establishments including places of worship, restaurants and event venues with a capacity greater than 25 people to have sign-in sheets that would make tracking potential exposure easier. All public meetings held by the city have been canceled as well.
Supreme Court rules in Yucatan favor in border depute

Mexico City, Mexico  The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation has ruled in favor of the state of Yucatan in the constitutional controversy regarding state border boundaries.

La Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nacion unanimously rejected the claim by the state of Quintana Roo regarding state border boundaries, discarding the claim as unfounded and inoperative. The claim was made after a disagreement between Yucatan and Quintana Roo regarding the territorial limits indicated in the Quintana Roo constitution.

The dispute arose after the previous Legislature of the State Congress changed the description of the borders to be fixed precisely based on a new geolocation task. The newly described Punto de Union Territorial (PUT) established different limits in what who considered their territory. Yucatan was dissatisified with the new PUT and filed a claim and won, which, according to the court document, means Quintana Roo should not treat that terrain as its own.

In hearing the verdict, Yucatan Governor Mauricio Vila wrote I am very pleased to inform you that the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation rejected this afternoon, the claim filed by Quintana Roo about the limits of the Yucatan territory. We Yucatans managed to defend our territory thanks to the coordinated work of all the branches of government.

Campeche, who shares a border with the state of Yucatan, also joined the complaint as an interested third party.
Pakistani news media is a treasure trove when it comes to hilarious live TV bloopers and it only gets better every single time!

More recently, a news anchor took the on-camera fumbling to another level while reading F-16 crash report.

The anchor is heard saying that the pilot could have "ejaculated" instead of "ejected" while reading the report.

When you're at work but your mind is elsewhere.. pic.twitter.com/FvsQBveGeC  Naila Inayat   (@nailainayat) March 11, 2020

In a video snippet from the Urdu language station Neo TV in Pakistan, the anchor says: The pilot didnt ejaculate but rather utilised the crucial time to take the jet into a less populated area.

According to reports, the anchor made the gaffe while hailing the deceased F-16 pilot, Wing Commander Nauman Akram, for steering the aircraft towards the woods in Shakarparian instead of ejecting, which could have led to a crash in a populated area and caused casualties.

Twitter

On 11 March, Pakistani fighter pilot Nauman Akram died when his F-16 jet crashed in a wooded area near Islamabad during a rehearsal for an upcoming military parade in Islamabad.

Social media video footage showed flames and a plume of smoke emitting from the site, near Shakarparian Hill of the capital, after the US-built plane hit the ground and caught fire.



Two videos shot by citizens showing crash of #F16 aircraft in #Islamabad. #PAF spokesperson said the aircraft crashed near #Shakarparian during rehearsals of #23rdMarch parade. May Allah bless the brave pilot Wing Commander Norman Akram. pic.twitter.com/A4VAoRSY3W  Arshad Sharif (@arsched) March 11, 2020





The US-built F-16 was taking part in rehearsals for a Pakistan Day airshow and parade set to take place on March 23.

There were no casualties on the ground or damage to property, according to an air force statement. Pakistan's President Afif Alvi expressed his condolences to the family of the pilot, Nauman Akram.

According to the Nation, the military parade coupled with an air show is an annual feature of Pakistan Day in Islamabad though it remained halted for many years in the past due to bad law and order situation of the country following the 9/11 incident.
Shocking video shows a Florida health official telling passengers that they were 'free to walk around and move around' after a man on their flight from New York tested positive for the coronavirus.

Officials with the Florida Department of Health spoke with passengers at the at the Palm Beach International Airport on Wednesday night after the aircraft was finally able to deplane, two hours after landing in the city.

Dr. Alina Alonso instructed the passengers to monitor themselves, highlighting how anyone who feels sick will need to contact the appropriate entities.

Scroll down for video

Officials with the Florida Department of Health spoke with passengers at the at the Palm Beach International Airport on Wednesday night after a man tested positive with the virus

BREAKING: After flying with a person with COVID-19 coronavirus on JetBlue flight - officials tell passengers on flight they DONT need to self-quarantine.



Youre free to walk around and move around@PIX11News #COVID19 #CoronaOutbreak pic.twitter.com/L38SpGJ2uR  Cristian Benavides (@cbenavidesTV) March 12, 2020

'At this point, you're free to walk around and move around because most likely you are not going to have anything because there was no activity,' she said in footage obtained by Pix11.

'The way you get this virus is someone has to cough or sneeze on you.'

Alonso then asks the passengers if the man had coughed or sneezed on anyone, to which several people could be heard exclaiming 'no.'

A man can be heard asking Alonso if they can go 'out,' to which she responds that she is not telling them to stay 'home.'

'At this point, you're free to walk around and move around because most likely you are not going to have anything because there was no activity,' Dr. Alina Alonso said in footage

Florida officials announced early on Thursday that a man had tested positive for the virus.

Passengers were forced to remain on Flight 253 for two additional hours as the aircraft stood on the tarmac instead of proceeding to gate C12 at the Palm Beach International Airport.

Another passenger on the plane claimed the man's wife told him they had been told of the result before take off.

The flight landed at 8.53pm from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York City and passengers were allowed off the aircraft at 10.45pm, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue explained to WPTV.

Passengers were forced on Flight 253 for an almost additional two hours as the aircraft remained on the tarmac at the Palm Beach International Airport

'The person across the way from me was taken to the back of the plane,' passenger Scott Rodman said.

'He was wearing masks and gloves. His wife was sitting in the same row as me and mentioned to others that he wasn't feeling well.

'She said he had gotten a phone call with his test results right before we had taken off, implying that he had a positive test but not actually saying it.'

There are already more than 1,300 cases of the virus in the US and 39 people have died

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft

Agents with the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County assessed the situation and spokes with all the passengers aboard the aircraft.

Passengers who had been in close proximity with the man were also advised of monitoring procedures and given instructions of how to get in contact with the health department if they had any issues.

The airport is sterilizing the area where the passengers deplaned, adding that it was in a separate area than the main terminals of the airport.

There are already more than 1,400 cases of the virus in the US and 38 people have died.
Regulatory News:

ESI Group (Paris:ESI) (FR0004110310 ESI), leader and pioneer in Virtual Prototyping solutions, hereby releases the total number of shares making up the company's capital and the total number of voting rights in February 29, 2020, in accordance with articles 223-16 and 221-3 of the General Regulations of the "Autorite des Marches Financiers".

Number of shares Number of theoretical voting

rights * Number of voting rights ** 6,018,792 8,273,179 7,892,592

* The number of theoretical voting rights is calculated based on all shares eligible for voting right (single or double), including shares temporarily deprived of voting rights (treasury shares).

** All Group shares have equal right to vote, except treasury shares, which are deprived of the right to vote, and registered shares held for more than four years that are eligible for double voting rights.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005548/en/

Contacts:

ESI Group
Delhi HC asks Centre, Google to respond to mans plea to remove articles on his conviction in criminal case

Who is Saurabh Kirpal? Indias likely to get its first openly gay judge of Delhi high court

Delhi HC dismisses plea to stop publication, sale of Salman Khurshid's book : 'Ask people not to buy it'

Nirbhaya case: Convict Pawan Gupta moves Delhi HC against two constables, alleging assault

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 12: Pawan Gupta, one of the four death-row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder case, through his Advocate, approached Delhi High Court challenging trial court order which dismissed the application questioning the credibility of the sole witness, claiming that he was a tutored witness and his statement wasn't credible.

Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta are scheduled to be hanged at Tihar Jail in Delhi on March 20 at 5.30 am.

AP Singh, the counsel for Gupta, said the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Karkardooma will hear his claim on Thursday at 2 pm.

Nirbhaya convicts to be hanged on Mar 20 at 5.30 am

The criminal complaint alleged that Gupta was violently assaulted by the two constables on July 26 and July 29 when he was lodged in the Mandoli central jail in East Delhi. Gupta has alleged that he received serious head injuries and was treated at Guru Teg Bahadur government hospital in Shahdara, where he received 14 stitches.

The complaint seeks a direction to the station house officer of Harsh Vihar police station to register a first information report against Anil Kumar and another unidentified constable for assaulting him. Since Gupta is to be executed soon, it is necessary for him to appear before a court as a witness to identify the policemen, the complaint added.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Last week, President Ram Nath Kovind rejected Gupta's mercy petition. Soon after, the Delhi government moved a trial court to seek fresh death warrants for the four convicts as all others' mercy pleas had already been rejected.

The Supreme Court on December 12, 2018, dismissed a PIL seeking direction to the Centre to execute the death penalty awarded to the four convicts.

Nirbhaya is the given name of the December 2012 victim, a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who was raped and brutalised in a moving bus in South Delhi by six people.

Explained: The mockery of justice in the Nirbhaya case

She had boarded the nearly vacant bus in Munirka in South Delhi along with her male friend on her way back home on December 16 that year. After raping and brutalising the woman and beating her friend, the assailants had thrown them out of the bus.

After receiving initial treatment in New Delhi for a few days, she was shifted to the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, where she succumbed to injuries on December 29, 2012.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 12:38 [IST]
DEAR DR. JENN,

My boyfriend and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the coronavirus crisis. We were supposed to go on a romantic vacation to Italy this spring. As things escalated, I kept telling him I thought we should cancel  why take a chance? he kept telling me I was being alarmist and neurotic. We were fighting about whether or not we should go until the country was officially put on lockdown. Now, we argue about whether or not we should stock up on supplies in case there is a quarantine (he thinks it's a waste of time and money and that we have no room in our small apartment) and how much we should change our daily routines. He wants to continue to take the subway and I am trying to avoid crowds of people at all costs. I'm trying to be as informed as possible by reading news updates in real time while he's tuning it all out. I feel like the coronavirus is turning my relationship upside down and I'm not sure what to do to make it better. Corona Conflict

DEAR CORONA CONFLICT,

I am seeing a lot of couples whose differences have been highlighted by this worldwide health crisis. Stressors tend to highlight the weaknesses in relationships and this is certainly a massive stressor.

Having no playbook we can turn to heightens the anxiety. After all, nothing like this has occurred in our lifetime and for the first time, the World Health Organization has used the term 'pandemic' to describe the outbreak. We don't have accurate numbers about U.S. cases (partially due to a shortage of test kits) and other countries are even censoring information about outbreaks. If you are an already anxious person or a germaphobe, being in the dark about the true facts of this pandemic only escalates that anxiety.

RELATED: How Your Anxiety Might Be Affecting You Physically  and What to Do About It

And when your anxiety skyrockets, it's impossible not to have that leak into your relationship.

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That said, it sounds like you and your boyfriend are on extreme opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to assessing danger. I suspect that if you change the topic to something else that is triggering, the two of you will have similar differences. It sounds like, outside of the latest coronavirus conflict, your boyfriend is simply very relaxed and you are hyper vigilant.

Couples often are like this because we tend to find people who are the yen to our yang. The healthiest couples I see in my office learn from one another and meet somewhere in the middle to find a safe and happy medium that works for both people. Learning how to respect one anothers views and work through these conflicts is an important part of improving your relationship.

There is clearly also a denial factor at play. That your partner who has been saturated with news stories (thanks to you!) showing the mounting dangers of the virus was still planning to go to Italy until it was shutdown tells me that denial is not just a river in Egypt. We go into denial when the facts in front of us are too frightening, triggering, or distressing for us to process.

RELATED: Coronavirus Came to My Town: Here's What It's Like

If your partner is resistant to listen to your concerns about this (very real, serious health pandemic), it's more important than ever to focus on your communication skills. When you are dealing with such serious and emotional issues, it's easy to get triggered and have poor communication, but can be the difference between a positive result and an escalation into an unpleasant fight.

A few things that you can do: Begin the discussion in a calm manner. Dont start by attacking your partner and telling him why he's an idiot to still ride the subway everyday (even if you believe it!) or by raising your voice. (Most of the time, the way a discussion begins will predict the way it ends.) If one of you is truly in an emotional or primitive state, it's important to take a time out and return when you're able to have a productive, rational conversation.

One thing that may help you work through your coronavirus conflict is reflective listening, a technique where you repeat back to your partner in your own words what he or she just said to make sure that you are understanding. You would be surprised how often during a heated conversation smart people miss their partners' points.

RELATED: What Makes a Relationship Work in 2020?

I have seen many couples spend time apart because they are struggling to find common ground during this time. Sometimes even just putting a moratorium on coronavirus discussions at home for a day, or even a few hours, can provide relief from the pressure.

At the end of the day though, you cannot allow someone, even someone you love, to push you into making a choice that you feel is not in the best interest of your health. You need to make sure that you do what you know to be right for yourself, based on the current CDC and WHO recommendations  and your own comfort level.

The Coronavirus pandemic is unfolding in real time, and guidelines change by the minute. We promise to give you the latest information at time of publishing, but please refer to the CDC and WHO for updates.
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.

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.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As fear continues to mount amid the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), one Staten Island family is fighting to receive a full refund on its recently cancelled vacation.

Anna Manalaysay said her family has cancelled its annual spring vacation, a European cruise on Costa Cruises, and is now working to receive a full refund on a trip thats cost the family over $5,000 in airfare and cruise packages.

We usually go on something like this every year with our family, said Manalaysay, who has cruised with Costa Cruises many times throughout the years.

The cruise was scheduled to leave from Barcelona, Spain, in late April, with stops being made across the continent in Lisbon, Portugal; Vigo, Spain; Cherbourg, France; Hamburg, Germany and Ijmuiden, Netherlands.

Were waiting for them to issue a full refund. Right now, I dont think they want to issue a full refund, they want to offer us a certain percentage, 70%, but were still hoping well receive the full amount," Manalaysay said.

The Dongan Hills mother, whose children attend Catholic school, said that a recent advisory from the Archdiocese of New York, requiring all students returning from international travel to receive medical clearance before returning to school, helped make the familys decision to ultimately cancel the trip.

After hearing that, I felt like it would be good to cancel the vacation, because we only get a certain amount of days off from work and getting the clearance from the doctors would require me to take even more days after we got back, she explained.

While some travelers have elected to postpone or reschedule their trips, Manalaysay said her family members would rather cancel the cruise for the time being as they await additional information about the future of the coronavirus.

We just want to cancel for now because I dont know whats going to happen with this coronavirus. Some reports say its going to die down in the summer and then come back in full force in the fall. Nobody knows, she said.

Manalaysays father, who was joining the family on the trip, recently wrote a letter to Costa Cruises, voicing his frustration with the companys handling of the situation and demanding a full refund.

Our primordial consideration for the cruise is to enjoy and not be horrified/tortured like what thousands of cruise passengers have lately experienced aboard several cruise ships. The United States of America had advised its citizens to avoid cruises because the virus can easily spread in a confined space. Costas unusual silence has aggravated our concerns and anxiety especially considering that we have been repeatedly for many years Costa clients, the letter states.

In view of the foregoing, we are constrained to cancel our cruise reservations for the passengers in the attached lists. We request/demand for a full refund, the letter continues.

Though refund policies vary drastically based on the individual companies or insurance policies, theres a good chance that travelers could be entitled to at least a partial reimbursement if they decide to cancel or postpone their trip. AAA advises that while travel insurance generally excludes epidemics, customers may be entitled to at least a partial refund, depending on the specific coverage.

Scott Knutson, vice president of Sales & Marketing, Costa Cruise Lines North America, said that the companys current policy regarding coronavirus cancellations, valid through March 31, gives the family three options:

Take the currently booked sailing and receive up to $100 on-board credit. Receive a full 100% future cruise credit (FCC) if guest wishes to cancel, but protect his or her entire investment. Note that the 100% FCC is based on what has been paid so far. If only the deposit has been paid, the credit would be for 100% of that amount. If the guest decides not to travel, then normal cancellation penalties would apply, prorated depending on how close to the departure the trip is cancelled.

As this situation is ever changing, we may make alterations to the policy at that time, or earlier, based on developments, Knutson said.

Once Manalaysay is done fighting for a full refund from the cruise line, she said she will then shift her focus to recouping her airfare, though the family will likely be offered credit toward a rescheduled flight as opposed to a cash refund.

Were waiting to see what Costa says and then once we get them to refund 100% of what we paid for the cruise, we will focus on Delta for the refund of the airfare tickets, Manalaysay said.

I received an email from Delta yesterday saying that they offer flexible travel plans, so I think theyll be okay with rescheduling. I dont know if theyll be okay with cancelling, but it looks like theyll be okay with rescheduling, she added.

CRUISING AMID CORONAVIRUS

Those planning on taking a cruise amid coronavirus concerns may want to consider that the isolated environment could place them at an increased risk of exposure.

Cruises put large numbers of people, often from countries around the world, in frequent and close contact with each other. This can promote the spread of respiratory viruses, such as the virus that causes COVID-19. You may get sick from close contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, recently announced a host of additional enhanced screening measures in response to COVID-19, including pre-boarding screenings and denial of boarding to all those who may have come in contact with the virus.

The adoption of these measures further demonstrates the cruise industrys unique ability to respond quickly as circumstances evolve, said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA. We remain in close contact with local governments around the world, and while we regret that these changes will result in the denial of boarding for some of our guests, travelers should know that their health and safety is the absolute priority for the industry.

AIRLINE CHANGE/CANCELLATION FEES

Delta: Change fees have been waived for all customers traveling between March 1 and April 30, as well as on all tickets purchased between March 1 and March 31. Travelers have the option of changing to a different flight or cancelling their trip and using the credit toward a future flight. Though the change fee will be waived in both cases, a difference in fare may apply.

JetBlue: Change/cancellation fees have been waived for all customers traveling between March 10 and April 30. Travelers can rebook their flights for any time up until Oct. 24. Alternately, customers can receive a full refund in the form of a JetBlue Travel Bank Credit, which is valid for one year from the day it is issued. Additionally, change and cancel fees have been waived for all new flight bookings made between March 6 and March 31 for travel through Sept. 8. As previously announced, change and cancel fees have also been waived for bookings made between Feb. 27 and March 5 for travel through June 1, 2020.

American Airlines: Change fees have been waived for customers who purchased tickets before March 1 and are traveling through April 30. Customers have until Dec. 31 to rebook their flights.

United Airlines: Change/cancellation fees have been waived for customers who purchased tickets before March 2 with travel dates between March 9 and April 30. Additionally, any flight booked between March 3 and March 31 can be changed for free over the next 12 months. Those who choose to cancel their flights will retain the value of their ticket, which can be used towards a new flight within the next year.

Spirit: Travelers who must alter their plans due to COVID-19 are eligible for a one-time free modification (rescheduling) by contacting Spirit Guest Care at (801)-401-2222. Guests also have the option to cancel their trip and receive a reservation credit for the full value of their trip. The credit can be used for up to six months to book any currently available flight, even if it is beyond the six month window.

Contrary to popular belief, despite being a close-quartered, enclosed environment, airplanes do not place passengers at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19, according to the CDC.

Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes, the agency states.

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Swiss based wealth management firm, Spearvest, acting as Investment Advisor, has completed its first Logistics acquisition in Zaragoza, Spain

ZARAGOZA, Spain, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After its successful co-investment transaction near Lausanne, Switzerland (CHF 36m Mix-Use Building), wealth management firm Spearvest is building a diversified portfolio of high quality and modern logistics properties in Spain.

This new venture begins with the acquisition of a state-of-the-art cross docking platform in Zaragoza, bought for the Spearvest Spanish Logistics fund (SSL). The new fund targets core assets, it focuses on most liquid markets along the Mediterranean Corridors of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza and Seville.

The property is located in PlaZa, the prime logistics area in Zaragoza. Developed in 2018, the platform which comprises approximately 7,000sqm of high-quality cross docking space accessible distributing 58 loading docks is fully let to one of the leading Iberian logistics companies.

The fund, advised by Spearvest, currently executes two more acquisitions for more than 30,000 sqm of high-quality logistics schemes, completions are expected in the second quarter of 2020.

Benoit Pallard, partner and head of real estate at Spearvest, comments:

"Thanks to strong economic performance and accelerating adoption of e-commerce in Spain, rental growth in Spanish logistics is set to outperform most European real estate sectors.

"We were drawn to PlaZa in Zaragoza having identified solid fundamentals for logistics investments: strategic location with great freights connections through road, rail and air transports, high levels of demand for quality logistics space, coupled with extremely low vacancy rates.

"With a surface area of more than 13 million square metres, PlaZa is the largest logistics platform in Europe.

"As we just start building our portfolio, this prime logistics asset will provide a solid anchor to the portfolio."
Meet the Decision Makers: Leaders on the Move Honors Mayor Butts and LADWP Commissioner McClain-Hill

The fifth annual Upgrade LA: Meet the Decision Makers African American History Month Business Breakfast was held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Thursday, February 27, 2020. Meet the Decision Makers celebrated two dynamic, high profile officials  Hon. James T. Butts, Jr., the Mayor of Inglewood and Commissioner Cynthia McClain-Hill, the Vice President of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Commission.

Meet the Decision Makers strives to connect small and minority business owners with real contracting opportunities in the public and private sectors. Upgrade LA was thrilled to announce that Skanska USA has spent over $275 Million dollars with minority and disadvantaged business owners over the past six years in the LA region.

With over 120 small business owners, faith leaders and community leaders in attendance, Meet the Decision Makers honored Commissioner McClain-Hill for her leadership and tenacity at DWP and Mayor Butts for his incredible economic accomplishments for the City of Inglewood. KJLH radio personality, Dominique DiPrima served as mistress of ceremony.

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Commissioner McClain-Hill said she would strive to increase opportunities for small, women, and minority business owners at DWP. Mayor Butts emphasized that he was grateful to be in a position to create job opportunities for other people like him in the great City of Inglewood.

Also present was Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Metropolitan Water District Chairwoman Gloria Gray, and Los Angeles Department of Transportation Assistant General Manager, Monique Earl.

Meet the Decision Makers: Leaders on the Move was sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), Turner AECOM Hunt, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), Skanska, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles Rams, Kiewit, Metro, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, and West Basin Municipal Water District. An exclusive raffle of an autographed mini helmet was sponsored by the Los Angeles Rams.

Meet the Decision Makers was established as a public forum in 2014 to connect elected officials and major public sector decision-makers with small business owners, faith leaders and engaged citizens. In the past, Meet the Decision Makers has heard from decision makers such as City Attorney Mike Feuer, City Councilman Gil Cedillo, Supervisor Hilda Solis, Metro CEO Phillip Washington, and LAWA CEO Deborah Flint.

For more information, please contact Nicole Clark Reed at (310) 418-3640 or [email protected]
As the number of coronavirus cases rises to over 60 in India, 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 are enforceable.

What is Section 2 of the 1897 Act?

It gives the power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease. Under the act, temporary provisions or regulations can be made to be observed by the public to tackle or prevent the outbreak of a disease.

It may also give authorities the power to inspect 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.

Also read: What to do when you suspect coronavirus

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 1897 Act is invoked when the authorities assess 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, the act reads.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has stated that there is no need for all individuals to get screened for coronavirus as the level of community transmission in the country is not there currently.

Also read: Why no one is talking about the rate of recovery for coronavirus

The health ministry in its release on Covid-19 testing strategy stated that not all individuals need to be screened for coronavirus.

According to the ministry, there has been no community transmission of Covid-19 in the country currently, therefore all individuals need not be screened.

The disease is primarily reported in individuals with travel history to the affected countries or close contacts of positive cases, the release read.

Those with a travel history to any of the coronavirus-affected nations or individuals who were in close contact with the ones affected by the virus should stay under a 14-day self-quarantine and get tested for the infection.

In addition to this, all individuals evacuated and quarantined from Wuhan, China and Diamond Princess ship, Japan should be screened for novel coronavirus, a press release by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) read.

(With inputs from IANS)
New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court High Court on Thursday rebuked the UT administration and asked that all the records related to the Jammu land scam be presented in court by March 18. This case was highlighted in Zee News' popular DNA programme on Wednesday (March 11).

Reports sought by the high court in its earlier order on February 20 from Revenue Secretary; Education Secretary; Div Com Jammu; PCCF Jammu and DC Jammu were not filed. The respective authorities have been directed to submit the reports before Wednesday next week.

The court said that since these reports have not been submitted, the matter of transfer of Roshni Scam to CBI will be taken on March 18. The court also directed Anti-Corruption Bureaus of Jammu and Kashmir to file a fresh status report on the 17 FIRs already filed in the Roshni Scam.

The Law Commission only a week back has recommended for the retrieval of lands allotted under Roshni Scam.

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.

As per a report by Ikkjutt Jammu organisation, 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.

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.

(With inputs from agency)
Canberra, March 12 : The Australian government on Thursday unveiled an economic stimulus package of AU$17.6 billion ($11.4 billion) to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 amid fears of a recession.

In a statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the move was "to ensure that we keep Australians in jobs, that we keep businesses in business, and that we ensure the Australian economy is in a position to bounce back strongly on the other side", reports Efe news.

The package is aimed at supporting business investment; providing cash flow assistance to small and medium-sized business to stay afloat and keep employees in jobs; targeted support for the most severely affect regions, sectors and communities; and household stimulus payments.

Morrison said the plan would affect 3.5 million companies and 6.5 million individuals.

Of the total package, some $11 billion will be available before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

A big component of the package includes $700 million to increase the instant asset write off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expanded access to include businesses with an annual turnover of less than $500 million.

About $6.7 billion will be available to "Boost Cash Flow for Employers by up to $25,000 with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible small and medium-sized businesses".

Money will also be available to keep apprentices in work, and $4.8 billion will provide welfare recipients, such as pensioners, veterans and job seekers, with one-off cash payments of $750.

The package will also create a $1 billion coronavirus fund to help affected sectors, regions and communities, including the tourism, agriculture and education sectors to cope with the fallout from the new coronavirus outbreak, which was declared a global pandemic on Wednesday by the World Health Organization The move is in addition to another $2.4 billion in healthcare funding for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, which in Australia has killed three people and infected more than 112, the majority of them in Sydney.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in a statement that "our plan keeps businesses operating, supports jobs and provides a stimulus to households".

"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." Morrison added that the package is aligned with the actions the government has so far taken.

"Just as we have acted decisively to protect the health of the Australian people, based on the best evidence and medical advice, our support package responds to the economic challenges presented by this pandemic in a timely, proportionate and targeted way," he said.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 4 days time. You will need to purchase shares before the 17th of March to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 26th of March.

Las Vegas Sands's next dividend payment will be US$0.79 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of US$3.16 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Las Vegas Sands has a trailing yield of 6.5% on the current share price of $48.63. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. As a result, readers should always check whether Las Vegas Sands has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut.

View our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. Its dividend payout ratio is 88% of profit, which means the company is paying out a majority of its earnings. The relatively limited profit reinvestment could slow the rate of future earnings growth. It could become a concern if earnings started to decline. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. Over the past year it paid out 134% of its free cash flow as dividends, which is uncomfortably high. We're curious about why the company paid out more cash than it generated last year, since this can be one of the early signs that a dividend may be unsustainable.

While Las Vegas Sands's dividends were covered by the company's reported profits, cash is somewhat more important, so it's not great to see that the company didn't generate enough cash to pay its dividend. Were this to happen repeatedly, this would be a risk to Las Vegas Sands's ability to maintain its dividend.

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Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

NYSE:LVS Historical Dividend Yield, March 12th 2020

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Companies that aren't growing their earnings can still be valuable, but it is even more important to assess the sustainability of the dividend if it looks like the company will struggle to grow. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. With that in mind, we're not enthused to see that Las Vegas Sands's earnings per share have remained effectively flat over the past five years. It's better than seeing them drop, certainly, but over the long term, all of the best dividend stocks are able to meaningfully grow their earnings per share.

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Las Vegas Sands has delivered an average of 15% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past eight years of dividend payments.

Final Takeaway

Should investors buy Las Vegas Sands for the upcoming dividend? Earnings per share have not grown and Las Vegas Sands's profit payout ratio looks reasonable. However, it paid out a disconcertingly high percentage of its cashflow, which is a worry. It's not an attractive combination from a dividend perspective, and we're inclined to pass on this one for the time being.

Having said that, if you're looking at this stock without much concern for the dividend, you should still be familiar of the risks involved with Las Vegas Sands. For example, we've found 4 warning signs for Las Vegas Sands (1 is significant!) that deserve your attention before investing in the shares.

A common investment mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a list of promising dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend.

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



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
At least one public schools superintendent in the Lehigh Valley says closing public schools and moving to online classes in response to coronavirus could cause more harm than good.

Local colleges such as Lehigh University, Lafayette College and Muhlenberg College have canceled on-campus classes and will offer them online in order to check the spread of the virus.

The Allentown School District will close for two days and Whitehall-Coplay will close for a day for deep cleaning. Public school superintendents await guidance from the state health department on whether to shut down, and if so, how to attempt to meet students educational needs.

The situation seems to change by the hour, said Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik in a letter to parents on March 11. Northampton Area is in talks with the state education department about offering online classes through school district-issued computers and academic packets.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is working through questions about offering online instruction and meals for students if schools must close, according to state education department spokesman Eric Levis.

"Additional guidance to school districts on these issues will be provided by early next week, Levis said Wednesday.

Nazareth Area School District Superintendent Dennis Riker said his administrators have reviewed educational options in the event we are directed to close.

Parkland Superintendent Richard Sniscak said students in fifth grade and older have school-issued Chromebooks and could take advantage of online resources, although assignments wouldnt be graded or required.

But Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Roy says closing public schools and moving to online courses could be a mistake.

A long term (weeks or longer) closure would wreak havoc in the community, he said Wednesday.

Parents could miss out on paychecks or risk losing their jobs if theyre forced to stay home and watch their children. Or, they could stay at work and be forced to pay for childcare. Or, the job of watching youngsters could fall to the older siblings, Roy said.

Kids who rely on breakfast and lunch at school would miss out on these meals, Roy said.

The social and economic impact of a long-term closure should not be underestimated, he said.

If schools are forced to close, local districts can apply for waivers to the state requirement for a 180-day school year, according to a letter posted by state education secretary Pedro Rivera . His letter says the state will work with local districts in the event that PSSA testing is postponed due to the outbreak.

The outbreak has already led the Bethlehem Area School District to cancel student trips to New York City, Roy said. Class trips to Lehigh Valley destinations remain on for now, he said.

Warren Hills Regional School District implemented a teacher in-service day Wednesday to prepare a coronavirus plan.

We'll be closing school for all students on Wed, 3/11/2020, to create a Preparedness Plan in case our school is forced to closed by the Department of Health due to the Coronavirus. This is a precautionary measure to ensure we can continue education in the worse case scenario.  Warren Hills HS (@WHRHighSchool) March 8, 2020

Several local school districts have ramped up cleaning efforts due to the virus.

Nazareth Areas Riker said custodians will come to schools on Saturday for extra cleaning.

We are focusing on cleaning high touch surfaces and lavatories, Roy said.

The Wilson Area School District is providing extra time daily for custodians to clean doorknobs, light switches, countertops, bathrooms and water fountains, according to a letter from Superintendent Douglas Wagner.

The Easton Area School District is monitoring bathroom soap dispensers to make sure theyre full and is sanitizing school buses daily.

Students diagnosed with a respiratory illness or a fever in a Parkland school will be given a disposable face mask and sent home in an abundance of caution, Sniscak wrote.

Dr. Jeffrey Jahre told lehighvalleylive.com that individuals under 19 make up only 2% of coronavirus cases worldwide. Hes senior vice president of medical and academic affairs and the section chief of infectious diseases at St. Lukes University Health Network.

So young children are arguably at less risk of catching the virus while theyre in school, Roy said.

As long the state remains in the containment phase and hasnt moved to the mitigation phase of its coronavirus plan, schools should remain open, Roy said.

We need to slow down and weigh the facts regarding the threat of the virus against the definite family, community and economic disruption of extended school closures, Roy said.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
(Newser)  For just the fourth time ever, Disneyland is closing its gates. The California theme park will close Saturday morning and will be shut down for the rest of the month because of the coronavirus outbreak. Disneyland's resort hotels in Anaheim will stay open until Monday to give visitors time to make other arrangements, Variety reports. The adjoining Disney California Adventure also will be shuttered, but Downtown Disney is staying open. The company will refund hotel bookings, per the Los Angeles Times. The only previous Disneyland closings were after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, after California's Northridge earthquake, and the morning after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Later Thursday, the company announced Walt Disney World in Florida would also close. In fact, by evening, it had been announced that all Disney and Universal parks would close for some length of time, Variety reports.

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No cases of a person infected with the coronavirus have been reported at Disneyland, and the Disney Co. had just said the parks would stay open. But on Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and California health officials called for canceling gatherings of 250 people or more. And the social distancing recommendationto stay at least six feet from other peoplewould be difficult for customers to follow at the theme park. Although Disney decided to close, Newsom said Thursday he was exempting Disneyland, casinos, theaters and the like from the recommendation for now to allow for discussion of their specific concerns. "Disneyland, I think, has a thousand people on a ride every hour, and concerts and theaters," Newsom said, per the Times. "They have parades. Thats a nation-state campus environment. I mean, thats a whole different thing." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
As fashion statements go on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, a customised, bejewelled face-mask was bang on-trend for Ladies' Day. As to its efficacy; well that was anyone's guess.

But London-based milliner Anna Gilder reckoned that it was better to be safe than sorry, given the outbreak.

"I read that there will be a quarter of a million attending Cheltenham this week and I have kids so I didn't want to risk it," she said.

Asked if she thought it provided any barrier to Covid-19, she replied: "Who knows? You just don't know. After 14 days here, they'll probably find more infected people after this event. So better safe than sorry.

"I made it last night. I started panicking and everybody thought I should cancel and not go so I decided to make the mask instead. It's supposed to be in the shape of lips; I made it with whatever materials I found in my workshop."

Business was brisk on the second day of the annual festival as just under 57,000 people flooded into the Prestbury Park venue for what was traditionally known as Ladies' Day.

It has become increasingly clear wild race horses couldn't keep some punters away from their annual splurge at the track, pandemic or not.

The only change that was in place yesterday was that the annual fashion show-down has undergone something of a rebrand after organisers inexplicably dumped the 'best dressed' contest. There was huge disappointment on the part of Irish fashionistas who were looking forward to taking home some silverware from the annual contest - some of whom had come with previous form.

Expand Close Charlotte Blenkin Sopp, from Athenry, arrives for day two of the festival. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Charlotte Blenkin Sopp, from Athenry, arrives for day two of the festival. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Among them was Carlow native and race regular Faith Amond, who had travelled to Cheltenham especially for Ladies' Day and is a previous winner at Aintree.

Asked why the popular event was cancelled, a spokesperson said they wanted to "focus on the day's racing".

Nonetheless, the ladies in attendance took advantage of the fine weather to turn on the style.

Showing them all how it's done was TV presenter and model Vogue Williams, who looked chic in a red Holland Cooper suit and white Kurt Geiger boots.

Expand Close Mary Horan, from Rosscarbery, Co Cork, and Kirsty Farrell from Newry. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mary Horan, from Rosscarbery, Co Cork, and Kirsty Farrell from Newry. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Last year saw her fulfilling a life-long dream of becoming a jockey and she said she was proud she now knew the intricacies of the Sport of Kings.

"I'm quite good at knowing about the horses now. Before I was like, 'Oh they've a nice name'. Now I know about the trainers and the horses and the jockey and now I can study the race-card.

"Spencer's going to send me all of his tips so because he's so jammy," she said.

Now based in London with husband Spencer and their son Theodore (1), she recently sold her apartment in Dublin's Howth and is in the final stages of buying a new property in the northside suburb.

Expand Close A punter looks on ahead of the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photo: PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A punter looks on ahead of the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse. Photo: PA

The Ladbrokes ambassador said they were "nearly there" with the sale - but ruled out ever moving back to Ireland permanently.

"Most of my work now is in the UK. It used to be 50-50 but now it's way more the UK. It would be nice to have a base there for a few months of the year. My sister lives with us so a bigger place is essential," she said.

Making her debut at the event was Laura Campbell from Crumlin, Co Antrim, who had travelled with her Cork pal Mary Horan and Kirsty Farrell from Newry.

"This is our first time at Cheltenham so it's very exciting. I'm into horses myself and my husband too. We're starting to dabble ourselves so can't wait. Hopefully we'll get a good few winners," she said.

Horse-racing owner JP McManus continued on his lucky streak from day one, clocking up a stunning four wins. He also had a win in the Novices Steeplechase, which was appropriately named after retired jockey AP McCoy, who had brought the family along to witness the victory first-hand.

His young son Archie (6), who had come straight from school, was all smiles in the parade ring.

He then followed in his esteemed father's footsteps for his first trip up to the podium for the trophy presentation, which was made by family pal and blue-blood Zara Tindall.

Archie's delighted mum Chanelle McCoy, who is from Galway, said he "really adores" one of the winners, Champ.

"He has followed him for the last two years and accumulated quite a few trophies.

"When he fell on New Year's Day, he was so relieved he got up and was fine, so it was brilliant for him to come back today and experience Champ winning," she said.

Racecourse general manager Ian Renton told the Irish Independent there has been some "fantastic racing" this week.

Asked about the wisdom of pushing ahead with the festival, he said: "I think it's for every individual country to listen to what their government is advising, as we have done.

"We have liaised with them very closely over the last fortnight and they're keen that business continues as usual and sporting events like this stay in place.

"So, we've been happy to work with them on this."
When U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence was asked, earlier this month, if he would feel comfortable taking his children and grandchildren on a trip to Disney World while the coronavirus is spreading, he responded by saying there was no recommendation for Americans to avoid travel. When pressed on the matter, he added that he and his children travel across the country all the time.

Although the vice-president didnt directly answer the question, it is one that many people, especially parents with upcoming trips to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, have asked in recent weeks. After all, airlines have announced that they are lowering the number of flights they offer; Amtrak has said it is suspending some service; and the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have urged Americans not to get on cruise ships.

Greg Antonelle, the chief executive of Mickey Travels, a New Jersey-based travel agency that helps travellers plan Disney trips, said that agents at his company have been getting a lot more questions than usual about cleanliness and sanitization practices at Disney parks.

In fact, Is it safe to travel to Disney World? has become an increasingly searched question on Google, and on social media people have been asking it, along with Is it safe to go to a theme park? Many travellers have written to the New York Times to ask whether Disney and other theme parks  which are frequented by thousands of people from all over the world  are intensifying their sanitizing practices. Even as demand for flights and cruises has fallen, travel agents who plan trips to Disney parks report that business is as high as usual, if not higher.

Even as demand for flights and cruises has fallen, travel agents who plan trips to Disney parks report that business is as high as usual, if not higher. Visitors to Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., last week said that they felt safe at the parks and werent going to allow fear to force them to cancel their vacations.

Antonelle said his nine-year-old company, which employs 200 agents around the United States and books more than 10,000 Disney trips annually, had its best month of bookings ever in January and then in February.

I have been in the Orlando parks everyday for the past week and a half, and they are as crowded as ever, Antonelle said. From the business side what weve seen is business as usual. Were not getting cancellations because of coronavirus, and from being in the park you wouldnt know that anything is different.

Business as usual at Magic Kingdom

At Disney World on Friday, thousands of people filed into the Magic Kingdom, the most-visited park there, as usual. Although guests had to press a touch-screen scanner for their fingerprint to enter the park, and put their bags into bins for a security guard to look through, hand sanitizer dispensers at the entrance were not within an arms reach, but a few feet away. Few guests had masks on.

Guests posed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, hugged Tiana and other princesses and stood in long lines for Space Mountain and the Prince Charming carousel.

The dispensers were available at park and resort entrances, at food stalls and near most bathrooms. One employee at a food station said he had been urged to make disinfecting wipes more visible so guests could use them if they wanted to. When asked, employees were able to point to where people might find hand sanitizer or bathrooms to wash their hands in an area of the park where dispensers seemed to be scarce.

We have added additional hand sanitizers throughout the park, increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection in high guest contact areas, and are providing information about good hygiene practices and illness prevention to our guests and cast members, said a Disney spokeswoman, adding that the company is closely following CDC recommendations.

But for many parents at the park Friday, an additional factor for continuing to travel to Disney is that there have been few reports of children getting the coronavirus. In China, 2.4 per cent of reported cases were children, according to the World Health Organization, and no deaths of children were reported by China.

Aimee and Charlie Cotherman, of Oil City, Pa., said that ahead of their trip to Orlando last week, they were worried about the coronavirus but decided to still visit with their children, ages 8, 6 and 3, as well as their two-month-old baby, because percentages are in our favour, Charlie Cotherman said, referring to the low number of children infected.

We were worried about coronavirus as we saw things closing down and hoped we could still get our trip in, Aimee Cotherman said, adding that her family was washing their hands and using hand sanitizer regularly.

Corey Higgins, a mother of two who was at the park with her husband and children for the third time, said she noticed additional hand sanitizer around the park and felt like she saw more people cleaning around the park.

Me and my husband have been monitoring things but didnt feel like we needed to cancel our plans, she said. We have wipes, we have hand sanitizer, we arent elderly and honestly, if youre going to get it, youre going to get it. If Im going to get sick and die, I might as well do it at Disney World.

Other theme parks

At Universal Studios, the path from the parking lot to the security check point had a number of hand sanitizer dispensers that people paused to use while walking in and out of the park. At security, guests had to put their belongings into security bins and have their finger scanned on a touchscreen pad, like at the Magic Kingdom, but many said this didnt bother them because hand sanitizer was nearby. Lines to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter were long, with people dressed in costume.

We are reviewing and enhancing our already aggressive cleaning protocols, Alyson Lundell, senior director for public relations at Universal Orlando Resort, said in an email. And for the comfort and convenience of our guests, we are increasing the number of hand sanitizer units in our parks.

On social media groups frequented by people planning Disney vacations, anxiety seemed to rise as some questioned whether to visit the parks and others speculated about whether Disneys U.S. parks would follow in the path of Disneys Hong Kong and Shanghai parks, which closed in February.

I had to leave the Facebook groups, Higgins said. Between people panicking there and the news making this scarier than it really is, I just had to get out.

Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., about 48 kilometres from Los Angeles, has been tied to various outbreaks of measles in recent years, and one outbreak of Legionnaires disease, but those issues have appeared to not affect visitation. Disney World has only closed during hurricanes and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Dave Shilby, who was at Disney World with his 11-year-old granddaughter, Ireland Wilford, said they came from Jacksonville, Fla., for the day, and were washing their hands regularly, but didnt want to stop living their lives.

I dont want to ever think about living my life in fear, he said. If you live in absolute fear, youll be worried all your life. When its your time to die you could be lying in bed, on a plane or in a park, and youll go.
For travelers heading down under in 2020, the iconic Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, the worlds largest coral reef system and Australia's most remarkable natural and living icon, invites visitors to experience the destination in exciting and sustainable new ways. With a mecca of stunning marine life and coral cays, unparalleled diving and snorkeling opportunities, picturesque tropical islands and a range of fascinating underwater experiences, the Great Barrier Reef lives up to its designation as one of the great natural world wonders. In 2020, travelers will have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing protection and conservation of the Reef while experiencing new sustainable tourism developments such as underwater art exhibits, citizen science programs, luxury eco-resorts, Indigenous culture, wellness expeditions and more. Below is a sampling of recent updates from the Great Barrier Reef. For additional information, please visit http://www.queensland.com.

ATTRACTIONS:

Ngaro Underwater Sculpture Trail  The Whitsundays  Launched March 2020

In an Australian and Great Barrier Reef first, avid snorkelers, divers and marine enthusiasts will be treated to an underwater wonderland with the installation of underwater art in The Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The underwater sculptures have been installed at popular locations around The Whitsundays including Langford Reef, Blue Pearl Bay, Manta Ray Bay and Horseshoe Bay, by a variety of international and local artists including Col Henry, Adriaan Vanderlugt and Brian Robinson. These incredible sculptures will not only provide a unique new experience for travelers, but will also act as new bases for coral growth and animal shelter.

Among the six art installations include the Anthozoa by Ngaro artist Nicky Bidju Pryor, a reimagining of the tiny coral polyp, considered the life source of the Reef and rendered as the single largest underwater sculpture in the world; the Manta Ray by local artist Adriaan Vanderlugt featuring a traditional Ngaro theme of a dreamtime story on the sculpture of a Manta Ray, with a design including 74 different size circles representing the 74 islands in the Whitsundays as well as Aboriginal symbols; and the Turtle Dream by Col Henry, a sculpture of the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle, which was created with 800 hand-shaped, welded and polished individual pieces. The other sculptures include a Maori Wrasse at Blue Pearl Pay off Hayman Island, an additional Manta Ray installation depicting the vulnerable species migration pattern and the Bywa waterspout, rich with marine animals common to Bowen waters.

The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA)  Townsville  Opening April 2020

Launching in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park this April, the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) will be the first of its kind in Australia, aiming to increase awareness of the threatened ecosystem and rehabilitate parts of the reef. The underwater museum will comprise of a series of educational sculptures that reflect reef and ocean conservation action, showcase the local Indigenous culture and provide positive environmental impacts on the Reef. The art installations will be created by the worlds leading underwater sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor, in collaboration with a series of local and Indigenous artists.

The art will be spread across four sites within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, with the first two installations set to launch April 2020. The first artwork, Ocean Siren, located on the Strand in Townsville, known as Australias center for marine science, is an intertidal, solar-powered sculpture of an Indigenous girl that changes color to alert people of critical temperature rises, using data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science. The second is the large-scale Coral Greenhouse on the stunning John Brewer Reef, which will be installed just before coral spawning to provide coral larvae with a new clean surface to attach to. By the end of 2020, Palm Island will debut art that shares the stories of the local Indigenous community, accessible only with official tour guides and designed to help boost the economy from tourism. The final submerged artwork, a reef science installation, is expected to open in early 2021 at Geoffrey Bay on Magnetic Island.

Marine Biologist for Day + Astronomer for a Night Program by Sunlover Reef Cruises  Launched December 2019

For travelers looking to play their part in helping the reef, Sunlover Reef Cruises has just launched the first Great Barrier Reef day and night citizen science program  Marine Biologist for a Day + Astronomer for a Night. The program encompasses a guided snorkel safari, where participants will record health observations on the reef including identifying marine creatures, analyzing coral health and looking for signs of environmental impacts. The data collected is then inputted directly to the Eye on the Reef program run by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). Reef enthusiasts are also educated on the various sea creatures that inhabit Moore Reef, the environmental aspects that impact the reef and how they can lower their carbon footprint in their everyday lives. For the night time portion, which is hosted by marine experts, participants will sleep in deluxe swags on the Moore Reef Marine Base to view the stars and learn about the constellations and other astronomical features of the Southern Hemisphere. This combined program is available for groups of 10+ for $624 per person. The Marine Biologist for a Day and Astronomer for a Night (an add-on to the companys Sunlover By Starlight program) can also be booked separately.

ACCOMMODATION:

Reefsuites, Cruise Whitsundays  Whitsundays  Opened December 2019

Cruise Whitsundays recently launched Australias first underwater accommodations on the Great Barrier Reef. The two Reefsuites, which include a premium king and a twin single, feature floor-to-ceiling, panoramic views of tropical marine life including tropical fish, turtles and manta rays. The Reefsuites are the centrepiece of the $8 million sustainable redevelopment of the Reefworld pontoon. The full Reefsuite experience is priced at $749 per person, based on double occupancy, and includes a return scenic cruise out to the reef, all meals and beverages including a spectacular dining experience under the stars, a selection of marine activities including a private guided snorkeling tour and a semi-submarine tour, and overnight accommodation in one of the two private, underwater suites.

Flynn by the Crystalbrook Collection, Cairns  March 31, 2020

The sustainable hotel brand Crystalbrook Collection will open their newest five-star hotel, Flynn, referred to as the social butterfly of the collection on March 31. Situated opposite the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk, Flynn features two glass pools overlooking the Coral Sea, 311 stylish rooms and suites, three levels of restaurants and bars, the Eleme Day Spa, a 24-hour gym, and meeting spaces for up to 120 people. The Flynn embraces Crystalbrook Collections mantra of responsible luxury, embracing environmental change to enhance, not compromise, the quality of guest experiences.

Lady Musgrave Island Underwater Accommodations  Lady Musgrave Island  July 2020

Lady Musgrave Island has recently announced Great Barrier Reef observatory and underwater accommodation as part of a new multi-level pontoon development, which will create a whole new way for visitors to experience the island and the region. The three-level pontoon will provide underwater accommodation for up to 24 people with 360-degree views of the reef, an underwater observatory with UV lighting so visitors can experience the reef at night, as well as upper decks for diving, snorkelling and glass bottom boat tours. The pontoon is expected to draw an additional 16,000 visitors to the region every year and drive more than $1.8 million in visitor expenditure.

Coral Sea Marina Resort Renovations  Stage One completed December 2019

The iconic Airlie Beach Coral Sea Marina Resort in The Whitsundays, which recently underwent a rebrand when they merged with Abell Point Marina, has just completed stage one of their extensive renovations with additional stages planned throughout 2020. The first stage, completed December 2019, focused on the hotels external and common spaces including a new pool area, poolside restaurant, fitness room, lobby, reception and arrival plaza, and an expanded private beach. Room renovations began in February 2020 and are expected to be completed in stages. The renovations will cap off the rebranding process for the resort and the marina, making it a premier Australian tourism destination once complete.

About Tourism and Events Queensland

Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) is a statutory body of the Queensland Government and the state's lead marketing, destination and experience development and major events agency.

In partnership with government, regional tourism organizations, industry and commercial stakeholders, we aim to build Queensland's tourism and events industry to foster innovation, drive industry growth and boost visitor expenditure.

TEQ is a consumer-led experienced-focused and destination-delivered organization that connects people and places like never before through innovation and collaboration with the tourism and events industry.

Media Contact:

Emma Silverman

Tourism and Events Queensland

emma@elevensixpr.com
Remember that by opting for one of the tax regimes, individual taxpayers don't get locked into it forever.

They retain the option to switch between the two every year, point out Sanjay Kumar Singh and Bindisha Sarang.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier /Rediff.com

Anisha Diwakar, 32, works as an executive assistant at a private company in Mumbai.

While she does save and invest, she does not like having her options limited to specified instruments for the purpose of tax saving.

She finds the new tax regime attractive.

"From the looks of it, the new format appears to be a better choice, as it will reduce paperwork," says Diwakar.

She plans to stick to the old regime for now but is eager to learn which one -- the old one with higher rates, or the new one with lower rates but without deductions -- will mean a lower tax burden for her.

A simpler regime

The new tax regime provides concessional tax rates compared to those prevailing in the old regime.

"A new tax slab of 10 per cent has been introduced for income between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh, and tax rates have also been lowered," says Sameer Jain, founder and managing partner, PSL Advocates & Solicitors.

The new tax regime will put greater liquidity in the hands of taxpayers.

To avail of deductions under the old regime, taxpayers had to submit proof of investment and expenses (in the case of reimbursements).

They will be saved from all that trouble under the new regime.

"The documentation required will be lesser here, making tax filing a lot easier," says Suresh Surana, founder, RSM Astute Consulting Group.

The old regime forces taxpayers to invest in specific instruments on which deductions are available.

Not all of them are optimal choices for wealth creation.

Many less-informed taxpayers are mis-sold products that allow them to avail of tax deduction, but give very poor returns even over long durations.

All tax-saving investments come with a lock-in.

The Public Provident Fund (PPF) has a lock-in of 15 years, the five-year tax saving fixed deposit and National Savings Certificate (NSC) have a lock-in of five years, Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) have a lock in of three years, and so on.

Taxpayers moving to the new regime will be able to avoid the loss of liquidity that happens in such instruments.

On the flip side, taxpayers who choose the new regime, will have to manage without the long list of deductions available under the old regime.

These include taxpayers' favourites such as Section 80C (Rs 1.5 lakh), Section 80CCD(1B) that offers deduction of Rs 50,000 on National Pension System (NPS), Section 24 that offers deduction of Rs 2 lakh on housing loan interest repayment, and several others.

Only a few deductions will be permitted under the new regime, such as employer contribution to NPS.

Moreover, benefit from shifting to the new tax regime is capped at Rs 75,000.

"Unlike the corporate concessional tax regime, which reduces tax rates across income levels, the concessional tax regime for individuals has limited application and will benefit people in lower income brackets.

"The highest tax rate, which is 42.7 per cent, will continue to be a challenge for HNIs," says Surana.

Maximise benefits under old regime

Under the old regime, an employee's salary can be structured in a manner that allows him to maximise tax benefits, using deductions such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), Leave Travel Allowance (LTA), and so on.

The old tax regime also helps inculcate the saving and investment habit.

"Taxpayers are able to combine tax saving with creating a corpus for long-term goals by investing in products like the PPF," says Archit Gupta, founder and chief executive officer, ClearTax.

On the flip side, the old tax regime is more complex and requires a certain level of understanding and diligence to maximise the benefits from it.

Tax-saving instruments also come with a lock in.

"Senior citizens may prefer to have liquidity in their hands," says Surana.

The old tax regime also requires taxpayers to retain their proofs of investment, in case they are called up for an assessment proceeding by the tax authorities.

How to choose? Both the regimes have their merits.

Some younger taxpayers, who do not want the hassle of investing in tax-saving instruments, and want more money in their hands, may opt for the new tax regime.

All others should carry out a careful assessment before making the choice.

"Our analysis shows that there are various thresholds or break-even points of deductions for taxpayers at different income levels. If they can cross these thresholds, they would be better off sticking to the old tax regime," says Gupta (See: Reaping benefits).

Senior citizens and very senior citizens enjoy higher exemption levels of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh under the old tax regime.

They are also able to avail of a host of other deductions, such as Section 80C, Section 80D (of Rs 50,000 on health insurance), Section 80TTB (of Rs 50,000 on interest income), and so on.

They, especially, should carefully assess their situation before choosing between the two tax regimes.

Use the tax calculator (external link)) provided by the Income-Tax Department to make a logical, numbers-based choice.

Finally, remember that by opting for one of the tax regimes, individual taxpayers don't get locked into it forever.

They retain the option to switch between the two every year.

If someone with a business or professional income chooses the new regime, he will have to stick to it.

Annual income Tax Liability (excluding surcharge & education cess) Under new tax regime Under existing tax regime* Benefit under new regime . Slab Rates (%) Under new tax regime (No deduction/exemption available) Slab Rates (%) As per existing tax regime* . 2,50,000 - - . - - 5,00,000 5%** - 5%** - - 7,50,000 10% 37,500 20% 62,500 25,000 8,00,000 15% 45,000 20% 72,500 27,500 10,00,000 15% 75,000 20% 1,12,500 37,500 12,50,000 20% 1,25,000 30% 1,87,500 62,500 15,00,000 25% 1,87,500 30% 2,62,500 75,000 50,00,000 30% 12,37,500 30% 13,12,500 75,000 75,00,000 30% 19,87,500 30% 20,62,500 75,000 1,00,00,000 30% 27,37,500 30% 28,12,500 75,000 1,50,00,000 30% 42,37,500 30% 43,12,500 75,000 2,00,00,000 30% 57,37,500 30% 58,12,500 75,000 3,50,00,000 30% 1,02,37,500 30% 1,03,12,500 75,000 5,00,00,000 30% 1,47,37,500 30% 1,48,12,500 75,000 5,50,00,000 30% 1,62,37,500 30% 1,63,12,500 75,000 Figures in rupees unless indicated; **No tax up to Rs 5,00,000 taxable income, as rebate under section 87A is available; Source: RSM Astute Consulting Group
According to last years data from the education ministry, there are currently more than 33,000 foreign students studying at Hungarian higher education institutions, accounting for 16.5% of all full-time students, writes mfor.hu.

In 2015, the figure was only 23,000.



About one-third of the foreign students studying here go to one of the four Hungarian medical universities.



Most students come from Germany, but 2,067 Chinese students have opted for a Hungarian higher education institution, while 1,871 Iranians did so as well, mfor.hu notes.
EU nationals temporarily freed from in-person registration.

The Foreigners' Police in Slovakia will check if non-Slovak nationals have been in 14-day self-quarantine before they are let in the office. The measure will be in place from March 13, 2020. (Source: TASR)

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The Foreigners Police are also being affected by the current emergency situation declared in Slovakia.

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Starting on March 13, the Foreigners Police offices will operate under a limited regime for the following 14 days. There will be no registrations of EU nationals and their family members.

If they come to Slovakia during the following two weeks, they will have to send information about the start of their stay in the country by mail. After the current precautions are over, they will have to come in person and register their stay.

>>> Follow news about the coronavirus in Slovakia here.

Third-country nationals

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Related article Eleven new coronavirus cases confirmed in Slovakia Read more

Starting on March 13, foreigners coming from outside the EU can only apply for the renewal of their temporary residence in Slovakia and for permanent residence for an unlimited period.

Other applications will not be accepted during this period, said Police Corps spokesperson Denisa Bardyova.

Checks on the entering

Foreign nationals turning up at one of the Foreigners Police offices will have to state at the entrance whether they have observed home quarantine for 14 days after they returned from abroad.

If they have not, they will not be let in, Bardyova said.
When a system is under stress  as our health services are now  cracks and strains become apparent that may otherwise have been easy to overlook. Australia's response to coronavirus is constrained by the fundamentals of our health system, which are hindering management of the pandemic.

Primary care in Australia, which should be the front line of any service response (in contrast to a quarantine or social-distancing response), is delivered via a 1950s-style, GP-centric, fee-for-service model. It is already widely regarded as not fit to respond to the changing epidemiology of the increased prevalence of chronic disease in Australia and our response to coronavirus shows it is not fit to respond to an infectious disease pandemic either.

A microscope image shows a sample of COVID-19 isolated from a patient. Credit:NIAID-RML

The initial advice from health authorities in Australia was that people who had travelled to certain countries and exhibited flu-like symptoms should seek testing from their GP. This advice reflects the GP-centricity of primary care in Australia, including that there is no systematic approach to paying for testing by any other provider.

The media over the past few weeks has been dominated by representatives of general practitioners and the broader medical profession bemoaning the lack of personal protective equipment, poor distribution of masks, and the failure of public health authorities to provide regular updates on the pandemic.
The Yobe State governor, Mai Buni, has said Nigeria may reap positively from the coronavirus pandemic as its impact on oil prices may force the country to diversify the economy.

Gov Buni, who hosted a delegation of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress in his office in Damaturu said, the outbreak will compel both the federal and state governments in Nigeria to look inward for more sources of revenue rather than oil.

I want to say, however, that our meeting here today comes at a time of great challenges for the economy of our country overall. The outbreak of the Coronavirus disease, which has now been described and categorised by the World Health Organisation as a global pandemic, has continued to affect world markets and global supply chains, he said.

Naturally, international oil prices have been affected too. Along with the recent disagreement between Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the worlds biggest oil producers, the coronavirus pandemic has now pushed down crude oil prices to levels not seen in nearly 20 years.

This is very consequential. First, as an oil producing nation ourselves, our revenue flows from oil sales have also dropped. It seems reasonable to suggest, therefore, that for the foreseeable future, the amount of money that could be available to government for service delivery would be affected too. Second, the significant drop in oil revenues would naturally force a re-ordering of priorities and would compel governments, both at the federal and state levels, to look inward and to seek to diversify our revenue sources, Mr Buni said.

The governor said his government accords special priority to workers welfare in the state, stressing how he approved N30,000 minimum wage in the state.

According to the governor, he has also revamped erring industries in the state and kickstarted viable empowerment programmes to tackle employment amongst the youth in the state.

As part of the effort to bring about more economic development, we are pushing ahead with the construction of the Damaturu International Cargo Airport so that we can tap from its potential to make our state a hub for the export of agricultural produce. We are looking forward to commissioning the airport in two months from now.

We have also resuscitated three of our dormant factories, namely the Woven Sacks factory, Sahel Aluminium Company and the Yobe Flour and Feed Mills. We are now seeking for partnerships to build a cement factory in the state. We have trained hundreds of youths in paint production and automobile repairs so that they can establish or expand their businesses. All these would surely go a long way in promoting the economic development of our state, the governor said.

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He commended the cordial working relationship between the state government and labour, and urged them to maintain the tempo.

Earlier, the NLC Chairman in the state, Mukhtar Tarbutu, praised the governor for his developmental projects.

Some of the projects he mentioned include the Damaturu ultramodern market, trailer park at Potiskum and the over 300 housing scheme initiated by the administration.

The NLC boss promised to continue to partner with the state government to enable it realise its objectives.
These are the shocking scenes as a pair of armed robbers, who were today jailed for 17 years, attacked a victim for their valuable Rolex watches.

Darren Buchanan, 27, and Cameo Joseph, 26, both from Brent, north London were responsible for a string of knifepoint robberies in the capital.

Footage released by the Metropolitan Police showed the pair violently attacking one victim.

Darren Buchanan, 27, and Cameo Joseph, 26, were jailed for nine years and eight years respectively at Southwark Crown Court after being convicted of a string of knifepoint robberies where they stole Rolex watches and jewellery worth 76,270

The gang were operating across London for almost nine months and were responsible for at least four attacks, where they stole watches and jewellery worth 76,270.

Buchanan and Joseph were tracked down by the Central West Crime Squad who were tasked with targeting the gang.

In one robbery, Hisham Saeed had been dining with his partner at Novikov in Mayfair when Cameo Joseph, 26, and Darren Buchanan, 27, tore the timepiece from his wrist last August.

They followed his taxi in Buchanan's Audi A5 Coupe as it travelled to his home in St John's Wood, before parking up and rushing towards him as he opened the door to leave.

Mr Saeed was yanked from the seat and dragged aside where the robbers threatened him with a knife when he struggled and kicked to break free.

The pair was also involved in a second watch robbery three days earlier, on 5 August, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Buchanan also took part in three further robberies, dating back to December 2018.

Describing the first robbery, Stephen Shay, prosecuting, said Hamad Ahwad was dining with friends in a central London hotel on December 26, 2018.

The Metropolitan Police released CCTV footage showing several of the attacks

'He occasionally went outside to smoke a cigarette.

'At about 1:15 in the morning he was outside smoking when a group of four men walked past.

'He didn't pay them any attention.

'Then the four men stood in front of him.

'All them were wearing balaclavas.

'One of them said "move" and that man grabbed Mr Ahwad's left arm

'Another one punched him in the face.

'The third man dropped him on the floor and pulled his Rolex of his wrist.

'Security guards were dissuaded from intervening because they saw one of the makes pulling something which had the appearance of a knife,' he said.

The four robbers ran off with the 15,000 watch and got into Buchanan's BMW, the court heard.

Buchanan and Joseph threatened their victims at knifepoint to order them to hand over their valuables

They next targeted Alexander Costa, who was returning to Croydon with two friends after a party on the 9 March last year

'When they got off the Uber, at about 2.30, three black males ran towards Mr Costa,' said Mr Shay.

'One of them pulled a knife to Mr Costa.

'They took his watch which was worth 5,000.'

The next robbery, which took place in the the early hours of April 26 2019, also led to Joseph's arrest.

'Mr Fawaz Alnehri was walking along Regent Street when he was approached by four or five males and forced to the ground.

'They put their hands over this mouth and kicked and punched him before removing his Rolex which was worth 7,000 from his left wrist,' said the prosecutor.

'The officers were on hold as part of the royal wedding.

'It was wholly incidental they were in the city.

'They became involved when they saw three black males and another man trying to attract their attention.

'The police vans went in pursuit of the three males and one of them got away but Mr Joseph didn't.'

Andrei Golban was attacked as he was driving home to Acton, west London, on August 5 last year.

Mr Golban noticed an Audi which he thought was following him, but thought he had lost them.

'Mr Golban thought there was no longer any problem.

The gang would follow their victims if they spotted they were wearing valuable timepieces

'He drove into the green where he stopped his car and got out.

'As he was looking at his phone he became aware of the Audi.

'He saw people get out.

'Two males rushed towards him, both pointing knives.

'One was fat one was slim both wearing masks.

'The fatter man, who we say is Mr Buchanan demanded Mr Golban's watch.

'The slimmer man pulled a necklace from Mr Golban's neck,' said Mr Shay.

'The watch was not a Rolex but it looks like one.

'It can be bought from Amazon for about 70.

'What would have attracted the robbers is that it looked similar.

'The necklace was 1,200 and was of sentimental value as it was a gift from his mother.'

Mr Golban, who was in court, read out his victim impact statement in front of his attackers.

'Because of the stress, I almost fainted at the time.

'I told my mum what happened and she was also very stressed.

'Now I have to look every time I drive or stop my car if someone is watching me or following me.

'I have had some nightmares since and struggle to sleep,' he said.

'The necklace was of sentimental value and was a gift from my mun who lives back in Moldova and I get to see twice a year.

'The necklace was of sentimental value and a reminder of my family.'

Mr Saeed was followed by Buchanan as he made his way home to St John's Wood in a taxi from Novikov on August 8, the court heard.

The taxi's Dashcam captured the violent robbery he suffered at the hands of Buchanan and Joseph.

'Two men went either side of the parked taxi and pulled him to the side into a block of flats.

'They proceeded to pull his Rolex from his wrist.

'He was struggling, kicking out, but stopped when the men pulled out knives and threatened to stab him,' said Mr Shay.

The court heard the robbers have a long list of previous conviction.

Joseph was jailed for four years in 2014 for robbing a 73-year-old woman of a gold chain.

Buchanan has previous convictions for robbery, battery and possession of a knife.

Marion Smullen, defending, said Joseph had not been convicted of any crimes between 2014 and this latest string of robberies.

'Essentially, for quite a number of years he has been out of trouble.

'It is fair to say he was in custody for some time but since 2016 he has been living in the community,' said Ms Smullen.

'He has a low IQ.

'He functions in the community and it is fair to say he lives at home with his grandmother, she was the lady who was here during the course of the trial.'

Ms Smullen said that the rest of Joseph's family were of 'impeccable character' and that he was acting as his grandmother's carer.

'He accepts and wishes to apologise for what were very frightening and nasty robberies,' she continued.

'He is somebody who is easily influenced.

'He has tried not to reoffend and has failed spectacularly with these offences.'

Mimma Sabato, defending Buchanan, said that he was 'very remorseful' and 'wished to apologise'.

'Mr Buchanan's father died and the circumstances of that were very difficult for Mr Buchanan.

'He is a father to four young children.

'Two of his youngest children were born in summer last year.

'He has been in custody since last September and had very little input in terms of their life at this stage.'

Judge Michael Grieve, QC, told the pair: 'I have no doubt as to the likely traumatic impact of on any of your victims - being set upon, out of the blue, by two or more masked men, in some instances producing knives, and doing whatever it takes to pull a wristwatch out of one's wrist.

'Anyone who thinks about that experience for a moment will realise what an extraordinarily frightening and long lasting impact that such an experience is bound to have.'

Joseph was jailed for eight years for conspiracy to rob.

Joseph, of Willesden Green, northwest London, denied conspiracy to rob but was convicted and jailed for eight years.

Buchanan, of Brent Park admitted conspiracy to rob, possession of a bladed article and possession of class A drugs. He was jailed for a total of nine years.

Detective Constable Tony Holley, who led the investigation with Detective Constable Paul Gaffney, said: 'Buchanan and Joseph are very dangerous men who clearly thought nothing of terrifying and threatening the victims with knives in order to steal their property.

'The fact that they planned the crimes and identified their targets before following them, on occasion a considerable distance, to outside their homes only makes their behaviour more chilling. In the last robbery of the series they went so far as to threaten to stab the victim having pulled out knives. The outcome could have been even more horrific had the victim continued to resist.'

DC Holley concluded: 'This has been an outstanding collective effort by the Crime Squad and I am pleased these two men are now off the streets for a significant amount of time.

'Weve been able to update the victims, who have all been affected by this at varying levels, with the good result and it will be some time before they feel less vulnerable simply enjoying a night out as is their right.'

HHJ Grieve said: 'I have no doubt these robberies were extraordinarily frightening for the victims on whom they will have a long term impact. There are a large number of aggravating factors where you targeted individuals for their expensive watches. There was a significant degree of planning where you travelled for several miles following them to their homes to carry out the robberies. The sentences must reflect the safety that the public deserve.'
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 --

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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.
Photo: The Canadian Press U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

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.

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.
About 100 people rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday evening to stop LGBTQ workplace discrimination and to support a bill prioritized by Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks.

Her bill (LB627) would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of prohibited reasons for discrimination in employment. The bill was debated in 2019 and passed over after failing to reach a vote after three hours.

Pansing Brooks has reprioritized LB627 so that it will return for debate this session.

With endorsements from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and other local chambers, and a majority of senators who will vote for it, there was too much momentum to let it die, Pansing Brooks said.

Several people spoke at the rally in the Rotunda, including Pansing Brooks, Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt and Kayla Meyer, coordinator of the Lincoln Young Professionals group and representing the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

Pansing Brooks told those gathered they should feel loved and not be diminished by the opinions of others.

"It is not up to others to judge love," she said.

As a mom, she understands liberation and being able to come out as the person each one is authentically, she said. That authenticity gives people strength and courage to move forward and to stand up, recognize they are loved and feel the embrace of those around them.

What worries her most in this country, she said, are those that use religious liberty and protections as a sword toward people who don't agree with them, rather than as a shield.

Hunt, who identifies as bisexual, asked how it is that she is good enough to make laws that affect everyone in the state, but not good enough to be out about whom she loves.

She asked those assembled to keep spreading the word about what is needed in Nebraska for full equality, in the workplace, housing, access to services, parental rights, all things that need to improve.

"People do not want to live in a state with legalized discrimination," she said. "This is the first step. This is called the bare minimum, and this is what I expect of my colleagues."

Meyer said fairness and equal treatment are essential for a welcoming economy and are the basis of anti-discrimination laws.

Work and merit should serve as the basis of reward, not factors such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity, she said.

"Business thrives when we have the best talent available in Nebraska," Meyer said.

Abbi Swatsworth, executive director of OutNebraska, which sponsored the rally, has lived in Nebraska more than 30 years.

"Now is the time to pass LB627," she said. "Retaining and attracting young talented workers is a top priority in keeping Nebraska's business ecosystem growing and thriving."

The Rev. Oscar Sinclair, of the Unitarian Church of Lincoln, said LB627 is not complicated or a particularly long bill. But there is a moral reason to pass the bill now.

Each person has inherent worth and dignity, he said, and this is not a negotiable position. It's one that faiths around the world share. All life is interconnected, and somehow all tied together.

"For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be," he said. "And you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be."

Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature

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Abuja, Nigeria, March 12, 2020  Liberian authorities should drop the police investigation into journalist Kolubah Bobo Akois work and allow him to cover the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On February 28, police in Voinjama, the capital of northern Liberias Lofa County, summoned Akoi, a reporter with the Kintoma Radio FM broadcaster and a freelance journalist, and arrested him when he arrived at the police station, according to a statement by the Liberia Press Union, a local trade advocacy group, and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ via phone and messaging app.

He was held for four hours before police released him, saying that they would summon him again, Akoi said. He told CPJ that police hit him against a wall and dragged him by his trousers during the arrest.

His arrest followed a complaint filed by Samuel Kpene Ngaima, president of the Lofa County community college, claiming that Akois posts on Facebook alleging fraud at the college constituted criminal conspiracy, criminal malevolence, and illegal disclosure of official documents, Toby Raynes, Akois lawyer, told CPJ in a phone interview.

As of March 11, Akoi had not received a second summons, he told CPJ.

Kolubah Bobo Akoi should never have been arrested or detained, and the ongoing investigation into his work should be dropped, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. Authorities intimidating and harassing journalists for reporting on matters of public interest is inconsistent with Liberias basic standards of press freedom.

Akoi has over 1,300 followers on his Facebook page, where he posts reporting and commentary on local news. In one post about Ngaima in December and another in January, Akoi alleged that the college president had overseen the misuse of funds, and posted images of financial transaction records.

Raynes told CPJ that police had yet to provide a physical copy of the complaint, but said officers told him they intended to prosecute Akoi if their investigation uncovers any lawbreaking.

Criminal malevolence is no longer part of the Liberian penal code following reforms in February 2019, but criminal conspiracy and the illegal disclosure of official documents each carry penalties of up to three months in detention and fines to be set by a court, according to Raynes.

Ngaima told CPJ over the phone that he could not comment on the case because it was under police investigation.

Liberian national police spokesperson Moses Carter and Voinjama police spokesperson James Taylor both told CPJ in phone interviews that they could not comment on details of the case.

[EDITORS NOTE: The names Kolubah Bobo Akoi and Toby Raynes have been corrected throughout.]
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Linkedin Alexandra Alper, Makini Brice, Eric Beech (Reuters) Washington, United States  Thu, March 12, 2020 10:11 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a05dd5 2 World US-Health,Donald-Trump,US,coronavirus,COVID-19,Europe,travel-ban Free

United States President Donald Trump announced several measures on Wednesday evening to combat the spread of the coronavirus within the United States and limit its economic impact on Americans.

Below is a summary of the measures.

TRAVEL

The United States will suspend all travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days starting on Friday, Trump said, adding there will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone screenings. Trump said the travel restrictions do not apply to the United Kingdom.

He said in a tweet that trade will not be affected by the travel curbs, apparently rolling back on comments he made in a speech earlier in the evening. "The restriction stops people not goods," he said in the tweet.

TAXES

Trump said he was instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted, saying it would provide more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy.

LOANS

Trump said he was ordering the Small Business Administration to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the coronavirus by providing low-interest loans to small businesses in affected states and territories, effective immediately.
Her first book was really her second book. And her second was really her third.

Now author and Jacksonville High School graduate Sarah McClintock Angleton has released her third book  that first historical fiction novel that started her on the writing path a handful of years ago.

Smoke Rose to Heaven hit bookstore shelves in February and Angleton will be at Our Town Books from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday for a book signing.

I didnt set out to write historical fiction, Angleton said. This story is kind of what led me to it. This is the first story I wrote.  The other one came out of this one. Of course, I discovered I really enjoy writing historical fiction, so Ive just stuck with it.

The other one in this case is her 2018 novel, Gentleman of Misfortune, a fictional tale rooted in the true story of a man who, in 1833, managed to get his hands on a shipment of mummies that had been imported to New York by an Egyptologist. The man then took the mummies on a U.S. tour as a way to make some money off of them.

Lyman Moreau, the character Angleton created based on that true story, got his start in Smoke Rose to Heaven, which earned Angleton a publishing contract before it got caught up in the publishers own struggles and was unable to print as planned.

While she waited for the smoke to clear so she was clear to publish Smoke, Angleton wrote Launching Sheep & Other Stories from the Intersection of History and Nonsense, a look at humorous true stories in history. She released it in 2017.

Shes now working on her fourth book  The nice thing about having a book thats kind of lost in the publishing world for a little bit is that it gives you plenty of time to write another one, she says  but shes also pleased that her first book finally is finding its way into readers hands.

Its a 19th century coming-of-age novel about a girl who comes across a manuscript thats actually at the center of a real conspiracy theory about the somewhat dubious origins of The Book of Mormon, she said. I havent shied away from controversy, but I hope its painted with a gentle brush.

The idea for Smoke came about when Angleton and her family, who now live in the St. Louis area, were living in Oregon, she said.

We lived for a while in a little neighborhood in Oregon that had a Mormon church on the corner, so most of the people in the neighborhood belonged to the church, she said. I just wanted to know more about it.

Her research led her to the belief of some that the sacred text of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was plagiarized from another  missing  manuscript and presented to the world as The Book of Mormon.

It led Angleton to consider the answers to questions about whether the allegations were true and, if so, how would events had to have happened.

If it had existed, this particular manuscript would have had to have been in a particular place at a particular time in history and disappeared in a short period, she said, noting that scholars have researched the possibilities far more in-depth than she has.

Writing the book is a way for me to pick at something that made me wonder about history, she said.

Still, shes not seeking to definitively answer to the potential riddle about The Book of Mormon with her own book.

The central part of the story is the coming of age of this young woman who ends up with the manuscript, Angleton said. But there is that theme running through it.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders addressed the national media Wednesday afternoon, appearing in public for the first time since his devastating defeat in Tuesdays primaries.

His remarks were the beginning of an effort by Sanders to corral workers and young people behind the right-wing campaign that former Vice President Joe Biden will wage in the general election, including suggestions to Biden about the type of left noises he needs to make in order to pull the wool over the eyes of Sanders own supporters.

The appearance was a remarkable demonstration of Sanders prostration before the Democratic Party, a political instrument of the billionaires, which he has demagogically criticized in his two campaigns for the presidency.

Sanders and Biden during the debates [AP Photo/David J. Phillip]

He began and ended his remarks by declaring that nothing was more important than defeating Donald Trump in the presidential election, a formula whose meaning is clear: all-out support for the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, former Vice President Biden.

Sanders suppressed any criticism of the Democratic frontrunner in his own remarks, while repeatedly referring to him as my friend. He said nothing about Bidens vote for the war in Iraq, or his support for the banks against consumer protection laws, or his role in writing repressive laws that led to the mass incarceration of African Americans.

While not officially conceding, Sanders made no reference to any future primary contests, including those in Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Arizona next Tuesday, which will select 577 delegates to the Democratic national convention. Instead, he focused entirely on Sundays televised debate in Phoenix, Arizona, where he and Biden are set to be the sole candidates on the stage under rules set by the Democratic National Committee.

Sanders claimed that exit polls of primary voters showed they supported his policies on issues like health care, student loan debt and the environment, but rejected him as a candidate. While our campaign has won the ideological debate, we are losing the debate over electability, he said. He added that he disagreed that Biden was more likely to defeat Trump, but continued, that is what millions of Democrats and independents today believe.

It would be more accurate, however, to say that the Democratic Party leadership, having decided on Biden as its preferred candidate, has carried out political blackmail against Sanders supporters, telling them, in effect, that if Sanders is nominated, the party will sabotage his campaign and ensure a sweeping Trump victory.

This campaign began in South Carolina, where Representative James Clyburn and the black Democratic establishment, a reactionary upper middle class layer, engineered a massive victory for Biden, using racial appeals to win support among black voters. After Biden won 10 of 14 contests on Super Tuesday (March 3), he went on to win four of the five on March 10, while taking a narrow lead in Washington state, the sixth contest. In nearly every contest, the African-American vote provided Bidens margin of victory, or turned a narrow win into a landslide.

Sanders is capitulating to the pressure from the Democratic Party leaders and even making himself their instrument. He spoke, not as a political opponent of Bidens, but as an adviser, giving the future nominee tips on the best way to swindle Sanders own supporters, and the working class as a whole, with false promises on universal access to health care, a reduction in student loan debt, measures to curb police violence, and so on.

That is why he couched his remarks as a challenge to Biden to address various issues at Sundays debate in Arizona, which will be conducted without a live audience because of the coronavirus emergency. He was clearly concerned that some Democratic Party power brokers, like Clyburn, might be successful in their efforts to have the debate canceled outright on the grounds that Biden is now the de facto nominee.

This would disrupt his efforts to convince his own supporters that the Democratic Party remains the political avenue to which they must be confined. As one media commentator explained the likely scenario, Sanders goal is to lay out a number of supposed political contrasts with Biden in the debate, then, when Biden sweeps the March 17 primaries, tell his supporters that the voters have chosen Bidens right-wing program and everyone must get behind it in the name of unity against Trump.

Sanders pointed out to the party leadership that he has the support of a large majority of younger voters, not just those in their 20s, but 30- and 40-year-olds as well. 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.

Significantly, Sanders made no mention of foreign policy in his remarks, which previewed the issues he will raise in Sundays debates. He will not attack Biden for his support for the war in Iraq, and for the Obama-Biden administrations intervention in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Ukraine and other countries laid waste by American imperialism.

This political intervention is all the more important under conditions where Biden is setting an explicitly right-wing course for the general election campaign. As the New York Times put it in its summary of the Democratic nomination contest:

In a sense, Mr. Biden is offering something of a 2016 do-over, coated in patriotism and wishful thinking: Remove Mr. Trump. Prove that the country does not represent his values. And let the work of repair begin, dooming the 45th president to historys amnesia, eventually 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 

On foreign policy, one line in Bidens brief victory speech on Tuesday night should be considered, when he pledged to make clear to our adversaries that we will stand fast at restoring world order. That is the American responsibility.

In other words, a Biden administration would represent an effort to restore US imperialisms world position through NATO, the US-Japan alliance and other efforts to mobilize support against Russia, China and other targets of Washington. Sanders statement Wednesday amounts to his enlisting in this reactionary, war-mongering campaign.
Parliament's lower house approves purchase of Sberbank stock by Russian government

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

16:27 12/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 12 (RAPSI)  The State Duma adopted two bills on the purchase of the Sberbank shares by the Russian government in a final third reading on Thursday.

The first initiative stipulates withdrawal of the Bank of Russia from the banks equity.

According to the initiative, the Central Bank will sell its equity stocks to the Cabinet of Minister at a weighted average price depending on security quotes for the last six months before the first deal round.

The draft law is aimed to eliminate a potential problem of the Central Banks conflict of interests in acting jointly as stockholder, regulator and supervisory body.The second bill proposes to set an order of transfer to the federal budget of a fraction of revenue from the Sberbank stock sale.




A Trinity College student has tested positive for coronavirus, in the second confirmed case of Covid-19 case at the univerisity.

The student was based outside the main campus and is now being treated in hospital.

Trinity was advised of the case this evening and has sent a message to staff and students.

The HSE has begun the process of tracing anybody who has been in contact with the male student, who did not live in university accommodation.

Read More

The college said it would continue to take all actions necessary to contain the spread of the virus.

The university said it would keep other possible measures under review. The present policy of delivering lectures online from Monday will continue and all students and staff should follow the guidelines around social distancing and good hygiene.

Our goal should be to decrease the number of instances that lead to students, staff, and visitors coming together in large groups in close proximity with each other.
The Shiv Sena on Thursday said that the impending fall of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh is because Chief Minister Kamal Nath had underestimated the new generation.

"Under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia, 22 Congress MLAs have resigned from the Congress. Scindia has entered BJP. This brought Kamal Nath's government in a minority. If the Congress government falls in Madhya Pradesh, the credit does not go to the BJP. The decline of Kamal Nath's government is due to his carelessness, arrogance and tendency to underestimate the new generation," Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana said in an editorial.

"Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath are the old leaders of Madhya Pradesh. Their economic power is high, so they got support by gathering legislators from here and there while being at the brink of majority. Even if this is true, cannot be done in Madhya Pradesh by ignoring Jyotiraditya Scindia. Scindia may not have influence over the entire state but he has influence in large areas like Gwalior and Guna," it added.

The editorial also raised questions over the sidelining of Jyotiraditya Scindia by Congress after the legislative assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh in December 2018.

"Before the assembly elections, Jyotiraditya Scindia was the Congress party's chief minister face. But later, party seniors pushed him aside," Saamana said.

It also said that Jyotiraditya Scindia had criticised BJP with relation to the Karnataka government crisis in 2019 and the Delhi violence recently but joined the same party which he opposed.

"Only six months ago, the same Jyotiraditya addressed the BJP as a 'party that strangled democracy'. He gave this response after the BJP overthrew the Congress-JDS government in Karnataka," the Sena mouthpiece said.

"After the violence in Delhi 15 days earlier, he accused BJP leaders of bringing ' of malice'. Now the same Jyotiraditya has become a BJP member by saying that 'now the Congress Party is no longer the same'," it added.

Scindia, who joined the BJP on Wednesday, will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

Scindia had joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party president JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Mumbai Taximen's Union on



Thursday opposed the Maharashtra government's decision to enforce telescopic fare system for kaali-peeli cabs, under which prices of fares that go beyond 8 km will be slashed by 15 per cent.

The state government on Monday decided not to permit cabs that are more than 15 years old to ply and also enforced a telescopic fare system for both taxis and autorickshaws.

As per the system, prices of long-distance fares between 8 and 12 km and those beyond 12 km will be slashed by 15 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

Mumbai Taximen Union secretary Anthony Quadros argued that taxi drivers are self-employed and relay on their daily earnings and it won't be feasible for them to offer discounts.

The union has also objected to the government's decision to not permit cabs that are more than 15 years old to operate.

A delegation of taxi union leaders will soon meet state Transport Minister Anil Parab next week to voice their concerns, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A on Thursday suggested separation of investigation wing of from the prosecution wing, and also red-flagged staff shortages at the white-collar crime probe agency.

The panel also took note of high vacancies at the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

In a report tabled in Parliament on Thursday, the Standing Committee on Finance said, "The investigation wing of should be separated from the prosecution wing. For that purpose it would be prudent to create a separate directorate of prosecution, independent of the investigation wing".

It also suggested that the personnel on the investigation and prosecution side should be provided comprehensive training in all relevant areas or methodologies.

Also, they should be adequately sensitised to legal jurisprudence.

The panel said it finds it alarming that in a key multi-disciplinary statutory investigation body like the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), 37 per cent of posts are lying vacant, with only 84 out of the total 133 sanctioned posts in place at present.

Given the quantum and complexity of case load and specialised skills required to handle the same, the committee said, "vacancy rate is unacceptably high, with obvious consequences for the efficiency of the organisation".

It said that out of the total sanctioned posts of 195, as many as 73 posts are lying vacant in and the mode of recruitment in office of Director General (DG), is only through deputation, where as many as 23 positions are lying vacant out of the 41 sanctioned.

The committee noted, "an important office like that of DG, is functioning with less than half of the required staff and even the post of DG is lying vacant".

The panel hoped that recommendation of the high level committee on review of Competition Act 2002 for merger of DG office with CCI as per international practice would be implemented soon to get over the vacancy problem and thus improve the overall functioning of the commission in the face of new developments like cross border mergers, sectoral overlaps, new business models and monopolistic business trends, e-commerce models among others.
How much do various telecommunications companies owe the Indian government in unpaid adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues? Its no longer clear that anyone actually knows.

Recent reports from the Indian press indicate that Indias Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is ready to study documents submitted by the companies involved on self-assessment of AGR dues and, potentially, issue revised demand notices.

The wide divergence between AGR dues assessed by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea in particular and those estimated by the DoT has been triggered by a number of factors, according to analysts quoted in the Indian media. They include key deductions disallowed by the government, differences in accounting treatment and duplication of demand items.

Whatever the reasons, the differences are significant. Both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have calculated their AGR dues at well under half the DoT estimate. How this fits in with more than one Supreme Court judgment and DoT communication insisting that the DoT-assessed sums be paid is not clear.

Some commentators have even suggested that a major accounting firm could now become involved in some sort of dues reconciliation exercise, although the Supreme Court may feel differently when it again considers the matter next week.

However, as far as Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal is concerned, the case is now closed because, he has argued, the Supreme Court simply asked carriers to pay their AGR dues, without being clear about an amount.

Thus the (approximately) $1.75 billion AGR dues, based on Bharti Airtels self-assessment, so far paid to the government is theoretically the final word on the matter  though, given how long this issue has dragged on already, it probably isnt.
Will the State Bank of Indias rescue plan for YES Bank be adequate to repair the damage already done to confidence in the bank and to the banking sector in general? Is the unravelling of the Congress party something to worry about for those who are not party insiders? If yes, what is to be done? Alokananda Chakraborty sums up. Jyotiraditya Scindia, 49, has offered the Congress partys leadership a rude wake-up call, says our top edit.

Read on... It is unfair to deny government sops to those engaged in the age-old farm practice of shifting cultivation and its ...
From the halls of the Opera House, to a cruise on the harbour and dining institutions like Mr Wong, and a stroll along Bondi Beach, the coronavirus trail of Hollywood couple Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson has left dozens in quarantine and Sydney on high alert.

In Australia for Hanks' work on Baz Luhrmann's biopic of Elvis Presley and Wilson's concert tour, the couple is now holed up in the Gold Coast University Hospital under isolation. News of the diagnosis has sent ripples throughout the local entertainment industry.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks photographed in Sydney on the weekend. Credit:KHAPGG/Backgrid

Hanks confirmed the diagnosis on social media around midday on Thursday: "Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too. To play things right ... we were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive.

"Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?
Shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) called the coronavirus outbreak a "pandemic", US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that his country has suspended all travel from Europe for 30 days due to the deadly virus.

President Trump, however, added that the "strong but necessary" restrictions would not apply to the UK. "Europe saw more cases because governments failed to stop travel from China, where the COVID-19 epidemic began," Trump said in his address to the nation.

Notably, the number of cases of coronavirus patients in Europe is increasing with each passing day and several European nations have brought in tough measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Hours before his address to the nation, Trump had tweeted saying that "US is making a policy to prevent, detect, treat and create a vaccine against coronavirus to save lives in America and the world".

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....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2020

He also mentioned that the "US has the best scientists, doctors, nurses and health care professionals".

I want to thank all of our Great Government officials on the CoronaVirus Task Force who are working around the clock, in response to the CoronaVirus. Continue to check https://t.co/boZM2NePJW for updates, and follow all recommendations that are available....  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2020

Calling coronavirus an enemy of the world, President Trump said that the media should view this as a time of unity and strength and the US must beat coronavirus as quickly and safely as possible.

In a related development, a state of emergency was declared in Washington due to coronavirus outbreak in the city. The announcement in the regard was made by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser as 10 cases of the infection were confirmed in Washington.

"Today, I want to announce that I am declaring both a state of emergency and a public health emergency in Washington DC," Bowser said at a briefing on Wednesday.
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." 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."
Supreme Court associate justice Louis Brandeis famously urged the states to become laboratories of democracy (New State Ice Co. v. Liebmann, 1932) by testing new, alternative ideas of governance. Colorado is heeding his advice. Under their Governor Jared Polis leadership, the 2019 Colorado Legislative Session passed a number of bills that increase state control of healthcare.

The purpose of Governor Polis reforms is clear from his Executive Order to establish the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care. Will his plan, called the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option or CAHCO, save money for consumers? Will it reduce state spending? What will be the effect on access to care?

CAHCO has financial controls similar to federal Medicare-for-All bill, H.R. 1384, and could be called Medicare-for-All Lite. HB 1174 puts caps on Emergency Room charges. HB 1216 places price controls on insulin and potentially other medications. SB 5 allows government to undercut American drug manufacturers by purchasing pharmaceuticals from Canada. HB 1168 creates a re-insurance fund to pay insurance companies when patients have very expensive claims. SB 238 increases payments to home health workers, assuming the state can squeeze money from Washington. And there is HB 1004.

Colorados HB 1004 creates a public insurance option and claims it will compete in the market against private plans. This public option produces an uneven playing field, pitting an insurance company backed by taxpayer dollars with commercial enterprises that must balance their budgets from premiums paid by ratepayers.

Colorado passed other healthcare bills dealing with mental health, substance abuse, transparency, as well as a study committee to create a single-payer structure for Colorado.

Colorados takeover of healthcare is less complete than H.R. 1384, and thus, it is a Lite version of Medicare-for-All. For contrast, H.R. 1384 creates a national healthcare budget board that oversees all healthcare revenue and payments. H.R. 1384 overtly eschews personal responsibility (Section 202) and prohibits competition by the private sector (Section 107). Colorado is more covert in its suppression of free market forces.

Because of its price controls, CAHCO will sav[e] people money on health care at the point of service. It is highly doubtful that their plan will reduce overall state spending on healthcare because of the cost of bureaucracy.

Based on past experience, government control of healthcare increases spending on administration, bureaucracy, regulations, mandates, compliance, and oversight. Despite former President Obamas assertion that he would bend down our unsustainable healthcare spending curve, his namesake healthcare law, ObamaCare, increased spending by $1.76 trillion. Projections of additional spending for Medicare-for-All are $32.6 trillion per Professor Charles Blahous and as much as $40 trillion according to Senator Bernie Sanders. Forty trillion dollars represents nearly half the combined productivity of all nations on planet Earth.

The primary purpose of any healthcare system is not to save money -- it is to provide readily accessible, timely, high-quality care to Americans. Based on this metric, both the Colorados Lite version as well as full Medicare-for-All (single payer) fail. This assertion is based on past experience with the use of price controls in healthcare.

The now-defunct USSR implemented price controls for everything, including health care. The result was low quality, shortages of everything, and blocks-long waiting lines for medical care. The U.S. currently has a single-payer system, Veterans Administration Healthcare. According to an internal audit performed by the VA Office of the Inspector General, 47,000 veterans may have died waiting in line for care.

Price controls are a central feature of H.R. 1384. A 2019 analysis of this Medicare-for-All bill concluded, Access to care will decline, spending will rise, taxes will double, and personal freedom will be traded for entitlement.

President Obama named his healthcare reform the Affordable Care Act. After passage, he admitted that his namesake law was focused on reforming health insurance. Like the ACA, the Centennial State plan is called the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option. Yet even before its passage, Polis made clear by his executive order, that his first priority is saving money, not providing care.

For more than five decades, Washington has been claiming to reform healthcare with its one-size-fits-all, top-down approach. The failing system we have now is the result of their multiple fixes. We need to remove the federal government from healthcare and Colorado appears to have taken a first step. Appearances can be deceiving.

For more than three years, in both articles and books, this author has been advocating a bottom-up approach called StatesCare. With StatesCare, the people of each state, or group of states, decide the healthcare they believe will work best for their specific needs and resources. With StatesCare, there is no role for Washington, thus restoring the intent of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution. By removing Washington, more than a trillion healthcare dollars a year currently wasted on federal bureaucracy can be repurposed for patient care.

StatesCare does not support a top-down imposition of healthcare structure by government on its residents, state or federal. Rather, the plan envisions state referenda about what healthcare the people choose, not what politicians tell us what is best for us.

If the people of Colorado want the CAHCO system that their legislature just passed, that would be consistent with StatesCare. However, if their Medicare-for-All Lite is not the peoples choice, then what happened in the Centennial State is simply changing tyrannies, from federal to state. That is not a "model" to fix healthcare.

Deane Waldman, MD MBA, is Professor Emeritus of Pediatric, Pathology, and Decision Science; former Director of Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; and author of Curing the Cancer in U.S. Healthcare: StatesCare and Market-Based Medicine.
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 the local 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.

He literally sent me a text that said: Accept this offer, said Singh of JSingh Homes.

Uncertainty may bring an end to the roll the Houston housing market has been on over the last few months. In February, buyers closed on 6,044 single-family homes, a 13.2 percent jump over February 2019, new data from the Houston Association of Realtors show. The median price of those sales was $245,000, up 5.2 percent from a year earlier.

Economic turmoil, however, has cast a pall over the market.

The effect on housing of the coronavirus pandemic is not likely to be reflected until the second quarter, according to a report from the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

There may be disruptions to building-material supply chains and the visiting and showing of homes for sale, threatening the Texas housing market, the report read.

Sellers are likely to be more accepting of offers they wouldnt have previously entertained.

The uncertainty is scaring people, Singh said.

Economist Ted C. Jones said he expected there to be little impact on Houston real estate exclusively due to the coronavirus.

To understand the possible affects, Jones, chief economist for Stewart Title, examined three past events: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), the swine flu and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He noted the aftermath of 9/11 coincided with SARS and the swine flu coincided with the Great Recession.

The past events, he said in an analysis, probably magnified or extended the trends of the time, but the total changes from the prior and the following year could not solely be attributed to the event.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Judge gives OK for John Daugherty Realtors to pay $1.5M in agent commissions

If there is a positive note, it is in the decline in residential mortgage rates, which continues to fuel a refinancing wave.

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a record 3.29 percent last week, the lowest level in its nearly 50-year history, according to Freddie Macs latest survey. Mortgage applications increased 10 percent last week from a year ago.

Coronavirus was not a factor in the February housing data, but obviously with the losses that Wall Street has suffered as well as declining oil prices, we are keeping a watchful eye on housing market activity, John Nugent, HARs chairman, said in a monthly report released Wednesday.

No distraction

Jacqueline Altobelli, who is under contract on a house in Oak Forest, isnt letting the coronavirus or the market derail her housing plans.

She and her husband have a one-year-old son and they want to renovate and add onto their current two-bedroom bungalow in the Heights. Instead of renting while the renovations take place, the couple decided to buy another home, which theyll rent out when their Heights house is ready.

To avoid getting into a bidding war, which have been commonplace in neighborhoods like the Heights and Montrose, they focused on properties that had been on the market awhile.

The house they found in Oak Forest had been for sale for five months. The seller dropped the price and the couple was able to negotiate it a bit lower.

Altobelli said she sees the neighborhood as a good long-term investment.

Everything is going north and west because everyone who cant afford the Heights is looking there, she said.

Single-family homes priced between $250,000 and $500,000 saw the strongest sales in February, followed by properties priced at or above $750,000, according to the data, which includes sales handled through the Multiple Listing Service throughout primarily Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.

Inventory didnt budge from January levels, with just 3.5 months of supply available for sale. Experts consider 6 months a balanced market where neither buyer nor seller have the upper hand in negotiations.
Weve already seen the vivo V17 arrive in Indonesia under the name vivo V19, but it appears a different device will hit the Malaysian market shelves. The new phone that we previously called vivo V19 Malaysia was once again teased with two selfie cameras on the company Instagram account, while one source suggests the phone will keep the L-shaped setup on the back.



vivo V19 Malaysia teasers

If the rumors are true, we are looking at a Snapdragon 712-powered device. It will keep a 6.44 AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and will have two holes in a pill-shaped design for the dual selfie setup - 32 MP main shooter, coupled with a depth sensor for better portrait shots.

The source also claimed the rear camera setup will be 48 MP + 13 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP, meaning we are looking at main + wide-angle + telephoto + depth/macro setup, once again, provided the information is real.

Current vivo V19 Indonesia/vivo V17 India

Vivo has been introducing 18W fast charging to its V midrangers, but the vivo V19 Malaysia could have 33W for its 4,500 mAh battery. It will appear on the market with Android 10 serving as a base for the FuntouchOS 10, something that the vivo V19 did in Indonesia.

There is a big question mark about the price tag, and were thinking it could be the equivalent of $350, which is around MYR1,500.

Source | Via 1  Via 2
ANN ARBOR, MI - There are mixed messages about whether Ann Arbors Hash Bash will happen this year.

Thousands in the cannabis community have gathered throughout the city on the first Saturday of every April since 1972.

The Monroe Street Fair, which has partnered with the event since 2002, earlier this week was postponed to the fall in the wake of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Tuesday declaration of a state of emergency over confirmed coronavirus cases in Michigan.

Coronavirus fears postpone Ann Arbors Monroe Street Fair, partner of Hash Bash to the fall

And, while a Hash Bash social media message has announced this years April 2 celebration will be postponed because it cant get a permit, Mr. Hash Bash plans to smoke it up anyway.

You cant cancel Hash Bash, said Adam L. Brook, who calls himself by the moniker. I just got off the phone with the Legendary John Sinclair, who will be joining me and others at what Hash Bash was always intended to be...a protest and smoke-in.

Activist and poet John Sinclair among first to purchase legal recreational marijuana in Michigan, 50 years after his historic arrest

Sinclair, who has protested for marijuana usage for the last five decades, served two years of a 10-year prison sentence between 1969-71 for possession of marijuana that he was accused of giving to an undercover Detroit cop. His case was overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court, and he said he has smoked marijuana everyday since.

The University of Michigan student group that organizes Hash Bash will not get a permit for the event, as the university has disallowed all events of at least 100 people due to the threat of the spread of coronavirus.

It is with a heavy heart that we must postpone the 49th Hash Bash," said Nick Zettell, founding board member of MI Legalize. "To protect the health and safety of our participants, we will not be gathering on the Diag this April. We are so grateful for you, our attendees, Monroe Street Fair, and U of M. We love you all!

But Brook, Sinclair and the toking traditionalists will still gather by the University of Michigan Diag at high noon on April 2, Brook said.

Closures, postponements, cancellations in Ann Arbor due to coronavirus fears

Organizers of the Monroe Street Fair have not yet specified a fall date.

Monroe Street Fair organizers took proactive action to help protect our participants and the greater overall interests of public health, safety and welfare, according to a release.

We are optimistically rescheduling the fair until a time when we have a better understanding of the scale of whats going on and the actual health risks we face, said Charles Strackbein, founder of the fair.

Whitmers announcement came March 10 after two Michigan residents tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, the disease linked to the novel coronavirus. These cases came from an Oakland County woman and a Wayne County man, state officials said.

There has been no confirmed case or possible community exposure in Washtenaw County, according to a county health department on Thursday, March 12.

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.

READ MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

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Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by PennLive/The Patriot-News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.

Story by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA
Older adults who have surgery with general anesthesia may experience a modest acceleration of cognitive decline, even years later. But there's no evidence of a link to Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from Mayo Clinic.

The research, published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, examined brain scans from 585 patients, ages 70 to 91  493 of whom had at least one surgery with general anesthesia. The analysis found cortical thinning in cerebral areas but no significant evidence of deposits of amyloid protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The cortex is the outermost layer of the brain's nerve cell tissue, and thinning of that tissue is associated with diminished cognitive functions.

This finding suggests that the modest cortical thinning is not related to Alzheimer's disease pathology, but is caused by other processes. These results are reassuring and consistent with the conclusion that surgery and anesthesia do not increase the risk for development of Alzheimer's disease." Juraj Sprung, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist and first author of the study

The potential link between surgery with anesthesia and cognitive decline in older adults has been examined for many years, and concerns have grown as animal studies have indicated that exposure to inhaled anesthetics may be related to brain changes similar to those seen with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to degenerate and die. It is the most common cause of dementia and the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Also, Alzheimer's disease causes a continuous decline in cognition and behavior that disrupts a person's ability to function. While there is no cure, some medications can slow its progression. An estimated 5.8 million Americans are living with the disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

One of the key indicators of Alzheimer's disease is a buildup of proteins in the cortical area of the brain, which can be visualized by positron emission tomography (PET) scans. The protein deposits, called "amyloid plaques," have a toxic effect on neurons and can precede any clinical symptoms of the disease by 30 years or more.

The Mayo Clinic study used data from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, which started in 2004 and has data on more than 5,000 participants  all from Olmsted County, Minnesota, where Mayo Clinic in Rochester is located. The study analyzed 585 patients, 493 of whom had at least one surgery with general anesthesia after age 40, and later had PET scans. Of those, the median time between surgery and the PET scan was 25.9 years.

The researchers used two methods to define amyloid deposition in the PET scans. "Regardless of the definition used, no significant associations were detected between exposure to surgery and anesthesia, and increased amyloid deposition," Dr. Sprung says.

Dr. Sprung and Mayo Clinic colleagues published a study last year that also noted the association between surgical anesthesia and cortical thinning in the signature region for Alzheimer's disease. The study cautioned that the pathogenesis and mechanisms driving these changes required more study.

The new study concludes that the cortical thinning was not associated with pathologic changes related to Alzheimer's, but was caused by other undetermined processes.

"Older adults who are considering surgery, and their families, must be properly informed of the risk for slightly accelerated cognitive decline in the years following surgery," says Dr. Sprung. "However, they should also be made aware that this potential impact may be related to preexisting conditions that necessitate the surgery."

"Most important, patients should be reassured by our findings that surgery with anesthesia does not lead to changes associated with Alzheimer's disease," says Dr. Sprung.
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.)
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Linkedin Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Panarat Thepgumpanat (Reuters) Bangkok, Thailand  Thu, March 12, 2020 13:41 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a17cde 2 SE Asia Thailand,coronavirus,COVID-19,health Free

Thai officials played down the possibility of "super spreading" of the coronavirus on Thursday as they reported a group of friends were responsible for the biggest daily rise in the country's cases since the outbreak began.

Officials reported 11 new cases, taking the national tally to 70. One person has died.

The new patients are a group of friends who appeared to pass the virus to each other after one of their numbers was first infected by a tourist who has since returned to Hong Kong, officials said.

The male and female friends, all Thai nationals aged in their 20s and 30s, socialized and shared drinks and cigarettes on two occasions in late February.

"The first patient was infected from a tourist from a dangerous communicable disease area," Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Disease Control Department, told reporters. "After that, the person had two social activities with close friends."

Officials stressed the foreign source of the group infection and announced they were stepping up travel restrictions for visitors from a list of "designated dangerous communicable disease areas" announced last week. Those include South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy, and Iran.

"Visitors from the six places will need to present medical certificates before they can obtain boarding passes. They must be prepared for a full state quarantine when they arrive," said Sukhum Kanchanapimai, the health ministry's permanent secretary.

It was not immediately clear where the state quarantine will take place or when it will begin.

Tourism-reliant Thailand had previously said on Wednesday that it was temporarily suspending the issuance of visas on arrival and visa waivers to visitors from 22 countries and territories, including China.
For a brief, relieving moment on Wednesday, it appeared that Republicans in Congress might get on board with House Speaker Nancy Pelosis plan to combat the coronavirus pandemic. I think the things that will be put forth will not be controversial and I think they could become very bipartisan, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters.

The hopeful mood didnt last. After Democrats unveiled their package late Wednesday night, GOP lawmakers whipped around and announced they would not in fact support the proposal, which they characterized as a sneaky plot to use a public health crisis to pass some long-standing liberal priorities. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called it an ideological wish list and accused House Democrats of choosing to wander into various areas of policy that are barely related if at all to the issue before us. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama complained that the House bill was covered in Christmas tree ornaments. An anonymous White House official said, This is Democrats letting fear surrounding coronavirus be a vehicle to push their radical left agenda. Trump echoed the point. There are things in there that had nothing to do of what we are talking about, he said, It is not a way for them to get some of the goodies they have been able to get for the last 25 years.

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Trump didnt specify what goodies he was talking about. Notably, neither did most of the other Republicans who have complained about the bill. This is worrisome, since it suggests that the GOP still doesnt appreciate the scale of what the United States is facing, and views common-sense public health and economic measures as some sort radical leftist agenda.

The House bill is, in fact, a wide-ranging and fairly comprehensive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It would guarantee free coronavirus testing by requiring insurers to pay for it and having Medicaid foot the full bill for the uninsured. It would add funding for unemployment benefits (since were probably going to see a lot of layoffs soon). It provides more food aid for families (a lot of kids are going to be without lunch when schools close). It would temporarily increase the federal governments share of funding for Medicaid, to give state budgets a little relief as caseloads likely swell.

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And importantly, it provides paid sick leave in two different ways. First, theres an emergency benefit for workers affected by the coronavirus: The federal government will pay up to two-thirds of their usual earnings for as many as three months. Second, it would permanently require businesses to give workers seven days of paid sick leave, and an extra 14 during public health emergencies, with Washington covering the cost for small businesses.

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These are all imminently sensible responses to the crisis at hand, which has shown that paid sick leave is an absolutely essential public health precaution. You want people to be able to get tested for this virus. You do not want them going to work and spreading an infection because they need to support themselves. You want people to be able to eat. You do not want consumer spending to crater.

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And you should want to make paid sick leave permanent. It is demonstrably insane that we do not already require it. And it does not make any sense whatsoever for Congress to pass new, emergency paid leave mandates every time there is a public health crisis. Moreover, making sure that can people can take time off when theyre ill, even if there isnt an emergency, will help prevent epidemics like this from occurring in the future.

Yet, Republicans are calling this some sort of radical, leftist plot, suggesting they still have no understanding of what it will take to address this crisis or prevent ones like it down the line.

To be fair, a few conservatives have voiced concrete objections to the plan, which could theoretically be addressed. Some are worried that it would impose new costs on employers, for instance. It forces permanent paid sick leave for all businesses without exemptions and no sunsets, McCarthy carped during remarks to reporters on Thursday. Sen. Lamar Alexander said in a speech Wednesday night that the idea of paid sick leave is a good idea. But if Washington, D.C., thinks its a good idea, Washington, D.C., should pay for it. Others, like McConnell and McCarthy, have suggested it would create too much new bureaucracy, since the emergency sick leave benefits would be run through the Social Security Administration.

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Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosis first draft from late last night was off-base. It does not focus immediate relief on affected Americans. It proposes new bureaucracy that would only delay assistance. It wanders into policy areas that are not related to the pressing issues at hand.  Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 12, 2020

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Meanwhile, the White House has its own idiosyncratic set of sticking points. According to the Washington Posts Jeff Stein, it doesnt want to increase federal funding for Medicaid or for the program to cover the full cost of coronavirus testing; at the same time its complaining about those costs, it is pushing for an $840 billion payroll tax cut that almost nobody else in Washington believes is a good idea. The White House does appear to be on board with some kind of paid sick leave program but is hazy on details, andbased on Steins reportingit apparently doesnt want the bill to benefit victims of domestic abuse, a concern I wont even try to unpack.

Pelosi might well be able to strike a deal overcoming these qualms. Maybe well get a package that includes more federal funding for paid leave, or less Medicaid spending. But so far, the GOP is mostly showing that its wary of taking basic steps necessary to protect Americans health and the economy during this crisis. It should make you glad that Pelosi has been the one driving these negotiations, and not them.

For more on the impact of the coronavirus, listen to this weeks episode of the Political Gabfest.
NEW DELHI : Theatre owners in Indias big cities may be reluctant to admit their revenues have been hit by the Covid-19 outbreak but the truth is Indian film business is bracing itself for tough times ahead. New film releases may be deferred and theatres may temporarily shut down depending on the severity of the situation.

As the first state to take a call on film exhibition in the wake of the pandemic, all theatres in Jammu and Kashmir will remain shut till March-end. Cinemas in Jammu and Kashmir will remain shut till 31 March in view of the curbs imposed by the government on mass gatherings as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. All your favourite superstars will be back on the big screen soon," a statement on ticketing site BookMyShow said. Multiplex chains like PVR and Wave are among those present in the state.

The release of at least one big-ticket Bollywood film, Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi that is scheduled for 24 March, remains uncertain as several trade experts expect its business to take a significant hit if the outbreak persists or even worsens. Two large-scale Hollywood offerings, Disneys action drama Mulan and superhero flick Black Widow scheduled for 27 March and 1 May, respectively, are also likely to announce soon given that people have become hesitant to be present in large gatherings.

A spokesperson for Reliance Entertainment, co-producer of Sooryavanshi said the company will make an official announcement if there is any change in the movie release date. Disney India did not respond to Mints queries. It has already announced the postponement of Mulans release in China, where some 70,000 theatres have been shut, over the past few months.

Films may not be able to make a mark at the box office if the situation remains as it is, though producers can always announce a change of date even four or five days before release," Atul Mohan, editor of trade magazine Complete Cinema, said with regards to Sooryavanshi. To be sure, the Rohit Shetty-directed film that has been made at a budget of 125-135 crore has already spent anything between 25-30 crore on marketing and publicity. Promotional spends to keep the buzz alive will see a rise if the film is postponed, and the next likely date is around Good Friday in April, which is when Reliance has another film lined upthe sports drama 83 starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Kabir Khan.

To be sure, Bollywood saw the first signs of a dent in box office collections due to the virus scare last weekend with Tiger Shroffs Baaghi 3 making 17.50 crore on its first day instead of an expected potential of 20 crore plus. Trade website Box Office India said the film received an extremely lukewarm response in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru.

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Is Biffa plc (LON:BIFF) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Yet sometimes, investors buy a popular dividend stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations.

Some readers mightn't know much about Biffa's 2.9% dividend, as it has only been paying distributions for the last three years. Many of the best dividend stocks typically start out paying a low yield, so we wouldn't automatically cut it from our list of prospects. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding Biffa for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

LSE:BIFF Historical Dividend Yield, March 12th 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. Comparing dividend payments to a company's net profit after tax is a simple way of reality-checking whether a dividend is sustainable. In the last year, Biffa paid out 94% of its profit as dividends. Its payout ratio is quite high, and the dividend is not well covered by earnings. If earnings are growing or the company has a large cash balance, this might be sustainable - still, we think it is a concern.

We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Biffa's cash payout ratio last year was 19%, which is quite low and suggests that the dividend was thoroughly covered by cash flow. It's good to see that while Biffa's dividends were not well covered by profits, at least they are affordable from a free cash flow perspective. Even so, if the company were to continue paying out almost all of its profits, we'd be concerned about whether the dividend is sustainable in a downturn.

Is Biffa's Balance Sheet Risky?

Story continues

As Biffa's dividend was not well covered by earnings, we need to check its balance sheet for signs of financial distress. A rough way to check this is with these two simple ratios: a) net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and b) net interest cover. Net debt to EBITDA measures total debt load relative to company earnings (lower = less debt), while net interest cover measures the ability to pay interest on the debt (higher = greater ability to pay interest costs). Biffa has net debt of 1.67 times its EBITDA, which we think is not too troublesome.

Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. With EBIT of 2.06 times its interest expense, Biffa's interest cover is starting to look a bit thin.

Consider getting our latest analysis on Biffa's financial position here.

Dividend Volatility

Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. It has only been paying dividends for a few short years, and the dividend has already been cut at least once. This is one income stream we're not ready to live on. During the past three-year period, the first annual payment was UK0.058 in 2017, compared to UK0.072 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.7% a year over that time. Biffa's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 7.7% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth.

Dividends have grown at a reasonable rate, but with at least one substantial cut in the payments, we're not certain this dividend stock would be ideal for someone intending to live on the income.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to evaluate if earnings per share (EPS) are growing - it's not worth taking the risk on a dividend getting cut, unless you might be rewarded with larger dividends in future. Over the past five years, it looks as though Biffa's EPS have declined at around 32% a year. With this kind of significant decline, we always wonder what has changed in the business. Dividends are about stability, and Biffa's earnings per share, which support the dividend, have been anything but stable.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Biffa's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. We're not keen on the fact that Biffa paid out such a high percentage of its income, although its cashflow is in better shape. Second, earnings per share have been in decline, and its dividend has been cut at least once in the past. In summary, Biffa has a number of shortcomings that we'd find it hard to get past. Things could change, but we think there are a number of better ideas out there.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. However, there are other things to consider for investors when analysing stock performance. Just as an example, we've come accross 2 warning signs for Biffa you should be aware of, and 1 of them is potentially serious.

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.
Ron Johnson Drops Subpoena Vote in Hunter Biden Probe, Changes Target

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on March 11 postponed a scheduled vote on a subpoena of a former Ukrainian embassy official stemming from an ongoing probe into Burisma Holdings, a gas company in Ukraine that paid Hunter Biden to serve as a board member, The Hill reported.

The committee had been preparing to vote on Wednesday afternoon to subpoena Andrii Telizhenko, who worked as a consultant to Blue Star Strategies, the U.S. firm that lobbied on behalf of Burisma, for documents and an interview. Johnson said that Telizhenko wanted to cooperate with the committee, but was unable to do so because of a non-disclosure agreement, according to outlet.

Instead, Johnson told his colleagues in a letter on Wednesday that he would postpone the vote out of an abundance of caution and that they would receive additional briefings, on the matter, indicating that he will instead subpeona Blue Star Strategies for records and a testimony.

Out of an abundance of caution, and to allow time for you to receive additional briefings, I will postpone a vote to subpoena records and an appearance from former Blue Star Strategies consultant Andrii Telizhenko about his work for the lobbying firm, Johnson wrote in a notice to committee members.

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.

Johnson later told reporters that he was pulling the vote because of some discrepancies brought up in what we had been told.

There were issues raised. There were discrepancies in what had been told in one briefing versus the next briefing, and then even greater discrepancies in staff notes, Johnson said.

The decision to postpone the subpoena vote came amid accusations from Democrats that the probe was politically motivated to damage former Vice President Joe Bidens presidential bid. Biden notched wins on Super Tuesday II in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho, delivering a major blow to his rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

However, Johnson has insisted the investigation is focused on looking into conflict-of-interest claims against the Bidens and has nothing to do with the election.

Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma while his father Joe Biden was in office and leading the Obama administrations Ukraine policy. Some senators have suggested that Hunter Biden got the job because of his father and that there was a conflict of interest.

Hunter and Joe Biden have both denied the allegations, but the issue became a central portion of the impeachment fight that led to President Donald Trumps acquittal in February.

In a statement to TPM, Joe Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates slammed the investigation and said that Johnson was diverting the attention and taxpayer-funded resources of the Senate Homeland Security Committee away from the coronavirus outbreak, which was just designated a global pandemic, to clutch at a conspiracy theory that every fact-checker has debunked.

He has as much credibility on this issue as Bernie Madoff did on pension funds, Bates said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 20:31:45|Editor: xuxin

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BERLIN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Adjusted net income of RWE in the fiscal year 2019 increased to 1.2 billion euros (1.4 billion U.S. dollars), more than doubling the 591 million euros recorded in the previous year, the German energy company announced on Thursday.

At the same time, the operating result of the German utility, adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), increased from 1.5 billion to 2.1 billion euros.

"As one of the world's leading producers of electricity from renewables, we have an ambitious goal," said Rolf Martin Schmitz, chief executive officer (CEO) of RWE AG. "We want to be carbon neutral by 2040."

With the company transaction together with the German energy company E.ON which was largely completed last year, RWE now had a total portfolio of wind and solar power assets with a capacity of about 9 gigawatts (GW) and "a stable earnings profile."

RWE noted that the acquisition of the minority stakes in two German nuclear power plants from E.ON at the end of September had also "improved earnings."

Earlier this year, the German government adopted a detailed schedule for the phase-out of coal-fired power generation in Germany by 2038. The first unit operated by RWE is scheduled to be taken of the grid this year.

RWE would "bear the main burden of the lignite phase out" which would stretch the company to its limits. According to the German energy company, a reduction of about 6,000 jobs is planned by 2030.

For 2020, RWE is expecting adjusted EBITDA to increase to between 2.7 billion and 3.0 billion euros, while the target for adjusted net income of between 0.85 billion and 1.15 billion euros was below this year's results.

By 2022, RWE is planning to invest a net 5 billion euros in the continued expansion of its renewable energy business.

Following the announcement, shares dropped by around 12 percent on early trading on Thursday. RWE was the biggest loser of Germany's 30 largest companies listed in the DAX which suffered heavy losses of more than 5 percent on early trading.
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi  Any possibility of a plea deal has faded for a man accused of child sex crimes, and of faking his own death to avoid prison time, according to a Mississippi district attorney.

Jacob Blair Scott, 43, was in court in Pascagoula on Wednesday to face 14 felony charges, according to multiple reports.

It was Scotts first time in court since U.S. Marshals said he was found hiding out in Antlers, Okla., under a false identity. Authorities said he faked his own death to avoid charges that he raped and impregnated a 14-year-old girl.

Now that hes been captured, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said any chance for a plea deal is off the table, Sun Herald reported. Scott had entered into a plea deal with the state before he went missing, which would have reduced his charges and lessened his sentence.

The next hearing for Scott was scheduled for April 20.
A DOCTOR in University Hospital Limerick says we need to all work together now to make sure the hospital doesn't get overwhelmed.

Dr Catherine Nix, an anesthetist and resuscitator, called on the publics help from the ground up to help slow down the spread of Covid-19.

We need to make sure Lombardy does not come to Limerick, Dr Nix told the Limerick Leader this Thursday.

As a frontline ICU medic I know that I am going to have to be part of the teams that will be asked to put in approximately 100 breathing tubes in two to three weeks time unless Covid-19 is curbed. China and South Korea have shown that it can be curbed even when an outbreak happens in a nearby place, she continued.

Dr Nix says UHL management and senior UHL ICU consultants have a surge plan in place but is calling on the people of Limerick and the Mid-West to do everything they can to reduce the surge of Covid-19 cases.

She said the teams in UHL can put 100 breathing tubes sequentially into patients, just not all at the same time if it becomes an outbreak.

An infectious outbreak is complicated by the fact that you need to wear protective equipment so you can't just run and do things. The hub hospital in Lombardy is in Milan. They made 500 ICU beds in two weeks and it still wasn't enough. China took some pretty serious measures to make sure Wuhan didn't come to Beijing or Shanghai. We need to make sure Lombardy does not come to Limerick.

Dr Nix says the hub hospital in the Mid-West is UHL.

If we have an outbreak like Lombardy - and our figures are going in that direction on all the graphs - UHL will be asked to put breathing tubes in 100 people in about two to three weeks time. We have around 84 ventilators but just 12 staffed ICU beds with full teams. The machines aren't as much as a problem as the space to put people and people to mind the patients on the ventilators.

This virus doesn't discriminate who it infects. Most get better. It does affect more older folks and more vulnerable people than younger people but some of the critically ill (5 out of every 100 who get the virus) will be young people. What we know from the stats is 20 out of 100 people get seriously ill and five need breathing tubes, said Dr Nix, who referenced the situation in Lombardy in Italy.

There is an Italian ICU doctor @silviast9 who tweeted that he didnt even get to assess people before they died during the surge week. If Limerick becomes like Lombardy then UHL will not be able to cope.

Once the system is overwhelmed there will be no doctor to see you as it is overwhelmed. We need to make sure the system doesn't get overwhelmed. We can do that if we all work together now, said Dr Nix.

She says we will have to give the 250 people that the Government has just allocated to National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) a chance to contact trace.

We have to find out the accurate prevalence of Covid-19 in our community. There are already community acquired cases of Covid-19 in our hospitals and NPHET hasn't been able to release details yet of how they got it - they know those patients didn't travel to Lombardy or Wuhan. They weren't a contact of another case.

NPHET describes them as community acquired cases. We have to shut down and do social distancing and let NPHET catch up with the real prevalence of the disease out there. NPHET is doing a really tough job at a really tough time - we need to support them, said Dr Nix.

The anesthetist says everyone can do something to help.

We need volunteers but they have to be managed by community leaders. This virus lives on metal surfaces for over three days sometimes. We have to start washing and disinfecting. Volunteers and government officials are doing this in South Korea. We have to temperature check everyone who arrives through our airports or ports.

It might be social distancing. It might be liaising with a community leader either to contact trace or disinfect or being a keyboard warrior and educating your community, said Dr Nix, who suggests the hashtag #Mobilize4Lives. Her twitter handle is @NixLimerick.
IN a warm tribute to his aunt at her Funeral Service in St Catherine's Church, Hophill on Wednesday afternoon last, her nephew Alan Ralph said Dorothy Oakley's life had been characterised by competence and compassion for others.

Mrs Oakley, Arden Vale, Tullamore died the previous Monday following a short illness.

She was the first Senior Physiotherapist to be appointed ot Tullamore General Hospital in 1974 and remained as head of the Physiotherapy Department in Offaly until her retirement in the 1990s.

She was also deeply involved in the affairs of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and served a period as national President.

In her role she was particularly conscious of inclusion regarding people with disabilities and of the value of sports, pioneering the Sports for All concept.

Dorothy was also involved in a host of community organisations, particularly in the field of disability, including the Friends and Parents of Laois/Offaly Spina Bifida.

Her work as a physiotherapist and in voluntary groups was recognised by Tullamore Junior Chamber in 1991 when she was honoured as the Personality of the Year.

In later years she and her husband, Geoff's love of animals led them to become committed members of the Offaly Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals while the couple were also involved with Tullamore Gramophone Society.

Dorothy and Geoff, who had met in a newsagents in Birr following a Sunday morning church service, were married in 1972 and were a devoted couple.

Though they had no children of their own they were a constant presence in the lives of their nephews and nieces, Wednesday's Funeral Service heard.

Dorothy was born on May 23, 1937, the eldest child of John and Frances Abbott, and grew up in Cedarville, Birr.

She was educated locally in Birr before attending Collegiate School, Celbridge in 1950, sitting her Leaving Certificate there in 1955.

Initially planning to train to be a teacher, Dorothy changed her career path, qualifying as a physiotherapist.

Having obtained her Diploma in 1959 she set off to Harrowgate England where she completed a Diploma in Hydrotherapy.

In 1960 Dorothy secured a position at University Hospital London and in 1962 she moved to Zurich, Switzerland, where she worked for two years.

Three years later in 1965 Dorothy moved again, this time to Copenhagen, Denmark and it was here that her interest in congenital deformities was initiated. She became involved with the Danish Save the Children Leprosy Control Project and subsequently volunteered to head this work in India in 1968.

She was responsible for therapeutical treatment of 20,000 patients as well as planning programmes and training staff. Giving lectures at the Regional Seminars of the World Health Association was all part of the job.

After a brief return to Denmark, Dorothy came home to Ireland where she married Geoff Oakley in St. Brendan's Church, Birr on February 10th 1972.

Geoff worked with the Midland Tribune and went on to become the first Editor of the Tullamore Tribune following its foundation in 1978, a post he held until his retirement in 1994.

In the same year as her wedding Dorothy returned to London to qualify as a teacher, Having graduated on September 11th 1973 she returned to Ireland and began teaching in the Mater Hospital School of Physiotherapy.

By 1974 Dorothy settled down in Offaly taking up the position of Physiotherapist in Charge of Laois/Offaly with the Midland Health Board based in Tullamore.

She and Geoff travelled all over the world, particularly following her retirement when they spent long periods in South Africa, Australia and other far flung destinations.

Despite having health issues in later years, Dorothy continued to work as a volunteer and be involved in community groups in Tullamore.

She passed away in Tullamore hospital on Monday afternoon and her remains reposed in O'Reilly's Funeral Home on Tuesday before her Funeral Service on Wednesday afternoon. The Service was conducted by Rev. Isaac Delamere, Rector, Tullamore, Archdeacon Wayne Carney, Rector, Birr and Rev. Ruth Gill, retired. Burial was to St Catherine's Cemetery, Hophill.

To her husband Geoff, brother Dick, sister Iris (Ralph), sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and friends, the deepest sympathy is extended.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Dunnedin Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DVI) (the "Company" or "Dunnedin") announces that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $2,800,000 (the "Offering"). The Company also anticipates changing its name to Kodiak Copper Corp and consolidating the Company's common shares on the basis of one (1) new post-consolidation common share for every five (5) pre-consolidation common shares.

Claudia Tornquist, President and CEO of Dunnedin stated, "With the closing of this private placement in exceptionally difficult market conditions we are now fully funded for the upcoming drill program at our 100% owned MPD copper-gold porphyry project in South-Central BC. We will commence preparatory work immediately for what will be an exciting summer exploration program at our MPD copper-gold porphyry project. The recent discovery of the high-grade Gate Zone just below the shallow historic drilling horizon has kicked the door wide open for further discoveries and the potential expansion of this compelling new target. We are looking forward to creating value for our shareholders through discovery in 2020."

The Company has issued 10,364,929 non flow-through units at a price of $0.07 per unit, 1,333,167 flow-through units at a price of $0.09 per unit and 18,614,000 charity flow-through units at a price of $0.105 per unit (each a "Unit") through the Offering. Each Unit consists of one pre-consolidation common share and one-half-of-one common share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional pre-consolidation common share at a price of $0.11 for a period of twenty-four months. The common share purchase warrants issued as part of the Units are subject to accelerated expiry in the event the common shares of the Company trade on the TSX Venture Exchange at a closing price of $0.25 per pre-consolidation share or more for twenty consecutive trading days.

In connection with the closing of the placement the Company paid finders' fees of $118,668 and issued 1,579,353 common share purchase warrants exercisable at the same price as the placement warrants to acquire common shares of the Company to eligible parties who introduced subscribers to the placement. All securities issued in connection with the private placement are subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period from the date of issue, expiring on August 13, 2020.

Proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the Company's exploration programs on its wholly owned, advanced-stage copper porphyry exploration projects in British Columbia and Arizona, and for general corporate purposes.

It is planned to change the Company's name (the "Name Change") to Kodiak Copper Corp ("Kodiak") and to consolidate the Company's common shares on the basis of one (1) new post-consolidation common share for every five (5) pre-consolidation common shares (the "Consolidation"). It is anticipated that Kodiak's common shares will trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol ("KDK").

Dunnedin will hold a special and annual general meeting of the Company's shareholders on March 25, 2020, at which the Company will seek shareholder approval to the Consolidation. Subject to receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval it is then anticipated that the Consolidation and Name Change will become effective on or about April 1, 2020.

Common shares and warrants issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be issued on a pre-Consolidation basis and will be consolidated pursuant to the Consolidation. The exercise price and number of common shares issuable upon the exercise of Dunnedin's outstanding stock options, warrants or other convertible securities will be proportionately adjusted to reflect the Consolidation in accordance with the terms of such securities. Where the Consolidation results in a fractional common share, the number of common shares will be rounded to the nearest whole common share.

Dunnedin has also granted an aggregate of 4,825,000 stock options to management, directors and consultants of the Company, exercisable at C$0.07 per pre-consolidation share for a period of five years.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities 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.

For further information please contact Mr. Knox Henderson, Investor Relations, at 604-551-2360 or khenderson@dunnedinventures.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Dunnedin Ventures Inc.

Claudia Tornquist

President & CEO

About Dunnedin Ventures Inc.

Dunnedin is focused on its portfolio of 100% owned copper porphyry projects in Canada and the USA. The Company's most advanced asset is the MPD copper-gold porphyry project in the prolific Quesnel Trough in south-central British Columbia, Canada, where the Company made a discovery of high-grade mineralization in 2020. Dunnedin also holds the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project in Arizona, USA, near the world-class Bagdad mine. The Company's Trapper copper-gold porphyry project is located in the northern Golden Triangle region of British Columbia. All three of Dunnedin's porphyry projects have been historically drilled and present known mineral discoveries with the potential to hold large-scale deposits.

The Company also holds the advanced-stage Kahuna diamond project in Nunavut, Canada. Kahuna hosts a high-grade, near surface inferred diamond resource and numerous kimberlite pipe targets.

Dunnedin's founder and chairman is Chris Taylor who is well-known for his gold discovery success with Great Bear Resources. Dunnedin is also part of the Discovery Group of Companies led by John Robins, one of the most successful mining entrepreneurs in Canada.

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.

Forward-Looking Statement (Safe Harbor Statement): This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the planned completion of the Private Placement, the Consolidation, and the change of the Company's name. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53383
The Green Party's proposal to freeze efforts at forming a Dail majority in favour of a temporary crisis government to tackle the coronavirus emergency has been shot down by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.

It comes after Eamon Ryan's party threw a spanner in Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin's plan to enter talks on forming a Dail majority.

The Green Party's 12 TDs met yesterday and called for such talks to be suspended in favour of "forming a crisis national government" to be reviewed after three months.

The decision by Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to enter talks was seen as a significant breakthrough.

But hopes of a swift end to the political stalemate brought about by February's election result were rocked by the outcome of the meeting of the Green Party's TDs.

Senior figures in both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have ruled out such a move, arguing it would not allow for a coherent response to the crisis.

Enlisting the Greens' Dail strength would be the most straightforward route to the two Civil War parties forming a government.

A Fine Gael spokesperson last night said the party intends to continue discussions with the Green Party, but poured cold water on the idea of a national government.

He said: "Decisions and choices may need to be made in the coming months that require a government with a working majority in the Dail and Seanad, and which is able to function effectively."

A Fianna Fail spokesperson went further, arguing that "a national government is a way of making government less effective, not more".

"It sidelines parliament and turns government into the place where battles are fought, not where decisions are taken."

He said: "A government with a majority that prioritises the country as it goes through what is now a global pandemic is what the country needs. This is too serious for party politics as usual."

He added that a majority government would also target and prioritise issues including housing, health and climate change.

Green Party sources insisted they are serious about the proposal and it must be explored and exhausted as an option, as the party needs a two-thirds majority of its members to approve entering government.

Separately, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald gave a lukewarm response to the Greens' proposal.

She said her party would "consider every proposition", but whatever type of government is formed will require talks.

Ms McDonald said the public health emergency had to be tackled, but the country also needed a stable government.

The Greens' deputy leader Catherine Martin last night indicated her party would still engage in talks if their proposal is rejected by the others.

She said letters asking for a suspension of talks on forming a Dail majority have been issued to other party leaders after the meeting of the Greens' TDs. She added: "We're hoping as a parliamentary party that they will be receptive to that. If they're not, we have to meet again and I guess we continue as is - where we talk to everybody."

She said the Green Party was not consulted by Fianna Fail or Fine Gael before they announced their two parties were to enter preliminary government formation talks.

Asked if the Green Party is ruling out entering into talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, she replied: "It's not about any one political party, or two political parties.

"This is about putting the nation's interest and the health of the nation first."

She said the "horse-trading" seen in government formation talks "needs to stop".

"This is a world pandemic and we need to treat it as that."

Talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will begin today following a 'scoping' meeting between the parties' deputy leaders, Simon Coveney and Dara Calleary, yesterday.

The coronavirus crisis is expected to be at the top of the agenda for the initial talks.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe last night said: "At the best of times, this would be a very demanding political exercise. But we are truly in extraordinary times that will influence the discussions."
RP Sanjiv Goenka group company



CESC Ventures on Thursday said it has acquired 8.49 per cent stake in a Mumbai-based small technology company Peel-Works Private Limited at a total cost of Rs 20.99 crore.

The deal was made to support the group's FMCG business that sells Too Yum brand snacks.

CESC Ventures said Peel-Works is a technology-driven distribution company which supplies goods - food, grocery and consumer products - to retailers and wholesalers where orders are collected through a software application.

The company said this is an emerging, early-stage growth business having synergy with FMCG and retail business.

CESC Ventures will acquire 4,134 Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of Peel-Works at a total consideration amounting to Rs 20.99 crore.

The group was aiming at a Rs 10,000 crore revenue from FMCG business in the next three to four years, the company had said earlier.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bostons Marriott Long Wharf in Boston will close its doors after consulting with the citys health officials regarding the coronavirus, according to multiple media reports.

The hotel released a statement on Thursday, according to reports.

In consultation with the Boston Public Health Commission, we have made the mutual decision to close the hotel today. This decision comes as a result of new information and is made in the interest of public health. We appreciate and support the efforts of our public health authorities as they continue their important work to mitigate potential spread of the novel coronavirus. The safety and well-being of our guests is of paramount importance to us.

The hotel is the site of a Biogen meeting held at the end of February. Biogen announced after the meeting of nearly 200, that three attendees tested positive for COVID-19. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said a majority of the presumptive positive tests of coronavirus in the state can be linked back to the Biogen conference.

Related Content:
ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece reported its first fatality from a coronavirus infection on Thursday as it extended a closure of schools to include cinemas, theaters and nightclubs to help prevent a spread of the disease.

The 66-year-old man had returned from a religious pilgrimage to Israel and Egypt at the end of February. He had been in hospital for little over a week and had underlying health issues, the health ministry said.

There were 117 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Greece by Thursday, with 18 new infections added in the past 24 hours. Most of those affected had mild symptoms, Sotiris Tsiodras, the health ministry coordinator, said.

The closure of gyms, cinemas, nightclubs and theaters would apply for a period of two weeks, and followed a decision in the week by authorities to shut schools across the country.

Separately, passengers on board a ferry boat were briefly quarantined as a precaution after a crew member said he felt unwell, a health ministry spokesman said. The crew member disembarked for further health checks and was later given the all-clear.

Greece has said it will recruit 2,000 medical workers to boost the health system, depleted by years of financial crisis.

(Reporting By Michele Kambas and George Georgiopoulos; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INV Metals Inc. (INV Metals or the Company) (TSX:INV) provides an update to its ongoing efforts on the Loma Larga gold-silver-copper project (Loma Larga), located in Ecuador.



INV Metals is continuing to actively advance Loma Larga towards development. The Company is currently focused on updating the original 2019 Feasibility Study (2019 FS) at Loma Larga and preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for submission. Management is targeting the completion of the engineering related to the relocation of the plant and tailings facilities and the update of the 2019 FS, by the end of Q1/2020. The Loma Larga EIA is expected to be submitted following the completion of the revised 2019 FS. With the application of best practices in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) the Company is focused on developing a socially and environmentally responsible mine which will provide opportunities for employment, training, business creation and sustainable development for our key stakeholders.

Ms. Candace MacGibbon, CEO, stated, We are pleased to report that the Constitutional Court of Ecuador has denied the application to hold a referendum related to mining activities in the Province of Azuay. Furthermore and importantly, the Constitutional Court indicated that the application regarding the cancellation of current mining concessions, which would retroactively affect concessions already granted by the Ecuadorian State, violated the concessionaires right to legal certainty. Therefore, the right of mining concession holders to legal security has been upheld and confirmed by the Constitutional Court as a right enshrined by the Constitution of Ecuador.

Azuay Referendum Application

On February 21, 2020, the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court (the Constitutional Court) denied the request to hold a referendum related to future and present mining activities within the Province of Azuay, which was presented for consideration to the Court on January 7, 2020. The Constitutional Court denied the request stating the standards and criteria previously established by the Constitutional Court to hold a referendum regarding mining activities were not met in either of two questions that were analyzed.

The Constitutional Court reviewed the issue of holding referendums related to the cancellation of valid and legally granted mineral rights which would by extension impact the historical and future investment of concession holders in mining, development and exploration projects. The Constitutional Court ruled substantively that local referendums that would have retroactive effects on legally granted mining rights violate the rights of mining concessionaires. The conclusion reached by the Constitutional Court was based on the right of concession holders to legal certainty which is granted by the Constitution to Ecuador.

We have been advised by our legal counsel that this ruling will set a precedent that any future referendum requests related to mining activities will not impact our legally granted mining concessions within Ecuador, and the related potential future exploration, development and mining activities on such concessions. If future referendum requests which meet the criteria previously set by the Constitutional Court are allowed to proceed, the potential impact would be related to future mineral rights not yet granted based on legally valid laws, rules and regulations.

Loma Larga Update

The Company continues to progress with the re-engineering and cost estimation to update the 2019 FS at Loma Larga, incorporating the relocation of the processing and tailings facilities to its land surface rights in close proximity with the Loma Larga deposit. Our teams are working together with various Federal Government Ministries to advance our EIA, permitting efforts and other key milestones, supported by the Ministry of Energy and Non-renewable Resources, along with our business and community stakeholders. Responsible development continues to be a priority for INV Metals and our future efforts will remain concentrated on applying best practices in ESG, minimizing the impacted footprint of the operation, and the stewardship of water and the environment.

The 2019 FS confirms the Projects viability and demonstrates the strong profitability and economics of Loma Larga with an after-tax 30% IRR based on $1,450/oz gold. During the projected 12 year mine life, 2.6 million gold equivalent ounces are forecasted to be mined, with an average of 227,000 gold equivalent ounces mined per year and an average of 294,000 gold equivalent ounces mined during the first four full years. Loma Larga will be a low cost operation with expected life of mine cash costs of $550/oz, all-in sustaining costs of $619/oz, and all-in costs of $778/oz. Initial pre-production capital expenditures were estimated at $279 million, with sustaining capital of $62 million and closure costs of $22 million. The update to the 2019 FS will provide new economics, including capital and operating cost estimates, and will provide the basis for the submission of the EIA to obtain the relevant environment permits for Loma Larga. Preliminary work indicates that the update is not expected to have a material impact on the previously estimated costs. The 2019 FS, entitled Technical Report on the Loma Larga Project, Azuay Province, Ecuador is dated January 11, 2019, and is available under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Companys web site at www.invmetals.com.

Qualified Person

All scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Bill Shaver, P. Eng., a mining engineer and the Companys Chief Operating Officer and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

About INVTM Metals Inc.

INVTM Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and base metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INVTM Metals primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold exploration and development property in Ecuador, and (2) its 100% interests in exploration concessions in Ecuador, including the Las Penas, Tierras Coloradas, La Rebuscada and Carolina exploration projects.

For more information please contact either:

Candace MacGibbon

Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (416) 703-8416

E-mail: cmacgibbon@invmetals.com

Doug Flegg

Capital Markets Advisor

Phone: (416) 703-8416

E-mail: dflegg@invmetals.com

Forward Looking Statements
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucid , the parent company of two cloud-based visual workspace applications, Lucidchart and Lucidpress , announced it's been named one of the 2020 Best Workplaces in Technology by Great Place to Work and Fortune. Based on an independent employee survey, the recognition underscores Lucid's commitment to fostering a transparent, inclusive, collaborative and innovative culture for its employees. Lucid ranked No. 12 on the list of Small and Medium companies.

"We made a commitment from day one that investing in our people and initiatives that support their well-being would always be a high priority for us," said Karl Sun, co-founder and CEO of Lucid. "We're honored to be included on the list and grateful that our employees feel Lucid is a place where they want to be."

Lucid's strong company values encourage experimentation, personal ownership and initiative, and empowers employees with the autonomy to innovate and explore ideas. The values also place a high priority on teamwork over ego, resulting in a unique sense of camaraderie and belonging across the organization. Fostering an inclusive environment where all feel welcome to bring their ideas to the table and do their best work will always be key to the culture and atmosphere at Lucid.

Lucid was also included as one of the Best Medium Workplaces by Great Place to Work and Fortune for the last two years and has been ranked a Best Company to Work For by Utah Business for four years in a row. For more information about Lucid's unique culture or to apply for a career at Lucid, visit: golucid.co/careers .

About Lucid

Lucid is the parent company of two cloud-based visual workspace applications: Lucidchart and Lucidpress. Lucidchart is a visual workspace that combines diagramming, data visualization and collaboration to accelerate understanding and drive innovation. Lucidpress is an intuitive design and brand management platform for creating on-brand content faster. Together, they are utilized in over 180 countries by more than 20 million users, including customers like Google, GE, NBC Universal and Johnson & Johnson and ninety-nine percent of the Fortune 500. Lucid's partners include industry leaders such as Google, Atlassian, Amazon Web Services, Salesforce and Microsoft. Since the Utah-based company's founding in 2010, it has received numerous awards for its product, business and workplace culture. For more information, visit lucid.co .

About the Best Workplaces in Technology

Great Place to Work based its ranking on a data-driven methodology applied to anonymous Trust Index survey responses from more than 100,000 employees at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations in the Technology industry. To learn more about Great Place to Work Certification and recognition on Best Workplaces lists published with Fortune, visit Greatplacetowork.com .

SOURCE Lucid

Related Links

https://www.golucid.co


EAST GREENBUSH  Town residents made it clear to the Town Board during a special public hearing Wednesday that the solution to getting rid of the odors, dust, litter and other problems emanating from the S.A. Dunn Landfill is to shut the dump down.

Lee Cookson told the Town Board what must be done should be to close the dump down.

Things stink as much as the dump does. Its a quality of life issue, Jonathan Pollack said about have the construction and demolition debris dump as a neighbor.

The board called the hearing before its monthly preliminary meeting due to complaints about the facility located just across the town line in the city of Rensselaer. The board is considering a resolution to ask the state to revoke the permit required to operate the landfill.

When it comes to the Dunn Landfill we have no jurisdiction. We dont get revenues. We do get problems, Supervisor Jack Conway said.

Town residents were joined by Rensselaer residents and elected officials from Rensselaer, Rensselaer County and the state Assembly in commenting on the dump.

Rensselaer Mayor Michael Stammel welcomed East Greenbush to the fight against the landfill. The mayor stressed the communities should work together.

Richard Crist, the countys director of operations, delivered a letter from County Executive Steve McLaughlin along with a promise that the county would undertake air quality monitoring around the dump if the state fails to do so.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

These issues, air quality, dust, trash mitigation, traffic and noise among others raise questions as to whether the landfill is in compliance with state laws and should be closely examined by those in the state with jurisdiction. If it is found the landfill is substantially not in compliance, then closure must be considered, McLaughlin wrote in his letter to Conway.

The dumps state permit to operate expires in 2022. Residents want action taken before then.

Keith Goertz, the Region 4 director for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, outlined the agencys increased enforcement at the landfill. Goertz said DEC has heard the communitys complaints about the operation and is ensuring that steps are being taken to control odors and deal with enforcement of the permit.

Dunn is the largest construction debris landfill in New York state. Prior to being a landfill, the site was a gravel mine.

Assemblyman John T. McDonald III, D-Cohoes, and State Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Bethlehem, are proposing preventing landfills from operating near schools. The Dunn landfill is adjacent to the Rensselaer City School District campus. Assemblyman Jake Ashby, R-Schodack, said he supports this move.
Ballymahon doctor, Laura Noonan, has been taking major precautions since the outbreak of coronavirus in Ireland. In fact, following a false alarm on a flight from Moscow to Dublin a number of weeks ago, Laura has been isolated as she receives treatment for a rare illness she has been battling for a long number of years.

Over the past few days, she has been updating her Facebook page, Laura's Russian Lifeline, on her current lockdown, which has been going on for six days.

"These are dark times. Worrying times. Lonely times. I have been in isolation countless times before but this is different. There is a solemness surrounding this that I cant quite explain. I can feel it. I can sense it. There are no words for it. The uncertainty is unsettling," Laura said on day four of her lockdown.

"Today I woke to a headline describing how the Corona victims' bodies are to be dealt with when they die. I really hope we are jumping the gun on that one and can go back to containment phase rather than discussing how best to "dispose" of our loved ones (like rubbish)," she added, referring to suggestions that funerals for those who pass away from the virus be postponed.

Yesterday, Laura tried to distract herself from "the doom and gloom" by writing down things that bring her joy before revealing that she would be undergoing a procedure today.

"The last time I had a similar procedure I crashed and heart flat lined but they got me back ..... thankfully Im still here to tell the tale," she said.

Today her 'day 6 lockdown' post was simply a photograph with one line revealing that she was nervous about her procedure.
Phillips 66 and Trafigura form joint venture to develop deepwater port

Phillips 66 and Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd announce they have formed a 50/50 joint venture, Bluewater Texas Terminal LLC (Bluewater Texas), to develop an offshore deepwater port project located approximately 21 nautical miles east of the entrance to the Port of Corpus Christi.

The proposed project, to be constructed by Phillips 66, will consist of up to two single point mooring buoys capable of fully loading Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) to export crude oil. The project is currently in the permitting stage. The joint venture owners expect to make a final investment decision later this year, pending permit approval and customer volume commitments that support the project meeting the owners economic return thresholds. Trafigura has withdrawn its application to develop the Texas Gulf Terminals deepwater port facility that was submitted to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) in July 2018. The Bluewater Texas joint venture combines the unique market position that Trafigura has built in the United States as a leading exporter and marketer of crude oil with Phillips 66s commercial expertise, existing infrastructure network on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and proven operating experience, including the safe operation of a single port mooring buoy in the United Kingdom since 1971. The Bluewater Texas joint venture is working with the Port of Corpus Christi Authority to provide a safe and environmentally sustainable infrastructure for the export of crude oil to global markets while benefitting the regional economy.




Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 16:13:13|Editor: xuxin

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TASHKENT, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has appointed the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov as Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister for investment and foreign economic relations, Uzbek Justice Ministry said Thursday.

Earlier this week, Umurzakov's candidacy was approved by the Uzbek parliament.

In addition to the current tasks of attracting investments, stimulating exports, regulating foreign trade and coordinating foreign economic relations, Umurzakov was also entrusted with the work of coordinating the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the ministry said.

Umurzakov, 43, was appointed as the minister of investment and foreign trade in January 2019.
Tom Hanks, Wife Test Positive for Coronavirus

Highest-Profile Celebrity to Contract the Virus

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, said they have tested positive for the new coronavirus, becoming the highest-profile celebrities to contract the mysterious new virus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

In a statement on Wednesday night, the 63-year-old actor said, Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

He added, Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? Well keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!

The couple is understood to be isolated at a hospital in the Gold Coast. Their son, Chet Hanks, posted a video message on Instagram telling fans that [t]hey are both fine. Theyre not even that sick.

Theyre not worried about it, theyre not trippin, but theyre going through the necessary health precautions, obviously, Chet added. I dont think it anything to be too worried about. I think its all going to be alright.

Hanks and Wilson were in Australia while he works on a new film with director Baz Luhrmann. According to a crew member, production has temporarily stopped on the big-budget Elvis movie at Village Roadshows Gold Coast studios, the Australian Associated Press reported.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that those who had taken photos and selfies with Hanks over the past few days should not panic about contracting the virus.

Warner Bros. also issued a statement to news outlets on the Academy Award-winners diagnosis.

We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus), said the statement.

We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.

Besides Queenslands Gold Coast, Hanks has also been at Bondi Beach in Sydney, New South Wales on Sunday.

Hanks wife, Rita Wilson, who is a singer and actress, performed at the Emporium Hotel in Brisbanes South Bank last Thursday. The hotels general manager, Charles Martin, has reassured guests and hotel staff, saying that the room where Wilson performed and any associated areas have been cleaned, reported The Australian Broadcasting Corp.

More recently, Wilson performed at the Sydney Opera House on Saturday.

On Monday, Wilson visited Channel Nines studio in Sydney for a television appearance. Following Wilsons coronavirus diagnosis, the broadcaster issued a statement saying that it has taken action in line with our crisis response plan, which are in line with the guidelines set out by the Government and Health Authorities.

Those who were in prolonged contact with Ms Wilson have been tested and are self-isolating for 14 days, a Channel Nine spokesperson said. Our premises is currently being thoroughly cleaned in all areas she visited and we are encouraging our employees to monitor their health and practice good hygiene.

Australia has about 128 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, while the United States has 1,220, according to data from Johns Hopkins University as of Wednesday night. The virus is believed to have emerged from mainland China in late 2019 before spreading to more than 100 other countries.

The World Health Organization declared the virus a global pandemic earlier in the day.

Symptoms include a cough, fever, respiratory problems, and shortness of breath. It can ultimately lead to pneumonia.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
"We are working closely with the appropriate authorities and health agencies in Vancouver to identify and contact all individuals who may have come into direct contact with our team member. The health and safety of our employees, casts and crews is always our top priority. We have and will continue to take precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.
The government is also considering extending its travel ban on virus-affected countries to include all of Europe.

Australias government said it would pump 17.6 billion Australian dollars ($11.4bn) into the economy to try to stop the coronavirus outbreak triggering a recession, as it weighed an extension of travel restrictions following a formal pandemic declaration.

The last time Australia rolled out a stimulus package was during the 2008 global financial crisis  when it managed to avoid a recession  illustrating the lengths the government will go to to limit the economic impact of the outbreak.

Despite only affecting about 130 people in Australia so far, with three confirmed deaths, economists expect the outbreak, classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, to cause a recession in the second quarter.

The package will subsidise the wages of 120,000 apprentices, offer one-off cash payments for welfare recipients and give up to A$25,000 ($16,160) to small businesses, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a news conference in Canberra on Thursday.

This is a comprehensive, a well-thought-through, a well-targeted plan, which is designed to support the Australian economy and jobs and businesses through the difficult months ahead, Morrison said.

More than 6 million welfare recipients, notably pensioners and unemployed citizens, will get a one-off cash payment of A$750 ($485) from March 31, he added.

Speaking with the prime minister, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said most of the package would be spent immediately, potentially boosting the economy by 1.5 percentage points in the second quarter.

Australia has not experienced a recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of economic contraction, since the early 1990s.

The package wont super-charge the economy. Neither does it guarantee that the economy wont slip into recession. But it is a good first step, said Craig James, chief economist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

News of the stimulus came minutes before US President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban on incoming travel from continental Europe, sending Australian stocks, which were trading down about 3 percent, tumbling to close down 7.4 percent.

The effects of the stimulus package remain unclear while the pandemic widens. Whether a recession can be avoided is still an open question as the management of the COVID-19 health crisis dictates the economic fallout, said analysts from ANZ Bank in a note.

Further to halting the diseases spread, the Australian government said it would extend by a week existing travel bans on China, Iran, South Korea and Italy, which have reported higher numbers of people with the illness, while an emergency health committee would review whether to place a travel ban on all of Europe.

Actor Tom Hanks said in a social media post that he and his wife Rita Wilson had tested positive for the coronavirus while in Australia, where he was scheduled to shoot a movie. Hanks said they would be tested, observed and isolated as requested by the local health authorities.

Ratings agency S&P said on Wednesday it expected Australia to fall into recession in the first half of 2020, but the governments strong fiscal position allowed for stimulus without threatening its AAA credit rating.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - CME Group said Wednesday that it will close its Chicago trading floor as a precaution to reduce large gatherings that can contribute to the spread of coronavirus. CME stated that the closing will take effect Friday 'at the close of business,' but no coronavirus cases have been reported on the trading floor or in the Chicago Board of Trade building. CME is the first major U.S. exchange group to close its trading floor due to the coronavirus. CME noted that it will evaluate the reopening of the trading floor as more medical guidance on the coronavirus becomes available. However, the company's headquarters at 20 S. Wacker Drive will remain open. 'The trading floor community will receive an additional q&a tomorrow related to the execution of certain floor products, procedures and protocols and other floor-related practices,' CME said. Recently, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, 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.
Twitter has ordered all its staff around the world to work from home in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The deadly virus, which emerged in China late last year, has killed more than 4,600 across the globe and infected around 126,000 - prompting a wave of strict travel restrictions worldwide.

The social media platform had already announced a mandatory work from home policy for its staff in South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan earlier this month and suspended 'non-critical' business travel and events in February.

'We are moving beyond our earlier guidance and have now informed all employees globally they must work from home,' human resources chief Jennifer Christie said in a blog post on Wednesday.

Twitter has ordered all its staff around the world to work from home in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Pictured: The company's headquarters in San Francisco)

'We understand this is an unprecedented step, but these are unprecedented times.'

Other internet giants have brought in their own policies to protect staff from the deadly virus.

Google began restricting visits to its offices in Silicon Valley, San Francisco and New York on Monday, while Apple has also encouraged employees to work from home.

Facebook shut its offices in Singapore and London for 'deep cleaning' last week after an employee who had spent time in both was diagnosed with the virus.

The decision comes as Donald Trump announced he was ordering an immediate shutdown of all travel from Europe to the US on Wednesday.

'We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days,' Trump announced in a speech from the Oval Office.

The social media platform had already announced a mandatory work from home policy for its staff in South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan earlier this month

The President defended his own actions and vowed the nation, which has 1,312 confirmed cases of COVID-19, would prevail in countering the virus and getting a treatment on the market.

The White House said the travel restrictions would apply to foreign nationals who had visited 26 European countries - excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days.

It will not apply to US citizens, their 'immediate' family members or legal permanent residents.

Coronavirus, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, has infected 126,000 people worldwide, with around 4,600 deaths reported as a result of the virus.

More than 80,000 of these cases, and 3,000 deaths, have been found in China alone, with 9,000 cases across Iran and 7,000 in South Korea.

The worst-hit European country is Italy, which has ordered a countrywide lockdown after 827 people died due to coronavirus amid 12,000 confirmed cases.
on Thursday passed amendments to the insolvency law that will help ring-fence successful bidders of insolvent from risk of criminal proceedings for offences committed by previous promoters.

The (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was passed by voice vote in Rajya Sabha. It was approved by Lok Sabha on March 6.

The Bill replaces an ordinance.

Replying to a short debate on the bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said amendments are sync with time and also adhere to a Supreme Court order in "letter and spirit".

The minister said need for amendment in the IBC arose because of "changing requirement" and "requirement of fine tunning" the law as several MPs wanted to know why the government was bringing in so many amendments to a new law.

Stressing that the government is "very responsive" and has been talking to the industry, she assured the House that amendments to the IBC are are not being "unthinkingly done".

The IBC, which came into force in 2016, has already been amended thrice.

Sitharaman said the government was taking care of the interest of home buyers and the requirement of minimum number of home buyers in the IBC has been included to avoid "frivolous litigations".

The bill seeks to remove bottlenecks and streamline the corporate insolvency resolution process. It aims to provide protection to new owners of a loan defaulter company against prosecution for misdeeds of previous owners.

The latest changes pertain to various sections of the IBC as well as introduction of a new section.
According to the state Health Department, 44 samples of suspected cases were sent for tests till Wednesday

Chandigarh: The Haryana government on Thursday declared the contagious coronavirus infection an epidemic.

According to the state Health Department, 44 samples of suspected cases were sent for tests till Wednesday.

Out of these, 38 were found negative for coronavirus while reports of six people, four from Gurgaon and two from Panchkula, were awaited.

"COVID-19 declared epidemic in Haryana," Health minister Anil Vij said in a tweet.

Over 270 isolation wards with 1,206 beds have been set up in government and private hospitals to deal with any contingency.

Rohtak's premier PGIMS Hospital has been designated as the Tertiary Care Centre for treatment of critical patients.

The state government has issued various regulations under The Haryana Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, to contain the spread of the deadly virus, according to a notification issued on Wednesday.

These regulations come into force with immediate effect and will remain valid for a period of one year.

All hospitals in the state have been directed to set up 'flu corners' for screening of suspected coronavirus cases.

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.

Among other guidelines, no private laboratories have been authorised to take or test coronavirus samples in the state.

The government has also asked people with a travel history to coronavirus-affected countries to report to nearest government hospital.

Follow LIVE updates on Coronavirus Outbreak

If a coronavirus case is reported from a defined geographic area such as village, town, ward, colony, settlement, the district administration of the district concerned shall have the right to implement containment measures, including sealing of the area, barring entry and exit of population from the containment area, closure of schools, offices and banning public gatherings, besides other measures.

No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under the Epidemic Disease Act unless proved otherwise, according to the notification.
Donald Trump has been forced to clarify that his emergency coronavirus travel ban to Europe does not involve cargo and trade, amid widespread confusion and anxiety triggered by his comments.

His travel restrictions also apply only to individuals coming from Europe, and do not affect Americans citizens and legal residents.

During his prime time address from the Oval Office, the president said: We will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will are be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground.

He added: These prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.

The department of homeland security was immediately forced to clarify the travel restriction was not as first appeared.

Today resident Donald Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation, which suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States, the DHS said,

These countries, known as the Schengen Area, include: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

It added: This does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of US citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation.

Later, on Twitter, the president was obliged to offer a further clarification as reports emerged that financial markets fell after his speech.

Hoping to get the payroll tax cut approved by both Republicans and Democrats, and please remember, very important for all countries & businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction on travel from Europe, he tweeted.

The restriction stops people not goods.
The community of Bronzeville and the 4th Ward welcome the opportunity to be home to a world-class health and wellness innovation hub that will benefit the communities in our own backyards as well as society as a whole, 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King said in a statement from the developers. This development will open career paths and bring a significant number of jobs to talented and hardworking residents and small businesses owners in our community.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States  Thu, March 12, 2020 13:13 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a16209 2 World #USA,#coronavirus,New-York-City,St-Patricks-Day,postponement Free

New York City has postponed its annual St Patrick's Day parade over the global coronavirus pandemic, officials said late Wednesday, days after other events in US cities were canceled.

State governor Andrew Cuomo said the decision was taken after a meeting with parade organizers.

"One of the most effective ways to contain the spread of the virus is to limit large gatherings and close contacts, and I applaud the parade's leadership for working cooperatively with us," said New York state governor Andrew Cuomo in a statement.

New York's St. Patrick's Day parade is the largest in the United States and typically attracts two million spectators.

The event has been held annually for more than 250 years and Wednesday's announcement marked the first time it would not be held as scheduled, the New York Times reported.

Officials said the parade would be held at a later date.

"I know this decision didn't come easy, so I'll make this promise: this is a postponement, not a cancellation," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Boston's mayor on Monday announced the cancelation of his city's St Patrick's Day parade, which was expected to attract around one million attendees.
Fences are erected to isolate an alley in Hanoi's Cau Giay District, where a young man has been confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus, March 11, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

A male tour guide in Hanoi has become the capital city's fifth and nation's 39th Covid-19 patient, Vietnam's Health Ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said that the 25-year-old man, who lives in Dich Vong Ward, Cau Giay District, was serving a tour to the nearby Ninh Binh Province on March 4 when he had direct contact with a British tourist who'd come to Hanoi on the VN54 flight from London on March 2 and later tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

After learning that the British was infected he went to the Saint Paul Hospital in the city to be examined and was transferred on March 8 to the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, where his condition is stable.

His samples tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

The man had direct contact with 20 other people after his interactions with the Brit, and in turn, another 79 people interacted with those 20, and 43 people interacted with the 79, authorities have determined.

On Wednesday, three people in the central province of Binh Thuan whod come into contact with an infected Vietnamese businesswoman returning from the U.S. tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

They were a house-help, an employee and a daughter-in-law of the 51-year-old woman who flew from Ho Chi Minh City to New York on February 22, transiting at the Incheon International Airport in South Korea for three hours. 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.

A Da Nang saleswoman who served two infected British tourists on flight VN54 was also confirmed infected on Wednesday.

Vietnam has recorded 23 new novel coronavirus patients in the last six days, bringing the total to 39, 16 of whom were discharged weeks ago. 13 of the patients shared flight VN54, including 10 Brits, one Irish and two Hanoians.

The Covid-19 outbreak has thus far spread to 124 countries and territories around the world, killing more than 4,600 people.
La nouvelle etait attendue, et elle a finalement etait confirmee : le salonest annule.Il devait se derouler du 9 au 11 juin a Los Angeles, et laisse donc un autre salon dans une position: le, qui se tient a Taipei du 2 au 6 juin. Les enregistrements sont actuellement ouverts, mais l'organisation, qui s'en occupe, devrait communiquer d'avantage d'ici le mois d'avril. Pour l'instant, rien n'est annule et le port du masque est rendu obligatoire pour tous les participants.Quant a la, rien ne semble modifie et il est desormais possible d'acheter ses tickets pour aller a Cologne du 25 au 29 aout.
The WSWS has corresponded with a group of doctors and nurses in Australia regarding the state of preparedness of the facilities in which they work for Covid-19 becoming a global pandemic. While employed in varying capacities within the health system and in different states, they all report a common state of affairs: initial official complacency over the viral outbreak in China; confusion over how to respond if people presented with coronavirus symptoms; and now alarm at the prospect of thousands of Covid-19 cases due to a lack of staff and specialised beds to treat severe viral infections and respiratory illnesses.

Health professionals across Australia did take note of the warnings from the World Health Organisation (WHO) about the spread of Covid-19 in China, but the government attitude was that it was essentially a Chinese problem that would have little direct health impact in Australia.

The federal government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the various state and territory governments did not act to establish a coordinated nation-wide system for widespread testing following the WHO January 30 classification of the coronavirus as a global health emergency. At hospitals, no separate admission facilities were set up for suspected cases. People who feared they have been infected presented to either their local general practitioner or to a hospital emergency ward. If they had not been in China in the past 14 days, they were not tested.

Jane, who works at a clinic associated with one of Sydneys largest public hospitals, the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA), explained that, from late January, the management displayed notices on the front door entrance with STOP written in red. The signs, posted in both English and Mandarin, asked people not to enter the hospital if they had travelled in the previous 14 days to China, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, or if they had been in contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus. It simply advised such people to self-isolate at home and contact a local general practitioner (GP).

Notices were posted throughout the hospital, in case someone missed the sign at the entrance. Employees who had visited China were also asked to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to work. Staff were told they would be provided with specific instructions on the procedure to follow if someone should identify themselves as falling within the at-risk category, but Jane explained: In my area, we werent provided with specific instructions, except to contact the quality team or after-hours manager for assistance and numbers were provided. No additional protective gear beyond standard masks and gowns was issued.

A similar response was taken at a hospital in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, to the north of Sydney, where Shane works. Throughout February, general information was provided to staff in emails but, apart from an admission questionnaire being modified to ask patients about their recent travel history and whether they had flu-like symptoms, the virus outbreak was not considered a serious threat.

At a major hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, where John works as a doctor, staff likewise received emails from late January about the virus outbreak with basic information on the symptoms. He noted: Additional standard masks were provided to wards, but no major equipment such as hazmat suits or high filtration masks, which are actually the only protection devices that would be effective against a viral disease was brought in.

John said: Virtually every state health department advised patients concerned for coronavirus to go to their GPs. GPs are unable to deal with dangerous viral diseases and protect themselves or other patients. One popular social media post asked: General Practitioners are among the elderly, have diseases, and may be immunocompromised, and are just as vulnerable as the public. So, who will speak up for the GPs?

By March, thousands of cases were being confirmed outside of China. Health professionals were shocked across Australia when news broke that two doctors and one staff member working at three of the largest public hospitals in Sydney had become infected. Dozens of their colleagues were ordered into self-isolation, worsening already considerable understaffing. A Melbourne GP also contracted Covid-19 while in the US and was lambasted and vilified by the state health minister because he treated patients while unknowingly infected.

As the economic impact of the virus was registering and the realisation dawned that there would most likely be widespread infections within Australia, governments at all levels began to respond with a heightened sense of alarm. Hospitals and general practitioners have been belatedly instructed to prepare for a large-scale coronavirus outbreak, but they are ill-equipped to do so.

John explained: This week a fever clinic was opened in the emergency department at my hospital in order to deal with the influx of patients concerned about having coronavirus. It is poorly staffed, with doctors pulled from existing duties. Beyond this, the respiratory department has been tasked with treating these patients.

There is only one isolation pressure-controlled room in my hospitals emergency department, with an additional three in other parts of the hospital. There is some capacity to isolate patients in single roomsbut they have no pressure control to truly prevent viral spread. Even then, there are only roughly 50 such beds in the entire hospital, and they are not all suited for the purpose of quarantine or adequately staffed. This is a major Brisbane hospital and only a handful of other hospitals in the state would have a similar capacity.

In the Hunter Valley, Shane reported: In the last few days the hospital has set up a fever clinic near the entrance of the Emergency Department, where those with fever present to be assessed. This has a separate entrance, so patients dont enter the hospital. Otherwise, it appears business as usual.

He detailed that one of the main concerns among doctors and staff is the shortage of negative pressure rooms which can contain any exhaled viruses from infective patients. These rooms exist for high risk patients who may have a virus, preventing spread to other patients in the ward, or severely immunocompromised patients requiring isolation. There are very few of these rooms in the hospital wards and they are mainly on the respiratory ward.

In Sydney, Jane explained that elective surgery is being cancelled by RPA in anticipation of an influx of coronavirus cases. People due for a check-up one year after a surgical operation have had their appointments delayed for three months. She said that additional protective gear is now being provided in the wards but the long-sleeved gowns specifically for infection control are in short supply, so we are using the protective gowns that nurses administering chemotherapy use.

John told the WSWS: Generally there is a mixture of anger, confusion and wishful thinking on the part of many doctors and other health workers. From what I can gather in conversations, as well as reading forums and social media groups directly involving doctors, many feel that the government is essentially throwing health workers to the wolves, giving them mixed guidance, and scapegoating them for inadequacies in the health care system.

There is a perception that the government does not care about the interests and safety of healthcare workers, and trust in authorities is low. In social media and in conversations with colleagues, many seem resigned to the proposition that they will get coronavirus and there is a degree of fatalism in this sentiment. The statistics seem to indicate that most young and middle-aged healthcare workers will not suffer too heavily, and this is a hope some have, but obviously many are concerned for their elderly friends, family and children.

At the very minimum, there needs to be an urgent provision of funds for equipment and staff to deal with a possible influx of patients and the reality that many healthcare workers will likely fall ill from coronavirus in the event of a widespread outbreak of the disease.

In Australia, the major issues are going to be the fragmentation of the healthcare system between public and private sectors, and an arbitrary division of administration of the healthcare system across state boundaries. There is an urgent need for centralised coordination at the national level, and the nationalisation of the private hospitals to access additional beds, ventilators and staff. Additional funds for services could easily be found from even modest taxation on the wealthiest individuals and corporations.

In the final analysis, what is needed is international integration of health systems. In truth, the Australian healthcare system is dependent on international cooperation, in regard to the provision of equipment, medications, training, research and personnel. It has been said that coronavirus does not respect national boundaries, and this is true.
Panicked shoppers have been seen queuing outside a factory to buy toilet paper.

A huge queue of customers were captured stretched across the car park at Wallies Lollies confectionery business, which is adjacent to the the Sorbent factory outlet in Box Hill in Melbourne's east on Thursday.

Coronavirus panic buying has stripped store shelves of many everyday essentials around the country - particularly toilet paper, which is racing off the shelves.

Michelle Stapelfeldt is the manger of Wallies Lollies which sells Sorbent products out of their warehouse, and said customers have been lining across the car park for days.

'We've had customers queued outside since Monday a week ago,' Ms Stapelfeldt told Daily Mail Australia.

Panicked shoppers seen queuing across the carpark outside Wallies Lollies confectionery business which is adjacent to the the Sorbent factory outlet in Box Hill in Melbourne's east on Thursday

Wallies Lollies manager Michelle Stapelfeldt said customers have been queuing outside her warehouse for more than a week, with some displaying awful behaviour

Ms Stapelfeldt's warehouse receives one delivery truck of toilet paper each morning, which has been selling out within two hours every day for the past two weeks.

She said some customers have been displaying terrible behaviour forcing the warehouse to put strict limits on the number of rolls customers can buy.

'We had to put in limits from the second day, nearly two weeks ago, to be fair so that everyone could get a little bit,' Ms Stapelfeldt said.

The limits brought out the worst in some customers, with some buyers abusing staff and refusing to leave the warehouse.

Shoppers around the country have been spotted stocking up on toilet paper as coronavirus hysteria spreads

'People fight when we changed our limits to go down, as in from 48 rolls to 24,' she said.

'We've had customers sneaking in to buy more, people get so upset, asking "why can't I have the 48 I bought the day before?"'

Ms Stapelfeldt said she had seen people fighting in the queue and was nearly forced to call the police on a customer on Thursday.

Coronavirus panic buying has produced awful behaviour from consumers around the country, culminating in physical altercations in several stores.

Ms Stapelfeldt said she has been shocked at the public response to the virus.

'It's been mad, it's like a war. We've been saying with out staff "can you believe this?"' she said.

Toilet paper is mass produced in Australia, but panic buying has forced big supermarket chains including Woolworths, Aldi and Coles to impose a limit on rolls for customers.

Bunnings Australia is selling industrial toilet paper rolls, which are commonly used in public bathrooms and shopping centres and can last customers for a whole year.

For $42, shoppers can get eight giant rolls of Scott Essential Jumbo Tissue Rolls - measuring 2,400 metres or the six-pack of Kleenex rolls which equates to 1,800 metres will cost $75 at selected stores, while stocks last.

The sale comes after the Australian Government and health authorities urged people not to panic buy - but chaotic scenes at supermarket stores from across the country revealed many were not taking notice.

Bunnings Australia is offering customers industrial size toilet paper from $42 which can last for a whole year

Empty shelves in an Australian supermarket after panic buying due to the coronavirus crisis

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

Instead paranoid shoppers decided to fill their shopping trolleys to the brim with toilet rolls, hand sanitisers, cleaning products and pantry staples.

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, doctors have urged everyone to practice good hygiene and other measures to product against infections.

Good hygiene includes washing your hands often with soap and water, and using a tissue and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

Three people have died from coronavirus in Australia, with 141 confirmed cases in the country.

More than 4,600 have been killed by coronavirus worldwide.
Meghan Markle was reportedly devastated as she bid an emotional goodbye to her royal duties before returning to Canada.

Prince Harry and Meghan have been in Britain performing their last royal duties before starting their new lives across the Atlantic.

The Duke of Sussex stayed in Britain to continue working while the Duchess flew back to Canada after the Commonwealth Day Service on Monday.

Meghan Markle shed a tear during a 'bittersweet' farewell to royal staff as she left the UK for Canada on Tuesday, according to the Telegraph.

She also appeared to be 'quietly devastated' and had tears in her eyes at her last private function for Commonwealth students in Buckingham Palace before heading to Westminster Abbey for the service.

Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon, who was at Meghan's last official engagement as a frontline royal, described how the Duchess was feeling in the candid behind-the-scenes moment.

The Duchess of Sussex met with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) at Buckingham Palace before attended the Commonwealth Service

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at their last engagement together at the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on Monday

Prince Harry hugging journalist Bryony Gordon as he meets panellists and beneficiaries during the first annual Royal Foundation Forum held at Aviva in London in 2018

She said that Meghan had 'tears glistening' in her 'bright friendly eyes' as she met with attendees and spoke with them about their work.

Gordon wrote: 'The pervading emotion on Monday, as I watched the Duchess carry out her final private engagement, seemed to be profound sadness.

'Sadness that it had come to this; sadness that they could not make it work and sadness that less than two years since that glittering fairy tale wedding, the first person of colour to join the British royal family was off.

'How ironic that her final engagement was to be a Commonwealth service that celebrated diversity, uniqueness, and the strength we draw from embracing each other and our differences.'

The event was for 23 young students and academics who won scholarships from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) - an organisation Meghan will continue to be a patron of after stepping back from royal duties.

Gordon added that 'there is a feeling that they have been hung out to dry' in the way the couple were treated in Britain.

She added that insiders with an awareness of behind-the-scenes events knew 'that she took her role seriously, and was not just prepared but proud to deliver whatever was asked of her.'

Meghan Markle embracing at the Royal Foundation Forum in 2018. She was also at a private Commonwealth function that was the Duchesses last royal engagement

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) meeting on Monday attended by Meghan Markle (centre)

On Tuesday Meghan returned to the couple's 10-month-old son, Archie, who remained in Canada while they attended functions in the UK.

Harry, 35, will now stay in Britain to continue working after the couple's final official event at Westminster Abbey on Monday.

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.

Gordon also said Meghan seemed sad for Harry having to leave his military roles.

She wrote: 'Watching from the sidelines, her departure seemed bittersweet and tinged with huge sadness  not for herself, but for her husband.'

The couple are understood to be keeping their Windsor home, and will start paying commercial rent and pay back 2.4million in taxpayers' money spent on its renovations.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meeting children at the Commonwealth Day Service

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 Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, and it is also close to Silicon Valley and Hollywood where the couple might have meetings.

The couple aim to become nearly financially independent, although the Prince of Wales will also continue to offer private financial support to the couple.

This is expected to come from his 21 million a year Duchy of Cornwall income. The couple also intend to 'develop a new way to effect change' with a non-profit organisation.

They will not be able to use Sussex Royal as their brand, with the Queen and her senior officials said to have declared they must drop the use of the word 'Royal'.

The situation will be reviewed by the monarchy in 12 months' time, leaving the door open in case of a change of heart.

The Queen has told Harry the couple are much loved by the royals and would welcomed back if they wanted as working royals in the future.
FLINT, MI -- Mott Community College has not yet made a decision on if it will cancel or change classes amid coronavirus concerns.

Mott student have been on spring break as universities across Michigan have been moving classes to online after the announcement that two cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the state.

Every Michigan public university suspends in-person classes due to coronavirus concern

A college-wide plan is forthcoming, MCC President Beverly Walker-Griffea wrote in a letter to students and faculty, Wednesday, March 11.

For now, the college will cancel all meetings, sporting events or gatherings that could attract 100 people or more through the end of April.

Additionally, all students who have traveled to a Level 2 or Level 3 country (Japan, China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy) in the last 14 days, are asked to self-quarantine for a recommended period of 14 days and to self-report to Jason Wilson, Vice President for Student Success Services, while faculty and staff are requested to self report to their Executive Cabinet member. Anyone who believes they have been exposed to someone who has traveled these countries is also asked to report to determine the best course of action, which may include self-quarantine.

If you are not feeling well, I urge you to stay home and get better, and make arrangements with your instructors to complete assignments remotely," Walker-Griffea said. "I also strongly encourage all instructors to be flexible and accommodate student needs.

Students, staff and faculty who plan personal travel to a Level 2 or Level 3 country, or to another state that has declared a state of emergency, are asked to self-report to Wilson in order to coordinate any impact.

The safety and health of our students, faculty and staff are of utmost importance at all times. The situation is being closely monitored," the letter states. "MCC is also working in conjunction with public health officials and medical professionals and will follow their expert recommendations to best ensure the safety of the College community.

Walker-Griffea said she will send out a daily update.

Please remember, things are happening very fast and, as the Governor said, we will take actions based on fact, Walkter-Griffea wrote.

Vice President Wilson can be reached at 810-232-2590 or jason.wilson@mcc.edu.

MCC administrators have been in constant meetings while assessing how to move forward, said Dawn Hibbard, MCC spokeswoman. An update is expected to be posted later today.

Find more coronavirus coverage from MLive here.

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:20192020 20200312 17:51:13  :

:  :20192020

Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No. 2020-06







Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.



Announcement on Confirming Occurrence of Daily Related Transactions of

2019 and the Estimated Amount of Related Transactions of the Company of

2020







The members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness,

accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement or

significant omission carried in this announcement.



I. Profiles of the routine related transactions



(I) Introduction of the related transaction



Routine related transactions of the Company are mainly purchasing of materials and fuel from

related parties; sales of products to related parties; and receiving or providing of services to the

related parties. For profiles of the related parties please go to part II of this report.



The actual amount of daily related transactions of 2020 was 419.1119 million yuan. The

Accumulative actual amount of daily related transactions of 2019 was 353.9915 million

yuan( Unaudited), The Accumulative actual amount of daily related transactions of January to

February 2020 was 34.3735 million yuan( Unaudited),



The 3rd meeting of the 8th term of Board was held on March 12, 2020. The meeting

examined the Proposal on Confirming Occurrence of Daily Related Transactions of 2019 and

the Estimated Amount of Related Transactions of the Company of 2020. Director Zheng Bin, Yang

Yongming,Ye Zhong and Li Guiwen waived from the voting. As the resolution, the proposal was

passed with all 6 votes in favor, 0 objection and 0 waive.



This proposal is subject to examination of the Shareholders Meeting and Hangzhou Steam

Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. shall waive from voting of this proposal.









(II) Category and amount of daily related party transactions



In RMB









Type of related

transaction







Related parties







Content



Fair



Estimated amount in

2020



Amount incurred

in

January-February

2020( Unaudited)



Occurred amount

2019( Unaudited)







Hangzhou Nanhua Wooden Packaging Co., Ltd.



Packing box



Fair



-



-



7,475,985.95



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales Service Co.,

Ltd.



Packing box



Fair



16,300,000.00



1,184,678.06



6,967,168.11



Hangzhou Hangfa Power Generating Equipment Co.,

Ltd.



Generator



Fair



175,890,266.00



13,961,946.89



170,649,393.49



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.



Turbine parts



Fair







-



9,699,115.04



China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG

(Hangzhou) United Institutes Co., Ltd.



Raw material



Fair



2,000,000.00



-



633,256.21



Subtotal











194,190,266.00



15,146,624.95



195,424,918.80



Purchasing of

fuel and power

from the related

parties



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.



Water and electricity



Fair



9,590,000.00



1,229,789.96



13,748,828.97



Subtotal











9,590,000.00



1,229,789.96



13,748,828.97



Sales of products

or merchandises

of the Company

to related parties







Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.



Turbine, compressor



Fair



86,725,664.00



8,043,103.54



17,019,217.28



Hangzhou Hangfa Power Generating Equipment Co.,

Ltd.



Forging



Fair



7,600,000.00



1,024,490.62



6,868,272.76



India greenesol Company



Turbine parts



Fair



1,500,000.00



-



1,391,458.89



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd..



Odd materials



Fair



-



-



230.34



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd..



labour protection



Fair



-



-



1,405.80



Subtotal











95,825,664.00



9,067,594.16



25,280,585.07



Labor service to

related parties







Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd..



Information service charge,

process design fee, etc.



Fair



30,920,000.00



-



0.00



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.



Technical services



Fair



-



-



18,309,214.14



Subtotal











30,920,000.00



-



18,309,214.14



Labour &

services accepted

from the related

parties







Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.



Technical services



Fair



860,000.00



28,301.89



861,320.75



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.



Rental fees, trademark fees, etc.



Fair



10,261,943.00



349,855.62



14,144,314.83



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales Service Co.,

Ltd.



Freight, repair, rental



Fair



77,463,982.00



8,551,313.09



86,222,354.57



Subtotal











88,585,925.00



8,929,470.60



101,227,990.15







Total











419,111,855.00



34,373,479.67



353,991,537.13

















IIIDaily Related transactions actually situations of 2019(As of December 31, 2019 Unaudited ).



In RMB











Type of related

transaction







Related parties







Content



Actual amount



Estimated amount

2019



Percentage in

similar

business %







Difference

proportion%



Purchasing of material

from related party







Hangzhou Nanhua Wooden Packaging Co.,

Ltd.



Packing box



7,475,985.95



18,060,000.00



0.32%



-20.03%



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales

Service Co., Ltd.



Packing box



6,967,168.11



-



0.30%



-



Hangzhou Hangfa Power Generating

Equipment Co., Ltd.



Generator



170,649,393.49



176,724,137.93



7.32%



-3.44%



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,

Ltd.



Turbine parts



9,699,115.04



900,000.00



0.42%



977.68%



China mechanical and Electrical Institute

-HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co.,

Ltd.



Raw material



633,256.21



2,000,000.00



0.03%



-68.34%



Subtotal







195,424,918.80



197,684,137.93



-



-



Purchasing of fuel and

power from the related

parties



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,

Ltd.



Water and electricity



13,748,828.97



16,337,931.03



22.44%



-15.85%



Subtotal







13,748,828.97



16,337,931.03



-



-



Sales of products or

merchandises of the

Company to related

parties



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,

Ltd.



Steam turbine, compressor



17,019,217.28



8,189,655.17



0.40%



107.81%



Hangzhou Hangfa Power Generating

Equipment Co., Ltd.



Forging



6,868,272.76



12,500,000.00



0.16%



-45.05%



India greenesol Company



Steam turbine



1,391,458.89



1,000,000.00



0.03%



39.15%



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales

Service Co., Ltd.



Odd Material



230.34



-



0.00%



-



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,

Ltd.



Labour protection



1,405.80



-



0.00%



-



Subtotal







25,280,585.07



21,689,655.17



-



-



Labor service to related

parties







Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,

Ltd.



Information service



0.00



35,000,000.00



0.00%



-100%



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,

Ltd.



Installation services, etc.



18,309,214.14



-



26.74%



-









Subtotal







18,309,214.14



35,000,000.00



-



-



Labour & services

accepted from the

related parties







Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,

Ltd.



Technical services



861,320.75



3,000,000.00



0.25%



-71.29%



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,

Ltd.



Rental fees, trademark fees, etc.



14,144,314.83



12,173,289.23



4.10%



16.19%



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales

Service Co., Ltd.



Freight, repair, rental



86,222,354.57



45,560,000.00



25.02%



89.25%



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Compressor Co.,

Ltd.



Technical services



0.00



340,000.00



0.00%



-100%



Subtotal







101,227,990.15



61,073,289.23



-



-







Total







353,991,537.13



331,785,013.36



-



-









Continued



Supplementary notes:







(1) Hangzhou Nanhua Wooden Packaging Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Hangfa

Power Generating Equipment Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Steam Turbine

Engineering Co., Ltd., China mechanical and Electrical Institute

-HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Steam

Turbine Automobile Sales Service Co., Ltd and Hangzhou Hang Steam

Turbine Compressor Co., Ltd are both controlled by Hangzhou Steam

Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as Hangzhou

Steam Turbine Group") or have the actual control relationship as

"associated person under the same control.



(2) In accordance with the Stock Listing Rules, The total amount of

related transactions actually incurred by the Company and its related

parties in 2019 was 353.9915 million yuan (unaudited), accounting for

5.51% of the Company's latest audited net assets, which shall be

submitted to the shareholders' general meeting for deliberation.



Date and index of disclosure



For more details, please refer to the relevant announcement of Juchao

Information Network on January 9,2019, announcement No (2019-03)



An explanation by the board of directors for the

relatively big difference between the actual occurred

amount of daily related transactions and the estimated

amount



The company estimates the daily connected transaction

quota in 2019 based on market demand and business

development progressThe amount of daily related party

transactions estimated by the company is the upper limit that may

occur between the transaction parties, including: the amount expected

to occur in a signed contract, the amount of a supplementary agreement

that may be signed for a signed contract, and the amount that may be

expected to be signed in not-yet-signed contract. The actually occurred

amount is determined according to the actual contract amount signed

by both parties and the progress of implementation, which has a big

uncertainty, resulting in a big difference between the actual occurred

amount and the expected amount.



An explanation by the independent directors for the

relatively big difference between the actual occurred

amount of daily related transactions and the expected

amount



After verification, the actual amount of the daily connected

transactions of the company in 2019 differed from the

estimated amount, which was based on the needs of the

company's business development and in line with the

company's actual production and operation. the transaction is

priced according to market principles, fair and reasonable, and does not

harm the interests of the company and small-and-medium sized

shareholders, which is conducive to the company's sustained and

steady development.









II. Introduction of related parties and relationship



(I) Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.



1. Profiles



(1) Date of incorporation: December 14, 1992



(2) Registered address: No. 357 Shiqiao Road Hangzhou City



(3) Office address: Block A, 68 Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou



(4) Enterprise property: Sole state-owned corporation



(5) Legal representative: Mr. Zheng Bin



(6) Registered capital: RMB 800 million



(7) Business scope: Manufacturing and processing: textile machinery, paper-making machinery,

pump, casting products, electrical tools, gear box, thermal transmitter, digital controlling device,

and spare parts of the above (limited to the subsidiaries); Contracting of domestic and overseas

machinery engineering projects, export of above equipments and materials, provide labor services

for above overseas projects. Thermal power plant project and equipment engineering; wholesale

and retail: products and spare parts manufactured by members of the group, and technical research,

consulting, and service of above products; Provide materials, equipments, and spare parts to

members of the Group, water and power supply (other than installation and maintaining of power

supply equipment); Including the business scope of subsidiaries.



(8) Actual holder: Hangzhou State-owned Asset Administration Committee



2. Recent financial information (on consolidated range)



In RMB



Periods



Turnover



Net profit



Gross Assets



Net asset



Year 2018



95,325,960,513.78



741,067,094.12



35,036,880,100.64



9,956,434,936.57



Year 2019



14,876,451,577.35



224,194,054.19



18,956,262,115.71



8,922,199,947.66







3. Relationship with the Company



3Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. (HSTG or the Group) is holding

479,824,800 state-owned shares account for 63.64% of the capital shares of the Company, and is

the holding shareholder of the Company. It is complying with Article 10.1.3 (I) of Share Listing

Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. HSTG is the related legal person of the Company. This is a

related transaction.





4. Description of related transactions and their necessity



The Company rents lands, office spaces, workshops, warehouses from HSTG; the water and

power supply were provided by HSTG; the trade mark was authorized by HSTG. For these have

been the basic conditions the Company needs for production and operation, these transactions will

exist constantly.



(II) Hangzhou Hangfa Generator Equipment Co., Ltd.



1. Profiles



(1) Incorporated on: March 22, 1993



(2) Registered address: Tentong No.2 Village, Linpu, Xiaoshan





(3) Office address: 128 Shixinzhong Road, Xiaosha



(4) Enterprise property: State-owned shareholding corporation



(5) Legal representative: Zhou Yifei



(6) Registered capital: RMB 80 million



(7) Business scope: Design, production and sale of hydroelectric power plant, turbine generator,

motor, water pump, power station and mining accessories, mechanical electrical equipment,

automation original; General contract of power station project, import and export of goods and

technology , Rental of owner-owned houses. (Projects subject to approval in accordance with the

law shall be approved by the relevant departments before they can carry out business activities)



(8) The controlling shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.



2. Recent financial information



In RMB



Periods



Turnover



Net profit



Gross Assets



Net asset



Year 2018



331,864,253.38



39,216,336.55



631,953,017.93



112,539,473.81



Year 2019



342,594,925.02



2,419,208.41



566,680,676.13



111,735,123.79







3. Relationship with the Company



Hangzhou Hangfa Generator Equipment Co., Ltd. is a holding subsidiary of HSTG, in which

HSTG is holding 85% of share equity. For Hangfa is under the common control with the Company,

it is regarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or other

organizations directly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and its

holding subsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it is

recognized as the related entity of the Company. This is a related transaction.



4. Description of related transactions and their necessity



The major related transactions with Hangzhou Hangfa Generator Equipment Co., Ltd. were

purchasing of steam turbine generators. It was to satisfy the demand of customers. Some

customers require the Company to provide generators along with the steam turbines. Hangfa has

been providing products to the Company since long before it was given to HSTG.



(III) Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales & Service Co., Ltd.



1. Profiles



(1) Date of incorporation: September 2, 1998



(2) Registered address: No. 357 Shiqiao Road Hangzhou City



(3) Office address: No. 357 Shiqiao Road Hangzhou City



(4) Enterprise property: State-participated limited company



(5) Legal representative: Yang Yongming



(6) Registered capital: RMB5 million



(7) Business scope: Service: Maintenance (one type of motor vehicle maintenance: large and

medium-sized bus maintenance, large and medium-sized truck maintenance, small vehicle

maintenance) (only within the validity period); Wholesale, retail: commercial vehicles and more





than nine passenger cars, auto parts, Metal materials, building materials, decorative materials,

general machinery, electrical machinery and equipment; import and export of goods (except as

prohibited by laws and administrative regulations, projects subject to laws and administrative

regulations may obtain business licenses before they can engage in business activities); services:

at sea, Aviation and land international freight forwarding; warehousing services (except dangerous

goods); including the business scope of subordinate branches; other legal items that do not need to

be approved.



(8) The controlling shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.



2. Recent financial information



In RMB



Periods



Turnover



Net profit



Gross Assets



Net asset



Year 2018



148,680,813.73



6,559,482.23



67,312,718.92



35,481,905.27



Year 2019



193,175,037.68



7,855,350.44



68,092,635.79



40,837,255.71







3. Relationship with the Company



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. is a holding subsidiary of HSTG, in which

HSTG is holding 30% of share equity. For it is under the common control with the Company, it is

regarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or other organizations

directly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and its holding

subsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it is recognized

as the related entity of the Company, and this is a related transaction.



4. Description of related transactions and their necessity



Related transactions with Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales & Service Co., Ltd. are

mainly cargo transportation, international cargo agency, employee transportation, and vehicle

repairing services.The Company does not have transportation division, therefore accepting of

these services are necessary.



(IV) Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.



1. Profiles



(1) Date of incorporation: September 30, 2011



(2) Registered address: 18 Street No. 22, Technical Development Zone, Hangzhou



(3) Office address: 18 Street No. 22, Technical Development Zone, Hangzhou



(4) Enterprise property: State-controlled company limited



(5) Legal representative: Ye Zhong



(6) Registered capital: RMB200 million.



(7) Main business scope: general contracting of power supply projects; design and installation of:

electro-mechanical equipment, mid-small scale thermal power plant, energy saving technical





reconstruction and services, technical consultancy; import and export of goods; whole selling of:

packaged equipment, metal material, electronic installations, wires, cables, instruments,

fire-resistance materials. (as stipulated by the authority)



(8) The controlling shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.



2. Recent financial information



In RMB



Periods



Turnover



Net profit



Gross Assets



Net asset



Year 2018



160,354,629.95



-41,121,132.98



783,600,830.93



31,855,483.34



Year 2019



156,530,024.50



-26,872,716.56



719,222,348.84



4,982,766.78







3. Relationship with the Company



Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd. is a holding subsidiary of HSTG, in which HSTG

is holding 74.275% of share equity. For it is under the common control with the Company, it is

regarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or other organizations

directly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and its holding

subsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it is recognized

as the related entity of the Company, and this is a related transaction.



4. Description of related transactions and their necessity



To satisfy the needs of business operation of both parties, sales of steam turbines to Hangzhou

Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd. is a support to the Companys shares force.



(V)(India) greenesol power equipment private Co., Ltd.



1.Profiles



1Date of incorporationOctober 19,2005



2Registered addressBangalore, India



3Registered capitalUSD 2.20 million



4Main business scopeTurbine engaged in power generation equipment supply, installation

and commissioning.



5The main shareholder Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co.,Ltd: 35.62%; the foreign

shareholders: 64.38%.



2. Recent financial information



In Indian rupee



Periods



Turnover



Net profit



Gross Assets



Net asset



March 2018-March-2019



1,210,851,831



37,356,892



1,398,531,811



591,454,852









March 2019-December 2019



876,448,259



13,222,877



1,301,064,368



617,469,098







3. Relationship with the Company



As the senior management of the company acts as director of that company and conforms to the

10.1.5 clause of Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange-"a natural person associated with a

listed company directly or indirectly controls, or is a director or senior manager, a legal person or

other organization other than a listed company and its controlling subsidiary", is an associated

legal person of a listed company.



4. Description of related transactions and their necessity The Companys related party transaction

with (India) greenesol power equipment private Co., Ltd. is mainly related to the purchase of raw

materials and the sales of products or commodity.



(VI) China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co.,

Ltd.



1. Profiles:



(1) Date of incorporation: October 22,2008



(2) Registered address: Room 1501, No.68-1 Qingchun East Road,Jianggan District,Hangzhou

City



(3) Office address: No.68-1 Qingchun East Road,Jianggan District,Hangzhou City



(4) Type of enterprise: State-owned limited company



(5) Legal representative: Kong Jianqiang



(6) Registered capital: RMB1 million



(7) Main business scope: Services: Technology development, consulting, service and transfer of

products, new materials, new products, new technology, new equipment, technology development,

consulting, services and transfer of benefits, electronic computers and automation, environmental

protection products and resource utilization products. (Including pre-approval projects); wholesale

and retail: mechanical and electrical equipment and spare parts, metal materials, monitoring

equipment and other non-cultural training, The import and export of goods, the import and export

of goods, the import and export of goods (except for projects prohibited by laws and

administrative regulations, except when the items subject to legal and administrative regulations

are restricted); the business scope of the subordinate branches; Law project.



(8) The main shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.



2. Recent financial information



In RMB



Periods



Turnover



Net profit



Gross Assets



Net asset



Year 2018



1,471,664.28



104,594.32



2,276,228.40



1,483,010.65









Year 2019



585,468.59



47,743.78



2,286,216.43



1,230,754.43







3. Relationship with the Company



Hangzhou steam turbine group holds 50% stake in China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG

(Hangzhou) United Institutes Co., Ltd ,For Compressor Company is under the common control with the

Company, it is regarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or other

organizations directly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and its

holding subsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it is

recognized as the related entity of the Company. This is a related transaction.



4. Description of related transactions and their necessity



Related transactions with China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co.,

Ltd . were mainly purchasing of raw material.



III. Analysis of the contract-performance ability of related parties



The above related parties have formed a stable and efficient business operation mode in the

long-term business cooperation relationship with the company since the company was listed,

having strong contract-performance ability. The board of directors reckoned that the above all

related parties can fulfill the contract and carry out the related business with the company.







IV. The purpose of related transactions and the impact on the listed company



1. The impact of related party transactions on the company





Due to the need to produce and sell the company's products, the company sells some of its

products to the related party and entrusts the related party to sell the company's products,

accepting the related party service of transportation and packing related to the company's

products in the course of sales, and the related party transaction optimizes the allocation of

production resources, effectively improves the efficiency of the company's production and

operation and is conducive to the main business of the company. The price of related party

transactions between the company and the related party is fair and, the transaction does not

harm the interests of the company.



2. The procedural legality of the related party transaction



The company has a pricing mechanism of related party transaction for daily related party

transactions. All the related transactions are examined by the board of directors of the company in

accordance with relevant regulations and are submitted to the shareholders' general meeting of the

company for consideration in accordance with the standards. In the course of deliberation, the

associated directors and associated shareholders withdraw from the voting, so the procedure is

legal.



3.Pricing basis of related party transaction



Where the company and its holding subsidiaries carry out the above related party transaction, the

price of related transaction is determined according to the market price and follows the principles





of fairness, voluntariness and consensus in the pricing process.



V. The Consent of independent directors in advance and their opinions



The Consent of independent directors in advanceThe Company Proposal to Confirming

Occurrence of Daily Related Transactions of 2019 and the Estimated Amount of Related

Transactions of the Company of 2020, Strictly performing the examination and approval

procedures belongs to the normal business needs of the company and will not affect the

independence of the company. The transaction price follows the fair and reasonable pricing

principle. The above-mentioned daily related transactions are in the interest of the company and

all shareholders. There is no harm to the interests of the company's small and medium

shareholders. We recognize the above related contents of the daily connected transactions and

agree to submit the proposal to the company's board of directors for review.



The Independent Directors' OpinionThe total amount of related transactions actually incurred by

the Company and its related parties in 2019 was 353.9915 million yuan (unaudited), accounting

for 5.51% of the company's latest audited net assets, which shall be submitted to the shareholders'

general meeting for reviewing.Although the actual amount incurred in 2019 exceeded the

estimated amount for the current year, the excess only accounted for 0.357% of the company's

audited net assets in the latest period, and there was no need to perform relevant review

procedures and disclosure obligations. The related transactions of the company in relation to daily

operations are in line with the company's actual production and operation conditions and future

development needs. The transaction is priced according to market principles, fair and reasonable,

and does not harm the interests of the company and small and medium shareholders, and is

conducive to the company's continued steady development.







This announcement is hereby made.











The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.



March 12, 2020

















 Stock Code: 200771 Stock ID: Hangqilun B Announcement No. 2020-06Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.Announcement on Confirming Occurrence of Daily Related Transactions of2019 and the Estimated Amount of Related Transactions of the Company of2020The members of the Board and the Company acknowledge being responsible for the truthfulness,accuracy, and completeness of the announcement. Not any false record, misleading statement orsignificant omission carried in this announcement.I. Profiles of the routine related transactions(I) Introduction of the related transactionRoutine related transactions of the Company are mainly purchasing of materials and fuel fromrelated parties; sales of products to related parties; and receiving or providing of services to therelated parties. For profiles of the related parties please go to part II of this report.The actual amount of daily related transactions of 2020 was 419.1119 million yuan. TheAccumulative actual amount of daily related transactions of 2019 was 353.9915 millionyuan( Unaudited), The Accumulative actual amount of daily related transactions of January toFebruary 2020 was 34.3735 million yuan( Unaudited),The 3rd meeting of the 8th term of Board was held on March 12, 2020. The meetingexamined the Proposal on Confirming Occurrence of Daily Related Transactions of 2019 andthe Estimated Amount of Related Transactions of the Company of 2020. Director Zheng Bin, YangYongming,Ye Zhong and Li Guiwen waived from the voting. As the resolution, the proposal waspassed with all 6 votes in favor, 0 objection and 0 waive.This proposal is subject to examination of the Shareholders Meeting and Hangzhou SteamTurbine Power Group Co., Ltd. shall waive from voting of this proposal.(II) Category and amount of daily related party transactionsIn RMBType of relatedtransactionRelated partiesContentFairEstimated amount in2020Amount incurredinJanuary-February2020( Unaudited)Occurred amount2019( Unaudited)Hangzhou Nanhua Wooden Packaging Co., Ltd.Packing boxFair7,475,985.95Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales Service Co.,Ltd.Packing boxFair16,300,000.001,184,678.066,967,168.11Hangzhou Hangfa Power Generating Equipment Co.,Ltd.GeneratorFair175,890,266.0013,961,946.89170,649,393.49Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.Turbine partsFair9,699,115.04China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG(Hangzhou) United Institutes Co., Ltd.Raw materialFair2,000,000.00633,256.21Subtotal194,190,266.0015,146,624.95195,424,918.80Purchasing offuel and powerfrom the relatedpartiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.Water and electricityFair9,590,000.001,229,789.9613,748,828.97Subtotal9,590,000.001,229,789.9613,748,828.97Sales of productsor merchandisesof the Companyto related partiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.Turbine, compressorFair86,725,664.008,043,103.5417,019,217.28Hangzhou Hangfa Power Generating Equipment Co.,Ltd.ForgingFair7,600,000.001,024,490.626,868,272.76India greenesol CompanyTurbine partsFair1,500,000.001,391,458.89Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd..Odd materialsFair230.34Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd..labour protectionFair1,405.80Subtotal95,825,664.009,067,594.1625,280,585.07Labor service torelated partiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd..Information service charge,process design fee, etc.Fair30,920,000.000.00Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.Technical servicesFair18,309,214.14Subtotal30,920,000.0018,309,214.14Labour &services acceptedfrom the relatedpartiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.Technical servicesFair860,000.0028,301.89861,320.75Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.Rental fees, trademark fees, etc.Fair10,261,943.00349,855.6214,144,314.83Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales Service Co.,Ltd.Freight, repair, rentalFair77,463,982.008,551,313.0986,222,354.57Subtotal88,585,925.008,929,470.60101,227,990.15Total419,111,855.0034,373,479.67353,991,537.13IIIDaily Related transactions actually situations of 2019(As of December 31, 2019 Unaudited ).In RMBType of relatedtransactionRelated partiesContentActual amountEstimated amount2019Percentage insimilarbusiness %Differenceproportion%Purchasing of materialfrom related partyHangzhou Nanhua Wooden Packaging Co.,Ltd.Packing box7,475,985.9518,060,000.000.32%-20.03%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile SalesService Co., Ltd.Packing box6,967,168.110.30%Hangzhou Hangfa Power GeneratingEquipment Co., Ltd.Generator170,649,393.49176,724,137.937.32%-3.44%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,Ltd.Turbine parts9,699,115.04900,000.000.42%977.68%China mechanical and Electrical Institute-HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co.,Ltd.Raw material633,256.212,000,000.000.03%-68.34%Subtotal195,424,918.80197,684,137.93Purchasing of fuel andpower from the relatedpartiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,Ltd.Water and electricity13,748,828.9716,337,931.0322.44%-15.85%Subtotal13,748,828.9716,337,931.03Sales of products ormerchandises of theCompany to relatedpartiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,Ltd.Steam turbine, compressor17,019,217.288,189,655.170.40%107.81%Hangzhou Hangfa Power GeneratingEquipment Co., Ltd.Forging6,868,272.7612,500,000.000.16%-45.05%India greenesol CompanySteam turbine1,391,458.891,000,000.000.03%39.15%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile SalesService Co., Ltd.Odd Material230.340.00%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,Ltd.Labour protection1,405.800.00%Subtotal25,280,585.0721,689,655.17Labor service to relatedpartiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,Ltd.Information service0.0035,000,000.000.00%-100%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,Ltd.Installation services, etc.18,309,214.1426.74%Subtotal18,309,214.1435,000,000.00Labour & servicesaccepted from therelated partiesHangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co.,Ltd.Technical services861,320.753,000,000.000.25%-71.29%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co.,Ltd.Rental fees, trademark fees, etc.14,144,314.8312,173,289.234.10%16.19%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile SalesService Co., Ltd.Freight, repair, rental86,222,354.5745,560,000.0025.02%89.25%Hangzhou Steam Turbine Compressor Co.,Ltd.Technical services0.00340,000.000.00%-100%Subtotal101,227,990.1561,073,289.23Total353,991,537.13331,785,013.36ContinuedSupplementary notes:(1) Hangzhou Nanhua Wooden Packaging Co., Ltd., Hangzhou HangfaPower Generating Equipment Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Steam TurbineEngineering Co., Ltd., China mechanical and Electrical Institute-HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co., Ltd., Hangzhou SteamTurbine Automobile Sales Service Co., Ltd and Hangzhou Hang SteamTurbine Compressor Co., Ltd are both controlled by Hangzhou SteamTurbine Power Group Co., Ltd (hereinafter referred to as HangzhouSteam Turbine Group") or have the actual control relationship as"associated person under the same control.(2) In accordance with the Stock Listing Rules, The total amount ofrelated transactions actually incurred by the Company and its relatedparties in 2019 was 353.9915 million yuan (unaudited), accounting for5.51% of the Company's latest audited net assets, which shall besubmitted to the shareholders' general meeting for deliberation.Date and index of disclosureFor more details, please refer to the relevant announcement of JuchaoInformation Network on January 9,2019, announcement No (2019-03)An explanation by the board of directors for therelatively big difference between the actual occurredamount of daily related transactions and the estimatedamountThe company estimates the daily connected transactionquota in 2019 based on market demand and businessdevelopment progressThe amount of daily related partytransactions estimated by the company is the upper limit that mayoccur between the transaction parties, including: the amount expectedto occur in a signed contract, the amount of a supplementary agreementthat may be signed for a signed contract, and the amount that may beexpected to be signed in not-yet-signed contract. The actually occurredamount is determined according to the actual contract amount signedby both parties and the progress of implementation, which has a biguncertainty, resulting in a big difference between the actual occurredamount and the expected amount.An explanation by the independent directors for therelatively big difference between the actual occurredamount of daily related transactions and the expectedamountAfter verification, the actual amount of the daily connectedtransactions of the company in 2019 differed from theestimated amount, which was based on the needs of thecompany's business development and in line with thecompany's actual production and operation. the transaction ispriced according to market principles, fair and reasonable, and does notharm the interests of the company and small-and-medium sizedshareholders, which is conducive to the company's sustained andsteady development.II. Introduction of related parties and relationship(I) Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.1. Profiles(1) Date of incorporation: December 14, 1992(2) Registered address: No. 357 Shiqiao Road Hangzhou City(3) Office address: Block A, 68 Qingchun Road East, Hangzhou(4) Enterprise property: Sole state-owned corporation(5) Legal representative: Mr. Zheng Bin(6) Registered capital: RMB 800 million(7) Business scope: Manufacturing and processing: textile machinery, paper-making machinery,pump, casting products, electrical tools, gear box, thermal transmitter, digital controlling device,and spare parts of the above (limited to the subsidiaries); Contracting of domestic and overseasmachinery engineering projects, export of above equipments and materials, provide labor servicesfor above overseas projects. Thermal power plant project and equipment engineering; wholesaleand retail: products and spare parts manufactured by members of the group, and technical research,consulting, and service of above products; Provide materials, equipments, and spare parts tomembers of the Group, water and power supply (other than installation and maintaining of powersupply equipment); Including the business scope of subsidiaries.(8) Actual holder: Hangzhou State-owned Asset Administration Committee2. Recent financial information (on consolidated range)In RMBPeriodsTurnoverNet profitGross AssetsNet assetYear 201895,325,960,513.78741,067,094.1235,036,880,100.649,956,434,936.57Year 201914,876,451,577.35224,194,054.1918,956,262,115.718,922,199,947.663. Relationship with the Company3Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd. (HSTG or the Group) is holding479,824,800 state-owned shares account for 63.64% of the capital shares of the Company, and isthe holding shareholder of the Company. It is complying with Article 10.1.3 (I) of Share ListingRules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. HSTG is the related legal person of the Company. This is arelated transaction.4. Description of related transactions and their necessityThe Company rents lands, office spaces, workshops, warehouses from HSTG; the water andpower supply were provided by HSTG; the trade mark was authorized by HSTG. For these havebeen the basic conditions the Company needs for production and operation, these transactions willexist constantly.(II) Hangzhou Hangfa Generator Equipment Co., Ltd.1. Profiles(1) Incorporated on: March 22, 1993(2) Registered address: Tentong No.2 Village, Linpu, Xiaoshan(3) Office address: 128 Shixinzhong Road, Xiaosha(4) Enterprise property: State-owned shareholding corporation(5) Legal representative: Zhou Yifei(6) Registered capital: RMB 80 million(7) Business scope: Design, production and sale of hydroelectric power plant, turbine generator,motor, water pump, power station and mining accessories, mechanical electrical equipment,automation original; General contract of power station project, import and export of goods andtechnology , Rental of owner-owned houses. (Projects subject to approval in accordance with thelaw shall be approved by the relevant departments before they can carry out business activities)(8) The controlling shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.2. Recent financial informationIn RMBPeriodsTurnoverNet profitGross AssetsNet assetYear 2018331,864,253.3839,216,336.55631,953,017.93112,539,473.81Year 2019342,594,925.022,419,208.41566,680,676.13111,735,123.793. Relationship with the CompanyHangzhou Hangfa Generator Equipment Co., Ltd. is a holding subsidiary of HSTG, in whichHSTG is holding 85% of share equity. For Hangfa is under the common control with the Company,it is regarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or otherorganizations directly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and itsholding subsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it isrecognized as the related entity of the Company. This is a related transaction.4. Description of related transactions and their necessityThe major related transactions with Hangzhou Hangfa Generator Equipment Co., Ltd. werepurchasing of steam turbine generators. It was to satisfy the demand of customers. Somecustomers require the Company to provide generators along with the steam turbines. Hangfa hasbeen providing products to the Company since long before it was given to HSTG.(III) Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales & Service Co., Ltd.1. Profiles(1) Date of incorporation: September 2, 1998(2) Registered address: No. 357 Shiqiao Road Hangzhou City(3) Office address: No. 357 Shiqiao Road Hangzhou City(4) Enterprise property: State-participated limited company(5) Legal representative: Yang Yongming(6) Registered capital: RMB5 million(7) Business scope: Service: Maintenance (one type of motor vehicle maintenance: large andmedium-sized bus maintenance, large and medium-sized truck maintenance, small vehiclemaintenance) (only within the validity period); Wholesale, retail: commercial vehicles and morethan nine passenger cars, auto parts, Metal materials, building materials, decorative materials,general machinery, electrical machinery and equipment; import and export of goods (except asprohibited by laws and administrative regulations, projects subject to laws and administrativeregulations may obtain business licenses before they can engage in business activities); services:at sea, Aviation and land international freight forwarding; warehousing services (except dangerousgoods); including the business scope of subordinate branches; other legal items that do not need tobe approved.(8) The controlling shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.2. Recent financial informationIn RMBPeriodsTurnoverNet profitGross AssetsNet assetYear 2018148,680,813.736,559,482.2367,312,718.9235,481,905.27Year 2019193,175,037.687,855,350.4468,092,635.7940,837,255.713. Relationship with the CompanyHangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales Co., Ltd. is a holding subsidiary of HSTG, in whichHSTG is holding 30% of share equity. For it is under the common control with the Company, it isregarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or other organizationsdirectly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and its holdingsubsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it is recognizedas the related entity of the Company, and this is a related transaction.4. Description of related transactions and their necessityRelated transactions with Hangzhou Steam Turbine Automobile Sales & Service Co., Ltd. aremainly cargo transportation, international cargo agency, employee transportation, and vehiclerepairing services.The Company does not have transportation division, therefore accepting ofthese services are necessary.(IV) Hangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd.1. Profiles(1) Date of incorporation: September 30, 2011(2) Registered address: 18 Street No. 22, Technical Development Zone, Hangzhou(3) Office address: 18 Street No. 22, Technical Development Zone, Hangzhou(4) Enterprise property: State-controlled company limited(5) Legal representative: Ye Zhong(6) Registered capital: RMB200 million.(7) Main business scope: general contracting of power supply projects; design and installation of:electro-mechanical equipment, mid-small scale thermal power plant, energy saving technicalreconstruction and services, technical consultancy; import and export of goods; whole selling of:packaged equipment, metal material, electronic installations, wires, cables, instruments,fire-resistance materials. (as stipulated by the authority)(8) The controlling shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.2. Recent financial informationIn RMBPeriodsTurnoverNet profitGross AssetsNet assetYear 2018160,354,629.95-41,121,132.98783,600,830.9331,855,483.34Year 2019156,530,024.50-26,872,716.56719,222,348.844,982,766.783. Relationship with the CompanyHangzhou Steam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd. is a holding subsidiary of HSTG, in which HSTGis holding 74.275% of share equity. For it is under the common control with the Company, it isregarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or other organizationsdirectly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and its holdingsubsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it is recognizedas the related entity of the Company, and this is a related transaction.4. Description of related transactions and their necessityTo satisfy the needs of business operation of both parties, sales of steam turbines to HangzhouSteam Turbine Engineering Co., Ltd. is a support to the Companys shares force.(V)(India) greenesol power equipment private Co., Ltd.1.Profiles1Date of incorporationOctober 19,20052Registered addressBangalore, India3Registered capitalUSD 2.20 million4Main business scopeTurbine engaged in power generation equipment supply, installationand commissioning.5The main shareholder Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co.,Ltd: 35.62%; the foreignshareholders: 64.38%.2. Recent financial informationIn Indian rupeePeriodsTurnoverNet profitGross AssetsNet assetMarch 2018-March-20191,210,851,83137,356,8921,398,531,811591,454,852March 2019-December 2019876,448,25913,222,8771,301,064,368617,469,0983. Relationship with the CompanyAs the senior management of the company acts as director of that company and conforms to the10.1.5 clause of Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange-"a natural person associated with alisted company directly or indirectly controls, or is a director or senior manager, a legal person orother organization other than a listed company and its controlling subsidiary", is an associatedlegal person of a listed company.4. Description of related transactions and their necessity The Companys related party transactionwith (India) greenesol power equipment private Co., Ltd. is mainly related to the purchase of rawmaterials and the sales of products or commodity.(VI) China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co.,Ltd.1. Profiles:(1) Date of incorporation: October 22,2008(2) Registered address: Room 1501, No.68-1 Qingchun East Road,Jianggan District,HangzhouCity(3) Office address: No.68-1 Qingchun East Road,Jianggan District,Hangzhou City(4) Type of enterprise: State-owned limited company(5) Legal representative: Kong Jianqiang(6) Registered capital: RMB1 million(7) Main business scope: Services: Technology development, consulting, service and transfer ofproducts, new materials, new products, new technology, new equipment, technology development,consulting, services and transfer of benefits, electronic computers and automation, environmentalprotection products and resource utilization products. (Including pre-approval projects); wholesaleand retail: mechanical and electrical equipment and spare parts, metal materials, monitoringequipment and other non-cultural training, The import and export of goods, the import and exportof goods, the import and export of goods (except for projects prohibited by laws andadministrative regulations, except when the items subject to legal and administrative regulationsare restricted); the business scope of the subordinate branches; Law project.(8) The main shareholder: Hangzhou Steam Turbine Power Group Co., Ltd.2. Recent financial informationIn RMBPeriodsTurnoverNet profitGross AssetsNet assetYear 20181,471,664.28104,594.322,276,228.401,483,010.65Year 2019585,468.5947,743.782,286,216.431,230,754.433. Relationship with the CompanyHangzhou steam turbine group holds 50% stake in China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG(Hangzhou) United Institutes Co., Ltd ,For Compressor Company is under the common control with theCompany, it is regarded as related legal person according to Article 10.1.3 (II)  Entity or otherorganizations directly or indirectly controlled by aforesaid legal entity other than the PLC and itsholding subsidiaries; of the Share Listing Rules of Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Therefore it isrecognized as the related entity of the Company. This is a related transaction.4. Description of related transactions and their necessityRelated transactions with China mechanical and Electrical Institute -HSTG (Hangzhou) United Institutes Co.,Ltd . were mainly purchasing of raw material.III. Analysis of the contract-performance ability of related partiesThe above related parties have formed a stable and efficient business operation mode in thelong-term business cooperation relationship with the company since the company was listed,having strong contract-performance ability. The board of directors reckoned that the above allrelated parties can fulfill the contract and carry out the related business with the company.IV. The purpose of related transactions and the impact on the listed company1. The impact of related party transactions on the companyDue to the need to produce and sell the company's products, the company sells some of itsproducts to the related party and entrusts the related party to sell the company's products,accepting the related party service of transportation and packing related to the company'sproducts in the course of sales, and the related party transaction optimizes the allocation ofproduction resources, effectively improves the efficiency of the company's production andoperation and is conducive to the main business of the company. The price of related partytransactions between the company and the related party is fair and, the transaction does notharm the interests of the company.2. The procedural legality of the related party transactionThe company has a pricing mechanism of related party transaction for daily related partytransactions. All the related transactions are examined by the board of directors of the company inaccordance with relevant regulations and are submitted to the shareholders' general meeting of thecompany for consideration in accordance with the standards. In the course of deliberation, theassociated directors and associated shareholders withdraw from the voting, so the procedure islegal.3.Pricing basis of related party transactionWhere the company and its holding subsidiaries carry out the above related party transaction, theprice of related transaction is determined according to the market price and follows the principlesof fairness, voluntariness and consensus in the pricing process.V. The Consent of independent directors in advance and their opinionsThe Consent of independent directors in advanceThe Company Proposal to ConfirmingOccurrence of Daily Related Transactions of 2019 and the Estimated Amount of RelatedTransactions of the Company of 2020, Strictly performing the examination and approvalprocedures belongs to the normal business needs of the company and will not affect theindependence of the company. The transaction price follows the fair and reasonable pricingprinciple. The above-mentioned daily related transactions are in the interest of the company andall shareholders. There is no harm to the interests of the company's small and mediumshareholders. We recognize the above related contents of the daily connected transactions andagree to submit the proposal to the company's board of directors for review.The Independent Directors' OpinionThe total amount of related transactions actually incurred bythe Company and its related parties in 2019 was 353.9915 million yuan (unaudited), accountingfor 5.51% of the company's latest audited net assets, which shall be submitted to the shareholders'general meeting for reviewing.Although the actual amount incurred in 2019 exceeded theestimated amount for the current year, the excess only accounted for 0.357% of the company'saudited net assets in the latest period, and there was no need to perform relevant reviewprocedures and disclosure obligations. The related transactions of the company in relation to dailyoperations are in line with the company's actual production and operation conditions and futuredevelopment needs. The transaction is priced according to market principles, fair and reasonable,and does not harm the interests of the company and small and medium shareholders, and isconducive to the company's continued steady development.This announcement is hereby made.The Board of Directors of Hangzhou Steam Turbine Co., Ltd.March 12, 2020




By Jun Ji-hye







A civic group that supports former Justice Minister Cho Kuk has fallen victim to a voice phishing scam that robbed it of about 400 million won ($332,000) donated by its supporters, according to police officials Thursday.







A member of the group, identified only by his surname Kim, who has managed an account for support payments, reported the incident to the police in Seoul on Oct. 9. The swindler and the money have yet to be traced, though police have carried out an investigation over the past five months.







Kim told the police that he sent 400 million won to several other accounts after being deceived by the swindler over the phone.







Police froze Kim's account immediately after his report was made, but the money had already been withdrawn.







The civic group, which has collected more than 2 billion won in donations from supporters, is facing criticism as it has concealed the incident from them.







Rather, on Oct. 17, just days after the incident, the group said during a YouTube broadcast that the money had been used transparently to hold rallies in support of Cho.







On Oct. 29, Lee Jong-won, the head of the group, even vowed to disclose an accounting report to supporters, but he has yet to do so.







The civic group has held rallies 15 times from September through December in protest against prosecutors' investigations into corruption allegations surrounding Cho and his family.







The group has also called the investigations against Cho an attempt to disturb the Moon Jae-in administration's push for prosecutorial reform.







Cho, who was one of the closest aides to President Moon, resigned from his cabinet post, Oct. 14 amid the investigations.







"We are still tracking down the perpetrator," a police official said.


Army takes power

Army leaders took over power from President Sukarno in Indonesia today. The President has surrendered his political powers to the Army Minister, Lieutenant-General Suharto. Elite troops and para-commandos moved into Djakarta and took up positions under cover of darkness after days of student anti-Communist demonstrations. Heavy armour and armed troops held a massive victory parade in the capital, wildly cheered by hundreds of people.

Utzons bill

Danish architect, Joern Utzon, will put in a bill for $1,200,000 in fees owing if he decides not to return to the Opera House project. The State Government has been warned of this. One minister said: When I heard the amount, I reached for the port bottle. It is believed the Institute of Architects will fully support Mr Utzons claim. The Minister for Public Works, Mr Davis Hughes said fees due to Mr Utzon would be negotiated as quickly as possible.

Leary gaoled
Vinelands police chief has filed a federal lawsuit against city leaders, police officers and union officials alleging he has been the victim of a smear campaign to drive him from office because of his efforts to root out corruption.

Chief Rudolph Beu IV is currently suspended from his post with the intention to demote, according to his lawsuit.

This suit follows a lawsuit filed last year by Vineland Sgt. Ronald DeMarchi in which he alleged Beu offered him a promotion if the sergeant allowed Beu to have sex with his wife and underage daughter. That suit has since been dismissed, according to court records.

Beu claims DeMarchis allegation was part of a larger scheme to force out the chief because of his efforts to report any unethical, improper, corruptive, fraudulent and/or illegal activity taking place by or among city officials and the VPD.

Among those named in the suit are Vineland Mayor Anthony Fanucci, City Solicitor Rick Tonetta, Public Safety Director Edwin Alicea, Vineland police officers Craig Scarpa, Gregory Pacitto and David Cavagnaro, who are police union, PBA Local 266, leaders, and DeMarchi.

Many of the Beus allegations are similar to those contained in a suit filed last month by Vineland Police Capt. Adam Austino, who says he was also retaliated against for being a whistleblower who uncovered corruption in the department.

Beu accused city officials of retaliating and defaming him through sham investigations meant to harass and humiliate him and by refusing to enter into good-faith negotiations over his employment contract.

In addition to the claims by DeMarchi, Beu says he was targeted for refusal to turn over internal affairs files on department employees to an attorney hired by the city to conduct a sham investigation and because of Beus alleged conflict of interest for his involvement with the discipline of an officer who is the father of his grandchild.

These matters, including the DeMarchi claim, were reviewed by the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office and he was exonerated in each case, according to Beus lawsuit.

For refusing to turn over the internal affairs files to Alicea, Beu was suspended Feb. 26, even though he argued that the county prosecutors office agreed with his position that releasing the files was up to the chiefs discretion under state guidelines. The notice of suspension includes references to the other matters that the prosecutors office had already investigated, Beu notes.

He was suspended with pay pending a March 16 hearing, when he faces a 180-day unpaid suspension and a demotion to deputy chief. His current salary is $154,732, according to state pension records.

In a separate lawsuit filed in state Superior Court, Beu seeks an injunction preventing the city from following through with its planned discipline.

A representative in Fanuccis office referred questions about the suits to the citys legal department, which did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Efforts to reach an attorney for the union were unsuccessful Wednesday afternoon.

Beus federal lawsuit describes a combative relationship with city leaders and the local PBA.

The chief says he and others reported in 2015 that some officers in the police department were siphoning funds from an unaudited account and using that money for personal expenses. Money in that account came from donations to the department and from the sale of public property, according to the suit.

Evidence of that wrongdoing was shared with city officials, the departments internal affairs unit and the county prosecutors office, according to Beu, who was a captain at the time.

The prosecutors office issued investigatory findings in the case, and Beu alleges Alicea concealed the findings in the basement of his home for four months.

Upper police management retaliated against those who reported the embezzlement, according to Beu, and city and police officials worked to cover up the matter and protect the wrongdoers from any discipline. Most of those involved were permitted to quietly retire without facing charges, Beu claims.

The chief also describes misconduct in the departments street crimes unit, including illegal stops and frisks, illegal searches, falsified reports and falsified informant payment records.

In 2016, he brought his concerns to the then-chief, but said efforts to reform the unit were met with significant resistance from officers in the unit and their union. When he became chief in 2017, Beu says the decision was made to disband the unit, which was met with a hostile reaction from the union.

Beu was responsible for disciplining officers in the unit who had been charged with wrongdoing and PBA members began lobbying city officials to interfere in the discipline process in order to reduce or eliminate any penalties the cops may face, Beu alleges.

City officials interfered in the selection of a hearing officer for the matter and pressured Beu to reduce penalties against officers, he says.

From there, the chiefs relationship with city officials and PBA Local 266 deteriorated significantly, according to the suit, and Beu faced egregious retaliation for his adherence to proper policy and procedure and opposition to wrongful acts committed by PBA Local 266.

Beu also accused the city of engaging in insurance fraud regarding fraudulent workers compensation claims, saying he reported these issues to county and state agencies on several occasions in 2018 and 2019. He added that these issues remain under investigation.

Beu said he has been defamed and humiliated by news reports about the allegations that he offered DeMarchi a promotion in exchange for sexual favors with his wife and daughter, and described how copies of news articles about that case were placed at several employee work stations in city hall. He also describes union members wearing T-shirts with Beus photo and the words Mr. Beu, Hide your kids, Hide your wife, in reference to DeMarchis claim.

Beu states in his suit that union members made and sold the shirts.

A retired union member wore one of the shirts during a promotion ceremony at city hall, resulting in a round of laughter from several individuals and significant humiliation and embarrassment for Chief Beu.

The suit claims defamation, violation of Beus First Amendment rights, violation of the states Conscientious Employee Protection Act and civil conspiracy.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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London, March 12 : A crazed arsonist targeting former UK Prime Minister David Cameron burned down the latter's neighbours house with a Molotov cocktail, a media report said on Thursday.

The attacker on Monday was thought to have travelled almost 60 miles to the Cotswolds village where the former Prime Minister lives, The Sun newspaper said in the report on Wednesday.

But he hurled his firebomb into the wrong property, a chocolate box cottage yards away from Cameron's five-bedroom Victorian home, according to the report.

A blaze ripped through the house, which is owned by an 81-year-old woman who had moved out last year to live with relatives.

A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson. He was released under investigation but detained under the Mental Health Act.

Responding to the attack, Cameron told The Sun: "It's terrible. They've had a fire engine here for the last couple of days. I was not home on Monday night when it happened, I came down as soon as I heard.

"It is a huge relief that it was empty and no one was hurt. This is now being pursued by the police and so it wouldn't be right to comment any further." Cameron, who was Prime Minister between 2010 and 2016, and his wife Samantha have owned the sprawling home since 2001.

The couple resides in the house along with their three children.
State Duma backs punishment for violations at Constitution amendments voting

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

15:13 12/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 12 (RAPSI)  The State Duma passed a draft law on punishment for violations during the All-Russia voting on amendments to the Constitution in the second reading on Thursday.

According to one of the bills authors, Chairman of the State Duma Committee for State Building and Legislation Pavel Krasheninnikov, the initiative is aimed to ensure free expression of the will during the voting.

The bill envisages amendments to the Criminal Codes articles on falsification of electing documents, results of the poll and hindering a citizen from exercising his/her electoral rights and the work of election commissions.

The draft law sets punishment from fines to up to 4 years in prison for the crimes.

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.
The past few weeks have revealed that the turbulent effect of COVID-19 transcends, not only the mortality of humans but also the vitality of the economy.

In other words, the perspective to which COVID-19 should be viewed is beyond the death of a human, but also the death of the world economy (Nigeria inclusive). Thus, the fight against COVID-19 is not just for the health agencies, but the economic agencies and policymakers.

The on-going outbreak, COVID-19 (formerly called Coronavirus) as caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, was first cited in Wuhan, Hubei, China on December 31, 2019. Latest statistics reveal that over 100,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally. Out of this figure, 73 per cent of the confirmed cases are from Mainland China, with 7 per cent each from Italy and South Korea.

In Africa, as at Wednesday, 104 cases had been confirmed; of which 55 cases are from Egypt, 20 cases from Algeria, 13 from South Africa, 5 from Tunisia, 4 from Senegal, 2 from Cameroon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and 1 case from Togo.

The vampire that sucks the global economy

On the global scene, about 55 per cent of these cases have been confirmed to have recovered from the disease. About 3 per cent of deaths have been recorded, while about 41 per cent are still active.

This proves that the reality of COVID-19 is beyond health implications, as economic implications abound.

The global economy, since the inception of COVID-19, has been disrupted. China, the worlds second-largest economy after the United States- in terms of nominal GDP  has suffered output contractions via restrictions on the movement of goods and services, people, factory closures, among others. Its ripple effect has affected the world economy via the financial markets, supply chains, business travel and tourism, commodities and pessimistic view of the economy.

A recent report released by OECD showed that the world economic growth could be further dampened with about 0.5 per cent point this year (1.5 per cent if the outbreak persists) compared to the expected annual drop of 2.4 per cent in 2020. Also, the UN trade agency posited that this economic vampire might cost the world economy a total of $2 trillion by 2020.

The Vampire That Sucks the International Crude Oil Market

In international market trade, China was ranked 2nd among the top importers in the world after the United State with about $2.1 trillion. According to trading economics, Chinas importation shrank by 4 per cent (YoY) to about $300 billion in January  February 2020 combined, due to COVID-19 oriented production stops and business disruption that stirred a reduced need of raw materials.

In crude oil and oil product market, China, which was ranked 1st, followed by South Korea and Italy in the global outbreak of the disease, was simultaneously ranked 2nd, with South Korea and Italy ranked 5th and 7th respectively, among the top importers of oil in the world.

Research shows that the top three leading countries in disease outbreak accounted for 35 per cent of the total oil demand in the global market. To this end, a drag effect on the economies of these countries has stirred a sharp decline in oil demand globally.

This further stirred a need for the consistent fall in the oil price, which leaves oil-dependent nations like Nigeria in an economic quagmire. Beyond the effect of the outbreak in the oil market is its effect on the global stock market. If the effect can be this huge on the world economy, what will then be its flutter effect on the Nigerian economy?

The Effect on Nigerias Economy

Following the membership of Nigeria in the OPEC Treaty in 1971 and the oil boom of 1973, the country has become solely reliant on crude oil as the major source of revenue and foreign earnings, neglecting other critical sectors of the economy.

The Nigerian oil sector contributes over 90 per cent to foreign earnings and 44 per cent to government revenue (Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) 2019). From the indication above, it is not surprising if the economy experiences fluctuations as a result of overdependence on oil revenue which is susceptible to external shocks such as war, diseases, etc.

The incidence of coronavirus to the current drastic fall in international world oil price is not the first of its kind. The crude oil price has experienced several shocks, for instance, between 2014 and early 2016, the global economy faced one of the largest oil price shocks.

The 70 per cent price drop over the period was among the third-largest decline since World War II. This was triggered by the discovery and surge in the U.S. shale oil production and unstable policies by OPEC which led to excess production and demand shocks.

Within that period, the global growth moderated from 2.8 per cent in 2014 and 2015 to 2.4 per cent in 2016, amid weakening global trade and deficient capital flows.

The Reality of Nigerias 2020 Budget in the face of Coronavirus

Nigerias 2020 budget saw a total expenditure of N10.33 trillion with a projected revenue worth of N8.15 trillion assigned by President Muhammadu Buhari, late 2019. In total, about 32.39 per cent of the projected revenues are to come from oil sources while the remaining balance is to be earned from non-oil sources.

The actualisation of the budget was based on the assumption of targeted oil production of 2.18mbpd, an oil price of $57 per barrel and an exchange rate of N305 per dollar. It then became a case to worry that any decline in the world oil price as a result of external shocks will send a severe pain to the Nigerian economy since the economy solely depends on the oil sector as a source of revenue and foreign earnings.

However, the recent disagreement between the worlds largest producers of crude oil (Russia and Saudi Arabia) has sent a serious warning to all countries that depend only on their crude oil for a revenue source.

The case of Nigeria is particularly a pitiful one.

Explicitly, the effect of coronavirus on oil demanding nations like China, cannot be overemphasized. China is the largest consumer of crude oil in the world, with over one billion people and massive industrial sectors who need energy for their production.

As of 2015 and 2016, China bought over 0.5 million barrels per day on an average and 0.9 million barrels respectively. As of February 2020, the Chinese oil demand has dropped by about 3 million barrels a day, that is, 20 per cent of the total consumption, as coronavirus shrinks the economy. This has led to a demand shock in the world oil market.

In response to this, a meeting was held last week in Vienna by OPEC to discuss the mitigating factors to the dwindling oil price caused by declining demand from the worlds largest importer.

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The agreement to further cut oil output by as much as 1.5 million barrels per day was outrightly rejected by Russia, being a strong force when it comes to oil production in the world.

The war over who will have the largest market share in the world oil market spurred Saudi Arabia (the largest oil-producing state in the world) to cut crude oil price by $6 to $8 per barrel and also increase oil production to about 10mbpd. This was done to win the market share and chase away competitors like Russia and the U.S. The comparative advantage of the Arabians in oil production is a strong one.

The current oil price of $36 per barrel (as at Tuesday) caused by a coronavirus and the impeding effect of the decision made by Saudi Arabia is worth a concern for every Nigerian as far as the 2020 budget is concerned.

Likely Effects on the Nigerian Economy

The Nigerian economy being monolithic, had projected her 2020 budget on the assumption of a stable crude oil price, which is now in shambles. It is high time the Nigerian government prepared for another recession as the projected revenue to be generated from the crude oil is now a mirage.

There is a need for the government to re-adjust her budget, which will come with several austerity effects on the economy or source other ways to generate loans to finance the impending economic quagmire.

Taking a cue from the last recession that happened in the first quarter of 2016, the fall in world oil prices followed by Nigerian policymakers devaluation of naira had a very terrible effect on economic development.

Is it still advisable for the country to devalue the currency since the foreign reserve is gradually approaching the $30 billion, which is a threshold for devaluation, to ensure the safety of the naira?

The likely responses to the current Nigeria economic quagmire and likely repercussions

1. Slashing of the budget:

The Nigeria 2020 budget was pegged at N10.33 trillion. With the current reality that the oil sector revenue does not have the potential to generate as expected, the federal government might want to slash the budget.

The truth about this is that the detrimental effect might lead the economy into recession. The realisation of job creations, good infrastructure, and the development of human capital might turn out to be a mirage.

As it stands, the recurrent expenditure has the largest share of N4.88 trillion as salaries and pension payment has improved tremendously. The effect of the budget slash in this segment will fall heavily on the households and business firms. This will be seen in delay in salary payment and even owing, refusal to pay pensioners.

This analogy is typically a train of RECESSION.

The capital investment, which has been receiving a third-largest share of the total spending after debt servicing will also experience massive neglect in terms of projects. Lots of uncompleted projects will exist based on paucity of funds to complete them. This will serve as an avenue for some scrupulous politicians to siphon public funds in the name of acquiring sub-standard materials and technology to execute a compulsory capital project.

If this occurs, the aspiring of the ERGP of making Nigeria the top 100th country in the ease of doing business will become a daylight dream as foreign investors will rather invest in other smaller economies than invest in a weak economy with substandard infrastructure.

2. Sourcing for more loans to sustain the economy from the oil price shock

The Nigerian economys debt profile as of 2013 was about N12.12 trillion. It increased by 79.25 per cent in 2017 to N21.73 trillion. As of 2018, the total debt profile was around N25.70 trillion and then to N26.22 trillion as of January 2020 (which is 116 per cent of 2013 base year debt stock).

The theme of these statistics shows that the Nigerian economy has been experiencing a rise in debt profile overtime in which the multiplier effect on economic growth and development has been infinitesimal.

According to self-made calculations from MTEF 2019, the result shows that the Nigerian economy has been servicing debt with about 55k for every N1 generated as revenue. Where then does our fate lie? To continue borrowing and mounting more and more debt on the incoming generation to pay on what they never enjoyed?

The assumption that borrowing is sourced to finance capital expenditure is unthinkable because MTEF 2019 report shows that of all the allocation made to capital expenditure, we hardly spend 60 per cent. Further borrowing will have a further negative impact on debt service to revenue. Why then borrow more when the true cost is enormous?

3. Inward looking for revenue generation

One important consideration for the government is to liaise and form a joint-stock investment agreement with affluent and great business tycoons in the country. An instance of the current construction of the Apapa expressway as supported by Aliko Dangote is worthwhile in terms of quality and quick execution.

Lobbying with other great and rich men in the country for financial and technological and manpower assistance would not be a bad idea as far as the safety of the economy is concerned. This agreement will later turn out to be a win-win situation for both Nigerians and the local investors who will benefit from adequate returns on their loans and also enhance better business operations for all and sundry.

Paul Alaje is a senior economist, SPM Professionals

He can be reached via p.alaje@spmprofessionals.com
Facial recognition software helped identify 1,100 Delhi rioters: Amit Shah

Police and security agencies have so far identified 1,100 people who were actively engaged in violence and mayhem during the three days of organised rioting in the national capital, home minister Amit Shah told Parliament today.

Responding to a discussion on the recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi in Lok Sabha, Shah said more than 700 FIRs have been registered so far and a total of 2,647 people have been detained or arrested.

He said that more than 25 computers are analysing CCTV footage to identify perpetrators and that the police have appealed to the public for any footage they may have, and many common people have come forward with the footage they shot on their phones.

He noted that on the basis of the scientific analysis, more than 1100 people have been identified, and 40 teams have been formed to arrest those rioters who have been identified.

He said several people crossed over from Uttar Pradesh specifically to incite riots, which shows that this was a well-planned conspiracy. He said that one of the first actions on the part of the police was the sealing of the UP-Delhi border at 10 PM on 24 of February.

Shah said the riots spread fast because of the high population density of the affected areas, which has a mixed population. He said, the narrow lanes prevented effective timely intervention by police vehicles and rescue by ambulances. He said that on the 23 and 24 February, 30 to 40 companies of Delhi Police and CAPFs were deployed in affected areas and that more than 80 paramilitary companies are deployed even today in the affected areas, with specialised strike forces created to quickly control the riots if such a situation arises again.

Shah said that two SITs have been formed under senior police officers to investigate the riots and a case of conspiracy has been registered. He said that the investigation has recovered 152 arms used in the riots and about 49 cases under arms act were registered.

He noted that agencies are investigating hawala transactions that took place after January and three people who financed the riots have been arrested by Delhi Police, and two people affiliated to ISIS have also been nabbed for stoking communal violence.

Besides, he said, more than 650 peace committee meetings have taken place till date, with representation from all communities being ensured.

Shah said the home ministry had communicated to the Delhi High Court regarding the establishment of a Claims Commission for relief and rehabilitation of victims and informed the House that recoveries would be made from those responsible for the destruction of properties.

He also noted that more than 60 social media accounts had been created specifically to incite communal violence between 22 and 26 February, and that 25 cases had been registered under the IT Act for the same.

Shah urged the House not to refer to the victims on the basis of their religion and emphasised that every victim was an Indian. He added that 52 people had been killed and 526 injured in the riots, while 371 shops and 142 houses had been destroyed.

Refuting the allegation that the police was siding with rioters, Shah said that on some occasions, the police had to resort to throwing stones in order to deter the rioters while maintaining restraint. He said that more than 5,000 tear gas shells and 400 bullets had been fired by the police to control the riots.

Referring to the background of the riots, Shah said that after a rally at Ramlila Ground on 14 December by the Opposition, Dharna at Shaheen Bagh started on 16 December. He said, a WhatsApp group United Against Hate was created on 17 February and inflammatory speech was given by some leaders on 19 February, all these led to protests by 8-9 groups in the area and culminated into riots.

Shah also noted that that vested interests have incited and misled minorities and indulged in fear mongering that the CAA would take away their citizenship, which is not true. He emphasised that not a single clause in CAA takes away anyones citizenship.

He lauded the role of Delhi Police and said that the force acted with great restraint and yet with great efficiency to control the riot in 36 hours, and ensured its primary objective of not letting the riots spread in the several mixed localities of Delhi.
Dir: Levan Akin. Starring: Levan Gelbakhiani, Ana Javakishvili, Ana Makharadze, Bachi Valishvili, Giorgi Tsereteli. 15 cert, 112 mins

Georgian dance is all fire and fury. Percussion plays  sparse and low  as lines of men swing their limbs back and forth like theyre trying to whip up a tempest. The women are slower, and more graceful. Dressed in floor-length tunics, they take tiny steps, creating the illusion that theyre floating.

Merab is a dance student at the National Georgian Ensemble, a young man with a sharp jaw and wide, hungry eyes, here played superbly by Levan Gelbakhiani, superb. Tradition runs in Merabs blood. His parents, now separated, were once dancers, but have become stagnant and bitter. Hes danced with the same partner, Mary (Ana Javakishvili), for years  the two are a kind of de facto couple  and spends his nights working at a local restaurant. His brother David (Giorgi Tsereteli) also takes classes, but his fondness for mid-week benders means he rarely shows up. And so everyone turns to Merab for support. The pressure has made his body taut and fragile.

His rigidly constructed world soon starts to crumble after the arrival of a new dancer, Irakli (Bachi Valishvili). This stranger moves with confidence. Hes muscular but light in his step, with open features and an easy smile. Merab treats him as both a challenger and an object of fascination. Desire swiftly takes over.

There is no sex in Georgian dance, his instructor (Kakha Gogidze) warns. But when Irakli gently places his hand on Merabs thigh, in order to correct his posture, its immediately charged with erotic thrill. Levan Akins And Then We Danced is giddy with the pleasures of first love  how it pulsates through the body and mind. Its in the way Merab habitually chews on his crucifix necklace or takes a covert sniff of Iraklis shirt.

Homosexuality isnt outlawed in Georgia, but the country remains in the stranglehold of conservatism. The women gossip about a dancer in the main ensemble who was kicked out for being gay. His family sent him off to a monastery to make him normal again. Akin (who was born in Sweden to Georgian parents) has spoken about his struggles shooting the film in the countrys capital, Tbilisi. He often had to lie about the films content in order to secure locations. Troops had to be stationed at the films few Georgian screenings, after ultra-conservative and pro-Russian protestors swarmed outside of the cinema.

Akins film argues that joy can itself be a form of radical defiance. Merabs story isnt just about the pangs of desire, but the slow untethering from traditions pressures and expectations. At first, hes desperate to heed his dance instructors warnings that his posture isnt hard as a nail. But he soon begins to explore his identity and his sexuality through movement: whether hes out celebrating in the streets, partying to ABBA, or seducing Irakli to Robyns Honey. To Merab, those dances are an act of reclamation. The future belongs to him  and all those who dare to live free.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 32 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

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.
Two brothers have been arrested for allegedly killing an 85-year-old woman by setting her house on fire in northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura area during last month's riots, police said on Thursday.

The two accused, Arun (26) and Varun (22), who lived in the victim's neighbourhood in Gamri village, were arrested by the crime branch of the Delhi Police on March 11. They were identified on the basis of video clippings as well as by locals and eyewitnesses, officials said.

The woman, Akbari, was trapped inside her home when a mob set it ablaze on February 25. Her body could be retrieved around 10 hours later when the fire brigade managed to bring the blaze under control, police said



Akbari died of suffocation. She could not reach on top floor of the house where her other family members managed to rush, they said.

According to the woman's son, the complainant, he had gone to get milk from a nearby shop around 11 am of February 25, when he received a call from his son Asif informing him that a huge crowd had assembled near his house in support of the NRC and the amended Citizenship Act.

The complainant ran a garment workshop on the ground and first floor of the four-storey building, while his family lived on the other floors.

The crowd barged into the house and set it on fire. the complainant's family members and 10 employees rushed to the top floor of the house but his 85-year-old mother, who was on the second floor could not, a senior police official said.

He said the other family members and workers of the complainant were rescued from the roof following a timely rescue operation by the police with help of locals.

Rs 8 lakh cash, a box of gold and silver ornaments and other valuable articles were also looted by the mob, the police official said.

During investigation, two mobile phones, including one of complainant, were seized as technical evidence. The accused were produced before the court which sent them in police remand for two days, police said, adding they were being interrogated in order to nab the other accused.

The violence in northeast Delhi last month claimed 53 lives and left over 200 injured. The riots were 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.)
Even though it isnt moving until late October, the Winona Family YMCA is already beginning to say goodbye to its current building with the Winona Family YMCA Farewell Party.

The building, located at 207 Winona St., has been the home of the Winona Family YMCA for the past 69 years, and upon the Ys move, the building will be taken up by Fastenal, according to the Y.

To commemorate its last year in the building, the Winona Family YMCA is opening an invitation to the public to come and celebrate the storied history of the current location, where stories and videos showcasing YMCA members and staff will be shown.

The upcoming event will serve as the YMCAs annual meeting.

The YMCA will also honor past supporters and volunteers, including Becky Woodworth, Miranda Maurer, Aubrey Schossow, Cal Thompson and Sarah and Jeff Rupple.

In addition to the planned festivities, new information regarding the YMCAs new building at 902 Parks Ave., near the foot of Sugar Loaf, will be revealed.

Tesla Mitchell, Winona Family YMCA marketing and communication coordinator, said the new building is progressing smoothly, with construction crews remaining on schedule for a late October opening.

Scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m. at the Winona Family YMCA, the Winona Family YMCA Farewell Party is free to attend, with beverages and a cash bar being provided.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP by emailing Ashley Schmalenberg at aschlmalenberg@winonaymca.org or by calling 507-454-1520 ex: 118

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India has innumerable waterfalls, which are considered to be some of natures unique gifts. There are also numerous legends associated with waterfalls, some of them have supernatural connotations too. One of the most popular waterfalls in India is the Nohkalikai Falls in Meghalaya near Cherrapunji, which is the tallest plunge waterfall in India and has a tragic legend associated with it. The local people say that this waterfall has been named after a woman who jumped from it to end her life, after she devoured the flesh of her own daughter unknowingly due to a certain treachery.

Whatever may be the stories associated with waterfalls, there is no doubt that they are breathtakingly beautiful. Here are five such beautiful waterfalls of India:

Catherine Falls, Kotagiri: Niligiris, whose name roughly translates to Blue Mountains in English, is one of the most enchanting places on earth. Not only is this region rich in biodiversity, the entire zone is mired in an intoxicating fragrance, which is hard to explain. In the Nilgiri hills, one of the most popular and beautiful spots is the Catherine Waterfall, which is situated in Kotagiri, close to both Coonoor and Ooty, two of the most popular hill stations of India.

The Catherine Falls has been named in honour of the English lady who was the wife of an official called MD Cockburn. This cascading flow of water is breathtakingly beautiful and can be viewed from another famous tourist spot by the name of Dolphins Nose.

Kempty Falls, Mussoorie: Probably the most ubiquitous name one hears while in Mussoorie, the Queen of Hills, is of Kempty Falls which is situated at a few kilometres drive from the main town. Kempty Falls is visited by a large number of tourists all-round the year and it is one of the most sought after tourist spots in that region. The water here falls at a tremendous speed below to the pool where people bathe and swim. If people are not willing to go down to its depths, the upper decks near the road have innumerable eateries to enjoy the view of this waterfall, while munching on the hot paranthas together with hot steaming tea. Legend has it that this place was developed by an Englishman to organise tea parties for his friends, and hence the name is probably a corruption of the words camp tea.

Laws Falls, Coonoor: One of the lesser known waterfalls in the Nilgiri hills is the Laws Falls also named after an Englishman. This waterfall is located close to the road and it is particularly breath-taking after the Monsoon season. Together with the gushing white foam of this waterfall, the green cover all around and the gigantic mountains, it is an enchanting destination to savour for some time while travelling to the more popular destinations of this place.

Bakthang Falls, Gangtok: Gangtok is an Eastern delight of India and while vacationing here, one can make a quick visit to this lesser known waterfall which is called the Bakthang Falls. This waterfall is a short drive from the MG Marg city centre of Gangtok and located on the bend of a road towards the Tashi View point. The name Bakthang in the local tongue probably means forest meadow (bak is forest and thang is meadow). There is a rope sliding adventure sport facility one can also avail here.

Dudhsagar Falls, Goa: The stunning Ocean or Sea of Milk, which is a rough English translation of the name of this waterfall is amazingly beautiful just after monsoon season begins. This foaming white gush of water which cascades down to the below pool, is one of Indias most breath-taking and tallest waterfalls situated on the Mandovi River and a couple of hours drive from the state capital of Panjim or Panaji in Goa. The access to the base of this waterfall is through a forest and hence sightings of wildlife are also possible here.

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The central government on Thursday released a list of helpline numbers for all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to assist the people amid the coronavirus scare.

According to the list, which was put up on the official website of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, people in the capital can dial 011-22307145 for assistance.

People can also call 18001805145 in Uttar Pradesh, 020-26127394 in Maharashtra, 0755-2527177 in Madhya Pradesh, 3323412600 in West Bengal, 8558893911 in Haryana and 04712552056 in Kerala.

Those in Odisha can dial 9439994859 to avail assistance regarding coronavirus.

On the other hand, people who are in Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Punjab, Sikkim, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Lakshadeep and Puducherry can call 104.

The helpline numbers for Meghalaya and Mizoram are 108 and 102, respectively.

The disease, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, last year, has spread to more than 100 countries across the world, infecting over 1,20,000 people globally. India has reported 73 cases of infection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shantanu David By

Express News Service

You often cant put a price to experience, and Sowmya Rao Vijaymohan, an experienced hand at curating experiences of a lifetime, is well aware of this. Vijaymohan, founder-director at Tres, a showcase of unique travel experiences around the Indian sub-continent has wandered off the beaten track herself plenty of times, and always come back with plenty of stories to share.

After pursuing a career in advertising and public relations, in 2006, Vijaymohan said farewell to the corporate world, and helped conceptualise and build RARE: a marketing and representation company for small and off-beat boutique hotels across India.

"Having been in the travel industry for 13-odd years now, at RARE I was doing marketing and communications, sale strategies and consulting with small properties: these were family-owned boutique hotels that were owner-run, very far removed from the cookie-cutter hotels run by large hospitality brands. And the need to do that arose from my own desire to have holiday options for my family and myself, and that I could recommend to friends, which could provide a break from hectic city living," says Vijaymohan.

For Vijaymohan this meant truly disconnecting from the everyday, whether it was going on country rambles while learning different bird calls to exploring crumbling havelis in smaller towns not mentioned in the usual tourist maps.

"Over my career in the travel industry, I worked with over 60 truly unique properties around India and Nepal. When I had first started off in this particular niche of the travel industry, it could be challenging to get people to explore, whether it came to lesser-known destinations or non-branded hotels. People would complain about things like there being no room service, and the absence of luxuries. Today, however, people are more than happy to step out of their comfort zone, if it means experiencing something unique," says Vijaymohan.

In 2019, Vijaymohan decided to move on from RARE to focus on realising her vision of establishing an inclusive event platform dedicated to showcasing the Indian subcontinent as a destination for leisure, luxury and inspirational travel that is unique and transformational.

Tres is set to launch its third edition later this month, and 50 boutique hotels, destinations and travel concepts from around the subcontinent (India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka) will be showcased at the event. Many of the exhibitors will be participating in a trade show in India for the first time.

"The increased access to luxury brands and services to a wider demographic audience has seen its effect in their expectations from travel that is constantly evolving making the task trickier for travel operators. Tres aims to bring boutique hotels and specialist experience providers in one platform for the international and regional travel operators to engage with," says Vijaymohan.

It is to further this end that the upcoming edition of Tres, to be held at Andaz New Delhi on March 27 and 28, will also introduce a special section dedicated to Travel Concepts; this will incorporate niche companies that specialising in curating interest-specific experiences. From viewing the Amer Fort at eye level with Travel Plan Experiences in Jaipur to traveling with nomads in Ladakh, with Mantra, the range of experiences is distinct and diverse all at the same time.
A man wearing a protective face mask seen at Sector 18 market following multiple positive cases of coronavirus in the country on March 9, 2020 in Noida, India.

India is temporarily suspending almost all travel visas starting Friday as part of its efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected more than 118,000 people worldwide and killed over 4,200.

Though the disease was first detected in China's Hubei province, the number of cases and fatalities in other countries has dramatically risen in recent weeks, sparking concerns about governments' abilities to contain the infection. Among the worst hit outside China are Italy, Iran, and South Korea.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic on Wednesday.

"All existing visas, expect diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020," India's health ministry said in a statement. The restrictions are due to come into effect from 12:00 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

Visa-free travel for foreigners of Indian origin will also be suspended till April 15, according to the health ministry, which added that "any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission."

Incoming visitors, including Indian nationals, who arrive from or have visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain, and Germany after Feb. 15 will be quarantined for at least 14 days starting Friday.

"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," the ministry added.

As of 11 a.m. local time Thursday, India had 73 confirmed cases including foreign nationals present in the country. The southern state of Kerala had 17 cases.

On Tuesday, the chief minister of the state of Manipur said on Twitter that India has closed its border with Myanmar as part of its "precautionary measures." Manipur shares a border with Myanmar.

Tweet: As a precautionary measures of transmission of Coronavirus /COVID-19, the international border with Myanmar has been closed including gate no 1 and 2 in Moreh until further orders.
A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Turnover of trade 2021, November

Published: 12 March 2020

Turnover in trade increased by 2.1 per cent in January

According to Statistics Finland, turnover in total trade adjusted for working days increased by 2.1 per cent in January from January 2019. Over the same period, the working day adjusted volume of sales, from which the impact of prices has been eliminated, rose by 1.2 per cent. Among trade industries, retail trade and motor vehicle trade grew most. Turnover in retail trade increased by 3.6 per cent and in motor vehicle trade by 4.3 per cent compared to the previous year. Wholesale trade reached a slight growth of 0.7 per cent.

Annual change in working day adjusted turnover and sales volume in total trade (G), %

Working day adjusted turnover in retail trade was 3.6 per cent higher in January than in January 2019. Sales volume grew by 3.3 per cent during the same period. The growth in retail trade was especially boosted by specialised store trade, as working day adjusted turnover in this industry grew by 5.7 per cent and sales volume by 7.2 per cent. In daily consumer goods trade, turnover grew by 3.8 per cent and sales volume by 1.6 per cent. Turnover in department store trade, in turn, fell slightly (-0.3%) from January 2019. The big difference in the development of working day adjusted turnover and sales volume in daily consumer goods trade is due to a rise in prices and, correspondingly, in specialised store trade by a fall in prices.

Annual change in working day adjusted turnover and sales volume in industries of trade, January 2020, % (TOL 2008)

Turnover and sales volume increased month-on-month

Seasonally adjusted turnover in total trade increased in January by 0.9 per cent compared to December 2019. Sales volume grew by 0.6 per cent during the same period. In December 2019, turnover and sales volume both remained almost on level with the previous month.

Change in seasonally adjusted turnover and sales volume in total trade (G) from the previous month, %

Trend of turnover and sales volume in total trade

The calculation of indices of turnover of trade is based on the Tax Administrations data on self-assessed taxes, which are supplemented with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The volume index of sales is calculated by removing the effect of price changes from the value index series.

The factors caused by the variation in the number of weekdays are taken into account in adjustment for working days. This means taking into consideration the lengths of months, different weekdays and holidays. In addition, seasonal variation is eliminated from seasonally adjusted series, on account of which it makes sense to compare observations of two successive months as well.

The data for the latest month are preliminary and they may become significantly revised particularly on more detailed industry levels in coming months.

Source: Turnover of trade, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Suvi Kiema 029 551 3509, Reetta-Maria Salokannel 029 551 3657, palvelut.suhdanne@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (287.8 kB)

Updated 13.02.2020

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Turnover of trade [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-0939. January 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 11.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/klv/2020/01/klv_2020_01_2020-03-12_tie_002_en.html
At the same time, Prystaiko admitted the war in Donbas complicates Ukraine's path to the Alliance.

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Vadym Prystaiko has said there are no legal obstacles to Ukraine joining NATO.

"There is no provision in NATO's founding documents prohibiting a country in a military conflict from joining NATO. Therefore, from a legal point of view, Ukraine has the same opportunities as other countries that don't have a war," he wrote on Facebook.

Read alsoHungary to block NATO-Ukraine meetings until minority rights deal reached  media

At the same time, Prystaiko admitted the war in Donbas complicates Ukraine's path to the Alliance.

"The conflict takes the lives of our people, drains Ukraine, delays our civilizational development, and impedes the implementation of critical reforms. Russia, which traditionally provokes instability in neighboring states, counts on this, in particular, to impede their movement toward European and Euro-Atlantic structures. A vivid example how it works is the war in Georgia," he said.

The diplomat emphasizes the task of Ukraine now is the need to "break out" of the conflict, using all possible diplomatic and other means.

"The political decision on Ukraine's joining NATO will depend on the development of our country  the introduction of military and other reforms, ensuring the democracy of the rule of law, etc. We will certainly join NATO  this is only a matter of time," Prystaiko added.
A Dutch trainee driving instructor, who caused pandemonium on an Aer Lingus flight to Dublin when he made a hoax coronavirus claim, has been given a two-month prison sentence.

Former boat captain and ski instructor, Job van den Broek, 30, with addresses at Parklaan No. 3, 5462cv, and in Veghel, in the Netherlands pleaded guilty today to an air-rage charge after he had delayed Wednesdays flight EI 605 from Amsterdam because he would not end a phone call.

He was flying to Ireland to get a connecting flight to Los Angeles to propose to his girlfriend, Judge Conal Gibbons heard at Dublin District Court.

Sentencing, he said Van den Broek thought there were special rules for him and he told a fiction to the flight attendant that his mother had the coronavirus.

The accused buried his head in his hands as the sentence was handed down.

However, the business graduate was granted appeal bail, which he took up soon after the hearing.

Van den Broek refused to get off his phone after cabin crew pleaded with him to finish his call so they could give the standard flight safety demonstration.

He later lied to cabin crew telling them that he reason he was using his phone was because his mother had the virus and he had been in contact with her.

He would not deny if he had it too, the court was told.

Cabin crew were reduced to tears and pandemonium broke out among passengers.

Judge Conal Gibbons said his crime was unbelievable while the world was in a state of fear and anxiety because of Covid-19.

He described the case as the most exceptional of exceptional circumstances.

The plane touched down at Dublin Airports Terminal 2 at 1.49pm on Wednesday.

It had arrived 21 minutes ahead of schedule and was put into quarantine for a HSE inspection to be carried out as a result of the scare.

The World Health Organisation declared the Covid-19 a pandemic.

The outbreak has so far claimed the life of one Irish woman as the numbers of cases continues to rise.

Van den Broek had been brought to Ballymun Garda station and held overnight.

He was charged that being a person on an Aer Lingus aircraft in flight, within the jurisdiction of the State, he engaged in behaviour of threatening, abusive or insulting nature, whether by words or gesture.

The charge also stated this was to cause a breach of the peace or being reckless as to whether a breach of the peace might have been occasioned.

He was held overnight and brought before Judge Conal Gibbons today.

Defence solicitor Michael French confirmed his client was pleading guilty.

Detective Garda Gary Dillane told the court that Mr Van den Broek made no reply when he was charged just after 7.30pm on Wednesday.

He said Van den Broek had been travelling on EI 605 to Dublin. There was an issue on board flight which caused hassle for cabin crew a number of times.

He refused to get off his mobile phone as cabin crew were giving the safety demonstration to passengers.

He was told he was delaying the aircraft because it could not take off until the demonstration was given.

The court heard that mid-flight he asked to speak with the flight attendant to explain to her why he had been on on his phone.

He told the crew his mother had the coronavirus and he had been in contact with her but he did not live with her.

Cabin crew began crying and passengers overheard and it caused upset, disruption and inconvenience.

When the plane landed gardai had to be called and arrived at a hostile situation on the aircraft.

The HSE had to be contacted and carried out an inspection and cleared the aircraft and declared the passengers, including the accused, were safe.

The court heard Van den Broek thought it was a joke and wanted to have his photo taken with gardai and HSE staff.

In evidence, Van den Broek, who had no prior convictions, told the court he was sorry and wanted to clear the air with the Aer Lingus staff, who refused to accept his remorse.

He claimed he had been trying to tell the attendant it was a personal call and I mentioned she could have coronavirus.

Defence solicitor Michael French pleaded for leniency citing his clients previous good record and the ramifications of a conviction for him such as obtaining a visa or police vetting.

He also asked the judge to note Van den Broek was co-operative with gardai and had already spent a night in custody and was apologetic.

He said his client had been on a personal phone call from his mother but when the incident escalated he did not confirm he had Covid-19 but he did not deny it either.

It was incredibly stupid and he had not realised the serious gravity of his actions, Mr French said.

However, he was willing to donate 1,500 to the staff.

Sentencing, Judge Gibbons said he did not accept that he could buy his way out of trouble.

Judge Gibbons noted from the flight attendants report that she tried for 10 minutes to get Van den Broek off his phone and she had found him to be difficult and rude.

He remarked that his actions were designed to put fear and anxiety into the minds of people on the plane.

Judge Gibbons said: "There would be one more worse thing to say on a plane, that there is a bomb under the seat".

In-flight rules had to be obeyed 100 per cent of the time, he said.

The offence can carry a four-month jail sentence as well as a fine of almost 900.

He he said a first offence should only result in a custodial sentence in exceptional circumstances and this was one.

However, he set appeal bail in his own bond of 1,000.

Legal aid was also granted.

The offence is contrary to sections 2A of the Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1973, as amended by insertion of section 65 of the Air Navigation and Transport Amendment Act, 1998.

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The attack on Taji airbase in Iraq, killing two Americans and a Briton, came two weeks after the leadership of a powerful Shia militia announced that its restraint over the assassination of the Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani by the US would end by the middle of this month.

The missiles came on what would have been the 63rd birthday of General Soleimani, the head of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. A similar attack, on another US base in December was the reason given by Donald Trump for ordering the killing  prompting the Iranians to retaliate by firing missiles at two more bases.

The launching on Wednesday night of 30 Katyusha rockets from trucks at Taji, with 18 landing inside the base, causing serious injuries to five people as well as the fatalities, was followed by US airstrikes on facilities in the Albu Kamal area, used by Kataib Hezbollah across the border in Syria, in which 25 fighters were reportedly killed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:51:56|Editor: yan

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NEW DELHI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Delhi state government on Thursday declared COVID-19 as an epidemic and shut down all cinema halls till March 31.

Besides, all schools and colleges where the annual examinations had ended would also be shut till the month end.

Announcing his government's decision, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told press, "COVID-19 had been declared an epidemic in the Indian capital."

Delhi was the second state in India to declare COVID-19 as an epidemic on Thursday. Earlier, the government of northern state of Haryana had also declared the virus an epidemic.

According to the official data issued by the country's Ministry of Health, as many as six Indian nationals had tested positive for COVID-19 in Delhi, while 14 foreign nationals (all Italians) were kept in a quarantine facility in Haryana.

So far, a total of 74 COVID-19 cases had been detected in India, out of which the first three cases found in southern state of Kerala had been successfully cured.

The decisions of two state governments to declare COVID-19 an epidemic on Thursday assumed significance as it came a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it an pandemic.

Earlier during the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the countrymen not to panic and follow precautions. He also declared that none of his ministers will travel abroad in the coming days.
As the number of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts grows, hospitals are scrambling to prevent the spread of the respiratory infection and ease the burden of the disease on health care providers.

Medical centers across the state have taken numerous preventative measures to try to combat transmission of the illness, from quarantining nurses who had contact with diagnosed patients to limiting the number of visitors to facilities.

Were so lucky in our country to have this incredible hospital system," Dr. Katrina Armstrong, physician-in-chief of Massachusetts General Hospital, told MassLive. We know our role in these settings. I can tell you that I think each hospital is really stepping up to the challenge right now.

The doctor added that medical professionals who combat viral diseases are taking an approach called flattening the curve.

The number of cases during an outbreak tends to rise quickly, reach a peak and then fall. By flattening the curve, hospitals aim to reduce the tally of people with the disease at a given time and stretch it out over a longer timeframe so hospital workers are not suddenly bombarded with a large pool of patients.

The belief that individuals should catch the virus at the outbreaks start and recover quickly is common, Armstrong said, even among people in her profession. But the idea is misguided.

The best thing for the health care system, given all that were doing, is to delay to the number of cases," Armstrong said. "It is critically important.

The number of people with the illness, named COVID-19, stood at 95 statewide on Wednesday and has surpassed 1,000 nationally. Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency Tuesday, and the World Health Organization on Wednesday designated the outbreak, which began in Wuhan, China, a pandemic.

President Donald Trump also announced he would be restricting travel to the U.S. from 26 countries in Europe, where concerns of the disease has prompted a lockdown of Italy, a nation hit particularly hard by the illness, the Associated Press reported.

Elderly individuals and those with previous medical concerns are most at risk, though the disease causes different levels illness. Despite the high death toll, more than 60,000 people have recovered from the virus globally, according to WHO. Some with mild illness have recovered in roughly two weeks.

In Massachusetts, individuals positively diagnosed with the coronavirus totaled 44 in Middlesex County, 23 in Norfolk County, 19 in Suffolk County and seven in Berkshire County. Essex and Worcester counties each reported one patient, according to the state Department of Public Health. Roughly 445 people have been placed under quarantine in the commonwealth.

The outbreak has prompted multiple public schools to cancel class or change schedules, colleges and universitys to call off their spring semesters and severals municipalities to scale back public events.

Here is a look at how hospitals are combatting transmission.

Baystate Health

Baystate Health instituted a policy last week restricting patients to one visitor at a time at all of its medical facilities, including Baystate Medical Center and Baystate Childrens Hospital in Springfield, Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer, Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, and Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield. Anyone showing symptoms of a fever or cough has been asked to avoid the locations as well.

Plans are in place to manage an influx of patients to Baystates hospitals and clinics. An epidemic preparedness team is in place, and the health care systems Springfield location has multiple areas capable of safely housing COVID-19 patients and isolating the virus, according to the hospital. Baystate Health has specialized equipment already on hand as well.

Berkshire Medical Center

The largest hospital in Berkshire County has furloughed dozens of employees after 70 workers were quarantined following treatment of a person who contracted the virus. The hospital has urged people who have not come into contact with the disease or traveled to an area where the illness is prevalent to keep their scheduled appointments.

However, it has asked patients seeking a same-day visit to not walk into a medical office without an appointment. Instead, they should call their primary care providers first.

We ask that all sick patients wear a face mask and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer upon entering our offices, Berkshire Medical said in a statement. Patients with a high suspicion of Coronavirus exposure will be asked to remain at home while Berkshire Health Systems coordinates care with the MA Department of Public Health.

Beth Israel Lahey Healths nearly 40 locations

The Beth Israel Lahey Health network has asked any individuals with flu, flu-like illness or coronavirus risk factors to refrain from visiting patients at any of its nearly 40 locations. Patients will not be allowed visitors unless approved by clinicians. If the approval goes through, only one visitor per patient is allowed.

Please note, all visitors will be screened for COVID-19 risk factors. If the visitor screens positive for any risk factors, they will not be permitted to visit, the network says on its website.

The health care system also a formed team of experts from across its network to monitor the progression of the disease and address immediate needs and plan for potential impacts. The system said it is fully prepared to assess and care for patients.

The network includes dozens of emergency departments, inpatient facilities and urgent care centers across Amesbury, Andover, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Chelsea, Chestnut Hill, Dedham, Duxbury, Haverhill, Lexington, Medfield, Methuen, Milton, Needham, Newton, Pembroke, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Sandwich, Sharon, Waltham, Wayland and Wellesley.

Boston Medical Center

Boston Medical Center regularly conducts employee drills for infectious diseases, and staff have undergone training for potential COVID-19 cases. BMC on Monday also restricted employee travel and suspended domestic and international conferences.

We ask that all employees exercise prudent judgment when making travel plans. These decisions regarding travel restrictions may change as the situation evolves, the medical center said in a statement.

Brigham and Womens Hospital

Researchers, medical professionals and administrative officials at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston have been preparing to care for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients since the health care provider first learned of the outbreak in late January, the hospital said in a statement.

Brigham and Womens has updated its ambulatory screening protocols to rapidly detect potential coronavirus diagnoses, is training personnel about the appropriate use of protective equipment, conducting drills and planning a potentially large influx of patients with the disease.

The hospital has yet to say whether it is updating its visitation policies.

The situation remains fluid as public health authorities assess, surveil and attempt to prevent the spread of infection, Brigham and Womens said in its statement.

Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the division of infectious diseases at the hospital, has asked the public to take preventative measures like social distancing and limiting large gatherings. He also, like Armstrong, urged medical professionals to flatten the curve.

This gives hospitals and health care workers more time to adapt and fewer patients to cope with at any one time. It doesnt reduce the total number of people ultimately infected, but spreads them out over time, which is critical to sustaining capacity, he tweeted.

Floating Hospital for Children and Tufts Medical Center

Tufts Medical Center and the Floating Hospital for Children, both located in Boston aim to lessen the risk of exposure by rescheduling non-urgent appointments and advocating for social distancing. The facilities started to progressively reduce the level of discretionary and elective clinical care" on Wednesday, according to the medical center.

[We] believe this will reduce the potential of incidental infection of our patients and staff, Rhonda Mann, a Tufts spokesperson, said in a statement. This move will also conserve vital resources needed to provide optimal care to those who ultimately may need it most.

The medical center will remain open for patients who are ill, hurt or need emergency care that cannot be delayed, according to the statement.

Massachusetts General Hospital

Officials at the Boston-based hospital announced Wednesday the facility has activated its incident command system due to the increasing number of countries reporting COVID-19 cases. Armstrong said this system manages bio-threats and epidemics, and it has been prepared for weeks.

We became aware of this issue several weeks ago," the doctor said, adding that medical professionals need to understand how staffing, supply chains and managing current hospital patients affects virus prevention. "Its become a 24/7 activity.

The hospital will screen visitors who come to any one of its nearly 30 buildings. People who recently traveled to nations with widespread local transmission, if their visit is deemed essential and they are asymptomatic, will be allowed on the campus but will have to wear a surgical mask.

People with upper respiratory tract symptoms seeking to visit Mass General must instead go to a Partners HealthCare facility, according to the hospital.

If you have upper respiratory symptoms including fever, sore throat, or cough - regardless of travel history - please postpone your visit to see Mass General patients or staff until you feel better, the hospital said in a statement.

Access to coronavirus testing kits is still a challenge for MGH, according to Armstrong.

Were working hard to create more accessible testing options, she said. "But right now were very limited.

Doctors are also trying to get out the message that people need to avoid large gatherings. Armstrong said that is difficult, though, as individuals want to go to concerts, sporting activities and other events. She noted that her birthday is Friday, but due to the virus, she will be celebrating from home.

The message needs to get out to the public that they need to stay home and avoid large events," Armstrong said. Thats a hard thing to do in our country. We have a fondness for social contexts.

Mercy Medical Center and other Trinity Health of New England affiliates

Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, a 182-bed acute care hospital part of Trinity Health Of New England, has instituted its own COVID-19 protocols as well, limiting visitors to one per patient and restricting children under the age of 14 from visiting.

The restrictions are also in place at affiliate hospitals, including Family Life Center for Maternity and Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital, both located in Springfield, as well as Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke.

Do not visit if you have any symptoms of a cold, the flu or COVID-19, Mercy Medical said in a statement. These restrictions are in place for the protection of our patients and colleagues.

UMass Memorial Medical Center

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, which treated Worcester Countys first and only coronavirus case, enacted a temporary visitation policy this week that restricts the number of visitors to the hospital to one designated adult per day for each patient.

The medical center announced Thursday that it has begun setting up tents as well in order to screen patients and limit possible exposure to others at the hospital.

The tents at the University campus are on loan from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Region ll, said Tony Berry, a UMass Memorial spokesperson. Once the set-up is completed next week, patients will be screened in this area and our caregivers will be prepared to care for any health care needs at that time.

The hospital has also formed a coronavirus task force that is monitoring the global status of the outbreak, keeping up to date with CDC guidelines, collaborating with the Worcester Department of Public Health, refining infection control protocols and providing caregivers training on how identify individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

The medical center is using the same approach for fighting the spread of the coronavirus that it did for combatting the ebola outbreak in 2014, according to Berry.

The medical center has an EPIC electronic health care system that prompts staff to ask every patient that enters the hospital about any recent travel outside the U.S. As the CDC adds in additional patients who might be at risk to the system, UMass Memorial screens to cover those at-risk groups. An alert pops up and infection control workers are notified if a patient answers yes to screening questions and has fever or respiratory symptoms.

We have been engaged in an intense period of planning, training, and conducting readiness exercises ... to protect our caregivers, patients and visitors from this virus, Berry said in a statement. From a housekeeping perspective we have increased the cleaning frequency in disinfection of high touch surfaces in all public areas.

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As Digvijaya Singh of the Congress filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP, after nominating turncoat Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday, opted for a tribal intellectual for the third seat in Madhya Pradesh.

With 22 elusive Congress MLAs in the state having tendered their resignations, the required numbers for the third Rajya Sabha seat makes for some interesting prospects. After 19 lawmakers put in their papers a few days ago, three more  Bisahulal Singh, Manoj Chaudhary and Aidal Singh Kansana -- resigned on Thursday.

Amid this uncertainty, the BJP on Thursday opted for Professor Sumer Singh Solanki  a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) man who has been active in the states tribal belt for years besides working as an assistant professor at a government college in Barwani, one of the tribal-dominated districts of the region.

He is also the nephew of former BJP MP Makhan Singh Solanki.

To many, the BJPs move is unsurprising as the party in the past has pushed to the fore young leaders with ground connect.

However, locals in the tribal region of Malwa-Nimar opine that Solankis elevation in the party is a well-planned tactic from the BJP that has been concerned with the emergence of Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), a tribal outfit with a deep connect with the local population.

JAYS had collaborated with the Congress during the 2018 Assembly polls, which presumably handed the party tactical gains in the tribal belt.

By his own admission, Solanki has been active for years in tribal-dominated districts of Dhar, Jhabua, Alirajpur, Barwani, Khargone and others against the campaign being run by non-nationalists forces.

Solanki had managed to make his presence felt in the tribal areas in coordination with the RSSs affiliate organisations, including Vidya Bharti, Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad and others.

While Solankis influence grows, the Congress, currently in trouble, is still indecisive over the choice of its third candidate for the Rajya RS polls.

With 22 of its MLAs still untraceable, the Congress has little idea of its strategy to win the third seat. Amid this uncertainty, MP Assembly Speaker NP Prajapati has issued notices to 19 MLAs, who had submitted resignations through BJP leaders a few days ago, asking them to appear before him on Friday.

But bolstered by the rebellion in the Jyotiraditya Scindia camp, the BJP has turned on the offensive and has sought a floor test on March 16, the inaugural day of the assembly session. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Bhupendra Singh and Narottam Mishra on Thursday said that the MP government has slipped into a minority and should prove its numbers on the floor of the House. A minority government has no right to present the budget or the Governors speech, they said.

But Digvijaya Singh, after submitting his nomination papers on Thursday, said, The floor test is not possible unless the matter of the resignation of MLAs is decided by the Speaker.

Singh, who has been claiming that the state government would will prove its majority in the House, said the resignations will not be accepted until they meet Speaker NP Prajapati in person and hand over their papers. The BJP has taken these MLAs hostage and is not allowing to meet or contact anyone, he claimed.

Another Congress leader upset?

Meanwhile, Singh's nomination filing did not go down well with his colleague Suresh Pachauri, who is reportedly upset and reached New Delhi on Thursday to meet senior party leaders. Sources claimed MLAs loyal to Pachauri could also cross-vote.

One of his supporters, MLA Sanjay Shukla from Indore, had returned from Jaipur citing personal reasons.

Phool Singh Bariaya, the former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) state unit chief who had joined the Congress last year, on Thursday also bought nomination forms for the Rajya Sabha polls.

With the BJP backing a tribal for the third seat, it is likely that the Congress could also opt for a tribal leader or may well spring a surprise to avert the imminent threat to its government.

Senior lawyer and Rajya MP Vivek Tankha said it is not correct to "take MLAs hostage" and that his party is likely to explore legal options to free them, if required. "We have no clue whether they are abducted or if they went as per their own wishes," he said.
Sir, I was both saddened and distressed by the views expressed by the distinguished parrot, Ms Pretty Polly, in her recent letter to your column.

She complained of the frequent misuse of the word 'parrot' to mean 'to repeat mindlessly'. Fair enough. I can see why such an insult could cause many highly intelligent parrots a great deal of hurt.

But in calling for resistance to this calumny, Ms Parrot concluded her letter by saying: 'This is no time to be sheepish.'

How dare she! As a leading sheep, and Hon Treasurer of the BSA (Bold Sheep Association) I am liable to get ratty at any suggestion that sheep are bashful. Members of our association include a sheep who has been into space, a sheep who climbed the Matterhorn, and a sheep who appeared in the last series but one of Animal Love Island. - B.A.B.A. Lamb.

We larks are not simply swanning about, doing nothing. Neither are we slothful. So no more larkist remarks please. We will not be cowed!

Sir, We, the undersigned, were horrified by your correspondent B.A.B.A. Lamb's use of the adjective 'ratty' to describe feelings of irritation or annoyance.

Of all the members of the animal kingdom, rats continue to suffer the most unthinking abuse. 'You dirty rat' is a common insult, popularised by James Cagney, a man well known for his prejudice against the rat community.

Also, anyone who betrays a friend is commonly referred to as 'a rat'. Yet rats are, in our experience, the most loyal of companions. We also wash ourselves so regularly that the expression 'you spotlessly clean rat' is more appropriate.

Possibly our abusers think they are just enjoying a lark. But what they see as larking, we see as bullying. - Roland Rat and 56 others.

Sir, Your correspondent Mr Roland Rat implies that larks are all just silly time-wasters. Nothing could be further from the truth.

There are larks who occupy senior positions at some of our leading universities, and larks who are valued members of the General Synod of the Church of England.

I myself regularly appear as a panellist on BBC1's Question Time, offering opinions on anything from climate change to the need for a long-term pensions strategy.

We larks are not simply swanning about, doing nothing. Neither are we slothful. So no more larkist remarks please. We will not be cowed! - Major Philip Lark (ret'd).

Sir, What on earth does Major Lark mean when he talks about 'swanning about, doing nothing'?

We swans live very full and vigorous lives, and it is high time this was recognised. Far from being idlers, we are eager beavers. We may make it look easy to glide along the river looking graceful but, believe me, it takes a very great deal of hard work. - Edgar Swan, the Thames.

Sir, As a listless beaver with no work coming my way, and lacking the wherewithal to be self-employed, I take grave exception to Mr Swan's thoughtless use of the term 'eager beavers'.

We are not all keep-fit fanatics. The majority of beavers in the well-regarded ALB (Association for Lethargic Beavers) simply do not have the energy to embark on such fruitless tasks as building dams from twigs. Instead, we prefer to relax on the riverbank with a good book. - Antony Beaver, Rotterdam.

Sir, As a cow, and proud of it, I am distressed by Mr Lark's use of the word 'cowed'. He seems to suggest that we can be bullied into submission. In fact, cows will always stand up and be counted.

In 1066, there were cows at the Battle of Hastings, and they got there well before the fighting began. More recently, several cows volunteered for the Apollo space mission, though the cramped conditions of the capsule meant that their applications were turned down. - Clarabel Friesian, Cowes.

Sir, I was appalled by your previous correspondent's disgraceful use of the word 'bullied' to mean 'intimidated'.

As President of the Royal Society of British Bulls, I am sick to death of those who suggest that bulls are anything but gentle and sensitive souls. In future, I will come down like a ton of bricks on any critics, and make them wish they had never been born. - Ferdinand Bull, Madrid.

Sir, As a leading sloth, I was horrified by Major Lark's suggestion ('Neither are we slothful') that sloths are lazy. I would argue my case at greater length but, frankly, I can't be bothered. - Samuel Sloth, Much Sleeping, Dorset.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 18:04:45|Editor: xuxin

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Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (C) speaks at the 18th meeting of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, March 12, 2020. The 18th meeting of Myanmar's Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) was held on Thursday in Nay Pyi Taw. (Xinhua/Soe Than Lynn)

NAY PYI TAW, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The 18th meeting of Myanmar's Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) was held on Thursday in capital Nay Pyi Taw.

State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as a chairperson of UPDJC, said in her remarks, "There should be compromises and negotiations in the political meeting. So as to achieve the peace process, we have to try to compromise and negotiate with each political party."

"To make the political meetings successful, it is very important to establish the unity on the basis of fair compromises and negotiations," she added, urging to move forward with positive cooperation and Panglong spirit.

The meeting discussed the approval of the framework of political dialogue, terms of reference (ToR), standard operation procedure (SOP) and to hold national political dialogues and working committee meetings by sector as well as the 21st Century Panglong Conference before April 2020.

The officials from the government, military and parliament, the representatives from the ethnic armed groups and political parties were present at the Thursday meeting.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are wrong to think that Green Party demands to pursue a multi-party national government to combat the coronavirus are "political showbiz".

Yes, the die has now been cast strongly, suggesting there will be a coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Green Party - and potentially "others" - sooner rather than later. But watch the Green Party especially amid all of this - its bar for government participation is set a good deal higher than the other two parties'.

The Green Party needs two out of three of its members to endorse joining a coalition. At a landmark meeting in the Mansion House in Dublin on June 13, 2007, eight out of 10 of its members opted to join government with Fianna Fail.

But many of today's party membership were still at school when that happened. Back 13 years ago, the spine of the party's membership dated from a breakthrough local election in the summer of 1991, and they were seasoned in realpolitik, having been screwed over often enough at council meetings by the bigger parties.

Now, Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin has insisted the national government option is by far the better one. She argues this united option to face down an unprecedented health crisis has yet to be fully explored.

Her party colleagues insist this is not "showboating". It comes from a national executive meeting last Saturday at which some strong decisions were taken in that regard.

It is a view which has been propounded within the party for some time, notably by their new Dublin Central TD, Neasa Hourigan.

The Green Party does have some form on this issue. In February 2009 its then-party leader, John Gormley, then part of the cabinet, first suggested the idea.

He reinforced it in October 2010 as economic calamity beckoned for the country. By contrast, right now the two "big parties" insist Sinn Fein is just not serious about government participation of any kind - and neither are the hard left of Solidarity-People Before Profit and various like-minded Independent TDs.

On that basis, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael argue it is time to move on, making an anti-coronavirus coalition which ideally, to make Dail numbers add up, must include the 12 Green Party TDs.

It would be wrong to take the Green Party for granted in this process. It will only join government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael if it can make both parties rather uncomfortable about meeting its green terms.

The Green Party demands are set on more ambitious carbon emission reductions, radical moves on housing centred on property rights, and serious changes to agriculture. These demands can be met - at a price.
New cases of COVID-19, increasingly the Omicron variant of novel coronavirus, are increasing in Missoula County and across Montana. As a result, Missoula City-County Health Department recommends all individuals -- regardless of vaccine status -- voluntarily wear a mask indoors to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The most current COVID-19 information for Missoula County, including case data for UM, is available at http://www.missoulainfo.com

UM's Curry Health Center provides free COVID-19 testing for students who are experiencing coronavirus symptoms. Students must call 406-243-2122 to make an appointment before coming in.

UM students and employees, as well as their partners, spouses and household members, and the general public are encouraged to receive the vaccine. The Health Services Pharmacy inside Curry Health Center will offer vaccines Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (MST). Walk-ins welcome!

Missoula County is coordinating vaccine administration throughout the county. Visit the county's vaccine website for information on all vaccine clinics and locations that currently have vaccine available. This site contains an interactive map and a distribution dashboard showing how many doses have been administered.

UM and the Missoula City-County Health Department are closely tracking COVID-19 case trends at UM and in Missoula. The MCCHD is releasing information about UM-affiliated cases each weekday. Find UM-affiliated COVID-19 cases on this page under the "Data" tab.

Find information on COVID-19 cases across Montana here.
Struggling shopping centre group Intu Properties has warned that it is at risk of going bust if it cannot find fresh funds to prop up its finances.

The ailing group, which owns the Trafford Centre in Manchester and Lakeside in Essex, slumped to a loss of over 2billion last year, up from 1.17billion the year before.

In its dismal results, the group admitted its balance sheet unmasked a 'material uncertainty in relation to Intu's ability to continue as a going concern.'

Deep trouble: Intu Properties has warned that it is at risk of going bust if it cannot find fresh funds to prop up its finances

As it looks to get itself out of a major financial black hole, Intu insisted it still had 'options', including selling off further assets, negotiating with its lenders and refinancing its 4.5billion debt. The group said it will also keep trying to engage with its investors.

Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, told This is Money that Intu's results had been a 'shocker.'

Worse still, he thinks shareholders could end up having their stakes wiped out.

Wilson added: 'No one wants a piece of shopping malls  no real surprise, the current financial market conditions are hardly helpful either. Wrong business, wrong time.

'This is all about the collapse on the high street and the massive reduction in the value of its assets.

'The only way to survive will be to wipe out existing shareholders with a debt-for-equity swap.

'The fact they couldnt raise the equity before suggests that investors who looked at the balance sheet realised this 2bn loss was coming and ran a mile.'

Struggling: Intu owns the well-known Traffford Centre in the centre of Manchester

Desperate for cash: Lakeside shopping centre Intu needs cash fast to prop up its finances

Last week, Intu was forced to halt plans for an emergency cash call, as 'extreme' market conditions left it unable to raise the minimum 1.3billion it required from investors.

The group needs cash quickly to be able to stay afloat and is operating within a retail market saturated with endless tales of profit warnings and dwindling sales.

With an ever increasing number of retailers going bust, Intu was forced to write down the value of its shopping centre sites by around 2billion in the last year.

The value of the group's shopping centres fell by 22 per cent to 6.6billion over the period, as the group struggles to fill up spaces left by vacated retailers.

Intu said it expects its net rental income to fall further this year on a like-for-like basis, but by less than in the last 12 months.

Keen to allay the fears of its shareholders, Intu said: 'We are focusing all our energies on moving the business forward.

Poll Does the outbreak of the coronavirus put you off going to shopping centres? Yes No Never go to shopping centres anyway Does the outbreak of the coronavirus put you off going to shopping centres? Yes 166 votes

No 92 votes

Never go to shopping centres anyway 69 votes Now share your opinion





'We own many of the best shopping centre locations in the UK, with dedicated staff looking after our visitors who are coming to our centres in the same numbers and like intu more than ever.

'In a world where it is harder for retailers to increase profits, our centres offer them the best opportunity and many, such as Next, Primark and JD Sports, are thriving.

'But we cannot stand still, and as we have always done, we will focus on placemaking, curating our space to ensure it remains the place visitors love to be.'

According to findings published by the British Retail Consortium earlier this year, 2019 was the 'worst' for retail sales in 25 years.

Well-known brands like New Look, Debenhams and House of Fraser have all been battling with their landlords to get their rents cut.

The full impact of the coronavirus outbreak on Britain's shopping centres remains uncertain, but shopper fears and increasingly stringent Government interventions mean it is unlikely to do the likes of Intu any favours on the financial front.

The sopping centre group said it was closely monitoring the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its centres, but said the number of visitors was broadly unchanged in the first 10 weeks of this year.

Intu's share price is currently down 15.79 per cent to 4.8p. A year ago, the company's share price stood at around the 111.45p mark and at the start of this year were trading close to 34p.

The outlook for Intu is worse than bleak - Richard Hyman

Speaking to This is Money, Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said; 'Investors have become accustomed to bad news from Intu, in the form of falling occupancy rates, dividend cuts and plunging asset values but todays stark warning in the full-year results about the groups ability to continue as a going concern takes matters to a new level.

'Intu has already admitted that its attempts to raise fresh capital via a rights issue have failed.'

He added: 'A debt-for-equity swap would also leave current investors with little or nothing, which explains why shareholders are still heading for the exits, driving the share price lower.'

Meanwhile, retail expert Richard Hyman told This is Money: 'The outlook for Intu is worse than bleak.

'Clearly, these results predate any impact from Corona and the potential pain from falling shopper footfall. The appetite of potential financial supporters was already thin. The prospect of lower footfall and its knock-on effect for tenants trading economics must surely have dampened that appetite still further.'
For decades weve talked about moving women up to equity in business and society, but structural problems have intervened  specifically the lack of affordable good childcare, wage inequities and the underrepresentation of women in policymaking roles. These are so entrenched theyve seemed inevitable. But the wind is changing, nationally and locally. The new Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality at the University of Houston aims to inform community dialogue, shape public policy and enhance well-being in Houston and Harris County through analysis of local data on these topics.

To start, we need to know where we stand. Our baseline report on gender and sexuality data for the county gives a snapshot of a region flush with gender inequity.

We found among adults women were almost 50 percent more likely than men to live in poverty here, a larger gap than in the three larger U.S. cities. This gap varied widely by race and ethnicity. While non-Hispanic Asians had almost no gap, Hispanic women were 63 percent more likely, non-Hispanic black women were 39 percent more likely, and non-Hispanic white women were 41 percent more likely to live in poverty than men in the same race or ethnic group.

There are three evident causes for this poverty gap. Houston and Harris County must address them to ensure the future success of our families, communities and economy.

The first is low wages. Where nationally in 2017 the median wage for a woman working full time was lower than the median dollar made by a non-Hispanic white man, in Houston the gap was bigger. And women werent the only gender affected: rates for men of color were also notably low relative to non-Hispanic white men.

Those differences demonstrate how gender and race/ethnicity have been used (intersectionally) to channel people into ranked jobs with ranked wages. As a result, many are blocked both from contributing their talents and from benefiting economically. While occupation-gendering and wage gaps occur nationally, the differences are exacerbated in Houston, in part because the median non-Hispanic white mans wage is higher here, due to the effective segregation of the oil-and-gas industry by gender and race. Just 22 percent of that industrys positions are staffed by women globally and by even fewer people of color in the U.S. Other industries show lesser but marked differences. This effect is intensified by the failure to invest fairly in the public education system here, which has left many Texans unprepared for todays skilled jobs, requiring that they be filled by immigrants from states and nations that invest more.

The second reason for the gender inequity in poverty is children. Partnered parents with low wages may both be trapped in a cycle of poverty. But those without partners are often worse off, and in Harris County 30.4 percent of women with minor kids were raising them alone (vs. 8.6 percent of men), largely on those even lower wages, putting 36 percent of single moms at or below the poverty line, while 50 percent made $31,600 or less annually. On many levels, solo parenting is arduous. The next generation workforce and their mothers deserve more support.

More Information Median Wage Gap Comparing full time workers, in 2017 the national median wage for a woman was lower than that of a man - but the gap was bigger in Houston. For each dollar made by Non-Hispanic white men: Non-Hispanic white women made 74.8 cents nationally and 69.4 cents locally. Asian women made 86 cents nationally and 63.6 cents locally. Black women made 61.3 cents nationally and 47.1 cents locally. Hispanic women made 53.2 cents nationally and 33.5 cents locally. Source: Texas Women's Foundation/IWPR See More Collapse

Thirdly, the city provides no affordable good early childcare for most people, and no afterschool or summer programs offering care or instruction. We found that between zero and 18 years of age, a child is not in public school or care during working hours 63 percent of the time. The recent addition of limited access full-day childcare in Texas lowers that number to just 60 percent.

This failure of support infrastructure for working parents directly affects womens ability to work consistently  and not just poor women. Women of all classes bear the burden of raising the next generation workforce  under the operative (and shortsighted) societal attitude that its your family, so its your problem. But producing the next generation is no longer a reliable default; birth rates are falling, and the city must consider how to make raising families attractive, to best serve future employers needs. The possible closure of schools and businesses, and what effect that might have on families, highlights just how precarious so many peoples situations have been all along.

All three factors contribute to a Gendered Hardship Matrix, wherein challenges for women cascade and compound. Womens low wages may lead to dependency on a partner, especially when children are involved, and that power dynamic may lead to violence, depression and other negative outcomes. The gendering of poverty and the lack of equal access for women to funds and community influence have negative effects not just for women, but for whole families and for the community overall. Time to stop viewing the gender status quo as inevitable  and fix it.

Gregory directs the University of Houston Institute for Research on Women, Gender and Sexuality.
An online poll of 40,000 young people in over 150 countries reveals that many young people feel their current education is not preparing them with the skills they need to get jobs.

One third (31 per cent) of the young people responding via the Unicef engagement platform U-Report say that the skills and training programmes offered to them did not match their career aspirations. More than a third of respondents (39 per cent) go on to say that the jobs they seek are not available in their communities.

According to the poll, the key skills young people want to acquire in order to help them gain employment in the next decade include leadership (22 per cent), followed by analytical thinking and innovation (19 per cent), and information and data processing (16 per cent).

Separately, a global survey by PwC found that 74 per cent of CEOs around the world said they are concerned about finding the right skills to grow their business.

To address some of these challenges, Unicef and PwC are joining forces over the next three years to help equip young people around the world with the skills they need for future work. The collaboration will support research on the growing global skills challenge and develop, expand and fund education and skills programmes in countries including India and South Africa.

Young people are telling us they want digital and transferable skills to succeed in the workplace of the future, Unicef Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. This crucial need can only be met through the contributions of public and private partners around the globe. That is why we are working with partners like PwC to provide opportunities for personal growth and prosperity for young people everywhere.

Every month, 10 million young people reach working age, most of them coming from low and middle-income countries. According to a global research, it takes young people in those countries about a year and a half on average to break into the labour market, and a staggering four and a half years to find their first decent job. This situation could potentially further deteriorate if it isnt addressed, with 20-40 per cent of the jobs currently held by 16-24 year olds assessed to be at risk of automation by the mid-2030s.

We believe business has a responsibility to help address the upskilling challenge for all of our stakeholders, including the communities in which we live and work and all of their citizens. It also makes business sense: in PwC's latest Global CEO Survey, three quarters of CEOs said the lack of available skills is a major concern and risk. Many of the people who need upskilling the most have the least access to opportunities, said Bob Moritz, Chairman of the PwC Network. By joining forces with Unicef, we believe we can help reach more people who may otherwise be unwillingly left behind. Together, we aim to upskill millions of young people.

The collaboration between Unicef and PwC will support the World Economic Forums Reskilling Revolution Platform, of which both are founding partners. The platform aims to provide better jobs, education, and skills to one billion people in the next 10 years.

PwCs skills, expertise and resources will also support Generation Unlimited, a global partnership hosted by Unicef, to help young people successfully transition from education and training to decent work. PwC and Generation Unlimited will convene public, private and civil society stakeholders to develop investment opportunities, programmes and innovations that support young people in their path to productive futures and engaged citizenship.-- Tradearabia News Service
Dozens of physicians, nurses and health care providers in Toronto were on the front lines managing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) during the 2003 outbreak, which killed 44 Canadians and infected 438.

Many lessons were learned about how quickly the disease can spread, the key role of testing, how to reduce transmission in hospitals and in the community, and how to communicate with the public in a time of crisis.

Two doctors from the front lines offer advice to the Ontario government on steps that can be taken during the current COVID 19 outbreak, ways to prepare, and how to reassure the public.

Screening. The government needs to immediately support health care providers and clinics to set up screening centres. Greater stand-alone outpatient COVID-19 screening capacity is required. Patients should not be told to go to their doctors offices, or to emergency departments. The risk of infecting others is too high. Places need to be set up just for screening, where patients do not sit together waiting for services. The drive-through model in South Korea is a brilliant logistical solution. Home testing is another innovative method. The cost is well worth it. Clear guidelines about who is safe for outpatient screening, and who should be seen in emergency departments (e.g. people who are having difficulty breathing) are needed.

Hospital bed capacity. Most of those infected with COVID-19 will be well enough to stay at home. But some will need hospital care. The province needs to communicate to all that it has enough hospital capacity to care for those who will need it. In the scenario where there are widespread cases and a significant number of hospital admissions, hospitals may have to plan to close other services, such as elective surgery.

Intensive care and ventilator supply. Fewer than 10 per cent of patients who get COVID-19 will become severely ill, requiring specialized hospital services in the ICU and support of a breathing machine. The government needs to work with local infectious disease modelling talent to project this number and determine the provinces current capacity to deliver that kind of care. After SARS, the government purchased more ventilators for a future surge in use. Where are those ventilators? How many are there? Have they been delivered to sites where they will be needed? Are hospitals converting locations to increase the number of critically ill patients they can care for? Can we expand to do so? The government needs to communicate this information to the public. If people know that the provinces capacity to care for the most severely affected patients is adequate, they will be reassured. Dont just say, We have enough. Release numbers.

Personnel planning. One of the biggest headaches during SARS was determining how many health care workers we had on any given day. Physicians, nurses, and other front line health care providers work in teams; if one member of the team goes down with illness, they need to be replaced. That can happen once on a team, maybe twice, but after that, the workload overwhelms the team. In addition, care givers are themselves exposed to infection, and are more likely to suffer from burnout. We know that personnel planning and management during this kind of event is an enormous amount of work. Each hospital needs a plan, and the province needs to steer this, and communicate to the public.

Long-term care facilities. This is the most vulnerable group of people, as we have seen from the outbreak at Lynn Valley Care Centre in B.C., a COVID 19 hot spot linked to eight cases and Canadas first death. Mortality will be very high if residents get infected, and the possibility of spreading the virus to both residents and staff is high. Facilities will need support to determine how best to prevent infection and treat their clients. Simply transferring ill individuals in long-term care facilities to acute care will overwhelm the hospital system. Some residents do not want to be transferred in the event of illness. How will the long-term care facilities deal with these people if they become infected? Can they remain in the facility without infecting others? With government support, the facilities need a road map. They can rely on contingency planning for flu season.

Communicate in real time. Ontario should pick one spokesperson to communicate with the media and general public on a near-daily basis. A familiar face knowledgeable in provincial health care will help alleviate anxiety by providing updates on disease activity, how the health care system is responding, and projected health care capacity. (Think of the common-sense and reassuring approach of B.C. Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.)

Manage the fear while managing the epidemic. There are two significant issues we are facing now. One is the health effects of the COVID-19 epidemic; the other is the effect of fear on behaviour (including the economic impact). If the government and other relevant stakeholders (hospital administrators, public health officials) ensure that expected services will be available, and informs the public clearly and honestly that it has done so, we can profoundly mitigate the effects of this infection. It will take a lot of work, and perseverance. Some of this work has already been performed. Lets get on with the rest of it.
Coronavirus Outbreak Highlights Countries Close Ties With the Chinese Regime

News analysis

Outside China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran are the three countries hardest-hit by the COVID-19 coronavirus. They have the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths outside of China.

China analysts believe these countries close political and economic relations with the Chinese regime led them to enact ineffective disease prevention policiesas they became more concerned about offending the Chinese regime or disrupting economic interests in China.

Bruce Lui, a lecturer at the journalism department of Hong Kong Baptist University, said: Because these countries are highly integrated with China, they are almost unguarded to some extent.

Italy, the most heavily-affected country outside China as of March 10, was the first G-7 nation to sign onto Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative. 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, such prospects have been put on hold.

Italy has also signed 74 sister-city agreements with ChinaMilan, Venice, and Bergamo included among them. These are the regions among the hardest-hit by the virus.

In South Korea, the public has grown increasingly critical of President Moon Jae-in for refusing to ban Chinese tourists at large from entering the countryonly barring entry for those who recently traveled to Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak in China. 1.46 million people have signed a petition to the Presidential Blue House calling for Moon to be impeached. The petitioner wrote: Seeing Moon Jae-ins response to the new epidemic, I feel that he is more of a President for China than Korea.

Iran has also seen a surge in the number of infections, particularly among its government officials. Iran has had a comprehensive strategic partnership with China since 2016. In violation of international sanctions, Iran has imported embargoed materials from China, while Iran continues to sell oil to China.

Meanwhile, Iran allowed flights in and out of Chinas four major cities until the end of February.

China analyst Heng He said: The inefficiency in disease prevention can be traced back to policies. These hard-hit countries have a tight relationship with the Chinese regime. Their political and economical policies outweigh the needs of disease prevention. Some are deceived by the lies of the Chinese regime, and others deliberately turn a blind eye.

In contrast, Taiwan has seen a relatively small number of infections, despite its proximity to mainland China. On Jan. 26, John Hopkins University identified Taiwan as the second-highest risk of epidemic spread outside China. However, robust preventive measures proved its effectiveness. Taiwan officials began to board planes and assess passengers on December 31, 2019, after Wuhan authorities first confirmed the outbreak. In early February, Taiwan banned foreign nationals who have traveled to China. To date, there are 45 confirmed cases in Taiwan.

These measures were adapted earlier than all other countries. It is also because Taiwan has a clear understanding of the Communist regime. Taiwan may be the only state that has learned lessons from the 2003 SARS outbreak. Taiwan is fully prepared to implement the measures. Having been rejected by the World Health Organization (WHO), the isolated Taiwan is free of being misled by it. Taiwan also distrusts the Chinese regimes propaganda and data. Well, these [factors] have prevented the virus outbreak in Taiwan. Taiwans experience is clear. Only by understanding the Chinese Communist Party and staying away from it, can countries set the foundation to fight this pandemic. In other words, God helps those who help themselves, Heng He said.

In the era of globalization, its challenging for the leader of every country to use their political wisdom, discretion and judgment to avoid making wrong decisions that affects the rest of the world.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:16:50|Editor: yan

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HELSINKI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Finnish government on Thursday recommended at a press conference that all public events exceeding 500 participants should be cancelled to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin also announced that a supplementary budget could be given at a short notice to alleviate the financial impact of the epidemic.

On Thursday the number of COVID-19 cases in Finland has exceeded 100. The Finnish Foreign Ministry gave a travel advisory in the same day suggesting that all travel abroad should be avoided. However, the state cannot prohibit citizens from leaving the country.

Wider measures in Finland would require the use of the Emergency Powers Act intended for crisis situations. Any national decrees to close schools, early education facilities or shopping malls would require the emergency powers. Also closing the wide passenger boat services between Finland and its Baltic neighbours could only be done that way.

Minister for Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen estimated on Thursday that Finland would be now becoming part of the epidemic. "The epidemic can no longer be blocked, but its progress can be slowed down," she said.

Krista Kiuru, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services, said that work to trace the person-to-person infection chains has still worked in Finland. "At this stage we still do all the protective and limitation measures that are feasible," she said.

A meeting with all political parties would be arranged later on Thursday to discuss a possible future need to use the Emergency Powers Act that would enhance powers of the government on everyday life. Prime Minister Marin underlined that there was no immediate need for special powers, but the situation could arise later.

Talking about the cessation of air travel between the Schengen area and the United States, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari said that the U.S. travel ban on mainland Europe "gives rise to speculation", considering the fact that the UK has been left outside the ban. He noted that it is clear that Britain is not "immune to the coronavirus".

Finnish business representatives have said to local media that travel to the U.S. had been restricted already, and the total ban would be a real nuisance.
Washington, DC, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Inc. (RCAP), released a new report, Resiliency Through Water and Wastewater System Partnerships: 10 Lessons from Community Leaders, which looks at community utility partnerships from a rural and tribal perspective. As small communities across the country seek solutions for common economic, operational and compliance challenges, this research highlights the experiences of those who chose water and/or wastewater system partnerships as a solution. Some systems are collaborating to build capacity and become more resilient, enabling them to successfully sustain their systems not only financially, but technically and managerially, for years to come.

The report highlights 10 lessons from community leaders who undertook and facilitated regional collaboration, also called regionalization, projects  the successes they saw, the challenges they overcame, and the difficult questions they faced throughout the process. This research highlights:

How two systems  one with excess capacity and one without enough capacity  partnered to combine drinking water treatment efforts after a voter mandate.

How a tribe and regional council of governments brought resources to bear for two communities to form a regional entity with the help of external facilitation.

How leaders went out of their way to ensure all communities were involved in governing the new entity because they believed it was important for success and fairness.

How communities built trust that is crucial to effective regional collaboration projects and more.

RCAP unveiled this research with more than 70 community and partner participants on March 11 in State College, Penn., at its second Regional Collaboration Summit, hosted in conjunction with RCAP Solutions, the Northeast RCAP. Partnerships highlighted in this research fall along a wide spectrum of regionalization options  ranging from informal collaboration to restructured utility ownership and governance.

The RCAP Network serves as a neutral third-party, helping communities explore and pursue regionalization if they so choose. With that in mind, RCAP spoke with community leaders and utility operators and managers from across the country, to learn what they think other community leaders and members should know about the process of partnering. RCAP also tested findings at the inaugural Regional Collaboration Summit in October 2019 in Springfield, Ill. The resulting lessons show the experiences of communities as large as 6,000 and as small as 200 residents in California, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota.

With 97 percent of the countrys more than 145,000 public water systems and 72 percent of its 15,000 wastewater systems covering communities of 10,000 residents or fewer, it is imperative to understand the realities facing rural and tribal systems across the United States. This report, Resiliency Through Water and Wastewater System Partnerships: 10 Lessons from Community Leaders, fills an important gap in the growing conversation on system partnerships, said RCAP CEO Nathan Ohle. By focusing on learning from small, rural and tribal communities, we were able to understand regionalization at a very human level. We hope in the future community leaders will use these practical lessons and key questions as they develop partnerships, especially if system collaboration is part of their plan of action to improve quality of life for their citizens.

The report also highlights multiple drivers of regionalization efforts and the barriers communities might face. Drivers include cost considerations and regulatory pressures, among others. Barriers the report discusses include local politics, lack of trust, and fear of the unknown. This research goes into detail for solutions to addressing each barrier associated with regionalization, and highlights real-world examples from rural communities across the United States.

This research accompanies and was informed by the RCAP Networks on-the-ground technical assistance provided to small, rural and tribal communities. To further serve these communities, RCAP will release a second research report later this year detailing policy and governance mechanisms that support and incentivize greater collaboration.

Read the full report at https://www.rcap.org/regionalizationresearch/

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About RCAP: RCAP is a national non-profit network providing opportunity, assistance, and practical guidance to small communities in all fifty states, U.S. territories, and tribal lands to ensure access to safe drinking water, sanitary wastewater disposal, and economic prosperity for all rural America. RCAP Regional Partners who employ more than 200 technical assistance providers who work directly with small, rural and tribal communities include: Communities Unlimited, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, the Midwest Assistance Program, RCAP Solutions, the Rural Community Assistance Corporation, and Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project. To learn more about RCAP, visit www.rcap.org.
Published: 12 March 2020

Altogether 5.4 per cent of students discontinued education

Discontinuation of education leading to a qualification or degree grew slightly in the academic year 2017/2018 compared with the previous academic year. In all, 5.4 per cent of students discontinued their studies and did not resume them in any education leading to a qualification or degree. In upper secondary general education aimed at young people the discontinuation percentage was 3.2, in vocational education aimed at young people it was 8.7, in university of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences qualifications) 7.1 and in university education (lower and higher university degrees) 5.9 per cent. These data derive from Statistics Finlands Education Statistics.

Discontinuation of education in upper secondary general, vocational, university of applied sciences and university education in academic years from 2008/2009 to 2017/2018, %

Discontinuation increased in vocational education after having decreased or stayed unchanged for several years. The figure was 1.3 percentage points higher than in the previous academic year. Discontinuation increased slightly in upper secondary school education and decreased somewhat in university of applied sciences education. In university education discontinuation was unchanged from the previous academic year.

These statistics examine discontinuation from many perspectives. Education can be discontinued in one's own field of education in one's own sector of education, but it can continue in another field of education either in one's own or another sector of education. Or correspondingly, examined by area; education can be discontinued in one's own sector of education in ones own region, but it can continue in another region in either one's own or another sector of education.

Men discontinued studies more often than women

Men discontinued their education leading to a qualification or degree more often than women. Of men, 6.4 per cent discontinued education completely and 4.4 per cent of women in the academic year 2017/2018. Women changed the sector of education slightly more than men. Men most often discontinued university of applied sciences education (9.0 per cent), women vocational education (9.0 per cent). Women and men studying in the sector of education of vocational education discontinued their studies leading to a qualification equally often (7.9 per cent).

Discontinuation of education leading to a qualification or degree by sex and sector of education in academic year 2017/2018 1)

Sex / sector of education Number of students used in the statistics on discontinuation of education 20 Sept. 2017 Discontinued in own sector of education Changed sector of education Discontinued completely education leading to a qualification or degree Pieces % % % Total 468 977 6,3 0,9 5,4 Men and women Upper secondary general education (aimed at young people) 96 745 3,2 1,5 1,7 Vocational education (aimed at young people) 111 002 8,7 0,8 7,9 University of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences degrees) 127 565 7,1 1,0 6,1 University education (Bachelors and Masters degrees) 133 665 5,9 0,6 5,3 Men Total 227 332 7,3 0,9 6,4 Upper secondary general education (aimed at young people) 40 815 3,6 1,5 2,1 Vocational education (aimed at young people) 62 461 8,5 0,5 7,9 University of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences degrees) 61 771 9,0 1,1 7,9 University education (Bachelors and Masters degrees) 62 285 6,8 0,7 6,1 Women Total 241 645 5,4 1,0 4,4 Upper secondary general education (aimed at young people) 55 930 2,9 1,5 1,4 Vocational education (aimed at young people) 48 541 9,0 1,1 7,9 University of applied sciences education (university of applied sciences degrees) 65 794 5,3 0,8 4,4 University education (Bachelors and Masters degrees) 71 380 5,1 0,6 4,5

Sectors of education and discontinuation in fields of education

1) Numbers of students used in calculating discontinuation differ from total numbers of students, because part of students had to beremoved from the data (see the quality description, only in Finnish).

In the academic year 2017/2018, studies were most discontinued in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) (12.0 per cent) and in natural sciences (11.9 per cent), and least in general education (3.2 per cent) and in education (5.3 per cent). Discontinuation in various sectors of education focuses on different fields of education.

In vocational education aimed at young people discontinuation was most common in natural sciences (20.6 per cent) and in ICT (13.9 per cent), and lowest in business, administration and law (9.2 per cent). (See more details in Appendix table 2.) When examining with a more detailed classification of field of education the situation changes slightly; discontinuation was most common in languages (26.8 per cent), fishery (20.7 per cent) and environmental fields (20.6 per cent) and lowest in forestry (6.8 per cent) and in the field of administration and commerce (9.2 per cent).

Discontinuation in university of applied sciences education was most common in natural sciences (14.2 per cent) and ICT (12.2 per cent). Discontinuation in university education was biggest in natural sciences (11.7 per cent) and ICT (10.7 per cent). In natural sciences discontinuation of education leading to a qualification completely (6.6 per cent) was lower than in ICT (8.4 per cent), because from that field students moved more often to another university field of education or completely to a different sector of education than from ICT.

Discontinuation in both university of applied sciences education and university education was lowest in health and welfare, in university of applied sciences education 4.9 per cent and in university education 3.2 per cent.

The statistics on discontinuation of education use the National Classification of Education 2016 in examining discontinuation. The discontinuation figures were calculated to levels 1 and 2 of the National Classification of Education. The education administration's Classification of field of education and level of education was used in earlier years tables. They can be found nowadays in the archive database.

The database tables of the statistics contain information on discontinuation of studies by sector of education in different fields of education and regions.

Other discontinuation data

In all, 595 students discontinued apprenticeship training during the four-month probationary period in 2018, which is 1.0 per cent of all students in apprenticeship training. A total of 2,352 students discontinued apprenticeship training after the probationary period, which is 4.1 per cent of all students in apprenticeship training. The total number of students in apprenticeship training was 57,398 in 2018.

A total of 443 students had discontinued studies in one way or another in comprehensive school during the 2018/2019 academic year. The number of those who had completely dropped out from compulsory education in the spring term was 91 and those over the age of compulsory education having left school without a leaving certificate from comprehensive school was 352. Forty-three per cent of all school dropouts were girls. The number of girls among those who had completely dropped out from compulsory education was 41, and 150 among those having left comprehensive school without a leaving certificate.

Calculation of discontinuation of education

These statistics describe the discontinuation of post-comprehensive school education leading to a qualification. Data concerning discontinuation in the academic year 2017/2018 have been obtained by examining the situation in September 2018 of the students who attended education in September 2017. If a person has not obtained a qualification or continued education during this period, he/she is counted as having discontinued education. In order to calculate the discontinuation, students have been followed in a certain logical order where completion of a qualification is always prioritised above studying. The calculation of discontinuation, incl. the definition of the population, is explained in the quality description (in Finnish).

More information related to the progress of studies is available from statistics describing Progress of studies and Employment of students.

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Heli Hiltunen 029 551 3314, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (271.7 kB)

Updated 12.3.2020

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Discontinuation of education [e-publication].

ISSN=1798-9302. 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 11.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/kkesk/2018/kkesk_2018_2020-03-12_tie_001_en.html
The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police on Wednesday arrested Indira Vithal Pujari, the mother of gangster Prasad Pujari, in connection with an extortion case.

According to the police, Indira (62) and two others are accused of demanding a ransom of Rs 10 lakhs from a Mumbai-based builder.

The two accused arrested have been identified as Sunil Angane (56) and Sukesh Kumar (28).

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOC) Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A University of Miami professor who is a top expert on money laundering in Latin America is scheduled to plead guilty for trying to hide $3 million in proceeds from a corruption scheme with Venezuela's socialist government.

Bruce Bagley, 73, was arrested in November on three counts of money laundering. Authorities said the charges arose from deposits he received from bank accounts in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates that allegedly contained the stolen proceeds from a Venezuelan public housing project.

Soon afterward, he was freed on $300,000 bail after pleading not guilty. But this week, filings in the New York federal court indicated he would change his plea to guilty in a hearing scheduled for March 20. His lawyer, Peter Quijano, declined to comment.

Bruce Bagley, 73, was arrested in November on three counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to plead guilty for trying to hide $3 million in proceeds from a corruption scheme with Venezuela's socialist government

Over the years Bagley held numerous leadership positions at the University of Miami, where he had a reputation as a brilliant scholar. He was suspended in November

Bagley, an international studies professor, is co-author of 'Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Violence in the Americas Today,' published in 2015, among other books. He has testified before Congress, as an expert in court and been interviewed by numerous news organizations ,including The Associated Press.

Over the years he held numerous leadership positions at the University of Miami, where he had a reputation as a brilliant scholar.

After the indictment, the University of Miami suspended Bagley.

William F. Sweeney Jr., head of the FBIs New York office, said in a release at the time of the arrest that Bagley profited by helping others launder the proceeds of their crimes.

'About the only lesson to be learned from Professor Bagley today is that involving oneself in public corruption, bribery, and embezzlement schemes is going to lead to an indictment,' he said.

According to the indictment, Bagley transferred 90% of the money into the accounts of a co-conspirator to conceal the nature, source and ownership of the funds. But he kept a 10% commission for himself.

Bagley, an international studies professor, is co-author of 'Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Violence in the Americas Today,' published in 2015, among other books.He has testified before Congress, as an expert in court and been interviewed by numerous news organizations

The funds came from a food company controlled by a Colombian individual, according to the indictment. That individual is Colombian businessman Alex Saab, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity about an ongoing probe.

The U.S. Treasury Department last year sanctioned Saab for allegedly running a corruption network that profited from a no-bid contract to import food to Venezuela on behalf of Nicolas Maduro's socialist government. Saab also has been indicted in Miami federal court on charges of money laundering tied to a public housing program run by Maduro.

Saab's U.S. lawyer, Maria Dominguez, declined to comment.

Bagley's accounts were shut down in October 2018 due to suspicious activity. But, federal authorities said, he opened another account and allegedly continued to accept the dirty Venezuelan cash several more times.

Throughout the alleged scheme, he discussed with a co-conspirator the fact the funds he was moving 'represented the proceeds of foreign bribery and embezzlement stolen from the Venezuelan people,' according to the indictment.
Gorakhpur : March 12 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath got a POCSO accused arrested from his 'Janata Darshan' at the Gorakhnath temple on Wednesday.

According to reports, the chief minister was listening to people's complaints at the temple complex when one Ram Narain Gupta came to the chief minister and told him that the Gulehria police was harassing him. He claimed that he had purchased a house and when he sought police help to take possession of the house, the police lodged an FIR against him.

Just when Gupta was narrating his tale of woe to the chief minister, young girls, aged 12 and 6 years, sitting in the second row, shouted that Gupta was actually trying to usurp their house and had got the house registered forcibly in his name.

The district magistrate and superintendent of police were called in and they informed that Ram Narain Gupta was also an accused under the PCSO Act.

An angry Yogi Adityanath demanded to know how an POCSO accused could be allowed entry in the Janata Darshan.

He immediately ordered the police to arrest Ram Narain Gupta. He asked the district magistrate to send the girls to the shelter home and look after them.

He also directed the officials to ensure that the girls got back their house.

The girls later told reporters that their father had committed suicide five years ago because their mother was involved in an extra marital relationship.

The girls said that their mother, under the influence of her paramour, had "sold" their house to Gupta without getting the money.

They claimed that their mother was also trying to sell them.

The mother's paramour has now been arrested while the police are searching for the mother.
Montana is the oldest state west of the Mississippi, according to median age statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. With half the states population 40 or older, were the ninth oldest in the nation, out-grayed only by Florida, Maine, and a few other eastern states.

About this series Montana is the oldest state west of the Mississippi, and demographic projections show the state growing collectively older as more Montanans enter their senior years. The economic, cultural, and personal impacts of that trend present the state and its residents with new challenges and, with those challenges, opportunities. Graying Pains is a six-month series of weekly stories and broadcasts exploring those challenges and opportunities in communities statewide. By investigating how other communities have responded to the issues raised by aging, Graying Pains hopes to point the way toward policies and innovations that can help Montana, and Montanans, improve with age. The series is produced by the Montana Fourth Estate Project, a collaboration among 16 Montana newsrooms and the University of Montana School of Journalism under the auspices of the Montana Newspaper Association and the Solutions Journalism Network. See montanafourthestate.org for the collected Graying Pains stories and more information.

And peak age is yet to come, according to demographic projections produced for the state Department of Commerce by consulting firm REMI. As of 2017, the baseline year used by those projections, 18% of Montanans were 65 or older, up from 14% in 2001. The figure is expected to climb to 22% by 2030 then plateau through 2040 as boomers reach the end of their lives.

That means more Montanans are going to be living in what some call the "Third Age" of life. It's an age in which individual Montanas can enjoy a fulfilling retirement, or face increasing struggles with a host of social problems. Which Third Age you live in hinges on some key factors, including health, wealth, community, and the government policies and cultural customs that influence them. Navigating those factors requires independence, assistance, access, and education.

The latter, especially, is lacking. Missoula Aging Services Executive Director Susan Kohler told a room full of Montana journalists in November that one of the biggest impediments to a fulfilling third age is lack of preparedness.

Get ready

Already, Montana is the oldest state west of the Mississippi, according to median age statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. With half the states population 40 or older, were the 9th oldest in the nation, out-grayed only by Florida, Maine, and a few other eastern states.

Peak age is yet to come, according to demographic projections produced for the state Department of Commerce by consulting firm REMI. As of 2017, the baseline year used by those projections, 18% of Montanans were 65 or older, up from 14% in 2001. The figure is expected to climb to 22% by 2030 then plateau through 2040 as boomers reach the end of their lives.

Different parts of the state, however, are on very different trajectories. Sparsely populated rural counties tend to have higher percentages of seniors and are, in many cases, on track to become even more disproportionately older. Petroleum Countys 520 residents make it the lowest-population county in Montana, and by 2030, 37% of county residents will be past retirement age, up from 23% in 2017. For Teton County, northwest of Great Falls, the 2030 figure is projected to be 27%, up from 22%.

Population centers like the Billings area tend to trend closer to the state as a whole, age-wise, though college towns Missoula and Bozeman are substantially younger than other urban areas, and are expected to stay that way. Seniors 65 and over accounted for 16% of the population of Yellowstone County (including Billings) and 12% of the population of Gallatin County (including Bozeman) in 2017. Those figures are projected to rise to 21% and 15%, respectively, by 2030.

Counties with sizable Native American populations, such as Roosevelt County (including Wolf Point), Big Horn County (including Hardin and Crow Agency), and Glacier County (including Cut Bank and Browning) are also younger than neighboring rural areas. Roosevelt County, with only 11% of its population over 65, is the states youngest by that measure.

Why the state is aging

Driving those trends are three key demographic forces: birth, death, and migration. Higher birth rates pull areas younger while longer lifespans populate communities with more elders. Migration, in turn, tends to siphon young, mobile residents away from some places and toward others.

Montanas population is skewing older, in part, as the oversized generation of baby boomers born in the aftermath of World War II, between 1946 to 1964, reaches retirement age. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, longer life expectancies and declining birth rates are also a factor thats aging American communities across the nation. While average life expectancy in the U.S. was 68.2 in 1950, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, it was a decade longer, 78.6, in 2017.

In Montana, the median age of death is now 75 for men and 82 for women, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. Montanas Native communities are younger in part because death typically comes much earlier for American Indian Montanans, with DPHHS reporting a median age of death at 60 for Native men and 63 for Native women.

Counties with larger Native populations also tend to have higher birth rates, which means more young residents. For example, Roosevelt County, which is 57% Native, saw a rate of 22.3 births per 1,000 residents annually between 2010 and 2018, according to a Montana Free Press analysis of census data. The equivalent figure for Yellowstone County, in comparison, was 13.2.

Migration rounds out the picture. While Montana attracts some older migrants looking for a change of scenery in retirement, migration is on the balance a youthening force for destination communities, because young people constitute the lions share of movers. According to census estimates based on surveys conducted between 2014 and 2018, 58% of Montanas new arrivals to Montana are under the age of 30, versus just 11% who are 60 or older.

As such, migration patterns also contribute to the graying of places where there arent enough new arrivals to balance the number of young people moving away for school or work, creating the brain drain dynamic that has posed a challenge for swaths of rural Montana for decades.

What it means for Montana

Those trends create challenges.

At a community level, an older population means more demand for health care services. A 2012 study by economists at Montana State University, for example, estimated that the states aging demographics would necessitate increased state Medicaid spending. And with large portions of the health care system funded by the state-administered Medicaid program, aging creates public policy questions at the state government level as well.

At the same time, an aging population is predicted to diminish the proportion of states residents who are in the workforce and available to staff nursing jobs, not to mention other businesses. Montanas working-age population of residents between the ages of 15 and 64 was 64% of the populace as of 2017. While the total number of working-age Montanans is projected to increase with population growth, the working-age share of the population is expected to decrease slightly, to 60%, by 2030.

That study also concluded that the aging of Montana will produce a modest shift in state revenue sources away from income taxes, which are highest for workers in the peak of their careers, and toward property taxes, which are higher for older adults, including retirees, who tend to live in more valuable homes than younger residents.

What it means for you

An aging population doesnt just influence tax projections and hospital budgets and worker supply.

It affects family farming and Elks Clubs.

It affects churches and nonprofits and all manner of governmental safety nets, whose funding structures are already strained.

It affects the aging and the aged, many of whom face financial insecurity and isolation. And it affects the generations behind them, who are increasingly called on to care for elderly parents, even as many raise their own children, who may one day help care for them.

The average American life expectancy has increased by three decades over the course of the 20th century, contributing to the aging of America and suggesting the need for what a 2018 Stanford Center on Longevity initiative calls a new map of life that reimagines education, work, retirement, intergenerational relationships, financial planning, and health care to support a society in which more of us than ever are living in Lasletts third age.

Montana is on the forefront of that national trend, giving Montanans an opportunity to, as Center on Longevity Director Laura Carstensen wrote in the Washington Post, redesign how we live.

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GATINEAU, Que. - A couple from Gatineau, Que., are warning Canadians to be vigilant about COVID-19 after contracting the virus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (669 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bernard and Diane Menard hold a news conference in Gatineau, Que. Thursday, March 12, 2020. The Menards contracted the coronavirus on the cruise ship Diamond Princess last month off of Japan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

GATINEAU, Que. - A couple from Gatineau, Que., are warning Canadians to be vigilant about COVID-19 after contracting the virus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan.

Bernard and Diane Menard said conditions on the ship were difficult and at times they feared dying.

The couple in their 70s were among the more than 700 people who contracted COVID-19 aboard the ship, which had been docked in Yokohama since early February.

Now recovered, they said they are relieved to be home.

What started like an innocuous cold changed into a cough and fever over the next days, as well as pneumonia for Bernard, who has previously had cancer.

"We were fighting against something we didn't understand at all," the 75-year-old man said at a news conference, where the couple was accompanied by their two daughters.

The couple warned that COVID-19 is highly contagious and the symptoms can be hard to recognize at first.

"You don't know, with this sickness," Diane Menard said. "You can have it and feel nothing. It's like an ordinary cold."

The couple said many of the ship's passengers didn't follow directives and regularly removed their face masks to smoke or take photos.

As a result, the Menards, who both have health issues, decided not to leave their tiny cabin and spent only two hours outside over the course of an entire month.

They eventually fell ill and were taken to a Japanese military hospital, where they were quarantined until they tested negative and were cleared to come home.

The couple had harsh words for the Canadian government, which they say waited too long to get them off the ship. Instead they credited their daughters, Isabelle and Chantal, for working tirelessly to get them home.

"It's not with the Canadian government that we got out of there," Diane Menard said.

"It's with those two girls there," her husband added, turning towards them.

The Menards, who had previously been a fan of cruises, say they're not sure they'll be returning to the seas.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2020
By PTI

BENGALURU: A 26-year-old man who returned from Greece has tested positive for coronavirus, making it the fifth case in Karnataka, the health department said on Thursday.

The patient has been admitted and isolated at a hospital and his condition is stable, a department media bulletin said.

"All (his) primary contacts have been traced and are asymptomatic. Home quarantine has been advised and being followed-up," it said.

According to sources, the patient is from Mumbai.

He travelled from Greece to Mumbai on March 6, and came by flight to Bengaluru on March 8, they said, adding that he had been to office on March 9, during which he is said to have spoken to four of his close friends and gone back home after a few hours.

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"He was hospitalised the same day. One brother of his is staying with him in Bengaluru parents and wife are in Mumbai," sources said.

The man used an autorickshaw to commute in Bengaluru.

The information has been collected about the driver and three members of his family and all precautionary measures have been taken.

Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu also tweeted confirming about one more COVID-19 positive case in the state.

The department also said all primary contacts of previously reported four people who tested positive for the virus are under surveillance and no symptomatic cases have been reported.
It has been established that all of Ghana's immediate neighbours (Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast), have recorded some confirmed cases of Coronavirus infections, Italian Coronavirus death toll climbed by 196 to 827 in 24 hours and in China almost 4000 deaths have been recorded.



His Excellency The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has tasked his ministers to desist from all foreign travels except the most critical ones, until there is an approved vaccine for curing the CODVID-19 pandemic. His Excellency has also directed the finance minister to release a fund equivalent to $100 million to enhance our preparedness and preventive measures for the disease. This will enhance the expansion of facilities and infrastructure for preventing the Coronavirus disease.



His Excellency The President has called on all citizens and non-citizens to follow rules at all entry points into the country because preventive measures have been put in place at those points for all entering into the country to abide by and Ghana is well placed to minimize the economic impact of the coronavirus. The most exciting part of our preventive measures is when a British cabin crew member rates Ghana's surveillance at KIA to that of Heathrow.



His Excellency The President needs great commendation for such preventive measures and it is a sign that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is really a type who cares about the safety of the citizenry.





.... Signed....

Edmund Kyei

Asokwa Constituency 1st Vice Chairman

NPP National Communication Member









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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Hospitals in Italys hard-hit Lombardy region, already overwhelmed trying to care for the increasing number of sick people in limited intensive care units, are overflowing with the dead.

Lombardy's top health care official, Giulio Gallera, said at the request of the hospitals, the region had simplified the bureaucracy needed to process death certificates and bury the dead, which in Lombardy alone had reached 617 by late Wednesday.

Italian officials have halted both weddings and funerals for a month in their efforts to control Europe's worst coronavirus outbreak. The country has nearly 12,500 infections and has seen 827 deaths overall.

Gallera noted that with no funerals allowed, the process of cemetery burials was moving faster than before.

Worldwide, 126,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus, 68,000 have recovered and 4,600 have died.

Waiters pile up chairs and prepare to close, according to the Italian government measures to slow down the diffusion of the new Coronavirus, at an hour when normally they warm up for the maximum affluence of customers, at a restaurant in Rome's Piazza Navona, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)AP

The European Union has slammed the new anti-virus travel ban announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, lashing out at the unilateral decision.

In a joint statement, EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen insisted that the coronavirus pandemic is a "global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.

"The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation," they said.

Given Italy's nationwide travel lockdown and other measures taken by all the bloc's 27 members, Von der Leyen and Michel dismissed Trump's suggestion that the EU has not done enough in fighting the disease.

They say the EU is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus.
A court on Thursday sent two Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders to seven days police remand. The President of PFI and its state secretary were arrested for their alleged involvement in anti-CAA protests and the communal riots in northeast

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushottam Pathak sent Islamic group PFI's Delhi President Parvez and state secretary Illiyas to seven days police remand after the Special Cell of Delhi Police produced them in court. Both were arrested by the Delhi Police's Special Cell on Thursday.

Another PFI member, 33-year-old Mohd Danish, was sent to four-day police remand on Monday by a after the police said his custodial interrogation was required to unearth a "larger conspiracy".

Danish was arrested for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to incite the communal riots in northeast Delhi last month, police said. The PFI, which is an alleged radical group, has been accused of funding protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).




President Donald Trumps announcement on Wednesday that travel from Europe would be banned for the next 30 days to stymie the spread of coronavirus has caused panic and confusion for some individuals with loved ones outside the country or who depend on travel for work.

Following his address, Mr Trump and White House officials took to Twitter to explain what exactly Mr Trump meant and to try to quell concerns raised by the announcement.

Heres how the travel ban will work, who can get into the country, and what people should expect over the next 30 days regarding travel to and from Europe.

First, the ban will begin at midnight on Friday 13 March. Time zone and nuances regarding time disparities - such as whether the time refers to departures or arrivals - are still unknown.

US citizens and legal permanent residents (and their immediate family members) are not banned from returning, but may be redirected to one of a dozen or so airports where screening protocols are in place to test incoming travellers for signs of coronavirus.

Travellers showing symptoms will receive treatment and, if necessary, be ordered to undergo a 14-day self-quarantine.

The ban will apply to foreign nationals whove visited countries in the Schengen Area during the last 14 days. The Schengen Area is an open-border region mutually agreed to by 26 European countries.

The affected countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

So, simply put, any foreign nationals who are trying to enter the US if theyve been in the above countries in the last 14 days will be prohibited from entry.

Both the United Kingdom and Ireland were exempted from the ban.

Though the ban is set to last for 30 days, there is the potential for an extension should the White House deem it necessary.

Americans with plans to travel to Europe are still able to go, though the coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic and the US Department of State has advised against travel abroad.

European Union leaders expressed disapproval at Mr Trumps decision to cancel travel without discussing it with representatives from the affected countries.

The EU disapproves of the fact that the US decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation, heads of the EU said in a statement. The coronavirus is a global crisis and requires cooperation.

The announcement not only blindsided the EU, it took travellers by surprise as well.

New York Times reporter Mike McIntire reported chaos following the announcement at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, where he claimed Americans were doling out as much as $20,000 for last-minute flights back to the US.

USA Today reported that university students participating in study abroad initiatives were also scrambling to find flights home after Mr Trumps announcement.

Haley Ohlund, a 20-year-old George Washington University student travelling to Copenhagen after her study abroad program in Florence was cancelled, said she watched as airline ticket prices skyrocketed before her eyes.

When I went to book it was $340 and it ended up being well over $1,000, 10 minutes after. As I was clicking to book it just kept jumping up, she said.

Beyond the chaos and financial burden the ban has caused, some question whether it will even be effective. The ban has been criticised for being too little, too late by some public health experts.

Travel from highly functioning health systems like Switzerland [are] banned, but not weak systems like Russia or Africa, Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University told NPR. People are no safer in the US than many places banned.

Mr Gostin characterised the ban as incoherent and pointed out that the policy contradicts recommendations from the World Health Organisation and other international agencies.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday came under heavy attack from several political parties for having given a "clean chit" to the Delhi Police in his speech in the Lok Sabha a day earlier. Many leaders, including members of the BJP's oldest ally, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), criticised the police's role in the recent communal riots in the national capital.

Naresh Gujral, who had earlier written to the Delhi Police commissioner claiming the police failed to rescue people trapped in riot-affected Maujpur despite his complaint, said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the recent violence had reminded him of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

"February 23 was a dark day in Delhi's history. Communal fire engulfed the city, armed hooligans attacked innocent Hindus and Muslims," said Gujral. "However, the police response was inadequate to say the least."

He added that the recent violence "reminded me of 1984 when an orgy of violence was unleashed by mobs led by Congress leaders for three days. Almost 300 innocent people were massacred on the streets of Delhi. Only an impartial and transparent inquiry commission can reveal the truth".

Samajwadi Party's (SP) Javed Ali Khan, referring to the SAD leader's letter, said "till the time Delhi Police gives a satisfactory response to the questions raised by Naresh Gujral, I am not ready to give it a clean chit".

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien queried that if the police did a "commendable job" as claimed by Shah, why was its chief replaced and why National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval drafted in to manage the law-and-order situation in the capital.

Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal questioned the role of police while aiming barbs at Shah. He said that there were "47,000 policemen in Delhi and even then the riots couldn't be controlled".

"It's clear the police was supporting the rioters," said Sibal. "NSA Ajit Doval said implementing laws is the duty of police and if it does not, it is a blot on democracy, may be Doval was referring to the HM (Home Minister)? I don't know."

Sibal argued that if former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti could be put behind bars for six months and charged under provisions of the Public Safety Act on mere suspicion that statements made by them could cause violence, "then why was an FIR not lodged when the people who made those offences did it in broad daylight?"

Sibal wondered whether the safety of cows, for whose protection the government has made many efforts, has become a greater priority for the government than the protection of human beings.

Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) Prasanna Acharya asked if, as Shah had said the previous day, that the recent communal violence was executed as part of a well-planned conspiracy, "why did the intel department not preempt the violence? Why was nobody arrested before the violence took place?"

Congress' Rajya Sabha leader from Himachal Pradesh, Anand Sharma, said Shah should not "give this certificate [to Delhi Police] without an investigation".

"If everything was hunky-dory, why did the NSA have to intervene?" said Sharma. "The Home Minister has said the violence was executed as part of a well-planned conspiracy; if so, then these riots should be considered as an intel failure also."
The Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday arrested a man named Salman, in connection with the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the violence which rocked parts of northeast Delhi in the end of February.

The accused has been identified as Salman alias Nanhe, the police said.

The IB staffers body was found in a drain near his home in northeast Delhis Chand Bagh area on February 27, a day after he went missing during the Delhi riots.

Last week, Delhi Police had also arrested suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain in the murder case as he reached a Delhi court to surrender in connection with the FIR registered against him over the violence in northeast Delhi. Hussain was taken into custody by Delhi Polices Crime Branch.

The suspended AAP leader was sent to seven-day police custody on March 6 in connection with the case. The Karkardooma Court had earlier rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the suspended leader.

Hussain was named in the FIR filed by the family the IB staffer, who accused him of murdering the 26-year-old.

Sharmas father is an assistant sub-inspector with the Delhi Police and works at the Karol Bagh police station in Central Delhi.
A woman has vented her anger after her husband paid 400 to attend a friend's stag do - but wasn't invited to the wedding.

The wife of the man, from the UK, took to Mumsnet and explained how her husband was attending the three-day weekend abroad in Portugal for an old school friend - one she says he 'regularly socialises' with.

However, she was left feeling 'annoyed' and 'p***ed off' after he forked out for the stag do, but wasn't asked to the actual wedding day.

Many agreed the woman had every right to feel frustrated, with one branding the bride and groom 'odd and very rude,' and a second slamming their 'utterly grim behaviour.'

Annoyed woman, from the UK, vented her anger after her husband paid 400 to go on a friend's stag do - but wasn't invited to the wedding. Pictured, stock image

A third raged: 'and he still considers this man a friend .... sad.'

The woman went on to explain that her husband is really looking forward to the stag weekend in August - and that she has no issues with it.

She continued: 'In January the wedding invites went out and he didn't receive one. I thought they may wait until they see him in person. We've seen them twice since and nothing has been mentioned.'

To make matters worse, one of the wives of her husband's friend admitted she knew the pair wasn't invited.

'I wouldn't be annoyed if it was a night out at home or one night away in the UK. It's a 3 day weekend in Portugal,' she added. 'I'm fully prepared to be told I'm being unreasonable but I would like some outside input.'

And just like the woman in question, many were particularly shocked he didn't even receive an evening invite.

Many branded the couple 'rude' for not sending out a wedding invite, with one adding: 'And he still considers this man a friend...sad' (pictured)

'Wow! Thats incredibly rude of the couple. Not even an evening invite? I would find that very crass and if I couldnt get my money back, Id tell them why Id be cutting contact afterwards,' wrote one, while a second agreed:

'I could possibly at a push understand only an evening invite but attend the stag. I'm attending a hen do soon but know I won't be a day guest and that's completely fine obviously. But I take it you are saying no invite at all. If so that's serious.'

A third added: 'It's really rude of the couple. If he's close enough to the groom to go to the stag do, I would at least expect an evening invitation to be given.'

However, others suggested her husband may not be bothered about the invite - and was just keen to go on a jolly with the lads.

'Well he might not care about not being invited to the wedding. It's a p**sup jolly for a few days with the lads without the wife. Stand your ground on a wedding gift though,' wrote one.

A second commented: 'Men dont care that they havent been invited to a wedding. They see a stag as an excuse for a p**s up. My male friends /ExH really dont even think about it.'
To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days, Trump said in his address. There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings, and these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things as we get approval. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom, Trump said.
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Florida deputies fatally shot an armed man Wednesday afternoon following a vehicle chase through two counties, authorities said.

The shooting occurred near the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, which are southwest of St. Augustine, according to a sheriffs office news release.

Flagler County officials had contacted the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office to report that a reckless driver in a truck had been involved in two crashes and then fled north. A St. Johns County deputy spotted the suspects vehicle but was hindered by heavy traffic, the release said. A second deputy caught up with the reckless driver and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver turned into oncoming traffic.

The chase continued with the driver ramming a patrol car, deputies said. The truck eventually crashed into an abandoned bus on private property. As the suspect exited the truck, deputies said he produced a handgun and began to fire. The three St. Johns County deputies returned fire, fatally striking the man.

The deputies werent injured, officials said. Theyve been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, which is standard procedure.

Officials didnt immediately release the names or races of the driver or the deputies.
KELOWNA, British Columbia, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Corp. ("Allied" or the "Company") (OTCQB: ALID), an international medical cannabis company focused on creating and providing targeted cannabinoid health solutions to address todays medical issues, has employed a multi-vertical focus to establish a comprehensive approach for sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder and cognitive trauma.



Allied Corp. is making important strides forward to position itself as a leader in the medical cannabis space.

This update is organized into six categories: Production, Pharmaceutical, Natural Health, Allied Charitable Foundation, Financing and Strategy.

Production

As a licensed producer (LP) of cannabis for medical and research applications, Allied is leveraging the ideal conditions in our Colombia grow operation and our future Kelowna location to support our Research and Development efforts. To date, Allied has registered a seed bank in excess of 3,000 indigenous seeds, including 22 different landrace varieties and 167 hybrids from around the world.

Under the Colombian regulations, Allied has plants growing under national licensure and the plant varieties are well into their growth life cycle. Allied has developed more than 80 Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Production Practices (GPP) cultivation, production, sanitation and extraction Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) to produce cannabis and hemp oil for future export and development.

Pharmaceutical

On September 23, 2019, Allied announced the filing of its first United States Provisional Patent Application for Cannabinoid and Terpenoid Pharmaceutical Compositions and Methods for Treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

This marks the first of a series of proposed filings, along with recent trademark filings, as part of the Companys Intellectual Property and Pharma Development (IP&PD) Strategy. This Pharma Development Strategy includes developing products that serve those suffering from mental health issues, with a specific focus on symptoms related to PTSD.

Story continues

Natural Health

Allied recently announced the signing of a non-binding letter of intent between Hollister Biosciences Inc. (Hollister) and Allied Corp. affiliate Tactical Relief, LLC (Tactical Relief) with respect to the joint development and introduction of TACTICAL RELIEF branded products. Tactical Relief, LLC is an affiliate U.S. entity that licenses from Allied Corp. the Intellectual Property associated to the marketing and sale of Tactical Relief branded products. In addition to the licensing, Allied receives a licensing fee in exchange for the IP and funding of certain marketing activities. These products are intended to be initially distributed to the California market which is anticipated to commence April 1, 2020. All products in the line are expected to provide veterans and first responders with natural alternatives that are intended to ease symptoms related to health issues symptomatic of post-traumatic stress. An estimated 5% of net profits of all sales will be donated to charity.

Tactical Relief and Hollister intend to design and produce an everyday premium TACTICAL RELIEF branded CBD/THC product line. The first stock keeping unit (SKU) is expected to be a 20:1 CBD/THC 30ml tincture with a total of 1,000 mg of cannabinoids. Allied has plans to increase this product offering by bringing to market additional SKUs under TACTICAL RELIEF.

Onto Allieds second brand: MaXXa. The first shipment of commercial "Cannabis Sativa Leaf Extract" skincare products to CBD Group Asia Ltd. (CDB Asia) were shipped on January 28, 2020 across the Chinese market. The product line, called MaXXa, is an Allied brand focused on bringing high-quality skincare products that promote vitality and youthfulness to the Asian consumer. Using a special formula including infused-hemp, MaXXa is looking to make a large impact in the Asian market as one of the first companies to deliver a Canadian-formulated and designed skincare line. The first products initially rolled out will be a cosmetic facial cream and an anti-aging serum, with additional products currently in development for future release.

This shipment included a total of 120 total units encompassing 20 units for every six unique product SKUs. This agreement leverages CBD Asia's capabilities to distribute Allied's CBD-based cosmetics and natural health products into China, Hong Kong and throughout Asia in a 50:50 joint venture.

CBD Asia specializes in the importation and customization of premium Canadian consumer packaged goods (CPGs) for the Chinese marketplace. The companys vast network is expected to be utilized to distribute premium Canadian CPGs into Chinas largest retail chains and stores, including RT-Mart International Ltd and Carrefour SA. Noting that Carrefour SA sells into 210 hypermarkets and 24 convenience stores in 51 cities. RT-Mart operates 484 retail locations covering 233 cities and 29 provinces in China. Additionally, CBD Asia is expected to be marketing and selling Allied CBD products through e-commerce and we-chat sales channels. The joint venture with CBD Asia is subject to the parties' entry into a definitive agreement and obtaining any required third party consents and applicable regulatory approvals. The parties are currently operating under the terms of the letter of intent.

Allied Charitable Foundation

The Allied Charitable Foundation (ACF) is pleased to offer healing retreats for Veterans and First Responders working with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In these retreats, Veterans and First Responders experience evidence-based healing modalities such as therapeutic drumming, iRest Meditation, Yoga and Shinrin-Yoku nature therapy. Through financial support from corporate sponsor Allied Corp., these retreats are offered free of charge to Veterans and First Responders. ACF is partnering with veteran-led organizations to offer healing programming between retreats to increase community outreach and cohesion following retreats. ACF is also teaming up with Dr. Anna Baranowsky from the Traumatology Institute in Toronto, Ontario, to offer follow-up support through our online community and whatisptsd.com's seven-week online, self-guided trauma recovery program. We look forward to a spring of new and deepened connections with the Veteran and First Responder communities across Canada as we extend our partnerships beyond healing retreats.

Financing

The Company is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement of two convertible secured notes for aggregate proceeds of US$600,000. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to further advance its interest in Colombia and at its future Kelowna production facility in British Columbia. A portion of the funds will also be for general working capital purposes. This offering allows the Company to advance its interest in production facilities while maintaining and protecting shareholder value.

Terms of the convertible notes include the following:

Gross proceeds of $US600,000.

Sold at an origination discount of 2% to face value.

Maturity date of 179 days from the date of issuance (the "Maturity Date") and bear interest at 10% per annum, with a minimum of six months interest.

At the option of the holder, the notes are convertible into shares of common stock of Allied at any time prior to the close of business on the last business day immediately preceding the maturity date at a conversion price of $1.25 per common share.

The purchasers of the convertible notes also received one share purchase warrant for each $2.50 principal amount of convertible notes purchased to purchase one share of common stock for $1.25 per share for a period of one year from the date of issuance. A total of up to 240,000 share purchase warrants may be issued in connection with the exercise of the conversion rights under the notes.

The Company may pre-pay the principal amount and any unpaid interest or any portion thereof at any time and from time to time without notice, further interest, bonus or penalty provided, however, that a minimum of six months interest is payable from the date of closing regardless of such repayment date.

At the option of the noteholder, upon closing of any equity based financing for the Company, the note holder may require the Company to redeem the convertible note (to the extent available as net proceeds from any such financing) through repayment of any and all principal amount remaining due together with any accrued but unpaid interest, without further interest, bonus or penalty provided, however, that a minimum of six months interest is payable from the date hereof through such redemption date.

The Company granted to the noteholders a security interest in all of the Companys assets pursuant to the terms of general security agreement entered into in connection with the issuance of the convertible notes.

The shares of common stock issuable on conversion of the Notes or exercise of the Warrants will be subject to a statutory hold period of six months under U.S. law including the Securities Act of 1933.

Strategic Plan

"Allied Corp. is focused on building out our multi-vertical concentration in key areas of production, pharmaceutical, natural health and within the charitable foundation. We have made major strides in the natural health vertical within this last quarter, and have begun getting some traction for our Tactical Relief proprietary blend in the US and our MaXXa brand in Asia, said Allied CEO Calum Hughes.

Scaling the sales of the Allied brands, developing our production resources and following our pharmaceutical development strategies and continuing to help through our healing retreats are our top priorities. As the Allied team continues to achieve our milestones, we are poised for rapid growth. Near term goals include further enhancing our product offerings, completion of production harvests in Colombia whilst adding depth to the core management team. The Allied team also looks forward to working closely with our partners and associates to execute on our long-term strategy," Hughes continued.

Highlights

The Company has a vertically-integrated production supply chain from seed to sale;



Management is focused on making Colombia a low-cost producer in the creation of a high-quality product for export;



Management believes that the pharmaceutical focus of the Company offers a potential blue-sky opportunity. The pharmaceutical product development process has begun. The Companys purposeful business model is to bring a PTSD pharma product through to Phase I clinical trials and then license to big pharma as a revenue opportunity;



Allied maintains a diverse natural health product line up with an international brand focused approach;



Management believes that the Company has now started to get brand appeal and international traction in two significant markets;



The Allied Charitable Foundation is making a difference in the lives of veterans and first responders;



Management believes that Allied is well-capitalized and fully funded.

This news release does 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 jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities 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, or for the account or benefit of, "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, unless an exemption from such registration is available.

For more information on Allied Corp., visit www.allied.health

About Allied Corp.

Allied Corp. is an international medical cannabis production company with a mission to address todays medical issues by researching, creating and producing targeted cannabinoid health solutions. Allied Corp. uses an evidence-informed scientific approach to make this mission possible, through cutting-edge pharmaceutical research and development, innovative plant-based production and unique development of therapeutic products.

Media Contact:

allied@5wpr.com

Investor Relations:

Anthony Zelen

ir@allied.health

+1-778-388-5258

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada or forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, forward-looking information). Forward-looking information may relate to the Companys future outlook and anticipated events, plans or results, and may include information regarding the Companys objectives, goals, strategies, future revenue or performance and capital expenditures, and other information that is not historical information. Forward-looking information can often be identified by the use of terminology such as believe, anticipate, plan, expect, pending, in process, intend, estimate, project, may, will, should, would, could, can, the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on the Companys opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of managements experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Forward looking statements in this press release include the following: that Allied is leveraging the conditions in its Colombia grow operation and future Kelowna location to support its Research and Development efforts; that Allied is making important strides forward to position itself as a leader in the medical cannabis space, that Allied intends to make a series of proposed trademark and other intellectual property protection filings, as part of the Companys Intellectual Property and Pharma Development (IP&PD) Strategy, statements respecting the joint development, manufacturing, and introduction of TACTICAL RELIEF branded products, and the use of proceeds from the offering of convertible notes.

There can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information in this release include: the Companys exposure to legal and regulatory risk; the effect of the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Canada and Colombia on the medical cannabis industry is unknown and may significantly and negatively affect the Companys medical cannabis business; that the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis are not as currently expected; that adverse changes or developments affecting the Companys main or planned facilities may have an adverse effect on the Company; that the medical cannabis industry and market may not continue to exist or develop as anticipated or the Company may not be able to succeed in this market; risks related to completion of the greenhouse construction in Colombia, risks related to market competition; risks related to the proposed adult-use cannabis industry and market in Canada and Colombia including the Companys ability to enter into or compete in such markets; that the Company has a limited operating history and a history of net losses and that it may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future; risks related to the Companys current or proposed international operations; risks related to future third party strategic alliances or the expansion of currently existing relationships with third parties; that the Company may not be able to successfully identify and execute future acquisitions or dispositions or successfully manage the impacts of such transactions on its operations; risks inherent to the operation of an agricultural business; that the Company may be unable to attract, develop and retain key personnel; risks resulting from significant interruptions to the Companys access to certain key inputs such as raw materials, electricity, water and other utilities; that the Company may be unable to transport its cannabis products to patients in a safe and efficient manner; risks related to recalls of the Companys cannabis products or product liability or regulatory claims or actions involving the Companys cannabis products; risks related to the Companys reliance on pharmaceutical distributors; that the Company, or the cannabis industry more generally, may receive unfavourable publicity or become subject to negative consumer or investor perception; that certain events or developments in the cannabis industry more generally may impact the Companys reputation or its relationships with customers or suppliers; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage in respect of the risks that it faces, that the premiums for such insurance may not continue to be commercially justifiable or that there may be coverage limitations and other exclusions which may result in such insurance not being sufficient; that the Company may become subject to liability arising from fraudulent or illegal activity by its employees, contractors, consultants and others; that the Company may experience breaches of security at its facilities or losses as a result of the theft of its products; risks related to the Companys information technology systems; that the Company may be unable to sustain its revenue growth and development; that the Company may be unable to expand its operations quickly enough to meet demand or manage its operations beyond their current scale; that the Company may be unable to secure adequate or reliable sources of necessary funding; risks related to, or associated with, the Companys exposure to reporting requirements; risks related to conflicts of interest; risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to the Companys potential exposure to greater-than-anticipated tax liabilities; risks related to the protection and enforcement of the Companys intellectual property rights, or the intellectual property that it licenses from others; that the Company may become subject to allegations that it or its licensors are in violation of the intellectual property rights of third parties; that the Company may not realize the full benefit of the clinical trials or studies that it participates in; that the Company may not realize the full benefit of its licenses if the licensed material has less market appeal than expected and the licenses may not be profitable; as well as any other risks that may be further described in and the risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure including its Management's Discussion and Analysis sections in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed under the Company's profile at www.sec.gov.

Although management has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information in this presentation, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information in this presentation. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers and viewers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this release represents the Companys expectations as of the date of this release or the date indicated, regardless of the time of delivery of the presentation. The Company disclaims any intention, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws.
Researchers prepare for next year and beyond





by Alice McCarthy





As the number of novel coronavirus infections rises daily across the globe, strategies for developing a safe and effective vaccine are rapidly moving forward.









In response to this public health crisis, researchers in the Precision Vaccines Program (PVP) at Boston Childrens Hospital are on the frontlines of developing a vaccine specially targeted toward older populationsthose who are at greatest risk of developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).





Get more HMS news here





According to the World Health Organization, older people and people with preexisting medical conditions appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with COVID-19.





Elderly individuals have a different immune system than healthy middle-aged adults and often do not respond as robustly to immunization, so a one-size vaccine does not fit all, said Ofer Levy, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and director of the PVP.





Focusing on adjuvants





The current antigen used for vaccine development is the coronavirus spike protein, so named because it sits atop the spike of a coronavirus particle. This is the part of the virus that the immune system remembers.





Vaccine-induced antibodies, made by the immune system against the spike protein, can prevent infection.





PVPs strategy is to combine the coronavirus spike protein with adjuvants: small molecules added to a vaccine to boost the recipients immune response.





Overall, we are hoping that a precision adjuvant approach will assist the various ongoing vaccine efforts across the globe, said Levy. Adjuvants can be crucial for getting a stronger, longer-lasting, broader immune response, especially among those with weakened immunity, like the elderly."





The teams approach is unusual in the range and novelty of adjuvants they will screen, said Levy.





In addition to a collection of known vaccine adjuvants, the team will test new adjuvants it has discovered in the PVPs National Institutes of Health-funded Adjuvant Discovery Program.





These adjuvants were discovered by screening against human cells, said Levy. This species-specific approach represents an example of precision vaccinology.





Age specific





The PVP plans on testing a variety of adjuvants and adjuvant combinations in human white blood cells sourced from older people. Researchers will then study the adjuvant-induced immune responses.





Our screen, comparing individual and combination adjuvants with and without the coronavirus antigen, will identify an adjuvant combination that most effectively induces an optimal immune response in the elderly, Levy said. These screens will start immediately and continue over the next six to eight weeks.





Were hoping to have a clear signal within the next few months which adjuvanted vaccine to go forward with in clinical testing, he added.





Typically, adjuvant-based vaccine research does not consider species or age in the discovery and early development phases.





Our use of age-specific human in vitro systems to de-risk and accelerate an adjuvanted vaccine tailored to the elderly is novel, said Levy. In this way, we are bringing precision medicine to vaccinology.





Adjuvants could also be a cost-saving strategy, the authors said, because the antigen is typically the most expensive part of a vaccine.





If we want to be able to provide billions of vaccine doses, adjuvants can be the answer as they enhance the immune system so much less antigen is needed to get a protective immune response, said Levy.





Testing in mice





The group is also studying coronavirus immune responses in a living animal model.





The first mice have already been inoculated with a similar coronavirus spike protein derived from the SARS-2003 coronavirus with or without a lead adjuvant combination to get an early read on measuring an antibody response.





Several leading laboratories are providing essential input to the PVP in efforts to develop an effective, targeted coronavirus vaccine that works well for older individuals:





Barney Graham, deputy director of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), provided the coronavirus spike protein to the PVP a few weeks ago.





Florian Krammer at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai provided SARS-CoV-2 virus from the current strain.





Peter Hotez and Maria Bottazzi at Baylor University contributed antigen from the 2003 SARS outbreak.





Lindsey Baden, director of clinical research at Brigham and Womens Hospital, provided blood samples from elderly patients.





Envisioning a seasonal coronavirus vaccine





Looking ahead, the PVP is looking to create a vaccine platform and systematic program that would facilitate vaccine development in any future coronavirus outbreaks.





Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIAID, has warned of the potential of SARS-CoV-2 to become a seasonal virus like flu, said David Dowling, instructor in pediatrics at HMS and a member of the PVP. If so, the biomedical community may need to consider developing a multivalent yearly seasonal vaccine effective against multiple coronaviruses.





As ongoing international surveillance identifies circulating coronavirus strains, the PVP envisions collaborating with other laboratories to obtain corresponding viral spike proteins and modeling responses of the elderly to different adjuvant/antigen combinations to determine which is most effective.





Three COVID-19 vaccine concepts





Levy and Dowling estimate that more than 24 COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in development globally. These vaccines fall into three general types:





RNA-based vaccines. The first COVID-19 vaccines in development have used SARS-CoV-2 RNA. This approach is innovative and attractive, but even if proven effective it may be difficult to create hundreds of millions of doses, and each dose may be relatively expensive as it may require a fair amount of RNA, said Dowling. While there is less experience with human testing for this approach, it is possible that adjuvants may help enhance the immune response when such vaccines are administered to older populations and may reduce the amount of RNA needed in each vaccine.





DNA-based technology. Like RNA-based vaccines, this promising approach uses the genetic material of the virus to produce a vaccine. You can make more vaccine doses with DNA than with RNA, but it is unclear whether the production could be rapidly scaled to meet the massive international demand, said Dowling. And, to our knowledge, these nucleic acid vaccines have not yet been tested in elderly patients either.





Building on earlier coronavirus vaccines. This is the approach PVP is taking: learning from earlier vaccines from prior coronavirus outbreaks and making them more effective. If you add an adjuvant chosen specifically for optimal activity in an older population, not only does it work better in that group, but it may dramatically reduce the cost per vaccine dose by reducing the amount of antigen required, said Dowling.





Adapted from a post on Discoveries, the Boston Children's research and clinical innovation blog.
Brittany Howard, progeny of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Prince and owner of all genres, took herself to the proverbial woodshed (in this case a greenhouse in Topanga, Calif.) and made a black-queer-Southern-feminist debut solo album that rings up Meshell Ndegeocellos Bitter from the future. Named after her big sister, who, before she died of a rare eye cancer at 13, gave Howard the best tools a big sister might  poetry and sound  Jaime feels like that elusive and mystical other side of grief, where tears, no longer happy or sad but something much greater and far more satisfying, surprise and amuse.

Heretofore known as the luminous frontwoman of the blues-rock band Alabama Shakes, Howard has been lionized by Southerners and non-Southerners alike as the regions radically reconstructed blues woman, its weird, funky rock savior and an emblem of a South that might finally see promiscuity and difference  racial, sexual, sonic  as a liberal good. Howard herself has palpably resisted this role and its box, in part by genre-hopping from garage rock to Americana in the groups Thunderbitch and Bermuda Triangle. On Jaime, this resistance appears effortless, intimate, self-evident and interior.

Read More From the Music Issue 25 Songs That Matter Now

Here, Howard models luscious generosity toward herself as a woman, lover, Southerner, daughter and sister, modes of being that spread to every crevice of the album. She deftly guides her voice  a divine, soaring, hand-to-hand, declarative, love-soaked instrument only made more expansive in service of herself and her sound alone  through the varying registers of the blues.

In all of the albums tenderness, from full-throated commentary on the state of the world and how to right it to quiet remembrances of queer desire, to loves ecstatic  some lasting, others ended before they begin to rot  the ninth track, Goat Head, is a pivot, an interruption. First off, its an entire bop, a Southern trap, snap-crunk-reminiscent song that induces both movement and dread. I find I can BlocBoy JB Shoot to this. There is a frantic, buck-jumping cymbal and a teacup masquerading as a triangle that refuse to live in one cadence. Robert Glasper is banging the keys, creating both dissonant melody and bass rhythm punctuated with a three-note Allen Iverson stutter step. I might also snap my fangaz and do my step to this. I am concerned about the dissonance, the insistence of the repetition, the somewhat unpredictable snap, this jumpy high-hat and teasing bell. Something is off, but the beat drops again, and so do I. Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.

Arielle Bobb-Willis for The New York Times

Goat Head recounts an incident Howard learns of long after it happened: In retaliation for her very presence, her birth to an interracial couple, her fathers tires are slashed, the severed head of a goat placed in the back seat of his car and blood spread around the vehicle. This anti-black hate crime is the grotesque kind for which the South is infamous, made more egregious by the silence that surrounds it, the culprits unrevealed and unpunished. The song is both a memoir of this moment and the preface to a retribution ritual.

The beat runs for over a minute before Howards voice arrives, and when it does, it provides neither immediate clarity nor relief. The opening of the song, a poem, squats down to Americas level to explain race to the South, and the nation, as if they were children:

Tomatoes are green

And cotton is white

My heroes are Black

So why God got blue eyes?

There is an innocuousness here in the words that Howards voice, syrupy Southern with a side of ominousness, belies. The beat drops after the fourth line, and the poem continues, her staccato articulation of syllables reflecting the restraint and patience it takes to explain something to willful adults who feign childlike ignorance:

My Dad-dy, he stayed

My grand-mamas a maid

My ma-ma was brave

To take me outsi-ii-de



Cuz ma-ma is why-ii-ite

And Dad-dy is Bla-eh-ack

When I first got made

Guess I made these folks mad

Howard exits the poem abruptly, and starts her lecture  the real reason were here: See, I know my colors, see. But what I wanna know is  who slashed my dads tires and put a goat head in the back? In a nation known for its appetite for sadistic punishments, there is an abiding belief that the punished will soon have their reckoning. And here it is. Mask off.

The songs final 30 seconds, which consist of nine diminuendo Parliament-Funkadelic-style chants of Goat head in the back, are its most devastating. The observable fact and memory Goat head in the back morphs into the command Go head in the back, where the perpetrators are bade to proceed so that justice might be had at long last. Moving from octaves into fifths as the percussion drops and drifts, the songs ending haunts with a lusty promise: to speak the unspoken. Howard, with her rainbow-wrapped machete, points at Americas back seat crammed with racist projections, and asks firmly, Who spilled this blood? Pulled into the ritual with dance and jam and poetry, Howard compels us to accept or witness, depending on who we are, the bloody consequences.

Zandria F. Robinson is a writer, professor and cultural critic based in Washington. This is her first article for the magazine. Arielle Bobb-Willis is a photographer from New York who was recently featured in Apertures The New Black Vanguard. This is her first assignment for the magazine.

Stylist: Nonja McKenzie. Hair and makeup: Monae Everett.

Additional design and development by Jacky Myint.


By Steven L. Shields





A story told by Jesus about 2,000 years ago and well-recorded in the New Testament is sadly forgotten by many in today's world. A woman was caught in the act of adultery and justly accused of the offense by the community.



In Jesus's time, such an offense was punishable by death by stoning. Stoning was painful. A crowd gathered around, each throwing rocks at the target. How long it took to die is anyone's guess.



Yet Jesus, as was often the case, was asked by members of the crowd whether stoning was justified. Some in the crowd hoped to trip him up; to get him to violate Jewish law by saying something contrary.



Instead, he agreed the law permitted stoning. However, he challenged the woman's accusers. He said, "Whoever among you is without sin, throw the first stone."



This important lesson about human nature  not just about grace and forgiveness  fails to evoke similar attitudes, especially Christians today.



A well-known Protestant pastor in Seoul is famous for his political ramblings and public accusations of wrongdoing against the current president of Korea.



He's made fame, and probably fortune, throwing stones at President Moon Jae-in. He's able to command large crowds at his rallies. He seems blind to the history of Korea and its politics. He's certainly blind to some of the basic tenets of the Christian faith he claims to espouse. Likewise, his many followers.



In a recent report in The Korea Times, a leading opposition politician was featured. He criticized the Moon administration for its response to the COVID-19 virus. The same opposition party, you may remember, that was in power under the Park Geun-hye administration who botched the Sewolho response. Something about throwing stones.



In either case, neither the pastor nor the opposition offers suggestions as to what could be done to make a better response to this national health crisis. Where are the Christian churches in responding as concerned citizens?



Many are holding fast and refusing to change their worship gatherings. Who among these people is rushing out to the hospitals or other places to provide relief to those who are infected, or their families who are grieving?



What about the opposition party? Where are they? What are they doing to help the national government and regional governments deal with this crisis? They seem mostly interested in rallying people's unrest, so they can win the next election and thus further stymie national progress because they don't like the current president or his policies. Throwing stones will not solve the problems faced by Korea and its people.



No government, no political party, no group of politicians, no medical teams could adequately prepare for a crisis the magnitude of the novel coronavirus. Such an unimaginable health disaster is unprecedented. No one can prepare for the occurrence of an epidemic.



Governments make emergency response preparations; they generally work through many possible scenarios; they keep reasonable stockpiles of certain disaster relief supplies. Emergency response teams and medical professionals are trained in many possible response scenarios.



But none of those preparations can imagine every possible potential disaster. They can only prepare for repeats of disasters we know about. They can imagine is such a disaster occurred again that it might be worse. But when a disaster that is not in the playbook happens, everyone scrambles the best they can.



We can look through history and see how others responded to major disasters. We can easily, through hindsight, pick out the mistakes they made and consider what might have been done better.



Leaders in Korea, both in and out of government, need to be introspective about their failings and inadequacy. They must help the people of the nation survive this current disaster. Most of all, they must consider the common good, not personal or political power; they need to stop throwing stones.





Steven L. Shields (slshields@gmail.com) has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s. He served as copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977. He is a retired clergyman and vice president of the Royal Asiatic Society-Korea Branch.










Masked employees welcome a Long March 5B rocket to the Wenchang spaceport in February 2020. The booster is scheduled to launch a Chinese orbiter and rover to Mars in July 2020.

China is planning to launch its first solo interplanetary mission in July, but the new coronavirus has severely hindered and slowed activity in the country. Will the COVID-19 outbreak keep China from launching for Mars?

Chinese authorities enacted a range of travel and enforced quarantine measures in January to combat the spread of infection . This meant many employees, including those in the space sector, could not return to work.

However, the situation currently looks good for Chinas Mars mission , which will send both an orbiter and a rover to the Red Planet. Work at facilities dedicated to manufacturing and testing spacecraft and launch vehicles has continued despite the impact on the workforce.

Related: 13 coronavirus myths busted by science

This was possible with the introduction of precautions such as the use of masks, banning the use of elevators, serving lunch in individual boxes and disinfection of buildings.

And the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province has already resumed launches .

Wenchang, Chinas new coastal spaceport on Hainan Island, is currently preparing for launches of two new rockets . One of these, in April, will test a new crewed spacecraft and lay preparations for a space station in Earth orbit.

This is good news for Chinas Mars mission , which will launch from Wenchang in July .

The huge Long March 5 rocket that will launch the mission had a successful return to flight in December. Its previous launch in July 2017 ended in failure and grounded the rocket for over two years.

The rocket for the Mars mission is progressing well, with successful engine tests carried out in January. The mission rover underwent its space environment testing in late January . Despite the lack of official comment on the mission, Chinas first fully homegrown expedition to Mars appears to be on track. (The nation's Yinghuo-1 Mars orbiter launched with Russia's Phobos-Grunt sample-return mission in November 2011 aboard a Russian Zenit rocket. But the Zenit never made it out of Earth orbit.)

And plans for more-imminent launches are proceeding at Xichang and Wenchang. China also seems to be sticking to plans to launch more than 40 times in 2020.

One commercial space company in China has been hit hard by the virus, however. Launch provider Expace has its production centers in the city of Wuhan, which is the epicenter of COVID-19 and has now been in lockdown for over 40 days. Global Times reports that Expace is unlikely to fulfill its plans to conduct four or five launches of its Kuaizhou rockets in the first half of 2020. Expace is subordinate to CASIC, a giant state-owned defense contractor and missile maker.

What about elsewhere?

Though new cases of coronavirus infection in China are dropping, the situation is changing globally. Both the European Space Agency and NASA have implemented measures to protect their employees, with the latter recently testing telecommute plans and issuing a mandatory work-from-home directive for one facility, the Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. There is no indication thus far of any high-profile missions being hit by the virus.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine told SpaceNews that the agency is considering advice from government officials in making decisions about NASA field centers.

In addition, a number of global space conferences have been canceled following the growing numbers of cases in places such as the United States. For example, last week, the organizers of the annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, canceled the meeting, which was scheduled to take place from March 16 to 20.

Follow Andrew Jones at @AJ_FI . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
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
Details added (first version posted on 17:30)

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar.12

Trend:

Azerbaijan's Deputy Economy Minister Shirzad Abdullayev has been dismissed, Trend reports on March 12.

The order was signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Abdullayev was born on October 16, 1970, in Azerbaijans Agdash district, where he finished the secondary school.

He served in the air defense forces.

Abdullayev was appointed the deputy minister in June 2018.

Before this appointment, Abdullayev served as Executive Director of the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support under the Ministry of Economy (now the Entrepreneurship Development Fund).

Abdullayev was awarded with the medals "For Distinction in Public Service" and "Tereggi" upon the orders of the Azerbaijani president dated November 12, 2012, and October 21, 2014.




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Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-min

South Korea has been racing to provide citizens with convenient testing options for the coronavirus and foreign media has been praising the nation's ability to run more than 10,000 tests per day.

Click on the video and:

Learn more about 'Drive-thru' COVID-19 clinics

Learn more about Incheon International Airport's 3-step fever check
Former Philadelphia police Chief Inspector Carl Holmes leaves the Stout Center for Criminal Justice in Center City after a preliminary hearing on Thursday. He is charged with sexually assaulting three female officers. Read more

A former high-ranking Philadelphia police official was held for trial Thursday on charges that he sexually assaulted two female officers.

Former Chief Inspector Carl Holmes, 54, was indicted in October by a grand jury on charges that he assaulted three officers, in some cases kissing them, fondling their breasts, and digitally penetrating their vaginas against their will. The charges include aggravated indecent assault and attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

On Thursday, after hearing testimony by former officers Christa Hayburn and Michele Vandegrift, Municipal Court Judge Wendy Pew ruled that the two cases can proceed to trial in Common Pleas Court. A third alleged victim was not able to attend the hearing Thursday and is expected to testify next month.

Vandegrift testified on the stand that Holmes called her into his office after midnight in late 2006 or early 2007. She recalled that Holmes, a 6-foot-6, former offensive tackle at Temple University, was wearing an Eagles shirt and smoking a cigarette. When Vandegrift walked in, she said, Holmes slid his hand down her pants and penetrated her.

I went into shock. Deer-in-headlights mode, Vandegrift said. I was numb.

Hayburn testified Thursday that Holmes had assaulted her in January 2006, just days after she had joined his task force at his request. She had attended a going-away party for Holmes the night before he left for an FBI training program, and he pulled her into his city-issued SUV and tried to force her to perform oral sex on him. She said he slid his hand down the back of her pants and penetrated her vagina.

I had told him I had to leave, my husband was waiting for me, Hayburn testified, occasionally breaking down in tears. I kept telling him he was my boss, this wasnt right.

The Hayburn and Vandegrift allegations had been reported on over the years by The Inquirer and the Daily News, and in court documents, but had not led to criminal charges until District Attorney Larry Krasners office began examining the cases in 2018.

The Inquirer reported in December that the allegations were well known among police and city officials, but Holmes faced little punishment.

Following Hayburns allegations, Internal Affairs investigators found semen stains when they searched Holmes vehicle, but the police inspector claimed it was left over from sexual encounters that hed had with a woman who was not a police officer. Investigators did not ask Holmes for any information about the woman, Holmes said in a previous court deposition.

Hayburns complaint was not sustained by Internal Affairs, but then-Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey demoted Holmes to the rank of captain for having sex in a police vehicle. The FOP, however, filed a grievance on Holmes behalf, and the demotion was reduced to a 30-day suspension. Holmes returned to the rank of inspector.

Holmes attorney, Gregory Pagano, said outside the courtroom Thursday that Holmes has the support of his family and friends.

Its a very triable case, Pagano said. We maintain that Carl Holmes is innocent.
By AFP

BEIJING: The coronavirus cases continue to drop sharply in China which has reported 11 new fatalities, taking the death toll to 3,169, while in the worst-hit Wuhan, the confirmed cases for the first time dropped to single-digit with eight new infections, amid a surge in "imported COVID-19 cases" in the country.

China's National Health Commission, (NHC) said on Thursday it received reports of 15 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and 11 deaths on the Chinese mainland on Wednesday.

However, there is a surge in total number of "imported COVID-19 cases" (people arriving from abroad) which rose to 85 on Wednesday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

ALSO READ: China to allow some firms to resume work in Wuhan after daily reported cases count reduces

As of Wednesday, a total of 80,793 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 had been reported on the mainland, and 3,169 people had died of the disease.

Among the new deaths, 10 were in Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan and one in Shaanxi province, it said.

In Hubei province and Wuhan, where over 50 million people are still under lockdown, the coronavirus cases, for the first time, dropped to a single digit.

Wuhan reported eight cases on Wednesday, it said.

The latest report by the local health commission brought the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the hard-hit province to 67,781.

As of Wednesday, Hubei had seen no new confirmed COVID-19 cases for seven consecutive days in its 16 cities and prefectures outside Wuhan.

Coronavirus LIVE UPDATES | Markets in India nosedive, notices in Rajya Sabha for discussion on epidemic

Among the 12,769 hospitalised patients, 3,453 were still in severe condition and another 727 in critical condition in Wuhan.

The Chinese mainland reported seven new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 on Wednesday outside Hubei Province, the NHC said.

Of them, six cases - three in Guangdong, two in Gansu and one in Henan - were imported from outside (foreigners and locals coming from abroad) into the Chinese mainland.

The total number of imported COVID-19 cases on the mainland rose to 85 as of Wednesday.

Capital Beijing on Wednesday reported no new confirmed cases, but five new suspected cases among foreigners, including two from Italy, one from Britain and Spain each, according to Beijing Municipal Health Commission.

As of Wednesday, a total of 435 confirmed cases had been reported in Beijing, including eight deaths.

The deadly coronavirus virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,500 lives and infected more than 124,000 people across 107 countries and territories.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday characterised the COVID-19 outbreak 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 told reporters in Geneva.

Tedros said the WHO was "deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, as well as by the alarming levels of inaction."

He urged the international community to take urgent and aggressive action to contain the pandemic, the report said.

"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," Tedros said, stressing "all countries can still change the course of this pandemic."

While the coronavirus cases declined sharply in China, the cases of infection have been rising rapidly in Europe and other parts of the world, with Italy being the hardest-hit country.

The total number of confirmed cases in Italy had surged past 12,000 as of Wednesday, despite its drastic measure of locking down the entire country.

Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies programme, has said the pandemic "is a characterisation or description of the situation."

He denied that such a move would trigger anything other than more aggressive and intensive action.

The WHO has made many internal and external consultations in assessing the use of the word "pandemic" as a characterisation of COVID-19, he added, warning against the danger of using the word to make people give up rather than act.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:47:53|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Thursday the Israeli measures against the al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem following the U.S.-proposed Mideast peace plan.

"The Israeli measures against al-Aqsa Mosque, mainly the daily assaults on Muslim worshippers, the restrictions imposed on them and the provocative phenomena of the settlers have recently increased," the Palestinian foreign minister said in an emailed press statement.

The statement added that there is a clear link between "the escalated Israeli measures against al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the implementation of the U.S. 'Deal of the Century.'"

In late January, U.S. President Donald Trump declared his plan, which was largely rejected by the Palestinians who stressed that the deal "is fully biased to Israel and encourages it to keep violating the international law."

A Jewish fanatic group broke into the yard of al-Aqsa Mosque on Thursday morning and held prayers in the area before Muslim worshippers, the statement noted.

The act "violates the right of worshipping in the city and it was done on purpose to provoke the Muslims' religious feelings," said the statement.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates with Jordan "to unveil the Israeli measures and violations that are carried out against al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem," the statement added.

The Palestinian ministry accused Israel of taking measures "aiming at imposing full Israeli sovereignty on the mosque," adding that "the ministry is in direct contact with the United Nations and reports about these violations."

The Palestinians want the eastern part of Jerusalem, which was occupied by Israel in 1967, to be the capital of their state, while Israel insists that the whole city of Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Israel.
India locks down as COVID-19 cases rise to 73

India has ordered all tourist visas suspended to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country, the government said in a statement today. The travel ban comes after the number of COVID-19 (coronavirus) infected people in the country rose to 73, with more cases reported from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.

"All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020," it said in the statement.

The order will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13 March.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) also on Tuesday declared COVID-19 a global pandemic as the disease spread to 113 countries, infected over 1,20,000 and the toll rose to 4,284.

Union health ministry data show that of the total number of confirmed cases, 56 are Indians and the remaining are foreign nationals. A total of 10,57,506 have been screened in India so far.

The sharp rise in the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases follows twelve new cases reported in Kerala, four in Karanataka eight new cases in Maharastra and the first confirmed case of COVID-19 infection in Jammu and Kashmir. The 68 confirmed cases include the three from Kerala who were diagnosed in early February and have since recovered and discharged from hospital.

In Maharashtra, the government has not declared closure of schools since board exams are on, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said if theres a need the state will declare closure of schools.

Three of the four patients in the state who had been diagnosed with earlier with COVID-19 have now recovered.

Meanwhile, a three-year-old and an 87-yer-old woman in Kerala tested positive for COVID-19 and became the youngest and the oldest Indian patient yet. The 87-year-old woman, who is admitted to Kottayam Medical College is reported to be in a critical state.

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 11 March to travellers from France, Germany and Spain have also 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.

Earlier, the government had 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.

Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar have 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.

All public events in Kerala have been postponed and all schools, colleges and theatres will remain closed till 31 March. Jammu and Kashmir also imposed similar restrictions to control the spread of the virus.

Schools across the country, 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 have also started spreading awareness about the virus with caller tunes being replaced by prerecorded message about the signs of the new Coronavirus infection and precautions you can take to prevent it.

Almost 120,000 cases have been reported all over the world with around 80,000 of them in China alone where the virus originated. 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.
With the announcement that Kenosha County will be eligible for disaster aid to repair damage caused by a January storm along the Lake Michigan shoreline, local government will be eligible for federal funds to make repairs.

The federal government announced this week that Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine counties would be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to repair infrastructure damage from the Jan. 10-12 storm.

In Kenosha County, the storms high winds combined with historically high water levels on Lake Michigan to cause flooding and wave damage along the lakefront. The storm damaged shorelines, walkways and storm sewers along the lake and left some parks and beaches covered in stone and debris.

Horace Staples, Kenosha County Emergency Management director, said that, with the declaration, federal funds will be available to the county, the city, Pleasant Prairie and Somers, and possibly to other public agencies that suffered damage. He said FEMA will work with those entities as they complete engineering and budgets for repairs.

Although FEMA representatives visited the county earlier during the process of studying whether the damage met guidelines for a disaster declaration, communities will now have to document their plans for repairs before getting access to funds. Its a different process, a much more fine-tuned process, than the earlier FEMA visit, Staples said.

According to Gov. Tony Everss office, the FEMA program will provide 75 percent of eligible costs for the projects, with state and local agencies providing 25 percent. The state will work closely with communities included in the declaration and FEMA to ensure they receive federal assistance as quickly as possible, said Dr. Darrell Williams, Wisconsin Emergency Management director, in a formal statement.

Mathew Collins, Kenosha County Parks director, said that when FEMA visited the county in early February they assessed damage to the Kemper Center at $2.1 million.

Collins said the county had been working for several years on an engineering plan that would improve shoreline protection at the site when the storm hit.

Utilizing those plans we have a very good idea of what it would take to restore the shoreline properly, Collins said, with the aim to not only repair damage from the storm but to improve the revetment to protect the property from future damage. That plan, he said, includes a low concrete wall to protect against future erosion, along with larger armor stone.

Kenosha Countys goal is to make sure we have long term improvements and repair done so this doesnt keep happening year after year, Collins said.

He said working with county engineering plan, he hopes FEMA will help the county complete that plan.

Meanwhile, Collins said, county parks staff has been working to clear debris from the site. He said the path behind Kemper Center, which was damaged by the storm, is likely to stay closed for some time. The path that loops behind the Anderson Arts Center to 66th Street remains open.

Staples said the timeline for the availability of FEMA funds is unclear.

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Amid uncertainty over the fate of the Kamal Nath government following revolt by Jyotiraditya Scindia and his supporters, assembly speaker NP Prajapati on Thursday issued notices to 19 rebel Congress MLAs, who had sent their resignation from a resort in Bengaluru last week, to appear before him in two days.

The speaker said in the notice that he wants to satisfy himself whether the MLAs resigned on their own accord or under external pressure.

He has summoned six of the rebels on Friday, seven on Saturday and remaining on Sunday.

Meanwhile, former BJP minister Bhupedra Singh called on the speaker and urged him to accept the resignation of two other Congress MLAs Bisahu Lal Singh and Manoj Choudhary. These two MLAs were in Bhopal and were not a part of the rebels camping in Bengaluru. They had joined the revolt against the Congress government a day later.

Dismissing the media query whether the Kamal Nath government is reduced to a minority, the speaker snapped, dont ask hypothetical question.

I have issued notices to 19 MLAs and acting as per the rules. I am bound by rules and procedures, he told the media.

Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh said the Kamal Nath government was prepared for a floor test but not before the decision on the resignations of the MLAs is taken.

On the other hand, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government has lost majority but added that the BJP has nothing to do in this internal matter of the Congress.

He raised the question of propriety on the minority government summoning budget session and requesting the governor to address the house.

Supreme Court lawyer and Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha warned of moving court for the rescue of the rebel MLAs held captive in Bengaluru. He accused the BJP of holding the rebels hostage, saying this is against the law.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said counties with local departments have complete control about what information they release. Read more

HARRISBURG  For the first time since the coronavirus hit Pennsylvania, state officials have released data on how many people have been tested but refused to give out more information about where infected individuals are located, despite calls from some county officials and lawmakers for them to provide specifics.

Because the state runs investigations into the virus in counties without health departments, officials say, the information they collect falls under a 1955 law that gives the department broad discretion to keep information about contagious diseases secret.

As of Thursday afternoon, 22 people had tested positive and 116 had tested negative in the state. There were 81 samples pending and 219 people under investigation.

Officials in Delaware County expressed frustration that the state will not disclose to them the location of the county resident who is infected with the virus. Lawmakers were on multiple phone calls with the state over the weekend.

We tried to push them as much as possible, Monica Taylor, vice chair of the Delaware County Council, said Monday. They are not budging at all.

In Montgomery County, where the majority of the regions cases are concentrated and are being investigated by the county health department, officials have taken a different approach, releasing and even mapping the municipalities where infected people live. Bucks County and Philadelphia, which also operate their own health departments and could hand out more details, have chosen not to.

Bucks County Health Department Director David Damsker said Wednesday that there was no public health reason to release the locations of the countys two coronavirus patients.

"The state prefers that we don't, but were doing it for our own reasons," Damsker said, adding that the county would release more details if there were a reason to do so.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said Wednesday that counties with local departments have complete control about what information they release.

They have a decision to make whether giving out specific information supports the publics health, Levine said. If that health official feels it is necessary for the public health, then they can release it."

There are only 10 counties and municipalities with local health departments. That has left officials in areas that lack a local department  and the public  in the dark about specifics.

Delaware County State Sens. Tom Killion, a Republican, and Tim Kearney, a Democrat, urged the state to release information that would help the countys emergency response without putting the patients privacy at risk.

[T]his information is being withheld from our professional and effective county emergency services personnel, the lawmakers said in a statement. This information serves the interest of public safety and transparency without substantially infringing on this individuals right to privacy.

Though anyone who had direct contact with the infected person has been notified by officials, a spokesperson for Kearney said residents want more information.

We dont know whether its one end of the county or the other end, Kearney spokesperson Taj Magruder said. Without a county health department, the state essentially owns the information. Otherwise this would be information that would be shared with a county health department that could be shared with the general public.

Nate Wardle, a Pennsylvania Health Department spokesperson, said the state is providing those counties with the information that they need to know.

Residents of those counties can be assured that contact tracing  the public health term used for interviewing people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus  is occurring, and anyone who may have come into contact with one of these individuals would have been contacted, Wardle said.

Officials in Wayne County, which does not have a local health department, said they dont have details about the countys one coronavirus case either, but trust the state to do its job.

We did ask them for specifics  if they could tell us even a region of the county, if they had children in a school district, said Andrew Seder, chief clerk for the county commissioners.

But commissioners said they were happy with the states response.

We understand confidentiality issues across the board, so we just dont push back, but we did feel as though the state was fairly good about getting a hold of us, Wayne Commissioner Brian Smith said Monday.

In Philadelphia, county health officials have not made public the neighborhood where the citys one infected person lives. They say they are working with the state on COVID-19 efforts on a daily basis.

We manage and track Philadelphia residents and are in direct contact with them as needed, so we have no issues there, said James Garrow, the communications director for the citys health department.

On Wednesday, the state Health Department released for the first time the number and results of samples tested, as well as the number of people under investigation after coming into contact with an infected person.

The department wanted to ensure that the right to privacy of Pennsylvanians was protected, health spokesperson Wardle said, but since more than 100 samples had been tested, we felt we could get the information out.
The March 18 meeting of the OPEC+ panel monitoring the oil market and producers compliance with quotas has been canceled, a source in one delegation told Russias news agency TASS on Thursday, as Saudi Arabia and its OPEC allies face off with Russia in an escalating oil price war after the OPEC+ group failed to agree on joint actions last Friday.

The meeting of the Joint Technical Committee (JTC) of OPEC and non-OPEC countries, scheduled for next week, is unlikely to take place, three sources familiar with the plans told Reuters, with one source saying that the meeting would be postponed.

OPECs top producer and de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, has signaled it would not attend the panel meeting, regardless of its format, one of the sources told Reuters.

Earlier today, reports suggested that the meeting would go ahead, but in a teleconference format because of the coronavirus outbreak which is spreading in Europe, Bloomberg quoted Kazakhstans Energy Minister Nurlan Nogaev as saying on Thursday.

Russias energy ministry believes that under the circumstances a teleconference is the most adequate format for holding the meeting, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday, but didnt confirm the date of March 18, saying that we need to ascertain if we have received an official invitation.



Related: Uber's Green Competitor Is Riding A $30 Trillion Mega-Trend

On Wednesday, Novak said that Russia would send representatives to the meeting of the OPEC+ panel, reiterating Moscows readiness to continue cooperation with OPEC in some form after the collapse of the OPEC+ production cut deal and oil prices.

Novaks comments came a day after he said that the doors arent closed to future cooperation between Russia and OPEC, despite the breakup of the OPEC+ production cut agreement.

OPEC+ has meetings scheduled for May or June to assess the situation on the market, the Russian minister said, but his Saudi counterpart seemed to dismiss Russias comments that cooperation should continue.

I fail to see the wisdom for holding meetings in May-June that would only demonstrate our failure in attending to what we should have done in a crisis like this and taking the necessary measures, Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told Reuters on Tuesday.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 11 : President Donald J. Trump meets with bank CEOs about Coronavirus COVID-19 response in the Cabinet Room at the White House on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 in Washington, DC. The Washington Post

President Donald Trump has imposed a travel ban on 26 European countries after the World Health Organization named the coronavirus a global pandemic. The virus that started in China late last year has now infected more than 127,000 people worldwide, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. In Europe, countries including Italy, France and Spain have been badly hit these countries all have over 2,000 cases and Italy, which has the highest number of coronavirus infections outside of China, has 12,462 confirmed cases of the virus, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University and Italy's Civil Protection agency. CNBC takes a look at the impact of the latest travel restrictions.

Who's impacted by the travel ban?

The U.S. is banning entry to those traveling from the 26 European countries that form the so-called Schengen Area, where there are no passport checks between internal borders. These nations are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Most people who have been in these countries in the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival in the United States will not be allowed in. This two-week limit means those affected can't get around the rules by changing flights in a non-European airport. The ban does not apply to legal permanent residents of the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security, and in most cases, it does not apply to immediate family members of American citizens. Countries in Europe not part of the Schengen area are excluded from the ban. These include the U.K., Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Romania.

How long will it last?

Trump said the ban would start at midnight Friday and last for 30 days. However, he added that "these restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground."

Why a travel ban?

The U.S. imposed a travel ban on China in late January to try to reduce the coronavirus outbreak. The U.S. administration has credited that early ban for slowing the spread of the virus into the United States. "To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States," Trump said Wednesday.

What's the EU's response?

The European Union on Thursday firmly objected to the plan, noting that the EU "is taking strong action" against the pandemic. "The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation," European Council and European Commission Presidents Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. "The Corona virus is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action." Earlier, European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs the discussions among European heads of state, said that "economic disruption must be avoided." Tweet 1
An Albany woman accused of multiple sex crimes has reportedly committed suicide at the Linn County Jail.

Tina Ketcham was 40.

She had twice attempted suicide in mid-February after the Albany Police Department began its investigation into sex abuse and rape allegations made by an underage male, according to court paperwork.

Ketcham was not on any type of suicide watch, but she was in protective custody and housed in a cell by herself, said Sheriff Jim Yon, in a brief interview on Wednesday afternoon.

"If we have a person who is giving us those signs" they would be placed on suicide watch, Yon said. He added that the layout of the Linn County Jail makes such constant care difficult.

Ketchams defense attorney Stephen Doyle said that his client absolutely should have been on suicide watch.

A news release from the Linn County Sheriffs Office states that Ketcham was found hanging in her cell at 5:10 a.m. on Wednesday by corrections deputies performing hourly security checks.

Ketcham was unresponsive, and deputies immediately entered the cell, called for medics and began live-saving measures, according to the news release.

Albany Fire Department paramedics arrived at 5:18 a.m. and a short time later pronounced Ketcham deceased.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office, in coordination with the Linn County medical examiner, is conducting an investigation into Ketchams death.

Ketcham was arraigned on an indictment on Monday morning for six counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sex abuse, one count of first-degree sodomy and six other sex crimes.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges during Mondays hearing and was scheduled for a two-day jury trial starting April 8.

The crimes allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2020, and Ketcham knew the victim. Ketcham had no previous criminal history.

Last Friday, Linn County Circuit Court Judge Brendan Kane kept Ketchams bail at $350,000, denying a request for reduced security.

Doyle, her attorney, had argued for bail of $50,000.

My argument to get her out of there was based on three factors. One, she was not a flight risk. She wasnt going anywhere.  The second argument was that she wasnt a safety risk to anybody in the Albany community. She was going to be living up in the Portland-metro area, Doyle said, in an interview on Wednesday.

The third argument was that for Ketchams mental health and her own safety, she needed to continue with therapy and counseling sessions, Doyle added.

On Feb. 13, after authorities were alerted to the sex crime allegations, Ketcham was admitted to Samaritan Albany General Hospital after a suicide attempt, according to a court filing from Doyle. She was admitted to St. Vincent Hospital in Portland on Feb. 15 after another suicide attempt. She was later transferred to Cedar Hills Hospital and put in a locked unit for patients with mental health issues, Doyle wrote.

Her stay in the locked-down unit lasted for about a week before she was released. They thought she was doing OK as long as she continued therapy, Doyle said on Wednesday.

Ketcham was lodged in the Linn County Jail on Feb. 25.

Kyle Odegard can be contacted at 541-812-6077 or kyle.odegard@lee.net.

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Almost everyone in this world wants to travel and explore the unexplored. India is one of the most diverse countries in terms of culture and traditions. There are many places in India that one can travel but people also have a curiosity to travel abroad and visit different countries. This dream meets reality when you have to go through the herculean process to acquire a visa. Here is a list of visa-free countries for Indians to make your international travels easier.

Also Read | Plougastel-Daoulas' 230-year-old Mysterious Rock's Inscription Finally Deciphered

Mauritius

This island country in the Indian ocean is a diverse country which is home to people of different ethnicities and religions. The beautiful country is surrounded by surreal white sandy beaches and one of the most extensive coral reefs. Indians can visit Mauritius to enjoy the natural beauty of the islands and can stay in the country for a maximum of 60 days without any visa.

Also Read | Best Places To Visit In Kangra For A Serene Getaway With Family

Ecuador

Ecuador is the perfect country to explore the dense rainforests of Amazon the famous Andean Highlands and the wildlife-rich Galapagos Islands. The country is located on the Equator in north-western South America, between Colombia and Peru. The country is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. A tourist will be given a tourist permit on arrival which is valid for up to 90 days.

Also Read | Things To Do Near Madikeri For A Perfect Vacation To Get Closer To Nature

Macau

Macau is also known as the Las Vegas of Asia. The former Portuguese colony is famous for its casinos and wonderful architecture. The urban country with a coastline depends largely on tourism and casinos. The countrys travel restrictions are lesser and Indians can stay visa-free in Macau for a maximum of 30 days.

Also Read | Island Hopping In Thailand: From Phuket To Krabi, A List Of Best Isles To Explore

Jamaica

Jamaica is the perfect destination for an impromptu getaway. It is the fourth-largest island country in the Caribbean Sea. Jamaica is famous for its variety of rainforests, coral reefs, wetlands, caves and rivers. This tropical country can be visited by Indians easily and Indians can stay up to 14 days without a visa.
Humanitarian workers have met to mourn their colleagues who were killed by the regime during the recent assault on northern Syria writes Alsouria Net.

Dozens of workers from Syrian relief organizations participated in a solidarity rally on Tuesday, offering condolences for colleagues killed over the past few weeks in the bombing campaigns by Russia, Iran and Assad in Idleb and Aleppo provinces.

The event, held near Bab al-Hawa, north of Idleb, was organized by the Syrian NGO Alliance, and was attended by employees of the various organizations that provide services to the hundreds of thousands of displaced people and provide relief to the victims of the military campaigns in Aleppo and Idleb.

Mohamed Aqil Qanas, Director of the Ihsan Relief and Development office in the Aleppo countryside, delivered an opening speech, expressing his sadness over the killing of relief workers who died while working in Idleb and Aleppo over the past few weeks.

Relief workers who provide aid to people today need help themselves. Among the Ihsan staff, more than 300 people have been forced to flee with their families. Relief teams continue to be targeted, and today we stand in honor of the lives of our colleagues who were martyred during their work providing assistance to the Syrian people, he said.

The organizers said that the number of displaced persons over the past 12 months had exceeded 948,000, according to the United Nations, noting that more than 80 percent of them were children and women.

They noted that most displaced families had inadequate shelter or places unfit for habitation, and many could not find a tent, adding that, The tent has become a dream for many displaced families.

Relief organizations said that the deteriorating economic situation in the country threatens Syrians in general and displaced people in particular in terms of securing basic needs for the family, adding that humanitarian organizations are doing their best to provide assistance to people, but the need is great and there is an urgent need to support relief projects.

In addition to the deaths of relief activists in Idleb and Aleppo, hundreds of activists from relief organizations have recently been forced to flee from the areas where they were living and providing their services as a result of the bloody military campaign launched by Russia, Iran and Assad, which intensified last February.

On Feb. 19, 2020,s the Syrian NGO Alliance held a press conference in the Turkish city of Istanbul, aiming to draw the worlds attention to the humanitarian catastrophe facing Idleb and warning the international community of the dire consequences of the military escalation in the province by the regime and its allies.

The press conference came out with a series of messages and warnings after reviewing the humanitarian situation in Idleb, which has been experiencing the worst humanitarian disaster in Syria since 2011.

The conference press release described what was happening in northwestern Syria as the worst protection crisis, especially with regards to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from their areas, without shelter or the minimum levels of protection.

The statement said more than 900,000 civilians were displaced during the recent military campaign by Assads forces, 81 percent of whom were women and children, most of whom were displaced more than three times.

The organizations estimated the funding required to respond to the recent displacement crisis would be about 336 million dollars, of which the United Nations has only 20 percent (70 million dollars), meaning the current amount covers the basic response without being able to cover the integrated humanitarian intervention that displaced people need.

The press conference reviewed, in figures and statistics, the suffering of the displaced people in northern Syria in light of poor weather conditions, pointing out that the current camps are overcrowded given the scarcity of houses, which forced most displaced people to sleep in the open and under trees.

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.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 12 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched a new app to track the COVID-19 guidelines of the Kerala Health Department and said that two fresh cases of coronavirus cases have been reported.

With this the total number of positive cases touched 16.

"One person who came from Dubai and now in isolation at Kannur turned positive. The second case that turned positive today was a person who came from Qatar and now in Thrissur," said Vijayan to the media.

"We have another highly suspect case in Thiruvananthapuram, who arrived from Italy, but the final result is awaited," added Vijayan.

He said 3,910 people are under observation at their homes, while 270 at various hospitals in the state.

The new mobile app can be downloaded from the App store and will get all the details of COVID-19. This facility would be available on ordinary mobile phones through SMS alerts.

Everyone should follow the guidelines of out Health Department and should be aware of the nature of this virus. If anyone feels sick, rather than rushing to the hospitals, they should get in touch with the health authorities, who will do the needful. We have also launched six help lines," said Vijayan.

Everyone should behave responsibly otherwise situation can be out of control, he added.

The health authorities stepped up screening at the four airports in the state and at the Cochin airport on Thursday. 3,135 passengers who landed here from 30 international flights were screened and out of those 18 had symptoms. They have been asked to seek treatment from the hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led opposition that met here decided to take up the pitfalls committed by the Kerala government and pointed out that the state failed to act on the advisory that came out on February 26, which directed state governments to screen all those who come from countries like Italy.

Three people in a family who arrived from Italy at the Cochin airport on February 29th, after a week turned positive have now been identified as the ones who are responsible for the present turn of events.

Leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala slammed State Health Minister K.K. Shailaja by saying that she has now developed a mania for holding number of press conferences every day.

"We fail to understand what is she up to and we feel she is interested in building her image, when she should be doing her job with utmost seriousness," said Chennithala.

Responding to it, Shailaja said such irresponsible statements will be a dent to the massive efforts of the various health professionals.

"It's most unfortunate that when the state is passing through tough times, none should attempt to score political brownie points. It's better that I don't speak on such things," added Vijayan.

Those people who are coming from abroad will now be categorised into three categories and it includes Category A - those with slight fever and cough will be asked to remain in isolation in their homes for 28 days.

Category B would include those with running temperature and throat pain, pregnant women, all those above age 60 and those with serious ailments. All such people should listen to the guidelines of the medical professionals and act accordingly.

Category C would include all those with high temperature, throat pain, breathing difficulties and would be isolated in various hospitals.

Meanwhile the State Police chief Loknath Behra said that the state police also would provide a helping hand to locate and identify all those who arrive from countries where COVID-19 is raging.

At Pathanamthitta, presently the worst affected, on Thursday wore a deserted look and one of the branches of State Bank of India downed its shutters after it was identified that one of the coronavirus positive patient had mingled with the staff members, who are now under observation.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Members of the Muslim organisations, who were sitting on a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Athupalam in Coimbatore, have decided to suspend their agitation for five days.

The indefinite protests in the open space adjacent to the Irshadul Islam Shafia Sunnath Jamath mosque here that began on February 19 were modelled on the one in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh.

It was organised by various Islamic organisations and Muslim-centric parties with the protestors waving the tricolour and chanting slogans against the CAA.

Earlier, the protestors had said that the agitation would be continued with same vigour until the Centre repealed the CAA, which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to 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.)
Technavio has been monitoring the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market and it is poised to grow by USD 18.91 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of 9% 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/20200311005553/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software 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 demand for ERP software from SMEs has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market is segmented as below:

Type

Cloud-based ERP

On-premise ERP

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=IRTNTR31111

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software 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 enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market report covers the following areas:

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market Size

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market Trends

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies rise in adoption of ERP by financial institutions as one of the prime reasons driving the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market growth during the next few years.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market, including some of the vendors such as Epicor Software Corporation, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP SE. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

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Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software 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 TYPE

Market segmentation by type

Comparison by type

Cloud-based ERP Market size and forecast 2019-2024

On-premise ERP Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by type

PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE

PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity

PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK

PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES

Market drivers

Market challenges

PART 11: MARKET TRENDS

Evolution of intelligent ERP

Integration of ERP with BPM

Rise in adoption of ERP by financial institutions

Embedded data analytics features

PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Overview

Landscape disruption

PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Epicor Software Corporation

Infor

Microsoft

Oracle

SAP SE

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/20200311005553/en/

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Federal prison union officials and inmate advocates warn that the combination of chronic understaffing, a new leave policy and the realities of coronavirus quarantines could lead to the first nationwide federal prison lockdown since 1995.

As coronavirus races across the country, staffing challenges are particularly complicated in the nation's jails and prisons where conditions create a tinderbox for contagion. There is no such thing as teleworking for a correctional officer tasked with guarding inmates.

Union leaders for the Council of Prison Locals worry that existing low staffing levels in federal detention centers and prisons  which have required teachers and other social workers to fill in for correctional officers in the past  will exacerbate the impact of losing staff members to quarantines for coronavirus infections.

The federal prison system, which houses nearly 175,000 inmates, represents only a fraction of the overall prison and jail complex in the United States. More than 2.2 million people throughout the country are estimated to be behind bars. Though small by comparison, the federal system sheds light on issues many state, county and local officials are grappling with now. Because the facilities are typically dense and crowded, they could become prime breeding grounds for the highly contagious coronavirus.

If the coronavirus begins to spread rapidly among staff and inmates, it could prompt a nationwide prison lockdown at federal sites, said Aaron McGlothin, head of the prison staffers' local union at Federal Correctional Institution-Mendota near Fresno, California.

"You've got to understand we're in a prison  there's nowhere to go," he stressed. "If somebody comes down sick, what are you going to do? Everybody's going to get sick."

The Federal Bureau of Prisons said there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in its 122 facilities as of March 10. But Joe Rojas, the union's Southeast regional vice president, said there have been scares in federal facilities in Seattle and Miami. The state corrections departments in Florida, California and Colorado all said this week they are cutting off visitation to inmates at their sites.

Worldwide, prisons have become a flashpoint amid this rapidly escalating public health crisis. Iran temporarily released 70,000 prisoners to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus within jails, while Italy is facing prison riots over lockdown conditions that have led to at least 50 inmate escapes and six deaths.

In the U.S., union officials are questioning a federal Bureau of Prisons leave policy issued Monday in an internal memo obtained by Kaiser Health News that says staff who contract the coronavirus and are symptomatic must use sick leave to self-quarantine. The memo said it follows guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which advises the federal government workforce on leave policies.

Union officials said the policy discourages those who have the virus from staying home for the full duration of the illness. Federal prison employees receive four hours of sick leave every two weeks, amounting to about 13 days a year. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 14 days of isolation for those who only have been exposed and says those who are sick should remain quarantined until cleared by a public health official, which could be far longer.

That means most federal prison employees would need to borrow time they had not yet accrued if they do get sick. And even then, it might not cover the full time needed to get better and no longer be contagious.

"I wouldn't want to give them any excuse or reason to come back in before they're ready," said Rick Heldreth, the local union president of West Virginia's Hazelton.

That's in contrast to the prison system guidance for those who have potentially come in contact with the virus but remain asymptomatic: They are allowed to use administrative "weather and safety" leave for up to 14 days.

"Everybody is saying, what the hell does this mean? If you have the symptoms? If you don't have the symptoms?" said Rojas. "It's just a mess."

If conditions deteriorate to a lockdown or mass outbreak situation, "what happened in Italy could easily happen over here," Rojas said.

McGlothin outlined the steps federal prisons would take as the threat grows: first canceling visitation, then limiting movement of prisoners transported between facilities, and finally locking down institutions. Lockdown conditions  in which inmates are kept in their cells except for limited showers  are not uncommon in individual federal prisons following violent events or even high levels of the flu, but they're usually temporary.

It's been more than 24 years since the entire federal Bureau of Prisons locked down. Inmates were fed in their rooms and all recreational activities were canceled following a series of prison riots in October 1995.

When asked about the possibility of a national lockdown, bureau spokesperson Emery Nelson declined to comment on the specifics of the contingency plans because of safety and security reasons.

Fifteen Democratic U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, sent a letter on Monday asking the Bureau of Prisons to explain its coronavirus plan. They had yet to get a response as of Thursday, according to Warren's office.

David Patton, the executive director of the Federal Defenders of New York, a nonprofit that defends poor people accused of federal crimes, said he is concerned about the lack of information.

"I have no confidence that they're prepared or whatever plans they have are acceptable from even the most minimal human rights perspective," he said, stressing that a long-term lockdown would be unconstitutional because inmates need to have access to legal counsel.

Patton already had been sounding the alarm over inmate treatment at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan following a recent lockdown. He detailed "hellish conditions" of inmates left in just boxer briefs in cold cells, a lack of access to soap, severe overcrowding and rodent infestations. And that's without coronavirus added in.

"We're starting with a baseline of mismanagement and poor conditions," he said. "In the best of the times, we can't get people medical care when they need it."

Many advocates are pushing for officials to commute some inmates' sentences to lessen the potential number of incarcerated individuals exposed to the virus. In San Francisco, public defender Mano Raju has pushed for the release of pretrial detainees who are older than 60 and have underlying medical conditions, as well as those up for work-release, electronic monitoring or with less than six months on their sentence.

Officials at every political level need to seriously consider such measures to protect the public, said Nazgol Ghandnoosh, a senior research analyst for The Sentencing Project, a group that pushes for criminal justice system improvements.

As does the public, Ghandnoosh noted. Even if people are not personally connected to anyone in prison, she said, they will be personally affected as inmates fill up hospital beds and ICU resources.
The regimes government, after a period of secrecy and a tragic period of insignificant reaction, now is forced by local officials to mark the situation in areas of the country as red, which indicates a dangerous situation in these areas.

What is noteworthy about the consequences for the regime in dealing with the virus is their warning of a social explosion and a massive uprising.

And they are warning the regimes officials about the discrimination between the governments officials and the people about the medic and quarantine support.

Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, a member of the parliamentary commission for security, is among those who acknowledged this subject and said, Some people talk about favorable facilities and the good quarantine conditions of the affected authorities and complain about how the authorities are getting good facilities compared to the conditions in the community, while the people cant even find masks, gloves, and disinfectants. (Mostaqel Daily, 7 March)

Vatan Emrooz Daily wrote: Take the Cognitive warfare  corona serious! At the tactical level, there is a wave of public anger over the countrys management mechanisms and a basis for realizing new chaos-based on hybrid warfare tactics to provide the ground for it, along with other social gaps. (Vatan Emrooz, 9 March)

And Kayhan wrote: The Social and Political Consequences are the crisis of the coronavirus, because, the disease is going beyond the medical borders. (Kayhan 9 March)

Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, from Irans supreme leaders faction, expressed his concern and wrote: Political groups should call on all people to support the government and work together to solve this problem. We are all on one ship and we are not going to pierce the ship and expect to reach our intended home. (Mostaqel Daily, 7 March)

Iran president expressed his fear and said, Creating transparency and increasing public trust and keeping people informed about events, opportunities, policies, and planning is crucial in the fight against the Coronavirus, so the principle of transparency and timely disclosure of information and reports should be emphasized. (Hassan Rouhanis website, 7 March)

Abbas Abdi, from Rouhanis faction, also acknowledged the peoples disregard for the regimes words and the ineffectiveness of its repressive machinery and said: These policies must either be by force, or by acceptance through trust. We have none of these. On the one hand, we do not have a system that can do such things with authority and force and no one dares to violate it. On the other hand, we havent trust either. (Jamaran website, 7 March)

As far as people are concerned, like the other crises, they know the main culprit is the regime and its inhumane policies, a problem that has exacerbated social hatred. The rulers are aware of the deep hatred of the people and are concerned about the peoples reaction. They are well aware that this anger and hatred is approaching a social explosion.

It is not without reason that a former member of the parliament, Yadollah Islami, acknowledged the inability of the mullahs government to resolve the various crises that have surrounded the regime and confessed: Perhaps the continuation of the current method is no longer in the power of the countrys political system. Problems and social realities will impose their sovereignty. (Mostaqel Daily, 7 March)

Read More:

Iran Regimes Lies about Coronavirus Are in Their DNA
A Mississippi man accused of raping and impregnating a teenage girl has had his earlier plea deal rescinded after he had faked his own death to avoid prison time and had gone into hiding for more than a year.

Jacob Blair Scott, 43, appeared before a judge in Pascagoula on Wednesday to face 14 felony charges, including nine counts of sexual battery, four counts of touching of a child for lustful purposes, and one count of child exploitation.

It was Scott's first time in court since US Marshals said he was found hiding out in Antlers, Oklahoma, under a false identity in late January, more than 18 months after his disappearance.

Jacob Blair Scott, 43, is pictured following his captured in Oklahoma after he faked his own death and spent 18 months hiding under an assumed identity

Scott, accused of raping and impregnating a 14-year-old girl in Mississippi, was extradited back to the state last month. His former plea deal has now been taken off the table

Scott had entered into a plea deal with the state before he went on the lam, which would have reduced his charges and lessened his sentence.

Authorities said he faked his own death in July 2018 by leaving a gun and a suicide note in his boat, which was found floating off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama..

The note said: 'If you find this, contact Melody Scott. My name is Jacob Scott, Jackson County. I'm sorry.'

There was also a small amount of blood and an unspent bullet in the vessel.

The boat was found after Scott, who was out on bail, failed to attend a court hearing where he was due to be charged with child sex crimes.

Police launched a search for Scott's body in the Gulf of Mexico, but after a week they could find no trace of him.

Scott, an Army veteran with a Purple Heart, has been charged with 14 felony counts, including nine counts of sexual battery, four counts of touching of a child for lustful purposes, and one count of child exploitation

Scott vanished in July 2018 as he was due in court to be charged with sexual assault, before his boat was found floating off Orange Beach in Alabama

This handgun was found tied by a rope to the side of the abandoned dinghy

Inside the boat was a small amount of blood, an unspent bullet with blood on it, and an apparent suicide note (pictured). Officers concluded that Scott faked his death

That led investigators to conclude that Scott, a US Army veteran with a Purple Heart, had faked his suicide and was living off the grid using his military training.

US Marshals subsequently discovered that Scott withdrew $45,000 from a bank account shortly before he disappeared.

Over the course of 18 months, sightings of Scott were reported in Mississippi, Colorado, Nevada and Louisiana.

Last year, police said they found his 1994 Toyota 4-Runner in a parking lot of a park, filled with empty liquor bottles, a military bag, rope, money, his license and credit cards and his military dog tags.

On January 29, Scott's name was added to the US Marshals most-wanted list and a $25,000 reward for information was offered.

Scott was found living in this RV in Oklahoma in January, shortly after he was put on the US Marshals 'most wanted' list and $25,000 offered for information

Investigators who arrested Scott say he initially denied his identity, but confessed after they found tattoos on his forearms matching the suspect

A short time later, authorities received a tip that Scott was living out of an RV in the Antlers, Oklahoma, area and went to arrest him.

Investigators say he initially denied his true identity and refused to cooperate with them.

But after they noticed tattoos matching those of the wanted man on his forearms, Scott confessed who he was and was arrested.

Following his capture, the mother of Scott's alleged victim expressed relief, saying her daughter 'feels safe now.'

Now that he is back in custody, District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath said any chance for a plea deal is off the table, the Sun Herald reported.

The next hearing for Scott was scheduled for April 20. If convicted of all the charges against him, Scott could face a life sentence.
Former presidential speechwriters have delivered a withering assessment of the rare Oval Office address used by Donald Trump to announce emergency measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Writers for Mr Trump's two most recent predecessors responded with concern and scathing criticism to Wednesday nights televised speech, which had been intended to reassure Americans about the rapid spread of Covid-19.

My careful rhetorical analysis is that he's gonna get us all killed, tweeted David Litt, who worked for Barack Obama when he was president.

David Frum, a former speechwriter for George W Bush, said Mr Trumps Oval Office address "was the worst action yet in a string of bad actions".

"He offered no guidance or policy on how to prevent the spread of the disease inside the United States," he wrote in The Atlantic, and "no explanation of what went wrong with the US testing system, nor any assurance of when testing would become more widely available".

"More people will get sick because of his presidency than if somebody else were in charge," Mr Frum added.

In his second Oval Office address in three years, Mr Trump at last acknowledged the severity of the disease - which he has repeatedly suggested is no worse than common flu - as he announced a European travel ban and urged people to avoid large events.

But the speech appeared to have done little to put the nation at ease, instead rattling stock markets and causing confusion as the president was forced to later clarify mistakes in his address.

He also faced criticism for his nationalistic description of the disease which has taken hold across the world as a foreign virus, and for blaming the European Union and China for the pandemic.

This is very much out of the known Trump playbook. He is someone who struggles to admit he is wrong or has ever made a mistake, said CNN political analyst Chris Cillizza. What's clear here is that Trump (and his broader administration) have made mistakes.

Other commentators said Mr Trumps speech showed he does not comprehend the most basic facts about the pandemic.

Trumps speech had no mention of the central problem in the American response to the coronavirus, which is the lack of a functioning testing regime, wrote New York Magazines Jonathan Chait, who noted the president offered no guidance on what people should do if they show symptoms.

Mr Litts assessment was even more sobering.

A lot of Americans are going to die because the popular vote winner doesnt become president, he said, in reference to the manner of Mr Trumps 2016 election victory over Hillary Clinton.
Government of Mexico reports extradition of criminal head to face New York charges

Toulca, State of Mexico  The Government of Mexico has reported the extradition of Mexican national Rigoberto Andrade Renteria to U.S. authorities in New York on drug and criminal association charges.

The gobierno de Mexico says Andrade Renteria, who is the brother of criminal gang leader Ignacio Andrade, was handed over to U.S. authorities at the International Airport of Toluca in compliance with their extradition treaty.

The Attorney General of the Republic reported that Andrade Renteria is required by a Federal Court in New York where he is to face charges for his alleged participation in drug-related criminal associations.

Andrade Renteria and his brother are said tied to the criminal organization La Familia Michoacana. Authorities say Andrade Renteria was in charge of trafficking synthetic drugs made by his brother into the United States. The drugs were made in different clandestine laboratories and also distributed throughout the territory of the state of Michoacan.

Andrade Renteria was arrested by the Mexican military in January 2011 during an operation in Tijuana, Baja California. He was taken into custody with two others believed members of the criminal organization.
A wonderful term coined by two scholars identifies one way the privileged among us resist taking action on social oppression. Its called settler moves to innocence.

In their essay Decolonization is Not a Metaphor, Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang critique ostensibly well-meaning acts of decolonization that dont involve people actually giving up anything. They point out how the pursuit of critical consciousness, the pursuit of social justice through a critical enlightenment, can also be settler moves to innocence  diversions, distractions, which relieve the settler of feelings of guilt or responsibility, and conceal the need to give up land or power or privilege.

I find settler moves to innocence a versatile concept that can be applied across oppressions. The activist-journalist Desmond Cole referenced it last week at a Toronto reading of his new book, The Skin Were In.

Canadian media is always painting Black lives as a surprise, which is disingenuous, he said. It always keeps us at Step 1, at Oh my God, I didnt know.

I didnt know. Thats a move to innocence.

I heard it a couple of years ago when two white teachers grumbled about their anti-racism workshops saying Why are the leaders so rude? Were doing our best to learn, arent we? (One of them recently said that, upon reflection, the leaders were not rude, it was her shock at confronting race that made her perceive them that way.)

I heard it again on Tuesday at a public meeting of the Peel District School Board.

Its important to know the context in which it is enacted because without it, a move to innocence can come across as reasonableness, open-mindedness, civility or even helplessness.

Peel community members have been fighting the board over the racism Black children face in its schools for a long time and it has spilled over into the bi-weekly public meetings since the fall of 2019. Community members have been showing up, sharing stories, seeking action, challenging trustees and demanding accountability.

Tope Adefarakan is a Peel parent. She is also a formidable anti-racism leader, a sociologist and an organizer, notably of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign in 2014 after more than 200 Nigerian girls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram.

So when Adefarakan shows up, it is with more than the usual analysis and framework of understanding racism. On Tuesday, she came to the podium flanked by other Peel residents dressed in grey T-shirts that read Police District School Board to protest the practice of schools calling police to deal with students.

She made an impassioned plea for justice for students and set out a few demands. One of them included setting up Africentric schools in the Peel board.

We would like to see a dedicated school for Black students, an Africentric school in the Peel board, where there are Black teachers, where there are Black staff, where there are Black admin, she said. And where there is, most importantly, a decolonized curriculum where Black children can see themselves in a positive light, where their identities are affirmed, where their self-esteem is protected and its nourished as opposed to being torn apart by whats happening in the system right now.

During questioning after her presentation, trustee John Marchant said: I know theres several of these schools in the U.S. and Canada. Do you have any specific examples of those that have positive effects and positive impacts and if you do, could you share that in the notes?

Then he said: If we could have some idea of numbers, the magnitude of the kind of demand there is ... if you have that information, if you can add that to your notes.

His comments elicited a pat response from the audience: Dont act fresh.

Acting fresh is an accurate colloquial equivalent to moves to innocence. It was, were doing our best to learn, arent we all over again, and it was not going to wash with this crowd. And why should it?

Africentric schools have long been the mainstay of demands by Black parents. Toronto had seen years of resistance and efforts by Black community members that finally led to the creation of one such school that succeeds despite inadequate resources.

University of Toronto scholars George Dei and Arlo Kempf even wrote a book, the first on the study of African-centred schools in the Canadian context. Few among us want to admit that our progressive society fails its students of colour, they wrote in New Perspectives on African-Centred Education in Canada, first published in 2013. Even fewer want to admit that the system was never designed to help them succeed.

As Adefarakan said, This is not new. We as a community have been fighting and speaking and shouting and praying for decades for our children.

Its time the Peel school board stopped acting fresh and got serious about resolving its issues on anti-Black racism.

Correction March 14, 2020: This article was updated from an earlier version that misidentified the trustee who said, If we could have some idea of numbers, the magnitude of the kind of demand there is if you have that information, if you can add that to your notes.
The Russian government has approved the development of a new heavy bomber. The Kremlin inked a deal with Tupolev, a subsidiary of the United Aircraft Corporation, for design, construct and initial test of the PAK-DA bomber, Deputy Minister of Defense Alexey Krivoruchko announced in early March 2020. PAK-DA stands for Prospective Aviation Complex for Long-Range Aviation. Observers expect the PAK-DA to possess some radar-evading features.

But a lot can go wrong between now and 2027, The National Interest writes in the article Place Your Bets on Russias New Bomber. With a mere $70-billion annual budget, a tenth what the United States spends on its own military, the Kremlin is trying to match many of the Pentagons major ship and plane programs.

In addition to the bomber, theres a new stealth fighter. An armed wingman drone. An aircraft carrier. With the world economy teetering and oil prices plummeting, its not at all clear Russia can afford all the new weapons it wants. I think these systems will eventually be built and fielded, Samuel Bendett, an analyst with the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C., told The National Interest. This is now a matter of national pride for Russia. But how many of the new systems the Kremlin buys, and how quickly, are open questions. Its not hard to imagine the PAK-DA program experiencing delays. The eventual military acquisition date of 2027 may be pushed to the right, Bendett said.

While work on PAK-DA begins, the Russian air force is investing heavily in upgrades for its existing Tu-95 and Tu-160 long-range bombers, which respectively date from the 1950s and 80s. The upgrades also could face budgetary obstacles.

In 2015 the Russian defense ministry announced it would restart Tu-160 production and also modernize 16 existing bombers for a future fleet of 50 modernized Tu-160Ms and new-build Tu-160M2s. The M-model Tu-160 features new engines and avionics and a metallic canopy treatment that reduces the type's radar-reflectivity.

Maxim Starchak from the Washington, D.C.-based Jamestown Foundation noted that, owing to the long gap between batches of Tu-160s, "much of the work on the modernized Tu-160M2 will have to be recreated independently from scratch, which requires extra time and money." Cost aside, it's not clear that Tu-160-builder Kazan can produce new bombers on schedule. The Kremlin launched the Tu-160M program before Kazan could finish modernizing its bomber factory, Starchak noted.

Having struggled for decades to keep fewer than 20 Tu-160s in the air, Russia could struggle to more than double the fleet. The Tu-95 modernization effort is less ambitious. In 2018 the Kremlin launched an upgrade program for 20 of the air forces 60 Tu-95s. The Tu-95MSM boasts new engines and avionics, potentially prolonging the service life of the type for several decades.

Incredibly, the Kremlin is already talking about a bomber type to succeed to the PAK-DA starting in the 2040s. Lt. Gen. Sergey Kobylash, commander of long-range aviation for the Russian air force, announced the plan in an interview with newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets. "It is expected that by the year 2040 a sixth-generation strategic bomber will be created, which will already be unmanned," Kobylash said, according to one summary of the interview in TASS.

The 20-year projection arc is meant to buy time to figure out the most important technological issues with respect to this aircraft, Bendett explained. The Russian aerospace industry cannot yet build a fully reliable and combat-capable large drone.

The U.S. Air Force also is developing a new strategic bomber. The B-21, which could fly for the first time as early as 2021, reportedly has a pilot-optional mode. With the flip of a few switches, it could transform into a long-range drone similar to the sixth-generation unmanned aerial vehicle the Kremlin hopes to deploy.
Mike Drop: After Joe Bidens Big Super Tuesday Wins, Whats Next for Bloomberg?

With his highly problematic policies of racial profiling when he was Mayor of New York, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg already faced an uphill climb. Bloombergs rationale for running was that former Vice President Joe Biden was failing to show he could beat President Donald Trump. That rationale ended on March 3  Super Tuesday.

Propelled to a comeback by African American voters in South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and other states, Biden defied much of the conventional wisdom that his campaign was low energy and on the brink of failure. Biden has run for office two times before and had never won any states presidential primary until the South Carolina primary. Biden also did well with older voters across the board.

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The former Vice President won in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Arkansas, Maine and Oklahoma. Sen. Bernie Sanders won California, Vermont, Colorado and Utah. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who spent over $100 million in ads alone, won the territory of American Samoa.

With little money available to spend, Bidens numerous victories on Super Tuesday fueled a stunning comeback after he lost in Iowa and New Hampshire. By comparison, Bloombergs campaign will likely be remembered as one of the biggest and most expensive presidential campaign-level political efforts in U.S. political history. Bloomberg, generally considered the fourth of fifth richest person in the world, spent over $100 million on advertising alone for a race he entered late, yet won no states.

Ive always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterdays vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden. Ive known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country  including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs, Bloomberg said in a statement announcing the suspension of his campaign on March 4th.

Democrats turned out in record numbers for Super Tuesday as many are citing their desire to remove President Trump from office as a motivating factor. In the Super Tuesday state of Virginia, primary turnout was the highest ever and surpassed the 2008 primary 12 years ago when former President Barack Obama challenged former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Over 23 percent of registered voters cast ballots on March 3rd.

The record turnout trend that was first seen in 2017 and then in 2018 when Democrats flipped the U.S. House in their favor two years after the election of Donald Trump. Additionally, the red state of Alabama elected a Democrat, Doug Jones, who was elected with African American voters pushing him to victory. In 2019, Democrats won in the red state of Kentucky as Andy Beshear defeated Republican Matt Bevin for Governor.

Whether the trend of blue victories will extend to the key electoral college states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina will be the key question moving forward as Democrats consolidate support around Biden and focus on defeating Donald Trump in November.
Over 1,900 crore belonging to the Himachal Pradesh government and the public are stuck in crisis-hit yes Bank, said chief minister Jai Ram Thakur who also holds finance portfolio told the state assembly here on Thursday.

Soon after the question hour in the Budget session, the ruling party and opposition were in blame game over the issue. Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri on Wednesday had accused the HP government of being mite spectator to Yes Bank crisis. Jai Ram Thakur said that 1919 crore are deposited in nearly 32,000 accounts of Yes Banks nine branches located across the state. Over 750 crore were deposited by HP State Co-operative Bank in Yes Bank before December 31, 2017 and 650 crore were deposited after December 31, 2017 by Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank.

Kangra Central Cooperative bank had deposited 179 crore before December 31, 2017 and 320 crore after December 31, 2017. HP infrastructure development board had deposited 200 crore before December 31, 2017 and 104 crore after December 31, 2017.

HP Power Transmission Corporation Limited had deposited 11.80 crore before December 31, 2017 and 25 crore after December 31, 2017. Dharamshala Smart City had deposited 209 crore before December 31, 2017 and 170 crore after December 31, 2017.

The government has appointed former State Bank of Indias chief financial officer as the administrator of Yes Bank. According to the proposed scheme, SBI will ensure 26% partnership in Yes Bank which can be increased up to 49%. After evaluation, this amount is about 2500 crore.

The CM said that the RBI had already stated that the money of the depositors in Yes Bank is secure and safe and SBI will prepare a scheme to get Yes Bank out of this crisis within a weeks time.

In his statement Jai Ram referred to the portrait of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that was sold by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi to former Yes bank chief executive officer Rana Kapoor. Opposition members sharply objected to Jai Rams reference about Priyanka Gandhi. He said that opposition should remember that Rana Kapoor had bought portrait worth 2 crore. Every one knows who promoted Rana Kapoor and Yes bank said CM. The opposition members reacted strongly to his remarks .

Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri sought assurance from CM on money of the depositors in Yes Bank.

Vidhan Sabha speaker Vipin Singh Parmar did not permit opposition members to seek clarification on the issue, but later allowed them to raise their queries. CM said that the opposition was politicising the Yes Bank crisis .  The opposition was trying to portray as if coronavirus and Yes Bank crisis were created by BJP, Thakur said.

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ALBANY - Panasonic revealed Wednesday that the number of workers it is laying off at Tesla's solar panel factory in Buffalo is 375, and that company is planning to exit the facility by May 31, Department of Labor documents show.

Panasonic Solar North America had previously announced back in February that it would eliminate 400 jobs at the Tesla facility, which was paid for by the state of New York at a cost of nearly $1 billion, part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Buffalo Billion tech subsidy program spearheaded by SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

SUNY Poly founder Alain Kaloyeros and contractors who worked on the Tesla factory in Buffalo and another SUNY Poly project in Syracuse were convicted of bid-rigging and are facing federal prison terms from the scandal.

Kaloyeros is actually presenting his appeal of his conviction today in Manhattan.

Despite the Panasonic job cuts and the bid-rigging scandal, Tesla and the state have hailed the Telsa project a success that will have created 1,450 jobs by the end of April. Actually, the state says that Tesla has created 1,800 jobs total in New York, including 1,500 in Buffalo.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Although Panasonic was partnering with Tesla, Panasonic's job numbers were not counted toward Tesla's job totals, which are required if Tesla wants to avoid a $41.2 million penalty from the state. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is planning to visit the Telsa factory next month to celebrate the job totals and the success of the plant, which is dubbed Gigafactory 2. Telsa also makes electric car chargers at the facility.

The move by Panasonic is part of a strategy by the Japanese company to become more of a "life solutions" company that will exit industrial solar panel production.

"By the end of May 2020, Panasonic will cease U.S. solar manufacturing operations and is scheduled to exit the facility by the end of September 2020," the company said in a statement last month in announcing the layoffs. "Panasonic is supporting Tesla in its efforts to identify and hire qualified applicants from Panasonics impacted workforce. Tesla plans to hire qualified applicants to new positions needed to support its solar and energy manufacturing operations in Buffalo."
DENVER, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A day after Governor Jared Polis announced a state of emergency in Colorado amid the spread of coronavirus, organizers of the 2020 Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference have cancelled the event. The gathering was set to bring together over 2,000 early childhood professionals and stakeholders to the heart of Denver on March 13th and 14th.

Organizers were in discussions with government, health, and community leaders before deciding that cancellation was in the best interest of the community. "We will sincerely miss this year's event, but we feel this is the best decision for everyone involved. The health of our early care and education providers, and the children and families they care for, are our highest priority and we do not want to put anyone at unnecessary risk," said Emily Bustos, CEO of Denver's Early Childhood Council, co-host of the event with the Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance

Organizers are working to make materials available and seeking ways to help meet professional development needs. Participants will be emailed with next steps and updates will made available on a continuous basis at www.rmecconference.com.

About Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference (RMECC): it is the region's largest and leading early childhood conference. The conference provides early childhood professionals, business leaders, policymakers, parents, caregivers and other key stakeholders with top-notch keynote speakers, hundreds of workshops, exhibitors and networking opportunities. Visit www.rmecconference.com to find out more about this year's workshops, exhibitors and keynote speakers.

CONTACTS:

Haysel Hernandez

303.759.5902

[email protected]

Social: @RMECC

SOURCE Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Council

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https://www.rmecconference.com


A Russian court in Moscow has fined BBC World News and its editor in chief in Russia, Yekaterina Yakushenko, for violating two regulations concerning the media.

The court ruled on March 12 that the defendants failed to correctly label content unsuitable for children and failed to submit content to a state archive, the Interfax news agency reported.

They were fined a total of 36,000 rubles ($485), Judge Vasilisa Lapina said in her ruling.

Yakushenko had entered a plea of not guilty.

"We are disappointed that the court has imposed fines totaling 36,000 rubles on our Russian distributor and will be working with them to ensure the obligations are met in the future," a BBC spokesperson told Interfax.

The ruling was based on several reports that aired on January 21 covering bombardments in Syria, the war on drugs in Columbia, and an interview with a U.S. Marine.

Based on reporting by Interfax and Reuters
Lauren Pope has revealed she is expecting her first child with millionaire boyfriend Tony Keterman after quitting fame for love and to focus on her business.

The 37-year-old shared a collage of photos on Instagram on Thursday in which she debuted her bump for the first time, as well as her baby scan and a picture of Tony kissing her tummy.

A source told MailOnline: Lauren consciously took a step away from the limelight some time ago now. Since then, she has been fully focused on her business and is truly head over heels with her boyfriend.

Happy news: Lauren Pope, 37, took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal she is expecting her first child with millionaire boyfriend Tony Keterman, 33, after quitting fame

She's found The One: The couple went Instagram public with this image in January 2019 on social media and it seems Lauren has found her fairytale ending

'She is happier than she has ever been and having a family of her own and being a mother has always been a dream and is looking forward to this new chapter in her life together with her boyfriend.

'Lauren wanted to wait until she was way past the three month mark before revealing her news to make sure the baby was safe and healthy.

'The pregnancy has been going well and she's been eating everything in sight since the morning sickness subsided.'

Her love: Lauren bowed out of the spotlight in March last year to spend time with her boyfriend following a nine year stint on TOWIE

A source told MailOnline: Lauren consciously took a step away from the limelight some time ago now. Since then, she has been fully focused on her business and is truly head over heels with her boyfriend'

Lauren decided to bow out of the spotlight in March year to spend time with her boyfriend following a nine-year stint on TOWIE.

But she has been busy working on her successful Hair Rehab London brand and would still keep her fans posted about what she's up to on Instagram.

Lauren announced she was quitting TOWIE in March last year.

She shared a glamorous snap with her on-screen best pal Chloe Sims and thanked both show bosses and her close friends on the programme.

They continued: 'She is happier than she has ever been and having a family of her own and being a mother has always been a dream and is looking forward to this new chapter in her life together with her boyfriend'

Lauren penned at the time: 'After an amazing nine years on @towie I have decided that now is the natural time for me to say goodbye...

'Ive made incredible friends especially you @chloe_simsstarship @georgiakousoulou @diags_ @danedgar @tommy_mallet & @limepicturestv have now become an extended family to me...

'Ill be forever grateful for their guidance & support over the years & the opportunities that have come my way from being a part of the family. I now really want to focus my time on my business ventures and personal relationship...

Cautious: 'Lauren wanted to wait until she was way past the three month mark before revealing her news to make sure the baby was safe and healthy'

Plai-sailing: 'The pregnancy has been going well and she's been eating everything in sight since the morning sickness subsided

'And finally big thank you to all of you guys for keeping up with me over the years, heres to an exciting next chapter'.

Two months before, Lauren had confirmed her romance by sharing a sweet snap of her kissing a hunky man, who was revealed to be foreign exchange investor Tony Keterman, 33.

Replying to a fan who asked if she was single, the beauty entrepreneur shared a picture of her packing on the PDA with her beau and wrote: 'Nope' alongside a smiling emoji.
Winemaker Jordy Kay was appalled by the amount of plastic used to wrap the pallets of wine he exported to overseas markets.

"If you put so much effort in to make the wine natural it is a shame to wrap it up in plastic," he says. "At any dock you can see pallets upon pallets of plastic stretch wrap and seldom is it recycled.

Kay was inspired to start Great Wrap, the world's first certified compostable industrial stretch wrap with the aim of removing 1 million tonnes of plastic from the environment.

Jordy Kay is the founder of plastic free wrap company Great Wrap. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

"I thought someone would step into the space, it makes a lot of sense," he says. "Nobody did, so I thought I would."
Prior to 2017, over 300 thousand JHS leavers were left to end the formal education journey regardless of the good grades they could make. In many areas of the country, it took chiefs, members of parliament, churches and other societies to consolidate funds to cater for a few within their communities and leave many uneducated.

Be reminded, such was the case at the primary and JHS levels years back until the NPP government under Former President Kufuor made basic education free, with feeding and transportation inclusive. Per statistics, Ghana was leaving almost 1.2 million young ones uneducated every 3 years.

The NDC sponsored over 30 adverts during the 2016 campaign to discredit the visionary idea of the NPP campaign for free SHS which had begun as early as 2008. The facts are real and solid that NDC per their management strength could never have and would never be able to implement free SHS.

Let's walk back to the pre-Kufuor administration. The economy of Ghana then was in shambles. The health sector, agriculture, and the entire economy of the country had been completely broken. For these reasons, the acclaimed social democrats could not implement any better social intervention.

This was because any attempt to do so would have caused the country to plunge into horrendous debt. President Kufuor had to take the pain to revamp the economy before interventions like free basic education, school feeding, free student transport, NHIS, and others were implemented, Remember the HIPC INITIATIVE ?.

The NDC's Mills-Mahama administration led the country back into economic chaos. All the policies president Kufuor had introduced went either dormant or collapsed. The country was drowning in the face of corruption, ineptitude, and mismanagement. And the only best option next to the economic chaos was MFI bailout.

His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo mounted the seat of government after the 2016 elections and has ones again demonstrated that the NDC was not wrong to have said that Free SHS was impossible because they spoke at the back of their strength in economic management. As weak and ignorant as they are in matters of the economy, they could never have brought to being such a policy of relief to the entire nation.

The vision which was born by the Nana-Bawumia administration was possible and has been rolled out perfectly because it could only make good economic and financial intelligence to implement such a policy. Today, the policy is only 3 years is catering to the educational needs of 1.2 million students. A single policy is estimated to have a positive effect on over 4 million households.

Such a move of honey can only attract the best bees. Nana Addo deserves more years at the helm of affairs. The obvious FOUR MORE for Nana campaign is nothing but a cry of the Ghanaian people for space to grow, develop and climb the ladder of Economic Independence.

...Signed...

Nana Boateng

NPP Germany Branch Communications Director.
Event to Attract the International Tea Community, as Well as Retail, Hospitality and Restaurant and Bar Businesses in North America

NEW YORK, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 18th World Tea Conference + Expo , presented by Questex Hospitality Group, is heading to Denver, Colo., June 8-11, 2020, at the Colorado Convention Center. The event will feature more than 200 exhibits and hundreds of new tea products, 50+ educational sessions and workshops, 65 speakers and an industry awards ceremony. Several thousand professionals and businesses from the international tea and beverage industry will attend, including buyers and decision makers from restaurants and bars, foodservice, retail, grocery, hotels, spas, and tea and coffeehouses, among others. Registration and conference details are available at https://worldteaexpo.com .

Denver was strategically selected as the host city for this years World Tea Conference + Expo because of its vibrant and thriving food, beverage, retail and hospitality business landscape  all of which aligns closely with the tea industry, says Tim McLucas, vice president, bar and restaurant, Questex Hospitality Group.
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The Misfits' Glenn Danzig will finally release his long-awaited album of Elvis covers on April 17. In celebration, the horror punk pioneer has also announced two intimate (and expensive) live performances of the material in San Francisco (4/17) and Los Angeles (4/22).





Above, Danzig's take on Elvis's "Let Yourself Go" from his 2015 covers album Skeletons.





(Facebook)




The top-notch service we provide to our industrial security clients is revealed in our fast-paced growth.

Inc. Magazine today revealed that Industrial Security Integrators (IsI) is No. 101 on its inaugural Inc. 5000 Series: D.C. Metrolist, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.

Born of the annual Inc. 5000 franchise, this regional list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the D.C. Metro economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses. The top-notch service we provide to our industrial security clients is revealed in our fast-paced growth," said Paul Cella, CEO of IsI. "By providing technology solutions that are unique in the marketplace, and layering on excellent customer service, we're on a tremendous growth trajectory and we appreciate this important recognition, he continued.

The companies on this list show stunning rates of growth across all industries in the D.C. metropolitan area. Between 2016 and 2018, these 250 private companies had an average growth rate of 196 percent and, in 2018 alone, they employed over 88,000 people and added $6.5 billion in revenue to the greater D.C. areas economy.

The security landscape is constantly evolving and as such, it is becoming increasingly difficult for government contractors to remain in compliance. "Our technology allows our clients to effectively navigate the complexities of industrial security," said Cella. The company has developed a cutting-edge Secure Control, that was designed by Facility Security Officers (FSOs) for FSOs to increase efficiencies, process speeds, and compliance with the NISPOM government regulations. The software combined with expert customer support has blazed the path for fast growth. IsI fully expects their growth trend to continue well into the future.

More about Industrial Security Integrators (IsI):

Headquartered in Herndon, VA, Industrial Security Integrators provides cost-effective, comprehensive security solutions for Industry and Government. The company strives to achieve complete customer satisfaction while maintaining an ethical and professional workplace. IsIs team of dedicated security professionals provides the support needed to manage both small and large security programs at a fraction of the cost. For more information about IsI, please visit their website at https://www.dodsecurity.com.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar 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.
CHICAGO  Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders both have canceled campaign rallies planned for Illinois amid ongoing concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the state.

The Sanders campaign had been finalizing plans for a rally in downstate Illinois before deciding Wednesday to cancel the event. Biden had plans for a Friday night rally in Chicago that will be replaced with a virtual event.

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 source and the Sanders campaign declined to identify which downstate location was under consideration for the rally ahead of the Illinois primary next Tuesday. However, Sanders frequently visits college campuses for large get-out-the-vote rallies, including one Sunday in Ann Arbor, Mich., that drew more than 10,000 people at the University of Michigan.

Sanders did, however, manage to hold a massive rally in Chicago on Saturday that drew 12,500 people, according to the campaign. Biden has yet to campaign in the state in the run-up to the primary.

The Sanders campaign has indicated it is taking the recommendations of local health officials seriously and is in the midst of planning smaller campaign gatherings in Illinois with those concerns in mind, the source said. Each planned event will be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with state and local officials.

Bidens campaign had announced plans to hold an event in Chicago on Friday night but had yet to release details.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, the campaign said, 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.

Instead, the campaign said the rallies would 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 former vice president already had canceled a Thursday rally planned for Tampa, Fla., and instead plans to given an address about the coronavirus in Wilmington, Delaware.

Voters in Illinois will head to the polls Tuesday with the states 155 pledged delegates at stake. Florida, Ohio and Arizona all will hold primaries the same day, as Biden has opened up a sizable delegate lead over Sanders.

On Wednesday, Biden announced the creation of a Public Health Advisory Committee within his campaign to provide science-based, expert advice regarding steps the campaign should take 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, the campaign said in a statement. Members of the committee will provide ongoing counsel to the campaign, which will in turn continue to update the public regarding operational decisions.

Included on the committee is Chicago native Dr. Zeke Emanuel, the vice provost of global initiatives and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Emanuel is the brother of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
The Japanese government is going relatively easy on travelers from Italy, where more than 10,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, but is clamping down hard on travelers from Korea.

On Tuesday, Tokyo announced an entry ban on visitors who have stayed in part of northern Italy within the last two weeks. But anyone else can freely enter Japan. Tokyo also decided to continue allowing Italians to stay for up to 90 days visa-free.

Italy is second only to China in terms of coronavirus infections, and more than 600 patients had died there as of Wednesday, more than 10 times the fatalities in Korea. Nonetheless Tokyo imposed stricter entry restrictions on travelers from Korea.

On March 5, Tokyo announced a plan to force visitors from Korea to quarantine themselves for two weeks and suspend the mutual visa-waiver program and cancel existing visas. At the time there were about 6,000 infected patients in Korea. This has fueled criticism that Tokyo is deliberately discriminating against Koreans amidst an ongoing spat.

The Korean Embassy in Tokyo has asked the Japanese government to rectify the discrepancies. But the Japanese government argues that there are far fewer visitors from Italy than Korea.

Last year, some 5.58 million Koreans visited Japan and only about 150,000 Italians.

A diplomatic source in Tokyo said, "We are naturally suspicious of the political intentions hidden behind the Japanese government's steps given the double standards it applies."


Reporters Without Borders has found a radical new platform for distributing banned journalism in some of the worlds most repressive countries: Minecraft.

The advocacy group has opened a new virtual space on a dedicated server for the popular video game called The Uncensored Library, accessible to any of Minecrafts 145 million monthly players.

Inspired by the neoclassical architecture of ancient Rome and Greece, the library will be filled with books containing the text of news stories that have been censored in their countries of origin.

The Uncensored Library is a new virtual library in Minecraft, created in part by Reporters Without Borders to host the work of journalists banned or censored in their home countries

To begin with, the library will be stocked with stories from five countries that rank near the bottom of Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, including Egypt, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam.

The stories will be published in English and whichever language they were originally written in.

The text of the stories cant be edited or altered, but anyone with access to the Minecraft server hosting the library will be able to read them.

The project is backed by several prominent international journalists whove had their work, or the work of someone they loved, censored, including Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Van Dai, Russian journalist Yulia Berezovskaia, and Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In many countries around the world, there is no free access to information, Reporters Without Borders Christian Mihr said in a statement on the groups website.

Websites are blocked, independent newspapers are banned and the press is controlled by the state. Young people grow up without being able to form their own opinions.

By using Minecraft, the worlds most popular computer game, as a medium, we give them access to independent information.

To start with, the library will feature the work of journalists banned in five countries, including, Egypt, Vietnam, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico

The library was created by 16 people using 125 million blocks and inspired by the neoclassical architecture of ancient Rome and Greece

The library is currently supported by several prominent international journalists, including Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Van Dai, Russian journalist Yulia Berezovskaia, and Hatice Cengiz, who was fiancee the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Reporters Without Borders partnered with creative agency DDB German, design studio BlockWorks, and the production company Media Monks to complete The Uncensored Library

The stories will be available in both English and the language they were originally published in, and users will be unable to alter or edit the text in any way

The librarys virtual opening was timed to coincide with World Day Against Cyber Censorship, an annual observance that began in 2008 as a collaboration between Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders.

The Library was assembled by 24 builders from 16 countries, using 125 million blocks, and features a large central rotunda that measures 984 feet across.

The project was the result of a collaboration between Reporters Without Borders, the creative agency DDB German, design studio BlockWorks, and the production company Media Monks.
LJUBLJANA, March 12 (Reuters) - Slovenia plans to close all schools from Monday in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Marjan Sarec said on Thursday.

"This decree is necessary...in this situation," Sarec said on social media, giving no details on how long the schools will be closed.

Slovenia has so far confirmed 57 cases of coronavirus. The first two elementary schools were closed on Wednesday because at least one teacher in each school tested positive. (Reporting By Marja Novak; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Canada to welcome up to 390,000 immigrants in 2022 Details of Canada's 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan have just been announced

Canada to welcome up to 390,000 immigrants in 2022 Details of Canada's 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan have just been announced

Canada will welcome more than one million new permanent residents in the next three years.



This was unveiled today in the federal governments 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan.

Canada continues its approach to gradually increase immigration levels. This is likely to give stakeholders time to adequately plan to support a larger population.

Whereas Canada welcomed 320,000 newcomers in 2018, and 341,000 immigrants in 2019, it is again targeting the admissions of 341,000 immigrants in 2020.

It is aiming to welcome an additional 351,000 in 2021, and another 361,000 in 2022. The plan provides Canada with the scope to welcome up to 390,000 immigrants in 2022.

The most significant revelation from the announcement is Canadas target for 2022 since today is the first time such information has become publicly available.

In 2017, Canada reintroduced multi-year levels plans after the first attempt between 1982-1984 was disrupted by a recession.

The return to multi-year plans is meant to help stakeholders such as urban planners forecast what steps they need to take to support the economic and social integration of newcomers.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

The higher levels are meant to alleviate the economic and fiscal pressures Canada is facing due to its aging population and low birth rate. More than 9 million Canadians will reach retirement age in the next decade which means Canada will become even more dependent on immigrants to maintain a healthy workforce and economy.

Economic class to lead the way

Canada will continue to admit the balance of its newcomers under the economic class, with 58 per cent set to arrive through the likes of Express Entry programs, the Provincial Nominee Program, Quebecs programs, and other federal streams such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP). Most of the growth will come from the economic class, as its target is going to rise by nearly 10,000 immigrants each year.

Compared with 2019, the government is increasing its PNP admission target by 20 per cent in 2022. Canada is also slated to welcome more immigrants under various pilots. It is aiming to welcome 5,200 under pilots such as the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. It may end up nearly doubling its intake under these pilots by 2022.

Although the AIP is set to become a permanent program, the federal government is keeping its AIP targets stable at 5,000 during the plan.

Quebecs levels are yet to be determined for 2021 and 2022, as the federal government waits to consult with Quebec in light of the major reforms the province is currently undertaking to its immigration system.

In addition, 26 per cent will be welcomed under the family class, while the remaining 16 per cent will be admitted on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. There will be no growth under the family class. The government has set the same target for family class immigration of 91,000 newcomers over the coming three years. There will be minimal growth for those admitted for humanitarian and compassionate purposes.

Canadas immigration levels: Past, present and future

Canadas current immigration levels are high by historical standards. The country has welcomed 300,000 immigrants or more just five times since its founding back in 1867. On a per-capita basis, Canadas levels are also high, as it is now welcoming 0.9 per cent of its population in immigrants. By way of comparison, the United States has welcomed an average of one million immigrants annually in recent times. However, that figure represents just 0.3 per cent of its population.

On the other hand, Canadas current per capita intake is by no stretch the highest in its history. In the decades leading up to the First World War, Canada regularly welcomed at least one per cent of its population in immigrants. At its peak, Canada welcomed 401,000 immigrants or 5.3 per cent of its population. In modern terms, a 5.3 per cent intake would mean welcoming two million immigrants to Canada.



Canada continues to increase its immigration levels to support its high living standards. The aging of its society will weaken labour force and economic growth as its fiscal costs in areas such as health care rise. Delivering quality health care to its aging population will become even more expensive. Immigration will help to grow the size of Canadas labour force, giving Canada a steady supply of people to contribute to its economy as workers, consumers, and taxpayers.

Todays announcement is part of a broader trend that will likely see Canada continue to boost immigration and eventually break the 400,000-newcomer threshold. The country is poised to welcome some 3.5 million immigrants this decade, compared with 2.8 million between 2010-2019.

All told, however, demographic and economic circumstances are just one of the six factors that will shape the future of Canadas immigration levels.

By November, the Canadian government will table its next immigration levels plan, which may contain its target for 2023.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan

 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved
Gov. Kate Brown shared more information on Thursday morning about her ban on all gatherings of more than 250 people in Oregon for the next four weeks in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Brown said public schools should remain open. But she said all non-essential school-associated gatherings and group activities  such as parent group meetings, field trips and competitions -- should be cancelled.

Brown also provided more information about her guidance for employers, saying that all measures should be taken to increase physical space between employees and to limit meetings and stagger work schedules.

Browns statewide ban on large gatherings mimics one that Washington Gov. Jay Inslee imposed on three Seattle-area counties earlier Wednesday, as his state copes with confirmed coronavirus cases approaching 400 with 29 deaths.
A wedding dress is displayed during a group wedding ceremony hosted by the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, China, on May 11, 2010. (Aly Song/Reuters)

Trafficked Brides Stuck in China Due to Coronavirus After Fleeing Abuse

PHNOM PENHCoronavirus travel restrictions have forced anti-trafficking groups to suspend rescue operations of Vietnamese and Cambodian brides from China, with some now in hiding having escaped the homes of men holding them against their will.

Over the past decade, tens of thousands of Southeast Asian women have been lured to China by criminal networks promising lucrative jobs, only to be sold as bridessome to abusive menas China grapples with a gender imbalance.

Charities in Vietnam and Cambodia said some women who fled this year have been detained and shut off from communication, while others who are not under immediate threat of being killed have been advised to sit tight.

Some say the husband is mentally ill, theyre being beaten, maybe prostituted to the neighbors, their lives are in immediate danger at this point, said Michael Brosowski, head of Hanoi-based Blue Dragon Childrens Foundation.

They say they have to go, they have to go now. All we can do is advise them on a safe place to hide.

Blue Dragon rescued one woman every three days on average from China in 2019, but was forced to freeze operations in late January as coronavirus travel restrictions took hold.

Getting to remote places, its just not possible nowand even if you could, the borders are closed, Brosowski told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

While Blue Dragon remains in touch with 27 women who have called for help in 2020, Phnom Penh-based anti-trafficking charity Chab Dai said it has lost contact with some who fled their abusers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Chab Dai programme manager Chan Saron said in early January, one women reported being transferred to government-controlled detention and held under very strict conditions before contact was lost.

According to Chinese law, survivors are often treated as illegal migrants, Saron said. We receive dozens of cases like this but there could be many more.

A Chinese assistant to the Cambodian consul in Shanghai said little could be done to assist women who had escaped their captors and were now uncontactable.

If we can get in touch with the women, we will find a way to help, she said, giving her name only as Hayley. But with no information, how could we find them?

Authorities in Cambodia, Vietnam and China have in recent years tried to combat the trafficking of brides but campaigners fear a ban on marriage broker services has driven the trend further underground and put women at higher risk.

Chinese men typically pay brokers between $10,000 and $20,000 for a foreign wife, a 2016 United Nations report said.

Criminal gangs scour poor regions for young women and pitch a dream life in China, where there is a surplus of some 40 million mena legacy of Beijings one-child policy.

Targets are coaxed by the promise of a life of relative luxury in China, and while some do marry happily and send money home to their families, others end are facing sexual abuse, violence and exploitation.

By Matt Blomberg
Ochsner Health System is designating three urgent care locations for testing for the new coronavirus, the hospital system said Thursday.

The three sites devoted to COVID-19 testing and assessment are located in New Orleans, Mandeville and Houma. Tests will be provided only if recommended by the Louisiana Department of Health and the patient's health care provider, according to a statement.

The hospital also asked that patients schedule a virtual visit or send a message to a primary care doctor before seeking care if possible.

If patients are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, which include fever, cough and shortness of breath, Ochsner has asked that they call an all-hours hotline at 844-888-2772 for advice and information.

The news that Ochsner is reserving some urgent care locations for disease testing came a day before Ochsner and other area health care systems were due to share information with New Orleans officials about their capacity to respond to COVID-19.

On Thursday, system representatives would not answer questions about how many negative pressure rooms they were reserving at each of their hospitals to isolate patients affected by the virus. Officials did say on Wednesday that they have 200 such rooms across their system overall.

Neither would the system answer questions about its stockpile of personal protective equipment, its number of infectious disease specialists, or its general COVID-19 protocols.

U.S. at 'inflection point' for coronavirus; Louisiana limits nursing home, prison visits In an effort to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic and avoid overwhelming health care systems, Louisiana and federal officials on Thursday said

The locations of the COVID-19 testing clinics are below.

Bayou Region

Ochsner Urgent Care  Houma

5922 West Main Street, Suite A, Houma

North shore

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Ochsner Urgent Care  Mandeville

2735 Highway 190, Suite D, Mandeville

New Orleans

Ochsner Urgent Care - Mid-City at Canal

4100 Canal Street, New Orleans

MORE COVERAGE:

Are you a Louisianan who has sought testing for the coronavirus? We want to hear from you. In our reporting on the coronavirus, we are trying to better understand who is being tested in Louisiana, who isn't, and why. If you are or ha

Louisiana coronavirus presumptive cases increase to 14, LDH says The Department of Health is reporting another presumptive case coronavirus in the state, bringing the total number of illnesses in Louisiana t

+2 Orleans Parish School Board declares emergency, makes plans for possible closures The Orleans Parish School Board on Thursday issued a declaration of emergency for the city's public schools, as a few schools began closing at
Moroccos flag carrier Royal Air Maroc grounded a third of its fleet as demand drops on the back of the surge of coronavirus cases worldwide with immediate ramification on tourism and international bookings.

Le 360 news outlet, citing unnamed sources, said the Moroccan airline has immobilized 20 aircrafts out of 58 airplanes it operates.

The consequences of low demand on flights and the suspension of all trips to Italy and China weighed on the airline operations, which dropped 40%.

The company adopted austerity measures, delayed acquisitions and asked staff to take holidays. It also decided to reduce the frequency of its flights by around 35% in the months of March and April.

The state may intervene to back up financially the company to offset the losses due to Covid-19, le 360 reported.

Globally, the International Civil Aviation Agency (IATA) has announced losses for the entire airline industry of up to $113 billion, or more than 20% of sales.

Morocco has registered so far 6 coronavirus cases, all imported the virus from Italy and France. A woman aged 89 years old died of the virus.

The economic consequences of the new virus are expected to hit economic growth in the country, which is expected to drop to 2% as tourist arrivals dwindle and exports stall amid global uncertainties.
With global economic activities and supply of essential goods hit due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is dependent on supply lines from various countries and he has spoken to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

The deadly novel 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, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) describing the outbreak a pandemic.

I also spoke to the prime minister of India, my friend Narendra Modi. We are dependent on supply lines from various countries. We are looking into it all the time, Netanyahu told a press conference on Wednesday.

Also Watch | Coronavirus: What we know and what we dont

His remarks came during joint statements with the finance minister, the economy and industry minister, the Bank of Israels governor and the finance ministry director general on dealing with the economic implications of the coronavirus. The Israeli Prime Ministers Office, however, did not clearly spell out the subject of Netanyahus discussions with Modi in its press release.

The Israeli prime minister has announced a package of 10 billion NIS (USD 2.86 billion) to facilitate economic activity in the midst of challenges posed by the spread of the virus. The Israeli economy is in a better situation than most economies in the world: Unemployment is low, growth is high and the debt to GDP ratio is good, Netanyahu said.

However, we have a great challenge here that we all are feeling and which we are all aware of. In our view, we can also deal with it in a way that will allow us to get through it successfully in peace, he said. Not without difficulty, and not without sacrifice, but in the end, in peace, and I think that we can do this together in an optimal manner, Netanyahu asserted .

The package lays special stress on the health sector and other businesses impacted by the coronavirus such as tourism and the aviation sector. It outlines financial assistance provisions for businesses affected by the global menace.
Key Milestone for Turkish Regulators and Legislators

PHOENIX, AZ, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Taronis Fuels, Inc., (Taronis or the Company) (TRFN), a global producer of renewable and socially responsible fuel products, today announced the scheduled shipment date of the mobile Venturi plasma arc gasification unit for delivery to Ankara, Turkey. The unit is scheduled to be shipped on March 30, 2020 and is scheduled to arrive in Ankara at the end of April.

This first delivery represents a critical next step in the progress of two large multi-year purchase contracts. First, a 30 unit purchase contract for $165 million is expected to be expanded to up to 100 units for a total of $550 million if the initial commissioning is successful. Second, this delivery is a key component for a previously disclosed $250 million, 13 country marketing agreement with MC Consulting, a Turkey-based multinational marketing team. MC Consulting was the key driver in the initial Turkey contract and holds a 50 unit contract option to sell Taronis patented Venturi plasma arc gasification unit for $5 million per unit across Central Asia.

A large-scale ribbon ceremony in Ankara will be scheduled immediately upon clearing customs in Turkey. A number of high-profile government leaders and key business executives from the Turkish market are expected to attend the commissioning of the gasification unit, including the production of MagneGas using the new unit, and a live metal cutting demonstration. MagneGas is the worlds only renewable metal cutting fuel and has been independently proven to cut metal up to 70% faster than any other metal cutting fuel product available today.

We are pleased to be able to finalize the shipment of our first gasification unit to Turkey, commented Scott Mahoney, CEO of Taronis Fuels. The delivery and commissioning of this unit represents the final milestone for the Turkish government to fund the large-scale deployment of up to 100 gasification units to support the entire Turkish metal cutting fuel market. The government of Turkey estimates that the current market for metal cutting fuels in their country exceeds $200 million in annual spending.

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We recently completed a detailed cost analysis for the Turkish market using local cost factors including the prevailing labor rates and local electrical power costs. We were able to demonstrate that we can produce MagneGas for $0.078 per cubic foot, which represents a 13% lower production cost than what we produce MagneGas for in the United States. More importantly, our production cost is 40% lower than the cost to manufacture acetylene, which typically costs at least $0.13 per cubic foot to produce.

We are very pleased to deliver a technology that will help make Turkey significantly more competitive and efficient as a global leader in manufacturing. We are also excited to help support sweeping safety measures to help make the labor force of Turkey significantly safer. MagneGas is independently validated as a vastly safer alternative to acetylene. Lastly, our product is a renewable, hydrogen-based fuel that will help Turkey continue to execute its ambitious sustainability goals while building a strong and vibrant economy.

About Taronis Fuels, Inc.

Taronis Fuels, Inc. is a global producer of renewable and socially responsible fuel products. Our goal is to deliver environmentally sustainable, technology driven alternatives to traditional fossil fuel and carbon-based economy products. We believe our products offer a vastly cleaner solution to legacy acetylene and propane alternatives.

Taronis is also dedicated to providing fundamentally safer solutions to meet the industrial, commercial and residential needs of tomorrows global economy. Our products have been rigorously tested and independently validated by global gas authorities as vastly safer than acetylene, the most dangerous industrial gas in use today.

Lastly, we strive to deliver products that offer significant function superiority at a reduced cost to the end consumer. Through these efforts, we support 9 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For more information, please visit our website at www.taronisfuels.com/



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our public filings with the SEC are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov .
Using computational chemistry, graduate student Vindi M. Jayasinghe-Arachchige and Rajeev Prabhakar, professor of chemistry, designed a new molecule that could significantly advance the study and uses of enzymes.

Enzymes are nature's powerhouses. Found in the cells of all animals, plants, and every other living organism, they accelerate the chemical reactions that trigger thousands of biological functions--from forming neurons to digesting food.

They perform their jobs so selectively and so quickly--millions of times faster than a blink of the eye--that the field of biomimetic chemistry has emerged over the past few decades with the goal of designing artificial enzymes that can mimic the powers of natural enzymes in industrial settings. Artificial enzymes could, for example, convert corn into ethanol or help create new drugs more quickly, cheaply, and effectively.

Moving one step closer to achieving that goal, Rajeev Prabhakar, a computational chemist at the University of Miami, and his collaborators at the University of Michigan have created a novel, synthetic, three-stranded molecule that functions just like a natural metalloenzyme, or an enzyme that contains metal ions.

"It wasn't clear that they could be made, but we made them. And, then we used them to successfully catalyze reactions," said Prabhakar, a professor of chemistry who studies enzyme reactions in hopes of designing their artificial analogues. "This is an incremental but important step in the development of artificial enzymes, which has long been considered chemistry's holy grail. Unfortunately, as good as natural enzymes work in our bodies and other life forms, they don't tolerate other settings very well. They're also very expensive and not easy to prepare and purify."

For their groundbreaking study published in Nature Chemistry, Prabhakar and graduate student Vindi M. Jayasinghe-Arachchige joined forces with Vincent L. Pecoraro, a University of Michigan chemistry professor, to improve the performance of the artificial enzymes Pecoraro's lab pioneered over the years. The Michigan researchers had previously created simpler synthetic metalloenzymes that successfully catalyzed a number of chemical reactions. But those artificial macromolecules were designed with three identical, or symmetrical "homotrimeric" strands, which, Prabhakar said, limited their catalytic abilities.

In the new molecule, which Jayasinghe-Arachchige designed on the University of Miami's supercomputer with Prabhakar's guidance, the third strand differs in structure from the other two strands. Her quantum mechanical calculations showed that the more complex, non-symmetrical, three-stranded structure, known as a "heterotrimeric" coil, expanded the catalytic performance of homotrimeric artificial metalloenzymes--a finding that Pecoraro and his team confirmed with experiments in his Michigan lab.

"Our techniques are different, but complimentary," Prabhakar said. "What we do the Pecoraro group cannot do, and what they do, we cannot do. We model molecules on the computer so we can predict their structural properties and the mechanism of their formations. They use our models to build the real thing, and in this case that is the first example of a natural heterotrimeric molecule."

Most lay people would probably find the study as incomprehensible as its title: "Heteromeric three-stranded coiled coils designed using a Pb(II)(Cys)3 template mediated strategy." But the bottom line, Prabhakar said, is that the collaborative research conducted in Miami and Michigan opens the door to a new strategy for achieving the creation of artificial enzymes that work as well as natural enzymes.

In addition to Pecocaro, Prabhakar, and Jayasinghe-Arachchige, other co-authors of the study include Prabhakar's former graduate student, Thomas J. Paul, now at the University of Michigan; Audrey E. Tolbert, Catherine S. Ervin, and Kosh P. Neupane, also from the University of Michigan; and Leela Ruckthong, from King Mongkut's University of Technology, in Thailand.

Now in her last year of study for her doctorate in chemistry, Jayasinghe-Arachchige said she remains fascinated by the advances in computational chemistry techniques that allowed her to model the chemical structures and reactions of the new molecule.

"I'm excited that our findings will create new avenues toward the development of efficient artificial enzymes that can be used to enhance the quality of life,'' said Jayasinghe-Arachchige, "and as a woman in a field where women are underrepresented, I hope this study will motivate women to join the fascinating world of STEM fields."
Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel said Thursday that the federal government should consider dramatic measures to support the economy during the coronavirus outbreak, including a $2,000 tax credit for individuals and a fund to backstop lines of credit for companies.

"I think we need bold measures ... I think some big move by the government would be most welcome," Siegel said on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street," echoing comments made by CNBC's Jim Cramer earlier.

Equity markets plunged again on Thursday, with all three major U.S. stock indexes trading more than 20% below their recent highs. President Donald Trump said Wednesday night that the government was restricting travel between the U.S. and Europe and that he would ask Congress for economic relief measures domestically.

Siegel said that a relief program should include a fund that would allow banks to ensure that they could meet the liquidity needs of companies drawing on credit lines.

"The idea we're assuring the financial health to keep businesses going. Now, if we have 60 days, 90 days, 120 days of cessation, how many businesses would need to go on a line of credit? If that is assured, they will survive when confidence gets back and the economy gets back," Siegel said.

The professor said that he didn't think the help from the government should extend to supporting companies that are struggling for reasons other than the virus, such as the energy industry, where a global price war on oil has combined with weakening demand due to the virus to drive prices lower.

"I'm not for really bailing those out because I don't think they're systemic to the health of the economy. That's a macroeconomic force on oil that needs to be corrected," Siegel said. "We're talking about good businesses that are not going to get revenue for three months, four months, whatever time it is, because of the virus ... Those are the ones that we have to make sure that it's because of the virus alone that their existence and employment of tens of millions of people is note going to be threatened."

The professor said the crisis was not at the same level as the financial crisis and that the economy could bounce back faster from a recession.

He also said that strong actions by the government to support the economy could allow policymakers to focus on the health care side of combating the virus.

"Once you take those off the table ... then we can all concentrate on the health measures that we all need to engage in now," Siegel said.
Books are constantly being made into movies, but rarely is a movie actually about bookslet alone the people who sell them. Last Friday, The Booksellers, a documentary on the antiquarian book trade and the buyers and sellers of rare books, hit theaters to overall acclaim, and while the film is very much about its characters, it's also about the trade as a whole, and how it's surviving in an era of dizzying technological advancement. PW spoke to the film's director, D.W. Young, about how the movie came about, what the future of the rare book world looks like to him, and more.

How did this project come about?

The very first idea for the project came from our producer Dan Wechsler, who is also a prominent rare book dealer. He has also done some film work, and he and Judith Mizrachy, our other producer and my partner and my wife, and we've worked together on lots of things over the years. She had worked with Dan on something, we'd all kind of worked together on some projects like eight or nine years ago and become friends. We were talking about future projects and he mentioned he'd always thought a documentary about the rare book world would be a great idea. It had never been done. And from his perspective from inside the book world, he had a lot of ideas. And Judith and I immediately agreed that it was a great idea. We each had some peripheral sense of the rare book world, we're both people who love books. So we enthusiastically agreed. But we were all tied up in other projects at the time and we didn't really get to it until about three years ago when we were actually working on something else which hit a standstill. So at that time I said, you know what, I think this would be a great moment to pursue the rare book idea. And so we did.

How did the process of reporting it go?

Dan provided some shortcuts. He got us to some people sooner and easier and kinda got the ball rolling faster than it might've. I think we would've gotten to the same place in a lot of respects left to our own devices. But it would have been more work and taken longer. And in a few cases he helped get some people on board who might've been reluctant or taken a lot more cajoling. But in terms of the reporting, I think with something like this, it's a kind of organic process where you have things in mind but you also need to be receptive to it being a learning experience and kind of discovering things as you go. I was doing research on my own and, and talking to people also, and that's kind of how I was acquainting myself with this world. So first, I think we wanted to talk to a certain base of people and from there, certain connections started being made about what was possible and a sense of how many aspects of the trade we could fit into a movie started to clarify. Then it gets a little more interesting when you start to try and fit people in a more specific way. That became about thinking of a further set of dealerscertain collectors who would be complimentary to what we already had, and a few external voice, Fran Liebowitz being one and Susan Orlean being another. It's a building process.

What was one of the things that you learned along the way that surprised you or changed the way that you were looking at the rare book world, or even just how you would frame it in the film?

One thing that I really was not so aware was how much the trade handles material that's not just books or paper, although that's still the dominant component of what people in the rare book trade transact with. But I didn't realize how much ephemera and other historically relevant material could fall under the umbrella of the rare book trade. We saw 19th century board games from France and enigma machines from World War II, certain photography, and other material.

Did you find the breadth of the trade surprising?

Absolutely. I was super enthusiastic when I realized that hip hop magazines and that kind of material was starting to become part of the rare book world. And I was very excited to bring it into the film, because hip hop is an enormously important cultural factor. But I think the very key point is that it's not albums themselves as musical collectibles, as music, that it's relevant to the rare book world. It's historical significance. The magazines that Syreeta Gates collects, many of them haven't even been digitized yet. You would think they would be, but even so, they haven't. The understanding of the historical context of say the eighties and the nineties is important. To further enhance the context of our historical understanding of that period, there's great value to collecting that stuff. I needed stuff like that for the film, the more recent stuff, the zines and stuff like that. It seems like it was just yesterday, but it's kind of in the rear view mirror already. And it weirdly falls into the rare book trade.

The rare book business is heavily white and male, even today. But the types of books being collected are obviously not just about the history of white culture, but about the history of everything. Knowing that, do you think there's a possibility for more diversification in this side of the business?

I think so, and I think that's really the position of a number the younger dealers, who are very smart, and they really advocate that belief, and I think it is expressed in the film. From what I've seen, I think it seems to have a lot of merit. The rare book trade is not an institution. No one's in charge of it. It's comprised of just a bunch of individuals. Most of them have a shop that's just them or maybe one other person or a couple of helpers. So there's no clear path to adding diversity to the trade at the higher end. We focused on established dealers who were generally fairly established in the higher echelons of the market. Adding more diversity there, it's not like some of those dealers who are now older have not been at the forefront of providing access to a lot of interesting material that is diverse. They've helped bring new collectors and new institutional interest to all kinds of material. That said, I have to clarify that I feel like I'm still very much an outsider's perspective on this. But I think that's one of the things with Syreeta collecting hip hop magazines, or some of the stuff that Arthur Fournier collects in the film, that's clearly speaking to a different generation than your traditional model collector from the past. I think that there's good reason to believe that the more that material stretches out into encompassing more and more kinds of things that will hopefully lead to some more diversity in the trade. There's a potential I think for a broadening of the tradewho engages in itthat could go hand in hand with a broadening of what's collectible.

Whats something you werent able to explore in the film that you wish you could have?

One thing I never got a satisfactory answer to, and I don't think there is a right answer, but I kinda think is really interesting as far as institutions are concernedand also collectors, but even more so institutionsis, to what degree do the dealers influence what's considered new and interesting and collectible, by being at the forefront, and what degree are they responding to the institutions and the collectors and their own groundbreaking interests. I think, ultimately, it's a two way street. Both things are happening simultaneously, and each instance is different of why and to what degree. The dealers of course probably feel a little more strongly about what they're bringing to the table, and I'm sure the librarians feel the opposite. But I think it's interesting that there's a kind of dialogue that's going on there. It's kind of too complicated a thing to get into a documentary, but in other kinds of discourse, it would be interesting to delve into further.

In terms of a specific scene, one dealer who appeared in the film, Dave Bergman, showed me these amazing catalogs from the late 1800s, I'm guessing, of fittingslike, the brass and other fittingsfor caskets and funeral materials. It's just an entire catalog of brass fittings and stuff. There's no comparison for today. That doesn't exist anymore, a lot of what's in this catalog. And no one 30 years ago likely thought that this was very interesting at all. But we've changed our appreciation for how that could speak to us historically, or be collectible. I looked at that and thought it was really interesting how something can go from being literally something someone would throw on the fire to having value. It's just a question of people seeing it differently.

At the end of The Booksellers, the rare book sellers weigh in on how they see the future of the tradesome are hopeful, some are not. How do you feel about the future of rare bookselling?

I feel like I'm somewhere in the middle. That said, I choose to feel positive, insofar as it is a matter of choice. I think at the end of the day, having to go one direction or another, I would choose to take the positive approach. If your experts are that down the middle, sometimes I think just the act of believing is what tips the scales. What's more interesting to me is how little anyone agree on this point in the book trade. You could get book dealers talking about this endlessly. The degree of uncertainty in the moment is kind of the most compelling factor in the end. We're really in this moment where everyone is so uncertain about this. It's reflective of the technological zeitgeist as well. Everything in our world is in flux at an increasingly rapid rate. The rare book trade is certainly not a mirror of society as a whole, but it's undergoing many similar changes to those that are happening elsewhere. It's interesting, I think, to compare that experience of this one very specific world to the larger world beyond. Where are they similar? Where do they diverge in their responses to some of these changes. Regarding diversity and the book trade, for instance, I think it's interesting to see how that relates to questions and issues of diversity in society at large, and the push for that. For the younger dealers, there is a great sense of passion and importance placed upon that. One of the functions of a documentary is to exist as a historical record of the time and place in which it's being made. Obviously that's something we hope the film does.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Most of us need a car to get around, it could be because there are limited public transportation options in our area or because we work far from home and it would take us much too long to commute by bus. We would at least need a car to get groceries. Especially when you have kids, there's no way you could carry everything you need on a bicycle or by public transportation.

We already know that our cars have an environmental impact but few of us ponder over the environmental impact of parking. Take city parking, for example. You may be familiar with the practice of cruising - circling the block sometimes for half an hour until a parking space opens. This adds considerable time to your journey which isn't only annoying, but also environmentally damaging.

If you're a particularly concerned driver, you might want to look up resources like WhereiPark that helps with San Francisco monthly parking and other major cities. You can find and book a monthly parking spot depending on your destination, fees, security features and other criteria which you consider important. You'll save time, fuel and make our planet a little greener.

We have more parking spaces than you might think. In the US there are an estimated 3 to 8 parking spaces per car, it's just that we rarely seem to find them when we need them.

Going back to the environmental impact of parking, although parking lots are a realistic necessity, they come with their own issues. For one, they take up a lot of space. Secondly, the asphalt absorbs a lot of sunlight and generates a lot of heat, creating a "heat island" effect. This raises the temperature in the surrounding building that need to use more air conditioning to cool down.

Then there's the issue of stormwater, since the asphalt is impervious, the water has no place to go but the underground piping system which will already be overloaded, leading to flooding.

Recently, standards for building parking lots have changed, favoring features that are more environmentally sustainable. We'll come back to this in a bit.

Park(ing) Day in San Francisco

Each year, thousands of people set un temporary parks on metered parking spaces. They hang out, enjoy each other's company and, at the same time, illustrate a new concept - how an ordinary urban location can be transformed.

The goal of Park(ing) Day is to point out what on undervalued resource these parking spaces are in the urban landscape and how they can redefined into opportunities for social connection and artistic expression.

The idea came from a design studio from San Francisco called Rebar. One day in late September 2005, they converted a parking space from a rather grey area of downtown San Francisco into a sort of mini-park. The group simply rolled out some living grass, added a bench and a potted tree. Then they went across the street to observe the effects. A man sat down and began eating his lunch, shortly followed by another person and the two started a conversation.

Since then, the idea has gained a lot of traction with 975 parks spread throughout 162 cities. In 2008, the city of San Francisco contacted Rebar with a project to design "parklets" - permanent installations similar to theirs, sponsored by local businesses. This started the city's Pavement to Parks program which has been a massive success.

This shows that the current city planning strategies are not only unsustainable, but they also don't reflect contemporary values. Which brings us to our next point...

Greener Parking Lots

In 2007, New York City introduced and ambitious and innovative amendment which aims at mitigating the environmental consequences of its numerous parking lots. New parking lots will be required to have plated areas both around the perimeters as well as inside, and the paved areas have to be graded so the storm water can make its way to these planted zones and away from the overburdened sewage system. Other requirements include bicycle parking and shade trees.

The goal is to reduce the "heat island" effect mentioned earlier, improve storm water management and raise the quality of the air by adding greenery which will likewise make the area more visually appealing.

Parking lots are not just temporary storage for cars. They're public spaces with a significant impact on cities and suburbs, the environment and on people's daily life. Current initiatives seek to transform them into something more than a place to leave your car, into facilities that offer a wider range of public uses, with a greater consideration for aesthetics and the environment.

Park(ing) Days clearly shows that we favor a "greener" design. Another feature that's spreading is installing solar panels over parking lots which create shade and generate clean electricity.

This is all part of the concept of "green parking lots" - redesigning parking lots to minimize environmental impact. One major change is the use of permeable or semi-permeable paving which can absorb the water and pass it through to the soil, increasing naturalized drainage. Runoff storm water has been a serious concern and now we're moving towards a solution.

Energy efficient lighting and clean energy generation in another major change, as well as adding greenery and other public uses to better integrate the space used for parking lots into the community.

Another important alteration would be reducing dimensions by making shared parking arrangements and scaling down the minimum number of required parking spaces.

Shared parking means designing parking facilities to service multiple users or destination. For example, office buildings and apartment buildings that are in close proximity to each other will need parking spaces at different hours, allowing shared use. Stores, restaurants, churches or recreation facilities are also excellent candidates. Successful implementation of this system would require connection and establishing legal agreements between these facilities.

At this point in time, many existing development codes have yet to recognize the importance of redesigning parking lots and providing better lighting control, traffic safety monitoring, pedestrian amenities, stormwater managements and greenery.

We feel that for something that occupies such a large amount of land and which is used by so many on a daily basis, parking lot design should receive more attention than it has.
Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) posted a solid beat on February 20 and that made analysts revise their estimates higher. Thanks to the beat, the stock is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and today it is the Bull of the Day. Let's take a closer look at the beat and why this stock has the highest Zacks Rank.

Description

Texas Roadhouse operates casual dining restaurants in the United States and internationally. The company operates and franchises Texas Roadhouse and Bubba's 33 restaurants. As of June 25, 2019, it owned and operated approximately 498 restaurants and franchised an additional 93 restaurants. Texas Roadhouse, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in Louisville, Kentucky.

Recent Earnings Report

After the close on February 20, TXRH posted earnings per share of $0.61 and that was $0.09 ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues came in at $725.2M, an increase of 19% from the prior year and also beat estimates.

Earnings History

This was the third consecutive beat for TXRH, and each beat has been better than the last. The first time the company topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate there was a positive earnings surprise of 1.6%. The next beat was much better coming in at 13% ahead of the consensus. The most recent beat as 17% ahead of the estimate and investors love to see bigger beats.

Estimate Revisions

Estimates have all moved higher following the recent beat. The current quarter has jumped from $0.80 to $0.85. Next quarter has a two cent move as well.

The full year numbers for TXRH are moving higher as well. The 2020 Zacks Consensus Estimate jumped from $2.57 to $2.72. The 2021 number also moved higher to $3.01 from $2.81 over the past week.

Valuation

At 24x forward earnings, TXRH is not a cheap stock. Value investors will probably take a pass on this stock as it has a 4.9x price to book multiple. TXRH just posted 19% topline growth, but the price to sales multiple is only 1.6x. I see good growth in margins over the last three quarters and given the pull back in the broader market investors should give this stock a deeper look.

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Chart

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. Price and Consensus

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. Price and Consensus

Texas Roadhouse, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Texas Roadhouse, Inc. Quote

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Centre sets time-frame for Nidhi companies to apply for status updation

The central government has announced the time-frame for Nidhi companies to apply to the central government for updation of their status/ declaration as Nidhi company.

The amended provisions of the Companies Act (Section 406) and amended Nidhi rules require that the Nidhi companies have to apply to the central government for updation of their status/ declaration as Nidhi Company in Form NDH-4.

Accordingly, companies incorporated as Nidhi before Nidhi Amendment Rules, 2019, ie, 15 August 2019 have to apply within a period of one year from the date of its incorporation or within 9 months of the Nidhi Amendment Rules, ie, 15 August 2019 whichever is later.

Companies incorporated as Nidhi on or after Nidhi Amendment Rules, 2019, ie, 15 August 2019 have to apply within 60 days of expiry of one year from the date of incorporation or extended period (as granted by concerned regional director).

In case a company does not comply with these requirements, it shall not be allowed to file Form No SH7 and Form PAS3.

Such companies are required to ensure strict adherence to provision of Companies Act, 1956/2013 and Nidhi Rules, 2014 as amended. In case of contravention of the provisions of these rules, the company and every official of the company who is in default shall initially be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs5,000 and further fine in case of continuous violations.

Further, the government has advised investors to verify the status of Nidhi company from the notification issued by the central government in official gazette before making any investment or deposit.

Under Nidhi Rules, 2014, Nidhi is a company which has been incorporated as a Nidhi with the object of cultivating the habit of thrift and saving amongst its members, receiving deposits from, and lending to, its members only, for their mutual benefit.

The status updation of Nidhi companies, according to an official release, is being done to make regulatory regime for Nidhi companies more effective and also to accomplish the objectives of transparency and investor friendliness in corporate environment of the country.
Sebastian Vettel says he is not yet thinking about extending his stay at Ferrari beyond 2020.

For months, speculation about the quadruple world champion's expiring deal has been rife, but recent signs indicated that he was inching towards agreeing a new contract.

"For the time being, my focus is on this year," the 32-year-old German told Auto Bild.

"I still love driving. But as a racer you don't just want to drive, you want to win and we are currently not doing this enough. My hunger for success has not yet been satisfied.

"But my thinking right now is not about a new contract, but about solutions to make the car faster," Vettel said.

The very latest rumour is that Vettel could turn to fellow German Andreas Seidl, the former Porsche boss who now runs Mercedes, for a 2021 lifeline.

Next year, the once-great British team will become Mercedes-powered once again.

A source told f1-insider.com correspondent Ralf Bach: "Seidl knows Vettel well from the time they spent together at BMW.

"If Sebastian is available, he will definitely think about him. It would also be a major PR coup for McLaren-Mercedes."

(GMM)
Italy on Wednesday (local time) halted all trading activities exception of essentials stores and pharmacies, in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus which has claimed more than 800 lives in the country.

"We understand that we need to act gradually, but now is the time to take another step forward. Now we are giving orders to close all trading enterprises, except for essential goods stores and pharmacies," Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in a broadcast on local TV and in social networks, Sputnik reported.

"We are closing shops, bars, pubs and restaurants. Home delivery remains available," he added.

He further said that banks, post offices, insurance, and financial companies, including "activities that ensure the functioning of these sectors", continued to operate.

The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Italy has increased by 2,000 over the past 24 hours, exceeding 12,000. The death toll has gone up by 196, reaching 827.

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.

Globally, more than 4,000 people have died from the coronavirus and over 113,000 cases have been confirmed, according to the Health Organisation (WHO). 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.

Air Canada said that 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.

Austria and Kazakhstan have further denied entry to people arriving from Italy in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Though most associate TikTok fame with kids on the internet, one of the short-form video apps popular stars actually serves as a virtual grandma to her millions of fans.

Grandma YoYo rose to fame last year after posting a tongue-in-cheek video announcing her desire to become TikTok famous, which she followed up with dance trend and comedic videos, sometimes with her husband. Now, Linda Roper has become a source of hope for her 1.1 million followers as she lives with terminal lung cancer.

The people are amazing, Roper, 71, told TIME over the phone from her Belle Fourche, South Dakota, home on Thursday afternoon.

With a new GoFundMe page, Ropers daughter, Crystal Dvorak, hopes their family will now be able to afford in-home hospice care. Grandma YoYos dying wish is to be able to stay at home at this time, Dvorak wrote on the crowdfunding site on March 1. All proceeds will be used to help her stay as comfortable as possible and absorb costs occurred as a result of her illness.

The page has raised more than $13,000 as of Thursday afternoon. Were nearly to our goal, Dvorak, 40, tells TIME. The messages are an amazing outpouring of love. Many of Grandma YoYos followers comment with their own stories of battling cancer. One commenter on a recent video wrote that her dad has lung cancer, writing that Linda has shown me there can be positivity in anything. The same posts comments also include prayers, well wishes and I love you messages.

Roper posted her first TikTok video on Feb. 15, 2019, after being diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2018. Dvorak says that exactly one year later, on Feb. 15, she and her brother, Steven King (whose TikTok page, @btypep, also has more than a million followers), took over posting on the account, as their mothers health declined. Most posts still feature clips of Roper in good spirits, but Dvorak and King give updates about their mothers health on their own sometimes, too.

Story continues

In addition to donations to the GoFundMe, fans have been mailing gifts, cards and packages to a P.O. box for Roper, who says she was surprised to find such a devoted audience on TikTok. It was like, oh wow,' to become somewhat of a social media celebrity, she says. Im just myself.

'Grandma YoYo' and her daughter, Crystal Dvorak, pose for a selfie | Courtesy of Crystal Dvorak

The family says they are hoping to bring more positivity to the world, both now and in the future. Dvorak plans to start a nonprofit in her moms name one day, hoping to offer a space for patients who get new diagnoses also to learn about my mom, so she can keep giving.

I think even after shes gone, there are lessons that people can take away from her journey, Dvorak says, through tears, of her mother. Im excited.

Ropers request is that the nonprofit has an avenue to help animals in some capacity. The lifelong animal lover grew up with monkeys as pets in California, and now loves her pet cat, Sadie, who has been a guest star on Grandma YoYos TikToks.

Roper says shes lived her whole life by one motto: The only things that count in life are the imprints of love which we leave behind once we are gone.

Now, using her platform to share her joie de vivre as she lives with her diagnosis, Dvorak says she is proud of how her mother has upheld that statement. I feel like she is living up to that, she says.

When Dvorak and her brother tried to encourage their mom to stay off-camera once things turned, Ropers perseverance  and dedication to her followers around the world  was clear. She insisted on being there for her viewers. She said, But I told people Id be there until the very end,' Dvorak says.
By Oliver Griffin

BOGOTA (Reuters) - A ruling from Colombia's highest administrative court on the exploration of non-conventional energy deposits could put a years-long argument between energy companies and anti-fracking activists to bed within the next four months.

Commercial production from non-conventional deposits - such as shale gas and coal bed methane - could be allowed if the Council of State rules in favor. Currently, such activities are not permitted in Latin America's fourth-largest economy.

A decision on whether to allow their development, which energy companies say is the only way to replace Colombia's dwindling reserves, could come in the next four months, Council Magistrate Ramiro Pazos told Reuters.

"The court thinks this process is sufficiently advanced and a decision will be taken in the first half of this year," he said.

Environmentalists say non-conventional techniques will put health and water supplies at risk and add to the global climate crisis.

The more than decade-long debate over fracking accelerated in 2014, when the previous government said it would allow energy companies to start exploring the deposits.

"It hasn't been easy for companies given that some of them have held signed contracts for around 10 years," Francisco Lloreda, head of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) told Reuters. "It has been a long wait."

The ACP says four potential pilots in the Cesar and Santander provinces could bring $5 billion in investment and eventually boost oil production by 450,000 barrels a day.

The Council ordered the temporary suspension of non-conventional exploration in 2018. It upheld the moratorium last year, but after widespread misinterpretation, it was forced to clarify a week later that the suspension did not block pilot projects.

In December, the court ordered coal miner Drummond to suspend operations at 15 wells at the La Loma field.

The ruling was hailed by environmentalists as a strike against unconventional energy. But Drummond denied using unconventional extraction methods, saying it was producing coal bed methane using conventional vertical wells.

Story continues

Although anti-frackers have rallied around the moratorium, Pazos said the "precautionary measure" was not an indication of what the final ruling might be.

"The fact the rules have been suspended doesn't imply prejudgment," he said.

COMPANIES READY TO START PILOTS

The government, beset by criticism from left-leaning politicians and environmental groups, has taken pains to emphasize it is not for or against fracking and will defer to the court's ruling.

However, this month it published regulations for pilot projects that permit the drilling, fracking and measuring of non-conventional deposits.

Although further rules for developing the pilot projects depend on several government ministries, anti-fracking groups say the decree was an act of contempt against the moratorium.

Companies insist they will be ready to start pilot projects once licenses are approved.

"We are going to be ready. We are continuing with planning and preparing," Felipe Bayon, CEO of state-run oil company Ecopetrol, told reporters recently.

Activists campaigning against the projects say tests will not show the full potential effects of developing non-conventional deposits.

"The exploration of the pilot projects won't have the same impact as when commercial exploration begins," said Carlos Santiago, of the Colombia Free from Fracking Alliance. He added that the impact from a potential 1,400 commercial wells would not be discernable from just a few pilot projects.

Water sources and public health could be at risk, he said, citing investigations and examples from around the world, including the United States, where residents of fracking areas have won millions for damage to ground water.

Coronavirus has provided an unexpected boost to campaigners, as the disease's spread leaves markets over-supplied and low oil prices are exacerbated by a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Activists hope continued low prices will make investing in expensive fracking operations unattractive for investors.

Come what may, anti-fracking campaigners say they are prepared to keep fighting no matter the ruling and that they will not accept anything less than a ban.

"We don't have an intermediate position," Santiago said.

(Reporting by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Dan Grebler)
An animation released by Belgium Naval & Robotics, the French consortium of Naval Group and ECA Group on Youtube, shows the MCM platforms and the different drones (UAV, UUV, AUV and USV)that will enter the Belgian Navy in the near future as well as Dutch Navy. These vessels will act as drone motherships.

An animation released by Belgium Naval & Robotics, the French consortium of Naval Group and ECA Group on Youtube, shows the MCM platforms and the different drones (UAV, UUV, AUV and USV)that will enter the Belgian Navy in the near future as well as Dutch Navy. These vessels will act as drone motherships.

Future Mine Countermeasures (MCM) vessels of the Belgian Navy and Dutch Navy in action (Picture source: Marineschepen)

In May 2019, the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, composed of Naval Group and ECA Group, was awarded the contract to supply twelve mine-hunting vessels to the Belgian and Dutch navies. Equipped with around 100 drones, constituting approximately ten drone systems (toolboxes), six ships are destined for the Belgian Navy, while the other six will be delivered to the Dutch Navy.

Belgium Naval & Robotics, thanks to Naval Groups recognized expertise, offers a 2800-ton militarized ship specialized in mine warfare with military characteristics (acoustic and electromagnetic discretion, shock-resistance) perfectly adapted to the operational use targeted by the Belgian and Dutch navies. In particular, this vessel incorporates a launch and recovery system for ECA Groups Inspector 125 unmanned surface vehicles (USV). This innovative, robust and reliable system ensures the safety of operators and maneuvers to protect the ship, the USV and its payloads while offering a high level of mission availability.

The drone systems onboard these innovative vessels are the latest generation of drones developed by ECA Group over the past four years. They are integrated into the C2 MCM Umisoft system connected to the Naval Groups I4drones system to form the mine-warfare mission system integrated into the ships combat system.

The package includes A18-M autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), T18-M towed sonars and Mine Identification & Destruction Systems (MIDS) composed of SEASCAN and KSTER-C remotely operated vehicles (ROV). All these drones can be operated autonomously from the USV Inspector 125. The drone system also includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and influence sweeps.

The program provides for the supply of drone systems that can also be projected. Containerized and equipped with handling and communication systems, mine-hunting drone systems can be airlifted and deployed directly from the coast without a ship.

Here are the main next stages for program achievement:

* April 2020 - October 2020: preliminary design review

* October 2020 - February 2021: critical design review

of the hull

* 23 February 2021: construction of the first ship

* 23 May 2024: delivery of the first ship
By IANS

LUCKNOW: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad will announce his new political party at a programme in Delhi on Sunday. Significantly, the announcement will take place on the birth anniversary of Bahujan Samaj Party founder, late Kanshi Ram.

According to a Bhim Army spokesperson, among the names likely for the political outfit are -- Azad Bahujan Party, Bahujan Awam Party and Azad Samaj Party. A majority of the leaders and office bearers supported Azad Bahujan Party but the name will be finalized after the Election Commission gives its approval.

The party will release its manifesto, launch a membership drive and set its agenda on Sunday.

The Bhim Army has already launched its student wing, Bhim Army Students' Federation (BASF), to mobilize the youths. After the launch of the new political party, Bhim Army will work as a social and cultural organization of the party, sources said.

The Bhim Army has also launched a campaign on social media, highlighting the need for a new political party. Chandra Shekhar has called upon Dalits, backwards, Muslims to join and support it.

The Bhim Army has been supporting the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register for Citizens (NRC) and is on the same page with the Muslim community on this issue.

It is said that the Bhim Army will directly encroach upon the vote base of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh.

Interestingly, to counter the Bhim Army's plan to enter the political arena and erode the political base of the Bahujan Samaj Party, BSP chief Mayawati has convened a meeting of party leaders and office bearers in the first week of April.

Mayawati, who is in in Delhi, is said to be keeping a close witch on the activities of the Bhim Army. There are also reports that Chandra Shekhar has been in touch with some BSP leaders and plans to wean them over.

Moreover, during his Lucknow visit on March 2, the Bhim Army chief had indicated that he would join the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha, a united front launched by five small political parties in Uttar Pradesh for the next UP assembly elections in 2022.
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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah and Ary Hermawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, March 13, 2020 06:26 669 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a31d59 1 National Indonesia,COVID-19,outbreak,Science,temperature,SARS,SARS-CoV-2,MERS-CoV Free

Could its tropical climate prevent Indonesia from descending into a major COVID-19 outbreak as seen in South Korea, Iran and Italy?

Its possible, scientists say, but cautioned that governments should not rely on weather to fight the virus.

At least two newly published studies have suggested that the viral transmission rate of the 2019 novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, may be linked to temperature and seasonal fluctuations across different regions.

Like SARS and MERS?

One such study  which has not been peer-reviewed yet  finds that higher temperatures may render the virus less potent and ultimately inactive, which may explain why countries with consistently warmer climates, such as Indonesia, have reported fewer COVID-19 cases than temperate regions where temperatures vary between 5 to 11 degrees Celsius and 47 to 79 percent humidity.

Indonesia has reported 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, far below the numbers reported by neighboring Malaysia (149) and Singapore (178). While the official figure given by Indonesia seems implausible, the numbers reported by Malaysia and Singapore are also far below those of South Korea (7,869), Iran (9,000) and Italy (12,462).

An isolate from the first U.S. case of COVID-19, formerly known as 2019-nCoV or novel coronavirus, is seen in a transmission electron microscopic image obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. March 10, 2020. (Reuters/CDC/Hannah A Bullock and Azaibi Tamin)

Conducted by a team of scientists from the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland in the United States in conjunction with the Global Virus Network, the study suggests that, based on the number of reported cases across the globe, COVID-19 may become less potent and, therefore, result in fewer casualties in the tropics.

The study points out several attributes and patterns of COVID-19 that are similar to other coronaviruses, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which have proven to be sensitive to higher temperatures, to back up its argument that the virus may be at its most active and potent in lower temperatures, particularly during the winter.

Furthermore, the study predicts that hardest-hit countries situated within the more temperate corridor of the planets climate  which, at the time of writing, includes outbreak epicenter China, Iran and Italy  are likely to report fewer COVID-19 cases in the months leading up to summer.

Although it would be even more difficult to make a long-term prediction at this stage, it is tempting to expect COVID-19 to diminish considerably in affected areas [within the temperate regions] in the coming months, the report said.

Iranian firefighters disinfect streets in southern Tehran to halt the wild spread of coronavirus on March 11, 2020. - The novel coronavirus outbreak in Iran is one of the deadliest outside of China and has so far killed 291 people and infected more than 8,000. (AFP/Atta Kenare)

Another study, conducted by a team from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, finds that COVID-19 may be at its most active at a particular temperature.

The analysis, which is based on the teams study on every novel coronavirus cases confirmed around the world between Jan. 20 and Feb. 4, including in over 400 Chinese cities and regions, indicates that the number of reported cases have been congruent with average temperatures up until they peaked at 8.72 degrees.

The number of reported cases subsequently declined at the same time temperatures continued to rise, the study claimed.

Bayu Krisnamurti, former head of the now-defunct national committee for avian flu in Indonesia, shared the optimistic outlook on the correlation between the transmission rate of the novel coronavirus and temperature fluctuations.

The viruses that cause influenza are known to be sensitive to temperatures, he said.

It is customary for people in countries with four seasons to take flu shots in the fall, Bayu said, explaining that past flu pandemics have shown a pattern of peaking before stagnating and finally slowing down.

Bayu said he did not know whether the novel coronavirus, which caused an influenza-like illness, would behave the same way as the flu, but added that we could assume it would have the same behavior.

People stand in a long queue to buy face masks at a post office, after a shortage of masks amid the rise in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, in Daegu, South Korea, March 4, 2020. (REUTERS/REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon)

Despite the optimistic findings, however, the study still calls for immediate adoption of the strictest control measures to prevent future outbreaks in countries and regions with lower temperatures.

Contradicting results

The caution is not unwarranted.

A separate study conducted by a group of researchers, including epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch from Harvards T.H. Chan School of Public Health, yielded contradicting results, claiming that sustained transmission and rapid growth of cases are possible over a range of humidity conditions ranging from cold and dry provinces in China.

It went on to note that changes in weather alone would not necessarily lead to immediate declines in the number of confirmed cases without the implementation of extensive public health interventions.

Panji Hadisoemarto, an infectious disease control expert from Padjajaran University, also conveyed his skepticism regarding studies that claimed the novel coronavirus transmission might be linked to temperature fluctuations, arguing that heat might only slow down transmission, but very likely not enough to stop it.

Pigeons gather on Piazza del Duomo by Milan's cathedral on March 10, 2020 in Milan. - Italy imposed unprecedented national restrictions on its 60 million people on March 10, 2020 to control the deadly coronavirus, as China signalled major progress in its own battle against the global epidemic. (AFP/Miguel MEDINA)

There has yet to be any proof that [the virus] could be transmitted through the air. It can be transmitted directly through close physical contact, via droplets, such as when an infected individual coughs in front of an otherwise healthy person, he said.

That said, he explained that indirect transmission  when an individual contracts the virus after coming into contact with an object that contains traces of infectious droplets  could be affected by shifts in temperature, as this type of transmission relied on the virus survival outside of its host.

Therefore, the impact of temperature depends on the contribution of indirect transmission to the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, we have yet to know for sure, but Im confident that direct transmission plays a bigger role in the outbreak, especially in densely populated areas, Panji said.

Tourists sit at a table at a largely empty Chinatown district as tourism takes a decline due to the coronavirus outbreak in Singapore February 21, 2020. Picture taken February 21, 2020. (REUTERS/Edgar Su)

Mohammad Sajadi, the lead author of the University of Marylands paper, defended his research, saying that while he did not know the situation in Indonesia or whether its government was hiding its statistics, the country might yet see a massive outbreak.

Based on my personal knowledge of COVID-19 in other countries with known high case numbers, when there is significant community spread, it is not subtle, and the hospitals get overrun, and its near-impossible to hide, he said in an email.
Shopify is providing its employees with a $1,000 stipend to buy office supplies and help ease the transition of working remote amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The company is offering the stipend as a result of its announcement on Wednesday that it's requiring all employees to work from home starting on March 16. Shopify, which makes online tools for companies to sell products online, employs 5,000 people worldwide, with the majority of its employees based in Canada.

Employees can purchase office equipment such as lamps, office chairs and a new desk, then submit the "one-time remote allowance through their expenses," Shopify spokeswoman Sheryl So told CNBC. So added that employees are being asked to take home their monitors, keyboards and laptops.

News of the stipend was first reported by Business Insider.

"We have been keeping a close eye on COVID-19 and have been making regional specific decisions since January 2020, but as things progressed and as we learnt more about the impact on our people and communities we felt the time was now to make a decision," said Brittany Forsyth, Shopify's chief talent officer, in a statement.

Forsyth said more than 1,000 Shopify employees already work remotely. In light of employees working from home during the coronavirus outbreak, Forsyth said Shopify is "trying new ways of working," including making all in-person town halls remote moving forward.

Shopify isn't the only tech company that has made efforts to ease the transition to remote work during the coronavirus outbreak. Facebook said Wednesday it was offering employees free Portal video chat devices to employees who request them. Last week, Facebook told employees who work in the San Francisco Bay Area to work remotely.

Other tech companies have also asked their employees to work from home as a preventative measure against the coronavirus. Twitter on Wednesday told its 4,900 employees to work from home, while Google on Wednesday asked most of its global workforce to do so. Amazon is also requiring employees at several of its offices, including New York, New Jersey, Seattle and Bellevue, to work remotely amid the coronavirus outbreak.

As of Thursday morning, there were more than 127,749 confirmed cases of the coronavirus globally and at least 4,717 deaths. There were at least 1,323 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. and at least 38 deaths.
Hungarys tourism and hospitality sectors are expected to be hit severely by the new coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said.

In an interview with commercial Inforadio, Varga said already up to 40-50% hotels bookings have been cancelled as European and Chinese guests stay away.



It will be a good result if [the sectors] come out of this at break-even, he said. Depending on the severity of the outbreak, the government expects Hungarian economy to grow by 3.7% or possibly see negative growth of -0,3% in 2020, Varga said.



He noted that the 2020 budget was drafted based on the assumption of economic growth of 4%. Reserves and the deficit were each planned at one percent of GDP, he said.



The reserves, some 490 billion forints (EUR 145.8bn) in absolute terms, can be used in emergencies, he said. However, this may prove insufficient should the crisis extend to multiple sectors, he added.



The government has asked companies to assess the effects of the virus in various sectors so it can prepare specific measures, Varga said.



Other countries have so far only activated tools to avoid company insolvencies, he said. The Hungarian finance ministry is looking at steps to be taken should the outbreak merely slow down the economy, and others in case of a deep crisis, Varga said.



It will react to the real needs of economic players and protect the achievements of the past ten years, he said.



Some private citizens may find it difficult to pay back loans, Varga warned, and he advised caution in taking out new loans.



MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak
EU president Ursula von der Leyen announced Wednesday that the urgency of the new coronavirus pandemic has forced her to postpone her visit to Greece to tackle migration.

"I have decided to postpone my trip to Athens tomorrow," von der Leyen tweeted citing the "evolving situation in Europe related to #COVID19," the new coronavirus.

She said she agreed on the postponement with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

"I will be focusing on launching the EU coordination efforts announced yesterday," said the president of the European Commission, the EU executive.

Following a videoconference late Tuesday among EU leaders, von der Leyen announced steps to coordinate the response to the spread of the coronavirus.

The surge in coronavirus cases brought Europe's total number to more than 22,000 on Wednesday, with 930 deaths, and the US said it was considering issuing a ban on travellers from the continent.

Von der Leyen had been due to meet in Athens with Mitsotakis to discuss the growing problem of migrants and refugees heading from Turkey to the border with Greece.

Europe fears Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan's decision to allow migrants to head to the Greek border will trigger a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis.

In addition to talks with Mitsotakis, she was to have visited the Eleonas refugee camp in Athens and see unaccompanied children fleeing Syria's civil war.

With Turkey hosting around four million refugees and migrants, and the Syrian city of Idlib facing a Russian-backed government assault, the stakes are high.

Brussels has given its full backing -- and a 700-million-euro ($790-million) aid package -- to Athens' efforts to hold off a wave of new arrivals and refugees from Turkey.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The next-generation FTA with the EU is believed to pave the way for Vietnam to diversify export markets and ease reliance on China.

Not putting all eggs into one basket



The EU Parliament has ratified the EU-Vietnam FTA.m which needs the ratification of the Vietnamese National Assembly to take effect.





To date, Vietnam has signed 17 FTAs and EVFTA is one of the two next-generation agreements.



According to Pham Tat Thang, senior researcher of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), EVFTA is an agreement with the highest level commitments on market opening. Therefore, EVFTA opens opportunities for Vietnam to diversify the markets and not rely on China or any other market.

EVFTA confirms Vietnam's geopolitical position in Southeast Asia. The country and Singapore have become the focal points for the European economy to penetrate Southeast Asia.

EVFTA confirms Vietnam's geopolitical position in Southeast Asia. The country and Singapore have become the focal points for the European economy to penetrate Southeast Asia.



It is expected that modern technologies and capital flow from Europe will come to Vietnam, especially in high technology, agriculture, mechanical engineering and information technology.



Meanwhile, the EU hopes that the agreement will open a path for it to undertake government programs and infrastructure projects, especially in aviation and seaport sectors.



Above all, since the EU is one of the high-end markets in the world, the agreement will prompt Vietnam to carry out institutional reform to open the market and integrate with the world.



Thang said Vietnams export turnover from every market (the US, EU, China and ASEAN) needs to account for one-fourth to one-fifth of its total export turnover.



Vietnam should not put all eggs into one basket, it should not rely too much on one market, Thang said, adding that Vietnam has gained success recently in expanding markets.



Dragon fruit, for example, is mostly exported to China. Vietnam recently negotiated to export dragon fruit to the US market as well. Dragon fruit is also exported to Australia and some businesses have begun exporting the fruit to India.



Preferences in FTA



Although EVFTA will bring great opportunities to Vietnams products, Thang said that it wont be easy to enjoy preferential tariffs if Vietnams enterprises cannot meet the standards and technical barriers set by the EU.



He also warned that if enterprises cannot improve their capability and the quality of products, they will not only fail to enter the EU market, but also lose the home market.



According to the General Department of Customs (GDC), in 2019, the total import/export turnover between Vietnam and the EU with 28 member countries was $56.4 billion, or 11 percent of Vietnams total import/export turnover.

Linh Ha

Investors upbeat regarding EVFTA European companies are eager to grasp new business and investment opportunities from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.
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Linkedin Bastien Inzaurralde and Sebastian Smith (Agence France-Presse) Burlington, United States  Thu, March 12, 2020 08:28 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069f6427 2 World #USA,#Elections,Democratic-party,Bernie-Sanders,defeat,Joe-Biden Free

Bernie Sanders on Wednesday shrugged off a string of primary defeats and pressure to drop out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, saying he remains in the fight against centrist frontrunner Joe Biden.

In his first remarks since losing to Biden in Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi and Idaho on Tuesday, the leftist senator from Vermont said his main priority was defeating "dangerous" President Donald Trump.

He acknowledged, however, in a brief, passionate speech that many Democrats see him as less electable than the 77-year-old former vice president -- perhaps preparing the ground for his eventual exit.

Speculation had been growing that he might respond to pleas from Democratic activists to step aside for party unity, giving Biden -- his only rival -- a chance to focus on campaigning against Trump.

But Sanders, 78, broke his silence to say he was preparing for his first one-on-one televised debate Sunday "with my friend Joe Biden."

While he remained defiant, Sanders did make a number of unusual statements, accepting both his losses during the primary race and perceptions that he would fare less well against Trump.

"I cannot tell you how many people our campaign has spoken to who say they agree with us but will vote for Joe because they believe he's the best to beat Donald Trump," he said.

"Needless to say, I strongly disagree with that assertion, but that's what millions of Democrats and independents say."

Sanders then listed questions he wanted Biden to answer on how to deal with far-reaching inequality and other structural issues that he believes can only be addressed by radical economic change or "revolution."

"Joe, what are you going to do?" he asked in what sounded less like an attack on Biden than an appeal for him to reach out to the party's left wing.

Biden unstoppable?

Biden's trajectory to a November showdown with Trump began looking unstoppable after his primary wins on Tuesday, including in the industrial powerhouse of Michigan -- a state that Sanders won over Hillary Clinton in 2016 and will be crucial in the general election.

Sanders' only win came in North Dakota while votes were still being counted in Washington state, where Sanders and Biden were in a dead heat.

Biden now has about 860 delegates to Sanders' 710, and looks set to reach the 1,991 needed to be declared the party standard bearer at the Democratic convention in Milwaukee in July.

The next primaries are on March 11 in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio and campaigning in the delegate-rich states is being disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Biden and Sanders cancelled rallies which had been scheduled in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday night and the former vice president announced further cancellations on Wednesday.

The Biden campaign said because of health risks it was cancelling an event that was to have been held in Chicago on Friday and one that was scheduled for Miami on Monday.

It said they would now be "virtual events" but did not release details of the format.

The Sunday debate will also be without a live audience as a result of the health scare.

Addressing supporters in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Biden reached out to Sanders, thanking him and his supporters for their "tireless energy and their passion."

Biden struck a unifying tone as he affirmed that he and Sanders "share a common goal and together we will defeat Donald Trump."

Uniting the ticket

With Biden's path to the nomination increasingly locked in, the main question now is whether Sanders will swallow his pride and get his supporters behind the candidate -- or risk party civil war.

"It will be vital for Sanders to mobilize his supporters behind the ticket," tweeted Princeton University history professor Julian Zelizer.

"But Biden has to reach out to Sanders's energized movement. It will require a two-way effort to unite the ticket."

Many Democrats accuse Sanders and his devoted supporters of fatally damaging Clinton four years ago during their bitter nomination battle. They warn a similar scenario could play out this time.

Reflecting the shift in power, Democratic political action committee Priorities USA, which had been neutral in the race, came out in support of Biden.

"The delegate math is now a straight line to Joe Biden's nomination," chairman Guy Cecil told US public radio network NPR.

"So we're going to do everything we can to help him in the effort looking forward to November."
Saudi Arabia is preparing to deliver large volumes of oil to Europe, which is much cheaper than Russian raw materials, Bloomberg reported referring to sources familiar with the situation.

According to them, Saudi Arabia promises oil supplies to European oil refineries, which are three times higher than the usual volumes of supplies of raw materials from the kingdom to Europe.

Oil supplies from Saudi Arabia, coupled with unprecedented discounts on it, are turning the European oil market into the most important area of redistribution of interests in the price war between Riyadh and Moscow.

Saudi Arabia is offering its flagship Arab Light crude into Rotterdam for roughly $25 a barrel, a massive discount to the price of Russias Urals, the source noted.

According to sources, European refineries, including companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, BP, Total, OMV, Repsol and Cepsa, received proposals from Saudi Aramco for limits on oil supplies, which significantly exceed traditional volumes.

The range of extra supplies was between 25% and 200%, depending of the company, the same people said, the source said.
Sheila Bynum-Coleman, who was defeated in last year's state elections by then-Virginia House Speaker Kirk Cox, has been indicted in Henrico County on two misdemeanor counts accusing her of disseminating nude photos of a woman at her workplace.

The prosecutor handling the case characterized it as "revenge porn." Bynum-Coleman, reached by phone on Thursday, took issue with that characterization of the case and then said she did not want to comment.

A Henrico Circuit Court grand jury returned the indictments Monday for two offenses that authorities said occurred on Dec. 31 and sometime between Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, according to the indictments. Bynum-Coleman was arrested Wednesday.

The language of the law under which Bynum-Coleman was charged makes it unlawful to disseminate photos or video of another with the intent to coerce, harass or intimidate someone in a state of undress or totally nude.

Bynum-Coleman, a Democrat who founded J.C. Bynum Construction LLC, obtained nude photos of the victim and took them to the woman's place of employment, where she showed them to the woman's supervisor, said special prosecutor Robert Cerullo, who was appointed to handle the case.
With rise in Omicron cases, SC to conduct hearings virtually for next two weeks

Can't allow every person who thinks of some solution to COVID-19 to file petition: SC

'Name and Shame hoardings not backed by law: Supreme Court pulls up UP govt

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 12: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for publicly pasted the posters of the protesters who demonstrated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

It directed the apex court registry to put up the case file before Chief Justice of India (CJI) S A Bobde so that a "bench of sufficient strength can be constituted at the earliest to hear and consider" the case next week.

"There is no law to back the Uttar Pradesh government's action of putting up hoardings naming those accused of violence during protests against the citizenship law," said Justice UU Lalit highlighting the issue of privacy.

"The wrong-doer must be brought to book. But can the state go beyond that?" Justice UU Lalit observed, asking if the state government has the power to put up such hoardings.

The top court was hearing a petition by the Yogi Adityanath government, challenging an order earlier this week by the Allahabad High Court asking the government to remove the 'name and shame' posters and hoardings put up across Lucknow.

Defending the UP government move, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted to the Supreme Court that the Allahabad High Court had erred in passing the order directing it to remove hoarding of the alleged arsonists protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

"Where is that power," Justice Aniruddha Bose asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, about the inherent powers which it (UP govt) had, and it invoked against the alleged arsonists in the protests against CAA in Lucknow.

On Monday, the Allahabad High Court had ruled that the state government's action of erecting the hoardings in Lucknow with personal details of the alleged anti-CAA protestors amounted to an infringement of their privacy.
Respond to the 2020 U.S. Census on March 22 and gain access to the free Family Fun Day at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center (The Center).

Dearborn residents, as well as Wayne County residents, are invited to fill out the 2020 Census form that day to qualify for free activities at The Center from noon to 4 p.m.

The event is sponsored by Wayne United and Wayne County. Census professionals will be on hand assisting adults with completing the census.

For those responding to the Census that day, there will be access to the climbing wall, swimming pool, fitness center and track at The Center.

Kids can also enjoy a bounce house, face painting, hot dogs, clowns, balloons and Dynamike the Magician.

Filling out the Census helps Dearborn and all communities in many ways. It helps determine the amount of federal funds that are distributed for important social services, public safety, libraries, roads and bridges.

Each person counted is said to represent $3,000 a year in federal funding, or $30,000 over the next 10 years until the 2030 Census. It also determines the number of Congress members that Michigan and all states are allocated.

Individual household answers are kept confidential by law.

For more information about the Census, visit 2020Census.gov.

The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center is at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.

Source: CIty of Dearborn
On the 24th January 2020, the President of the United States of America delivered a speech at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., that shone a light on the value of women like no other President has done before. The theme of that march was Life Empowers. President Trump heavily referenced the Bible and delivered and placed on women and the unborn, the value of Gods creation through the eyes of the Creator.

Whether youre a fan of President Trump or not is irrelevant, but what I do know is that there once was a man named Saul, who called himself the worst of sinners (1 Timothy chapter 1 verses 15-16). With a visit from Jesus, Saul received new life and was totally transformed into a new creation, with a new namePaul. Whatever you think of Trump and his history is your business, hes not perfectobviously none of us are, and thankfully God is known for daily transforming old ways into new ways, creating a new creation.

Celebrate, protect and cherish

The words that touched me most from President Trumps speech, besides the well-chosen verses from Scripture, were those of encouragement to the movement of people who had gathered to celebrate a cause: to build a society where life is celebrated, protected, and cherished (Trump. 2020).

How do we celebrate, protect and cherish life? We start seeing each other as Gods marvellous creations. We get around the women who carry unborn babies in their wombs and we celebrate their lives; love on them, throw baby showers, encourage them, give practical help and supportempowering them for life.

Christ came to give us life and life in all its fullness (John chapter 10 verse 10). He was not partial in who that fullness of life was for but made the gift of life available to anyone who would partake of it. We are made in Gods image, we were known by God before we were born, we were created by the Maker of the Universeour lives have a plan and a purpose designed by the Creator Himself. God empowers us for life.

So therefore, no one should be looked down upon if God holds each of us in His heart so very carefully and tenderly, especially not the unborn.

Were worth it

Through His eyes, God thought us worth heaven coming down to earth. God thought us worth a sacrifice of love like no other. God thought us worth atmospheres shaking, earth quaking, the elements breaking, the dead awaking. And not for anything we have done, but simply for the fact that we are made by Him and we are made in His image (Genesis chapter 1 verse 27). We were in His heart from the beginning. We are the handiwork, the careful moulding, crafting and shaping of the Great Potter Himselfwe are the apple of His eye.

When God finished creating he saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good (Genesis chapter 1 verse 31). God was very pleased with what He had made! Who knows the feeling of completing something that is very good? Times that by a gazillion and youll get an idea of how pleased God is to create us. When we see Gods creation as good, we start to see the immense value the Father has for us.

The gift of life

When you realise the preciousness of each carefully created being, the thought of discarding any one of us, is ludicrous. In fact, it is the weakest of us that need the greatest care; the unborn, the elderly, the sick, the fatherless, the widow.

those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 22-26)

When God sent his son, Jesus, to bear the weight and pay the price for our sins, it was out of the greatest lovelove that is beyond comparison, love that cost everything. And through this love, lives were saved. Millions of them. His life gave life. For the Bible tells us that everyone who believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life (John chapter 3 verse 16).

It was the only way to save His precious creation. So, if Jesus gave his life to give us life, even if we were the only one, then we must believe that He loves us beyond measure and embrace the life he has gifted to us.

Gods love saved our lives. Let us then use the life that God has given us, to love and empower others to enjoy the life we have in Christlife in all its fullness.
A few months ago, a proposal to construct an airport at Jharkhand was pushed back, with concerns over disturbing an elephant corridor.



The true distinction made between saving what's important and reconsidering something that could destroy a possible habitat, made us believe in the sanctimonious hope that we're all looking for, currently.

But a few days ago, all hope came crashing down when we learnt that the Jharkhand state government, in an elaborate plan, clandestinely wiped three wildlife sanctuaries off its records in the iron ore-rich West Singbhum district.

While efforts in wildlife conservation are ongoing, there is a strong network of imbalance that strengthens the stagnation attached with environmental concerns in our country. F

or years on end, the tribals of the state of Jharkhand have been waging a long battle, to stop all mining activities in the mineral-rich state, as they are adversely affected the surroundings, livelihood and the environment drastically. Unfortunately, for the state of Jharkhand, the ruling government has chosen to support corporate interests over tribal concerns, over the last few decades.

 Twitter

While we're focussing on other ongoing tragedies in the country and across the globe, the government's pre-emptive yet swift action to destroy three wildlife sanctuaries years ago, while displacing the habituated wildlife has had an underwhelming response from the community or has not been talked about incessantly by anyone to make this an issue of grave concern.



Currently, Asangda- Buru in Saranda forest division, Bamiaburu in Kolhan forest division and Songra or Tebo in Porahat division have been wiped off to prolong iron-ore mining in these regions.

However, our true focus remains on how this plan to completely destroy habitats that once supported a flourishing flora and fauna, was so meticulously executed, that one really had to go through a dozen records to even figure out that the forest cover actually existed over 55 years ago.

The sanctuaries were mentioned in a report which was prepared by a now-defunct Indian Board for Wildlife (IBWL), in November 1965, a delegation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. While we're not sure what ethical or unethical practices were put in place to ensure the safety of the wildlife displaced, we do know the previously vast reservoir is now a hollow piece of land, which benefits India through the abundant iron-ore reserves.

 Twitter

The report that was prepared, initially, mentioned that Bihar (undivided), had seven protected areas-two national parks and five sanctuaries. Fortunately, this information also features in the Indian Forest Records: Glossary of terms used in nature conservation and wild life management, published by the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in 1970.



The book, which was written by P Venkataramany mentioned that the Songra sanctuary was created in 1932, the remaining two were created in 1936, but two out of the three sanctuaries disappeared, when the Wildlife Protection Act was drafted in 1972.

The Act says sanctuaries notified before its promulgation will be deemed to be sanctuaries, M Ranjitsinh, a retired government official who also happened to be one of the key authors of the act, stated in an interview with Down To Earth, a reputed environmental magazine.

Even after the mention of the sanctuaries in the book, none of the prevalent government documents published after 1972, mentioned Bamiaburu or Songra sanctuaries. In fact, the information for these sanctuaries is so ambiguous, that even experts can't predict their accurate location.

If they are not there anymore, then it is a clear case of obfuscation, says MK Ranjitsinh added.

In this case though, experts state that acquiring land for mining activities would have been difficult if the government wouldn't have eliminated the three sanctuaries present there. This explains why the Sardana landscape (where the sanctuaries existed) was severely mutilated and destroyed, even though several government documents did talk about how this particular piece of land shouldn't be harmed in any way. Even historically, the Sardana mines have been the livelihood for towns like Bokaro in Jharkhand and Rourkela in Odisha.

 Twitter

Mining practices in India have been in a constant continuum to prolong economic gains, and local tribes around these mining belts have either been displaced or used as workers to work in these mines, risking their safety and their health.



Clearing land or evacuating it for mining resources has been under India's tally of accountable environmental issues that we currently face, and we only hope either these practices are further curtailed or done a bit more judiciously, to conserve whatever land we may have left for India's flora and fauna.

While land titles have been taken away and the government has acted on will to deconstruct tribal and animal land and use it to strengthen economic gains, we truly hope conservation efforts balance out the yin-yang situation here and steps are taken to further safeguard our remaining natural forest reserves around the country.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 21:54:22|Editor: xuxin

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KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia on Thursday announced nine new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 158.

Another six patient had been declared cured and discharged, making for a total of 32 who have recovered in Malaysia, Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement.

Three patients required respiratory assistance in intensive unites and are in stable condition, he added.

Noor Hisham said more measures on control and prevention would be implemented in response to the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 to be a pandemic.

He also urged participants of a recent mass religious event to report to the local health authorities following participants being reported infected with COVID-19. The event, held from late February to early March outside the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, was reported to had some 10,000 participants.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Adham Baba confirmed Malaysia's first sporadic case of COVID-19. He explained that this meant the virus was detected in an isolated and specific cluster within the country that had not seen cases previously.

Adham said the new cases were part of a second wave, with the disease transmission occurring within the country rather than from individuals coming from abroad, adding that this could lead to a sudden spike in the number of cases in the country.

"This is because it is (a) second wave. First wave we could control, those bringing COVID-19 from overseas, we have controlled the spread."

"What has happened now is contacts within the country and spread from those infected. That is why in the country, sudden spike," he said.
A Chinese company says it has created a new facial recognition system that can identify people even if they are wearing masks.

Developers began working on the new system in January, when cases of the new coronavirus began rising in China. The fast spread of the virus  which can be deadly  has led most Chinese citizens to wear face masks in public to help reduce infections.

China is recognized as a world leader in the development of artificial intelligence and facial recognition systems. Engineers at the Beijing-based Hanwang Technology Ltd. say their system is the first to be created to effectively identify people wearing face masks.

The company told the Reuters news agency that a team of 20 people built the system in about a month. The system is based on existing technologies developed over the past 10 years. The process involved adding a collection of about 6 million unmasked faces and a much smaller collection of masked faces, the company said.

Hanwang is now selling two main kinds of products that use the new technology. One performs single channel recognition, which is designed to be used at the entrances to buildings.

The other product is a multi-channel recognition system that uses groups of surveillance cameras. Hanwangs vice president, Huang Lei, told Reuters that the multi-channel system can identify individuals in a crowd of up to 30 people within a second.

When wearing a mask, the recognition rate can reach about 95 percent, which can ensure that most people can be identified, Huang said. He added that the systems success rate for people not wearing a mask is about 99.5 percent.

The company says one of the largest users of the new system is Chinas Ministry of Public Security, which operates the countrys police agencies. The Chinese government widely uses cameras and facial recognition technology for identification purposes and to record peoples movements.

Huang said officials can use Hanwangs technology to compare images with ministry records on individuals in order to identify and track people as they move about. The system can identify crime suspects, terrorists or make reports or warnings, he added.

However, the new system struggles to identify people wearing both a mask and sunglasses. In this situation, all of the key facial information is lost. In such cases recognition is tough, Huang said.

It was not immediately clear how Chinese citizens were reacting to the new technology. The Chinese government has already been using other surveillance tools in the fight against the new coronavirus.

While some citizens have expressed opposition to such tools, many others seem to have accepted the methods as a way to deal with the current health emergency.

So far, Huang says most interest in the new system has come from within China. But he sees the interest likely expanding if the virus continues to spread and the use of face masks increases.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Reuters news agency reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - New Facial Recognition System Developed to Identify People in Masks Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

mask  n. something that covers part of all of the face

artificial intelligence  n. the development of computer systems with the ability to perform work that normally requires human intelligence

channel  n. a way of communicating or getting something done

surveillance  n. the activity of watching people carefully, often secretly, especially by an army or police force

ensure  v. to make sure something is done of happens

track  v. follow the movements of a person or thing

key  adj. very important in influencing or achieving something

tough  adj. difficult
Black California Has a Chance to Rewrite History in 2020

Throughout the history of the United States, the Black communitys consistent fight for recognition has been an unfortunate and inescapable reality.

History is not a precise science, nor an impartial one. Take a glance at a history textbook from past decades, and you will quickly understand that American history was written from the viewpoint of white men.

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In so many ways, the history of Black Americans IS the history of America. Slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and, in the modern era, the preeminence of Black popular culture, have all shaped and still define this country.

This year we have an opportunity to set a positive trajectory for the future of Black communities in the nations most economically and socially powerful state. A chance to be counted, to ensure our voices are heard, and to secure the resources we deserve for the next generation  through participating in the 2020 Census.

History hasnt been kind or accurate when it comes to counting Black neighborhoods. In Census after Census, the supposedly straightforward act of counting everyone in America has dismissed and disregarded millions across the country.

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Nationally, the last Census in 2010 undercounted Black people by 2.1 percent  a total of 800,000 people missing from the record, rendered invisible. Black children were twice as likely to be missed as white children, affecting federal funding allocations to programs to provide support to children in schools.

The reasons many in the Black community wind up overlooked by the count are complex and pervasive. Complex housing issues, including renting, instability and living in unique arrangements make them even more likely to be missed in the Census.

There are also strong cultural and political headwinds. Decades of segregation, legal discrimination, and police brutality mean that many Black communities understandably reject the federal government as an agent for positive change. Wary of providing information, many fear it will be used against them.

California is leading a collaborative effort to educate and motivate the hardest-to-count Californians to fill out the Census form. We have the power to change the course of our history.

Across California, which has the fifth largest Black population in the country, Black activists and organizations are once again stepping up. This time to partner with the state to conduct the most comprehensive and diverse outreach campaign in state history.

As such, California Calls, a growing alliance of 31 grassroots, community-based organizations spanning urban, rural and suburban counties across the state, is reaching out to communities in California to make the case for being counted. As one of Californias outreach partners for the 2020 Census, California Calls has done outreach to Black populations throughout the State using door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, and digital communication strategies.

My Black Counts is an education and awareness initiative convened by California Calls as part of The California Black Census and Redistricting Hub Project. This is our chance in California to right historical wrongs and for communities to claim what is rightfully theirs.

We hope  no, we will make certain  this time around there will be a difference. We are telling communities that the Census is safe and secure. Not only is the U.S. Census Bureau required by law to keep any personal information it collects confidential, but that information also cannot be used for law enforcement purposes or to determine eligibility for government benefits.

Starting in mid-March, the U.S. Census Bureau will invite all Californians to complete the Census. Its a short form  9 questions per person  and households can participate by phone, mail or online. In May, Census enumerators will visit homes in person to count those who dont respond.

The 2020 Census is an opportunity for Black Californians to correct the record and chart a better way forward. But for that to happen, we must all stand up and be counted.

We have a big task ahead, but we know Black Californians are up to meeting the challenge. Its our time to show we arent invisible.
Madhya Pradesh Congress on Thursday alleged that two of its ministers who had gone to Bengaluru to meet the rebel party legislators were assaulted.

"Two of our ministers Jitu Patwari and Lakhan Singh had gone to Bengaluru. They were assaulted, we have info that our ministers have been arrested," Madhya Pradesh Congress leader said during a press conference.

Congress further warned that if the police don't take action, the party will take it to the court.

Some of the rebel MLAs had said in a video on Wednesday that they were in Bengaluru out of their own will.

The rebel MLAs have been staying in Bengaluru over the past few days.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Haryana government on Thursday declared the contagious coronavirus infection an epidemic. According to the state Health Department, 44 samples of suspected cases were sent for tests till Wednesday. Out of these, 38 were found negative for coronavirus while reports of six people -- four from Gurgaon and two from Panchkula -- were awaited.

"COVID-19 declared epidemic in Haryana," Health minister Anil Vij said in a tweet. Over 270 isolation wards with 1,206 beds have been set up in government and private hospitals to deal with any contingency. Rohtak's premier PGIMS Hospital has been designated as the Tertiary Care Centre for treatment of critical patients.

The state government has issued various regulations under The Haryana Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, to contain the spread of the deadly virus, according to a notification issued on Wednesday. These regulations come into force with immediate effect and will remain valid for a period of one year. All hospitals in the state have been directed to set up 'flu corners' for screening of suspected coronavirus cases.

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.

Among other guidelines, no private laboratories have been authorised to take or test coronavirus samples in the state. The government has also asked people with a travel history to coronavirus-affected countries to report to nearest government hospital.

If a coronavirus case is reported from a defined geographic area such as village, town, ward, colony, settlement, the district administration of the district concerned shall have the right to implement containment measures, including sealing of the area, barring entry and exit of population from the containment area, closure of schools, offices and banning public gatherings, besides other measures.

No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under the Epidemic Disease Act unless proved otherwise, according to the notification.

Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Fresh cases of COVID-19 virus in India; number spikes to 73

Also read: COVID-19 in China may impact Indian manufacturers: Piyush Goyal
British actress Thandie Newton has said the word 'empire' should be removed from honours, describing the practice as 'outdated'.

The award-winning star of acclaimed sci-fi drama Westworld, 47, received an OBE in 2018 for services to film and charity.

Her mother was born in Zimbabwe, formerly the British colony of Southern Rhodesia.

British actress Thandie Newton has said the word 'empire' should be removed from honours, describing the practice as 'outdated'

The Order of the British Empire recognises contributions to the UK across the military, charity, public service and arts and sciences.

Newton said the honour was a proud moment but she agreed with Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy that 'empire' should be removed.

She said, 'yes I agree' adding 'it's outdated'.

Hollywood star Newton, known for roles in films including Crash, The Pursuit Of Happyness and Solo: A Star Wars Story, said her mother was her first thought when the OBE offer arrived.

The Bafta and Emmy award-winner said: 'It's the best thing in her life, to have come from Zimbabwe, worked her ass off, and her pride in being British.

'Her pride in being accepted when she'd grown up in a colonial environment.

'So it was really honouring the incredible hard work of my family, who are British, and also the representation of British people as being this modern spectrum of rainbow ethnicities.'

The award-winning star of acclaimed sci-fi drama Westworld received an OBE in 2018 for services to film and charity

Ms Nandy demanded last month that 'Empire' is removed from OBE honours because it 'alienates' people.

The Labour leadership hopeful insisted doing away with the reference to Britain's colonial past would help make the country 'different'.

She pointed to the example of poet Benjamin Zephaniah - who turned down an OBE in 2003 because it 'reminded him of thousands of years of brutality'.

Newton said the honour was a proud moment but she agreed with Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy that 'empire' should be removed

Ms Nandy demanded last month that 'Empire' is removed from OBE honours because it 'alienates' people

The Labour leadership hopeful insisted doing away with the reference to Britain's colonial past would help make the country 'different'. Pictured: She was speaking at a Labour leadership hustings event

Speaking at a Labour leadership hustings in Bristol, Ms Nandy set out why she did not believe the term should be used.

'The self-confident, empowered country I will lead will be one that is different,' she said.

'Where people like Benjamin Zephaniah can accept the Order of Excellence not reject the Order of the British Empire.

Ms Nandy pointed to the example of poet Benjamin Zephaniah (pictured in 2003) - who turned down an OBE because it 'reminded him of thousands of years of brutality'

'That celebrates those who built us not seeks to alienate them.

'To remake this country as it should and can be, Written, as he says, in ''verses of fire''.'

After he was put forward for an OBE in the 2003 New Year's Honours, Zephaniah wrote an article explaining why he had rejected it.

'It reminds me of slavery, it reminds me of the thousands of years of brutality, it reminds me of how my foremothers were raped and my forefathers brutalised,' he wrote in the Guardian.

'Benjamin Zephaniah OBE  no way Mr (Tony) Blair, no way Mrs Queen. I am profoundly anti-empire.'
Vegetable gardening is not for the faint of heart. Even after months of nurturing tiny seedlings into big, vigorous food machines, you're still at Mother Nature's mercy.

Aside from weather, local wildlife often poses the greatest threat to homegrown crops. Pests are just part of horticulture, and shrewd gardeners can organically manage most moochers without losing their cool. Still, some invaders inflict so much damage so quickly that they rise to an almost mythical level of garden lore.

And for tomato lovers, few insect pests loom larger than a hornworm.

These huge caterpillars eviscerate tomato plants with alarming speed, leaving little time for gardeners to intervene. Yet while their notoriety is well-earned, hornworms are beatable if you know what to look for and how to react. To help with that, here's a quick primer on what hornworms are, what they do and how to stop them  including an ancient method every tomato gardener should know.

A hornworm can grow tenfold in three weeks, but it has to eat a lot of leaves. (Photo: Benjamin Simeneta/Shutterstock)

What is a hornworm?

Hornworms are larvae of hawk moths and sphinx moths, named after a horn-like spike on their butts that resembles a stinger but isn't. They're the largest caterpillars in much of North America, growing up to 4 inches long and ominously plump.

Two species are most infamous for raiding vegetable gardens in the U.S.: tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Despite their crop-specific names, both attack a range of plants in the nightshade family, including potatoes, eggplants, peppers, tobacco and tomatoes.

The tobacco hornworm is most common in the U.S. South, according to Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), and the tomato hornworm is more concentrated in northern states. Yet their ranges overlap, and aside from subtle differences in horn color and markings, the two are "quite similar in appearance and biology," IFAS explains in a fact sheet. So if there's a hornworm in your garden, it probably doesn't matter which kind. Your tomatoes are in trouble regardless.

Hornworms typically eat foliage whole, leaving only stubs of branches in their wake. (Photo: SDeming/Shutterstock)

What do hornworms do?

Some gardeners are laissez-faire about caterpillars, many of which just nibble a few leaves without causing serious harm to the plant. And if you happen to notice a hornworm early in its development, it may seem innocent enough at first.

The process starts in spring, when adult moths emerge from overwintering sites and mate. Females lay tiny oval eggs on leaves, and those hatch within a week. After that happens, larvae go through five developmental stages known as "instars."

Young hornworms attack upper parts of a plant first, blending into the greenery as they eat foliage, flowers and even fruits. Their larval period is just three weeks, but they can grow 10 times larger in that span, from an average length of 7 millimeters (0.3 inch) to 81 millimeters (3 inches), moving around the plant as they mature.

Hornworms eat entire leaves, and at full size they can quickly defoliate a plant, with about 90 percent of damage occurring in the final instar. Once they're mature, they drop to the soil and burrow to form a pupal cell. Adult moths can emerge in two weeks, restarting the process up to three times per season, depending on climate.

The tomato hornworm becomes a five-spotted hawkmoth in adulthood. (Photo: Sari O'Neal/Shutterstock)

How to handle hornworms on your own

Pull weeds near your garden, namely nightshades like horsenettle that can harbor hornworms. Tilling the soil kills some pupae, and light traps may lure adult moths, although IFAS notes this "has not proved practical" for pest control. Insecticides are rarely advised for home gardens, since they can kill beneficial insects like bees (or wasps), are less effective on big larvae and aren't typically needed for hornworms.

The University of Minnesota Extension Service (UMES) suggests checking tomato plants for hornworms at least twice a week in summer. If you find one, the best tactic is to remove it by hand, according to UMES, and drop it in soapy water to kill it.

First, however, always take a closer look. Tomato and tobacco hornworms are native to North America, and in healthy ecosystems, they're still kept in check by natural enemies. That includes not just predators like lady bugs and lacewings  which eat the eggs and young larvae  but also parasitoids: parasites that kill their hosts.

Hornworms, despite their size, are plagued by tiny parasitoid wasps. If you see their babies on your hornworm, Mother Nature has already solved your problem.

Once a hornworm looks like this, it threatens other hornworms more than tomatoes. (Photo: Stephen Bonk/Shutterstock)

How to let wasps do your dirty work

"Wasp" may bring to mind big, predatory paper wasps, and those are known to prey on hornworms. But tiny parasitoid wasps also pose a grave threat to even the largest of these moth larvae, and their tomato-saving powers grow with every kill.

Rather than killing a hornworm outright, a female parasitoid wasp injects it with eggs and flies away, leaving her brood to hatch inside the live host. The eggs soon release little wasp larvae, which feed on the hornworm until they're ready to pupate.

The larvae form cocoons outside the host's body, and these white projections are easily visible to us. The hornworm is still alive at this point, and may continue walking around, but it has stopped eating. In fact, if you see a hornworm in this predicament, the best way to protect your garden is to just leave it alone.

After emerging from its cocoon, a parasitoid wasp pauses atop its hornworm host. (Photo: Cindy Funk/Flickr)

"If such projections are observed, the hornworms should be left in the garden to allow the adult wasps to emerge," UMES explains in a fact sheet on hornworms in home gardens. "These wasps kill the hornworms when they emerge from the cocoons and will seek out other hornworms to parasitize."

Parasitoid wasps are highly diverse, widely specializing in certain insects or life stages. They include broad families like the braconids, trichogrammatids and ichneumonids, the latter of which has an estimated 100,000 species  more than all vertebrate animals combined. Many use incredible tactics to find and control hosts, like Cotesia congregata, which injects a virus that limits caterpillars' growth and stops their immune systems from attacking her eggs. Microplitis croceipes finds its hosts by sniffing out a chemical in their feces, and can be trained to detect bombs. Some braconids in Brazil even take over their host's body and use it as a bodyguard.

These wasps may not be household names, but they perform irreplaceable jobs that illustrate why it's worth living and growing food in a balanced, biodiverse ecosystem. (Most are incapable of stinging humans, which is also nice.)

Braconid wasps are a nightmare for many pest insects like aphids, beetles, flies and caterpillars. (Photo: Katja Schulz/Flickr)

How to attract parasitoid wasps

As with any wildlife, parasitoid wasps are a lot more likely to inhabit a place if it has their preferred food and shelter. Some wasp species can be ordered online, including hornworm killers like Trichogramma pretiosum, but since wild wasps are free, it makes sense to try luring them first. And however they get to your garden, the wasps will only stay if you provide a suitable habitat. So here are a few tips:

1. Offer lots of tiny flowers.

While baby parasitoid wasps rely on host insects for food, adults feed on nectar. And since their small mouthparts can't reach into long, tubular blooms, they need flowers with relatively shallow nectaries. They also like a variety of tiny flowers, which are well-suited for them and often ignored by larger pollinators.

That includes plants in the carrot family (Apiaceae) like angelica, chervil, coriander, dill or fennel, as well as brassicas (Brassicaceae) like radishes or turnips. It also includes the mint (Lamiaceae) and aster (Asteraceae) families, which feature some late-season nectar sources such as goldenrod and yarrow. Here's a list with more options.

2. Provide shelter and water.

Removing certain weeds may limit hornworms, but it's wise to preserve a little wildness, too. On top of offering nectar, native plants can help shelter parasitoid wasps and other beneficial wildlife from extreme temperatures or weather.

Your wasps will also need water, albeit not much. If that's not already available, something like a bee bath should suffice. Just make sure it's shallow, with rocks or other objects to serve as perches, and check it regularly for mosquitoes.

3. Don't use insecticides.

When pests ruin your hard work, it can be tempting to use pesticides. But that often means a broad-spectrum insecticide, which is more hatchet than scalpel, killing helpful arthropods along with "bad" ones. Parasitoid wasps are no exception.

***

Growing food often feels like fighting with nature, forcing us to defend our crops against an onslaught of weather and wildlife. But while it's unrealistic to expect a problem-free growing season, it's also worth noting pests are only part of the picture. Entire species of predators and parasites have evolved to take out native troublemakers like hornworms, and in many healthy ecosystems, they still do.

Our gardens may be at Mother Nature's mercy, but if we're patient and give her space to work, she can be surprisingly generous with it.
Prolonging power: Vladimir Putin could seek to be elected twice more. Photo: Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

The Russian parliament has approved the final constitutional reform to allow president Vladimir Putin to stay in power for another 12 years after his current term ends in 2024.

Kremlin critics condemned the move as a cynical manipulation and called for protests.

The Kremlin-controlled lower house, the State Duma, endorsed a set of amendments to the constitution and a provision resetting the term count for Mr Putin after the revised constitution goes into force. It passed by a 383-0 vote with 43 abstentions, and was approved by the upper house, the Federation Council. A nationwide vote on the amendments is set for April 22.

Mr Putin has ruled Russia for more than 20 years. After serving for two consecutive four-year terms - a limit outlined in the current version of the constitution - Mr Putin shifted to prime minister's seat in 2008, with his close ally Dmitry Medvedev becoming a placeholder president.

The length of the presidency was extended to six years under Mr Medvedev, and in 2012 Mr Putin returned to the Kremlin as president. In 2018, he was re-elected for another six years. The constitutional reform passed by the Duma yesterday would allow Mr Putin to run for presidency two more times after 2024. Before the national vote, it will be reviewed by Russia's Constitutional Court.

The changes redistribute the executive powers of the Russian government in Moscow and further strengthen the power of the presidency, while also banning same-sex marriage and listing "a belief in God" as one of Russia's traditional values.

The move prompted immediate calls for protests. On Tuesday night, about 200 people gathered near the Kremlin and lined up to hold solo pickets - the only form of protest in Russia legal without prior authorisation from the government - against the reform.

"It was clear from the start that it is being done to keep Putin in power forever," said opposition activist Alexei Miniaylo.

Two opposition groups called for a bigger rally in Moscow on March 21 or March 22 and applied for authorisation with the city authorities. Soon after, Moscow City Hall 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 coronavirus.

Activists remained unfazed, however, and yesterday refiled their requests, amending the maximum number of participants from 50,000 to 4,500.

"Our position is that if the coronavirus is such a dangerous threat, then they should cancel the vote (on the constitutional reform)," said Mikhail Svetov, leader of the Civil Society movement.

"If it is not that dangerous, then rallies should be allowed."
Hollywood heavyweight and Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have both tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia.

In a Twitter post, Hanks said that he and Wilson - both 63, were tested after they felt tired and achy with slight fevers. Hanks was in Australia to shoot for Baz Luhrmann film on the life of Elvis Presley.

"To play things right, as is needed in the world right now, we were tested for the coronavirus and were found to be positive," Hanks said in the tweet.

He added that he and Wilson would be "tested, observed and isolated" for as long as required.

"Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? We'll keep the world posted and updated," he said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

Hanks won Academy Awards for his mid-1990s performances in Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. He and Wilson are the first celebrities to go public with their diagnosis.

Follow the LIVE blog for latest updates on the novel coronavirus pandemic

The New York Times reported that Hanks was in Australia to film a movie about the life of Elvis Presley, in which he plays the rocker's manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Production had originally been set to begin filming on March 16. It was not immediately clear if filming would be postponed.

But the Guardian reported that cast and crew attached to the film received an email in the morning of March 12 instructing them to stay away from the set after a member of the production team tested positive for the virus.

Warner Bros, the film's US production company in a statement said it was taking precautions to protect employees, the Guardian added. "The health and safety of our company members are always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world," the statement read.

More than 121,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 in 118 countries and over 4,300 people have died of the virus, according to a Reuters tally. In the United States, at least 37 people have died from the respiratory illness.
Robert A Clifford, founder and senior partner at the nationally renowned law firm of Clifford Law Offices, again has been named to the TOP 10: 2020 ILLINOIS SUPER LAWYERS list by Illinois Super Lawyers.

Chicago, IL, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robert A Clifford, founder and senior partner at the nationally renowned law firm of Clifford Law Offices, again has been named to the TOP 10: 2020 ILLINOIS SUPER LAWYERS list by Illinois Super Lawyers.

Bob has been named in the Top 10 Super Lawyers list every year since its inception in 2005 and has been selected as the #1 Illinois Super Lawyer eight times in their history.

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

I am humbled to once again be a part of this list of Top Ten Lawyers in the state, Clifford said. I continue to work as hard today as I do the first day I became a lawyer. Through my example and mentoring of young lawyers, I hope to set an example for lawyers across the state that you can accomplish great things if you are willing to work hard.

Clifford has received many accolades in his 40-year career as a lawyer. He was named by Best Lawyers/U.S. News & World Report as the Lawyer of the Year in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions in 2015 and again in 2019 in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 2019, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association awarded Bob its highest honor, the Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award. He also was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Americas Top 100 Lawyers in 2017. In 2017 he also received the Unity Award by Diversity Scholarship Foundation, the Justice John Paul Stevents Award by the Chicago Bar Association and the L. Sanford Blustin Award by the North Suburban Bar Association.

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For five consecutive years, Bob was named in Whos Who in Chicago by Crains Chicago Business. The National Trial Lawyers named Bob Clifford the Class Action Trial Lawyer of 2018.

He was named by Chicago Magazine as one of the 100 Most Powerful Chicagoans and was named the 2012 Chicago Lawyer Person of the Year by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, based upon his trial accomplishments, his contributions to the legal community and to the Chicago area. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals gave him its Professionalism Award in 2014. The National Law Journal named Clifford Law Offices one of the Top 10 Litigation Boutiques in the country for 2012 and awarded Mr. Clifford the Elite Trial Lawyers Award in 2014.

Mr. Clifford has represented those injured or killed in every major commercial airline crash in the U.S. in the last three decades. This includes the American Airlines crash at OHare in 1979; the United Airlines DC-10 crash in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1989; the Comair runway crash in Lexington, Kentucky of 2006; the Continental Colgan crash of 2009; and, internationally, the Turkish Airlines crash in Amsterdam of 2009 as well as the tragic Boeing crash of a 737 MAX-8 in Ethiopia in 2019 where he was appointed Lead Counsel of the litigation pending in federal court in Chicago. Mr. Clifford served as the liaison counsel for the subrogation and business property damage claims that resulted from the nations tragedy on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center in New York. He served as lead counsel in the negotiation and settlement of those claims that settled for $1.2 billion. In a recent case he tried involving a client who suffered permanent injuries after being dragged by a semi, the jury returned a record $35 million verdict for the young woman he represented.

Bob regularly handles complex damage cases and routinely receives multi-million dollar verdicts and for Rachel Barton, an internationally acclaimed violinist who was severely injured by a Metra train. In 2014, Bob was the lead negotiator in the $1.2 billion settlement of numerous 9/11 property damage claims following the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York. In March 2015, Bob Clifford was lead counsel in a trial against Yellow Cab that resulted in a $25.9 million verdict on behalf of a lawyer who was severely injured in the back seat when the taxi crashed into a concrete barrier.

Clifford was appointed to serve as co-lead counsel in a case for which a team of attorneys secured a $250 million settlement against State Farm Insurance company. Bob also serves as co-lead counsel in a data breach case filed in state court against Advocate Medical Group, Illinois largest healthcare system, involving more than four million patients and reportedly is the largest healthcare data breach in the nations history. In addition, Bob served as co-lead counsel in a class action filed against Pella Windows Corporation, a nationwide window manufacturer. U.S. District Court Judge James B. Zagel of the Northern District of Illinois appointed Clifford as class counsel for his demonstrated skills in the field. Most recently, Bob and other attorneys have joined to represent numerous hospitals across the country in a fight against the manufacturers of opioid drugs.

In addition to practicing law, Bob is dedicated to the furtherance of the legal profession and has been actively involved in and held leadership roles with the American Bar Association (Chair of the Section of Litigation and Chair of the ABAs charitable arm, the Fund for Justice and Education), Chicago Bar Association (President), Chicago Inn of Court (President), American College of Trial Lawyers and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (President). He is also a member of the American Law Institute, the Inner Circle of Advocates and serves on the Board of Directors for the RAND Institute for Civil Justice, a think tank based in California. For more than 25 years, he has sponsored the Annual Clifford Tort Symposium on Tort Law and Civil Justice at DePaul University College of Law. Mr. Clifford also served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Naples Children & Education Foundation, a charitable organization and host of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, which benefits over 200,000 at-risk and underprivileged children in Southwest Florida.

Eighteen of the attorneys at Clifford Law Offices were selected to the 2020 Super Lawyers list. Partners Keith A. Hebeisen and Kevin P. Durkin were named among the top 100 lawyers in Illinois by Super Lawyers.

About Clifford Law Offices

Since 1984, Clifford Law Offices has been dedicated to serving the needs of clients in the Chicago area and throughout the nation. Clifford Law Offices is an internationally-recognized trial firm that concentrates in aviation, transportation, personal injury, medical negligence, product liability law, mass torts, and class actions. The firm also has developed a reputation in class action litigation and whistleblower cases as well as commercial litigation cases.

The National Law Journal named Clifford Law Offices one of the 50 Elite Law Firms in the country, the only firm in Chicago to be awarded this distinction. The National Law Journal also has named the firm as one of the top 10 Litigation Boutiques in the country. Clifford Law Offices repeatedly has been listed in U.S. News & World Reports publication announcing the Best Law firms in the country.

Attachment

Rachel Baker

Clifford Law Offices

rbaker@cliffordlaw.com


One more person has tested positive



for the coronavirus here, taking the number of confirmed patients of the disease in the city to nine, a senior official said on Thursday.

District collector Naval Kishore Ram said a person who had travel history to the United States has tested positive.

With this, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra has reached 12. Apart from nine confirmed patients in Pune, two persons have tested positive for the virus in Mumbai and one in Nagpur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It is a virus that is shutting the world down. Over 100 countries have now reported laboratory-confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The World Health Organisation has issued an advisory against all nonessential travel. But if you have to travel, pay heed to risk-rating advisories, check with your insurance company and airlines, find out about travel and visa restrictions.

Level 1-4 countries: Before flying out, check the travel advisory. There is a four-tier travel advisory system - Level 4 (do not travel); Level 3 (reconsider travel); Level 2 (exercise increased caution); and Level 1 (exercise normal precautions). The levels are changed depending on outbreak status, so pay heed to the latest risk-level list and COVID-19 risk by country.

COVID-19 originated in China.

Medical Insurance: If you have medical insurance, before flying out, check with the insurance company about COVID-19 quarantine and treatment coverage. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) has said that all expenses incurred during the course of COVID-19 treatment (including quarantine period), shall be covered by all insurers. Remember, if the World Health Organisation declares COVID-19 a pandemic and it is ratified by the Government of India, policyholders will have to pay out of their pocket to cover COVID-19 medical expenses because pandemics are usually not covered under health policies.

Flight ticket refund: If you have already booked flight but your plan is shelved/postponed, immediately seek refund. Save all communication with travel agent/airline. Check with airlines about their change/cancellation policies. Delta, United, American Airlines, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines are waiving change fee and offering one-time date alteration free of charge (usual fee is $200). All airlines have a stipulated ticket purchase dates eligible for fee waiver. Top-up fees may still apply for fare differences in the new itinerary. For cancellations, refunds would be in accordance with fare conditions of the ticket(s) purchased. Check airlines official website for terms and conditions. If you are booking now, look for flights with flexible date change/cancellation policies.

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

Before planning travel, pay heed to the countrys risk rating.

Self-declaration mandatory: According to Indias Bureau of Immigration, all foreign and Indian nationals entering into India from any port are required to furnish a pair of duly filled self-declaration forms (including personal particulars i.e. phone number and address in India) and travel history to health officials and immigration officials at all arrival ports. Incorrect information could lead to penalties and/or jail terms.

Tested Negative for COVID-19 certificate: Indian nationals coming from Italy and South Korea should carry Tested Negative for COVID-19 medical certificate from designated laboratories of Italy and South Korea. The certificate is also mandatory for Italian and South Korean nationals who were granted fresh visa after March 5, 2020.

Tightened entry conditions: The Indian government has tightened the entry conditions for the nationals of Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan with immediate effect. As per the revised travel advisory, new travellers from these countries will have to apply for fresh visas.

No entry to Qatar and Kuwait: Fliers from India have been barred from entering Qatar and Kuwait.

Visas suspended: All regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas for India granted to nationals of France, Germany and Spain issued on or before March 11, 2020, and who have not yet entered India have been suspended. Regular (sticker) Visas/e-Visas granted to all foreign nationals who have travelled to China, Iran, Italy, South Korea, Japan, France, Germany and Spain on or after February 1, 2020, and who have not yet entered India stand suspended with immediate effect.

Airlines must report passengers: Airlines have been advised to report all passengers on board showing signs of an infectious disease, including fever, sweats or chills. Passengers are also advised to self-declare any symptoms to the biosecurity team at airports.

Check with your airline about refund/cancellation policies.

Not declaring travel history a crime: The Kerala Health department has said failure to inform authorities about travel history and symptoms would be considered a crime.

No to foreigners and NRIs inside Tirupati Temple: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) issued the advisory asking foreigners, NRIs and others not to visit the temple for 28 days after they landed in the country.

Disaster Management Act invoked in Pune: The Pune district administration has advised all travellers returning from abroad - with or without symptoms - to isolate themselves at home for at least 14 days.

Partial lockdown in Kerala: Schools and colleges and cinemas will remain closed in Kerala till March 31.

14-day mandatory quarantine in Israel: Even if you are planning an urgent trip to Israel, remember the country has taken the extraordinary step of requiring a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering the country. Announcing the new policy, Prime Minister Netanyahu said the policy will be in effect for two weeks.

Italy is on complete lockdown.

Italy on complete lockdown: As the worst-affected country outside Asia, Italy is on a complete lockdown until April 3. According to the government decree, people should only move around for reasons of work, for health needs or for emergencies; all outdoor gatherings have been banned; cinemas, museums, theatres, pubs, dance schools, betting shops, discos, ski resorts have been asked to close. Bars and restaurants are allowed to open from 6 am to 6 pm only on the strict condition that customers can be seated at least one metre (one yard) apart.

Useful websites

COVID-19 information India: http://www.mohfw.gov.in/

Indias Bureau of Immigration visa/travel restrictions: https://boi.gov.in/content/advisory-travel-and-visa-restrictions-related-covid-19-dated-11th-march-2020

Corona Virus outbreak dashboard: https://who.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/c88e37cfc43b4ed3baf977d77e4a0667)

Advisory information: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public:

Condition overview: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

(Preeti Verma Lal is a Goa-based freelance writer/photographer)

Photo credit: Preeti Verma Lal.
As the coronavirus continues to spread rapidly across the world, the urgent need for emergency action to protect billions of people from this potentially lethal disease is becoming ever clearer. As well as free universal testing and high quality medical care for all, all workers urgently require paid sick-leave and full compensation for any earnings lost due to the pandemic.

Hundreds of thousands of workers employed in the so-called gig economy across Canada have absolutely no access to paid sick-leave. For many of them, staying home for the 14 days recommended by medical professionals to prevent the spread of the virus is impossible.

A self-employed single mother from Vancouver, British Columbia (BC), told CBC, Id have to be half dead to not go to work  Im always one contract away from an eviction notice. Explaining what the impact would be on her if she followed the recommended quarantine procedure, she added, I dont think people really understand what it means to not be able to miss work. Its the difference between eating or not, the difference between having a place to live or not.

Her sentiments reflect the worries and fears of hundreds of thousands of Canadians precariously working in the so-called gig economy. Financial pressure in the absence of paid sick-leave is compelling them to work even when experiencing symptoms of illness, which will accelerate the spread of COVID-19.

A third of new jobs created in BC since the 2008-09 recession were non-permanent, according to the latest figures from the BC Bureau of Labour Statistics. Nationwide, more than a fifth of professionals have precarious jobs, almost all of which do not offer paid sick-leave. Overall, 13 percent of Canadas workforce was employed on temporary contracts in 2018, according to a Statistics Canada study.

Workers in the critical health care fields who are at increased risk of exposure to the virus are also faced with job precariousness. An estimated 5,000 long-term care aides, who in BC are paid as low as $16 an hour, would not have enough paid sick-days to cover the duration of the quarantine period. The provinces 50,000 unionized nurses can only earn 1.5 working days of sick leave per month, and that is if they are a full-time employee. Thirteen percent of BC Nurses Union members are casual workers, many with very few accrued sick-leave hours. Others are not entitled to paid sick-leave at all.

The federal Liberal government and the various provincial governments have nothing to offer these workers. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced a plan to temporarily waive the one-week waiting period before workers can obtain Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for those forced to go into 14 days of quarantine. But the sustained austerity measures and attacks on workers rights mounted by big business governments since the 1980s mean that barely 40 percent of Canadian workers even qualify for EI benefits.

There is no legislation at the federal level to compel employers to provide paid sick-leave to workers. Provincial regulations differ, but none of them come even close to covering the 14-day quarantine period necessary to restrict the spread of the coronavirus. In 2018, the Ontario Progressive Conservative government under Doug Ford eliminated the two paid sick-days that workers were entitled to per year. In order to lower business costs and boost competition, the government replaced them with three days of unpaid leave. In Quebec, workers can take two paid sick-days, while BC provides for five unpaid sick-days, a useless measure for most low-paid workers who cannot afford to lose a single days pay.

Hospitals throughout Canada are warning the federal government that they are ill-prepared for the coronavirus pandemic, underscoring that workers who contract the disease because they have been compelled to turn up for work will receive sub-standard treatment. The lack of testing kits, respiratory equipment, and hospital beds exposes the devastation wrought by decades of job and service cuts by governments indifferent toward health care worker protections and the critical needs of sick patients. On Monday, a Reuters report revealed that the 55 million N95 masks purchased by Ontario in the wake of the 2003 SARS outbreak have all passed their expiration dates. Despite warnings about this from the auditor general as long ago as 2017, no action was taken to replace them.

The Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, where the first fatality in Canada from COVID-19 occurred Sunday, provides a microcosm of the chaotic scenes that will soon play out across the country if urgent action is not taken. Relatives of residents report that they have been forced to feed them and help with cleaning the centre because only two members of staff are left to care for 50 residents. Two care workers have gone into quarantine, while others have refused to turn up for work due to a lack of precautionary safety measures. We were trying to keep them [the residents] apart, but that was one of the issues. We could not maintain the procedures (officials recommended) to protect everyone, commented one woman, whose 96-year-old father lives at the centre. Its dangerous and a really atrocious situation weve got here.

Even less support is available to the thousands of homeless people across Canada. Cathy Crowe, who has worked as a street nurse for years in Toronto with homeless people, told CBC that the combination of overcrowded shelters, drug addiction, transience, and chronic health problems make the citys homeless population of approximately 8,000 on any given night at high-risk for contracting and spreading the disease. Shelters are like a petri dish waiting for COVID-19 to arrive, wrote Crowe in a blog post. The conditions in the shelters are so severely crowded. Depending on who you talk to, theres maybe 700 to 1,000 people sleeping outside because the shelters are full. Its very much linked to the potential risk which is now at our doorstep, she added to CBC.

Roxie Danielson, another street nurse, called on the government to increase shelter spaces by 2,000 to reduce overcrowding and use motels to isolate infected people. Im extremely worried about this because I know how deadly it could be if it hits the shelter system, she said.

The utter failure of Canadas ruling elite to protect workers and the homeless from the coronavirus pandemic poses the urgent need for the working class to intervene with its own program to protect the health and well-being of all. Workers must demand:

Paid sick leave for all workers

Free and universal testing for the coronavirus

Free high-quality treatment and equality of care for all

To fight for these demands, the Socialist Equality Party urges workers to form rank-and-file workplace and neighborhood committees to coordinate their activities, mobilize their collective strength, ensure that those who are sick receive social support, and monitor working conditions to enforce a safe environment.

The authors also recommend:

The response of the working class to the Coronavirus pandemic

[11 March 2020]

Medical supplies running out in parts of Canada as first Coronavirus death reported

[11 March 2020]
Boris Johnson has refused to shut schools across the country as the coronavirus pandemic continues to take hold despite public clamouring for him to do so.

A number of other countries such as Ireland, Austria, Turkey and Norway have taken drastic measures to stymie the spread of the disease, including closing schools, colleges and childcare facilities.

But the Prime Minister and his chief medical advisors decided to hold back these responses in an effort to delay the peak of the 'worst public health crisis for a generation', and instead recommended only stopping school trips abroad.

He outlined his plan in a press conference on Thursday, advising people to avoid cruises, school trips, and to stay at home for seven days if they notice any mild symptoms.

One of his advisors also said it was unreasonable to expect children to remain isolated for up to 16 weeks.

Boris Johnson has refused to close schools amid the coronavirus pandemic, but advised schools not to take trips abroad

Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said children appear to have a milder response to the virus compared to adults

Mr Johnson said: 'We advise all those over 70 with serious medical conditions against going on cruises and we advise against international school trips.

'At some point in the next few weeks we are likely to go further.'

Despite the warnings, Mr Johnson said the UK would not close schools yet.

He said: 'The scientific advice is that this could do more harm than good.

'But we are keeping this under review and this could change as the disease spreads. Schools should only close if they are specifically advised to do so.'

Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty later reiterated the Prime Minister's point, saying: 'Fortunately, and this is one silver lining in this particular infection, it looks as if children are affected much less than adults based on the early data we have at the moment.

'Our view is not that they don't get infected, we think they probably do, but they seem to have a much milder disease in general.'

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance also said schools would have to be closed for up to 16 weeks and it was not realistic to expect children to be cooped up that long.

Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said you cannot expect children not to come into contact with each other for 16 weeks

He said: 'It is true that there is some effect in closing schools but that effect is minimal and actually you would have to do it for 13 to 16 weeks or longer.

'You do not have to be a very advanced mathematician to work out that the chances of keeping children not speaking to each other or playing with each other are zero.'

Earlier, more than 350,000 people signed a petition urging the government to take action and close schools.

Concerned parents called on the Prime Minister to send pupils home to prevent the spread - with 100,000 signatures being the minimum required to secure a debate on the matter in Parliament.

A petition, started by Sami Attout, urged Boris Johnson to shut down schools and colleges 'in the coming weeks of as soon as possible', to prevent the spread of Covid19

A spokesman for the Department for Education insisted institutions would remain open, unless advised otherwise.

This morning, Irish PM Leo Varadkar declared that schools, colleges and childcare facilities are to close for two weeks.

Despite the PM's laid-back approach, today Manchester Metropolitan University announced an end to face-to-face teaching, while Christs Hospital school in Horsham, West Sussex, sent hundreds of pupils home.

School sends hundreds of pupils home as university lectures finish early Manchester Metropolitan University students received an email on Thursday afternoon detailing plans to finish lectures a week before the end of term. The spring term will finish on April 3, but no lectures, seminars or any contact teaching will take place after March 27. Students have been advised that face-to-face teaching could end even sooner, if a request is made by the government. University bosses say planning is already underway to assess the way they deliver assessments and exams for the summer term. Christs Hospital school in Horsham also said the current school term would finish at 3pm today for all pupils except those taking public exams this summer. Some 240 pupils from years 11 and 13 will remain at the school with around 660 from the other years being sent home, a spokeswoman said. A spokesperson for the university said the wellbeing of students was a top priority. Durham university is also advising that students on placement in Italy should return home and that large scale conferences and events should be cancelled. Advertisement

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 coronavirus does not seem to be infecting children anywhere near as much as it affects adults, for reasons that scientists don't yet understand.

Public Health England wrote in a blog: 'Closing schools can be disruptive for both children and parents so this is something we would need to consider very carefully.'

If schools were to be closed, pupils may be set work to do at home or given online lessons through video tutorials or special school networks.

Children in other countries such as Italy are still taking part in hours of school lessons even from isolation.

It was reported last night that teachers had been told to prepare home learning packs for students in readiness for a potential month-long enforced break.

It was also rumoured that nationwide coronavirus closures could come into effect on March 20 - weeks before the traditional Easter break.

Another proposal on the table was to shorten the Easter break by a week and scrapping the May half-term.

The Government's coronavirus action plan admits that it could close schools and universities if the outbreak in the UK worsens.

But officials have so far been reluctant to admit they will do this and appear to be very against the idea.

A Government spokesperson said today: 'As the Chief Medical Officer has said, the impact of closing schools on both children's education and on the workforce will be substantial, but the benefit to public health may not be.

'Decisions on future advice to schools will be taken based on the latest and best scientific evidence, which at this stage suggests children are a lower risk group.

'The advice from Public Health England continues to be for schools to remain open, unless advised otherwise.'

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.

Britons had been anxiously waiting to find out if their schools and workplaces have closed

'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.'

Speaking on Good Morning today, Dr Hilary Jones said plans to move to the delay phase would help protect the NHS and stop it from becoming overwhelmed.

He also added that children are at a lower risk of contracting the illness.

'The consensus is that this will peak at the end of April and the beginning of May, we know who is most vulnerable and we need to cocoon these people. If people are sensible now they will reduce the risk for everyone.'

In Denmark, all schools have been closed and Dr Hilary added many places were 'waking up' to the scale of the illness.

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 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.
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.
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Now, in what may be called the wake of the sexual revolution, expressions of sexual chaos are everywhere. What started with the separation of marriage, sex, and babies has led to aggressive attempts to indoctrinate and reorder society against the essential realities of male and female.

The list of things that Christians must reject is a long one: pornography, abortion, infidelity, abuse & harassment, gender reassignment, same-sex marriage, polyamory, reproductive technologies, commercial surrogacy, even drag queen story hours. With so much to stand against, its more important than ever that Christians remember what they are for.

Despite an unfortunately common misreputation, both within the Church and without, Christianity doesnt teach that human bodies are evils to be controlled in order to avoid sin. Rather, it teaches that our physical bodies are part of who we are as made in the image of God. As part of the created order, then, our bodies are a type of natural revelation, designed by God to reveal Himself.

Because God frequently uses physical realities to reveal and even embody the mysteries of who He is and what He wants us to know, Christians need to know the why behind the what when it comes to our bodies. Thankfully, to this end, Christopher West has made a remarkable contribution in a new book, titled Our Bodies Tell Gods Story.

West is best known for effectively making Pope John Paul IIs magisterial work The Theology of the Body accessible to the average person in the pew, especially the average Protestant. In his new book, West details a vision of our humanness, which includes our bodies as a feature and not a bug.

This is no vision of sexual repression, but of how our humanness fits in Gods overarching work of redemption. On this foundation, we can answer, both for ourselves and for others, the difficult questions of our culture, about why not all sexual impulses are good or just, about what it means to be male or female, about how human sexuality was intended by God in both single and married contexts, and about how the ultimate purpose of sex and marriage is found in Gods ultimate purpose for His image bearers and His creation.

After all, at the end of the day, all of the questions about sex dominating our culture right now are ultimately questions of purpose, not just morality. We are a world lost about who we are and therefore what our bodies are for.

Our purpose, as West reminds us, is revealed by God in His word and in His world. As the masterful storyteller He is, even our bodies point to the deeper realities of Christs self-giving love for His people who will, ultimately, be united with God in eternal communion. In the marriage covenant, God designed a way for us to act out His great cosmic drama on the smaller stage of our everyday lives together. Its significance is grounded in its imitation of the real thing: Gods covenantal love for His world.

In fact, the symbolism of marriage ties Scripture together from beginning to end. Genesis begins with a wedding and Revelation ends with one. The first points to the last and reveals the kind of relationship God wants with us through Christ.

Many Christians have long forgotten that our exalted view of marriage is not ultimately about preserving traditional moral norms or achieving personal happiness, but about God Himself. Many are called to human marriage, but all are called to eternal communion with God through Christ. This is why the Christian tradition values both human marriage and human singleness.

When we get the body wrong, says West, we get the divine story wrong as well. It only makes sense that the body and sexuality are under so much attack today.

To be clear, West approaches this topic as a faithful Roman Catholic who maintains the teaching of his tradition. Not all Christians will agree on all the implications of his teaching (like the role of contraception), but I still say this book is must-reading for all followers of Christ who want to be theologically clear about who we are as made in the image of God.

As my friend Eric Metaxas writes in the Foreword, This bold, compelling, hopeful, and healing vision of our creation as male and female has been hailed by Catholics and Protestants alike as an antidote to the sexual crisis now plaguing the church and the world.

During the month of March, for a gift of any amount to support BreakPoint and the Colson Center, well send you a copy of Our Bodies Tell Gods Story as a thank-you gift.

This article was originally published at BreakPoint.
Polish authorities on Thursday announced the country's first death linked to the coronavirus, as the country's total number of infected patients jumped to 48.

A 57-year-old woman died in the western city of Poznan after contracting the virus, which the World Health Organisation has declared a global pandemic.

Polish Health Minister ukasz Szumowski has said he expects the number of coronavirus cases in his country to shoot up to almost 1,000 in the next week or so, Radio Poland wrote.

Seventeen new cases of infected patients receiving treatment were confirmed in Poland on Thursday, bringing the country's total to 48.

The government on Wednesday announced that all schools, universities, nurseries, cinemas, theatres and museums would be closed as Poland stepped up efforts to contain the new SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Read alsoFirst case of coronavirus reportedly registered in Poland  media

A day earlier, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that large public gatherings were being banned across the country.

President Andrzej Duda has appealed in a televised address for people not to panic but act responsibly as infections rise.

Under special rules that came into force in Poland at the start of this month, people suffering from or suspected to have an infectious disease can be ordered to undergo treatment in hospitals. Employers can instruct employees to work from home.

The first case of coronavirus infection was reported in Poland last Wednesday.

The new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes a disease known as Covid-19, was first reported in Wuhan, China. It has now spread to at least 115 countries.

The most common symptoms of the illness are fever, coughing, difficulty in breathing, muscle pain and fatigue.

The World Health Organisation declared on Wednesday that the global coronavirus outbreak was a pandemic, voicing alarm over mounting infections worldwide and urging governments to step up containment efforts.

The number of worldwide cases has topped 120,000 and deaths exceeded 4,300, according to the WHO.
When Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson landed in Australia just over a month ago, the A-listers shacked up in the same building as one of the country's first coronavirus cases.

Hanks and Wilson are believed to have been staying at the Gold Coast's Oracle Apartments - which charges about $1,100 a night for the penthouse suite - before testing positive to the deadly illness themselves.

Queensland's first reported case of COVID-19, a man from China, 44, was staying in at the Peppers Resort in the same building complex when he tested positive on January 28.

The man had only recently flown in from Wuhan, where the virus was first transmitted from animals to humans.

Coronavirus shock: Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have revealed they have both tested positive to COVID-19 - making them among the most high profile sufferers of the deadly virus

Health workers in hazmat suits swarmed the same resort on January 28. A 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan - the virus's epicentre - had tested positive to the disease

Hanks is rumoured to have been staying at the Oracle Apartments, where the penthouse suite costs about $1100 a night

Health workers clad in decontamination suits were photographed swarming the resort about 1.30pm that Tuesday.

A few days later, Hanks and Wilson are understood to have checked into the Oracle Apartments on the other side of the complex.

The suites have A-list cred, with Taylor Swift and her then-boyfriend Tom Hiddleston moving in during their visit to Australia in 2016.

Hanks is in Australia to shoot an Elvis Presley biopic, with the couple travelling south to Sydney for Wilson to perform a concert at the Sydney Opera House.

The two-time Oscar winner shocked the world on Thursday when he announced that the couple were both suffering coronavirus symptoms and were self-isolating.

'Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia,' he wrote.

'We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

Latest snap: Last week Hanks posed for a selfie with two fans as he was walking in a beach in Australia. Australian officials said photo-posers should not be alarmed

Travelling far: On Saturday, Wilson shared this photo after she performed at the iconic Sydney Opera House, in New South Wales - the state worst affected by the coronavirus

Hanks and Wilson revealed they had tested positive for the virus - after feeling 'colds and body aches' - by publishing this image of a trash can on Instagram on Thursday

'Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed.

'We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

'We'll keep the world posted and updated.'

Production of the film he is shooting with Australian director Baz Luhrmann has been shut down.

Crew were sent home home this morning although they were none the wiser that Hanks had contracted coronavirus.

'I turned up to work this early morning and it was all chained up, and we were told to go home because there had been an outbreak of coronavirus,' a crew member, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Australian Associated Press.

'I thought it would be funny if it was Tom Hanks because I rubbed shoulders with him in the catering area, and then found it was. I hope I haven't got it.'

The luxurious 4.5 star hotel is a hot-spot for celebrities, and is understood to have hosted popstar Taylor Swift and, then boyfriend, Tom Hiddleston in 2016

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

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said people who had taken selfies with Hanks over the past few days should not panic about contracting the virus.

A person has to be in close contact with someone who has the virus for at least 15 minutes to be at risk. However, cast and crew on the film's set were being examined by health officials.

'They (Hanks and Wilson) will be getting the best treatment in our hospitals,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

As of Thursday evening, 141 people in Australia had tested positive to the coronavirus, including 20 in Queensland.

77 of those affected are from New South Wales - the worst hit state - and 22 in Victoria.



Daily Mail Australia contacted Peppers Resort for comment, but after a promise of a return call, a staff member would only say: 'We're busy running a hotel'.
I would like to share some information with your readers on an advisory referendum they will face on the April 7 ballot. So many times a referendum sneaks up on people as a surprise in the voting booth. The question is: Should the Wisconsin Legislature create a nonpartisan procedure for preparing legislative and congressional redistricting plans?

Why is this question coming before us now? As per federal law the 2020 census will be conducted this year. After information is gathered in the census, each state is required to draw maps to reflect any change in population and form districts so citizens can vote to select people to represent them and their local interests. It is imperative that those maps be drawn to reflect our local needs. The Wisconsin constitution does not say how the maps must actually be drawn.

Both political parties have decided how the maps are drawn in the past. This has led to gerrymandering: a bipartisan problem that requires a nonpartisan solution. Over the past 20 years manipulating geographic boundaries has grown more common and sophisticated through computer manipulation. The majority party is able to create partisan or incumbent-protected districts. It makes sure their party wins more seats.

The legislature has the ability to change the way maps are drawn, but in recent years bills have not been brought for a public hearing. Republican Rep. Loren Oldenburg, who represents the southern third of Monroe County, has sponsored AB 303. Democratic Sen. Jennifer Shilling of La Crosse has sponsored SB 288. They ask for independent redistricting commission before the 2021 mapping process.

Because the regular method to change laws has not been successful, other actions have been taken. A movement called Fair Maps has been moving throughout the state. In August 2017 the Monroe County Board of Supervisors joined 49 other Wisconsin county boards which have adopted Fair Map resolutions.

Why do 50 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin support this? Because local control and fair distribution of funds have been eroding with the state legislature removing control from local county boards. Eight counties, including La Crosse and Vernon, have already conducted successful citizen advisory referendums. Our neighbors in Wood and Trempealeau counties will also face the question on the April ballot, along with residents of six more counties and 14 municipalities in Vilas and Oneida counties. The 2009 and 2020 Marquette survey has reported that 70% of Wisconsin voters support an independent nonpartisan commission model.

Another reason Fair Maps has gained support across the political parties is to save taxpayer funds. Since the 2011 redistricting, Wisconsin has spent over $4 million defending the unconstitutional maps. SB288 and AB 303 are based on the method the state of Iowa has used for 40 years. In the Iowa Model, nonpartisan civil servants draw maps that are prohibited from including demographic data related to voting and to keep the maps as compact as possible. Public meetings are then held statewide before the legislature approves the maps. Iowa spends less than $100,000 to conduct the public meetings for citizens to review the proposed maps.

Fair Maps is about fair play and a democracy where everyone has an equal voice and every vote counts equally. I recommend a yes vote on April 7.

Theresa Burns-Gilbert is a resident of Sparta.

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Chandigarh :"The people of Punjab would always remember the sacrifices made by the martyrs who laid down their lives during the dark decade of terrorism in the State." These views were expressed today by the MLA from Khanna Mr. Gurkirat Singh Kotli on the occasion of unfurling a 'Flag of Unity' at village Tolemajra in memory of Narpinder Pal Singh Prince who was martyred on 11.3.1992. The flag's pole is 100 ft while it's size is 30x20 ft.

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Divulging more, Mr. Kotli said that State is witnessing peaceful atmosphere today only because of the untold number of the sacrifice made by the people from all sections of the society who opposed extremist tendencies tooth and nail. He also said that it is the responsibility of the present generation to preserve the legacy bestowed by the martyrs.

He further elaborated that the names of those who laid down their lives in terror days in Punjab to be engraved on the memorial which would come up adjacent to the Flag of Unity.

Gurkirat Singh KotliAmong other dignitaries present on the occasion included Former Cabinet Minister, Punjab, Mr. Tej Prakash Singh Kotli, Family members of Late Narpinder Pal Singh Prince, Ex Sarpanch Tolemajra Mr. Parminder Singh Sona, Pandit Om Prakash Ex President MC Kharar, Kulwant Singh Sarpanch Tripri.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution against the Centre's circular banning the return of Indians from coronavirus-hit countries such as Italy unless they produce a certificate that proves they have tested negative for the infection.

The resolution moved by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the circular was inhuman and was akin to cruelly abandoning the expatriate Indians.

Vijayan had on Tuesday written a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to withdraw the circular issued by director general of civil aviation (DGCA).

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 Covid19 from the designated laboratories authorised by the health authorities of those countries.

Because of this circular the Indians, including Keralites, are unable to board any flight even with a confirmed ticket. This is creating great difficulties to them. We came to know from the central government that there are not enough facilities in Italy for the medical examination of all those stranded there, Vijayan said in the resolution.

The chief minister further said the foreign authorities were not ready to test people without symptoms as they were already overloaded with patients.

The resolution pointed out that the students from Wuhan in China were airlifted earlier and housed separately until their medical reports were out.

Those without any symptoms of infection were allowed to leave for their residence. This was very effective. But this circular is inhuman and it is akin to cruelly abandoning the expatriate Indians, it said.

We have asked the Centre to allow those in Italy to travel back to India and they can be kept in quarantine in case they test positive on arrival, Vijayan said.

The state government also sought the assistance of the Centre to help the expatriate using diplomatic intervention to extend the Visa and leave of those who are already in the country.

Many expatriate who had reached the country for vacation are finding it difficult to get back and join their work places abroad due to restriction in air travel. The state government has sought Centre's diplomatic intervention in extending the Visa period and joining date of those NRIs, the CPI(M) leader said.

The plight of Indians in Italy came 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 is 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.

With eight more testing positive for coronavirus in Kerala on Tuesday, the total number of infected people under treatment in the state is now 14.

The state government has imposed severe restrictions, including closure of educational institutions and cinema houses till month end to prevent further spread of the virus.
Army personnel operating the coronavirus quarantine facility at Manesar have been receiving unusual demands from those under observation, like requesting for independent rooms, which is hindering its smooth functioning, sources said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, those under observation also created ruckus at the facility but the situation was brought under control, the sources added.

They indicated that it costs around Rs 3.5 lakh everyday to run the facility. While it is deemed to be a facility responding to emergency requirements, the sources said, many under observation demand special provisions like independent rooms.

"This creates hindrances in smooth functioning of the medical and administrative staff at the facility," an official added.

Till date, a total of 455 individuals who have arrived from Wuhan (248), Japan (124) and Italy (83) have been quarantined in three batches at the emergency quarantine facility created by the Indian Army.

The latest lot of 83 patients are from Italy, including nine foreigners of Indian origin.

The sources added that since the evacuees have already travelled together, the aspect of individual quarantine for 14 days may not find much merit.

Responding to an emergency requirement to manage Indian and foreign nationals from friendly foreign countries, the Indian Army has created a facility at Manesar where people can be monitored for any signs of infection for a duration of two weeks by a qualified team of doctors and staff members.

The emergency facility consists of temporary barracks for accommodation, administration and medical facilities.

To prevent mass outbreak, the facility has been divided into sectors, each with a maximum capacity of 50 persons. The population of sectors are not allowed to intermingle with each other, they added.

Those found infected are shifted to isolation facilities for further medical exams and recovery.

Apart from playing games, watching TV and having meals together within a barrack, people are not allowed to interact with the members of another barrack or sector.

Daily medical examination of all detainees are being done at the medical facility area.

"All detainees are required to wear a three layered mask at all times. After 14 days, persons with no symptoms are allowed to go home with their detailed documentation sent to the district/ state surveillance units for further surveillance," sources said.

"Despite differing individual preferences and demands, the Army has gone about doing their job in the best possible way," they added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It believes the virus and the implications of it are catastrophic for the insurance industry. The council stated that the extent of claims and losses related to the coronavirus is unknown at this point but it also announced that an insurance industry taskforce has been formed to ensure that accurate claims data is captured by the industry, and that insurers positions on the virus can be understood by stakeholders.

The ICA additionally provided some information to provide clarity on what cover there is related to the virus, with issues relating to travel and business interruption insurance being the most relevant.

Most travel insurance policies have exclusions for outbreaks of infectious diseases, pandemics, epidemics and/or known events that could lead to a claim, the ICA announcement read. Travel insurance policies purchased after COVID-19 became a known event are unlikely to cover travellers who are overseas or who are yet to travel for coronavirus-related expenses.

Business interruption will be similarly hard to claim. Insurance Business recently explored the trouble with business claiming coronavirus-related losses on insurance. In that article, it became clear that it is hard to make a claim on something that is unlikely to occur on the actual premises of a company. Coverage for losses due to infection and its consequences very rarely incorporates anything far removed from incidents within, or in close proximity to, the premises of the business. Martin Miller, director and global head of Crawford Forensic Accounting Services, agreed with this thesis.

General excess can sometimes cover other locations, he said. But generally speaking, for infectious disease cover, that infection has to occur on the premises itself to apply.

The ICA recommended that if you do not understand how your policy may respond to COVID-19 triggered losses, to speak to your broker or your insurer for more information.
Labourers carry sacks filled with sugar to load them onto a supply truck at a wholesale market in Kolkata

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian sugar mills have so far contracted to export 3.5 million tonnes of sugar the in 2019/20 marketing year, mainly to Iran, Malaysia, Somalia and Sri Lanka, a trade body said on Wednesday.

The exports will help the world's biggest sugar producer in bringing down stockpiles and supporting local prices of the sweetener, crucial in ensuring millions of farmers get government-mandated price.

Out of the 3.5 million tonnes sugar, mills have already dispatched 2.67 million tonnes, according to data compiled by the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA).

"Iran, Malaysia, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan were key buyers of Indian sugar," said Praful Vithalani, president of the AISTA.

India, hoping to reduce its vast surplus stocks of sugar, in August approved an export subsidy of 10,448 rupees ($142) per tonne of the sweetener for the marketing year ending on Sept. 30.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Maju Samuel)
A Tesco store has reportedly started putting security tags on hand soaps in its bathroom amid unprecedented coronavirus stockpiling.

The security measure was spotted by a customer in a Bedford store, according to The Mirror.

The shopper posted an image of the heavily protected Tesco Essentials hand soap  which is currently sold out online  costs to social media.

An employee at one of the largest of Bedfords multiple Tesco stores told The Independent that although they werent aware of such measure being introduced, the branch had run out of hand soaps.

Tesco is one of several stores to begin rationing certain items, such as hand sanitiser, toilet roll and some long-lasting foods, after worried shoppers began to stockpiling items in preparation for coronavirus-related shortages.

Sales of such products have in some cases been limited to no more than five at a time, in order to allow supermarkets to restock after shelves emptied.

With the official advice over coronavirus centring on regularly washing your hands and avoiding touching your face, some have gone to extreme lengths to procure hand sanitiser.

As supermarket shelves were raided last weekend, a hospital in Northampton was forced to plead with visitors to stop taking bottles of hand sanitiser from the end of our patients beds and from our welcome desks.

A spokesperson for the hospital also told the Northampton Chronicle three dispensers were ripped from walls and visitors have been seen filling up their own dispensers with the hospitals supplies.

Tesco did not immediately comment on whether stores had been advised to place security tags on the free-to-use soap bottles in their bathrooms.
A Brazilian official who was part of a team that met with President Donald Trump Saturday has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Washington Post. Fabio Wajngarten, the communications secretary to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, had his picture taken with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence during a visit to Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate over the weekend.

The Brazilian officials were visiting Trump to tout Brazils economic successes and meet with U.S. government officials. Bolsonaro is now also being tested and monitored for the virus according to Brazilian news outlets.

While speaking with reporters during a press pool Thursday, Trump downplayed his concerns about the meeting. That falls in line with the presidents previous public statements regarding the coronavirus in which he has cautioned against overreacting to the spread of the virus.

PREVENTION TIPS

Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

More of MLives coverage of the coronavirus:

Whitmer urges Michigan residents to slow the spread of coronavirus by following new guidelines

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

8 things to know about coronavirus now that its in Michigan

Staying home because of coronavirus? Heres everything youll need

CDC warns those over 60: stock up and stay home as coronavirus spreads
Finance ministry not to revise national budget until updated outlook released

22:45, 12.03.20 1386

The economy ministry will present an assessment of macroeconomic situation as early as next week.
Industries in south Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have resumed production and projects have been restarted amid prevention and control of the novel coronavirus epidemic, striving to march toward the goal of basically eliminating poverty by September 2020.

Tea-oil tree planting is a traditional industry of Natao township in Bama Yao autonomous county of Hechi, Guangxi. In Pinglin village of the township, more than 20 mask-wearing Party members and cadres and 40 villagers were planting tea-oil seedlings at a plantation.

In Yulin, a prefecture-level city in southeastern Guangxi, factories are busy again. In Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co., Ltd, robot arms were assembling an electrical vessel at a disinfected workshop. The resumption of production has been proceeding in an orderly manner here.

Lv Jianfeng, a member of the municipal Party committee of Yulin and director of the citys publicity department, said to proactively serve the enterprises, Yulin has introduced 16 measures to support small- and medium-sized companies to restart production, and 21 measures to facilitate stable economic growth.

The city has also tried everything to accelerate the resumption of work and production through enhancing guarantees for epidemic control materials, labor, production factors, and transportation of materials, Lv added.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the financial institutions in Guangxi have issued loans totaling 7 billion yuan ($1.01 billion) to 1,928 enterprises working on epidemic prevention and control, and another 76 billion yuan to micro-, small- and medium-sized firms to address their urgent need to resume production.

We have to do our best to speed up restart of projects and resumption of work and production amid epidemic prevention and control. Were racing against time with full energy to make up for our losses caused by the epidemic and striving to complete this years tasks for economic and social development, said Chen Wu, chairman of the autonomous regional government.

Qin Zhen, a cadre stationed in Xinxing village, Pingle township, Luchuan county of Yulin, has worked with his colleagues to help impoverished farmers sell agricultural products via social media. With their assistance, 30 impoverished households of the village sold 3,000 chickens, 3,000 kilograms of passion fruits, and 6,000 kilograms of high-quality rice online.

Affected by the epidemic, farmers had difficulty selling their fruits and poultry products, Qin disclosed, adding that they are relieved now as the products have been sold.

Poverty alleviation workshops in Guangxi are also working at full capacity to win the decisive war against poverty. Lan Yifeng and his wife, both impoverished, have returned to their work at the poverty alleviation workshop at a craft factory in Shanhu village, Nalin township, Bobai county, Yulin.

On workdays, the couple, together with 27 workmates, have to wear mask and go through strict epidemic prevention and control procedures, including measuring body temperature, registering their information, and cleaning and disinfecting their hands, before they enter the factory.

To recruit workers for poverty alleviation workshops and help impoverished households get employed, Bobai county launched recruiting services and held job interviews via online platforms such as WeChat. So far, 226 companies have offered more than 10,000 job opportunities and more than 2,100 letters of intent have been signed.

Guangxi has an arduous task for poverty eradication, and we cant let the epidemic affect our efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and secure a decisive victory in poverty alleviation, said Lu Xinshe, secretary of the Communist Party of China Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Regional Committee.

To do that, the priority task is to figure out issues that hinder the poverty reduction efforts and take targeted measures to help impoverished people solve their problems one by one, Lu said.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Jeffrey Germain, Private Wealth Financial Advisor, of Wells Fargo Advisors in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized on the 2020 Best in State Wealth Advisors list by Forbes.

This accolade represents a list of professionals that come to work with one goal on their mind - helping their clients succeed.

"It's an honor to be recognized by Forbes as one of the Best in State Wealth Advisors," said Germain. "As investment planning has become more complex, my top priority is to work with my clients to develop strategies to help give them confidence around all facets of their financial lives and achieve their short- and long-term investment goals."

Jeffrey has more than 27 years of experience in the financial services industry. Jeffrey is a graduate of the University of Southern California and earned a CIMC from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

The Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors ranking algorithm is based on industry experience interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors of their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.

About Wells Fargo Advisors

With $1.4 trillion in client assets as of April 11, 2019, Wells Fargo provides investment advice and guidance to clients through nearly 14,000 full-service financial advisors and 5,000 licensed bankers. This vast network of advisors, one of the nation's largest, serves investors through locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Wells Fargo Advisors is the trade name used by two separate registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company: Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (members SIPC). Statistics include other broker-dealers of Wells Fargo & Company can be found at www.wellsfargoadvisors.com.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The family of a Fort Wadsworth man is suing the two police officers involved in the shooting that killed him.

Police Officers Amir Pali and Salvatore Balistreri entered the home of Faustino Dioso in Bridge Court on Dec. 9, 2018 while responding to a 911 call for a family dispute, according to a recently released report from District Attorney Michael McMahons office that cleared both officers.

Dioso, 50, immediately acted in an aggressive manner towards the officers, eventually getting into a physical altercation with Pali while wielding a large knife that resembled a machete," according to the report.

Dioso struck the officer in the hand with his machete and their struggle spilled out into the homes yard, the report said. As the struggle continued, Dioso pinned Pali against a fence, it said.

Balistreri told investigators that he observed Dioso attempt to stab Pali, at which point he discharged his firearm six times while the two were still involved in their struggle, according to the report.

Pali was able to shove Dioso away, but the knife-wielding man continued to advance, the report said. The officer then drew his weapon and fired six shots, killing Dioso, according to the report.

Investigators believe one of Balistreris rounds struck Pali, but ballistics tests were inconclusive. Pali was treated at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze.

20 Cop shot in Fort Wadsworth

Diosos family doesnt agree with McMahons account.

The NYPD unlawfully and tortiously entered the private home area of the Dioso family and demanded that Faustino Dioso produce identification, event though he was inside his own home, said the lawsuit recently filed in the U.S. Eastern District of New York.

The NYPD continued to escalate the situation, both verbally and physically, by their conduct of pointing a flashlight and a taster at Faustino Dioso, the lawsuit continues.

The lawsuit further alleges that Diosos wife did not observe Faustino Dioso to have anything in his hands.

After Dioso was shot and taken to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, his wife was held against her will at the precinct for many hours and was barred from returning to her home for at least 48 hours, according to the lawsuit.

The actions of [Pali and Balistreri] were unjustified and unnecessary in the performance of their duties as police officers and were unreasonable and unwarranted and constituted an excessive use of force, the lawsuit states.

Both officers are being sued for wrongful death, assault and battery and negligence.

In the report clearing the officers, McMahon said that the actions of the officers were taken in defense of their lives and were legally justified.

McMahons office declined any further comment about the case and the lawsuit.

The lawyer representing the Dioso family did not respond to an email requesting further comment about the lawsuit.

The district attorney cleared these officers of wrongdoing in connection with this incident," said a spokesman for the New York City Law Department, which oversees all lawsuits against city employees. "Well review the case.
The Global 3D Bioprinting Market is expected to reach USD 5.55 Billion by 2027, according to a new report by Reports and Data. This can be mainly associated with factors such as the rise in geriatric population, technological improvements for manufacturing, customized Material Types, and growth in focus on R&D investment. Additionally, the increase in usage of 3D printing in cosmetic surgeries is anticipated to boost market growth during the forecast period further. Moreover, the massive gap between the demand and supply of organ transplants implies a large requirement among the patients, the emerging 3D bioprinting technologies and doctors have a substantial potential in filling this gap. Although these factors increase the growth of the market, the shortage of skilled professionals to operate the technologically advanced 3D bioprinters can pose a notable hindrance for the growth of the market. Conversely, an improvement in stem cell research and an increase in awareness related to 3D bioprinting are anticipated to offer lucrative opportunities for the market players.

Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/1363

The main application of 3D printers is for medical purposes. This technique includes 3D printing of biological tissues and organs through the layering of living cells. The method of this printing mainly consists of three stages, specifically, pre-bioprinting, bioprinting, and post-bioprinting. During the process, the cell purpose and viability of the output construct is preserved, which is used for R&D in several therapeutic areas. It is mainly used for developing tissue and organ constructs, which can be used for scaffolds, R&D of drugs, and development of medical implants.

North America accounted for the largest share of around 22.30% of the market in 2019, owing to rising government initiatives, increasing demand for organ transplants, and growing awareness due to conferences and trade shows.

Further key findings from the report suggest

The growing number of 3D bioprinting-related conferences, increasing application, and a large number of research activities in the cosmetic business are some of the key factors stimulating the growth of the European market.

Organ transplantation is one of the critical factors that are profoundly influencing the market globally. With the method of using bio-ink composed of human cells and tissues, the market has developed over the years.

The purpose of developing function organs like kidneys, ears, and livers is progressively becoming a reality.

The living cells segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.2% during the forecast period.

Growing R&D initiatives for the use of living cells in the process of 3D printing is one of the major factors encouraging the growth of the market.

The hydrogels segment is estimated to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2027.

The research applications sector is estimated to reach USD 1.74 billion by 2027.

Rising initiatives by market players and university scientists are the primary factor contributing to the increase of the research applications segment.

The market is notably competitive and consists of various major players. In terms of market share, some of the major players dominate the market currently. These major players, with a notable share in the market, are centering on increasing their customer base across foreign countries.

These companies are leveraging on imperative collaborative actions to improve their market share and expand their profitability.

3D Systems introduced NextDent 5100, in February 2018, it is a Figure 4-based 3D bioprinter created for dental labs. It is used for the generation of dental appliances.

In December 2018, Aspect Biosystems collaborated with the Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine (MERLN) at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

Key participants include Allevi, Regenovo Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Nano3D Biosciences Inc., Poietis, Organovo Holdings Inc., FUJIFILM Wako Automation Corporation, Cellink AB, REGENHU Ltd., EnvisionTEC GmbH, Stratasys Ltd., Cyfuse Biomedical K.K., and Aspect Biosystems Ltd.

Order Your Copy Now (Customized report delivered as per your specific requirement)@ https://www.reportsanddata.com/checkout-form/1363

For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data segments the Global 3D Bioprinting Market on the basis of Material Type, Technology, Application, End-User, Component, and Region:

Material Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Living Cells

Hydrogels

Extracellular Matrices

Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Microextrusion Bioprinting

Inkjet Bioprinting

Magnetic Levitation Bioprinting

Laser-Assisted Bioprinting

Other Technologies

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Research

Drug Testing and Development

Regenerative Medicine

Food Testing

Others

End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

Research Organizations

Academic Institutes

Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

3D Bioprinters

Biomaterials

Scaffolds

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

North America S.

Europe Germany K.

Asia Pacific China India South-east Asia

Latin America Brazil

Middle East & Africa

To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/3d-bioprinting-market

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Afghan president orders release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 2:05 AM

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has approved the release of hundreds of Taliban prisoners as part of efforts to pave the way for the start of talks with the militants.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for Afghan presidential palace, made the announcement in an English tweet late on Tuesday, saying that Ghani had signed a decree to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners this week.

"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," the spokesman said in his tweet.

Sediqqi announced in subsequent tweets in Persian that the entire 1,500 prisoners would be released within 15 days starting on Saturday, "with 100 prisoners walking out of Afghan jails every day."

The official also underlined that once direct talks between the Taliban and Kabul began, the Afghan government would free 500 prisoners every two weeks until a total of 3,500 were released.

The release of the 3,500 prisoners will move forward only if there is a concrete reduction in violence, according to Sediqqi.

The decree also asserted that the prisoners had to provide a written guarantee that they would not return to the battlefield.

One of the Taliban members in the Qatari capital, Doha, confirmed a day earlier that the militant group had finalized arrangements for the release of 1,000 prisoners held by the outfit.

"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 the militant as saying.

The prisoner exchange is in line with the last month's peace deal between Washington and the Taliban for a phased withdrawal of US-led foreign forces from Afghanistan over a span of 14 months.

Under the deal signed by US and Taliban negotiators on February 29, the Afghan government would release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners ahead of intra-Afghan talks, and the militant group would in exchange release up to 1,000 Afghan government prisoners.

The UN security council has unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to implement the agreement and facilitate the start of talks between the militant group and the Afghan government on a political settlement to end decades of conflict.

Taliban militants have since the signing of the deal been attacking Afghan military positions.

The US invaded Afghanistan to topple a Taliban regime in 2001, accusing it of harboring the al-Qaeda terrorist group.

The development comes amid a series of institutional crises in Afghanistan, following the double swearing-in on Monday of President Ghani and his rival and former chief executive, Abdullah Abdullah, who has contested the results of the recent presidential poll.

Ghani said in his inauguration speech that "releasing Taliban prisoners and peace and security of people are interrelated."

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German carmaker BMW reported a 29-percent drop in profits in 2019 on Thursday, blaming heavy legal costs and high investments in a challenging economic environment.

Despite record revenues of 104 billion euros (USD 115.4 billion), driven by strong sales of its highest-end models, net profit amounted to just 5.0 billion euros, the company said in a statement.

The drop comes despite a two percent increase in the number of cars sold.

The figures took a big hit in first quarter from a 1.4-billion-euro provision set aside in connection with EU antitrust proceedings.

The European Commission has accused BMW, Volkswagen and Daimler of avoiding competition with each other on technologies that reduce harmful emissions.

Investment in research and development, especially on electric models, also contributed to the drop in profits, as did the higher manufacturing costs from a growing proportion of electric vehicles.

For BMW, 8.6 percent of cars sold in the European Union in 2019 were electric or hybrid.

The group aims to roughly double that figure by 2021. It also plans to offer 25 electrified models by the end of 2023, half of which will be fully electric.

Under new EU regulations, carmakers must limit their fleets to an average of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre by 2021 or face hefty fines -- a target that will be impossible to achieve without clean-energy electric vehicles.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People walk through the empty international terminal at LAX airport in Los Angeles

By Stephanie Nebehay and Laurence Frost

GENEVA/PARIS (Reuters) - Airlines on Thursday appealed for urgent government financial support as transatlantic carriers rushed to cut flights in the wake of new U.S. travel restrictions on Europeans aimed at combating the coronavirus outbreak.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global industry group representing airlines, called on governments to consider extending lines of credit, reducing infrastructure costs and cutting taxes.

U.S. travel curbs on much of continental Europe announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening deepened the sector's misery that began after the virus emerged in China late last year and reduced traffic.

"Without a lifeline from governments we will have a sectoral financial crisis piled on top of the public health emergency," said IATA Director-General Alexandre de Juniac.

Stock markets battered airlines amid growing concerns about the sector's financial viability.

Norwegian Air <NWC.OL> said it would cut 4,000 flights and temporarily lay off up to half of its employees due to the coronavirus outbreak, while Delta Air Lines <DAL.N> said it would cancel flights on eight U.S. routes to Europe after Friday.

U.S. airports told the White House they expected to lose at least $3.7 billion this year -- an estimate made before the latest European restrictions.

The 30-day U.S. restrictions will badly disrupt transatlantic traffic key to the earnings of major European carriers and their U.S. airline partners, analysts warned.

Those routes account for 20-30% of large European operators' revenue and a majority of profit, Credit Suisse analyst Neil Glynn warned, "highlighting the damage to revenue lines for the coming weeks and potentially well into the summer."

Glynn added that airlines would likely be forced to make heavier cuts than the drastic capacity reductions ordered as airlines scrapped flights - first to China and then to other destinations including Italy as the virus spread.

Story continues

Shares in European and U.S. airlines slumped in turn to new lows, with Delta <DAL.N> falling 15% and United Airlines <UAL.O> 18%, while American Airlines <AAL.O> was 9% lower.

Air France-KLM <AIRF.PA> closed down 12.7%, British Airways parent IAG <ICAG.L> down 16% and Lufthansa <LHAG.DE> 14% lower. Troubled Norwegian Air <NWC.OL> fell 33% and U.S.-dependent Icelandair <ICEAIR.IC> fell 23%

Icelandair said it would cancel some flights but pledged to continuing flying between Europe and the United States.

The U.S. curbs on travel from the 26-country Schengen Area - which excludes Britain and Ireland - are similar to restrictions on China that took effect on Feb. 1 and do not apply to U.S. residents or their immediate family.

Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska predicted a "more substantial" earnings impact than European carriers had suffered from the earlier China flight suspensions.

U.S. airlines had already cut flight schedules to Italy and will take another hit from lower demand for flights from major destinations such as France and Germany.

Among them, American Airlines could be relatively spared by its alliance with British Airways (BA) and higher share of UK traffic, while Air France-KLM partner Delta and Lufthansa ally United Airlines are likely to suffer more, analysts say.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence defended the travel curbs on Thursday, after the European Union complained they had been imposed "unilaterally and without consultation".

The virus has taken root in the United States after spreading from China to Italy, South Korea, Iran and elsewhere.

'TOTAL MELTDOWN'

The global travel slump looks increasingly likely to require government aid to avoid widespread insolvencies. The European Union will publish new state-aid guidelines on Friday.

Germany may extend loans and other support to airlines, a government official said on Thursday. The French government also stands ready to help Air France-KLM, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said.

"There is a need for measures from many governments," said Norwegian pilots' union president Yngve Carlsen. "This could lead to a total meltdown."

Scandinavian carrier SAS <SAS.ST> is in talks with the Swedish and Danish governments about potential support measures, a company spokeswoman said.

EU airlines have seized on the crisis to push back on green taxes designed to help the bloc meet climate goals - including proposals to end current tax exemptions on jet fuel.

"New fiscal burdens should be postponed until the industry is back on a sound operational and financial footing," lobby group Airlines for Europe said.

CRITICAL TIME

The latest travel clampdown could make coronavirus worse than previous aviation crises including the 9/11 attacks of 2001, UK-based consultant John Strickland said.

"It's coming at the end of the northern hemisphere winter, which is a weak period for airline finances (when) they should be sowing seeds of a strong summer season by getting the bookings in," he said.

There were panicky European airport scenes as travellers scrambled to fly to the United States before the restrictions take effect late on March 13.

The fallout is also spreading fast from travel and tourism to aerospace and other industries.

Safran <SAF.PA>, the world's third-biggest aerospace group, sees a growing threat to aircraft and engine order books, Chief Executive Philippe Petitcolin said on Thursday, adding more cost cuts were now being drawn up.

ADP <ADP.PA> declined to comment on a report it was preparing to close Terminal 3 at Roissy Charles de Gaulle, the French capital's main aviation hub. Norway may close several airports, operator Avinor said.

Italy announced the partial closure of Rome's main airports to commercial aviation in response to its own travel lockdown. Near-empty airports in Milan and elsewhere may follow, a government source told Reuters.

The travel curbs will also decimate European tourists' spending in the United States. In March 2019, European visitors accounted for 29% of arrivals and $3.4 billion in spending, the U.S. Travel Association said.

"Temporarily shutting off travel from Europe is going to exacerbate the already-heavy impact of coronavirus on the travel industry and the 15.7 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel," U.S. Travel Association President Roger Dow said.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, Laurence Frost in Paris and David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Sarah Young in London, Jamie Freed in Sydney, Toby Sterling in Amsterdam, Victoria Klesty in Oslo, Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, Sayantani Ghosh in Singapore, Tracy Rucinski in Chicago and Andrea Shalal in Washington; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell, Tim Hepher, Mark Potter and Cynthia Osterman)
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told Singaporeans on Thursday to expect the coronavirus to continue for a year or may be longer as the city state faces a "serious situation" with a "possible spike" in new cases.

However, Lee assured the situation remains under control and Singapore will not raise its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level to Red from the current Orange.

While Singapore has already imposed some travel restrictions, Lee said it will "have to tighten up further temporarily, though we cannot completely shut ourselves from the world".

Noting the World Health Organization's declaration of calling the virus outbreak as 'pandemic', Lee said COVID-19 is expected to "continue for sometime - a year, and maybe longer".

Despite Singapore having taken the situation with "utmost seriousness" and being held up by the WHO as an example to emulate, the country faces a "serious situation", said the Prime Minister in his televised address.

"We expect more imported cases and therefore new clusters and new waves of infection, this time coming from many countries rather than one or two," said Lee.

Emphasising that the situation in Singapore "remains under control", the prime minister said, "We are not locking down our city like the Chinese, South Koreans or Italians have done.

"What we are doing now is to plan ahead for some of the more stringent measures, try them out and prepare Singaporeans for when we actually need to implement them."



Meanwhile, beds, intensive care units and other hospital facilities are being freed up to create additional capacity to meet any surge in COVID-19 numbers, said Lee.

Lee said, "The issue is of course not religion itself, but that the virus can spread quickly to many people in crowded settings, like religious gatherings and services."



"I hope Singaporeans understand that during this period we may need to shorten religious services or reduce our attendance at such gatherings. Please work with your religious leaders to make these practical adjustments," he said.

He called on Singaporeans to practice good hygiene, adopt new social norms and discouraging large gatherings.

Separately, the Archbishop of Singapore said that Catholic masses here would remain suspended.

All mosques in Singapore are also being closed for at least five days from Friday for cleaning to prevent community spread through mosque activities, said the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.

Singapore has 187 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, of which 96 cases have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

Nine coronavirus cases are in critical condition and in the intensive care unit, while 96 have fully recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The health ministry confirmed nine new coronavirus cases on Thursday. Five of these are imported cases, infected overseas.

Two Singaporeans, considered as imported cases, have contracted COVID-19 after attending a religious event near the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur recently, Singapore's Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli confirmed on Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As San Francisco and the rest of California rapidly lose their board-and-care homes, a new state bill aims to lessen the blow of closing these long-term facilities for the homeless, mentally ill and drug-addicted.

The bill, written by Assemblyman David Chiu, D-San Francisco, and sponsored by Mayor London Breed, outlines a protocol that adult residential facilities must follow when they decide to shut their doors. The hope is that the new requirements will increase transparency and give residents ample notice that they are going to have to move.

Most operators are operating on a shoestring budget with very little funding and soaring costs, Chiu said. This (legislation) addresses one aspect of the challenge, but the broader challenge is how do we ensure that operators are able to stabilize?

Board-and-care homes are integral to the states homelessness response, as they provide long-term housing for Californias most vulnerable  who would likely otherwise be living on the streets. But as the cost of living and doing business soars all over the state, board-and-care homes are increasingly squeezed to their breaking point.

San Francisco alone has lost more than a quarter of its board-and-care beds since 2012. The city is already struggling to handle its swelling homeless population, which is overwhelming neighborhoods, shelters, treatment programs and the San Francisco General Hospital emergency room.

The loss of board-and-care homes  which are home-like environments with 24-hour care  only compounds the problem.

Chiu said he is also working on a one-time budget proposal with Assemblyman Richard Bloom, D-Santa Monica, to add $500 million to the states general fund to help stabilize board-and-cares.

There are two main types of board-and-care facilities in the state: adult residential facilities, which serve people between 18 and 59 years old, and residential care facilities for the elderly, which are for those 60 and older.

There are 73 adult residential facilities licensed in San Francisco and about 6,600 in California.

The requirements proposed in the state bill include: Submitting a closure plan to the state Department of Social Services and developing relocation and referrals for residents and giving residents a 60-day notice before closing  30 days more than the law currently requires. Owners would be fined $100 per resident per day if the facility violates those requirements.

The bill wouldnt stop the city or any other adult residential facility operator from evicting residents. But if it passes, it will bring adult residential facilities in line with residential care facilities, which already adhere to such closure requirements.

The proposal comes several months after the San Francisco Department of Public Health received intense backlash over a decision to transform a number of beds in an adult residential facility at San Francisco General Hospital into a temporary respite facility for the homeless.

While residents were given a 60-day notice, city health care workers, facility residents and their families were furious over what they said was a botched relocation plan that caught them by surprise.

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 legislation will help us ensure that our residents have ample notification in the event of a residential facility closure, and that they receive assistance to find a new facility that meets their needs, Breed said in a statement.

Amid a raft of closures in the past few years, Breed and three San Francisco supervisors announced a three-part plan to try to prevent the facilities from closing. They increased the subsidy from $22 a night to $35 a night per person for board-and-care operators, made it harder to convert board-and-care homes into single-family homes and encouraged the city to purchase homes on the verge of closure.

Still, several facilities this year announced they could no longer make ends meet.

The city, however, is working on plans to purchase three board-and-care facilities on the brink of closure: A facility with 20 beds on Buena Vista Park, nine beds north of the Golden Gate Park Panhandle and 29 beds in the Mission.

We must protect our most vulnerable residents, especially people who have long-term behavioral health needs and are at risk of homelessness, Breed said.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
'The only reason why it has taken him in is to rile the Congress and also to show, yet again, how fleet-footed the saffron camp is when it comes to raiding the pastures of its rivals,' notes Amulya Ganguli.

IMAGE: Jyotiraditya Scindia at the event on March 11, 2020 where he was made a primary member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

As Jyotiraditya Scindia makes a 'fresh start', as he said while resigning from the Congress, his new political career in the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to be as unexceptional and undistinguished as was his stint in the Congress.

If Scindia felt that he was not getting his due which his talents warranted because of the Nehru-Gandhi family's stranglehold on the Congress which did not give much opportunity to others, he is likely to find out soon that the Sangh Parivar is no less domineering than the Congress's First Family.

In fact, the BJP today can be said to be a one-man party with even the supposedly redoubtable Union Home Minister Amit Anilchandra Shah being beholden to Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi for his position and clout, not to mention the Rajnath Singhs and Prakash Keshav Javadekars.

Scindia may get a ministership at the Centre on a par with the likes of Ramvilas Paswan or Harsimrat Kaur and be satisfied with the perks and limited influence which such a position confers.

But it will take time for him tshed his outsider label because of his Congress background although his family has long had other members in the BJP like former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and former Madhya Pradesh minister Yashodhara Raje.

Moreover, Scindia's grandmother Vijayaraje was also in the Jana Sangh and its subsequent avatar, the BJP.

Scindia's father Madhavrao, too, began his political career in the Jana Sangh, but switched to the Congress in 1980 and held important portfolios at the Centre.

Jyotiraditya evidently wanted to follow in his footsteps.

But he stumbled apparently because he did not have his father's stature to be able to hold his own in the mud pit of Madhya Pradesh politics where the Congress had more than its share of heavyweights in Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh.

Arguably, if the Congress at the Centre was not at sixes and sevens, it might have been better able to handle the peevish Jyotiraditya by somehow massaging the ego of this scion of a former princely family who probably still regards himself as a princeling.

But the Congress under its interim chief Sonia Gandhi is too hassled at the moment about who will become the party president -- Rahul or Priyanka (a non-Gandhi cannot either hope or aspire for the position) -- to pay attention to the grumbles of a No 3 in Madhya Pradesh, who could not win in his own constituency of Guna in May 2019.

It may not be too uncharitable to say that Jyotiraditya is destined to be a No 3 or No 4 in any party.

From this standpoint, the BJP will not have any problem in dealing with and accommodating the whims and fancies of this lightweight in the party and the ministry.

The only reason why it has taken him in is to rile the Congress and also to show, yet again, how fleet-footed the saffron camp is when it comes to raiding the pastures of its rivals.

As Jyotiraditya learns that he has to kowtow to the biggies in his new party just as he had to do in the old one, the BJP will wonder how advisable are the various Operation Lotuses which it likes to conduct in various states with Maharashtra apparently being the next target.

The organisational problems which such lateral entries of outsiders cause in the party are obvious, especially when the only objective of the newcomers is known to be to become ministers.

The rumbles in Karnataka after the 'success' of a similar operation are well-known.

Scindia himself may not pose any problem because of his royal tag and also because he will be confined to the Centre and not Madhya Pradesh where Shivraj Singh Chouhan wouldn't have to worry about a rival.

But what of some of Scindia's hangers-on who will drift into the BJP on their master's coat-tails ?

How will the BJP's devoted karyakartas (ordinary workers) react to such intruders who have mostly been reared in a completely different political environment even if the erosion of principles in general have made them susceptible to monetary and other blandishments at the expense of ideologies?

Moreover, the BJP is not on such a strong wicket as at the time of the last general election.

It failed to get a majority in Haryana, lost out in a game of snakes and ladders to a canny combine led by a former ally in Maharashtra, and lost outright in Jharkhand and Delhi.

The economy continues to slide, the Shaheen Bagh blockade shows no sign of being lifted and the international media is becoming increasingly more shrill in the denunciation of the Indian government.

Jyotiraditya may well wonder whether he has jumped from a sinking ship to one which is barely afloat.

Amulya Ganguli is a writer on current affairs.
The suspect, Jose Lopez-Gonzalez, had twice been deported to his native El Salvador  in 2007 and 2010, according to a spokeswoman at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lopez-Gonzalez, who is due in court again on April 3, is charged with second-degree rape and second-degree assault. Court records do not indicate if he has retained an attorney.
County Health Department View Photo

Update at 7:09pm: The Tuolumne Public Health Department is planning to take action in response to Governor Gavin Newsoms directive that non-essential mass public events (over 250 people) in California be canceled through the end of March.

The Tuolumne County acting Health Officer Eric Sergienko intends to adopt the California Department of Public Healths findings at the local level. The health department reports, Within the next day, he will prepare a health officers order and local health proclamation in order to carry out the guidance from the State. The exact nature and time of the order on mass gatherings is still being discussed. Until the order is released, we continue to ask people to take the personal actions that they can do to reduce the transmission of all diseases, including COVID-19 and we will provide updates as they are available.

Click here to view an earlier story about the Governors directive.

To find a rundown of coronavirus stories, click here.

Original story posted at 1:14pm: Sonora, CA  While Tuolumne County is still without any known cases of COVID-19, health officials share the following update.

According to spokesperson Michelle Jachetta, as the situation continues to rapidly evolve, the county is working closely with federal, state, regional, and local partners to monitor the situation, prepare, and respond as needed as well as to provide timely updates to the public.

We are currently only receiving returning traveler notifications for those returning from China and some cruise ships. We are not receiving alerts for travelers returning from the other 118-plus countries and regions with COVID-19 activity, she says. Our Communicable Disease program has been in contact with the returning travelers for which we did receive a notification.

She adds that there has been evidence of some community-acquired transmissions in the U.S., including in California. Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to influenza and include fever, difficulty breathing, cough, and possibly pneumonia.

Health officials say if a person exhibits symptoms and has recently traveled to affected areas OR has had close contact with a person with symptoms and who has recently traveled to affected areas, they should immediately contact a healthcare provider.

There are currently no vaccines or specific medical treatments for COVID-19. The incubation period for the virus is two to 14 days with symptoms occurring on average six days after exposure. It is important to know that a person who has been infected may not initially test positive and may not show symptoms but may still be contagious.

County Public Health advises if you get sick stay home and if you experience severe symptoms, seek medical care, and call first before your go in is possible  and wear a medical/surgical mask if you have one. When sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue and immediately put it in the trash or cough/sneeze into your bent elbow (aka Vampire Cough) and clean and disinfect surfaces and objects frequently.

The federal government has instituted travel restrictions, advisories, screening, and quarantine procedures to decrease the risk of spreading the coronavirus. The risk to the general public remains low, but it is important to take reasonable steps to be prepared to protect our community from infectious diseases.

To decrease or prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as other illnesses that are circulating, such as influenza, Tuolumne County Public Health recommends limiting traveling to areas where there are known community transmissions; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.

For all our Coronavirus updates view our Coronavirus page in our health section here.

For more information concerning those who are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19, click here.

As previously reported, the State of California has banned mass gathering of over 250 people through March. For more state guidance geared to groups and individuals, including businesses and event organizers, click here.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Thu, March 12, 2020 13:01 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a15025 1 Business swallow-nests,North-Sumatra,exports,Indonesia,China,united-states,France,Agriculture-Ministry Free

The North Sumatra administration has urged small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region to develop the downstream sector of the swallows nest industry to increase the commoditys value and provide employment to the people.

Provincial administration secretary Sabrina lauded the SME association and swallows nest exporter PT Ori Ginalnest Indonesia for exporting the commodity overseas, but hoped that more end products would be exported in the future.

We need to increase swallows nest exports and develop the downstream products to provide job opportunities, Sabrina said in a ceremony to launch a shipment of swallow nests at the Medan Metropolitan Trade Center (MMTC), Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.

More than 593 kilograms of swallows nests were set to be exported to China, the United States, Australia and France on Tuesdays shipment.

China was the biggest export destination, with around 517 kilograms of the shipment bound for the cities of Xiamen and Guangzhou.

Indonesia is the world's biggest producer of swallows nests with an annual production of 200 tons, with North Sumatra contributing around 31 percent to exports, the provinces Industry and Trade Agency head Zonny Waldi said.

Read also: North Sumatra lures Indian investors to open cattle farms, thread factories

According to the agencys data, North Sumatra exported 21 tons of swallows nests between January and October 2019.

Zonny said the agency set a target to export 35 tons of birds nests in 2020.

Ori Ginalnest Indonesia CEO Rusianah said she supported the provincial administrations target and was considering recommendations to develop the downstream sector of the product.

We are optimistic regarding the target, as we already achieved 20 percent of it while still in March, she said.

North Sumatra saw its agricultural product exports grow in 2019, as the provincial administrations efforts to support plantation companies contributed to a sharp increase in the exports of agricultural commodities from the province.

According to data provided by the Agriculture Ministrys Agricultural Quarantine Office, North Sumatras agricultural export volume increased by 23.7 percent year-on-year (yoy) in 2019, while its export value rose by 21 percent to Rp 32.2 trillion (US$2.3 billion) from Rp 26.6 trillion in 2018.

The provinces agricultural exports have shown an increasing trend since 2017, when the export value slumped to $654 million, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). The province exports a wide range of commodities, such as palm oil, rubber, coffee and sawn timber. (mpr)
[March 12, 2020] Nexus Services Announces Sweeping Assistance Program for Immigrant Community in Response to Coronavirus

Nexus Services, Inc. announced today an innovative program to provide assistance and relief for its clients nationwide, currently totaling nearly 30,000 (with nearly 100,000 immediate families impacted). The company's core function is providing a host of services to the immigrant community, including helping release people from detention and reunite them with their families. Nexus clients are inherently more at risk of contracting a virus, given their propensity to have traveled across international borders, as well as exposure to thousands of people in cramped quarters while in detention. The assistance program will be comprised of three main pillars, all of which are funded entirely by Nexus at no cost to clients or US taxpayers: Legal Support - the CDC has issued the guidance that people across the country should consider social distancing whenever possible to prevent further spreading of the coronavirus. For that reason, it's never been more critical to help detained immigrants than when a virus is spreading rapidly across borders. The company is unveiling a commitment to fund the representation of any immigrant across all 50 states in a bond hearing before an immigration court. Importantly, the company has instructed all attorneys to aggressively aim for the least restrictive conditions possible for these clients, and will argue for release on recognizance so that no moetary bond will be required.

- the CDC has issued the guidance that people across the country should consider social distancing whenever possible to prevent further spreading of the coronavirus. For that reason, it's never been more critical to help detained immigrants than when a virus is spreading rapidly across borders. The company is unveiling a commitment to fund the representation of any immigrant across all 50 states in a bond hearing before an immigration court. Importantly, the company has instructed all attorneys to aggressively aim for the least restrictive conditions possible for these clients, and will argue for release on recognizance so that no moetary bond will be required. Medical Assistance - the company is also concerned with educating and treating its clients medically. With that in mind, Nexus announces that all Nexus program participants will be given access to a doctor who can provide education about the virus, and resources to find free testing in their communities. This service will educate immigrants on preventative care to avoid contracting the virus, jointly explore symptoms to help diagnose, and even prescribe medicine remotely if necessary. Nexus is a company that honors the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and it is in recognition of this inherent worth that the company commits all available resources to help Nexus clients stay safe and healthy.

the company is also concerned with educating and treating its clients medically. With that in mind, Nexus announces that all Nexus program participants will be given access to a doctor who can provide education about the virus, and resources to find free testing in their communities. This service will educate immigrants on preventative care to avoid contracting the virus, jointly explore symptoms to help diagnose, and even prescribe medicine remotely if necessary. Nexus is a company that honors the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and it is in recognition of this inherent worth that the company commits all available resources to help Nexus clients stay safe and healthy. Charitable Bail Assistance - the company will agree to act as indemnitor for up to 500 charitable immigration bonds for high-risk, indigent individuals incarcerated in immigration detention facilities, specifically the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, at no cost to the immigrant.



Nexus Services, Inc. is a leading provider of immigrant bond securitization and of services provided to detained individuals. The organization funds Nexus Derechos Humanos Attorneys, Inc. as a part of its corporate giving to increase access to justice for disadvantaged people across the United States. http://www.nexushelps.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005852/en/

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SAN MATEO (BCN)

A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 42 years to life in prison for a fatal shooting in San Mateo in 2016, prosecutors said Wednesday.

San Leandro resident Alejandro Deleon received the sentence Tuesday after being found guilty last August of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon for the shooting of Daniel Corona in the 3500 block of South El Camino Real on Sept. 6, 2016, prosecutors said.

According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, Deleon and Louis Mercado, 24, of Hayward, confronted Corona. Deleon then pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot him.

The pair then got into a vehicle with Mercado driving and fled, with San Mateo police and California Highway Patrol officers pursuing the vehicle into San Francisco where the two were eventually stopped and arrested, prosecutors said.

During the pursuit, they threw several items out of the vehicle including the gun, which investigators later recovered.

Following a 30-day trial, the jury that convicted Deleon of murder found Mercado not guilty of the same charge, but convicted him of felony evading.

Deleon's defense attorney was not immediately available to comment on the sentencing.

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.
North Koreans are reported to be dying in large numbers from the spreading novel coronavirus, but their leader Kim Jong Un is making a show of his god-like invulnerability, photographed with no protective face mask while all those around him are wearing theirs. How else to see his gleeful smile as he watches missiles taking off?

Kim Jong Un doesnt need a mask, of course, since he is immortal, says Evans Revere, who studied Korean issues for years as a U.S. diplomat.

North Koreas Secret Coronavirus Crisis is Crazy Scary

As for the recent volleys of five short-range missiles, Revere sees them as signaling to the United States and others that, even in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, North Korea is a force to be reckoned with and its military continues to strengthen its capabilities.

The message, says Revere, is basic: Dont think we are weak and vulnerable and dont assume that the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea) is going to be weak and quiet while President Donald Trump has all but decided to ignore North Korea and focus on his re-election.

Officially, there have been no infections and no deaths in North Korea. But if, as reports suggest, soldiers are dying in significant numbers, that adds urgency to the same message. Kim needs to stand as a strong, fearless leader commanding soldiers who are better fed and fitter than most North Koreans.

Dont forget, all pictures of Kim Jong Un are supervised by the Korean Workers Party Propaganda and Agitation Department, and their primary focus is demonstrating the superiority of the great leader, says Bob Collins, author of several books on North Koreas ruling structure. It shows the North Korean population that the great leader is so powerful that he does not need a mask. Showing him with a mask would seriously detract from his aura of invincibility.

via REUTERS

Collins, who made a career analyzing North Korea for the U.S. Forces Command in Seoul, has no doubt about the credibility of a report by the Seoul website Daily NK claiming nearly 200 North Korean soldiers have died from the COVID-19 disease brought on by the coronavirus. Citing a source inside North Koreas military, Daily NK said that 180 soldiers had died in January and February and an additional 3,700 soldiers were now under quarantine.

Story continues

That number of deaths from the disease is a drop in the bucket for North Koreas military establishment of more than one million men, says Collins. Far more than that starve to death or die from causes brought on by malnutrition. What it does indicate is an inability of the military to contain the virus within the ranks.

The soldiers who are known to have died, said Daily NK, were mostly stationed along the North Korean border with China, which the North closed to traffic after the first reports of coronavirus in January. But there is no way North Korean border guards can stop movement across the Yalu River and Tumen Rivers that are the boundary.

It does seem likelier than not that the novel coronavirus is now circulating within North Korea, says David Straub, longtime U.S. diplomat in Seoul. Despite North Korea having closed its borders early in the outbreak in China, the two countries share too long a border and have too many ties for North Korea to be able to completely seal itself off.

Daily NK counts on contacts by mobile phones linked to Chinese networks near the northern border for whats going on inside North Korea. Editor Robert Lauder acknowledges these sources are not medically trained and may actually be confusing coronavirus with other diseases, but believes the reporting provides insight and contours into what we know alreadyNorth Korea has been hit with a COVID-19 outbreak, and it goes far beyond the armed forces.

Theyve been under lockdown to keep information from getting out. Their health system is not capable of handling anything, says Bruce Bechtol, a former intelligence analyst at the Pentagon and author of books on North Koreas armed forces.

While conducting regular military exercises, North Korea soldiers exist on rations that are no doubt better than most average citizens but are far from adequate. If you dont eat a lot, it shows, says Bechtol. There are probably thousands of cases.

Bruce Bennett, longtime analyst with the Rand Corporation, agrees. With 200 dead, that would imply 10,000 cases, he says. And if that is true, it would explain why Kim Jong Un is seriously scared.

Kims need to project a powerful image goes deep into the foundation of his rule. This situation presents Kim with serious political problems, Bennett explains. If Kim were really a god, he would not have let this disease spread and death happen to his people. Hence the iconic photos. By being pictured without a mask, he is claiming to be a godthat the disease cannot hurt him.

The timing of the missile shots coincides with the Norths annual winter training exercises, for which Kim needs to depict an image of toughness, both personal and national, says Bruce Klingner, one-time CIA analyst, now Korea expert at the Heritage Foundation. By not wearing a mask, hes showing despite the regime imposing draconian anti-virus measures, it still prioritizes military preparedness.

At the same time, North Koreas missile-and-nuclear program contributes to the weakness of a society thats far from capable of coping with a disaster on the scale of the coronavirus.

The Kim regime is facing the costs of its strategic mistake of diverting so many national resources toward missiles and nuclear weapons and away from public health and infrastructure, says Leif-Eric Easley, professor at Ewha University in Seoul. The regime has prioritized social control and displays of military strength over the lives and livelihoods of the people, he says, while Kim provides useless advice that costs nothing on how to prevent or get over the disease.

North Korean officials are telling people in the country to use salt water to disinfect their hands and surfaces in their homes and workplaces, says Daily NK. And thats just one of a number of special disease-control measures, mentioned by Kim during a meeting of the politburo of the ruling Workers Party.

As for Kim not wearing a mask, I suspect his reason is the same as Donald Trumps, says David Straub, the retired diplomat. Thats to show that he is not worried about the virus and that he himself is a tough guy.

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Iran extends Christian convert's sentence 2 years for 'evangelical Zionist Christianity' 9 converts lose appeals of 5-year prison sentences for 'actions against national security'

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A 65-year-old Iranian Christian convert who was sentenced to three years in prison for insulting Islamic sacred beliefs in January has been sentenced to two more years in prison while nine other converts lost appeals of their five-year sentences.

Article 18, a nonprofit Christian persecution watchdog group, reports that convert Ismaeil Maghrebinejad was sentenced to the additional years on Feb. 27 for allegedly being a member of a group hostile to the regime.

Maghrebinejad, whose daughter and son-in-law live in the United States, was arrested in his home in January 2019 after he was accused of apostasy and propaganda against the Islamic Republic.

He was accused of being a part of a group that espoused evangelical Zionist Christianity.

Under Article 499 of the Islamic Penal Code, being a member of a group that stands against the regime is punishable by three months to five years in prison.

According to Article 18 Advocacy Director Mansour Borji, Maghrebinejad is a member of an Anglican church.

Borji said that the governments labeling of Maghrebinejad as an evangelical shows that blanket labeling is inaccurately applied to any Christian arrested for their religious activities.

The director also pointed out that the judge in Maghrebinejads case based his ruling off of a military intelligence report, noting that it is odd and somewhat rare for the military to be involved in a civilian case.

[T]he revolutionary courts try to justify their violations of religious freedom, Borji said in a statement.

Maghrebinejad has just shy of three weeks to appeal the ruling.

Article 18 additionally reported that nine Christian converts sentenced to five years in prison last October for committing actions against national security lost their appeals on Feb. 25 even though none of the nine accused or their lawyers were permitted to attend the hearing.

The nine accused are Abdolreza Ali Haghnejad, Shahrooz Eslamdoost, Behnam Akhlaghi, Babak Hosseinzadeh, Mehdi Khatibi, Khalil Dehghanpour, Hossein Kadivar, Kamal Naamanian and Mohammed Vafada.

They were all arrested in a month between January and February 2019.

According to Article 18, five of the nine accused have been in Evin Prison since last July, while the other four have been out on bail since March 2019. But they are expected to be summoned soon to serve their sentences.

The five who have been in Evin Prison since July  Abdolreza, Shahrooz, Behnam, Babak and Mehdi  had their bail amounts increased tenfold by Judge Mohammed Moghisheh for insisting they be represented by their own lawyers, not court-appointed lawyers.

Last October, Maghrebinejad had his bail increased tenfold after he denied insulting Islam when asked whether he did so by a judge.

When asked if he was an apostate, Maghrebinejad reportedly denied being an apostate on grounds that ayatollahs have different opinions on the apostasy issue.

Iran ranks as the ninth worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. According to the Christian persecution watchdog organization present in over 60 countries, Christians in Iran are banned from sharing their faith with non-Christians and from holding church services in Farsi.

One Iranian Christian recently said in a Family Research Council panel discussion that her familys church was shut down in 2009 because her father refused to only preach to Assyrian-speaking members. Today, her brother, father and mother are all serving jail sentences in Iran.

In 2019, at least five, six times [my parents] were told to go to the court for their court hearing only to go there and to hear that their case has been canceled or postponed for various reasons, said Assyrian Christian Dabrina Bet Tamraz. The latest [excuse] was the court was too crowded. Its been two-and-a-half years that my parents have been dealing with court cases and trials and hearings.

Open Doors reported that at least 169 Christians in Iran were arrested during its 2020 World Watch List reporting period.
Manisha Bharade (47) of New Jersey was arrested this week on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and deceptive business practices. Bharade, owner of a 7-Eleven, is accused of selling a homemade spray sanitizer from her convenience store that caused skin burns on four children who used her product.

From RLS Media:

The ensuing investigation revealed that Bharade had mixed commercially available foaming sanitizer, which was not meant for resale, with water and packaged it in aftermarket bottles to be sold at the 7-Eleven on Rivervale Road.

An apparent chemical reaction from the mixture caused the burns. Fourteen bottles in total were sold at the 7- 11.Police say five bottles were turned over to the River Vale Police Department and nine bottles are unaccounted for at this time.

Further analysis will be performed to determine the exact make-up of the chemical mixture.
Two adjoining Rathgar properties in Dublin 6 are being offered for sale in one or more lots with a combined guide price of more than 2m.

The properties are close to the Rathgar Collection which had been guiding 18.2m and has recently gone sale agreed.

The latest lots to come to the market include 174 Rathgar Road, a period house which extends to 281 sq m and is laid out in eight units. Ross Fogarty of Knight Frank is guiding more than 1.2m for this lot and says it could generate annual rents of 120,000, which would equate to an 8.2pc gross yield after allowing for the cost of a significant refurbishment.

Its residential units include four studios, three one-bedroom apartments and one two-bedroom apartment.

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He also says that the guide price equates to a capital value of 516 per sq ft "which leaves significant potential for capital growth".

To its rear is the second lot comprising a 0.1-acre site with a 118 sq m bungalow and a 34 sq m garage facing on to York Avenue. Mr Fogarty is guiding in excess of 800,000 for this lot and says the site would be suitable for two mews houses or a multi-unit scheme subject to planning permission.

The neighbouring Rathgar Collection comprises 175, 175a, 176, 177 and 178 Rathgar Road which have gone sale agreed though joint agents DNG and BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland. This collection comprises 61 purpose-built apartments, most of them in six period properties. In addition its one-acre site has potential for a residential development of as many as 44 additional apartments and a large mews.

Meanwhile in Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, agent Knight Frank has launched two adjoining Georgian investments which are currently generating a gross annual rent roll of 345,600 from student accommodation.

Ross Fogarty says the guide price in excess of 5.5m would equate to a gross initial yield of 6.28pc.

Located at 48 and 49 Leeson Street Lower, the two separate four-storey over-basement terraced properties extend to a combined gross internal floor area of 12,260.08 sq ft.

No 48 is arranged to accommodate 18 beds across 11 bedrooms and No 49 accommodates 17 beds across nine bedrooms. Each building has been fitted with a modern kitchen at basement level and modern bathrooms throughout. The property benefits from 11 secure parking spaces which are accessed from the rear.

Prior to their purchase about three years ago they had been inter connecting offices.
The dual status of cats as both predator and companion requires a new ecology Anthropocene

Pint-sized bird may be smallest dinosaur yet Straits Times

New Weather Patterns Are Turning Water Into a Weapon Bloomberg

U.S. Recession a Coin Toss as Chances Climb to 53% Within Year Bloomberg

Investors pull $41.7bn from emerging markets since start of outbreak FT

If Muddy Waters Is Shocked, Youve Really Been Bad Bloomberg. FTSE 100-listed healthcare company NMC Health Plc. Health care, eh?

Boeing moves to preserve cash and draws down $13.8bn loan FT

U.S. looking at CalPERS holdings in Chinese defense firms: top White House official Reuters

#COVID-19

General:

Dont Panic: The comprehensive Ars Technica guide to the coronavirus [Updated 3/11] Ars Technica. Well worth a read.

Coronavirus: Why You Must Act Now Tomas Pueyo, Medium. A thoughtful post full of good information. For example:

South Korea cases have exploded, but have you wondered why Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand or Hong Kong havent? All of them were hit by SARS in 2003, and all of them learned from it. They learned how viral and lethal it could be, so they knew to take it seriously. Thats why all of their graphs, despite starting to grow much earlier, still dont look like exponentials.

Public health interventions and epidemic intensity during the 1918 influenza pandemic PNAS

Why is the Italian coronavirus death rate so high? Experts warn countrys population is older than average and say thousands of mild cases could have been missed Daily Mail. Hate to use the Daily Mail, but often their compilations are just fine. Stoller comments:

China responded by giving equipment to Italy, the EU didn't respond to Italy, and the US banned travel from Italy. China is acting like a global leader today. America is going to pay for our stupidity. https://t.co/VlPYYUubJ9  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) March 12, 2020

* * *

Material conditions:

As Coronavirus Testing Increases, Some Labs Fear a Shortage of Other Supplies NYT

Face masks in national stockpile have not been substantially replenished since 2009 WaPo. The limitations of the stockpile  valued at $7 billion  reflect challenges in what many experts say is an underfunded public health system that leans toward smaller inventories to hold down costs and looks to fast-moving private supply chain when crises emerge. Lol.

A Virus Cure Depends on Rare Lab Mice, But There Arent Enough Bloomberg

* * *

Social Distancing:

Social Distancing, Lockdown And Quarantine And Policy Responses Credit Writedowns

Low-risk individuals should practice social distancing, too (MR):

It shows how little I have looked at twitter today that i have only just now seen this. It's brilliant. Because there are more people at low risk than there are at high risk, they make an outsize contribution to the benefits of social distancing  *if* they do it 1/2 https://t.co/u37NFsub06  Bill Hanage (@BillHanage) March 12, 2020

MR comments: This is why my partner and I (in Northern New England) are self-isolating without being sick, starting yesterday. To protect ourselves (age 65 and 87) but also help protect everyone in our community. As commenters on nc have also reported they are doing. I am seeing daily more widely this is being suggested for the sake of all, not just oneself.

Americans snap to attention on virus as big events canceled AP

Coronavirus could delay Tokyo Olympics by up to two years, Japanese official suggests, but IOC says Games preparations continue ABC Australia but Tokyo 2020 chief insists Games are on track despite coronavirus outbreak Guardian. Perhaps our Japan experts can sort this.

His Holy Shows Rolling On  Amid Coronavirus Pandemic TMZ. Joel Osteens megachurch.

Carry on (dk):

Sounds like Berkeley instructors are handling #COVID19 well  pic.twitter.com/arUHnWV8p3  Jenna (@jennafranke) March 10, 2020

* * *

Testing in the Third World:

Have a friend worried she has coronavirusshes trying to do the right thing and get tested. Heres how that went pic.twitter.com/bWAzwdLIw8  Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) March 11, 2020 >

* * *

The Beltway:

How you gonna pay for it:

Friends,

Call your Senators and Members of Congress and tell them to vote for this bill asap; paid sick leave and UI, free testing, support to vulnerable populations is the bare minimum of what we need to do. Channel your anxiety into action. Tomorrow.

Please share https://t.co/c7YcAjdOEy  Neera Tanden (@neeratanden) March 12, 2020 >

Enabling free testing (so you know youre sick) while denying free treatment (so you dont necessarily get cured) is about the most sociopathic approach to a pandemic I can imagine. Big ups to the Democrat Establishment for their consistent follow-through on this.

FAA Waives Rules That Led Airlines to Fly Empty Planes During Virus Outbreak Time. Maybe that will give the airlines the capacity to thoroughly clean the planes that do fly, but I would imagine the MBAs will try lay everybody off, including cleaners.
We fully recognize and regret that the decision to move away from the traditional school model will burden some families, especially in the Lower School, but we believe that the benefits of this transition outweigh the drawbacks, he wrote. We simply do not have enough data to predict how the novel coronavirus will behave and are consequently erring on the side of care and caution.
As coronavirus cases increase, posing heightened risks to the elderly, nursing homes will face growing scrutiny from state health inspectors.

In Connecticut and nationally, complying with federal infection-control requirements is a challenge for some nursing homes.

Between 2017 and 2019, 145 of Connecticuts 217 nursing homes  or about 67 percent  were cited for infection-control violations, according to a Conn. Health I-Team analysis of data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.The 145 facilities had a total of 225 violations. Most of the violations were one-time occurrences, but 62 facilities had between two and four violations, the data based on the CMS nursing home compare website show.

Three nursing homes each had four violations between 2017 and 2019: Autumn Lake Healthcare at New Britain, RegalCare at New Haven, and RegalCare at Southport. Officials at those facilities didnt return calls seeking comment.

Nationally, 9,372 nursing homes, or 61 percent, were cited for one or more infection-control violations, according to a report by Kaiser Health News. Kaisers analysis found that violations since the beginning of 2017 were more common at homes with fewer nurses and aides than at facilities with higher staffing levels.

Infection prevention violations included staff failing to wash their hands or change their gloves in between caring for residents, or properly cleaning equipment after each use, such as glucometers, which measure blood sugar levels.

Health inspectors typically examine infection-control procedures during routine inspections of nursing homes but, amid this outbreak, CMS suspended routine, non-emergency inspections last week and ordered inspectors to step up oversight of infection-control compliance.

Ive looked at thousands of violations [nationwide] and the problems are almost always related to staffing, especially infection control, said Richard Mollot, policy researcher and executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition in New York City, which compiles infection-control violations at nursinghome411.org. The staff just did not have time; they were rushed so they didnt wash their hands.

Two of the Connecticut facilities with four violations, RegalCare of New Haven and Autumn Lake Healthcare at New Britain, have staff level ratings at much below average, the lowest rating on Nursing Home Compare. RegalCare of Southport is considered a special focus facility, subject to more frequent inspections.

Given the elderly population they serve, nursing homes continuously strive to prevent and control the spread of infections, like influenza or COVID-19, according to Matthew Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities. Nursing homes are taking precautions amid the COVID-19 outbreak and following guidance from the state Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he said.

[COVID-19] could cause a lot of harm for nursing home residents, who are vulnerable to a much higher degree than the broader population, he said. The consequences are so severe, its reasonable and appropriate that the sector prepares for the worst, and hopefully it doesnt come to that.

This week, DPH ordered that all nursing homes prohibit most visitors from facilities. On Friday, DPH updated its order to restrict all visitors, except first responder emergency personnel.

There are a lot of protocols, guidance and practices regarding infection control in skilled nursing facilities, Barrett said, referring to CDC guidelines. Skilled nursing facilities, even if there is some unevenness in regulatory citations across the sector, are equipped and trained and skilled at dealing with the detection and prevention of respiratory illnesses like influenza - and COVID-19 is the same in almost every respect, in terms of the guidance.

Even before the DPH mandate came earlier this week, Barrett said that many facilities were screening or otherwise limiting visitors.

Seniors have a high risk of contracting coronavirus, according to Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC.

Starting at age 60 there is an increasing risk of disease and the risk increases with age, she said. The highest risk of serious illness and death is in people older than 80. The COVID-19 estimated death rate for people 80 years of age and older is 21%, according to the World Health Organization.

In Washington state, 19 elderly residents with ties to the Life Care Center in Kirkland have died from COVID-19 and several other nursing homes have residents or employees who have tested positive, the Seattle Times reported this week.

Information on Covid-19

The state Department of Public Health has set up a webpage with information.

For information CT residents can call 2-1-1 or text CTCOVID to 898211.

Cara Rosner can be reached at caramrosner@gmail.com.

Susan Jaffe prepared the infection-control violation analysis and can be contacted at Jaffe.KHN@gmail.com.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (c-hit.org), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday spoke to Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar regarding the Indians, who are stranded at Rome airport in Italy.

The External Affairs Minister has assured that medical teams are being sent to issue certification to facilitate their travel to India, informed Naidu in a tweet.

In the Rajya Sabha, Jaishankar, while responding to a member's question, said the government is trying to bring back Indians from different countries hit by coronavirus.

"Please understand that we can only bring them back if they are tested. They have to be tested. To test them, we have started sampling today. We can't bring back untested people in a very severe epidemic situation as I have the responsibility of this country to worry about," he said.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had on March 5 issued a travel advisory asking those arriving in the country from coronavirus-affected Italy, South Korea to procure a certificate showing them having tested negative for the deadly virus.

The advisory came into force on March 10 and is a temporary measure till cases of COVID-19 subside.

Coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan city of China, has now spread to more than 90 countries and has killed over 3,300 people worldwide. The countries like South Korea and Italy have recorded the maximum number of cases of deadly virus, besides China.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across India, including foreign nationals, has gone up to 73. Out of these 73 people, 56 are Indian citizens. With 17 coronavirus positive cases, the maximum number of cases in the country has been reported from Kerala.

Maharashtra reported 11 cases while in Uttar Pradesh there were 11 positive cases including a foreigner, according to the latest data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The government has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru  Thu, March 12, 2020 10:41 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a07761 1 National Riau,forest-fires,wildfire,Dumai,Bengkalis,BPPT,weather,rain Free

The government has launched a weather modification technology (TMC) program to create artificial rain in Riau in an attempt to prevent forest fires with the region entering dry season.

The program will be administered by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology Agency (BPPT), which has designated Resmin Nurjadin Air Force base in Pekanbaru as the WMT program command center in the area.

BPPTs TMC agency head, Tri Handoko Seto, said he had deployed teams to Riau after the governor declared the emergency alert status for land and forest fires in the province.

"Our goal is to turn potentials of clouds into rain, Tri said during the operation opening ceremony in Pekanbaru on Wednesday.

The operation is carried out to prevent forest fires in Riau. According to our data, the number of hot spots usually increases in march and will reach its peak in between August and September.

Read also: Police chief in Riau fired for lackluster performance in handling forest fires

He further explained that the artificial rain could also be used to wet peatland across the province. Research by various institutions found that most areas burned by wildfires were, among others, peatland.

Dry peat is more susceptible to wildfires compared to the wetter ones; therefore, its water level needs to be continuously monitored as it can become susceptible to fires.

Our TMC operation will also focus on rewetting fire-prone peatland. If we can maintain their water level, we can reduce wildfires in the area, he said.

The artificial rain could also help fill reservoirs designated as water sources to extinguish forest and land fires, Tri went on to say.

Another TMC agency official, Budi Haryono, said his office had developed an online monitoring system to detect peatland water levels, known as SMOKIES. The platform was created as an early warning system for forest fires.

Read also: Indonesia faces gigantic task of restoring peatland destroyed by fire

SMOKIES gathers data from automatic weather station (AWS) and ultrasonic sensors across the province to measure the water level on peatland. The two instruments can be used to analyze water levels in peatland up to 1.5 meters deep. The data will be transmitted in real time to BPPT servers every hour, Budi said.

"We need to increase the number of SMOKIES instruments in forest fire-prone provinces so we can collect sufficient data."

Forest and land fires have been raging in several areas in Riau. The fires have caused thin smog covering Dumai, lowering visibility in the city to 2 kilometers. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), however, claimed it was unable to trace the source of the smog.

Haze also covered Bengkalis island in Bengkalis regency, with an intensity increase on Tuesday night but having gradually decreased the next day. Authorities have spotted several hot spots in Bengkalis over the last several days. (nal)
By ANI

NEW DELHI: New coronavirus quarantine facilities have been set up in seven cities located across the nation by the Indian Armed Forces for accomodating nearly 400 Indians who are expected to return from Iran.

"In the next two to three days, we are expecting more citizens to come back to India. We have prepared new facilities at places including Jodhpur, Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Kolkata, Jaisalmer, Chennai and Deolali where we can quarantine these people," Army spokesperson Col Aman Anand said.

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"We already have 265 citizens in our two facilities at Manesar in Gurugram and Hindon in Ghaziabad," he added.

Due to the large scale prevalence of the coronavirus around the world, Indian citizens who were in countries like China (Wuhan) and Iran were evacuated by Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft.

On the second occasion, a total of 57 pilgrims from Ladakh region who had visited Quom, Iran for pilgrimage, were brought by C-17 aircraft on March 10 to Air Force Station Hindan. These consisted of 33 women, two children, and 22 men.

The Indian Air Force said a quarantine facility has been established at the Hindon airbase for the pilgrims which has all facilities required for rest and recuperation.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that two more persons have been tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala.

"The two positive cases have been reported from Thrissur and Kannur districts. The total number of coronavirus positive cases rise to 16 in the state," said Vijayan.

In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, internet service providers in Kerala have agreed to step up the network capacity by 30 to 40 per cent of the present capacity to meet the demand, especially in view of the spurt in work-at-home mode.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak as 'pandemic' and expressed deep concern.

Coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan city of China, has so far spread to more than 90 countries infecting over 1,10,000 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Racegoers dressed to the nines turned out in force for the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Glamorous women turned heads in vibrant colours and standout coats as they arrived at Cheltenham Racecourse this morning.

The third day of the festival is known as St Patrick's Thursday and dozens of revellers dressed accordingly, showing off their shamrocks, green frocks and emerald accessories.

Others chose to put their best fashion foot forward in flirty floral frocks or eye-catching monochrome ensembles. In a nod to the changeable weather, some women decided to pair their outfits with practical wellington boots, rather than heels.

Thousands are expected to descend on the racecourse once again today despite ongoing fears about the potential threat of coronavirus. Organisers have faced questions this week over their decision to allow the festival to go ahead as planned, even as the number of confirmed cases in the UK continues to rise.

The Queen's eldest grandson, Peter Phillips, who recently announced his separation from wife Autumn, was among those spotted earlier on in the day.

Check them out! Check, tartan and houndstooth have proven to be the biggest trends at Cheltenham this year, and today is no different. Pictured, designer Jade Holland Cooper strikes a pose (left) while another is bold in black and white

Pretty yet practical! A racegoer teamed her floral frock with wellington boots, centre. Right, Francesca Cumani arriving

Bright and beautiful! One woman plumped for blue and green (left) while another opted for a more casual ensemble

Here come the girls! A group of friends kicked up their heels and strode into the racecourse with confidence this morning

The look of love! Zara and Mike Tindall cosied up to each other as they posed for photos. Mike was wearing Holland Cooper

There it goes! Zara Tindall was caught out after her hat was whipped off by a gust of wind at Cheltenham today

Onto a winner! Zara Tindall cheered on the jockeys as they raced down the track on the fourth day of the Cheltenham Festival

Date day: Emilia Fox and rumoured fiance Luc Chaudhary put on an affectionate display as they arrived at Cheltenham

Suited and booted! Friends wearing coordinated skirt suits and black boots made their arrival at Cheltenham today

More is more! A woman in head-to-toe green in a nod to the day's theme, left. Right, an oversized hat that certainly stood out

Off to the races! Racegoers arrive wearing St Patrick's Day themed hats during day three of the Cheltenham Festival

Royal racing fan: The Queen's grandson Peter Phillips, pictured, arriving at Cheltenham. Earlier this week he attended with his mother Princess Anne and his estranged wife Autumn, in their first public outing since announcing their split

Victory! Sire Du Berlais ridden by Barry Geraghty win the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham Racecourse on Thursday

In the ring: Horses in the parade ring ahead of the Marsh Novices' Chase during day three of the Cheltenham Festival

To the starting line: Horses go to their posts for the Marsh Novices' Chase during day three of the Cheltenham Festival

Team spirit: Min ridden by jockey Paul Townend celebrates winning the Ryanair Chase with trainer Willie Mullins (left)

However any worries appeared far from the spectators' minds as they got into the spirit of the festival today, following on from a raucous evening at the course last night.

Ladies' Day, which took place yesterday, on the second day of the meet, descended into an impromptu dance party when a handful of revellers cleared a space on the concourse to show off their moves.

Elsewhere Zara TIndall, Princess Anne's daughter, was seen cheering on excitedly as she took in the action with Sir AP McCoy's family, including his adorable son.

Yesterday 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.

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.

Striding into the action! Women donned their finest outfits for the day out at the Cheltenham Festival today, pictured

Head turners: Racegoers finished off their stunning ensembles with beautiful hats for day three at Cheltenham

Double the fun! Men in eye-catching suits, left, and a couple dressed to the nines for St Patrick's Day festivities, right

Getting into the spirit! Day three of the festival is known as St Patrick's Day and several racegoers chose to dress accordingly

Strike a pose! One woman dressed in a black suit and fashionable white boots appeared in high spirits as she arrived today

Out of luck! In a sign of the underlying concerns of the meet, the on-site pharmacy is sold out of face masks and hand gel
The Wharton School, San Francisco, California, U.S. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Countries around the world are scrambling to rein in the coronavirus and understand its ultimate medical and economic impacts. One prominent business school is using the turmoil as a learning opportunity. The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania will soon begin offering a new course about the coronavirus  the disease that's infected nearly 128,000 people worldwide  and other black-swan events that have wreaked havoc on markets, businesses and economies globally. A primary goal of the class  called "Epidemics, natural disasters and geopolitics: managing global business and financial uncertainty"  is to bring "expert knowledge on how to deal with these crises to investors, workers, consumers and savers, so that they are better informed and can make better decisions," said Mauro Guillen, a professor of international management, who coordinated the class.

The half-semester course, which starts March 25, has proven popular  450 students have already registered, roughly 5 times the typical Wharton class size, according to Guillen. Wharton is believed to be the first business school in the U.S. to offer such a coronavirus-inspired course, he said. It comes as countries and businesses have begun taking extreme measures to contain the outbreak of COVID-19, which has spread to more than 100 countries and killed at least 4,700 people after having originated in China late last year. President Trump last night announced a temporary ban on travel from most European countries after the World Health Organization labeled the coronavirus a global pandemic yesterday. Major U.S. stock market indexes opened the day down more than 6%, further plunging them into the red after several weeks of volatile trading related to the coronavirus that's dragged them into bear-market territory, or 20% below their all-time highs in February.

Economists have warned of the likelihood of global recession, as the disease has disrupted global supply chains, wreaked havoc in sectors such as energy and travel, led major events to be cancelled or postponed, and caused reductions in consumer spending as people have opted to stay home. "We felt the students would want to make sense of what's going on," Guillen said.

The coursework, which is split among more than a dozen topics taught by various lecturers, will integrate lessons on business and economic disruption from other major unexpected events, such as terrorist attacks like 9/11, market crashes like the one during the 2008 financial crisis, and natural disasters such as the 2011 earthquake in Japan, Guillen said. "We think we need to prepare our students for these types of events," he said. "Unfortunately, they are occurring very frequently." "I want students to understand that these events can be managed," Guillen added. "It's not that you are hopeless, but you need to be prepared and take appropriate action."
Vu Anh Minh, chairman of the State-owned Vietnam Railways Corporation said that the railway sector would be able to implement autonomy and mobilise capital investment on its system if subsidies and red tape were eliminated.

Vu Anh Minh, chairman of the State-owned Vietnam Railways Corporation.  Photo tuoitre.vn



Is it true that the State has allocated thousands of billions of dong for the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR)s maintenance activities?

Yes. Vietnam, like many other countries, still subsidises the railway sector. The two factors that evaluate railway efficiency include infrastructure capacity and resource utilisation mechanism. In Vietnam, the entire national railway infrastructure system is State-owned and VNR is in charge of managing it. Therefore, the railway industry has not been able to take full advantage of available resources.

The railway system belongs to the State, so the State spends money on it.

VNR has only received orders from the State to maintain railway infrastructure and we assign the tasks to transport business units, which are joint-stock companies.

Under the Railway Law, these companies pay infrastructure usage fees, which accounts for 8 per cent of total railway transport business revenue, to the State. The State collects these fees and allocates capital for enterprises to implement maintenance work.

The estimated cost of maintenance reaches thousands of billions of dong per year.

However, the State allocates only 30-40 per cent of what is required.

Currently, there are 14,000 violation cases of railway safety corridors. Of that number, more than 4,010 illegal railway crossings pose the risks of traffic accidents and lead to inefficient operation of railway transport.

The strength of the railway sector is the transportation of large volumes of goods. Why hasn't the VNR taken advantage of this to improve business efficiency in recent years?

Railway transport speed is quite slow compared to automobiles. Investment in roads connecting other modes of transport has been neglected for years.

There are no standard warehouses for logistics purposes in railway infrastructure. The budget is too tight to invest in renovating and upgrading stations and warehouses.

The amount of VND20 billion (US$860,000), which was allocated from the State budget to VNR for maintenance work, is not enough to even repaint the stations and warehouses, never mind other investment for the whole railway infrastructure. The largest warehouse, Song Than in southern Binh Duong Province, looks like it has been bombed and is difficult to access.

The VNR planned to upgrade it but we haven't got permission as it it is not our property.

In 2017, the VNR signed a contract with Saigon Newport Corporation, which accounts for more than 55 per cent of the country's container shipping market share, to build a chain of dry ports and warehouses on railway routes. However, we couldn't do it as the project didn't gain the ministry's approval.

How can the railway sector stop being dependent on the State budget?

The railway sector is fully capable of being autonomous. To make it practical, it is necessary to step up the process of attracting private capital into railway infrastructure.

The private sector has been involved in the development of many road and air infrastructure projects. Currently, it is not possible to seek private investment in train operation because it is against the provisions of the Railway Law.

Is the railway sector attractive enough to lure private investment?

Among 297 railway stations, there are more than a dozen that can be profitable, so we should give priority to them to take their surplus to gradually improve the quality of other stations.

There must be an investment mechanism which re-evaluates the value of railway stations and warehouses and allows enterprises to raise capital at the VNR.

The VNR is responsible for developing this capital source. In this way, the railway sector will have opportunities to develop.

According to the railway development strategy in 2016  2030, which was approved by the Government, the State will invest VND110 trillion (US$4.7 billion) to improve the capacity of the railway infrastructure system 5-6 times higher than currently.

The railway sectors revenue is estimated to be VND8 trillion ($344 million) per year.

The two main activities of VNR are passenger transport and maintenance of railway infrastructure. Over the years, both of these core businesses have been unprofitable.

With the current infrastructure system, the railway industry does not expect to be profitable, but only focuses on improving the quality of services to keep customers and ensure payment for about 30,000 workers. VNS/Tuoitre

Unreasonable policy keeps private investors away from railway projects Many private investors say they want to develop railway projects but have given up because of certain policies.

Gov't considers giving Vietnam Railways back to transport ministry Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered an analysis on a proposal to move Vietnam Railways (VR) under the umbrella of the transport ministry following legal confusion that left the corporation with no budget for railway maintenance.
Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (17)
The man who arrived here from



Dubai with suspected symptoms of coronavirus has shown no signs of the disease following tests, district officials said here on Thursday.

The man, who was diagnosed with a high fever after he arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on March 8, had left the government Wenlock Hospital during the early hours of March 9 refusing to undergo tests.

He was later traced and admitted to the government hospital at Bantwal on March 9.

He has since then been discharged from the hospital and asked to stay at home quarantined for the next 14 days, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh told reporters here.

A total of 49 people are under quarantine in the district of which five have completed the 28-day cycle.

All passengers arriving by international flights and those in contact with them should voluntarily report to the district health team and undergo self-quarantine for 14 days, she said.

Screening facility at the MIA has been strengthened by posting doctors from seven private medical colleges on rotation basis.

These doctors have been posted in addition to the medical officer at the airport.

An ambulance has been placed at the airport exclusively to shift people to the hospitals, she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-12 07:04:03

Enjoy five carefully selected wines at special prices during the Japan Premium Wine Fair at 11 restaurants in Singapore!

East Japan Railway Company: Sample Superb Japanese Wines in Singapore!

[ Fair Enquiries ]

East Japan Railway Company

Contact: Goushi Hattori

E-mail: g-hattori@jreast.co.jp

[ Product Enquiries ]

EJRT ASIA (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

Contact: Hiroshi Furuya

E-mail: furuya@ejrt-asia.sg

JR East Group (TOKYO:9020) will host its Japan Premium Wine Fair from 2-31 March 2020 in 11 stores and restaurants in Singapore, where guests can tickle their taste buds on five carefully selected wines sourced from both Yamanashi known commonly as the birthplace of Japanese wine* - and Yamagata.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005

Japan Premium Wine Fair (Graphic: Business Wire)

For many people, France and Italy are virtually synonymous with wine production. However, in recent years, Japanese wine made from 100% Japan-grown grapes has been steadily gaining acclaim worldwide. As a testimony to this fact, a wide variety of specialty wine grapes are now cultivated in Japan, including Japan-only varieties as Koshu and Muscat Berry A, which are usually the main ingredients in Japanese wines.

As true wine afficionados know, Japanese wine is quite distinct from other wines, especially due to its delicate flavour. Some say the reason for this is that, in order to cultivate wine grapes that satisfy oenophiles in rain-drenched parts of Japan, viticulturists have focused on grape quality at the expense of production volume. High-quality one might say exquisite - Japanese wine is the very fortunate result of such diligence and attention to detail.

While Japanese cuisine has long been held in high esteem internationally, lately Japanese wine has been gaining recognition as its perfect complement - and also as the ideal way to best enjoy a broad range of non-Japanese fare.

The rapidly growing international reputation of Japanese wine has allowed it to cross borders and fill glasses of wine drinkers in Singapore. However, due to high prices and shipping costs, Japanese wine remains out of reach to most consumers. Fortunately, visitors of the JR Easts Japan Premium Wine Fair will be able to sample five unique Japanese wines, including award-winning ones, at special prices at the 11 participating stores.

To quote Kawai-san, one of Singapores most renowned sommeliers, The wines selected for the Japan Premium Wine Fair this time are all excellent products that are not in any way inferior to internationally famous wines. While Japanese wines were previously known for being too sweet and therefore not favoured by oenophiles, the wines available now are different. As long as you drop your biases and face the wine in front of you, I am confident that you will be able to see whats so good about it. I hope that wine-loving Singaporeans and expats, in addition to Japanese, will be able to enjoy the wines this time.

This is a rare opportunity to sample a wide variety of wines at such a scale. Please do visit participating stores to enjoy food pairings as well.

*Source: Japan Wineries Association website https://www.winery.or.jp/en/

Access the full report at: https://waon.com.sg/whatsnew/japanwinefair2020/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005
US House leaders reach deal to extend surveillance program

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 6:12 AM

Democratic and Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives have reached an agreement that would extend a controversial set of government surveillance tools.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy as well as the leaders of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees agreed on the deal Tuesday which would reauthorize three expiring provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The agreement would also bring about some changes that include narrowing the type of information collected, preventing it from being held for more than five years and making the program less secretive.

The new deal is expected to pass through the House in a vote on Wednesday and then will be sent to the Senate with four days to spare before the March 15 expiration. However, its fate was not immediately clear as the Republican-led Senate was not involved in the negotiations.

Pelosi said the deal "strikes the balance between protecting Americans' security and their civil liberties."

"I am glad to say today we are again in concert, bringing legislation to rein in some of these abuses in a bipartisan matter," House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said.

"This bill ends the call details records program that began as a secret and unlawful surveillance project almost 20 years ago. Ends it," Nadler said.

Despite these changes, the agreement did not appear to appeal to some of the lawmakers who seek sweeping reforms to the US surveillance powers.

"I'm looking at it right now. Based on earlier drafts of it I don't like it at all," Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said on Tuesday.

In June 2013, American whistleblower Edward Snowden, a contractor of the US National Security Agency, leaked classified intelligence documents, showing the extent of the agency's spying activities.

The documents showed that the NSA had been collecting phone calls, texts and emails of American people ever since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in New York.

According to the documents, the agency had been collecting the phone records of foreign nationals and political leaders around the world too.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have made more than 600 arrests as part of Project Python, an interagency operation targeting Mexican drug cartel activity.

The DEA-led initiative focused on members of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), one of the most dangerous drug cartels in the world, who were monitored by federal law enforcement officials over a six month period.

The agencies announced that the operation resulted in 600 arrests nationwide, 350 indictments and seizures of money and drugs.

CJNG is active in major US cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta. It is responsible for moving tonnes of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl laced heroin into the US and around the world.

Project Python marks the most comprehensive action to date in the Department of Justices campaign to disrupt, dismantle, and ultimately destroy CJNG, said Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski of the Criminal Division at a press conference.

In the first days of his administration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that made tackling transnational criminal organisations a priority. CJNG was deemed to be one of the greatest threats.

Federal law enforcement agencies used the Threat Mitigation Working Group, put in place by the Obama administration in 2011.

The DOJ and DEA also announced a superseding indictment on Wednesday on charges of alleged continuing criminal enterprise against the leader of CJNG, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes  known as El Mencho.

DEA agents search a residential house during an arrest of a suspected drug trafficker on 11 March, 2020 in Diamond Bar, California as part of Project Python, aimed at dismantling the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

In February, his son, El Menchito, was extradited from Mexico on drug trafficking charges, and is facing trial in Washington, DC. El Menchos daughter was arrested for financial crimes later in the month.

Project Python shows that with close cooperation and clarity of mission, we can take the fight to one of the largest and most dangerous drug cartels on the planet, Mr Benczkowski added.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa and Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Bandung/Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 07:40 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069eeec7 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,coronavirus,Bandung-West-Java,HasanSadikinHospital,health-ministry,Achmad-Yurianto Free

Hospitals are not allowed to reveal the test results of COVID-19 patients, Hasan Sadikin Hospital president director Nina Susana Dewi has revealed.

During an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Nina explained that the government had made the policy to protect patients and avoid causing mass panic among the public.

The hospital should wait for a statement from the Health Ministrys disease control and prevention directorate general, Achmad Yurianto, to reveal any information about a COVID-19 patient, including their test results.

The situation would be different if we announced the [infected] city or hospital. We are following [ministry] rules. We can only reveal that we are still learning about the patients condition, Nina stated, adding Hasan Sadikin Hospital had yet to receive the test results of suspected COVID-19 patients who had undergone treatment for over a week.

Hasan Sadikin Hospital has placed 12 suspected COVID-19 patients under observation since Feb. 20. Most of those who were treated in isolation rooms were discharged after testing negative for the virus.

Read also: Indonesia reports first death from COVID-19

In the past week, the hospital has placed five new patients under observation. According to Nina, two would soon be discharged while another two would be moved to a different isolation room on Wednesday.

If we discharge them or move them to another room, that means their conditions have improved, and we can conclude that they tested negative, Nina said.

Meanwhile, one patient must stay another night in their current isolation room even though they have shown signs of improvement.

The Health Ministry is still observing [the patient], Nina said.

There have been 34 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia as of Wednesday. Three are located in West Java, which includes the first two confirmed cases.

Yurianto said doctors had the responsibility to tell patients they had tested positive for the virus.

Doctors are not allowed to hold back any information, and patients have the right to know about their condition. (dpk)
The chief of a body representing hotel operators in Northern Ireland has called for the government to provide support to the tourism industry here as the coronavirus crisis deepens.

Northern Ireland Hotel Federation CEO Janice Gault made the plea as the industry struggles with the effects the virus is having on travel and, added to the collapse of Flybe, is navigating through an unprecedented storm.

"Hotels are being impacted with cancellations of business from overseas," she said.

"Hoteliers are dealing with this on a case-by-case basis and offering options for customers to rebook, postpone or reassess once the situation has settled.

"Domestic business is an important element of hotel trading and has been impacted to a lesser extent.

"There are currently marketing campaigns running in the Republic of Ireland and sentiment on an island-wide basis suggests that in the short term people will travel."

She continued: "Our hotels, guesthouses and guest accommodation members are responsible businesses and working to ensure that guests are welcome.

"Staff are kept informed and are getting out the message that they are open for business.

"The Flybe situation is a further unwelcome obstacle and reduces our air connectivity. This lessens our appeal in the GB market, our largest international visitor base.

"The NIHF is keeping our members appraised of The Public Health Agency guidance and will continue to do so.

"Government has a role to play in ensuring that support for the tourism sector is provided. It is critical that we, along with the entire Northern Ireland economy, are given allowances on rates and tax to help us through. Additional funds for promotion and campaigns are imperative once the virus recedes and we return to normal market conditions."

Ian McMichael, business relationship manager with leading travel agent Oasis Travel, said it continues to be a very testing time, with many people expected to holiday at home rather than travel abroad.

"We had the collapse of Thomas Cook in November, then Flybe and coronavirus," he said.

"The confidence of people in the travel industry has stalled. New business has been falling.

"At the minute all the news is focused on the spread of the virus, but underneath all that there's the economic impact.

"We're all keeping our fingers crossed the spread can be slowed and eventually stopped."

He added: "We trust that, through time, people will travel again and that common sense will prevail.

"We have to remain hopeful that this is a short-term thing, but there are still places to go if people want to get away."

Meanwhile, Hospitality Ulster has established an Industry Response Group to monitor and support the sector in light of the ongoing impact.

Brian Murphy, chair of the group, yesterday said: "We are bringing forward a range of measures that could be implemented straight away to ensure that the sector and the economy can weather this current storm.

"We want to preserve and ensure the ongoing livelihoods of everyone in the hospitality sector.
Dutch English

Lochem, 12 March 2020



Results 2019 ForFarmers

Key parameters of results 2019:

Total Feed volume: up 0.7% to 10.1 million tonnes; but like-for-like decline (-2.9%), especially in H2-2019 (-4.0%)

Compound feed volume: up 1.9% to 7.1 million tonnes; but like-for-like decline (-3.2%), especially in H2-2019 (-3.9%)

Gross profit: down 0.6% to 440.7 million; despite further volume decline, recovery in H2-2019 compared to H1-2019 (H1: impact of unfavourable purchasing position and also volume decline)

Underlying EBITDA: down 11.6% to 88.5 million; including positive IFRS 16 effect (5.8 million); recovery in H2-2019 compared to H1-2019 despite volume decline

Underlying earnings per share: down 36.2% to 0.37

Net profit: down by 69.8% to 17.7 million, due to, a.o., goodwill impairment United Kingdom (25.6 million)

Dividend proposal: total of 0.28 per ordinary share (regular dividend of 0.19 and a special dividend of 0.09)

Working capital: improved by 36.2% to 48.7 million due to operational improvements

Net cash flow from operating activities: up 17.1% to 96 million

Yoram Knoop, CEO ForFarmers, about the 2019 results:

2019 was a difficult and turbulent year for us. We were faced with the consequences of an unfavourable purchasing position as a result of which the first-half 2019 result was severely put under pressure. We have since further tightened our purchasing procedure in order to minimise the chance of such a risk recurring. In the second half of 2019, we realised better results despite further like-for-like volume decline due to challenging market circumstances in all countries except for Poland. This was, among other things, due to the implementation of our efficiency plans, which included the closure of five mills. We are well on track with the realisation of the earlier announced 10 million cost saving in 2021 (compared to 2018).



The integration of the four companies which we acquired in 2018 has been completed. Our market positions have been strengthened through these acquisitions. We are pleased Tasomix's volumes are increasing in the growth market Poland. Consequently, our market share in the growing European poultry sector is expanding. Volume development in the United Kingdom is slower than anticipated, which is why a goodwill impairment was required. Finally, we have improved our operational cash flow through our continuous focus on working capital. In addition, we are pleased to have significantly reduced the LTIs (lost time incidents).





A new reality as base for determining the strategy for 2025

We see market circumstances in which we operate changing rapidly. This is mainly the case in our home market the Netherlands where, as of the second half of 2019 the political debate about the necessity to reduce nitrogen emissions, is creating an uncertain outlook for livestock farming. Although the government declared that it was not a goal in itself to reduce livestock numbers, it has become clear that the proposed measures will in due course definitely lead to a small decline in animal numbers. As ForFarmers we support the Agricultural Collective, the group that discusses the necessary measures with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality, such as adjustments in feed and technical innovations in barns. This is in line with our mission For the Future of Farming through which we focus on a future proof, sustainable livestock farming industry. A livestock industry with strong and healthy farming businesses, paying attention to animal health and welfare and to the impact of the sector on nature and environment. With our Total Feed approach - innovative feed concepts, advice and digital tools - we help farmers improve their returns on-farm efficiently and responsibly. Knowledge and innovation are crucial in this respect. Partly due to our scale we can train our advisors in internal academies where they can share knowledge, which can subsequently be deployed on-farm. Wherever possible we use residual flows (co-products), from the food industry and not suitable for direct human consumption, in the formulation of our feeds.

Apart from changing market circumstances we are also facing animal diseases which are having a large impact on the sector for already some time and are a concern for the livestock farming industry. African swine fever has resulted in more export of pig meat and poultry products to China and a sharp rise in pig prices. In the meantime however, the illness has also been detected among wild boars in regions including Poland and close to the German border. Poultry farmers are also on the alert because the contagious version of avian flu has been detected among wild birds in Poland. We are monitoring this closely. During past years important steps have been made in determining hygiene protocols and in collaboration in the sector to combat spreading of animal diseases.

These are turbulent times and a new market reality is appearing rapidly. By implementing strategy Horizon 2020 in the past years, we have positioned ourselves stronger in four countries and made a successful start in the growth market Poland as fifth country of operation. Our market positions and our scale form a solid base from which we can continue to create value for our stakeholders in the current new reality. We will be announcing the strategy for the years 2020 -2025 on 12 May 2020.

This press release contains information that qualifies as inside information in the sense of Article 7 paragraph 1 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.



Read the full press release in the attached PDF (see below)



Note to the editor / For additional information:

Caroline Vogelzang, Director Investor Relations and Communications

T +31 (0)573 28 81 94  M +31 (0)6 10 94 91 61  E: caroline.vogelzang@forfarmers.eu

Company profile

ForFarmers N.V. is an international organisation that offers complete and innovative feed solutions for livestock farming. With its For the Future of Farming mission, ForFarmers is committed to the continuity of farming and further sustainalising the agricultural sector.

ForFarmers is the market leader in Europe with annual sales of approximately 10,1 million tonnes of animal feed. The organisation is operating in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland and the United Kingdom. In 2019, ForFarmers has approximately 2,570 employees. In 2019, the turnover amounted to  2.5 billion. ForFarmers N.V. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

ForFarmers N.V., P.O. Box 91, NL-7240 AB Lochem, T: +31 (0)573 28 88 00, F: +31 (0)573 28 88 99, info@forfarmers.eu, www.forfarmersgroup.eu/en



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document contains forward-looking statements that can also relate to ForFarmers legally required capital and liquidity positions in certain specific scenarios. Forward-looking statements can include but are not limited to statements that include words such as, intended, expected, based on, focused on, plans, estimate and words with similar meanings. These statements relate to or can have an effect on circumstances that will occur in the future, such as ForFarmers future financial results, business plans and current strategies. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from the expected future results or performances that are implicitly or explicitly included in forward-looking statements. Factors that can lead to or contribute to differences in current expectations include, but are not limited to: developments in legislation, technology, taxes, laws and regulations, fluctuations in share prices, legal procedures, investigations by regulators, competitive relationships and general economic conditions. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect any forward-looking statement or the actual results of ForFarmers are discussed in the latest published annual report. The forward-looking statements in this document only concern statements from the date of this document, ForFarmers accepts no obligation or responsibility whatsoever to update forward-looking statements contained in this message, irrespective of whether they reflect new information, future events or otherwise, subject to ForFarmers legal obligation to do so.





Attachment
This has been described as akin to President George W. Bushs Katrina moment, the botched response to the 2005 hurricane that flooded parts of New Orleans. But for all the devastation caused by that storm, the coronavirus is far worse in its impacts and disruptions, and the consequences for Trump are potentially enormous. Daily life has been upended across the country in ways unimaginable when the virus began to hit people. The presidents tweets, meanwhile, swing from upbeat claims to dire warnings to medical advice.
Editorial As Myanmar Charter Change Fails, a Good Time to Remember U Win Tin

U Win Tin in 2012 / The Irrawaddy

Today would have been U Win Tins 90th birthday. Given the many pressing issues now facing Myanmars one-time opposition figures-turned government leaders and lawmakersincluding the global spread of coronavirus and the ongoing parliamentary vote on constitutional amendmentthose who once fought for democracy alongside him could be forgiven for failing to mark the occasion.

A veteran journalist and pro-democracy activist, U Win Tin spent 19 years in prison for his opposition to the former military regime, but his principles never wavered. One of the founding members of the National League for Democracy (NLD), now the ruling party, he was jailed in 1989 and released in September 2008.

The dictators can only detain our bodies, not our souls, he once said while in prison. Until his death in 2014, U Win Tin consistently challenged the military, and he was widely admired for the courage and integrity he showed in his political stance. The way he confronted Myanmars repressive rulers was so uncompromising and inspiring that the generals feared him, and with good reason. In 2008, the authorities finally had to drag him out of his prison cell in order to free him.

Today, as Myanmars military quashes a series of constitutional amendment proposals in Parliament that would have reduced the number of seats reserved for the army, it is timely that democracy activists and all those in Myanmar who have long suffered under the military regime and dictatorship, should joyfully commemorate U Win Tins birthday and his contribution to Myanmars unfinished struggle for democracy, freedom and equality. If he were alive today, one wonders what U Win Tin would have to say about the current situation in Myanmar.

He opposed both the 2008 Constitution and Daw Aung San Suu Kyis decision to contest the by-election in 2012. In November 2013 he pushed for a rewrite of the charternot a popular position among NLD members at the time. In recent days we have been reminded of his views on the Constitution, with many of his admirers posting photos of him amid the parliamentary vote. One of the few prominent NLD figures to share his views at that time was the lawyer U Ko Ni, who would be assassinated in 2017.

A few years before his death, U Win Tin said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as the leader of the NLD, had been too conciliatory toward the government of the time.

Some of us would like to push the military into the Bay of Bengal, he told The Washington Post. She only wants to push them into Kandawgyi Lake, a reference to a grand lake in central Yangon.

He added, Suu Kyi is a VIP prisonerwe spent our times in dog cells and we were treated inhumanely. Our feelings and sentiments towards the generals is not the same as Aung San Suu Kyi. She always looked at them with some understanding and she sees the military as her fathers army. But we dont, he said, referring to independence hero General Aung San, considered the founder of modern Myanmars armed forces.

The military hasnt changed muchand neither did U Win Tin.

Indeed, Myanmar has much to learn from the life of democracy activist U Win Tin, a man of courage and integrity who passed away on an April morning six years ago while seeking care for several health ailments at a general hospital in Yangon.

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Shadowy Drug Lord Wei Hsueh-kangs Influence Still Felt in Myanmars Wa Region and Beyond

Flashpoints: Myanmars Eight Most Hotly Contested Constitutional Amendment Proposals

Myanmar Will Benefit From Deeper Ties With India
WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases

Lata Mangeshkar admitted to ICU in Mumbai Hospital after testing positive for Covid

WHO declares COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, India suspends all tourist visas till April 15

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 12: In a bid to contain the spread of noval corona virus, India has suspended all regular visas till April 15. The move comes in the wake of Coronavirus scare as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared COVID19 a 'pandemic'.

The suspension will come into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13 at the port of departure.

All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till the said date, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare late on Wednesday.

Coronavirus: India suspends all tourist visas till April 15 in a bid to curb spread of virus

Apart from this all incoming travelers, including Indians, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15, 2020 will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days, it said.

Visas of all foreigners already in India remain valid.

Foreign national who needs to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission, the release 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.

NEWS AT NOON, 12th MARCH, 2020

The government also advised the incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, to avoid non-essential travel and told them 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," it said.

Apart from this and in continuation with earlier advisories, the health ministry said a 14-day quarantine was mandatory for all travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 15.

The move comes in the wake of spike in Coronavirus. India registered more than 60 cases, out of which 16 are Italian tourists while the remaining are Indians.

WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic

The new coronavirus outbreak can now be described as a pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization announced on Wednesday.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was troubled by the spread and severity of the outbreak, along with a lack of action taken to combat it.

"WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we're deeply concerned, both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction," he told a news conference in Geneva.

"We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterised as a pandemic."

The number of cases in over 100 countries around the world has risen to more than 124,000, with over 4,500 deaths, including a jump in fatalities in Iran and Italy in particular
A tour guide residing in Hanois Cau Giay district has become the latest SARS-CoV-2 patient in Vietnam confirmed by the Ministry of Health on March 12.

A quarantine area at Hai Hau general hospital in northern Nam Dinh province

This has brought the total number of infection cases in the capital city of Hanoi to five and in the country to 39.

The 25-year-old man had close contact with the 24th COVID-19 patient, who was tested positive for the virus in northern Quang Ninh province, while guiding a group of foreign tourists on a tour to Ninh Binh province on March 4.

The tour guide was hospitalized at the National Hospital for Tropical Disease No 2 in Hanois Dong Anh district on March 8, with slight fever but no coughing or shortness of breath.

His sample was tested positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 by the National Hospital for Tropical Disease No 2.

A later test by the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology also confirmed the man was infected with the virus.

The patient has been quarantined at the National Hospital for Tropical Disease No 2 and in stable health condition.

The Ministry of Health requested the Hanoi Peoples Committee to track people who had contact with the patient, strictly monitor the health of all persons who had close contact with him and sterilize the environment around his home in Cau Giay district.

HCM City tracks UK passenger on Flight VN0054

The Ho Chi Minh City Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced on March 11 that it is tracking a passenger from the UK on Flight VN0054 who had close contact with the 17th COVID-19 patient in Vietnam

Groman Manthew James Knight, 32, arrived at Noi Bai International Airport on March 2.

Later, he stayed at An Ha hotel, Son Phong ward, Hoi An city in the central province of Quang Nam, on March 5.

On March 7, he left Hoi An for Ho Chi Minh City.

The man is now in Vietnam but his residence remains unknown.

The centre called on medical centres of districts and wards to track the passenger for quarantine in line with regulation.

As of March 11, Vietnam recorded a total of 38 infection cases.

Hanoi allocates more money for COVID-19 screening tests

Workers at Hanoi's disease control centre test samples taken from people returning from areas affected by COVID-19

The Peoples Committee of Hanoi has decided to add 3.5 billion VND (151,000 USD) sourced from the citys budget reserves to the funding for COVID-19 screening tests for those at quarantine centres.

The money will be used to purchase materials for taking samples and hire qualified establishments recognised by the Health Ministry to conduct screening tests.

As of March 11 afternoon, Hanoi had recorded four COVID-19 cases, who are currently under treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Disease No. 2.

It had also tested 2,277 samples collected from people returning from coronavirus-hit areas and kept at quarantine centres, and all were negative.
This was the week the coronavirus hit the U.S. in general and Washington, D.C., in particular in a big way. More than a half-dozen lawmakers are in self-quarantine after being exposed to someone who tested positive for the virus; stocks officially entered a bear market; and the White House and Congress are scrambling to try to get ahead of a fast-moving public health crisis.

In the early part of the week, while the Trump administration downplayed the threat from the coronavirus, officials issued a long-awaited set of regulations aimed at making it easier for electronic medical records programs made by different companies to talk to one another - and to patients.

This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post and Kimberly Leonard of Business Insider.

Among the takeaways from this week's podcast:

A large number of members of Congress are 65 or older  as many as 48 of the senators and more than 150 House members - and should be taking precautionary measures to avoid the coronavirus, including not attending large gatherings. But there are no provisions for handling votes and congressional business remotely.

In his speech Wednesday night, President Donald Trump highlighted his hopes of getting Congress to pass a payroll tax holiday to help consumers affected by the virus or suffering from the illness it causes, COVID-19, and to help stimulate the economy. But that proposal seems to be running into bipartisan objections. One problem: It doesn't help people whose pay is lost because of the loss of work, such as gig workers.

Democrats have offered instead an ambitious package of initiatives to help cover expenses for workers who may be out of work because of the outbreak. But they have to hammer out many details to get Republican approval.

Insurance companies have agreed to the government's request that they cover testing at no cost to customers, but many people could still face out-of-pocket expenses for treatment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a plan this week to upgrade consumer provisions in the Affordable Care Act. She did not take sides in the party's debate on switching to a "Medicare for All" single-payer plan versus adding a government-run public option to the ACA. But her efforts are designed to help House members campaign on health care fixes that are popular with voters.

The federal government released a rule this week to make electronic health records more easily transferrable and allow consumers to have computer apps that hold their records. Although the concept of getting records sent between medical offices more easily is broadly popular, the effort could raise privacy issues, industry groups allege.

Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week they think you should read too:

Julie Rovner: The New York Times' "Strikes and Attack Ads: The Hard Roads to Universal Health Care," by Quoctrung Bui and Sarah Kliff

Kimberly Leonard: Mother Jones' "Schools Can No Longer Use Electric Shock Devices on Students, Says the FDA," by Russ Choma

Margot Sanger-Katz: The Atlantic's "Cancel Everything" by Yascha Mounk

Paige Winfield Cunningham: Politico's "How Testing Failures Allowed Coronavirus to Sweep the U.S." by Joanne Kenen

To hear all our podcasts, click here.

And subscribe to What the Health? on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or Pocket Casts.
As India grapples to prevent the novel coronavirus outbreak, the cabinet secretary on Wednesday announced that all states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

As India grapples with the novel coronavirus outbreak, the cabinet secretary on Wednesday announced that 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 number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed 60 on Wednesday, with the Union health ministry confirming at least 10 new cases amid new restrictions to control the spread of the virus.

The decision was taken at a meeting organised in Delhi by the cabinet secretary. It was attended by secretaries of departments concerned, representatives from the army, ITBP among others.

Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here

"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.

The head of the World Health Organisation also officially characterised the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on Wednesday. This is the first pandemic caused by the coronavirus, WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said during a news conference.

What is the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897?

This colonial-era law was meant to "to provide for the better prevention of the spread of dangerous epidemic diseases". The Epidemic Diseases Act was introduced by the British to tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague that broke out in the then state of Bombay. It was passed in 1897. The then Governor-General of colonial India had conferred special powers upon the local authorities to implement the measures necessary for the control of epidemics.

The act is one of the shortest Acts in India, comprising just four sections.

The first section describes all the title and extent, the second part explains all the special powers given to the state government and centre to take special measures and regulations to contain the spread of disease. The second section has a special subsection 2A empowers the central government to take steps to prevent the spread of an epidemic, especially allowing the government to inspect any ship arriving or leaving any post and the power to detain any person intending to sail or arriving in the country.

According to the provisions of Section 2 of the Act, which describes the powers of the government, When the state government is satisfied that the state or any part thereof is visited by or threatened with an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease; and if it thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law are insufficient for the purpose, then the state may take, or require or empower any person to take some measures and by public notice prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public. The state government may prescribe regulations for the 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 third section describes the penalties for violating the regulations in accordance with Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. Section 3 states, Six months imprisonment or 1,000 rupees fine or both could be charged out to the person who disobeys this Act.

The fourth and the last section deals with legal protection to implementing officers acting under the Act.

Although, the act does define or give a description of a dangerous epidemic disease.

The Indian Journal of Medical Ethics in a 2009 paper, described the Act as one of the most draconian pieces of sanitary legislation ever adopted in colonial India.

Group of Ministers meeting

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 the management of COVID-19 also held its meeting 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 of 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.

With inputs from PTI
Sir David Attenborough has backed a call for deep sea mining to be stopped as conservationists warn it could have a 'huge impact' on wildlife and the climate.

A report by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) calls for a moratorium on moves to mine the deep sea for minerals used in mobile phones and electric car batteries.

The conservation organisation says deep sea mining could see entire ecosystems of species never studied and barely understood disrupted and destroyed.

The process could also create large plumes of sediments that smother areas far away from the mining sites themselves and kill marine life, FFI claims.

'The rush to mine this pristine and unexplored environment risks creating terrible impacts that cannot be reversed,' said Sir David, vice president of FFI.

Scroll down for video

Sir David Attenborough is backing a call for a moratorium on deep sea mining. He says mining the surface without fully exploring it is 'beyond reason'

This image of a tripod fish is among the species that could be harmed through deep sea mining if it is allowed to continue, says Sir David Attenborough

FFI said in their report toxic and heavy metals could be released and spread dangerous toxins to areas of the oceans that are important for fisheries.

Mining could also lead to the loss of microbes that capture methane and carbon and disrupt the oceans 'biological pump' which takes carbon from the atmosphere and transports energy and nutrients through the oceans, the team warn.

'Mining the deep sea could create a devastating series of impacts that threaten the processes that are critical to the health and function of our oceans,' said Sir David.

'Fauna & Flora International is calling on global governments to put in place a moratorium on all deep sea mining  a call I wholeheartedly support.'

The wildlife presenter said the idea that people should be considering the destruction of deep sea places before they have understood them or the role they play in the health of the planet 'is beyond reason'.

'We need to be guided by science when faced with decisions of such great environmental consequence.'

Exploratory deep sea mining is already under way, but mining on a large scale is on hold until nations have agreed the rules covering it, which are being developed under the UN International Seabed Authority with efforts to finalise them in 2020.

FFI warned that human activity was already putting a huge strain on the oceans.

They have already absorbed a third of our carbon emissions and 93 per cent of the extra heat trapped by greenhouse gases, FFI said.

Oceans are becoming more acidic because of the carbon dioxide dissolving into them, fisheries are under pressure as a result of over-exploitation and there are hundreds of huge 'dead-zones'.

This rare deep-sea cirrate octopod is among the ocean species that are being studied by scientists. Sir David Attenborough says the rush to mine this pristine and unexplored environment risks creating terrible impacts that cannot be reversed

Whole ecosystems including octopus and sea sponges could be destroyed if mining is allowed to continue, according to Flora and Forna International

'Minerals on the seabed are centre-pieces of deep sea ecosystems. Plans to mine the deep sea must be put on hold,' said Pippa Howard, director at FFI.

'From methane release to disruption of the ocean's life-support systems and the destruction of unstudied ecosystems, the risks of deep sea mining are numerous and potentially disastrous,' she said.

'To place the ocean under the additional stresses that would be created by deep sea mining would be rolling the dice with the functioning of key planet-wide processes. We take this step at our peril.'

A Government spokesman said the UK is pushing for the highest international environmental standards including on deep sea mineral extraction.

'While we have sponsored two exploration licences, these allow only for marine research to understand the effects of deep sea mining,' he said.

'We will not issue a single exploitation licence without a full assessment of the environmental impact.'
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte says he is convinced that the swingeing measures taken by his government will succeed in containing Europe's worst novel coronavirus outbreak, which has seen more than 800 deaths and nearly 12,500 infections.

"Tomorrow, we will not only be admired, we will be taken as a positive example of a country... that managed to beat this pandemic," Conte told fellow Italians in a televised statement on Wednesday evening.

But does Conte have a reason to be optimistic? AFP spoke to some doctors to find out.

"Viruses cause epidemics but it is people that harbour them and who can therefore stop them," says virologist Elisabetta Groppelli of London's St George's medical school.

"The isolation measures had a big effect in Wuhan (scene of China's most serious outbreak), as well as in previous epidemics like Ebola and the Spanish flu in 1918," says Groppelli.

"The shutdown in Italy could therefore succeed in containing and slowing the number of new cases, which could reduce the pressure on hospitals," she says.

Conte said on Wednesday that the effects of the crackdown should be visible "within a few weeks".

But experts warn the broader context has changed since the initial outbreak in China.

"Unlike the situation in Wuhan where there was the possibility that the global epidemic could be prevented, COVID-19 is already spreading globally," says Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the UK's University of East Anglia (UEA).

"So when the restrictions in Italy are eased there may still be a large number of cases in nearby countries that could lead (the virus) spreading back into Italy," he says.

The region around Milan in northern Italy has been the worst hit by the virus but has one of the world's best health systems.

Yet even there doctors say facilities have been severely stretched.

As for Italy's poorer south, hospitals there suffer from a lack of staff and equipment at the best of times.

On Saturday, before the official announcement that the north of the country was being put under lockdown, rumours of the measures leaked to Italian media.

That prompted thousands from southern Italy who have moved north for work to return to their home regions.

Even though the outbreak in the south has until now been relatively mild, Italians' push back south is "serious", says Roberto Burioni, professor of virology at Milan's Vita-Salute San Raffaele University.

"It definitely has not helped to contain the epidemic," he says.

It's impossible to predict with any certainty.

Using models drawn up for 2009's H1N1 outbreak (also known as "swine flu"), epidemiologist Stefania Salmaso from the National Institute of Health told the Avvenire newspaper that one hypothesis pointed to a peak in mid-April.

According to Wednesday's official figures, the mortality rate among recorded cases in Italy is 6.6 percent, as opposed to between 2 and 2.5 percent in China.

But the virus is thought to be more dangerous for older people and at almost 46, Italy's average age is much higher than China's.

When compared to similar age groups, Italy's mortality rate is in fact lower than China's, explains Giovanni Rezza, director of the infectious diseases department at the National Institute of Health.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hilarious footage has emerged of Australian comedian Alex 'Shooter' Williamson skolling a beer after a rowdy heckler tried to smash the glass bottle over his head.

Williamson was performing at a show this week at a pub in Goulburn, two hours south west of Sydney, when the chaos erupted.

In footage shared to the comedian's Instagram, he was seen storming off stage to confront a heckler who had been talking throughout the show.

After Williamson knocked his hat off, the crowd member fought back, smashing his beer bottle into the comedian's head.

Australian comedian Alex Williamson was performing at a pub in Goulburn when he confronted a crowd member who was talking during his show

The comedian (pictured with girlfriend Gabby Goessling) stormed down from the stage during the show to confront the crowd member

'You gonna glass me? You gonna glass me?' Williamson said.

The comedian then stormed off, finishing the bottle of beer and throwing it onto the stage as the crowd cheered.

'I just f***king skolled the glass he glassed me with,' he said.

Williamson downed another bottle that was handed to him by another crowd member as fans chanted 'Shooter' in unison.

On Wednesday, the comedian revealed the man he confronted wasn't the one who was being disruptive.

Williamson knocked the man's hat off before he smashed his beer bottle into his head

The comedian then downed the bottle of beer before sculling a second drink handed to him by the crowd

'Apparently that bloke who I went and had a go at wasn't even the one who was being disruptive,' he said.

'I had a crack at that c**t and it wasn't even him.'

Despite the wild encounter, Williamson said the crowd weren't fazed by the altercation.

'It was no surprise to the crowd, they didn't even bat an eyelid,' he said.

'They were like they were just at the library and someone coughed, they were like 'Oh someone got bottled? Oh yeah no worries''.

Viewers commented on the post, saying it was classic Australia.

'This could not be more Australian,' one said.

'Australian comedy at its finest,' another wrote.
100 years ago, March 12, 1920

MATTOON  At a special meeting of the Mattoon Business Women's Club held in the assembly room of the Association of Commerce yesterday evening, the club voted to purchase the Mrs. W.W. Williams residence, 1521 Charleston Ave., for a home. Possession of the property will not be given until June 1, in order to give Mrs. Williams and her tenants time to procure other quarters. The house is a large brick dwelling of 14 rooms. The upper floors will be leased to club members for rooming quarters while the lower floor will be fitted for club rooms and a dining room. The Business Women's Club has been organized since the middle of January. It now has about 200 members... MATTOON  An 11-year-old boy from St. Louis, Albert Fisher, has a head full of worldly wisdom. When he found $16 in his mother's pocketbook, he decided to strike out and carve a career. He bought a train ticket for somewhere in West Virginia, where his grandparents reside, then sent a telegram to his mother that he was leaving on a Big Four train. When Mrs. Fisher received the telegram she hurriedly got word to authorities. Little Albert was taken off the Big Four train here in Mattoon yesterday evening, his mother notified and she came and took charge of Albert. When taken to a restaurant, he ordered like a regular gadder. Police said he was a little gentleman of the highest type. His mother returned with him to St. Louis this morning.

50 years ago, 1970

MATTOON  A compromise proposal that would establish a "shopping park" on Broadway from 15th Street to the Illinois Central Railroad Bridge was approved by members of Operation Progress at a meeting last night. The shopping park concept would replace the full mall proposal that was approved by the same group on Dec. 30, 1969. The "shopping park" proposal will include two lanes of traffic in a "slight serpentine" manner. Mayor Morgan Phipps, a member of the Mattoon City Council committee that met with Operation Progress officials, said he hopes the city commissioners will approve the plan... MATTOON  James Arnholt, business manager for the Mattoon school district, has announced that due to a change in the state transportation formula set up by the Illinois Legislature, Mattoon schools will lose $5,840.40 in its claim for reimbursement. Last year, the formula called for a $20 reimbursement based on the number of students and miles traveled. This year the formula was reduced to $16 per student. The deficit for Mattoon has necessitated borrowing money from tax money not to be collected until next year, Arnholt said.

25 years ago, 1995

Sunday. No paper.

100 years ago, March 13, 1920

MATTOON  Since the fight over the bond issue for the proposed new City Hall was started, alleged dark and deep plots are said to have been laid. On Thursday came the report that Mayor Cisna, ardent advocate of bonds for a new city building, had done battle with Alderman George Kizer. This morning, reports circulated that Mr. Kizer received a broken nose in the fray and that Mayor Cisna was confined to his bed. These reports are without foundation, it is stated. Anyway, the political pot is boiling and may run over most anytime, and Broadway and South 17th Street are veritable hot beds of rumor which are born, developed and die overnight... MATTOON  Notice has been sent to all yard offices of the Big Four Railroad to the effect that all regularly scheduled firemen, as well as enginemen running into St. Louis, will be required to pass the exam on rules and signals governing operation on trains on their rails. A number of Big Four firemen who have been on the extra board or cut from the board have gone to work for the Illinois Central Railroad. They have been borrowed by the Indiana Division because of extra chain gangs being operated by that railroad at the present time.

50 years ago, 1970

CHARLESTON  Robert C. Snyder of Charleston has his $4,000, 14-karat gold flute back today after an unidentified male caller told him to look for it in a vacant lot one-half block from his home. Snyder, a member of the Eastern Illinois University music department faculty, reported to police Monday that the instrument was missing from his office. According to Snyder the caller apologized for the theft of the flute and told him another item taken from the office could be found with the flute. The instrument was originally made for Frederick Williams, a well-known flutist in New York. The manufacturer of the flute estimated it would take 12 months to replace the flute... MATTOON  Rita Boyd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Boyd of rural Gays, was chosen to represent the local Daughters of the American Revolution at the state DAR convention in Chicago. Miss Boyd is sponsored by the Shelbyville DAR chapter. Other awards presented last night include Gov. Edward Coles Chapter Good Citizens Award to Patty Reedy, Jane Wiley and Linda Hill, and Good Citizenship Awards to Steve Spitz, Stuart Dean Bowers and Donald Hughes.

25 years ago, 1995

MATTOON  Crisscrossing Coles County, Dial-A-Ride vans transport passengers of all ages. Five vans plus a backup are available to anyone needing a ride in the county. Dial-A-Ride, which is an expansion of the senior citizen transportation service, has been in operation since March 1993. Linda Podeschi, Dial-A-Ride program director, said more than 2,000 clients are registered to use the vans and 155 passengers a day are transported by five drivers. The sixth van is a backup and is not wheelchair accessible CHARLESTON  More than 100 people lined the banks of the Embarras River at Fox Ridge State Park south of Charleston Saturday to see personnel from the Illinois Department of Conservation release 18 river otters. The stocking was part of a DOC effort to reintroduce the animals to East-Central Illinois. A total of 50 otters will be released this year, the rest to be placed into Lake Shelbyville and the Skillet Fork River in southeastern Illinois. An additional 50 animals were released last year. The animals, trapped in Louisiana, were placed in the Embarras because its habitat is suitable for otters to reproduce and flourish, DOC furbearer biologist Bob Bluett told those gathered Saturday.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 18:30:44|Editor: huaxia

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Renowned Chinese respiratory specialist Zhong Nanshan speaks at a press conference in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)



GUANGZHOU, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China's experience can help the world avoid detours in their fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, said Zhong Nanshan, a renowned Chinese respiratory specialist.

Zhong made the remarks at a press conference in Guangzhou on Thursday. He said that the mortality rate of the current COVID-19 outbreak overseas is similar to the early stage of Wuhan.

Zhong said his team has exchanged ideas on the epidemic prevention and control with the Hongkong Special Administrative Region, Japan, Singapore, and a number of European countries, and Chinese experts have been sent to Italy to conduct further communication.

It is essential to enhance the exchanges between China and overseas regions since China's experience and lessons over the past two months can help the world reduce both prevalence and mortality rates, Zhong said. 








More than 6000 Indian nationals are stranded in different provinces of coronavirus-hit Iran and the Indian government is making focused efforts for their safe return to India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday.

Making a Suo-Moto statement in the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar said that the government's initial focus is on the evacuation of about 1100 pilgrims hailing mainly from the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and the State of Maharashtra.

Among the stranded Indians include about 1000 fishermen hailing from the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. In addition, nearly 300 students, primarily from the Jammu and Kashmir are also stranded in the coronavirus-hit Middle Eastern country, the ministry informed.

"As per available information, there are over 6000 Indian nationals in various provinces of Iran. These include about 1100 pilgrims mainly from the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and the State of Maharashtra; nearly 300 students primarily from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir; about 1000 fishermen, including from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat; and others who are on longer-term stay in Iran for pursuing their livelihood and religious studies," Jaishankar said.

"Given a large number of Indians in Iran, it was natural that we should seek to sequence their return, taking into account their location and exposure. The initial focus is on visiting pilgrims. Many of them are in Qom, where Coronavirus incidence has been strong," he added.

The minister informed that 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 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. We have also received samples of 529 more Indians on this flight which are being tested in National Institute of Virology, Pune. So far, 299 of them have tested negative,' Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar informed that the Indian government is working with the Iranian authorities to operate limited commercial flights for facilitating the early return of the remaining Indians.

"Our Embassy, with the cooperation of the Iranian authorities, is making arrangements for medical care and monitoring of those who have tested positive," Jaishankar said.

Talking about Italy, the minister said that the situation in the European nation has emerged as a cause of great concerns.

"I would like to share with the Hon'ble Members that steps in this regard have already been initiated. It has been decided to make provision for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy and collect samples for testing. A medical team is being sent there from India. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days," Jaishankar said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Moscow court to hear administrative case against Navalnys foundation

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

13:34 12/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 12 (RAPSI)  Moscows Simonovsky District Court will hear an administrative matter over violation of foreign agent NGO requirements against a foundation established by Alexey Navalny on March 23, RAPSI has been told in the court.

In early November, Moscows Zamoskvoretsky District Court refused to overturn the Justice Ministrys October decision to include Navalnys organization in the list of NGOs acting as foreign agents.

The Justice Ministry established the fact of the organizations conforming to the foreign agent criteria during the monitoring of its activity conducted by the Justice Ministrys Moscow Main Directorate, the Ministrys official website informed at that time.

The decision to give Navalnys foundation the status of a foreign agent was made based on evidence of its funding from abroad, the acting director of the Justice Ministrys NGO affairs department Vladimir Titov told journalists.




You dont have to be Irish to love Belleek shamrock pottery, also known as the "shamrock line." Its one of the most familiar of their patterns. I love the pottery because of the uniqueness of it  the basket-weave design with hand-painted shamrocks.

Belleek pottery was first produced just outside of Belleek, Ireland  hence the name Belleek  in 1859. Belleek is a thin-bodied, ivory-colored and almost iridescent porcelain. Other companies have tried to duplicate this ware, but Belleek has specific marks with a few variations. The marks have always incorporated the Irish wolfhound, Celtic round tower, harp and shamrocks.

Ive found that marks from the beginning up to 1946 were done in black; from 1946 to 1980 a series of green marks; then in 1946, a color change to gold/brown, but that one was discontinued in 1992. The most current is blue, with the exception of the Belleek Collectors International Society limited-edition pieces, which have a special mark in red.

The pieces are always hand-painted. I also love the Belleek Galway Weave that appears as hand-woven baskets. Some even look like a crocheted lace basket with flowers, a perfect piece for a wedding gift. But the most-sold items are the shamrock patterns.

A shop that I love to visit, either online (www.annmarie.com) or in person, is Ann Maries in Minocqua, Wis.

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Owner Ann Marie Bauman told me: "We do carry Belleek pottery and china at our Chalet store located south of downtown Minocqua. There is just a really small following these days of this pottery, and I think mostly people are adding to their already collection  like dinner, lunch plates and mugs that they are purchasing. Also, a wee following for the gift pieces."

"We are working on increasing our market for Irish handmade products," she said. "As far as the current market, I think younger people are not spending too much money on dinnerware or collectibles, but I hope the future changes this and once again value will be found in handmade and hand-decorated pottery and china. We do buy the items direct from Ireland, so they are new pieces."

Joan McGill, a collector from Winona, said, "I have several pieces that I purchased directly at the Belleek factory and had them shipped home in 2004."

Paul Larsen, an antique dealer at Old Rooster in Rochester and Mantorville Square, Mantorville, said: "One of the dealers at the Old Rooster has a nice collection of Irish Belleek in right now. Some is in the shamrock pattern, and some are other designs. Prices range from around $15 to $45, depending on the item. There are several pieces of Belleek china at Mantorville Square, but only a couple in the shamrock pattern. Prices are in the $12-to-$65 range, depending on the size, shape and pattern. I think collectors buy all year round  not just for St. Patricks Day."

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County Kildare Chamber have today postponed all March training courses, workshops and events that they provide for its 400 plus business membership. This is in response to todays announcement by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD.

Speaking this afternoon Allan Shine CEO of County Kildare Chamber said: Employers will face severe business and cashflow pressures in the period ahead. A number of liquidity measures to assist affected businesses have been announced by the Government this week to which the Chamber now seek clarity with. Employers must do their part to actively support the Delay Phase of Covid-19. For our members, this means the implementation of remote working and flexible working, insofar as possible in order to limit and slow down the spread of the virus.

The Chamber offices are now closed and our employees are working remotely, the provision of issuing of certificates of origin for our export companies will continue online".

He added: We will continue to provide business with the support and advice that they are looking for. Many of our members are extremely nervous, and we are fielding calls primarily in relation to remote working queries, HR issues and banking queries. There will be severe disruption to business over the next two weeks and Government needs to be flexible in supporting the cash flow needs of businesses to avoid large scale job losses. We have engaged with our banks locally who are calling for businesses that require assistance to make contact now and not delay. The Chamber also has several business members that can assist the business community in Kildare with IT/remote access queries and HR queries.

The Chamber will continue to field calls from businesses directly on 045 894074 and Allan Shine is contactable daily on 087 2944333.
A hoax call that led Prince Harry into sharing his thoughts on politics, family and the plight of some imaginary penguins exposes "huge flaws" in security in his new life outside palace walls, it is feared.

Harry spoke at length to Russian hoaxers he thought were Greta Thunberg and her father and made comments distancing himself from most of the royal family and criticising the US president. It has raised serious security concerns as the Sussexes begin a life away from the aides and protection the prince has known all his life.

Harry shared his thoughts on the "good soul" of Boris Johnson, the "right but not easy" choice to leave the working royal family, and appeared to criticise environmental campaigning styles led by his own brother.

He sympathised with the plight of the invented island of Chunga-Changa, said he would never work with the "sad meat" at McDonald's and laughed at the idea of a marriage between Greta Thunberg and Prince George.

He even volunteered to put "Greta" in contact with someone who could help free 50 penguins purportedly "stuck at customs in Belarus" and take them to the North Pole - penguins are creatures of the southern hemisphere.

Harry is currently living in a waterside Canadian mansion with Meghan Markle and 10-month-old Archie, from where he spoke to Russian YouTubers Vladimir Kuznestsov and Alexey Stolyarov on the landline on New Year's Eve and again on January 22.

Harry has previously expressed admiration for the Swedish girl's campaigning. His father, Charles, met the real Greta Thunberg at Davos this year.

As well as making awkward listening for Harry, the calls raise serious concerns about security now he is leaving the protection of Buckingham Palace and experienced aides.

After news broke of the prank, royal observers expressed sympathy but also deep concern at the Sussexes' vulnerability as celebrities now based largely in North America.

The hoax calls also gave an extraordinary insight into Harry's relationship with his family, as he spoke about the decision to leave, saying: "The right decision isn't always the easy one."

The comments are likely to cause hurt and disquiet at the palace, and follow weeks of detailed discussions about the Sussexes' settlement as they leave to pursue financial independence.

The call also saw Harry lament the royal family's approach to the media, which he claimed was trying to "destroy our [the Sussexes'] reputation" and "sink us".

He said: "For most, all of my life, I've always been part of a family and part of a country that's scared of the tabloid media because they have so much power and influence and no morals."

He also expressed the view that the world was being led by "some very sick people".
The upcoming royal wedding for the year 2020 may be jeopardized again, as the global pandemic coronavirus has continuously spread around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom.

Princess Beatrice -- Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter to her son Prince Andrew -- is set to tie the knot on May 29, 2020. The 31-year-old royal is about to marry her Italian fiance, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, in London.

However, since most of the guests from Edoardo's side of the family will be coming from Italy, which has been dramatically affected by COVID-19, it looks like the royal wedding plans might be put on hold once again.

The 37-year-old property developer is a native of Lombardy, a northern region in Italy. The whole country has been placed in a total lockdown already due to the massive spread of coronavirus. Italy's Civil Protection Agency head Angelo Borrelli said that at least 168 people died due to the virus in the past 24 hours.

According to reports, locking down the entire country will help control the movement of those infected by the virus from in and outside the territory. The local government is also planning to implement the issuing of special permission for people who want to fly in and out for travel, work, or medical reasons.

As of writing, there are more than 18,000 cases of coronavirus all over Europe, and half of this number comes from Italy. The country's health chief said that the number may still increase in the coming weeks.

While there is no further announcement if the lockdown will last until May, it is feared that most of Edoardo's relatives who are coming from Italy will not be able to jet to London for the wedding.

A royal insider said that as the wedding nears, together with the blowing number of coronavirus cases in the country, it may also affect the attendees on the bachelor party prepared for the groom -- which date has not been disclosed.

"The coronavirus has thrown a bit of a spanner in the works. Although there is no suggestion that Italy will remain in lockdown until the end of May, obviously, the whole thing does cast doubt over the guest list," the insider told The Daily Telegraph.

One of the VIP guests who is expected not to be on Princess Beatrice's wedding would be her 99-year-old grandfather, Prince Philip (Queen Elizabeth II's husband).

The Duke of Edinburg is currently enjoying his retirement in Wood Farm Cottage in Norfolk, so traveling 100 miles for the wedding could take a hinge on his health. But a source said that Prince Philip commits to attend the wedding if his health permits.

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo got engaged in September 2019 after dating for almost 11 months. Their wedding date announcement has been pushed back a couple of times due to the scandal involving Prince Andrew's relationship with a convicted pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, and the controversial decision of Prince William and Meghan Markle to step down as senior members of the royal family.
Two ships with 39 Indians on board not yet allowed to unload cargo by China: India

Funds of Indians in Swiss banks rise to Rs 20,700 cr, highest in 13 years; customer deposits down for 2nd year

Coronavirus: More than 6,000 Indians stranded in Iran, efforts on to bring them back, says govt

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Mar 12: More than 6,000 Indians are stranded in Iran, including 1,100 pilgrims from Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir. Tehran, is one of the worst-hit countries by coronavirus.

The "initial focus is on bringing back pilgrims, mostly stranded in Qom", External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, adding 58 citizens from Iran has been brought back 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.

He further said that government is trying for the return of these people and its initial focus is on visiting pilgrims. "Many of them are in Qom, where Coronavirus incidence has been strong. The nature of their residency also increases the risks of exposure. Age is also a factor that was taken into account," said Jaishankar.

Coronavirus vaccine: Scientists in Israel likely to announce soon

The minister also informed that there are 1,000 Indian fishermen who are stranded in Iran, but they are in the region which is not affected by the virus.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

He said a team of health professionals has been sent to Iran to set up testing facilities there for Indians.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 15:23 [IST]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 12)  Amid panic buying over the novel coronavirus pandemic, the government is limiting the purchase of alcohol and other disinfectants to two bottles per consumer.

The Department of Trade and Industry has issued this order to retailers as early as Monday, Undersecretary Ruth Castelo told CNN Philippines Thursday, adding that a written order will be released soon.

She said the DTI met with manufacturers and retailers on Wednesday and "everybody agreed already and we have started implementing yesterday."

Castelo said the DTI will also monitor the retailers to ensure compliance. This will stop people from hoarding and reselling the items at a higher price, Castelo said.

She explained that people can only buy two bottles of each type of disinfectant "regardless of size."

"If you choose the 60 ml, dalawa lang bote. Kung gusto mo yung 500 ml dalawa lang rin ang pwedeng bilihin ng isang tao," she explained.

[Translation: If you choose the 60 ml, you can only buy two bottles. If you want the 500 ml, only two bottles can be bought by each person.]

She further explained that a consumer, for instance, can buy two bottles of alcohol and two bottles of hand sanitizer.

"Pwede naman basta (That can be done for as long as it is) limited to two items per bottle," she said.

She said they made the order simpler to avoid confusion in groceries and supermarkets.

Some stores have been running out of disinfectants following confirmed cases of local transmission of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19. The Philippines now has a total of 49 confirmed cases, including two deaths.

The DTI has also ordered a 60-day price freeze on all basic necessities, in response to the declaration of a state of public health emergency in the country.

Worldwide, COVID-19 has killed more than 4,600 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in December last year. Over 126,000 people have been infected according to the Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 global tracker.

The World Health Organization now considers COVID-19 a pandemic.

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.
Afghan President, Taliban At Impasse Over Prisoner Release

By RFE/RL March 11, 2020

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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghan-president-s- prisoner-release-decree-rejected- by-taliban/30481536.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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With the Novel Coronavirus being declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, streets, offices and institutions all over the world are getting emptier by the day. However, there are certain spots that still see people turning up, without fail. Case in point, protest sites. Braving the COVID-19 outbreak, the students of Delhi University have been protesting for 15 days against the stringent curfew timing and hostel rules.



"There is definitely a fear of Coronavirus. However, at least 10 protestors turn up every day at the protest site, armed with masks and hand sanitisers," says Amisha Nanda, a student of the Faculty of Law and a resident of Ambedkar Ganguly Students House for Women. The protest began on February 27 and on the same day, a few residents were allegedly manhandled, molested and harassed by the male guards and a male officer of the Delhi Police when they took out a rally for their cause on Saturday night.



The 15th day of the protest will see a poster making competition at the Dhaka complex. The theme for the same is 'Auratein Layengi Inquilab', which translates to 'The women will bring about a revolution'. The students are also organising a lecture series on the cause. In the coming days, there will also be art and photography events, in solidarity with the cause.
Manisha Koirala is returning to screen once again with Netflix YA film, titled Maska. The makers released the film's trailer and announced that it will start streaming online in the last week of March.

The film celebrates the Parsi Culture and follows a millennial confused about his future, career and family-owned cafe. Rumi sets out to fulfil the dream of becoming a movie star but the struggle helps him realise the difference between dreams and delusions. Written and directed by Neeraj Udhwani, Maska features Manisha Koirala and Javed Jaffery, as the proud parents while Prit Kamani, Nikita Dutta, Shirley Setia are the millennials in the film.

The trailer shows, Javed Jaffery hoping that his son Rumi also grows up to become a maskawala and the cafe owner. However, the mother, Diana's (Manisha Koirala) dream shatters when Rumi announces he wants to become an actor. Rumi, born into the legacy of the oldest Irani Cafe in Mumbai has choices to make, he can either fulfil his dream of becoming an actor by selling the cafe or carry the lineage of the Rustom Cafe and give up on becoming an actor.

The film releases on Netflix on March 27, 2020.

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CENTRAL POINT, Ore.  It wasn't the airplanes . . . it was coronavirus cut the cheese.

The 2020 Oregon Cheese Festival, originally scheduled for this weekend, will be postponed until late in June due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

"It is with a heavy heart that I announce the postponement of the 2020 Oregon Cheese Festival," said David Gremmels, president of Rogue Creamery.

"In line with Rogue Creamerys commitment to providing a safe, healthy, and positive impact in our community and environment, Rogue Creamery has partnered with the Oregon Cheese Guild to postpone this years Festival," Gremmels continued. "With cases of COVID-19 now presumed in Jackson County, the risk of spreading illness by hosting an event of this size has increased substantially. Even with the precautionary measures we had planned to ensure adequate sanitation and air flow, the risk is too great to hold it at this time."

The Cheese Festival is just one of a growing number of events in southern Oregon that have been postponed or canceled due to similar precautions.

RELATED: Thousands come to 15th annual Oregon Cheese Festival (2019)

The festival has been rescheduled to the weekend of June 20. Tickets already purchased will be honored on those dates instead, while anyone unable to attend can request a refund. Tickets for the new dates will be available online starting next Monday.

However, the 16th annual Cheesemaker Dinner will go ahead as planned on March 13 at Inn at the Commons in Medford. Proceeds from that event go to the Oregon Cheese Guild to support small Oregon cheesemakers "during this difficult economic time," Gremmels said.

"The Cheesemaker Dinner is a small event that place in a more controlled environment. Limited tickets for this four-course, cheese-themed dinner are still available online," he continued. "It is our hope that you will join us June 20-21 as we celebrate cheese from across the state and beyond. This rescheduled date allows an opportunity for us to create a fresh experience, and plans are already in motion."

RELATED: Oregon cheese make the cut in national competition

Rogue Creamery's Rogue River Blue cheese won the title of "World Champion Cheese" at the World Cheese Awards in Begamo, Italy last year, a first-time win for cheesemakers from the U.S.
The World Health Organization declares the outbreak pandemic as countries struggle to contain the spread of the virus.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic as the virus continued to spread across the world.

More than 124,000 people in at least 114 countries have been infected with COVID-19, the medical term for the virus, according to WHO. Of those, more than 68,000 have recovered, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the virus.

At least 4,600 people have died from the disease, according to the WHO.

What is a pandemic?

The WHO defines the word pandemic loosely  the worldwide spread of a new disease.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a pandemic is a disease that has spread in multiple countries around the world, usually affecting a large number of people.

The word comes from the Greek word pan meaning all and demos meaning people.

Why did WHO label coronavirus outbreak a pandemic?

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said he was deeply concerned by the alarming levels of inaction as the outbreak shows no signs of slowing down.

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, Tedros said.

According to the WHO, more than 90 percent of cases are in just four countries  China, Italy, Iran and South Korea. However, the number of cases in China and South Korea is declining significantly, according to the WHO.

Many countries continue to face an uphill battle when it comes to combating the spread.

Some countries are struggling with a lack of capacity. Some countries are struggling with a lack of resources, Tedros added.

What will this mean for the outbreak?

Following the announcement, several countries scaled up their responses and put in place even stricter controls.

Denmark, which has reported a 10-fold jump in cases since Monday, said it was closing all schools and universities from Friday. Non-critical public sector employees will also be sent home.

Saudi Arabia suspended travel and flights to the European Union and several other countries following the announcement.

The US State Department also urged citizens to reconsider travel overseas with President Donald Trump suspending all flights from Europe, except the UK. The ban will be in place for at least a month, Trump said.

Declaration of a pandemic often leads to governments spending more on preventive measures and funding for vaccination programmes.

That was the case the last time WHO declared a pandemic in 2009 during H1N1 swine flu outbreak.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in central Chinas Hubei province, praising the prevention and control efforts there.

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves to residents who are quarantined at home and sends regards to them at a community in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

He visited medics and patients, Peoples Liberation Army commanders and soldiers, community residents and workers, police officers, grassroots cadres, officials and volunteers on the frontline of the battle against the novel coronavirus, and paid high respect to them.

Calling Wuhan a heroic city and its people heroic people, Xi said they will be remembered in history for the final victory against the disease and the whole nation is deeply moved by Wuhan people.

Xi extended greetings to the people in Wuhan. The president also spoke highly of and affirmed the huge sacrifices and great contributions Wuhan people have made in preventing and controlling the epidemic. His remarks expressed the common aspiration of the 1.4 billion Chinese people.

Hubei province, especially Wuhan, was most hit by COVID-19, becoming a key region for winning the battle against the epidemic.

In the face of the epidemic, medical workers in Hubei and those assisting them from across the country went in harms way and became warriors in white; military personnel answered the call rapidly and fought bravely against the disease; community workers, police officers, grassroots cadres, officials, and volunteers feared no difficulty and stayed on the frontline; plain citizens actively rose to the occasion and contributed to the battle in their own way.

There are names that should be remembered, including Zhang Dingyu, head of Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, and also a frontline medical worker with ALS disease, Zhang Jixian, the first doctor reporting the novel coronavirus, and Xu Xiaofeng, a police officer suffering from intestinal cancer but still staying at his post.

These people, standing up for the health of others against challenges, are building an iron wall of defense.

According to a research paper published on Science magazine, the travel quarantine of Wuhan, starting Jan. 23, delayed the overall epidemic progression by 3 to 5 days on Chinese mainland, and reduced global case importations by nearly 80% by mid-February.

This is why we should thank the people in Wuhan. The lockdown of Wuhan almost stagnated the city, affecting over ten million citizens. However, in the war against the epidemic, the people there have always borne the overall situation in mind, and demonstrated bravery, determination and unyielding spirit. They did all they could to support the epidemic prevention and control, and proactively joined the fight against the epidemic.

Their huge contribution showcased their resilience and noble character to both the country and the world. The table could not have been turned without the sacrifice, devotion, perseverance and efforts of the people in the city.

Such devotion and sacrifice of Wuhan people are seen by the whole world. To the people of Wuhan, it is recognized that the world is in your debt, and when this disease finishes, hopefully, we will have a chance to thank the people in Wuhan for the role that they played in it. I know people in the city have gone through an extraordinary period and they are going through it, " said Bruce Aylward, the foreign head of the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, after a visit to Wuhan.

Such sincere remarks carry justice and public opinion, and are recognized by the visionary all over the world. Wuhan people, with concrete actions, demonstrated the strength and spirit of China, as well as the Chinese peoples devotion to family and country  something enables them to stick together through thick and thin and support each other. This is why they have won gratitude and respect from the world.

The prevention and control efforts have entered a critical period. While paying respect to Wuhan people, we should stand firmly with them to overcome difficulties and defeat the epidemic together. With the strong support the 1.4 billion Chinese people, the heroic Wuhan people will overcome all difficulties.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is widely spreading to other countries around the world and has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). At this point in time, Dutch St. Maarten remains free of COVID-19.

President of the COCI Board Benjamin Ortega on behalf of the board is calling on the business community to prepare for the arrival of COVID-19 by preparing contingency plans and to look at the economic/financial impact on their business operation for the next second and third quarter year periods of 2020. COCI stresses that the business community needs to get their business operation ready for a COVID-19 case in the country.

The Chamber request the business community to send an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. where businesses can indicate to COCI their issues in connection with the implications of COVID-19 in order for the Chamber to have an overview of business sector concerns that can be presented to the relevant authorities.

Businesses should develop a business continuity plan in the event there is an outbreak. The plan should address how to keep your business running even if a significant number of employees, contractors, and suppliers cannot come to your place of business because they are ill.

COCI also advises, any economic sectors that might be affected by a decline in visitors, import or export restrictions or merchandising availability, should already consider alternative options and sources in order to ensure business continuity.

COCI is available to assist the business community with sourcing other sources and countries to do business with and should email the chamber for further enquiries to the aforementioned email address.

The idea is to protect customers, employees and contractors. The way of doing business has changed in the first quarter of 2020. We have to be prepared for COVID-19, because its just a matter of time before we have to deal with cases in the country. Every week more and more countries are getting cases, and therefore we need to be prepared and know what actions and steps need to be taken. Now is the time to prepare for COVID-19, because simple precautions and planning can make a big difference over the short to long-term, President of the COCI Board Benjamin Ortega said on Thursday.

According to the WHO, when someone who has COVID-19 coughs or exhales they release droplets of infected fluid. Most of these droplets fall on nearby surfaces and objects - such as desks, tables or telephones. People could catch COVID-19 by touching contaminated surfaces or objects  and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

If they are standing within one meter of a person with COVID-19 they can catch it by breathing in droplets coughed out or exhaled by them. In other words, COVID-19 spreads in a similar way to flu. Most persons infected with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms and recover. However, some go on to experience more serious illness and may require hospital care.

Risk of serious illness rises with age: people over 40 seem to be more vulnerable than those under 40. People with weakened immune systems and people with conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung disease are also more vulnerable to serious illness.

The WHO recommends some low-cost measures that would help to prevent the spread of infections in the workplace, such as colds, flu, and stomach bugs. These actions should be implemented today rather than waiting for COVID-19 to arrive in your community.

The WHO recommends making sure workplaces are clean and hygienic: Surfaces (e.g. desks and tables) and objects (e.g. telephones, keyboards) need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly; Why? Because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads.

Promote regular and thorough handwashing by employees, contractors and customers: Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled; Display posters promoting hand-washing  ask your local public health authority for these or look on www.WHO.int; Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefings at meetings and information on the intranet to promote hand-washing; Make sure that staff, contractors and customers have access to places where they can wash their hands with soap and water; Why? Because washing kills the virus on your hands and prevents the spread of COVID19.

Promote good respiratory hygiene in the workplace: Display posters promoting respiratory hygiene. Combine this with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefing at meetings and information on the intranet etc.; Ensure that face masks and / or paper tissues are available at your workplaces, for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them; Why? Because good respiratory hygiene prevents the spread of COVID-19.
Saif Ali Khans son Ibrahim has completed his first professional photoshoot for a clothing brand and pictures from the shoot have surfaced online. In pictures where Ibrahim is seen posing for the cameras, he is seen wearing black coloured hoodie and also dons a white polo neck tshirt in one picture.

Fans were quick to appreciate his look, some even calling him a replica of dad Saif. Ibrahim is often compared to Saif but his actor father has famously said that the younger Pataudi is better looking than him.

Ibrahim has often expressed interest in becoming an actor like his parents Saif and Amrita Singh, and sister Sara Ali Khan. Talking about Ibrahim and his career plans, Saif had earlier said, He should, hes looking good, better looking than I am! Hes a very charming guy. I definitely think all of my children would be interested in acting. Were an acting family, the whole bunch of us are in the industry. So Im sure. Hes still a little young, and Im keener that he does university first. Then, of course, well support him in whatever he wants to do.

Also read: Sonali Bendre on why she chucked wig, wheelchair during battle against cancer:  It was so awkward, I said I dont want it

Ibrahim made his grand public debut in a recent magazine spread, alongside sister and Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan. Ibrahim and Sara recently enjoyed holidays in Maldives. They also had a Goa vacation in February. Sara shared family pictures with brother Ibrahim and mother Amrita Singh. In one of the pictures, Sara is sitting on a bike/rickshaw, with Ibrahim as the passenger. The next picture shows a beaming Ibrahim standing in between his sister and mother.

Earlier this month, Ibrahim celebrated his birthday and sister Sara had posted a picture from their Maldives holiday to wish him as she could not be with him. Sara was shooting for Aanand L Rais Atrangi Re that also features Akshay Kumar and Dhanush. Talking about his acting dreams, Sara had earlier said, I think Ibrahim definitely does want to be an actor. We talk about films and I do know that being an actor is what he dreams of. But I have also often told him that having a dream and living it are two different things. There is a lot of hard work because its not just glitz and glamour and I think he is aware of that.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
A 29-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison for the Nov. 24, 2009, killing of Assistant Federal Public Defender Nancy Bergeson in a case that baffled Portland detectives for a decade.

Christopher Alexander Williamson pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree burglary.

Williamson was arrested in January 2019 after a covert jailhouse recording caught an inmate bragging about his involvement in the crime to another inmate, producing an unexpected breakthrough in the mysterious homicide.

Bergeson, 57, surprised Williamson and a co-defendant, Justin Joseph Panek, when they broke into her house and she was home. Williamson put her in a chokehold and suffocated her, according to court records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Panek, accused of burglary in the case, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday morning.

Panek was 18 at the time of Bergesons killing and Williamson was 19.

According to the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, Williamsons life expectancy is less than 10 years due to a genetic disorder. He was arrested at a kidney center in Tualatin where he received dialysis.

Bergesons daughter, Jamie Lyon, now 33, said her mothers violent death was devastating and "senseless.''

She described how her mother was her "rock,'' her biggest cheerleader, her best friend.

"Being here in a courtroom, Im struck by another angle of this tragedy: Clients no longer get her. She protected you against the system. She gave you a chance. She fought for you as if you were family,'' Lyon said in a statement she read at the hearing and provided to The Oregonian/OregonLive. "And its so damn sad that the people who took her life were the exact type of people she was so committed to helping.''

The plea hearing and sentencing in the high-profile case were essentially hidden from the general public and media. The court calendar, which typically would list the hearings, instead showed only a settlement conference. However, it was clear that the prosecutors and defense attorneys knew what was going to happen because about 30 family members and friends, many from out of town, received notice and were able to attend.

Bergesons ex-husband James Bradshaw and Julie McCormick, Nancy Bergesons sister who also spoke at the sentencing, were among the family members who attended.

Williamson was sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter and five years for the burglary. He admitted to "unlawfully and recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life'' causing Bergesons death and breaking into her home in the 4100 block of Southwest Hamilton Street to commit theft.

He received three years of post-prison supervision and was ordered to pay $4,857.93 in restitution for the cost of Bergesons funeral, previously covered by the states Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

Bergesons daughter said she understood the constraints of the case, based largely on inmates statements. Of the sentence, Lyon said, "Do I wish it were more? Of course, but I think it was a tough case after all these years.''

Lyon described in court how her mother missed out on being a grandmother and how Bergesons parents outlived their daughter by nearly a decade but never got to see the crime solved. She said the killing "completely ruined Portland'' for her, and she has struggled to feel safe in a lot of environments.

She said she doesnt expect to find closure,'' as the deep wounds of her mothers sudden loss remain. But I am glad we now have answers and justice,'' Lyon said.

Bergeson taught her forgiveness, Lyon said, and "the ability to see good in people who had done horrible, horrible things.''

"To be fair to her, I am going to try and forgive,'' Lyon said. "She would tell me to not waste any time or emotion on the defendant and instead go love (the) hell out of my daughter and family. So Mom ... even though its really hard ... thats what I am going to do.''

Williamson, represented by defense lawyer Joe Calhoun, spoke briefly. He was apologetic, those at the hearing said.

"As public defenders, we appreciate a criminal justice system that considers the unique failings and strengths of the person being sentenced,'' said Oregons Federal Public Defender Lisa Hay. "We trust and believe that happened in this case.''

Jamie Lyon described her mom as a "force of nature,'' someone who loved unconditionally, was spunky, stubborn, forgiving and strong.

On Dec. 15, 2016, Panek suddenly admitted his role in the Bergeson killing in a conversation with another inmate at the Washington County Jail. Panek was in custody at the time on unrelated robbery charges, according to long-sealed records obtained last year that included a detectives description of the recording and gave a detailed account of what happened.

Washington County sheriffs detectives had placed a hidden wire on the other inmate to investigate a separate crime and much of the first half hour of the inmates chatter focused on the other allegations. But 33 minutes and 30 seconds into the recording, Panek asked the other inmate if he ever heard about the woman who got murdered in Southwest Portland.

Panek shared how he and a friend slipped into Bergesons house through an open door and were rifling through her belongings unaware she was actually home when she suddenly appeared. Thats when Panek said his friend choked Bergeson to death, according to the records. He didnt name his friend that day but referred to him as his homeboy.

Panek said the woman was a federal public defender named Nancy Bergstrom, getting her last name wrong.

Panek laughs and says that he and his homeboy killed that (expletive), Washington County sheriffs Detective Robert L. Rookhuyzen wrote in the affidavit documenting the recording.

He says he swears on everything he loves that he did it, Rookhuyzen wrote.

Panek said his grandfather was Bergesons neighbor from around the corner and he was visiting his grandfather around the holidays. Panek said he used to cut through Bergesons yard and that her door was always open.

One day, he said he and a friend saw her door open again but also noticed her car wasnt parked outside.

Once inside her house, as he was going through her belongings, Panek said he heard Bergeson scream from upstairs and by the time he got upstairs, his homeboy had suffocated the woman somehow. He said his homeboy had her in a chokehold, according to the detective.

The inmate with the covert microphone asked Panek why.

Panek remembered that Bergeson drove a nice BMW so he knew she had money, the detective wrote.

Panek said to the other inmate, that s--- happens and how sometimes people are in the wrong place at the wrong time, Rookhuyzen wrote.

Panek told the other inmate how Portland detectives had contacted his parents shortly after Bergesons body had been found and said they wanted to talk to Panek about the case. Panek, who goes by the nickname Oakland because he had lived in that city, said he returned from California to meet with Portland detectives. At that time, Panek said he and his homeboy admitted to breaking into Bergesons house but told police it didnt happen the day of her killing, the detectives affidavit said.

They werent charged then.

During the 2016 jail conversation, Panek expressed confidence to the other inmate that Bergesons murder will remain unsolved, according to the affidavit. He added that his homeboy who killed her is hanging tough, the detective wrote.

Panek also told the other inmate that he believed investigators thought the killer was possibly a federal inmate and former client of Bergeson.

After listening to the recording and hearing Paneks statements about Bergesons death, Rookhuyzen contacted Portland cold case homicide Detective Bryan Steed. The recording broke open the investigation into Bergesons murder.

The case had been stymied from the start. A deputy medical examiner called to the scene originally thought Bergeson had died from natural circumstances because there was no sign of forced entry to the home and her body was removed before detectives arrived. Her body had been discovered after a neighborhood girl looked through a window and saw Bergeson lying face down on the floor of her dining room about 3 p.m. that day.

But an autopsy the next morning showed Bergeson had been strangled and that there actually were signs of a struggle.

Portland detectives cast a wide net after finding no obvious motive or clear forensic evidence. For years, the case remained unsolved. They eventually asked cold case and retired detectives to take a fresh look and in 2012, investigators discovered an unidentified persons DNA among the evidence.

In late 2016 and early 2017, Washington County police and prosecutors also heard from other inmates as well that Panek had shared information about the Bergeson case. They alerted Portland detectives, who interviewed those inmates and others.

Portland police and Multnomah County prosecutors quietly charged Panek with first-degree burglary on Sept. 18, 2017, accusing him of unlawfully being inside Bergesons home the day of her death.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Eric J. Bergstrom has sealed all records and audio recordings related to the case for more than a year. They remain sealed.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
In an unusual argument, expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar on Thursday told a Delhi court that if he has done anything wrong, he should be hanged and acid poured in his eyes.

He was convicted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of the Unnao rape victim's father.

Sengar, who himself argued during the hearing on quantum of sentence, claimed before District Judge Dharmesh Sharma that he has no involvement in the murder of the victim's father who died in judicial custody on April 9, 2018.

"Give justice to me or else hang me, put acid in my eyes if I have done something wrong," he told the judge.

Sengar, who was convicted by the court along with seven others on March 4 in the case, denied any involvement in the death of victim's father and asserted that he has done no wrong.

On December 20 last year, Sengar was sentenced to jail for "remainder of his natural biological life" in a separate case for raping the woman in 2017 when she was a minor.

During the arguments on Thursday, the judge told Sengar that he has already been held guilty and he cannot deny his involvement as the records clearly suggested that he was on call with the police officials when the victim's father was being beaten up in custody.

Sengar said he has two daughters and requested the judge that he be let-off.

"You have a family. Everyone has. You should have thought all this while committing the crime but you went on to break all the laws. Now will you say no to everything? Till when will you deny?" the judge observed.

The CBI sought maximum punishment for Sengar and others, including the two convicted policemen in the case - the then in-charge of Makhi police station Ashok Singh Bhadauria and then sub-inspector K P Singh.

The CBI's counsel argued that being public servants, it was the duty of these two police officers to maintain law and order but they did not fulfil their duties and did not give timely treatment to the victim's father.

These police officers were involved in the conspiracy and deserve stricter punishment, the CBI counsel told the court, which would continue hearing arguments on quantum of sentence on Friday.

The court had on March 4 convicted Sengar and seven others of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, saying he had no intention of killing the victim's father.

Along with Sengar, Bhadauria and Singh, the court had held -- Vineet Mishra, Birendra Singh, Shashi Pratap Singh, Suman Singh and Atul (Sengar's brother) -- guilty of committing offence under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The other sections read with it are 166 (public servant disobeying law to cause injury to a person), 167 (public servant framing incorrect document to cause injury), 193 (false evidence), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 211 (false charge of offence made with intent to injure), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record to save person from punishment), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint) and section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC.

The court, however, had acquitted other accused -- constable Amir Khan, Shailendra Singh, Ram Sharan Singh and Sharadveer Singh -- giving them the benefit of doubt.

The CBI had examined 55 witnesses in support of the case and the defence had examined nine witnesses. The court had recorded the statements of the rape victim's uncle, mother, sister and one of her father's colleague who had claimed to be an eyewitness to the incident.

According to the CBI, on April 3, 2018, there was an altercation between the rape victim's father and one Shashi Pratap Singh. The charge sheet filed on July 13, 2018, said the victim's father and his co-worker were returning to their village, Makhi, when they asked Shashi for a lift.

Shashi denied them the lift, triggering an altercation among them, the CBI had alleged adding that Shashi called his associates, following which Kuldeep's brother Atul Singh Sengar reached the spot along with others and beat up the woman's father and his co-worker.

The woman's father was subsequently taken to the police station by them where an FIR was lodged against him and he was arrested.

The charge sheet said that all this while, Kuldeep Sengar was in touch with the district police superintendent and Makhi police station in-charge Ashok Singh Bhadauria. Later, he also spoke to the doctor who examined the rape victim's father.

The case was transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on August 1 last year.

In July, 2019 a truck had rammed into the car the rape victim was travelling in with some family members and her lawyer. Two of her aunts died in the incident. She was airlifted from a hospital in Lucknow and brought to AIIMS in Delhi.

The victim has been provided accommodation in Delhi and is under CRPF protection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Rome, March 12 : After spending 60 years of their lives together, an elderly Italian couple succumbed to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) just two hours apart.

Severa Belotti, 82, and Luigi Carrara, 86, who lived in Albino in the northern Italian province of Bergamo, died on Tuesday, according to a report in the Daily Mail on Thursday.

The couple did not get much medical assistance in their last days which were spent in lockdown, their son claimed.

The couple were confined to their home for eight days, running a fever of 39 degrees celsius (102.2 Fahrenheit), according to their son, Luca Carrara.

While Luigi was taken to Bergamo hospital on Saturday, his wife Severa was admitted to the same facility on Sunday, Luca told local newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Luigi worked as a bricklayer before retirement and Severa was a housewife.

The elderly couple's son Luca told the newspaper that he was unable to see his parents before they died.

"They died alone, that's how this virus works," he was quoted as saying.

"Your loved ones are left alone and you can't even say goodbye, hug them, try to give them some comfort. (You can't even tell them) a good lie like 'everything will be fine'," he was quoted as saying.

Their death highlighted how some coronavirus victims might embrace death without having their near and dear ones around.

Coronavirus cases in Italy surpassed 12,000, while the death toll reached 827.

According to a report in The Guardian on Thursday, Italy's government has ordered all shops, bars and restaurants across the country to close.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Andromeda: A War Beyond: a compelling fiction that tells the story of an out-of-this-world conflict between two planets. Andromeda: A War Beyond is the creation of published author Andrew Hoesman, a man who has always thought that a story should come from the core to touch the hearts of those who read it.

Hoesman writes, Far away in the distant galaxy of Andromeda, there is a confrontation that has lasted for over two hundred years. Two races in total conflict over a planet the size of Jupiter. World-encompassing unlimited resources that could sustain any race for life. Protagonists have lived in this world since the beginning of time, understanding its contents and its uses as this planet is on one side of their galaxy.

The other side of this galaxy, the antagonists planet, is the size of Mars, almost barren like the Sahara Desert. Antagonists want to claim this new world for themselves by getting rid of these humanoids, taking over their planet. Since their worlds condition is deteriorating, they spread their dark wings in their system, claiming the other four worlds, and taking their culture and their precious treasures like water, which life needs to thrive. To strike a blow on these humanoids, antagonists ignite a vile plot by sending three King Cruisers on a special mission, staking entitlement on this world and its entire system.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Andrew Hoesmans new book is a captivating tale of conflict, greed, need and the required strength of character to overcome it all as a long-standing interplanetary clash come to a head.

With this book, Hoesman takes readers to places never before seen to witness the dangerous repercussions of war.

View a synopsis of Andromeda: A War Beyond on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Andromeda: A War Beyond at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Andromeda: A War Beyond, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said school closures could be on the table in the future after issuing a public health emergency over New Mexicos first confirmed coronavirus cases.

Lujan Grisham is not calling for classes to be canceled at this time. But she is encouraging schools to minimize contact between people.

We are not closing schools today, but this process, this declaration is a signal that if we need to close schools, we will and we will have a plan to do that, Lujan Grisham said.

The public health emergency order gives Lujan Grisham control over political subdivisions, including public schools, according to her spokesman.

The declaration was called after New Mexico residents tested positive for COVID-19  the first confirmed cases in the state. The four residents, who are from Socorro, Santa Fe and Bernalillo counties, are in their 60s or older and have recent travel history.

Albuquerque Academy, a private school in the Northeast Heights, canceled in-person classes starting Thursday after a school community member was in contact with one of the residents who tested positive for the virus, according to a notice sent to the school community.

Its unclear if that Academy community member is a student or faculty.

Weve just become aware that an Academy community member was in close contact with one of the people in New Mexico infected with COVID-19. There is no evidence that this community member has contracted the virus. Still, this information is enough to make the decision to close campus to students and cease all activities, effective immediately, an email from the head of school stated.

The school will be deep cleaned after it closes. In-person classes are canceled until at least March 20.

Statewide, the governor said schools are asked to inform their communities about precautions.

You should minimize travel by students and faculty, Lujan Grisham said.

Albuquerque Public Schools, Santa Fe Public Schools, Las Cruces Public Schools and the University of New Mexico have all restricted out-of-state travel.

Officials at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology said they dont believe the university has a connection to the Socorro couple who tested positive.

After it was announced that two of the states first coronavirus cases were in Socorro, a county of about 16,000 people where the college is located, Tech President Stephen Wells sent an email to students Wednesday saying there have been no confirmed cases on campus.

Wells announced some restrictions on official university travel, but no other immediate changes.

At a news conference Wednesday, the governor suggested schools limit events and large meetings, with the goal of minimizing exposure to others.

You should think about proactively communicating to students about their own community events  say, for example, University of New Mexico student-senate-related  they should all be postponed. Dont go to those meetings, she said.

APS officials said they are discussing the next steps after Wednesdays announcement, but as of early Wednesday evening, Board of Education and other school meetings will continue. In Santa Fe, the school district said theres a ban on field trips and virtual meetings are being encouraged, including with the superintendents cabinet.

UNM, which has canceled all official university travel, is evaluating all events that are expected to draw at least 30 people on a case-by-case basis, according to university officials.

The university created a portal on a coronavirus webpage where organizers can submit events details, which will then be evaluated by School of Medicine experts.

While the governor did not call for school closures, 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.

President Mark Roosevelt said the decision was made before the public health emergency announcement.

Roosevelt said 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.

After spring break, St. Johns will decide whether to extend online learning.

A spokesman from the Governors Office said closing schools in the state would be a joint decision between the state Public Education Department, the Department of Health and the governor.

The PED would determine how to make up instructional days.

Journal North staff writer Monica Roman Gagnier contributed to this report
President Donald Trump has announced he is suspending all travel from Europe, excluding the United Kingdom, to the United States for the next 30 days to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus that has claimed 37 lives and infected 1,300 in the country.

In a televised address to the nation from his Oval Office in the White House, Trump said the new rule will be coming into effect from Friday midnight and there will be exemptions for Americans returning to the US after undergoing multiple screenings.

The president said the European Union has "failed to take the same precautions" as his administration had implemented to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Trump said he is monitoring the situation in China and South Korea, and asked citizens to suspend all non-essential travels.

He urged them to adopt best hygiene, wash their hands and stay away from large gatherings to reduce the chance of spread of the infection.

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, with the World Health Organisation describing the outbreak a pandemic. China remains the hardest-hit with over 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.

"This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment in time that we will overcome as a nation and a world," Trump said, adding that "we are marshalling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people".

The president announced small business administration will begin extending loans to small businesses who will be affected by the coronavirus slowdown.

He was askew for payroll tax relief and said some tax filings will be delayed to help provide extra liquidity.

"We are all in this together. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family. As history has proven time and time again, Americans always rise to the challenge and overcome adversity," Trump said.

"Our future remains brighter than anyone can imagine. Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before," he said.

Over a dozen states in the US have declared a state of emergency with cities and counties announcing to take sweeping measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.On Wednesday, officials confirmed 37 deaths in various parts of the US due to the virus.

No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the US, he asserted and said "we have the best economy, the most advanced healthcare, and the most talented doctors, scientists, and researchers anywhere in the world".

Trump said he has taken the decision to suspend travel from Europe to the US after consulting with top government health professionals, to protect all citizens from the coronavirus.

White House Press Secretary Stephnie Grisham said out of an abundance of caution from the coronavirus outbreak, the president has decided to cancel his upcoming events in Colorado and Nevada.

Giving details of the travel ban, Department of Homeland Security in a statement said Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation, which suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the US.

These countries, known as the Schengen area, include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

This does not apply to legal permanent residents, (generally) immediate family members of US citizens, and other individuals who are identified in the proclamation, it said.

In the wake of the cornavirus outbreak, people have been running to grocery stores to stock supplies of essential items, while office goers are trying to do teleworking. Several public events, including those related to sports, have been cancelled, and several schools and universities have either shut down or considering closing.

In a letter, several senators urged Trump to immediately consider disaster declarations that allow FEMA to utilize USD 40 plus billion disaster relief fund to aid state and local government's responding to the outbreak.

The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily waived minimum slot-use requirements at US airports to help airlines that cancel flights due to the coronavirus. Under normal circumstances, airlines can lose their slots at congested airports if they do not use them at least 80 per cent of the time.

The FAA is waiving the 80-percent-use requirement through May 31 for US and foreign airlines that have affected flights.
Lebanon, anti-coronavirus plan for Syrian refugee camps Italian Agency for Development Cooperation involved in plan

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MARCH 12 - The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) will participate in Lebanon in efforts to face the coronavirus emergency inside and around refugee camps in the country.



On Thursday, the government in Beirut announced an emergency plan to face the epidemic, including in the numerous informal Syrian refugee camps in the country. Lebanon, which has a population of just under four million people, since 2011 has been hosting about a million Syrians who fled the war.



The Lebanese minister for social affairs announced Thursday morning that the ministry, together with UN humanitarian agencies and numerous international NGOs, has prepared a plan focusing on raising awareness, prevention, and disinfection.



The government cited AICS as one of its partners in the effort.(ANSAmed).




President Akufo-Addo says the government is taking steps to handle any adverse impacts the global outbreak of the deadly coronavirus could have on the countrys economic fortunes.

According to him, the state has engaged some relevant industry players to produce inputs needed to tackle the possible spread of the virus into Ghana.

Addressing the country on Wednesday, President Akufo-Addo was hopeful that Ghana will take advantage of the pandemic, position itself as a self-reliant country and bring to an end the assistance it receives from other foreign countries.

While commending the efforts of international bodies such as the World Health Organization, World Bank and International Monetary Fund in the fight against the spread of the virus in the country, the president assured of the governments commitment to doing everything possible to avert the outbreak of COVID 19 in the country.

Government is analyzing the potential impact on our economy to the virus and will trigger the relevant response to minimize it. We have begun to engage the domestic pharmaceutical industry to assist in producing as much of the logistics to prevent and combat the virus as it is possible under the circumstances.

Indeed, we must take advantage of the crisis to strengthen our domestic productive capacity so that we can advance our self-reliance and reduce our dependence on foreign inputs. Necessity they say is the mother of invention. We are grateful to the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, IMF and friends of Ghana for the assistance they have so far provided and for the pledges made in our support of our fight. We shall continue to work with them to defeat the spread of the virus.

Already, all of Ghana's immediate neighbours, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo, have recorded confirmed cases of infections, and countries like Italy, where there is a large population of Ghanaians, have escalated their response to the outbreak.

Some observers have said the coronavirus outbreak in China will adversely affect some sectors of Ghana's economy.

To them, Ghana does not have the capacity to produce some items it imports , the country stands at a high risk of having a negative net effect.

Already, some car spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai in Accra had earlier decried adverse effects the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak in China is having on their businesses. US$ 100 million provided to enhance preparedness

Nana Addo also said he has directed the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to make available the cedi equivalent of $100 million to enhance Ghana's Coronavirus preparedness and response plan.

This amount, according to President Akufo-Addo, is to fund the expansion of infrastructure, purchase of materials and equipment, and public education.

He explained that with the declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of the Coronavirus disease as a pandemic, it is important that Ghana steps up her preparedness to ensure that, beyond the initial measures that have been put in place, a 'whole of Ghana' approach is adopted in preparation for a possible hit within the country's borders.

citinewsroom
ST. LOUIS, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, reported today that the company finished 2019 with its eighth consecutive year of record net sales. The company also achieved record net income for the second consecutive year.

In 2019, net sales totaled $7.5 billion, a 4.5 percent increase compared to the previous year. Net income finished at $144.5 million, a 0.8 percent increase compared to 2018. The company saw positive organic sales growth across all markets in 2019 as it celebrated its 150th anniversary and 90 years of employee ownership.

"Achieving record performance for eight consecutive years is a testament to our employees and their passion for serving customers and transforming the supply chain," said Graybar's Chairman, President and CEO Kathleen M. Mazzarella. "We honored two historic milestones in 2019 by celebrating the values and culture of innovation on which our company was built. As we look forward, we are excited to power the new era by investing in the people, technology and service innovation that will continue to drive our long-term success."

Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 288 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR.

Media Contact:

Tim Sommer

(314) 578-7672

[email protected]

SOURCE Graybar

Related Links

http://www.Graybar.com


Famous Bengali actor Santu Mukherjee died at his south Kolkata residence on Wednesday. He was 69. He is survived by a daughter, popular actor Swastika Mukherjee.

Mukherjee was suffering from multiple ailments. He was admitted in hospital till recently, members of the family told the media.

Mukherjee, who dropped out of college to pursue his dream of being an actor, started his career in 1975 with director Tapan Sinhas Raja. Thereafter he acted in more than 100 Bengali movies. He also acted on the stage and the small screen. Mukherjee was also known for his singing talent.

Mukherjee acted in prominent movies such as Kalbela, Harmonium and Sansar Simante.

His wife Gopa Mukherjee died in 2017.

We acted together in so many movies. I can feel a void. Santus contribution will always be remembered, said Dadasaheb Phalke awardee and veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee.

ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop
My Interview With A Social Media Baron

In this followup interview, Neil Turkewitz continues his interview with an anonymous information technology Titan and silicon valley kingpin, this time with his head of communications, Silky Vandervoss, also participiating.

Guest post by Neil Turkewitz from Medium

Due to popular demand after my initial interview (link here) with SV, I have asked him back to my virtual studio to address some issues that we didnt get to in the first round, and which inquiring minds apparently want to know. He has graciously accepted, but this time he demanded that his head of communications, Ms. Silky Vandervoss, also be allowed to participate, and be permitted to change his answers whenever she felt that they failed to adhere to the script. They also demanded that I not make any distinctions between the two SVs. I have reluctantly agreed to their terms. Below you will find the [redacted and corrected] transcript of our exchange.

Me: First of all, let me express my appreciation for you taking the time to sit down with me again to discuss the inner workings of your magical kingdom in the cloud. And nice to meet you SV (if I am allowed this moment to differentiate between the two of you).

SV: Well allow it. But just this once.

Me: Great. Well last time we talked about how you collected information so that you could make our lives as pleasant and efficient as possible so that we didnt need to bother with thinking for ourselves or deciding what we wanted to do or have. I think you said that you were working for our benefit to ensure that outdated and bourgeois notions of privacy didnt interfere with our own happiness and the cohesion of a singular society. A number of my readers, fascinated by your views on the benefits of living and operating in a totally transparent manner (of course, not on your end  I didnt mean to suggest anything along those lines so please dont get up and leave), had some questions about your relationship with the creative community, and I was hoping to focus on that today. Is that okay?

SV: Of course. We love the creative community, and making the worlds creative output available to all is a major driver of our companys entire philosophy. The very raison detre of our existence. We believe that the worlds culture should be freely shared on a global basis, without any regard to the ability to pay. Our culture is our common heritage, and its distribution should know no artificial bounds or limits.

Me: Fascinating  your answer actually gets directly to the heart of the questions I have been fielding. If I understand your company correctly, you both host content and direct users around the world to the work of creators, yes?

SV: Indeed we do. We are pioneers in releasing the works of creators from the world of artificial scarcity in which they languished for so long  held prisoner by evil for-profit gatekeepers seeking to artificially increase rents from what are inherently non-rivalrous goods. [Editors Note: this was followed by an SV-to-SV high five]

Me: Wow, that sounds amazing and very liberating. The creators you help must be very grateful. But perhaps you can explain how you release these creators from the shackles of their prior existence. Do you provide big advances and offer generous revenue sharing? Do you just sign distribution deals that allow creators to keep ownership of their masters? This sounds revolutionary.

SV: No, youve got this all wrong. We dont actually talk to artists or enter agreements with them. We offer something much more valuable to them  exposure. The greatest tragedy that an artist can face is obscurity. Were like an insurance policy against invisibility. This is the attention economy, not one built on the back of individual transactions. We provide the exposure  its up to artists to then figure out how to monetize that.

Me: Hmmm, so you distribute their core product for free, thereby securing exposure, but without compensating them. It seems like that could be really difficult  particularly for songwriters, or book authors, & others that may have a hard time capitalizing on their exposure.

SV: There are winners and losers in any economy. Those who cant figure out how to monetize non-scarce resources will perish, and a new creative class will be born from their ashes. Our job is not to preserve the cultural trappings of a bygone era. We are the heralds of a new society, built on innovation, freedom and self-reliance.

Me: Okay, lets change gears a little bit. So you do this for free?

SV: In a sense, yes. We dont charge users for access. We are committed to freedom. You assuredly remember that commitment from our last interview. Im pretty sure I mentioned it  its fairly central to our operations.

Me: Yes, I do recall you talking about that. But coming back to your operations, I want to make sure I understand something. You host and direct users to all of these creative materials without any financial incentives? You have somehow managed to convince billionaires to fund a cultural project to make all of these works available without making money?

SV: Now hold on a second there. I didnt say anything about not making money. Our shareholders wouldnt be too pleased if they thought thats where I was going with this company. I said we didnt charge for access. Of course, we are able to generate revenue from advertising from making all of this content available  but remember, from your standpoint, its all free. As much or as little as you feel like consuming. And we dont judge you  I mean, we may track you to make sure youre seeing what you want to seeincluding in many instances when you dont even know yet that you want to see it. But  and lets be super clear about this  we dont construct any artificial constraints on your ability to access and share. Sometimes we have to take action because we get orders from the old guard media that we simply have to obey, but between us, we do make those constraints as irrelevant as possible. I dont want to go into all the ways we manage to do that, but take my word, were pretty good at circumventing these old school attempts to place fences around culture.

Me: Ahh, got it. You monetize the traffic, not the content. You dont care what people are consuming, only that they are in fact consuming. And that they are consuming as much as possible to maximize the amount of advertising space you can sell.

SV: Now youve got it. Sounds like you were formerly in advertising, is that right?

Me: No, its really just common sense, but thanks. But heres my question. If your interest is in driving as much traffic as possible, and you are wholly agnostic about the nature of the content that is being accessed, doesnt your financial interest trump the application of moral judgment? Its almost as if the exercise of judgment which might cause you to not traffic in something would be a violation of your fiduciary relationship to your shareholders.

SV: I see that you appreciate the complexity of our situation. Fortunately for us, our economic interests and business plan are completely in synch. We embrace the development of tools that allow people to engage in conduct with minimal supervision. Who are we to judge? We build a tool. A really awesome tool with incredible power. How that tool is used is not our business. We dont want to insert ourselves in applying our own moral judgments. And moreover, how could sharing be bad?

Me: Well, and sorry to be an irritant here, but it seems to me that sharing might not be appreciated if there was no consent from the person who is either featured or who created the content. I mean, its great and all that you are making the worlds cultural output available through your global platforms, but what if the creators didnt want to share it in that way? Perhaps they had other ideas about how to make their works available. It seems like your respective interests may be at odds.

SV: Sadly, there are indeed some creators wedded to antiquated notions of exclusive ownership under which they would deny access to their works. They will have to evolve to meet the conditions of the new environment which recognizes common threads underlying our creativity. After all, is anything truly original? Doesnt every work build off the works that preceded it? We are living in a time of post-scarcity, and are witnessing the last gasps of the dinosaurs trying desperately to hang onto the scarcity that made them relevant. [Editors Note: This too was followed by a rather triumphant SV-to-SV high five]

Me: Well, okay, but how exactly is the argument about standing on the shoulders of giants relevant to our conversation? Im afraid Im missing something.

SV: Happy to explain. It goes like this  please try to follow along. No creator works in a vacuum. He or she is influenced by everything already created. As such, the notion of originality at the heart of copyright is suspect  there is no such thing as original expression, only the reworking of already expressed cultural artifacts. Understand?

Me: Well yes, but I still dont see the relevance.

SV: One step at a time. If you understand that theres no such thing as original expression, then surely youll understand that copyright itself is a farce  it protects something that doesnt exist. It is nothing more than a remnant of colonial imperialism towards, and exploitation of, authors. A device to remove their control over what they have written or performed. By breaking the bonds of copyright, we free creators and extinguish the shackles of their oppression.

Me: Im afraid I am more confused than ever. By extinguishing copyright, you would effectively remove the foundation for the ability of creators to survive from their craft. Yet you speak of liberation

SV: Not everyone gets this. Dont feel bad about yourself. It is quite theoretical and inaccessible, particularly without an adequate grounding in Foucault and Hegel. May I suggest we move on?

Me: Yes, thank you. You talk about post-scarcity and monetizing experiences without imposing what you call artificial constraints, but what if that doesnt work for everyone? Why, I dont think it even works for you all of the time. Do you share the algorithms that drive your search engine and your online recommendations?

SV: Our algorithms arent public facing, and our approach to them isnt in conflict with our principles about seeking to place arbitrary restraints on the circulation of goods already accessible to the public. [Editors Note: this response was heavily redacted by SVs counsel. It bears no similarity to what was expressed at the timeor to the strained breathing and sub voce swearing]

Me: You talk about not imposing your own moral judgments on others, butand Im just spitballing here, you appear to ignore how decisions you make may undermine the ability of individuals, and individual creators in particular, to decide for themselves how their works will be distributed. Dont you fear that your decisions, including decisions that strike you as reflecting your neutrality, may not have neutral effects? That every decision, including a decision to not intervene, may create a ripple effect in the universe? That there may really be no such thing as neutrality in the social universe?

SV: Whoa, thats a pile of meaningless word salad Professor Heidegger. Cmon SV, lets get out of here. This guy is making no sense. No neutrality? Has he never heard of Switzerland. SV, where did you find this guy? I think youre fired.

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Vietnam is ready to assist Afghanistan in the latters peace building and development process, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said on March 10.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the United Nations

He made the remark while addressing a session during which the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2513 that welcomed the peace agreement signed between the US and the self-proclaimed Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, known as the Taliban, on February 29 and a joint statement inked between the US and Afghanistan on February 28.



The resolution stressed that the peace process must be led and controlled by Afghans. It called on all parties concerned in Afghanistan to promote negotiations towards a ceasefire and political settlement.

In this resolution, the UN Security Council also expressed its readiness to consider the start of the review of the status of designations of individuals and entities on the sanction list against the Taliban.

Members of the UN Security Council voiced their hope that the parties concerned will make use of these outcomes to contribute to the long-term peace in Afghanistan and the region.

Ambassador Quy welcomed the peace deal and joint statement, appreciating efforts by the US, Afghanistan, Qatar and the relevant sides.

Vietnam voted for Resolution 2513 with the hope that the resolution will help promote long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan for the sake of the Afghan people, he noted./. VNA
French English

MONTREAL, March 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) is pleased to announce that the annual meeting of shareholders will be conducted solely via live webcast this year on April 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). We are pleased to embrace the latest technology to provide easy access, improved communication, and cost savings for our shareholders and the Company. Holding an online only shareholder meeting minimizes the health risk that may be associated with large gatherings and is in line with our sustainability vision and belief. This meeting format will provide a consistent experience to all shareholders regardless of their location, as well as the opportunity for global, English and French interactive access to a dialogue with our executives and members of our Board.



The companys Management Information Circular and Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders as well as its 2019 Annual Report will be available to shareholders on or about March 24, 2020 in the Investors section of CNs website. Meeting materials distributed to shareholders shortly thereafter will include their control number and instructions on how to access the webcast the day of the meeting and vote their shares. Such instructions will also be posted on the Investors section of CNs website.

In order to access the webcast meeting platform, participants will need an Internet-connected device, such as laptops, computers, tablets or cellphones. The webcast meeting platform will be fully supported across browsers and devices running the most updated version of applicable software plugins.

CN is a true backbone of the economy transporting more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN  Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries  serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information about CN, visit the Companys website at www.cn.ca .
PARIS  From airports and government offices to company boardrooms and stock exchange floors, turmoil and anger spread across Europe on Thursday after President Trump abruptly blocked most visitors from the Continent to the United States to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Mr. Trumps 30-day travel ban, announced in a prime-time address Wednesday evening while most Europeans were asleep, began causing shock waves even before the sun rose across the Continent. In the hours that followed, the ban sent stocks tanking and tempers rising across European capitals.

In a strongly worded statement, the European Union said it disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation. It said that it was taking strong action to limit the spread of the coronavirus, but that it is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.

In the predawn hours, initial confusion over the details of the restrictions  they take effect late Friday in the United States  sent many travelers scrambling for fear that they would not be allowed into the United States. The rules apply to people who have been in Europes 26-country, passport-free zone over the previous 14 days, though not to Americans or permanent U.S. residents.
Ekiti State Government has issued administrative letters to no fewer than 11 first class traditional rulers over alleged non-cooperation with government and leadership of the state traditional Council.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the memo, entitled: Re-Absence from State Functions and Council of Traditional Rulers Monthly Meetings, was issued to the affected monarchs, late on Wednesday, and given 72 hours, within which to explain themselves.

The letter accused the rulers of refusing to make themselves available at both state functions as well as monthly meetings of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, for about eight months, since August 2019.

The letter was signed on behalf of the government by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, A. O. Adeoye.

The three paragraph letter, addressed separately to the traditional ruler, reads: It has come to the attention of Mr Governor that Your Royal Majesty has not been attending the monthly statutory meetings of the State Council of Traditional Rulers and state official functions since August 2019.

Your conspicuous absence at the council meetings and state official functions, without any excuse or justification is considered inimical to the proper administration of the chieftaincy institution you represent.

Therefore, Mr Governor has directed that Your Royal Majesty should forward your representation for this inaction, through this office within 72 hours on the receipt of this letter.

NAN learnt that the latest government action, sent jitters to some palaces, and traditional institutions, on Thursday, over insinuations that government might be preparing ground for suspension or outright deposition of the traditional rulers.

The letter climaxed an eight-month cold war between the affected traditional rulers and the governor.

It would be recalled that crisis began when last year, the governor appointed the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Ajibade Alabi, as the new Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers.

A development which did not go down well with the affected rulers, who considered the appointee, as junior to them and not deserving the office.

The group of traditional rulers, in showing grievances, had consequently dragged the governor to court to challenge the appointment, and also vowed not to cooperate or attend any meeting or function where the appointee is present or presides.

Meanwhile, Governor Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday, said he had no plans to dethrone any of the traditional rulers, served with administrative letters.

He said it was a mere administrative letter, and not a query, to explain why they had continually absented themselves from state functions and Traditional Rulers Council meetings within 72 hours.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Governors clarification was coming, apparently following palpable tension which the information concerning the letter had generated in some palaces and among their subjects.

Some of them thought the affected monarchs were already on the brink of being relieved of the throne.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, in a statement obtained by NAN, in Ado Ekiti, also said only 11 of the monarchs received the administrative letters.

He said the Ekiti State Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs is responsible for the coordination, management and welfare of the Traditional Council and its affairs.

The Bureau briefed the Governor, on the prolonged absence of some members of the States Traditional Council meetings at states function and traditional council meetings at the local government level.

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Mr Governor directed that the Bureau should write the affected traditional rulers to find out reasons for their absence.

The Attorney General then wrote to the Bureau on Mr Governors directives.

Consequently, the Bureau (through a senior official), wrote to the affected traditional rulers seeking for reasons for their prolonged absence at council meetings.

The formal nature of the letter is what is being misconstrued to be a query.

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Contrary to insinuations, this is merely an administrative matter which is neither contentious nor confrontational. It is definitely not a ploy or plan to remove any Oba (traditional ruler) from office.

As public officers, our traditional rulers act as the direct link between government and their domains; they have expected duties and functions, and as an administrative head, Mr Governor should be aware of the reasons why such duties are not being carried out.

It is on record that some of the Obas had earlier written Mr Governor to give legitimate reasons for their absence which have been accepted.

In Ekiti State, our traditional rulers are well respected and revered as custodians of our culture and traditions.

The Fayemi Administration is committed to the welfare and protection of the cultural heritage of our people which the Kabiyesis hold in trust.

Any rumour claiming that Governor Fayemi is planning to dethrone any Oba in Ekiti State is a deliberate and malicious misrepresentation of the true situation.

It is obviously an attempt from opposition to create chaos and confusion between the Ekiti State Government and the good and law abiding people of Ekiti State.

The Governor holds all our traditional rulers in high esteem and reverence as expected of a well cultured person.

No arm of government discussed nor considered dethroning any Kabiyesi at any time because there is no basis for such, the governors statement reads.

(NAN)
By Jennifer Hiller

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Across the Permian Basin's high desert landscape, natural gas is going up in smoke even as oil majors including Exxon Mobil and BP pledge cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Flaring, the deliberate burning of unwanted polluting gas, is rife during oil production in the biggest U.S. shale field, and an acute problem in Texas, home to most of the Permian reservoir, which sprawls 86,000 square miles (220,000 km2) across two states.

Loose regulation in Texas means that companies including Exxon, Matador Resources and privately-held BTA Oil Producers last year burned off gas at more than twice the rate as in neighboring New Mexico, a Reuters analysis of data compiled by Rystad Energy from more than 50 of the largest producers shows. Some drillers burned natural gas at up to six times the rate in Texas as they did over the state line, the data shows.

Exxon flared more gas in Texas last year than any other producer, data released in February by a state regulator shows.

This is despite Exxon and other large oil producers, which have spent billions drilling and building pipelines in the region, promising emissions cuts to curb global warming.

Although companies have to apply for permits to burn unwanted gas, Texas allows producers to burn unwanted gas for six months and routinely issues waivers after the six months expires. New Mexico allows new wells to flare for 60 days and is moving toward 30-day extensions thereafter. Producers must present a plan to pipe or store gas with their permit request.

Even though flaring is legal, it is a growing problem for companies. While it is cheaper for them to burn gas, investors are badgering them to improve their green credentials.

Exxon is "making significant investments in gathering, processing and natural gas pipelines" and was able to lower its Permian flaring rate to just above 2% by the end of the year, spokeswoman Julie King said. The Rystad data shows it averaged 6.6% across the Permian during the first 11 months of last year.

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Some companies are going beyond what regulations require. EOG Resources, ConocoPhillips, Chevron Corp and Occidental Petroleum have low flaring rates in both states. And Shell, which only works in the Texas Permian, burned off just 1.5% of its gas.

Gas flaring has been on the rise since 2011 and so much has been produced alongside oil that it become worthless for much of February in West Texas, with producers having to pay a buyer to take it. Gas price turned positive this month as oil companies cut drilling, a move expected to reduce unwanted gas later this year.

FLARING RULES

Some investors have seized upon flaring, which generates greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, as a measure of environmental performance.

"It is the number one ESG (environmental, social and governance) thing they need to be focused on," said Rob Thummel, portfolio manager at energy investors Tortoise Capital. "They can choose or not to flare ultimately." Exxon, along with BP, Shell and Chevron, said in September it would minimize flaring, which exacerbates climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. BP, which bought BHP Billiton's assets in 2018 and said it has been trying to reduce flaring, burned 13.5% of its natural gas in the Permian last year.

The alternative, known as "venting", is even more damaging as it releases unburned, odorless methane, which is the main component of natural gas and many times more potent as a greenhouse gas.

Flaring is more common than venting - New Mexico producers report burning 2.6 times as much gas as they vent, according to state data - but producers in Texas do not have to specify how they dispose of gas. Regulation is the big difference between New Mexico and Texas, which has approved every permit for flaring or venting since 2013, sometimes even when pipelines were available. In New Mexico, applications require a plan to capture gas and must be refiled as often as every 30 days, the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association says, whereas in Texas, renewals are good for six months. That has led to wildly different rates of flaring by the same companies. BTA Oil Producers burns 12% of its gas output in Texas, but only 1.8% in New Mexico.

BTA and Matador Resources did not reply to requests for comment.

"The regulatory regime in a lot of ways drives the infrastructure," said Colin Leyden, a policy advocate for the Environmental Defense Fund, which tracks and monitors flaring. "In Texas you essentially have a blank check right now."

Investors are so focused on this that they spend as much as 15 minutes of an hour-long one-on-one meeting on "in the weeds" questions about flaring, venting and other environmental issues, said Matt Gallagher, chief executive of Parsley Energy, which does not bring wells online until pipeline connections are available.

"There's too much product in the air," Gallagher said.

MORE GAS The split in the Permian could worsen over time. Texas wells are making more gas, with the oil-to-gas ratio per well falling about 10% in the last five years. Texas could double its flaring rate by the end of this year due to the "gassier nature of the new acreage being drilled," said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspects. The prospect is even concerning the shale industry's top financiers. "It just feels like it's been too easy," said energy banker Bobby Tudor, chairman of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. And the two states are moving at different speeds. While a Texas energy regulator has promised meetings on the issue, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham last year signed an order directing state offices to develop regulations that would lower methane emissions in the industry.

New Mexico's oil and gas regulator told Reuters it expects to have new flaring rules in place by the end of the year. A Texas regulator recently said he plans to seek public recommendations on how to reduce wasted gas in the state.

(Reporting by Jennifer Hiller; editing by Gary McWilliams and Alexander Smith)
Rocking Star Yash was recently spotted at the Mumbai airport. The actor is in town for a brand shoot and witnessed immense fan frenzy at the airport.

The actor landed in Mumbai early in the morning and was dressed in a black and white tracksuit paired with dapper wayfarers.

Yash has been prepping himself very rigorously for the upcoming movie KGF: Chapter 2 and always gives a memorable performance with his projects. The actor has been so serious about his shoots that he trained at a stretch for six months, even for a ten minutes scene.

KGF: Chapter 2 is all set to hit the screens in 2020 and well, keep your eye on the dates coming soon!

ALSO READ: Yash Refutes Rumours Of KGF: Chapter 2 Clashing With SS Rajamouli's RRR At The Box Office

ALSO READ: KGF Star Yash Shares An Adorable Picture Of Daughter Ayra Disapproving Her 'New Haircut
By PTI

MUMBAI: Over 16,500 cases of cybercrime were registered in Maharashtra in the last five years, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told the Legislative Council on Thursday.

He was responding to a query asked by some opposition members.

"In the last five years, 16,512 cybercrime cases were recorded in the state, of which 4,530 cases have been cracked so far," Deshmukh said.

As many as 3,511 and 4,822 cybercrime cases were registered in 2018 and 2019 respectively, he added.

"In 2019, a total of 7,500 criminal cases were registered in Pune and as many cases related to cybercrime were recorded in that city. This underscores the gravity of the situation," he said.

Police have registered 799 and 867 cases in 2019 and 2018 respectively, including those related to obscene and derogatory messages sent to women and girls through social media and e-mails, Deshmukh said.

The state cyber cell is the "most modern one" in the country, he said, adding that around 1,000 staffers have been trained to probe the cybercrime-related cases.
The French judge 'recruited a stand-in lookalike and married him on Reunion'

A 'vengeful' French judge has been accused of staging a fake wedding between her and a man impersonating her former partner to stop him marrying a new love interest.

Souad Meslem, 58, a chief judge in Colombes, a suburb of West Paris, has been charged with fraud for using official documents to arrange a sham marriage on the island of Reunion, a French department in the Indian Ocean.

The 'vengeful' judge was suspended from her post, which involved passing judgement on criminal proceedings, in the wake of the allegations.

Meslem discovered in 2017 that her long-term partner, who is a lawyer and father of their son, had been having an affair with another lawyer, the sister of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the former French Education Minister.

Souad Meslem (pictured in an undated photograph), 58, a chief judge in Colombes, a suburb of West Paris, has been charged with fraud for using official documents to arrange a sham marriage on the island of Reunion, a French department in the Indian Ocean

In another twist in the love triangle, Meslem had been providing legal advice to Vallaud-Belkacem at the time.

Three years ago, Meslem relocated to the island of Reunion for a new role as a senior prosecutor, but her former partner, who has not been named, did not follow.

Instead, he stayed behind with his new girlfriend, leaving Meslem feeling hurt and betrayed, Le Parisien reported.

In the months following her relocation, she built up a reputation as an aggressive prosecutor, and recruited a friend to impersonate her ex.

The phony ceremony was intended to nullify any future attempts for him to marry his new partner.

The marriage was officiated in March 2019 in front of Gilbert Annette, mayor of St Denis, who was unaware of Meslem's ploy.

During the ceremony, Meslem handed over her former partner's ID and birth certificate to Annette.

Locator map of Reunion island where the sham marriage took place

Meslem discovered in 2017 that her long-term partner, who is a lawyer and father of their son, had been having an affair with another lawyer, the sister of Najat Vallaud-Belkacem (pictured in 2017), a cabinet minister

According to Le Journal de L'Ile de la Reunion: 'No one noticed either that the groom did not look exactly like the photo on his identity papers.'

Meslem returned to Naterre in Paris in September last year and began to demand she be known by her new married name.

Local media reported that the lawyer 'was stunned' when he found out he was a husband but hadn't agreed to be one.

Meslem was arrested in December with her daughter from a previous marriage, who was a witness to the illegal marriage.

A n undated file photo shows the Mayor of Saint-Denis de la Reunion Gilbert Annette on the French Reunion island, Indian Ocean. The marriage was officiated in March 2019 in front of Gilbert Annette, mayor of St Denis, who was unaware of Meslem's ploy

The judge was charged with the fraudulent use of official papers by someone in public office, which can carry a sentence of 15 years.

The 'groom' from the sham ceremony was also seized.

Local media reported that the case has stunned the legal profession. People who knew Meslem claim she was heartbroken after being shunned by her former partner.

'What's crazy is that this scheme was bound to fail. It was obvious that she was going to get caught,' The Times reported one of Meslem's colleagues saying. 'This looks like social suicide.'

The judge was bailed pending a trial date.
A quarter of Australians will be given $750 as part of Scott Morrison's $17billion bid to prevent a recession as coronavirus rocks the economy.

The cash will be handed out to 6.5million people including 3.6million pensioners, 1.1million students and working-age welfare recipients and 1.5million others including veterans and parents who receive family tax breaks.

The payments totalling $4.8billion will be begin on 31 March and will be transferred automatically through the tax system.

Scott Morrison (pictured today) has unveiled his $17billion stimulus package to prevent a recession as coronavirus rocks the economy

'Australians will spend that money and that money will encourage economic activity,' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

The measure is part of a huge stimulus plan - the first of its kind since the 2008 financial crash - to save thousands of jobs and companies as coronavirus pushes Australia towards recession.

Despite the announcement this morning, the Australian stock market continued to plunge as the World Health Organisation said the outbreak was a global pandemic and the US banned flights from Europe, excluding the UK.

Who gets $750? Recipients on Newstart, the disability support pension, carers' allowance, youth allowance, veterans support payments, family tax benefits and Commonwealth senior health card-holders. Australia's 2.4million aged pensioners are also getting the payment. The payments will be begin on 31 March and will be automatically deposited into bank accounts. The government has promised 90 per cent of the funds would be delivered by mid-April. Advertisement

Other measures in the package focus on helping small businesses and companies in the tourism industry that has been pushed to the brink by the virus.

The government will hand out tax-free cash grants of up to $25,000 to 7,000 small businesses who turn over less than $50million and employ people.

There will also be a 50 per cent wage subsidy for 117,000 apprentices worth $21,000 per apprentice. The cash will be paid to companies so they can afford to keep their young employees in work.

Instant asset write offs will be expanded so tradies can buy trucks and other equipment worth $150,000 on the taxman until 30 June. The previous limit was $30,000.

Mr Morrison also vowed to make sure casual workers who can't find work due to the virus will not have to wait to access Newstart's sickness payment.

There is also a $1billion fund to help tourism businesses affected by the downturn, similar to a disaster recovery fund. The ATO is also allowing affected businesses to delay their tax obligations for four months.

The Prime Minister said the package is worth $17.629 billion over the next four to six months, giving the economy a boost worth $22.9 billion or 1.2 per cent of GDP.

'This plan is about keeping Australians in jobs. This plan is about keeping a business in business, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, and this plan is about ensuring the Australian economy bounces back stronger on the other side of this and, with that, the Budget bounces back with it,' Mr Morrison said.

Travellers at Sydney Airport wear masks and gloves in a bid to avoid getting coronavirus

The first stimulus package Stimulus payments to households to support growth  $4.8 billion to provide a one-off $750 stimulus payment to pensioners, social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. Around half of those that will benefit are pensioners. The payment will be tax free and will not count as income for Social Security, Farm Household Allowance and Veteran payments. There will be one payment per eligible recipient. If a person qualifies for the one off payment in multiple ways, they will only receive one payment. Payments will be from 31 March 2020 on a progressive basis, with over 90 per cent of payments expected to be made by mid-April. Delivering support for business investment  $700 million to increase the instant asset write off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expand access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020. For example, assets that may be able to be immediately written off are a concrete tank for a builder, a tractor for a farming business, and a truck for a delivery business.  $3.2 billion to back business investment by providing a time limited 15 month investment incentive (through to 30 June 2021) to support business investment and economic growth over the short term, by accelerating depreciation deductions. Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million will be able to deduct an additional 50 per cent of the asset cost in the year of purchase. These measures start today and will support over 3.5 million businesses (over 99 per cent of businesses) employing more than 9.7 million employees or 3 in every 4 workers. The measures are designed to support business sticking with investment they had planned, and encouraging them to bring investment forward to support economic growth over the short term. Cash flow assistance for businesses  $6.7 billion to boost cash flow for employers by up to $25,000 with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible small and medium-sized businesses. The payment will provide cash flow support to businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million that employ staff, between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. The payment will be tax free. This measure will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people. Businesses will receive payments of 50 per cent of their Business Activity Statements or Installment Activity Statement from 28 April with refunds to then be paid within 14 days.  $1.3 billion to support small businesses to support the jobs of around 120,000 apprentices and trainees. Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice's or trainee's wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer that employs that apprentice. Assistance for severely-affected regions  $1 billion to support those sectors, regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the Coronavirus, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education. This will include the waiver of fees and charges for tourism businesses that operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Commonwealth National Parks. It will also include additional assistance to help businesses identify alternative export markets or supply chains. Targeted measures will also be developed to further promote domestic tourism. Further plans and measures to support recovery will be designed and delivered in partnership with the affected industries and communities. Advertisement

In addition to the stimulus package, the government is reducing the deeming rate - which is used to assess pensioners' and veterans' assets - by 0.5 per cent so they can receive more money.

This measure will cost $600million and benefit 900,000 Australians, including 560,000 aged pensioners.

Help for casuals Casual workers will no longer have to wait to receive sickness payment under Newstart. 'People who are casual employees that wouldn't be able to go to work or because they have to self-isolate or, indeed, have the virus, they would be able to access that payment,' Mr Morrison said. 'The normal assets test rules apply to those as they do to all these payments, but the waiting period will be waived to enable them to access that payment and that will provide that support. Many other countries don't have that in the system.' Advertisement

'Each measure is temporary. Each measure is targeted, and each measure is proportionate to the challenge that we face,' Mr Frydenberg said.

The Treasury expects the coronavirus, which has now infected 128 people in Australia, will see growth drop by at least 0.5 per cent the March quarter.

The aim of the stimulus package is to make sure growth in the June quarter is positive to prevent a recession.

'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 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.

They will also be able to re-employ apprentices and trainees who lose positions because of any coronavirus downturn.

A worker conducts health checks at Sydney International Airport on Thursday

A traveller wears a mask at Sydney International Airport on Thursday

The wage subsidy is worth about $1.3 billion.

Businesses with turnover under $50million 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 $700million 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.'

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.

Hospital staff are seen helping patients outside the Royal Melbourne Hospital on Wednesday (pictured) as they screen hundreds of people for the coronavirus

A passenger wearing a mask and gloves arrives at Sydney Airport on Wednesday morning (pictured) as multiple flights were cancelled

'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.

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.

Mr Morrison previously 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.

A passenger in a facemask is pictured talking to a policeman on Wednesday at Sydney Airport (pictured)

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.

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.
Lawmakers in Washington have proposed a ban on most imports from China's Xinjiang region, charging that goods produced by Uighur forced labourers were easily making their way into the United States.

The US already bans products made through slavery, but with rights groups saying as many as one million Uighurs and other minorities are held in camps in Xinjiang, lawmakers said forced labor was interwoven into the region's economy.

"These practices in Xinjiang are one of the world's largest human tragedies. It remains unimaginable, frankly, that this is happening in 2020," Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican sponsor of the bipartisan measure, told reporters on Wednesday.

Representative Jim McGovern, a Democrat who leads the Congressional-Executive Commission on China -- which looks at human rights -- said that witnesses, surveillance photos and leaked documents all showed the existence of forced labor.

"We know that many US, international and Chinese companies are complicit in the exploitation of forced labor involving Uighurs and other Muslim minorities," McGovern said.

"Audits of supply chains are simply not possible because forced labor is so pervasive within the regional economy," he said. The act would ban the import of any goods from Xinjiang unless US Customs and Border Protection has "clear and convincing evidence" that no forced labor was involved.

Uighur activists say that China is conducting a massive brainwashing campaign in internment camps aimed at eradicating their culture.

Beijing says the camps are "vocational education centers" teaching Mandarin and job skills to steer "students" away from religious extremism.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said at a regular press briefing Thursday that the US should "stop using the human rights issue to interfere in China's internal affairs."



The commission also released an accompanying report Wednesday said it had seen "credible reports" that goods involving forced labor have come into the United States, including textiles, cell phones, computer hardware, shoes and tea.

It listed a number of companies that allegedly benefited from forced labor, including fashion brands Calvin Klein and H&M, beverage giant Coca-Cola and Campbell Soup.

The Fair Labor Association, a collaborative that aims at protecting workers' rights, said this week it was "deeply troubled" by reports of forced labor in Xinjiang and asked its affiliates to look at alternative sourcing options.

The association covers companies that were also listed as touched by forced labor from Xinjiang, including shoemakers Adidas and Nike.

One major source of concern has been cotton, as Xinjiang -- like the American South two centuries ago -- supplies the world. Scott Nova, the executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium, which monitors factories, said that China had made a concerted effort to turn the region into a global hub for cotton and yarn.

Of the 10 billion garments imported each year into the United States, around 20 percent are believed to contain at least some material from Xinjiang, Nova said at a panel of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Xinjiang cotton "feeds not just garment factories in China but factories around the world," Nova said.

"For apparel brands and retailers, the risk of complicity in forced labor is enormous," he said.

The Uighur Forced Labor Prevention Act, if approved by Congress, would also require the secretary of state to produce a report on whether coerced labor is taking place and outline steps to combat it.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized China's treatment of minorities Wednesday as he released the State Department's annual report on human rights.

"The CCP's record in Xinjiang is the stain of the century," Pompeo said, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Infectious disease experts are urging the Australian government to close its borders ahead of this weekend's grand prix as doctors push for Victorians to boycott the race they say is a public health disaster waiting to happen.

The global coronavirus outbreak was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on Thursday, hours after three Formula 1 team members were placed into isolation amid concerns they may have contracted coronavirus.

A Formula 1 fan at Albert Park on Thursday. Credit:Getty

One member of the McLaren team and two from Haas were evaluated at the Albert Park circuits isolation unit after showing fever symptoms on Wednesday.

The three team members have all been tested for the virus and placed under self-isolation at their hotels in Melbourne.
Are Black People Immune To Coronavirus: How A Joke Turned Into A Believable Myth Elijah C. Watson Elijah Watson serves as Okayplayer's News & Culture Editor. When

Separating what is true and false in regards to Black people and the Coronavirus.

COVID-19, better known as the Coronavirus, has become a crisis in the United States since initial reporting on the respiratory virus started in January 2020. First discovered in China in December last year, the Coronavirus has since made its way throughout the world, with cases popping up in Italy (10,149 cases and 631 deaths), Iran (9,000 cases and 354 deaths), France (1,606 cases and 16 deaths), Spain (2,020 cases and 10 deaths), the United States (1,232 cases and 37 deaths) and others at time of press.

A lot is already known about the virus courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): what it is, how it spreads, its symptoms, and ways to prevent it. Although there is valid information being shared about the virus through the media, there are also rumors surrounding it too, specifically the idea that Black people are immune to it.

Heres what to know about the Coronavirus via the CDC, as well as break down how the notion of Black people being immune to the virus transformed from a joke to a believable myth.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronavirus is a respiratory illness, also known as COVID-19, that can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. This strain is believed to have emerged from an animal source and was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) are also types of Coronaviruses, but this current version of the virus is a different strain. Its unknown at this point if the new virus is as severe or as contagious as SARS.

Coronaviruses are named for the crown-like spikes on the surface of the viruses. Human coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s. The 2019 novel coronavirus (#2019nCoV) is a new virus never before seen in people. To learn about 2019-nCoV, visit https://t.co/TqiKAW9nRW pic.twitter.com/hf4pUvjuyH  CDC (@CDCgov) February 5, 2020

How does the Coronavirus spread?

The virus spreads from person to person; the main way it is thought to spread is between people who are in close contact with one another (within about six feet) through respiratory droplets produced when a sick person coughs or sneezes. It also may be possible that someone can get Coronavirus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. (Its unknown how long the virus can survive on surfaces outside of the body.)

How long does it take for someone to get sick?

The period of time in which it takes a person being infected with the virus to when they start showing symptoms is estimated to be from 1-14 days, and most commonly around five days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

What are the symptoms of the Coronavirus?

Those infected have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. The illness can also cause body aches, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea. Patients with severe complications from the virus have had pneumonia in both lungs, multi-organ failure, and death. However, it is important to note that there have been some people whove tested positive for the virus but havent experienced any symptoms or signs of illness, a condition which is defined as being asymptomatic.

How do you prevent getting Coronavirus?

The simplest way to protect yourself from getting the virus is to wash your hands  effectively and properly. Wet them with clean water, then apply soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds, before rinsing and drying with a clean towel. Its also recommended that you wash hands with soap and water before eating, after using the bathroom, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, and before and after caring for a sick friend or a family member. Lastly, if youre somewhere where soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. A hand sanitizer shortage has occurred as a result of the virus, leading some to sell it for exorbitant amounts on eBay (the website has since banned the sale of face masks and hand sanitizer) or make their own with vodka (this may not be effective considering most liquor is usually 40% alcohol).

To protect yourself from #COVID19, avoid being exposed to the virus and use everyday prevention action to prevent the spread of respiratory virus:

1) cover your cough

2) wash your hands

3) stay home when sickhttps://t.co/uArGZTJhXj pic.twitter.com/n6P6HDuQMQ  CDC (@CDCgov) February 28, 2020

The Wu-Tang Clan has also released its own list of tips to Protect Ya Neck against the Coronavirus.

Can a face mask protect you from Coronavirus?

Although WHO initially recommended that only people who are infected with the virus or people that are looking after those infected should wear a mask, the CDC is now recommending that everyone wear homemade face coverings in public to help curtail the spread of the virus.

Is there a vaccine for the Coronavirus?

No, but the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases may begin clinical trials on a vaccine within weeks. However, the vaccine would not be available for at least another year.

https://twitter.com/owillis/status/1237739207419998213

Is there a treatment for the Coronavirus?

No, but there are clinical trials happening with an antiviral drug called remdesivir, which was originally developed for possible treatment of Ebola. The drug has previously shown promise in treating other coronaviruses such as SARS, so the hope is that itll be a possible treatment for this current Coronavirus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says scientists should know "within a period of a few months" whether one particular drug, remdesivir, could be used for coronavirus treatment. https://t.co/SBoCobNMXe  NBC News (@NBCNews) March 3, 2020

Do disinfectants kill the Coronavirus?

Yes. Anyone exposed to a person with the virus should clean all high-touch surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. According to the CDC, cleaning agents can include a household disinfectant with a label that says EPA-approved.

Who is getting sick from the Coronavirus?

According to WHO, people who are over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of developing a severe case of the virus. The highest death rate is in people above the age of 80. People who also have chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, or diabetes are also more likely to get very sick or die from the virus. Both older people and/or immunocompromised people are most vulnerable when it comes to the virus. According to Mollette, immunocompromised means that basically your immune system is not able to fight off infections.

those who are immunocompromised, they may not have the ability to fight off or ward off a number of infections, and therefore, that makes them be at more risk for other types of infections, Mollette explained.

However, children dont appear to get sick, with STAT News noting that zero children in Wuhan (where the virus first appeared) had contracted the virus through mid-January. As for those in between who are young and healthy, its unlikely that theyll get severely ill from the virus. China CDC reported that the fatality rate was 1.3% in 50-somethings, 0.4% in 40-somethings, and 0.2% in people 10 to 39, while the fatality rate was 14.8% in people 80 or older.

This question now brings us to

Is it true that Black people cant get Conronavirus?

No, absolutely not. I wish it were the case but, unfortunately, its not. Initially, this idea started off as a joke, likely through a report that came on March 1 about the low Coronavirus rate in Africa. Although cases have been reported in 11 countries since that initial report  it appears Egypt has been hit the worst by the virus with 59 cases  Africas rate still remains low. Searching Coronavirus Black People on Twitter will show how the jokes have persisted throughout the month, with the tweets mocking our over-reliance on ginger ale to combat illness, highlighting how Black people have given the virus more cool and less abrasive-sounding nicknames (The Rona, The Roni), and acknowledging that no one Black had tested positive for the virus yet.

You took a cheap flight to California ha? Cause of that Rona ha? Now you feel like you got pneumonia ha? pic.twitter.com/ClRfhd88A6  Jimmy Kudo (@JumpShiveSlim13) March 12, 2020

https://twitter.com/keywilliamss/status/1237068388905730048

Well, turns out that last month a Black man from Cameroon named Kem Senou Pavel Daryl had contracted the virus while living in the Chinese city of Jingzhou. The 21-year-old student became the first African person known to be infected with the deadly coronavirus, and the first to recover from it. He was treated with antibiotics and drugs normally used to treat HIV patients and was put in isolation for 13 days in a local Chinese hospital.

A story that shouldve ended there ultimately became the source for fake news, as two websites, in particular, changed Daryls story and spread harmful misinformation in the process. First, there was the African Daily Mail, who published the story The black African student escaped coronavirus on February 13. (It has since been deleted.) The report included the claim that Chinese doctors have confirmed that he remained alive because he has black skin, the antibodies of a black are 3 times strong, powerful, and resistant as that of a white. After that, came a report from CityScrollz, who published the story Chinese Doctors Confirmed African Blood Genetic Composition Resist Coronavirus After Student Cured on February 14. (It has since been deleted.) The story includes false reporting throughout, including the notion that Chinese doctors said Daryl stayed alive because of his blood genetic composition which is mainly found in the genetic composition of sub-Saharan Africans. The report also includes the same claim of Black skin having stronger antibodies than white skin that appeared in the Daily Mails report.

Then came another misleading report from The Zambian Observer, who published the story Chinese Doctor Says African Skin Resists Coronavirus on February 16. The Observer report copies CityScrollzs report word for word, with the only change being its headline. The report is still available to read on the website.

Both stories have since been proven to be false. On February 15, the global news agency AFP spoke with Professor Amadou Alpha Sall  director of the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal, a biomedical research center that is currently overseeing suspected cases of the coronavirus in Africa  to fact check if Black people are more resistant to the coronavirus.

Sall said that the claim is false information, and that Theres no scientific evidence to support this rumor.

Alongside the AFP, Snopes has also confirmed that the claims are false.

Still, the idea that Black people are resistant to the virus managed to circulate throughout social media, appearing on personal Facebook profile pages (one post, which has since been deleted, had been shared over 2,000 times since first being published on February 11) and Facebook groups, as well as Twitter and Instagram.

Chinese Doctors Say That African Blood Genes Are Resistant To Corona Virus-https://t.co/ksWChyUtFm pic.twitter.com/rix6KOSoSn  Abubakar Hidima Ph.D. (@Realoilsheikh) February 16, 2020

Initially, athletes like Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell had tested positive for the coronavirus. Since then, other Black public figures  Idris Elba, Kevin Durant, Slim Thug, Scarface and others (a more comprehensive list of other who have tested positive for the coronavirus can be viewed below)  as well as Black people throughout the United States have not only contracted the virus, but have died from it. Last month, a public health expert stated that Black people are at greater risk of death from coronavirus, and it feels as if that warning has become a reality in April. Countless reports revealing the statistics of Black people who have died from the virus have popped up in Chicago and Milwaukee, as well as states like Louisiana and Michigan.

In Chicago, 70% of COVID-19 Deaths Are Black https://t.co/ZAJ6yOvwRt  Brandon Wall (@Walldo) April 5, 2020

The news from Milwaukee is deeply troubling. The county is 26% black pic.twitter.com/z1sDuhtHT5  Dr. Trevon D Logan (@TrevonDLogan) April 4, 2020

https://twitter.com/urdoingreat/status/1247539972233515014

Michigan has just started reporting on coronavirus cases by race. African Americans are 14% of that state's population but 40% of deaths. This pandemic is reflectingand exacerbatinginequality. NYC should publish this data as well, so we get the picture here. pic.twitter.com/u0UeWZfJvA  Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) April 3, 2020

Chicago Population: 23% Black#COVID19 Deaths: 70% Black Milwaukee: 26% Black

COVID-19 Deaths: 81% Black Michigan: 14% Black

COVID-19 Deaths: 40% Blackhttps://t.co/RQcc9gstJk  Tarik Endale (@the_etheropian) April 5, 2020

As the above tweet points out, Black people make up either less than, or a little over, a fourth of the populations of some of these places. And yet, they make up a majority of the deaths that are happening. The statistics are indicative of the inequalities Black people are enduring during this pandemic. How theyre likely uninsured; likely to have existing health conditions; likely to be denied testing and treatment; and likely to be holding jobs that dont allow them to work from home. Even something as minute as grocery shopping while wearing a surgical mask has presented problems for some Black people. If theres anything to take from this early data, its that Black people are going to be hit hardest by the coronavirus, and its unfortunately going to get worse before it gets better.

So, with that said  please try and take care of yourself, and wash your damn hands.

Notable Black public figures whove tested positive for the coronavirus

Rudy Gobert

Donovan Mitchell

Idris Elba

Christian Wood

Kevin Durant

Slim Thug

Scarface

Fred The Godson

Lil Rodney C
San Antonio companies are sending employees home, conducting virtual meetings, restricting travel, deep-cleaning offices and, in some cases, temporarily closing their doors.

As coronavirus ricochets around the globe, employers are quickly embracing measures to keep the virus out of the workplace  and to reassure their workers and customers.

Its a moment of inflection, said Kai Andrews, principal consultant at Point B, a Seattle management consulting and real estate development firm with an office in San Antonio.

Companies have talked for years about having employees work from home to cut costs and increase productivity. Many firms have resisted telecommuting, but the virus is forcing more of them to offer the option.

That means providing workers with the training and hardware to work remotely, Andrews said, and getting people mentally prepared.

Work will have to shift very quickly, but at the same time, (it has) to continue, Andrews said.

USAA, which employs about 19,000 people in San Antonio, directed some of its staff to work from home Monday  to gauge the effect telecommuting would have on its operations. Several days later, the company announced at least 25 percent of its employees, the ones who arent in contact with customers, must work from home beginning next week.

Employee health and safety, and our ability to continue serving members remain top priorities, said spokesman Matt Hartwig.

On ExpressNews.com: At some San Antonio companies, threat of coronavirus means no hugging or handshakes

USAA is taking additional steps, including banning international business travel, asking employees returning from international trips or cruises to work from home for 14 days and limiting participation in most outside conferences and training events.

Another local employer, technology company Rackspace, is also experimenting with work-from-home days, spokeswoman Michelle Doss said.

This strategy will allow us to test and validate our tools to their full capacity, she said.

Small retailers generally dont have that luxury. Theyre also worried about customers staying away as the virus spreads. Thats whats happening at La Villita Historic Arts Village downtown, said Deborah Sibley, who owns Capistrano Soap Co., which has a shop there.

Most of the villages visitors are in town for conventions and events, some of which have been canceled because of the coronavirus. More than 90 percent of customers at Sibleys shop are from another city, state or country.

Theres already an impact to traffic and revenue, she said.

Employees exposure to the virus is another worry. Signs asking customers not to open bottles for sniffing or to use pumps and applicator sticks for sampling have been posted around the shop, and workers are wiping down surfaces.

But that does not socially distance us, Sibley said. Starting Monday, she is temporarily closing the shop.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio loses conventions to coronavirus worries

H-E-B is suspending all in-store sampling and putting hand sanitizer at checkout stations for cashiers and customers, said spokeswoman Dya Campos.

Customers picking up orders or having items delivered wont be asked to sign a device to acknowledge the orders, unless theyre buying alcohol, and can select a leave at the door option for delivery. About 204 of the companys pharmacies deliver, and the service is being offered for free under normal drop-off terms, Campos said.

As for non-store workers  such as headquarters employees  Campos said, We are always prepared for remote working.

Employees at Valero Energy Corp. arent being sent home, but the company has remote work systems in place that can be scaled up if necessary, said spokeswoman Lillian Riojas. Also, Valeros on-site health clinic is providing services for workers and their families.

We are reviewing available information and facts with our medical director and evaluating precautionary actions, including potential work contingency plans similar to what we might implement during hurricanes, she said.

Limiting interactions by canceling events or putting more space between workers is another tack employers are taking.

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Independent Rough Terrain Center, a Cibolo business that produces industrial vehicles, hosted a barbecue lunch for employees Thursday. Managers provided hand sanitizer, and asked those waiting in line to keep their distance from each other and eat at their workplace instead of in a hall together.

That disperses them across our campus, president and CEO Stephen Speakes said. IRTC is also banning travel and encouraging employees who feel theyre at risk to work from home.

Our first priority is to take care of our employees and their families, he said. We want to ensure that we are mitigating risk wherever possible.

Having employees work remotely poses few challenges for Jungle Disk, a local cybersecurity business with a staff of about 25.

The company ran tests to make sure everyone can work from home, and its video conferencing and phone systems enable handling calls and meetings virtually, said CEO Bret Piatt. Some employees have elderly parents with health conditions, and Jungle Disk is giving them the option to work from home.

This is one of the benefits we have in the tech industry, Piatt said. As the situation continues to evolve, I suspect well see more than half of our employees work from home.

Its too early to tell what the long-term effects will be, but its inevitable that some companies are going to have to change business models, consultant Kai Andrews said.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
With the bourgeoning urban and young population, demand for processed food items in India is set to increase in the coming years. The food processing industry in India needs to gear up to meet the demand by investing in necessary infrastructure, noted a research paper from the Reserve Bank Of India. In the paper titled Food Processing Industry in India: Challenges and Potential, the RBI researchers noted that domestic food processing industry requires a steady flow of raw materials from the producers/farmers meeting specific quality standards and at stable prices.

Farmer producer organisations, by bringing together small farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs, can enhance the opportunity to build more stable supply chain. Besides ensuring steady flow of income to the farmers, greater linkages with industry could also reduce wastages, particularly in perishables. Though India is a major producer and exporter of agricultural produce at raw material stage, only less than 10% of them are processed and traded.

One major reason for this is the large consumer base domestically and having preference for fresh produce over processed food. Slow pace of urbanisation and low labour force participation of women have resulted in the preference for fresh foods at the All-India level. An analysis of corporate data showed that profitability of food processing firms has been either higher or comparable with the levels of other firms. However, the value-added component in food processing firms was found to be lower than other firms operating in the industrial sector. The sectoral credit data suggest adequate availability of credit for the sector.

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Press Release

12 March 2020

Following the news that the US has suspended arrivals from 26 European countries in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak;

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Ralph Hollister, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

"With over 1,200 cases in the US, it is unlikely that the virus will be contained. The US Government is advising against all non-essential travel, however, some citizens will still be willing to run the risk. Questions may arise as to why US citizens are still able to travel as they now pose a similar threat to other nations as Europe does to the US."

"To add further confusion, Trump stated the suspension of travel to the US would not apply to the UK, without stating the reasons why. Countries such as Belgium and Austria have fewer cases and deaths than the UK. A lack of reason for this allowance could point to sheer pragmatism. The UK was the top inbound source market from Europe for the US in 2019, with 3.5 million arrivals. GlobalData's pre-coronavirus projections show that visitation was set to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.5% between 2019 and 2023. This may explain why the UK is exempt."

"A travel ban may be too little too late now that the virus is spreading throughout the global population. Additionally, the disruption from this ban will cause a significant impact on the US travel sector. US travel intermediaries, hotels and airports are examples of industries that will be heavily disrupted. US airlines may be the first to feel a significant impact, due to travel between North America and Europe providing a valuable revenue stream."

"The ban is set to further increase pain for major players in the US. Since mid-February, stocks have taken a significant downturn for United, Delta, and American airlines. This has created a knock-on impact for behemoth Boeing, a company which makes a valuable contribution the US economy through employment. The aircraft manufacturer has announced it has frozen hiring due to coronavirus market turmoil."
No-excuse absentee bills have moved in three more states recently: Virginia, where a bill has passed and awaits Gov. Ralph Northams signature, as well as Delaware and New Hampshire. These states should move quickly to adopt this method of absentee voting.

The remaining states should join them, and if they cant  for example, because a constitutional amendment is required, as is the case in New York  should consider designating the declaration of a statewide public health emergency as a permissible reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

If things get so bad that in-person voting becomes impractical, then states may even consider conducting elections almost entirely by mail, as is already done in Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Maryland is investigating the possibility of such a switch.

Major election-year changes to voting laws like this would be hard to carry out, and should be made sparingly and only with deliberation  particularly when they precede a high-turnout general election. This year, however, it may simply be due diligence for states to at least consider the possibility. We may be in precisely the kind of unusual circumstance that warrants big changes to ensure that voters are not disenfranchised.

But we should resist the temptation to permit internet-based voting, which some states are experimenting with in smaller contexts. In an ill-advised move, the Puerto Rico legislature recently passed a bill to authorize electronic voting; its awaiting the governors signature. While we should do everything we can to make voting accessible, the consensus of cybersecurity experts is that we are simply not prepared to ensure the security of online voting. In this case, the cure would be worse than the disease.

Permit early processing of absentee ballots. At present, 15 states do not permit absentee ballots to be processed until Election Day. Among them is Michigan, which is allowing absentee voting for the first time in a presidential election (rather than limiting it to those with a particular excuse). Unsurprisingly, absentee ballots were heavily requested the primary, which has raised concerns that results could be substantially delayed if there is a similar surge in November.

A worst-case scenario would be if Michigan, the state with the closest win-loss margin in 2016, is again one of the decisive states in the 2020 election and we are unable to project a winner on election night. (Another decisive state, Pennsylvania, which also just adopted no-excuse absentee voting, also forbids processing absentee ballots until Election Day and could find itself in a similar situation.) Its worrisome that the Michigan Legislature, however, has so far resisted calls to make the job of elections administrators easier by permitting the processing of early ballots.
A teacher at Randolph High, a vocational school on Henry Avenue in Nicetown, had close contact with a family member who has tested positive for coronavirus. Students and teachers are panicked, but the district has provided little guidance and failed to notify parents. Read more

A Philadelphia School District teacher gave the news this week: A relative had tested positive for the coronavirus, and he had been in close contact with the family member recently.

The Randolph High School teacher informed his students on Wednesday, then the principal sent the teacher home to isolate for two weeks.

Staff had questions, students had questions, but it seemed no one could provide answers.

Students panicked, some donning rubber gloves, many asking if school should be closed. Eventually, most of the students walked out.

 READ MORE: Read more: The hand sanitizer Philly schools bought to stop germs from spreading has no alcohol, despite CDC guidelines

But parents were never notified about the close contact the Randolph teacher had with the coronavirus patient, a daughter-in-law who had recently traveled in Japan and is now hospitalized locally. The district sent a cleaning crew to scrub the school Wednesday night, but has taken no further action, and the school was never closed.

Asked about the Randolph incident, district spokesperson Monica Lewis would not discuss specifics, but confirmed that an employee was recently in contact with someone now known to have a confirmed case of COVID-19.

She said she could not confirm where the incident happened, but said if the employee eventually tests positive for coronavirus, communication would immediately be prepared and shared with any people who they may have been in contact with.

Deep cleaning is underway at the school, Lewis said, and we will continue to implement our enhanced cleaning process focusing on high-touch areas such as door knobs, desks and stairwells in all district schools.

 READ MORE: Read more: Teachers concerned that Philly schools aren't prepared to fight coronavirus

No confirmed COVID-19 cases have yet been reported among district students or staff, she said.

Teachers, administrators, and union officials are growing increasingly concerned, however, saying district leaders give them scant information about how to handle and what to say about the global pandemic.

The district does not have a plan, said Robin Cooper, president of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators, the districts principals union. For brown and black inner city kids, you say its OK for them to go to school, while you tell the teacher to go home and self-quarantine? Are our kids not worth the same precautions as suburban kids or our staff?

CASA has not received acknowledgment that its questions were received, Cooper said.

That officials have canceled events scheduled for the districts administrative headquarters on North Broad Street but havent closed Randolph for cleaning concerns people across the district, said Deana Ramsey, a district principal and CASA leader.

Why arent we erring on the side of caution? Ramsey said.

All they said was, Were following the CDC, Ramsey added, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, said he has been similarly frustrated.

This is a major, major concern, Jordan said. The basic answers that people should be able to get, were just not getting. They just keep telling us that the health department is directing and answering all questions, but that doesnt give my members any information about what it is they should do.
Viktor Lyashko Open source

The Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine and Deputy Health Minister Viktor Lyashko reported on the number of people with suspected coronavirus and about the absence of new confirmed cases of infection. The official said this during a briefing broadcasted by 112 Ukraine.

He noted that on March 11, there were three new reports of suspected Covid-2019 coronavirus, but none of them were confirmed.

Today, just when we were heading to the briefing, we were reported about a person who came back from Poland. She has pneumonia and she is being examined. The samples were taken for examination, Viktor Lyashko added.

Lyashko added that this person with symptoms was at risk because she is elderly. The Health Ministry promised to monitor the dynamics of this case.

Chief Doctor also said that WHO has divided all countries of the world into 4 categories according to the coronavirus prevalence rate and classified Ukraine in the 2nd group, but it should prepare for a potential transition to 3rd.

The first group included those countries where there are no officially confirmed cases of coronavirus. The second group for countries in which the cases of infection are isolated and brought from abroad. The third one is those countries in which the disease is spread in certain regions or among certain population groups. The latter group includes countries with a large number of infected persons across the territory.

According to the Public Health Center of Ukraine, as of 11:00 a.m. on March 12, 46 suspected cases of coronavirus infection were known. All of these samples were tested, 45 of them turned out negative.

Earlier, WHO announced the world coronavirus pandemic. 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.
ALBANY  A state Supreme Court judge in Niagara County on Thursday struck down recommendations made by the states Public Finance Commission and ruled it didnt have the authority to create laws.

Supreme Court Justice Ralph A. Boniello III determined the state Legislature improperly gave the commission, made up of nine non-elected officials, authority to create laws when that power resides with the two state houses. The body had been created last year during state budget negotiations and was tasked with reworking New York's public financing rules.

The Legislature established the commission and delegated to it the authority to create new law and to repeal existing law which is a function reserved solely to the Legislature under the constitution, Boniello wrote. The transgression became final when the recommendations of the commission became law without further action by the Legislature.

Boniello ruled that legislative authority delegated to the commission was unconstitutional. The decision is likely to be appealed, said Jay Jacobs, the head of the state Democratic Party who served on the commission.

"This was no surprise coming from this court," he said. "As far as Im concerned, and at the end of the day, I believe the law of the land will stand."

The lawsuit filed by the Conservative and Working Families parties in July challenged the authority of the public commission, arguing the scope of the commission was narrowly tailored to craft a plan for public financing of election campaigns.

Boniellos ruling tosses all of the recommendations from the commission, among them a law that would up the number of votes for state political parties to stay on the ballot. This was seen as an attack on fusion voting, where candidates can run on multiple party lines.

New York Working Families Party state Director Sochie Nnaemeka said in a statement Thursday that the ruling was a victory for the voters of New York.

We need more choices, not fewer, to build a strong democracy, she continued. As we have consistently said and the courts confirmed today, an unelected commission has no right to interfere with New Yorkers constitutional right to fusion voting.

The new law required all parties to run a candidate in this years presidential election and receive 2 percent of the total vote or 130,000 votes  whichever is greater  in order to stay on the ballot. Previously, if a minor party's candidate for governor received 50,000 votes, the party would retain ballot status. This move was seen by critics as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's attempt to kill the Working Families Party for supporting his primary opponent in 2018.

The commission had also lowered contribution limits and created a public matching system  plans now put in the hands of state legislators.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The New York Conservative Party also rejoiced over the court ruling Thursday, with party chairman Gerard Kassar calling it a victory for political freedom.

This was a total overreach by an overzealous governor, and we are grateful that the court acted to protect the political and First Amendment rights of New Yorkers and the parties with which they choose to affiliate, Kassar said in a statement. This is a total victory for political freedom in New York, and a reminder to Governor Cuomo that he is an executive and not an emperor. Reason has won out over Machiavellism, and New York is better for it.

The Working Families Party, among other groups, called on the state Legislature to pass public financing legislation to ensure provisions stay on the books going forward.

For years, thousands of New Yorkers have demanded the creation of a strong, people-powered democracy and an end to big-money politics, Nnaemeka said.

Lawrence Norden, director of the Election Reform Program at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law, echoed Nnaemekas sentiments and cautioned against state lawmakers using the courts ruling as an excuse to derail a public financing program.

The commissions process gave voice to scores of voters and experts who see public financing as essential to restoring public participation and faith in New Yorks democracy. For decades, Albanys wealthiest donors have drowned out everyone else, Norden said. By following through on their promise of public financing, the governor and lawmakers can give more New Yorkers a say in the decisions that shape their lives.
Press Release

March 12, 2020 Dispatch from Crame No. 733:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on Duterte's Defense of POGOs 3/12/20 Duterte's response to the growing public clamor against POGOs has made it clear that he does not have the best interest of the Filipino people at heart. The Senate has been doing a commendable job in exposing the evils of the POGOs. Sen. Joel Villanueva has shown how the labor sector has been flooded by foreigners from mainland China who are working in POGOs without proper permits. Sen. Risa Hontiveros has exposed a human trafficking ring and corrupt immigration practices catering to POGO employees. Sen. Richard Gordon is currently investigating the obscene amount of cash being smuggled into our country by POGO operators. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, for his part, reported on the information he received that some 3,000 Chinese Army personnel are here in the country under the cover of POGO operations. Our country is feeling the negative and deleterious effects of POGO. Many of our countrymen are priced out of their homes by Chinese workers. Our women and children fall prey to prostitution and human trafficking. Crime rates have been continuously rising, notably those committed by Chinese nationals against Filipinos and against each other. These POGOs do not pay proper taxes. They do not employ Filipinos. They violate our borders, disrupt our communities, commit crimes in our cities, and expect our people to clean up the mess that they created. The supposed 8 billion annual franchise tax is a paltry sum compared to the social costs that they generate. That amount is not even enough to pay for the government services availed of by these hostile Chinese nationals, in terms of immigration and police support. No one is fooled by Malacanang claims that the income from POGO will be used for COVID-19. Mr. Duterte does not even understand what is going on in our country. He made that clear when he rambled incoherently (once again) in his own press conference. He was supposed to assure us that everything is being done to manage the COVID pandemic but ended up causing greater national anxiety by betraying his own incompetence. That person is not the man a Filipino can trust especially in times of crisis. In spite of his billions of pesos in confidential and intelligence funds, Duterte has once again shamed the Office of the President by declaring POGOs clean and free of crime under his "oath of office as President of the Republic" without any semblance of credibility, nary any effort to ascertain the truth. Bakit, Ginoong Duterte? Inaasahan mo ba na popondohan ka at mga kaalyado mo nitong mga POGO sa susunod na eleksyon? Magkano ba ang binabayad sayo ng mga POGO na ito para ipagkanulo mo ang sarili mong bansa? May hawak ba silang impormasyon laban sayo kaya hindi mo maipatupad ang nararapat para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan? Bakit hindi mo mapahinto ang POGO na siyang sumisira sa ating bansa? End this scourge! Stop POGO in the Philippines! (Access the handwritten version of Dispatch from Crame No. 733, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_733)
Fans were in shock after a tense finale of The Bachelor on Tuesday night.

And the show's long-running host, Chris Harrison, admitted that the After The Final Rose production even took a toll on Peter Weber.

The 48-year-old Bachelor patriarch told Us Weekly that the pilot was 'visibly upset' backstage after watching his mother verbally spar with new girlfriend Madison Prewett following an awkward confrontation from ex-fiancee Hannah Ann.

Difficult: The show's long-running host, Chris Harrison, admitted that the After The Final Rose production even took a toll on Peter Weber

Peter, 28, announced to the world that he had broken up with Hannah Ann after a televised proposal and was interested in pursuing a new relationship with runner-up Madison, much to his mother's dismay.

'He was backstage standing next to Madison, visibly upset, venting to producers, just shaken,' Harrison said. 'His world got kind shaken on live TV. That's something I don't wish on anybody.

'It was uncomfortable, and he was probably embarrassed  probably angry and rightfully so.'

Tough time: The 48-year-old Bachelor patriarch told Us Weekly that the pilot was 'visibly upset' backstage after watching his mother verbally spar with new girlfriend Madison Prewett following an awkward confrontation from ex-fiancee Hannah Ann

Not pleased: Peter, 28, announced to the world that he had broken up with Hannah Ann after a televised proposal and was interested in pursuing a new relationship with runner-up Madison, much to his mother's dismay

During the second part of the finale, Barbara applauded when Hannah Ann confronted her son, and even asked her husband in Spanish to join in on slamming Madison.

'In life  and I am a parent  you only want what's best for your kids. But there's a time when you can be right and be wrong. And was she right? Maybe,' Harrison said. 'But did she need to make that statement at that time? Was the timing there in the way she expressed herself, could it have been a little better, a little different?

'Do you ever need to say to your kid, 'I told you so?' I just thought, in that moment, maybe it could've been a little better timing.'

Tell him! During the second part of the finale, Barbara applauded when Hannah Ann confronted her son, and even asked her husband in Spanish to join in on slamming Madison

'It was uncomfortable, and he was probably embarrassed  probably angry and rightfully so,' Harrison said

Harrison attempted to quell the tense situation with Peter and his mother, but to no avail.

'I tried to fix it. I was trying to, like, extend an olive branch and I was hopefully trying to leave on a good note and just couldn't get there. There was animosity built up,' Harrison said.

He added: 'People have to understand, when I left Australia, I thought we had this amazing show that would've been half of tonight. In that moment, I really think he was all in, but he just couldn't get Madison out of his head.'
Former state champion Zoe Sloan Callan, a junior at Native American Community Academy in Albuquerque, bested seven other high school students from across New Mexico to become champion again during the 15th Poetry Out Loud state finals in Santa Fe on March 8.

Callan will represent the state in the national semifinals of Poetry Out Loud: Recitation Contest in Washington, D.C., in April. She won $200 and her school will receive a $500 stipend toward the purchase of poetry books for the schools library. She also was state champion in 2018.

She presented three poems from the Poetry Foundation anthology: Abecedarian Requiring Further Examination of Anglikan Seraphym Subjugation of a Wild Indian Rezervation, by Natalie Diaz; To be of use, by Marge Piercy; and  Hope is the thing with feathers by Emily Dickinson.

Each finalists was judged on criteria that included physical presence, dramatic appropriateness, voice and articulation, evidence of understanding and accuracy, organizers said in a news release.

On April 28, she will join other students who are grouped in three geographic regions for the semifinals in Washington, D.C. Nine students  three from each region  will advance to the National Finals in the Terrace Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on April 29.

The top prize in the national competition is $20,000, organizers said.

Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Poetry Foundation and state arts agencies.
UPDATE: Go here for a list of Massachusetts schools that are closed Friday.

___________

As the number of Massachusetts residents with coronavirus continues to climb, K-12 schools are taking steps to prevent the spread of the virus in their communities.

Below are the Massachusetts elementary, middle and high schools that have announced plans to close due to coronavirus concerns for Thursday, March 12.

This list will be updated as schools announce closures and delays. For the latest version, click here or refresh your page.

Need your school added to the list? District officials can contact us by email at newstips@masslive.com or phone at 413-776-1364.

Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter: The charter for grades 6-12 will be closed Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13. Due to ongoing coronavirus concerns, we have decided to do a complete, deep cleaning and electrostatic disinfection and sanitation process throughout our three school buildings, school officials said. All extracurriculars are canceled on both days.

Boston Public Schools: Beginning on Thursday, March 12, the three campuses of the Eliot K-8 School will be closed. The decision was made at the recommendation of the Boston Public Health Commission following a presumptive positive case of the coronavirus in a non-student member of the school community, the district said Wednesday evening. The three campuses are scheduled to reopen on Thursday, March 19. Everyone who has been physically inside one of the three buildings is encouraged to practice social distancing and avoid public places.

Brookline Public Schools: Lincoln School will be closed Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13 as a precautionary measure. The school is scheduled to reopen on Monday, March 16.

Framingham Public Schools: All Framingham Public Schools will be closed Thursday, March 12 to undergo cleaning. The announcement came after a Framingham resident received a presumptive positive test result. The resident has a child who attends Potter Road Elementary School and presented mild symptoms of an infection Wednesday morning, Framingham Superintendent Robert A. Tremblay said. The family will follow quarantine protocols until cleared.

Hopkinton Public Schools : District schools remain closed on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13. Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh announced that district schools would close Wednesday following Gov. Charlie Bakers declaration of a state of emergency in Massachusetts. Middlesex County - where Hopkinton is located - has 41 presumptive cases of COVID-19. Two Hopkinton residents have tested presumptive positive.

Lynnfield Public Schools: Summer Street School will be closed Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13 to undergo cleaning. A Summer Street School employee has had a potential exposure with two people who have tested positive for COVID-19, the district said in a statement shared Wednesday. During the next four days, Summer Street School will undergo a thorough disinfection. All school buses utilized by the Lynnfield School District will be thoroughly disinfected prior to their use on Thursday.

Milford Public Schools: All districts schools will be closed Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13 to undergo cleaning. The decision to close follows a staff member at Woodland Elementary School being placed in quarantine after a family members connection to the Biogen event in Boston, the district said in a statement released Wednesday. All school-sponsored events or events scheduled to be held in Milford schools through Sunday will be postponed.

Salem High School: Students will be dismissed at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and all Salem public schools will be closed on Friday, Students will be dismissed at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and all Salem public schools will be closed on Friday, Salem News reported. It was reported the decisions were made because Salem High Principal Samantha Meier was in Paris last weekend.

Somerville Public Schools: All districts schools will be closed Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13 to undergo cleaning after two presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 involving parents of two Somerville students.

Weston Public Schools: District schools will be closed Thursday, March 12 through Wednesday, March 18. No extracurriculars will be held while the school is closed. We were notified today that a Weston student is symptomatic and the results of their COVID-19 test came back inconclusive. Additionally, a student connected to a previous case is under quarantine," Superintendent Marguerite Connolly said. "Taking these and other factors into consideration, as a measure to slow the potential rapid spread of this virus, it is necessary to close all Weston Schools for an extended period of time.

Wilmington Public Schools: District schools will be closed Thursday, March 12 to undergo cleaning. A Wilmington resident and parent of two children is symptomatic for COVID-19 the district said in a statement.

Winchendon Public Schools: The district announced Wednesday that schools are closed until further notice. A staff member at the high school reported a potential exposure. The superintendent will send out a One Call message to the school community on Friday afternoon with an update, the district said Wednesday. Our intent is to reopen schools as soon as possible.

Winchester Public Schools: Ambrose School will be closed Thursday, March 12 after a student tested positive for COVID-19.

Related Content:
Today, Yerevan hosted an Armenian-Belarusian business forum held on the sidelines of the 14th session of the Armenian-Belarusian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Among the speakers were co-chairs of the Armenian-Belarusian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, including Minister of Economy of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan and Minister of Forestry of Belarus Vitaly Drozha.

Minister of Economy Tigran Khachatryan greeted the participants of the event and said the following: There is significant and unused potential between Armenia and Belarus that may serve as an impetus to achieve more progress in the trade and economic relations. Today, Armenia and Belarus have all the conditions for effective cooperation between the companies of both countries and mutually beneficial and fruitful cooperation. He also stated that Armenia has one of the most open investment regimes in the region, leads an open-door policy on foreign investments and is continuously changing the business climate.

In his speech, Minister of Forestry of Belarus Vitaly Drozha stated that the trade and economic cooperation is dynamically growing (evidence of this is the statistics), the actions being taken to establish ties between the business circles of both countries have been intensified, and there is active cooperation between the chambers of commerce and industry of Armenia and Belarus.

The Belarusian minister wished the participants of the business forum effective discussions and establishment of business ties.

Representatives of nearly 50 companies participating in the forum continued their meetings in the B2B format, learned about each others activities and earmarked new directions for cooperation.
Han Zhixin

The head of a flying dinosaur that is hardly bigger than a bee hummingbird has been discovered in 99-million-year-old amber. The piece of polished amber, just 31mm by 20mm by 8.5mm, was found in Kachin Province of northern Myanmar, an area becoming increasingly well-known for its remarkable amber-encased fossils.

This exciting little fossil micro-dinosaur named Oculudentavis khaungraae is from the middle of the Cretaceous period, from a stage known as the Cenomanian. The skull looks remarkably bird-like and a number of features suggest Oculudentavis is related to the early ancestors of modern birds. The fossil also appears to have preserved some of the dinosaurs original bodily material.

The researchers from China and the US who studied the fossil subjected it to CT analysis (computed tomography, which uses X-rays to produce a series of cross-section images of a specimen) to examine the internal structure. But the amber is sufficiently clear that many of the features can be seen with the naked eye and a hand lens.

Oculudentavis has a long slender beak, a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth and massive eyes. Unlike most fossils, in which the original material is replaced by other minerals, the skull still appears to be composed of actual bone, although its microstructure and possible cell content have yet to be analysed.

Han Zhixin

Some of the skin of the palate and the tongue is also preserved, including the small pointed papillae on its surface. In modern passerine birds such as the the robin, these tongue bumps are directed backwards and prevent prey escaping from the mouth.

There do not appear to be any feathers preserved, but some of the organic material decayed to produce what is now a yucky mess (who would think that such things could be fossilised?) Sadly the rest of the animals body is not preserved. Perhaps it exists in another amber fragment awaiting discovery.

One particularly revealing feature is the skulls huge orbit (eye socket). A circle of tiny bony plates known as a sclerotic ring is arranged within the orbit, forming a cone with an inner circle that indicates the creature would have had a very small pupil. This kind of eye is typical of many lizards of today that are active during the day and sleep at night, suggesting that Oculudentavis had a similar diurnal schedule.

Story continues

Significant find

The discovery is incredibly exciting for a number of reasons. Without a doubt this is a dinosaur, but one that sits on the early part of the evolutionary tree that leads to modern birds. In fact, the authors analysis suggests that it is quite close to the most famous of all bird-dinosaurs, Archaeopteryx, which dates to the earlier Late Jurassic period around 150 million years ago and has been called the first bird.

Oculudentavis is also incredibly small. In fact, with a skull just 15 millimetres long, it must rank as the smallest of any dinosaur. While it is not certainly adult, it is by no means a juvenile, meaning it probably wouldnt have grown much bigger.

The researchers point out that animals that evolve to become much smaller tend to come from isolated environments such as islands. For examples, there were once dwarf mammoths on Crete, Sardinia and Cyprus. Coincidentally, geologists have suggested that the Myanmar amber deposits were formed on an island that was part of a volcanic arc on the margins of the ancient Thethys Ocean.

The discovery of Oculudentavis is all the more fascinating because it was found in amber. Almost all fossils are formed from the hard remains of animals and plants: bones, teeth, shells and wood. But the amber has preserved some of the soft tissues of the dinosaur, making it a very unlikely fossil.

Lida Xing

Amber starts off as a sticky liquid resin oozing from wounds on trees. But as volatile chemicals evaporate from its surface, the resin hardens into lumps that take some hammering to remove from the tree. This means it is even more unlikely that a dinosaur would get preserved amber as most dinosaurs are large and the largest piece of amber ever discovered weighs a mere 15kg.

Not even Michael Crichton, the author of Jurassic Park, could conceive of a dinosaur in amber. Instead his fairy-tale quest to resurrect dinosaurs envisaged a blood-sucking mosquito with a belly full of dino blood and dino DNA becoming trapped in the sticky resin.

But not all dinosaurs were large, and one hapless Oculudentavis khaungraae, the smallest of them all, found itself in the wrong place at the wrong time in a forest in what is now Myanmar. We do not know if this little dinosaur had wings and flew into the resin, or if it became accidentally stuck (presumably by its feathers) while hopping through the branches of a resiniferous tree.

Li Gang

The fossilised remains of Oculudentavis will be rich in all sorts of chemical decay products that can often be traced back to original biomolecules. But unfortunately it is doubtful that any DNA remains. DNA is such a delicate molecule that it rarely survives more than a few thousand years in humans, perhaps as much as 17,000 years in other animals and just maybe around a million years in fossilised bacteria.

Oculudentavis actually isnt the first dinosaur to be found in amber. In 2016, researchers reported a piece of amber also from Myanmar with the tail of feathered dinosaur. The authors of this paper speculated that one day a complete dinosaur might be found in amber. Well, we now have a head and a tail. Its just a body that is missing.

My hope though is for a pterodactyl to be found in amber. I dont care how big or how small it is  I just want to know what they really looked like.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

David Martill does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
FREDERICTON - New Brunswick is suspending jury trials for two months over concerns about the potential spread of novel coronavirus after the province's first case of COVID-19 was confirmed Thursday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs speaks with the media in Fredericton, New Brunswick on Monday, February 17, 2020. A spokeswoman for Higgs says he will not attend the first ministers meeting today in Ottawa now that his province has reported its first presumptive case of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Stephen MacGillivray

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick is suspending jury trials for two months over concerns about the potential spread of novel coronavirus after the province's first case of COVID-19 was confirmed Thursday.

Queen's Bench Chief Justice Tracey DeWare said she made the decision after conferring with the Department of Health and the province's chief medical officer.

"This exceptional decision is not taken lightly and will remain in place until such time as measures are put in place to ensure jury selection and a jury trial can take place with minimal public health risk to those citizens affected," she wrote in a letter to Justice Minister Andrea Anderson-Mason.

The suspension of jury trials is to begin immediately and last until May 12.

"In the event the presence of COVID-19 remains a public health threat following May 12, additional screening procedures will be put in place to allow for the continuation of jury trials within parameters that do not unnecessarily burden those who may be at particular risk as a result of this unfortunate illness."

Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer, said health officials learned Wednesday that a woman between 50 and 60 years old living in the southeastern area of the province was "minimally symptomatic" after returning from a trip to France.

The woman remains in isolation in her home, and Russell said her case can be described as a mild to moderate infection.

Russell would not say what area of France the woman visited or which airports she was in on her trip home, citing privacy concerns.

Russell is recommending that all non-essential gatherings of 150 people or more be cancelled or postponed until health officials are better able to determine the risk to the population.

"It's a topic of discussion right across the country, and obviously in the provinces that have many cases right now, these are the steps that they're taking," she said.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs decided not to attend the first ministers meeting in Ottawa Thursday, but later in the day it was announced that the meeting would be held via teleconference.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau are in self-isolation after she began showing mild flu-like symptoms.

"I think with technology today there's every reason why we can do it from a distance. I do have a call tomorrow with my colleagues and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland on COVID-19," Higgs said Thursday.

He said the situation is changing day to day, even hour to hour, so the province could consider all options including closing schools.

"I think in reality, anything is possible as we work with what we see from around the world and across the country. I wouldn't take anything off the table. Anything is possible," he said.

A presumptive case of COVID-19 has been announced in neighbouring Maine. Higgs said he understands the case is in southern Maine, and so far no changes have been made to restrict travel across the Maine-New Brunswick border.

On Thursday, the New Brunswick government formed an all-party committee to address the novel coronavirus.

Higgs said the committee will provide oversight and direction on how to respond to the health issue.

The members include the premier and three other party leaders as well as the ministers of health, education, public safety and social development.

The Opposition Liberals have vowed to vote against the provincial budget in an effort to topple the minority Tory government.

Roger Melanson, the Liberal finance critic, said it's too early to say if the COVID-19 concerns would have an impact on whether his party would try to force an election.

But late in the day, Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers issued a statement saying his party would support a move by government to delay next week's vote on the budget.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2020.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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Princess Cruises has today suspended its ocean voyages for two months while Viking Cruises has also halted trips until May because of the coronavirus outbreak.

US-based firm Princess said its 18 cruise ships would stay in port until May 11 after two of its ships suffered virus outbreaks, including the Diamond Princess in Japan.

Ships which are currently at sea will sail to their final destination if they are due to finish before March 17, or dock elsewhere if the cruise was due to last longer.

Meanwhile, Viking Cruises has suspended all its ocean and river trips until May after three Britons tested positive on one of its vessels in Cambodia this week.

The company said there were 'significant risks' of quarantines or medical detentions, after a spate of virus scares at sea in recent weeks.

Princess Cruises said its 18 cruise ships would stay in port until May 11 after two of its ships suffered virus outbreaks, including the Diamond Princess in Japan (pictured)

Princess has been hit by two of the worst outbreaks at sea, most notably on board the Diamond Princess where 705 people were infected.

Japanese authorities quarantined the ship in Yokohama in a bid to contain the virus but their attempted lockdown was widely declared a failure.

Four Britons were among the Diamond Princess virus patients. One of them later died, while two others are still in hospital in Japan.

At one stage, the Diamond Princess had the highest number of virus cases anywhere in the world outside China.

Subsequently, another 3,500 Princess customers were quarantined off the US coast after a former passenger on the Grand Princess died from coronavirus.

At least 21 people aboard had tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

'It is widely known that we have been managing the implications of Covid-19 on two continents,' said Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz.

'By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world.'

Tourists currently at sea will continue to their planned destination if the cruise is due to finish in the next five days, until March 17.

If the cruise is due to continue longer than that, passengers will be taken to 'the most convenient location for guests, factoring in operational requirements'.

'Princess will do everything possible to return each guest home with the greatest amount of care possible,' a statement said.

'For those who affected by this business decision, Princess is offering guests the opportunity to transfer 100 per cent of the money paid for their cancelled cruise to a future cruise of their choice.

'To add a bonus incentive for guests to accept this offer, the company will add an additional generous future cruise credit benefit which can be applied to the cruise fare or onboard expenses.'

Viking Cruises has suspended all ocean and river voyages until May due to 'significant risks' caused by the outbreak of coronavirus (Pictured: A docked Viking Cruises vessel in Kampong Cham, southeastern Cambodia)

All 70 of the firm's river and ocean ships will be suspended from operation from today until April 30 amid a rapid global spread of the virus

Meanwhile, Viking has acted after three British tourists were confirmed as virus patients after travelling on a Viking River Cruises vessel to Kampong Cham.

The Cambodian Health Ministry said a 73-year-old man and his 69-year-old wife who are both from the UK had been infected, two days after another British passenger tested positive.

Officials described the first patient as a 65-year-old woman who is thought to have contracted the virus from a Vietnamese national who sat beside her on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54 from London to Hanoi on March 2.

The cruise, which lasts eight days, began in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and travelled to Cambodian capital Phnom Penh before arriving in Kampong Cham.

All 70 of Viking's river and ocean ships will now be suspended from operations from today until April 30.

'I am writing today because the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning,' Viking Cruises founder Torstein Hagen said in a letter posted online.

'In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline.

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

'While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. Separately, the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined.'

Hagen added that a number of ports, including Venice, Monte Carlo and Bergen, have temporarily closed to cruise ships with other major attractions across the globe shut.

'We have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend operations of our river and ocean vessels embarking from March 12 to April 30  at which time we believe Viking will be in a better place to provide the experiences our guests expect and deserve,' he said.

'This is a decision we made with a heavy heart, but with present circumstances what they are, we are unable to deliver the high-quality Viking experience for which we are known.'

The firm added it will issue the choice of a voucher for a future cruise or a full refund for any trips which fall within this suspension period.

The three infections take the total number of Covid-19 cases in Cambodia to five, after a Cambodian and a Chinese man also tested positive for the infection.
Shoppers have started panic-buying freezers as coronavirus fears continue to grow.

Melbourne appliance stores have reported a huge increase in demand and completely running out of stock.

Hans Vanderstadt, owner of Camberwell Electrics, told Daily Mail Australia that his store has been inundated with requests for whitegoods.

'Every second phone call we've been getting for the past few days has been someone looking for a freezer,' he said.

Melbourne shoppers have started panic buying freezers amid coronavirus fears (file image)

Camberwell Electrics store (pictured) has sold out of all freezers in the last few days

'Everybody wants it now. We've sold out everything on our shelves and display.'

The manager describe the coronavirus pandemic as 'uncharted waters for everybody' and said it could be months before stocks are replenished.

Mr Vanderstadt said that a new supply of freezers would come 'at best in April or May but I'd suggest June or July as it mostly comes out of China.'

Camberwell Electrics tried to order more freezers but found that all suppliers had run out.

'There's no stock from overseas and manufacturing has ground to a halt,' Mr Vanderstadt said.

The store manager also described the scenario as 'a bit like toilet paper' and that panicked buyers were 'not showing the Aussie spirit'.

He felt that shoppers were 'almost animal-like' and that making purchases had become a 'dog eat dog' scenario.

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 us Aussies we've got to look out for each other,' he said.

The increase in purchasing electronic goods comes as Australian shoppers desperately continue to stock up on household items in preparation for COVID-19.

Grocery shops across the nation have experienced shortages in items such as toilet paper, grains, medicine and hand sanitiser.

Another three people in Victoria tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday and the number of cases in New South Wales has also been updated to 77.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that the NSW government would be discussing the possibility of shutting down schools, universities and events this week.

'There's no need to panic, to massively change what you're doing. But it's not business as usual,' she said on Thursday.
As preparations are in full swing by the BJP to welcome its newly-inducted leader Jyotiraditya Scindia ahead of his return to Madhya Pradesh, the ink was thrown on posters, which were put up near Polytechnic Chouraha in Bhopal, welcoming Scindia to BJP fold here on Thursday.

The posters feature Scindia along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda.

The Madhya Pradesh unit of BJP has prepared posters, banners, and a red carpet to welcome Scindia to the party.

On Wednesday, Scindia joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party President JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scindia will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

Since his joining in BJP, Madhya Pradesh Congress and party leaders have been targetting Scindia for betraying the 18-year-long association with the party.

Earlier in the day, former Chief Minister and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh took a jibe at his former party colleague, stating that "may God keep him safe in BJP"."I pray to God to keep Scindia safe in BJP," Singh tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Parliament will meet in joint session on Thursday, at 16:00 hrs, for the investiture of the Government of Prime Minister designate Florin Citu.

According to the joint rules of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, in order for the session in which the investiture of the government will be voted on to take place, the presence of 233 MPs is necessary. All the parliamentary groups announced they will be present at the meeting in order to ensure quorum, unlike the previous session for the Orban II Government.Parliament grants the vote of confidence for the Government by majority of deputies and senators, the number of MPs that have to vote in favour being also 233. The vote is secret, using balls and urns.The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has 202 MPs, the National Liberal Party (PNL) - 113 MPs, Save Romania Union (USR) - 40 MPs, Pro Romania - 21, The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) - 30, national minorities - 17, People's Movement Party (PMP) - 14, the parliament also having 27 unaffiliated.The Liberals had negotiations with the other parliamentary groups, with the exception of the PSD, in order to form a majority, but they did not mention if they will vote in favor of the Citu Government and if they renounce the early elections.The interim chair of the PSD, Marcel Ciolacu, stated on Monday that the Citu Gov't "is not worth" voting, that the PSD MPs will be present at the meeting, but a final decision will be made following an announcement of the PNL leader, Ludovic Orban, who has to say if the Liberals will vote their own Cabinet without secrecy.The chairman of Pro Romania, Victor Ponta, stated, on Tuesday, that the MPs need to forget what party they're from and vote the investiture of the Citu Government.The chairman of the ALDE Calin Popescu-Tariceanu announced on Wednesady that, in the context of the spreading of the new coronavirus, the MPs of the party will vote on Thursday for the investiture of the Citu Government, considering that "it's better to have a weak government than no government at all".Furthermore, the chairman of the PMP, Eugen Tomac, stated that a stable government is needed in the context of the situation generated by the new coronavirus.The chairman of the USR, Dan Barna, also stated that Romania needs a stable government and added that the party is leaning "very much" towards granting a vote of confidence to the Citu Gov't, but the decision will be taken by the parliamentary group.The chairman of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor, stated that the MPs of the formation he leads will be in the plenum for the investiture vote, but a decision regarding the vote will be taken on Thursday, right before the plenary session.On February 28, the Prime Minister designate, Florin Citu, submitted to Parliament the Cabinet list and the governing programme. The only modification in the composition of the Citu Gov't over the previous Orban Gov't is the proposal of Lucian Heius to take up the Finance portfolio formerly held by Citu himself.The proposed ministers were heard last week in the select parliamentary committees, nine of them receiving endorsements, while seven did not receive the endorsement of deputies and senators. The endorsement is consultative in nature.AGERPRES
PORTLAND, Ore.  The first presumptive case of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was identified in Oregon on Friday, February 28 in Washington County, after several days of tense watching and waiting as cases appeared in neighboring Washington and California.

To keep you informed, here's everything that's happened since then, with daily updates from state and local health officials.

Friday, September 25

The Oregon Health Authority announced a new daily record high for coronavirus cases on Friday with 457 new and presumptive cases. This is the latest in a surge of new cases for the week. Oregon now sits at 32,314 cases. The rise in cases can be attributed to several factors including gatherings over the Labor Day weekend, college students returning to campuses, and testing interruptions in areas impacted by fire, accompanied by more people seeking care for respiratory issues.

Thursday, September 24

The Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries reminds parents they are allowed to take 12 weeks off from work, although it is not guaranteed to be paid. This reminder comes as many parents struggle to balance work and facilitating remote learning for their kids.

The Pac-12 conference CEO Group voted to lift their postponement of athletic activities and pave the way for a return to play in the fall of 2020. This comes after the Pac-12 announced a landmark agreement with medical testing giant Quidel which would provide all schools in the conference with daily Coronavirus tests starting in late September.

Tuesday, September 22

Several Oregon businesses have threatened a class action lawsuit against the state over COVID-19 restrictions implemented by Governor Kate Brown. A lawyer representing the businesses argues Oregon officials should create a plan to compensate small business owners for financial hardship caused by those restrictions.

Jackson County Public Health reported on Tuesday that a fifth person in the county has died due to coronavirus. The patient was a 76-year-old man who tested positive on September 10 and died on Friday, September 18, at Providence Medford Medical Center. The man had underlying medical conditions.

Sunday, September 20

Jackson County Public Health is reporting five new COVID-19 cases bringing the county total to 1,039. The death toll remains at four for Jackson County.

The Brookings-Harbor School District is announcing on its website that there has been a confirmed COVID-19 exposure at Kalmiopsis Elementary School. The district announced it was notified of the possible exposure by Curry County Public Health. In-person instruction for Kindergarten through Third Grade will be canceled starting on Monday, September 21.

Saturday, September 19

Jackson County Public Health is reporting 13 new coronavirus cases bringing the county total to 1,034. The 20-29 age group has had the most cases in the county with 205.

Thursday, September 17

Jackson County Public Health is reporting that a fourth person has died from coronavirus. The patient was a 72-year-old woman who tested positive on August 28 and died on Tuesday, September 15, at Providence Medford Medical Center. The woman had underlying medical conditions.

Wednesday, September 16

The only standalone pharmacy in Lakeview, Howards Pharmacy, faces a proposed $9,400 fine after alleged violations of coronavirus restrictions including face covering and social distancing requirements.

Sunday, September 13

The Oregon Liquor Control Commission announced on Sunday that it is suspending the liquor license for Rogue Valley Jet Boat Adventures. This comes after inspectors observed the company hosting a large crowd without proper social distancing or face coverings.

Friday, September 11

Governor Kate Brown announced today that Jackson County has been removed from Oregons coronavirus watch list having successfully driven down community spread of the virus. Along with Jackson County, Jefferson County also was removed from the list.

Saturday, September 5

Jackson County is reporting 18 new coronavirus cases bringing the county total to 882 cases. Health officials want to remind people to know their risk and take proper action this Labor Day Weekend.

Curry County officials have announced one new case of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 23 cases.

Friday, September 4

Governor Kate Brown announces four straight weeks of decline in coronavirus cases in Oregon. She warns, however, that unless precautions are taken, Labor Day Weekend may be the cause of an uptick in cases.

Wednesday, September 3

Jackson County Public Health is reporting that a third person has died from coronavirus. The patient was a 73-year-old man who tested positive on August 14 and died on Saturday, August 29, at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. The man had underlying medical conditions.

Tuesday, September 1

Governor Kate Brown announced on Tuesday that she has extended her state of emergency declaration for coronavirus in Oregon for another 60 days, until November 3.

Monday, August 31

Friday, August 28

California Governor Gavin Newsom announces a new statewide reopening plan that promises to be slower and more gradual.

Governor Brown announces that Multnomah and Hood River counties have been removed from the state's COVID-19 'watch list.' Jackson County will remain on the list until at least September 10.

Thursday, August 27

Jackson County reveals that its COVID-19 case rate hit a record high during the week of August 16, with a test positivity rate of 9.2 percent.

A fifth inmate at the Oregon Department of Corrections dies after testing positive for COVID-19 amid two major outbreaks at state prisons.

Monday, August 24

Oregon's COVID-19 test positivity rate begins showing signs of falling, entering its third week without any increase. As of August 22, it was 5.1 percent.

Jackson County reports 23 new cases on Monday, with at least 58 people now hospitalized since the beginning of the pandemic  up from 10 at the beginning of July.

Sunday, August 23

Over the weekend, Jackson County reports 33 new COVID-19 cases betwen Saturday and Sunday.

Friday, August 21

At a press conference, Governor Brown indicates that she will increase statewide coronavirus restrictions if efforts under the existing guidelines does not drive down the virus' spread enough to allow schools to reopen with in-person learning.

The legislature's program offering $500 relief checks to unemployed Oregonians waiting on benefits runs out of funds after less that three days.

Thursday, August 20

Governor Brown announces that Jackson County has been added to the state's COVID-19 "watch list" to due a sustained rise in community spread cases.

Congressman Greg Walden sends a letter to Governor Kate Brown, urging her to take up an unemployment program created by President Trump via executive order, which offers at least $300 in weekly unemployment supplements to those receiving benefits. The $600 supplement established by the CARES Act has largely expired.

Wednesday, August 19

The Oregon legislature launches a program to get $500 emergency relief checks to Oregonians who are still waiting on unemployment benefits.

Jackson County Public Health reports a new record daily high for coronavirus cases, with 24. The agency also confirms that it is investigating a workplace outbreak at an Amy's Kitchen processing facility in White City.

Friday, August 14

Governor Brown and OHA roll out the new face covering requirements for public and private office work.

Jackson County reports a record daily high for new cases, with 23 cases announced on Friday.

A study led by Oregon Health Authority epidemiologists finds that the rate of COVID-19 infection in the state may be 'ten times higher' than testing would indicate.

Thursday, August 13

Governor Kate Brown announces that Malheur County will be moved back to Phase I reopening status due to rapid spread of coronavirus in the area.

Jackson County reports a milestone after the county surpasses 500 cases since the pandemic began.

Wednesday, August 12

Amy's Kitchen in Jackson County confirms that 10 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic, but the company and public health officials contend that they do not constitute a workplace outbreak.

Tuesday, August 11

Governor Kate Brown indicates at a press conference that her office is pursuing face covering requirements for office workers, in addition to the potential closure of two state prisons.

The Pac-12 Conference announces that it will postpone the 2020 college football season at least until spring of the following year due to coronavirus concerns.

Friday, August 7

Jackson County reports its second death attributed to COVID-19, an 80-year-old man.

Thursday, August 6

Wednesday, August 5

Despite the recent OLCC enforcement measure in Jackson County, Governor Brown reports that the "vast majority" of businesses inspected by state officials are following the COVID-19 mandates.

Tuesday, August 4

The Jammin Salmon, a bar on Rogue River Highway, has its liquor license revoked by the OLCC for alleged social distancing and face covering violations.

Josephine County reports another death from COVID-19 complications, an 83-year-old man. This technically becomes the second death in the county, after the case of a 33-year-old man from out of the area who fell ill and tested positive in Josephine County is shifted elsewhere.

Monday, August 3

Oregon's coronavirus test positivity rate spikes to 6.1 percent, a high not seen since the beginning of Oregon's outbreak in March. The development is bad news for schools that are looking to reopen with in-person classes just a few weeks from now, with a statewide positivity metric of 5 percent or lower.

Saturday, August 1

Jackson County reports another record breaking day when it comes to the daily case count. On Saturday, the county reported 18 new cases of COVID-19.

Friday, July 31

Josephine County reports its second death attributed to coronavirus, the 4th in southern Oregon. Public health officials say this was a 33-year-old man who was not a county resident, but who was added to the county's case count after falling ill and testing positive in Grants Pass.

Thursday, July 30

Governor Brown updates the state's county "watch list" for COVID-19 spread. The updated list includes Baker, Hood River, Jefferson, Lake, Malheur, Marion, Morrow, Multnomah, Umatilla, and Wasco counties.

Wednesday, July 29

Jackson County public health officials report the first coronavirus-related death of a county resident, a 65-year-old man.

Tuesday, July 28

The Oregon Health Authority reports 14 new coronavirus-related deaths, the highest daily death toll since the pandemic began. Total deaths statewide surpass 300.

Governor Brown and state officials describe the new state metrics for allowing in-person schooling, including a baseline of 5 percent COVID-19 test positivity rate both statewide and at the county level.

Monday, July 27

Governor Kate Brown announces a coming press conference, set for Tuesday, to outline new statewide metrics for allowing in-person learning based on the spread of coronavirus both statewide and in individual counties.

A group of Oregon teachers and supporters hold a caravan protest in Salem, demanding that in-person classes be canceled until counties see a sustained drop in COVID-19 cases.

Three southern Oregon counties report new COVID-19 cases, including 11 cases in Jackson County, 8 cases in Josephine County, and two cases in Klamath County.

Sunday, July 26

Jackson County public health officials report a workplace outbreak of COVID-19 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, among 15 new cases reported on Sunday.

Friday, July 24

The Oregon Health Authority reports its highest daily death toll since the pandemic began, with 9 fatalities. There are now 282 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the state.

New face statewide face covering requirements, including for children ages 5 and up, go into effect. Indoor gathering limits and restaurant hours are reduced.

Wednesday, July 22

Governor Brown announces that face covering requirements will be expanded to include children age 5 and older, a mandate that also extends to state guidance for school districts.

New restrictions also mandate mask use in gyms, even while exercising, reduces indoor gathering limits to 100, and changes the curfew for bars and restaurants to 10 p.m. statewide.

Tuesday, July 21

Oregon officials announce that they will begin allowing "limited" outdoor visits to residents in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, once facilities develop a plan to facilitate visits while observing coronavirus precautions.

Sunday, July 19

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 436 new cases of coronavirus along with three new deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases in the state now sits at 14,579 with the death toll rising to 260.

Jackson County Public Health is reporting 16 new cases for today, Sunday July 19th. NewsWatch 12 did confirm with Jackson County Public Health officials that today's new case count is the highest number of new cases reported in a single day. The previous record was reported on July 2nd with 15 new cases.

Saturday, July 18

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 353 new cases of coronavirus along with three new deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases in the state now sits at 14,149 with the death toll rising to 257.

Friday, July 17

Thursday, July 16

Oregon once again broke a record for daily coronavirus cases on Thursday, after the Oregon Health Authority reported 437 new confirmed and presumptive cases. Two more deaths were also reported in the update. There have now been 13,509 total coronavirus cases in the state with 209 total deaths attributed to the virus.

Wednesday, July 15

Rite Aid announced on Wednesday that it will add 161 drive-through coronavirus testing locations throughout the country, including multiple sites in Oregon. There will be 15 Oregon testing locations, including sites in Phoenix, Klamath Falls, and Roseburg.

Tuesday, July 14

Medford School District announced plans for returning students to school in the 2020-2021 school year. These plans include pushing the starting date for school back to September 7th and plans for how the students will learn being in person, virtually online, or a hybrid approach.

The Oregon Employment Department reports that employers added back nearly one-third of the jobs that were cut in March and April when the coronavirus pandemic restrictions first went into place. More than 56,000 people got jobs during the month of June. That followed a gain of 26,100 jobs in May.

The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board approved more than $200 million from the Coronavirus Relief Fund for Oregonians and small businesses in need on Tuesday.

Monday, July 13

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday announced he is ordering the closure of bars, wineries and indoor restaurant dining statewide as cases of the coronavirus continue to spike in California.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced on Monday that she will be issuing a statewide ban on indoor social get-togethers of more than 10 people, putting more force behind the OHA request. The mandate does not apply to businesses or churches "at this time," Brown said.

Sunday, July 12

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 332 new coronavirus cases on Sunday along with two new deaths. This brings the state total for coronavirus cases to 12,170 and with the death toll rising to 234.

Saturday, July 11

The Britt Festival Orchestra goes online this July and August. The festival will have performances from past summers with Music Director Teddy Abrams. BFOnline will feature five recordings, preceded by a discussion about the recorded work with Abrams, members of the BFO, and select guest artists and composers.

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 409 new cases of coronavirus in the state on Saturday marking the single-day high for new cases since the pandemic began. The state total for cases now sits at 11,851. The OHA says part of the increase in cases is due to a new reporting system. In the process of transitioning to the new system, it prevented the processing of positive cases for a few hours on Thursday. Those cases are included in Saturday's count.

Friday, July 10

Thursday, July 9

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 389 new cases of coronavirus in the state on Thursday marking the single-day high for new cases since the pandemic began. Six more deaths are being reported on Thursday as well. There have now been a total of 11,188 positive COVID-19 cases and 230 deaths in the state.

After unprecedented nationwide layoffs due to the pandemic, a new study shows Oregon leads the nation in falling unemployment claims.

The Democratic leaders for both chambers of the Oregon legislature proposed on Thursday that the state distribute $500 "emergency relief checks" to Oregonians who have applied for unemployment benefits but still have not received them.

Wednesday, July 8

Representative Greg Walden says firefighting will look different during the pandemic. Firefighters will need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Huge fire camps are also not going to be used this year. Different Firefighter groups will be spread out.

Monday, July 6

Oregon health officials warned even before the state began its reopening process that there would be rising cases of coronavirus as testing expanded. However, new data suggests not only are cases spiking, but the rate of positive cases out of total tests has been steadily climbing since reopening began in earnest.

Sunday, July 5

The Oregon Health Authority announced 301 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 with two new deaths. The total number of cases in the state is now 10,230 with 215 deaths attributed to the virus.

Saturday, July 4

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 303 new cases of COVID-19 along with 4 new deaths. The state number of cases now sits at 9,930 along with the death toll rising to 213.

Friday, July 3

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 344 new cases of coronavirus in the state bringing the total to 9,636. The OHA also released a table showing recent trends by county. Jackson County had a case rate of 21.47 per 100,000 population, and a sporadic case rate of 8.4. Josephine County had a more modest case rate of 17.55, but a much higher sporadic rate of 16.38. Klamath County, which has seen a boom in cases since reopening with a case rate of 82.94, but a sporadic cast rate of 16.59.

Governor Kate Brown has introduced a COVID-19 Watch List for counties seeing large spikes in coronavirus cases. Counties on the watch list will be monitored in the days ahead while the OHA and local public health officials work on controlling the spread. Brown's office said that these counties could see business closures or a smaller gathering size limit. The eight counties included on the list are Jefferson, Lake, Lincoln, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, and Wasco.

Thursday, July 2

Oregon health officials are reporting 375 new cases of coronavirus along with one new death. There are now 9,294 cases and 209 deaths attributed to the virus. The 375 new cases today set the record for new cases in a day in Oregon.

Officials with Jackson County Public Health reported 15 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest single-day increase in the county since the outbreak reached southern Oregon.

Following her announcement earlier this week that face covering requirements would apply statewide, Governor Kate Brown also unveiled an ad campaign advocating for their use, dubbed "A Mask is Just a Mask."

Wednesday, July 1

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 281 new cases of coronavirus in the state along with one new death. This update brings the state total to 8,931 cases with 208 deaths. The 281 new cases reported today is the single highest daily increase in Oregon since the pandemic began.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered bars and indoor operations of restaurants to close for the next three weeks in most parts of the state. The order applies to 19 counties covering 72 percent of the states population.

Klamath County Public Health Officials are reporting one new death due to complications from the coronavirus. This is only the second fatality due to coronavirus in southern Oregon.

Tuesday, June 30

Governor Kate Brown said on Tuesday that she has extended the coronavirus state of emergency declaration for an additional 60 days, until the beginning of September  delivering a message to Oregonians that they "have a choice" to help save lives in the coming days.

Monday, June 29

Beginning on July 1, face coverings will be required in indoor public spaces throughout the state of Oregon. Widespread use of face coverings could help reduce the spread of COVID-19, and may help prevent the state from having to roll back reopening phases as some other states have done, according to the Governor's office.

Jackson and Josephine county officials held a joint press conference on Monday to discuss a sharp rise in cases in recent weeks. In the past week alone, Josephine County had 11 new cases while Jackson County identified 18 new cases. Contact tracing from many of the recent Rogue Valley cases have a culprit in common, officials said  a combination of travel and socializing without proper precautions.

Sunday, June 28

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 247 new cases of coronavirus in the state with no new deaths. There have now been 8,341 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state with 202 deaths attributed to the virus.

Jackson County public health officials announce nine new cases of coronavirus, this brings total number of cases in the county to 109.

Governor Kate Brown announces shell call a second special legislative session this summer. The goal of the second special session will be to fix a state budget wrecked by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis and to discuss using coronavirus relief funds to help support the Black community and working people. The second session is set to take place in late July or early August.

Saturday, June 27

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 277 new cases of coronavirus in the state. There have now been 8,095 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oregon. One new death is also being reported in the state on Saturday, but due to a previous error in reporting, the death toll remains at 202.

Friday, June 26

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 250 new cases of coronavirus in the state along with five new deaths. There have now been 7.818 confirmed cases in the state with 202 total deaths attributed to the virus.

A new viral modeling report suggests that coronavirus is spreading more rapidly in Oregon, according to a statement released by the Oregon Health Authority on Friday. According to the report, transmission rates increased 15 percent after May 15, and 10 percent more after May 22, based on hospitalization data in the state.

Thursday, June 25

Following a statewide order issued by California Governor Gavin Newsome requiring face coverings in public, Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey states enforcement of the rule is a possibility.

Governor Kate Brown announced on Thursday that she has commuted the prison sentences of 57 "medically vulnerable" inmates in the state corrections system due to the ongoing spread of coronavirus.

Wednesday, June 24

Access announced on Wednesday that it is now accepting applications from human services agencies and non-profits for rental assistance programs after receiving $805,000 in federal CARES Act funding. These funds are designated to provide rental help to residents of Jackson County who have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Multiple baseball tournaments are set to take place this weekend at U.S. Cellular Fields. These are the first baseball tournaments to take place in the Rogue Valley since the pandemic began. The City of Medford says theyre doing their best to follow guidelines set forth by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

Tuesday, June 23

A statewide public health order is requiring people in Washington state to wear facial coverings in most indoor and outdoor public settings.

The City of Ashland will offer $140,000 in grants to struggling small businesses and non-profit organizations after receiving matching funds from the state, the Ashland Chamber of Commerce announced on Tuesday. "The purpose is to provide financial assistance to small businesses and non-profits adversely affected by economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that have not received federal emergency assistance under the federal CARES Act or other federal program for emergency pandemic funding," the Chamber said.

The Rogue Valley Youth Correctional Facility is once again allowing visitors on the premises.

Monday, June 22

The Southern Oregon University Raiders announce a reduction in the 2020 football season from 10 to 8 games.

Starting this week, Southern Oregon nursing homes must test their staff for coronavirus. New Oregon health regulations will also require that testing be offered to residents of all assisted living homes.

Sunday, June 21

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 190 new coronavirus cases across the state on Sunday along with one new death. There are now 6,937 confirmed cases in the state along with 190 deaths attributed to the virus.

Saturday, June 20

Jackson, Klamath, and Siskiyou counties all report new cases of coronavirus on Saturday. In the region, Jackson County has 85 cases (65 recovered), Klamath County has 85 cases (40 recovered), Josephine County has 26 cases (22 recovered, 1 death), Curry County has 7 cases (7 recovered), Siskiyou County has 21 cases (11 recovered), and Lake County has 6 cases.

Friday, June 19

The City of Medford approved plans to allocate more than $400,000 in CARES Act funding at a city council meeting on Thursday night. The Medford allocations are largely aimed at helping families and individuals most affected by the far-reaching impacts of coronavirus and the resulting shutdowns.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival held annual Juneteenth celebrations virtually today. The Juneteenth celebration here at OSF is always joyous and its always full of creativity and even though were not seeing people live and in-person, its no less creative, said Christina Clark, an actor and producer for the Juneteenth virtual event.

Thursday, June 18

Wednesday, June 17

Following a COVID-19 outbreak in which 236 people have tested positive for the virus, Union County officials are asking residents to voluntarily return to Phase I guidelines, despite the county being in Phase II.

Governor Kate Brown announces that Oregons next steps going forward will include a requirement to wear face coverings in public for some counties following a spike in coronavirus cases over the past several weeks.

Tuesday, June 16

Oregon released its COVID-19 testing plan for long term care facilities on Tuesday. The plan is divided in two phases, unfolding over the next three to four months throughout the state. In phase one, all staff and residents of long-term care facilities will be tested from late June through late September. In the second phase, facilities will implement plans for ongoing monitoring.

Oregon public health officials report 278 new cases of coronavirus in the state as of Tuesday morning  for the second day in a row setting a single-day high for new cases following several record jumps over the past week. The state also reported that two more deaths have occurred due to COVID-19. At present, 182 deaths have been attributed to the virus.

Governor Kate Brown on Tuesday announced that she will convene a special session of the state legislature to address both COVID-19 and police accountability measures. We are at a unique moment in America, Brown said. I am calling a special session to take up two urgent issues facing our state: the COVID-19 pandemic and police accountability.

The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles reports a large backlog amid reopening in Oregon. In two weeks of reopening, the DMV has received 130,000 appointment requests.

Monday, June 15

Oregon public health officials reported 184 new cases of the new coronavirus in the state as of Monday morning  a new single-day high for new cases following several record jumps over the past week. There are also four new deaths being attributed to the virus. There are now 5,820 confirmed or presumptive cases in the state along with 180 deaths attributed to the virus.

The Oregon Health Authority states a portion of the record increase of coronavirus cases is due to an outbreak in Union County in the rural northeastern part of the state, where 99 people tested positive for COVID-19.

Sunday, June 14

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 101 new cases of coronavirus in Oregon along with two new deaths. The total number of cases in the state is now 5,636 with 176 deaths attributed to the virus.

Saturday, June 13

The Oregon Health Authority announce 158 confirmed and presumptive cases of coronavirus on Saturday. This is the second highest daily count since the onset of the pandemic. There was also one new death on Saturday, bringing the state total to 174.

Friday, June 12

The City of Medford announced on Friday that it will reopen public park playgrounds and splash pads this weekend, though the Jackson pool will remain closed for the summer.

The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Governor Kate Browns coronavirus restrictions. In May, a lawsuit was filed by a coalition of Oregon churches, individuals, and businesses claiming Governor Browns executive orders were unconstitutional.

Thursday, June 11

Jackson County Fair has announced it will support livestock and 4h projects, while cancelling all other aspects of the fair. "We would love to be able to create a fair for all families to come and enjoy during the 2020 season but there is still some research-based guidance that says it is not advisable to create such a gathering," Expo director Helen Funk said in a statement.

Two local companies are reporting coronavirus outbreaks. Harry & David is reporting 5 new cases, three of which are employees and two that came in close contact with employees. OSHA is also reporting 6 cases connected to Timber Products in Medford.

Governor Kate Brown on Thursday called for a "yellow light" in Oregon's reopening process as several counties see a continued spike in new coronavirus cases  essentially pressing the pause button on a handful counties that have working toward a new phase over the last several weeks.

Wednesday, June 10

The Oregon Department of Education is asking districts to decide how to proceed with schooling next year. Individual districts will be allowed to determine if classes will be held in the school, at home through distance learning, or through a 'hybrid model.'

Jackson County public health officials reported six new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, five of them linked to an outbreak at Harry & David. Jackson County Public Health said that three employees of Harry & David were positive for the virus, in addition to two close contacts of those workers. An outbreak investigation began on Tuesday.

Tuesday, June 9

Multiple employees at Harry & David's campus in Medford have tested positive for coronavirus, the company's corporate offices confirmed on Tuesday. "We are actively working with the Jackson County Health Department in regards to positive cases of COVID-19 within the specialty foods area of the Harry & David campus," said Kathleen Waugh, vice president of Enterprise Public Relations.

Multiple employees at Harry & David's campus in Medford have tested positive for coronavirus, the company's corporate offices confirmed on Tuesday. "We are actively working with the Jackson County Health Department in regards to positive cases of COVID-19 within the specialty foods area of the Harry & David campus," said Kathleen Waugh, vice president of Enterprise Public Relations. Oregon is working on a plan to conduct comprehensive coronavirus testing "on all residents and staff" of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in the state, according to a statement from Governor Kate Brown on Tuesday.

Monday, June 8

The Oregon Health Authority reports another 114 new and presumptive cases of COVID-19 on Monday bringing the state total to 4,922. The OHA believes the large spike in new cases can be partly attributed to workplace outbreaks.

Local food banks are seeing a drastic rise in need due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sunday, June 7

Crater Lake National Park will reopen on Monday. This includes access to recreational areas such as park trails.

The Oregon Health Authority is reporting 156 new cases of coronavirus. This is the highest daily total being reported since the OHA started keeping track of cases in March. One more death is also being reported today, bringing the state total to 164.

Saturday, June 6

Multnomah County officials submitted reopening framework to Gov. Kate Browns office Friday in the hope of beginning phase 1 of the states plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions. Multnomah County is currently the only county in Oregon not in Phase I.

Friday, June 5

California will begin allowing the reopening of schools, day camps, bars, gyms and some professional sports with modifications at the end of next week.

Thursday, June 4

According to a list from the Governor's office, Jackson, Curry, Klamath, Lake and Douglas counties have been approved to enter Phase II of reopening beginning on Friday, June 5.

Wednesday, June 3

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department announced Tuesday that it will lay off 47 full-time employees by June 30. That's in addition to the 338 seasonal staff that will not be rehired this year. All due to an estimated $22 million shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Brown outlines in a press conference what Phase II of reopening will look like. According to Governor Brown, a few components of Phase II include the reopening of some entertainment facilities, gatherings can be larger, and extended operating hours of restaurants and bars.

Tuesday, June 2

The Oregon Health authority announced 33 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday along with three new deaths. The total number of cases in the state now sits at 4,335 with 157 deaths attributed to the virus.

Josephine County officials have submitted their plan for entering Phase II of loosening coronavirus restrictions. The letter was sent to Governor Kate Brown's office on Tuesday. Josephine County said that it has a team of 20 contact tracers, two of whom are Spanish speakers. The County also said that it runs an average of 317 tests per week, exceeding the Oregon Health Authority's minimum.

Monday, June 1

The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has submitted its request to Governor Kate Brown's office to enter Phase II of reopening. In order to meet Phase II requirements, the county must meet criteria of assurances that local first responders have enough personal protective equipment (PPE), a required number of contact tracers, and meeting all existing requirements from Phase I.

With unemployment claims from thousands of Oregonians still unprocessed following the lay-off boom caused by the state's coronavirus response, Governor Kate Brown announced on Sunday that she has replaced the head of the agency that has struggled to address the backlog. In the middle of this pandemic, the continued delays from the Oregon Employment Department in delivering unemployment insurance benefits to thousands of out-of-work Oregonians are unacceptable, said Governor Brown.

Sunday, May 31

Public health officials have announced 58 new cases of COVID-19 with no new deaths. The total number of coronavirus cases in the state is now 4,243 with the death toll remaining at 153.

Saturday, May 30

The Oregon Health Authority announces 55 new cases of coronavirus along with two new deaths. This raises the total number of cases in the state to 4,185 with 153 deaths.

Friday, May 29

Oregon Governor Kate Brown announces more than $30 million to help protect Oregon farmworkers from coronavirus. This comes after several of the states recent large outbreaks have been among seasonal workers. The agricultural work environment can put them at higher risk of infection from a communicable disease like COVID-19, and we need to do everything we can to reduce that risk said OHA director Patrick Allen.

Thursday, May 28

A majority of COVID-19 carriers could be asymptomatic, this includes children. According to Dr. Grant Niskanen, even though its rare for children to show symptoms of coronavirus, this does not mean they are immune. In New York City, they estimate about 400,000 children became infected with COVID-19, thats still quite a small percentage when you look at the size of New York City, about 8.5 million people, said Dr. Niskanen. Children are not the only asymptomatic carriers of the disease. Dr. Niskanen added A study came out of China today and the cruise lines as well, that 80% of people may be asymptomatic with the COVID-19 virus.

Wednesday, May 27

Two southern Oregon churches have filed a new lawsuit, this time in federal court, against Governor Kate Brown  alleging that her coronavirus restrictions unfairly target faith-based organizations. The two churches in Josephine and Douglas counties are represented by attorneys from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian nonprofit advocacy group based in Arizona.

Jackson County reports five new cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 65. Out of the 65 cases, Jackson County says 47 have recovered.

Members of the Oregon National Guard delivered shipments containing roughly 135,000 face coverings to the state fairgrounds in Salem on Wednesday. These face coverings will be distributed out to farm workers around the state.

Tuesday, May 26

Siskiyou County has entered a new phase of reopening as of Tuesday according to public health officials. Under the guidelines, places of worship, retail stores, and hair salons can reopen with specific precautions.

The Baker County Judge who ruled Governor Browns executive orders werent lawful is standing by his decision. Because he chose to uphold his ruling, according to the Supreme Court, Baker County Judge Matthew Shirtcliff will need to give the state and churches involved in the lawsuit additional opportunities to make their arguments and explain why he is upholding his judgment.

Lake County has confirmed its first case of COVID-19. Every county in Southern Oregon now has had at least one case of coronavirus since the outbreak began.

Monday, May 25

Memorial Day ceremonies were held without crowds on Monday in an effort to honor the fallen despite the coronavirus.

Sunday, May 24

The Oregon Health Authority is announcing 46 new cases of coronavirus statewide along with one new death. The total number of cases in the state now sits at 3,927 with 148 deaths attributed to coronavirus.

The Oregon Supreme Court is giving the Baker County judge who ruled Governor Kate Browns executive orders null and void, until Tuesday to toss out his ruling. If the Baker County Circuit Judge declines to vacate the order, he must explain why. He must also give the state and churches who sued over the stay-at-home order an opportunity to make further arguments.

Saturday, May 23

Jackson County announces two more cases of coronavirus bringing the county total to 57. Of the 57 confirmed cases, 46 have fully recovered.

Friday, May 22

The Ashland Art Center announced on Friday that it will be closing its doors and "will not be re-opening. Despite the closure of the Art Center building, the nonprofit Ashland Art Center Organization plans to continue, entering "a voluntary state of dormancy." They hope to restructure the organization to support artists in the community through other means.

Jackson County reports two new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Health officials urge people to recognize the virus still poses a risk even as restrictions are being lifted. "Everyone taking preventative action will help to protect the health and wellness of the community and it will also help keep Jackson County open," officials said.

Thursday, May 21

An inmate at Oregon's maximum-security State Penitentiary has died after testing positive for the new coronavirus, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC). According to the agency, 38 DOC employees and 148 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the state since the outbreak began.

The temporary rule change enacted in March allowing for self-service pumping at gas stations will end this weekend according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Wednesday, May 20

The CDC released a 60-page document with guidelines on how to reopen America with the coronavirus. Part of the guidelines pertained to schools. Oregon Department of Education Communications Director Marc Siegel announced "ODE is creating a plan for the 2020-2021 school year and will finalize and release the plan in June. As you can imagine, this is a complex undertaking with many moving parts as we work to ensure care, connection, and continuity of learning for Oregon's students."

Tuesday, May 19

The Oregon Supreme Court has issued a stay on the Monday Circuit Court ruling that temporarily rendered Governor Kate Brown's coronavirus restrictions "null and void." Following swift action by the Oregon Supreme Court, my emergency orders to protect the health and safety of Oregonians will remain in effect statewide while the court hears arguments in this lawsuit," Governor Brown said in a statement.

Monday, May 18

A county judge has effectively suspended Governor Kate Brown's coronavirus-related executive orders while presiding over a lawsuit brought by Oregon churches and other individuals. Brown's lawyers requested a 48-hour hold on the judge's Monday decision, but the Baker County judge denied the request. According to attorney Ray Hacke, this makes Brown's coronavirus orders "null and void" effective immediately. The decision will be immediately appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court.

The unemployment rate in Oregon has topped 14 percent after massive job losses that began in March due to the state's coronavirus restrictions, according to the Oregon Employment Department. At the beginning of March, state unemployment was at a near record low of 3.5 percent. By the end of April, unemployment sat at 14.2 percent. This marks the highest rate and over-month increase in unemployment since comparable records began in 1976.

Sunday, May 17

Oregon public health officials are reporting 9 new confirmed cases and 3 new presumptive cases of COVID-19 with no new deaths. The statewide total of cases now sits at 3,623.

Oregon has received shipments of the experimental COVID-19 drug remdesivir. Providence St. Vincent and Providence Portland medical centers are conducting their own clinical trials with the drug. The hospitals have tested 30 patients.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) says its vehicle inspection stations will remain closed until May 31st. The DEQ has asked law enforcement to exercise discretion when it comes to driver's licenses, vehicle registrations and trip permits that expire during the coronavirus emergency declared by Governor Brown.

Kroger, the parent company of grocer Fred Meyer, has announced it will provide thank you payments to hourly employees after a union outcry over the company ending a $2 per hour pay bump it implemented amid the coronavirus pandemic. Officials said Friday bonus payments of $400 and $200 for full- and part-time employees will be paid in two installments in May and June.

Saturday, May 16

The Oregon Health Authority reports 64 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, 7 new presumptive cases, and no new deaths. The total number of confirmed cases in the state is up to 3,612 and number of negative tests is 88,587.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Jackson County Courthouse to speak up for their first amendment rights at a Faith and Freedom Rally on Saturday. Organizers say that the rally was not about being affiliated with any party, but about wanting their freedoms back.

Friday, May 15

California tells hospitals to consider having a lottery for sought after COVID-19 drug. The drug remdesivir is considered the new standard of care for patients according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, although there is not nearly enough to go around. The federal government this week sent the California Department of Public Health enough medicine for 100 to 200 patients, depending on how long they take the drug. The state has more than 3,000 patients in the hospital with coronavirus.

Oregonians who received food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue to receive extra benefits in June as thousands continue to struggle with the fallout from COVID-19. "Due to the continued state of emergency, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Services has provided an additional $30 million to help children and adults in Oregon buy food," DHS said in a statement.

While most businesses are now approved to open under the Phase I plan, a newly released set of guidelines makes clear that public-facing jobs across multiple sectors will be required to wear face coverings, at least until Phase II. The requirements apply to grocery stores, gyms and fitness centers, pharmacies, public transit agencies, personal services such as salons and massage clinics, restaurants and bars, retail stores, and ride sharing services.

Thursday, May 14

The CDC warns doctors to expect more cases of a mystifying condition in children related to coronavirus. The condition, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, appears to be a post-viral syndrome with symptoms that include persistent fever, inflammation and poor function in organs such as the kidneys or heart.

Governor Kate Brown announces 31 of Oregons 36 counties have gained approval from the Oregon Health Authority for a Friday reopening. Of the five remaining counties, three did not apply and two were rejected.

Wednesday, May 13

A young girl being treated at a Portland-area hospital appears to be Oregons first case of a rare pediatric condition linked to COVID-19. The Oregon Health Authority announced the case on Wednesday, calling the condition "pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome"  a rare and still mysterious disease in children believed to be caused by COVID-19 infection.

On Wednesday, Democrats in the Oregon House urged the state's Employment Department to address the backlog of unpaid unemployment claims that have been building since mass lay-offs began in mid-March.

More than 10 Oregon churches, multiple individuals, and businesses are joining in a lawsuit suing Governor Kate Brown over the Stay home, save lives executive orders. The lawsuit states that Governor Brown did not follow procedures set by the Oregon constitution when enacting the executive orders.

Tuesday, May 12

The remaining 12 rapid coronavirus testing machines have been delivered to various hospitals around the state, including one going to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath County. Previously, rapid testing machines had been delivered to hospitals in Lake, Curry, and Morrow Counties.

Providence announces it will enact state-wide pay cuts and furloughs due to losses brought on by COVID-19.

Monday, May 11

Oregon public health officials announce 51 new cases of coronavirus with three new deaths. There have now been 130 deaths attributed to the virus with 3,222 confirmed cases in the state. At least 74,320 tests have come back negative.

Governor Kate Brown along with other leaders from the Western State Pact addressed a letter to the heads of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives asking for $1 trillion in "direct and flexible relief" for state and local governments in order to prevent major cuts to public services.

Governor Kate Brown has issued a statement signaling that Oregon could be facing a $3 billion economic shortfall for this budget period due to coronavirus.

Sunday, May 10

Oregon public health officials announce 60 new cases of coronavirus with no new deaths.

The Oregon State Fire Marshall is extending the temporary rule change allowing for self service pumping at gas stations. The rule change was set to end on Saturday, May 9th, is now set to expire on Saturday, May 23rd.

Saturday, May 9

Oregon public health officials announce 79 new cases of coronavirus along with three new deaths. There have now been 127 deaths and 3,160 confirmed cases of the virus in the state. 71,460 tests have come back negative.

Friday, May 8

Following Governor Kate Browns most recent plan, which included banning all large gatherings through September, the Oregon Shakespeare Festivals 2020 season has been cancelled entirely. The health and safety of our entire Ashland community, including artists, staff, volunteers, patrons, and Festival partners, is our highest priority, said Nataki Garrett, OSF artistic director.

The Jackson County Fair announces it hopes to move forward with a more limited Plan C despite Governor Kate Browns latest announcement.

The Josephine County Fair announces it will move forward with fair activities in 2020 even if it means turning to online platforms.

Thursday, May 7

Oregon public health officials announce 70 new cases of coronavirus and six new deaths. There have now been 121 deaths and 2,957 confirmed cases in the state.

Oregon public health officials announce 70 new cases of coronavirus and six new deaths. There have now been 121 deaths and 2,957 confirmed cases in the state. Governor Kate Brown rolls out the states newest specific guidelines for counties and businesses that are looking to enter Phase One of reopening on Friday, May 15. Governor Kate Brown also announces possible plans for Phase Two and Phase Three, noting festivals and other large gatherings will still be canceled or "significantly modified through at least September."

Due to Governor Browns latest announcement, the 2020 Britt Festival will be postponed until next year. "Due to this mandate, and out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our community, including musicians, fans, partners, and staff, the 2020 Britt Presents Season will be postponed until 2021," the organization said in its announcement.

Wednesday, May 6

Oregon public health officials announce 70 new cases of coronavirus and two new deaths. There have now been 115 deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 2,887 confirmed cases. The Oregon Health Authority also notes 65,060 people have tested negative for the virus.

Curry County announces it will lift restrictions on visitors staying at area hotels and vacation rentals. The ban on visitor lodging in Curry County has been in place for just over one month.

All of southern Oregon's counties are submitting their plans for entering "phase one" of lifting coronavirus restrictions, pending approval from Governor Kate Brown's office. Each of the plans hinge on where the counties stand in regards to COVID-19 cases. The Governor's plan requires that each county must testify to a downward trajectory of both flu-like and COVID-like cases, adequate hospital surge capacity, a steady supply of PPE, and a robust testing program.

Tuesday, May 5

Oregon public health officials announce 72 new cases of coronavirus along with four new deaths. There have now been 113 deaths and 2,817 confirmed cases in the state.

Oregon and the federal government have partnered up to extend SNAP benefits to families with kids that would be receiving free or reduced-price meals if they were still in school.

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services has issued an emergency order requiring health insurance companies to provide a 60-day grace period for any past due premiums.

Governor Kate Brown announces an immediate limited reopening of the states outdoor recreation areas. Oregon Parks & Recreation listed a handful of inland state parks that will open up beginning Wednesday, including the Joseph Stewart boat ramp on Lost Creek Lake near Shady Cove, the Prineville Reservoir boat ramp near Prineville, the State Capitol State Park in Salem, and Pilot Butte in Bend.

Monday, May 4

Oregon public health officials announce 65 new cases of coronavirus with no new deaths for the second day in a row. The number of deaths attributed to the virus remain at 109 with 2,745 cases confirmed in the state.

The University of Oregon is the new home to a machine that is capable to decontaminating N-95 masks. The decontamination unit came to Oregon via the federal government, and the state reached an agreement with UO to house the system. The unit can sanitize 85,000 masks per day according to Governor Kate Browns office.

Sunday, May 3

Oregon public health officials announce 45 new case of coronavirus with no new deaths. The number of deaths attributed to the virus remain at 109 with 2,680 cases confirmed in the state.

Saturday, May 2

Oregon public health officials announce 57 new cases of coronavirus and 5 new deaths. There have now been 109 deaths attributed to coronavirus and 2,635 confirmed cases in the state.

Governor Kate Brown extends the current state of emergency due to the coronavirus by another 60 days. The original state of emergency, declared on March 8, is now set to expire on July 6. "I find that the novel infections coronavirus continues to threaten public health and safety," Governor Brown wrote.

Friday, May 1

Oregon health officials report 69 new cases of coronavirus along with one new death. There have now been 104 deaths attributed to COVID-19 with 2,579 confirmed cases in the state.

Governor Kate Brown announces contact tracing and coronavirus testing are key as Oregon moves to gradually loosen restrictions put in place to help stop the spread of the virus. Governor Brown also states some rural counties that have seen fewer impacts could begin to reopen as early as May 15.

On Friday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization of the drug remdesivir for treatment of coronavirus patients. Though the drug is still only in early trials for treating COVID-19, National Institutes of Health director Dr. Anthony Fauci heralded the results as "clear-cut evidence that [the] drug works."

Thursday, April 30

Oregon public health officials announce 64 new cases of coronavirus along with two new deaths. There have now been 103 deaths and 2,510 confirmed cases in the state.

Lake County leaders prepare a three-phase plan to gradually lift coronavirus restrictions based on Governor Kate Browns framework for reopening the state. "Due to the ever-changing nature of our fluid situation, information associated with COVID-19 guidelines will be handled as an adaptive management plan and/or living document," the County said in a statement.

Wednesday, April 29

Tuesday, April 28

Oregon public health officials announce 31 new cases of coronavirus along with seven new deaths. There have now been 99 deaths and 2,385 cases in the state.

In a weekly report, the Oregon Health Authority offered a new total of recovered cases in the state. Of 2,253 surviving cases at the time of the report, 860 (38.2 percent) were considered recovered, and 785 (34.8 percent) were not yet recovered. 607 cases (26.9 percent) have yet to be assessed by the agency.

Jackson County announces parks will gradually be reopened beginning on Friday, May 1.

Monday, April 27

Oregon public health officials announce 43 new cases of coronavirus along with one new death. There have now been 92 deaths and 2,354 cases of coronavirus in the state.

Two more states have joined a regional pact for coordinating the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, Governor Kate Brown announced on Monday. The governors of Colorado and Nevada announced on Monday that they would join Oregon, Washington, and California in the group.

Organizers announce that the annual Grants Pass event, Boatnik, will be cancelled this year. The event set to take place from May 21 through May 25 will now not move forward until 2021. "The safety of our event attendees has always been our priority and will remain the priority," the Active Club said.

Sunday, April 26

Oregon public health officials announce 58 new cases of coronavirus and four new deaths. There have now been 91 deaths and 2,311 confirmed cases in the state.

Saturday, April 25

Oregon is set to receive around 4 million KN95 masks next week. The state is also obtaining an N95 mask disinfecting machine that can clean 85,000 masks per day.

Friday, April 24

Oregon public health officials have identified 51 new coronavirus cases along with three new deaths. There are now 2,177 confirmed cases in the state with 86 total deaths.

The Oregon State Fire Marshall announces the temporary rule change that allows self-service pumping at gas stations will be extended through May 9, in order to help maintain social distancing procedure. The temporary rule was announced on March 28, and has already been extended once.

Thursday, April 23

Oregon public health officials announce 68 new cases of coronavirus and five new deaths. There have now been 2,127 cases of coronavirus in the state with 83 total deaths.

Governor Kate Brown announces she will be lifting the order that has postponed all elective and non-emergency medical procedures in the state due to the COVID-19 crisis. This executive order, announced on March 19, was put into place to preserve personal protective equipment and hospital surge capacity.

Wednesday, April 22

Oregon public health officials report 57 new cases of coronavirus. The state now has 2,059 confirmed cases with 78 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

Tuesday, April 21

The Oregon Health Authority release new coronavirus testing guidelines giving priority to front-line workers and others who regularly interact with the public. The new guidelines have been put in place "to prioritize impacted populations and all front-line workers" said the OHA.

Monday, April 20

Oregon public health officials announce one new death and 47 new cases of coronavirus. There have now been 75 deaths and 1,956 confirmed cases in the state

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities across the state begin receiving loads of personal protective equipment from the Oregon National Guard.

Sunday, April 19

The Oregon Health Authority announces 66 new cases of coronavirus as well as two more deaths. The total number of deaths rises to 74 with 1,910 confirmed cases.

Saturday, April 18

The Oregon Health Authority announces 59 new cases of coronavirus in the state along with 2 new deaths. The total number of deaths rises to 72 with a total of 1,844 confirmed coronavirus cases statewide.

Friday, April 17

Oregon public health officials announce six more deaths and 49 new cases of coronavirus. There have now been 70 deaths and 1,785 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Oregon.

The Britt Festival announces the cancellation of the 2020 Britt Festival Orchestra season due to coronavirus concerns.

Governor Kate Brown issues an executive order barring creditors from garnishing federal stimulus funds bound for Oregonians' bank accounts. These recovery checks were meant to provide relief, not reward debt collection agencies for preying on Oregonians who have lost their livelihoods due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Governor Brown.

Thursday, April 16

Oregon public health officials announce six more deaths as well as 73 new cases of coronavirus. There have now been 64 deaths and 1,736 confirmed cases in the state.

Governor Kate Brown issues a new executive order directing local and state government agencies to keep the public involved in decision-making processes, despite social distancing measures. Public participation in government decision-making is fundamental to our representative form of government, said Governor Brown.

Wednesday, April 15

Oregon reports three more deaths and 33 new cases of coronavirus. There have now been 58 deaths and 1,663 confirmed cases in the state. The number of new cases is the lowest that the state has seen in several weeks.

Tuesday, April 14

Governor Brown holds a press conference where she outlines a framework for reopening Oregon's economy and loosening COVID-19 restrictions. The framework does not come with a timeline, but will be based on several statewide goals and further developments.

The OLCC suspends the liquor license of a Cave Junction bar after an investigation allegedly finds it serving customers inside, violating the state's COVID-19 orders.

Oregon OSHA announces that it will begin doing "spot checks" of businesses accused of failing to follow social distancing mandates from the state.

Monday, April 13

Oregon, Washington, and California announce a "West Coast Pact" to coordinate reopening the economies of all three states based on input from public health experts.

Governor Kate Brown says that the state will commit $8 million to aid the struggling Oregon Food Bank, which has seen a dramatic rise in demand and drop in donations.

Sunday, April 12

Oregon announces one new death and 80 new positive cases in the state. There are now 52 deaths and 1,527 confirmed cases.

Saturday, April 11

Friday, April 10

The Oregon Employment Department says that it has begun adding the $600 supplement to weekly unemployment benefits funded in the federal CARES Act, though many people continue to report being unable to get through in order to file a claim.

Oregon reports four more deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the state total up to 48. With 51 new cases, the total positives rises to 1,371.

Thursday, April 9

Governor Brown says that the state has delivered new rapid on-site COVID-19 testing machines to three hospitals in rural Oregon counties in order to boost their limited ability to conduct testing.

Oregon reports that it received almost 270,000 initial unemployment claims in the three weeks since the COVID-19 crisis truly took off in the state. Officials say that additional federal unemployment benefits of $600 per payment will begin coming out within the week.

In an update reporting one new case, Klamath County says that nine cases in the county have now fully recovered. Numbers on recovered cases have come from local public health agencies only sporadically, with the state of Oregon having no statewide numbers available.

Oregon reports six more deaths from COVID-19, bringing the state death toll up to 44. With 83 new confirmed cases, the state total rises to 1,321.

Wednesday, April 8

Tuesday, April 7

Monday, April 6

Jackson County officials confirm that the area leads the state in COVID-19 testing per capita, actually topping most U.S. states as well.

Oregon reports 64 new cases, bringing the state total to 1,132. With two new deaths, the total rises to 29. Southern Oregon counties continue to see new cases throughout.

Sunday, April 5

Counties in southern Oregon begin to see a wider spread of cases, with new cases in Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine counties. Curry County also sees its first three confirmed cases.

Saturday, April 4

Oregon reports 100 new cases, bringing the state total to 999. Four more people die due to the virus, bringing the death toll to 26.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says that Oregon will send 140 ventilators to the East Coast state, which has become the nation's epicenter for COVID-19 cases. Governor Kate Brown confirms that this is the case, as New York is in greater need.

Friday, April 3

Thursday, April 2

Governor Brown unveils the "Coronavirus Small Business Resource Navigator," a resource for small businesses struggling from the coronavirus response.

On a local level, more and more confirmed cases in southern Oregon are tied to major institutions or businesses that remain operational  including Kingsley Field, Timber Products, and Oregon Tech.

Oregon reports two more deaths and 90 more confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll rises to 21, with 826 cases.

Wednesday, April 1

Governor Brown issues a new executive order expanding on a moratorium on residential evictions. The new order also bans commercial evictions, as well as late fees charged for either circumstance.

Stealing a march on state and federal authorities, Jackson County Public Health begins recommending that people get reusable cloth face masks to wear when out in public.

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Oregon rise to 736, with one more death.

Tuesday, March 31

The state says that it is due for a major shipment of PPE from FEMA, to be distributed out to local public health agencies for front-line healthcare workers. Despite massive amounts of PPE already distributed in the state, there is an ongoing shortage.

Officials with the Oregon Department of Education admit that there is a "strong possibility" students will not return to school before summer.

Oregon announces 84 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the state total up to 690. Two more elderly Oregonians die, raising the state death toll to 18.

Monday, March 30

Oregon Health Authority announces 58 new cases of the coronavirus bringing the state total to 606 cases. Three more fatalities announced as well, bringing the total to 16.

Southern Oregon University postpones their 2020 spring commencement ceremony as a result of COVID-19.

Public health officials in Jackson County have announced one more new case of coronavirus, bringing the county total to 20 confirmed cases.

Sunday, March 29

The Oregon Health Authority announces new cases of COVID-19 in Jackson County, bringing the county total to 19.

The Oregon Health Authority also announces 1 new case in Josephine County, bringing the county total to five.

As a whole, the state announces 69 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 548.

The White House made a disaster declaration for Oregon on Sunday. This declaration is an important first step towards unlocking all available federal resources for Oregons state, tribal, and local response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and I appreciate the responsiveness of Vice President Pence and federal administration officials to our requests for aid," said Governor Kate Brown.

Saturday, March 28

Klamath County Public Health is notified of two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to four. Of the two new cases, one is travel related, while the other is believed to be community acquired.

Jackson County Public Health reports six new coronavirus cases. This brings the county total to 13.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal announces a temporary rule change that will allow Oregonians to pump their own gasoline due to COVID-19.

Friday, March 27

Josephine County is notified of three new cases of COVID-19 by the Oregon Health Authority. This brings the total number of cases in Josephine County to five.

Jackson County announces three more cases of coronavirus bringing the county total to seven. Jackson County Health officer Dr. Jim Shames says Jackson County has entered the phase of rapid community spread.

Oregon Health Authority announces 98 new cases of coronavirus along with another fatality. This brings the state total number of cases to 414 with twelve fatalities.

Thursday, March 26

Klamath County public health officials announce second positive case of COVID-19, an employee of Sky Lakes Medical Center.

The Oregon Health Authority announces 50 new cases of coronavirus as well as an additional fatality. The number of total confirmed cases in Oregon rises to 316 with eleven fatalities.

The City of Klamath Falls declares a local state of emergency due to COVID-19.

Wednesday, March 25

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services issues a temporary emergency order that prevents Oregonians from losing their insurance due to late payments.

The U.S. Forest Service announces all prescribed burns will be halted in Oregon and Washington to cut down on smoke entering local communities.

Josephine County confirms its second case of COVID-19.

The Oregon Health Authority announces 57 new positive cases of coronavirus bringing the state total to 266. Officials also note two new deaths in the state attributed to COVID-19, bringing the state total to 10.

Tuesday, March 24

Health officials report three more deaths in Oregon attributed to coronavirus bringing the state total to eight. Oregons sixth death was a 78-year old man with underlying health conditions from Clackamas County who tested positive on March 15. Oregons seventh death was a 63-year old man with underlying health conditions from Multnomah County who tested positive on March 16. The eighth death was from a 90-year old woman with underlying health conditions from Washington County who tested positive on March 19. The state total for confirmed cases rises to 209 after 18 new cases are confirmed.

Crater Lake National Park is closed to all visitors until further notice in response to Governor Kate Browns executive order.

Monday, March 23

Governor Kate Brown issues an executive order mandating a stay-at-home policy for Oregonians. Certain businesses are ordered to close, while others are directed to take greater social distancing measures. Non-essential gatherings "of any size" are prohibited and social distancing of 6 feet is advised in nearly all circumstances.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Oregon rises to 191 after 30 new cases are confirmed.

Sunday, March 22

Health officials announce a fifth death in the state due to coronavirus. The patient was a veteran in his 90s who passed away at the Oregon Veterans Home.

Governor Kate Brown issues an executive order temporarily halting evictions for non-payment due to the ongoing public health crisis. Due to the virus or response measures, thousands in the state have either lost their jobs or are going without pay.

Saturday, March 21

Health officials report a fourth death in Oregon attributed to coronavirus, a Marion County woman with underlying health conditions. She tested positive for the virus on March 15. The state total of confirmed cases rises to 137.

Friday, March 20

In a press conference with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Governor Brown outlines a policy encouraging Oregonians to stay home and practice social distancing to flatten the coronavirus curve, however it is not accompanied by an executive order.

Josephine County confirms its first case of COVID-19, an employee of Asante.

Coronavirus cases in Oregon rise to 114 after seeing the state's largest single-day increase so far of 26 new cases  double the previous day's number.

Thursday, March 19

Wednesday, March 18

Governor Brown issues another executive order bringing Oregon colleges in line with precautions for K-12 schools, mandating that courses be done remotely until after April 28.

Oregon health officials report two more deaths in the state due to COVID-19, making a total of three. Positive cases in the state rise to 75.

Tuesday, March 17

Monday, March 16

Late Monday night, health officials announce four more cases of COVID-19 at an Oregon Veterans' Home in Lebanon, already the site of multiple cases. This brings the state total up to 51.

Health officials announce eight new cases of COVID-19 spread between Benton, Deschutes, Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah and Washington counties. This brings the state total up to 47.

Governor Kate Brown and public health officials issue new statewide mandates, banning all public gatherings of 25 or more people and restricting restaurants to take-out or delivery service only. Essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, retail stores and workplaces are exempted.

Sunday, March 15

Health officials confirm three new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon, bringing the state total up to 39. One new case is in Yamhill County, one in Deschutes, and one in Linn County.

Saturday, March 14

The first death from COVID-19 is reported in Oregon. Health officials say it was a 70-year-old Multnomah County man who had underlying health conditions.

The Oregon Health Authority reveals six new people who tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the state total up to 36 cases. Three of the cases are in Washington County, two cases in Deschutes County, and one new case in Linn County.

Friday, March 13

Oregon schools begin announcing their plans after Governor Brown mandates K-12 school closures through the end of March. This includes the organization of free "grab and go" lunches for students during at least part of the closure.

Thursday, March 12

Public health officials announce three new presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the state total up to 24. One case was a man between the ages of 25 and 54 in Clackamas County, the first in that county. He was in close contact with a previous case, officials said. The others were both women older than 55 in Washington County who had "no known close contacts" with other confirmed cases, marking more cases of community spread.

At a press conference on Thursday morning, Governor Kate Brown and state health officials detail new statewide policies  including a moratorium on gatherings of more than 250 people in the state for four weeks.

Health officials announce six more presumptive cases at the Oregon Veterans' Home in Lebanon where two cases were detected on Wednesday. This brings the state total up to 30.

Even as many schools began to cancel non-essential events and activities, Governor Brown's office made an announcement late in the evening to close all K-12 schools beginning March 16 through March 31.

Wednesday, March 11

In a video updated posted on Wednesday morning, Governor Kate Brown reveals that six of Oregon's COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized. She also outlines new state guidelines for long-term care facilities that would restrict visitation in order to limit residents' exposure to coronavirus.

Oregon health officials announce four new presumptive cases in the state, bringing the total up to 19. The new cases are reportedly in Polk, Marion, Umatilla, and Deschutes counties and represent further examples of community spread.

Later in the day, officials revealed two more presumptive cases in a group veterans' home in Lebanon, Oregon.

Governor Kate Brown released a statement Wednesday night outlining "urgent new rules" throughout the state in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Tuesday, March 10

A new presumptive case of COVID-19 is identified, the first in Multnomah County. This brings Oregon's total up to 15 cases spread across seven counties.

Monday, March 9

The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board approves $5 million in state funding for coronavirus response, in addition to raising the ceiling for federal fund expenditures.

Officials say that there are no new cases identified on Monday, but 52 people still await testing.

Sunday, March 8

Governor Kate Brown declares a State of Emergency for the new coronavirus in Oregon, freeing up additional state resources.

Officials identify seven new presumptive cases throughout the state, all examples of community spread. This brings the state total up to 14.

Saturday, March 7

Oregon officials identify four new presumptive cases of COVID-19, three of them in southern Oregon. All three of those cases are said to be travel-related, not examples of community spread.

Wednesday, March 4

While Oregon experiences a period of 'no new cases,' Washington reports its 10th death from the virus and California notes its first.

Monday, March 2

Officials announce a third presumptive case of COVID-19 in Oregon, this one in a resident of Umatilla County. The person is hospitalized in Washington state while authorities work to track down and clean areas they had recently visited.

Sunday, March 1

The Oregon Health Authority confirms a second presumptive case of COVID-19 in an adult who lives in the same household as the first case. Eight other tests for other possible cases come back negative.

Friday, February 28
Sri Lanka on Thursday announced the closure of all schools across the country to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

The Education Ministry announced that all schools will remain shut down till April 20, as second person in Sri Lanka tested positive for the virus.

The second patient, identified as a 44 year-old man, is said to have had close contact with the first patient detected with the virus in the country, Director-General of Health Services Anil Jasinghe said.

The first person to be detected with the coronavirus in Sri Lanka was identified as a 56-year-old driver, who had reportedly been on tour with a group of Italians prior to showing symptoms of the virus.

The education minister said the threat posed by the spread of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka was a key reason for the temporary closure of government schools.

The government hasstopped the visa on arrival policy applicable for 48 countries since the outbreak and also appealed to the public to avoid non-essential foreign travel.

All Sri Lankans arriving from Italy, South Korea and China are being sent to quarantine centres set up in the eastern province.

The outbreak has spread across the world since emerging in central China late last year, killing more than 4,600 people, infecting over 126,000, and prompting a wave of travel restrictions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 09:22:50|Editor: Xiang Bo

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WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday night on his decisions about what the country will do to fight the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and a possible economic crisis.

"We are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people," said the president.
All 23 persons in Madhya Pradesh



whose medical reports have been received so far have tested negative for the coronavirus, an official said on Thursday.

As many as 9,387 persons with travel history to affected countries were screened at airports in the state.

Of these, 690 persons were examined for suspected symptoms of the virus, additional director of the health department Dr Veena Sinha said.

Samples of 27 persons were sent to the laboratory. "Of these, reports of 23 persons have been received. All of them came out negative. Reports of four persons are still awaited," she said.

In Indore, the local administration urged those who are suffering from cough, fever or cold to stay away from 'Ger', the traditional procession taken out on the occasion of Rangpanchami festival.

District Collector Lokesh Kumar Jatav said the administration has asked organisers of Ger to send out a message that those suffering from cold, cough and fever should stay away from this event.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 16:18:51|Editor: xuxin

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COLOMBO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Thursday suspended the on-arrival visa facility for all tourists until further notice, in a bid to prevent the COVID-19 from spreading in the island country, a statement from the Presidential Secretariat said here.

Hours after the first Sri Lankan national tested positive for the virus, health ministry officials held discussions with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who ordered the suspension of the on arrival visa facility.

All foreign nationals who now want to visit Sri Lanka will have to apply for the visa through an e-system method and obtain their visas prior to landing in the country, the statement said.

The on arrival visa facility was last month suspended only for tourists arriving from China following the outbreak of the COVID-19, however the suspension now applies to all countries, the statement added.

A 52-year-old local tour guide tested positive for the COVID-19 on Wednesday and is currently receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital, located in the outskirts of Colombo.

The health ministry said the tour guide had associated with two Italian tourist groups who were on holiday in the country and was admitted to hospital after he had developed symptoms.
Beijing sets up transfer center for arrivals from overseas

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/11 19:02:28

Beijing has set up a 24/7 transfer center in suburban Shunyi district for people arriving from overseas to arrange quarantine and health management work as the capital city faces mounting pressure from imported cases.

People traveling to Beijing from non-coronavirus-stricken countries and regions are also required to undertake a 14-day quarantine, a policy expanded from a regulation previously applied to passengers from hard-hit countries such as Italy, Iran and South Korea.

Beijing reported six new imported cases on Wednesday, including the first from the US, raising the total of imported cases in the city to 20. China has reported 79 imported COVID-19 infections as of Wednesday.

The transfer station, converted from an exhibition center, will direct incoming travelers to different districts for quarantine. They will be taken by designated vehicles and quarantined at home or at quarantine centers if they do not have a residence in Beijing, according to a press conference on Beijing's epidemic prevention and control work on Wednesday.

The transfer station will also coordinate with other provinces and regions to escort travelers whose destinations are other Chinese cities.

Those traveling to Beijing for short-term business purposes need to stay at designated hotels and take nucleic acid tests before carrying out activities in the city.

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FLORENCE, S.C.  MUSC Health Florence and Marion medical centers are discouraging visits by people who do not have to be on site, especially people who were recently in an area where theres been a high level of transmission of the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19.

Effective Thursday, MUSC will screen all visitors at points of entry to the hospital.

Specifically, this will be a symptom-based screen in which visitors will be asked whether they have experienced fever, cough or shortness of breath in the previous 48 hours.

Visitors who are well and havent experienced any of these symptoms will be able to visit the hospital as they normally would.

For visitors who are experiencing these symptoms, the hospital will ask them not to visit MUSC Health and to leave, go home and recover there.

MUSC Health will work with symptomatic visitors with extenuating circumstances, such as having a gravely ill loved one, by asking them to wear a mask throughout their time in the hospital.

Children under 12 and adults 80 and older are strongly discouraged, but not prohibited, from visiting patients.
Trials are set to begin for a new virtual reality training platform for the UK Armed Forces, built on the same gaming engine as Fortnite.The new platform will use the latest advances in gaming innovation to improve training for personnel making it more realistic, intuitive and immersive, while lowering the costs.SimCentric, a veteran-run software company, has been awarded 300,000 by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to develop and trial the simulator. After initial successful trials with the Parachute Regiment and officers at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, further tests with the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines will take place later this year.A virtual simulator will be part of the armed forces wider training programme, and will be used to support and enhance real life training exercises.The simulator, which can be used by over 30 personnel at the same time, uses intuitive gesture control designed to match real actions on the battlefield. HD surround sound and highly realistic visuals bring to life training scenarios tailored for VR interaction.Rather than click a mouse while sitting at a desk, personnel will be able to hold a gun and crouch and crawl when necessary, just as they would on a real-life exercise. They will be able to practice this virtual exercise as many times as needed before going into the field for real, preparing them more effectively for operational deployments.Former British Army Air Corps Officer Tom Constable is now Director of Innovation at SimCentric:As a veteran and current Reservist, Im proud to help train the armed forces of the future.I joined the British Army in 2006 and later served in Afghanistan. This gave me a passion for building technology that will reduce the risk to our armed forces and improve the quality of training, with the ultimate aim of saving lives.Professor Dame Angela McLean, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Defence, said:The MOD is committed to developing radical and innovative ways to combat the challenges our armed forces face today, and equip them for the threats of tomorrow.This new simulator is just one way we are bringing training into the next generation, using technology drawn from the world of gaming to support our troops in training."
By Geoffrey Smith

Investing.com -- Europes stock markets opened sharply lower on Thursday after Italy enforced a shutdown of all non-essential commerce and President Donald Trump banned travel to the U.S. from most of Europe in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

By 4:10 AM ET (0810 GMT), the benchmark Stoxx 600 was down 17.4 points or 5.2%, while the U.K. FTSE 100 was down 5.0% and the German DAX was down 5.4%. Italys FTSE MIB, bracing for a severe recession as a result of the national lockdown, fell 5.9%.

Travel sector names were once again worst hit. British Airways owner IAG (LON:ICAG) fell 16.3% and Lufthansa fell 9.9%, while cruise operator Carnival (NYSE:CCL) fell 15.4%. In Germany, energy giant RWE fell 12%, while in France, Airbus fell 8.8%.

The Italian action and Trumps speech were only two events that shook markets on Wednesday, a transformational day for global perceptions of the coronavirus. The World Health Organization finally declared the outbreak a pandemic, which makes little immediate difference to its policy guidelines, but which opened the door to further emergency measures across the world that are likely to have a severe impact on the global economy.

Thursdays main scheduled event for markets is the European Central Banks policy meeting, the results of which are due at 8:45 AM ET (1245 GMT). President Christine Lagarde will hold a press conference 45 minutes later.

The ECB is expected to cut its key interest by 10 basis points and announce various additional measures aimed at easing liquidity, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises, analogous to the Term Funding Scheme announced on Wednesday by the Bank of England.

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[March 12, 2020] Thought Industries Announces the Appointment of Robin Wadsworth as President

BOSTON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thought Industries , the world's leading B2B customer training platform provider, announces that Robin Wadsworth has joined the company as president, based in the Boston office, reporting to Barry Kelly, CEO. A highly successful executive, Robin joins the leadership team with more than 25 years of experience focused specifically on high growth technology companies. Prior to joining Thought Industries, Robin served as senior vice president of B2B Sales at PROS, where she led the go-to-market team, resulting in 48 percent subscription revenue growth and year over year revenue growth from $197M to $250M. She was instrumental in building and developing a global cross-functional collaboration methodology at both the executive and execution levels of the organization. "Robin will be responsible for the entire customer lifecycle and aligning the go-to-market functions with the business plan, from marketing through professional services to help us maintain scale and growth going forward," said Barry Kelly, CEO, Thought Industries. "Robin's commitment and passion for customer success are infectious and her long-standing track record working with best-in-class software companies gives me incredible confidence in her leadership and the future prospects for Thought Industries." Prior to her last position, Robin spent over four years at BlackLine Inc., a cloud-based finance and accounting automation company, as senior vice president of sales, where she was an integral member of the leadership team. During her tenure, the team delivered revenue growth from $40M to more than $225M and achieved a successful IPO. The enterprise value of BlackLine increased in excess of 10 times to more than $2.5 billion durig Robin's tenure. She has held previous leadership positions at Infor, FICO, IBM (Sterling Commerce) and Computer Associates.



"It is a compelling time to join Thought Industries and I am truly honored to be leading the go-to-market strategy," said Robin. "With its world-class software solutions, talented workforce, exceptional customer experience and the backing of Luminate Capital, Thought Industries is poised to unify customer experience and learning departments at organizations around the globe. I believe the opportunity for Thought industries is limitless and I am looking forward to building upon the momentum while accelerating its pace as we continue to remain steadfast in our commitment to place customers first. We will continue our laser focus on providing relevant business value to our customers ensuring their ability to leverage global customer learning expertise within their holistic and virtual footprint." "Robin is a customer-centric professional with a proven track record in attracting, building and retaining high-performing teams that deliver market-leading results for both the company she works for and the customers she represents," said Chris Murphy, chairman, Thought Industries. "Her global view of business and ability to build loyalty with her teams and customers will be a great asset as we continue to grow."

Last month, Thought Industries celebrated being named the number one B2B customer training platform for 2020 by The Craig Weiss Group LLC, a leading analyst, advisory and consulting service to buyers and vendors in the e-learning industry. Then earlier this month, the company was included on Forbes' list of America's Best Startup Employers for 2020. About Thought Industries

Thought Industries powers the business of learning by providing the world's leading B2B customer training platform. The company was founded in 2014 around the core belief that online learning experiences should be modern, intuitive, engaging, and scalable. Today, our growing team builds and maintains the only learning solution with completely native tools and integrations that drive higher engagement, learner proficiency, and retention rates for our customers. Headquartered in Boston, Thought Industries has offices across North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.thoughtindustries.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thought-industries-announces-the-appointment-of-robin-wadsworth-as-president-301022367.html SOURCE Thought Industries

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By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijani Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ramin Guluzade and Israeli Ambassador George Dick have discussed the development of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of transport, telecommunications, information technologies, innovations and high technologies at a meeting held at the ministry on March 10.

The meeting mainly focused on the representation of Israeli companies at the Telecommunications, Innovations and High Technologies Exhibition Bakutel 2020, which will be held this year, expanding cooperation and sharing experience in cybersecurity, mutual visits and knowledge sharing.

Minister Ramin Guluzade said that Azerbaijan is open to cooperation and stressed the need to study Israeli experience in the relevant field.

In turn, Ambassador George Dick said that Israel is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan.

At the meeting, it was also noted that Israeli representatives actively participated in the events held as part of InnoWeek  Innovation Week.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The Delhi Police on Thursday arrested the president of Popular Front of India (PFI) and the organisations secretary for allegedly funding the Delhi riots and for conspiracy. Mohammad Iliyas and Parvez Ahmed were arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police, an official said.

Ahmed is the Delhi president of PFI, while Iliyas is secretary of the organisation.

The action came a day after Home Minister Amit Shah said in Parliament that two people have been identified for funding the riots in Northeast Delhi. More than 50 people were killed and over 200 injured in last months violence.

Iliyas is a resident of Shiv Vihar, also contested in the 2020 Delhi Assembly polls from Karawal Nagar on a ticket from Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).

Besides the Special Cell, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the alleged funding of the anti-CAA protest across the country by the PFI. The ED has registered a case against PFI and suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, arrested after an FIR was registered against him for the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Hussains alleged links with the PFI are also being investigated.

Another PFI member Mohd Danish was earlier arrested in connection with Delhi violence. According to news agency ANI, Danish has told the police that PFI was deeply involved in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

Danish has been working with PFI since 2018 and is the general secretary of Trilokpuri area in Delhi.

The Crime Branch of Delhi Police had on Monday arrested Tahir Hussains brother Shah Alam. Three other people who had given shelter to Shah Alam have also been arrested. Hussain was sent to seven-day police custody on March 6 in connection with the case. A Delhi court had earlier rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the suspended AAP leader.

In January, the ED said that it identified several bank accounts used for funding over Rs 120 crore for anti-CAA protest across the country.
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
Its not often that one gets to be a firsthand observer of Pennsylvanias steady progress toward becoming one of the worlds leadersperhaps ultimately the leaderin energy production. But that is exactly what is unfolding outside of my apartment on Boot Road, East Goshen Township, Chester County as I take in the sounds and sights of the Mariner East 2 natural gas pipeline construction.

Allow me to set the scene for you:

The sounds of a pipeline installation-- : drilling, whirring, humming, thumping, grinding, engines running, hammering, back-up warning beeps, banging, clanging. The sights include cranes, backhoes, towers, piles of dirt, trucks, pipelines themselves (before they were buried), traffic barriers, flagmen on all the surrounding streets, cones, dumpsters, large container boxes, and piles of rocks.

It is clear to me simply by observing in this one spot and multiplying what Im seeing over the entire route that the companies carrying out this complex and demanding effort are investing millions of dollars at a staggering rate and employing literally thousands of workers. This huge energy infrastructure project will ultimately extend the entire length of the state, and is slowly growing inch by inch, yard by yard, mile by mile.

At some point this year, the disruption caused by the installation of the pipeline will end and the completed Mariner East 2 will run 350 miles from western Pennsylvania all the way to Marcus Hook, Delaware County on the Delaware River. Our community will return to a condition in which there is no visible indication of the pipeline and the view outside my window will return to more mundane happenings. The grass will grow back and the pipeline will soon be forgotten, much like the original Mariner East pipeline, which follows a similar route and has been in the ground since the 1930s.

But while the pipeline will be out of sight, it is important to remain aware what the project means for Pennsylvania in the long-term. In fact, the end of the installation is only the beginning!

Natural gas produced at sites in Western Pennsylvania will pass through the safest and most advanced series of pipeline lengths in the state. The Mariner East 2 project meets or exceeds federal safety requirements at every level. A 24/7 operations center will constantly monitor and instantly identify any problems and initiate any needed responses and communities through which the pipeline passes have been trained on emergency pipeline response.

While 3,000 workers have been employed during the construction phase of Mariner East 2, the economic effects will be enjoyed long after the project is completed. Three to four hundred full-time workers will be employed as the pipeline enters the operational phase. The pipeline itself will transport up to 250,000 barrels of natural gas per day, boosting Pennsylvanias economy and helping the United States achieve energy independence.

As world leader in energy, the United States will also be able to bolster our European allies and free them from the dependency of Russian energy sources. This game changer in world politics will play a crucial role in encouraging world peace, lessen international tensions and bolster our NATO alliances.

There is no doubt that there are inconveniences associated with any infrastructure project. As someone living through construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline I can attest to that more than most. I feel I have become a participant in the process! But the benefits to completing the project are significant and outweigh temporary construction disruptions.

The governor, the General Assembly and the Pennsylvania Department of State all agree and have made it clear they want this project to be completed as safely, efficiently and expeditiously as possible. Pennsylvanias energy future is bright and will be ushered in with the vivid sights and sounds of developing new energy infrastructure.

Earl Baker writes on business topics and is a former two term State Senator and three term County Commissioner of Chester County. He remains active in the Chester County Chamber.
A team of archeologists led by Brandeis University's Associate Professor of Anthropology Charles Golden and Brown University's Bioarchealogist Andrew Scherer successfully unearthed an ancient Mayan civilization on Wednesday.

Golden and Andrew began excavating a Mexican cattle rancher's backyard in June 2018 where they found an abundance of Maya monuments.

The monuments held important scriptures depicting the ancient people's rituals and water serpents. The inscriptions also showed a mythical water serpent, and a dance performed for the rain god.

The excavation also unearthed one of the world's long-lost cities---the Mayan capital Sak Tz'i'. The research team found the ruins of various pyramids, a royal palace, and a ball court.

Golden and his colleagues believe the archeological site was part of the Sa Tz'i kingdom which was occupied by its first settlers around 750 BCE where they were said to have stayed for 1,000 years.

The site, which was named Lacanja Tzeltal, is located in the state of Chiapas.

Researchers have been looking for evidence of the capital's existence since they found references to it in previously discovered inscriptions from other Maya excavation sites.

Maya sculptures in museums also mention the lost Maya city.

Sak'Tz'i' was considered as one of the most powerful Maya kingdoms. The discovery furthers the understanding of the lost kingdom's politics and culture.

Golden described the finding as trying to look for a place called France from descriptions on historical documents and maps from medieval times.

All findings from the recent excavation were reported in the Journal of Field Archaeology.

Life in the Capital

The lost capital of Sak'Tz'i, which translates to the white dog, was relatively small.

Maya commoners lived in the countryside to harvest crops and craft tools and pottery.

The researchers found ruins of what was likely to be the city's marketplace. Authorities who analyzed the sites said dogs were used as a trading currency in the Maya kingdom.

Remnants of a 45-foot high pyramid, elite residences, and religious ritual sites were uncovered in the northeastern part of the city.

Religious events and political activities were often performed at the "Plaza Muk' ul Ton." The Monuments Plaza was a 1.5-acre courtyard where flocks of people gathered to witness the ceremonies.

A towering platform held an array of temples and reception halls. This is where members of the Maya royal family are believed to be buried.

Foreign Relations

Sak Tz'i' was surrounded by powerful states. The inhabitants of the capital were constantly faced with the threat of warfare and violence.

Evidence found in the archeological site showed the capital was surrounded by walls to keep out invaders.

The lost kingdom of Sak'Tz'i considered its ability to arrange negotiations as its greatest military strength.

Inscriptions

Scriptures and sculptures found among the ruins told stories about a mythical water serpent and gods who remain unnamed.

The inscriptions also spoke of the daily lives of Maya dynastic rulers, a mythical flood, and historic births and battles of many rulers.

The Maya people believed royalty had the ability to become a god.

Charles Golden and his team are planning to return to the Sak Tz'i' excavation site in June with mapping tools to reveal the architecture and land scope of the lost kingdom.
The joint study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and ICES was published in the journal 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.According to the 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, "The need for innovations in mental health to improve access and quality of care is urgent. 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 was 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." (ANI)
"Atlanta puts our fleet in an ideal position to serve clients in the South," said Jessica Naor, Chief Operating Officer, GrandView Aviation. "With our bases across the Central and Eastern US, we have a much larger service area and ability to bring new clients an exceptional light jet cabin experience."

GrandView's Phenoms provide private VIP jet charters for up to 9 passengers, as well as providing transportation for medical teams conducting life-saving organ transplant missions. The private jet operator carries one of the highest safety ratings in the industry, Wyvern Wingman, and features new jet aircraft with exquisite interiors as well as complimentary Wi-Fi and lay-flat seating onboard all jets. The Phenom 300 can fly nonstop from Atlanta to destinations like Aspen, New York City, and Chicago and offers flights to international destinations in Canada, the Carribean, and Central & South America.

GrandView Aviation

GrandView Aviation operates its national fleet of Phenom 300 jets and a Sikorsky 76D helicopter from its headquarters in Maryland with bases in Texas, Illinois and Georgia. GrandView Aviation is a FAA Part 135 certificated aircraft operator trusted by direct clients as well as providing supplemental lift to major fractional operators and charter brokers. GrandView carries the elite Wyvern Wingman safety rating, in addition to its IS-BAO and ARGUS Gold Ratings. For more information about GrandView Aviation, please visit www.flygv.com.

SOURCE GrandView Aviation

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JERSEYVILLE  The estranged wife of Roger Carroll, on trial in Jersey County for the 2010 murder of East Alton woman Bonnie Woodward, testified Wednesday that her husband called himself a monster, abused her and threatened to kill her.

Other witnesses who took the stand Wednesday as the trial progressed included the victims stepdaughter Heather Woodward, criminologists, relatives of Woodward and a police officer.

Roger Carrolls wife Monica Carroll and Heather Woodward had lawyers present in the room while testifying Wednesday because they had reached agreements with the prosecution in exchange for their testimony.

Monica Carroll testified that her husband told her in 2018 that he was a monster. He trapped her in a room of their Jerseyville area home, used a Taser on her 10 to 12 times, punched her and threw her to the floor, she testified.

He told me he would kill for me. He told me he was a monster. He said he used to be able to control his anger, but not anymore, Monica Woodward testified.

She went to the Jersey County Sheriffs Office to report the attack that touched off a new look at the 2010 investigation. All of the specifics have not been made public yet. The jury saw pictures of the injuries Roger Carroll allegedly inflicted.

After the confrontation, she decided to talk to police about the events surrounding Woodwards disappearance and alleged murder. Before the domestic case in 2018, she told authorities she thought Bonnie Woodward was in hiding, but she refused to sit for a formal interview.

After the domestic incident she was willing to talk about the alleged murder, but Circuit Judge Eric Pistorius ruled previously, under the spousal privilege rule she was not allowed to testify about what her husband told her about the events surrounding Woodwards disappearance and alleged murder. She said she has filed for divorce, but the matter has not been settled.

She said she, Heather Woodward, Roger Carroll, Nathan Carroll went to visit her parents in Goreville just before June 25, 2010. She said Roger and Nathan left unexpectedly early. She said when she turned a day later she noticed a huge burn pile on the rural property.

Verna Patterson of Goreville, Monicas mother, testified that Roger Carroll and Heather Woodward took a long walk, just the two of them, for about an hour just before the unexpected early departure the next day.

Heather Woodward was 17 when she and her stepmother, Bonnie Woodward went missing. Officers have testified at previous hearings that the defendant used the teenager as bait because he decided Bonnie Woodward was a bad person. Relatives of the victim said she was a good, hard-working, responsible mother.

Heather Woodward, now 27, testified that she was living with Bonnie Woodward, her stepmother, in 2010, but that she was unhappy in that situation and went to live with a teacher. She said that after about a week, she moved in with the Carrolls in Jerseyville at Roger Carrolls suggestion. The two knew each other from church.

Heather Woodward testified that Roger Carroll instructed her not to tell police that she had been staying at the Carroll property. She said that, while staying with the Carrolls, Roger made the rules, and he instructed her not to use a cellphone or computer.

Sgt. Mike ONeill testified Wednesday that police executed a search warrant for the Carroll property in September 2010. They found 30 guns in the home and 200 rounds of ammunition, he said. Among the guns was a Stoeger Cougar 9 mm revolver, which Nathan Carroll, the defendants son, identified as the murder weapon.

ONeill said the weapons are still in possession of Alton Police Department. He said that when Alton police heard about the 2018 domestic dispute between the Carrolls, it was a break in the case. He said that, after that incident, Nathan Carroll showed him on the Carroll property the location at which the victim was shot, the burn pile and the creek in which Roger Carroll dumped the ashes and what was left of the victims body.

ONeill admitted under cross examination from defense attorney Dave Fahrenkamp that the evidence about the guns and the property could point to the younger Carroll, but, taken with all the other evidence, Roger Carroll was the suspect.

 

Witnesses place Carroll at Woodwards workplace

In other testimony Wednesday, a witness identified Roger Carroll as the man standing next to Bonnie Woodwards truck just before she disappeared June 25, 2010.

Ill never forget his face; his eyes told it all, said Wanda Bousley, a former co-worker at Eunice Smith Nursing home in Alton.

Roger Carroll was charged April 12, 2018, with first-degree murder of Woodward of East Alton. Carroll was a suspect from the start, but the case lay dormant until after an alleged assault by Roger Carroll of his wife, Monica Carroll, and subsequent testimony by his son, Nathan Carroll, about details of the killing.

The case was originally investigated as a missing persons case after people called police and said Bonnie Woodward failed to come home or work, and her Chevrolet Avalanche was left on the employee parking lot of the nursing home.

In other testimony Wednesday, Illinois State Police forensic scientist Amy Hart testified that Roger Carrolls fingerprint and palm print were found on the Chevrolet Avalanche that was left in the parking lot of Eunice Smith, the victims workplace. On cross-examination, she testified there are some well-known cases about errors made in fingerprint analysis, but she is confident of her testimony, and her work has been reviewed by two other experts.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

At least 19 additional fatalities are linked to the Fisher-Price Rock n Play Sleeper, according to a new Consumer Reports analysis of lawsuits, government records, and interviews with parents. This brings the death toll for all inclined sleepers to at least 92, up from 73, the total released in October 2019 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the agency tasked with overseeing thousands of products.

Both the CPSC and lawmakers in Congress have proposed banning all infant inclined sleepers, which position babies at an angle between 10 and 30 degrees. But while government officials are deliberating, many inclined products advertised for sleep remain on the market, in homes, and in day cares.

The rising number of fatalities includes families whove come forward since a CR investigation in April 2019 tied the Rock n Play Sleeper to at least 32 infant deaths and the Kids II inclined sleepers to several more deaths. CRs reporting ultimately prompted Fisher-Price, Kids II, and other manufacturers to recall more than 5 million inclined sleepers.

For many families, the news about the dangers of the products came as a shock. It wasnt until after the recall, after Juniors passing, that I learned about the risk of the products, says Rebecca Rigney, of Bennington, Vt., whose 4-month-old son Michael Parker Jr. died while sleeping on his back in a Rock n Play Sleeper on Oct. 20, 2018.

Before her babys death, Rigney had no idea that the sleepers incline could allow her sons head to slump forward, cutting off his airway. And because infants dont have the neck strength or muscle control to lift up their heads while in this position, he suffocated.

When I found out the product was dangerous, I was scared to think that something that I trusted for my sons safety could have been the reason he passed away, says Rigney, who has since filed a lawsuit against Fisher-Price, which is one of seven such cases brought by the law firms Wolf Haldenstein and Blank Rome since June 2019.

Story continues

This lack of clarity about the cause of sleep-related deaths in infants is not unusual, even among physicians and researchers.

We dont have consistency in determining infant sleep deaths or an approach to ensure there is uniformity in how they are evaluated, says Ben Hoffman, M.D., chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. And if we dont have that consistency, were never going to get all the answersand until we have all the answers, babies are going to die.

Other families now reporting deaths also say they only recently learned of the dangers of the products. "None of the parents I represent realized the Rock n Play Sleeper could be tied to the death or injury of their baby until after the recall, says Michael Trunk, a partner at the Kline & Specter law firm who represents a dozen families who are suing Fisher-Price.

Most of the families in litigation have filed suits against Fisher-Price, while at least one family has filed a suit against Kids II. The deaths occurred before the products were recalled.

When asked about the fatalities, a spokesperson for Fisher-Price told CR that "as a matter of policy, we cannot comment due to ongoing litigation." Kids II did not return a request for comment. A spokesperson for the CPSC said that the agency "routinely assesses incoming incidents as they are reported and takes appropriate action as needed."

The Risk of Inclined Sleepers

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants sleep alone, on their backs, unrestrained, on a firm, flat surface thats free of soft bedding and padded bumpers. But inclined sleepers contradict those long-standing guidelines. The products are not flat, their sidewalls and head support are made of soft bedding, and they have restraint harnesses.

An October 2019 study commissioned by the CPSC, led by Erin Mannen, Ph.D., an expert in biomechanics and a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, identified specific hazards associated with inclined sleepers. In addition to the risks of the incline itself, Mannen found that the sleepers make it easier for babies to roll over onto their stomachs or sides, with their faces pressed against the sleepers soft fabric, blocking airflow.

The design of an inclined sleeper features a seat, so its not a flat surface like a mattress, and it naturally places the baby in a flexed hip position, close to a fetal tuck, Mannen says. That can prompt infants to roll over earlier than they might have been able to manage while on a flat surface. Thats why, she says, many parents whose children died in an inclined sleeper after rolling over said that their babies had never rolled over previously.

Both the AAP and the CPSC have cautioned caregivers to avoid using any infant inclined sleeper.

Confusion About Infant Sleep Deaths

Though the risks may seem apparent now, there are many reasons parents, doctors, and even medical examiners may not have recognized inclined sleep products as a possible factor in the infant deaths.

For one, sleep-related infant deaths often happen when babies are alone and adults are also asleep, so the exact cause may not be immediately evident. In addition, there is variability in how infant deaths are classified among states, and even among counties, says Hoffman, at the AAP. In most cases, the medical examiner evaluates the available evidence and makes a judgment call, he says.

Hoffman also notes that parents often feel stigmatized, even blamed, for their infants death, making many unwilling to talk about the deaths. That perpetuates the mysteries behind infant fatalities and stalls the sharing of safe sleep practices.

Indeed, sleep-related deaths among infants are far more common than many people realize, Hoffman says. An estimated 3,600 infants younger than 1 die in their sleep each year, according to 2017 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thats the equivalent of 10 babies a day or 50 school buses of infants each year, dying in their sleep, Hoffman says.

Researchers refer to these fatalities as sudden unexpected infant deaths, or SUIDs.

About a quarter of the incidents are attributed to accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed, which means there has been a death scene investigation and autopsy, and there is enough circumstantial evidence for the medical examiner to make that determination.

An additional 38 percent of SUID cases are classified as SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, which means that there has been a full investigation and an autopsy but the medical examiner found no clear identifiable cause of death. The designation of SIDS, then, can leave unanswered questions.

The remaining 36 percent of SUID cases are labeled unknown or undetermined, indicating that there may not have been a full investigation and autopsy or the medical examiner decided there wasnt enough information available to make a determination.

While the classifications are murky, experts agree on one thing: Removing hazards from babies sleep spaces could sharply reduce the number of infant deaths. The huge number of unsafe products on the market, like inclined sleepers and padded crib bumpers, massively contribute to the number of sleep deaths each year, Hoffman says. My guess is that were looking at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the impact these products have on infant deaths.

Going Public

As more parents learn of the risks of unsafe sleep products, they are sounding the alarm. One mother, Shanna Olsen, recently wrote to CR to share that her 3-month-old son Ryan died in a Rock n Play Sleeper on Oct. 30, 2013, after rolling over in the product at a home day care.

I can remember the smell of the day, what he had on before I dropped him off, how the morning started, says Olsen, of Arnold, Mo., about Ryan. I was at work and received a call at 2:29 p.m. from the babysitter screaming that Ryan wasnt breathing. I immediately rushed out to my car, called my husband, and drove as fast as I could to her house. I pulled up to find the police, fire department, and paramedics there inside the house.

Olsen says the sitter was shouting out the window, I laid him down and he rolled over! He rolled over! Having no idea yet where Ryan had been placed for his nap, Olsen yelled, "He doesn't roll over yet! He doesnt roll over yet!" Olsen and her husband, who had also rushed to the day care, were not allowed into the house. We were standing outside in the rain, not being let into the chaos, she says. Shortly after arriving at the scene, the Olsens followed the emergency responders to the hospital, where Ryan was pronounced dead.

The next day, Olsen was told that Ryan had been put down for his nap in the Rock n Play Sleeper. As Mannens study would later show to be the case, the baby was able to roll over in the product before hed learned how to do so in his crib. Now with so much more coming out, and learning that babies are strapped in and there are still deaths happening with them, I just want to beg everyone to stop using this product, Olsen says.

Olsen says she reached out to CR because she wanted to prevent other parents from living the nightmare she has lived. If I can save one baby from dying, then I know my Ryan is speaking through me and we are doing our part, she says. His little place on earth was meant to stop this from happening to someone else.

Two Close Calls

Kristal Oppert, of Midlothian, Va., also wrote to CR to share what she called the two scariest experiences of her life. In May 2016, when her son Jackson was 3 months old, she awoke in the early morning to find him blue and struggling to breathe while on his back in the Rock n Play Sleeper next to her bed. Oppert, who is a nurse, says she grabbed Jackson and started CPR, and he began breathing.

I was in shock, but my body went on autopilot and I put him in the car and rushed him to the ER. They said he was fine and that we were lucky. We had no clue about the unsafe Rock n Play, Oppert says.

But the next night, the same thing happened again, and it still didnt occur to me that it was the Rock n Play, Oppert says. She again revived her son with CPR, and this time Jackson was admitted to the hospital for several days.

Unable to find a clear cause for the episodes, he was discharged with the diagnosis of "apparent life-threatening event," or ALTE. The pediatric neurologist suggested that because the problem seemed to arise only when Jackson was in the Rock n Play Sleeper, Oppert should stop using the product. Jackson was sent home with a breathing monitor, which he wore every day for the next year, but he never had another episode.

Jackson was later diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, which is consistent with a finding in the Mannen study, that inclined sleepers may be especially risky to babies who are sick or have chronic health problems. The study stated that "a safe sleeping environment may be even more important" for those infants.

Neither Olsen nor Oppert contacted Fisher-Price, and neither knew that they could report the incident to the CPSC. So Ryans and Jacksons incidents are not yet documented in the CPSCs publicly available data.

The Danger Looming

Though many inclined sleepers have now been recalled, several inclined products advertised for sleep, including naps, remain on the market. These include: the Baby Delight Nestle Nook Portable Infant Lounger (which Kim Kardashian recently featured on her social media platforms); the Hiccapop DayDreamer Lounger; the inclined napper sold with the Graco Care Station Playard; and the Chicco Lullaby Dream Playard napper accessory, which is tied to an infant deatha case that is also in the midst of litigation.

Making matters more complicated and confusing for parents: Baby Delight recently changed the name of its product from a napper to a loungera rebranding that other companies have also done in recent months.

The AAPs Hoffman has been critical of this marketing practice. Just taking the word napper or sleeper out of the name doesnt change the risk, he says.

Additionally, several secondhand marketplaces continue to allow posts advertising recalled inclined sleepers for sale. CR recently evaluated websites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist and found hundreds of recalled products for sale, including inclined sleepers.

I see these things for sale every single day on secondhand sites like Facebook, says Oppert, who adds that she writes to the sellers to try to stop the sales. Im like, please dont do this; my kid almost died in this thing. You do not want this. It doesnt matter whether theyre supervised or you leave for 2 seconds to go to the bathroomtheyre not safe.

Last week, Representative Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, wrote letters to both Chicco and Graco asking the companies to recall their inclined nappers. Maloney also requested documents concerning the design, development, marketing, and safety of the products.

CR asked Chicco and Graco why the companies have not yet recalled their inclined nappers, but neither responded.

Meanwhile, some retailers have already taken up the charge. Companies like Amazon, eBay, Buy Buy Baby, and Walmart have pulled all infant inclined sleepers (even those that havent yet been recalled) from their stores and websites.

For Rigney, whose son died in a Rock n Play Sleeper in 2018, she says one of the best ways she can honor her sons legacy is by cautioning other parents to take the recalls and warnings seriously.

Were trying to make other people realize that the product is dangerous, she says. The only thing I can do is tell parents to listen to the recalls that are going on and to stop using the product. It isnt safe. We dont want anybody else to suffer through what weve gone through.

If your child has been harmed while in an inclined sleeper, and you are interested in sharing your story with Consumer Reports, please email rachel.peachman@consumer.org.

If your child has been harmed while in an infant inclined sleeper, and you are interested in sharing your story with Consumer Reports, please email rachel.peachman@consumer.org.





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.
Check your mailboxes. You will soon, as in starting this week, be invited to participate in the 2020 census.

This is a big deal for fast-growing Texas. The census count is used to fund roads, health care, education and other federal priorities. It also determines representation, meaning an inaccurate count will lead to underrepresentation and less funding.

This is a real concern. Its been estimated about 7 million Texans  about a quarter of the states population  live in hard-to-count neighborhoods. The vast majority of these communities are in South and West Texas, areas that are predominantly Hispanic and Democratic.

This last point about party politics shouldnt matter. Truly. An accurate count should be a nonpartisan concern. But the recent partisan dynamics around the census in Texas and hard-to-count populations are impossible to ignore.

Lets count through the issues. First there are the writings of the late GOP redistricting operative Thomas Hofeller, who produced a study in 2015 that found adding a citizenship question to the census would reduce Hispanic participation, easing Republican gerrymandering.

After Donald Trump was elected president, Hofeller then urged Trumps transition team to add the citizenship question to the census. Trump sought to do this, only to have the U.S. Supreme Court block the question.

But many observers have raised concerns that the mere specter of the question was itself damaging, potentially muffling the participation of immigrant communities who fear any information could be used against them, as well as citizens who have undocumented relatives. This couldnt happen. Census workers take an oath to protect personal information. But once the seed of doubt is planted, it can be hard to uproot.

But wait  theres more. At the state level, Gov. Greg Abbott broke with precedent by failing to issue an executive order to create a complete count committee, a tool to help support census outreach efforts. Past governors have done this. By comparison, California has allotted $187 million for complete count efforts. Think about it, Texas. The Lone Star State could send federal tax dollars to California instead of back home.

Bexar County and the city of San Antonio are funding a census outreach campaign, and Harris County has committed millions to such an effort. But the lack of support from the state makes the task that much more daunting.

But wait  theres more. This years census will mostly be conducted online. By and large, this is a good thing. Its a digital world, and traditional responses have declined while the cost to reach households has dramatically risen. But in San Antonio, about 1 in 4 households lack internet access, according to census data. Statewide that number is about 1.6 million.

Obviously, areas in the state that lack internet access will need additional outreach, which underscores the failure by Abbott to create a complete count committee.

We strongly encourage all Texans to participate in the 2020 census and to encourage others to participate as well. Accurate data is crucial for determining representation, allocating federal funding and guiding businesses in their decisions.

To view the census through a political lens is to misunderstand its purpose and importance.
The short answer is a lack of preparation and poor execution by the federal government. The initial tests developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a technical problem  and federal officials were then too slow to find alternatives.

In his Oval Office address last night, President Trump tried to blame Europe for the spread of the virus in the United States. But Europe isnt the problem (and the fact that indexes tied to the future of the stock market began falling during his speech suggests investors were unnerved by what Trump was saying). A much bigger problem is the lack of testing in the United States.

As Voxs Brian Resnick and Dylan Scott explain: Accurate testing is critical to stopping an outbreak: When one person gets a confirmed diagnosis, they can be put in isolation where they wont spread the disease further. Then their contacts can be identified and put into quarantine  so that they dont spread the virus if theyve become infected, too. Thats particularly important for a virus like this one, which seems able to spread before people show symptoms, or when their symptoms are mild.

How exactly have American officials botched the tests?

After problems arose with the C.D.C.s test, officials could have switched to using successful tests that other countries were already using. But the officials refused to do so, essentially because it would have required changing bureaucratic procedures.

The federal government could also have eased regulations on American hospitals and laboratories, to allow them to create and manufacture their own tests, as Melissa Miller of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine told The Washington Post. But federal officials did not do so for weeks. The Timess Sheri Fink and Mike Baker reported this week about a Seattle lab with a promising test that was blocked by existing regulations and red tape while other countries ramped up much earlier and faster.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:30:40|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony was held in Beijing Thursday to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the death of Sun Yat-sen, a renowned statesman who led a revolution that ended imperial rule in China.

The ceremony in Zhongshan Park, named after Sun, was attended by representatives from all walks of life in Beijing.

A moment of silence was observed before attendees showed their respect to Sun by bowing three times in front of a statue of him at 10:30 a.m.

Floral baskets from the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK) Central Committee, the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Beijing municipal government, and the Beijing municipal committee of the RCCK were presented to the statue.

Sun was born in 1866 and died in 1925. He is known to the Chinese as a great revolutionary and statesman for his leading role during the 1911 Revolution, which ended more than 2,000 years of feudal rule in China.
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.
Authorities in Pune have warned of



penal action against those who reveal the identity of patients testing positive for coronavirus on social media platforms.

Taking cognisance of a complaint from a relative of a Pune-based patient, who tested positive for COVID-19, divisional commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar said police have been asked to monitor social media posts and take appropriate action in such matters.

"The police have been asked to monitorsocial media platforms through their cyber cell to make sure that no rumours are spread and the identity of patients should not be revealed," Mhaisekar said.

If the identity of a patient is revealed, the person and his family could face social hardships, he noted.

"So, there is a need to be more socially concerned about these issues. We have been making appeals since day one, but despite that, some people are spreading wrong and misleading information on social media, and we have received one such complaint," he said.

Mhaisekar said the Pune Police's cyber cell is keeping a close watch on rumour-mongers and those revealing the identity of coronavirus patients.

He assured that appropriate penal action will be taken against such people.

A relative of one of the COVID-19 patients on Wednesday wrote to the divisional commissioner, alleging that informationabout the infected person was revealed on social media and this has led his family to face hardships.

"The family is facing a social boycott-like situation", he said.

The complainant sought action against those who revealed the identity of the patient on social media.

So far, 11 positive coronavirus cases have been reported from Maharashtra, including eight in Pune, two in Mumbai and one in Nagpur.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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mycoveragemt.com is very popular in Facebook. It is liked by 546 people on Facebook.

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The Chicken Parm-eroni is gone, but the Bacon Man N Cheese Burger remains. Crab Cake Sandwiches are in, but Shrimp Salad Po Boys are out. Goodbye Tuna Poke Won-Tacos and hello Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls!

The menu at Guy Fieris Philly Kitchen is changing, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Fieri himself was on hand to show off some of the newer menu items on March 11 at his restaurant, which sits in the Harrahs Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester.

What we try to do is continue to inspire, Fieri told a crowd of media. He wants to keep the restaurant fresh and interesting. Simply adding new dishes to the menu wouldnt work though.

You cant keep just loading up the jukebox with all our favorite hits, Fieri said.

So instead he has taken some off and added new ones into their spot. He compared it to a band coming up with a set list for a concert, adding that its always a hard decision.

The great news for us as chefs is that Philly really digs food, and not just the food that we thought Philly dug, Fieri said. But Philly is into things getting a little weird.

That being said, the new items arent all that weird. Theres Pigs a Blanket ($12), which features hot dogs wrapped in pretzels and tossed in parmesan, which is served with bourbon brown sugar BBQ sauce and beer mustard. The new French Fry Trio, served with the burgers, features your standard French fry as well as waffle fries and sidewinder fries. Then, there are the aforementioned Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls ($12) -- which also happen to be Fieris favorite new menu item.

But other than that, the more out-there menu items are the Fieri classics like his Trash Can Nachos ($15) which comes with bourbon brown sugar BBQ sauce, super-melty cheese, cheddar, chipotle black bean puree, jalapenos, crema, pico de gallo, pickled red onions, cilantro and either chicken or beef. His award-winning Bacon Mac N Cheese Burger ($18) features six-cheese mac n cheese as a delightful and gluttonous topping.

The newer items tend to be a little more standard, like the Roasted Cali Chicken ($18), which is roasted frenched chicken breast with herbs and served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Other new items include the Crab Cake Sandwich ($18), Garlic Parmesan Wings ($14) and the Chicken Cheesesteak ($14).

It wasnt all menu talk with Fieri, though. He took a second to tease those attending about his upcoming Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episodes. Hes been in Philadelphia for a few days filming for the show and hes clearly excited about all the restaurants he visited, praising the Philadelphia food scene profusely.

I know people come here for the sports, he said. I know people come here for the history. But, really, what youre going to see, especially coming from my show, youre going to see some great representation from some awesome restaurants.

He also made a plea for people to not let the coronavirus keep them from patronizing other restaurants (after youve eaten at his Philly Kitchen 5 nights a week of course, he joked).

In the midst of everything were facing, please make sure you visit your local restaurants and all these awesome places [the show is] going to be, Fieri said.

You can dine at Guy Fieris Philly Kitchen by heading over to Harrahs Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack. The restaurant is only for those 21 and older. Harrahs is located at 777 Harrahs Blvd. in Chester. Learn more at caesars.com.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
A man is facing several charges in two separate Washington County cases involving an alleged burglary in December and an alleged police pursuit last week.

In the more recent case, James William Thompson, 34, is charged with felony resisting a lawful stop, resisting arrest, felony first-degree tampering, felony possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Charges Thompson faces relating to the alleged December incident include first-degree burglary and felony harassment.

According to a probable cause statement from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, on March 4, a deputy approached Thompson, who was blocking Butler Hill Road in a stolen 1999 Ford F250. The truck was facing the direction of the deputys patrol car. When he activated his emergency lights, Thompson reportedly put the truck into drive and accelerated at high speed.

Sheriff Zach Jacobsen arrived on the scene, positioning his vehicle to the left of the deputys vehicle, making it impossible for the truck to continue forward.

The deputy exited his vehicle, drew his service weapon, and pointed it at Thompson while giving him demands to put his hands up and stop the truck. The deputy reports that Thompson then put the truck in reverse and started to drive down Butler Hill Road, in reverse, at speeds close to 40 mph.

The deputy then got back into his vehicle, activated his emergency lights and sirens, and called the situation into dispatch. The deputy states that when Thompson was driving the truck in reverse down Butler Hill Road, he lost control of the vehicle and wrecked into some scrap refrigerators on the side of the road, near other vehicles.

Thompson then allegedly exited the truck from the drivers seat of the vehicle and fled into the woods.

Thompson was pursued on foot by the deputy, who was shouting multiple commands to stop running. Approximately 100 yards into the foot chase, Thompson reportedly fell to the ground after getting his foot caught in a fence. The man tried to free his foot, and the deputy commanded him to stop moving and to put his hands up before deploying his taser. The taser struck Thompson in the chest; however, he pulled the taser prongs out and started to flee on foot again.

The report states the chase continued for another 50 yards where the deputy was able to catch up to Thompson and strike him in the leg with his baton. Thompson yelled for the deputy to stop and started to run back toward the area where the truck was wrecked. The deputy again struck Thompson with the baton and was able to get him on his knees. He gave several commands for Thompson to get on his stomach, but he reportedly kept trying to get off of his knees. The deputy then tackled the man and forced his hands behind his back, placing him in handcuffs.

During a search of Thompsons person, the deputy located a black container that contained three syringes with residue. A search of the truck turned up a half-gallon-size plastic bag with a white residue inside that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

During the altercation and pursuit, the deputy reportedly received more than 17 small lacerations to his right hand and forearm. He received a laceration an inch wide and 2 inches long on his left forearm, along with a 4-inch cut on his left bicep and tricep area.

The truck was reported stolen out of Arnold on Feb. 12. Thompson stated that he did not have a residence and was homeless, according to the statement. The criminal complaint filed Thursday lists an address for Thompson in Blackwell.

He was booked into the Washington County Jail, and a bond was set at $40,000.

Court records show that Thompson had no prior criminal history at the time of the incident. The first-degree burglary and felony harassment charges were filed in Washington County Monday.

According to a probable cause statement in the case, Washington County deputies located Thompson on Dec. 26, at a county residence on Dug Out Road. The homeowner  his grandmother  reported that he was trying to force his way inside.

The report states the woman was inside the home watching as Thompson attempted to gain entry, and she told him she did not want him in the house. Thompson reportedly pulled on the door to the point of breaking off the door handle.

He then allegedly attempted to kick in the door but was unable to break the doors glass. The glass did fall out of the frame, and Thompsons foot penetrated the perimeter of the residence, allowing his body partial entry.

Deputys reportedly found shoeprints on the door that matched the homeowners statement of what happened.

The woman also told police that while Thompson was attempting to force entry into the house, he was threatening to burn the house down and set fire to the womans vehicle.

Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com

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Its pretty amazing when you think of what happened and how fast this spread to the world, Trump said Thursday. It was one country, then it was four countries, then it was nine. I'm reading this list every week. Then it was 13, then it was 22. And now, I guess, its over 100 countries. . . . This is a very fast spreader.
It will be a horrendous failure by the Legislature if senators continue their needless stalemate at a time when negotiations have produced sensible compromise. Senators need to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Time in this 60-day short session is quickly slipping away, and it would be irresponsible for senators to spend these final weeks setting down further roadblocks to agreement.

The Legislature similarly would be shirking an all-important duty if it fails to approve a new version of the states business incentives law. The current legislation is a major improvement on existing law, which expires at the end of this year, and the bill sponsor, State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, has long been open to responsible compromise.

Senators need to be wide awake to the economic stakes involved. The coronavirus threat has begun to cause tremendous disruptions nationwide, with further uncertainties ahead. Our state and country are facing the serious possibility of a recession. In the face of such conditions, the Legislature would be grossly irresponsible to allow our business incentives policy to expire with no well-crafted replacement.

The Legislature has been mired in deadlock on these issues for far too long. The time has arrived for action. Lawmakers need to do their duty, to serve Nebraskas best interest.

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Enterprises in the transport sector have suffered the most from the epidemic.

The Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC), or super committee, has reported big losses incurred by 19 economic groups and general corporations because of the coronavirus.

Enterprises in the transport sector have suffered the most from the epidemic.





Vietnam Airlines Corporation (VNA) reported a sharp fall in the number of passengers traveling by air. VNA has to cut the number of flights and air routes to minimize losses.



Traveling between Vietnam and China has dropped dramatically. The occupancy rate on flights between the two countries in January 2020 fell by 5 percent to 66 percent, though January was Tet month. Meanwhile, the number of passengers booking tickets in February was 20-30 percent less.



The holding company predicted sharp revenue decrease of up to VND12.5 trillion this year and profit decrease of VND5.88 trillion, which means a loss of VND4.3 trillion. The air carrier initially planned to make a profit of VND1.6 trillion.

The Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC), or super committee, has reported big losses incurred by 19 economic groups and general corporations because of the coronavirus.

As for the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the number of passengers is predicted to decrease by 12 million. Because of this, the corporations revenue may decrease by VND2.8 trillion, while the pre-tax profit would fall by VND2.6 trillion.



Meanwhile, Petrolimex reported that the total domestic sales in January 2020 was 800,000 cubic meters, down by 4 percent compared with December 2019 and 89 percent compared with January 2019.



Since the Covid-19 epidemic declaration, the daily domestic sales have decreased by 20 percent.



Vinacafe complained that the coffee sales have been going slowly with the selling prices lower than the production cost by VND5-8 million per ton and the export price down to $1,260 per ton.



The problem of the Vietnam Forestry Corporation (Vinafor) is that many Chinese clients have stopped importing wood chips, resulting in a decrease of wood chip export prices.



As for the Vietnam Railway Corporation, many trains have had to stop running because of the sharp fall in number of travelers in Covid-19 epidemic. On February 4, the corporation officially stopped the Vietnam-Nanning international connecting train.



The revenue from passenger transport is predicted to decrease by VND54.8 billion, down by 13.3 percent, while the revenue from cargo transportation is predicted to decrease by VND9.9 billion.



Meanwhile, Vinalines, the national shipping firm, complained that there is no cash flow for debt repayment and fleet maintenance.



The corporation predicted that if the epidemic lasts until the end of March, its combined revenue would decrease by VND1.621 trillion and profit by VND534 billion compared with the plan.



The situation of the Vietnam Expressway Corporation is also unsatisfactory. The fee collection from expressways decreased by 14.1 percent on Feb 8-13 alone.

Le Ha

All Vietnam Airlines aircraft disinfected for international flights Vietnam Airlines has moved to thoroughly disinfect all aircraft that operate on international routes to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and ensure the safety of passengers, flight crews, and the wider community.
Far From Home unveils the first gameplay teaser for their sci-fi, action-survival game coming to Steam Early Access in 2022 and later to consoles.
With decisive victories in Michigan and Missouri on Tuesday, Joe Biden widened his lead over Bernie Sanders in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. With looming primary contests in Biden-friendly, delegate-rich Florida, Ohio, and Illinois, Sanders could be forced to concede sooner than hed like.

A number of factors have aided Bidens ascent. The dearth of debates before the Super Tuesday primaries helped to shield him from voters. Moderate Democrats and the party establishment coalesced around him after South Carolina, fearful of losing the House with a Sanders-led ticket. And as the race narrowed, Sanders struggled to win votes outside his base of young progressive supporters.

One move that almost certainly had no bearing on Bidens step to the cusp of the nomination Tuesday? New Jersey senator Cory Bookers endorsement, which he offered Monday over Twitter.

In one sense, the contrast between Booker and Biden could not be clearer. Booker, for all of his insipid theatrics as a senator  from the I am Spartacus gambit to the tears of rage performance  is a young, capable politician in control of his faculties. He is also a black man in a party eager to project diversity. Biden, by contrast, is an old white man who can hardly finish a paragraph without slurring his speech or succumbing to some cringe-inducing gaffe that betrays his cognitive decline.

In another sense, though, both Booker and Biden are ostensible moderates at a moment in which  if recent electoral results are to be believed  a significant faction of Democratic voters are hankering for a centrist figurehead.

Why did Booker fail where Biden succeeded? The Occams-razor explanation is probably the right one: Biden was Barack Obamas vice president, while Booker has been an unremarkable senator with few legislative achievements.

But even with his inherent advantages, the former vice presidents vulnerabilities would be insurmountable in a normal primary cycle. His mental lapses  mistakenly declaring his candidacy for the Senate, calling the most popular rifle in America the AR-14, failing to remember the preamble to the Declaration of Independence  are less anomalous mistakes than a window into a receding mind, one that is poorly equipped to lead the free world, the current presidents relative fitness (or lack thereof) notwithstanding.

Story continues

If Biden was eminently beatable, could Booker have beaten him? On paper, the New Jersey senator figured to be well primed to challenge Biden for the moderate vote. His heterodox views on school choice and relatively pro-business Senate record could have enamored him to centrist Democrats, who were resigned to a choice between an enfeebled septuagenarian, a small-time mayor, and a lamp-throwing senator with narrow appeal. But Booker, no doubt wary of being attacked as a moderate, Wall Streetfriendly candidate in a field whose progressive wing included class warriors such as Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, chose to tack left, taking positions that made him appear unelectable to lunch-bucket Democrats more interested in lowering health-care costs than in upending the patriarchy.

Last year Booker wrote An Open Letter to Men on Abortion for GQ, exhorting men to acknowledge that they benefit from abortion rights and reproductive health care and waxing poetic about his efforts to be the best ally and partner I can be in the fight for legal abortion. Normal people  whose votes Booker, even in a Democratic primary, would presumably need  do not use the word ally that way. They almost certainly never make consecutive use of the words reproductive health care in casual conversation. That language appeals to Wesleyan professors and wine-track moms in the suburbs, sure. But Elizabeth Warren already had a stranglehold on such voters, who in any event, are not the ones fueling Bidens rise. Meanwhile, the voters who did eventually flock to Biden were likely also put off by Bookers proposal to decriminalize unauthorized border crossings into the United States, an idea that polls terribly across almost every demographic in America, including self-described moderate Democrats.

In short, Booker ran as a progressive and willingly forfeited the moderate voters he needed to win the nomination. The shame for Democrats it that unlike Biden, he is lucid and presentable. Had he focused his campaign on winning over Biden voters  OBiden-Bama Democrats, as the former vice president has called them  he could well have been standing in the position of the doddering old warhorse he just endorsed.

More from National Review
LANSING, MI -- Anyone visiting a Michigan prison may now be required to have their temperature gauged.

Michigan prisons enacted a coronavirus COVID-19 screening plan Wednesday, March 11, as fears over spread of the virus heightened following Gov. Gretchen Whitmers state of emergency declaration Tuesday in response to two Michigan residents testingpresumptive positive for the infectious disease.

Until further notice, anyone coming into a prison facility will be asked a series of screening questions and may have their temperature checked before being allowed entrance into a prison, the Michigan Department of Corrections said in a statement. This includes all staff, visitors, volunteers and contractors.

The agency has additionally provided prevention information to staff and inmates, increase and expanded cleaning of facilities and is reviewing the possible cancellation or changes to large events, including graduations, corrections officer training academies and other training events," according to the release.

Our primary focus is on public safety, Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington said in a statement issued Wednesday, March 11. We take this issue seriously and we will do all we can to keep the public safe, as well as those we supervise across this state.

The MDOC operated 21 facilities with nearly 40,000 inmates according to the agencys most recent statistical report released in January 2019 based on Dec. 31, 2017 data.

Employees and visitors can access information about specific prison facilities by signing up for Nixle alerts. To sign up for alerts, users should visit www.michigan.gov/corrections, select the desired facility and follow the provided instructions.

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, MDHHS chief medical executive, shares an update on the department's actions to protect Michigan residents during the coronavirus outbreak, including state lab testing. pic.twitter.com/W7rremkR7l  Michigan HHS Dept (@MichiganHHS) March 11, 2020

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.

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.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday declared coronavirus to be a global pandemic.

Michigan health officials have been preparing for weeks for a possible outbreak of coronavirus.

Officials on Tuesday said 124 people currently are being monitored by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for possible exposure and were in self-quarantine.

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.

Related coverage:

Michigan officials set to approve $25 million in spending for response to coronavirus threat

Michigan State moving to online classes starting today because of potential coronavirus case

Coronavirus Q&A, 15 things to know about COVID-19s spread

Gov. Whitmer declares state of emergency as first coronavirus cases confirmed in Michigan

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Best defense against coronavirus
CCI to meet cement demand for new hydropower project

12 March 2020

Indias National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) to meet the cement requirements for its 2880MW Dibang Multipurpose Project. The project, once installed, would be the country's largest dam.

CCI has announced plans to install a clinker grinding unit near the project area, which would fulfil the cement requirements of the project and also generate employment opportunities.

Published under
[March 12, 2020] Global Agri Robots & Mechatronics Industry Outlook, 2025 - Increasing Penetration of UAV Usage in Agriculture Drives the Market (+24.2% CAGR)

DUBLIN, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Agricultural Robots and Mechatronics Market - Growth, Trends and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Agricultural Robots and Mechatronics Market is projected to register a CAGR of 24.2% during the forecast period (2020-2025). In 2019, North America was the largest geographical segment of the market studied.



Big industrial indoor farms are using aquaponics, which includes high-tech plumbing and filtration systems that can recycle virtually all the fresh water and avoid the use of pesticides. The combination of indoor farming and robots is likely to enhance the production capacities of crops. This is likely to drive the agricultural robots and mechatronics market to an extent.



Across the world, a huge decline of the workforce is observed due to many reasons, like the lack of skilled labor, aging of farmers, and young farmers finding farming an unattractive profession, thus encouraging trend for automated farming operations



Key Market Trends



Increasing Penetration of UAV Usage in Agriculture



Due to their ease-of-use and low-cost, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones can be used for producing time series animations, showing the precise development of a crop. The new generation of agriculture drones are technologically-advanced, which can support in pest control, monitoring soil and crop conditions, mapping, and estimating acreage and crop types. These drones also support in surveying of areas, where there is limited possibility of human to assess. This technology will help farmers in planning of input use, like crop protection chemicals, with the use of common detection methods and to reduce their monitoring costs. Factors, like effective assessment of farms using drones can help in overall profitability of the farmers, which is expected to drive the unmanned aerial vehicles, during the forecast period.



North America Dominates the Global Market



According to Mordor Intelligence analysis, the share of the North American agricultura robots and mechatronics market was over 60% in 2019. The United States is one of the largest markets for autonomous tractors in the agricultural robots and mechatronics market in North America. Autonomous Tractor Corporation and Agrobotics LLC are some of the major players in the market studied, based in this region. The major factors driving the market studied in North America are large scale farming operations, decline in labor, and the need to enhance productivity of agriculture.







Competitive Landscape



The Global Agricultural Robots and Mechatronics Market is moderately consolidated, with the top nine companies accounting for about more than 45% share of the market, while the rest of the companies account for the remaining share. The major players in the market are Yamaha Motor Company, GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft, DeLaval Inc., Lely Industries NV, and A/S S. A. Christensen & Co (SAC Milking), among others.





Key Topics Covered



1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Study Assumptions & Market Definition

1.2 Scope of the Study



2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY



3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY



4 MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 Market Drivers

4.3 Market Restraints

4.4 Porter's Five Force Analysis

4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers

4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products

4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry



5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 Type

5.1.1 Autonomous Tractors

5.1.2 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

5.1.3 Milking Robots

5.1.4 Other Types

5.2 Application

5.2.1 Crop Production

5.2.2 Animal Husbandry

5.2.3 Forest Control

5.2.4 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

5.3.1.4 Rest of North America

5.3.2 Europe

5.3.2.1 Spain

5.3.2.2 United Kingdom

5.3.2.3 France

5.3.2.4 Germany

5.3.2.5 Russia

5.3.2.6 Italy

5.3.2.7 Rest of Europe

5.3.3 Asia-Pacific

5.3.3.1 China

5.3.3.2 India

5.3.3.3 Japan

5.3.3.4 Australia

5.3.3.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific

5.3.4 Rest of the World

5.3.4.1 Brazil

5.3.4.2 Argentina

5.3.4.3 South Africa

5.3.4.4 Other Countries



6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Most Adopted Strategies

6.2 Market Share Analysis

6.3 Company Profiles

6.3.1 Agrobotix LLC

6.3.2 Autonomous Solutions (ASI)

6.3.3 Autonomous Tractor Corporation

6.3.4 AutoProbe Technologies

6.3.5 Blue River Technology

6.3.6 BouMatic Robotics

6.3.7 Clearpath Robotics Inc.

6.3.8 Conic System

6.3.9 DeLaval Inc.

6.3.10 EcoRobotix Ltd

6.3.11 GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft

6.3.12 Harvest Automation Inc.

6.3.13 Deere & Company

6.3.14 Lely Industries N.V.

6.3.15 Naio Technologies

6.3.16 PrecisionHawk

6.3.17 A/S S. A. Christensen & Co. (SAC Milking)

6.3.18 SenseFly

6.3.19 Vision Robotics Corporation

6.3.20 Vitirover

6.3.21 Wall-Ye

6.3.22 Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd



7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/566n6i 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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Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-agri-robots--mechatronics-industry-outlook-2025---increasing-penetration-of-uav-usage-in-agriculture-drives-the-market-24-2-cagr-301022309.html SOURCE Research and Markets

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A new San Francisco policy will allow city employees who have been impacted by the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, early access to their vacation time and paid sick leave, Mayor London Breed said Thursday.

The new policy ensures city employees get adequate paid time off if needed as a result of the virus, which has now sickened 18 people in the city as of Thursday.

Breed is calling on private companies to consider similar measures.

"The city is leading by example to slow the spread of COVID-19, and that includes allowing people to take time off if they are sick or need to take care of someone else," Breed said in a statement.

"Public health is our top priority, and we want people to be able to follow our public health recommendations, without fear of not having enough vacation days or sick leave and missing a paycheck," she said. "We strongly encourage other companies in San Francisco to enact similar policies."

"When employees who may have been exposed to the coronavirus lack paid sick leave, it presents a great risk to our ability to protect the health of the public," the city's Human Resources Director Micki Callahan said.

If an employee has exhausted all of their existing leave, including vacation days, floating holidays and paid sick leave, the employee can request an advance of sick leave or vacation up to 80 hours, if they meet certain criteria, the mayor's office said.

The criteria includes being part of a vulnerable population like the elderly or those with existing medical conditions; being in self-isolation or quarantine as advised by a medical provider or public official; suffering from an acute respiratory illness or flu-like symptoms; having to take care of a sick or high-risk family member; or being directly impacted by the virus.

Employees who are feeling sick are being told to stay home.

San Francisco's Department of Public Health is also recommending that all workplaces, offices and businesses in the city suspend nonessential employee travel to slow the spread of the virus.

Health officials are also recommending employers cancel all large and in-person meetings and minimize the amount of employees working within arm's length of one another; maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits; disregard doctor's notes for sick employees; and consider telecommuting options.

Employees who need to be in the workplace to provide essential functions are being urged to take precautions to minimize their risk of exposure to the virus, like regularly washing hands and cleaning surfaces.

For more updates, residents can visit www.sfdph.org, call 311, and sign up for the city's text alert service by texting COVID19SF to 888-777.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
We have another four million reasons Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales should abandon his anachronistic and wrongheaded refusal to equip his deputies with lapel cameras  allowing them to join the ranks of modern policing and affording residents of this county the protections that come with law enforcement accountability.

A lawsuit filed by the family of Elisha Lucero, a 28-year-old woman with a history of mental illness who was shot and killed by deputies in front of her home last summer, was settled last week for $4 million. (Meanwhile, the criminal case has been turned over to the District Attorneys Office for investigation.)

The resolution came less than two months after the family brought the case. Thats because the facts were so outrageous that the county sought mediation before it even filed an answer.

How bad?

Family members had called 911 and said Lucero  who stood 4 feet 11  had hit her uncle. The relative who called also said Lucero was mentally ill, needed help, and was a threat to herself and everybody else.

A lieutenant and two deputies were dispatched rather than the Mobile Crisis Team trained to handle mental health calls. Instead of de-escalating the situation, it obviously was escalated, with Lucero, naked from the waist up, running toward them screaming and brandishing a kitchen knife. She was shot at least 21 times and died at the scene.

As usual, the sheriff was unrepentant after the settlement was announced. His spokesman said the department was sickened by the amount of the settlement and does not admit any fault. BCSO holds firm in its belief that our deputies have a right and a duty to protect themselves and others from harm and/or death.

Apparently that doesnt include the woman they were called to help.

Luceros death is reminiscent of fatal Albuquerque Police Department shootings of mentally ill individuals that involved multimillion-dollar payouts  $10.3 million to the family of suicidal veteran Kenneth Ellis III, $6 million to the family of paranoid schizophrenic Christopher Torres and $5 million to the family of homeless schizophrenic camper James Boyd. Those shootings shocked the public conscience and helped fuel the push for reform at APD.

And lapel cams are a key to changing use-of-force behavior. First, officers know there is a record of what they do. Its human nature to conduct yourself differently  though there was damning footage in the Boyd case  when you know others are watching. And it acts to protect officers from complaints that devolve into he said, she said.

County commissioners have tried in vain to push Gonzales toward cameras, setting aside millions of dollars for lapel and dashboard models.

He has adamantly refused. And, of course, the $4 million that will go to Elisha Luceros family isnt his money.

The lawsuit was handled by lawyers representing the New Mexico Association of Counties, who did not respond to a request for comment. But County Attorney Ken Martinez said, I can tell you that the county as an organization is always trying to do the right thing, and trying to assess costs early and fairly.

That applies to resolving lawsuits, rather than policy changes to avoid them. Plaintiffs attorney Shannon Kennedy notes that despite a multimillion-dollar settlement, we were not able to negotiate any changes in policies.

Gonzales is an independent elected official. If commissioners cant force him through persuasion or budget to equip his deputies with cameras, they should join an effort by Kennedy and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico to push for a state law that would require law enforcement officers to be equipped with body cams.

No one in Bernalillo County, the ACLU said in a statement, should ever fear that calling emergency services for a loved one in crisis will result in that loved ones death.

And if, in a rare case, that is the unavoidable outcome, it is important to have the video evidence to show why, rather than a check at taxpayers expense to make it go away.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Michael Youssef, the founder and president of "Leading The Way," has released his new book Saving Christianity?: The Danger in Undermining Our Faith - and What You Can Do about It. The book immediately climbed to the top of Amazon's charts, becoming the #1 bestseller in the Christian Social Issue category and the #1 new release in Christian Apologetics.

Saving Christianity? explores how society has shifted morally and asks readers whether Christianity needs to be reinvented - or even reimagined - to save it. With Newsweek declaring "The Decline and Fall of Christian America" on its cover and The Daily Beast questioning, "Does Christianity Have a Future?" bloggers and Christian commentators are discussing whether we need a "new of kind of Christianity."

Dr. Michael Youssef explores this train of thought and its pitfalls. He describes how similar discussions in Christianity's recent past explored the very same question. Saving Christianity? will help you discern what is going on within the church while it reviews the essentials of the Christian faith, as described in the Bible.

Since its release, readers have continued to highly rate and recommend Saving Christianity? as a powerful tool that discusses the Word of God and the importance of securing our walks with the Lord.

Youssef is the founder and president of "Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef," a worldwide ministry that leads the way for people living in spiritual darkness to discover the light of Christ through the creative use of media and on-the-ground ministry teams (LTW.org). His weekly television programs and daily radio programs are broadcast in 26 languages and seen worldwide, airing more than 14,000 times per week. He is also the founding pastor of The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Youssef was born in Egypt, but in 1984, he fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming an American citizen. He is the founding and senior pastor of Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia. Youssef holds degrees from Moore College in Sydney, Australia and Fuller Theological Seminary in California, with a Ph.D. in social anthropology from Emory University. He is the author of 40 books. His latest book, Saving Christianity?: The Danger in Undermining Our Faith - and What You Can Do about It is available in bookstores everywhere.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadingtheway.org

Twitter: @leadingtheway

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/leadingtheway

Saving Christianity?: The Danger in Undermining Our Faith - and What You Can Do about It by Dr. Michael Youssef is available now wherever books are sold.

Tags : michael youssef Leading The Way Michael Youssef & Leading The Way Michael Youssef new book Michael Youssef saving christianity?
Oil is on track for its biggest weekly decline since 2008 as the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on fuel demand and threatens global economic stability.

Futures in New York tumbled 4.5% on Thursday and are on track for a 24% weekly drop. President Donald Trumps restriction on travel from Europe for the next 30 days, in an attempt to contain the coronavirus, darkened the outlook for fuel demand. At the same time, Brent crudes one-year structure collapsed into a supercontango for the first time since 2015, suggesting a large oversupply as responses by the U.S. and European policy makers have failed to stem the price rout.

The fear of an economic crisis reverberated across U.S. equities triggering a 15-minute New York Stock Exchange-mandated halt in trading for the second time this week. The S&P 500 plunged into a bear market and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 10% in its biggest rout since Black Monday in 1987.

PREVIOUSLY: Oil tumbles amid OPEC market share battle, virus pandemic

This is a downward spiral said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research Inc. This collapse is inciting the fear this will be a full blown recession. The pain is going to be so sharp for everybody.

Trump proposed tax relief measures to stave off the risk of a recession, but stopped short of providing a detailed economic rescue package. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank left rates unchanged, though it temporarily increased its quantitative easing program and took steps to boost liquidity.

Crude spiked to unprecedented levels of volatility as the coronavirus pandemic cripples demand amid travel disruptions worldwide and as a battle for market share by the worlds largest oil producing nations escalates further. In another sign of weakness in the energy complex, gasoline futures in New York plunged 19% to the lowest level in more than a decade on Thursday.

This is the capitulation day for gasoline, said Walter Zimmermann, chief technical strategist at ICAP Technical Analysis. The virus has magnified the chronic glut and today was a reckoning.

FUEL FIX: Our energy news. Your inbox. A perfect combination.

Amid the escalating market-share battle, Russian oil producers doubled down on Thursday saying they are able to operate even if prices drop further and will ramp up production beginning April 1. The Kremlin earlier said it has no plans for oil talks with Saudi Arabia.

All bets are off, said Leo Mariani, equity research analyst at KeyBanc Capital Markets. Its clear the price battle may not be over in the short term. Having a supply and demand crisis at the same time is unprecedented. Its going to be a painful time.

Saudi Arabia is unleashing a wave of crude toward Europe, traditionally the backyard for Russian sales, pledging to supply refineries with as much as three times their usual intake from the kingdom. Theres a prospect of a prolonged battle, as analysts from Bank of America Corp. to Raiffeisenbank expect Russias low production costs, flexible tax system and free-floating ruble will allow its producers to respond.

--With assistance from James Thornhill, Elizabeth Low and Alex Longley.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The uncertainty around Coronavirus impact on the construction sector is likely to keep cement prices flat in the coming months.

According to industry officials and sector analysts, although the effects of coronavirus arent yet felt in the construction sector, a prolonged crisis across business segments might impact cement industry as well and it is unlikely that prices will be increased under such volatility. Coronavirus impact is not felt as yet in construction activity. It is unlikely to be affected in the near term unless there is a major economic ...
The Centre will be getting a total amount of Rs 7172 crore this year from which is 6.52 per cent lower than what it received in the last fiscal year. In 2018-19, the Centre got a total amount of Rs. 7672 crore.

The amount is inclusive of dividend distribution tax (DDT) which stood at Rs 2282 crore during 2019-20 and Rs 1833 crore during 2018-19.



On Thursday, the board sanctioned a total amount of Rs 9677 crore inclusive of the DDT as interim dividend at a rate of Rs 12 per share. In the last fiscal year, the interim dividend stood at Rs 13.10 per share.

Incidentally, after taking forward its disinvestment drive, the Centre, from a stakeholding of 70.96 per cent as on April 2019, now owns 69.05 per cent in this company.

The interim dividend this year is lower than last year and also the governments shareholding in the company has decreased. This has resulted in the Centre getting lower amount of money from this year as compared to the previous year, a senior Coal India official said.

The record date for payment of the dividend has been fixed on March 26.

Incidentally, while the government lowered its stake, foreign portfolio investors (FPI) have been increasing this holding. From a 7.13 per cent stake in Coal India, FPIs now own 8.59 per cent in the worlds largest coal miner.

The dividend will be distributed to the shareholders in proportion to their shareholding.

The company official reasoned that the dividend payout this year is lower on account of the companys performance when coal production was hit and the demand for coal has also declined.

In fact, from April 2019 to February 2020, Coal Indias total production declined by 1.9 per cent at 517.78 million tonne (mt) while sales volume fell by 3.7 per cent at 528.27 mt. The same during the corresponding period of the 2018-19 fiscal year stood at 527.69 mt and 548.53 mt respectively.

According to Care Ratings, lower coal production during the first nine months of 2019-20 was due to prolonged rains and labour unrest. Production from a number of high yielding open cast mines like Gevra, Dipka and Rajmahal was almost reduced to a trickle due to inundating rain.

Adding further to the Maharatna companys woes, in September 2019, a non-perennial, seasonal river Lilagarh breached its embankment and flooded the lower benches of 35 mt Dipka opencast mine.

Besides, the Centres decision to allow private foreign investments in coal mining led to labour strikes during September 2019 leading to a sharp fall in coal production during April-November 2019.

Besides, coal officials said that the coal demand had been muted in 2019 which led to lower sales volume and direly impacted its revenue and profitability. During the April-December period, sales revenue declined by 7.78 per cent at Rs. 21566.41 crore while pre-tax profit fell by 24.09 per cent at Rs. 5335.77 crore.

The ratings agency noted that coal production returned to the growth path after the monsoon receded but Coal India fell short of its annual production target.

Coal production rose by 7-14 per cent in each of the last three months. On a cumulative basis, the company has been able to narrow its fall with recent growth in production levels. Coal Indias production for April-February stood at 517.8 mt, compared with 527.7 mt in the same period a year ago, Care Ratings said.


SEATTLE, WA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / ???Former employee Rebecca Flores settled her federal sexual harassment and retaliation case against Koelsch for $450,000 with significant non-monetary remedial relief in a Consent Decree entered in federal court today (No. 3:18-cv-05792 BHS).

Lead trial counsel for the former employee, Seattle attorneys Scott C. G. Blankenship and Rick Goldsworthy of The Blankenship Law Firm, PLLC, negotiated the settlement along with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") lead counsel Carmen Flores, Supervisory Trial Attorney John Stanley, and Regional Attorney Roberta Steele. The trial was set to begin in May 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma.

In the lawsuit, Ms. Flores alleged that her direct supervisor - a woman - repeatedly requested that Ms. Flores give her foot rubs, told her she wanted to "rub her butt," told her to "get on all fours" while the two were alone in the supervisor's office, and touched Ms. Flores's breast, amongst other things.

Ms. Flores alleged that after she complained up the chain of command about the sexual harassment, she suffered retaliation. She alleged that? Koelsch's management threatened her job and told her to keep silent, that the supervisor who harassed her wasn't going anywhere, and as to Ms. Flores, that the company would "sure hate to lose her." Ms. Flores claimed that? Koelsch never properly investigated her complaints and allowed her supervisor to continue the conduct even after Ms. Flores complained. Ms. Flores said that when she complained again about Koelsch's alleged failure to properly respond to her first complaint as well as the continued harassment from her supervisor, she was terminated.

Ms. Flores stated: "After what happened to me, I felt betrayed and completely lost trust in the system. It was not until I reached out to the EEOC and the Blankenship Law Firm that I finally felt heard. This should not happen to anyone. I finally feel that the system actually worked, and I hope this makes other women more willing to come forward with complaints."

Sexual harassment and discrimination, as well as retaliation for opposing such conduct, violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). Prosecution through private counsel subjected Koelsch Senior Communities to a potential jury verdict that would have included punitive damages under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the broader protection and damages afforded by Washington law.

"Whether it is a memory care facility or movie studio, women must no longer suffer from sexual bias, innuendo, or harassment without justice or recourse under the law," said attorney Scott Blankenship. "Here, it was critically important to Ms. Flores that Koelsch agree to take positive preventive measures to protect employees in the future. Without this willingness, this case would not have resolved short of a jury verdict."

The Blankenship Law Firm, PLLC, is an AV-rated law firm located in downtown Seattle with lawyers licensed in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The firm's practice emphasizes employment law, including class actions representing employees in all phases of negotiation and litigation. Key Documents are hyperlinked and embedded in this release. More information is available online at www.blankenshiplawfirm.com.

CONTACT:

Scott C. G. Blankenship (206) 343-2700 (work)

sblankenship@blankenshiplawfirm.com (206) 898-6033 (cell)

www.blankenshiplawfirm.com

Related Files

Flores v Koelsch Press Release.docx

SOURCE: The Blankenship Law Firm

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580471/The-Blankenship-Law-Firm-and-the-Federal-Government-Advance-Rights-for-Women-in-the-Workplace-in-Sexual-Harassment-and-Retaliation-Case-for-450000-in-Settlement-Approved-Today-in-US-District-Court-at-Tacoma
An eight-month pregnant Guatemalan migrant and her unborn baby died days after the expecting mother fell while trying to climb over a Texas border fence.

Miriam Estefany Giron Luna, 19, a former beauty queen in her native land, was trying to scale a 22-foot steel mesh barrier separating Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and Clint, Texas, when she fell and landed on her back.

Her partner, Dilver Israel Diaz Garcia, 26, alerted a unit of Border Patrol agents with the El Paso Sector, who called for Emergency Medical Services.

An ambulance transported Giron Luna to Del Sol Medical Center Hospital in El Paso, Texas, where doctors performed an emergency C-section but were unable to save the baby.

Miriam Estefany Giron Luna died at an El Paso, Texas, hospital on Tuesday after she suffered an accidental fall while trying to climb over a 22-foot steel mesh barrier in the city of Clint after crossing over from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Saturday

Miriam Estefany Giron Luna (pictured in hospital) reportedly suffered cerebral hemorrhage, lacerations of the liver and kidneys, and a fracture of the pelvis as a result of her fall. She underwent several surgeries at Del Sol Medical Center in El Paso, Texas

Guatemalan newspaper Prensa Libre reported that Giron Luna, who worked back home as a social worker, suffered cerebral hemorrhage, lacerations of the liver and kidneys, and a fracture of the pelvis.

Giron Luna underwent several surgeries before the medical staff declared her dead Tuesday at 2:39pm, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.

'The smugglers quickly left them alone, fading off in the darkness, leaving them to make the final legs of the journey by themselves,' said U.S. Customs and Border Protection acting commissioner Mark Morgan on Thursday. As they attempted to climb the wall, the husband could do nothing but watch as he saw his pregnant wife fall to the ground.'

'This is absolutely tragic. But what is also part of the tragedy is whats preventable. Do not listen to the smugglers,' Morgan added. 'They do not care about you. They will abuse you and they will leave you behind to die. That is the truth. Those are the facts.

Miriam Estefany Giron Luna died Tuesday afternoon at a hospital in El Paso, Texas, after she suffered a fall while trying to climb over a border fence

The Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Ministry will be supporting the family of Miriam Estefany Giron Luna in arranging to have her remains flown back to her hometown of San Marcos

Diaz Garcia was placed in custody of CBP for processing.

Eduardo Hernandez, Guatemala's vice minister of Foreign Affairs, who visited Giron Luna while she was hospitalized, said the government would be offering her family support in flying her body back to her hometown of San Marcos for a proper funeral service.

According to the Washington Post, at least five Guatemalan migrants seeking unlawful entry into the United States have suffered broken bones and have been diagnosed with other injuries.

'This is a very worrisome trend,' said Tekandi Paniagua, an official with the Guatemalan consulate in Texas.

'People are taking more and more risks, and they're losing their lives.'
Duke Energy Corp.s DUK subsidiary, Piedmont Natural Gas, has recently secured approval from the Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) to decrease natural gas rates for its customers in Tennessee. The rate reductions are effective on an immediate basis and will be reflected in customers' March 2020 bills.



Notably, Piedmont's natural gas rates for Tennessee customers are now at a record low compared to the last 15 years. Over the past year, this marks the second rate decrease enacted by the company.



Tennessee Customers to Benefit From Rate Reduction



Utility companies are mostly regulated and require systematic investments in infrastructural development. Maintained and upgraded infrastructure enables utility companies to provide reliable services to their customers. The utilities recoup the invested amount through rate revisions approved by the commissions. However, the usage of cheaper fuel and the introduction of new technology in generation and distribution systems enable the utilities to reduce rates.



Courtesy of the rate reductions, average residential customers of Piedmont Natural Gas in Tennessee will save around 20% compared with the year-ago savings. This, in total, translates to a savings of around $167 per year, approximately $14 lower per month from the previous year. Additionally, commercial and industrial customers will also see a savings of approximately 20% compared to the prior year.



Natural Gas Consumption to Grow in US Industrial Sector



Natural gas consumption in the U.S. industrial sector will continue to grow in 2020 and is expected to increase 4.6%, per a report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The increase in consumption will arise from the new methanol plants that are scheduled to come online in 2020.



In line with such projections, other companies engaged in the generation and distribution of natural gas, like Dominion Energy D, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. AQN and Devon Energy Corporation DVN, also look ahead to grow their natural gas businesses.



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My fellow Americans, tonight I want to speak with you about our nation's unprecedented response to the coronavirus outbreak that started in China and is now spreading throughout the world. Today, the World Health Organization officially announced that this is a global pandemic.



We have been in frequent contact with our allies and we are marshaling the full power of the government and the private sector to protect the American people. This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history.



I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus.



From the beginning of time, nations and people have faced unforeseen challenges including large-scale and very dangerous health threats. This is the way it always was and always will be. It only matters how you respond, and we are responding with great speed and professionalism.



Our team is the best anywhere in the world. At the very start of the outbreak, we instituted sweeping travel restrictions on China and put in place the first federally mandated quarantine in over 50 years. We declared a public health emergency and issued the highest level of travel warning on other countries as the virus spread its horrible infection. And taking early, intense action, we have seen dramatically fewer cases of the virus in the United States than are now present in Europe.



The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe.



After consulting with our top government health professionals, I've decided to take several strong but necessary actions to protect the health and well-being of all Americans.



To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days. The new rules will go into effect Friday at midnight. These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground. There will be exceptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings, and these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo but various other things as we get approval.



Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing. These restrictions will also not apply to the United Kingdom. At the same time, we are monitoring the situation in China and the South Korea. As their situation improves, we will reevaluate the restrictions and warnings that are currently in place for a possible early opening.



Earlier this week, I met with the leaders of health insurance industry who have agreed to waive all copayments for coronavirus treatments, extend insurance coverage to these treatments, and to prevent surprise medical billing.



We are cutting massive amounts of red tape to make antiviral therapies available in record time. These treatments will significantly reduce the impact and reach of the virus. Additionally, last week I signed into law an $8.3 billion funding bill to help CDC and other government agencies fight the virus and support vaccines, treatments, and distribution of medical supplies.



Testing and testing capabilities are expanding rapidly, day by day we are moving very quickly. The vast majority of Americans, the risk is very, very low. Young and healthy people can expect to recover fully and quickly if they should get the virus.



The highest risk is for elderly population with underlying health conditions. The elderly population must be very, very careful. In particular, we are strongly advising that nursing homes for the elderly suspend all medically unnecessary visits. In general, older Americans should avoid nonessential travel in crowded areas.



My administration is coordinating directly with communities with largest outbreaks and we have issued guidance on school closures, social distancing, and reducing large gatherings.



Smart action today will prevent the spread of the virus tomorrow. Every community faces different risks, and it is critical for you to follow the guidelines of your local officials who are working closely with our federal health experts, and they are the best.



For all Americans, it is essential that everyone take extra precautions and practice good hygiene. Each of us has a role to play in defeating the virus. Wash your hands, clean often used surfaces, cover your face and mouth if you sneeze or cough, and most of all, if you are sick or not feeling well, stay home.



To ensure that working Americans impacted by the virus can stay home without fear of financial hardship, I will soon be taking emergency action which is unprecedented to provide financial relief. This will be targeted for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus. I will be asking Congress to take legislative action to extend this relief.



Because of the economic policies that we have put into place, over the last three years, we have the greatest economy anywhere in the world by far. Our banks and financial institutions are fully capitalized and incredibly strong. Our unemployment is at a historic low. This vast economic prosperity gives us flexibility, reserves, and resources to handle any threat that comes our way.



This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation and as a world; however, to provide extra support for American workers, families, and businesses, tonight I'm announcing the following additional actions.



I'm instructing the Small Business Administration to exercise available authority to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the coronavirus. Effective immediately, the SBA will begin providing economic loans in affected states and territories. These low-interest loans will help small businesses overcome temporary economic disruptions caused by the virus.



To this end, I'm asking Congress to increase funding for this program by an additional $50 billion. Using emergency authority, I will be instructing the treasury department to defer tax payments without interest or penalties for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted.



This action will provide more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy. Finally I am calling on Congress to provide Americans with immediate payroll tax relief. Hopefully, they will consider this very strongly. We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus.



We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay. I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health, and safety of the American people. I will always put the well-being of America first.



If we are vigilant and we can reduce the chance of infection, which we will, we will significantly impede the transmission of the virus. The virus will not have a chance against us. No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States. We have the best economy, the most advanced health care, and the most talented doctors and resources anywhere in the world. We are all in this together. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family.



As history has proven time and time again, Americans always rise to the challenge and overcome adversity. Our future remains brighter than anyone can imagine. Acting with compassionate love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before. God bless you and god bless America. Thank you.
The travel ban is expected to affect 11 percent of international flights

New figures estimate that President Donald Trump's ban on travel from Europe will have the biggest impact on passengers slated to fly Delta Air Lines, United and Lufthansa during the 30-day period.

According to OAG Aviation, US airlines will bear the brunt of the ban: 40 percent of flights affected are operated by a US carrier. In total, 11 percent of international flights during the four-week ban will be affected.

Together, Delta and United are scheduled to fly 31 percent of all flights between the US and the Schengen area during this period.

Lufthansa is the most affected European airline, with 13 percent of flights.

The ban was announced by Trump on Wednesday and applies to travel for foreign nationals traveling to the US from the Schengen area which includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The ban is effective as of midnight Friday and applies to foreign travelers.

Of the 26 countries, the hardest hit will be Germany, France and the Netherlands, which account for 57 percent of all flights between the Schengen Area and the US.

According to OAG flight schedules, the ban will affect 7,000 flights over the next four weeks.
By Trend





The United States Government has strongly supported the Southern Gas Corridor for more than a decade because of the contribution it will make to European energy security and to the political and economic integration of the Caspian region with the West, Nathan Reich, Energy Diplomacy Officer, Bureau of Energy Resources, US Department of State, told Trend.

He pointed out that by just about any standard, the project is a major political and commercial accomplishment.

"Once completed, it will stretch 3,600 kilometers and connect six countries  Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Albania, and Italy. It will have involved a dozen or so major international oil and gas companies and investments of around $40 billion deployed over many years, as well as cooperation across cultural, business, and political lines, technological innovation, and coordinated strategic thinking from Washington D.C. and Brussels to Rome, Tirana, Sofia, Athens, Ankara, Tbilisi, and Baku," said the energy diplomacy officer.

Reich believes that through the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, the Corridor could also significantly diversify the gas imports of European countries.

"We should keep in mind that the Corridor is expandable. If additional natural gas resources are developed in Azerbaijan, in Central Asia, Iraq, or elsewhere in the region, they too could be exported to European markets via this route. This would contribute to European energy security while generating new long-term sources of export revenue for suppliers.

So where are we in terms of progress? Part of the Corridor was commissioned in summer of 2018, when first gas flowed from Baku through an expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline in Azerbaijan and Georgia into the Trans Anatolian Pipeline, or, TANAP, which brought the gas to Eskisehir in Turkey. TANAP has now been fully commissioned and last month Greece and Turkey celebrated the commissioning of the first part of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, or, TAP, the final leg in the Corridor. If everything stays on track, the remaining portion of that pipeline  which connects Greece to Italy via Albania  will be commissioned by the end of 2020. The interconnector from Greece to Bulgaria, after several delays, also appears to be making progress and could be completed in early 2021," he noted.

Reich said that there have been hiccups and there still may be challenges to overcome, but on balance the US Government is very pleased with the significant progress that has and continues to be made on the Southern Gas Corridor and associated infrastructure.

The Southern Gas Corridor project aims to increase and diversify European energy supply by bringing gas resources from the Caspian Sea to markets in Europe.

The Southern Gas Corridor comprises the following four projects: (i) operation of Shah Deniz natural gas-condensate field ("SD1" project) and its full-field development ("SD2'" project), (ii) the operation of the South Caucasus Pipeline ("SCP" project) and its expansion ("SCPX" project), (iii) the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline ("TANAP" project) and (iv) the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline ("TAP" project) (SD2, SCPX, TANAP and TAP collectively, the "Projects").

The Projects have an estimated investment cost of approximately $40 billion. Upon completion, the SD2 project will add a further 16 bcm of natural gas per annum to 10.9 bcma (maximum production capacity) already produced under SD1 project.

Total length of the newly constructed SCPX, TANAP and TAP pipelines will be more than 3,200 kilometres.
GREENWICH  A patient cared for in the Greenwich Hospital Emergency Department on Wednesday has tested positive for COVID-19.

This is the first confirmed case of the coronavirus at Greenwich Hospital.

The patient, who is from New York state, was sent home under the supervision of the patients local health department, President and CEO Norman G. Roth said in a statement Thursday morning.

A small number of hospital employees who cared for the patient are doing well and being monitored, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Roth said.

Greenwich Hospital is well prepared and has taken every precaution to ensure the health and safety of all patients, staff and employees, Roth said.

Greenwich Hospital has added security to the main entrance of the hospital.

The announcement from Greenwich Hospital came in the middle of Thursdays Board of Selectmen meeting. First Selectman Fred Camillo urged residents to continue to take steps to protect themselves.

This is going to happen, Camillo said. Were going to see cases here. You cant stop it but you can slow it down and you do that by putting in place policies and using common sense. Were going to work together and were going to communicate regularly with the public.

On Thursday, a Stamford resident returning from international travel was announced to have tested positive for COVID-19, the first positive case in a Stamford resident.

Wednesday night, an elderly New Canaan man was confirmed as the third coronavirus patient in Connecticut, and the first assumed to have contracted it in-state.

As the virus spreads, Yale-New Haven is keeping track of the resources that hospitals have, but the public should know that the spread will stress these resources, said Richard Martinello, a Yale School of Medicine associate professor of infectious diseases.

Greenwich Hospital and the healthcare system are thinking about how to use their assets  Intensive Care Units, negative pressure rooms and ventilators, for example  efficiently.

More Information The state has set up a dedicated 2-1-1 hotline and an email address, COVID19.jic@ct.gov, to answer questions and provide information on available testing. People can also text "COVID19" to 898211 for information. Yale New Haven Health has established a call center at 833-ASK-YNHH (833-275-9644) for any questions about the coronavirus. Camillo said updates will go out weekly in his e-blast to residents and there will also be updates made every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at www.greenwichct.gov. See More Collapse

We want them to minimize stress on already stressed resources, Martinello said.

To do this, much like is done with the flu, care will be stratified by severity, with some requiring hospital care, while most people will be able to recover at home, Martinello said. Caring for some at the hospital and most at home will help conserve hospital resources as coronavirus cases mount.

Were going to have and start to see significant amounts of people who need to be in the emergency department, he said. We need to make sure that people who arent that sick dont go and arent using up resources when they couldve just called their doctor and remained in their home.

People need to call their physician before showing up to the hospital to be tested, he said. If they do not have a physician, they should call the hotline that Yale-New Haven has set up.

The hotline is also offering video tele-health visits for people who want to talk to a healthcare professional.

State Sen. Alex Kasser (D-Greenwich), who represents Stamford, Greenwich and New Canaan, said Connecticut state officials are working to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic.

Suspending classes and canceling public meetings and events will help reduce the spread of this virus and the number of cases in Connecticut, she said.

This is a crisis, and we need to act accordingly to avoid worse outcomes, she said. By being proactive with an abundance of caution now, I hope we can return to normalcy soon.

Connecticut, like every state, faces a shortage of testing because the federal government failed to prepare the country adequately, Kasser said. The state government is working to compensate for that failure, she said.

These are not normal times, she said. But I have faith in the people of Connecticut that we will come together and act as one community to mitigate and survive this crisis.

When it passes, I hope we can all look back and feel proud of how we helped one another, she continued. The best thing each of us can do right now is to stay home if possible, stay informed, and to call your doctor if you have any symptoms whatsoever.

Ken Borsuk contributed to this report.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com; kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
GREENWICH  As heathcare providers cope with the first cases of the coronavirus in the state, Greenwich, just up the highway from a Westchester County hotspot, already has see the emergence of another type of virus perhaps inevitable in the social media age: a coronavirus hoax.

As cases started mounting in New Rochelle last week, the crisis seemed to spill over into western Greenwich, with social media users in the Port Chester-Greenwich area cautioning people to avoid a local medical office and pharmacy.

The Greenwich Police Department stepped in to correct a hoax that spread across social media last week, Lt. John Slusarz said. Greenwich police were alerted to a post on social media that incorrectly identified somebody in Greenwich as having the condition.

A community impact officer reached out to the individual who posted the information, Slusarz said.

There is a lot of misinformation out there, people are fearing and changing their operations. To correct that misinformation is important, Slusarz said.

The officer provided the social media user with the correct information that the town had at the time and asked that in the interest of public safety and the good feelings about people if she would take it down, which she did, Slusarz said.

Slusarz could not confirm the contents of the post, but last week posts went up on Facebook of a possible confirmed case of coronavirus in Greenwich. The Facebook posts were reportedly linked in the hyperlocal social network, NextDoor.

Guy showing symptoms just got back from Italy, one post read.

It claimed the person visited a particular medical office in town and a pharmacy, and urged people to stay away from both.

At the time there had been no confirmed cases in Greenwich. The first confirmed case at Greenwich Hospital occurred Thursday  a New York state resident who returned home.

The post was shared from one persons account 25 times, and was shared to a Facebook group. The person did not return a request for comment. The administrator for the group did not return a request to confirm whether the post was deleted from the page.

The Facebook post could still be seen this week. The same information was published on a Twitter account that provides a source of news, comedy, in-depth interviews and analysis on new world order and global conspiracy theories on Feb. 29. The Tweet is still available.

jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com
A coalition base was struck by an ISIS rocket attack on the Taji Military base, killing three soldiers in the ongoing conflict in Iraq. About 18 107mm Katyusha rockets struck the base which took the lives of two U.S. soldiers and one U.K. service personnel. Aside from these casualties, about 12 members were injured because of the attack.

So far, the rocket barrage is the most extensive on any US base with troops stationed there since Iran launch ballistic missiles in January.

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the attack "deplorable," because a British soldier was among the three who were killed in the unexpected attack.

Attacking the Taji military base in Iraq was nothing short of cowardly, Boris Johnson added more to his statement.

He said, "that security and stability in the region is because of service men and women who work every day, their presence does make it safer for everyone."

Both the Foreign Secretary and the US Secretary of State will continue to work with international partners to know more about the details of the abhorrent attack.

According to the Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, the night attack on both UK and allied soldier is inherently a cowardly act by Iran.

The Defense Secretary also added that the men and women of the UK armed forces are working in Iraq to attain and establish stability and prosperity in the region. Those who committed the atrocity are not friends to Iraq.

He addressed those who died on the night of the attack and said as quoted, "My thoughts are with the families of those whose loved ones have been killed or injured. We shall not forget their sacrifice and will ensure those who committed these acts face justice."

Also read: Indian Navy MiG-29K Fighter Plane Crashes Again, Prompts Investigative Inquiry

A representative of the Ministry of Defence confirmed that one soldier was part of the royal army medics corps who died with the two American personnel during the rocket attack.

They added, all the families of the deceased were informed of their passing. They have asked for privacy until the other details are released.

All thoughts and sympathies were expressed to the closest of kin and friends by authorities. The incident will be investigated to find out what happened.

US military spokesman Colonel Myles Caggins said that about 12 or more were injured in the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve when the based was hammered by rockets that caused the deaths.

Everything was confirmed by Security Media Cell, Iraq's military communication centre, that the attack happened on Wednesday afternoon in the northern area of Baghdad,

The OIR Spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III verified the Wednesday rocket attack in the afternoon and the official investigation in the attack and the assessment.

Ali Al Dulaimy, a 28-year-old Iraqi journalist, got a video of the attack from Balad near Taji.

A witness related to PA news agency, that people panic during the attack and the sirens were ringing loudly. Many witnessed the chaos as the coalition forces were taken by surprise, leaving the camp in ruins.

The weapon used for the attack was found by Iraqi Security Force. They found the truck with the launcher in the back, a few miles from Camp Taji.

A few days earlier two US servicemen were slain by enemies when on an operation with the Iraquis to attack ISIS on Sunday. Although there are speculations that ISIS did it or Iran, no one knows who fired the rocket attack on the coalition base that killed three coalition soldiers.

Related article: North Korea Launches Unidentified Projectiles From Sondok Near Japan

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Two employees have left the Midland County Sheriffs Office since the election for a new sheriff on March 3, and three more are set to resign or retire by the end of the month.

Capt. Rebecca Graham will be retiring March 31, Sheriff Richard Gillette said Thursday. Senior investigator Margarita Strahan resigned on March 6, and another employee turned in their resignation effective March 20.

Gillette said that employee is a patrol sergeant, but he is not able to release the name. He said the employees did not give reasons for their decisions to resign or retire.

Its kind of a typical thing after an election, Gillette said. Its the nature of the beast.

Chief Deputy Rory McKinney also retired on March 6. McKinney ran for sheriff in the Republican primary this past election cycle and came in second behind David Criner, Constable for Precinct 1.

News of the employees leaving the sheriffs office followed reports Criner would be sworn in on April 1, nine months before Inauguration Day. Gillette told the Reporter-Telegram last week that he would be retiring on March 31.

He was appointed by county commissioners following the death of Sheriff Gary Painter in May. Last week, Gillette said he agreed to serve as sheriff until after the election and was retiring now that Criner is the sheriff-elect.

County attorney Russell Malm said the commissioners court will be appointing Criner to finish the remainder of Painters term before he begins his own term in January.

It was reported last month that the Texas Rangers were investigating MCSO for various criminal allegations, including unlawful interception of oral or electronic communications, abuse of official capacity, tampering with a governmental record and theft, according to a heavily redacted report from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Two additional investigations were also reported in recent weeks. One is an investigation into an allegation an officer tampered with a computer provided to an inmate to work on his defense; the other revolves around an inmates death by suicide in May 2019.

Additionally, an administrative assistant at the sheriffs office filed a federal lawsuit alleging McKinney recorded and listened to her phone calls without her consent.

Criner told the Reporter-Telegram March 6 that there are no current employees under investigation by the Rangers. He said he met with the Rangers in anticipation of taking office.

My concern was  if I need to put someone on administrative leave, tell me I need to do that and theyll be put on administrative leave immediately, he said. And I was told I do not need to do that right now.

County commissioners will consider on March 23 appointing Criner for the remainder of Painters term, he said. Pending approval by commissioners, Criner will be sworn in 10 a.m. April 1 at the Midland County Courthouse.
Shares of Yes Bank on Thursday gave up all gains made in recent sessions, plunging over 39 percent to Rs 17.45 on the NSE

New Delhi: Shares of Yes Bank on Thursday gave up all gains made in recent sessions, plunging over 39 percent to Rs 17.45 on the NSE.

The stock had surged over 77 percent in the last two trading sessions.

On the NSE, the stock was quoting 12.67 percent lower at Rs 25.15. It hit a low of Rs 17.45, shedding more than 39 percent.

On the BSE, it was trading at Rs 25.10, lower by 12.85 percent. It touched an intra-day low of Rs 22.55, down 21.70 percent.

The stock had rallied after State Bank of India (SBI) said it will pick up 49 percent stake in the lender for Rs 2,450 crore.

Last week, the Reserve Bank has imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account.

Yes Bank has been struggling to raise capital amidst its dwindling financial health. It sought to raise $2 billion initially during this fiscal, which was then pruned to $1.2 billion as it could not rope in any investor.
A priceless brooch found on farmland in Northamptonshire has been bought by the Victoria & Albert Museum and is on display from today.

The rare diamond and gold breastpin  which dates back to the Middle Ages  was unearthed by a metal detectorist at an old hunting ground in Brigstock in 2017.

The V&A has acquired the brooch  thought to be one of only seven in the world  to sit alongside Queen Victorias coronet and pop star Beyonces Papillon ring in The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery.

It is only the second acquisition the museum has ever made through the 1996 National Treasure Act. The law states that finders of objects which constitute treasure are obliged to report their find to the local coroner within 14 days.

If the coroner declares the object treasure then the finder must offer the item for sale to a museum at a price set by an independent board of antiquities experts known as the Treasure Valuation Committee.

Experts believe that the flower-shaped accessory could have been used as a symbol of wealth and may have been torn from its owner during a hunt.

Justin Owens, who found the brooch during an organised dig with his wife, said he only had to search about four inches into the ground to unearth the jewelled cluster.

Finding the brooch was a complete surprise  I couldnt believe it, said Mr Owens, who has been a hobby detectorist for around four years.

At best Id hope to come across a Roman or medieval hammered coin on a dig, but to find something so rare and valuable as this was a total shock.

Mr Owens said he didnt think the brooch had much value when he first found it.

When I first found it, it was absolutely caked in mud. I didnt have high hopes, thinking it might be an old bottle top or something, Mr Owens explained.

Museum of the Year 2019 Show all 10 1 /10 Museum of the Year 2019 Museum of the Year 2019 Runner-up: Nottingham Contemporary Museum One of the UK's biggest contemporary art museums with a focus on international art PA Museum of the Year 2019 Runner-up: HMS Caroline A ship that served in the First World War and now a floating naval museum Museum of the Year 2019 Runner-up: Pitt Rivers Museum A museum dedicated to the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford Museum of the Year 2019 Runner-up: V&A Museum Dundee The recently opened V&A is Scotland's first design museum and has elsewhere gained recognition for its architecture PA Museum of the Year 2019 Winner: St Fagans National History Museum Over 40 historical buildings have been transported from across Wales to form St Fagans, just outside of Cardiff. PA Museum of the Year 2019 Winner: St Fagans National History Museum Oakdale Workmen's Institute, built as a social and educational site for the coal mining community of Oakdale Darren Wyn Rees Museum of the Year 2019 Winner: St Fagans National History Museum The Celtic village of Iron Age roundhouses Immanuel Giel Museum of the Year 2019 Winner: St Fagans National History Museum Wales' smallest Post Office, built in 1936 is just 5x2m Nicholas Mutton Museum of the Year 2019 Winner: St Fagans National History Museum Gwalia Stores, a typical general store of the industrial valleys of south Wales from the early-20th century PA Museum of the Year 2019 Winner: St Fagans National History Museum Cae Adda Byre, a cow-shed built in the 18th century John Cummings

But what a discovery! Now Ive seen it cleaned up by the V&As conservators, I cant believe how exquisite it really is.

The gold work is incredible and the jewels are stunning. Its amazing to think who might have worn this and how it ended up buried underground, undisturbed for so many years.

Im excited its now in the V&As collection and on display in its jewellery gallery for everyone to enjoy. Im looking forward to visiting myself very soon.

The discovery of the brooch has remained a secret until the V&A this week announced that it would be putting it on display. It is also set to feature in the final episode of BBC Twos Secrets of The Museum documentary series which airs tonight (Thursday) at 8pm.

The V&A would not be drawn on the monetary value of the brooch, describing it only as priceless.
On March 2, 2020, Israeli citizens voted in national elections for the third time in a year. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party won the most seats (36), followed by Blue and White (33 seats). The smaller Israeli right-wing parties managed to expand their seat totals, giving Likud enough like-minded Knesset members to form a government. But Israeli politics are never boring, nor are outcomes all that easy to predict. To discuss the election, Aaron Stein, Director of the Middle East Program at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, spoke with Ms. Yael Mizrahi-Arnaud, a special assistant at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the elections outcome.
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

About four out of five people infected with the novel coronavirus experience mild or moderate symptoms. They likely will get a cough and a sore throat if the virus remains lodged in the nose and throat, but probably nothing worse.

The serious problems begin when the infection spreads to the lungs. When that happens, the disease can snowball from moderate to severe "very, very quickly," said Bruce Aylward, an assistant director-general with the World Health Organization.

Most of the time, COVID-19 starts in the nose before attacking the epithelial cells that line and protect the respiratory tract. If it hangs out there in the upper airway, patients will experience symptoms similar to the common cold. They'll be contagious but still mobile, still likely to go out in public.



In 10-15 percent of the moderate cases, the infection slides down the trachea and into the peripheral branches of the lungs, where it attacks two kinds of lung cells  the ones that make mucus, which protects against pathogens and lubricates the airway, and those with hair-like cilia.

University of Maryland School of Medicine associate professor Matthew B. Frieman, who studies coronaviruses, hypothesizes that COVID-19 hunts down cilia like SARS virus does, according to the National Geographic.

Cilia cells sweep debris such as pollen or viruses out of the lungs. When they're killed by an infection, the cilia slough off and fill patients' airways with fluids and debris.

At this stage, many patients develop non-life-threatening pneumonia in both lungs and shortness of breath. The body, alerted to the pathogenic invaders, triggers an immune system response: Immune cells flood the lungs to clear the organ and repair the damage.

In severe cases, however, the body's response can go overboard, killing not only virus-infected cells but healthy tissue as well, including mucus-producing cells and cilia. The friendly fire makes the pneumonia worse by leaving more debris clogging up the lungs.

What began as a mild infection seven or eight days previously has now escalated into severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The patient's condition rapidly deteriorates, requiring advanced life support to combat ARDS, according to a WHO report published in The Lancet. If they do survive, patients often suffer permanent lung damage.

"When you get a bad, overwhelming infection, everything starts to fall apart in a cascade," Dr. David Morens, senior scientific adviser to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told Bloomberg. "You pass the tipping point where everything is going downhill and, at some point, you can't get it back."

Healthy tissue damage from a too-robust immune system response can also render the lungs vulnerable to a secondary bacterial infection, especially from the antibiotic-resistant super bacteria that often inhabits hospitals and thrives around their mechanical ventilators. Septic shock, a severe and systemic infection caused by bacteria in your bloodstream, can result.

Secondary bacterial infections are especially dangerous because they can kill critical respiratory tract stem cells that enable tissue to rejuvenate, said Dr. Jeffery K. Taubenberger, who heads the viral pathogenesis and evolution section of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Md.

Without the stem cells, "you just cant physically repair your lungs," Taubenberger told Bloomberg.



ALSO: WHO declares COVID-19 a global pandemic

WHO's Aylward acknowledges that the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are most at risk from the new coronavirus, but warns against soft pedaling the danger to others.

He discussed the issue on Canada's CBC News on Tuesday:

"What we've seen is people are cherry-picking data. So they look at the lowest possible case fatality rates and say, 'Oh look, it's like seasonal flu.' Or they pick, 'Oh it doesn't spread so fast because of this,' or 'Oh it only affects the older ones, I'm safe.' And none of those propositions are true.

"There's no reason to panic about this disease, but you have to be deeply concerned. This is not seasonal flu. It's an order of magnitude [with] tenfold  at least  higher mortality rate. Yes, it does strike vulnerable populations, but it can strike any age, let's be very, very clear  especially between your 30s and 60s and the older population."

---

Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
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.

Also read: Maha Vikas Aghadi govt 'threatening people' over novel coronavirus: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray

Also read: Coronavirus scare: Maharashtra bans N95 masks sale without prescription
The Chabot-Las Positas Community College District announced on Wednesday that it is temporarily suspending classes for the next three days because of the threat of infection from the novel coronavirus.

The district, which has its headquarters in Dublin, said its decision to suspend classes for Thursday, Friday and Saturday was made in the best interest of its faculty, its classified professionals, its students and its community.

The district serves 29,000 students annually in southern Alameda County annually through its two colleges: Chabot College in Hayward and Las Positas College in Livermore.

The district said regularly scheduled online classes will continue without disruption and classes will resume on Monday using either online education or limited in-person participation classes.

It said students will receive notification directly from their instructors on how to proceed with their coursework.

The district said students who have questions or need more information should contact their instructors or respective college.

In a statement, the district said, "While we have zero reported cases among students or employees, we are taking this step to pause, plan and train faculty, classified professionals and students in the event that we receive evidence of further escalation."

The district said all district and college functions will remain open for business, and faculty and staff will report to work as normal to complete training and other preparations in order to convert to alternate methods of instruction.

Many other colleges in the Bay Area already have suspended in-person classes.

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.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website offers car insurance info about different coverage types, available discounts, and money-saving tips.

Drivers can choose to pay their insurance premiums monthly, every 3 months, every 6 months, or annually. Insurance companies seem to prefer 6-months long policies.

Some insurance companies offer only 6-months long policies. For drivers, it's in their best interest to purchase a year-long policy. 12-months long policies will help drivers lock in a cheaper car insurance premium for a longer period. The insurance rates are constantly rising, so it's better for drivers to lock on a cheaper policy for a longer period of time, than having to pay for increased rates every 6 months.

Insurance companies offer 6-months polices for two main reasons. Both of these reasons are related to money.

Insurance companies set rates, and will try to sell as many policies as possible, and then will wait for a period of several years to collect financial data and see if they are profitable. If insurers charge too little on their policies, they will become unprofitable. If they charge too much, they will sell fewer policies.

For insurance companies that sell only 6 months long policies, it's easier to change the insurance rates if they realize they charge too little on their policies. They don't have to wait for a whole year to change the rates of the policyholders. They can do that every 6 months.

Also, insurers will customize the policies easier. Insurers will find out faster about the negative factors that influence the insurance premiums of a policyholder and will increase his rates immediately.

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

"For insurance companies, 6 months long policies will help them become profitable by adjusting the policies parameters faster", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

CONTACT:

Company Name: Internet Marketing Company

Person for contact: Gurgu C

Phone Number: (818) 359-3898

Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz

Website: http://compare-autoinsurance.org

SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580403/Car-Insurance-Guide-2020-Why-Insurance-Companies-Prefer-6-Months-Contracts
Expanding its member base and market share in the rapidly growing global hemp and cannabis industry.

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / MjLink.com, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Social Life Network, Inc. (OTC PINK:WDLF), announced today that the company exceeded 2 million users throughout their MjLink social network platform.

The company enables business professionals and consumers to connect, share and grow their industry connections, knowledge and brand awareness through one of the most active online cannabis community in the world.

In a Form 1-A that was filed on February 13th, 2020 with the SEC, the Company is preparing to us a Reg A Tier 2 offering to raise up to $50M to further grow the company in the U.S. and into global markets that have passed legalization.

"Passing the 2 million user-mark this past February was a major milestone for the company," says CEO, Ken Tapp. "We have seen a major increase in usership these past few months while people around the world become more isolated from each other as a result of the coronavirus outbreak", added Tapp.

About MjLink.com, Inc.

MjLink.com Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Social Life Network, Inc. and is a cloud-based cannabis social network and digital media company based in Denver, Colorado. MjLink operates as a multinational cannabis technology and digital media organization with four industry specific social networks: WeedLife.com, a consumer-to-consumer social network, MjLink.com, a business-to-business social network, HempTalk.com, a business-to-consumer social network, and MjInvest.com, a cannabis industry investor network that produces the MjMicro Capital Conference.

For more information about Social Life Network, visit www.SocialNetwork.ai

Disclaimer

This news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to achieving corporate objectives, developing additional project interests, the company's analysis of opportunities in the acquisition and development of various project interests and certain other matters. No information in this press release should be construed as any indication whatsoever of the Company's or MjLink's future financial results, revenues or stock price. These statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein.

CONTACT:

Investor Relations

IR@Social-Life-Network.com

855-933-3277

SOURCE: Social Life Network, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/580423/MjLinkcom-Announces-2-Million-Registered-Users
YANGON, Burma, March 11, 2020 (Morning Star News)  A rights group has confirmed reports that suspected Muslim, ethnic Rohingya beat and kidnapped Rohingya Christians on Jan. 26-27 in a refugee camp in Bangladesh.

At least 12 Rohingya Christians were hospitalized with injuries from an attack in Kutupalong refugee camp in Coxs Bazar District on the evening of Jan. 26, according to a March 6 report from international human rights group Fortify Rights. Citing survivors who said they were attacked because the assailants thought the Christians were converting Muslims, Fortify Rights also documented the destruction of the Rohingya Christian refugees makeshift church building.

More than 50 people destroyed the church. They are Rohingya from different areas, a Rohingya refugee woman told Fortify Rights.

She said the attackers claimed Christians were trying to convert Rohingya Muslims. The predominantly Muslim Rohingya themselves are severely persecuted in Burma (Myanmar), resulting in mass refugee flows to Bangladesh and other countries. Fortify Rights estimates there are 1.1 million Rohingya refugees from Burma in Bangladesh, most Muslims except for at least several hundred Christians.

Another Rohingya woman said a group of Rohingya men entered her shelter near the church the night of Jan. 26 and stabbed her husband, according to Fortify Rights.

They had long swords, she told the rights group. I couldnt see clearly how many of them there were. They all had masks onMy door was kicked in and broken. They entered into my home. They first stabbed my husband with a sword, and my husband fell unconscious.

Her husband and other Rohingya Christian refugees were hospitalized.

Fortify Rights also found that Bangladesh authorities threatened and beat a Rohingya Christian for recording the attack using a mobile phone.

If security forces beat a Rohingya for collecting video evidence, we have concerns about the seriousness of their investigation and their continued use of excessive force, Matthew Smith, chief executive officer of Fortify Rights, said in the statement. As part of an investigation, Bangladesh authorities should take appropriate measures against officers found to have beaten Rohingya bystanders. Dhaka should not tolerate excessive and unnecessary use of force against refugees.

The group corroborated findings by Human Rights Watch (HRW), which last month reported the abduction of a pastor identified only as Taher and his 14-year-old daughter from their shelter at the Kutupalong camp on Jan. 27.

A witness also told Fortify Rights that a Rohingya group used sticks, knives and guns in the abduction of 53-year-old Pastor Taher and his daughter from their shelter in Kutupalong refugee camp in the morning of Jan. 27.

He [Pastor Taher] was beaten so badly with sticks, the unidentified witness told Fortify Rights. He was beaten and kicked with their fists and legs. They put a mask on his face and tied his hands. He was abducted because he is a Christian leader, and they will try to make him Muslim.

HRW reported on Feb. 13 that Tahers wife feared her husband has been killed.

No one can give me any clear information, but my relatives told me that my daughter has been forced to convert to Islam and marry, she told HRW.

The attacked families were reportedly relocated to a United Nations transit center and filed a police case against 59 alleged assailants. Refugees in the camp suspect the assailants were linked to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), but a representative of the armed group denied and condemned the attacks.

HRW estimates there are about 1,500 Rohingya Christians among more than 700,000 predominantly Muslim Rohingya who were forced to flee to Bangladesh due to the Burma militarys 2017 ethnic cleansing campaign.

Denial

Bangladesh authorities denied that the Jan. 26-27 attack was religiously motivated, describing it as an ordinary law-and-order incident, refugees told HRW.

They said authorities are not doing enough to protect them or find the kidnapped Christians, and that camp officials try to avoid our queries. HRW said one refugee reported that a police officer in Coxs Bazar told him that if the victims wanted to be safe, they should go to the moon.

A Bangladesh police inspector told media in February that officers hadnt found evidence of any missing Christian Rohingya, but then apparently contradicted himself, claiming that officers were trying our best to find the missing family, according to Fortify Rights.

The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Burma, Yanghee Lee, has expressed concern for Rohingya Christian refugees facing hostility and violence, according to HRW.

The Bangladesh authorities should urgently locate Taher and his daughter and bring those responsible to justice, HRW reported. The government should also act immediately to protect all vulnerable groups in the countrys refugee camps, including religious minorities like Rohingya Christians.

In March 2019 the Rohingya Christian community sent a petition to the UN High Commission for Refugees seeking protection by the agency.

We, the Rohingya Christians, are requesting a safer place and environment for both of us and our children, the petition reads.

Rohingya Christian communities were also attacked on Dec. 25, with refugees telling Fortify Rights that stones were thrown at their makeshift church building. The Bethel Church Kutupalong Rohingya Christian Fellowship posted video on social media showing Rohingya Muslims kicking Rohingya Christians and beating them with sticks in December and January.

Fortify Rights also reported attacks previous to those of Jan. 26-27, with one Rohingya Christian saying three houses were destroyed on Christmas Day.

No Rohingya should experience violence and abuse in the camps, regardless of their religion, Smith of Fortify Rights said. Authorities in Bangladesh have obligations to protect all refugees and fully investigate any and all attacks against them.

Bangladesh is ranked 38th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian; Burma is ranked 19th.

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: Morning Star News/John Owens/VOA
On the same day Gov. Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency because of the growing threat of novel coronavirus, Lynchburg Mayor Treney Tweedy announced the city is restricting all international and domestic business-related travel for municipal employees.

In a news conference Thursday, Tweedy said the city has canceled the April 27 State of the City address and the May 2 International Festival to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Although I know this is disappointing, we believe it is more important for the health and wellness of our community at this time, Tweedy said.

Tweedy, who said city officials are developing a contingency plan in the event of a local outbreak, urged Lynchburg residents to practice social distancing and monitor updates from health officials as the crisis unfolds.

We all ask that you remain calm, prepare as you would for any challenge and wash your hands, Tweedy said.

No cases of COVID-19 have been identified locally, though on Thursday state health officials announced the total number of presumptive positive and confirmed cases had risen to 17. The closest case is in Prince Edward County, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

City officials stopped short of calling on private institutions to cancel large gatherings, despite a warning from Dr. Kerry Gateley, the director of the Central Virginia Health District, that residents should consider avoiding crowds.

This virus loves a crowd, he said at the news conference.

Thousands of Liberty University students currently are scheduled to gather at the Vines Center today for Convocation and several area churches plan to move ahead with weekend services.

Gateley said if residents find themselves in large crowds, they should maintain a safe distance and limit physical contact with others. He also asked residents to be prepared in the event they have to be quarantined.

Dont panic but dont ignore whats going on around you, he said. Stay informed.

Andrew Mueller, the president and CEO of Centra, said the health system currently is relying on commercial labs to test patients who may have been exposed to the virus. He said tests generally take three days to deliver a result.

We dont know how big this is going to get, Mueller said. But we are certainly making lots of preparations to ensure that were doing everything we can to be as prepared as we can.

Richard Chumney covers Liberty University for The News & Advance. Reach him at (434) 385-5547.

Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
A 98-year-old Chinese scientist and his 85-year-old wife have recovered from the novel coronavirus on the same day after being treated for 18 days.

They will be discharged this Saturday from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in eastern Chinese city Hangzhou, according to state media.

The scientist, Han Tianqi, has been a well-respected astronomer for 63 years.

A 98-year-old Chinese scientist and his 85-year-old wife have recovered from the novel coronavirus on the same day after being treated for 18 days. They are seen with a medic

Mr and Mrs Han are pictured together before they were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus

Mr Han and his wife were diagnosed with the deadly disease in mid-February and transferred to the provincial hospital on February 24 after their conditions worsened.

They were sent straight to the Intensive Care Units as the couple were in critical condition.

Mr and Mrs Han also suffered other complications caused by multiple underlying health conditions, the hospital told the press.

A medical worker is pictured feeding food to Mr Han who is receiving anti-virus treatment

Han Shijun, the couple's granddaughter, posted a request on social media sites looking for recovered patients who were willing to donate their blood as a potential treatment plan.

'Grandpa sounded very weak. It took him a very long time to recognise my voice when we were on the phone,' the granddaughter told the local press in February.

Scientists believe the treatment works, in theory, by putting disease-fighting proteins from recovered patients into people still battling the illness.

The sick patients' bodies can then use these proteins  called antibodies  as if they were there own, instead of having to make them from scratch.

Some Chinese hospitals have said they are using the therapy already but only on their patients  there is no mass-produced drug or supply of it.

The scientist, Han Tianqi, has been a well-respected leading figure in the field of geodetic astronomy in China for 63 years. He is seen sitting with his wife, Mrs Han, before they fell ill

It is unclear if the couple has received such treatment or are cured of it.

Their conditions gradually improved after receiving personalised treatment plans and being given round-the-clock care, Chinese media report.

Mr and Mrs Han have tested negative twice consecutively by 12pm local time today and will be released from the hospital on Saturday.

The centenarian, Zhang Guangfen, is reportedly China's oldest coronavirus patient to recover

A 103-year-old grandmother has also recovered from the coronavirus following six-day treatment in Wuhan on Tuesday.

The centenarian, Zhang Guangfen, was discharged from the hospital on March 10.

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 news comes as Chinese officials announced today that 'the peak of the coronavirus in the country has passed'.

South Korea reported its sharpest one-day increase yesterday in the number of cases after a large cluster of infections was discovered at a call centre in its capital Seoul.

The killer virus has claimed at least 4,641 lives and infected over 126,600 people worldwide.

Face masks have been increasingly in evidence on the streets of London (pictured) as fears over coronavirus spread

Medical workers in Seoul, South Korea transfer a coronavirus patient to a hospital in a special tube to contain the virus

Boris Johnson is ramping up Britain's response to the coronavirus crisis today amid calls to shut schools, cancel sporting events and urge everyone to work from home.

The PM is chairing the emergency Cobra committee later where the UK's tactics will shift from 'containing' the killer disease to merely 'delaying' its inevitable spread. The UK death toll hit eight yesterday.

However, ministers will not follow Donald Trump's dramatic overnight move of closing the borders to travellers from mainland Europe.

The signs are that they will instead ask those with a cold to self-quarantine, and urge vulnerable elderly people to stay indoors.
[March 12, 2020] MOCingbird Launches New Time-Saving App for Busy Clinicians

PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhode Island-based MyMOC is thrilled to announce its launched an app for MOCingbird - a platform that allows medical professionals and administrators to easily manage ongoing education requirements needed to maintain their credentials. In order to treat patients and keep their credentials current, clinicians spend untold hours each year struggling to manage the inconsistent and ever-changing Maintenance of Certification and Continuing Medical Education requirements. Now, with MOCingbird's free app, medical professionals are able to harness the power of MOCingbird by tracking their MOC and CME progress on any mobile device. Among the functions, users - after finishing a course - will be able to take a photo of their completion certificate and upload it into the app. In addition, the app serves as an aggregator for online CME courses, allowing clinicians to take courses right in the app. "By allowing them to make the most of their time, our app is a game-changer for busy doctors like myself who are looking to simplify this necessary, but convoluted process," said Dr. Ian Madom, a spine surgeon at Ortho Rhode Island and MyMOC co-founder. "Doctors with just minutes to spare can search for bite-sized CME courses, answer a question or two, and knock out some of their requirements while on the go."



MOCingbird is overseen by MyMOC, Inc., which was founded by Dr. Madom, and Dr. George Fernaine, chief of cardiology at NYU Brooklyn. They came up with the idea while working toward their MBAs at Yale University's School of Management. "We're thrilled to be offering a new tool to members of the healthcare industry," said MOCingbird CEO Brad Artery. "Clinician burnout is a very real thing. Tools like our MOCingbird app will help doctors and other clinicians add a little balance back to their lives."

The MOCingbird app is available in the Apple App Store and in Google Play. About MOCingbird

Founded by busy doctors, it is MOCingbird's mission to create the easiest place for medical professionals to monitor their MOC and CME requirements. For individual professionals, we develop frictionless solutions to understand, track, document and submit the education requirements for the maintenance of their professional licenses. For medical institutions, we provide meaningful tools to manage a growing medical professional workforce by enabling more efficient uses of resources and more targeted educational opportunities through data-driven professional education oversight and analytics. Contact: Nancy Krause

Telephone: 401-793-6547

Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mocingbird-launches-new-time-saving-app-for-busy-clinicians-301022112.html SOURCE MOCingbird

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It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AXL).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'.

View our latest analysis for American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings

Notably, that recent purchase by Herbert Parker is the biggest insider purchase of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that even when the share price was higher than US$4.88 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price.

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Story continues

NYSE:AXL Recent Insider Trading, March 12th 2020

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Insiders at American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Have Bought Stock Recently

Over the last quarter, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings insiders have spent a meaningful amount on shares. Overall, two insiders shelled out US$211k for shares in the company -- and none sold. This could be interpreted as suggesting a positive outlook.

Insider Ownership of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Our data indicates that American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings insiders own about US$8.6m worth of shares (which is 1.6% of the company). We do generally prefer see higher levels of insider ownership.

So What Do The American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Insider Transactions Indicate?

The recent insider purchases are heartening. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. However, we note that the company didn't make a profit over the last twelve months, which makes us cautious. On this analysis the only slight negative we see is the fairly low (overall) insider ownership; their transactions suggest that they are quite positive on American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings stock. 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 Axle & Manufacturing Holdings has 2 warning signs (and 1 which shouldn't be ignored) we think you should know about.

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 fate of countries around the world lies in a very few individual politicians' hands  more so than at any other time in half a century or more.

Why it matters: Two politicians in particular, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin, wiped about $20 trillion off the value of the world's oil reserves this week when they failed to come to an agreement on cutting oil production. That's more than $2,500 per human being on the planet.

The spread of the novel coronavirus is similarly a function of decisive action by heads of state, or the lack thereof. Governments alone determine whether the number of new cases increases exponentially, or whether it is brought under control within days.

Of note: The Chinese government, through inaction, allowed COVID-19 to grow to the degree that global infections were inevitable. Subsequent Chinese actions, however, were decisive and effective.

South Korea has also been effective in combating the coronavirus and has managed to do so through "openness and transparency" rather than lockdowns.

in combating the coronavirus and has managed to do so through "openness and transparency" rather than lockdowns. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has locked down the entire country, imposing severe restrictions on travel and shuttering all stores except groceries and pharmacies.

President Trump, by contrast, sent markets into a series of tailspins by talking about the virus as a political attack rather than as an epidemiological emergency. His plan for minimizing the domestic spread of COVID-19 is notable mainly for its nonexistence.

The big picture: It's generally very difficult to determine the amount of credit or blame for economic conditions that can be laid at the feet of any individual politician. Heads of state tend to inherit an economic system and stick with that system. But a global pandemic is exactly the kind of shock that only government action can address.

Russia and Saudi Arabia have already failed the test. Faced with a significant decline in demand from the coronavirus, they failed to agree to cut supply by a similar amount. Instead, they both decided to increase production, sending oil (and stock market) prices plunging.

have already failed the test. Faced with a significant decline in demand from the coronavirus, they failed to agree to cut supply by a similar amount. Instead, they both decided to increase production, sending oil (and stock market) prices plunging. The United States is also failing. Its official count of 1,281 coronavirus cases is much lower than the reality, given that testing kits have been extremely scarce and that the country had tested fewer than 5,000 people as of Monday. (South Korea, by contrast, with only 15% of the U.S. population, has tested almost 200,000 people.)

The bottom line: In normal day-to-day life, someone with the novel coronavirus will infect more than 3 other individuals. That's a simple recipe for exponential growth. Effective heads of state have shown that they have the ability to change individual behavior across their country so that the number gets reduced to less than 1.

Normally, the health of a country is a function of the strength of its economy. That correlation has now temporarily been upended. Politicians need to slow down economic activity to save their countries.

Go deeper: Brace for coronavirus supply shocks
: In view of the prevailing



communal tension for the last one week, the ongoing anti-CAA protest 'Shaheen Bagh Coimbatore' was on Thursday suspended for a week, police said.

Nearly 2,000 people, belonging to Muslim community, have been on protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) near here seeking to repeal the Act for the last 22 days.

The city has been witnessing communal tension from March 5, following the attack on Hindu Munnani district secretary Madukkarai Anand.

Since then there had been a bout of violence like hurling petrol bomb at mosques and the Hindu Munnani office, and attacks on SDPI and RSS workers, resulting in deployment of over 1,000 police personnel across the city.

Tamil Nadu DGP J K Tripathi, who had arrived here on Wednesday, reviewed the situation with the senior police officials in the district and asked to take concrete steps to prevent the incident from taking a larger dimension.

Considering the situation, the anti-CAA protest in the city has been withdrawn temporarily, the police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Paris, Amsterdam, March 12, 2020

Press release

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE: dividend announcement for the financial year 2019

The stapled shares of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield ("URW") are composed of one share of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE ("URW SE") and one class A share of WFD Unibail-Rodamco N.V.

For the financial year 2019, URW proposes a cash dividend of 10.80 per stapled share. Subject to the approval of the URW SE Annual General Meeting ("AGM"), the dividend for 2019 will be paid by URW SE as follows:

An interim dividend of 5.40 per share on March 26, 2020 (ex-dividend date March 24, 2020); and

Subject to approval of the URW SE AGM, a final dividend of 5.40 per share on July 6, 2020 (ex-dividend date July 2, 2020).

Based on the 2019 statutory accounts of URW SE (the parent company), there is 916.7 Mn of income available for distribution. The SIIC dividend distribution obligation is 858.4 Mn and, after payment of the proposed dividend, this obligation will have been met for 2019.

Assuming approval by the URW SE AGM to be held on May 15, 2020:

6.63 of the dividend will be paid from URW SE's tax exempt real estate activities (the "SIIC dividend").

For French tax residents, the SIIC dividend will not be eligible for the tax exemption provided for under the parent-subsidiary regime when received by institutional shareholders that are subject to corporate income tax. A 12.8% flat tax, plus 17.2% of social charges, will be withheld for individual shareholders. Individual shareholders may elect to pay income tax at the standard progressive rate (without the benefit of the 40% rebate) instead of paying the flat tax at 12.8%.

For non-French tax residents, the SIIC dividend will bear French withholding tax (28% for institutional shareholders and 12.8% for individual shareholders) reduced by the provisions of applicable double tax treaties. For French Undertakings for Collective Investments (UCI) and comparable non-French UCIs, a 15% withholding tax will be levied on the SIIC dividend.

0.17 of dividend will be paid from URW SE's non-tax exempt earnings (the "non-SIIC dividend").

For French tax residents, the non-SIIC dividend will be eligible for the tax exemption provided for under the parent-subsidiary regime when received by institutional shareholders subject to French corporate income tax. The 12.8% flat tax, plus 17.2% of social charges, will be withheld for individual shareholders. Individual shareholders may elect to pay income tax at the standard progressive rate (with the benefit of the 40% rebate) instead of paying the flat tax at 12.8%.

For non-French tax residents, the non-SIIC dividend will bear applicable French withholding tax (28% for institutional shareholders and 12.8% for individual shareholders) reduced by the provisions of applicable double tax treaties. Non-French UCIs could be exempt from the withholding tax if certain conditions are met.

The remaining 4.00 will be paid from URW SE's "share premium" account.

The distribution of the share premium will qualify as a repayment of capital according to article 112, 1 of the French tax code. Consequently, the portion of the dividend corresponding to the share premium distribution will not be subject to French income taxes and related social charges in 2020. However, this amount will reduce the stapled shares cost price and will therefore be subject to capital gain tax upon disposal.

Shareholders and CHESS Depositary Interest holders should consult with their tax advisor regarding the local tax treatment of their dividend income.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Samuel Warwood

Maarten Otte

+33 1 76 77 58 02

Maarten.otte@urw.com

Media Relations

Tiphaine Bannelier-Suderie

+33 1 76 77 57 94

Tiphaine.Bannelier-Suderie@urw.com

About Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is the premier global developer and operator of Flagship destinations, with a portfolio valued at 65.3 Bn as at December 31, 2019, of which 86% in retail, 6% in offices, 5% in convention & exhibition venues and 3% in services. Currently, the Group owns and operates 90 shopping centres, including 55 Flagships in the most dynamic cities in Europe and the United States. Its centres welcome 1.2 billion visits per year. Present on 2 continents and in 12 countries, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield provides a unique platform for retailers and brand events, and offers an exceptional and constantly renewed experience for customers.

With the support of its 3,600 professionals and an unparalleled track-record and know-how, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is ideally positioned to generate superior value and develop world-class projects. The Group has a development pipeline of 8.3 Bn.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield distinguishes itself by its Better Places 2030 agenda, that sets its ambition to create better places that respect the highest environmental standards and contribute to better cities.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield stapled shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris (Euronext ticker: URW), with a secondary listing in Australia through Chess Depositary Interests. The Group benefits from an A rating from Standard & Poor's and from an A2 rating from Moody's.

For more information, please visit www.urw.com

Visit our Media Library at https://mediacentre.urw.com

Follow the Group updates on Twitter @urw_group , Linkedin @Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Instagram @urw_group

Access the URW 2018 report at https://report.urw.com/2018/

Attachment
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Businesses near Syracuse University are expecting to feel the pain from the universitys decision to delay the return of students to campus to guard against the coronavirus.

Its gonna kill me, said Maurice Krohl, owner of Student Choice Market, a convenience store on Marshall Street. With the students gone, thats a lot of business.

On Tuesday, the university said it would shift classes completely online after the universitys spring break next week to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Students were told to stay home after they leave campus for spring break this Friday.

Online classes are scheduled to last at least until March 30, when the university will reevaluate the situation. Krohl said hes expecting the university to extend the online classes beyond March 30, increasing the losses to his business.

When they say its only going to be a couple of weeks, I dont believe it, he said.

Maurice Krohl, right, owner of Student Choice Market on Marshall Street in Syracuse, waits on a customer on Wednesday, March 12, 2020. Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com

He said he believes the school is overreacting, given the fact that no one in Central New York has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the sometimes-deadly respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

SU is not alone in the move. Nearby, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry announced Wednesday that it will suspend on-campus instruction on Saturday and shift to online classes by March 23. Le Moyne College is extending spring break until March 23 while a decision is made on whether to move classes online. Onondaga Community College is moving to online classes on March 19.

David Jacobs, owner of Shirt World on Marshall Street, said he knows his business will take a hit but understands SUs decision.

Business is second, said Jacobs, who has operated the university-themed clothing store for 44 years. Were not concerned about us because were concerned about the health and welfare of the students.

Dave Jacobs, owner of Shirt World on Marshall Street in Syracuse, said he is concerned about the impact to his business of Syracuse University's decision to switch to online classes after spring break ends. Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com

Eliza Zachowicz, a sales associate at Manys clothing store on Marshall Street and an SU graduate student, said loss of business may not be too bad if the university allows students to return after March 30.

If it only lasts a week, I think business will be back to usual, she said. So, fingers crossed.

On the other hand, if the move to online classes is extended, business could be hurt by more than just the loss of student customers, she said.

Many parents bring their children back to school at the end of spring break and shop while on the hill, but they may not be making that trip this spring, she said. In addition, alumni often visit the hill when the weather warms up, but they likely wont if the campus is effectively shut down, she said.

Frank Polera, manager of Varsity Pizza on South Crouse Avenue, said he is concerned about the impact on the restaurants 30 employees if students do not return to campus after March 30.

Peoples health is the most important thing, but if the students stay out longer, well see a longer lag in business picking up again, he said.

He said he hopes members of the community will help ease the hit to businesses by visiting the hill to eat and shop.

At Acropolis Pizza House & Restaurant on Marshall Street, manager Steve Papazides said hes angry because he thinks the threat posed by the coronavirus has been overblown. However, he said the pizza shop will survive on its base of loyal customers who live in the university area but are not students.

The neighborhood is going to keep us going like they do every summer, he said.

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148

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.
How do you feel?

Thats a simple question, right? And unless youre talking to a doctor, you probably have a simple answer.

And if thats the case, the odds are that youre lying.

Such, anyway, is always my view of the human race after listening to a cast recording of a Stephen Sondheim musical, or even to just one of his ballads. And when it comes to emotions, Sondheim  more than any other composer from the Broadway songbook  is the one I trust to tell me the truth.

Thats because in the world of Sondheim, feelings never come singly but in battalions. Even his simplest, most assertive melodies usually sound as if theyre being pulled in contradictory directions.

Of course, his ever-nimble lyrics  which have made his name a byword for verbal cosmopolitanism  abound in paradoxes, puns and declarations of uncertainty, all etched into deep-burrowing grooves. But the music adds yet another layer, which often both confirms and battles with the words.
WASHINGTON  One Seattle-area hospital has already seen patient care delayed by the stringent infection-control practices that the government recommended for suspected coronavirus cases. Another in Chicago switched Thursday morning into surge mode, setting up triage tents in its ambulance bay and dedicating an entire floor to coronavirus patients. At least one is already receiving emergency supplies from the federal governments stockpile.

With the bow wave of coronavirus infections still to come, hospitals across the country are trying to prepare for a flood of critically ill patients who will strain their capacities like nothing they have seen in at least a generation. Even with some time to prepare, administrators fear they will not be ready.

Staffing shortages could hinder care if doctors and nurses become infected. There may not be enough ventilators or bed space for a crush of seriously ill patients.

Our hospitals are already stretched to capacity, said C. Ryan Keay, the medical director of the emergency department at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Wash., near Seattle, which is dealing with the largest outbreak in the country. Were a hospital that is always full, so it doesnt take much to tip us over the edge.
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A giraffe was rescued after getting a car tyre trapped over its neck in Haller Park, Mombasa, Kenya this week.

It's not known how the animal ended up in this situation but the outer part of a wheel had been around her neck for long enough for it to cause a wound.

Rob Brandford, Executive Director from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, said: 'We are not aware of any prior incidents of giraffes being treated for injuries caused by tyres, although our SWT/KWS teams have treated 95 giraffe to date for snare injuries. But we believe this tyre was discarded as rubbish and was not used as a trap.

A giraffe has been rescued after getting a car tyre trapped over its neck in Haller Park, Mombasa, Kenya this week

'Giraffes are one of the more difficult species to anaesthetise and it requires a whole team working nimbly and quickly, tackling several hurdles before the treatment even begins.

The giraffe was approached on foot and darted with a specially prepared anaesthetic for a mammal her size.

Rob added: 'Teams from the Sheldrick Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service then used ropes to gently guide her down to the ground so that she did not injure herself, including her delicately long neck, since trauma or malposition could be fatal. Once on the ground, the anaesthetic was reversed and team members manually restrained her.

'This is because giraffes can't be under anaesthetic for long since, among other reasons, anaesthesia alters a giraffe's ability to pump blood around its massive body. So, the minute a giraffe is safely down on the ground, the anaesthetic is reversed and the giraffe is manually restrained.'

The animal was approached on foot and darted with a specially prepared anaesthetic for a mammal her size

The team then cut away the tyre and thoroughly cleaned the wound, disinfected it and coated it with antibiotic spray and green clay - a natural substance that aids healing.

She was also administered with long-acting antibiotics and anti-inflammatories before being able to walk away.

He said: 'As the giraffe had a positive prognosis for a complete recovery, it was not necessary to monitor her or provide any follow up treatment.

'We can say for certainty that she must be much relieved following the removal of the troublesome tyre, which would have been causing her pain and considerable discomfort.'

It's not known how the animal ended up in this situation but the outer part of a wheel had been around her neck for long enough for it to cause a wound

Earlier in the week, the country's only female white giraffe and her calf were killed by poachers in a major blow for the rare animals found nowhere else in the world.

The bodies of the two giraffes were found 'in a skeletal state after being killed by armed poachers' in Garissa in eastern Kenya, the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy said in a statement.

Their deaths leave just one remaining white giraffe alive - a lone male, borne by the same slaughtered female, the conservancy said.

'This is a very sad day for the community of Ijara and Kenya as a whole,' said Mohammed Ahmednoor, the manager of the conservancy. We are the only community in the world who are custodians of the white giraffe.

The team cut away the tyre and thoroughly cleaned the wound, disinfected it and coated it with antibiotic spray and green clay - a natural substance that aids healing

'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 that the deaths were a blow to the tourism and research industries in a remote corner of Kenya.

He explained: '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 stirred huge interest in 2017 when she was first spotted on the conservancy and again when she birthed two calves, the latest in August last year.

Their alabaster colour is caused not by albinism but a condition known as leucism. The condition means they continue to produce dark pigment in their soft tissue, giving them dark eyes.
Google North American employees will now have to work from home, as Google encourages them to work remotely due to coronavirus.

Google North American employees to work remotely due to coronavirus

The company sent out a memo on Tuesday encouraging employees to work remotely (that is, from home) until April 10th. Googles decision to issue this memo stems from the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States. A number of states have already been affected by the sickness, including Washington State, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan. With the infection count on the rise in the US, Google is doing what it can to prevent large crowds. Large numbers of employees around the office is certainly a good way to spread disease and a terrible way to prevent it.

In light of the recent confirmation of a Google employee in Zurich as coronavirus-positive, its likely the case that Google wants to take the initiative before it sees more Google employees infected.

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Why such a response to coronavirus?

Googles response to the coronavirus outbreak is a normal one with regard to communicable or transmittable diseases. Coronavirus is nothing to scoff at or play with. While its early symptoms can deceive victims into thinking its nothing more than the flu, later symptoms such as breathing difficulty shine a light on how fatal it is.

Influenza or the flu has a mortality rate of about 0.5%. In contrast, coronavirus currently has a mortality rate of about 3.4%. Its far deadlier than the flu, which is a sickness more common in North America. With coronavirus becoming a deadlier sickness than the flu, and with little knowledge about its behavior, its safer to stay as far away from large crowds as possible. Coronavirus has thrived so far in large crowds, even in work environments.

How does this coronavirus outbreak response affect the future of North American employment?

Most large companies tend to work in the office, with work-from-home setups more of a rare thing. A number of freelancers and contractors find themselves in a normal work-from-home position. The coronavirus is causing a number of these large companies to change the way they do business. Instead of meeting in the office, employees are having to work from home and use phone and internet to stay in touch with employees and supervisors.

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And the new work-from-home mandate in the face of coronavirus will hopefully change the way businesses hire in the future. For years, work-from-home personnel has had to either find a job that would pay a reasonable salary or choose self-employment options. And for years, the Federal Government has deprived self-employed individuals of financial benefits because they dont work in a federally-funded job. With federal businesses encouraging the work-at-home mindset, perhaps these favorable jobs will attract more self-employed persons to their ranks.
Company-wide deployment of next generation, talent transformation platform will enhance learning experience for 385,000 employees across 200 countries

MUNICH and BENGALURU, India, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, today announced that it has been selected by Siemens to deploy Wingspan, Infosys' Digital Learning and Talent Transformation Platform. The company-wide deployment will provide employees a personalized learning experience and make it possible for them, among many other useful features, to track their progress and successes.

Siemens is on a digital transformation journey and has become one of the 10 biggest software companies in the world over the last 10 years. To maintain and extend market leadership, new digital technologies like AI, IoT, automation, cyber security or additive manufacturing are critical for Siemens' and its customers long-term success. It's vital for every employee at Siemens to get easy access to upskilling and reskilling opportunities. Infosys will support Siemens to stay ahead of the curve through a highly effective learning experience platform, while leveraging and simplifying the existing learning technology ecosystem.

Infosys Wingspan will provide a next generation, cloud-based talent and learning experience platform with features like mobile access to enable learning anytime and anywhere. It will use AI-powered search through concepts like topic spiders, navigators and personalized homepages to create a powerful and personalized interface for employees. The platform, which is named My Learning World at Siemens, will be a single-entry point to access learning content across multiple sources (internal and external), thereby leveraging investments in existing systems.

Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer, Infosys said, "We are delighted to partner with Siemens to further develop the learning experience of its employees. To survive the impact of digital disruption and to navigate these digital times, it is imperative for enterprises to ensure effective talent development. Wingspan, a robust Open-source stack-based platform, will provide Siemens' employees an innovative learning experience that will set new industry standards."

Thomas Leubner, Chief Learning Officer, Siemens AG said, "Digitalization is at the core of our strategy for the future. We are excited to have found an effective partner in Infosys who can support us to further improve our employee's growth journey with My Learning World. This is an important partnership for Siemens, and we look forward to a new learning experience for our employees."

Know more about Infosys Wingspan.

To know more about Siemens learning transformation journey, please click here

About Siemens

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. The company is active around the globe, focusing on the areas of power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed company Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. In fiscal 2019, which ended on September 30, 2019, Siemens generated revenue of 86.8 billion and net income of 5.6 billion. At the end of September 2019, the company had around 385,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. We enable clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over three decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer our clients through their digital journey. We do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. We also empower the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Our always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements mentioned in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry and the outcome of pending litigation and government investigation. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

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Turkish and Russian officials have largely reached an agreement on details of a ceasefire in Syrias Idlib region during talks in Ankara, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.

Akar said talks with the Russians were still underway, and all Turkish forces in Idlib remained in place, Reuters reported.

He added Turkey would continue its military offensive in Idlib if the ceasefire is violated, reiterating a warning by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a day earlier.

Last week, Turkey and Russia agreed on the ceasefire meant to halt an escalation of violence in Idlib. A Russian delegation arrived in Ankara this week to discuss the details including a security corridor and joint patrols on the key M4 highway.
The Punjab police on Thursday arrested an alleged drug smuggler having links with narcotics suppliers across the border and recovered 10 kilogram heroin at his instance.

An official of the Amritsar rural police wing accused Davinder Singh, a resident of Kakkar village, was arrested in operation by the Anti-Narcotic Cell.

At Singh's instance, the drug was recovered from across the barbed fence on the Indo-Pak border, he said, adding that the heroin was smuggled from across the border.

Police said Singh has confessed to having links with Pakistani drug smugglers.

Their modus operandi was to hire some persons with tractors on the pretext of tilling agriculture land across the barbed fence on Indo-Pak border but actually indulge in drug smuggling, police said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two new coronavirus testing kits arrived in Ohio on Wednesday afternoon, which will allow the state to test 800 to 1,000 more people, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said after a Wednesday COVID-19 briefing.

Nationwide, theres been a shortage of testing kits.

Before the two new kits arrived, the Ohio Department of Health lab in east Columbus had just one kit.

That kit was originally going to allow for 300 to 400 people to get tested. Then the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed how specimens could be tested so that two swabs or sputum from a person could be run together, using less chemicals and allowing more people to be tested.

During a coronavirus test, lab scientists take previously collected swabs, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage and other specimens from a patient, which are delivered to the facility chilled and in sterile tubes or vials.

Then researchers are looking to compare the genetic code of the samples with that of the coronavirus. So they run the test, called polymerase chain reaction testing, first extracting from the specimens nucleic acid. Then they use a technique called transcription polymerase chain reaction, which amplifies certain regions of the genome, according to LiveScience.

That creates a large enough sample to compare the code to coronavirus genetic code.

In Ohio, only the highest-risk cases get tested at the state lab -- in which patients are elderly, have health conditions or compromised immune systems or are health workers.

Lower-risk cases are being tested by private labs -- specifically LabCorp and Quest Diagnostic, as well as at some hospitals, although which hospitals were not specified.

For lower-risk cases, a test cannot happen until theres an order from a doctor, nurse practitioner or physicians assistant. And it cannot be ordered until the flu and other respiratory illnesses are eliminated as possibilities.

Dr. Andrew Thomas, Ohio State Universitys chief clinical officer, said some hospitals are operating drive through testing clinics, in which patients approach an area away from the main emergency department, and get swabbed for testing.

However, he said that those tests are not open to everyone.

Its not like driving through a drive-thru at a fast food restaurant, ordering what you want and driving away, he said. Its really a provider-driven thing. You need an order for it.

Read more on the coronavirus:

Stark County man has COVID-19: Gov. DeWine coronavirus briefing

4th confirmed coronavirus case in Ohio: Ohio Department of Health

Cleveland International Film Festival cancelled due to coronavirus concerns

JACK details updated cleaning routines for Cleveland Casino, Thistledown Racino over coronavirus concerns

Cuyahoga County Board of Health not tracking whether bus that carried coronavirus patient was disinfected
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 Articles of Confederation were improved into a Constitution, a more centralized approach to law, as advocated by the Federalists. But that Constitution, it was promised, would be supplemented with the Bill of Rights. The various Articles of the Constitution (1789) created our well-known checks and balances, but there are features of the Constitution that instutionalized slavery, and now we turn again to David Opderbeck, Law and Theology.

But the 1789 Constitution also encoded Americas national original sin: black slavery. Many of the founding fathers, including Thomas Jefferson (who drafted the Declaration of Independence), James Madison (who drafted the Bill of Rights), and George Washington owned black slaves. Jefferson, Madison, Washington, and others sometimes expressed sentiments against slavery but nevertheless they continued to own slaves. The three-fifths clause in Article I, section 2, clause 3 was a compromise on how slaves were counted. It gave Southern states disproportionate representation in relation to their potential tax obligations.The three-fifths clause also implied that slaves were not fully persons.Defending this clause against critics who thought it would give Southernstates too much power, James Madison said in The Federalist Papers, no.states too much power, James Madison said in The federalist Papers, no. 54, that the federal Constitution  decides with great propriety on the case of our slaves, when it views them in the mixed character of persons and of property. This is in fact their true character.

Article I.9.1 prohibited banning transatlantic slave trade; IV.2.3 required states to return runaway slaves. Christians were in a theological crisis (Mark Noll made clear) on how to live as Christians with their fingers on Bible. Some said Yes, some said no. Abolitionists, it needs to be said, were seen as the radicals. Opderbeck: Proslavery apologists argued that both the Old Testament and the New Testament sanctioned slavery and that the abolitionists therefore were distorting the plain sense of Scripture. Part of this was the recognition by some that equal humanity does not require equal stations in life: Thornwell [pro-slavery] argued that there is a distinction between basic human rights of all persons and the rights and duties of persons within specific relationships. But Thornwell also believed slavery was a social sickness, one from which one must learn, but liberation would lead to economic chaos. Further, he did not see slavery or African slaves as cursed or genetically inferior, but as humans in the image of God. Still, he defended slavery for social order. On Thornwell, who is a focus for David Opderbeck, he offers this reminder: a cautionary tale about how social, political, theological, and biblical views can converge into a systern that justifies oppression.

Federal vs. state law permitted some states (southern) to justify slavery (e.g., the Missouri Compromise, Dred Scott case in which blacks were not created equal), all of which (and much more) came to a head in the Civil War. Sadly I quote this from Opdebecks fine brief on this history: Only after the North won the Civil War, and even then only over the opposition of President Andrew Johnson (successor to the assassinated Abraham Lincoln), did The Thirteenth Amendment finally outlaw slavery in the United States. Worse yet is this:

Yet it was not at all obvious to many Christians at the time that the abolitionists were right. Southern Christian intellectuals praised Justice Taneys opinion for upholding the rule of law and the principle of state sovereignty against federal incursion. They aligned squarely on the other side of the legal fight. It is very likely that if you or I [whites] were alive at that time, our views would have aligned with whether we were Southerners or Northerners, not with what we might think as we look back on the issue now 150 years later. Indeed, the question was not even obvious to Charlotte Charless. She helped Dred Scott with his lawsuit, but when the Civil War began, she sympathized with the Confederacy.

Opderbeck casts his eye on the quietistic Christians who opted out of political agitation and reminds us all that withdrawal can hardly have been good or right. The 13-15th amendments were about outlawing slavery. The southern states wiggled into their former patterns and beliefs and laws, leading eventually to the separate but equal clause in Plessy v. Ferguson.

This racist separate-but-equal clause was brought down through activism against it, and Opderbeck points us to ML King Jr. especially.

Much of the legal strategy was led by the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, which was founded and directed by Thurgood Marshall, who later would serve as a justice on the Supreme Court. The marches and sit-ins often were held in defiance of statutes, ordinances, or court orders restricting when and how protests could be held. These actions are important for our discussion of consent because they relate to the tension between Acts 5 and Romans 13 highlighted in chapter 1.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ruled against Plessy v. Ferguson and made separate but equal legally wrong but its legal implementation was delayed. Decades of battles followed. I am old enough to remember a restaurant that had a door for blacks, and Opderbeck speaks of these as private spaces that appealed to state action doctrine.

Birmingham 1963 and ML King Jrs Letter. His appeal was to logic, to non violent action, and to pressure on the authorities leading to change in law and practice. He quotes this: I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion, King said, that the Negros great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Counciler the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to order than to justice?

Disobedience to unjust laws was Kings strategy and action. Opderbeck summarizes what we can learn:

First, the struggle for liberation can only be understood through the experience of the oppressed.

Second, law is the difference between the violent and nonviolent struggle for liberation.

Third, the rule of law is not absolute because only just laws are legitimately enforceable.

Finally, the church cannot sit on the sidelines of legal change if it truly loves the oppressed.

So the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that banned racial discrimination in public places. Many appealed here to big government. Bob Jones Universitiy had a law at the time prohibiting dating between whites and blacks, and this energized the evangelical coalition that became the Moral Majority. The IRS prohibited donations to such institutions to be exempt from income, and Bob Jones University fought this to the Supreme Court. The Court ruled 8-1 against BJU. Only in 2000 did it change its policies.
Chattanooga Salvation Army Advisory Board members David Worland and Greg Love, along with Mr. Worlands wife Sally and Mr. Loves son Jackson, joined Chattanooga Salvation Army staff and officers in relief efforts in Middle Tennessee.



My son is on Spring Break, so I thought what better way to spend it than serving, states Mr. Love. He and his son are serving in Davidson County. The Worlands are serving in Putnam County.



The Salvation Army in Chattanooga is blessed to have such dedicated Advisory Board members, states Major Mark Smith, Chattanooga Area Commander. They are quick to carry out our mission of serving in Christs name without discrimination.



To date, The Salvation Army has provided 1,174 individuals with personal prayer and emotional support. The Salvation Army has served 5,817 hot meals, along with 8,023 snacks and 6,746 beverages.



How neighbors can help:



Financial Contributions are needed and most efficient. A cash donation allows charitable relief agencies to use monetary contributions to purchase exactly what disaster survivors need. Monetary contributions are also easy to get to the disaster area. One hundred percent of a disaster donation to The Salvation Army is used for disaster relief efforts for that event. Supplies can almost always be purchased locally at the disaster site and provide savings in multiple ways. Money used to purchase needed items locally can support local and state economies, helping local businesses and workers, which have suffered losses in the wake of the disaster event.



If you would like to support efforts, visit this link to donate. For the latest updates on our disaster relief efforts, visit disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.


A day after joining BJP, Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence.

Welcoming Scindia to the BJP, Singh said his joining will help in further strengthening the party.

"Met with Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia today. I welcome him to the BJP. His joining will help in further strengthening the party. I extend my best wishes to him in all his endeavours," the Union Minister tweeted.

Scindia also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who posted a tweet welcoming him in the party fold.

Shah said in a tweet "I am sure his induction into the party will further strengthen BJP's resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh."

Scindia will arrive at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh later in the day.

Preparations are underway in BJP's Bhopal office to welcome Scindia.

On Wednesday, Scindia joined BJP in New Delhi in the presence of party President JP Nadda. He had resigned from Congress a day earlier after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Scindia will file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections on March 13.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson Isolated at Hospital In Stable Condition, Say Officials

Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson are in stable condition in an Australian hospital after the pair were diagnosed with the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

Officials told Fox News the details of their health after Hanks confirmed he and his wife tested positive on Wednesday night. The two are being treated at a Queensland hospital and are in isolation, according to Australian authorities.

We wish them a very speedy recovery, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters.

Hanks was in Australia to shoot an Elvis Presley biopic directed by Baz Luhrmann. The film, scheduled for release in October of next year, has suspended production, Warner Bros. said in a statement to media outlets.

On social media, Hanks wrote, Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

He added, Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no? Well keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!

Their son, Chet Hanks, posted a video message on Instagram telling fans that the two are both fine. Theyre not even that sick.

Theyre not worried about it, theyre not trippin, but theyre going through the necessary health precautions, obviously, Chet said. I dont think its anything to be too worried about. I think its all going to be alright.

In 2013, Hanks, 63, confirmed to news outlets that he suffers from Type 2 diabetes.

We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world, Warner Bros. wrote in a statement.
A lot of kids growing up have always wanted to become astronauts. If you have always dreamed of going to the moon or the ISS or International Space Station, you may get your chance soon, as the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) is recruiting. Successful applicants are slated to visit both of these locations!

For its next batch of candidates for astronaut classes, NASA started accepting applicants on March 2, and United States citizens may apply until the end of this month (March 31, 11:59 pm EDT [or April 1 0459 GMT]). The qualifications and job details are listed here. NASA is expecting to have its final choices selected by mid-2021.

NASA has not announced how many astronauts it will hire or recruit, but there is no question that the competition is fierce. Its last recruitment cycle in 2017 only produced a mere 12 from the 18,300 candidates who applied. Out of these 12 successful applicants, 11 had graduated (one had resigned during the training period) and are now eligible for spaceflight this year. This is how they trained and what it is like to be an astronaut.

Qualification requirements are rigorous, as can be expected, and successfully chosen candidates often way exceed the required skill sets. Aside from the basic education and eligibility qualifications outlined in the job details as shown in the link above, it is worth noting that NASA also demands its candidates to have two years of related work in their field that is "progressively responsible," or, as an alternative, 1,000 hours of command pilot flying in a jet.

An extended spaceflight physical is also required, since successful candidates will spend at least six months to a full year in space in the ISS. In this regard, NASA asks candidates about experience in dangerous or isolated conditions, as this will be useful in the new astronauts' stint in space.

Basic training usually lasts for two and a half years prior to spaceflight mission eligibility. For ISS missions, at least 18 months is needed for crew training prior to liftoff. Thus, the applicants who will successfully become astronauts in this latest batch will only be able to fly after 2024, to coincide with NASA's first crewed moon landings under the Artemis program. Under this program, NASA's goal is to have a permanent lunar presence, as well to successfully undertake a manned flight to Mars by mid-2030s.

Steve Koerner is the director of flight operations of NASA and the astronaut selection board chairperson at the NASA Johnson Space Center, located in Houston. He says that it is not an easy task to train to become an astronaut, because it is not certainly easy to be one. Among the thousands who had dreamed of becoming astronauts since childhood, an applicant is competing for the chance of a lifetime to go into space, and many of these hopefuls have worked towards this goal for as long as they can actually remember. In other words, saying that the competition will be rough is an understatement.

But, Koerner optimistically quips that among those thousands of candidates are NASA's next batch of astronauts, and he is looking forward to meeting them.

The application page can be found here.
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.


"Oh, the humanity!"

When those words were spoken by announcer Herbert Morrison to a radio audience in 1937, it signaled the death knell for the development of blimp technology.

The Hindenburg airship disaster happened on a rainy day in front of a throng of waiting journalists and photographers. On May 6, 1937, airship LZ 129 Hindenburg burst into flames while trying to dock at NAS Lakehurst after a routine trans-Atlantic flight, killing 35 people aboard and one member of the ground crew.

Photographer Sam Shere, who documented the disaster, assured that only Goodyear would be interested in highly public airship flying for the next 80-plus years. But Foreign Policy's Justin Ling is making the case that the airborne dirigible might be the perfect technology for an increasingly global and climate-conscious world.

Good Times

Canada's Quebec province is investing millions in new blimp technology because it can reach remote areas of the country while emitting far less greenhouse gases than other modes of transportation. This technological investment promises the movement of up to 60 tons of cargo per ship at speeds of up to 60-plus miles per hour.

Trains can move more cargo but are limited in scope by the availability of tracks and still require secondary shipping. Meanwhile trucks can move upward of 40 tons and can traverse areas unreachable by train -- but they still require roads.

A major problem with the revitalization of airship technology is that Flying Whales, the company developing the airships, is using helium gas to lift its ships, and there is very little helium left.

When released, helium is so buoyant, it simply floats away out of Earth's atmosphere. And finding helium has never been easy.

Historically, helium supplies have been accidentally discovered in underground natural gas deposits, a byproduct of searching for fossil fuels. The search for oil and natural gas in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas revealed a huge helium reserve in the early 20th century, hence the U.S.' near-monopoly on the element.

But that source is scheduled to be shut down in 2021, and a replacement has yet to be found. Hydrogen is still considered an alternative to helium in airships, but the Time Magazine photo of the Hindenburg disaster casts a long shadow.

Bad Times

There are many theories as to why Hindenburg caught fire and burned so suddenly. The United States wouldn't export helium for fears that it would be used to weaponize airships, so other countries used flammable hydrogen. The chief theory is that Hindenburg's hydrogen cells began to leak and mix with oxygen or that an electrical spark caught the hydrogen inside on fire.

Hydrogen is much more plentiful than helium, and can be created by running an electrical current through water and separating oxygen from the hydrogen. Balloons themselves were created to store hydrogen during this process.

For 30 years, airships were a relatively safe means of crossing the Atlantic Ocean. It just took a few terrible incidents to kill their use in the eyes of the public. Hindenburg wasn't the only ship that went down in that time.

But the German airship was the one that was immortalized by Time Magazine. Airships in general began to develop a questionable record of success among military and civilian leaders. Ling notes that, as they retired from service either by crashes or long-term use, they weren't replaced with new ones.

A full two-thirds of those aboard Hindenburg actually survived, but the damage was done. Now, helium is the main source of lift. The U.S. still produces a majority of the world's helium, but the concern over its use as a weapon of war has dissipated.

There's a 90% chance you have a Led Zeppelin song in your head as you look at this. (Time Magazine)

Your Time Is Gonna Come

It's the airship's ability to move supplies easily to and from remote places with little infrastructure that is driving commercial development of updated technologies. But it's interest in Arctic development and space-oriented technologies that could spark a renewed interest from governments -- China invested heavily in the balloon project with the Quebec government.

The U.S. military actually did contract airship prototypes from Northrop-Grumman and Raytheon. Readers might remember the airship prototype that escaped from Maryland's Aberdeen Proving Ground in 2015 to float around Eastern Pennsylvania. The United States even uses a surveillance blimp in the skies over Afghanistan and has since 2009.

Lockheed's Skunk Works developed a hybrid airship that burns a tenth of the fuel a helicopter does on a per ton basis. In development for the last 10 years, this latest dirigible has advanced sensors to detect gas leaks, as well as a high-tech cushioned landing system and new propulsion technology.

All this, it says, is to help reach people -- and resources -- cut off from the rest of the world. The defense firm says it's now ready to build the first commercial model of its new P-791 hybrid airship.

We just can't quit you, airships.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com.

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Press Release

March 12, 2020 Villanueva calls on DOLE to implement employment assistance to workers laid off due to COVID-19 outbreak With the threat of unemployment looming large as a result of the spread of COVID-19 in the country, Senator Joel Villanueva has called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to expedite the implementation of programs that would help affected workers weather the tough times as they transition to new jobs. In a statement, Villanueva noted that the labor department must already begin their efforts to help the labor market brace itself for shocks that could send unemployment figures in an upward trend as the infectious disease continues to make difficult business operations which could result to layoffs. "The livelihood of our workers should continue even if some of them would lose their jobs as a result of COVID-19 affecting the operations of their employers. We call on DOLE to immediately implement programs to ensure displaced workers would still be able to earn a living for their families instead of totally being unemployed," said Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development. The lawmaker, who defended the department's budget at last year's deliberations in the Upper Chamber, explained that among the programs which can help displaced workers was DOLE's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD). A form of emergency employment assistance, TUPAD is a grass-roots approach to emergency employment as it is implemented in communities for displaced workers, seasonal workers, and even the underemployed. Beneficiaries work for a minimum 10 days but not exceeding 30 days, depending on the nature of the work to be performed, according to the DOLE website. TUPAD beneficiaries work on social community projects such as repair, maintenance, rehabilitation or improvement of common public and service facilities, as well as helping implement agro-forestry projects like tree-planting and growing initiatives, among others. After the project is completed, beneficiaries could avail of skills training through Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or its accredited training facility to help workers be equipped with new skills that would help their transition back to the workforce. Villanueva said he hoped that DOLE could quickly implement TUPAD on areas that could be hit hardest by layoffs so that the "disruption to the livelihood of workers are kept at a minimum." "The key for DOLE is anticipation. TUPAD is not only a means of being employed in tough times. We see it as an opportunity for workers to earn a living and to upskill at the end of the program," he pointed out. A recent study by the Asian Development Bank forecasts that the Philippine economy might lose between 87,000 to 252,000 jobs in five sectors, in addition to $669 million to $1.94 billion in GDP, if COVID-19 spreads in the country.
A former Los Angeles Police Department officer was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the murder of a 23-year-old man.

Henry Solis said he was acting in self-defense while attempting to arrest Salome Rodriguez on March 13, 2015, in Pomona, California, for an alleged assault and robbery, according to court documents.

Police at the time of the shooting said Solis and Rodriguez got into an altercation that escalated after Solis pursued the other man on foot and fired multiple shots.

But prosecutors with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said Solis pursued Rodriguez as he walked past him outside an unnamed bar, opened fire and killed Rodriguez, according to a statement issued on Wednesday after the sentencing.

PHOTO: Ex-LAPD officer Henry Solis appears in court, June 5, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Although Solis was off duty and a probationary officer at the time, he testified in his own defense that he is "on duty 24 hours a day and even presented his badge during the encounter, according to court documents.Surveillance video from the street captured portions of the incident and was shown at trial, according to court documents.

A jury found 32-year-old Solis guilty of second-degree murder in February after two days of deliberations.

MORE: LAPD Officer Sought as Person of Interest in Homicide Investigation

Solis' attorney Bradley Brunon was "disappointed" with the verdict, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Henry Solis is a good person. He spent years serving the country honorably [and] would have made a terrific peace officer, Brunon said, according to the LA Times. Unfortunately, this event occurred and derailed his plans. ... We felt that the evidence didnt warrant a murder conviction  perhaps manslaughter on a theory of provocation or imperfect self-defense. [The] jury didnt agree. Forty to life is a big jolt for anybody, particularly somebody whos never had a misdeed in his life."

After the shooting, Solis fled the scene and met up with his father, who drove him to El Paso, Texas, where he crossed the border into Mexico, prosecutors said. His 53-year-old father was convicted by a federal jury in June 2015 for making a false statement to the FBI about Solis' whereabouts.

Story continues

Solis was fired by the LAPD while on the run and before he was arrested by Mexican authorities in May 2015.

Rodriguez's mother and father filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Central District of California against Solis, the city of Los Angeles and 50 unidentified people.

MORE: Former LAPD officer found guilty in 2015 murder of Pomona man

The city responded to the lawsuit, saying that it "lacks sufficient information" but noted that Solis' actions were "reasonable and necessary for self-defense," according to documents.

Solis failed to appear in court and did not respond to the lawsuit, according to court documents.

The lawsuit was put on pause in January pending the results of the criminal trial.

Ex-police officer sentenced to 40 years to life for murder of a man outside a bar originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
This fast-growing Italian brand strengthens Pernod Ricard's extensive portfolio and is the latest of a series of successful deals illustrating the Group's active portfolio management, part of its strategic plan "Transform Accelerate"

Regulatory News:

Paris Press Release 12 March 2020

Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI) is thrilled to announce its partnership with Italicus. High-quality, naturally-sourced ingredients create this uniquely-flavored, award-winning aperitivo that has been delighting mixologists since its launch in 2016.

Italicus is 20% ABV (alcohol by volume), and perfectly addresses the fast-growing market opportunity for both a distinguishable, yet versatile, unique ingredient for bartenders, and for a core low-ABV spirit for discerning consumers. Italicus is one of the world's most-awarded modern aperitivo and has been awarded Best New Spirit 2017 at the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and 2019/2020 Top-trending liquor brand by Drinks International

Italicus was created by world-renowned mixologist and Italian spirits expert Giuseppe Gallo, who will be the active CEO in the brand's ongoing development. This deal is the most recent of a string of successful partnerships including Monkey 47, Smooth Ambler West Virginian whiskey, Del Maguey mezcal, Rabbit Hole bourbon and most recently the ultra-premium Japanese gin KI NO BI.

This partnership reinforces Pernod Ricard's portfolio of specialty brands, which offer compelling value propositions, selective distribution and promising growth potential. Pernod Ricard's extensive global distribution network will continue to play an instrumental role in the success of these brands, which have been growing at a double-digit rate, significantly outpacing the industry average.

For Gilles Bogaert, Chairman Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard EMEA-LatAm, "Italicus has experienced a remarkable start, resonating with mixologists and consumers. We are thrilled to add Italicus to the Pernod Ricard portfolio and for the Group to help drive its future development.

Giuseppe Gallo, Founder CEO of Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto adds, "Since its launch the brand has experienced success with both the on-trade and consumers, and it is now time to consolidate with this heavyweight strategic partner in order to accelerate our global distribution. We have an ambitious plan to build Italicus into one of the world's most successful aperitivo brands."

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No. 2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 9,182 million in FY19. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across over 160 markets, and by its own direct salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's three-year strategic plan, "Transform and Accelerate," deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics. As illustrated by the 2030 roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "We bring good times from a good place." In recognition of Pernod Ricard's strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis and is ranked No. 1 in Vigeo Eiris for the beverage sector. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation's Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

About Italicus

ITALICUS was created by the authority in Italian spirits, Giuseppe Gallo, to bring back the forgotten Rosolio category. With key notes of Calabrian bergamot, ITALICUS is made using the finest Italian ingredients to create a sip of Italy. The striking bottle design embodies the history and heritage of Italy's distinctive regions, while telling the story of Rosolio's time-honoured traditional drinking occasion of Aperitivo.

ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto was awarded Best New Spirit 2017 at the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, and Best New European Spirit at the Mixology Awards 2017 in Berlin.

Additional awards include: Best Product at FIBAR 201; Packaging awards GOLD MEDAL 2017 and Contemporary Awards TROPHY International Wine Spirits Competition 2017; Packaging Trophy Harpers Design 2017; Gold Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017; Platinum Best of Luxury Pentawards 2017; Italian Aperitif of the year GOLD MEDAL New York International Spirits Competition 2016; Best New Product Bar Awards 2016; EXCEPTIONAL quality certificate Difford's Guide 2016

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005834/en/

Contacts:

Pernod Ricard

Julia Massies VP, Financial Communications Investor Relations +33 (0) 1 41 00 41 07

Charly Montet Investor Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 41 00 45 94

Fabien Darrigues External Communications Director +33 (0) 1 41 00 44 86

Emmanuel Vouin Press Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 41 00 44 04

Alison Donohoe Press Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 41 00 44 63

Italicus

Giuseppe Gallo CEO Founder +44 (0) 7971508476

Mayank Maini Finance Manager +44 (0) 7492645085
The number of coronavirus cases have been growing in Illinois over the last week, with six new cases reported on Wednesday and a total of 25 in the state so far. The Centers for Disease Control has been advocating precautions be taken, particularly in places where large groups of people gathered, to prevent the further spread of the illness.
With coronavirus cases across the state on the rise, some schools in Thane and Kalyan have decided to remain shut from next week as a precautionary measure. A few other schools have asked parents to avoid sending students who are unwell to school.

Orchids International and Vasant Vihar School in Thane have decided to remain shut from Monday onward. As a precaution, we have asked parents to inform the school if they have returned from any of the infected areas. If the children have any symptoms, we have advised parents to not send them to school, said principal Madhuri Sagale.

Vasant Vihar School has also postponed exams. As students are vulnerable to diseases, we have decided to suspend classes from March 16 and provide a break before the final exams, said V Kannan, the schools principal. Sacred Heart School in Kalyan will also remain shut from Tuesday and exams have been moved forward. The school is also undertaking clinical-grade fumigation of the campus.

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With the number of coronavirus cases rapidly increasing by the day in India, misinformation about the same also seems to be spreading at the same pace.

In another instance of misplaced panic, a farmer in Karnataka ended up burying a truckload of chickens in his farm over coronavirus fears.

Twitter

The farmer also shot a video of the horrid burial which has gone viral and 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, Belagavi's Gokak taluk, a few days ago.

Speaking to TOI, Najeer said, "I was left with no option. I have spent nearly six lakh to rear these chickens."

He added that before the coronavirus scare, a chicken was being sold at Rs 50 to 70 and after the panic, the prices have fallen down to between Rs 5 to Rs 10.

Najeer said that he was not able to afford the cost of maintenance after the drop in prices.

Twitter

Even though the health officials have repeatedly said that the coronavirus is spread through the respiratory and spread from person to person, fake messages seem to be making more of an impact on people, one of them being the misplaced fear of non-vegetarian food.



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.
By Akbar Mammadov

A delegation of the State Seed Fund under the Ministry of Agriculture took part in the XII Interregional Exhibition Potato 2020 in Russias Chuvashia Region, the Ministry of Agriculture reported in its website on 11 March.

The Azerbaijani delegation met with Norika, HZPC Sadokas, Alchak, Solana, Slavaya kartofelyu, Kastromskoy kartofel and other potato seed producers, and familiarized itself with the products exhibited by these producers.

During the meeting, the rules of planting potatoes at different depths, the use of medicines and other agro-technical measures were informed.

The Azerbaijani delegation has also discussed current innovations and technologies in the sowing industry and familiarized itself with the advanced experiences in this sector.

The exhibition hosted 82 potato seed producers from more than 30 oblasts of the Russian Federation.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
[March 12, 2020] Bidgely Brings Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Decarbonization and Customer Retention to European Energy Retailers

Bidgely today announced it has deployed its UtilityAI Platform with energy retailers in Europe to directly support them on their journey through the zero carbon energy transition. IDC Energy Insights defines this energy transition as the process of decarbonizing energy production while electrifying energy consumption, with key drivers coming from consumers through distributed energy resources, like solar PV and batteries, as well as electric vehicles. Through new utilization of applied artificial intelligence (AI) for customer data, energy retailers, together with Bidgely, are creating new opportunities to tailor services to each individual customer through personalized energy profiles. Personalization not only creates loyalty, reduces cost-to-serve and generates new revenue but also unlocks a deep understanding of personal consumption to enable carbon neutrality - all while ensuring GDPR compliance with customers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005176/en/ "In an energy landscape where it will likely be cheaper for consumers in Europe to generate and store their own electricity within just three years, Bidgely works closely with energy retailer customers to be sure they remain at the forefront of the energy transition and not left behind. Personalizing customer experiences will not only benefit energy customers but also generate business and environmental value through higher customer retention, new revenue creation, better energy awareness and a faster path to zero carbon," said Jean-Francois Segalotto, associate research director, IDC (News - Alert) Energy Insights. IDC found in Europe that only about 20 percent of consumers think their energy retailer knows their needs and preferences; less than 30 percent receive a personalized experience; and only 10 percent of customers globally are satisfied with the amount, relevance and timeliness of the information they receive(1). To address these perceptions, Slovakia's leading utility, Vychodoslovenska energetika a.s. (VSE), has engaged Bidgely to layer on personalization to their modern approach to customer relationship-building and for soft-selling highly-targeted energy efficient products and services. Another Bidgely customer in Spain has quickly integrated AI-powered personalized experiences into their existing digital communication channels using the Bidgely application programming interface (API).



"Given the highly competitive market, many energy retailers in Europe have embraced the digital realm with digital-first brand strategies to remain top-of-mind with customers," commented Bidgely CEO Abhay Gupta. "We bring new options for customers to integrate our AI-powered personalization tools right into their own applications and customer communication channels through our API. Whether the requirement is to enhance customer engagement through existing communication channels (mobile app, web portal, emails, SMS) or to improve cost-to-serve with plug-ins to internal applications (CRM, Call Center applications), our API solution is making it easy and cost effective to harness AI benefits rapidly." In addition to API solutions, Bidgely partners with leading utility meter innovators like Itron to accelerate the use of valuable advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) data for global customers, including both electricity and gas retailers. With Bidgely pre-integrated, European Itron customers can have quick access to appliance-level energy usage data for their customers that can be used to encourage energy efficiency, drive customer engagement and more.

For more information about Bidgely UtilityAI solutions for Europe and to learn how Bidgely helps energy retailers collect data consent by showcasing data's value to customers, visit: go.bidgely.com/GDPR-Primer. To request access to the Bidgely UtilityAI demonstration portal and experience the full range of AI-powered personalization benefits, such as enhanced customer engagement and program targeting, visit: go.bidgely.com/demo-portal-request. Or to join the industry's premier UtilityAI event, Bidgely Engage, taking place in September 2020 in Chicago, where attendees will take a deep dive into how utilities and energy retailers are using artificial intelligence to drive results and future-proof their businesses, visit: go.bidgely.com/engage. About Bidgely Bidgely is an AI-powered SaaS (News - Alert) Company that enables utilities to create greater business value and accelerate our path towards zero carbon by delivering personalized customer experience. Powered by our unique patented technology, Bidgely's UtilityAI Platform transforms multiple dimensions of customer data - such as energy consumption, demographic, and interactions - into deeply accurate and actionable consumer energy insights. We leverage these insights to empower each customer with personalized recommendations, tailored to their individual personality and lifestyle, usage attributes, behavioral patterns, purchase propensity, and beyond. From smart thermostats to EV chargers, solar PVs or personalized / ToU tariffs, UtilityAI recommends new value-added products and services to the right customer at the right time. With roots in Silicon Valley, Bidgely has over 14 energy patents, $50M+ in funding, retains 30+ data scientists, and brings a passion for AI to utilities serving residential customers around the world. For more information, please visit www.bidgely.com or the Bidgely blog at bidgely.com/blog. (1) IDC Guest Blog Post, Building the Digital Energy Retailer: Lessons From IDC's Worldwide Utilities 2020 Predictions, January 2020 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005176/en/

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Sudan stopped visa issuances and flight services to eight countries including neighbour Egypt and Italy over fears of the coronavirus outbreak, a government statement said on Thursday.

Sudan will also halt bus trips to Egypt, the statement said.

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Documents related to Green River Fire Department Chief Mike Nomis criminal charges alleged he and his wife Stephanie had used the firefighters foundation accounts to pay for personal expenses, ranging from furniture and appliance purchases to meals at local restaurants and checks written for cash.

Mike is charged with felony theft and misdemeanor wrongful appropriation of public property, while Stephanie faces a single charge of felony theft. Felony theft is publishable by not more than 10 years in prison and a potential fine of not more than $10,000. Mikes misdemeanor charge is pu...
New Delhi, March 12 : A Delhi court on Thursday sought Action Taken Report (ATR) from Mandoli Jail authorities on an application filed by one of the death-row convicts in Nirbhaya rape case, Pawan Kumar Gupta, seeking registration of an FIR against two police personnel for allegedly physically assaulting him in jail last year.

Metropolitan Magistrate Prayank Nayak has sought the ATR from the jail authorities by April 8. "This order will have no bearing on the other matter. Hanging will not be stayed because of this," the judge clarified.

The court had yesterday sought a reponse from the jail authorities on the application in which Pawan had prayed for a direction to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Harsh Vihar Police Station to register a case against constable Anil Kumar and another unidentified police constable.

Pawan, who along with three others, is scheduled to be hanged on March 20 at 5:30 am, alleged that he was beaten with "lathi, and fist-blows on his whole body" by the duo on July 26 and 28 in jail last year.

"They also threatened to 'kill him slowly'," the application moved by Pawan stated.

It further asserted that he was treated at Guru Teg Bahadur government hospital in Shahdara for his head injuries.

Then jail authorities promised stern legal action against the police personnel, but no such action was taken against the culprits, it added. The convicts were later shifted to Jail Number-3 of Tihar.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bhopal, March 12 : The Madhya Pradesh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Thursday dug up a six-year-old case to needle Jyotiraditya Sinha and his family after he quit the Congress and joined the BJP.

The EOW seeks to re-verify facts about a complaint that alleged the Scindias had falsified a property document to sell an undersized piece of land to the complainant in Gwalior measuring 6,000 sq feet less than claimed.

Vendetta has apparently begun just 24 hours after Scindia joined the BJP on Wednesday to push the Congress government in MP to the brink of collapse.

"Yes an order has been given for re-verification of the facts in the complaint of one Surendra Shrivastava," an official of EOW said on Thursday evening.

EOW said Surendra Shrivastava on Thursday filed a complaint against Scindia and his family that they falsified a registry document and sold him 6,000 sq feet less land at Mahalgaon, Gwalior in 2009. He had first lodged a complaint with EOW on March 26, 2014 which was investigated and closed in 2018, the EOW official said.

"Now as he has again petitioned us we will re-verify the acts in his complaint," the official said.
Iranian First Vice President Infected With Coronavirus

One of Irans top officials, First Vice President and close associate to President Hassan Rouhani, 63-year-old Eshaq Jahangiri, contracted the novel coronavirus, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Wednesday.

Based on an informed source, Reuters reported that Jahangiri is currently undergoing treatment. It is the 24th confirmed case of coronavirus contamination within the close circle of Iranian public officials.

Jahangiri, who is one of 12 vice presidents to Rouhani, is the most senior one who oversees the others and personally reports to the president.

It is unclear how close the two were in recent weeks, but the announcement casts a shadow on 71-year-old Rouhanis health.

According to Irans state media, some 9,000 have been infected across the country with 354 dead. However, The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a dissident group, contends that the number of losses is far greater than that, The Washington Examiner reported.

Irani officials, however, suppress all speculation about the real size of the outbreak.

Only the health ministry  is in charge of announcing figures  violators will be charged with acting against national security, prosecutor-general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri in a statement, on state TV, Middle East Eye reported.

However, Kianush Jahanpur, a health ministry spokesman, admitted on state television on Wednesday: We have identified 958 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the last 24 hours, increasing the total number of cases to 9,000 across Iran, he said. Also 63 people have lost their lives in the past 24 hours, Jahanpur added.

Adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Dies of Coronavirus

Seyyed Mohammad Mirmohammadi in a file photo of 2018. Mirmohammadi a close adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died on March 2 in Tehran after succumbing to the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to state-run media (Wikimedia/Creative Commons/[CC BY 4.0 (ept.ms/2htXG3C)]) A close adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died on March 2 in Tehran after succumbing to the COVID-19 coronavirus, according to state-run media.

Mohammad Mirmohammadi, 71, was a member of Khameneis Expediency Council, reported The Associated Press, citing state-run radio.

Several other top Iranian officials have been infected with the virus, including Masoumeh Ebtekar, a vice president for Women and Family Affairs and a spokeswoman during the 1979 revolution, as well as Iraj Harirchi, the head of the regimes task force to combat COVID-19.

Irans Vice President for Women and Family Affairs and Head of Environmental Protection Organization, Masoumeh Ebtekar, meets with French Ecology Minister in Tehran on Aug. 28, 2016. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)

Irans neighbors and other Middle Eastern countries have closed their borders and suspended air travel after coronavirus patients were traced back to the country.

Irans parliament has been suspended indefinitely, universities and schools have been closed, and public gatherings have been canceled, according to state-run media outlets.

Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report

From NTD News
The Sydney Royal Easter show could be cancelled to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Sick Australians have been urged to avoid large crowds and the two-week agricultural fair attracts almost one million visitors.

A Royal Agricultural Society spokeswoman said that they were handling the coronavirus outbreak by 'working closely with NSW Health and other relevant authorities to remain prepared'.

The spokesperson refused to rule out cancelling the Easter Show - but said current plans were for it to go ahead.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show (pictured) could be cancelled over coronavirus fears

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Easter Show 'should go ahead however we are asking people to self-exclude if they are in high risk categories'.

'If you do attend those mass gatherings, we ask you to be aware of space, hygiene and your own activity to make sure you don't contract or infect someone else,' Ms Berejiklian said on Thursday morning.

The Premier also said that schools, universities and events could potentially be shut down in the future.

'There's no need to panic, to massively change what you're doing. But it's not business as usual,' Ms Berejiklian said.

The number of coronavirus cases in NSW jumped from 65 to 77 overnight.

Four of the new 12 cases were not people who had recently travelled overseas, leaving questions about how they became infected.

Australia now has more than 140 confirmed cases and the World Health Organisation has warned more infections and deaths are inevitable without urgent, aggressive action.

NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant has told anyone who is sick - regardless of recent overseas travel - to stay at home and away from any large gatherings.

The agricultural fair (pictured) attracts almost one million visitors in the space of two weeks

'The best thing you can do is stay at home if you're unwell. Don't push through, don't go to workplaces, don't go and visit loved ones in aged care facilities, don't go and visit loved ones in hospital, and don't go to public events where you're going to be cheek and jowl,' she said.

NSW Health says COVID-19 clinics will be opened in all local health districts to diagnose patients with symptoms.

The Royal North Shore, Royal Prince Alfred, John Hunter and Nepean hospitals will soon have the capacity to test for COVID-19 infections, the department says.

Currently only Prince of Wales, Westmead and Liverpool hospitals are able to test for the virus.

NSW authorities have also been investigating a coronavirus cluster in Sydney's northwest centred on Ryde Hospital and the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care home.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 00:16:11|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The top UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, warned on Thursday that the war-torn country is at a crossroads that may well lead to military escalation.

"Today, I see the country at a critical juncture. The parties to the conflict will either move Yemen toward de-escalation and the resumption of the political process, or, I fear, toward greater violence and suffering that will make the path to the negotiating table more arduous," he told the Security Council.

The most alarming military escalation has taken place in Al Jawf governorate, he said. "I am deeply concerned about the rationale driving these escalations and the impact of the violence on Al Jawf's people. Thousands of families have been displaced by the recent fighting and are in critical need of shelter and assistance."

He warned that this escalation could trigger conflicts in other governorates and drag Yemen downward into a new and irresponsible cycle of violence.

Such a scenario would have devastating humanitarian and political consequences. It would gravely endanger civilians, and delay the long-awaited and much-needed political process aimed at bringing this war to a comprehensive close, he said.

"The parties must exercise maximum restraint to prevent such a terrible outcome. And it is imperative that they uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Indiscriminate attacks affecting civilians or civilian objects are unlawful and reprehensible."

Other parts of the country also saw violence, he said. The governorate of Hodeidah continues to experience clashes, particularly in the city of Hodeidah and the southern part of the governorate, and civilian casualties are regrettably increasing, said Griffiths.

"There is a real risk ... of a protracted military escalation across much of Yemen. We must do all we can to support the parties in containing and reversing the current trajectory," he said.
The London School of Economics has banned all face-to-face teaching and all public events for the rest of the academic year due to coronavirus fears.

The college said all teaching would be moved online for the remainder of the academic year.

Taught exams and other assessments scheduled will also be delivered online.

The London School of Economics has banned face-to-face teaching for the rest of the academic year in an effort to protect staff and students from coronavirus infection

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured at a news conference at Number 10 earlier today has so far refused to order the closure of schools and universities

The move comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted the move to contain the coronavirus outbreak in Britain had been lost and the delay strategy was now being implemented.

A university spokesman said: 'These actions are taken as a precaution and to provide clarity and reassurance to the LSE community in exceptional circumstances.

'The LSE campus and halls of residence will remain open. Guidance from Public Health England maintains that there is presently low risk for LSE and that buildings, services and facilities can run as usual.

'We will take any additional necessary steps, such as a campus closure, if we are advised to do so in the future.'

Durham University has also announced all classroom teaching, including small groups and one-on-one meetings, will cease from March 16 for the final week of term.

The university and its library will remain open, but all lessons will be delivered online as much as possible.

Manchester Metropolitan University has also said it will end in-person teaching from March 27, for the final week of term.

Students at LSE received an email alerting them to the dramatic decision

The University and College Union (UCU), which represents more than 120,000 university and adult education staff, has emphasised the importance of the other services universities often provide, namely accommodation.

A spokesman for the union said: 'The health of staff and students has to be a university's priority.

'Universities simply cannot shut down and abandon those students who rely on it for things like accommodation and we trust all these important matters are being kept under review.

'Universities should be working with UCU, student reps and other trade unions to address any concerns being raised by staff and students.

'Universities should also be working with bodies like Public Health England to ensure everyone is kept fully informed as the situation develops.'

On Thursday, the University of Oxford confirmed a further three students had tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total to five.

It was also announced that a student at the University of Bristol tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to the city from abroad.

The decisions to move lessons online come after it was announced that schools, colleges and childcare centres in Ireland will close for two weeks due to the outbreak.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: 'We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory. This is unchartered territory.'

On Tuesday, Trinity College in Dublin said lectures will be given via the internet.

In the United States, Ivy League colleges Harvard and Princeton also announced lectures will be moving online to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Manchester Metropolitan University has announced an end to face-to-face teaching due to coronavirus.

Irish Taoiseach, who was pictured in Washington this morning, announced he was closing all schools and colleges and banning all indoor gatherings with more than 100 people and outdoor events with 500 - ahead of the St Patrick's Day national holiday next week

Students received an email on Thursday afternoon detailing plans to finish lectures a week before the end of term.

The spring term will finish on April 3, but no lectures, seminars or any contact teaching will take place after March 27.

Students have been advised that face-to-face teaching could end even sooner, if a request is made by the government.

University bosses say planning is already underway to assess the way they deliver assessments and exams for the summer term.

A spokesperson for the university said the wellbeing of students was a 'top priority'.

Britons have been urged by the government against panicking, but supermarket shelves have been cleaned out by anxious shoppers fearful of future shortages

An email sent to students read: 'The wellbeing of our students is always a top priority.

"To safeguard our whole community and the spread of the coronavirus we have decided to end face-to-face teaching at Manchester Metropolitan University from Friday 27 March and potentially sooner, if requested by government.

'Tutors across our faculties are now preparing to support this will and update you on how to access remaining teaching via Moodle sites.

'To be prudent, the University is also planning how best to deliver assessments, exams and credits, should we need to change our process for the Summer Term.

'We will update you on any changes as soon as possible.

'You will be free to go home for the Easter Break from Friday March 27 or remain on campus or in halls as usual.'

The announcement comes as the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK rose to 590.

It is the largest day-on-day increase yet - up by 134 cases at the same time on Wednesday.

Durham University is cancelling classroom teaching due to the coronavirus crisis.

Students have been told that all classroom teaching will 'cease' from Monday, March 16 until the end of term on March 20.

The university says it will remain open but alternative modes of teaching should be used by all instructors.

The institute states: 'We are advising students that if they wish to leave Durham following their last class on Friday, March 13, they can do so, and participate in classes remotely for the final week of term.

'From Monday, March 16, we are encouraging colleagues to explore remote working options with their managers.

'Colleagues who are most at risk from the coronavirus will be asked to work from home whenever possible and will enable them to do so.'
On 2 and 3 March, India's newly-appointed foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Dhaka to prepare the grounds for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's now-cancelled visit to Dhaka on 17 March

On 2 and 3 March, India's newly-appointed foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla visited Dhaka to prepare the grounds for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's now-cancelled visit to Dhaka on 17 March to attend the centenary celebrations of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the invitation of Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Shringla's visit came amidst rising concerns in Bangladesh over India's controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Since the passing of the CAA by the Indian Parliament in December last year, India has witnessed several large-scale protests and incidents of mass violence. Internationally, several countries have raised concerns and criticised the Act, as well as the Indian government's plan to follow it up with updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Amongst these countries, Bangladesh's concerns have been the loudest.

Dhaka, which was also apparently upset following the rollout of the NRC in Assam, is further concerned with the combination of the CAA and NRC across India. Bangladesh fears an influx of refugees from India at a time when it is already hosting nearly a million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. In this context, Shringla's visit should be viewed as an act of damage control by a friend of Dhaka given his past laurels as Joint Secretary (Director General) responsible for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives, and as India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh (2016-2019).

FS @harshvshringla called on Hon. Prime Minister, #Bangladesh, HE Sheikh Hasina on 2/3/20 They discussed visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend #MujibBorsho &reaffirmed importance both sides attach to relationship & discussed ways of further consolidating partnership pic.twitter.com/N5n3gYid4z  India in Bangladesh (@ihcdhaka) March 3, 2020

Dhaka's criticism

Bangladesh has demonstrated its displeasure over the CAA to India through several non-verbal gestures. Just a day before Shringla's scheduled visit to Dhaka, the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhary cancelled her visit to India. Chaudhary was scheduled to visit India on 2 March along with a delegation that included the chief whip, the Secretary of Parliament Secretariat and other top officials of their government. The reason stated for this cancellation was that the parliament was planning a special session later in March and the delegation would visit after its completion.

This follows the template of cancellation of other high-profile visits in the last four months, the first of which came just a day after the passing of the CAA when Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen pulled out of his planned three-day visit on 12 December. In January, his deputy, Shahriar Alam, cancelled a scheduled visit to New Delhi to attend the Ministry of External Affairs' annual Raisina Dialogue Conference.

The most prominent verbal criticism from Dhaka came from Hasina who called the Act "an internal matter of India", but "unnecessary".

Shringla's Speech

Dhaka's importance to New Delhi in the shifting regional dynamics of South Asia  with the augmentation of BIMSTEC and in furtherance of India's Neighbourhood First Policy (NFP)  makes the latter wary of having a tense relationship with the former. In this context, Shringla's visit to Dhaka and his speech at the Bangladesh Institute for International Strategic Studies (BIISS) comes at an important juncture.

In his speech at BIISS, Shringla went out of his way to soothe and please Bangladesh. Starting by emphasising Dhaka's importance to India's NFP, he recalled the words of the former Indian external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj, when she said that India's NFP is actually "Bangladesh first". He then went on to highlight several examples of the two countries' partnerships that had overcome several obstacles such as the immigration and customs arrangements, constantly developing railway linkages, simplification and expansion of trade among others. On the contentious issue of sharing of river waters, the foreign secretary stated that "we could and should do much more" in their management. The most important highlight of the speech was Shringla's acknowledgement of Bangladesh "leading Asia's development race", a title long-held by India.

It is evident that New Delhi is attempting to mend its ties with Dhaka. In this regard, the government would not have found a better person than Shringla to lead this swathing. A friendly face for Bangladeshi authorities, he has been credited with finalising the contours of the Land Boundary Agreement Protocol with Bangladesh as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

During his three-year tenure as the high commissioner, the India-Bangladesh relationship is said to have achieved new heights with a focus on all-round bilateral development. Further, this visit also answers why Shringla was chosen as the foreign secretary over other senior diplomats. As the Narendra Modi government takes its NFP into its second tenure, it faces major hurdles in an increasingly irrelevant SAARC, an under-confident BIMSTEC and growingly-defiant neighbours. Thus, Shringla's expertise with the neighbourhood makes him the Modi government's point person for Neighbourhood 2.0 and his Dhaka visit should be viewed in that context.

If there is a chance that the Bangladeshi side views Modi's assurances with any mistrust, an assurance from a friend who serves a non-political office is a good tactic.
Norwegian Air will lay off around half of its staff and cancel 4,000 flights as it struggles to stay afloat.

The budget airline lost a fifth of its value after announcing the string of emergency measures, which came after President Trump imposed a 30-day travel ban on flights from Europe to the US.

Norwegian said the changes would apply until the end of May  but warned that the numbers could increase further.

Norwegian Air lost a fifth of its value after announcing the string of emergency measures, which came after President Trump imposed a 30-day travel ban on flights from Europe

The cancellations amount to around 40 per cent of its long-haul schedule and a quarter of its short-haul flights.

Chief executive Jacob Schram said it was 'an unprecedented situation'. Norwegian was already struggling under the weight of a mammoth debt pile.

But analysts said the wider industry has been dealt another 'body blow' by the ban, which will badly disrupt transatlantic traffic that is key to the earnings of major European airlines.

Flights had already been scaled back from China and Italy over previous weeks.

Shares in BA-owner IAG dived 15.8 per cent, in part because Trump's move will hit its Spanish subsidiary Iberia.

Wizz Air shares fell 14.6 per cent, while Easyjet shed 13.6 per cent and Ryanair lost 7.8 per cent.

But analysts believe lower-cost airlines could be more resilient as they are used to stripping back costs.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12

Trend:

Azerbaijan's economy has strong financial immunity and safety cushion against any external shocks, said Azerbaijan's Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov at Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers' meeting, Trend reports.

The situation in the global oil market and its impact on the economy were discussed at the meeting in the Cabinet of Ministers, chaired by Azerbaijans Prime Minister Ali Asadov.

"Today, in general, there are two factors that have the potential to impact the country's economy: the coronavirus epidemic and the failure of the OPEC + deal, said the minister.

"Azerbaijani economy remains stable at the beginning of 2020. Over the past two months of this year, the gross domestic product growth rate was 2.8 percent. At the same time, the growth rate of GDP in the oil sector made up 6.7 percent. The growth of production in the non-oil sector has reached 21.7 percent, and the growth rate of investment deposits in the non-oil sector reached 21 percent. Naturally, the spread of the coronavirus epidemic adversely affected some fields of activity, such as tourism and air transport, while in other areas a certain high growth is observed. At the same time, the nominal growth rate of cash incomes of the population increased from 5.1 percent to 8.9 percent," Jabbarov said.

The minister also noted that the forecast for tax revenues for the two months of this year was fulfilled by 114.2 percent, including in the non-oil sector - by 115.9 percent. He said that some 180 million manat ($105.8 million) has been paid to budget in excess of the forecast. Tax revenues increased by 24.5 percent, including in the non-oil sector - by 24.8 percent compared to the two months of last year.

Our economy has strong financial immunity and safety cushion against any external shocks. The volume of strategic foreign exchange reserves exceeds 100 percent of gross domestic product, and also exceeds the volume of external government debt by 6 times, said Jabbarov, touching upon Azerbaijans financial stability.

The amount of reserves is sufficient for continuous three-year financing of goods and services, that is, strategic foreign exchange reserves are 5 times greater than the volume of all manat in circulation, 9 times greater than the volume of cash manat mass. This is a fundamental condition for ensuring the balance of the foreign exchange market and maintaining macroeconomic stability," he noted.

The minister said that in order to maintain the dynamics of economic growth, proposals on stimulating small and medium-sized enterprises will be prepared and submitted to the government. At the same time, the relevant structures of the ministry, together with the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, are taking flexible measures to maintain the balance and stability of the manat in the foreign exchange market.

In accordance with the legislation, control over the sphere of cash flow will be strengthened, attempts to unjustifiably raise prices and create an artificial shortage in the consumer market will be severely suppressed. At the same time, measures to combat unfair competition and tax discipline will be intensified, the minister added.
Central Catholic High School on Thursday announced it will close its campus and require students to attend class online until April 13.

The school will close to staff, faculty and students starting Friday.

Teachers are spending Thursday preparing their pupils for the four-week closure, urging them to take home all of their books and setting aside fourth period for locker cleaning, according to a note to parents from school officials.

Clubs, activities and sporting events are also cancelled while the campus is closed. The school building and its vehicles will be cleaned while staff and students are away.

School officials said the closure is a precautionary move as neither Central Catholic students nor staff have been tested positive for coronavirus, according to the the release.

The private schools announcement was the second in as many days  St. Marys Academy on Wednesday night announced it will shutter for two weeks as crews clean its buildings.

Classes remain open in other districts across the metro area.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com or message either of the social accounts above. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

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With Bahrain, Vietnam and even this weekend's 2020 season opener in Australia now in serious doubt, attention is beginning to turn to the viability of even F1's European races this year.

F1 CEO Chase Carey, who alongside the FIA is being heavily criticised for his handling of the coronavirus crisis so far, has been spotted in Hanoi where it is understood the decision to postpone the inaugural Vietnam GP has finally been made.

Reportedly, that postponement will be announced on Sunday, when F1 is currently scheduled to race at Albert Park.

In Australia, there are currently 129 confirmed coronavirus cases, including Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and a man who last Saturday was at the Albert Park hotel.

But in France, where Paul Ricard is scheduled to host its grand prix in June, the number of coronavirus cases has hit 1700.

The country has already banned large gatherings of people.

Eric Boullier, who heads the Paul Ricard organisers, told Auto Hebdo: "The safety and health of our spectators and partners, as well as the people in Formula 1 and the media, is our priority."

He also pointed out that the French ban on large gatherings is set to expire in April.

"In view of this and other information about the spread of coronavirus, nothing justifies calling into question the organisation of the French GP," he added.

However, he admitted that if the race is called off, people will get ticket refunds.

"We still have a lot of time," the former McLaren boss told Le Figaro. "We hope that the epidemic will be contained by then."

Frenchman Boullier is not ruling out excluding spectators from the Paul Ricard event, as Bahrain has already announced.

"Either it takes place, with or without an audience, or it is postponed or cancelled. In all cases, we have good insurance and spectators will be fully reimbursed," he said.

Ouest France newspaper also quoted Boullier as saying: "We are in almost daily contact with the decision-makers, be it the government, the FIA, the French motor sport federation, the F1 bodies, and also other race organisers.

"We will see what happens in mid-April about the organisation of events in France - from then on we will see if things are reconsidered. But for the moment, we are not changing our plans," he said.

As for the races that come before France, including Zandvoort, Barcelona, Monaco, Baku and Montreal, Boullier said: "F1 is now in Melbourne which is a pretty good sign.

"It is an epidemic, but it's not the end of the world either. Life goes on and you have to stay positive.

"For the rest, we will advise according to what is happening," he added.

(GMM)
One of the important changes in the draft of the amended law on environmental protection relates to environmental impact assessment (EIA).

For a long time, EIA has been considered an almighty tool to control the whole life cycle of projects. This is a blunder, said Mai The Toan from the Department of Policy, Legislation and Inspection under the General Directorate of Environment.

The simultaneous existence of many post-EIA legal documents confuses management agencies and investors.



Under the current regulations, EIAs are required for many types of projects, while the requirements on procedures are nearly the same for projects with different impact levels on the environment.

One of the important changes in the draft of the amended law on environmental protection relates to environmental impact assessment (EIA).

In many cases, projects have inconsiderable impacts on the environment, but investors still have to follow a lot of procedures as they belong to the group of projects which need approval from the National Assembly and Prime Minister for investment (the projects in education, culture and sports), or belong to the group of projects that use land in natural reserves, national parks, historical - cultural relics, world heritage sites, biosphere reserves, and ranked scenic places (projects to renovate historical areas, roads and camps)



Meanwhile, many projects with high pollution risk are implemented in densely populated areas, with low environmental load, causing urgent environmental problems.



The causes are the lack of national environmental protection planning, lack of spatial planning in the types of region; strict protection; limited emissions; and priority for socio-economic development.



Under the current law, EIA is the base for management agencies to monitor and inspect projects during their implementation. However, this is unreasonable, because in the implementation process, environmental problems may change and they will be different compared with what was reported in the EIA.



Some experts say that EIA is just a formality. All investment projects have EIA, but pollution risks still exist.



Vedans discharge of untreated wastewater harmed the Thi Vai River system some years ago and the lives of people in the eastern part of the southern region. Formosa discharged dirty water causing massive fish deaths in the central region. Environmental scandals in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa and Bac Ninh have also been reported.



The EIAs for Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A hydropower projects said the projects would not harm natural ecosystems with rare and precious flora and fauna that need protection.



But inspectors later found that the two hydropower projects would encroach on 137.5 hectares of the Cat Tien National Park, and the hydropower area would be the primary habitat area.

Thanh Mai

Developing tourism while protecting the environment is difficult task for Vietnam Experts warn that Vietnams tourism may lose its appeal in the eyes of foreign travelers because of environmental degradation in the country.
South Africa: 15 to appear in court for corruption

Fifteen people, who were arrested in Bethlehem and Harrismith on charges of corruption, are expected to appear in court on Friday.

Five traffic officials, three administration clerks, four jockeys, two examiners and one driving school instructor were arrested by the Hawks in Bethlehem and Harrismith, Free State.

The suspects are facing charges of corruption after they allegedly issued fraudulent drivers licences and roadworthy certificates to motorists in the province.

The sting operation, which saw the suspects being arrested, was conducted by the Serious Corruption Investigation unit, Crime Intelligence, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, has welcomed the arrests.

I commend the multidisciplinary approach that was involved in this project. The arrests of these individuals will indirectly contribute to the reduction of fatalities on our roads, Lebeya said.

Meanwhile, authorities have urged anyone, who obtained their licence fraudulently in the Free State, to come forward in order to verify the validity of their licence.

An audit and verification process will be conducted to verify licences issued by the implicated officials from the Harrismith and Bethlehem Driver's Licence Testing Centres.

Those who want to come forward must contact Captain Koos Els on 082 854 7509. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-03-12. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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."
Referendum on Abortion Postponed

The Chief Minister of Gibraltar, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC MP, has today agreed with the Deputy Chief Minister, the Hon Dr Joseph Garcia MP, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Dr Keith Azopardi QC MP and Independent MP, the Hon Marlene Hassan Nahon MP, that the Referendum on Abortion convened for next Thursday the 19th of March should be postponed.

The Government believes that there is no health risk with the Referendum proceeding, as the Director of Public Health has repeatedly advised that the nature of the voting exercise is safe. There is no intention to contradict the advice of the Public Health professionals.

The concern that has motivated the Government is that the advice to elderly people to stay home and avoid public places may appear to contradict the call to a vote by universal suffrage which could then lead the result of the Referendum, whatever it may turn out to be, to be called into question. This would potentially deprive the result of the Referendum of democratic legitimacy and, in that way, would defeat the object of the exercise of putting the issue to the people.

The new date for the Referendum will be fixed by the Gibraltar Parliament when Parliamentarians are advised that there will be no risk to any age group entitled to vote.

The Chief Minister has also spoken to the leaders of the respective campaigns in the Referendum, who have also agreed this is the best course of action at this stage.

Both campaigns have also agreed to suspend campaigning until the new date for the Referendum has been determined by the Gibraltar Parliament.

The Chief Minister has spoken this evening also to the Referendum Administrator to advise him of the decision to postpone the Referendum.

The Chief Minister has consequently signed an Order to revoke the earlier Order setting the date of the Referendum for the 19th March and in that way has postponed the Referendum date.

Mr Picardo said: "I want to thank the Referendum Administrator and his team for the work they have done to date on the organisation of this hugely important Referendum. I know that this delay will mean they have to re-do a lot of work they have already undertaken. I also want to thank the respective campaigns for their understanding and agreeing to suspend campaigning until we are able to fix a new date. I have been in touch this afternoon with all the other party leaders. We have agreed this is the best course of action. This does not contradict the Public Health advice, as we are not doing something they advise us not to do, we are just taking a view as to the potential democratic legitimacy of the result, which must stand up to scrutiny. This could be affected by the apparent contradiction in asking a particular age demographic to stay at home whilst at the same time convening them to an exercise in universal suffrage. Slowing the inevitable spread of the virus in Gibraltar requires us to act decisively and to adapt on a dynamic basis to the circumstances as they develop. I believe this is the right decision for the difficult weeks ahead."
A spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry suggested on Thursday the US military might have brought the coronavirus to the Chinese city of Wuhan, which has been hardest hit by the outbreak, doubling down on a war of words with Washington.

China has taken great offence at comments by US officials accusing it of being slow to react to the virus, first detected in Wuhan late last year, and of not being insufficiently transparent.

On Wednesday, US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said the speed of China's reaction to the emergence of the coronavirus had probably cost the world two months when it could have been preparing for the outbreak.

In a strongly worded tweet, written in English on his verified Twitter account, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said it was the United States that lacked transparency.

"When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation!" Zhao wrote.

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

Zhao, an avid and often combative Twitter user, did not offer any evidence for his suggestion that the US military might be to blame for the outbreak in China.

Earlier on Thursday, Zhao's fellow Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang criticised US officials for "immoral and irresponsible" comments that blamed Beijing's response to the coronavirus for worsening the global impact of the pandemic.

Asked about O'Brien's comments, Geng told a daily news briefing in Beijing on that such remarks by US officials would not help US epidemic efforts.

China's efforts to slow the spread had bought the world time to prepare against the epidemic, he added.

"We wish that a few officials in the US would at this time concentrate their energy on responding to the virus and promoting cooperation, and not on shifting the blame to China."

FIRM MEASURES

The coronavirus emerged in December in the central Chinese city of Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province, where around two-thirds of global cases so far have been recorded. But in recent weeks the vast majority of new cases have been outside China.

The Chinese authorities credit firm measures they took in January and February, including to a near total shutdown of Hubei, for preventing outbreaks in other Chinese cities on the scale of Wuhan and slowing the spread abroad.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has pointed to a decision to limit air travel from China at the end of January to fend off criticism that it responded too slowly to the disease. Critics say Trump played down the disease in public and the federal government was slow to roll out tests.

"Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up," Trump's national security advisor O'Brien said during a think-tank appearance on Wednesday.

"It probably cost the world community two months to respond," during which "we could have dramatically curtailed what happened both in China and what's now happening across the world", he said.

More than 119,100 people have been infected by the novel coronavirus across the world and 4,298 have died, the vast majority in China, according to a Reuters tally. The United States has 975 cases and 30 people have died.

"We have done a good job responding to it but ... the way that this started out in China, and the way it was handled from the outset, was not right," said O'Brien.
The Indian government has asked its nationals to stay put wherever they are, as the country announced stringenet measures to curb the spread of coronavirus disease Covid-19.

We advise to Indians - wherever they are, it is better to stay put, said Dammu Ravi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They should travel only if they have compelling reasons, he added.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, meanwhile, said that India has received requests from Bhutan, Maldives, Iran and China for assistance such as medical equipment. Some equipment sent to China, other requests are being considered, he said.

Also Watch l No lapse in screening at airports: Health Minister in Lok Sabha

India, which has been announcing travel restrictions and other measures over the last few days, virtually shut itself to tourists on Wednesday after it put in place stringent visa restrictions. It suspended almost all the visas for entering to India till April 15. The decision, announced on Wednesday, was part of extraordinary new measures taken by the government to stave off Covid-19 pandemic, including invoking laws that give the federal administration powers over states to manage containment efforts.

There has been 40 per cent reduction in the number of Indians returning to India in the past few days, Raveesh Kumar said.

Talking about Italy, one of the coronavirus hotspots, the MEA officials said that a lot of Indian students who have completed courses want to come back. But if they can, we would advise them to stay put, said Ravi.

Earlier in the day, foreign minister S Jaishankar had said that Italy is an area of concern for the government.

I would like to share with the Honble Members that steps in this regard have already been initiated. It has been decided to make provision for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in Italy and collect samples for testing. A medical team is being sent there from India. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days, Jaishankar said.

Coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan city of China, has now spread to more than 90 countries and has killed over 3,300 people worldwide. The countries like South Korea and Italy have recorded the maximum number of cases of deadly virus, besides China.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across India, including foreign nationals, has gone up to 73. Out of these 73 people, 56 are Indian citizens. With 17 coronavirus positive cases, the maximum number of cases in the country has been reported from Kerala.
She recently split from on/off boyfriend Sam Gowland again.

Yet Chloe Ferry took her mind off her heartbreak as she recently treated herself to a spa day with Geordie Shore co-star Bethan Kershaw.

The reality star, 24, left little to the imagination as she displayed her jaw-dropping assets in a sultry bikini snap.

Relaxation: Chloe Ferry, 24, took her mind off her split from Sam Gowland as she recently treated herself to a spa day with Geordie Shore co-star Bethan Kershaw

Chloe set pulses racing as she donned a tiny neon green bikini that accentuated her ample bosom and toned abdomen.

Arching her back as she reclined in the pool, Chloe let her platinum blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders.

Captioning the snap: 'Big fish', Chloe completed her look by donning a gold necklace and matching earrings.

The Geordie Shore star was joined on her spa day by Bethan, 25, who also looked sensational in a hot pink two-piece.

Sizzling: The reality star left little to the imagination in a series of steamy snaps that showed off her surgically enhanced assets

Chloe's girly day out came after she split from on/off beau Sam, 24, again - despite having just rekindled their romance over the New Year.

The couple have had their fair share of break ups since their romance first went public back in 2017.

The pair split in May last year after Chloe accused Sam of cheating with Love Island beauty Amber Davies - something he vehemently denied.

Sam hit back by claiming that Chloe was the one who had been unfaithful, and thus a war of words between the pair ensued.

Rub a dub dub: Chloe set pulses racing as she donned a tiny neon green bikini that accentuated her ample bosom and toned abdomen

Peek-a-boob! Chloe looked every inch the blonde bombshell as she struck a sultry pose in the jacuzzi

Two's company: Chloe was joined on her spa day by Bethan, 25, who also looked sensational in a hot pink two-piece

Despite this, the couple appeared to have patched things up by November, with rumours circulating that Sam had moved back into the home they share in Newcastle.

After reuniting on a trip to Thailand in December, things fell apart for the couple yet again last month.

A source revealed to The Sun: 'Chloe's finally cut ties with Sam and is moving on by herself. Today is Chloe's official moving day and she's so excited for the fresh start.

'It feels like the dawn of a new beginning for Chloe. No more Sam riding on her coat tails or trying to muscle in on what is hers.'
TASHKENT -- Uzbekistans Justice Ministry has registered a group protecting inmates' rights and a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization that focuses on poverty relief.

Former political prisoner and human rights activist Azam Farmonov told RFE/RL on March 12 that his NGO, Huquqiy Tayanch (Legal Base), was officially registered at the ministry three days earlier after eight unsuccessful previous attempts.

"Frankly speaking, I did not expect it would happen. I was very surprised. It took us more than two years to get registered," Farmonov said, adding that his organization will focus on defending the rights of inmates in the Central Asian nation's penitentiaries.

According to him, nine people are founders of the group and some 100 individuals are active members.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Justice Ministry said in a statement on March 10 that it had also registered a U.S.-based group, Mercy Corps, that helps local communities tackle poverty, the consequences of conflicts and the impacts of climate change in more than 40 countries.

Mercy Corps began operating in Uzbekistan in 1995 but was shut down in 2006 under a wave of pressure imposed on international organizations by the government of late authoritarian President Islam Karimov, following bloodshed in the country's eastern city of Andijon on May 13, 2005.

In Andijon, security forces shot dead scores -- hundreds, by some accounts -- of anti-government protesters and then tried to cover up the massacre.

Uzbekistan's current president, Shavkat Mirziyoev, took power after Karimov's death was announced in September 2016. Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan with an iron fist since before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Mirziyoev has taken steps to implement reforms in Uzbekistan -- where rights abuses had been widespread under Karimov.
The Cabinet of Ministers has appointed Tetiana Kryvenko as new head of the Prime Minister's Office.

The relevant resolution, No.225 as of March 10, has been published on the Government portal.

"To appoint Tetiana Kryvenko to the post of head of the Prime Minister's Office of Ukraine, reads the document.

By another resolution, the Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Kateryna Lytvinvchova as head of the Prime Minister's Office. She held this post from September 3, 2019.

Tetiana Kryvenko previously served as head of the service of the Ukrainian vice prime minister - minister for communities and territories development.

As Ukrinform reported, the Verkhovna Rada on March 4 approved a new Cabinet of Ministers headed by Denys Shmyhal.

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New Delhi: B-Towner Tiger Shroff is currently riding high on the success of his latest release 'Baaghi 3'. The movie starring Tiger and Shraddha Kapoor has turned out to be a money spinner for the makers at the ticket counters.

'Baaghi 3' has emerged as a winner at both single-screen halls and multiplexes pan India.

Manoj M Desai, Executive Director of Maratha Mandir Cinema & G-7 Multiplex said, Baaghi 3 has witnessed phenomenal response at our theatre. Baaghi 3 recorded the highest advance booking for the year and Tigers fans are unstoppable. Tiger has the most penetrated and wide fandom across the country. The single-screen/mass euphoria is definitely there and we are looking at sustained footfalls at our cinemas in the coming days.

Adding more, Kamal Gianchandani, CEO PVR Pictures Limited said, The surge we saw over the weekend with Baaghi 3 across the centres is definitely a good sign for the film. The audience is happy and everyone is swarming the cinema hall to watch Tigers unmatched action. He is definitely the action star who is the most bankable- that is what is working well for the film. We are expecting a sustained footfall to the theatres in the coming days, Baaghi 3 tickets are selling very well and thats what keeps all the distributors/exhibitors happy.

The film has earned over Rs 84.97 cr so far at the domestic ticket counters. 'Baaghi 3' is directed by Ahmed Khan and is jointly produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Fox Studios.

The movie brings Tiger and Shraddha Kapoor back together after the'2016 original 'Baaghi.

The first part of the hit 'Baaghi' franchise released back in 2016 and was helmed by Sabir Khan. Tiger Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor previously starred in the original. The movie also stars Riteish Deshmukh and Ankita Lokhande in pivotal parts.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global nurse call systems market size is expected to reach USD 2.9 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 11.4%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing adoption of digital healthcare, growing demand for patient safety and care are expected to boost market growth. In addition, continuous technological advancements to bring new levels of communication enabling the widest range of applications configuration at home care, hospitals, or residential facilities are also expected to increase the demand for the market. In December 2018, Ascom Holdings AG has received the approval certificate from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as class II 510(k), for Digistat Smart Central software solution increasing the scope of the Ascom Healthcare to expand their presence in the U.S. hospitals.

Key suggestions from the report:

The wired communication equipment segment dominated the market in 2019 due to ongoing advancements in technology and healthcare facilities. Rapid growth of wireless communication nurse call system can be attributed to factors such as low cost of installation, easy integration with other devices, and ease of mobility. In January 2019 , the Hill Rom launched its LINQ mobile application for improvement in communication between the patient and caregiver formerly in U.S. and Canada with further expansion to Europe

In the type segment, nurse call integrated communication systems held the largest share of the nurse call system market in 2019, owing to the advancement in communication system, availability of data to be used by healthcare personnel, and rising demand for improved quality of care

Wanderer control dominated the application segment of the market in 2019 owing to ease of communication, growing demand for digital technology, and rising prevalence of aging population adopting nurse call systems

Hospitals have a major share of the end-use segment of the market in 2019, owing to the patient flow and the increasing chronic and emergency case patients. Hospitals are revamping their older nurse call systems and funding infrastructure supporting system integration. Moreover, researchers are filing patents for technologies that offer uninterrupted communication

North America was the largest regional market in 2019 owing to the establishment of separate certification and coding system and presence of key market players in the region. In October 2018 , Tunstall Healthcare acquired Kanayo Software Inc., and EWII Telecare to expand its Connected Health solutions. The acquisition provided Tunstall with expertise in Software and App products in health and social care

Some key players in this market include Hill-Rom Holding, Inc., Tyco SimplexGrinnell, Ascom Holding, Honeywell International, Inc., Rauland-Borg Corporation, TekTone Sound & Signal Mfg., Inc., Stanley Healthcare, Azure Healthcare, West-Com Nurse Call Systems, Inc., and Critical Alert Systems LLC.

Read 120 page research report with ToC on "Nurse Call Systems Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Wired Communication Equipment, Wireless Communication Equipment), By Type, By Application, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027' at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/nurse-call-system-equipments-industry

With the increasing life expectancy and changing healthcare requirements, the burden on national insurance bodies has increased. Owing to this factor, Medicare penalizes healthcare facilities with hospital readmissions within 30 days. The government is providing funds for research, which can help caregivers to streamline the entire process with the aid of technology. For instance, in April 2015, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) granted USD 160,000 for appropriate and effective use of technology.

Grand View Research has segmented the global nurse call system market based on technology, type, application, end use, and region:

Nurse Call System Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Wired Communication Equipment



Wireless Communication Equipment

Nurse Call System Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Nurse Call Integrated Communication Systems



Nurse Call Buttons



Nurse Call Mobile Systems



Nurse Call Intercoms

Nurse Call System Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Alarms & Communications



Workflow Optimization



Wanderer Control



Fall Detection & Prevention

Nurse Call System End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Hospitals



ASCs/Clinics



Long Term Care Facilities

Nurse Call System Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



U.K.





Germany





France





Italy





Spain



Asia Pacific



China





India





Japan





South Korea





Australia



Latin America



Brazil





Mexico





Argentina



Middle East & Africa

&

South Africa





Saudi Arabia





UAE

Find more research reports on Medical Devices Industry, by Grand View Research:

Medical Robotic Systems Market - The global medical robotic systems market size was valued at USD 7,470.7 million in 2014 and is expected to grow at a double digit CAGR over the forecast period.

The global medical robotic systems market size was valued at in 2014 and is expected to grow at a double digit CAGR over the forecast period. Patient Positioning Systems Market - The global patient positioning systems market size was valued at USD 942.8 million in 2016 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period.

The global patient positioning systems market size was valued at in 2016 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period. Pulmonary Drug Delivery Systems Market - The global pulmonary drug delivery devices/systems market size was estimated at USD 36.5 billion in 2016 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period.

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* Philippines sees best session since Jan 2019 * Malaysia rises most since June 2018 By Shruti Sonal March 11 (Reuters) - Philippine shares jumped 3% on Wednesday in their biggest intraday gain since January 2019, driven by utilities after reports https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1239623/duterte-water-concessionaires-meeting-in-public#ixzz6GLYVTkAl said President Rodrigo Duterte was willing to meet and talk with two Metro Manila water firms to settle a government dispute over water contracts. Ayala Corp, Manila Water Co's biggest shareholder and index heavyweight, jumped 6%, while DMCI Holdings, a major shareholder of Maynilad Water Services, gained nearly 3%. Richard Laneda, a research analyst at COL Financial Group, attributed the gains to the reports and bargain-hunting by some investors. Last year, the water regulator had cancelled the extension of concession deals with Manila Water Coand Maynilad Water, the country's two largest utilities, on pressure from Duterte. Among other markets in Southeast Asia, Malaysia gained as much as 1.6% in its best intraday session since June 2018 on the back of higher oil prices. Lifting sentiment further, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the cabinet had agreed to set up an economic action council to tackle issues affecting the economy, including a drop in global oil prices and a coronavirus outbreak. Singapore shares fell as much as 0.9%, dragged by real estate stocks. CapitaLand Commercial Trust slid more than 3.5%. Indonesian equities were relatively flat after Tuesday's 1.6% jump as the central bank governor said Bank Indonesia was likely to revise down its outlook for 2020 economic growth at its next policy meeting. Meanwhile, broader Asia fell as investors were worried whether government and central bank measures would be enough to cushion the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The White House and Congress negotiated measures on Tuesday to bolster the U.S. economy and Americans' paychecks against the outbreak's impact, but there was no immediate sign of a deal. "The details of the fiscal support off the US remains uncertain at this point", said Jingyi Pan, a market strategist at IG. China and South Korea reported an uptick in new confirmed cases of infections, even as the number of people infected with the coronavirus topped 116,000 across the world. "Although President Xi Jinping's visit to Wuhan and the steady improvement in the coronavirus situation in China had restored some confidence, the same containment efforts may not be applicable for replication elsewhere," Pan added. For Asian Companies click; SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS 0357 Change on the day Market Current Previous close Pct Move Singapore 2812.41 2832.54 -0.71 Bangkok 1275.46 1271.25 0.33 Manila 6472.11 6318.38 2.43 Jakarta 5224.735 5220.826 0.07 Kuala Lumpur 1449.97 1430.47 1.36 Ho Chi Minh 826.44 837.5 -1.32 Change so far in 2020 Market Current End 2019 Pct Move Singapore 2812.41 3222.83 -12.73 Bangkok 1275.46 1579.84 -19.27 Manila 6472.11 7,815.26 -17.19 Jakarta 5224.735 6,299.54 -17.06 Kuala Lumpur 1449.97 1588.76 -8.74 Ho Chi Minh 826.44 960.99 -14.00 (Reporting by Shruti Sonal; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
Instead, his instinct was to follow the course he set when he pulled out of the Paris accord, threatened to leave NATO and renounced the Iran nuclear accord. His go-to position is that even the most international of problems can be walled off  and in this case his actions seemed to say that the European alliances are shattered anyway, so they are not worth saving.

Mr. Trump defended that approach when he met on Thursday with the Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar. We get along very well with the European leaders, but we had to make a decision, and I didnt want to take time, Mr. Trump told reporters.

He then compared it to the politics of trade retaliation. I mean, when they raise taxes on us, they dont consult us, he said. And I think thats probably one in the same.

It was a striking admission of how much communication has shut down over the past three years.

I appreciate the fact that this has caught so many governments around the world off-guard, said Ms. Conley, who served as deputy assistant secretary in the State Departments Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.

In the past, there would have been extraordinary outreach, an effort to issue a joint statement and have mechanisms in place to enforce whatever you announce, she said. When you do it this way, you shed doubt on our governments ability to manage what is happening, and you foster so much ill will that you make it harder to get future cooperation.

The presidents address appeared to have been a hastily devised move, and Mr. Trump got many of the basic details of his own ban wrong, forcing his aides to backtrack and correct him soon after he got off the air.
- Several government officials announced that they would be undergoing self-quarantine amid the coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19)

- Among the public officials are Senator Nancy Binay, Mayor Sara Duterte, and Mayor Isko Moreno

- Senator Binay said that a resource person who attended the Senate hearing tested positive for COVID-19

- Some Cabinet and House of Representative members would also be undergoing the 14-day self-quarantine

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Some top government and local officials in the Philippines are undergoing self-quarantine after they were exposed to people who tested positive for Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).

KAMI learned that other lawmakers and Cabinet secretaries will be going into self-quarantine as part of the government protocols.

According to a report by the Philippine Star, Senator Nancy Binay was exposed to a coronavirus-positive person who attended the Senate hearing of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture on March 5.

The Senate premises also announced a total lockdown for disinfection.

In a report by the CNN Philippines, here is the list of government officials under 14-day self-quarantine as of posting time:

Senators and House members:

Senator Nancy Binay

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian

Navotas City Rep. John Rey Tiangco

Cabinet members

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea

Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade

Transportation Asec. Goddes Hope Libiran

BCDA President Vince Dizon

Mayors

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco

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As previously reported by KAMI, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian announced that he would be going into self-quarantine after he interacted with a resource person who recently tested positive for COVID-19 during the Senate hearing.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 49 coronavirus cases in the Philippines as of posting time. However, the second death related to the virus was also announced on Wednesday night.

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WILTON  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 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.

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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.

READ MORE: Emergency declaration gives Lamont broad powers

Danbury Hospital spokeswoman Amy Forni has withheld the patients condition, citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The patients wife said in a Facebook post earlier this week that her husbands prognosis is guarded.

Keep him in your prayers, she wrote in the post. Obviously, both he and I are not accepting visitors and he obviously will not be responding for at least a week while his body rests and heals.

The man is one of two people in Connecticut so far to test positive for COVID-19. On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont said the second patient is a female in her 60s who is a health care worker at Bridgeport Hospital and a resident of Bethlehem. She recently returned from a trip to Nevada, where it is believed she contracted COVID-19. She is being treated at Bridgeport Hospital.

Bridgeport Hospital spokesman John Cappiello said Tuesday the patients condition was good, but could give no other details.

Health experts have said that COVID-19 is particularly dangerous to the elderly and those with certain medical conditions. The Wilton patient has been described as between 40 and 50 years old. His wife said he had an enlarged heart, which did make him more vulnerable to pneumonia. Otherwise, she said, he was in good health.

The woman said she implores people to take precautions to protect themselves and those they come into contact with from the illness.

I know some people are saying this is hysteria, but I think its really important for people to take this seriously, she said. My husband got really sick, really fast.
Fed up with the disposable culture we all live in, two women from Portland, Oregon, founded a low-waste company to help the entire city cut back on plastic.



When I think of where most of the single-use plastic is lurking in my home, the kitchen and the bathroom are high on the list of notable offenders. I've cut way back on online shopping, buy secondhand when I can, don't purchase meat, and am researching how to compost dog poop in my backyard, but keeping my dishes clean and my sweaters fur-free is tough without dishwashing liquid or lint rollers.

Even though theres bulk sections in most major grocery stores and a myriad of online retailers selling sustainable products, I would love a zero-waste store in my hometown of New Orleans  an easily accessible place where I can bring my jars and reusable grocery bags to stock up on such staples as dish soap, laundry powder, shampoo, beeswax wraps, and more.

Unfortunately, New Orleans isn't there (yet), but more and more sustainably-minded businesses are popping up around the country. I recently reached out to the founders of Portland's first zero-waste pop-up shop, Utility Refill and Reuse, which is dedicated to promoting the ever-growing concept of zero-waste.

Rebecca Rottman and Nadine Appenbrink were friends before they were business partners  and neither had much experience or interest working in retail. Rottman has a professional background in public policy and health while Appenbrink is an urban planner. "Having worked in the public sector, Im disenchanted," explained Rottman. "Its not exactly the place for the social and environmental innovations our society desperately needs. Owning a business provides a greater outlet for creativity and the ability to make change and contribute to our community."

Courtesy of Utility Refill and Reuse

Like many Portlanders, they had taken steps to make their personal lives more sustainable, but felt that the green-minded city was missing something. "We couldn't believe Portland didn't already have a zero-waste shop before us," Rottman says.

So they started their own, as a second job. "It started as a personal journey, looking for clean products that didn't come in plastic. How can we make sustainability a way of life, when it's not how we grew up?" adds Appenbrink.

Like similar low-waste companies, Utilitys mission is to reduce the amount of single-use plastic at the individual level by allowing and encouraging consumers to bring their own containers when purchasing personal and home care products in bulk. Their hope is if enough people can reduce single-use disposable plastics at the grassroots level, they can disrupt the petrochemical industry and help eliminate the worlds dependence on fossil fuels.

Utility operates as a pop-up retailer and refill shop. Nearly every weekend, Rottman and Appenbrink team up with local businesses to sell their bulk personal and homecare products, reusable containers, and refill products for new and returning customers. "We just ask that your containers be clean and dry," laughs Appenbrink.

Courtesy of Utility Refill and Reuse

The products range from an all-natural laundry powder to a dish soap bar to house-made deodorant to a lint brush made out of beechwood and rubber. Utility's bulk options are brands that they work closely with; for instance, a dish soap bar, made in North Portland, is vegan and biodegradable, so you can take it camping (essential for Portlanders). Another supplier, a woman in Oregon City, formulates a laundry powder for Utility that works especially well with low-water machines.

Just don't let their name intimidate you. Zero-waste is something we all strive for, but it's not practical or realistic for most humans in the modern world. "We're all on a journey," Appenbrink says. "And we want to be as approachable as possible. Utility is an on-ramp to raising awareness about this lifestyle."

Rottman and Appenbrink will personally deliver goods and refills if requested, but there are also online orders and pick-ups at various partner stores in the city, similar to a CSA. One time, they even sold items out of the back of their car when a host store wasn't opened in time. "We want to be as convenient as possible!" joked Appenbrink.

By popping up at small businesses in different neighborhoods on a weekly basis, the women also formed a tight-knit community with other like-minded activists. With their one-year anniversary coming up this April, the company has also branched out into other community engagement activities. Trash is one subject near and dear to their hearts as well. "I'm weird, I love picking up litter in my spare time," Rottman laughs. "It's very therapeutic." Besides the planned litter pick-ups, they're also hosting tree-planting workshops in North Portland.

Courtesy of Utility Refill and Reuse

Though starting a business from scratch while still working a full-time job sounds intimidating for most anyone, the two-person team insisted that there is too much "mystique about starting a small business, that you'll need loads of capital," says Rottman. "And, that wasn't true for us. We just started small, one event at a time. It was very low-risk  which is essentially what pop-ups are."

For now, they're focused on thoughtful growth. You won't see them shipping products, ever, because the carbon footprint of sending their glass containers around the world just doesn't fit with their mission. This summer, they are going to start hosting some DIY classes, like their in-house deodorant and face creams.

Since each product is personally tested by the founders, they are still working on finding a toothpaste and shampoo bar/conditioner that they love. But rest assured, once they've perfected another zero-waste product, it'll be popping up around Portland, too.
Family Left Devastated by MS-13 Sex Trafficking

WASHINGTONAn innocuous encounter with a polite young man at a local movie theater was the unknown beginning step toward being sex trafficked for a young Virginian teen.

Susan Young said her daughter had just celebrated her 15th birthday when she met a boy who was close in age, polite, and well-mannered while at the movies with friends.

They swapped phone numbers and Facebook information.

With this seemingly small exchange of information, Courtney had no way of knowing that her life and the life of her family would change forever, Young said during a recent Justice Department (DOJ) anti-trafficking event.

The boy was not who he appeared to be. Rather than a sweet, innocent young man, he was an MS-13 gang member. His job was to recruit young girls under the false pretense of friendship, luring them into the dark world of human trafficking.

That was seven years ago, and gang-related trafficking is getting worse, according to Bill Woolf, founder of Just Ask Trafficking Prevention.

One of the most disturbing but rapidly emerging trends is that of gang-controlled sex trafficking, Woolf said during a congressional hearing on Dec. 11, 2019.

Gangs have learned that sex trafficking, particularly of minors, is a low-risk, high-yield criminal enterprise that adequately funds their gang operations throughout the United States and around the world.

Woolf said gangs, glorified through Hollywood, often use violence or threats of violence to control their victims.

Young said that once the MS-13 gang members, who attended her daughters high school, found out Courtney was trying to break away from them, they took her to a secluded part of the schools property and gang-raped her.

They videotaped that, and told her if she ever told anyone what was happening, they would share the video on social media, and with her friends and family, Young told The Epoch Times.

And that episode right there is really what started her whole trafficking. Following that, she was immediately trafficked every day after school. She would tell me that she was staying after school for homework club or yoga club. In fact, the gang was taking her to a nearby house and trafficking her, where eight to 10 gentlemen were waiting. And she had to pretend as if nothing had happened.

As Courtney was being sex-trafficked by the gang, Young said she found out later that her three younger children two boys, aged 12 and 11, and a girl who was almost 3 at the timewere also victimized.

On Saturday afternoons, Young and her husband would go for a bike ride at a local park for an hour or so. Little did they know that their house was under constant surveillance and, as they walked out the front door, gang members would enter through the back door.

The boys were threatened at gunpoint. They both were raped at gunpoint, to keep them silent. They even injected our youngest daughter with drugs. They really used the kids very much against each other to make sure no one talked to the parents, or anyone, Young said.

The gang members would force Courtney out of the house with them by pointing a gun at her younger sister and saying, Come with us, or were going to shoot your sister right now.

Young said she and her husband didnt find out that their sons and younger daughter were abused until a year after Courtneys situation came to light, because they were still too scared to speak up and afraid that the gang members were going to come back and get them, she said.

Young, now the director for Just Asks Parent Coalition to End Human Trafficking, said her family fell through the cracks.

She said Courtney tried to seek help 22 times with her school resource officer and school counselor. They didnt get back to her once.

She did not feel safe to talk to my husband and Iat that time, the gang was threatening her, If you do speak with anybody, well kill your parents, well hurt your little brothers, your sister, Young said.

No one knew how to help our family or how to navigate this delicate situation. The failsafes established to protect families and their children did little to nothing for oursfrom the school system to law enforcement, court systems, therapists, doctors.

Courtney went missing twice over a six-month periodthe first time for four days and the second time for two weeks, said Young. Both times, Young said they notified law enforcement and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

It wasnt until she was recovered the second time by a law enforcement officer who was trained in the area of human trafficking that we began to fully understand the magnitude of our situation, she said.

The family moved, and Courtney spent 4 1/2 years in inpatient residential therapy, trying to recover from the trauma, Young said.

Oftentimes for victims, one of the hardest things for them to do is to reintegrate back into society. And we need to create programs that teach them to do so, how to live a normal life, she said.

She said it can be daunting for survivors to carry out everyday tasks such as picking out a shirt or deciding what to eat.

These traffickers have manipulated them and gained so much control over them that they actually lose the ability to think for themselves, Young said.

Experts say the average lifespan for a child who is pulled into sex trafficking is seven years. Very few get out and even fewer stay out. Drug addiction and violence are par for the course and the trauma bond created by the trafficker can entice a victim back in, even after theyve been rescued.

Foster Care, Homelessness, and Trafficking

The 2019 State Department trafficking report said children in the U.S. foster care system are at high risk of becoming trafficked.

Recent reports have consistently indicated that a large number of victims of child sex trafficking were at one time in the foster care system, the 2019 Trafficking In Persons report states.

In 2019, more than 437,000 children were in foster care, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Bill Bedrossian is the CEO of Covenant House in California, which provides residential programs and services to children and youth facing homelessness in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America.

He said that 30 percent to 50 percent of the human trafficking victims that Convenant House works with come from the foster care system, and that traffickers deliberately target foster kids.

We see traffickers get young victims to try to victimize others through group homes, through foster care networks, he said.

Bedrossian stressed that child sex trafficking is predominantly a domestic issue. He said 90 percent of the young women who have been trafficked that come through Covenant House are from the United States.

Another group of vulnerable children who are targeted by traffickers are the homeless, including runaways.

Of the more than 23,500 endangered runaways reported to NCMEC in 2019, 1 in 6 were likely victims of child sex trafficking.

Bedrossian cited a recent study directed by Convenant House that showed that 20 percent of young people who experience homelessness also experienced human trafficking.

And so, by default, weve been doing victim services for human trafficking victims over the last 50 years, Bedrossian said. But in the last five to 10 years, the victimology has become much different. The sophistication of the traffickers has become much different. The insidiousness of the course of this has become much different.

Young homeless people are relatively easy to lure from the streets with promises of love, protection, food, and financial security, the Covenant House website states.

For a lot of these young people, they literally have begun being trafficked at 8, 9 years old by their family members, by the gangs, by the street life that theyve been exposed to, Bedrossian said.

Convictions and New Challenges

The DOJ convicted 501 sex traffickers in fiscal 2018, up from 471 in fiscal 2017. It took down Backpage.com in 2018, the largest internet site that advertised the sex trafficking of minors and adults. But other sites have since sprung up, including those hosted overseas, which presents an extra challenge for law enforcement.

The NCMEC CyberTipline received 1.1 million reports of child online sexual exploitation in 2014; in 2019, it received 16.9 million reports.

But the challenges with technology remain the most complex for law enforcement to contend with. Tech companies are providing users with more applications that have end-to-end encryption; cryptocurrency hides the money trail; and advertising sites are hosted overseas or on the dark web.

The DOJ has said end-to-end encryption without a backdoor for law enforcement stymies criminal investigations. Tech companies say a backdoor presents a security risk for users.

Victim Services and Moving Forward

While the Youngs slipped through the cracks years ago, more organizations have since sprung up to support survivors and their families.

The DOJ has also poured more funding into victim support services, which are becoming a more integral component of the law enforcement side of trafficking.

During fiscal 2018, the DOJ provided $31.2 million for 45 victim service providersa significant increase from 18 providers receiving $16.2 million in fiscal 2017.

But, as Young said, gangs have also proliferated.

It was really hard for us to find a safe place to go and kind of hide the family, so to speak, after our situation, she said. She said they moved to an area that doesnt have an MS-13 presence, to their knowledge. However, the surrounding areas do.

We feel as safe as we can be from our situation, she said. We just try to stay in the shadows and not draw any attention to ourselves or to our family.

Even now, she is learning more about what happened. Recently, she found out that her eldest son was also trafficked with Courtney.

So he and Courtney, life will always be different for them, it will always move at a much slower pace. They will have to deal with complex PTSD and anxiety and depressionthe fear that someone will always come back to get them or will be waiting for themthat will never leave them. Im always looking for new therapies to try for PTSD and try to help them, she said.

Courtney is now almost 24 and lives close by, while studying to be a veterinarian. The boys are 20 and 19; one is at college working toward a degree in cybersecurity and the other is about to start college. And the youngest daughter is nearly 12.

The traffickers havent faced justice.

Young wants people to understand that they shouldnt wait until they know of a victim before they take notice of the problem.

I really just want to empower the public, for them to understand and educate themselves that human trafficking is real. Its happening every single day.

For Help

NCMEC 24-hour Hotline: 1-800-843-5678

www.missingkids.org
It's official  Indiana companies cannot require their workers to be forcibly microchipped as a condition of employment.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law House Enrolled Act 1143 Wednesday. The new statute takes effect July 1.

It prohibits employers from mandating the implantation of any identity or tracking device in a worker or job candidate, unless the person voluntarily consents to having something put into their body.

An Indiana employer who ignores the prohibition can be sued by an employee or prospective employee for actual damages, court costs and reasonable attorney fees.

There currently are no employers in the United States that force employees to have a device implanted or otherwise incorporated into their bodies as a condition of employment, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency.

But state Sen. Jon Ford, R-Terre Haute, the sponsor, previously noted that one company in Wisconsin and several in Sweden are using rice-sized microchips in their employees' hands on a voluntary basis, and he's concerned about the trend coming to the Hoosier State.
Amid rise in novel cases, the government on Thursday asked people not to panic, saying no community transmission of the virus has been observed and there has only been cases of local transmission so far.

Asserting that the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad have always been a priority for India, the government said starting from Friday, three back-to-back evacuations will be made to bring back Indians from Iran.

With novel being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), health ministry officials said even though the virus is difficult to isolate, scientists at the Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have been successful in finding about 11 isolates, but developing a vaccine will take at least one-and-a-half to two years.

The number of COVID-19 patients in India has risen to 74, which includes 16 Italians and one Canadian. The figure also includes three patients from Kerala who were discharged last month following recovery.

Lav Aggarwal, the Joint Secretary in the Union Health Ministry, said 1,500 people who came in contact with the 74 infected people were under rigorous observation while over 30,000 people across the country were under community surveillance.

"India presently has around 1 lakh testing kits. More testing kits have been ordered and they are in procurement," he said.

The remark that there has been only local transmission of the virus in the country, came days after the ministry, in an official statement, said that cases of community transmission of the virus have been observed.

About evacuation measures undertaken so far, Aggarwal said till now, India has evacuated 948 people from coronavirus-affected countries.

Of these, 900 were Indians and 48 belonged to different nationalities including from the Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, the USA, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru, he said.

A Civil Aviation Ministry official said starting from Friday, three back-to-back evacuations will be made to bring back Indians from Iran.

"The first evacuation from Iran will take place tomorrow and around 200 people are expected to reach Mumbai airport around 12.30 pm. The second evacuation will be on March 15 and the flight will arrive at Delhi airport.

"The third evacuation from Iran is likely to be on March 16 or 17," the official said, adding on Tuesday, 58 evacuees from Iran had arrived in India, which included 25 men, 31 women and two children all of whom are asymptomatic at present.

Moreover, 83 evacuees from Italy who arrived in India on Wednesday have been housed at the Manesar quarantine facility. All patients in hospitals are being treated and reported to be stable, officials said.

The health ministry said India has always prioritised the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad and mounted timely operations from February 1 to evacuate them from coronavirus-affected countries.

Aggarwal said the government has made 52 laboratories functional for testing samples while 57 labs have been designated for helping in sample collection to enhance diagnosis and detection capacity of the disease.

The focus is on preventive approach and adequate testing facilities have been made available, he said.

Raman R Gangakhedkar, the head of the Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases-I (ECD-I), division of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said scientists at the NIV in Pune have been successful in isolating the virus strain.

"Coronaviruses are difficult to isolate. But the efforts of the scientists of NIV Pune have been successful and about 11 isolates of are available which is a prime requisite for doing any kind of research related to viruses. Even with expedited clinical trials and approvals, it will take around one-and-a-half-years to two years to develop a vaccine," he said.

Officials said that India's efforts to deal with coronavirus are in consonance with WHO and the focus is on preventive approach.

The government has stepped up vigil and following a strong contact tracing system to ensure anyone who has come in touch with the infected are not missed out. Till now, 11,14,025 people have been screened at 30 designated airports in India, they said.

Asked whether high temperature kills coronavirus, officials said there was no study or evidence till now to suggest that.

As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spread across the globe, the cabinet secretary on Wednesday said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, so that all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.

India has suspended all visas, except for a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 in a bid to contain the spread of respiratory virus, according to a revised travel advisory. The government also "strongly advised" Indians to avoid all non-essential travel abroad.

Visa-free travel facility granted to Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card holders is also kept in abeyance till April 15, according to the advisory issued on Wednesday.

It said, any foreign who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission and 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 14 days.
World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee has warned that "the web is not working for women and girls", in an open letter to mark the 31st anniversary of its creation.

Mr Berners-Lee said a continued lack of web access is fuelling discrimination against females, threatening global progress on equality.

It comes as research from Mr Berners-Lee's Web Foundation - which advocates for a free and open web for everyone - and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts indicates that more than half of young women and girls have experienced online abuse, including threatening messages, sexual harassment and the sharing of private images without their consent.

Mr Berners-Lee said flawed artificial intelligence systems that replicate existing bias and a digital gender divide - which means far fewer women globally are able to access the web compared with men - are also key factors in inequality.

"The world has made important progress on gender equality, thanks to the unceasing drive of committed champions everywhere. But I am seriously concerned that online harms facing women and girls - especially those of colour, from LGBTQ+ communities and other marginalised groups - threaten that progress," the letter said.

"Women's rights are human rights and are fundamental to a healthy society, from reducing poverty and disease to improving education and economic growth."

According to the research, 52pc of young women and girls have experienced online abuse, and 87pc of girls think the problem is getting worse.

"Such abuse forces women out of jobs and causes girls to skip school, it damages relationships and leads to tremendous distress," Mr Berners-Lee said. "Relentless harassment silences women and deprives the world of their opinions and ideas, with female journalists and politicians pushed off social media and bullied out of office. And it risks the tremendous opportunities that digital technology offers."

Mr Berners-Lee urged governments to prioritise the problem this year, and embed "gender equality by design" into products, policies and services, based on data and feedback from women of all backgrounds.

He also called for new laws to better regulate abuse online, and encouraged web users to be "active bystanders" and speak up when they see abuse of women and girls online.
"The album is going to speak to people from all walks of life, and to Americans going through all of life's stages. Whether you're a student in high school or an executive in a boardroom, you're going to be able to relate to this album from a lyrical perspective

On June 22nd, 2018 MOLSI Media released the music concept album "Illusion of Choice"-the MOLSI label's 6th album release of 2018. The album presents the story of a prospective political candidate facing inner conflict as he grapples with the motivations and risks involved in running for political office. The album's nine songs explore the various themes and substantive issues to be brought to attention by the politician in his future campaign but the musical tracks also explore the hesitancy and fear faced by the potential candidate before he enters into the political spotlight.

Jack Molsi is the CEO of MOLSI Media and served as Executive Producer on "Illusion of Choice". Mr. Molsi stated that "the album raises cutting-edge policy proposals that may be the future of political campaigning. The issues include rigged securities markets, the illusion that is the bi-partisan divide, the harm caused by news outlets placing agenda before truth, the stark lack of privacy in our society, and how medical, educational, and religious institutions have lost sight of their noble priorities." Jack Molsi added "the album is fantastic in that it offers food for thought and room for common ground for people of all political stripes and yet it also presents politicians in a human light. Many have this idea of politicians being these powerful and persuasive figures but the album shows that they're vulnerable individuals who have stumbled onto a higher calling, oftentimes reluctantly."

"Illusion of Choice" is an alternative rock indie release. The album's nine songs range from pop ballads to very noisy and rhythmically complex anthems featuring claustrophobic vocal harmonies and heavily distorted synth and electric guitar. The sophistication of the album's subject matter does not interfere with the album's accessibility. Jack Molsi clarified by saying "the album is going to speak to people from all walks of life, and to Americans going through all of life's stages. Whether you're a student in high school or an executive in a boardroom, you're going to be able to relate to this album from a lyrical perspective. And even if you view rock music as blasphemy, the second to last song "Do Angels Fall in Love?" is going to pull at your heart strings no matter how emotionally cold the course of time has made you.

The album is available for a free listen on YouTube and can be found online by searching "MOLSI - Illusion of Choice". It will be soon be available for purchase. MOLSI Media always encourages the use of headphones when experiencing MOLSI content. Headphones will help listeners catch onto nuanced and subtle recording details and help them better connect to the story being told.
Here is the full text of the speech made by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Washington this morning on measures to tackle Covid-19;

Good morning,

I need to speak to you about Coronavirus and Covid19.



For the past few weeks, the Government and our public services have been focused on the impact of the virus.



In that time, we have taken several important and unprecedented measures to protect public health.

We have been preparing for all eventualities.

Yesterday, the World Health Organisation formally described it as pandemic and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) updated it guidelines advising us all to act early to be effective.

Our own National Public Health Emergency Team met last night and has issued new advice to Government. We are acting on that advice today.

There will be many more cases.

More people will get sick and unfortunately, we must face the tragic reality that some people will die.

The virus is all over the world. It will continue to spread but it can be slowed. Its impact can be reduced making it easier for our health service to cope and giving our scientists more time to develop better testing, treatments and a vaccine.

It is important to remember that the disease effects will be mild for the majority of people especially the young and healthy.



We know that older people and those with chronic diseases are at real risk. We have a duty as a society to protect ourselves and above all to protect others - our parents and grandparents, our family and friends, co-workers and neighbours.

We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory. This is unchartered territory.

We said we would take the right actions at the right time.

We have to move now to have the greatest impact.

So, from 6pm today, the following measures are being put in place. They will stay in place until March 29.

Schools, colleges, and childcare facilities will close from tomorrow. Where possible, teaching will be done on-line or remotely. Cultural institutions will close.

Our advice is that all indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled.

Arrangements are being made to ensure that everyone entering Ireland through our ports and airports is fully informed and self-isolates if they develop symptoms.

You should continue to go to work if you can but where possible should work from home. In order to reduce unnecessary face to face interaction in the workplace, break times and working times should be staggered and meetings done remotely or by phone.

Public transport will continue to operate.

The shops will remain open and we have plans to ensure that supply chains will not be interrupted.

We need the public and businesses to take a sensible and level-headed responsible approach.

Restaurants, cafes and other businesses can stay open but should look at ways that they can implement the public health advice on social distancing.

As a general rule, outside of work people should seek to reduce social interactions as much as possible.

You can play your part by hand washing, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and seeking medical advice if you develop symptoms. This is now more important than ever.

The Cabinet will meet later today.

Opposition party leaders and our counterparts in Northern Ireland and Britain will be briefed.

In the period ahead, the Government will deploy all the resources we can muster, human and financial, to tackle this threat head-on. Those resources are extensive but not unlimited.

Healthcare workers have been at the forefront of this crisis since it started. They will be at the frontline of the crisis in the time ahead. We must do all we can to help them, so they can help those who need help the most.



I know that some of this is coming as a real shock and it is going involve big changes in the way we live our lives.

I know that I am asking people to make enormous sacrifices.

Were doing it for each other.

Together, we can slow the virus in its tracks and push it back.

Acting together, as one nation, we can save many lives.

Our economy will suffer. It will bounce back.

Lost time in school or college will be recovered. In time, our lives will go back to normal.

Above all, we all need to look out for each other.

Ireland is a great nation. And we are great people. We have experienced hardship and struggle before. We have overcome many trials in the past with our determination and our spirit.



We will prevail.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has received two messages from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to European Council President Charles Michel and to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on the latest developments of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The messages were handed over by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry at a meeting with Borrell in Brussels, Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez said on Thursday.

During the meeting, Shoukry expressed Egypt's appreciation for its relations with the EU, with a view to attaining regional security and stability, the spokesman added.

The two sides reviewed means to overcome common challenges, notably the issues of terrorism and illegal migration.

Meanwhile, Borrell said the EU highly values the major role played by Egypt to achieve regional stability, asserting the European bloc's keenness to develop partnership with Cairo in various fields.

The two sides also exchanged views on several regional issues, including the Palestinian cause, the Libyan crisis and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Shoukry and Borrell agreed to continue bilateral coordination and consultation in the coming stage on all regional and international files of mutual interest, the spokesman noted.

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Chinese tech giant Xiaomi on Thursday said component supplies from China are returning to normalcy after weeks of shutdown on account of coronavirus outbreak, and expressed hope that the "tough part" was over.

The company, which accounts for the largest share of smartphone shipment in the country, also launched Redmi Note 9 Pro Max and Note 9 Pro in India for Rs 12,999 onwards.

"These are exceptional times, and we are constantly monitoring the situation. All component supplies (for smartphones) are back to normal levels. It is our expectation that the tough part of component supply is over. Our global teams rallied together to ensure that demand is met," Xiaomi India Chief Operating Officer Muralikrishnan B told PTI.

He added that while there is pressure on component pricing because of the coronavirus situation and depreciating rupee, Xiaomi is trying to "not pass it on" to customers.

The Indian phone industry relies heavily on components and sub-assemblies from China, which has been the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak. The number of new cases in China are declining but are on the rise in other parts of the world. Declared as a pandemic by World Health Organisation, coronavirus has claimed over 4,600 lives worldwide.

In India, 74 cases have been reported so far. The government has taken strict measures, including suspension of all visas (except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment) till April 15 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Talking about the new smartphone lineup, Muralikrishnan said the company is hopeful of these devices would do better than the predecessor.

"We launched the Redmi Note 8 series in October and have sold 6 million units in five months. While I can't give forward looking statements, I think the Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max - with flagship features - will do better than that," he added.

The devices feature 6.67-inch display, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 5,020 mAh battery, and NavIC support. The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max has 64MP quad camera setup, while Redmi Note 9 Pro has 48MP quad camera setup.

According to data from research firm IDC for the October-December 2019 quarter, Xiaomi has become the numero uno handset brand for the first time, including smartphones and featurephones, replacing Samsung that held the position for several years.

Xiaomi was also the market leader with annual shipments of 43.6 million units in 2019, the highest ever smartphone shipments made by any brand in a year with a growth of 9.2 per cent, as per IDC data.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK - Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff wants to make a dying, personal plea by telephone to a judge to request early release from his 150-year prison sentence, his lawyer said Thursday.

Attorney Brandon Sample told Judge Denny Chin that Madoff, 81, and confined to a wheelchair, should be allowed to contest claims by prosecutors that he has failed to show remorse for his decades-long scheme to cheat thousands of investors out of billions of dollars.

Prosecutors filed papers last month in Manhattan federal court opposing the request by Madoff for compassionate release. They noted that 500 victims opposed early release for a man suffering from kidney disease. Only 20 letters were written by victims in support of release, prosecutors said.

The federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed that Madoff has less than 18 months to live but has denied early release on the grounds that it would minimize the severity of his crime.

Chin, who still presides over the Madoff case even though he is now a federal appeals court judge, sentenced Madoff in 2009 after the once highly respected financier admitted to squandering $17.5 billion entrusted to him by investors worldwide. A trustee has recovered nearly $14 billion for investors.

Sample said the judge would benefit from hearing directly from Mr. Madoff about his acceptance of responsibility.

Allowing Mr. Madoff to give what is, in effect, a final dying, personal plea is imminently reasonable, Sample wrote. Mr. Madoffs live, personal statement could also help the Court in reaching its weighty decision on whether to grant Mr. Madoff compassionate release.

Madoff has been serving his sentence at the federal prison in Butner, North Carolina.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Skinner said in a one-paragraph letter to Chin Thursday that he took no position on Madoffs request to address the judge.

But he said any acceptance of responsibility by Madoff would be self-serving and of limited, if any, evidentiary value.
A Montana resident visiting Maryland has tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to a social media post from Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan.

The case will be classified as Montana's first, but Maryland health officials will take the lead in addressing it, according to the post.

The patient is a woman in her 70s who lives in Lake County and part-time in Maryland. She had been in contact with a person diagnosed with the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, and was tested for the disease at a hospital in Anne Arundel County, which encompasses the city of Annapolis.

According to a press release from Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, the woman hasn't been in Montana since November.

"We believe this individual did not have coronavirus while in Montana," the press release said.

The patient is in "fair" condition, according to Maryland health officials, and is being kept in an Anne Arundel county hospital in isolation.

(She) contracted out of state during travel in an area where there is known to be COVID at this time, said Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, Anne Arundel County's health officer. "This person has had very limited contact with the public" after coming into contact with the virus.

He did not release the specific location of where the woman contracted the virus. The woman has been in Maryland for "approximately a week, or so," Kalyanaraman said. The woman "first encountered the health care system" about five days ago, and was tested for coronavirus a few days ago. The result came back positive Wednesday.

According to a separate Facebook post from Anne Arundel First Alert, a county page, "this case is related to domestic travel," and the woman is currently hospitalized. County officials are expected to provide an update Wednesday afternoon.

Public health officials are working closely with Maryland to confirm case details on when this individual was last in Montana," Bullock said in a press release. "We are committed to providing Montanans with accurate and transparent information and will be working around the clock to ensure that those details will be provided as soon as possible."

In a Wednesday afternoon press conference, Hogan said that he informed Bullock of the positive test of a Montanan before any health officials had.

Once we became aware of this case, we acted swiftly to coordinate with officials both here in Anne Arundel County and in Montana, Hogan said in a press release. I continue to urge Marylanders to stay informed, and follow the guidance we have issued. We want to emphasize that if you are concerned about symptoms, please call your health care provider. We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Before the announcement, Montana had no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. There still have not been any cases confirmed in Montana.

Maryland has nine confirmed cases, not including the new case assigned to Montana.

The case's assignment to Montana is because of the patient's Montana residency, something Bullock's office called a "common practice" for public health surveillance.

Officials have not released information about the travel route of the Montana resident.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also announced that Montana will get $4.5 million in federal money to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Qantas airplanes wait at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 25, 2014. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Melbourne University Confirms Virus Case: Remains Open

MelbourneVictorias La Trobe University will remain open after confirming a coronavirus case on its Melbourne campus.

The university said Thursday a student at its Bundoora campus had been confirmed as having contracted COVID-19.

Following advice from the Department of Health and Human Services, it said teaching, research, and administrative activities would continue.

The student attended classes in the past week, and La Trobe said staff and fellow students who had come into contact had been identified and had been asked to self-isolate.

The limited number of areas the student visited last week have been deep-cleaned, the university said.

Another three Victorians were confirmed as having the illness on Wednesday morning after returning from the United States.

Carey Baptist Grammar School in Melbournes inner east later reported a second staff member becoming infected, bringing the states total cases to 22.

Premier Daniel Andrews says the state control centre has begun coordinating 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. Weve learnt that many different times in different circumstances, Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said the control centre would collate intelligence on exactly how the issue is unfolding.

Good information will lead to good decision making, he said.

Among the latest three infected people was a man in his 50s who returned from Seattle on Saturday on Virgin flight VA24.

He is recovering in home isolation and three close contactsincluding two childrenare also in quarantine.

The other two cases were on flights which have had confirmed COVID-19 cases this weekUA0600 and QF94but are understood to have contracted the virus while in the US.
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Italians with coronavirus symptoms could face murder charges if they venture outside despite the quarantine and cause a patient's death.

Suspected virus patients have been ordered to stay indoors with a penalty of 206 euros (182) over their heads - but they could face far graver charges if they infect someone on their travels.

The most severe charge of 'malicious murder' could lead to a prison sentence as long as 21 years, according to Italian media, while virus spreaders could still be charged with misconduct even if no-one is killed.

'If I am infected, I know I am, and I look for contact with other people regardless of the possibility of transmitting the infection, then the crime of injury occurs,' lawyer Franco Coppi told the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Italian media compared the possible charges to penalties for spreading HIV by deliberately having unprotected sex - a charge which led to one man being jailed for 24 years in one case in Rome in 2017.

It came as Italy shut down all shops except for pharmacies and food stores today as the country entered day three of its unprecedented nationwide lockdown.

Prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced the latest wave of restrictions in a prime-time address last night with bars, pubs and restaurants shut down for two weeks.

'Thank you to all Italians who make sacrifices. We are proving to be a great nation,' Conte said in his nine-minute address to the nation.

The quarantine is in place until at least April 3, but top health official Walter Ricciardi told Italian TV today that his countrymen should prepare for a 'long war' against the virus.

Italian cities are becoming 'unrecognisable' with the famous piazzas in Rome, Florence and Venice empty except for sanitation workers spraying them with disinfectant.

The death toll yesterday jumped by 196, reaching 827, while the number of cases rose to 12,462 from a previous 10,149 in the world's worst outbreak outside China.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Britons to return home from Italy with the last flights departing tomorrow night, neighbouring countries shutting their borders and a Rome airport closing tomorrow.

A deserted St Peter's Square in Vatican City this morning with Italy entering the third day of its nationwide lockdown and regular tourist hotspots remaining empty

Closed bars and restaurants near Piazza Navona in Rome this morning after Italy's quarantine was tightened even further

Shops have their shutters down on a street in Genoa in northern Italy today after most businesses were ordered to close

A woman wearing a face mask walks out of a pharmacy - one of the few things which are allowed to remain open - in Genoa

A couple share a kiss - as far as their face masks will allow them - in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome today, a popular landmark which has been deserted in recent days

A deserted St Peter's Square at the Vatican, as seen from St Peter's Basilica today, with the city-state imposing its own quarantine measures

The Spanish Steps in Rome, which are often overflowing with tourists, are deserted today because of the quarantine

A mask-wearing woman looks at her phone in an otherwise empty underground train in Rome amid the lockdown today

Passengers on a flight from Rome to London Stansted Airport yesterday - with most flights shutting down this weekend

A departure board at London Stansted Airport shows flights to Naples and Cagliari as cancelled today

Slovenian police and health workers approach a driver for questioning at the Slovenian-Italian border crossing of Fernetici today, with Italy's neighbours increasingly shutting their borders

The UK government is advising British tourists in Italy to arrange flights home as soon as possible - but the number of available spots is dwindling after BA, Ryanair and easyJet ripped up their flight schedules.

Ryanair's Italian ban comes into effect from midnight tomorrow night, leaving Britons scrambling for a spot on a small number of repatriation flights arranged by Ryanair and easyJet.

EasyJet said earlier this week it would be 'operating rescue flights for passengers wishing to travel for essential work, health or repatriation reasons to and from Italy'.

Ryanair had initially announced a minimal service until April 8, but announced on Tuesday it was completely scrapping flights from Italy from midnight on Friday.

A graph showing how coronavirus cases have surged in Italy in the last three weeks, rising to 12,462 last night

Meanwhile, British Airways says travellers booked to fly between London and Italy until April 4 can claim a refund or book a later flight.

The airline has also advised its customers to travel home via Geneva or Zurich in Switzerland instead.

'The majority of carriers have indicated that they will cease operating direct flights between Italy and the UK after 13 March,' the UK Foreign Office warns.

'British tourists in Italy should contact their airline operators as soon as possible to arrange return to the UK.'

Britons who return from Italy have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days, even if they do not have any virus symptoms such as coughing or breathing problems.

That puts Italy in the same category the three other virus hotspots: China's Hubei province, the whole of Iran, and certain areas of South Korea.

Italy's Six Nations match against England, which was due to take place this weekend, has already been postponed.

Italian authorities announced today that Rome's Ciampino airport, which usually handles budget flights, would close entirely from Friday night.

The main Fiumicino airport will also close a terminal on Tuesday next week as airlines around the world slash flights to Italy.

Escape from Italy has been made even harder by new border checks in Austria, Switzerland Slovenia, which have all acted to stop the virus spreading across their borders.

Austria has ordered a halt to flights and trains from Italy while Slovenia said has begun imposing controls at its border with the country.

Switzerland said yesterday that the border remained open for commuters with work permits, but nine border crossings have been closed.

A spokeswoman for Germany's Deutsche Bahn said that the only service it had linking it to Italy, between Munich and Venice, has also been suspended.

France's national train company SNCF said on Tuesday it was 'waiting for advice' about how to proceed regarding services to Italy.

Since late February, French staff on cross-border SNCF trains have been getting off before the Italian border and being replaced by Italian colleagues.

A map showing the latest number of virus cases in Europe. Italy is by far the worst-affected nation in the West

A view of the deserted Spanish Steps and Piazza Spagna in Rome, which are normally crammed with tourists

A view of the empty Via Andrea Doria this morning, which is usually one of Rome's busiest streets surrounding the Vatican

Slovenian authorities wearing masks speak to a motorist at the Italy-Slovenia border crossing of Fernetti this morning

A person walks past closed shops including a massage parlour and a phone repair shop in Genoa in northern Italy today

There were empty seats on this flight to London yesterday from Rome's Ciampino airport, which is shutting down tomorrow

An employee of the municipal company Veritas sprays disinfectant in public areas at the Rialto Bridge in Venice

A closed border crossing between Slovenia and Italy at Lipica is seen today as countries try to stop the virus spreading

A medic checks the temperature of people crossing the Slovenian-Italian border by car at Fernetici on Thursday morning

A man in protective gear gives a coronavirus fact sheet to a driver at Austria's Brenner Pass border crossing with Italy

Austrian police turn away cars arriving from Italy at the Brenner Pass on Wednesday, directing them to a nearby checkpoint

In Italy, Conte tightened restrictions even further last night with bars and restaurants ordered to close after previously being told they could stay open if they ensured a 3ft distance between guests.

'All shops will be closed except for basic necessities, such as pharmacies and food stores,' said Conte. 'Bars, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and canteen services will close. Home delivery is allowed.'

There was 'no need to rush to buy groceries,' he said - after Italians responded to the announcement of the lockdown on Monday night by cramming into supermarkets to stock up.

Conte's announcement came hours after his government promised to spend up to 25 billion euros (22bn) to fight a disease that has put hospitals and the economy under intense strain.

The size of Rome's rescue was the same as one the European Union announced for the entire 27-nation bloc Monday.

Italy's economy minister said half the money would be used immediately and the other half stowed away and tapped should the health crisis spiral out of control.

Part of the government's cash injection is meant to help small businesses that are suffering the brunt of an implosion in the number of tourists who visit Italy's art-filled churches and beautiful hills.

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.

A deserted St Peter's Square today, with the Vatican closing the square to tourists because of the coronavirus outbreak

Sanitary workers disinfect the streets of Naples in southern Italy early this morning during the country's virus lockdown

A medical worker in Slovenia checks a driver's body temperature at the Fernetti border crossing from Italy today

A policeman wearing a protective mask controls road traffic in Via Dei Cerchi in Rome today

Two women wearing face masks walk outside Rome's Fiumicino airport today with few flights remaining to Britain

A pharmacist works behind a glass screen at a drugstore in Genoa this morning with pharmacies allowed to remain open

Soldiers walk at Milan's Malpensa Airport Terminal 1 today during a coronavirus outbreak which has led to cancelled flights

Passengers wearing protective face masks are pictured at Rome's Fiumicino airport on the third day of the lockdown today

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 social distancing measures in Milan's Lombardy region and surrounding areas in which more than 15 million live and 40 percent of the nation's economic activity occurs.

The Lombardy measures were extended to all Italy on Tuesday morning.

Tourists have essentially disappeared and the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square has closed to all but those who want to enter the basilica to pray under its soaring dome overlooking Rome.

Pope Francis held an audience in his private library yesterday with his clerical translators sitting apart, while St Peter's Square stood empty with disappointed worshippers forced to watch his audience on a live-stream.

Some shoppers and shopkeepers have also taken the 3ft safety distance to heart by carrying rulers and marking out lines where people should stand.

The central streets of Rome remained deserted on Wednesday evening and buses that are usually crammed with commuters ran almost empty.

'I can't even recognise Rome now,' 30-year-old Muscovite Yekaterina said while posing alone for a photo by the usually bustling Trevi Fountain in the heart of Rome.

Photographers saw masked sanitation workers in white nylon suits and rubber gloves spraying Florence's deserted Saint Mark's Square with disinfectant through a long hose.

Cathedrals posted hand-written notes cancelling mass and cafes apologised to their regulars for having to turn them away.

A crosses a road in a mostly deserted area in front of the Teatro Marcello in Rome today, with people encouraged not to go out

Three men wearing masks cross a road in Rome today, with coronavirus restrictions tightened even further today

A tram passes by the closed La Scala theatre in Milan today with public buildings shut down because of the virus outbreak

Staff sit behind an easyJet counter, one woman wearing a face mask, at Milan's Linate airport today - with many countries imposing restrictions on travel to and from Italy

An arcade near the Doge's Palace in Venice is deserted except for a sanitary worker spraying disinfectant

A square is deserted in front of Milan Central railway station, with travel restricted until at least April 3 because of the virus

Italy has witnessed nearly 60 percent of the deaths recorded outside China since the epidemic first started spreading from the Asian giant's central Hubei province in January.

Italian hospitals have become increasingly overwhelmed by the crisis, with doctors forced to make life-or-death decisions about who gets access to intensive care.

With even Lombardy's first-class health system creaking under the strain, there are fears that hospitals in poorer southern regions will be unable to cope.

A new intensive care unit is being assembled at the Cardarelli hospital in Naples where rooms are being stripped out to make way for a 'Coronavirus Wing'.

'The south is less prepared, and could pay a serious price for it,' Cardarelli's director Giuseppe Longo said. 'The state has asked us to get ready. We are employing hundreds of new doctors, nurses and medical staff.'

Of the 5,400 or so intensive care beds in Italy, the seven southern regions and islands counted just 1,582 between them.

Conte said yesterday that the production and distribution of intensive care equipment for hospitals across the nation would be ramped up.

Keeping their distance: Pope Francis gives his weekly audience in a Vatican live-stream - with his clerical translators keeping the recommended 3ft apart as the Italian quarantine measures reach the Holy See

A view inside the mostly deserted Milan railway station yesterday, where checks were taking place on the few passengers

Prepared: A woman carries a ruler to a shopping trip in Milan, under a 3ft rule intended to stop the spread of the virus

An empty street in Milan yesterday on the second day of Italy's unprecedented national lockdown to tackle the coronavirus
The Whitehall-Coplay School District alerted parents just after 7 a.m. Thursday that it was closing for the day to take precautionary measures, according to a text alert. Later, the district said it had been told a student was tested for the coronavirus.

The Lehigh County district will use the day for disinfecting and deep cleaning its facilities, the text says. It will also be closed on Friday for a scheduled staff inservice. School is expected to resume Monday, the district said.

The district confirmed the initial alert just before 7:30 a.m. on Facebook.

Later, on its website, the district said it was informed a district student as a precaution was tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. To the best of administrators knowledge, the student had not traveled recently or been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19, a news release said.

The district is working with state and local health departments, the news release said.

For the safety and wellness of our students and staff, the district will be closed for cleaning today, the district said. ... We apologize for any inconveniences the late school closure may have caused. Our decisions were made in the best interest of students and staff.

The district has a high school, a middle school and three elementary schools.

Non-public school transportation was to happen Thursday as scheduled, the district said.

The Allentown School District is shut after an employee developed symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

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.
US government bans all travel from Europe

Trump said that US government made a life-saving move with early action on China and must take the same action with Europe.

The US will restrict all travel from Europe with the exception of the UK starting later this week in an effort to curtail the spread of the new coronavirus, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening.

WASHINGTON DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY

Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, Trump said the restrictions, which will go into effect on Friday, "will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground," and exemptions would be made for US nationals "who have undergone appropriate screenings."





We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay," he said.

The announcement comes on the same day the World Health Organization officially termed the spread of coronavirus a global pandemic and as the US capital declared a state of emergency.
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.
[March 12, 2020]

OASIS Group Strengthens Presence in Scotland

DUBLIN, Ireland, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OASIS Group, one of the largest Records and Information Management (RIM) providers in Europe, has confirmed the acquisition of Box-it Scotland based in Spittalrigg, East Lothian. The deal, which took place on February 28th, marks the 8th Box-it franchise acquired by the OASIS Group.

"Continuing to rapidly expand our Information Management services to bring more valueand services to our clients is a priority focus for OASIS Group in 2020," said Espen Halvorsen, Chief Executive Officer at OASIS Group. "We are excited to bring another Box-it franchise under the OASIS Group branding as we continue to strengthen our presence in Scotland."







This deal represents the 49th acquisition for OASIS Group.

About OASIS Group

Serving clients since 1999, OASIS is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with locations across the EU. Employing over 700 team members and providing services to over 8,000 clients throughout several industries including financial, legal, healthcare, government and educational sectors. For the second consecutive year, OASIS Group was awarded a position on the '2018 Inc. 5000 Europe' list of fastest-growing private companies in Europe.

www.OASISGroup.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/650664/OASIS_Group_Logo.jpg

Media Contact:

Jade Miles

Group Marketing Manager

[email protected]
A photo showing a Brazilian government official (r) posing for a photo next to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at Mar-A-Lago has tested positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus.

The press secretary of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus within days of interacting with President Donald Trump during a visit by his boss to Mar-a-Lago, according to reports Thursday.

Trump said he's "not concerned" about his contact with the Brazilian spokesman, Fabio Wajngarten, at his Florida resort last weekend, and that he would not be tested for the disease.

But Bolsonaro has been tested for the virus, according to his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro. And two Republican senators who visited Mar-a-Lago over the weekend announced later Thursday that they would quarantine themselves as a precautionary measure.

Bolsonaro is showing no symptoms of the virus, his son tweeted. Neither of the senators, Rick Scott of Florida and South Carolina's Lindsey Graham, said that they are experiencing any symptoms.

Bolsonaro TWEET

Several days earlier, Wajngarten posted an Instagram image of himself posing with Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the White House's coronavirus task force. It was not clear when the photo was taken.

In a statement Thursday, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham acknowledged that Trump and Pence were in contact with the man.

"Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time," she said.
Russian rights advocates seek Cabinet's support for SMA medicine public purchase bill

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

10:55 12/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 12 (RAPSI)  The Presidential Council for Human Rights is set to request the Russian government to support a bill providing for possible procuration of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) medicines at public expense, the advisory bodys press service reports Thursday.

The Council is seriously concerned about the situation on the hands of Russian families with children suffering from this severe remediless genetic disease, the statement reads.

According to the bodys chairman Valery Fadeyev, who had visited one of such families and talked with the parents of an ill girl, the cost of equipment and other tools necessary for the 2-year child is estimated at hundreds of thousands of rubles.

However, as the kids mother told Fadeyev, the purchase of required medicines is a more serious problem. People suffering from SMA need one of the most expensive drugs in Russia, one injection of which costs about 8 million rubles (over $100,000); but it is necessary to make around 7 injections a year.

The Presidential Council for Human Rights annually receives applications from families with SMA children seeking to include the needed medicine in a state program to finance its acquisition from the federal budget.

The bill envisaging the procurement of the medicine was submitted to the State Duma in mid-February. However, on February 20, the document was sent to be fixed because of the absence of the governments comments on it.

The Councils Commission for Social Rights headed by the bodys deputy chair Irina Kirkora will soon draft a request to the government to back the bill and therefore assist in the solution for the problem of hundreds of Russian families with SMA decease patients, according to the advisory bodys statement.




Connor Bamford and Lyndsey Broadbent at Queen's Medical biology Centre take part in a Facebook Live Q&A with Belfast Telegraph journalist Jonathan Bell. Pic Stephen Hamilton

In a special Facebook live broadcast for the Belfast Telegraph, virus experts Dr Lindsay Broadbent and Dr Connor Bamford answered readers' coronavirus questions.

Based at the virus study labs at Queen's University Belfast, both set the record straight on everything from face masks to vaccines and herd immunity.

What is coronavirus?

Dr Broadbent: Viruses are simply just bits of genetic material that want to replicate and infect more people.

There's actually seven different types of coronaviruses we know of that infect people.

Four of those cause the common cold and we could get infected with those year after year.

Three of them cause significant disease (including) the new coronavirus.

Why has it become a pandemic?

Dr Bamford: The reason why it has become a pandemic is because this virus can transmit between people very, very well.

We know that it's not really a human virus, it was only really recently introduced into the human population and nobody has any immunity to it, so that also allows it to spread very well. We think it comes from animals. It seemed to be localised in this Chinese wet market (a market selling fresh meat and fish), it's likely an animal was infected with this virus and it gave a human the virus.

That has allowed the virus to spread very, very efficiently.

It's just this fact that it can be transmitted really well and unfortunately it does cause severe disease.

That has allowed it to take hold in countries like China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and likely in the UK.

Why has Italy been so badly affected?

Dr Bamford: We don't really know. It could have happened to anyone, likely it will be a part of bad luck, under testing, under awareness in the population, or simply if there was more flights connecting to China.

Will there be a change of approach now it's been declared a pandemic?

Dr Broadbent: It doesn't really change anything.

The word pandemic doesn't mean anything, it's only used by the World Health Organisation (WHO) when they don't think world leaders are taking enough notice of this. It's more of a political move than a scientific move and it's really to make sure world leaders take it seriously.

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

Dr Bamford: The main symptoms are a sore throat, a fever, you probably wouldn't be feeling very well, quite cold-like.

You have a cough as well and this could transpire into difficulties breathing.

We know that while anybody can get infected by the virus, there's quite a big variation in the symptoms.

What happens if there's a confirmed case?

Dr Broadbent: If your symptoms are mild, you're asked to self-isolate.

Your family may also have to self-isolate if you live with people. Then you're basically told to keep a good eye on your symptoms.

If you start to experience shortness of breath, struggling to breathe, that's when you have to get back in touch with 111. If it becomes an emergency situation and you're incredibly struggling to breathe then that's when you ring the ambulance and you have to make sure you tell them you tested positive.

How can you prevent the spread?

Dr Broadbent: People are probably sick of hearing it, but they do need to practise good hand hygiene, washing your hands, avoiding touching your face is really important.

What is herd immunity?

Dr Bamford: The idea is that if you are infected (and build up an immunity), there will be a period afterwards where you cannot be infected.

For it to have a real effect, you would need a sizeable amount of the population to be infected, probably 50%.

That will lead to a considerable number of deaths, so I think that really isn't (a good way) of stopping the virus.

The best way to get herd immunity is through a vaccine.

Are face masks useless?

Dr Bamford: Face masks aren't recommended. (They) aren't completely useless because surgeons wear them, dentists wear them.

But they're under very controlled conditions, so it's not really recommended (for the) public to wear them.

How long will it take for a vaccine to be available?

Dr Broadbent: There are several tests that need to be done before they can made public. The fastest that could really happen is a year to 18 months. If that does happen, that would be remarkable.

Is the media coverage balanced? How concerned should we be?

Dr Broadbent: I think we do have to be concerned, we're in uncharted territory here.

This is an entirely new situation... so I understand why the press want to keep covering this to keep everyone up to date.

I know there is some press that might be labelled as fear-mongering, which isn't great, but for the majority, this will be a very mild illness.

We need to try and make sure the people that catch this virus are young and healthy and can deal with it and we protect our vulnerable people.

Should there be an all-island approach to containing the virus?

Dr Bamford: What the Taoiseach recommended is what is being recommended from the World Health Organisation, so he didn't say anything that wasn't sensible.

I think the UK will have to take that approach at some time, it's a question of when, not if.
Kerala's seafaring fisherwoman honoured for breaking male bastion

March 12,2020 | Source: Manorama Online

After becoming the first woman in the country to get a deep-sea fishing licence, Rekha Karthikeyan of Thrissur district was on Friday felicitated by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) for excelling in what is conventionally a male domain. At a function in the MPEDAs headquarters here, Rekha was given a memento and a pair of life-jackets besides a financial package of Rs 6.6 lakh jointly contributed by Accelerated Freeze Drying Co Ltd, Tasty Nibbles Group and Seafood Export Association of India.



MPEDA chairman K S Srinivas, while praising Rekha for her grit and determination, expressed happiness over women entering vocations that have traditionally been male bastions. These days, she fishes in the deep sea, covering 50 nautical miles daily on an average, he added. All that, without the mariner's compass or even a life-jacket. Rekha, 40, who lives with her husband and four children at their house in coastal Chettuva, south of Guruvayur, recalled that it was 12 years ago that she, without knowing how to swim, first ventured into deep sea with her husband K V Karthikeyan.



While the sea is expected to be choppy, resistance awaited me back on the shores too. For, society kept saying fishing cannot be a females profession, said Rekha, who originally hails from Koorkenchery in suburban Thrissur. Women must not be indifferent towards injustice. We need to take up challenges boldly, she added, citing experiences from personal and professional fronts. Notwithstanding the initial hiccups, Rekha and her husband, of late a heart patient, would take their boat in the small hours (around 3 am) to fish. She also learned swimming and later applied for a licence to fish deep in the sea. Authorities refused to give her the document until the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute intervened and arranged to grant Rekha the licence in early 2019.



It is not practical to go out to the sea without a helper in the boat. These days, it is hard to find people to for this job. Chettan (Karthikeyan) looked out for someone for a long time and finally I decided to give it a try. We couldnt afford to not go fishing; we have four girls to bring up and theres never enough. Two were better than one and I was determined to give it my best if it would help him stay in the job. Now I am as good as any fisherman in casting the net, pulling the net in, steering the boat and so on. Of course, we faced the wrath of the village as tradition stops women from going to the sea. Now they have reconciled to the fact. The superstitions never scared me. Why would I be, when the sea is like my mother? I know I have nothing to be afraid of when I am in her lap, Rekha had said during an interview Onmanorama featured on December 9, 2017.
Actor and aspiring politician Rajinikanth said on Thursday that age limit and education are crucial in politics and that he will give new and deserving people a chance in his political party.

Presenting a roadmap for politics in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth said at a press conference in Chennai that he will have a limited number of leaders in his party. He also highlighted the political vaccum in Tamil Nadu and acknowledged that there is a need to fill that space.

I have never thought of the Chief Ministers post. I only want a change in politics, news agency ANI quoted Rajinikanth as saying. The Press Trust of India reported that Rajinikanth proposed the appointment of an educated and compassionate youngster as chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

There is speculation that Rajinikanth will join politics and contest the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, but the actor has so far not made his plans official.

Earlier this month, he had met some leaders from a Muslim outfit at his residence and discussed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with them. Rajinikanth had later said on Twitter that he is ready to play any role to maintain peace in the country.

The actor had also said in the past that he would be the first person to raise voice even if a single Muslim was affected by the CAA.

On December 31, 2017, addressing a packed fan base in Chennai, Rajinikanth had declared, Its a war... Its a war. Get ready for battle, indicating his intention to enter the political scene in Tamil Nadu which has been bereft of Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi after the demise of the iconic leaders.

Initially, the actor had converted his informal fan club into the Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM) - an association expected to be the base for his political party. The actor had also appointed office bearers and functionaries at various levels for RMM.

In October 2018, Rajinikanth had publicly claimed that 90 per cent of work for launching his party had been completed. But since then everything has suddenly turned quiet on Rajinis political front.
BOISE, ID - Idaho House Republicans are affirming their opposition to a state funded gender reassignment surgery for a convicted sexual abuser and current prison inmate. Senate Concurrent Resolution 135, co-sponsored by Representative Mike Kingsley of Lewiston, supports Governor Brad Little and the Idaho Department of Correction in their opposition to Idaho providing the surgery to Mason Dean Edmo, also known as Adree Edmo.

The idea that Idahoans hard-earned dollars would have to go to a medically unnecessary surgery for someone who sexually abused a 15-year-old boy is disgusting, said Kingsley. This is yet another flawed decision by the 9th Circuit, and we need to fight it until we see justice.

Edmo is currently serving out a 7 year sentence in a men's prison until July of 2021, after being convicted on a charge of sexual abuse of a child under 16. Edmo is anatomically male, and self identifies as female. Edmo initially sued Idaho in 2017, claiming distress because of gender dysphoria.

A request to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a 2019 decision to force Idaho to provide the gender surgery was shot down in February as the court ruled the order will stand.

Governor Little has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Idaho House of Representatives passed SCR135 Wednesday morning, by a vote of 55-8-7.
[March 12, 2020] New Chairman of the Board Appointed for Code Corporation

After 20 years of service as Chairman of the Board of Code Corporation, Barclay McFadden III has decided to step down from that role. He will remain a member of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has now appointed Dennis Kaill as Code's next Chairman of the Board. Mr. McFadden has been Code's Chairman since 2001. Before joining Code, Mr. McFadden served as the Chairman and CEO of Stow Mills in Chesterfield, NH, from 1976 to 1997. Mr. McFadden also serves as Chairman of American Stainless, in Cheraw, SC, which sells stainless steel products to industrial companies in the Southeast. Regarding his role change, Mr. McFadden commented, "Considering the competent hands steering Code into the future and my years of service, I've chosen to step aside as Chairman of the Board. I proudly support my fellow board member, Dennis Kaill, as our next Chairman and I'm confident about Code's future. Dennis and the executive team will no doubt lead Code to limitless success." For his part, Mr. Kaill has been on Code's Board of Directors since 2015. He has more than 25 years of senior leadership experience within the software and technology sectors. Before joining Code's board, Mr. Kaill spent ten years as President/Managing Director of Microsan Systems, an international barcode technology company. In that prior role, he led Microscan from a market and profit share laggard to a leadership position. "I am honored to be a part of Code and the success we've experienced and will experience in the future. I am excited to attempt to fill Barclay's shoes, and live up to his legacy of excellence over the past 20 years at Code," said Mr. Kaill. "My intimate knowledge of Code, its products, and the executive team will be the foundation we build on moving forward."



Kent Hansen, the Chief Executive Officer for Code, said, "In my short time with Code, I have come to build a stable relationship of trust and respect with both Barclay and Dennis. I thank Barclay for his guidance in my transition as CEO, and his years of service to Code. Dennis will no doubt smoothly move from Board Member to Chairman of the Board. He knows our business, our people, and our products. I expect a bright future for Code, and these Board changes will only serve to drive meaningful improvement for both our partners and employees." About Code Corporation

For more than 20 years, Code Corporation has been an industry pioneer, leader, and champion for data capture innovation and has garnered more than 100 patents. By crafting and perfecting its unique decoding algorithms, Code's scanning and decoding technology deliver unparalleled performance that companies around the world depend on every day. Code designs and manufactures a complete line of market-leading hardware and software data capture solutions. Code products are not only valued for providing a consistent level of workflow efficiency year after year, but also for their ergonomic design, durability, ease of customization, and seamless integration. For more, please visit www.codecorp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005079/en/

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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




Published: 12 March 2020

Completion of university education faster than before

According to Statistics Finlands education statistics, completion of upper secondary general education, university of applied sciences education and university education accelerated. Attainment of vocational education, in turn, slowed down. In all, 65 per cent of the students having started initial vocational qualifications completed their studies in three and a half years in year 2018, while 68 per cent completed initial vocational qualifications in the target time during the previous statistical year. In five years, the share of students having passed university education in the target time has increased most.

Pass rates by sector of education, %

The pass rate tells how many per cent of those that started education have completed a qualification within the examined study time. The examined time is 3.5 years for upper secondary general and vocational education. 4.5 years for university of applied sciences education and 5.5 years for university education.

Eighty-two per cent of students in upper secondary general education passed the matriculation examination in at most three and a half years. The pass rate for upper secondary general education is stable and a high percentage of those having started the education pass the examination. In 2014, altogether 81 per cent of those having started it completed upper secondary general education, which means that the share of those having completed the education in the target time has grown by one percentage point in five years. Sixty-five per cent of those having started initial vocational education passed the qualifications in the target time, while 66 per cent did so in 2014. In the review period, the pass rate for initial vocational education was at its highest in 2016, when 68 per cent of those having started the education passed it. The pass rate for initial vocational education has decreased for two consecutive statistical years.

In 2018, more students than before completed university of applied sciences education and university education. Fifty-three per cent of those having started university of applied sciences education passed in the target time, while in 2014 the share of students having passed in the target time was 45 per cent. In five years, the share of students having completed the education in the target time has grown by eight percentage points. Sixty-five per cent of university students completed a higher or lower university degree in at most five and a half years. In five and a half years, the pass rate for university education has increased by 12 percentage points.

Pass rates for upper secondary general education by gender in different reference periods in 2018

According to the data for 2018, upper secondary general education was completed typically in 3.5 to 4.5 years: Eighty-two per cent of new students in upper secondary general schools completed the upper secondary general school syllabus in at most three and a half years and 90 per cent in at most four and a half years. Men studying in upper secondary general school passed their qualifications slightly more slowly than women studying there did. Of women, 83 per cent completed their upper secondary general education in three and a half years and of men 81 per cent, i.e. the difference between the genders was two percentage points. Ninety-one per cent of women completed their upper secondary general education in four and a half years and 88 per cent of men, i.e. the difference between the genders was three percentage points.

Pass rates for initial vocational education by gender in different reference periods in 2018

The duration of completing initial vocational education varies more than that of upper secondary general qualifications. Sixty-five per cent of vocational education students passed their vocational qualifications in three and a half years or faster. Seventy-three per cent of students completed their education in at most four and a half years

The completion time for vocational education varied between men and women. Sixty-five per cent of male students passed a vocational qualification in three and a half years and 72 per cent in four and a half years. Similarly, 65 per cent of female students passed a vocational qualification in three and a half years and 75 per cent in four and a half years.

Pass rates for university of applied sciences education by gender in different reference periods in 2018

Fifty-three per cent of those who started studying for a university of applied sciences degree completed their studies in four and a half years. Sixty-three per cent of those who started studying for a degree completed their studies in five and a half years. When six and a half years had passed since the start of the studies, the pass rate rose to 68 per cent.

There are great differences between the genders in completing university of applied sciences education. Of men, 38 per cent completed a qualification in four and a half years and 67 per cent of women, so the difference between the pass rates was 29 percentage points. The pass rate of men increased to 51 per cent and that of women to 74 per cent when five and a half years had passed since the start of the studies. The difference between the pass rates was then 23 percentage points. In seven and a half years, 57 per cent of men and 76 per cent of women completed a qualification, so the difference between the pass rates was 19 percentage points.

Pass rates for university education by gender in different reference periods in 2018

Sixty-five per cent of university students completed a higher or lower university degree in at most five and a half years. The older the cohort of new students is examined, the higher the pass rate becomes: 74 per cent of students completed a higher or lower university degree in at most seven and a half years.

As in university of applied sciences education, there were large differences between genders in completing university education. Fifty-eight per cent of male students and 70 per cent of female students had completed a higher or lower university degree in at most five and a half years, i.e. the difference in the pass rates for the genders was 12 percentage points. In seven and a half years, 78 per cent of women and 68 per cent of men completed university education.

The database tables of these statistics contain information on the differences between the pass rates for different fields of sectors of education (see Tables in databases ). The database tables also include information on those students who did not attain their qualification in the target time.

More statistics on student flow statistics. ( Discontinuation of education , Employment of students ).

Source: Education Statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mika Witting 029 551 3571, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (288.8 kB)

Updated 12.3.2020

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Progress of studies [e-publication].

ISSN=1799-1021. 2019. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 11.1.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/opku/2019/opku_2019_2020-03-12_tie_001_en.html
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020

Human rights groups and a number of Papuan activists have urged the Attorney General's Office (AGO), which has the authority to conduct investigations into alleged gross human rights violations, to probe the 2014 killings in Paniai regency of Papua.

The AGO said previously that it would return a Paniai dossier handed over last month by the National Commission on Human Rights Violations (Komnas HAM), claiming that it did not meet formal and material requirements". The Komnas HAM report claims that Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers had committed gross human rights violations by killing and persecuting civilians.

Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Yati Andriyani questioned the AGO's intentions, saying the Komnas HAM report had provided sufficient preliminary evidence, as required by the 2000 law on human rights trials.

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Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Avinyan today chaired the session of the commission coordinating the activities for prevention of the spread of coronavirus in Armenia.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the following:

The commission for prevention of the spread of coronavirus has convened another session, and you all know that Armenia recorded three more cases of coronavirus yesterday. Armenia has also isolated 57 people who have had direct contact with the carriers of the virus, and they will be kept under quarantine for the next 14 days.

There will be another flight on Sunday from Italy and will be organized by the Government of Armenia along with Armenia International Airports and an Armenian air carrier. I believe we will also consider the actions that will be required for persons who will be returning to Armenia via that flight. I believe we also have to touch upon the introduction of an institution of certain liability or better understand how we can ensure effectiveness of isolation of persons who stay at home, and we need to discuss this and make decisions today.

During the session, it was decided that the citizens of Armenia who return from Italy to Armenia on March 15 will stay under quarantine for 14 days.

The Ministry of Healthcare has been assigned to propose, along with the Ministry of Justice, options for holding violators of the isolation regime liable.

The Deputy Prime Minister assigned all government agencies to make preventive medical measures stricter.
San Francisco, March 12 : Amid rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, Twitter is making it mandatory for its nearly 5,000 employees to work from home.

The social media company announced the decision on Wednesday after "strongly encouraging" its employees to work from home earlier this month.

"Our top priority remains the health and safety of our Tweeps, and we also have a responsibility to support our communities, those who are vulnerable, and the healthcare providers who are on the front lines of this pandemic," Jennifer Christie, Vice President, People at Twitter, wrote in a blog post.

"To continue this push, we are moving beyond our earlier guidance of 'strongly encouraging work from home' provided on March 2 and have now informed all employees globally they must work from home," she said.

The World Health Orgaziation (WHO) on Wednesday declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic.

The virus has spread globally, infecting over 118,000 people and killing more than 4,000.

"We understand this is an unprecedented step, but these are unprecedented times," Christie said.

For contractors and hourly workers who are not able to perform their responsibilities from home, Twitter will continue to pay their labour costs to cover standard working hours while Twitter's work-from-home guidance and/or travel restrictions related to their assigned office are in effect, she added.

While Twitter has taken the "unprecedented step" of making work from home mandatory, a number of other companies inlcuding Google and Amazon have encouraged their employees in some areas hit by coronavirus to work from home.
Gaggle continues to innovate and provide new ways to help keep students safe, said Gaggle founder and CEO Jeff Patterson. By offering our partners a wider student safety net, we can provide school districts with greater support to proactively identify those who are struggling.

Gaggle announced that districts using the full Gaggle Safety Management solution will receive web filter safety integration as well as Gaggles SpeakUp for Safety tipline at no additional cost, starting July 1. Prior to this announcement, each of these services cost an additional $2 per student. This expansion of services is part of Gaggles ongoing mission to support schools and districts by providing the best student safety solution available.

Gaggle works with web filtering platforms to create an integrated digital safety solution that helps districts protect students both on and off campus. As a result, our Gaggle Safety Management solution works with most web filters, including ContentKeeper, iBoss, Palo Alto Networks, LineWize, and others.

Gaggles first partner was ContentKeeper Technologies. Student safety is essential, and a cross-platform solution is the right way to approach cybersecurity, said ContentKeeper Director of Sales David Lemmon. To be proactive, school districts must have a solution that can detect threats sourced from all device platforms and web browsers. The combination of a web filter, such as ContentKeeper, and the Gaggle safety solution provides a district with the most powerful and failsafe student safety available.

Systems Engineer Lara Humphries at Ascension Public Schools in Louisiana has seen firsthand how the Gaggle-ContentKeeper partnership has helped individuals in her district. One instance involved a student who was diagnosed with a mental health issue. After going through treatment, his psychologist and parents thought it was time to take him off his medicine. Within a few weeks of that happening, he started to look for self-harm information through some internet searches, and we got the phone call from Gaggle, said Humphries. The technology department alerted the school and they were able to investigate, contacting the parents and counselor so that the student received the extra intervention he needed before being completely removed from his medicine.

The SpeakUp for Safety tipline creates an environment where students have an easy and confidential way to voice concerns without feeling as though they will get themselves or their peers in trouble. Unlike statewide tip systems, which go directly to law enforcement, information sent to our SpeakUp safety tipline is immediately reviewed and easily verified, allowing school administrators to decide how to best take action with their students.

SpeakUp for Safety helps Milford Public Schools be proactive keeping our schools and students safe. The 24/7 human touch that Gaggle provides differentiates its safety tipline from other solutions, said Kevin McIntyre, Ed.D., the superintendent of Milford Public Schools in Massachusetts.

Gaggle is the pioneer in helping school districts manage student safety on school-provided collaboration platforms. By combining technology and trained safety experts, Gaggle provides real-time analysis of students email accounts and the content they are creating on their schools digital tools; in particular, Google G Suite for Education and Microsoft Office 365.

Gaggle continues to innovate and provide new ways to help keep students safe, said Gaggle founder and CEO Jeff Patterson. By offering our partners a wider student safety net, we can provide school districts with greater support to proactively identify those who are struggling.

About Gaggle | http://www.gaggle.net

Since 1999, Gaggle has been the leader in helping K-12 districts manage student safety on school-provided technology. Using a powerful combination of both artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, the safety solution proactively assists districts 24/7/365 in the prevention of student suicide, bullying, inappropriate behaviors, school violence, and other harmful situations. Most importantly, Gaggle continues to help hundreds of districts avoid tragedies and save lives, while also protecting their liability. In the 201819 academic year, Gaggle helped districts save the lives of more than 700 students who were planning or actually attempting suicide. For more information, visit http://www.gaggle.net and follow Gaggle on Twitter at @Gaggle_K12.
Washington, March 12 : The US military on Wednesday said two US troops had been killed in a rocket attack at an Iraq base earlier in the day, the media reported.

Citing US officials, the media reported that two US soldiers and one British service member were killed in a rocket attack on Iraq's Camp Taji, and a dozen were wounded.

A spokesman of the US-led coalition force tweeted earlier in the day that more than 15 small rockets impacted Iraq's Camp Taji base hosting coalition troops at 7:35 p.m. local time, Xinhua reported.
Outside Pittsfield City Hall, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker urged the federal government to provide more coronavirus resources so the state can increase the number of people being tested.

There are now 108 total cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts. Six have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while 102 people tested positive at the state level. Baker also pointed out that Massachusetts has had an uptick in positive cases of the virus because more people are now tested.

At city hall, Baker met with Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer and Pittsfield Director of Public Health Gina Armstrong.

Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer talks about coronavirus preparedness, planning and response. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Berkshire Medical Center, where five residents sought treatment, has been testing their patients and sending the tests to the State Public Health Laboratory in Jamaica Plain.

We need more testing capacity in Massachusetts, said Baker. Our primary objective over the course of the next few days is to get the feds to give the hospitals and the private labs the material they need to actually prove they can do this and then get authorized by the FDA so that we can significantly enhance our testing capacity.

Mike Leary, a spokesperson for the BMC told MassLive that the commonwealth needs to have more resources and labs across the state to identify and subsequently combat the virus efficiently.

So far, there are 54 nurses under quarantine in Berkshire County and of those seven are presumptive positive diagnoses of the disease, named COVID-19.

The surprising difference between the cases in Berkshire County and the rest of the state is that they had no contact with anyone that had traveled abroad and had been exposed to it. This is referred to as community transmission. As such, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has relaxed the guidelines for testing at the BMC so people dont have to have traveled abroad to be tested for the virus.

Pittsfield Director of Public Health Gina Armstrong talks about coronavirus preparedness, planning and response. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

The Bay State received an additional number of kits that will allow for hospitals and labs to test 5,000 people. However, Baker stressed that more is needed.

This is a serious disease especially for older residents and those who have pre-existing conditions like respiratory illness, lung disease and heart disease, said Baker. As we said before, for the vast majority of those who contract this disease it is not deadly. The latest research shows that children and young people especially at low risk.

Jim Clark, executive director at the Council of Aging in Pittsfield. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

The Council of Aging Executive Director Jim Clark canceled all non-essential gatherings on Wednesday at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center on North Street.

Any that non-essential programs right now are postponed. I put it out for 30 days [and] as the mayor said this could be amended or extended, said Clark. We'll play that by ear.

Clark said that approximately 26% of the population of Pittsfield is elderly and over 11,000 people could be at risk.

Berkshire County itself is the second oldest County the state next to Barnstable County on the cape, said Clark. Our demographics are getting older every day.

Jodi Poole, 70 years old isnt worried about COVID-19 and refuses to let it affect her day to day.

I was never afraid of anything, said Poole. So why should I be afraid of this.

Jodi Poole talks to her friend about the coronavirus on North Street, Pittsfield. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

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A one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on Friday is likely to be stormy as AAP legislators will seek to corner BJP MLAs on the NRC-NPR issue while the opposition members may target the Arvind Kejrwal dispensation over pollution and alleged poor quality of potable water in the national capital among other issues.

A government official said legislators will discuss the National Register of Citizens, the National Population Register and the coronavirus situation in the special session.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party MLAs are likely to move a resolution against NRC and NPR.

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said the special session does not serve any purpose while alleging that the AAP government has called it just to indulge in

"It (session) should have been called to discuss more pressing issues of Delhi such as growing pollution, collapsing public transport and poor quality of potable water," Bidhuri said in a statement.

Despite the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clarified that there are no talks of bringing NRC across the country, the matter is being politicised, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Parliament of Ghana is to install temperature monitors to check Members of Parliament and visitors for the deadly Coronavirus.



The move forms part of measures by the House of Legislature to prevent MPs, staff, and visitors from contracting the disease.



The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye on Thursday morning cautioned MPs against exchanging handshakes and disclosed that hand sanitizers have been installed all over the House.



He encouraged the Legislators to strictly adhere to the precautionary measures put in place.



The transmission has been identified particularly with handshaking it is very serious. We dont want any problems for ourselves in this country of ours. Honorable members are advised that sanitizers have been installed at vantage points in the House. Please take advantage and keep on sanitizing your hands, we are all advised accordingly, the Speaker said.



The Minority Leader, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak proposed the installation of temperature monitors as additional measures. The Speaker directed the Clerk to act accordingly.



The temperature recorder because of the number of visitors that we receive in this House if it could be possible for it to be used at vantage entry to check the temperature of people visiting us. Mr. Speaker, I believe that this could even be done to members too. Each morning when we come and as we enter the chamber our temperatures are checked so that well avoid a situation where infections will be spreading within the Chamber,  Hon. Muntaka stated.























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NEW DELHI: 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.
WWE NXT UK REPORT: BALOR SETS HIS SIGHTS ON WALTER, KAY LEE RAY REIGNS OVER THE WOMEN'S DIVISION, AND MORE

We are in Coventry, England and your announcers are Nigel McGuinness and Andy Shepherd.

The lights go out as Andy and Nigel talk about tonights show and Finn Balor makes his way to the ring.

Finn introduces himself and he says he didnt come here to boost the ratings. He came here for WALTER, if hes got the balls to face The Prince.

The lights go out and WALTER appears on the stage and makes his way down the ramp but he does not enter the ring.

Fabian Aichner, Alexander Wolfe, and Marcel Barthel come out and Wolfe welcomes Finn to NXT UK. He says this is the domain of Imperium. He wants to give the Prince a proper welcome.

Marcel, Alexander, and Fabian surround the ring and Finn takes care of Fabian and Marcel. Wolfe with a waist lock but Balor escapes and hits Slingblade. WALTER enters the ring but Finn gets to the floor and to safety.

Piper Niven is asked why she got involved in the I Quit Match. Piper says her and Toni are like sisters. There are things they fight over, but in the end, what are you going to do? Sit back and watch while Kay Lee Ray tries to cripple her? She couldnt stop the match so she had to talk some sense into Toni. When she was in the ring trying to comfort Toni and she looked at Kay Lee and she is evil. Someone is going to have to do something.

We go to commercial.

From sumo slots to karate and lucha libre games, discover what makes top slot sites the number one choice for many wrestling fans.

We are back with a Tyler Bate video package. He says being the first WWE UK champion means that he has earned his spot. When it comes to Tyler Bate, there are only steps forward.

Match Number One: Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley versus Dereiss Gordon and Dan Moloney

Stoker and Howley throw their shirts at Gordon and Moloney and they focus on Moloney as they send Gordon to the floor. Stoker with boots to Moloney. Stoker with a European uppercut and clothesline. Howley tags in and they hit a double back elbow and Howley gets a near fall. Howley with a forearm to the back and European uppercut. Howley with a knee to the midsection and a kick to Moloney. Howley with a side head lock and Moloney with a knee to the midsection.

Moloney with a suplex for a near fall. Gordon tags in and goes to the turnbuckles and hits a double sledge to the arm. Gordon with a wrist lock and Howley with a punch and arm wringer but Gordon with a cartwheel. Gordon with a forearm and Gordon with a head scissors take down and leg lariat for a near fall.

Gordon with a front face lock and Howley backs Gordon into the corner. Stoker distracts Gordon and Howley with a forearm and Stoker tags in. They kick Gordon and Stoker with a snap mare and European uppercut to the back for a near fall. Stoker with a cravate and knee to Gordon. Howley tags in and kicks Gordon in the midsection and chops Gordon. Howley with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Stoker tags in and Howley sends Gordon into the air for a pop up European uppercut for a near fall.

Howley tags back in and he connects with a European uppercut into the corner. Stoker tags in and he hip tosses Gordon. Stoker with a kick and punches. Howley tags in and he kicks Gordon and gets a near fall. Howley with a rear chin lock with his knee in Gordons back. Gordon powers out of the hold but Howley with a knee. Gordon goes for a sunset flip but Stoker makes the tag. Moloney tags in and Moloney with punches and a clothesline to send Howley to the floor. Moloney with a chop to Stoker and a clothesline.

Moloney with chops and a kick to the arm and a side slam. Moloney with an Irish whip and back body drop. Stoker goes to the floor and Moloney follows. Howley tags in and Howley with a kick and Deadly Pretty for the three count.

Winners: Sam Stoker and Lewis Howley

Sid Scala and Johnny Saint are in the back and Alexander Wolfe says he wants a match with Finn Balor tonight and Wolfe agrees.

Jordan Devlin stops by and says that their ace is back.

Sid tells Jordan he will be defending the title in two weeks against Travis Banks.

Jordan walks away and says he will be ready.

We are back and Dave Mastiff is talking to Flash Morgan Webster and Mark Andrews. Gallus shows up and they go back and forth about their prior matches. Joe suggests they meet next week so they can show that Gallus is on top.

Match Number Two: Ligero versus Noam Dar

Dar does his best to avoid Ligero and get into his head. They lock up and Ligero misses a punch. Dar with a wrist lock and Ligero with an escape as Dar grabs at the mask. Dar goes into the ropes and Ligero grabs Dar. Dar misses a kick and then he tries to get Ligero to trip over him but Ligero knows where Dar is. Ligero goes to the apron and Dar with a kick to the midsection followed by a drop kick that knocks Ligero off the apron.

Dar sends Ligero back into the ring and gets a near fall. Dar punches Ligero. Dar with a kick to the leg and he stomps on the arm. Dar moves on to the other arm. Dar with a belly-to-back throw for a near fall. Dar works on the neck and Ligero with punches. Dar with kicks to the leg and Dar with a leg sweep. Ligero sends Dar through the ropes to the floor and Ligero kicks Dar off the apron.

Ligero with a pescado onto Dar. Ligero sends Dar back into the ring and connects with a shoulder. Ligero with a forearm and kicks followed by a clothesline. Ligero with a reverse DDT for a near fall. Ligero with punches to Dar. Ligero stomps on the midsection and he misses a kick. Dar with a leg sweep and Ligero with an inside cradle for a near fall. Ligero goes for a handspring cutter but Dar counters with a Fujiwara arm bar. Ligero with a rollup for a near fall.

Dar rolls through on a backslide attempt. Ligero with a pop up forearm to Dar and Ligero misses a boot against the ropes and Dar with a kick to the leg and a running boot. Dar with a running kick to the shin. Dar sets for the Nova Roller and hits it for the three count.

Winner: Noam Dar

We go to Travis Banks in the back and he is asked about his title match against Jordan Devlin. Travis says he is looking forward to beating Jordan for the Cruiserweight Title and it will mean more to do it in Coventry because of their history. Travis says in two weeks, he will be the first ever Kiwi Champion in NXT history.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Three: Amale versus Dani Luna

They lock up and Amale with a side head lock but Luna picks up Amale and tosses her away. Luna with a waist lock and take down but Amale with a wrist lock. Luna with a waist lock take down but Amale with a wrist lock. Amale with a front face lock. Luna with a waist lock but Amale with an elbow and hammer lock. Luna with a wrist lock.

Amale gets Luna to her knees and Amale traps the arms but Luna picks up Amale to escape. Luna with a knee and fallaway slam.

Kay Lee Ray comes to the ring and she attacks Luna and Amale. The referee calls for the bell.

No Contest

After the match, Kay Lee Ray takes the mic and she says that now that she has successfully gotten rid of Toni Storm, she is here to let every girl in NXT UK know that if you have been here from the beginning or just got your foot in the door, this division belongs to me.

Luna hits Ray from behind but Ray with a series of kicks and a Gory Bomb.

Kay Lee tells Dani that if you didnt hear her the first time, this division belongs to Kay Lee Ray.

We have a video package for Aoife Valkyrie. She says every feather she wears represents a battle she has won. Witness the Rise of the Valkyrie.

We are back and next week Dave Mastiff, Flash Morgan Webster, and Mark Andrews will face Gallus.

Match Number Four: Alexander Wolfe versus Finn Balor

They lock up and Balor with an arm bar and he takes Wolfe to the mat. Balor with a hammer lock and he works on the shoulder and drops back to the mat. Wolfe with an elbow and forearm. Wolfe goes for a sunset flip but Balor rolls through and hits a drop kick. Balor with a snap mare and a chin lock using Wolfes arm. Wolfe backs Balor into the corner and Balor tries to swing at Wolfe but Wolfe gets into the ropes. Wolfe tries to kick Balor and Balor with punches.

Balor with a chop and he wraps the arm in the ropes and chops Wolfe. Balor with an Irish whip and chop followed by a second and third one. Balor gets a near fall. Wolfe kicks Balor and Wolfe with a back breaker. Wolfe gets a near fall. Wolfe with a knee to the midsection followed by a rear chin lock and European uppercut to the back of the neck. Wolfe with a forearm to the back and a waist lock.

The rest of Imperium make their way to the ringside area and Wolfe gets a near fall. Wolfe with a shoulder in the corner. Wolfe with a bear hug and Balor escapes the hold with forearms. Wolfe sends Balor into the corner and they exchange forearms. Wolfe with a knee and Irish whip. Balor with a boot and running forearm.

Balor with a running forearm and a drop kick to the side of the head. Balor with boots to Wolfe as he has a message for WALTER. Balor with Slingblade to Wolfe and then he sets for the running drop kick but Barthel and Aichner grab Balor. Balor with a forearm to Barthel and Wolfe with a clothesline.

The referee sends Imperium to the back. Balor with a forearm and Wolfe fires back. Wolfe with a European uppercut and enzuigiri but Balor escapes a power bomb and Balor with a double leg take down and double stomp. Wolfe with a rollup for a near fall. Wolfe with a kick and German suplex for a near fall.

Wolfe gets Balor on his shoulders but Balor gets to his feet and hits an elevated elbow drop. Balor with a running drop kick and then Balor goes up top for Coup de Grace. Balor with 1916 for the three count.

Winner: Finn Balor

We go to credits.

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Following Regulatory Approval, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Device for Chronic Pain Management Launches at Leading UK Hospital

VALENCIA, California, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bioness, Inc., the leading provider of advanced, clinically supported neuromodulation devices for the treatment of chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin, today announced the first StimRouter Neuromodulation System implantation in the United Kingdom at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The procedure was performed by Dr. Sheila Black, a Consultant in Chronic Pain and Anesthesia, and received NHS reimbursement coverage. The StimRouter received a CE Mark in February 2014 for the treatment of chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin as an adjunct to other non-drug therapeutic options and has been successfully implanted in hundreds of patients across Europe at well-known institutions, including Radboud University Medical Center (Netherlands), South Victoria University (Ireland), and Kliniek Park Leopold Chirec (Belgium).

An estimated 100 million Europeans are suffering from chronic pain. Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) technology is rapidly growing amongst clinicians and patients due to its proven effectiveness at reducing chronic pain and dependence on opioids. Over the past year, the StimRouter has seen continued adoption, with nearly 30% more interventional pain doctors using the device on three continents.

"I found the kit easy to use, intuitive in the step-wise approach, and we obtained good paraesthesia coverage of the entire painful area," said Dr. Sheila Black.

The StimRouter was the first FDA-cleared, minimally-invasive, long-term neuromodulation medical device indicated to treat chronic pain of a peripheral nerve origin. When patients undergo the StimRouter implant procedure, it requires one small incision and is often completed in just 30 minutes using local anesthesia. A hand-held remote allows patients to control their pain by delivering gentle stimulating pulses to disrupt signals before they reach the brain. In the UK, the StimRouter is distributed by Platform-14 and can be contacted at 0845 257 1014.

"We're continuing to see impressive clinical results in multiple centers all over the world, and we are excited to further our support of clinicians looking to improve the lives of patients with chronic pain in the United Kingdom," said Todd Cushman, President and CEO of Bioness. "Patients and clinicians alike are seeing the exceptional benefits that StimRouter can have for the treatment of chronic pain, especially with increased awareness of the challenges with more invasive therapies and the dangers of opioids. We are thrilled to deliver alternative pain management treatment options to those who care for patients suffering from chronic pain."

For more information on the StimRouter and how patients are benefiting from this technology, visit www.stimrouter.com .

About StimRouter Neuromodulation System

StimRouter is approved by the FDA to treat chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin, excluding pain in the craniofacial region. StimRouter is a minimally invasive neuromodulation medical device consisting of a thin, implanted lead with conductive electrode, external pulse transmitter (EPT), and hand-held wireless patient programmer. Electrical signals are transmitted transdermally from the EPT through the electrode, down the lead to the target nerve. StimRouter is programmed at the direction of the physician to meet patient requirements but is controlled by the patient to address the patients' specific, changing pain management needs.

About Bioness, Inc.

Bioness is the leading provider of innovative technologies helping people regain mobility and independence. Bioness solutions include implantable and external neuromodulation systems, robotic systems, and software-based therapy programs providing functional and therapeutic benefits for individuals affected by pain, central nervous system disorders, and orthopedic injuries. Currently, Bioness offers six medical devices within its commercial portfolio which are distributed and sold on five continents and in over 25 countries worldwide. Our technologies have been implemented in the most prestigious and well-respected institutions around the globe with approximately 90% of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the United States currently using one or more Bioness solutions. Bioness has a singular focus on aiding large, underserved customer groups with innovative, evidence-based solutions and we will continue to develop and make commercially available new products that address the growing and changing needs of our customers. Individual results vary. Consult with a qualified physician to determine if this product is right for you. Contraindications, adverse reactions and precautions are available online at www.bioness.com .

Contact

Next Step Communications

bioness@nextstepcomms.com

781.326.1741

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/509286/Bioness_Inc_Logo.jpg

Related Links

www.bioness.com



SOURCE Bioness, Inc.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 06:57:31|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- With the total COVID-19 cases climbing over 10,000 on Thursday, the Middle East is facing an alarming situation posed by the raging pandemic.

In Iran alone, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection totalled 10,075 on Thursday, roughly three weeks after the first cases were reported on Feb. 19. The death toll from the novel coronavirus in Iran so far stood at 429.

Iran has been trying its best to implement necessary measures in accordance with WHO guidelines such as securing standard quarantine, banning public gatherings, and suspending schools.

But years of suffocating sanctions imposed by the United States has made the situation worse in Iran, which faces severe shortage of medical supplies to fight the coronavirus.

This has prompted Tehran to call for international help to lift the U.S. sanctions. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday wrote a letter to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for removing all the unilateral U.S. sanctions.

In his letter, a copy of which was sent to all international organizations' chiefs and foreign ministers of all countries, Zarif highlighted the need for lifting all "illegal" U.S. sanctions to help Iran combat the virus.

Also on Thursday, Iran's central bank said it has asked the International Monetary Fund for a 5-billion-U.S.-dollar loan to help its fight against the COVID-19.

Although Iran continues to make headlines as the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, some other countries in the region are also facing the threat from the rapid spread of the coronavirus.

Qatar and Bahrain now have the most confirmed cases in the region after Iran, with 262 and 189, respectively.

In Israel, 109 people have been confirmed infected with COVID-19 after 12 new cases were detected on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the formation of "an emergency national government" to address the coronavirus crisis. He ordered the closure of all schools at least until April 16, though kindergartens and special education institutions will continue to operate normally.

The United Arab Emirates on Thursday, which was one of the first countries in the Middle East to be affected by the COVID-19, announced 11 new cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 85.

In Iraq, a total of 83 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed so far, of whom eight have died.

The Iraqi government called on all citizens and institutions to implement the recommendations issued by the health ministry accurately in order to prevent "a health disaster."

In Egypt, 13 new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Thursday, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 80.

Egypt also reported a new death from the coronavirus, who was a 60-year-old Egyptian lady. This was the second such death in Egypt since a 60-year-old German tourist died from the infection on March 8.

Kuwait has recorded a total of 80 confirmed COVID-19 cases, after eight new cases were reported on Thursday. The Kuwaiti government suspended the commercial flights to and from the country on Thursday.

Lebanon on Thursday reported its third death from COVID-19, while a total of 71 cases have been confirmed. A day earlier, Lebanon allocated 39 million U.S. dollars from a loan offered by the World Bank for the fight against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Algeria, with 26 confirmed cases and two deaths, and Morocco, with six confirmed cases, agreed on Thursday to suspend bilateral flights as a precautionary measure against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Responding to the call for help from the region, China, which has accumulated rich experience in containing the disease, has lent a hand to the countries.

Two Chinese medical teams having been assisting Iran and Iraq in their fights against the coronavirus, in addition to the donation of much-needed medical supplies to several countries in the Middle East.
In December 2018, the Trump administration announced that, when people came seeking asylum, it would return the asylum-seekers to Mexico pending review of their petitions. This program came to be known as the Migrant Protection Protocols ("MPP"). The Ninth Circuit blocked the MPP but issued a temporary stay to allow the administration to seek emergency redress from the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court supported the stay until it can review the government's writ of certiorari.

One of the primary purposes behind the MPP was to keep families together. Democrats had been upset with Trump for following the Obama policy of keeping children separate from adults to protect them from predators and sex-traffickers. With more families coming across the border, and inadequate facilities to keep children with their parents, the only way to keep families together was to return them to Latin America.

The MPP went into effect in January 2019. In the year since then, the federal government sent more than 60,000 asylum-seekers to Mexico. The asylum-seekers claim that drug cartels and kidnappers threaten them and that volunteers are their only source of necessary supplies.

Last week, the Ninth Circuit sided with the asylum-seekers, holding that the Trump administration must admit them to the U.S. while they await asylum. It held that, as a matter of law, the federal government could not send back people claiming refugee status. Experience shows that once in the U.S., most of them simply vanish.

The one sop the Ninth Circuit threw to the administration was a one-week stay, which would allow the administration to seek an emergency reprieve from the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court came through for the administration.

The Court did not reach the merits of the matter. Instead, it held that the Ninth Circuit's order was stayed until the administration could file a formal petition for writ of certiorari (that is, a request for Supreme Court review). Only if the Supreme Court denied the petition for a writ of cert would the stay automatically terminate:

The application for stay presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is granted, and the district court's April 8, 2019 order granting a preliminary injunction is stayed pending the timely filing and disposition of a petition for a writ of certiorari. Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court. Justice Sotomayor would deny the application.

Democrat media outlets have been warning that these migrant camps are ripe for the spread of coronavirus. Since time immemorial, one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of disease is border control. Before the southern border became a "thing," people immigrating to America had to prove their health and financial ability at either Ellis Island off New York or Angel Island off San Francisco.

Trump knew, looking at the migrants flocking across the southern border, that they would eventually bring financial destruction or disease. He was right. It's to be hoped that the Supreme Court reaches the same conclusion when it has the opportunity to review the MPP on the merits. Indeed, reading the tea leaves of the stay order, it might already have reached that conclusion.
(Kitco News) - Gold prices are caught in a tug-of-war between acting as a safe haven and meeting liquidity needs. Still, expectations for further loosening of global monetary policy are likely to underpin the metal in the longer term, said Standard Chartered Thursday.

The metal has been on a roller-coaster ride lately, rising to a seven-year high above $1,700 an ounce but now closer to $1,600, with Standard Chartered blaming the pullback on profit-taking that materialized due to margin calls as stocks plummeted amid worries about the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. As of 9:27 a.m. EDT, spot gold was down $25.40 for the day to $1,609.40 an ounce.

We believe prices will likely continue to be caught in a tug-of-war between safe-haven flows and liquidity needs; but beyond the near term, an environment of record-low U.S. Treasury yields, expectations of further Fed rate cuts, weak equity markets, dovish central-bank action globally, and growing negative-yielding debt will likely continue to stoke demand for gold as a diversifier and a safe haven, said the report from Standard Chartered, written by precious-metals analyst Suki Cooper.

In a weak physical market, technical support is likely to materialize around $1,600/oz, but we believe risks continue to lie to the upside and expect prices to average $1,725/oz in Q2 2020.

Cooper pointed out that gold prices tend to firm after emergency rate cuts. They gained almost 3% in the immediate wake of a Federal Reserve emergency cut on March 3, before heading lower again.

The analyst pointed out that gold was not always called upon as a liquid asset, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s, when gold prices were weak. However, during the Great Financial Crisis that began in 2008 and again, more recently, gold prices have been much stronger, making the metal ripe for profit-taking to meet margin calls when other markets weaken.

We see upside risk for gold, but near-term gains could be measured, Standard Chartered said.

Meanwhile, Standard Chartered pointed out that inflows of gold into exchange-traded products are on pace for their strongest month since last summer, even though there was a small outflow on Wednesday. ETP holdings are up a staggering 97 metric tons so far in March, leaving them at a pace for potentially the strongest month since August when they exceeded 100 tons.

Fresh inflows are broadly spread between Europe and North America, but North American holdings are still some 190 [tons] below their peak reached in 2012, suggesting scope for further inflows, Standard Chartered said.
[March 12, 2020] Odo Security Offers Free Remote Access Solution for Employees Working from Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak

TEL AVIV, Israel and SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Odo Security , a leader in zero trust network access (ZTNA) and management, today announced it is offering free subscriptions to its market-leading secure remote access solution, OdoAccess, to companies for use by their employees based in countries impacted by the Coronavirus health crisis.

We have been inundated with calls from people under enormous pressure to develop solutions for meeting the COVID-19 threat to business continuity. In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, companies are taking precautionary measures and asking their employees to stay at home. However, they need to find a way to keep their businesses running as this unfortunate circumstance continues for an unknown period, said Or Zilberman, CEO of Odo Security. At Odo Security, we are doing our part by offering our industry-leading remote access solution to affected organizations at no charge during this crisis. We want to help companies keep their network secure and their people productive while they work from home." Odos clientless solution offers the most comprehensive remote access solution on the market. With its 3-minute deployment, enterprises can immediately provide employees working from home with easy, reliable and secure remote access to web applications, servers, and databases located in any environment, avoiding common security and connectivity issues associated with VPNs. Whats more, employees can access these resources safely using company-issued or personal devices. The coronavirus outbreak can affect more than employees located in countries where the outbreak is widespread. Employees may be asked to stay at home because they have recently traveled to countries where the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued outbreak alerts , or, as one news poll found, the employees may end up stranded in those countries. Even in relatively unaffected areas, companies are beginning to ask employees to work remotely as a precautionary measure. Either way, making it possible for those employees to work securely from any location and device is critical to business continuity and reducing the spread of the virus.



Odo will be monitoring World Health Organization updates closely and extending the free subscription until the threat to people and businesses subsides. Read Odos Secure Remote Access Guide to learn how to maintain business continuity while employees work from home during the Coronavirus crisis. The offer is currently available to affected organizations that register with Odo Security before June 1, 2020. Additional terms and conditions apply. For more information please contact [email protected] . About Odo Security

Odos zero trust access platform enables organizations to simplify, secure and scale remote access to internal resources across hybrid-cloud and on-premises infrastructures. Odos agentless and clientless solution enables security teams to easily manage privileged access to any application, server, database and environment, providing full visibility across all user activity and eliminating the need for VPNs. For more information, please visit www.odo.io

TWEET THIS: Odo Security offers remote access service to help companies affected by #Coronavirus keep their employees working safely from home. Learn more at www.odo.io. #OdoSecurity #zerotrust #remoteaccess Follow @OdoSecurity on Twitter and LinkedIn and read our blog .



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World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (L) speaks at a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 11, 2020.(Xinhua/Chen Junxia)

The coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people across Europe, forcing European countries to impose more travel restrictions, among others, to contain the spread of the virus.

BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a "pandemic."

The Geneva-based WHO's assessment came as the coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people across Europe, forcing European countries to impose more travel restrictions, among others, to contain the spread of the virus.

UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC SPARKED BY CORONAVIRUS

"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 on Wednesday.

"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," Tedros added.

There are now more than 118,000 confirmed cases in 114 countries and regions, and 4,291 people have lost their lives, Tedros said.

He noted that the number of coronavirus cases, deaths, as well as affected countries, is expected to climb even higher in the days and weeks ahead.

Food-delivers work in Milan, Italy, on March 11, 2020.(Photo by Daniele Mascolo/Xinhua)

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, Tedros said.

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.

RISING DEATH TOLL ACROSS EUROPE

Four European countries -- Bulgaria, Albania, Ireland, and Belgium -- reported their first deaths from the COVID-19 on Wednesday, with the total number of infected cases in the four countries reaching seven, 12, 43, and 314 respectively, according to health authorities.

Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland saw their biggest daily jump of caseload on Wednesday. With 252, 121 and 21 new confirmed cases, respectively, in just one day, the total infections in the three countries rose to 514, 503 and 61.

In Italy, the hardest-hit country outside China, a total of 10,590 coronavirus infections were registered on Wednesday, up from 8,514 in the previous day, the Civil Protection Department stated.

In the day, 196 new fatalities were also recorded in Italy, bringing the death toll to 827 since the epidemic first appeared on Feb. 21. By far, Italy has reported a total of 12,462 accumulated COVID-19 cases.

A nurse escorts a woman out of a tent to treat suspected COVID-19 cases in the courtyard of Henri Mondor Hospital in Creteil, France, March 10, 2020.(Photo provided by Jack Chan/Xinhua)

France on Wednesday confirmed 2,281 coronavirus infection cases -- nearly 500 more than a day before, with 48 deaths and 105 patients hospitalized in intensive care.

In Spain, the total number of COVID-19 cases reached 2,181, of which 1,024 were in the Madrid region. The country has reported 49 coronavirus fatalities.

An ambulance and tents provided by the Portuguese Red Cross to quarantine suspected COVID-19 cases are seen next to Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, on March 10, 2020.(Photo by Pedro Fiuza/Xinhua)

As to other parts of Europe, the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 1,567 in Germany, 500 in Stockholm, 456 in the UK, 246 in Austria, 99 in Greece, 59 in Portugal, 31 in Poland, 19 in Croatia, 18 in Serbia, 13 in Hungary, 10 in Latvia, 9 in North Macedonia, seven in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), six each in Cyprus and Malta, according to health authorities.

An empty art classroom is seen at a primary school on Vodickova street in Prague, the Czech Republic, March 11, 2020. (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

TRAVEL BAN AND TWO-WEEK BINDING QUARANTINE

A growing number of European countries Wednesday introduced travel bans to and from a selection of virus-stricken countries, as well as compulsory self-quarantine of 14 days for those who had been there.

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela (L) addresses a press conference about the COVID-19 in Valletta, Malta, on March 11, 2020.(Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela on Wednesday announced a travel ban to and from Germany, France, Spain and Switzerland, starting from midnight.

Flights to and from these countries will be canceled except for those carrying medicine and food or those repatriating people residing in Malta.

Anyone who has traveled to these countries -- plus those arriving from Italy -- in the past 14 days will have to spend 14 days in obligatory quarantine enforced by police with spot checks at different times. Violators will face a fine of 1,000 euros (1,130 U.S. dollars).

BiH introduced an entry ban to all visitors coming from Italy, South Korea, Iran, and the city of Wuhan and Hubei Province of China, starting Wednesday, BiH Border Police (BP) officials said.

All BiH citizens returning from these areas, and all visitors from Germany, Spain, and France will go in a mandatory self-isolation of 14 days.

Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama announced similar measures on Wednesday. Police and military forces will set up roadblocks on the streets of the capital to check all cars, a move to identify anyone who has returned from Italy or Greece in the last 14 days.

Anyone who breaks the self-quarantine of 14 days -- a preventive measure already announced on Monday -- will get a fine of 5,000 euros (around 5,655 U.S. dollars) and will not be allowed to travel abroad without paying the fine.

The Spanish government said on Wednesday that it will ban all flights between Spain and Italy for two weeks.

In other developments, four main Vienna-based United Nations organizations have suspended, in principle, meetings and events with more than 100 participants in the Vienna International Centre (VIC), the building complex hosting the UN Office at Vienna, according to a press release of the UN Information Service (UNIS).
BRIDGEPORT  The head of Danbury Hospitals respiratory department told a judge Thursday he cant be jailed on charges that he sexually assaulted a teenaged girl because he has to help fight the coronavirus.

Superior Court Judge William Holden agreed to reduce Dr. Stanley Davidsons bond from $200,000 to $100,000.

Davidson was expected to post the bond late Thursday afternoon. The hospital is currently treating one patient who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The patient is currently in a coma.

Davidson, 39, the clinical respiratory supervisor at Danbury Hospital, was charged Thursday with second-degree sexual assault, risk of injury to a child and enticing a minor by computer.

This is a travesty of justice, his lawyer, Lee Samowitz, said later. He was trying to mentor a troubled girl and she has made unsubstantiated allegations against him.

Officials at Nuvance Health, Danbury Hospitals parent company, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bridgeport police said a now 20-year-old local woman told them she was sexually assaulted on numerous occasions by Davidson beginning when she was 12. She claims the assaults continued until she was 16 and that Davidson had told her to take their secret to the grave.

Police said the woman told them that Davidson had also convinced her to text him dozens of sexually explicit photographs of herself.

Police said detectives later interviewed Davidson and he told them the victim was having problems at home because her parents wouldnt let her talk about boys. He said he invited her to his home to help her. Once there, he would give her money and be the answer to her prayer, police said.

They said Davidson told them he would often text the girl about sex to educate her and make sure she was safe. And while police said Davidson admitted the girl had texted him nude photographs of herself, he told detectives, I never did anything illegal with that girl.
Friendly, accessible, knowledgeable - High praise for Singapore ministers from outgoing Indian HC Jawed Ashraf

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Jawed Ashraf has been the cornerstone of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Act East policy and has been at the forefront of the tremendous growth in India-Singapore relations over the last few years.

The diplomat is now set to leave the shores of Singapore to head to Paris but before he winds up operations in the island nation, Connected to India sat down with the man himself to gain insights into his time and experiences in Singapore over the last three years.

In that time Mr Ashraf had close interactions with a range of ministers in the Singapore government and he had only words of praise for their conduct and the relationship he built with them.

They are extremely open, friendly and accessible. I might say I have a bit of advantage over others because quite often I meet them on weekends. At various community-related events or various festivals or grassroots events into which I am also invited. Partly because you know, we have such a huge diaspora, so it's helped me build a very strong relationship with many of them, Mr Ashraf told Connected to India.  I'd say they are extremely open, friendly and accessible. They are not very hierarchical as though they are ministers and they don't wear their ministership on their sleeves.

They are extremely competent and very knowledgeable in their fields. You are sometimes amazed at how much they know both in terms of details, but also the vision that they have in their respective areas, he added.

Mr Ashraf also spoke about how forward thinking Singapores ministers are in their vision for the country.

They are very much focused on the future. It's not something that you very often see in ministers. I think as much as they spend time thinking about the present, they spend as much time thinking about what the future will be for Singapore. And how do they prepare the country to face that future, he told Connected to India. I think in some sense, this is really the reason for Singapore sustaining its success in a changing world.

Multiculturalism and the ability of multiple religions to coexist harmoniously has always been a matter of pride for Singapore. However, the communal harmony and spirit of co-existence is also a result of the hard work put in by those in positions of power. Mr Ashraf explained just how much work goes into community outreach at the ministerial level.

The other side, which probably is not very well known outside, is how much time they spend in community outreach, in constituency work. I don't think they take Saturdays and Sundays off, and the priority they attach to sustaining and deepening the harmonial social fabric of Singapore, its multiculturalism, its multi-religious Society. I see ministers attending festivals of diverse faiths. I see them going to different places of worship without any hesitation, said HE Jawed Ashraf.

Watch the complete interview with High Commissioner of India to Singapore, Jawed Ashraf here.
The Nigerian government has reached an interim agreement with striking university lecturers to integrate the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) into the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The IPPIS is the governments accountability software that has been made compulsory for all public institutions, mainly for personnel payroll.

ASUU is opposed to the use of IPPIS for lecturers saying it does not consider some of the peculiar operations of universities. The lecturers union then developed its own UTAS which it wants the government to adopt for universities.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, announced the agreement after a four-hour meeting between both parties.

Mr Ngige said the two parties will reconvene on Monday after the ASUU delegation deliberates with its National Executive Council (NEC).

Both sides realised we are working for our country. ASUU already has the University Transparency and Account System. We had a preliminary agreement to accommodate the two systems. ASUU will have to get back to its members and agree on how to couple the two systems. We will continue the discussion after ASUU consults with its members and decision making authority, we will meet on Monday or Tuesday, Mr Ngige said.

Before the meeting went into the technical session, Mr Ngige said the meeting was called because of the two-week warning strike declared by ASUU. He said the union erred by not properly informing the government of its decision to withdraw services as prescribed by the provisions of industrial relations.

ASUU reacts

Also speaking, the National President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, said the National Executive Committee of the union will review the conditions for the integration of UTAS into IPPIS.

However, both parties did not reveal the conditions to the media.

He said the issues discussed came from outstanding issues which had tended to be overshadowed by IPPIS.

From the discussion we had, we have agreed that we will go and consult. We cannot pronounce on the proposals that came up until we consult with our members. We will leave it there for now.

When asked if the strike would be suspended, the ASUU president said he could not make any pronouncement until he consulted with other members.

In a speech he made before the technical session began, Mr Ogunyemi told the minister that IPPIS was a distraction created by the government to divert the union from its actual agitation. According to him, the system would take Nigeria university system back for many years, adding that it had become a feature of governance in Nigeria to watch situation degenerate before looking for a solution.

At the earlier meeting in the House of Representatives, it appeared that it is a feature of Nigeria governance style that until there is a fire somewhere, nobody will make an effort to avert the fire.

We recall that on February 7, 2019, we were here and we signed a Memorandum of Action, there were items that were outlined, rules were signed and time frame as attacked. We have written three letters in respect of those items while we acknowledged that some of them were activated even before we concluded the discussion then. But there were key areas over which we have been raising issues. We were thinking that we were going to trash those items that were outstanding until July 2019, when suddenly IPPIS was thrown at us, he said.

Let me state clearly that IPPIS for us was a distraction when it came because in 2013, it was first introduced to us and we engaged officers in charge then. By 2014 when we were almost coming to the point of providing an alternative, government side withdrew and for five years, we did not hear anything from IPPIS office until July 2019. Suddenly, it appears IPPIS has been made the major subject of university governance and staff unionism, he said.

ASUU on Monday asked its members in federal universities across the country to begin two weeks warning strike in response to the governments decision to stop the February salaries of lecturers who have not registered on the IPPIS platform.

Thursdays meeting is the first by both parties since the strike commenced.

Trend

In the 19 years since Nigeria returned to civil rule under the Fourth Republic, university teachers in the country have embarked on strike 14 times that saw them stay away from work for about 40 months.

The last strike by the teachers was in November 2018.

ASUU has been locked in a protracted dispute with the Nigerian government over issues of poor funding of public universities. Every time the dispute boiled over to strike by the teachers, negotiations between the two parties always produced agreements.

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However, the governments failure to meet the teachers expectations within the context of the agreements have been a primary reason ASUU has been on strike almost every year since 1999.
TAMIU has announced that it will extend it's spring break for an additional week, allowing the University to prepare for a possible transition to online classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move is similar to the spring break extension enacted to 11 other campuses in the Texas A&M University System.
When employees of Massachusetts biotech company Biogen were informed in late February that several among them had been diagnosed with COVID-19 after a company-wide meeting, they immediately went to hospitals for testing, but were turned away. Because of the scarce number of tests available in the U.S., doctors, upon the advice of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), were following strict protocols for who could be tested: people who had symptoms and had traveled to a country where cases were endemic, or had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive. Most of the Biogen employees didnt have any of the symptoms of fever, cough or difficult breathing that are the hallmarks of COVID-19, but understandably wanted to know if they had been exposed.

Two weeks after the meeting, 77 of Massachusetts 95 confirmed cases are Biogen employees.

The criteria for who can be tested have since been relaxed, and doctors can now order the test for any patient, using their best judgement on whether its necessary. Still, testing in the US lags far behind that in other countries, due to a combination of technical and policy issues, as well as political pressure.

Keep up to date with our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking here.

When the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the US, two labs at the CDC were the only ones permitted to conduct COVID-19 testing, using a test developed by the agencys own researchers. When the CDC tried to expand testing by providing its test kits to state and local public health labs, there were problems with the initial version of the kits, which the CDC then reworked.

That delay, along with the growing number of undetected cases in the U.S., prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Feb. 29 to expand its approval criteria to allow any qualified lab to develop its own test. Two of the largest diagnostic commercial labs, Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, have begun testing this week but are still conducting only a few thousand a day as they scale up capacity.

Story continues

My people have been working all weekend, 24-7, says Dr. Jon Cohen, CEO of BioReference Laboratories, which plans to roll out its test this week. Within a week, if not sooner, we should be able to do 1,000 to 2,000 tests a day, and from there, scale up higher. A spokesperson for North Carolina-based LabCorp says the company has been conducting several thousand tests a day since March 5, and plans to add staff and equipment to increase that number. Quest Diagnostics, based in New Jersey, says the company released its COVID-19 test on March 9, and plans to perform tens of thousands of tests a week within six weeks.

Taken together, thats still a tiny fraction of the number that should be conducted in a country of 327 million people, say experts. As of March 11, CDC, state and public health labs have conducted more than 11,000 tests since mid-January. By comparison, South Korea has tested more than 200,000 of its population of 51 million since January.

In the US, rollout of widespread testing is plagued by not only logistical issues but political over-promising and supply constraints. When the FDA expanded its approval criteria at the end of February, agency commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn predicted that the policy would lead to enough test kits for more than a million people within a week; when that goal wasnt met, White House Coronavirus Task Force point person Mike Pence was forced to extend the target date by a week as companies scrambled to familiarize themselves with the test and order the chemicals and reagents they needed.

Even when tests are available, theres the question of how and where people will take them. Because COVID-19 is proving highly contagious, doctors and hospitals are reluctant to encourage people with symptoms to come into offices to provide samples. Public health officials and lab companies are exploring new ways of running these tests, including at drive-through facilities, or separate tents that some hospitals are setting up outside of their emergency rooms, to minimize contact that potentially positive people would have with other patients.

There are also still technical hurdles for some of the labs that are trying to run the CDC test. Smaller labs, including those at major hospitals, are struggling to meet some of the FDAs approval requirements. For example, the technicians need to show that they have the technical and chemical expertise to perform the test properly to get a valid result both on a large number of samples as well as a range of samples types, including the most difficult type to work with, sputum (the material from the lungs that is released when you cough). But, the numbers of samples we need to validate is close to impossible for a single lab to have, says Michael Mina, director of viral diagnostics at Brigham and Womens Hospital.

Cohen notes that another challenge for some labs involves extracting the virus from the sample. The COVID-19 test actually picks up fragments of genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the illness, in the form of RNA, so pulling the virus out of the sample is critical. The kit that the CDC sends, for example, includes [testing chemicals] but what it doesnt include is the extraction needed to pull out the viral RNA, he says. Thats a big lift for some labs to do. Instead, they turn to other providers like Qiagen. But there is already a backlog, says Dr. Thomas Theuringer, spokesperson for the company. This demand is challenging our capacity to supply certain RNA extraction kits used for SARS-CoV-2 related lab-based tests. In response, the company has ramped up production at its manufacturing sites in Germany, Spain and the US to meet the surge in demand, but in the meanwhile, labs are looking for ways to avoid these supply chokepoints by coming up with other ways to handle the RNA extraction.

For Americans on the ground, this is all moving far too slowly.

Liz Satterfield was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2016. Despite the difficult prognosis for her disease, I was beating the odds, she says. Then something like COVID-19 comes along. Satterfield is currently on two different chemotherapy treatments, which can wipe out her immune system and make her susceptible to practically any infection circulating around herincluding COVID-19.

To make matters worse, Satterfield and her partner live in Kirkland, Washington, which has among the largest clusters of COVID-19 infections in the country, and has recorded the highest death rate in the US from the disease. The couple and their two-year-old daughter live a mile from the long term care facility where nearly two dozen people have died of the disease.

Not only am I a cancer patient, but I live in the epicenter of this outbreak, she says. Absolutely I want to get tested and I want my whole family tested. My wife is young and female, so she is in the category that she could likely be positive and display no symptoms. Were also not seeing an explosion of cases among children, so my [two year old] daughter could also be in that category. They could be silent carriers.

But when she saw her oncologist last week, Satterfield didnt even bother asking for testing, because she knew that since she wasnt showing symptoms, doctors wouldnt likely prescribe a test. There just simply arent enough tests to go around, and thats terrifying to Satterfield and millions of other Americans.

The lack of testing availability up to now scares the crap out of me, she says.

Please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com.
 Flash

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.
(Alliance News) - OptiBiotix Health PLC on Thursday said its wholly-owned subsidiary ProBiotix Health Ltd has signed a licensing agreement with Bulgarian pharmaceutical marketing company Velinoff Pharma Ltd.

Shares in OptiBiotix were down 14% at 36.00 pence each on Thursday afternoon in London.

The agreement will see Velinoff will promote the sale of CholBiome and CholBiome X3 under a non-exclusive licence to pharmacies, cardiologists, general practitioners, and cardiologic clinics in Bulgaria.

CholBiome is a supplement containing LPLDL, which is OptiBiotix's probiotic strain intended to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure.

"We are pleased to announce the agreement with Velinoff which will strengthen LPLDL's presence in Bulgaria. Velinoff was chosen as our partner because they bring local expertise and a dedicated sales team to promote the sale of CholBiome and CholBiome X3 in the Bulgarian market," said OptiBiotix Chief Executive Steve Prescott.

In 2018, the the UK life sciences company said it signed a three-year distribution agreement with an undisclosed Bulgarian pharmaceutical and foods supplements distribution company, granting the Bulgarian company exclusive distribution in return for local product registration and three year sales targets to retain exclusivity.

However on Thursday, ProBiotix said the new licensing agreement replaces the agreement signed in 2018, adding that the agreement with Velinoff eliminates an intermediary in the supply chain providing a shorter route to market and allowing closer partner working.

"The change to this agreement removes a sales intermediary allowing us to better support Velinoff to grow sales. This is all part of the next phase of the business cycle as we renegotiate partner agreements and focus our efforts on building a profitable business," Prescott added.

The financial details of the deal with Velinoff was not disclosed.

By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com

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Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan, speaking to the media during this evening's update on COVID-19 in the Department of Health, Dublin. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

Doctors have been told to dramatically ramp up testing for the coronavirus following the death of the first patient in the Republic from the infection.

The tragedy, involving an older patient who had a range of underlying illnesses before catching the infection, comes as the World Health Organisation declared the crisis a pandemic.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said doctors are now being told to widen the net for testing to include more patients who have severe acute respiratory illness or who have been diagnosed with pneumonia either in hospital or in the community.

The measures were announced as another nine cases of the virus were confirmed involving six men in the south and east of the country who had been abroad in Italy or Austria.

Three more people were infected by another positive patient bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Republic to 43.

The frail patient who died is understood to have been treated in Naas General Hospital for some time before being tested as she had not been abroad and the source of her infection was unknown.

Dr Holohan extended his condolences to her family and he appealed to the public to follow health advice.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its travel advice for Spain warning against all non-essential travel to Madrid, La Rioja and Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque country.

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A Cabinet sub-committee led by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meets tomorrow and the closure of schools after St Patrick's Day until after the Easter holidays may be considered as part of the bid to control the threatened escalation.

Dr Holohan again resisted calls from doctors and Green Party TDs to step up the introduction of more restrictions in an effort to keep the spread under control.

He said he did not envisage other gatherings being cancelled at this stage, but warned it was important that people organising events and attending them followed the rules on handwashing and respiratory etiquette.

He said: "Shaking hands and close personal contact are to be avoided. The public should consider how to limit social interactions and avoid indoor, crowded spaces."

Around 2,300 people have been tested for the virus so far but this is now to dramatically rise as more labs in Cork, Waterford and Limerick take on work.

Hundreds of hospital appointments for patients in need of surgery or a specialist appointment continued to be cancelled yesterday.

St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin has issued an appeal to members of the public, such as retired nurses, who could provide support to come forward as the expected surge in patients suffering severe illness from the virus will put a strain on staff who may need to self-isolate.

The qualifications they are planning for include medical, nursing, auxiliary nurses, administrative staff, security and catering staff.

Meanwhile, there was some hope on the horizon for better treatments for the virus.

Severe

Luke O'Neill, professor of biochemistry in Trinity College, said there are two types of drugs in development to suppress inflammation in the lungs in severe cases.

Two drugs have shown efficacy - chloroquine, which is used for malaria, and tocilizumab, which is currently approved for arthritis. Both are safe and trials have shown efficacy regarding survival.

An anti-viral drug is made by a company called Gilead and is called Remdesivir which kills the virus directly. It was developed for Ebola but has been shown to work against the virus that causes Covid-19.

"There are at least 20 companies developing vaccines. Moderna are out front - they tried a vaccine in humans recently. It is nine to 12 months away as safety checks and efficacy must be confirmed," he said.
Italy, the U.K. and Australia were among the latest governments to add to a fast-rising global tally of government stimulus to counter economic damage from the coronavirus outbreak.

U.S. President Donald Trump outlined a package of measures Wednesday in Washington, and Indonesia took further steps to support businesses and consumers with tax relief.

About $130 (U.S.) billion in budget support has been pledged or is under consideration by governments around the world. Some have allocated new money for cash handouts and medical care, while several are planning targeted measures like tax breaks and loan support.

The fiscal response to the virus outbreak has accelerated alongside the global tally of confirmed cases, which now exceeds 126,000, with more than 4,600 deaths reported.

The World Bank separately has allocated $12 billion in virus aid for developing economies, while the International Monetary Fund said its making available $50 billion to help countries deal with the virus, including $10 billion at zero interest for the poorest nations.
International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) issues new Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance

Document produced in collaboration with international bodies; WHO, IMO, ECDC and IMHA.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has issued brand new guidance for the global shipping industry to help combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The comprehensive 22-page document has been produced in collaboration with prominent international bodies including:



 The World Health Organization (WHO)

 The International Maritime Organization (IMO)

 The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

 The International Maritime Health Association (IMHA)

Among a raft of measures highlighted in the guidance the document contains advice on managing Port Entry Restrictions, offers practical Protective Measures Against COVID-19 for Seafarers, including an Outbreak Management Plan. The guidance document also provides information around important topics including Port Entry Restrictions, Pre-boarding Screening, Education and what to do in Suspected Cases of Infection. There is also straightforward advice on Hygiene Measures for Seafarers on Ships, Managing High Risk Exposure, Case Handling, Isolation and Cleaning, Disinfection and Waste Management. The guidance also comes with posters which can be printed out and placed onboard ships as well as a Sample Pre-Boarding Passenger Locator Form and a WHO COVID-19 Support and Logistics Supplies List.

Speaking at a meeting with Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the IMO, to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the sector, Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping said:



With no vaccine currently available to tackle the Coronavirus, all industries and governments must take appropriate steps to contain the spread. Shipping is responsible for 90% of global trade and recognises its responsibility in helping tackle this global health issue whilst ensuring that the wheels of global trade continue to turn.



This document in the result of careful and considered collaboration with international partners. It is intended to be comprehensive, but also easy to understand and implement. Providing shipowners and operators who are dealing with the sharp end of the crisis with the reassurance and guidance needed to continue to carry out their operations.



We are, however, conscious of the fluid nature of the situation, and will continue to work with international bodies to ensure our guidance is in line with the most up to date developments.

The guidance document has been designed to support all types of ships which operate in international waters with the most up to date and effective information needed to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. It will be distributed to seafarers through the International Chamber of Shippings network of national member associations, is free to download from the ICS website www.ics-shipping.org and will be shared via social media. The International Maritime Organization will circulate the ICS guidance on COVID-19 as an annex to an IMO circular letter and other shipping organisations will also be encouraged to distribute the guidance to ensure that it receives the widest distribution possible.

The guidance can be viewed here.






A new 25 million facility that aims to enhance both food security and the health and welfare of livestock has opened in Edinburgh.

The Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility will research ways to produce livestock that are genetically more resistant to disease.

The new centre, operated by the University of Edinburgh, will also research and develop improved vaccines for farmed animals.

Scientists there will additionally safeguard human health by helping to tackle food-borne infections and developing strategies against antimicrobial resistance.

The LARIF houses a combination of imaging, surgical, gene-editing and infection containment facilities, offering capability for studies into the health of livestock.

Also housed at the LARIF is the Critical Care Laboratory for Large Animals, which supports the study of large animal biology with all the resources of a human hospital.

Advanced medical imaging equipment on site, including CT, MRI, fluoroscopy and ultrasound, enables detailed understanding of anatomy and body composition in livestock.

The laboratory will also monitor progression of disease processes in different organs, and their response to treatment.

LARIF was officially opened by Professor John Loughhead, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

He said agricultural technologies are an important component in supporting the industry to cut emissions and develop sustainable farming practices.

The LARIF illustrates the positive effects of successful collaboration between academia, industry and the Government in spreading knowledge and expertise while developing the technologies of the future, he added.

Studies at the LARIF will also investigate human conditions. Large animal species are valuable biomedical models for studying human diseases and developing new medical technologies.

It comes as the brand new School of Veterinary Science, led by Aberystwyth University, was launched last month.

The agricultural facility was welcomed by Welsh farmers as a 'significant step forward' in boosting the livestock sector.
A passenger who flew on a JetBlue flight from New York to West Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday night learned midair that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said, raising questions about possible widespread exposure.

The passenger, who had previously been tested for the virus and was awaiting results, got a notification toward the end of the flight that the test had come back positive. The person was overheard talking about it, and the flight crew quickly notified health officials on the ground, JetBlue confirmed on Thursday.

JetBlue had no prior indication that this customer had or may have had coronavirus, the airline said in a statement.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

Reuters

Steven Mnuchin defended the White House rescue plan for companies taking a hit from the coronavirus and said it wasn't a "bailout."

"We are not looking for bailouts. But there may be specific industries that are highly impacted by travel and have issues with lending," Mnuchin said.

The Treasury secretary also emphasized that the Trump administration is still seeking a payroll tax cut and paid sick leave among other measures to arrest the economic fallout from the coronavirus.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday defended the Trump administration's economic rescue plan for industries hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the US. He said almost four times the proposal would not amount to "a bailout."

At a House Appropriations Committee hearing, Mnuchin tried casting the legislative package as one that didn't favor one sector over another.

"This is not bailouts. We are not looking for bailouts," Mnuchin said. "But there may be specific industries that are highly impacted by travel and have issues with lending," and he later singled out airlines, hotels, and cruise lines as among those that could receive federal emergency aid.

Mnuchin went on: "The president feels very strongly that we need to protect industry, not bail out, but provide relief to small and medium-sized businesses."

The Treasury secretary also said the administration sought to advance measures like paid sick leave and a payroll tax cut to workers dealing with the fallout of the coronavirus.

Read more: Analysts are estimating the damage to Disney's business from the coronavirus and it could drag into next year

The Trump administration is currently weighing whether it should make low- or 0% interest loans available to affected travel companies as well as delay their tax payments, The Washington Post reported. They've been struck by a wave of cancellations as more Americans choose to stay home instead of travel.

Story continues

Those loans might also be made available to oil and gas producers, The Post reported.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the US has reported almost 1,040 coronavirus cases and confirmed 30 deaths from the respiratory illness it causes, known as COVID-19.

During the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, the Bush and Obama administrations injected emergency funding into the banking and automotive sectors that amounted at least $780 billion in additional federal spending. However, it triggered backlash among critics that argued the government shouldn't favor some industries over others.

The Trump administration also came under fire for enacting a $28 billion bailout program for farmers weathering steep financial losses from its trade war with China.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Police Clear Crowd of Over 1,000 Ohio College Students After Campus Closes Over Coronavirus

Police officers in riot gear were called to an Ohio college campus after a crowd of about 1,000 students refused to follow orders to disperse.

A large crowd gathered on Lowes Street in a neighborhood near the University of Dayton (UD) on Tuesday night shortly after the school made an announcement saying that all in-person classes will be canceled until after spring break and that housing will be closed. The move was made in an attempt to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

A large disorderly crowd that grew to more than 1,000 people gathered on Lowes Street starting around 11 p.m., throwing objects and bottles in the street and at police, and jumping on cars, UD officials said in a statement obtained by Dayton Daily News. Police gave verbal orders to disperse which were ignored.

A video posted to Twitter by UDs student newspaper Flyer News shows a massive crowd blocking a street and chanting.

Video that shows students blocking Lowes Street. This was before any police action. pic.twitter.com/EX3CK0pQpU  Flyer News (@FlyerNews) March 11, 2020

After the crowd ignored orders to disperse, police launched non-lethal pepper balls that contain powder with an irritant that disperses quickly, a tactic that was unsuccessful, the university said. About 2:15 a.m. on Wednesday, additional police forces arrived and again ordered the crowd to disperse and eventually cleared the street, during which at least one person was reportedly injured by a thrown bottle, university officials said in a statement.

What took place last night was NOT a protest, the student newspaper wrote on Twitter. Students were treating it as a potential last party of the semester.

As of Wednesday, four people in Ohio have been tested positive for COVID-19. Three are in Cuyahoga County, where Cleveland is. The latest case is a man in his mid-50s in Stark County. It is the first instance of community spread of the virus in Ohio, according to the states health department.

Im not ordering to close schools. We may get to that pointbut not today, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said on Wednesday following a coronavirus update from health officials. If it comes that, well work with the legislature and schools to seek to waive testing requirements if schools need to be closed.

What we are seeing with #COVID19 is predictable, and we have the ability to control risk, DeWine said. The goal is to minimize deaths.
Airlines sought a limited period concession of the standing rule of slot allocation, which mandates that firms must operate at least 80 per cent of their allocated slots.

With travel dwindling after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Indian airline firms have sought a relief package from the government, asking that it include a waiver of landing and parking charges and payment to oil marketing companies.

Airlines sought a limited period concession of the standing rule of slot allocation, which mandates that firms must operate at least 80 per cent of their allocated slots.

If they fail, airlines lose their right to that slot the next season.

Sources aware of the development said that chief executive officers of Indian airlines met Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola on Tuesday and said the relief package was important to sustain the health of the industry.

The meeting was a part of the governments stock-taking measure of the impact of COVID-19 on various sectors.

"The secretary of civil aviation had called the CEOs regarding that and sought to know what could be done to reduce impact on airlines as we are the first to get hit in times like this, said a person who attended the meeting.

The delegation was led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh. GoAir CEO Vinay Dube and Vistara CEO Leslie Thng also attended the meeting.

Kharola on Wednesday briefed the Prime Ministers Office about his interaction with the CEOs.

Low fuel price was supposed to bring back cheer for Indian airlines.

But with global spread of coronavirus, airlines are being forced to rejig their network, cut flights and delay new launches.

Adding to the worry is a reduction in inbound tourists with multiple countries issuing advisories to their citizens after the communal riots in New Delhi last month.

IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India Express are all planning to cut flights to Saudi Arabia as West Asia has been impacted by the outbreak.

Following Saudi Arabias ban on religious tours, IndiGo and SpiceJet executives said they were looking at places where the capacity could be diverted.

Saudi Arabia is the second largest air travel market for Indians in West Asia after the United Arab Emirates, and around 5.9 million passengers flew between the nations in 2019.

Vistara has already cancelled 20 flights between Delhi and Bangkok and eight between Delhi and Singapore in March.

It will also cancel 26 flights between Mumbai and Singapore.

The Indian aviation industry could see an impact of 19.5-23.8 per cent on international passenger traffic growth, said Kinjal Shah, vice-president at rating agency ICRA.

This is negative for the Indian aviation industry, which is already reeling under significant passenger traffic slowdown, with international traffic growth for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 having witnessed a decline of 8.4 per cent," Shah added.

Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters
A new regulation requiring all arrivals to Vietnam to make a declaration of health  a government mandate enacted to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic  has led to massive lines at Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Son Nhat airport.

The airports cordoned-off health declaration area is being staffed by both personnel from local medical quarantine centers and police officers whose primary job is to assist passengers in filling out health declaration forms and ensuring all of the provided information has been double-checked.

The form requests passengers to provide a variety of information, including travel history, contact information, and health symptoms.

In the past few days since the regulation came into effect on March 7, lines to submit the form have seemed to grow exponentially as the health declaration staff became overwhelmed by the sheer number of international arrivals and crowds of passengers jockeying to be vetted first.

A group of FPT University students provide health declarations at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Ngo Thi Thu Hang and her son, residents of Ho Chi Minh Citys District 3, experienced the chaos first-hand after touching down in the city from Melbourne.

The mother-son duo had been warned by staff at Melbournes Tullamarine Airport of the new regulation and suggested they fill out their information via an online form before their arrival.

The process itself was quick because I didnt have to spend a lot of time filling out a paper version of the form when I arrived, Hang said.

The majority of arrivals, however, were not quite as prepared and had to make their declarations on paper once arriving at the airport.

Foreigners, in particular, seemed to have a difficult time deciphering the form and many had to ask for help from locals.

A Vietnamese passenger (right) helps a Canadian national complete the declaration form at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

According to Nguyen Hong Tam, head of the International Health Quarantine Center of Ho Chi Minh City, nearly 10,000 international arrivals pass through Tan Son Nhat each day and the new regulation has added a significant hurdle to immigration procedures.

Apart from the compulsory medical declaration, passengers must also have their body temperature measured. Those with a fever are given more thorough examinations.

The medical declaration form is extremely necessary and important. We really hope passengers understand the reasoning for this regulation and take the procedure seriously, Tam said.

A female pilot shows a completed online health declaration form to a quarantine officer at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 9, 2020. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

International arrivals fill out medical declaration forms at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

A man fills out his medical declaration form at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Long lines form as passengers await their turn to submit their medical declaration forms at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Quarantine officers organize medical declaration forms from passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

A quarantine officer monitors passengers' body temperatures at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Massive lines only got longer throughout the day as more and more passengers arrived in the southern metropolis on March 9, 2020. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

International arrivals fill out medical declaration forms at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
T he Duke of Cambridge today became patron of Londons pioneering air ambulance service which he hailed as an essential part of the medical chain.

Prince William, a former air ambulance pilot, has taken the role at Londons Air Ambulance Charity, which helps fund the service that has saved the lives of thousands of critically-injured people since 1989.

Chief executive Jonathan Jenkins said the charity was honoured by Williams decision. He said: The duke truly understands our work and knows that every second counts in an emergency.

We know that with his help as well as the continued support of the public, our crews can reach those who need them most.

The charity funds Londons Air Ambulance to bring the hospital to the scene, delivering cutting-edge medical care when every second counts.

Last year, William was patron of its 30th anniversary campaign during which he flew a London Air Ambulance helicopter and met staff and patients from the service.

The duke, who was a pilot with the air ambulance service in East Anglia, flew from Kensington Palace to the Royal London hospital. At a charity ball in November he said: London has some of the most difficult airspace in the world in which to offer an air ambulance service.

I landed on the London Air Ambulance helipad on multiple occasions during my job. I can tell you that it is an essential part of the medical chain in London and speeds up the process of patients getting to care.

William has seen first-hand the impact of rapid response treatment for the most critically ill patients.

He joined the East Anglian Air Ambulance service in March 2015, carrying out dozens of call-outs before his last shift in July 2017.

Londons Air Ambulance has a world-class reputation for delivering pioneering treatment at the roadside and urgent care to the 10 million people who live and work in London.

It is mainly funded by donations made to Londons Air Ambulance Charity and also supported by Barts Health NHS Trust and the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Trump says hes not concerned after Fabio Wajngarten, who is seen in a photo with Trump, tests positive for COVID-19.

A Brazilian government official who attended an official meeting at Donald Trumps resort in Florida on Saturday and posted a photo of himself standing next to the United States president has tested positive for coronavirus, Brazilian officials said on Thursday.

In the photo posted on his Instagram account, Fabio Wajngarten, the communication secretary of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, is standing next to Trump wearing a Make Brazil great again cap. Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.

Asked by Reuters News Agency before reports emerged about Wajngartens diagnosis, Brazils health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, said Bolsonaro would be monitored if Wajngarten tested positively.

Bolsonaros son, Eduardo, later tweeted that his father has been tested for the virus and is awaiting the result, but he is not showing any symptoms.

Not concerned

Trump, meanwhile, said he was not concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus after reports surfaced about the Bolsonaro aide.

Lets put it this way: Im not concerned, Trump told reporters while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office.

He said he had heard about the aides exposure but that we did nothing very unusual.

Trump also said he and Varadkar opted not to shake hands when the Irish leader arrived at the White House for the traditional St Patricks Day meeting.

Its a very strange feeling, Trump said of not shaking hands.

On Wednesday, the White House said that Trump had not been tested for the virus. The White House added on Thursday that Trump and Pence had almost no interactions with Wajngarten and sees no need for the US leaders to be tested at this time.

Earilier this week, US Representative Matt Gaetz, who was on board Air Force One with the president said he was self-quarantining because he had been in contact with a person who had tested positive for the coronavirus.

Trump has been accused of initially downplaying the threat of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, he announced that he was banning travel to the US from most of Europe beginning on Friday.

There have been more than 126,000 cases of the virus worldwide since its outbreak late last year in China, and over 68,000 people have recovered.

China is the epicentre of the crisis, with most infections and deaths, followed by Italy, Iran and South Korea.
A helicopter appears to be 'floating' in to land with its rotor blades totally still in bizarre footage.

The air ambulance can be heard whirring as it nears the ground in Pennsylvania, but a trick of the camera makes its blades appear motionless.

The speed of each camera frame - the time the camera's sensor takes to collect light to create an image - has matched up perfectly with that of the blades, making them appear not to move.

The phenomenon is known as the stroboscopic effect.

The rotary blades at the back of the helicopter can be seen spinning because they're moving at a different speed to the main blades at the top.

The footage, which has close to 100,000 views on Twitter, shows the the helicopter coming into land, panning around to a blue ambulance also at the scene.

The helicopter is one of three 'Life Lion' air ambulances that serve south central Pennsylvania.
ALBANY, New York, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest research report by Transparency Market Research, the global animal feed probiotics market is projected to showcase a healthy CAGR of ~7% over the course of the given period of forecast ranging from 2019 to 2027. With the given rate of development, the global market is estimated to generate revenue worth US$4.3 Bn by the end of 2027. Initially, the sales of the global animal feed probiotics market were worth around US$2.6 Bn.

"In recent years, there has been a growing demand for animal protein across the globe. This has put great pressure on livestock farmers to supply ample nutritional supplement in animal feed. Growing consumption of variety of animal products such as chicken, eggs, beef, and meat has increased the testing and scrutiny levels of monitoring and regulatory bodies. This has led to massive rejections of antibiotic-fed farm animals. This has presented huge growth opportunity for the market players in the animal feed probiotics market and they are trying to leverage the same by providing superior feed and products. This is expected to act as a key driving factor for market growth." finds TMR analyst.

Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=21872

Global Animal Feed Probiotics Market  Key Takeaways

Lactobacillus-based bacterial animal feed probiotics are projected to showcase maximum growth rate in coming years of the forecast period.

Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus cumulatively account for around 60% share of the overall global market.

Animal feed probiotic market is currently dominated mainly by the poultry segment and it is expected to continue to its domination for upcoming years.

Explore a report with detailed research, incisive insights, and in-depth country levels estimations. Gain business intelligence on global Animal feed probiotics market by Source - Bacteria and Non-bacteria; Animal - Companion Animals and Livestock; Form - Liquid and Dry; Sales Channel - Modern Trade, Specialty Stores, Online Retailers, Convenience Stores, and Direct Sales) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019  2027, at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/animal-feed-probiotics-market.html

Global Animal Feed Probiotics Market  Prominent Growth Factors

Rise in demand for variety of animal products such as meat, milk, eggs, and beef has led to the rise in the overall production of feed as well as consumption. This has directly helped the development of the animal feed probiotics market.

Changing consumers' dietary habit is expected to have a highly positive impact on the market development as they demand more animal-based products.

Increasing population across the globe will also have a positive impact on growth of the global market.

Increasing research and development activities for creating more effective and reliable animal feed probiotics to help in market growth.

Introduction of robust supply chain and technology in production to fuel market growth.

View Detailed Table of Contents at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/21872

Global Animal Feed Probiotics Market  Prominent Growth Restraints

Probiotic supplements have known to have some side effects on consumers. This might lead to slowdown of the market.

Increasing trend of veganism could stop the market reaching its complete potential

Lack of awareness about benefits of using probiotics instead of antibiotic-feed may also slowdown market growth.

Global Animal Feed Probiotics Market  Geographical Outlook

Of the different regional segment, Europe is projected to be the most dominant region in the global animal feed probiotics market.

is projected to be the most dominant region in the global animal feed probiotics market. Improved standardization of meat and other animal based products is key for growth of Europe market.

market. Asia Pacific to show a promising rate of growth in coming years of the forecast period.

to show a promising rate of growth in coming years of the forecast period. Increased consumption in emerging economies such as India , China , Indonesia , and Bangladesh are driving regional growth.

Analyze Animal Feed Probiotics market growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia, Poland, Benelux, Nordic, China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Request a sample of the study.

Global Animal Feed Probiotics Market  Key Market Players

Some of the key companies in the global animal feed probiotics market are Koninklijke DSM N.V., Alltech, Inc., Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Evonik Industries AG, Adisseo France SAS, Lallemand Inc., Novus International, Inc., and Calpis Co., Ltd. among others.

The global animal feed probiotics market is segmented based on:

Source

Bacteria

Non-bacteria

Animal

Companion Animals

Livestock

Form

Liquid

Dry

Sales Channel

Modern Trade

Specialty Stores

Online Retailers

Convenience Stores

Direct Sales

Region

North America

US



Canada

Europe

Germany



France



Italy



Spain



U.K.



Rest of Europe

Middle East and Africa

and GCC Countries



South Africa



Rest of Middle East and Africa

and Asia Pacific

China



Japan



India



Australia and New Zealand

and

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Food and Beverages Industry,

Probiotic Ingredients Market - Global probiotic ingredients is set to chart a decent CAGR of over 6% between 2019 and 2027, helping the market reach a worth of USD 7400 Mn by the end of the forecast period 2027.

Probiotics Market - The global revenue generated from Probiotics market is estimated to be valued at roughly US$ 6,762.2 Mn by the end of 2018 and is expected to increase at a CAGR of 8.3% over the forecast period. Global Probiotics market are expected to be valued at approximately US$ 12,753.4 Mn by the end of 2026.

Organic Pea Protein Market - Revenue generated from the global organic pea protein market has been estimated to be valued ~US$ 45 Mn in 2019, which is projected to increase at a CAGR of ~8%, to reach ~US$ 96 Mn by the end of 2029.

Nutraceuticals Market - The U.S. market for nutraceuticals stood at US$64.8 bn in 2015. Progressing at a CAGR of 5.30% between 2016 and 2024, the market's value is estimated to reach US$102.6 bn by the end of 2024.

Nutritional Oil Powder Market - Revenue generated from the nutritional oil powder market has been estimated to be valued at ~US$ 2 Bn in 2019, which is projected to increase at a CAGR of ~6%, to reach US$ 3.2 Bn by 2027.

Gain access to Market Ngage, an AI-powered, real-time business intelligence that goes beyond the archaic research solutions to solve the complex strategy challenges that organizations face today. With over 15,000+ global and country-wise reports across 50,000+ application areas, Market Ngage is your tool for research on-the-go. From tracking new investment avenues to keeping a track of your competitor's moves, Market Ngage provides you with all the essential information to up your strategic game. Power your business with Market Ngage's actionable insights and remove the guesswork in making colossal decisions.

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

Contact

Mr. Rohit Bhisey

Transparency Market Research

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Albany NY - 12207

United States

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
CARACAS  When re-energized opposition leader Juan Guaido returned to Venezuela from a world tour that saw him meet President Trump, he turned to a well-worn page in the oppositions playbook for ousting socialist President Nicolas Maduro  he called for a street protest.

But after only a modest number of supporters showed up Tuesday and they were scattered mid-march, ducking tear gas fired by heavily armed security forces, analysts say it is time for Guaido and his international backers to refine their approach.

While opposition protests drew as many as 1 million participants in 2016, then hundreds of thousands in early 2018 when Guaido announced plans to oust Maduro, they are now drawing thousands, if that. And none have budged the government. Observers say people are weary, fearful of government supporters and focused on survival amid the countrys economic collapse.

The modest turnout (for Tuesdays protest) once again suggests the need for a pivot in strategy, said David Smilde, a senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America. International pressure and street mobilizations are not going to make the Maduro government fall.

Smilde said Venezuelas opposition, which is backed by roughly 60 nations, should focus on how to force fairness in legislative elections expected later this year and better communicate to followers the need to shift strategies.

Opposition lawmaker Stalin Gonzalez has been seen on state TV news segments participating in negotiations with Maduro representatives aimed at reforming Venezuelas elections commission, but Guaidos allies have not talked about it.

Guaido, Stalin (Gonzalez) and the others inside their coalition need to speak to the public clearly and say that working for legislative elections is their policy, Smilde said. They need to exercise actual leadership to come up with a new path that does not begin with ending Maduros presidency.

Guaido in early 2019 rose to the center of Venezuelas political fray as head of the opposition-dominated National Assembly. He claimed presidential powers under the constitution and vowed to end Maduros rule, joining with his international backers in arguing that the socialist leader was fraudulently re-elected in 2018 elections.

Despite an initial burst of support for Guaido from the U.S. and more than 50 other nations, Maduro remains in power with control over the countrys main institutions, most importantly the military.

Guaidos latest protest drew only several thousand supporters Tuesday, many dressed in patriotic yellow, blue and red and carrying protest signs comparing Maduro to the coronavirus. The turnout was far short of the huge demonstrations last year.

Opposition leaders this week showed no signs of shifting their strategy. Lawmaker and Guaido ally Juan Pablo Guanipa announced a new push to take to the streets. Starting Thursday they will rally in support of health workers followed by a weekend mobilization in the neighborhoods and barrios, the streets of Venezuela, he said.

This country needs sufficient pressure to be generated to bring political change in Venezuela, Guanipa said, without giving details of when or where the demonstrations would happen.

Guaido has said he will refuse to participate in the legislative elections expected later this year if it is overseen by the same elections council dominated by Maduro loyalists.

Jorge Rueda and Scott Smith are Associated Press writers.
A leading doctor with the World Health Organisation says Donald Trumps European travel ban may actually give people a false sense of security and may have a net negative impact on efforts to combat the virus outbreak.

Margaret Harris, a doctor with that organisation, said that the WHO would prefer world leaders and health organisations to be focused on combating local outbreaks instead of shutting down borders.

Dr Harris said that shutting down borders may help in the early stages of an outbreak, but that it does little good once the virus is spreading within a community.

We are not keen on travel bans generally with outbreaks because it makes the country concerned, focused more on managing their borders rather than focusing on what wed like to see, the spread within the community  stopping the spread within the community, she said. And, really, supporting the health system to be able to look after the people that are and do get severely ill.

Mr Trump announced on Wednesday night that the US would not permit most European nationals to enter the United States in the coming weeks, marking an escalation in the administrations response to the outbreak after considerable criticism that the US government wasnt taking the outbreak seriously.

Recommended Miami Open suspended due to coronavirus

Dr Harris, during her remarks, suggested that the plan  in addition to being too late  could actually make things worse.

It gives a false sense of security because you think ah yes, were doing something, but if [the virus] is already in your community, your focus needs to be on stopping it there, she said.

The US presidents decision was also slammed by the European Unions council president, Charles Michel, and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who said the coronavirus pandemic is a global crisis, not limited to any continent and it requires cooperation rather than unilateral action.

In a statement, they said: The European Union disapproves of the fact that the US decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation.
Lockdown-like restrictions to return in Maharashtra? Here's what CM Uddhav Thackeray has to say

Day after Scindia joins BJP, Thackeray speaks of a Maharashtra like shock

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Mar 12: Days after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, the Shiv Sena said the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra is "strong and impregnable".

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Thursday also criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders.

It also said the BJP in Maharashtra should stop "daydreaming", and remember that just like the unexpected political drama in the western state a few months ago, a "shock experiment" can take place in Madhya Pradesh.

Former Union minister Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday along with 22 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, putting the 14- month-old Kamal Nath-led government in deep crisis.

Watch l 'MP like operation won't be successful in Maharashtra': Sanjay Raut on MP crisis

He joined the BJP on Wednesday and slammed the Congress for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership. He has also been named as BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.

Will give Rs 1 crore for Ram Temple: Uddhav Thackeray in Ayodhya

Commenting on these political developments, the Shiv Sena criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders, saying even though Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh are at the "helm" of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, it was not necessary to completely sideline a leader like Scindia.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Hitting out at the BJP, it said during the Lok Sabha elections last year, the saffron party used its full mightto defeat Scindia, but now it has welcomed him into its fold with "open arms".

"Kamal Nath is also a shrewd and daring politician and will not give up easily. Just like the unexpected political drama in Maharashtra, a shock experiment can take place in Madhya Pradesh," the Marathi daily said.

It further said the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government is "stong and impregnable". "There is no room for even a rogue ant to go out or come in," it said.

The Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, respectively, the Sena pointed out.

"When seniors fail, the young leadership should be encouraged. This is not happening and that is why (Rajasthan deputy chief minister) Sachin Pilot and Gehlot are at loggerheads. If the matter is not resolved, it is believed that Rajasthan may go the Madhya Pradesh way," it claimed.

It noted that eight months ago, Scindia criticised the BJP, calling it a "murderer of democracy" after the Congress- JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka was toppled.

"Fifteen days ago, he criticised BJP leaders for making hate speeches and now after joining the BJP, he says Congress is not the party it used to be earlier," it said.

"What were Scindia's demands - the state (Madhya Pradesh) unit president's post or the Rajya sabha ticket? Both were denied to him. If at least one demand was accepted, this situation wouldn't have arisen," the Shiv Sena said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 15:57 [IST]
According to attorneys for Knox County Hospital, BCBS stopped making reimbursement payments to the hospital in June 2017. The insurer did not respond to the hospitals inquiries until October 2017, when it claimed that the cessation of payments was due to a computer glitch. Knox County Hospital continued to treat BCBS patients and submit claims, but BCBS continued to withhold reimbursement.

The hospital filed a lawsuit against BCBS In September. After an attempt at mediation failed to produce a settlement, the case is now headed to court-ordered arbitration.

There is no doubt other entities have been harmed by this chronic callous treatment, said Kelly Dawson, attorney for Knox County Hospital. Clearly, this pattern of behavior by BCBS merits a broader review by TDI. BCBS owes Knox County Hospital more than $20 million in unpaid claims. Although we are seeking relief in federal court, the state remains responsible for regulating BCBS.

TDI found that BCBS had willfully and wantonly made moves to secure funds to which it was not entitled, engaged in slanderous activities, violated insurance regulations, and willfully and wantonly breached a duty of care. The agency said that the conduct of BCBS amounted to willful fraud.

We have pursued every avenue available to us since Knox County has been victimized by every one of the tactics the state has now found Blue Cross guilty of, Dawson said. I have no doubt there are other rural hospitals who are also being bullied by this company.
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq  Iraqi Kurdistan health officials recommendations seem at odds with some religious leaders advice on dealing with the new coronavirus, Covid-19.

Some prominent clerics there are reminding Muslims that the Quran promises a martyrs reward for the faithful who trust in Allah despite pestilence like Covid-19. Some are sharing a Kurdish poem that reads, You youths take the mosques path / do not care about what is on your way / our mosques congregation is far away from epidemics.

This is quite concerning to health officials. Though the number of infections in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan is thought to be small at this time, Iraq shares a long border with Iran, which is a hotspot for the virus.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Health Ministry on March 1 announced the first confirmed coronavirus cases in the region. Tests were conducted for 24 [suspected cases]. As a result, four people from Sulaimaniyah tested positive for Covid-19, including a family of three and another woman who all returned from Iran. All of those who tested positive for the coronavirus were in quarantine," the ministry announced in a statement.

As of March 11, 71 cases of Covid-19 had been officially recorded in all of Iraq, including 15 in the Kurdistan Region. Seven people had died nationally, including one in Kurdistan, and 15 had recovered, leaving 49 active cases.

Rashid Abdulrahman, a preacher at Khanaqa Mahmwi Mosque in downtown Sulaimaniyah, was recorded March 3 as the first coronavirus-related fatality in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The cleric, 70, had chronic heart and asthma conditions, and previously had undergone heart surgery. He had not visited Iran recently, his son told the media March 4.

A day before the clerics death, the Supreme Fatwa Committee, affiliated with the Kurdistan Regions Islamic Scholars Union (ISU), said in a statement, According to Islamic Sharia, daily congregational prayers as well as Friday prayers in mosques cannot be halted now except in those places where the virus has spread. In such a case, the KRG ministries of health and endowment and the fatwa committee can jointly decide to halt congregational prayers until the epidemic ends. It continued, Anyone who dies due to Covid-19 is regarded a martyr as per Islamic Sharia."

Hours after the clerics death, the KRG Council of Ministers decided to halt all religious ceremonies, rituals and activities  including Friday sermons  in mosques, churches and temples throughout the Kurdistan Region until further notice.

The decision was per a request by the KRG Ministry of Health to stop all gatherings as a protection measure against Covid-19, and the Supreme Fatwa Committee did not object, ISU head Abdulla Saed Waisy told Al-Monitor. We always think that the lives of human beings are more important than going to the mosques. In Islam, it is permitted to not perform congregational prayers in the mosques during epidemics, and Muslims are not sinful in this regard.

Ali Qardaghi, general secretary of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, also a Kurd, said in a recent fatwa regarding the coronavirus that according to Islamic guidelines, Muslims are permitted to pray in their homes due to fears of epidemics.

But some Muslims overlooked the KRGs move and continued performing congregational prayers and Friday sermons in marketplaces, parks and outside mosques.

On March 6, we gathered in a park to perform our religious sermon. I decided to preach to the increasing number of attendees, talking about precaution measures against the virus and asking God to keep us from the virus, a Kurdish cleric and employee of the KRG Ministry of Endowment told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal from Kurdish officials.

Protection is necessary, but we as Muslims believe in the Quran, which stipulates Muslims should rely on Allah in everything.

The KRG and Iraqs interim government have taken measures  though delayed  to limit the spread of the coronavirus from neighboring Iran, where that countrys first case was recorded Feb. 19. As of March 10, Radio Farda reported there had been more than 900 fatalities attributed to the virus in Iran, though the Iranian Health Ministry was still claiming on March 11 that the official count was 354. Iran has reported more than 10,000 cases as of March 12.

The measures taken in Iraq have included closing all schools, universities and religious places, and canceling direct flights to and from Iran. Iraqi citizens returning from Iran must spend 14 days in quarantine. However, many Kurds are believed to have returned from Iran illegally, bypassing official quarantining measures at the risk of spreading the virus.

The KRG formed the High Council to Combat the Coronavirus and has given public sector employees  except for the health and security sectors, and militias  two weeks of vacation. But many locals express concern that marketplaces, cafeterias and night clubs are still open.

In other measures, the Iraqi government suspended March 8 all trade activities with Iran and Kuwait until March 15, but the KRG continues to keep its border crossings open to profitable trade from Iran.

A reliable source from Irans Kurdistan Region told Al-Monitor that the virus, which is spreading quickly across Iran, terrifies the public.

Iranian truck drivers who enter the Kurdistan Region from the border gates are a potential source of further spreading Covid-19 into the region, the source said.

The KRG Ministry of Health announced March 6 the first case of the coronavirus in the capital city of Erbil: a 33-year-old pregnant woman who is in good health. Prior to that date, a source at a government hospital in Sulaimaniyah city told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the virus had already spread in Erbil, but the authorities were hiding that news. The source also said two physicians who had connections with the late cleric are being quarantined.

KRG Health Ministry spokesman Muhammad Qadir told Al-Monitor that the government is not meddling with statistics.

We are sharing our data on Covid-19 directly with the World Health Organization [WHO], thus these figures cannot be [obscured for political purposes]. Our shared information with the WHO is shown at the national and international levels. We declare official figures on a daily basis, and we have no interest  in hiding the facts, Qadir said.

We recommend that citizens avoid all gatherings and that all public places should be closed, but the KRG administrative authorities should carry out the decisions.

The KRG Health Ministry announced March 8 that of the 2,918 people known to have returned to the region recently from Iran, 1,790 had been cleared to return to their homes, after their test results were negative. The rest were still under a 14-day quarantine.

The KRG has set March 15 as the deadline for Kurdish citizens to return home from Iran.

The coronavirus and a deep political crisis will soon force Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to face serious health and financial challenges. The sharp decline of crude oil prices by 24% threatens to leave the country with a deficit of nearly $60 billon in its proposed 2020 budget, which has yet to be passed by the federal parliament. With people ignoring warnings to avoid gatherings, the number of coronavirus infections and fatalities are expected to rise across the country.
Myau.american.edu scored 45 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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Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Aben Resources Ltd. (OTCQB: ABNAF) ("the Company"), a Canadian gold exploration company developing gold-focused projects in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. CEO of the Company, Jim Pettit, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's performance throughout the 2019 drilling season. "Last year was a big drill season, we drilled almost 10,000 meters," said Pettit. "We had some interesting success," he continued, adding that the Company hit large intersections of low-grade gold mineralization.

Jolly then asked about the steps that are taken prior to each drilling season. "Well, we put together the analytics," explained Pettit, adding that this could include information that influences the mineralization. Pettit then expanded on the analytics the Company has gathered across 20,000 total meters of drilling, including a fault that may have influenced the low-grade mineralization of their latest drilling program. "What we could be looking at is a scenario where we move back north," said Pettit, adding that this could bring them closer to a heat source. "The heat really means a feeder system."

The conversation then turned to the Company's plans to return to the Forrest Kerr project located in British Columbia's Golden Triangle region. Pettit explained that the Company typically begins drilling at the Forrest Kerr project during the third week of June. "It really depends on the snow melt," he added, noting that the snow usually returns in October. "You have a four month window, but we have other properties," said Pettit.

Pettit then expanded on a drilling project the Company completed earlier in 2019 in the Yukon Territory, which did not produce the expected results. "That was the area where we were finding high-grade gold on the surface," said Pettit. "We're going to have another look at that," added Pettit. He also shared that the Company has another project on-hold in Saskatchewan.

To close the interview, Pettit expressed his confidence in the Company's 2020 drilling program, especially in regards to narrowing down areas with high-grade gold mineralization. "We're following the gold, following what we're doing and paying serious attention to it."

To hear Jim Pettit's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7529079-aben-resources-inc-discusses-2019-drilling-results-and-2020-goals-with-the-stock-day-podcast

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/

About Aben Resources:

Aben Resources is a Canadian gold exploration company developing gold-focused projects in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. Aben is a well-funded junior exploration company with over $1.5 million in the Company's treasury.

For further information on Aben Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ABN), visit our Company's web site at www.abenresources.com.

ABEN RESOURCES LTD.

"Jim Pettit"

______________________

JAMES G. PETTIT

President & CEO

For further information contact myself or:

Don Myers

Aben Resources Ltd.

Director, Corporate Communications

Telephone: 604-687-3376

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@abenresources.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.

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 expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information.

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

SOURCE:

Stock Day Media

602-441-3474

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53390
Satellite images from Iran show how mass graves have been hurriedly dug to accommodate the spiralling number of coronavirus victims, experts believe.

Aerial photos appear to show a cemetery in the holy city of Qom being expanded after the outbreak began there in mid-February.

Experts who spoke to the Washington Post say there are signs that the new 300ft trenches were dug for the many virus victims who have died in the city.

In addition, videos which have circulated on social media appear to show people confirming that the graves are being used for coronavirus patients.

Iran has suffered one of the world's worst outbreaks and there has been widespread suspicion that the regime is covering up the true scale of the crisis. Official figures say that 429 people have died.

An aerial photo of a cemetery on the outskirts of Qom, the holy city at the centre of Iran's coronavirus outbreak, suggests it has been expanded in recent weeks

This closer-up view shows two 300ft trenches appearing at the site in what experts say is a departure from normal practices at the burial ground

The satellite images of the Behesht-e Masoumeh cemetery, published by Maxar Technologies, show much of the graveyard lying unused as recently as October.

By the start of March this year, one previously half-filled quadrant had been completely filled up while work had begun on another unused section.

In that second quadrant, two new 300ft trenches had appeared which are visible from the aerial pictures.

A Maxar analyst told the Post that the hurried excavation work was a 'departure' from previous burials at the site.

The analyst also suggested that a white substance which was piled up next to the graves could be a supply of lime which is sometimes used in mass graves.

Lime can slow down the decay of a body, experts say - with some health authorities raising alarms over the handling of corpses in coronavirus cases.

According to the Post, Iranian officials have acknowledged using lime when burying people who died after being infected with the virus.

There is also video footage which appears to back up the satellite evidence that the graveyard has been hurriedly expanded.

In one video, a narrator refers to the 'coronavirus patients' section' of the cemetery which he identifies as the Behest-e Masoumeh graveyard.

October 2019: This view from last year, before the coronavirus outbreak began, shows much of the graveyard lying unused

March 2020: By the start of March this year, one previously half-filled quadrant had been completely filled up while work had begun on another unused section

A second video quotes a worker who told a different narrator that 'they must have buried more than 250 coronavirus victims so far'.

The narrator also indicates that the graves had been freshly dug, matching the evidence from the satellite images.

'These are all graves and they are fresh. These are all from the last few days. And as you can see, it goes on until the end,' the worker says.

An expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies said the videos appeared to show the same cemetery as the one in the photos.

Qom was where the virus first reached Iran last month and the country has since become one of the world's worst hotspots.

The Iranian regime was widely criticised for refusing to shut down Qom despite the large number of Shi'ite pilgrims who regularly travel there.

The virus has since spread around the Middle East, with all the regional outbreaks linked to Iran.

Saudi Arabia, by contrast, has shut down pilgrimages to Mecca.

Several countries have since restricted their transport links with Iran.

In addition, an initially high death rate in Iran suggested that the number of cases might be far higher than the regime was saying.

The official Iranian figures show a death toll of 429, rising by 75 today in the highest single-day increase since the first fatalities on February 19.

The graveyard is shown on the outskirts of the city in this satellite image from Iran, which has suffered hundreds of coronavirus deaths

This view shows the city of Qom where the Iranian outbreak began. The Iranian regime was criticised for its failure to shut down the city to pilgrims

More than 10,000 cases of infection have been confirmed in the country.

However, there have been widespread doubts over the accuracy of Iran's figures.

One lawmaker claimed that dozens of people had died in Qom alone when the regime was saying that only 12 had died in total.

Iran faced anger from its own people over an attempted cover-up just weeks earlier after claiming that a Ukrainian passenger jet had crashed by accident.

In fact, it was shot down by clumsy Revolutionary Guards at the height of Iran's stand-off with the U.S. at the start of this year.

Iran has also been facing shortages of medical supplies including masks and testing kits, worsened by U.S. sanctions.

Today the regime said it was seeking immediate financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund.

'Our central bank requested access to this facility immediately,' Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif added on his Twitter account.

Iran has not received assistance from the IMF since a 'standby credit' issued between 1960 and 1962, according to the fund's data.

Zarif said the IMF and its board 'should adhere to fund's mandate, stand on right side of history and act responsibly'.

The various loans that can be granted by the IMF must be approved by the institution's executive board, where the United States practically has a veto on decisions.

The United States is currently pursuing a policy of 'maximum pressure' aimed at crippling the finances of Iran's government.
TANZANIA, Tanzania - Irans foreign minister demanded Thursday that the United States immediately halt what he called a campaign of economic terrorism and lift sanctions, saying they have made it increasingly difficult for the country to export oil and virtually impossible to import medicine and medical equipment, including to identify and treat coronavirus patients.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that U.S. sanctions have also left thousands of Iranians stranded abroad and severely disrupted air links with Europe. And he said they have led to what he called Googles immoral censoring of a new government app designed to help Iranians identify potential symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.

He said it is imperative that the government of the United States immediately halt its campaign of economic terrorism against the Iranian people and lift all sanctions it has illegally imposed on my country, in violation of the Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers which the U.S. pulled out of in 2018.

To this end, Zarif said, It is imperative that the United Nations and its member states join the Iranian people in demanding that the government of the United States abandon its malign and fruitless approach against Iran.

The new coronavirus, COVID-19, has swept across Iran, with the Health Ministry announcing Thursday that in the past 24 hours 75 people had died and more than 1,000 new cases had been confirmed, bringing the death toll to 429 and confirmed cases to 10,075.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about the coronavirus outbreak in Iran and the U.N. system is providing support.

But the U.N. chief is also very aware of the shortage of medicine and medical equipment that makes it much more difficult to contain the outbreak in Iran, and he appeals to all member states to facilitate and support Irans efforts in this critical moment, Dujarric said.

Zarif said it is unconscionable that the U.S. government has not only increased its maximum pressure campaign just as the virus has spread and is killing our most vulnerable citizens, but that it additionally has the audacity to lecture us on containing the coronavirus as it itself is evidently incapable of containing its onslaught.

He sharply criticized the U.S. bullying others to refrain from engaging in legitimate trade with Iran and said even if foreign suppliers are found and required items can be purchased with our assets abroad, myriad U.S. shipping, insurance, financial and banking sanctions make such trade nonviable which is a violation of the 2015 Security Council resolution and international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.

Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, Zarif said inaction by some countries led to a reduction in the value and quantity of imports from Europe of all pharmaceutical goods, from medical disinfectants to breathing appliances. And he said imports are now at a lower level than before the 2016 implementation of the Iran nuclear deal.

While other nations debate how to control the spread of the virus  and while their economies suffer and fear takes hold among their populations  our people not only suffer from its effects without the full benefits of adequate medical equipment and supplies, but also the many other ways in which U.S. economic terrorism had devastated many households prior to the inception of COVID-19, and only made worse since its arrival in Iran, Zarif said.
T wo more people have died in London after contracting coronavirus as confirmed cases of the disease in the UK leapt by 134 in just 24 hours.

An 89-year-old patient with underlying health conditions died at Charing Cross Hospital, while a woman in her 60s passed away at Queen's Hospital.

It takes the total UK death toll of people who had tested positive for the virus to 10.

The announcement came just minutes before the Department of Health said the total number of cases of the disease since January 31 had risen by 134 to 590  the highest rise in a single day.

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

A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: We can confirm that, sadly, an 89-year-old patient who was very unwell with underlying health conditions has passed away at Charing Cross Hospital.

The patient had tested positive for coronavirus. Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients family.

Tony Chambers, Interim Chief Executive, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said: We can confirm that a patient, who was in her sixties, and who tested positive for COVID-19 has sadly died at Queen's hospital. She had been very unwell with significant other health conditions.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients family at what is undoubtedly a very distressing time.

We ask that the familys privacy is respected.

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Among the 134 cases confirmed today were three students at the University of Oxford.

In a statement, the university said: All three are in self-isolation and are being provided with all necessary support and medical advice. This brings the total number of confirmed cases at the university to five students.

Our priority is providing support for affected students and their families, as well as offering support and information to other university staff, students, visitors and the local community.

(Public Health England) is currently assessing the most-recently diagnosed individuals and contacting those who had close contact with them."

It added that it was "monitoring the coronavirus situation" and "contingency planning is under way," which would result in the cancellation of some upcoming events at the historic institution.

Todays spike in confirmed cases from 456 to 590 marks a 29 per cent jump on the equivalent figure for Wednesday.

It is also the first time the day-on-day increase has reached three figures.

One week ago, on March 5, the total number of cases stood at 115.

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Ahead of today's update, a critical care specialist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust accused the government of squandering the time when we could halt (the) spread.

Dr Simon Ashworth, who is based at St Marys hospital in Paddington, said in a furious online salvo that he had been exposed three times in 24 hours to patients known or suspected to have coronavirus, including one who came into A&E.

He said test results were taking a week or more, and that the classification of Covid-19 as a high-consequence infectious disease was unhelpful as it meant masks could not be reused, creating a dire shortage.

Mr Ashworth, who oversees 72 intensive care beds, told the Standard that Downing Street heath officials "need to take the advice of senior hospital and medical staff and listen to experts."

"This means closing schools and universities, stopping mass events, cancelling elective surgery to allow all hospitals to upscale preparations and release staff to train and organise our precautions," he said.

They need to upscale advice [NHS] 111 are giving to test all people with the compatible symptoms and ramp up testing. We need to have sufficient proper masks to protect our staff. Our staff need support with childcare and accommodation near work."

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The country is expected to move into the "delay phase" of the virus-fighting process, after the Prime Minster thrashes out the details of what this will entail at an emergency Cobra meeting this afternoon.

"Social distancing" measures and advice to stay at home if you have a cough and fever will all be considered, it is understood.

What the coronavirus delay phase could mean for the UK

Meanwhile in Ireland, premier Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all schools, colleges and childcare facilities in the country until March 29 to curb the spread of the outbreak.

Museums, galleries and other tourist destinations will also close as a result of the action.

Mr Varadkar said: I know that some of this is coming as a real shock and it is going to involve big changes in the way we live our lives.

I know that I am asking people to make enormous sacrifices. Were doing it for each other.

The total number of Covid-19 cases in the Republic stands at 43 and there has been one death.

Schools and colleges in Ireland close for two weeks to stop coronavirus

Downing Street said it was taking a UK-wide approach, indicating that Northern Ireland would not be following the steps taken in Ireland.

We have been in regular dialogue with Irish counterparts, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

In terms of our own response, we have said that we want it to be a UK-wide response and we have been working with the four chief medical officers and devolved administrations.
With outbreaks of infectious diseases making headlines around the world, scientists are under pressure to understand the drivers that influence the transmission of pathogens in order to better predict and control disease outbreaks.

A new research study led by Professor Kathleen Alexander of the College of Natural Resources and Environment explores the ways that landscapes can influence animal behavior, fostering dynamics that either encourage or limit the spread of infectious diseases.

By observing banded mongoose populations across a range of environments in Botswana, researchers were able to gain insight into the manner in which land type and animal behavior interact to influence the spread of a novel tuberculosis pathogen that is transmitted through olfactory communication behaviors.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, was funded with an award from the National Science Foundation's Evolution and Ecology of Infectious Diseases program.

"Banded mongoose use scent marking to communicate information to other individuals, a central fitness behavior in this and many other species," explained Alexander, faculty member in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and an affiliate of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute. "Scent marks are deposited into the environment and contain odor signals that convey information from one mongoose to another."

"The novel tuberculosis pathogen we've discovered has essentially hijacked mongoose communication pathways: as they communicate information with other mongoose, they can also transmit the tuberculosis pathogen," she continued.

Working through the Chobe Research Institute and Centre for the Conservation of African Resources: Animals, Communities, and Land Use (CARACAL) that she co-established in northern Botswana, Alexander and former graduate student Carol Anne Nichols utilized radio collars and camera traps with remote sensors in den sites to monitor mongoose behaviors. In this way, the researchers could observe mongoose without influencing their behavior and were able to study them in protected park landscapes, urban environments, and other locations with varying characteristics. The result was a comprehensive data set of mongoose behavioral interactions across a range of landscape types.

"What we found is that land type significantly influences the interaction of vigilance -- watching out for predators or competitors -- with scent marking behavior," Alexander said. "This has the potential to change pathogen transmission and, where scent marking is elevated, create superspreading landscapes."

"When the mongoose were in Chobe National Park, for example, they had to be vigilant against predators," explained Nichols, who earned her master's in fisheries and wildlife sciences from Virginia Tech in 2018. "They were less likely to participate in scent marking or communicating with other mongoose. If you're running from a predator, you're not stopping to leave a message for other animals. You're running for your life."

But at tourism lodges, vigilance in mongoose was largely associated with the detection of other mongoose that might move in to take advantage of food and denning opportunities. Here, there was an increase in olfactory communication behaviors. In these environments, predators that might injure or kill mongoose were largely excluded.

Alexander notes that these insights demonstrate the importance of understanding complex land-behavior interactions when trying to predict disease distribution and transmission dynamics.

"Banded mongoose are social animals and live in territories, which is what makes this particular transmission method and these findings so interesting," Alexander explained. "By utilizing olfactory communication behaviors, the pathogen can circumvent territorial boundaries because individuals from adjacent territories will come and smell the scent marks. But, as we found here, it matters where an animal lives and how it behaves in that environment.

"Infectious diseases will continue to emerge as we have seen again with the novel coronavirus," she added. "Our results suggest an urgency in understanding how landscape types influence animal behavior and how these interactions might increase or decrease the potential for disease to be transmitted between animals and humans."

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After a few years working behind the scenes, Jen Pellant decided to come to the fore.

Pellant, a Democrat, is running for the Iowa House District 16 seat currently held by the retiring Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa. The district includes eastern and southern areas of Council Bluffs.

Pellant grew up in Council Bluffs, graduating from Lewis Central High School, where her parents, Erwin and Jan, taught for years, in 1990.

After high school, Pellant attended Simpson College in Indianola for her undergraduate degree and then went to the University of Iowa Law School. She moved to Chicago, where she worked in human resources for a regional restaurant chain and a steel fabrication company before coming home.

Pellant said shed always planned to return to Iowa to be closer to family, and the impetus increased after the 2016 election, when she decided to be closer to home and get involved in politics and government. She moved to Council Bluffs in 2018 and was hired as a field organizer with the Democratic presidential campaign of former Maryland Rep. John Delaney.

Pellant said she put 30,000 miles on her car in 2019 and knocked on thousands of doors.

The stories I was hearing from Iowans were the same I was hearing from my parents, my sister, whos also a teacher, my nephew, she said, citing concerns about protecting the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System, a 2017 change to collective bargaining rights, a need for increased education funding and other topics important to Iowans. Those are issues that get solved at the statehouse, not at the federal level.

Pellant said a key issue facing the state is education funding. Asked why shes running for the state House, the candidate said during an interview at Em & Livs Hard Bean on the 100 Block, Because I couldnt get my sister to. Like her parents, Pellants sister is a teacher in Council Bluffs.

Ive been listening to her talk for years about how things are going since she started in the teaching profession 24 years ago. It really started 10 years ago with the chronic underfunding of education. Its been hard on teachers, Pellant said. Add to that, they were stripped of collective bargaining rights in 2017. Its demoralizing. Teachers need an advocate.

Id constantly say to my sister, run for office. But she doesnt want to leave her classroom. Teachers want to teach. She wants politicians in Des Moines to listen to what teachers are saying. Teachers are constantly asked to do more with less.

Pellant said the state needs to work more toward improving water quality while also working toward other environmental improvements, including soil and air quality improvements.

On another issue, Pellant said she supports returning Medicaid management to the state, calling Medicaid privatization a disaster for Iowans. She said the system needs to work to make sure the disabled are getting more consistent quality of care, while also noting the need for continued oversight.

We need to make sure Iowans with disabilities get the care they need and physicians and providers get paid in a timely manner, she said, noting the delays in payments from Managed Care Organizations to providers.

Since the Delaney campaign ended, Pellant and a friend have started Mercury Boost, a media marketing solutions company. The candidate said shed focus on building an Iowa economy that supports and encourages small business growth.

Those are the biggest job providers in a community, and they add a vibrancy and sense of community that is important, she said, gesturing out the window. Whats happened here on the 100 Block is a great example.

During a brief discussion about the biggest issue currently facing the country and world, COVID-19, Pellant touched on her philosophy regarding government as leaders work to mitigate the virus.

Government should not be intrusive on peoples lives, it should be a force that gives everybody opportunity and that helps protect us from harm, she said. When government works well, its not an intrusion into our lives.

Pellant was at a meeting with the Pottawattamie County Democratic Party when the discussion turned to who would run for the District 16 seat.

I just wanted to get involved in other peoples campaigns and try and make the world a better place, make progress. I prefer to be behind the scenes, she said. But I dont think thats an option anymore.

Pellant announced her candidacy on Oct. 1 and said shes been campaigning ever since.

I think I have a fresh perspective, she said. I know who needs fighting for at the Capital.

Its working Iowans  everyday iowans  who need an advocate in the statehouse. Thats what Id like to do.

Hanusa, a Republican, announced earlier this week she would not seek re-election. Brent Siegrist, who served in the Iowa House from 1984 until 2002, announced Tuesday that he would be running as a Republican for the seat. Pottawattamie County GOP Co-Chair Jeff Jorgensen said he is strongly considering entering the race.

If multiple members of a party run for the seat, a primary will be held on June 2, according to the Iowa Secretary of States Office. The general election is Nov. 3.
Patients sickened with coronavirus may be infectious for up to five weeks after they first fall ill, a new study has found.

Researchers from China discovered that people could live with virus in their respiratory tracts for as long as 37 days.

That's 2.5 times as long as the mandatory two-week isolation period required by most healthcare experts.

It comes on the heels of the World Health Organization finally declaring the global outbreak to be a pandemic on Wednesday.

In a new study, Chinese researchers collected respiratory samples from patients sickened in Wuhan - the epicenter of the outbreak. Pictured: A medical staff member speaks with a patient infected by coronavirus at Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, March 10

They found the virus could live for up to 37 days in patients' respiratory tracts after they first started showing symptoms. Pictured:

For the study, published in The Lancet, 191 patients from two hospitals in Wuhan - the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak - were studied.

The team used electronic medical records to collect demographic data as well as laboratory data.

Researchers detected the RNA of the virus - which carries the genetic information - in respiratory samples from patients for a median of 20 days after they first becoming sick.

The shortest amount of time someone was infectious was eight days and the longest amount of time was 37 days.

Worldwide, more than 128,000 people have been infected and more than 4,700 people have died

'Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future,' the authors wrote.

'This has important implications for both patient isolation decision making and guidance around the length of antiviral treatment.'

This is the latest in a slew of studies that have shown the virus can survive much longer than previously imagined.

A study conducted by the US government and other scientists found the virus can survive in the air for three hours and can live in surfaces for up to three days.

Tests showed the virus could survive on copper for four hours, on cardboard for an entire day and up to 72 hours on plastic and steel.

That's more than twice as long as the mandatory two-week isolation period. Pictured: Medical staff check on a oronavirus patient at the Red Cross hospital in Wuhan, March 6

Members of a Servpro cleaning crew wear protective gear as they enter the Life Care Center of Kirkland, a long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases, March 12

The clean-up crew wore white hazardous material suits and respirators, and carried power washers as they entered the facility (left and right)

And a German study found infected patients shed large amounts of the virus before symptoms appear.

This means that when people only showed minor symptoms, such as fatigue or a cough, it was still easy to spread the virus to others.

Worldwide, more than 128,000 people have been infected and more than 4,700 people have died.

In the US, there are more than 1,500 confirmed cases in at least 46 states and DC and 39 people have died.
A Bob Marley tune played as the scent of jerk chicken wafted through a half-empty market in this normally bustling port town.

A few dozen tourists milled about  far less than normal, but still more than last week, when new health and safety measures imposed by the government led two massive cruise ships to turn away.

It affects us real bad, said Norma Wilson, proprietor of the Dandy Family Restaurant. We never got no customers. Im too worried because I have bills I have to pay.

The economic fallout of the novel coronavirus, declared a pandemic on Wednesday by the World Health Organisation, is slamming the infection epicentres of Asia and Europe. But from oil producers in the Middle East to hotels and restaurateurs here in the Caribbean, a fast-spreading ripple effect is engulfing even those far-flung corners of the globe that have yet to confirm many cases of Covid-19 of their own.

The cruise-heavy, visitor-dependent Caribbean is faring significantly better than other tourism hotspots. Cruise passenger traffic on some islands is down by the tens of thousands. But guests at hotels and resorts, who are far larger generators of local revenue, are seeing smaller dips or holding steady  albeit with serious warning signs of trouble ahead. The islands are in the final weeks of high season, and counting their blessings that the virus did not strike earlier.

Yet even on these coconut-laden shores, far from Wuhan or Milan, tourism in a sudden era of social distancing has become an escalating challenge  with the impact of a global epidemic threatening to derail the recovery of a region hammered in recent years by a run of earthquakes and killer storms.

The latest blow: a State Department advisory this week bluntly warning US citizens to avoid cruise ships. That came as some nations, including Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda, had already begun putting public health before the almighty dollar, refusing entry to cruise liners and charter flights carrying sick passengers or those from countries with high indexes of the virus.

Real GDP growth for the Caribbean was supposed to be 3.7 per cent this year, but I think you need to kiss those growth projections goodbye, said Scott MacDonald, chief economist for the Caribbean at Smiths Research and Gradings.

Maybe 2 per cent, maybe lower, he said. Its hard to quantify this yet. If you get hermetically sealed countries, then thats going to be a really big blow for the Caribbean.

Jamaican tourist minister Edmund Bartlett said this island nation has lost roughly 50,000 cruise ship passengers in recent weeks  a $4m (3.1m) blow to the economy. Concern now is that such losses could magnify in the coming weeks not just here but in other parts of the Caribbean, where some hoteliers are reporting significant drops in advance bookings.

Rob Barrett, chairman of Elite Island Resorts with eight properties and 2,000 hotel rooms on Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and Panama, said the dip in March arrivals thus far has been minor  about 2 or 3 per cent. But those declines could steepen sharply. Advance reservations for the next four months, he said, have fallen by 50 per cent.

Verona Addison stands before her shop, Tucker Save-a-Dollar Craft and Gift Shop in Ocho Rios port Jamaica (The Washington Post/Kate Chappell.)

Cancellations and postponements are largely coming from guests aged 45 and up. Millennial travellers apparently are far more willing to travel.

Overall arrivals could be hit by 15 per cent this year, Mr Barrett said, and thats catastrophic for our business, given our low margins. Were in a much more fragile situation in the Caribbean because we dont have the safety nets you have in the US, where the government can lower payroll taxes or offer low interest loans in bad times.

One silver lining: the steepest drops so far have been in cruise passengers, the day visitors who are far less economically important to Caribbean economies than destination travellers who spend at least one night in a hotel. Cruise passengers account for 75 per cent of foreign visitors to The Bahamas, for example, but only 11 per cent of overall tourist spending.

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.

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

Nevertheless, Bahamian officials, who are still trying to rebuild after Hurricane Dorian ripped through the northern Abacos and Grand Bahama islands last year, are warning of a virus-related hit to tourism, and have asked Bahamians to vacation domestically this year to limit the predicted losses.

Given the fact that 5.4 million foreign visitors came to The Bahamas by cruise last year, it doesnt take a genius to conclude that this is going to have some impact, Bahamian tourism minister Dionisio DAguilar said.

Barbuda, one of the islands that makes up the nation of Antigua and Barbuda, was devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Now officials are bracing for another blow from coronavirus. Like many islands in the Caribbean, the island nation is facing a delicate balance between economics and public health.

Officials have turned away three cruise ships because passengers had flu-like symptoms. The cruise ships dont have tests and its going to be a week or so before our first tests arrive, tourism minister Charles Fernandez said. We are very concerned about people arriving to Antigua from affected areas.

The nations economy is the second most dependent on cruise passengers in the Caribbean, at 4.1 per cent of GDP, according to the industry publication Skift. But Mr Fernandez worries more about bigger-spending destination travellers. A weekly charter flight from Italy has been suspended. Hotels have developed plans to move any sick guests to distant rooms.

But cancellations are starting to trickle in.

Undoubtedly its going to get even more serious and acute, Mr Fernandez said. The hotels and airlines are waving the change fees and our hope is that people will reschedule and come back when this whole situation normalises.

In Jamaica, Mr Bartlett has told parliament the tourism sector will lose an estimated $564m (444m) as a direct result of the virus. Tourism accounts for 11 per cent of Jamaicas GDP.

Jamaica this week confirmed its first case of coronavirus  a British national who arrived on 4 March. The government has banned travel to and from China, Iran, South Korea, Italy and Singapore, and suspended flights from Spain and Germany.

The Dominican Republic has confirmed five cases, bringing the Caribbean total to six.

The Canadian government this week said a passenger on the MS Braemar, which docked in Port Royal near the Jaimacan capital of Kingston, had tested positive for the virus. It is not known if she disembarked. Thirty-two people were being quarantined after travel to affected regions, health officials said.

The economic fallout has hit Jamaicas jungle-themed Mystic Mountain. Managing director Mike Drakulich said 35 per cent of its business is cruise related. He estimates he has lost up to 1,000 customers to date.

Attractions like myself are looking at staffing, expenses, payables, receivables, he said.

Prem Mahtani, chief operating officer of the cruise port duty-free shop Jewels and Time, says 60 per cent of its business comes from cruise ships. Sales at one location dropped by half last week. The other was shuttered.

My first feeling was that government is probably not as sensitive to our concerns with the cruise ships, he said. But they have a lot to protect with the virus, so its delicate.

I dont see how this is not going to be devastating.

The Washington Post
ON February 26, 1970, around 200 protesters descended on the Royal Bank of Canada on Independence Square, Port of Spain. They were there to commemorate the first anniversary of protest action taken by Caribbean students against institutionalised racism at the Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Canada.
March 12, 2020

By Andrew Taylor, Assistant Marketing Director

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA  Clarity Pharmaceuticals, a radiopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of serious disease, is pleased to announce the signing of a Product Supply Agreement with the Idaho State University Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) for the production and commercial supply of copper-67 (Cu-67).

Under the new agreement, IAC will supply Clarity with Cu-67 for planned clinical development, including the SARTATETM trial in children with neuroblastoma and SAR-bisPSMA trial in prostate cancer patients in the USA. IAC has been Claritys long-term partner, providing a reliable supply of high-purity and high-specific activity Cu-67 for some years. IACs proven experience in the production and supply of copper-67 has already allowed Clarity to initiate and complete therapeutic studies in a range of cancer types both in the United States and in Australia.

Claritys Executive Chairman, Alan Taylor, commented, We are excited to bolster our relationship with IAC to further progress our pipeline of theranostic agents in the fight against cancer. IACs electron accelerator capability enables Clarity to eliminate the reliance on supply from the limited number of aging nuclear reactors which currently produce therapeutic radionuclides such as lutetium-177. This gives Clarity the opportunity to move swiftly through clinical trials with its three main products, SARTATETM, SAR-bisPSMA and SAR-BBN in such indications as neuroblastoma, neuroendocrine tumours and prostate, breast and brain cancers.

We are pleased to have signed the Product Supply Agreement with Clarity and are looking forward to continuing our supply of this copper isotope using our increased capacity and our world leading e-linac process to produce a high purity product at very high-specific activity, said Jon Stoner, director of the IAC. Claritys proprietary chelator technology along with our patent protected commercially produced Cu-67 combine to showcase a future market leading medical isotope.

Taylor further commented, Clarity is a clinical stage radiopharmaceutical company that is uniquely placed to control its full supply chain within the USA. With IAC further planning on additional facilities to support the development of Cu-67 production and with Clarity having recently signed a Letter of Intent with NorthStar Medical to supply and industrialize the production of this therapeutic isotope, we are well underway towards building stable and reliable commercial-scale supply of Cu-67 for our late-phase trials and market entry of our products in a number of large cancer indications.

About Copper-67 (Cu-67)

Copper-67 (Cu-67) is a short-range, beta-emitting radioisotope which is attractive for medical purposes due to its ability to carry sufficient radiation energy to cause cell death in targeted cells while having a sufficiently short half-life to limit unwanted radioactivity in patients. Cu-67 is being investigated for therapeutic purposes across a wide range of adult and childhood cancers. Potential radiotherapeutic targets include prostate cancer, breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), neuroblastoma, glioma, lymphoma, ovarian and bladder cancers. In order to develop safe and effective targeted therapies, a chelator, which strongly binds Cu-67 to the targeting agent, is required. Clarity Pharmaceuticals has successfully developed a highly specific and highly stable chelator for copper isotopes and is now progressing a range of radiopharmaceuticals based on its proprietary MeCOSar chelator. The IAC has developed a proprietary process for production of high purity and high specific activity Cu-67 to meet demand for clinical research and treatment.

About Clarity

Clarity is a personalised medicine company focused on the treatment of serious diseases. The Company is a leader in innovative radiopharmaceuticals, developing targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases in adults and children. For more information visit: www.claritypharmaceuticals.com

About ISU Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC)

The Idaho Accelerator Center (IAC) is a unique research facility operated by Idaho State University located in Southeast Idaho. The Center provides opportunities for scientists and engineers from the University, the private sector and the national laboratories to utilize specialized nuclear facilities. It serves as a principal investigating conduit for R&D in nuclear physics applications in materials science, biology, homeland and national security. For more information, visit: http://www.iac.isu.org.

Media Contact

Dr Alan Taylor, Executive Chairman, Ph: +61 (0)413 871 165 or ataylor@claritypharm.com

Jon Stoner, IAC Director: 208-282-5875 or stonjon@isu.edu
Advisers to under-fire hospital builder NMC Health have found what could be fraud in its finances, the company revealed on Thursday.

NMC said that it has informed regulators in both Britain and the United Arab Emirates of what external consultants hired to review its accounts have found.

The review advisers have informed the committee that they have discovered evidence leading to suspected fraudulent behaviour in relation to some elements of NMCs previous financial activities, NMC said.

It added: NMC is fully committed to investigating these activities and has notified the relevant authorities in the UK and UAE to determine what action they also consider to be appropriate.

The company, which is based in the Middle East but listed on Londons FTSE 100, revealed earlier this week that it had discovered a massive pile of debt that the board had never been told about.

The company was around 2.7 billion dollars (2.1 billion) further in the red than it thought, bringing total debt to around five billion dollars (3.9 billion)

But the board is not even sure if that is the final number. The work on verifying this figure is ongoing, the business said.

It also hinted at bad behaviour, saying that the board believes some of the proceeds may have been utilised for non-group purposes.

NMC was thrown into turmoil late last year after short seller Muddy Waters released a damning report into the business.

Since then serious questions have been raised about how much of the companys shares are owned by founder BR Shetty, and how much belongs to two businessmen known as the Bin Buttis.

Another BR Shetty-founded company, Finablr, on Thursday said that the coronavirus outbreak and the NMC scandal had hurt its business.

Restrictions on travel have reduced demand for foreign exchange, a major part of Travelex-owner Finablrs business.

The outbreak has also restricted the movement of physical currencies that the company needs to operate its businesses, Finablr said.

Finablr shares fell as much as 66% to 7.61p on Thursday. Trading in NMCs shares is suspended, so remained unchanged.
The Saudi-Russian wrangling over oil prices and global market share this week is evidence of a new relationship between Russia and the Gulf countries

As global oil prices crashed on Monday, US analysts started to float the notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin is orchestrating a price war in the oil markets to hurt shale oil and gas producers in the US.

They argue that Putin has pushed Saudi Arabia into launching this war by refusing to agree to additional cuts in production at a meeting between Saudi-led OPEC and its partners led by Russia in Vienna last week.

As the production cut deal failed on Friday, the Western media started headlining the conclusion that OPEC+ is dead. The alliance of oil producers from OPEC members and non-members, called OPEC+, was put together four years ago with the aim of balancing the oil markets. Through Saudi-Russian cooperation, it managed to stem prices by taking out much of the oversupply in the market.

However, with the current spread of the new coronavirus worldwide, demand for oil has been hit and prices have started to go down. OPEC+ needed to cut production further to keep prices from falling. Saudi Arabia proposed decreasing output by an additional 1.5 million barrels per day, provided that Russia (and other non-OPEC producers) were part of the deal. The Russians refused and stated that they were content with the current low level of oil prices.

Russian Oil Minister Alexander Novak told his counterparts at the Vienna meeting that OPEC+ was not over, meaning that Russia would still cooperate with Saudi Arabia. Though the Saudis wanted stable oil prices, probably higher than the Russians would be happy with, Saudi Arabia cannot risk losing market share.

It has been shouldering the largest production cuts since 2016, and there could be a shared concern with Moscow about rising American output in recent years, mainly from shale deposits.

The Saudi-Russian wrangling about oil prices and market share testifies to the burgeoning relationship between Putins Russia and the Gulf countries. Moscow understands that the Gulf countries are close to the US and will not risk poisoning their relations with Washington for Russias sake.

Yet, it is also becoming clear that the US Trump administration is less of a close ally. When Iranian missiles and drones hit Saudi oil facilities last September, Trump provided only verbal support. Putin was quick to advise the Saudis to buy Russian missiles, saying that these were better than American ones.

Relations between Russia and the Gulf countries, mainly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have started to develop over recent years. The UAE has been widening its foreign alliances, looking east rather than west, and though it has not abandoned its close alliance with the US and Europe, it has begun to strengthen its relations with China, India and Russia.

It has managed to diversify its economy away from oil, and now it has opted to diversify its foreign policy too and its economic ties along the way.

Under the leadership of Crown-Prince Mohamed Bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has followed the same path. Moscow has also welcomed the new warmth with Riyadh after decades of icy relations. Some analysts, especially in the Gulf, speak about high expectations by the Russians that the Saudis will invest more in their country and even buy Russian armaments.

While this has not happened, Russia has become frustrated, and the UAE may have invested more in Russia than Saudi Arabia.

One Russian commentator described Russias policy in the Gulf as being a strategy of flexible geometry. This would explain why the two parties have met in many hotspots in the region, such as Libya and Syria. Russias main focus is Syria, where it has relied on cooperating with Turkey and Iran. However, Iran is now in a very weak position and is almost incapable of projecting its influence.

Seizing on the Gulfs distrust of Turkey owing to Turkish support for Islamists in the region and the resentment of the UAE and Saudi Arabia towards Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Moscow has started a tactical shift.

Russia has shared interests with Turkey, but Putin has always dealt cautiously with Erdogan, and Turkey is now occupying parts of Syria regardless of the interests of the other parties involved. Erdogan has also been playing his allies off against each other  the Americans, fellow members of NATO, the militant Islamists  to advance his stance even against compromise with the Russians.

The Emirati and Saudi stance on Syria has recently changed, and this is an opportunity Putin will not want to miss. The two Gulf countries might have more to offer Russia on Syria than Turkey does, and Russia will not object to the Gulf countries efforts to curb Iranian influence in the region. Putin has been following a standard geopolitical approach.

Russian diplomatic envoys and military and intelligence officials have been visiting the two Gulf countries and Jordan extensively over the last few months. Syria has been the main subject of discussion, along with the wider issue of fighting terrorism in the region, especially in Libya. Moscow knows that Erdogan is on the other side on both the Syrian and the Libyan crises.

For Russia today, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are more important to have good relations with than Turkeys Erdogan. Neither of these two Gulf countries is playing dirty tricks and using the US and European cards for its own advantage against Russia as Erdogan has been doing.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 12 March, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Two U.S. troops and one coalition service member were killed Wednesday in a rocket attack on a military base in Iraq, U.S. officials said.

At least a dozen more people were injured at Camp Taji, about 17 miles north of Baghdad, after about 18 of up to 30 Russian Katyusha rockets were launched from northeast Baghdad and hit the base, according to officials. Iraqi Security Forces found a truck rigged with rockets several miles away from the base.

Iranian-backed forces in Iraq are known to employ such rockets, which also caused buildings on the base to erupt in flames. Over the past year, the U.S. has accused Iran-backed forces such as Kataib Hezbollah of 13 similar attacks on military bases in Iraq that house U.S. and coalition troops.

Later Wednesday evening, Syrian opposition activists and an Iraqi militia official said 10 airstrikes had been launched after the attack on the Iraq-Syria border near the Syrian city of Abu Kamal, where Iranian-backed forces are. The U.S. has not confirmed the airstrikes.

In January, the U.S. assassinated top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, founder of the Kataib Hezbollah militia, which the administration blamed for a rocket attack that killed a U.S. defense contractor at a military compound in northern Iraq. Soleimani also signed off on attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad that trapped American diplomats inside the embassy overnight.

Iran afterwards vowed harsh revenge following the death of the top military general. Later in January, more than 100 American troops suffered traumatic brain injuries when Iran launched a ballistic missile strike on an Iraqi air base.

The U.S. currently has about 6,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

More from National Review
Mr Ankers said Dealz was "taking all the relevant advice from authorities including the HSE"

Budget retailer Dealz says it is yet to see an impact on supplies from the coronavirus.

Dealz was "not rationing any products", the company said.

That is despite more than 40pc of its general merchandise coming from China, where the outbreak of the virus began.

However, Mat Ankers, the transformation director at Dealz, told the Irish Independent that much of the loss of production in China occurred during the country's New Year celebrations, when many factories are shut anyway.

So far, the company has not seen any decline in footfall here or in the UK, he said.

Mr Ankers said Dealz was "taking all the relevant advice from authorities including the HSE".

He also insisted that Brexit would not have an impact upon the Dealz shops here.

"We are committed to Ireland, it is an integral part of our business and we will continue to invest here," he commented.

The company is looking to open 10 new stores here over the next year and has launched a new simplified price structure, beginning with items priced at 75c.
Latin American states preparing for the onslaught of the new coronavirus on Thursday tightened restrictions on travel links to Europe as the region recorded its third death in the outbreak. Fears over the pandemic swept through Latin American markets, continuing a global rout that began in Asia early Thursday and forced the region's biggest carrier to slash flights. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned governments to get ready to cope with the pandemic. "Countries must prepare their health services, because there will not just be one or two cases," PAHO epidemiologist Marcos Espinal told AFP. Though still low in terms of global figures, the number of cases in Latin America grew steadily to reach more than 250 in 15 countries, with three deaths. The latest came in Guyana, where a 52-year-old local woman died. She had tested positive shortly after arriving from the United States last week. Following Venezuela and Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru became the latest countries to suspend flights from Europe, where Italy's death toll from the virus soared past 1,000. "This decision has been taken regionally, so there will be no flights to our continent from Europe," Edgar Melgarejo, president of Paraguay's National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, told reporters. The Peruvian government also suspended flights from Asia. Latin America's biggest airline, the Chilean-Brazilian carrier Latam, said it was canceling 30 percent of its international flights for a two-month period due to falling demand over the coronavirus crisis. The measure will mainly affect flights from South America to Europe and the United States between April 1 and May 30, the company said. Argentina's government suspended international flights from the worst affected countries, without stipulating which ones, for 30 days and declared a year-long health emergency. Last Saturday, Argentina was the first Latin American country to announce a death and has had 31 cases. Six Central American states and the Dominican Republic agreed Thursday to formulate a regional contingency plan to complement national efforts to deal with the coronavirus. The region has more than 50 cases, most of them in Costa Rica and Panama. - 'Health emergency' - As well as the travel restrictions, Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez announced the closure of school and university classes. "I am making an appeal to Bolivians for calm," Anez told reporters. Mexico's private Tecnologico de Monterrey, with 150,000 students and 30,000 staff in several states, said it would suspend classes next week and resume them online later in the month. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said there were no confirmed cases in his crisis-worn country, but said large public gatherings and concerts were now prohibited. "We have to take gradually escalating measures," he said after announcing the suspension of all flights from Europe for a month. Maduro also halted flights from neighboring Colombia, where President Ivan Duque declared a "health emergency" to help health services respond faster to the unfolding crisis. Socialist leader Maduro said Venezuela was considering closing its borders with Colombia and Brazil but called for "coordination" with the right-wing governments of Duque and Jair Bolsonaro, both of which have branded him a dictator. Maduro's challenger for power, Juan Guaido, said the pandemic obliged him to reconsider calling his supporters into the streets -- a tactic he has used in his so far unsuccessful bid that began last year to force Maduro from power. But he added in a Twitter video: "The fight for democracy is not suspended." Brazil's Bolsonaro, who has previously tried to downplay the virus outbreak, has been tested for the disease, his son Eduardo revealed on Thursday. Bolsonaro's communications chief, Fabio Wajngarten, tested positive for COVID-19 after a trip to the United States last weekend. Duque also banned gatherings of more than 500 people in the country, which has nine confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease. - Football matches suspended - Other measures announced by Duque included suspending prison visits and banning cruise ships landing at the popular ports of Cartagena and Santa Marta. PAHO said it was sending support missions to countries with the weakest health services -- Haiti, Venezuela, Honduras and Paraguay. "But everyone has to do their part -- governments, civil society, citizens -- because it is a multisectoral effort," Espinal told AFP. Worst hit of the stock markets was Sao Paulo which plunged almost 15 percent by the close. Argentina fell almost 10 percent with Colombia down more than nine percent, Santiago losing over six percent and Mexico 5.3 percent. The Mexican peso closed at 21.64 to the US dollar, its lowest level since January 2017. Sport hasn't been spared with world football governing body FIFA calling off two rounds of South American qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup due to be played at the end of the month. Regional governing body CONMEBOL also suspended the next round of Copa Libertadores matches to be played next week. The Bahamas government said it had decided to withdraw from hosting the 50th General Assembly of the Organization of American States in June. burs-db-bc/it/mtp People buy food and supplies in a Bogota supermarket as Colombian President Ivan Duque declared a 'health emergency' to help health services respond faster to the unfolding crisis A worker wears a mask in Cali. Though still low in terms of global figures, the number of cases in Latin America grew steadily to reach more than 250 in 15 countries, with three deaths Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro (R, with his son Eduardo, L) has been tested for the new coronavirus after his communications chief tested positive after a trip to the United States Employees wear face masks at Mexico City International Airport. Several Latin American states have tightened travel restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak The Copa Libertadores Group F football match between Argentina's Racing Club and Peru's Alianza Lima is played in an empty stadium due to the new coronavirus A man uses a face mask as a precautionary measure against the spread of the coronavirus in Bogota on March 12
The ex-wife of a man convicted of kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner, who had his penis cut off during the brutal incident, has described how her abusive husband compelled her to help him in the brutal plan.

Cortney Shegerian told ABC's 2020 that her then-husband Hossein Nayeri became 'obsessed' with planning the October 2012 kidnapping of the victim, only known as Michael.

The business owner was left beaten and abandoned in the Mojave desert where his attackers had thought he had buried $1million, authorities said.

Cortney Shegerian, the ex-wife of Hossein Nayerim a man convicted of kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner, who had his penis cut off during the brutal incident, describes in a new interview how she was compelled 'to serve' him in the brutal plan

Sherigian worked with authorities to nab Nayeri after he had fled to Iran following the attack. She tells ABC's 20/20 that she was 'relieved' when she cooperated.

Shegerian says her ex-husband Nayeri (pictured) became 'obsessed' with the kidnapping plan

During the violent incident, authorities said three men tied up and kidnapped the dispensary owner, who requested that he be referred to only by his first name, Michael, and Mary Barnes from their home in Newport Beach, California.

The kidnappers then brutally tortured Michael while driving to the Mojave Desert, where they believed he had buried $1 million in cash.

When they discovered he had not buried any money, authorities said the attackers cut off his penis and left the man and Barnes abandoned in the desert.

A passing law enforcement officer came upon Barnes walking along a roadside with her wrists bound and rescued her and Michael, authorities said.

Nayeri was convicted of torturing and kidnapping the man in August in Newport, California.

A jury, however, could not agree on whether he had committed aggravated mayhem regarding the severed penis. He has not yet been sentenced on his other convictions.

Sherigian, who worked with authorities to nab Nayeri after he fled to Iran following the attack, tells 20/20 that she was 'relieved' when she cooperated.

Shegerian said she first met Nayeri at a cafe in Fresno, California, in 2003 where he was a server. She was 16 and he was 23. They broke up after their dating was frowned upon by her family, but got back together again in 2008

'I was very relieved, but to be honest, I was so freaked out, I mean, I was just terrified in thinking if he could do this once, he's going to figure out a way of doing it again,' she said in the interview which airs on Friday.

When her now-ex husband became a suspect in the kidnapping and torture case, Shegerian said she got a chance to make things right for herself and help get justice for the pot dispensary owner and Mary Barnes.

Shegerian said she first met Nayeri at a cafe in Fresno, California, in 2003 where he was a server. She was 16 and he was 23.

'He was funny and charming. I mean, justcute. Intriguing for a 16-year-old,' she recalled. 'I didn't know any better.'

They broke up after their dating was frowned upon by her family, but got back together again in 2008, Shegerian said.

This time, Nayeri was different, she recalled, describing him as 'very dark' compared to before, and the relationship was kept secret from her family.

After reuniting with Nayeri in 2008, Shegerian says he was different, describing him as 'very dark' compared to before, and the relationship was kept secret from her family. He is pictured being escorted by officer in Orange County, California

She alleged Nayeri drank and would burst on in episodes of anger that targeted her.

'He would bring anything up that would be my fault and then, all of a sudden, he was shoving me. He was pushing me. He was screaming at me, like, in my face threatening me,' Shegerian explained.

'I didn't really know what to do. My parents don't have any idea that we're together. None of my friends know.'

She claimed he knew how to use her insecurities against her.

'He'd say, 'You're too fat. Your nose is too big,' she said. 'He wouldn't say it all at one time. It's these comments, little comments here and there, that he starts to break you down as a person - as a woman.'

After getting back together, Shegerian says Nayeri drank and would burst on in episodes of anger that targeted her. 'He would bring anything up that would be my fault and then, all of a sudden, he was shoving me. He was pushing me. He was screaming at me'

In 2005, during a time the couple was not together, Nayeri was arrested for vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after he crashed his best friend's car during a night out partying.

The friend died as a result of the accident and Nayeri, who jumped bail, fled to Iran.

He later returned to the US and in 2009 pleaded guilty to a charge of vehicular manslaughter.

He received a suspended sentence with time served and five years' probation. He also went to court-ordered rehab for alcohol and substance abuse, Shegerian remembers.

The couple secretly married after his release from rehab in June 2010, but Shegerian claims the abuse only intensified.

'I got hit, I got punched, I got thrown downstairs, I got choked,' she said. 'There was nothing safe about being around him. I just couldn't take it anymore. I finally called the police.'

Shegerian pressed charges and Nayeri was arrested and jailed.

The case, however, was dismissed and Nayeri was ordered to attend anger management classes, says Newport Beach Police Sgt. Ryan Peters, who investigated the 2012 kidnapping and torture case.

Nayeri has denied hitting Shegerian except for the one time for which she pressed charges.

'I screwed up really, really bad,' he said. 'I grabbed her arm really hard. I left fingerprints on her arm. Never before have I touched her. Never again did I touch Cortney after that. Never.'

Newport Beach Police Sgt. Ryan Peters investigated the 2012 kidnapping and torture case

A year before the incident, Nayeri began working with an old high school friend named Kyle Handley, who had sold marijuana to Michael, the attack victim, before his kidnapping.

Handley was later named alongside Nayeri as another suspect in the case.

Shegerian said Handley briefly moved into her home, where she was living with Nayeri, and whom she'd decided to stay with, despite being allegedly abused by him.

'I had resigned in my mind [that] this is the way my life is going to be. I just got to deal with it,' she said, rationalizing, 'Cortney, everyone has problems. This is your problem.'

Shegerian was in law school at the time and said her parents would send her money to pay for her studies, but instead used the funds to support herself and Nayeri. Her ex- also was using the money to fund his marijuana business.

By 2012, Shegerian said she noticed surveillance equipment he had around their house, and that over the coming months she began picking up on hints of what he was planning. For example, she realized Nayeri was targeting the victim because she asked him to look up his name.

Nayeri even asked her if she thought the desert was a 'great place to bury money,' while he tracked the victim using GPS technology, she said. Another time, she said she saw Handley and Nayeri in their garage 'playing with a blowtorch.'

A blow torch was used to burn the victim when he was tortured, authorities said.

Nayeri, Shegerian said, kept surveillance on the dispensary owner for months before the kidnapping. 'It was an obsession. He was obsessed,' she said.

By 2012, Shegerian said she noticed surveillance equipment Nayeri had around their house, and that over the coming months she began picking up on hints of what he was planning. He is pictured in court following guilty verdicts during his trial in Newport, California, in August

Days after the kidnapping, Shegerian said that Nayeri came home and destroyed 'anything in the house that had anything to do with him.'

She described him as 'frantic' after he discovered that police were onto Handley, she said.

A neighbor later gave police the license plate number for a truck that had been parked behind the victims' home the day before the kidnapping, which investigators used to track down Handley.

Authorities, after further investigation and evidence gathering, followed up with a warrant for Handley's arrest less than a week after the kidnapping/

Nayeri once again fled to his native Iran.

Police, who linked him to the kidnapping after his departure, found a glove with Nayeri's DNA inside of Handley's truck. Cops also discovered they had impounded Nayeri's car a week before the kidnapping.

Police said Nayeri had fled from a Chevrolet Tahoe that he shared with Shegerian after a high-speed nighttime police chase.

Nayeri was on the run because he'd been drinking and driving, Shegerian said.

When police searched the car, they found a GPS tracker and two surveillance cameras. He said there were hours of footage showing the dispensary owner's house.

Nayeri (center) is pictured with inmates Jonathan Tieu (left) and and Bac Duong (right), who staged a prison escape together in Orange County, California, but were recaptured

Nayeri poses in an image taken when he and two other inmates escaped from jail after his extradition to the US. He was later recaptured

'It was an absolute gift,' Peters said of the evidence.

Meanwhile, Shegerian said she helped her husband while he was abroad by visiting him in different countries to deliver money, medicine and clothes, among other items.

Despite acknowledging her role in the kidnapping, Shegerian said she was compelled to continue helping him, 'otherwise I'm done or my family's done.'

'I was there to serve Hossein,' she said. 'I was in this world where it was me and Hossein, and that was it.'

When Nayeri was extradited back to the US in 2014 to stand trial for the kidnapping and torture case, he was locked up in Orange County Central Men's Jail in California.

In January 2016, he briefly escaped with two other inmates, but was captured a week later.

Shegerian, who already by then had divorced him and annulled her marriage, said she feared for her life.

'I became hysterical,' Shegerian said about the moment she learned Nayeri had escaped. 'It was my worst nightmare coming alive. He's going to kill me. There's no doubt in my mind.'
AOC Must Choose Between the Future and the Political Abyss

Commentary

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hitched her star to Bernie Sandersand vice versa. AOC brought a young, hip Latina vibe to the elderly Sanders rallies. Photogenic and enjoying a massive social media presence, she joined Bernie in the far lefts crusade to take over the Democratic Party.

Joe Biden now commands a nearly insurmountable lead in Democratic delegates, thanks to a multiracial coalition including the white working-class voters Sanders believed hed attract. Biden also has suburban women, whom Sanders hasnt even tried for.

This whole mythology of a socialist uprising by people of color, blue-collar workers and a wave of millennials has fallen apart. It isnt that many other Democrats dont like some of Sanders proposals. Rather, they understand that their issues would be better addressed by Biden for the simple reason that Biden could defeat President Donald Trump and Sanders could not.

Sanders has also lost friends by attacking his Democratic hosts more than his Republican opponents. AOC has joined in, devoting much energy to challenging moderate Democrats who had fought their way into Congress in hard-to-win districts.

Fortunately, her candidates lost. The most prominent battle was a primary challenge by AOCs Justice Democrat candidate Jennifer Cisneros against Rep. Henry Cuellar in Texas. Cuellar and his family have been fixtures in this socially conservative district, which includes much of the Rio Grande Valley. He won, though narrowly.

The Justice Democrats have a nearly unblemished record of defeat. In the 2018 midterms, 16 candidates tied to Justice Democrats lost. None won. Bernies Our Revolution movement backed 22 lefty Democrats. Twenty-two lost.

AOC is a smart woman. She couldnt help but notice that, her presence at Sanders rallies notwithstanding, the sea of faces were almost all whiteeven in a mostly black and Latino neighborhood near her congressional district in Queens and the Bronx.

And she surely knows that her upset 2018 primary win against Democratic fixture Joe Crowley came courtesy of newly arrived college-educated whites in her district. Black and Latino voters in AOCs own Bronx neighborhood overwhelmingly supported Crowley.

Why am I bothering to advise AOC, when she can be so irritating? Because I retain a spark of affection for the charismatic young woman. She is street savvy and a fast learner. She has a sense of humor and is a superb communicator. She also has a good life story, having grown up in a working-class Puerto Rican family. She can repeat her bio a million more times. (For the record, Cuellar came from even harder hard knocks; his father was a Mexico-born migrant laborer.)

As losers go, Sanders is pathetic. Hes now blaming his primary losses on the venom of the corporate media. He claims that Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg were forced by the power of the establishment to endorse Biden. As usual, hes blaming rich people in general.

Hes even gone after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for endorsing Biden. Well, that wasnt her thoughts when I came here to help her get elected, Sanders griped. Sanders may have forgotten that he campaigned for the man who challenged (and nearly beat) Whitmer in the primary.

AOC would do best walking away from this car wreck. She should go forth, work with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and stop trying to curb the careers of Democrats elected in districts far from her own. She doesnt have to give up her political beliefs. She just has to stop being a constant pain in the butt for Democrats.

In terms of intelligence and energy, Ocasio-Cortez has the raw materials for national leadership. Does she want that? Or would she rather become a martyr for a movement in decline? I hope she chooses the future.

Froma Harrop is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, Harrop has worked on the Reuters business desk, edited economics reports for The New York Times News Service, and served on the Providence Journal editorial board. She has written for such diverse publications as The New York Times, Harpers Bazaar, and Institutional Investor.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Two Indians who had gone to Iran for some business purposes are now stuck in the country that is among the worst-hit by coronavirus as all civil aviation routes have been closed in the wake of the deadly virus outbreak.

Arvind Jadhav and Vedant Kadam, residents of Mumbai, are stuck in Iranian capital of Tehran and have requested the Indian government to rescue them as soon as possible. They are concerned as all civil aviation routes have been closed in Tehran and they are trapped.

The hotel, in which they are living, is also planning to shut down soon, as only eight of its 250 rooms are occupied. They are in touch with their families on Whatsapp and are appealing to the Indian government to help them immediately.

"The number of people who have died from the novel coronavirus in Iran jumped to 354 after the country reported the highest single-day total of 63 fatalities on Wednesday," said Alireza Vahabzadeh, an adviser to the country's health minister.

The Iranian authorities have taken several steps to prevent the further spread of the disease, including suspension of classes in schools and universities and postponing cultural and sporting events.

As of Wednesday, there were almost 120,000 confirmed cases globally, with the total number of deaths exceeding 4,300.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mild weather is expected Thursday across Massachusetts before steady rainfall hits overnight.

Temperatures dipped overnight into the upper 20s and lower 30s, while afternoon highs should climb to the upper 40s and lower 50s.

Coolest high temperatures today to be confined to the eastern/southern coasts, the National Weather Service said.

Light showers may hit areas along and west of Interstate 91 before midnight Thursday. More active rainfall will arrive late overnight in communities west of Worcester. Precipitation is expected to last through early Friday afternoon.

A hazardous weather outlook was issued for Berkshire County, where southeast winds gusts may reach up to 45 miles per hour early Friday morning.

Dry and cool conditions are expected over the weekend. Rain showers and a possible coating of snow may occur late Monday night into Tuesday, though the forecast is subject to change more than 72 hours out.
Speaking in Washington at House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday the U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Iran sanctions do not prohibit humanitarian contributions to ease coronavirus pressure on Iran.

Britain, France and Germany offered Iran a package of material and financial support to combat the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) on March 3 and pledged 5 million euros in aid. On March 11 Azerbaijan also announced that it is allocating $5million to help Iran combat the epidemic.

Iranian officials hold the United States responsible for shortage of medical equipment and medicine, particularly for the treatment of coronavirus.

The Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Wednesday repeated that the U.S. sanctions do not allow importing humanitarian items.

In February, a new Swiss payment mechanism known as Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement to allow food, medicine and other humanitarian aid to be sent to Iran without stumbling over U.S. sanctions officially took effect with but on Wednesday Mousavi said the U.S. sanctions have "practically blocked the way and have not let Iran's financial resources in other countries enter Swiss Humanitarian Trade Arrangement".

"We consider their claims as deception until they take a practical measure and remove obstacles", Mousavi said.

On Sunday Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif in a tweet said the U.S. President Donald Trump is " maliciously tightening U.S. illegal sanctions with aim of draining Iran's resources needed in the fight against #COVID19while our citizens are dying from it".

In letters to several international organizations Iran Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has claimed that Iran is under "medical, medicinal and laboratory equipment embargo by the United States" and called on the international community to take immediate action towards removing all sanctions "including the medical embargo against the Iranian people".

On February 28 the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States has offered to help with the coronavirus response in Iran. The offer was repeated by Trump on 29 who said he was ready to help Iran with its outbreak of novel coronavirus if the country asked for assistance.

Iranian officials have turned down the offer, calling it a "political-psychological game" and even accused the United States of having launched a "bio-terror attack" against Iran which caused the coronavirus outbreak.
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
Irrfan Khans next film, Angrezi Medium, has already been crowned a winner by his Bollywood colleagues. The film is up for release on Friday, and the select few who attended the Mumbai screening on Wednesday had only nice things to say about the film.

Actor Kriti Sanon tweeted her praise for the film, writing, #AngreziMedium is such a heartwarming beautiful film! Makes you laugh out loud, gets u teary eyed & puts a smile on your face!Youd wanna go back home & hug your parents/kids! #Homi you are amazing! Superb performances! @irrfank sir you are mindblowing#Fan congratulations to the entire team! @radhikamadan01 you were so honest and real! @MaddockFilms #Kareena #DeepakDobrial Fab as always.

#AngreziMedium is such a heartwarming beautiful film! Makes you laugh out loud, gets u teary eyed & puts a smile on your face!Youd wanna go back home & hug your parents/kids! #Homi you are amazing ! Superb performances! @irrfank sir you are mindblowing  #Fan (1/2)  Kriti Sanon (@kritisanon) March 11, 2020

#AngreziMedium is a sweet heart warming film with such an amazing cast! @radhikamadan01 you were so honest and endearing @irrfank #DeepakDobriyal #pankajtripathi such a treat to watch your performances! Congratulations to the entire cast and team  Tahira Kashyap Khurrana (@tahira_k) March 12, 2020

#AngreziMedium is all heart. it is such a beautiful film with heartwarming performances @irrfank you r a blessing for the indian film industry sir @radhikamadan01 is fantastic.every actor in the film is outstanding make sure you watch this movie with your parents and kids   Rakul Singh (@Rakulpreet) March 12, 2020

Filmmaker Tahira Kashyap wrote, #AngreziMedium is a sweet heart warming film with such an amazing cast! @radhikamadan01 you were so honest and endearing @irrfank #DeepakDobriyal #pankajtripathi such a treat to watch your performances! Congratulations to the entire cast and team. Actor Rakul Preet Singh also tweeted about the film. #AngreziMedium is all heart. it is such a beautiful film with heartwarming performances @irrfank you r a blessing for the indian film industry sir @radhikamadan01 is fantastic.every actor in the film is outstanding. make sure you watch this movie with your parents and kids, she wrote.

Actor Boman Irani tweeted, What a delight is #AngreziMedium . Drummed our hearts with every emotional beat, and rattled our sides with every comedic one. Back breaking bow to the entire team. Will give you a coronavirus defying hug to all of you soon. Homi you held your cast and audience close to your heart every inch of the way. #DeepakDobriyal #RadhikaMadan @kikusharda #DinooVijan , the writing team (Bhavesh Mandalia,Gaurav Shukla,VinayChhawal,Sara Bodinar) and the entire crew a and brother @irrfank what can I say? Nothing medium about your performance. Simply beautiful, so much to learn, so much to love.

Angrezi Medium is a follow up to Saket Chaudharys 2017 film Hindi Medium which also starred Irrfan Khan but with Saba Qamar. This time, he plays Radhika Madans father who is trying his best to fund her London education. They are joined by a star cast of Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Tripathi, Deepak Dobriyal and Kareena Kapoor.

Also read: Dhaakad shelved because Manikarnika was a flop, says Ahmed Khan, apologises after Rangoli Chandel calls him atrocious filmmaker

Kareena has said that an opportunity to work with Irrfan was one of the prominent reasons to work in Angrezi Medium. I am very excited for the film because I am working with Irrfan. I got the opportunity to work with a brilliant actor like Irrfan and that, for me, is the greatest honour. And thats the reason I did this film also. So I am super excited for the release, Kareena said.

Angrezi Medium is directed by Homi Adajania and is scheduled to release on March 13.

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The Los Angeles Unified School District will partner with local public television stations to provide educational programming in the event schools close in response to the spread of COVID-19.

Supt. Austin Beutner announced the plan during a press conference with city and county leaders today. PBS SoCal, KCET, and KLCS will provide "content that teaches to standards, that allows our students to have continuity of learning at every level," Beutner said.

In separate announcements, the district, PBS SoCal, and KCET laid out the details of how the partnership would work.

"The plan is for all students to have access to free educational resources at home provided by the local public media organizations, both on-air and online, regardless of their broadband access," the district said in its announcement.

Los Angeles Unified Partnership with @PBSSoCal and @KCET Plans to Provide Educational Content to Students https://t.co/Ea8NGIrVKo  Los Angeles Unified (@LASchools) March 12, 2020

Access to technology has been a major concern for school districts that may be faced with shifting to online learning. LAUSD estimates that 50% of its 700,000 students don't have their own computer or tablet, and 25% of LAUSD families don't have internet access at home.

PBS SoCal will have programming for students in transitional kindergarten through 2nd grade, weekdays from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. KCET will feature content designed for high school students. The announcements differ on exactly which grade levels will be served by the district's station, KLCS - PBS SoCal's says 3rd-12th, while LAUSD's says Pre-K through 12th.

What will they be watching?

Here are some of the shows mentioned across the three announcements:

NOVA , a science show

, a science show Peg + Cat , an animated show for preschoolers

, an animated show for preschoolers American Masters , a show that profiles American artists

, a show that profiles American artists Martha Speaks , a show that helps teach kids how to read

, a show that helps teach kids how to read Shakespeare Uncovered , a show that looks at "the fascinating history behind Shakespeare's greatest plays"

, a show that looks at "the fascinating history behind Shakespeare's greatest plays" Sesame Street

According to the district, the stations are working to create schedules and online resources that teach to state standards. Teachers will get training in providing assignments that go along with the shows, and according to KCET, students will get assignments and materials to take home with them.

Students can tune in on televisions, on the stations' websites, and through Smart TV apps.

The district has made other efforts to boost computer access for its students. Earlier this week, Beutner sent letters to internet companies asking them "to support our students by providing internet access to those who may not otherwise have access to learning."

In a different letter to state health and education officials, as well as state legislators, Beutner asked for $50 million of state funding to support online learning, including the purchase of 150,000 devices for kids who don't have their own.
Davies turns new page in his leadership with devosceptic pivot

Last week, I wrote about the apparent tension in the Welsh Conservatives between the long-term strategy of their Assembly group, which has been geared towards an alliance with Plaid Cymru, and their increasingly devosceptic electorate.

I have written about this dilemma previously, but the Tories declined to confront it during their most recent leadership election and appeared to miss a golden opportunity to woo voters tempted away from Labour by UKIP. I then warned that this could leave their flank open to challenge from a more explicitly unionist party, such as Abolish the Assembly (ATA).

This week, it appeared that this may finally becoming to pass. As ATA activists welcomed members to the Welsh Conservative conference, Paul Davies gave a speech which some commentators are describing as effectively a relaunch of his leadership.

Of course, this does not extend to actually opposing the Assembly. ITV report the leader of the Welsh Tory AMs as saying that It isnt devolution that has failed Wales  its two decades of Labour, a formulation that basically renders devolution itself un-falsifiable by experience.

But it does strike a more sceptical tone, with an emphasis on freezing the Welsh Governments budget, opposing a bid to double the size of the Assembly (at the same time as rebranding it a parliament), and taking what is described as a populist tone on the cost of politics. This may well be effective in persuading devosceptic Conservative voters to stick with the Party next May, but it would almost certainly rule out any arrangement with Plaid Cymru and leave the Tories with a longer, less insider-y route to power in Cardiff Bay.

This could potentially be a significant inflection point, marking the moment when ATA started exerting the sort of pull on the Tories in Wales that UKIP did nationally. Yes, at the moment the counter-devolutionaries are a rag-tag group with little to no representation  but so too were UKIP when their activists first started appearing outside Conservative conferences.

But whilst ITV have given the speech a full write-up, the only related story which currently appears on the politics page of Wales Online  which counts at least one prominent nationalist on its reporting staff  is a dig at the Tories for employing family members. If devoscepticism is really Davies chosen path, he will have to try and carve a space for it in the Welsh media.

Gove warns elections watchdog against wasting time on SNP demands

The Daily Telegraph reports that Michael Gove has written to the Electoral Commission to warn them against indulging the Scottish Nationalists demands that new work be done on an independence referendum.

He apparently claims that the SNP leadership are trying to trigger a re-testing of the 2014 question in order to persuade their increasingly fractious activists that a poll is imminent, and tells the quango that doing so would be a waste both of time and public money.

For what its worth, unionists should almost certainly insist on a new question in the event of a second referendum. David Cameron ceded the separatists the Yes label as part of his policy of conceding lots in order to make the outcome definitive (ho ho). At the least, the next question should reference what is to be gained (an independent country) and lost (leave the United Kingdom).

In other news, the Prime Minister has apparently appointed Luke Graham, the former MP for Ochil & South Perthshire, as a Downing Street adviser on matters relating to the Union.

as Nationalists continue to run into trouble

The divisions within the SNP over the question of a second referendum are growing increasingly public. Just this week Ian Blackford, the Partys leader at Westminster, has publicly rebuked colleagues suggesting that the Scottish Government could stage a referendum without legal authorisation from Westminster in the event of a separatist (SNP plus Green) majority in Holyrood after the 2021 elections.

Nor is this their only problem. Aileen Campbell, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, has this week become the second Scottish Government minister to announce her intention to step down from Holyrood. She follows Mike Russel, one of the SNPs better-known MSPs and their current Brexit Secretary. Some outlets are speculating that up to seven Nationalist MSPs may be set to quit, including Jeane Freeman, the embattled Health Secretary.

Any that hold individual, geographic constituency seats (as opposed to list ones) will trigger selection battles which could offer fresh chances for the Partys various factions to fight for control of it. I noted a couple of weeks ago how this is already happening in Edinburgh Central, Ruth Davidsons constituency, which is witnessing a high-profile showdown between Joanna Cherry MP and Angus Robinson, the SNPs former Westminster leader.

On top of all that, of course, theres Alex Salmonds trial. The Guardian have done a useful overview of how it will be reported, and here are some links to a few of the stories so far.

Are ministers using infrastructure to carve for Westminster a bigger role in the Union?

One feature of this weeks Budget worth noting is that Rishi Sunak has apparently ensured that Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will most strongly feel the benefits of key levelling up policies, especially those relating to broadband and mobile coverage.

As Andy Maciver, a sometime contributor to this site and no committed partisan of the Party, has noted, this move highlights the huge potential there is for unionism to regain ground in Scotland and elsewhere if it starts to use Westminsters powers and money more intelligently  especially now it is taking back control of those funds which were previously laundered through Brussels before coming back to the British regions with the EU flag on them.

Meanwhile the Governments thinking on a land link between Scotland and Northern Ireland has reportedly evolved, with Alister Jack saying that the Prime Minister now favours a tunnel between Portpatrick and Larne rather than the previous idea of a Boris Bridge.

In a recent piece I struck quite a sceptical line on this project, writing that:

The bridge to Northern Ireland  which will almost certainly never get built  serves as an eye-catching statement of his commitment to a Union he unabashedly shafted to get Brexit done.

But Paul Masterton, another recently-unemployed Scottish Conservative MP, has noted another possible use for the idea (assuming they dont actually try and build it). Could the Government be using the idea of Carsons Causeway to create political space for less grandiose schemes, and secure public acceptance from potential opponents of Westminster making direct investments in the devolved nations?

I find it interesting that a lot of the money could be spent better on other things responses which reject this seem to at the same time accept the premise of direct investment by UK Government in infrastructure in Scotland and other devolved areas. Not a daft kite to fly  Paul Masterton (@pmasterton1985) March 6, 2020

Not to be bought off with a figment of a tunnel, the Democratic Unionists have denounced the Budget as a false dawn for Northern Ireland and continue to savage the Prime Minister over the Withdrawal Agreement.
Donald Trump is opposing the Democrat's stimulus package, claiming Thursday that they are trying to pass other measures hidden within the bill that he says has nothing to do with relief for those affected by coronavirus.

'It's not a way for them to get some of the goodies that they haven't been able to get for the past 25 years,' Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.

'Do you support the House Democrat Bill?' a reporter asked the president at the White House.

'No, because there are things in there that have nothing to do with what we are talking about,' he asserted.

The president's comments come as Senate Republicans have expressed they are against the most recent iteration of the bill because it include a measure tied to funding abortions.

Multiple Senior White House officials told the Daily Caller that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is trying to include a stipulation that would include general funding for abortion in the coronavirus economic stimulus package.

Donald Trump said Thursday that he is completely against the Democrat's economic stimulus packages

'There are things in there that have nothing to do with what we are talking about,' Trump said of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's proposed plan

'It's not a way for them to get some of the goodies that they haven't been able to get for the past 25 years,' Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with the Irish Prime Minister

Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have been in talks to strike a bipartisan bill that includes measures proposed by Democrats and potentially Trump's desired payroll tax cut.

Officials claimed that during those talks, Pelosi lobbied for provisions that they said stalled bipartisan commitment to the effort, including mandating up to $1 billion to reimburse laboratory claims.

These White House officials claim that would set a precedent of health spending without barring any of that from going towards abortions.

Mitch McConnell was on the same page as the president Thursday morning, accusing Democrats of using the coronavirus crisis to get unrelated policies passed through their economic stimulus package.

The Senate Majority Leader asserted Democrats are using their plan, which the House is supposed to vote on later in the day Thursday, in order to create a 'wishlist' of policies.

'It appears at this hour that the Speaker and House Democrats instead chose to produce an ideological wishlist that was not tailored closely to the circumstances,' McConnell said from the Senate floor.

He then invoked the words of former President Barack Obama's then-Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

'One is reminded of the famous comment from President Obama's first chief of staff: 'You never want a serious crisis to go to waste,' the Kentucky Republican recited.

McConnell is claiming Democrats are using the coronavirus crisis to their advantage in trying to get things passed through Congress that otherwise may not have been considered.

Despite both sides calling for an end to partisanship, Democrats, Republicans and the White House appear to be weeks away from passing a bipartisan stimulus package.

'Instead of focusing on immediate relief to affected individuals, families and businesses, the House Democrats chose to wander into various areas of policy that are barely related  if at all  to the issue before us,' McConnell continued.

Trump is pushing for a stimulus plan that includes a payroll tax suspension, but Democrats, and many Republicans, are against including that measure.

'I happen to think it would be a great thing even beyond this,' Trump said during his remarks at the White House Thursday afternoon. 'So we're looking at the payroll tax cut.'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that Democrats are using the coronavirus crisis to create a 'wishlist' of policies they are trying to get passed with an economic stimulus package

'It appears at this hour that the Speaker and House Democrats instead chose to produce an ideological wishlist that was not tailored closely to the circumstances,' McConnell said from the Senate floor

He admitted that the cut wouldn't be immediate because it's a 'strong measure,' and would likely only be implemented if the economic situation were to worsen further.

U.S. markers have suffered their worst week since the 2008 financial crisis with some big sell-off days as investors' concerns over the economic impact of coronavirus escalates.

Trump finally began tweeting advice from the Centers for Disease Control Thursday after starting the morning bashing Nancy Pelosi as the U.S. death toll from coronavirus nears 40.

The president posted around two dozen tweets from the CDC, Health and Human Service, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services advising Americans on how to avoid and respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

He only made the post, however, after kicking Thursday morning off by bashing House Speaker Pelosi, insisting she is a hypocrite for supporting payroll tax cuts under former President Barack Obama, but opposing the measure now.

''Nancy Pelosi all of a sudden doesn't like the payroll tax cut, but when Obama proposed it she thought it was a brilliant thing that all of the working families would benefit from because if you get a paycheck, you're going to take home more money.' @kilmeade @foxandfriends,' Trump tweeted, quoting Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade.

The president attack against the California Democrat comes just hours after he addressed the nation and called for bipartisanship in the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Pelosi is planning to bring her rivaling relief plan to the House floor today for a vote.

Donald Trump took aim at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Thursday for opposing the payroll tax cut as a measure for an economic relief plan

The attack came just hours after he addressed the nation and called for bipartisanship. 'We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family,' Trump said Wednesday night

Pelosi is preparing to bring her own economic relief package for a vote on the House floor Thursday that does not include Trump's proposed payroll tax cut

In a televised address to the nation from the Oval Office Wednesday evening, Trump called on Democrats, Republicans and the administration to 'unify' in the response to the fallout from the virus.

'We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unify together as one nation and one family,' Trump said toward the end of his remarks.

Previously, Trump had not canceled any events or taken any publicly-known precautions to avoid contracting the virus.

But Wednesday night, the White House revealed that Trump is no longer making his campaign swing through Colorado and Nevada.

'Out of an abundance of caution from the Coronavirus outbreak, the President has decided to cancel his upcoming events in Colorado and Nevada,' White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham announced.

Instead of heading to the west coast Thursday, Trump spent the morning advising people through his agencies and the CDC's tweets on how to avoid contracting and spreading coronavirus.

The president took to the airwaves Wednesday night as the World Health Organization classified the coronavirus spread as a 'pandemic' and as global and U.S. markets continued to plummet as the government has failed to agree on an economic stimulus package.

Trump is pushing for a stimulus plan that includes a payroll tax cut, but Democrats  and a handful of Republicans  have expressed they are not interested in passing a package with this measure included.

'The administration seems to believe that the answer to any problem is another tax cut,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said of the proposal from the White House.

A payroll tax refers to taxes dedicated to Social Security and Medicare.

One of Trump's most staunch defenders, Senator Lindsey Graham, also expressed hesitation in supporting the package.

'It really is about sustaining the economy and controlling the spread of the virus,' Graham said.

'The payroll tax as a general stimulus, I've got to think about that,' the South Carolina Republican continued. 'The money that that costs, could it be better applied to sectors of the economy that are hit.'

He instead said he wanted to focus on a plan that will 'help people that are going to be laid off' and industries that will be affected by the virus, like hospitality and tourism.

Even though Trump is calling for bipartisanship, it doesn't appear he is willing to budge on passing a plan that does not include the payroll tax cut.

Lawmakers have slammed that proposal, insisting it focuses too much on economic relief and not enough on helping individuals and businesses that will be affected by the outbreak.

Markets have experienced one of their worst weeks yet, experiencing the biggest-ever one-day drop on Monday, declining 2,000 points.

While there was a quick reprieve on Tuesday when the hope of a swift, bipartisan relief package was in sight, things took a turn for the worst Wednesday after it became obvious the White House and Congress were not on the same page.

On Wednesday the Dow saw more than a 1,000 point drop.

The president has continued to downplay the threat of coronavirus, even as the confirmed cases in the U.S. surpasses 1,300 and the death toll nears 40.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is also calling for a bipartisan measure to stimulate the economy as coronavirus continues to rock the nation.

But he made it clear to reporters after a meeting with Trump on Capitol Hill Tuesday that he wasn't going to be the one spearheading that effort.

Instead, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is taking the charge by facilitating talks with Pelosi.

The two have struck a deal in the past and are known to have a good working relationship.

According to a top Pelosi aide, the Democratic leader spoke with Mnuchin early Wednesday morning to discuss a more bipartisan coronavirus package.

'I wouldn't say it's a negotiation. We're having discussions about various different policies,' Mr. Mnuchin said after meeting with Pelosi for about 30 minutes on Tuesday. 'There's a lot of interest on a bipartisan basis to get something done quickly.'
President Donald Trump will learn on Friday whether Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to reports out of Brazil, after the two men dined together at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night and shook hands.

Bolsonaro was checked for the disease after his aide Fabio Wajngarten tested positive for it. The Brazilian leader is supposed to get his results back on Friday.

Trump brushed aside concerns about the encounter - the latest in a series of brushes the president has had with the highly-contagious disease.

Both Bolsonaro and Wajngarten, his press secretary, were at the Winter White House Saturday night.

President Donald Trump will learn on Friday whether Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus; the two men shook hands during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is pictured with his son Eduardo Bolsonaro (center) and an adviser, inside Alvorada Palace in Brasilia

From left: Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump, and Fabio Wajngarten, the communications secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The three men posed for a photo on Saturday at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro is seen at the Alvorada Palace, after reports of the coronavirus, accompanied by a man in a surgical mask

Several members of the first family were at the Winter White House that night where there was a birthday party for Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., in addition to the working dinner for the Brazilian delegation.

Wajngarten, who was at the dinner and the birthday party, tested positive for the virus, setting off a chain of events on Thursday, including a test for his boss. Brazil has 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus and zero deaths thus far.

The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald reported Bolsonaro took the test: 'The result should be ready. But the presidential palace is now saying the result will only be released Friday, which likely means he had a second test, and that one takes longer,' he wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he would self-quarantine and be tested for the virus. The South Carolina senator was at Mar-a-Lago this weekend.

'Senator Graham was at Mar-a-Lago last weekend. He has no recollection of direct contact with the President of Brazil, who is awaiting results of a coronavirus test, or his spokesman who tested positive,' Graham's office said in a statement.

'However, in an abundance of caution and upon the advice of his doctor, Senator Graham has decided to self-quarantine awaiting the results of a coronavirus test. This is a precautionary measure. He will continue to work from home,' his office noted.

Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida also said that he will self-quarantine after he met with the Brazil delegation, which included Wajngarten.

President Trump, who was photographed standing next to Wajngartenn and Vice President Mike Pence at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night, said Thursday he was 'not concerned' about possibly contracting the virus.

'Let's put it this way: I'm not concerned,' Trump told reporters Thursday while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office.

The president hosted his Brazilian counterpart, Bolsonaro (right), for a working dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump, and Fabio Wajngarten pose with 'Make Brazil Great Again' caps

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro joined President Trump in toasting Kimberly Guilfoyle at her birthday party at Mar-a-Lago

The head table of Don Jr, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at Guilfoyle's birthday bash

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham addressed the situation before reports of Bolsonaro's test.

'The White House is aware of public reports that a member of the Brazilian delegation's visit to Mar-a-Lago last weekend tested positive for COVID-19; confirmatory testing is pending. Exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps. Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time,' she said, referring to Wajngarten.

'As stated before, the White House Medical Unit and the United States Secret Service has been working closely with various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the First & Second Families, and all White House staff healthy,' she noted.

'To reiterate CDC guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine,' Grisham said. 'We are monitoring the situation closely and will update everyone as we get more information.'

Wajngarten accompanied his boss on the Florida visit, which included meetings with officials and the dinner at Mar-a-Lago.

The encounter was the latest brush Trump has had with the coronavirus. An attendee at CPAC, the annual conservative conference that the president addressed at the end of February, tested positive for the virus.

The American Conservative Union, which sponsors the conference, was quick to say the person had no direct contact with Trump or Pence, who also spoke. But three lawmakers went into self-quarantine because they did and all had contact with the president: new White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Rep. Doug Collins and Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Gaetz was also at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night for the dinner and birthday party. Additionally, the Florida Republican flew back to Washington D.C. with the president on Air Force One on Monday.

The president has not been tested for the coronavirus, according to the White House.

Sen. Lindsey Graham - with Kimberly Guilfoyle - speaking to dinner guests at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night; Graham said he would self-quarantine and be tested for the virus

Senator Rick Scott (left), the Republican from Florida, is seen next to Bolsonaro at a seminar in Miami on Monday.

Scott is seen shaking hands with Bolsonaro at the event. Scott announced on Thursday that he will self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution

Senator Scott said in a statement on Thursday that, when he met with the president in Brazil in Miami on Monday, he was in the same room as the Wajngarten.

'While I do not believe I interacted with the infected person, that individual was in the same room as me,' Scott said.

'The embassy said the person had no symptoms leading up to or the day of the conference,' he noted. 'After consulting with the Senate's attending physician and my personal doctor, I have been told that my risk is low, and I don't need to take a test or quarantine.'

He said, however, he would self-quarantine out of 'an abundance of caution.'

'I am feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms at this time,' Scott said.

Fabio Wajngarten was at the dinner and birthday party at Mar-a-Lago Saturday night

A columnist for the newspaper, Monica Bergamo, said Wajngarten was tested for coronavirus at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

His test result was positive, multiple news outlets reported.

In the photo he posted on Instagram from the Saturday night events at Mar-a-Lago, Wajngarten is standing next to Trump wearing a 'Make Brazil great again' cap.

Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.

In addition to the working dinner at Mar-a-Lago, there was a birthday party for Guilfoyle, attended by several members of the first family and many Trump allies.

Spotted at the lavish bash: Donald Trump Jr., her boyfriend of almost two years; Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump; Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner; Tiffany Trump; Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney; Republican Senator Lindsey Graham; and Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson was also there as was National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien; Senator Rand Pauls Deputy Chief of Staff Sergio Gor, Fox News Jesse Watters and his wife Emma Watters; and new acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.

As of Thursday afternoon, there have been more than 1,360 reported cases of coronavirus in the United States. At least 39 people have died.

An attendee at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference has tested positive for the coroanavirus. The event included speeches from Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Trump is pictured during his appearance at CPAC on February 29

As of Thursday afternoon, there have been more than 1,360 reported cases of coronavirus in the United States. At least 39 people have died

Congressman Matt Gaetz, who announced he was exposed to Coronavirus, departing off Air Force One on Monday

Rep. Matt Gaetz, center, was spotted at a party at Mar-a-Lago Saturday night where President Trump and several members of the first family were present

The number of coronavirus cases has increased geometrically since last month

Last month, Trump said he was not concerned about contracting the virus after a man in his 50s who attended the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference that began on February 26.

The American Conservative Union, the organization that runs CPAC, insisted the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland.

'A New Jersey hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result,' the ACU said.

'The individual is under the care of medical professionals in the state of New Jersey, and has been quarantined.'

The attendee did not listen to any speeches in the main hall, the ACU confirmed.

Several senior White House officials attended the event, including White House adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump, White House senior counselor Jared Kushner, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway and the former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Rudy Giuliani posed with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday

Donald Trump Jr spoke at CPAC and his spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the first son did not come in contact with the person infected with coronavirus

White House counselors Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also spoke at CPAC

Donald Trump Jr was also there as were several members of the president's cabinet including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement to reporters that precautions were being taken although she did not offer specifics.

'The White House is aware of an individual testing positive for coronavirus after attending the CPAC conference that took place nearly two weeks ago. At this time, there is no indication that either President Trump or Vice President Pence met with or were in close proximity to the attendee.

'The president's physician and United States Secret Service have been working closely with White House staff and various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the first family and the entire White House complex safe and heathy,' she said.'

Donald Trump Jr did not come into contact with the individual at CPAC, a spokesman said.

'It has been confirmed that Don did not come into contact with the individual that tested positive,' said a spokesman for the president's son told DailyMail.com.

The American Conservative Union said in a statement the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland

Earlier this week, a leading New York doctor and political ally of Senator Ted Cruz went into self-quarantine over fears he has coronavirus.

Alan Berger, a 55-year-old gynecologist who works for NYU Langone Health, volunteered to isolate himself and is no longer seeing patients, the facility confirmed in a statement.

Berger has hosted fundraisers for Texas Republican Cruz in his hometown of Englewood, New Jersey and is said to be friendly with President Donald Trump's in laws, the Kushners.

Authorities have not commented on suggestions Berger is the 'patient zero' who interacted with Cruz and Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, at CPAC.

The CPAC patient was described as a 55-year-old man who was recovering in New Jersey; Dr. Berger is a 55-year-old man who has self-isolated in New Jersey.

Self-isolating: NYU Langone hospital says Dr. Alan Berger, an obstetrician/gynecologist who also attended CPAC last month, has voluntarily self-quarantined. It did not say if he has tested positive for coronavirus

Self-quarantine: Texas senator Ted Cruz said he was staying at home after shaking hands with someone at the CPAC conservative conference

New Jersey authorities have confirmed that a 55-year-old man from Englewood was quarantined for a presumptive positive attended CPAC. He was in stable condition and has been hospitalized since March 4,

The Englewood man attended services at a temple in New Rochelle, New York, according to New Jersey commissioner of health Judith Persichille.

Schlapp shook hands with the president and mingled with Ivanka Trump, Lara Trump and Jared Kushner during the event in Washington, D.C,'s Maryland suburbs but says he's 'healthy as a horse' and has urged attendees not to panic.

Cruz, however, announced last Sunday: 'Last night, I was informed that 10 days ago at CPAC I briefly interacted with an individual who is currently symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID-19.

'That interaction consisted of a brief conversation and a handshake.'

It was later announced that a second lawmaker, Arizona Republican Paul Gosar, and three members of his staff had also gone into quarantine following 'contact at CPAC with a person who has since been hospitalized with the Wuhan Virus.'
Bharatiya Janata Party member Pinaki Misra on Thursday demanded installation of thermal imaging cameras in the Parliament complex amid the coronavirus scare.

Misra raised the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha and said that the move is important as some members of Irans Parliament have tested positive for coronavirus.

Please fix thermal imaging in Parliament, he said as reported by news agency PTI.

The Parliament on Thursday cancelled the visitors passes to prevent any contact with the outsiders in the wake of the coronavirus scare as a precautionary measure, news agency IANS reported.

Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla denied any proposal of adjourning the House over the coronavirus scare.

The number of coronavirus patients in India rose to 73 on Thursday with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharashtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh, and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union Health Ministry said.

The government moved on Wednesday to restrict travel into the country to stem the spread of coronavirus. The government said late on Wednesday that it would suspend the vast majority of visas to the country in a wide-reaching attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across the region continued to rise.

The move to restrict visas comes ahead of the busy summer travel period from April to June and could also hamper the governments attempts to sell Air India, the only carrier flying long-haul international routes.
12.03.2020 LISTEN

Traditionally, mining has always been considered a male-dominated field. The Global Mining Standards and Guidelines Group (2014) says 5 to 10 percent of people working in mining are women. At the director level, it is seven percent; the lowest of any major industry.

This is consistent on a country level in most mining regions. For example, in 2014, of the 10,949 members of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, there were only 659 women; thus about six percent of the total membership.

In sub-Saharan Africa where South Africa and Ghana are leaders in the mining industry, there have been many calls to improve these disappointing figures.

An article published by Review of African Political Economy (ROAPE) in 2016 says, South Africa, a country known for world-class mining, women constitute 11 percent of the workforce in the mining industry even after more than 20 years of democracy.

In Ghana, for instance, women comprise 15 percent of the legal and 50 percent of the illegal artisanal mining workforce. The case is not as encouraging in the well-established large scale mining firms.

Be that as it may, as the world observed the International Womens Day last Sunday, March 8, 2020 Geodrill Ghana, a leading exploration drilling company in the West African sub-region strengthens its resolve to invest more towards increasing women involvement in mining. This they hope will create a good case for many other companies in the mining industry to emulate.

What Geodrill Is Doing

Geodrill, which was established in 1998 with one rig in Ghana, now has 67 rigs across Africa.

The Head of Human Resources, Iddi Baah-Kurey revealed that per the firms model, they do not look for ready-made skills in the job market. Instead Geodrill prides itself in hiring people with minimal or zero skills and then put the individual through mentorship and on the job training.

The model helps them to make a conscious effort towards attracting women into the mining industry, an area which is traditionally a male dominated field.

Another strategy to increase employment of females is; reserving specific roles in key departments for women. This has seen the recruitment of women into the Finance, Health and Safety, Stores and Warehouse, Human Resources and Maintenance Planning Units.

Recruitment from University

To further improve and sustain women participation, Geodrill also selects candidates freshly from the university through an aptitude test. The final candidates, particularly those selected for positions reserved for women only, are trained over time to become well equipped and globally competitive.

The training and gender sensitive support provided by Geodrill has proven successful with high retention rate. It has also increased the companys female employee from just handful in 2015 when the staff strength was about 600 to 65 females out of 900 employees across the group. The Ghana operations leads with 44 females out of the 65.

More Women Shy Away from Technical Roles

Iddi Baah-Kurey indicated despite these interventions it is unfortunate that not many women are interested in the technical roles as they are in the other roles.

He recounted that a couple of years ago, Geodrill conducted an aptitude test for graduating students of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, with the hope of recruiting 15 gender-balanced graduates from the drilling class.

Try as they may, only two women made the final list. Despite the persuasion applied and benefits, the two women were unwilling to work on the drill rigs.

Today, some of those who joined Geodrill from that year group have been trained to become deep directional drillers, engaged in world class drilling for our clients who are scattered in all our operational countries; Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Niger, Guinea, Togo and Mali. The company is now entering the African Copper belt.

Had the two women joined Geodrill they might be multipurpose or directional drillers today, Iddi Baah-Kurey recounted. He stressed that as a world class drilling company, I am looking for to the day when we will have our first Ghanaian Female Driller in Geodrill.

Success Story

Nonetheless there have been a lot of success in the other departments which are also male dominated. The Health and Safety Co-ordinator for Ghana operations, Bernice Adzo Gbadam is an example.

Having worked at Geodrill since 2014 Adzo Gbadam is the first full time female employee to work at the main workshop covering all Ghana drill sites.

She admits that despite the rewarding nature of the role, my male colleagues initially struggled accepting a female HSE officer. She commended top management for their role in transforming the companys culture which now makes her respected in her position by all.

She was excited about her experience which has seen her work on projects in Ghana and Cote dIvoire alongside her male counterparts. She described her experience saying it is as good as gold.

Geodrill Welcomes More Women Into Mining

Using herself as an example, Adzo Gbadam who is in charge of Health and Safety stressed that We would really like to assure women that they can do this work, because Geodrill provides all the necessary training on the job. Something I benefited from to become who I am today.

Iddi Baah-Kurey, Head of Human Resources urged women to consider drilling as it is safe; saying, We work in conjunction with Mine Site Health and Safety teams to ensure the safety of all, including our female workforce.

He noted that since the Health and Safety Coordinator for the firms Ghana operations was a woman; It goes without saying that she is in the best position to device Health and Safety practices to prevent harm and injuries to staff (Both men and women) at the work place.

Baah-Kurey acknowledged that although women some years back showed little interest in mining firms in general, the situation has improved. Geodrill Ghana, West Africas leading exploration drilling company only wishes we had more women candidates applying for technical roles just as they do for other roles.
N ew York has cancelled its St Patricks Day parade for the first time in its 258-year history as Donald Trump ramped up efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus with a travel ban.

The high profile event, usually held on March 17, draws in tens of thousands of performers and millions of spectators to Manhattans Fifth Avenue every year.

But the citys governor Andrew Cuomo announced in a statement early on Thursday morning that it would be postponed to a later date, owing to a nationwide bid to contain Covid-19.

He said: While I know the parade organisers did not make this decision lightly, public health experts agree that one of the most effective ways to contain the spread of the virus is to limit large gatherings and close contacts, and I applaud the parade's leadership for working cooperatively with us.

It's the first time New York's parade won't take place in mid-March / Getty Images

The celebrations in New York date back to 1762, according to historians, making it one of the oldest such celebrations in the world.

Other major cities, including Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Dublin, have also called off their parades, and the White House said its own St Patricks reception would not go ahead out of an abundance of caution.

Trump suspends Europe-US travel

The president said all travel between the US and Europe  excluding the UK and Ireland  would be suspended for 30 days, starting on Friday, as the country gets to grips with the outbreak.

However, a Presidential Proclamation issued later specified that only travellers from the 26 countries in the Schengen border-free travel area were barred, leaving a number of other European countries unaffected.
The government has received requests from Bhutan, Iran, Maldives and Italy for assistance with masks and protective gears in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

Addressing a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the requests from these countries are being processed.

"We are processing such requests. We are processing request from Bhutan, Maldives, Iran and Italy. They are under different stages of processing," he said.

He further said that in February, a consignment was sent to China with the protective gear.

The coronavirus outbreak, declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday, has led to more than 4,000 deaths globally.

The government on Wednesday suspended all visas, barring a few categories like diplomatic and employment, in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus as cases across India rose to more than 70.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Davao City (CNN Philippines, March 12) - The local government of Davao City urged visitors to postpone travel to the city as the country is under the state of public health emergency due to coronavirus disease.

In a set of guidelines released by the local government, all short term visitors in the city are advised to leave immediately.

Further, all its residents are also banned from going out of the city.

However, Davao City clarified that it is not on a lockdown.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will undergo self-quarantine after one of her household staffers was listed among patients under monitoring for coronavirus disease.

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Mindanao is a 54-year-old Filipino male who has no known travel history. He is identified as Patient 40. He is currently admitted at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center in Cagayan de Oro City.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 02:48:33|Editor: Xiang Bo

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Construction equipment of China's LiuGong Machinery is seen at CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, the United States, on March 11, 2020. Top brands of Chinese construction equipment enterprises have stolen the show at North America's largest construction trade exhibition being held in Las Vegas from Tuesday to Saturday. (Xinhua/Huang Heng)

by Xinhua writer Tan Jingjing

LAS VEGAS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Top brands of Chinese construction equipment enterprises have stolen the show at North America's largest construction trade exhibition being held in Las Vegas from Tuesday to Saturday.

Many well-known Chinese construction equipment companies have attended the show despite concerns for the novel coronavirus, including XCMG, LiuGong Machinery, Sany Group, Sunward Equipment Group, Shantui Construction Machinery, and Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology.

Lots of advanced Chinese construction equipment were on display at the five-day show, named CONEXPO-CON/AGG, which covers hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders, bulldozers and rollers. These premium products have attracted attention from more than 2,300 exhibitors worldwide as well as international dealers.

As a technology leader in Chinese construction machinery industry, XCMG has launched a new concept product at the show - pure electric zero-emission excavator XE35U-E.

"We have 24 fine products and complete construction solutions in six categories on display at this exhibition, including hoisting machinery, excavators, loaders, road machinery, piling machinery and aerial work platform. It is the most complete product lineup that XCMG presents to North American customers," Xie Bin, general manager of American Region of XCMG, told Xinhua.

Since 2012, XCMG has set up a research and develop center and a factory in the United States, attracting local talent resources, increasing employment, promoting local economic development, and making its brand known and recognized in North America.

LiuGong, another Chinese multinational construction machinery manufacturing company, highlighted its new F-series excavators and new stage V wheel loader at the show.

The tough machines of LiuGong are supported by more than 300 dealers in over 100 countries, 13 overseas subsidiaries and 12 parts distribution centers, Stacie Adams, director of branding and communications of LiuGong, told Xinhua.

"As a pioneer for the internationalization of Chinese construction machinery manufacturers, we are proud that not only LiuGong, but also other Chinese equipment is working on construction projects worldwide," she said.

The presence and influence of Chinese companies will only continue to grow on the world stage, Adams said.

"We hope to demonstrate the strength of Chinese construction and machinery equipment through the platform of the show, and boost confidence of its customers in the U.S. market and worldwide," Xie Mengtao, president of Sany Group USA Corp, told Xinhua.

Sany has brought a string of new machines and models to the show, such as excavators, wheel loader, rollers and motor graders.

According to China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, China is the largest manufacturing country of construction equipment in the world.

In 2019, sales of Chinese construction machinery exceeded 660 billion yuan (95 billion U.S. dollars), and export value of Chinese construction machinery reached 24.2 billion U.S. dollars.

Albert Cervero, senior vice president of the U.S. Association of Equipment Manufacturers, expressed his appreciation for Chinese companies who made all the way to attend the show.

He said though there is slight drop of participants due to the coronavirus, the exhibition halls are filled up with the most advanced construction equipment from worldwide.

Held every three years in Las Vegas, this massive event features the latest equipment advances and newest technology applications in every field in construction.
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said on Wednesday that about two-thirds of the countrys population could become infected, according to a consensus of experts. The estimate is not wildly out of line with those of officials outside Germany.

The Daily: Todays episode is about what China and South Korea have done right in their efforts to contain the virus.

Another angle: Following President Trumps lead, many commentators on conservative media outlets have played down fears about the virus. Sadly, these viruses pop up time to time, the Fox News host Sean Hannity said this week. Pandemics happen, time to time.

A non-concession concession speech

Senator Bernie Sanders said on Wednesday that he was losing the debate over electability to Joe Biden but stopped short of accepting defeat in the Democratic presidential race, as he challenged the former vice president to address a list of policy issues, including health care and income inequality.

News analysis: 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, our reporters write. He will almost certainly need Mr. Sanderss help to get there.

The details: If Mr. Sanders were to have any chance at winning a majority of delegates before the Democratic convention, he would need to perform much better than he has so far. Here are some possible outcomes for the remaining primaries.
The Madras High Court has



disposed of a petition seeking a direction to the state government to shutdown schools from kindergarten upto high school till the coronavirus is contained.

When the plea came up, the court took note of two letters issued by the state government mentioning precautionary measures against the disease and instructions given to airports for screening all passengers.

It directed the state government to take appropriate steps for issuing instructions that may be necessary in relation to all educational institutions in the state.

Disposing of the plea filed by advocate VK Rajavelu, the court said the petitioner has nowhere disclosed in the entire affidavit even a single incident pertaining to an occurrence of a coronavirus case in any educational institution.

"In the absence of any such material, such cavalier petition does not deserve to be entertained as a knee jerk reaction to shut down the schools," the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice AP Sahi and Justice Senthil Kumar Ramamoorthy, said.

The petitioner said coronavirus cases were increasing the world over and according to doctors, children and elderly people are less immune and likely to get infected soon.

It could not be possible for children to follow precautionary steps against the disease at the educational institutions and there is likelihood of them getting infected, the petitioner said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indias tough decision to virtually ban all foreigners from entering the country for a month, and ask everyone, including Indians, to defer travel unless necessary, came an hour before the World Health Organization (WHO) finally declared the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) a pandemic on Wednesday. While WHO lingered over whether to call Covid-19 a pandemic on the grounds that it may fuel panic, India proactively adopted an agile and aggressive disease-control approach that involved daily inter-ministerial reviews and updated advisories, weeks before the first cases were reported in Kerala. All overseas travellers now risk undergoing a two-week quarantine, even as the home ministry has invoked Epidemic Diseases Act 1897, and Disaster Management Acts 2005, to empower the Centre and state governments to forcefully segregate, test and isolate suspected cases. Such disease containment efforts have prevented, so far, the community transmission of Covid-19, with the disease being limited to people who got infected overseas or their contacts in India.

The inconvenient truth is that the world, including India, is not prepared for a coronavirus epidemic and draconian public health measures need to be taken. An epidemic can easily overwhelm Indias already overburdened health system. This makes it imperative to rigorously enforce travel restrictions, surveillance, contact tracing, social distancing, and sharing updated information with the public to stop panic and prevent the spread of infection. With the window of global containment of the virus closing fast, the government is right in adopting assertive infection-control measures, even if these measures cause short-term public inconvenience, restrict personal freedom, and lead to the possible cancellation of popular events.

India must treat the pandemic as a threat to social security that will, if it spirals out of control like it did in China, Italy, South Korea and Iran, destabilise the economy and wreck health systems. United States President Donald Trumps decision to ban travel from most of Europe is a case of doing too little too late. India must maintain its lead in containment and stop the disease from gaining a foothold within its borders.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian interrupted his vacation and suspended rallies in an ongoing constitutional referendum campaign for at least one day late on Thursday after authorities confirmed two more coronavirus cases, with the total number of patients in the country thus rising to six.

Armenian Health Minister Arsen Torosian said in a Facebook post earlier today that both identified patients had been taken to an infectious diseases hospital in Yerevan.

The two are from among those who had been in close contact with the coronavirus patient from Echmiadzin [a woman who had arrived from Italy]. They were isolated yesterday evening. They had fever and later tested positive for coronavirus. At this moment they feel well and have no fever, Torosian wrote.

Three coronavirus patients identified in Armenia on March 11 had come from Italy  two of them are citizens of Armenia and one is an Italian working in Armenia.

The first coronavirus patient identified in Armenia on March 1 was an Armenian citizen evacuated from Iran.

In a live broadcast on Facebook tonight Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced that his government will hold consultations on Friday to fully assess the situation.

Schools will be closed tomorrow as we will try to better understand and evaluate the situation. We will inform [the public] about our further actions, said Pashinian, adding that campaign events scheduled for Friday will also be postponed.
White babies are no longer a majority of new births, according to theU.S. Census Bureau. America is quietly "browning," it is said, like dinner rolls in a warm oven. Yet such change does not come about without resistance from those who prefer to remain unbaked.

White supremacist groups have been having a "meltdown," says Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups. In an ABC News report, he called the demographic trend "the single most important driver in the growth of hate groups and extremist groups over the last few years."

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To the haters and the racially paranoid, even President Barack Obama's historic election is just one more piece of mounting evidence that whites are losing their majority in America's population. The Census Bureau now expects the nation will have no racial majority in 2042.

Two opposing visions shape our national debate about this demographic development, which largely has been driven by immigration trends. One fears that dramatic cultural change will tear the nation apart. The more hopeful view sees our younger generations, unburdened by historical baggage, leading America to a transformative integrated and post-racial era.

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The truth probably lies between those two scenarios. Today's immigrants are assimilating over time in much the same way as earlier generations, driven by the traditional American dream of opportunity and upward mobility. But I don't expect ethno-cultural differences to lose all value.

America's traditional melting pot always has been more of a mulligan stew, balancing respect for ethnic traditions with a sense of common purpose. Our challenge for the future, as in the past, is how we can make that stew work for everybody and keep it from boiling over.

The element of race adds a new complication to assimilation in a country that seldom has undertaken racial change easily. As much as Americans have benefited from a national identity that is based on ideas, not a single racial or ethnic tribe, white supremacy was embedded in law for most of our history. Every naturalization act from 1790 to 1952 included language that reserved citizenship to a "white person," although standards as to who is considered "white" constantly have changed.

Even today, slightly more than half of those who checked "Hispanic" for ethnicity on the 2010 census forms also checked "white" for race. To the census, you are whatever you say you are, even if others see something different when they look at you.

Still, the question of who can melt in today's melting pot rings alarm bells for some who long for a more monocultural past. An unhappy blogger who identifies himself as "Roger" laments in a post on Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum website that "the USA is being transformed by immigrants" who "have high rates of illiteracy, illegitimacy and gang crime, and they will vote Democrat when the Democrats promise them more food stamps."

Roger's narrative runs quite the opposite of historical realities. Most immigrants are known for working long hours in rough conditions for low wages, driven by hope for a better life, including a good education for their children.

And their social conservatism on issues like abortion, gay marriage, school prayer and capital punishment tends to be closer to Schlafly than Obama. Rising Republican stars like Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida show that immigrant ambitions don't have to lead to the Democratic Party.

But Roger is hardly alone in his discomfort with change  and not all of the uncomfortable folks are white. Former District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry, now a City Council member, offered a recent example. He apologized for his "admittedly bad choice of words" in suggesting in earlier public remarks that Asian business owners in his ward "ought to go."

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Obviously the landscape is changing for us black folks too. As we gain some measure of power in the melting pot, our victim rhetoric must change too.

In fact, if anyone should be concerned about helping white Americans adjust to becoming a minority, it is African-Americans. We have lots of experience.

Clarence Page is a member of the Tribune's editorial board and blogs at chicagotribune.com/pagespage.

cpage@tribune.com

Twitter @cptime
Reuters investigates the criminal drug trafficking routes that Brazilian drug gangs use to reach the highly lucrative European market, where cocaine fetches billions. Brazil has become a major new launchpad for the drug export through port cities, and authorities are scrambling to contain it.
With the coronavirus pandemic forcing the cancellation of most gatherings in the near future, Laois is assured of one huge event this summer.

The MD of Festival Republic Melvin Benn has addressed the issue.

He spoke to the Leinster Express following the launch of this year's first line-up of performers on Wednesday March 12, just a day before Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the restrictions across Ireland to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Benn is confident that the coronavirus will not impact Electric Picnic which takes place next September 4 to 7..

I am not too concerned about that. I am happy with where we are. By June we should be over the hump with it, he said.

Read the full lineup here.

The 16th festival takes place again in an expanded arena in the Cosby estate in Stradbally to its biggest crowd yet of 70,000 ticketholders and is already sold out.
British insurer LV= on Thursday said it had suspended sales of travel policies owing to turmoil linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

Many travellers do not ordinarily purchase travel insurance but the virus fallout has seen a spike in demand.

"In light of the significant impact that coronavirus is having globally, LV=... has taken the difficult decision to pause the sale of travel insurance to new customers," the company said in a statement.

"In the last couple of weeks, we've seen the number of policies sold double." LV= stressed that the suspension was a temporary move, adding there would be no change for existing customers. "We will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the decision on an ongoing basis," the company said.

UK insurer Aviva has meanwhile adjusted its travel cover to reflect risks posed by COVID-19.

New customers can still buy insurance but would not be able to select add-on cover for "travel disruption" or "airspace closure", it added.

Aviva has paused also the sale of single-trip insurance for customers travelling to Italy -- the European country hardest hit by the coronavirus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- Zimbabwe has announced plans to return land taken during its land reform programme

- Numerous fatalities occurred during the seizures, which began two decades ago

- Now, the government has new legislation to compensate former landowners

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Zimbabwe is moving to undo the controversial land reform programme it implemented in 2000.

Fin24 reports that the Zimbabwean government has gazetted new legislation allowing former landowners to choose between repossession or monetary compensation.

These new regulations will apply to both indigenous farmers and those whose land had been protected by treaties.

At the time of the land reform, South Africa and other countries had signed investment protection agreements to safeguard interests.

However, the new laws do not automatically grant former landowners compensation. Applications may be rejected "on the basis that granting it would be contrary to the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, regional or town planning or the general public interest".

READ ALSO: Zimbabwe struggles to put food on tables: 40% hike in bread price

The South African Embassy in Zimbabwe welcomed the decision to return the land to former owners, with a spokesperson commenting:

"We welcome the development, as we believe there is enough land waiting to be used. We think the position is in line with the mantra 'Zimbabwe is open for business'. While we dont have the numbers, in terms of those likely to benefit, we have spoken to a number of South African farmers who already have their own funding to start agriculture activity in Zimbabwe, so this decision is welcome."

Briefly.co.za reported that Zimbabwe is currently facing a food crisis, with the United Nations stepping in to help feed the nation.

The UN World Food Programme intends to double the number of citizens it helps to 4.1 million, requiring over $200 million (R3.2 billion) to meet demand in the first half of the year.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!

Source: Briefly News
Lebanon is halting all flights to and from the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, and giving its citizens in other coronavirus-struck countries four days to return home.

Flights to and from Italy, South Korea, China and Iran will be suspended, Prime Minister Hassan Diab said March 11. Lebanon will also ban arrivals from France, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The country of some 6 million people has at least 61 confirmed cases of COVID-19. In what marked the countrys first recorded death, a 56-year-old man with pre-existing health conditions contracted the disease while visiting Egypt and died March 10.

Health officials on Wednesday also confirmed the death of a 55-year-old Lebanese man who had been in contact with others who had recently traveled abroad.

The coronavirus outbreak comes as Lebanon deals with an economic crisis. The countrys financial woes, coupled with months of anti-government protests over poor living conditions, have hindered the governments ability to deal with the coronavirus.

Even before the viral outbreak, doctors were reporting medical supply shortages and private hospitals complained the government owed them an estimated $1.3 billion in unpaid dues.

Meanwhile, health care workers treating coronavirus patients at Rafik Hariri University Hospital announced an open-ended strike beginning the morning of March 12, citing harsh conditions and the indifference of management.

Lebanon joins a host of other Middle East countries implementing temporary travel restrictions. On March 9, Saudi Arabia extended its travel ban to include 14 countries, and Israel announced all those returning to the country must self-quarantine for two weeks.

This story contains additional reporting from Agence France-Presse.
Achmad Yurianto, an official of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, said the woman, a foreign national, had already been in critical condition when she was admitted to a hospital.

Yurianto did not say where the woman was from or in what hospital or city she had died, but said her home country's embassy was aware of her death and would arrange to have her body repatriated.

People in Jakarta, Indonesia, wear face masks to prevent COVID-19 infection on March 3rd (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)



Meanwhile, the administration of Jakarta has decided to postpone its debut Formula E race, initially slated for June 6, over concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus. The electric car race would be pushed back to a later date, depending on developments of the outbreak.

This is the third Formula E race cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, following Rome E-Prix in Italy and Sanya E-Prix in China.

In Thailand, six more cases of COVID-19 infection were reported on March 11th, raising the number of such patients there to 59. The new cases include five Thais and one Singaporean.

Among the 59 cases, there have been one death, 24 still under treatment and 34 discharged from hospital, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC) of Thailand.

The countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested 7,000 Thai citizens in Italy to comply with the European nations total lockdown, which is meant to cope with the spread of the disease.

Besides, the DDC is planning to impose compulsory measures to all visitors to Thailand, including notifying personal and contact information such as mobile phone numbers and email addresses, as part of steps to control the outbreak. The policy will commence on March 12th and all personal information of inbound tourists will be kept in the system for 14 days after their arrival./.
The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu



on Thursday said it has put on hold the National Population Register exercise, saying the Central government has not responded to its concerns over some new features.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami had written to the Centre seeking appropriate amendments to the provisions to allay the fears of minority communities, especially Muslims, over queries like Aadhar and details of parents and the Centre was yet to respond, Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar said.

AIADMK is the second ally of BJP to raise concerns over NPR after the assembly in NDA-ruled Bihar passed an unanimous resolution that it would be carried out strictly according to the 2010 format.

Udhayakumar said the Tamil Nadu government was clear it will begin the exercise only after getting clarification from the Centre.

"Till now there is no reply to the state's letter seeking clarification and hence the NPR exercise is put on hold," he told reporters here.

The AIADMK government's stand came amid demands by the main opposition DMK that the state should not take up NPR, which has also been stayed in opposition ruled states, including Kerala and West Bengal.

He refuted the claim of DMK chief M K Stalin that people would be forced to submit documents during the NPR exercise.

"We are repeating again that people need not submit any documents for NPR... During the NPR exercise, if the officials ask questions, whatever answers you are giving, it will be taken. No need to submit any documents", he said.

Hitting out at the DMK, he said the NPR was introduced in 2010 when the party was part of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and did not oppose the move then.

"Even during the DMK rule, NPR was implemented in the state. But now, you all know that there has been a series of discussions on the NPR", he said.

The Minister said NPR applies to all religions and does not single out any particular religion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
The Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has again visited Muzaffarnagar to inquire into alleged atrocities against children in violence during protests against the amended citizenship law

Muzaffarnagar: The Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has again visited Muzaffarnagar to inquire into alleged atrocities against children in violence during protests against the amended citizenship law in December last year.

The team, led by its chairman Vishesh Gupta, visited the affected areas on Wednesday and recorded statements of affected students in Sadat hostel of a madrassa.

During violence, some students were detained and later released following court orders on the report that they were found to be innocent. The apex court has directed the state government to report about the complaint.

One person was shot dead and several injured while property was damaged in Muzaffarnagar during the violence on 20 December. Police registered cases and arrested several people in this connection.

The child rights body came to the city for the second time in a week after their last visit on 7 March to inquire into the incident.
The seized arsenal included several grenade launchers, a mounted machine gun, six heavy machine guns and almost 3,000 ammunition cartridges of various calibers

Arsenal in Luhansk region SBU

Workers of Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) managed to prevent the case of illegal arms traffic in Luhansk region, namely in the area of Joint Forces Operation.

"By the early estimates of the investigation, members of the organized gang tried to move military-grade weaponry from the area of Joint Forces Operation to other regions of our country", the SBU press office said.

The law enforcers detained two defendants at the checkpoint on Lysychansk-Bakhmut roadway, as they drove a van. The seized arsenal included three grenade launchers, a mounted machine gun, six heavy machine guns and almost 3,000 ammunition cartridges of various calibers.

Earlier, the HQ of the Joint Forces Operation reported that a group of snipers of the regular Russian army came to Dombas; they appeared to be the cadets who arrived in the combat area for their "final exam". "The occupants wounded one of our defenders by the aiming fire. The injured soldier was provided with the necessary aid urgently. Such criminal activity was not left without a response. The Ukrainian military, using the permitted armament, destroyed the firing points of the enemy. The losses of the enemy to be specified, the message said.
Officials in Karnataka confirmed Indias first fatality due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Thursday, opening a worrying new chapter in the pandemics spread in the country where 74 people have now been sickened and tens of thousands more put under surveillance for possible exposure to the infected.

The confirmation came on a day when 14 more people tested positive for the infection across the country, and authorities at various levels announced unprecedented new curbs.

Delhi declared Covid-19 an epidemic and ordered all cinema halls shut, Mumbai banned all public events, and at least four states said they were suspending regular classes in schools and colleges.

A 76-year-old man from Kalburgi who passed away (on Tuesday) and was a suspected Covid-19 patient has been confirmed for Covid-19. The necessary contact tracing, isolation and other measures as per protocol are being carried out, said a statement by the Karnataka government.

The death was confirmed by the Union health secretary Preeti Sudan, who said the man also suffered from other conditions such as high blood pressure and asthma. While he was asymptomatic on his return, he developed symptoms of fever and cough on March 6, 2020, the ministry added in a statement.

ALSO WATCH | Delhi govt declares coronavirus an epidemic: CM Arvind Kejriwal

The victim returned from a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on February 29 and died while being moved from a hospital in Hyderabad to his hometown. Officials suspect he may have acquired the infection abroad, as has been the case with all index patients in India.

From 60 on Wednesday, the rise in Thursdays tally of active cases makes it the biggest single-day jump in cases in over a week when infections of a cluster of 17 Italian tourists were detected.

The patients confirmed on Thursday included nine in Maharashtra, two in Uttar Pradesh, and one each in Delhi, Ladakh and Andhra Pradesh.

About 1,500 people who came in contact with the positive cases are under observation while about 35,000 people across the country are under community surveillance as part of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) that monitors suspected cases at the community level, said Lav Aggarwal, joint secretary, Union health ministry at a press briefing earlier on Thursday.

Active patients include 16 Italians and one Canadian. The total tally of 74 -- not including the deceased -- includes three from Kerala who were discharged last month after recovery.

The new pathogen, called Sars-Cov-2, has raced around the world since it began from central China in late December, infecting at least 130,000 people till Thursday and claiming the lives of close 4,700. While most of these numbers are from China, the disease is now spreading at a growing speed in other parts of the world, particularly countries such as Iran, Italy and some other European nations.

All of Indias cases can at present be traced to infections from patients who caught the disease while travelling in these nations  a factor that prompted the Union government on Wednesday to take the drastic step of shutting the country off for foreign tourists for a month.

The government also invoked two laws giving officials at state levels powers to take extraordinary steps to combat the outbreak. The Delhi government has declared coronavirus an epidemic. We need to exercise abundant caution to contain the disease. All cinema halls, schools, colleges in Delhi will be shut until March 31, but exams will continue as scheduled. People are advised to stay away from public gatherings, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal after a crucial meeting to discuss the issue on Thursday.

Chhattisgarh, Manipur and Uttarakhand too ordered schools and colleges to be shut for the time being.

Urging people not to panic, the Union health ministry justified the intensifying new curbs.

Cases doubling in a span of say four weeks (from January 31 to March 3) is not a concern for India as we have a small number of positive cases. However, as a matter of abundant precaution we are pulling all stops to contain the infection so that it doesnt spiral out of control, said Dr RR Gangakhedkar, epidemiology head, Indian Council of Medical Research.

The Delhi administration also directed made it mandatory for all offices, shopping malls and other public spaces to be disinfected on a daily basis.

Kejriwal also said the government will open unused flats and rooms in under-construction hospitals if needed.

Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba outlined specific tasks to different ministries on Thursday to sharpen the governments efforts to contain the outbreak. Home ministry has been asked to identify facilities that can be used for isolation wards, quarantine centres or temporary hospitals. It has also been asked to ensure immigration services strictly implement the visa restrictions.

The foreign ministry has been asked to communicate with other countries and provide advisories to Indians abroad and advise the government on impact of trade and travel restrictions in the country.

The defence ministry has been told to extend its medical facilities for civilians and contribute to the pool of public health experts

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Two Indians who had gone to Iran for some business purposes are now stuck in the country that is among the worst-hit by coronavirus as all civil aviation routes have been closed in the wake of the deadly virus outbreak.

Arvind Jadhav and Vedant Kadam, residents of Mumbai, are stuck in Iranian capital of Tehran and have requested the Indian government to rescue them as soon as possible. They are concerned as all civil aviation routes have been closed in Tehran and they are trapped.

The hotel, in which they are living, is also planning to shut down soon, as only eight of its 250 rooms are occupied. They are in touch with their families on Whatsapp and are appealing to the Indian government to help them immediately.

The number of people who have died from the novel coronavirus in Iran jumped to 354 after the country reported the highest single-day total of 63 fatalities on Wednesday, said Alireza Vahabzadeh, an adviser to the countrys health minister.

The Iranian authorities have taken several steps to prevent the further spread of the disease, including suspension of classes in schools and universities and postponing cultural and sporting events.

As of Wednesday, there were almost 120,000 confirmed cases globally, with the total number of deaths exceeding 4,300.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Madrid  Thu, March 12, 2020 17:01 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a228ab 2 Art & Culture Fallas-festival,Spain,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Officials in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia debated Wednesday what to do with large sculptures set up on its streets for its annual "Fallas" festival after the event was postponed due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.

Called "ninots", the sculptures made of wood, plaster and papier mache -- some as tall as a four-story building -- depict fairytale figures and cartoonish effigies of politicians and celebrities.

They are brought out into the streets of the Mediterranean city and then burned on the last day of fiesta, held every year on March 15-19.

The UNESCO recognized festival, a centuries-old tradition honoring Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, is believed to have evolved from pagan rituals marking the end of winter and usually attracts one million people to Valencia.

But late on Tuesday regional authorities decided to postpone the event to a yet to be determined date to try to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus in Spain, which has recorded 48 deaths from the disease so far making it one of the hardest-hit countries in Europe.

It is the first time that the festival has been suspended since the end of Spain's 1936-39 civil war.

The problem is that many sculptures, which are made by groups of artisans over several months, have already been set up in the streets.

Read also: Spain virus death toll hits eight as infections jump

Valencia city hall initially proposed that the "ninots" be temporarily stored in the city's congress center.

But the association representing the artisans who make the sculptures advised its members not to take down works already in the streets until it was clear who would be responsible for the cost of this operation which it estimated would be "high".

The "ninots" are made by 380 associations of locals who this year spent an estimated 7.8 million euros ($8.8 million) on the works.

In the square in front of city hall locals placed a large face mask on a giant sculpture of a woman's face with her eyes closed.

The artisans finally agreed late on Wednesday to start taking down the sculptures and put them in storage after city hall agreed to split the cost involved with the regional government of Valencia and proposed holding the festival on July 15-19.

Any sculpture that can not be dismantled will be burned "behind closed doors", the Valencia city councilor in charge of culture, Carlos Galiana, told a news conference.

The sculptures are traditionally exhibited beforehand for the public to vote on their favorite with two saved from the bonfire on the last day of the festival and stored in a permanent collection at the local Fallas museum.
Swiss Re has formed a strategic alliance with Microsoft Corp., which is providing digital tools to support Swiss Res new Digital Market Center.

The Digital Market Center is designed to help develop next-generation, large-scale tools to transform the way the insurance industry predicts and manages risks, as well as new product creation, the reinsurer said.

Swiss Res Digital Market Center will draw on Microsofts next-generation Azure cloud technologies, internet of things and artificial intelligence capabilities.

The first areas of application are planned to be connected vehicles and mobility, industrial manufacturing (Industry 4.0), and natural catastrophe resilience, said Swiss Re. The Digital Market Center will also develop innovative cyber platforms to measure business risks in a digital environment, enabling a new class of risk technology solutions.

The Digital Market Center will offer insurers a broader understanding of risks. For example, Swiss Re said, it will be able to develop a deeper analysis of automotive risks such as a cars safety performance when using the latest driving assistance technologies. By providing such data-driven insights, powered by Microsofts automotive data capabilities, Swiss Re noted, it will enable insurers to design innovative new motor insurance products, such as pay-as-you-drive covers.

Swiss Res work in this area will go beyond new product creation and provide broader risk insights for complex, interconnected systems. For example, risk managers can get a greater understanding of how the loss of a ships cargo may affect global supply chains, or how natural catastrophes will impact a governments key infrastructure investments. Based on these type of data insights, insurers can develop solutions that proactively mitigate losses before they occur, Swiss Re said.

As part of the strategic alliance, Swiss Re will transform its internal operating platform by modernizing and moving it to the Azure cloud. This move will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the core processes by leveraging the most advanced data processing and AI capabilities at scale.

Swiss Res alliance with Microsoft will help accelerate the digital transformation of the insurance industry, with benefits across all lines of business, said Thierry Leger, CEO Swiss Re Life Capital, in a statement.

By building digital markets and not just isolated products, we aim to transform the way businesses approach the risks they face. The alliance between Swiss Re and Microsoft presents an exciting opportunity for the insurance industry, he added.

Anette Bronder, Swiss Re group chief operating officer, said: Digital transformation can only be achieved through strong partnerships. The strategic alliance with Microsoft will greatly advance our ability to make our risk expertise available to our clients. At the same time, we can achieve significant efficiency gains for our own internal platforms and processes. This is an important step for Swiss Res evolution as a leading data-enabled risk knowledge company.

I am looking forward to seeing how this collaboration enables new pathways for innovation in how insurance solutions are built and managed, commented Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice president and president, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations at Microsoft.

By combining Swiss Res risk expertise with Microsoft Azure, we have the opportunity to deliver greater peace of mind to people and to enrich their experience with the insurance industry, added Courtois.

Source: Swiss Re

Topics InsurTech New Markets Market Swiss Re Data Driven
By Tomo Uetake

SYDNEY, March 12 (Reuters) - Japanese shares tumbled on Thursday, with major indexes at three-year lows after the United States rattled markets by imposing sweeping restrictions on travel from Europe and world health officials declared the coronavirus a pandemic.

The benchmark Nikkei average slumped 4.4% to 18,559.63, its lowest closing level since April 2017. The fall was the second-biggest one-day decline in 15 months and dragged the index into bear market territory - 23% off its Jan. 17 peak.

The Nikkei's volatility index, a measure of investors' volatility expectations based on option pricing, jumped more than 10% to 52.09, its highest since March 2011 when massive earthquakes and a tsunami struck Japan.

The Nikkei slid further below the estimated average cost of the Bank of Japan's stock purchases around 19,500, raising concerns about the central bank's credibility and the sustainability of its hyper-easy monetary policy.

The World Health Organization described the new coronavirus as a pandemic for the first time on Wednesday, adding that Italy and Iran were now on the frontline of the disease and other countries would soon join them.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington will suspend most travel from Europe, except from the United Kingdom, to the United States for 30 days starting on Friday.

He also announced some other steps, including instructing the Treasury Department to defer tax payments for entities hit by the virus.

But investors were hardly convinced those measures will turn around the global economy as concerns grew that the number of infections could quickly snowball in many countries.

"I think markets are sending a clear signal to the White House that the measures announced today were too little too late," said Mick McCarthy, chief strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney.

The broader Topix plummeted 4.1% to 1,327.88, its lowest closing since November 2016, sinking deeper into a bear market.

Story continues

All of the 33 sector sub-indexes on the Tokyo Stock Exchange traded lower, with sea transport, air transport and mining being the worst three performing sectors.

"Investors just want to pull out funds from every risk asset. It doesn't matter whether shares are defensive or which sector they belong to," said Yasuo Sakuma, chief investment officer at Libra Investments in Tokyo.

"Looking at bank and real estate shares, there appear to be worries this could lead to a financial crisis."

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc and Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd shed 5.5% each, while the TSE REIT index plunged 6.5%.

Among other major names, Toyota Motor Corp dropped 3.5%, SoftBank Group Corp lost 6.3% and Sony Corp declined 4.3%.

Elsewhere, the index of Mothers start-up shares plunged 5.4% to a seven-year trough. (Reporting by Tomo Uetake; Additional reporting by Alun John; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Lincoln Feast.)
Senator James Lankford (R., Ok.) on Thursday said President Trump should stop saying that anyone who wants to be tested for the Wuhan coronavirus can get tested.

That is not accurate right now, Lankford told CNN. People should stop saying if you want a test, you should get a test right now. Thats not here at this point

Representative Mark Walker (R., N.C.) on Thursday said lawmakers have become increasingly frustrated with the Center for Disease Control and Preventions response to the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.

There is a growing frustration among members as a whole to get more definitive answers from the CDC regarding testing capabilities for the illness, Walker said. The representative had just emerged from a bipartisan briefing by the CDC.

We have a serious deficiency in being prepared for testing, Senator Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.) said. South Korea, for example, is doing a better job. We not only need a better system for later. We need a better system for now, and were going to focus on that as rapidly as we can.

When CDC officials were asked why the U.S. had not been able to make testing readily available like in South Korea, the officials struggled to give a really strong answer, Walker said.

Theres questions that havent been answered, commented Senator Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), an ally of President Trump, after the briefing. And until I get answers I dont want to make a judgment on whether or not Im satisfied.

Senator Mitt Romney (R., Utah) concurred.

The explanation is not satisfactory, Romney said. The point is made that we have a system that relies upon the private sector. That there have been difficultiesbut of course expectations have not been met.

South Korea has announced the ability to carry out 15,000 tests for the Wuhan coronavirus per day, while testing is also widely available in Australia. On Monday, CDC Director Robert Redfield said government labs in the U.S. have tested 4,900 people since the start of the outbreak.

More from National Review
The Ukrainian Finance Ministrys course remains unchanged, and its cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) continues, the Ministrys press service has reported.

"The strategic course of the Finance Ministry remains unchanged: cooperation with the International Monetary Fund continues," the report says.

According to Finance Minister Ihor Umansky, the government activity remains within the framework of the Staff Level Agreement reached between the IMF and the previous government.

Of course, all these agreements were reached with the expectation of receiving a new Extended Fund Facility in November-December 2019. The government could have started with a clean slate with the IMF, but it was decided to take prior agreements as a basis and update them. The updating is a matter of weeks, the minister explained.

On March 10, the Ukrainian government already discussed key issues with the IMF during a telephone conversation. The minister noted that a visit to Washington, D.C. will be prepared as soon as the need arises.

As reported, on January 18, 2020, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that Ukraine should fulfill preliminary requirements for the launch of a new Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program worth $5.5 billion. According to her, Ukraine and the IMF have reached a staff-level agreement that stipulates the fulfillment of certain preliminary requirements.

In December 2019, the IMF agreed with the Ukrainian government on a new three-year EFF program for 4 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), or about $5.52 billion.

ish
List of Coronavirus testing center in India

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Mar 12: The number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharahtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Giving a sate-wise breakup, the ministry said Delhi reported six positive cases and Uttar Pradesh 10. Karnataka has four cases, Maharashtra 11 and Ladakh three. Besides, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have reported one case each. Kerala has recorded 17 cases, including three patients who were discharged last month after they recovered from the infection declared a global pandemic. The total number of 73 confirmed cases includes 17 foreigners, 16 Italian tourists and one more foreigner whose nationality cannot be immediately ascertained, the ministry said.

As the contagious disease with flu-like symptoms spreads across the globe, the cabinet secretary has said states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 so all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments are enforceable.

Coronavirus vaccine: Scientists in Israel likely to announce soon

Here is the list of 52 labs across India where coronavirus testing is available:

Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh GMC, Anantapur, AP Regional Medical Research Centre, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati6. Regional Medical Research Center, Dibrugarh Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh All India Institute Medical Sciences, Raipur All India Institute Medical Sciences, Delhi National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad M.P.Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Inst. of Med. Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana BPS Govt Medical College, Sonipat Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh Dr.Rajendra Prasad Govt. Med. College, Kangra, Tanda, HP Sher-e- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar Government Medical College, Jammu MGM Medical College, Jamshedpur Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bangalore National Institute of Virology Field Unit Bangalore Mysore Medical College & Research Institute, Mysore Hassan Inst. of Med. Sciences, Hassan, Karnataka Shimoga Inst. of Med. Sciences, Shivamogga, Karnataka National Institute of Virology Field Unit, Kerala Govt. Medical College, Thriuvananthapuram, Kerala Govt. Medical College, Kozhikhode, Kerala All India Institute Medical Sciences, Bhopal National Institute of Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur NEIGRI of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Mumbai J N Inst. of Med. Sciences Hospital, Imphal-East, Manipur Regional Medical Research Center, Bhubaneswar Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab Government Medical College, Amritsar Sawai Man Singh, Jaipur Dr. S.N Medical College, Jodhpur Jhalawar Medical College, Jhalawar, Rajasthan SP Med. College, Bikaner, Rajasthan King's Institute of Preventive Medicine & Research, Chennai Government Medical College, Theni Government Medical College, Agartala Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad King's George Medical University, Lucknow Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Government Medical College, Haldwani National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata IPGMER, Kolkata

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 16:36 [IST]
US nurses staged a day of action Wednesday calling for better protection in the fight against coronavirus, warning that medical chiefs had failed to learn from previous deadly global health crises. "We need the proper protection... if we aren't safe, our patients and our community aren't safe," warned Marcia Santini, an emergency room nurse at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) medical center. "The virus is just the latest in a long string of infectious disease crises that we have dealt with in recent years, including SARS, H1N1 (swine flu) and Ebola," she said. "Each time we are faced with a new infectious disease, our union is forced to address staffing, protection equipment and training." Santini, who has three decades of experience, spoke to AFP at one of a dozen events in California, Illinois and Georgia held by the country's largest nursing union. Last week the 150,000-strong National Nurses United issued the result of a survey denouncing the "disturbing" lack of preparation at many hospitals and clinics in the face of the deadly outbreak. Over a third of respondees did not have access to protective masks, and half had not received any information on the novel coronavirus from employers. Mary Beth Soscia told AFP that her ambulance in Los Angeles does not have any specific protective equipment against coronavirus. Mike Hill, at a protest in Oakland near San Francisco, said resources and training should have been stepped up when the virus first broke out in Asia. "We've known about this for quite a while, leading up to this -- we should have been more prepared," he said, as nurses dressed in bright red and holding balloons gathered outside a hospital chanting "Keep us safe!" - 'My family at risk' - Advice on handling and testing potentially infected patients has varied from county to county. Northern California's Placer, Yolo and Sacramento are among those which no longer advise people exposed to the virus -- including health care workers and first responders -- to quarantine themselves for two weeks. For Andrea Peregrin, an emergency nurse based in southern California's Santa Monica, that guidance is at odds with her own training. "I think that anyone who has been exposed to a potential patient needs to be quarantined, and that's why we need adequate staffing to prepare for that," she told AFP. UCLA must "create a plan to not only prevent exposure, but to ensure that we have adequate staffing in all of our facilities," she said, pointing to another California hospital where over 100 medics are currently quarantined. Estela Villegas, at UCLA's pediatric intensive care unit, agreed that mixed messages were a cause for major concern. Days earlier an 18-month-old infant who showed signs of coronavirus had arrived without any notification, and had to be placed in isolation. "We had not been trained beforehand," she said. "I think about the health of my patients, but I also want to be able to go home without telling myself that I'm putting my family at risk." Nurses say resources and training should have been stepped up when the novel coronavirus first broke out in Asia The National Nurses United issued the results of a survery denouncing the "disturbing" lack of preparation at many hospitals and clinics in the face of the deadly outbreak Many nurses do not have any specific protective equipment against coronavirus Advice on handling and testing potentially infected patients has varied wildly from county to county
Too much, too late: that sums up Donald Trumps unprecedented ban on Europeans visiting the US.

As tourists and business travellers with transatlantic bookings are turned away from airports, the coronavirus journey has taken another alarming swerve into uncharted territory.

Banning French and German visitors will have little effect on flattening the curve of infection in America. But it will traumatise the travel industry and cause lasting damage to the reputation of the US as a welcoming destination.

In the short term, the travel plans of millions of people have been torn up  with airlines, hotels and travel insurers squabbling over who takes the biggest hits of a billion-dollar decision.

Transatlantic airlines are now facing a cataclysmic fall in bookings: while British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are continuing to fly, plenty of their business involves taking Continental Europeans via London Heathrow to the US.

American destinations heavily dependent on international tourism, including New York City, Florida and California, will see a slump in visitor numbers that will hit every business, from Main Street diners to giant theme parks.

Forward bookings for the summer are likely to cease  not just from Continental Europe but also from other nations, whose prospective holidaymakers will not take the risk of falling foul of a new and arbitrary travel ban.

When the mist of coronavirus fears finally clears, the US will face an uphill battle to re-energise international tourism. Taking visitors for granted and then excluding them on a presidential whim is not a strategy for long-term success.

The US move will also damage the flagging tourism fortunes on this side of the Atlantic. Trumps ban sent a message to Americans that Europe is unsafe.

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

Added to Israels decision to close its airports and borders to foreigners, and Vietnam introducing impossibly draconian visa rules, who would book a trip abroad with confidence?

Until 2020, the main battle in tourism was between nations seeking to grab a larger slice of the ever-expanding travel cake. That cake is shrinking rapidly.

From now on, the bigger struggle will be to convince the newly wary to venture from their homes at all.

Travel, the industry of human happiness, has never felt so miserable.
San Franciscos booming skyline carries a special warning. The enormous financial stakes can lead both developers and city officials to break the rules in the rush to build. The public is now getting a closer look at one alleged incident.

The chief of the Bureau of Building Inspection is facing pressure to quit after claims by the city attorneys office that he had improper links with several high-profile insiders who figured in the opening stages of a corruption scandal.

Mayor London Breed, herself touched by the saga, is now playing sword-swinging enforcer. Shes aiming to fire Tom Hui via her appointees on a commission that oversees the bureau and has already suspended him. Given the temperature around a widening story, his dismissal seems nearly automatic.

What the public is seeing is both petty and sweeping. Hui pressed a favor-seeking permit expediter to find jobs for his son and the sons girlfriend. That may sound improper but it pales next to a second claim that Hui was repeatedly wined and dined by a billionaire developer with a snagged-up project. Hovering in the picture is former Department of Public Works head Mohammed Nuru, who was arrested by the FBI in January on corruption charges.

For the city, the overall investigation is tricky. The FBI work continues. Mayor Breed, who allowed longtime friend Nuru to front the cost of a car repair, ordered up the inquiry by City Attorney Dennis Herrera that is now bearing results. Another idea for an outside inquiry was brought up by Breeds progressive foes on the Board of Supervisors. There are plenty of politics in play beyond the charges so far.

The city needs a complete look at a troubling downside of its burgeoning economic success. Shady city officials may be cashing in on a super-charged business climate and outside interests are eager to help. The trail of evidence is leading ever higher into city hall ranks. That should give a fuller picture of how widespread the scandal has spread.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
After World Health Organization (WHO) escalated Coronavirus outbreak to pandemic status; the team of Ketevan Sacred Music Festival 2020 announced that the festival has been postponed until further notice, in a statement on Thursday.

"In light of the WHO escalating Covid-19 to pandemic status, we deeply regret to announce that our Festival needs to be postponed for now, but will be rescheduled after analyzing the situation at a future date."

"Since the core spirit of our Festival has always been to promote peaceful co-existence, we are keen to follow all the health and travel guidelines stated by the Indian Government to ensure the safety of everyone involved," the statement added.

The statement also expressed thanks to the support from the patrons assuring that a rescheduling of the festival will be done once the crisis subsides. "We'd like to thank all our loyal supporters for donating their time and resources towards our Festival this year. We will definitely celebrate our 2020 Fifth Edition after this crisis passes," the statement added.

The number of people who are COVID-19 positive has gone up to 73, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and expressed deep concerns.

India has taken several steps to contain the virus, including suspension of all visas to India till April 15, after the WHO declared coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged today. On Tuesday, petrol prices were slashed by 30 paise per litre and diesel prices were cut by 25 paise. Petrol and diesel prices are the lowest in several months, with petrol being sold at a nine-month low price, while diesel at a 13-month low rate.

Crude oil prices suffered a massive slump of 25 per cent after Saudi Arabia declared a price war with Russia, which caused petrol and diesel price fall in India.

In the national capital, a litre of petrol is at Rs 70.29 per litre and diesel is at Rs 63.01. In Mumbai, a litre of petrol is priced at Rs 75.99 while diesel is priced at Rs 65.97 per litre. In Chennai, petrol is at Rs 73.02 and diesel is at Rs 66.48. In Bengaluru, a litre of petrol can be bought at Rs 72.70 and diesel is at Rs 65.16. In Hyderabad, petrol is at Rs 74.72 per litre while diesel is at Rs 68.60 per litre. In NCR's Gurgoan petrol is at Rs 70.76 per litre and diesel is at Rs 62.69 per litre.

Oil marketing companies are taking into account a complex algorithm comprising of a 15-day average of international prices of petrol and diesel along with the value of rupee against the US dollar. Any effect of rapid change in oil prices across the world gets instantly reflected in the prices of petrol and diesel in India.

Congress, in the aftermath of the drastic reduction in crude oil prices, has demanded that the government cut petrol, diesel prices. Rahul Gandhi in a tweet on Wednesday had demanded that petrol prices should be brought below Rs 60 per litre. He said to the Prime Ministers Office, "Could you please pass on the benefit to Indians by slashing #petrol prices to under 60 per litre? Will help boost the stalled economy."

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

Internationally, the crude oil prices recovered nearly half of Monday's 25% plunge, according to LiveMint. Brent crude oil rates jumped 8.3% yesterday and around 4% today.

Also Read: Make petrol Rs 60 per litre instead of destabilising govt': Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi

Also Read: Fuel rates slashed by over Rs 2; check out petrol, diesel prices today
A public health emergency cannot be tackled by spreading panic.

Inuenza has the potential to infect many people quickly. Although the death rate for seasonal u is probably only around 1% of those affected, when the numbers so affected run into millions, as they do in India, the number of people who die will also be large. It is this potential that generates fear and underlies the near-hysteria that is now sweeping across western India and threatens to do so in the rest of the country over the spread of the A(H1N1) virus.

The world has seen many epidemics of inuenza. In the last century there were three pandemics: the Spanish inuenza in 1918, Asian inuenza in 1957, and Hong Kong inuenza in 1968. The 1918 pandemic is considered one of the deadliest in human history and killed an estimated 40 to 50 million people. The others were milder. In 1957 there were about two million deaths and in 1968 approximately one million.
Fears over the Covid variant meant that, from late November, all travellers arriving in the UK were required to take a lateral flow test before flying and self-isolate until they received a negative result from a post-arrival PCR test. This led to many people scrapping their travel plans over the festive period - which is typically one of the busiest times of the year outside summer for international travel from Britain. A total of 19.4 million people travelled through Heathrow across the whole of last year - less than a quarter of the pre-pandemic level in 2019, and 12.3% down on 2020. Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: 'There are currently travel restrictions, such as testing, on all Heathrow routes. The aviation industry will only fully recover when these are all lifted and there is no risk that they will be reimposed at short notice, a situation which is likely to be years away.' Several overseas destinations - including France and Germany - had brought in their own restrictions late last year, effectively rendering the possibility of a holiday within their territory impossible amid the outbreak of Omicron. Ms Streeter added: 'Mass vaccination programmes failed to have the desired effect in 2021, in bringing the rebound in travel there had been such high hopes for this time last year. The web of rules and regulations which was spun across different countries and regions and swept away, and then spun again as new variants emerged, clearly led to a drop in confidence in the travelling public.' Pictured: Heathrow in December.
James Corden and Niall Horan channelled the iconic Scottish duo The Proclaimers in a hilarious spoof of The Late Late Show on Wednesday.

Donning oversized glasses and matching red wigs, the presenter, 41, and One Direction star, 26, paid homage to the iconic track I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) as they showed that it could be the answer to any kind of disaster.

The Proclaimers, formed of twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid, released their now-iconic 500 Miles song in 1988 and it has become a cult favourite after reaching number 11 in the UK charts.

Scroll down for video

Iconic: James Corden and Niall Horan channelled the iconic Scottish duo The Proclaimers in a hilarious spoof of The Late Late Show on Wednesday

The sketch opesn with police in the middle of a tense negotiation, as they try and convince a criminal to release his hostage unharmed.

After he refuses and drags the hostage into a towing office, the police decide it's time to send in special measures - can call for The Proclaimers help.

Sporting matching red shirts, wigs and oversized wigs, James and Niall can then be seen walking up the street in The Proclaimers signature dance.

Dramatic: The sketch opens with police in the midst of a tense negotiation, as they fail and convince the criminal to let his hostages go

Here they come! As the police call for reinforcements, James and Niall are summoned and they hilariously channel The Proclaimers with red wigs and oversized glasses

Dynamic duo: The pair paid homage to The Proclaimers' iconic hit 500 Miles, which was released by twin brothers Craig and Charles Reid in 1988 (right)

Off they go! James and Niall head up the stairs and into the hostage negotiation continuing to sing the famous song

Singing the famous tune, James and Niall march into the office before the hostages and the criminal can be seen fleeing the scene in terror.

It seems the incredible catchy tune managed to drive away even the most hardened of criminals, and the police join James and Niall in dancing in victory.

Next ambulance staff are dealing with the fallout of a disastrous accident, as they try desperately to revive a man who is lying lifeless on a gurney.

Success! As the hostages and the criminal flee the scene, James and Niall emerge in victory before continuing to sing the song

Epic: James and Niall belted out the signature tune as they continued the hilarious performance in the sketch

Dangerous: The next part of the sketch showed paramedics trying a revive a man following a car accident

To the rescue: Once again it's The Proclaimers to the rescue as they head over to try and save the man

Once again James and Niall are on the case and they march onto the scene belting out the signature tune.

The pair then do CPR on the patient to the beat of the song, and he springs into life to the delight of the paramedics.

James and Niall then join the patient in continuing the signature dance, hinting that all is now well with the help of the famous Scottish tune.

Dramatic: The two stars display their skills as they perform CPR on the man to the beat of the track

Odd: Both James and Niall apply chest compressions onto the unconscious man to the beat of the iconic song

He's alive! The man is swiftly revived to the delight of the paramedics, and all proceed to dance along in celebration

In the sketch's final moments, James and Niall are drafted in to rescue a man who is threatening to jump from the edge of a building.

Despite police's best efforts they're unable to convince the man to come away from the edge, and so once again The Proclaimers swoop in to save the day.

James and Niall slowly edge across the building towards the man as they sing the 500 Miles theme tune and the man is convinced that his life is worth living.

I'll go down! In the sketch's final moments, James and Niall are drafted in to rescue a man who is threatening to jump from the edge of a building

Heroic: Once again it's down to The Proclaimers to save the day, and they slowly edge along the building to help the man

Victorious: James and Niall both convince the man that life is worth living, and celebrate on the roof of the building

The sketch then takes an even funnier turn when James and Niall accidentally fall from the building's edge.

Luckily it seems that all is well as despite lying flat on the ground, as James and Niall flash a thumbs up before insisting they're OK.

The sketch comes 32 years after the original 500 Miles single was released by The Proclaimers, and it has since become a staple in Scottish music.

The Late Late Show With James Corden airs on CBS.

Celebration: They dance along in unison as the sketch comes to an end

Oops! Things take a disastrous turn when James and Niall accidentally end up 'falling' from the building onto the ground below
Developer and businessman Sean Dunne has been ordered by the High Court to provide his current home address to lawyers representing the official in charge of his bankruptcy.

The orders was granted by Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington, who said Mr Dunne has until 1pm on Friday (March 13th) to furnish those details to the representatives of the Official Assignee (OA) Mr Chris Lehane.

The order was sought by Mr Lehane's lawyers arising out of an allegation that the Co Carlow born developer is not complying with a Court order order to pay 7,000 monthly to increase the assets available for his creditors.

That order was made by Ms Justice Caroline Costello in 2018, after the judge extended Mr Dunne's bankruptcy, who directed that he make payments of 7,000 monthly, starting from September 25th 2018 and ending on May 25th 2021 next.

As a result of Mr Dunne's alleged failure to comply with the 2018 order Mr Lehane has brought a motion requiring that Mr Dunne come before the court to answer his alleged contempt.

The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington at the High Court today.

Edward Farrelly SC for the OA told the court issues had arisen over the provision of Mr Dunne's home address to his cleint.

Counsel said an undertaking had been given by Mr Dunne's former lawyers, who earlier this week had ceased representing Mr Dunne, to provide the home address to the OA, but this had not occurred.

Counsel said under the 1988 Bnakruptcy Act a bankrupt must provide their home address or current address to the OA.

Any failure to comply could result in a second motion for attachment and committal being brought against Mr Dunne, counsel said.

The OA had an email address for Mr Dunne which counsel said was working as he had replied to correspondence sent to him by the OA.

Counsel said that in an email it appeared that Mr Dunne intended to challenge the court's jurisdiction to consider the motion to attach and commit the businessman.

The only other address they had for Mr Dunne was a postal address of a used car business in Berkshire in England.

A solicitor with OBH Partners, who had previously represented Mr Dunne in his Irish bankruptcy proceedings, told the court they could not comply with an undertaking previously provided to the court to give the OA Mr Dunne's home address.

This was because he had not consented to it being furnished to the OA.

The solicitor said Mr Dunne, who was not present in court yesterday had concerns about his family's privacy. He asked the court if it would accept an email from their former client.

However Ms Justice Pilkington, acknowledging the "rock and the hard place" situation OBH found itself in, but refused to accept or hear any details contained in the email.

If Mr Dunne wanted he could swear an affidavit to the court himself, the Judge said.

Mr Farrelly told the court that if Mr Dunne's home address was furnished to the solicitors acting for the OA, it would not be placed on the public file in the Examiner's Office.

The Judge agreed to adjourn the matter to a date later this month.

The contempt proceedings are the latest in what has been a long running battle between Mr Dunne and bankruptcy officials in both Ireland and the United States.

Mr Dunne was adjudicated bankrupt in 2013 on foot of an application by Ulster Bank after he had defaulted on some 164m loans.

That same year Mr Dunne filed for bankruptcy in Connecticut in the United States when he claimed to have debts of $1bn and assets of $55m and a US bankruptcy trustee was appointed by a US court.

Mr Dunne was due to exit his Irish bankruptcy in 2016.

However in 2018 the High Court extended Mr Dunne's bankruptcy by 12 years after a judge deemed that he had no co-operated with the OA,

Mr Dunne opposed the proposed extension.
I found the Pra to be the lightest-bodied of the three wines. Its aromas offered a sort of breezy freshness, a minty herbal touch, along with flowers and red fruits, that served as a wake-up call for the taste buds. On the palate it was bright and lively, if a bit understated, with a refreshingly bitter punctuation setting up the next sip.

It was interesting to compare it with the Brigaldara, which was a full percentage point higher in alcohol, 13.5 percent to the Pras 12.5 percent. Often, a higher degree of alcohol means a fuller-bodied wine, but the Brigaldara was just as lithe as the Pra. Its aromas and flavors were more floral and fruity, though, and it, too, offered a bittersweet off-ramp to the next sip.

The Zenato seemed like an entirely different wine. Visually, it seemed denser and more concentrated than the other two bottles. It was floral and fruity like the Brigaldara, but noticeably richer and fuller-bodied on the palate, zesty and floral, with the same welcome bitterness completing the procession of flavors.

What accounted for this plusher texture? Label readers will note that unlike the other two bottles, the Zenato is a Valpolicella Superiore, a category that requires the wine to be aged for an additional year before its released. Unlike the other two bottles, the Zenato was aged in oak barrels, a process that may have contributed richness. The Brigaldara was fermented and aged in steel tanks, while the Pra was fermented in steel but aged in big oak vats.

I suspect that the Zenato was partly made with ripasso wine, or maybe some of the grapes were dried, following the Amarone method. Whatever the reason, it was an interesting comparison with the other two. I thought all three were excellent wines, each a different, individual expression of Valpolicella.

Although I had not asked about texture and body in relation to these wines, several readers volunteered their opinions anyway. VSB in San Francisco found the 2018 Pra a little thin and did not like the bitterness, concluding, Overall, a good wine to try once, but my personal preferences run to Amarone.

Peter of Philadelphia tried both the Zenato and a Zenato ripasso-style wine, along with a straightforward Valpolicella from Ca La Bionda. He was disappointed by the Zenato Valpolicella Superiore, but found the ripasso to be completely different: Rich and silky smooth, it tasted of raisins and dark fruit. Still, he liked the crisp Ca La Bionda best.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life in Athens and around the world. The Red & Black asked University of Georgia students how the virus has affected them and if they are taking any precautions to protect themselves from the virus.
A 33-year-old man has appeared before Carlow District Court charged with the murder of Gerry Nolan at his home in Co Kilkenny almost 14 years ago.

He died following a fire at his caravan in Deerpark, Castlecomer in July 2006.
Coal developers risk wasting more than US$600 billion because it is already cheaper to generate electricity from new renewables than from new coal plants in all major markets, the financial think tank Carbon Tracker warns in a report on Thursday.

The report also finds that over 60 percent of global coal power plants are generating electricity at higher cost than it could be produced by building new renewables. By 2030 at the latest, it will have been cheaper to build new wind or solar capacity than continue operating coal in all markets.

Renewables are outcompeting coal around the world and proposed coal investments risk becoming stranded assets which could lock in high-cost coal power for decades," Matt Gray, Carbon Tracker co-head of power and utilities and co-author of the report, was quoted as saying in a press release.

"The market is driving the low-carbon energy transition but governments arent listening. It makes economic sense for governments to cancel new coal projects immediately and progressively phase out existing plants.

Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius  a temperature target set out in the 2016 Paris Agreement  will require global coal use in electricity generation to fall by 80 percent from 2010 to 2030, according to a 2019 Climate Analytics report. This means one coal plant needs to retire every day until 2040.

Worldwide, 499 gigawatts of new coal power is planned or already under construction at a cost of $638 billion, but Carbon Tracker warns that governments and investors may never recoup their investment because coal plants typically take 15 to 20 years to cover their costs.

The report finds that falling costs of wind and solar power and the investment needed to comply with existing carbon and air pollution regulations mean that coal is no longer the cheapest form of power in any major market.

The report, entitled 'How to waste over half a trillion dollars: The economic implications of deflationary renewable energy for coal power investments,' evaluates the economics of 95 percent of coal plants that are operating, under construction or planned worldwide.

They include 6,696 operating units (2,045GW) and 1,046 units in the pipeline (499GW).

The U.S. has 254GW of coal capacity and nearly half  47 percent  costs more than new renewables. No new coal is planned.

In Southeast Asia, 78GW of coal power is planned or under construction at a cost of $124 billion, but by 2030 it will have been cheaper to build new renewables than continue operating existing coal plants.

The report will provide ammunition for the growing number of investors pressing financial institutions and companies to align their portfolios with the Paris climate agreement.

This month, Sir Christopher Hohn, the billionaire hedge fund manager and co-founder of the Childrens Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), called on major EU and UK central banks and financial institutions to end financing of coal and threatened to sue Barclays, HSBC and Standard Chartered if they continue financing new coal projects.

Coal is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions globally and the risks of its continued use in the power sector are not being adequately addressed by regulators and the financial system, he said in a statement on the CIFF website.

Coal is closest to becoming obsolete in the EU thanks to a strong carbon price and years of investment in renewable energy. Excellent renewable energy resources in the U.S., low capital costs in China and least-cost policymaking in India, mean they are not far behind.

Southeast Asian countries lag behind because immature energy markets make it hard to attract global finance, and governments in China, Japan and South Korea continue to support investment in coal power.

The report finds that market forces will drive coal power out of existence in deregulated markets, where renewable energy developers will take advantage of the growing price gap.

However, it notes that several governments around the world continue to incentivize and underwrite new coal power because market regulations put coal at an unfair economic advantage.

In some regulated and semi-regulated markets they also allow the high cost of coal to be passed on to consumers through bills, or they use taxpayers money to subsidize coal operators so they can sell power for less than it costs to produce.

Investors should be wary of relying on continued government support for coal when a phase-out will save their voters billions and make their economies more competitive, Sriya Sundaresan, co-head of power and utilities and co-author, was quoted as saying in the Carbon Tracker press release.

The report calls on governments to deregulate so that renewables can compete with coal on a level playing field, cancel new projects and phase out existing coal fleets, and introduce regulations that allow renewables to deliver maximum value to their energy systems.

Failure to take these steps will exacerbate stranded asset risk and could result in overcapacity. This in turn will suppress power prices, create a negative investment signal for renewable energy and ultimately stifle the transition to a low carbon economy," the report warns.

Carbon Tracker compared the levelized cost of onshore wind and utility-scale solar PV with the levelized cost of coal and the long-run marginal cost of coal.

It assessed the cost of running each coal plant, taking into account fuel, maintenance and existing or ratified carbon pricing and air pollution policies. It used coal fuel price data from Bloomberg and coal capital costs from the International Energy Agency and Carbon Tracker.

It sourced wind and solar capital costs and deployment projections from the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Carbon Trackers proprietary Global Coal Power Economics Model (GPEM) tracks 95 percent of coal plants that are operating, under construction or planned and is updated quarterly.

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OTTAWA - Concerns about his own exposure to COVID-19 forced Justin Trudeau to cancel a face-to-face meeting with first ministers but he'll still get an earful  over the phone Friday  from premiers demanding massive federal aid to confront the health and economic impacts of the novel coronavirus.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau arrive at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Wednesday, Sept.11, 2019. Trudeau and his wife are in self-isolation over COVID-19 concerns, which has forced the cancellation of an in-person meeting of Canada's first ministers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - Concerns about his own exposure to COVID-19 forced Justin Trudeau to cancel a face-to-face meeting with first ministers but he'll still get an earful  over the phone Friday  from premiers demanding massive federal aid to confront the health and economic impacts of the novel coronavirus.

That aid could run to tens of billions of dollars.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Thursday the country needs additional fiscal stimulus "in the range of one per cent of GDP"  roughly $20 billion.

But he also said the Trudeau government should pony up at least as much as the previous Conservative government did during the 2008 financial crisis. At that time, the Harper government, of which Kenney was a part, provided an economic stimulus package worth $47 billion over two years.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn't put a precise price tag on it but he called on the federal government to accelerate increases in health care transfer payments to the provinces (to 5.2 per cent from the current three per cent a year). And he called for greater federal investments in infrastructure projects.

"You go back, all the way back to the Depression, how you get people out of tough situations, turbulent waters that we're facing right now, is infrastructure," Ford told a news conference, noting that other countries are pouring billions into infrastructure projects.

Trudeau announced Wednesday an initial COVID-19 response plan worth $1 billion. That included $500 million to the provinces and territories to bolster their health-care systems, waiving the one-week wait period for workers to claim Employment Insurance if they're quarantined or forced to self-isolate, and more funding for testing, research and personal protective equipment. Trudeau made it clear that more federal support would be forthcoming.

The two premiers' remarks were initially meant to set the table for a meeting of first ministers later in the day.

But shortly before Kenney delivered a noon-hour speech in Ottawa, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau were in self-isolation after she felt ill; she would later test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

Although Trudeau himself was not exhibiting any symptoms, he said before the positive result, "out of an abundance of caution" he was also self-isolating until his wife's test results were returned.

"I was looking forward to sitting down with premiers and Indigenous leaders later today, but given the circumstances we'll be postponing our meeting. In the meantime, we'll speak on the phone about how we can mitigate the spread and impact of COVID-19 and keep Canadians safe."

Provincial and territorial leaders had been scheduled to meet for two hours late Thursday afternoon with Trudeau and national Indigenous leaders, followed by a day-long meeting of first ministers on Friday.

On Wednesday, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs cancelled his plans to attend the first ministers' gathering after the first case of COVID-19 turned up in his province. He urged the prime minister to conduct the meeting by teleconference  which is precisely what Trudeau ultimately was forced to do.

Yukon's Sandy Silver had also cancelled plans to travel to Ottawa, after having attended a mining conference in Toronto, where one participant has since tested positive for the virus.

At a morning news conference Thursday, Ford called on all first ministers to put their differences aside and pull together to confront the health and economic fallout from the virus.

"Moments of urgency require us to put aside our differences, have each other's backs, stick together as a country and reassure the people of Ontario and the people of Canada that we're all in this together," Ford told a news conference.

"I can't emphasize this enough. We have to stick together. We need a country united to get through this and I can assure you we will get through this."

But Kenney, who has blamed the Trudeau Liberals' climate and energy policies for destroying his province's oil and gas industry and whose province is in more dire straits, seemed less inclined to bury the hatchet. Indeed, he said he would not have signed onto a federally prepared draft of a final communique that was to have been issued at the end of the now-cancelled first ministers' meeting.

"There was no recognition (in the communique) of the kind of fiscal and economic crisis that we are facing generally in the Canadian economy or specifically in the Canadian energy sector," he said.

"I cannot convey this strongly enough. We are at a tipping point in the Canadian energy sector."

Alberta's resource-dependent economy has been hit by a "triple whammy," Kenney said: the COVID-19 outbreak and collapsing world oil prices due to a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, both of which come on top of five years of depressed oil prices.

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 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 12, 2020.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have hit 11.3 million followers on Instagram, catching up with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just a few days after they fell behind them by 100,000 followers.

Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, who run Sussex Royal, had seen their following skyrocket since announcing their retreat from the public eye in January, but over the past week were overtaken by the Cambridges' Kensington Royal account.

But just days after their final engagement before they step down as senior royals at the end of the month, the couple, who are retreating to Canada, have now caught up with Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 38.

This is despite the Cambridges' account Kensington Royal being around for much longer, while the Sussexes only started their account last April.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (seen at the Commonwealth Day Service this week) have hit 11.3 million followers on Instagram , catching up with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just a few days after they fell behind them by 100,000 followers

Prince Harry , 35, and Meghan Markle , 38, who run Sussex Royal, had seen their following skyrocket since announcing their retreat from the public eye in January, but over the past week were overtaken by the Cambridges' Kensington Royal account.

The Sussexes' surge in followers comes after their final week of royal duties, which saw them attend the Endeavour Awards, the Mountbatten Festival of Music and Commonwealth Day Service.

Meghan and Harry were also seen attending church service with the Queen, and visiting The National Theatre and Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham.

The couple apparently bid a tearful farewell to their staff during an intimate dinner, and Meghan has returned to Canada to be with baby Archie.

just days after their final engagement before they step down as senior royals at the end of the month, the couple, who are retreating to Canada , have now caught up with Prince William , 37, and Kate Middleton, 38, seen at the Commonwealth Day Service this week

The Cambridges, seen, briefly overtook the couple by 100,000 followers but they two couples are now even

A look at their respective Instagram accounts shows that while Kate and William have shared 2,034 posts, Harry and Meghan have only posted 185 times since last April.

The Kensington Royal account gets an average of 300,000 likes for their posts, with statement posts including Kate Middleton's birthday racking up 1.2 million likes.

Meanwhile Sussex Royal gets a similar average, but their recent post announcing they would be stepping down garnered almost 2 million likes from supportive fans.

While William and Kate's account follows just under 100 people, Harry and Meghan follow new accounts each month to highlight charitable causes - this month following just one account which promotes positive news.

In January night the Duke of Sussex has said he is 'taking a leap of faith' in stepping back from his life as a member of the royal family, but 'there really was no other option'

Prince Harry , 35, and Meghan Markle , 38, who run Sussex Royal, saw their following skyrocket since announcing their retreat from the public eye in January

This is despite the Cambridges' account Kensington Royal being around for much longer, while the Sussexes only started their account last April. They stood at 11m in January

In January, the Duke of Sussex said he is 'taking a leap of faith' in stepping back from his life as a member of the royal family, but 'there really was no other option'.

Harry gave an emotional speech, where he told the 'truth' about leaving royal duties behind in a bid for a 'more peaceful life' for his family.

From the spring, the duke and duchess will stop using HRH, spend the majority of their time living in Canada, and pay back the taxpayers' money spent renovating their Frogmore home.

In a speech at a private event for his charity Sentebale on Sunday night, Harry told invited guests: 'What I want to make clear is we're not walking away, and we certainly aren't walking away from you.

'Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible.

'I've accepted this, knowing that it doesn't change who I am or how committed I am.

'But I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.'
Former Vice President Joe Biden leveled pointed criticisms at President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus outbreak, accusing him of spreading 'misinformation' in a way that is harming the national response.

'When I'm president, we will be better prepared, respond better, and recover better,' Biden vowed, reading form a teleprompter as he addressed the spiraling crisis and released a plan.

Biden spoke before a bank of American flags in his home town of Wilmington, hitting Trump for being insufficiently prepared, but also putting out some of his own ideas he said would be shaped by scientists if he were elected.

Former US Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden speaks about COVID-19, known as the Coronavirus, during a press event in Wilmington, Delaware on March 12, 2020

'Downplaying it being overly dismissive or spreading misinformation is only going to hurt us and further advantage the spread of the disease. But neither should we panic or fall back on xenophobia,' Biden warned.

'Travel restrictions based on favoritism and politics, rather than risk, will be counter-productive,' he said.

'Our ability to drive a global response is dramatically cut,' Biden said, by the 'damage Trump has done to our credibility.'

He spoke directly to major concerns being raised by lawmakers about an insufficient number of tests in the field to identify the number of infected Americans.

'The administrations failure on testing is colossal,' Biden said.

Biden's advisors said the event was meant to show how he would respond to a crisis as president. 'My fellow Americans,' he began, speaking hours after Trump made his own address to the nation. He spoke for about 17 minutes and kept to prepared remarks.

Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks about the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic at an event in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., March 12, 2020.He read from a teleprompter and appeared before a ban of American flags

Biden spoke hours after President Trump addressed the nation and announced 30-day travel ban for Europeans seeking to enter the U.S.

Shoppers wear face masks as they walk in New York's Herald Square on Thursday, March 12, 2020

Biden spoke about preparing for worst-case scenarios, an area Trump has avoided with his repeated assurances that things will soon improve.

He called for FEMA and the military to establish 'temporary hospitals with hundreds of beds on short notice.'

He warned that a vaccine would not be immediate.

'Science takes time and it will still be many months,' he said. But Biden said other responses such as therapeutics 'can and should come sooner. This will save lives.'

'I know people are worried,' Biden said at the top of his remarks. 'This is going to require a national, a national response.'

'We must do whatever it takes, spend whatever it takes to deliver for our families and ensure the stability of our economy,' Biden said.

Biden spoke hours after President Trump addressed the nation and announced 30-day travel ban for Europeans seeking to enter the U.S.

Joe Biden's plan for the coronavirus Free coronavirus testing Ten mobile testing sites, with total tests in the millions Have FEMA prepare for multi-hundred bed temporary hospitals Have the White House issue daily reports on tests and cases More sentinel surveillance Activate Medical Reserve Corps of volunteers Boost telemedicine Priority for first responders for protective gear. Does not say how to get it online. Ensure NIH swiftly accelerating testing development Large volume purchases of masks, gloves, hand sanitizer Create reserve corps of former public health professionals Push out federal funds to states and localities Require health plans to cover COVID-19 testing Matching funds for states to expand Medicaid enrollment Federal fund for paid leave for sick workers  up to 14 days Waive or relax work history requirements to boos unemployment insurance payments Relief for workers who can shore their hours were cut back due to the virus and its impacts Expand food aid for families and children Expand assistance to federal child care centers and schools Relief of forbearance of federal student loans and federally-backed mortgages during the crisis Advertisement

This photo taken on March 5, 2020 shows patients resting at a temporary hospital set up for COVID-19 coronavirus patients in a sports stadium in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province. Biden called for government officials to get to work building them here

He criticized Trump for eliminating a pandemic response office within the national security council at the White House.

'It was designed for exactly this scenario. And for some reason I dont understand, President Trump eliminated that office two years ago' Biden said.

As he has throughout his campaign, Biden said he would rely on government scientists to make decisions on such matters. His Democratic rival, Bernie Sanders, was to give his own address on the topic from Burlington.

He called for 'bold measures' to help Americans economically 'right this minute.'

'This crisis will hit everyone but it will hit folks living from paycheck to paycheck the hardest,' he said.

'Another tax cut to Google and Goldman and millionaires wont get the job done,' Biden said  referencing the investment bank Goldman Sachs n a line that seemed aimed at Bernie Sanders and his supporters.

'Another tax cut for these folks will not get the job done, he underlined. 'Indiscriminate corporate tax subsidies wont effectively target those who need the help now, he said We need to place our focus on those who are struggling just to get by. People already are losing jobs. We need to replace their wages,' Biden said, calling for relief for parents struggling with child care costs and children who rely on school lunches. He said small businesses would be 'devastated' and would need interest-free loans.

'It is a national disgrace that millions of our fellow citizens don't have a single day of paid sick leave available,' he said, echoing priorities of House Democrats in their coronavirus response legislation.

Biden, who has often stressed multilateral solutions to counter Trump's 'America first' policy, said: 'We have to confront the coronavirus everywhere. We should be leading a coordinated global response just as we did to the Ebola crisis that draws on the incredible capability of U.S. Agency for International Development and our state department to assist vulnerable nation in detecting and treating the coronavirus wherever it's spreading.'

'President Trump is welcome to adopt all of it,' Biden said of his plan.

Both Biden and Sanders have nixed large public events in a sign of how American life is changing due to the virus.

Biden had scheduled the speech before Trump announced he would speak form the Oval Office Wednesday night. Trump once again defended his actions Thursday from the Oval Office.

'Weve taken some bold steps. We took the original boldest step of all when we closed very early with China,' Trump said as he sat with Toiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland  absent the traditional handshake due to rising health concerns about spread of the virus.

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

'That helped us save thousands of lives. And we went very early with Europe. And I think thatll likewise be very good,' Trump told reporters.

The Biden 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.

Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh blasted Biden in a statement.

In the past, Joe Biden has shown terrible judgment and incompetence in the face of public health issues. The Obama White House had to publicly apologize for and clean up after Biden when his irresponsible remarks caused panic during the swine flu outbreak in 2009. Just weeks ago, he was openly critical of President Trumps early move to restrict travel from China to the United States in response to the coronavirus  a decision which medical experts agree helped impede the spread of the virus to this country,' he said in a statement.

He was referring to Biden's televised comments in 2009 amid the swine flu outbreak that: 'I would tell members of my family  and I have  I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to in a confined aircraft where one person sneezes, that goes all the way through the aircraft.'
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KCMO Rolling Out Spy Cam

Fewer crashes, safer driving habits fuel KCMO's drive cam expansion KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nearly every car the city of Kansas City, Missouri, owns now has a camera watching both the road and the driver. This year, the city continued expanding its drive cam program so that cameras are installed on nearly 1,500 city-owned vehicles.

Hard Times In Northeast

Homeless mother's trials, tribulations, and new home Kalie Strain Editorial Assistant The names in this story have been changed to protect the individual's identity. "I [would] sit there and just look at my children. Watch them breathe for hours and hours and hours, which feels like days and days and days," said Jane, recalling what it was like living in a van with her children.

Golden Ghetto Search Today

Prairie Village police search 2 places in connection with missing, endangered woman Angela Green KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Prairie Village police announced Wednesday morning that they were searching a home and a business in connection with missing woman Angela Green, who has not been seen since June. A home in the 7600 block of Tomahawk Road in Prairie Village and a granite business in the 1400 block of Woodland Street in Olathe were searched.

More Deets On Kansas City Country Club Plaza Burger Bust

Winstead's Steakburgers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One of Kansas City's iconic burger joints has filed for bankruptcy. Winstead's Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court in February. According to the court filing, the company has less than $50,000 in estimated assets and estimated liabilities of between $500,000 and $1 million.

Hottie Promo Shared

Claudia Romani - Visits the Pretty Little Thing Showroom in Miami Latest photos for Claudia Romani - Visits the Pretty Little Thing Showroom in Miami

Trump Bull Run Concluded

Trump's stock market gains have been cut in half by the coronavirus sell-off Since the stock market's high on February 19, the S&P 500 has fallen by more than 600 points, erasing half of the gains it had made since Trump was elected in 2016.

Bernie Won't Back Down

Bernie Sanders expected to announce he is staying in 2020 race, source says Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday is expected to announce he is staying in the race and is looking forward to an upcoming debate with Joe Biden, a source with knowledge of his plans told CNN.

America Still At War

2 Americans Among 3 People Killed In Latest Rocket Attack In Iraq The U.S. military confirmed a sustained rocket attack on Wednesday on a base near Baghdad where American personnel are housed. The attack killed two Americans, according to a U.S. military official, as well as one member of Britain's armed forces, multiple news outlets have reported. Army Col.

Mexican Standoff Victory

US supreme court upholds policy of making asylum seekers wait in Mexico The US supreme court has allowed 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 is probably illegal.

Artsy Exhibit For NextGen

Glass installations from Crossroads artist going on display at Truman Medical Center Artist Tyler Kimball's name will be associated with glass installations at Truman Medical Centers' new University Health II building. But, the owner of Monarch Glass Studio insists, "Glass blowing is a team sport." His Crossroads Arts District studio at 1919 E. Truman Road is producing the glasswork, and Kimball explained the process he and his team [...]

Community Journalism Future

Northeast Newscast Episode 131: Women in the Newsroom with the Northeast News Staff In honor of Womens History Month, we are celebrating womens voices in our community with a four-episode series during the month of March

Rainy Day On The Way

Rain chances increase for your Thursday Hide Transcript Show Transcript A BLUSTERY EVENING. YOUR FIRST ALERT HOUR-BY-HOUR FORECAST HAS A 20% CHANCE IN THE MORNING, 40% CHANCE BY 9:00, 60% CHANCE BY MIDDAY, THEN IT WAS MOVES OUT BY THE AFTERNOON. RIGHT NOW THE EVENING DRIVE LOOKS A LITTLE DRIER THE MOVIE HAVE IN THE MORNING HOURS.

With tribute, love and respect to hottie Claudia, we share this gathering of content related to pop culture, community news and all manner of captivating items from across the nation and around the world . . .And this is thefor right now . . .
NEW HAVEN  A city resident was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison on heroin trafficking offenses for his role in a large-scale distribution effort, federal officials said.

Brian K. Backman  also known as B, NYB and New York B  was sentenced Wednesday in Hartford federal court to serve 121 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

Backman was one of 25 people indicted in July on offenses linked to heroin trafficking. Officials earlier this year said Backman and the others arrested were associated with the Island Brothers street gang, once centered around New Havens Quinnipiac Avenue.

During the investigation, authorities said, Backman was identified as a supplier of heroin to members of the New Haven drug trafficking organization.

Backman was heard of multiple court-authorized wiretaps discussing how he would acquire heroin from a New York supplier for redistribution in and around New Haven, according to authorities.

On June 16, 2019, Backman sent a courier  Dena Draughn  to pick up a large shipment of heroin from a supplier in New York.

Backman told an associate  Anderson Atkinson  to meet Draughn in a parking lot in Hamden to get the heroin.

Investigators arrested Draughn and Atkinson after they met up in the parking lot. Authorities seized about 10,000 bags  about 300 grams  of heroin.

A grand jury in New Haven returned a 15-count indictment on July 9, 2019, charging Backman, Draughn, Atkinson and 22 others with various offenses.

Backman has been detained since his July 10, 2019, arrest.

He pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

Authorities said Backmans criminal history spans more than 30 years and includes convictions in three states and a federal conviction in New York.

Draughn and Atkinson have each pleaded guilty to related charges. They await sentencing.
By PTI

BHOPAL: 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 on Wednesday, 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.

Collectors of Guna, Gwalior among five transferred by Kamal Nath government

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 S R Mohanty, Guna collector Bhaskar Lakshkar has been made deputy secretary in the state secretariat in Bhopal.

Similarly, Gwalior collector Anurag Chowdhary has 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.

ALSO READ | Sharam Karo Maharaj: Madhya Pradesh Congress targets Scindia with stinging placards

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.
A senior adviser to Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the novel coronavirus, just five days after he was among a group of officials who met with President Donald Trump.

Fabio Wajngarten, Bolsonaro's communications secretary, tested positive for the coronavirus and that result has been "confirmed by a retest," Bolsonaro's office said in a statement Thursday.

"The Brazilian government has already communicated the occurrence to United States government officials so that the necessary preventive measures can be adopted," the statement said.

On Friday, Bolsonaro announced he tested negative for the virus.

Wajngarten posted a photo of himself standing next to the U.S. president at Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday.

Trump said he was "not concerned" about the development.

"I did hear something about that," the president said. "We had dinner together in Florida ... with the entire delegation."

He said he was not sure if Wajngarten attended the dinner but "if he was there, he was there ... We'll find out what happens."

President Donald Trump speaks with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (L) during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on March 7, 2020.

White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time.

Possible exposures from the case are being assessed and that will "dictate next steps, Grisham said. To reiterate CDC guidelines, there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine.

But Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said he will self-quarantine "in an abundance of caution" after he had contact with Wajngarten. In a statement, Scott said the Brazilian Embassy alerted his office after Wajngarten tested positive  a result that came days after Scott met with Bolsaonaro in Miami.

"While I do not believe I interacted with the infected person, that individual was in the same room as me," Scott's said. The embassy said Wajngarten had no symptoms leading up to the meeting or on that day.

Story continues

"After consulting with the Senates attending physician and my personal doctor, I have been told that my risk is low, and I dont need to take a test or quarantine," he said.

The White House said Wednesday that Trump has not been tested for coronavirus, formally known as COVID-19. He has been in contact with several lawmakers who have self-quarantined because they were in contact with people who have tested positive for the virus. Trump has indicated he isn't making changes to his routine because of the virus

President Donald Trump shakes hands before a dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago, Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Palm Beach, Fla.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump was with Brazil official at Mar-a-Lago who now has coronavirus
Disneyland has announced that its shutting down its California theme parks on Saturday over concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.

The company said in a statement Thursday that Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park will be closed through the end of the month though there have been no reported cases of the new virus.

It is closing after reviewing guidelines by California Gov. Gavin Newsom that limit gatherings of more than 250 people.

Newsom had said earlier Thursday that the guidance did not yet apply to amusement parks.

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A top federal health official says the U.S. effort to test for the coronavirus is a failing."

Public health experts warn that the nation's hobbled testing rollout has left them with little indication of how the virus is spreading.

The lack of comprehensive figures means U.S. health providers could quickly be overwhelmed by undetected cases. The effort initially endured delays in getting testing kits out to public health labs, but the stumbles have continued.

U.S. health officials, for example, promised nearly a month ago to tap into a national network of labs that monitor for flu. That system is only just getting started.

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The Canadian province of Ontario has closed all publicly funded schools from March 14 to April 5 because of the pandemic.

Ontario is Canada's most populous province and a statement from the province says the decision was based on advice from Ontario's chief medical officer of health.

March break for students begins next week for many schools that will closed for two weeks.

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The office of Sen. Lindsey Graham says he has decided to self-quarantine himself and work remotely because he was in Florida at an event attended by a top Brazilian government official who tested positive for the new coronavirus.

A statement from Graham's office Thursday says Graham was tested for the virus and is waiting for the result.

The statement from Graham's office says took the steps because of advice from his doctor.

The White House says U.S. President Trump has no plans to be tested for the new coronavirus or go into self-quarantine after attending the same events last weekend.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications director tested positive days after traveling with Bolsonaro to the meeting with Trump and senior aides in Florida. Bolsonaro is also awaiting test results.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez also says he was in a room with Trump and the Brazilian communications director and is feeling healthy but has decided to self-quarantine himself.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that she and the governors of the country's 16 states have agreed to cancel non-necessary events with fewer than 1,000 participants to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

The move comes as the country reports its sixth death and almost 1,900 cases.

Germany has been slower than some of its neighbors to ban large gatherings, initially leaving the decision to local authorities as required by the country's federal structure.

But amid pressure to set a common standard, Germany's health minister called at the weekend for all events with more than 1,000 participants to be called off. That threshold that has now been lowered.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has said that all of the country's schools, kindergartens and universities will be closed until further notice starting Monday, in a strategy to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Macron in a televised address Thursday called the outbreak the most serious health crisis for France in a century and that is priority is to protect the most vulnerable. He urged people over age 70 to stay home.

Macron says non-essential treatment in hospital is also postponed.

French General Director of Health Jerome Salomon says there have been more than 2,800 confirmed cases of the virus in France and 61 deaths.

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Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered schools closed for three weeks beginning Monday.

He acknowledged the disruptions it will mean for families but said it's necessary to help prevent the spread of the virus. The announcement came as state Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton issued an order banning gatherings of over 100 people.

The ban is not absolute and exempts work places, religious gatherings, weddings and funerals, and other events. Numerous cancellations preceded the announcement across the state.

In Arkansas, state officials have told public schools in four counties to temporarily close. State health officials said Thursday they had identified five more people with the coronavirus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19. The five were being isolated in their homes.

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The White House says U.S. President Trump has no plans to be tested for the new coronavirus or go into self-quarantine after attending events last weekend with a senior Brazilian official who tested positive.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaros communications director tested positive just days after traveling with Bolsonaro to a meeting with Trump and senior aides in Florida.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Thursday that exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps.

Grisham says Trump and Vice President Mike Pence had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time."

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A Chinese medical team and surplus ventilators, protective masks and other equipment are heading to Italy in a remarkable exchange of medical knowhow and material from the source of the coronavirus outbreak to its current epicenter.

The Italian Red Cross says a plane bringing a nine-person Chinese team of experts and nine cargo pallets of medical equipment would land late Thursday in Rome.

The team includes Chinese ICU specialists, pediatricians and nurses who helped manage the crisis in China.

Italian officials say they are eager to learn from the Chinese experience, particularly clinical data and experimental drug regimens.

With 15,113 positive cases Thursday and 1,016 dead, Italys fatality rate is running at 6.7%, far higher than other countries. Italy has the second oldest population in the world after Japan.

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the state will ban all gatherings with 500 or more people in an effort to contain the virus.

Cuomo says the ban will start for most places on 5 p.m. Friday. Broadway theaters will be affected earlier.

Cuomo said Thursday that venues of under 500 people can only be filled to half their capacity.

The move comes after several major cultural institutions in New York City including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall announced they would temporarily close.

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom says nearly 500 passengers remain aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland, California. He hopes they will all be off the ship by the end of the day Thursday.

In addition to the 21 people who previously tested positive while aboard the ship, Newsom says at least two more people have tested positive after leaving.

Newsom expects the number to climb as more people are tested.

The ship was carrying about 3,500 passengers and crew when it docked earlier this week in Oakland.

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A Chinese government spokesman has suggested that the U.S. Army could be responsible for bringing the new coronavirus to China.

Lijian Zhao offered no explanation for his allegation in a late Thursday night tweet that read in part It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe(s) us an explanation!

Wuhan is the Chinese city where the first cases of the disease were detected in December.

China has taken offense at Trump administration officials blaming the outbreak on China.

Worldwide, 126,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus, 68,000 have recovered and 4,600 have died.

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Italy, the center of Europe's coronavirus pandemic, has hit the milestone of 1,000 deaths since it saw its first cases in mid-February.

Italys positive cases continued their upward trend Thursday, registering 15,113 confirmed cases and the death toll hit 1,016.

More than half of those who are in intensive care in Italy are located in hard-hit Lombardy provice, which on Thursday reported 605 ICU patients in a region with only 610 ICU beds.

Hospitals in Lombardy are overflowing with the dead. Lombardy's top health care official, Giulio Gallera, said at the request of the hospitals, the region had simplified the bureaucracy needed to process death certificates and bury the dead.

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City says it is closing all three of its locations in the city starting Friday as a precautionary measure in the wake of the new coronavirus outbreak.

The museum, popular with art lovers and tourists, said it would remain closed indefinitely and its buildings will undergo a deep cleaning. Met President Daniel Weiss said there were no confirmed cases tied to the museum.

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Officials on both sides of the Atlantic say Europe is the new epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

CDC Director Robert Redfield told U.S. lawmakers in House hearing that within the world now, over 70% of new cases are linked to Europe. ... Europe is the new China."

The head of the Danish Health Authority, Soeren Brostroem, said Thursday that  the epidemic has gotten a new epicenter, and that is Europe.

He told reporters that if one looks at day-by-day developments, Europe has the greatest growth now. And it is not just Italy, but also a number of other countries in Europe that have had a worrying development.

The European Center for Disease says the continent has more than 22,000 cases of the new coronavirus and 943 deaths.

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CDC Director Robert Redfield says his agency is working to make sure that uninsured Americans can get tested for coronavirus if its medically needed.

About 28 million Americans are uninsured. Rep. Katie Porter, a Democrat from California, pressed Redfield on their predicament Thursday at a congressional hearing. Porter says the Health and Human Services department has the legal authority to pay for health costs.

After going back and forth with the congresswoman, Redfield said he agreed. He says those individuals who are in the shadows can get the health care that they need during the time of us responding to this crisis, he said.

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Mountain climbing expedition operators on Mount Everest say Chinese mountaineering officials will not allow spring climbs from their side of the world's highest mountain due to fears of coronavirus.

On the other side of the mountain in Nepal, operators say cancellations for the popular spring climbing season have been pouring in, despite the mountain being open for business.

As the virus is coming under control in China, officials there are taking steps to prevent new infections coming from abroad, including by putting overseas travelers arriving in Beijing into 14-day quarantines.

China has seen nearly 81,000 infections but some 61,000 of them have already recovered. Over 3,000 virus victims have died in China, the world's hardest-hit nation.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is self-isolating at home after wife has exhibited flu-like symptoms.

Trudeau's office said Sophie Gregoire Trudeau returned from a speaking engagement in the United Kingdom and began began exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms including a low fever late Wednesday night. She is being tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting results.

The statement said Out of an abundance of caution, the prime minister is opting to self-isolate and work from home until receiving Sophie's results.

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Borders are re-emerging in Europe due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Czech government declared a state of emergency Thursday due to coronavirus and was renewing border checks at its borders with Austria and Germany.

People will be banned from crossing in at any other place.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said people from 13 risk countries that include not only China, South Korea and Iran but also EU nations such as Italy, Spain, France, Austria and Germany as well Britain will not be allowed to enter the Czech Republic.

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Congress is shutting the Capitol and all House and Senate office buildings to the public until April in reaction to the spread of the new coronavirus.

The House and Senate sergeants at arms said that the closure will begin at 5 p.m. EDT Thursday. Only lawmakers, aides, journalists and official visitors will be allowed into the buildings. The statement says officials are acting out of concern for the health and safety of congressional employees as well as the public.

Politicians in Europe, Iran and China have contracted the virus and several U.S. lawmakers have already self-quarantined due to exposure. The virus has infected over 126,000 people worldwide and killed over 4.600 but over 68,000 victims have already recovered.

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Iran has asked for an emergency $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to combat the outbreak of the novel coronavirus there, which has killed more than 360 people and infected some 9,000 nationwide.

Iran's economy has been battered by U.S. sanctions, which have choked Tehran's ability to export oil widely. The virus outbreak prompted all of Iran's neighbors to shutter their borders and nations have cut travel links with Iran, including shipping in some cases, affecting imports, as well.

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Ireland is closing all schools and cultural institutions until March 29, in a major escalation of its response to the new coronavirus.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced the measures would take effect at 6 p.m. Thursday. He said the closure applies to schools, colleges, childcare facilities and cultural institutions. All indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor events with more than 500 are also canceled.

Speaking during a trip to Washington, Varadkar said people should work from home as much as possible.

So far 43 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Ireland and one person has died.

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Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

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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.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are now about to take on another journey together. This time, they are off to start a new life away from the limelight and pressure that came with being members of the royal family.

Interestingly though, the Duchess of Sussex admitted to her inner circle of friends that their last royal engagement was bittersweet.

The Right Choice

Meghan Markle reportedly told her closest friends that their last trip to the U.K. for the final round of royal engagements was the confirmation they needed. Like everyone, the couple was also wondering if they made the right choice to turn their backs on being royals.

According to the Daily Mail, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex knew they did the right thing.

Meghan described their trip as "bittersweet," but she was too excited to be with Prince Archie to even worry.

As their "Megxit" plans near its start on March 31, both Harry and Meghan could not help but feel excited about their new life ahead. Everyone has their opinion on their decision, but the couple could not care less. In fact, critics say that the two will regret their decision, more so for Prince Harry.

However, their recent trip and the tension surrounding it were what gave it away. Meghan and Harry knew that leaving was for the best. And they are just too excited to be starting a life minus all the pressure from the Royal Family.

Uptight or Traditional?

"There was no warmth between the members and she wants to raise Archie in a household filled with joy, laughter, and a lot of hugs," a close friend of Meghan revealed to the Daily Mail.

The source added that Meghan still finds it weird that no one in the family hugs. Everyone is uptight, especially Kate Middleton. The Duchess of Sussex also told her friends that she and Prince Harry are aware that Prince William and Kate do not approve of the choices they made.

Everyone around felt the tension between the couples that a knife could be used to cut it.

"Kate barely looked at her and made sure that their interaction was kept to a minimum," the source furthered.

The couples were visibly awkward towards each other during the Commonwealth Service on Monday at Westminster Abbey. It was the first time the brothers and their wives were seen together in public after the Sussexes' bombshell announcement two months ago.

Prince Harry and Meghan walked ahead of Prince William and Kate. They greeted each other with an awkward "hello." Kate gave them a blank look while the brothers exchanged hellos. Harry gave William a smile, but they had very little interaction.

Meghan also admitted that her fear of the coronavirus spreading was the reason why she did not bring Prince Archie along. "It was not as if she was intentionally keeping Archie, but it made no sense putting him in harm's way," the source added.

Meghan has already returned to Canada to be with Prince Archie while Prince Harry stayed in the U.K. for several personal meetings. The split was not easy, as reports said Meghan shed a tear as she emotionally bid farewell to the staff.

Though sad, Harry and Meghan are looking forward to a bright and lucrative future ahead.
After taking a breather for a day, bears made an unprecedented comeback on March 12 taking benchmark indices to over 27-month low after World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic.

Indian equity benchmarks corrected more than global peers and saw the biggest ever single day fall today.

At 15:31 hrs IST, the Sensex is down 2,919.26 points or 8.18% at 32778.14, and the Nifty down 868.25 points or 8.30% at 9590.15.

About 216 shares have advanced, 2205 shares declined, and 101 shares are unchanged.

The BSE Sensex was down 2,919.26 points or 8.18 percent to 32,778.14, while the Nifty50 fell below 9,600 levels, down 868.25 points or 8.30 percent at 9,590.15, the lowest level since June 30, 2017.

The market has fallen more than 22 percent from its record high touched in January.

Rising worries over the fast-spreading COVID-19 wiped out over Rs 11.27 lakh crore of investors' wealth in a single day.

"Markets will remain nervous till the peak of coronavirus spread is behind us. Economic damage around the world is going to be much more severe than anticipated," Sajjid Chinoy of JPMorgan told CNBC-TV18.

According to him, the global growth may dip to -1 percent, while the India GDP will be impacted by at least 70-80 bps.

On the global front, Japan's Nikkei, Hong Kong's Hang Seng, Australia's ASX 200 and South Korea's Kospi plunged 4-7 percent, after the US markets fell into a bear trap, falling 5-6 percent overnight.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed sweeping restrictions to prevent people from 26 European countries from travelling to the United States for a month, which clearly indicates the seriousness of virus that has taken around 4,300 lives globally with more than 1.18 lakh infected cases. In the US, infected cases by virus jumped over 1,300.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on 26 European countries for a month, which indicates the seriousness of the virus that has claimed 4,300 lives.

India also suspended almost all visas and closed land border with Myanmar until April 15. Exemptions are only for diplomatic and official visas as well as employment visas.

All sectoral indices fell sharply with Nifty Bank, Auto, Metal, FMCG, IT, Pharma, Energy, Infra and Realty declining 7-9 percent.

The sharp rise in volatility clearly indicated that the market is expected to remain in control of bears. India VIX jumped to all-time high of 42.32 intraday.

The market breadth was pathetic as 10 shares declined for every share rising on the BSE. In the Sensex 30 and Nifty 50, all stocks ended in the red.

Oil markets also reacted negatively with the international benchmark Brent crude futures falling 6 percent to $33.6 a barrel amid fears of low demand after Trump suspended travelling from several countries.

However, experts believe the markets will make a comeback, albeit in the long run.

"There is uncertainty in global markets so unsure how much more we can correct, but we believe this is a great buying opportunity for a longer-term horizon," Ashwini Agarwal of Ashmore Investment Management said in an interview to CNBC-TV18.
Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent will be exchanging vows with her Hollywood producer beau Randall Emmett in April.

And co-star Brittany Cartwright showed off her excitement for the impending wedding, when she shared a snapshot taken during a 'bridesmaid fitting' on Thursday afternoon.

'IT'S GETTING CLOSEEEEE @lalakent,' captioned Cartwright who quickly panned her camera over an array of embroidered and beaded ivory gowns.

THE dress: Brittany Cartwright took to Instagram on Thursday afternoon to share a behind-the-scenes look at her recent 'bridesmaid fitting' for Vanderpump Rules co-star Lala Kent's impending April wedding

'It's getting closeeeee @lalakent,' captioned the reality star who quickly panned over an array of wedding gowns

In the short 'boomerang' posted to Instagram, Brittany's 1.3million followers got a small glimpse of just what to expect from Kent's ceremony.

Hanging in the background were two clothing racks with floor-length ballgowns hanging from them.

Some of the gowns were more traditional in style, devoid of beading and featuring a traditional A-line silhouette.

While others were decked out in rhinestones and featured jeweled bodices.

Here comes the bride: Brittany Cartwright (left) will be one of Lala Kent's (right) bridesmaids for her April wedding to her 46-year-old beau Randall Emmett; the close pals were photographed back in December in Las Vegas

The 31-year-old reality star also made sure to tag the bridal store Pronovias, so fans could do some snooping of their own.

Cartwright is all too familiar with the stresses and pleasures of planning a full-scale wedding, having married her Vanderpump Rules costar Jax Taylor back in June.

While Cartwright was being fitted for her bridesmaids gown, the bride-to-be was busy lounging at home in her pajamas.

Not gonna happen: While Brittany was getting fitted for her bridesmaids gown, Lala was busy lounging in her house pondering the chances of herself getting coronavirus prior to her wedding

The 29-year-old took to her Instagram page on Thursday afternoon to poke fun at her own coronavirus fears and whether or not the virus will affect her wedding plans.

'I may get in trouble for this, but that's ok,' began the reality star who spoke directly to her 1.3million followers.

She continued: '...I just don't feel that God would give me coronavirus before I get married. I just don't see that happening to me.'

'Lets just say I do get it before my wedding...I feel like that means that God is like "b*tch you need a little publicity."'

Ready for forever: Randall Emmett, 46, popped the big question to Lala back in September of 2018 during a stay in Cabo San Lucas for the 28-year-old's birthday; the couple photographed in October in Paris, France

Kent's 46-year-old beau popped the big question in September of 2018 during 'a romantic trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico,' where the couple were celebrating Kent's 28th birthday, according to People.

And on Valentine's Day, Kent and Emmett revealed that they had sent out their official wedding invitations.

The movie producer shared the lux invites with fans on his personal Instagram page with the caption: 'Happy Valentines Day to us, we just got our wedding invitations! 60 days til lift off.'
A benchmarking exercise for business and technology leaders across Australia and New Zealand aims to enable CIOs to better allocate and manage cyber security resources.

The CISO Lens Benchmark 2019 drew on responses from 58 organisations that between them employ close to 1 million people and that spent more than A$18 billion on ICT in 2019. Fifty were from Australia, eight from New Zealand. Among them they had more than 3,000 full-time security employees.

The benchmarking was undertaken by CISO Lens, a forum for CISOs of large Australian and New Zealand organisations.

Key findings on security facts and figures

Average spend. The average security spend was A$2,412 per full-time employee, but technology companies spent A$4,252 and financial organisations A$3,248.

CISO Lens managing director James Turner also flagged the breakdown of security spend between capex (32 percent) and opex (68 percent) and between projects (40 percent) and business as usual (60 percent). What a lot of organisations do, particularly if theyre run by an extremely technical CIO, is they'll buy a tool but then forget that they'll actually need to maintain it through time. That means staff need to be trained, staff need to be given the time to extract value from the tool. And if a staff member moves on, they need other staff to be trained.

That's the big 60 percent. But then there's the 40 percent projects  keeping up with what everyone else is doing. The criminals don't just sit back and say, Thats it, were done for the year. We'll see you again in 2021.

All but two of the CSOs provided their security spend for the forthcoming 12 months, A$1.1 billion in total. The largest eight made up 51 percent of the total. Sixty-five percent expected to increase budget in the next year. The average increase reported was 18 percent. Security budgets averaged 6.3 percent of total IT budgets.

CISO Lens 2019 public report Percentages add up to more than 100 percent because respondents were asked for their top three priorities. The yellow categories has the most nominations as No. 1 priorities.

Top priorities. Respondenets were asked to name their top three priorities. Identity and access management (IAM) and operational technology (OT)  including internet of things  are highlighted due to the high priority participants gave them. OT had the highest level of participants nominating it as their No. 1 priority. IAM was the second highest for being nominated as the No. 1 priority, and it also had the highest rate of No. 2 nominations.

CSO position. The benchmark identified one of its key finding as the level of the CSO in the company hierarchy. It found 43 percent of CSOs reporting to a CIO, CTO or COO who reported direct to the CEO.

Fifty-eight percent of respondents were one step or less removed from the CEO. This is a clear statement from these organisations on the importance of making expert advice easily  and continually  available to the executive.  [and] 43 percent of the benchmark participants were reporting to a CIO/CTO/CDO that was reporting directly to the CEO.  This is important because it is an indicator that in these organisations both technology and security are likely viewed as strategic capabilities, the report said.

Turner said breaks in this chain could have dire consequences for cyber security. I saw one horrible instance where the CISO was reporting to the CIO who was reporting to the CEO. Then the CIO brought in someone between them, and that new executives sole KPI, which would equate to 80 percent their salary, was based on cost reduction. You can imagine how that turned out for the poor CISO.

Outsourcing panned. The study identified what it said was most surprising finding as being dissatisfaction with outsourcing. Those organisations that reported insourcing as their primary approach were broadly satisfied Half of those outsourcing either for outcomes or resources) planned to increase their insourced capability in some way.

The implication for the industry is that a substantial number of organisations are looking to improve their internal capabilities with more people, and they are all fishing from the same pond, the report said. There is a clear requirement for ongoing talent pipeline development  both young people coming into the workforce, as well as searching across professional domains for people with aptitude and transferable skills.

Top security vendors. Respondents were asked to list their top five vendors that helped support the security and resilience of their organisation. The four that received the most nominations were:

Symantec: 21 nominations. The benchmarking was undertaken before official disclosure of Broadcoms acquisition of Symantec.

Microsoft: 20 nominations

Cisco Systems: 11 nominations.

Amazon Web Services (AWS): 9 nominations

Background on the report

Turner said the report was not meant to be statistically significant. It is highly representative of an extremely small group ... [but] these are the companies that have taken the time and resources to create [the CSO/CISO] role and, usually, the team underneath them and all the reporting structures and governance that gets wrapped around that.

The 2019 benchmarking grew from a smaller exercise CISO Lens undertook in 2018 with the CISOs of 11 critical infrastructure organisations. The data [from the first benchmark] kept on coming up in conversations with CIOs. Are we spending enough, too much or not enough? Turner said. That's one of their burning questions. Boards are particularly interested because they want to know that they're doing the right thing.  You'll often get CEOs and CFOs saying; Wheres the baseline? We want to be just behind that.

Participating CISO received a more comprehensive version of the benchmarking report late last year. [The participating CISOs] are happy for me to release this public version because they recognise there are other organisations out there that still need to be putting up a good response to cyber risk, Turner told CSO Australia.

Turner runs a CIO group, the CIO Cyber Risk Network, on behalf of research and advisory firm IBRS.
VMware Recognizes CBTS As a Leading VMware SD-WAN Service Provider

CBTS, a leading technology provider that delivers communications, cloud, infrastructure, and consulting solutions to clients across North America, has been recognized by VMware, Inc., as a leading service provider of VMware SD-WAN by VeloCoud.

VMware's partner network includes more than 500 partners globally, including system integrators, VARs, MSPs, and more than 100 telecom service providers. VMware recently highlighted its top VMware SD-WAN service partners that are helping clients achieve faster WAN deployments, lower costs, and improve application and network performance compared to their existing WAN.

VMware specifically highlighted CBTS' work with client National Money Mart Company, a financial services company that provides check cashing, payday loans, money orders, currency exchange, electronic bill payments, and money transfers.

National Money Mart has a multi-national network and relies on multiple carriers to cover its footprint. National Money Mart was challenged to manage its network, and hold carriers accountable for poor network performance CBTS recommended VMware SD-WAN, which now provides National Money Mart with a reliable network over disparate connections. This enables National Money Mart to hold carriers responsible for meeting Service Level Agreements.







"Choosing CBTS as our service provider partner allowed National Money Mart to have the people and processes needed to make the progress we wanted," said Krishna Chava, Director of Network and Telecom, National Money Mart. "Their expertise in SD-WAN and their attention to detail during the project management phase allowed us to be non-intrusive to our retail stores while transforming our network."

For more information about how CBTS helps clients leverage VMware SD-WAN, please click here.

ABOUT CBTS

CBTS serves enterprise and midmarket clients in all industries across the United States and Canada. From Unified Communications (News - Alert) to Cloud Services and beyond, CBTS combines deep technical expertise with a full suite of flexible technology solutions that drive business outcomes, improve operational efficiency, mitigate risk, and reduce costs for its clients. For more information, please visit www.cbts.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005032/en/
A Hyundai Steel mill in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province / Courtesy of Hyundai Steel



By Nam Hyun-woo



The U.S. Department of Commerce has cut its antidumping duties on coated steel from Hyundai Steel, Dongkuk Steel and POSCO, rejecting U.S. steelmakers' claims that Korean steelmakers have enjoyed an "indirect subsidy" from the country's state-run power corp., according to officials, Thursday.



According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the U.S. Department of Commerce has recently decided on a 0 to 2.43 percent antidumping duty on Korean steelmakers' coated steel.



Of the three firms, Hyundai Steel was waived from the duty, while Dongkuk Steel, Dongbu Steel and POSCO both received 2.43 percent duties.



This is a significant cut for Dongkuk, Dongbu and POSCO, given the firms faced a 7.33 percent antidumping duty in a previous decision in March last year.



The decision came after the Department of Commerce found Korea's electricity rate does not constitute a subsidy for steelmakers. The U.S. has been investigating the Korean steel industry since July following U.S. steelmakers' request on the suspicion that Korea's state-run power distributor KEPCO has "indirectly" supported Korean steelmakers by purchasing electricity at cheaper rates from its power generation units.



The investigation targeted Korean steelmakers' exports from July 2017 to June 2018 and had Hyundai Steel and Dongkuk Steel as the main respondents. Of them, Hyundai Steel exported 105,000 tons of coated steel to the U.S. during the period.



According to the ministry, the U.S. found that KEPCO purchased electricity at market prices, thus not justifying a countervailing duty.



Korean government and steelmakers welcomed the decision, saying it will help domestic steelmakers to spur their exports toward the U.S.



"So far, domestic steelmakers have been suffering from up to 15.8 percent tariffs, but the duty was alleviated to help Korean firms to increase their exports in an improved circumstance," the ministry said in a statement.



In July 2014, the U.S. imposed up to 15.8 percent of antidumping duties on Korean steelmakers including Hyundai Steel, and the steelmakers and the government have been making efforts to lower the tariffs.



"The Department of Commerce has been making decisions reflecting Korean steelmakers' stance and subsequent data, but there are risks over U.S. firms' demand for using the particular market situation (PMS) provision," a Hyundai Steel official said. "We will actively react to further U.S. anti-dumping judgments on coated steel and other steel products, to improve exports to the U.S."



The PMS provision of the WTO Antidumping Agreement allows a country to use its discretion not to trust the cost documents submitted from the exporter when imposing tariffs.


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External Article

12 March 2020

In an announcement from the Oval Office, President Trump on Wednesday night issued a 30-day travel ban from Europe beginning Friday at midnight.

Travelers from the UK would not be subject to the ban, the president said.

He issued the European travel suspension, citing the progress made in the U.S. fighting coronavirus because of his earlier ban of travel from China.

The ban could have a sweeping impact. Excluding the UK, nearly 11 million passengers flew from Europe to the U.S. in 2018, the last year data are available. The number represented 27 percent of all overseas visitors to the United States.
Temple, Penn and Pittsburgh are among the universities to notify students that classes have been moved online for the remainder of the spring semester. Other universities like Penn State, Princeton and Villanova have committed to resuming in-person classes no earlier than April. Most schools have extended spring break and asked students to remain off campus.

Many students will move home to meet their academic requirements remotely and need to move, store or ship their belongings. Unlike other operators, U-Haul rents vans and trucks to customers age 18 and up with a valid driver's license, offers a variety of truck and trailer sizes at every self-storage location, and accepts third-party pay, which enables family members to fund their loved one's moving and storage needs.

For universities seeking immediate moving solutions for their students, U-Haul has the infrastructure to provide boxes, tape and other supplies to campuses, and can offer free delivery during these challenging circumstances. Go to uhaul.com to find a location near you or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL.

Locations most convenient to students at downtown Philadelphia universities include: U-Haul Moving & Storage of Philadelphia at 314 N. 13th St.; U-Haul Moving & Storage of Riverview at 8 E. Oregon Ave.; and U-Haul Moving & Storage of Strawberry Mansion at 2800 Ridge Ave.

Collegeboxes, the No. 1 student storage and shipping provider in U.S., is another easy solution for moving belongings off campus. Customers can contact (866) 269-4887 or [email protected] to find out when Collegeboxes will be on their campus picking up items for storage or shipping.

Customers should create an account at Collegeboxes.com to initiate an order. FedEx will then ship items to customers' residences. Supply Kits include five double-walled boxes, packing tape, a permanent marker, 10 label pouches and zip ties. Once packed, an at-home service will pick up the boxes and save customers the trip to the shipping center at no additional charge.

With the international option, items can be shipped anywhere across the globe. Students also may opt to have Collegeboxes hold their personal belongings in climate-controlled storage while they are away.

Collegeboxes serves 13 Pennsylvania schools (Bucknell, Drexel, Penn State, Temple, Penn, Pittsburgh and Villanova among them) and 175-plus schools across the U.S.

Students can click on MovingHelp.com to find local Moving Help Service Providers to assist with their moves home.

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of 22,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 167,000 trucks, 120,000 trailers and 43,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 697,000 rooms and 60.7 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry, and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S.

Contact:

Jeff Lockridge

Sebastien Reyes

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 602-760-4941

Website: uhaul.com

SOURCE U-Haul

Related Links

http://uhaul.com


Ailing NMC Health has admitted it may have found evidence it was involved in fraud.

The FTSE 100 hospital operator, which runs high-end medical facilities in the Middle East, had engaged former FBI director Louis Freeh and his company to conduct an independent review after it was attacked by short-seller Muddy Waters.

The business admitted yesterday that the probe had discovered evidence leading to suspected fraudulent behaviour in relation to some elements of NMCs previous financial activities.

NMC Health engaged former FBI director Louis Freeh and his company to conduct an independent review after it was attacked by short-seller Muddy Waters

The company said it had notified authorities in the UK and the United Arab Emirates of the suspected illegal activity.

Ever since Muddy Waters published its damning dossier on NMC at the end of last year, the hospital group has begun to unravel.

The company admitted that it did not know how many shares its founder, Indian-born billionaire Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty, and other major investors actually owned in the company.

Just this week it discovered it had taken out 2.1billion in secret debt facilities which its board had never approved.

Its shares have been suspended since February 27.
"I fully support and endorse Lani Popp," the board's chairman, Kevin Ellis, said as part of an announcement of the endorsements first shared with The Texas Tribune. "I strongly believe she is unequivocally the best and only choice in the Republican primary race for District 5. This run-off election is critical for the future success of the board."

Popp's campaign hailed the endorsements as "unprecedented unity," and she said in a statement, "Our campaign needs every Republican official, organization, county party, club, and individual to help us win this runoff."

Morrow previously shook up Austin-area politics in 2016 when he unexpectedly unseated James Dickey, then the chairman of the Travis County Republican Party. Morrow's tenure came to an end months later when he became a write-in presidential candidate, making him ineligible to lead the party.
Canada and the United States conferred over the fate of their shared border while the provinces pleaded for cooler heads to prevail Thursday, after President Donald Trump slammed America's door on foreign nationals who have been in outbreak-racked Europe.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

President Donald Trump speaks in an address to the nation from the Oval Office at the White House about the coronavirus Wednesday, March, 11, 2020, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Canada and the United States conferred over the fate of their shared border while the provinces pleaded for cooler heads to prevail Thursday, after President Donald Trump slammed America's door on foreign nationals who have been in outbreak-racked Europe.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to emphasize Canada's strong health and border measures  part of a scramble to keep Canada's most important bilateral relationship from being sideswiped by Trump's dramatic efforts to arrest an accelerating global pandemic.

"I spoke with him about the very strong public health system and health-care system in Canada and the measures we are taking to combat the coronavirus," said Freeland, adding the two agreed to keep the lines of communication open.

Business leaders implored the Trudeau government to avoid overreacting and to ensure Canada's border agents could keep potential virus carriers out of Canada without hindering access to the crucial American market.

Trump's prime-time Oval Office announcement had more to do with politics than public health, said Perrin Beatty, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"There's a concern we may face, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, (of) pandemic protectionism  people will want to seal off markets, (and) use the excuse of the pandemic for doing so," Beatty said in an interview.

Canada doesn't have to move in lockstep with the United States but "we have to be concerned if we get too great a divergence that suddenly that we find problems on our border and problems doing business with our largest customer," he added.

Goldy Hyder, the president of the Business Council of Canada, called the Canadian government's response to COVID-19 "spot on," and urged it to think twice before acting. "We have to look at protecting that flow of services and that flow of people in what is effectively 75 per cent of our economy."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Ottawa with most of his counterparts for a first ministers meeting  a gathering that turned into a conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau self-isolating at home. Trudeau's wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, was awaiting the results of what would turn out to be a positive test for COVID-19.

"We have to be vigilant, keep an eye on our borders, make sure that we're doing proper screening," Ford said. "We have to look at this as North America, not just Canada  it's absolutely critical we keep the borders open and have the trade flowing back and forth."

Trudeau and Trump spoke by phone Thursday about their shared goals in dealing with the outbreak  protecting "the health and safety of their citizens and to promote economic resilience," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

"The prime minister and the president welcomed the close co-ordination between Canada and the United States in managing this challenge, including as it relates to the Canada-U.S. border, and looked forward to staying in touch."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a former federal immigration minister, said he told Freeland to exercise "greater rigour"  including mandatory quarantine  on foreign nationals from countries with a greater risk of infection.

But closing the Canada-U.S. border should be a non-starter, he insisted: "There is no single action which would impose greater cost on the Canadian economy."

Trump's order, which takes effect at midnight Friday, only applies to the movement of human beings, not goods or cargo, despite what he said on television. It covers only foreign nationals who in the last two weeks visited one of 26 countries in Europe that allow free and open travel across their borders. American citizens and permanent residents are exempt, and will be directed to one of 13 designated U.S. airport where they can be screened.

A persistent effort to start banning international visitors could have deeper implications for globalization and the unfettered movement of goods and people around the globe, warned Chris Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center.

"There are a lot of implications here that are quite worrisome," said Sands, a Canadian-affairs scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. "The potential economic damage of this is very high ... and there doesn't seem to be any path for Europe to fix it."

Canada will have to "seriously consider" whether to follow the U.S. lead to keep traffic moving between the two countries, he added  all the while working diplomatic channels to find a better solution, including ways to ensure Canadians don't end up on the wrong side of the next White House proclamation.

Matthew Mitchell, a professor of international business and strategy at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, likened the response  and the likely economic and social fallout  to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I ran with the bulls 25 years ago, and I think about coronavirus in much the same way as I do the bulls in Pamplona," Mitchell said. "It's not necessarily the bulls that are going to hurt you. It's the people that get scared and trample everyone else because of the bulls."

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The fallout from 9/11 was precisely that, he said  it wasn't terrorism that cost the global airline industry tens of billions of dollars in the immediate aftermath, but the fear of it.

"So the message that we're trying to promote is one of appropriate preparedness, and not panic. It's our collective response as individuals, as nations, as a world that's going to determine the outcome of this."

In the meantime, Sands suggested a short-term silver lining for Canada among would-be European tourists looking to rescue their vacation plans.

"It sends a message of low confidence in the U.S. government," he said. "Maybe it will have people thinking, 'Let's go to Canada instead for summer vacation.' "

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2020.

 With files from Joan Bryden and Stephanie Levitz in Ottawa
The global spare parts logistics market is poised to grow by USD 23.64 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of about 7% during the forecast period. Request free sample pages

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005300/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Spare Parts Logistics Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Spare Parts Logistics Market Analysis Report by End-user (Automotive, Electronics, Industrial, Aerospace, and Others), Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024".

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The market is driven by the increase in electronic components trade between India and China. In addition, the enhancement of operational efficiency with Industry 4.0 is anticipated to boost the growth of the spare parts logistics market.

The high population density and the presence of a sizeable middle-class population in countries such as China and India are the key drivers fueling the demand for consumable products. In 2017, India increased the import duty on certain product categories imported from China. However, the trade of product categories such as electronic items, electrical machinery, and electronic components is continuously increasing between the two countries. This is increasing the demand for spare parts logistics in APAC, which is contributing to the growth of the global spare parts logistics market.

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Major Five Spare Parts Logistics Market Companies:

CEVA Logistics AG

CEVA Logistics AG operates its business through segments such as Freight management and Contract logistics. The company offers spare parts logistics services for automotive, energy, healthcare, industrial, and aerospace industries.

Deutsche Bahn AG

Deutsche Bahn AG operates its business through segments such as DB Schenker, DB Regional, DB Arriva, DB Cargo, and Others. The company offers spare parts logistics services through its DB Schenker Logistics Business Unit.

Deutsche Post DHL Group

Deutsche Post DHL Group operates its business through segments such as Post eCommerce Parcel, Express, Global forwarding, freight, and Supply Chain. The company offers transport, warehousing, and management solutions for spare parts used in the automotive, healthcare, engineering and manufacturing, and energy sectors.

DSV AS

DSV AS operates its business through segments such as Air Sea, Road, and Solutions. The company offers spare parts logistics services for the automotive industry.

FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. operates its business through segments such as FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, and FedEx Services. The company offers shipping, transportation, and warehousing solutions for spare parts used in the automotive and electronics industries.

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Spare Parts Logistics Market End-users Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020-2024)

Automotive

Electronics

Industrial

Aerospace

Others

Spare Parts Logistics Market Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020-2024)

North America

APAC

Europe

South America

MEA

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

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Related Reports on Industrials Include:

Global Chemical Logistics Market Global chemical logistics market by service (transportation, warehousing, and others) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

FMCG Logistics Market in Europe FMCG logistics market in Europe by service (transportation, warehousing, and VAS) and geography (Western Europe and Eastern Europe).

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Paris: Six men who netted more than $77 million in a brazen and elaborate scheme by impersonating a French defence minister and asking wealthy individuals and institutions to pay for fake, off-the-book government operations have been convicted 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 and 1 million respectively ($3.5 million and $1.7 million).

Gilbert Chikli poses for a photo at his home in Ashdod, Israel, in 2016. Credit:AP

Chikli reacted angrily after the verdict on Wednesday, Paris time, calling the trial a "scandal" and accusing prosecutors of having brought the case at the behest of Jean-Yves Le Drian, France's defence minister from 2012 to 2017 and now foreign minister.

"You should be ashamed, prosecutor of the rich," he shouted in the courtroom.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

Trend:

Bringing an international master of science degree to Azerbaijan.

Building computer science and data analytics capacity in Azerbaijan;

Providing access to the George Washington University Masters Degree for Azerbaijani students;

Initiating close cooperation between ADA University and the George Washington University

BP and its co-venturers in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Shah Deniz, and South Caucasus Pipeline projects  SOCAR, TPAO, PETRONAS, Chevron, LUKOIL, NICO, Equinor, INPEX, ExxonMobil, SGC, ITOCHU, ONGC, TOTAL, Eni, and ADA University today announced the launch of a new programme on Master of Science in Computer Science and Data Analytics. The project will be implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan.

This is a dual programme jointly developed by ADA University of Azerbaijan and the George Washington University of the US. The graduates from the programme will receive degrees from both universities.

Gary Jones, BPs Regional President for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, said:  We are very pleased to help ADA University join their expertise with one of the leading international universities  the George Washington University, to launch a new Masters Degree programme in an area so much in demand in the country. This is a programme which for the first time in Azerbaijan will award a scientific degree on computer science and data analytics.

Some years ago BP and its co-venturers supported the establishment of the Centre for Data Analytics Research (CeDAR) at ADA University. We did this to help the university initiate locally the development of a new industry sector which would require high quality data analytics professionals, scientists and engineers. We hope the new Masters Degree programme, which BP and its co-venturers will fund, will be an enabler to boost capacity-building in data analytics.

The programme offers studies extending to five-semesters of which three semesters will take place in Baku and two semesters in Washington DC. The overseas studies will take place at the world class facilities of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) of the George Washington University.

All participants in the programme will receive full funding to cover their tuition fees and other expenses.

The value of the project is around 6 million AZN of which around 3,4 million AZN will be funded by BP and its co-venturers in the BP-operated projects.

The programme classes will start in the academic year 2020.

Over the past 27 years BP ant its co-venturers have supported a large number of major social investment projects. These have included educational and capacity-building programmes, building skills and capabilities in local communities, improving access to social infrastructure in communities, supporting local enterprises through provision of access to finance and training, support for cultural legacy and sport, as well as technical assistance to public institutions.

In 2019, BP and the co-venturers in BP-operated joint ventures spent $3 million in Azerbaijan on social investment projects.

For more information about BP and co-venturers social investment projects please visit BP Azerbaijan site at www.bp.com/azerbaijan.

Further information: Tamam Bayatly at BPs Press Office in Baku.

Telephone: (+994 12) 525 5895
Iran has asked for a $5bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund to alleviate the devastating impact of coronavirus, which has killed at least 429 Iranians as it shakes fragile Middle Eastern health systems and economies already burdened by war, sanctions and corruption.

Iran central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati disclosed on his Instagram account on Thursday that he had formally requested a bailout from the Washington-based international lender last week, suggesting he had yet to receive a reply. It would mark the first time in nearly 60 years that Iran has asked the IMF for help.

The multilateral institution was established in the waning months of the Second World War as one of several institutions to shape the global economy, with a mandate to help governments get through fiscal crunches. The IMF announced last week that it was making $50bn in low- and zero-interest loans available to poor and developing countries struggling to cope with the effects of coronavirus.

But Iran is also under heavy US sanctions, reimposed by the administration of Donald Trump. Washington remains the main contributor to the IMF and its key voice, retaining de facto veto power over its decisions.

The IMF should adhere to the funds mandate, stand on [the] right side of history and act responsibly, Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, wrote in a tweet.

With at least 10,075 cases so far, the coronavirus has struck Iran harder than any other country in the Middle East, with only Italy and China impacted as gravely worldwide. After initially downplaying the illness and failing to take draconian measures, Iran has begun to ask for help.

No one should lose their life because of lack of funds for medical equipment, Mr Hemmati wrote.

Iranian health officials said on Thursday that deaths due to the virus were tapering off in the hard-hit northern province of Gilan, but were gathering momentum in central Yazd province.

Many fear the worst is yet to come as the flu-like virus courses its way through war-ravaged neighbours such as Iraq and Afghanistan  bridges to the Arab world and South Asia.

Among aid workers there was grave concern that coronavirus would make its way into northwest Syrias contested Idlib province, where besieged and overtaxed hospitals already subject to bombings are ill-equipped to deal with what the World Health Organisation on Wednesday described as a pandemic.

Relief organisations are concerned about a weakened population on the move suffering from various stages of malnutrition while exposed to the elements.

This is all taking us by surprise, Steve Gumaer, of the US-based charity Partners Relief and Development, said in an interview. The organisation, which has helped rebuild clinics and schools in Raqqa, Hasaka and Manbij, has scrambled to provide coronavirus testing kits and train medical personnel to safely probe for the virus.

Weve been working in northeast Syria for years, and the coronavirus wasnt part of our programme delivery, he said.

Health officials in Libya, scene of another Arab civil war, have also sounded the alarm about the threat the virus could pose if it arrives in the country, where a nine-year armed conflict has eroded public infrastructure.

War-ruined Yemen, which has already suffered through a years-long cholera epidemic, is bracing itself for a possible outbreak of the virus, preparing isolation wards at its crumbling hospitals.

Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region has banned all non-essential movement for everyone except diplomats, aid workers and those struggling to contain the virus, and has closed off its borders with Iran.

At least 100 people have been diagnosed with the virus in Israel, with at least 91 in hospital as the small country takes extraordinary steps to halt the growth of the illness, including barring gatherings of more than 100 people and, for the first time since the countrys inception, banning spectators from the annual torch-lighting ceremony to mark its independence day on 28 April.

Egypt has also confirmed at least 67 cases, but many have reported coming down with the virus after leaving the country, suggesting a more widespread outbreak.

Recommended Why Trump really refuses to declare an emergency over coronavirus

There are numerous signs the epidemic is provoking public panic. In Kuwait, with at least 80 cases, some have accused a low-cost airline, Jazeera Airways, of bringing in passengers carrying the virus, demanding it be shut down.

Normally bustling commercial streets in Beirut were a ghost town after Lebanon had recorded 58 infections and at least three deaths due to coronavirus by Thursday  it has banned flights from 11 countries. Worshippers have been asked to bring their own, clean prayer rugs to mosques to halt the spread of the virus, according to international media.

In Turkey, news of the first confirmed case of coronavirus on Wednesday prompted residents to stockpile food and supplies, emptying supermarket shelves of pasta, rice, dried beans and hygienic products, including cologne, wet wipes and hand sanitiser.

Special thermal cameras are being used to monitor Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his entourage to make sure they dont come down with the illness, which has proven fatal in about 1 to 2 per cent of patients.

There were also worries among health officials that the virus was spreading even further, having penetrated Africa, with cases reported in Senegal and Ivory Coast.
Sen. Chuck Schumer and Stacey Abrams, Its Time to Fight Back!

This years presidential election will propel many issues into the spotlight: the economy, health care, foreign policy, our education system and much more. One issue that gets far too little attention, often mentioned as just another item on a long list of priorities, is voting rights. We write to argue that voting rights in America should be at the top of that list in this election. It is from the right to vote that all our other rights as Americans derive. And today, in 2020, that fundamental right to exercise the franchise is being challenged and, in many cases, eroded, in states across the country.

Its time to fight back.

This Saturday marks the 55th anniversary of one of the most significant moments in the history of our democracy. On the morning of March 7, 1965, nonviolent activists, including a young John Lewis, set out on a 54-mile march from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery to bring national attention to the plight of African-American citizens who were being denied their constitutional right to vote by the racial terror of the Jim Crow South. At the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, marchers were met by state troopers and county possemen who hurled tear gas and attacked them with billy clubs and police dogs. Spectators cheered. The horrific events of this day, which came to be known as Bloody Sunday, shocked the conscience of the nation, and compelled President Lyndon Johnson and a bipartisan majority in Congress to enact the Voting Rights Act (VRA) less than five months later.

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The VRA provided the federal government with the tools to finally uphold the 15th Amendments guarantee that no citizen can be denied the right to vote because of the color of their skin. For half a century, the law stood as a powerful force to prevent the type of racial discrimination in voting that plagued our nations history for generations. In the decades after the VRA, both parties in Congress worked to defend voting rights. The law originally passed with leadership from both the Republican and Democratic parties and was reauthorized under Republican presidents on four separate occasions: President Nixon in 1970, President Ford in 1975, President Reagan in 1982, and President Bush in 2006.

Only in the past few years has that bipartisan consensus around voting rights collapsed. In 2013, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Courts conservative majority in Shelby County v. Holder gutted critical provisions in the VRA that until then had allowed the federal government to prevent states with a history of discrimination from implementing changes to their voting rules without pre-approval.

The response to Shelby was sharp and immediate. Republican-led state legislatures rushed to pass new laws and drew new legislative districts with the explicit purpose of disenfranchising minority voters. Texas legislators immediately re-imposed the strictest voter-ID requirement in the United States. North Carolinas Republican-led legislature passed a wave of new laws designed to limit access to the ballot box, including a new photo-ID requirement, drastic cuts to early voting, and the end of same-day registration. Federal courts deemed these laws intentionally discriminatory, finding that, in North Carolina, the GOP efforts targeted African Americans with almost surgical precision.

In Georgia, then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp oversaw the closure of 214 voting precincts across the state from 2012-2018.

According to an analysis by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, these closures, most of which occurred after the Shelby decision, likely prevented an estimated 54,000 to 85,000 voters from casting ballots in the 2018 election. The AJC found that the impact was greater on Black voters, who were 20% more likely than White voters to miss elections as a result of these closures.

Today, in state-after-state, Republicans are working to purge voter rolls, draw partisan district lines, and limit the impact of minority voters. Democrats have to fight back in every possible way. We must challenge these insidious attacks on our democracy in the courts and in Congress and out in the country.

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The Democratic House has already passed H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which restores federal oversight of voting changes in states with a demonstrated recent history of repeated voting rights violations. Senate Democrats are advocating for the implementation of nationwide voter registration and an end to voter roll purges, and continue to pressure the Republican Leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell, to bring the Voting Rights Advancement Act up for a vote in the Senate. If Democrats retake the majority in the Senate this fall, voting rights legislation will be one of our first priorities. Outside of Congress, non-profit groups like Fair Fight (led by one of the authors of this piece), are signing up new voters, educating voters, and fighting voter suppression whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head.

This is a fight that must be waged on many fronts. It is a moral travesty that support for voting rights has become a partisan issue. The ability to participate in free and fair elections is a birthright given to all Americans, something that generations of Americans have marched and fought and died to exercise, expand, and ultimately guarantee. Efforts to protect that birthright should be embraced by both of Americas major political parties. Voting rights are not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. But until that day comes, candidates up-and-down the ticket, leaders at every level of government, and above all, the American people, must make voting rights a priority in this election.

@SenSchumer @staceyabrams @fairfightaction @NNPA_BlackPress @GovKemp @DrBenChavis
A street bearing the name of one of early Torontos most infamous supporters of slavery will be renamed after a pioneering scientist and feminist.

The Toronto East York Community Council voted unanimously on Thursday to change the name of Russell Street, named after slave owner Peter Russell, an official of Upper Canada who fought against abolition, to Ursula Franklin.

The council has final say in the matter; it does not have to go to full city council for approval.

Franklin was a research physicist and metallurgist in U of Ts faculty of engineering and taught at the university for more than 40 years. She died in 2016 at the age of 94.

I think she would be really pleased, and were all pleased, said Franklins daughter Monica Franklin, who spoke in support of the motion.

Russell is part of the citys anti Black-racism curriculum. There are two other streets in the city named after him: Russell Hill Road and Peter Street.

A motion by Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam (Ward 13 Toronto Centre) was also approved at the meeting, asking the manager of the citys anti-Black racism unit to work with the U of T to identify opportunities for promoting Black history and Black historical figures for honourific and permanent naming.

Michael Valpy, a senior fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto, initiated the change.

I hope whats become apparent is that there should be a campaign to look at other streets where the history of the person who holds the street name is questionable, he said.
Iran not supposed to answer IAEA non-professional questions: Mousavi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 11, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Wednesday that Iran is not supposed to answer any non-professional and political questions of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mousavi said in video conference with the press that "The framework of our cooperation with the Agency is clear, so that the Agency must consider its professional reputation and credibility and any absurd claim made by any regime or individual should not lead the Agency to pose questions."

He said that Iran has answered questions of the IAEA and that the IAEA's questions must have logical technical and legal aspects not for political consideration of some regimes Iran does not deem such questions correct and constructive.

Mousavi's reaction came after the IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi repeated his past claim on Monday that Iran has been barring the agency's access to two of three locations about which "the agency has posed a number of questions related to possible undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities."

*** The IAEA report has nothing to do with Europeans

"This issue has nothing to do with European officials," he said about the reaction of European countries to a recent report by the IAEA Director General. "We have expressed our concern and in a phone call to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, this issue and Iran's cooperation with the Agency have been raised and we take every opportunity to explain our actions and positions."

"Of course, the report emphasized Iran's good cooperation with the IAEA, but issues that we did not consider to be constructive will be discussed with other countries and we will outline our positions to the European and other states."

*** Iran Embassies ready to receive cash and non-cash assistance

Asked about arrangements the Foreign Ministry made to collect assistance of Iranian expatriates, he said: "We are in a situation where everyone should help one another. Iranian embassies are ready to receive cash and non-cash assistance. We now need medical supplies and if they receive cash assistance they will turn them into medical supplies. We hope that we can overcome the critical situation with the help and empathy of all.

*** All Iranian borders are open

Mousavi said that the Foreign Ministry works to regulate export of goods from the neighboring states. The Foreign Ministry is trying to minimize damage to trade with its neighbors and other countries.

*** Efforts to make peace in Afghanistan must be inter-Afghan

"We have challenged the US agreement with the Taliban," he said, referring to the US-Taliban peace deal.

We welcome any efforts for stability and security in Afghanistan, but these efforts must be within the inter-Afghan framework, not for the foreign government to sign a peace treaty thousands of miles away, of course, to defeat them.

The negotiations should include all Afghan groups, including the Taliban, Mousavi said.

*** Iranian Foreign Ministry uses all its capacities to contain coronavirus

He highlighted the capacity of parliamentary diplomacy to counter the Coronavirus and the messages Iranian Speaker Ali Larijani forwarded to the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and speakers of the member states, saying that the Foreign Ministry welcomes parliamentary diplomacy, and hopes that the efforts will work.

6125**1416

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A Montgomery County economist is concerned fears may prompt a potentially unnecessary recession as stock markets whipsaw amid updates about the new coronavirus.

Overall, the Lone Star College Economics Department Chair Frank Granack of The Woodlands believes the community and the country is going to get a handle on the new coronavirus once there is a new vaccine, treatment, and better testing.

I think that this wont have a lasting impact, Granack said on Tuesday. But the stock market went down substantially yesterday and people are afraid. Uncertainty is the critical element, when people dont know what to expect in the future, people tend to hunker down, and that is what can turn an economy sour.

Granack has been a full-time economics professor at Lone Star College since 2010. Prior to that, he served as an adjunct professor and spent 12 years in the mortgage banking business where he said he was a victim of the market crash of 2009 before he retooled and started over again.

We hadnt seen a downturn like that since the Great Depression, Granack reflected. It was a completely different causation, there were totally different things going on, but the bottom line is when people get laid off and people dont have work, everything comes to a halt as far as demands for goods and services, and then businesses have to start closing.

Economic growth

Since then, for nearly a decade, the Montgomery County area has seen growth. And Texas, has a robust and versatile economy. If the oil and gas industry is affected, it can lean on tourism, farming, banking, steel and more.

But this week the stock market suffered a massive blow due the new coronavirus reached over 1,000 cases in the United States and more than 100,000 cases across the globe. It may be the first time since the real estate bubble and mortgage crisis of 2009 that an event has spread across all of the sectors of the economy and at every level.

More Information Conroe At A Glance Labor Force: Conroe has a labor force of 44,100 people with an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent Top jobs by occupation: Office and Administrative Support 15 percent (7,798) Sales 12.47 percent (6,080) Executive Managers and Administrators 12.2 percent (5,946) Construction and Extraction 6.87 percent (3,351) Production Workers 5.93 percent (2,891) Work Distribution 63 percent of the work distribution of the total employees in Conroe is white collar while 36 percent is blue collar. Total Businesses Conroe has a total of 4,578 businesses. Leading Industries In 2019, the leading industries in Conroe were Health Care and Social Services (7,730 jobs, 726 establishments), Retail (7,649 jobs, 660 establishments), Public Administration (5,079 jobs, 123 establishments, and Accommodation and Food Services (4,727 jobs, 263 establishments). Conroe Econimic Development Council See More Collapse

Granack acknowledges leaders and event coordinators, including the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, face a tough decision on where to draw the line while trying to balance the safety of residents and the risk of doing economic harm.

For example, he said there is a vibrant oil industry in this area and a lot of people depend economically on the oil and gas industry. But, he said, if the price war continues between Saudi Arabia and Russia and the oil prices continue to drop, it would have a huge impact on the local economy. He said thats because if people are worried about losing their jobs, they will not consume, and the economy counts on people feeling safe to spend money, including on restaurants, sporting events, concerts, and more.

The economy is going to be unaffected if these events go on and people still attend just as if nothing happened, Granack said. That would be the key to keeping the economy rolling would be that people behave in the same way, they still go out and consume goods and services, and enjoy themselves and basically act as if everything is going to be OK.

Conroe impact

Danielle Scheiner, executive director for the Conroe Economic Development Council, said marketing plans for a Hannover Messe show scheduled for April in Germany have been postponed until July.

She discussed the significant impact to the economy when people stop going out and spending money, including with consideration to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeos decision to cancel and the potential loss in dollars from event goers, which is also turned over into scholarship money to students.

She echoed Granack as she encouraged people to be smart in protecting themselves and their from families from infection by following health officials guidance, but to also be practical such as by keeping a safe distance but maintaining a somewhat normal lifestyle that includes going out to dinner and the grocery store.

I think it is important for all of us because the residual impacts of all of this, Scheiner said. If we are not kind of logical about the steps we need to be taken  obviously we want to control spread and if you are exhibiting any symptoms at all you should not be going anywhere  but for those that are relatively healthy and are not expressing any symptoms or had contact with anyone who has been symptomatic, I think it is reasonable for us to go about our business with extra precautions that have been recommended.

As the seat of Montgomery County, she said the city of Conroe has quite a bit of white collar work, including government institutions such as the Conroe Independent School District. The city also has employees in the healthcare realm, including at hospitals such as the HCA Houston Conroe Healthcare. It also has various forms of manufacturing, including in oil and gas, food, medical and pharmaceutical distribution such as for medical kits.

According to data provided by the Conroe Economic Development Center, 63 percent of the work distribution of the total employees in Conroe is white collar while 36 percent is blue collar. Conroe has a total of 4,578 businesses. In 2019, the leading industries in Conroe were Health Care and Social Services (7,730 jobs, 726 establishments), Retail (7,649 jobs, 660 establishments), Public Administration (5,079 jobs, 123 establishments, and Accommodation and Food Services (4,727 jobs, 263 establishments).

There is a pretty broad base from a variety of different industries that are represented here in Conroe, Scheiner said. What I would be most concerned about, from an economic impact perspective, would be how the virus and what has happened overseas and in other locations in the world have impacted the use of oil and gas and how that is impacting the markets as we saw over the weekend in the conflicts between the Saudi Arabians and the Russians and the OPEC members over pricing.

That is going to have a direct impact on a lot of the companies that are based here in Texas, she added. I think we are watching that carefully to see how that impact will resonate more so than actual contact with people who have COVID. I think it is all of those kinds of extended things that would have an economic impact here locally.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Dunn, who helped Biden prepare for a possible 2016 run for president, will also continue with the campaign, returning to her role as a senior adviser to Biden. Schultz, who prepared and built the Biden campaign and oversaw initial hiring and delegate strategy, will stay on in a new role. I will value his continued input on this campaign, Biden said in the announcement.
Europe appears to have been largely blindsided by U.S. President Donald Trumps announcement that the U.S. was suspending travel from 26 European countries.



Several European ambassadors in Washington tell CNN they didnt know this was coming, despite having been in contact with the administration over the past few days.



One ambassador in DC said there was "no indication" Trump would go to the lengths he did, while another spokesperson said German officials had no advanced warning this was coming.



"We knew something was coming on travel from Europe (more restrictive travel advice) but not this drastic," the Belgian ambassador told CNN. "What is not understandable is the exception for the UK and the lack of national measures [domestically].

The Trump administration notified ambassadors after the announcement: Several European ambassadors expressed a need for clarity as they worked to digest what these new measures mean. The travel suspension will begin on March 13 and will not apply to screened U.S. citizens and to Britain.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A pregnant Westerleigh woman said her physician recommended she be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) after exhibiting flu-like symptoms, but she said she was denied the test despite traveling domestically recently and being exposed to people who had traveled internationally.

Elizabeth Turchi, 37, who is 10 weeks pregnant, said she recently developed a fever, body ache, cough, congestion and shortness of breath  symptoms that align with the coronavirus  after her trip to Walt Disney World in Florida, where a surge of cases has been reported by the states Health Department.

While she later learned she tested positive for the flu a day after being tested, her experience exhibits the limited scope of coronavirus testing, even with a doctors recommendation.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

Turchis primary care physician  whom she declined to name  told her not to come into the doctors office, per protocol, and reached out to Staten Island University Hospital and the Northwell Health Lab to notify them that a patient required testing.

When I arrived at (SIUH), the protocol was decent, Turchi said. They had me do an intake, put a mask on and wait a little while for a test  but not very long  which is good," she said.

However, after Turchi was swabbed, she was told she was denied coronavirus testing by Northwell Healths lab because she did not meet the necessary criteria for a test despite exhibiting relevant symptoms and having a profession that exposes her to individuals who regularly leave the country.

They had all of that background, and took all of that into consideration to reject my swab being tested because it didnt meet the criteria of having just traveled to an outbreak zone or had contact with someone who is confirmed, she said.

Thats all supposedly considered and still rejected," Turchi said. Thats alarming to me."

Jillian OHara, a spokeswoman for SIUH  part of the private Northwell Health system  said, We have been working closely with Northwell Health and the Department of Health to coordinate all required testing. According to guidelines, any patient presenting with signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19, fevers and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing) are considered for testing. These regulations do apply to pregnant patients, as well.

At a press conference Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke about the citys criteria for testing.

If you just came back from one of the...deeply-affected countries and have symptoms, we want to get you tested. If you have a direct nexus to an existing coronavirus case and have symptoms, we want to have you tested," de Blasio said.

If your symptoms start to fade over a day or two, thats one thing, he said. If they get worse, thats another thing.

If there is a concern for a patients health worsening, de Blasio said it is preferred to get individuals tested for traditional diseases like the flu.

If any one of us just woke up in the morning and said, Jeez, this seems controversial, Id like to get tested,' thats not what were going to accommodate right now, he said. Its not for lack of testing capacity  it is, I think, intelligent prioritization.

Prior to the press conference, Turchi said she had issue" with the current criteria for testing. "I think the most common basic sense  one  is you dont have to travel to an outbreak zone, Turchi said. Were in an outbreak zone.

Second, if people are not tested unless they can say I was directly exposed to someone confirmed, its a chicken-and-egg, Turchi said. No one is going to be tested.

The government is going on TV saying tests are readily available, said Turchi, but theyre not telling everyone the criteria to have the tests are limited in scope.

SIUH spokesman Christian Preston said, The CDC does not recommend testing, symptom monitoring or special management for people exposed to asymptomatic people with potential exposures to COVID-19, such as in a household, workplace or social setting."

"Given the limited testing capacity at this time, we are reserving the COVID-19 test for patients who are at the highest risk for severe disease. We are working diligently with state and local health departments to expedite our testing capacity as quickly as possible.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that 212 cases have been confirmed in New York state, with 48 total cases confirmed in New York City. Hours later, Mayor Bill de Blasio said the latest confirmed total is 53 in New York City.

A second case was confirmed on Staten Island Thursday, and St. Teresa School in Castleton Corners closed after a person who was inside the school building had what officials say is a confirmed case of coronavirus.

Cuomo said that availability of testing is still a major concern in the United States, where approximately 5,000 tests have been conducted as of March 11. Our testing capacity is nowhere near what it needs to be, he said.

He announced Wednesday that private health labs will be contracted by the state in order to increase testing capacity. The more tests we get, the more positive we will get," he said, thats exactly what were seeking.

Dr. Raul Perea-Henze, the deputy mayor for Health and Human Services, said the addition of commercial labs could give New York State the ability to do 5,000 tests a week. As commercial labs continue to expand their capacity, thats where most of the testing will be done, he said.

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A suspected coronavirus case who escaped from hospital in Zimbabwe tested negative on Wednesday, authorities said, after causing panic by eluding medical staff and running loose in the capital.

The 26-year-old Thai national, whose name was not given, escaped the Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare after he was admitted for coronavirus testing on Monday.

The man escaped with the help of his relatives and was later spotted buying medicine at a pharmacy, prompting police to launch a search party.

Prosper Chonzi, who heads Harare's health department, told AFP that the man voluntarily returned to hospital on Tuesday morning.

The reasons for his escape remained unclear.

"Maybe he was initially apprehensive, maybe he was confused," Chonzi said.

No cases of coronavirus have so far been detected in Zimbabwe.

"No one knew whether he had coronavirus or not," Harare resident Elvis Rukwata told AFP.

"Our fear was that he was getting in contact with more people and infecting them."

Neighbouring South Africa remains the only country to have confirmed cases in the southern African region, with 13 people tested positive since last week.
SPRINGFIELD  New guidelines reducing contact among parishioners during Mass have been issued by the Catholic churches in the Diocese of Springfield because of the COVID-19 virus.

Diocese spokesman Andrew Hansen said the steps are being taken out of an abundance of caution to avoid the spread of illness.

The church and her sacraments are Christs instruments of grace on this earth, Hansen said. And we remain committed to fulfilling that mission, especially in times of concern and uncertainty.

The new guidelines say people should not hold hands while praying the Our Father at Mass and the Sign of Peace should be exchanged without physical contact  for example, by turning to those nearest and saying, Peace be with you, with a bow of the head towards them. Clergy also may consider from shaking hands in greeting people after Masses where it isnt possible to practice proper hand-washing and hygienic prevention.

The diocese is recommending churches suspend using chalice distribution during Holy Communion. People presenting themselves in the communion line and not receiving the Blessed Sacrament should be invited to make a spiritual communion without physical contact by the minister. Catholic hospitals and Catholic nursing homes with private chapels will decide whether to offer public masses.

The diocese is advising that people who clean churches, schools and other parish buildings take extra precautions to sanitize surfaces and door handles. Meetings, classes, gatherings and events may continue as scheduled at the discretion of local leadership. And the diocese is asking members to devote the remaining Lenten Friday fasts for the special intention of healing those affected by COVID-19 and for the cease of its spread.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-13 02:12:57|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday ordered the Iranian armed forces to form the "Health and Medical Headquarters" to enhance efforts fighting against COVID-19, Tasnim news agency reported.

In a decree to the Chief of Staff of Iran Armed Forces Hossein Baqeri, Khamenei said the contribution of the Iranian armed forces to the fight against COVID-19 should be organized under the "Health and Medical Headquarters ... in full cooperation with the government and Ministry of Health and Medical Education."

Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Thursday announced the infection of 10,075 people across the country by COVID-19, of whom 429 people have died.
Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in a New York State prison on charges of sexual assault and third-degree rape.

He will be formally registered as a sex offender.

Last month he was found, guilty of raping Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actor, in 2013 and of sexually assaulting Mimi Haleyi, a former Project Runway production assistant, in 2006.

Before the sentencing was delivered, Weinstein addressed a packed Manhattan courtroom and said he had deep remorse. But he showed little contrition, implying that the #MeToo movement had gone too far.

I am totally confused, he said. I think men are confused about all of this this feeling of thousands of men and women who are losing due process. Im worried about this country.

This is not the right atmosphere in the United States of America, Weinstein added.

Weinstein, 67, claimed he had serious friendships with the two primary accusers in the case.

But both women delivered victim impact statements before the sentence. Haley, who says she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein in his apartment in 2006, told the judge that she was left emotionally damaged by the incident.

It scarred me deeply, mentally and emotionally, she said. What he did not only stripped me of my dignity as a human being and a woman, but it crushed my confidence.

Mann, who testified that Weinstein raped her over the course of an abusive relationship, said his abuse had also had a negative impact on her life.

I dont know how to explain the horrors of being raped by someone who has power, Mann said. The impact on the psyche is profound. Rape is not just one momentit is forever.

As Mann and Haley spoked, Weinstein looked on, appearing to be in a state of stunned disbelief. Afterwards, he apologised to both women.

Following sentencing Weinstein was taken to Rikers Island infirmary from the Manhattan courthouse where he was sentenced. He then began having chest pains, so the staff sent him to New York Citys Bellevue Hospital where he will likely stay overnight.

On Wednesday, 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.

Source: Variety
Note: District officials announced Thursday afternoon that all San Francisco public schools will close for three weeks. Read the story here.

Hours after city and district officials announced they would keep schools open across San Francisco, officials made the call late Wednesday evening to close Lakeshore Elementary for the next 14 days after learning four students there have a respiratory illness.

While there are still no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the districts schools, the Department of Health recommended the closure while they investigate, Superintendent Vincent Matthews said.

Based on current guidance from DPH, Lakeshore families and staff are asked to self-quarantine, which means to stay home and monitor their health for 14 days, according to a district statement.

Some of the students adult family members also reported respiratory health issues.

The school board called an emergency closed session meeting scheduled for Thursday morning with health officials to discuss the response to the coronavirus.

We are in the midst of a challenging public health situation, and new information is surfacing rapidly, Matthews said. We know this information is cause for concern. We will continue to work closely with health experts to inform these important decisions.

District officials said they are working on how to support student learning during the closure and will update families in the coming days.

The closure followed a Wednesday press conference with Mayor London Breed explaining why the district made the decision to keep all schools open despite calls from some parents and community members to close them for student and staff safety.

Matthews said the situation was changing every day and based on the advice of health officials, they would be making case-by-case calls when cases of COVID-19 affected schools.

Education officials across the Bay Area, like their counterparts around the country, have struggled to balance the concerns over community health and the serious impact to families when schools close.

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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, a decision made without hte advice of local health officials

Officials at Seattle Public Schools closed all their campuses this week to prevent the spread of the virus.

In Oakland, officials sought to calm nerves after two high school students had potential exposure to a confirmed case of the virus. The schools, Oakland Technical High School and Oakland High School, remain open.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

Matthews briefly shut Lowell High School last week for three days after the parent of a student tested positive for the virus.

Schools are an essential service, Matthews said Wednesday, providing not just an education, but food, security and other important resources to children and families.

In addition, children have a much lower risk of serious illness with COVID-19, but they can be carriers. If schools close, older relatives  who are higher risk  in some cases are tasked with watching the children during the closures, health officials said.

Some teachers in San Francisco criticized the district for remaining open given the virus is circulating in the city.

The kids are far more concerned about this than even our leaders are, said Rafa Vazquez, an eighth grade teacher at Everett Middle School. They know that schoolhouses are where you get a lot of germs. Theyre asking questions where theyre desperately seeking people to connect those dots for them, and the adults are not doing that. Theyre looking at that behavior. They're looking at us evade.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
Bridgewater State University professor Nicholas Pirelli, who was charged last week with raping a student, was rearrested Thursday for more suspected sex crimes involving at least two other students

A communications professor at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts who was arrested last week on suspicion of raping a female student was back in jail on Tuesday night, this time after two more students came forward with accusations.

Nicholas Pirelli, 36, was taken into custody by the BSU Police on a warrant charging him with trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, distributing obscene matter, sexual conduct for a fee and criminal harassment.

Pirelli was arraigned on the new charges on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.

Bridgewater State Police Chief David Tillinghast told the Enterprise News that after news of Pirelli's arrest last week spread on campus, as many as five women have come forward raising concerns about the professor's actions.

Two of the women's accounts in particular sparked investigations and led to the new charges being filed against him.

According to court records, one student at BSU said she joined the 'sugar daddy' website seeking.com to earn money by talking to men, or sending them photos of herself, but said she had no intention of meeting any of them in person.

All three accusers are students at Bridgewater State University, where Pirelli teacher communications

But earlier this year, she was contacted by a man named 'Nick,' later identified as Pirelli, who allegedly tried to compel her to get together.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth OConnell said on Wednesday at Pirellis arraignment that what started as 'casual talk' eventually escalated to highly sexually-charged exchanges, with Pirelli allegedly expressing a desire to be dominated by a woman, reported the Boston Globe.

At one point, the educator allegedly confided in the student that he has a vast collection of sex toys and offered to pay her for sex, according to the documents.

Pirelli is also quoted as writing to the student: 'When a woman is dominant, I want her to tie me down, choke me, and feel strong enough to put me in chastity if she wants to. I want her to feel like she owns every part of my body and can do whatever she wants to it.'

The alleged victim told police she repeatedly rejected Pirelli's offers of sex for money, even though the professor electronically sent a total of more than $300 to her Venmo account between January and late February.

On February 16, according to the court filing, Pirelli texted the student asking if she had ever had anal sex. She had replied that she had not, and Pirelli offered to 'ease her into it.' He then allegedly offered the woman $200 if she had dinner with him and used a sex toy on him during the meal.

The woman told police she was shocked by the proposal and began limiting her interactions with Pirelli, who on one occasion allegedly sent her an unsolicited photo of his erect penis.

Two of the accusers, including the woman who claimed that Pirelli raped her in October, had met the educator on the 'sugar daddy' website seeking.com

'It is clear that Pirelli attempted to recruit [the woman] as his own personal prostitute by enticing her with the promise of money in exchange for sexual acts,' the filing alleges.

The criminal harassment charge against Pirelli stems from the account of another student of his, who accused him of sending more than $150 to her Venmo account unprompted, following her on social media, sending her unsolicited emails and seeking her out in the student lunch room.

The student said when she found out through her friend that Pirelli was the other woman's 'sugar daddy,' she 'felt a pit in her stomach.'

The student told police she repeatedly told Pirelli to stop contacting her, but he continued sending her emails.

A judge set Pirelli's new bail at $6,000 and ordered him to wear a GPS device and stay away from the BSU campus.

Pirelli was initially arrested on March 4 and charged with rape, indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14 stemming from an incident that allegedly took place on October 20, 2019.

The alleged victim in that case is a student at Bridgewater State University but is not enrolled in any of Pirelli's classes.

According to court documents, Pirelli and the woman connected via the website seeking.com, Enterprise News reports. The site aims to match 'sugar babies' with sugar daddies,' with Pirelli allegedly telling the student he planned to 'spoil' her.

The student told police she sent photos and videos to Pirelli, with some showing her in the nude and undressing. Pirelly allegedly told the student that they would need to be 'discreet' after learning that she attended the university.

Pirelli is said to have sought someone who would dominate him with whips and chains. He sent the student photos of himself after she sent hers.

The educator and the woman began talking through text applications and he would send her money on various occasions using Venmo.

They then met in person, agreeing to meet at a Dunkin'Donuts in West Bridgewater to 'see if they had a good connection in person.' Pirelli sent the woman $20 on Venmo to get to the location.

Court documents reveal that Pirelli offered to help her with an essay she was working on to secure an on-campus job, telling the student to come to his office. Prior to her arrival, Pirelli reportedly sent her $50 to go shopping.

It was then that the woman claims Pirelli raped her, according to court documents. She claimed that the pair only worked on the essay for about 30 minutes before he locked the door to his office and began forcibly kissing her.

BSU shared that the educator was placed on paid leave as soon as they learned of the accusations

She told police that Pirelli then performed forcible anal oral sex on her.

The woman said that she continued communicating with Pirelli after the alleged attack in an effort 'to let him down easy' as she grew worried about her standing as a student and ability to get the on campus job.

She reported the incident to Bridgewater State University police on March 3.

While being interviewed by police, Pirelli is said to have made misleading statements and made it so that he could not be credible.

Pirelli was released from jail last week after posting $2,500 bail.

BSU shared that the educator was placed on paid leave as soon as they learned of the accusations.

'He has been placed on administrative leave with pay,' a university spokesman said. 'He has been asked not to come to campus without permission from the university.'

A statement from the school also said: 'Bridgewater State has zero tolerance for misconduct, abuse or violence against any members of our campus community and is committed to preventing and holding accountable anyone responsible for acts of physical and sexual assault. We are working closely with the district attorney's office in their prosecution of this alleged crime.'

Pirelli is due back in court on April 30.
The recent developments have got environmental experts fuming over the decision

The eco sensitive zone around the National park is currently 168.84 sq km

Bengaluru: While the environmentalists are fighting to retain the original eco sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Bannerghatta National Park as 268.96 sq kms, the union environment ministry has accepted the Karnataka chief minister, B.S. Yediyurappa's suggestion to reduce the size it by 100 sq km.

According to the new notification the size of the ESZ around the National park is currently 168.84 sq km.

The recent developments have got environmental experts fuming over the decision.

Bhanu Prakash R, co-ordinator of the Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust wrote multiple letters to the union environment ministry and state government apprising them about the ramifications the ecology will have if the ESZ is reduced.

Inspite of multiple letters written explaining facts and ground realities, the government reduces ESZ to favour quarry and real estate mafia. This decision is taken without keeping any scientific study into consideration

- Bhanu Prakash R

Despite the Karnataka High Court's order to set up a monitoring committee for Banerghatta National Park eco sensitive zone, the state government has not moved an inch, which has lead to unregulated land use in the region.

Even before the finalisation of the ESZ, farmers alleged that land mafias have been repeatedly pressurising them to relinquish their lands at throwaway prices.

The founder of Project Vruksha, a Bengaluru based eo-initiative, Vijay Nishanth, lambasted at the government and remarked that it is clear that the government stands with the mining industries.

Despite the assurances by the BJP ministers that no reduction in the ESZ will happen this is what we see today. BJP is playing the double game. We are looking at legal options now

- Vijay Nishanth

Recently, the BJP government in Karnataka had inducted Anand Singh, an accused of around 15 cases including offenses under Karnataka Forest Act, as the forest minister.
The deposed Kano emir, Muhammadu Sanusi, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order for his release from the post-dethronement detention and confinement.

Mr Sanusi was deposed following a resolution of the Kano State Executive Council on March 9, on allegations of insubordination.

Following his sack, he was taken to Awe in Nasarawa State and he has been detained in an apartment in the town since then.

His team of lawyers led by Lateef Fagbemi, on Thursday, filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/357/2020 before the court.

The suit, filed on Thursday, was brought pursuant to section 34, 35, 40, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution and Order 4 Rule 4 of the Federal High Court

Mr Sanusi is asking for, An interim order of this Honourable Court releasing the Applicant from the detention and/or confinement of the Respondents and restoring the Applicants rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, [apart from Kan0 State] pending the hearing and determination of the Applicants Originating Motion.

Upon granting the above request, the former Central Bank Governor(CBN) is also urging the court to make, An order granting leave to the Applicant to effect service of this order alongside the originating motion and subsequent processes' on all the respondents.

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; the Director-General of the State Security Services(SSS), Yusuf Bichi; Attorney General of Kano State and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; are the first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively.

Premised on six grounds, the suit stated that, Applicants fundamental right to life, human dignity, personal liberty and moverment are seriously under challenge and continually being breached by the Respondents.

Many Nigerian lawyers have condemned the dethronement and banishment of the emir to Nasarawa, saying he was not granted fair hearing before the dethronement and such banishment violates his freedom of movement.

The dethronement

The Kano State Government said on Monday that it dethroned Mr Sanusi because of insubordination.

Usman Alhaji, the Secretary to the Kano State Government, stated this in a statement circulated to journalists.

Many see the Kano governments action as Governor Abdullahi Gandujes way of getting at Mr Sanusi who is believed to have worked against the governors re-election last year.

In his statement, Mr Alhaji said the Kano State Executive Council unanimously approved Mr Sanusis dethronement.

READ ALSO:

The Executive Council is made up of the governor, the deputy governor, commissioners, and other selected appointees of the governor.

The Emir of Kano is in total disrespect to lawful instructions from the office of the state Governor and other lawful authorities, including his persistent refusal to attend official meetings and programmes organised by the Government without any lawful justification which amount to insubordination, Mr Alhaji said.

It is on record and in so many instances Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II has been found breaching part 3 section 13 (a-e) of the Kano State Emirate Law 2019 and which if left unchecked will destroy the good and established image of the Kano Emirate, the official added.

The Kano emirate law that Mr Alhaji referenced is the one which created four new first class emirs in Kano State. Before then, the emir of Kano was the only first-class emir in the state.

Mr Sanusi and other members of the Kano emirate are challenging the law in court.
OOLA GAAs Strictly Club Dancing night has been such a success that they could have put on two nights!

But it is one night only  this Friday, March 13 at 8pm in the Ballykisteen Hotel. Chairperson of the organising committee, Treasa Ryan said they will follow all HSE guidelines and there will be copious hand sanitisers for attendees.

Its sold out. We have 912 tickets and they are all gone. We originally only got 700 but to the demand we were able to get more. We didnt even put them in to shops or the pubs  they were sold by the committee and dancers.

We were joking that it is like the All-Ireland final and when the tickets go back to the clubs some might become available. We could have done two nights, said Treasa.

If you are interested in going please contact one of the committee members in case some people cant go and tickets become available.

Everyone is talking about it. We dont know what we are going to do next week. We had a full rehearsal. It was the first night they all came together and it was brilliant. It starts at 8pm and we have DJ Willie Bunn afterwards, said Treasa, who is Oola GAAs mental health and wellbeing officer.

Read also: Limerick students urged to snap shots of sustainable life for TLC competition

Sixteen couples, ranging in age from 16 to 60s, will strut their stuff. They are drawn from Gaelic for Mothers and Others, underage teams, senior men and ladies.

I dont think if we hand picked them we could have picked a nicer group, said Treasa.

They will be judged by Limerick GAA legend Richie McCarthy; Demi Isaac Oviawe, of Young Offenders and Dancing with the Stars 2019; Ashling Thompson, four-time Cork Camogie All-Ireland winner, and Liam Guiney, vice chairperson Munster Fleadh Cheoil and Oola NS principal.

Oola GAA Strictly Club Dancing is sponsored by Heart ER which is owned by John and Kathy Conroy, uncle and aunt of Oolas most famous son, Darragh ODonovan.

Treasa said they are continuing the community spirit that was sparked by Oola GAAs journey to the county final last year.

The atmosphere and spirit was brilliant. Now we felt the time was right to do this, said Treasa. And judging by the buzz in the parish it will be a night to remember.
ST. PAUL  The mother who St. Paul police say threw her 11-year-old autistic son from a fourth-floor apartment balcony told them during questioning "I snapped," according to criminal charges.

Prompted by questions from investigators, she went on to say that raising a largely nonverbal child with disabilities on her own was difficult, and admitted his medical issues sometimes made her wish "that heaven was the boys home," charges say.

A police sergeant asked her: "In that moment, were you trying to kill him," according to the charges. Lloyd responded: "Yes, but I want my baby here."

Itayvia Demetiric Lloyd, 33 was charged Wednesday, March 11, with attempted murder in Ramsey County District Court.

Lloyd was initially nonresponsive when police came to her apartment after finding her son on the ground with extensive injuries Monday morning.

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Later, after her 6-year-old son told officers that his mother had pushed his older brother off the balcony and Lloyd was arrested, she started rambling incoherently, according to the criminal charges. She spoke of people being after her for years and a woman hating her.

At one point she reportedly starting ripping up papers on a table and later exposed herself, prompting investigators to end the interview, according to the charges.

But on Tuesday, Lloyd told officers she was ready to talk about what happened, according to the charges.

She said she went to a memorial service for a relative that weekend and woke up not feeling like herself. Shes been struggling with drinking and was under a lot of stress, she said, according to the charges.

Then, she and her girlfriend got into a fight, and Lloyd found herself in a fit of rage so intense that it made her want to hurt her 11-year-old son, she told officers.

Lloyd said she remembered going into her sons room Monday morning and possibly carrying him to the balcony, adding that she "could have pushed him off, but she wasnt in her right state of mind," the complaint said.

"I snapped," she told officers, charges say.

She reportedly added that her behavior in her first interview with officers had been an act.

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Judge orders mental health evaluation

In addition to the second-degree attempted murder charge, Lloyd faces two counts of fourth-degree assault for allegedly attempting to punch an officer and spitting on another after her arrest.

She made her first court appearance Wednesday morning. At the hearing her public defender requested two mental health evaluations be ordered for Lloyd, one to determine if shes competent to stand trial and the second to see if mental illness or cognitive impairment could be a defense for her alleged actions, according to court records.

Ramsey County District Judge Joy Bartscher ordered both evaluations and ruled Lloyd be held in custody without bail or bond amounts set until the results of the evaluations are returned May 26.

Lloyds lawyer, Adrianne McMahon, said the evaluations are necessary.

"There is a lot more going on in this case then what is being portrayed by the state in the complaint," McMahon said. She added that it was partly for that reason that she asked the judge to order that Lloyd be evaluated by mental health professionals.

Police found 11-year-old bleeding on the ground

Police were called to Union Flats apartments on Hampden Avenue near Charles Avenue in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood around 8:40 a.m. Monday after a person reported what they thought was an attempted suicide.

Police found the 11-year-old boy in his underwear on the ground in the apartment buildings courtyard. He was bleeding from his mouth but conscious and breathing, charges say.

Paramedics took him to Regions Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

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He is still being treated for a range of injuries, which are not life-threatening, including at least one broken femur, a fractured jaw and head injuries. Additional surgeries are in his future, according to the charges.

Officers who went to his apartment found his 6-year-old brother at the door and Lloyd in the bathtub.

Victim's brother told police what happened

When Lloyd didnt respond to officers questions about what had happened to the 11-year-old boy, they turned to the 6-year-old.

The boy told officers he awoke that morning to his older brother laughing and Lloyd saying, "This is not a joke  stop laughing," the complaint said. He said the exchange happened shortly after he heard his mom and stepmom fighting.

Then he watched Lloyd carry the 11-year-old off his top bunk and into the living room. When the 6-year-old followed a few minutes later, his brother wasnt there and Lloyd told him she threw the boy off the balcony, he told officers, according to the charges.

The 6-year-old was taken into the custody of child protection services.

Ramsey County attorney: Case 'one of the most tragic'

Officers later talked to Lloyds girlfriend, who told police she and Lloyd had been in a relationship for three years. She said the 11-year-old boy is autistic and only uses the words "yes" and "no" to communicate.

The morning of the incident, she said Lloyd had been acting "out of her mind." At some point, the woman left the apartment to go to the vending machine. She said the 11-year-old was gone when she returned so she went looking for him and found him on the ground outside.

Ramsey County Ramsey County Attorney John Choi called the incident "one of the most tragic cases that has happened during (his) time as county attorney," adding:

"My heart breaks for this 11-year-old boy who is recovering from his massive injuries and for this family, including the mother who stands accused of attempted murder," according to a statement released by his office.

Lloyds next hearing is scheduled for May 26.
When they replied that they were not gang members, Garcia and Medina pulled out guns and shot Rocha, killing him, according to prosecutors. During the incident Medina shot Garcia in the side, and multiple gunshots struck Rochas car, prosecutors said. No one else was injured.
The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has sacked his legal team and declined to participate in his murder trial, jurors have been told.

Hashem Abedi was not present in court as the Old Bailey jury was informed that he had 'withdrawn' from the case, dispensing with his entire defence team, including lead counsel Stephen Kamlish QC.

Informing jurors of developments as the prosecution case formally closed, judge Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said: 'Although up until this morning Mr Abedi exercised that right to have legal representation, he has now decided he does not wish to have further legal representation in this trial.

Hashem Abedi was not present in court as the Old Bailey jury was informed that he had 'withdrawn' from the case, dispensing with his entire defence team

'Because there is no obligation, you should not draw any adverse conclusion against him.

'His decision not to have further legal representation and not to appear in the court has this consequence: We have reached the stage whereby we have reached the end of the evidence.

'I am sure you were anticipating a prosecution closing address followed by the defence, and then my summing the case up.

'As you will appreciate, as Mr Abedi is not in court, he cannot make those closing submissions.'

The judge said there was no obligation, either, for the defendant to appear in court during the trial.

He added: 'Although it's a right to be present during a person's trial, it is not a duty on them that they are obliged to be present.

The victims of the terror attack during the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. Top row from left to right: Off-duty police officer Elaine McIver, 43, Saffie Roussos, 8, Sorrell Leczkowski, 14, Eilidh MacLeod, 14, (second row left to right) Nell Jones, 14, Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, Megan Hurley, 15, Georgina Callander, 18, (third row left to right), Chloe Rutherford,17, Liam Curry, 19, Courtney Boyle, 19, and Philip Tron, 32, (fourth row left to right) John Atkinson, 26, Martyn Hett, 29, Kelly Brewster, 32, Angelika Klis, 39, (fifth row left to right) Marcin Klis, 42, Michelle Kiss, 45, Alison Howe, 45, and Lisa Lees, 43 (fifth row left to right) Wendy Fawell, 50 and Jane Tweddle, 51

'In this case, although Mr Abedi was present for the vast majority of the trial, for the last few days he has been largely absent from the court room itself, and as we understand it, it is likely he is going to be absent for the remainder of the trial.

'That's his choice.'

Prosecutor Duncan Penny QC, addressing jurors subsequently, set out questions he would have asked the defendant had he given evidence - describing Abedi's refusal to appear in the witness box as 'thundering silence'.

It meant Abedi's denial was only advanced through a prepared statement given to police last summer after being extradited from Libya to face murder charges over the blast.

Mr Penny said: 'We suggest that prepared statement is demonstrably riddled with lies, lies which we suggest you may already have identified.

'It was an attempt by the defendant last July to pull the wool over the investigations ... to point the finger at his dead brother.'

Abedi is accused of plotting with 22-year-old older brother Salman, who died in the suicide bombing as concert-goers left the Ariana Grande gig at Manchester Arena on May 22 2017.

Abedi, now also 22, denies 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder encompassing the injured survivors, and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions. (Pictured the scene close to the Manchester Arena after the terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert)

Jurors heard how Abedi answered 'no comment' in police interviews after being extradited to the UK last year, but handed detectives a prepared statement during which he denied involvement and said he 'could not comprehend' his brother's actions.

His statement, read to jurors, added: 'Had I had any idea of it I would have reported it to my mother initially and then to other family members to prevent it from happening.

'I was shocked my brother had done this and felt bad for everybody.

'I could never have envisaged that my brother had it in him to do this to innocent people.'

The trial opened on February 4, when the prosecutor told jurors Abedi was 'just as guilty of murder' as Salman.

The brothers allegedly duped friends and associates into helping to buy components of the homemade explosive TATP.

They are alleged to have ordered, stockpiled and transported the components, plus several kilos of screws and nails to maximise carnage, aided by a variety of different addresses and vehicles at their disposal in 2017.

Abedi, now also 22, denies 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder encompassing the injured survivors, and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions.

The trial continues.
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Thursday came down heavily on the central government over the recent incidents of violence in North-East Delhi and stated that the government will do anything for protection of cows, but not human beings.

During a discussion in Rajya Sabha on Delhi violence, Sibal said, "There is a provision in the Constitution, Article 48, in which it is written that the cows should not be slaughtered... It is correct. But you can do anything for the protection of cows, not for the protection of humans? Do we need to bring another Article in the Directive Principles of State Policy? Is the protection of cows more important than the protection of human beings and human lives? Did you ever think about this... There is a massive displacement of people, who are leaving their houses," Sibal said.

Sibal further claimed that it is "clear that police were helping those who were indulging in violence and its result was the death of innocent people, who had nothing to do with the violence."

"The violence happened because of the virus, the communal virus that was spread by the people who were giving speeches. I ask the Home Minister why FIRs were not registered against those who delivered those speeches," he added.

At least 53 persons died, including IB officer Ankit Sharma and Constable Rattan Lal in the violence that took place in North-East Delhi last month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Being single, remote and lacking a pension also linked to poor access to healthcare

A new study, published this week in the International Journal of Health Services, found that older adults without health insurance in China were 35% less likely to receive needed inpatient care compared to those with job-based health insurance.

Shen (Lamson) Lin, a doctoral student at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work and Institute for Life Course and Aging, investigated 6,570 Chinese adults aged 60 and older using nationally representative data from the 2012 China Family Panel Study (CFPS).

"Disadvantaged older people who bear greater burdens of ill health often hesitate to reach out for essential care due to financial barriers -- especially when they are not covered by any health insurance," says Lin, the study's sole author.

"This is particularly relevant to the global COVID-19 epidemic. Health insurance gaps and associated financial concerns may mean that high-risk populations, such as impoverished older adults, go undiagnosed and untreated, which could inadvertently contribute to the spread of the virus."

Around the world older people normally constitute the largest group of health care system users. The study estimated that, in China -- which is home to the world's largest aging population (241 million) -- 4.2% of older adults live without health insurance.

Uninsured seniors were more likely to have poor perceived health (55.3% vs 45.9%) and were more likely to have experienced mental distress (41.7% vs 17.9%) and physical impairment (21.7% vs 11.8%) compared to their insured counterparts with generous coverage.

In addition, the majority of the uninsured older adults were socio-economically vulnerable -- 61.9% were illiterate and 53.2% did not have an old-age pension.

"In countries, like China, that lack a universal healthcare system, social health insurance plays an instrumental role in addressing health inequities among under-served populations," says Lin.

The study also found that older Chinese adults were around twice as likely to visit general hospitals than a community walk-in clinic, which, Lin points out, has implications for cross-cultural health care seeking practice.

"In contrast to the primary-care-based approach in many western developed countries, the service delivery in China is still an acute hospital-centric model and thus a hospital is still in seniors' priority list when seeking care," he says. "Chinese immigrants to other countries may maintain a similar pre-migration pattern."

Multiple risk factors for poor access to hospital services were identified. These included living in a rural area and living without partners or informal caregivers who can provide support. Lacking a pension in later life was also a barrier associated with lower physician visits when older adults felt unwell.

Interestingly, older adults who believed or trusted traditional Chinese medicine were more likely to seek both outpatient and inpatient care.

"The phenomenon of health care inequity is particularly troubling, given that reforms to privatize healthcare are still undergoing," says Lin. "To make sure no one is left behind, policy efforts should unify and extend the social health insurance system. This will help combat existing insurance-related inequities in health care use, especially for aging populations that are marginalized."

A copy of the paper is available to credentialed journalists upon request.

###

For more information, please contact:

Shen (Lamson) Lin

Ph.D. Student

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

University of Toronto

lamsonlin.lin@mail.utoronto.ca

(647) 230-6802
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A 30-day travel ban is coming between Europe's Schengen Area and the US.

Ireland's Department of Foreign has upgraded its travel warnings for Spain - advising against "non-essential travel" to the whole country after outbreaks in Madrid among other areas.

Italy is in lockdown, and India has barred foreign travellers altogether.

A cascade of coronavirus developments has seen tourism bookings collapse, Dublin-based travel agent, Rathgar Travel, go out of business, and the industry pivot into crisis mode.

And it all comes as the Irish government announces an emergency plan that kicked into action at 6pm on March 12, seeing Irish schools close and indoor gatherings of more than 100 people banned until March 29.

"If this was a farming or agriculture crisis, Government and Ministers would have rightly brought in a suite of support measures for their sector," says Eoghan O'Meara Walsh of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC).

"Without delay Government must help Irelands tourism sector, otherwise there will not be an industry left once the Coronavirus crisis passes. 

President Trump's unilateral travel ban currently excludes Ireland and the UK, and its vague language has led to confusion, with the European Union's presidents criticising a lack of consultation.

Here's what we know, and what the developments may mean for travel.

What is President Trump's travel ban?

Expand Close U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 11, 2020. Doug Mills/Pool via REUTERS / Facebook

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Whatsapp U.S. President Donald Trump speaks about the U.S response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic during an address to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 11, 2020. Doug Mills/Pool via REUTERS

Last night, President Trump suspended entry to the US of most foreign nationals from Europe's Schengen Area, including those who have been in its 26 countries at any time in the previous 14 days.

The Schengen Area is a borderless area of mainland Europe including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The ban doesn't currently apply to Ireland and the UK, nor to legal permanent residents, immediate family members of U.S. citizens and other individuals identified in the proclamation.

When does it come into affect?

From midnight this Friday, March 13. It will last for 30 days, subject to review.

Why is he doing this?

The ban "will keep Americans safe and save American lives", said US Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary, Chad F. Wolf.

It follows similar temporary bans on entry to the US on visitors from Iran and foreign nationals who have been in China in the 14 days prior to their arrival in the US, for instance.

However, it has also spread widespread confusion. What are 'immediate' family members? Could people travel from the Schengen area travel via Ireland or the UK to the US?

Why are Ireland and the UK excluded?

Good question. Neither Ireland or the UK are members of the 26-state Schengen area, but President Trump has not given a reason as to why they are excluded from his ban.

Speculation today is ranging from a US effort to focus coronavirus containment efforts on mainland Europe, to the President's relationship with Boris Johnson and the US military's use of Shannon airport.

The truth is, nobody knows. The White House is expected to offer additional advice shortly.

What other travel restrictions are in place?

As well as advising Irish citizens not to travel to Italy, China and Iran, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has upgraded its travel warning levels to include non-essential travel to Spain.

In India, the government has announced that visas for all nationalities will be suspended from 12.00 GMT on March 13 until April 15, due to the coronavirus. All non-Indian citizens will not be allowed entry.

Follow our latest coronavirus travel updates here.

You can download TravelWise, the DFA's free smartphone app, on the Apple or Google Play stores, and set an alert for the country you are visiting to receive significant updates direct to your phone.

What are airlines saying?

Airlines, like everyone else, are scrambling to make sense of a rapidly changing situation that will impact thousands of flights. They are experiencing high call volumes and longer customer support wait times.

Norwegian this afternoon said it would ground 40pc of its long-haul fleet, suspend 4,000 flights and lay-off as much as half of its employees temporarily.

Follow Ryanair's latest advice here, and Aer Lingus updates here. Both say they will contact affected customers if bookings are now subject to change or cancellation.

What happens if my trip is cancelled?

If your flight is cancelled for any reason, and regardless of when you are notified, your airline must offer you the choice between:

1) Re-routing as soon as possible, subject to availability, free of charge.

2) Re-routing at a later date.

3) A full refund.

You may also have certain assistance and compensation rights. See here for a full list, or check flightrights.ie.

What if I cancel my own trip?

If the DFA issues a warning to "avoid non-essential travel" to an area or a "do not travel" alert, then you should be eligible for refunds or re-bookings.

In the first instance, contact your travel provider (i.e. airline or tour operator) to see what costs you can reclaim for trips that have been cancelled or curtailed. If you booked separate accommodation (i.e. not through a licensed and bonded travel agent) then you will need to check the T&Cs, or look to your travel insurance to recover money.

If you cancel or cut short a trip because you feel nervous about travelling to an area, and the DFA has not issued a warning about that area, then you are likely to lose your deposit or payment.

This is a rapidly developing situation, but if your trip is weeks or months ahead, stay calm and contact your travel agent for advice. Many airlines (with notable exceptions like Ryanair) have temporarily waived change fees, and cruise lines and tour operators are offering unprecedented levels of flexibility on bookings at the moment.

This is also a good time to check your travel insurance, making sure government travel advice changes are included in your policy, and that you have 'Travel Disruption' cover - an additional element that must be purchased in advance of any public announcement prohibiting travel to the area you are travelling to.

Note that there is a moratorium (typically around seven days) on this additional cover from the date you add it. If you buy it today, for example, it will only kick in a week down the line.

How is Irish tourism being affected?

The travel ban between Europe and the US is the latest example of the unprecedented challenge coronavirus is posing," says Eoghan OMara Walsh, CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC).

"Tourism is in the business frontline of this crisis and thousands of jobs and businesses up and down the country are at real risk."

"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," Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said in a statement yesterday.

"Covid-19 is an extremely serious development which is affecting all of our key source markets."

Tourism jobs are already being lost, Gibbons says.

Ireland's outbound travel industry is reeling from a collapse in bookings, but the domestic hospitality industry is also facing a crisis that could result in the loss of thousands more.

On Thursday, Center Parcs Longford Forest announced it would close from March 13-29.

"If this was a farming or agriculture crisis, Government and Ministers would have rightly brought in a suite of support measures for their sector," O'Meara Walsh says.

"Without delay Government must help Irelands tourism sector, otherwise there will not be an industry left once the Coronavirus crisis passes.
When Vice President Mike Pence was asked, earlier this month, if he would feel comfortable taking his children and grandchildren on a trip to Disney World while the coronavirus is spreading, he responded by saying there was no recommendation for Americans to avoid travel. When pressed on the matter, he added that he and his children travel across the country all the time.

FOLLOW US HERE: Live updates from Houston Chronicle staff on coronavirus

Although the vice president didnt directly answer the question, it is one that many people, especially parents with upcoming trips to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, have asked in recent weeks. After all, airlines have announced that they are lowering the number of flights they offer; Amtrak has said it is suspending some service; and the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have urged Americans not to get on cruise ships.

Greg Antonelle, the chief executive of Mickey Travels, a New Jersey-based travel agency that helps travelers plan Disney trips, said that agents at his company have been getting a lot more questions than usual about cleanliness and sanitization practices at Disney parks.

CRUISES STOP: Major cruise line suspends operations after outbreak

In fact, Is it safe to travel to Disney World? has become an increasingly searched question on Google, and on social media people have been asking it, along with Is it safe to go to a theme park? Many travelers have written to The New York Times to ask whether Disney and other theme parks  which are frequented by thousands of people from all over the world  are intensifying their sanitizing practices.

Even as demand for flights and cruises has fallen, travel agents who plan trips to Disney parks report that business is as high as usual, if not higher. Visitors to Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, last week said that they felt safe at the parks and werent going to allow fear to force them to cancel their vacations.

Antonelle said his nine-year-old company, which employs 200 agents around the United States and books more than 10,000 Disney trips annually, had its best month of bookings ever in January and then in February.

I have been in the Orlando parks everyday for the past week and a half, and they are as crowded as ever, Antonelle said. From the business side what weve seen is business as usual. Were not getting cancellations because of coronavirus, and from being in the park you wouldnt know that anything is different.

Business as usual at Magic Kingdom

At Disney World on Friday, thousands of people filed into the Magic Kingdom, the most-visited park there, as usual. Although guests had to press a touch-screen scanner for their fingerprint to enter the park, and put their bags into bins for a security guard to look through, hand sanitizer dispensers at the entrance were not within an arms reach, but a few feet away. Few guests had masks on.

Guests posed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, hugged Tiana and other princesses and stood in long lines for Space Mountain and the Prince Charming carousel.

The dispensers were available at park and resort entrances, at food stalls and near most bathrooms. One employee at a food station said he had been urged to make disinfecting wipes more visible so guests could use them if they wanted to. When asked, employees were able to point to where people might find hand sanitizer or bathrooms to wash their hands in an area of the park where dispensers seemed to be scarce.

We have added additional hand sanitizers throughout the park, increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfection in high guest contact areas, and are providing information about good hygiene practices and illness prevention to our guests and cast members, said a Disney spokeswoman, adding that the company is closely following CDC recommendations.

But for many parents at the park Friday, an additional factor for continuing to travel to Disney is that there have been few reports of children getting the coronavirus. In China, 2.4% of reported cases were children, according to the World Health Organization, and no deaths of children were reported by China.

Aimee and Charlie Cotherman, of Oil City, Pennsylvania, said that ahead of their trip to Orlando last week, they were worried about the coronavirus but decided to still visit with their children, ages 8, 6 and 3, as well as their 2-month-old baby, because percentages are in our favor, Charlie Cotherman said, referring to the low number of children infected.

We were worried about coronavirus as we saw things closing down and hoped we could still get our trip in, Aimee Cotherman said, adding that her family was washing their hands and using hand sanitizer regularly.

Corey Higgins, a mother of two who was at the park with her husband and children for the third time, said she noticed additional hand sanitizer around the park and felt like she saw more people cleaning around the park.

Me and my husband have been monitoring things but didnt feel like we needed to cancel our plans, she said. We have wipes, we have hand sanitizer, we arent elderly and honestly, if youre going to get it, youre going to get it. If Im going to get sick and die, I might as well do it at Disney World.

Other theme parks

At Universal Studios, the path from the parking lot to the security check point had a number of hand sanitizer dispensers that people paused to use while walking in and out of the park. At security, guests had to put their belongings into security bins and have their finger scanned on a touch screen pad, like at the Magic Kingdom, but many said this didnt bother them because hand sanitizer was nearby. Lines to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter were long, with people dressed in costume.

We are reviewing and enhancing our already aggressive cleaning protocols, Alyson Lundell, senior director for public relations at Universal Orlando Resort, said in an email. And for the comfort and convenience of our guests, we are increasing the number of hand sanitizer units in our parks.

On social media groups frequented by people planning Disney vacations, anxiety seemed to rise as some questioned whether to visit the parks and others speculated about whether Disneys U.S. parks would follow in the path of Disneys Hong Kong and Shanghai parks, which closed in February.

I had to leave the Facebook groups, Higgins said. Between people panicking there and the news making this scarier than it really is, I just had to get out.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, about 30 miles from Los Angeles, has been tied to various outbreaks of measles in recent years, and one outbreak of Legionnaires disease, but those issues have appeared to not affect visitation. Disney World has only closed during hurricanes and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Dave Shilby, who was at Disney World with his 11-year-old granddaughter, Ireland Wilford, said they came from Jacksonville, Florida, for the day, and were washing their hands regularly, but didnt want to stop living their lives.

I dont want to ever think about living my life in fear, he said. If you live in absolute fear, youll be worried all your life. When its your time to die you could be lying in bed, on a plane or in a park, and youll go.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
In 2003, as the story goes, New York City restaurateur Danny Meyer scribbled some burger-based ideas on the back of a napkin. That eventually became the inaugural menu for Shake Shack, an outdoor food stand in Manhattans Madison Square Park. The burger concept has now grown into an $839 million restaurant chain with 281 locations worldwide. The current menu has stayed close to Meyers original vision (cheeseburger, mushroom burger, crinkle-cut fries) even as new items are conceived of and tested at the companys Innovation Kitchen in New Yorks West Village. The corporate team works just upstairs, and like the brand, their jobs are constantly evolving: A shift manager was sent to Shanghai and an art director helped out with the brands IPO. Heres how the team creates success out of such simplicity.

Because of Shake Shack, Ive literally seen the world  for new store openings, Ive been to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and the Philippines. Its been phenomenal. Even though they spoke different languages, the Shake Shack language and culture was the same everywhere. Thats the best part.

Anoop Pillarisetti / Director of tech products

Everything is growing so fast around here. The common space really lends itself to hanging out and working together. Every now and then, a tray of ShackBurgers will show up and well all convene around them. Thats a huge part of the environment.

Related: What It's Like Inside Wayfair

Cathie Urushibata / Art director

I lead the creative team, and people think we just do menus or signage, but its more than that with Shake Shack because were seen as a lifestyle brand. Well work on any creative, from T-shirt swag and promo giveaways to social media graphics and billboard signs. I never thought Id be working on an IPO, creating branding for the certificate for our stock. But those are the types of opportunities here.

Megan Scherer / Senior supply chain manager

For the monthly supply-chain department meeting, which usually happens around lunch, one of us is always responsible for the menu. You can either cook it yourself, tell the chefs what youd like, or cook it alongside the culinary team. A few months ago, a team member and I partnered up to cook a full-blown Puerto RicanDominican fusion meal in the test kitchen.

Carren Coston / Director of real estate

I oversee the U.S. growth of our company-operated Shake Shacks, so I work with our CEO and CDO to create the strategy for where to expand, and then we travel together to find the spaces. Recently, the process has changed a lot. When we were newer, it was more of a gut feel  it was our customers who were telling us where to open next. Now were using more of a data-driven process to complement our instincts.

Related: 6 Steps to Building a Strong Company Culture

Dave Yearwood / Area director

I joined the company 11 years ago as a line cook. I served as manager and senior general manager before becoming area director. Starting from the bottom, I got to learn everything, from the perspective of our hourly team to our high-level goals. Thats served me well in being able to bring people up as Ive moved forward. Whats really made me stay is our commitment to employee growth.

Mark Rosati / Culinary director

Ive been here for 12 and a half years. When I joined, the menu was somewhat static. Simple. But we realized that thats not a lot of fun. We started to pay attention to what our guests were asking for  and they were asking for bacon. So in 2012, we added the SmokeShack, a cheeseburger with smoked bacon, ShackSauce, and chopped cherry peppers.

Click Image to Enlarge

Image Credit: Adam Friedberg

Related:

What It's Like Inside Shake Shack

Peek Inside the Mind-Blowing Offices of the Most Successful Startups In History: Spanx, Uber, Warby Parker and More

[Trends 2020] Do's & Don't for CEO's Office Space



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Thursday declared a state of emergency in the city due to the ongoing spread of coronavirus.

The announcement came during a news conference in Portland featuring state and county officials, where Gov. Kate Brown also announced restrictions on statewide gatherings and other provisions to slow virus infections. Oregon has 21 known cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday.

Wheeler said the declaration allows the city additional authority to properly address the threat of infection and harm, which the city charter says could include setting curfews, regulating the sale of certain items, enforcing rent control, limiting how many people can gather and ordering evacuations.

It is slated to remain in effect until March 26.

[Read the state of emergency declaration]

Wheeler said the city will explain specific actions itll take in connection with the declaration in the coming days. The city has the option of extending the state of emergency.

A Portland City Council meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon was cancelled as a precaution.

Wheeler said the city will continue to provide water, sewer and stormwater services to residents during the state of emergency regardless of whether they can pay their bills. He said the city will work to help small and large businesses recoup losses from cancelled events and loss of sales.

Non-essential city gatherings have been cancelled or postponed to protect city employees and visitors, and the city will also stop city employee non-mandatory traveling for meetings or conferences, the mayor said. He said the city will encourage more teleconferencing and urge vulnerable employees to stay home for as long as they need too.

The mayor said a city task force will be established to come up with other ideas to address economic losses related to coronavirus.

Wheeler also reiterated city actions announced during a council meeting Wednesday: the city will keep winter shelters open for the homeless population, provide motel vouchers to people staying in shelters who show symptoms of the virus or are 60 or older with pre-existing health conditions, and distribute portable toilets and hand washing stations throughout the city.

He said the virus has caused Portland nonprofits to cancel yearly fundraisers, impacted arts and cultural institutions and put people at risk of being laid off.

Portlanders have always looked out for each other, but now Im asking you, particularly at this time, to help your neighbors who might need help, Wheeler said.

The Portland Water Bureau urges anyone facing financial hardship over the next two weeks in paying their water utility bills to call their customer service line at 503-823-7770.

City officials said handwashing stations were installed at the following locations Wednesday:

Southeast Grand Avenue and Alder Street

Southeast Third Avenue and Ash Street

Outside St. Francis of Assisi along Southeast Oak Street

Southwest Naito Parkway and Morrison Street

Northwest 29th Avenue and Industrial Street

Southeast 79th Avenue and Powell Boulevard

Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Union Court

There are also portable toilets with hand washing stations inside at these areas:

Northwest 17th Avenue and Savier Street

Southeast Water Avenue and Morrison Street

Entrance to Springwater Corridor at Southeast Ivon Street

Northeast Cully Boulevard and Prescott Street

North Going Street and Interstate Avenue

Southeast Division Street before Multi-Use Path entrance

Southeast 92nd Avenue and SE Flavel Street

-- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Washington: A US federal judge has ordered that former US Army soldier and WikiLeaks source Chelsea Manning should be immediately released from prison, where she was being held for refusing to testify in an ongoing US investigation of WikiLeaks.

The grand jury investigating the anti-secrecy website, federal judge Anthony Trenga of the Eastern District of Virginia said, is no longer active.

"Ms Manning's appearance before the grand jury is no longer needed," he wrote. "Her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose."

Chelsea Manning has refused to testify to a grand jury. Credit:AP

But an entry in the court docket in Alexandria, Virginia, signed by Trenga, rejected a request by Manning to cancel fines which he had imposed for her refusal to testify and ordered her to pay a total of $US256,000 ($400,000).
THE Suroy-Suroy Sugbo in Camotes Island that will have 40 Taiwanese guests will push through on April 25-26, 2020 while community activities in other parts of Cebu are suspended.

Cebu Provincial Tourism Officer Maria Lester Ybanez told reporters that Capitol will hold the Suroy-Suroy Cebu as no local transmission of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has occurred in Cebu.

She said protocol has been put in place that includes providing the Taiwanese guests with their own bus.

Ybanez added they are also seeking the help of the Department of Health on health protocol for guests who come from countries affected by Covid-19.

The travel restriction between Taiwan and the Philippines has been lifted.

Other developments

In a meeting with 50 representatives of private schools in Cebu City Thursday night, Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will not order class suspensions but will leave them to implement precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in schools.

The Archdiocese of Cebu asked the faithful to refrain from kissing and touching sacred images inside churches.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes said all events and activities related to the citys annual fiesta this May are canceled or postponed until further notice.

He also canceled the flag ceremony every Monday starting March 16.
Gov. Gavin Newsom press conference View Photo

Uupdate at 10:52am: During a press conference this morning about his Executive Order calling for non-essential mass gatherings to be canceled through the end of the month (over 250 people), Governor Gavin Newsom stated that it includes things like professional sporting events, concerts and conferences. He said it is at least through the end of March, and it will be extended as needed.

At this point, he specifically clarified that it does not include casinos, card rooms, theaters and large parks like Disneyland.

It also does not broadly include schools, and he stated that educators are taking actions to reduce the risk of COVID-19 while students are in session.

Original story posted at 6:40am: Sacramento, CA  Governor Gavin Newsom says state public health officials have updated the policy on non-essential mass gatherings, statewide, in response to COVID-19.

Newsom was Thursdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day.

Information provided by the Governors Office, regarding the guidance, reads, The states public health experts have determined that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until at least the end of March. Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person. Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines.

Governor Newsom has also released a statement, reading, Changing our actions for a short period of time will save the life of one or more people you know. Thats the choice before us. Each of us has extraordinary power to slow the spread of this disease. Not holding that concert or community event can have cascading effects  saving dozens of lives and preserving critical health care resources that your family may need a month from now. The people in our lives who are most at risk  seniors and those with underlying health conditions  are depending on all of us to make the right choice.

(Additional Information provided by the Governors Office is listed below)

State Efforts to Assist California Workers

California will continue acting swiftly to help workers hurt by COVID-19. Affected workers can visit the Labor & Workforce Development Agencys website to review what benefits are available to them. For instance,

 If youre unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 you may qualify for Paid Family Leave (PFL).

 If youre unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness, you may qualify for Disability Insurance. Those who have lost a job or have had their hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19 may be able to partially recover their wages by filing an unemployment insurance claim.

 If a worker or a family member is sick or for preventative care when civil authorities recommend quarantine, workers may use accrued paid sick leave in accordance with the law.

 If workers are unable to do their usual job because they were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of their work, they may be eligible for workers compensation benefits. All information and resources can be found at Labor.Ca.Gov/Coronavirus2019

All Community Guidance Released from CDPH:

The California Department of Public Health has consolidated state guidance on how to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19 in a single location. This includes guidance for:

 Health care facilities, including long-term care facilities

 Community care facilities, including assisted living facilities and child care

 Schools and institutions of higher education

 First responders, including paramedics and EMTs

 Employers, health care workers and workers in general industry

 Health care plans

 Home cleaning with COVID-19 positive individuals

 Guidance for Using Disinfectants at Schools and Child Cares

 Laboratories

 Health care facilities from Cal/OSHA

 Homelessness Providers

What to Do if You Think Youre Sick:

Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider or local public health department first before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

Californias Response to COVID-19:

We have been actively and extensively planning with our local public health and health care delivery systems. Here are some of the things we are already doing:

 As in any public health event, the California Department of Public Healths Medical and Health Coordination Center has been activated and is coordinating public health response efforts across the state.

 California continues to prepare and respond in coordination with federal and local partners, hospitals and physicians.

 Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19.

 Governor Gavin Newsom requested the Legislature make up to $20 million available for state government to respond to the spread of COVID-19.

 California activated the State Operations Center to its highest level to coordinate response efforts across the state.

 24 million more Californians are now eligible for free medically necessary COVID-19 testing.

 California made available some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering face piece masks for use in certain health care settings to ease shortages of personal protective equipment.

 The Public Health Department is providing information, guidance documents, and technical support to local health departments, health care facilities, providers, schools, universities, colleges, and childcare facilities across California

 The California Employment Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim.

 EDD is also encouraging employers who are experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the Coronavirus impact on the economy to apply for an Unemployment Insurance work sharing program.

 California continues to work in partnership with the federal government to aid in the safe return of 962 Californians from the Grand Princess cruise ship. This mission is centered around protecting the health of the passengers, and ensuring that when the passengers disembark, the public health of the United States, the State of California, and partner communities is protected.

 The Public Health Department is coordinating with federal authorities and local health departments that have implemented screening, monitoring and, in some cases quarantine of returning travelers.

 In coordination with the CDC, state and local health departments, we are actively responding to cases of COVID-19.

 The Public Health Department is supporting hospitals and local public health laboratories in the collection of specimens and testing for COVID-19.

The California Department of Public Healths state laboratory in Richmond and 18 other public health department laboratories now have tests for the virus that causes COVID-19. Eighteen of them are currently conducting tests, with the others coming online soon.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police have urged their personnel to greet people with namaste instead of handshakes in wake of the coronavirus outbreak in Maharashtra.

Police personnel have been instructed to avoid shaking hands with people while interacting with them, an official said.

"In an attempt to keep our personnel safe during the coronavirus outbreak, we have asked our men to avoid shaking hands with people and instead greet them with namaste," deputy commissioner of police and spokesperson Pranay Ashok said.

Masks have been given to personnel at police stations and traffic policemen, who work in crowded places, he said, adding that the department is following the state government's guidelines on the pandemic.

The Mumbai Police, on their official Twitter handle, posted a message saying, "A smile and folded hands are the best way to keep #coronavirus at bay".

The police have also urged people to not believe in rumors about the outbreak and get their information from the authorities.
National security adviser Robert OBrien claimed Wednesday that an initial cover-up of the coronavirus in China cost the world community two months and exacerbated the global outbreak.

Why it matters: In the face of a global crisis, the worlds two most powerful countries are pointing fingers at one another.

What hes saying: Asked about Chinas initial response, as well as spurious claims from some Chinese officials and media that the outbreak may not have started in China, OBrien emphasized that this virus did not originate in the United States, it originated in Wuhan.

Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up, OBrien said, citing instances of doctors who were silenced."

It probably cost the world community two months to respond, he continued, adding that if teams from the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had been invited in early on, I think we could have dramatically curtailed what happened in China and whats now happening across the world.

Speaking at the Heritage Foundation, OBrien echoed other administration officials in saying President Trumps courageous decision in late January to block air travel from China bought the United States six to eight weeks to prepare for the virus.

The flipside: As China begins to get its coronavirus outbreak under control, authorities are going on the offensive to rewrite the narrative that the global epidemic is Beijing's fault, Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian writes.

"The [Chinese Communist Party] is masterful at rewriting history and were watching them do it in real time," Bill Bishop, author of the Sinocism newsletter, told Axios.

Worth noting: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others have been criticized for using the term Wuhan virus, with critics claiming it adds unnecessary stigma and is needlessly antagonistic toward China.

Go deeper:
[March 12, 2020] Eastdil Secured Hires Harley Dalton as Vice President

Eastdil Secured, LLC ("Eastdil Secured" or "the firm"), the original, premier real estate investment banking company, today announced that it has hired Harley Dalton as Vice President in its New York office, effective immediately. Ms. Dalton joins Eastdil Secured's New York investment sales team, led by Will Silverman and Gary Phillips. In this role, she will contribute her extensive experience in landlord and tenant representation to the firm's leading sales and joint ventures arm. "We are excited to further strengthen our New York team by welcoming Harley to Eastdil Secured," said Will Silverman, Managing Director. "In addition to her strong real estate background, Harley's extensive understanding of agency leasing will allow our clients to receive another valuable facet to better serve their needs." Ms. Dalton commented, "Eastdil Secured is known for executing some of the biggest and most complex transactions in commercial real estate, and I am incredibly excited to join the firm." "New York is one of the largest real estate capital markets in the world and one that continues to be a top focus for our firm," said D. Michael Van Konynenburg, President of Eastdil Securd. "We continue to see huge opportunity in New York and our outstanding team is driving our growth in this city and across the globe."



Prior to joining Eastdil Secured, Ms. Dalton held a number of positions with increasing responsibility at Jones Lang LaSalle. Most recently, she served as a Senior Vice President, focusing on both landlord and tenant representation for one of JLL's largest and most active teams in New York City where she was a part of 3.5 million square feet of New York office leasing transactions. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree from Syracuse University and graduated from the Whitman School of Management with a dual degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. About Eastdil Secured

As the most relevant and trusted advisor in the commercial real estate capital markets, Eastdil Secured creates value for clients through creative, actionable ideas and flawless execution. With an unrivaled combination of capital markets expertise and in-depth understanding of real estate fundamentals, Eastdil Secured delivers best-in-class advice on mergers and acquisitions, sales, joint ventures, debt placement, structured credit and loan sales to investors around the world. Headquartered in New York, Eastdil Secured has a broad global footprint to support clients with offices across the United States in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Orange (News - Alert) County, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., and internationally in Dubai, Frankfurt, London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. For more information on Eastdil Secured, the global real estate investment bank, please visit https://www.eastdilsecured.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005359/en/

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SHANGHAI, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai has provided hundreds of pieces of medical equipment and resources for hospitals in hard-hit Hubei Province, including ECG monitors and ventilators, to beef up epidemic containment, the Shanghai Charity Foundation (SCF) said at a Wednesday press conference.

More than 200 medical institutions in Hubei have between them received 1,320 ventilators and 1,620 ECG monitors via the foundation, said Shi Nanchang, deputy director with the SCF.

Shi said the foundation also provided hospitals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and other high-risk areas with medical resources including masks, test kits, protective suits, goggles and disinfection robots.

Psychological counseling services are also provided for medical workers and their families, said Shi.

The foundation has carried out over 100 assistance projects based on the frontline needs of epidemic-hit areas in Hubei and Shanghai, with funds and materials totaling 290 million yuan (about 41.66 million U.S. dollars) by 3 p.m. Monday, Shi said.

The social donations received by Shanghai's charities and the Shanghai Red Cross Society have reached 1.26 billion yuan and 853 million yuan has been spent by Wednesday noon, said Jiang Rui, deputy director of the city's civil affairs bureau.
U.S. Says Level Of Violence In Afghanistan Unacceptable For Peace Process

By RFE/RL March 11, 2020

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 Afghanistan's 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

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-says-level- of-violence-in-afghanistan-unacceptable- for-peace-process/30480848.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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Pakistan on Thursday condemned the recent communal violence in Delhi and asked the international community to take "practical steps" to stop the Indian government from what it called "pursuing discriminatory and anti-minority polices".

"The large-scale, targeted violence against Muslims that took place in New Delhi in the backdrop of highly communal statements against Muslims by BJP leaders has been a matter of grave concern and is highly condemnable," Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said.

She also condemned the "desecration and vandalization of places of worship" during the violence.

"We expect the international community including the United Nations, OIC and relevant Human Rights organisations to take practical steps to stop the Indian government from pursuing discriminatory and anti-minority polices and provide protection to the minorities, particularly Muslims, their places of worship and properties, she said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked since India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August last year. India's decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

To a question she said that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Foreign Ministers' meeting was expected to take place in April in Niger.

Responding to several queries about the coronavirus, she said Pakistan's Consulate in Herat, Afghanistan had been closed for 15 days for administrative reasons and the consular section of embassy in Kabul had also been closed for a few days for administrative reasons.

She also said that Pakistan congratulated Ashraf Ghani for his reelection as Afghan president.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
He feels free to take tough-looking measures, which are often troubling to civil libertarians, said Geoff Thale, president of the Washington Office on Latin America. And he takes steps, like closing schools for three weeks, which arent necessarily the most appropriate measures in a country without any confirmed cases.
A 4-year old girl has reportedly been defiled inside the premises of a school in Okota area of Lagos.

Advocates for Children and Vulnerable Persons Network (ACVPN), speaking to newsmen said that the minor was allegedly defiled at Spring School located at Mukandasi Street.

The mother of the little girl disclosed that her daughter was in a perfect state when she brought her to school and left for work in the morning.

Read Also: Man Loses Job, House, Reputation After Police Wrongly Charged Him With Child Rape

The mother continued that upon picking her child up from school later in the day, she complained of pains in her private part and anus.

Quick medical tests carried out at Mirabel Centre in Ikeja, Lagos confirmed that the 4-year-old girl was defiled.

PM Express reported that the case was initially reported at Okota Police Division but was transferred to the Gender Section of Zone D Command, Mushin, in line with the State Commands directive to transfer such cases to the Command or SCIID, Panti, Lagos.

The school staff including the security guards, have been summoned and are undergoing interrogations over the incident.
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.
Every now and then, a designer comes up with creation so zany and quirky, that it breaks the internet, taking it by storm. First, there was that dress which confused the heck out of people on whether it was golden or purple. Then, there was the entire barrage of memes that came along with the mature bag. And let us not even get started with the reaction that Ayushmann Khurrana or Ranveer Singh for that matter get, when they step out wearing something that seems extraterrestrial.



 Instagram/harri_ks

One such phenomenon that took the internet by the storm are balloon pants. And no, we dont mean pants that just looked like balloons. We are talking about a pair of latex pants that were fastened at the waist and at the ankles and looked like they were pumped up with air.



We bet that Ranveer will surely get his hands on one of these, some day.



 Instagram/harri_ks

We got in touch with the creative genius who came up with this whacky piece. Harikrishnan, a student at the London College of Fashion, presented the inflatable balloon pants as a part of his graduate collection.



Some edited excerpts from the interview follow.



Q. How did you start out as a designer?

I had applied earlier at the National Institute of Fashion Technology at Bengaluru but couldnt get through. I reapplied in 2012 again, and this time, I was finally admitted. This was my first successful venture. After that, during 2012-2016, I dived headfirst into working on my designs. After about four years, I moved to Delhi, where I worked with a well-known designer for about a year. I learnt a lot during this phase of my life, which has immensely helped me to reach where I stand today.

 Instagram/harri_ks

Q. Tell us something about your time at the London College of Fashion. How did you get into it?



I had never given this a serious thought to be honest. I was just browsing the internet one day when I saw a popup advertisement. My friends suggested that I should apply and actually pursue this seriously, and I thought, why not.

 Instagram/harri_ks

For such courses, and at such prestigious institutes, you need to present a body of original work. The interview is rarely in the regular question and answer format. They deliberated over my designs for about an hour, and saw my previous work experience. I doubted whether or not I would clear the round. I was genuinely surprised when the results was announced and I learnt that I had made it through. In 2017, I finally left for London.



 Instagram/harri_ks

Q. Where did you get the idea for the balloon pants?



Like everyone else, I also draw my inspiration from the things and people around me. A funny but true story, I actually got the idea watching my pet dog. I was walking him one day and imagined what the world looks like for a pug. I took the idea and got to work giving it a shape.

 Instagram/harri_ks

The pants are from my graduation collection. Once it was presented, the images from the show became viral. Instead of just going for a baggy silhouette, I thought why not actually fill it up with air and actually make it like a balloon. For that, I used a 7 mm valve to control the air in the pants.



 Instagram/harri_ks

I realise that these pants are not exactly practical and meant for everyday use. These are ver editorial in nature and are fantastical pieces, meant for the ramp and photoshoots. People at the presentation really liked what they saw.



Q. Tell us something about the other pieces from your graduation collection.

Apart from these pants, I also made a dress using wooden beads. I was inspired by the beads from the Channpatna region of Karnataka in India, and the manner in which these beads were made into toys. I sourced the right beads and worked on them for over a month with the help of two of my friends.

 Instagram/harri_ks

People have seen the same beads on designer furniture. It was really interesting to see their reaction when they encountered a dress made of the same beads.



 Instagram/harri_ks

Q. How did people react to your showcase?



The reactions were mixed, as I had anticipated. The thing is, as much as we would hate to admit it, the audience usually takes a little time to really understand what the designers vision is, and the purpose of a collection is. There were people who really liked what I had made. That being said, there were also some people who put up questions like, who will ever wear something like this? Or is this really the future of fashion?

 Instagram/harri_ks

To them I say, in India, people, especially men are taking and developing a keen sense of fashion and are opening up to experimenting. I would really like Ranveer to try my pants out. He has that quirky sense of style and he is really pushing the envelope when it comes to fashion and style.



 Instagram/harri_ks

Q. What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into the fashion industry?



Fashion is not just about how much money can you pump into your shows and designs. It goes much deeper than that. People who realise this early on, adjust themselves accordingly and stick it out, do make it big one day. Also, there are a few key things that one needs to keep in mind.

There is no substitute for working hard, and you need to prepare yourself for that. There are days when I am working 24 hours and cannot take a day off for 6 months.

Be open-minded. Only then will you be able to design well and stand out. Also, be sensitive about things around you. When youre just starting out, you need to steer clear of things that are controversial and from any sort of social commentary.

Acceptance and rejection are two sides of the same coin, and you need to learn how to accept both sides of it with grace. If some people celebrate your work, there will be others who will criticise it. Learn from both sides.
- A Brazilian government official who recently attended a meeting with US president, Donald Trump, in Florida has tested positive for coronavirus

- The official, Fabio Wajngarten, is the communication secretary of the Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro

- The communication secretary had traveled with President Bolsonaro who held a meeting with his US counterpart at the at Donald Trump's resort in Florida

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A Brazilian government official who recently attended a meeting with US president, Donald Trump, in Florida has tested positive for coronavirus, Brazilian officials said on Thursday, March 12.

Fabio Wajngarten, the communication secretary of the Brazilian president on Saturday, March 7, posted a photo of himself standing next to the United States president, Aljazeera reports.

Fabio Wajngarten who is on the far right is, the communication secretary of Brazilian president

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Rebecca Akufo-Addo: First Lady gives startup kits to 180 women across Ghana

The communication secretary had traveled with President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil who held a meeting with his US counterpart at Donald Trump's resort in Florida.

However, after reports surfaced about the Bolsonaro aide, Trump has said he was not concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: President Trump announces travel restrictions for Europe

"Let's put it this way: I'm not concerned," Trump told reporters while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in his office.

The US president said he had heard about the aide's exposure but that "we did nothing very unusual".

Meanwhile, former vice president Atiku Abubakar has again called on the federal government to use power at its disposal to ensure the lives of Nigerians are protected against the deadly coronavirus.

Yenkasa: Coronavirus: Is Ghana ready? | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Captain Philips actor Tom Hanks, wife Rita Wilson diagnosed with coronavirus

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
Scholarships are available to high school seniors at accredited Tennessee schools who reside in a county served by Advance Financial.

Advance Financial, an award-winning, Nashville-based fintech company, is now accepting applications through March 30 for its 6th Annual Advancing Education Scholarship program. Scholarships are available to high school seniors at accredited Tennessee schools who reside in a county served by Advance Financial. The students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and plan to attend a two- to four-year institution in the United States as an undergraduate.

The $1,000 awards are provided to cover part of the students college expenses for the fall semester of their freshman year. Over the past five years, the company has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors in Tennessee through the Advance Financial Foundation.

There are so many bright young students across the state who have promising futures ahead of them. We want to help those students and give them a strong start in their academic endeavors, said Shantrelle Johnson, VP of corporate citizenship for Advance Financial. We welcome all students who are working towards higher education to apply for a scholarship.

Applications are judged based on students academic activities, honors, goals, community involvement and the ability to persevere in life. To fund the scholarship program, Advance Financial collects donations in all of its stores across Tennessee and matches the donations dollar-for-dollar through the Advance Financial Foundation.

The Advancing Education program is part of Advance Financials deep-rooted commitment to education. The company supports and funds a variety of educational initiatives, focusing on programs that improve the quality of education for preschool, grade school and high school students, as well as those that make college more accessible to high school graduates.

Interested students can apply by visiting https://www.af247.com/about/community-involvement/scholarship-form

About Advance Financial

Founded in 1996, Advance Financial is a leading fintech company based in Nashville, Tennessee. With more than 100 stores in Tennessee and online services in 13 states, Advance Financial provides cash loans and other services, 24/7/365. Recent recognitions include 2019 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies (8 straight years); A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau; Nashvilles 4th fastest growing company (2019, Nashville Business Journal); Forbes Best Employers for New Graduates (2018); and, Indeed Top-Ranked Workplace for Compensation/Benefits (2019). Advance Financial is the second largest family-owned company headquartered in Nashville (2019, Nashville Business Journal). For more, visit http://www.af247.com.
PHOENIX  Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey declared a public health emergency Wednesday to gave state officials more leeway and tools to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

Nothing in the governors decision restricts what people can do or where they can go. And state Health Director Dr. Cara Christ said there are no plans to limit large public gatherings as governors in other states have done. There have been nine confirmed cases of coronavirus in Arizona, including five from the same household in Pinal County.

But even as Christ was saying there is no need to cancel events or urge the closure of public facilities, Arizona State University President Michael Crow announced his school would switch beginning Monday to online instruction wherever possible for the next two weeks over concerns about the virus.

Crow, in a formal statement, said the school remains open, including the dormitories and food service. And he said there are going to be exceptions where necessary for things like computer and research labs and performing arts.

He also said the university will continue in this mode for two weeks, at which time the university will assess where things stand with COVID-19.

Duceys declaration includes:
Minnesotas own Rep. Ilhan Omar announced on Instagram yesterday that she has remarried. She didnt identify her new husband by name, but she was married to her own fundraiser, Tim Mynett. She put it this way: From partners in politics to life partners. Depending on how you count and whether you believe Omars 2016 account, its Omars second, third, fourth, or fifth marriage.

The Daily Mail had staked out the couple in Washington and reported earlier this week that it had spotted them out and about in Minneapolis and D.C. wearing wedding rings last week. Indeed, that was the headline on Martin Goulds March 10 story. Gould now reports that his story forced the announcement of their wedding (although the first story reported that they had not tied the knot).

The Star Tribune reports the story here. The Star Tribune notes that Omars marital historycame under political fire last year after it came to light that she and [husband Ahmed] Hirsi filed taxes jointly while she was legally married to another man, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. She married Elmi during what she described as an impasse in her relationship with Hirsi. The marriage with Elmi legally ended in 2017, several years after she reunited and had a third child with Hirsi. Omar corrected the tax violation but never explained it.

The Star Tribune identifies Elmi as another man. We have identified Elmi as Omars brother. She obviously married him for fraudulent purposes in 2009; a Christian minister signed off on the marriage certificate. If Elmi is Omars brother, the marriage would have been void (a legal nullity).

The Star Tribune looked into Omars 2009 marriage to Elmi in a 3,000-word page-one story last year. With two reporters spending a week on the story, the Star Tribune was unable to find any evidence that Omars marriage to Elmi was bona fide.

I doubt this is what the Star Tribune means by Omar having come under fire, but that is the case. Omar wont explain her tax violation[s] because the 2009 marriage was fraudulent. Omars marriage to Elmi wasnt for real, and she didnt marry Hirsi legally until 2018, just in time to divorce him in 2019. Its a shame that the Star Tribune omits any mention of the underlying issues in its cursory story today. It is these issues that make the wild story of Omars marital arrangements and her voluminous related lies of continuing public interest.

FOX News reports the story here (and includes a video of my most recent appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight). The New York Post reports it here.

Omar spokesman Jeremy Slevin emailed NBC News to state that Omar and Mynett were married both legally and Islamically. Former Star Tribune reporter Ricardo Lopez adds in his story for Minnesota Reformer that Mynett convert[ed] to Islam.
European airline stocks plunged as much as 20 per cent today after US President Donald Trump said he would restrict travel from Europe to the United States for 30 days to try to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The surprise move is another setback for a sector that has been battered by earlier travel restrictions across the world and has been battling falling passenger volumes due to the virus outbreak, now declared a pandemic.

Credit Suisse analyst Neil Glynn said the transatlantic route was 'the primary profit engine' for European airlines.

With 20 per cent to 30 per cent of their passenger revenues coming from that route, Glynn highlighted the damage that would be inflicted in the coming weeks, and potentially well into the summer.

The clampdown will heap more pressure on airlines already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, analysts said, raising the odds of government relief packages as billions of dollars of tourist spending vanish.

While the stock markets reel, European media and politicians are in uproar over Trump's decision, with France24, a leading French news site, claiming the president's plan will cause a 'complete catastrophe' for international airlines.

In this file photo taken on January 28, 2020 American Airlines planes are seen as passengers wait at O'Hare International Airport in Washington, DC

Another publication, Le Monde, said the stock market plunge shows the west 'is incapable of a responding as one to the coronavirus pandemic'.

EU politicians have chimed in, accusing Trump of using Schengen countries as a scapegoat for his own poor response to the coronavirus.

The former prime minister of Romania, Dacian Ciolos, who now leads a European parliament party, Renew, tweeted: 'Viruses know no borders or nationalities.

'Nationalism & blame games are no antidote.

'This is a global crisis, which requires global solidarity, @realDonaldTrump.

Oval Office address: Donald Trump finally addressed the nation about the coronavirus crisis from the White House on Wednesday and banned all travel to Europe

'Containment measures are needed, but not arbitrary ones.

'Europe will be your partner, but not your scapegoat. #COVID-19.'

'Trump is simply kicking a man when he's down,' the EU envoy charged.

Charles Michel, the European Council's president, said that economic disruption 'must be avoided' in a Twitter post today.

Alexander Stubb, the former Finnish foreign minister, added that Trump's move was 'nothing short of irresponsible.'

'Viruses do not recognise borders,' he added.

'Decisions should be based on facts, not politics.'

'The travel ban is another hammer blow for the airlines' that 'were getting crucified by the reduction in tourism and business travel in the last month,' said economist Charlie Robertson at Renaissance Capital in London.

EU politicians have chimed in - including the European Council's president Charles Michel and Romania's ex-prime minister Dacian Ciolos (above) - accusing Trump of using Schengen countries as a scapegoat for his own poor response to the coronavirus

Echoing their comments, Peter Elbers, chief executive of the Dutch carrier KLM told public television NOS: 'it is undeniable that the consequences are extremely heavy.'

Fears that other countries might follow the US example 'are paralysing the market,' claimed Timo Emden of Emden Research.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, meanwhile told a press conference: 'Trump's announcement is bad news for all airlines.'

Le Maire 'regretted' the decision which he insisted 'will have a very strong impact on tourism and a very strong impact on companies in general', but aims to ensure 'Air France comes through this difficult moment ... in the best possible conditions.'

Figures released in China today show an 84.5 per cent slump for Chinese airline passenger numbers last month, after Trump imposed similar bans on Asian travel.

Alexander Stubb, the former Finnish foreign minister, added that Trump's move was 'nothing short of irresponsible'

The 2.35billion drop last month, announced by China's aviation regulator, could be a signal of things to come for Europe.

The 30-day curbs from Friday, which exclude Britain, Ireland and other countries outside the European Schengen passport-free travel area, are similar to those that went into effect targeting China on 1 February.

They come after the outbreak's rapid spread across the European continent and in the United States.

Combined with a fresh US State Department advisory asking citizens to reconsider the need to travel globally, the move could create chaos at dozens of airports across Europe as passengers attempt a last-minute rush to fly to the United States before the ban takes effect.

Flights from Europe can still operate to a limited number of U.S. airports with enhanced screening under measures announced on Wednesday evening. But only US citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members will be allowed in, severely denting the passenger base and hurting the U.S. tourism industry.

Social media users in France are also astonished at Trump's decision to exclude the UK from the travel ban, with users saying Brexit does not prevent COVID-19.

The new restrictions will particularly batter foreign carriers like Germany's Lufthansa and Air France KLM SA that dominate the market for flights between mainland Europe and the United States and had already grounded dozens of planes, analysts said.

'The ban on flights on Europe will really zap foreign carriers,' said independent aviation analyst Mike Boyd of Boyd Group International.

Lufthansa said it was assessing the impact of the changes on its US operations, while Air France KLM did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

As well as slashing arrivals, the move is set to decimate spending by European tourists in the United States. In March 2019, European visitors to the U.S. accounted for 29 per cent of arrivals and 2.9billion of spending, the US Travel Association said.

Adriana Dileo and Brian Cardenas decided not to travel to Barcelona on hearing of the ban on travel from Europe while they were already in John F. Kennedy airport

'Temporarily shutting off travel from Europe is going to exacerbate the already-heavy impact of coronavirus on the travel industry and the 15.7 million Americans whose jobs depend on travel,' US Travel Association President Roger Dow said in a statement.

One airport is mulling the decision whether to shutter down over the plummet in stocks. ADP could close one of the three terminals at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport in north Paris to cut costs as the French airports operator faces a drop in traffic due to the coronavirus, French radio Europe 1 reported earlier today.

Airline stocks plunged nearly 10 per cent after Trump's announcement, with shivers reverberating through the stock market.

Pan-European STOXX 600 dropping 4 per cent, mainly dragged down by the travel & leisure sector.

Air France KLM shares, which have lost more than half of their value since the coronavirus outbreak in Europe, dropped 15 per cent to August 2012 lows.

Germany's Lufthansa and British Airways and Iberia-owner IAG fell 9 per cent. Cruise operator Carnival plunged to 11-year lows

The news sent shares in Asian carriers sliding during the region's trading day, with analysts warning of a significant impact to come when European markets opened.

US President Donald Trump said the ban was needed because the country was entering a 'critical time' in the fight against the virus, which has spread across the United States and killed at least 37 people and infected 1,281.

US airlines had already slashed flight schedules to Italy, facing the largest European outbreak, and will take another hit from lower demand for flights from major destinations like France and Germany.

Travelers in JFK airport after the announcement were left unsure of their travel plans

Nicholas E. Callio, president of airline trade group Airlines for America, said the ban would hit US airlines, their employees and travellers 'extremely hard'.

He said his group respected the need to take the unprecedented action, but Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sarah Nelson called the ban 'irresponsible'.

'There is no explanation for how this will help fight the spread of the virus,' she said. 'It makes little sense when the virus is already in the United States.'

William Reinsch, a former senior U.S. Commerce Department official and fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the restrictions would be 'enormously disruptive' to airlines, hotels and restaurants already taking a hit because many Americans are staying home.

'I think the administration will be forced to provide some relief to the airlines,' he said.

Boyd said American Airlines Group Inc was the relative winner among the U.S. carriers because its alliance with British Airways would do well carrying passengers to London.

People check in to a British Airways flight at the international terminal at LAX airport in Los Angeles on March 11. The United Kingdom is not included in the travel ban

'Delta has alliances with Air France KLM, which will be shut down in trans-Atlantic markets. United's alliance with Lufthansa leaves it with zero access to the E.U.,' he said. 'That sounds dire, but the fact is that with the news of the spread of the virus in Europe, the flights would be empty anyway.'

American Airlines said it was in contact with the U.S. government to understand and comply with the directive.

Delta Air Lines Inc said it would waive reservation change fees for customers traveling to, from or through Europe and Britain through May 31. United Airlines Holdings Inc and British Airways parent IAG did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Shares in Asian carriers slumped after the news.

Qantas Airways Ltd fell 10 per cent as Australia weighed similar restrictions on travel from Europe. Singapore Airlines was down 4 per cent, as was Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. Japan's ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines were both down more than 5 per cent.
Winter Session: Bill on regulation of reproductive technology to be tabled in Lok Sabha today

LS passes bill on assisted reproductive tech, offences to be punishable; members flag rights of single parents, LGBTQ community

Bill which seeks to link electoral rolls with Aadhaar listed for introduction in LS

Govt feeding voter ID, driving licence details into software to identify Delhi rioters

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Mar 11: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday informed Lok Sabha that the government has fed details of voter identity cards and driving licences of people into a software to identify those involved in the Delhi violence.

Responding to a debate on the violence in parts of Delhi that claimed over 50 lives, he said facial recognition technology has so far identified 1,100 people.

Out of them, over 300 had come from Uttar Pradesh to apparently create violence in northeast Delhi.

Shah also said that the Home Ministry has communicated to the Delhi High Court regarding the establishment of a Claims Commission for relief and rehabilitation of victims.

NEWS AT NOON, 12th MARCH, 2020

He also informed the House that recoveries would be made from those responsible for the destruction of properties.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 1:17 [IST]
Russia proposed to extend the OPEC+ agreement for a year, it was other countries that initiated leaving the deal, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said opening a government meeting.

"We did not initiate the withdrawal from the agreement [OPEC+ deal]. On the contrary, we proposed to extend the agreement on the existing terms, at least until the end of the second quarter or for a year, so as not to complicate the situation that has developed with the spread of coronavirus," TASS cited the PM as saying.

He noted that Russia is working on additional import substitution measures in industries and agriculture.

"Now we are working on additional measures to deepen import substitution in industries and agriculture, expanding opportunities for the export of non-oil and gas high-tech products," Mishustin added.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) (L), speaks after a Coronavirus Public Health Roundtable at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus, Mich., on March 9, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to members of the press at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on March 10, 2020. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images; Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

Democratic Debate Moved, Moderator Withdraws Over Coronavirus

The Democratic presidential debate scheduled for March 15 is being moved to the city of Washington from Phoenix because of worries over the coronavirus outbreak, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) said March 12.

The change, to CNNs studio in Washington, was made out of an abundance of caution and in order to reduce cross-country travel, DNC communications director Xochitl Hinojosa said in a statement.

Our No. 1 priority has and will continue to be the safety of our staff, campaigns, and all those involved in the debate, Hinojosa said.

CNN is broadcasting the debate. The DNC already announced there will be no live audience watching Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Vice President Joe Biden debate. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) didnt qualify for the event.

While Jorge Ramos, a Univision anchor, was to be one of the debate moderators, he has decided to withdraw from the debate.

CNN, Univision, and NBC recently learned that Ramos was in proximity with someone who was in direct contact with a person that tested positive for coronavirus, Hinojosa said. Neither Ramos nor that person is showing symptoms, and Ramos has been cleared by medical professionals.

Mexican journalist Jorge Ramos about to receive the excellence award at the Gabriel Garcia Marquez journalism awards in Medellin, Colombia, on Sept. 29, 2017. (Joaquin Sarmiento/AFP/Getty Images)

Ilia Calderon, another anchor at Univision, will replace him. The other moderators are Dana Bash and Jake Tapper, who both work for CNN.

At the request of both the Biden and Sanders campaigns, the debate wont feature a live audience, Hinojosa said March 10. Local health officials in Arizona and the office of the Phoenix mayor had advised the DNC that the debate could continue as planned, she said.

The spread of COVID-19, which started in China last year and can be deadly for the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, prompted President Donald Trump on March 11 to ban travel from some European countries.

The new epicenter of the virus, he said, is the Schengen area of Europe, which includes Austria, Denmark, France, and Germany, which failed to implement travel measures as Trump did.

The European Union failed to take the same precautions and restrict travel from China and other hotspots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe, Trump said.

To keep new cases from entering our shores, we will be suspending all travel from Europe to the United States for the next 30 days.

The new travel rules start March 13 at midnight.

The president canceled events in Wisconsin, Nevada, and Colorado because of the outbreak.
The United States Treasury Department has slapped sanctions on Zimbabwes state security minister and the countrys ambassador to Tanzania over human rights abuses.

Owen Ncube, Zimbabwes state security minister, was blacklisted over accusations that he ordered security services to abduct and mistreat members of the opposition group, the Treasury Department said in a statement.

Washington also imposed sanctions on Anselem Sanyatwe, Zimbabwes ambassador to Tanzania, accusing him of directing security forces to attack protestors during demonstrations after the 2018 elections, when he was commander of the National Armys Presidential Guard Brigade.

The two men are already barred from entering the US and will now have any US-based assets frozen.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on Wednesday urged Zimbabwes government to immediately end state-sponsored violence including against peaceful protesters, civil society, labor leaders and members of the opposition in Zimbabwe, and to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations and abuse.

Todays sanctions make clear that the US will not tolerate the use [of] our financial system by human rights abusers in Zimbabwe, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Wednesday.
US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and Deputy Chief of Mission Edgard Kagan called on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday and discussed a range of issues towards strengthening mutual cooperation.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also present in the meeting that took place at the Delhi Secretariat.

"It was a pleasure to receive US Ambassador to India, His Excellency Ken Juster @USAmbIndia and Dy Chief of Mission, Mr Edgard Kagan. We discussed a range of issues towards strengthening mutual cooperation, including the recent visit of @FLOTUS Mrs Trump to a Delhi govt school," Kejriwal tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Adam Wood (pictured outside Bolton magistrates' Court), 33, sent messages to Katie Hall outlining his plan

An accountant has been banned from contacting his ex-girlfriend for two years after he offered to pay her child maintenance on condition she slept with him.

Father-of-two Adam Wood, 33, sent messages to Katie Hall outlining his plan after they broke up and she began a new relationship.

He sent her 77 aggressive texts, some suggesting he would pay Child Support Agency payments for their two daughters if she had 'some sort of sexual contact with him'.

He became obstructive during weekend access visits, either being absent when he was supposed to collect his children or calling Miss Hall at the last minute to cancel.

Wood would also demand to see receipts for the children's nursery as proof of the fees. Police were called after Miss Hall, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, found 113 missed calls from Wood on her phone.

She told officers how her ex-partner - who worked for an online retail firm - threw temper tantrums during their seven year on-off relationship and would smash furniture up and destroy her clothes.

She had also received injuries after he pushed her head into a mirror and had been given a warning about his behaviour in 2017.

Wood sent her 77 aggressive texts suggesting he would pay Child Support Agency payments for their two daughters if she had 'some sort of sexual contact with him'

In a statement Miss Hall said: 'I'm exhausted by it all and sick and tired of going into work every four weeks with the same problem and to try to explain to my daughters why their father can't have them at the weekends.

'I don't see any solution to Adam he's not being reasonable. I ended the relationship as we were constantly arguing and it didn't matter what I did - it wasn't right for him.

'My priorities are my daughters and he doesn't seem to care how his behaviour impacts on his daughters and my life. I can't go on like this. His behaviour is not right or a good example to set for our girls.'

At Bolton Magistrates' Court, Wood, from Westhoughton, admitted harassment without violence and was issued a restraining order.

The father of two became obstructive during weekend access visits, either being absent when he was supposed to collect his children or calling Miss Hall at the last minute to cancel

He was ordered to complete a programme on 'Building Better Relationships' plus 150 hours unpaid work.

The court heard the pair met in 2010 and began dating shortly afterwards but Miss Hall said Wood's behaviour deteriorated following the birth of their first child.

Robin Lynch, prosecuting said: 'He would become aggressive, smash furniture up and destroy her clothes.

'There were references made in 2013 when she received injuries as a result of him pushing her head into a mirror.

'The defendant had irrational behaviour and he also did his utmost to sabotage holiday arrangements and in 2014 the aggrieved did stop the relationship.

'But they decided to try again as the defendant's behaviour seemed to have improved in 2015.

'She quite quickly became pregnant with their second child and she gave birth in April 2016 but in September of that year the police are called as the defendant was being aggressive and wouldn't calm down.

'In June 2017 one of the children became quite seriously ill and in November 2017 Miss Hall would say that the defendant assaulted her in front of her children. It resulted in him being arrested and he received an adult caution for that offence.

At Bolton Magistrates' Court, Wood, from Westhoughton, admitted harassment without violence and was issued a restraining order

'They separated again but remained in contact because of their children. However she would say the defendant was being obstructive and demanding to see receipts for nursery and other expenses for her daughters.

'In March last year, the aggrieved told the defendant that she was in a new relationship and a result of that his behaviour then escalated.

'There were arrangements every other weekend that the defendant would look after the children.

'But after she told him about that relationship the defendant would not be present at the times she was supposed to be dropping off the children. Alternatively shortly before a visit he would contact her saying that he wasn't having the children.

'It results in her sometimes being late for work and having to inform other family members what was going on.

'He then repeatedly contacted her in a very short space of time over a one day period.

'She received 77 messages and 113 missed calls and calls to her phone and she explains how he is aggressive and unpredictable.

'Some of the messages are saying he will pay his CSA payments if the aggrieved would have some sort of sexual contact with him. That was refused by the aggrieved but it clearly had an impact on her mental health.

Wood (left and right|) was ordered to complete a programme on 'Building Better Relationships' plus 150 hours unpaid work

'She confirms that a restraining order is wanted saying this has been a long process for her and she just wants the defendant to realise his behaviour towards her is not acceptable. She says it has affected her mental health, work-life and her daughter's lives.

'She does not wish the defendant to receive a custodial sentence and thinks that would actually be worse and affect the young daughters immensely if the defendant was to go to prison.

'She does want the defendant to have contact but not to contact her directly or indirectly save through a third party for child contact only and not to go onto her street.

'She has moved and initially thought the defendant didn't know where she was living- she now realises he does know where she lives.

'During these proceedings he has only seen the children on one occasion and she doesn't want to stop contact in any way.'

Wood, who was unrepresented was also ordered to pay 170 in costs and surcharges, told JPs: 'My mother's been the third party and we're happy to carry on with that. I thought that the situation of pushing her head into a mirror had been struck off and the hearing today was for harassment without violence.

'But I put my hands up for everything I have done and I understand. I have since resigned from work and I will resume employment at the beginning of the new financial year. I'm getting myself some help.'
A lot of couples have hooked up inside the Bigg Boss house to spike up the TRP charts. This trick of forming love interest inside the house has almost worked. While some have got married inside the house, there are others like Jasleen Matharu and Anup Jalota who broke up soon after they exited the show.

However, Asim Riaz and Himanshi Khurana are seemingly in love even now!

They are indeed dating now. Making her relationship with Asim official, Himanshi revealed to Spotboye that she even met with his family.



"Yes, we are dating. I met them. It was a great experience. It was only because of the show- everyone feels people are fake inside, isliye woh itna confusion aur miscommunication ho raha tha. Jab tak aap bahar aake baat nahi karte, tab tak cheezein clear nahi hoti. Now, it's all good."



She even said that she wants to marry Asim.

"It's too early. We want to get married but not as of now."



Instagram

Asim was recently in Himanshi's hometown Chandigarh to shoot for a music video with her. He also met her family.

Instagram

For the unversed, Himanshi's mother is quite fond of Asim.
Since its outbreak, the effects of the coronavirus COVID-19 have been felt in countries across the world. With more than 124,000 confirmed cases and more than 4,600 deaths, this epidemic has put public health systems and emergency services under immense pressure. Demand for medical supplies and protective equipment has surged, and many people have been quarantined due to suspected contamination. However, while the circumstances have been severe, this crisis has also been a strong reminder of Chinas resilience and the importance of international solidarity.

The efforts China has made to address this epidemic have been impressive. At the epicentre of the outbreak in Hubei province, health and emergency service personnel have been working around the clock and deserve our gratitude and admiration. Inspection and screening measures, as well as movement restrictions, have been effective in halting the viruss spread.

The governments willingness to receive international advice and expertise, in particular from the World Health Organization (WHO), has been instrumental in advancing knowledge of the virus and will help all nations protect their people and control the outbreak. As the first country to face the crisis, China has many experiences that the international community can learn and apply. Indeed, to fully control and defeat this epidemic, international cooperation is indispensable. With confirmed cases now in more than 118 countries, collective action and solidarity are more important than ever.

This is not a time to point fingers and assign blame, particularly based on incomplete or unverified information. Reports of discrimination and prejudice are worrying. Fake or inaccurate news, labeled the infodemic by the WHO, can only sow fear and divide people at time when working together is absolutely essential.

In the spirit of solidarity, UNDP is committed to working with countries and communities across the world in the fight against this epidemic. In China, UNDP has fully supported the people and government, working with relevant authorities to provide emergency support and assist in the procurement of critical medical supplies. With initial funding of US$500,000 for immediate responses, UNDP has provided urgently needed equipment including infusion pumps, patient monitoring systems and protective suits, which are vital to reduce the infection risk facing frontline health personnel.

UNDP has also launched a social media campaign titled Spread the Word, Not the Virus, to so that everyone has the knowledge to properly protect themselves. With more than 27 million views, the campaign has mobilized netizens to share reliable information from the WHO in more than 40 languages and dialects so that the elderly or those in ethnic minority communities who might not speak Mandarin can have access to it.

We must recognize the fact that this crisis transcends health. Already we are seeing signs of a potential constraining impact on regional as well as global economic growth. Unlike during the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, when China contributed merely four percent to global GDP, it now accounts for roughly 16 percent. As the worlds second largest economy and a massive consumer market, China is intractably linked with the rest of the globe through trade, investment and finance. Its integration into global value chains and transportation networks is multifaceted and complex. Seven out of the 10 biggest ports are located in China.

At home, the economic fallout is expected to affect peoples livelihoods, with the disadvantaged suffering the most. Due to quarantine measures, many people in China have not been able to return to work. In the absence of savings and financial coping mechanisms, those who have been recently lifted out of poverty could slide back.

Therefore, beyond the immediate emergency response, it is crucial to address the socio-economic impact of the crisis and focus on protecting vulnerable communities in the most affected areas. Efforts must be made to understand the effects of the virus at the household level as well as on small and medium enterprises that constitute the backbone of many local economies, to gauge the extent to which the epidemic is affecting the ability of families and people to support themselves.

UNDP is working to implement socio-economic assessments of the health crisis in Hubei province through household surveys examining vulnerable and impoverished groups. Complementary to this, data will also be collected to measure the impact of the virus induced lull in economic activity on small businesses. These findings will inform measures taken by local governments to help increase community resilience.

As always, UNDP is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for everyone, everywhere. We will continue to assist China in overcoming the setbacks brought on by this epidemic and help to achieve its goal of ending extreme rural poverty in 2020.



The progress made so far in combating the coronavirus has been encouraging. However, this is not a battle that ends when the last confirmed case is treated. The ramifications of this epidemic will be wide-ranging and enduring and we must work to fully understand them in the near-term in order to address potential challenges in the long-term. In this way, we can ensure that recovery from this crisis is sustainable and that in its aftermath, no one is left behind.

This article was originally published here: Casualty numbers have been updated to reflect the rapid progress of the disease.
SAN DIEGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Seismic, the enablement leader and world's most compelling storytelling platform, has been recognized in Forbes' inaugural list of America's Best Startup Employers 2020. This award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

Forbes and Statista analyzed more than seven million data points to identify the top 500 startup employers. In particular, three aspects of each company were assessed during the evaluation: employer reputation, employee satisfaction, and company growth.

Seismic's recognition by Forbes as a Best Startup Employer of 2020 follows a year of "best company" awards. This includes the San Diego Business Journal Best Places to Work, the San Diego Union-Tribune Top Workplaces, the Boston Business Journal Best Places to Work, and more. Seismic was also recognized by Comparably, which is based on employee reviews, with a Best Company Culture honor in the "small-to-midsize U.S. companies" category.

"Seismic is only as good as its people  our employees, working closely with our customers, are truly what drive our success," said Doug Winter, CEO and Co-Founder, Seismic. "This recognition from Forbes, following recognition in the fall as a Forbes Cloud 100 company, reflects Seismic's commitment to company culture as well as its overall growth and industry leadership. I could not be prouder of everyone at Seismic and the way the team works together."

The Forbes Best Startup Employers 2020 award also spotlights Seismic's rapid company growth in the last 12 months. In November, Seismic acquired Percolate, extending its overall value proposition. Seismic also moved to a larger office in its headquarters city of San Diego, CA, and grew its footprint in EMEA and APAC with new offices and leadership in Germany, France, and Australia. Seismic has a global presence of more than 800 employees, including the industry's largest customer success and product development teams.

Seismic has open positions in Marketing, Customer Success, Sales, Engineering, and other departments. If you're interested in learning more about Seismic, visit us here.

About Seismic

Seismic is the recognized leader in sales and marketing enablement, equipping global sales teams with the knowledge, messaging, and automatically personalized content proven to be the most effective for any buyer interaction. Powerful content intelligence and analytics enable marketers to prove and improve their impact on the bottom line, revealing what is really driving revenue and what needs to be adjusted. The result for global enterprises like IBM, American Express, PayPal, and Quest Diagnostics is better win rates, larger deals, and higher customer retention. Seismic is headquartered in San Diego with additional offices in North America, Europe, and Australia.

To see how Seismic is being used by companies in your industry, visit seismic.com.

Media Contact

Stephanie Jackman

Public Relations Manager, Seismic

[email protected]

SOURCE Seismic Software

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MIDDLETOWN  The Northern Middlesex YMCA is pleased to announce that we have received a $5,000 grant to launch its Leadership Program for Girls. This new program will focus on empowering young women in high school and middle school to develop and grow their leadership skills.

As a result of a recommendation made by State Representative, Quentin Phipps the Y applied for this grant from PepsiCo, said Lori Lodge, Director of Development, in a statement. This is a program that we have been interested in developing for some time. We know that for girls, the greatest barrier to leadership is a lack of self-confidence in themselves and their skills. Other barriers include a fear of public speaking, not wanting to seem bossy, stress and peer pressure.

Im very proud to be a catalyst for a stronger partnership between our business and not-for-profit communities, said State Rep. Quentin Q Phipps (D-Middletown), in a statement. This type of investment will help empower and inspire young girls to dream big and pursue their goals. I commend the YMCA for their commitment to the development of strong female leaders which contribute to bringing our community closer to our aspirations for gender equity.

The Y strives to be a place where youth feel supported and accepted, explained Candace Crane, VP of Youth Development and Community Relations. Over the course of the next several months, the Y will develop and rollout our Leadership Program for Girls. As part of the program, they will receive a free one-year membership to the Northern Middlesex YMCA, be mentored by high-quality female mentors, learn about financial literacy, learn about health and wellness, participate in community service and so much more.

For more information about teen programs at the Y, contact ccrane@midymca.org or visit www.midymca.org.

Robert Di Bona Scholarship applications available

CLINTON  The Robert DiBona Scholarship Committee recently announced that applications for its scholarship awards are available through the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, 50 East Main Street, Clinton. In addition, applications are also available in the Guidance office at The Morgan School, 71 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton.

The scholarship, now in its 22nd year, is named in memory of long-time local volunteer and community member Bob DiBona, who passed away in June 2002. Six thousand dollars will be divided among award recipients for assistance with costs of education after high school. Applicants must reside in Clinton, but may currently attend private or public school. The purpose of this scholarship is to reward an applicant who has taken an active part in attaining his or her own goals. Students of all grade point averages are encouraged to apply.

Applications must be submitted no later than April 28. Interviews may be required. Questions may be directed to Scholarship Chairman Ethelene DiBona at 203-915-2084 or ethdibona@gmail.com. To reach the chamber, call 860-669-3889.

Goff House seeks concert sponsors

EAST HAMPTON  The Joseph N. Goff House Museum seeks individuals, local businesses and organizations as sponsors for the 21st annual Joseph N. Goff House Gazebo Concert Series, which takes place six Thursdays during the summer at the Center School Gazebo in the East Hampton Village Center.

Sponsors will be listed by donations level, Soprano, $150; Alto, $75; Tenor, $50; Bass, $25, in promotional materials and posters displayed around town and handed out at concerts. The Joseph N. Goff House Museum is a non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible. 860-205-7376 for information. Donations can be mailed to The Joseph N. Goff House, c/o Melissa Pionzio, 61 Smith St., East Hampton, CT 06424. Include the sponsors name, donation amount and contact information.

Visit goffhouseehct.blogspot.com for the band lineup for 2020.

Drama Works holding auditions

OLD SAYBROOK  Auditions for I Have Before Me A Remarkable Document Given to Me By A Young Lady From Rwanda by Sonja Linden and directed by Pat Souney, will be held from 12-4 p.m. March 14-15 at the Drama Works Theatre, 323 Boston Post Road #4, Old Saybrook.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m., May 15-16, 22-23, and at 2 p.m. May 17.

For a description of the play. visit the Upcoming Plays page at www.dramaworkstheatre.org

For information, email dramaworkstheatre@gmail.com

Positive discipline parenting workshops offered

OLD SAYBROOK  Positive Discipline, founded by Dr. Jane Nelsen, is a parenting philosophy that focuses on building mutually respectful relationships with children. The Childrens Tree Montessori School is hosting three free positive discipline workshops on March 26, April 23 and May 21. The public is welcome to join to 1 or all 3, each covering different topics.

During the workshops you will learn how to modify behaviors and motivate your child with love and patience. If you are tired of power struggles, time outs, and negative consequences, this workshop is the perfect opportunity for you. Positive Discipline is appropriate for families with children of all ages 0-teens and beyond. Come and find out how positive discipline can help your family!

The workshops will be led by a certified trainer from The Childrens Tree Montessori School on March 26, April 23 and May 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Optional: dinner and childcare will be offered for $25 per family, or for dinner only: $6 per person. Dinner will be held from 5:30-6 p.m., followed by the workshop at 6 p.m. The Childrens Tree Montessori School is located at 96 Essex Road, Old Saybrook, CT. Register online at www.childrenstree.org/parented/ or call 860-388-3536.
Online Learning

Coursera, EdX Offer Free Access to Courses for Universities Impacted by Coronavirus

With universities all over the world looking to quickly move face-to-face classes online, massive open online course companies Coursera and edX have stepped in to offer access to their vast portfolios of course content.

Coursera announced today it will provide the Coursera for Campus platform free to higher education institutions impacted by coronavirus. "Universities can sign up to provide their enrolled students with access to more than 3,800 courses and 400 specializations from Coursera's top university and industry partners," explained Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda, in a blog post. The access will last through the end of July, at which point the company said it will "provide month-to-month extensions depending on prevailing risk assessments." And students who enroll in Coursera courses on or before July 31 will retain access until Sept. 30, 2020.

For its part, edX has launched a Remote Access Program for its global university partner community, giving students free access to courses and programs from all edX partners participating in the initiative. "We want to help our university partners best support their students during this tough time," said edX CEO Anant Agarwal, in a blog post. "We believe that by sharing access to content across a global group of universities, we can unite like-minded students and instructors to learn as a digital community."

For more information, visit the Coursera and edX sites.
Stereotaxis, with offices in St. Louis, MO and the Netherlands, has won FDA clearance for the Genesis RMN System, a new generation of the companys robotic navigation systems for the delivery of magnetic ablation catheters to address cardiac arrhythmias. The system can access all chambers of the heart and coronary vasculature, and can also be used within the neuro and peripheral vasculature.

The companys robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) technology allows for precise control of a catheter tip as it is guided toward ablation target sites within the heart. The firm claims that over 100,000 patients have already been treated with its RMN systems.

Some of the advancements of the new Genesis RMN System include faster operation, a smaller, lighter footprint, as well as greater procedural flexibility to address more challenging cases. Smaller magnets, which rotate around their center of mass to control the position of the catheter, are a big factor in making all this possible.

Stereotaxis says that [a]cross a broad range of navigational routines, the Genesis System is 70% to 80% faster than its predecessor. Because the system is also smaller, it allows easier access to patients, while the patients themselves dont feel as encapsulated by the machine.

The Genesis RMN is intended to be used with the Stereotaxis Imaging Model S X-ray system that features digital flat-panel detection.

Product page: Genesis RMN System

Flashbacks: STOPping-Ventricular Tachycardia with Stereotaxis Ablation: Interview with Electrophysiologist Dr. Zyad Younan; Stereotaxis Unveils New Magnetic Robotic Cardiac Navigation System; Stereotaxis Zaps Atrial Fibrillation All Right; Philips and Stereotaxis: Joystick Precision for Complicated Caths; Stereotaxis Magnetic RF Guidewire Gets FDA OK

Via: Stereotaxis
Thousands of NHS patients will benefit from the first new treatment for migraines in 20 years.

A drug that can be self-injected at home will benefit 10,000 people who have chronic migraines, drugs watchdog NICE announced.

The medication, which is called Fremanezumab, was developed by British scientists over three decades.

It will initially be given to those who have tried three other treatments. If the eligibility threshold is lowered, it could benefit millions of people.

It is the first new migraine treatment since Triptans - drugs which ease the symptoms of migraines but not the cause - were developed in 1997.

A drug that can be self-injected at home will benefit 10,000 people who have chronic migraines, drugs watchdog NICE announced (EpiPen stock photo)

More than 8million Britons - three quarters of them women - suffer migraine attacks, which involve dizziness, nausea and headaches.

They affect more people than diabetes, asthma and epilepsy combined and are the sixth most common cause of disability in the world.

But until now there has been no treatment specifically designed to prevent them, with patients given beta blockers, antidepressants and Botox to stave off the crippling attacks.

Fremanezumab is among a new wave of drugs which tackles the protein - called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) - responsible for the pain and nausea associated with a migraine.

CGRP causes blood vessels intertwined with nerve endings in the head to swell up.

Fremanezumab, which is injected either every month or three months, depending on dose, contains an antibody that blocks that process.

More than 8million Britons - three quarters of them women - suffer migraine attacks, which involve dizziness, nausea and headaches (stock photo)

Migraines affect more people than diabetes, asthma and epilepsy combined and are the sixth most common cause of disability in the world (stock photo)

Previous attempts to get similar drugs approved for the NHS have failed - with NICE unwilling to accept the 5,000-a-year list price. Now drugs giant Teva has negotiated a deal involving a substantial confidential discount.

Study leader Professor Peter Goadsby of King's College London, who first highlighted the role of CGRP in migraines in 1985, said: 'This is an enormous, welcome breakthrough for patients with migraine.

'At last a migraine-specific treatment to prevent attacks is available on the NHS.'

Dr Mark Weatherall, president of the British Association for the Study of Headache, said it was 'fantastic news'.

'Anyone who looks after people with chronic migraine understands just how debilitating this neurological disorder can be,' he said.

In trials the drug has reduced the frequency, severity and duration of migraines.

As part of the agreement, treatment with fremanezumab will be stopped if migraine frequency does not fall by at least 30 per cent after 12 weeks.
During a congressional hearing on Wednesday, Acting Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli said that due to the coronavirus, government officials are mulling enacting travel restrictions for Europe.

Italy has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, with 12,000 confirmed cases and more than 800 deaths. "You've seen Department of State and CDC warnings go up," Cuccinelli said. "That is not to the level of using legal authorities to block travel yet, but it is under discussion." More than two dozen European countries are part of the Schengen Zone, which allows for free movement without border controls. This causes a "unique problem," Cuccinelli said, because "they don't have border for the purposes of travel."

White House officials told CNN President Trump's top advisers held meetings on Wednesday to talk about whether to issue travel advisories, including recommending Americans avoid all non-essential travel to Europe.

More stories from theweek.com

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'Google Ireland said in court that it has concerns over protecting the privacy of individuals.' Stock photo: Jonathan Brady/PA

Google has claimed it can't hand access to a gmail account to the Revenue-appointed liquidator of an Irish company because of privacy rules, even if it was used for company business.

At the High Court in Dublin Justice David Keane reserved judgment in the case yesterday saying there was "significant food for thought".

The case of SJK Wholesale Ltd and Miles Kirby - acting as liquidator for the Revenue - versus Google Ireland centres on the liquidator seeking an order granting access to an email account he believes belongs to SJK Wholesale Limited and is therefore property of the company in liquidation.

Google Ireland said in court that it has concerns over protecting the privacy of individuals.

It said gmail accounts were for individuals, not companies.

Among the arguments put forward by counsel for Google Ireland was that people sometimes use personal emails for business affairs - highlighting the case of a "former US presidential candidate who had used her personal email for government business."

Miles Kirby was appointed as liquidator of SJK Wholesale in February last year on foot of an application from the Revenue.

A barrister representing the liquidator said he was looking to gain access to the email account sjkwholesaleltd@gmail.com

As well as being placed into liquidation and allegedly having "errors" in how it handled VAT, the company, SJK Wholesale, is alleged to be linked to a UK fraud probe.

Documents mentioned in court stated that the UK NHS Anti-Fraud Authority contacted the liquidator over their investigation into whether SJK Wholesale bought vehicles using criminal property.

The barrister for the liquidator said the email account constitutes company documents and should be returned to the liquidator, Mr Kirby. He said Jawad Khan, a director of SJK Wholesale, told Mr Kirby that all the company's financial information was sent from the email account.

During proceedings, Mr Justice Keane said it was possible for anyone to open an email account in any name and that Google's response was "standard".

He questioned who the data or documents in the email account belonged to; whether that be Google, an individual, or the company, in which case Mr Kirby would be entitled to the documents.

Google Ireland said it would uphold the privacy rights of individuals.

It was argued by Google that it does not share a person's information except in certain circumstances.

It added that it doubted the legal basis for the liquidator's application for a court order.

It said representatives for Mr Kirby were looking for the property of the entire email account, which is said may contain diary entries, photos and so on. This created a "significant proportionality issue," the barrister for Google argued.

In response, the legal representative for the liquidator said the application was not about access to pictures, however Justice Keane said it was "all duck or no dinner if you want ownership" of the email account.

Justice Keane said he hopes to provide judgement in the coming weeks.
Astronomers have observed an ultra-hot giant planet in the constellation of Pisces where they suspect it rains iron, a finding that may lead to better ways of studying the climate of the most extreme planets outside the Solar System.

According to the researchers, including those from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, the giant exoplanet WASP-76b is at a distance that would take even light 640 years to reach the Earth, and has a day side where temperatures climb above 2400 degrees Celsius -- high enough to vaporise metals. The study, published in the journal Nature, noted that strong winds carry iron vapour to the cooler night side where it may be condensing into iron droplets.

One could say that this planet gets rainy in the evening, except it rains iron, said study co-author David Ehrenreich, a professor at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.

The researchers said this phenomenon happens because the iron rain planet only ever shows one face -- its day side -- to its parent star, while its cooler night side remains in perpetual darkness. They explained that like the Earths Moon, WASP-76b is tidally locked, meaning it takes as long to rotate around its axis as it does to go around the star.

Also read: NASA releases photo of mysterious hole on Mars that could hold clue to life on Red Planet

On its day side, the study noted, it receives thousands of times more radiation from its parent star than the Earth does from the Sun. The planet is also so close to its star it takes just 43 hours to complete one revolution, the researchers reported in the study.

According to the scientists, this side is so hot that molecules separate into atoms, and metals like iron evaporate into the atmosphere. This extreme temperature difference between the day and night sides results in vigorous winds that bring the iron vapour from the ultra-hot day side to the cooler night side, where temperatures decrease to around 1500 degrees Celsius, the study noted.

The planet also has distinct day-night chemistry, according to the scientists. While they detected the trace of iron vapour at the division between the daytime and the night-time sector of the planet, they did not see any traces of the element in the exoplanets dark side, the study noted.

No signal arises from the nightside close to the morning terminator, showing that atomic iron is not absorbing starlight there. Iron must thus condense during its journey across the nightside, the scientists noted in the study, marking the first time chemical variations have been detected in a giant ultra-hot planet. However, suprisingly we do not see this iron vapour at dawn. The only explanation possible for this phenomenon is that it rains iron on the dark side of this exoplanet with extreme conditions Ehrenreich said.

The astronomers made this first-of-its-kind discovery using the European Southern Observatorys (ESO) high resolution spectrograph, ESPRESSO, in the Chilean Atacama Desert.

The observations show that iron vapour is abundant in the atmosphere of the hot day side of WASP-76b, said Maria Rosa Zapatero Osorio, another co-author of the study from the Centre for Astrobiology in Spain.

A fraction of this iron is injected into the night side owing to the planets rotation and atmospheric winds. There, the iron encounters much cooler environments, condenses and rains down, Osorio added.

The scientists noted in a statement that ESPRESSO -- the Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations -- was originally designed to hunt for Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars. We soon realised that the remarkable collecting power of the VLT and the extreme stability of ESPRESSO made it a prime machine to study exoplanet atmospheres, said Pedro Figueira, another study co-author and ESPRESSO instrument scientist at ESO.

What we have now is a whole new way to trace the climate of the most extreme exoplanets, Ehrenreich said.
U.S. Border Patrol Agent Andrew Mayer walks onto a frozen lake during a patrol on the lake that is split between Canadian territory to the right and the U.S., near Norton, Vermont, on March 22, 2006. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The Unguarded U.S.-Canadian Border

Commentary

Canada to our north occasionally becomes annoyed with us, sometimes for good reasons, sometimes not so much, usually over trade issues, but there hasnt been a need to defend the border for a long time.

Canada has always been a peaceful country with a pretty laid back population. A great place to go out for a beer.

Now, however, Canada has among its population thousands of radical Islamists and ex-ISIS fighters, which some experts have said could be a threat to the United States, as well as Canada.

Canadas immigration policy under Justin Trudeaus government was from January 2017 to November 2019 run by his Somali-born immigration minister, Ahmed Hussen. In November 2018, Hussen announced that the new target number of migrants would be 350,000 in 2019, increasing annually, with the aim of bringing in 1 million people over three years. This goal has been easily metduring a single quarter between July 1 and Oct. 1, 2019, there were 186,189 migrants brought in.

Canada has plans to resettle around 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers each yearmany of them coming from the Middle East and Africa.

The entire population of Canada is almost 38 million, and this influx is a major change and significant to the future of Canada. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Canada.

As we have seen in many Western European countries, the Islamic migrants tend to live in enclaves, which grow with the steady flow of new arrivals. Certainly, grouping together is a normal human behavior as old as mankind building cities. However, in the Islamist communities you also see the growth of Sharia law, Sharia courts, neighborhood compliance patrols, etc. These have come to be known as no go zones and are found in countries such as France, Britain, Sweden, and Germany, as well as others.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (C) walks with Abdoulaye Diop (R), the Minister of Culture and Communication of Senegal, and Ahmed Hussen (L), Canadian Member of Parliament upon his arrival on Goree Island off the coast of Dakar on Feb. 12, 2020. (Seyllou/AFP via Getty Images)

The existence of these enclaves is obvious and out there for anyone to confirm. The controversy is over how much control the host governments exercise inside the no go zones. Theres extensive documentation that in certain well-established no go zones, the host government doesnt exercise any sovereignty whatsoever. Naturally, the governments in question push back heavily on this issue. Who can blame them. If its true, to admit they have completely lost control over sections of their country would be political suicide.

However, this political back and forth is largely a war of words and semantics. The simple truth is that there are enclavesgrowing in number and sizefully dominated by the local Muslim population whether the host country police force patrols the neighborhood or not. Various of those enclaves have been used to recruit for terrorist groups and to stage terrorist attacks in Europe. The documentation, court convictions, and successful terrorist attacks all prove this point is unassailable when you limit the conversation to facts alone.

A clear-thinking terrorism expert in Canada, David Harris, has long warned that this is exactly what is happening in Canada today, particularly now as a result of the immigration policies implemented by Trudeau and Hussen.

Harris formerly worked for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CIA equivalent) and told CBN News, Many years ago I suggested that many of the Islamist extremists might regard Canada as an aircraft carrier from which to maintain operations against the United States. Harris concluded that it was only a matter of time before Muslim extremists based in Canada launched a major attack on the United States.

Prime Minister Trudeau told The New York Times shortly after being elected, There is no core identity, no mainstream in Canada. I personally would beg to differ. While only anecdotal, Ive been to Canada many times, and in every case the people have been uniquely Canadian.

That said, Prime Minister Trudeau would also have been making the point that a lack of a core Canadian identity would be a desirable end state, and what better way to achieve that goal than to import a completely different culture that doesnt assimilateparticularly if that new culture would overwhelmingly vote for Trudeau well out into the future.

In 2017, the Canadian Parliament also passed a motion (M-103) that condemned Islamophobia and religious discrimination, although no other religions, such as Christianity, were mentioned. A poll showed that 71 percent of Canadians would not have voted for the motion, but it passed Parliament overwhelmingly because of Trudeaus Liberal government.

The motion required the government to condemn Islamophobia, but nowhere did it actually define what constitutes Islamophobia. It also called for a study into how to combat Islamophobia and to contextualize hate crimes.

Fears were that it would quickly morph into something where if you criticize anything at all related to Islam, youre only doing it because youre a racist Islamophobe. Legislation might follow that would make it a criminal offense.

So far it hasnt. But the way Canada is headed, not only will it no longer be a nice place for a beer, it will be illegal to buy beer in Canada.

Brad Johnson is a retired CIA senior operations officer and a former chief of station. He is the president of Americans for Intelligence Reform.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A reporter and a cameraperson for Kabul News TV were wounded when members of the Islamic State attacked a commemorative event in Kabul on March 6. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Afghan Independent Journalists' Association (AIJA) condemn the brutal attack.

Reporter Mansour Nikmal, 30, and cameraperson Najim Sultani, 25, both of Kabul News TV, were wounded when IS gunmen opened fire on a ceremony marking the 25th commemoration of death of Abdul Ali Mazari, an Afghan Shiaa leader killed in 1995 after being taken prisoner by the Taliban.

At least 32 people were killed and another 58 civilians wounded in the grizzly attack. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the groups Amaq news agency reported on its telegram channel. Broadcaster Tolo News showed live footage of people running for cover as gunfire was heard.

According to AIJA, many journalists reporting the commemoration ceremony managed to flee safely. Afghan political leader Abdullah Abdullah was present along with other key political figures and escaped unharmed.

We received injury when the ceiling at the program venue fell down due to the rocket- landing by assailants, Mansour Nikmal said. Both journalists were taken to Alemi Curative hospital Kabul for their treatment.

Afghan defense forces fought the gunmen throughout the day, finally securing the area and killing about three of the gunmen, according to ministry of interior spokesman Nasrat Rahimi.

It was the first major attack in the city since the US reached an agreement with the Afghan Taliban on a phased withdrawal of troops on February 29. But between February 28 and March 5, 88 pro-government forces and 13 civilians were killed in the country. Under the terms of the agreement, the US and its Nato allies will withdraw their troops within 14 months. In return, the Taliban will hold talks with the Afghan government.

AIJA said: AIJA calls on the assailants not to target civilians and urges security agencies to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators.

IFJ said: Afghanistan is the most dangerous country for media and journalists in South Asia. This is a critical period for the country with the agreed phased withdrawal of US and Nato allied troops and we urge the Afghan government to accord journalists safety as one of its national priorities going forward..
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Department of Environment has commenced works on developing Kovalam beach along the East Coast Road to push it for the coveted Blue Flag Certification. A Beach Management Committee (BMC) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Chengalpattu district collector to monitor and supervise the works. KC Karuppanan, Minister for Environment, told the legislative assembly on Wednesday that Kovalam beach has been chosen to be developed as a pilot project, as per the principles of Blue Flag Beach programme in Tamil Nadu.

The Union Environment Ministry had announced a programme of Blue Flag certification for 13 beaches selected in the country last year. The certification is accorded by the international agency, Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark. The beaches are evaluated based on 33 stringent criteria. It is an eco-tourism model, aimed at providing the tourists/beach goers, a clean and hygienic bathing experience, amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.

Jayanti Murali, Director, Department of Environment, told Express that periodical water monitoring, at an interval of 25 days is being carried out. Work on Pollution Abatement and Safety Surveillance Services began in January under Beam Environment and Aesthetic Management System (BEAMS), which is a national component of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP), Phase-II, and Enhancing Coastal and Ocean Resource Efficiency Programme (ENCORE).

She said the Union Ministry has already issued orders permitting Tamil Nadu government to install structures and facilities in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area, maintaining a minimum distance of 10 metres from High Tide Line (HTL). Various infrastructure facilities will be set-up at Kovalam shortly, including grey water treatment plant, solar power plant, solid waste management plant, purified drinking water facility, jogging track, bio toilets for men and women, changing room, shower panels, outdoor fitness and children play equipment, bamboo benches and chairs, safety watch towers and beach safety equipment etc. Authorities said four more beach stretches are being identified for similar certification.

Whats Blue Flag Certification?

Blue Flag Certification for beaches and marinas is given by Foundation for Environment Education (FEE)

Blue Flag has become a truly

global programme with the ever increasing number of countries participating in it

Blue Flag criteria include standards for quality, safety, environmental education and information

The beach must comply with 33 stringent criteria to get recognition. It indicates high environmental

and quality standards

List of 13 pilot beaches that have been identified for the certification programme

Ghoghala Beach (Diu), Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Padubidri and Kasarkod (Karnataka), Kappad beach (Kerala), Kovalam beach (Tamil Nadu), Eden beach (Pondicherry), Rushikonda beach (Andhra Pradesh), Miramar beach (Goa), Golden beach (Odisha), Radhanagar beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and Bangaram beach (Lakshadweep)
Protecting children from terrorism: Indonesia launches the Bali Call for Action for the implementation of the UNODC Roadmap

 Photo: UNODC

12 March 2020  Terrorism is a global threat that disproportionately affects children. On 3 March 2020 high-level representatives from Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives and the Philippines gathered in Bali in an event co-organised by Japan, Indonesia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reached political consensus on the urgency to tackle child recruitment and its consequences on childrens lives.

Opening the Event, the representative from Japan presented the value of the UNODC Roadmap on the Treatment of Children Associated with Terrorist and Violent Extremist Group for the guidance it contains on how to prevent child involvement with terrorist groups and how to rehabilitate and reintegrate these children. He pledged Japans continued support to countries for the implementation of the Roadmap

In her remarks, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, stated: I applaud the UNODC Roadmap, which recognizes the need to work together and highlights areas closely linked to the mandate of my Office and of the Court, such as prevention and justice. She also stressed the need to hold perpetrators of serious crimes against children accountable.

Building on its dual mandate on violence against children (VAC) and counter-terrorism, UNODC has been assisting countries facing these challenges for the past five years. Alexandra Martins, the coordination of the UNODC Global Programme to End VAC, expressed how "children associated with terrorist groups are to be considered and treated primarily as victims, highlighting that investing on their rehabilitation and reintegration is not an alternative to security, but a pre-requirement because there is no dichotomy between preserving public safety and protecting children.

During the event, participants discussed key areas of intervention, and benefitted from the contribution of a psychosocial expert from the ICC. She emphasized the importance of medical, social and psychological support adapted to the circumstances and needs of these children, providing technical advice on how to integrate such support in their treatment.

High-level discussions led to the identification of priority actions at national level. Representatives from Malaysia stressed education and awareness-raising as key components of any effective prevention strategy to protect children from recruitment. The Filipino delegation highlighted the need to ensure that children in situation of armed conflict are treated according to international law, as also reflected in the Key Principles of the Roadmap. One of the areas on intervention identified by the Government was the need to equip frontline officers with child-sensitive training and child-friendly communication skills.

The government of Indonesia illustrated current efforts towards the rehabilitation and reintegration of children affected by terrorism. As a result of the Event, Indonesia took a step ahead and officially launched the Bali Call for Action, a political declaration which endorses the UNODC Roadmap and commits to translate it into action at national level. With this initiative, Indonesia also called upon Member States to join this historical declaration as a unique opportunity to adopt a common approach to protect children from terrorism.

Finally, the delegation from the Maldives endorsed the Bali Call for Action, underlining how these political commitments will be instrumental to addressing the situation of children affected by the Foreign Terrorist Fighters phenomenon. As a result of these advances, the Maldivian government requested UNODCs assistance to become the first pilot country in the world to implement the UNODC Roadmap.

Useful links

The Bali Call for Action

UNODC Roadmap

UNODC-ENDVAC Webpages

E-Press Folder

Factsheet

Poster
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left their ten-month-old son Archie in Canada over coronavirus fears, it has emerged.

It comes as details of one of Meghans last engagements as a working royal were revealed  a meeting with scholars in the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

The Duchess of Sussex invited a select few journalists to cover the event, as the couple seek to move away from the royal rota method by which royal engagements are usually reported.

Harry and Meghan left Archie in Canada because they were worried about coronavirus, it has emerged. Photo: Getty Images

One of those was Bryony Gordon from The Daily Telegraph, who reported the duchess spoke about how to prevent the spread of coronavirus throughout the globe, adding: the decision to leave Archie behind in Canada came not out of petty spite, as reported in some areas, but out of concern for his health during the threat of a global pandemic.

There had been reports that the Queen was upset to learn Archie would not be coming on the couples trip.

Coronavirus was called a pandemic on Wednesday evening. Meghan had already returned to Canada to be with Archie, with Prince Harry understood to be holding meetings in Buckingham Palace.

Meghans meeting on Monday came before she and Harry joined Prince William and Kate as well as Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen at the Commonwealth Day service.

She met scholars from 11 nations at the secret event (PA)

As well as select journalists, the event was photographed by her wedding photographer Chris Allerton. He was with the couple at many of their final engagements in the UK.

Picture show her in the middle of the scholars, wearing a fitted navy cap-sleeve dress with neck scarf detail, in the 1844 Room of the palace.

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.

In an Instagram post, it was explained the groups covered cleaning up plastic pollution in our oceans, helping to build more sustainable cities, improving health outcomes for citizens, and supporting decent work and economic growth.

Story continues

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.

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.

The duchess has been patron of the ACU since January 2019 and in an Instagram post about the engagement, she explained that her own university education, funded by a scholarship, had led her to be passionate about access to education.

She took over the role from the Queen, who had done it for 33 years.

Meghan is thought to have left the UK shortly after the Commonwealth Day service (Getty)

Royal correspondent Omid Scobie said Meghan will continue to prioritise the organisation even after officially stepping back.

He also said the couple were crushed to have to make the decision to step back.

Gordon wrote Meghan was quietly devastated in the final moments of her engagements.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.

Many of Meghans engagements in the couples farewell tour were held privately. She visited the National Theatre, and a secondary school in Dagenham, as well as held meetings with young leaders of the Queens Commonwealth Trust.

The Sussexes officially step back on 31 March, but it does not look like they will carry out any more engagements before that date.

They will not use the brand Sussex Royal, having agreed with the palace not to in part because of trademark issues in the UK.

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.
According to village attorney Mary Dickson, the village code does not explicitly address short-term home rentals, but it states that property in the residential district is only allowed for residential use. She said the fact that the owner did not live in the house and was only going to use it as a rental violates the code.
The country is experiencing 'unprecedented heavy rainfall' and the cabinet has asked citizens to remain home

A group of volunteers with 44 vehicles are roaming the streets of the residential suburb of New Cairo on Thursday to lend a helping hand to people and vehicles stuck on the streets, as heavy rain since the wee hours of the morning inundated large swathes of the country.

Videos and photos circulated online of Thursday's unstable weather rendering some cars submerged in rainwater in parts of New Cairo.

The Rescue Squad has until the late afternoon came to the aid of over 50 vehicles, Amr Mansour, one of the five members of the team, told Ahram Online.

Mahmoud Osama, another volunteer, said the situation is "more critical than online photos and videos show."

He said streets need more vacuum trucks to drain the rainwater and help smooth the movement of vehicles.

The group posted their phone numbers and locations on Facebook, offering free assistance after meteorologists warned of severally unstable weather and heavy rainfall that is expected to continue into next week.

The volunteers listed some tips for New Cairo residents, such as avoiding parking under trees, billboards, and light posts, in addition to removing cars from garages.

They called upon residents who own 44 cars and are able to help to coordinate with them to cover as many streets as possible.

Torrential rains flooded various parts in Egypt, accompanied by frequent thunders and lightening, while thick fog blanketed Cairo and other governorates' sky since the morning obstructing visibility.

The bad weather has left at least two people killed, delayed flights and forced the closure of major highways and parts of the first line of Cairos metro.

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The novel coronavirus epidemic will not affect the achievement of the key goal of poverty alleviation by the end of this year, a top official said on Thursday.





Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, said the impact of the epidemic on poverty alleviation is relatively large. Due to the need for epidemic prevention and control, population flow as well as logistics have been affected.





Many poor families relied on seeking jobs in other provinces for a living. Last year, 27.29 million poor people migrated to other places to work, while this year has seen 14.2 million poor migrant workers, accounting for 52 percent of the number last year, he said.





However, after the epidemic situation improved, the central government has taken some measures which helped speed up the migration. During the week of Feb 28 to March 6, the number of migrant workers increased by 3 million, he said, adding that the number is still expected to soar rapidly.





In addition, the epidemic also affected the sales of poverty alleviation products and tourism during the Spring Festival. Some seasonal agricultural products, such as flowers in Yunnan province, have lost billions of sales, Liu said.





Some poverty projects related to people's travel, production and drinking water were carried out in villages and were also postponed due to the epidemic. About one-third of these projects have resumed on March 6 and the pace of work is speeding up, he added.





"The epidemic had impact, and the impact was not small. But after we took measures, we have reduced the impact and earned back some lost time by conducting some small and fast industrial projects," he said.





Liu said the majority of the poverty alleviation work has been generally completed so they have enough confidence in consolidating the results and completing the goal of lifting poverty as scheduled.





In February, China issued a ban on all trade, raising, hunting and eating of wildlife animals, which were a suspected source of the virus.





Liu said in rural areas, there are some households breeding and selling wild animals as their special business but this is not a pillar industry. Some villages might have invested hundreds of thousands of yuan in raising wild animals but this type of farming did not meet a certain scale and the specific figures were not counted.





He said after the ban came into force, the authorities are working out a detailed inventory to clarify the specific animals that are restricted. If it causes any losses, the government will help local villages to alternate their industries.




Planes parked at London's Gatwick Airport in 2010.

Aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

President Donald Trump's move to restrict travel between the US and several European countries appeared to take the airline industry by surprise, according to industry consultant Henry Harteveldt.

Airlines are attempting to react to the news and adjusting their operations accordingly as passengers on both sides of the Atlantic are left confused.

The travel restrictions affect European countries in the Schengen Zone and will only allow flights to 11 approved entry airports throughout the US.

The big three US airlines are in a good position to ride out a downturn and the effects of the travel restrictions but some European airlines may not survive the next few months, Harteveldt explained.

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President Donald Trump's move on Wednesday night to restrict travel between the United States and countries in Europe's Schengen Area appeared to catch the airline industry by surprise.

Airlines on both sides of the Atlantic were fumbling to address the concerns of travelers and were unsure of how their operations would be impacted by the restrictions placed on transatlantic travel. All three US airlines only publicly stated that they intend to comply with the restrictions when asked for comment by Business Insider.

The US Department of Homeland Security clarified Trump's announcement, saying US citizens and some countries would not be affected by the travel restrictions.

Airline industry consultant Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research told Business Insider he believes the announcement was a surprise to the airlines and that they're still determining how they'll respond.

"I suspect what you will see happening is the US airlines as well as [European] flag airlines announce reductions or suspensions in flights between the US and continental European destinations."

Harteveldt said the restrictions set forth by Trump only affect areas in the Schengen Zone of the European continent where border controls are relaxed to promote freedom of movement for people, goods, and ideas, a key tenet of the European Union.

Story continues

As a result, the United Kingdom and Ireland are not impacted by the travel restrictions. The two countries, the former of which officially cut ties with the European Union on January 31, have maintained border controls for entrants coming from the European mainland.

The airlines most impacted by Trump's proclamation will be those with service to airports not on the US Department of Homeland's Security's list of gateway airports for health screening, explained Harteveldt.

Notable absentees from the list of approved entry airports from Europe include Philadelphia International Airport, Miami International, Charlotte Douglas Airport, and Boston Logan, hubs where American Airlines operates numerous daily flights to Europe.

Philadelphia International is American Airlines' East Coast gateway to Europe and, according to Harteveldt, the airline may have to shift or temporarily suspend those flights if the airport can't accept arrivals from the continent, which would greatly impact American's bottom line.

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are less likely to be impacted as most of their European gateways are on the list of approved airports for European arrivals.

For United, the only airports where the airline operates multiple daily flights to Europe that are not on the list is Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Denver International. These are secondary gateways compared to its East Coast hubs. Delta's hubs in Salt Lake City and Minneapolis are also not on the list.

Routes to secondary markets in the US are among the most impacted, Harteveldt said. They will need to be suspended until mid-April when the president's travel restrictions are expected to end. Those routes include Raleigh-Paris and Cincinnati-Paris, both operated by Delta Air Lines.

Finnair announced Thursday it would cancel its flights to the US for the entirety of the 30-day period, despite operating to airports listed as gateways for health screening in cities like New York and Los Angeles. Finnair was already hit hard by the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in Asia as the airline's route network focuses on connecting Europe and Asia through Helsinki.

Despite the new challenges, US airlines are unlikely to lose too much ground according to Harteveldt, as they have worked to strengthen their balance sheets since the 2008 financial crisis.

"All [US] airlines have taken steps to increase their balance sheets, build up cash reserves, and pay down debt," Harteveldt said, adding that carriers are in "much better shape than they were 12 years ago during the financial crisis," which will likely enable them to ride out the downturn and losses incurred from the president's restrictions.

The two airlines that may not survive are Europe's Norwegian Air and Alitalia.

Alitalia, according to Harteveldt, has been experiencing financial difficulties since before the spread of COVID-19 that have threatened its existence. And with Italy under lockdown, the airline's future is in jeopardy.

Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air similarly experienced issues that impacted its business before the spread of the coronavirus, such as the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max that halted its fleet-renewal plans and issues with Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 engines that grounded some of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

"Norwegian has a relatively week balance sheet," Harteveldt said. The airline has had to drastically cut routes and scale back expansion plans.

US airlines are poised for a rough patch, but are expected to weather the difficulties, Harteveldt said.

"I don't think we will see any of the big US airlines shut down but will announce steps to reduce their cash burn."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Two American soldiers and a British soldier were killed Wednesday, a US official said, in the deadliest rocket attack in years on an Iraqi military base hosting foreign troops.

The attack threatens a dangerous escalation, with suspected US-led coalition air strikes promptly targeting Iran-aligned Iraqi fighters in neighbouring Syria, a war monitor said. At least 18 fighters were reported killed.

On Wednesday evening, a volley of 18 rockets hit the Taji air base north of Baghdad which hosts troops from the US-led coalition helping local forces battle jihadists.

A coalition statement said three of its personnel were killed and another 12 were wounded but it did not provide nationalities.

A US official, however, told AFP the dead included two Americans and a British national.

The Iraqi military said the rockets were fired from the back of a truck, but it did not comment on any casualties.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab condemned the attack in a telephone call.

The two "underscored that those responsible for the attacks must be held accountable," the US State Department said in a statement.

While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, Washington has blamed Iran-backed factions from Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military network, which is incorporated into the Iraqi state, for recent similar violence.

Within hours of Wednesday's attack, three warplanes likely belonging to the US-led coalition bombed Hashed factions stationed on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

At least 18 Iraqi fighters were killed as "ten explosions shook the area near Albukamal," a Syrian border town with a heavy Hashed presence, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

Hardline Hashed factions have fought alongside Syrian government forces for several years and have been targeted by both coalition and Israeli air strikes in Syria.

Wednesday's attack on the Taji air base was the 22nd on US installations in Iraq, including the American embassy, since late October.

One of the earlier attacks killed an Iraqi soldier and in late December, a spree of rockets killed a US contractor working at a base in northern Iraq.

That killing sent tensions spiralling.

Two days later, the US responded by bombing Kataeb Hezbollah, a faction within the Hashed that is heavily backed by Iran and which Washington has blamed for several rocket attacks.

At least 25 Kataeb Hezbollah fighters were killed and their supporters on 31 December besieged the US embassy in Baghdad.

A US drone strike outside the Baghdad airport on January 3 killed powerful Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and the Hashed's deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Iran then retaliated by launching a volley of missiles at the western Iraqi base of Ain Al-Asad. While no personnel were killed in that attack, dozens of US soldiers suffered from brain trauma.

The tit-for-tat attacks on Iraqi soil left Baghdad furious, and in January its parliament voted to expel all foreign soldiers from Iraq in reaction to the killing of Soleimani.

Among them are some 5,200 US forces stationed across Iraq as part of the international coalition -- comprised of dozens of countries -- formed in 2014 to confront the Islamic State jihadist group, which took swathes of territory that year.

While IS has lost its territory, sleeper cells remain capable of carrying out attacks.

On Sunday, two US soldiers were killed while helping Iraqi forces battle IS remnants north of Baghdad.

Parliament's vote on the ouster must be implemented by the government, but the current caretaker cabinet has yet to make progress on the decision.

US officials previously told AFP they considered the Hashed as a bigger threat to them than IS, given the frequency and accuracy of rocket attacks on American troops that could be traced back to the Shiite-majority network.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Foodies who regard a juicy sirloin steak as a meal fit for a king were licking their lips with anticipation last week, when a 17th-century menu purporting to show the origin of the cut's name went up for auction.

According to the document of dishes from 1617, James I found the meat so delicious that he knighted it 'Sir Loin'.

It's a delightful anecdote, but caused consternation among food historians who maintain the term actually comes from the French sur la longe, meaning a cut of meat from 'above the loin'.

Whatever the truth, MARK MASON reveals some of the tastiest stories behind other food names . . .

Granny Smith apple

The apple variety was cultivated by Maria Ann Smith in Australia in 1868. By then an old woman, she had originally emigrated from Britain, and was born in the Sussex village of Peasmarsh.

By extraordinary coincidence, a farmhouse in the village is now owned by Sir Paul McCartney who, along with the other Beatles, started the Apple record label, whose logo was . . .a Granny Smith.

Avocado

The name comes from ahuacatl, an Aztec word for 'testicle' (because of the shape). The French for avocado is avocat, which is also the word for a lawyer (an advocate), and this is why a poorly translated menu in Switzerland once offered 'half a lawyer with prawns'.

Biscuit

From the Latin bis (twice) and coctus (cooked), because biscuits were originally baked twice, once to cook them and again to dry them out.

The hard Italian biscuits known as biscotti are still made this way.

Nachos

In 1943, some wives of U.S. soldiers stationed in Texas went on a shopping trip to Piedras Negras, a town across the border in Mexico. They decided to get lunch at Ignacio 'Nacho' Garcia's restaurant and, even though he had just closed for the day, Garcia agreed to make them a snack from the few ingredients he had left.

Cutting some tortillas into triangles, he fried the thin bread with cheese and jalapeno peppers. The women asked him what the dish was called. Thinking on his feet, he replied: 'Nacho's specials.'

Bisto

The powder was invented in 1908 by Messrs Roberts and Patterson, two men from Cheshire whose wives had asked for an easy way to make gravy.

The name is short for 'browns, seasons and thickens in one'.

Tarte tatin

StEphanie Tatin and her sister Caroline ran the Hotel Tatin in the French town of Lamotte-Beuvron in the 1880s. One day, while making an apple pie, Stephanie forgot about the fruit she had left cooking in butter and sugar, and it started to burn.

She tried to rescue the dish by placing pastry on top and putting it in the oven. She then turned the resulting tart upside down.

It was such a success that it became synonymous with the hotel.

King Edward

The potato variety was introduced in 1902, the year of Edward VII's coronation. It's entirely fitting that such a filling food should be named after the monarch  he was a keen fan of eating, so much so that he started the fashion of leaving the bottom button of your waistcoat undone after a meal (in his case out of necessity).

He also began weighing his guests when they arrived at Sandringham, and then again on their departure, to check that they had been fed sufficiently.

Pavlova

The dessert was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. The lightness of the meringue was intended as a tribute to her grace as a dancer.

HP Sauce

The spicy condiment was produced in small batches by Frederick Gibson Garton, a Nottingham shopkeeper, in 1895. When he heard that restaurants in the Houses of Parliament were serving it, he started using the initials 'HP' to cash in on the publicity.

The famous picture of the Elizabeth Tower on the label currently shows scaffolding, to reflect its ongoing restoration.

Beef Wellington

The dish of meat in pate and pastry was named in honour of the Duke of Wellington, possibly because the ingredients' different shades of brown resembled those of the polished leather boot favoured by the great military leader (he thought they offered more protection in battle).

This is also the origin of the name 'Wellington boot'.

Spaghetti

The literal meaning of the word is 'little strings'. Similarly linguine (like spaghetti, but more flattened) means 'little tongues', while ultra-thin vermicelli means 'little worms'.

Pizza Margherita

The pizza's toppings of red tomato, white mozzarella and green basil give it the same colours as the Italian flag. This was why the owner of a restaurant in Naples served it to Margherita of Savoy, the Queen of Italy, when she visited his establishment in 1889.

Caesar salad

On July 4, 1924, Caesar Cardini, the owner of a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico, had his kitchen stocks depleted by a rush of visitors from just over the border in the U.S., who wanted to celebrate Independence Day but who were forbidden from drinking by Prohibition.

All the chef had left was lettuce, eggs, olive oil, croutons and Worcestershire sauce. So he threw them together and created the famous Caesar salad.

That's quite a way to celebrate!

Croissant

According to stories repeated about several different battles from history (such as the Battle of Tours in 732, or the siege of Vienna in 1683), the croissant was invented to commemorate the defeat of Islamic forces by their opponents.

Whatever the truth, it's certain that the word denotes the pastry's shape  it's French for 'crescent' (one of the symbols of Islam).

Pumpernickel loaf

Pumpern was a German word meaning 'flatulent', while nickel denoted 'Old Nick', or the Devil.

The German rye bread was seen as so heavy and hard to digest that it would make even the Devil break wind.

Chop suey

The Chinese dish of meat or fish cooked with eggs and vegetables, such as bean sprouts and celery, may sound delicious.

But the name becomes slightly less appetising when you learn that it derives from tsap seui, the Cantonese word for 'miscellaneous leftovers'.

Bovril

The name of the meaty drink, which was developed in the 1870s, combines 'bovine' (as in cows) and 'Vril', a mysterious strength-giving substance from Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1870 science fiction novel The Coming Race.

Ciabatta

You might think the air-filled bread is a centuries-old creation, but actually it dates from 1982.

Indeed, it was invented by a baker in the city of Verona, who thought the shape of the loaf resembled his wife's slipper  or ciabatta in Italian.
San Francisco, March 12 : The upcoming Google Pixel 4a, which is expected to be the successor of the budget Pixel 3a is likely to pack in the Snapdragon 730 chipset, which will be backed by 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of non-expandable internal storage.

YouTube channel TechnoLike Plus has shared an extensive hands-on with the purported midrange device, showing new design with that smudge-laden matte plastic black back casing, which also includes a rear fingerprint scanner.

According to the new leaks, the Pixel 4a has tried to match the design of the standard Google Pixel 4 very closely.

The device is expected to feature a 5.81-inch display is, FHD+ with 1080 by 2,340-pixel resolution at 443 ppi. It is also worth noting that the screen appears to have a 60Hz refresh rate - not 90Hz.

But unlike the Pixel 4's dual sensor at the back, the budget 4a is likely to have a single 12MP sensor that can record 4K video, in addition to a rear fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, and the same USB-C port and bottom-facing speakers.

There's a hole-punch selfie camera in the display and may come with a 3,080mAh battery.
The New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA), which manages markets in New Delhi region including the Connaught Place, on Wednesday approached the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) seeking to regularise the modifications in the buildings through an amnesty scheme. The traders maintained that there had been no fresh construction in the Connaught Place in the last ten years and only minor adjustments were made.

Last week, the NDMC had issued sealing notices to owners of 105 properties in Connaught Place for illegally constructed basement and alleged violation of building norms on their premises following directives from the Supreme Court appointed monitoring committee.

Atul Bhargava, NDTA president, said the traders body has sent a letter to the NDMC and requested them to regularise the modifications instead of sealing the shops.

He said permanent constructions or major modifications in the shops in Connaught Place date back to 1962 and at that time there was no DMC Act, hence that should be taken as it was. But there had been no fresh construction or major modification in the recent times.

He said instead of sealing the shops the authorities should come up with some possible and practical solution.

In CP only there are cases where modifications in the buildings were regularised after charging a certain amount as compounding fee. The similar exercise can be done for the remaining shops in the market. You cannot seal the entire market. We did not encroach upon the government land and the modifications were made inside the private properties, Bhargava said.

He added, We have sent a letter to the NDMC chairman and urged him to regularise these constructions after charging a compounding fee, which has also been done in past.

The monitoring committee had in February directed the NDMC to seal those properties in Connaught Place where an intermediate floor or the mezzanine floor had been added by sinking the ground floor.

According to NDMC officials, in Connaught Place market many property owners have sunken their ground floors by up to five feet to create a middle floor or a mezzanine floor for commercial purpose.

The official said creation of mezzanine floor is allowed but it should not be used for commercial purposes. Commercial use of such floors is in violation of the building norms.

The only way out for such cases is that the property owners will have to undo the modifications they have made in the building. The rectification is easy where ground floors have been sunken only by a few inches, the official said requesting anonymity.

The official, however, added that they were yet to get the NDTA reply on the sealing notices issued to the property owners in Connaught Place.
Baz Luhrmann has temporarily halted production of his upcoming Elvis Presley biopic after star Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, caught coronavirus while filming.

The Australian director urged the cast and crew of the project, which is currently filming on the Gold Coast, to stay home in a private letter obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin.

According to the publication, the 57-year-old filmmaker said that they were facing a 'difficult situation' in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

'We request all cast and crew stay at home today': Baz Luhrmann has temporarily halted production of his upcoming Elvis Presley biopic after star Tom Hanks caught coronavirus

'Be assured we will keep you updated as that information develops,' Baz wrote.

'We request all cast and crew stay at home today and not come to work. All work activity on the production is cancelled and will not resume until further notice.

'We appreciate everyone's cooperation and we will be following up with more details over the next several hours.

'On a personal note, please know that the health and well-being of our entire company is our absolute focus at this time. Many thanks for your support as we manage this difficult situation.'

Outbreak: Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus

Tom and Rita tested positive for the novel coronavirus, they revealed on Thursday.

The Forrest Gump star and his wife, both 63, announced the positive test results on Instagram and urged the public to 'take care' amid the pandemic.

The couple are currently on the Gold Coast, where the Oscar-winning actor is filming the as-yet-untitled Elvis Presley film being produced by Warner Bros.

Hanks revealed he and Rita experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.

'We appreciate everyone's cooperation and we will be following up with more details over the next several hours,' Baz wrote in a personal letter sent to the cast and crew of the film

He wrote: 'Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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.

'Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?

'Well keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!'

He also shared a picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket and a latex glove in a hospital.

'Take care': Tom and his wife, both 63, announced their positive test results on Instagram

Tom touched down in Australia on January 26 for the film, which is still in pre-production meaning cameras have not started rolling yet. He plays Elvis Presley's longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

He was rumoured to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach - the very same hotel building where a 44-year-old Chinese national, who later became one of Australia's first cases of coronavirus, was staying.

That man was rushed to the hospital on January 28 and was confirmed to have the virus on January 29. He had recently returned from Wuhan and was travelling with his wife and child and was staying at the Oracle building, but was not a guest at Peppers Broadbeach, which is located in the same building.

Down Under: Rita was in Sydney last weekend enjoying the sights and sounds of the city

Warner Bros. said in a statement that when they became aware someone in production was diagnosed with the virus they worked with Australian health agencies to assure that the movie production remains safe.

'We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production on the Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus),' said a spokesperson.

'We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.

'The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment.'
LOS ANGELES  Last November, the cook at a Mexican seafood restaurant in Santa Ana (Orange County) approached a diner with a question. Would it be possible, he asked the man, to get him 200 to 300 assault rifles?

So began an alleged deal for machine guns that Nicola Hanna, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, traced this week to the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or Jalisco New Generation, a Mexican drug trafficking organization known to few people in the United States, but one Hanna called one of the most significant transnational criminal threats we face today.

Twenty-seven people were arrested Wednesday in Rancho Cucamonga (San Bernardino County) and the Los Angeles County neighborhoods of North Hollywood and Sun Valley.

Bill Bodner, the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administrations Los Angeles office, described Jalisco New Generation as a pioneer in manufacturing synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and fentanyl, which are cheap to produce and highly potent  often fatally so.

The gang controls between one-third and two-thirds of the U.S. 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 $20 million taken as search and arrest warrants were executed. About 250 were arrested this week across the U.S.

The cartel has seized control of Tijuanas smuggling routes, Bodner said, moving methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine through the border city and into Los Angeles, where drugs are warehoused before being ferried to distribution hubs that include Houston, Chicago and Atlanta.

Its leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, has no qualms killing people, Bodner said, through either overdoses from drugs his organization peddles or outright murder. The DEA is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

Oseguera lived for a time in San Francisco and his children are U.S. citizens. His son and daughter are under federal indictment in Washington, D.C., his son charged with drug trafficking and firearms offenses, his daughter accused of violating the Kingpin Act, which bars U.S. citizens from doing business with entities the Treasury Department has linked to drug traffickers and money launderers.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Matthew Ormseth is a Los Angeles Times writer.
Press Release

12 March 2020

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee - The Canadian hotel industry recorded mostly negative year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 1-7 March 2020, according to data from STR.

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In comparison with the week of 3-9 March 2019, the industry reported the following:

Occupancy: -5.2% to 56.9%

Average daily rate (ADR): -0.7% to CAD155.10

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -5.8% to CAD88.18

Among the provinces and territories, Manitoba experienced the only double-digit decline in occupancy (-12.1% to 61.2%) and one of the largest decreases in ADR (-3.0% to CAD124.45), which resulted in the steepest drop in RevPAR (-14.7% to CAD76.14).

Alberta matched for the steepest drop in ADR (-3.0% to CAD131.43). The province also saw the second-largest declines in occupancy (-9.9% to 48.1%) and RevPAR (-12.6% to CAD63.19).

New Brunswick registered the third-largest decrease in RevPAR (-7.9% to CAD57.37), due primarily to the third-steepest decline in occupancy (-6.5% to 48.2%).

Prince Edward Island recorded the only increase in occupancy (+15.4% to 34.2%) and the highest rise in RevPAR (+16.3% to CAD39.07).

Quebec posted the largest lift in ADR (+3.2% to CAD148.78).

Saskatchewan reported the only other increase in RevPAR (+0.5% to CAD61.90).
Have you ever had so much trouble trying to pick where your next vacation destination should be? Maybe it's time to let the stars decide for you! Many believe that your zodiac sign says a lot about you. Each zodiac sign has different specific traits that can also pertain to the person who is born into that particular sign. Whether you believe in the power of astrology or not, this could be a fun way to decide where you should go. At the very least, this can be used as a guide to your next adventure! Read on to find out where your next vacation should be based on your zodiac sign.

12. Aquarius (January 20th - February 18th): South Africa

Those born as an Aquarius tend to be reserved, quiet, and to themselves, but in the right setting, they can flip the switch and become bold and daring. Aquarius love to have an intellectual conversation and they tend to seek some form of adventure, they also have a humanitarian nature to them, with all that said we think South Africa is the place to go. You can take on a safari, see some animals, and live your adventurous dreams while also keeping up with the hustle and bustle of what Cape Town has to offer.

11. Pisces (February 19 - March 20): Liechtenstein

Pisces is one of the most whimsical of the zodiac signs. Pisces crave adventure but not your typical trip to Italy or France; no Pisces need to explore unchartered territory that has a lot to offer. If you've never heard of Liechtenstein, you're not alone, it's a tiny country that's in between Austria and Switzerland, and it's even more magical than you can ever imagine. You can take a hike along Princess Way hiking path, or you can visit the museum of contemporary art. This beautiful, little-known country has a lot to offer!

10. Aries (March 21 - April 19): Vietnam

Aries is bold and determined, and when they have a goal in their mind, they won't stop until they've reached it. There's no stopping the Aries train! They're also very confident and adventurous people. For these reasons, we think Vietnam is the place to go. For the energetic and turbulent sign, they need a destination that will match it but also can be serene, so they have some downtime too. You can catch a wave at Mui Ne beach while also taking in the fantastic food.

9. Taurus (April 20 - May 20): Barbados

Taurus are constantly go-go-go in their daily lives. They're quite responsible and stable, meaning they will put in the work in their careers, show up on time and work until there is no more work left to be done. A Taurus needs nothing more than to relax, that's why sunny Barbados is the perfect destination. You can kick up your feet, have a cocktail, and enjoy the ocean. For your wild side, there are plenty of parties to take part in as the nightlife has a lot to offer in Barbados!

8. Gemini (May 21 - June 20): Indonesia

Like their friend the Taurus, the Gemini is continuously on the go as well. Gemini does have a hard time letting go of the busy-ness of their lives. They need to have an adventure at all times and can not let a moment pass in their day that's not filled with an adventure. To help with these traits, we recommend Indonesia. Bali, specifically, has a lot of trails to take for the hiker in a Gemini, they also of relaxing spas with amazing amenities and scooter tours you can take when you're feeling bored!

7. Cancer (June 21 - July 22): India

Cancers are very intuitive, and they're known to be able to pick up on someone's energy without even speaking with them. They're also known to be very serene and well-balanced. We recommend India, but Rishikesh India, to be more exact. Rishikesh is known as the Yoga capital of the world. Cancer will enjoy being in touch with their mind, body, and soul on this trip. They'll get a lot out of this trip and won't be able to stop talking about it for months, maybe even years after visiting!

6. Leo (July 23 - August 22): England

Ah, Leo, the lion of the zodiac signs. Leos tend to be theatrical (sometimes a tad dramatic), bubbly and passionate. With this, we think England is the perfect trip. It has a lot of history, and a lot of castles to visit that will appeal greatly to a Leo. It has the nightlife that they crave with also the comfort of 4 and 5-star hotels. England is the perfect city for those wanting to branch out of their comfort zone without going too far.

5. Virgo (August 23 - September 22): Hawaii

Virgo's love order and being practical. They're extraordinarily hardworking and never stray away from a hardship or an adventure. Hawaii is the perfect spot for a Virgo to truly unwind and get in touch with a brand new culture. A Virgo has a sense of adventure, albeit small, therefor the volcanic trails and delicious cuisine is perfect. A Virgo loves to stop and smell the flowers and truly sees the small details in everything in their surroundings, and they'll be able to appreciate Hawaii for all of its natural beauty truly.

4. Libra (September 23 - October 22): Greece

One of the many traits of a Libra is that they're quite peaceful. They love to be surrounded by peace and hate any conflict. This is why they would love a trip to Greece. Greece has something for everyone; it's historical, beautiful and has fantastic food. Take a boat ride to Santorini and watch as you become at peace with your surroundings. This is the perfect spot for a Libra to take a load off their mind and enjoy the sites.

3. Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): Japan

Scorpio gets quite the bad rap, mostly because of the harsh insect that's associated with the sign. Scorpios are quite passionate and loyal and quite resourceful. They also love being on the go and surrounded by people. Japan is an excellent destination for Scorpios. You can stay in a pod hotel, take a dip in a hot spring, and enjoy great food from world-renowned sushi and ramen restaurants! Your adventure side will love a hike to get a beautiful view of Mount Fuji!

2. Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): Canada

Sagittarius is known for loving the outdoors, loving to travel, and being extroverted. It's safe to assume that a Sagittarius has a lot of destinations under their belt, but we suggest going to a place less exotic, but that still has a lot to offer. Yep, we're talking about Canada! Canada has a lot to offer in terms of national parks (Lake Louise in particular!) and also being home to major cities such as Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal for those who still crave a big city.

1. Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): Ireland

Capricorns tend to be homebodies. They love the comfort of their home, their family, and they especially love routine. To break away from this, but not too much that it can cause panic, we suggest Ireland. Ireland is a little place of the home that's away from home. The locals are friendly, and you can go to a hole in the wall pub hear great music and make new friends. You can also explore the main parts of the country in 10 days or less! Ireland is a beautiful country for those Capricorns that want to experience adventure but can't quite break the routine of their everyday life.
Violent clashes between students and police marked the second anniversary of Sebastian Pinera's Chilean presidency on Wednesday. Demonstrators in the capital Santiago called for Pinera's resignation, as he faces his lowest approval rating of just 6%. Chileans also commemorated the South American country's return to democracy 30 years ago.

Police responded to stone-throwing masked demonstrators by spraying water cannons and firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Protesters also burned a police station and a public transport bus.

Human rights groups have expressed concerns about how security forces have handled the protests.

Pinera said he would not quit the presidency until he finishes his term in March 2022

A student protest over a modest increase in subway fares on October 18 has turned into a much larger and broader movement with a long list of demands that largely have to do with the wide gap between the rich and ordinary Chileans.

Residents have called for reforms to health care, education, the pension system and even the constitution, which dates back to 1980 and the military dictatorship.

At least 27 people have been killed since the protests began.
What advice could you give a caregiver, so they aren't crippled financially with the burden of taking care of a loved one?

 from Amy Goyer

Jean Chatzky: First, look at the available support resources from your state, the government and your community. Start again with benefitscheckup.org. If the person was a military service member, make sure you are accessing all veterans benefits as well. And talk to someone (on the actual phone, if not in person) about what is available from your local agency on aging and other resources. Second, even when you are the primary caregiver, there are often other family members who  because they are not being asked to do the day-to-day caring  are willing to step in and offer monetary support. They may need to be asked, but you should not shy away from asking. And then asking again.

Amy Goyer: Always a good idea to determine if you can get paid for providing care to your loved ones, too!

Amy Goyer: How can a former caregiver begin to recover financially from the burden of caregiving?

Jean Chatzky: Step by step. Start by figuring out (a) where you are now and (b) where you want to go. Did caregiving put a crimp in your retirement savings, for instance, and if so, how many years did it set you back? Had you set goals for yourself that you are now unsure you'll be able to achieve? There are two levers that you can pull on when it comes to bumping up your rate of accumulating assets for retirement  saving more and spending less (actually there are three, but I wouldn't suggest the third  taking more risk in your investments). Give both of those levers a good look. Would downsizing sooner rather than later allow you to save more and recover the ground you lost? Would working an additional year or two do the trick? I think this is an excellent time to sit down with a financial adviser and map out a plan. If you don't have one, you may be able to access one for free through the administrator of your work-based retirement plan. Or you can find one through NAPFA.org, or the Financial Planning Association.

Amy Goyer: This is the phase I'm going through right now, and caregiving for my parents and sister has been financially crippling for me, too. I'll be meeting with my financial planner for sure!

Amy Goyer: Looks like our time is up for today! Thank you so much, Jean Chatzky, for joining us in the group today and sharing your financial expertise! Your knowledge can really make a big difference for so many people. Group members: This thread will remain in the group as an announcement so it's easy to find if you want to go back to it or for those who weren't with us live today. Let me know if you had a burning question that wasn't answered  either by doing a new post or by messaging me  and I'll be sure you get a reply. Have a great day, everyone!

Jean Chatzky: Thanks, Amy Goyer and AARP, for having me! And thanks to everyone who submitted questions! Have a great rest of the day!



Learn More About Caregiving
The statement came in response to a call by MFA Ukraine spox for the "international response" to stop Russian aggression against Ukrainian troops in Donbas.

U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus says her country continues to "impose costs" on Russia until the Kremlin respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Russian aggression in Ukraine must stop," the State Department spokeswoman tweeted Thursday in response to the call by her Ukrainian counterpart, MFA Ukraine's spox Kateryna Zelenko, for an "international response" to the latest spike of Russian aggression in Donbas, which brought more casualties among Ukrainian troops.

"We will continue to impose costs until Russia respects Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity," Morgan Ortagus added in the same tweet.

Russian aggression in Ukraine must stop. We will continue to impose costs until Russia respects Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. https://t.co/tcODruDJ5j  Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) March 12, 2020

Earlier, Kateryna Zelenko, via Twitter, informed the international community of the latest escalation in eastern Ukraine where Russian hybrid forces attacked Ukrainian positions in Pisky.

"Russias hybrid military forces have attacked Ukrainian positions at #Pisky with 2 #Ukrainian soldiers reportedly killed and 9 injured. A united international response is needed in order to #StopRussianAggression. Our thoughts are with the families of our fallen heroes," she tweeted.
Katie Holmes has said her daughter Suri is a 'strong personality'. (Photo by James Devaney/Getty Images)

Katie Holmes has opened up about her 13-year-old daughter Suri and given a rare insight into the attributes of the teenager.

The actor, who shares Suri with ex-husband Tom Cruise, explained how she was a "strong personality" in an interview with InStyle.

"I love her so much," the 41-year-old said: "My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality. To make sure she is 100 percent herself and strong, confident, and able. And to know it.

Read more: Emily blunt says Dame Judi Dench talked her out of pop career

"She came out very strongshe's always been a strong personality."

Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise are seen walking Chelsea on December 11, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/FilmMagic)

"She'll pick an activity and work her butt off until she's really good at it. Then she's like, 'Okay, I'm going to try the next thing.' She's very focused and a hard worker," she added.

The Dawson's Creek star also spoke about how it was an "intense" time for her following the split with Cruise when she relocated to New York City, due to the amount of interest in her.

Holmes still gets plenty of media attention and she ended up making quite the splash last year when she was photographed hailing a cab in New York sporting a Khaite charmer bra and matching cardigan.

The set ended up selling out within an hour of her wearing it, but she didn't intend to cause such a stir as Holmes was more concerned in getting "into trouble" with Suri.

Meanwhile, the mother-of-one was said to have split from boyfriend Jamie Foxx last year after enjoying a very low-key romance that was rumoured to have been going on for six years.

The break-up came months after they made their first red carpet appearance together at 2019s Met Gala.
Explained: What is the Anti Defection Law and how is it implemented

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 12: The crisis in Madhya Pradesh is not going to end anytime soon. The Speaker's role would come into play whether it comes to deciding on the resignations or disqualifying the MLAs.

The Tenth Schedule, technicalities and also the Anti Defection Law would be cited during the crisis. Ultimately the matter could also end up in the Supreme Court. Now, let us take a look at what the Anti Defection Law is and when does it come into play and how it is also implemented.

What is the anti-defection law:

In the year 1985, the Tenth Schedule was introduced in the Constitution, by which legislators could be disqualified on grounds of defection. A member is deemed to be defected if he either voluntarily gives up the membership of his party or disobeys the directives of the party on a vote.A member defying the whip of his party may be disqualified from the membership of the House.

When does the Anti Defection law not apply:

The law allows a party to merge with or into another provided in case at least two-thirds of its legislators are in favour of the merger. A similar scenario was witnessed in Goa, when 10 Congress MLAs merged with the BJP, while the remaining 5 stayed away. They did not attract the provisions of the law.

Madhya Pradesh Crisis: What went wrong for Congress

While interpreting the law, the Supreme Court said that in the absence of a formal resignation by the member giving up the membership, the same could be inferred by his conduct.

While the law initially said that the decision of the Speaker or presiding officer is not subject to judicial review, the Supreme Court had in 1992 had allowed appeals against the presiding officer. The court said that such decisions could be reviewed by both the High Court and the Supreme Court.

Time limit:

In the Karnataka scenario, the Speaker had been accused of sitting over the matter and not deciding on the resignation of the rebel MLAs. The Supreme Court too had said that there is no time limit for the Speaker to decide. It however said that the rebels cannot be compelled to go to the assembly.

The law too does not specify a time limit. This means that the courts can intervene with the decision of the Speaker only once he has taken a decision.

The amendment:

In 2003, there was an amendment to the law. When first enacted there was a provision which said if there occurs a split in the original political party and as a result of which one-third of the legislators of the party forms a separate group, they shall not be disqualified. This led to large scale defections and hence this provision was deleted.

Provided in the 4th Paragraph of the 10th Schedule, the provision can now be invoked for protection from disqualification if there is a merger.

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Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 8:03 [IST]
Ancient artists in northern Spain were more prolific than first thought as researchers discover new cave paintings dating back as far as 40,000 years ago.

Researchers from the University of the Basque Country examined 23 sites of known stone age graphics crossing the border between northern Spain and France.

For a long time it was thought there were only six sites with stone age art in the Basque region but in recent years archaeologists have discovered 17 new caves.

These discoveries helped 'fill a void' in what experts expected to find for such an important palaeolithic population area, says lead author Blanca Ochoa.

Scroll down for video

Within this image you can just see the faint remnants of a cave art - through the faded orange and brown paint on the rock

The most prominent new discovery is the Danbolinzulo cave, featuring a 'homogeneity of the motifs, which comprise five ibex, two horses and a possible anthropomorph, along with several unidentified figures'.

The drawings were from the pre-Magdalenian period, from between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago..

They cross the boundary of two distinct artistic traditions - fitting within a 'pivotal position' between Cantabrian-Iberian and French/continental art styles.

There are animals including Ibex depicted in the cave drawings, as shown here in graphical representations re-created by the study authors

The cave the newly discovered art lies within sits on the slopes of Mount Ertxina near the town of Zestoa in northern Spain.

When studying the faint and eroded images on the cave walls the team say they fit in a broader context of prehistoric art in Spain and France.

In the later Magdalenian period, as early as 13,000 years ago, the distinctions between the two artistic cultures began to vanish.

Before that the Basque region was a pivitol zone with people from both sides of the Pyrenees living close to each other while still maintaining their own styles.

The style of art in the cave is Iberian but it is near a 'border' that once existed between ancient Iberian and French continental populations.

A different pre-Magdalenian cave near to this one in Basque Country currently being studied seems to be French/Continental-style - hinting at the presence of this cultural border.

The authors of the paper say despite the distinct styles in the caves either side of the border, the Iberian and continental prehistoric people were in contact with one another but don't know how they kept distinct styles of art.

Study authors say there was a seeming 'void' between two distinct stone age artistic styles in the basque region but the latest discoveries of more caves

'We think maybe that they have different cultural backgrounds. But we don't know why they chose to have two very distinct styles,' Ochoa told Haaretz.

'If we think about it, 'modern' art in Europe, Central Asia, the Near East, India and the Far East all maintained substantive differences over long centuries, during which the cultures were very much in touch. So that could make sense.

'During the Magdalenian period, there was one style from the south of France all the way to the north of Spain,' Ochoa said.

She said this could be seen as a form of proof that there were cultural relations.

The discoveries at Danbolinzulo were a breakthrough for archaeologists as they helped to fill the seeming 'void' in the region - where either side there were significant cave painting discoveries but nothing in the Basque country.

The Danbolinzulo cave is the site closest to France that features the prehistoric Iberian style of cave art.

The authors of the study don't know why it features that style of art but think it could be one of two reasons with one idea being that the two cultures didn't communicate.

The other, according to Ochoa is that the different styles were used to reinforce cultural identities in the border zone.

The research has been published in the journal Antiquity.
With the COVID-19 crisis unfolding, a countdown continued Thursday toward a possible work stoppage Saturday by more than 20,000 City of Toronto inside workers including 90 per cent of public health staff.

All hands on deck are needed to confront this outbreak, CUPE Local 79 president Dave Mitchell told reporters before saying the union and city have not agreed to new terms for four units covering full-time, part-time, recreation and long-term care home staff.

Local 79 members include staff in long-term care homes and homeless shelters with populations vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, as well as recreation staff, workers in city-run daycares, planners and city licensing employees.

Despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and the possibility of cancelled day camps and other March Break activities, city negotiators are pushing to impose the same contract terms on the different units even though they have different priorities, Mitchell said.

For example, job security for full-time workers involves protection from losing their jobs to contracting out, he said, while part-time staff need stable, predictable scheduling.

If the City of Toronto is serious about negotiating, they need to put down the cookie cutter and start getting to the issues at hand with all four units, Mitchell said.

At this moment the stakes are very high, he added. We are ready to bargain around the clock and past the deadline, provided there is clear evidence across the table that there is good faith and a willingness to negotiate. But time is running out.

The Local 79 contract expired Dec. 31. They can legally strike or be locked out as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday, but could continue bargaining after the countdown ends.

Asked if the union would consider putting the countdown on hold, given growing fears over the potential toll of the deadly virus, Mitchell said it would be up to the city to initiate that discussion.

Mayor John Tory on Thursday called it highly, highly unlikely that the city would lock out the workers.

Asked about the risk to the public of public health, long-term care and homeless shelter workers off the job, Tory said the city has a contingency plan to ensure all services provided now by Local 79 members continue on a prioritized basis.

But, he added, the very best way of (avoiding a stoppage) is to reach a collective agreement.

Impacts of a Local 79 work stoppage would include:

The citys 47 child care centres, which provide services for 2,000 children, would be closed, as would all city-operated early learning centres.

All meetings and programming, including March Break camps, at all city recreation centres would be cancelled and the recreation centres closed. Greenhouses and conservatories would be closed along with pools, fitness centres, ski hills and some arenas and outdoor ice rinks.

Access to city civic centres, including Metro Hall and City Hall, would be limited and city administrative services, including permitting and licensing, would be suspended or delayed. City council and committee meetings would be cancelled.

With files from Francine Kopun

David Rider is the Star's City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider

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As Iran struggles to fight the coronavirus outbreak, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has made a public plea for sanctions relief and medical supplies.

Zarif tweeted March 12 that the efforts to fight the virus are stymied by vast shortages caused by restrictions on our peoples access to medicine/equipment. He went on, Viruses dont discriminate. Nor should humankind. The tweet was accompanied by a picture listing the countrys medical needs, many of them respiratory-assistance devices and basic medical equipment such as gloves and masks.

Zarif also wrote a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres calling for the end of US sanctions as Iran battles the disease. In the letter, Zarif called US sanctions obstacles to the sale of medicine, medical supplies and humanitarian goods. He said that Irans inability to sell oil combined with banking and insurance sanctions have impacted the countrys ability to provide citizens with subsidies on basic goods.

Iran has taken the additional step of asking the International Monetary Fund for money to fight the coronavirus. The head of Irans Central Bank, Abdolnaser Hemmati, wrote that the country has asked the IMF for $5 billion. Hemmati said that the IMFs response will be good criteria to judge whether its claims that the body is ready to help counties fight the virus are genuine.

The spread of the coronavirus has shown no signs of slowing down in Iran. The last 24 hours have recorded more than 1,000 new cases, according to Health Ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour, bringing the total confirmed coronavirus cases to 10,078 with 429 deaths. The cases continue to be centered in the provinces of Tehran, Gilan, Qom and Mazandaran, but all of Irans 31 provinces have confirmed cases.

Jahanpour also denied reports that the country is considering putting cities under quarantine or closing gas stations amid rumors that gas pump handles were spreading the virus. A number of officials including parliamentarians have called for a quarantine of major centers of the outbreak, but government officials have so far refused to take such drastic measures.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki has announced that rather than seeing people who are symptomatic in hospitals, Iran is now attempting to test individuals for the virus at testing centers. Namaki said that this plan has been implemented in four provinces and will soon be a nationwide program. He added that there are currently 50 such centers and by next week there will be 80. According to Namaki, 3.5 million people have been evaluated in the last two days. Of them, 1,200 have been recommended for monitoring.
Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson (pictured) said the company may shut down some of their stores and move to mobile orders due to the spread of the coronavirus

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson has announced that the company may shut down some of their stores due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, and limit sales to those made by mobile apps and drive thrus.

The Seattle-based coffee chain is currently maintaining regular operations across the US and Canada, but in a letter shared on the Starbucks website, Johnson said they are prepared 'to modify operations with options that still allow us to serve you your favorite beverage and food'.

Johnson said that the customer experience 'may look different as we navigate through this time together'.

'This means that as we navigate this dynamic situation community-by-community and store-by-store, we may adapt the store experience by limiting seating to improve social distancing, enable mobile order-only scenarios for pickup via the Starbucks App or delivery via Uber Eats, or in some cases only the Drive Thru will be open,' Johnson said in the letter.

Johnson said as a last resort Starbucks leadership will 'close a store if we feel it is in the best interest of our customers and partners, or if we are directed to do so by government authorities'.

'In any such situation, we expect store disruption to be temporary,' he added.

Over the last few weeks Starbucks has taken a series of precautionary steps in response to COVID-19.

The Seattle-based coffee chain is currently maintaining regular operations across the US and Canada, but in a letter, Johnson said they are prepared 'to modify operations with options that still allow us to serve you your favorite beverage and food'

Johnson said as a last resort Starbucks leadership will 'close a store (closed Seattle store pictured on March 6) if we feel it is in the best interest of our customers and partners, or if we are directed to do so by government authorities'

When the virus first began spreading rapidly in China, the company shut their stores.

However, Johnson said that they continued to see 'encouraging signs of recovery' in China 'with over 90 per cent of stores reopened'.

Last week, the world's largest coffee chain stopped accepting reusable cups from customers to prevent the spread of coronavirus, though it still honors the discount for anyone carrying one.

Starbucks said that the decision to ban reusable cups was made over concerns for 'health and well-being,' and the company is 'optimistic this will be a temporary situation'.

The company has also 'restricted' business-related air travel both in the US and abroad through the end of March and 'modified or postponed' meetings at US and Canada offices.

Starbucks said it 'increased cleaning and sanitizing for all company-operated stores to help prevent the spread of all germs, adding paid time for our partners supporting this work'.

In the US, there are more than 1,400 cases with 39 deaths. Globally, there are more than 128,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 4,700 deaths

This graphic shows the escalation of the coronavirus in the United States since January 21

The company was also forced to close one of its Seattle stores. The Starbucks Reserve bar, was shut down for cleaning after an employee tested positive for the virus.

On Wednesday, Starbucks said it was shutting its coffee shops across Italy until April 3.

Italy is one of the hardest hit countries with more than 12,400 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 800 deaths.

In the US, there are more than 1,400 cases with 39 deaths. Globally, there are more than 128,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 4,700 deaths.
A few years ago, I interrupted a panel discussion at the Guggenheim as it moved toward the dead-horse question of whether painting was still viable. How, I asked, uninvited, from the audience, could people talk of the end of painting when so many women were just beginning to paint? With hindsight I should have added that we were also still learning about the female painters of the past whose newly recovered works could very well influence the medium. History had in a sense not yet happened to their achievements.

Hindsight arrived one or two years later, when a largely unknown sector of that past was emphatically, unforgettably heard from  at the Guggenheim. This divine noise was the full-rotunda exhibition of the paintings of Hilma af Klint, which drew thousands of visitors and irrevocably altered the understanding of the genesis of abstract painting in the West. It was one of the most revelatory shows of many peoples lifetimes, my own included.

A similar jolt  if not of that magnitude  can now be felt in Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist, an exhibition at the Whitney Museum that is still plenty inspiring and thought-provoking. (The museum announced late Thursday that it was temporarily closing over concerns about the coronavirus.) This career-spanning survey of 45 paintings presents the underappreciated but inimitable art of the American painter Agnes Pelton (1881-1961) and offers a reminder that the history of modernist abstraction and womens contribution to it is still being written.
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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 17:17 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a22d32 1 National Papua,OPM,TNI,Red-Cross,armed-conflict,Nduga,Intan-Jaya,Tembagapura Free

The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) has urged the government to deploy Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) personnel to restive areas of Papua to provide assistance to tens of thousands internally displaced people forced to flee their homes due to conflicts between the military and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

LBH Papua director Emanuel Gobay said in a statement on Thursday that 57,819 Papuans were currently living at evacuation camps in three regions of Nduga, Intan Jaya and Tembagapura due to the ongoing conflicts since 2018.

At least 241 people reportedly died as a result of poor living conditions in their shelters, which were mostly located in forests. The displaced residents had minimum access to healthy food, clean water and medicine.

"Law No. 1/2018 on the Red Cross requires the organization to assist displaced persons in times of peace and conflict by taking into account the principles of humanity, equality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, universality and others," Emanuel said in the statement.

Read also: Papua residents flee homes over fears of armed criminal group: Police

Thousands of Papuans have been displaced from their homes following a series of armed conflicts between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the TPNPB.

The TNI's approach of aggressively hunting down pro-independence fighters in residential areas has been criticized as counterproductive, as it has resulted in the deaths of civilians rather than of the targets themselves.

Military personnel allegedly shot randomly in villages in their search for the rebels, causing the deaths of dozens.

Various civil society organizations have demanded the government withdraw the troops. The military campaign, however, marches on. (vny)
A Dublin homeless charity is calling on the government to implement an emergency plan for the homeless following the confirmation of Covid-19 as a worldwide pandemic.

Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) has said that it has "grave concerns" over the response from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) regarding homeless adults and children, in particular those with underlying health issues.

It says that ICHH are implementing their own emergency plans and are due to meet later today to finalise plans for the services they provide.

Their teams have been out on the streets of Dublin to wash homeless people's hands and to provide them with support and advice.

Last night, ICHH teams say that they assisted 88 people. At 11.30pm they attempted to secure a bed for a man but found there were no beds available.

They also spoke to a woman who said that she had called the freephone number and was unable to secure a bed.

"Yesterday while requesting a proper plan for people that are homeless, both on the streets and in emergency accommodation, I was accused of causing hysteria," said ICHH CEO, Anthony Flynn.

"Since that meeting we had our first death in the country and schools have gone on lockdown. This is a global pandemic and needs to be treated as such.

"ICHH will continue to assess things day by day, our outreach service will continue to go ahead until further notice however access to the ICHH offices will be limited to volunteers only.

"People need to look after each other during this testing time for the nation and we will continue to help as many people as we can for as long as we can.

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Officials have announced that the Worcester Public Schools are closing on Friday, March 13 over coronavirus concerns.

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty announced the schools will be closed Friday during a press conference held at city hall on Thursday afternoon. The schools will be cleaned on Friday and classes will resume Monday, said Superintendent Maureen Binienda.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augusuts Jr. said during the press conference that three individuals within the public schools are under investigation for possible coronavirus and will be tested.

The three individuals are connected to North High School and Chandler Magnet School and were in contact with a known carrier, someone who tested positive for coronavirus. The individuals include students and adults, officials said.

Binienda said cleaning will start Friday and continue through the weekend. An outside cleaning company is being hired to clean North High School and Chandler Magnet School and regular custodians will clean the rest of the districts schools.

The Worcester school district serves more than 25,000 students and includes 45 schools.

There is no plan at this time to close the schools for a longer period, but that could be considered if the spread of coronavirus continues, Binienda said. There is an online system where students can access learning materials, which will be available in the event that schools are closed for a longer period. More information will be provided to students on Monday, the superintendent said.

The number of cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus, has been rising in Massachusetts. On Thursday afternoon, the state Department of Public Health announced there are now 108 cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts. Six of those cases are confirmed by the CDC and 102 are presumptive.

Only one of those presumptive cases is from Worcester County, DPH said. That person was initially treated at UMass Memorial Medical Center. The hospital has since added visitor restrictions and is prohibiting anyone who has a fever, cough or shortness of breath from coming into the hospital.

There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Worcester as of Thursday afternoon, officials said.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts.

Several schools around Massachusetts have closed over COVID-19 concerns or to allow for a deep clean of buildings.

Events around the state have been canceled, including the Worcester County St. Patricks Day parade.

COVID-19 first began to spread in Wuhan, China. A real-time map by The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University indicates that there have been 127,863 confirmed cases of coronavirus globally. A total of 4,718 people have died from the illness and 68,310 people have recovered.

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By Gabrielle Wanneh

Districts have enough to worry about in responding to the potential health risk of the coronavirus outbreak. Pranksters and scammers are adding one more thing: the spreading of misinformation on social media that interferes with their operations.

Last weekend, Montgomery County Public Schools had to refute a series of fake social media posts claiming that schools would be closed due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19. The school system addressed the issue on its website, notifying parents and students that any social posts suggesting that schools would be closed on Monday, March 9, were false.

Any information about school closures or updates relating to the coronavirus will come directly from county health officials and the district and will be posted on the official MCPS website, the district said. The health and safety of our students remain our top priority.

MCPS Communications Supervisor Gboyinde Onijala explained that the creation of fake posts causes a disruption to the countys efforts to share accurate, timely information, and stirs up more panic in the community.

Earlier this month, the first three cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Maryland. As of March 12, the majority of the 12 total cases in Maryland were found in Montgomery County.

The fake news on school closings is just the latest iteration of online scams, hoaxes, and misinformation that have been popping up in order to cash in on the hysteria surrounding the coronavirus.

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh has been warning residents about the scams related to the virus, explaining how some scammers are posing as authority figures such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), and sending emails or other forms of promotion claiming to offer updated information on the virus and how people can protect themselves.

And some viral Facebook posts had been spreading false information earlier this month about a government mandate requiring workplaces and schools in certain states to close down in order to deter the spread of the virus, according to Fact Check.

Its unclear how many other districts might be dealing with virus-related hoaxes, but Montgomery County is certainly not alone.

A hoax about Paramus, N.J., Public Schools being closed began circulating earlier this week. When opening the districts website, a pop-up is currently displayed dispelling the rumor before entering the actual site.

Jefferson County Public Schools in Kentucky have also had to address rumors about their schools being closed, although these falsehoods spread more by word of mouth.

Ironically, youd think it would be social media, said JCPS Communications Manager Mark Hebert. In this case, it started with just parents and students talking.

According to Hebert, there wasnt as much confusion on social media about the district, in which schools are still operating as normal. However, district administration still received phone calls from parents who had been hearing and believing the opposite.

JCPS has been working to reinforce that schools are still open and any information suggesting otherwise is false at this point.

When you put in every communication you can and still have people calling to ask you if schools are closed, it can be frustrating, Hebert said. But I dont think theres such a thing as over-communicating.

Meanwhile, other school districts have had yet to deal with any rumors close to this extent.

We definitely dont want the persistence of social media rumors, said Robyn Harris, the director of news and information for Dallas Independent School District in Texas.

According to Harris, DISD hasnt experienced any false information being spread about the school system but has been taking measures to ensure that the community is aware of the right information and in a timely manner. This includes working directly with principals to ensure proper communication in schools and regularly updating the district website with new information.

Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico also havent seen significant interference from social media regarding misinformation on their schools and the coronavirus. No cases of the virus have yet been confirmed in that state, of course, but school districts have been implementing safety precautions and sending out information regardless.

Over the years, weve put a tremendous amount of effort into building our communication with parents and students, said Monica Armenta, executive director of communications for APS. I would hope that the school community knows where to look to get their news about the district.

Although APS is one of the largest school systems in the state, the communications department is still relatively small, consisting of only four staff members.

When something like this happens, youre overextended and its a push to keep up to date, Armenta said.

Image: iStock/Getty
Unfortunately for some shareholders, the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX:ANZ) share price has dived 30% in the last thirty days. That drop has capped off a tough year for shareholders, with the share price down 31% in that time.

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). So, on certain occasions, long term focussed investors try to take advantage of pessimistic expectations to buy shares at a better price. 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 Australia and New Zealand Banking Group

Does Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry?

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group has a P/E ratio of 8.22. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (8.7) for companies in the banks industry is roughly the same as Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's P/E.

ASX:ANZ Price Estimation Relative to Market, March 12th 2020

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. So if Australia and New Zealand Banking Group actually outperforms its peers going forward, that should be a positive for the share price. I would further inform my view by checking insider buying and selling., among other things.

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. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. So while a stock may look expensive based on past earnings, it could be cheap based on future earnings.

Story continues

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group shrunk earnings per share by 9.6% last year. But EPS is up 4.0% over the last 3 years. And over the longer term (5 years) earnings per share have decreased 3.6% annually. So you wouldn't expect a very high P/E.

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. In other words, it does not consider any debt or cash that the company may have on the balance sheet. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

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 Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's P/E?

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's net debt equates to 30% of its market capitalization. While that's enough to warrant consideration, it doesn't really concern us.

The Bottom Line On Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's P/E Ratio

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group trades on a P/E ratio of 8.2, which is below the AU market average of 15.9. Since it only carries a modest debt load, it's likely the low expectations implied by the P/E ratio arise from the lack of recent earnings growth. Given Australia and New Zealand Banking Group's P/E ratio has declined from 11.8 to 8.2 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.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. 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 visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.

But note: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group 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.
Two men have been arrested in Limerick in connection with an aggravated burglary and a burglary there.

The burglaries happened at two houses in Limerick city on Saturday, shortly before 4.30am.

Two men had entered a house on Rossa Avenue and stole a mobile phone, identification cards, a hammer and a bicycle. Nobody was injured during this incident.

Minutes later, Gardai got a report of an aggravated burglary at a house off Mulgrave Street.

Two men had entered the house, one of them armed with what is believed to be a hammer, and assaulted one of the occupants who was brought to University Hospital Limerick with non-life threatening injuries. They have since been discharged from hospital.

Both men then escaped having stolen jewellery and bank cards.

Gardai examined CCTV footage from the areas and were able to identify two suspects believed to have been involved.

On Tuesday, detectives from Henry Street with help from the Armed Support Unit, searched a house in Limerick and arrested two men in their 20s and 30s.

After questioning at Henry Street Garda Station, both men have been charged and are due before Limerick District Court this morning.
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 08:01 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069f0249 1 Editorial #Editorial,COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,health-ministry,public-health Free

The escalating number of new COVID-19 cases and the first fatality in Indonesia were well expected. The governments sluggish response, if not complacence, during the first two months of the global outbreak has potentially led to many missed cases and more possible deaths.

On Wednesday, the government announced the first death from COVID-19, a 53-year-old foreign citizen identified as Case 25 who died three days after starting treatment.

On Tuesday it announced the first possible local transmission of the novel coronavirus when a 33-year-old man became the 27th to test positive in the country. The government has yet to discover who infected him as he had no apparent links to other confirmed cases or a recent travel history to affected countries.

We can expect more to come. With the best information available about the disease, all citizens should be able prepare themselves and their families. Also, as most countries have recorded low death rates, it is well understood by now that the disease, despite being highly contagious, can be mitigated and most patients can recover.

Whats worrying is that the government has yet to become a trusted authority at this time of crisis. After the full personal information of the first two cases was leaked and led to public intrusion into their privacy, the government became more tightlipped about other cases  to the extent that it has not revealed the cities or provinces where the patients lived, including Case 27.

While the government may well intend to prevent panic and anxiety, withholding geographical information is by no means a wise decision. As testing remains very limited to suspected patients who have shown symptoms and who are under quarantine, the virus may spread undetected among people who live nearby or have possible contacts with those infected. This means they may not get help as their health deteriorates and they might infect others.

Other countries, including South Korea and China, have taken more heightened measures to contain the disease by testing hundreds of thousands of people with or without symptoms. In Singapore, travelers arriving with symptoms are now obliged to take quick tests at all air, land and sea checkpoints.

Before the government can conduct widespread testing, it is critical to provide citizens with the best information so they can protect themselves from the disease. Moreover, communities may start initiatives for residents to help each other and the government during the outbreak.

The jump in the number of new cases heralds the bad news that Indonesia may be following the same path that other countries hit hard by the coronavirus have already gone down. The worst, therefore, may not yet have arrived for Indonesia. The good news, however, is that Indonesia can learn from other countries about how to cope with the health crisis.

The government is clearly improving its efforts to manage the disease, but that is hardly enough. Therefore, it should be open to feedback and remain transparent by releasing information related to the outbreak to protect people from fake news that could be more dangerous than the virus itself.

Keeping the government an island in such desperate times is not only bad policy, but it may put many lives in danger.
An Albany woman was found dead Wednesday in her jail cell, authorities said.

The Albany Democrat Herald reports in late February, 40-year-old Tina Ketcham was charged in Linn County Circuit Court with seven sex crimes involving an underage person. On Monday, the number increased to 15.

Ketcham was arraigned on an indictment for six counts of rape, two counts of sex abuse and other sex crimes. She pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for a jury trial in April.

The crimes allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2020, and Ketcham knew the victim.

Judge Brendan Kane has maintained Ketchams bail at $350,000, denying a request for reduced security.

The Albany Police Department began investigating the case in February.

On Wednesday, Linn County Sheriff Jim Yon said while performing hourly security checks at 5:10 a.m., corrections deputies found Ketcham dead in an apparent suicide.

Deputies began life saving measures. Albany Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene at 5:18 a.m. and soon after pronounced Ketcham dead, Yon said.

There were no signs of violence and she had not been ill, according to the sheriff.

The Benton County Sheriffs Office, in coordination with the Linn County Medical Examiner, is investigating.

-- The Associated Press
The mortal remains of a third Indian national, who was killed in a fire onboard an oil tanker off the coast of Sharjah on January 29, have been sent to his home in India.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai on Wednesday tweeted that the mortal remains of Mohammad Abbas Ansari from Bihar was sent to his hometown in Patna after identifying him through a DNA test.

"Mortal remains of late Mr Mohammed Abbas Ansari who dies in the fire accident on vessel MT SAM on 29.01.2020, were sent to Patna, India yesterday. His body was identified by matching of his DNA with that of his son," the Indian mission tweeted.

Authorities had to resort to DNA tests to identify his mortal remains because the last two bodies that were retrieved a couple of days after the fire were charred beyond recognition, the Gulf reported.

Ansari is the third Indian victim of the fire whose mortal remains have been repatriated.

The bodies of two other Indian nationals -- Shiva Naga Babu from Andhra Pradesh and Basudeb Haldar from West Bengal -- were repatriated on February 13 and 20 respectively.

Another Indian, Kolangi Thankavel from Tamil Nadu, remains missing till date.

DNA test would be conducted on the remaining body to verify if that is Thankavel as two people of two other nationalities had also reportedly gone missing after the fire.

We are in the process of getting the DNA test done on the remaining body. We have called Thankavel's family for this. His son will be brought to Dubai with the assistance of the consulate, Neeraj Agrawal, consul (Press, Information and Culture) told Gulf on Wednesday.

They were aboard the Panamanian-flagged tanker, MT Sam, which was about 30 kilometres off the country's coast between Sharjah and Abu Musa Island in the Arabian Gulf, when a fire broke out on January 29.

The oil tanker had 12 crew members and 42 technicians on board when it caught fire, 21 miles off the coast of Sharjah.

They included Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Ethiopian and other undisclosed nationalities. All Indian victims were technicians who were hired by a third party company handling the dismantling of the ship while it was bound for India for scrappage when the fire took place.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 12, 2020] Aventri Secures Three Partnerships to Offer Virtual Events

Event management software (EMS) leader Aventri today announced partnerships with three leading digital event solutions. Responding to customer demand and taking a proactive leadership position in the events industry to provide solutions to organizations impacted by the COVID-19 virus, Aventri's new offerings provide all current customers and any event planners globally with the option to move their events to a virtual platform or to add a digital component to any event. "We know nothing beats the value of face-to-face meetings," says Jim Sharpe, CEO, Aventri. "Amidst concerns of coronavirus, it's important to realize that for thousands of live events across the globe, the show will go on." Aventri has chosen to partner with three digital and virtual event solution providers, each offering a unique approach to specific use cases in the meetings and events industry. These partners are Digitell, Evia and Intrado (News - Alert) Digital Media. The goal of these partnerships is to provide the market with multiple solutions to continue to connect over shared interests, content and events, no matter where in the world their attendees they may be. "In this challenging window of time, our customers are looking for solutions," Sharpe continues. "They want to know they have a back-up plan. Our partnerships with Intrado Digital Media, Digitell and Evia provide a proven way to deliver engaging, data-rich and interactive digital experiences that drive real value for our customers, exhibitors and attendees." With options to convert in-person events into digital experiences, Aventri is adapting to the current event environment. Attendees want multiple ways to consume content and are looking for events that provide them with the option to join in-person, online, and through their personal devices. Aventri's decision to work with the leading digital event providers showcases the flexibly of our industry to work as partners with other vendors under the common goal to continue to build up our community. "Meetings and events are a strong, resilient, $565-billin/year industry," Sharpe concludes. "Our thoughts go out to the families and all affected by this health emergency, but this shall pass. In the meantime, organizers don't need to cancel meetings and conferences. Our new partnerships help them transition easily to engaging, revenue-producing virtual events."



To learn more about these new virtual event offerings available today, contact the Aventri sales team at [email protected]. About Aventri

Aventri is a global leader in data-driven, end-to-end event and meeting management solutions. Their award-winning SaaS (News - Alert) platform and best-in-class service offerings have enabled over 40,000 event professionals to plan, promote, deliver, measure and optimize over 90,000 events annually. Aventri's fully integrated platform's capabilities include venue sourcing, registration, marketing, logistics, onsite services, attendee engagement and data analytics. Headquartered in the United States, the company has offices in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia Pacific and has delivered customer events in over 120 countries. Aventri is a portfolio company of private equity firm HGGC. Learn more at aventri.com. About Digitell Digitell, Inc. is a Digital Multimedia Development company specializing in assisting organizations on how to leverage their educational content online. With over 35 years' experience servicing 150 organizations, Digitell utilizes this wealth of experience and knowledge to assist their clients in developing customized and cutting edge solutions to capturing, delivering and managing their online education. From their newly released education APP, to OPUS DX, a feature rich, fully managed Digital Experience Platform, their services are designed to engage users with a superior digital experience while accessing live streams, webinars and on-demand education. Digitell can meet the needs of any organization looking to bring their conference or education online. To learn more visit digitellinc.com. About Evia Evia, with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington, offers complete digital event and media distribution solutions to companies of all sizes. Evia's latest product, the Evia Player, launching to the public on March 3rd, is an intelligent cloud-based video player that uses Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to make content more accessible, noticeable and engaging. www.evia.events. About Intrado Digital Media Intrado Corporation is an innovative, cloud-based, global technology partner to clients around the world. Our solutions connect people and organizations at the right time and in the right ways, making those mission-critical connections more relevant, engaging and actionable. Intrado has sales and/or operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and South America. Intrado is controlled by affiliates of certain funds managed by Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO). For more information, please call 1-800-841-9000 or visit www.intrado.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005664/en/

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Abu Yasser Bazeina, who was a sharia judge and a leader for Jaish al-Islam, was killed when an explosive device hit his car reports Jesr.

A leader in Jaish al-Islam was killed in an explosion that hit his car in the Aleppo countryside.

The sharia judge known as Abu Yasser Bazeina, was killed when the blast from an explosive device hit his vehicle in the al-Habash district in al-Bab city east of Aleppo.

Residents took Bazeina to the city hospital, but he died of his wounds.

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.
Kochi: It surely seems like the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is one of the worst affected in the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak in the state.

The Corporation has registered drastic dip in the number of passengers and revenue. The daily ticket revenue decreased by Rs.44 lakhs on Tuesday and the number of passengers was the minimum in south and central zones where Covid-19 cases have been reported.

The number of passengers has decreased by 2.50 lakhs.

In the wake of increasing number of coronavirus cases, people are stepping out of their homes only for unavoidable needs.

From local shops to the upscale shopping malls shop owners see almost no customers; same with tourist spots in different parts of the state.

The empty roads, streets and public transport systems are deserted as well, reminding one of the 2018 August massive flood days, when the entire state was on a total shutdown mode.

No traffic block was to be seen at the busiest Vyttila in Kochi, the states biggest junction.

The situation is similar to that of the 2018 flood days. As the government has imposed strict restrictions on public gatherings, functions, religious ceremonies along with closure of educational institutions, people are not coming to the city

- A Nazar, a garment shop owner in Kochi

The interstate buses operating in Kerala  Karnataka route and other routes like Hyderabad and Mumbai are operating with several seats empty.

Some of the KSRTC interstate services were cancelled as many passengers who made booking earlier, cancelled trips. The KSRTCs booking for Vishu, Easter festivals are also getting lukewarm response.

The situation is grim in Pathanamthitta district where 11 coronavirus cases have been reported. There are no passengers in buses and most of the shops remain closed.

Kerala Public Service Commission has postponed all examinations while all places of worship has restricted gathering of devotees.
ITADCentral delivers independent vendor verification, and continual process oversight to ensure liability mitigation. Multiple vendor responses empower the customer to instantly choose based on price, or to reduce internal costs by choosing based on service and convenience.

Retire-IT, LLC (Retire-IT), a provider of information technology asset disposition (ITAD) services, announces that eCycleSecure has joined the ITADCentral platform.

eCycleSecure, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a leading IT asset disposition company. For a quarter century, eCycleSecure has been delivering turn-key IT asset disposition services, to clients across the country and around the globe. eCycleSecure has been doing ITAD since before ITAD had a label.

ITADCentral delivers independent vendor verification, and continual process oversight to ensure liability mitigation. Multiple vendor responses empower the customer to instantly choose based on price, or to reduce internal costs by choosing based on service and convenience. The customer receives all the primary information they need, without the dreaded sales call from a vendor, explained Brett Rhinehardt, Vice President of eCycleSecure.

eCycleSecure is certified to R2 2013 and RIOS and is a Veteran-Owned Small Business.

eCycleSecure represents what it means to be client focused in the IT asset disposition industry, explained Kyle Marks, CEO of Retire-IT and founder ITADCentral. We are proud to have eCycleSecure join us in our mission and help us to bring value and transparency to the ITAD industry. We value our partner relationships and pride ourselves on our commitment to grow together.

ITADCentral revolutionizes IT asset disposition procurement. ITADCentral enables buyers to find the best deal and the perfect provider. Posting projects on the platform is free, easy, and anonymous. What previously took days or weeks now takes a few clicks.

Now ITAD buyers can choose experts to work with not just a price. ITADCentral enables buyers to hire based on value, not just the lowest bid. ITADCentral only works with R2 and e-Stewards certified providers who follow industry best practices and adhere to ITADCentral requirements and code of ethics.

ITADCentral was created by Retire-IT. Founded in 2004, Retire-IT is a consulting firm that specializes in management and quality control of IT asset disposition. Retire-IT pioneered disposal tag chain-of-custody and software to automate asset tracking and vendor performance benchmarking. With a vendor-neutral approach and proven process, Retire-IT manages retirement and remarketing of unwanted computer equipment with a network of R2 and e-Stewards certified partners.

For additional information, visit http://www.ITADCentral.com. To schedule a demonstration contact support@itadcentral.com or call (888) 839-6555.

Contact

Kyle Marks

CEO, Retire-IT, LLC

(888) 839-6555

kmarks@retire-it.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/kylemarks

http://www.twitter.com/RetireIT
As part of his official visit to Baku, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov viewed the Azerbaijani National Carpet Museum.

The exhibition halls and funds of the museum boast more than 14 thousand exhibits, covering the period from the Bronze Age to the present day. They include rare and especially valuable carpets and rugs with national ornaments and scenes inherent in the regional carpet-weaving schools of Azerbaijan. In addition, the exhibition features jewelry, clothes, embroideries, modern filigree works of glass, wood, felt.

Like in Turkmenistan, carpet weaving in Azerbaijan dates back to ancient times, as evidenced by many archaeological explorations. In November 2010, the art of weaving Azerbaijani carpets was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The traditions of Turkmen carpet weaving were also included in this list in 2019.

After viewing the museum exhibits, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted the similarity of the carpet weaving traditions of Turkmens and Azerbaijanis, the commonality of manufacturing techniques and compositional patterns, and at the same time, the unique features that prevailed over the centuries of development of this art.

 TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022
Video shows the moment a woman was kicked off a Jetstar flight after raising concerns about a man who had a 'terrible' coughing fit before boarding.

The customer said she was about to fly from Sydney to Brisbane on Tuesday afternoon's JQ 814 service when she noticed a passenger spluttering near the gate.

'I am visiting from Europe ... I was about to visit my severely ill, dearly loved 93 year old ex mother-in-law, who is like my mother to me,' the passenger, 52, claimed.

The flyer said she was alarmed she could catch an illness and infect her relative - eventually resulting in a row with cabin crew that saw her booted off the plane.

But the airliner said the passenger failed to follow the crew's instructions and was abusive and 'rude' to staff.

Scroll down for video

Daily Mail Australia has obtained video of a woman's confrontation with Jetstar flight attendants over a man's 'terrible' coughing fit. A cabin crew member is above on left

Passengers (above) watched as the woman - a 52-year-old mother of two from Europe - confronted cabin crew and was kicked off the plane

According to the woman's version of events, she confronted the cabin crew manager, filming with her mobile phone.

Enjoy your coughing flight The Jetstar passenger as she disembarked the plane

She was told by the manager: 'My colleague observed him and said she hadn't seen him cough.'

The woman repeatedly asked what Jetstar's policy was, and whether they would kick a sick person off the plane.

After attendants repeatedly asked her to stop filming, she was instructed to get off the plane.

Video shows the passenger fuming: 'It's a major health crisis and you're not taking any steps.'

Poll Who do you think is in the wrong? The airline The coughing man The woman removed from the flight Who do you think is in the wrong? The airline 306 votes

The coughing man 104 votes

The woman removed from the flight 318 votes Now share your opinion





A flight attendant tells the passenger: 'We're not concerned but you are not listening.'

The clip shows the woman going to collect her luggage and confront the coughing man. A woman accompanying him tells her he is 'very ill' with a lung problem.

An attendant tells her: 'You need to get off, right now. You are being so rude and so disrespectful ... You don't need to get involved in that.

The passenger replies: 'I do need because I'm going to a 93-year-old who is ill. So now I can't hug her, and I haven't seen her for a year - b****.'

'Enjoy your coughing flight'.

Travellers (left and right) wore face masks at Sydney International Airport on Thursday, as the World Health Organisation officially labelled coronavirus as a pandemic

A China Eastern Airlines passenger is screened for his temperature prior to boarding a flight this morning

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 passenger told Daily Mail Australia she wanted nothing from Jetstar except for the airline's behaviour 'to be exposed and stopped so that passengers and others' health will no longer be endangered.'

'Although an apology would be nice.'

But a Jetstar spokesman said: 'Whilst boarding the aircraft a customer failed to follow crew instructions, was verbally abusive to members of our crew and rude to other passengers.

'The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we do not tolerate any kind of abusive behaviour.'

The woman spoke to the Australian Federal Police after the incident. AN AFP spokeswoman said the woman 'voluntarily departed' a flight and 'no allegations of criminal activity were identified'.

It comes at a time of turmoil for the airline industry with US President Donald Trump banning all flights to and from Europe from the United States, with the exception of the United Kingdom.

The video is not the first 'coughing' related incident to mar Australia's transport system this week. A clip featuring a woman coughing at a man on a Sydney train went viral earlier this week.

A stunned male commuter ripped off his headphones and asked the woman: 'Are you serious? Did you just cough at me?'
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-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.

Hey there, time traveller!

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

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to members of the press at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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-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, where all votes are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box. Washington's primary was too early to call Wednesday evening. Following the release of updated results, Biden led Sanders by a little more than 16,000 votes out of nearly 1.2 million counted, or a margin of 1.4 percentage points.

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.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife Jill arrives to speak to members of the press at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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.

Even as the contours of the race came into shape, however, new uncertainty was sparked by fears of the spreading coronavirus. Both candidates abruptly cancelled rallies in Ohio that were scheduled for Tuesday night.

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. He also announced that Friday and Monday stops in Florida and Illinois would be turned into virtual events. Still, the former vice-president said Tuesday night that he'd be announcing plans to combat the coronavirus later this week.

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks to reporters on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Burlington, Vt. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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.

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden, right, speaks with Deaunte Bell Jr., 11, of Columbus, Ohio, at a campaign event in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday, March 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

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.

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.

There's no sugarcoating it. Tonight's a tough night," New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of Sanders' highest-profile supporters, said on Instagram. "Tonight's a tough night for the movement overall. Tonight's a tough night electorally.

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. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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 184 new delegates in Tuesday's voting while Sanders got 112. Biden now has 864 overall, while Sanders has 710.

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.

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 entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, sometimes mentioned as a possible vice-presidential choice, also endorsed Biden and campaigned with him.

But not every Democrat was lining up behind Biden. 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.

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Neither Biden nor Sanders has public events scheduled for Wednesday. And although Biden is 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 centre 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.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
DENVER, March 12, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB Ltd.), owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM certification program in India, announced today that the number of CFPCM professionals in India grew by 26% last year, with a total of 1,915 CFP professionals at year-end (as compared to 1,513 CFP professionals at the end of 2018). Indian CFP professionals are part of a growing global community, which reached an all-time high at the end of last year of 188,104 CFP professionals in 26 countries and territories worldwide .

FPSB Ltd. took over direct operation of the 18-year-old CFP certification program in India in April 2019. Since then, in addition to increasing Indias CFP professional population, FPSB Ltd. has built a pipeline of future candidates for CFP certification by authorizing 10 education providers and registering close to 1,200 students throughout India.

FPSB Ltd. is committed to growing the number of CFP professionals in India so the public has increased access to advice from competent, ethical financial planners who put clients interests first, said Noel Maye, CEO of FPSB Ltd. FPSB Ltd. and the global network of CFP certification bodies will devote time and energy this year to further building the financial planning profession and CFP certification program in India. We look forward to working with CFP professionals, educators, employers, regulators and other stakeholders to create pathways to, and rewarding careers in, a thriving financial planning profession in India.

In addition to a focus on growth, FPSB Ltd.s plans for CFP certification in 2020 include:

Rolling out an upgraded CFP certification, education and exam experience, including fully-localized textbooks and practice tests and exams for the CFP certification program in India, which will run in parallel to the existing CFP certification program for 2020 (details about the program can be found at india.fpsb.org );

Engaging regulatory bodies, professional associations and financial services firms in India to build awareness of, and support for, the benefits of financial planning and of working with and hiring CFP professionals;

Fostering increased connectivity within the CFP professional community in India through the creation of local chapters and continuing professional development events;

Promoting the value of financial planning and CFP certification to the Indian public via consumer media engagements, financial literacy and pro bono efforts, and events like World Financial Planning Day (#WFPD), FPSB Ltd.s global consumer awareness campaign held each October.

Story continues

To learn more about worldwide CFP professional growth in 2019, view the infographic on FPSB Ltd.s website.

About FPSB Ltd.

FPSB Ltd. manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs to benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. FPSB Ltd. demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the marks of professional distinction  CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo Mark  which it owns outside the United States, including in India. FPSB Ltd. and the FPSB global network administer CFP and other certification programs in the following 27 territories: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peoples Republic of China, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. At the end of 2019, there were 188,104 CFP professionals worldwide, 1,915 of which were in India. For more, visit fpsb.org .

CFP Certification Global excellence in financial planningTM

Media Contact:

Liz Jarrell

FPSB Senior Manager of Communications

+1-720-407-1901

ljarrell@fpsb.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2f43c9e4-103b-46ab-bf3c-454cfb05400f

A pdf accompanying this announcement is available at http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/019050f0-6083-4625-8318-1414607069c1
Catholic schools in Northampton and Lehigh counties will shut Thursday and remain closed Friday as the Diocese of Allentown monitors the spread of the coronavirus, which is now a worldwide pandemic.

The action is being taken out of an abundance of caution and will allow the schools to be cleaned and aired out, the diocese said in a Thursday morning news release. The diocese has not had anyone tested for coronavirus, spokesman Marr Kerr said.

The diocese has four high schools, 17 kindergarten-through-eighth-grade facilities and one special learning center in the two counties. It will send students home on Thursday using regular early dismissal policies, the diocese said.

The diocese hopes to reopen the schools on Monday, the news release said. Diocese schools outside the two counties are not impacted by the closure, Kerr said.

Because this is an evolving situation, the diocese will continue to monitor the situation and provide more information as it becomes available, Kerr said.

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.
Specials Myanmar Court Sentences Man to Five Years in Prison Under Colonial Sodomy Law

Restaurant owner U Aung Myo Htut at South Okkalapa Court in Yangon on March 11. / Zin Moe War / The Irrawaddy

The South Okkalapa Township Court in Yangon sentenced a man who sexually abused his male employee two years ago to five years in prison on Wednesday.

The court found U Aung Myo Htut, owner of Mae Laint Lon restaurant, guilty of sexually abusing a waiter at his restaurant and sentenced him under Article 377 of the Penal Code, which prohibits intercourse against the order of nature. The article is commonly used to criminalize homosexuality and effectively prevents same-sex couples from living openly in Myanmar.

The waiter came forward about the sexual abuse and filed a complaint against his employer, who allegedly has HIV, on March 8, 2018.

The victim told The Irrawaddy at the time that he was abused three times within a week and was taking preventative HIV medication. The waiter is from the Ayeyarwady Region and only worked at the restaurant for a short period, starting on Feb. 27, 2018.

[The verdict] was lenient, maybe because it was his first crime, U Naing Lin Myint, the plaintiffs lawyer, told The Irrawaddy.

Justice is all about correcting the behaviors of the wrongdoers.

The verdict came after two years of proceedings. The victim told The Irrawaddy at the court on Wednesday that he was satisfied with the verdict.

Five years imprisonment is not a harsh punishment because under the law, the court could sentence a person to a maximum of 20 years, but the current verdict is also not that light, said U Aung Myo Min, the director of rights advocacy group Equality Myanmar.

He added that the question of whether or not the verdict is just depends on the decision of the judges and the evidence in the case.

This case is sexual abuse, as the culprit did not seek the consent of the victim, who is a man. By punishing such a perpetrator, it gives the message that the justice system wont tolerate anyone who tries to force sex against either a man or a woman, added U Aung Myo Min.

The law can still be misused, as Article 377 still restricts homosexuality even when adults, regardless of their sexual identities, have consensual sex, the rights advocate said.

LGBT rights advocates are still working to change the law and push for equality.

U Aung Myo Min added that the law must be amended so that sexual abuse against someone of the same sex or a different sex is intolerable and defined as sexual assaultbecause the current legal definition is incomplete and can punish those who are homosexual.

Zin Moe War contributed to this report.

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Choi Ina Books / Courtesy of Choi Ina Books



By Kwon Mee-yoo





weekender p15) Choi Ina Books/2020-03-12()

In an age when the reading population continues to decline and those who purchase books head to convenient online bookstores, small brick-and-mortar bookshops are striving to engage local customers with a distinctive selections of books.



As the COVID-19 outbreak has forced Koreans to keep a "social distance" to prevent spread of the disease, book club services at unique bookstores could be a safe way to explore uncharted territory in reading.



Choi Ina Books, a bookstore in southern Seoul, was founded by Choi Ina, a former executive of Cheil Worldwide, one of the largest advertising companies in Korea.



In addition to a spacious bookshop and cafe suitable for browsing and reading books, Choi Ina Books also operates a book club, offering recommended books from experts and bringing new perspectives to reading habits.



"When I opened a bookstore, I thought a lot about when people look for books. I concluded that people seek books when they have problems in their life or feel unsettled. So I made a shelf dedicated to recommended books by my friends and colleagues. I asked them certain questions such as which book provided them with solutions when they felt burned out or under a lot of stress. Those recommended books are displayed with the nominator's name and reason," Choi said at an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.



"This recommendation shelf is one of the most popular spots in the bookshop. Visitors stay in front of this shelf longer than you'd expect. Many of them say they would never be interested in such fields, but they discovered answers from those books suggested by people who had similar concerns. This provides people reasons to read."



Believing that a bookshop should connect books to readers, Choi launched the book club service.



"Many people say they want to read more books, but end up choosing those similar to what they have been reading or simply do not know which book to pick up. So we started the book club to enrich the reading experience," Choi said.



The book club is subscription based and members can sign up for either six months or 12 months. Every month a book, handpicked by Choi and business partner Jung Chi-hun, is sent to club members with a letter explaining why the book was chosen for the month.



"The monthly book is chosen from new books published within the last two months. We have two criteria  'Does the book throw a question worth noting?' and 'Can readers get insight from the book?' The genres range from literature and the humanities to business. When a member says he or she is waiting eagerly for this month's book, it is rewarding for us," Choi said.



In February, Choi picked "Jobs  Chef" as she hoped readers would reflect on their occupation by reading about the life of chefs.



"For March, we chose Korean language professor Jeong Jae-chan's The Things We Call Life as we wanted to soothe those experiencing anxiety amid the COVID-19 outbreak," Choi explained.



In addition to the monthly delivery, Choi Ina Books offers a discussion session on the last Saturday of each month, inviting in the author or editor of the monthly book, which makes the experience richer.









Over 600 people signed up for Choi Ina Books' book club and their reasons for joining vary.



"Some gift themselves with this monthly book while others seek recommendations when they are not sure what to read. What they have in common is a favorable impression toward our bookshop since the selection is made by us," she said.



Choi said she wants to help adults grow continuously with books.



"Not only do children grow, but adults should keep on growing too. If they don't grow, they become stagnated, turning into a 'kkondae' (close-minded person). Reading requires readers to be actively engage throughout the experience, training the power of the mind," she said. "I believe that reading gives birth to new, diverse ideas as the author's thoughts meet those of the readers. Choi Ina Books' book club will provide the time to ponder on the important questions about life in this busy world."





Anotherbooks bookstore in Daegu / Courtesy of Anotherbooks



Daegu bookshops join hands to fight depression



The southeastern city of Daegu has become the epicenter of the recent coronavirus outbreak, with over 5,800 cases as of Thursday. As people keep themselves indoors to prevent COVID-19's spread, the city's businesses are suffering a serious blow.



Three local bookstore owners in Daegu  Coffeexchaeg's Lee Jea-eun, Anotherbook's Choi Yoon-kyung and Coffee & Books' Kim In-suk  joined together to launch a one-off secret book delivery service as an attempt to overcome the recession.



Choi of Anotherbooks, which occasionally offers a package of books and related items at the beginning of the year or holiday season, first suggested the idea of bringing the three bookshops together.



"The sales dropped sharply as people of Daegu avoided going out because of the coronavirus. We thought if three bookstores co-create a package of books, it would create a solidarity with more diverse books," Kim said on behalf of the three.



The package, which includes three books selected by each bookshop with two tea packets to accompany with the reading time, will be sent out Sunday.





Coffeexchaeg bookstore in Daegu / Courtesy of coffeexchaeg



Lee said she felt reassured to collaborate with people in the same field. "I was also pleased to have a peek in what other bookshop recommends with their explanations," Lee said.



Choi said those who are interested in small bookshops outside Seoul but could not visit physically signed up for the package as it provides a chance to better understand all three bookstores.



"There also are people sending encouragement and support to Daegu amid its COVID-19 surge," Choi said.



These bookshops showcase the owner's characteristics as they select and stock the shelves. "Coffeexchaeg generally features literature by young Korean authors, who are the voice of this day and age. However, many of our customers hover over poetry collections," Lee said.



Choi said it is important to have bookshops in a neighborhood as a book "guides a way of living" and provides information.



"Much of Korea's infrastructure is concentrated in Seoul and outside the capital it is hard to find bookstores in your neighborhood unless you live downtown. Not everyone purchases books online or can go downtown. That is why we need local bookshops," Choi said.




Last month I sketched out the "space economy" for you, dividing the "space" space into three parts: old space (the companies that blazed America's path to space in the 20th century), new space (the space start-ups that may define the 21st century), and a few space-adjacent companies that are benefiting from the efforts of the other two.

Today I want to do drill down a little deeper, and get a little more practical. To that end, I'll introduce you to four specific stocks you might want to own -- two from the old space segment of the market, and two more from the new: Boeing (NYSE:BA), Aerojet Rocketdyne (NYSE:AJRD), Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR), and Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE).

Boeing

Let's begin with Boeing. Thanks to the broad market sell-offs we've "enjoyed" over the past couple of weeks, a lot of stocks are now a lot cheaper than they were a month ago -- but few have fallen as far as Boeing.

In mid-February, when I first penned "3 Ways to Invest in the Space Economy," Boeing shares cost about $340 apiece. Today, they're fully 33% cheaper -- $227 and change. This is partly a function of the coronavirus and the damage it's done to all stocks these past two weeks, and it's partly a function of Boeing's continuing struggles to get its 737 MAX airplane program back on track. One thing that has absolutely nothing to do with Boeing's cheaper stock price, though, is its space business -- which is right on track, and even arguably getting stronger.

Boeing, you see, is the contractor leading NASA's effort to develop a "Space Launch System" rocket to carry U.S. astronauts to the moon. NASA originally developed a complicated plan for returning to the moon, involving rockets, space stations, landers, re-launchers, and dozens of other contractors to help Boeing with the work.

In recent weeks, however, Boeing has championed a plan to claim the lion's share of moon mission funding for itself by developing a direct-to-moon rocketship that doesn't require an orbiting lunar space station to facilitate its mission. Congress, which controls NASA's purse strings, appears to favor Boeing's approach -- and that probably means more money for Boeing.

Currently unprofitable thanks to its 737 mess, Boeing stock may not look like much of a bargain today. But among "old space" companies, it's still arguably the leader -- and a great place to start your research if you intend to invest in space.

Aerojet Rocketdyne

Another company worth a good, hard look is Aerojet Rocketdyne, America's leading company in the production of rocket engines. (The four main engines on Boeing's SLS, for example, will all come from Aerojet Rocketdyne.) And while Boeing's profits are currently slumping, Aerojet's are indisputably on the rise.

From a money-losing position just two years ago, Aerojet Rocketdyne has turned its fortunes around of late, booking $141 million in net profit last year (and generating $218 million in free cash flow, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence). This success, however, didn't save Aerojet stock from suffering a 19% loss in share price over the last three weeks.

The good news for would-be investors in space, of course, is that when you pair this now-lower stock price with Aerojet's revived profits, what you end up with is a company that costs just 26 times trailing earnings -- and less than 17 times trailing free cash flow. If Aerojet can just manage to keep profits growing at the pace it's set over the past couple of years, the stock should reward investors more than adequately as the new space race gains steam.

Maxar Technologies

Switching gears a bit now from "old" space to "new", MaxarTechnologies has feet planted in both worlds. On the one hand, this relatively new name in the space business makes most of its money from the remnants of several other businesses it has built, or absorbed, in previous years -- specifically, satellite photographers DigitalGlobe and GeoEye.

On the other hand, though, Maxar has also won numerous contracts related to NASA's new moon mission. In recent months, NASA has called upon Maxar to develop new technologies for powering and refueling spaceships in space -- and even building the core elements of the new lunar space station. Separate from the moon mission, Maxar has also become a favorite contractor for NASA and DARPA's efforts to develop ways to refuel and repair satellites in orbit.

Now be aware: Though profitable and free cash flow-positive at present, Maxar is in the midst of a major corporate reorganization. It's not 100% clear whether the Maxar of the future will be as profitable as the Maxar of the past. But as one of NASA's favorite contractors, it would be unwise to bet against it.

Virgin Galactic

So much has been written about Virgin Galactic, Sir Richard Branson's vehicle for the creation of a space tourism industry, that I'm hesitant to say too much more about it, lest I begin to repeat myself. Still, at least a few words on this company's remarkable change in fortunes are in order:

As a true new space start-up, Virgin Galactic currently has little revenue to speak of, much less profits. It's very much a "story stock," and a speculative stock, at present. Be that as it may, at least one very heavy hitter in the field of space economy analysis -- Morgan Stanley -- is firmly in Virgin Galactic's corner.

Just a few months ago, investors were valuing shares in this start-up at a mere $7 and change. But one positive report from Morgan Stanley was all it took to send Virgin Galactic shares rocketing higher to $10, $20, $30 -- nearly $40 a share before the stock began to fall back to Earth.

Irrational exuberance, you say? Maybe yes, maybe no. While Virgin Galactic is unprofitable today, its management is promising to become profitable as early as next year.

Meanwhile, trading at just shy of $20 a share today, Virgin Galactic stock costs barely half what it did just three weeks ago. If you were kicking yourself for not owning it back then, then now may be your chance to rectify that mistake before Virgin Galactic delivers on its promises -- and its stock soars once again.
Yves here. When we made grim prognostications about Boeings future, we were treated as nuts.

By Wolf Richter, editor at Wolf Street. Originally published at Wolf Street

Boeings shares [BA] came unglued, plunging 18.1% today, after having already plunged over the past four weeks. Since February 12, shares have crashed 46%, and since the peak on March 1, 2019, 57%:

Todays plunge came after a flurry of disclosures and leaks in the morning about Boeing, including:

Sources said that Boeing is planning to draw down entirely and much quicker than expected its new credit facility of $13.825 billion as early as Friday, apparently worried that banks might freeze the credit facility later, and banks did during the Financial Crisis.

Boeing disclosed that it had negative net orders of -28 aircraft for the first two months of 2020, with cancellations of the 737 MAX exceeding orders for all models;

of -28 aircraft for the first two months of 2020, with cancellations of the 737 MAX exceeding orders for all models; It imposed a hiring freeze to preserve cash

Trying to forestall a liquidity crisis.

Of immediate concern is how much cash Boeing is burning to deal with the 737 MAX fiasco, and how much cash it can pile up to avoid a liquidity crisis.

Back in October 2019, Boeing obtained a new credit line of $9.5 billion, which about doubled the size of its existing credit line. Credit lines serve as liquidity backup that a company can draw down when it needs cash. Then in February, it obtained another loan facility, this time a two-year delayed-draw term loan for $13.825 billion from a consortium of banks, led by Citibank. This type of loan allows Boeing to wait drawing the money until it needs it.

Boeing initially drew $7.5 billion on this new credit line and was expected to draw any other amounts way down the road, as needed to deal with the 737 MAX fiasco. But the disruptions from the coronavirus have been thrown on top of its existing 737 MAX fiasco.

Now Boeing is expected to draw the remainder of the line as early as Friday, sources told Bloomberg. According to one of the sources, Boeing is drawing down the rest of the loan as a precaution due to market turmoil.

This means that Boeing is worried the banks might freeze the unused portion of the credit facility and make the cash unavailable, as banks had done during the Financial Crisis, when companies found that access to their credit lines was suddenly blocked just when they needed the cash most urgently.

The cash pressures on Boeing are enormous.

There is the plunge in revenues from stalled sales and deliveries of the grounded 737 MAX, and the cash drain from working with its suppliers for the 737 MAX program to keep them afloat.

Then there are the settlements with airlines, such as Southwest and American Airlines, over the grounded 737 MAX in their fleets, where Boeing pays the airlines. The amounts of the individual settlements have remained confidential, but in its annual report, released on January 31, Boeing spelled out its estimates for the combined amounts: $8.2 billion.

This came in two lumps. In Q2 2019, it estimated potential concessions and other considerations to customers for disruptions and associated delivery delays related to the 737 MAX grounding, net of insurance recoveries, at $5.61 billion. Then in Q4 2019, it estimated an additional $2.62 billion, for a total of $8.2 billion.

Negative new orders in 2020 so far.

Boeing also disclosed today just how awful its new orders look: During January and February, Boeing received net new orders of negative -43 orders for the 737 MAX, driven by a flood cancellations. It received only one order (from FedEx) for its 767, and 17 orders for its 787. This includes the conversion by Air Lease Corp of nine 737 MAX orders into three 787 orders; and the conversion by Oman Air of ten 737 MAX orders into four 787 orders.

This brought Boeings net total new orders for the first two months, net of cancellations and conversions, to a negative -28.

And Boeing delivered only 30 planes during those two months, down from 95 in the same period last year.

The hiring freeze to preserve cash

And now theres a hiring freeze, pending a review of priorities and critical needs, the company announced in a letter to employees, reported by the Washington Post. This hiring freeze is likely related to the 737 MAX fiasco, and not the coronavirus, or at least not yet.

Were also taking steps to address the pressures on our business that result from the pain our customers and suppliers are feeling, wrote CEO Dave Calhoun and CFO Greg Smith in the letter to employees. Its critical for any company to preserve cash in challenging periods. Thats why were implementing steps similar to what many companies are doing right now.

If it hadnt wasted $43 billion on share buybacks

This mad scramble for cash and the existential urge to preserve cash in challenging periods comes after this master of financial engineering  instead of aircraft engineering  blew, wasted, and incinerated $43.4 billion on buying back its own shares, from June 2013 until the financial consequences of the two 737 MAX crashes finally forced the company to end the practice. That $43.3 billion would come in really handy right now:

The sole purpose of share buybacks is to inflate the stock price because they make the company itself the biggest buyer of its own shares. But those $43 billion of share buybacks cost the company $43 billion in cash. Now those buybacks have stopped because Boeing needs every dime of cash to stay liquid and alive, and shareholders, whod been so fond of those share buybacks, are now getting crushed by the damage those share buybacks have done to Boeings financial position.

Shares of shale oil drillers collapsed by 25%-50% on Monday. Their bonds got massacred. Saudi-Russia price-war strategy appears successful in wiping out investors in the US shale-oil sector. Read... The Great American Shale-Oil Bust Turns into Massacre
Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat on Thursday slammed the plans to celebrate three years of the BJP government in the state amid the coronavirus scare.

Alleging that the state government was spending over Rs 10 crore on the celebrations, he said the money should have been spent on creating medical infrastructure needed to deal with the deadly virus.

"The prime minister advises avoiding crowds to fight coronavirus. People like me cancel Holi Milan programmes in response. But the state government has more courage. It plans to spend Rs 11-12 crore on the celebrations to mark the completion of three years in office," Rawat said in a Facebook post.

"The information department is allocating funds to the district administrations concerned to facilitate the celebrations. MLAs have become heroes of the celebrations. I wonder whether it wouldn't have been more appropriate to spend the amount on raising medical infrastructure to grapple with the virus," he added.

Largescale celebrations are planned across the state to mark the occasion on March 18 with Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat naming around a dozen officials, including his media adviser, media coordinator, economic and IT advisers besides OSDs as conveners for the programmes to be held in districts of the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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[March 11, 2020] Bitfarms Announces Resignation of CEO and Issuance of Common Shares

Bitfarms Ltd. ("Bitfarms", or the "Company") (TSXV:BITF) announced today that Wes Fulford has elected to resign as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Bitfarms and its subsidiaries in order to pursue another professional opportunity. Mr. Fulford will remain a consultant to the Company for a limited period in order to assist with transitional and other matters. The Board of Directors plans to commence an executive search to identify a permanent successor. In the interim, Emiliano Grodzki, Chief Strategy Officer and Director, will act as interim CEO. As a founder of the Company with strong business experience, Emiliano will oversee the execution of the Company's plans in the near-term. "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Wes for his many contributions to Bitfarms over the past two years. Under Wes' stewardship, Bitfarms has successfully positioned itself as a leader within the North American public markets. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours," commented Nicolas Bonta, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "It's been an incredible experience working with the team at Bitfarms. We became the first cryptocurrency company to successfully clear a prospectus with the Ontario Securities Commission, a testament to our operational expertise, governance and transparency. In addition, Bitfarms was the only publicly traded blockchain infrastructure company to raise significant new capital last year, despite challenging market conditions. I look forward to participating in the growth of this business as a supportive shareholder," added Wes Fulford. In addition to customary arrangements, the Company has agreed, subject to receipt of regulatory approval, to issue 500,000 common shares to Mr. Fulford in consideration for past services rendered and to satisfy certain historical entitlements. These common shares have a deemed value of $0.54 per share. About Bitfarms Ltd. The Company owns and operates computing centres that power the global decentralized financial economy. Bitfarms provides computing power to cryptocurrency networks such as Bitcoin, earning fees frm each network for securing and processing transactions. Powered by clean and competitively priced hydroelectricity, Bitfarms operates 5 computing centres in Quebec, Canada. Bitfarms' experienced management team includes industrial- scale data centre operators and capital markets professionals, focused on building infrastructure for the future by developing and hosting the ecosystem growing around blockchain-based technologies.



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Cautionary Statement Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. 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. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. The information in this release about future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking information. This forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time it was made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005842/en/

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U.S. Airline Employees Brace for Furloughs

No U.S. airline has contacted the nations largest flight attendant union about employee furloughs, but some members are beginning to see a request as inevitable after major U.S carriers moved Thursday to slash European flights as the coronavirus crisis heightens, said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.

People understand that there is a real threat to the industry here, Nelson said in an interview. It is a real short trip from there to being worried about their job.

Major global airlines are big bureaucracies, and it can take awhile to go into severe cost-cutting mode. But eventually, U.S. carriers no longer will be able to pay employees not to work and likely will need to cut jobs, just as they have during other times of uncertainty, including after 9/11.

Airlines generally cannot permanently lay off unionized flight attendants and pilots. Instead, they furlough them, cutting their jobs but allowing them to retain recall rights. By contractual obligation, furloughed employees are the first to be rehired when the good times resume.

But it can take awhile. After 9/11, American Airlines did not recall the last of its furloughed flight attendants until 2012.

Mitigation First

The Association for Flight Attendants, or AFA, represents flight attendants at several U.S. airlines, including Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, but its biggest membership comes from United Airlines.

At United, Nelson said, the airline is required to offer mitigation remedies before it forces any flight attendants into furlough. They include offering leaves of absences and permitting flight attendants to share jobs, Nelson said.

United already has been encouraging flight attendants to take unpaid leaves, and for some, it is an attractive offer, Nelson said, since they can keep their health insurance, seniority and flight benefits.

If you can afford it  if you have a second source of income, or you have a partner who has an income or you have just saved enough  then the furlough is quite attractive, she said.

Story continues

Next would come involuntary furloughs, which usually affect the most recent hires, per contractual language. Unions would be notified in advance that an airline is planning involuntary layoffs.

Technically, have the airlines talked us about furloughs? Nelson said. No. But are people talking about it? Yes.

In a discussion Tuesday with investors, United President Scott Kirby said he could not rule out furloughs.

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, he said Tuesday at the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference. My second objective is to do so without involuntarily furloughing anyone. But that is the second objective. And if it takes hard stuff with the employees to get to objective No. 1 of making sure we survive, we wont hesitate to do it. Ill be sick to stomach, well feel awful. But our No. 1 objective will be to make sure we get through to the other side.

Pay Cuts

At times, airlines have come to unions to ask for contractual concessions, such as pay cuts, so the carrier could survive.

In 2003, for example, Americans flight attendants, who are represented by a different union, agreed to $340 million in wage concessions in concessions, allowing the airline to avert bankruptcy.

But Nelson said she has been having no discussions with airlines about concessions.

Those happened in bankruptcy, Nelson said. There were discussions to try to avoid bankruptcy. Thats way too soon. We are not there at all. I dont mean to do minimize the impact here but we are not there at all.

Flight attendants at most airlines already have taken a defacto pay cut, Nelson noted, because theyre flying fewer hours than when the crisis began. Until recently, airline staffing was stretched thin, so many flight attendants could count on extra hours beyond the 80 to 85 hours per month they would typically fly. Some flight attendants had been working more than 100 hours per month, she said.

There is not the same of flying to go around, she said. It amounts to an immediate pay cut.

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Hundreds of cancelled flights, decline in daily ticket bookings, fall in footfalls at airport shops and spike in expenses continue to rattle the country's aviation space as airlines, with weakened financials, and airport operators grapple with coronavirus headwinds.

With mounting travel restrictions across the world, including in India, the tailwind of sharp plunge in crude oil prices seems to fade in the background of excess seat and fleet capacity in the airline industry, according to experts.

More than 490 flights operated by foreign carriers to and from India have been cancelled for varying periods of time while the count of weekly flights cancelled by domestic airlines is more than 90, as per official data.

The number of cancelled flights on international routes is expected to rise as India has also suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 as part of efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.

Data shared by aviation consultancy CAPA showed that capacity or the number of seats available weekly on various international flight routes connecting India has significantly come down for the week that started on March 9 compared to the situation in December last year.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the number of international passengers arriving at the country's airports has come down to around 62,000 per day from 70,000 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

According to him, the count might further come down to around 40,000 following the travel advisory issued on Wednesday. There are 30 international airports in the country.

From being "nimble in approach" to adverse impact on quarterly earnings, domestic carriers have already flagged their concerns about coronavirus impact on their businesses.

The Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO) has flagged various problems in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, including that of "less sales at the Food and Beverage, and retail outlets" at aerodromes.

In a letter to the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday, the grouping also said airport operators are now required to significantly beef up manpower deployment as well as make expenditure on items like masks, sanitisers and floor cleaners, in order to ensure compliance with various government advisories.

Further, APAO has sought approval for "levying of a nominal passenger facilitation charge as part of airline fares to cover increased operating expenses being incurred by the operators", as per the letter.

It has also sought provisioning of an "airport operator alleviation package by AERA to facilitate the growing operational expenses". Regulator AERA fixes tariffs for certain categories of airports.

Referring to the government's decision to suspend visas from March 13 till April 15, CAPA said the ban would cripple the aviation industry with very serious impact on airlines with weaker balance sheet.

Overall, it would be a "serious blow" to the aviation industry, CAPA CEO (South Asia) Kapil Kaul told PTI.

Peak travel period, which generally starts from April, would be impacted.

A senior airline industry official said domestic air traffic might start increasing as the people who had planned their vacations abroad could visit domestic destinations.

Full service carrier Vistara, on Thursday, said business on some of its international and domestic routes has been impacted by coronavirus outbreak. "At Vistara, we are reviewing the situation everyday and remain nimble in our approach," an airline spokesperson said.

On Wednesday, the country's largest airline IndiGo said it was expecting quarterly earnings to be adversely impacted as daily bookings have declined 15-20 per cent in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

The airline has also suspended Staff Leisure Travel (SLT) to certain countries, including China, Singapore and Hong Kong.

SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said the aviation sector is under a lot of pressure but that was "temporary".

"SpiceJet is far better placed than many others to weather this turbulence. I firmly believe that this is an opportunity for SpiceJet, for the government and the aviation ecosystem to create more efficient and viable structures for the growth that lies ahead.

"... the Indian aviation market and especially our domestic market has immense potential and will remain amongst the fastest growing in the world," he said on Thursday.

On the positive, an airline official said excess international capacity can be redeployed on domestic routes and that fall in oil prices, which account for around 40 per cent of operational costs, is a silver lining.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A worker at Barclays' Canary Wharf office has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The employee was based on the ninth floor of an office that houses most of the company's investment bankers and is about five minutes away from its headquarters.

Staff who sit near the worker have been told to self-isolate.

A Barclays employee, who was based on the ninth floor of the firms Canary Wharf offices, has been diagnosed with coronavirus

Barclays is undertaking a deep clean of the employee's workspace and surrounding area, and the ninth floor as a precaution.

It comes after a Barclays worker on its New York trading floor tested positive for the virus, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.

It is the second at Canary Wharf after an HSBC worker was diagnosed, which prompted it to send 100 people home.

Barclays said: 'The health and safety of our staff, customers and clients is our top priority and we are providing support to the member of staff and their family.

'We are working closely with Public Health England and other local authorities, following their advice.

'The colleague has been in self-quarantine since March 9.'

Barclays added: 'At this stage, we are operating business as usual.'
BEREA, Ohio -- Effective immediately, the Berea Recreation Center is closed for all programs and activities; all programs for senior citizens are canceled until further notice.

Senior Wheels will continue to operate. Residents should call 440-826-0800 to schedule rides.

The Berea Community Outreach Food Pantry also will continue to operate on Thursdays at Smith School, 535 Wyleswood Drive.

The closings were announced by Mayor Cyril Kleem and city officials in light of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. Kleem said the moves were made in accordance with guidelines from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the CDC.
The Reserve Bank of India said on Thursday it was prepared to take all necessary measures to ward off the impact of coronavirus on the Indian economy, financial institutions and markets and added that it had adequate forex reserves to meet any emergency situation.

RBI also announced measures to provide US dollar liquidity to the Indian market that crashed to 74.34 mark against the US dollar on Thursday.

Indian markets along with their global counterparts have been battered by the impact of coronavirus that has led to several sanctions impacting economic activity and sparking fears of an uncertain future.

RBI said its forex reserves stood at $487.24 billion and it was well placed to meet any exigency. Another RBI release said that the forex reserves had increased during April-December 2019.

The central bank added that it was closely and continuously monitoring the rapidly evolving global situation and spillovers.

In one of the worst performances in recent years, the Sensex tanked by nearly 3,000 points on Thursday on the back of a global selloff after the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic. US decision to suspend travel from Europe also contributed to the decline.

The rupee at 74.34 against the US dollar was close to its all-time low of 74.48 seen in October 2018.

RBI said the emerging market currencies were experiencing downside pressures partly due to flight to safety which had to a spike in volatility across all asset classes.

Mismatches in US dollar liquidity have become accentuated across the world. On a review of current financial market conditions and taking into consideration the requirement of US Dollars in the market, it has been decided to undertake 6-month US Dollar sell/buy swaps to provide liquidity to the foreign exchange market, RBI said on Thursday.

The swaps, RBI said, will be conducted through the auction route in multiple tranches and the auctions will be multiple price based, meaning, successful bids will be accepted at their respective quoted premiums.

The auction date has been set for March 16 between 9:30 am to 11 am and the swap amount will be USD 2 Billion.

The banking regulator had earlier asked state governments not to transfer their deposits out of private sector banks saying apprehensions about the safety of deposits in private lenders were highly misplaced.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: The tug of war over the fourth Rajya Sabha seat in Maharashtra continued in the Maha Vikas Aghadi as Congress had raised objections to NCP's claim over the seat.

Maharashtra has seven Rajya Sabha seats in total.

In the BJP quota as per their state assembly members, they will get the highest number of three seats while the Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP will jointly get the remaining four seats.

The three parties have taken one seat each but it is the fourth seat that is the main bone of contention among the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders.

The NCP has staked claim over the fourth Rajya Sabha seat and has even announced its senior leader Faujiya Khans name for candidature.

Maharashtra Congress had conveyed to the NCP that one additional legislative council seat should be given to them if they were to give up claim to the seat in question.

The NCP cannot take the seat without consulting the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders. The fourth Rajya Sabha seat should be discussed in the coordination committee of Maha Vikas Aghadi where the final decision will be taken, said a senior Congress leader.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has filed his nomination for Rajya Sabha on last Wednesday but Faujiya Khan could not file her nomination because of Congress party's objection.

BJP nominee Udayan Raje Bhosale and the party's alliance candidate Ramdas Athwale, the Minister for State filed their nomination on Thursday.

The third candidate of the BJP alliance, Dr Bhagwat Karad, the former mayor of Aurangabad, is likely to file his nomination on March 13, 2020.

Shiv Sena has nominated its spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi for the Rajya Sabha seat.

This announcement angered the five-time ex-MP of Shiv Sena,Chandrakant Khaire who expressed his displeasure at Maharashtra Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray for not choosing him and giving priority to other candidates.

We had asked Uddhav Thackeray ji to nominate Chandrakant Khaire, a senior person, for the Rajya Sabha polls. The Aurangabad municipal corporation elections are round the corner and Khaires nominations would have helped us in the elections. But our young leader Aaditya Thackeray used his veto in favour of Priyanka Chaturvedi in the final round of discussions, a Sena leader said requesting anonymity.
Russia is pushing the idea of the disengagement of troops in another three areas.

Military expert Mykhailo Zhyrokhov has said the occupiers in Donbas aggravate the situation over a change in tactics of the new Russian supervisor, namely the Kremlin is trying to force the Ukrainian president to make concessions.

Read alsoTCG: Ukraine, Russia agree to simultaneously open checkpoints in Zolote, Schastia in Donbas

According to the expert, the aggravation is taking place over the change of Russia's tactics and strategy regarding Donbas, since the Kremlin saw that an attempt to negotiate with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Moscow's terms was not a very suitable idea, so now there's a "certain coercion to negotiate."

"Russia is pushing the idea of the disengagement of troops in another three areas: Avdiyivka, Shyrokyne, and the Svtlodarska Duha bulge  the aggravation is taking place right there. Russians, if they cannot take diplomatic steps, they resort to military ones. Now they are demonstrating that every day Ukraine suffers losses, our military are dying. This is done so that Zelensky has a reason to declare the need for a disengagement," Zhyrokhov told the Ukrainian-registered Apostrophe online media outlet.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Thu, March 12, 2020 15:34 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a1ec9a 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,HasanSadikinHospital,West-Java,coronavirus,outbreak,medical-check Free

Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung, the largest hospital in West Java province, has been flooded by people asking its staff to issue them a "COVID-19-free certificate", despite the fact that the document does not exist.

There is no such thing. It is not permitted, the hospital's president director, Nina Susana Dewi, said on Wednesday.

Nina said that the majority of people requesting the nonexistent document had come in for a checkup after returning from abroad, especially those who had traveled to countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases.

There are also people who request such a certificate because they want to go abroad, said Nina.

Read also: West Java Health Agency faces troubles in tracing COVID-19 spread

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 114 countries and territories across the globe had confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection by Wednesday.

Nina said that the hospital continued to provide checkups at its general consultation unit or infectious diseases unit. If the checkup showed that the individual was in good condition, the hospital would issue a general medical certificate of good health, but could not specifically mention COVID-19.

People who had returned from affected countries were also welcome at the hospital, she added. Even if they were found to be healthy, the hospital would still place them on its monitoring list as a precaution.

People who showed flu-like symptoms  including but not limited to fever, coughing and sore throat  would be advised to self-isolate at home and contact the West Java COVID-19 information and coordination center's 119 hotline to report their daily condition.

Nina said the hospital maintained a record of people with a travel history to affected countries as part of its protocol, and that it advised them to return "for another checkup 14 days after their arrival in Indonesia". (gis)
United Methodist Michigan Conference advances separation proposal

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The Michigan Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to send a proposal to split the denomination over the long-debated issue of homosexuality to the UMC's top legislative body.

Last week, the Michigan conference became the third annual conference and the first based in the United States to support sending the Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace through Separation, which would allocate $25 million for Methodists who adhere to biblical sexual ethics to vote to leave the UMC and create their own denomination, to the UMC General Conference.

UMC bishops and activists had first announced support for the proposal in January.

At a special session held at Goodrich Chapel in Albion, Michigan conference delegates voted 927 to 92 in favor of sending the proposal for consideration.

The Michigan Conference reported that while many attendees of the session spoke in favor of the protocol, the approved did not officially endorse the separation proposal.

Unlike the two international conferences that acted before the March 7 vote in Albion, The Michigan Conference did not endorse the Protocol, explained the conference.

The single motion brought by the delegation for action by the Special Session was to send the petition entitled 'Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation and Restructuring' (BOD New 2556) to the 2020 General Conference.

Last month, Michigan Bishop David Bard announced that his conference was going to hold a special session to determine whether to send the protocol to the General Conference.

I am calling our annual conference into special session because I believe in this liminal season, the delegates to General Conference need the opportunity to consider every good option for the future of our church," wrote Bard in a blog entry.

In February, The Philippines Conference Cavite voted to endorse and send the protocol to the General Conference. Later, the Sierra Leone Conference became the second regional body to support the protocol, voting 322-0 in favor, with two abstentions.

Over the past several years, the UMC has been embroiled in debate over the denominations Book of Discipline, which labels homosexuality incompatible with Christian teaching.

This position has included prohibiting the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of clergy who are in same-sex romantic relationships.

Theological liberals have failed again and again to have the rules changed, most recently at a February special session of General Conference when the UMC again reaffirmed its traditional stance on LGBT issues.

Nevertheless, liberal leaders in the UMC have increasingly refused to enforce the Book of Discipline rules and laity in the United States and Western Europe oppose the rules.

This has led many to conclude that separating the UMC in some way is the only solution to the debate, with multiple proposals being offered for the General Conference in May.

Of the proposals, the protocol may have the strongest backing, as its supporters include a broad range of theological views on the homosexuality debate.
A Brazilian government official who attended an official meeting at Donald Trump's resort in Florida on Saturday and posted a photo of himself standing next to the US president has tested positive for coronavirus, the Estado de S.Paulo newspaper said on Thursday.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's communications secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, is awaiting the results of a second confirmation test, according to the report.

Wajngarten, chief spokesperson for the Brazilian government, travelled with Bolsonaro last Saturday to Tuesday to the US, where the far-right leader  who has been dubbed a "Tropical Trump"  met with his US counterpart.

In the photo posted on his Instagram account, Wajngarten is standing next to Trump wearing a "Make Brazil great again" cap. Vice President Mike Pence was next to Trump.

Wajngarten developed flu-like symptoms and tested positive for the virus that has become a global pandemic, the Brazilian presidency said in a statement.

Asked by Reuters before Estado reported the positive test, Brazil's health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said Bolsonaro would be monitored if Wajngarten tested positively.

Trump unconcerned

Trump said on Thursday he was not concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus after dining last week with Bolsonaro, whose press aide tested positive.

"Let's put it this way: I'm not concerned," Trump told reporters while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office. He said he had heard about the aide's exposure but that "we did nothing very unusual".

Trump also said he and Varadkar opted not to shake hands when the Irish leader arrived at the White House for the traditional St Patrick's Day meeting.

"It's a very strange feeling," Trump said of not shaking hands.

Newspaper O Globo reported that the US embassy in Brasilia had contacted the Brazilian government for information on Wajngarten's test. The embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.

Bolsonaro's office "has taken and is taking all necessary preventive measures to protect the health of the president and all staff that traveled with him to the United States", it said in a statement.

"This is because one of the officials in the group, Presidential Communications Secretary Fabio Wajngarten, is infected with the new coronavirus, COVID-19, as confirmed by a second test that was recently carried out," it said.

Bolsonaro, an admirer of Trump, met the US president at a lunch on Saturday.

'No need for Trump to get tested'

President Donald Trump does not need testing for coronavirus despite having met with an aide to Bolsonaro who was found afterwards to test positive, said the White House.

"The White House is aware of public reports that a member of the Brazilian delegation... tested positive for COVID-19," Trump spokesperson Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence "had almost no interactions with the individual" during Bolsonaro's trip to Florida last weekend. They "do not require being tested at this time", she said.

Grisham said under government guidelines "there is currently no indication to test patients without symptoms, and only people with prolonged close exposure to confirmed positive cases should self-quarantine".

(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)
A doctor who has been diagnosed with coronavirus has given an honest insight into the disease's daily symptoms on social media.

Dr. Yale Tung Chen, 35, from Spain, who caught the infection while he was treating patients at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, has been sharing his experiences battling the illness with the pubic.

The emergency physician has been sharing ultrasound scans of his lungs and listing his daily symptoms in an attempt to give the world a glimpse of how the illness takes over the body.

Taking to Twitter the doctor wrote: 'Day 1 after #COVID diagnosis. Sore throat, headache (strong!), Dry cough but not shortness of breath. No lung US abnormalities. Will keep a #POCUS track of my lungs. #coronavirus  @TomasVillen @ButterflyNetInc.'

Dr. Yale Tung Chen, 35, from Madrid, Spain, has been sharing his experiences with the coronavirus with the general public

The doctor, who caught the infection while he was treating patients at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, has been sharing ultrasound scans of his lungs

The doctor, who has been documenting his body pains as he remains in quarantine at his home, first became unwell at the end of his shift.

He continued: 'Day 2 after #COVID diagnosis. Less sore throat, cough & headache (thank God!), still no shortness of breath or pleuritic chest pain. #POCUS update: small bilateral pleural effusion, thickened pleural line & basal b-lines (plaps). #coronavirus @TomasVillen @ButterflyNetInc.'

He added: 'Day 3 after #COVID diagnosis. No sore throat/headache. Yesterday was cough day, still no shortness of breath/chest pain.

'Diarrhea started, lucky cough got better. #POCUS update: similar effusion, seems less thickened pleural line + no b-lines (PLAPS). #mycoviddiary.'

The Spanish doctor told LBC News: 'At the end of the shift, I started to feel unwell. In that moment, I wondered if it could be coronavirus, but did not have any epidemiological contacts to justify my fear.'

In an effort to shield his wife and children from 'the slightest threat, the doctor set about getting tested and was soon told he had tested positive for the virus.

He continued: 'From that moment on, I had myself isolated in a room in my house, and avoided any contact with anybody in the house.

'That is probably the most anxious part - to not be able to be with my family, my kids, at this moment.'

Speaking about the overwhelming positive response he has received the doctor told NBC News: 'It meant the whole world to me to receive support from people all around the world.'

The doctor has been taking to Twitter to share his daily symptoms and scans with followers

The doctor's daily diary, which has now gathered more than 68,000 views on social media, has been met with an array of positive messages from well-wishers.

One said: 'I'm so happy about your lungs. Hang in there.'

While another commented: 'So glad to see good news. Continuing to pray for your speedy and uncomplicated recovery!'

HOW THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS IS ESCALATING IN EUROPE The number of cases of the coronavirus in Europe has topped 22,000, with Italy still the hardest hit country as Denmark also goes into lockdown. Total confirmed infections in Europe have risen 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. It comes as more European countries are reporting their first deaths of people with the new contagion. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced today that all schools, universities, and kindergartens will be shut for two weeks to slow the spread of the virus. 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. Advertisement

Another person added: 'Hey, hope you are doing well my friend.'

The doctor's online diary comes after a German study revealed that patients with the infection are the most contagious before severe symptoms appear and can even spread it after they recover from the infection.

Researchers from the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology in Munich found samples taken from the nose and throat of COVID-19 patients showed a very high viral load when the subjects were only showing minor symptoms.

Elsewhere, U.S. government scientists, who worked with other experts, have found the virus can live on surfaces for up to three days.

Tests by researchers showed that the virus can survive on copper for four hours, cardboard for an entire day and up to 72 hours on plastic and steel.

Symptoms for the virus, which are similar to that if the cold and flu, include a cough, fever, high temperature and shortness of breath and fatigue.

Most people infected with the virus will only become mildly ill, but it can turn serious, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions.

If the virus progresses patients can begin to display rapid or shallow breathing, potentially with yellow, green or bloody mucus, nausea and vomiting, pain when breathing and confusion.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump imposed a 30-day ban on most Europeans entering the United States and sparked 'bedlam' at airports across Europe.

The American leader declared the ban would come into effect at 'midnight' on Friday in an effort to slow down the progression of the virus which has now been declared as a pandemic.

The White House said the travel restrictions would apply to foreign nationals who have visited 26 European countries - but excluding the UK and Ireland - in the past 14 days.

It comes after the number of reported cases of coronavirus in the U.S. rose to 1,315 and the number of deaths hit 38 as of Thursday morning, with some 366 of those cases and 29 deaths reported in the Washington state.

With around 4,600 people having died so far worldwide, many U.S. states have been limiting travel and putting in place 'social distancing measures' to limit contact between people.

In Spain, 2,277 have been infected with the virus and 55 have died.

After sharing his experiences with the public, social media users have been rushing to the platform to offer their support

Meanwhile in Britain the number of cases 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 lock-down to contain the escalating outbreak.

The total confirmed infections in Europe have risen to 23,339 with 951 deaths, according to a new tally which is compiled from official sources.

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.

Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have coronavirus: Sixty-three-year-old actor announces they have caught the virus while filming in Australia and describes how it gave them 'chills and body aches'

By Marlene Lenthang for Dailmail.Com

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, they revealed last night.

The Forrest Gump actor and his wife, both 63, announced the positive test results on Instagram urging the public to 'take care'.

The couple are currently in Gold Coast, Australia where the Oscar winner is filming an untitled Baz Luhrmann-directed Elvis Presley film produced by Warner Bros.

Hanks revealed he and his wife experienced symptoms including the common cold, body aches and chills before they decided to get tested.

Before their diagnosis, the couple had visited crowded Australian hotspots including Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House - raising fears that others were infected.

The opera house was today trying to track down 207 people who could have come into contact with the couple at a concert on Saturday night.

'People who have come in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will now need to self isolate and quarantine,' the premier of Queensland said.

The A-list couple are now in isolation at Gold Coast University Hospital where health officials say they are in a 'stable condition'.

'Hello, folks. Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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,' Hanks said.

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the novel coronavirus , they revealed Wednesday evening. The couple were spotted with their son Truman, 24, (in sunglasses and striped blue shirt) for a relaxing stroll at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on Friday

Tom Hanks' wife appeared on a morning breakfast show and performed at the Sydney Opera House days before the couple tested positive to coronavirus. Map shows all the places the couple visited while in Australia

Actor Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, they revealed Wednesday evening sharing a photo of a medical waste basket and a latex glove in a hospital room. The couple is currently in Australia where the Oscar-winner is filming for an upcoming movie

Wilson shared the same statement on her Instagram story Wednesday night

Latest snap: Last week Hanks posed for a selfie with two fans as he was walking in a beach in Australia

On Saturday, Wilson shared this photo after she performed at the iconic Sydney Opera House

'Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?' Hanks wrote.

'We'll keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves! Hanx!'

He shared a picture of what appears to be a medical waste basket and a latex glove in a hospital.

Hanks and Wilson married in 1988. In 2013, Hanks disclosed he has Type 2 diabetes.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said Hanks was 'tested early this morning, very early, and once everyone was in the news was delivered by Baz and then everyone went home.'

Hanks is the first major Hollywood star to publicly state that he has the virus that has sickened more than 125,000 people worldwide and killed more than 4,600.

He touched down in Gold Coast on January 26 for the film, which is still in pre-production meaning cameras have not started rolling yet.

Production on the Elvis film - in which Hanks was set to play the legendary singer's longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker - has been suspended and actors and crew are also being tested.

A series of celebrities including Reese Witherspoon, Jack Black and Alyssa Milano have already taken to social media to offer the couple their support.

Hanks was rumored to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach, the very same hotel building where a 44-year-old Chinese national, who later became one of Australia's first cases of coronavirus, was staying, according to The Advertiser.

That man was rushed to the hospital on January 28 and was confirmed to have the virus on January 29. He had recently returned from Wuhan and was traveling with his wife and child and was staying at the Oracle building, but was not a guest at Peppers Broadbeach, which is located in the same building.

The couple's son Chet Hanks shared an Instagram video Wednesday night saying his parents are doing well despite their diagnosis saying: 'They both are fine, they're not even that sick'

The couple's other son, Colin, also posted a message to Instagram saying that he is confident his parents will make a full recovery

This map shows the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the US as of Wednesday

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

Hanks was cast in the film alongside actors Rufus Sewell, Austin Butler, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Olivia DeJonge, according to IMDb.

In the film Hanks was filming he plays Presley's longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker.

Warner Bros. said in a statement that when they became aware someone in production was diagnosed with the virus they worked with Australian health agencies to assure that the movie production is safe.

'We have been made aware that a company member from our Elvis feature film, which is currently in pre-production in The Gold Coast, Australia, has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus).

'We are working closely with the appropriate Australian health agencies to identify and contact anyone who may have come in direct contact with the individual. The health and safety of our company members is always our top priority, and we are taking precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.

'The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 is currently receiving treatment.'

Hanks and Wilson share four children together.

The couple's son Chet Hanks shared an Instagram video Wednesday night saying his parents are doing well despite their diagnosis.

'Yeah, it's true. My parents got Coronavirus. Crazy. They're both down in Australia right now because my dad was shooting a movie down there but I just got off the phone with them. They both are fine, they're not even that sick,' Hanks assured.

'They're not worried about it, they're not trippin' but they're going through the necessary health precautions obviously,' he added.

Wilson shared this picture from Sydney Harbour, writing: 'Can't get enough of Sydney!'

Just last week on March 5 Wilson performed at the Emporium Hotel in Brisbane, Australia at her sold out concert where her husband of 32 years and their 24-year-old son Truman attended

Hanks and Wilson have visited several cities in Australia this month, making stops in Sydney, Brisbane, and Bondi Beach, while being based in Gold Coast.

Throughout the trip Hanks and Wilson have greeted fans and posed for pictures and selfies.

On Thursday, March 5, Ms Wilson performed at Emporium Hotel South Bank in Brisbane. The gig was promoted as an 'intimate evening' with the prolific singer-songwriter.

'Beautiful Brisbane!!! Thank you SO MUCH for the warmest welcome at my show!!! You sold it out, danced in the aisles, sang along!' Ms Wilson wrote on Instagram after the show.

The couple then travelled to Sydney, where Ms Wilson performed in the Utzon Room of the iconic Opera House on Saturday.

'Cannot believe I get to perform here!!!! Sydney! You're gorgeous!' she wrote. The capacity of the Utzon Room is up to 200 people.

The singer also shared smiling snaps in front of the Opera House and admired the famous venue from a boat on Sydney Harbour.

Opera House staff say they are helping authorities track 'approximately 207 people' who 'may have been in contact with the couple' at the concert on Saturday.

The famed building has received additional 'on-site cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectant' a spokesperson said, adding that tours and performances would continue.

On Friday, March 6 the couple were snapped doing the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk, a popular trail along the cliffs between Sydney's Eastern Suburbs beaches.

A few days before her diagnosis, Ms Wilson also performed on the Today show.

On Saturday Hanks shared a snap enjoying the view at Bondi Beach in Sydney and a forlorn sock he found on a walk

Actor Tom Hanks is rumored to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach, the same hotel where a Chinese national who tested positive for coronavirus was staying. Paramedics & Police pictured above after they were called on the Gold Coast to Peppers Resort in January 28, 2020 following that first coronavirus report

Paramedics pictured loading a man into an ambulance outside the Peppers Broadbeach hotel building in January 28, 2020 when a Chinese national who stayed there was reported to have the virus. Hanks is believed to have been staying at that building

Hanks was rumored to be staying at Peppers Broadbeach, the very same hotel building where a 44-year-old Chinese national, who later became one of Australia's first cases of coronavirus, was staying in January

'But I don't think it's anything to be too worried about. I appreciate everyone's concern and the well wishes but I think it's all going to be alright but I appreciate it and just, everybody stay safe out there. Much love.'

Annastacia Palaszczuk, the premier of Queensland, told reporters today that anyone in contact with the pair would need to self-isolate.

'People who have come in close contact with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson will now need to self-isolate and quarantine,' she said.

Asked whether selfie-takers needed to isolate, she said: 'From what the chief health officer has told me it's over 15 minutes of being in very close contact, so a selfie wouldn't count as that.'

She added: 'It is very important that you listen to these messages. All of our known coronavirus cases in Queensland, we know the origin of where they have come from.

'People have doing the right thing if they've been coming in close contact and they've been self-isolating.

'Self-isolating means staying in your apartment and your house, it doesn't mean going down to the shops and getting a bottle of milk or anything like that, it means making sure that you are doing the right thing.'

Palaszczuk said she had spoken to Luhrmann and conveyed his reassurances that he would comply with the government's health restrictions.

She added: 'The filming has been going extremely well on the Gold Coast, and of course there will be a halt to some of the filming at the moment while Tom and Rita get the very best care that they will get in our Queensland hospitals.

'Eight people have been treated for coronavirus at this hospital and have been discharged in the past.

'I am very confident that we have world-class doctors that are determined to look after them and give them the best possible care.'

Australia has more than 120 cases confirmed cases of coronavirus.

In Queensland, where Gold Coast is located, there are currently 20 other confirmed cases of coronavirus and almost 3,000 people in self-isolation at home.

The news of Hanks' diagnosis broke as President Donald Trump announced a 30-day suspension on travel from Europe to the US due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Also on Wednesday, the World Health Organization deemed the COVID-19 a global pandemic.
Medical Supply Chain From China a National Security Risk

Chinese state media threaten US with withholding medical supplies as coronavirus spread reveals Americas dependence

The outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus, which was recently labeled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), has highlighted the longstanding issue of Americas dependence on China for medical supplies.

President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new executive order aimed at ensuring medical supplies and pharmaceuticals are made in America, in response to the spread of the virus.

While a White House spokesperson didnt respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times about the order, an official statement from Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) office appeared to confirm its existence, as did media reports.

The announcement comes as the Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times published an article saying that China could ban the export of face masks and other medical gear to America which are in acute shortage, over recent actions by the United States to restrict market access to Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, which was founded in 1987 by a former Peoples Liberation Army engineer.

The United States is dramatically dependent on China for medical supplies that include among them masks, scans, prescription drugs, and their ingredients, according to Rosemary Gibson, a senior adviser at the Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute, and the co-author of China RX: Exposing the Risks of Americas Dependence on China for Medicine.

Our dependence is a risk to our national security, she told The Epoch Times. For prescription drugs, 90 percent of the core ingredients, the chemicals, and other ingredients depend on China.

Gibson said the dependence on China is a huge risk because it exposes the lack of availability of certain medicines that are crucially needed in the United States, especially antibiotics. Doctors and nurses could also be at risk if theres a shortage of masks and protective gowns.

Last week, the Trump administration granted exemptions from tariffs on medical products imported from China, which include protective masks and medical gloves.

This is about life and death here, Gibson added. This is about survivability.

The United States is ramping up efforts to quell the spread of the virus, which is now confirmed in over 1,300 people across the country, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at John Hopkins University. At least 38 people have died from the virus, as of press time.

Rubio praised the administrations expected executive order, a day before chairing a March 12 hearing titled, The Coronavirus and Americas Small Business Supply Chain. He serves as chairman of the Senates Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

The coronavirus outbreak has been a wake-up call that we must combat Americas supply chain vulnerabilities and dependence on China in critical sectors of our economy, Rubio said in a statement.

The Trump Administrations forthcoming Executive Order is a very strong first step toward increasing domestic production by enforcing Buy American requirements for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, as well as fast-tracking FDA approval of critical products impacted by the coronavirus outbreaks strain on the supply chain.

Gibson said the reliance on China for medical supplies stems from the communist regimes engagement in a strategy of illegal trade practices to fix prices to dump products [and] medicines on the global market at below-market prices.

They subsidized their domestic companies, they dont want to import our products and so that has driven out western companies, she said. Its not just lower costs, its market manipulation.

Details of what the executive order would entail remain unclear. Trump announced late on March 11 that the United States will impose a 30-day travel ban on travelers from Europe amid coronavirus concerns, with exemptions for the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Robert J. Bunker, adjunct research professor at the U.S. Army War Colleges Strategic Studies Institute, told The Epoch Times it would be a massive strategic mistake for the United States to allow itself to continue to be vulnerable to Chinese pharmaceutical blackmail potentials.

The communist regime could use such leverage for international gains such as further cracking down on Hong Kong or isolating Taiwan by threatening to withhold pharmaceutical deliveries to the United States if its demands are not met, he said via email.

The State Department is also urging Americans to think carefully before traveling outside the country because of the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. The department advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19, it said in an updated global health advisory on March 11.

In multiple states, people are also being cautioned against attending major gatherings. Public health officials in California are advising against gatherings of 250, and in New York state, public gatherings of 500 people or more are being banned.

On March 12, Vice President Mike Pence said officials are expecting to see thousands of cases of coronavirus in the United States. Trump also announced on March 11 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.
Hillary Clinton has hit out at Donald Trumps response to the coronavirus outbreak for the second time this week as confirmed cases continue to rise in the US.

The former secretary of state and Mr Trumps rival in the 2016 election listed a number of measures the president should take to contain the virus.

I know this is all hard for you, @realdonaldtrump, so let me spell it out, she wrote on Twitter, calling for free testing, free waivers, emergency sick leave, quarantines, cancellations and giving a damn.

Mrs Clintons comments come a day after a controversial national address by Mr Trump in which he outlined new measures to battle the pandemic. The most significant of those measures were severe restrictions on travel between the US and Europe.

The former presidential candidate had previously criticised Mr Trump for his initial response to the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking on CNN earlier this week she said: What Im worried about is the attitude that has been taken by the president himself and his administration  trying to downplay the risk, not being prepared, initially pushing the experts out of the picture.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday reported 1,264 cases of the coronavirus, an increase of 277 cases from its previous count. At least 37 people have died in the US.

The agency said the cases have been reported by 42 states and the District of Columbia, up from its previous report of 38 states and the District of Columbia.
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Reinstilling our hope in the judiciary system and making us believe that it might come late but justice always prevail, a landmark verdict in the case of Harvey Weinstein was announced yesterday by the US court.

Hollywood's disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein has been sentenced to 23 years in jail for rape and sexual assault.

pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com

He was sentenced by Supreme Court judge James Burke. Soon after his sentencing, Weinstein was hospitalised with chest pain.

"He was having chest pains and the Rikers staff decided for safety to send him back to Bellevue now. He will be evaluated and likely will stay overnight. We appreciate the care and concern of the Department of Corrections officers and staff," a spokesperson for Weinstein was quoted as saying by PIX11 News.



The judgement brings the trial, which began on Jan 6, to a victorious end. Weinstein was convicted on Feb 24 for committing a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape.



Before the judgement was announced, Weinstein's attorney Donna Rotunno had pleaded the judge that he shall be given a shorter sentence owing to his "long list of illnesses".

Meanwhile, the fans as well as celebrities have been hailing the landmark judgement.

In a letter to the judge this week, Weinsteins attorneys said that reporting destroyed his life. In fact, it fairly parsed a mountain of evidence suggesting Weinsteins actions accomplished that. I hope it encourages more people to speak and more outlets to back tough stories. pic.twitter.com/gTczloKflS  Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) March 11, 2020

Thank you @RoArquette @rosemcgowan @MiraSorvino and all the Whistleblowers in the Weinstein case who put their careers and reputations at risk to help clear the way to know the horrible acts Harvey has done. Thank you to all the brave victims. @RonanFarrow  Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) March 11, 2020

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

A historical moment today. I am so appreciative of the women and men who spoke up about the abuse and harassment they suffered at the hands of Harvey Weinstein.  Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) March 11, 2020

Thank you to all of the journalists and publications who persisted in telling survivors stories, despite constant pushback and threats, and brought this story to the light. @jodikantor @mega2e @ronanfarrow @nytimes @newyorker  Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) March 11, 2020

Let us be free  rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) March 11, 2020

Gratitude to Judge James Burke for not being able to be bought off like so many other through the years. thank you.  Rosanna Arquette (@RoArquette) March 11, 2020

to the brave women who are survivors of harvey weinsteins repugnant crimes  both those who were vocal publicly & those who suffered in silence. YOU -along with the journalists who covered the story, #metoo + #timesup have changed the course of future histories. THANK YOU. + https://t.co/WnFa1jSG1D  Monica Lewinsky (@MonicaLewinsky) March 11, 2020

Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison  megan twohey (@mega2e) March 11, 2020

#HarveyWeinstein UPDATE: The @LADAOffice 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 been set. Once a date has been set, our office will notify the public.  Jackie Lacey (@LADAOffice) March 11, 2020

Justice has been served today, due in no small part to the courage of the women who testified against Harvey Weinstein. To mark real change, others who commit such appalling crimes must be held accountable, no matter where & what position they occupy.#IStandWithHer  Michelle Bachelet (@mbachelet) March 11, 2020

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.


By David Menzies

Jersey City continues to be the epicenter of the construction boom in Hudson County, but, according to some local unions, its increasingly a challenge to build housing to the highest standards.

There was a period in the early 90s where Jersey Citys affordable housing (then Section 8) was quickly built with pre-constructed elements; thats a long way from the way homes were built more than a century ago.

New Jersey City University librarian and Jersey City historian Patrick Shalhoub said his understanding is that the way it used to work in Jersey City and other American cities was that most of the housing stock was constructed by small-scale contractors and builders.

They might build four of five similar houses on a block within a short span of time and put them up for sale as they were finished, he said. The proceeds would go towards completing the next house.

Some of the more successful contractors were able to build at a somewhat larger scale, but that wasnt very common, he said.

The implementation of zoning laws in the early 20th century started a trend toward architectural and functional homogeneity in many neighborhoods, he said. Then, the Great Depression hit, further altering the dynamics of the local private house construction marketplace.

One thing thats changed since most of Jersey Citys housing stock was built is that the idea of quality seems less important than the general need for housing.

Frank Mahoney, a communication specialist for Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters (formerly Keystone + Mountain + Lakes Regional Council of Carpenters), said all contemporary housing that gets built has to meet building codes.

But does something being built to code necessarily mean its the best that can be done within that code?

What constitutes the best housing increasingly seems like its about location, rather than the highest standards of the way that housing is built. In whats an odd kind of equity for people rich and poor, in the current landscape luxury housing isnt necessarily built any better than affordable housing.

Local 254 (based in Edison) Senior Council Representative Anthony Abrantes, from the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, which has locations through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia, indicated in an interview via email, that this reflects nationwide trends.

Unfortunately, like many industries, quality control is driven by profit margins, he said. When profit margins are the single greatest driver of a projects success then, unfortunately, safety, quality, and craftsmanship are in the crosshairs of collateral damage. While we are not in the business of suppressing entrepreneurial risk when it comes to investing in such projects, we are in the business of ensuring you get what you pay for. Many of these projects are in high-rent districts and consumers are paying premiums for substandard construction.

Abrantes lauded the Gold Coast developers who took a risk on building in a community that was in need of revitalization and to overcome some of that risk they chose to construct their buildings with local organized labor.

They created good-paying jobs with benefits, giving people the opportunity to retire one day with dignity, he said. However, not all developers chose the same business model. This (kind of) developer chose profits over quality.

Jack Kocsis, CEO of Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey, headquartered in Edison, points to an underground construction economy thats invisible to many people outside of the industry.

ACCNJ, in partnership with labor leaders in New Jersey, has been battling the underground construction economy for several years, he said in an email to The Jersey Journal. That underground economy hurts honest contractors when unscrupulous contractors low bid by cutting worker wages or paying workers under the table. It hurts construction workers when they work jobs with low pay, little safety training, no healthcare benefits and no workers compensation. The underground economy also hurts the state because unscrupulous contractors do not pay income tax, workers compensation and unemployment insurance, so the state loses millions in tax revenue. In addition, the state ends up bearing the burden of healthcare costs when uninsured construction workers are injured on the job.

Jersey Citys fabled Croson Study found a disparity between the fraction of minority- and women-owned business enterprises available and those hired for city contracts.

Kocsis organization and labor partners commissioned a similar, statewide study in 2017, he said. It determined that minority- and women-owned businesses in New Jersey dont have the capacity in areas of construction that are needed.

What we are concerned about is establishing real goals  not aspirational goals as established by the state agencies, he said.

If there are too many structural roadblocks to be able to compete on the level of those whove been fortunate enough to already be established, members of disenfranchised populations who might be employed by minority- and women-owned businesses suffer in the trickling down of less work. And for someone in need who doesnt know have the skills or opportunities to do anything else, any work at all, underground or not, may seem like a boon.

The underground construction economy and unscrupulous contractors are in the business of hiring a workforce that is exploitable, Abrams said. They are not looking into how to create a diverse and productive workforce.

David Menzies is a part-time Jersey Journal page editor who also often writes about the local arts community.
Talitha Kum, the international network of Consecrated Life against human trafficking sets up a new network in Ethiopia with the collaboration of the British Embassy to the Holy See.

By Linda Bordoni



It is estimated that over 40 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide. War, poverty, inequality and displacement are major factors in rendering people particularly vulnerable to trafficking and modern slavery. They are used for cheap labour, exploited for sex work, for warfare and killed for their organs.



Public awareness regarding the phenomenon, described by Pope Francis as a crime against humanity, has grown exponentially thanks to the work of religious, of faith-based organizations and of governments who have responded to his repeated calls to tackle this scourge, this open wound on the body of contemporary society.



In the forefront of the fight to end human trafficking is Talitha Kum, an international network of Consecrated Life against trafficking in persons. This expanding reality is a project of the International Union of Superiors General that coordinates and strengthens the already existing activities against trafficking undertaken by consecrated persons in the five continents.



In order to be ever more effective, Talitha Kum also promotes networking and collaboration between religious and political leaders at a national and international level, because, as the networks international coordinator, Comboni Missionary Sister Gabriella Bottani, explains in an interview with Vatican Radio, partnership and concerted action are indispensable tools in the fight against this enormous challenge.



One such partner is the British Embassy to the Holy See, in the person of Ambassador Sally Axworthy, who has recently funded a series of workshops for the Talitha Kum network in Ethiopia. She spoke to us of her commitment to stand up against modern slavery in line with the UK Government that has set this as a major priority on its global agenda.



Listen to the interview with Sr Gabriella Bottani and Ambassador Sally Axworthy

In the joint interview with Ambassador Axworthy, Sr Gabriella, who has recently returned from a journey to Ethiopia, explains that this Horn-of-Africa nation is one of the most affected by human trafficking. Trafficking, she says, takes place both internally from rural to urban areas, and internationally as there are many vulnerable groups of people on the move, with migrants and refugees coming into the country, and many attempting to migrate overseas, with women being particularly vulnerable.



As international coordinator of Talitha Kum, Sr Gabriellas visit to Ethiopia brought her into contact with the vibrant anti-trafficking reality on the ground.



She speaks of how religious life is working in the field of trafficking, but sometimes in a fragmented and uncoordinated way: The religious were facing such a big problem they were not able to move forward.



Talitha Kum in Ethiopia



They were extremely grateful, she says, for the opportunity to come together and feel supported, and when they discovered Talitha Kum, they discovered a treasure, something very beautiful.



It is widely acknowledged that collaboration is a very important added value in this field, and Sr Gabriella says the work done in this occasion has been to move from theoretical elements of collaboration to very practical ones, bringing people together to share information and commitments in different areas.



Talitha Kum is present in almost 100 countries on the five continents. The latest networks to be added in Africa are in Ethiopia and Mozambique, makes for 11 networks on the continent.

Together in the fight against human trafficking

They are particularly important, Sr Gabriella says, because together with South East Asia, these are the geographical areas in the world most affected by trafficking.



Tackling modern slavery: a priority for the British government



Ambasador Axworthy notes that tackling modern slavery has been a priority for her government for quite some time and says the Embassy tries to address the issue in a comprehensive response



She explains there are many elements to that: what we do at home, the Modern Slavery Act, a system for supporting victims, a Law Enforcement framework, etc.



She says overseas operations are also key and foresee collaboration with countries, participation in UN initiatives and other organizations.



But a very important part is working with religious sisters because they bring something unique to this effort, she says.



The religious sisters, Ambassador Axworthy notes, are present on the ground with the survivors, they often identify the victims, they can engender trust among victims which is more difficult for governments or law enforcement officials to do.



And beyond that, she continues, they have a very important role not just in supporting victims and rehabilitating them, but also in understanding what the trafficking roots are, how people are exploited and helping us, as governments, understand how this whole network of international crime operates.



Partnership and complementarity



The Ambassador highlights the value of the complementary action of the partners in question, as there are things the government can do like coordinate law enforcement agencies of different countries, apprehend organized criminals, get legislation in place etc, while they, the sisters have that very pastoral role, so we try and join so we can understand what they do and understand the intelligence they have from the victims; at the same time they can understand the kind of international efforts to combat human trafficking and make our efforts complimentary.



Pope Francis



Ambassaor Axworthy expresses her appreciation for Pope Francis role in raising awareness about modern slavery and human trafficking and the need to combat it.

She also notes the Vatican has taken some very practical steps in the fight, setting up its Section for Migrants and issuing pastoral guidelines.



On our side, we have a Modern Slavery Act which brings together all our efforts to tackle the scourge, she says, we support victims, have a national referral mechanism and an international effort with a call to action which details all the things we believe make for an effective response.



Its a very challenging problem and we have to work in partnership to make any impression on it so we need the different strengths of all the different organizations, she says.



The female face of the fight against modern slavery



When I point out there appear to be so many women in the forefront of the fight against trafficking, Sr Gabriella noted that women are the ones who make up the main group of victims of trafficking, and at the same time, are a very important resource.



Religious sisters, she says, are the ones living close to the reality of social vulnerabilities where trafficking is going on  in rural areas, in the fields of education, health care, pastoral work: we are the ones touching first-hand the drama and situation of trafficking it is a very important and privileged position from which to be involved.



She says also that Talitha Kum is organized from a womens perspective: not only what we are doing, but the way we are tackling human trafficking in a sister-like way.



Ambassador Axworthy agrees women are in the forefront of the effort, recalling, from her perspective, that former PM Theresa May really made a personal commitment to tackle modern slavery, and thats when it became a priority for the British government.



She also points out there are numerically many more religious sisters than there are religious brothers, so they have an unparallel network that makes them very important in the fight against human trafficking.



But, she adds: I have to say there are lots of men who are very important in this too; Cardinal Nichols is one of them, he set up the Santa Marta Group which brings together bishops and law enforcement agencies.

Ambassador Sally Axworthy, Sister Gabriella Bottani and Flaminia Viola of the Vatican's Section for Migrants and Refugees

What can we do?



One thing the British government has done is to try to get companies to certify their supply lines are slavery-free. This, the Ambassador says, is part of what Pope Francis calls a throwaway culture, so we need to think about where the things we buy come from.



In her own country, she says, the Anglican Church, for example, has taken an initiative called the Carwash app that gives you ways of spotting whether people working in a carwash might be victims of slavery.



The idea is that we, as consumers, must be very conscious of what we are buying and who we are buying it from and look out for the signs of modern slavery, whether in a carwash or a nail bar  if something seems too cheap to be true, there is probably a reason for that, she says.



Sr Gabriella notes that relationships are also very important and that any effort to change hurtful behaviour is needed across the board. She says we must all learn to improve the relationships amongst each other, enhancing relationships that respect the dignity of the other, in order, for example, to reduce the demand for paid sex,



There is something we can all change. I believe we have to re-educate ourselves in our behaviour and respect the dignity of every person, she says.



Sr Gabriella also expresses her gratitude towards Pope Francis for having made the fight against trafficking one of the main initiatives and priorities of his Pontificate.



He is a good partner and his words are very important to raise awareness, to motivate, to challenge governments and religious people and all people of goodwill to go deeper, to the roots of human trafficking and to recognize in all people our brothers and sisters, so there is no space for the exploitation of human beings, she says.



The value of collaboration



Sister Gabriella and Ambassador Axworthy conclude highlighting the value of their collaboration.



It shows, Sr Gabriella says, that the sisters are not just working amongst themselves, they are crossing the borders of religious life, collaborating with governments, with other faith-based organizations, with women of different faiths, with religious men in the Catholic Church and beyond.



This collaboration, this support of each other, is really a sign of hope for anti-trafficking, she says.



Yes, the Ambassador agrees, committing to keep the fight against modern slavery a big priority: We all need to work together on this and there is something that all of us can do, whether we are religious sisters working with the victims, or governments, or even consumers just being careful of where we buy and who has been producing it.


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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV:CJC)(OTCQB:CJCFF)(FSE:YXEP) ("QPM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its common shares are now trading on the OTCQB Venture Market (the "OTCQB Venture"), a US trading platform that is operated by the OTC Markets Group in New York. The Company will trade on the OTCQB Venture under symbol "CJCFF". The Company's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CJC"."Trading on the OTCQB Venture aims to introduce the Company to a broad audience in the United States. Trading on the OTCQB Venture is expected to increase liquidity by providing American investors with an easily accessible trading platform", stated Normand Champigny, Chief Executive Officer of QPM.The OTCQB Venture is the premier marketplace for entrepreneurial and development stage U.S. and international companies that are committed to providing a high-quality trading and information experience for their US investors. To be eligible, companies must be current in their financial reporting, pass a minimum bid price test, and undergo an annual company verification and management certification process. The OTCQB Venture quality standards provide a strong baseline of transparency, as well as the technology and regulation to improve the information and trading experience for investors.About Quebec Precious Metals CorporationQPM is a new gold explorer with a large land position in the highly-prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore this project to advance it to the mineral resource estimate stage.For more information please contact:Jean-Francois MeilleurPresidentTel.: 514 951-2730jfmeilleur@ qpmcorp.ca Normand ChampignyChief Executive OfficerTel.: 514 979-4746nchampigny@ qpmcorp.ca 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: Quebec Precious Metals Corporation
The leftward shift in the Democratic Party virtually assures that the nominee will be branded a socialist by Mr. Trump. That nominee would be wise to point to the military policies of countries like Sweden, Norway and Denmark, which fund their military in far more sustainable ways than the United States, with military spending that doesnt carve trillions into the national deficit and with conscription laws that ensure all citizens share equally in the burdens of war.

Mr. Trump has the advantage of being the incumbent and will lean on his foreign policy achievements, which in some cases are significant. They are, however, strategically incoherent: a shaky peace deal with the Taliban; the execution of an Iranian general, Qassim Suleimani; a U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria; nuclear threats against North Korea followed by photo ops with Kim Jong-un.

Just as hes kept his adversaries guessing what hell do next, the president has done the same to the American people, who largely understand that the world is a dangerous place and that we are being led through it by a president known for uniquely low impulse control. No demographic feels this more acutely than military families, for whom Mr. Trumps drastic foreign policy shifts often come with deployment orders attached.

Already, in the wake of the Suleimani strike, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has called for renewed scrutiny on presidential war powers. A Democratic nominee who continues to touch upon the importance of heightened congressional oversight of presidential war powers would find fertile ground among military members who have been deployed to combat zones as far-flung as Syria and the Horn of Africa under an Authorization for the Use of Military Force signed nearly two decades ago by President George W. Bush.

The backslapping solidarity that Mr. Trump will display with the military on the campaign trail  whether its reliving Conan the dogs exploits when chasing down Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi or hobnobbing with cable news hosts wearing shotgun blasts of military lapel pins above fuchsia pocket squares  can be undermined by a candidate who speaks to these rarely discussed, and often verboten, issues.
Rawalpindi [Pakistan], Mar 13 (ANI): At least five people were injured after a cracker bomb exploded in Kabari Bazar in Rawalpindi on Thursday, police said.



No fatalities have been reported yet.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)


12 Mar 2020, 12:42 PM

Coronavirus impact: IndiGo says fall in bookings to hit earnings

IndiGo's parent InterGlobe Aviation on Wednesday said its quarterly earnings are expected to be hit due to decline in daily bookings, amid the coronavirus outbreak. The numbers could change from here based on how the situation evolves. They expect the quarterly earnings to be materially impacted because of the outbreak.

Nifty dives 5% into bear territory as WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic

The Indian stock market entered bear territory and the blue-chip Nifty 50 slipped below the 10,000 mark for the first time in two years on Thursday, as the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic and the United States suspended travel from Europe. U.S. President Donald Trump stunned markets as he announced the suspension of all travel to the United States from Europe, except from the United Kingdom, for 30 days starting Friday

Coronavirus update: India cancels all visas till April 15

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its latest travel advisory amid coronavirus outbreak, has said all existing visas issued to nationals of any country will stand suspended till April 15. However, this would not apply to diplomats, officials, UN/international organisations, employment and project visas. The restriction would come into effect from 1200 GMT (6:30 AM) on March 13 at the port of departure of any foreigner coming to India.

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, after the hearing, blamed the present management of the bank for its downfall.

The rapid spread of coronavirus has wiped almost a third - or $70 billion (53.6 billion pounds) - off the world's top 20 listed airlines and reshuffled global rankings, elevating Air China into third place behind U.S. rivals, an analysis by Reuters shows. The airline sector has been hit hardest by the outbreak of coronavirus, with falling ticket demand and Italy in lockdown forcing carriers to cancel routes and slash.

Also read: Infographic: What is the ED case against Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor?
Canada has recorded its first death from the new coronavirus, health officials in the westernmost province of British Columbia have announced.

The victim, a man living at an elderly care facility, "was infected with COVID-19 (and) passed away last night," the province's health officer Bonnie Henry told reporters.

Officials have not released the victim's age.

Henry said he had been a resident of the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver. Two other residents and two caregivers had also tested positive for the disease.

The facility is designed to house around 200 elderly people.

Canada has recorded more than 70 confirmed coronavirus infections, nearly all of which are in British Columbia or Ontario, the most populated province.

The Quebec government confirmed two new cases on Monday, including one person who was exposed to the virus during a trip to France.

The person is currently in self-quarantine at home.

Montreal MP Anthony Housefather told CTV he had also self-quarantined after learning that an attendee at a conference he went to in Washington had tested positive for the virus.

Housefather added that he felt fine.

The virus has killed more than 4,000 people and infected over 110,000 worldwide since it emerged late last year. (AFP) ZH

ZH
Reducing the population of Japanese beetles is done most easily by app [ #permalink

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Project SC Butler: Day 219: Sentence Correction (SC2)

Quote:

Reducing the population of Japanese beetles is done most easily by applying pesticides to turf-dwelling young larva in late summer than applications to mature larva in spring or adult beetles at any time of year.



A) most easily by applying pesticides to turf-dwelling young larva in late summer than applications



B) most easily by the application of pesticides to turf-dwelling young larva in late summer than that



C) more easily by applying pesticides to turf-dwelling young larva in late summer than



D) easier through the application of pesticides to turf-dwelling young larva in late summer than



E) more easily by applying pesticides to turf-dwelling young larva in late summer rather than applying

 Split #1: most easily, more easily, and easier

More easily

She jumped over the short wall more easily than over the very tall wall..

Easier

Easier

Easier

is done

Most easily

more

most

more easily than

 Split #2: the construction is more . . . than

more . . . rather than.

than

rather than applying

rather.

applying

by

applying

by applying

rather

applying

rather

applying

The best answer is C

COMMENTS

Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others. ~ Winston Churchill Signature Read More
The Mumbai police's crime branch



arrested two persons who have as many as 143 cases of cheating registered against them at different police stations, an official said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, officials laid a trap at Crawford Market in south Mumbai on Wednesday and nabbed Naresh Jaiswal (40), a resident of Chembur and Bandra resident Sanjay Mangade (46), he said.

The duo would allegedly befriend people, engage them in a conversation and decamp with their cash, jewellery and other valuables, the official said.

The accused have been involved in such activities since 1999 and at least 143 cases of cheating are registered against them at 30 police stations, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Auserd (Saharawi Republic), March 11 2020 (SPS)  The First International Youth Forum of Solidarity with Western Sahara, kicked off Wednesday, organized by the UJSARIO in the Saharawi refugee camps from the 11th to 13th March 2020, under the theme: Sustainable future for Saharawi youth, the fair political resolution of the conflict, human rights, natural resources and the Wall of Shame in Western Sahara, with the presence of delegates from numerous international youth organisations.

During the opening session, the delegates had the opportunity to listen to an official opening speech by the Saharawi President of the Republic and Secretary-General of the Frente POLSARIO, Mr. Brahim Ghali, followed by statements of various participating delegations, including the African Union, WFDY, IYUSI, International Peace Council, and various countries delegation, mainly Algeria, South Africa, Venezuela.

During the first day, the participants had the opportunity to attend specialised lectures presented by Senor Saharawi Experts tackling the political issue, human rights, the question of the natural resources, the military wall, youth and women participation to the resistance among other.

Today, the delegates will participate to a Tribute to 4 personalities of youth movements who were instrumental in the support of the Saharawi cause, before they gather anew in specialised workshops to exchange views on the various subjects mentioned above.

It is also expected that the delegates will visit the Moroccan military wall in Western Sahara to have an idea about the dangers that it represents for the environment and the people.

The Forum is also expected to come up with resolutions and letters that will be addressed to various international institutions to present the position of the international youth towards this last case of decolonisation. (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
FAIRFAX, Va.Voice-over artist Bob Brotzman attended Shen Yun Performing Arts for the fifth time on March 11, 2020, and admired anew its performers hard work and dedication as well as the uplifting scenes in its dances. Two times at Kennedy Center and I think three times here [in Virginia], he recalled fondly, about past seasons he had been to.

I love the program. It is wonderful. Its a great ethos. There is a lot of positivity. It is great to see young people with so much talent and dedication like you see with [Shen Yun]. It is a lot of fun, he said after Shen Yuns performance at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia.

Brotzman remarked on the fact that New York-based Shen Yun offers an entirely new show each year and explained how much he enjoys seeing its new dances as well as up-and-coming young dancers as they change and grow every season.

Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture and share it with the world. For millennia, Chinese people have passed down exquisite art forms as well as beliefs and practices that are deeply spiritual and that acknowledge the Creator and other divine beings.

Shen Yun carries on these traditions by sharing depictions of heavenly realms and ancient legends. Buddhism and Daoism are also referenced, as they are important spiritual practices that permeated life in China before communist rule began.

Brotzman appreciated this spiritual element in Shen Yun. I do, he said. It is a different approach to spirituality than maybe what Westerners are used to. But I would say a lot of it is universal.

Some of the universal values that he saw are truth and compassion, which are part of the teachings of Falun Dafa, an ancient Chinese meditation practice that promotes a principled lifestyle and which appears in Shen Yun in the form of characters who follow it. Unfortunately, as part of the Chinese Communist Partys attempt to wipe out traditional Chinese culture, Falun Dafa is severely persecuted today. Shen Yun portrays scenes from these real-life events, including the hopefulness and compassion exhibited by the spiritual practitioners amidst persecution.

You know it is hard to watch some of the scenes of the persecution. I think people of any faith that are persecuted around the world deserve our respect and our support as much as possible, Brotzman said.

If he were to take a message home with him from Shen Yun, it would be I think even in dark times, theres always light.

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.
Tran Dac Phu, former head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine and senior expert of the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operation Centre talks about the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam and elsewhere.

Tran Dac Phu.



Could you tell us about measures to fight the COVID-19 epidemic after the success of the quarantine in Son Loi Commune, Vinh Phuc Province?

COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets and there is no specific vaccine and treatment, therefore, early detection, immediate isolation and identifying disease-prone areas are very essential. When we detected people, who returned from Chinas Wuhan City and tested positive for SARS-CoV2, we immediately quarantined them. While the disease was found to spread to the community on a small scale, the administration of Vinh Phuc decided to quarantine the entire commune.

All relevant agencies, including medical agencies, army, police, youth union, women's association as well as the farmers' association joined hands in fighting the disease to ensure the health of local people. The agencies carried out solutions such as health checks and guidance for disinfection, environmental sanitation and health protection, especially dissemination to stabilise people's psychology.

The quarantine of a locality of about 10,000 people is unprecedented in Vietnam. The Party and the State's close directions in the prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic have helped mobilise all resources to fight the disease with the motto "fighting the epidemic is like fighting against the enemy".

Vietnam is worried about more new cases that could enter our country while the outbreak has been reported in countries such as China, South Korea and Japan. What does the Government need to do now?

When the country recorded the first case of COVID-19, the motto of the whole health sector was early detection, prompt quarantine, identifying disease-prone areas and fighting the disease with the strongest determination without negligence.

For South Korea, the Ministry of Health has ordered provinces and cities to apply medical declarations to all visitors from South Korea. People with signs of fever, cough or shortness of breath at the border gate must immediately be quarantined at health centres and be tested for SARS-CoV-2.

For other countries such as Italy and Iran, we have applied the same measures including quarantining people returning from epidemic-hit areas while others are asked to fill in a medical declaration before entry.

Our country has succeeded in preventing and controlling rapidly emerging dangerous infectious diseases. Specifically, Vietnam was one of the first countries to successfully control SARS, A/H5N1 and A/H1N1 flu. We also prevented a number of emerging epidemics such as influenza A/H7N9, Ebola, and Mers-CoV, contributing greatly to stabilising social security while tourism and trade between countries around the world have been increasing.

Despite these achievements, I think we still need efforts from the whole country, including the Government, ministries, localities and every citizen to respond to the disease now.

Recently, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decided Vietnam was off the list of destinations that could spread COVID-19 to the community. This result was not only thanks to the detection and treatment of COVID-19 cases but CDC also highly appreciated Vietnam for its information transparency and the inter-sectoral response of the country in disease prevention and control.

The ministry has built four scenarios to cope with the disease. Even before the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the outbreak of COVID-19 as a global emergency, Vietnam implemented very strong measures to prevent the disease compared to WHO recommendations.

How do you assess the capacity of Vietnam to cope if the disease widely spreads?

Of the four anti-epidemic scenarios Vietnam has developed, from the first case to the worst scenario of spreading the disease in the community with more than 1,000 cases, we have prepared measures to respond.

Even if the disease is widespread, we will still strictly follow the guideline of "four on the spot" (on-site quarantine; on-site treatment; on-site facilities, on-site human resources) suitable to our country's circumstances without relying on central agencies to provide funding or other protective equipment.

Currently, Vietnam has enough capacity to quarantine about 30,000 people. Additionally, health facilities have enough beds for treatment with patients. We also have enough capacity and enough biological products to test with accuracy similar to other countries. The Real-time RT-PCR method is highly sensitive and specific.

The ministry has decided to allow mass production of COVID-19 detection kits to screen suspected patients and export to support other countries in the prevention of COVID-19. Vietnam has become one of the few countries that can manufacture this product, besides Japan, Germany, China and the US.

Vietnam can quickly identify disease-prone areas and control the disease with the development of treatment techniques, medicine, the capacity and experience of disease prevention and control, to ensure a safe epidemiological environment for economic and social activities.

For domestic people, they should co-ordinate with health authorities to proactively prevent the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19, seek information about the disease through official channels and avoid being worried by unverified information.VNS/Haiquan

Army maps out scenario to fight COVID-19 outbreak at five levels The army will develop a COVID-19 prevention and control plan based on a scenario for the outbreak at five levels in a bid to effectively deal with the epidemic, said Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Tran Don.

Medical workers, frontline soldiers in the fight against COVID-19 epidemic The Da Nang Hospital for Lung Diseases has recently received and treated patients with fever and, possibly, COVID-19.
The coronavirus crisis would be over instantly for the media and the Democratic Party if President Donald Trump would simply change his name to Obama to escape their constant criticism.

We do know is that the main culprit in the uncalled-for panic is the Communist Chinese government, which initially kept knowledge of this virus hidden, and allowed travel into and out of China for heaven knows how long before the rest of the world found out about the disease.

China had lots of reasons for keeping coronavirus quiet in the hopes of containing it.

Joe Hegarty, Mullica Hill

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
Former Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram



Naik on Thursday urged Mumbai Mayor to replace the word 'Park' with 'Udyan' from the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Dadar.

"I welcome the move of renaming the ground as Chhatrapati Shivaji Park, but the English word 'park' is still there. It should be replaced with (Marathi word) 'udyan'," a statement issued by the BJP quoted Naik as saying.

"Even late V D Savarkar would have loved to see this change in the name," the former Union minister added.

Naik's demand comes a day after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) approved a proposal for changing the name of Shivaji Park to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park.

Shivaji Park has a long history of being a site of political as well as sporting events.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / Zincore Metals Inc. (NEX: ZNC.H) ("Zincore" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the business combination and reverse takeover (the "Transaction" and "RTO", respectively) of Zincore by Mines & Metals Trading (Peru) PLC ("MMTP"), as originally announced January 21, 2019. The Company has now been informed by MMTP that the Transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020. The Company also reports that MMTP has acquired an additional property package near its Recuperada silver lead-zinc mine and processing plant, located in Huancavelica, Peru, from Peruvian Metals, a Canadian processing and mineral exploration company.MMTP President and CEO, Jose Maria Garcia commented, "With this acquisition we will increase the potential resources for our currently producing Recuperada processing facility. As importantly, we will further consolidate and strengthen our position as one of only two polymetallic processing facilities in the Huachocolpa Mining District".MMTP is acquiring Peruvian's Metals 100% owned subsidiary, Corongo Exploraciones, ("Corongo") which holds concessions totaling 2420 hectares located in the Huachocolpa Mining District in South-Central Peru. The Huachocolpa Mining District is host to several producing and past-producing vein-hosted polymetallic, base metal (silver-zinc-lead-copper plus or minus gold) mines. Polymetallic mining and milling continue to be the dominant formal economic activity in the district with Compania Minera Kolpa S.A and MMTP's Recuperada Mill being the two largest operations currently in production in the area. With the Corongo acquisition, MMTP will now control a large land package totaling in excess of 15,000 hectares with many of the acquired Peruvian Metals' concessions being contiguous with MMTP concessions.In exchange for Corongo and its concessions, Peruvian Metals will receive US$200,000 from MMTP and 45,008 shares of MMTP valued at C$17.33 per share or an aggregate of C$780,000. Upon completion of the RTO with Zincore, each share of MMTP will be exchanged for approximately 73.2 Zincore shares and Peruvian Metals will receive approximately 3,294,540 shares in the resulting TSX-Venture listed issuer.Details of the RTO TransactionThe Business Combination Agreement between Zincore and MMTP, as announced December 24, 2019, provides that Zincore will acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of MMTP (the "MMTP Shares") by way of a three-cornered merger (the "Merger") between Zincore, MMTP, and Zincore (IOM) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zincore ("Subco").Pursuant to the Merger, each [post-split?] MMTP Share will be exchanged for one common share of the Resulting Issuer (a "Resulting Issuer Share"), and each ordinary share in the capital of Subco will be exchanged for one preferred share in the capital of Subco, following which the MMTP Shares and Subco Shares will be cancelled, and Subco will be dissolved. All outstanding MMTP warrants will be exchanged for warrants of the Resulting Issuer.Upon closing, the Resulting Issuer is expected to be renamed "Latitude Base Metals Inc." , and will continue the businesses of MMTP and Zincore.The Transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of conditions set out in the Business Combination Agreement, including:MMTP Split and Zincore Consolidation. MMTP shall have subdivided the issued and outstanding MMTP Shares on a one to 73.1990851585 basis (the "MMTP Split"), and Zincore shall have consolidated the outstanding Zincore Shares on a four to one basis (the "Zincore Consolidation"), in each case subject to adjustment as agreed by the parties.Debt Settlement. The debt settlement agreement dated August 8, 2019, between Zincore and its CEO, Jorge Benavides, providing for the settlement of debts owed by Zincore to Mr. Benavides in the amount of US$482,234 (the "Debt Settlement"), shall remain in effect. The Debt Settlement was approved by the shareholders of Zincore at the annual general and special meeting of Zincore shareholders held on September 5, 2019, and is expected to be completed immediately after the Merger. Further information is provided in Zincore's press release of August 14, 2019.Financing. MMTP shall have completed a concurrent financing for minimum gross proceeds of C$7,500,000.Shareholder Approvals. All required shareholder and regulatory approvals shall have been received by each of MMTP, Zincore, and Subco for the Transaction, including the Debt Settlement, the MMTP Split and the Merger.TSXV Approval. The TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") shall have approved the Transaction, subject only to the satisfaction of customary conditions.General. Other conditions that are customary for a transaction of this nature.MMTP currently intends to complete a concurrent private placement financing of equity securities, or securities convertible into equity securities, for gross proceeds of at least C$7,500,000 (the "Financing"). The structure of the Financing and price per security offered will be determined in the context of the market.Zincore intends for trading in the Zincore Shares to remain halted until completion of the Transaction. Further details of the Transaction and the concurrent financing will be provided in a further press release, and in the disclosure documents (which will include business and financial information in respect of MMTP) to be filed by Zincore in connection with the Transaction. For further details on the Transaction, please see the Company's news releases dated January 21st, August 14th and December 24th of 2019.ListingAn application has been made to list the common shares of the Resulting Issuer on the TSXV upon completion of the Proposed Transaction. The listing will be subject to satisfying all of the TSXV's listing requirements.SponsorshipZincore intends to apply to the TSXV for a waiver from the requirement to obtain a sponsor for the Transaction. There can be no assurance that a waiver will be obtained. If a waiver from the sponsorship requirement is not obtained, the identity of the sponsor will be disclosed in a subsequent press release.About MMTPMMTP, a company incorporated under the Companies Act (2006) (Isle of Man), is a young and dynamic mining company with a vision to extract full value from undervalued p
UL, a leading global safety science company, has expanded its Bengaluru facility to help product innovators address compliance and market access challenges in the fast-growing and increasingly complex world of connected devices.

The new facility added 12,000-square feet of laboratory space with scope for further expansion, making it one of the most technologically advanced electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), specific absorption rate (SAR), wireless and interoperability testing laboratories in India.

The facility, accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), enables UL to service a diverse range of products for customers across consumer electronics, information technology, mobile and telecommunications, medical devices, industrial products, lighting and appliances industries. The three key challenges manufacturers and product design companies encounter are efficient global market access, finding EMC and wireless expertise, and speed-to-market for product launches. The new UL facility offers automated data collection, custom-designed test chambers and fast access to technical experts across a multitude of disciplines.

The presence of a semi-anechoic chamber provides local product design engineers and developers, a convenient nearby testing facility. Further, the Center of Excellence (CoE) offers global experience and UL experts advise to companies at every step of the product launch process, from designing to preparing for market access, to help ensure compliance to regulations before and during production. "India is a top priority market for UL. The Bengaluru laboratory expansion combined with UL's existing global network of laboratories and engineering talent - offers our customers in India a seamless end-to-end service solution with unparalleled technical expertise, helping them navigate risk and enabling greater speed-to-market for their products and solutions," said Ghislain Devouge, Global Vice President and General Manager Consumer Technology for UL. "At UL, we strongly endorse the 'In India, for India' strategy, and have been regularly investing in building capability and capacity. This IoT CoE will help the market in multiple ways - first, enabling our domestic customers to develop smarter products, meet regulations and supply to the world; second, assisting our global customers to comply with India regulations and seamlessly access the Indian market; and third, giving confidence to the regulators and players in the ecosystem that they can access best-in-class global knowledge, technical expertise, and seamless service locally," said Suresh Sugavanam, Vice President and Managing Director of South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa for UL. In today's interconnected world, manufacturers who add wireless capability to existing products for industrial, consumer and medical applications must meet the complex and varied wireless regulatory requirements, which can differ by the market. Additionally, when regulations change, manufacturers may have to conduct new testing even if their products were already in the market, such as the Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Rules, 2017, Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipments (MTCTE).

Put in place by the Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC), a nodal agency under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the regulation requires all telecom equipment to undergo mandatory testing and certification before sale or import for use in India. An Indian accredited laboratory designated by the TEC must carry out the testing and based upon its test reports a certificate is issued by the TEC. UL laboratory in Bengaluru is ready to be designated by TEC, and the expanded facility will further help the industry comply with the MTCTE regime.

This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Italy to Allocate Additional 25 Billion Euros to Fight Coronavirus - Conte

Sputnik News

11:50 GMT 11.03.2020(updated 11:52 GMT 11.03.2020)

GENOA (Sputnik) - Italy is set to allocate an additional 25 billion euros ($ 28 billion) to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday.

"We have allocated an extraordinary sum of 25 billion euros, not to be used immediately but to be available for use to face all the difficulties of this emergency," Conte said after a meeting with the Council of Ministers.

Conte also stated that the Italian government was ready to review a request by the authorities of the country's northern regions, including virus-hit Lombardy, to tighten quarantine measures amid the outbreak.

Italian Finance Minister Roberto Gualtieri added that on Friday Italy would adopt a decree on economic measures amid the coronavirus emergency that would be worth around 12 billion euros.

On Tuesday, Italian Industry Minister Stefano Patuanelli said in an interview with Radio Capital that the government was preparing a package of economic measures to support families and businesses amid the coronavirus crisis. The package would suspend payments of utility bills, taxes and mortgages, according to the minister.

Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by Johns Hopkins CSSE 10 March 2019 2_31_14 pm

On a global scale, there are almost 120,000 confirmed cases, with nearly 81,000 in mainland China, followed by Italy with 10,149 and Iran with 8,042. The total number of global deaths reached 4,284 as of Wednesday, and over 65,000 recoveries have been reported.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Uttar Pradesh government that there is no law as of now to back its action of putting roadside posters of those accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests in Lucknow.

A vacation bench of Justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, that it is a matter of "great importance".

The bench also asked Mehta whether the state government has the power to put such posters.

The apex court, however, said there is no doubt that action should be taken against the rioters and they should be punished.

Mehta told the court that posters were put up as a "deterrent" and the hoardings only says the persons are liable to pay for their alleged acts during the violence.

The hearing in the matter is underway.

The top court is hearing an appeal filed by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging the March 9 order of the Allahabad High Court directing the state adminstration to remove posters of those accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Concerns over coronavirus caused tears to fill the eyes of some members of the Nashoba Regional School Committee on Wednesday night.

The virus has affected the district more than most within Massachusetts as a teacher at the districts Center School in Stow tested positive on Monday for COVID-19. The school serves students kindergarten through 5th grade. As a result 16 students have been quarantined. Superintendent Brooke Clenchy said the board of health said the school followed protocol and the schools didnt need to shut down.

However, some events were canceled Wednesday night leading to difficult decisions by the members. The committee approved a measure to cancel all out of state travel for the remainder of the school year unless otherwise advised by state officials.

I know this is hard. I know this is emotional, but there is a safety component that has to lead us in the right direction, Clenchy said.

Three middle school principals sat before the committee and recommended the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. be canceled. This followed the cancellation of the senior trip to Italy.

Not only will the trips be canceled, but the district is having trouble receiving refunds.

The committee said the district is currently working with the governors office specifically to gain a refund for the senior trip to Italy. Clenchy said they are not alone as shes learned of other districts dealing with the same issue.

The discussion about the trip to the nations capital took place on Wednesday because if the matter waited until the next meeting, the travel agency wouldnt provide a refund. Since it was canceled on Wednesday, theres a chance to gain some of the funds.

The school district does not know how much money it could recoup.

People are upset about getting refunded and getting their money back. I feel like at this point, lets get this under control and take it from there, said a parent of a student that planned to go to Italy. I understand the kids are devastated. It is a lot of money. Our daughter saved half of it for her trip to go. The thing is is its out of everyones control and were doing the best we can.

Clenchy learned that a staff member had been tested for coronavirus Sunday night. School began late on Monday after the building was sanitized. After the teacher received the presumptive positive test Monday night, 16 students were notified and quarantined at home. The school was sanitized again.

The board of health said the school didnt need to be closed.

Even while following the protocols, that Clenchy said the district had been preparing well before the positive test, she said during the meeting the vagueness of the advice from the state and federal level has been frustrating. For example, the guidance provided called for the students to be quarantined. However, the siblings of those students were not required to be quarantined.

Im not being negative, please dont hear that. I know where all doing the best we can, but I do think that the school district could right now have better guidance from our sate and federal partners, Clenchy said.

While about a dozen parents and teachers attended the meeting seeking to voice concern or learn more, questions lingered out of the meeting.

While larger out-of-state events were canceled, smaller in-school events like plays remained up to be determined.

My heart breaks for our seniors who have been looking so forward to going to Italy, Clenchy said. How do you tell the students that have worked for 'Hello Dolly maybe we cant do this. Or the robotics team that has been building its robot all year, to say, I dont think you can go to all these [events.]

In-state school trips will be left up to the discretion of the school administration.

Clenchy said over the first three days of this week, shes responded to about 500 emails. Some brought questions. Some brought support. But for the most part, Nashoba Regional School District is navigating this situation before many others have.

We dont want to take all the joy away from the children right now either, Clenchy said. How do you find that balance?

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On the heels of a Pentagon announcement that official travel for military families and Defense Department civilians is prohibited to what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated as "Level 2 locations," signifying elevated coronavirus risk, the CDC has placed the entire globe under a Level 2 alert.

The latest travel restrictions, which will be in place for 30 days starting Friday, restrict all forms of travel for military personnel, families and civilians through "Level 3" regions, where risk of contracting the virus is high. Overnight, the list of Level 3 countries grew to include all of Europe, where thousands of U.S. troops are located, some after the abrupt conclusion of major military training exercises. Also on the list are China, Iran and South Korea.

For travel to and from Level 3 countries, DoD guidance gives service secretaries and commanders the authority to issue waivers to ensure mission readiness and address specific needs. Without a waiver, permanent change-of-station moves, temporary duty and leave are all off-limits in these regions.

In a briefing with reporters at the Pentagon Thursday, defense secretary Mark Esper said he planned to present more detail within the next 24 hours on how the travel stoppage worked in detail and how service members could be prepared.

"It starts getting global, 'if this, if that ... and that's why I wanted to make sure that I gave commanders waiver authority to make those localized decisions," he said. "So ... the questions, the way I'm supposed to move from Vincenza to Verona, or Vincenza to Naples, we're giving commanders authority to do that."

For PCS moves within the United States, he added, the Defense Department would be evaluating policy within the coming days.

We want to make sure again, we're taking prudent measures," he said.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, who briefed alongside Esper, said that the PCS pause was an effort to be cautious in light of the pandemic threat.

"We think that rather than moving back and forth, that you're better off protecting in place," he said. "PCS, emergency leave, or any other kind of any movement whatsoever -- if you're going to school, professional development school, all that is frozen. Unless there's a reason to do otherwise, a specific reason on a specific case-by-case basis."

The global Level 2 alert applies to concurrent official travel, or travel alongside a service member, for families of troops and civilian personnel. For troops still on travel orders, DoD guidance states that military and contracted aircraft will be used for required travel in place of commercial accommodations, and elevated precautions will be taken, including questionnaires and temperature screenings at embarkation points.

Related: Defense Department Orders 60-Day Troop Travel Ban for Virus-Afflicted Countries

Pentagon officials have not responded to queries regarding how many PCS moves are likely to be affected by the new measures, what guidelines apply to travel within Level 3 locations and how the military is addressing cases in which travel and station-change moves are already underway.

Memos released by the Defense Department make clear that exceptions to the travel restrictions will be rare, and must be granted by an official at the general or flag officer level for conditions showing extreme need or mission requirements.

According to U.S. Transportation Command, those on the verge of a PCS move who may face homelessness due to the delay may qualify to have their goods packed out and placed in storage. But no benefits or assistance for those facing crisis due to the new travel restrictions have been announced.

DoD memos note that the CDC guidance regarding Level 3 countries could change as the deadly virus continues to spread.

"While directing this prudent action, I continue to delegate all necessary authority to commanders to make further decisions based on their assessments to protect their people and ensure mission readiness," Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a statement. "While we deal with this fluid and evolving situation, I remain confident in our ability to protect our service members, civilians and families."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Read more: Air Force Cancels Liberty for Newly Graduated Airmen
In the audience was DeAndre Arnold, a high school senior in Texas who was told earlier this year that he would have to cut his locs to participate in his graduation ceremony. Cherry invited the young man to be his guest at the Oscars and mentioned him during the speech. Arnold, he said, represented all the messages we were trying to get across in the film, the power of being yourself.
New York, US (PANA) - Stephanie Turco Williams, appointed this week by the UN until a permanent envoy is chosen for the position, is a seasoned diplomat and creative thinker with a deep first-hand knowledge of the Libyan conflict
A new study published in the journal Nature on March 11, 2020, could transform the currently held views on cancer causation and diagnosis. The researchers have come up with a new technique to detect the presence and type of cancer by looking at microbial DNA circulating in the blood of the person being screened.

Cancer is a disease due to mutations in the genes of the organism affected by it. These mutations result in dysregulation of the cells involved, turning off programs that modulate cell growth and proliferation, or which form tumors.

However, all human cancers aren't caused by mutations in the human genome alone. For instance, pancreatic cancers are most often host to microbes that break down the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs in these patients, as shown by a 2017 study in the journal Science. This led researcher Gregory Poore to pursue the role of microbes in various cancers.

Teaming up with experts across various disciplines, the researchers explored the multi-layered interactions that occur between tumors and the host of microbes that live on and in the human body. Senior researcher Rob Knight said, "Almost all previous cancer research efforts have assumed tumors are sterile environments and ignored the complex interplay human cancer cells may have with the bacteria, viruses and other microbes that live in and on our bodies. The number of microbial genes in our bodies vastly outnumbers the number of human genes, so it shouldn't be surprising that they give us important clues to our health."

Detecting cancer at its earliest stages from a simple blood draw is the goal of several companies currently developing 'liquid biopsies' to detect circulating human tumor DNA. Now UC San Diego researchers have demonstrated they can determine who has cancer, and what type, based on a readout of microbial DNA found in their blood. Image Credit: Szabolcs Borbely / Shutterstock

Microbes associated with tumors

The first step was to examine the data on microbial genes filed in The Cancer Genome Atlas, which is a massive database of tumor-associated genomic data collected from thousands of tumors and maintained by the National Cancer Institute. The researchers say theirs is the first time scientists have attempted to identify microbial DNA from human genomic data on such an impressive scale.

They examined over 18,000 samples of human tumors, taken from almost 10,500 patients with 33 different types of tumors. They tried to find distinctive patterns of microbial genes associated with specific tumors. Some are already known, such as the linkage between HPV (human papillomavirus) and cancer of the cervix, head, and neck, or that of Fusobacterium species with cancers of the gut.

The scientists also picked up many new microbial patterns which were capable of distinguishing one cancer type from another. One example is that of Faecalibacterium, a species that can pick out colon cancer from other tumor types.

The researchers thus arrived at an understanding of how the microbiome of thousands of cancer samples looks. The next step was to use the power of machine learning to see if any of these microbial patterns were specific for cancers of certain types. They trained their machine learning programs to pick up such specific associations and use them to diagnose the type of cancer. They then tested out their hundreds of models and found, to their gratification, that they could identify the type of cancer-based solely on the microbial DNA in the blood.

Early detection of cancers

The next step, for the scientists, was to eliminate advanced cancers from the dataset. The program was still able to distinguish many types of cancer at stages I and II based only on microbial data. The researchers then carried out stringent procedures to decontaminate the bioinformatics data, which means that over 90% of microbial data was removed. Even so, the machine correctly identified many early cancers by type.

Testing it out

In a pilot study, the team of researchers took blood samples from about 100 patients with three types of cancer, including approximately 60, 25, and 15 patients, each with prostate, lung, and melanoma cancer. They used their custom-made tools to ensure the data was as reliable as possible by eliminating contaminating readings. They then took readouts of the microbial profile for each of the blood samples.

Comparing these profiles with each other and with the plasma samples taken from about 70 disease-free volunteers, the team found that their machine learning models could differentiate people with cancer from those without it, in the majority of cases. That is, they could pick up 86% of people with lung cancer while ruling out lung disease correctly in all individuals negative for this condition. They could also distinguish between each of the types of cancer. For instance, they could rightly tell in 81% of cases whether the patient had lung cancer or prostate cancer.

Co-author Sandip Pravin Patel says, "The ability, in a single tube of blood, to have a comprehensive profile of the tumor's DNA (nature) as well as the DNA of the patient's microbiota (nurture), so to speak, is an important step forward in better understanding host-environment interactions in cancer." He explains that it is possible to use this approach to keep track of how the genome of the tumor and of the microbiota change with time, thus using it as not just a diagnostic but a monitoring tool for long-term follow-up of the efficacy of treatment.

He continues, "This could have major implications for the care of cancer patients, and in the early detection of cancer if these results continue to hold up in further testing."

Better than the old?

Patel explains that most cancers today can be diagnosed only by surgical biopsy, which involves removing a piece of the suspected tumor and getting it examined by experts. The diagnosis is based on the molecular markers specific to each type of cancer. The issue with this approach is that it is invasive, takes time, and is expensive.

Recently, liquid biopsies have been developed for many of these cancers. Here a blood sample is used to detect specific mutations in human DNA found in circulation to diagnose specific tumors. While blood markers (mostly molecules found on the surface of tumor cells) are already being used to diagnose and monitor the course of some tumors, genetic markers are relatively new. They are used in some tumors to trace the course of the disease, but their use for tumor diagnosis is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The reason is the poor accuracy of these tests in discriminating between normal variations in human genes and the true presence of mutations in early cancer. Not only so, says Patel, "they can't pick up cancers where human genomic alterations aren't known or aren't detectable."

This means that liquid biopsies are likely to have a high rate of false-negatives, especially for rare tumors. If the rate of the mutation is low, and the number of shed cells is also low, the chances of picking up the mutation are few indeed. Thus, the patient might well be told there is no evidence of cancer despite the presence of a tumor.

The current test which is based on the detection of microbial DNA rather than tumor DNA, is that it reflects more noticeable changes because, unlike the uniformity of human DNA across all tissues of the human body, microbial DNA profiles vary immensely from tissue to tissue. Thus, rather than hoping to pick up one of the relatively rare changes in human DNA to diagnose a tumor, it is easier to pick up changes in the microbial DNA that could accurately reflect the presence of cancers as well as their type, earlier in the process of tumor formation, compared to liquid biopsies, at least at their current stage. This is also true about cancers that don't have genetic mutations that are currently detectable using liquid biopsies.

Limitations

The current platform may still return false-negatives, say the researchers, but they are refining their approach with more data to increase the accuracy of prediction. Another danger with this approach is the overdiagnosis of tumors or a high false-positive rate.

And thirdly, many mutations are not cancerous but are related to age or are of the type that resolves spontaneously. In fact, without the microbial DNA testing, the individual would never know about them at all. Even some early cancers are not really deserving of treatment. As a result, it is essential to remember that screening and diagnosing cancer early is not always required. The need for such procedures should be decided by a clinician.

Positive microbial readouts also should not be taken as meaning cancer unless additional tests are done to confirm that a tumor is present, determine its type and its location.

The future

The team is looking forward to developing an FDA-approved test to diagnose cancer.

To achieve this, they need to profile the 'normal' microbial patterns among healthy people of many different populations. Secondly, they must decide if the microbial signatures found in dead blood reflect the presence of dead, live, or burst-open microbes. This is important to evolving a more accurate approach.

The preliminary findings must be validated in a larger population with a much greater variety of patients, which involves a high-cost upfront. To help achieve their goals, the team has filed patent applications and started up a company called Micronoma.

The implications

The researchers point out that though microbiologists commonly use decontamination protocols in their work, it is not a frequent practice in cancer studies. They hope this study will change the emphasis in the field of cancer biology, by making cancer scientists more conscious of the microbes in the human body.

Secondly, it could help thrust the new field of cancer-associated blood microbiomes forward into therapeutics, helping to understand what the microbes are doing in cancer and whether they can be used to treat these conditions. And if so, the next question is whether they can be supplied or mimicked to treat cancer more successfully.
President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar exchanged a namaste instead of a handshake in the Oval Office on Thursday.

Health officials have warned against handshaking and advised people to 'social distance' to protect themselves against the coronavirus.

The two leaders followed that advice during their meeting at the White House. The Irish leader traditionally visits the American president ahead of St. Patrick's Day.

'We didnt shake hands today,' Trump said. 'We kind of looked at each other and we said what are we going to do. Its sort of a weird feeling.'

President Donald Trump and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar exchanged a namaste instead of a handshake in the Oval Office

President Trump said it was a 'weird feeling' not to shake hands with his fellow world leader

President Trump demonstrates the namaste greeting

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows (R) and his predecessor, Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney (C) in the Oval Office on Thursday

The two instead folded their hands in prayer position and bowed to each other - the traditional namaste greeting used in parts of Southeast Asia.

'I just got back from India,' the president said, referring to his state visit there. 'And I didnt shake any hands there and it was easy because they go like this [he made namaste bow] and Japan goes like this [he bowed from waist].'

'They were ahead of the curve,' he noted.

Photos from his two-day state trip to India last month, however, show the president shaking hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.

President Trump also confirmed he canceled a weekend trip to the West Coast, where he planned to hold some campaign rallies in Nevada and Colorado, attend a fundraiser at the home of GOP mega donor Sheldon Adelson, and speak to the Republican Jewish Coalition.

'We had some big rallies we cancelled,' Trump told reporters. He said he'd probably . have Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, who he was supposed to campaign for in Colorado on Friday amid Gardner's tough re-election bid, to the White House on Friday instead.

Health officials advise people to avoid large gatherings until the coronavirus fears pass. Trump's rallies draw thousands. His last was March 2 in Charlotte, N.C.

As early as Saturday, Trump had shrugged off concerns, saying he planned to continue to hold his mega-rallies.

But now he's changed his mind as the number of cases has risen to 1,364 Americans.

He said he planned to cancel a rally scheduled for Tampa, Florida, on March 25.

President Trump said he was canceling campaign rallies out of fear of the coronavirus; his last rally was on March 2 in Charlotte, N.C.

President Donald Trump said he didn't shake hands in India but above he shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 25

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife Savita Kovind stand with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump as they arrive for a state banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 25 in New Delhi

'We had a big one in Tampa that was all sold out but I think well not do it because people say its better you not do,' he said.

'The question is how many people will die? And I dont want people dying,' he said.

He noted he wanted to stay in the White House, which he called the 'nerve center' for coronavirus operations.

'We have a lot of things were moving around because of this thing. Because I want to be here,' he noted.

On the Democratic side, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have also cancelled campaign rallies because of health concerns.

And Sunday's Democratic primary debate will no longer have a live studio audience.
MBABANE - Fresh from scoring a victory against Medscheme, SwaziMed has been taken to court by The Clinic Group (PTY) Limited.



This comes after SwaziMed, in its report, partly blamed The Clinic Group (PTY) Limited for its (SwaziMed) low surplus in 2018.



In its directors report, SwaziMed reported that it recorded a surplus of E51 457 484 in 2018 compared to a surplus of E78 579 273 in 2017.



According to the fund, the reasons for the lower surplus in 2018 were inter alia, an increase in benefits of 6.5 per cent and 10 per cent increase in risk claims due to additional claims paid dating back to the period between 2012 and 2016.

These claims were paid to the Clinic Group which took advantage of the fact that the fund could not verify them as it did not have the data for the period which was withheld by Medscheme, reads part of the report.



Decision



The Board of the fund further stated that it took a decision to relieve its members from the alleged traumatic conduct and legal action taken against them by the Clinic Group.



Other factors that attributed to the low surplus were; zero increase in contributions in 2018 and contribution paid to TopMed on behalf of SwaziMed students who are studying in South Africa. These are allegations whose veracity is still to be tested in court. The Clinic Group (PTY) Limited, which comprises Manzini Clinic Private Hospital, Mbabane Clinic, Matsapha Health Centre and Trauma Link, has since taken SwaziMed to court where it is challenging some of the contents of its report.



Statement



The applicant (The Clinic Group) is seeking an order directing SwaziMed to remove the statement in paragraph nine on Page three, third bullet point, of the directors report in respect of the payment of claims.



It is further praying for an order directing the respondent (SwaziMed) to communicate an apology to all shareholders of the respondent and all other persons or companies to whom the directors report was communicated.



The applicant views the allegations made about it as defamatory and wants same to be declared to be defamatory and false.

In his founding affidavit, Dr Mark Mills, who is the Clinic Group Medical Director, averred that what was startling was that when one had regard to the schedule, there were other reasons for the drop in the recorded surplus, which SwaziMed allegedly failed to mention at all.

According to Mills, the respondent failed to mention a drop in premium income by E2 587 907, an increase in administration expenses by E955 848 and a decrease in investment income of E8 083 344.



Fraudulent



These factors were pertinent to the drop in surplus of almost 42 per cent, but are not mentioned at all in the narration that follows from the schedule. Instead, what is highlighted is so-called fraudulent conduct on the part of the applicant, which is clearly mala fide on the part of the respondent, argued Mills.



He said it was disappointing that even though The Clinic Group was a shareholder of the respondent, Swazi Med allegedly did not even approach the applicant at all on this issue.



Mills told the court that The Clinic Group would have been happy to provide an explanation regarding any of the claims that it had submitted had SwaziMed taken time to enquire.



He narrated that on March 5, 2020, the applicants attorney addressed a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Swaziland Medical Aid Funds, Peter Simelane, in which it referred to the statement in the report which was allegedly untrue, incorrect and defamatory to the applicant.



Mills averred that the letter from the applicants attorney drew attention to the implication contained in the statement that The Clinic Group was allegedly engaged in fraudulent conduct by making claims to which it was not entitled to. He told the court that The Clinic Groups attorney demanded a retraction of the statement and its replacement in a factually correct statement and the issuing of an unreserved apology on or before March 6, 2020.



He submitted that in a letter dated March 6, 2020, the fund contended that the report was factually accurate. The report has been circulated to all shareholders of the respondent, many of whom are customers of the respondent.

The list includes Eswatini Electricity Company, Eswatini Post and Telecommunication Corporation, First National Bank, Standard Bank, Central Bank of Eswatini, Inyatsi Construction, Kirsh Holding, Conco, Eswatini Beverages, Eswatini MTN, Eswatini National Housing Board, Waterford KaMhlaba, Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to name but a few, contended Mills.

He further argued that many of these were customers of the applicant and in the case of Conco; the applicant operates a clinic for all its staff, as such, the alleged defamatory nature of the statements was extremely damaging to the applicant.



Dishonestly



According to Mills, the words in the report allegedly conveyed to a reasonable reader that The Clinic Group (PTY) Limited had acted dishonestly or fraudulently by taking advantage of claims which could allegedly not be verified. He further claimed that the words also conveyed to a reasonable reader that the applicant improperly subjected patients to traumatic conduct by taking legal actions against them. Mills submitted that the applicant was within its rights to take legal action against SwaziMed members for services rendered.

He alleged that this was moreso, because although the service was provided to the members of SwaziMed, when payment was made by the respondent, this was done directly to its members as opposed to the applicant.



Mills stated that in many instances, the members who received payment from SwaziMed did not remit those funds to the applicant. He insisted that the applicant was within its right to institute legal proceedings for services rendered and for which it had not been paid.



Reputation



The applicant contended that it had a prima facie right to the protection of its dignity and reputation. The Clinic Group further pointed out that it had been providing medical services in the Kingdom of Eswatini since 1960 and in this period, it had gained a reputation of being the foremost provider of medical services in the country.



The applicant further argued that it had invested heavily in human capital and technology to ensure that it could provide First World medical services in Eswatini on par to that provided in South Africa.



In that regard, the applicant can provide a wide range of medical services in every field of anatomy. This has come at a substantial capital investment over the years and a scurrilous accusation such as that has been made by the respondent, to its major customers and clients, is an infringement of the protection of its dignity and reputation, submitted the applicant.



Judge Titus Mlangeni yesterday issued an interim order directing SwaziMed to remove the statement in paragraph 9 on Page 3, third bullet point, of the directors report containing allegations in respect of the payment of claims to The Clinic Group. The judge directed that when it comes to item 9, third bullet, the chairman of the meeting will have to state that there is a court order preventing discussion of same.

He said during the meeting which is listed for today, the shareholders can discuss all other items save for the issue relating to payments of the claims to the Clinic Group. The interim will be in operation pending finalisation of the application.

The application is vigorously opposed by SwaziMed, which is represented by senior lawyer Mangaliso Magagula of Magagula Hlophe Attorneys.



The applicant was represented by Advocate Patrick Flynn, who has been instructed by Earl John Henwood. The merits of the matter will be heard by the court on April 16, 2020 where the respondent will show cause why the interim order should not be made final.
11 March 2020

TO WHOMSOEVER IT CONCERN

SEEKING REDRESSAL FROM Mr DUMEBI KACHIKWU FOR NON-PAYMENT OF N1 MEDIAS DUES

With my 30 years of media experience across geographies as varied as Middle east, South East Asia, US and UK, my company N1 Media took up the offer to set up a multi-media platform for Promoter Dumebi Kachikwu of Platinum Plus TV at Abuja in Nigeria.

I signed a contract with Dumebi Kachikwu of Platinum Plus TV in good faith. The contract started in May 2018. A team from India was deployed directly under my supervision and that of my co-promoter who spent a lot of time in Abuja setting up operations for Roots TV, the brand name given to the project by Dumebi. Right from content formulation, digital strategy, local recruitment of Nigerian personnel, training, technical aspects were all done by my team under our direct supervision.

Operating out of a makeshift set up from a villa in Maitama area, Abuja, we were able to redefine the content landscape to a great extent. Our rich and varied India and international experience of Launching broadcast/digital networks held in good stead as we broke the mould. There was intense focus on creating content that was sharp, report driven, interviews where direct questions were asked.

Roots TV was suddenly noticed and applauded. The views and subscriber base increased. Content spoke for itself before June 2019 on their website. During Nigerias general elections  (Feb to May), our team delivered ground breaking content and led the local newsroom team in putting together innovative coverage.

As the operations got smoother, our monthly payments were held up. It became routine matter to sit on a 3-month payment cycle. There were other unreasonable demands made regarding induction of human resource and working on simultaneous projects for launch of a media school, film city and radio station, which were way beyond the purview of the contract The India crew was broken up and co-opted in direct violation of the agreement. Matters reached a head when our monthly retainer was held back for 4 months running. Also, despite each and every air ticket being approved prior to travel, payment has not been made to the travel agent for up to seven tickets.

Without any warning our contract was terminated verbally in an internal meeting in May 2019 in our absence. This despite him in an internal meeting (on video) praising the Indian team and telling the Roots TV staff that the project would not have come so far without our direction. Till date, there had been NO written communication saying the contract was over. Repeated reminders via mail, calls and texts elicited no response.

This not only gives Nigeria a bad name but also exposes frailties in the system as it is being abused and manipulated.

I bring this to your notice in the hope of getting redressal and creating awareness.

During the course of our stint in Nigeria, we interacted with several of Mr. Kachikwus vendors  architects, contractors, set designers, broadcast equipment manufacturers, systems integrators and who have unpalatable stories to tell.

We have worked in Bangladesh, Pakistan, UK, Indonesia, Malaysia,Kuwait and never encountered issues like the one we have in Abuja.

We want justice and redressal. We also appeal to Nigerian authorities to create a conducive climate for overseas consultants to work there without fearing criminal contempt and being defrauded.

Documentary proof with us:

1. Signed Contract

2. Video recording of Mr. Kachikwu publicly acknowledging the work done by us

3. Proof on whatsapp of air tickets approved by Mr. Kachikwu

4. Monthly and biweekly updates on email of work done by us and our team

5. Proof of demands to work on projects over than TV stations as well as proof of work delivered by us

Regards

Arup Ghosh

CEO

www.nnismedia.com

arup@network1media.com

+919811175117
Triggering a fresh controversy, West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday wrote to state election commissioner Saurabh Das, asking him to dispel the impression that the commission was merely an extension of the state government, avert undue governmental impact and seek additional forces other than the state police.

Political analysts said his move was unprecedented but not unconstitutional. It is being seen as one to put the election commissioner under pressure to deploy central paramilitary forces and has irked the states ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, as they believe that the governors intention is to discredit the state administration and the state police force.

To avert such unwholesome scenario as also sabotage of the election process by violence, undue governmental impact or otherwise, as state election commissioner you need to take pre-emptive and timely call as regards seeking assistance of additional force/s other than the police by invoking your authority and in terms of constitutional provisions make a timely request to that effect, Dhankhar wrote in his letter to Das on Thursday.

The state election commission must take all steps to dispel fears and impressions that it is an extension of the government and must engage in effective dialogue with all stakeholders with an open mind, including for fixing the dates for polls, Dhankhar wrote.

He argued that the steps he had been taking were based on the experiences of the 2013 and 2018 rural elections. The polls, conducted by the state election commission, witnessed widespread violence, unleashed mostly by the states ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party.

TMC criticized the governors letter. Party spokesperson Snehasis Chakraborty said, The governor is crossing his limits and trying to impose self-importance. Our government does not interfere with the operations of the election commission. Our party is committed to ensuring a free and fair election. The elections would be free from malpractices even without his pro-active measures.

Incidentally, the Mamata Banerjee government had previously been against calling in police from other states and central paramilitary forces for civic and rural elections. The government had argued that the state police were efficient enough to handle the situation.

According to psephologist Biswanath Chakraborty, a professor of political science at Rabindra Bharati University, The governors letter would please the opposition parties, exert pressure on the state government and the state election commission and would also bring to prominence the role of the governor in ensuring free and fair elections.

Dhankhar, over the past few days, has been trying to mount pressure on the state election commissioner over the conduction of the civic polls in about 100 civic bodies likely to be held in April. His moves have irked TMC because the party is focussed on ensuring an election free from violence and other malpractices as part of its image makeover drive.

TMC analysed that making people angry with their highhandedness during the rural elections cost them havoc in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, which was conducted by the Election Commission of India, and had been largely free and fair.

On March 3, during a meeting with the partys district unit leaders, Mamata Banerjees nephew Abhishek Banerjee and the partys political advisor, Prashant Kishore, categorically asked district unit leaders to refrain from adopting any kind of malpractice during the civic elections to pre-empt adverse impact in the all-important 2021 Assembly elections.

BJP state unit president Dilip Ghosh said that the governor had done the right thing to ensure the democratic rights of the people of Bengal.

Everybody knows how keen TMC has been in conducting free and fair elections. Besides, no one trusts the state police. TMCs commitment for conducting a malpractice free election is a farce, Ghosh said.
An investor looks at stock boards at a securities company in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

The VN-Index plunged 5.19 percent to 769.25 points Thursday, taking its total loss this week to 13.71 percent.

344 stocks lost and just 53 gained on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), Vietnams main bourse on which VN-Index is based, with as many as 117 hitting their floor prices.

Order-matched transactions were VND4.35 trillion ($195.07 million), the highest level in the past month. Transaction volume averaged VND2.77 trillion ($124.22 million) per session in February.

The VN30-Index for the bourses 30 biggest market caps also tumbled 5.14 percent, with 29 stocks in the red and one keeping its opening price. 16 tickers in this basket closed at their floor prices this session.

Six stocks which closed at their floor price belonged to the banking sector, three of them state-owned lenders. BID of BIDV and VCB of Vietcombank, two of Vietnams three biggest lenders by assets, shed 7 percent and 6.9 percent respectively, while MBB of mid-sized Military Bank fell 6.9 percent.

The three mid-sized private banks to lose big were TCB of Techcombank, HDB of HDBank, and VPB of VPBank, which fell between 7 percent and 6.8 percent each.

All three oil and gas stocks on the VN30 were also among those that hit their floor prices. PLX of major petroleum distributor Petrolimex and POW of electricity generator PetroVietnam Power both dropped 7 percent, while GAS of energy giant PetroVietnam Gas shed 6.9 percent.

Three other big losers were in retail, namely MWG of electronics store chain Mobile World, PNJ of jewelry retail chain PhuNhuan Jewelry, and VRE of mall operator Vincom Retail.

MWG in particular, had its floor price Tuesday, when the Ministry of Health confirmed that one of their employees at a store in central Da Nang City had contracted the novel coronavirus, prompting Mobile World to shut down that store and also request permission from local authorities to delay their annual general meeting, set to take place on March 27.

The remaining tickers that hit floor prices included CTD of construction giant Coteccons, ROS of real estate developer FLC Faros, BVH of insurance giant Bao Viet Group, and SBT of agricultural firm TTC-Sugar.

The best performing stocks this session were MSN of food conglomerate Masan Group, which kept its opening price, NVL of real estate developer Novaland, down 0.4 percent, and EIB of private Eximbank, down 0.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the HNX-Index for stocks on Hanoi Stock Exchange, Vietnams second main bourse for small and midcap stocks, shed 3.41 percent, and the UPCoM-Index for unlisted public companies lost 2.97 percent.

Foreign investors were net sellers for the 23rd consecutive session on all three bourses, with a net sell value of VND430 billion ($18.45 million).

Losses in the first four sessions this week have cumulatively wiped out around VND552 trillion ($23.69 billion) worth of market cap on all three bourses, according to data on brokerage portals.

Asian markets were also a sea of red on Thursday, with traders rushing to offload stocks after the World Health Organization officially declared Covid-19 a pandemic Wednesday.

Japans Nikkei 225 went down 4.41 percent, South Koreas Kospi, 3.87 percent and Hong Kongs Hang Seng, 3.52 percent. Mainland Chinas indices Shanghai Composite and Shenzhen Component dropped 1.52 percent and 2.31 percent respectively.
Czech Republic Shuts Borders to Travelers From 15 Countries

The Czech Republic will close its borders to travelers crossing from Germany and Austria and also ban the entry of foreigners coming from other risky countries, in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Thursday.

Czechs will also be barred from traveling to those countries, and to and from and other countries deemed risky, effective starting Saturday (2300 GMT on Friday).

The full list includes other European Union members Italy, Sweden, Norway, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and Denmark, and also Britain, Switzerland, China, Korea, and Iran.

A worker in a protective suit disinfects a tram due to coronavirus concerns in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 12, 2020. (David W Cerny/Reuters)

International public transport vehicles with more than nine seats will also be banned from crossing borders.

Under a state of emergency declared for 30 days, the Prague government also banned international passenger transport, but kept freight business open.

Babis told a news conference the government would also ban public events of more than 30 people and impose closures of places such as sport centers, spa services, and galleries.

Restaurants must close by 8 p.m. and refreshments at shopping malls will be banned altogether.

A man walks through an empty amusement park, as the Czech government bans events hosting more than 100 people to contain the spread of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Prague, Czech Republic, on March 11, 2020. (David W Cerny/Reuters)

It is clear there will be economic impacts. But now we have to do everything for the virus not to spread, to avoid having it here without control, Babis said. If we see the measures do not have sufficient effect, we will take more.

Some border crossings were to be shut while others would be manned by police. Exceptions will be given to foreigners with residency in the Czech Republic and to cross-border workers.

The Czech Republic reported 96 cases of the coronavirus on Thursday. There have been no known deaths from the disease in the central European country.

By Jan Lopatka and Robert Muller
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 12, 2020 / On June 24, 2019, Jim Bellino filed a lawsuit in Orange County for defamation against podcaster Heather McDonald. The complaint alleges that McDonald's podcast guests, Tamra Judge and Shannon Beador, said false statements about Jim and his divorce from former Real Housewives of Orange County cast member, Alexis Bellino.

The First Amendment does not permit public figures to silence critics through lawsuits costing tens of thousands of dollars. For this reason, McDonald's attorney, Jeff Lewis, filed an anti-SLAPP motion to request a dismissal of the defamation lawsuit.

On March 9, 2020, Judge Layne Melzer granted the motion and dismissed Bellino's defamation case.

This WIN for Heather McDonald protects the rights of podcasters to report the news whether it is a report about a world peace summit or celebrity gossip. Fortunately, California has enacted an anti-SLAPP law which allows defendants like McDonald to get to the front of the line and obtain a quick dismissal of a case.

# # #

About Heather McDonald

Heather McDonald is the host of the #1 PopCulture PODCAST - JUICY SCOOP. The show is available on the iTunes Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and iHeartRadio app. Heather is a 2 Time Best Selling NY Author, Headlining comedian Showtime and Netflix and podcaster

Heather wrote, produced and appeared on E!'s top-rated show CHELSEA LATELY for its entire 7-year run. She also starred in AFTER LATELY, a mockumentary series on E! for its 3 successful seasons. For more information about Heather go to www.HeatherMcDonald.NET

To arrange an interview please email:

Peter Dobias.

818-649-9696

HeatherMcdonaldManagement@gmail.com

About Jeff Lewis

Jeff Lewis Law is a First Amendment attorney who regularly represents defendants who speak their mind and are unfairly targeted with lawsuits. For more information about Jeff Lewis, see, https://www.jefflewislaw.com/practice-areas/anti-slapp-and-first-amendment

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Doctors in China have urged male coronavirus patients to test their fertility as soon as they recover because the infection may damage the function of their testicles.

No study has proved that the virus will reduce mens fertility or s.e.xual potency.

But medics in Wuhan have suggested the likelihood that the disease can affect the production of sperm and the formation of male s.e.x hormones.

Although the coronavirus mainly targets ones lungs and immune system, it can, in theory, impair a mans abilities to reproduce, according to Wuhans Tongji Hospital.



The comments were made yesterday by Prof Li Yufeng and his team at the hospitals Centre for Reproductive Medicine.

According to the experts, the new coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, enters human cells and

causes tissue damage by binding its spike protein to cell membrane protein angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

ACE2 is known to be present in other human organs apart from the lungs and can especially be abundant in a mans testes. It can be concentrated in several cells which are directly related to the male reproductive abilities, including the germ cells, supporting cells and Leydig cells, the team claimed.

They added that during the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003, medics observed serious immune system damage in the testicles of some male patients.

Even though doctors did not detect the SARS coronavirus, or SARS-CoV, in patients testicles, they could suffer inflammation in their s.e.xual organs, the study said.

Since the new coronavirus is highly similar to the SARS coronavirus and the two share the same host cell receptor ACE2, the team concluded that, in theory, the new coronavirus could cause damage to mens testicles.

Therefore, for men who have had the infection, especially those who need to reproduce, it is best to undergo relevant fertility tests, such as sperm quality and hormone level tests, upon recovery to detect possible problems as soon as possible, a hospital report wrote.

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A Philadelphia sheriffs deputy was released from the hospital early Wednesday after being shot the night before during an attempted robbery in Yeadon, police said.

The 35-year-old deputy was released from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center around 3 a.m. after being treated for a gunshot wound to his buttocks, said Yeadon Borough Police Chief Anthony Paparo.

Two male suspects remained at large Wednesday night.

Just before 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, the deputy and a woman acquaintance had arrived in an SUV at his home in the 1300 block of Alfred Drive when he was confronted by an armed man and an accomplice, Paparo said.

The gunman demanded his valuables and the deputy put down his mobile phone, Paparo said. It appeared the armed man may have tried to fire his gun but was having a problem and the deputy attempted to flee. The gunman fired two shots, hitting the deputy once. The woman was not hurt.

Surveillance video shows an unknown vehicle appear nearby when the deputy arrived home and the suspects apparently then took off in the same vehicle.

A spokesperson with the Philadelphia Sheriffs Office could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
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: 12 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 30,700 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,346 pence 16.83 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,298 pence 16.23 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,315 pence 16.44 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 12 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 24,628 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 16.90 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 16.38 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 16.63 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 12 March 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 33,241 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 17.12 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 16.32 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 16.67 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 202,473,464 Public Shares outstanding, or 208,172,965 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 8,483,286 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005818/en/

Contacts:

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Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
[Spoiler alert: Greys Anatomy Season 16, Episode 16.] On March 5, Greys Anatomy fans bid a tearful farewell to Alex Karev (Justin Chambers). After 15 years with the original character, viewers were prepared to feel emotional about the exit. Even so, the way Alex left Grey Sloan Memorial had fans in an outrage, and many fans wondered why the writers didnt just kill him off. But does his survival mean Alex will return to Greys Anatomy sometime in the future? Clearly, judging from the way the characters arc ended, anything is possible.

Why Did Alex Karev leave Greys Anatomy in season 16?

Justin Chambers as Alex Karev on Greys Anatomy | Tony Rivetti/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

For the past few episodes of Greys Anatomy Season 16, Alex has been MIA, ghosting everyone, including his wife, Jo (Camilla Luddington), and his person, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). Then in the 16th episode  titled Leave a Light On  the Shondaland series finally revealed what happened to the Alex.

At the start of the episode, Meredith, Jo, Bailey (Chandra Wilson), and Richard (James Pickens Jr.) receive letters from Alex, who reveals he isnt coming back to Seattle. Apparently, Alex is now on a farm in Kansas with Izzie (Katherine Heigl) and their two kids, Alexis and Eli.

In his letter to Meredith, Alex explains he reconnected with Izzie when reaching out for her medical license hearing. He then learned Izzie gave birth to twins from the embryos they made when she was diagnosed with cancer. Alex also admits he is still in love with Izzie. So he wants to stay in Kansas with the surgical oncologist and raise their children together. Meanwhile, Alex sends Jo signed divorce papers and his shares at Grey Sloan Memorial.

Why Alex Karev could return to Greys Anatomy after his exit

Following the Greys Anatomy Season 16 episode on March 5, fans were upset over Alexs exit. Many thought the departure felt out of character, particularly with how he left Jo. Then some fans wondered why the ABC drama didnt decide to kill off the character. But according to Us Weekly, Alex lived on Greys Anatomy so Chambers could return if he chooses to do so in the future.

The reason he wasnt killed off is because Shonda Rhimes is leaving the door open for a return, in any capacity, if he wants to come back, an unnamed source said.

Meanwhile, the source revealed Chambers left because of the grueling schedule of filming Greys. It has taken a toll. However, another source told the publication the actors departure had nothing to do with the show, cast or producers.

Regardless, its clear Chambers  and Alex  will still be able to come back to Greys Anatomy if and when he chooses. And remember, Pompeos dream ending for the Shondaland series involves the return of original characters  but they have to be alive.

Id love to have some of the old cast come back, like the original cast, Pompeo said on The Late Late Show With James Corden. But that probably wont happen. But that would be the most amazing way to end. The actress then shared it may not happen because some of them were killed on the show.

Krista Vernoff sends off Greys Anatomys Alex Karev

Clearly, Alex is alive and well on Greys Anatomy. So for now, Chambers is in the same boat as other beloved characters who walked away  such as Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), April Kepner (Sarah Drew), Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw), and Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez). The door is always open.

But even if Chambers doesnt choose to return to Greys Anatomy in the future, theres no denying Alexs impact on the fandom. As showrunner Krista Vernoff wrote on Twitter:

It is nearly impossible to say goodbye to Alex Karev. That is as true for me and for all of the writers at Greys Anatomy as it is for the fans. We have loved writing Alex. And we have loved watching Justin Chambers nuanced portrayal of him. For 16 seasons, 16 years, we have grown up alongside Alex Karev. We have been frustrated by his limitations and we have been inspired by his growth and we have come to love him deeply and to think of him as one of our very best friends. We will miss him terribly. And we will always be grateful for his impact, on our show, on our hearts, on our fans, on the world.

Greys Anatomy Season 16 airs Thursday nights on ABC.

Read more: The Bachelor: Peter Weber Debunked 3 Theories About How the Finale Ends and Honestly, Were Disappointed
BJP leaderand senior MLA Sudhir



Mungantiwar on Thursday made a startling acknowledgmentin the Maharashtra Assembly, saying his party had "ditched" the one-time ally Shiv Sena and termed it as a "mistake" which will be rectified one day.

The former Maharashtra minister made the remarks during his speech on budgetary demands.

After the collapse of the saffron alliance, the Shiv Sena went on to form government with help from its then political rivals, the NCP and the Congress, in November last year under the leadership of party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Looking towards the treasury benches, Mungantiwarsaid the "chief ministeris your friend for three months, but our relationsdate back 30 years ago", highlighting the long- standing BJP-Sena ties.

To which, some membersfrom the treasury benches commented "still you ditched them".

"Yes, we ditched the Shiv Sena, but don'ttry to take advantage of our mistake. One day we will rectifyit," said Mungantiwar.

The BJP leader told Congress and NCP legislators that just like Madhya Pradesh, there will be a Jyotiraditya Scindia in Maharashtra too, but did not elaborate.

Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday and joined the BJP the next day.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP was not presentin the house during Mungantiwar's speech.

The saffron alliance collapsed on the issue of sharing power after the October 2019 Assembly polls which the BJP and the Sena fought jointly and secured majority.

Ahead of government formation, the Sena insisted on rotational chief ministership and an equal share in distribution of portfolios, a demand rejected by the BJP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, March 12 (Reuters) - High yield bonds suffered more pain on Thursday, with a high yield bond exchange traded fund falling to the lowest level since February 2016 and credit default swap indices tracking U.S. corporate bonds widening sharply.

The spread of the Spread of high yield CDX index rose to 706 basis points, the widest since November 2011.

The SPDR Bloomberg Barclays high yield bond ETF fell to the lowest since February 2016.

The iShares iBoxx high yield bond ETF fell to its lowest since February 2016.

Investor worries about corporate credit are heating up as the coronavirus spreads, with the prices of bond funds taking a hit, companies starting to draw on credit lines and some market watchers warning of the possibility that investors pull out of products.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has implemented several precautions to protect against the spread of coronavirus, according to a spokesman, and it remains open as the cancellations of sporting events and other gatherings mount.

Eric Schippers, the senior vice president of public affairs for Penn National Gaming, told PennLive in an email that Hollywood Casino is monitoring information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Schippers also provided a list of actions the casino has taken to promote health and safety of patrons and employees:

Increased fresh air circulation

More frequent public restroom cleaning rotations

Additional sanitation stations in high volume areas and convention space

Increased sanitation of door handles and gaming devices

Regular sanitation of menus after each guest use in all food and beverage venues

Continued awareness amongst team members regarding cleanliness and sanitation, i.e. handwashing

Additional carpet cleaning rotation in high volume areas

More frequent cleaning of elevator buttons

Rivers Casino in Philadelphia is also keeping its doors open for the time being.

Along with our community and the entire country, were actively monitoring the situation and adjusting our plans, policies and operating procedures as new information becomes available, a representative for Rivers Casino wrote in a statement. The health and well-being of our Team Members and guests is our highest priority.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN PENNSYLVANIA: Click to see where cases of the coronavirus are in Pennsylvania are located.



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.
UTRECHT, Netherlands, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultimaker , the global leader in desktop 3D printing, today announced that ERIKS, a provider of technical components and services to all sections of industry worldwide, has scaled up the 3D printing production capacity for its OEM and MRO customers. ERIKS equipped its production facilities in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, with multiple Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundles, to co-engineer with customers and offer them full support in identifying, designing and printing applications. A special Clean Manufacturing Facility offers EC1935/2004 manufacturing to customers of ERIKS in need for food-safe parts.

ERIKS has 7,500 skilled people working at more than 300 locations worldwide, serving industrial customers in 22 different industries. Sander Splinter, Managing Director at ERIKS Netherlands: "We see enormous potential in 3D printing for industrial purposes. By combining our industry, product and application knowledge with the accessible and reliable 3D printing solutions from Ultimaker, we can fully support our customers in co-engineering parts with more speed and design freedom when using injection moulding. In 2019, we managed to save over 350,000 euro only by implementing 3D printed production aids and eliminating safety hazards in our own facilities. We are now gradually helping our customers to benefit from 3D printing, by advising them based on data analysis on which parts are suitable to print, but also through site-scans at their facilities. Based on these visits we can co-engineer and print the identified applications on the Ultimaker S5 Pro Bundle, guaranteeing quality, reproducibility and reliability of the parts according to their specific industry standards."

Job van de Sande, Head of Technology Sealing & Polymer Technology at ERIKS: "For parts and tools used in environments in which food is produced, for instance, we developed the ERIKS' Clean Manufacturing Facility. This space is EC1935/2004 compliant for its manufacturing, has dedicated clean production areas and a large-scale ISO Class 6 cleanroom. In addition to the European food safe compliances, we are currently working on earning the same food-safe FDA compliances and certifications for 3D printing as well. This would enable us to 3D print certified parts and tools that can be used in an atmosphere in which food is produced."

Jos Burger, CEO at Ultimaker: "As shown in the 3D Printing Sentiment Index, only 35 percent of companies have adopted additive manufacturing, while in many industries worldwide margins are currently under high pressure. Efficiency is key to bring a competitive edge and 3D printing plays a major role in this, as ERIKS experienced first-hand with achieving their impressive cost-and time savings. I am proud to see how ERIKS shares their industry specific expertise and combines it with our reliable Ultimaker ecosystem. I am positive that this collaboration helps to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing and that together we will make the industry work better."

For more information about how ERIKS uses Ultimaker S5 printers to scale up production, please read our blogpost and watch the video.

About ERIKS

ERIKS is an international service partner for industrial OEM and MRO customers, providing them with a wide range of high-quality technical products and associated technical and logistics services. ERIKS currently has branches in 17 countries, with a strong position in Western Europe, the United States and a presence in South-east Asia. Our 7,500 skilled people worldwide serve customers in their original equipment manufacturing (OEM) and maintenance, repair and overhaul operations (MRO). If required, we can also integrate into our customers' businesses to establish an even closer and more responsive working relationship. Our technical know-how is our major strength. ERIKS.com

About Ultimaker

Since 2011, Ultimaker has built an open and easy-to-use solution of 3D printers, software and materials that enable professional designers and engineers to innovate every day. Today, Ultimaker is the market leader in desktop 3D printing. From offices in the Netherlands, New York, Boston, and Singapore  plus production facilities in Europa and the US  its global team of over 400 employees work together to accelerate the world's transition to digital distribution and local manufacturing. Ultimaker.com

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Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) meets with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (L) and European Council President Donald Tusk (2nd L) during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on July 16, 2018. (Ng Han Guan/AFP/Getty Images)

China-EU Summit to Be Postponed Due to Coronavirus: Sources

BRUSSELSA summit planned for the end of March in Beijing between China and the European Union is set to be postponed due to the coronavirus, two EU officials and two diplomats said, in a blow for the blocs efforts to pressure the Chinese over free trade.

China never publicly gave a date for the meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the new European Commission and European Council presidents, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, but EU diplomats said March 30-31 had been agreed.

The summit is set to be postponed, but not canceled, one senior EU diplomat told Reuters, echoing information from other diplomats and officials who tried to prepare the meeting.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Postponement robs the EU of a chance to push the Chinese regime to make good on its promise in April last year to give European companies equal treatment in China and put an end to a practice of forcing foreign companies to share sensitive know-how when operating in China.

A series of preparatory meetings in Beijing and visits to Brussels by senior Chinese officials, including top trade negotiator Vice Premier Liu He, have all been canceled in recent weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic.

China Paralyzed

That makes a summit virtually impossible to hold because little negotiation has been carried out to seal deals at the summit on areas from trade to green energy investments.

China has been paralyzed. Everything is complicated by the coronavirus, an EU official said.

While all 27 EU leaders and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are still due to meet in the German city of Leipzig in September, EU diplomats hoped to use the March meeting as a building block for a breakthrough on trade in Leipzig.

Brussels wants to strike an investment agreement with Beijing at the Leipzig summit. EU trade chief Phil Hogan has said that to do so, negotiations would largely have to be completed in July, but that a lot of time had already been lost.

An EU official close to the talks said that the two sides had not even started on a common official declaration for the March summit, seen as an essential step for progress to be made.

In the past, such EU-China summits were seen mainly as feel-good gatherings to cement ties between two economies defending an open global economy based on multilateral rules.

But French President Emmanuel Macron has called for an end to naivety about Chinese power. And the European Commission, the EU executive, last year labeled the Chinese regime a systemic rival.

Many European governments have felt frustration at what they say is the Chinese regimes failure to keep its promise to open up.

A second senior EU diplomat said China could try to use Leipzig as a huge propaganda machine to show close ties with the EU, the worlds biggest trade bloc, in contrast to Chinas trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump.

By Robin Emmott and Francesco Guarascio
In the wake of the coronavirus



outbreak, 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 February 24, was earlier scheduled till March 20.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab announced in the Assembly the decision of the Legislature's business advisory committee to curtail the budget session.

A proposal to curtail the session was tabled in the House and approved by members.

Parab said the state budget, which was presented on March 6, and the Appropriation Bill will be passed on Saturday.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "Health of people is more important and legislators need to go back to their constituencies."



Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a meeting on Wednesday with senior state ministers, presiding officers of both the Houses and leaders of opposition in the Assembly and Council to take a decision on curtailing the session.

Pawar on Wednesday made it clear that the session was being curtailed not out of fear of the coronavirus, but to prevent strain on the administration.

Eleven people from Maharashtra have so far tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, former state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said in the Assembly that 102 Indian students, including two from Mumbai, were stranded at the Rome airport.

He urged the state government to contact the Ministry of External Affairs and the Italian embassy to ensure their return to India.

Chavan also said that 44 tourists from Kolhapur and Sangli in Maharashtra were stranded in Iran.

BJP MLA Atul Bhatkalkar said four people from suburban Mumbai were stranded in Tehran.

He said a special desk should be set up by the state government to enable the stranded citizens from the state to contact the authorities.

Former BJP minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said the government should not call meetings of officials from different parts of the state.

To this, Ajit Pawar said efforts will be made to ensure meetings are held through video-conferencing, instead of asking the officials to come to Mumbai.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian textile and chemical industries have a big opportunity to grow as most of the Chinese companies are not working right now due to coronavirus outbreak, financial advisory firm Findoc Group said on Thursday.

Findoc MD Hemant Sood said that on account of factory closures in China, supply chain network has got disrupted which resulted in shortage, especially in electronic goods, medicines and bulk drugs.

"Indian textile industry and chemical industry has a big opportunity to grow as most of the Chinese companies are not working right now. Additionally no European and American company is importing from China. India has becomes the obvious choice in such a case. Billions of dollars opportunity is awaiting for these industries," he said in a statement.

He added that coronavirus can become an opportunity to buy cheaper for consumers and Indian companies can also create opportunities for themselves.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A group of Menomonie eighth-graders is looking to their futures.

With an eye toward college, 27 students agreed to be part of a new embedded degree program agreement between Chippewa Valley Technical College and the Menomonie school district that would allow them to earn an associate degree in business management during their four years in high school.

Those students were part of a signing day at the high school auditorium on Wednesday morning to be part of the first group to join the associate degree academy.

The district has already offered a number of dual credit classes for students to earn CVTC credit and as the number of courses grew, this type of partnership was the next step to work toward, assistant superintendent Brian Seguin said. The new opportunity also aligns well with the districts strategic plan pillar of creating college, career and life ready graduates.

We had some conversation around transcripted credits and how do we transition more courses to a dual credit environment and that led to some additional coursework and some additional courses, Seguin said.

CVTC President Bruce Barker said education has long followed a step-by-step path but that doesnt always work for all students. Its time to break down the barriers in education and do whats best for the student, parents and community, he said. Accelerating that educational path opens new opportunities and can save families money.

We know students can progress much faster than that, Barker said of typical path. We knew oftentimes students are spinning their wheel because theyre ready to go forward, theyre ready to take on new challenges but we are still following our old formula.

CVTC already has agreements with River Falls and Eau Claire school districts to offer the embedded associate degree.

Jaedyn Spiess is one of the students who has joined the program. For Spiess, the decision was based on her desire to pursue a career in business.

At this point she isnt sure if shed like to pursue more education beyond an associate degree, but saving money while taking classes shes already interested in made the decision simple.

I knew I wanted a business degree and it would just be easier to get it now so that I dont have to spend money and more time in the future to get, and I would be taking the same classes in high school, she said.

The high school has other dual credit opportunities beyond business with academies for nursing, electricians, industrial mechanics and fine arts. Seguin said the district is looking into other embedded degree opportunities in the future at a school board meeting in November.

The students will go through some orientation this summer before beginning with a few courses in their freshman year.

Students would take a combination of on-site courses offered by the high school along with taking courses with CVTC staff brought in to teach in areas the district doesnt have staff in place or have staff certified. The district would pay the tuition cost per student and CVTC would cover the cost of its instructors.

High school principal Casey Drake said its a goal that students explore their interests in high school and find a pathway to prepare themselves for careers in those areas. The business management program is a way students can begin that discovery as soon as they enter high school, he said.

I think this program is a really good example of how we can do that and really get specific with students who are interested in certain pathway early on and really support them throughout their high school career, Drake said.

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CHICAGO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi said today that homeowners concerned about the Covid-19 coronavirus can stay home to pay property taxes, check for refunds, file for exemptions and appeals online at their respective websites.

"For those concerned about their health, we want everyone to know they can pay their property taxes and file for exemptions and appeals online," Pappas and Kaegi said. "Our technologies and investments make it possible to stay healthy and not feel burdened by a visit to our offices."

Pappas said property owners should pay property taxes and check for refunds at cookcountytreasurer.com, while Kaegi said owners can file for exemptions and appeals at cookcountyassessor.com.

"The point is to stay safe," they said. "If you can conduct this necessary business online we encourage you to do it."

SOURCE Cook County Treasurer's Office

Related Links

http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com


Minnesota State colleges and universities are expanding spring break and suspending all out-of-state business-related travel starting March 16 to help limit the spread of COVID-19, while Saint Marys University is canceling two days of school and moving all classes to online.

Minnesota State chancellor Devinder Malhotra announced Thursday that campuses on spring break currently will not have classes resume until March 23, expanding the break by an extra week.

The five campuses in the system that were expected to have spring break from March 16-20 will have theirs expanded until March 30.

During this extra week, campus employees will spend that week exploring alternative modes of delivery and adjust campus learning spaces to ensure the safety of our communities, Malhotra said.

The campuses will stay open during the break, which includes residence halls, dining facilities and student support services.

Both Winona State University and Minnesota State College Southeast are on spring break currently. More information specifically about these local campuses is expected to be released soon.

Minnesota State is continuously reviewing a range of strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19 and its impact on our campuses and the communities in which we live and serve, Malhotra said in the statement.

I am committed to taking all steps necessary, in consultation with administrative and statewide faculty leadership, to protect the health and safety of our faculty, our staff and our students. I am also tremendously grateful to all of the faculty and staff for the sacrifices you have had to make, as well as for the hard work you have engaged in to address this challenging and dynamic situation, he said.

All school and business-related international travel was suspended by the system earlier this year, starting on Feb. 28.

Large events, which are expected to have more than 100 attendees, are canceled in the system until May 1.

The diversity of our student body and employees is one of our greatest strengths. As such, we are committed to ensuring welcoming and supportive campus environments for all of our students, faculty and staff, Malhotra said. It is vitally important we work together, follow the practices recommended by public health officials, and proceed with preparedness, calm and understanding.

For more information, visit minnstate.edu/coronavirus/index.html.

Saint Marys University announced Thursday that, in reaction to COVID-19 concerns, all in-person classes on the campus are canceled Monday and Tuesday. Classes will then begin to be taught online from March 18 through April 13.

Normal operations are expected to restart on April 14, but the university will continue to monitor the situation to determine if there will be any further delays with returning to in-person classes.

The decision to move classes online has been made after considerable prayer, reflection, consultation and discussion. Saint Marys is known for its close and personal connections in the classroom, and for its hands-on learning and community atmosphere, SMU president Rev. James P. Burns said in a message to the community.

In these extraordinary times, we are compelled to limit the spread of this virus. We ask for everyones continued prayers and patience as we navigate the many new challenges this brings forth, he said.

Students in Winona are being asked by the university to return to their homes until April 14. They should bring their school materials and any personal essential items. Students that need to stay in the area, such as for internships or athletics, can fill out a form for special housing on the universitys website.

The campus is hoping all students who can leave are asked to leave the residence halls by 3 p.m. March 15.

The university is looking to avoid hosting any large events, including its Founders Day event which is now postponed and will be later rescheduled. More events may be canceled in the near future.

SMUs Pandemic Assessment and Coordinating Team is meeting daily and paying attention to updates from health organizations and experts.

More information about how SMU is reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic is available at www.smumn.edu/covid19.

COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly around the world. This week, a case of the disease was diagnosed in Olmsted County for the first time.

The World Health Organization also officially declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, meaning the disease has spread over a wide geographical region and is affecting an extreme amount of the worlds population.

The CDC, along with many other health organizations, continues to emphasis it is important to conduct good hand hygiene techniques and avoid touching the face with unclean hands.

If sick, stay home, cover the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, disinfect surfaces and wear a mask.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever, coughing and shortness of breath. Keep in mind these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, which is much more likely.

For more information about COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.
A construction company owner in Florida has been arrested for allegedly evaded paying nearly $74,000 in workers compensation insurance premiums, according to a statement from the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of Carlos Alberto Gomez-Ibarra, owner of Always Good Construction, on March 5 for workers compensation premium fraud. Gomez-Ibarra is accused of not paying workers comp premiums over the course of 10 months.

An investigation by the DFS Bureau of Investigative and Forensic Services, Division of Workers Compensation Fraud discovered Gomez-Ibarra allegedly concealed payroll information to avoid paying higher workers compensation premiums. The company allegedly conducted more than $442,000 in payroll between October 2015 and August 2016. Gomez-Ibarra originally reported an annual estimated remuneration of $92,400 in payroll on their workers compensation insurance policy for four employees. This coverage was estimated to cost over $15,000.

Carlos Alberto Gomez-Ibarra was booked into Turner Guilford knight Correctional Center on March 4 on a charge of workers compensation premium fraud. If convicted, Gomez-Ibarra faces up to 7 years in prison. Individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

I cannot emphasize the importance of providing the proper coverage for your employees. Knowingly evading the payment of workers compensation to save a few dollars on your policy is a serious crime that puts injured workers at risk and drives up insurance rates statewide for honest, hard-working businesses, Patronis said. I applaud the great work of our dedicated insurance fraud detectives and encourage anyone that suspects insurance fraud to report it to FraudFreeFlorida.com.

Topics Florida Workers' Compensation Fraud Construction
Top Iraqi politicians joined the United Nations Thursday in condemning a rocket attack north of Baghdad that killed a British soldier and two Americans and threatened a new escalation.

A volley of 18 rockets slammed into the Taji air base late Wednesday, killing a British soldier, a US soldier and an American contractor in the deadliest attack in years on US forces in Iraq.

There was no claim of responsibility but Washington has accused Iran-backed factions of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary alliance of carrying out similar attacks.

Within hours, air raids killed 26 Iran-aligned Iraqi fighters in neighbouring Syria, prompting fears that tensions between Washington and Tehran would once again flare up.

On Thursday morning, Iraq's military command said the attack was "a serious security challenge" and pledged to open an investigation.

President Barham Saleh and parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbussi condemned a "terrorist attack" which targeted "Iraq and its security." The UN mission in Iraq called for "maximum restraint on all sides".

"These ongoing attacks are a clear and substantial threat to the country, and the risk of rogue action by armed groups remains a constant concern," it said in a statement.

"The last thing Iraq needs is to serve as an arena for vendettas and external battles." The attack was the 22nd since October on US interests in Iraq. US diplomatic offices have come under attack as well as the bases where the 5,200 American troops stationed in Iraq are based.

The previous attacks killed an Iraqi soldier and a US contractor, leading to a major uptick in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Washington responded to the American contractor's death with air strikes that killed more than two dozen Iran-backed Iraqi fighters. Days later, a US drone killed senior Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani and Hashed deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad airport prompting retaliatory Iranian air strikes against coalition troops in Iraq.

Hashed factions have repeatedly pledged to avenge Muhandis's death.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As previously disclosed, in light of the ongoing investigations by regulators into a payment made to a consultant in relation to the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, a deed of deferral was mutually agreed between Rio Tinto and Sam Walsh, as a matter of good corporate governance. Sam was chief executive of the iron ore product group at the time the payment was made.

The principal provision of this deed was that the deferred incentive plan awards, which would have vested up to 2021, would be subject to a staged deferral.

Rio Tinto felt that a further deferral of the amounts that were payable on 31 December 2018 was appropriate given that the regulatory investigations in relation to the Simandou matter are ongoing. However, the parties could not agree to extend the deed of deferral.

Following the completion of an independent confidential and binding dispute resolution process, a determination was made that, under the terms of the deed, Mr Walsh's incentive plan awards should not be subject to any further deferrals and are payable. As a result, payments will be made by Rio Tinto to Sam Walsh of all deferred incentive plan awards which would have been payable on 31 December 2018 together with associated dividends and interest.

Simon Thompson, Chairman of Rio Tinto said: "When the deferral agreement was entered into, both Rio Tinto and Sam hoped that the Simandou regulatory investigations would have been completed by now. The Rio Tinto Board made a determination, pursuant to the deferral agreement, to further defer the awards as the regulatory investigation remains open. Following the completion of the confidential and binding dispute resolution process, a decision was made that the amounts should be paid."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005829/en/

Contacts:

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Rio Tinto plc

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This announcement is authorised for release to the market by Rio Tinto's Group Company Secretary.

Category: general
[March 11, 2020] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Reminds Investors of Looming Deadline in the Class Action Lawsuit Against Sasol Limited (SSL)

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz reminds investors of the upcoming April 6, 2020 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who acquired Sasol Limited ("Sasol" or the Company") (NYSE: SSL) securities between March 10, 2015 and January 13, 2020 inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On October 27, 2014, Sasol announced the construction of an $8.1 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex called the Lake Charles Chemicals Project ("LCCP"). On June 6, 2016, Sasol reported "that the expected total capital expenditure for the [LCCP] could increase up to US $11 billion, including site infrastructure and utility improvements." Moreover, the Company disclosed that "the estimated LCCP capital cost and extended schedule will reduce the expected project returns by approximately the same amount as the Company's lower long-term price assumptions." On this news, Sasol's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $3.53 per share, or approximately 11%, to close at $28.60 per share on June 6, 2016, thereby injuring investors. On May 22, 2019, during pre-market hours, Sasol revealed that "the cost estimate for the LCCP has been revised to a range of $12.6 to $12,9 billion which includes a contingency of $300 million."



On August 16, 2019, during pre-market hours, Sasol postponed its full year 2019 financial results because of "possible LCCP control weaknesses."

On this news, Sasol's ADR price fell $0.74 per share, or over 4%, to close at $17.67 per share on August 16, 2019, thereby injuring investors further. On October 28, 2019, Sasol disclosed that there were "errors, omissions, and inaccuracies in the [LCCP] cost estimate" and that the highest level of management had engaged in a number of unethical and improper reporting activities. Sasol also announced the resignation of, inter alia, its Joint Presidents and Chief Executive Officers ("CEOs") and Senior Vice Presidents and others previously in charge of the LCCP. On January 14, 2020, Sasol confirmed "an explosion and fire at its LCCP low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unit." Sasol stated that "[t]he unit was in the final stages of commissioning and startup when the incident occurred." On this news, Sasol's ADR price fell $1.70 per share, or nearly 8%, over the following two trading days to close at $19.99 per share on January 15, 2020, thereby injuring investors further. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Sasol had conducted insufficient due diligence into, and failed to account for multiple issues with, the LCCP, as well as the true cost of the project; (2) that construction and operation of the LCCP was consequently plagued by control weaknesses, delays, rising costs, and technical issues; (3) that these issues were exacerbated by Sasol's top-level management, who engaged in improper and unethical behavior with respect to financial reporting for the LCCP and the project's oversight; (4) that all of the foregoing was reasonably likely to render the LCCP significantly more expensive than disclosed and negatively impact the Company's financial results; and (5) that as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Sasol securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than April 6, 2020 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005848/en/

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It had all the trappings of a classic Warren Buffett deal. There were the preferred shares created just for him, the warrants giving him an option to buy more common stock and a hefty dividend -- 8%, which came to a cool $800 million a year on the $10 billion he plunked down.

On their face, the terms were so favorable for Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. -- and so onerous for the company, the oil driller Occidental Petroleum Corp. -- that fellow billionaire investor Carl Icahn seethed with indignation. It was, he wrote, like taking candy from a baby.

But now, some 11 months later, Buffetts bet on Occidental is suddenly a far cry from the slam dunk that it once appeared. Few large companies, if any, in the U.S. shale patch have been hit harder than Occidental by the collapse in oil prices this week. And while Buffetts preferred shares dont trade, the plunge in price on the companys common stock, down 70% in the last 12 days, and in its benchmark bonds, down 25%, provide clues about the markets perception of the value of his investment.

The stock dropped 16% to $9.95 Thursday before trading was halted due to reaching a circuit breaker limit. It closed at $58.88 when Buffett invested last April.

At HoustonChronicle.com: Icahn wants Occidental to say if it was takeover target before Anadarko deal

For Buffett, the episode marks another setback for one of his key investments, just a year after the Kraft Heinz Co. writedown unleashed turmoil at that business. It also raises questions once again about how he intends to use his massive cash holdings -- $128 billion at last blush -- with few wholly appealing investment options to choose from.

The $10 billion investment in Occidental, his first major deal in four years, was instrumental in allowing the company to win a bidding war for Anadarko Petroleum Corp. But the transaction is only exacerbating Occidentals troubles. Previously a steady, diversified oil producer, Occidental is now a heavily indebted shale oil producer highly subject to the whims of crude prices. Buffett himself conceded last year that the success of the deal depended on the vagaries of the oil market.

The structure of the deal was a classic Berkshire deal, Cathy Seifert, an analyst at CFRA Research, said. Again, timing is everything and what a difference a year makes.

Berkshire didnt respond to requests for comment.

Things havent totally unraveled on Berkshires investment yet, of course. For now, in fact, the preferred shares continue to throw off cash -- $200 million every quarter -- and also rank above the common stock when it comes to liquidation. Berkshire does also hold some common shares, but they totaled just $780 million at the end of the year, equal to only 0.3% of Berkshires entire stock portfolio.

Buffetts record of preferred stock deals have often played out in his favor. He bought stakes in General Electric Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. during the financial crisis. Both of those preferred stakes paid 10% dividends.

But hes been struggling to find attractive ways to put his near record cash pile to work. While his company has built up a more than $70 billion stock holding in Apple Inc. through the end of 2019, Buffett had failed to find major transactions since his 2016 acquisition of Precision Castparts Corp.

And while the Occidental deal was lauded by analysts at the time, it put Buffett in a notoriously volatile industry. Few predicted, of course, that a split between Russia and its one-time OPEC allies would spark a price war. The ensuing crash in those prices eventually forced Occidental to cut its dividend for the first time in three decades Tuesday. Buffetts preferred stake was unaffected by the cut, but Berkshires common stock holding will feel the ripple effects unless Buffetts company tweaked that holding since the end of the year.

At HoustonChronicle.com: Occidental gets a break with Buffett stake, Icahn court defeat

Stock surge

Cutting capital expenditure by a third and slashing the dividend almost 90% will help drive Occidentals break-even costs down to the low $30 a barrel range, Chief Executive Officer Vicki Hollub said in a statement Tuesday. The move, and broader stock market gains, helped the company stock surge nearly 15% that day.

But the cut to Occidentals prized dividend limits payouts to common stockholders, including Icahn, who has been battling the company for months over the Anadarko deal.

Buffett figuratively took her to the cleaners, Icahn wrote in July about Buffetts preferred stock deal. Icahn, an Occidental shareholder, said in February ahead of the oil market crash that the ill-advised bet on Anadarko and any slump in oil prices could jeopardize the dividend.

Icahn said late Wednesday that he had increased his stake in Occidental to about 10%, from 2.5% previously, and he renewed his attack on the companys board. In other cultures, they would have the dignity to resign or worse, Icahn said by phone. In the army, they would be court-martialed, but here they would probably grant themselves bonuses because their stock options have collapsed.

RARE CUTS: Oxy slashes dividend payment for first time in 30 years after oil crash

A representative for Occidental declined to comment on Icahns position.

In the short-term at least, the Anadarko deal has come at a major cost to shareholders. Occidental is down 82% since its interest in Anadarko first became public almost a year ago, compared to a 49% decline in the S&P 500 Energy Index, and a similar decline in oil.

Occidentals dwindling market value has raised speculation over whether Buffett would ever buy the company outright. While Buffett has the funds, any eventual purchase would depend on his outlook for the oil market and other variables, said David Kass, a professor of finance at the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Its certainly well within the $128 billion that Buffett has to spend, Kass said. But would the risks far outweigh the expected reward?

--With assistance from Caleb Mutua and Scott Deveau.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 09:35:19|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economic ministers have issued a statement on strengthening ASEAN's economic resilience in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The statement was issued within the framework of the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Economic Minister Retreat held in Vietnam's central city of Da Nang on Tuesday, the news agency reported.

According to the statement, the ministers agree to take a collective course of action to mitigate the economic impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, recognizing the outbreak's negative effects on the economy, including tourism, manufacturing, retail and other services sectors, as well as its disruption of supply chains and financial markets.

The member states will remain committed to keeping the ASEAN market open for trade and investment, and will strengthen regional information sharing and coordination as well as collaboration in responding to the economic challenges posed by the outbreak, said the statement.

It said the ministers agree that counter-measure restrictions on cross-border movements should be based on public health considerations and that trade within the region should not be unnecessarily restricted.

The ministers resolve to leverage technologies and digital trade to allow businesses, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises, to continue operations amid the outbreak, and to strengthen long-term supply chain resilience and sustainability, according to the statement.

Other measures noted in the statement include enhancing the ASEAN's economic cooperation with external and development partners, building on existing trade facilitating platforms in the ASEAN to promote and support supply chain connectivity, and continuing addressing non-tariff barriers and refraining from imposing unnecessary new non-tariff measures.
SEE Eyewear has opened a location at the Summit between the Cheesecake Factory and Chuys.

Its the brands 44th store, joining others in New York City, Los Angeles, South Beach, Boston, San Francisco, Georgetown, Chicago, Nashville, Toronto and Charleston, among others.

SEE will celebrate its grand opening March 19 through 22 by partnering with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and donating a portion of all sales from the four days to GBHS. There will be a March 19 night party from 6 to 8 p.m., with food, drink, goodie bags valued at $35, $100 off prescription eyewear and the opportunity to putt to win a free pair of glasses.

Events continue Friday through Sunday with free cupcakes from Dream Cakes, $100 off prescription eyewear, a free gift with purchase valued at $35 and the opportunity to putt to win a free pair of glasses.

The new store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. SEE has an independent doctor of optometry in store for comprehensive eye exams.

SEE, or Selective Eyewear Elements, was conceived by founder Richard Golden as a prototype optical boutique providing cool eyewear with a fashionably and economically correct experience. SEE produces a limited number of each frame, sometimes only two per color for each city or store.

Birmingham has been on our radar for years, but we had to wait for the perfect location, Golden said. We have incredibly stringent location criteria, so we had to be patient. We look for the ideal combination of independent retailers with a local demographic that matches SEEs unique vibe. The Summit has a vibrant mix of families and in the know trendsetters that is perfect for SEE, and were incredibly excited to have finally found our home.

The stores phone number is (205) 761-4339.
Patrick Merritt Dwyer was arrested in San Antonio Wednesday, after the alleged victim, who is aged 14, contacted police

A 19-year-old man has been accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl he met through the dating app Bumble.

Patrick Merritt Dwyer was arrested in San Antonio Wednesday, after the alleged victim, who is aged 14, contacted police.

Dwyer and the minor connected on Bumble in early January, and began exchanging messages.

NEWS4SA reports that the alleged victim told Dwyer that she was 14, before he admitted to being five years older.

The pair continued to chat, and later connected on other social media apps, before arranging an in-person meeting.

On January 21, Dwyer picked up the girl from an undisclosed location and the pair drove around San Antonio together.

According to the girl, Dwyer then allegedly pulled in to a grocery store parking lot before he sexually assaulted her.

The girl told police that she continued to chat with Dwyer on several apps, and the pair met up on multiple occasions following the alleged assault.

Dwyer is now facing a charge of sexual assault of a child.

Bumble is restricted to users aged 18 and above, but many minors have managed to access the app by lying about their date of birth.

Back in January, the U.S. House Oversight and Reform subcommittee on economic and consumer policy launched an investigation into several dating apps for allegedly allowing minors to use their services

Back in January, the U.S. House Oversight and Reform subcommittee on economic and consumer policy launched an investigation into several dating apps for allegedly allowing minors to use their services.

Bumble, along with apps including Grindr, Tinder and OkCupid were named as apps that would be looked at.

In letters sent to the parent companies of such apps, the subcommittee sought information on users ages, procedures for verifying ages, and any complaints about assaults, rape or the use of the services by minors.

The letters also asked for the services privacy policies and details on what users see when they review and agree to the policies.

The investigation is still on going.
By SA Commercial Prop News

Artist impression showing Lanseria's smart-city, Gauteng.



The Gauteng Provincial Government plans to forge ahead developing R500 billion mega smart cities including a new university over the next 10 years.

President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed in his state of the nation address on Thursday on 13 February that a new smart-city is taking shape in Lanseria, Gauteng.



The process is a joint project between the Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Presidency and the Gauteng and North West provincial governments.

The cities of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Madibeng and private partners will also help to make the smart city a reality.

According to a new report published by Gauteng Provincial Government, construction will be implemented along five development corridors that have distinct industries and different comparative advantages. The corridors split into five are:

The Central Development Corridor  anchored on the city of Johannesburg as the hub of finance, services, information and communication technology, and pharmaceutical industries;

 anchored on the city of Johannesburg as the hub of finance, services, information and communication technology, and pharmaceutical industries; The Eastern Development Corridor  built around the economy of the Ekurhuleni metro as the hub of manufacturing, logistics and transport industries;

built around the economy of the Ekurhuleni metro as the hub of manufacturing, logistics and transport industries; The Northern Development Corridor  anchored on Tshwane as the administrative capital city and the hub of the automotive sector, research, development, innovation and the knowledge-based economy;

 anchored on Tshwane as the administrative capital city and the hub of the automotive sector, research, development, innovation and the knowledge-based economy; The Western Corridor  encompassing the economy of the West Rand district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities; and

 encompassing the economy of the West Rand district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities; and The Southern Corridor  encompassing the economy of the Sedibeng district and the creation of new industries, new economic nodes and new cities.



In the centre and in all four corners of the province, the development of economic corridors was underway, the authors state.



This monumental strategy had forever altered sole reliance on a skewed capital-intensive productive base, dominated as it had been by large enterprises principally operating in only three of Gautengs metro areas.



Regional economic inclusiveness was now showing signs of breaking past the dismal employment status quo and opening up the possibility of keeping up with future demands for jobs.

The Northern Development Corridor will unlock over R60 billion in investment

The Menlyn Maine development.

A new high-tech special economic zone;

The Automotive special economic zone;

The development of the Rosslyn Auto City;

The continued development of Menlyn Maine;

Consolidating and regenerating existing areas (CBD, Centurion and Silverton);

Investing in infrastructure to revitalise townships and create economic opportunities.

The Eastern Development Corridor will unlock over R200 billion worth of investment

OR Tambo International Airport.

The construction of the new OR Tambo University of Science and Innovation;

The development of the OR-Tambo logistics gateway;

The Prasa-Gibela rail manufacturing hub in Nigel;

The expansion of the OR Tambo International airport;

A new industrial development zone for jewellery manufacturing;

The development of new agro-processing and fuel-cell technology;

Major private sector developments taking place along R21 highway.

The Central Development Corridor will unlock over R200 billion in investments

Johannesburg CBD.

The revitalisation of the Joburg inner-city;

The development of new mega-projects in the south from Soweto to Orange Farm;

A number of major new projects in Rosebank, Sandton, Midrand and Fourways;

The revitalisation of townships.

The Western Development Corridor will unlock over R25 billion worth of investment

Lanseria Smart City.

The Lanseria Airport expansion and the new Lanseria Smart City development;

The expansion of the Busmark bus manufacturing plant;

The Agro-processing Mega Park & Logistics Hub on the N12 highway and other private sector mega projects.

The Southern Development Corridor will unlock over R20 billion investment

Vaal City development.
The Haryana government on Thursday declared the contagious coronavirus infection an epidemic.

According to the state Health Department, 44 samples of suspected cases were sent for tests till Wednesday. Out of these, 38 were found negative for coronavirus while reports of six people -- four from Gurgaon and two from Panchkula -- were awaited.

"COVID-19 declared epidemic in Haryana," Health minister Anil Vij said in a tweet.

Over 270 isolation wards with 1,206 beds have been set up in government and private hospitals to deal with any contingency. Rohtak's premier PGIMS Hospital has been designated as the Tertiary Care Centre for treatment of critical patients.

The state government has issued various regulations under The Haryana Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020, to contain the spread of the deadly virus, according to a notification issued on Wednesday.

These regulations come into force with immediate effect and will remain valid for a period of one year.

All hospitals in the state have been directed to set up 'flu corners' for screening of suspected coronavirus cases.

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.

Among other guidelines, no private laboratories have been authorised to take or test coronavirus samples in the state.

The government has also asked people with a travel history to coronavirus-affected countries to report to nearest government hospital.

If a coronavirus case is reported from a defined geographic area such as village, town, ward, colony, settlement, the district administration of the district concerned shall have the right to implement containment measures, including sealing of the area, barring entry and exit of population from the containment area, closure of schools, offices and banning public gatherings, besides other measures.

No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under the Epidemic Disease Act unless proved otherwise, according to the notification.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to a press release from Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera, on March 5 at 6 a.m., a large coordinated law enforcement operation was conducted in Castro, Deaf Smith and Swisher Counties as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

About 300 law enforcement officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Marshal Service, Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Texas Department of Public Safety, Castro County Sheriffs Office, Hereford Police Department and Task Force officers from the Lubbock Police Department and Lubbock County Sheriffs Office descended on locations in Hart, Dimmitt, Hereford, rural Deaf Smith County and rural Swisher County and Milano, Texas (in Bryan-College Station area), to arrest defendants as part of a federal investigation into the trafficking of methamphetamine. Also involved were the Amarillo Police Department, Dimmitt Police Department, Randall County Sheriffs Office, Potter County Sheriffs Office and Plainview Police Department.

The operation led to the arrest of 19 persons, who were indicted on federal charges. Three individuals were arrested in Castro County on state felony drug charges stemming from the investigation, and one individual was already in the Castro County Jail on unrelated charges.

As part of the investigation, the FBI and DEA conducted several searches of multiple locations in Deaf Smith County and in Hart. During these searches, a large quantity of methamphetamine was located, along with money and several firearms.

The arrests and search warrants are a result of an investigation that was conducted for over a year by the FBI, Castro County Sheriffs Office, Hereford Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigation Division and other area law enforcement agencies. During the investigation, it was determined that the drug trafficking ring was extensive and reached throughout the Panhandle and South Plains, as well as other states. Those arrested on March 5 were transported to the Randall County Detention Center in Amarillo to await federal arraignment. A 38-count federal indictment was returned by the Federal Grand Jury in Amarillo on Feb. 27, with 33 defendants named in those indictments.

In addition to the drug charges, six defendants were charged with gun crimes, including possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful use of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm. Persons involved in drug-trafficking are usually armed to protect their drug business, which makes it very dangerous for law enforcement officers attempting to conduct arrests of such individuals. Of the 33 individuals indicted, two remain as fugitives and are being sought by the U.S. Marshal Service. One individual charged with state felony drug charges remains a fugitives and is being sought by the Castro County Sheriffs office.

Sheriff Rivera thanks and commends the agencies involved. He adds, I want to let the citizens of Castro County know that my office is committed to use every resource available to protect them from individuals intent on trafficking poison to our communities.

FBI-Dallas Special Agent in Charge Mathew J. DeSarno says, The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to protect our communities from the scourge of methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs.

U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox, who is prosecuting the case, said, Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug that ravages communities. We will do everything we can to keep those peddling meth off our streets.

A list provided by the U.S. Attorneys Office of some of those charged is included below:

Jesus Manuel Garcia, aka Don Chuy, 58, Hereford:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine

Noel Mandujano, aka Noe and Oregon, 48, Hereford:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Robert Vera, 48, Dimmitt:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine

Gustavo Rincon, aka Tavo, 43, Hart:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine

Ricky Dale Leavitt, aka Big Rick, 45, Happy:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Michael Diaz, aka Mike, 45, Hart:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Michael Reyes, aka Rat, 42, Dimmitt:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Arturo Martinez, aka Juan, 41, Dimmitt:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Steven Mendez, 36, Hart:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Johnny Gilbert Lopez, aka Cannon, 52, Hart:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Katrina Casas, 34, Dimmitt:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Ricardo Reyes, Jr., aka Little Ricky, 32, Hereford:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Roxanne Casas, 37, Dimmitt:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Cruz Nunez, aka Cruz Mendez, 56, Hart:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Priscilla Kay Caballero, 35

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine

Susan Odette Stinnett, 32, Milano:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm (Ruger 9mm pistol)

Denita Mirelez, aka Denita Mireles, 45, Hart:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

John David Ramirez, 40, Dimmitt:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Ricardo Chavez, aka KK, 39, Hereford:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Serviano Riojas, aka Smokey, 39, Hereford:

Charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Those charged in Federal Court and arrested on March 6, 2020 by the Hereford Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigations Division:

Johnny Ortiz, aka Johnny O, 42, of Hereford was charged with conspiracy to distribute; possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and convicted felon in possession of a Firearm

Roberto Flores, 44, of Hereford was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; convicted felon in possession of a Firearm; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Those charged with State Felony drug charges and arrested March 5, 2020 were booked into the Castro County Jail:

Veronica Dawn Reyes, 37, of Olton was charged with Manufacture/Deliver a Controlled Substance PG 1 over 4 grams-under 200 grams

Tony Chia, 49, of Hart was charged with Manufacture/Deliver a Controlled Substance PG 1 over 4 grams-under 200 grams

Francisco Ramirez Sr., 64, of Dimmitt was charged with Manufacture/Deliver a Controlled Substance PG 1 over 1 gram-under 4 grams

Eddy Nelson Chaver, 42, of Dimmitt was charged with Manufacture/Deliver a Controlled Substance PG 1 over 1 gram-under 4 grams

Those charged in Federal Court who were already in custody:

Kristina Renee Chaparro aka Kristina Yerba, 34, of Dimmitt was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Juan Manuel Martinez Jr. aka Mitos, 42, of Dimmitt was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Rigoberto Cuevas aka Rigo, 41, of Dimmitt was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Priscilla Kay Caballero, 35, of Dimmitt was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Christopher Allen Smith aka Smitty, 33, of Amarillo was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; convicted felon in possession of a Firearm; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Luis Alberto Gonzales aka Tito, 37, of Dimmitt was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

Christian Daniel Cordova, 28, of Amarillo was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Frank Martinez aka Frankie, 37, of Dimmitt was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine

Tiffany Darlene Haner, 36, of Amarillo was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
The BJP's Rajya Sabha election nominees from Haryana, Dushyant Kumar Gautam and Ram Chander Jangra, will submit their nominations on Friday -- the last day of filing the papers.

The election will be held on March 26.

After the BJP announced their names, backward community leader Jangra and party vice president Gautam said they have been working for the party like ordinary workers and have always accepted whatever duty was assigned to them.

The two leaders thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda for their nomination and also expressed their gratitude towards Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Gautam said over the years, he has worked for the party in various positions and will continue to work in the spirit based on 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas (together with all, development for all)'.

"Our party and the government led by it has been working for the country's development and we believe that the fruits of development should reach the last man in the queue," he told PTI.

Jangra, who hails from Meham in Rohtak district, said the BJP has always given him love and respect ever since he joined the party in 2004.

Before joining the BJP, he was associated with Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) led by former chief minister Bansi Lal. However, when the HVP merged with the Congress, he joined the BJP.

Jangra, who was appointed as the chairperson of the Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam in 2015 by the Khattar government, has also served as Haryana BJP's vice president and the state president of its OBC cell.

Notably, the two Rajya Sabha vacancies are due to resignation of BJP's Ram Kumar Kashyap and the expiry of Congress leader Kumari Selja's term next month. A third vacancy which has necessitated a bypoll rose following the resignation of former Union Minister and BJP leader Birender Singh.

In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the BJP has 40 MLAs while its alliance partner JJP has 10. The main opposition Congress has 31 members while out of seven Independent MLAs, six have extended support to the BJP-JJP government. The INLD has one MLA while one member belongs to the Haryana Lokhit Party.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TEL AVIV, Israel, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, March 6, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and Israel's Minister of Energy Dr. Yuval Steinitz announced three winners to receive up to $27.6 million under the U.S.-Israel Energy Center competitive funding opportunity. Three consortia, comprised of U.S. and Israeli organizations, will undertake five years of research, development, and commercialization of innovative energy technologies in the fossil energy, energy storage, and energy-water nexus sectors. The total value of these three projects with cost-shared arrangements could reach $55.2 million. Each project will be negotiated with the partners under conditions set forth by the BIRD Foundation, and subject to appropriations.

"The U.S.-Israel Energy Center is a premier hub for innovative energy research, and sends a strong signal of the long-standing special relationship between the U.S. and Israel," said Secretary Brouillette. "From our collaboration through the Energy Center, we expect to see market-moving technologies that will strengthen our energy security and strengthen our economies. We look forward to continue fostering deep institutional relationships through this groundbreaking initiative."

"I am proud of the collaboration we have established with the US Department of Energy, of which the U.S.-Israel Energy Center is an important part. It is a day of pride in partnership and technological excellence, as evidenced by the many proposals we have received for research and development in the core areas of the energy world. The success of the call for proposals is a result of more than a year and a half of intensive efforts by many, and I am confident that the winning consortia will form an impressive energy center of excellence that will lead to discoveries that are essential for a clean and sustainable world," said Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Israeli Minister of Energy.

"Promoting innovation in energy technologies is a mutual objective of Israel and the US. These winning collaborations bring significant value for the development of the energy industries in both countries as well as the promotion of additional sectors through effective energy management. The joint Consortia that have been awarded present promising technological innovations that address important energy challenges in both countries and worldwide," said Aharon Aharon, CEO, Israel Innovation Authority.

Three awards were made, one for each of three research topics, as described below. All three selected groups include academic institutions, industry and research labs.

Fossil Energy

Consortium Leads : Tulane University (U.S.) and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel).

Program Title : Safe, sustainable, and resilient development of offshore reservoirs and natural gas upgrading through innovative science and technology: Gulf of Mexico - Mediterranean (GoMed Consortium).

U.S. Partners : Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana, and Argonne National Laboratory

Israeli Partners : Technion Research & Development Foundation (TRDF), the University of Haifa, the Geological Survey of Israel, Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd, and Delek Drilling LP

Energy Storage

Consortium Leads : University of Maryland, College Park (U.S.) and Bar-Ilan University (Israel).

Program Title : Lithium and sodium metal solid state batteries for advanced energy storage applications.

U.S. Partners : Saft America and Forge Nano

Israeli Partners : Tel Aviv University, Materials Zone, and 3DBattery.

Energy-Water Nexus

Consortium Leads : Northwestern University (U.S.) and Ben Gurion University of the Negev (Israel).

Program Title : Israel-US Collaborative Water-Energy Research Center (Israel-US CoWERC).

U.S. Partners : Argonne National Laboratory, Yale University, DuPont Water Solutions, Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, CycloPure, Inc., Current Innovation NFP, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)

Israeli Partners : Technion Research and Development Foundation (TRDF), Mekorot, Fluence Corporation, and the Galilee Society

The call for proposals also included the Energy-Cyber sector, but no winners were selected in this topic area. The U.S. and Israeli governments, with support from the BIRD Foundation, will redefine the scope of the Energy-Cyber topic to better address each country's research priorities, and will re-issue a call for proposals on this topic in coming months.

For more information about the U.S.-Israel Energy Center, managed by the BIRD Foundation, please click HERE.

Contact:

Limor Nakar-Vincent

Deputy Executive Director of Business Development & BIRD Energy

BIRD Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE The BIRD Foundation
Ever had the dream of owning a cake shop in Kenya, or do you desire to make the perfect cupcakes or ceremonial cakes? Are you thrilled by the creative arts and design you see on cakes? Schools for baking should be your first point of consideration as they will teach you all sorts of creative hacks and methods to create masterpieces.

Image: instagram.com @chefs

Source: UGC

If you want to join the culinary arts field either as a passion or career, you should consider taking a course in baking and pastry arts. A much as you might find yourself to be super-talented in this sector, taking some professional classes will help you acquire paramount skills such as business acumen, organization, and cleanliness. Baking and pastry arts training will help you in achieving all these relevant skills that will make you successful in the food sector.

Best schools for baking and pastry arts in Kenya

Here is a list of the top baking and pastry schools near you:

1. Kenya Utalii College

If you are looking for the best baking classes, consider attending Kenya Utalii College. The institute was established close to 50 years ago, and ever since then, it has been producing the best locally and internationally-skilled hospitality graduates.

Some of the culinary arts-related courses offered at the institute include:

Certificate in Food production done in one and a half years.

Certificate in Food Production Apprenticeship done in two years

Certificate in Food and Beverage Service and Sales.

The institute has three branches, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nairobi. Here are Kenya Utalii College main campus contacts:

Main campus location: Off Thika Road

Off Thika Road Telephone number: +254 722 205 491 or +254 722 205 492 or +254 733 600 584

+254 722 205 491 or +254 722 205 492 or +254 733 600 584 Email address: info@utalii.ac.ke or admission@utalii.co.ke

The school fees charges vary depending on the course one is undertaking.

2. Boma International Hospitality College

Boma International Hospitality College is one of the top baking and pastry schools in Kenya that operates in conjunction with the renowned Business and Hotel Management School (BHMS). The college is widely known for its excellence in hospitality training.

Students from this institute get the chance to work as interns in high-class restaurants such as Dusit D2, Boma Hotel, Raddison Blu, Kempinski, and Serena, among others.

There are three annual intakes in Boma College, which happens in January, May, and September. Some of the main courses offered here are:

Diploma in Culinary Arts.

Certificate in Food and Beverage Operations.

Short courses in international cookery, which include Certificate in Food and Beverage Service Techniques and a Certificate in Pastry and Bakery.

Prospective students who wish to join this college should get in touch with the institute using the contacts below:

Location : Red Cross Road, Nairobi

: Red Cross Road, Nairobi Telephone number: +254 719 050 550 or +254 719 050 540

+254 719 050 550 or +254 719 050 540 Email address: study@bihc.acke or info@bihc.ac.ke

Although the amount of fees paid depends on the courses undertaken, the annual tuition fee for the students is Ksh. 516, 000.

3. Amari Baking Center

Amari Baking Center is one of the renowned institutes in offering first-class training session in catering and cake baking. The school also provides intermediate and advanced baking courses for the individuals who are ready to advance their baking and pastry beyond what is considered basic skills.

Some of the courses offered here are:

Basic Cake Making and Decoration

Intermediate Cake Making and Decoration

Advanced Cake Making and Decoration

Basic Bread, Cookie-making, and Pastries

Intermediate Bread, Cookie-making, and Pastries

For the individuals who are not in a position to physically attend the classes, they can opt to join the online class option. This makes Amari Baking Center the leading baking and pastry schools online.

Below is the contact information for this baking center:

Location: Ndwaru Road, Riruta, Nairobi

Ndwaru Road, Riruta, Nairobi Telephone numbers: 0701 796 688

0701 796 688 Email address: amaribreads@gmail.com

The charges at Amari Baking Center are as follows:

Short courses - Ksh. 8, 500

Basic Cake Making and Decorating course - Ksh. 16, 500

Intermediate cake making and Decoration - Ksh. 17, 500

Advanced Cake Making and Decoration - Ksh. 36, 500

4. Air Travel and Related Courses Studies Centre

Air Travel and Related Courses Studies Centre is one of the best baking and pastry colleges that offer courses in international languages, hospitality, travel, airport operations, and tourism, and cabin crew.

Some of the benefits that the students get to enjoy while studying at this institute include full board accommodation, guaranteed attachment opportunities, and visits to the various five-star hotel in the country.

Some of the courses offered at Air Travel and Related Courses Studies Centre are:

International Food Production completed in two years.

International Pastry and Bakery Production completed in one year.

International Food and Beverage Service completed in one year.

Here are the contacts to this institute:

Location: Rhino Park Road, Karen

Rhino Park Road, Karen Telephone numbers: 0733 604 139 or +254 721 380 590

0733 604 139 or +254 721 380 590 Email address: info@airtravekstudies.coke or admin@airtravelstudies.co.ke

The amount of money charged as school fees varies depending on the course you are undertaking. Interested individuals are advised to contact the institute for information on the school fees charges.

READ ALSO: Top 10 best clubs in Nairobi 2019

5. Nairobi College of Bread and Confectionery Technology

Nairobi College of Bread and Confectionery Technology is one of the best baking schools in Nairobi known to offer various baking and pastries skills at a very affordable rate.

The two main courses offered here are:

Cake, Bread, and Pastry

Baking and Confectionery Technology

If you would wish to enroll in either of the two sessions, you can contact the institute via the address below.

Postal address: 73448-00200

73448-00200 Location: 1st Floor, National Housing Corporation Building, Nairobi Kenya

1st Floor, National Housing Corporation Building, Nairobi Kenya Telephone numbers: 020 350 4453 or 0722 237 181 or 0707 699 167

020 350 4453 or 0722 237 181 or 0707 699 167 Email address: infor@bakeryschool.co.ke

The amount of fee charges varies from one program to another. Therefore, for more details on the school fees and account numbers, contact the admissions office.

6. Valentine Cake House

Valentine Cake House is one of the leading culinary schools in Kenya with its branches in Nairobi and other parts of the country, such as Mombasa and Nakuru.

Some of the courses undertaken at Valentine Cake House together with the amount of fees paid for each:

Basic Cake Making and Decoration - Ksh. 20,000

Intermediate Cake Making and Decoration - Ksh. 23, 000

Advanced Cake Making and Decoration - Ksh. 23,000

Master Cake Making and Decoration - Ksh. 23, 000

Baking and Pastry short courses that last for one week - Ksh. 10, 000

Here is the institutions contact information:

Headquarters location: 3rd Floor, Old Mutual Building, Kimathi Street

3rd Floor, Old Mutual Building, Kimathi Street Telephone numbers: 0721 266 635 or 0711 305 588 or 0722 794 414

0721 266 635 or 0711 305 588 or 0722 794 414 Email address: school@valentinecakehouse.co.ke

7. International Hotel and Tourism Institute

International Hotel and Tourism Institute is another great culinary school located in Nairobi that was started in mid-2015. Some of the core values which the school seeks to instill in its learners include integrity, excellence, professionalism, collaboration, and responsibility.

The courses offered at this institute are accredited by the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), thus giving its students the relevant leverage in the competitive and ever-growing hospitality industry. The intakes are done thrice per year, in January, May, and September.

You can contact the institute via the following:

Physical address: P.0 Box 43111-00100 Nairobi

P.0 Box 43111-00100 Nairobi Location: Nyeri Road, Kileleshwa

Nyeri Road, Kileleshwa Phone number: +254 711 129 610 or 0728 787 088

+254 711 129 610 or 0728 787 088 Email address: info@ihti.net

The annual school charges for BTEC Higher National Diploma is Ksh. 343,000.

8. Kilele School of Cake Baking and Decorating

Kilele School of cake baking & decorating Nairobi is one of the renowned baking and pastry training colleges in Nairobi. The institute is famous for producing some of the best culinary arts professionals across the country.

Some of the major courses undertaken at Kilele School are:

Basic Cake Baking training

Advanced Cake Baking training

Below is the contact information for the institute:

Physical address: P.O Box 49289-00100

P.O Box 49289-00100 Location: Magadi Road, Nairobi, Kenya

Magadi Road, Nairobi, Kenya Telephone numbers: 0722 607 991

0722 607 991 Email address: marynawire@yahoo.com

marynawire@yahoo.com Website: kilelecakes.blogspot.com

Information on the Kilele School of Cake Baking & Decorating school fees can be obtained by visiting the admission office within the schools premises.

9. Top Chefs Culinary Institute

Top Chefs Culinary Institute is one of the leading baking schools in Nairobi, which prides in the production of highly-skilled individuals in the hospitality industry.

Some of the courses offered at this institute are:

Chefs Diploma is undertaken for two years and six months internship.

Pastry and Bakery Diploma

Below is the contact information for this college.

Location: 5th Floor Parklands Plaza, Muthithi Road, Westlands

5th Floor Parklands Plaza, Muthithi Road, Westlands Physical address: P.O Box 740- 00606

P.O Box 740- 00606 Telephone numbers: +254 700 691 427 or 020 374 0166

+254 700 691 427 or 020 374 0166 Email address: topchefs@tchefs.com

School fees charges at Top Chefs Culinary Institute are as follows:

Chefs Diploma courses - Ksh. 230, 000 per module

Pastry and Bakery courses - Ksh. 142,000 per module

Gaining skills in baking and pastry arts is a fantastic choice for anyone passionate about baking and decorating all sorts of pastries. If you want to become a part of the most lucrative businesses in the hospitality sector, why not enroll in one of the above schools for baking and pastry arts in the country?

READ ALSO: Driving schools in Nairobi, charges and locations

Source: TUKO.co.ke
BEND  Bend police released Wednesday the names of three officers involved in a pursuit and attempted arrest Monday that led to the shooting and serious wounding of a woman on U.S. 20 east of the central Oregon city.

Police previously said Danielle Bower, a 29-year-old Bend resident, was acting in an erratic manner and had blood on her when she encountered police near the St. Charles Bend emergency department, then drove recklessly away, prompting a pursuit on Highway 20.

They said her van left the highway near milepost 39 and came to a stop. The officers who tried to arrest Bower then fired their weapons.

The three police officers were identified as Sgt. Thomas Russell, Officer Tim Williams and Officer Victor Umnitz, KTVZ-TV reported. All are on leaving during an investigation.

 The Associated Press
Just how desperate is Lawrence Ho to keep legally privileged documents relating to his company Melcos acquisition of Crown Resorts shares a secret? We will know if Melco heads for the High Court - the only legal avenue remaining to keep them away from public glare.

Facing the prospect of a commission of inquiry into, among other things, Melcos acquisition of 9.9 per cent of Crown Resorts (and its proposed acquisition of another 10 per cent) from James Packer, Melco last month staged and won an 11th hour Supreme Court action to prevent the inquiry into demanding nine documents which were legally privileged.

On Thursday, it lost an appeal from the NSW Government to the full bench of the Supreme Court.

So now, with the inquiry set to start again next week, it gets really interesting.
The government has "completely failed" in tackling coronavirus, the Congress said on Thursday and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "negligent" towards the health of the people.

The steps taken by the government in dealing with coronavirus were "inadequate", Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged.

"The government has completely failed in tackling coronavirus, in preventing it, in identifying people (affected by the virus), in quarantining them, and in taking important steps," he said.

"This government runs on knee-jerk reactions, whether it comes to taking economic steps to revive or stabilising the economy and to prevent economic corona from affecting the investors' lifetime savings, or preventing coronavirus from spreading in this country," the Congress leader told reporters outside Parliament.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the number of coronavirus patients in the country has risen to 73 with 13 fresh cases, including nine from Maharahtra and one each from Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh as well as one foreign national.

Surjewala claimed the truth was that "knee-jerk reactions and unthoughtful decisions" are the the only two things governing the country.

"I dont think a pandemic like coronavirus can be dealt with in this casual fashion. It is really sad the Union health minister is himself a doctor. The prime minister is also a doctor of entire political science," he said.

"At least both of them should have known that such reactions will not prevent coronavirus. Prevention is the key for stopping the spread of coronavirus," he said and asked whether adequate steps being taken for prevention of coronavirus.

Hand sanitisers are being black marketed in Delhi at Rs 500, the Congress leader claimed.

"There are no masks available in the national capital of Delhi. What will happen to the rest of India? I think the prime minister should re-calibrate his strategy. We will, as a responsible opposition, support every step taken to prevent the coronavirus from spreading," Surjewala said.

"The prime minister is being casual, actually negligent towards the health of the people of India," he charged.

Asking how people were allowed to enter the country only by checking their temperature, Surjewala said does the health minister even know that if a person is infected with coronavisrus then according to WHO he/she does not show any symptoms of the virus for six days.

"All they were doing was to make you (people) fill a form at the airport that you don't have coronavirus and checking your temperature. Is that the way to deal with a pandemic of this nature?" the Congress leader posed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogans harsh rhetoric against his opponents is widely known at home and abroad. Yet a dramatic incident at the Turkish parliament last week provided insight into the fates of those who dare use the same rhetoric against him.

On March 4, a lawmaker from the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) criticized Erdogan by using the same words the president used to insult the CHP leader, setting off a brawl at the Turkish parliament. A lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) punched CHP lawmaker Engin Ozkoc numerous times. A prosecutor then launched a probe against Ozkoc on charges of insulting the president.

Events were set into motion when Erdogan accused CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu of supporting the Syrian regime, saying that whoever casts a shadow on Turkeys dignified struggle in Syria is dishonorable, ignoble, low and treacherous.

That same day, Ozkoc criticized Erdogan for referring to the Turkish soldiers killed in Libya in the past month as "a few martyrs," calling Erdogan, in turn, dishonorable, ignoble, low and treacherous.

A couple of hours later, Ozkoc took to the rostrum in parliament to criticize the Turkish government's Syria policy. Angry at him for his earlier remarks, AKP lawmakers approached the rostrum during Ozkoc's speech, sparking a brawl between AKP and CHP lawmakers, who rushed to the scene to defend Ozkoc.

As if the attack was not enough, Erdogans lawyers sued Ozkoc for 1 million lira (some $162,000) for libel, and a public prosecutor launched a probe into the incident.

The fate that befell Ozkoc represents a new trend in Turkey: Turkey's judiciary considers criticizing Erdogan a serious crime that requires swift and definitive action.

The numbers speak volumes. From 2014-2018, some 17,500 people were sued for insulting the president, according to the Turkish Justice Ministry. The offense is punishable by one to four years in jail. In 2018, some 26,000 new probes were launched, with hundreds of minors among the suspects prosecuted.

So-called insults against Erdogan may also have serious financial implications. Kilicdaroglu paid some 147,000 liras ($40,000) to Erdogan in compensation as result of libel lawsuits between 2009-2018, according to Turkeys state-owned Anadolu Agency.

Many of those lawsuits have been launched by Erdogans lawyers. No one knows how many lawyers are working across the country to sue those who criticize Erdogan.

For example, in 2016, a Turkish citizen was sentenced to two years and four months in jail for a tweet. Forget about the oil prices! We have the most expensive president in the world, she wrote, lambasting the hike in oil prices and Erdogans extravagant spending.

Are these lawsuits filed for insulting the president being [monitored by] a special center?" Meral Bestas, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), told Al-Monitor. "How many people have been appointed to [monitor] these? She submitted a parliamentary questionnaire in July asking the same questions, but the justice minister didn't provide answers.

Prosecutors seek to not only punish those who allegedly insult Erdogan, they also treat each individual social media entry as a separate crime. In some cases, the cumulative effects of this approach can be devastating. One citizen was sentenced to 12 years and three months in jail in September 2017 for seven separate social media entries, each of which counted as an insult against Erdogan.

So far, 60 CHP party assembly members have been investigated for insulting Erdogan in 2019. Lawsuits against 30 of those individuals are ongoing.

When it comes to insulting the president, even the defendants' lawyers are not immune from prosecution. Kilicdaroglu's lawyer, Celal Celik, argued in his defense petition to an Ankara court that his client's statements regarding Erdogan's corruption had a concrete basis and were true. Celik is now being tried for insulting Erdogan because of those claims.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), of which Turkey is a party to, has a clear approach toward insulting heads of state. Politicians must tolerate criticism, and criminal liability is accepted only in exceptional cases.

For example, the ECHR ruled that France violated freedom of expression when it fined a man 30 euros for carrying an insulting placard against then-President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008. The ECHR reviewed the case in 2013 and ruled that the French courts decision was a violation of basic human rights.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Turkey might be a world champion of punishing those who insult the president, so long as it is missing an independent judiciary and established culture of freedom.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Peak Positioning Technologies Inc. (CSE: PKK) ("Peak" or the "Company") today announced that the Shanghai branch of Jiu Dong Ltd. ("Jiu Dong"), the Company's strategic partner and minority owner of its Asia Synergy Financial Capital ("ASFC") subsidiary, has officially become a Jinxiaoer Service Center.

Peak recently acquired the Jinxiaoer loan brokerage platform partly because of Jinxiaoer's established relationships with loan brokers and their affiliated sales reps in cities across China. Peak plans to integrate Jinxiaoer to the Company's Cubeler Lending Hub commercial loan platform and convert many of the Jinxiaoer loan broker partners into Jinxiaoer Service Centers. While the Jinxiaoer platform will provide the technological means for loan sales reps to submit a steady stream of loan leads to the Lending Hub ecosystem, the Jinxiaoer Service Centers will give Peak the physical presence it needs to expand its services to new cities and further establish itself in the Chinese commercial credit space.

Jiu Dong operates as a loan broker in Wuxi, Changzhou and Shanghai. The Shanghai branch counts approximately 40 affiliated sales reps dedicated to helping consumers and small business owners obtain loans that are secured by their vehicles. The use of vehicles as loan collateral has exploded in China over the past few years and today represents one of the most popular ways used by Chinese lenders to secure both consumer and small business loans. Jiu Dong thus becomes the first Jinxiaoer Service Center in Shanghai dedicated to facilitating loans secured by vehicles.

Change to Peak Board of Directors

Peak also announced that Mr. Laval Bolduc, who retired in 2017 after serving as the Company's CFO for six years but continued to serve as a Director and part-time managing consultant of Peak, has stepped aside from those role as of February 29, 2020 to focus on his retirement. The Company would like to thank Mr. Bolduc for his dedication and valuable contributions over the years that have helped make Peak the company it is today and wish him the very best in his retirement years and future endeavors. Peak intends to appoint Mr. Bolduc's replacement on its Board of Directors at the Company's next Annual General Meeting of shareholders.

About Peak Positioning Technologies Inc.:

Peak Positioning Technologies Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) subsidiaries operating in China's commercial lending industry. Peak's subsidiaries use technology, analytics and artificial intelligence to create an ecosystem of lenders, borrowers and other participants in China's commercial lending space where lending operations are conducted rapidly, safely, efficiently and with the utmost transparency. For more information: http://www.peakpositioning.com

For more information, please contact:

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

416-868-1079 ext.: 231

cathy@chfir.com

Peak Positioning Technologies Inc.

Johnson Joseph, President and CEO

514-340-7775 ext.: 501

investors@peakpositioning.com

Twitter: @PeakPositioning

Facebook: @peakpositioning

LinkedIn: Peak Positioning

YouTube: Peak Positioning

Forward-Looking Statements / Information:

This news release may include certain forward-looking information, including statements relating to business and operating strategies, plans and prospects for revenue growth, using words including "anticipate", "believe", "could", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "potential", "project", "seek", "should", "will", "would" and similar expressions, which are intended to identify a number of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information reflects current views with respect to current events and is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as may be required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating any forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53379
The outbreak of an epidemic is something like a natural disaster  a spontaneous, accidental eruption that is no ones fault. But that does not mean we can do little about it and just wait for it to run its deadly course. The evidence is now clear: The spread of the virus can be greatly reduced if governments act early, aggressively and intelligently. Unfortunately, that does not describe the response of the U.S. government to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, the nations fourth-oldest African American newspaper in the country, is celebrating 125 years of being a voice for the community and serving the underserved while maintaining a high level of journalistic integrity.

Not many Black-owned businesses  or businesses in general  have existed for 125 years! This accomplishment is a testament to the Recorders significance to the city of Indianapolis  not just the African American community.

What began in 1895 as a two-page church bulletin, created by co-founders George P. Stewart and William Porter, now hails as Indianas Greatest Weekly by consistently providing the community with up-to-date local and national news grounded in journalistic excellence.

Stewart and Porter, a local attorney, operated a commercial printing company at 122 W. New York St., which was also the original location of the Recorder. Porter sold his shares of the paper to Stewart in 1899, and the newspaper remained in the Stewart family until 1988 when local journalist Eunice Trotter purchased the company.

After becoming sole owner, Stewart moved to 414 Indiana Ave. in 1900. He moved two more times, 236-40 W. Walnut St. and 518-20 Indiana Ave., before settling into the current location, 2901 N. Tacoma Ave., in 1975.

Despite the oftentimes overt systemic racism of the early years, intimidation via death threats directed at its journalists from the Ku Klux Klan, burglary of its offices, and the hard-hitting economic crisis the Recorder has remained steadfast in upholding the mission encapsulated on its masthead, preparing a conscious community today and beyond.

I joined the Recorder because of its rich culture and unique legacy, said Recorder Media Group President and Chief Operating Officer Robert Shegog, who began leading the historic media organization in June 2018. While Im not a journalist by trade, I understand the power of the written word. Not only does the Recorder hold itself to the highest journalistic standards, but were also a voice for the underrepresented  especially in todays media climate where only a few are heard above the cacophony. We are truly for us, by us.

Publishers

George P. Stewart: 1895-1924

In 1895, George P. Stewart and William H. Porter founded the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally a two-page church bulletin with an emphasis on statewide news for African Americans, the Recorder expanded to a weekly publication to encourage the Black community to become more civically involved and stand up for equality.

Marcus C. Stewart Sr.: 1925-1983

As the Indianapolis Recorder continued to expand and include more pages and special sections, it remained a family business under the control of Marcus C. Stewart, the son of co-founder George P. Stewart. During the Marcus Stewart era, the publication covered a lot of issues related to crime and politics in Indianapolis and within the state of Indiana.

Eunice Trotter: 1988-1990

Longtime and respected journalist Eunice Trotter purchased the Indianapolis Recorder in 1988. With Trotters journalism experience, the publication began to focus less on crime and more on the positive aspects of the community. Under the leadership of Trotter, the company updated much of the equipment needed to produce the weekly paper.

William G. Mays: 1990-present

In 1990, entrepreneur and civic leader William G. Bill Mays, the founder of Mays Chemical Company, purchased the Recorder and saved it from extinction through financial contributions and connecting the publication to key city leaders and organizations. Due to Mays reputation in the state of Indiana and throughout the country, he drew a great deal of attention the Recorder, which helped establish major advertising deals for the newspaper. His focus was to ensure the Recorder remains one of the best newspapers in the country while sharing positive and useful Black news with the local community. Although Mays died in 2014, he is still recognized as publisher due to the lasting impact of his contributions and legacy.

Presidents

Charles Blair: 1991-1997

Charles Blair became vice president and general manager in 1991. He pushed the publication to become more directly involved in the community through initiatives such as circulation promotions, bike giveaways for children and more. Blair also welcomed youth into the company by increasing paper deliveries by children. Under Blairs tenure, the publications circulation increased by 40% and advertising revenue doubled.

Carolene Mays-Medley: 1998-2010

In 1998, William Bill Mays asked his niece, Carolene Mays-Medley, to take charge of the Indianapolis Recorder and help bring it back to life as the new century approached. At the time of her arrival, the publication more than $250,000 in debt, and Mays-Medley made the business profitable within one year and enhanced its editorial content. Under her tenure, the buildings structure was significantly improved. Its exterior was painted and the sales associate offices were remodeled. Mays-Medley also instituted better pay for Recorder employees. In addition, full color and specific sections of the paper were introduced during this time. Mays-Medley, who also served in the state legislature during much of her time at the Recorder, also heightened the Recorders presence in the community locally and nationally.

Shannon Williams: 2010-2018

In 2010, Shannon Williams continued Medley-Mays efforts to develop the Indianapolis Recorder into one of the best newspapers in the country. As a result of her extensive background in journalism and communications, Williams helped carry on a solid company structure while assisting newsroom staff with crafting quality articles on positive and useful news in the African American community. In addition, the Recorder Advisory Council and Recorder Media Group were created under Williams leadership. A major focus during this time was placed on electronic media, including expansion of the website and social media platforms. Williams also increased the Recorders presence in the community and sought to attract younger readers. In 2011, the Indianapolis Recorder became the first African American newspaper to digitize its archive editions.

Robert Shegog: 2018-current

President and COO Robert Shegog has been instrumental in building continuity across all of the companys products and amplifying community engagement strategies. He and his team continue to usher in a new era of leadership with the charge to extend the rich legacies of the newspaper and magazine for generations to come.

George P. Stewart
A delivery driver for a major supermarket retailer was in contact with a customer in isolation, speaking for almost 10 minutes, before going on to complete other deliveries

The Public Health Agency has urged anyone in self-isolation due to coronavirus fears to follow the guidelines and not answer the door to anyone.

The advice comes after it emerged that a delivery driver for a major supermarket retailer was in contact with a customer in isolation, speaking for almost 10 minutes, before going on to complete other deliveries.

Public Health Agency guidelines on self-isolation say anyone in that situation should not make contact with anyone calling at their front door.

The online customer contacted the Belfast Telegraph saying he was shocked and more than a little surprised that there didn't seem to be any common sense on display, and that it highlighted just how easy it could be to spread the virus through the community.

"It was worrying that someone could be so open about being in contact with a person in isolation then move on to another house for another delivery," he said. "I've no idea how many homes would have been visited afterwards. Surely there is some sort of policy in place that those delivering the goods should be abiding by?"

Tesco told the Belfast Telegraph the company has a process for allowing customers to alert a delivery driver in advance if they want their delivery left at a convenient place for collection.

The delivery will be placed into bags and left as requested - but the issue is that drivers need to know this in advance. Asda and Sainsburys had not replied to a request for a response, but Andrew Opie, director of Food and Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said all companies are working as hard as they can to minimise the impact of the virus.

"Most of our members are more than happy for the majority of online deliveries to be delivered on doorsteps when customers have suggested that they are self-isolating," he said.

"Despite difficult times, retailers strive to provide the best service for their customers, both online and in-store and are working as hard as they can to ensure consumers have access to whatever products they want."

A PHA spokesperson reiterated that it remains vital the guidelines offered to those in self-isolation are followed.

"People in self-isolation are expected to follow the advice they have been given to limit any potential spread of the virus.

"With regard to deliveries, the Public Health Agency recommends that advice developed by Public Health England on this issue is followed.

"This advice states: 'You will need to ask for help if you require groceries, other shopping or medications.

"Alternatively, you can order by phone or online. The delivery instruction needs to state that the items are to be left outside, or in the porch, or as appropriate for your home'."

Last week companies including Asda and Deliveroo issued advice to delivery drivers in a move to stop them from contracting the virus.

Deliveroo riders have been sent official guidelines based on the advice of the NHS and public health bodies, which include how to stay safe when delivering an order.

For Asda workers, home delivery staff have been advised to follow government advice, including guidance on hand-washing. Delivery drivers carry cleaning equipment in their vans.
Hot Springs Officer Shot and Killed During Traffic Stop in Arkansas

A Hot Springs police officer was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop in Arkansas on March 10, police said.

The Hot Springs Police Department said 33-year-old Officer Brent Scrimshire was struck by gunfire at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Kenwood Street, public information officer for the department Cpl. Joey Williams said in a statement on Facebook.

The suspect was also shot during the incident, Williams said, adding that the name, condition, and motive of the shooter are not being released at this time.

Officer Scrimshire, an eight-year veteran of the department, was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

We ask for prayers for our officer and his family, Williams said in the statement.

The investigation has been turned over to Arkansas State Police. Additional information is expected to be released later.

Scrimshire was presented with the Regional Officer of the Year Award in 2016 by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, HOTSR reported.

My heart breaks for the family of Officer Brent Scrimshire who was killed in the line of duty last night. I had the honor of meeting him in 2016 when I awarded him the Regional Officer of the Year for his service and willingness to go above and beyond for his community, Rutledge tweeted, adding a photo of her presenting Scrimshire the award.

Condolences Pour In

Condolences poured in from across the state and country on social media.

We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support from everyone during this trying time, Hot Springs Police Department wrote on Facebook.

Police said Scrimshires unit has been parked in front of the police station for anyone in the community wanting to leave memorials and pay their respects.

Arkansas Gov. William Asa Hutchinson, among many others, said his prayers are with his family, the Hot Springs Police Department, and the entire law enforcement community.

I am deeply saddened to learn that Hot Springs Police Officer Brent Scrimshire was shot and killed in the line of duty last night. Our prayers are with his family, the Hot Springs Police Department, and the entire law enforcement community.  Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) March 11, 2020

New York Police Department Chief Terence Monahan said on Twitter that Scrimshires death is another reminder of the dangers police face every day.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Little Rock wrote on Twitter that staff are shocked and heartbroken.

We mourn alongside our @HotSpringsPD partners, and we offer our most sincere thoughts and prayers for Officer Scrimshires family and friends. Rest in peace, Officer Scrimshire. #FallenHero, the department tweeted.

Scrimshire is the first Hot Springs police officer killed in the line of duty since February 1996, when Officer Chris Anderson was shot during a warrant service, according to HOTSR.

From NTD.com
Just after the high commission for planning Ahmed Lahlimi told Reuters and Bloomberg that Moroccos economic growth could sink to as low as 2% in 2020 from a previous estimate of f 3.5%, the Ministry of Economy & Finance announced, on Wednesday, the setting-up of an Economic Monitoring Committee that will assess the impact of coronavirus.

The committee is part of the governments efforts to anticipate the direct and indirect economic impact of the novel cornavirus epidemic (Covid-19) on national economy.

The committee is tasked with monitoring closely the development of the economic situation through evaluation mechanisms and identifying appropriate measures to provide support for the affected sectors, the ministry said in a release.

The minister of Economy & Finance will coordinate the action of the Committee, which includes members of the government and employers unions. The committee could include, if necessary, other public or private stakeholders, the Finance ministry said, noting that the various members of the committee are expected to set up sectoral monitoring mechanisms within their respective areas of competence and involve, in this endeavor, the relevant actors.

As the world economy is currently slowing down, with many factories in China and elsewhere shut down, a paralyzed world trade, a restricted air traffic and a badly hit tourism sector, Morocco will surely feel the impact.
For many college freshmen, spring semester is an awakening of sorts, with the arrival of warm weather and sunny days on the quad after months of grinding away in the library or a gloomy dorm room.

But maybe not this spring, at least not at Rutgers University, where an abundance of caution amid the coronavirus scare has prompted university officials to send students home for spring break early and keep them off-campus for at least two weeks after that for classes that will meet online only. Details are posted on a FAQ page of the schools website.

The announcement was one of the most dramatic changes in the schools history, impacting some 70,000 students. In New Jersey, the virus had infected 23 people and killed 1 as of Wednesday.

Rutgers is not the only university to switch to online classes for the rest of the semester. Montclair State University announced this week that it will extend its spring break through Sunday, March 22, and effective the following Monday, most classes will be online, with exceptions for some laboratory and studio classes.

A Rutgers spokesperson, Dory Devlin, said classes this Thursday and Friday are canceled, so the schools week-long spring break will begin two days early. Following the break, on March 23, classes will be held online only for at least two weeks, through Friday. April 3.

International students and out-of-state students who live beyond commuting distance are being permitted to stay in selected residence halls through spring break, and in this case during the online period through April 3.

Rutgers students wears a mask as she walks on campus in New Brunswick, March, 11, 2020 Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

But Devlin said it had not been determined what would happen to them and other students beyond April 3.

Outside Frelinghusen Hall, a freshman dorm overlooking the Raritan River on Rutgers main New Brunswick campus, students loaded desk lamps, laptops, laundry and other possessions into friend and family vehicles parked along George Street on Wednesday afternoon. Others strode by alone and in groups, headed back to their dorms for what could be their last class on campus for the year.

Sunny Cheng, 19, a freshman computer science major from Bridgewater, said online learning would probably be adequate for most of his classes this spring, which are mainly lectures with 100-200 students and limited classroom discussion.

But the cancellation of campus life beyond the classroom would be a blow, said Cheng, who had been anticipating the arrival of warmer weather, with birds chirping, bees buzzing and the promise of springs awakening.

Its a little bit annoying, Cheng said. I was kind of looking forward to the whole college experience.

Claudia (who did not want to give her last name) waits for her ride as she heads home as Rutgers students move out of their dorms in New Brunswick, March, 11, 2020 Students are moving out early due to Coronavirus concerns.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for

With earbuds in and eyes on his phone, 19-year-old Ethan Nuigens was sitting at a picnic table outside Frelinghuysen Hall. To Nuigens, whos from Milford in Hunterdon County, online learning wont be conducive to the kind of spontaneous back-and-forth that usually takes place in his political science classes.

Because Im poli sci, we have a lot of discussions, and students are bringing up new ideas, Nuigens said. Because were going to be having classes online, I dont think youre going to have that organic flow.

Jun Lin Sun was another 19-year-old student outside Frelinghuysen on Wednesday. But Sun, who lives in Shanghai, doesnt go to Rutgers. Rather, shes a senior at a New Jersey boarding school that she asked not to be named, and she was on her way into the Rutgers dorm to help a freshman friend from China move over to another dorm where international students will be able to stay for the time being. As for Sun hereslf, she said shell be heading home to Shanghai.

Rutgers freshman Sunny Cheng of Bridgewater said he was disappointed by the school's decision to hold online classes for at least two weeks following spring break.Steve Strunsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Sun wore a surgical mask that she only took off as she was about to enter the dorm.

"I dont want to get droplets on my face, she said, referring to water molecules that she feared could carry the coronavirus.

Sun was well aware that she was the only person outside the dorm wearing a mask, and said it didnt concern her what others might think. By minimizing the risk that she would contract the coronavirus or any other pathogen, Yun said she was also minimizing the risk of spreading it to anyone else.

Its for my protection, she said of the mask. But beyond that, she added, I want to be a responsible citizen.

Seha Kumar, 18, a freshman psychology major from West Orange, said the prospect of online learning was getting her down. Thats important for me, because I cant focus on just a screen, Kumar said. One of my classes is only 15 or 20 students, and we have discussions a lot, and you cant do that online.

Sanjay Thampi and Sneha Kumar with luggage as Rutgers students move out of their dorms in New Brunswick, March, 11, 2020 Students are moving out early due to Coronavirus concerns.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Kumar had the sinking feeling that the two weeks of online learning would be extended until the end of the semester, and there would be no Rutgers Day campus-wide celebration, or hot dog festival, or other spring flings.

That was the most annoying part, she said. I wanted to stay here for all the activities, and the weather was just getting nice.

Freshman industrial engineering major Austin Preiss said his subject matter wouldnt suffer much from the online format. Not a lot of my classes have a lot of interaction, Preiss said.

The 18-year-old Flemington resident was outside Frelinghuysen Hall at the curb along George Street loading his belongings into the covered bed of his fathers pickup truck for the ride home.

Austins dad, Paul Preiss, said he supported Rutgers decision to send his son and other students home early and keep them away for the additional two weeks. He said the fact that he had already paid his sons full room and board never crossed his mind.

Reimbursement? I havent even thought about it, said Preiss, 55, a vice president for a meat processing company in Linden. As long as we stay healthy, thats the most important thing.

Richard Borolusky looks on as his roommate Austin Preiss and Paul Preiss move Austin out as Rutgers students move out of their dorms in New Brunswick, March, 11, 2020 Students are moving out early due to Coronavirus concerns.Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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
Violet Affleck experienced a growth spurt, which made her nearly the same height (5ft8in) as her famous mother Jennifer Garner as they bonded in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood on Wednesday.

The Texan-born, West Virginia-raised 47-year-old held hands with the 14-year-old Carlthorp School student as they headed inside a nail salon for a relaxing mother-daughter pamper session.

Both Violet and Jennifer wore flip-flops for their pedicures and they coordinated in matching grey T-shirts and blue jeans.

Growth spurt alert! Violet Affleck (L) was nearly the same height (5ft8in) as her famous mother Jennifer Garner (R) as they bonded in LA's Brentwood neighborhood on Wednesday

It's not surprising Garner's privileged princess would grow taller thanks to her 6ft4in father Ben Affleck, who's very jealous of her Spanish language skills.

'[Violet] is like, "That sounds ridiculous. You're not using the perfect tense,"' the Berkeley-born, Boston-raised 47-year-old recalled on the March 4th episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

'She's right at the point where I think she might be passing me. I was like, "Nope. This is not happening. I don't mind that I can't do your math homework when you're 14 years old, but you are not going to be better at Spanish than me!" So I've decided now I gotta take classes; I gotta do something to keep up.'

Before the Alias alum hung out with Violet, she donned brown shearling bedroom slippers to grab her morning coffee to-go in Brentwood.

Mother-daughter pamper session: The Texan-born, West Virginia-raised 47-year-old held hands with the 14-year-old Carlthorp School student as they headed inside a nail salon

Twinning! Both Violet and Jennifer wore flip-flops for their pedicures and they coordinated in matching grey T-shirts and blue jeans

'[Violet] is like, "That sounds ridiculous. You're not using the perfect tense!"' It's not surprising Garner's privileged princess would grow taller thanks to her 6ft4in father Ben Affleck (L), who's very jealous of her Spanish language skills

Jennifer wore black-frame glasses over her make-up free complexion and she scraped her damp brunette locks into a ponytail.

Garner was joined on her coffee run by a similarly-clad gal pal sporting a messy top-bun.

The former Daredevil castmates - whose divorce was finalized in October 2018 - are also parents to 11-year-old daughter Seraphina and eight-year-old son Samuel.

The Tightrope narrator' ex-husband #2 was pictured kissing his Deep Water onscreen wife Ana de Armas while romantically strolling in the Costa Rican surf together on Tuesday.

Rolled out of bed: Before the Alias alum hung out with Violet, she donned brown shearling bedroom slippers to grab her morning coffee to-go in Brentwood

Caffeine fix: Jennifer wore black-frame glasses over her make-up free complexion and she scraped her damp brunette locks into a ponytail

Hey girl! Garner was joined on her coffee run by a similarly-clad gal pal (R) sporting a messy top-bun

Casual: Jennifer was relaxed as she got on with her day in Santa Monica

Busy mom: The actress and mother looked deep in thought as she finished her coffee

The two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker obviously fell for the Cuban 31-year-old while playing a married couple on the New Orleans set of director Adrian Lyne's erotic thriller, which hits US/UK theaters November 13.

As for Jennifer, she's been quietly dating Cali Group chairman John Miller since May 2018, but the coy couple haven't been pictured on a date since September 20.

Since November 18, Garner has been hard at work on the Los Angeles set of Netflix comedy, Yes Day, alongside onscreen daughter Katie (Jenna Ortega).

It's official! The Tightrope narrator' ex-husband #2 (L) was pictured kissing his Deep Water onscreen wife Ana de Armas (R) while romantically strolling in the Costa Rican surf together on Tuesday

Chemistry: The two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker obviously fell for the Cuban 31-year-old while playing a married couple on the New Orleans set of director Adrian Lyne's erotic thriller, which hits US/UK theaters November 13 (pictured in 2019)

Still on? As for Jennifer, she's been quietly dating Cali Group chairman John Miller (pictured) since May 2018, but the coy couple haven't been pictured on a date since September 20

'Shooting Yes Day at Six Flags Magic Mountain is a dream come true,' the Llama Llama actress - who boasts 10.6M Instagram/Facebook followers - joked on January 15.

'Unless you hate roller coasters. I cried.'

Jennifer produces and stars as married mother-of-three Allison Torres in Miguel Arteta's adaptation of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's 2009 children's book.
fizkes | Getty Images

I recently had someone send me a document that they needed to have completed right now for an important deadline they had. Mind you, they could have sent the document they needed months earlier, but they waited until the last minute. Normally, I wouldnt sweat it  Id fill it out pretty quickly and get it back to them. However, on this occasion I was in Panama on business. I was headed home to Austin for less than 24 hours, then I was off to Charlotte for business meetings at BNI Global, and then I was off to Necker Island for some downtime. They could not have caught me at a worse time  and they were completely aware that I was in the midst of my travels. Nevertheless, they emailed me, emailed my assistant, emailed my wife and emailed all of us multiple times over two days.

In between my meetings, I dropped this person a message and said, Im sorry you have a crisis, but your crisis is not my emergency. You had months to send this to me, and you sent it at the last moment (when Im swamped) and you want it right now. No, I am not able to do it right now. I will do it as soon as I can. This is an illustration of why, in my book, Whos in Your Room, I write that sometimes, no is a one-word sentence.
Few deaths in movies are handled with the contempt that some filmmakers show murdered sex workers. Its one reason that the true-crime drama Lost Girls feels so bracing: It humanizes women often represented as disposable, more props than people. When a mother in the movie laments that her missing daughter, a sex worker, has been forgotten along with other women, her words feel like an accusation. When our girls are remembered, she says, its never as friend, sister, mother, daughter.

That condemnation runs like a pulsating current through Lost Girls, which centers on Mari Gilbert, a flinty heartbreaker played by Amy Ryan. A sober chronicle of victimization and empowerment, the movie tracks Maris search for her daughter Shannan, who vanished after meeting a client. The world sees a missing prostitute as an inevitability rather than a tragedy or outrage; Mari sees a beloved child and, in time, a cause thats as political as it is personal. Its a good, righteous fit for the director Liz Garbus, a documentarian drawn to stories about social justice, here making her fiction-feature debut. (Her docs include What Happened, Miss Simone?)

The real story is grim and shrouded in mystery. Early on May 1, 2010, Shannan Gilbert, a 24-year-old sex worker who advertised on Craigslist, called 911 screaming, Theyre trying to kill me. She then disappeared. Late that same year, a police dog sniffed out the corpse of a different woman in the same Long Island area where Shannan was last seen. Other bodies and body parts were recovered; one victim traced back to the mid-1990s. When most of the victims were identified as prostitutes, a detective said it was a consolation that the killer didnt seem to be selecting citizens at large.

Its easy to imagine Garbus reading that comment and becoming incensed. (The line appears in Robert Kolkers Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery, the sympathetic book on which the movie is based.) There are different ways to describe Garbuss telling of this mystery: its serious, respectful, gravely melancholic. Yet anger best describes the movies atmosphere, its overall mood and its authorial tone. In some scenes, anger seems to hover over characters, as threatening as the movies permanently dark skies; at other times, it erupts, flushing faces and distorting voices. It ebbs and flows; every so often, it spills over until you feel it seeping into you.
WINCHESTER  Two people are vying for the Republican nomination for Scott County commissioner during Tuesdays primary election.

There are no candidates on the Democratic ballot.

Incumbent Robert Schafer, 68, is seeking reelection after serving in the position for 12 years. Schafer, who has lived in Scott County for all but two years of his life, went to Spoon River College in Canton before attending Western Illinois University  where he did not graduate.

After college, Schafer worked for the Department of Public Health for 31 years. He is also a farmer.

Schafer believes his experience as county commissioner has given him a working knowledge of the position. He said he understands working with taxes in the county and will be equipped for helping with the countys budget.

If reelected, Schafer said he believes it will be important to oversee the countys nursing facility and ensuring it will be able to operate. He said he also wants to see where the county can afford to make improvements to buildings in the area while making sure the county is showing a profit.

Moneys tight, theres no denying that, Schafer said. Im trying to work to keep the budget in the black.

Schafer and his wife, Chris, have two adult children, Brian and Amanda, and five grandchildren.

Schafer is facing Charles Pine, 72, who has been a resident of Bluffs and Scott County for 43 years.

Pine graduated from high school in Pittsfield and served in the Army during the Vietnam War, including during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

For 44 years, Pine worked in an engineering position for a Jacksonville factory that had been owned by the companies Kordite, Mobil Chemical, Tenneco and Pactiv during his tenure.

Pine has been involved in the Scott County community  serving as a member of the Bluffs Village Board and the Winchester American Legion Post 442. He is also a member of AmVets Post 100 in Jacksonville and Vietnam Veterans of America Post 534 in Springfield.

If elected, Pine said he would donate $100 of his stipend each month for a year to either the Bluffs or Winchester American Legions.

Pine said does not think the the northern portion of Scott County is represented on the Scott County Board and he hopes to rectify that.

I want to make sure that the whole county is represented, he said.

His other priorities include ensuring that tax dollars are spent in the right places and bringing fresh ideas to the county board.

Pine and his wife, Sharon, have three sons, Brandon, Derrick and Tyler, and eight grandchildren.
Key post-Brexit trade talks due to take place in London next week were cancelled today over coronavirus travel fears.

Michael Gove hinted yesterday that discussions due to take place from March 18 - 20 - could fall victim to the pandemic sweeping the globe.

And today a source in Brussels told the AFP news agency: 'Given the latest COVID-19 developments, EU and UK negotiators have today jointly decided not to hold next week's round of negotiations in London.

'Both sides are currently exploring alternative ways to continue discussions, including if possible the use of videoconferences.'

The PM said it was clear that the disease will continue to spread around the world and people should brace for the 'reality' of 'severe disruption' for many months

Micheal Gove hinted yesterday that discussions due to take place from March 18 - 20 - could fall victim to the pandemic sweeping the globe

Meanwhile, the European Commission, the EU's vast executive arm, ordered non-essential staff to work from home starting on Monday.

'As much as it can affect our daily life, it is necessary to follow the experts' advice and apply social distancing measures at work,' commission head Ursula von der Leyen said in a note to staff.

'As of Monday, all colleagues in non-critical functions will have to telework,' she added.

Boris Johnson today branded coronavirus the 'worst public health crisis in a generation' and warned that 'many more' people are going to die - but still held off drastic measures.

The PM said it was clear that the disease will continue to spread around the world and people should brace for the 'reality' of 'severe disruption' for many months.

He said the government was considering measures like a ban on sporting events - but the time to act was not now.

'At all stages we have been guided by the science. We will do the right thing at the right time,' he said.

The PM formally declared that the UK's tactics have shifted from 'containing' the killer disease to merely 'delaying' its inevitable spread after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee.

Mr Johnson said comparisons to seasonal flu were wrong.

'This is more dangerous and it's going to spread further. And I must level with you and the British public: more families, many more families, are going to lose loved ones before their time,' he said.

The number of UK cases has risen by 130 and the death toll hit 10 in the last 24 hours, with experts increasingly bracing for turmoil as the overwhelming majority of the population becomes infected and the country develops 'herd immunity'.

Mr Gove yesterday told MPs 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.'
Four members of a family were killed when their car was hit by a truck on the Agra- Lucknow Expressway here, police said on Thursday.

The accident took place on Wednesday night near Nagla Pai village under the Chaubia police station area, SSP Akash Tomar said.

Those killed have been identified as Srikant Maitri (51), Kavita Maitri (45), Arijit Vishwas (45) and Ananya Maitri (30), the SSP said, adding that the victims belonged to West Bengal and were going towards Gurgaon.

The car driver was also injured in the accident and has been admitted to a hospital, the SSP added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.
The Duke of Cambridge's new patronage is one very close to his heart.

Prince William, 37, will be the new patron of the London Air Ambulance Charity, which was established in 1989, and provides rapid emergency care around the capital.

William is the perfect man for the job, having worked as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance for 18 months between 2015 and 2017, before stepping down to take on more royal responsibilities on behalf of the Queen.

In his role as patron, William will champion the important work carried out by the charity.

'His Royal Highness has seen first-hand the impact these first responders have upon the lives of patients with critical injuries,' read a statement by Kensington Palace released today.

Last year, the father-of-three was patron of the London Air Ambulance's 30th anniversary campaign for the duration of 2019.

Prince William, 37, has become the patron of the London Air Ambulance Charity after he was the patron of their 30th anniversary campaign in 2019 (pictured at the Royal London Hospital on January 9 2019)

In January 2019, he visited the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, where he met with clinicians, paramedics, pilots and crew members and piloted the helicopter the London Air Ambulance kept there on stand-by.

In November of that same year, he attended the charity's gala, and was hailed 'one of their own' by the staff in attendance.

Air Ambulances are a matter close to William's heart, having worked as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service (pictured with the Duchess of Cambridge at the Commonwealth Day service in London on Monday)

The 30 Years Saving Lives campaign, which aimed to highlight its vital work delivering lifesaving treatment across London and generate funds for new facilities raised almost 2 million.

The LAACs anniversary campaign was also one of the eight charities represented in the Kings Cup Regatta in August 2019.

Jonathan Jenkins, the CEO of Londons Air Ambulance Charity, said: 'We are honoured that The Duke of Cambridge has chosen to become Patron of Londons Air Ambulance charity after getting to know us last year.

'The Duke truly understands our work and knows that every second counts in an emergency,' he added.

In his quality of patron, William will champion those on the frontline and will raise awareness for the charity's important work (pictured flying speaking to an helicopter pilot at Royal London Hospital in January 2019

William attended the charity's gala in November 2019, were he seemed in great spirits (pictured)

William worked as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service for eighteen months between 2015 and 2017 (pictured)

'We know that with his help as well as the continued support of the public, our crews can reach those who need them most  serving the people of London 24 hours a day, every day of the year.'

William took up a position as pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance service in July 2015, and worked there until his last shift in 2017.

He left the role - which he started in July 2015 - to spend more time in London when his children started school, and take on more royal duties to support the Queen.

In a statement at the time, issued on his behalf by Kensington Palace, he said it was a 'privilege' to fly with the organisation.

The air ambulance charity, which has treated more than 40,000 patients and has attended most major incidents in the capital including 7/7, the London Bridge attacks, and the Croydon tram crash, operates around the clock 365 days a year, serving the city's 10 million population.

It costs around 10 million each year to deliver the service. The air ambulance, which treated people across the entire south east of England at first, was created in 1989.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/11/2020 -- Advance Market Analytics released a new market study on Global Drug Screening Market with 100+ market data Tables, Pie Chat, Graphs & Figures spread through Pages and easy to understand detailed analysis. At present, the market is developing its presence. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Drug Screening Forecast till 2025*. Some are the key players taken under coverage for this study are Alere (United States), Thermo Fisher (United States), Dragerwerk (Germany), OraSure (United States), Alfa Scientific Designs (United States), Lifeloc (United States), MPD, Inc. (United States), Premier Biotech (United States), Shimadzu (Japan), and Siemens Healthineers (United States)



Drug screening is a method in which potential drugs are identified as well as optimized before selection of a candidate drug in order to progress to clinical trials. It is a cost-effective method to quickly review all samples. It is highly reactive, but not highly selective. It analyses various biological samples, namely hair, blood, & urine in order to diagnose the presence of drug abuse. It is used to determine, whether the person is the influences of the drug at a certain point of time. The urine sample is mostly used for screening due to its low cost as well as result reliability. Drug screening is a two-step process which includes initial test and a confirmatory test. Increase in alcohol consumption among youth and elderly population, overuse of prescribed drugs, the rise in use of narcotics and illicit drugs are some of the major drivers which are propelling the growth of the market.



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Important Features that are under offering & key highlights of the report:



1) What all companies are currently profiled in the report?

Following are list of players that are currently profiled in the report Alere (United States), Thermo Fisher (United States), Dragerwerk (Germany), OraSure (United States), Alfa Scientific Designs (United States), Lifeloc (United States), MPD, Inc. (United States), Premier Biotech (United States), Shimadzu (Japan), and Siemens Healthineers (United States)

** List of companies mentioned may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger etc.



2) Can we add or profiled new company as per our need?

Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey.

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Yes it can be provided, however ETA would vary and final confirmation would be given only after checking data in data repository.



4) Can inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible?

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To comprehend Global Drug Screening market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Drug Screening market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas.



- North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico.

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- Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, and Australia.



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Major Highlights of TOC:

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Market Drivers, Market Challenges, Market Trends, Restraints & Opportunities

Chapter Four: Market Factor Analysis ------ USD400

Supply/Value Chain, Porters Five Forces, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent & Trademark Analysis, Bargain Power

Chapter Five: Global Drug Screening, by Market Segmentation and Geography (value, volume**) (2013-2018) ------ USD1400



Global Drug Screening

By Type: Immunoassay Analyzer, Chromatography, Breathalyzer, Rapid Test Device, Assay Kits

Sample Type : Urine Samples, Breath Samples, Oral Fluid Samples, Hair Samples, Other Samples

End User : Workplace, Criminal Justice Systems and Law Enforcement Agencies, Drug Treatment Centers, Pain Management Centers, Schools and Colleges, Hospitals, Individual Users, Drug Testing Laboratories

Global Drug Screening Region

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Nordic, Others)

Asia-Pacific (Japan, China, Australia, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Middle East & Africa, Others)

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Chapter Nine: Methodology/Research Approach, Data Source, Disclaimer

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Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report.

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Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra on Wednesday announced the postponement of the start of school classes until March 30. Many of Peru's private schools, which had started teaching at the beginning of the month, will also have to suspend their lessons until the same date.

In press conference on Wednesday, Vizcarra also ordered 14-day home isolation for people arriving to the country from China, Italy, France and Spain.

Peru's Health Ministry on Wednesday reported two new cases of the new coronavirus, which raises the number of people who have tested positive to 15.

The two new patients are aged 47 and 69, a man and a woman, respectively, both in the city of Lima.

For most people, the virus 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 illness, including pneumonia.

The 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.

Peru's government disbursed $47 million for schoolchildren to receive hygiene kits and $28.5 million to the Health Ministry to buy more medical supplies.
Dubai, March 12 : Indian expats in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been advised to avoid non-essential travel, including to their home country, in an effort to stop the spread of the novel corovairus.

Posting the latest advisory on Twitter, the Indian Consulate in Dubai said on Thursday: "All citizens and foreign nationals desiring to visit India may kindly see (the) latest guidelines issued by Govt. of India," reports Gulf News.

Consul General of India in Dubai told Gulf News on Thursday: "Given the situation, it is advisable for everyone to avoid non-essential travel right now, even to our home. There could be conditions for them (those who travel) to be quarantined." He urged the Indian citizens in the UAE to take precautions to protect themselves and others, especially if they are travelling for emergency reasons.

"That is when you are likely to come into contact with affected people," he cautioned.

The UAE's move comes a day after the Indian government decided to suspend all visas, except those of officials and diplomats. India has confirmed 73 COVID-19 cases, with no deaths.

As of Thursday, the UAE has reported 74 coronavirus cases with no fatalities.

Globally, there has been an overall 124,979 confirmed cases, with 4,625 deaths.

The figure includes China, the country of origin of the virus.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
First he lost three fingers, later his hearing in one ear. Then all at once, both his legs and eyes. Ibrahim al-Ali was wounded every time he tried to escape Syria's war. In a camp for the displaced near the Turkish border, the 33-year-old father of four shows the scars he has sustained in a conflict now entering its tenth year. His eyes sealed shut, he runs his fingers along a long lesion below his chest, cuts on his arm, as well as discoloured scars on his scalp, neck and waist. Leaning forward on the edge of a thin mattress, the former blacksmith gently exercises one of his amputated legs, cut off just below the knee. Ali did not always look like this. In an image on his smartphone, he appears as a dapper young man dressed in dark blue tracksuit and holding a baby girl. But violence in Syria's last major rebel pocket has pursued him everywhere for years, robbing him of what he enjoyed most in life. "I can't carry my children anymore," he says, slim arms clad in a stripey brown pullover and resting on his thighs. "I can't work, or even move." Ali and his family are among nearly one million people who have been displaced in northwestern Syria since December by a Russia-backed regime offensive. For hundreds of thousands like him, it was just the latest of multiple displacements in recent years. - Map of conflict - Ali's body is like a map of his miraculous but horrific journey through the bombing campaigns of northwestern Syria. Inside a small breeze-block house, he swipes his hand slowly over the floor to find his cup of coffee, brings it to his lips, and tells his story. He was first wounded in 2013, right after he fled his native village of Shaizar in Hama province due to heightened hostilities. In the nearby town of Latamneh, Ali was hit by regime barrel bombs, pieces of shrapnel piercing his wrist and arms. That same year, he and his family fled further north to the town Maaret Hurma in Idlib province, where regime shelling pummelled their house, and severed three fingers on his left hand. In early 2014, he relocated to the village of Kafr Sajna, also in Idlib, where shrapnel from an air strike punctured his chest and broke parts of his ribcage. After three years of seemingly endless wounds, in 2016 Ali moved to farmlands outside the town of Khan Sheikhun. "I almost survived the entire year without an injury," he says. But in its very last month, another attack wounded his head and right ear, robbing him of his hearing on that side. He uprooted his family yet again, heading back north to Sheikh Mustafa, where they would remain safe for a whole 12 months. Syria's war has killed more than 390,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. - 'The worst yet' - In mid-2018, however, Ali would suffer his worst injuries yet. On his way back home from work, he stepped on a landmine that blew off his legs and ravaged his eyes. "That was the last day I saw the world," he says. Today, Ali hauls himself onto a wheelchair, and his younger brother pushes him outside into the sun, clutching a smiling young boy riding along on his lap. After the landmine, Ali spent one month in a coma in neighbouring Turkey. "I woke up unable to see anything," he says. "The world was pitch black." When he returned to Syria, the war showed no sign of letting up. "We had to keep escaping," Ali says. Eventually, he moved into his brother's modest home in the displacement camp, where he and his family now reside. A ceasefire has halted fighting since last weekend, but Ali describes his current circumstances as "the worst yet". "In the camps, we don't have a home or even basic amenities," he says. As the war grinds on, Ibrahim will probably have to leave again, although it is unclear where to. One thing, however, is certain for the young man twice arrested during the uprising for protesting against President Bashar al-Assad's regime. "If I were to be cut open and if my neck was to be sliced off and my head severed, I wouldn't accept for me or my children to live under Assad's rule." Ibrahim al-Ali and his family are among nearly one million people who have been displaced in northwestern Syria since December by a Russia-backed regime offensive Ali lost his sight when he stepped on a landmine in 2018, having already been wounded multiple times since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 Ali's younger brother helps him get around in the wheel chair he has used since he lost his legs to a landmine explosion
All cinema halls and multiplexes in national capital Delhi will remain shut till March 31 as a preventive step to contain the spreading of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday. He also announced that all schools and colleges not having any examination will also be shut till March 31.

Kejriwal further said that the offices, shops and malls, which have not been shut down, will have to disinfect the premises every day.

The decisions were taken in a review meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday afternoon where Kejriwal, state health minister Satyendar Jain and top officials of the Delhi government were present.

We need to exercise abundant caution to contain the disease. All cinema halls, schools, colleges in Delhi will be shut until March 31, but exams will continue as scheduled. People are advised to stay away from public gatherings, Kejriwal said on Twitter.

Delhi govt has declared Coronavirus an epidemic. We need to exercise abundant caution to contain the disease. All cinema halls, schools, colleges in Delhi will be shut until 31st March, but exams will continue as scheduled. People are advised to stay away from public gatherings. pic.twitter.com/2vHyinNKAP  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 12, 2020

The chief minister also said that the government is ramping up its quarantine facilities. Empty flats under the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and our under construction hospitals like the one in Burari will be used as additional quarantine facility, if needed. We already have more than 500 quarantine beds ready in various hospitals across the city, he said.

Kejriwal also said the Delhi government has declared coronavirus an epidemic from Thursday. This comes a day after the central government decided that all states should be advised to invoke the necessary provisions of the Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 to enforce all advisories.

With fresh cases reported from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Ladakh, the number of people who are Covid-19 positive has gone up to 73, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

Out of the 73 confirmed cases (17 of them foreign nationals) in the country, Kerala has the maximum number of positive cases for novel coronavirus at 17.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday had declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and expressed deep concern.

Coronavirus which originated in the Wuhan city of China has so far spread to more than 90 countries infecting over 1,10,000 people.

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Two residents at a veterans nursing home in Lebanon in Linn County have now tested positive for coronavirus, the Oregon Health Authority announced Wednesday night, signifying a dramatic and troubling turn as the deadly pandemic runs rampant across America.

The outbreak at the Edward C. Allworth Oregon Veterans Home marks the first at a senior residential center in Oregon. Both infected patients are men who are at least 80 years old. Its unclear how they became infected and the cases have been labeled as community spread.

Both men had symptoms and sought medical treatment prior to being tested Wednesday. Two other residents were tested and were negative.

The home has 151 residents, according to state officials, and all of them, as well as care providers, will now be tested for the virus. Nearly all of the residents are older than 70 and about a third are 90 or older.

Oregons tally of infected patients grew to 21 after the two new presumed cases. Its a bleak development for Oregon because COVID-19 exposure has been deadly in assisted-living homes in Washington, where 24 of that states 29 fatalities have been residents in assisted living.

We understand the uncertainty this announcement may bring," said Kelly Fitzpatrick, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs. "But please rest assured the safety of our veterans and our staff is our highest priority.

The surprise announcement, made after 7 p.m., came nearly seven hours after state officials announced four new cases in Deschutes, Polk, Marion and Umatilla counties.

The nursing home samples were fast-tracked by the health authority Wednesday and taken to the state lab for testing after officials learned they had first been directed toward the University of Washingtons lab.

Officials could not explain why the samples were not originally slated to go to the state lab. We dont know why the decision was made, said Dr. Dawn Mautner, a senior health adviser for the state.

Dr. William Muth, Linn Countys public health officer, also said he did not know why. He speculated that doctors may have believed going to a commercial lab was more appropriate, given the states strict testing criteria.

Jonathan Modie, a state spokesman, said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive that part of the guidance is also physician discretion" about who can be tested, including age and underlying conditions.

Dr. Dean Sidelinger, the state health officer and epidemiologist, said the state did not previously deny access to the state lab for the two men, according to Robb Cowie, a different state spokesman.

The two men began showing symptoms late on Sunday, said Fitzpatrick, the veterans director. They were tested for the flu and other respiratory illnesses but were negative, she said.

Administrators at the nursing home switched the ventilation system to circulate 100 percent outside air in an effort to mitigate the potential spread of any infection disease. They also restricted visiting hours and limited who could enter the facility after March 2, Fitzpatrick said.

The two men returned to the center after seeking medical care and remain isolated in their individual rooms. They will be treated there only by staff who do not care for other residents, Fitzpatrick said.

In short, the facility did everything they needed to do to care for these residents," said Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority.

The men are doing well, said Linn County Board of Commissioners Chair Roger Nyquist.

The Lebanon home, on the northern end of the city of about 17,000 and about 80 miles south of Portland, already been restricting visitors and screening visitors for respiratory symptoms and travel to high-risk areas, Nyquist said. The state has another veterans nursing home in The Dalles.

State officials have been bracing for an outbreak at a nursing home since at least last week.

About 45,000 Oregonians live in senior residential facilities like the one in Kirkland, Washington, that has been the epicenter of Washingtons outbreak.

Oregon officials aimed to address fears Tuesday, announcing a series of emergency policies they hope will better protect residents at long-term care centers, including the veterans home in Lebanon. Those protections include limiting and screening visitors, documenting who has visited and reducing community outings by residents.

Kirkland should be a wakeup call for all of us, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden told The Oregonian/OregonLive recently. I have long been fearful about whether there are adequate protections for the elderly in a health care emergency or heaven forbid, a pandemic.

(Jeff Manning, Jayati Ramakrishnan and Fedor Zarkhin of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.)

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

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[March 12, 2020] Wiley Expands Career Center Services with Acquisition of Madgex

John Wiley and Sons Inc. (NYSE:JWA)(NYSE:JWB), a global leader in research and education, announced today it has acquired Madgex, a market-leading provider of advanced job board software and career center services. Terms were undisclosed. "Helping researchers and professionals thrive in their careers is at the heart of everything we do, and our acquisition of Madgex reinforces that commitment," said Judy Verses, Executive Vice President of Research for Wiley. "As we expand our product and service offerings with Madgex, we will undoubtedly strengthen our value proposition for societies and, in turn, their members through peer networking, knowledge sharing and professional development." Madgex has been a long-standing partner to Wiley starting with the company's first career center service, the Wiley Job Network, in 2011. Since then, the expertise and software provided by Madgex have helped drive the evolution of Wiley's recruitment services, connecting skilled professionals and researchers with open job opportunities. With Madgex's innovative job board technology and career center services and Wiley's expertise delivering value for societies and publishers, Wiley has become the ony provider to offer full-service?solutions, including technology and sales, for societies.



"Madgex is committed to supporting the recruitment industry through our market-leading job board technology and career center solutions. We're excited to now officially combine Madgex's job board expertise with Wiley's publishing experience and shared commitment to the recruitment industry," said Dan Meadows, CEO, Madgex. "With Wiley, we'll continue to partner with the world's most prestigious organizations across publishing, journalism, associations and recruitment, providing the cutting-edge job board technology, continuous innovation and expert support we are known for." Wiley, as the leading scholarly society publisher in the world, supports over 600 societies, whose mission is to advance scientific knowledge, and four million members, who play a critical role in driving research discoveries by connecting with peers at society meetings and sharing key knowledge in society journals. Career development advice and sharing of career opportunities on job boards are additional benefits that societies offer its members.

This announcement reinforces Wiley's focus on helping students, professionals and researchers succeed in their careers. Earlier this year, Wiley acquired mthree, a global education services provider that addresses the skills gap by finding, training and placing job-ready technology talent in roles with leading corporations worldwide, further illustrating the company's momentum in the market. About Madgex Madgex partners with the world's leading media brands and associations to help unlock the value of their audience. Offering market-leading job board technology and career center solutions, Madgex helps organizations grow their audience, increase engagement and drive their bottom line. With offices in New York, Toronto and Brighton (UK), they provide their technology and solutions in multiple languages to clients across the world. For more information please visit madgex.com About Wiley Wiley drives the world forward with research and education. Through publishing, platforms and services, we help students, researchers, universities, and corporations to achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to all of our stakeholders. The Company's website can be accessed at www.wiley.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005188/en/

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 12

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

OPEC joint technical committee meeting planned for March 18, 2020 could be held in selector mode due to coronavirus outbreak, Kazakhstans Minister of Energy Nurlan Nogayev said, Trend reports with reference to Kazakh media.

Nogayev said that the meeting has not been cancelled as of now.

The meeting is still planned. However the meeting could be held in a selector mode, via telecommunication, in order to prevent coronavirus spreading, Nogayev said.

Nogayev said previously that Kazakhstan is planning to maintain previously approved plan for oil extraction volume in 2020.

During the meeting held March 6, OPEC+ failed to reach any agreement on extension of the deal or deepening the cuts further, which led to a significant decline in oil prices.

On the morning of March 9, 2020, Brent crude plunged 25 percent dropping to its lowest since February 2016 and recording biggest one-day percentage declines since Jan. 17, 1991.

At the end of 2018, OPEC and a number of non-affiliated countries (Kazakhstan being one of them) decided to extend the agreement on reducing oil production, which has been in force since the beginning of 2017. The countries agreed to reduce their production by a total of 1.2 million barrels per day from the level of October 2018.

A decision was passed in Vienna on July 2, 2019, regarding the extension of the agreement on the reduction of oil production by the countries of OPEC and non-members of the cartel until the end of the first quarter of 2020.

Kazakhstan has supported the decision to reduce oil extraction by additional 500,000 barrels a day within the framework of OPEC+ agreement under the decision made during the 7th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting held in Vienna, Austria, on Dec. 6, 2019.

Thus, latest liabilities of Kazakhstan within the agreement are 1.843 million barrels a day compared to 1.86 million barrels a day previously.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
At 69, the Rev. Dorinda Broadnax waited a long time for her chance to be a senior pastor.

She will be installed on Sunday as the pastor of First Congregational Church, at 1024 Center Street North in Birmingham.

Shes the first woman pastor in the churchs 137-year history. She may be the one of the oldest first-time senior pastors ever in Alabama. And shes got style.

She preaches in heels  thats what gets me, said Marcia Bentley, chair of the Deacon Board at First Congregational Church, affiliated with the United Church of Christ. She was truly called by God and truly has a gift for preaching the Bible and unifying people.

But it was no clear and easy path to the pulpit for Broadnax.

She was born Aug. 24, 1950 in Forest Home in rural Butler County, about 15 miles south of Greenville, the fourth of nine children. She graduated from Alabama State University in 1972 with a degree in business administration.

She lives in Montgomery and works as an administrative assistant at BTL Technologies, and commutes to Birmingham every weekend, staying with her daughter in McCalla. She drives to Birmingham on Friday night and returns to Birmingham on Sunday night, after preaching at the 11 a.m. Sunday service.

This Sunday, there will be a 3 p.m. installation service to recognize her as the new pastor. She was brought on in 2017 as a supply pastor, then the churchs board approved her in December as its pastor.

She was able to unify the church, Bentley said. She was able to pull us together and help us grow and renew our enthusiasm for serving.

Broadnax began preaching in 1969. I was licensed to preach in a small Holiness church in Greenville, Alabama when I was 19, she said.

She was later licensed to preach in 2002 by the United Church of Christ and became associate pastor of Community UCC in Montgomery.

It seemed like the right fit, she said. It was a beautiful experience.

In 2014, she was ordained through a program the UCC instituted as an alternative path to seminary.

It has been a blessing, Broadnax said. I get emotional when I talk about this. There were a lot of churches that did not want to consider women in ministry.

Along the way, Broadnax was married and divorced twice.

Its a journey, Broadnax said. God has prepared me for it. Hes been faithful. Its been His grace, His mercy, that kept me going. Its being able to share his word with people that love him and even that dont love him, that give us the ability to develop. I will not give up a moment of what Ive learned through experience.

First Congregational Church has average Sunday attendance of about 50, with 19 members over 80, and six in their 90s.

They give me the drive and the inspiration and motivation, Broadnax said. Its beautiful to see them come. Some are on walkers, some have oxygen tanks, some have canes, but they come every Sunday and its a beautiful experience.

Broadnax said the church has sustained her through hard times.

Shes watched one sister die of lupus. Another sister had two kidney transplants, then died of breast cancer. Her oldest sister died of a heart attack. Another sister had polio. She had a brother who was an addict who was found dead in an abandoned house.

I can only think about what God has done for me, and how Gods people have embraced me, encouraged me, walked with me, she said. I believe that God can still use us if were willing and open to the call hes placed on us.

Her varied experience makes her a perfect fit for ministry, Bentley said.

She relates so well to all kinds of people, Bentley said. We have a lot of elderly members, and children and everything in between. She relates to all of them. Shes very calm and peaceful, while still being enthusiastic. Shes got a lot of enthusiasm.

Broadnax has a message she wants to convey every Sunday.

We need to make sure our anchor is in Christ and his word, she said. Love people, being imitators of Christ, whether youre old or young.

With her fresh start as a pastor, Broadnax said does not think about retiring.

I dont put time limits on God, she said. Why not do what God has planned, until God calls me home?
Last week, Cy-Fair ISD, Klein ISD, Spring ISD and Tomball ISD announced that school closures would be extended through April 10 in order to help contain the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.

The districts continue offering curbside meal pickup programs for children and announced new remote learning programs that were scheduled to be operational by Monday. School districts have been providing regular updates through their respective websites.

Related: Cy-Hope, Houston Food Bank providing food for Cy-Fair area families March 18 amid coronavirus closures

Cy-Fair ISD

In a March 20 update, CFISD Superintendent Mark Henry said families would be receiving information about the districts new remote learning program, Learning at Home, over the weekend. Teachers were scheduled to contact students regarding the program on Monday.

Curbside meals will continue being offered for children 18 years old and younger Monday through Friday at Arnold Middle School, Bane Elementary, Cy Creek High, Cy Lakes High, Cy Park High, Cy Ridge High, Cy Springs High, Goodson Middle School, Danish Elementary, Francone Elementary, Frazier Elementary, Holbrook Elementary, Horne Elementary, Kirk Elementary, Langham Creek High and Thornton Middle School.

Curbside breakfast will be available between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m.; lunch, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and dinner, from 4 to 6 p.m. Children must be present to pick up meals.

Among the districts cancelled events was the Superintendents Fun Run & Festival, originally scheduled for Saturday, March 21. T-shirts will still be handed out at a later time.

This is one of my favorite events every year because of you, Henry stated. Lets celebrate the scholarships that will still be awarded because of donations, registrations and business sponsorships. Im already looking forward to next years event.

On March 5, the school district suspended their perfect attendance rules for the remainder of the school year. The school also suspended exam exemption criteria related to attendance for all spring semester exams. Cy-Fair ISD also encouraged hand washing and to stay sanitized.

For more information, visit www.cfisd.net/en/.

Klein ISD

Klein ISD announced the launch of its remote learning curriculum, Klein ISD At-Home Learning, which provides learning materials, a suggested daily schedule and lessons for students at home. According to the districts Thursday update, The At-Home Learning curriculum for the current school week was scheduled to be available online by Sunday, March 22. At-Home Learning resources can be found through https://kleinisd.net/familynet.

The school district also announced expanded free wi-fi for neighborhood campuses.

By extending our existing broadcasting abilities, anyone in the Klein Family that needs to access the Internet can park near a campus and get connectivity while still observing social distancing initiatives, states the update. Some homes may also be able to access our WiFi networks inside their homes depending on how close the home is to a Klein ISD campus or facility.

Internet provider Comcast is offering 60 days of free internet service for families in need. To qualify, families must be eligible for public assistance programs, like SNAP and Medicaid, live in a Comcast coverage area, have not subscribed to the service in 90 days and do not have debt with Comcast.

Qualified applicants can go to www.internetessentials.com/Apply to receive internet from Comcast within seven to 10 days.

The district is continuing to offer free drive-thru curbside meals for children 18 years old and younger 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on March 23, 25 and 27 at Hildebrandt Intermediate, Klein Annex, Klein Intermediate, Strack Intermediate, Ulrich Intermediate and Wunderlich Intermediate. Children must be present during meal pickup.

Until Klein ISD reopens, or until further notice, events and extracurricular activities are canceled. According to a March 13 update, all Klein ISD facilities have been cleaned and are closed to students, non-emergency personnel and outside rentals. Klein postponed March events in the district until further notice, including the Job Fair, Staff Banquet, Klein Family Serves, KleinHacks, German Fest, GT Research Expo, Klein Leadership Coalition Meeting, and the Pre-K & Kindergarten Districtwide Enrollment Event. The district stated that before the district reopens, updates would be given as to whether events are canceled or rescheduled.

Related: Rep. Rosenthal releases community COVID-19 resource for northwest Houston community

Klein ISD announced the cancellation of out-of-state school-sponsored student travel until further notice in its March 11 alert.

As of March 20, the proms and graduation ceremonies for the Klein ISD senior class of 2020 had not yet been canceled or postponed.

Klein ISD is also modifying its perfect attendance policy, making the valid dates Aug. 19, 2019 to March 6.

For more information and updates, visit www.kleinisd.net.

Spring ISD

Spring ISD created a family needs survey, accessible through its coronavirus update website. Survey responses will help the district better understand the technological and nutritional needs of students.

The district also announced the rollout of a remote learning website, Empowered Learning At-Home, and planned to send families a link on Monday. In the Friday announcement, Spring ISD said the website would offer at-home learning resources and a sample schedule for families to consider using.

Spring ISD extended their free curbside meals program for children 18 years old and younger from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday at select campuses.

The school district decided to open access to schools briefly on Saturday, March 21 to allow staff to pick up their work materials, students to pick up musical instruments and family to pick up medications for children. However, a maximum of only 10 people were allowed in a building at once and social distancing measures were practiced.

A message March 12 from Superintendent Rodney Watson said all extracurricular events and activities had been canceled and several employees had been placed on 14-day self-quarantines.

While Spring ISD currently has NO confirmed cases of students or staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, our health services department will place several employees who traveled to an area near Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Level 3 travel-notice areas on a 14-day self quarantine, Watson stated in a community letter March 12. Our health services department will work directly with campus leaders and department heads to monitor the status and health of this small group of employees. Only when our health services department has given them an all clear will these employees be allowed to return to work.

The school district set up an online travel registry on its coronavirus update page asking families with Spring Break travel plans outside of the state to complete the form.

For more information, visit www.springisd.org/coronavirus .

Tomball ISD

Tomball ISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora told families in a letter Friday that remote learning activities would begin Monday, March 23.

The first week of remote learning would involve activities to get students used to their online learning environment, and first-week activities would not be graded, she stated.

As the weeks progress, the online learning will become easier to navigate and new methods and techniques will be added by the teachers to enhance the learning experience, Salazar-Zamora states. Teachers will be communicating office hours in which they will be available online in the Google classroom to answer any student questions in real time. The activities planned will be formatted in such a way that there will be flexibility within the week to complete them. In addition, we have added digital citizenship resources online that help encourage, support, and promote internet safety protocols for our students

A March 12 update from Salazar-Zamora said district activities are canceled and that further cancellations will be announced on a weekly basis.

Please know the decision to close the district was extremely difficult, Salazar-Zamora states in a March 12 letter to the community. 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.

Related: TOMAGWA suspends onsite visits, continues house calls and deliveries for clients

The districts free curbside meal service for all Tomball ISD students will continue being offered from 8-11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the front entrance of Tomball High School. According to the district website, families are asked to pick one of the two days to collect meals, which would be provided to last the week. A student ID number will be requested for meal pickups.

Tomball ISD is asking staff and the families of students to fill out an online self-report survey if they have traveled outside of the state during Spring Break.

For more information, visit www.tomballisd.net.

chevall.pryce@chron.com
I used to associate Mulan with happy times in my childhood when my mother would tirelessly rewind the tape for me to watch after school every day. Now when I think of the Disney film I think of when I went back home to Hong Kong at the height of the protests.

On November 12 last year, a day after a police officer shot an unarmed protester and tear gas was fired into university campuses, I met my friend in Central, Hong Kongs Oxford Street. We joined a lunchtime protest.

I never once felt unsafe when surrounded by protesters. It was only when the police showed up in riot gear that I was terrified. Later, my friend and I were pinned down in an alcove after police began firing tear gas into an intersection, both of us vomiting, with eyes streaming. A businessman, protesting on his lunch break, came towards us. As I reached him, he shoved his face mask into my hands because I didnt have my own. I learned to carry them everywhere after that.

Amnesty has criticised the Hong Kong Police Force for an alarming pattern of deploying reckless and indiscriminate tactics, with accounts of beatings, torture and sexual assault against protesters. Last November, a report revealed 88 per cent of Hong Kongs population had been exposed to 6,000 rounds of tear gas.

Im telling you this because, for Hong Kong, the new Mulan movie is another battleground. The Disney remakes lead actress Liu Yifei wrote on a Chinese app after clear incidents of police brutality: I support the Hong Kong police; you can beat me up now. Below it, in English, she wrote: What a shame for Hong Kong #ISupportTheHongKongPolice.

Later, when people in Hong Kong announced a film boycott, Chinese state-run media launched the campaign, Defend justice, support Mulan. Yifei has since remained deliberately vague about her position in interviews, as Disney remains even more vague saying that her politics are her own.

But we need to talk about the politics of Mulan because the original Disney film is political.

Its a story of a girl who fights injustice when her injured father is conscripted into the army, breaking the law by taking his place. Even after being discovered and punished for her actions, she continues to do what she thinks is right and saves the country in the process.

Doing what is right historically has major consequences in China. Activists fighting for the plight of the Uighur Muslim community imprisoned in Xinjiang have had their families threatened. Len Wenliang, the doctor who first alerted the world to coronavirus, was punished for whistleblowing.

I dont doubt that Mulan will do exceptionally well in China. Its been built for a mainland Chinese audience, between casting Yifei (an established actress) and revising it to look like a historical Chinese war epic.
We are thrilled to be able to recognize Finnova for their innovative Analytical Framework with our Best Predictive Analytics Platform award in the 2020 FinTech Breakthrough Awards program.

FinTech Breakthrough, an independent market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global FinTech market, today announced that Finnova, a leading provider of banking software in the Swiss financial center, has been selected as the winner of the Best Predictive Analytics Platform award for its Finnova Analytical Framework (FAF).

FAF is a truly unified analytical platform which fulfills all analytical needs of a modern financial institution, offering a complete and fully consistent 360 analytical view on all its threats, risks and potentials therein.

FAF is based on a novel aggregated approach that covers a myriad of compliance and non-compliance related topics simultaneously, including anti-money laundering (AML), fraud detection & prevention, sanction screening, adverse media analysis, creditworthiness analysis, analytical CRM, cyber analytics, risk management & accounting modeling, robo-advisory or modeling of financial market data. All of these areas are well-covered by the single FAF analytical platform, resulting in enormous synergies, consistency, saving potential and cost reduction.

Based on its novel analytical approach, FAF contributes to a significant democratization of AI in the larger financial services industry and constitutes a new breakthrough analytical concept with global impact, said James Johnson, Managing Director, FinTech Breakthrough. We are thrilled to be able to recognize Finnova for their innovative Analytical Framework with our Best Predictive Analytics Platform award in the 2020 FinTech Breakthrough Awards program.

The FinTech Breakthrough Awards is the premier awards program founded to recognize the FinTech innovators, leaders and visionaries from around the world in a range of categories, including Banking, Personal Finance, Lending, Payments, Investments, RegTech, InsurTech and many more. The 2020 FinTech Breakthrough Award program attracted more than 3,750 nominations from across the globe.

In numerous benchmarks FAF has proven to deliver excellent model accuracy and stability results, reducing to a minimum the number of generated False Positives and at the same time maximizing the number of generated True Positives, says Hendrik Lang, CEO of Finnova. In multiple PoCs in the last two years we have managed to apply our moto Seeing is Believing successfully and also gain market share, and we are proud to receive this 2020 FinTech Breakthrough Award in recognition of our efforts, adds Nikolai Tsenov, Product Manager Data Analytics of Finnova.

FAF leverages different internal and external data sources such as static and dynamic customer data, transactions, cash flows, external sanction & blacklists, corporate accounting and financial market data. Based on the specific area of investigation and data modeling, different data sources are combined and analyzed. The FAF engine is built on a proprietary developed data modelling approach in which all processes, starting from data preparation, bias analysis, cleansing, enrichment and feature engineering up to model development and their ongoing model optimization and calibration are being fully automated.

The FAF Optimization Algorithm is based on the principles of evolutionary learning. Working in a fully automated and context sensitive manner, FAF deepens the type of available data in millions of calculated steps that the engine selects and then applies the most suitable combination of modelling algorithms and their optimal configurations. FAF simplifies the handling of outside complexity using new generation analytics, while also eliminating manual intervention and subjectivity without compromising the transparency and auditability of the data analysis.

####

About FinTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for technology innovation and leadership, the FinTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Financial Technologies and Services companies and products. The FinTech Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of FinTech companies and products in categories including Payments, Personal Finance, Wealth Management, Fraud Protection, Banking, Lending, RegTech, InsurTech and more. For more information visit FinTechBreakthrough.com.

About Finnova

Since 1974, Finnova has stood for innovative banking solutions  in development, in operation and in advisory. With the Finnova Banking Software, the Finnova Community can reap the benefits of a high-performance and reliable banking platform, which can be used end-to-end for various business models thanks to its wide range of functions, resulting in an attractive total cost of ownership. The Finnova platform is open to third-party applications, so that banks can differentiate themselves on the market in the era of digitalization. Finnova also offers complete flexibility in choosing the most appropriate operating model for the bank, whether individual installation, multi-tenant installation or BPO services, supported by the operating partner selected.
A day after joining the BJP, Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday met Home Minister Amit Shah, who expressed confidence that his induction will further strengthen the saffron party's resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh.

Scindia also paid a "courtesy" visit to senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence here in the morning.

After meeting Scindia, Shah said in a tweet, "I am sure his induction into the party will further strengthen BJP's resolve to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh."

A day after quitting the Congress, Scindia joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (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 has been named as the BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.
Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication.

I am in awe of myself, admits Thomas Cromwell in Hilary Mantels The Mirror and the Light, her third and final novel in a series thats transformed the popular understanding of the Elizabethan statesmans life. I never know what I will do next. The first two books in the trilogy, 2009s Wolf Hall and 2012s Bring Up the Bodies, both Booker Prize winners, were propelled by the force that inspired that awe: Cromwells seemingly unstoppable will. Born the son of drunken, abusive, provincial blacksmith, by 1536, when The Mirror and the Light begins, Cromwell has become the second man in England after Henry VIII, the kings closest adviser and feared fixer, as well as viceregent of the fledgling Church of England. His rise has been unprecedented and, for the realms oldest families, confounding.

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However, no reader needs the foreshadowing remarks of Cromwells enemies (and a few of his friends) to remind her where all this will end: Cromwell was executed for treason and heresy at the Tower of London in 1540. Even at the peak of his power, Cromwell himself admits that he is the monarchs utter dependent: What have I, but what my king gives me? Who am I, but who he has made me? he remarks when a friend passes along rumors of disloyalty. But hes also gotten cocky, filling a volume he titles The Book Called Henry with advice on how to handle the king. Hes become less circumspect about reproving the manners of high-born courtiers around himand despite their pride in their own chivalry, they are indeed a boorish lot. He is enviably rich as well as powerful, possesses a fine and ever-expanding house in London, and has bought himself a striped African cat from a Damascene merchant for a price you would not believe. In the novels first chapter, the beast gets out and climbs up a tree, where she seems perfectly at home. Cromwell identifies: I have travelled so far to get here, and nothing they do disturbs me now, nor disquiets me, high on my branch. There is less excitement in the view from that perch than there is in the climb to get there, and so The Mirror and the Light, at more than 750 pages, is a novel with a lot less narrative drive than its predecessorsno matter how false Cromwells sense of security, or how ominous the doom that closes in on him.

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Being no fool, Cromwell also sometimes thinks of Icarusor more specifically, of the boys father, who built the wings that carried his son too high. Why do we blame Daedalus for the fall, he asks himself, and only remember his failures? He invented the saw, the hatchet and the plumbline. He built the Cretan labyrinth. Mantels novels have advanced just such a defense of Cromwell, often depicted (particularly in Robert Bolts 1960 play, A Man for All Seasons) as an unprincipled power seeker. Cromwell relieved Henry of two inconvenient wives, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, and engineered Englands split from the Roman Catholic Church. In Mantels novel, he has dragged his nation out of the Middle Ages and single-handedly embodies the superiority of meritocracy over aristocracy. What will you do without me? he demands of his noble interrogators in the Tower at the end. Within a year the king will be fighting the Scots, or the French, or likely both, and he will bankrupt us. None of you can manage matters as I can. (Indeed, the fickle Henry soon regretted the execution of the most faithful servant he had ever had.)

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Wolf Hall is organized around Cromwells efforts to rid Henry of Katherine, while Bring Up the Bodies describes the rise and Cromwell-designed fall of Anne Boleyn. The latter takes a character that Mantel has spent hundreds of pages building up as sympathetic and shows him framing five men as Boleyns lovers and overseeing their deaths. To free the king of Anne, Cromwell knows, he needs guilty men, so he has found men who are guilty. Though perhaps not guilty as charged. The five are responsible for a satirical play performed for the court in mockery of Cardinal Wolsey, Cromwells conspired-against, fallen, and much-mourned mentor. Mantels Cromwell is nothing if not constant, loyal to the cardinal years after his death and willing to risk his own skin to save the life of Mary Tudor, Henrys daughter by Katherine, because in a moment of weakness, he promised the former queen that he would look after the girl.

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If Cromwells intriguing against two women helps to make his fortune in the first two novels, it is his good deeds that help to undo him in the third. In one slant of light, this is a story of classical hubris, and in another it is a pitch-black reminder that if youre going to be amoral, youd best go all the way. Cromwell, whos read everything, has read Machiavelli, but without wholly espousing him. His heroic campaign to persuade the stubborn Mary that she must publicly concede her own illegitimacy and forswear her Catholic faith prevents Henry from having her executed for treasona great crime, in Cromwells eyes, and one that he knows would haunt the monarchs conscience. But that campaign only makes him vulnerable to rumors that he wants to marry Mary as a means of taking the throne for himself. The same goes for his defense of the kings niece, who falls in love with and secretly weds a poor and talentless poet, interfering with her uncles plans for an advantageous marriage; that leads to still more rumors. And if Cromwell were only as ruthless as he is reputed to be, then he would have crushed the irascible Duke of Norfolk, who eventually conspires in his downfall. Cromwell takes in ambitious proteges who later betray him. Even his many charitable acts, such as handing out food to the poor, inflame his aristocratic enemies as the gestures of a bogus, jumped-up great man.

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Cromwells fate lends itself to many interpretations, some of them more timely than othersor perhaps just more perennial. Mantels dashes of anachronistic languagethe great 16th-century portraitist Hans Holbein is described as never missing a chance to market his genius, a thoroughly modern usage of both those wordsencourages readers to view her characters as prototypes of ourselves, not the same at heart, but an early draft. Her Cromwell is a committed gospeller, a Protestant who wants to wrench Christianity out of the hands of corrupt clerics and deliver it to each believers individual, educated conscience:

The English will see God in daylight, not hidden in a cloud of incense; they will hear his word from a minister who faces them, instead of turning his back and muttering in a foreign tongue.  The faithful will cherish their Savior in their inner heart, instead of gawping at him painted above their heads, like a swinging inn sign. We will break the shrines, Hugh Latimer says, and found schools.

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This fervor leads Cromwell into a great mistake: persuading Henry to marry Anne of Cleves after the death of Jane Seymour, as a way to cement an alliance with German Protestants against the Catholic rulers of France and the Holy Roman Empire. It might have been a strategic triumph but for the fickleness of the king Cromwell served: Henry famously found Anne so unattractive he felt unable to consummate the union (although Mantel makes the initial rejection Annes). It was a rare misstep for Cromwell, a man who, as the famous quote from Wolf Hall puts it, is at home in courtroom and waterfront, bishops palace or inn yard. He can draft a contract, train a falcon, draw a map, stop a street fight, furnish a house and fix a jury.

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Cromwell anticipates the obsolescence of the old class system that places one man over another solely because of his high birth and that exalts the pursuits of the aristocracy over more productive occupations. Chivalrys day is over, he thinks in Bring Up the Bodies. One day soon moss will grow in the tilt yard. The days of the money lender have arrived, and the days of the swaggering privateer; banker sits down with banker, and the kings are their waiting boys. But to get there, to prove that he is a better man than any Howard or Fitzwilliam, Cromwell needs to manage Henry, an unpredictable creature of a speciesprincesthat Cromwell suspects may be beyond human. A prince, he avers, is made of shards and broken fragments of the past, of prophecies and of the dreams of his ancestral linenot so much a man as a totem, half god, half beast.

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Despite his humble roots, Mantels Cromwella rootless, multilingual cosmopolitan who has thrived in both Italy and Antwerpis no populist. In 1536, an uprising in the north known as the Pilgrimage of Grace threatened Henrys authority with calls for a return to Catholicism and the preservation and restoration of monasteries the crown was in the process of dissolving. Aristocratic sympathizers grafted on protests at the elevation of the basebornnamely Cromwellto high offices. Mantels Cromwell has no compunction about brutally putting the rebels down. Their resistance arises merely from habit, superstition, and a fondness for a calendar full of work-free saints days. The common folk of England, he observes, live on songs and tales and alehouse jokes. Spending their pence on candles to burn before holy images, they live in the dark, and in the dark take fright. They claim an absurdly irrational devotion to the very king whose reforms they long to tear down. They dont know whats good for them.

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Cromwell, it seems, could have written a book called Whats the Matter With Yorkshire? It is self-evident to him, and no doubt to many of Mantels readers, that he is the best qualified to run the country. He is smarter, more competent, and despite what his detractors claim, more merciful than anyone in the class that currently monopolizes the job. But there is an imponderable, atavistic element to ruling that he lacks. No one would follow you, the emperors ambassador tells him. Not even the Londoners. They want noble captains. In Italy there are charcoal-burners and ostlers who have founded honourable houses and left great names. But England has its own rules. He allows himself to believe that he is like that wild African cata beast like Henrybut hes mistaken. He doesnt even really own the creature, and the moment he forgets this is the moment he begins to fall.

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If only this narrativeor the tragic one, or the Machiavellian onewere easier to discern in the many pages of The Mirror and the Light. The novel bogs down with portentous conversations and remodeling plans and municipal updates and protocol. Cromwell faltering hasnt the power to bind all these details together the way that Cromwell ascendant did. Wolf Hall was exhilaratingly confident in rewriting its main character as a hero; each new piece of the identity he assembled for himself held its own fascination. Bring Up the Bodies, its action compressed into a much shorter time span, pitched him into moral peril and made Mantels readers wonder how well we really knew him. The Cromwell of The Mirror and the Light is beset by ghosts, and even as he achieves his most coveted glorya title, Earl of Essex, he would lose after his arrest two months laterhis past seems to be devouring him.

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The mans burly wit is still here: Told a story about the power of witches to cause a horse to shy in his pathalways at the same place, to the injury of the rider, Cromwell thinks, If its always at the same place, the rider should keep a grip. But some of the verve has leaked out of the enterprise. The ballooning page count, oddly enough, is a giveaway: The longer you read The Mirror and the Light, the more you sense how Mantel must have dreaded arriving at this finale. There is also something uncanny about Mantel publishing a book this long just as the world shudders in anticipation of quarantine from the kind of plague her characters regard as a fact of life. When Wolf Hall came out, the notion of a professional class rising to rule on the strength of its knowledge and competence felt almost inevitable. Bring Up the Bodies showed that consolidating power usually requires feeding a beast of some species. The Mirror and the Light is a protracted journey to arrive at the conclusion that expertise, talent, and tireless commitment are not enough to hold it. This is a novel of its time, despite appearances. No wonder Mantel puts her ending off for so long.
The ED has arrested the CEO of a Goa-based company for allegedly laundering money by cheating foreigners on the pretext of selling them real estate in the beach state.

Ankit Kumar Jain, CEO and former director of Sanatan Financers and Real Estates Pvt Ltd, was arrested under the provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

"The accused has cheated foreign nationals under the guise of selling properties under the project named Peace Valley situated at Sirvoi, Deumol and Quepem in Goa," the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement.

The agency's PMLA case is based on a Goa Police FIR filed against the company and CEO Jain for allegedly defrauding foreign nationals.

Probe found that, the ED said, Jain and his father Sunil Kumar fraudulently created around 50 shell companies and induced foreigners to invest their money directly or through FDI route in these companies with the promise to sell properties to the foreign nationals in the Peace Valley project.

"As per law, foreigners are not allowed to buy properties in India and this violation attracts provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act."



"Accused lured these gullible foreign nationals to invest with a promise that their investments would be utilised in acquiring properties in Goa and in return they would be allotted shares of the company," it claimed.

The foreigners, it said, invested in these shell companies which were subsequently transferred to the accounts of Sanatan Financers and Real Estates Pvt. Ltd, owned and controlled by the father and son.

"However, no shares were issued to these foreign nationals and they were just appointed directors in these companies," it said.

Ownership of properties was never transferred in the name of these foreigners, the agency alleged.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NIGERIA: Tragedy struck in the Ondo state after a police officer simply identified as Tolulope, allegedly shot his wife dead and later killed himself in their home in Akungba-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State on Tuesday March 10th.



Confirming the incident to newsmen, the state police command spokesperson, Tee-Leo Ikoro, said it is quite unfortunate that such a thing happened in the state. According to Ikoro, investigations are ongoing into the case as the couple were the only ones at home when the incident happened, so no one can actually say for a fact it was a case of murder and suicide.



However, neighbors of the deceased couple say they have been at loggerheads as the policeman has always accused his wife of cheating on him. The neighbors claim the deceased officer never trusted his wife, accusing her of always receiving different calls from different men.



The couple left behind a three weeks old baby and a two year old child.















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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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:51:16|Editor: xuxin

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TOKYO, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda held discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday on possible responses to the market turmoil currently gripping the world amid the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following a closed-door meeting held at the prime minister's office, the BOJ chief told reporters that there would be no hesitation by the central bank in taking necessary measures to combat market volatility if and when deemed necessary.

"We will not hesitate to take appropriate measures in a timely manner whenever needed including further monetary easing," Kuroda said.

Following the World Health Organization (WHO) designating the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic, and the United States issuing a sweeping ban on entry from travelers from mainland Europe from Friday, stock markets in Japan tanked, following an ongoing global rout.

On Monday, Yoshiki Takeuchi, vice finance minister for international affairs, said that excessive market movements are undesirable for the real economy, with the remarks coming after an emergency meeting was convened between senior Japanese government officials and Bank of Japan officials.

Finance Minister Taro Aso, on the same day, opted not to comment on whether the ministry would intervene in the foreign exchange market to halt the yen's rise, although he did not rule out the possibility of a forex foray.

Kuroda told a parliament session meanwhile that the central bank stood ready to take action against market volatility and uncertainty "without hesitation."

"We will make every effort to provide ample liquidity and ensure the stability in financial markets through bond-purchase operations and increased buying of exchange traded funds," the BOJ chief said at the time.
The Kerala Assembly on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution against 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 infection.

The resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the circular was "inhuman" and was akin to "cruelly abandoning" the expatriate Indians.

Vijayan had on Tuesday written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to withdraw the circular issued by Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

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.

"Because of this circular the Indians, including Keralites, are unable to board any flight even with a confirmed ticket. This is creating great difficulties to them.

We came to know from the central government that there were no much facilities in Italy for the medical examination of all those stranded there," Vijayan said in the resolution.

The Chief Minister further said the foreign authorities were not ready to test people without symptoms as they were already overloaded with patients.

The resolution pointed out that the students from Wuhan in China was airlifted earlier and was housed separately until their medical reports were out.

"Those without any symptoms of infection were allowed to leave for their residence. This was very effective.

But this circular was inhuman and it was akin to cruelly abandoning the expatriate Indians," it said.

"We have asked the Centre to allow those in Italy to travel to India and they can be kept in quarantine in case they test positive on arrival," Vijayan said.

The state government also sought the assistance of the Centre to help the expatriate using diplomatic intervention to extend the Visa, leave of those who are in the country.

"Many expatriate who had reached the country for vacation are finding it difficult to get back and join their work places abroad due to restriction in air travel.

The state government has sought Centre's diplomatic intervention in extending the Visa period and joining date of those NRIs," the CPI(M) leader said.

The plight of Indians in Italy came 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 to 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.

With eight more testing postive for coronavirus in Kerala on Tuesday, the total number of infected people under treatment was 14, as the state government imposed severe restrictions, including closure of educational institutions and cinema houses till month end to halt its further spread.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Developers cannot build two-bed apartments around Dublin for under 463,000 unless the Government slashes its contribution to costs, according to the lobbying group for so-called cuckoo funds.

Irish Institutional Property - the lobbying group for funds that since 2013 have grown to dominate residential apartment development and management - published new research today breaking down the average build costs of approximately 10,000 units currently under construction on the capital's edge.

It said a typical two-bedroom apartment in a medium-rise building in suburban Dublin costs cuckoo-funded developers 301,600 to build  before land and tax costs and an 11pc developer profit margin are added. These take the typical sale price to 463,100.

Stephen Ashe, director of the Linesight consultancy that produced the report, said apartments become increasingly more expensive the higher the number of floors, so the analysis focussed on buildings of five to eight storeys.

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It excluded developments under way in central Dublin, which he said involved at times double the cost factors, which include land contamination and demolition work in tightly packed, high-traffic locations.

Properties subject to analysis stretched all along the M50 commuter belt and suburbs, including Blackrock and Portmarnock.

The typical two-bed apartment of 83 square metres, Mr Ashe says, costs 225,500 in pure construction costs including labour. Planning, professional fees and compliance add 24,000; development staff, legal support and administration 13,200; finance 11,900; and water and utility connections 6,100.

The report calculates that Government-set costs add 107,900 to sale costs, chiefly 12pc VAT, site charges and levies, while developers profit averages 52,700 per unit.

Developers at the briefing, including Glenveagh chief executive Stephen Garvey and Ires Reit chief executive Margaret Sweeney, said institutional funds provided the only vehicle in todays housing market to finance large-scale apartment developments.

None of this would be getting built without the role of institutional funds, Mr Garvey said. Government contributes 40pc to my costs. Were not going to work for nothing, so this is a base-line picture of what is possible in the market right now.
French Ambassador visits Teagasc Moorepark and VistaMilk Research Centres

A delegation from the French Embassy in Ireland, including His Excellency Ambassador, Stephane Crouzat as well as Economic, Academic and Scientific attaches accompanied by the honorary consul in Cork visited Teagasc Moorepark on Wednesday, 11 March.

French Ambassador visits Teagasc Moorepark and VitaMilk Research Centres. Researcher Katie Starsmore discusses her research into feed additives and their effect on methane emissions. Pictured from L to R were: Katie Starsmore, Donagh Berry, VistaMilk, SFI Research Centre, Teagasc; French Ambassador Stephane Crouzat, Isabelle Charmeil, Josselin Le Gall, French Embassy.

The visit was an opportunity to present and discuss the work currently undertaken by both Teagasc and VistaMilk SFI Research Centre regarding two of the main challenges faced by both the French and Irish dairy industries: Brexit and climate change.

The VistaMilk SFI Research Centre is funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and represents a unique collaboration between Agri-Food and information communications technology (ICT) research institutes and leading Irish/multinational food and ICT companies.

Speaking during the visit, Professor Gerry Boyle, Teagasc Director, said: In the context of the debate on the long-term sustainability of dairy farming systems, it is essential that our two nations, two of the biggest European players in the area, maintain strong research collaborations, exchange ideas and knowledge in order for our respective industries to innovate and become part of the solution. Our countries are also some of the most exposed to the impact of Brexit and our industrys preparedness and resilience to the UKs departure from the EU will be key in the coming months.

The visit also included a tour of the facilities where the on-going novel research being undertaken by the VistaMilk Centre in collaboration with several (inter)national industry partners on reducing dairy cow methane emissions was put on display. Donagh Berry, the Centres Director explained: VistaMilk has a strong focus on joint research with the industry stakeholders. We hope this visit will strengthen our long-term and fruitful collaborations with French industrial and research partners in the future.

Ireland and France, which combined represent over 23% of the EU27 dairy herd and 21.5% of its milk production, have long been cooperating on dairy and food research. Teagasc and its French counterparts have worked on numerous projects since the 1990s, primarily through EU funding support schemes such as the multiple Framework and Interreg Programmes over the years.

This strong relationship was celebrated back in May 2017 when, as a tribute to Teagasc generally, and Professor Boyle in particular, he was honoured as Chevalier des Palmes Academiques by the previous Ambassador of France to Ireland. The Ordre des Palmes Academiques is an order of knighthood of France for academics and educational figures.

His Excellency Stephane Crouzat declared: I am delighted to have the opportunity to witness first-hand the remarkable research that is taking place at this Teagasc facility. Teagasc is playing a major role in finding solutions for the agricultural sector in the fight against climate change. France and Ireland are facing the same challenges in adapting agriculture to a carbon neutral future, and there is much that our countries can do in common.
HOLLAND, MI -- Tests on a Hope College student who had possible exposure to the coronavirus came back negative for the virus, college leaders said.

Hope College officials announced the results late Wednesday, March 11 but also said they wold follow suit with many other Michigan colleges and universities by canceling in-person classes.

The student contacted the colleges health center on Monday afternoon, reporting minimal flu-like symptoms in combination with a possible off-campus exposure to the virus, according to an earlier Hope College statement.

The student was then isolated as a precaution and a test ordered.

As part of Wednesdays announcement, college leaders said classes on Thursday are canceled. Once spring break is over, students will take online classes beginning March 23 and lasting to April 13.

Today we are thankful and relieved to learn our student who was tested for COVID-19 has received a negative result.... Posted by Hope College on Wednesday, March 11, 2020

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If you crane your neck and look up while standing in front of St Lambert's Church in Munster, Germany, you can make out three iron cages hanging from the church's steeple, just above the clock face. The cages are empty, but five hundred years ago they held the mutilated, rotten corpses of three revolutionaries who led one of the most brutal Protestant revolutions in history.

Photo: ptwo/Flickr

In the 16th century, Munster was ruled by the elected prince-bishop Franz von Waldeck. Waldeck was a Catholic, but he tolerated any kind of faith as long as it had Christian origin. Waldecks ambiguous attitude towards Reformists attracted all kinds of people, as it enabled them to practice their religion without the threat of persecution. Against this backdrop, arrived a Dutchman named Johan Beukelszoon from the city of Leiden, as he had heard Munster was friendly to Anabaptists. Supporters of Anabaptism, which many consider to be an offshoot of Protestantism, believe that only adults who confess their faith in Christ can be baptized, and not infants. They also believed that all men are equal and all wealth should be equally distributed.

Upon arrival, John of Leidenas he was popularly calledfound many believers warming up to these new ideas. It did not take him long to rope in several local preachers and together they began conducting sermons denouncing Catholic doctrines and promoting Anabaptism. Through pamphlets distributed throughout northern Germany, Anabaptists called upon the poor of the region to join the citizens of Munster to share the wealth of the town and benefit spiritually from being the elect of Heaven. Before long John had mobilized a large group of delirious, religious zealots who turned the tolerant city into something very different.

John of Leiden baptizing a young woman.

Prince-bishop Franz von Waldeck and the city council was kicked out of office, and a new mayor was put in place. Non-believers were driven out of their homes and their properties seized. They were replaced by Anabaptists who flowed in from surrounding villages in large numbers. Cathedrals and monasteries became sites for orgies of iconoclasm as rebaptism became compulsory. Money was outlawed and owing of property was banned. Books were burned.

John of Leiden proclaimed himself the leader, and established a Royal Order complete with a Royal Court. He made for himself a kingly costume, while asking his followers to be naked in preparation for the Second Coming. Polygamy was made compulsory, and John himself took sixteen wives. Capital punishment for trivial offences became commonplace. Meanwhile, the citizens starved as food and supplies dwindled.

After more than a year of lawlessness, Franz von Waldeck succeeded in taking back the city from the hands of rebels. In January 1536, John of Leiden, Bernhard Knipperdolling (the new mayor) and one more prominent follower, Bernhard Krechting, were tortured and executed in the marketplace of Munster. Their bodies were put in cages about the size of coffins, and hung from the steeple of St. Lambert's Church, where they remained for fifty years. The cages still hang from the churchs steeple.

Photo: rogiro/Flickr
The $26-billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint will now reportedly be able to move forward following a new settlement reached with the California attorney generals office. The deal means that there are no further states contesting the merger. That follows a suit brought by attorneys general from several states. The appeal to the courts was ultimately shot down in February.

Other states such as New York had already conceded to the above-mentioned decision from Southern District of New York Judge Victor Marrero. But that wasnt the case for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

Now, according to Mr. Becerra, concerns surrounding the merger have been alleviated. The settlement locks in new jobs and protections for vulnerable consumers but the deal goes quite a bit further than that. It also locks the New T-Mobile into terms regarding pricing and extends coverage to underserved Californians.

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What are the terms of the T-Mobile Merger California settlement?

Californias settlement with New T-Mobile brings an array of benefits for potential customers in the state. Specifically, it requires that the carrier remain competitive with rival carriers.

Thats carried forward by the requirement that New T-Mobile makes two plans available for customers. The carrier will offer a 2GB plan that costs just $15 per month. For just $10 more per month, consumers will be able to bump that data limit up to 5GB. According to the agreement, those plans will have to remain in place for at least the next five years

Beyond the low-cost offerings New T-Mobile will need to put forward, the company will also need to offer coverage for free. More directly, its going to have to offer 100GB of high-speed internet and a free mobile hotspot device to some Californians.

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The settlement will require New T-Mobile to cover 10 million low-income households under that agreement. It will need to provide that service for a total of five years.

Finally, the deal means that New T-Mobile will have to maintain the jobs that it already offers in the state. But it will also be required to create around 1,000 new jobs for Californians.

Now, theres no guarantee that New T-Mobile will ultimately keep those jobs around after the settlement has been fulfilled.

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The company most likely wont keep the low-cost plans available either. Its current plans deliver unlimited data but start out at $60 per month for a single line. The cost goes down with additional lines, landing at $25 per month per line with six lines. New T-Mobile will almost certainly not continue offering free service after the five-year term is up.

When will the merger be closed?

The finalization of the deal could happen fairly quickly. Based on the most recent reports and statements from the new T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert, this merger could be closed as early as April 1. That doesnt necessarily mean that end-users will see changes immediately.

T-Mobile and Sprint have made a number of promises associated with the merger. That includes promises about job creation, customer service changes, 5G, and more. So it will likely take years before the full impact of the $26-billion deal is apparent.
Foreign players, who were to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will not be available till April 15 due to visa restrictions imposed by the government.

"Yes, foreign players will not be available. We will discuss this and other issues at our governing council meeting scheduled for March 14," a source in IPL governing council told ANI.

The Central government has suspended all visas to India till April 15 as part of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The 13th edition of IPL is scheduled to commence on March 29, with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings meeting at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the first match.

Earlier on Wednesday, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the IPL should happen behind closed doors or it should be postponed after 10 positive cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the state. He further stated that the final decision will be taken by the government 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 for a later date. The final decision will be taken tomorrow. We all are of the view that IPL should not take place at this time as it can be very dangerous," Tope told reporters.

The Centre 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.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and expressed deep concern both by the alarming levels of spread, severity and by the alarming levels of inaction.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[March 12, 2020] Room to Read Announces New Board of Directors Chair

Room to Read announced today the appointment of Mary Byron as Chair of the organization's global Board of Directors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005453/en/ Mary Byron reads with beneficiaries of Room to Read's programs in India. Photo Courtesy of Room to Read. "As a longtime investor and advisor of Room to Read, Mary brings extensive knowledge of our programs and invaluable business perspective," said Dr. Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read. "Her appointment will strengthen our organization as we plan for our next phase of growth through our strategic plan, Vision 2025, and is indicative of Room to Read's organizational commitment to gender equality in the most senior leadership positions." Mary Byron is currently the owner of Cloud Nine Quilts based in Montana. Mary is retired from Goldman Sachs, most recently as the global head of corporate technology including Finance, Risk, Operations and Human Resources at Goldman Sachs. She served on the Tchnology Division Executive, Operating and Risk Committees. Prior to this role, Mary was based in Tokyo as CIO for Asia Pacific businesses and co-chair of the Asia Pacific Diversity Committee. She joined Goldman Sachs in 1989 and has held various roles within technology, including managing the firm's global networks and computing infrastructure. Mary was named managing director in 1999 and partner in 2006. She has served on Room to Read's Board of Directors since 2015 and serves on the Board of Directors for the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation as well as the Auburn Theological Seminary. Mary earned her bachelor's degree from Marquette University in 1986.



"The privilege of joining Room to Read's leadership team as Board Chair comes at a pivotal time in the organization's journey, as we set our sights on quadrupling our reach in the next five years and delivering positive outcomes for children at scale," said Byron. "Through my trips to witness the impact of Room to Read's programs firsthand in India and Vietnam, I have seen that the answers to the world's greatest challenges all start with education, and Room to Read has proven solutions." John Ridding, who has served as Board Chair since 2018 will remain a member of the board and Yusuf Alireza will serve as Chair-Elect. A full listing of Room to Read's board of directors can be found here.

About Room to Read Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children, Room to Read is creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. We are achieving this goal by helping children in low-income communities develop literacy skills and a habit of reading, and by supporting girls to build skills to succeed in school and negotiate key life decisions. We collaborate with governments and other partner organizations to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. Room to Read has benefited more than 18 million children across 16 countries and 39,000 communities and aims to reach 40 million children by 2025. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200312005453/en/

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And as the days ticked by into early March, police say a letter reportedly arrived at a New South Wales home. According to Detective Inspector Brett Ranford, the package contained house keys and a letter allegedly signed by both Sally and Mark. The contents of the letter have been kept secret by WA police, but it was worrying enough for the man to contact local officers and inform them he believed the pair were missing. It took three days, on March 8, for Sally and Marks bodies to be found in scrubland on his property, but Detective Inspector Brett Ranford said they had likely been there for at least a week. Major Crime Detective Inspector Brett Ranford. Credit:9 News Perth

They were found within metres of each other, and a long arm rifle registered to Mark was found close by. At this time we do not believe there to be any third-party involvement however it is important to stress that this investigation is ongoing and we're keeping an open mind, Detective Ranford said. While the circumstances of their deaths remain a mystery, friends and family of Mark and Sally Anne say what they want most from the ongoing police investigation is for those involved to keep their minds open, and for people to remember them as they had lived. Nic Walker and her sister Sarah Hughes were Sally Annes "makeshift" stepdaughters in the early 1990s, and remained close to her even after she and her father split. Ms Walker said one of her earliest memories of Sally Anne was when she was eight-years-old and her dads new girlfriend let her paint the nails of her pet sheep bright red, and take the animal for a walk through town.

She was a gentle and loving person, she said. Everyone who knew Sally loved her. She was the most gentle, soft-spoken person. Sally helped us get through a lot of things in our lives and made us feel that empathy for others. She taught us those qualities. The property where Ms Evans and Mr Westery were found. Credit:9 News Perth As for Mark, Ms Walker remembers her unofficial stepbrother as a genius. He was the most intelligent person Ive ever had the pleasure of knowing, she said.

Mark was like a big brother. He showed a lot of patience for me and he was a man well beyond his years even as a child. He was articulate. He taught me everything I know about science. We would make inventions as children, and he got his love of electronics from a kit my sister gifted him from when we were kids. She also remembers Mark as a successful entrepreneur, who had built up Agtronics as a business that pulled in a sizeable profit from working with machinery dealers and farmers across Australia. Founded in 1995, Mark funnelled more than $6 million into the venture, expanding to an office space in Malagas Mugul Road before downsizing again in 2015. Loading

The pair had reportedly experienced some financial difficulties before their deaths. Ms Walker said when she, her sister and her father heard the news of Sally Anne and Marks deaths, they were shocked. Then, they felt sick as the details trickled through. We fail to comprehend whats been written  it doesnt make sense to us. We refuse to believe it, and we believe there is more to it, she said. Even the shop attendant Sally Anne used to check in on every evening spoke highly of the mother and son.

"They seemed really close. She did everything for him," Rachael Carter said. "[She was] really motherly ... [she'd] just always making sure that I'm okay. She said she couldn't do that kind of thing because she was timid. "Now that I think about it, people who usually check on other people need the help themselves." Ms Walker said she and her sister would not give up until they had answers, and she had written to police to ask them to keep an open mind about the investigation. Both Ms Walker and Ms Hughes firmly believed neither Mark or Sally Anne would ever harm one another.
F our teenagers have been stabbed and seven people have been arrested following a knife fight in north-east London.

Police and paramedics were scrambled to the scene in Manston Court, Walthamstow, shortly after 9pm on Wednesday.

The four teens, all about 15 or 16 years old, were rushed to hospital with stab or slash wounds. Their conditions are not thought to be life-threatening.

Scotland Yard said officers had been called to reports of a group of youths fighting with weapons.

Seven arrests have since been made in total for offences including violent disorder, affray, and possession of an offensive weapon.

A crime scene was in place.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson attends a news conference on the novel coronavirus, in London

Reuters

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson fended off a party revolt on Tuesday over Britain's decision to allow China's Huawei to build parts of its 5G infrastructure.

A group of Conservative party rebels tried to pass a bill which would rip Huawei out of Britain's telecoms by the end of 2022. The government won the vote by a narrow margin of 24 votes.

Digital minister Oliver Dowden said that ideally Britain would exclude all "high-risk vendors" such as Huawei, but that was impossible given its dominant market position.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson defeated his first party rebellion on Tuesday over a government decision to allow China's Huawei to have a role in building Britain's 5G phone network.

The UK decided in January it would allow Huawei to build "non-core" parts of its 5G network, and capped its involvement at 35%.

This angered the US, which has been aggressively lobbying its allies to exclude Huawei from their 5G networks entirely, alleging that Huawei spies for the Chinese government and constitutes a national security threat. Huawei has consistently denied that it spies for China.

The UK's decision to allow Huawei to be a part of its 5G infrastructure reportedly led to a furious phone call from Donald Trump where he accused Boris Johnson of "betrayal" and slammed the phone down.

Some senior Conservatives shared US concerns. They wanted Huawei eliminated entirely from Britain's 5G networks by the end of December 2022.

The government tried to placate the rebels by saying it would work toward increasing the supply of 5G telecoms gear so operators would not need to use Huawei, but it refused to commit to any timetable to ban the Chinese company.

It was not enough, however, and the rebels pushed their plan to a vote on Tuesday. They wanted to amend the Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill to ensure that companies termed by British security experts as "high-risk vendors"  such as Huawei  were stripped out of networks completely by the end of 2022.

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The government, which has an 80-seat majority, won by 24. Although the rebel MPs lost the vote, the narrow margin has left the government with a bloody nose.

Digital infrastructure minister Matt Warman said the government had "heard loud and clear the points made on all sides of the house."

Bob Seely, one of the rebels, signaled the group would continue to pursue their cause, describing the vote as "a strong first showing" in a posting on Twitter.

The government admitted that it is simply too inconvenient to exclude Huawei, saying it did not want high-risk vendors to have any role. But in a market dominated by three players (Huawei, Ericsson, and Nokia) some network operators continue to rely deeply on Huawei.

"We would like to get to the point where we won't need to have any high-risk vendors at all," digital minister Oliver Dowden told parliament.

Huawei vice president Victor Zhang said the company had been "reassured" by the government's decision in January, which would "result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure".

"An evidence-based approach is needed, so we were disappointed to hear some groundless accusations asserted," Zhang said. "The industry and experts agree that banning Huawei equipment would leave Britain less secure, less productive and less innovative."

Read the original article on Business Insider
An email seemingly from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns of new coronavirus infections and urges readers to click on a link to see a list of infections in their community.

But the email actually comes from cybercriminals looking to use the crisis to their advantage.





Cybercriminals sent this coronavirus phishing email, which was designed to look like it came from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Courtesy of Kapersky.

Cybersecurity researchers have identified a growing number of phishing scams in which fraudsters are using coronavirus to entice victims. With phishing, recipients unwittingly click on emailed or texted links designed to trick them into giving their personal information.

It is the most clickable lure that an attacker can send out. Everyone has jumped on the bandwagon, said Ryan Kalember, an executive vice president at Proofpoint, a global cybersecurity company that is monitoring the phishing activity. Their success depends on getting people to click. Coronavirus drives clicks like nothing else right now.

Officials in some states have alerted government staffers and the public about that threat. And some states have stepped up monitoring for malicious email involving coronavirus.

In Washington state, the nations epicenter of coronavirus, with 267 confirmed cases and 24 deaths as of Wednesday, the top information security official issued a warning to staffers and the public to be on the lookout for such threats.

Bad actors are using phishing emails that claim to have information about coronavirus infections in the surrounding area and encourage users to click on a link or an attachment to find out more, Vinod Brahmapuram, the state chief information security officer, wrote in a recent blog post.

Attackers create a sense of urgency, of panic, almost forcing people to take action. The coronavirus gives them an advantage, Brahmapuram said in an interview with Stateline. Its new. Its unknown. When there is something unknown, the fear is so high.

In Connecticut, information technology officials have asked the states emergency management department to spread the word about phishing scams related to coronavirus, Chief Information Officer Mark Raymond said.

And in Virginia, state IT workers are flagging keywords in emails related to coronavirus that are coming from outside parties that could be phishing attacks, Chief Information Security Officer Michael Watson said.

A lot of these malicious parties are trying to play on your fears and have you make a rash decision, Watson said. Theyre saying that there is some immediate action youre going to have to take to protect your own life and safety.

Attacks growing

Criminals often prey on people during natural disasters or crises, exploiting uncertainty and fear. But the difference with coronavirus, cyber experts say, is that the information is constantly changing, and new warnings are expected to be issued for weeks  or even months.

Scammers already are selling bogus products online, offering vaccines they claim will cure the virus or asking for donations for victims, the Federal Trade Commission has warned.

Hackers, too, have gotten in on the action, aiming to steal victims usernames and passwords or plant malware that will help them get ahold of other personal information.

In one phishing campaign, cybercriminals sent emails that look like they came from the World Health Organization, asking people to click on a malicious link to view coronavirus safety measures.

Friday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued an alert warning people to be vigilant about phishing and other scams involving coronavirus.

Phishing attacks can be lucrative for criminals. In 2018, victims of phishing or similar attacks lost at least $48 million, according to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Were seeing them exploit this highly topical thing called coronavirus, said Ekram Ahmed, spokesman for Check Point, a global cybersecurity company. Its not uncommon for certain events to be exploited. But we found it far exceeds anything else, in terms of malware.

Malware is malicious software that infiltrates and damages computers.

Check Point found that 3% of the more than 4,000 coronavirus-related domains registered globally were malicious -- a 50% jump over the industry average of 2% for these types of cyber threats. A domain name is the address of a website at the top of a browser window. Many of those malicious domains probably will be used for phishing attempts, Ahmed said.

Thats extremely alarming to us, he said, noting that another 5% of the domains were considered suspicious.

Check Point recommends that people be cautious about opening email and files received from unknown senders and beware of look-alike domains that actually are phony websites.

Proofpoints Kalember agrees that coronavirus-related email threats have been ramping up.

It started out as a few small attacks. Each day were seeing larger and larger amounts, he said. Over five weeks, its into the millions of messages.

People most likely are clicking at an incredibly high rate, Kalember added, because the volume of attacks is spiking, and cybercriminals wouldnt bother if it wasnt effective for them.

Ransomware risk

State and local governments need to be especially careful of coronavirus phishing threats because they can lead to ransomware attacks, according to Kalember.

Ransomware typically spreads through phishing emails. It can hijack a governmental computer system and hold it hostage until officials pay a ransom or restore the system on their own.

Last year, there were at least 113 successful ransomware attacks on state and local governments, according to global cybersecurity company Emsisoft.

State and local governments should be paying more attention to email, Kalember said, and making sure their staff knows that coronavirus communications arent going to come in a zip file or Word document that theyd click on. Their people should be trained to look at things skeptically.

This article was first posted on Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Due to Covid-19 infection spreading in a fast pace with three new cases showing positive results in Bengaluru, health minister of Karnataka has decided to ask technology companies to stop sending staff to other countries only if there exists a case of emergency.

Inspite of Health Minister's concern, this move might threaten Bengaluru's IT companies markets, creating more than 147billion in India's tech exports. Information on workers who have travelled to affected countries since 21 February has been sought by the State Department of Health. We had previously urged technology companies not to send workers overseas, State Minister of Health, B Sriramulu frames "We will (now) inform companies not to send any personnels unless an emergency is involved". In this context, the government has not yet released a formal letter. Prashant Kumar Mishra, IT and BT Director of the State said that his office had not received a communication about the prohibition. If the health department informs them, they shall enforce the prohibition he added. Most Software MNCs are Bengalurus home, housing many global business giants including IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, Google and SAP Laboratories who usually travel abroad to meetings and short-term ventures in the US and Europe. In 2019, 4.87 million passengers travelled from Bengaluru and back to overseas destinations, up 14percent year-on-year. Analysts believe that Karnataka's Approach is compatible with global technology firms parallel efforts to stop the wave of growing diseases around the world from flowing (avoidable) by their workers.

COVID-19 is a worldwide serious health problem and most technology companies are banning travel said Mrinal Rai, senior analyst at ISG, who claimed that everybody is analyzing market impacts as things develop. The main source of infections in Karnataka, now with four reported Covid-19 instances, are engineers working in technology companies who returned to town in March first week where all of business trips to the US happen. In an internal notice, Dell Technologies India Chairman and CEO Alok Ohrie confirmed the infection and quarantine of a worker. The employee of Dell was back in Dubai from a visit to Austin in the US. Members of the team in Bangalore who may touch the workers impacted work remotely. The local environment, safety and health department of Dell is in touch with those team members in order to closely monitor their well-being.

Mindtree said Covid-19 has been tested positive by one of their staff, who returned from a trip abroad. The employee is under quarantine, along with family members, says Paneesh Rao, CEO of Mindtree. Therefore no travel makes sense said Siddharth Pai, a technical consultant and summed up that as long as the technology companies can handle delays for a few weeks, the state should also limit international travel. Living healthy is important and companies ask their employees to work from home, even in Silicon Valley.

Experts say, business will be as usual even with the restrictions as most technology companies utilize online collaboration devices such as video conferencing or Microsoft teams to communicate. Such instruments were available earlier, but acceptance was small and now are obliged to put in use, ISG's Rai added. A Noida-based HCL Technologies spokesperson said that it is either work from home or remote to further separate people from society to ensure that important workers who need to be on site are healthy in the workplace. A comprehensive precautionary measure have been taken to provide travel advisory services across the entire organization and all non-essential travel has been stopped immediately.
VANCOUVERSex workers dont always consent to sex. Consenting once doesnt mean permission every time. Those are two examples of what new federal judges are taught in training run by their professional body  training they are telling Ottawa should not be made a legal requirement.

On Tuesday, the Canadian Judicial Councils interim executive director asked the federal government to change proposed legislation that would make such training mandatory for federally appointed judges. J. Michael MacDonald said such a law could weaken the independence of the judiciary by potentially leaving the training vulnerable to political interference.

You cant tell us what we have to learn, MacDonald said. If you tell us what we have to learn, you tell us what we have to think, arguably.

He suggested changing words like must to should in the bill in order to ensure judicial training is still decided by judicial bodies.

The training looks at past cases to teach new judges what is and isnt appropriate when trying a sexual assault case, and how to manage them respectfully and fairly. Justice Adele Kent, chief judicial officer for the National Judicial Institute and developer of the training, said it is viewed positively by judges.

They know that this is technically a very challenging kind of law and they need the education, Kent said. They know they need the training and they appreciate taking it.

In the era of #MeToo and high-profile sexual assault cases like those of Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein, the actions of the judiciary have been scrutinized as well.

In 2017, Federal Court Justice Robin Camp resigned after he was criticized for asking a witness why she didnt keep her knees together during the 2014 trial of the man she accused of rape. Camp acquitted the man.

The Canadian Judicial Council, a regulatory body for federal judges, introduced compulsory training for its members in 2018. Kent said much of the training relies on past cases, mostly decided in the Supreme Court of Canada, to determine what is appropriate when a court is hearing a case or during the cross-examination of witnesses.

We take real cases that have been decided by the Supreme Court and use those cases for the basis of the hypothetical, Kent said.

Judges watch re-enactments of the cases and discuss them in groups with more experienced members of the judiciary. Often, the Supreme Court judges have expressed opinions about whether the questioning of a witness or other tactics were appropriate.

Judges are also trained in recognizing common myths and stereotypes that could come up in a courtroom, such as the idea that victims of sexual assault usually report the assault to police right away, Kent said.

Vulnerabilities around children and Indigenous women in the courtroom are also addressed, and the training includes updating of legal knowledge for judges, Kent said.

The law is often changing and simply because a judge has been to law school doesnt mean they are familiar with the most recent developments, she said.

With files from the Canadian Press

Read more about:
The coverage on this live blog has ended  but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: At least 124,519, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization

Global deaths: At least 4,607, according to the latest figures from the WHO

US cases: At least 1,312, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. All times below are in Beijing time.

7:44 pm: Ireland to shut schools, universities until March 29 due to virus

Ireland is to shut all schools, universities and childcare facilities until March 29 in response to the spread of the coronavirus, acting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Thursday. Tweet: Ireland has 43 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.  Ellyatt

7:11 pm: Europe responds to Trump's travel ban

European leaders have responded to President Donald Trump's decision to impose restrictions on travel to the U.S. from 26 countries in Europe, saying that the coronavirus pandemic is a "global crisis" and not limited to "any continent." "It requires cooperation rather than unilateral action," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel said in a statement Thursday. "The European Union disapproves of the fact that the U.S. decision to impose a travel ban was taken unilaterally and without consultation," they said, adding that the EU is taking strong action to limit the spread of the virus. Amaro and Ellyatt

6:53 pm: UK's chief medical officers signal possible shift in virus approach

The U.K.'s chief medical officers have said that doctors in the country may need to "depart significantly from established procedures to handle the coronavirus outbreak." This might be needed "in order to care for patients in the highly challenging but time-bound circumstances of the peak of an epidemic," the chief medical officers of the U.K.'s individual nations said in a joint letter to doctors, Reuters reported.  Ellyatt

6:50 pm: Death toll in Iran from coronavirus reaches 429, health official says

Iran has reported 75 new deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said, according to Reuters. That brings the death toll there to 429. "We have identified 1,075 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, meaning that there are 10,075 infected people in the country. The death toll is 429," Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur told state television.  Ellyatt

5:42 pm: Trump bans travel from Europe to US  here's what you need need to know

The U.S. is banning entry to those travelling from the 26 European countries which form the so-called Schengen Area, where there are no passport checks between internal borders. Most people who have been in these countries in the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival in the United States will not be allowed into the country. This two-week limit means those affected can't get around the rules by changing flights in a non-European airport.  Amaro

A picture taken on March 12, 2020 shows empty Air France and Delta Airlines check-in desks at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport after a US 30-day ban on travel from Europe due to the COVID-19 spread in Roissy-en-France. Bertrand Guay | AFP | Getty Images

5:12 pm: South Africa reports first case of local transmission of coronavirus

South Africa reported the first case of local transmission of the coronavirus on Thursday, Reuters reported. There are concerns that African health systems could be overwhelmed if local transmission accelerates, the news agency added. South Africa's Health Ministry said a 32-year-old man contracted the virus after contact with a Chinese businessman. The country has not reported any deaths from coronavirus.  Ellyatt

4:41 pm: European markets slide 6%; travel stocks fall 9% after Trump bans travel from Europe

European markets plunged Thursday morning as investors reacted to President Donald Trump's decision to impose restrictions on travel to the U.S. from many countries in Europe. The pan-European Stoxx 600 dropped 6% in early trade, with travel and leisure stocks plummeting 9.3% following Trump's announcement of a ban on European travel.  Smith

4:19 pm: Italy wakes up to mass closures as coronavirus death toll jumps 30%

Italy has tightened its nationwide lockdown further in response to the rising death toll from coronavirus, ordering all non-essential shops and services to close. Announcing the measures Wednesday evening, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said supermarkets and pharmacies will be the only retailers to remain open in Italy.  Ellyatt

4:11 pm: More businesses resume work in China

The resumption of work rate for key enterprises in foreign trade is near or at 100% in 19 provinces and municipalities, including Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai, Li Xinggan, director of the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce, said Thursday at a press conference, according to a CNBC translation of his remarks.



For foreign trade enterprises generally in eight provinces and municipalities, including Shandong, Anhui and Liaoning, the resumption of work rate has topped 80%, Li said.  Cheng

4:09 pm: 29 dead in collapse of hotel used for quarantine in Fujian

Twenty-nine people have died in the collapse of a hotel in Fujian province this past weekend, Pei Wentian, head of a security department within the National Emergency Management Department, said Thursday at a press conference. That's according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language remarks. The hotel was used to quarantine people who had recent contact with coronavirus patients. All 71 people who were trapped in the collapse are now accounted for, Pei said, noting the hotel in question was built illegally and illegally renovated multiple times.  Cheng

3:40 pm: Japan's Nikkei 225 joins Dow in bear market

Japan's Nikkei 225 plunged more than 4% to close in bear market territory, more than 20% off its 52-week closing high. HSBC Private Banking's James Cheo told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" that markets are likely in for a "rollercoaster ride" and its "too early to add aggressively to risk."  Huang

3:30 pm: China's air passenger traffic plunged in February

Air passenger traffic in China plunged 84.5% year-over-year in February to 8.34 million trips, according to the country's aviation authority. The civil aviation industry lost 24.59 billion yuan ($3.5 billion) in February alone, of which airlines lost 20.96 billion ($3.03 billion), the largest single-month loss on record, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.  Cheng

2:55 pm: California recommends canceling or postponing gatherings until end of March

Large gatherings in California should be canceled or postponed until at least the end of March, said Gavin Newsom, the state's governor. "Non-essential gatherings must be limited to no more than 250 people, while smaller events can proceed only if the organizers can implement social distancing of 6 feet per person," Newsom said in a late-Wednesday statement. "Gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should be limited to no more than 10 people, while also following social distancing guidelines," he added.  Lee

2:40 pm: China's recovery from virus outbreak will likely be hurt by surging global cases

Coronavirus infections in China have markedly declined in recent weeks, but the Asian giant's economic recovery may be held back by the global outbreak, as countries around the world struggle to contain the rapidly spreading disease. "It seems that we're beginning to be on the back side of this now here in Asia, given that the number of infections is down. In China, the infections still remain fairly isolated in Hubei province, that's a very good thing," said Steve Cochrane, chief Asia Pacific economist at Moody's Analytics, referring to the epicenter of the outbreak in China "But I don't see the recovery in China really coming on any more faster than we might have expected." He explained that's due to softening demand from the rest of the world, where cases are surging. Italy, Iran and South Korea have reported more than 7,000 cases each, while France, Spain and Germany each reported more than 1,200 cases, according toe the World Health Organization's latest figures.  Tan

2:30 pm: Stocks of Asia Pacific airlines fall

Stock prices of airlines in Asia Pacific fall after President Donald Trump announced a ban on travelers to the U.S. from Europe. (See 9:06 am entry) Australia's Qantas Airways was among the biggest losers after plunging by 9.90%, while Japan's ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines were down by 5.63% and 7.03%, respectively. Korean Air also fell by 4.62%.  Lee

1:35 pm: Trump's travel ban hits airlines already reeling from outbreak

Airlines had been gearing up for the peak spring and summer travel season, the most lucrative quarters of the year. But the coronavirus outbreak is now threatening to keep travelers at home for months, and U.S. travel restrictions could exacerbate travelers' fears about going abroad months down the road, said Henry Harteveldt, a former airline executive and founder of travel consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group. "A lot of people who were considering a trip to Europe may no longer do so," he said. Many European travelers might also avoid the U.S. this summer out of fear of "being caught if restrictions are reinstated," he added.  Josephs

1:15 pm: Japan, Hong Kong stocks drop more than 3%

Asia stocks fell sharply in afternoon trade after the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged into bear market territory overnight, as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 declined 3.3% while the Topix index fell 3.27%. The Japanese yen, often seen as a safe-haven currency, traded at 104.18 following an earlier high of 103.08. South Korea's Kospi also plummeted 3.04%. Meanwhile, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was down 5.51%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 3.81%.  Huang

1:05 pm: Chinese food delivery giant offers customers paper 'shield'

Food delivery is a huge business in China and it has become even more important during the coronavirus outbreak in China. With people slowly starting to return to work, Meituan, one of the country's biggest delivery firms, has launched a new product it feels will help keep people protected from the virus.

A Chinese office worker eats their meal surrounded by one of Meituan's fold out protective "shields". The company says that this free cover can help protect people from catching coronavirus in densely populated areas like offices and canteens. Meituan

It's a piece of cardboard that folds out into a 20-inch "independent space." Diners can eat their meals with their heads tucked into the shield. Meituan said the cover can effectively prevent meals from any water droplets that may come from their colleagues, particularly when people are eating in densely packed areas like office canteens. So far, the shield initiative is being tested with eight restaurant chains across Shanghai and Beijing.  Kharpal

12:15 pm: 6 charts show the virus impact on the global economy and markets so far

The ongoing spread of the new coronavirus has become one of the biggest threats to the global economy and financial markets. "From an economic perspective, the key issue is not just the number of cases of COVID-19, but the level of disruption to economies from containment measures," Ben May, head of global macro research at Oxford Economics, said in a report. "Widespread lockdowns such as those imposed by China have been enacted in some virus hotspots," he said, adding that such measures  if taken disproportionately  could induce panic and weaken the global economy even more. CNBC presents six charts that show the impact the outbreak has had on the global economy and markets so far.  Lee

11:45 am: US State Department asks citizens to 'reconsider travel'

The U.S. State Department issued an advisory on its website advising citizens to "reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19." "Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions," the notice said. "Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice," it added. The advisory came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 30-day ban on travelers to America from Europe starting Friday midnight. (See 9:06 am entry)  Lee

11:15 am: Malaysia is tracking down 5,000 people who attended religious event

Malaysian authorities are trying to track down 5,000 citizens who may have been exposed to the new coronavirus at a religious event in the outskirts of capital Kuala Lumpur, Reuters reported on Wednesday. A 53-year-old man from neighboring Brunei, who had attended the event, was confirmed on Tuesday to have been infected by the virus, according to the report. That's Brunei's first reported infection, the report said. The religious event took place at a mosque between Feb. 27 and Mar. 1, according to Reuters. Malaysia has reported 149 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Wednesday, of which 26 have been discharged from hospitals, said the country's health ministry.  Lee Malaysia's health ministry tweet: #COVID19 20 new cases were reported in Malaysia, Mar 11.

11:10 am: Beijing-based businesses must provide $440 a month per worker stranded in Hubei, city says

Beijing's municipal government announced late Wednesday a plan for subsidizing some workers' daily living expenses as Beijing is not allowing people from Hubei province  the epicenter of the new coronavirus  to return to the Chinese capital city. Beijing-based businesses must provide individual support of at least 3,080 yuan a month ($440) for employees stranded in Hubei and are unable to work, the municipal government said. It noted that figure is double the city's standard for basic monthly living expenses. The plan is effective this month and will last until the restrictions on travel from Hubei to Beijing are lifted, according to the policy. Businesses contributing to the government's social insurance plan can apply for subsidies to cover half of the payout, or 1,540 yuan ($221 per worker, the policy said.  Cheng

10:42 am: Staffer in Sen. Maria Cantwell's DC office tests positive

A staff member in Senator Maria Cantwell's office in Washington, D.C., has tested positive for the new coronavirus. It is said to be the first confirmed case of infection on Capitol Hill. The individual has been in isolation since starting to show symptoms. The office has been closed for deep cleaning and the affected individual has had no known contact with the senator or other members of Congress, according to a statement.  Wilkie

10:38 am: Twitter makes work from home policy mandatory

The tech company told its 4,900 global employees to work from home. The move is mandatory as Twitter said it has a "responsibility to support our communities, and those who are vulnerable." It added that it will continue to pay contractors and hourly workers who are not able to perform their duties while working from home.  Farr

10:16 am: Dow futures drop 1,000 points

U.S. futures indicated sharp declines on Wall Street again after an address from President Trump failed to ease investor worries over the global pandemic. Dow futures were down 1,067 points, indicating a loss of about 1,027 points at Thursday's open. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures were also sharply lower. The move comes after the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended its historic 11-year bull market run by closing in a bear market.  Imbert, Roy Choudhury

10:05 am: India suspends almost all visas and closes land border with Myanmar

India's health ministry said a high-level group of ministers met on Wednesday and decided on the following: Most existing visas will be suspended until Apr. 15 from Friday 1200 GMT at the port of departure. Exemptions include diplomatic and official visas as well as employment visas.

Visa-free travel for foreigners of Indian origin will also be suspended till Apr. 15.

Any foreign national intending to travel to India has to contact the nearest embassy.

Incoming visitors, including Indian nationals, who arrive or have visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain, and Germany after Feb. 15 will be quarantined for at least 14 days. On Tuesday, the chief minister of the state of Manipur said on Twitter that India has closed its border with Myanmar as "precautionary measures." Manipur shares border with Myanmar.  Roy Choudhury Correction: This blog entry has been updated to reflect that India will suspend most existing visas from Friday 1200 GMT.

9:47 am: Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson test positive

Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have tested positive for the coronavirus, Hanks confirmed via Instagram Wednesday. They were in Australia for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's currently untitled Elvis Presley film from Warner Bros. Hanks is set to play Presley's longtime manager Colonel Tom Parker.  Whitten

9:40 am: NBA suspends season after a player tests positive

The NBA said it is "suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice." The decision came after a player on the Utah Jazz was said to have preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 before a Wednesday night game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder. That game is now canceled and the affected player was not in the arena, according to the NBA. It also said that it will use the hiatus to figure out the next steps for moving forward.  Roy Choudhury

9:35 am: South Korea reports 114 new cases, 6 additional deaths

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said as of Thursday morning, there were 114 new cases and six additional deaths, bringing the country's total number of infected to 7,869 and fatalities to 66. A majority of the new confirmed cases were reported in the city of Daegu, where the infection rate spiked in recent weeks.  Roy Choudhury

9:06 am: Trump says US will suspend all travel from Europe for 30 days

President Donald Trump said all travel from Europe to the U.S. will be suspended for 30 days, and that the new rules are going into effect on Friday midnight. "These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground," Trump said, adding that those measures would not apply to the United Kingdom. He also said that the U.S. is monitoring the situation in China and South Korea and that it may reevaluate restrictions and warnings currently in place about those countries if their situation improves.  Roy Choudhury

8:47 am: China reports 15 new cases, 11 additional deaths

China's National Health Commission said there were 15 new confirmed cases on Mar. 11, with 8 of them in Hubei province  where the disease was first detected. Six of the new cases were attributed to travelers returning from abroad. All but one of the 11 additional deaths were reported in Hubei. Altogether, the total number of confirmed cases to-date in mainland China stands at 80,793  among them, 62,793 cases have been cured and 3,169 people have died.  Roy Choudhury

8:05 am: Italy cases top 12,000

Italy's health ministry said as of 6 p.m. local time on Mar. 11, there were a total of 12,462 cases, including 1,045 people who have recovered and 827 who have died. The country is in a complete lockdown at the moment, with most non-essential businesses, including bars and restaurants, closed. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte earlier this week told people to "stay at home." Outside China, Italy is the worst-affected country.  Roy Choudhury

7:53 am: Australia announces fiscal stimulus measures

Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled a 17.6 billion Australian dollar ($11.4 billion) stimulus package to tackle the economic impact of the global pandemic by keeping people employed and helping small and medium-sized companies stay in business. Morrison said up to 6.5 million individuals and 3.5 million businesses would be directly supported by the measures. That includes a one-off 750 Australian dollar payment to pensioners and other income support recipients as well as providing cash flow assistance to businesses. The government is setting aside 1 billion Australian dollars to support sectors, regions, and communities that have been disproportionately affected, including those that rely heavily on tourism, agriculture, and education. "This plan is about keeping Australians in jobs. This plan is about keeping a business in business, particularly small and medium-sized businesses. This plan is about ensuring the Australian economy bounces back stronger on the other side of, and with that, the budget bounces back with it," Morrison told reporters. A day earlier, Morrison had announced a health package worth 2.4 billion Australian dollars to fight the virus.  Roy Choudhury

7:27 am: US travel industry could lose $24 billion as virus outbreak cripples tourism

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. The figures also imply 8.2 million lost visitors in one year, which would be even more than the 7.7 million international travelers lost in 2001 and 2002, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Hirsch

7:21 am: Trump to address the nation at 9 pm ET

A man wearing head covering with a protective visor sits in the arrival hall at Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images

All times below are in Eastern time.

5:22 pm: Italy expands shutdown to nearly all stores

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.  The Associated Press

5:12 pm: Up to 150 million Americans are expected to contract the coronavirus, congressional doctor says
Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) has for the sixth consecutive year, presented a full scholarship to the 2019 overall best WASSCE candidate, Melisa Abena Okyerewaa Amoah at the WAEC Distinction Awards ceremony.

The awards ceremony was held at the Sakyi Asare-Menko Hall on Wednesday, March 11 to recognize and reward the best performing candidates in the 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) organized by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

With this full educational scholarship, UMB will provide funding to cater for Melisas tuition, accommodation and books for the entire duration of her course at the University of Ghana, Legon. She also received a cash amount of one thousand Ghana cedis (GHs1000) on her UMB SpeedApp account, a brand new laptop and some branded gift items from UMB. The second and third overall best candidates, Nana Adwoa Sereboo Agyemang and Ewurabena Esiboaba Cudjoe were each presented with brand new laptops, cash and UMB branded gift items.

The CEO of UMB, Mr. Benjamin Amenumey in his remark noted, This scholarship programme is much more than a corporate social responsibility initiative for us at UMB. It is in fact a civic responsibility of helping build a great nation through education, which is the passport to a great future. He further stated that as an indigenous bank, UMB would continue to empower the youth by encouraging them through such financial interventions, as he believes this will encourage parents to motivate their wards to excel in their respective courses in school for a better, brighter future.

UMB officials led by the CEO; the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa; country and regional WAEC officials; Minister of State - Tertiary Education, Hon. Professor Kwesi Yankah and many other dignitaries attended the event.

The overall best WASSCE candidate, Melisa Abena Okyerewaa Amoah, and her family expressed their gratitude to UMB for this kind gesture and entreated current second-cycle students, especially the final year students, to be diligent in their pursuit of excellence even beyond the classroom.
Contestants are set to explore Australia in the upcoming season of The Amazing Race Australia.

The Network 10 competition series will remain in Australia due to restrictions on international travel because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

With production starting in June, the cast and crew's safety has become the network's primary concern.

Kangaroos over elephants: Network 10's Amazing Race Australia will take a domestic route due to coronavirus outbreak fears... instead exploring local 'tropical rainforests, outback and mountainous hinterlands'. Pictured: host Beau Ryan

'Due to the current cautions around international travel due to the COVID-19 outbreak, a domestic route has proven the safest option for the upcoming season,' a Network 10 spokesperson told TV tonight.

They added: 'The welfare of cast and crew is of the upmost importance and all necessary measures will be taken to ensure their protection.'

Network 10 remained confident Australia's 'tropical rainforests, [the] arid red desert of the outback and cool mountainous hinterlands' would prove an entertaining challenge.

Exploring: The Network 10 hit competition series will remain in Australia due to restrictions on international travel due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Contestants pictured in Seoul, South Korea in 2018

'The sheer vastness and contrasting environment of Australia will create a unique and challenging backdrop to the most amazing race on earth,' the spokesperson said.

However, part of the show's charm comes from the contestant's humourous cultural clashes, which will absent from this season.

Amazing Race Australia host Beau Ryan told the Kyle and Jackie O Show last week production had only planned to remain in Australia if they had no other options.

'If worst comes to worst we're doing an Australian one': With production starting in June, the cast and crew's safety has become the television network's primary concern

'Well in all honesty, if worst comes to worst we're doing an Australian one,' Beau said.

The decision follows American network CBS stopping production on the US version, which had already started production.

A CBS spokesperson provided a statement in late February that the show's suspension was a precaution and none of the production had contracted the virus.
This is typically the message that appears on your browser if the website you're trying to access is blocked by the government. Sometimes, it merely shows a DNS error, which does not reveal that the government has blocked the site.

Chennai: The Indian government blocked more than 3,600 URLs (uniform resource locators) were blocked in 2019, up from 2,799 in the previous year, under a specific provision of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

In a written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha, Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Section 69A of the IT Act provides for blocking of unlawful and malicious online content in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence and security of the country, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence related to these.

"Under this provision, 1,385, 2,799 and 3,635 URLs were blocked during the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively," he was quoted as saying by PTI but gave no details of what kind of sites these were.

Pornographic sites have been blocked in India, but the minister did not give any specifics if these were included on the list of blocked sites.

No details were available about any action taken to curb the spread of false information and fake news either, despite several fake news sites operating in the country, and mainstream media that are uncritical of the government routinely putting out unverified information, later fact-checked and found to be false.

In response to a separate query, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, started collecting data for cybercrimes against children (involving computer as medium/target) since 2017.

"As per the data maintained by NCRB, a total of 7 and 40 cases of cyber bullying against children were registered during the year 2017 and 2018, respectively," Dhotre added.

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China Daily | Mar. 11, 2020

About 400 people from Taiwan who have been struck in Hubei province due to the novel coronavirus outbreak will take arranged flights to return to the island from Wuhan, the outbreak center, the provincial Taiwan affairs office of Hubei said on Tuesday.

The passengers have all tested negative for the virus and undergone at least three rounds of body temperature tests before boarding the planes, the office said.

Because of the lockdown on Hubei to curb the spread of the virus, many Taiwan residents who live in the province, or who are there on a business trip or traveling in Hubei, can't return to the island because all flights have been canceled.

To help them return home, the mainland arranged to put them on charter flights from Wuhan to Taiwan. The first batch of 247 Taiwan residents took a charter flight to Taiwan from Wuhan on Feb 3.

The mainland planned to arrange more trips for other Taiwan residents in Hubei to return home, but it was declined by the island authorities in the past month. As of Sunday, some 1,170 people from Taiwan in Hubei have applied to return to the island, the office said.

Authorities of the two sides finally reached an agreement on Saturday that two flights operated respectively by two air companies of the two sides conducted the return trip of the second batch, according to the office.

Among the people in the second batch, over 40 percent urgently needed to return to the island for treatment, about 30 percent were children, and 23 percent needed to return to work in the island, it said.

At 9:44 pm Tuesday, a flight operated by China Airlines based in Taiwan, carrying 169 people, took off from the Wuhan airport.

The other flight operated by China Eastern Airlines based in the mainland hasn't taken off by Tuesday midnight, according to the office.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey arrives at the "Tech for Good" Summit in Paris, France May 15, 2019.

Twitter is requiring its 4,900 employees to work from home according to a blog post, as the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread across the globe.

The move is now mandatory, as the company said it has a "responsibility to support our communities, and those who are vulnerable."

"We understand that this is an unprecedented step, but these are unprecedented times," it continues.

The company has said that it will continue to pay contractors and hourly workers who are not able to perform their duties while working from home.

Twitter isn't the only technology company pushing employees to work remotely. Google on Wednesday asked most of its global workforce to do so, after requesting on Tuesday that its 100,000 North American employees stay home. Amazon has asked employees in states hit by the coronavirus, like Washington, New York and California to refrain from coming into the office.

President Trump at a press conference on Wednesday suspended travel for 30 days to most of Europe in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
Expedition 62 astronauts pose for a photo while inside a visiting SpaceX Dragon CRS-20 resupply craft at the International Space Station. The masks they're wearing are to protect against particles and irritants that could have come loose inside the Dragon during its flight.

As coronavirus continues to spread around the globe, it's interesting to ponder what would happen if such a virus were to spread in space.

On rare occasions throughout spaceflight history, astronauts have fallen ill while in space. While floating off-Earth, astronauts have endured upper respiratory infections (URI) or colds, urinary tract infections and skin infections, Jonathan Clark, a former (six-time) crew surgeon for NASA's Space Shuttle program and current associate professor of neurology and space medicine at the Center for Space Medicine at the Baylor College Of Medicine, told Space.com.

During Apollo 7 in 1968, the crew got colds in space and, according to Clark, "it had a significant impact." Cmdr. Wally Schirra most likely came aboard with a mild cold and spread it to the other crew members. The astronauts ran out of medication and tissues and refused to wear their helmets while reentering Earth's atmosphere, Clark said.

Similar difficulties befell astronauts on Apollo 8 and Apollo 9, who also experienced colds. Following these missions, NASA implemented a pre-flight quarantine that called for limited, monitored contact with other humans to try to ensure the crew's health and safety.

Related: Coronavirus in the U.S.; Map, case counts and news

More: NASA monitors coronavirus for impacts to US space program

But how have things changed since the early days of spaceflight and these early cases of space illness. Is it possible that astronauts might one day have to combat more serious illnesses in potentially more difficult off-Earth environments?

How illness works differently in space

With regard to medical emergencies, astronauts have so far been able to remotely access medical assistance from space thanks to increasing capabilities in Earth-space communications. In fact, medical experts on Earth were even once able to help an astronaut who suffered a blood clot while aboard the space station.

Related: What emergency medicine will look like for astronauts in space

Investigations like RR-7 on the International Space Station hope to better understand how spaceflight affects the microbes, or microscopic organisms like bacteria, living in and on our bodies. Since microbes are directly linked to human health this will be important for future crewed missions. (Image credit: NASA)

However, the ways that infections spread and how viruses and illnesses behave in the body changes when humans go to space. From the physical stresses that come with launching off-Earth to living in a confined environment without Earth's gravity, even "regular" illnesses like colds can look much different for astronauts.

Spaceflight changes the body in a number of strange ways that scientists are still working to fully understand. Most obviously, the physically extreme act of launching off-Earth in a rocket can cause motion sickness and can affect spatial orientation and coordination. Once in space, changes in stress hormone levels and other physical repercussions of spaceflight cause your immune system to change. While an astronaut might be used to having a "good immune system" on Earth, they could be more susceptible to illness or even allergic reactions while in space.

As Clark explained, viruses like the flu or even coronavirus could also be more easily transmitted in a microgravity environment, such as on the International Space Station. "The absence of gravity precludes particles settling down, so they stay suspended in the air, and could be more easily transmitted. To prevent this, compartments are ventilated and the air HEPA filters would remove particles."

Additionally, scientists have found that dormant viruses react to the stresses of spaceflight, and viruses such as herpes simplex have been known to reactivate, or "awaken," during spaceflight. Also, as Clark said, on-going studies have shown that it's possible that enhanced bacterial virulence in space could make antibiotic treatments less effective.

"There are antiviral medications that could be used to prevent viral spread, much as has been considered for the terrestrial viral epidemics. Also, for planetary missions the crew would be isolated upon return to Earth, just like they were done in the early missions returning from the moon," Clark said.

What would astronauts do?

Whether in the confined space aboard the space station or within future lunar or Martian habitats, the spread of disease would pose very real threats to future astronauts, as it has for astronauts of previous generations.

So, as we scramble here on Earth trying to figure out how to best stop the spread of the coronavirus disease known as COVID-19, what would astronauts do off-Earth? As mentioned, we know that it's possible that such viruses would spread more easily in space and that treatments might work differently. And while there would be additional challenges in quarantining a sick astronaut off-Earth, Clark suggests that it would likely be one of the procedures followed.

"It's hard to implement quarantine in small spaces," Clark said, "but a crewmember with an URI would be isolated in their sleep quarter while symptomatic, and wear a mask for containment, have cultures done to identify the organism for appropriate treatment."

He added that if astronauts were to be quarantined aboard the space station, the "U.S. segment of the ISS has HEPA [high-efficiency particulate air] air filters and regular wipe-down of surfaces as well as microbial monitoring."

However, with regard to an outbreak in future lunar or Martian habitats, it's impossible to say exactly what might happen because we have yet to return to the moon or send a crewed mission to Mars. But, in considering Clark's suggestions and the historical examples from the Apollo era, astronauts would likely follow measures similar to what we follow on Earth, like quarantine.

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Hongkongers on marked the nine-month anniversary of attacks by riot police on unarmed protesters at the start of anti-extradition protests on , 2019, as a State Department report hit out at widespread police violence and abuse of power during the protest movement.



Large numbers of riot police converged on Kowloon's Mong Kok district on as protesters staged street screenings of footage from the protest.



As some protesters blocked part of Sai Yeung Choi Street with debris, more riot police showed up and began shoving journalists at the scene and shining strong flashlights into people's faces, brandishing pepper spray.



Police then moved in among the crowd and started doing ID checks, singling out first-aid volunteers and journalists in high-visibility jackets.



A viewer at the Mong Kok screening surnamed Yip said he came tosupport the protest movement, and to call for an end to police violence.



"Hong Kong is no longer a place ruled by law, and we hope that true Hong Kong people can persist [in their struggle]," Yip said.



"The government has taken the wrong path, believing that the problem can be resolved with violence, but it never will be," he said.



A rally participant surnamed Lee said there is a very strong desire for the freedoms that were promised to the city ahead of of the 1997 handover among its young people.



"The people of Hong Kong have fought all along for their freedom, which is what the young people deserve, but the government keeps suppressing them," she said.



Lee said she had made sure to spend all of the H.K.$10,000 handout to all permanent residents over 18 on "yellow circle" businesses that openly support the protest movement.



She called on the U.S. to stand with protesters in their demand for fully democratic elections, and hit out at the city's leader, chief executive Carrie Lam, for failing to stand up for Hong Kong.



"I have always supported [full democracy] because this government we have right now wasn't elected by us," Lee said. "Carrie Lam always puts the interests of mainland China first, and we in Hong Kong are left with nothing."



"She may be the chief executive of Hong Kong but she has done nothing to help the people of Hong Kong."



A student surnamed Kwun said the anti-extradition movement, which later broadened into demands for fully democratic elections, an inquiry into police violence, an end to the description of protesters as "rioters," and an amnesty for thousands arrested since June, had begun peacefully on , when two million people took to the city's streets in a huge march against Lam's plan to allow extradition to mainland China.



"We've tried peaceful gatherings, as well as more radical forms of protest, but actually none of it has worked," Kwun said. "Actually, I'm at a loss to know what would, everyone ... is so embroiled in the conflict with the police."



One of the scenes replayed on the screens in Mong Kok was a face-off between riot police and a crowd of several thousand unarmed, mostly young, people.



During the clash, police surrounded one group of several thousand people cutting off their escape route, then fired around 240 tear gas canisters into the fleeing crowd, who scrambled to shelter in a nearby office building which could only be accessed through a single door.



Several protesters and a media worker were hit in the head with tear gas canisters, with two people seriously hurt and more than 80 casualties reported at the time from tear gas, sponge bullets and rubber bullets.



In Washington, the State Department issued an annual report citing reports from Amnesty International and other sources as saying that police had beaten and mistreated individuals in custody, with several reports emerging of sexual assault in detention.



"Several activists alleged that police abused detainees at the San Uk Ling Holding Center, including breaking bones and sexually assaulting detainees," the report said. "The police denied those allegations."



It said many Hong Kong residents and experts said police officers had used excessive force to disperse crowds or arrest individuals suspected of participating in violent protests on several occasions.



It cited the U.N. Human Rights Office as saying that there was credible evidence the Hong Kong police were employing less lethal weapons in ways that are prohibited by international norms and standards when conducting crowd dispersal operations.



"Critics also noted that police officers frequently did not show identification when conducting crowd dispersal operations, which made it difficult to identify officers who may have committed abuses," the report found.



It said there had been numerous reports of political arrests of activists in a bid to discourage protesters and keep numbers down, while "multiple sources" said Chinese state security agents were monitoring political activists and rights campaigners, as well as academics critical of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.



The report also found that the authorities, whether in Hong Kong or Beijing, had "restricted or sought to restrict the right to express or report on dissenting political views, particularly support for Hong Kong independence."



"There were some legal restrictions on the ability of individuals to criticize the government publicly without reprisal," it said.



Citing the debarring of Joshua Wong from standing in District Council elections in November, the report found that "equirements for electoral candidacy and for taking the oath of office also limited free speech in the political arena."



"Several journalists alleged that police detained, assaulted, or harassed them while covering protests," it said.



It said government actions, including prosecutions of activists and refusals to grant approval for some assemblies, had also infringed on the rights of Hongkongers to peaceful assembly and protest.



"Several human rights organizations repeated longstanding concerns that the SARs legal definitions of illegal assembly and rioting, charges frequently brought against protesters, were overly broad," the report said.



Reported by Lau Siu-fung for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
More than 120 employees of the Luohu Hospital Group donated 41.3 liters of blood to the blood bank of Shenzhen on Feb. 28.





The bank's blood stocks are currently very low, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak causing a reduction of blood donations across the city.





The Luohu Hospital Group took the initiative to contact the city's blood center, and called upon its employees to donate. The 120-plus blood donators came from almost all departments of the group.





The blood donations were carried out in accordance with the requirements of epidemic control: all people wore masks, while every blood donation vehicle was limited to five donators and five nurses.





"I donate blood every year, as I know how important the blood is to patients. I just want to help," said a hospital security guard participating in the donation.





A doctor, who had donated blood more than 40 times, said: "I am just doing what I can to help."




Deposed Kano Emir Muhammad Sanusi II has vowed to challenge his dethronement and banishment in court.

His lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), declared this in a briefing few minutes ago in Abuja.

He said the restriction of the Emirs movement and his dethronement were unlawful and gross violation of his human rights.

Earlier, Reacting on behalf of the deposed Emir, the lawyer of the dethroned ruler, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) described the action of the governor as illegal which will be reversed by the court of law.

Mr Mahmoud who stated this in a telephone interview he granted Channels Television Monday evening said his client was yet to take a decision on the next line of action.

We are going to be in touch with him to discuss which line of action to take as his lawyers. And we as lawyers, of course, we believe that this action was illegal and unconstitutional, he said.

And more so, the aspect of banishment, under the constitution, nobody can be deprived of his liberty under the manner he has been deprived of his. Nevertheless, we will be in touch with him and hopefully, come up with the next line of action in due course.

The next line of action would obviously depend on the instruction from the Emir. There are two aspects to it  the dethronement and the banishment. We will be consulting with him, I had a meeting with him before he was taken to custody and obviously, at that point, he has not taken a decision on whether he is going to pursue this matter in court or not.

Of course, we will give him time to come up with a decision on his dethronement. But as far as his liberty is concerned, we are very firmly clear that this is an illegal act and we will be considering what line of action to take hopefully when I speak with him.

An action that is illegal can be reversed by the court of law and that is why we have the written constitution and courts in place. Under the constitution of the country, whenever the executive branch of government takes an action that is unconstitutional or illegal, the courts are there for all citizens to seek redress.

We are confident given the fact of this case that if the Emir was to challenge the action, it would be reversed because the action, in our view, is repressing and illegal, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria added.
Everything is becoming sustainable in todays world, so why should tourism be any different! A promising travel blogger Sahib Singh believes so. In fact travelling responsibly is what he seriously believes in doing. This digital nomad feels that nature is one of the most beautiful gifts we have inherited from our ancestors and it is our responsibility to keep it unharmed for our future generations.

Apart from that, he insists on what his father taught him about travelling. His father told Sahib that life is like travelling; people often forget to enjoy the journey. He adds to his fathers philosophy by saying, Travelling for me is like meditation; it helps me be happy, and in my opinion, we should always do what makes us happy.

In fact, Sahib has made a profession out of travelling. Hailing from the small yet picturesque town of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, he began travelling as an aspiring badminton player. About those days, Sahib says, I used to travel a lot as a sportsperson, deep down I knew how much I enjoyed it, but after matches, we would hardly get a chance to know anything about the place. I always wanted to take photographs and write about places where I travel. The idea of becoming a travel blogger had always fascinated me. I already knew that travel blogging is a viable career option and thats how I decided to become a travel blogger.

That is how he became one of the promising travel bloggers in India. In fact, his Instagram handle, @travellingindian, with close to 30K followers, is proof of his close relationship with nature and travelling.

He is a graduate from Delhi University, has played badminton at national level and also holds an advanced scuba diving certification.

So far, he has travelled to countries like Egypt, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, etc.

But along with travelling for fun, Sahib believes that we should also realise the negative impact of our carelessness on the places of travel. By being irresponsible about our habits, we damage the ecosystem of the place we visit. That is why, perhaps, his main aim is to promote eco-friendly and responsible tourism through my blogs.

His unique skills as a photographer add to his travel journeys that he keeps sharing with his followers on social media. With many more destinations to go to in his future, this travel blogger is on the right path of life!

Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
The Permian Strategic Partnership announced Tuesday the launch of The Permian Counts, an educational campaign to maximize awareness and participation in the 2020 census by residents of the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. The campaign is designed to encourage community engagement and raise awareness through multi-channel advertising and coordination with partners and key stakeholders across the region.

The Permian Counts is a localized awareness and educational campaign dedicated to engaging with our citizens where they live and work to encourage their participation in this years count, said Tracee Bentley, president and CEO of the PSP.

The Permian Basin is home to a number of the fastest-growing communities in the country, with growth expected to continue over the next 10 years. An accurate count in the 2020 census is essential to positioning for the future of the region, including ensuring the Permian receives adequate federal funding for essential community programs and services.

The study

To better understand the economic and fiscal implications of census participation, the PSP commissioned a study by The Perryman Group in January of 2020, which revealed the profound impact of a potential undercount.

The Perryman Groups economic impact study applied the U.S. Census Bureaus estimate of how many residents of Texas and New Mexico would not participate in the census and adjusted it for regional factors. The study showed almost 2 percent of Permian Basin residents would likely not be counted, and the repercussions of such an undercount would be significant.

According to the study, over the next 10 years, a 2 percent undercount would result in regional losses of $1.1 billion in gross product ($112 million per year), as well as 13,135 job-years (1,314 jobs per year) of employment and a loss of $52.9 million in federal funding for local government entities. The downstream economic effects magnify the impact of an undercount, putting an additional $1.9 billion in gross product and 21,450 job-years at risk over the next 10 years.

If just one out of every 50 Permian Basin residents does not complete the census, equivalent to a 2 percent undercount, it would have a substantial effect on the regions economy. The long-term social and economic health of communities across the Permian requires an accurate census count, especially considering the areas explosive growth and the increasing demands on local services and infrastructure, said Ray Perryman, president and CEO of The Perryman Group.

Bentley added, The 2020 census is more than a national effort to count our population  it has tremendous significance for how the Permian Basin can plan for the future at a time when unprecedented development and change in the energy sector are creating opportunities and challenges for local communities.

The 2020 census can be completed in one of three ways: by mail, over the phone, or online. More information can be found at 2020Census.gov. For additional resources, including the full Perryman Group Economic Impact Report and information about The Permian Counts campaign, visit www.thepermiancounts.com or follow The Permian Counts on Facebook.
With COVID-19 continuing to spread throughout the United States, thousands of superintendents are suddenly becoming fluent in a peculiar new idiom: that of social distancing and flattening the curve of infection to prevent overwhelming medical facilities. Increasingly, theyre faced with the tough decision of if and when they should decide to close their schools to stave off transmission.

So far, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oregon have moved to close all their schools. In other states, absent a direct order from public-health agencies, the decision of whether, and how long, to shutter schools technically falls to superintendents. Many interviewed by Education Week say, though, that they coordinate with other health and safety agencies to gauge impact on their communities at large before making the call.

At the end of the day, wed never make that decision unilaterally, said Bondy Shay Gibson, the superintendent of the Jefferson County district in West Virginias panhandle. Wed work with the health department, the sheriffs department, the county homeland-security department, and say to them: Tell us what you thinkis there anything were not considering?

Still, as they work through the possible scenarios for doing so, the superintendents say theyre balancing a host of competing considerations, as well as trying to make contingency plans if they do have to close.

Theyre worried about who will supervise children in families in which both parents must work or about children going hungry without school assistance. Theyre facing logistical challenges about how to keep payroll running and prepare learning plans for students. External pressures are present, too, with frightened parents in some communities urging schools to close.

All that makes for a thorny decision tree.

See Also: Coronavirus and Schools

Take the Douglas district in Box Elder, S.D. Its context, like many districts, poses a unique and specific conundrum for its leaders.

The district is located near the Ellsworth Air Force base, and about 45 percent of students are dependents of military personnel, including some who have recently returned from duty in Italy and South Korea, two countries heavily hit by the virus. On top of that, the districts teaching force skews older, with the average teacher having 20 years of experience and at least 50 teachers with 30-plus years, pushing them toward the demographic that data suggest is more vulnerable to the virus.

And so with that, we have some with compromised immune systems. I think were pretty vulnerable in that area, said Superintendent Alan Kerr. Thats part of the calculus, too, [and] day care, and the economic strain its going to put on the parents. And another aspect we have to look at, that most schools dont, is that we sometimes have families with two parents deployed, which means some students are staying with other relatives, including grandparents.

Different Scenarios, Different Plans

Theres a variety of conflicting information on the efficacy of closing schools, which is making a tough call even tougher.

Research on the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 points to pre-emptive closures as an effective way to limit outbreaks, even as others note differences in how COVID-19 and the demographics of the affected population compare with those of the earlier pandemic.

At the time of this writing, thousands of schools had been closed or were scheduled to close because of COVID-19, affecting more than 1.3 million students, but those numbers continue to change rapidly. (Visit Education Weeks map for the latest statistics.)

In a new document released late this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a short to medium level of closure, from a few days to two to four weeks, might be appropriate to clean and disinfect schools, or respond to significant absences among students and staff.

Those are the time periods currently selected by many of the hundreds of districts that have closed. But data modeling doesnt show that those would affect the infection rates of COVID-19, the CDC said.

The agency also unveiled a flow chart to help districts make decisions about closing and urged them to consider the academic and unintended impact of closures. Its the federal governments most specific set of guidelines for schools to date on COVID 19.

Some U.S. districts, like Chicago, which closed one high school this week, are explicitly deferring to health agencies; the nations third largest school district has held its press conferences in tandem with them. At one this week, Chicagos public-health deputy commissioner, Jennifer Layden, defended the citys decisions not to close schools en masse, stressing that sustained person-to-person contact is necessary for transmission.

It takes close, direct contact with someone who has a case to be considered exposed to the virus, she said.

In Schenectady, N.Y., the district is also taking its cues from health agencies. But as its worked to re-evaluate its own emergency plans, the district is discovering ways in which its contingency plans dont quite line up with the fast-changing realities of COVID-19.

Closing a school for one day to scrub it down is a far different response from what would need to happen if health agencies determine that everyone in one of its schools needs to self-isolate for 14 days, noted Superintendent Laurence Spring. And those pose different scenarios for the district to map out.

How good do we think our records are in terms of whos set foot in the building in the last 14 days? he noted. If the mailman is coming in to drop off a package, and hes all the way into the building, he doesnt necessarily sign in or [do] the guys who are delivering stuff for lunch. There are a bunch of those places where we figured, Geez, I bet we wouldnt be at 90 percent accuracy if we need to provide names to a disease investigator to map back from a confirmed case. 

The district is now tightening up those procedures in its buildings. Its also wrestling with how to provide needed services to students if it must close schools. The district has extra Chromebooks to distribute to students, and with about 85 percent of them qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, it also will continue to deliver thousands of backpacks of food to students.

But how can it get those into students hands while not potentially exposing more staff members to the virus? Those are the technical details the districts staff is now wrestling with, Spring said.

Rob Anderson, the superintendent of the Boulder Valley district in Colorado, described a similar scramble to account for the flood of often conflicting reports leaders are receiving about the virus.

Information about the virus is breaking in ways the decision matrix that we set up never anticipated, he said. You find yourself just conversion and putting your heads together to make the best decision you can.

And in Jefferson County, classes were to end early March 13 so the district can deep-clean schools and teachers can assemble instructional packets for students. The West Virginia district is asking each teacher to prepare at least two weeks worth of activities, with accommodations for those who dont have internet access. District guidelines say they cant be busywork and must link directly to its curriculum.

There is never going to be a piece of paper or a computer that replaces a teacher, Superintendent Gibson said. But were here to deliver kids an education, so we need to find as many and as creative ways for students to continue their instruction.

Communications Key

As they weigh the options, the superintendents all said that accurately communicating fast-changing circumstances was both crucialand challenging.

Theres a balance where you want to inform but you dont want to panic people, and sometimes when you write guidelines, theyre too broad, said Kerr of South Dakota.

We can make the best-laid plans but we dont control any of the triggers, and all of those unknowns create fear. Fearful people are sometimes angry, or theyre hurt, or theyre upset and theyre not logical, said Gibson. So part of what we try to do is quell fear through information. We communicate a lot. We answer questions.

Even inadvertent mixed messages can cause frustration. Kerr said he got some blowback because the districts pandemic plan notes that teachers will be paid if and when schools close, while most hourly workers wont be, with their days added to the end of the school year. Thats not a function of status, he explained, but of employees different work contracts.

In Schenectady, Spring said some parents were confused by New York states decision to declare a public emergency. Usually, the state does that because of a severe snowstormand when that happens, staff and students alike dont come to schools, he noted.

This state of emergency was declared to [ease procurement rules]s for the state, and we needed to communicate that to parents, Spring said, ticking off a list of topics hes included in the districts daily updates: It does not change the fact that we still have school. There arent any recommendations about everyone staying home. We do continue to pay close attention to health updates. Hand-washing is still really, really important.

Parents are understandably concerned, though, and theyve been putting pressure on districts to consider closing in some locations. In Montgomery County, Md., more than 17,000 residents had signed a petition to move up the districts spring break to prevent transmission of the virus. (The county has several confirmed cases of COVID-19.)

In all, Spring said his district feels like its made progress on its plans from a few weeks ago. But he acknowledged that most districts will probably still face unexpected problems if and when they have to close.

There will still be thingsand things of reasonable significance, not just minor detailsthat will be like, Nobody thought about that or how to solve for that,  he said. Theres this black box in which the department of health is saying, We become in control of the site, and well let you know. Well, well let you know is a really hard thing to plan for.
Mr. Trump and his top advisers have pitched the cut as a much-needed lift for consumers and businesses at a time when the spreading virus is beginning to chill economic activity. The payroll tax holiday is probably the most important, powerful piece of this, Larry Kudlow, the director of the National Economic Council, told reporters on Tuesday.

Under Mr. Trumps plan  as described by Peter Navarro, one of his economic advisers  the government would, through the end of the year, stop collecting the 6.2 percent Social Security tax currently taken out of workers paychecks and the 1.45 percent tax taken for Medicare. It would also suspend equally large taxes paid on behalf of workers by their employers. Self-employed workers would be relieved of the entire 15.3 percent tax they currently pay.

For workers, earnings that are no longer subject to the payroll tax would now be subject to federal income taxes. Because lower-paid workers have lower marginal income tax rates, they would see a slightly larger percentage increase in their pay than workers with higher salaries. Some extremely high-paid workers would not see an increase at all because payroll taxes are capped by income, and some workers are close to  or have already reached  that limit. This means they are not set to have any Social Security taxes taken out for the rest of the year.

As a general rule, the largest percentage income gains would go to households earning up to $250,000 a year, according to calculations by the Tax Foundation, a nonprofit in Washington. The largest gains in dollar figures would go to households earning more than $123,000 a year, according to an analysis by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in Washington.

How much individual workers would save depends partly on their employers. If an employers half of payroll taxes was lifted, they would need to decide whether to pass those savings directly to workers in the form of higher pay. Some economists see both sides of that equation as beneficial at a time of slowing economic activity.
A Rochester man who recently traveled to Italy has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza said Thursday that the man, whose name wasn't released, flew from Rome to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. After arriving at the airport, he took ground transportation from New York City to his home in Rochester.

The man self-quarantined and contacted the Monroe County Department of Public Health on Tuesday, according to Mendoza. The agency worked with Highland Hospital in Rochester to ensure the man was tested for the novel coronavirus, which is also known as COVID-19.

Testing was conducted by the Erie County Department of Public Health. Monroe County officials were informed of the positive test result Wednesday.

"We are confident the individual contracted the infection in Italy and therefore it is not an example of local transmission," Mendoza said.

Italy is a high-risk country for COVID-19. There are more than 12,000 confirmed cases of the virus in Italy, according to Johns Hopkins University. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an alert advising Americans to avoid unnecessary travel to Italy.

Mendoza explained that his department is investigating to determine any contacts the man had in Rochester and during his travel from New York City to Rochester. Those who have been in close contact with the man have been identified and are quarantined. None of them have symptoms of the virus.

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello reminded the public that the risk of infection remains "relatively low."

"We have been preparing for this," he said.

Mendoza noted that the coronavirus outbreak could last several weeks or months. Most who contract the virus will experience mild symptoms  a cough, fever and trouble breathing. Vulnerable groups, such as seniors and those with chronic health conditions, could have severe symptoms.

The county is encouraging residents to practice "social distancing" and avoid mass gatherings of more than 50 people. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Rochester has been canceled. Other events that attract large crowds could be postponed.

Mendoza also advised the public to wash their hands and practice good hygiene.

"This is how we will get our way through this crisis," he said.

There have been at least 216 coronavirus cases reported in New York, mostly in downstate. One of the worst clusters for the virus in the U.S. is in Westchester County, where there are at least 121 confirmed cases.

The number of cases is rising in New York City. As of Wednesday, there were 52 people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Nationwide, there are 1,312 confirmed cases and 38 deaths. Most of the deaths  30  have been reported in Washington.

The U.S. has the eighth-most confirmed cases in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University. There are 126,136 coronavirus cases worldwide. The virus has killed 4,630 people.

The World Health Organization said Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak is a pandemic.

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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If the MLAs in MP are disqualified, the Karnataka precedent would follow

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Mar 12: In Madhya Pradesh the Congress faces a similar problem that it did in Karnataka last year. 22 MLAs of the Congress have resigned and the government under Kamal Nath faces a severe crisis.

A lot would depend now on the role of the Speaker, who is likely to reject the resignations on technical ground. One of the main ground would be that all the resignations are identically worded and have not been submitted in person.

During the Karnataka crisis, the Congress had said that there had been a violation under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. In Madhya Pradesh too when the trust vote is held the Congress is likely to issue a whip and if the MLAs who have resigned are not present or vote against the Congress government, then they could be disqualified.

The Congress in MP has already petitioned the Speaker to disqualify these MLAs for anti party activities. Once disqualified, the MLA cannot be part of the existing legislative assembly or council. While it was said that the MLA cannot contest a by-election in the current term, the Supreme Court had a different take on the matter.

MP: Congress to cite technicalities to get resignations of MLAs rejected

NEWS AT NOON, 12th MARCH, 2020

While hearing the petition filed by the rebels in Karnataka, the Supreme Court upheld the disqualification order by the Speaker. However it said that the Speaker was not entitled to issue and order barring them from contesting the by-election in the current term. A similar scenario is about to play out in Madhya Pradesh too, if the MLAs are disqualified by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

The disqualification of MLAs or MPs takes place under the Anti Defection Law, which was introduced to stop the 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Rama syndrome. This phrase had become popular after a Haryana MLA, Gaya Lal changed his party thrice within the same day in 1967. The anti defection law was brought in to prevent such situations.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 7:53 [IST]
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Thursday sought to raise the crisis in Yes Bank in Lok Sabha saying that the "bank was looted under the government's watch".

Choudhury sought to raise the issue during zero hour but Speaker Om Birla said he will allow the Congress member if he raises the issue under the relevant rules.

"Depositors are being fleeced by banks at regular intervals. Yes Bank was looted under the government's watch," Chowdhury said.

He accused the government of mismanagement and said the common man was facing difficulties.

The Reserve Bank of India found governance-related issues in Yes bank and had put a restriction limit of Rs 50,000 on ordinary withdrawals.

There had been a jump in the bank's loan book due to an apparent loaning spree.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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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Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, March 12, 2020 10:55 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a09a17 1 Business Kediri,Airport,Gudang-Garam,Angkasa-Pura-I,surabaya,East-Java,Juanda-International-Airport,Dhoho-Kediri-Airport,transportation-ministry Free

State-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura I will manage a planned privately funded airport in Kediri and integrate its operations with Surabayas Juanda International Airport to accommodate rising travel demand and economic activity in East Java.

AP I signed a memorandum of understanding with publicly listed tobacco company Gudang Garam on Tuesday to develop what would be called Dhoho Kediri Airport 20 kilometers from central Kediri.

Gudang Garams subsidiary Surya Dhoho Investama will be in charge of developing the first-ever airport to be fully funded by the private sector in Indonesia.

AP I president director Faik Fahmi said the airport would be crucial to take some of the pressure off the overburdened Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, which is around a two-hours drive from Kediri. Surabaya is Indonesias second-largest city and a thriving economic hub.

This is important because Juanda's current capacity is increasingly inadequate for its growing traffic. With a capacity of only 16 million [passengers a year], Juanda had to accommodate 21 million passengers in 2018," said Faik.

"East Java needs an alternative airport to accommodate and boost traffic growth as well as economic activities in the region.

Read also: Gudang Garam-funded Kediri airport to break ground in March

Designated as a national strategic project, Dhoho Kediri Airport will be developed in three phases under a public-private partnership scheme with a concession period of 30 to 50 years.

Gudang Garam, via Surya Dhoho, will spend up to around Rp 10 trillion (US$732 million) to acquire 457 hectares of land needed for the airport to be built near the village of Grogol.

Earlier last month, Transportation Ministry Civil Aviation Director General Novie Riyanto said the airport would serve domestic flights, while Juanda airport would focus on international flights for the East Java area. Kediris airport would focus on serving passengers from cities on the southern coast of East Java, such as Kediri, Tulungagung, Trenggalek, Blitar, Madiun and Pacitan, he added.

Gudang Garam director Istata T. Siddharta said Gudang Garam had not set any specific profit target for the airport.

"As long as the airport can contribute to the region or the country, we will be happy. From the beginning we wanted this to be a long-term investment rather than only seeing it as a commercial business," Istata said on Tuesday.

"If tourism is developed in southern East Java, the airport can be for tourism. However, if industry and agriculture in East Java develop, we might also use it for cargo. So we are flexible," said Istata.

Read also: Indonesia to relax VAT refund requirements for tourists

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa told the Post in December that the airport in Kediri would have a significant impact on economic development in several East Java regencies, such as Blitar, Tulungagung, Trenggalek, Nganjuk and Ponorogo.

In East Java, [there is an] economic gap not only between cities and villages but also between the north and the south, she said.

Groundbreaking on the airport is slated for April, with a target to finish the first phase of construction by April 2022. The airport is projected to serve 1.5 million passengers after the first phase of construction and eventually accommodate more than 10 million.

With a runway of 3,300 meters in length and 45 m in with the airport will accommodate bigger aircraft than the nearby Abdulrachman Saleh Airport in Malang, such as Boeings B777 and Airbuss A350.
A campaign by a Northern Ireland woman to be recognised as an Irish citizen was applauded in Washington DC.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar singled out Emma DeSouza during an address to an audience, which included US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, at the National Building Museum for praise.

Ms De Souza lodged a challenge in the Court of Appeal in Belfast in November, following a ruling that those born in the region are automatically British citizens.

Leo Varadkar welcomed @EmmandJDeSouza to the event paying tribute to her legal battle for her Irish citizenship as the Northern Ireland woman, he said Emma, we support you in your fight. It is a fight for the spirit, not just the letter, of the Good Friday Agreement to applause  Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) March 12, 2020

She won a case against the Home Office in 2017, after it deemed she was British, when her US-born husband Jake applied for a residence card.

But in October an immigration tribunal upheld an appeal brought by the Home Office.

Government lawyers argued that people born in Northern Ireland are British citizens according to the 1981 British Nationality Act, even if they identify as Irish.

The Good Friday Agreement allows people to identify as British, Irish or both, but the Home Office says the agreement did not supersede the 1981 British Nationality Act.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking at the Ireland Funds 28th National Gala dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington DC during the his visit to the US (Niall Carson/PA)

Mr Varadkar told the US audience: The Good Friday Agreement protects the citizenship and identity rights of all those born in Northern Ireland and includes the right of people to identify as British or Irish or both.

He went on to pledge his support.

Emma, we support you in your fight. It is a fight for the spirit, not just the letter, of the Good Friday Agreement, he added.

Ms DeSouza told the PA news agency she has been receiving a warm welcome in Washington DC.

She has been campaigning in the United States for support over the last two months to put pressure on the UK Government to change its nationality laws.

It was a great honour and privilege to be invited as a guest to the Ireland Funds Gala where an Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, made an unexpected statement in support of our campaign to protect the identity and citizenship provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, she said.

As an Irish citizen it was an especially poignant moment, my grandmother in particular will be absolutely made up by this show of support.

Im deeply heartened and encouraged to have the full support of the Irish Government as we continue with our legal challenge for the right to be accepted as Irish under the Good Friday Agreement.

And I had the opportunity to thank the Taoiseach for his support and ongoing efforts to protect the Good Friday Agreement.

It was definitely a pinch me moment.

She added: Ive received an incredibly warm welcome in the US, who remain steadfast in protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts.

My message here is that this is an implementation failure, there is no mention of the unique identity and citizenship provisions of the Good Friday Agreement in domestic UK law.

Instead of addressing this implementation gap the British Government has sought to reinterpret its obligations so as to minimise the scope and intent of a fundamental provision of the agreement itself.
HERAT, Afghanistan -- Officials in Afghanistan's western province of Herat are bracing for a rise in coronavirus infections, as thousands of Afghans return from neighboring Iran every day.

The provincial Public Health Department told RFE/RL on March 12 that nearly 10,000 Afghans had entered Herat from Iran the previous day alone.

That's a twofold increase from March 9, when local officials said about 4,800 Afghans had crossed the border from Iran in one day.

Afghanistan has so far reported only seven cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

But provincial Governor Abdul Qayum Rahimi said the situation was certain to worsen soon, creating new challenges for the war-torn country. "Increasingly high numbers of people are crossing the border from Iran and we are seriously concerned that [some of them] will bring more coronavirus to Afghanistan," Rahimi told RFE/RL on March 10.

Tehran reported more than 1,000 new cases on March 12, raising the official number of infections in Iran to more than 10,000. But many Iranians say they distrust the figures released by the authorities and believe the Iranian government is grossly underreporting the extent of the outbreak there.

Iran is home to more than 3 million Afghans -- including migrant workers and refugees as well as university and religious students.

Five of Afghanistan's confirmed COVID-19 patients are from Herat. The other two are from the northern province of Samangan. All of the confirmed cases are Afghans who had recently returned from Iran, local officials say.

Bracing For Worse

Afghanistan has deployed small teams of medics who have been screening Afghans who cross the border from Iran into Herat Province. The medics are checking temperatures of returnees and asking if they've had any potential COVID-19 symptoms.

They also are asking returnees whether they've been exposed to an infected person, said Abdul Hakim Tamanna, the head of Heart Province's Public Health Department. Those with high fever or other symptoms are transferred to a special ward at a hospital in the provincial capital.

"We've allocated a special ward with 80 beds for COVID-19 patients, both for the suspected and confirmed cases in isolated sections. But this is not enough," said Muhammad Ibrahim Basem, who oversees the special ward. "The situation is extremely fluid and requires that at least 1,000 beds are ready," Basem told RFE/RL on March 12.

Similar concerns are being voiced in Samangan Province, where two people tested positive earlier this week. "We've been prepared in advance. A hospital ward with 20 beds was prepared for potential COVID-19 patients," Abdul Khalil Musaddiq, head of Samangan Public Health Department, said on March 10.

But Musaddiq warned that Samangan Province did not have the resources to handle an outbreak beyond the hospital's capacity.

Health officials in Herat are calling for Afghanistan's central government to provide equipment for laboratories in provincial regions so that more people can be tested.

Afghanistan, a country of 35 million people, currently has only one laboratory that is able to test for coronavirus. Authorities outside of the Afghan capital must send samples from suspected cases to the laboratory in Kabul for testing.

The Afghan government has allocated $15 million to combat the outbreak. Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz said another $10 million "is in a state of reserve if the unwanted incidents escalate and get out of control."

Low Public Awareness

Provincial authorities in Herat declared an emergency when the first COVID-19 case was confirmed there on February 24. Schools, restaurants, wedding halls, and public baths have been closed and large gatherings are banned.

Officials from Herat's provincial government told RFE/RL on March 12 that the public spaces were unlikely to reopen in the foreseeable future.

Buses and minibuses that carry a large number of passengers have also been banned as part of Herat's effort to contain the virus.

Mosques remain open. But RFE/RL's correspondent in Herat reports that the number of the worshipers has dwindled in recent days.

The war-ravaged country's poor health-care services, as well as low public awareness about health and hygiene, are adding to difficulties in the battle against coronavirus.

One patient last week briefly escaped from the quarantine ward of Herat hospital, sparking concerns that he could contaminate many more people. Hospital officials said the patient was apprehended and isolated. They said those who came in contact with him have been told to take tests and exercise precautions.

Authorities also have launched an extensive coronavirus-awareness campaign through media in recent weeks.

The Education Ministry, meanwhile, has set up a special working group along with public-health authorities to assess the situation in other high-risk regions and decide whether to suspend schools.

Written and reported by Farangis Najibullah with additional reporting by Shapoor Saber of RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan in Herat
The Albany City Council took no action Wednesday on a threat from a Portland-based organization to take legal action against the city for being out of compliance with the state's laws regarding accessory dwelling units.

In February, 1,000 Friends of Oregon submitted a letter to the city detailing its intent to petition the Land Conservation and Development Commission to issue an enforcement order that would require the city to align its code with state law.

The city has been out of compliance with state law since 2017 when the Oregon Legislature passed a law that required cities to allow ADUs in areas zoned for single-family use.

Albany's Council debated the issue of mandatory owner-occupancy for the units as well as establishing off-street parking rules but with the passage of House Bill 2001, those points were moot. The state legislation barred cities from implementing such rules in regards to ADUs. That left just one issue before the City Council: how big could an ADU be?

The Council has gone from 750 square feet to 900 square feet or 50% of the size of the main dwelling. Mayor Sharon Konopa has vetoed a majority vote on the issue twice, arguing that 900 square feet is too large.

On Wednesday, city attorney Sean Kidd said that the city had three options: adopt an ordinance that would bring the city into compliance with state law, enter into mediation with 1,000 Friends of Oregon or go to court.

"Is this defensible?" Kidd said of the case. "Yes. Is it guaranteed we will win? No. The risk here is that the state can withhold funding if they find you to be out of compliance."

According to city staff, Albany would risk losing the grant is received to study development east of Interstate 5 and would no longer be eligible for grants that would help bring it into compliance with HB 2001, which affects zoning and also has ADU mandates..

"There's also language about having to pay back past state shared revenues," said Public Works Engineering and Community Development Director Jeff Blaine said. "It's unknown to what degree." That money, he said, would have to come from the city's general fund which is already expected to come up short during the next budget cycle.

Councilor Mike Sykes said that if Konopa was willing to allow the city to risk grants, he would move that the board opt not to go into mediation at all and rather, do nothing.

"Let's just roll the dice and see what happens," he said. "We'll gamble with it. We'll gamble with the taxpayers' funds, that's what we'll do."

Konopa argued that 1,000 Friends of Oregon had not approached Eugene, Corvallis or Millersburg which also had not immediately adopted the state's new ADU standards. She added that the city could enter mediation with the group rather than risk a lawsuit.

Blaine said his personal belief was that the risk of not engaging in mediation was substantial. "If were to not try and resolve this when I think we can easily and force it to go to a trial, I think you risk doing non-financial damage for the city that we have to try and overcome. Its a worry that I have," he said.

The Council debated over altering its stance on the size of ADUs with Konopa suggested 825 square feet and Sykes offering 850. The two continued to move further apart after Konopa refused to move to 75% of the main home's square feet and Sykes refused anything less than 850 square feet.

Councilor Bill Coburn suggested a work session to for the council to come to an agreement on the size of the units.

"We're not going to get anywhere at the work session," Sykes said.

The Council voted to take no action with Coburn voting against the motion.

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Photograph: Ali Al-Saadi/AFP via Getty Images

Two Americans and a British soldier are reported to have been killed and 12 others injured by a rocket attack on a coalition base in Iraq, according to US defence officials.

Within hours airstrikes were reported on an area of the Iraqi-Syrian border used as a base by an Iran-backed militia, raising fears of a fresh round of US-Iranian escalation that brought the countries close to war in January.

Camp Taji, just north of Baghdad, was hit by between 15 and 30 Katyusha rockets on Wednesday evening. The French Press Agency said that three dead were a US soldier, a US contractor and a British soldier.

Col Myles Caggins, a spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, the counter-terrorism mission in Iraq and Syria, confirmed on Twitter that more than 15 small rockets impacted Iraqs Camp Taji base hosting coalition troops, March 11 at 7.35 pm.

Related: Iran missile strike: 50 US troops now diagnosed with brain injuries

Boris Johnson described the attack on the Taji base as deplorable.

Our servicemen and women work tirelessly every day to uphold security and stability in the region  their presence makes us all safer, the prime minister said. The foreign secretary has spoken to the US secretary of state and we will continue to liaise with our international partners to fully understand the details of this abhorrent attack.

Soon after the Taji attack, airstrikes by unidentified warplanes were reported south-east of the Syrian town of al-Bukamal, near the border with Iraq. Iraqi state media reported there was only material damage, with no casualties. Reuters quoted western intelligence sources as pointing out that al-Bukamal lies on a strategic supply route for Iranian-backed militias who constitute the Iraqi Shia Popular Mobilisation Forces.

The last time an American was killed in a rocket attack on a coalition base, the Trump administration held Iran responsible and the subsequent tit-for-tat escalation led to the US drone assassination of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander, Qassem Suleimani, on 3 January, bringing both countries to the brink of war. At the height of the resulting tension, Iranian air defence mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian civilian airliner, killing 176 people.

Story continues

Congress passed a bipartisan resolution on Wednesday evening requiring the president to seek congressional authorization before entering a conflict in Iran. Trump has threatened to veto the resolution  a veto which would need a two-thirds majority in the Senate to overcome.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility for Wednesday nights rocket attack, which came on what would have been Qassem Suleimanis 63rd birthday. The US administration has repeatedly warned that it would treat an attack by any Iran-backed group in Iraq as a direct attack by Iran itself.

Irans immediate response to the Suleimani killing was to launch a volley of missiles at an Iraqi base hosting US soldiers. Since then, Iraqs parliament has voted to expel foreign soldiers from the country, but the decision has yet to be executed by the government.
A driver delivering fish to a friend had cannabis in his system and was on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into another vehicle and killed a firefighter, a court has heard.

Forest Fires Management worker Mat Kavanagh died during this year's Victorian bushfire crisis when the government vehicle he was a passenger in collided with a four-wheel-drive near Lake Eildon on January 3.

Before he died, Mat Kavanagh had put out seven campfires.

Police allege Novak John Selby had all four wheels of his Toyota LandCruiser on the wrong side of the road on the Goulburn Valley Highway in Thornton when he crashed into the firefighting vehicle at 1.46pm.

Mr Kavanagh, a 43-year-old father of two, died at the scene.
WEST ORANGE, N.J., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Caution regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues across New Jersey as Governor Phil Murphy declared a State of Emergency and the World Health Organization (WHO) officially labeled the outbreak a global pandemic this week. In response, The Life Christian Church (TLCC) in New Jersey is offering online worship services to bring church to everyone who cannot make it to church themselves.

The staff and volunteers at both NJ church locations in West Orange and Paramus are taking extra precautionary steps for Sunday services, such as having extra hand sanitizer locations installed and increasing sanitization routines for all high-touch surfaces.

The decision to focus on offering online video streaming is a proactive response to serve those who are at risk or who are unsure of attending larger public gatherings. Pastor Terry Smith, founder and lead pastor of TLCC, said, "We're seeing a lot of people share in uncertainty and anxiousness as news surrounding the Coronavirus develops. We want to make sure no one misses out on the message of hope and love of Jesus Christ."

"Part of our mission here at TLCC is to spread God's love in ever-widening circles, and this decision will make church attendance easier and more accessible to everyone across the state and beyond," noted Smith.

Smith said, "We want to make sure that if someone doesn't feel safe coming to church or isn't able to make it in person on Sunday, they still have a way to hear the message and watch online. At our church, everyone is welcome offline and online."

To watch TLCC's livestream of online church services this Sunday, visit www.tlcc.org at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

ABOUT THE LIFE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF NJ

The Life Christian Church is a non-denominational faith community with locations in West Orange and Paramus , New Jersey. The church was founded 27 years ago by Pastor Terry Smith, author of The Hospitable Leader, and has grown from 54 members to a church family approaching 3,000 people. The New Jersey congregation has a robust leadership culture and a diverse background of individuals drawing from more than 132 surrounding communities in the New York City metro area. Learn more about The Life Christian Church at www.tlcc.org .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kenny Jahng

[email protected]

973-960-8800

SOURCE The Life Christian Church
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 12, 2020) - Peekaboo Beans Inc. (CSE: BEAN) (OTC PINK: PBBSF) ("Peekaboo Beans" or the "Company") announces the launch of their official Rebrand to "PK Beans", unveiling their new modernized name and logo. After 14 years of business as Peekaboo Beans, reflecting the growth of both children wearing the product and the business itself. This change allows for more room to broaden the size range and product offering, which ultimately supports the long-term growth of the company.

The Company wants to assure investors and customers alike that the brand's focus and values are remaining the same. Their focus is on high quality, long lasting children's clothing. PK Beans continues to be a mission-based company that is focused on more than just the product. They are passionate about the benefits of a playful life for children. PK Beans values an ethical manufacturing process and sustainability. The Company will continue to be a stand for a healthy life for children.

The digital launch of the rebrand is the first step; www.peekaboobeans.com will redirect to www.pkbeans.com going forward. Peekaboo Beans Inc. will still be found on the CSE under the symbol 'BEAN'.

While the new logo won't roll out onto the clothing until PK Bean's Fall 2020 Collection - the first product initiative under the rebranding, Get Dressed for Adventure, a subscription box made in collaboration with For Heroes Only, is launching later this month.

"Peekaboo Beans holds a lot of meaning for us as a company," says CEO and Founder, Traci Costa. "We wanted to preserve the history of the brand and our community while becoming modern and relevant in the industry. We worked with an amazing team of people with varied skillsets combined with significant research and development to generate the look and feel that would reflect us as best as a company. The results are going to help showcase the company to a North American audience"

About Peekaboo Beans Inc.

PK Beans is a children's apparel brand with a focus on environmentally responsible clothes that are intentionally designed to inspire play. Through an omni-channel approach, Peekaboo Beans engages sellers through social platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, as well as online retailers, to maximize revenue and build brand loyalty. The Company works to promote a playful lifestyle for children by designing comfortable clothes that are built to last.

To learn more about PK Beans, visit: www.pkbeans.com

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Peekaboo Beans Inc.

Ms. Traci Costa, President and CEO

(604) 279-2326

For more information, please contact the Company at:

IR@pkbeans.com

1-604-279-2326

Reader Advisory

This news release may include forward-looking information that is subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking information are based on reasonable assumptions, such information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws.

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

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53385
Police officers have been deployed outside the former Prime Minister, David Cameron's London home, following a suspected arson attack on a house near a cottage owned by the ex-PM.

A Molotov cocktail is said to have been hurled through the window of one his neighbours' homes in an Oxfordshire hamlet near Chipping Norton, close to Mr Cameron's former constituency.

One resident claimed the fire may have been the result of a failed targeted attack on the cottage which was bought by David and Samantha Cameron, 19 years ago.

Police parked up outside Mr Cameron's London home following a suspected arson attack on a house near a cottage owned by the ex-PM

A Molotov cocktail was said to have been hurled through the window of a property (pictured above) near the ex-Tory leaders home in an Oxfordshire hamlet near Chipping Norton

Security measures at David Cameron's London Home have been stepped up as police take position outside the Ex Prime Ministers home where he resides with his family

He added: If it was, whoever did it wasnt very clever as they got the wrong house. The source added that he had seen an armed response unit on the scene in the aftermath of the fire.

Fire crews remained at the scene yesterday as two men tried to retrieve items from the wreckage.

A man, 33, from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was arrested on suspicion of arson and detained under the Mental Health Act, the Sun reported.

The suspect had reportedly travelled almost 60 miles to the scene.

One resident claimed the fire may have been the result of a failed targeted attack on a cottage which was bought by David and Samantha Cameron in the area 19 years ago

Mr Cameron told the newspaper: Its terrible. Theyve had a fire engine here for the last couple of days. Ive heard a man has been arrested but I cant say anything.

'I was not home on Monday night when it happened, I came down as soon as I heard. There was a woman who lived there but she moved out about a year ago, a lovely old lady.

The former premier is entitled to lifelong personal protection from specialist Met Police officers (Police are parked near to David Cameron's London home pictured above)

'Thankfully, the homeowner is living with relatives but she is very shaken up. It is a huge relief that it was empty and no one was hurt.

The former premier is entitled to lifelong personal protection from specialist Met Police officers.

Former Scotland Yard commander John OConnor told The Sun that the suspected attack reinforces the need for the life-long protection of prime ministers.

Another local resident claimed he had been told Molotov cocktails had been used, adding: The word is that they were targeting the Camerons home, but well have to wait for the police and fire service to finish their investigation.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Cameron (pictured with his wife) said of Mondays incident: There was a bad fire at one of David Camerons neighbours. It is a huge relief that the house in question was empty and no one was hurt'

Windows at the address had been boarded up yesterday while part of the roof appeared to have collapsed. The former Prime Minister is said to have been seen in the hamlet looking at the damage.

Last night a spokesman for Mr Cameron said of Mondays incident: There was a bad fire at one of David Camerons neighbours. It is a huge relief that the house in question was empty and no one was hurt.

They added: This is now being investigated by the police, so it would be inappropriate to comment further.
Italy has said all shops except pharmacies and food outlets will be closed in response to the countrys coronavirus outbreak as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Italy jumped in the last 24 hours by 196 to 827.

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.

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.



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).

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.

It comes as total confirmed infections in Europe rose to 22,485 with 940 deaths, according to a new tally which is compiled from official sources.

In Italy, the number has risen to 12,462 cases with 827 fatalities.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
LYNCHBURG, Va., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The leaders of the grassroots movement known as VEXIT today announced the next steps for Virginia counties to abandon the radical policies of Democrat Party leaders in Richmond by joining the free state of West Virginia.

The steps, announced by Rick Boyer, a Rustburg, Virginia attorney and the President of VEXIT, include a new effort to gather signatures on petitions to local governments, the distribution of key new information about the inability of the Virginia government to intercede in the process, and the appointment of Jerry Falwell, Jr., the President of Liberty University, as the Honorary Chairman of VEXIT.

VEXIT plans to increase its outreach to citizens to encourage them to demand a vote in their local county (or independent city) this fall to become a county in West Virginia. More information is found on VEXIT's website, https://vexit2020.com/ .

"This movement can't be stopped by Richmond because Virginia's Constitution already gives local communities the right to do this," said Falwell.

"Patriots across Virginia are ready for a change, which is why we are especially pleased to welcome the leadership of Jerry Falwell, Jr. as our new Honorary Chairman," Boyer added.

Falwell, said, "When I first spoke out in favor of VEXIT with W Va. Governor Jim Justice, I thought it was a longshot because I figured the General Assembly and Congress would each have to approve it. But I realized VEXIT was not such a long shot when Rick Boyer, W Va. Delegate Greg Howell and various attorneys from both states briefed us on VEXIT's brilliant legal strategy and determined it was sound. I now see a clear path to success that state and federal politicians can't block and I'm proud to be VEXIT's Honorary Chairman. My family has been in Virginia for generations, and we have never been more concerned about the future of the Commonwealth than we are now with the infringement of our individual liberties under assault by the radical extremists running the government in Richmond."

VEXIT is a movement to secure local votes on the ballot for counties to leave Virginia for West Virginia in response to recent hostility toward the values of most of Virginia expressed through the new governing majority in Richmond.

LEGAL BACKGROUND



Falwell himself was a practicing attorney for 20 years before becoming President of Liberty University. Falwell points to Article 1, Section 3 of the Virginia Constitution, which holds that "whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, inalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter, or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal."

Furthermore, both Falwell and Boyer say that the framers of Virginia's Constitution ensured future generations of Virginians would have the right to form new governments without the war that was required for Virginia to break from Great Britain. This Constitutional right to alter government is held by smaller units of community, such as counties and independent cities, and includes altering the state with which they are aligned, Falwell noted. And it's a right, he says, that the General Assembly can't take away. Sections of the Virginia code that purport to limit referenda to those prescribed and approved by statute or charter are "unconstitutional if they are attempted to be applied to limit the constitutional right to have referenda on forms of government according to legal experts," Falwell said.

"Neither the Virginia code nor its General Assembly can stop or limit the right of citizens to reform their local government by annexing it to West Virginia by majority vote, nor is the General Assembly's consent necessary, our legal team has concluded," Falwell added.

Boyer and other legal experts say that the last time Virginia counties voted to be part of West Virginia was during the Civil War and that arguably the General Assemblies of both states and Congress consented. He says that Congressional consent isn't needed now because the consent referenced in Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution only comes into play when admitting a new state into the Union.

The 10th Amendment leaves the people and the states alone to determine political alignments of land and people from one state to another, Boyer says, and Virginia's Constitution reserves that right to the people. "The citizens of Virginia's local communities can act under their constitutional rights as Virginians to accept an invitation to be annexed into West Virginia pursuant to the Constitution of West Virginia's enabling act in the form of HCR 8," Boyer concluded.

CONTACT:

Rick Boyer

President, VEXIT

[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:

Mark Serrano

[email protected]

SOURCE VEXIT

Related Links

https://vexit2020.com


WASHINGTON  Wisconsins congressional delegation was unified in authorizing $8.3 billion to combat the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, but much of lawmakers rhetoric on what the World Health Organization has labeled a global pandemic has split along partisan lines.

Last Friday, as the president signed the $8.3 billion funding bill into law, which all nine members of the House and Senate from Wisconsin supported, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, joined colleagues on the Senate health committee to introduce a bill mandating employers provide two weeks paid sick leave during emergencies such as the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.

I hope that everybody will take this very seriously, Baldwin said. Paid sick leave refers to an emergency, and we are in an emergency.

The bill would require employers to allow their workers to gradually earn at least seven days of paid leave and would add an additional 14 days in the event of a public health crisis. Democrats attempted to bring the bill to a vote on the GOP-controlled Senate floor Wednesday, but it was blocked by the Republican chairman of the health committee.

Democrats have criticized the Trump administrations response to the outbreak as too slow. Baldwin said the rollout of testing kits for coronavirus had been woefully mishandled and signed a letter asserting the administrations health care and prescription drug pricing policy had undermined public safety.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, has defended the administrations response to coronavirus. He emphasized this week that testing kits would become widely available soon.

This administration is not underreacting, Johnson said. They understand the cost of overreacting.

Johnson said he was unaware of Baldwins paid leave bill and instead supported legislation authored by Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, that would protect manufacturers of medical masks from lawsuits. Johnson has raised concerns on at least two occasions with the nations supply of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, known as the Strategic National Stockpile.

However, he acknowledged the epidemic could lead Congress to support additional action, including paid leave measures.

Well listen to what the president is proposing, Johnson said. Extraordinary times may require extraordinary measures.

In the House

There was some bipartisanship among Wisconsins House members. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, introduced legislation March 2 to improve the Food and Drug Administrations ability to anticipate and respond to a shortage of medical devices, as it currently does with prescription drugs.

Members of the delegation have generally encouraged constituents to follow guidance from the CDC. But the agency earned a rebuke from Pocan after the newsletter Popular Information reported the agency had removed its count of the number of Americans who had been tested from its website.

Knowing that CDC testing is keeping pace with the likely number of cases is imperative to maintaining public trust, Pocan wrote in an open letter March 2.

Pocan also criticized the agencys public messaging Tuesday at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, questioning CDC director Robert Redfield after The Associated Press reported that the White House overruled health officials request to issue a travel advisory recommending elderly Americans not fly.

Theres real distrust out there, Pocan said, adding he was struggling to persuade his in-laws to cancel a trip to Las Vegas.

Pocan announced Wednesday he is canceling his four scheduled town hall meetings with constituents next week in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Instead, he will host a live Facebook event at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the outbreak and answer constituent questions.
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We have also launched a newsletter, delivered to your inbox every day at 7 p.m., that includes the latest facts and news on the virus. You can sign up here.

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Katie Holmes made her latest appearance in New York City on Wednesday, shortly after making rare comments about ex-husband Tom Cruise during a new interview.

The actress looked stylish in a grey cardigan and casual ripped jeans during a rare appearance without young daughter Suri, her only child with Cruise.

Katie, 41, added to her look with a pair of simple white trainers, while a blue leather handbag served as her only notable accessory.

Stepping out: Katie Holmes made her latest appearance in New York City on Wednesday, shortly after making rare comments about ex-husband Tom Cruise during a recent interview

The American star was stepping out after reflecting on fame, motherhood and her difficult marriage to Tom Cruise, who she divorced in 2012 after six years of marriage.

'That time was intense. It was a lot of attention, and I had a little child on top of it,' she told InStyle of her marriage to Cruise.

'We had some funny moments out and about in public. So many people I didn't know became my friends and helped us out, and that's what I love about the city.'

Looking good: The actress looked stylish in a grey cardigan and casual ripped jeans during a rare appearance without young daughter Suri, her only child with Cruise

Walk this way: The actress appeared to assist a stranger after she asked for directions

Katie also recalled an emotional moment during which she was assisted by a kindly cab driver.

She said: 'There was one incredible moment when I think I actually cried. Suri was 6 or 7, and she was spending the night at a friend's house while I was seeing the ballet at Lincoln Center. At 10 o'clock I got a call: "Mommy, can you come get me?"' began Holmes.

'I got a cab and went down to Battery Park to pick her up. She was exhausted. She fell asleep on the way home, and when we pulled up to our building, the cab driver opened the door and helped me not wake her. He helped carry her to the building. He was so kind.'

Inseparable: Katie paid tribute to daughter Suri, who she raises in New York City, in a new interview

Touching on her relationship with Suri,she added: 'I love her so much. My biggest goal has always been to nurture her into her individuality,' she said.

'To make sure she is 100 percent herself and strong, confident, and able. And to know it. She came out very strong  she's always been a strong personality. She'll pick an activity and work her butt off until she's really good at it.

'Then she's like, "OK, I'm going to try the next thing." She's very focused and a hard worker.'
The debate over how best to combat the coronavirus outbreak was front and center Thursday on Capitol Hill, where Republicans and Democrats squared off on a package unveiled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday night that called for free COVID-19 testing, a boost to unemployment insurance and temporary paid medical leave for those impacted by the disease.

Pelosi told reporters the legislation, dubbed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, followed recommendations from state and local governments, health professionals and constituents as concerns over the coronavirus have sparked school, event and store closings across country and global markets to plunge. About 30 people in the U.S. have died from the virus, with more than 1,000 infected, according to the Associated Press.

Its about putting families first," Pelosi said in a news conference, noting that the House last week approved a bipartisan package signed by President Donald Trump that funneled billions of dollars into combating the virus. The house is on fire. People are concerned about their health and the health of their children. If theyre losing jobs because people arent coming to the restaurant or whatever it is, we have to be there for some help with them. If children are home because schools are closed, how can they afford child care? Were addressing the realities of family life in America.

Pelosi added that testing, testing, testing was critical to take inventory of the disease and prevent its spread. The federal government has come under fire for not making testing more readily available.

House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, in a news conference, argued the package as proposed was unworkable.

He said it was written by Pelosis staff and would be followed by a quick vote despite being completely partisan.

McCarthy said the goal of any package should be to treat this virus and keep the economics going strong, not play political games.

He added that if there were larger issues or proposals that take more time to hammer out, we can work on those in the next couple weeks.

We have overcome bigger challenges in this country, he told reporters. Every time we have a disaster in America it shows the very best of this country, working together. Republicans will not play politics. We arent going to criticize and sit back. We are going to work and get this right.

McCarthy opened the door to compromise on the response package and said he believed a deal with Democrats could be hammered out within the next 48 hours.

Democrats lambasted McCarthy earlier this week for describing the deadly disease as the Chinese coronavirus on Twitter. In his remarks Thursday, McCarthy praised the response of the Trump administration and, like Trump, blamed other countries for the viruss spread because they did not have the leadership by stopping the planes from China.

Pelosi responded that, We dont need 48 hours. We need to make a decision to help families now.

Even if Democrats pass the bill in the House, where lawmakers were poised to vote Thursday, it could face opposition in the Republican-controlled Senate. CNN reported Thursday that Sen. Lamar Alexander, an ally of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said the Senate wont take up the House coronavirus bill until later this month after a recess.

The Senate will act when we come back and we have a clearer idea of what extra steps we need to take, Alexander told reporters.

The president, in an Oval Office address on Wednesday night, announced unprecedented travel restrictions in response to what the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, barring foreign nationals from entering the U.S. from Europe. Trump also proposed billions of dollars to bolster economic programs that back small business loans for employers and workers impacted by the virus.

Politico reported that Pelosi had spoken with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Thursday morning to negotiate changes to Pelosis bill, which also calls for assistance for students who would have receives lunch in schools that close.

Trump also is considering whether to declare a disaster under the Stafford Act, making federal funds available to cities, states and municipalities grappling with the impacts of the disease, Politico reported.

Related Content:
The three members reported to Mr. President, the outcome of their mission as he had directed. They also issued a Press Statement on the need for both parties to maintain peace and stop any actions that will heighten the conflict. These engagements served to restore confidence and bring about hope of reconciliation and resolution of the crisis.
Canada and the United States conferred over the fate of their shared border while the provinces pleaded for cooler heads to prevail Thursday, after President Donald Trump slammed America's door on foreign nationals who have been in outbreak-racked Europe.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 12/3/2020 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

President Donald Trump speaks in an address to the nation from the Oval Office at the White House about the coronavirus Wednesday, March, 11, 2020, in Washington. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Canada and the United States conferred over the fate of their shared border while the provinces pleaded for cooler heads to prevail Thursday, after President Donald Trump slammed America's door on foreign nationals who have been in outbreak-racked Europe.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to emphasize Canada's strong health and border measures  part of a scramble to keep Canada's most important bilateral relationship from being sideswiped by Trump's dramatic efforts to arrest an accelerating global pandemic.

"I spoke with him about the very strong public health system and health-care system in Canada and the measures we are taking to combat the coronavirus," said Freeland, adding the two agreed to keep the lines of communication open.

Business leaders implored the Trudeau government to avoid overreacting and to ensure Canada's border agents could keep potential virus carriers out of Canada without hindering access to the crucial American market.

Trump's prime-time Oval Office announcement had more to do with politics than public health, said Perrin Beatty, the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"There's a concern we may face, whether in the U.S. or elsewhere, (of) pandemic protectionism  people will want to seal off markets, (and) use the excuse of the pandemic for doing so," Beatty said in an interview.

Canada doesn't have to move in lockstep with the United States but "we have to be concerned if we get too great a divergence that suddenly that we find problems on our border and problems doing business with our largest customer," he added.

Goldy Hyder, the president of the Business Council of Canada, called the Canadian government's response to COVID-19 "spot on," and urged it to think twice before acting. "We have to look at protecting that flow of services and that flow of people in what is effectively 75 per cent of our economy."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Ottawa with most of his counterparts for a first ministers meeting  a gathering that turned into a conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau self-isolating at home. Trudeau's wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, was awaiting the results of what would turn out to be a positive test for COVID-19.

"We have to be vigilant, keep an eye on our borders, make sure that we're doing proper screening," Ford said. "We have to look at this as North America, not just Canada  it's absolutely critical we keep the borders open and have the trade flowing back and forth."

Trudeau and Trump spoke by phone Thursday about their shared goals in dealing with the outbreak  protecting "the health and safety of their citizens and to promote economic resilience," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

"The prime minister and the president welcomed the close co-ordination between Canada and the United States in managing this challenge, including as it relates to the Canada-U.S. border, and looked forward to staying in touch."

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a former federal immigration minister, said he told Freeland to exercise "greater rigour"  including mandatory quarantine  on foreign nationals from countries with a greater risk of infection.

But closing the Canada-U.S. border should be a non-starter, he insisted: "There is no single action which would impose greater cost on the Canadian economy."

Trump's order, which takes effect at midnight Friday, only applies to the movement of human beings, not goods or cargo, despite what he said on television. It covers only foreign nationals who in the last two weeks visited one of 26 countries in Europe that allow free and open travel across their borders. American citizens and permanent residents are exempt, and will be directed to one of 13 designated U.S. airport where they can be screened.

A persistent effort to start banning international visitors could have deeper implications for globalization and the unfettered movement of goods and people around the globe, warned Chris Sands, director of the Canada Institute at the Washington-based Wilson Center.

"There are a lot of implications here that are quite worrisome," said Sands, a Canadian-affairs scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. "The potential economic damage of this is very high ... and there doesn't seem to be any path for Europe to fix it."

Canada will have to "seriously consider" whether to follow the U.S. lead to keep traffic moving between the two countries, he added  all the while working diplomatic channels to find a better solution, including ways to ensure Canadians don't end up on the wrong side of the next White House proclamation.

Matthew Mitchell, a professor of international business and strategy at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, likened the response  and the likely economic and social fallout  to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I ran with the bulls 25 years ago, and I think about coronavirus in much the same way as I do the bulls in Pamplona," Mitchell said. "It's not necessarily the bulls that are going to hurt you. It's the people that get scared and trample everyone else because of the bulls."

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The fallout from 9/11 was precisely that, he said  it wasn't terrorism that cost the global airline industry tens of billions of dollars in the immediate aftermath, but the fear of it.

"So the message that we're trying to promote is one of appropriate preparedness, and not panic. It's our collective response as individuals, as nations, as a world that's going to determine the outcome of this."

In the meantime, Sands suggested a short-term silver lining for Canada among would-be European tourists looking to rescue their vacation plans.

"It sends a message of low confidence in the U.S. government," he said. "Maybe it will have people thinking, 'Let's go to Canada instead for summer vacation.' "

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2020.

 With files from Joan Bryden and Stephanie Levitz in Ottawa
Jordyn Woods is vacationing in the United Arab Emirates and told fans on social media on Thursday that she might 'come home early' as the coronavirus continues to spread.

The 22-year-old influencer has taken to Instagram with a handful of posts this week showing off her luxury trip abroad with snaps of lavish hotel rooms, beachside resorts and a visit to a famous mosque with her mom and sister.

The UAE, like many countries, is currently dealing with the outbreak of coronavirus with 74 confirmed cases of the illness as of March 10, according to the World Health Organization.

COVID-19: Jordyn Woods is vacationing in the United Arab Emirates and told fans on social media on Thursday that she might 'come home early' as the coronavirus continues to spread

Woods touched down in the country on Tuesday and took to seeing the sights with her younger sister and mom, sharing snaps on social media.

'Dubai is one of the coolest cities I've been to so far,' she gushed. 'Stopped by the Burj Khalifa today, which is the tallest building in the world (almost 3000 ft tall)'

So far her trip has taken young aspiring model to Dubai, the capital Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Island but she might have to come home before seeing all the sights due to the threat of COVID-19.

On Thursday, the former KUWTK star and and her family donned black head scarves for a visit to the city's famed Grand Mosque, which appeared to be empty.

Vacation: The 22-year-old influencer has taken to Instagram with a handful of posts this week showing off her luxury trip abroad with snaps of lavish hotel rooms, beachside resorts and a visit to a famous mosque with her mom and sister

Seeing sights: On Thursday, the former KUWTK star and and her family donned black head scarves for a visit to the city's famed Grand Mosque, which appeared to be empty

Crisis: The UAE, like many countries, is currently dealing with the outbreak of coronavirus with 74 confirmed cases of the illness as of March 10, according to the World Health Organization

'Triplets take on the Grand Mosque #inabudhabi,' she penned on Instagram.

Woods later took to her Instagram story to explain that she would likely be forced to cut her trip short: 'I may have to end this trip early and come home because this virus is getting out of hand.'

This week, the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced 15 new cases of coronavirus bringing the total up to 74, according to Gulf News.

Woods later took to her Instagram story to explain that she would likely be forced to cut her trip short: 'I may have to end this trip early and come home because this virus is getting out of hand.'

Disappointed: So far her trip has taken young aspiring model to Dubai, the capital Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Island but she may not see all the country has to offer if she is forced to fly home

The UAEs Ministry of Education said on Twitter last week that schools and universities would be closed for four weeks.

Additionally, Reuters reported that the country 'has advised citizens and residents against traveling abroad and all schools are closing for a month from Sunday.'

The World Health Organization officially declared the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, as a global pandemic on Wednesday.

Troubling news: This week, the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced 15 new cases of coronavirus bringing the total up to 74, according to Gulf News

Beautiful view: Woods shared shots of the view from her hotel room which showed a deserted beach

Stay home: Reuters reported that the country 'has advised citizens and residents against traveling abroad and all schools are closing for a month from Sunday'

Meanwhile President Donald Trump announced a travel ban to and from Europe which would take effect on Friday.

American citizens, people with green cards and the immediate family members of those aforementioned would be exempt and could return home, getting screened for the illness upon arrival.

The United Kingdom is also exempt from the ban.

The latest: The World Health Organization officially declared the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, as a global pandemic on Wednesday
The Catholic archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin has advised people to look after each other and pray.

The church is being highly attentive to public health advice, he told RTE radios Sean ORourke show.

The archbishop was commenting on measures issued by Irish Catholic bishops on Wednesday such as that priests will no longer anoint the foreheads of people who are dying with their thumb.

Instead, holy oil will be administered with a cotton bud or glove which will then be disposed of appropriately.

Similarly, priests will not touch a baby on the forehead when they are being baptised.

Another measure is a ban on the sign of peace and on the passing around of collection baskets in church.

Dr Martin said it was important for the church community to care for those who are vulnerable.

He urged people to phone elderly neighbours a few times a day and to bring food to them.

The church is fully open to following the advice of the public health authorities, he said.

We respect the information and instructions that are coming from the authorities.

When asked about churchgoers who insist on receiving communion wafer on their tongue, he suggested that in such circumstances those people can be facilitated in the sacristy in a sanitary manner.

However, he said that believers have a responsibility, not just for their own spirituality, but also to respect the health and well being of others.

Solidarity is going to be a huge thing.

There is a lot of tension that needs to be played down to ensure there is no panic, he added.

Dr Martin also said that the church is doing its best to ensure that priests are cared for, but that if a priest had to self isolate, other clergy would step in to care for their parish.

A situation might arise, like in Italy, where mass is celebrated by the priest alone in the church.

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The Global Antibiotics Market is estimated to reach USD 65.81 Billion by 2027, according to a new report by Reports and Data. This can be mainly associated with the growing incidences of infectious diseases such as pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, along with technological advancements that are expected to become the most common growth factors globally in the coming years.

Expanding efforts initiated by the key companies for the development of advanced products will boost market growth. A report by the Pew Charitable Trust states, about 37 promising molecules were investigated within the U.S. market in March 2016. Majority of which are in clinical trials phase II and are expected to hit the market in the coming years.

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Moreover, supportive government enactments, such as the GAIN (Generating Antibiotics Incentives Now) Act, are anticipated to facilitate the approval process. GAIN Act has plans, which promote the advancement of therapies against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of death among children across the globe, and it requires antibiotic mediation to reduce the death rate. Other infectious diseases that may boost the growth of the market are pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Moreover, the spread of new infections, such as Ebola and Zika virus, are promoting the development and growth of the antibiotics market.

Due to the presence of key players, favorable reimbursement policies, and rising incidences of chronic diseases, along with several initiatives taken by the governments, North America accounts for the largest share of around 33.5% of the market in 2019.

Further key findings from the report suggest

Antibiotics are a combination of medicines used in the treatment of infections or diseases caused by bacteria, germs, and some parasites-by restraining the growth of microorganisms or destroying them.

Antibiotics are also known as antimicrobials or antibacterial.

An increase in the prevalence of persistent and infectious diseases across the globe and the ability of antibiotics to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections have led to the accelerated growth of the global market.

Since the development of the antibiotic penicillin in 1920, several antibiotic compounds have been used to treat various bacterial infections.

Growing population, increasing rates of chronic diseases, and rising healthcare expenditures are the fundamental factors that are boosting the growth of the market across the globe.

The development of various antiviral drugs, which hinder transcription and reverse transcription methods, is expected to boost market growth.

DNA synthesis inhibitors of the type segment are anticipated to grow at the highest rate of 4.1% during the forecast period.

Innovative product development and collaborative developments are some critical strategic initiatives taken by the players in this industry to point their mark in the competition.

The presence of unique diagnostic and therapeutic medical technologies that enable quick and accurate diagnosis is the primary factor for the growth of this segment.

The indiscriminate and continued use of antibiotics in the last few years has led to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogens.

The carbapenems product type accounted for the largest share of around 47.6% of the market in 2019.

Increasing prevalence of bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) is expected to encourage the usage of carbapenems.

Oral antibiotics offer fewer side effects, moderate cost, improved antimicrobial properties, and are comfortable for patients.

Oral mode of administration accounts for the largest share of 37.6% in 2019.

The retail pharmacies among the end-user segment accounted for the largest share of around 38.8% of the market in 2019.

Europe accounted for a market share of over 26.3% in 2019 and is expected to grow at a rate of 3.9% during the forecast period.

Key participants include Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., AstraZeneca plc, The Menarini Group, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Bayer HealthCare AG, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck & Co., Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Novartis AG, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Sanofi, among others.

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For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data segments the Global Antibiotics Market on the basis of Type, End user, Product, Administration mode, and Region:

Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

RNA Synthesis Inhibitors

DNA Synthesis Inhibitors

Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors

Protein Synthesis Inhibitors

Mycolic Acid Inhibitors

End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Retail pharmacies

Online pharmacies

Hospital pharmacies

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Carbapenems

Penicillin

Fluoroquinolones

Macrolides

Others

Administration mode Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Oral

Topical

Sublingual

Inhalation

Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

North America S.

Europe France K.

Asia Pacific China India Japan

Latin America Brazil

Middle East & Africa

To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/antibiotics-market

About Reports and Data

Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help clients make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise.

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Head of Business Development

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Former Vice President Joe Bidens 2020 presidential campaign announced Thursday it would replace Ohio native Greg Schultz as campaign manager.

The Democratic presidential hopeful said in a press release that Jennifer OMalley Dillon will come on as campaign manager for Schultz, who was born in Parma and raised in North Royalton. Schultz will transition to an organizational and outreach role.

I am grateful to Greg for his leadership and hard work to help get our campaign where it is today, and I will value his continued input on this campaign, Biden said in a statement. I am also thrilled that Jen is bringing her considerable talent and insight to this team. She will be a tremendous asset to a campaign that is only growing and getting stronger as we prepare to take the fight to Donald Trump this fall.

The shakeup comes just days before Ohios March 17 primary, where Biden is the likely favorite.

Schultz has a long history both in Ohio Democratic politics and in Bidens circle.

After graduating from Ohio State University, Schultz worked on campaigns for the Ohio House Democratic Caucus.

In 2008, he joined then-Sen. Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, switching to become then-Sen. Barack Obamas deputy Ohio political director for the general election. He worked as an executive assistant for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and served as Franklin County Democratic Party chairman before jumping on as Obamas 2012 Ohio re-election bid.

After 2012, he moved to Washington to work as a senior adviser to Biden and a special assistant to Obama.

OMalley Dillon joins the Biden team after advising them in the Nevada caucuses. She served as Obamas battleground states director in 2008 and his first executive director of the Democratic National Committee. In 2012, she was Obamas deputy campaign manager.

She oversaw former Texas Rep. Beto ORourkes short-lived 2020 presidential campaign.

Read more cleveland.com politics coverage:

Major retailers have frozen prices during coronavirus threat, AG Dave Yost says

Carl Stokes wrote the playbook on turning out black voters for his chosen candidates

Joe Biden announces backing from Emilia Sykes, more than half of Cleveland City Council

Bernie Sanders says hell stay in the race, setting up Ohio as his last stand in the Midwest
London, March 12 : The UK's Prince Harry inadvertently gave Russian pranksters, who posed as Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, his phone number and personal email address, a media report said.

The pranksters, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov, revealed on Tuesday that they posed as Thunberg's director using a fake email address set up under the name of Ueli Maurer - the then President of Switzerland, The Sun newspaper said in the report on Wednesday.

Under the heading "Call or meeting with Greta Thunberg", the pranksters, also known as Vovan and Lexus, sent the emails to Harry and Meghan's Hollywood PR team at the beginning of December 2019.

Harry used his own email address to reply on December 29, 2019 from his Canadian hideaway on Vancouver Island, where he had stayed with Meghan and baby Archie.

On January 20, Harry also replied to Greta via the Ueli Maurer address believing she was in Davos, Switzerland, meeting world leaders.

The Prince also called the two Russians on New Year's Eve and January 22 from his mobile.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper about the incident, Stolyarov said on Tuesday night: " His staff must have forwarded him the email. Probably the emails were transferred through many people before he got it.

"We were shocked when he emailed us. No one ever checked us out to see who we really were." The lapse has shocked royal insiders, who were blaming the Sussexes' new Hollywood PR advisers.

"This is the whole reason why we were concerned with them taking on agents in Los Angeles who don't follow royal processes," The Sun quoted an insider as saying.
Saudi Arabia state-owned oil company, Aramco, has been forced to apologize for using one of its employees as a human stand for a hand sanitizing gel dispenser.

The oil giant attracted severe criticism this week after photos of one of its employees wearing a body suit with a hand sanitizer attached and a medical mask on his face started circulating on social media. The foreign employee can be seen standing as a virtual stand, as other employees use the gel dispenser hes carrying. Although the intention may have been to raise awareness of the importance of cleaning your hands using sanitizer during the current Covid-19 pandemic, the humiliating role was harshly criticized.

We hope that the individual who gave the orders to wear that thing as if he was a robot or a doll, controlling humans whichever way he wants, is punished severely, one Twitter user commented.

The picture is horrible, the worker must be compensated financially and morally, another person added.

The photos triggered accusations of dehumanization of workers, and raised questions about the companys treatment of foreign employees. The backlash forced Aramco to issue a public apology via its Arabic Twitter channel, adding that the stunt was organized without its approval. The company has yet to apologize to the foreign worker, however.

With regard to the image circulating on social media of a colleague dressed as a sterilization package in one of the facilities, Saudi Aramco would like to express their strong disappointment with this insulting behavior which intended to place an emphasis on the importance of sterilization, without prior consent from the concerned party in the company, the official statement read.

Another disgusting example of Coronavirus racism. This time from Saudi oil company @Aramco who forced a foreign worker to walk around as a large hand sanitiser dispenser. Exploitative & racist. Highlights again this huge problem in Saudi Arabia & the Gulf https://t.co/Lp9kYN3GuU pic.twitter.com/QC6l2zQq7V  Joseph Willits (@josephwillits) March 11, 2020

The company halted this act immediately and has taken strict measures to prevent such action from happening again, the Aramco statement added. The company emphasizes its firm stance for policies that are based on respect and adherence to ethics and conduct.

this only work if you are going to a costume party as a hand sanitizer. other than that, this is heartless and degrading. https://t.co/PUhx8uhmO5  ARIF (@ArifRalph) March 11, 2020

This response did little to appease critics, as Saudi Arabia has long been dealing with scandals linked to the systematic mistreatment of its several million migrant workers.
Fourteen Pennsylvania Army National Guard soldiers from units across the state competed in the 2020 Pennsylvania Best Warrior Competition from March 11-14 at Fort Indiantown Gap.

The soldiers completed 10 events designed to test the limits of their physical and mental endurance and assess the Whole Soldier Concept. The events include the Army Combat Fitness Test, a written examination, weapons qualifications, land navigation, an obstacle course and an 8-mile road march.
The union has also been at loggerheads with the government over the directive to members of ASUU to enroll into the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System (IPPIS) which the government made compulsory for all civil servants.
Dr Donal OHanlon, President of the Irish Hospital Consultant's Association (IHCA) said that they welcome todays (Thursday, March 12) announcement from An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, on the Governments latest response to COVID-19.

Hospital consultants are very supportive of the Government measures announced today. The new measures are a necessary step towards facing the unprecedented challenge that the virus presents, namely, the increased risk of community transmission and the priority to now delay the spread of the virus in the period ahead," he said.

The IHCA and our hospital consultant members have been working closely with the Minister and Department of Health, HSE and our public health experts as the situation has developed and this engagement is ongoing to support efforts to delay and manage the spread and impact of the virus.

In particular, at the level of our acute public hospitals, significant work is underway to better prepare our acute hospitals for the escalation in demand from coronavirus infected patients. However, our ICU facilities will be challenged, particularly, as we are starting from a position of under resourcing in these units.

This makes a responsible response from the public even more important. We strongly urge the public and patients to continue to follow the best practice advice of our public health experts who are positioned to give the most appropriate advice over the coming weeks.

The virus will test all healthcare staff and place huge responsibilities and burdens upon us all. As we have always done, consultants and all front-line hospital staff are working together and facing this challenge as a team, our focus remains on supporting our patients."
Since the beginning of this month when the Union Health Ministry announced that three new cases of coronavirus (Covid-19) have been confirmed in India, making the total number of cases till then to six, there is much confusion in the country over the outbreak.

From what are the symptoms to what tests are to be done and where to get tested and how to seek medical help there was no clarity initially. But soon the Union Health Ministry came up with a list of hospitals in Delhi, both under the government and in the private sector which have isolation facilities and also increased the testing facilities.

AFP

On Thursday, the total number of Covid-19 cases in India reached 73. Over 1,500 people are under observation across India and a total of 10,57,506 passengers have been screened at airports. With the number of cases likely to go up in the coming days, the medical facility, even at the best hospitals, has been stretched to its maximum. While the doctors and nurses are expected to take care of the Covid-19 patients they are putting themselves in serious risk of contracting the virus.



AFP

The example from China where several doctors and nurses died after being infected is very much in front of us.

Over the past week, Indiatimes spoke to six nurses, working in both government and private hospitals on how protected and informed they are. This includes senior nurses who are working with the hospitals listed by the government. Since they have requested anonymity, Indiatimes will not be revealing their names.

AP

One thing all of them had stated is how non-prepared the hospitals were. Despite the hospitals claiming that their staff has been given special training to deal with patients in isolation wards, all of them said they have not even been briefed, let alone training.

Another common factor that emerged out of the conversations is how exposed they are to the virus. The acute shortage of face masks which is the result of the panic around Covid-19 has hit hospitals and medical staff the hardest.

AFP

All of them said that there is a shortage of masks, including surgical masks and despite several requests, the protective gear is still a distant dream. One of them even narrated an incident where she saw doctors fighting over a mask, as the stock was very limited.



Another nurse, who works with a government hospital where screenings are done said there is a lack of coordination and the number of those sent directly from hospitals is beyond what they can accommodate. Another issue, she said the hospital was facing is the lack of housekeeping staff.

AFP

According to her, the contractual staff were suddenly removed and they have not been replaced yet, leaving the hospital, including beds littered. This she said is causing panic among the paramedical staff about the possible spread of coronavirus or other infections.
Rana Kapoor, co-founder of YES Bank, sanctioned loans worth Rs30,000 crore, of which those worth Rs 20,000 crore have turned into non-performing assets (NPA) and need to be probed, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Wednesday, seeking his custody. The court has granted ED Kapoors custody till March 16.

ED counsel Sunil Gonsalves told the court that Kapoor and his family are linked to 78 companies, which the agency is scanning. He said the agency was checking if the Rs 20,000 crore was diverted to the 78 companies linked to Kapoor and his family and if there was quid pro quo.

The special judge, however, sought documents from the agency to support their claim, to which the agency produced records of forensic audit of the bank.

Kapoors lawyer Satish Manashinde objected to the plea, saying when Kapoor left the bank, the NPA account was only 1% of the total loan. He alleged that Kapoor has been made scapegoat. The defence raised questions on searches conducted by the ED at Kapoors house much before the case was registered. Manashinde argued that when the ED conducted the searches, the CBI had not registered a case. Predicate offense was registered much later by the CBI and before that ED began probe and case of ED was registered, the lawyer contended.

As per law, the ED can begin a probe only after a predicate offence is registered by other agency for financial fraud.

The ED countered the issue and claimed the searches were conducted in respect of case of money laundering against DHFL. The agency said they found material related to money laundering by Kapoor during the searches and hence a separate case was registered later.

Manashinde further contended that when Kapoor left the bank, its condition was much better, but the management which subsequently took over failed. I cant be held responsible for the failure of the present management, Manashinde argued.

Manashinde denied the allegations that Kapoor received kickbacks for giving loans. He added that no bribe was taken. He was highest paid banker and received almost Rs50 crore a year from the bank since 2004 till recently, Manashinde argued, adding he had received awards from various institutions as the best banker. The defence 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.

Kapoors lawyer argued, For four months, he was in London and was paying off debts. He was also in talks with the RBI to take over the bank and was meeting with government officers. A week later, a case was registered.

The agency claimed that Yes Bank bought debentures worth Rs 3,700 crore of DHFL. In lieu for it, 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 defence said that all the three daughters have given security and they are capable of returning the loan amount of Rs 600 crore and it was never in the form of kickbacks. He also said there are documents to show how the said money is utilised.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), meanwhile, will question key management persons of Yes Bank over the alleged irregularities. They have to be confronted with the accused. The documents are voluminous and need to be checked, the agencys counsel told court. Under the guise of these loans, funds have been siphoned off. We need to find how the amount travelled, Gonsalves said.
Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday said the state would install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all jails across the state in a bid to curb circulation of banned items inside the jail including mobile phones, alcohol, etc. Deshmukh said the process of installing the cameras will take place in the next six months at a cost of 90 crore to ensure there are no blind spots in jails.

Congress legislator Ramhari Rupnawar, in the House, said prisoners in jails across the state have access to mobiles and other contraband. Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWP) legislator Jayant Patil said when he was lodged in Yerawada Central Jail in Pune for a month, he saw prisoners had access to restricted and illegal items. I saw prisoners have access to fried fish, cannabis, soda, mobiles, etc. I suggest the minister make a surprise visit to one of the jails to know the ground reality, Patil said.

Deshmukh, responding to Patil during question hour said, You will not see such things after six months. We are installing CCTV cameras in all jails across the state. There will be no blind spots. The home minister, in his written reply, said a phone was found inside the toilet at Kolhapur Central Prison in October along with four batteries.

BJP legislator Ranjit Patil said prisons have not been brought under CCTV coverage despite projects going on for years. Incidentally, Patil was the minister of state for home (urban) in the previous state government.

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A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on March 11.

The new edition includes articles: President Aliyev: New parliament to improve the countrys political system, Azerbaijani poetess monument vandalized in Belgium, MFA: Armenia responsible for Azerbaijani border guards deaths, Country not to increase oil production until OPEC+ agreement expires, etc.

AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az.
The stark reality of the COVID-19 outbreak was made clear Wednesday, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring it to be a global pandemic. Concerns are growing over the potential of the virus to spread rapidly throughout the United States, including in its immigrant detention centers where men, women and children are held in substandard and unsanitary conditions.

Doctors are warning that without immediate, emergency intervention the spread of the coronavirus is inevitable among those detained in the network of facilities run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and private companies contracted by the federal government. The United States detention centers are infamous for their overcrowding and medical negligence, an environment favorable to the spread of infectious disease.

Multiple reports have revealed severe risks within the network of prisons used to house immigrants, which would facilitate the spread of coronavirus. In the facilities, clean water and soap are not guaranteed, making it difficult to follow the most basic preventive measures against infection.

Immigrants in a US detention centre

Dr. Ranit Mishori, senior medical adviser at the Physicians for Human Rights, told the Guardian that under such conditions it was only a matter of time before the coronavirus infiltrated prisons and detention centers.

Looking at what has been happening in immigration detention centers, it doesnt inspire much confidence in me, Mishori said.

We know there have been cases of medical negligence, of lack of access or reduced access to care, weve heard stories about a lack of basic hygiene measures so, no soap, no hand sanitizer, Mishori noted. And all these things are important to prevent the transmission of any infectious disease.

ICE has a troubling record on the handling of infectious diseases. From September 2018 to August 2019, five cases of mumps in detention centers grew to nearly 900 among detainees and staff. In December, officials prevented doctors from giving flu vaccinations to detained children after at least three died in custody from complications of the flu.

Migrant rights advocacy groups have called for the immediate release of detainees who are at high risk from the coronavirus. In a letter sent to ICE on Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, and Columbia Legal Services requested that ICE release on parole any detainees older than 60, or who are pregnant, or who have underlying health conditions.

Seattle has been an epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the US, with at least 22 deaths and 190 cases. ICEs Northwest detention center houses more than 1,500 immigrants. It is unclear how many in the facility may be at high risk and ICE has provided no indication that it is considering the release of any detainees.

The GEO Group, a for-profit corporation that runs the detention facility, said Tuesday it has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the jail. The company declined to say how many detainees or staff had shown symptoms or been tested.

In an emailed statement, ICE similarly stated that it had no confirmed cases and that the agency is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control in terms of when detainees and staff should be tested. ICE said that four detainees had met those criteria as of March 3, and staff are being provided protection equipment such as masks.

Those at high-risk can be kept together in units, the agency said. The CDC advises self-monitoring at home for people in the community who meet epidemiologic risk criteria, and who do not have fever or symptoms of respiratory illness. In detention settings, cohorting serves as an alternative to self-monitoring at home.

ICE has left attorneys, advocates, and more than 50,000 daily detainees in the dark about what protocols, if any, it has adopted in response to the coronavirus crisis.

Last month, after an ICE detainee was admitted to a hospital in California for coronavirus testing, ICE said in a statement that it was screening all detainees for infection within 24 hours of their arrival at detention facilities. The agency did not describe its process for screening immigrants or whether immigrants were being tested for COVID-19, nor did it say how any detainee sick with the virus might be treated.

An ongoing quarantine in an immigration detention center in South Florida has also raised questions about the agency's preparedness for an outbreak.

Several immigrants detained at Glades County Detention Center are being isolated in a special ward and barred from receiving visitors or eating with other immigrants in the facility. Last week, an unknown number of those quarantined that displayed flu-like symptoms were allegedly sent to a hospital to undergo testing for coronavirus.

Heriberto Hernandez, an immigration lawyer representing Isaac Santos-Mojica, one of the quarantined detainees, has been providing updates from within the facility. Santos-Mojica was placed under quarantine more than a week ago and said he had no idea when it will end.

Detainees are essentially held hostage to any disease that might be spreading around the facility, Hernandez told local news. Ive stopped shaking hands with my clients, unfortunately. I don't want to take any risks, especially now.

In addition to serious health concerns, experts also fear that the outbreak could threaten detainees legal rights. Concerns over the diseases spread could be used to further isolate detainees and prevent them from meeting with attorneys or advocacy groups. In the event that court hearings are held remotely, trouble with video feed or translations could present serious challenges as well.

Immigrants are among the most vulnerable layers in US society. Crowded into prisons or constantly in fear of being deported if they report a suspected infection to a doctor, the immigrant population is at high risk of being devastated by the spread of the coronavirus. This further exposes the criminal response of the Trump administration, which has used the outbreak to spout xenophobia and virulent nationalism and left the US healthcare system woefully unprepared to confront the pandemic.
The prosecuting garda told Judge Marie Quirke he was operating a checkpoint on the M1 in north Dublin when he stopped the accused. (stock photo)

A tradesman who gave gardai a false name when they caught him driving without insurance has been put off the road for two years. Gavin Dooley (32) was also fined 400 at Dublin District Court.

Dooley, of Drumcatton, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, admitted uninsured driving and unlicensed driving.

The prosecuting garda told Judge Marie Quirke he was operating a checkpoint on the M1 in north Dublin on February 14 when he stopped the accused, who was driving a white Ford Transit van.

Arrested

Dooley gave the garda a wrong name and was arrested and brought to Coolock Garda Station where his true identity was established.

Dooley had lived in Australia for seven years, then returned home a year ago, his barrister said.

He had worked in groundwork and labouring and now had his own business.

The van was his brother's and an employee who should have been driving it was not in work that day, his barrister said.

He had organised open insurance but it did not come in on time.

Dooley had an Australian licence and his Irish one had expired.
12.03.2020 LISTEN

Contrasting rates of change

Cultural evolution depends on the non-genetic storage, transmission, diffusion and utilization of information. The development of human speech, the invention of writing, the development of paper and printing, and finally, in modern times, computers and the Internet: all these have been crucial steps in society's explosive accumulation of information and knowledge. Human cultural evolution proceeds at a constantly-accelerating speed, so great in fact that it threatens to shake society to pieces.

The strong contrast between the slow rate of genetic change and the lightning-like, constantly accelerating rate of cultural change means that we face the serious problems of today with an emotional nature that has changed little since our ancestors lived in small tribes, competing for territory on the grasslands of Africa. It is not surprising that human nature still contains an element of tribalism, to which militarists can all too easily appeal.

Within cultural evolution, there are also contrasting rates of change. Science and technology move extremely rapidly, compared with the slow rate of change of our institutions and habits. This is part of the explanation of our inadequate response to the dangers of catastrophic climate change and thermonuclear war.

Thus, while the explosive growth of knowledge has brought many benefits, the problem of achieving a stable, peaceful and sustainable world remains serious, challenging and unsolved.

Some of the main dangers that we face today are listed below. These dangers are linked to each other, and I will try to put forward some thoughts about the various ways in which they are linked.

Chapter 1: The danger of a COVID-19 pandemic

Today, air travel takes people almost instantly between continents. Despite the need to reduce fossil fuel consumption, air travel has continued to grow, and populations are also growing. Therefore the world has become increasingly vulnerable to pandemics, such as the threatened COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter discusses, in detail, monoclonal antibody methods by which a vaccine against COVID-19 may be developed, and gene-splicing methods through which the vaccine may be inexpensively mass-produced.

Chapter 2: The danger of catastrophic climate change

Global warming is occurring much faster than the IPCC's scientists expected. The 2020 winter in Europe has been the warmest ever recorded, with February daytime temperatures averaging about 6 degrees C in Copenhagen. On March 3, 2020, the temperature reached 13 degrees C in Moscow, and 14 degrees in Kiev. Normally these two cities would be snowbound at the start of March. Temperatures of 20 degrees C were recorded in Antarctica! The 2018 IPCC Climate Report made it clear that we have only a decade to drastically reduce CO2 emissions. If we fail to do this, irreversible feedback loops will take over and make any human efforts to avoid catastrophe useless. While some governments have responded to this challenge, a number of large greenhouse gas emitters have not. These include the United States, Canada, Brazil, India, China and Saudi Arabia. While India and China have strong renewable energy programs, they are also building many new coal-fired power plants.

Chapter 3: Militarism and the danger of a thermonuclear war

Military-industrial complexes throughout the world involve a circular flow of money. The vast profits from arms industries are used to buy the votes of politicians, who then vote for obscenely bloated defence budgets. Military-industrial complexes need enemies. Without them they would wither. Thus, tensions are manufactured by corrupt politicians in the pay of arms industries. As Arundhati Roy famously observed, Once weapons were manufactured to fight wars. Now wars are manufactured to sell weapons. Donald Trump has recently threatened to attack both Iran and North Korea with nuclear weapons. The United States, under Trump, is also threatening both Russia and China. Any such conflict could escalate uncontrollably into an all-destroying global thermonuclear war.

Chapter 4: The danger of an extremely widespread famine

There is a danger that population growth, climate change and the end of the fossil fuel era cound combine to produce an extremely large-scale global famine by the middle of the present century. Such a famine might involve several billion people, rather than millions.

Chapter 5: The global refugee crisis

The number of refugees from both conflicts and climate change is incresing rapidly. Several million refugees have fled from wars in the Middle East. Meanwhile, drought and rising temperatures in Africa have also produced millions of refugees, anxious for a better life in Europe. Similarly, in the western hemisphere, both conflicts and climate change have produced a stream of desparate people, traveling through Mexico to the southern borders of the United States. There they have been treated in an extremely cruel way by the Trump administration. Young children, infants, have been separated from their parents and put into cages.

Chapter 6: The loss of democratic institutions and drift towards neo-fascism

Most notably in the United States and Brazil, but also in a number of other countries, such as Hungary, Turkey and India, there has been a loss of popular control over the institutions of government, and a drift towards authoritarian rule, police brutality, and neo-fascism. Remembering the rise of fascism in Europe in the 1930's we can see worryingly similar trends today.

Chapter 7: Apocalyptic loss of biodiversity

In geologically-observed extinction events, such as the Permian-Triassic Extinction, more than 90 percent of all terrestrial vertebrates and marine species were lost forever. It may be that our present episode of human-caused climate change will ultimately lead to a similar mass extinction; but we can already see an alarming loss of biodiversity as the result of human activities such as over-use of pesticides and encroachment on habitat. A new mass extinction has already started.

Chapter 8: Intolerable economic inequality

Intolerable and unjust economic inequality is increasing rapidly, both within and between nations. Statistics show that half of the world's net wealth belongs to the top 1%. They own as much as the remaining 99% of the world's peoples, the other 7.4 billion of us.

How are these threats linked?

Let me now put forward some suggestions about how these serious dangers might be linked. I think that there are some obvious links between militarism and the climate crisis. The almost unimaginable amount of money spent on military budgets and wars could instead be spent on the urgent task of building renewable energy infrastructure. Part of this vast river of money now wasted, or worse than wasted on militarism, could provide universal primary health care to all the world's peoples. Together with this care, women could be given the materials and information needed for family planning, thus helping to stabilize the global population of humans. Exploding populations are one of the cause of both the climate crisis and wars. Furthermore, wars are enormously environmentally destructive. Besides involving enormous fossil fuel consumption, wars do direct damage to the environment. We all remember the deforestation produced by the use of agent orange in the Vietnam War, and the oil spills that resulted from wars in the Middle East.

Wars and climate change are linked to the global refugee crisis, and the refugee crisis is in turn linked to swings to the right in politics, and the growth of neo-fascism. In Europe, Hungary, which is experiencing a flood of refugees from wars in the Middle East, now has a highly authoritarian government. The growth of neo-fascist far right parties throughout Europe is due to the refugee crisis. In the United States, the far-right, neo-facist, racist, anti-immigrant government of Donald Trump was voted into power by people who feared that their jobs would be taken by migrants. Something similar can be said about Brexit.

Many of the serious threats that the world faces today are linked to excessive economic inequality. For example, both climate change and militarism are linked to the greed of corporations, whose disproportionate power derives from their extreme wealth. The loss of democratic institutions is also linked to excessive economic inequality. As Professor Noam Chomsky has pointed out, the laws of corporations do not allow their CEO's to have either an ecological conscience or a social conscience. Their only duty is to maximize the profits of the stockholders. If they do not do this, then, by law, they must be replaced. We can remember that Mussolini defined fascism as corporatism.

In the United States, the popular Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, has srtongly criticized excessive economic inequality and corporate power, had he has proposed a wealth tax. It is interesting that Bernie Sanders says the he is a democratic socialist. When asked to explain exactly what he means by that, he says the he beleives that the United States would benefit from the type of social and economic system that we can observe today in the Scandinavian countries.

In Denmark, for example, high progressive income taxes have very much reduced economic inequality, so that poverty has been virtually eliminated. These high taxes are used to provide free health care and free education, including free university education for those who qualify. These reforms are what Sanders advocates for the United States. In Denmark, and other Scandinavian countries, corporations and the free market still exist, but they are strongly regulated. It is interesting to notice that the Scandinavian countries are leaders in renewable energy programs and in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

In conclusion, let me say that many of the serious dangers that we face today can be addressed by reforming our economic systems. Greed-sanctioning and growth-worshipping economics, the economics that has led to intolerable economic inequality, must be replaced by steady-state economics, and with the reforms that we can observe in present-day Scandinavia.

Other books and articles about global problems are on these links

http://eacpe.org/about-john-scales-avery/

https://wsimag.com/authors/716-john-scales-avery

http://eacpe.org/app/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Linked-Dangers-to-Civilization-John-Scales-Avery.pdf

I hope that you will circulate the links in this article to friends and contacts who might be interested.
YEREVAN, MARCH 12, ARMENPRESS. The new series of Armenian banknotes won the accolade for the Best New Series at the High Security Printing EMEA-2020 contest, the Central Bank of Armenia told Armenpress.

The awards formed part of the High Security Printing EMEA annual Conference, which was organized by Reconnaissance International and held on March 9-11 in Lisbon, Portugal.

These recognize the highest levels of achievement in three categories: Best New Series, Best New Banknote, and Best New Commemorative Banknote.

It was also noted that the series in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 Dram is produced on a composite substrate that combines the durability of polymer with the printability and inclusion of paper to produce highly durable and secure banknotes. Armenia is the first country in the world to have an entire banknote series printed on Louisenthals Hybrid ADDvance paper/polymer composite. The jury marked out originality of the banknotes design, which reflects the historical, cultural and religious themes.

The Best New Banknote award went to the Bank of England for its new eye-catching 20 note featuring renowned English artist JMW Turner. The banknote is produced on De La Rues Safeguard polymer substrate alongside CCLs Guardian substrate.

The Best New Commemorative Banknote accolade went to the National Bank of Poland for its 19 Zloty, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of establishment of the Polish Security Printing Works. This banknote stands out because the face value  19 pln  is unusual, and the combination of the traditional design and modern security features is impressive.
An insurance company here sacked a female sales agent for her use of the word 'n*****r' when referring to a black colleague.

The woman sued for unfair dismissal at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

However, WRC Adjudication Officer, Catherine Byrne has found that the decision last April to dismiss the worker for gross misconduct on March 26 last was not unfair.

In her findings, Ms Byrne said that the use of the word n*****r is a universally understood to be pejorative, a demeaning insult and a racial slur.

She stated: It is intended to 'put down' an individual because they are not white and, even if not heard by the subject, it is never not offensive."

Ms Byrne said that it is her view that having uncovered the facts in the case any reasonable employer would have dismissed the complainant.

A company investigation into the incident concluded that the sales agent used the same insulting remark about another colleague on March 26 and 27, 2019.

The investigation also found that on a date unknown, she repeated this racial insult when she showed a colleague a video on her phone depicting two black men fighting.

The sales agent claimed that her dismissal related to a concern she raised about a sales strategy introduced by her employer.

However, in her findings, Ms Byrne found that there was no connection between the sales strategy and the sales agents dismissal.

The woman joined the company as a sales agent on December 5, 2016, and was dismissed on April 17, 2019, for gross misconduct.

The womans dismissal stemmed from a colleague reporting to the companys Human Resources (HR) department that on the day previous on March 26, 2019, he heard the sales agent referring to another employee as a n****r, saying to him, go back to your side N****r, meaning, go back to your side of the office.

The person reporting the incident said that it wasnt the first time he witnessed the complainant using this term in relation to a black employee.

The sales agent was suspended from work pending an investigation into what had been alleged.

The company - represented in the case by Dublin-based solicitors, Flynn ODonnell Solicitors - mounted an investigation and interviewed the sales agent and the person who was the subject of the racial slur.

The person who was subject of the racial slur told the company investigator that he and the complainant engaged in slagging all the time and that she didnt mean any offence.

When he heard the term n****r, he said that he was taken aback and he told the sales agent not to say it again.

Two other employees who were in the area when the complainant made her comment were also interviewed by the company investigator.

One said that it was clear that the man who was subject to the racial slur felt that the comment went too far and that the four colleagues who heard it were shocked and stunned.

The employee said that he heard the complainant referring to a different black employee as a n****r on another occasion.

When interviewed, the sales agent stated that she called her male work colleague a n***a and not a n****r, and that they engaged in banter all the time and that they had a very open relationship.

The sales agent said that her comment wasnt said in a bad way but that she could see how it seemed offensive and she apologised.

She stated that her male colleague was fine the next morning and the banter resumed.

The sales agent said that she could understand how she might be taken up wrong when someone is not used to how we are together.

She told the company that her male colleague did not make a complaint about her comments and that it was a matter of interpretation as to whether he was offended.

The woman said that several employees sent her messages to say that they have no problem working alongside her.

At a disciplinary meeting, the companys HR Manager told the sales agent that other information had come to light in the course of the investigation including other references to colleagues as n****rs.

The investigators report into the incident found that the sales agent herself confirmed she used the word in reference to another member of staff although she would argue a slightly lesser connotation.

The report states: I believe that in this instance she said it more than once. I believe she confirmed it to another member of staff and I believe she has used it in reference to black employees and in reference to black people previously on site.

The insurance company argued that the decision to dismiss the worker was entirely reasonable in all the circumstances.

The company stated that there was a fundamental breakdown in the trust and confidence that the company had placed in the sales agent as it became clear during the investigation and disciplinary process that there had been other instances of racial comments and inappropriate behaviour by the complainant.
[March 11, 2020] Mitsubishi Electric Develops MEMS LiDAR Solution for Autonomous Vehicles

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it has developed a compact light-detection and ranging (LiDAR) solution incorporating a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) that achieves an extra-wide horizontal scanning angle to accurately detect the shapes and distances of objects ahead in autonomous driving systems. The new LiDAR solution irradiates objects by laser and uses a dual-axis (horizontal and vertical) MEMS mirror to scan for the reflected light, generating three-dimensional images of vehicles and pedestrians. Mitsubishi (News - Alert) Electric expects this compact, low-cost solution to contribute to the realization of safe, secure autonomous driving. Key Features





1) Large dual-axis electromagnetic mirror with unique lightweight design enabling wide scanning angle

After objects are irradiated by laser, the maximum amount of reflected light must be collected in order to obtain the most precise three-dimensional images, particularly of vehicles and pedestrians. LiDAR systems therefore require mirrors with a large surface area in order to maximize light collection. Additionally, a wide scanning angle is required for accurate vehicle periphery monitoring. Mitsubishi Electric's (News - Alert) new development incorporates the industry's largest electromagnetic MEMS mirror, measuring 7mm by 5mm, in a lightweight design which is able to scan horizontally and vertically. Despite its size, the unique structure of the MEMS mirror facilitates a reduction in weight without sacrificing rigidity. The lightweight design and high electromagnetically generated driving force allows the mirror to achieve large horizontal movement of 15 degrees. Vertical movement is currently 3.4 degrees, and Mitsubishi Electric aims to increase this to 6.0 degrees or more by improving the beam structure of the MEMS. For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200311005284/en/

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Actor-turned politician Rajinikanth on Thursday said that he would never be in the race for chief minister. Speaking to reporters on Thursday he made it clear that he would never be the chief minister. He said that his policy of political leadership was different from government leadership.

Government leadership is like a CEO, who has to implement the policies prepared by the council of experts headed by political leadership, he said. He said said that 60-65 per cent of his partys candidates for assembly polls will be in the age group of 45-50 years. The remaining seats will ...
EUGENE, Ore. -- Three University of Oregon professors have written a letter calling for the university to act and take greater and quicker steps with the growing number of COVID-19 cases across the world.

Melissa Graboyes, Alfredo Burlando and Eleonora Redaelli are working in Northern Italy and addressed the letter to Andre Le Duc, the university's chief resilience officer, and the UO community.

KEZI 9 News spoke to Graboyes, who is on research leave in Italy while she writes her book about malaria in Africa.

Theres no time to wait because one of the key factors that's hindering the state of Oregons response is that theres not appropriate testing protocols in place, Graboyes said.

Graboyes said that those who appear to be healthy could still put others at risk because many do not know they are infected. She described this as an emergency situation.

The letter, which was sent on Tuesday, called for three main changes to be made. The first was to immediately implement online classes for the university community. The second was to suspend all university-related travel. Lastly, the letter urged that large gatherings and meetings at the university should be canceled.

UO announced Wednesday afternoon that the first three weeks of the spring term will be conducted online, along with final exams to be offered remotely. In addition, gatherings of over 50 are canceled.

RELATED: UO GOES ONLINE, CANCELS EVENTS AMID CORONAVIRUS SCARE

In Italy we went from, in the last 2 weeks, 11 towns being quarantined to 11 million people being quarantined," Graboyes said. "Then it led to an entire country being put on lockdown. Thats unprecedented in modern history -- modern global health history.

She said that with an epidemic such as this, there is no time to wait.

Oregon might feel far away from whats happening in other parts of the globe right now, but they should be ready, Graboyes said. That doesn't mean being panicked, that means being prepared.
As part of its significant growth strategy in India, Hakuhodo INC, Japans second largest advertising company has acquired AdGlobal360(AGL) for an undisclosed sum. Adglobal360 was ranked as the fastest growing MarTech Company in 2019 by Deloitte. Deloitte Fast 50 India 2019 Report.

AdGlobal360 is Hakuhodos first acquisition in India as it seeks to enhance its technology and digital footprint.

Welcoming AdGlobal360 to the Hakuhodo Group, Nobuaki Kondo, President of Hakuhodo International, said, We are very happy to welcome longtime partner AGL into the Hakuhodo family. We look forward to working even more closely with AGL, as our companies learn from each other and strive toward offering the best digital marketing solutions to clients in India. Hakuhodo is one of the few agencies in India that offers communication and business solutions to clients, not through specialist silos, but by integrating skill sets into a single structure. Our strategic focus on satisfying client needs in India will continue alongside initiatives such as AGL.

Founded in 2009, AdGlobal360 is headquartered in Gurgaon, India with a current employee strength of 460 plus. The company offers end to end digital solutions to a plethora of brands across industries.

Confirming the deal, Rakesh Yadav, CEO of AdGlobal360 said, We are a digital marketing agency, which is rooted in a very solid technological foundation. We believe client-agency partnership of the future will not just be a story of integrating communication and customer touch-points, but also in seamlessly integrating marketing with the clients technology infrastructure. This is what is going to make insights more meaningful and actionable. This is a common vision we share with Hakuhodo.
STAMFORD  There are a number of uncertainties about the coronavirus that continue to mystify medical researchers, a Yale University public-health expert told a Stamford audience on Wednesday.

But one thing is certain: The virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands around the globe has put the elderly and those with weakened immune systems at an elevated risk. Coronavirus has a far higher mortality rate for people over 80 than for younger adults, said Dr. Sten Vermund, based on preliminary data from Asia.

One of the biggest questions, said Vermund, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, is whether the coronavirus will behave like other infectious diseases.

Its a question whether it will burn out after the winter respiratory season is over, said Vermund, who spoke before the World Affairs Forum, an educational and public-policy study group. Time will tell.

Vermund said earlier infectious diseases that spread far and wide, like SARS in 2002 to 2003, tended to run their course and dissipate within a few months. Health experts are hoping that same pattern holds up with coronavirus. The worst-case scenario is that the virus stays active through the summer and into the fall, when its transmission chain could begin anew.

Thats what were trying to do now, we are trying to snuff out COVID-19, minimize the penetration of the population, to avoid death and illness, but also keep the number of cases to the bare minimum, so when the warm summer season comes, perhaps it will die out on its own, he said at the forum conference, held at the Sheraton Hotel.

If we have too many cases, too many people incubating into the late spring  some of them could continue to be infectious into the autumn and start the cycle all over again.

The Yale dean said coronavirus poses dangers to the public that far exceed the common flu.

It is pretty infectious, and it is anywhere from 10 to 20 times more lethal than flu, he said. It is much more dangerous to older people, Vermund emphasized, and unlike the regular flu, coronavirus is not so much a hazard to youngsters and infants, who are typically at greater risk from the flu.

Vermund showed statistics from Asia that showed a death rate in the 15 percent range for people age 80 and above. For reasons we dont fully understand, its not the typical mortality curve, with the very young and the very old that are most afflicted. The very young seem to be relatively spared from coronavirus toxicity, he said.

Vermund was set to give a presentation on the public-health impacts of climate change when he was booked months ago by the World Affairs Forum, which offers speakers and educational events on global topics. He spoke about the viral pandemic, as well as the heating of the planet, which he described in terms that he characterized as unmistakably grim.

The Yale professor said the evidence was irrefutably overwhelming that temperatures were rising around the planet at unprecedented rates, and the spread of disease, drought, famine and civil disorder was likely to follow. Vermund said mosquito-borne illnesses will grow in a climate that favored their life-cycles and expanding range, and heat waves could turn deadly for thousands. Millions might face water shortages.

On the viral infection, the Yale professor called on the audience to make sure they follow good hygiene practices and limit personal interactions with strangers. On the issue of climate change, he said individuals could make a difference  promote local leadership, and send a message to your neighbors  while calling for collective solutions.

Wendy Skratt, executive director of the World Affairs Forum, said Vermunds speech fell in line with the organizations goal since it was founded in 1946, the same year as the United Nations.

Its always valuable for people to make the connections between the global issue and the local effects, to understand the bigger picture, she said, and events in eastern China can have an impact in southern Connecticut.

rmarchant@greenwichtime.com
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was not concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus after dining last week with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, whose press aide tested positive.

Trump had dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, last Saturday night. Bolsonaros communications aide Fabio Wajngarten, who also met Trump at Mar-a-Lago, tested positive for the virus, his communications office said in a statement.

Lets put it this way: Im not concerned, Trump told reporters while meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office.

He said he had heard about the aides exposure but that we did nothing very unusual.

Trump also said he and Varadkar opted not to shake hands when the Irish leader arrived at the White House for the traditional St. Patricks Day meeting.

Its a very strange feeling, Trump said of not shaking hands.
ENQBITLOGO We are truly honored to partner with Enquiron, said Mike Hess, Founder and Executive Director of Blind Institute of Technology. Enquiron is a true leader, actively recruiting from the people with disabilities community.

Enquiron and Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), today announced a partnership to place motivated, qualified professionals from the disabled community in open Enquiron positions. The partnership will also provide Enquiron clients with exposure and access to this diverse workforce to help broaden the definition of diversity and inclusion in their workplaces as well.

We are truly honored to partner with Enquiron, said Mike Hess, Founder and Executive Director of Blind Institute of Technology. Enquiron is a true leader, actively recruiting from the people with disabilities community.

As two pioneers in their respective industries, Enquiron and BIT bring together a wide variety of talent, technology, content, resources, tools and subject matter expertise to help organizations manage their compliance needs, while simultaneously creating more inclusive and diverse workforces. For over 24 years, Enquiron has been dedicated to helping employers remain compliant and make the best decisions for their organization. BIT is committed to helping these organizations be successful by creating a world in which people with disabilities have the same employment opportunities as their peers.

We are pleased to expand our partnership with BIT, said Mike Naclerio, President and CEO of Enquiron. For Enquiron, BITs services are an important component to furthering our core values and diversity and inclusion goals. And for Enquirons clients, BIT will serve as an essential knowledge base enabling our clients to expand both their diversity and inclusion visions and physical workplace accessibility. BIT will even help our clients staff their workforces with an incredible talent pool of individuals with disabilities  we encourage all our clients to contact BIT for their next employee recruitment.

ABOUT BLIND INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY:

Blind Institute of Technology, http://www.blindinstituteoftechnology.org, is an organization with boots on the ground in the Denver metro area working hard to advance the professional opportunities for people with disabilities nationwide. We are a small, passionate team with a dynamic blend of backgrounds, disabilities, experiences, and motivations, doing whatever we can to get the job done. Our message is that professionals with disabilities possess skills and abilities that corporations have overlooked or have yet to discover. Our strategy is to go directly to the C-suites of corporate America to provide a guiding hand into a successful diverse and inclusive culture. Our end goal is always employment. We treasure the moments when someone gets or gives the good news, Youre Hired! We work for the day when employment opportunities are truly equal for people with disabilities. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

ABOUT ENQUIRON

Enquiron, http://www.enquiron.com, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, provides consultative business solutions to employers in all 50 states, across various industries, sectors and sizes. Since 1996, Enquiron has revolutionized the way that services impacting Human Resources, Employment Law, Healthcare, Retirement, Cyber Security and more are delivered to and utilized by employers. Enquiron has locations across the United States and is a trusted partner to organizations who need specific answers to specific questions. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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 weren't the only ones to face an extraordinary end to their holidays: Elsewhere, on-board COVID-19 outbreaks have sickened hundreds and sent luxury liners on desperate searches for ports at which they can dock.

'Expect the extraordinary': Passengers on the Grand Princess got more than they bargained for. Credit:AP

The human toll from the virus is steep; so, too, is its effect on the public image and finances of the $US45 billion ($69 billion) cruise industry. The weight of the US government is against it, with the State Department now warning all Americans not to travel by cruise ship.

"It ain't pretty," Richard Fain, CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, one of the world's largest cruise companies, said last week. "In fact, to use a technical term I learned in business school, it sucks."
Facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah targeted across Iraq in response to attack that killed and wounded US and UK troops.

The United States has launched a series of air raids in Iraq against several locations of an Iran-backed militia that it blamed for an earlier rocket attack that killed and wounded US and British troops.

Among the facilities attacked late on Thursday was an airport under construction in the holy city of Karbala, an Iraqi airport official confirmed.

Iraqs military said in a statement that the US air raids killed one civilian and five security personnel.

In a statement, the Pentagon said the US conducted defensive precision strikes against Kataib Hezbollah facilities across Iraq.

These weapons-storage facilities include facilities that housed weapons used to target US and coalition troops, it said.

Separately, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described the air raids as a proportionate response to the rocket attack south of the capital, Baghdad, that killed two US troops and a British soldier.

UK forces are in Iraq with coalition partners to help the country counter terrorist activity and anyone seeking to harm them can expect a strong response, Raab said in a statement.

Al Jazeeras Simona Foltyn, reporting from Baghdad, said aside from Kataib Hezbollah, other militia groups under the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF, also known as PMU) were also hit south of Iraqs capital as well as in Babylon and Karbala.





A US official told The Associated Press news agency that the raids were a joint operation with the British. The officials spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump gave the Pentagon the authority to respond after a rocket barrage killed two US troops and a British soldier, again raising tensions with Iran after the two countries came to the brink of war earlier this year.

Washington had blamed Kataib Hezbollah for a strike in December that killed a US contractor, leading to a cycle of tit-for-tat confrontations that culminated in the January 3 US assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and a retaliatory Iranian missile attack that left more than 100 US troops with brain injuries.

In the latest rocket attack, responsibility for which has not been claimed, some 14 US-led coalition personnel were also wounded, including US, British, Polish and others. Private industry contractors were among the wounded.





Following the retaliatory attack, Iran warned Trump against taking dangerous actions.

Instead of dangerous actions and baseless accusations, Mr Trump should reconsider the presence and behaviour of his troops in the area, foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement.

Al Jazeeras Foltyn said it remains to be seen how the militia groups will respond to the retaliatory strikes, but added that the latest attacks are likely to once again ignite calls in Iraq for the expulsion of US troops.

She noted that the Popular Mobilisation Forces commanders have already come out to condemn the latest raids as a violation of Iraqs sovereignty.

Kataib Hezbollah was one of the Iraqi militia groups that helped defeat the ISIL (ISIS) group.
 Flash

A group of Chinese experts headed to Italy on Wednesday at the urgent request of its Red Cross to help contain the novel coronavirus outbreak in the European country.





The seven-member team, led by a vice-president of the Red Cross Society of China, consists of an expert at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and five people from Southwest China's Sichuan provincethree medics, an interpreter and a Sichuan Red Cross official. The team is taking medical supplies to assist the country.





Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has imposed a national lockdown on the entire country, which has over 10,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 600 fatalities so far.





In a telephone conversation with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said the Italian government is paying close attention to and learning from China's successful experience in combating the virus, and is taking strong measures to contain the spread of the disease.





Italy hopes China can help solve its urgent need for medical supplies and equipment, he said.





In response, Wang said that although China still needs a large amount of medical supplies, the country will overcome its difficulties and provide Italy with medical materials including face masks and increase exports of supplies and equipment to Italy.





Chinese cities and provinces that have sisterly ties with Italian peers, as well as Chinese companies, have pledged to offer a helping hand, according to Wang.





A chartered cargo plane departed from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport at 5:50 am on Wednesday, carrying 4,556 boxes of disaster-relief materials destined for Italy.





The materials, the first shipment from East China's Zhejiang province, included face masks, protective clothing, goggles and latex gloves donated by people from all walks of life in Zhejiang. More than 300,000 people from Zhejiang live and work in Italy.





The joint battle against the virus will deepen the relationship between China and Italy, and enhance the friendship between the two peoples, Wang said.





China will not forget the support from Italy when the country was at the hardest moment in the fight against the virus, he said, adding that China is now willing to stand firmly with the Italian people.





Preventing imported infections of the novel coronavirus is a key task for China at present.





As Beijing and provinces such as Zhejiang and Shandong have already seen imported cases from Italy, the epicenter in Europe, containing the spread of the virus in the European country will help China itself in curbing the epidemic.




PHILIPSBURG:--- SHTA hopes that the health effects caused by Covid-19 can be kept to a minimum for the residents of St Maarten. The association underlines the importance to stay as safe and as healthy as possible, following the advice given by the World Health Organization to minimize the risk of the Virus. (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public)

We recommend everyone to be careful and try to limit possible exposure as much as possible and continue to follow the hygiene protocols that have been widely disseminated.



SHTA commends government for its ongoing efforts in dealing with this pandemic. As St. Maarten has limited resources, preventing a significant outbreak on the island should be priority number one.



Even if we manage to avoid all health consequences for our society of Covid-19, the past 24 hours have made clear that our economy is about to again be severely strained. The volume of stay over bookings for April and May is down by at least 40% compared to last year and expected by hoteliers to get worse. This may mean that anticipated Hotel openings get postponed. The most recent announcement regarding airline travel from Europe by the President of the United States and subsequent announcements of cancellations by major cruise lines will have immediate direct economics effects on the island. It is reported that some major cruise lines have suspended worldwide operations for the next 60 days, more will likely follow. Travel, in general, is slowing and restrictions encourage more people to stay at home.



The private sector warns that they will not be able to cope with this prolonged downturn, after the continued ill effects of Hurricane Irma; Government resources will simultaneously be strained by healthcare and social welfare needs.



Somehow Sint Maarten will need to find a way forward in order to keep long term effects to a minimum. In what can only be described as a very fluid situation the SHTA urges government to communicate with and involve the private sector in coming up with a package of measures that will keep our economy from collapsing completely or at least mitigate the impact.



Most countries already have advanced plans for reducing the negative economic impacts. This crisis is not about government, employers, employees or the private sector. This crisis will affect all residents and will require all of our efforts to keep the worst socio-economic effects from happening.

We don't have accurate numbers of tourism contributions to employment and GDP but a 2015 study by the world tourism council for Aruba has this at 90% and 88% respectively. St Maarten will be close to this number. The impact of this drop in tourism to our economy will be significant. Depending on the persistence of this crisis an even more grim scenario could come into play.



Mitigating the effects will require quick fiscal action, re-allocation of trust fund resources, several rounds of belt-tightening, supporting credit markets both commercial and private, and finding ways to keep a large segment of the population employed so that we will be prepared and ready to resume operations when the crisis passes.

SHTA further warns that blacklisting of country Sint Maarten and consequential payment difficulties will further exacerbate the crisis. Anything that can help our economy needs to be done now. That includes passing the required CFATF legislation through Parliament post haste.
A person suspected of having coronavirus was put into isolation at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry on Wednesday, as two other people in Northern Ireland were confirmed to be infected.

It is understood the patient's admission caused considerable disruption after the patient arrived at the Emergency Department, as it had to be deep cleaned afterwards. It is also understood patients in a surgical ward deemed suitable were discharged early in order to help staff manage the situation.

It comes amid calls for consistent advice across all health trusts in Northern Ireland.

Earlier this week, the Western Trust asked members of the public not to come to any of its hospitals or care facilities in a bid to minimise the spread of coronavirus. The Trust has also asked people who have appointments to attend these unaccompanied unless it is absolutely necessary.

On its social media, 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."

The Belfast Telegraph contacted other Trusts to see if they too were issuing similar advice.

While a spokesman for the Belfast Trust said it wasn't, the Northern Trust said it understood the Health and Social Care Board was going to give a statement to the media which would apply to all Trusts.

Vice-chairman of Stormont's Health Committee Gary Middleton MLA said inconsistent information was not helpful to the public. He said: "The Western Trust has asked members of the public not to visit loved ones in hospital or in its care facilities

"I think these type of measures are sensible but what is needed is a consistent approach - not just in terms of our Health Trusts but in terms of local authorities on whether or not events should or should not be cancelled."

Mr Middleton's sentiments were shared by SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan who added: "It is vitally important at this stage and it will become even more important as this situation escalates that there is clear, concise information given by the authorities otherwise that space becomes filled with rumour and suspicion that heighten panic and that is where we don't want to be."

The Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland Eddie Lynch said his office has been inundated with calls.

He said: "My office is seeing an increasing number of calls from both care providers and concerned relatives of those residing in care homes in relation to Covid-19, many of whom are confused by conflicting messaging and approaches being taken."
MIDDLETOWN  The district closed its sixth-grade facility for two days following the discovery a member of the school community may have been in contact with someone in the state who tested positive for coronavirus.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Conner said Thursday morning the person is not a student of Middletown Public Schools. After learning the news late Wednesday, district officials closed the facility Thursday and Friday to conduct a full cleaning of the building.

The person is an adult who came into the Keigwin office but did not have contact with students, Mayor Ben Florsheim said. That individual is in contact with medical professionals, he added. We have no reason to believe that this person has had any contact with students, faculty, or administration at any other Middletown school.

Officials are considering the situation at Keigwin Middle School a low-risk circumstance, the two said in joint press release.

We dont know if the person has it. We know there are some connections and were looking at the threat of the connection. Were taking extra measures to be safe, and be sure all of our students and staff come back to a clean environment, the schools chief said.

Florsheim told the public Thursday afternoon the individual has not been on a school bus.

However, were taking the extra steps to ensure the school is clean. Were doing a deep cleaning over the next two days.

We dont know any direct information. We dont know if there are any cases regarding the interaction, however, we want to be safe as a school district, said Conner, who was at central office until 1 a.m. Thursday consulting local and state officials about the matter.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Thursday afternoon that the state laboratory has confirmed three additional individuals have tested positive. In total, 95 individuals have been tested: six positive and 89 negative.

He is prohibiting all events in the state with over 250 people; modifying the state law requiring schools to be in for 180 days; and clarifying visitor restrictions at all nursing and convalescent homes.

For a list of all coronavirus closings and cancellations in Connecticut, visit ctpost.com.

If you have symptoms, theres a good chance you have it, Florsheim said hes being advised by the state epidemiologist. They include difficulty breathing/chest pain, cough and a fever.

City meetings for the present time will still proceed but this is a minute-to-minute situation, Florsheim said, although there is presently no cause for alarm.

We could hear in the next hour somebody at City Hall was exposed, so that could change, he added.

He is reassuring Middletown residents that preparations are being made to preserve the continuity of government services and theyre ready in the case employees will be working remotely from home.

The mayor is concerned the state only has a limited number of coronavirus test kits, with the state lab in possession of only enough to cover 100 tests.

Florsheim said hes in contact with city leaders, and they are forming a plan if the need arises for a staging area where families in need of food can pick up grab-and-go items.

This is very much on everyones mind. Everyone is thinking creatively, he said.

At this juncture, the city and [Middletown Public Schools] believe there is a low risk to students and are not recommending that Keigwin students or families self-isolate. The city and MPS want to aggressively reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19, and will make a determination on when we will reopen the school based on the outcome of testing, according to the joint statement. No other schools are impacted at this point in time.

All other school facilities will also be consistently and thoroughly cleaned each evening and over the weekend.

Florsheim ordered city department heads to develop contingency plans to maintain continuity of essential city services in the event of community spread in Middletown, he said.

People can sign up for alerts from the city at middletownct.gov.

It has become clear just how rapidly this virus is spreading, a Wesleyan University communication official said. All on-campus events and exhibitions have been canceled until further notice.

Anyone who purchased tickets in advance will be issued a refund from the box office starting next week.

Florsheim also canceled a long list of upcoming city activities, including the mayors ball April 18.

The message we are receiving loud and clear from other states and cities that have been hit hard by this outbreak is that they wish they had been more cautious and acted more quickly in a proactive, precautionary way, Florsheim said.

Haddam-Killingworth schools have postponed or canceled all Regional School District 17 March and April extracurricular activities which involve large groups of over 100 people, Superintendent of Schools Holly Hageman said Thursday.

The eighth-grade Washington, D.C., trip has been postponed to June 3 to 5.

All Brainerd Library programs and community meetings/groups are canceled or postponed through the end of April.

If cases of coronavirus affect our community, or if the state required it, we would close our schools for an extended period. This decision could come with very little notice. Please begin to prepare alternative accommodations for your child in the event that a closure is warranted, she said.

Should there be a need to close schools, the closure would likely be for two weeks. The district has plans for students to work via the internet in the meantime. Days will likely be made up at the end of the academic year, she added.

Meanwhile, the Russell Library in Middletown has pushed off its joint book sale with Wesleyan University which was to run from Thursday through March 23, as well as all events Thursday.

The COVID-19 situation is evolving rapidly. The executive committee of the library board will be meeting late this afternoon to determine what further action will be necessary. We will publish updates as soon as we have more information, the release said.

Anyone with questions about COVID-19 may contact the Middletown Health Department at 860-638-4960.

Editors note: Check back for updates on this developing story.
Over the past month, Mr. Trump has been grasping at strands of good news in his briefings. In February, for instance, he repeated something he picked up in one: that viruses do not spread as fast in warmer temperatures.

A lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat, Mr. Trump told Fox News last month. In reality, however, it is not clear how coronavirus will change with the weather. And Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told members of Congress on Wednesday that when it came to the virus, we have got to assume it is going to get worse and worse and worse.

Behind the scenes, Mr. Kushner has taken an increasingly active role in the coronavirus response, and spent the day with the president on Wednesday.

But he has also been among a small group of White House advisers who have reinforced Mr. Trumps belief that the news media is exaggerating the threat of the virus in an effort to damage the president, according to people familiar with the conversations in the West Wing.

Republicans who have clashed with the White House said they remained skeptical about what the president could accomplish, even as he claimed on Twitter that he was prepared to use the full power of the Federal Government to confront the challenge posed by coronavirus.

For the foreseeable future, people are going to be looking for steady leadership and effective management, neither of which are his calling card, said Brendan Buck, a former aide to Speaker Paul D. Ryan. We dont know how long this will last or how bad it will be.

Annie Karni reported from Washington, and Maggie Haberman from New York.
MBABANE  The country has registered two suspected coronavirus cases.



This was confirmed by Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi in a statement she released yesterday.

According to the statement, the first case is of a 39-year-old woman who has a history of taking trips outside the country.



Signs are said to have started 14 days after her return to the country on March 7, 2020. She is said to have travelled to Denmark.

The second patient, according to the statement, is a 38-year-old female who had visitors from Germany two weeks ago. The visitors are said to have reported respiratory issues while in the country and left shortly thereafter.

Both suspected patients have been isolated according to the minister.



The minister further stated that their samples were taken for testing.

The Rapid Response Team is closely following them frequently and monitoring their clinical condition while waiting for the laboratory results, reads part of the statement.



The ministry then requested those who had recent travel to affected countries within the last two weeks to report to health facilities immediately for care should they not feel well while those who do not feel ill are encouraged to socially isolate themselves for 14 days.



Confirmed



It should be noted that currently, the kingdom has no confirmed cases of the virus though there have been scares.

Meanwhile, the country is on high-alert as South Africa confirmed six more people infected with the novel coronavirus.

This brings the total number of individuals with covid-19, in South Africa to 13. This was disclosed by the Minister of Health in the republic, Zwelini Mkhize yesterday morning.



Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health in Eswatini Dr Simon Zwane also confirmed knowledge of the latest statistics by the SA Government.



Dr Zwane said the Republic of South Africa had informed the local Ministry of Health about the increased number of confirmed cases. Given the recent update, Dr Zwane said, this meant that the local citizenry should be on high alert.

They informed us and given their proximity from us, we are on high alert and so should the citizenry, Dr Zwane said.



He said the public should desist from the societal norms of shaking hands when greeting and further avoid interacting with people who were suffering from a bout of flu. Furthermore, Dr Zwane pleaded with people who were living with HIV/AIDS and not yet enrolled on the antiretroviral treatment (ART) to be very cautious as their immune system was compromised.

The same goes for people who are living with diabetes; their immune system is compromised and they are more susceptible to the virus, he said. On the other hand, he said studies were ongoing to establish if those enrolled on ART were safe. For now, Dr Zwane said: It is unknown if their systems could withstand the virus; therefore, it is very important for everyone to be proactive and do all they can to be hygienic.



Meanwhile, leading to the recent addition of six people confirmed to be infected with COVID -19 in South Africa, there had been seven other confirmed cases that involve people who were part of a group of 10 who returned from Italy at the beginning of March.



Confirming



The added six cases were individuals who had all travelled to Europe during March. When confirming the additional six cases, Dr Mkhize said four other cases had been confirmed in Gauteng which includes a 33-year-old female who had travelled to Italy and returned on March 1, 2020.



Another was of a couple, a 34-year-old male and a 33-year-old female who had travelled to Germany. They are said to have returned to South Africa on Monday, March 9, 2020.



Also, another diagnosed individual was a 57-year-old male who had travelled to Austria and Italy. He was reported to have returned to South Africa this past Monday as well. A South African online publication, Business Insider, further reported that one additional case in KwaZulu-Natal was of a 40-year-old male who had travelled to Portugal. The publication reported that he returned on March 7, 2020.



Travelled



It was also reported that one other case in the Western Cape was of a 36-year-old male who had travelled to multiple countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. This individual was said to have returned to South Africa this past Monday. The publication quoted Mkhize as having said some of these patients were already in hospital while some, specifically those who were asymptomatic, were in self-quarantine. Contact tracing has also started for all these cases, he said.



Mkhize was further quoted as having said to date, 645 tests had been conducted in South Africa. The publication reported that the Gauteng covid-19 patient was in a critical state as he battled renal disease.



One of the 13 South Africans, who tested positive for the coronavirus, has renal disease and is in a critical condition, the Gauteng Health Department said yesterday, according to Business Insider. It further said the man had comorbidity, meaning the presence of one or more conditions in addition to the primary condition.



Furthermore, the publication reported that a Gauteng Province-based woman had been discharged from hospital.
WESTFIELD  A classroom at Westfield Intermediate School was disinfected Wednesday after officials learned a teacher may have been in contact with someone exposed to the coronavirus, COVID-19.

Westfield Health Director Joseph Rouse told The Westfield News that the teacher had been in contact with a person exposed to one of the 95 presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.

Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said in a statement that the classroom of the teacher was immediately shut down and the area disinfected.

I want to reassure parents, students, and staff that we are working closely with the City of Westfield Health Department and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We are following all their recommendations in this situation and will continue to do so moving forward, Czaporowski said.

COVID-19 has infected more than 115,800 people worldwide, including at least 1,000 in the United States.

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus to be a pandemic on Wednesday.

Related stories:
Flautist Martha Guiney, from Newry, who is set to perform at two Northern Ireland Bureau breakfast events supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has hailed the "massive investment" in the region in the Budget.

Reacting to yesterday's announcement of an extra 210m for public services in the region, Mr Lewis said it was "time for the Stormont Executive to start making decisions and priorities around how it will invest the money it has got".

Mr Lewis made the comments during a visit to Washington DC ahead of St Patrick's Day events.

However, Sammy Wilson derided the Budget as "a false dawn for our people".

"The Chancellor's failure to acknowledge the damage being caused by Air Passenger Duty on regional economies like Northern Ireland is a clear indication that the Government is not serious about levelling up across the United Kingdom," the DUP MP said.

"It is long past the time that this tax was abolished. The implementation of a Carbon Tax for gas, in a deliberate attempt to placate the insatiable green lobby, will increase our energy bills and put pressure on the poorest households.

"The additional 210m being provided to the Northern Ireland Executive, while welcome, will not come close to addressing the challenges and pressures facing government departments in Northern Ireland.

"Given past experiences, there will also be a fear amongst many small businesses that the rates relief guarantees being provided to those in England will not be extended to Northern Ireland.

"In previous years, 100m provided to businesses in England for this purpose was simply absorbed into overall spending in Northern Ireland."

Mr Lewis is acting as the lone voice for Northern Ireland in the annual pre-St Patrick's Day engagements in the US.

First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill pulled out of the trip earlier this week to focus on efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

"They have taken a decision which I absolutely respect as Deputy First Minister and First Minister, being at home to focus on that work the Executive is doing to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that people in Northern Ireland, and we in the whole of the UK, (are kept) as safe as possible," Mr Lewis said.

"I'm here making sure that I'm doing my bit for Northern Ireland, talking to people here in the United States, businesses investing in Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland businesses as well about the opportunities that are there."

Mr Lewis has had meetings with State Department and White House officials, as well as senior members of the House of Representatives.Today, he will attend the White House reception, hosted by US President Donald Trump in honour of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and the annual Friends of Ireland lunch at Capitol Hill, hosted by Nancy Pelosi.

Mr Lewis described his reception as "very positive".

"I think there is a very strong relationship that has been there historically between the US, the island of Ireland and the UK. There is obviously a huge love for Ireland as a whole island here in the US," he said.

Asked whether that love was likely to translate into additional money for Northern Ireland, Mr Lewis responded: "I think it can do, if you look at some of the sectors that have got really good opportunities ahead and some of the things I have seen in my first few weeks in this role. What is happening in cyber and digital work in Belfast, with US companies at the core, (is exciting)."
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced the closure of schools and colleges in the capital till March 31 in view of coronavirus threat. He said schools and colleges in Delhi, where exams are not being held, will remain shut till March 31.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal: All cinema halls to remain shut in Delhi till 31st March. Schools and colleges where exams are not being held will also remain closed. #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/pbuB1JNFnW  ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2020

The Delhi CM further said, disinfecting all public places, including govt, private offices and shopping malls has been made compulsory. The city government has declared coronavirus an epidemic, Kejriwal said.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting attended by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal and top government officials.

Delhi government has so far recorded six cases of coronavirus.

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared that the global coronavirus crisis was now a pandemic.

On March 5, the Delhi government had announced the closure of all government, private and municipal corporation schools up to primary classes till March 31 in view of the coronavirus threat .

(With inputs from Agencies)
TIANJIN, China, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The special exhibition of "Mucha Pioneer of Art Nouveau" (hereinafter called "Mucha Exhibition") is an exhibition launched by Tianjin Art Museum at the end of last year. Due to the epidemic of corona virus, Tianjin Art Museum has been closed since January 24, causing this special exhibition to be closed to visitors. Recently, however, Tianjin Art Museum launched the "Mucha Network Exhibition" on the WeChat platform with a combination of pictures, text, and videos. It is very popular and can allow people to experience the "poems and distance" during the epidemic from their mobile phones.

The "Mucha Exhibition" is co-sponsored by Tianjin Art Museum and National Museum of Arts and Crafts in Prague, Czech Republic. It displays more than 100 exhibits created by the representative of the "Art Nouveau" and the master of Czech art, Alfons Mucha. These works, launched on December 17, 2019, show Mucha's unique aesthetic style and reflected his profound influence. Tianjin Art Museum also launched a number of cultural and creative products in the exhibition hall and held a series of cultural activities such as lectures and concerts, which had been widely praised by the audience.

In order to meet the audience's desire to view the exhibition, Tianjin Art Museum officially launched the "Mucha Network Exhibition" on WeChat, Weibo and other platforms on February 18. This online exhibition is not only based on the display of common pictures and text resources. In particular, it also contains the commentary videos which were recorded by interpreters of the special exhibition in the exhibition hall. In addition to the introduction of Mucha's life in the first issue, it has subsequently launched exhibitions of Mucha's masterpieces such as Gismonda, La Traviata, Medea, and Tosca. Each issue of the video has a corresponding exhibit commentary, which can help to bring the audience to the immersive experience.

Tianjin Station is the last stop of the "Mucha Exhibition" in China. The original plan was to ship these works of art directly to the Czech Republic after the exhibition is completed. The concern of the audience is whether the "Mucha Exhibition" can be postponed properly. Tianjin Art Museum is currently coordinating with the Czech side on this issue.

SOURCE Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism
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 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.

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.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"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.

He was quick to add that he thinks he's the stronger choice, and that he could show that during Sunday's debate. Sanders promised to press Biden for answers about millions of Americans who don't 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 party's most passionate supporters, including many young people.
Los Angeles: Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks has revealed that he and wife Rita Wilson have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The actor couple, currently in Australia to shoot for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley film, decided to get tested after they felt "a bit tired".

"Hey folks Rita and I are down here in Australia. We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. 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," Hanks said in a statement he tweeted.

The Academy-award-winning actor said the medical team had already taken over.

"The medical officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires," Hanks said.

"Not much more to it than one day at a time approach, no? We will keep the world posted and updated. Take care of yourselves!" he said.

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, with the World Health Organisation on Wednesday describing the outbreak a pandemic.

China remains the hardest-hit with more than 80,000 infections and 3,000 deaths.
More than 90 percent of college and university students surveyed in Indian-administered Kashmir want a complete withdrawal of Indian forces from the region, according to a new survey.

Approximately 600 college and university students were part of the survey conducted by researchers from a university in Kashmir and New Yorks Skidmore College in the wake of New Delhis decision to revoke the Muslim-majority regions special status last August.

Fearing a backlash to the revocation, India rushed tens of thousands of additional troops to the region in addition to the more than 500,000 soldiers already stationed there and suspended internet, which was fully restored earlier this month.

Indian forces have been battling separatists fighting for Kashmirs independence or merger with neighbouring Pakistan, which also lays claim to the Himalayan territory, for 30 years.

Other than being an inherent right, Kashmiri nationalism has a history older than both Indian and Pakistani nation-states Haroon Rashid, a research scholar based in India

New Delhi says the military has been deployed to quell the armed rebellion that erupted in 1989. Kashmir is dubbed the most militarised region in the world.

Rights organisations, as well as the United Nations, have accused Indian forces of carrying out systematic human rights violations against the people of Kashmir, including widespread killings, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances.

According to the survey, which was conducted between October and December 2019, 91 percent of the respondents wanted a complete withdrawal of Indian forces from the region.

Plebiscite to decide future

The same percentage backed the holding of a referendum to decide the future status of the Muslim-majority region, the survey, published in The Washington Post last week, said.

While New Delhi maintains that the region is an integral part of the country, conducting a plebiscite that lets Kashmiris choose to accede to either India or Pakistan has been a long-standing demand of Kashmiris who, for the most part, consider India an occupying power.

Based on the responses, I think it's safe to assume that many among the Kashmiri youth would prefer at least some autonomy Yelena Biberman from Skidmore College, the US

Many who would like to see the region remain independent of both nations believe that the plebiscite, in its current form, might not adequately address popular aspirations.

In 1953, Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru promised to conduct a plebiscite in Kashmir to resolve the conflict, but it was never implemented.

Other than being an inherent right, Kashmiri nationalism has a history older than both Indian and Pakistani nation-states, Haroon Rashid, a research scholar based in India, told Al Jazeera. A Kashmir, free of both the nations, will cease to be a nuclear flashpoint in South Asia, he added.

On the question of seeking Pakistans support in the potential resolution of the conflict, 64 percent participants responded positively, while 79 percent said they would like Western mediators to consider Kashmiris a central party in any negotiations.

Too soon to survey Kashmiri youth

The survey results appear to contradict the Hindu nationalist governments claim that by revoking Article 370  which granted limited autonomy to Kashmir  it would be able to bring the decades-long conflict to an end by fully integrating Kashmir into India.

Based on the responses [in the survey], I think its safe to assume that many among the Kashmiri youth would prefer at least some autonomy, Yelena Biberman, an assistant professor of political science at Skidmore College and study co-author, told Al Jazeera.

Given the restrictions and level of repression that exists in Indian-administered Kashmir, it is hard to gauge the extent to which Kashmiris are pro-Pakistan or purely nationalist Hafsa Kanjwal, assistant professor of history at Pennsylvania's Lafayette College

But Professor Sreeram Chaulia, dean of Jindal School of Global Affairs, said it was too soon to gauge the opinion of Kashmiris on the effects of Indian move in Kashmir.

It has only been seven months since the revocation of autonomy, and we will, at least, have to wait for five to 10 years to survey the nature of popular perceptions regarding this move, he told Al Jazeera.

When asked about the representative nature of the survey, Biberman maintained that she found it characteristic of the opinion within the university and college students of Kashmir.

The survey was conducted in Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir. The current number of university and college students is not available, but it is estimated to run into thousands.

Chaulia said the sample size of nearly 600 students out of a population of seven million was not representative. He did not elaborate.

Biberman defended the research methodology. Our methods successfully went through an IRB [Institutional Review Board] process at Skidmore College, she told Al Jazeera. The IRB reviews all research involving human subjects and includes ethical, institutional, legal, scientific and social implications of a research project.

Third-party mediation

US President Donald Trump, who has dubbed Kashmir a big problem between India and Pakistan has offered several times to mediate on the issue. But New Delhi, which considers it a bilateral issue, has baulked at the idea of third-party involvement.

The dispute between New Delhi and Islamabad over control of the Muslim-majority region stretches back to the partition of the Indian subcontinent following independence from the British rule in 1947.

It has only been seven months since the revocation of autonomy, and we will, at least, have to wait for five to 10 years to survey the nature of popular perceptions regarding this move. Professor Sreeram Chaulia, Jindal School of Global Affairs

According to Hafsa Kanjwal, an assistant professor of history at Pennsylvanias Lafayette College in the US, Kashmiris feel that the framing of this dispute as bilateral has not helped.

Given the restrictions and level of repression that exists in Indian-administered Kashmir, it is hard to gauge the extent to which Kashmiris are pro-Pakistan or purely nationalist, Hafsa added.

I also feel that these two categories continue to be pitted against each other and, ultimately, it only ends up helping the Indian narrative.

Interestingly, the so-called four-point formula for resolution of the dispute in Kashmir, deemed a brainchild of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, remains popular with the young Kashmiri respondents to the study.

The four-point formula advocates for greater regional autonomy, demilitarisation and free movement of people and goods across the Line of Control  the de facto border that divides Indian and Pakistan-administered Kashmir  and a joint India-Pakistan mechanism for governance.

However, Kanjwal from Lafayette College believes this can be seen as a desperate, short-term response towards Indias unwillingness to engage with the core political issue in the region.

While relations between Islamabad and New Delhi are at a historical low, especially since Indias moves in Kashmir last year, survey respondents were generally hopeful about sustainable peace in the region.

Although many, including Samir Ahmad, who was part of the team that conducted this survey, do not feel there is the will to find a lasting resolution.

Given the lack of political will within India, it seems, that the conflict is not going to be resolved in near future, he told Al Jazeera.
Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse on February 24, 2020. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP/Shutterstock

A Manhattan judge sentenced Harvey Weinstein to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault on Wednesday. Weinstein was found guilty of two counts on February 24  criminal sexual act in the first degree, and rape in the third degree  following a nearly seven-week trial. Weinsteins conviction was for two attacks: forcibly performing oral sex on former Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his Soho apartment in 2006, and raping aspiring actress Jessica Mann at a Midtown East hotel in 2013. Justice James Burke, who oversaw Weinsteins case, said at the sentencing, I will say that although this is a first conviction, it is not a first offense. Burke also ordered Weinstein to register as a sex offender.

Weinstein, who had been charged with a total of five counts, was found not guilty of three: one count of first-degree rape involving Mann, and two counts of predatory sexual assault. The predatory-sexual-assault counts included Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorras allegation that Weinstein raped her around late 1993. The verdict means that Weinstein was not convicted of a charge involving Sciorra.

Weinsteins conviction doesnt mean his legal drama has ended. Vulture spoke with attorneys about whats next for the fallen producer-turned-convicted rapist.

Weinstein is now in prison.

The convicted rapist was transferred from New York Citys Rikers Island jail to the Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security state prison near Buffalo, on March 18. Less than one week after his arrival, Weinstein reportedly tested positive for coronavirus. Weinsteins time in federal custody has been characterized from drama from the start. He bounced between Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated for chest pains, and Rikers before his eventual transfer Upstate.

Weinstein was supposed to have the same intake process of any new state prisoner, though its unclear if his reported coronavirus inefection changed that. New state prison inmates are typically taken to a reception center, at a facility, where they are required to receive a shower and delousing treatment. They are also required to receive a shave and a haircut, a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision document states. Inmates are also supposed to get a pamphlet, The Prevention of Sexual Abuse in Prison; What Inmates Need to Know, and watch a gender-specific version of the film Ending Sexual Abuse Behind the Walls; An Orientation.

Weinstein still has a criminal case in Los Angeles.

One day before jury selection in Weinsteins Manhattan trial started, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office announced charges of rape and sexual assault against him. The four counts involve two separate women over a two-day period seven years ago. Weinstein was charged with one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, and sexual penetration by use of force for allegedly pushing his way into a womans hotel room on February 18, 2013, and raping her. Weinstein was charged with one count of sexual battery by restraint for allegedly trapping actress Lauren Young in the bathroom of his hotel suite and groping her breast on February 19 of that year. (Young actually testified at Weinsteins trial as one of the three witnesses attesting to prior, uncharged bad acts.)

Los Angeles prosecutors said on January 6 that they were investigating eight allegations against Weinstein. Three of those accusations were outside the statute of limitations and cant be pursued, but prosecutors said at the time that they were continuing their investigation into the other three. Weinstein has not yet been arraigned in his California criminal case. A spokesman for the L.A. district attorney said in an email that Mr. Weinstein would not be brought back to Los Angeles until after he was sentenced. After Weinsteins conviction was revealed Monday, Los Angeles prosecutor Paul Thompson said, We are definitely proceeding.

Weinstein will be brought to L.A.

Two-and-a-half hours after Weinsteins sentence came down, prosecutors there gave a quick update on their case, saying in a press release, The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office has begun the process of extraditing defendant Weinstein to California to face the sexual assault charges that were filed in January.

L.A. prosecutors said in a March 23 press release that the office initiated its request to New York for the temporary custody of defendant Weinstein to bring him to Los Angeles County to face rape and sexual assault charges.

The prosecutors said they cannot determine when defendant Weinstein will physically be in Los Angeles. Prosecutors there also discussed coronavirus concerns in their statement.

As for any concerns given the coronavirus pandemic, our office expects that each agency responsible for processing, transporting and housing defendant Weinstein will follow its protocols and public health guidelines, the prosecutors statement said.

Defense lawyer Julie Rendelman said that typically, papers would be filed to bring Weinstein to California to face these charges. Weinstein can waive extradition, which basically means not fight it, or he can oppose being brought there. If Weinstein does want to fight extradition, there would be a hearing.

I think hed prefer, in a sense, to go to California, Rendelman said. I think the prison system may be somewhat better for him there. If Weinstein is extradited, he could stay in jail there until that case starts, though they could technically bring him each time theres a hearing, or a court date in L.A., and then bring him back, but that doesnt seem to be a logical decision. Rendelman pointed to Weinsteins health issues, and said his L.A. lawyer would want him there, because theyre going to need to speak to him regarding his defense. If Weinstein were convicted in the L.A. case, he would likely return to New York to serve out the rest of the sentence in his Manhattan case.

Weinsteins conviction might impact his L.A. case  but not necessarily.

Defense lawyer Julie Rendelman pointed to the fact that one of the women who accused Weinstein of misconduct in New York is part of his Los Angeles case in explaining why there could be a potential impact. This may give LA a bit more confidence in going forward with their case, particularly regarding that complainant, Rendelman told Vulture in an email. Further, it would create the possibility, although highly unlikely, that Weinstein might plead in LA to hope for a lighter sentence, given his conviction in NY.

Rebecca Roiphe, a New York Law School professor and former assistant district attorney in Manhattan, said that theres no way in which his indictment should legally affect the outcome of the case in Los Angeles, because its a different set of facts, and different laws, so theres no direct legal impact  That said, its hard to imagine that the conviction, and the press surrounding the conviction, hasnt affected the impression of the public, and therefore, the preconceptions of the future jurors in Los Angeles.

Weinstein can appeal his conviction.

Weinsteins lawyers said they plan to appeal his conviction, with a state appeals court called the Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. Following Weinsteins sentencing, his legal team said they expect to file paperwork as early as July.

Weinsteins appeal is a complicated process.

After Weinstein is sentenced, his lawyers have 30 days to file a notice of appeal  basically, a formal heads-up that they are going to fight the outcome  with a state appeals court. Following that notice, they have 120 days to file an appeal brief  their fleshed-out argument for appeal  though the appeals court can give them an extension, Richman said.

Weinsteins lawyers can ask for several things, said defense attorney Rhiya Trivedi. They could ask for the appeals panel to reduce his sentence. They can also ask for the appeals court to kick sentencing back to Burke if they found that his sentence didnt jibe with sentencing law. Weinsteins legal team could also ask the appeals court to throw out the conviction and order a new trial. (This basically puts everything back at square one, so it could mean a new trial, or possibly that Weinstein would decide to take a plea.) They could also ask for the indictment against Weinstein to be dismissed outright.

If the outcome isnt in his favor, Weinstein can try taking his case to a higher state appeals court.

Weinstein still faces civil lawsuits.

While the controversial $25 million settlement that would end many sexual-misconduct lawsuits against him isnt yet finalized, Weinsteins conviction wouldnt prevent this deal from going forward. Under this tentative settlement, $6.2 million would be for 18 accusers who had filed cases in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and the rest of this money would be for class-action participants and accusers who have not come forward. Some Weinstein accusers rejected participating in this settlement and are going forward with their own lawsuits; his conviction wont stand in the way of that litigation. Roiphe also said that the criminal conviction will make it easier for women to sue.

I dont think theres any effect, from the standpoint of proceeding, said Douglas Wigdor, who represents three women who have civil claims against Weinstein. You have to go up to where theyre being held in prison. Well go wherever he is and take his deposition.

Weinsteins conviction and potential imprisonment shouldnt impact any money he might have to pay accusers, Wigdor added. I dont know why prison would affect his money. I assume he has a great deal of money. Weinstein actually saves more money by being in custody and not out spending it, Wigdor said.

If lawsuits against Weinstein went to trial, he could attend if he wanted to, but he would not be required to appear in court.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 14:09:27|Editor: mingmei

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CANBERRA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The first COVID-19 case was reported in the Australian capital Canberra on Thursday.

According to Andrew Barr, chief minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a man in his 30s became unwell on Tuesday. He presented to the Weston Creek Walk-in Center on the following day, with a positive result confirmed on Thursday.

"I regret to inform Canberrans that we have our first case of COVID-19 in the territory," Barr said at a press conference.

A report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) said that the man has not been overseas in the past a couple of weeks.

"We are expecting more in the coming weeks," Barr said, while urging the Canberrans to "minimize the spread of the virus" by practicing good hygiene.

"As this is the first case of novel coronavirus that has been confirmed in the ACT, we understand that there will be a heightened level of anxiety in the community," said ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman, who added that the community can be reassured that there is no risk to the general community from that case.

Nationwide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia has risen to 126 as of 11 a.m. local time Thursday.

The latest figure, which was released by the Department of Health, represents an increase of 14 from 112 confirmed cases on Wednesday.

The number of deaths related to the virus remains at three, all of which were of patients over the age of 70.

New South Wales (NSW) has more confirmed cases than Australia's seven other states and territories combined with 64 - up from 60 on Wednesday - followed by Victoria with 18 and Queensland with 17.

ABC has reported that one of the new cases in Victoria is a person who attended the Golden Plains music festival from March 7 to 9 with up to 12,000 other people.

La Trobe University on Thursday confirmed that a student who has attended classes within the last week at its largest campus in Melbourne's northern suburbs has tested positive for the virus.

"The University has identified the limited number of locations on campus affected and those areas have been deep cleaned," the university said in a statement.

Also on Thursday, Hollywood star Tom Hanks and his wife, who are in Gold Coast, tested positive for the COVID-19.

"Rita and I are down here in Australia," Hanks wrote on his official Instagram page. "We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that came and went. Slight fevers too ... We were tested for the coronavirus, and were found to be positive."

"We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires," he wrote.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg unveiled a support package on Thursday, one day after Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt announced a 2.4-billion-Australian dollar (1.5-billion-U.S. dollar) medical response to the crisis.

Of that figure, 11 billion Australian dollars (7.1 billion U.S. dollars) will be pumped into the economy before the end of financial year on June 30.
Its not easy being queen. Queen Elizabeth may not be fully responsible for running the United Kingdom like past monarchs, but she still has a lot to do. She has many royal duties, some of which she delegates to her family members.

The queen will celebrate her 94th birthday this year, and royal insiders claim the shake-ups the royal family has faced recently have been a great source of stress for her.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exit as senior royals

The queen now has fewer family members to whom she can delegate duties. Prince Harry, once just third in line for the throne, announced that he and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are stepping back as senior royals. That, among other family issues, has left the queen in damage-control mode for most of the year.

According to royal insiders, the drama has been wearing on the queen. Shes approaching her 94th birthday in April and should be at a stage in her life where she can ease up and be supported by her loved ones, a source told Us Weekly.

Even though Harry and Meghan seem happier than ever away from the British tabloids, the queen still hopes theyll come back at some point, according to insiders. Shes praying that, over time, Harry will start to see things more clearly, the source added.

Prince Andrew has ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

Although it was undoubtedly painful for the queen to see Harry and Meghan go, their departure from the royal family cant compare to the scandal Prince Andrew has made. The queens son is accused of having ties to Jeffrey Epsteins sex trafficking case. Andrew had a friendship with Epstein, and there are photographs of the prince with underage girls.

The royal family has denied that Andrew was involved in any illegal activities. However, the prince was removed from his royal duties earlier this year.

Losing three royal family members in a year must have been stressful for the queen. But the good news is her heir stepped up to the plate.

Could Queen Elizabeth be thinking of taking a step back?

Queen Elizabeth II | Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Charles, the queens oldest son and the heir to the throne, reportedly was instrumental in helping the queen deal with the Prince Andrew scandal. It seems he was behind the decision to effectively kick Prince Andrew off his royal duties.

There are rumors that the queen plans to give more of her royal duties to Charles in preparation for his eventual ascension to the throne. She might even make him Prince Regent, so she can retire completely.

A regency would mean Prince Charles would have all the powers of a king, but the queen would keep her royal title. She could theoretically revoke the regency at any time. For a long time, it seemed like the queen would never retire. But after the year shes had, retirement must be looking pretty good.
The New York City theater community has responded to directives from the New York state and national governments regarding the outbreak of COVID-19, with news about closures and postponements for their productions. We have compiled a list below and will update as additional theaters announce schedule changes.

New York City theaters are releasing schedule changes in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

( David Gordon)

 At this time, all Broadway theaters are closed until April 13.

 The Broadway League has canceled the 2020 Jimmy Awards, the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, "out of respect for the health and safety of the many students, families, theater professionals, and fans who attend and participate in this national program each year."

 All public performances of shows at La MaMa are suspended as of Friday, March 13. La MaMa and CultureHub have additionally closed this weekend's interactive exhibition, Re-Fest, and instead the event will be live-streamed all weekend.

 Carnegie Hall announced that it will be closed for all public events and programming through May 10.

 Irish Arts Center is suspending all programming and classes through the end of March.

 Producers of Beyond Babel have suspended performances from March 13-April 6. The production is currently scheduled to resume performances on Tuesday, April 7 and will now run through Saturday, May 30. The production will go on hiatus immediately following the 8pm performance on Thursday, March 12.

 Amas Musical Theatre's Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn, scheduled to begin performances at Theatre Row on March 17, has been postponed indefinitely.

 The Metropolitan Opera has canceled all performances through March 31, effective immediately.

 Clubbed Thumb's production of Tumacho will play its final performance on Thursday, March 12, and will cancel the remaining performances.

 Lincoln Center Theater has suspended performances of the new musical Flying Over Sunset in the Vivian Beaumont Theater, as well as its production of the new opera Intimate Apparel in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, effective immediately. Performances of both productions will resume the week of April 13. The Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3 production of The Headlands at the Claire Tow Theater concluded its run with its Wednesday, March 11 performance.

 59E59 Theaters has suspended all public programming effective immediately. The building will shut down at 5 pm on Thursday, March 12. 59E59 Theaters plans to resume performances on April 1.

 All Ars Nova programming is suspended for the next 30 days. This includes all remaining performances of the initial run of Heather Christian's No show with id 333650 exists!, as well as on-site staff activity at both the Ars Nova Hub and Ars Nova at Greenwich House. The company hopes to resume performances in mid-April  including a rescheduling of Oratorio for Living Things  pending the status of COVID-19.

 Soho Rep. is postponing its New York premiere of Hansol Jung's Wolf Play, originally scheduled to run from March 17-April 19. Performances will be moved to a later date TBA.

 Playwrights Horizons is canceling all remaining performances of Daniel Goldstein and Michael Friedman's Unknown Soldier, effective immediately. Performances were originally scheduled to run through March 29.

 New York City Center has announced that performances of Encores! Love Life, Front & Center, Studio 5, and Flamenco Festival 20/20 are canceled.

 All shows and events at the Public Theater are canceled from March 12-April 12.

 New York Theatre Workshop will be suspending all public programming for 31 days, effective immediately. The company hopes to be able to resume activities in mid-April. Affected productions include Endlings, Sanctuary City, and Next Door at NYTW.

 HERE is suspending programming as of March 12. The company will close its theaters and offices through March 31, effective immediately.

 Theatre Row will be closed to the public through April 1, and Keen Company's production of Blues for an Alabama Sky will end its run effective immediately.

 The Shed is suspending its exhibitions and performances effective Thursday, March 12, at 6pm through March 30. Agnes Denes: Absolutes and Intermediates, originally scheduled to be on view through March 22, is now closed, and performances of Help through March 30 are canceled.

 Theatre For a New Audience (TFANA) has canceled all remaining performances of Gnit, originally scheduled through March 29.

 New World Stages productions have suspended performances through Sunday, April 12.

 Ensemble Studio Theatre will postpone all of its programming, including its production of Redwood, effective immediately, until further notice.

 The Acting Company has postponed its March 23 reading of Arthur Miller's A View From the Bridge , starring Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne, until further notice.

 The Sheen Center has suspended all programming through the end of March. The building will be closed to the public as of 5pm on Friday, March 13.

 The Vineyard Theatre has announced that starting Friday, March 13 all performances of Dana H. will be suspended through March 31. The theater will play to 50% capacity from April 1-12. This is in accordance with guidelines from the CDC and state and local health officials' executive orders. The production will extend to April 19 in order to accommodate patrons who want to see the production or must reschedule.

 Performances of Transport Group's The Unsinkable Molly Brown at Abrons Arts Center are postponed until further notice.

 New 42, which operates the 499-seat off-Broadway New Victory Theater on 42nd Street, has announced that the remainder of its 2019-20 season has been canceled effective March 13 through June 14.

 WP Theater has suspended programming as of March 12. The company's administrative office will be closed through April 12, and the biennial Pipeline Festival performances are canceled, effective immediately.

 Rattlestick Playwrights Theater has suspended performances of The Siblings Play after after the Saturday, March 14 performance until further notice.

 Chamber Magic has suspended performances until further notice.

 Playwrights Realm is canceling the April New York premiere of Noah Diaz's Richard & Jane & Dick & Sally.

 St. Ann's Warehouse and Good Chance are postponing the return of The Jungle to New York, which was slated to begin on April 1.

 The McKittrick Hotel, which houses the shows Sleep No More, The Woman in Black, Speakeasy Magick, and the rooftop Lodge at Gallow Green, will close for a period of 30 days through April 12.

 Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) will immediately suspend live programming through Sunday, March 29.

 Feinstein's/54 Below has canceled all activities until April 8 at this point. Artists are being rescheduled and ticket information is on the website for refunds.

 MCC has announced changes to its season programming. The New York premiere of All The Natalie Portmans played its final performance on Thursday, March 12. The world premiere of Nollywood Dreams will be rescheduled for a later date in the 2019-20 season, with new dates to be announced. Miscast 20, the 20th annual MCC Theater gala, previously scheduled for Monday, April 6, will now be held on Monday, June 15, at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center.

 The Flea Theater has decided to cancel all Flea performances through April 2, effective following Friday, March 13, performances.

 Abingdon Theatre Company is postponing all programming until further notice.

 Irish Repertory Theatre has announced that all future performances of Lady G: Plays and Whisperings of Lady Gregory and Incantata are canceled. The upcoming productions of A Touch of the Poet and The Smuggler will be postponed. Gregory Harrington and Friends has been canceled.

 All public performances and shows at The Tank are suspended as of Friday, March 13, until April 12. I Am Nobody performed on March 12 and is on hiatus until further notice. The upcoming production of I Was Unbecoming Then has been postponed until the 2020-21 season.

 The Play Company's production of Sarah Einspanier's Lunch Bunch had been scheduled to start performances the week of March 15. PlayCo is canceling performances from March 18-31. Previews are now scheduled to begin April 1, and PlayCo is adding performances from April 21-26.

 Cafe Carlyle has announced that all performances from March 24-May 2 have been canceled.

59E59 Theaters has postponed performances of Melissa Bubnic's Boys Will Be Boys, which was scheduled to start performances March 26.

 Classic Stage Company has postponed its upcoming production of Assassins, which had been set to begin performances on April 2. The company says they intend to resume rehearsals and present the show in the coming months.

 Baryshnikov Arts Center has canceled all of its performances through April, including the US premiere of SOS (The Song of Songs) on March 25-26. The theater aims to reschedule that presentation for a later date.

 Ars Nova has canceled the rest of its season, including the world premiere of Heather Christian's Oratorio for Living Things.

 McCarter Theatre Center has canceled all performances through June 30, including the full run of Nathan Alan Davis's The Refuge Plays, which was set to run May 8-June 7.

 Lincoln Center Theater will reopen Flying Over Sunset and Intimate Apparel: The Opera in the fall.

 Josh Groban's Great Big Radio City Show, scheduled to take place at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, April 18, has been postponed to Monday, October 5. Tickets for the April 18 show will be valid for the performance on October 5.

 Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the following schedule changes: The Broadway productions of Caroline, or Change, starring Sharon D Clarke, and Birthday Candles, starring Debra Messing, will now open in Fall 2020. The off-Broadway productions of Exception to the Rule (Roundabout Underground) and what the end will be will open in 2021.

 59E59 Theaters has canceled its 2020 Brits Off Broadway festival, originally scheduled to begin on April 14.

 Manhattan Theatre Club has canceled its productions of Qui Nguyen's Poor Yella Rednecks and Emily Feldman's The Best We Could (a family tragedy). Both plays were set to begin performances in May.

 Manhattan Theatre Club has postponed the Broadway premiere of How I Learned to Drive. MTC is finalizing plans to mount the production in the upcoming 2020-21 season.

 The American Theatre Wing has announced the postponement of the 65th Annual Obie Awards, which will be held on a date sometime in the future and reconceived as a virtual event.

 New York Stage and Film and Vassar College will postpone their 2020 season to 2021, though it will continue to serve artists throughout the course of the year.

 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, directed by Austin Pendleton and Peter Bloch, has been postponed till January 2021, when it will take place at the Wild project and star Matt de Rogatis as Brick. Additional details will be announced in the coming months. Pendleton and Bloch previously worked with de Rogatis on Wars of the Roses: Henry VI & Richard III and The Glass Menagerie.

 Theatre By The Sea, located in Wakefield, Rhode Island, has postponed its 2020 summer season until 2021.
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The U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee is continuing its hearing Thursday on the country's preparedness and response to the coronavirus outbreak that has swept across the nation.

Speakers at the hearing include Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, CDC Director Robert Redfield, and Terry Rauch, director of the defense medical research and development program for the National Institute of Health. Dr. Robert Kadlec, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response for the Department of Health and Human Services, is also scheduled to testify along with Chris Currie, the director of emergency management and national preparedness for the Government Accountability Office.

The hearing first began on Wednesday before it was cut short when President Donald Trump summoned the top U.S. health officials to an emergency meeting at the White House. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the committee, concluded the previous hearing by criticizing the officials for being underprepared to answer lawmakers' questions.

On Wednesday evening, Trump announced a ban on travelers to the U.S. from 26 European countries for the next 30 days in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus. Countries like Italy also remain on lockdown after the country's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, ordered all stores beyond supermarkets and pharmacies to close until further notice.

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. surpassed 1,000 on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. At least 38 people in the U.S. have died after contracting the virus. Globally, there are more than 127,000 confirmed cases and at least 4,717 deaths, according to JHU.

Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.
SOCIAL Democrats councillor Elisa ODonovan says the online abuse she has suffered has become so bad, shes reported it to the gardai.

The City West member confirmed she has reported professionally damaging and targeted abuse to the law. She says although she has thick skin, there are limits as to what she can take in terms of commentary online.

I have started to call it out. There was one comment made a few weeks ago, and I did have to report it to the gardai because I felt I had to. The comments were quite professionally damaging to my career outside the council, she told The Leader.

Im fine with people critiquing my work as a councillor. But for people to spread personal things about me is just not nice.

In a lengthy series of Tweets over the weekend, Cllr ODonovan, who works as a healthcare professional, wrote: Earlier this week, I was sent on a thread on an online forum about Limerick which Im the only politician referenced in. I shouldnt have opened it and read it, but I did. In this thread over many months, I am called unstable [and] a c***.

She was referred to as a complete crackpot and verging on bipolar.

Its the most horrible, vicious thing to read about yourself. I have no problem if people have issues with my work as a councillor, please call me out on this, but I am finding it very difficult to hear completely untrue and nasty comments about me since last May. Please stop, Cllr ODonovan added.

The member, who was first elected last May, believes part of the reason she has fallen victim to internet abusers is because she is a female.

I dont think a male politician would get that written about them. On this thread, not one other councillor is mentioned. A lot of it is misogynistic in tone, theres no doubt about it.

I think if I was a man, I dont know if Id be getting this kind of targeted abuse, she said.

There needs to be a shift in how we look at women councillors and how they are represented in society.

Previous to this, Cllr ODonovan said she was used to comments online about her appearance  something she feels has become normalised, and something she is fine with.

Usually people talk about my appearance, which is absolutely fine. You get used to this. Im a tall woman  when youre a six-foot one woman, you get a lot of comments, she said.

Off the back of her tweets, Cllr ODonovan did receive support from many quarters, including her own partys co-leader Catherine Murphy.

In a response, she wrote: Elisa, I know you cannot unread this nonsense but its important you know so many including myself think you are inspirational. Just keep doing what your doing.

Former Labour TD Jan OSullivan added: Stay strong Elisa, these people are abusive cowards, dont let them occupy any of your head space.

Another Labour councillor Conor Sheehan also reflected on his own experience of being targeted online.

Over the weekend, he felt forced to lock his Twitter account, so only approved followers could see what he posts about.

Despite this ordeal, Cllr ODonovan says shes not going to change the way she acts.

It was really nice  people from different political spectrums came to me. Its lovely the support I was given. I am not going to change what I am doing, she concluded.
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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The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Uttar Pradesh government that there is no law as of now to back its action of putting roadside posters of those accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests in Lucknow.

A vacation bench of Justices U U Lalit and Aniruddha Bose told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, that it is a matter of "great importance".

The bench also asked Mehta whether the state government has the power to put such posters.

The apex court, however, said there is no doubt that action should be taken against the rioters and they should be punished.

Mehta told the court that posters were put up as a "deterrent" and the hoardings only say the persons are liable to pay for their alleged acts during the violence.

The hearing in the matter is underway.

The top court is hearing an appeal filed by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging the March 9 order of the Allahabad High Court directing the state administration to remove posters of those accused of vandalism during the anti-CAA protests.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2020 / Lucky Minerals Inc. (LKY.V)(LKMNF)(LKY.F) ("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)."

Story continues

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 Democratic National Committee is moving Sunday's presidential debate from Arizona to Washington because of concerns about coronavirus.

The party had already announced that the debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders would be held without a live audience. Now the location is changing due to concerns about cross-country travel.

In addition, Univision anchor Jorge Ramos no longer will moderate the debate because he was in proximity to a person who was in direct contact with another individual who tested positive for the virus. The DNC says Ramos is not symptomatic.

Moving the head-to-head clash: Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden will now debate in a Washington D.C. TV studio on Sunday

Self-quarantine: Jorge Ramos is in self-quarantine because he came into contact with someone who had contact with a sufferer. He is not showing symptoms.

The debate will be the first one-on-one contest between Biden and Sanders.

The coronavirus has already disrupted other aspects of the presidential campaign, with the Democratic contenders and President Donald Trump canceling rallies on the advice of public health officials who have cautioned against people attending large events.

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.

Sanders is 78, while Biden is 77. The president is 73.
Ghanas High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Papa Owusu-Ankomah has been made an honorary patron of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC)-UK Based Advisory board. HE Papa Owusu-Ankomah, has been serving as Ghanas number one envoy to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland since June 2017.



A Corporate and Commercial lawyer by profession, Papa Owusu-Ankomah was the Member of Parliament for Sekondi from 7th January 1997 to 6th of January 2017, a period of twenty years. During the tenure of President John Agyekum Kufour, Mr Owusu Ankomah served as Minister in various Capacities including Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Majority leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Interior, Education, Science and Sports, as well as Trade, Industry, Private Sector Development and Presidents Special Initiatives.



In June 2008, the High Commissioner was a recipient of the Ghana National Honour of the ORDER OF THE VOLTA COMPANION (OVC) for his distinguished public service.



The UKGCCs key objective is to facilitate the entry of UK businesses into the Ghanaian trade industry space. It also supports Ghanaian companies looking to export into the UK or simply looking to partner with British businesses to partner with.



Ghanaian companies looking to invest in the UK will be able to use the UKGCCs resources to help achieve their goals. It is expected that HE Papa Owusu-Ankomah will bring his rich experience as a Lawyer, politician, Diplomat and a distinguished public servant to help the Chamber, especially as the UK and Ghana explore ways of increasing their trade and business relationship.



Members of the UKGCC-UK Advisory team are Mr Paul Akwaboah, an Investment Banker of international repute, and Ms Linda Wayoe,seasoned corporate executive and banker with several years of experience.

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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Disneyland in California to Temporarily Close Over Coronavirus

The Walt Disney Co. on Thursday announced it would close Disneyland over concerns about the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The closure will go into effect starting on Saturday, March 14, and last until the end of the month, the company confirmed. It will work with visitors who want to change or cancel their plans and provide refunds on hotel bookings.

While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of Californias executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, beginning the morning of March 14 through the end of the month, the company said in a statement.

The Walt Disney Co. added, The Hotels of Disneyland Resort will remain open until Monday, March 16 to give guests the ability to make necessary travel arrangements; Downtown Disney will remain open. We will monitor the ongoing situation and follow the advice and guidance of federal and state officials and health agencies. Disney will continue to pay cast members during this time.

Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters earlier in the day that Disneyland and other theme parks do not have to comply with the states new ban on large gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.

Its not clear if Disney World in Florida will be impacted by the directive. Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland have been shut down for weeks over COVID-19.

Disneyland Resort will work with guests who wish to change or cancel their visits, and will provide refunds to those who have hotel bookings during this closure period. Please contact The Walt Disney Travel Company for questions and cancellations at 714-520-5050, the Disneyland statement concluded.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has increased to 590, officials have announced, a rise of 134 in a day.

Separately, NHS England has announced two more patients have died, bringing the total death toll from coronavirus in the UK to 10.

One patient, an 89-year-old woman, was being treated at Charing Cross Hospital.

A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said the lady was very unwell with underlying health conditions adding: The patient had tested positive for coronavirus. Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients family.

A second woman, in her sixties, died after testing positive for coronavirus at Queens Hospital in Essex.

Tony Chambers, interim chief executive, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust said: We can confirm that a patient, who was in her sixties, and who tested positive for COVID-19 has sadly died at Queen's hospital. She had been very unwell with significant other health conditions.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the patients family at what is undoubtedly a very distressing time.

We ask that the familys privacy is respected.

The latest increases and deaths come as the government faces pressure to take more drastic action to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

Last night former regional director of Public Health England Professor John Ashton said the government should have started putting measures in place a month ago.

He said: "Weve got a complacent attitude, it feels wooden and academic, and weve wasted a month when we should have been engaging with the public.

"If this now spreads the way it looks likely to spread, there will not be enough hospital beds and people will have to be nursed at home. We should have gotten a grip on this a month ago."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee today where he was expected to approve a shift from containment to delay.

More than 126,000 people have so far been infected across the world, and 4,600 have died after contracting the disease.
Mumbai: Days after Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the Congress amid a rebellion in Madhya Pradesh by his supporters, the Shiv Sena said the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra is "strong and impregnable".

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Thursday also criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders. It also said the BJP in Maharashtra should stop "day-dreaming", and remember that just like the unexpected political drama in the western state a few months ago, a "shock experiment" can take place in Madhya Pradesh.

Former Union minister Scindia quit the Congress on Tuesday along with 22 MLAs in Madhya Pradesh, putting the 14-month-old Kamal Nath-led government in deep crisis.

He joined the BJP on Wednesday and slammed the Congress for "denying reality" and "not acknowledging" new thoughts and new leadership. He has also been named as BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate from Madhya Pradesh.

Commenting on these political developments, the Shiv Sena criticised the Congress for neglecting the aspirations of its youth leaders, saying even though Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh are at the "helm" of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, it was not necessary to completely sideline a leader like Scindia.

Hitting out at the BJP, it said during the Lok Sabha elections last year, the saffron party used its full might to defeat Scindia, but now it has welcomed him into its fold with "open arms".

"Kamal Nath is also a shrewd and daring politician and will not give up easily. Just like the unexpected political drama in Maharashtra, a shock experiment can take place in Madhya Pradesh," the Marathi daily said.

It further said the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government is "stong and impregnable". "There is no room for even a rogue ant to go out or come in," it said. The Congress lost the Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the leadership of Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, respectively, the Sena pointed out.

"When seniors fail, the young leadership should be encouraged. This is not happening and that is why (Rajasthan deputy chief minister) Sachin Pilot and Gehlot are at loggerheads. If the matter is not resolved, it is believed that Rajasthan may go the Madhya Pradesh way," it claimed. It noted that eight months ago, Scindia criticised the BJP, calling it a "murderer of democracy" after the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka was toppled.

"Fifteen days ago, he criticised BJP leaders for making hate speeches and now after joining the BJP, he says Congress is not the party it used to be earlier," it said. "What were Scindia's demands - the state (Madhya Pradesh) unit president's post or the Rajya sabha ticket? Both were denied to him. If at least one demand was accepted, this situation wouldn't have arisen," the Shiv Sena said.
The company that built Toowoomba's $1.6 billion Second Range Crossing is facing $9 million in fines over six workplace safety charges from the Queensland government.

The charges will be heard in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on March 20.

Brisbane Times understands the charges come after more than 18 truck rollovers on different sections of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing in 2017 and 2018.

A crane tips over on Toowoomba Second Range Crossing in 2018.

The 41-kilometre bypass opened in September 2019 and gives motorists and truck drivers an alternative to the steep climb up the Great Dividing Range from the Lockyer Valley and through the city of Toowoomba.
(Alliance News) - Brooks Macdonald Group PLC on Thursday upped its payout and delivered an earnings rise amid a jump in funds under management.

The investment management services provider said revenue in the six months to December 31 rose 8.1% annually to GBP55.8 million from GBP51.6 million, with pretax profit up sharply to GBP7.9 million from GBP600,000.

Funds under management at December 31 were 11% higher year-on-year at GBP13.09 billion from GBP11.75 billion.

The company lifted its interim payout by 11% to 21.0 pence from 19.0p.

Chief Executive Officer Caroline Connellan said: "I am delighted with the progress made during the first half. We continued to execute our strategy with discipline, making good progress on our commitment to improve underlying profit margins, in a strong first half financial performance, and welcomed Cornelian to the Brooks Macdonald group. We remain confident in the actions we are taking to set the business up for continued success, provide outstanding products and services for clients and advisers, and deliver value for shareholders."

In November, Brooks Macdonald said it will part with up to GBP39 million in cash to acquire Edinburgh-based asset managers Cornelian.

Connellan added: "We saw improvement in client sentiment at the start of the calendar year and we continue to have a positive outlook over the medium term. In the short term, the macroeconomic outlook remains uncertain, exacerbated by the increasing impact of the coronavirus outbreak, with highly volatile markets and the potential effect on the wider economy."

Brooks Macdonald shares were 4.4% lower at 1,650.00p each in London on Thursday morning.

By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The new generation will find a way to provide health insurance to every American, maybe not free but at an affordable cost. They will see to it that anyone who wants to attend college has a chance to do so, regardless of income. And when they step out into the world, they will not be burdened by a huge college debt that keeps them from thriving.
The University of Portland, Willamette University, Lewis and Clark College and Linfield College announced plans Thursday to shift their more than 10,000 students to online-only classes, suspending all in-person class instruction.

The decision comes a day after the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University took similar measures. Among them, more than 80,000 higher-ed students in Oregon are facing profound changes in their learning environments as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

The University of Portland said face-to-face teaching would end beginning Monday. No classes will be held Monday or Tuesday, giving faculty a chance to prepare online classes and allowing students a chance to travel home. Starting on March 18, all classes will be held online until further notice.

The private university will keep residence halls open and provide on-campus dining for students who are unable to return to their homes. All alumni events and gatherings, on and off campus, are being canceled or postponed.

Read university president Mark Poormans campus-wide message here.

Both universities said they have had no cases or known exposures.

Willamette University said it would shift to online classes starting Monday, continuing through April 13.

Although our campus will remain open, the shift to online instruction allows our community to practice the social distancing recommended by health officials to prevent further spread of the virus, Stephen Thorsett, Willamettes president, said in a campus-wide email. It also prepares us in case the Oregon Health Authority changes its recommendations for schools.

Lewis and Clark College will transition to online teaching over the next week, school president Wim Wiewel said. Students are free to go home or stay on campus. Wiewel said classes will be delivered fully online for the remainder of the schools academic year.

Linfield College will start spring break a week early on Monday, leaving the campus and residence halls open and giving faculty time to transition to online teaching. When classes resume March 30, the college said, no face-to-face classes will be offered unless mandated for accreditation.

Oregon Tech also announced plans for its spring term, starting March 30, to be taught remotely wherever possible.

 Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657; @robwdavis

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Iran's Rouhani: Entire government involved in coronavirus fight

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 11 March 2020 11:36 AM

President Hassan Rouhani says his entire administration is involved in the fight against a coronavirus outbreak across the country, stressing that all state institutions and officials are, in parallel, doing their utmost to minimize the damage caused by the epidemic to people's livelihood.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Rouhani said everyone at the cabinet and government institutions  including those related to economy, science, research and defense  are supporting the Health Ministry and the crisis committee formed to manage the nationwide fight.

"The entire government is playing a role in the committee," said Rouhani. "There is no individual in our administration that is not engaged."

A section of the government is trying to help people live their normal lives, said the president. "What does a normal life mean? This means electricity, water, petrol, gas and monetary issues. Our effort is focused on making people's lives, which are currently difficult, easier and more tolerable."

Besides the officials, the president added, the Iranian Armed Forces, including the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), are likewise active in containing the virus, adding that they have expressed readiness to prepare makeshift hospitals wherever the need be.

The coronavirus called COVID-19 initially emerged in China late last year and is now spreading in Europe and across the Middle East, sparking fears of a global pandemic.

In Iran, the epidemic has so far killed 354 people and infected 9,000 others. Some 2,959 people have also recovered.

The illness, whose symptoms are fever, cough and difficulty breathing, may cause lung lesions and pneumonia.

Since December 2019, over 119,400 people have been infected in several countries, with 4,300 deaths mostly in China.

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ISRO is going full speed ahead with the preparation for its first manned mission into space -- Gaganyaan, but it looks like bureaucratic lethargy could cause trouble for the smooth sailing of this mission.

ISRO/AFP

As per a recent report by TOI, the four Gaganyaan pilots that have commenced their training in Russia since February 10 havent received necessary authorisation documentation due to existing bureaucratic bottlenecks.

According to sources who wish to stay anonymous, the government sanction letter or GSL for the four Indian Air Force pilots hasnt really been signed and issued yet. Moreover, out of the Rs 4,275 crore that was sanctioned by the government for ISRO, only Rs 1,200 crore has been given to the space agency.

The Union Cabinet in December of 2018 had cleared the total coast of Gaganyaan mission pegged at Rs 10,000 crores.

The source said in a statement to TOI, Without the GSL, the pilots cannot get their proper salaries, allowances and furnished accommodation in Russia under the rules. Nor can their families join them in Russia. As of now, ISRO is making ad hoc payments to them for their sustenance. The bureaucratic lethargy even for a prestigious national mission like Gaganyaan is simply staggering.

Sources have also stated that there is a dispute between the finance and external affairs ministries over whether the four pilots in Russia should get consular status as was proposed earlier.

ISRO

According to a senior IAF officer in Bengaluru, Since Isro is the overall implementing agency of the Gaganyaan mission, the department of space had the responsibility of getting the test pilots the required documentation. They have not done it. Weve been told there has been some issue with the finance departments clearance, and that they are working on the matter.



ISRO has not made any official statements regarding the same as of now.

The rocket that will be taking Indian astronauts to space is the GSLV Mark III that weighs a massive 640,000 kilograms with the capacity to carry three astronauts. However, in Indias maiden human flight, itll only be carrying one. In its first test flight, itll carry Vyomitra -- a humanoid robot into space to thatll simulate human conditions to fine-tune the final ride.
W ere all more familiar than wed like to be with the imperatives that lead to self-isolation, but follicular isolation?

Not so much. Remember 12-year-old Chikayzea Flanders, whose Fulham school decreed that his dreadlocked hair didnt comply with the schools uniform and appearance policy? Only when his mother took the school to court did they relent. What a pity Chikayzea didnt go to Townley Grammar, the Bexleyheath school where the headmaster has a more inclusive approach to hair. After consulting with pupils, Desmond Deehan has overhauled the uniform policy, concluding that since more than half of his students come from black African families, the code was racist and irrelevant.

As someone who was regularly marched to the school bogs to wash off her eyeliner, Id say that the indignity and embarrassment of being singled out and punished for flouting school uniform rules can either make or break you. It made me, but then Im a middle-class white girl, whose lame rebellion was never likely to scupper my future. Victimising black African pupils for hair that neither could nor should conform to white ideals of neatness and propriety is wrong.

Its also a waste of energy. Challenging pupils about their cornrows, dreads, Afros or badly dyed purple hair takes time that could better be deployed on engaging them in things that matter  like their studies.

Rules are important: without them wed be lawless. But the rules governing school-appropriate hair seem particularly inchoate in an age when kids are struggling to process a wider panoply of differences. More than 300 languages are spoken in London schools. Their racial and cultural diversity is their strength, but can also be a weakness, since it can be challenging for kids of all races to navigate the different sensitivities that play out in any one school day  and thats before youve factored gender identity into the equation. At a time when kids are struggling to process more differences than ever, surely those that relate to hair should be accepted, not punished. Enough divides us already.

Nappy daze

How good are you at changing nappies? Phillip Schofield asked Boris Johnson on This Morning, as the nation waited with baited breath. Gold-medal amazing, youd expect, given hes fathered five or six children, and yet the Prime Minister was flustered. Im not going to obviously Im he replied, before finally conceding, I expect so. Phew.

For a moment there, I thought Boris had been about to confess hed never changed one. Do nappy-averse men still exist in post-feminist, gender-equal 2020? Asking for a friend. Called Carrie.

Hoarding hordes

Panic buying toilet paper? / Getty Images
Prince Charles shared a Namaste bow with Baroness Floella Benjamin today amid the coronavirus pandemic, as she collected her damehood at Buckingham Palace.

The pair were spotted exchanging the greeting, which avoids any unnecessary touching of hands, during the investiture ceremony.

Known to millions as the host of Play School and Play Away, Baroness Benjamin, a beloved children's TV presenter, was recognised for her services to charity in the New Year Honours List.

Baroness Floella Benjamin, 70, received her damehood at Buckingham Palace today from Prince Charles, both pictured. The pair exchanged a Namaste greeting (right)

The beloved children's TV presenter, pictured, was recognised for her services to charity. She has dedicated other 40 years to campaigning for young people and supporting charities

The Liberal Democrat life peer has dedicated over 40 years to campaigning for young people and supports charities including Barnardo's, Sickle Cell Society and Beating Bowel Cancer.

After receiving her damehood, the 70-year-old, from London, said: 'You get such a buzz from giving back and making a difference, changing the world, and to get an honour like this after these years it's like wonderful recognition.

'Today, it's giving me a wonderful feeling in my heart. I haven't done charity work for any ulterior motive but only to change people's lives.

'To get it, it is like wow, how exciting. But I'm still thinking: what more can I do? To me, it doesn't end here.'

A 'huge admirer' of Prince Charles, Baroness Benjamin said she was 'thrilled' to receive her damehood from him today.

She said: 'I adore the Prince of Wales because he is a man of vision and over the years, I've always written to him when it comes to the environment. He is just so with it.

'He has had to take a lot of criticism over the years but has been proved right, and all the people that criticised him have come around to his way of thinking.

'I was thrilled to have got it from him this morning because I'm a huge admirer of him, and all the things he is promoting.'

Baroness Benjamin, who has recently been in Barbados supporting charity Transplant Links, added: 'I told him about going to Barbados and he said, 'I love the Carribean, especially Barbados'.'

Born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad before moving to the UK, Baroness Benjamin has appeared in several stage musicals, including Jesus Christ Superstar and Black Mikado.

A 'huge admirer' of Prince Charles, Baroness Benjamin said she was 'thrilled' to receive her damehood from him, describing the Prince of Wales as a 'man of vision'

The Prince of Wales gave a Namaste greeting to Helen Grime, left, a Scottish composer, and Michael Prendergast, right, the original founding member of Merseybeat group The Searchers

A 12-year stint on Play School, a BBC programme for youngsters, made her one of the most recognisable children's TV presenters in the country.

In 2010, she was introduced to the House of Lords and given the full title of Baroness Benjamin, of Beckenham in the County of Kent.

On Monday, Baroness Benjamin joined members of the royal family at a Commonwealth service held at Westminster Abbey - which she said was 'absolutely incredible'.

She said: 'I always go to the ceremony because it's a coming together of nations and to make every nation in the Commonwealth feel good.

'And I have always, always supported the Commonwealth because the Commonwealth started when I was born 71 years ago, so I feel a Commonwealth baby.

'I feel a huge connection with the Commonwealth and I am glad it is now taught in schools, especially for the Windrush generation who are now here, to feel that they are part of a great nation of countries together.'

Baroness Benjamin also addressed criticism of the word 'empire' in the honours system, saying it was 'important' to understand the history of the term - after Labour leadership hopeful Lisa Nandy called for it to be removed.

Baroness Benjamin said: 'George V said, why don't we have an honour where it could be women honoured, become more inclusive, and more people across the British Empire would also be included, other countries.

The Queen doled out handshakes at Buckingham Palace yesterday, despite the fact an aide confirmed she had decided to stop shaking hands with the public for the foreseeable future

'It's not just what you think of the British going out and conquering people, George V wanted to make it inclusive. And that's what it is.'

She said that she was having conversations about how to 'modernise the word', adding: 'But I think if people realise why it's called empire, they would realise because it is to be inclusive, not to say, 'we are a great thing'.

'I think that's important. I feel proud to receive this, because it's telling you that the work you have done for your country and your society has been acknowledged and recognised.

'And I feel completely blessed and recognised today.'

With cases of coronavirus in the UK on the rise, members of the Royal Family are being advised to take precautions - but some are taking heed of the advice more than others.

Prince Charles was pictured offering up his hand as he arrived at the London Palladium for the annual Prince's Trust Awards 2020.

Charles was seen quickly remembering to give a Namaste gesture, before swiftly slipping back into old habits as he went onto greet further members of the organisation.

At Cheltenham the Duchess of Cornwall took precautions to protect herself against the virus, wearing a pair of leather gloves to shake hands with people she met.

Meanwhile it was business of usual for the Queen, who doled out handshakes at Buckingham Palace yesterday. This is despite the fact an aide confirmed to the Mail she had decided to stop shaking hands with members of the public for the foreseeable future as a matter of 'personal preference'.

Audiences are brief one-on-one meetings with the Queen which happen regularly throughout her working week, and she usually greets guests with a handshake.

But yesterday an aide confirmed to the Mail that while the royal household was still following government advice, which does not ban handshaking or large gatherings, it was 'currently Her Majesty's personal preference' not to shake hands during the Coronavirus outbreak.
"[A] passionate attachment of one Nation for another produces a variety of evils," said George Washington in his Farewell Address. "The Nation, which indulges towards another an ... habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave ... to its affection ... which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest."

It is a message that has long since been forgotten in the long history of the United States. Foreign entanglements have become common, with outdated diplomatic alliances refusing to be revoked, even as the common man suffers. The U.S. dependency on China is one such example. With millions of jobs having been sacrificed for cheap imports, American blue-collar workers have taken the brunt of this unequal trade alliance, an unspoken deal since China was admitted into the World Trade Organization in 2001. China has exploited the larger world market while simultaneously shunning WTO guidelines, issuing non-tariff barriers to minimize foreign influence in its domestic markets.

The rapid spread of COVID-19, colloquially known as the coronavirus, has put focus on how strong dependency on a foreign nation can suddenly yield a black swan event.

Napoleon infamously said, "Let China sleep; when she wakes, she will shake the world." The coronavirus, an export of China, has shaken the world. It has pummeled the stock market, causing unpredictable fluctuations that day traders have been scrambling to conquer. Fear of traveling is ubiquitous, and airlines and cruise ships are struggling to remain profitable. Consumers aren't consuming, save for hand-sanitizer and protective masks.

Even The Economist, the magazine founded in 1843 to promote free trade, has written of the wariness growing toward China concerning outsourcing the supply chain for production of pharmaceuticals in an article titled "Covid-19 is teaching hard lessons about China-only supply chains." The article quotes those who have expressed their discontent with China's role as a growing hegemonic power, such as Pentagon official Christopher Priest, who said that "the national-security risks of increased Chinese dominance of the global API [active pharmaceutical ingredient] market cannot be overstated."

Ninety-seven percent of antibiotics used in the U.S. are imported from China, according to a study from the Department of Commerce. And it isn't just the U.S. that depends on China for medicine; the Eastern Dragon is responsible for 20 percent of API production worldwide. Contaminated drugs have been exported from China in the past. For example, 246 people died in the years 20072008 due to the blood-thinner heparin being contaminated. Cheap imports come with poor quality control.

Factories in China have been forced to shut down in attempts to restrain the virus. Drug prices can easily rise if the virus continues to affect production. A survey among pharmaceutical professionals revealed that 85 percent expect disruptions in the supply chain due to the outbreak.

There is also a moral consideration when deciding to outsource to China. There is irony in the fact that many of these Chinese workers make less than a dollar an hour in poor working environments, to the point where they attempt suicide by leaping from windows, while the medicine they manufacture is meant to heal. Many lawmakers see no problem with this situation.

Failed Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg wrote in the Financial Times that growth in China "creates jobs for our export producers." That may be so, but according to the Economic Policy Institute, there have been overwhelming job losses due to trade with China since 2001. Every state in the U.S. has been affected, with 3.4 million jobs lost. Bloomberg also claimed that China is forced to "act responsibly," because of trade, in areas like "climate change." Apparently, the Communist Party of China hasn't gotten the memo from Bloomberg since the time he wrote the article in 2007, as anyone can witness if he traverses smog-filled Beijing. The Chinese do not care about environmental protection, as evidenced by their CO2 pollution being higher than the U.S. and Europe added together.

Why continue to view unmitigated free trade with China as beneficial for the U.S.?

"China is not our friend," tweeted Trump. "They are not our ally. They want to overtake us, and if we don't get smart and tough soon, they will." This was in 2013, and what he said then is still applicable today. His steel tariffs have proven to be a step in the right direction, which becomes clear when seeing how our imports from China decreased in 2019 by $87 billion, a decrease that hasn't been seen in 30 years.

Because China subsidizes many of its factories to undersell foreign markets, even while said factories are operating at a loss, unless America takes an active stance to protect and expand the pharmaceutical industry and others at home, we will always be a slave to foreign powers. As is written in Proverbs, "the borrower is the slave of the lender," and China's appropriation of our debts has given it too much leverage over our commercial policy.
The Washington Township, Northampton County, police chief has agreed to step down after a settlement was reached Wednesday with the board of supervisors.

Former Chief Scott Miller was placed on unpaid leave last month following a controversial one-vehicle crash.

Northampton County District Attorney Terence Houck took a close look at the Jan. 6, 2020, crash involving Miller after hearing differing stories about the circumstances of the crash.

According to Houck, Miller had been at a local bar for about eight hours prior to the crash. Miller never called in the crash to police. His tow truck driver finally called it in after trying for an hour to pull Millers personal SUV out of a ditch, according to Houck.

The SUV took out landscaping at a home on Kesslersville Road in Plainfield Township, police said. It also knocked loose a vent pipe from a pellet stove. The impact could have knocked the stove over and started a fire, according to homeowner Michael Drosnock.

The stove pipe leading to the pellet stove inside Michael Drosnock's home was ripped out during the crash on Jan. 6, 2020. The old pipe is on the ground. The new one is in the wall.Rudy Miller | For lehighvalleylive.com

Slate Belt Regional Police never tested Miller for alcohol consumption, Houck said. They didnt feel he was impaired, although Houck questioned the decision not to test Miller. By the time the district attorneys office got involved it was too late to test Miller for alcohol.

Houck charged Miller for driving at an unsafe speed and for failing to report the accident.

Miller didnt return a phone message seeking comment Thursday.

The supervisors approved a settlement Wednesday night, according to a statement provided by township solicitor John Harrison.

Under the agreement, Millers last day on the job was Wednesday. He will receive $15,000, which is equal to less than three months pay and his unused paid time off. He will be reimbursed for two and a half months of health insurance coverage if he opts to keep it.

Under the agreement the township will conclude this matter immediately, receive a release of claims, avoid potential lengthy litigation and further attorney fees, the statement says. This agreement lets us put this unfortunate matter behind us and focus on making this township the best it can be.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Drivers could soon be banned from parking on pavements - and fined if they fail to comply.

Ministers are considering laws to prosecute drivers amid fears swathes of the country are blighted by 'parking anarchy'.

But they admit the proposals will lumber taxpayers with 'significant' costs, and cause chaos where pavement parking is unavoidable.

Under the proposed rules, drivers who block pavements even partially could be fined or prosecuted under a new offence of 'obstructive pavement parking' or 'unnecessary obstruction'.

Ministers are considering laws to prosecute drivers amid fears swathes of the country are blighted by 'parking anarchy' (November 2019 stock photo)

Pavement parking is already banned in London, where guilty drivers are fined 70.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched a public consultation on proposals for a nationwide restriction to be enforced by police and local councils. If approved, pavement parking could be banned by the end of the year.

Councils would be asked to draw up a list of areas where pavement parking should still be permitted. New signs would indicate where the practice is allowed.

However, the DfT states: 'It should be remembered that sign clutter can ... obstruct the pavement.'

The costs of new signs and a public awareness campaign would see 'significant' costs fall to the taxpayer, ministers accept.

Drivers who block pavements even partially could be fined or prosecuted under a new offence of 'obstructive pavement parking' or 'unnecessary obstruction' (stock photo)

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: 'Vehicles parked on the pavement can cause very real difficulties. That's why I am taking action to make pavements safer.'

It comes after the Commons transport committee warned that pavement parking makes it harder for disabled people to get around.

Tory MP Huw Merriman, chairman of the committee, has described the issue as 'parking anarchy', adding: 'People believe they can get away with anything.'
Rajya Sabha witnessed heated exchanges between AAP MP Sanjay Singh and members of the treasury benches on Thursday when the former demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah for the Delhi violence which claimed more than 50 lives.

Participating in a short duration discussion on the Delhi violence, Aam Aadmi Party member Singh alleged that while Delhi kept burning for three days, the Union Home Minister did nothing.

"I want to ask what was the Home Minister doing. Such a Home Minister has no right to remain in his post," he said.

This was vociferously opposed by ruling party members.

Singh said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had sought imposition of curfew and deployment of the Army to deal with the riots, but the Centre did not act on the advice.

Refuting Singh's charges, BJP member Vijay Goel said demography of Chandni Chowk, from where he was elected twice to Lok Sabha, has changed in the last few years.

He said those opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) don't know the suffering of Hindu refugees, whose strength has reduced from 23 per cent to 1.3 per cent in Pakistan.

Continuing the debate from the ruling party's side, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said it was important to know who instigated the riots and stressed he could provide recordings to prove who all were behind the flare-up.

"Was the bomb factory discovered at Tahir's (suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain) house not instigation. Children were made to say they will kill Modi-Shah, was this not instigation, Waris Pathan speaks the language of 15 crore and 100 crore...was this not instigation," Javadekar said.

The violence in northeast Delhi last month claimed 53 lives and left over 200 injured. The riots were triggered by clashes between those protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act and those supporting it.

Earlier, Congress leader Anand Sharma said the Delhi violence, which took place during the visit of US President Donald Trump, has tarnished the country's image.

He alleged an attempt was being made for sometime now to divide the country in the name of religion.

Asserting that the mixture of religion and was dangerous and poisonous, the former Union minister said that what has happened is a "blot on India's democracy" and called for accountability to be fixed.

He alleged that timely action was not taken and there was laxity on the part of the Centre.

"You had a majority, CAA was passed and in our view it clashes with constitutional structure. It lacks constitutional and political morality and this issue is not over," Sharma said, adding that petitions have been filed by states in the Supreme Court.

It is not appropriate to say that those who opposed it are behind the riots, the Congress leader said.

"I hope the Supreme Court of India, the judiciary, the Constitution bench is convened at the earliest (to hear the matter). This delay is hurting the country. This issue must be finalised. It should be settled in finality so that the country knows whether CAA is discriminatory or not," Sharma said.

He said it took four days for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to react and claimed that even then he did not criticise it but only spoke of brotherhood.

Stressing that if the Delhi violence was a conspiracy, it must be unmasked,



Sharma termed it an intelligence failure and sought a ban on any organisation stoking violence and possessing weapons.

Seeking to know the relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken, Sharma called for an impartial probe and setting up of a judicial commission monitored by the Supreme Court to punish the guilty.

He said mere lodging FIRs is not sufficient, action should be taken against the rioters and it should also be ensured no innocent suffers.

Sharma alleged that religious passion was flared up for political benefits and for a small election, in an apparent reference to Delhi Assembly elections.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man disinfects the shrine of Saint Masoumeh against coronavirus in the city of Qom 78 miles south of the capital Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 24, 2020. (Ahmad Zohrabi/ISNA via AP)

Hub of Iranian Revolution Becomes Epicenter Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Experts Explain Political Implications

The city of Qom in Iran, a significant destination of Shia pilgrimage and the epicenter of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, has become an epicenter of the coronavirus crisis, and experts believe this has political repercussions within Iran and in the entire Middle East.

In the 1960s, Qom became the center from which Ayatollah Khomeini opposed the Pahlavi dynasty, Dr. Pierre Pahlavi told The Epoch Times via email. Pahlavi is a professor at the Department of Defense Studies at the Canadian Forces College and a member of the Pahlavi family that ruled Iran before the ayatollah took over.

In January 1978, the holy city was the scene of the first clashes between the radical clergy and the monarchist forces. Qom was for several years the residence of Khomeini and, for that matter, the real capital of the Islamic republic for a few months after the collapse of the imperial system, Pahlavi said.

Spread From Qom

Iran reported the countrys first two deaths in Qom on Feb. 19. Since then, the virus has become unstoppable, initially spreading unabated by the clergys message to pilgrims to keep coming, unlike other cities in the world that immediately shut their doors.

We call this holy shrine Daralshafa, means people come and heal from mental and physical illnesses, so they must be open, said Seyyed Mohammad Saeedi, the custodian of the Shrine of Masoumeh and Supreme Leader Ali Khameneis representative in the city, according to a video on social media.

Seyyed Mohammad Saeedi, the representative of Khamenei in #Qom: the epicenter of #cronavirus, We call this holy shrine (#cronavirus epicenter) Daralshafa, means people come and heal from mental & physical illnesses so they must be open#irancoronavirus pic.twitter.com/VoJoVHv5ez  Roj (@RojHat09) February 26, 2020

Nicole Robinson, a Middle East expert at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, told The Epoch Times via email that hundreds of Chinese students and junior clerics study at the seminaries in Qom, and the senior clergys management of the virus was a disaster.

It is unclear how long ago the outbreak began, but the Iranian governments response to keep religious shrines open despite the initial outbreak is likely the reason the virus was not contained and instead spread to other cities in Iran, Robinson wrote.

CNN reported that about 8 percent of the Iranian Parliament is infected.

Additional visits to Qom from top Iranian government officials such as Iraj Harirchi, Irans deputy health minister, spread the virus among high-level officials in the Iranian government, said Robinson.

As of March 11, 354 Iranians had died due to the coronavirus, and 9,000 were infected, according to Iranian state media.

However, Radio Farda, a Persian language broadcaster supported by the U.S. Congress, reported on March 9 cover-up by the Iranian regime and sourced the Entekhab news website saying the coronavirus death toll was more than 2,000.

Workers disinfect the shrine of the Shiite Saint Imam Abdulazim to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Shahr-e-Ray, south of Tehran, Iran, on March 7, 2020. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Shifting the Blame

Seyyed blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for the growing crisis in the city.

He said Qom is a shelter for the Shiites of the world, the center of religious seminaries and the city where Shiite sources of emulation live.

The enemy wants to instill fear in peoples hearts, make Qom look like an unsafe city, and to take revenge for all its defeats, Seyyed said during an evening prayer, according to Radio Farda.

Pahlavi said conspiracy theories have always flourished in Iran under such situations.

Since Operation Stuxnet, the cyber virus used to neutralize Irans nuclear program a decade ago, Iranian politicians and military leaders have developed a besieged citadel syndrome that tends to get mixed up in paranoia, he said.

Operation Stuxnet was a computer virus that made its way into the Iranian equipment controlling centrifuges used to enrich uranium, dealing a temporary challenge to the Iranian nuclear program, according to Reuters.

Repercussions Inside Iran

The coronavirus crisis has added to the Iranian regimes internal woes, as it has experienced public protests since December 2019.

Pahlavi said this new crisis is adding to the regimes sources of tension and could prove very damaging for its future.

The inability of Iranian leaders to contain this new crisis and their propensity to minimize its magnitude have only increased the distrust of the Iranians vis-a-vis a system which they deem more and more incapable of defending their interests, said Pahlavi.

Iran has been facing anti-regime public protests since 2017, which recently intensified after the Iranian military confessed to mistakenly shooting down a Ukrainian plane, killing at least 130 Iranian citizens.

Gregg Roman, director of the Middle East Forum, called protests in December 2017 an ironic situation because they started over a bird flu crisis that led to the mass culling of chickens and other poultry, leading to a rise in the price of eggs.

The egg prices increased by 50 percent and even 100 percent, according to Vox, and became symbolic of wider economic problems that the Iranian regime couldnt solve, as the protests quickly spread to many other cities.

So now the fact that they [elite] are the ones who are being subjugated and are being more prone to this virus, this sort of like, you know, the Faustian bargain that they made with their public health officials, Roman said, adding that the virus has come back to bite them.

Robinson said the regimes incompetence to deal with the crisis will only fuel further public dissatisfaction.

Kill Zones

Roman alleged that the Iranian regime is refusing to take responsibility for the public health crisis and is creating kill zones, kill zones throughout cities which are allegedly infected with the virus. Roman used the term kill zones to emphasize the Iranian regimes incompetence in dealing with the virus.

An Atlantic report from late February described how, in the first few weeks of the outbreak, the Islamic regime encouraged people to visit Qom instead of implementing self-quarantine, facilitating spread across the whole country.

The NCRI stated in a March 10 release that deaths exceeded 3,600 and that the regimes cover-up in Qom has turned Tehrans 9.7 million population into a killing ground because Qom and Tehran are strongly connected.

Social media is replete with videos of mass burials of coronavirus victims inside Iran, including a few videos of people protesting against these burials near their homes.

There are also videos of the regime sanitizing people and roads, using pesticides and agricultural sprays. The Epoch Times couldnt verify the authenticity of these videos.

A pharmacist wearing a face mask works in western Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 29, 2020. (Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)

Repercussions in the Middle East

Experts said that the coronavirus will make Iran more isolated and less secure in the Middle East, thus substantially impacting its power in the region.

The Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Bahrain, and Oman have already reported their first virus cases, and all these countries have strong links to Iran, Serim said.

Even, Lebanon, UAE, and Bahrain have already claimed that their virus cases were stemmed from the Iranians.

She said the epidemic will impact Irans significance as a religious pilgrimage center.

Ali Bakeer, an Ankara-based political analyst, told The Epoch Times in a message that the crisis will impact the legitimacy of the regime in the region.

He said it will increase the economic pressure on Iran, and contribute to further isolating it, as more states are aware right now how dangerous this regime is.

Bakeer said the Iranian regime never enjoyed transparency, and the coronavirus crisis shows that it cant be trusted, even in times of such disasters.

Pahlavi said the governments of other Arab countries with Shia minorities are concerned that their citizens will travel to the religious sites in Iran and bring home the virus.

A woman has her temperature checked and her hands disinfected as she enters the Palladium Shopping Center, in northern Tehran, Iran, on March 3, 2020. (Vahid Salemi/AP Photo)

In a statement, the Saudi Arabian government denounced the Iranian regime for granting Saudi citizens entry to Iran amid the virus outbreak and urged Iran to reveal the identities of the citizens.

These actions are a proof of Irans direct responsibility in increasing COVID-19 infections and in the viruss outbreak all around the world, according to the Saudi statement.

Pahlavi said the Saudi statement illustrates that, in addition to being a major public health problem in the Middle East, the coronavirus epidemic has become the subject of a real psychological war between the countries in the region.

Esra Serim, a France-based Turkish analyst, told The Epoch Times in an email that she doesnt expect the domestic unrest to escalate inside Iran in the next few days, but it can continue.

Because a regime isolated by the U.S. administration could pose grave danger to both the regional and global health and environment, she said.

Serim said Irans economic woes will continue to increase because the country is under U.S. sanctions and relies on China for help.

And now Irans relationship with China is forced to be disrupted due to the serious epidemic in China, she said.
New information from the National Virus Reference Laboratory prompted Taoiseach to issue new measures.

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan has stated that new information was received from the National Virus Reference, wherein these new directives were derived from. Holohan stated that measures are being taken based on new cases which are presenting in Ireland.

Additionally new advice is emerging from the European authority on health and disease.

Holohan could not confirm the statistics or figures that accompanied this new information, or in fact how many new cases have arisen. He confirmed that this information would be announced by the Department of Health at a briefing this evening on new cases.

He did however note that a number of areas and zones have been identified as points of communal transmission.

He clarified that when the virus spreads outside contact with confirmed cases, or not associated with travel, its a strong signal that social distancing measures should be considered."

Health Minister Simon Harris outlined that guidelines and advice was distributed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) late yesterday evening, which will be issued to the press later today with further information for the public to be aware of.
Caitlyn Jenner was seen arriving back in Los Angeles after an international flight Wednesday, hours ahead of President Donald Trump announcing a 30-day suspension of travel between the U.S. and Europe, except for the U.K.

The Olympian, 70, donned a black V-neck long-sleeved sweater with blue jeans and off-white sneakers.

The I Am Cait star accessorized with brown cat eye sunglasses and had her brown locks parted and down as she made her way through the travel hub.

Back in America: Caitlyn Jenner, 70, was seen arriving back in Los Angeles after an international flight Wednesday, hours ahead of President Donald Trump announcing a 30-day suspension of travel between the U.S. and Europe, except for the U.K.

Caitlyn earlier this week filmed an episode of the BBC1 series All Round to Mrs Browns which will air on the network later this month.

In a sequence from the filming, according to The Sun, she performed alongside Brendan O'Carroll, joking about a number of topics, including Caitlyn's stepdaughter Kim Kardashian and her husband, Kanye West.

She was spotted hours before Trump made a televised statement from the Oval Office, saying that beginning 11:59 p.m. Friday, all U.S. travel to Europe, except for the United Kingdom.

The president said that 'Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings' would be candidates for exemptions, and that officials were on top of the situation in hopes of ending the travel suspension earlier.

Stylish: The Olympian, 70, donned a black V-neck long-sleeved sweater with blue jeans and off-white sneakers

Busy: Caitlyn earlier this week filmed an episode of the BBC1 series All Round to Mrs Browns which will air on the network later this month

Fashionista: The I Am Cait star accessorized with brown cat eye sunglasses

While Caitlyn was once an avowed supporter of Trump's, attending his inauguration in 2017, things soured following the president's 2017 announcement he would move to ban transgender soldiers from the American military.

Jenner in 2018 told Newsweek that the president and his administration have 'been the worst ever' for the transgender issues, and have set the transgender 'community back 20 years, easily.'

Jenner is now done talking politics, as she told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month.

'I don't talk politics anymore,' she said. 'I tried the first couple of years [after my transition]. I went back to Washington to make some changes and, to be honest, I just got fed up. I don't even want to get involved anymore.'

Fast-moving: Jenner was spotted hours before President Donald Trump made a televised statement from the Oval Office, saying that beginning 11:59 p.m. Friday, all U.S. travel to Europe, except for the United Kingdom
Researchers from the Stanford School of Medicine have found that utilizing the help of a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous could be the best possible way for those with alcohol dependence to abstain. This finding came from a review article titled "Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12step programs for alcohol use disorder," published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Review.

For over 80 years, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a widespread AUD recovery organization, with millions of members and treatment free at the point of access, but it is only recently that rigorous research on its effectiveness has been conducted. Image Credit: SeventyFour / Shutterstock

Problem statement

The researchers said Alcohol use disorder (AUD) was described as a public health problem leading to 3.3 million deaths annually across the globe and they added that AUD led to a 10 fold greater risk of substance abuse and was 5.1 percent of all disease conditions across the world leading to an average reduction of 20 to 30 years in the life span. United States of America spends 250 billion USD annually on alcohol and related conditions, they wrote. Treatment includes several approaches, and among these, one of the oldest is the support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).

Background of AA

Alcoholics Anonymous or AA was started in 1935 by two men in Akron, Ohio, who started a support group to help each other stay sober and abstain from alcohol. A 12 step approach to abstinence was also developed by them with the first step being the acceptance of having AUD and the last step being becoming a sponsor to a new member to help him, or her stay sober. AA now has over 2 million members across 180 countries across the globe, and there are over 118,000 AA groups.

What was this review about?

This was a review that aimed at assessing the efficacy of Alcoholics Anonymous mutual help groups that are operated by peers or professionals. Some of the efficacy parameters examined included the effects of this group participation on drinking intensity, consequences of drinking, and abstinence. The study also aimed at assessment of healthcare costs on the use of AA group support. The AA interventions were compared with other clinical interventions such as motivational enhancement therapy (MET), cognitivebehavioral therapies (CBT), and 12 step interventions or twelve-step facilitation (TSF). The effects of these interventions were compared to no treatment or "wait list control" in different studies.

What was done?

For this study, a total of 35 studies were reviewed. These were collaborative work from 145 researchers around the world published in various journals and involving over 10,080 participants. Lead researcher Keith Humphreys, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, looked at the efficacy of AA compared to other measures on several variables including abstinence, frequency of drinking, consequences of drinking, and health care costs of alcohol. Onboard were researchers from Harvard Medical School and European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction as well.

Humphreys said, "Cochrane Reviews are the gold standard in medicine for the integration of all the research about a particular intervention. We wanted to do this work through Cochrane because of its rigor and reputation."

Results

AA was found to be more effective in fulfilling all the objectives in almost all the studies, the team of researchers noted. It was pitched against psychotherapy, where it emerged as more beneficial in abstinence.

Results showed that AA was 60 percent more effective compared to other measures to help those with AUD abstain. None of the 35 studies reviewed showed any other method significantly better than AA. AA and 12-step facilitation counseling was also found to be immensely cost-saving, found the researchers. One of the studies said that mental health costs could be reduced by $10,000 per person with AA. Humphreys said that the efficacy of AA remained for all irrespective of their age and gender or if they were veterans or civilians. He said that this was proven in five countries and added, "It absolutely does work."

Implications

According to the researchers, the social interactions in AA work in its favour and that provides the necessary emotional support to those with AUD to abstain from drinking. Humphreys said, "If you want to change your behavior, find some other people who are trying to make the same change."

According to Humphreys, several professionals are skeptical about the effectiveness of AA in helping those with AUD abstain. He explained that many psychologists and psychiatrists using CBT or MET believe that their approach was better and more effective than peer operated AA groups. For this study, they looked at both AA and 12 step counseling, and he agreed that AA was more effective.

Dr. John Kelly, Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Recovery Research Institute, said, "Alcohol use disorder can be devastating for individuals and their families, and it presents a significant, worldwide, costly public health problem. Alcoholics Anonymous is a well-known, free, mutual-help fellowship that helps people recover and improve their quality of life. One important finding from this review was that it does matter what type of TSF intervention people receive - better organized and well-articulated clinical treatments have the best result. In other words, clinical programs and clinicians need to use one of the proven manualized programs to maximize the benefits from AA participation." Kelly added, "In terms of healthcare costs, policymakers will be interested that four of the five economics studies we identified showed considerable cost-saving benefits for AA and related 12-step clinical programs designed to increase AA participation, indicating these programs could reduce healthcare costs substantially."

Humphreys said that this study does not include the efficacy of other support groups for addictions such as Narcotics Anonymous. He said however, that this study is "certainly suggestive that these methods work for people who use heroin or cocaine." He concluded that this study validates the advice given to those with AUD to try AA for their condition, saying, "That was really good advice, and that continues to be good advice."

This study was supported by Stanford's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and was not funded.
Legghette had been expected to tell jurors that he did not know Bauer was a police officer, and that he fired in self-defense after a strange man chased and started to attack him, Kamin said as the trial began last week. He was also expected to say that after he opened fire, he heard someone else fire a gun.
Appointment

12 March 2020

Somerset Hills Hotel, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, announced today the appointment of Ashley Jacobs as area director of sales and marketing for the 118-room boutique hotel. Ashley will spearhead the sales team at the reimagined community staple, set to open doors in the heart of historic Warren, N.J. in Spring 2020.

A seasoned industry professional, Ashley brings nearly a decade of dynamic hospitality leadership experience to her role, where she will focus on account development, brand awareness and driving overall success and growth of the property. Prior to joining Somerset Hills Hotel, Ashley served as area general manager of Interstate Hotels & Resorts in Tampa, Fla. In this role, she defined sales targets and managed business operations, overseeing a $3.5M hotel renovation. Previously, she held additional management roles at notable properties in Texas, where she continuously improved market share and executed sales efforts for two complete hotel renovations.

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in hospitality management from Northwood University in Michigan. When she's not busy driving property sales, Ashley enjoys exploring the outdoors, whether it's hiking, camping or relaxing at the beach.
Put life before money and close the borders I thought we were trying to slow it down, not stimulate it (Six million Australians to get immediate $750 coronavirus stimulus payments, smh.com.au, March 12). Stephen Driscoll, Castle Hill Is Scott Morrison's announcement of a cash splash an admission that the Labor stimulus during the GFC worked?Denis Goodwin, Dee Why Indeed, this economic challenge is not the same as the GFC (No, historys not repeating itself, March 12). This time, thousands of people could die. Jessica Irvine has not factored in the enormous impact this would have on families, not to mention the subsequent economic ramifications of lives lost. With a government whose priority is the almighty dollar, the ordinary Australian often seems no more than a statistic. Graham Lum, North Rocks John Hewson suggests forgetting the politics of stimulus, and getting on with reform, but surely both are required ("Forget the politics of stimulus, get on with reform'', March 12). A low-carbon Australia is job-creating, giving hope against climate crises. But so is stimulus, when casual workers lack sick leave pay, wages and Newstart are kept low, wage theft continues, and bank debt becomes a more desperate option. Jocelyn Pixley, Paddington

Our Attorney General and Industrial Relations Minister have suggested that casual staff are prepared for sick leave due to coronavirus because many would have already made provisions for that because ''the purpose of casual employment is that youre paid extra in lieu of entitlements. Given penalty rates have been phased out, casual work is increasingly unreliable in terms of continuity, how does his statement reflect the real world of employment? Meanwhile Social Service Minister Anne Ruston has indicated there will be no changes to the Newstart rate in the stimulus package. Foolish of course to hope otherwise from our government. Linda Shaw, Braddon ACT Each passing day is proving that politicians should play no part in decisions on medical emergencies. Australia is in a perfect position to completely halt new infections of coronavirus, other than via contagion from existing confirmed cases. Forget about vague references to limiting sporting events, large public gatherings and closing educational institutions. Close the borders to all incoming travellers now. Our doctors are already calling for it; it is the only certain method of containment and a complete no-brainer to any politician prepared to put human life before money. Jeremy Cornford, Kingscliff Just remember that the PM and his coal crew were already heading to recession with a tanking economy and no economic policy before the scapegoat COVID-19 appeared. Clare Reoch, Mosman Buyers want to wipe the slate clean People panic-buying toilet rolls and other items are now wanting to return panic purchases. This confirms my opinion that 2020 truly is the year of the halfwits (''Woolworths rules out buyer remorse'', March 12). Richard Merrell, Penrith

No mention yet of fridge magnets yet. I am pretty alert, a little alarmed and only partially regretting my stubborn refusal to stockpile toilet paper. Lorraine Hickey, Green Point Im impressed by how our Indigenous peoples managed 60,000 years without toilet paper. The paper bark tree down the road looks good. Barbara Stacey, Cronulla I have a good idea: lets cancel a submarine and spend that money on finding a cure for coronavirus. Doug Johnson, Bellevue Hill Sneeze a crowd As for shutting down crowd events such as the footy, I wonder why is that event likely to be more risky than the close contact on a crowded train (''NRL players told to avoid fans as coronavirus protocols set'', smh.com.au, March 12)? Or a toilet paper scrum? Geoffrey Anderson, Richmond

Due to COVID-19, rugby league might have to be played in empty stadiums. What's new? Michael Deeth, Como West Rail delay, light on detail Surprise, the second stage of the light rail may not open this month ("More transport cost blowouts loom, March 12). I wish Id kept all the information about the light rail that arrived in our letterboxes when it was starting to be built. I thought the Randwick and Kingsford lines were to open together. When Randwick opened, the part that goes to Kingsford was called a branch line and was to be opened in March. Now the Minister is pretty confident it will be opened before May. So we have lost our favourite restaurants, Anzac Parade is denuded of life and the students from UNSW still have to use the fleet of buses. It seemed like a good idea at the time but will we ever see it. The carriages still practice going along the route, their emptiness mocking us. Wonder what before May'' will turn out to be? Judy Sherrington, Kensington Double standards It is hard to reconcile the federal Coalitions current declaration about putting public health first with its years of steadfastly denying and fighting growing community claims about the hazardous health and related impacts of toxic chemicals in contaminated residential locations around a number of defence sites (Millions to flow in toxic foam win, March 12). Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT)

Nuclear over-reactor? The problem is that these allegedly safe, small, modern reactors always seem to be in the future, and I suspect that is where they will remain (Letters, March 12). The bottom line is that nuclear power has catastrophic failure modes. Solar and wind do not. No amount of spin will change that. Brendan Jones, Annandale A number of correspondents this week have made statements about the dangers posed by nuclear power reactors quoting large numbers of deaths from the accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima. Many of these are wildly exaggerated, but appear to be passing into our post-truth world as facts. While I remain neutral on nuclear issues, I can offer these hard facts from the Chernobyl Forum report (2006) prepared by eight of the UNs organisations. After Chernobyl, 134 people involved in the most high levels of exposure during the initial response were diagnosed with acute radiation sickness of which 28 subsequently died. A further 19 died over the next seven years but not all were attributable to radiation. It is reported that there have been 4000 excess thyroid cancers of which 15 people had died by 2006. So there are about 50 deaths that can be directly attributed to Chernobyl. It is estimated on population statistics that in the 600,000 people involved in the clean-up, there could be up to 4000 excess radiation-related cancer deaths over the individuals lifetimes, on top of the 100,000-125,000 that would normally occur. In the Fukushima accident, no-one has died from any radiation-related activity but more than 18,500 people died from the earthquake or tsunami. Prof Dale Bailey, Discipline of Medical Radiation Science, University of Sydney Leave island alone Your correspondents have nailed it with regard to Cockatoo Island (Letters, March 12). To wander around the place is an evocative experience because a visitor is never alone but accompanied by the whispering ghosts of all those who once toiled there, or were incarcerated there, or even had their Biennale art works briefly displayed there in those great, gaunt, echoing buildings. It is a hushed place, a rare retreat from the shrieking mad city. It is already a museum, a gallery, a library, a temple, a theatre of shadows. Leave it alone. Kent Mayo, Uralla

On the TAFE side The thought bubble that TAFE premises could be used by private providers, who are in active competition with TAFE smells to me of privatisation by stealth ('''Privatisation by stealth': TAFE campuses to be opened to other skills providers'', March 12). Our TAFE colleges provide top class tuition to students who do not wish to become university fodder and have interests elsewhere. Our TAFE and apprentice system sets a benchmark of which we all should be proud. But our conservative government would sell its collective underpants if they thought there was profit in it. Genevieve Milton, Newtown Trigger point It's not the fact that Rambo Elliott didn't know he was breaking the law that is outrageous for the minister to admit to, it's the fact that he distributed images of himself posing like a gangster. Great modelling for our youngsters? I think not. (Letters, March 12). Denis Suttling, Newport Beach
Meghan Markle is reportedly very happy to be back on Vancouver Island and is enjoying two-hour long walks with son Archie through the woods every day, a source has told Us Weekly.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, recently returned to Canada from the UK, where they carried out their final duties as senior members of the Royal Family.

Megxit comes into force from March 31, at which point the Queen's grandson and the American former actress will no longer use their HRH titles as they pursue a new life of personal and financial freedom.

And Meghan appears to be relishing her new life in Canada, where she previously lived while filming legal drama Suits.

Meghan Markle is reportedly very happy to be back on Vancouver Island and is enjoying two-hour long walks with son Archie through the woods every day, a source has told Us Weekly

'Meghan takes a walk with Archie every single day through the woods,' a source told Us Weekly.

'She either pushes him in a stroller through the paved trails through the public woods by their home or straps him on and walks the more rustic routes. The walks usually last around an hour or two, but she takes them daily.'

In January Meghan was photographed taking 10-month-old Archie and her two dogs through the Horth Hill Regional Park near the opulent 10million [$14million] Vancouver Island mansion they have used since American Thanksgiving last year.

Followed by two bodyguards, Meghan was wrangling her black Labrador Oz and beagle Guy while appearing to struggle to keep Archie in her baby carrier.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, recently returned to Canada from the UK, where they carried out their final duties as senior members of the Royal Family. Pictured together at the Commonwealth Day service

The source claimed the duchess is 'very kind and pleasant' to any locals she meets while hiking and stops to chat about parenting and the weather.

Meghan is also reportedly telling friends she is 'so happy to be out in nature' and in their 'secluded' area, the insider added.

Earlier this week Meghan and Harry attended the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey - their final official engagement as senior members of the Royal Family.

They were reunited for the first time with Prince William and Kate Middleton, with a body language expert claiming it was 'not the warm reunion we'd been hoping for'.

Meghan, pictured with Harry last week at the Mountbatten Music Festival at the Royal Albert Hall in London, is also reportedly telling friends she is 'so happy to be out in nature' and in their 'secluded' area

Meghan is reported to have flown back to Canada soon after the Commonwealth Service, with Bazaar.com's royal editor-at-large Omid Scobie revealing she wanted to 'be home before Archie woke up'.

He said the duke and duchess believed their exit from royal life 'wasn't necessary', but felt forced into it - especially after they were left to 'fend for themselves' during Meghan's pregnancy.

According to Omid, Harry, 35, was 'heartbroken' at having to give up his military honours after serving 10 years in the British army, while Meghan, 38, shed tears at the farewell party the couple threw for their staff.

Writing in Bazaar.com Omid, who accompanied the couple on the final days of their farewell tour, said: 'To say they were crushed is an understatement.'

Harry and Meghan, pictured at the Endeavour Fund Awards last week, reportedly believed their royal exit was 'not necessary', but they felt 'forced into it'

The couple will keep their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage, but start paying commercial rent and pay back 2.4million in taxpayers' money spent on its renovations.

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.

The couple are predicted to make millions of pounds from public speaking, lucrative contracts, book deals - or perhaps for Meghan, a return to acting.
The Maharashtra government plans to set up isolation wards and coronavirus testing facilities at private hospitals in Mumbai to deal with the outbreak of the deadly virus in the state, an official said on Wednesday.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government plans to set up isolation wards and coronavirus testing facilities at private hospitals to deal with the outbreak of the deadly virus in the state, an official said on Wednesday.

Representatives of private hospitals in Mumbai met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Health Minister Rajesh Tope and senior ministers to discuss the rising number of coronavirus cases in the state.

Follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak here

"The state government has decided to work on a couple of fronts, including setting up isolation wards and private testing facilities at Mumbai-based hospitals and seeking accreditation from the Centre for the same," a senior official, who was present at the meeting, said.

The state government also plans to improve screening facilities at international airports, especially in Mumbai, he said, adding that doctors and nurses will be trained about standard treatment procedures to keep patients safe from other infections.

"Setting up a testing facility is crucial, as it will reduce the burden on Pune-based National Institute of Virology. The state plans to seek accreditation from the Centre to conduct coronavirus determination tests," he said.

When asked about screening facilities at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, he said, "The present screening facility needs to be modernised. We need to deploy more staff and the overall procedure requires some fine-tuning."

The staff of private hospitals will also be trained to follow guidelines for coronavirus infection and its treatment, he said.

Representatives from Mumbai's top hospitals, including Jaslok, Leelavati, Nanavati and Hinduja, were present at the meeting, he added.
On Tuesday night, Jana Goode got an urgent video message from her youngest childs school that two people at the school each had either direct or indirect exposure to someone who tested positive for the new coronavirus. Out of caution, the Joy School, a small private school of about 150 students, would shut down until March 25.

The Houston mother of three was alarmed enough she immediately texted her doctor and asked how soon the family could get tested. His reply: They couldnt. They didnt meet the criteria.

Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

Only those with a fever, cough or shortness of breath who also have had direct person-to-person contact with someone infected or who has traveled to an area where theres been community transmission are eligible for testing under current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria being followed by local health departments. The criteria remained in place this week in Houston even after local health officials announced the first case of community spread of the disease in a Montgomery County man Wednesday.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Coronavirus update  everything you need to know

Over the last couple days its become clear that (our lack of tests) may give us, in a sense, an undercount, if we want to put it that way, of what the community spread may have been, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Wednesday, the day the first example of community spread was announced. We know that it is not only possible, but very likely there are other cases like it going on in Harris County, Hidalgo said.

The lack of testing nationally outraged both Republicans and Democrats in Congress on Thursday. They want to know why the U.S. is not testing people for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, at as fast a pace as other countries. Members expressed their concerns following a closed-door briefing where administration officials reportedly werent able to explain the nations lack of testing.

The frustration erupted as the disease continued to spread globally and in the United States. It has now infected more than 132,000 people in 111 countries, including more than 1,400 in America.

There have been 26 cases in Texas, 18 of them in the Houston area. That includes the Montgomery County man, who had not traveled outside the area  a concern to health officials because it means the disease is now being transmitted locally.

In Houston, hospitals that want to test patients for the virus have three options: the Houston Health Department, the capacity of which is somewhat limited; any of the three private companies now conducting testing but whose turnaround is a few days longer than local health departments; their own testing, developed themselves, like Houston Methodist; or one developed by a private company, like Texas Childrens has done with a German test. In Houston, just Methodist and Texas Childrens have tests of their own.

We need to test more people, said a frustrated Dr. Cedric Dark, an emergency room physician at Ben Taub Hospital in Houston. Were not going to find the true prevalence of this disease and were not going to understand the true fatality rate without more testing.

Dark wasnt specifically critical of his hospitals response, but said he was dismayed by the nations response.

A study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Assocation by researchers in Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, found that statistically every infected person will spread the disease to 2.2 others. The research also found that the rapid spread is facilitated because people without symptoms often do not know they are infected.

A spokesman for the Houston Health Department on Thursday downplayed concerns. Though he wouldnt give any sort of figure for the number of tests its laboratory is conducting, he said it hasnt had a backlog since it began testing last week and is nowhere near capacity.

We have plenty of capacity, said Porfirio Villarreal, director of communications for the health department. Everyone that needs to be tested is being tested.

Early this week, said Villarreal, the lab began operating under the CDCs loosened criteria, which no longer requires travel to a country on the agencys list of restricted places. Now, for instance, people can be eligible based on travel within areas in the U.S. where there the disease has spread.

He also said health department officials will stretch the criteria in some cases, such as for people in high-risk groups, like the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.

Still, some numbers are striking. Fewer than 10,000 people in the United States have been tested since the first coronavirus case was reported in the country Jan. 21, members of Congress were told in the briefing. That compares with more than 190,000 tested in South Korea since its first positive case the same day.

In Houston, despite the health department assurances, some doctors said they feel hamstrung by the testing rules and cumbersome protocol.

Almost nobody meets the criteria, said one emergency room doctor in Houston, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. She added that the lack of testing not only skews the true count but hampers protecting the public.

The doctor said she sees dozens of patients every day in her emergency room who should be tested but are not because they fall short of the criteria.

Dark, the emergency room doctor at Ben Taub, takes issue with the White Houses promise that anyone who needs testing can get it. Thats clearly not true, he said. Its also not true that any doctor who wants to get a test for their patient can.

The Houston Health Department capacity is roughly 600 patients, at which point it would start referring suspected cases to the CDC or the state department of health for testing, Villarreal said. He added that the city could request additional tests from the CDC if it reaches capacity.

The lab is working seven days a week, both a morning shift and one that goes to 9 p.m., Villarreal said. He said it turns around results within 24 hours.

The Harris Health System is sending patient samples to one of the private companies, but it is unclear if other hospitals and health systems in the Houston metro area are making use of such tests.

Quest Diagnostics, one of the private companies, said it expects to have performed several thousands of tests nationally by the end of this week. Rachel Carr, a spokeswoman for the company, said the company is ramping up capabilities at its labs and expects to be able to perform tens of thousands of tests within the next six weeks. She said the results are available three to four days from the time they receive a patients sample.

Methodist started developing its own COVID-19 diagnostic test soon after the new coronavirus emerged at the end of December. Although the hospitals doctors are the only ones who can conduct the test, Methodist is collaborating and communicating extensively with other Texas Medical Center hospital diagnostic laboratories, spokesman George Kovacik said.

Texas Childrens started using the German test Tuesday with maternal as well as pediatric patients. The test has not yet confirmed any positive cases.

Dylan McGuinness contributed to this story.

jenny.deam@chron.com

todd.ackerman@chron.com
She said the organization is trying to prepare for different scenarios because there is no predicting what will happen in the coming weeks and months. One thing she has had to consider is what will happen to those customers who come to the cafe for free meals if it has to close. She described one person who comes daily as someone who is so smart, has an enormous heart and has grappled with demons.
India handed over 600 tonnes of rice to Madagascar on Thursday for victims of the January flood which left 26 dead and 92,000 affected in the east African island nation.

Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar handed over the consignment of rice to Madagascar Foreign Minister Tehindrazanarivelo Djacoba at a function held at the Port Antsiranana.

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Shardul arrived in Madagascar's Port Antsiranana on Tuesday carrying 600 tonnes of rice. This was the Indian government's second delivery of relief materials for the Madagascar flood victims. It was also the biggest relief load ever carried by any Indian warship.

Speaking on the occasion, Kumar said that the rice was brought to Madagascar in a warship, the fastest way the relief could be delivered "by us for our brothers and sisters in the Indian ocean".

Djacoba described the Indian assistance as "historic" and thanked Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Thursday continued his tour of Armenian towns campaigning in next months constitutional referendum, signaling no need yet for suspending public rallies in view of new coronavirus cases confirmed in Armenia.

Armenian authorities reported three new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the total of confirmed cases to four.

The countrys Ministry of Health said that two of the people testing positive for the novel coronavirus infection known as COVID-19 were citizens of Armenia aged 45 and 27 and one was a 51-year-old Italian who works in Armenia. All three had arrived from Italy, officials said.

The first coronavirus patient indentified in Armenia on March 1 had arrived from Iran, another country hit hard by COVID-19.

Over three dozen people have been quarantined in a disused hotel in Armenias resort town of Tsaghkadzor since the beginning of the month as a precaution against the further spread of the infection.

Prime Minister Pashinian, who was visiting the central resort town of Jermuk today, said that authorities had been taking measures to identify the scope of contacts of the new coronavirus patients in order to place them under quarantine, too. This could also be home quarantines, he said.

Later on Thursday Health Minister Arsen Torosian reported in a Facebook post that all people who may have had close contacts with the new coronavirus patients had been identified and isolated. A total of 57 persons have been isolated, the minister said.

Talking to media today Pashinian also promised that his government will keep the public informed on the coronavirus-related situation, including if the number of cases and risks increase. As for his campaign rallies ahead of the April 5 constitutional referendum, the prime minister said: As you see, at the moment the campaign is ongoing. If there is a need to suspend it, we will do so. As long as we dont do so, it means there is no need for doing that.

Since the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Armenia the South Caucasus countrys authorities 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 refrain from visiting Italy and those who are currently 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 has announced that a charter flight from Rome to Yerevan will be organized on March 15 to evacuate Armenian citizens from Italy.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that all cinema halls in the capital will remain shut till March 31 to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

"Schools and colleges where exams are not being held will also remain close till March 31," said Kejriwal.

"A meeting was held today in which all the Delhi government officials were present. Delhi's Health Minister and LG were also present. Delhi Government is ready to deal with the situation," he added.

Chief Minister added that arrangements have been made for sufficient beds for quarantine.

"We are trying to make arrangements inside under construction hospitals in Burari for quarantine. COVID-19 has been declared as pandemic and so necessary precautions are being taken and public places including government and private offices, malls, shops are being disinfected on a daily basis," said Kejriwal.

With fresh cases reported from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Ladakh, the number of people who are COVID-19 positive has gone up to 73, the Union health ministry said on Thursday.

Out of the 73 confirmed cases (17 of them foreign nationals) in the country, Kerala has the maximum number of positive cases for novel coronavirus at 17.

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday had declared the coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' and expressed deep concern.

Coronavirus which originated in the Wuhan city of China has so far spread to more than 90 countries infecting over 1,10,000 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 37-year-old man was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport Wednesday after an unloaded handgun with eight hollow-point bullets was found in his duffle bag at a security checkpoint, authorities said.

Febonel Gedeon, of Union, was arrested after a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer spotted the gun as the carry-on bag entered the checkpoints X-ray machine, authorities said. Port Authority police arrested the man and confiscated the gun with a loaded magazine, authorities said.

Passengers can travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are properly packaged and declared, according to the TSA. But firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-sided case, locked and packed separately from ammunition.

Even passengers with concealed firearm permits are not allowed to bring guns onto airplanes in their carry-on bags, the TSA said.

Gedeon faces one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, a Port Authority spokeswoman said.

Six firearms were caught at the Newark airport in 2017, while 14 were found in 2018 and 11 in 2019, the TSA said. So far this year, five firearms have been found at the airports checkpoints.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.
Another 29 party leaders and elected officials also will be part of the delegation but will go into the convention unpledged to a candidate. They include Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, the states 13 Democratic members of the U.S. House, and former President Barack Obama  though questions have been raised about whether he still qualifies as an Illinois resident.
Bhopal: Jyotiraditya Scindia who resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP on Wednesday, receives warm welcome on his arrival at the Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal on March 12, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: PK

Bhopal, March 12 : Jyotiraditya Scindia arrived in Bhopal on Thursday evening on his maiden visit after switching over to the BJP. His visit was delayed by two hours and he was taken in a procession by the BJP workers from the airport.

Scindia who has been nominated as the BJP candidate will file his nomination papers for Rajya Sabha on Friday, the closing day for nominations.

BJP workers, who missed no opportunity to criticise Scindia till a couple days ago, went to welcome him with great fanfare. He was taken from the airport to the BJP office for the state Working Committee meeting for the modalities of nomination.

Scindia is expected to garland the statues of Deendayal Upadhyay, his grandmother Vijayaraje Scindia, Kushabhau Thakre and father Madhavrao Scindia before filing his nomination.

On Friday, Scindia will file nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha with senior BJP leaders. At the same time, in support of Scindia, over 10,000 activists including many Congress district heads of Gwalior, Guna, and Shivpuri have resigned from the party.

On the other hand, Scindia's posters put up near Polytechnic square in Bhopal were either smeared with ink or partly torn by Congress activists. Congress members who were offended by his joining the BJP, also burnt his effigies and defaced billboards erected to welcome him.
Michael Zappley, 63, of Westville, Gloucester County, was arrested and charged Thursday with murder and related offenses in the death of Miguel Martinez III, 30, of Deptford, who had been reported missing in June 2016. Read more

A 63-year-old South Jersey man was arrested Thursday on murder and related charges in the death of a man who was reported missing in Deptford Township four years ago.

Michael Zappley, of Westville, was also charged with desecration of remains and tampering with evidence in the death of Miguel Martinez III, 30, of Deptford, the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office said.

Martinez had been reported missing June 15, 2016, to Deptford police. Through an investigation, police, the Prosecutors Office, and other law enforcement agencies determined that he was allegedly murdered that month at the former A & J Auto Body on Delsea Drive in Deptford.

Early last month, the Prosecutors Office said, search warrants were executed in Deptford, including in a wooded area adjacent to Fox Run Road, where Martinezs remains were recovered.

Zappley, who is being held at the Salem County Correctional Facility, confessed Wednesday to killing Martinez at the auto-body shop and to his participation in the removal, desecration, and concealment of Martinezs body, the office said.

Thomas Gilbert, public information officer for the Prosecutors Office, declined to comment on a possible motive in the slaying. He said the murder is still being investigated and asked tipsters to contact his offices Major Crimes Unit at 856-384-5500 or Deptford Township Police.

According to the Charley Project, a website that profiles missing people in the United States, Martinez was last seen on a street corner near his parents Deptford home. He had a history of drug abuse, was homeless at the time, and frequently visited Camden and Philadelphia, the site says.

Acting Gloucester County Prosecutor Christine A. Hoffman said in a statement: Zappleys arrest was a direct result of exemplary police work, professionalism and never giving up, providing a sense of clarity and justice for members of the Martinez family.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 23:20:26|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Illegal migrants have been trying to cross the Aegean Sea in an attempt to reach Greek islands from Turkey, despite warnings about danger.

During the last three days, the Turkish coast guard teams apprehended 177 migrants either stranded in a risky situation on the sea or pushed back to Turkish waters by Greek coast guard teams, the force said on its website Wednesday.

The coast guard earlier announced that migrants would not be allowed to cross the Aegean Sea upon the order of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, noting that the journey on the sea route would be "dangerous."

"Expecting a better life in Europe, illegal migrants are mostly trying to sneak into the Greek islands of Samos, Symi, Chios and Lesbos, via the Aegean, despite warnings," Mustafa Aydogan, director of the Ankara-based Bosphorus Center for Asian Studies, told Xinhua.

"It is not always possible to convince someone not to cross the sea when he is so determined and hopeful," he noted.

Besides inflatable boats and hard weather conditions that jeopardize their lives, the Greek coast guards also push them back in dangerous positions on the sea, according to the director.

In Aydogan's view, the intervention of the Greek forces in Turkey's northwestern border province of Edirne also frightened the refugees, making it less hopeful to successfully cross to Europe over the land.

"Therefore, once again, they started to prefer to push the European borders through the Aegean Sea," he continued.

The Aegean Sea was once the main route for migrants trying to enter Europe from Turkey. A deal was signed between Ankara and the European Union in March 2016 to curb the flow of illegal immigration.

As part of the agreement, Turkish authorities had stopped a total of 60,802 illegal immigrants from reaching Greece via Turkey last year, according to figures released by the Turkish coast guard.

On Feb. 28, Turkey said that it would no longer stop illegal immigrants from going to Europe, noting that it could not cope with the burden of over 3.7 million refugees in its territory.

Since Turkey's announcement, thousands of refugees have been continuously flocking to Edirne to cross the border via land routes or the Evros River.

Turkish authorities claimed that over 150,000 refugees have so far crossed the border from Edirne to Greece.
HOUSTON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Westin Houston Medical Center is the first and only hotel in the U.S. to utilize LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots to sanitize and disinfect its guest rooms and common areas to help combat the threat of coronavirus.

Link to B-Roll and Hi-Res Photography: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fucjscksyolby1w/AABNJMO7K8CqNJRiLs59mGToa?dl=0

The room disinfection technology, provided by San Antonio-based Xenex Disinfection Services, was developed by two epidemiologists in Houston, with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as their first customer. The Westin Houston Medical Center purchased two of the decontaminating robots, which are already at work sanitizing rooms inside the building.

LightStrike robots have been proven to quickly destroy viruses, bacteria, and fungi using intense pulsed xenon ultraviolet (UV) light. Hundreds of healthcare facilities use LightStrike robots to disinfect their facilities as part of their comprehensive infection prevention program and several hospitals have published peer-reviewed studies showing 50%-100% reductions in their Clostridium difficile (C.diff), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and surgical site infection (SSI) rates after they used LightStrike robots and Xenex's recommended protocols for room disinfection.

"We are taking significant proactive measures, along with following CDC guidelines, to minimize risk while also keeping day-to-day business momentum," said Archit Sanghvi, Vice President of Operations for Pearl Hospitality, the hotel's owner and operator. "Wellness is at the core of our business and with the LightStrike technology, we saw a distinct and innovative opportunity to create a well-prepared environment for travelers within our hotel."

The LightStrike robot uses intense germicidal UV light to disinfect rooms by quickly destroying microscopic bacteria and viruses that may be missed during the manual cleaning process. Operated by hotel staff, the robot uses pulsed xenon (a noble gas) to create intense broad-spectrum UV light, unlike older technologies that use mercury bulbs (mercury is toxic) to create continuous, single spectrum UV light.

Dr. Sarah Simmons, Xenex Senior Director of Science, DrPH CIC FAPIC, said, "Xenex is honored that The Westin Houston Medical Center has invested in LightStrike robots to provide a superior level of cleaning for its guests. Our LightStrike Germ Zapping Robots have been successfully used for years to disinfect healthcare facility rooms, and we are glad to be able to work with Pearl Hospitality to provide that same level of cleanliness to hotel guests."

Along with utilizing cutting-edge robotic room disinfection technology, The Westin Houston Medical Center is implementing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols including:

All public areas and guestrooms are disinfected using hospital-grade cleaner (Ecolab's TB Disinfectant Cleaner).

All guest room consumable amenities (bath amenities, coffee & tea) and items such as the remote control are disinfected on-site and placed in sealed bags for guests.

Removal of all non-essential (magazines, collateral, decorative pillows, etc.) items in guest rooms to ensure a continually clean, disinfected environment.

EcoLab's disinfectant cleaning protocols in all areas of the hotel including public areas, guest rooms and back of house areas (i.e. kitchen, etc.)

Dedicated team member to use enhanced sanitization methods on all guest-facing public areas - 24 hours coverage.

The hotel has also created immune-boosting food and beverage offerings including:

A special immune system boosting menu packed with antioxidants, vitamins, probiotics and prebiotics for guests to ensure continued health.

Immune Booster Kits - Energize Kit and Travel Kit with tinctures and Airborne products.

The 273-room Westin Houston Medical Center hotel is located at 1709 Dryden Road, between Main Street and Fannin Street. The newly opened hotel is situated in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, which attracts more than 15 million annual visitors. For more information, visit www.westinhoustonmedicalcenter.com.

About Pearl Hospitality

Founded in 2000, Houston-based Pearl Hospitality is built on the belief that by investing in the growth of its people, it is investing in the future of the company. Pearl Hospitality has a proven track record of acquiring distressed properties and converting them into top-tier hotels. The focus on both personal and professional growth of the Pearl team results in a level of performance that far exceeds industry averages. Unlike many hotel companies, their integrated model offers a turn-key service approach, providing development, construction and operations. For more information visit, www.pearlhospitality.com.

About Xenex

Xenex is a world leader in UV technology-based infection prevention strategies and solutions. Xenex's mission is to save lives and reduce suffering by destroying the deadly microorganisms that cause hospital acquired infections. Xenex is backed by well-known investors that include EW Healthcare Partners, Piper Jaffray, Malin Corporation, Battery Ventures, Targeted Technology Fund II, Tectonic Ventures and RK Ventures. For more information, visit xenex.com.

SOURCE The Westin Houston Medical Center
A rare chance at access to two of the states most powerful planning decision-makers saw members of the public attend a Perth property industry event on Wednesday, reflecting the height of public tension over development and rezoning in the Perth Hills and suburbs.

The Urban Development Institute of Australias high-priced events are usually attended by the property industry and state government, with some local government attendance and none from the general public.

WA Planning Commission chairman David Caddy, UDIA national treasurer Darren Cooper and Department of Planning director general Gail McGowan at Wednesday's event. Credit:UDIA WA

But Wednesday's event, featuring WA Planning Commission chairman David Caddy and Department of Planning director general Gail McGowan, prompted a rush for the opportunity for a question time grilling.

Almost every Perth council sent representatives and, for the first time, the community did too, with representatives from action groups including Save Perth Hills showing up.
A quarantine staff from the Seongdong District office in Seoul disinfect a local PC room, Thursday./ Yonhap



By Kim Se-jeong



PC rooms are rising as new infection clusters, as some customers have been identified among recently confirmed COVID-19 patients.



On Thursday, Dongdaemun District in Seoul said four new patients, all in their 20s, have been confirmed to have been at a local PC room in the district.



Earlier this week, an insurance call center became the first infection cluster case in Seoul involving almost 100 confirmed patients. Previously, churches, hospitals and nursing homes also saw many coronavirus cases confirmed.



The government warned about community infection, saying that it is the cause of more than 80 percent of new coronavirus cases.



Earlier this month, Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province saw a coronavirus case in a 17-year-old teenager who had a PC room on his itinerary. A 16-year-old girl in Busan also showed symptoms after she had visited a PC room.



Popular among young adults and teenagers, PC rooms are common and often near schools and residential areas.



Education experts believe the PC room infection should have been foreseeable because schools have been closed for almost one month and bored school children would flock to PC rooms in their neighborhoods. The government delayed school opening twice to March 23.



N Media Platform, an IT company which releases data on PC room users, said between March 2 and 8, 2,690 hours were spent on PC room computers nationwide, 1.6 percent up from the previous week. It said the increase could be attributed to the fact that school children who had nowhere to go amid the spread of the coronavirus chose to spend time in PC rooms.



On Thursday, the government belatedly issued infectious disease guidelines for PC rooms.



According to the guidelines, PC room owners should check temperatures on all who enter the space  twice for the employees per day  and stock personal sanitization goods. To respond to people with symptoms, owners should have emergency contact information for local medical centers.



Local governments hurried to send quarantine staff to the PC rooms for disinfection.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it was considering to order all PC rooms to be closed temporarily. "What we need right now is to prevent additional group infections from happening."


A tradesman has been praised for tackling an accused paedophile who allegedly sexually touched two young girls after luring them with a backpack full of toys and lollies.

Police allege Anthony Carr, 68, approached two girls, aged four and six, who were playing in the front yard of their unit complex in Campsie, south-west Sydney, on Wednesday at 6.30pm.

The accused paedophile allegedly sat on a rug with the girls and offered them lollies, before sexually touching one of the them.

But the children's next door neighbour noticed something was strange after seeing Carr go onto their property, and quickly sprung into action.

Hero neighbour Milad Youseff, 31, ran outside and dragged the alleged paedophile away from the girls

Milad Youseff, 31, ran outside and dragged the alleged paedophile away from the girls.

Mr Youseff then detained the 68-year-old until police arrived.

'I seen an older guy sitting on a play mat with two kids and he was [allegedly] touching the younger girl,' the shaken neighbour told 7News.

'That's when I knew [something] wasn't right.'

A backpack full of lollies, toys, a digital camera and a drone could be seen strewn across the front yard

Mr Youseff shared footage to social media showing police officers swarm the property while Carr laid face-down on the grass.

A backpack full of lollies, toys, a digital camera and a drone could be seen strewn across the front yard.

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

'This is how he [allegedly] lures kids.'

Detective Superintendent Kerrie Lewis alleged Carr 'sat down on the rug and offered them lollies and biscuits'.

'And then he began taking photographs and film of the girls,' she said.

In footage a police officer can be seen thanking the Good Samaritan.

The alleged paedophile could 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,' Mr Youseff could be heard saying.

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

Carr 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.

Carr appeared in Burwood Local Court on Thursday and didn't apply for bail. He will reappear in court next month.
WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - Two Americans and a British personnel are believed to have been killed when 15 small rockets hit Iraq's Taji military camp north of Baghdad on Wednesday, two U.S. officials told Reuters citing preliminary information.

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. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Sandra Maler)
The insolvency and bankruptcy law has resulted in recovery of just 10 per cent of defaulted loans in case of companies other than the seven big ones referred for resolution, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Speaking on a bill to further amend the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code to give protection to new owners of a loan defaulter company against prosecution for misdeeds of previous owners, Ramesh said of the 970 cases referred to IBC, 780 have been liquidated, indicating a mortality rate of 80 per cent.

The first objective of the IBC was to save companies but with a mortality rate of 80 per cent it is not life saving, he said.

Ramesh said against admitted claims of Rs 3.51 lakh crore, Rs 1.50 lakh crore has been recovered by way of auctioning defaulting firms to new buyers.

The recovery was 43 per cent, implying that banks took a hair cut of 57 per cent on their loans, he said.

If the big seven firms -- Electrosteel, Bhushan Steel, Monnet Ispat, Essar Steel, Alok Industries, Bhushan Power & Steel and Jyoti Structures are excluded then the total recovery is 10 per cent, he said, "This means banks took hair cut of 90 per cent."



"That is matter of great concern," he said.

Ramesh also sought revisiting provision in the amended IBC that gives power to resolution professional to order other firms such as small and micro enterprises to continue supplying goods and services to the defaulter firm.

Under the law, a resolution professional oversees the insolvency process.

This raises the risk of default for MSME firms, he said seeking revisiting of the provision in the bill on supplying to defaulter firm.

"You should not sacrifice interest of MSME sector," he said.

He went on to advocate a special regime for MSMEs by amending the 2006 MSME Act by allowing them to list accounts receivable above Rs 1 crore so they can invoke IBC to recover due amounts.

MSMEs face cash flow issues mostly due to delayed payments, he said.

Earlier, introducing the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC) was brought in 2016 as desired results were not coming from prevalent laws to resolve defaults.

Since 2016, several amendments to IBC have been brought to keep pace with developments in the outside world and orders passed by courts and tribunals on their interpretation of the law, she said.

She said the bill was brought in the previous Winter session of Parliament but couldn't be passed and so an ordinance was promulgated. The present bill is to convert the ordinance into a law.

Mahesh Poddar (BJP) said the amendment to the IBC will protect current management from past mistakes of previous owners.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A former police officer who once worked for two Pennsylvania police departments will appear in Cambria County court, accused of assaulting a 13-year-old girl on Feb. 21 in Geistown, authorities said.

Jason W. Knipple, 35, of the 2600 block of Bedford Street, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday before District Judge Susan Gindlesperger, of Stonycreek Township.

Geistown police have charged him with strangulation, simple assault and harassment.

According to a criminal complaint, the girl told police that Knipple grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. A witness reported that she saw Knipple slap the girl across the face. There was a report that the girl went to Conemaugh Hospital after the incident.

Were going to get a hold of those records, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Gribler said. We have testimony from the victim and a witness indicating they saw some type of assault.

Knipple is being represented by Johnstown attorney David Raho.

He had worked as a part-time officer in Windber and in Geistown. He worked in Windber from October 2017 to August 2019 and in Geistown for eight months in 2018 and 2019.

Knipple is free on bond.

By Patrick Buchnowski, The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. (TNS)
New Delhi, March 12 : SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh on Thursday said that the passenger carrier is far better placed to weather the turbulence caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

According to Singh, the sector is under a lot of pressure which is temporary.

"We have been here before. SpiceJet is far better placed than many others to weather this turbulence," Singh was quoted as saying in a statement.

"I firmly believe that this is an opportunity for SpiceJet, for the government and the aviation ecosystem to create more efficient and viable structures for the growth that lies ahead." He emphasised that the Indian aviation market and especially the domestic one has immense potential and will remain among the fastest growing in the world.

"The government is doing an excellent job in managing the crisis and India has managed to contain COVID-19 cases to a large extent." "I am confident that the proactive steps that have been taken by the government will help us overcome this crisis situation and set India apart as a prudent and safe country," he said.

Lately the sector has been heavily battered by the coronavirus outbreak and its cascading impact on the overall travel industry.
Rumours are swirling that Married At First Sight's Aleksandra Markovic and Jonethen Musulin are dating months after filming the social experiment.

A source told OK! magazine on Thursday that the groom, 27, and the real estate agent from Perth, 32, have been 'hanging out'.

'They've been spending time in Sydney and hanging out at a low-key bar owned by one of Jonnie's mates.'

Rumours are brewing: Married At First Sight is shaken by claims groom Jonethen Musulin (pictured) and bride Aleksandra Markovic have been 'spending time' together in Sydney

But it seems this supposed couple was not a complete surprise - if speculation is to be believed.

According to the insider, Jonethen had told other participants that he wanted to be paired with Aleksandra.

'He was telling other contestants he wanted to be paired with Aleks over Connie because she was more his type, had a better personality and got his sense of humour!'

'He was telling other contestants he wanted to be paired with Aleks over Connie': An insider revealed that Jonethen wanted to be matched with Aleks all along

Is it over: While Connie (left) has been putting in plenty of effort into her marriage, the source said that Jonethen is no longer interested in her or their saving their relationship

While Connie has been putting in plenty of effort into her marriage, the source said that Jonethen is no longer interested in her or their saving their relationship.

'[Jonethen's] saying he's going to take Aleks on an "official" date in the very near future,' the source added.

Daily Mail Australia has approach Aleksandra and Channel Nine for comment.

Jonethen responded to Daily Mail Australia and dismissed the claims made by the magazine. He said: 'I haven't seen Aleks since the reunion in January.'

Another scandal: This comes as Aleksandra is embroiled in a cheating scandal on the show

Starting up the drama: At the dinner party on Wednesday, chaos erupted when groom Michael Goonan accused her of cheating on 'husband' Ivan after he saw her coming back from a date with another man

This comes as Aleksandra is embroiled in a cheating scandal on the show.

At the dinner party on Wednesday, chaos erupted when groom Michael Goonan accused her of cheating on 'husband' Ivan after he saw her coming back from a date with another man.

Mishel backed up some of Michael's story, revealing to producers that she and Aleks had gone out to a Serbian event two weeks prior where they 'met a guy who drives a Ferrari and really likes Aleks'.

A little truth to the rumour: Mishel backed up some of Michael's story, revealing to producers that she and Aleks had gone out to a Serbian event two weeks prior where they 'met a guy who drives a Ferrari and really likes Aleks'

However, she added that she had no knowledge that Aleks may potentially be seeing this man.

Mishel decided to confront the brunette about the cheating rumours.

Aleks stated adamantly, 'Michael is lying. I was raised with integrity, I wasn't raised to tell lies.'

Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7pm on Channel Nine
Teresa Giudice is not ruling out having more children, despite ending her marriage of 20 years in December.

On Wednesday's Real Housewives of New Jersey season 10 reunion episode, the 47-year-old mother-of-four got candid about her wanting to try for a boy in her next relationship.

When host Andy Cohen asked if she'd be interested in dating, she exclaimed: 'I would love to have a little boy!'

Teresa Giudice told host Andy Cohen she is considering freezing her eggs to leave the door option to have children with her next romantic partner on Wednesday's Real Housewives of New Jersey season 10 reunion episode

'I might freeze my eggsyou never know,' said the reality star, who share daughters Gia, 19, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14 and Audriana, 11, with ex Joe Giudice.

Teresa called it quits with Joe, who was deported to Italy after serving a 41-month sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud last year.

While she claimed they had a 'great marriage' on the show, Teresa admitted she would not want her daughters' future partners to behave like her former spouse.

'I might freeze my eggsyou never know,' said the reality star, who share daughters Gia, 19, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14 and Audriana, 11, with ex Joe Giudice

'I tell my daughters, I say to them, ''Daddy's a great father, I don't want a guy to speak to you the way daddy speaks to me, I want you to find a guy who puts you on a pedestal in front of everybody,N she said on the reunion special

'I tell my daughters, I say to them, "Daddy's a great father, I don't want a guy to speak to you the way daddy speaks to me. I want you to find a guy who puts you on a pedestal in front of everybody,"' she explained, after a video clip rolled of Joe's harsh language.

She then insisted Joe was nice to her when the cameras were off, but acted 'like this macho guy' when they were filming.

Not okay: She then insisted that Joe was nice to her when the cameras were off, but acted 'like this macho guy' when they were filming

The open book also talked about what she is looking for in her next man, in addition to clarifying she is just friends with her pool contractor Anthony Delorenzo.

'My first guy was Italian, I want my next one to be Jewish. I heard Jewish men make the best husbands,' she said.

'I want somebody to talk so sweet to me and gentle, I want to be beautiful to him. I'm done with the whole Italian, tough guy. I'm tired of that. I want something different,' Teresa added.
Synopsys is introducing a new automated segmentation tool for hips and knees, which will have the benefits of:

Significantly reducing segmentation time

Achieving consistent and reliable results

Efficiently processing large number of datasets

More details will be released soon on this exciting technology. For now, see a quick preview on YouTube:http://bit.ly/2SWAJIB

For more information, please contact [email protected]

Simpleware automated segmentation will be demonstrated in a webinar on the 31st March, 2020. Please see here for more information on how to attend.

Synopsys will showcase automated segmentation with Simpleware software at booth #1181 at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Annual Meeting, held between March 25-27, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.
Princess Mary has pulled her children out of boarding school in Switzerland to return home to Denmark, after their homeland went into coronavirus lockdown.

The 48-year-old mother-of-four and her family released a statement on Friday morning, sharing their decision to 'return home and stand with the Danes at a time that requires a lot of everyone'.

'In the light of the increased situation in Denmark in connection with the handling of the spread of COVID-19, the Crown Prince family has decided that the family should return home from Switzerland,' the statement said.

Princess Mary has pulled her children out of boarding school in Switzerland to return home to Denmark, amid growing coronavirus concerns in her home country (pictured with her family in 2018)

The 48-year-old mum-of-four and her family released a statement on Friday, sharing their decision to 'return home and stand with the Danes at a time that requires a lot of everyone'

'The Crown Prince family finds it most natural to return home and stand with the Danes at a time that requires a lot of everyone and where there is a common responsibility to look after each other.'

The statement continued: 'On January 6, 2020, their Royal Highnesses Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine began a 12-week school stay at Iemania-Bees in Switzerland.

'Thus, the school stay will be interrupted before time, and all four children will continue in Denmark, when public institutions open again in Denmark.'

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine began their boarding school stay in January, when Princess Mary described their time there as a 'gift' to her children (pictured on their first day of school in Copenhagen in 2017)

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine are certainly no strangers to their neighbouring nation, having enjoyed yearly ski trips to Verbier where they often stay in their friend Peter Warnes's chalet (the Danish royal family pictured in 2016)

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine began their boarding school stay in January, when Princess Mary described their time there as a 'gift' to her children.

'This is a gift where they can be together about it, and a gift they can have with them for the rest of their lives,' she said.

Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine are certainly no strangers to their neighbouring nation, having enjoyed yearly ski trips to Verbier where they often stay in their friend Peter Warnes's chalet.

Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary's decision to educate their children abroad is likely a result of Prince Frederik, 51, and his brother Prince Joachim, who spend a couple of years studying abroad as teenagers.

They attended the Ecole des Roches in Normandy, France in the early eighties, and may well have chosen multilingual Switzerland to improve their brood's language skills.

Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary's decision to educate their children abroad is likely a result of Prince Frederik, 51, and his brother Prince Joachim, who spend a couple of years studying abroad as teenagers (the Danish royal family pictured in 2016)

On Thursday, Denmark became the second country in Europe to go into lockdown, as coronavirus continues to rip across Europe and the rest of the world.

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 fuelling the crisis.
Exploration company Tullow Oil is to reduce its headcount by 35pc after it reported a loss after tax of $1.7bn last year, on the back of exploration write-offs and impairments.

Included in the write-downs is the decision by Tullow to increase its Uganda write-off by $500m.

Revenue for the year also came in at $1.7bn, according to its annual results.

Tullow had free cash flow of $355m and year-end net debt of $2.8bn.

The company has suspended its dividend and lowered its capital expenditure for this year by 30pc to $350m.

Areas of potential investment to maintain long-term production and reserve recovery identified at both Jubilee and TEN fields, the group said.

Group production this year-to-date in line with expectations; and the companys full year guidance is 70,000 - 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

On the back of a disappointing business performance, Tullow saw the departure of its CEO Paul McDade in December.

Dorothy Thompson, chair of Tullow Oil, described it as an intense period for the group.

We are focused on delivering reliable production, lowering our cost base and managing our portfolio to reduce our debt and strengthen our balance sheet.

Even with recent events in oil markets, Tullow's assets remain robust: we are a low-cost African oil producer, with a strong hedging position, substantial reserves that underpin our business and a high potential exploration portfolio."
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi on Thursday launched ninth generation of the Redmi Note series smartphones Note 9 Pro Max and Note 9 Pro with support for ISRO's indigenously developed navigation system, NavIC in India.

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"Redmi Note 9 Pro series is built for true Mi Fans and we hope they would appreciate this perfect amalgamation of Aura design, Pro Cameras and Max Performance as we continue to bring the best specs with highest quality at honest pricing," Anuj Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer, Xiaomi India said in a statement.

Redmi Note 9 Pro Max will be available in three colour variants, interstellar black, aurora blue and glacier white in 6GB + 64GB, 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB storage variants for Rs 14,999, Rs 16,999 and Rs 18,999 respectively across mi.com, Amazon India, Mi Homes and Mi Studios starting March 25.

Meanwhile, Redmi Note 9 Pro will be available in same three colour variants in 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB storage variants for Rs 12,999 and Rs 15,999 respectively starting March 17.

Both the devices will be available across all offline partner stores soon.

In terms of specifications, both the smartphones feature a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display with a screen resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels along with triple Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

Both the phones are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor along with Adreno 618 GPU.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max houses a quad-camera setup with a combination of 64MP primary lens, 8MP ultra wide-angle lens, 5MP macro sensor and 2MP depth sensor. For the front, there is a 32-megapixel in-display selfie shooter.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro also comes with a quad-camera setup with a combination of 48MP primary lens, 8MP ultra wide-angle lens, 5MP macro sensor and 2MP depth sensor. For the front, there is a 16MP in-display selfie shooter.

Both smartphones run on Android 10 with MIUI 11.

Additionally, the phones are backed by a 5020mAh battery. The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max comes with 33W fast charging support, while the Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with 18W fast charging support.

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Police in western Pennsylvania have identified the man accused of shooting a school van full of students on Tuesday.

Bryon Benetas, 41, has now been charged with two counts of attempted homicide for the incident in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, WPXI is reporting.

A van with seven elementary-school-aged students from the Shenango Area School District was on Route 65 Tuesday afternoon when two bullets shattered a side window, passed through the van, and existed through another window, according to reports.

No students were injured.

Police soon found Benetas -- wearing a camouflage suit, hat, face mask and gloves -- in a wooded area near the highway, and, according to reports, he had two guns with him  a rifle with a scope, silencer and bump stock attachment and a Walther PPQ semi-automatic handgun with eight live rounds inside.

Judging by the bullet holes in the van windows, police believe he fired two shots, missing one student by 12 inches and another by seven inches.

Investigators also found 12 bullet fragments and one partially-intact bullet in a restaurant parking lot across the street from the wooded area, according to reports.

In his nearby home, police found homemade silencers, possible bomb-making activity and lots of ammunition, reports indicate.

As he was being led away by police, Benetas denied shooting the van.

Police are still investigating to see if the van was the intended target.

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Where are you from? Russia? the middle-aged woman asked matter-of-factly, as she walked toward her polling place in Seaside, California on Super Tuesday. She had been approached by a man wearing a Cossack Ushanka hat with a hammer and sickle pin, offering to buy her vote.

Neither she nor her daughter took the bribe, but they seemed intrigued, even charmed, by a guy meddling in our political process. After voting they returned with news that a friend was willing to switch to Donald Trump in the general election if the price were right.

This was an experiment for Candid Camera. My crew and I have been eavesdropping on the 2020 campaign, gathering material for a humorous documentary titled Outvoted.

Ive been at this for too many years to be surprised by most of what folks do or say  but the degree of gullibility we observed in this test of Russian electioneering was stunning.

Actor Elijah Morgan claimed to be with the R.F.B.A. (Russians for a Better America). He offered cash to anyone willing to vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary, and then switch their support to Trump in November.

One Sanders supporter expressed apparent enthusiasm for the first request, but quickly turned negative after hearing the second part. Thats not going to happen, she said about voting for Trump.

A male voter seemed to like the Trump deal, asking How much do you want to buy (my vote) for? He lost interest when informed that the payment was in rubles.

Another fellow in a tie-dyed shirt who self-identified as a Trump-supporting T Man, examined the 10 ruble note and then happily accepted it to cement his support for the president.

Although our shows library, compiled over seven decades by my father, Allen Funt, and myself, is widely used in college psychology classes, weve never promoted our work as being scientific. Rather, the clips serve to provide real-life support for themes that experts are analyzing.

In this case, our experiment underscores the fact that Americans have been desensitized to flaws in the election processfrom failed apps in Iowa all the way to evidence of Russian interference. Yes, Elijah was polite and friendly, but where was the outrage? I was expecting at least a few of the two dozen people he confronted to be what we call finger-waggers. We were looking for the type of citizen who would lecture us about how You cant do this in America!

Instead, we had a college student who listened to the pitch and then exclaimed, Thats so cool!

A few weeks earlier in Reno, Nevada, I pretended to be from Canada and asked voters about the rules for caucusing. A few got parts right, but none was fully able to explain the process  especially early caucusing, in which Nevadans were required to list their top five choices for the presidential nomination.

Others were totally confused about the caucus day itself. Pete had a caucus, Elizabeth Warren had a caucus, Joseph Biden had a caucus, insisted one fellow. So how many caucuses do you have? I asked. Answer: I dont know. A woman summed it up: Its America. Theyre trying to confuse the hell out of us.

As a purveyor of smiles, Im pleased by some of this confusion; as a political observer Im dismayed.

Near Columbia University in Manhattan a few years ago we gathered signatures on political recall petitions. The elected officials we sought to oust were fictitious, but that didnt stop most people from signing. One man even signed a blank petition, trusting us to later insert the name of any politician we hoped to remove from office.

H. L. Mencken is credited with reminding us, No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public. Personally, Im still a believer in Americans collective wisdom. But the assault by social media, certain cable-TV hosts and the guy in the White House is testing that.

Asked to sell her vote by a man she thought was a Russian operative, one woman replied, I like your hat. The video may be found at: https://youtu.be/8zzwdl3B1C0

Peter Funt is a writer and speaker. Columns distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons, Inc., newspaper syndicate.

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Indian Customs has barred passengers arriving from 15 nations, including China, the US, Italy and South Korea, from entering duty-free shopping area at the Delhi airport in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

With the government already cancelling visas with effect from March 13, this would mean that even Indian nationals returning home from these 15 countries will not be allowed to enter the Delhi duty-free shopping area.

The Commissioner of Customs at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, in a notice, said the ban has been put in place "in view of the threat from COVID-19 virus".

Passengers arriving on flights from China, the US, Italy and South Korea, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Spain, France, Vietnam, Nepal and Thailand will not be able to enter the duty free shopping area due to operational limitations till further orders, it said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a pandemic.

Globally there have been over 4,200 deaths in 114 countries due to COVID-19. The number of infected people in India is 73, as per health ministry data.

The government on Wednesday suspended all existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organisations, employment, project visas until April 15.

Also visa-free travel facility for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) holders has been suspended from March 13 to April 15.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 09:13:35|Editor: Liu

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MANILA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military said on Thursday morning that two leftist rebels and an army soldier have been killed in a clash in Samar province in the central Philippines.

The military said in a report that the fierce fighting broke out shortly after 8 a.m. local time on Wednesday between the Philippine Army and at least 10 New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas in a village of the coastal Pinabacdao town.

The fighting lasted 25 minutes, resulting in the killing of the three, the report added.

The report said troops recovered an M16 rifle, ammunition, mobile phones, five solar panels and a backpack from the slain rebels.

The NPA rebels have been fighting the Philippine government since 1969, making the rebel group one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies. They concentrate their attacks in rural areas and small-scale skirmishes with the military.

The NPA strength is estimated at 3,500, a number significantly lower than its peak time of around 25,000 in the 1980s.

Over the past five decades, the NPA rebels have continued to carry out killings, raids, kidnappings, acts of extortion, and other forms of violence primarily directed against the Philippine security forces. Enditem
SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carrum Health, the first digital health company connecting employers and employees with Centers of Excellence (COEs) for better, more cost-effective healthcare, today announced a new partnership with Northern Light Health in Maine through Northern Light Mercy Hospital and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. The partnership, which marks the latest advance in Carrum Health's national expansion, makes it easier for self-insured employers in Maine and greater New England to lower healthcare costs and improve clinical outcomes.

Carrum Health's existing customers in Maine, including the State of Maine employee health plan and Jackson Labs, will have access to best-in-class orthopedic care for employees and dependents at both Northern Light Mercy Hospital and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center. Best-in-class bariatric services will be available at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center as well. Employees and dependents of Carrum's large Fortune 500 customers also will have the ability to receive outstanding care in their region through the two locations.

"Our collaboration with Carrum Health showcases the excellent care we provide at Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for residents in Maine," said Jonathan Hutter, Director, Brand and Marketing at Northern Light Health. "Together, we can provide access to orthopedic and bariatric care services at affordable and predictable costs close to home."

Carrum Health's technology-powered platform helps employers avoid variation in the quality and cost of care, which is common in Maine. According to an analysis of 160,000 commercially-insured lives in Maine conducted by the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, the cost of hip and knee replacements can vary by 615% in the state. In partnership with Northern Light, Carrum Health makes costs more predictable, saves employers between 25% and 45% on such procedures, and guarantees better patient outcomes. Northern Light even takes on risk by backing each of their procedures with a 30-day warranty.

"We are so pleased to welcome both of these Northern Light locations onto the platform," said Christoph Dankert, VP of Product at Carrum Health. "Both locations offer patients outstanding patient-centered care, and the clinical standards and outcomes meet Carrum Health's rigorous standards all COEs are evaluated against."

In December, Carrum Health announced that the State of Maine is leveraging the Carrum Health platform through a partnership with Maine's Healthcare Purchaser Alliance. Through that partnership, state employees, early retirees and their dependents can use Carrum Health's award-winning technology to find the best providers and bundled payments for a range of surgical procedures. Those members will now have access to Northern Light Mercy Hospital and Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center.

"When the State of Maine partnered with Carrum Health last year, we were signaling to the market our position on driving change to value-based care and taking tangible steps to influence provider quality and cost," said Kurt Caswell, executive director, Employee Health & Benefits for the State of Maine. "By teaming up with Carrum to offer services at our hospitals, it's happening now."

About Carrum Health

Carrum Health was founded in 2014 with a mission to "bring common sense to healthcare" through a value-based healthcare model that benefits providers, employers and their employees. Headquartered in San Francisco, Carrum's award-winning Centers of Excellence (COE) technology connects self-insured employers with providers under payment arrangements to better manage healthcare costs. By aligning provider incentives with quality performance, Carrum drives improvements in patient experience and health outcomes. Customers include large Fortune 500 companies and public sector organizations. For more information, visit carrumhealth.com.

About Northern Light Health

Northern Light Health is an integrated health delivery system serving Maine with more than 12,000 team members in its hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, long-term and home healthcare, and ground and air medical transport and emergency care. More at www.northernlighthealth.org.

SOURCE Carrum Health

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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.
Amsterdam/'s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, 12 March 2020

After close consultation, Van Lanschot Kempen and Leni Boeren have agreed that Leni will be stepping down as Chair of Kempen Capital Management (KCM) and as a member of the Van Lanschot Kempen Executive Board with immediate effect for personal reasons. Until 1 July 2020, Leni will focus on a number of specific strategic projects within Asset Management as well as on the smooth transfer of her duties. She will be with the organisation until the end of this year.

Headed up by Leni, KCM has spent the past few years successfully launching new funds, expanding its fiduciary management, enhancing KCM UK, further shaping its international distribution and substantially growing assets under management.

Constant Korthout, CFRO of Van Lanschot Kempen, will assume Leni's responsibilities. The Statutory Board will decide soon on how best to fill this vacancy.

Leni Boeren commented: 'Over the past two years, I've had the pleasure of working with a highly professional team on the further expansion of KCM. I'm really proud of the significant growth we've achieved, both in the Netherlands and abroad. I'm confident that Van Lanschot Kempen will continue to build its position and will remain able to meet the demand of our clients, given its excellent track record and wealth of expertise. I'll be leaving the organisation sooner than expected, but this fits my desire to create more room for things that matter in my private life.'

Karl Guha, Chairman of Van Lanschot Kempen, said: 'We are grateful to Leni for her contribution to our organisation and will miss her knowledge, experience and drive. Under her leadership, KCM has staged further growth as international asset manager that creates long-term value for its clients and stakeholders. We wish her every success and happiness in her future endeavours.'

Media Relations: +31

Investor Relations: +31

About Van Lanschot Kempen

Van Lanschot Kempen, a wealth manager operating under the Van Lanschot, Evi and Kempen brand names, is active in Private Banking, Asset Management and Merchant Banking, with the aim of preserving and creating wealth for its clients. Van Lanschot Kempen, listed at Euronext Amsterdam, is the Netherlands' oldest independent financial services company with a history dating back to 1737.

vanlanschotkempen.com

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The Irish economy is heading into recession a senior economist has warned, as official measures designed to defeat the Covid-19 outbreak hits the jobs-rich industries of tourism, hospitality, and retail.

Economist Jim Power said that the economic hit in the coming months may not meet the technical definition of a recession but that the fallout facing exposed industries will nonetheless be severe.

Many employers will be forced to let staff go on a voluntary and involuntary basis to keep staff safe, Mr Power said, and that will lead close enough to a recession as most people would understand it.

Dermot OLeary, chief economist at Goodbody, said that the tourism industries across Europe will be hit hard.

Along with Spain, Portugal, and France, Ireland will experience an outsized economic impact as a result of the collapse in travel due to the virus, he said.

President Trumps decision to place an all-out travel ban from Europe marks an extraordinary escalation in the containment efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus, Mr OLeary said, saying that tourism accounts for 10% of all Irish jobs.

Business groups most vulnerable to the fallout from the virus scrambled to reassure customers but a leading tourism chief said it was time for the Government to provide a rescue package for the industrys 260,000 jobs.

Eoghan OMara Walsh, head of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, which brings together both private firms and the Government tourism agencies, in the north and south, said there are thousands of tourism jobs at risk.

The closure of tourism attractions and the restriction of gatherings will hit tourism and hospitality industries very hard, he said.

We are making a call for Government for a rescue package specifically for the tourism industry, Mr OMara Walsh said.

Retailers said they were hit by exceptional demand from customers.

Noel Keeley, chief executive at Musgrave, which owns the SuperValu and Centra chains, said there was no need for panic buying.

Elsewhere, global stock markets tanked in response to the ban on most Europeans travelling to the US announced by President Trump and following an unconvincing ECB meeting led by president Christine Lagarde.

The Ftse-100 in London and the Euro Stoxx indices fell by 10.8% and 11.5% and the price of Brent crude oil slumped again. Long-haul airlines were among the worst hit.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online broker IG, said that ECBs fumbled press conference led to fears about the sovereign debt of peripheral eurozone countries.

By leaving its key reference rate unchanged, the ECB meeting underwhelmed markets, said Cian Pierce, a UK money market trader at Bank of Ireland.

In her press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde continues to call for an ambitious, co-ordinated fiscal response from European governments, with markets now eagerly awaiting concrete news German plans to ditch the balanced budget policy in order to combat the coronavirus, he said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Bernie Sanders pledged to harness the energy from his first campaign to turn out more voters in 2020. He would build a coalition of black, young and working-class voters who were energized by his transformative vision for America to build a broad coalition that would make him an unstoppable force against Democratic rivals and President Donald Trump.

He was wrong.

Virtually every expectation that the Vermont senator carried into his second White House bid has been overturned by Joe Biden's dramatic comeback. The former vice president has emerged as the candidate preferred by African Americans from South Carolina to Mississippi and Michigan. Biden has also won voters without college degrees and made striking inroads in the suburbs that could be critical to control of the White House in November.

Last night, obviously, was not a good night for our campaign, from a delegate point of view, Sanders said Wednesday in his first public comments since he lost Michigan, the state that solidified his insurgent campaign four years ago.

Sanders isn't going anywhere immediately. He will be in Arizona on Sunday for a one-on-one debate against Biden. Arizona, which votes next Tuesday, is one of the few remaining bright spots on the primary calendar for Sanders. Having demonstrated new strength with Latinos this year, he hopes similar support in Arizona could at least momentarily blunt Biden.

But the hurdles are getting higher. Sanders needs to win 57% of the remaining delegates to wrest the nomination from Biden. Both the rules for allocating delegates and voting history suggest that will be difficult.

Sanders' challenge is demonstrated in part by his support among young voters. In Michigan, the largest of six states that voted last Tuesday, about 70% of voters under 30 backed Sanders. But they accounted for only 14% of voters, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of the state's electorate.

Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville criticized Sanders' flawed belief that he could fundamentally change the electorate by relying on the young.

There was no chance, Carville said. Any political scientist with an IQ above room temperature could have told you that.

If one of Sanders' strongest constituencies doesn't turn out in large numbers, it may do him little good.

However long Sanders remains in the race, Biden's resurgence laid bare that, at his core, the senator is in some ways more of a cause than a candidate. And movement politics rarely lead to winning national elections.

Sanders' team also appears to have underappreciated the shift in the nation's suburbs away from Trump and toward centrist Democrats who were vital in sweeping the party back into control of the House in 2018.

Sanders' embrace of democratic socialism is particularly scary to such educated moderates, who, above all, are looking for the most electable candidate to take on Trump this fall.

Bernie is Captain 35%. Thats the magic number of the ultra-liberal, ultra-progressives that are standing with him bar none, Democratic pollster Jeff Pollock said. He failed to grow.

As disappointing as that may be for Sanders, it's also a warning sign for Trump, who has repeatedly tailored his appeal to his most fervent supporters. Both men found success in 2016 in part because they could benefit from the public's harsh judgment of Hillary Clinton, who contended with both unwarranted sexism and self-inflicted wounds built up over more than three decades in the public eye.

Without Clinton as a foil in 2020, the appeal of Sanders didn't seem to expand beyond his most loyal supporters. Trump could face the same challenge in the fall.

Joe Biden doesnt have those enemies," Pollock said.

Biden faces plenty of challenges. Trump and his allies are revving up their attacks on the former vice president and have been stunningly effective in defining their opponents in the past.

And, for better or worse, the public has a clear understanding of Sanders' view of the world, defined mostly by his unyielding push to scrap private insurance with a government-run system. Biden's doctrine often seems less clear beyond being the candidate seen as having the best chance to beat Trump.

I cannot tell you how many people our campaign has spoken to who have said, 'I like what your campaign stands for. I agree with what your campaign stands for. But I'm gonna vote for Joe Biden because I think Joe is the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump,' Sanders lamented Wednesday.

Simply being a more moderate, palatable alternative to Trump may not be enough to win an election, as Clinton learned in 2016 after she positioned her campaign as a unifying counter to divisive polarization.

I have voted for a moderate Democrat every election since I was 18 and (Al) Gore was our candidate, and a moderate Democrat has lost every election," said Jennifer Epps-Addison, the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy Action, which had endorsed Sanders.

Despite the best wishes of his fervent supporters, Sanders is showing no sign of expanding his support as Biden grows his diverse coalition of African Americans, working-class whites and suburbanites.

And Sanders is quickly running out of chances to prove he can win this race. Biden's campaign released a memo Wednesday night highlighting Sanders' shrinking path to the Democratic presidential nomination.

Should our broad base of support remain  and we have seen no signs that would indicate otherwise  it will be nearly impossible for Sanders to recoup his current delegate disadvantage, the Biden campaign wrote.

___

Peoples reported from New York.

___

EDITORS NOTE  Associated Press writer Will Weissert has been covering politics for the AP since 2012. AP National Political Writer Steve Peoples has been covering politics for the AP since 2011.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 17:25:13|Editor: xuxin

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NANJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Despite the novel coronavirus outbreak, the China-Europe freight trains have been running smoothly with cargo shipped overseas in bulk, customs authorities said.

With a total cargo value of about 3.8 million U.S. dollars, a freight train carrying goods including auto parts and household appliances left for Russia's Moscow Saturday from the city of Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, according to Nanjing Customs.

More than 200 trips of China-Europe freight trains have been made in Jiangsu so far this year, a 30 percent increase year-on-year, among which the trains in the city of Lianyungang have carried over 10,000 standard containers in the first two months, the customs said.

"Due to the high level of mechanization and no direct contact between people, freight trains have advantages in exports during the epidemic," said Zhang Fan, general manager of a freight forwarding company in Jiangsu.

"We have set up special reception windows and green channels for China-Europe freight trains, to ensure no delay of the shipment amid the virus outbreak," said Wang Shoujun, an official with Nanjing Customs.

A total of 1,132 trips of China-Europe freight trains have been made in the first two months in 2020, increasing by six percent year on year, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Initiated in 2011, the China-Europe rail service is considered a significant part of the Belt and Road Initiative to boost trade between China and Europe.
Latin American states preparing for the onslaught of the new coronavirus on Thursday tightened restrictions on travel links to Europe as the region recorded its third death in the outbreak. Fears over the pandemic swept through Latin American markets, continuing a global rout that began in Asia early Thursday and forced the region's biggest carrier to slash flights. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned governments to get ready to cope with the pandemic. "Countries must prepare their health services, because there will not just be one or two cases," PAHO epidemiologist Marcos Espinal told AFP. Though still low in terms of global figures, the number of cases in Latin America grew steadily to reach more than 250 in 15 countries, with three deaths. The latest came in Guyana, where a 52-year-old local woman died. She had tested positive shortly after arriving from the United States last week. Following Venezuela and Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru became the latest countries to suspend flights from Europe, where Italy's death toll from the virus soared past 1,000. "This decision has been taken regionally, so there will be no flights to our continent from Europe," Edgar Melgarejo, president of Paraguay's National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics, told reporters. The Peruvian government also suspended flights from Asia. Latin America's biggest airline, the Chilean-Brazilian carrier Latam, said it was canceling 30 percent of its international flights for a two-month period due to falling demand over the coronavirus crisis. The measure will mainly affect flights from South America to Europe and the United States between April 1 and May 30, the company said. Argentina's government suspended international flights from the worst affected countries, without stipulating which ones, for 30 days and declared a year-long health emergency. Last Saturday, Argentina was the first Latin American country to announce a death and has had 31 cases. Six Central American states and the Dominican Republic agreed Thursday to formulate a regional contingency plan to complement national efforts to deal with the coronavirus. The region has more than 50 cases, most of them in Costa Rica and Panama. - 'Health emergency' - As well as the travel restrictions, Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez announced the closure of school and university classes. "I am making an appeal to Bolivians for calm," Anez told reporters. Mexico's private Tecnologico de Monterrey, with 150,000 students and 30,000 staff in several states, said it would suspend classes next week and resume them online later in the month. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said there were no confirmed cases in his crisis-worn country, but said large public gatherings and concerts were now prohibited. "We have to take gradually escalating measures," he said after announcing the suspension of all flights from Europe for a month. Maduro also halted flights from neighboring Colombia, where President Ivan Duque declared a "health emergency" to help health services respond faster to the unfolding crisis. Socialist leader Maduro said Venezuela was considering closing its borders with Colombia and Brazil but called for "coordination" with the right-wing governments of Duque and Jair Bolsonaro, both of which have branded him a dictator. Maduro's challenger for power, Juan Guaido, said the pandemic obliged him to reconsider calling his supporters into the streets -- a tactic he has used in his so far unsuccessful bid that began last year to force Maduro from power. But he added in a Twitter video: "The fight for democracy is not suspended." Brazil's Bolsonaro, who has previously tried to downplay the virus outbreak, has been tested for the disease, his son Eduardo revealed on Thursday. Bolsonaro's communications chief, Fabio Wajngarten, tested positive for COVID-19 after a trip to the United States last weekend. Duque also banned gatherings of more than 500 people in the country, which has nine confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease. - Football matches suspended - Other measures announced by Duque included suspending prison visits and banning cruise ships landing at the popular ports of Cartagena and Santa Marta. PAHO said it was sending support missions to countries with the weakest health services -- Haiti, Venezuela, Honduras and Paraguay. "But everyone has to do their part -- governments, civil society, citizens -- because it is a multisectoral effort," Espinal told AFP. Worst hit of the stock markets was Sao Paulo which plunged almost 15 percent by the close. Argentina fell almost 10 percent with Colombia down more than nine percent, Santiago losing over six percent and Mexico 5.3 percent. The Mexican peso closed at 21.64 to the US dollar, its lowest level since January 2017. Sport hasn't been spared with world football governing body FIFA calling off two rounds of South American qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup due to be played at the end of the month. Regional governing body CONMEBOL also suspended the next round of Copa Libertadores matches to be played next week. The Bahamas government said it had decided to withdraw from hosting the 50th General Assembly of the Organization of American States in June. burs-db-bc/it/mtp
Madhya Pradesh crisis: While Kamal Nath struggles to hold the govt, his MLAs live a luxury life

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Jaipur, Mar 12: Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh seems to be enjoying their luxurious five-star stay at a resort in Jaipur while state Chief Minister Kamal Nath is stressed on how to save his government from the BJP.

On Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Congress MLAs arrived in Jaipur by a chartered flight. However, the recent reports claim that they are staying at the Buena Vista Resorts near the Delhi-Jaipur Highway.

It is known that this resort provides high-end luxuries and various other comforts to its visitors.

To prevent BJP from poaching or call for "Operation Lotus", the Congress have out their MLAs in this resort, which is located in a peaceful environment. However, the Congress had earlier claimed that the party had shifted its 90 MLAs to Jaipur.

With all the 90 MLAs living in the same resort, it can be seen that the Congress would soon be having a hole burnt in their pocket.

According to the five-star resort's wbsite, it has more than 45 private villas, each one equipped with a private pool of its own.

A Royal Exclusive Villa in this resort with a private pool would cost a whopping Rs 90,000 per day, exclusive of taxes. With all these luxuries provided to the MLAs, it can be said that "If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys".

What happened earlier?

Former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia quit the party and joined the 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.

Despite facing a massive rebellion, the Congress in Madhya Pradesh says it is ready to fight the opposition. The Congress had said 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.

NEWS AT 3 PM, 12th MARCH, 2020

Speaker Heena Karve, following the meeting, had 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.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, March 12, 2020, 15:34 [IST]
Donald Trump won the 2016 election because the blue wall of traditionally Democratic states across the Midwest crumbled, as white working-class voters selected the man who now seeks to gut their entitlements, eviscerate their health care, slash their safety net, and send more wealth and power to the top of the food chain.

So understandably, pollsters often wonder whether that particular demo, a.k.a. Trumps Base, will remain loyal in this cycle  especially now that the only choices seem to be a self-absorbed billionaire who has abandoned the working class on a barren corner of a luck-starved neighborhood or a working-class Joe from Scranton.

Put another way: If Tuesdays Michigan primary was a harbinger, Trump might have something new to worry about.

Joe Biden, as it turns out, is the turnout candidate. The extraordinary scope of his victory in Michigan, which makes him the presumptive Democratic nominee, puts that state back under the klieg lights for the general election just by tracing who showed up Tuesday night and how they voted.

The former vice-president won Michigan by 17 points, he won every county, some counties had 50 percent surges in turnout, and perhaps most significantly, he devoured the same army of supporters who delivered Bernie Sanders his own stunning primary victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Consider: Exit polls from that state showed that Biden had a 54-31 landslide over Sanders among those who never attended college, a 52-43 advantage among those who had some college, and 52-36 edge among those who had a two-year degree. Among whites with no degree, it was 49-39. Among white women with no degree, it was 55-40. Any way you slice it, Biden grabbed Bernies 2016 voters.

The big story in Michigan: the shifting allegiance of working-class white Dems since '16.



Pretty much the entire Upper Peninsula voted for Sanders in '16. So far, huge Biden margins.  Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) March 11, 2020

Pollster Elliott Morris of the Economist unpacked it like this: Bernie's 2016 campaign was fueled by working-class whites in the Rust Belt. This year, they have been his undoing, he said. Sanders is down by about 30 points, compared to 2016, in Michigan counties with the highest shares of non-college whites. And down by just 5 in those with the least.

It was clear that Bidens dominance on Super Tuesday was largely a result of his support from African Americans, but that particular group wasnt going to win Michigan for him  it represents only 18 percent of the Democratic electorate.

But the white working class is suddenly a dedicated Democratic voting bloc, and they like Joe because they sense  overwhelmingly  that he is best positioned politically to take on Trump and end their misery.

They like him much more than they liked Clinton, at least.

Indeed, it is still an open question whether the under-45 group that prefers Sanders will vote for Biden, but Biden has time to make his case to them about college debt and climate change and the issues that bring them out. And he has a unique opportunity to begin that healing process Sunday, when he meets Sanders on the debate stage in Arizona without a live audience. We hope he uses that time to clarify his outreach to the young voters that the Democratic party cannot win without.

But were still in the foothills here, and much will happen before November.

The world economy has already been thunderstruck. There is a real and present danger that entire health care systems will be overwhelmed. And while most campaigns are conducted in the gutter  note the recent avalanche of Russian-sponsored bot-memes about Bidens mental health  that is an incongruous soundtrack to the real problems people are facing.

People like Michigan working class voters. They wont be so easily distracted this time.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
More support key for counter-terrorism in Africa, where 'misogyny is at the heart of so many' groups

11 March 2020 - The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for greater international support to African countries in their continued fight against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in parts of the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin region and the Horn of Africa.

Members issued a statement strongly condemning terrorism "in all forms and manifestations", and urged stepped up support to countries in areas such as training and in developing regional strategies and action plans.

In her briefing to ambassadors, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo outlined the reach of groups such as Al-Shabaab in Somalia and East Africa, but also ISIL and Al Qaida, whose affiliates are collaborating on attacks in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

"We know that women bear a disproportionate burden of this violence, including through sexual slavery. Just as misogyny is at the heart of so many terrorist groups' strategies, so must women be at the centre of our responses", she stated.

Marginalization fuels extremism

Ms. DiCarlo spoke on behalf of the UN Secretary-General who has emphasized the need to address the underlying factors fuelling terrorism.

A 2017 report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) details findings from interviews with more than 700 former members of extremist groups.

Most came from borderland or peripheral areas that have been marginalized for generations.

"In these ungoverned and neglected spaces that are hotspots of violence, communities experienced lack of access to services such as education, health care, justice, security, livelihoods, the opportunity to influence the decisions that affect their lives, and the opportunities they need to thrive. These are the challenges that underpin violent extremism", UNDP Assistant-Secretary General Abdoulaye Mar Dieye told the Council.

Co-opting women's empowerment

Many violent extremist groups in Africa have lured women recruits by co-opting messages about women's empowerment and improved socio-economic status, another UNDP study from 2019 revealed.

"If these root causes of violent extremism are not addressed, the risk of ongoing recruitment of women, including re-recruitment of many thousands of female returnees, will continue", Mr. Mar Dieye warned.

Extremists are also exploiting technology to recruit members and to spread messages via social media and online platforms, as the African Union's representative pointed out.

"We must also recognize that the sophistication of terrorist groups doesn't stop at their radicalization and recruitment strategies", said AU Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed. "Over the years they have morphed into well-organized shadow governments providing services and, in some cases, acting as the judge, jury and executioner."

Terrorism has no borders

Ms. DiCarlo urged international action to address issues such as poverty, weak governance, inter-communal tensions, youth employment and gender inequality.

"As terrorism has no borders, preventing and combatting it requires strong multilateral cooperation", she said, underlining UN commitment.

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While a growing number of schools across the state have closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, as of Thursday districts throughout Hunterdon County remain open -- though one in particular is more than prepared for that to change.

Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township recently began to pilot Distance Learning Days, an initiative through which students and staff can experience a school day remotely in their homes.

In January, the schools Board of Education authorized the use of up to three Distance Learning Days to be utilized at the discretion of the DVRHS administration during the school year.

Mike Gurysh, Director of Curriculum and Supervisor of Math at the school, explained the school had expected to utilize these days for weather-related school closings.

It would allow us to not have to make up days (lost) over spring break -- which we had done in the past, and causes all kinds of problems," Gurysh explained.

Recognizing that potential school closures lie ahead, Daria Wasserbach, district superintendent, described the program as a definitive benefit in the current climate.

We are ready to go, and its sustainable, Wasserbach said. This initiative will not only satisfy the legal requirements, but meaningful instruction can and will continue in the event ... of a public health-related school closure.

Through the program teachers and students log in to virtual classes simultaneously and communicate with one another using either video or audio conferencing. Tools accessed within this program -- available via the Canvas learning management system -- include a virtual whiteboard, shared notes and presentation pages.

DVRHS A.P. Physics students log into the DLDs program.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Gurysh emphasized the importance of the synchronous feature in particular while praising the programs ability to uninterruptedly continue the education of the schools student body, which amounts to approximately 750 students in total.

Were not looking to just post a bunch of projects for students to work on for the next week," Gurysh explained. "The interaction that students have with teachers, and the value that they can provide, is so important, that we dont want to take that away.

According to Gurysh, over the course of a virtual class, students are required to interact in the course in a fashion that can be monitored by the teacher a minimum of two times.

Our board of education really wanted to make sure that everybody was held accountable. It wasnt just the teachers were taking a day off and posting assignments; that they were interacting with the students," Gurysh said.

All teachers were trained to use the program beginning in October of last year, and have since run demo courses in their classrooms. Some teachers, including Supervisor of Sciences Nicole Carro, have already accessed the system to run a class when not physically present at the school.

Reflecting upon that day in October of last year, she drew attention to the efficiency with which she was able to communicate with her students.

They couldnt watch a YouTube video because of the way it was linked (in the program), but they could just stop, and turn their mics on. And they were like, Hey, Ms. Carro, some people can see the video but some cant. Can you help us out?" Carro said. So youre getting that communication, whereas I think that if people arent doing that synchronously where the students and the teachers were all together at 10 a.m., every day, the kids cant do that."

Kayla MacKinnon, a junior in Carros A.P. physics class, commended the programs utility in allowing students to complete assignments at their own pace.

The teacher can just project (an assignment), and we can do it on our own time, which is kind of how a lot of us A.P. students learn best," MacKinnon said.

She also expressed her appreciation for the programs private messaging feature.

If we do have a question, we dont have to ask it in a public chat. So I think thats also a great part of the program, MacKinnon said.

Joe Casagrande, another junior in Carros A.P. physics course, praised the program as a really efficient system.

We did a really good job of setting it up, and weve practiced it more than once now in all of our classes," Casagrande said. "If and when we need to use it, we can seamlessly transition from a regular school day to one online at home.

DVRHS A.P. Physics students log into the DLDs program.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

According to Gurysh, while the program was not widely tested at the school until last year, educators impetus to pilot it naturally resulted from major changes implemented in the district over the course of the last six years -- a number of which illustrate its status as a state-accredited Future Ready School.

These changes included shifting the student body from regular to block scheduling, which Gurysh said enabled them to work within unstructured time, as well as helping students and teachers adapt to technology through use of iPads and school-wide implementation of the Canvas software.

The high school also began experimenting with what Gurysh labeled as open campus learning days in September 2017. These are days in which students would log into their virtual classes from their homerooms in the morning, then complete the content assigned to them by their teachers within school rooms of their choosing.

Students could go anywhere they wanted, Gurysh explained. "Some students had to get together with lab partners and meet up with the teachers, while others went to the library or cafeteria or moved about the building to get extra help in certain things.

While these open campus learning days were similarly made possible by Canvas software, they were driven by asynchronous or individualized rather than synchronous learning, Gurysh explained.

Reflecting upon the expansive number of initiatives successfully implemented at the school over the last several years, Gurysh said that with each one students and teachers were initially a little skeptical," but ultimately bought into it.

Saying, OK, now youre going to teach with iPads. There was a kind of concern, like, How is this going to work? ... And then we got to open campus learning days and it was like, Oh this is going to be chaos, it isnt going to work.' And then it worked out," Gurysh said.

DVRHS A.P. Physics students log into the DLDs program.Caroline Fassett I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In expressing his optimism that the district could eventually share the program with neighboring schools, or expand upon its resources to retain students who would otherwise be placed out of the district, Gurysh declared that the school is not going to be treading water.

Were not going to be going backwards," Gurysh said. "Everything that weve done over the last six years has prepared teachers to provide engaging interaction that is going to keep moving the students forward and meeting all of their goals.

Caroline Fassett can be reached at cfassett@njadvancemedia.com.

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T his is exactly what it was like. The sounds and smell, the staff, the dented decency, the first names and frayed carpets, the foul canteen food, the long hours, the pushy men and families juggling childcare, the drink and the curries, the absurdity and energy of being part of a very small group of people trying to run a medium-sized fading world power from behind a black door in a rambling terrace in a famous cul-de-sac in central London.

I had a short and not very glorious spell working in Downing Street in the middle of the time described in Kate Falls fluent, wise and entertaining book. She was the PMs deputy chief of staff and her account brings it all back: working in a place where you have to try very hard not to feel hopelessness, as the world happens while Larry leaves cat hairs on your chair, the computers crash and the Prime Minister needs something funny to say in a video message about to be recorded for something like International Lasagne Day.

This life wasnt for me, or a lot of other people, but it was for Kate. She was never hopeless: she was a rock, a friendly, focused face just outside the Prime Ministers door, the gatekeeper a few steps from power. The best books on government are often written by those who can watch as well as do: John Colvilles diaries of working for Chamberlain and Churchill in the war are an example. Falls compelling memoir of Cameronism falls into that category. In places it is very funny, and it often catches the absurd, the sort of day I remember which began watching the Prime Minister board the deadly black whale of a Trident sub to see how a nuclear war would be launched, and moved on to an unexpected stop at a Morrisons supermarket where he wanted to buy some fish to cook for the weekend.

Scratch the surface, though, and youll find a book which is also more serious and acute than that. It offers one of the best analyses so far of what was good about Camerons government, and what didnt work. Fall is rightly proud of Camerons honourable effort to build and sell to voters a progressive, liberal centre-Right Conservatism which was once a winner, but now seems as distant as the Corn Laws. The longer we are without it, the more it will be missed.

On the move: David Cameron and Kate Fall catches up on work while travelling during the 2010 general election campaign / Andrew Parsons

She captures, too, the pace of the big moments, especially getting ready for televised debates which emerge from this account as one of the big moments of political life. This is politics as it used to be: social media hardly gets a mention, everyone has Blackberries (remember them?) But shes sharp about what was missing. Loyalty, she feels, from Michael Gove and adviser Steve Hilton (without asking what it was about their prime ministerial friend which led them to desert him  a sense, perhaps, that it was being in government that mattered most to him, not where it led). Shes good on the way men shoved their way forward, while people like Fall, more able than most of them, got things done.

We know how it ends of course. The concluding section on Europe is ghastly. But dont blame Kate for that.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele declared a national 21-day quarantine on Wednesday, although the country has no confirmed coronavirus cases, following the World Health Organization classifying the outbreak as a pandemic.

Where it stands: The closest COVID-19 cases to the Central American country are located in Honduras, which has two confirmed cases as of Wednesday, per the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. There are eight cases in Mexico and 13 in Costa Rica.

Details: The quarantine was set at 21 days in order to determine whether or not there are COVID-19 cases within the country, Bukele said in a meeting with business unions on Wednesday.

The quarantine will prevent foreign travelers from entering the country.

Go deeper: Coronavirus updates
After Democratic Partys Silence on Death of Two Black Gay Men at Democratic Donors Home, Jasmyne Cannick Won Her Election to their Board

After being ignored by her state and local Democratic Partys leadership when she called attention to the crystal meth overdose deaths of two Black gay men at Democratic donor Ed Bucks home Jasmyne Cannick has won a seat on the Partys coveted County Central Committee. On Super Tuesday, March 3, Cannick earned enough votes to secure her seat on the elected body that oversees the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

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This was Cannicks first time on the ballot and her first run for public office. She will be sworn in on June 9 in Los Angeles to serve a four-year term making her the first African American elected to this position from the 53rd Assembly District.

I decided to run for County Central Committee after Ed Buck had two Black men die in his apartment and our local Democratic Party leadership had little to say about it, said Jasmyne Cannick. Thats not the kind of political party I want to belong to, said Cannick. One that sees the lives of Black people as expendable. As Democratsparticularly Black Democratsthat is not the type of return we expect on our years of investing in the Democratic Party with our time and our votes.

Cannick plans to use her position to hold the Party accountable and to be a voice and vote for the Black community. She also plans to work to expand the participation of underserved and marginalized communities in their local Democratic clubs and the Los Angeles County Democratic Party process.

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One of my campaign slogans was I will come to your ice cream social and eat your ice cream. I will come to your pizza party and eat your pizzaand still vote against you, Cannick said speaking of the commonplace events used to woo County Central Committee members to vote to endorse a candidate running for office.

I plan to use my position responsibly and in a manner that the people who voted for me would expect me to do.

Cannick also says that she will continue communicating with and soliciting feedback from her supporters and those in her district on a monthly basis about what issues and positions the Party is taking up.

People will not say that I disappeared after I was elected, Cannick added. I fully plan on continuing to reach out to voters over the next four years.

Cannick ran against 19 people who are all vying for one of seven coveted seats that become available every four years on the prestigious County Central Committee where members are elected to their local county Democratic Party by registered Democrats in Californias 80 Assembly Districts. Members of the County Central Committee determine who gets the Partys endorsement, what issues the Party addresses and who gets financial support.

In 2017 when Gemmel Moore died, Eric Baumana close friend of Buckswas both the head of the L.A. County Democratic Party and the California Democratic Party. Under his leadership, the Party remained silent and many members were afraid to speak out for fear of angering Bauman. Buck had contributed over $500,000 to Democratic candidates, elected officials, the Party, and clubs. Bauman  the first openly gay head of the state party  was forced to resign in 2018 over claims he sexually harassed and assaulted people at political events. In 2019, 55-year-old Timothy Dean died from a crystal meth overdose in Bucks apartment.

Buck remains in federal custody and awaits trial later this year on charges related to the deaths of Moore, Dean and multiple other victims.

Jasmyne Cannick was endorsed by a long list of elected officials, Democratic clubs, community organizations and leaders including Congresswoman Karen Bass, Senator Holly Mitchell, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, Los Angeles City Council President Emeritus Herb Wesson, Councilmember Marqueece Harris Dawson, Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, Son of Baldwin, Stonewall Democratic Club, New Frontier Democratic and the Los Angeles African American Womens Political Action Committee. She is also supported by the families of Gemmel Moore and Timothy Dean.

An out Black lesbian, Jasmyne Cannick is known nationally for her sincere commentary and advocacy on political, race and social issues. She has worked at all levels of government including in the California State Assembly as a press secretary before reprising that role in the House of Representatives for a member of Congress. Jasmyne has worked for several city and county governments including five mayors. She continues to work on numerous local, state and federal candidate and ballot measure campaigns in California providing strategic communications including media relations, public affairs, and crisis communications. She was one of the lead political strategist behind the landslide victory of Super Tuesdays Reform L.A. Jails Measure R victory. She currently works part-time as a Special Assistant to the President Emeritus of the Los Angeles City Council and spends the rest of her time honing her passion of working with some of Californias top civil rights attorneys, criminal justice reform and social justice organizations providing communications counsel.

Jasmyne Cannick will now represent Californias 53rd Assembly District, which includes the cities and communities of Adams-Normandie, Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, East Hollywood, Hancock Park, Huntington Park, Koreatown, Larchmont Village, Pico-Union, Westlake, and Vernon, on the County Central Committee.

To learn more about her campaign, visit www.voteforjasmyne.com.
W hen and where

Sweat by BXRs Marylebone studio, Mondays at 6pm.

What's the drill?

This 45-minute class takes place on a cardio machine called the Versaclimber, a vertical machine that mimicks the motion of climbing. Its the only studio in the UK to use it in a class. The instructor, Alex, brought the concept to London after finding the machine to be the perfect low-impact workout  just like spinning, it gets the heart rate up but goes easy on the joints. Plus it burns more calories. You climb to the beat of the music  Alex demonstrates on a machine at the front and mixes up sprints, super sprints, squats and long, medium and short steps on the pedals. Theres a warm down on the floor at the end.

The skinny

Really go for it and you can burn up to 800 calories in a 45 minute session. Youll feel it in your quads and glutes immediately.

The social network

The Versaclimber has a cult following: regulars are an even mix of men and women and often come multiple times a week. Vogue editor Edward Enninful credits his recent weight loss to the class  hes even booked it out for a private birthday party.

Instructor appeal

Alex, who brought the machine to BXR, often does the Monday class. The Versaclimber is his baby and his enthusiasm is infectious: youll want to sing along as you sweat through the climbs.

What to pack

Sweat towels are provided on each machine so just bring a bottle  theres a holder to the right hand side of each climber.

The sounds

Alexs beat-filled soundtrack is one of the most addictive in town  he sings along even when hes losing his voice from all the shouting. Youll feel euphoric.

Locker-room chat

Sweat by BXRs basement Marylebone studio is a hit with the A-list thanks to its super-luxe feel: inside, theres a cushioned chill-out zone with sofas, a giant flat screen TV and an in-house Joe and the Juice bar serving club sandwiches to vegan yoghurt bowls, plus shakes, juices and coffee. Locker room-wise, expect some of the sleekest in town: grand marble surfaces, gold taps and furnishings, you are looking gorgeous today on the mirrors. All the extras are provided from fluffy white towels to Malin + Goetz body wash, Sure deodorant dry shampoo and Ghd hairdryers.

Tips for first timers

Try to get a machine at the front so you can see the instructor and expect pins and needles on your first go  just step off the machine and shake your feet out if it doesnt go away. This class is mostly regulars  Alex says members are evangelic about it after three goes  so he keeps an eye out for new members. Its not as intimidating as it looks  the motion comes quickly.

The afterburn

You'll leave dripping and ready to go again  the benefit of the Versaclimber is it gets your heart rate up but youll get your breath back almost immediately when you stop, Alex insists. He recommends pairing the workout with the studios 40-minute Strength & Conditioning class straight after  your legs will be tired but youll be fine to do weights. Prepare to hobble the next day.
BOSTON, March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Business travel has slowed, schools are closing, and large corporations are asking employees to work from home in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. As companies prepare their readiness strategies, they would do well to start with how to manage the worry and panic their employees are facing, says Jan Bruce, CEO, meQuilibrium, the leading digital resilience solution.

As companies prepare their Coronavirus readiness strategies, they would do well to start with how to manage the worry and panic their employees are facing, says Jan Bruce, CEO, meQuilibrium, the leading digital resilience solution.

"It is fundamental for organizations to take steps to address the resilience of their employees. Leaders and employees are feeling anxious and stressed," says Bruce. "During times of uncertainty in the face of threat, our brains go on negative autopilot and we exaggerate the probabilities of bad outcomes. Coronavirus anxiety is an understandable response to the unknown."

Resilience and agility are crucial skills in times of threat. Resilience represents the ability to rebound productively in challenging situations and in today's anxiety-ridden work environments, those who possess adaptive capabilities will be better equipped to handle the psychological toll. meQuilibrium's scientific research has shown that highly resilient people are 28% more able to adapt to changing circumstances.

"The science is incontrovertible: resilience helps people work more effectively by managing their minds and emotions in high stress, adverse situations," explains Andrew Shatte, PhD, chief science officer of meQuilibrium and a world-renowned resilience expert. "Organizations that prepare their people to quickly switch gears from threatened to productive, can navigate this challenging time effectively, instead of remaining in non-stop threat mode."

The fundamental cognitive skills needed for employees to succeed in volatile circumstances and rebound from disruptions include stress management, emotion control, emotional intelligence, confidence, positivity, and the energy and purpose to persevere without burning out.

To help employees develop skills to deal with uncertainty and give HR leaders tools to become more resilient organizations, meQuilibrium is offering a free online package of resources , including an on-demand webinar "Uncertainty in a Time of Coronavirus" featuring meQuilibrium's co-founders and resilience experts Jan Bruce, CEO, Adam Perlman, MD, MPH, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, and Andrew Shatte, PhD, Chief Science Officer. Dr. Perlman also serves as Director of Integrative Health and Wellbeing for Mayo Clinic Florida. Dr. Shatte is a world-renowned expert on resilience and a Brookings Institute Fellow. The webinar is designed to help people rebound productively in challenging situations like the Coronavirus epidemic.

meQuilibrium suggest these five ways that organizations can optimize their workforce's cognitive capabilities, stress and emotion management in tumultuous times:

Understand current capacities and risks related to cognitive performance and stress management using assessments with high predictive ability. Triage those at-risk using intelligent routing to direct employees to resources for support when risk is identified. Provide training for cognitive upskilling, which can strengthen employees' self-management, preventing stress-related problems down the line. Equip teams for success by teaching them to be calm and focused so they can remain positive and make reasonable decisions. Upskill managers to thrive during change. When managers know how to see the opportunity in change and respond with agility and resilience, they can support employees to do the same.

meQuilibrium's resources offer proven strategies for developing positivity, emotional control, and empathy while avoiding worst-case thinking. To access the free webinar and other resources, visit meQuilibrium .

About meQuilibrium

meQuilibrium is the engagement, performance, and wellbeing solution that harnesses behavioral psychology, AI, predictive analytics and neuroscience to help innovative businesses build workforce potential and navigate uncertain times. By unlocking the power of resilient people and teams, our customers more successfully navigate even the most turbulent of times. Learn more at https://www.meQuilibrium.com .

Media Contact:

Beth Brody, BrodyPR

[email protected]

908-295-0600

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Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund has marked down its exposure to Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) and Essel Infra Projects (EIL) in five schemes. The net asset values (NAV) of five debt schemes fell 0.41-3.37 percent after the marked down.

In a note to investors, the fund house said, The debt securities of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADA Group) and EIL held by schemes of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (FTMF) have been marked down on March 9.

The schemes impacted are:- Franklin India Short Term Income Plan (Number of segregated portfolios - 3)- Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund (Number of segregated portfolios - 3)- Franklin India Low Duration Fund (Number of segregated portfolios - 2)- Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund (Number of segregated portfolios - 2)

- Franklin India Credit Risk Fund (Number of segregated portfolios - 3)

Earlier on December 5, 2019, non-convertible debentures (NCDs) issued by Essel Infra Projects were valued based on a 50 percent haircut as the bank loan facility of the issuer was downgraded to default (D).

The fund house said, "On March 9, securities were valued again and an additional haircut of 35 percent of the fair value was taken. The cumulative haircut factored in the value of EIL, which now stands at 85 percent of the face value on a cumulative basis."

Explaining the rationale for a markdown, the fund house said that global stock markets have fallen sharply from March 9 onwards as investors continue to worry about the broader economic effects of coronavirus outbreak. Bearish sentiment has adversely affected stock prices and potential liquidity of listed share collateral. Longer than expected time to monetise assets has increased dependency on listed share collateral for recovery. Due to continued stress in the issuer groups, we have further marked down NCDs of EIL, Reliance Big Pvt and Reliance Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering Pvt to reflect the same at fair value.

Soothing investor concerns, the fund house said the securities are backed by listed shares of ADAG.

Mutual fund experts told Moneycontrol that with ADAG group companies bankrupt and Essel group restructuring of bad loans, the value of the balance (15 percent) debt portfolio remains doubtful.

A mutual fund manager said it is time for fund houses to seriously introspect its inhouse ratings processes instead of just relying on external rating agencies.
In the face of growing public concern over the coronavirus pandemic, public officials in Michigan have announced a series of emergency actions including the declaration of a statewide emergency and the suspension of Detroits brutal water shutoff policy.

On Tuesday night, hours after over a million people turned out to vote in the states Democratic primary, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency as she announced the states first two confirmed cases of the coronavirus COVID-19 in Oakland and Wayne counties.

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans told the press that the Wayne County patient, a middle-aged man with a recent history of domestic travel, was in isolation. The Oakland County resident, a middle-aged woman with a recent history of international travel, is being treated in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan Health System. As of this writing the state of Michigan was monitoring 124 possible cases of exposure.

The governors announcement followed the decision Monday by Democratic Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to reverse of the citys longstanding water shutoff policy. Over 141,000 homes have had their water shut off over inability to pay bills since 2014. The action, an abrupt reversal of a brutal policy in effect for more than five years in the face of worldwide condemnation, undoubtedly reflected acute fear of a potential social explosion.

In a lame state address concerning the outbreak Whitmer offered little but empty platitudes, noting, The coronavirus has the potential to impact our lives and nearly every aspect of our lives.

She continued, Were Michiganders. Were tough. We know how to take care of each other. We will get through this. But for now, please make sure your families and friends are taking every preventative measure available to keep yourselves safe. Talk to your friends and your family and your coworkers and encourage them to make smart choices.

The smart choices available include washing hands, covering coughs and not touching faces. She encouraged campuses and employers to use their best judgment about what steps are most appropriate to keep people safe and slow the spread of the disease, and that businesses should support workers who are sick. No emergency funds have been made available for workers who do not have paid time off or sick leave.

These are the first known cases of COVID-19 here in the state of Michigan, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health, said following Whitmers address. It is very likely that we will see more cases and that there will be community spread.

The state of Michigan is entirely unprepared to deal with the growing coronavirus pandemic. The patient to primary care physician ratio across the state is 1,254 to one. In the city of Detroit, 45.1 percent of residents rely on bare bones Medicaid coverage for their health needs.

The decline of household income in Detroit

Whitmers declaration of emergency entailed the creation of four task forces comprising key state government agencies to coordinate the states response and work closely with the appropriate community and non-governmental stakeholders.

The unserious response of the state was highlighted when on February 28, the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs set up an Emergency Operations Center at a military base in Fort Custer. The facility has just 20 beds. Michigans population is nearly 10 million people. Earlier this week the in-house congressional doctor predicted 70150 million COVID19 cases in the United States alone.

Many of the states colleges are either extending spring break and discouraging students from returning to campus or holding classes online until further notice. Michigan State University, near the state capital, Lansing, moved all classes online Wednesday morning after announcing a probable case of coronavirus linked to the campus. Classes are potentially scheduled to resume in-person on April 20. The Universities of Michigan in Flint, Dearborn and Ann Arbor shortly followed suit, as well as Wayne State University in Detroit, Oakland University in the northern Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills, and Michigan Technological University in the states Upper Peninsula.

State officials followed up the governors declaration with their own statements and cancellations, including Detroit Mayor Duggan who announced that the citys historic St. Patricks Day parade would be canceled. As long as COVID-19 remains a health concern, no Detroit residents should have concerns about whether their water service will be interrupted, Duggan declared in a statement, indicating that should the coronavirus retreat, the water shutoff policy will resume.

The Whitmer administration had to this point refused to make a dime in state money available to help Detroit residents struggling with their water bills. Just last month Whitmer ignored a request from the Detroit City Council to institute a moratorium on the water shutoffs. Now, with breathtaking hypocrisy she declares that halting and reversing shutoffs is the right thing to do to keep families safe and protect public health.

In 2017, health experts warned of an incoming public health crisis should the city continue to refuse running water to its residents. The shutoffs continued unabated until two days ago. But the citys action comes with a price: those without water will have to pay $25 for restoration and $25 a month toward their unpaid debts, a not insignificant amount for many residents of the poorest big city in America. For 30 days, the state says it will cover the $25 fee for those who cannot afford it, though it is unclear who qualifies.

Given that nearly one-quarter of the citys residents subsist on less than $10,000 a year, the number could be substantial.

In a damning self-indictment of the cruelty and barbarity of his administrations water shutoff policy Mayor Duggan conceded, There is no financial reason anyone in the city of Detroit should have water shut off.

Detroit Water and Sewage Department Director Gary Brown said in a news release: We know that washing hands is an important defense to this virus, so for the duration of the COVID-19 situation, DWSD is implementing this plan to help make sure every Detroiter has access to clean running water.

Three weeks ago Brown penned an editorial for the Detroit Free Press in which he blamed the citys poverty-stricken residents for attempting to scam the payment system. What we cant supportand we believe most of our customers and Detroiters will agreeis to allow water and sewer services to go unpaid by ending the ability to use service interruptions as a collection tool of last resort.

Parroting this line in an attempt to justify the shutoffs over the last six years, Duggan told the press, As of Wednesday the only residents in the city of Detroit who dont have water on will be those who dont reach out. It wont be for lack of money.
President Donald Trump addresses the Nation from the Oval Office about the widening novel coronavirus crisis in Washington, on March 11, 2020. (Doug Mills/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Announces Travel Ban for Most of Europe, Calls for Unity Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

The United Kingdom, Ireland are exempted

President Donald Trump announced late Wednesday that the United States will impose a 30-day travel ban on travelers from Europe amid coronavirus concerns.

The ban will come into effect on Friday at midnight and excludes non-Schengen countries like the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as returning Americans who have had appropriate screenings for the virus.

This is the most aggressive and comprehensive effort to confront a foreign virus in modern history, Trump said in a live-streamed address to the nation at 9 p.m. ET. I am confident that by counting and continuing to take these tough measures, we will significantly reduce the threat to our citizens, and we will ultimately and expeditiously defeat this virus.

These restrictions will be adjusted subject to conditions on the ground. There will be exemptions for Americans who have undergone appropriate screenings and these prohibitions will not only apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo, but various other things as we get approval, Trump added. Anything coming from Europe to the United States is what we are discussing.

In a Twitter post following the national address, Trump clarified that it is very important for all countries & businesses to know that trade will in no way be affected by the 30-day restriction in travel from Europe and that the restriction stops people not goods.

Trump signed a proclamation that suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in countries in Europes Schengen Area within 14 days of their scheduled arrival to the United States. The countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

We made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now, we must take the same action with Europe, Trump said in his address, referring to how his administration suspended travel from China to the United States on Jan. 31.

The European Union failed to take the same precautions to restrict travel from China and other hotspots. As a result, a large number of new clusters in the United States were seeded by travelers from Europe, Trump noted.

Trump reassured Americans that the government is providing $8.3 billion to support vaccines, treatments, and distribution of medical supplies as well as fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies as they combat the virus.

Related Coverage Trump Signs $8.3 Billion Coronavirus Bill

He also announced that low-interest loans are available to small businesses to help them overcome temporary economic disruptions caused by the virus.

This is not a financial crisis. This is just a temporary moment of time that we will overcome together as a nation, and as a world, Trump said.

We will provide extra support for American workers, families, and businesses, Trump said.

I am instructing the Small Business Administration (SBA) to exercise available authorities to provide capital and liquidity to firms affected by the coronavirus.

Effective immediately, the SBA will begin providing economic loans in affected states and territories.

Trump also said that he would soon be asking Congress to take emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus.

Trump also called for unity and asserted that the country is prepared to combat the new coronavirus.

The virus will not have a chance against us. No nation is more prepared or more resilient than the United States. We are all in this together. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship, and unite together as one family and one nation.

Acting with compassion and love, we will heal the sick, care for those in need, help our fellow citizens, and emerge from this challenge stronger and more unified than ever before.

Cases of the coronavirus have exceeded 1,000 in the United States and the death toll has increased to 36 as of late Wednesday.

The Trump administration launched a coronavirus task force on Jan. 29 to monitor and combat the virus. The task force has been meeting daily. On Jan. 31, the president declared a public health emergency in the United States, just a day after the World Health Organization decided to declare the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

More recently, Trump met with several leaders of major U.S. health insurance companies, who have agreed to waive copayments on COVID-19 testing and will extend coverage on treatment.

The new coronavirus was first reported to have emerged in Wuhan, a city in Chinas Hubei Province in late 2019, and notable outbreaks have since been reported in Iran, Italy, and South Korea.

Melanie Sun contributed to this report.
Was the Fab Four royal collaboration of Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge doomed from the start? One royal expert believes the idea of a powerful foursome would never succeed because it was so impractical.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, and Kate Middleton | PHIL HARRIS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Fab Four was an idea that never really took off

In theory, Prince Harry and Meghan and Prince William and Kate joining forces to collaborate on projects seemed like a great idea. In reality, the foursome disbanded after never really getting off the ground.

During the documentary Royals: A Family in Crisis, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams explained why the Fab Four was a bad idea from the start. He chalked it up to a lack of independence for both the Cambridges and Sussexes.

The whole idea of the Fab Four was completely impractical because if you marry into a family and you live next door to your in-laws and you inhabit the same offices and you use the same charity then there is not very much left for independence, he explained.

The Fab Four disagreed

During this deep dive into the Fab Fours failure, footage showed them all at a charity event where they were asked if they have disagreements. Prince William noted, Oh yes.

I think one of the problems with William and Kate and Harry and Meghan is that not only are their futures totally different but also their personalities, as couples are very, very different, Fitzwilliams shared. And Harry has certainly changed.

He added: And I think that the Queen will have found this something very difficult for her to appreciate.

The Fab Four reunite during Prince Harry and Meghans last engagement

Prince Harry and Meghan returned to the UK to finish out some final last engagements before making their official exit and they reunited with their former Fab Four collaborators. Prince Harry and Meghan joined the entire royal family at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey and all eyes were on the Sussexes and Cambridges to see how they interacted, given the rumors of feuding.

There was very little interaction between the couples, with the Sussexes giving a wave and greeting as the Cambridges took their seats. Body language expert Blanca Cobb shared her thoughts on their appearance together, telling Cosmopolitan the way they acted was very revealing.

As Meghan waves, she and Harry say hi. Kate doesnt look in their direction but talks briefly to the lady in white [Sophie, Countess of Wessex] whos seated right behind her, Cobb noted.

She continued, As Kate sits down, her face is expressionless, adding, the greeting seems lackluster among the four of them, particularly Kates lack of acknowledgment.

Even though its a formal occasion, Kate could have smiled or waved, she added.

Cobb did point to the bond between Harry and William, even if there is tension between them, noting, its interesting that their underlying brotherly bond is seeping out in their similar seriousness. The family tie is hard to break even in the midst of problems.
Ontario schools will be shut down for two weeks following the March Break to help fight the spread of COVID-19.

The unprecedented move by the Ford government  believed to be a first for the province, and country  begins March 23 and impacts the provinces more than two million students.

I want every parent and family to know with confidence that when their child returns to school, they will be in a safe and healthy learning environment, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said Thursday afternoon.

Lecce, speaking to reporters at Queens Park, noted there will be additional resources for sanitation and hygiene products so schools are thoroughly cleaned between March Break, which starts Monday, and before students return to class April 6.

He also said measures will be introduced in the days ahead so kids can still learn online.

With respect to how do we achieve the continuity of learning, Im committing to parents that (a program) is being finalized, he said.

Lecce issued the ministerial order to shutter the provinces 4,800 public schools based on the recommendation of Dr. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer of health.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the decision to close Ontarios schools to contain the spread of COVID-19 was not an easy one, and I support it.

However, she said parents will be scrambling to arrange child care if they cannot take time off.

Two million kids will be out of school and hundreds of thousands of parents will be home from work, she said. Parents need to be assured that they can stay home with their kids, and that they will not lose a paycheque  and cannot be fired  for doing that.

If parents stay home from work, it will create a ripple right through our province. TTC drivers are moms and dads. Health-care staff have children of their own. Small business owners have children.

Earlier this week, the New Brunswick government banned any staff or students who travel outside of Canada  including to the United States  from its schools and daycares for two weeks.

The English Montreal School Board has told staff and students who have travelled to the hardest-hit countries to stay home, even if they feel fine.

Many boards in Ontario have already cancelled all international school trips.

As of Thursday, more than 10,600 American schools  public and private  had been closed or are set to close, according to EdWeek.

The online education journal reported that more than 4.6 million students are now impacted and schools are closing for many reasons related to coronavirus, including exposures, cleaning, or planning for extended closures.

Around the world, about 40 countries have shuttered some or all schools. France has just announced all schools and universities will be shuttered.

In 2009, during the swine flu pandemic, a number of public schools in Manitoba, New Brunswick and Montreal closed for a short time.

Earlier Thursday in Ottawa, Premier Doug Ford said while the situation was fluid, he wanted Ontarians to enjoy their March Break.

It can change at any day. But I just want the families and their children to have a good time, the premier said. Go away, have a good time, enjoy yourself, and were going to be monitoring the situation as it changes every single day. But I just want them to enjoy themselves just now.

Fords comments came hours before the first ministers meeting was cancelled after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, went into self-isolation to await a coronavirus test.

Mississauga mother Rachelle Manios, who has daughters in Grades 5 and 7, thinks closing schools is excessive, but it doesnt bother her.

She wondered how school boards will respond, saying my kids have a legal right to be educated. Is the school board going to now be supplying online education for my girls?

Toronto parent Stephanie Kirby, who has two children in public school, said were in uncharted territory and I feel we all have something to lose in this so we need to take precautions wherever we can.

Kirby, who works part-time, said my kids were supposed to be going way on a trip (to Paris) with my parents and we decided a couple of days ago to cancel.

Among post-secondary institutions, Laurentian University in Sudbury suspended all classes as of March 11, moving courses online for the remainder of the semester. Other colleges and universities say they are currently monitoring the situation.

A number of American universities have already stopped classes and are moving online, including Harvard and Yale.

In the legislature Thursday, NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles said school boards are already taking extra precautions to guard against outbreaks. Custodians are logging extra hours. Extra cleaning and sanitizing supplies are being ordered. But at a time when weve seen school boards squeezed and custodial staff laid off, the government needs to be prepared to provide resources as necessary.

Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, said the COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented and rapidly evolving event that requires an unprecedented response.

Ontarios chief medical officer of health said all daycare centres need to adopt strict screening of parents and children at the daily drop-off  with the same rigour that nursing homes and retirement homes have been directed to use in screening staff, visitors and volunteers  to keep sick children out and help prevent any spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Ask the parents, is your child well and have you been on any trips lately in the last 14 days? And if you have I would rather you not bring your child in today and wait until after that 14-day period, he told reporters. Im giving guidance and direction to do that.

With files from Rob Ferguson and Isabel Teotonio Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 09:27:16|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland reported seven new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Wednesday outside Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak, according to the National Health Commission Thursday.

Of them, six cases, including three in Guangdong, two in Gansu and one in Henan, were imported from outside the Chinese mainland. The total number of imported COVID-19 cases on the mainland rose to 85 as of the end of Wednesday, showed the figures.

The commission said it received reports of 15 new confirmed cases on Wednesday on the mainland, including eight from Hubei that were all from the provincial capital Wuhan.

China's capital Beijing on Wednesday reported no new confirmed cases and five new suspected cases, of which four were imported from foreign countries, including two from Italy, one from Britain and Spain each, according to figures from Beijing Municipal Health Commission.

As of the end of Wednesday, a total of 435 confirmed cases had been reported in Beijing. Of them, 334 have been discharged from hospital after recovery and eight have died.
Juno Temple slid her knockout figure into a skintight cocktail dress for a Los Angeles screening of her film Lost Transmissions on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old English actress selected a fashionable number that featured pale blue and pink flower patterns on a white field.

Her leggy ensemble featured a bit of lace trim around the knee-length hemline, as well as a sheer decolletage.

Sizzling sensation: Juno Temple slid her knockout figure into a skintight cocktail dress for a Los Angeles screening of her film Lost Transmissions on Wednesday

The Notes On A Scandal actress swept her dirty blonde hair partly up into a ponytail and balanced on a pair of ankle-strap color block platforms.

She sharpened her unmistakable features with extravagant cosmetics including a sparkling blue shade of eye makeup.

The Hammersmith-born thespian rounded off the ensemble with a choker and a pair of earrings for her latest red carpet appearance.

She could be glimpsed posing up a storm at the event with Katharine O'Brien, who wrote and directed the new movie.

Aglow: The 30-year-old English actress selected a fashionable number that featured pale blue and pink flower patterns on a white field

Terrific: Her leggy ensemble featured a bit of lace trim around the knee-length hemline, as well as a sheer decolletage

Star stature: The Notes On A Scandal actress swept her dirty blonde hair partly up into a ponytail and balanced on a pair of ankle-strap color block platforms

Top brass: She could be glimpsed posing up a storm at the event with Katharine O'Brien, who wrote and directed the new movie

Katharine pulled on a sleeveless nude top and a matching wrap skirt with a drawstring that dangled down to the hem.

She lent herself a bit of extra stature with a pair of sky-high heels, pulling her best smoldering supermodel stare for the camera.

The film stars Juno as a songwriter who tries to have her schizophrenic record producer pal institutionalized when he goes off his medication.

California style: Katharine pulled on a sleeveless nude top and a matching wrap skirt with a drawstring that dangled down to the hem

Mugging for the camera: She lent herself a bit of extra stature with a pair of sky-high heels, pulling her best smoldering supermodel stare for the camera

Simon Pegg, who plays the record producer character Theo in the film, was not seen at Tuesday's screening.

Lost Transmissions also features Rebecca Hazlewood, who swung by the premiere in a floral blouse with a chic black tie.

Juno, Katharine and Rebecca got together for a group shot with Tory Lenosky, who is one of the producers of the film out this Friday.

Swank: Lost Transmissions also features Rebecca Hazlewood, who swung by the premiere in a floral blouse with a chic black tie
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 20:05:21|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce has pledged more measures to lift people out of poverty as the country tries to coordinate efforts in poverty relief and the fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Local commerce authorities should carry out brand promotional fairs and e-commerce training programs to smooth the sales channels for farm produce from poor areas, the ministry said Thursday in a statement.

Efforts should be made to help workers from poor counties return to work while online training programs should be arranged for those who can not return to their posts, for the time being, it said.

The ministry will also support companies in poor areas to expand the international market via exhibition platforms such as the Canton Fair, it said.

China's determination to achieve the goal of poverty elimination remains unwavering despite the impact from the COVID-19, Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, said at a press conference Thursday.
WASHINGTON  Former Vice President Joe Bidens presidential campaign on Wednesday canceled gatherings scheduled for Friday and next Monday in Chicago and Miami, and declared it will hold virtual events instead.

The campaign said it was taking steps  to minimize health risks for staff and supporters.

It marks the start of what will be a virtual campaign for the next few weeks or months, due to escalating concerns over the spread of the coronavirus.

Biden is scheduled to give a speech Thursday in his hometown of Wilmington, Del., on the virus and how his campaign will navigate the months ahead.

The move to a form of virtual campaigning will have a less dramatic impact on the Democratic primary than it would have had a week or two ago, when the state of the race was far less settled.

With Biden establishing an imposing lead over Bernie Sanders, the suspense in the race has eased somewhat. However, a debate between the two candidates is still to come on Sunday, though there will be no audience in attendance due to public health concerns.

Joe Biden at a new auto plant in Detroit. (Carolyn Van Houten/Washington Post via Getty Images)

As Biden turns to a general election stategy against President Trump, fundraising may be one area that is negatively affected.

Its going to be a lot harder to raise major dollars at big events, Alex Conant, a Republican operative who worked for Marco Rubios 2016 campaign, told Yahoo News. And Trump probably has an advantage there. Biden will likely lose out on some major dollar fundraising time.

One Democratic operative confirmed that some fundraisers are being canceled by hosts and attendance is down at others that are still going forward.

If the economy moves into a recession, that too will hurt fundraising, Conant said.

Trump, too, will face challenges with fundraising. Late Wednesday the White House announced that the presidents planned trip to Las Vegas, which included a fundraiser with casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, had been cancelled out of an abundance of caution from the Coronavirus outbreak, according to White House press secretary Stepanie Grisham.

Story continues

First lady Melania Trump has also canceled a Beverly Hills fundraiser that had been scheduled for next week.

President Trump with supporters in Orlando, Fla., on March 9, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

The Trump reelection campaign is currently on track to have around $400 million in cash on hand, according to a source close to the White House. The president has had a head start in raising money while Biden, until his campaign was resurrected two weeks ago in South Carolina, had only a few million dollars.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, however, has pledged to help Biden financially and spend whatever it takes to defeat Trump. Bloomberg, who is a multibillionaire, spent $600 million of his own fortune on his own short-lived presidential campaign.

The Trump campaign will have a clear advantage in digital advertising and fundraising, where they have been honing their operation for months.

On the elections side of things, the Democratic primaries will continue, but turnout is likely to be lower due to the virus and to Bidens significant delegate lead over Sanders.

But some states are considering holding elections entirely by mail-in ballot. Legislators in Maryland said Wednesday they are planning for such an outcome for their April 28 primary, in case it is needed.

Sen. Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, announced legislation on Wednesday that would allow every American to vote by mail in federal elections if 25 states announce a state of emergency over the coronavirus.

There were also calls Wednesday to plan now for the possibility that the general election this fall is affected by the virus. The University of Virginias Center for Politics published an article recommending that Congress pass legislation with an automatic trigger on postponing the election based on an agreed-upon set of facts, such as a certain infection rate and mortality rate.

One Republican operative said that a key benchmark over the next few months will be the party conventions. The Democrats are scheduled to hold their party nominating convention in Milwaukee in mid-July.

If the conventions are on then everything goes back to normal. Thats a pretty key issue, the operative said.

Already there are some who say the conventions should not be held.

For the first time in the countrys history, the United States must contemplate canceling the Democratic and Republican national conventions and campaign rallies, and give serious consideration to arranging ways of organizing election day that dont require in-person voting, wrote Laurie Garrett, a global health expert.

Mayor Tom Barrett, right, and chair of the Democratic National Committee Tom Perez announcing the selection of Milwaukee as the 2020 Democratic National Convention host city. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP)

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The Telugu Desam Party suffered



yet another blow as its veteran leader and Chirala MLA Karanam Balarama Krishna Murthy on Thursday met Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy here amid indications that he has switched loyalties to the ruling YSR Congress.

Murthy's son Venkatesh formally joined the YSRC but, because of apparent technical reasons, the former did not.

Former MLA Paleti Rama Rao also joined the YSRC on the occasion.

The father and son, besides Rama Rao, met Jagan Mohan Reddy at his residence here on Thursday evening and discussed Chirala constituency development issues.

Murthy is the third MLA of the TDP switch sides to the YSRC in recent times, though the other two too had not formally joined the ruling outfit. The TDP had won 23 seats in the elections to the 175-member assembly last year.

While Venkatesh spoke to the media later, his father left soon after meeting the Chief Minister.

We have decades of association with the TDP but, attracted by the welfare programmes of this government, we joined the YSRC. We have our fathers support, Venkatesh said.

Murthy, a strong man for the TDP in Prakasam district, had previously served as an MP and an MLC as well.

Meanwhile, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with his party leaders from Prakasam district in the wake of the latest setback and appointed a new in-charge for Chirala constituency, party sources said.

All the three rebel TDP MLAs have not officially become members of the YSRC as they apparently want to avoid attraction of the anti-defection law provisions.

Jagan Mohan Reddy had also set a pre-condition that any legislator wishing to join his party should first resign from their post.

In fact, the first TDP MLA to crossover, Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan, used his suspension from the party as a ruse to seek recognition in the assembly as an unattached member.

Shocked by it, the TDP did not suspend Guntur MLA Maddali Giri when he too switched sides.

While three MLCs also jumped over to the YSRC from the TDP, one formally resigned from his post.

In recent days, many former legislators left the TDP and walked over to the YSRC.

The TDP suffered the biggest blow in Kadapa, the Chief Ministers native district, where former minister Ramasubba Reddy and former MLC Satish Reddy quit the party.

While Ramasubba Reddy joined the YSRC, Satish is expected to follow suit.

In Prakasam district, another former MLA Kadiri Babu Rao too had joined the ruling party.

In Visakhapatnam district, while former MLA S A Rahman already joined the YSRC, another ex-legislator P Ramesh Babu is also expected to follow, having resigned from the TDP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Los Angeles, March 12 : Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson announced that they have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Hanks and Wilson, both 63, sought medical advice after experiencing symptoms of a cold in Queensland, the BBC quoted the actor as saying in an Instagram post on Thursday.

Hanks wrote on Instagram: "We felt a bit tired, like we had colds, and some body aches. Rita had some chills that come 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." He said they would keep the world "posted and updated".

"We Hanks' will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?" The couple will now spend time in isolation, he added.

They had been on the Gold Coast, where Hanks was working on a film about the life of Elvis Presley.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here.

For only the sixth time in its history, Disneyland will be forced into an unexpected closure.

Due to concerns over coronavirus and per the guidelines of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will close on March 14. The closure will last through at least the end of the month.

It's the first time the Disney Resort has had an unscheduled closure since Sept. 11, 2001.

"While there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 at Disneyland Resort, after carefully reviewing the guidelines of the Governor of California's executive order and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure," a statement from Disney Parks read.

According to the Orange County Register, Disneyland has an average daily attendance of about 50,000.

Newsom's executive order, issued on Thursday, directs Californians to restrict all events to under 250 individuals. The order doesn't specifically apply to theme parks because the "complexity of their unique circumstance requires additional conversation, different kind of engagement," according to Newsom. Universal Studios Hollywood announced late Thursday afternoon it will be closed from March 14-28.

Hotel guests at the three Disney-operated hotels, the Disneyland Hotel, the Grand Californian, and the Paradise Pier, can stay until March 16.

Disney workers will be paid during the closure, according to the company. Downtown Disney, an outdoor shopping and dining area adjacent to the parks, will remain open.

Disneyland has had five previous unscheduled closures. The first was just eight years after its opening when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. The second was in 1970 when anti-Vietnam protestors clashed with riot police inside the park. The third came during extreme cold weather in 1987. The fourth was after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. And the fifth and most recent was after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Disney World in Orlando is still open. Due to the coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, Tokyo Disney Resort closed on Feb. 29; Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland Park have been closed since late January.

Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here.

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The coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact the global business travel industry, with companies canceling meetings and instituting blanket business travel cancellations, according to the latest research conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

The coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact the global business travel industry, with companies canceling meetings and instituting blanket business travel cancellations, according to the latest research conducted by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

GBTA members routinely send their employees to meetings and events throughout the world, with the primary destinations being North America, Europe, China, and the Asian Pacific region. To understand the coronaviruss effects on business travel, GBTA conducted its third lightning poll of membership on March 4-6, 2020. GBTA received responses from more than 1,000 member companies throughout the world. View the entire poll results here.

Among the polls key findings are:

Around the globe, more companies are canceling or suspending business travel due to the coronavirus. Business travel to Asia has been impacted the hardest, with at least three of every four companies reporting they have canceled or suspended all or most business trips to China (95%), Hong Kong (87%), Taiwan (79%) and other Asia-Pacific countries (e.g., Japan, South Korea and Malaysia; 77%).Canceled and/or suspended business travel to Asia has notably increased since GBTAs previous poll, which was conducted on February 24, 2020. Over the course of ten days, canceled and/or suspended business travel to Hong Kong increased by 19%, to Taiwan by 46%, and to the rest of the Asian Pacific countries by 71%.

Cancellations and suspensions of business travel to regions other than Asia have increased exponentially as well. Half (51%) of GBTA members report their company has canceled or suspended all or most business travel to Europe  up from 8% ten days ago. Almost one in five (18%) companies has canceled or suspended all or most travel to North America  up from 2% ten days earlier.Nearly one-third (30%) of companies have suspended or canceled all or most business travel to Latin America  up from 3% as of ten days ago. In addition, almost half (47%) of companies have canceled or suspended business travel to the Middle East, compared to only 8% who reported doing so in GBTAs previous poll.

Many companies have instituted blanket business travel cancellations or suspensions due to the coronavirus. More than four in ten (41%) GBTA member companies report their company has canceled or suspended all international travel, regardless of region. This is a significant increase from GBTAs previous poll, when only seven percent of companies reported doing so.The trend is similar when looking at company actions concerning domestic travel. Thirteen percent of GBTA member companies report their company has canceled or suspended all domestic travel, compared to only two percent in the last poll.

GBTA member companies have canceled on average 43% of business trips (all global regions) previously booked for March 2020 due to the coronavirus.

GBTA member companies report they are canceling or postponing scheduled meetings, events, and conferences as opposed to moving the event to a new venue. Nearly three-fourths (73%) report their company has canceled at least a few meetings, events, or conferences, with 30% canceling many such events.GBTA members are also postponing meetings, events, and conferences due to the coronavirus, with 74% reporting they have postponed at least a few, 26% having postponed many, and 27% having postponed some. Fewer GBTA member companies (29%) report they have moved meetings, events, and conferences.

GBTA member companies, particularly business travel suppliers such as airlines and hotels, are feeling a direct revenue impact due to the coronavirus. Nearly six in ten (59%) supplier members report that the Coronavirus has made a significant impact on their companys revenue, and another 27% report a moderate impact to date.

More GBTA member companies are altering their travel policies due to the coronavirus. Over half (55%) report their company has instituted new trip approval procedures, an increase from the 43% who previously reported doing so. In addition, 62% of companies have modified their travel safety and security policies in response to coronavirus. (Only 51% had done so as of the time of the previous poll.)

Coronavirus is significantly impacting the business travel industrys bottom line. As the virus continues to spread across the world, business travel is slowing at an alarming rate. The impact to the business travel industry  and to the broader economy  cannot be underestimated, said Scott Solombrino, COO and Executive Director of the Global Business Travel Association. Traveler safety remains the industrys primary concern, and we are continuing to monitor conditions and respond appropriately. We encourage our member companies to heed the advice from all global health officials such as the CDC and the WHO when thinking about their travel plans. I am confident in our efforts to ensure the health and safety of all travelers and know that we will emerge from this downturn with an even stronger industry.

Potential 2020 Business Travel Spend Revenue Loss Due to Coronavirus

Source: GBTA BTI Outlook Annual Global Report & Forecast (2019)

Methodology: GBTA conducted a poll of its members across the globe from March 4-6, 2020 and received responses from 1,095 GBTA global member companies.

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Rallies were held in several university towns and cities around the UK Wednesday. University staff are striking in defence of pension rights and for better pay, terms and conditions.

Further protests are being held Friday to mark the end of the 14-day strike including in London. These will include joint rallies with the regular Friday for Future climate change protests of schoolchildren and students.

The strike involves up to 50,000 university staff and impacts over a million students. The protests were held at some of the largest university campuses in the UK.

Manchester university staff and students protest on Oxford Road

In Manchester, around 200 staff and students rallied at University Place in the heart of the main campus. A march took place around the campus, ending in the Universitys main quadrangle. During the event, staff and students stopped in the middle of the main Oxford Road thoroughfare that runs through the entire campus, temporarily stopping traffic.

The rally including several local UCU officials claiming that they had received much solidarity from other unions, with two officials speaking from the Fire Brigades Union and Unison, supposedly proof of this. The Unison official spoke only to say his union would be donating 2,000 to the strikers. Speakers sought to maintain illusion that the UCU would oversee a victory, despite the statements of union leader Jo Grady last week that the UCU were not inflexible and its negotiators were willing to make significant concessions on the other elements of the dispute, relating to pay.

Paul Dennett

Some speakers criticised Labour Party Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham for not attending the rally after he had promised to. His place was taken instead by the Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett, who was careful not to utter a word about Burnhams absence. A supporter of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Dennett has overseen millions of pounds in austerity cuts in Salford.

Over the last days, a group of students have been occupying Manchester University buildings in support of the strike. Frazz, a history student at the university spoke to the rally, saying that the occupation was in solidarity with striking workers.

She told a WSWS reporter, A lot of us are part of the People and Planet Society, and we had an occupation in November against the investment in fossil fuels at the university. On our last day was the first day of the last round of strikes [by university workers] and the UCU members marched past the building offering a lot of solidarity. A lot of us wanted to repay that by offering solidarity to their strike and try to lift their moral.

Frazz

Of the striking lecturers she said, We are all in dispute with the same people, the leadership of the university, and it does get bigger in terms of the government. Our power as students is being able to put pressure on the university, and then more people as a whole will put more pressure on in relation to other issues.

Being inside the university makes you more aware of how much inequality there is. We have security guards watching us all of the time for safety reasons. We have had conversations with them and theyre in dispute about their pensions. They say although they cannot do anything whilst working, they say that they are in support of us. One of the people watching us yesterday was a member of Unison and said that he would also strike. We said, Well if you do, well be here.

Of the small turnout among a university with over 40,000 students and 10,000 staff, Frazz pointed to the pressure being put on international studentswho make up a large proportion of all studentsto attend lectures. A lot of international students cant strike and get monitored to see if they attend seminars. So, if they dont turn up, it goes on a record and gets reported, and they can have their students visa revoked. This pressures them to have to cross picket lines and things, even though they might not want to. Its a big issue at some other universities. At one, they make international students download an app that allows them to track where they are, and if they attend lectures and seminars. Its so appalling. I was horrified.

Students support lecturers at Manchester University protest

Francesco, a Chilean tutor at Manchester University, said of the cuts being demanded by the university, The result of this is that people will be impoverished. Staff will have to work extra loads to have even fair pay at the end of the month. It will also reduce the quality of life of students so we need to fight these changes.

He spoke about the free market policies imposed after the military coup in Chile in 1973. Its not only about [General] Pinochet [who seized power in the coup]. Its about the 30 years that came after him. The so-called centre-left parties that ruled after him did nothing to stop his policies or overturn them. We dont need any more moderation between the centre-left and right. We have to fight for workers rights.

Tanya is a Chilean studying psychology at Manchester University. She said, The struggle against marketisation had been a struggle of the students and people of Chile for decades. In Chile we have the highest rate of people who commit suicide, the highest rate of retirees who do. That is why we need to fight for our pensions.

Cristen, a social work student said, This is all about fighting capitalist neo-liberal reforms. We know about the negative consequences this brings everywhere. It is important to support every dispute against these policies. The staff are fighting against privatising their pensions, their precarious contracts and work. These are the conditions facing working class people all over the world.

Franceso, Cristen and Tanya

Asked her thoughts on UCU leader Gradys comments about the eagerness of the union leadership to make concessions, Tanya said this could be seen everywhere: There was a saying in Chile in the 1990s along these lines which was Well bring change but only what is possible right now. Weve seen lots of compromising.

Lucy, a chemistry student said, The staff to student ration is very small. Staff dont seem to be as available as they should be, but I can see why when they are expected to do so much already.

It doesnt inspire me to want to get into teaching if conditions are like they are here. It seems stressful and miserable. Its important for students to understand what its like for their teachers.

On the Conservative governments agenda for higher education to be once again the preserve of a privileged minority, Lucy said, They are just maintaining the class system even further and keeping the people at the bottom on the bottom, so that they cant access education and get the jobs.

In Sheffield, around 100 attended a rally outside City Hall. UCU officials mainly engaged in self-congratulation and anti-Tory demagogy.

Sam Marsh, UCU national negotiator for the pension scheme and Sheffield UCU branch president, claimed that his team had won all the arguments in discussions with the employers organisations. The only thing stopping us from resolving this dispute is the discipline and hard line from the employerstheyve lost the argument so thats all theyve got left to hide behind. Thats why its important that we continue the pressure in the way we did today, taking our message directly [via a petition] to our Vice-Chancellors door. Thats whats going to break open this dispute and change things here.

He urged UCU members to return to work in an orderly fashion next Monday and continue action short of strike to maintain pressure.

Martin Mayer, a Trades Union Congress delegate for Sheffield and a delegate to Labours National Executive Committee, overlooked Labours role in attacking the higher education system, including introducing tuition fees.

He said of the Tory government, Theyre already threatening more anti-union laws. The proposal is on the table to bring in minimum service agreements, initially for transport workers but we know its going to extend to everybody else. Its unacceptable to deny our proper civil right to strike, which we need to defend.

He again failed to mention that last week UCU General Secretary Grady wrote to congratulate Conservative universities minister Michelle Donelan for her recent appointment while pleading that she put pressure on the employers representatives to engage with discussions to resolve the dispute.

University staff and students at the Sheffield protest

Anne, a geography lecturer, told the WSWS, We are being forced to defend our conditions in the face of institutions that are awash with cash using every excuse to justify making cuts. Ive worked here for 25 years. Weve seen a steady undermining of the situation over this time.

The issues go far beyond just this university. Im very concerned about the way that education is being run as a business and students are being transformed into customers. They give us less resources to work with, so we take up the slack. The same thing is happening in the NHS and everywhere else in society.

She warned, We were hopeful that through discussions the dispute might be resolved in our interests, but it looks like it [another strike] might be happening again.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will impact Indian students studying abroad, especially on Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards. Today, March 12, is the last day for OCI card-holders to return to India.

The health ministry has said that visa-free travel facility granted to OCI cardholders is kept in abeyance from March 13 till April 15. This means that Indian students with OCI status will not be able to travel to India.

Overseas education consultants said that there is panic among Indian students abroad because the fear is either they would be unable to come to India or if they do, would be restricted from travelling back.

Popular overseas education destinations like the United States, France, Italy and Singapore, apart from the epicentre China, have travel restrictions imposed due to multiple cases of COVID-19 being reported.

Subhash Srinivas, an Indian student stranded in France told Moneycontrol over the phone that while his institute has suspended classes, he is unsure about returning to India because of the prevailing situation.

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 classes begin and India restricts travel, I will end up missing lectures. Further, flights to India are also fewer and too expensive, he added.

The health ministry has said that all incoming travellers, including Indian nationals, arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain and Germany after February 14, 2020, will be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days with effect from March 13.

Indian students studying overseas are particularly worried because study visas are valid for a fixed period. If there are travel restrictions due to COVID-19 and the visa expires, they would not be able to go back.

However, the head of a study-abroad consulting firm explained that since this is an unprecedented crisis there could be some relaxations offered to Indian students in cases of visa expiry.

Even if the visa expires, there could be a chance of countries like the US and France extending student visas so that those studying there dont lose out on an academic year. This will depend on how long the pandemic outbreak exists, he added.

Countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have a high ratio of Indian students. For instance, there were 202,014 Indian students enrolled in higher education institutes in the US alone, as per the 2019 Open Doors report.
A new study published in March 2020 in the journal Nature Medicine reports the use of a wireless system of skin-mounted sensors to monitor the health of newborn babies in an inexpensive and versatile platform that can be adapted to the vast majority of healthcare settings with ease.

The background

Every year about 15 million babies are born preterm, and 1 in 15 die before their first birthday. But this is not the whole picture. The truth is that inequity looms large in healthcare. About half of all babies born at or before 32 weeks die in primitive settings in sharp contrast to an almost 100% survival rate in more advanced countries.

The new device

The sensors were developed last year and tested in Chicago, on newborns in two hospitals. They are now undergoing testing in 42 newborn babies in Kenya, alongside the best conventional monitoring systems, so they can find out exactly where they stand in terms of performance standards. They are also being tested in pregnant mothers in Zambia, with Ghana and India additionally on the testing list. The new platform harnesses the power of batteries and sensing technology to monitor a whole range of infant behavior and signals. These include vital signs, of course, but also crying, movement, body habitus, and heart sounds. The sensors are soft and flexible, minimizing damage to the newborn's skin. The wireless design means it is capable of increased contact with the skin of the patient without being plucked off.

The technology is thus far safer and reliable for use in premature babies. It can also monitor the health of the fetus during preterm labor to make sure that the baby is born healthy and safe while reducing the odds of unnecessary intervention that could jeopardize the life of the mother. Keeping tabs on the health of those babies and mothers, which are at high risk for an unfavorable outcome could potentially help intervene on time, before the onset of serious illness.

A neonate at Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago wears the wireless sensors (in blue) alongside traditional, wired sensors so the researchers can test and evaluate the sensors side-by-side. Image Credit: Northwestern University

The concept

The researchers led by Northwestern's John A. Rogers had already studied the performance of a pair of wireless flexible sensors on premature babies, proving them to be dependable and accurate, just like the more cumbersome devices currently used that don't allow parents to bond with their infants and to cuddle or hold them fearlessly.

However, to adapt them to resource-poor settings, they then added in a slim battery for power, one that could be recharged, so that the device would always be able to operate in rural settings. It was also important that the range of wireless operation be improved. In addition, the team incorporated more sensors to detect infant crying, movement, and heart sounds.

The wireless sensors (in blue) displayed on a model neonate in the lab. Image Credit: Northwestern University

The constant pressure was to develop the most practical, clinically valuable, and easy to use. Explains Rogers, "We couldn't just drop our existing technology into other countries and different settings without taking their specific needs into account. We knew that we needed to build the foundations for highly robust, reusable devices, applicable in regions with limited facilities and resources."

The current project is based on the use of bio-integrated electronics and is all about making healthcare more equitable, in part, at least. In the words of researcher John A. Rogers, "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. Using advanced concepts in soft electronics, we achieved devices that are safe, easy to use, and patient-centric."

The scientist emphasizes that one of the focus points in their research was to make sure the device could be used in "low-resource settings in the developing world, where this type of technology has the greatest potential to improve and possibly save lives."

Co-researcher Debra Weese-Mayer goes on to explain that their labor was not about making things more convenient and technologically advanced. Instead, their aim was health-centered; they wanted to incorporate the sensor parameters and sensing variables that would make more sense in terms of the baby's health and stable device performance.

Sensors to displays

The devices are designed with sensors that send data to mobile devices or to nurses' station displays, via radiofrequency. This means that neither accuracy nor simplicity of operation is compromised. Xu comments that its accuracy may be comparable to that of the most sophisticated hospital systems in current use. In his words, "You don't need expensive equipment that requires a specialized bioengineer and IT department to install. You pull out your mobile device, connect to our sensors, and you're taking care of patients."

The plan involves testing the sensors on 15,000 pregnant women and 500 newborns by the middle of 2021, in what Xu describes as "a collaborative team effort," to deal with actual problems. Some instances are limited power availability, daily blackouts, and poor access to the internet.

To address these, the scientists focused on cost and practicability. They listened to doctors and other health team members, to find out what they actually wanted, and then designed a solution that actually solves the everyday problems of health professionals in developing countries, in what researcher Shiai Xu describes as an "incredibly rewarding" experience and a "bi-directional information flow."

For instance, when early sensors were thought to be too large for the thin and tiny chest of a newborn baby, the researchers instantly changed tracks to come out with a smaller and slimmer version that won the favor of the nurses.

Again, nurses initially found it challenging to ensure that the foot component of the chest-foot sensor pair was in perfect alignment, which is necessary for data accuracy. Rogers describes the innovative response: "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."

And the result has been awe-inspiring. Rogers says, "These latest platforms are giving us great data. When we put the sensor on the baby, it starts working immediately, in nearly any setting or location."

And parents love the system too because it allows kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin interaction, which enhances physical bonding, better sleep, and lower stress.

The future  AI-enabled devices

The researchers have started up Sibei Health, aiming at FDA approval for the device in terms of improving the health of the fetus and newborn, as well as the mother. It is now in partnership with Drager, a prominent medical technology firm that specializes in lifesaving products. The next step will be to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into the sensors to glean patterns and explanations from the data a well as to help health professionals decide on their course of action.

These devices yield a fantastic amount of data - half a gigabyte per day per patient. The AI will help to milk this data to the maximum. Xu says, "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 to identify danger signals in low-resource settings more quickly."

The researchers are optimistic that these sensors could be in use in US hospitals in the next year. Also, the team looks forward to the appearance of these sensors in hospitals around the world, hoping to send out more as part of the strategy to achieve cost-effective monitoring in health care.

The researchers sum up: "We believe that our technology could significantly enhance the quality of neonatal care around the world. We think in terms of a 'NICU of the future,' available anywhere. (Rogers). "Xu adds, "We want to see these sensors in every country, monitoring the first heartbeat to the last in our most vulnerable patients."
It was a disease so awful that it terrified people for generations.

The 1918 flu pandemic, thought to be the deadliest in human history, killed at least 50 million people worldwide (the equivalent of 200 million today), with half a million of those in the United States. It spread to every part of the world, affecting populations in Japan, Argentina, Germany and dozens of other countries.

Maybe most alarmingly, a majority of those killed by the disease were in the prime of life  often in their 20s, 30s and 40s  rather than older people weakened by other medical conditions.

As the coronavirus spreads around the world and public anxieties spike, comparisons between todays situation and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 are proliferating in journalistic outlets and on social media.

While the fearful atmosphere  surgical masks, stockpiling of food and avoidance of public gatherings  and potential economic ramifications are like those of 1918, the medical reality is quite different.

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

Nurses often walked into scenes resembling those of the plague years of the fourteenth century, wrote historian Alfred W. Crosby in Americas Forgotten Pandemic. One nurse found a husband dead in the same room where his wife lay with newly born twins. It had been twenty-four hours since the death and the births, and the wife had had no food but an apple which happened to lie within reach.

In 1918, the world was a very different place, even without the disruptive influence of World War I. Doctors knew viruses existed but had never seen one  there were no electron microscopes, and the genetic material of viruses had not yet been discovered. Today, however, researchers not only know how to isolate a virus but can find its genetic sequence, test antiviral drugs and develop a vaccine.

In 1918, it was impossible to test people with mild symptoms so they could self-quarantine. And it was nearly impossible to do contact tracing because the flu seemed to infect  and panic  entire cities and communities all at once. Moreover, there was little protective equipment for health care workers, and the supportive care with respirators that can be provided to people very ill with coronavirus did not exist.

With a case fatality rate of at least 2.5 percent, the 1918 flu was far more deadly than ordinary flu, and it was so infectious that it spread widely, which meant the number of deaths soared.

Researchers believe the 1918 flu spared older people because they had some immunity to it. They theorize that decades earlier there had been a version of that virus, one that was not as lethal and spread like an ordinary flu. The older people living in 1918 would have been exposed to that less lethal flu and developed antibodies. As for children, most viral illnesses  measles, chickenpox  are more deadly in young adults, which may explain why the youngest were spared in the 1918 epidemic.

Regardless of the reason, it was a disaster for life expectancy, which plummeted. In 1917, life expectancy in the United States was 51 years. It was the same in 1919. But in 1918, it was just 39 years.

The new coronavirus tends to kill older people and those with underlying medical conditions, and it does not seem to kill children. All of which means it will have far less effect, if any, on life expectancy.

As for the coronavirus case fatality rate, it is not yet known, but the latest data from South Korea, with 7,478 confirmed infections, shows one in line with that of seasonal flu. After testing 100,000 people for the virus, the country appears to have a case fatality rate of 0.65 percent.

What the current situation does have in common with 1918, though, is the tenor of public concern.

Among the first places the 1918 flu arrived in the United States was Fort Devens, near Boston. So many young soldiers were sick, and so many were dying, that the surgeon general sent four of the nations leading doctors to investigate.

One of them, Dr. William Vaughan, later recalled: Hundreds of stalwart young men in the uniform of their country, coming into the wards of the hospital in groups of 10 or more. They are placed on the cots until every bed is full, yet others crowd in. Their faces soon wear a bluish cast; a distressing cough brings up the blood stained sputum. In the morning the dead bodies are stacked about the morgue like cord wood.

Accounts like these scared Americans deeply.

On Oct. 3, 1918, Philadelphia closed all schools, churches, theatres, pool halls and other gathering places. Undertakers were overwhelmed  some funeral homes increased their prices six fold and some even made the bereaved bury their own dead.

In Tucson, Arizona, the board of health forbade people to venture out in public without a mask. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, where schools and theatres were closed, a local newspaper wrote, the ghost of fear walked everywhere.

Similar actions are being taken today. Seattle has closed some public schools. The South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, has been cancelled. Apple asked employees to work from home. More than 2,700 people are under some sort of quarantine in New York City. And some Costco stores are having trouble keeping bottled water in stock.

But so far this year, the annual epidemic of seasonal flu is proving much more devastating than the coronavirus in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there have been at least 34 million infected with flu this season, 350,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths. Those deaths include 136 children, nearly 10 times as many adult deaths from the coronavirus.

For the economy, the effects of the 1918 flu, despite factory closings and social disruptions, were hard to disentangle from the profound ones of World War I. The world was not as interconnected as it is today, and by the summer of 1919, the pandemic had ended.

Coronavirus is already having significant impacts on the stock market and other aspects of the economy, but the long-term consequences remain to be seen.

c.2020 The New York Times Company
By Laman Ismayilova

A video of the 5th Booktrailer Festival has been presented. The festival's organizers also named famous poet Ramiz Rovshan as the voice of the project.

Speaking about the project, the festival's director, film actor and producer Ruslan Sabirli expressed his gratitude to Ramiz Rovshan for supporting the project.

"This year our festival celebrates its fifth anniversary and we wanted to invite highly esteemed and professional, our beloved poet Ramiz Rovshan to be the voice of the project. I would like to express my gratitude to Ramiz Rovshan for supporting the Book Trailer Festival, which is a great gift for us! I also thank the Secretary of the Azerbaijan Writers Union Rashad Mejid for the support and the opportunity to get to know Ramiz Rovshan," he said.

Booktrailers are short videos that promote a book or an author, providing a good illustration of the book content. Book trailers are a form of advertising for a book. Produced by publishers, and sometimes authors themselves, they are tools to pique interest in the novel and raise their popularity.

The festival, which takes place under the slogan "Promote a book, get promoted with a book!" is timed to the World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day, held annually on April 23. The festival is headed by actor and producer Ruslan Sabirli.

Anyone can take part in the festival through registration (www.booktrailer.az). The first place will get a cash prize -1,000 ($589) manats, while the winners of the second and third places 800 manats ($472) and 500 ($295) manats, respectively.

The winners will be also awarded in the nomination "The best mobile book-trailer". To participate in this nomination, everyone can shot a booktrailer on a mobile phone and send it to the festival. The winner in "Best Mobile Book Trailer" will receive a cash prize - 1,000 ($589) manats.

Supported by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival was successfully held in 2016 for the first time in the country. The main partner of the event is Azercell, a leader of the mobile communication sector in Azerbaijan.

For more information, please visit:

www.booktrailer.az

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BooktrailerFest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooktrailerFest

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BooktrailerFest

For all questions, please contact: [email protected]

Media partners of the event are Azernews.az, Trend.az, Day.az and Milli.az.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By Marwa Rashad, Saeed Azhar and Stephen Kalin

RIYADH/DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has asked state agencies to submit proposals for cuts of at least 20% to their budgets in a fresh austerity drive to cope with a sharp drop in oil prices, four sources familiar with the matter said.

The requests were made more than a week ago due to concerns about the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on crude markets, and ahead of the collapse of an oil output deal between OPEC and its allies on Friday, according to the sources.

One of the sources told Reuters that when the budget requests were sent, Saudi officials had been anticipating difficult talks with Russia over the need for deeper output curbs to stabilise markets. Moscow did reject the proposal, triggering a war for market share between the two countries which has sent crude prices plummeting.

The finance ministry instructed government agencies to submit proposals for cuts of between 20% and 30% in their 2020 budget, according to the four sources, who declined to be identified as the reductions have not been made public.

The foreign ministry has already implemented a 20% cut, one of the sources said, adding that the cuts will not impact salaries but projects could be postponed and contracts yet to be awarded could be delayed.

The Saudi foreign ministry referred Reuters requests for comment to the finance ministry which did not respond.

Saudi Arabia, OPEC's de facto leader and the world's top oil exporter, relies heavily on crude revenues. The International Monetary Fund has said Riyadh needs oil at $80 a barrel to balance its 2020 budget, which carries a deficit of 187 billion riyals ($50 billion).

Crude prices stood at $38.48 a barrel at 0418 GMT Wednesday.

Economists expect Saudi Arabia's budget deficit to climb from 4.7% of GDP in 2019 to double-digit percentage territory this year. In December, the government projected a deficit of about 6.5% for 2020.

"Saudi Arabia needs an oil price of about $85 per barrel to balance the government's budget deficit, but only $50 per barrel to balance the current account," Capital Economics said in a research note on Tuesday. "Both will be in deficit at the current oil price, but the budget deficit will be much larger at 15% of GDP."

Story continues

Thanks to ample foreign reserves, Saudi Arabia can live with lower crude prices if the face-off with Russia continues, but may need to increase borrowing in addition to spending cuts, analysts have said.

Riyadh ratcheted up the standoff with Moscow on Tuesday by announcing it would raise its crude supply to a record high in April and appeared to reject Russian overtures for new talks.

Even before the directive, the kingdom had reduced spending in its 2020 budget, reversing three years of expenditure increases intended to spur growth. It has also taken measures to narrow the gap by diversifying revenue streams with taxes and economic reforms.

Saudi Arabia has been running a budget deficit since oil prices plunged in 2014, when it scrapped a strategy of supporting prices in favour of a drive for market share.

Mohammed al-Suwayed, a Saudi asset manager and financial commentator, said that with oil prices falling, additional spending cuts were to be expected.

"For Vision 2030 to work, the government has to stop relying on an irresponsible increase in spending and rely more on organic growth from the economy itself," he said, referring to the reform agenda championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

(Reporting by Marwa Rashad and Stephen Kalin in Riyadh and Saeed Azhar in Dubai; Additional reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Ghaida Ghantous, Edwina Gibbs and Pravin Char)
Aimee and Charlie Cotherman, of Oil City, Pa., said that ahead of their trip to Orlando last week, they were worried about the coronavirus, but decided to still visit with their children, ages 8, 6 and 3, as well as their two-month-old baby, because percentages are in our favor, Mr. Cotherman said, referring to the low number of children infected.

We were worried about coronavirus as we saw things closing down and hoped we could still get our trip in, Ms. Cotherman said, adding that her family was washing their hands and using hand sanitizer regularly.

Corey Higgins, a mother of two who was at the park with her husband and children for the third time in her life, said she noticed additional hand sanitizer around the park and felt like she saw more people cleaning around the park.

Me and my husband have been monitoring things, but didnt feel like we needed to cancel our plans, she said. We have wipes, we have hand sanitizer, we arent elderly and honestly, if youre going to get it, youre going to get it. If Im going to get sick and die, I might as well do it at Disney World.

Other theme parks

At Universal Studios, the path from the parking lot to the security check point had a number of hand sanitizer dispensers that people paused to use while walking in and out of the park. At security, guests had to put their belongings into security bins and have their finger scanned on a touch screen pad, like at the Magic Kingdom, but many said this didnt bother them because hand sanitizer was nearby. Lines to enter the Wizarding World of Harry Potter were long, with people dressed in costume.

We are reviewing and enhancing our already aggressive cleaning protocols, Alyson Lundell, senior director for public relations at Universal Orlando Resort, said in an email. And for the comfort and convenience of our guests, we are increasing the number of hand sanitizer units in our parks.

On social media groups frequented by people planning Disney vacations, anxiety seemed to rise as some questioned whether to visit the parks and others speculated about whether Disneys American parks would follow in the path of Disneys Hong Kong and Shanghai parks, which closed in February.
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., March 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- WorkMerk announced today that it was adapting its existing workforce management software to support organizations as they prepare for the risks presented by the spread of Coronavirus to keep their work and public environments safe.

WorkMerk's newly configured "VirusSafe Pro" solution will provide companies, regardless of size and industry, with a web-based, mobile technology that empowers an organization's managers to effectively plan and manage workplace safety by ensuring that their personnel receive in real-time updated safety checklists (e.g., health safety) and health safety communications that have updated policies and protocols.

Advances in technology continue to improve business processes, but often are not focused on assisting personnel with timely changes in tasks critical to the overall success of an organization. WorkMerk, with its suite of solutions, aims to improve the worker experience through clear messages and task validation, both of which are vital to creating and encouraging good habits . In the context of the outbreak of the Coronavirus, "VirusSafe Pro" will also give managers access to a dashboard that provides historical and daily verification of critical health safety tasks like cleaning of various assets (e.g., common spaces, door handles, countertops, etc.).

"We know that better habits lead to better outcomes. Under normal conditions, good habits are important, but in a crisis good habits are critical," said John New, founder and CEO of WorkMerk. "We're good neighbors and we want to share our technology in a way that will help organizations throughout the Philadelphia region. Whether they're in healthcare, education, hospitality, food service or any other industry, we can help them protect their personnel and their customers. Part of our corporate pledge is to "Contribute More to those around us," and sharing our tech - in this way - at this time - just made immediate sense to us - it's core to who we are."

WorkMerk will be using the "VirusSafe Pro" technology at its own meeting and conference facility, and is doubling down with its clients, offering them access to "VirusSafePro." WorkMerk will also offer zero-fee enrollment for new clients, including a month of free access to the software's checklist and task verification features.

"VirusSafe Pro" is a direct response to the Coronavirus and a focused configuration of WorkMerk's existing robust workSMART workforce management software offering the following immediate benefits:

VirusSafe Pro simply and effectively closes the information gap in the workplace;

VirusSafe Pro helps build good habits and validates task completion;

With VirusSafe Pro, managers can provide timely updates to their stakeholders from credible sources; and

VirusSafe Pro provides an easy to read dashboard and cumulative analytics.

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Kolkata, March 12 : A Bangladeshi cargo vessel carrying fly ash sank in the Hooghly river after colliding with a Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) ship on Thursday, officials said.

All 13 crew members of the Bangladeshi ship Mamatamoyee Maa -- which was returning home with the load from a CESC thermal power plant -- were rescued, though one of them sustained injury, a Kolkata Port Trust official said.

The collision took place around noon in the Batanagar area and the vessel in the Budge Budge area of South 24 Parganas.

Following the damage, the Bangladeshi ship's sailors brought it close to the jetty at Maheshtala in Budge Budge and even tried to tie it to a tree to prevent it from going down.

However, the tree got uprooted due to high tide on Thursday afternoon and the ship started sinking.

An official said there was a mechanical failure on Mamatamoyee Maa and a crack in the hull following the collision. The KoPT ship Ravindra also suffered partial damage.

A KoPT official said despite repeated warnings the Bangladeshi vessel had intruded into the route designated for KoPT ships.

The KoPT chairman has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Personnel from Kolkata Port Police station have reached the spot. The KoPT was considering ways to lift the Bangladeshi cargo vessel from the river.
OMV, a leading integrated oil and gas company headquartered in Vienna, Austria, has signed an agreement with Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Investment Company to acquire its stake in Borealis for $4.68 billion.



As per the deal, OMV, which currently owns a 36 per cent stake in Borealis, will get an additional 39 per cent stake from Mubadala, thus making it the majority shareholder in Europes leading petrochemical company.



With its head office in Vienna, Borealis currently has more than 6,800 employees and operates in over 120 countries.



The company provides services and products to customers globally, both directly and in collaboration with Borouge, a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and with Baystar, a joint venture with Total in Texas, US.



Following completion, OMV will get a 75 per cent interest in Borealis, while Mubadala will retain the rest. The transaction is expected to close in Q4 2020 and is subject to regulatory approvals, it stated.



It represents the biggest acquisition in OMVs history and the largest transaction ever for Mubadala, said a top official.



"Today marks the culmination of several months of discussions between OMV and Mubadala," remarked Mubadala Managing Director and Group CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak.



"We have signed a landmark, multi-billion dollar deal, the largest single transaction in both Mubadala and OMVs history. It is also fully aligned with our long-term strategy as a company," he added.



Musabbeh Al Kaabi, CEO, Petroleum & Petrochemicals of Mubadala, said: "We are pleased to have reached agreement with our longstanding partner, OMV. For Mubadala, the decision is consistent with our strategy of actively managing our portfolio, and taking opportunities to realise value when conditions are right."



"We remain very confident in Borealis as a leading company in its sector. We will continue to hold a significant interest in the company, through the direct 25 percent interest that we will retain, along with our existing 24.9 percent shareholding in OMV. As a significant shareholder in OMV, we recognise the strong strategic fit and the complementary nature of Borealiss business in expanding its downstream position," he added.



OMV Executive Board Chairman and CEO Rainer Seele said the transaction was not just another milestone in the implementation of its strategy, but the biggest transformation in OMVs history.

"This turns the company OMV into an internationally important oil, gas and chemicals group, whose integrated business model extends from well to high-quality plastic along an extended value chain and repositions the Group for a low carbon future," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Delhi High Court directed the Centre on Thursday to ensure that the Indian embassy in Iran gets in touch with the Indian students stranded there in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, instead of "merely issuing advisories", and to assure them of all assistance.

Justice Navin Chawla asked the central government to "do a little more" than what it has been doing till now to evacuate over 3,000 Indian nationals, including pilgrims, fishermen and students, presently stranded in Iran.

Central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, representing the ministries of home, external affairs, health and aviation, told the court that mass evacuation was presently not possible as firstly, Iran has banned all commercial flights with India from February 26 onwards and secondly, those stranded there have to be tested for the coronavirus before they can be brought back.

Ahluwalia said there was no local support on the ground from Iranian authorities and it took several rounds of negotiations before they allowed Indian scientists to set up a lab there to take samples from Indian citizens and allowed an Indian Air Force plane to evacuate 58 nationals, including 25 women and 2 children.

He said the embassy there was in contact with Indian nationals presently in that country and advisories have been issued to them on following the health protocols issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The government counsel also said embassy officials were travelling to all the locations where Indians were stranded to assure them of all possible assistance for their safe and early return.

The court, however, said, "Merely issuing advisories was not going to help. That is no assurance. You know where the students are. You have to contact them. Not doing so will not be tolerated. Get in touch with them and give a report by Tuesday (March 17)."



The court was hearing a plea moved by the parents of the Indian students, who are stranded in Iran due to travel restrictions following the coronavirus outbreak, seeking directions to the Centre to evacuate them.

Advocates Sikander A Siddiqui and Fozia Rahman, who appeared for the parents, told the court that the government was giving priority to the Indian pilgrims who are scattered across Iran instead of the students who can be easily located.

They said the students have been quarantined in their university hostels and there has been no contact from the Indian embassy in Iran.

The submissions were disputed by Ahluwalia who said the evacuation of Indian nationals was an ongoing process which will take time and the government was not distinguishing between students and pilgrims.

He said after swab samples of Indian nationals are brought back here and tested, then only they can be transported back here.

He further told the court that all possible efforts are being made to work out modalities to operate a limited number of flights to enable early and safe return of Indians stranded in Iran.

The court, thereafter, directed the government to come up with a positive plan regarding evacuation of the students and the steps taken so far to provide them with medical and other assistance.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
African tech startups broke records in 2019, as venture capital poured into technology that promises innovation in financial, mobile and enterprise applications that address social needs on the continent.

Equity funding coming into 234 African tech startups totaled US$2.02 billion, a startling 74 percent year-on-year growth, according to a report by Partech Partners. The number is a bit higher than other estimates, as it includes disclosed and undisclosed deals, as well as deals under $1 million; it also includes deals made by businesses that may operate outside of Africa but that serve African markets primarily.

The recent investment behaviour says a lot about market appetite and highlights sectors poised for disruption by emerging technology, creating potential opportunities and competitive threats for enterprises.

VC funding boosts African financial services

Financial inclusion  essentially technology aimed at expanding access to financial services to a broad population, including the unbanked  remains the main investment sector on the continent, attracting 54.5 percent of total funding, according to the report. Other sectors that attracted interest include online and mobile consumer services, business-to-business enterprise technology (including connectivity, hardware and marketing tech), and healthtech.

If you look at the investments, were seeing that the most money is spent towards addressing real problems and that investors are backing businesses that address real needs, said Zachariah George, partner and chief investment officer at Startupbootcamp AfriTech, the largest tech accelerator programme in Africa,

Tyme Bank, South Africas first digital-only bank, is a great example. In a country where more than half of the youth population is unemployed, a bank that simplifies the process of opening a bank account addresses a real social need. The banking brand received $13 million in funding in 2019, according to Partech.

Zipline  Rwandas drone-based medical delivery startup  had a hugely successful year of funding, also for aiming to solve a societal problem. The drone-delivery business, which was launched to deliver lifesaving medical supplies to the most remote areas, secured a $120 million funding boost last year.

More investors jump in, from outside Africa

Venture capital has grown drastically over the last nine years but what has happened more recently, particularly in 2018 and 2019, is that there has been interest from investors outside of Africa, George explained. Its not just traditional VC funds, but corporate VC funds too.

The world could only ignore African tech for so long and now more so than ever were seeing them start to take notice of what Africa is about and what we can do, George said.

This shift is important when you consider the forecasts, which show that by 2035, one in every two babies that are born will be born on the African continent. If you look at this purely from a consumption perspective, those who arent trying to make moves in Africa that target consumers in Africa are missing out on enormous opportunities in the future, George said.

Female founders rise

Female founders are crucial to the massive tech industry transformation currently taking place on the continent, with a 72 percent year-on-year growth in the number of deals completed by female-founded startups, according to the Partech report.

The industry is making real strides to boost diversity and this focus on businesses started by women is a step in the right direction, said Adi Zuk, co-founder of Dazzle Angels, South Africas first female-focused angel investment fund. It is also a logical step given the fact that Africa has such a high percentage of female entrepreneurs.

But the numbers may be a tad deceptive. From what I can see, its not so much that a lot of new companies are attracting investment. What seems to be happening is that a lot of the well-known and well-established startups are just attracting more investment, Zuk said.

And she isnt far off the mark. In 2019, Cape Town-based agritech startup, Aerobotics, bagged $2 million (R29 million) in funding from a local venture capital firm. This is in addition to the $2 million Series A funding the brand received in 2018.

Similarly, SweepSouth, the popular South African on-demand, home-cleaning booking platform, earned over R50 million in new investment in 2019. If anything, this trend showcases that those with the money are investing in African businesses but theyre doing so in ways that expose them to less risk.

An asset-light, software-heavy trend

In an increasingly competitive world, business leaders want results as soon as possible. With this in mind, George has witnessed keen interest in businesses that are asset light and software heavy; unsurprising given the recent increase in adoption of software as a service (SaaS) and cloud services. A brand like SweepSouth, for example, doesnt own many capital assets but is able to make money by leveraging a software platform to enable homeowners to connect with people who clean homes.

This approach makes you more nimble and makes it far easier and cheaper to get ideas off the ground. Enterprise business leaders can learn a thing or two here, added George. Venture capitalists typically use equity to fund growth. These investments are generally deemed more risky but the idea is to leverage software and tech tools, and a low initial capital expenditure, to boost your customer base, expand your business and boost cashflow, he says. When making tech-related investments, enterprise businesses could consider doing the same.

Otherwise, startup success is not just about VC money. While a big VC cash injection may be impressive, both Zuk and George stressed that this cannot be the only gauge of success and that it shouldnt be the only thing that startups are after.

What you really want to look at is the number of customers served. This is a very hard metric to measure but its an indicator of how these businesses are opening up economic opportunity, Gerorge concluded. If a solution can expose people and businesses to goods or services that were once only accessible to the wealthy and the large and powerful enterprise thats where the real value lies.
The Ukrainian boat captain charged in connection with last Mays collision on the Danube has refused to waive his right to a trial.

The prosecution has proposed a nine-year prison sentence and a nine-year ban on piloting boats on condition that the accused admitted guilt and waived his right to a trial. The accused rejected the deal and refused to testify.



On May 29, the Viking Sigyn cruise ship collided with the Hableany sightseeing boat which had 33 South Korean tourists on board and a crew of two Hungarians.



Seven tourists were rescued from the water after the collision and the rest died. One of the bodies was not recovered.



According to the charges, the captain was steering the cruise ship alone as it reached Margaret Bridge. He failed to attend to his duties for at least five minutes, according to the charges.



During that time, his ship collided with the Hableany sightseeing boat and pushed it under water. The cruise ships captain has been charged with fatal negligence and failing to provide assistance to persons in danger.



Those acts are punishable with two to eleven years in prison under Hungarian law.



MTI Photo: Tamas Kovacs


M ore than 6 million has been raised to help overwhelmed hospitals in Italy fight the coronavirus outbreak. 

In what has become the largest ever crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe in Europe, 7.2 million (6.4 million) has been raised to help Italy's hospitals.

One page is aiming to triple the number of beds at a Milanese hospital in the centre of the countrys outbreak and another has brought in 3.7 million single-handedly.

It comes as Italy is weathering the worst outbreak of Covid-19 in Europe, with the whole country on lockdown and most shops and restaurants closed.

More than 12,000 people have tested positive for the virus in Italy, and 827 people have died.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced new lockdown measuers on Wednesday / Reuters

On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation officially declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

One fundraiser, launched by Italian social media stars Chiara Ferragni and Fedez, has raised almost 4 million (3.5 million) on its own.

The description for the crowdfunder states: In this really difficult phase for our country we can also do something to support our communities.

Doctors and scientists are doing a very important job and we would like to help support them.

For this reason, we thought of helping the intensive care unit at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

"At this moment the equipment necessary to triple the intensive and subintensive care beds are: Fans, Non invasive ventilation devices, Hemodynamic monitoring, Monitor. Even a small donation can make a difference.

We are in close contact with the doctors of the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. The funds raised will be directly donated to the hospital to strengthen intensive care.

A large amount of the money is destined for the San Raffaele hospital in Milan (file photo) / Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images

According to GoFundMe, at the busiest times 45 (40) was being donated every second.

There have been at least 329,000 donations from as many as 117 countries to the Italian campaigns, with more than 800 different pages running.

The platform GoFundMe has donated 10,000 (8,800) of its own money to the cause, and will not be receiving any money from the drives.

A spokesman for the company said: This is the largest fundraising effort we've seen on GoFundMe in Europe to date, with hundreds of campaigns raising more than 7.2 million in just hours.
(Newser)  The developments are coming fast and furious on the coronavirus, and a new one involves President Trump himself. A Brazilian official who posed for a photograph with Trump and Mike Pence on March 7 at Mar-a-Lago has tested positive for the virus, reports the Washington Post and the AP. Fabio Wajngarten is a top communications aide to Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, and he accompanied Bolsonaro on a three-day trip to the US. Video shows him standing directly behind both presidents at Trump's Florida resort, and Wajngarten also posted a photo of himself with Trump and Pence. He developed symptoms after returning to Brazil this week.

story continues below

Bolsonaro is now being monitored for symptoms as well, reports the Washington Post. Asked about the Wajngarten development Thursday, Trump said: "Im not concerned. I did hear something about that. We had dinner together. We did nothing unusual. We sat next to one another for a period of time." Meanwhile, Pence gave TV interviews Thursday morning on the coronavirus scare, and he noted that he continues to shake hands with visitors, despite his own office's health advisory against doing so, reports USA Today. "I'm still shaking hands here at the White House," Pence told CNN. "I'm also washing my hands very regularly through the day." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
It will take minimum 1.5 to 2 years to develop vaccines for coronavirus, the Union health ministry said on Thursday while addressing the virus outbreak situation in India.

We have managed to isolate the coronavirus, we have 11 such isolates, the health ministry said.

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

Health ministry also requested people to not panic while asking them to maintain effective social distance as a protection against coronavirus.

Mask is not always necessary, if a person maintains effective social distance, mask is not needed. There is no need to panic, said Luv Aggarwal, joint secretary, health ministry, said in a conference.

Right now, luckily for India, we do not have any community transmission. We have only a few cases that have come from outside and they have primarily affected their close family members, he said.

The health ministry also denied any evidence suggesting that high temperature kills coronavirus.

All facts about it are still being studied. There are no confirmatory studies. It is generally expected that the virus, if it is in higher temperatures may have difficulty in surviving, but it is not confirmed, Lav Aggarwa said.

Though flu is not common in summer, no study or evidence that suggest high temperature kills coronavirus.

So far, 73 positive coronavirus cases have been reported in India out of which, 56 are Indians and 17 are foreigners.

India has also evacuated 900 Indians from other countries.

The Government of India has evacuated 900 Indian citizens along with 48 belonging to other nations like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa, and Peru, Aggarwal added.

Three planes will be sent to Iran over next three days to bring back Indians stranded in the coronavirus-hit country.
Everett announced Thursday its public schools will be closed for 30 days and its city hall will be closed for two weeks over concerns of coronavirus.

Now is the time to act, the city said in a press release.

Everett Public Schools are scheduled to reopen on April 27. City Hall is scheduled to reopen on March 30.

In addition to the closed schools and city hall, Everett announced all non-essential employees should not to report to work. Employees able to work from home should do so, the city said.

Everett said while city hall is closed, employees are prohibited from traveling.

A group of six school districts in Middlesex County also announced today that they would all shut down for two weeks.

On Thursday, the Massachusetts Department of Health announced the number of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts had risen to 108. Of those cases, 82 are connected to the Biogen conference held in Boston last month.

Everett is among dozens of schools that have closed schools over concerns of the coronavirus. Wellesley has closed school for two weeks. However, most schools as of Thursday afternoon, only closed for a day or two.

Related Content:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

The Sustainability and Value Addition in the Cotton Economy in Uzbekistan project implemented by German development agency (GIZ), supports Uzbek textile industry to be a driver of economic growth and source of decent jobs, managing consultant of Gherzi International Consulting Organization Laurent Aucouturier told Trend.

Commissioned by the German Federal Government, GIZ implements projects for more than 25 years in Uzbekistan, in the areas of health, economy and protection of natural resources. In 1992, a country office was opened in Tashkent. Other project offices in Jizzakh, Kashkadarya and Andijan regions as well as in Karakalpakstan are responsible for activities in the countrys rural areas.

"Priority areas for German-Uzbek cooperation are sustainable economic development and health. Additional projects cover areas such as good governance/rule of law, environment and climate change, education and vocational training," said Aucouturier.

He added that there are nine international and 62 national experts working for GIZ in Uzbekistan.

On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) is implementing the global Sustainability and Value Added in the Cotton Economy program. The partner countries included are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, India and Uzbekistan.

"Sustainable cotton production is defined according to the most important international standard systems (Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Fairtrade Cotton and Organic Cotton) as well as national reference definitions and frameworks. The second component focuses on entrepreneurship and the downstream segments of the textile pipeline beyond ginning, in order to develop and strengthen domestic capacities for processing sustainable cotton," said Aucouturier.

According to him, on international level, the program aims to foster sustainability along the entire supply chain in close cooperation with the lead firms of the cotton-based textile and garment value chain. On global level, the program supports transfer of know-how and innovations between the partner countries.

"The objectives of the global program are to increase the income of cotton farmers and textile workers, to protect natural resources and to create new income opportunities and employment perspectives within the relevant cotton economies," said Aucouturier.

Gherzi Group is a leading industrial consulting company offering integrated, independent services in management, financial, manufacturing, supply chain management, logistics and engineering consultancy with more than 100 professionals. Companys specialists cover management, finance, textiles, technical textiles, garments, textile supply chain and project management. Gherzi has undertaken more than 7,500 textile-related assignments worldwide in more than 70 countries. Gherzi boasts of a diverse client encompassing private & listed companies, international development organizations, financial institutions and government agencies.

Gherzi services in Uzbekistan could encompass several fields including strategic visioning exercise for textile companies, feasibility studies for new projects, market-access study, strategic alliances, companys audits, industrial performance improvement, etc.

---

Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini
Seeking support from the government to deal with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, exporters on Thursday said the country's outbound shipments may get impacted during the next financial year, according to industry sources.

The issue was raised in a meeting called by the commerce ministry to discuss supply-chain disruption due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The meeting was chaired by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash.

It was attended by representatives of export promotion councils, industry chambers like CII, FICCI, Assocham and PHDCII and Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).

It was also suggested in the meeting to provide support to banks to deal with liquidity-related matters.

"Export consignments are being deferred due to the coronavirus outbreak. Enquiries too at lower side. Due to this, exports will be impacted in the second and third quarter of the next fiscal," a source who participated in the meeting said.

FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai, who attended the meet, said that looking into the gravity of the situation, "we have urged the government to provide some relief to the industry".

The suggestions include extension of export obligation period under Advance Authorization and Export Promotion Capital Goods by one year; automatic revalidation to all duty-free authorisations by one year to enable the industry to import inputs at right price; and extension of the remittance period from 9 months to 15 months by the RBI looking into the liquidity challenges and slow consumer spending.

"Banks may be asked to delay the declaring companies' accounts as NPA (non-performing assets) for one year as the lack of business coupled with fixed cost will make many accounts as NPAs," Sahai said.

The government should also ease out the liquidity by immediately releasing all exports benefits to exporters including risky exporters for which a bond may be taken from risky exporters.

Another industry source said that as China was a global supplier of goods, huge export and import opportunities have emerged due to the outbreak of this deadly disease in China and other parts of the globe.

"The outbreak of this disease has reflected that depending completely on one country for goods is not a good idea and in such a situation, India is best placed to fill this global supply chain gap," the source said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Seshadripuram police on Wednesday booked the husband of a former corporator in Hemmingepura on charges of forgery to claim compensation from the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for a property of 5 acres and 3 guntas. S Nagarajaiah had created a fake death certificate of the owner to claim the money. The police took action after an inquiry by the BDA vigilance squad.

Two sites owned by Nagarajaiah in Banashankari VI Stage valued at Rs 7.5 crore are confiscated and he has been ordered to pay back the Rs 37 lakh he had claimed as compensation from BDA in exchange of 5.3 acres of land, said an official release.

It said the land originally belonged to Abdul Wahab, who had sold it to Mohammed Sharif. The latter is in Kuwait.

Nagarajaiah had approached Wahabs children and convinced them that the owner is dead he is the new owner. He asked them to sign some documents so that he could get compensation from BDA as the land belonged to him.

Meanwhile, he told BDA that Sharif had died in Mangaluru and produced a fake death certificate. Nagarajaiah then collected the compensation. The case came to light when Sharif approached the BDA Vigilance section to prove that his land had been illegally taken away from him.
Emily Blunt attends A Quiet Place Part II World Premiere in 2020 in New York City. (Jason Mendez/Getty Images)

Emily Blunt has revealed she dreamed of being a pop star  until Dame Judi Dench talked her out of it.

The Quiet Place actress dabbled in music early in her career but said when she asked Dame Judi for advice, the actress advised her not to try and do both.

Blunt joked on chat show Jimmy Kimmel Live that she could have been Britney if she had pursued singing.

Read more: First trailer for A Quiet Place Part II lands

She said: I was doing a play ... my first job was with Judi Dench - yeah, the Dame - which was incredible and she was wonderful to me.

And I went to her for advice because I was really, really nervous about this career that I didn't know was right for me.

"I didn't think was right for me and she said, 'Oh no, darling. You can't do both. You can't act and do that.'

She talked me out of it."

Judi Dench during the filming for the Graham Norton Show (Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty Images)

She put the kibosh on it, she added.

The actress, 37, said she even recorded some songs back in the day.

"I could have been Britney, quipped the London-born star.

Read more: Emily Blunt says ambition in women is still seen as unlikeable

However, Blunt admitted that there was an obstacle in the way of her fantasies of pop stardom  the dancing.

Although she tried to learn some moves, she confessed: It didnt work.

Blunt, who is known for films such as Edge Of Tomorrow and The Devil Wears Prada, is married to US actor John Krasinski and the couple have two young daughters together.
Our guide to plays and musicals coming to New York stages and a few last-chance picks of shows that are about to close. Our reviews of open shows are at nytimes.com/reviews/theater.

Note: Because of the coronavirus outbreak and the states ban on gatherings of more than 500 people, many events have been canceled. As of press time, these were still scheduled to take place. Before heading out, visit the website of the performance space or organization for the latest updates.

Previews & Openings





THE FRE at the Flea Theater (in previews; opens on March 15). Having brought a dancing-penis kickline to Broadway, Taylor Mac has now sunk low. In this new work, set in and around a mud pit, a young aesthete tries to persuade his grubby hedonists to de-ooze. In this show, directed by Niegel Smith, audiences will literally and figuratively jump into the mud, the theater warns.

212-226-0051, theflea.org
Some group of West African journalists have cancelled their trips to a Journalism Festival which was scheduled to hold this April in Perugia, Italy, because of the high cases of coronavirus recorded in that country.

Nigerian journalists, including Eniola Aluko, Vivianne Ihekweazu the Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Mercy Abang, Managing Editor of Premium Times, Idris Akinbajo, were expected to speak at the five-day event which is expected to attract journalists from around the world.

Award-winning Ghanaian Journalist and blogger Mustapha Nii Okai Inusah, Chief Executive Officer of Attractive Media who is also a journalist with modernghana.com was also expected to attend the event but our sources say he has cancelled it due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

A statement on the official website stated that We announce the cancellation of the 2020 International Journalism Festival due to the public health risks caused by COVID-19, the festival organisers said Saturday in a statement posted on its website.

We know that this decision will cause inconvenience for many and have negative financial consequences for some but we believe it would be irresponsible to act in any other way given current circumstances.

The health and safety of festival speakers, attendees, volunteers, staff, suppliers as well as that of the citizens of Perugia is and must remain our top priority, the statement said.

We make this announcement today, one month before the start of the festival, because we are convinced that the entire festival community will benefit from an end to the uncertainty. Please note that the festival is being cancelled, not postponed.

The scenario has changed significantly over the past two or three days. Until the middle of this week we were cautiously optimistic that the festival would go ahead as planned. The rapidly deteriorating public health situation has obliged us to take the decision to cancel.

The festival is now expected to hold in 2021.

We hope all those who were intending to participate in the 2020 festival will be able to come to Perugia for the 2021 festival.

This is a sad day for the festival but we hope to return even stronger and more united for the 2021 festival and beyond, the statement.

Italys death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 21, according to a news report by the UK Guardian.

Forty-nine countries, including Nigeria, have confirmed cases of infection. The World Health Organisation says most countries, if not all, are at risk.
The Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, has vowed to launch a legal offensive to nullify the banishment of former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Lamido Sanusi II by the Governor of the State, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The Nigerian opposition coalition said it received the news of the illegal and arbitrary dethronement and purported banishment of Sanusi II by the All Progressives Congress, APC led Government of Umar Abdullahi Ganduje with shock.

CUPP, in a statement on Tuesday, signed by its National Spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, described the dethronement and banishment which it alleged had the tacit support of the APC led Federal Government, as barbaric, illegal, unconstitutional and a grave assault against constitutional democracy and the fundamental rights guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 43 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and a bold move to desecrate an ancient revered traditional institution.

The political parties noted that the sacked Emir was not given the right to be heard, adding that this renders the action of the Kano State Executive Council illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional and null and void.

The banishment is a barbaric and mundane assault on Emir Sanusis human rights as a Nigerian citizen provided under Sections 34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 43 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, CUPP added.

His right to dignity of the human person, right to personal liberty, right to a fair hearing, right to freedom of thought and conscience, right to freedom of expression, right to peaceful assembly and association, right to freedom of movement and right to own immovable property anywhere in Nigeria were all flagrantly violated by the Kano State Government and cannot be condoned in a democracy. Such a nonsensical act of banishment is autocratic, dictatorial and in direct conflict with the constitution and must be resisted.

According to CUPP, no Governor or President has the right to banish a Nigerian citizen or forcefully move him to any location in violation of the right of movement, right to life and a multitude of other rights except by an order of the court.

The parties said that as an opposition, they will not dabble into traditional issues but when Government actions tend to assault the laws of the land and intimidate citizens for speaking out, they must at all times rise to say no.

The ancient ecclesiastical punishment of banishment and deportation cannot stand in a democracy. This much has been held by the Court of Appeal in the locus Classicus case of Government of Kebbi State vs. HRH Mustapha Jokolo(2013) LPER where the Appellate court condemned and declared that banishment and deportation of a deposed king is unconstitutional, CUPP added.

Is the Kano State Government above the law that it cannot obey the Courts of the land? In that case Per ADUMEIN, J.C.A. (Pp. 72-73, paras. E-D) the Court of Appeal held that:

The Governor of Kano State has no right to act outside the clear and unambiguous provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (applicable to this case). Section 35 (1) of the said Constitution provides that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to his personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of such liberty except in the circumstances set out in subsections (a) to (f) thereof. Section 40 of the same Constitution provides that every person is entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons.

On the issue at hand, Section 41(1) of the Constitution is germane and it provides thus: 41  (1) 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. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall invalidate any law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society  (a) imposing restrictions on the residence or movement of any person who has committed or is reasonably suspected to have committed a criminal offence in order to prevent him from leaving Nigeria; or (b) providing for the removal of any person from Nigeria to any other country to  (i) be tried outside Nigeria for any criminal offence, or (ii) undergo imprisonment outside Nigeria in execution of the sentence of a court of law in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty: Provided that there is reciprocal agreement between Nigerian and such other country in relation to such matter.

The appellant has not been able to show that the banishment of the 1st respondent from Gwandu Emirate in Kebbi State and his deportation to Obi in Nasarawa State were in accordance with the clear provisions of Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

The banishment and deportation from Kebbi State by the Governor of Kebbi State, on or about the 3rd of June, 2005 of the 1st respondent to Lafia in Nasarawa State and later to Obi, also in Nasarawa State, is most unconstitutional, and illegal. By the said banishment and deportation, the 1st respondent has been, unduly and wrongfully denied his constitutional rights to respect for the dignity of his person; to assemble freely and associate other persons  including the people of Gwandu Emirate of Kebbi State, and to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof as respectively provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Nigeria is still a Constitutional democracy. We are not in competition with Mugabes Zimbabwe, Idi Amins Uganda or Nkuruzizias Burundi. This operation destroys anybody or any institution either traditional, parliamentary and judicial that stands up against the desires of a few incompetent people to hang on to power must be halted.

A man who was caught on video stuffing Dollars in his pocket, supported by the Buhari APC to manipulate his way to power despite public rejection, shamelessly sat as a moral judge both as accuser and judge and passed sentence of dethronement and banishment on the peoples Emir despite not a perfect man but is a shining light and hope for the future.

In view of the illegality, we urge the peoples Emir to seek redress in court to set aside this barbaric and obnoxious action for the good of the nation and others who may be silenced and treated like him.

In the event of going to court, we have set aside the sum of Three Million Naira (N3, 000, 000:00) only as an independent contribution to his legal team to aid the redress of these obnoxious barbaric attack on our constitutional democracy and traditional institutions by a gang of incompetent and shameless institution destroyers.

We will challenge, as a group dedicated to the promotion of democracy, the banishment proclamation in court as such is barbaric and a direct plot to enslave and hunt out of existence perceived enemies of an incompetent and corruption weakened regime that is hustling for Chinese loan to remain afloat after wasting national wealth through misappropriation and misapplication.

Let it be made clear to Governor Ganduje and APC leaders, Kano is not Uhuru Kenyattas Kenya where Miguna Miguna was banished from the country and forced into a plane and was dropped in Dubai, this is not British colonial controlled the Bonny Kingdom where Jaja of Opobo was deposed and exported out of his kingdom. Democracy and Constitutionality have brought a new dawn and ended the barbaric acts of yesterday.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is known as a loveable gaffe machine  an unofficial title made possible by his many public blunders and the privilege of having those lapses viewed as endearing rather than disqualifying (a privilege exclusive to rich white men). But as the 77-year-old looks more and more to be the eventual Democratic nominee for president in the 2020 election, pundits, voters, and political rivals are using his so-called goofs to shamelessly question his cognitive abilities  a practice that is not only ableist, but grossly negligent.

At a time when the world is facing the ramifications of a global pandemic  and we are forced to seek reassurance from a president who is pretending to be some kind of medical savant while outright lying about a very real, very serious public health threat  the last thing we need is people making unfounded accusations about someone else's health.

Sadly, irresponsibly questioning a politicians medical status is nothing new. In 1984, concern about then-President Ronald Reagans mental facilities emerged. After his first debate with Walter Mondale, during which he appeared confused, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Reagan was showing his age. And during Roger Stones indictment, plans to utilize WikiLeaks to question Hillary Clintons mental health during the 2016 presidential election were revealed, which included accusations that the former Secretary of State had had a stroke and had a failing memory.

But President Donald Trump has undoubtedly lowered  if not entirely removed  the bar from which we measure and uphold respectable public discourse in this country. In 2014, Trump questioned the mental health of then-President Barack Obama as he steered the country through the Ebola crisis, saying via Twitter: Theres something seriously wrong with President Obamas mental health and calling him a psycho.

As a result, Trump himself has been the target of allegations about his mental health. George Conway, husband of White House advisor Kellyanne Conway, has accused the president of mental decline on numerous occasions, saying hes not presidential but mentally unwell. Multiple media outlets, including The New York Times and USA Today, have published articles calling for Trump to be removed from office because hes psychologically unfit, and in truly unprecedented fashion, 350 mental health professionals submitted a letter to Congress last year claiming that the presidents mental health was deteriorating.

 Eric Trump says 'they would invoke article 25 against my father if he acted like Joe Biden'

So, accusations regarding Bidens mental health are neither surprising nor new, but more of the same  a consequence of the standards we once held our public officials to deteriorating entirely. Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume claimed Biden was losing his memory and getting senile. Donald Trump, Jr claimed Biden was exhibiting signs of Alzheimers or dementia. And just like President Trump claimed Hillary Clinton didnt have the stamina to be president in 2016, he has claimed Biden lacks the stamina to be president in 2020.

Its easy to paint these political attacks wrapped in faux-concern for someones health as nothing more than the nature of the beast  a byproduct of ruthless campaign strategies that, at least in recent years, have proved successful. But they are not. They are ableism born out of laziness, as well as another example of our country throwing people with disabilities, both physical and mental, under the proverbial bus instead of taking a hard look at societys moral failings.

Just like our elected officials like to blame mentally ill people for mass shootings and the epidemic of gun violence were currently experiencing, political talking heads, politicians, and some voters would rather demonize mental and physical conditions experienced by millions of Americans than look at the root cause of our political leaders questionable actions.

Mental illness is not why President Donald Trump ordered immigrant children be forcefully separated from their parents and put in cages. Alzheimers or dementia is not why former Vice President Joe Biden accidentally said poor kids are just as bright as white kids. Experiencing a mental health disorder  like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or anxiety  doesnt mean a person is automatically unfit to hold public office, nor should it disqualify or hinder someone with those issues from running. That much was made evident by Seth Moulton, who ran for president after disclosing his experience with PTSD. Neither should a physical impediment, like Bidens life-long stutter  a target of right-wing ire used to attack his mental and physical health  be seen as a detriment to public service.

One in five American adults experience mental health issues. One in four American adults has a disability that impacts their daily life. When stigma has been cited as a barrier to care, compassion, and improved public understanding, we need leaders who do not jump to gross accusations about a persons mental or physical health. Instead, we need those in positions of power and people with seemingly unlimited access to vast public platforms to conduct themselves with integrity, as well as rely on the knowledge of actual medical professionals.
New York City has declared a state of emergency as the number of coronavirus cases reaches more than 95.



Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday he would be declaring a state of emergency for the city so it could better manage the growing pandemic.



When speaking to reporters, Mr de Blasio said the last 24 hours had been "very, very sobering" to watch. Globally, more and more public events and schools are being closed as each nation works to address the virus spreading.

"Yesterday morning feels like a long time ago. A lot has changed. Last night, the world turned upside down," Mr de Blasio said. "This is painful. It's not something we ever want to do but we have to do."

Of the 95 confirmed cases, 25 are in Manhattan, 24 in Brooklyn, 17 in Queens, 10 in the Bronx and five in Staten Island. This number grew by 45 cases from yesterday.

In New York state, coronavirus cases continue to rise and have influenced Governor Andrew Cuomo to announce 500-person ban for large gatherings. Venues that hold less than 500 people, such as restaurants and bars, have to decrease their occupancy by 50 per cent.



Broadway shows had to shut down because of the ban, and they announced all performances will be cancelled through 12 April.



While the government is closely monitoring New York public schools, private schools have made their own decisions on whether they want to partially close or not amid the growing outbreak. New Yorks Roman Catholic archdiocese announced on Thursday that its elementary school will be closed for at least next week.



Mr de Blasio previously said the city has no plans to shut down public transport as this virus continues to spread.

"If you do that, you're shutting down the economy and work and livelihood," he said.

The New York City Police Department confirmed that there are no plans to shut down any roadways or subways in a statement on Twitter.

Instead, officials working for the MTA are sanitising buses, trains, and stations regularly to kill any germs. Mr de Blasio gave no indication on Thursday that this would change in the near future.

New York state confirmed the number of coronavirus cases rose to 328 people infected on Thursday. No one has died from the virus in the state.
Authorities ask public to "scrupulously comply" with the health regulations. Even in Kuwait places of worship closed until March 14th. Masses, spiritual retreats, prayer meetings, seminars and catechism canceled. From the Vicar of Arabia, guidelines and invitation to the faithful to pray.

Sharjah (AsiaNews) - To reduce the opportunities for contact and prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the emirate of Sharjah has ordered the suspension of all the functions of the local churches starting today, indefinitely.

In a note sent by the local government to all parishes and places of worship, signed by the director of the Authority for Islamic Affairs Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the faithful are asked to "scrupulously follow" the provisions of the authorities in the struggle at Covid-19.

In recent days, even the leaders of Kuwait have asked Christian churches and centers to remain closed until March 14, while cases of contagion in the region continue to grow. In response to the instructions of the authorities, Catholic leaders suspended all masses and functions related to the period of Lent.

Therefore, masses, spiritual retreats, prayer meetings, seminars and any other initiative aimed at community gathering have been cancelled. The catechism classes are also suspended, pending further developments. The apostolic vicariate of northern Arabia (which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar) has announced the resumption of the celebrations for March 15, but there is still no certainty about it.

In the meantime, appeals to the faithful and the community are multiplying for correct personal hygiene and the use of measures to contain the infections, accompanied by a renewed invitation to prayer. In an appeal sent to AsiaNews, the vicar of southern Arabia Mgr. Paul Hinder asks people "to take the necessary precautions to limit the risks" in a "unique" situation with the faithful "who come and go from the country for work or personal reasons".

In force until April 2, the guidelines from the vicariate ask sick people to stay at home, to strengthen personal hygiene and to pay particular attention to cleaning the premises. Added to this is the emptying of holy water fonts, not taking communion by mouth and not exchanging hands as a sign of peace, catechism classes are also suspended.

The organization of pilgrimages, meetings and visits are subject to the approval of the bishop. As already done by the Chaldean Patriarch Card Louis Raphael Sako, the vicar of Arabia invites people to pray for the end of the epidemic, for peace and the protection of the Lord.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has extended the blockade on flights to all EU countries and 12 other countries; during the night there were 24 new cases, for a total of 45. In Qatar 262 people were infected, 195 in Bahrain and 109 in Israel. In the Middle East, the worst situation continues to be that of Iran, where the toll talks about 9 thousand confirmed cases, 354 dead and 2959 recovered.

(Nirmala Carvalho collaborated)
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse)  Thu, March 12, 2020 16:05 670 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206a1fd91 2 People prank,Prince-Harry,hoax,Greta-Thunberg Free

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."

Read also: Harry and Meghan wave royal goodbye

'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 by AFP.

Royal sources were quoted as saying by The Sun that it was "completely natural" for Harry to want to talk to Thunberg.
BANGKOK, March 11 (Reuters) - Thailands Commerce Ministry on Wednesday filed a complaint against the Alibaba backed e-commerce platform Lazada after investigations found that surgical masks were being sold at excessively high prices, a senior official said.

The country, which has 59 confirmed coronavirus cases, last month classified surgical masks and hand sanitiser as controlled goods, allowing it to set price ceilings and better control distribution.

The Commerce Ministry will take legal action against Lazada in three cases, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit told reporters at a news conference.

Three online shops that operate on the platform were found to be selling surgical masks at prices that were excessively high and above the control price of 2.5 baht per mask, Jurin said.

The three shops sold masks at an average price of between 22 baht to 26 baht, he said, adding that the owners could face up to seven years of prison time and a fine of up to 140,000 baht ($4,460.02).

Ministry officials have filed a complaint against the first vendor with the police and plan to file complaints about the two others.

They have also notified the chief executive of Lazada in Thailand who, as an intermediary, is punishable under the same laws, the minister said, adding that the government had previously warned e-commerce marketplaces to be careful in policing illegal activity on their platforms.

Lazada did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. ($1 = 31.3900 baht) (Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
ROSEVILLE, Calif.

March 12, 2020

Saturday, February 29th

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Chris Cooper

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/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- On, volunteers from A+ Dental Care inpartnered with the Smiles for Everyone Foundation to help others feel confident in their smile. Six doctors and their philanthropic support staff gathered from acrossto host their fourth Day of Giving with the Smiles for Everyone Foundation.Patients were referred to the free dental clinic by local nonprofit organizations who work with underserved populations. Some of these groups include Placer Food Bank, Sacramento Children's Home, and Agency on Aging. Individuals were able to benefit from more thanof donated dentistry provided in the form of fillings, cleanings, extractions, and more.At the end of their visits, patients shared nothing but positive feedback about the compassion they experienced from the Team. Patient Daniel M. shared, "It made me feel really good to have a dental company care about the citizens and be willing to help meet our needs. Thank you so much for taking me in today, cleaning my teeth and doing an excellent job of making sure I was taken care of."The Smiles for Everyone Foundation would like to thank the entire A+ Dental Team, including Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., and Dr., for delivering Smiles to nearly 100 individuals in need!About A+ Dental A+ Dental Care is a rapidly growing group dental practice owned and operated by Herman Dental Corporation and affiliated with the dental support organization, Smile Brands, Inc. Since 1975, A+ Dental has been delivering quality care toresidents. With five convenient locations, A+ Dental Care provides comprehensive general and specialty care to patients in the greaterarea including the communities ofand. Their mission is to create long-term patient relationships by making dental visits convenient, affordable and stress-free. A+ relies on Smile Brands to provide world-class business support services so they can focus on delivering highly personalized patient care. Learn more at http://www.aplusdentalcaregroup.comAbout the Smiles For Everyone Foundation The Smiles for Everyone Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of delivering smiles for everyone by providing free dental care for those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. Since 2011, the Smiles for Everyone Foundation has delivered over 26,000 smiles and over $19 million in donated dentistry. The foundation currently supports programs which provide free dental care to those in need in Cambodia, Ghana, Laos, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Thailand, and the United States. For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.smilesforeveryone.org.Contacts: A+ Dental Care Dr.tim.herman@aplusdentalcaregroup.com 916.784.1144Smiles for Everyone Foundationcrystal.strait@smilesforeveryone.org 714.824.5037SOURCE A+ Dental Care
Travel bans implemented by their own government as well as foreign countries, put jobs and incomes at risk.

Manila, Philippines  Marjorie Reyes, an engineer, had to go home when her company in Zhuhai, China suspended operations in January over the coronavirus pandemic, now in at least 114 countries around the world.

While her company has resumed operations, Reyes remains stuck in the Philippines, unable to return because of Manilas travel restrictions to China. She is one of a growing number of Filipino workers stranded at home by a wave of travel bans from Asia to the Middle East and fears her job might be at risk.

We are worried about being replaced, she said. I dont know if they can wait for us.

An estimated 10 to 12 million Filipinos work abroad. In 2019, they sent home between $33.47bn to $35.1bn in remittances, accounting for just under 10 percent of the countrys GDP (gross domestic product) in 2019, according to the World Bank.

The outbreak now threatens to leave tens of thousands of workers reliant on jobs overseas stranded and disrupt the flow of remittances.





Earlier this week, Kuwait and Qatar announced temporary entry bans on travellers from the Philippines. Kuwait reported at least 72 infections and Qatar 262 on Thursday.

Philippine Overseas Employment Agency head Bernard Olalia said on Monday up to 3,000 Filipinos were immediately affected by the bans, with some Qatar-based workers forced to turn back after boarding planes to Doha.

The Philippines has reported 49 cases of COVID-19, with two fatalities as of Thursday. Of the 49 cases, 46 have been confirmed this week.

Support for workers

Schools and offices in the metro Manila area have been temporarily closed and mass gatherings have been cancelled since President Rodrigo Duterte declared a public health emergency on Monday.

The travel bans highlight a need for the Philippine government to directly support its stranded foreign workers, said Joanna Concepcion, chairperson of the advocacy group Migrante International.

They should not be forced to pick between their health and safety and their livelihood, she said. All of them matter.





Many Filipinos may not have that choice.

Kuwait, home to more than 200,000 Filipinos workers, announced its week-long ban on March 6, while Qatar, home to about 236,000 Filipinos, announced its temporary ban on March 9.

Both bans are likely to remain in place in the near future and will probably be followed by bans from other countries, which would significantly affect the Philippine economy, said Emmanuel Geslani, a Manila-based recruitment consultant.

Filipino workers face uncertainty

Saudi Arabia, home to about 1.2 million Filipino workers, which already banned tourist arrivals from the Philippines, on Thursday banned all arrivals from the country.

Its very difficult for the government to know what is the next country who will ban them, Geslani said.

Most Filipinos in the Middle East are women working in the medical and service sectors. Some are single mothers, Concepcion said.

In 2019, Filipino workers abroad sent home between $33.47bn to $35.1bn in remittances [File: Romeo Ranoco/Reuters]

They would be the only breadwinner of their family, she said. If that is taken away, it would really have a big impact.

Saudi Arabia says it will exempt Filipinos working in healthcare in the country from the travel ban.



More than 100,000 Filipinos reside in Italy, which announced a nationwide lockdown on Monday due to the coronavirus.

About 120,000 Filipinos work on cruise ships around the world and their jobs could be under threat as the virus cripples the industry, Geslani said.

The governments saying, Its OK now, its OK now, he said. Theyre just fooling themselves.

No help at home

Philippine authorities have downplayed the threat of the coronavirus despite growing criticism over Duterte and the health departments slow response to the outbreak.

On Monday evening, Duterte said the Philippines had the money to combat the outbreak and promised to repatriate Filipinos from anywhere in the world during a news briefing in which he repeatedly coughed and joked he had the coronavirus.

President Duterte poses for selfies with overseas Filipino workers at the Manila airport following his state visit to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar in 2017 [File: Mark Cristino/EPA]

But workers who cannot return to their jobs or are stranded abroad say they have received little help from the government.

At the height of the quarantine of the virus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan, Filipino crew members continued to work. At least 80 Filipinos workers were later infected with the virus.

Five hundred and eighteen Filipino staff are under quarantine on board the MV Grand Princess, docked in the United States, after a passenger from a previous trip died from the coronavirus. The Philippines is currently seeking a self-isolation site for them. At least six Filipinos aboard the cruise ship have so far tested positive for the virus as well.

The government could have been more proactive in removing them, finding quarantine sites, or providing assistance while they were abroad, Concepcion said, but they received nothing until they were repatriated back to the country.

$198 subsidy

Workers barred by the Philippines from travelling to China are entitled to subsidies of 10,000 Philippine pesos ($198). The government payments were earlier extended to workers unable to return to their jobs in Hong Kong and Macau before the Philippines lifted travel bans to those territories.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), responsible for distributing the payments said it had not yet decided on giving similar handouts to workers unable to travel to Kuwait and Qatar.

For financial assistance, no policy has been issued yet, Jay Tevez, advocacy and social marketing officer at OWWA, told Al Jazeera.

At least 80 Filipino crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive of coronavirus [File: Department of Foreign Affairs-Philippines via EPA]

At present, the agency is evaluating what other assistance we may give to affected workers, particularly those going to Qatar and Kuwait, Tevez said.

But workers who have received the subsidy say it cannot make up for their financial losses.

Its already gone, Reyes said. Were using our savings.

Rod Cruz, who intended to take up an engineering job in Shenzhen before the travel ban said he would be covered by health insurance at work but would face expensive medical bills in the Philippines should he or a family member get sick.

The same fate could befall Kuwait or Qatar-bound workers now without either their overseas health insurance or salaries.

We have different destinations [but] our conditions would still be the same, Cruz said. Whatever we are experiencing, they will also experience.





Call centres under threat

The economic fallout of the coronavirus could hit the Philippines hard because it relies heavily on foreign-worker remittances  but workers within the country could also be affected.

Call centres within the Philippines which serve mostly American companies and employ more than one million Filipinos could also be under threat.

Officials have called on the labour department to provide unemployment benefits to those unable to work due to the coronavirus.

Concepcion said the government should either provide financial subsidies or alternative jobs but no long-term stimulus plan has yet been put in place to ease the woes of foreign workers.

For Reyes, who works in Zhuhai, the solution is simple. They need manpower, she said. We are just asking to be allowed to go back.
A life-sized marble reproduction of Michelangelos David has been destroyed after toppling over at Glendales Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Sunday.

The 17-foot tall statue had been on display at the privately owned cemetery, where it seemingly fell of its own accord, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Security staff claimed the statue was still erect during a routine sweep of the grounds at 5am, but found it destroyed when they returned an hour later.

A life-sized marble reproduction of Michelangelos David has been destroyed after toppling over at Glendales Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Sunday

Cemetery museum director James Fishburne, who discovered the statue had fallen while preparing for a tour of the site, said: I was surprised, but I wasnt in shock.

Widely regarded as a renaissance masterpiece, Michelangelos original sculpture of Biblical hero David was carved from solid marble between 1501 and 1504.

Fishburne, who holds a degree in Italian renaissance history, admitted the size and scale of Michelangelos masterpiece made it significantly more fragile than other sculptures from the same period.

The 17-foot tall statue had been on display at the privately owned cemetery, where it seemingly fell of its own accord, the Los Angeles Times reports

'Its inherently delicate because Michelangelo, when he started sculpting it, was given a block that others had worked on,' he explained.

'They sort of sculpted him into a corner, so by its very nature, it had to be very thin.'

Michelangelo's David had originally been commissioned for placement on the east end of Italy's Florence Cathedral before being placed in the city's Palazzo Vecchio.

Security staff claimed the statue was still erect during a routine sweep of the grounds at 5am, but found it destroyed when they returned an hour later

Michelangelos David Widely regarded as a renaissance masterpiece, Michelangelos original sculpture of Biblical hero David was carved from solid marble between 1501 and 1504 But the project was long delayed, with the Overseers of the Office of Works of Florence originally choosing Renaissance sculptor Agostino di Duccio to create David in 1464 Agostino's involvement with the project ended two years later, with Antonio Rossellino stepping in to continue his work Rossellino himself ceased work on the project soon after, and work on David was abandoned for 26 years before Michelangelo stepped in The sculpture was originally designed as one of 12 Old Testament statues to be stationed at the east end of Florence Cathedral It was later placed in the city's Palazzo Vecchio before being moved to Galleria dell'Accademia in 1873, where it remains Advertisement

The priceless sculpture was eventually moved to its current home at the Galleria dell'Accademia in 1873, with a replica taking its place in Florence's old town hall.

Reporting in 2014, Italy's National Research Council claimed the original statue had fractures in its ankles and legs - the result of advanced age and its 5.5 tonne weight.

Glendale's replica of the sculpture has been a fixture at the site for six years, and Fishburne admitted it will be a loss to the cemetery.

Cemetery museum director James Fishburne, who discovered the statue had fallen while preparing for a tour of the site, said: I was surprised, but I wasnt in shock

'Its been a beloved artwork for over 500 years from the moment it was created,' he said. 'When you stand there beneath it and it towers over you, its a really impressive artistic experience.'

It is the third David reproduction to be destroyed through natural causes at the Glendale site, with the first collapsing during San Fernando Valley's 1971 Sylmar earthquake.

A replacement statue was quickly erected, but that too was destroyed following the devastating 1994 Northridge earthquake that claimed 33 lives.

Widely regarded as a renaissance masterpiece, Michelangelos original sculpture of Biblical hero David was carved from solid marble between 1501 and 1504 (pictured, the original sculpture)

Of the cemetery's latest rendering, Fishburne said: 'We worked with an Italian studio and it was sculpted in Carrara marble, which is from the same quarry Michelangelo used.

'Its as close as you can get to the original.  Its the same quality and grade.'

The broken pieces are now in storage while Forest Lawn officials consider where they should go.

According to Fishburne, the could be donated them to art schools for research purposes or to be used as raw materials.
Photo: Glacier Media

Princess Cruises, which had one of its ships quarantined off the coast of Japan last month, is suspending global operations through early May because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cruise line, which is part of Carnival Corp., said Thursday that 18 cruise ships will cease voyages that were scheduled to depart between March 12 and May 10.

Japanese authorities quarantined the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the port of Yokohama for a two weeks after 10 passengers were initially diagnosed with the COVID-19.

The Miami cruise operator said those currently on cruises that will end in the next five days will continue to sail as expected so that travel arrangements aren't disrupted. Sailings underway that extend past March 17 will end at the most convenient location for guests, factoring in operational requirements.
March 12, 2020  Milverton, ON:  22 Racing, one of Canadas leading NASCAR Pintys Series teams will have a strong presence at the sixth annual Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo taking place on March 13, 14 & 15 2020 at the International Centre, across from Torontos Pearson International Airport.

Fresh off his recent sponsor announcement and unveiling of his 2020 livery at the Salon International de lAuto de Quebec, Alex Taglianis #18 VIAGRA/RONA/St. Hubert Chevrolet Camaro will be on display at the NASCAR Pintys Series display  booth #5613 in Hall 2.

Tagliani will also be on site for an Autograph Session on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the NASCAR booth.

Also, in Hall 2, Stewart Friesens #24 Qwick Wick / Mister Transmission car will be on display at the Pintys exhibit in booth #5611 to promote The Pintys 100  the first ever NASCAR Pintys Series race to be held on dirt this coming August 18th.

Attendees who drop by the Pintys 100 display can pick up a single free Qwick Wick fire starter sample with a Stewart Friesen collector card. On the backside theres a special Qwick Wick discount for attendees to take advantage of. Both sides of the handout feature exclusive Augmented Reality experiences viewable with 22 Racings all new webAR platform at portal.22racing.ca.

Four-time NASCAR Pintys Series champion and 22 Racing team founder Scott Steckly will be lending his vast knowledge to a Mini Stock car build demonstration that will take place in the Motorama Racing Zone. Scotts son Kyle will also be lending a hand. Spearheaded by Rich Schwartzenburg and a team of experienced enthusiasts, the goal of the demonstration is to get young people engaged in building and working on race cars and to talk to kids about trades.

22 Racings sponsor Mechanix Wear will supply gloves for those involved in this unique hands-on Mini Stock build project. Once complete, the vehicle will be a house car at Flamboro Speedway, dedicated to encouraging newcomers to get involved in the sport.

22 Racing team partner Lincoln Electric will again have a large display with demonstrations and special guests all weekend long. Check out their display in Hall 2, Booth # 6202.

The Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo features more than 330,000 square feet of custom cars, hot rods, racing vehicles of all kinds, tuners, displays and exhibitors. Motorama is Canadas biggest late-winter celebration of automobiles and motorsports. For information about the show including tickets visit: www.motoramashow.com/

Motorama organizers and International Centre staff are paying close attention to direction from the Region of Peel Public Health, Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization. Peel Public Health has assessed the public health risk associated with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and has determined the risk is low for the region.

About 22 Racing:

22 Racing is owned by Four-Time NASCAR Pintys Series Champion and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Inductee Scott Steckly. 22 Racing provides highly competitive race cars built in their world-class 7,500 square foot Milverton-based facility and maintained by a team of highly experienced crew members. 22 Racing offer turnkey solutions that range from research and development, construction, testing, logistics to marketing support. Visit 22racing.ca for additional details and a list of previous notable drivers the team has prepared cars for.

The 22 Racing Team is supported by the following sponsors: Erb Group of Companies, AW Millwrights, WorldCAST, Castrol, Wendell Motors, Auto Glym, Mechanix Wear, Great Dane Glasvan, Safety Kleen, Wilride Transport, Lincoln Electric, Dickies, Rustoleum, Dayco, Trico Products, Fram, Autolite, Driving Force and Mathias Sports.

Follow the 22 Racing team on social media for behind the scenes updates on; Twitter @22RacingTeam, Facebook Fan Page 22racingteam and Instagram 22racingteam

For more information please contact:

Mike Rice/ 22 Racing

motorsports@infinetdesigns.com
The entire country of Italy has shut down as it attempts to slow the coronavirus outbreak and stem a rising death toll.

The Italian government announced new restrictions Wednesday, closing all nonessential shops and services aside from supermarkets and pharmacies. With 12,462 cases and 827 deaths, Italy is the worst-hit nation outside China, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The lockdown bans public gatherings and restricts travel only for urgent work situations, emergencies and health reasons.

With the restrictions in effect until April 3, schools and universities remain closed, but public services are still in place. Industrial production is also ongoing with safety measures in place to protect workers from getting sick. However, the country's tourism industry is at a standstill with closed landmarks and canceled flights, and there are concerns that the virus' impact on travel could extend to the summer tourist season.

Though Italy has third-largest economy in the euro zone, it is also laden with debt and had experienced financial struggles prior to the outbreak. JPMorgan now expects Italy's economy to contract 7.5% in the first quarter from the previous quarter. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday that the government is putting aside additional funds to fight the outbreak, boosting spending to 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion).

"At this moment the whole world is certainly looking at us for the numbers of the contagion. They see a country that is in difficulty, but they also appreciate us because we are showing great strictness and great resistance," Conte said in a Facebook address.
GREENWICH  Officers are investigating a case of rape that was reported to authorities Tuesday, police said Thursday.

We are currently investigating it, Greenwich police Lt. Mark Zuccerella said. We are in the preliminary stages of it. No arrests have been made in the case.
(March 10, 2020) On Thursday, March 5, 2020, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service took custody of Victor Lazore, 33, and arrested him for the murder of Jeffery Arquette-Lazore. The criminal charges stem from an occurrence dated August 11, 2019 in w...
Home Minister Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah, while replying to the debate on violence in parts of Delhi in Rajya Sabha, on March 12 said those involved in the riots will not be spared, irrespective of their religion.

"The culprits, they may be of any religion, caste or party, they will not be spared. They will be brought before the law," Shah said.

The home minister also clarified that Aadhaar is not being used to identify those involved in the rioting.

"Only driving licence and voter ID card is being used for face identification (of the culprits involved in the violence). Aadhaar data is not being used for it, as wrongly reported by some sections of media," Shah said, adding that no Supreme Court guideline on privacy was violated and 1,922 faces have been identified using facial identification software.

Speaking on the topic of National Population Register (NPR), which has been a contentious topic, with many state governments having stopped the process, Shah said no documents would be required during the process.

"I am again repeating that no documents will be needed for National Population Register (NPR). All the information asked is optional. Nobody has to fear from the process of NPR. There will be no 'D' (doubtful) category," Shah said.

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha had, over the past few days, witnessed disruptions over the issue, with Congress MPs demanding a discussion over the violence.

On March 11, while responding to the debate on the issue in Lok Sabha, Amit Shah had lauded the Delhi police for preventing the spread of the riots to other areas of 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," Shah had said while responding to the debate on the riots in the Lok Sabha.
OTSEGO COUNTY, MI  A 22-year-old Michigan man accused of sexually assaulting a young child has also been charged with possession of child pornography.

Christian John Edmonds of East Jordan has been charged with six counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct (person under 13) and six counts possession of child sexually abusive material.

The Michigan State Police Gaylord Post began investigating Edmonds after a complaint was received by the MSP Alpena Post in February.

The complainant said he had received some disturbing Snapchats from Edmonds in which he indicated he had a sexual encounter with a person under 13. Edmonds was also suspected of being in possession of child pornography.

Search warrants were obtained for Edmonds residence in East Jordan and several electronic devices were seized, police said. He was arrested on March 10.

Edmonds was arraigned in the 87-A District Court in Otsego on March 11. His next court appearance is at 1 p.m. on March 19.
BH Macro Limited

(the "Company")

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registered number 46235)

LEI: 549300ZOFF0Z2CM87C29

Potential Treasury Share Sales

12 March 2020

Further to publication on 10 March 2020 of the estimated net asset value per share of each class of the Company's shares as at 6 March 2020, the Company confirms that it may sell Sterling shares at a price of 2943 pence per share and US Dollar shares at a price of $30.56 per share, reflecting a 2% premium to the estimated net asset value per share of each class as at 6 March 2020. All sales will be of shares currently held by the Company in treasury.

Unless otherwise announced by the Company, the Company may sell shares at this price until 16 March 2020. Investors wishing to participate in any sale should contact the Company's brokers, J.P. Morgan Cazenove.

Company website: www.bhmacro.com

Enquiries:

J.P. Morgan Cazenove

Tel: +44 (0)207 742 8805

Email: charlotte.r.crowe@jpmorgan.com



Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 1481 745001


Cody Glenn / Special to The Chronicle 2018

The California Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit Wednesday that sought to declare Martins Beach public property, leaving unsettled the owners much-disputed campaign to keep the sandy cove near Half Moon Bay as a private preserve.

The suit by a group called Friends of Martins Beach contended the family that owned the beach for more than 70 years had opened it to the public in 1930 by posting a billboard nearby and allowing visitors to picnic, fish and surf at the beach. But a San Mateo County judge and a state appeals court said the fee the owners charged to visitors showed that it was not public property, and the states high court unanimously denied review Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-12 15:22:21|Editor: huaxia

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GUIYANG, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Guizhou, a Chinese province known for its landscape resorts and ethnic culture, has rolled out measures including government subsidy and loan support after the tourism industry has been hammered by the novel coronavirus outbreak.

According to a circular issued on Wednesday by the provincial government, Guizhou will pour 55 million yuan (7.9 million U.S. dollars) to support the travel agencies and tour vehicle companies.

Preferential policies, with another 20 million yuan earmarked, will also be adopted to stimulate public consumption in the cultural and tourism sector, said the circular.

All the top-rated Class-A resorts in the province will offer a 50-percent discount off the entrance fee to the public and free entrance to all medical workers from across the country this year.

The province will also subsidize the cultural and tourism companies that hire impoverished labor force and those who have been relocated for the purpose of poverty alleviation, it said.

Guizhou Province, situated in southwestern China, has abundant tourism resources such as the country's largest waterfall Huangguoshu, UNESCO world heritage site Mount Fanjingshan and a karst forest in Maolan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

Turkeys export of steel to Uzbekistan from January through February 2020 has made up $5.9 million, which is 39.7 percent less compared to the same period of 2019, Turkeys Ministry of Trade told Trend on March 12.

Turkeys export of steel to Uzbekistan in February 2020 also decreased to make up $2.7 million, which is 40.8 percent less compared to February 2019, the ministry noted.

From January through February 2020, export of steel from Turkey to world markets dropped by 9.5 percent compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $2.1 billion.

Turkeys steel export amounts to 7.4 percent of the countrys total export for January through February 2020.

In February 2020, Turkeys export of steel to world markets amounted to $1 billion, which is 15 percent less compared to the same month of 2019, and 6.9 percent of the countrys total export.

From February 2019 through February 2020, Turkey has exported steel worth $13.6 million.

Turkeys foreign trade turnover in January 2020 exceeded $33.9 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Harbour BioMed, a Cambridge, MA- Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Suzhou, China-based global, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, closed its $75m Series B+ round of financing.

Backers included new investors SK Holdings, Greater Bay Area Fund, Efung Capital, Zheshang Venture Capital and Zhejiang University Future Capital and JT New Century, which joined existing investors Legend Capital, AdvanTech and GIC Pvt. Ltd.

The company, which previously completed an $85m Series B financing in August 2018, intends to use the funds to accelerate the advancement of its clinical-stage compounds and portfolio of biotherapeutics for treating cancer and immunological diseases.

Led by Dr. Jingsong Wang, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Harbour BioMed is a global, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics in the fields of immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases. The company is building its proprietary pipeline through internal R&D programs, collaborations with co-discovery and co-development partners and select acquisitions. Its internal discovery programs are centered around its two patented transgenic mouse platforms (Harbour Mice) for generating both fully human monoclonal antibodies and heavy chain only antibodies (HCAb) and HBICE immune cell engager technology for developing bispecific antibodies. Harbour BioMed also licenses the platforms to companies and academic institutions.

The company recently reported on major progress in its clinical development programs, including:

Start of Phase 1 clinical studies with HBM4003 for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. HBM4003, a next generation anti-CTLA 4 therapeutic, is the first fully human antibody based on HBMs heavy chain only (HCAb) antibody discovery technology. The trial, underway in Australia, is the first in an international development program that will inaugurate trials in the US, EU and China. HBM recently received IND approval from the FDA to initiate its trial in the US. HBM4003 has shown potential in preclinical studies for increased anti-tumor activity based on enhanced antibody dependent cell toxicity mediated Treg depletion and a favorable safety profile.

Start of Phase 2/3 clinical trials of HBM 9161, an anti-FcRn antibody, for the treatment of multiple severe, autoimmune diseases, including myasthenia gravis, adult immune thrombocytopenia, Graves ophthalmopathy and other related indications. Phase 2/3 studies for several of these indications are expected to begin in the first half of 2020 in Greater China.

Completion of a Phase 2 trial of HBM 9036 for Dry Eye Disease. HBM is preparing to start a Phase 3 registration trial in Q2 2020 in China.

Start of Phase 2 clinical program of HBM9167, its humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). The US FDA granted HBM9167 Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) for the development in treating NPC.

FinSMEs

12/03/2020
Stopping only short of formally announcing the formation of his political party, actor Rajinikanth on March 12 unveiled a broad plan for his organisation.

Rajinikanth said he will be the party chief, but will not be the chief ministerial candidate. "Since 2017, I have been saying I do not want to be the chief ministerial candidate. This announcement is not a publicity stunt, he said.

The 69-year-old actor, who had declared in December 2017 that he would enter politics, said Tamil Nadu needed political change.

"There were two stalwarts in our politics, one was Jayalalithaa and the other was Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi). People voted for them but now there is a vacuum. Now, we need to create a new movement to bring change," he said.

Spelling out a plan for his organisations structure, Rajinikanth said he would induct more young people into the party and set an age limit. I want to give 50 to 65 percent (party positions) to people under 50 years of age and who have done well for the society. Youngsters find it difficult to get a position in the party and the government. The rest will be given to good leaders from other parties and retired officers, Rajinikanth said.

Rajinikanth had announced his entry into politics on December 31, 2017, and had said he will launch his own party at a later date.

In February 2019, he had announced that neither he nor members from the Rajini Makkal Mandram (RMM)  the precursor of his party  would participate in the Lok Sabha election.

In August 2018, RMM had launched a 36-page a manifesto of sorts, called the Blue Book. The book contained 25 main clauses outlining the do's and donts for his supporters and office-bearers as part of the RMM.

(This story will be updated when more details are awaited)
The EU will on Thursday assess the travel ban on Europe imposed by US President Donald Trump, European Council President Charles Michel said, adding: "Economic disruption must be avoided."



The tweet by Michel, who coordinates action by the leaders of the EU's 27 member states, followed an overnight decision by Trump to suspend travel from Europe -- but not Britain which is no longer part of the bloc -- to the US for 30 days in a bid to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

"Following the travel ban President Trump announced, we will assess the situation today," Michel said.

"Europe is taking all necessary measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, limit the number of affected people and support research," he said.

Trump's order is to be implemented from late Friday. The White House said it would apply to non-US citizens and residents and would not be applied to goods.

According to the last count from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on Wednesday, more than 17,000 cases of infection of the new virus have been recorded across Europe, more than half of them in Italy, and there have been 711 COVID-19 related deaths.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An appeals court ruled his confession was inadmissible and threw out his conviction, but he was convicted at a second trial that was moved to Lake County. The key to the second conviction was three new prosecution witnesses, siblings who testified that Savory implicated himself in the murders just hours after the slayings. All three have since recanted.
Hindalco Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 126.25, down 8.38% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 37.59% in last one year as compared to a 13.97% slide in NIFTY and a 38.24% fall in the Nifty Metal index.

Hindalco Industries Ltd dropped for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 126.25, down 8.38% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 6.7% on the day, quoting at 9757.8. The Sensex is at 33357.1, down 6.56%.Hindalco Industries Ltd has eased around 35.34% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Hindalco Industries Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 30.46% in last one month and is currently quoting at 1986.95, down 7.2% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 88.98 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 103.17 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark March futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 126.35, down 8.57% on the day. Hindalco Industries Ltd tumbled 37.59% in last one year as compared to a 13.97% slide in NIFTY and a 38.24% fall in the Nifty Metal index.

The PE of the stock is 53.91 based on TTM earnings ending December 19.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Russian penitentiary official ordered to 9-year jail for $2 mln embezzlement

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

00:01 12/03/2020

MOSCOW, March 12 (RAPSI)  Moscows Zamoskvoretsky District Court has sentenced ex-deputy chief of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Oleg Korshunov to 9 years behind bars for embezzling over 155 million rubles ($2 million)during supplies of road fuel and sugar for penitentiary facilities, according to a RAPSI correspondent.

He has been also barred from holding state authority posts for 6 years.

The defendants former subordinates Svetlana Alekseyeva has received 8 years in jail and a 3-million-ruble fine. He colleague Alexey Danilov is to serve 5 years in penal colony.

The court has held that Korshunov and his accomplices had purchased sugar and fuel at over-inflated prices.

However, Korshunov has been acquitted of taking 40 million rubles in bribes.

This is the second embezzlement case against Korshunov. Other defendants are two his subordinates Svetlana Alekseyeva and Alexey Danilov.

In July 2019, Korshunov received the prison term and was fined 900,000 rubles (about $14,000). In addition, he was divested of his service grade and forbidden to hold public offices for 3 years.

Investigators believe that in 2015 Korshunov conspired with CEO of Russian footwear company Datse Group, Smbat Arutyunyan, and the head of state-run production company FSIN Russia Vitaly Morusov. Allegedly, Korshunov ordered to use prisoner labor to manufacture footwear from cheap materials provided by Datse Group. Later, he allegedly facilitated signing of a state contract with FSIN Russia.

Moreover, Korshunov is a defendant in a third criminal case. He is accused of abuse of power during the construction of a detention center in Crimea.

Korshunov was appointed to the post of FSIN deputy head in March 2014. He has been bestowed the rank of Full State Counsellor 2nd Class of the Russian Federation. In October 2017, President Vladimir Putin relieved him of the post.




Washington D.C. [USA], Mar 12 (ANI): New York City's St. Patrick's Day Parade, the largest such celebration in the world, was postponed late Wednesday evening (local time) over concerns about the spread of coronavirus that has killed dozens of US citizens and infected more than 1,200 Americans.



This is the first time in more than 250 years that the event will not be organised as scheduled.

The announcement was made in a statement by Governor Andrew M Cuomo as well as other parade organisers, and followed the cancellation of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Chicago and Boston, The New York Times reported.

"While I know the parade organizers did not make this decision lightly, public health experts agree that one of the most effective ways to contain the spread of the virus is to limit large gatherings and close contacts," Cuomo said.

"And I applaud the parade's leadership for working cooperatively with us," he added.

The parade, traditionally held on March 17, draws an estimated 150,000 marchers and two million spectators a year to Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, including many police and military groups, firefighters, Irish musicians and student groups from across the United States. It is one of the city's largest recurring public events.

Cuomo said he had spoken to Anthony S. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose "strong recommendation" was to "reduce large gatherings" like the parade.

"Why would you risk bringing thousands of people together knowing this is a virus that is easily communicable?" Cuomo said at a news conference. "St. Patrick's Day is one of the great convenings of a large number of people."

"If you listen to the experts, they are saying you should not have a St. Patrick's Day convening at this time, which I believe makes sense," the Governor said.

St. Patrick is the patron saint of both Ireland and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the second-largest diocese in the United States, which has traditionally played a role in the parade.

The occasion, while not a legal holiday in the United States, is nonetheless widely recognised and observed throughout the country as a celebration of Irish and Irish-American culture. Celebrations include prominent displays of the colour green, religious observances, numerous parades, and copious consumption of alcohol.

The NY Governor declared a state of emergency in the state on Saturday and deployed the National Guard three days later to a "containment area" in New Rochelle, in Westchester County.

Earlier this week, Ireland also cancelled all parades nationwide. (ANI)


State prosecutors have asked a former Deputy Bank of Ghana Governor, Johnson Asiamah to quarantine himself upon return from Nigeria.

The prosecutors made the request amidst concerns about the spread of coronavirus across the world with two cases reported in Nigeria.

This follows an application by Mr. Asiama to have the court release his passport to him to enable him to make an urgent trip to Nigeria.

According to the state prosecutors who did not oppose the application, the quarantine will be necessary due to the reported cases of the novel coronavirus in that country.

Johnson Asiama is standing trial for his alleged roles in the collapse of the now-defunct UT Bank and Unibank.

He had his passport taken by the court as part of the bail conditions granted him in the criminal case before the High court.

The high court granted the application of the former deputy BoG and released his passport to him.

Growing cases of the disease in Africa

Ghana's western neighbour, Cote Dlvoire on Wednesday March 11, 2020 recorded its first case of Coronavirus. Burkina Faso also on March 10, 2020, confirmed its first case of the virus while Togo recorded a first case of the virus on March 6, 2020.

Some African countries affected so far are:

Egypt  59 (1 dead)

Algeria  20

SouthAfrica  13

Tunisia  7

Morocco  5 (1 dead)

Senegal  4

Cameroon  2

Nigeria  2

Burkina Faso  2

Togo  1

DRCongo  1

Cote dIvoire  1

---citinewsroom
A 52-year-old man is to stand trial after a grandfather was left fighting for his life following an alleged assault in Dublin last year.

Paddy Hansard, 73, is recovering after he suffered serious head injuries and broken bones in his neck at around 2.30am on August 17, at the Courtney Place flat complex in Ballybough, Dublin 3.

The retired scaffolder was on his way home, with his partner June, from a night out at the Clonliffe House pub.

After he was injured, he was rushed to the Mater Hospital by emergency services, in a critical condition.

The OAP was later moved to the Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, in Finglas, Dublin.

The incident featured on RTEs Crimecall programme last September.

James ONeill with an address at Courtney Place, Ballybough, was brought before Judge John Cheatle at Dublin District Court today.

He was charged with causing serious harm to Mr Hansard, contrary to section four of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Detective Garda Gary Moran told the court the accused was arrested and charged at Mountjoy station this morning.

He did not make any reply, Det Garda Moran said. The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed trial on indictment in the circuit court.

The case was adjourned until April 23 next for the preparation of the book of evidence.

There was no objection to bail subject to conditions being imposed.

Defence solicitor Rory Staines said the terms had been agreed.

Mr ONeill, who was wearing a black jacket, dark checked shirt, green trousers and brown shoes, sat silently at the side of the court during the hearing.

He has not yet indicated how he will plead.

Judge Cheatle ordered him to sign on three days a week at Store Street Garda station, to furnish gardai with his phone number and to tell them if he updates his address, surrender his passport and not have any contact with witnesses in the case.

Legal aid was granted after the judge noted the accused was working but earned 480 a week with rent of 200.

A statement of means was handed in to court and there was no Garda objection.
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has closed several of its facilities and canceled public events in Germany and Chile in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

There have not been any reported cases of COVID-19, the d isease caused by the novel coronavirus , at any of the ESO sites. However, the agency is taking measures to ensure the safety of its staff and the public, which includes closing its facilities, canceling public events and limiting travel by staff and visitors, according to a statement.

"We ask for the understanding of all those who may be affected by these measures," the statement said . "We are fully committed to putting the wellbeing and safety of people first."

Related: Full coronavirus and COVID-19 coverage from our partner Live Science

The ESO's Supernova Planetarium and Visitor Centre in Germany has closed for the remainder of March, according to the statement. The agency has also canceled public activities at its Garching Headquarters in Germany, including a Girls' Day Event planned for March 26.

The organization's facilities in South America are also seeing measures to contain the coronavirus. ESO has closed its Santiago offices and suspended public visits to its La Silla and Paranal Observatories in Chile until further notice. Public events at the agency's Vitacura-Santiago office in Chile have also been canceled for the remainder of March, including an Open House Day.

Rather than implement across-the-board rules for researchers, the organization is deciding what travel to permit on a case-by-case basis. "We are promoting remote participation for international conferences and limiting duty travel to instances deemed to be mission-critical and time-critical," ESO representatives said in the statement. "Visitors are asked to check with their ESO contact before traveling whether their visit or event is still on and, if so, what measures would apply for their specific case."

According to a global tracker produced by Johns Hopkins University, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has topped 127,000. According to the tracker, there have been more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases reported in Germany and 23 reported cases in Chile, as of early today (March 12).

ESO's decision follows the European Space Agency's decision to limit travel of employees and NASA's decision to close the Ames Research Center in California and require nonessential employees to work from home.

ESO will continue to monitor the global spread of the coronavirus and take necessary action to respond, with current closings and any future event cancellations reviewed in the coming weeks, according to the statement.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13 . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
Private details of around 900 million people have been exposed after an online database containing information of Whisper app users was left online without password protection.

Whisper's core focus is to allow users to anonymously share secrets and has around 30 million monthly active users. Since it was launched in 2012, people have used it to post confessions and discuss private matters like sexuality, unwanted pregnancies and domestic abuse.

The database contained compromising user details that could potentially be used to identify the person behind a post, including their nickname, location, age, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

It was discovered following an investigation by The Washington Post, with researchers warning that the information could lead to users being blackmailed due to the sensitive nature of the data.

One confession linked to an exposed account stated: "My son was conceived at a time when I cheated on his father."

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

The information was not password protected, with Whisper claiming that it was "not designed to be queried directly". The database has since been taken down.

Cyber security experts warned that the data breach could have implications far beyond the initial breach, with criminals potentially able to exploit the exposed data to carry out further attacks.

"If companies are still leaving data online, unprotected without a password, they should face the consequences of their actions. Sensitive information should be considered their most valuable asset and requires constant monitoring for its security," said Jake Moore, a security specialist at ESET.

"Such information as 'nickname' could even pose a risk with answering basic 'forgotten password' security questions, should criminals want to gain access to accounts when requesting new passwords."

Whisper did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.

It is not the first time the app has been caught up in a privacy scandal. A 2014 report by The Guardian claimed that Whisper was tracking the location of users, regardless of whether or not they opted out of sharing their location data.
The Armenian government took steps in 2019 to investigate and punish alleged abuses by former and current government officials and law enforcement authorities, according to an annual U.S. Department of State report on human rights practices.

As evidence the country report for Armenia published on March 11 refers to criminal cases and trials involving former high-ranking government officials.

On September 12, hearings began in a high-profile case against former officials for their alleged involvement in sending the military to break up protests following the 2008 presidential election, in which eight civilians and two police officers were killed. Charges filed in this and associated criminal cases included allegations of overthrowing the constitutional order, abuse and exceeding official authority, torture, complicity in bribery, official fraud, and falsification of evidence connected with the investigation of the 2008 postelection events, the U.S. Department of State says, listing the names of high-profile suspects in the cases, including former president Robert Kocharian.

At the same time, the U.S. Department of State quotes Council of Europe commissioner for human rights Dunja Mijatovic as noting in her report the importance of conducting the process in a careful manner, in strict adherence to the principles of rule of law, judicial independence, transparency, and guarantees of fair trial, in order to dispel any accusations of revenge politics or selective justice.

Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of State says that more than a decade after the deadly post-election events of March 2008, in June 2019, the Armenian parliament adopted a law on providing assistance to the victims of the violence, and in September the government allocated 720 million drams (about $1.5 million) to assist victims and their families.

Referring to human rights violations in Armenia last year, the U.S. Department of State highlights shortcomings in the judicial sphere, indicating significant problems with the independence of the judiciary.

Although the law provides for an independent judiciary, the judiciary did not generally exhibit independence and impartiality. After the 2018 political transition, popular distrust in the impartiality of judges remained strong, and NGOs highlighted that the justice sector retained many officials who served the previous authorities. Corruption of judges remained a concern, the report says.

It reminded that in May in an apparent reaction to the release of former president Robert Kocharian from detention by a Yerevan court, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian called on his supporters to block access to courts throughout the country, a move questioned by some observers as pressuring the judiciary.

Speaking about the judiciary, the U.S. Department of State observed that following the Velvet Revolution, many judges released suspects in politically sensitive cases from pretrial detention.

According to human rights groups, because no other circumstances had changed in their cases, this was an indication that, before the April and May 2018 events, judicial decisions to hold those suspects in detention instead of allowing their release on bail were politically motivated.

The Armenian judiciary came under criticism also for an increasing tendency to fall back into the previous practice of applying pretrial detention. Lengthy pretrial detention remained a chronic problem, the U.S. Department of State says, referring to the governments statistics, according to which as of October 1, approximately 45 percent of the prison population consisted of pretrial detainees.

The report also refers to abuse in police stations and in prisons. According to human rights activists, impunity for past instances of police abuse contributed to the persistence of the problem, although to a lesser extent than observed prior to the 2018 Velvet Revolution. Furthermore, observers contended that the failure to prosecute these past cases was linked to the lack of change in the composition of law enforcement bodies since the 2018 political transition, other than at the leadership level.

As for prisons, the report notes that according to the Prison Monitoring Group, political will at the highest level to eradicate corruption in the penitentiaries had not yet been translated into institutional change.

As for corruption, the U.S. Department of State says that Armenia has a legacy of systemic corruption in many areas, including construction, mining, public administration, the parliament, the judiciary, procurement practices, and provision of grants by the state.

There were allegations of embezzlement of state funds, involvement of government officials in questionable business activities, and tax and customs privileges for government-linked companies. In 2018 the government made combating corruption one of its top priorities and continued to take measures to eliminate it during the year. Although top officials announced the eradication of corruption in the country, local observers noted that anticorruption measures needed further institutionalization. Criminal corruption cases were uncovered in the tax and customs services, the ministries of education and health care, and the judiciary, the report says.

According to the Prosecutor Generals Office, in the 13 months ending in June, enforcement bodies and tax services uncovered violations in the amount of 110.5 billion drams (almost $230 million), constituting damages to the state, embezzlement, abuse of official duty, and bribes. Of this amount, 30.1 billon drams ($63 million) was reportedly paid to the state budget; NGOs raised concerns regarding insufficient transparency in this process.

During the year former officials made public announcements of their intent to return assets to the state, allegedly to avoid prosecution. The process by which the government accepted or negotiated such arrangements were unclear.

Speaking about omissions, the U.S. Department of State refers to media reports throughout the year that the Ministry of Defense was providing incomplete information or not reporting on certain noncombat deaths in the army. Human rights nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) voiced concern regarding the Defense Ministrys classification of military deaths and the practice of qualifying many noncombat deaths as suicides, making it less likely that abuses would be uncovered and investigated.

At the same time, the report says that in its July 8 biannual report on the human rights situation in the armed forces, the NGO Peace Dialogue noted that, for the first time, the Ministry of Defense had designated the protection of soldiers human rights as an organizational priority: On July 24, the Defense Ministry launched a trust line, a telephone number that soldiers may call to submit complaints, ask for assistance, and provide suggestions.

The report also presents observations on media. The U.S. Department of State says that since the 2018 political transition, the media environment in Armenia has been freer. However, there were reports that some outlets avoided criticizing the authorities so as not to appear counterrevolutionary, it adds.

According to some media watchdogs, public television continued to present news from a pro-government standpoint, replacing one government perspective with another in the aftermath of the political transition. Nonetheless, public television was open and accessible to the opposition as well and covered more diverse topics of public interest than before.

Media company ownership was mostly nontransparent. The countrys Fourth Action Plan of Open-Government Partnership Initiative of the Republic of Armenia (2018-2020) included commitments to improve ownership disclosure. Media NGOs advocated for the media sector to be included as a priority sector in the action plan and proposed changes to the Law on Television and Radio that fostered media ownership transparency, reads the U.S. Department of States report.

Whereas previous annual reports criticized the Armenian authorities for systemic corruption, violence against journalists and the opposition, the suppression of freedom of speech and assembly, impunity of law-enforcement agencies and violations during elections, this time, the U.S. Department of State says, quoting international observers, that Armenias early parliamentary elections of December 2018 were held with respect for fundamental freedoms and enjoyed broad public trust that needs to be preserved through further electoral reforms.
A day after it was revealed that she was on the same red flag list of names compiled by Harvey Weinstein as actor Ben Affleck, accusor Rose McGowan has called him names on Twitter. It must be so wearying playing a superhero instead of being one, she wrote.

McGowan wrote that Affleck was in a position to make a difference over the years, but chose to stay silent. The actors worked together on the 1998 film Phantoms. She continued, PS Ben, you were a f**king prick when we did Phantoms. An entitled, elitist, f**king miserable, bro ass punk. But worse, you were part of the cover up of my rape. Come clean. I was there. I know. So do you.

According to journalist Ronan Farrows book, Catch and Kill, McGowan said she was raped by Weinstein during the production of Phantoms, and confided in Affleck, who said, God damn it, I told him to stop doing this. According to Vox, Afflecks name also cropped up among the hundreds who were accused of misconduct. Two women have accused him of groping them.

Offering advice to Affleck, she wrote, Heres what I think you should do- stop the PR machine and just... be real. We all know. Think back on what probably happened to you, decide if you have it in you to be a multi-millionaire that helps break a system by just telling the truth. It will set you free and inspire others. Hollywood is a sickness that you can cure. The public can handle the reality. Ben I know you are a corporate entity, but trust me if you ever do decide to be an irl hero, your stock in being human will go up. We dont have time for f**kery. Now, go write an open letter to atone to all of us who werent worth you considering human, you know, girls. Pretend its a 9th step. Tell the truth. 

You are right Johnathon. Ben Affleck. I feel sorry for him. It must be so wearying playing a superhero instead of being one. He could have risen. He still can. He was raised at the teat of that toxic intersection Hollywood/Media/Politics. Michael Bay made him shave his teal teeth https://t.co/NWX4UdFfUm  rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) March 11, 2020

According to Variety, 'The Red Flag List' was unearthed in the unsealed court papers on Tuesday. Around 70 names are on the list including Affleck and Annabella Sciorra. This is in addition to the name of the accusers McGowan, Zelda Perkins, Lysette Anthony, and Rowena Chiu.

The names of Weinstein's former assistant Irwin Reiter, Russian Doll creator Leslye Headland, Donna Gigliotti, Jason Blum, and producers Megan Ellison, and Jennifer Todd were also on the list. The list comprised names that Weinstein thought might speak to the press about the allegations of sexual assault made against him. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on Wednesday.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
China to continue sharing experience, medical resources in COVID-19 fight: FM

Global Times

Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/11 17:39:12

China's Foreign Ministry says that with China's successful experience in containing the coronavirus, it is willing to make contributions to the global battle against COVID-19 while making unceasing efforts to tame the epidemic domestically.

Geng Shuang, a spokesperson of the ministry, made the remarks at a Wednesday press briefing, noting that with joint efforts, China and the international community will finally achieve victory against the coronavirus.

Geng stressed the importance of communication, saying the sharing of epidemic information is key to global cooperation. He said China will continue to share the information transparently with others in a highly responsible manner, as China shared the genetic sequence with World Health Organization (WHO) in the early stages of the outbreak.

China will also share its experience with other countries and regions that need it. China has released the seventh version of the coronavirus treatment guideline, which has been translated into multiple languages and shared with other countries. China has held video conferences with the EU, ASEAN, the SCO, countries in the South Pacific region, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia to exchange experiences and strengthen the global public health capability, Geng said.

In addition, China has assigned medical groups to epidemic-stricken countries where they are needed. So far, China has dispatched expert groups to Iraq and Iran, and is preparing to send elite medical groups to aid Italy, a move that has been praised by locals. We will continue to provide support to countries that need it, said the spokesperson.

In addition to the $20 million donated to the WHO, China has provided medical supplies such as masks, medicines and protective outfits to the international community, said Geng, adding that China's organizations have also aided other countries.

China is willing to cooperate with other countries in the research and development of medicines, vaccines, and test kits, providing China's plan to contain the coronavirus globally, he said.

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Win Up To $1000 + SG5 Electric Scooter You wont need to spend countless hours searching for a four-leaf clover to bring you luck in this contest. Were juicing the pot o gold this time around with multiple winners + a Swagger 5 Elite eScooter. Bonus points for tagging us in a photo with your mates!" - SWAGTRON CMO, Jason Wakefield.

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From now until 11:59 PM EST, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, participants can drop a clover emoji in our #LuckIsSwag video post on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and tag a friend. Easy as bangers and mash!

Upon entering, participants will have a chance to secure up to 10 additional entries by posting a photo of themselves on St. Patrick's Day using the hashtag #LuckIsSwag and tagging SWAGTRON. The winner will be announced during a live stream event on March 18, 2020.

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YEREVAN.  The number of fires in Armenia has increased unprecedentedly in recent days. Minister of Emergency Situations Feliks Tsolakyan stated about this at the government Cabinet meeting.

"We have up to 100 fires a day, which is a very high figure for this season, and there are already difficulties moving from one place to another and extinguishing fires," he added. The territorial administration authorities have to deal very seriously with this.

The villagers gather and burn the leaves, remains of their orchards, [but] then they do not monitor, and the fire spreads.

There are fires for other reasons, too. We now have cases of forest fires that are not specific to this season; for example, we had 95 fires yesterday. 

Also, Tsolakyan asked the rural community leaders to be attentive.
The launch of Ekocab Nigeria has sparked mixed reactions among web users after the company recently partnered the Lagos state government.

The ride-hailing platform, which helps commuters to connect regular yellow taxi drivers in the state, has been receiving bad reviews on google play-store.

https://twitter.com/bard_boi_/status/1237660603889733633?s=21

Several commentators took to their social media page to accuse the government of stealing the idea of Uber and wanting to send them out of business, including other car hailing companies.

A social media user, however, alleged that the owner of Ekocab, Segun Cole is Sanwoolu s nephew and this is why he was able to get this partnership with Lagos state government.

@Soohm_ wrote on Twitter;

Seun Ekocab is Sanwoolus nephew wow. Im actually impressed cos not all Uncles will help you Face with tears of joyFace with tears of joyFace with tears of joy Sanwoeko isnt a witchcraft uncle. I give it to him.

See the tweet below:

https://twitter.com/Soohm_/status/1237990589905489920?s=20

Although, the owner of the cab-hailing service has taken to Twitter page to seek the support of well-meaning Nigerians.

Read Also: Daniel Wilson Says Coronavirus Was Targeted At Africa

He also revealed his intentions are pure in a long thread.

See the tweet below:

2. Sometime back 2015, Uber refused to be Categorized as a Transport Operator, called themselves a digital App connecting riders and drivers only. They created this messaging Architecture and it was established Globally.  _Sir_Cole (@IamnotChuckBass) March 11, 2020

4. On the Other hand, local taxis, including Metro/Red and the rest were complaining of diminishing profit margins and source of Income. The argument was that, this was their major source of Income, unlike Uber drivers that did this as pertime mostly.  _Sir_Cole (@IamnotChuckBass) March 11, 2020
I guess the nuns at St. Josephs in Ocean County were better at imparting math skills than those at Mater Dei in Monmouth County.

That might explain why Brian Williams, who is a Mater Dei alumnus, recently fell for a tweet with math that doesnt add up:

Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. The U.S. population is 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million and still have money left over," Williams read, quoting from the Tweet.

Its an incredible way of putting it, Williams said.

Yes, it was. Literally, as Jim McGreevey used to say. After having had the nuns at St. Joes beat the art of division into my head, again literally, I didnt need a calculator to see that dividing $500 million by $1 million means a mere 500 Americans could have gotten a million bucks if former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg had decided to put that money to a better use.

Back in 2004, the original millionaires tax was sold to us by McGreevey and his fellow Democrats employing math that was similarly incredible. When he first proposed raising the states top tax rate from 6.37 to 8.97 percent, McGreevey argued that the new rate, which kicked in at $500,000 of annual income, would cost a taxpayer making $550,000 a year a mere $846 more annually in taxes.

True. But before long his fellow Democrats were touting that $846 figure as the average take from the tax. Then-Assembly Speaker Albio Sires, for example, was quoted as saying, "I've been asking the governor for this for a long time. We're just asking millionaires to share $846 of their Bush tax cut."

A mere $846? What a deal.

But the Democrats were also arguing that the new tax would produce $800 million in new revenue that would go to enhanced property tax rebates.

In fact, the average hit from the tax was $30,000. But I didnt hear anyone, including the many Republicans who backed the hike, make that objection as the bill sailed through the Legislature.

Those rebates dried up soon after McGreevey left office. But the tax is still on the books. And now were seeing yet another call to raise it  this time minus any promise of rebates.

In his annual budget address last month, Gov. Phil Murphy proposed lowering the threshold for the current top rate of 10.75 percent from $5 million to $1 million in annual income.

But the guy who really runs the state, Senate President Steve Sweeney, isnt buying it.

During a visit to the Star-Ledger editorial board Wednesday, Sweeney said that the budget he intends to send to Gov. Phil Murphy for Fiscal Year 2021, which begins July 1, is not likely to include tax hikes.

I dont know why were talking taxes, said Sweeney.

Thanks to the booming economy, revenues are running well ahead of projections, he said. That means the Democrats in the Legislature can send Murphy a budget that is balanced without tax hikes, he said.

We saw this fight last year as well, and the battle lines have changed only slightly. This year Murphy wants his tax hike again. Meanwhile Sweeney said he would support that hike in the millionaires tax only if he gets some major concessions from Murphy.

Last year, Murphy grumbled when Sweeney sent him a budget without the requested tax hike, but he ended up signing it. The governors only weapon in a budget fight is to risk a government shutdown of the sort that still haunts Chris Christie, thanks to that photo of him sunning himself outside the governors beach house in Island Beach State Park while the gates were closed to the public.

Murphy summers at his villa in Italy, so thats not a problem. But theres one way he might get his hike in the millionaires tax.

It could happen if he puts a billion dollars up, Sweeney said.

The billion dollars in question would be put into the states badly depleted pension funds so the state could finally make the full annual contribution set by the actuaries. But how would Murphy come up with the money?

One way to lower that pension liability would be to enact Sweeneys Path to Progress reform program that would help bring future pension costs down to a sustainable level.

One guy who worked on that program is Ralph Albert Thomas, the executive director of the state Society of Certified Public Accountants. Thomas told me that his members are strongly against a hike in the millionaires tax.

We just cant continue to tax our way out of our issues here in New Jersey, Thomas said. We need other measures.

In the absence of such measures, he said, his members have a fiduciary responsibility to give their clients the best answers when they ask, Where do you think I should live?

Its a simple math problem.

And the governor needs to get out his calculator.
Coronavirus (Representative image)

Around 62 people in India have tested positive for novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the disease as pandemic on March 11 with more than 126,000 cases registered across 124 countries.

Even common flu symptoms such as cough, cold, breathlessness and fever are making people anxious. If one is, just head to one of the labs that are run by government, or are government-authorised.

As of now it is only government and government authorised diagnostic laboratories that are testing for coronavirus infection.

Important point to remember: none of the private diagnostic labs are equipped to test for COVID-19. But private hospitals have isolation wards.

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 apex laboratory for testing COVID-19 is the National Institute of Virology (Pune) under ICMR.

At the state level, the government is providing COVID-19 testing at the 13 viral research and diagnostic laboratories (VRDL).

These are located in: AIIMS - Delhi; KGMU - Lucknow; SMS -Jaipur; NICED - Kolkata; IGGMC - Nagpur; Kasturba Medical College - Mumbai; Gandhi Medical College - Secunderabad; BMCRI - Bangalore; NIV Field Unit - Bangalore; KIPMR - Chennai; NIV Field Unit - Kerala; BJMC -Ahmedabad and GMC - Guwahati.

People can't directly go to these labs to get tests done, but have to be referred by the above hospitals.

For more information on Coronavirus the helpline number is +91-11-23978046 and email: ncov2019@gmail.com

For people in Maharashtra, State Control Room - 020 - 2612 7394; Toll Free number 104

For more updates please go to Ministry of Health & Welfare: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/
Click here for a more accessible version



About COVID

Questions about COVID? We know COVID-19 is complex and information changes as scientists and health care professionals learn more about the virus. Here are the most up-to-date answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19:



What is COVID-19?

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so its important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).



How COVID Spreads

COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus. Human coronaviruses spread just like the flu or a cold: Through the air by coughing or sneezing



Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands



Touching an object or surface with the virus on it



Occasionally, fecal contamination



Symptoms of COVID-19

Symptoms of COVID-19 can include: Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath

Diarrhea



Chills



Repeated shaking with chills



Muscle pain



Headache



Sore throat



New loss of taste or smell The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.



When to Seek Treatment

Most people who have mild symptoms can recover at home without medical care. If you'd like to get tested for a diagnosis, contact your healthcare provider or schedule an appointment at a publicly accessible testing site. If you do not want to get tested, it's still important to stay home, isolate and avoid contact with others, rest, and drink fluids. If you feel worse, call your health care provider. For severe symptoms (including a fever above 100), call your health care provider. If you don't have a health care provider, call the nearest hospital or urgent care to schedule an appointment. If it's an emergency, call 911. Emergency warning signs can include: Trouble breathing

Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

New confusion

Inability to wake or stay awake

Bluish lips or face



Protect Yourself and Others
The Pathfinder, John C. Fremont, and others led the way to finding routes to California in 1844-45. In 1846-47, The Donner Party spent the terrible winter attempting to cross over the Sierras in winter. There were 83 members of the Donner Party but only 45 of them survived to reach California. Search for other routes to California escalated following the discovery of gold in California in 1849.

In the early days, Nevada was referred to as The Great American Desert. The pioneers who attempted to cross this area knew, or should have known, that any route selected must follow the route of the rivers in order to have water for people, horses, oxen and other livestock. It was also essential to have places where these animals could graze. The Donner party chose to take the Hastings Cutoff, which likely delayed them and caused their late attempt to cross over the Sierras.

The Humboldt River route was the most used route across northern Nevada and it provided water and grazing all the way to Lovelock. When the wagon trains reached Lovelock, the emigrants were faced with having to make another choice for the best way to cross the dreaded Forty Mile Desert. Just beyond Lovelock, the Humboldt River entered the Humboldt sink and disappeared into the sand. The pioneers complained the water of the Humboldt became increasingly alkaline each day.

Many of the wagon trains chose to take the Carson River Route, traveling southerly from Lovelock. Once they left the Humboldt Sink, it was 40 miles without any water until they arrived at the Carson River at Ragtown. After leaving Ragtown, the wagons followed the Carson River west to the area where Fort Churchill was later built. From there, the trail passed through Dayton and Carson Valley where various routes, including Spooner Summit and Kingsbury Grade, were then used to cross over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to California.

Those who decided to take the Truckee River Route traveled southwest from Lovelock 20 miles to Bradys Hotsprings where 200-degree water was available. It had to be cooled before livestock or people could use it. When some emigrants arrived, their oxen smelled water and were scalded attempting to drink.

From Bradys it was another 20 miles to the next water at the Truckee River near Wadsworth. Following the Truckee west they then reached the Truckee Meadows. Since the meadows were mostly a large marsh in those days, the wagons traveled south to near Rattlesnake Mountain where there was a spring that became known as Donner Springs. Here the emigrants and livestock rested for the final effort to cross over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to California.

The Truckee River Canyon was seldom used and, like the Donner Party, emigrants went north from Verdi and then southerly again to the Donner encampments at Alder Creek and Donner Lake.

It would take more than a single article to describe the many other alternative routes that were used by the emigrants to reach California. It is interesting to note that many of the most used trails are now marked with durable steel T shaped markers. Just west of Elko there is the California Trail Interpretive Center where visitors can see exhibits that tell more about the trails west.

Many emigrants started out ill-prepared for the 2,000 mile journey ahead of them after leaving Missouri. Some took way too many personal belongings with them and later had to abandon things along the trail. The routes often became lined with graves, pianos, excess furniture and the bones of oxen and other livestock that did not survive the journey.

It is estimated that about 250,000 emigrants used the various branches of the California Trail. About 93 percent of them made it to their destinations in California. Most of the people walked the entire route they had chosen.

Dayton author and historian Dennis Cassinelli can be contacted on his blog at denniscassinelli.com. All Dennis books sold through this publication will be at a discount plus $3 for each shipment for postage and packaging.

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A Delhi court on Thursday reserved till March 13 its order on sentencing in a case pertaining to death of Unnao rape survivor's father, in which seven people, including expelled BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar, have been convicted. , unnao rape victims father

District Judge Dharmesh Sharma of Tis Hazari court will pronounce the order tomorrow.

The case pertains to the death of rape survivor's father in custody on April 9, 2018. Seven people, including Sengar and his brother, were held guilty for culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy earlier this month.

Sengar had also raped the daughter of the deceased in 2017 in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district and was sent to jail for the "remainder of his natural biological life", last year.

During the course of proceeding today, the Central Bureau of Investigation sought maximum punishment for the seven convicts.

"They should be given maximum punishment as an innocent man was beaten to death. They commited a grievous offence," the public prosecutor told the court.

The counsel, representing the convicts, however sought lesser sentence for their clients.

Sengar told the court that he is innocent and should be let off. "See my previous record and leave me. I haven't done anything wrong."

A police officer, who has also been convicted, pleaded with the court with folded hands that his character has always been good. "I don't have a home. My kids will be out on road," he said.

The judge retorted, "Everyone has a family. You should have thought about it while committing the crime. Your have made a mockery of the system."

All the convicts were held guilty under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for offences such as criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, disappearance of evidence, framing incorrect record and wrongfully restraining a person, and the Arms Act.
Assent Auction April 30th 2020 Jet Aviation is a world-class Fixed Base Operator, known for brilliant customer service, and to have a long-term partnership in place between our firms just makes common sense, said Jake Banglesdorf, Vice President of Assent Aeronautics.

Assent Aeronautics, recognized globally as the worlds first successful live and luxury aircraft auction house based in Fort Worth, announced today that Jet Aviation, a General Dynamics Company, will host not one, but two, Assent Private Aircraft Auctions at their freshly renovated Love Field location. Assents new partnership with Jet Aviation commences April 30th with the Spring Aircraft Auction, as well as the end of year November 19th Auction.

After a very successful December auctionwhere we sold three out of every four aircraft consignedwe are very excited to build upon the momentum we created, said Jake Banglesdorf, Vice President of Assent Aeronautics. Jet Aviation is a world-class Fixed Base Operator, known for brilliant customer service, and to have a long-term partnership in place between our firms just makes common sense.

In an effort to re-imagine and reinvigorate the private aircraft market (one that is often very slow and frustrating), Assent conducted its inaugural event at Fort Worths Spinks Field this past December. The five-star event proved not only the viability of auctions but resulted in deals getting done.

Assents current closing rate exceeds eighty percent (80%+) for aircraft offered at over $1MM, and its marketing efforts have proven to attract more qualified buyers than any other strategy in private aviation. Our consignments were receiving offers before, during and after the auction, remarks Banglesdorf, At the end of the day, bringing qualified buyers to the table, and matching them with aircraft that are truly for sale, in a luxurious, competitive environment is the magic of the auction.

About Assent Aeronautics Private Aircraft Auctions

Bidders must register on the companys website. Verified current aircraft owners can attend and bid at no cost when they include the registration number of their aircraft in the promo code at the bottom of the form. Bidders may view the planes in person during the Buyer Preview Period for the Spring auction April 28-30 at Jet Aviation at Dallas Love Field (KDAL).

Sellers will also apply online to consign their aircraft. Open Enrollment for applications for the Spring Auction begins March 10th, 2020. Consigners fill out a simple one-page consignment application form with their desired method of sale: As-Is-Where-Is, Pre-Purchase Inspection Completed, or Purchase Inspection Pending. Assent Aeronautics will evaluate each submission for consideration.

Assent encourages prospective bidders, consigners and attendees to learn more and to sign up for inventory announcements on their website: http://www.assentauctions.com, and to follow them on their social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

The intent of Assent Platinum Aircraft Auctions is to demystify the aircraft acquisition experience for buyers and create a live competitive marketplace for consigners. Simply put, we are bringing qualified buyers and serious sellers together with the intent to move airplanes, says W. Hulsey Smith, Founder and President of Assent Aeronautics. In addition to hosting a true luxury experience, we deliver transparency in the buying process, and facilitate quick, no-nonsense closings.

ABOUT ASSENT AERONAUTICS

Assent Aeronautics is a family owned company, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Assent Aeronautics distinct business units include aircraft brokerage, aircraft transaction advisory consulting, aircraft management and aircraft maintenance. Able to trace the companys heritage back to a private family flight department established in the 1940s, Assent Aeronautics has a proven track record of success. After numerous requests from companies and individuals to manage their aircraft, Assent Aeronautics was founded to help aircraft owners and operators maximize dispatch reliability and safety while saving money through more efficient expense forecasting and full-time expert technical supervision. For more information visit http://www.assentaero.com.
Norwegian Cruise Line managers urged their sales teams to share false information about the novel coronavirus to help land bookings with potential customers, including that the virus can't affect people in "tropical temperatures," leaked emails from a company whistleblower show.

The emails, first reported by Miami New Times, show the lengths to which the U.S. cruise giant's leaders have gone to protect the company against the devastating financial impact of the pandemic, which has infected more than 121,000 people around the world and killed more than 4,300.

The State Department has warned travelers against taking cruises during the pandemic, and U.S. health officials have prevented some ships from sailing. Cruise lines are expected to lose hundreds of millions of dollars this year because of mass cancellations and a slowing of new trips.

Norwegian Cruise Line's stock plunged 26 percent Wednesday and has fallen nearly 75 percent from its January peak. The company did not respond to requests for comment.

In emails the whistleblower shared with The Washington Post, salespeople were given a list of one-liners to help "close your guests that are on the fence," including that virus-related cancellations in Asia have "caused a huge surge in demand" for other trips.

The recommended lines, written last month by a manager whose LinkedIn profile suggests the person has worked at the company for more than eight years, also compared the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus with the flu and said, falsely, that the virus "cannot live in the amazingly warm and tropical temperatures that your cruise will be sailing to."

"The only thing you need to worry about for your cruise is do you have enough sunscreen?" the manager wrote in an email addressed to dozens employees in two sales offices in Florida.

The whistleblower, an employee in South Florida who declined to be named for fear of retaliation, said several dozen people on the sales team have been instructed to call more than 150 people a day in pursuit of cruise bookings.

"That means hundreds or thousands of people on a daily basis are potentially getting this false information," the whistleblower said. "This is what they're expecting everyone on our sales team to be saying to all of our customers."

Employees were also urged to tell customers that scientists and "medical professionals have confirmed that the warm weather of the spring will be the end of the Coronavirus," the emails show. But that assertion is contradicted by early scientific evidence, which suggests that the novel coronavirus can spread easily across a wide range of communities, including in warm and humid climates.

"Certainly out here in Singapore, it transmits without any problem," David Heymann, a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said in an interview. Singapore's government has recently implemented strict policies, including social distancing, to stem the outbreak, with apparent success.

Epidemiologists and health experts also suspect that the virus's spread could continue for months. Jeffrey Shaman, the director of the climate and health program at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, said there has been no clear evidence to suggest that the coronavirus that causes the covid-19 disease is less transmissible at higher temperatures. The ongoing pandemic, he said, could last straight through the summer in the United States and Europe.

Large groups of people in close quarters for extended periods, such as on cruise ships, could lead to continued transmission, health experts said. The Grand Princess, a ship owned by Princess Cruises that docked in Oakland, California, on Monday, had more than 3,000 people aboard who were potentially exposed to the virus and were expected to be quarantined.

Some of the sales managers' messages echo those of President Donald Trump, who has been criticized for saying that the coronavirus "dies with the hotter weather" and "is very much under control" in the United States.

In the email of one-liners, sales representatives were told to "NOT USE THESE unless the coronavirus is brought up." But the whistleblower said the virus is callers' top concern: "Every single call we're getting right now is about the virus. Everyone wants to know what's going on, what's happening to the ships. Most people just want to cancel."

Cruise lines have faced an onslaught of passenger concerns over the safety of upcoming trips. Chris Chiames, a spokesman for Carnival Cruise Line, said the company has expanded its customer cancellation policies and provided employees "with clear guidance on working with our guests in a positive and constructive manner."

In another leaked Norwegian Cruise Line email, another sales manager based at the company's Miami office suggested that "medical fear stories" were being exaggerated to make "more moola for the fat cats at major media houses."

"Focusing all of your attention is actually illogical, especially when we live in a world of daily threats and dangers anyhow," the manager wrote under the headline "The coronavirus will not affect you." "Fact: Coronavirus in humans is an overhyped pandemic scare."

The whistleblower told The Post that company leaders are trying to find out who shared the emails. In one email sent Monday evening, after a Miami New Times journalist contacted the company, an executive wrote, "One of our own ratted."

The Washington Posts Andrew Freedman contributed to this report.
(Jena, Germany) A world without robots is now almost inconceivable. Not only do they take on important tasks in production processes, they are also increasingly being used in the service sector. For example, machines created to resemble humans - known as androids - are helping to care for elderly people. However, this development conflicts with the preconception that senior citizens are rather hostile to technology and would be sceptical about a robot. A study by psychologists of Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany suggests, however, that older people are far less anxious and hostile regarding such 'human robots' than previously thought.

Robots need to look human

During their series of experiments, the results of which have now been published in the specialist journal 'Computers in Human Behaviour', the Jena researchers showed videos of various robots to 30 participants aged around 70 and 30 others aged around 20. The participants were asked to evaluate whether they found the robot friendly or threatening and whether they could imagine it as a daily companion.

"In the tests, the older participants made a clearly positive assessment of the machines - and were even more open-minded towards them than the younger comparison group," says Prof. Stefan Schweinberger of the University of Jena. "In the older participants, we were unable to confirm a scepticism towards robots that is frequently assumed in science." Although it was a relatively small series of tests, two further, yet unpublished, studies carried out in Jena arrived at the same result. The decisive factor had been how human the machines looked, for example whether they had facial expressions, arms and legs, and how human-like these appeared to be. The new findings could perhaps help in designing service robots.

People with autism are more in tune with machines

In their experiments, Schweinberger and his team also analysed to what extent the participants exhibited autistic personality traits. "Although none of the participants in the study had a diagnosis of autism, the autism spectrum is now seen as a continuum that includes all people, to a greater or lesser extent. More pronounced autistic personality traits on an appropriate scale may give us further clues as to how open people are to machines", explains Schweinberger.

This is because previous studies have shown that people with more pronounced autistic traits are more open to robots. Contact between them is even used as a therapeutic approach. "People with autism often have handicaps in the area of social communication; for example, they cannot interpret facial expressions correctly. It is important for them that their environment is predictable," says Schweinberger. "With its automated communication - more predictable when compared with a human partner - a robot could help with this."

Due to its small number of participants, the Jena study did not produce any conclusive figures. However, slight tendencies suggest that people with a greater predisposition to autism are more in tune with machines. Such personality traits are stronger in older people in particular, which might favour their openness towards robots. Further studies should be carried out in this field, so that we can better understand the increasingly relevant relationship between human and machine.

###
YPSILANTI, MI -- Ypsilanti Mayor Beth Bashert has declared a state of emergency for the city in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A special City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 13, is scheduled to discuss the state of the emergency.

Under this state of emergency, we will be making choices to protect the health of all our residents and visitors, with special attention to our most vulnerable residents including our elderly and people with pre-existing health conditions, according to the public notice issued Thursday, March 12.

The declaration allows the city to request state aid if the disaster is beyond the control of the regular and emergency city forces, according to the city charter. Bashert said the declaration and special meeting will also establish which city-owned buildings and services will continue or change as the pandemic unfolds.

As services and buildings shut down, many of our residents rely on these services for their needs," Bashert said. "How do we continue to protect these people?

Council will use Fridays special meeting to make contingency plans for city-managed buildings, events and services, and establish how to conduct public meetings that meet the states Open Meetings Act requirements, she said. City Council will also discuss potential protections for vulnerable populations, such as senior residents.

Two cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, were confirmed in Michigan on Tuesday night, March 10. One of the cases is being treated by the University of Michigan Health System.

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The provincial government is bringing forward proposed new rules it says will protect tenants from renovictions  but critics say if the changes go through it will become easier for landlords to get rid of their renters.

The government says the proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act would prevent unlawful evictions, provide that landlords compensate tenants for no-fault evictions and increase compensation for tenants for bad faith evictions.

The proposed legislation  the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act  will also make it easier to be a landlord and help both tenants and landlords resolve disputes, the province says.

In a bid to discourage unlawful evictions, the governments proposed changes would also double the maximum fines for offences under the Residential Tenancies Act to $50,000 for an individual and hike penalties from $100,000 to $250,00 for a corporation.

Weve heard the concerns from tenants whove been forced to leave their homes due to renovations. Thats why we are taking action to increase fines, raise tenant compensation and tighten the rules to encourage everyone to follow the law, Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said in a statement Thursday.

In an interview, Clark said the bill aims to stamp out the problem of renovictions.

Thats when landlords remove tenants during renovations in order to replace the evicted tenants with those wholl pay higher rents after the work is complete.

A number of tenants and tenants-rights groups have complained that landlords are increasingly and unfairly booting out tenants in no-fault evictions.

Under the provinces new proposals, if a landlord wants to evict a tenant to use a unit themselves, they have to tell the Landlord and Tenant Board if they have done so before. Thats to help adjudicators look for patterns and identify landlords who may be breaking the law, the province says.

In addition, when tenants are evicted for reasons beyond their control, most landlords must offer compensation, a rule that would extend to landlords overseeing buildings that have one to four units in which a tenant is evicted for a renovation or repair. The rules would extend to landlords who evict a renter on behalf of a homebuyer who wants the unit for themselves. In these instances, the landlord would have to pay the renter a months rent.

Landlords who evict tenants for repairs or renovations must allow the tenants an opportunity to move back in at the same rent before offering the unit to others, according to the proposed changes. If not, landlords can be ordered to compensate tenants.

Under current rules, the landlord can be ordered to pay the difference between the former and new rent for up to one year, but under the proposed new rules tenants could file a claim to increase the compensation an additional full years rent up to a maximum of $35,000.

Among the other proposals is the ability for landlords and tenants to access alternative dispute resolution services such as mediation to negotiate a settlement, instead of going through a formal Landlord and Tenant Board hearing, a change aimed at making it easier to be a landlord, the province says.

Also, landlords looking for compensation for unpaid utilities, rent or damage from current or past tenants would have these disputes dealt with by the Landlord and Tenant Board rather than small claims court.

Cole Webber, a legal worker with Parkdale Community Legal Services in downtown Toronto, argues the provinces proposed rules make it easier for landlords to get rid of tenants.

The legislation aims to speed up eviction in two ways  the first is by limiting the ability of tenants to defend against eviction by raising (repair) and maintenance issues at an eviction hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board, Webber said in an interview.

And the second is that it empowers hearing officers, who are not adjudicators or (Landlord and Tenant Board) members, to issue eviction orders against tenants who they deem have violated the terms of the previous agreement with the landlord, Webber adds.

No. I think that today is about making easier for landlords to evict tenants  displacing working-class renters in the interests of landlords increasing their profits, he added.

Clark says the changes have been supported by tenants and those who speak for them.

The proposed changes are going to make landlords think twice about no-fault evictions because its going to require that they compensate tenants.

Weve heard from a number of tenants and tenants organizations that these types of measures will provide further protection for tenants and thats why we moved forward with them, Clark said.